919
Albums Rated
3.14
Average Rating
84%
Complete
170 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950
Favorite Decade
Jazz
Favorite Genre
other
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
104
5-Star Albums
49
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Don't Stand Me Down
Dexys Midnight Runners
|
5 | 2.6 | +2.4 |
|
Heaux Tales
Jazmine Sullivan
|
5 | 2.68 | +2.32 |
|
Triangle
The Beau Brummels
|
5 | 2.7 | +2.3 |
|
Phaedra
Tangerine Dream
|
5 | 2.73 | +2.27 |
|
A Short Album About Love
The Divine Comedy
|
5 | 2.76 | +2.24 |
|
Faust IV
Faust
|
5 | 2.78 | +2.22 |
|
A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
|
5 | 2.84 | +2.16 |
|
The New Tango
Astor Piazzolla
|
5 | 2.88 | +2.12 |
|
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise
|
5 | 2.89 | +2.11 |
|
Call of the Valley
Shivkumar Sharma
|
5 | 2.93 | +2.07 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Joshua Tree
U2
|
1 | 3.67 | -2.67 |
|
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
|
1 | 3.48 | -2.48 |
|
War
U2
|
1 | 3.47 | -2.47 |
|
Achtung Baby
U2
|
1 | 3.3 | -2.3 |
|
Me Against The World
2Pac
|
1 | 3.25 | -2.25 |
|
Solid Air
John Martyn
|
1 | 3.17 | -2.17 |
|
Who Killed...... The Zutons?
The Zutons
|
1 | 3.15 | -2.15 |
|
Modern Life Is Rubbish
Blur
|
1 | 3.13 | -2.13 |
|
Everything Must Go
Manic Street Preachers
|
1 | 3.12 | -2.12 |
|
Queen Of Denmark
John Grant
|
1 | 3.12 | -2.12 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 5 |
| David Bowie | 9 | 4.44 |
| Neil Young | 3 | 5 |
| Miles Davis | 3 | 5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 4.4 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 3 | 4.67 |
| Iron Maiden | 2 | 5 |
| Fela Kuti | 2 | 5 |
| Neil Young & Crazy Horse | 2 | 5 |
| Kendrick Lamar | 2 | 5 |
| Bob Dylan | 6 | 4.17 |
| Stevie Wonder | 4 | 4.25 |
| Leonard Cohen | 4 | 4.25 |
| Beatles | 7 | 4 |
| The Rolling Stones | 6 | 4 |
| The Beach Boys | 3 | 4.33 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| U2 | 4 | 1.25 |
| John Martyn | 2 | 1.5 |
| Manic Street Preachers | 2 | 1.5 |
| Public Image Ltd. | 2 | 1.5 |
| Everything But The Girl | 2 | 1.5 |
| Pere Ubu | 2 | 1.5 |
| Madonna | 2 | 1.5 |
| The Mothers Of Invention | 2 | 1.5 |
| Blur | 3 | 2 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| The Divine Comedy | 2, 5 |
| Todd Rundgren | 2, 5 |
| Kanye West | 5, 3, 2 |
5-Star Albums (104)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
David Bowie · 7 likes
5/5
So dense for one day of listening.
Every track is interesting, great composition.
Strong opening track starting with drums and building.
Love how he rhymes Spiders with Guide us....Spidahs
I did about 5 listens today and it's still not enough.
It's like seeing cool stuff outside the windows of a speeding train, I couldn't process fast enough.
I can hear that this influenced future artists.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five · 6 likes
3/5
It's a fun album, it's significant but far from great.
A lot of inspiration for the future of hip hop here.
The Message is an amazing track.
Lambchop · 5 likes
3/5
Didn't know this existed.
It would be fine background music while working in the kitchen, but for some reason they have Miss Piggy as a guest singer on some of the tracks.
Might revisit but for now moving on.
U2 · 4 likes
1/5
Starts with trash recorded in a tin trash can.
One- "Did I disappoint you? Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?"
The answer is yeah, ya did.
I stand by my assessment that Bono is not an interesting singer.
Smacked myself in the face to help me get through this.
This Sucks.
Something about the mixing is annoying or just his voice.
Positive note, there are a few guitar riffs that aren't bad.
Sleater-Kinney · 3 likes
2/5
Been kind of looking forward to hearing this. Always heard the name and saw articles in magazines back then but never really heard the music.
The first track did nothing for me.
Some okay melodies and a couple hooks.
Overall, very of it's time, not too much to write home about.
1-Star Albums (49)
All Ratings
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Little Richard
3/5
Femi Kuti
3/5
Dolly Parton
3/5
Cinematic.
My favorite tracks:
Coat of Many Colors,
Early Morning Breeze,
The Way I See You,
Here I Am
Beastie Boys
4/5
Hip hop, punk,funk and jazz. It's fitting that a drive-in dinner speaker is featured on the cover with all of the distortion on the vocals. 70s Nostalgia.
Sabotage driving force to it.
Sure Shot - sweet flute sample.
Root Down sticks in my brain
Sabrosa and the other instrumentals are sonic adventures that massage the brain.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
What a start to an album Oh boy!.
A bunch songs clocking in around 2 minutes don't over stay their welcome. Not a fan of the back up vocals on some of the tracks.
Enjoy Buddy Holly's vocal choices.
Foundations of Rock n Roll.
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
Amazing production. Such a polished album.
Besides the hits the lyrical content for the most part isn't for me.
The final song The In Crowd was cool but left me with an unsettling feeling.
The Zutons
1/5
No thanks.
At times it's like they had a closet full of instruments and felt the need to use them all.
The lead vocals are not interesting, they sound like a department store catalog.
Nightmare Part II has a jaw harp.
Get the saxophone out if this whole album.
Are those spoons!?
Blur
2/5
Beatles opening track, not bad.
Never been a fan of song 2. I find the tempo annoying.
We got a jaw harp.
I'm in the 4th track MOR and thinking is the point of every song to try and be a little annoying. Maybe I'm in a mood.
You're so Great is a little more stripped down.
Death of a Party felt more mature and put together.
Chinease Bombs a punk track, quick and simple. Works.
I'm just a killer for your love - you can feel the link to the Gorillaz here
Look inside America had a nice arrangement, some unnecessary bits.
I picked the wrong time of day to listen to this and I have a head cold. This mostly made me feel old because I felt annoyed.
The Go-Go's
5/5
What a solid album.
I just enjoyed it.
Nothing took me out of it.
Listened to it twice and then some other tracks here and there.
How Much More!
Lust to Love is a banger
Automatic might be my favorite.
This is probably going on a more regular rotation.
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
Superb musicianship.
Can mostly just zone out to it.
A couple of songs felt a little repetitive.
Disarm is the standout for me.
2/5
I don't know.
It's fine.
Not sure if it's necessary listening.
Anita Baker
3/5
Undeniably she gas a great voice.
Solid album to slow dance with someone.
The instrument choices aren't my style.
I don't know much about U2.
So I was open to listen to this and try and block out any preconceived notions.
First thing, I've heard many generic bands that sound like this in generic bars. I don't think Bono is a good or interesting singer.
I'm willing to hear more. Maybe they are better live, but this album makes me sad for the interesting artists that a band like this has taken money from just by being pushed by a record label.
But I don't know much about U2 so maybe I'll change my mind.
The Associates
3/5
My first impression for the album as a whole was interesting, a little messy, but it grows.
Sounds like they had fun making it.
Some lyrics are a bit campy but fun.
It's not perfect but it works.
Yes
4/5
"I've Seen All Good People" was my first exposure to Yes. That song made it on to mixtapes but I never really dug deeper.
A little more stripped down version of Yes for the most part than I've been exposed to.
They do a great job of dipping into different genres and making the whole album pretty cohesive but not repetitive.
Randy Newman
3/5
For me a Randy Newman song once and a while is fine.
I don't want to listen to a whole album at once.
No doubt he is amazing at his craft.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
I've heard the name so many times but this is my first listen.
The production is solid.
Excited to hear what else they offer.
Murder Mystery and After hours are my favorite tracks.
R.E.M.
2/5
You're sharpening stones walking on coals
To improve your business acumen
Sharpening stones walking on coals
To improve your business acumen.
Something about the R.E.M sound can be repetitive, but they have made many stand out singles over the years and "It's the End of the World as We Know It" and "The One I Love" are right up there.
I feel like I should be keeping a saxophone count across the 1001 albums.
George Michael
2/5
Faith is a solid jam but nothing else really did anything for me. Not a fan of this 80s sound.
PJ Harvey
2/5
I don't know. Liked it better than the last PJ Harvey.
But not for me.
The Auteurs
3/5
It was fine but I feel like I've heard better versions of this sound.
I'm sure if I was in my teens again and putting in the listing hours it would grow on me.
Jack White
4/5
Great production.
Blues, country, roots of rock and roll.
Will probably aim to give it another listen in the near future.
Soul II Soul
2/5
Back to Life is a banger.
Sam Cooke
4/5
All the hits.
I was thinking ok we got the hits but they don't sound the best, but when I got to Somebody have Mercy I got it.
The soul, the passion, the fun they are having came through for me.
Solomon Burke
3/5
While listening to this album I was thinking about how I'm a fan of the Blues, old Country, jazz and rock and roll. I've never been a big fan of Rhythm and Blues. This feels like the bridge in between and if I spent more time with this album I might learn more from this entry point into Rhythm and Blues.
Cornershop
3/5
Fun pop album with a bit of a 60s vibe.
As an album I think it did a fine job. I didn't get bored and got lost in listening to it.
Liked the hip hop bits.
Stan Getz
4/5
Perfect album to just exist to while listening.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
First listen, it did nothing for me.
Second listen, ok I like some of the instrumentals.
Third listen, okay I guess I can live with his vocal choices.
DJ Shadow
5/5
Oh come on!
Let’s go!
I almost teared up.
Going on a more steady rotation.
Pink Floyd
5/5
It's Pink Floyd, doing what they do.
Will spend more time with it in the future.
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
A fun listen. The intro track was cool. The vocals seem to be coming in hot.
The Smiths
3/5
My first experience with The Smiths
Good production.
Liked Death of a Disco Dancer
Personally I feel dark comedy in music is an odd choice, unless it's for a musical sketch comedy show.
This guy seems to be walking a fine line between being cheeky and being an asshole.
Prince
4/5
Amazing album, I now understand why it's talked about.
Didn't care for the track The Beautiful Ones.
Liked- I Would Die 4 U
Tom Waits
4/5
Great album.
Glad stuff like this exists.
Pavement
3/5
It's fine.
I liked it.
No stand out tracks for me.
All just kind of blended.
David Bowie
4/5
Great production.
Fun use of stereo sound.
A couple tracks feel a little crowded.
I like the Stones version of Let’s Spend the Night Together, but this cover is fun I guess.
I probably have more time logged seeing Bowie in movies than listening to his music.
Are there some diss tracks on here?
Jean Genie and Cracked Actor sound like diss tracks.
I'm sure the best is yet to come, but overall enjoyable.
Astrud Gilberto
2/5
The parade song hurts this album.
Her voice is like an average person that has had a glass of wine and is just feeling the music. Not really a complaint, it works.
Dia dos Rosas had won me over then....
The harmonica is coming in a little hot on this You didn't have to be so nice. It's sweet with her kid, but maybe put it on the B-sides.
I enjoyed some of the tracks, might even revisit.
GZA
5/5
This is one of my favorite hip-hop albums, if not my favorite.
Enter the Wu-tang is a great album and this, as one of the solo record follow ups felt to me like the most direct extension of Enter the Wu-tang.
Cinematic.
Some of the best lyricism and flow ever. Sword analogies get thrown around a lot but hard to avoid with how sharp the rhymes are.
Beats you can just get lost in.
The peak of RZAs production.
Shadowboxin' is my favorite beat.
4th Chamber has some of my favorite lyrics. Too many examples to list. Ghostface is my favorite member of the Wu-tang Clan
Ghostface - "Why is the sky blue? Why is water wet? Why did Judas rat to Romans while Jesus slept?"
Killah Priest kills it on this track also.
And RZA...
Protons
Electrons
Always
Cause
Explosions
Steely Dan
3/5
Don't know much about this band.
This album art would trick a teenager into not getting what they think they paid for.
Sounds like rock with foam taped to all the sharp corners.
It's fine.
I picture them smiling to each other having fun performing for 12 people at a bar on a Thursday afternoon and 4 of those people work at the bar.
Is edging rock a genre?
Comes as close to rocking as possible, but never does it.
Good music to sample and make better.
Solid production.
3.5
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Great beats.
Fun to dance to.
Classic east coast hip hop formula, but with some experimental samples for the time.
I like some of the other Tribe albums better, but this has some standouts.
George Harrison
4/5
First bit of the album sounded like the Beatles to me.
Beware of Darkness I like, I hear a lot of 90s music in there, but I like this more.
Okay here we go. Apple Scruffs might be my favorite song.
Apple Scruffs sounds like the kind of thing that gets us to a Daniel Johnston eventually.
Again glad this exists, might even put it on again in the future.
It goes a little off the rails towards the end, but I can't complain.
It's a lot for just one day, some of these songs have growth potential.
I feel like I can hear all of his influences in here and the ones he influenced.
Bill Evans Trio
5/5
Beautiful.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
I can say I don't care for all of the songs on this album but it's undeniable.
The man's voice alone is undeniable.
There is face melting music on this one.
Such masters of their craft playing on here.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Better on headphones than in a car.
Wasn't really in the mood for this today.
There are some solid jams on here, but not an album that I would likely want to fully listen to often.
Queen
3/5
Had not heard any of these songs before.
Some alright ones on here, but not the hits.
Felt like a pretty cohesive album though.
Iron Maiden
5/5
Very little experience with this band and now regret it.
This is a great Album.
It works.
It doesn't over stay its welcome.
It's fun, high energy and has connective tissue through the songs.
Look forward to hearing more.
John Cale
3/5
His vocals feel like he is a ghost haunting the songs from the corners and if I try to focus on what he is saying I can never quite get there.
The instrumentation seems like something special.
I'm questioning if getting rid of the vocals would be better.
Get this guy a coffee!
Love
3/5
I'm probably missing some context about why this is here.
The garage rock stuff is alright.
Feels like they dip into being a jam band at times.
Feels like some Doors sound
Seven & Seven Is - To me sounds like a more punk version of a Buddy Holly and the crickets sound
Queens Of The Stone Age
2/5
Rock that feels kind of flat and souless.
To much of the album sounds the same.
It's fine, but not for me.
Cyndi Lauper
2/5
I like the flow of the song choices. Its a fun pop album.
I think the production could be stronger.
The synth works on some songs, but I'm longing for a lot less on some of these tracks.
Obviously has some hits. Time after Time and Girls Just Want to Have Fun.
I've heard her do better versions of Time after Time.
ABBA
4/5
It's ABBA, It's a fun album, not perfect.
Solid production.
Money,Money,Money was the stand out song for me.
Elvis Costello
3/5
It's fine rock and roll.
It's not your (insert appropriate generation) Father's rock and roll, and that might be all that's wrong with it.
I'd probably just go find some first wave rock and roll if I was in the mood. This sounds too clean for me.
David Bowie
4/5
Captivating composition.
I feel the vocals could be just slightly louder on a couple of tracks.
Coldplay
4/5
A great album.
A little sterile for my taste.
There is a time and place for this.
Could listen to some tracks again.
Air
4/5
It's a movie score.
It's well done.
You can just listen to the whole album and vibe.
Nirvana
5/5
I haven't spent much time listening to Nirvana, except the unavoidable. I was looking forward to it, but starting with the unplugged feels like the wrong way to go. Great album and great for a live album.
Opening track to me had that Beatles sound that I always connected to Nirvana. What is unique is the drama Kurt Cobain puts into his vocals.
Something in the Way - this song is so undeniably good. The composition, putting those strings on it.
Plateau - reminds me of a classic cowboy song.
Oh Me - has country vibes too but mix in some blues.
Lake of Fire - Speaking of the Blues. Gospel Blues feel.
Okay Lead Belly. Here we go I'm learning a little more about Nirvana.
They kill this cover of In the Pines. Came close to tears.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Album sounded better on a car stereo than headphones.
When I was younger my friend thought the song was Son of a Creature Man.
Lambchop
3/5
Didn't know this existed.
It would be fine background music while working in the kitchen, but for some reason they have Miss Piggy as a guest singer on some of the tracks.
Might revisit but for now moving on.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Really good production.
Sound is crisp.
Fun listen.
I will probably revisit this.
Part of a Whole and Maseru were my top tracks.
The Beach Boys
5/5
Symphonic.
To my understanding this probably shouldn't have been a Beach Boys album.
I feel there are still elements of the surf rock sound they deep in here, but this is so many levels above. Point is this elevates the pop rock sound and does something different.
Great album, solid production, listened all the way through today at least 5 or 6 times. Always something new to discover.
Insane unfortunate stories swirling around this album
Shivkumar Sharma
5/5
Listend all the way through a few times today.
Solid album. Nice production. Wild on headphones.
Rag Piloo and Dhun-Mishra Kirwani
Are my favorite tracks.
Would listen again.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
2/5
"You can call me the soft shoe banana"
No thanks
Some of the production made me nauseous.
I wanted to like this. Some of the instrumentals are pretty good.
The vocals turn me away.
Sometimes they are kind of fun, but I think I would just ironically listen to it.
The Beau Brummels
5/5
Been waiting for this to happen.
Had no idea at all who, what, when, or where about this album but enjoyed it.
Great album. Songs work together but don't feel repetitive.
Whimsical.
Doesn't over stay.
The Bob Dylan vocal comparisons make sense especially on the opening track but it works.
I'll probably continue to study this one.
The Who
5/5
3 of their biggest hits on one album
The production is amazing.
One of the coolest album covers.
Keith Moon is so damn good.
Pete Townshend!
Caetano Veloso
3/5
Well produced. Almost an ASMR vibe.
Nothing popped for myself.
Peter Frampton
4/5
Solid live album.
A couple gems. Wouldn't mind checking out the studio album.
Don't care for the cover of Jumping Jack Flash
The Doors
2/5
At time this sounds like a drunk white guy making fun of the Blues.
The instrumentation is fine.
Production is fine for what it's working with.
Boards of Canada
4/5
Nice as a whole album.
Doubt I would put any singular track into the mix.
Nice to zone out and fall asleep to.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
The name of the band seems a little corny.
The album is pretty good.
I'm just not in the mood for melancholic music.
Cherry Came Too sounds like a Beach Boys Song
The Saints
3/5
Solid early Punk album.
Not sure what to say. Nothing popped for me but I might revisit in the future.
Al Green
4/5
Al Green has an amazing voice.
Some great songs here.
Some maybe stick around too long.
Daft Punk
3/5
As an album it works as one thing but there is so much on here that I would never listen to repeatedly.
The hits pop and rise to the top when all is said and done.
Beyoncé
4/5
Maybe too produced for my taste, that being said it sounds like a couple million bucks.
Sounds like a summer blockbuster movie.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Cool album cover.
Not a fan of the "Listen to the music" cover, but it's fine.
Summer Breeze cover is a really cool song.
Pretty good as an album over all.
The Teardrop Explodes
2/5
I like some of the music, but I can't get past the vocal styling.
It starts to make me feel like I just keep hearing the same track.
Terence Trent D'Arby
1/5
I tried to find something I liked about this but I couldn't.
The music sounds like karaoke music and I don't think the vocals are anything special.
I feel like there is better music before and after this in which the music just has more soul, more funk.
Elvis Presley
4/5
Undeniably good performer.
Top tier production, but some dull tracks kill the momentum.
The Flaming Lips
2/5
I've liked a Flaming Lips track here and there through the years, but I'm not sure about a whole album.
The sound blends the songs sound a little repetitive.
Might revisit tho
Faust
5/5
Not sure I understand what I'm getting here, but I think I like it.
And I think it works as an album.
Might try to look up earlier albums if I remember.
Michael Jackson
3/5
His vocal styling and drama he puts into it is strong and carries the mediocre synth music.
Various Artists
3/5
Great production a couple of good versions. I'm more of a Bing Crosby Christmas album fan
Neil Young
5/5
I like how natural it comes off.
Relaxed.
Almost feels like it could be a musical.
Crisp and smooth at the Same time.
Nice flow to the album overall.
Not all the tracks pop, but for this as a whole to sound so good and not feel plastic I'm leaning 5.
The mix sounds so good in headphones.
Throbbing Gristle
2/5
There are some cool tracks here like Valley of the Shadow of Death, AB/7A and E-coli.
No reason to re listen or recommend.
Paul Simon
3/5
The mix is a little muddy /busy on some tracks.
Some stand out singles like Diamonds on the soles of her shoes and You can Call me Al.
I think as an album it could have cut like 3 tracks to tighten things up.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Not something I would listen to often, but beautiful.
Just not a 5 for me though but very close.
Bauhaus
3/5
This does sound ahead of it's time.
On first listen I dismissed most of it.
On my second listen I'll say the instrumentals impressed me more. I'm getting burned out on this cadence the British vocalists of the 80s use.
I don't know it's origins. I can speculate, that they are all taking inspiration from Bowie, but I have no idea. Like on the track Lillies Remains.
Holllow Hills reminds me of Nirvana's Come As You Are and it doesn't have that Blinded By Science vocal style, so that's cool.
David Bowie
4/5
Do not care for the opening track but it recovers on track 2.
Heroes such a solid song.
I like the mix of his voice on Sons of the Silent Age.
Sense of Doubt is a cool track to build up the album with some variation that is no jarring. Into the meditative Moss Garden.
Some stand out tracks but also a solid construction as an album.
AC/DC
5/5
I'd say AC/DC are the extension of what Chuck Berry did with the Blues or Rhythem and Blues.
It's high energy fun music.
I wonder, if Bon Scott had survived, would they have progressed into something more metal and a little darker.
This album is for sure a rock and roll album. I think the vocal style can throw one off, but a lot of this is the Blues being played at a faster speed..
Hells Bells feels like something, different but Shoot to Thrill and the following tracks are rock and roll.
It's got solid production and it's a good album. It doesn't say anything special, but it can help burn some energy.
Ali Farka Touré
5/5
This hits the ground running.
Great in headphones, everything is so crisp and clear.
I like this.
Got some blues, some country, some African beats.
U2
1/5
Starts with trash recorded in a tin trash can.
One- "Did I disappoint you? Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?"
The answer is yeah, ya did.
I stand by my assessment that Bono is not an interesting singer.
Smacked myself in the face to help me get through this.
This Sucks.
Something about the mixing is annoying or just his voice.
Positive note, there are a few guitar riffs that aren't bad.
Manu Chao
2/5
The singer is not particularly great.
Most of the tracks seem so basic and flat.
Luna y sol, is the first track that I had any interest in.
Por el suelo is alright, but gets a little busy with the samples.
Welcome to Tijuana signals something deeper going on here, but I wish there was some tighter production over all.
Día Luna... Día pena is a nice track that benefits from being more stripped down.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Not sure how to listen to this. They have just always existed. The songs are everywhere, etched into me.
Like a puzzle piece that just slots into my brain.
Jazmine Sullivan
5/5
Never heard of Jazmine Sullivan.
I like this album.
The music doesn't sound over produced. The interludes have a vibe to them that engage my synapses.
Pick up Your feelings, Pricetags, Lost One, The Other Side.
Great voice, great production, solid album.
Will probably look more up
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
It's a fun album, it's significant but far from great.
A lot of inspiration for the future of hip hop here.
The Message is an amazing track.
Duran Duran
4/5
I have found that this genre of music from the 80s usually isn't for me, but this seems to be the exception.
I've heard Hungry Like the Wolf too much, but tracks like Save a Prayer and The Chauffeur were a nice surprise.
Great compositions and Great voice.
One or two tracks could have been cut or a bit shorter.
Christina Aguilera
2/5
I can hear the influence of DJ Premier on here, but does nothing for me.
Her voice is holllow for me most of the time. The track Hurt is the closest I got to feeling something.
There didn't need to be this much on here.
The whole album just makes me want to go listen to other artists like Etta James, Roberta Flack or Nina Simone.
Tim Buckley
3/5
Never heard of this guy.
The production and instrumentation is cool. I need to get used to his voice.
Couldn't do it.
Brian Wilson
1/5
The productions just sounds uncomfortable.
The timing seems off.
Sounds a little like when a movie distorts the audio when a character is on depressants.
The layers feel like they don't mesh.
Probably should have just stayed existing in hearts and minds
Someone should make a horror movie based on this album with it as the soundtrack.
U2
1/5
Sunday Bloody Sunday is one of the U2 songs I can stand listening to, but someone else could do play it better I'm sure.
Seconds has a cool sound to it, would be better as a instrumental. Same goes for New Year's Day
Don't care for Like a Song, I guess it's like a song I don't like.
Drowning man was fine.
The Refugees is obnoxious.
Two Hearts Beat as One, brings me back to U2 just sounding like an average bar band that have day jobs.
Red Light is a gross waste of time.
Surrender, boring noise.
And 40 finishes things off sounding like an interesting track, but then Bono makes his presence known.
Holger Czukay
3/5
Fun, cheeky, interesting.
Didn't hate it.
Would be surprised if I remember it in a month.
The Vines
2/5
This is fine.
It's not doing anything that catches my attention or pops.
Probably won't revisit.
Radiohead
4/5
Very easy to listen to.
Interesting choices.
Works very well as a cohesive album.
I'm just not sure where I stand.
OK Computer, I'm sorry. It's not you. It's me.
4.5
Animal Collective
2/5
Easy to fall asleep too
Obvious Pet Sounds comparison here.
A bunch of tracks are okay but too muddled. It's like keeping things kind of messy to obfuscate because maybe the confidence isn't there.
I think I'd rather listen to Pet Sounds or Vampire Weekend for this kind of sound.
Big Star
2/5
I was like maybe this isn't bad, but then
Jesus song with saxophone.
Incel song Femme Fatale.
Kanga roo with a, "oh last second cow bell needed here"
This thing is sloppy, there is potential.
I don't know anything about this band.
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
There are some decent tracks here.
On a Rope is alright.
Used caught my attention.
Ball Lightning is a little corny but works.
After that things started to feel like it was going too long
Come See Come Saw brings the energy back up a little
Burnt Alive is a strong finish.
I'd say over all this album suffers from having a little too much of the same energy across the board. It put me in a trance.
Beck
4/5
Good opening track.
Remains interesting and varied touching on a couple genres.
A lot of the Blues in here.
Radiohead
4/5
This is a pretty good album. Not something I would listen to a lot myself, but I think it does most things right.
The lyrics are better kind of ignored and just let them be part of the cacophony.
David Bowie
5/5
Good album cover.
First time hearing this album.
The mixing is great, even on a track like What in the World that is more chaotic you can hear everything.
Sound here is kind of timeless, on the ground floor of a sound style that kept growing.
The music on Be My Wife rocks me.
Nice harmonica on A New Career In A New Town.
The more instrumental stuff is so cinematic.
Warszawa, Art Decade, Weeping Wall and Subterraneans got me daydreaming of art by Moebius
Great album overall.
Marty Robbins
5/5
Sun's come'n up.
Round em up n ride.
Venom
3/5
The mixing is pretty good.
I wish it sounded fuller.
I wish there was more bass.
There are some cool moments on this.
I get it's significance, but it would be a stronger album if it shaved off a couple tracks.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Oof this is a very long one.
Great musically, great composition. Big bucks production here. A really good double album.
I don't care much for Billy as a person. As a vocalist sometimes what he does works but often I'm tired of his choices.
Traffic
3/5
This is a fun 1970s Album.
The engineering could be better but there is charm in its sound.
Favorite track, John Barleycorn
Metallica
3/5
Enter Sand Man I give a 3 out of 5.
Nothing Else Matters I like.
The rest is kind of corny and a bit 2 dimensional sounding.
Simple Minds
1/5
This album cover is the worst.
Oh this is not my kind of music.
The bass player stands out.
Promised You a Miracle and Glittering Prize are okay.
Still plagues me, why do so many 80s singers sing like this?
Not even this amazing bass player can save this for me.
I gotta go 1.
Mj Cole
1/5
This drum machine.
This is bland.
I checked and thankfully this is no longer on the list.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Feels a bit like one long song. Could be a musical I guess.
Favorite track: Steer Your Way
Least: On the Level
The fact that he died 17 days later and the state he was in is important here. I assume there were limitations in the recording process.
Personally I just want it to sound a little more raw. This sounds sanitized and sharp around the edges.
I like this but I'm curious what other producers could have done with it.
Sonic Youth
4/5
I listened to bands influenced by Sonic Youth in my teens but never really listened to Sonic Youth. Just a little of the album Washing Machine.
Doing this experiment exposed me to The Velvet Underground also, so this is filling in the gaps.
I don't know what it is about noise rock that engages my synapses. I struggle to not get lost in it when listening and trying to get stuff done at the same time.
Favorite Tracks: Tunic (Song for Karen), Mote and Mildred Pierce
Led Zeppelin
5/5
The Album art is something special.
Each song is its own event.
They use the Blues, Rock and Folk music as a strong foundation and build a castle on that foundation.
The Stone Roses
3/5
This album cover repels me.
The vocals seem a bit low.
Quite a bit of 1960s sound in this, but still very 1980s.
I Am The Resurrection is a solid song.
I think overall if I put in the time I could learn to love this album but, has it's blemishes for sure.
Adele
3/5
Her voice is undeniable.
Musically tho, this album is kind of boring and starts to feel repetitive.
Baaba Maal
2/5
Some fun energy here.
Not a fan of the synth stuff.
Talking Heads
3/5
First listen through on the car stereo sounded like a muddy mumbled mess. Headphones corrected the issue.
Memories Can't Wait stood out for me.
Overall there is an anxiety inducing or manic energy for me. Which didn't work with me today.
I believe I would need more time with this.
Elton John
3/5
Cool album art.
Amazing production.
Sounds almost to be a sneaky country album.
Although great, the first 2 tracks can't carry this album.
David Bowie
4/5
I had not listened to very much David Bowie before starting on this journey.
This is not the strongest album of his I have listened to so far but it interestingly kept me engaged.
I would like to figure out how some of his songs can come close to losing me but for some reason I stick around.
Like the Cover of Across the Universe isn't better than the original, but what he does with his vocals; I'm interested in the emotion he's conveying.
Fame is a great song
Paul Revere & The Raiders
4/5
Cool album cover.
The strings sound amazing. Driving, warm.
Track lengths in the sweet spot.
Stereo sound in headphones sounds great.
Started off strong but at the end of it quite a few of the songs miss the mark.
Favorite tracks: Kicks, There's always Tomorrow, I'm Not Your Stepping Stone
Nothing against the album but the band's name isn't great. It's a mouth full.
The Smiths
5/5
Very new to The Smiths, so I was curious.
The first thing that stood out to me is the bass player is just killing it on these tracks.
Next was the cadence of the lyrics skipping, sprinting, walking. Cramming in the syllables. Like smoothly running through the woods not missing a stride all the while ducking and dodging.
I think every song on here has appeal.
Favorite song: Vicar in a tutu
Gorillaz
2/5
This isn't required listening.
There are some good to great tracks on here, but there is too much. Too many tracks.
The Gorillaz are a project. They don't need full length albums. Do singles as music video releases.
Clint Eastwood is a great single,
Del the Funky Homosapien kills it.
Anthrax
2/5
I'm not sure these songs have any reason to be around 5 minutes each.
Some fun tracks but like 3 minutes or less per track would make this an overall better experience.
1/5
Pale shadows of music that has come before it.
I don't care for the vocal styling.
Nothing on here makes an impact.
It all starts to sound the same.
It's all a blur.
Radiohead
3/5
I'd be interested in hearing some radiohead songs where the vocals are replaced by a trumpet.
The opening track is pretty good.
Some other alright tracks.
2.7
This album has been removed from the list.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
I don't know if it's the copy of the album I had but I expected these songs to sound bigger. They all kind of sounded flat.
There is potential here. I would cut out the synths and probably ditch all the saxophone. I wish it had more of 60s or 70s or just unplugged sound for the instrumentals.
I like his energy and the story telling lyrics.
As an album it's pretty cohesive.
Isaac Hayes
5/5
I can feel this music on the surface of my brain.
The mix is so good.
Do yourself a favor and be sure to listen using headphones.
Groovy. The bass, the horns, the beats.
Do Your Thing is a song that should get way more play. At just over 19 minutes I never grew tired of it.
Just get lost in it.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
I've mostly avoided Lynyrd Skynyrd my whole life. I'm not sure really why. The meme of Freebird might be the reason.
Growing up my parent's listened mostly to classic country, outlaw country and classic rock and roll. So those were my building blocks. Later in life I learned to play the harmonica and became fascinated with the Blues.
Anyway this album feels like a concentrated collection of my personal history with music.
Soundgarden
3/5
The production feels kind of compressed.
The influence of Led Zeppelin is here, which in turn goes back to some delta blues sound.
Black Hole Sun stands out from the rest of the songs.
The album as a whole feels a bit underwhelming. The potential was there, just needed better producing.
Willie Nelson
4/5
It's a very sweet cover album. Amazing cover art.
Willie has his own unique sound. The way his guitar sounds and his voice is like no one else.
The production sounds great.
I'm going to round down to a 4 I think Willie earned doing a cover album because he can make the songs his own.
Nice for a slow dance with someone.
Devendra Banhart
3/5
Personally I liked this sound.
But this doesn't need to be on this list and I wouldn't say this is required listening for anyone.
So for that reason I'll go with a 3.
Insect Eyes is a cool track.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Her voice.
The bass playing all through this one.
Some hits.
Some fun songs you can dance to.
Her version of People Get Ready is pretty moving.
Her passion.
Common
3/5
Not a fan of the production on the opening track.
I like Common's sound. It's pretty unique. But I've always found that he has a limitation in expressing a range of emotions through his voice. This makes the songs start to feel repetitive.
I'm more of a fan of his album Be.
Favorite track on this one is The 6th Sense. I like what DJ Premier brings to it.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Took me about the third listen for it to click. The vocal choices started to shine for me.
The composition choices are pretty cool and feel ahead of their time. The production is a little sketchy at times.
Run Run Run feels like more of a throw back, sounds like Chuck Berry meets Dylan but with a garage rock vibe
Venus in Furs is my favorite track.
Nico brings an interesting vibe to the tracks she appears on.
I'm going with a four but I wouldn't be surprised if it keeps growing on me. I intend to give it some more listens.
Cat Stevens
5/5
Such a unique voice and memorable sound. The compositions are so good. Doesn't feel repetitive. The length of the album leaves you wanting more.
Wild World and Father and Son of course.
A song I liked a lot on this listen was Miles From Nowhere.
Longer Boats is the one song that kind of feels like it doesn't fit in with the rest of this album.
I'm going to go with a 5 still. This album feels like a gift.
The Cure
4/5
This is well done and there are some songs I don't mind like Pictures of You and Prayers for Rain.
It's just not something I can see my self giving a lot of repeat listens.
It's some of the best version of the 80s sound that I don't care for.
There would be a time and place for this. Maybe night driving.
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
For the most part I enjoyed this but it took some work and there were some songs I really didn't care for.
I'd say Pond Song was my favorite track.
I don't think this is required listening. I assume it's here for it's influence on a specific sound that I think later bands did better.
I enjoy thier 2021 album Sweep it Into Space
Talk Talk
2/5
I'm just kind of tired of newave.
The production here is on point but the arrangements feel unfocused.
They would be fine as soundtrack music that I don't really notice until the harmonica and bongos show up on a track like Living in Another World.
Tracks are too long for me today.
Chameleon Day is messed up though. Some sort of strange torture that tries to put you to sleep and jolt you awake repeatedly.
I have to admit this went slowly down the whole way. Time it's Time.... to end this. Come on guys 8 minutes of this?
I'm just not in the mood.
2 stars
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
I like this album art.
The instrumentals are so good.
The vocal style choice and the emotion it conveys feel a little repetitive after a few tracks.
CHIC
4/5
Cool album cover.
Disco in small doses kind of person but this is pretty good.
The influence it had on music is substantial.
The choice to include the sound of some tap dancing on My Feet Keep Dancing felt a little strange.
Favorite tracks: What About Me and Good Times
Machito
5/5
Not much I can say here, I think this album is perfect and expect many future listens.
Aerosmith
3/5
Never listened to Aerosmith because of their cornball vibe in the 1990s and early 2000s. This just sounds like a rock album with Chuck Berry sounding songs, Led Zeppelin sounding songs and some James Brown in the mix. Not sure what I expected tho. I guess rock ballads. Which I guess Home Tonight touches on.
I forget how long they've been around.
This music is pop, inoffensive(except for the yodeling), well made. They have solid musicianship.
There are a number of bands I'd rather listen to to get my fix for this because Steven Tyler's voice isn't for me.
The Clash
5/5
This is a fun album. Sounds like they had fun making it.
It's like they started with a foundation of rock'n roll and layered on some punk sound, then dipped it in different flavors for every track.
For me maybe 2 tracks were a little awkward out of the 19 but not enough to take anything away from the album. A lot of variety in the songs keeps things interesting.
Train in Vain is one of the best songs with harmonica in it.
Anyway, this is a great album and will go into regular rotation.
John Martyn
2/5
Album art is interesting.
The production is pretty good.
The instrumentals are a little manic but often work.
Choices were made on the vocals that don't pay off.
Small Hours get's an honorable mention for being a nice listen.
This album is probably a grower that you would learn to get comfortable with it's imperfections. I don't have the time.
2.5
Alice Cooper
2/5
I had mid expectations, but the band sounds pretty good.
The vocals sound so tongue in cheek that it threw me.
A dental song that seems to also have a little spy song spoof in it?
The stereo mixing could be better odd choices.
The sound all over this is very much from classic rock'n roll roots.
No More Mr. Nice Guy stands out of course. I don't forsee myself giving the rest many more replays.
This album made me think of the classic muppet show. It was sold as being for kids but It's sense of humor and guests were from a time 20 or 30 years earlier so adults could also consume it.
Joy Division
2/5
A solid album over all. A little boring at first but after a couple of listens it grew on me a little more.
Tho it does that vocal style that I really don't care for, with a weird science quality. Like bad Bowie impressions.
Steely Dan
4/5
Reminds me of eating a honeydew melon that is not yet ripe.
Sounds like music to listen to when you are across the street from the beach.
I like this as an album it is cohesive. None of the tracks individually pop for me but as an album it's a good listen.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
I'm going to ignore the fact that this is the third or fourth time Girl from Ipanema has been on this list.
I'll also not think about Frank Sinatra.
A nice album for an overcast comfortable day.
Solid orchestration.
Danceable.
Neil Young
5/5
Oh.
The first second of this album had me thinking this is going to be good.
By the third track I got a little teary eyed by how good this is.
All of this one is new to me, but every song has me invested on the first listen.
The mixing is really well done.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
I listened to this for my first time maybe like 3 years ago.
This album goes everywhere and does it well.
If someone had told me this is a greatest hits album I would have believed it.
I'm a big fan of Never Going Back Again.
The Chain obviously, that bass at 3:05 and where the song goes after that, so hard.
I managed to avoid most of the hype and I had no context. This is to say, I believe this is some great music.
The arrangements are so good, keeping you engaged and keeping things interesting.
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
This album cover is so bad that it almost becomes good again.
The vocal styling, annoying at times.
Feels a bit repetitive, nothing jumping out.
Beating Gets Faster starts off kind of cool but falls flat.
Sounds like music that would be in the B-movie franchise The Best of The Best.
There is potential, but needs a different vocalist and tighter arrangements.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Great soundtrack to this overcast day.
The lyricism is captivating.
At a 44 minute runtime there isn't enough time in the 24 hours I have to dig into this.
Avalanche is the stand out track for me. Famous Blue Raincoat also very good.
With more time I'm sure the tracks that felt a little more awkward would grow on me.
The Who
3/5
Moon killing it on the drums.
John Entwistle's bass is sounding beefy.
Fun stuff here.
I find myself also in the camp that live albums seem like an odd choice for a list of albums you need to hear.
I liked this and it was a fun experience, but I'd probably seek out the studio versions more often than not.
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
Trying to be fair as this is not something I would usually listen to.
The production is crisp.
It's Danceable.
I'm really trying to find something else to say, but none of the tracks are clicking for me.
I think Basment Jaxx were a little more interesting with this kind of sound around this time, but it's been a while.
Ramones
3/5
In photography composition is king. A skilled eye can take a great photo with even a child's toy camera.
The Ramones manage to compose some catchy songs.
The Ramones, with a very limited pallet, paint maybe one of the best pictures one could with thise limitations.
It's a fun record and it can be a real "if they can make music so could I" album.
I like what they do, but for an album I can only go as high as a 3 here.
Ice T
2/5
The mixing is a little manic on the opening track.
He has a great voice but the beats are kind of weak.
Mind Over Matter brings something interesting.
Just over half way and this just feels over saturated with a repetitive sound.
Midnight at least sounds different again and fun having a story, but It's too long. I'm not here for an audio book.
M.V.P.s a strange check list of rap. Just put this in the liner notes.
The waveforms of most of these tracks just look like a big rectangle.
Body Count, okay like a hard-core song. Interesting.
There is too much.
Pulse of the Rhyme is alright, but he just doesn't feel locked in on the track.
The Tower, did John Carpenter get paid?
Well a nice anti war message.
Overall this was a tedious listen.
It did sound better in the car.
Kate Bush
4/5
This feel unlike anything we have listened to yet.
Opens so strong, I just wish her voice was clearer on the track.
It sounds a little flat.
I like the haunting story telling style.
So much potential, I think being made in the 1980s hurts it sonically.
There is a lot here and it's going for something pretty unique. It's interesting enough and doesn't repell me. But the audio quality deserved better.
Merle Haggard
4/5
Right away the sound quality is top tier.
Great voice, solid musicianship.
Good music to dance to or hit the road with the windows down.
Favorite, All of Me Belongs to You.
For the most part this is a solid album and still has the country sound, but nothing really pops. Much respect.
The Icarus Line
1/5
The opening track tells me this could be hard to get through.
I got through 3 tracks and couldn't take it anymore. I partially listened to the tracks after that.
I'm sorry, I couldn't handle it.
I found nothing redeemable.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I think I like this more than the first Elvis Costello. My Aim is True.
But it still sounds too sanitized. Feels like music for a liquid dish soap commercial.
It's like punk with a Kokomo era Beach Boys vibe.
Lipstick Vogue had some interesting bits.
Röyksopp
4/5
Chill vibe.
Nice break beats
Nothing that will lock into my brain, but I cannot complain. A nice album, cohesive but not repetitive.
Favorite part was the second half of A Higher Place
Violent Femmes
4/5
Blister in the Sun was everywhere in my youth, but I'm not familiar with this album. It is a pretty good song..
A fun rock and roll album. An interesting progression of a Buddy Holly like sound. The vocals are played like an instrument and keep things interesting, tho sometimes a bit juvenile.
Nice bass playing. Sounded good on the car stereo.
Thundercat
3/5
When this popped up I was excited for the listen because I had heard one song by him I enjoyed. Great album cover.
I'm sick and staying home today. So I'm feeling kind of anxious. There are some alright tracks, but there is too much. Feels like a listen and get work done album.
Oh here's the song, Them Changes, cool track.
The Turn Down had a nice vibe.
DUI sounds like a brodway musical. I wouldn't mind Thundercat doing a musical.
In the end it feels like a big Halloween candy bowl of tracks. Just too much, I can't keep track of it in one days worth of listening time.
In the future I'll come back.
Rush
5/5
Canada!
Great mixing.
Unique, yet interesting vocals.
Amazing bass playing.
Is there anyone else like Rush?
Neil Pert killing it.
Vital Signs is a great closing track.
After my first listen I was leaning towards a 4, but on second listen I'm going 5.
Canada
Wilco
3/5
This is another complicated one for me to rate. No experience with Wilco.
I feel like I've heard music like this all my life. It just sounds like fine radio music to me.
I like the tune of Heavy Metal Drummer.
A few tracks sound like they are heavily Beatles influenced.
If I had heard this in my teenage years I'd probably be far more captivated.
The arrangements are well done.
I just don't see myself revisiting this much, so for that I'm going to go 3.
The Flaming Lips
3/5
The opening track cadence made me think of Cat Steven's Father and Son.
Okay, saw in the wiki that I was right.
Great mixing. Fun stuff, but a lot of it just blends into one sound.
I get that it's a bit over played but I do like Do You Realize, it gets stuck in my head.
There are some strong bits but the bland outweighs them.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Pretty good album art.
He has an interesting voice and makes interesting vocal choices to catch your attention.
Great pop song track lengths.
Tryn' to Get to You is a new stand out for me.
At the end of the day this is not a great album, it's a collection of songs and it made an impact.
3.5 rounded down.
Portishead
4/5
Pleasant arrangements.
The music seems a little simple or thin.
Great voice.
It's grown on me with each listen, but I still wish the production was a bit better.
Maybe incorporate a real bass player.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
Choices are made and I like them. He uses some of the 80s sound that I tend not to care for and makes them bearable. Even the saxophone.
The tracks have girth to them.
These arrangements are so good.
The lyrics are interesting. The vocal stylings hold my attention.
I was going to list some tracks but I honestly find every track interesting.
I like this more every listen.
k.d. lang
3/5
The music almost sounds like a pre programmed backing track.
Her voice is way more interesting than the instrumentals.
The whole thing is really melancholic.
Which I was not in the mood for.
At the end of the day, I'm not sure this is a must listen, but there is a time and a place.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
Such a unique voice, but this album doesn't feel right. It feels a bit immature.
The sound feels homogeneous.
I kind of like the song River.
I had a nice nap during my second listen.
Tori Amos
4/5
Opening track grabs your attention.
Her vocal style is making choices.
The production is crisp and a big part of this album.
I get why this earned her a large fan following in the 1990s.
A confidence in her craft comes through on all of these tracks.
Me and a Gun so haunting.
Again the production, her voice and piano playing build a solid album. There are some awkward tracks.
Emmylou Harris
2/5
I like her voice but the music sounds like background music for a southern drama that you don't really notice.
Bob Dylan
4/5
A pleasant cacophony of sound.
Great instrumentation and enigmatic lyrics.
"Now your dancing child with his Chinese suit
He spoke to me, I took his flute"
I may never know what that means.
The Kinks
3/5
I don't know what it is but this album feels hack.
Okay, this is satirical.
I'm not like Everybody Else is a catchy tune.
This is Where I Belong is pretty good.
Now I'm just depressed, nothing that they are pointing out with satire has changed and this came out in 1966.
The Clash
4/5
Impressive production for an early punk album. The sound is closer on the spectrum to rock and roll.
I really enjoyed this listened through a few times
Ananda Shankar
2/5
I like the sound of the Sitar, these cover songs don't need to be on this list.
A cover of Light My Fire being on this hurt this album
Metamorphosis is a cool track
Muddy Waters
4/5
It's solid musicianship, but Muddy Waters has just never clicked for me the way Sonny Boy Williamson II, Robert Johnson, Sonny Terry or Big Mama Thornton did.
Maybe he was just over hyped before I heard him or maybe everything I've heard is from the later years.
John Lee Hooker
3/5
Some good stereo mixing.
It's the Blues.
Some of this comes off empty, but it has it's moments.
I had fun making and drinking coffee while listening.
I liked the subdued nature of My Dream
This is like a 2.5 for me. I'll round up.
Kings of Leon
3/5
Very crisp production.
I can see why people would like this. I used to like this kind of sound in the late 1990s, but I'm tired now.
I wonder how they are live, because this is almost too sanitized sounding for the type of music.
Some of the vocal choices don't work, but I'd get used to it if I hung around.
I think this should have less tracks.
Nirvana
4/5
The first 2 tracks are fine, they just don't do anything for me.
I've always liked something about Heart Shaped Box. The arrangement is pretty good and just sonically.
Kurt's voice is the thing that carries most of these tracks.
I really like Pennyroyal Tea.
All Apologies is a strong Finish
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
Can't place my finger on it but I really didn't like the first 3 tracks.
Really enjoyed tracks 4,5,6 & 7
It's live jamming, so just some fun energy.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
People's Parties is the first track that jumped out for me.
Her voice and lyrics are interesting, but the music itself is a little bland.
A high 3.
Cream
3/5
Top Lyric - "You've got that pure feel
Such good responses
But the picture has a mustache"
The music is fine but a bit flat at times.
Also gets a little too cheeky.
The Pogues
3/5
Some great fun songs on here.
Probably best listened to drunk at a party and not really listening.
It does what it wants; sitting listening to this alone, analyzing it doesn't make sense.
I'll probably listen to most of this again, so I guess a 3.
The Shamen
2/5
Decent music to do a bunch of highway driving to, but it's a little corny.
It's an album.
Manic Street Preachers
1/5
The mix is bad for the first 5 tracks. Track 6 sounds better.
The lead vocals are worthless.
The final track is slightly better than most.
This album doesn't need to be on this list.
Sounded a bit better on a car stereo than headphones.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
That boom bap.
Strong opening track.
I don't claim to be the biggest Tribe fan. Not a huge fan of QTips voice, but the energy is so good. And sonically overall it works.
My favorite track has always been Scenario. It's the track off of this album that I have played the most.
It's an album.
Bobby Womack
4/5
I'm feeling this. Some stereo mix.
Some of it reminds me of the vibe of McGruff the crime dog's album.
Secrets is amaizing
I listened to Secrets at least 10 times today.
Girls Against Boys
2/5
The first track put me on the fence, but I'd say it does get better.
Bullet Proof Cupid caught my attention.
Let Me Come Back also alright.
Sounded better in the car.
Overall tho it just didn't click for me.
2.4
Black Sabbath
4/5
Interesting stuff going on here.
Some real gems, like Changes and Supernaut.
But I almost hesitate to go with a higher score here because of some of the choices for the album as a whole.
I like a lot of it but it has some almost jarring tonal shifts.
But aside from that view it has peeked my intrest to dig a little deeper with Sabbath.
Björk
3/5
Interesting for sure, inoffensive, tho I understand some are put off by her vocals.
I don't think I will be convinced that this belongs on the list.
I like what's happening, but I'm not of fan of these synths, I enjoy her voice.
Okay, I changed my mind, this belongs.
But still a 3 for me.
Brian Eno
4/5
This was a pleasant listen. Was keeping me calm in traffic.
Sometimes I didn't notice it was there and it was over before I knew it.
Kraftwerk
4/5
I was expecting this to sound more outdated and corny.
I'm not sure that I've heard anything as timeless as this.
If someone made me guess I doubt that I'd say the 1970s.
Obviously influential.
Anyway it sounds great.
I almost wanted to go for a 5 but at the end of it, most of it was missing a spark for me.
I liked the tittle track the most.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
A couple of great track's, but not their best.
I find the Blues has the most connection emotionally when it feels raw. Just a person's voice and an acoustic guitar. Led Zeppelin takes that sound and fills it out really well but it becomes something else.
Some of the sound on this album comes closer to ACDC.
At times knowing they are from London, this comes close to feeling like parody of music from the Southern States. The final track I would say maybe goes a bit too far.
Super Furry Animals
2/5
Have you ever visited family or friends around lunchtime and as a good host they offer you something to eat?
They present you with a salad, and it has a couple of things in it that don't make sense, like they just threw together left overs.
Booker T. & The MG's
2/5
Some cool stuff here. A perfect album for getting chores done.
Nice to have an album that gives the electric organ a chance to shine.
Tito Puente
4/5
Some good stereo mixing.
Great music for a sunny day or to bring some sun into your day.
This album will probably come back for Sunday morning coffee here and there.
Radiohead
4/5
When I saw Radiohead come up today, I just wasn't looking forward to the listen.
This might be my favorite Radiohead album so far, but I stand by what I said last time.
I'd like to hear it with the vocals replaced by a trumpet.
The Sabres Of Paradise
2/5
I might be missing something here, but I feel I made songs with the same level of complexity back in 2000 in acid pro dragging one sample out for a minute or two.
This was fine.
Carpenters
3/5
There are some hits here and some odd covers. Pretty good arrangements.
Everything sounds fine, but it's like the music version pastel.
Like the equivalent of when they shoot film through a lens with Vaseline on it to soften the look.
I wish the production was a little crisper.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Some of these tracks are so good like Everyday People. But there are some stinkers also.
Gonna go.3!
Nina Simone
4/5
Sometimes it seems like the algorithm considers the weather. Today was a dark rainy day. Four women and Breakfown and Let it All Out hit me hard on my drive.
Nina Simone conveys pain with her sound even when it's the pain of being in love.
Black is the Color of My True Loves Hair does it right, so minimal. "... nothing too slick."
OutKast
3/5
It has a manic energy. Insane amount of interludes.
The singles are great. So Fresh So Clean, Ms. Jackson and B.O.B
Killer Mike debut on a track that doesn't stand the test of time.
The mixing and production overall changed the direction of music.
The three singles plus some of the other mixing almost get this to a four.
Donald Fagen
2/5
It's not bad. Just sonically the only situation I can picture listening to this is on a yacht.
I'm trying to rationalize this, I guess guys that go to private music schools need a chance to put out albums that they and their peers can relate to.
It was other wordly. It had an uncanny valley feel.
I think this is music, but the way it makes me feel sucks.
Van Halen
3/5
Terrible album art.
Right away love the length of this album.
The music has some good bits, the musicianship is solid, but it all blends a bit.
I've heard most of these tracks so many times in the background that my brain is trained to wander away.
It's a sugar rush.
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
Album art, great.
My only experience with the artist is from the film Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller when he was 14.
The production is so clean and crisp.
The musicianship is so good at conveying emotion.
Might revisit in the future.
Sheryl Crow
2/5
Started off kind of flat, got a little better.
At the end of the day I feel like there is a band playing at a bar in every city on any night that can bring the same quality of music.
A bit all over the place at times.
5/5
So dense for one day of listening.
Every track is interesting, great composition.
Strong opening track starting with drums and building.
Love how he rhymes Spiders with Guide us....Spidahs
I did about 5 listens today and it's still not enough.
It's like seeing cool stuff outside the windows of a speeding train, I couldn't process fast enough.
I can hear that this influenced future artists.
Tom Waits
4/5
I enjoyed this and I think I'll even try to re visit it in the future. Fun stuff, stream of consciousness like.
But it's something else. Sounds like me when I'm doing drunk karaoke.
It's like someone that listened to a lot of music on really old 45s doing an impression of the way it sounded to them, plus whiskey.
Queen Latifah
3/5
I wasn't sure what to expect but I liked a few tracks on here. They weren't all gems.
For a first album tho, Queen Latifah as a rapper showed her potential. Her cadence, confidence and cool are undeniable.
I liked Wrath of My Madness, Ladies First and Queen of Royal Badness
John Lennon
3/5
While listening to Imagine (fine song) I drifted off, because it has lost any power it had at this point.
The next couple of tracks had me thinking back to how much I liked the George solo album.
The production here does nothing for me.
Gimme some Truth and Oh My Love sound a bit better, but his vocals detract from the quality.
How Do You Sleep is interesting, more so because of the story.
How, kind of works for me.
Oh Yoko, I like the instrumentals.
Rounded up to a 3
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Once again his talent is undeniable. His musicianship and the people he works with amazing.
As an album this was very hard to process in one day.
Sonically overall for me a 4, I think the copy I was listening to hurt this, it was laking a certain warmth that maybe a vinyl listen would bring.
I'm listening again as I write this and I'm on Another Star, (ironic?) this track is a 5. Maybe I'll re visit this album some day but for now it's a very strong 4 for me.
2/5
I don't know.
It didn't offend me.
Did I need to listen to it?
Maybe, time will tell?
Maybe it changed my life and I don't know it yet.
An album was made.
Some Samba of the future...
A look at the future...
All the way to the year 2000.
Hole
3/5
First thing that stuck out for me was the the production sounds better than I expected.
I only knew the first track and some manic energy interviews by Courtney.
It was interesting to read that Billy Corgan and Charlotte Caffey had some hand in this because there were moments that reminded me of both bands.
Despite having some moments, overall this was a little bland. There may have been a way to cut some tracks and distill this down to a better album.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
I appreciate the musicianship overall.
And this is impressive for a debut album.
This cacophony of sound for some reason causes me anxiety.
May this be Love is a little more my speed and the drums are so good.
On the track Are you Experienced, I enjoyed the stereo mixing.
I can see that this album was very influential and it had some.solid stuff, but it's a bit much for me.
Iggy Pop
4/5
What I'm about to say sounds super reductive, but I'm not sure I've ever heard an album before that sounds like the audio version of puppetry. That being said this is some great stuff, just with that strange story to it's production.
Is the song Funtime a distant relative of the Monster Mash-verse of songs?
"last night I was down in the lab
(Fun) talkin' to Dracula and his crew
All aboard for funtime"
The bass on Dum Dum Boys is great, tho sounds like something else I can't place that came before or after...
I think this a solid album with some awkwardness.
Beatles
3/5
This is like a potluck. George brought a casserole, Paul brought mash potatoes with gravy, John brought a watermelon and Ringo brought nacho cheese doritos. Sure you will probably feel satiated, but these things didn't compliment each other.
A couple of the best 5 star songs don't make this a 5 star album.
The Coral
2/5
The build to start the album is pretty cool. High energy.
And it drops off.
This didn't need to be here.
If I was out on a boat today this might have hit better.
Paul Simon
3/5
He is so good at the science of putting together a snappy, catchy song.
That being said there are a lot of very
Underwhelming songs on here.
I hope making an Armistice Day song was just a joke or a test, because just saying the title is upsetting.
Minor Threat
2/5
A solid hardcore punk album that does what it should.
Great production value for a punk album.
Just not my head space these days, tho I'd probably like it to mow the lawn to.
FKA twigs
1/5
I listened through once.
I liked some music like this back when this came out, but this wasn't for me.
I couldn't do a second listen.
The Doors
2/5
At times this sounds like a drunk white guy making fun of the Blues.
The instrumentation is fine.
Production is fine for what it's working with.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
This is inoffensive.
It's a nice listen but nothing popped me.
Might not even be on the list anymore.
MGMT
3/5
Some interesting choices.
Has it's moments.
Bowie influence is in here.
Prince influence is in here.
No longer on the list.
Marianne Faithfull
1/5
First impression, I do not find the vocals endearing, but that could change.
It didn't change much.
Some of the music was alright, but no better than many indie bands I've listened to that never made it big.
Seems like an artist you might want to read about, but you don't need to hear this.
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
I was not looking forward to this listen.
March of the Pigs - Was that Ben Folds ?
A lot of this album makes me feel like part of the Cyber Generation, like I'm hacking the planet or surfing the world wide web.
A Warm Place - Cinematic
This is a real solid album, just a little immature. A few tracks being cut would have improved it even more.
The lyrics are not great but easy to ignore. How important are lyrics? We have amazing nonsense songs. Some artists admit to putting in place holders when making a song. Millions of people listen to music in languages that they don't understand.
On the other hand Johnny Cash made the lyrics of Hurt important.
AC/DC
3/5
Not gonna go too deep on this one.
It's rock and roll. It's rhythm and blues.
Bon Scott's vocals are a well played instrument.
It's dumb fun.
The Cure
4/5
Never listened to them much besides the biggest hits.
Already did Disintegration and I think I like this a little more.
A Forrest is a great track.
Also the final track Seventeen Seconds clicks for me.
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
It's fine but I seem to find music from this era missing body or a warmth to the sound.
Really struggling with this one.
I don't really care for the posh affectation used on most of the vocals.
I'm confused.
The Go-Betweens
3/5
Fun pop songs.
The lyrics are well constructed.
The vocals are okay.
Compositions are interesting.
But by the end of it I just wanted to listen to The Smiths.
Funkadelic
2/5
This album didn't do much for me, I like the 1971 album better.
This was a bit too loose for me, jam band vibes.
On a positive note I wouldn't mind dancing to this, but not an album I'd see myself just putting on for a listen.
David Holmes
3/5
This was a surprise.
I enjoyed this.
I'd say it could be tighter, didn't need to be an hour. Let's get it closer to 30.
2.5
Beatles
4/5
Harmless, catchy pop rock songs.
Room for improvement, a little redundant sounding at times.
Great track lengths. Good compositions.
I wish I had written this while listening through it.
Favorite track at this time was Any Time at All.
Bad Brains
2/5
I was into this for the first 4 tracks then it started to wear me out.
It kind of slows down after that.
The instrumental interplay was interesting for this kind of music.
The vocals don't rise to the occasion.
Favorite Track: Re-Ignition
Megadeth
3/5
My first experience with Megadeth.
The production value and composition is solid.
After a while the cacophony of it all loses me and I drift away. The music falls into the background.
It's fine.
Could get back to it someday.
Fats Domino
3/5
One of those on here mostly for historical significance.
Also great musicianship.
And just found out he died in 2017. One of the founding fathers of rock and roll. Crazy how young rock is.
The percussion on Don't you Hear me Calling.
Fun stuff.
A couple tracks could be cut to keep it feeling fresh.
3.5
Julian Cope
3/5
An interesting album. With a few interesting tracks.
A lot for one day. I listened about 3 times all the way through.
I could see it growing on me, but right now it's a bit too all over the place.
Jefferson Airplane
5/5
This is a fantastic album.
Interesting songs throughout.
There are the big hits that almost overshadow the rest.
Grace's vocals demand attention.
I like the around 30 minute runtime.
Besides White Rabbit, Somebody to Love, Embryonic Journey... I liked Today.
I was in a mood today, high 4 and gonna round up.
Elton John
5/5
This is not perfect, but it sets a high bar for it's self.
Almost a greatest hits album, some trash and one embarrassment.
Bernie Taupin and Elton John are masters at creating songs.
Despite it's blemishes, I'm compelled to give it a 5
Electric Light Orchestra
5/5
This is great. It's like they took some of what the Beatles did and elevated it a bit and made it their own.
Oh,okay, I know Mr. Blue Sky.
This album never lost me, on more listens I'm sure each track would grow on me. It's cohesive.
Cool album cover.
I didn't even realize it was a double album until it was pointed out to me.
Sounds great on headphones.
Nas
3/5
I was looking forward to digging into this. In the past I've found the feeling of a disconnect between his voice and the track.
The beats are great.
I'm not sure if it's the copy I'm listening to but the vocals seem flat and quiet in the mix.
Really feels like the raps were recorded without a song in mind.
The World is Yours stands out, well produced.
His flow causes me anxiety, like he's running out of breath.
Halftime, sonically was breaking through with me. The lyrical content doesn't hold up.
Memory Lane, another one where I struggle to focus or hear the lyrics.
One Love is in my wheel house, sounds closer to a Wu-Tang track. The vocals have some bounce to them.
I'm not a huge fan of Q-Tip but used well on this track.
Represent and Ain't Hard to Tell were fine.
I know people love this album and hold it in high regard. It just doesn't pop for me.
The Only Ones
3/5
Nice stereo mixing right off the bat.
It comes so close to being something special.
The vocal style walks a fine line and just doesn't come off strong.
It was almost a 4 for me but it never fully popped.
Janis Joplin
3/5
Good production, solid vocals.
A bit too manic at times for my taste.
A sad story of self medication.
Suburban, middle class, blues.
Nice that she helped pay for a headstone for Bessie Smith.
Inspired me to go listen to some Odetta, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Big Mama Thortnton, Etta James and Aretha Franklin.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
I haven't heard a lot of this one before.
Not a big fan of the title track.
Digging the production of Patterns.
Homeward Bound has a nice bounce on the chorus, interesting tempo changes.
A Dylan song, parody?
Last track is an interesting choice.
For the most part very solid song construction.
Quite a few forgettable songs.
I'm a bigger fan of the Bridge over Troubled Water album.
Solange
2/5
High level production. Sterile sound.
I just picture a stainless steal table in an empty grey room.
Don't you Wait for Me is the first track that I find a bit interesting.
F.U.B.U. has some cool bits.
Overall some good lyrical content.
An interesting low-key way to talk about some social issues. Just not something I'd listen to much
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
1/5
An edgey start to the album to ensure it isn't endearing to me.
I'm getting old. I don't think I can listen to this.
I got through it. It was torture.
1/5
I tried to give it a fair listen.
As always, Bono is not an interesting singer. Stop pushing, get off the toilet and go for a walk.
This band has always seemed like a money laundering scheme for some asshole record executive.
The money wasted on private jets and stadium tours for these vapid, mid, morons could have been spent on so many more interesting artists that never got a chance.
Shack
2/5
Listened through one and one third times.
Some nice trumpet at times.
Mostly just bland. A ghost of music past.
Doubt this will ever come back around for me
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
I listened to this a lot when it first came out. First hearing Lupe on Late Registration's Touch the Sky. That being said it didn't stick around for me and was left collecting dust in the corners of my mind.
Hard to mess this up with an all-star cast behind the production.
Catchy beats through out and Lupe's flow has a nice bounce to it.
Influences of Jay-Z and Nas in his flow.
Songs that stuck out for me. Kick Push, Daydreamn', The Cool.
I lost track of Lupe shortly after this album because of a shift to stuff like Kanye's 808s & Heartbreak and Kid Cudi's music. Point being, this has inspired me to do some digging to see what else he had to offer after his debut.
The Killers
3/5
I was surprised how much I knew some of these songs having never intentionally listened to them.
Almost a manufactured in a lab feel.
The hits are full on ear worms.
The vocals are often obfuscated to probably make up for something lacking or it seems to be just a producer obsessed with a new vocal effect.
It's one of the more listenable versions of New Wave.
Sonically it can feel a little repetitive at times.
Andy, You're a Star had some cool bits.
I hate the last track.
Started as a high 4 for me but halfway through cracks formed.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Again his talent is undeniable. His musicianship and the people he works with amazing.
I think this is my favorite Stevie Wonder album so far. I think Higher Ground is the only track I recognized.
On a whole it just had a nice flow, put me in a good head space.
I would give this such a high 4 that I'll go 5. Not the kind of music I find myself drawn to usually, but I can picture just putting this on when the need arises for sure.
Primal Scream
2/5
The mixing and production are interesting but feel a little immature.
There are some cool bits but mostly too hyperactive and impulsive for me.
Trying to at least pick one track I kind of like I'd say Long Life.
This album just misses for me all over the place.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Feels like a plain old deck of cards. You could just shuffle it up and it doesn't matter and you never get dealt a winning hand just a nice high card.
Has lost something by being so woven into the fabric of this reality. It's like grass on a front lawn.
Such a 2.5.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
This is a really listenable album.
Her vocals are interesting enough to grab attention and the writing is captivating.
The production sounds great.
The music itself is played too safe and sometimes forgettable.
Not sure if this belongs here but kudos too whoever put Ghostface Killah on the "You Know I'm No Good" remix
The Thrills
2/5
The stereo mixing is really good.
I kind of wish the tracks stuck to being just under 3:00 minutes.I say this because Deckchairs and Cigarettes got tired for me.
The formula that's been mentioned of Phil Spector, Beech Boys Neil Young seems apt.
This album probably would have got it's hooks into me had I listened to it in my younger days.
But nothing really popped for me, or felt special.
I'm going to name drop a couple canadians here: Thrush Hermit, Joel Plaskett, Sloan, The Inbreds
Metallica
2/5
Starts off a bit off putting.
This is tricky. They sound so silly at this point.
No one needs to listen to this before they die, but they could.
One is alright and a couple of songs have some good bits
I could maybe see listening to this when you need to do a bunch of digging.
The Stooges
2/5
The sound is like decomposing Chuck Berry. It's raw Punk.
And a song like I Need Somebody is a compost heap version of the blues.
It's cigarette butts in skunky beer.
It's fine, but not for me.
New Order
3/5
Not usually my genre of music but I'm not minding this.
This track Elegia is catching me.
Closing track Face up is pretty good too.
I think the vocals tho enjoyable could be a bit stronger.
Teenage Fanclub
2/5
I enjoyed some music like this back in the 1990s. But this doesn't need to be on a list like this.
Didn't do anything for me.
I liken it to a chalky powdered sugar tablet of candy. Sure it's sugar but nothing to write home about.
Tracy Chapman
3/5
From the start, her first 3 words, her voice grabbed my attention.
Amazing voice. Subdued instrumental.
Solid lyricism.
Tho a full album loses me after a while, but at the right time I'd like to give this a better listen.
OutKast
4/5
An interesting choice. Risky move. I listened to this a lot when it first came out.
Speakerboxxx
A great representation of music at the time and Southern hip hop. Big Boi's flow does just that, flows.
Some fun guest's like Ludacris and lil John.
I like GhettoMusic.
The Way You Move, great to dance to. Last Call is fun.
As for The Love Below it can feel a bit all over the place, but it was fresh and interesting at the time.
The composition on Spread, Hey Ya (before it got over played) was perfect pop and got over played for a reason, Roses, Take off Your Cool.
Perhaps a little over indulgent at times, a bit surreal and some awkward tracks. But some fun music.
Culture Club
2/5
I'm not sold on this needing to be on the list.
The music sounds like poor generic karaoke tracks.
The harmonica sounds so out of place.
There's one catchy tune and a couple alright ones.
4/5
Iconic album cover.
Looking over the track list pretty sure I already know at least a third of them.
Little Help from my friends, so catchy.
Lucy in the Sky tho odd, works.
Getting Better seems off.
Fixing a Hole not one I recognized but I really liked.
A couple songs that don't click... this album is an odd leftover salad of songs
When I'm sixty-Four is pleasant.
What is going on with this song Good Morning Good Morning?
Hmmm break beat on the Reprise.
Strong finish.
This was a strange disjointed album. Production and a good chunk of songs make this worth checking out.
Almost want to give this a 3 for feeling insane.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
The lyrical content and compositions are are pretty good across the board.
Some songs stick around a little too long.
The music, although a little flat feeling at times draws my attention.
Someone Great and New York, I Love You... are my favorites.
The Kinks
3/5
I was looking forward to check out the Kinks, but this just isn't working for me.
The instrumentation is pretty good, but I'm just not in the mood for the silliness of most of this.
I'm kind of digging Lazy Old Sun and Waterloo Sunset
Queen
5/5
Such a strong open. I'm not familiar with the song but it had me.
Lazing on a Sunday afternoon prepared me for anything to happen.
'39 - showed me these guys could have been famous in any genre of music
On my first listen I didn't look at the track list and was honestly surprised when Bohemian Rhapsody popped up.
This feels like an ALBUM, cool cover, the songs are different from each other but are all some how sonically related. I mean his voice.
It's almost a disservice to pick the songs out individually.
Death In Vegas
2/5
It's fine but forgettable.
Some of the tracks tickled my brain.
On the plus side it made me think about Bob Dylan being a Soul Auctioneer.
Fela Kuti
5/5
The energy is great.
I played through 2 and a half times.
Driving in the rain to it was really clicking.
This is very close to a five for me.
I find myself trying to argue against a 5 and not coming up with anything strong.
When it would finish I was disappointed it was over.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
It's pleasant, jazzy and well produced.
Furry Sings the Blues got me a little.
Blue Motel Room had a nice vibe.
Joni is talented, but her vocal style just doesn't click for me.
Sparks
3/5
The album catches your attention with the first 2 tracks but falls off.
This is my first time hearing Sparks and I wouldn't be surprised if they influenced future artists.
Ultimately nothing is grabbing me here and I'm not likely to revisit.
Prince
3/5
I'm not sure I will ever fully understand Prince.
There are sections of this that cause me anxiety by sounding like kids let loose in a room full of instruments.
Very production heavy.
There was a song or 2 that seemed a little more stripped down that I liked a little more. Like The Cross
Suicide
1/5
First thing that came to mind is that this feels like a deconstructed version of The Doors. So it's like a double shit sandwich.
To be honest no one NEEDS this but I am glad people try things.
Christine and the Queens
2/5
I listened to the French version and checked out the 2 tracks I didn't mind on the English version.
5 dols and L'Étranger (Voleur d'eau) were alright, tho nothing really surprised me.
Not sure this really needs to be here. Sounds like a lot of other stuff and doesn't really bring something new.
Nick Drake
4/5
Some of the lyrics are drivel but the arrangements are very nice.
Gave it 2 full listens. It's nice but I think there are other artists that do this, but better.
Might revisit.
Metallica
4/5
I would assume this is the peak of the trash metal sound.
I'd say it feels like a more cohesive album from them.
It started to make me nauseous by track 5.
The instrumental is kind of refreshing in a way.
Beach House
3/5
I listened to this during a long drive. Blue skies with the odd puffy white cloud, trees flying by.
I was feeling it at first but it quickly felt like I was listening to the same song repeatedly from a slightly different universe.
Nice music, but didn't do much for me.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
Might be the worst album cover I've seen.
I like the instrumentation, his voice is too hammy. It distracted me from any real emotion that could be there.
He might look too much like a magician not to be doing magic.
I could find a way to like this more, but I'd need to be drunk and 20 years younger.
Arcade Fire
3/5
The arrangements are spectacular. The lyrical content is interesting.
The production didn't feel as dynamic as it could be.
I would need more listens. There is a lot going on.
Black Wave/Bad Vibrations caught my attention.
The Avalanches
2/5
Seems like it's the audio equivalent of a mixed up box of old toys from the 1980s and 1990s
I usually really mesh with this sort of thing, but this album wasn't doing it for me.
Frontier Psychiatrist is pretty good.
Joan Baez
3/5
Almost haunting voice.
It's a woman and a guitar. She does that well.
I'm not a fan of her version of Wildwood Flower.
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
This has a lot of good ingredients. Vocals are not one of them and the rest were not mixed in the right ratios.
The bass did a lot of heavy lifting to keep this interesting.
The Band
3/5
They come off so relaxed,confident and fun.
They have all of the pieces but after the hits it just doesn't keep my attention.
Get's a bit too dull.
Stephen Stills
3/5
The stereo mixing is great.
The music has nice warmth to it.
There is too much here. They should have cut this down. I'm about halfway done and nothing is popping out.
Solid instrumentation, but I was waiting for a moment when it popped and it never happened.
Maybe with some deeper listens I'd find something.
Pixies
4/5
There are more hits than misses here.
The compositions and vocal choices are mostly interesting.
Big fan of Wave of Mutilation.
I like Here Comes Your Man and Hey.
When I was younger I first heard Gouge Away as a cover by Hayden not knowing it was a cover. I still like his version slightly more, but this is pretty good too.
Lauryn Hill
2/5
Her voice is a decent instrument.
I found myself getting bored and checking how much was left.
The singles hold up but most of the tracks are very forgettable.
Traffic
3/5
This was a solid listen but as an album didn't feel cohesive.
Some songs had moments but, over all none stuck with me.
Traffic was a pleasant surprise when John Barleycorn Must Die came up having never heard them before this experiment. This album feels about the same.
The Cardigans
4/5
The arrangements and the vocals are the strong points here.
Kind of sick of hearing Lovefool
I'm confused by the Iron Man cover.
I liked Been It,The Great Divide and Choke.
I get why people would like this. I don't really have any strong complaints about the album as a whole. Just not something I see myself listening to very much.
Kraftwerk
3/5
I was listening to this suffering from a pretty bad headache, I felt like I was going insane.
It was interesting and I might even go back to it someday if I would like to be in a trance, but it would not be a regular listen.
Miles Davis
5/5
This is what I needed today.
Made sure to carve out the time to just listen with headphones and melt away.
The sound quality alone makes me want to lower the ratings of a bunch of albums I've already listened to.
The Who
3/5
Maybe it's the copy I have but the recording isn't great.
A solid 1960s rock album.
Other than the hits, I'm not sure this does much more than tease what is to come.
2Pac
1/5
So Many Tears has an okay vibe.
His flow is good.
I'm pretty sure it's okay if someone doesn't hear this before they die.
This came out the same year as Liquid Swords. Nothing on this even comes close.
I get bad vibes from Tupac.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
It's crazy how much the British championed/benefited from the delta blues sound. That fact and who Mick Jagger would become distracted me a bit during my listen.
7th studio album, crazy.
It opens so strong.
Keith Richards killing it.
I enjoy the production.
I think this is a cool listen but I found my mind drifting. I give this a very nice 4 with the intention to revisit.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
I rolled my eyes so hard seeing this pop up. Elvis Costello will need to work hard to impress me.
I don't get it. It's fine. I don't know.
It's plain white bread.
The Divine Comedy
2/5
I heard the first minute of the first track and couldn't handle it. I put off the listen as long as I could.
Some of the instrumentation is fine.
Most of the tracks are too long for being music that is this cheeky.
The ingredients are here, but in this format are not for me.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Sounds like Dylan is displaying more of the music that influenced him.
Only some moments and vibes popped out for me. Songs are a little long for my taste of this kind of music, but I could also just have this on while doing stuff.
Might try and revisit this.
Neil Young
5/5
This is among the top if not the best sounding album so far (around 300 in) Just sonically the mixing is so good. Everything comes across crisp. It worked on the car stereo and headphones.
Had heard about this album but never a full listen until now and it's just a solid album.
I wouldn't say I'm hooked after one listen but I'll give it some more.
Frank Sinatra
2/5
I find myself liking his voice more in this.
A lot of sad sack songs and I'm not in the mood for this.
Musically it is all on point, tho feels a little redundant.
Should have cut it down to like 3 tracks
Destiny's Child
2/5
You know the moment that a model stops does a look then walks away? This is like the audio equivalent of that over and over and over again. That or a Micahel Bay movie.
Just a stepping stone to push Beyonce. Souless is a good word for it.
Bon Jovi
3/5
I feel like this type of music has lost it's place in the world. It became a joke.
It's fun, but once you've rocked out a little ironically it's over.
Livin' on a prayer became a wedding reception song.
Games like Rock Band are a great place for music like this.
Wanted Dead or Alive is pretty fun.
The Prodigy
3/5
I want to hack the planet and surf the cyberspace now.
I don't have enough experience to know where this lands with this kind of music.
I didn't mind the vibe of it.
I do like some tracks, it didn't offend me.
Lana Del Rey
3/5
The vocal choice takes some getting used to.
Musically it isn't bad. I just don't really want to listen to 45 minutes of drab.
The lyrics were a little weak except for the Joni Mitchell cover. Which also was probably the best song.
D'Angelo
1/5
His ability to sing makes this not nothing but not by much.
I don't get it.
The arrangements seem kind of weak.
Duke Ellington
3/5
Not a big fan of this package.
There is skill and history on display here but a lot of chaff.
I'd like to listen to more Duke Ellington and bits of this have inspired me to do so but I'll likely try and check out other recordings.
David Bowie
5/5
First thing that hit me is top tier production.
Next the use of use of classic formulas for the foundation of each of the songs. Like the break beat on track two. The bass on track three.
Not a fan of the saxophone usually but it works well all over this album. The meaty guitar near the end of Lazarus.
Girl Loves Me sounds influenced by hip hop without being something I feel I've heard before in a very interesting way.
Dollar Days is a great evolution of a style of song that would be at home in the 1970s but with modern production it doesn't feel dated.
Harmonica.
As always with Bowie for me even the tracks that don't work as strong for me on first exposure they leave me with curiosity. This might be my favorite Bowie album now or at least up there.
This album assures me that I have lots of time to keep creating.
Jethro Tull
4/5
Well put together. Solid compositions.
Something about it always made me drift off, but I have no complaints really. I would put it on again and do stuff.
Everyone seems to talk about the flute with these guys. The flute is fine, it does it's job.
Norah Jones
3/5
Norah is talented and has a very nice voice.
The production is solid.
Seven Years has a little Sitar sounding bit that makes a connection to her famous father's sound.
A pleasant Hank Williams cover of Cold Cold Heart
Unfortunately, I wouldn't listen to this much personally, but it is pleasant to take a nap to.
Iron Butterfly
2/5
Very 1960s rock. Mostly all forgettable except the title track.
I really like the title track. I'll probably try and listen to it more often. I think I have it on Vinyl.
Good Simpsons bit too.
Everything But The Girl
1/5
If you want to try making boiled paste, add about 4 tablespoons of white flour to 2 cups of water and heat in a pan, stirring, until it begins to bubble. Turn off the heat and let it cool, and thicken, a bit before you use it.
Time better spent.
k.d. lang
2/5
She has a great voice and talent. It's like strange jazzy country fusion. But I'm probably never going to listen to it beyond today.
Don't let the Stars Get in your Eyes really took me back.
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Sets the bar pretty high starting with Shining Star.
The production and compositions are above average.
I think you get your money's worth in this 39 minutes
Solid like 4.6
The Strokes
3/5
It has a decent energy, but it all sounds kind of the same.
The singles are catchy.
Not a fan of the vocal mixing choice.
This is a 2.5.
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
Not familiar with this artist.
Sounds really good for a live album.
Just one of Those Things - nice bass line
The voice on this lady is pretty good.
Being a little cheeky on How High the Moon is fun.
Sometimes I'm Happy is a cool track.
The sonic quality overall is pretty good.
Very close to a 5 for me.
I will look up more of her
Deep Purple
4/5
The start blew my socks clean off.
I mean Smoke on the Water.
Lazy has some cool moments.
Space Truckin is wild and so are it's origin according to it's wiki.
The version I'm listening to seems a little muddy.
I'd say a good album, not great.
I would dive deeper on this one. I dig the 38 minute runtime.
Sade
4/5
The opening track doesn't work for me.
Your Love is King got me back to at least pay attention.
When am I Going to Make a Living is a cool track.
Great voice, vocal skills, and solid instrumentation and compositions.
I think this is a cohesive album and very listenable. I would like to say don't see myself listening to it in the future, but it may have won me over.
The Yardbirds
4/5
After the first two tracks I was ready to give this a 5.
At track 4 it lost some momentum.
Then from there it started feeling less cohesive as an album. Started to feel like it was trying to offer something for everyone. That being said I liked most of the songs.
Especially the Blues influenced stuff.
I might revisit this but it's a 4 just for feeling a bit unfocused.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
I appreciate that this exists and in my youth the chaos would have clicked right in to my brain. I might even listen again. And I think it belongs.
I think it also serves as a great calibration tool. If listening to this makes you angry or upset, then you just learned something you don't like which can help you understand what you do like.
"When people see some things as beautiful, other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good, other things become bad."
Pulp
2/5
Sonically overall it's fine but kind of becomes a grey blob.
Common People is some how catchy.
The vocal stylings do the same thing too much and made me ignore the lyrics.
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Interesting compositions.
Very much the indie sound of the early 1990s with a little something to stand out.
I enjoyed 2 listens on a small road trip, but ultimately nothing really stuck with me.
Sonic Youth
3/5
I enjoyed this. I get lost in noise rock like this which makes it hard for me to pin point any specifics.
I would understand this not being for everyone. This does belong on this list. I hope to re visit this.
Otis Redding
3/5
When I saw Otis Redding pop up I was expecting more.
A bunch of covers and not really my favorite versions of these songs.
Still some good energy but doesn't vary enough.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
The opening track did nothing for me but Nocturnal Me is something.
The production is pretty solid here.
Crystal Days also sounded like a full bodied song.
The YoYo Man keeping it up sounds like a song fit for a stage production.
Thorn of Crowns again with interesting composition and production.
Overall this surprised me. Not usually a fan of 1980s sound, but this sounded ahead of it's time.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
Some great vibes.
Some of the tracks got me moving.
Tracks 5 and 6 not so much.
Might re visit some of the songs.
The Triffids
1/5
I'm not sure if I was just in a bad mood, but something about this was not working for me.
The instrumentation seemed fine.
The vocals weren't working for me.
Overall there was an overly sanitized white kitchen tile vibe to this.
Radiohead
4/5
This might be my favorite Radiohead album so far, but I stand by what I said every other time.
I'd like to hear it with the vocals replaced by a trumpet.
If no one ever makes it for me I either need to learn to play the trumpet to karaoke tracks or use AI.
Slint
2/5
This didn't do anything for me.
Kind of an indie rock sound that faded into the background for me. I'm not interested in listening again.
Fugazi
4/5
In my youth I found my self doing more activities that pair with this music. Now days this would be a great lawn mowing album.
Musically there is some cool stuff scattered throughout this.
I will probably try and give this another listen down the road.
Pixies
3/5
This is a fine album.
Wouldn't be my first pick to put on these days but it's fun. Some good melodies in there
I can hear some of the influence they had on Nirvana in here.
Deep Purple
3/5
This is terrible album art.
Music so meaty.
A pretty good 70s sound. Over all good vibe.
But at the end of the day no real break out songs for me on this one.
Strong 3
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
This is surprising me.
An interesting mix of the Blues and psychedelic rock of the 1960s.
There might be too much here.
I'll probably dive into to this again.
Kanye West
5/5
This is an amazing album that almost summarizes the work that came before it.
The whole thing just works. He is not the best lyricist but the rest of the tapestry he weaves carries him.
From the hits he made for Jay-Z to this he just kept building, but not long after this he flew to close too the sun.
The man figured out the formula for producing a pop song for a time.
Almost like he made a deal at the crossroads and the bill came due.
May he find peace some where that we don't need to hear about him for a long while.
Lorde
2/5
I'm not sure about this one.
Production wise it's pretty solid.
Listenable.
The vocal choice gets repetitive.
Feels a little souless.
It's not bad, just not for me.
Kind of like a paste made of flour and water with a few sprinkles thrown in.
Haircut 100
4/5
When I saw the cover and the year I said to myself not another newwave.
This one was different.
A very cohesive listenable album without that 80s vocal style front and center.
A hybrid sound with great energy.
Great instrumentation throughout.
The songs Kingsize and Calling Captain Autumn were my picks.
The Modern Lovers
3/5
Could tell right away that this was influenced by The Velvet Underground.
It's a fine listen.
Did not like the Pablo Picasso song. Some of the other song lyrics aren't great.
Like 1960s rock creeping towards punk.
Kanye West
3/5
Kanye makes great tracks.
Not a great rapper.
We don't need to know what he thinks about anything.
The tracks with featured artists have some great talent that elevate those tracks.
Not as pretentious as his current work, but you can hear the fragility of his ego in his lyrics that would later become amplified.
Hearing the sketches about school now after he made his own wacky school is pretty crazy.
The B-52's
2/5
I had previously only heard Rock Lobster and never understood it.
I don't get this.
Like an ironic camp homage to the 1950s and 1960s.
It is all too distracting for me to notice the music.
The Style Council
2/5
I was like "Oh okay not what I expected, mediocre jazz." Then *record scratch* rap like Barney Rubble in a fruity pebbles comercial.
Then it kind of bounced back, a bit more listenable.
Left me a little confused. There were some good bits in there tho.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
4/5
I have never listened to ELP, so this might be a kind of insane way to start. I can see why this would be polarizing in the mainstream.
Cool concept.
I do look forward to hearing more of them.
I like what prog brings to the table, it activates my synapses.
They play like they never stop playing.
The recording is so good. The sound of the strings is perfect.
I need more time with this in the future.
Needs a trumpet or french horn.
Pretenders
3/5
So much Newwave on this list.
Okay, this one is more of a Rock and Roll album, with some 1960s sound.
This is fine, but feels they could be better. The vocals aren't the strongest.
Kind of curious about what else they have to offer.
Taylor Swift
3/5
It's pop at It's highest pop.
It's fructose.
Obviously catchy stuff on here.
A product of the machine.
It's not for me but as a product there is nothing really wrong with this.
I would say I won't listen to this again but you can't avoid hearing most of it in this day and age.
Moby Grape
3/5
It's 1960s rock.
Never heard of it, but it's quite solid.
Problem is I've heard so much like this before it. So I find myself thinking about other music.
Great track lengths. Might try to give it another chance some day. Might forget to do that.
The Verve
2/5
I'm not sure I can do this.
Bitter Sweet Symphony almost turns my stomach because it has gone in my ear holes so many times.
There is a lack of soul to these songs and the production has no body. So I guess that leaves them with nothing.
It's like they are casting spells of boredom.
It's a cohesive album that comes so close to sounding like things I like but just doesn't.
Dolly Parton
5/5
Three women at the top of their game.
Doesn't do anything insane, but is a rock solid classic country album.
Great harmonies, great musicianship, great production.
I nice easy listen that flew on by.
Dolly can't help it but, she stands out.
Meat Puppets
5/5
A very interesting fusion of country and punk.
A meaty sound.
I was never a huge fan of Nirvana, but the covers they did from this. Just never chased it down.
I need more time with this.
If I was back walking home from school listening to this, I would love just getting lost in this.
I had an album by a Canadian band The Sadies back then, similar kind of sound.
I'm a Midless Idiot is hitting a sweet spot.
Beatles
5/5
The most cohesive sounding Beatles album we have listened to yet.
Might also be my favorite Beatles album, but Revolver is still to come.
Well written lyrics, solid instrumentation. A slight stumble when Ringo sings on What Goes On.
I'm not sure what to say it's a 5.
Moby
3/5
Moby! Give Gregor his CDs back.
It's like this guy stumbled onto the right sound the right place the right time.
Some undeniably catchy compositions.
Album doesn't need to be this long. Sould have ended at least after track 11
The Blues and Roots samples elevated this to make it much cooler.
Tricky
2/5
This was a bit tricky.
There was quite a bit that I liked about this sonically. The vibe, the kind of spooky nature at times.
It felt a little sloppy, with a bit more polish could be better.
At the end nothing stayed with me.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
I enjoyed this.
Solid musicianship, nice vibe.
Interesting use of the Blues.
Felt a little repetitive at times not knowing the language, but toe tapping none the less.
Would probably try and check out again.
Johnny Cash
4/5
His voice is something special.
The Man Comes Around is the best track.
He manages to make all of the covers work on some level.
Could have been a more powerful package with a tighter selection of tracks.
I think for that reason this is a strong 4.
Portishead
4/5
Pretty good. A bit of a 1960s psychedelic vibe at times.
The vocals could be better or replaced with a trumpet.
We Carry On, Makes me think of Pink Elephants on Parade bit when Dumbo is hallucinating.
Dennis Wilson
3/5
This has some interesting bits.
Not a fan of most of the synth stuff.
The tracks Thoughts of You and Time, do seem to tap into some real emotion.
Time is probably the coolest track.
I do like the use of trumpet.
The fact that the album was recorded over a span of seven years seems to make it less sonically cohesive.
The Police
3/5
Message in a Bottle and Walking on the Moon are catchy, the rest I can do without.
Not terrible, fine instrumentation, but those two tracks aren't enough.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
This album makes me want to grab my harmonica and jam along.
With Led Zeppelin IV I said "They use the Blues, Rock and Folk music as a strong foundation and build a castle on that foundation." And the same is true here.
The first disc goes harder but, the melodies still feel cohesive on disc two. Things are kept fresh with the change of pace. The song Black Country Woman is a bit of a stumble.
I give this album like a 4.8 rounded up.
Primal Scream
2/5
The first track was alright, but I'm struggling to get anything from the following tracks.
Maybe this was ahead of it's time?
Is that why it's here?
It's well constructed, just doesn't inspire repeat listening.
The Slits
3/5
After my first listen I wasn't sure what I liked about this one, but there was something.
On second listen I realized it sounds like the kids from the movie Oliver! (1968) got together to put out a reggae album.
Great vocals.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Ohhh this one was a ride.
On first listen when I got to Bob Dylan's 115th Dream I kind of lost it.
He comes off as a counter culture pretentious person in their early 20s that NEEDs to go out west to find themselves and a drunkcle combined.
I was thinking this con artist is riding off his early fame just saying things and the instruments are trying to keep up.
Well then Tamborine Man hit and I calmed down. From there to the end he won me back over enough to go back to the start.
I still didn't care for Outlaw Blues, On The Road Again or Bob Dylan's 115th Dream.
Those three tracks in a row made me forget about the first four tracks on my initial listen.
I'll still give this a 4. I appreciate the poetic nature displayed in most of the tracks.
I would recommend most people just consume Dylan with a greatest hits album.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Something is going on here.
It's got very polished production.
The ambient music feels repetitive.
This would be better served as a book or blog of poetry with this music backed version as a special release.
It's fine
The Fall
2/5
Great title, awesome art work.
Sounds like they are having fun, but I am not.
There are some decent melodies, but this was a bit of a chore.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Sounds kind of like a band just messing around, trying some stuff out.
Add a dash of "not trying is cool".
These guys are cool
It is interesting, and probably inspired future artists, maybe not a regular listen but a calibration point to visit sometimes.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
This album feels like the production/mixing level is a grand canyon apart from a lot of other albums on this list especially modern overcompressed stuff.
Even if a song or two didn't hit me right away I was listening because the mixing is so good.
I think Helpless is my favorite track.
This album makes me want to understand why it sounds so good. Even if you don't like the music it should make you wonder why so many albums even on this list don't sound this good.
Little Richard
4/5
As if by magic it makes you want to move.
Over 6 decades later it still has an energy that's undeniable.
A number of the artists that I have given 5 stars to give some form of credit to Little Richard. Beatles, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, David Bowie.
The production is what it is, but I enjoy the music
Cee Lo Green
1/5
Big fan of the dirty south sound.
Not so much a fan of Cee-Lo's voice or the man.
Was nice hearing Timbaland and not the best Ludacris but nice to hear him too.
His vocals are killing me. I'm trying but this is a struggle.
Sorry, this isn't doing anything that makes it necessary to be here.
Pixies
3/5
I wanted to like this more than I did. Only knew the track Where Is My Mind, which is a favorite song.
It wasn't that cohesive and just a messing around vibe for a bunch of the tracks.
Gigantic was alright.
Gary Numan
4/5
So much New Wave!
Decent album cover.
This is a pretty solid album.
Haunting vibe overall.
Obviously influential.
Popped for M.E. hearing that sample Basement Jaxx used.
Films and M.E favorite tracks.
Observer sounds like he is just figuring out the song Cars
Strong 4
Tom Tom Club
3/5
So much New Wave!
I like the album art.
I find the opening track grating.
Genius of Love is obviously a great instrumental, but the vocals don't do anything to elevate it. Mariah Carey definitely improved it.
Influential album for sure.
I listened to Santogold a lot back in 2008 which has a very similar vibe. She went on to work with David Byrne in 2010.
On a second listen it grew on me a little more, but not something I would recommend to anyone.
Os Mutantes
2/5
Interesting album cover.
Super 1960s sounding.
Some of it worked some didn't.
One example, Bat Macumba didn't work.
This I would want to give a 2.5 in a take it or leave it way, but I cannot.
Maybe I'm not ready yet.
Maybe we will cross paths again some day.
For now I will round down.
Fugees
4/5
They have that bounce in their flow that I like.
Over all sounds like a blend of The Wu-Tang Clan and a Tribe Called Quest, sprinkle in some reggae.
Some of the skits sound right out of Enter the Wu-Tang.
This album feels a little loose at times, but has enough strong points to keep riding high.
I'm going 4.8 rounded down.
Slipknot
2/5
Okay, not the best day for me and this music.
I'm in the quiet woods and I need to get through this.
There are some interesting melodies hidden in the chaos.
I get why this is here for this genre of music. Probably won't revisit.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Great album cover.
As far as I know this band DOES albums. This is not my first listen but it has been a long time.
It really is made to listen to as one long piece. And that's what I did.
The vocals work so well as an instrument not just laying there.
Amazingly layered soundscape.
Top tier production with a lot of thought put into it.
This is how you album.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
This all sounds very familiar. At first I was ready to dismiss this as a generic rock and roll album.
It's all solid music done by experts at their craft. With pretty good production.
They obviously studied the musical genres on display and made their own great versions of them.
Part of me doesn't want to give this a 5, just because it feels strange that The Rolling Stones nailed these sounds. It feels not that dissimilar to what AI does.
It is a great sounding album that I would like to further explore.
Talking Heads
5/5
Oh New Wave so much of you on this list.
Have always been a fan of Psycho Killer, but a whole album of this style of singing can be a little much at times.
This is a pretty solid debut album.
I could nitpick, but it would only be the odd lyrical choice or my personal taste of wishing vocals could be replaced with a brass instrument.
With more time this album would only grow on me more.
A 4.6 rounded up
Taylor Swift
2/5
Probably would be better if they replaced her vocals with a trumpet.
Created in a lab.
The track happiness at least sounds a little more stripped down.
The content is so repetitive.
This is too sanitized and no catchy hooks.
Dire Straits
4/5
Cool album art.
This album comes in so strong with three hits back to back, then the energy drops off.
Starts to feel like a band taking requests. The album lacks a certain cohesiveness.
Solid instrumentation and Mark Knopfler is amazing.
I kind of wish this was produced in the 1970s to get some of the 1980s stank off of it.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
Before this experiment I had never listened to much Neil Young.
I often remember him trying to sell a digital audio player with superior audio quality, and me rolling my eyes. Although after hearing the audio quality of his albums time and time again blowing me away; maybe he was not so crazy.
I'm not sure yet if this is my favorite of his albums yet(time will tell), but it's pretty darn good.
The way he plays guitar and his song writing is on another level.
In this current world of cookie cutter singing competition vocalists, He has a unique voice and I welcome it.
The album structure is pretty cool and keeps things interesting.
Beck
4/5
I was ready to just dismiss this.
In the past he has made more unique creative choices that worked.
This feels a little more standard and subdued, but with great compositions.
Not much to complain about just nothing pops out for me. A cohesive package of an album.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
I don't know why but this album made me anxious. I find myself waiting for the beat to drop, but it never happens.
I like a single here and there, but a whole reggae album might not be for me.
There is some beautiful stuff here, I probably need to revisit it after taking the proper path.
Nick Drake
2/5
This has a nice sound and has it's moments.
I like the guitar playing.
I'm not feeling the vocals.
Fine background music.
Marvin Gaye
2/5
Great trumpet on Is That Enough.
I was expecting something else from this album. I was trying to figure out what to like and the strange synth kept coming. The production was fine, but this wasn't for me.
Gotan Project
5/5
I listened to this multiple times today. Headphones and car stereo.
I liked this. Driving through the countryside, autumn leaves falling. This had autumnal vibes.
Pere Ubu
1/5
I made it through this.
I can appreciate the cacophony, but I don't think I will bother to do that this time.
Not sure that it needs to be on the list.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
This has some really cool riffs on it.
Starts out with a big one with Whole lot of Love.
Though a fine song, Thank You felt a little out of place, maybe just out of position.
Ramble On is one of their greatest hits obviously.
The album felt like it got lost sometimes and a little too loose compared to what they would go on to do.
Some great Harmonica on Bring it on Home but as far as a cover song bit goes, I don't think it was necessary and seems like it got them into some trouble anyway.
A strong album with one of my favorite Zeppelin tracks but not my favorite Zeppelin album.
Queen
4/5
Queen has such a unique sound.
Killer Queen a standout track here.
You can hear that they are on the path getting closer to the sound most identified with them.
Freddie seems a bit subdued here and the production a little flat at times.
Will revisit.
The Police
3/5
This is a 4 on production and instrumentation.
Let's ignore Mother.
Lyrically at times not so good. Murder by Numbers, come on do better.
Sting's voice isn't offensive sonically but some of his choices using his instrument don't quite work
The ingredients are all here.
The album as a package could be tightened up.
I wan't to give this a 3 point 6.
Cocteau Twins
2/5
Never heard of this group.
I dig the opening track. At the right time, and weather this could really work.
The vocals are a bit weak. The production a little too muddy.
Because of the lack of any kind of clarity lyrically, it becomes a little disorienting and repetitive feeling.
John Martyn
1/5
This sucks.
Easy listening Jim Morrison.
Whatever this is trying to do you can find better versions.
Genesis
5/5
The album art, tho a little interesting doesn't do much for me.
I got five tracks in on the car stereo, but this is a headphones album.
Cinematic opening track.
Fly on a Windshield/ Brodway Melody has a cool vibe.
In the Cage; again so cinematic, driving energy. The synthy stuff is so good on here.
This would all go great with 1980s animation like Time Masters or Gandahar.
Back in N.Y.C. gives me anxiety, but it goes places.
Maybe three tracks didn't instantly hit me on disc one, but they were all strong enough that I believe with more time appreciation would grow.
I think taking a pause or intermission between disc one and two is the way to go. It felt jarring to go right into it.
The Waiting Room was captivating.
Anyway made me want to re-listen instantly.
The Lamia won me over.
Silent Sorrow in Empty Boats was very pleasant accompanying the sun rise while listening.
Then an audio play. The vocals could be a little louder.
Great ending track for this cinematic experience. Takes you out on a high.
Peter Gabriel makes really good cadence choices that make the listener pay attention.
The production, creativity and writing are interesting throughout the two discs. It's a lot to listen to in one sitting, but it's quite the accomplishment.
I'll need to schedule another listen someday.
John Lennon
3/5
Personality of the artist aside.
There are some decent melodies here.
A strong 3. Doesn't do anything new or inspirational, but is pretty good at what it does.
Dire Straits
4/5
I had listened to Brothers in Arms a lot, but this is my first time with this.
Brothers is Arms might have a couple more hits, but this one feels more cohesive to me.
I had this on while doing some work in the garage, having a cold beer, and it was great for that.
Knopfler makes such unique choices on the guitar, it's something special.
I will probably revisit this.
The Undertones
3/5
Not a fan of the album art.
Not a great cover of Under the Boardwalk.
I like the rhythm on The Way Girls Talk
What's with Terry, a solid track to go out on.
This is fine.
Boston
4/5
Another one where the production is almost too slick. It's like non stick.
The compositions are pretty strong and make up for the moments of corny lyrics.
Foreplay/Long Time is a fun track.
There is nothing wrong here, it feels like a curated adventure. You are on the rails for a fine rock'n time. Be sure to visit the gift shop.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
5/5
Amazing album cover, especially considering my expectations of Count Basie.
Come on, you just know this is some of the highest caliber of a genre.
A track like Fantail is so cool.
This album is full of the trumpet content we have all been looking for.
Stimulates the neurons.
Massive Attack
2/5
After a couple of tracks I was questioning why this was on the list.
Some okay beats at times.
I liked Heat Miser.
Light My Fire had me cringing.
Hot Chip
1/5
What in the flat earther!?
Some danceable tracks, and I probably did in 2012 without knowing.
This needs more body.
Doesn't leave a lasting impression.
I didn't like this.
Mercury Rev
3/5
I was thinking this sounds like the Flaming Lips, and I see they have ties.
Pretty good production value here, interesting mixing.
Goddess on a Hiway is a nice track.
Sonically I might like this more than the Flaming Lips albums we have had.
At the end of the day this didn't blow me away, it was nice album and it is a fine addition to the list.
Pink Floyd
5/5
This is a list of albums you should listen to, and Pink Floyd truley uses the album as an art form.
Sure some songs were able to stand on their own, but they all have a place among the other tracks as part of this rock opera.
Inspiring compositions.
It's a better experience on a stereo played loud enough to feel it, although the stereo mixing on a set of headphones is interesting also.
It's a great work.
Justin Timberlake
1/5
The Neptunes and Timbaland put in the work, this didn't stand a chance without them.
Justin could easily be replaced on this. His voice is weaker than I remembered on these singles.
Why is this an hour long!?
The Pogues
3/5
I nailed this the first time we listened to them.
Some great fun songs on here.
Probably best listened to drunk at a party and not really listening.
It does what it wants; sitting listening to this alone, analyzing it doesn't make sense.
Def Leppard
4/5
This genre of music seems to be in a tiny box. Maybe a candy box. It's candy. You can't live on it alone.
Excitable vocals are going Michael Jackson.
For what this is, it is maybe the perfect representation. This almost deserves a 5 but I can't.
This is too much candy for me.
Emmylou Harris
4/5
She obviously has an amazing voice and vocal choices.
She made every song her own.
I did not care for the male vocalists that popped up on a couple of the tracks.
A very listenable album that showcases country music nicely.
Bill Callahan
3/5
Odd and haunting.
The vocals are almost disjointed from the music.
The compositions are pleasant. The stereo mixing good.
I don't dislike this.
A whole album of this vocal style is a bit too much. Yet, something is intriguing.
Bonnie Raitt
2/5
I like her voice.
I don't like how 1980s department store synthesizer the music sounds.
Oh, I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again is a bit better, tho bland.
Overall pretty bland.
Drive Like Jehu
4/5
This was really working for me.
I enjoyed the melodies and the bass playing stood out for me. The vocals weren't always great.
My favorite track was Do You Compute.
Never listened to these guys, but similar stuff in the early 2000s. I will likely listen again.
4/5
Really good, production, compositions and writing.
On my listens, I enjoyed it, but specific songs didn't stick with me.
As an album though, overall I have no complaints
Spiritualized
3/5
It has the basic ingredients of some good music, but this is kind of flat.
Has a the overly compressed sound of it's era.
The vocals get to be repetitive, lacking range.
The Individual might be my favorite track.
This is a good album, with more potential. Just didn't get me today.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Some face melting riffs.
I like the album cover.
There are some older recordings of Black Sabbath in which they are much closer to a straight blues band.
I don't know enough about how they made it here, but they took the heavy blues roots and elevated them.
Ozzy's voice works so well dancing over the guitar riffs.
Planet Caravan a more psychedelic jazz track had me captivated on this listen. The mixing is so good.
Electric Funeral.
Tony Iommi is so good.
Bill Ward killing it on every track.
Geezer Butler bass so good
I have just realized that this is one of my favorite albums.
Big Black
1/5
I did not care for this.
I wasn't in a great mood and this was not what I needed to hear.
Not sure if I ever need to.
Enjoy it.
Serge Gainsbourg
2/5
The instrumentation is fine but the vocals are corny. The concept seems to be creepy also.
I liked that this was a short album.
Cowboy Junkies
4/5
The opening track made me unsure of where this was going, bit I liked it.
I've heard the band's name before but never listened to them.
This is well produced.
The musicianship is solid.
The vocals used well.
I did not care for the slow jam version of I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry.
I almost want to give it a 3, because I'm not in the mood for this, but it's hard to complain.
Good lullabies or music to stare into a fire to, or both at the same time.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
Big 1960s inspired vibes.
Just doesn't do anything for me. It's fine but for this kind of sound I'd rather listen to Simon and Garfunkel.
American Music Club
3/5
There was a chunk of this that felt like a mediocre Morrissey impersonator singing over new country.
Some decent compositions.
I probably won't come back.
Suede
2/5
Is this a U2 cover band?
Alanis Morissette
3/5
Her voice is interesting and does some heavy lifting keeping my attention.
The compositions also interesting, but the instrumentation isn't great.
Also shout out to the music video for Ironic
The Charlatans
2/5
The mixing is terrible.
The vocals are getting trampled on.
A bunch of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band sound here.
Really suffers from that 1990s, early 2000s compression and lack of dynamic sound. Makes it bland.
2/5
This wasn't doing anything for me until I got to Starship. Starship caught my attention. So I went back.
It had it's moments on second listen.
I wasn't in the mood for this today. The live recording just made it sound a bit messy.
David Crosby
3/5
The instrumentation is good on this album.
The stereo mixing is pretty solid.
Crosby's vocals unfortunately do not grab ones attention.
A strong 3 almost 4, but in the future if I wanted to listen to this kind of music I'm probably not turning to this one.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
A lot of this blends together except the big one.
Alright energy, but the sound isn't quite right. If I get curious I might check out the 2022 version.
If I was looking for the kind of vibe or the energy I found in most of the tracks, I'd lean more towards a Queen album.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
The amount of times i have had to hear most of these songs is nauseating.
The musicianship is solid but the vocals not so much.
This is an instance where I would not go with a trumpet to replace the vocalist, I would go with a cello.
Sugar
3/5
Not a good first track.
The vocals are getting trampled on.
Sonically a bit repetitive.
Hoover Dam has something going for it.
Very much an encapsulation of the sound of it's time.
I listend to quite a few bands that were probably influenced by this Bob Mould sound in the later end of the 1990s
Coldcut
3/5
Some fun stuff here.
Great samples.
For it's time, it obviously would inspire.
Overall could have been tightened up, it's a bit long. Should be much closer to 30 minutes
Beats and Pieces is the favorite track, but even it hangs around too long.
James Brown
4/5
James Brown sets a high bar for charisma.
The band is tight, which gives him the ability to improv with ease.
This sounds great for a live album. I'm just not a big fan of live albums.
Michael Jackson
3/5
Feels crazy going from yesterday's album James Brown right into this. Really makes the inspiration clear.
Michael as I've said before brings the energy and charisma, but I find the music mediocre.
The first two tracks are fun to dance to.
Shuggie Otis
4/5
I like the vibe here.
On the right day this would be the perfect album. Making a cup of coffee, early morning sipping it as the Sun rises.
This album isn't brash. It's hard for it to offend me.
Aht Uh Mi Hed is my favorite track.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
A pretty tight album.
Blends a lot of influences really well.
Decided to read the lyrics along with my second listen. It was like sitting down with an interesting book.
This is an album.
Requires more than one listen.
I missed out by not listening to this when it came out.
The Temptations
3/5
This started off strong, then kind of fell apart for me.
Some clunky songs on the back end.
Great voices.
Tina Turner
3/5
A great use of her voice and what she can do with it.
I do not care for the instrumentation.
The original I Can't Stand the Rain by Ann Peebles is much better.
If I film a montage in the future, I hope I can use Steel Claw to accompany it.
1984 is ... interesting, oh it's Bowie.
Kate Bush
3/5
The mixing could be better, it's a bit muddy.
It is interesting and her voice does a lot of the work.
Suspended in Gaffa stands out immediately.
I would need more time with this.
Erykah Badu
2/5
An instrumental copy of this for playing during a dinner party could work.
It's fine sonically.
I wouldn't mind hearing a version where all of the vocals were replaced by maybe a flute.
The mixing is pretty solid but the album is a few tracks too long.
If I want something with this vibe I'd probably look else where.
This just isn't something I would write home about. I'm trying to find a reason to be generous and go to 3, but I just don't care enough.
Thin Lizzy
3/5
This is fun music, it's got a bounce.
The production could be a little more dynamic.
This is much longer than it needs to be.
Some mediocre blues music.
Tom Waits
3/5
The audio quality is great.
I enjoyed this listen and I'm glad this exists.
Wouldn't be in a regular rotation.
I don't think this needs to be on this list.
Björk
3/5
If my memory is working, I think this one sounds better than Debut.
Although being a unique artist this doesn't really advertise very much range.
Unless something surprises me in the future I don't think the list needs more than one Björk album.
Billie Holiday
3/5
I know the name, but have no experience listening to her that I can recall.
The orchestra plays a supporting roll falling to the background, almost responding to her.
Although maybe not the most bombastic of voices, the power lies in her attention grabbing timing and cadence.
I liked It's Easy to Remember.
Goldfrapp
2/5
Nothing stuck with me.
The melodies are well constructed, but forgettable.
The vocals feel repetitive quickly.
Coldplay
4/5
I thought this album was more recent than 2002, it holds up.
Still Coldplay sounds a little sterile for my taste.
The sound is lacking some body compared to say a Neil Young album.
Solid song writing, good compositions. Some great singles.
It's an album.
Finley Quaye
2/5
Sound is kind of like a bad Nina Simone impersonator singing an AI written Bob Marley album.
I agree this doesn't need to be on the list. It doesn't do anything and it's from 1997. There are just better versions of this to be found.
Alice In Chains
4/5
Always heard the name in my youth never listened.
I like the bass and main guitar riff on Rain when I die.
I hear the Blues in the ground work for a lot of this. Like Junkhead is a blues song.
There are some solid melodies here.
This album could be better with a little trimming.
Antony and the Johnsons
2/5
Starts off pretty good.
There is some decent vocal range.
Sonically it's a pleasant listen, although a little repetitive for a 35 minute album.
Some real emotion gets across
It's nice music and I'd probably give it a 2.5.
The variation tho subtle at times on first listen just doesn't give me a full album feel. It feels a bit like I got the same item in a couple of different colours.
Bee Gees
4/5
I'm not sure this album can live up to the battle depicted on it's cover.
The production is nice and warm, with some good stereo mixing.
It's Just the Way had some standout bits.
Somebody Stop the Music was alright.
Lion in Winter feels like it's so close to being a really cool song.
Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself hooked me more on second listen. Really good track.
This is a pretty solid album, considering I only knew them from Saturday Night Fever type stuff.
Spacemen 3
1/5
This is kind of nothing.
Most people given a simple looping software, could re create a close approximation of this.
Reminds me of The Doors, it could trick you into thinking there is sustenance when it's empty.
It did help me zone out during an unpleasant drive.
Fatboy Slim
2/5
Good composition skill.
It is interesting that the human mind can at times find a repetitive sound soothing like staring into fire.
This album does what it does well.
I personally would feel ripped off if I bought this in 1998 based on one single.
I'm on some night time cold medicine listening to this and the two do not mix.
booty must be dead
Calexico
4/5
Never heard of this band.
Right away this did a good job of making me pay attention.
Very nice changes in style between songs while still keeping the same vibe.
Solid song craft.
Personally tho, as an album I would want it tightened up and maybe drop like 4 tracks.
Van Morrison
4/5
Very nice song construction and lyricism. A warm sound.
The production and instrumentation are solid, but it mostly seems forgettable. Although I could see it growing on me if given more time.
Gang Of Four
3/5
Cool album art.
Damaged Goods caught my attention. Good track.
The chili peppers owe these guys.
Cool bass playing.
Cool melodica playing.
Solid production.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Too sanitized sounding for myself. Some sanitized Blues in here.
I'm not sure why, but except for the odd famous single his music has never done much for me.
I find this album feeling repetitive.
Born to Run is a very good song.
Fiona Apple
3/5
Some strong instrumentation, vocals and lyrics.
The compositions are good but feel safe.
The production feels slightly flat.
The Pretty Things
2/5
The sound is not dynamic enough for me.
The whole production is a bit messy.
Some interesting nuggets but not enough to really draw me in.
Gram Parsons
2/5
The story of the album release is messed up.
I don't care for his voice and feel that the Emmy Lou Harris vocals keep this interesting.
The production and mixing is pretty good.
His voice on $1000 wedding is better.
Ooh Las Vegas has some bounce.
In my Hour of Darkness sounds okay, I just want a dash more feeling in his vocals and a little more stripped down sound.
This overall isn't my style, not enough folk or grit in here. Too shiny.
This album makes me think of a vinyl brown couch.
Screaming Trees
2/5
This is very 1990s
The stereo mixing is pretty good.
I like the vocals for the most part.
Sworn and Broken had a kind of cool touch of a country sound and then a section kind of like The Who.
Overall I find it pretty bland and probably won't think of it again.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Okay reading the wiki entry which says this is a concept album, but then says "Side two largely consists of previously-released singles and of unused material for The Graduate soundtrack". Makes it feel like they cheated.
This is a list of "albums to listen to" tho, not greatest albums. Even then a Greatest hits album could be a great album.
Anyway Paul Simon has very strong ability to craft a song.
With their powers combined a song like America is undeniably well crafted.
I kind of like this audio documentary in the middle, but would be annoyed if I spent money in 1968 wanting music.
Old Friends is a nice composition, reminiscent of some movie scores from the 1950s.
Good music, but if someone needs a taste of a Simon and Garfunkel album this wouldn't be the one I would recommend.
Madonna
1/5
Any other artist could have put out some decent music like this and just had Madonna as a feature on a track or two.
This is kind of useless
Makes sense that it has been removed from the list.
Wilco
2/5
They remind me of Canadian bands like Sloan, Thrush Hermit, The Inbreds, The Newgrand...
Again I feel like I've heard music like this all my life.
It's not doing anything standout.
Pays homage to the past a bit.
Too much of it.
It's built well, but I just don't need it.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Ahh I lost my review.
It was some thing like this.
His voice cuts through much like his piercing stare on the cover.
This is a debut album?!
Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye - this track has great melodies.
The production isn't polish perfect but I kind of like that.
Pretty close to a 5
The Darkness
3/5
They are doing this homage album really well. Sonically it's well sculpted, but I'm not sure that it elevated or improved on the original bands of the genre.
It's fun music, I just find it hard to justify making it required listening.
Decent album length for what they are bringing.
Roxy Music
3/5
Why? Again?
I feel like I've listened to 200 albums that sound like this during this journey.
This is a fine album. Track wise it doesn't really feel too repetitive.
I don't care for the vocals for the most part.
Decent harmonica playing.
The saxophone is annoying.
I'm feeling grumpy. This might be better but I'm not in the mood to keep trying to process it.
Basement Jaxx
4/5
This is smartly made music.
One of the best acts doing dance/house at the time.
I wouldn't mind this playing loud whule trying to have a short conversation over it and mostly smiling, nodding and not really understanding each other.
Not necessarily the thing I would reach for but I respect what's going on here and may even try and come back sometime.
I think this holds up.
Arrested Development
3/5
This is fun.
Has that bounce.
You can tell this had some influence on a group like Outkast.
A little storytelling rap, some conscious hip-hop.
It was fine driving music and I might even put it on again sometime, but overall it's nothing to write home about.
XTC
2/5
I don't know why this is going in my ear holes. I need an album to turn things around. The days are getting longer, getting more sun, I should be in a better mood but we are on a run of mid albums.
There are unequivocally better versions of everything they are doing here.
Ahhh why!? Dear God, I know this one and it has something going for it.
Okay, but one interesting song doesn't make this a good album or an album that you NEED to listen to before you die.
I wanted badly to give this 1 star.
Even tho most of the tracks felt like a waste of my time, there is some fine construction.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
1/5
Hmm a goose honking on the opening track.
The vocals come off a bit amateur, karaoke.
It all feels like magazines in a dentists office in the 1990s and it's wall to wall carpet in an ugly pattern.
Rush
4/5
The opening track seems to be created to try and quickly determine if you are a fan or not and if you can't climb this hill maybe you shouldn't stick around.
I'll try to ignore the dated aspects of the second track. The guitar riff is face melting.
Twilight Zone pretty cool. Crazy mixing.
Dynamic sound.
No one else quite like Rush.
Good Canadian content.
The Lemonheads
3/5
I knew the name, but kind of surprised I never listened to them. It is similar to the vibe of music I listened to around this era.
Nice slide guitar.
The sound quality is really good and I probably would have enjoyed this more between the ages of 14 to 17.
Overall there were no big moments and the rhythm gets pretty repetitive.
The album length was a nice break.
Does the cover song count? Seems to be a bonus track on a re release. I'm not counting it.
Miles Davis
5/5
The trumpet just cuts through you.
Into your brain.
Into your soul.
Into your gut.
Great album.
Deee-Lite
3/5
Fine, Fun, Funky.
A little flat sounding for me.
Only knew the one hit.
I guess it's a good representation of a genre and a time.
Sebadoh
2/5
Not my favorite Sebadoh album, but I was a fan of Bakesale and Harmacy.
I wanted more Sebadoh so I purchased this, so the money was spent and needed to put in the time. I would have listened a lot on my walk home from highschool using my Panasonic Shockwave Portable CD Player.
I was into indie rock with a dash of emo. I was a teenager. I was wearing vintage zip up cardigans.
Lou Barlow can be a good lyricist. Being much older now, there are a lot of cringey moments.
I think tracks 1,2,5 are fine and among the limited tracks that I can remember. Which makes me believe I would often skip quite a few tracks.
Emma Get Wild has some cool bits.
The melodies in Homeade are good, but I remember skipping the track most listens and I still feel no one needs this.
Think was the track I would have put on some mixtapes.
Overall I think this album is un focused and and shoots it's self in the foot too many times.
Deep Purple
4/5
Big opening track.
Big vibe throughout.
This is a really good live album. I've never heard a lot of these tracks before. This makes me just want to hear the album cuts.
It's cool but ultimately live albums just aren't what I'm looking for.
Maybe if I here more of the original cuts I'll circle back someday.
Otherwise these guys are great instrumentalists and can compose a solid song.
Keep on Space Truckin'
Stereolab
4/5
Know of the band name, never listened.
I find myself digging this opening track. Great composition.
Some really good melodies.
This engages my synapses with its drones.
Good layering, a lot going on but it's not muddy.
I kind of want to listen to this more.
I like this album art and I'm not sure why.
The album title sucks, but this is an album.
I'd say it could lose one or two tracks to be a bit tighter. A couple feel redundant.
Ravi Shankar
3/5
One of the good things about the internet is that an artist can talk about their art to their audience and not put it on the album that they might want to listen to on repeat.
It's cool that this exists and the music itself can at times hypnotize.
It would be really cool with some more dynamic sound.
This will probably get me to seek some more of his or other Sitar music.
Elvis Costello
1/5
Again I rolled my eyes seeing Elvis Costello pop up.
I think I would need to be British and coming of age in the early 1980s stuck on an island with limited choice to care about Elvis Costello.
I don't think he is an interesting vocalist.
An English man pretending to be an American rebel from the 1950s.
The music that a checkered floor in a diner would make if it could.
They don't need Costello on here 6 times. It's pointless.
I might want 100% amnesia after this.
How did this guy trick so many people.
He should sell off his assets, stupid hats, and donate 99.88% of any money he made off of music to other musicians his age that might be struggling financially. He should be ashamed of the life he lives off of his music. It feels like a music label executive bought him his carrier.
I guess we can all have different taste in music. Enjoy.
The Prodigy
3/5
Good for playing any racing game to.
Ah Firestarter is a fun one.
They have the ability to construct a decent song.
They were probably one of the best at doing this when the people wanted this.
They could trim the fat on a couple of these tracks.
The second Prodigy album we've had. I'm not sure that there was a need for two. The vibe is similar.
Buffalo Springfield
2/5
I have not heard any of this one before.
The opening track isn't clicking for me, except some of Neil's vocals.
Second track is fine, probably would grow on me.
Okay, by track three this is taking a turn. This isn't feeling like a cohesive album.
Sonically fine but I find myself confused.
Hmm, I don't care for Expecting to fly.
Some nice banjo on five.
Six, made me a little nauseous.
Seven, not into the vocal cadence.
There are just better songs like Good Time Boy on albums where you expect to find them.
Rock and Roll Woman is an alright song. The vocals are pretty good, the composition could be tightened up.
Again on Broken Arrow Neil's vocals shine.
There was potential but ultimately it sounded like musical equivalent of what we call the junk drawer. Full of disorganized stuff that has potential to be useful.
The Residents
2/5
Driving to work and listening to today's album was surreal. Getting up early and driving to work in -14 degree weather to go to a place that in the grand scheme of things I don't really want to be. Nine to five for over 20 years and to listen to this. I was going a little loopy. Bach is Dead almost broke me, but I've been loopy many times in my life.
The last 3 tracks saved me from fully losing my mind.
The stars mean nothing, I don't know what to do. Is this better than U2?
Joy Division
3/5
Geez, this is dark.
It's fine at what it does. I'm just at a place in life that this isn't for me. I find it a bit dull.
A well constructed album.
3/5
This production is very much lacking a dynamic sound.
Wonderwall.
I kind of like Don't Look Back in Anger, but still over compressed.
I think I've always liked the title track, tho a little long.
I'm not sure where I heard most of this album but I remember listening to Champagne Super Nova in the back of a 1970s van on a road trip to Quebec. I liked the vibe of the song.
This stuff went on to become a bit of a joke and there are quite a few duds on here, but I get why it was big at the time.
SAULT
3/5
Some of the beats are solid. The production / mixing is pretty solid.
The music is too polished, a bit safe and ultimately a little bland.
The lyrics are about some powerful stuff, but there is no fire.
Or a song like Bow is just asking for more passion in the vocals.
Most of the vibe feels repetitive, all having a kind of low energy vocals.
Kings of Leon
2/5
Musically, the compositions and musicianship at times is okay. Not big on the lyrics or vocals, they really detract and distract.
I don't think a trumpet is the way to go. I think a female vocalist would work better.
The production and stereo mixing is pretty good.
Pistol of Fire has an okay vibe, but has me thinking that I would just go to CCR for the same vibe.
I'm having a hard time with these vocals.
As a 38 minute album I expected this to go by fast, but it is not.
I started higher on this but it just kept dropping the further in I got.
I think there are just other places to find better versions of this.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
4/5
Never heard of this before.
Chuck D flow for sure.
Conscious lyricism and a sound of it's time.
It's very dense, some songs a little on the long side. So I'm not sure that I can give this the time it may require.
That, INS Greencard track too relevant still.
I was pre judging this at a 3 star, but by the end I feel this is a solid album. Not perfect but some great messages. Maybe I'll be able to circle back sometime
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
I think I'm missing something.
It seems well constructed as an album.
The lyrics are interesting to read, but the music is not clicking for me.
Sometimes I'm not sure if it's a language.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
A little incohesive overall. Existing on the line or just past the line of prog rock.
The lack of cohesion was bothering me more at first, but each listen the odd songs grew on me a little more.
It's like this album is a calibration in process.
I kind of agree with Gabriel's feeling that the album is a little over produced.
I'd put Solsbury Hill up in a list of songs that have something else that transcends, like Sandstorm by Darude , the Mortal Kombat Theme or Call me maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
The album cover is gross and the first song is pretty cringey.
There are like 6 Stones albums on this list which is probably too many.
But I get it. The majority of the songs on here are so well crafted and the sound is dynamic.
It is still crazy how some of the best Americana music is by a British group.
I will probably give this one some more listens in the coming days.
Faith No More
2/5
Obviously this had a big influence on music in the future.
Melodically the album has it's moments and the production isn't bad.
The vocals get tiring and the songs are a little formulaic feeling at times.
Somewhere between a 2 and 3 for me
The Divine Comedy
5/5
When I started this album during my morning drive I did so with apprehensions. The chamber pop and humorous nature at times had me cautious. I also realized I had heard the opening track before.
As I reached the end of my first listen, and thought about it I didn't have any complaints. The production was solid, the album length appreciated.
Second listen during my lunch I found myself getting lost in it at times.
Felt some Bowie energy.
During the drive home (third listen) it crossed my mind that I think this is a four or five.
Fourth listen writing this whole review.
This is an album. Cohesive, thematic, not repetitive and not over compressed like many albums of the era. Each track kind of keeps building until the end.
Some nice trumpets
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
This just wasn't for me. I found it flat at times.
I like the guest apperances by the various female guest vocalists.
I find his voice feels like watching a trained dog jump through a hoop. I'm impressed the first 2 times but it gets old fast.
The instumental compositions and production are well done.
Might have needed more time and a headphones listen.
Travis
1/5
On a positive note listening to this can give you a little more understanding of the quality that Coldplay and Radiohead bring.
If you've only eaten cheap American chocolate you might be perfectly happy, but when you finally have some good chocolate you learn how ignorant you have been.
Oh I've heard, "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?". It is kind of catchy, but I'd be fine forgetting it.
The Psychedelic Furs
4/5
Right off the first few notes it had me interested. The trend continues through the album with interesting enough melodies.
The production is a little rough, a little flat at times.
I'd give this some more listens despite the saxophone.
Between a 3 and 4 for me. Gonna round up.
Dusty Springfield
2/5
She has a great voice, there is great musicianship, well produced, but this album is clearly music business.
Safe for middle America. Spoon full of sugar.
Doesn't need to be on the list.
A pleasant listen.
Sleater-Kinney
2/5
Been kind of looking forward to hearing this. Always heard the name and saw articles in magazines back then but never really heard the music.
The first track did nothing for me.
Some okay melodies and a couple hooks.
Overall, very of it's time, not too much to write home about.
Arcade Fire
3/5
There are some nice melodies, but there is a lot of the same vibe for the length of the album.
The recording is at fault a bit. I'm sure this would be a better experience live. I find the recording not as dynamic as it could be.
Wake Up and Rebellion (Lies) are cinematic
2.5 rounded to 3.
Neu!
5/5
This opening track gets going. Reminds me of road trip montage music for a PG rated movie from the 1970s or 1980s.
Track 2 keeps it up really cool intro. Cool vibe throughout.
Track 3 is so calming. Solid vibe.
Track 4 is not my favorite but it's cool that it is like proto punk and inspired other artists.
Track 5 is another good driving song.
Track 6 another with a proto punk thing. Like it a bit more than Track 4.
This is a really cool album overall especially for 1975. I had never heard of this before. I'm not sure yet if this will stick with me, but I think it's just a tight little album. I really like it.
Paul Weller
2/5
This is very well constructed music. If I pause to consider a sheet of paper I can appreciate it as well.
I'm just not getting anything from this that says "You should listen to this"
It's a cohesive album of music that sounds like waiting room music.
It's lacking soul.
Green Day
3/5
It is pretty homogeneous.
It's hard for me to even process, you couldn't escape it in 1994.
The first time I heard the whole album (including the hidden track) was from a 7 year old kid, on a tiny portable cd player. I feigned appreciation, seeing that he was very excited to own it.
So polished, there are no edges or ruff surfaces left.
There is almost an early Beatles vibe to this.
I get why it's here.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
There is something captivating about Bob Marley's voice and the music is hypnotic.
Having a similar tempo throughout can feel repetitive on the surface, but each song is unique.
It's a nice cohesive album, it just doesn't pop for me. If I spent more time with the album it would probably go up.
Oasis
2/5
Okay, I didn't expect to see them again.
The first track is over compressed, just loud for no reason and that trend continues. Lacking dynamic range.
The last track is the exception, it sounds good but the song sucks.
They didn't like the recording the first try and didn't like it the second time but just worked with it. They should have just kept re recording it. This sounds like a tin garbage can.
The song compositions manage to carry the album, but the production is trash.
Ella Fitzgerald
5/5
"When people see some things as beautiful,
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.
Being and non-being create each other.
Difficult and easy support each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low depend on each other.
Before and after follow each other."
Her voice sets a high bar. She created some bad singers when she set that bar.
This is the audio equivalent of a curated art exhibition. The production is outstanding.
The KLF
3/5
An interesting album.
Some good songs.
Some not so much.
Obviously influential music.
The story seems to be more about the theatrics during and following the Brit Awards. Find out about it.
Writing this I keep falling asleep and dropping my phone.
Fleet Foxes
3/5
This is kind of bland. I have never heard this before. Not that dissimilar to the other folk rock acts during the same time, less shouting "HEY"
Tiger mountain song caught my attention.
Blueridge Mountain had some decent components.
This album had moments, but it never popped for me. I could convince myself that I like it, but I don't see myself revisiting this.
It feels like a colouring book that hasn't been colored yet. Might have some interesting pictures, but ultimately empty.
2.5
Scritti Politti
1/5
This has the "We have Michael Jackson at home" vibes.
Great Britain in the 1980s seemed obsessed with synthesizer reggae.
I would appreciate this way more if this was an instrumental album, but these vocals creep me out.
The song Lover to Fall angers me.
TV On The Radio
4/5
I enjoyed this listen.
Clearly some Prince influence, some Bowie, but still that indie rock vibe.
Interesting lyrics that peaked my intrest a number of times.
Nice compositions, didn't feel overly repetitive. Probably could be shorter overall tho.
I'll probably listen again.
Dr. Octagon
3/5
The vocals don't lock into some of the tracks musically as tight as I like in hip hop, but interesting enough to not repel me.
DJ Qbert is putting in the work.
The flow is getting close to Wesley Willis at times.
Ooo DJ Shadow.
This probably had a chance to hook me more if I had found it around the time it came out. The lyrical content isn't catching me right now.
Some similar vibes to stuff lkke Jurassic 5 or Black Star at times
Makes sense that an instrumental version got released.
As an album this was cohesive, cool art, sonically pretty good, a few too many tracks.
I appreciate that this is out there and inspired people. I don't see myself coming back, tho I might give the instumental a shot sometime.
Aimee Mann
3/5
I can hear the potential but, her voice seems a little weak at times.
Jacob Marley's Chain suits her vocal style better, and the track has an interesting vibe.
Mr. Harris also clicks.
I've Had It is a good one.
The production is pretty good overall, but instumentals are a bit generic at times. The song writing is pretty good.
Although nothing to do with the album at face value her story is interesting, being kidnapped, the fact that she is already like 15 years in to her musical career at this point.
I think there is a more interesting album hidden in here.
The Beach Boys
4/5
The album cover is way cooler than it deserves to be.
These guys seem so confused as a band. It's unfortunate, because despite the identity crisis they manage to put out interesting music and albums.
Unless it is basic on purpose this blues song about Student Demonstration is unfortunately kind of cringey. I know they have the potential to do better.
The last bit of Til I Die is cool, I could picture Nirvana covering it.
I listened to the album at least 3 times today. I found it moved fast enough that the odd duck songs were easily passed by each time. I almost want to give this album a 5. It is so interesting, especially with it being The Beach Boys. I'm thinking 4.8, but I'm going to round down.
I hope to get back to study it more sometime.
The Fall
3/5
This album has good energy, some really good instrumentation, but something feels disingenuous about the vocals. Kind of like The Doors.
I made it through 2 listens, and enjoyed them. I could picture myself re visiting this album, but it didn't blow my socks off. A couple small moments may have tugged on my socks.
Iron Maiden
5/5
The kind of energy I needed.
The cover art probably kept me away in my youth. I had an uncle with an Iron Maiden denim jacket that haunted me.
Last time I said "I look forward to hearing more", I wasn't disappointed.
The Blues, Prog, and Garage Rock. Metal.
Great song craft, great album.
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Interesting album cover.
Fun, bouncy opening track.
Second track was decent, but things went down from there.
It all sounds okay production wise.
Good album length.
I'm just not into the mediocre blues inspired tracks or the uncomfortable Coconut song.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
4/5
Quality recording and production by Mike Vernon
John Mayhall is killing it. Some great harmonica and vocals.
John McVie, Hughie Flint solid.
Some students of the Blues that studied hard.
Not that it affects this album but Clapton seems like a man that might have consumed too much lead.
The White Stripes
3/5
This has some pretty well constructed music.
It also all feels very much like a person trying to emulate some songs they like. Not necessarily a bad thing. Art is layers of inspiration. It just takes some of the soul away.
It means I'd mostly seek out the originals before thinking to put this on.
Time will tell.
I think this was removed from the list. That might be a bit harsh.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
I don't think Paul is the best lyricist, but like a high jumper that just makes it over the bar every time. Sometimes that's kind of satisfying.
He can craft a pop song.
Band on the run has a fun bounce to it.
Jet has that cool bass drone, that makes me want a heavier song.
Something about Bluebird sounds ahead of it's time, but a little too busy.
Mrs.Vandebilt, tho a fun rhythm, it is lacking, could have been chopped.
Let Me Roll It, again I dig it musically, but I find it lyrically un interesting.
Mamunia has a Paul Simon Vibe.
No Words is a bit of a mess. Beach Boys meet Bee Gees.
Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me), I like the lyrics on this one, I'm confused by the instrumentation. I'm going to assume they were going for an abstract sculpture of audio.
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five has a little more of a driving energy and caught my attention.
There is some good stuff across the board, I enjoyed it, but it all stops a little short from sounding fully fleshed out.
Tim Buckley
2/5
The musicianship and production is well done.
This does not age well. I can't get into the details.
This guy and his voices.
I forgot we already did one of this guys albums.
Common
4/5
I listened to this album on repeat when it came out. Went to see a Common live show, February 2006.
Common, smooth, great lyricism, has that bounce. Nice word play.
Every track has something interesting.
Couple nice J Dilla tracks.
The other tracks with a formula that worked for so long.
The Food should have been the studio version. Live version could have been a bonus track. Still a great song though.
I had forgotten about this album. It sonically holds up, but I probably won't revisit it often again.
The Specials
3/5
I can't deny that the opening track is a solid song.
Sounds like they have fun being a band. Probably a fun live act.
I like the brass.
This is probably a 5 star Ska album.
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
Had some interesting bits sonically.
Lyrically it didn't do much for me.
But had that flat over compressed sound to it of the 1990s.
Buck Owens
4/5
A great example of 1960s country that eventually gets us to outlaw country.
Great track lengths and story telling.
Something endearing about the rough production.
The Bukaroos are killing it. Love the sound of the pedal steel guitar.
Memphis has the vibes of a Beatles song. The Beatles obviously fans of this kind of music. They went on to cover Act Naturally.
Act Naturally is such a great track.
I hate new country.
Gillian Welch
2/5
Right away, great voice.
Nothing popped for me. It was all fine enough. I hoped something would hit the bluegrass sweet spot. Never did.
It didn't really do anything to make it required listening.
Also quite a few tracks that are a bit too long.
10cc
2/5
Conspiracy theory: There is a rich family that owns a lot of coconuts paying to have songs made about coconuts constantly.
There are Queen comparisons, but the vocals just aren't as strong and the transitions feel jarring at times.
I might try and dig deeper someday just for insanity reasons.
Bob Dylan
5/5
In my youth I had his Greatest Hits cassette from 1967. I've never heard this album. I only knew the amazing track that is Shelter From the Storm.
Simple Twist of Fate - put me in a creative mood.
Meet Me in the Morning - A blues song that sounds genuine.
Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts-I was expecting to find out Paul Simon was involved with this song.
Buckets of Rain - put me in a meditative state.
Every track has something interesting going on.
This is an album. Great cover art. Great song writing and Dylan as always is using his voice as an instrument. The audio quality is on another level.
I'd like to revisit this album.
Slayer
2/5
I'm sure Slayer is the best at what they do.
I chuckled at the lyrics a few times.
Raining Blood is probably my favorite track on this.
This isn't something I would revisit, but it seems well made.
Alice Cooper
4/5
Kind of tired of that opening track, but I get why it's a big one.
Each track has something interesting.
Blue Turk some nice brass.
My Stars stands out.
I like Alma Mater except for the talking part.
Grande Finale is a cool track.
What an odd album that explores genres quite a bit, yet manages to put together a cohesive album. It just doesn't pop for me.
Really falls between a 3 and 4 for me.
I'll round up.
Saint Etienne
1/5
I might have liked this more in my youth. I see this now as a calibration type of album that can test you to help you understand what you like.
I don't like this and I'm not sure why it's on the list.
Megadeth
3/5
I liked this album's vibe.
Feels a little repetitive at times.
Solid musicianship.
I hoped I would like the Blues track I Ain't Superstitious more than I did.
I liked Good Mourning/ Black Friday the most.
Thelonious Monk
5/5
I've heard the name forever, but not the music.
What can you say for something like this?
It just puts me in a trance.
Occupies my mind.
Yeah.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Cool album cover.
I like this opening track. It sounds like post punk inspired by Ennio Morricone.
I really like the sound of this album.
I enjoy the vocals and the cadence of them.
The tempo is a little repetitive feeling at times.
Kind of curious to hear what else they have done.
3/5
Great example for a genre of music at a time.
Solid musicianship.
Interesting voice.
CHVRCHES
4/5
Okay, this opening track is cool.
The album is very listenable.
Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel vibes.
Yeah, from start to finish I'd play this again. Probably on a road trip.
Good representation of a time in popular music.
Hüsker Dü
2/5
Interesting album art.
This opening track is all right.
There are sonic similarities to R.E.M.
I probably listened to bands influenced by these guys.
I wish the recording had a more dynamic quality.
The writing and compositions seem good but this production is terrible. It makes every song sound the same.
It's way too long for what it is. I'd be curious if they have any better sounding albums.
I had hoped to find another track that stood out but it never came.
Paul McCartney
3/5
I don't tend to like songs with a name being repeated in the chorus.
Nice guitar, strange vocal choices.
Paul really likes to get away with partially written songs.
Obviously drawing a lot of inspiration from the Southern United States.
Feels like a handful of rushed or partially completed songs, but the bones are decent.
The Sugarcubes
3/5
At the end of the day I'm not sure if this is for me, but I might like Björk more in this context.
The song Birthday is alright.
Most of it though well constructed lost my interest.
Supergrass
2/5
Sounds like the 1990s. Over compressed.
Some alright compositions, but it all sounds like a muddy mess.
Giant Sand
1/5
This is slop.
Basic slop.
I don't know why this is here.
Why is this here?
Neneh Cherry
2/5
This first track is hanging on by a thread. It has some interesting arrangements, but the vocals only work on the chorus.
The flow is not good.
This just feels like a record label attempting to manufacture a star.
"Chocolates, bananas, doughnuts and salami
Ain't gonna fit cause you're full of bologna"
Pulp
4/5
He is doing a very good David Bowie.
Pretty good production for the late 1990s.
I enjoyed this more than Different Class.
Glory Days is probably my favorite track. Dishes and This is Hardcore were alright also.
For the kind of music this is the tracks could be shorter.
Overall a pretty good and cohesive album.
The Undertones
4/5
Like a little grimy extension of Buddy Holly and the Crickets.
Well written lyrics for the genre.
I had never heard of these guys and I kind of wish I had when I was into this kind of music more.
Bee Gees
4/5
The opening track alone almost comes off as an album itself.
There is a version of this album in here with a couple tracks taken off that make it much tighter. The country song Marley Purt Drive causes some whiplash. Also Melody Fair could be cut.
I Laugh in Your Face is a big song.
I like Black Diamond, Edison, and I Laugh in Your Face.
Some big production going on here. This is an ambitious album that got a little lost along the way.
Lou Reed
5/5
Pleasantly surprised today.
Found myself very intrigued by the compositions.
A nice tight 37 minutes of cozy interesting music.
Oh okay David Bowie had his hands in this, that is enlightening.
I'm kind of happy that I had never heard this album before. I'm having an opening a treasure chest, glowing in my face experience.
The Everly Brothers
2/5
I get why this is here.
It's a fine album, with some fine compositions and a fine example of early1960s music.
I would rather listen to Sam Cooke, or Elvis or Roy Orbison.
Fela Kuti
5/5
The horns!
What a wild story.
Solid production.
Great music.
Janelle Monáe
3/5
Nice album cover considering the concept.
I can hear like an André 3000 inspired vibe here.
A few of the songs remind me of other songs and it feels on purpose.
There is some cool stuff going on, but almost too much.
The production is so glossy ceramic tile.
Doesn't feel cohesive. There might be a better album in here.
I like that this music exists.
I like what it is doing.
I don't think I would look for this again.
Living Colour
3/5
This isn't working for me.
Comes off like a really solid local bar band.
Not thrilled by the opening track being a wrestlers theme song.
Some good energy and a pretty cohesive album.
The Temptations
3/5
This has some great music.
Good instrumentation and vocals.
Cohesive sound.
The producer should probably be the face on the cover. Seems like they were really responsible for the build of this album.
Richard Hawley
4/5
Did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did.
Very talented, his voice has it.
It didn't blow me away, but this is a very solid album.
I liked the tracks I Sleep Alone and Tonight.
Love
5/5
Nice album art.
Sounded fine on the car stereo, but headphones let the stereo mixing shine.
The sound of the strings is expertly captured.
Ooo Trumpets.
Such a soundscape. This just helps me understand that something bad happened to a lot of music production in the 2000s
Yeah, that's a 5
Guns N' Roses
4/5
Another one that is so woven into the fabric of this reality that it makes it difficult to review.
Has some obviously standout melodies and riffs. Lyrically not the strongest always.
The big ones work. The start of Welcome to the Jungle and Sweet Child of Mine hook you.
The other tracks get kind of carried by Slash and some just barely.
I get a little exhausted by the end of this.
It checks a lot of boxes as far as being a cohesive album with a certain level of quality.
I could see this being a 5 for some not me
New York Dolls
3/5
Solid production.
Good pop song construction sensibilities.
Lyrically I don't care for it.
Mariah Carey
2/5
Undeniably has a unique voice.
The music on this album is so mediocre that her voice alone cannot carry it. Very repetitive.
Rage Against The Machine
4/5
Amazing musicianship.
Conscious lyrics and interesting compositions. A well rounded album.
Production value if higher would be interesting, but it's a debut album.
A new standout track for me was know your enemy.
Tom Waits
2/5
Excited to see Tom Waits because whether I like it or not it's always interesting. That being said there is probably too much Tom Waits on the list overall.
I might have had my hopes too high or I've heard too much parody of Tom Waits in my life. This whole album felt like a parody.
Jersey Girl was the best track.
He has too many albums on the list. The list could lose this one.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
3/5
Fun energy.
Interesting compositions.
I remember at least the chorus of Scooby Snacks.
Gives me a Beck vibe. Not sure if there is any connection there.
This is better on headphones than car stereo for sure.
I like the Blues vibes. Nice flow.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
2/5
Having heard Just Like Honey before and really liking it, I thought I would like the rest more than I did.
I tend to like some noise based music, but this was making me very anxious.
There are some interesting songs inside, but I don't have the energy to find them anymore.
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
I was skeptical, but by Sludgefeast I started to get into it.
Amazing musicianship.
Great melodies.
A little meandering at times.
But it works. The voice of J Mascis melodically just does something that clicks with this sound.
Laura Nyro
4/5
I've 100 percent never heard of this person.
By the name and album cover I assumed this was a 90s act.
The production is pretty crisp.
The compositions and mixing carry this for me. Her voice is good but not great.
The list of artists she has influenced is impressive. With the song writing on display here it makes sense.
A really solid album, but it's just missing that something. Just doesn't pop for me.
Grant Lee Buffalo
2/5
Giving a weak Bowie vibe.
Very 1990s bar band.
Very of it's time. Takes me back to being in the back seat of someone's parent's minivan driving around suburbia.
It's a fine example of rock music in a time.
I probably won't think of it ever again.
I probably won't remember it.
If this is your thing, no harm, enjoy.
Skepta
4/5
I'm not deep in the grime. I've listened a little and liked what I've heard. Never heard this before. Cool album cover.
This has great energy.
His flow is sharp.
Some of these beats are so good for being so stripped down. They grab my attention in the first couple seconds and hold it.
I'm not feeling Ladies Hit Squad, skits can be ignored, but most of the tracks click for me. I'd listen to some of this again.
Minutemen
2/5
Pretty solid sonically, good dynamic mix.
Good musicianship, but the rhythm gets a little repetitive on the first 3 tracks.
This acoustic instrumental track is a nice break
I'm not sure what to do with this. There is a lot here and it admittedly even has the chaff included.
A bit of a jam band here.
There are some nice songs and it sounds good, but as an album it lacks cohesion.... oh there it is, track 4. Didn't notice.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
4/5
Terrible album cover.
Got them horns.
Now I'm no salsa expert but this sounds like a fine example of salsa.
Nice mixing and production quality.
The vocals are very solid but are missing something that would run electric vibes across my brain.
Catch me on some other day and this could easily go up to a 5.
I think more than anything it's the album cover holding it back.
Elliott Smith
4/5
I remember when this came out. My sister had it, so I checked it out. It didn't hook me then.
Amazing song craft. Top tier.
Some Paul Simon vibes.
Everything Reminds Me of Her was the stand out track.
I get why this is loved, but maybe I missed the boat on it. Still doesn't hook me. A time and a place for sure.
T. Rex
4/5
The first time I heard of them was from The Who song lyrics "But I drunk myself blind to the sound of old T-Rex", but I didn't think much of it until I read the manga 20th Century Boys. Then I realized that it was a band.
Hmm cool opening track.
Whoa, okay Cosmic Dancer. I know I've heard this song, I like it.
Some really good compositions here. The production is lacking. I wish the sound was more dynamic.
I might try to circle back on this album. I have a hunch it could be a grower.
Nick Drake
3/5
Wild cover art.
I think I've listened to a lot of artists that have been influenced by Nick Drake and I didn't know it.
I liked Horn, Things Behind the Sun, Parasite.
Would be nice if there was a little more variety, but this could go either way. How about like 3.5 rounded down.
a-ha
3/5
Okay, well the opening track is woven into the fabric of reality.
This is mostly not my cup of tea. That being said, The Sun Always Shines on T.V. was a big stand out for me during this listen.
I found most of the songs too long, but this seems like a solid album for those into this style.
Jeff Beck
3/5
Okay, I'm feeling this opening track. It's not perfect but it has some nice layers.
Good blues vibes.
Some odd noodling.
Decent stereo mixing. Pretty crisp sound.
Hmm quite a few cover songs.
Um Greensleeves. Is this a seed for prog rock?
The musicianship is solid, but the compositions are sloppy.
There are good ideas here, and I can see why this could be inspiring, but it ultimately misses the mark.
Ice Cube
3/5
I don't have a lot of experience with west coast rap of this era, and look forward to this.
I like a shout out to Arsenio Hall.
Ice Cube has such a solid flow. A great use of syllables.
He is a charisma bomb.
The beats are of their time, but hold up.
The lyrics are also of a time.
His voice and Chuck D's make sense together.
There's a bit too much here. There is a tighter album if you drop like 4 tracks.
LL Cool J
2/5
This has the feeling of still having a foot in the old school.
He's kind of obnoxious.
Mama Said Knock You Out is a jam tho.
I dont think this does anything that unique. It's fine.
Marley Marl does a solid job.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Album cover not so much.
This is catching my attention.
I like the build of the song Skeletons.
Nice closing track.
Some good compositions, and interesting bits throughout.
Overall nothing really blew me away, but pretty good album.
Keith Jarrett
3/5
Okay, this opening is something. I have a bit of a headache but this is working.
This is a nice listen, but I'm not sold on this being required listening.
It had it's moments, some parts sounded kind of clumsy on my listen.
If I get through this experiment I wouldn't mind if it crossed my path to give it another chance.
Scott Walker
2/5
Some alright instrumentation and some thick compositions.
His voice causes me anxiety.
This is too schmaltzy for me.
I'm not convinced this guy should be singing scat.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
It boggles my mind the chain of events that made them as big and long lasting as they have been.
I was on track 6 and thought oh this must be over soon.
This should be 10 tracks long max.
Very talented musicians, that could be doing something else.
This guy is gross.
It's a well constructed album, tho too long. I understand why it's on the list.
I don't like it.
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
This feels like a test to see what they could get away with by just selling Johnny Rotten.
The title track is alright melodically.
There are a 2 or 3 very tiny seeds of good ideas buried in it.
Michael Jackson
3/5
He is an interesting vocalist that makes interesting choices with his instrument.
As always a lot of the music here sounds like bad karaoke backing music.
The Girl is Mine with Paul McCartney is insanity inducing. Might be the worst song ever made.
I'll give this a 3, but be aware all 3 of the stars belong to Vincent Price.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
2/5
There is potential here.
It is just off of clicking for me. So close.
The production isn't doing much for me and the track lengths can be too long.
Todd Rundgren
2/5
Nice album art.
Sonically it was catching my attention.
Twice I assumed it should be done or that it had looped over.
It all blended together a bit much.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
I like the more classic Blues bits like in Voodoo Chile.
I'm just not a huge fan of all the noodling. I get it, I see the need for art and expression like this. Most of it is just a bit too loose for me.
All Along the Watchtower is an all time hit track.
Pearl Jam
4/5
I was surprised by how much of this album I was familiar with.
Impressive debut studio album.
There are some great compositions, but I am not sure where I land on Eddie Vedder's grunge scat.
I would like to hear the vocals replaced with a harmonica.
Without jest, there is some really great music here but it would be disingenuous for me to give this a 5.
This album would pair well with being drunk on beers with good company in a kitchen.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Some classic stuff.
Without a doubt she is a great singer.
Respect sets a high bar.
A couple of tracks lost my interest.
I like Sam Cookes A Change Is Gonna Come better.
The later release added Stereo tracks also sound better.
Sigur Rós
4/5
This is a tricky one.
I like a lot about this album. Some really great melodies. I don't care for the album art, but it's of it's time.
Nothing repellent for me.
The issue is this isn't made for this format of listening.
Some really long tracks but it fits the style so I can't complain.
A high 4, I don't know if I will ever listen to this again, but I wouldn't mind it.
Lightning Bolt
2/5
Nice album art.
I'm about half way done and I might like this.
I don't believe this is an album that is required listening.
It feels like another one that can be used to set a base line for what someone doesn't like.
It also sadly reminds me that even with a mild interest in making music, that I should have just made an album and put it out there in 2003.
The last 2 tracks were the worst.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
Not much here.
Oh I know Maps, it's a good song.
I kind of like the first half of the last track.
As an album it doesn't really do anything to stand out.
ZZ Top
3/5
This has some decent bones.
A pretty cohesive album, it's not really bringing anything new or elevating the genre.
Well executed, but wouldn't be the first place I go to for the Blues.
The Adverts
3/5
There are some decent melodies in the grime.
There is a lot on this list similar to this, but this is probably one of the better ones.
Nice production, crisp sound.
The Magnetic Fields
2/5
I'm scared
Like the crumbs falling off of a crusty bread of a better album.
Am I experiencing a musical madness? A musical multiverse of 69 ways one song could have ended up?
I'm too busy trying to survive this avalanche of songs to retain anything.
There is no way this is required listening. I don't even hate this. It's kind of inspiring actually.
Sonically there might be something here, but this is supposed to be a list of albums you MUST hear.
I fell asleep and almost gave it 4 stars twice.
There is too much!
Sonic Youth
3/5
There could be less Sonic Youth albums on this list
I liked this album for the most part, but I'd also say nothing popped for me
If this is the album where the seeds are planted, then just skip to the produce. This is a list to listen to before one dies. Odd to waste time with a transitional album.
Anyway, I like this as it reminds me of a band I liked in my youth, before I knew of Sonic Youth.
Ice Cube
4/5
Ice Cube's use of his instrument is top level here.
Sonically most of the album's beats hold up.
The misogynistic lyrical content, is immature.
The Predator flops, Cube's vocals and the beat don't mesh.
It Was A Good Day stands out and holds up.
A cohesive album of a very specific time and place in America.
The Band
3/5
This is the second album by the band we are listening to. I've always hear of them held in high regard.
My review is pretty much the same as last time. These guys are so natural. Relaxed doing what they do.
The album has great warmth.
The Weight is a jam.
I just don't see myself thinking of this album in a situation that requires me to do so.
The Incredible String Band
2/5
So much jaw harp.
Sounds like a disorganized family closet.
Like some hippy wizards are trying to cast a low consequence spell on me. A spell to make me eat at least a spoon full of granola every year. Or a spell compelling me to wear patchwork clothes from this day forward, but not strongly.
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
The album summary explains that this came out around the time of some of the greatest rap albums. So I can see why this got trampled on.
Okay, the work of DJ Premier elevates this album to another level. I'd say Jeru is good, but needs a little more sharpening. Some of his syllables aren't as tight as they can be. Don't punch like they could. It's like pro wrestling at a certain level you can look good but if people watch your feet the hesitations are exposed.
That being said I really liked Mental Stamina and You Can't Stop the Prophet. Ain't the Devil Happy has some good bits.
Really though this just makes me want to listen to some Gang Starr or Wu-tang Clan
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
Obviously one of the best album covers.
Some of the solos on the first track sound comedic in the way someone playing the Jurassic Park theme on the recorder does.
I've been known to be a fan of some loopy music, but this might be riding a line. That opening track is like a test.
Bitches Crystal hits, it's an adventure for the ears.
The Only Way, great composition.
That opening of Infinite Space, in headphones, hooked me then just kept me in a stimming manner.
A time and place has some solid moments and a spot or two of noodling.
A strange rock and roll, blues track.
The skill to compose some great songs is here. I've always been a bit adverse to the sound of the keyboard. So Emerson and his noodling almost disrupting some songs can be challenging. I could see this growing on me given time.
Barry Adamson
2/5
Something about this reminds me of the Earthworm Jim soundtrack
LTJ Bukem
1/5
There is so much of nothing here.
Sega Dreamcast character select screen background music.
How many ways can you re arrange the same ingredients on a plate and tell me it's a new dish.
A very time and place album.
Fred Neil
3/5
What an odd opening track. Threw me off balance. Dolphins. The instrumentation is good tho.
That continues for me, I'm not a fan of most of the lyricism and something about his voice is just off for me.
Enjoyed the harmonica whenever it popped in.
Everybody's Talkin caught me by surprise as I didn't expect to recognize anything.
Overall nice production. Has a warmth to it.
Bob Dylan
5/5
The thing about his voice here is I found myself hearing it and paying attention to it. There have been so many albums on this list where the vocals just get lost in the mix.
Folk with a heavy blues leaning. There is a cacophony going on at times but there is beauty in the ugly.
Ballad of a Thin Man was really doing something for me.
Yeah, I like this.
David Bowie
4/5
As an artist you can't escape the context of your body of work and timeline.
Bowie's narrative is that he is a visionary and innovative.
Listening to this and a few tracks in, I was like thank you Blackstar.
A lot of this does not sound innovative for 2013 for me. In the context of the things, this makes sense
I did really like the last 2 tracks.
There are moments where his voice is not what it once was, but Bowie has earned it, it's part of the story.
Bowie definitely elevates some mediocre songs on here, but for me I expected more. Blackstar comes along and corrects course.
Not every artist gets to have a good punctuation on their story, like Blackstar gave Bowie.
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
There was a time when all that I knew of them was there cover of Go West because the music video came on television. And I like that.
I was curious to hear this. The production and mixing are really good.
I don't find the songs to be overly complex, but they are pop and work.
I'm not of fan of much synth of the 1980s but this worked for me the whole way through. Didn't repel me, a cohesive vibe, and didn't feel repetitive.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Amazing intro.
Dynamic sound, great stereo mixing.
Pow R. Toc H. Took me on a pleasant sonic adventure.
Same goes for Interstellar Overdrive. Warm.
I enjoy thie Whimsy of The Gnome.
Fun album over all and interesting to hear compared to Darkside of the Moon and The Wall. The ground work is all here tho.
This is a cohesive album worth listening to all the way through as a single entity. Top tier production.
The Hives
2/5
A louder, over compressed version of garage rock.
The mixing is alright.
They are good at what they are doing, I'm just not sure I can get behind this being required listening.
Tom Waits
5/5
So much Tom Waits.
First impression on this one is Tom Waits is compiling audio into an album because he wants to. There doesn't seem to be any chasing a buck or algorithm.
This one is an audio experience, like some form of gutter blues grime opera.
I gave this around 3 listens. I don't have any complaints, and enjoyed the ride each song took me on.
Jacques Brel
4/5
I enjoyed this listen. My French isn't great but it was nice catching some phrases.
Musically, it was very comfortable. I'd like to put it on more in the future and see what else I can get from it.
Don McLean
4/5
I have this one on vinyl.
It's an album. A cohesive collection of songs. As a bonus for this it's a quick listen.
I did one full listen and skipped the first track on 2 more listens.
Easy listen, a great song writer.
As a whole it is a nice calm listen, but the individual parts don't stick with me.
TV On The Radio
4/5
I enjoyed this. I've liked singles I've heard before. I enjoyed the last album by them that we did.
Was pretty good to drive to.
Overall I think there was only one track that I felt an urge to skip on my third listen.
Might incorporate it into a regular driving option.
Like last time I hear some Prince influence and wonder if this could oddly be a gateway for me to enjoy Prince more.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Interesting.
Nice digestible album length.
A transitional sound that gets you to Pet Sounds.
Some fun pop songs.
Odd song, Don't Hurt My Little Sister; is this the only song from this pov?
This belongs here, I'm just confused by them overall.
The song craft and production is so high level for the time and obviously influential.
Brian Wilson, stuck between the music business and art, but he may have needed the constraints to keep him focused.
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
This is where the randomness is interesting. From Beach Boys to Wu-Tang so opposite, yet oddly similar.
I was into older boom bap and party hip hop, but gave this a chance on a recommendation a long time ago.
The detail and care given to the production is so far beyond the average rap album being pumped out. This was influential. This is a debut album.
RZA, layering and peppering in texture on every track. Brining that cinematic vibe.
The fact that this came together the way it did, then launched so many careers is also impressive. The Voltron analogy. Each member just needs to bring their best, smack you with it then step back before you know what hit you.
Da Mystery of Chessboxin', The way the flow goes as they tag each member in.
Come on, C.R.E.A.M.
I personally like Liquid Swords a little more, but it's so, so close.
Method Man really shines on this album.
Not just a great hip hop album, but one of the great albums.
Django Django
3/5
Nice opening, grabbed me.
Okay a 2012 take on music of the 1960s.
Some Beach Boys and or Simon and Garfunkel with some very 2012 beats.
I don't dislike what they are doing but this album is way too long and some of it gets a little formulaic sounding.
The song writing is kind of lacking, they found a trick to make catchy songs and milked it.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
There is skill on display here and certainly some good pop sensibilities.
Good album construction and production.
It didn't hit for me on first listen, but it grew on me.
In the right mood, probably an early morning coffee mood it would really click.
Waylon Jennings
5/5
The audio quality is so good, so dynamic and rich.
I love how country music like this excels at story telling.
That instrumentation on You Ask Me To.
The track lengths and album length, chefs kiss.
A nice mix here. You can slow dance with your partner or ride the rails with them. Sounds nice if you ask me.
The Who
4/5
I've never listened to this one.
I know, I Can See for Miles and it is undeniable.
The album cover doesn't hold up.
I'm a fan of The Who and their song writing, I enjoyed the originality of each song. It's too bad that the concept didn't get fully fleshed out.
I'm having a hard time on this one.
4.7
Ozomatli
2/5
I did not care for this.
Just doesn't have it.
It is a cohesive album and for the most part didn't cause me pain so I can give it a 2.
"Ya Gotta Dip Dip Dive, So So Socialize
Clean Out Your Ears Then Open Your Eyes" - Grand Maste Flash & The Furious Five
The National
4/5
Nice album art. I've heard the name, but not sure if I've heard them before.
Great dynamic textured stereo mixing.
Makes sense that some members have gone on to produce music for acts with big star power. There is a good sense of composition.
A solid album, they do a style of full rising music really well. I'd like to hear a song that shows me something else just to understand their range more.
Bloodbuzz Ohio and Lemonworld caught my attention.
The whole album sounds like it would be good train ride music.
Kate Bush
2/5
This is not a good start for me. A scramble of imitation world music muzak.
She is an interesting vocalist, but the instrumentation on this doesn't hold up.
This is the third Kate Bush album on here and it seems unnecessary.
The song Woman's Work... works since it doesn't have the cacophony of noise the rest of the tracks do.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I have once again rolled my eyes seeing Elvis Costello pop up and slapped my forehead involuntarily.
Okay, this one is softening me up. There is something here. Every listen I find something. I'm not sure personally that I can fully get over his voice, but this is a decent album.
Poppy songs that don't over stay their welcome.
I don't know why but Sunday's Best kept drilling into my brain.
I briefly considered a 4.
This is the first one of his that I can understand why it's on the list.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Johnny Cash has top tier charisma. His timing talking to the crowd is perfect.
Not usually a fan of live albums, but this one had me engaged and the sound quality was great.
I found one song repelling. Darling Compaion had a nails on a chalk board effect.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
4/5
Knowing nothing, it was not what I expected.
Sounds like it was ahead of it's time.
A very good example of synth pop. Great sense of composition. Nice pop length tracks.
Deserves to be on the list.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Maybe I am in a bubble but I feel like the Pet Shop Boys are not in the conversation enough.
As I mentioned before, I watched the video for the cover of Go West often when it was on Much Music.
A very listenable album, but not sure if I'm sold on the fact that you need more than one of their albums on the list.
Underworld
2/5
I don't know.
It makes sense that the album cover looks like a Jackson Pollock. It felt like someone exploring audio in the same way. Composition is most important.
There were some fun bits.
I just don't think I would ever tell someone that they need to listen to this.
Guided By Voices
2/5
There are moments that sound like a Beatles cover band recorded in the garage. Some Lou Barlow vibes
I'm not sure what I'm supposed to get from this. There was a glut of bands that sounded like this.
Turbonegro
2/5
Cool album cover.
Some pretty good compositions and guitar riffs, but they are hidden behind some repelling vocals.
I'm one that says lyrical content is low on the scale of what makes a good song. Musicality is what matters most. That being said these vocals are disrupting the songs.
I just could not get past the vocals, they were making me nauseous.
Morrissey
3/5
A strong lyricist, and good at using his voice as an instrument.
The instrumentation on this one just wasn't doing anything. It was fine, but forgettable.
There is a lot of Morrissey content on the list, probably could have skipped this one.
Christina Aguilera
3/5
Pretty good example of a pop album of the early 2000s. Probably one of the better ones.
Too long, and a few tracks that feel out of place and could be dropped. Get this down below 40 minutes.
Not for me, but belongs on the list.
Motörhead
2/5
Fun opening track, but also kind of a mess.
Sounds like an album of trying to figure out one song, getting it, making it the first track then using the rest of the tries to make an album.
It's dumb, but fine.
Incredible Bongo Band
5/5
I was excited to see this pop up knowing it's relation to hip hop.
Recorded in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Such a snack of an album.
A great easy listen, did about 4 listens today. Just really good energy.
Last Bongo in Belgium was a stand out track for me.
Sonic Youth
4/5
A good album. There is too much Sonic Youth on the list, but this is a great one.
I like the parts with Kim Gordon's vocals the most.
Silver Rocket really does it for me also.
Ryan Adams
1/5
I've managed to ignore this guy up until now.
I thought my play back speed was messed up on the first track.
Record labels pump out guys that present music like this every minute. "Blending country and a modern sound".
I often didn't notice that the song had changed. Which added to the insanity I was going through with the length of these tracks that sounded like they should be under 3 minutes.
This is like the Walmart of music. There are probably a handful of people in every city that can do this. Support a local artist.
The xx
3/5
A lot of this sounds so close to being something special, but not quite getting there. I don't dislike it, I'll just forget it.
I liked A Violent Noise and Brave for You.
The Byrds
3/5
What is going on with this album art?
This sounds like a band trying to do country as a format and not being country, which is fine. It's done well.
I liked some of the tracks that got added later on the extended version more, but I won't count those.
Talented musicians, a fine cohesive album. Just not going to be memorable for me.
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
I've heard Nothing Compares 2U before but not much else.
She has a great voice and this album is like a sample platter. The tracks don't really mesh together. The lyrics and instrumentation aren't that deep, but yeah her voice is something special.
I Am Stretched on Your Grave, scared me for a second, thinking a bad rap was coming. Instead it was an interesting use of a break beat. Like they were trying to replace a Bodhrán beat with an of the time break beat.
Anyway this didn't really stick with me, but I wouldn't mind revisiting it.
Blondie
4/5
Starts with a great pop song. Then another.
Keeps things moving, a cohesive album.
I just find her voice a bit stilted.
But Heart of Glass works.
A fun album.
N.W.A.
4/5
I think I listened to this one all the way through once before a long time ago. Express Yourself is the track that stuck and would make it into my mixes.
Sonically most of the album holds up.
The flow just keeps hitting you with syllabic punches that you feel.
Eazy-E is the weakest part of this album.
If it Ain't Ruff is also in my wheelhouse.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
4/5
The album cover and the band name hitting me at the same time had my head spinning.
I didn't know what I was getting into.
Well, Piece of My Heart is a classic. Didn't know where it came from.
The Blues vibe throughout the album got me.
I'd like to try and dig deeper in the future. Maybe jam along with it.
3/5
Something about their vibe is like a guy that entertains themselves by annoying others.
That 1980s newave voice.
Not a fan of the Satisfaction cover.
Good production value.
Devo belongs on the list, this album just isn't for me.
The Youngbloods
3/5
Never heard of this band.
Very 1960s sound.
I like the mixing. Great dynamic sound in the headphones.
The jazz aspects peak my interest.
On Sir Francis Drake is a cool track.
This album is a real solid 3, it's just missing that something.
So close to being a 4. In the right situation or especially live this would be great.
Jeff Buckley
3/5
Grace has some nice parts that grabbed my interest.
Last Goodbye had me appreciating his vocals a little more, but it's still a bit much.
I like Leonard Cohen's or K.D. Lang's versions of Hallelujah better.
I get that he has a nice voice. Sometimes it's doing a bit too much. The instrumentation is fine, not doing anything special.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Just the opening track, Gimme Shelter and the closing track, You Can't Always Get What You Want alone elevate this album.
There is a lot of the Stones on this list but this one belongs.
As always, I'd like to point out how odd this British band sounding so American is.
I enjoyed the tracks between the big two. Some cool blues sounds.
Cohesive, dynamic album with two huge songs. The rest flew by, did at least 3 listens today.
The Mothers Of Invention
1/5
The most basic version of frustrated youth. Not so subtlety complaining and throwing a bit of a tantrum as an album.
No one needs to hear this. I would not recommend it to anyone.
Rod Stewart
2/5
Started questioning almost instantly if this was genuine.
I couldn't guess when this came from.
He sounds like he is almost doing a James Brown impression and doing a bunch of almost sounds like some other song songs.
A safe album that doesn't do much.
Orbital
2/5
There were these demo like videos of 3D animation in the early 2000s that had music like this.
A well composed version of this type of music. I just not a must listen.
Spiritualized
2/5
This sounds like a great version of whatever this is.
I'm not sure why it is important for it to be on this list. A little too formulaic at times, which makes it sound like variations on the same song concept.
Jean-Michel Jarre
5/5
Cool album cover.
Great warmth and that dynamic sound.
Part IV is a standout.
Yeah, I like this.
Auditory paintings.
A Warm quilt of sounds.
Kacey Musgraves
2/5
These lyrics are doing nothing and the music sounds like a Sears catalog.
No idea why this is something special. It is fine.
Franchise coffee shop music.
Robert Wyatt
3/5
A jaunty start but something sounds unsettling.
Free Will and Testament caught my interest.
Alien has some David Bowie vibes
Blues in Bob minor doing a Dylan thing
The whole album is kind of confusing and something is just off.
If I was a younger man I'd be all for this. It has some interesting bits, but something is also telling me to run away.
King Crimson
5/5
On first listen I wasn't sure what to make of this. It's my first real King Crimson listen. Second listen I did it right headphones and eyes closed.
Dynamic.
An intense listen. For a number of the tracks I was visualizing a factory that just makes 3D shapes. Moving along conveyor belts, being sorted and packed up.
Organized chaos, composition is king.
3/5
This seems like one of those albums that you can use to set a bar for yourself.
Jazz has so much room to play. This is obviously like a punk mentality.
Over and over it made me think of tap dancing, and that move where it looks like the Dancer will fall forward on their face but they keep catching themselves.
I kind of wish it was able to sound a little more varied at times. It had it's moments of conversation between the drums and brass.
Interesting.
Arcade Fire
3/5
This sounds like a bunch of other albums we've listened to but it is very well executed. There is a reason I've heard about them so much without really giving them my full attention.
Modern Man is in my wheel house sonically.
I'm not sure we need so much Arcade Fire on the list. Maybe pick one or two.
Mekons
2/5
Cool cover.
This does come close to being something special. Big swing that doesn't quite hit the mark. I'm not even sure this one would be necessary listening.
I can picture them playing in a bar to 4 people and 2 of the 4 are the staff.
Awkward silence broken by a phlegm filled cough.
PJ Harvey
3/5
I listend to this three times. It's fine. I cannot figure out why it is special.
It's the third PJ Harvey album we have listened to.
It was the best so far.
Sounded good on a car stereo.
Scissor Sisters
3/5
A well constructed homage to Elton John and or Disco.
A fun energy, bar band quality.
Not sure about this being required listening, but it's a solid album.
Fishbone
3/5
Imagine being at a party.
There are platters with hors d'oeuvres going around. One gets to you and on it are tiny hotdogs, lemon pies, shots of warm milk, garlic dill pickles, salmon sashimi, and a pile of pop rocks.
That being said this belongs on a list like this. It feels a little insane at times, but it's fun.
I just don't think it's for me, but who knows.
Silver Jews
2/5
Making music isn't that hard really.
There are alot of people out there that can do it and it can be fun to do.
Not everyone commits to seeing what a wider audience thinks of their art.
1989 to 2009 a nice run
There are some fine bits of music here.
The track Tennessee reminds me of Daniel Johnston.
I'm sure they were a fine local touring act.
The 2 stars is in this case more so for being on the list not for the product.
N.E.R.D
4/5
Terrible album cover.
Sounds like it's influenced by Bowie, Queen and Prince at times.
Some interesting stuff, variety, but sonically gels.
Pharrell has shown he and the people he works with understand how to craft a song for the main stream. I like that this feels a little more off the path.
David Ackles
1/5
Interesting album cover.
The music didn't live up to the cover.
I did not like this. Something about his voice, made this hard for me to listen to.
Nina Simone is who I would go to for ballads, with great vocals and a better vibe.
Digital Underground
2/5
Why would anyone want the Humpty Dance to be that long?
The tracks have a fun energy but it is upsetting how long this album is.
Some good flow and 90s beats but I don't see myself revisiting this.
5/5
Such well crafted songs.
Not sure if it's the copy I'm listening to or the cold I'm dealing with but some of the tracks aren't as dynamic as I would hope.
Fun and engaging opening track.
Some Mother's Son was a delight.
Not a big fan of Drivin' a very Paul McCartney like song.
Ooo Shangri-la is a kaleidoscope of sound.
Mr Churchill Says is a jam.
I think this has some slight blemishes but it still has me so intrigued that I would love to give this future listens.
Never listened to this before but came close to buying it once on reputation. Happy to hear it would have been worth it.
The Waterboys
4/5
Having the blood of fisherman in my veins and a love of the Blues, this has caught my interest.
The opening track has my expectations up.
Some pretty solid music for the 1980s. We Will Not Be Lovers didn't bother me being 7 minutes. The Sweet Thing cover with the Blackbird cover stuck in it had some interesting bits but over stayed it's welcome. Same with Bang on the Ear.
I'm a fan of Hank Williams not so much of this tribute song. The instrumentals are fine but the vocals ain't it.
I appreciate the inclusion of the traditional folk song When Will We Be Married?
Dunford's Fancy, *chefs kiss*
The Stolen Child is a cool concept, could grow on me but has some 1980s stank on it.
I liked the overall vibe but could be tightened up for a more kitchen party energy. Snappy danceable drinking songs.
Dion
2/5
I played it all the way through twice and could not retain anything.
Fine easy listening music. Just not that interesting.
Creepy album cover.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Okay a second Echo And The Bunnymen album.
Cool album cover.
I like the instrumentation on some of the tracks.
Seems like a cohesive album.
Ultimately this is forgettable for me.
Astor Piazzolla
5/5
This is one of the things I like about this experience.
I doubt I would have heard this otherwise.
This is beautiful.
Laura's Dream, when the beat drops.
The recording is amazing for a live album.
Koffi Olomide
2/5
A well produced album.
Some toe tapping music, but gets a little repetitive.
The last track I found repelling.
Mylo
2/5
An artist rents out a space during some sort of community art night.
You walk in, the lights are very bright there is art on the walls similar to the album cover. This album is playing on a portable stereo. Next to the stereo are simple white business cards with bold Arial text 'MYLO'. You can hear the floor creak as you do a walk around while feigning intrest. Before you leave, you give a closed mouth smile and a nod to the person standing at the door.
You continue down the street. You pass a lady selling some crocheted items and friendship bracelets.
You forget what you just experienced by the time you enter the next very similar brightly lit space.
Funkadelic
4/5
I own this one.
The first track is so good for just closing your eyes, good set of headphones and just feel it on your brain.
Can You Get to That is also pretty cool, things slowly go down from there, but not terrible.
Still a great album. Cool cover, dynamic sound. Very close to a 5.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
It's truly insane how many times he is on this list.
I wonder if Buddy Holly had lived would we need to listen to Elvis Costello?
He should just be a quirky local artist.
Again his voice is not interesting.
Some of the instrumentation is alright , but this is insane.
Sepultura
3/5
Okay, interesting album cover.
I've heard the name a lot through the years as a joke example of metal usually.
Desperate cry is alright.
Subtraction sounds pretty good.
Yeah, this is fun and probably a great example for the spectrum of metal. Seems like a solid album of it's kind. I'd probably listen to this in the right road rage moment again sometime.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Doesn't feel like this one came up randomly. Today is July 23rd 2025.
Okay it didn't.
Great album cover.
The Wizard was one of the earliest things I learned on the harmonica. It's a solid song.
More of a blues feel overall.
Bonus inclusion of the jaw harp.
Everyone is doing a great job.
Love the run time.
I just feel Paranoid is a tighter album.
Peter Tosh
2/5
Burial is fine.
A bunch of the compositions just don't click for me.
I don't see myself coming back to this one.
Small Faces
3/5
Seems like very standard 1960s sound.
A very British 1960s sound.
I like something about Lazy Sunday.
Not so sure that this needs to be on the list.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
There are too many stones albums on this list. I'd say we don't need this one. It's just a bunch of covers or their take on the genre. There is no elevation.
They've got "it" and will go on to have better albums.
Not required listening.
Kanye West
2/5
I had ducked way out by this point. I'm hearing this for the first time.
This opening track is obnoxious.
Still using the same formula and some of the tracks just lean in hard to that formula and feel forced. The chipmunked up vocal sample.
There are still some interesting tracks, but as always not that strong of a vocalist or lyricist.
Ray Charles
3/5
I really do like his voice.
The track lengths are great.
It gets a little repetitive sounding.
I enjoyed this, but I don't see myself listening to this whole album again.
M.I.A.
3/5
I think this has been removed from the list.
There was a time I listened to this on repeat on my ipod nano. Sonically back then something really clicked for me. I eventually saw her live in a warehouse. It was one of the most ear damaging concerts I had ever been to.
I'm not so sure that this all holds up, but it has it's moments still. Bucky Done Gun,Fire Fire, "U.R.A.Q.T." and Galang
As a display of the early work of Diplo and Switch it is interesting.
I liked the Santogold album in 2008 more than this and their early work on Major Lazer.
Tim Buckley
3/5
Our third Tim Buckley album.
If this one had got to me in my teenage years full of self reflecting long walks, it may have stuck.
His vocal choices don't bother me on this one.
Ray Price
3/5
Creepy album cover.
Oh no, he's talking right to us. If I paid for this in the 1960s and needed to skip this first bit everytime on my record player I'd be a little annoyed.
The performances are on point, great example of the genre, just not popping me at all.
Eric Clapton
2/5
A terrible cover of Hand Jive, it's insane.
A bunch of covers.
Strong musicianship.and production.
This has a certain cringeyness vibe overall.
Baaba Maal
3/5
Great instrumentation and vocals.
Not sure if it needs to be as long as it is.
I was really floating in the river of the final track.
Richard Thompson
4/5
Eye catching album cover.
I like The Calvary Cross and I want to See the Bright Lights Tonight.
This really has the potential to grow on me. That's the thing, doesn't grab you right away but has potential to grow.
I'm going to round up to a 4.
The Young Gods
2/5
The first track had me expecting to like this more than I did.
Just not working for me.
The Streets
3/5
Back in the day I stumbled on to the track Blinded by the Lights and it just did something to my brain. I would listen to it every now and then. It just paints that picture of obnoxious wasted nights in the club early 2000s well.
I had never looked up more.
This style does work better in small doses.
Very much like the script of an indie English film of the late 1990s early 2000s.
It is awkward and I like that it exists as a concept, but it isn't a strong album.
Ian Dury
1/5
Oh, this first track is very off putting.
Yeah, this is all making me nauseous.
The poor individuals that supported this album must have had such a small selection of music that they were exposed to.
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
This is well constructed, a pretty solid album.
It is just too 1980s for me. It's concentrated 1980s.
Elis Regina
4/5
Some decent stereo mixing and production.
It wasn't working for me initially, but as I listened the mixing was really taking me away. Somewhat hypnotic. Her voice also gradually grew on me.
Frank Zappa
3/5
The instrumentation is really good.
Any moment with vocals took me out of it.
Son of Mr. Green Genes was the high point for me. After that my interest slowed.
I still don't know why I've heard the name Frank Zappa so much through the years.
R.E.M.
4/5
They probably influenced a lot of music I grew up on. My sister had their first 3 albums of the 1990s. I've never listened to this.
The music on this album is like a nice solid rough cut two by four lumber that hasn't been planed or sanded. It's solid and reliable. A very strong, cohesive debut album.
That being said I'm just at a place in life where I don't want to listen to Michael Stipe's vocals. Something about the music makes it hard for me to breath.
This makes sense being here. They were such a huge influence on the Alternative rock sound of the 1990s.
The Stooges
3/5
Opens with a very classic rock and roll sound with a bit of slouching to it.
The opening of the second track almost melted my face off.
I get why this would imprint on people that heard this for the first time in their teens.
The mixing is really working for me on We Will Fall.
Real Cool Time is such a dumb song and I kind of like it for that.
Some of this sadly comes too close to the sloppy vibe of The Doors.
A slouch can start from a place of comfort but eventually it can go too far and your neck can end up where your ass started.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
It sounds like a great album to relax in a hammock with or some fine wedding reception music.
I just can't retain it.
Doesn't do anything for me.
I liked one of his other ones more.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
These guys love the blues.
It can feel a little more bare bones at times compared to where they would get to. An interesting debut album.
Dazed and Confused is the best track here.
This isn't as strong for me when they are just doing the more basic blues songs.
There are moments with Led Zeppelin where it's like Greensleves English traditional folk music meets the blues. Which I also find interesting.
I'm giving this a 4 just comparing it to future albums, but still great.
Tears For Fears
4/5
Shout works, but it's too long and that newave voice.
I am curious about what else is on here.
Oh Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Why does this song work?
And Head Over Heels? Surprised that I know three tracks from this one 1980s album.
A cohesive album that avoids being repetitive. Taking some swings on composition.
The tracks just often go on too long and get lost in the weeds. Still not my cup of tea, but a solid album.
Mike Oldfield
5/5
What are we talking about!? My face melted.
glockenspiel.
I like it.
It makes sense.
More tubular bell.
It worked on the phone speakers, car stereo, but headphones were the best.
You get your money's worth.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
This had it's moments of fun energy.
Super 1980s sound.
The covers don't add anything. Ultimately there are a few too many tracks. Just doesn't intrest me enough.
Roxy Music
3/5
Each second of listening makes me question if I'm enjoying it or not. There are interesting compositions. The lead vocals are the bit I'm having a tricky time with. The saxophone isn't helping.
The vibe makes me want to score it higher, but I'm going with my personal enjoyment.
Skunk Anansie
2/5
It makes sense that this would no longer be on the list.
It's fine, but the wikipedia article is bare bone.
The sound has that 1990s and 2000s lack of dynamics.
They would probably do well as a local bar band.
Billy Joel
4/5
This seems like this is the Billy Joel album you put on a list. I've never listened to it, but I recognize a lot of the song titles.
There are a lot of stand out songs on here. They don't feel repetitive. I just find that his voice isn't as strong as the songs.
This kind of deserves a 5 for being a really solid album, but it's just not my thing tho.
The Stranglers
3/5
I find myself slightly confused by it.
It sounds like solid song craft but also like it's on the verge of stepping on itself repeatedly.
I kind of like (Get a) Grip (on Yourself)
This has a strong ability to grow on you. This is almost a 4.
They would probably be fun to see in a small venue.
Slade
1/5
This is sloppy slop.
Made me appreciate AC/DC more.
Incubus
3/5
With a name like incubus I had assumed they were a harder band.
I was surprised by how pop they sound and that I knew some of the songs through cultural osmosis.
It's a very 1990s rock sound, with a little odd reggae sound that pops in.
It's fine, easy enough to listen to. Doesn't get repetitive. Left me wondering why so many 1990s rock vocalists have a similar cadence.
I wouldn't seek it out again.
Parliament
4/5
This is a tight album. Doesn't over stay for what it's giving. Great musicianship, great energy.
My issue is I didn't get exposed to funk properly or something.
Much of the funk I've heard gives me anxiety. It's like being in a crowded place. There is a lot going on and I can't pick what to focus on. There are so many parts to each song trying to get my attention.
In the right mind and the right time I could at least zone out and dance to this, and that's something.
Snoop Dogg
3/5
His star power comes through. Great sound and flow. The lyrics don't do much for me.
His voice is getting a little stepped on. Could be the source.
Gin and Juice is a very catchy track and enjoyed the nod to Slick Rick with Lodi Dodi. Could drop a couple tracks for a tighter album.
Joanna Newsom
4/5
I first heard Joanna Newsome from the movie The Strangers. As soon as I heard Sprout and the Bean I had to look her up. Then Peach, Plum, Pear became an ear worm for me for a long time. Anyway never listened to this one before.
Something about her sound pings my brain. A history of listening to folk music, musicals of the 1940s and 50s, music of the Guzheng or the Gayageum. It all keeps me along for this ride.
I checked to see if the track lengths bothered me. They didn't. Gave it two full listens.
The poetic lyrics painted slide shows of pictures in my mind.
Malcolm McLaren
1/5
During the listen I was thinking, this sounds unfocused like a mixed bag of stolen goods. Sounds like colonialism.
Not required listening. If the other albums on the list were a bowl of party mix this would be the crumbs left in the bottom of the bowl.
ABBA
4/5
This caught me off guard.
ABBA has just existed like an unavoidable pop force, but I didn't know about this. This is interesting.
I'd like to re visit this some day.
Radiohead
4/5
Okay, on the track The National Anthem. My idea of replacing the vocals with a trumpet came true. I'm a genius.
This has dynamic stereo mixing.
Looking back on my reviews of Radiohead it looks like I appreciate them, but never really want to listen to them and that holds true for this one.
A very well constructed album, stronger as a whole rather than it's individual parts.
The final track is a perfect candidate for vocals replacement trumpet.
Steve Winwood
3/5
This album is much better in a car on a highway with the windows down than it is being the first thing you listen to in the morning.
Cool album cover. Good compositions. I have some trouble with the very 1980s sound.
The opening track is great, the rest were fine.
Sabu
2/5
The stereo mixing is kind of crazy.
The track Asabache had a sound that felt like it was projected into my nose. Alot of the lead vocals are hard to one channel on headphones.
The opening track was solid, but many of the tracks were too loose.
There were moments I could dance to, but this really didn't click for me.
Youssou N'Dour
3/5
The instrumentation and production are solid.
Fun music but I don't see myself revisiting.
Hole
3/5
In the context of this list, I am not sure that this is required listening.
It is a bit derivative.
If you are a fan of this style of music you get your money's worth.
It is a very well produced album, with some great songs.
I feel like I'm losing what the star score even meas.
The Byrds
2/5
Some interesting bits sonically. Solid instrumentation.
None of the tracks popped for me.
The components make me feel like I should like it more, but it is a bit too soft and ultimately forgettable.
Elbow
3/5
I was prepared to be fully checked out on this. Thought it would be a cardboard, bland album.
The vocals are great and at least made me pay attention.
There is some good music here, I enjoyed it enough but the ballads didn't do much for me. I liked the more bluesy bits.
Beatles
3/5
This is a solidly constructed album and more cohesive than some of the later ones, but it's a bit basic. A well calculated product for the time I'm sure.
The cover songs don't quite live up to the originals, but they do a fine job.
Burning Spear
4/5
The album art goes hard.
This seems like a well made reggae album. Good voice, good production.
I just haven't figured reggae out yet.
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
Composition is king here.
I was on the highway for the listen, a good place for this listen.
Sometimes it made me drive faster than I wanted to.
Goodbye.
William Orbit
3/5
This listen made me realize that the SNES Donkey Kong Country soundtrack should be on this list.
John Coltrane
5/5
An amazing and fulfilling slice of music.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
As I said for his last album, I found this flat at times.
He is great at being a poet, but I find it uncomfortable at times when he is jamming in syllables over the music and not with the music.
That being said the instumental compositions and production are well done again.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
5/5
I started the day by listening to the wrong album, CSN from 1977 and I was prepared to give that 5.
I've corrected and switched to the proper album.
I never understood. I judged the book by it's cover. Without ever listening to them I assumed they weren't for me.
After a day full of 2 different Crosby, Stills & Nash albums, these guys put out a solid product. The production on this album is so good. The dynamic mixing, head phones, come on. Makes one question why more music wasn't mixed like this.
I wish I had heard this sooner.
The 1977 album CSN is pretty good also.
Gil Scott-Heron
5/5
So good.
A poet that uses his syllables and vocals as an instrument playing with the instrumentals.
I found the album really well structured and The Bottle makes me want to move. Brian Jackson flute playing, a thing of beauty.
Suede
2/5
I liked some of the guitar riffs.
Vocals not so much.
This is just forgettable.
Not required listening
I hate the album cover for it's colour palette.
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
I enjoyed this.
Sonically it's was the blues with a bluegrass vibe.
I'd like to hear more.
The Pharcyde
2/5
Some good beats, good flow, solid production.
The lyrical content had me cringing.
It all just started blending together.
As an album it would benefit from dropping some tracks to make a more consumable product.
The ingredients are here, and I wanted to like it more.
Belle & Sebastian
2/5
I've heard this groups name too much but never listened.
I'm not in the mood for this.
Just feels like it lacks the warmth of it's predecessors.
I would not say that this is required listening.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I enjoy how stripped down this is.
I like harmonica.
He is a good song writer and this is a solid album, but I do not feel that this is something people need to hear before they die.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Like the last time she came up her vocals are the star of the album
And again the writing is pretty good.
The compositions don't really pop for me. Although In My Bed with the Incredible Bongo Band and Nas samples caught me.
Elastica
2/5
I really don't think this does much beyond the artists that came before.
The vocals are getting stepped on.
I know the song Connection, tho I don't find it exceptional.
Missy Elliott
3/5
I wanted to like this Missy Elliot album more than I do.
A couple of good songs. The singles.
Timbaland making some fun beats.
A few too many tracks where the lyrics aren't great or are just being jammed in without really clicking with the beat.
Too many little speeches one would be fine and If you want a message in a song make sure it serves the music.
Bob Dylan
3/5
I like when he is doing folk more than the blues.
Blowin' in the Wind and Don't Think Twice are good songs.
I didn't enjoy this listen.
The guy can write some good lyrics tho sonically most of it wasn't working for me.
Depeche Mode
4/5
I could have sworn we had already done a Depeche Mode album. There is just so much on this list from this genre. That being said this makes sense.
Very engaging, interesting compositions.
The Monks
4/5
Sonically I found this interesting.
Kind of garage rock, proto punk, but with an almost straight laced sound to the vocals.
I was ready to give this a strong 3 but the last tracks composition pushed me over to a 4.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Family Affair is an obvious hit.
Okay yodeling, nice.
I don't understand the context of this album.
Could be my copy or could be on purpose but the music was a bit flat sounding for what was going on.
The bass playing is the star of the show.
Kid Rock
1/5
In the 1980s and 1990s you had the highest chance of taking a sip from your can of soda and it having a cigarette butt or ash in it put there by by an inattentive drunkcle. Consuming this felt like one of those sips.
This is music for the type of person that gets too friendly with a convenience store owner because they pick up the same 2L cup of coke and pack of smokes every day around the same time, but you can tell the store owner does not welcome the conversation.
The fact that resources were wasted on this in anyway hurts me. Fuel, plastic, electricity, crops, water, oxygen, sun light, busses, aircraft, fabrics, carbon. There are just so many better even local artists for people to give time and money to. Also this album is far too long for what it is.
Buena Vista Social Club
5/5
I'm no expert, bit this seems like a perfect example of Latin jazz.
I enjoyed the listen, it sounded great, I'll probably listen again.
Blur
3/5
Damon Albarn can construct very good pop songs.
This album lost it's way at some point. Could have been a tighter 40 minute album.
The Black Keys
3/5
Well done kind of bluesy rock.
Doesn't really do much to elevate the genre, but put together a solid album.
The track Too Afraid to Love You would be really cool with Ghostface Killah doing something over it.
Supertramp
5/5
Why is the recording of this so good? So dynamic.
Bloody Well Right!
Yeah, this is a good album with amazing production value.
The title track was melting my face. Great final track for the album
Supergrass
4/5
A fine album, well done.
It doesn't really bring anything new, but it is well constructed.
Some fun pop garage rock kind of sound.
Give it a go.
Todd Rundgren
5/5
Some of this sounds ahead of it's time.
Sounds like this guy is having fun and likes what he is doing.
This has a lot. Every listen will give you something different for sure.
Just when I could have a chance of getting tired it takes a turn and gives me something different.
Really enjoyable consumed as an album. I had fun listening to this.
Lenny Kravitz
2/5
His voice just isn't that strong.
You have some Prince kind of songs and some very Beatles moments.
Mr. Cab Driver I remember being kind of catchy, but I found it pretty boring now.
Over compressed.
This whole album just has local bar band energy. It's on the level of a working class musician with a day job. Not required listening.
Miles Davis
5/5
I did my first listen on the car stereo. I was kind of impressed with some bits and the progression since the older stuff. Overall tho I was leaning towards a 4.
Now with headphones in and eyes closed, this is a whole different beast.
The mixing is taking me for a ride.
This is a solid and interesting album. It provides something different compared to a lot of derivative albums on this list.
I'd gladly give it some more listens some day.
Kelela
2/5
I enjoyed her voice and I gave it two full listens.
The lyrics are pretty generic.
It was nice and well produced, but not really doing anything that separated it from the pack.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Elvis has a great voice and his use of it as an instrument is well done.
There is some fun music and the mixing is pretty dynamic.
A song like It Feels So Right has an interesting use of the Blues, not so on the nose.
I'm not so sure about it's construction as an album. It doesn't flow nicely, but I enjoyed the listen.
Brian Eno
2/5
I'm getting into the track Mia Culpa.
This album, it would seem is here for how influential it was.
Seems like a direct path to Moby (give Gregor back his CDs)
Felt more like a technical demo or an educational field trip than an enjoyable listen.
Herbie Hancock
5/5
Composition is king.
Influential.
Great mixing and production value.
Watermelon Man, is so damn good.
Brian Eno
3/5
I gave this 3 listens. I liked bits here and there, but I just couldn't sink my teeth in.
Seems fine. Sonically it sounded fine. Could be tightened up as an album.
I'd be willing to try again some day.
Can
2/5
Interesting to start an album with a trap to see if a listener would like to stick with it or not. Or maybe it's a way for the listener to set their expectations lower for the first bit of the track.
It's fine. I'm going a little crazy from the odd song structures that have been coming up a lot as of late.
Sounds good in that 1970s way.
I don't think you need to listen to this before you die.
Leonard Cohen
5/5
This was what I needed today. After a string of stuff more on the experimental side.
He uses his voice well.
Love The Partisan.
Some of the bass lines remind me of l Hank Williams or The Carter Family like Tonight Will Be Fine.
If there were fractional scores this as an album would be just under a 5 so I'm rounding up.
Stan Getz
5/5
O Pato is very nice.
The stereo mixing on Samba Triste.
This was such an all around pleasant listen.
I spent longer than I needed to trying to think of a reason not to give it 5.
Happy Mondays
2/5
I expected to hate this more than I did.
The compositions are nauseating.
The production is mud.
Still more interesting than any U2 album.
Bert Jansch
3/5
Very nice music, but I'm failing to grasp the significance.
Why is this required listening?
I liked it, but nothing memorable.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Obviously made a huge impact on music in general.
Some fun tracks. Some bits don't age well.
Bang for your buck if you were to have purchased this at the time.
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
Surprisingly enjoyable for 2008.
I liked the cinematic feel with a 1960s vibe. They did it well.
Could have been interesting if they let some of the instrumentation breath a little more without vocals at times.
Japan
2/5
This has a discordant sound for me. There is always something going on that I find distracting.
I find the vocal choices grating. There are instrumental moments that are interesting.
2.5
Khaled
3/5
I found myself tapping my toes to the music.
No, that Imagine cover is like an odd karaoke thing.
Seems like a well constructed pop album for 1999.
His voice doesn't seem that strong.
The Monkees
3/5
Zilch is the best track.
I was waiting for a track to really lock in with something interesting. Early Morning Blues and Greens was the closest I got.
You get a well made pretty cohesive album that doesn't ask much of the listener.
Fever Ray
2/5
This is fine. A little repetitive.
I liked the stuff they released as part of The Knife.
I don't get a sense of this being required listening.
Drive-By Truckers
2/5
A somewhat interesting at times melding of rebel country, indie rock, Neil Young.
Shout out Lynyrd Skynyrd and the name of a place in the south.
If this is partially responsible for the current state of pop country, we'll that's unfortunate.
40 minutes could have rendered the same results.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
This is sonically pretty tight. Nice mixing.
It's oddly the album that made me interested in digging into the west coast sound more, unlocked it for me.
His vocals lock in, cadence change ups keep my attention.
So many great beats.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
3/5
Great example of this kind of music.
It would have hit me in highschool.
There are just so many albums like this out there. Which makes it hard to see this as required listening.
Nice album art.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
5/5
Seeing a 2 hour listen pop up was pretty intimidating.
When I figured out what it was it changed my mood.
What an amazing homage to the Nashville sound. Bluegrass and Classic Country without being corny.
Growimg up my grandparents and parents would randomly sing a bunch of these old folk songs.
The way this was recorded is so good. Some of the best banjo picking ever, almost makes me tear up.
Keep on the Sunny Side, Nashville Blues, Dark as a Dungeon, I Saw the Light, Earl's Breakdown, Orange Blosom Special, Wabash Cannonball,
It's got It's blemishes, but it's a nice collection that pays respect to some of the greats. Good jumping off point if you dig into the credits.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
Through this I've listened to so much Neil Young. I'm not sure why I avoided him for all of these years. I listened to a lot of music obviously influenced by him in my formative years.
I enjoyed something new every listen.
It sounded great in headphones and on the car stereo.
It's hard to describe, but I would just get lost in the sound. It was like the warmth of reading a good book.
The Blue Nile
3/5
I feel like this is the 13th time we've had an album that sounds like this.
I'm probably wrong.
It might be the 4th or 5th time I'm also mildly impressed that a 1980s album isn't that bad.
I'm still puzzled by the origin of that 1980s vocal style.
The United States Of America
2/5
I tried and had hoped there was something here.
It is slightly better on headphones.
Maybe I'll try again someday. I'm down for a challenge.
The Dictators
2/5
I guess this is part of the lineage that explains punk.
It's fine, it sounds fine.
It's for teenage boys in the 1970s.
A couple of fun cover songs.
The La's
3/5
Cool album art.
1960s inspired pop rock. Sonically speaking, the production isn't bad.
It has it's moments. I liked All by Myself.
Although it grew on me the more I listened, I'm not so sure that this album is required listening.
Red Snapper
1/5
Honestly?
"...the band said a reason for splitting was too much discussing what to play, rather than playing. Each member wanted to try a different musical direction..."
The author could open a list of top albums from any other country for the year 2000 and pick one.
The Byrds
3/5
The Mr Tamborine Man cover is such a solid opening track.
This is a fun, quick moving 1960s album. A few covers, but the compositions are pretty good.
Obviously had an impact on American music. I'm just not fully sold on it. Quite a few forgettable songs.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
The songs on this album are woven into the tapestry of reality.
Solid album, bang for your buck.
Hawkwind
4/5
First time listening to this band.
Sounds great for a live album, but I would be interested in hearing it with studio quality mixing. I might try and check out other their other albums.
I got lost a chunk of times just enjoying the ride.
The saxophone doesn't even bother me on this album.
Taps into some noise rock elements that I enjoy.
An aural adventure.
Slipknot
2/5
A good example of a time and place.
There is room for all music. Some music is more of an introduction for the youth or more about a feeling than anything else.
They are one of the best at what they do and I respect the showmanship.
Big Star
2/5
The first thing that jumps out at me is how weak the vocals are. They take away from the mediocrity.
Pretty bland overall.
I kind of liked Try Again.
Was odd hearing That 70s Show theme, but that doesn't affect the review.
808 State
2/5
I'm not sure why? Did it make an impact? I don't know.
It just made me day dream of something better like the Donkey Kong Country soundtrack.
R.E.M.
4/5
It's interesting that this followed the greatest hits album and this would contain most of their greatest hits.
I enjoy a lot of these songs. I haven't heard most in a very long time. But I won't need to hear them again for a while. There is just something that is overall bland about the production.
If there was a dial that could turn up the folk I'd do that. Get some of the 1980s stank off.
All that said, this is a great album for fans of R.E.M.
4/5
This is a headphones are a must. Some of the soundscapes are crazy.
The depth of audio on albums like this after a bunch of over compressed stuff reminds me that my ears are working.
I'm not sure if this would be an album I'd recommend, but I might. I would like to absorb it more.
The way the vocals play with syllables fascinates me.
Yes is one of the bands I'd like to go back and explore more some day, If I'm not sick of music after this.
Soft Machine
2/5
It has it's moments, but those moments aren't worth the rest of the time spent testing the listener.
Justice
5/5
From the point of view of an album being a package, this is a strong production, though could be tightened up.
Great album cover, Strong start and finish some great tracks in between.
When this came out I listened to it a bunch and kind of forgot about it. I probably shouldn't have.
I'd say it belongs on the list tho.
I find myself trying to find reasons to give it four, I should just give it five.
Kraftwerk
5/5
Another well crafted album.
Very well mixed and produced.
Hall of Mirrors is so good.
What this album did for not only electronic music, but also for Afrika Bambaataa, it deserves 5.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3/5
Hypnotic.
Oh it's the group that worked with Paul Simon.
Very nice. Would benefit from some more variety.
Beatles
4/5
I really don't like Maxwell's silver hammer or I Want You(She's So Heavy), but I don't hate a bit of the whimsical Octopus's Garden.
George Martin makes this album shine.
Come Together, Something and especially Here Comes the Sun make this album unsinkable.
The fusion of skiffle, British dance hall, American rock, blues and country. The Beatles manage to sound progressive and like "...[music] for the grannies to dig"
Björk
4/5
There is a lot of Björk on this list.
She is a being constructed of pure emotion.
This would probably be pretty great to hear live. Pretty cohesive and expansive feeling.
I'd like to try and give the strings version a listen to see what it's like, see if it's stripped down a little.
Yeah, this is probably the only Björk you really need on the list.
Van Morrison
2/5
I need to think about the vocals here.
The compositions are good, his cadence works but his voice just kind of falls flat for me.
It's like he has tiny lungs or something.
Some great songs.
Kings of Leon
3/5
We don't need 3 Kings of Leon albums on this list.
This is probably the one to keep tho.
Sanitized production, boring vocals, and decent compositions.
It's been a while, but this is a candidate for replacing the vocals with a trumpet.
Replace one of the other Kings of Leon albums with the Creed album or something. I mean there was room for Kid Rock.
Le Tigre
2/5
This was more about the energy than the music. That's fine.
Sex Pistols
3/5
Aesthetic.
A very influential album.
Some surprisingly good compositions, but at times hang around a little too long for what they are.
Miriam Makeba
3/5
She has a very nice voice and this album has a pretty good sound quality, but the album as a whole doesn't do anything overall memorable.
I assume from what I read that she is more important than the album.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
I'm not in the mood for this.
I kind of like The Jungle Line. Sounds like proto Björk.
In the past I have enjoyed her voice, but it was not working for me this time.
Also, we don't need this many Joni Mitchell albums on the list.
Dagmar Krause
3/5
I listened to the 1994 re release with extra tracks.
The sound quality was great, the energy and vocals were great.
I think something like this belongs on the list, but I probably wouldn't seek it out again.
I found it enjoyable, but my mind would often drift with the tracks not sounding that different.
This would probably be better consumed with some sort of visual element.
2/5
This isn't bringing anything new or interesting. Since the time of the Beatles and The Beach Boys there have been bands making albums like this all over the world.
This could just be replaced with a band doing the same thing in another language.
And now I need to worry about the Greenman. That's something I didn't need to do before listening to this album.
Flamin' Groovies
2/5
This gives me vibes of The Doors and that's not a good thing.
Sounds like a sloppy drunk approximation of the Blues.
Whiskey Woman had something going on.
Afrika Bambaataa
4/5
This is fun.
Maybe a little sloppy at times, but it's all about the energy.
Big, influential album.
Everything But The Girl
2/5
It had it's moments, but nothing that really lasted.
Not something I would think of to recommend to anyone.
The Doors
4/5
Sonically some of the songs engage my brain on a golden ratio like level. Peel back the thin skin and Jim is a sloppy childish lyricist.
The energy and influence this album has makes it worth a listen.
It is probably the only album by The Doors that should be on the list.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
I had a good enough time driving with this playing, but it is kind of basic as far this kind of sampling goes.
Personally I would look towards DJ Shadow's album Endtroducing..... from 1996 over this, but I get it.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Honestly they should have just put a CCR greatest hits on the list and called it a day.
I gave the other two CCR albums 5s. This is also a pretty good listen, but doesn't quite get there.
Ute Lemper
2/5
I was enjoying this at first but it never delivered. Dropped pretty quickly from a 4 to a 2.
The production value was pretty good, but the lyrics seemed cheap.
Television
4/5
This is my 3rd time writing this review, I lost it twice before.
This didn't work for me until I got to the title track, Marquee Moon. From there I enjoyed this.
Sounds ahead of it's time. My fear is that it may be responsible for some of the things I don't like about 1980s music.
T. Rex
4/5
I had high hopes for this going in
I did two listens in the car and it wasn't hitting.
Headphones was the way to go.
Great sound.
T-Rex is a group I hope to circle back on after this whole thing.
Germs
2/5
I don't mind me some punk here and there, but the mixing isn't great on this.
Manimal had some okay bits.
I get why this would have been influential, just not something I'd listen to much these days.
Iggy Pop
3/5
Bowie being involved is quite obvious again, which makes this more interesting at times.
The Passenger sounds like the better version of a song by the doors.
The production quality seems flat or a bit over compressed.
Might be a mood, but this didn't do it for me.
Pere Ubu
2/5
I enjoyed this more than the other Pere Ubu album on the list.
It had some interesting punk moments.
Not required listening.
Ms. Dynamite
2/5
This is a fine example of this kind of music but forgettable.
Doesn't stand the test of time compared to artists like Mariah Carey, Destiny's Child, Mary J. Blige, or TLC.
UB40
3/5
A fine listen, better than expected. Reggae can be a bit repetitive, this had a couple of moments when it tried something new. Those moments worked for me.
Even the saxophone worked.
David Bowie
5/5
There are too many albums on this list.
Many of them don't live up to what an album should really be.
This is an Album, not just a playlist of songs.
Each song is an event, with time and care invested in the outcome. They are distinct from one another, yet sonically form a united whole in the final product.
Quicksand was the stand out track for me that may get overlooked.
Metallica
2/5
It's like going to an all you can eat buffet restaurant and one thinks,... I like the types of food at the buffet. I could have a mountain plate full of the thing I like. You eat a bunch of okay food to the point of feeling sick.
Or you could, for the same price eat a higher quality smaller amount.
This is not something anyone needs to hear. Also for the most part live albums are for the fans of a band.
The Bees
3/5
This is fine.
It's nice enough.
Some moments sound like the Beatles, some like the Beach Boys.
Not essential to listen to before your hearing goes.
Steely Dan
4/5
I was excited to see that this is the debut album after already listening to a few. I figured this is what got them in the door.
This has a couple of songs that I recognize.
A handful of the songs fade to the background on first listen. I imagine with time this one could grow.
The Cult
1/5
This album cover art is repelling.
Mostly your average hard rock sound nothing special.
The cover of Born to be Wild is terrible. Which was foreshadowed by the terrible album cover.
This lost it 1 star.
Wild Beasts
3/5
The songs have potential, I find the mixing throws the songs off.
The vocals trampled the music at times.
It was a nice enough headphones listen, but it all started to blend together after the first 3 songs.
Orbital
3/5
Do I know this song Halcyon and On and On?
Another album that is fine, but could easily be replaced by the SNES Donkey Kong Country soundtrack.
Might re visit.
Air
4/5
The first track really clicked for me. I didn't remember the release date during the listen and assumed this was from the 1970s at first.
The production sounds better than other stuff from the late 1990s.
I enjoyed this listen. It could be tightened up a little. Some tracks hang around too long.
Throwing Muses
3/5
A strong debut album.
Little surprised I had never heard of them.
I like a lot of what the instrumentation is doing .
The vocals are hit or miss, and on the later tracks I got a little burned out.
Green is my favorite track.
Arctic Monkeys
3/5
Raucous and rollicking energy.
Things slow down a little later on.
You can hear the influences.
I can see why people enjoy this, a solid production.
The vocal stylings become repetitive, which is not uncommon with this style of music.
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
Heard the name, not familiar with the music.
I had been watching some Charlie Brown Christmas and when that piano on the start of track 3 hit, I got confused.
A lot of nice compositions, maybe too many.
As a younger man with more time, I could see listening to this again and again, really getting to know it. In this setting tho, it's not easy.
From the song They are Night Zombies!! They are Neighbors!!... to the end of the album is where it managed to get some hooks in me.
Napalm Death
3/5
When this started I was like "oh no".
But this hit me on the right day and when I got to the title track I started kind of enjoying it.
They really shine on the songs that are less than 30 seconds.
I don't know if they ment this to be cheeky, but I had a dumb grin on my face during the drive home with this on. They do a great job of not over staying their welcome.
Better than U2.
R.E.M.
4/5
Michael Stipe's vocal stylings at times can get in the way of how solid the instrumentation can be. But it always works out for a couple strong songs.
Like I have said before If there was a dial that could turn up the folk I'd do that. That mandolin helps.
As always R.E.M puts out solid albums. If you are a fan you definitely get your money's worth.
I Remember California is not one I've heard before, but liked.
I knew Stand and Orange Crush, two strong singles.
This might be my favorite one of the ones from this list.
I think this is the fourth R.E.M album we have done. A bit excessive.
The Electric Prunes
2/5
Groovy opening track.
This one went places.
It had me wondering what the criteria is to end up on the list. This might be the closest to a children's music album sound yet.
Raffi's album Baby Beluga should probably be on the list.
Nanci Griffith
4/5
I didn't expect much from the start, but I was pleasantly surprised.
I'm not sure what to say, great voice, nice melodies.
Really liked some of the stuff beimg done on One of These Days.
I wasn't familiar with her, but I look forward to giving this one some more listens in the future.
The Birthday Party
2/5
Albums like this should exist. The youth trying something and putting it out there.
But this is not required listening.
Prince
3/5
I still haven't figured out Prince.
So much going on production wise.
Again, I like the songs with less going on like Lady Cab Driver. It is so long tho for what it is.
Too many of the songs hang around longer than needed.
Can
3/5
An odd one to rate, but I enjoyed the listen.
There was a warmth and depth to the recording despite the cacophony at times.
Steve Earle
1/5
This sounds like the early days of figuring out new country. Songwriting in country hasn't changed much since this, just more mentions of "cold beer" and trucks.
I'm not a fan of the machine that is pop country.
Green Day
3/5
For me this is too long, but I'm sure the fans loved it. It's too processed for my liking.
Feels like a bowl of sugary fruity breakfast cereal. The bits may have different colours but they all pretty much taste the same and lose their crunch after a while.
The Byrds
4/5
Not a fan of the stuff being done on that first track, but overall a pleasant listen.
The mixing is enjoyable, and the production does sound like a former Beach Boys producer did it.
Didn't expect to like a song named Renaissance Fair, but her we are.
The Dylan Cover is pretty good.
Between a 3 and a 4, rounded up.
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
A great live performance of greatest hits I guess. Big charisma.
I'm not sure that this is required listening, but could be.
I'm sure some love it.
Ghostface Killah
4/5
Ghostface has top tier cadence when it comes to hip hop.
Great production, great story telling.
A cohesive album.
Just an issue with quantity over quality.
John Prine
3/5
"Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore", Get em John!
A nice debut album, with some poignant lyrics throughout.
I liked Pretty Good, but otherwise not many of the tracks grabbed me.
The Cure
2/5
Sonically this is adjacent to some music I enjoy. If The Figurehead or Strange Day were instrumental tracks I'd like them a lot more.
The vocals are distracting and overpowering the the tracks.
So much New Wave.
White Denim
2/5
Ultimately forgettable.
The instrumentation is fine, the vocals made me struggle to pay attention.
Beastie Boys
3/5
An interesting album.
It really felt like a well rounded album.
Cohesive, yet diverse.
The Dust Brothers seem to be responsible for the best parts of it.
The Beastie Boys bring a fun energy, but their lyricism didn't live up to the hype.
Tangerine Dream
5/5
I liked this quite a bit from the start.
Better on headphones.
There isn't much to say about this.
I got to a point where I was trying to find reasons not to give it 5.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Bob Marley's voice as I have said before is captivating. Obvious why he captured so many hearts and minds.
Not being a classic pure reggae album does make this more accessible.
More layers on the tracks, more meat on the bone.
Stop That Train was hitting for me.
New Order
3/5
An improvement from the last New Order album we listened to.
The vocals are better, but the lyricism is a bit primary at times.
None of the songs really stand out.
Deerhunter
2/5
I was really not in the mood for this.
Nothing stands out, the production is a loud over compressed lump.
Not required listening.
The Young Rascals
3/5
I rolled my eyes seeing this pop up and it's weak wikipedia article.
I don't have much to complain about.
This is a solid little album. Good production, good energy, doesn't over stay it's welcome.
It just doesn't have anything to really hook the listener and make them spread the word.
Doves
2/5
This is the type of music that makes me reflect on the fact that AI is just doing what the music industry has been doing for a long time now.
Maybe its inevitable, like a computer beating a chess grandmaster, then eventually a go champion.
It had one or two nice moments.
The Verve
2/5
Not required listening.
It didn't do anything.
Perfect music to ignore and make you talk louder when having beers with friends at a bar.
Sister Sledge
3/5
Fun, funky and easy to dance to.
A nice album, perfect for a family party or getting you moving and cleaning house on the weekend.
The Beta Band
3/5
Surprised by how dynamic the sound quality is for something from 2001.
The songs seem alright but nothing stands out. It would take time for this to grow.
Billy Bragg
4/5
I really liked this.
I don't think it's a five, but I would like to listen to this more.
The minimalist song creation with electric guitar and his great working class voice are right in my wheelhouse.
B.B. King
3/5
B.B. King has just never clicked for me. I'm not giving up, but I seem to like the Blues more when it's a bit more bare bones. Also give me more harmonica.
I always have trouble with live albums. This is a great example of the Blues for a list like this.
Raekwon
2/5
I tried this back in the day and it didn't do much for me.
The intro skit doesn't start things off in a great way.
This doesn't need to be on the list.
This is not as good as Enter the Wu Tang or Liquid Swords, and they do a great job representing the Wu-tang Clan sound of the time.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
When you are over 800 in, compared to other stuff from this time and place, this is fine.
Would be nice if it was 10 minutes shorter.
Dwight Yoakam
4/5
I have historically stayed away from country music made after the 1970s.
This surprised me. Still has it's feet in the classic country sound. Honky Tonk.
Do yourself a favor and check him out in the movies Crank from 2006 and Crank: High Voltage from 2009.
Okay, and Logan Lucky too.
Talking Heads
3/5
I was having a manic day and this wasn't helping.
Not this albums fault, but this list of over 1001 albums doesn't need this many Talking Heads albums.
This sounds like an extension of the 1977 album.
It was fine.
The Sonics
2/5
So many cover songs just done in a rebellious way. Often a good formula for selling a bunch of records to the youth.
Doesn't feel like required listening before you die.
The mixing works great on the car stereo, but is even better on headphones.
There was a point where I declared that this sounded like Rod Stewart. Later found out it is. That overall is the issue. His voice just has a ceiling.
I enjoyed the track Love Lives Here. It was better while driving.
Everything was fine, but nothing really moved me.
Ultimately this was a 3 point something, that just becomes a 3.
Motörhead
4/5
Like I said last time with Motörhead.
"Sounds like an album of trying to figure out one song, getting it, making it the first track then using the rest of the tries to make an album."
But this time as a live album, the energy really comes across and that's what music like this is really all about.
It's fun.
Jungle Brothers
3/5
Some interesting sampling and lyrics safe to play for all ages.
It is just kind of dull. The mixing is muddy. Quantity over quality.
The ingredients are all here, the baking is just a little off.
Amazing album art.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
LCD Soundsystem historically managed to avoid me.
They are one of the groups that I'd probably like to check out more when this is all over.
Very listenable on the car stereo driving around today, but much better on headphones.
Some of the tracks could have been cut down.
A cohesive album that can put you in a trance.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
The third time Pet Shop Boys have come up.
This one would be the one I would cut. The compositions were rather dull. It was like an experiment to see if they could get away with doing as little as possible.
It wasn't what I expected from the Pet Shop Boys or could have just been the wrong day
Pantera
3/5
Pretty strong production value going on here. Sounds very polished for a thrash metal album.
The compositions go down hill around track 6.
Starts strong but can't hold on.
4/5
Great sound.
The perfect kind of album to get a weekend morning started. Relax a bit, take your time, do some chores.
It flows on.
Beetles in the Bog made me want to dance.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
The opening track had me doing freestyle Blues lyrics.
A really nice listen to just get lost in.
Dexys Midnight Runners
5/5
I saw 1985 and Dexys Midnight Runners and I was worried.
This thing is an odd duck, but an odd duck made of high quality materials. On headphones this has an amazing rich dynamic sound.
Seems that this suffered by just not playing along with the way you were expected to do things in the music business at the time.
Big fan of the mandolin and steel guitar use.
One of Those Things, with it's ripping off Werewolves of London sounded great.
The Waltz was another highlight for me.
I might be a fan of Dexys Midnight Runners.
I tried for 20 to 30 minutes to convince myself that this wasn't a 5, I jumped around the tracks looking for a reason.
I failed.
The Replacements
3/5
Great music for shoveling snow to.
I'm living in a virtual time loop of shoveling the same area every 2 hours. This provided good energy for such a task.
Sounds like this influenced stuff I was listening to in the late 1990s early 2000s. Not bad. Androgynous stands out.
Is the answering machine at the end of the album saying "If you need snow?" over and over again?!
What is happening!?
50 Cent
3/5
This is album belongs here to represent a time and place in rap. You would want this and some Eminem.
Personally I'm not a fan of his flow, but he has fun lyricism at times.
The album could be leaner. Chop off a few of the weaker tracks.
It's pop.
Beatles
5/5
There are a lot of Beatles albums on this list and this is one of the ones that deserves to be on this list.
Taxman is a unfortunate way to start though.
Eleanor Rigby clicked for me the first time I heard it many years ago.
I'm Only Sleeping is inspiring.
As always it was very nice of them to let Ringo join in.
For No One is a big one sonically.
It's interesting that so much of the music from the 1990s and early 2000s seems directly influenced by this album specifically.
One of the more cohesive albums by the Beatles.
Still undecided for me if I like this more than Rubber Soul or not.
SZA
2/5
When SZA was starting to get buzz I checked in and didn't get it, I knew I was starting to age out.
This album productionwise kind of sounds like AI slop. Way too over produced.
Her voice and cadence have potential. I tried to find something more stripped down, found a version of 20 Something that was better than this album version.
I had to take a brake in the middle of this and listen to some Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald to remind myself of the high bar.
I struggled but made it through.
I enjoyed the audio quality of the skits with her Mom and Granny.
KISS
1/5
Never has a bands image and lore been so different from their music.
The mixing is so bad at times. Just a cacophony of instrumentation that doesn't sync up.
The whole package is sloppy. There are a few moments that almost tricked me into thinking that there was something.
In the grand scheme of things sure KISS can be some dumb fun, but they almost have that U2 issue for me.
They took up so much space in the collective consciousness that just isn't worth it. The money thrown at them that could have been spread around to local artists.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Loving the brass on the album.
Overall I enjoyed this, but it didn't have a stand out feel for me.
The lowest of the three we have listened to, but I might revisit to see if I can find something, someday.
Wire
2/5
I was confused at the start of Three Girl Rhumba and had to go hum the song into google to remind me where I had heard the riff before.
A lot of it just kind of blended together making it hard to stick.
My mind easily wandered.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Right off the bat, I like seeing the 37 minute run time. My hopes are up that this is concentrated goodness.
Smooth, experience, just wish it was a little more dynamic.
Kind of album that does a fine job of just letting time slip by while you work.
Carole King
4/5
The production and mixing is well done.
This just isn't my cup of tea. I must admit that I was surprised by the overall high rating.
Way Over Yonder warmed me a little.
Okay, she won't me over on the back half.
The White Stripes
3/5
The compositions and instrumentation are in my wheelhouse. I don't find his voice the most compelling. The mixing is fine enough.
Oh the Conan O'Brien needs a Friend theme.
I Can't Wait for some reason caught my attention.
Im curious to hear some stronger vocalists sing some of these.
He does a good job of taking his influences and making something different.
Beth Orton
2/5
I'm not sure about the relevance compared to like a Sarah McLachlan album which is missing from the list.
Pass in Time - caught my attention.
I don't know it's fine, but give me some Julie Doiron or Feist instead.
The Jam
4/5
I liked a lot about this sonically, but its got a bit of that newave voice.
Pretty good compositions. The bass lines especially stood out.
Set the House Ablaze was the standout track for me.
I think oddly this sounded better in the car.
Robert Wyatt
4/5
Opens with the sonic equivalent of a soggy paper straw.
I wrote that before seeing the name of track 2.
Track 2, strong start. Gotta punch through a lid Bubble tea straw.
Ohhh okay Track 3. Amazing brass. Backwards man. Amazing bass. Solid metal straw
Track 4 a hypnotic melody. Solid classic McDonald's yellow stripe straw.
Track 5 funky, wild stuff. Great bongo work. Has the squeaks like a plastic lid of a fast food cup with the sliding up and down plastic straw.
Track 6 - I'm not sure what to say. Lyrically might be an issue, but sonically it works. Silly glasses straw.
Track 1 sounded better on the car stereo.
X-Ray Spex
3/5
The Sax Pistols.
Fun stuff. High energy.
Some pretty good mixing.
Tortoise
5/5
Oh this is cool start.
Yeah, this first track is wild. 15 minutes in and I kind of wanted to start again before it ended.
Track 2 keeps it up. Especially in that second half.
I wish I had heard of this sooner. It would have been perfect for my long walks home in the late 1990s.
Good album name, good album art, a river of instrumentation.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Confusing which version to listen to.
An expert use of non traditional instruments for the genre. The dulcimar, harmonica and marimba.
Although Mother's Littler Helper is a good song, I am on the side of Paint it Black being an awesome way to kick off an album.
A couple really strong songs on either version, other songs have their moments but do not keep the listener's attention.
The Specials
2/5
This just seems like they are messing around.
One of those albums that makes me wonder what we are rating here.
This list is based on "...Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.". I don't think I could in good conscience suggest to someone that might be dieing that they need to hear this. So from that point of view this would be one star.
Is it a bad album?
No, it's fine, it's a bit of silly fun.
From this point of view, two stars.
Fairport Convention
4/5
Starts off with a very country, singer song writer vibe. Solid song construction and a good voice. Which made my mind drift away.
A few moments peeked my interest, but I didn't lock in and got distracted.
On the third listen Tam Lin broke through and smacked me. This song sounds like it wants to be a metal song. Like a folk cover of a Led Zeppelin song. I see it's based on a traditional ballad.
Crazy Man Michael had a heavier vibe to it too, so I went back to the start thinking I had missed something. I did not.
I had not heard of them before and I do look forward to seeing what else this band has to offer.
Frank Black
3/5
I listened to so much music inspired by Frank Black and in the same vain. I was a big fan of a lot of stuff put out by Sonic Unyon Records around the time Frank Black started working with them. All this to say I checked in with his music back then and like this album, I was already satisfied with what I had for this style of music.
Solid song crafting, just doesn't pop for me. That being said Headache was my favorite track.
Country Joe & The Fish
3/5
Pretty solid sound.
I should like psychedelic rock more than I do. It just doesn't hold my attention.
This had some bluesy vibes that I dug.
Seems like the perfect example of psychedelic rock for the time.
Eminem
4/5
There are some good songs here and Eminem is talented. A great example of rap in this era.
Dre doing a solid job on the production.
I never got into this album when it was huge. There were too many angry young men into it. The type that would put a punisher sticker on their vehicle.
I came around later to appreciate his skill, but this album, I find hard to listen to.
Also a bit of quantity over quality going on here, but it was nice of him to feature some friends.
The Way I am is a Catchy song.
Belongs on the list.
Foo Fighters
1/5
I do not care for the music of the Foo Fighters.
Just so mediocre. They belong in the same category as U2.
Just a waste of resources. The same way AI making music is a waste of resources.
They are a fine bar band that no one outside of a 50km radius needed to hear about.
Suzanne Vega
2/5
This had some good ingredients, but as an album doesn't shine.
Small Blue Thing is a fine song, but too much of the album sounds similar.
The Stooges
3/5
I have brought up The Doors before in my review of The Stooges. This time around, this album sounds like a genuine version of what The Door were trying to put out.
Good, chaotic energy. If this is what you are into, this feels like a strong building block for music that came after.
Eminem
2/5
I like the concept for Guilty Conscience.
This doesn't age that well. It's overall kind of flat sounding.
Eminem is a good lyricist, better than this.
This is too long for what it is.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
A tight little album.
Does what it needs to do and does not over stay it's welcome.
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
I was listening to this in the car and it got to a certain point where I said, "I do not like this. This must be satire or something. I will need to read the wikipedia when I get home".
Yup.
Not really required listening.
The Who
3/5
The Who have such strong songs compositions and I've always liked the storytelling aspect of many of their songs.
This was an interesting listen but maybe not the strongest album.
The Mars Volta
3/5
The instrumentation and compositions work for me.
Sounds good for 2003.
The vocals and lyrical content not so much.
Especially liked the instrumental stretch of Cicatriz ESP.
Depeche Mode
4/5
Depeche Mode is not my cup of tea, but this is a solid album.
It makes sense that Personal Jesus gets highly regarded on great song lists.
For my personal taste this would be a 3, but it's better than that.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
This might end up being my highest rated Nick Cave album.
As always with Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds I have no complaints with the instrumentation. This time it feels like his vocals are part of the music.
I enjoyed the second disc more than the first. In fact this may have been a 5 if it was only disc two.
The list doesn't need this many Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds albums, but this should be one of them.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
On first listen there were a few bits that seemed kind of cringey. Then I listened again while walking around wearing coveralls, holding a 2-1/2 Inch combination wrench in my right hand and wiping the sweat from my brow with the left. It all sounded much better.
Willie Nelson
5/5
I remember seeing this album cover at my grandparent's house as a child. I had never listened to it before.
As an album it felt like the audio version of looking at a portrait.
There were a couple tracks where the percussion sounded like the hooves of a horse on a dusty trail.
Remember Me is clicking, a little jazzy.
The audio quality is insane. I've never heard vocals so clear in my head.
I really enjoyed this album.
Madonna
2/5
Underwhelming.
The production team made a pretty good pop album, although it could be a little shorter.
I don't see this as required listening.
A high 2.
Fairport Convention
4/5
Great instrumentation. Production sounds great on headphones.
I like the vibe of the french song.
Autopsy is good.
Percy's song is right in my wheelhouse.
I wasn't familiar with this but I like the album name and cover and wouldn't be opposed to giving this some more listens in the future.
Bad Company
4/5
I can't remember if we have listened to any other album that sounds so much like the stereotypical local bar band. Which probably does make it perfect for this list.
This album is probably the reason that so many local rock bands sound like this.
There is some nice piano on Ready For love which separates the song from the pack.
Ohhhh, that Bad Company!
Okay, I get it, they are the best to do this sound.
They may have won me over
Might be rated higher for all of the great memories of it playing over callers on The Best Show. High 4
The White Stripes
3/5
I don't mind the take on the blues.
I liked In The Cold, Cold Night.
When the bit about the Squirrel starts it ruined the listen for me, and then the album drops right off.
Einstürzende Neubauten
2/5
I was worried that this would all be haunting noise, but there is some music.
Better than most stuff released by U2.
Except maybe that song they did for Batman Forever.
Morrissey
3/5
This is fine, but as we go along I'm learning that I like him more with The Smiths.
The production is overall lacking a bit.
The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get was a pretty good one.
Beastie Boys
4/5
I can only imagine that this was mind blowing when it dropped. Like punk, rock, hip hop and vaudeville crossed paths.
Perfect album for a teenager. Mostly just dumb fun.
Some cool samples, some clever word play.
It's not perfect, but definitely belongs on the list.
Eagles
2/5
I dont care for the music of the Eagles. I can't place my finger on it, but it's like wearing a slightly itchy piece of clothing or something.
I realized that Wasted Time (reprise) was my favorite track.
I guess the thing that bothers me are the vocals, the guitar throughout the album I find enjoyable.
I also wish it was either more country or more rock, but it exists somewhere oddly in the middle.
The Black Crowes
2/5
I thought, to myself "This should be about done", it was track 4.
This probably inspired a lot of people to get out there and make music. "If these guys can imitate Steppenwolf's Born to be Wild over and over, we can too"
This is fine. Could be better if they had found a way to elevate or bring something fresh.
Background BBQ music.
A strong 2.5
Jamiroquai
3/5
An enjoyable listen to have playing in the car on a nice sunny day while driving around.
The Smiths
4/5
The bass playing is the stand out on this one again for sure.
This one was a little bland for me compared to The Queen is Dead.
All of the ingredients are here it's just missing the it factor. Sonically it could be more dynamic.
I'd say Barbarism Begins at Home was the stand out track for me.
Cypress Hill
3/5
This has some good bounce to it.
The lyrics just aren't great, as an instrument the vocals are fine, but the lyricism was hurting my head.
This deserves to be be here for it's impact and to represent a time and a style.
It's tricky, this was sonically fun for the most part, but I don't think I can go higher than a 3.
Elliott Smith
5/5
Okay, this is a solid album. Really good song craft all throughout. Sounds good.
Some of the melodies made me think of Brian Wilson. A few comparisons to draw there.
I enjoyed this one more than Figure 8. It grabbed me.
The War On Drugs
3/5
Not that bad for 2014.
First track made me roll my eyes but after that it was fine.
Bruce Springsteen with a bit more modern sound.
Mostly forgettable.
Gang Starr
4/5
I have been a fan of DJ Premier's sound for a long time, just so good at that boom bap bounce.
I enjoy the way Guru hits the syllables.
The deliberate way the lyrics are delivered stimulate my synapses even if Im not fully processing the whole time.
This is so close to a 5 for me.
Guru's strengths are also his weakness on this album. His calm monotone flow, although hypnotic, hold the album back from stepping up to another level.
That being said Check the Technique, is a great track.
I really enjoy this, but through the lens of a great album, maybe there is a version that is a little shorter and tighter that would have done better.
I might even regret not giving this a 5.
Dr. Dre
2/5
I don't know, this was never my thing.
I enjoy the the flow at times but only on a track here and there. Surprised how much of Nuthin' but a "G" Thang was in my brain through osmosis.
The lyrical content is boring and a bit repetitive.
An hour of this gave those who liked it their money's worth, but it's too long for me.
Heaven 17
2/5
I had a really hard time with this.
Very unremarkable.
I don't know why this is here.
The 1980s were a strange time.
Abdullah Ibrahim
4/5
Very relaxing, simply smooth.
There were many moments that made me think of other songs.
I would be open to seeing what else he has to offer.
Aerosmith
2/5
It all sounds kind of flat.
There are these very little instrumental moments sprinkled around that are almost interesting.
This one isn't for me.
The Cars
3/5
That opening track is such a good composition. Great mixing.
The second track has some interesting parts instrumentation wise, but overall it's a bit corny.
I've always liked Just What I Needed, just a solid rock song. Another good composition.
I found after that there were songs that had their moments and the mixing was pretty good throughout, but the bar was set high early on.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Great sounding album.
Good stereo mixing on the instrumentals.
Sounds kind of ahead of its time.
Never heard of her.
None of the songs clicked right away. I would need to give a deeper listen. Maybe some day.
Public Enemy
4/5
Chuck D's delivery is so good and Flav is an iconic hype man. The beats are the epitome of the New York sound. Substantial lyrical content.
The overall punch is watered down by the long playtime.A handful of bits that would just be skipped on repeated listen.
Ends on a high with Fight the Power
Rounding up from a strong 3.
Roxy Music
3/5
This sounds ahead of it's time and It's giving me another clue as to why 1980s music sounds the way it does.
They are doing something here, Im just not really into it.
Jurassic 5
4/5
Great energy, great flow.
Not every track is amazing or holds up, but
What’s Golden is a really good track.
I enjoy this and I'm giving it a 4 for that, but I'm not even completely sold that this needs to be on the list. I guess it carries on a tradition, but I'm not sure how influential it was.
Charles Mingus
4/5
This is big music, much too thick to figure this out in this window of time. Textured.
Conveying the soundtrack to any number of stories.
Hard to retain on a single listen, but I would like to revisit.
I feel something like this belongs on a sample platter of albums such as this.
John Grant
1/5
First off I do not like this album cover.
I find his voice bothering me.
The writing is as though he is trying to get away with not trying very hard.
This sounds like a bad version of music.
Chicken Bone had me so angry.
Silver Platter Club calmed me down.
Yeah, his voice is not doing it for me.
Woof.
This guy tricked some people.
This doesn't need to be here.
Nightmares On Wax
4/5
Not what I expected after seeing the album cover and title.
Chill vibes, no obnoxious vocals.
This is a fine album. You would get your money's worth with it.
That being said the original Donkey Kong Country soundtrack deserves to be on this list.
System Of A Down
4/5
I don't think there was a track that I didn't find interesting.
I remember a lot of kids really being inspired by this. It seems like a good gateway album for to test interest in more hard-core sounding music.
Great debut, I'm more familiar with some future singles, but this is a solid album.
James Taylor
3/5
He has a good voice, I'm not sure his cadence does much too grab the listener.
This is fine music, but just falls a little short.
If this is what you need from your music, then this is a cohesive, and consistent album.
Missy Elliott
2/5
I was looking forward to some Missy.
Missy is great ar what she does, and should be recognized, but this isn't the one.
All the shout outs to promote Timbaland are valid, he's a great producer.
Sock it 2 Me is fun.
The Rain is a great track, after that not much stands out.
Ministry
3/5
Opens really strong with NWO, but doesn't keep it up.
I don't remember listening to anything else like this so far. I don't know a lot about this genre of music.
Fun enough album, just not a lot of standout tracks.
Public Enemy
4/5
Get rid of the 1st track of noise. It's going to be skipped all the time anyway.
Again no one like Chuck D, punching you with those syllables and for all of his strangeness Flav is the perfect hype man.
I've never listened to much Public Enemy in the past, but the beats are so good on this one. I hope to log some hours in the future.
Liked this one a bit more overall compared to the last.
Syd Barrett
2/5
There was some of this that I enjoyed for it's odd qualities and wasn't sure how to handle this.
After reading a bit, it's like he had the access and means to make the album , but probably shouldn't have been enabled.
It's interesting, but doesn't make it a good album, or one that requires listening.
Talvin Singh
2/5
I could tell by the year and album cover how this was going to go.
This was pretty un impressive.
Predictable and boring.
Not required listening.
Happy Mondays
3/5
This is a harmless fun album.
Would be a great local bar band.
A basic baseline example of a rock album.
Van Morrison
2/5
Live albums are for people that are already fans of an act.
This is recorded well, but like I said before he sounds as tho he has tiny lungs. There are just way better singers that have way more passion.
He must have a stage presence that makes up for his voice.
Is he doing a parody of the Blues?
The instrumentation is great.
Pavement
4/5
I'm having a hard time reviewing this. It's just a really solid example of a time and place.
It doesn't necessarily wow you on first listen, but it grows on you slowly a little more every listen.
I listened to a lot of music like this, but this is my first time with this one.
3/5
This is one of those ones that has the ingredients, but the production hurts it.
It's over compressed and flat sounding.
Despite the sound quality, there are some interesting compositions.
Blue Cheer
1/5
Almost regret now complaining about the audio quality on the previous album.
This album doesn't sound like required listening. You could play a sample and tell a person when this happened to give some context.
Mudhoney
2/5
This is kind of a mess.
Anxiety inducing.
The harmonica playing is stressful.
Fun album art.
Aphex Twin
3/5
It's fine.
If this is what you are into, you certainly get your money's worth.
A good example of a type of music.
Nico
2/5
When this started I thought maybe her voice is interesting in it's oddness.
When These Days hit I thought okay this works, maybe I would like to hear it with just vocals and guitar. The guitar really got me on that track.
From there though over all this is a mess.