I just can't get into this. The first track was alright but it just all blurred into nothing. It's that because she was influential and a lot of people afterwards sounded like this, or is that because she's the same as so many others?

Surprisingly good fun. Wishing the ratings were out of 10 as this is a 3.5/5

J&MC: 🎶 Me: This is pretty good. Sounds like a bunch of other early 90s indie though J&MC: 🎶 Me: What do you mean this came out in the mid 80s? Nice tunes. 4/5

OK. A little more complex than your average white noise blockout electronica. 2.5, but rounding down because the first and last tracks are a let-down

Have loved this one for years. Ethereal guitars

Very good. A couple of fillers but the opening track is one of my faves

Really?

Never realised how good he was on the guitar

Good listening. Fairly standard blues rhythms but well executed.

Superstitious is a banger. The rest of the album is classic 70s restaurant music - won't offend anyone, but you won't remember it either

Gets better towards the end

Pleasantly surprised by this. Too much misogyny on some tracks though

This site has a serious crush on this guy. Maybe you had to be there?

Ripper of an album

That was a hard listen

Mixed. Nostalgia value - my dad likes this - don't know if I'd listen again though

Some glimpses of excitement (King of the World, Show Biz Kids), but a lot of yacht rock

Interesting. Never heard of these guys before but they seem foundational

Even as a fan, the compilations are better

She's a great singer. I'd love to hear her let loose again

My mind kept wandering away from this album while it was playing. I think that was from a sense of preservation

Odd choice for the list - maybe you had to be there?

First time I've listened to one of her albums and it was a lot better than I expected. Some genuine good tracks here, especially at the start. A bit of filler too, and let's just ignore the Jay-Z bit and pretend it's not there

I know what this is going to be and there's plenty of other music that I want to listen to. It's fine, one song here and there is good, but no more than that and definitely not a full album

Ok. Some good guitar on this. Odd that the one hit song is what it is - several others are better

This was OK. The dude's voice is phenomenal, but you'd have to be in the mood for this one

Not my usual style but I enjoyed this more than I expected. Fairly angry and hard-edged sound, but well-crafted and played

Didn't enjoy this as much as Fear Of Music - I guess they were going further in their experimentation and it didn't land we strongly with me. Definitely would have been better without the outtakes at the end.

That was alright. Odd, but fun. 3.5

Hard to put a rating on this - one absolute ripper of a song (Girls & Boys), a few good ones, and several that get your attention in a good way. Still don't know if I'd reach for the album though ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Gave it a go, and musically it's OK. A few decent tracks with some filler. The band's image is bit over-the-top in an attempt to be objectionable and controversial, but each to their own I guess

This was fun. Who knew Feargal Sharkey came from this? Solid new wave, slightly punk-ish

It's fine, but nothing you'd come back to and you wouldn't miss it if you never knew. The few originals on this are OK but the covers were all done better by others. The band's write-up says they were influential. Recording quality is pretty poor too, which doesn't help

His arhythmic vocal style works pretty well on this, but there isn't anything on the album to get your attention

This was kinda cool, especially the Bolero re-imagining in the middle

More interesting than I expected

Pleasantly surprised. I'm not much of a rap fan but this was... catchy? Could listen again

Lacks something of the energy that was in "Paranoid".

OK. More on the R&B side than electronic

Nothing on this that would make a greatest hits album... Still curious that he wrote a song about Tony Danza before he became famous

The 80s were weird, and so are parts of this album. Their singles were huge and still go hard. The opening tracks really hook you. (And set the scene for a concept album?). Wanders a bit in the middle, but comes home strong. Some unexpected echoes of Pink Floyd (Wish the Lads Were Here, The Ballad of 32), but oddly they don't seem out of place.

Enjoyed this - wistful, a bit bluesy, thoughtful

Decent guitar, bluesy but very country. Old standards. If you can get over the accent it's not too bad.

Decent listen

Life's too short to sit through this

Not bad - 3.5 overall. A couple of deserved hits, one odd but interesting cover

Grows on you. I've only heard the singles before but the overall album is very well crafted

I suppose you had to be there?

Early-ish punk. Catchy

Those horses on the album cover are warning you - stay the fuck away from this album. "Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle" {sic} because an eagle could not play this album. Couldn't play any other albums either, but it would almost be worth it. Why? Just why did this make a list of any arbitrarily large number of albums that you must listen to before you die?

I hesitated before even pressing play on this one. It was everything I expected - a full dose of 70's yacht rock. The sort of thing that would have played in a restaurant when I was a kid, or in an elevator. You don't notice it enough to dislike it. A star for musicianship, nothing else of note

OK, of its time. 2.5 stars

Decent, easy-listening, slightly out of mainstream pop

This was good enough. Easy to listen to, but not to love

Pleasant surprise - sort of experimental instrumental rock, reminiscent of some of Band of Gypsies. Mostly noodly guitar solos, but generally good

I can see where this fits between prog rock (e.g. Pink Floyd) and yacht rock (e.g. Steely Dan). They try their hand at ELO and Queen along the way. All OK, but the album doesn't do it better than the others

Not bad - very 70s vibes, but with more modern instrumentation. The band never really grabbed me, and they're still not one of my go-tos, but I'm happy to let it play when it comes on.

OK, this was good. I've only ever known their singles but the album was full-on - kept coming at you Solid 4/5

Nothing here for me. Not awful, but meh. 1.5 stars

Old school country story-telling. Fine if you like that sort of thing, which I don't really

Not bad, fairly classic early '90s sound. More Sonic Youth than Soundgarden. 3/5

I love the first track (Rolling in the Deep). The rest of the album is OK. 2.5 stars, rounded up for the first one

Oh look, the album cover has a vagina flower. I have this on CD somewhere and actually quite like it. Odd accent aside, this has mostly good vibes and gets you into it.

I'd heard of the band but did not know what to expect from this album. This was a great listen - good as background sound and even better with focus

Look OK, they're a bit of fun, but they've never been able to hold my interest for a full album. Even one that's only 30 mins long. 2.5/5

Had to decide about this one - when you're in the mood, there's all sorts of links here to 70s & 80s metal 3/5

Started off pretty well, then got to track 5 (How Can I Be Sure) which had me reaching for the skip button. A few more of these before finishing off better with You Better Run. Overall, a few decent tracks in the style of the Beatles or the Kinks, plus some absolute dross

I just can't get into this. The first track was alright but it just all blurred into nothing. It's that because she was influential and a lot of people afterwards sounded like this, or is that because she's the same as so many others?

I started out curious, but that faded to disinterest by about track 2. Gets better (less objectionable) in the second half. Passable as ambient background sound, but others do it better. Music to drown out office noise.

I had no idea what to expect here. First track I thought "this sounds like a mashup of Curtis Mayfield and GNR," then realised it was a Curtis cover. Not a bad album - hint of ska mixed with rock, which probably needs a second listen

Varies between insipid and dull, with the occasional hint of interest (Lost, Bad Religion). Fades into the background without being truly annoying, so 2 stars instead of 1

Mildly amusing, but no more. 1.5 stars but rounded up to 2 for novelty. This is what I imagined Richard Feynman's office sounded like

This is good, really good. Might even be enough to get me into rap

So there's Suspicious Minds and In The Ghetto, and I'm sure there were other tracks on the album because I had to keep hitting skip. Country/honky-tonk/blues/piano-bar all blended together into mush. This has not turned me into a fan. 1.5 stars

Cocktail lounge jazz?

Doesn't stand out to me among many others of a similar ilk. 2.5 for the personality at the start, but too much insipid, generic R&B

So that's what industrial Krautrock is supposed to sound like. Interesting, but slightly painful

Vocal style doesn't seem to fit the music - the music demands something richer but the vocalist sounds a bit like a folk singer trying to sing to loud

Not bad. The first track (Perfect Skin) is one I'll come back to. Fades out a bit towards the end. Lots of similarities to bands like Died Pretty and The Go-Betweens

Look there's some really good stuff in this, but definitely not enough to fill 2 albums. This could have been a solid 4 with some heavy trimming. 2.5, rounded up to 3 because I'm feeling generous today

It's dirty and I love it

Not bad as background electronica. Apparently they were pioneers. 2.5, which I suppose I have to round up to 3 because I did the same for OutKast

Surprisingly good fun. Wishing the ratings were out of 10 as this is a 3.5/5

OK I like this one. The singles are bangers, and the rest of the album goes alright too

What ever it is, that [album] put a spell on me

Cafe music

Oh for fuck's sake, do I really have to play this? No, I shan't. 2 stars, just because Dolly is a gem

Decent, but didn't draw me in as much as some of their others

So tinny! But still listenable. Wouldn't seek it, but it's OK

Warm and fuzzy

Can we have Neil Diamond? No! We have Neil Diamond at home. The Neil Diamond at home...

That solo on Diminuendo! Fun album - seems like the muso's are having a good time. Overall, great music slightly spoiled by the voiceover/introductions

I like the nods to reggae and to 60's psychadelic rock, and that he plays it all himself. 3.5/5 Notable: Does Anybody Out There Even Care?,

Apparently it's seminal, but many others have done it better since then. 2.5/5

This is weird. Two nights ago I dreamt that heard Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker playing in concert. Not together on stage, but at the same place. Details are a little fuzzy (muddy maybe?) and I can't remember where this was, but the guitar was amazing (and probably not either of them). Anyway, Muddy was one of the best at this game. Many others have done similar but he has panache that the others somehow can't replicate 4/5

Grrr I have never liked this band. I still don't like this band, even though this album is not as bad as Arrival

I like this album overall, although there are a few misses. Best track: Fall at Your Feet. Fun (not) fact: Weather With You was accidentally misspelt and is actually about a sheep farmer and his friend

Mercifully short. Odd, but still vaguely Beach Boys

She sure can sing, but I've never really got into the idea of a full album of standards. 2.5/5

I don't hate it - lots of emotion, mostly decent lyrics and some humour. Still too much "I'm so tough" for me to really get into

I love this - so much energy. Zombie is one of his best tracks

Good all the way through. I didn't know many of these songs beforehand. "Pictures of You" is a standout, but the album melds so well that I couldn't pick any more

Yeah! Way more than your standard punk - these guys can actually play.

Why have I not heard of them before! Plenty of similarities to other EDM acts from the time (e.g. Faithless, Massive Attack, Chemical Brothers, FBS), but this still caught me - adding to my playlists 4/5

This was interesting - refreshingly different punk-ish. High energy, high volume, with some witty lyrics. The accent and the casio-saxophone grated a bit by the end though. 3.5/5

It took most of the album to appreciate this as more than just background sound, but this was solid

Jazz for jazz people. Too much disconnected faffing for me

This was OK. Fairly standard indie of the time. Not sure what made this stand out to the compiler

Well, I knew what I was going to get

There's only one way this is going to go - 5 stars, despite staggering amounts of teenage angst :)

I'd forgotten about this guy completely, but found a couple of songs that I liked from back in the day. Enjoyable trip-hop infused with reggae and a hint of soul. Comes together well.

This was a good package. None of the songs really stand out by themselves, but the album was powerful, despite not having the raw grittiness that PJ normally brings

Smooth and mellow, like a highland whiskey. Come to think of it, ...

This is alright - pretty slick with a couple of notable songs (Oliver's Army) 3.5/5

Not bad. Prefer The Smiths though

That was a bit of fun. Old time blues/jazz. Note that Spotify doesn't have this as an album, but you can cobble together all the songs

Not bad. Smooth and easy. Some odd a cappella in places

Good album overall, with a couple of absolute bangers

Quite alright - slightly fuzzy indie rock

Full of catchy tunes 4/5

This album slaps. Time has not left this behind

This is a gem. Put the headphones on, close your eyes, and let Nina take you away Although Jeff Buckley still does the best version of Lilac Wine that I've heard

Her voice is amazing, and the recording on this is spot on. But I don't want 3 hours of her amazing voice in one go.

This was pretty good, although I couldn't wait to get that album cover off my screen

Songwriting is pretty good, but I'm not sure he has the voice for this

J&MC: 🎶 Me: This is pretty good. Sounds like a bunch of other early 90s indie though J&MC: 🎶 Me: What do you mean this came out in the mid 80s? Nice tunes. 4/5

I love the opening and closing tracks. For the rest, if I wanted to listen to country music, I wouldn't look to the Stones. I don't want to listen to country music. Skip, skip, skip, skip. FFS, I wanted to like this one. 2/5

As well as the massive hits, there's some shmaltzy synth-pop, some cheese, and some sleepers. Not sure where it lands overall so I guess that means a 3? Probably more a 3.5 Something about Prince reminds me of Ruby Rhod from The Fifth Element

Overall, I like the band and I like the album. They're always gritty and dark, and sometimes that's too much. This one skirts the boundary ok. Some memorable songs in here (Papa Won't Leave You, Straight To You). Reminds me pretty strongly of Nick Cave's Grinderman side project. 3/5

Surprised myself by finding this brilliant. I've heard most of the tracks before of course, but never heard the album in full. Not someone who reminisces for classic rock, but I really got into this. 4.5/5 if I'm honest but it's got enough to round up

That was terrible. It's like Feargal Sharkey got stoned and decided that everyone should switch instruments for a session of Kinks covers. How did this make the list?

This album is brilliant. Passionate, soulful, and sweet 5/5

Look at least it got better after track 3. Not that that's saying much. 2/5 because I can't choose 1.5

Respect. Album production and recording quality lets the album down a bit. It would be amazing to listen to this recorded with modern production. Best: Respect, Save Me Worst: Soul Serenade

Can we have Frank Zappa? No, we have Frank Zappa at home. ---The Frank Zappa at home. 1/5. Rarely pulls its head out of its own arse

The link takes you to the 'Expanded Edition' which is pretty bloated. Pare this down to the original 6 tracks and it's decent, bluesy guitar-based rock. Never been a big fan but I liked this

I've never understood the reverence for this album. If it was the soundtrack to some part of your life then OK, but otherwise? It's more advanced, compositionally, than some of their earlier music, but some of it I swear you'd have to be high to enjoy. Best tracks: Fixing A Hole, A Day In The Life, and maybe Good Morning Good Morning Worst tracks: Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (you know I'm right), Mr Kite 3/5

It's fine. A couple that I'd heard before without thinking I needed to dig deeper. Best: Get It On. Worst: It's A Gas, Rip Off 2.5/5

Soft and wistful and I enjoy the album, but in the end does it stand out ahead of other 90s indie pop? Idk, but I still have some of the songs in my favourites list. And RIP to my friend Ray. Not who the song is about, but the song represents him in my mind. Miss you mate. Extra star for this song

Like most R&B, it doesn't often get its head above the parapets - not offensive, but mostly not noticeable either. Has a bit of substance in places though, taking down the older rap language on a few tracks. Notable: Daydreamin', which both sounds good and is funny, and The Cool, which is just catchy.

Smooooooth. Let that sax slide over you, and let the voice carry you away I've always liked Smooth Operator but never heard anything else. The rest of the album follows in this vain and, surprisingly, was a decent listen Best: Smooth Operator, Frankie's First Affair Worst: Your Love Is King

OK. A little more complex than your average white noise blockout electronica. 2.5, but rounding down because the first and last tracks are a let-down

If this was your thing back then, it will still be your thing. If not, it won't become your thing. Nothing wrong with it but it doesn't set your world on fire. 2/5

Quite Cure-ish, but that's OK. Enjoyable album, albeit fairly melancholy and moody Best: Sunrise, This Time of Night

I expected Steely Bland v2, but it was a bit better than that. The album takes a while to wind up but Simple Man was very good, and the Free Bird at the end is good too. The in-between songs don't do it for me - some of them were pretty terrible while others were just meh. 2.5/5, but rounded up

Didn't know what I'd get here but I was hoping for something that would lead me in. Just doesn't do it for me. I can't buy a boat so maybe I need to rent a Bentley (?) Best: Work It Worst: Hot, Funky Fresh Dressed

The link here took me to the UK version of the album, which has Mother's Little Helper in place of Paint It Black 😒 Best: Under My Thumb (!) Worst: Going Home

OMFG this was good. Janis has an amazing voice, and the psychadelic-blues guitar on the first few tracks was a joy. Faded a bit towards the end, but this album definitely belongs on the list. Best: Summertime, I Need A Man To Love, and of course Piece Of My Heart Worst: Turtle Blues

So. Goddamn. Cheesy. If were to distil the essence of the 80s, you'd get this album and a jar of hair gel. There are only (hehe) a couple of standout songs that (da) you'd remember. The others aren't (ow) terrible, mostly, but I'm (ah) so sick of drum machines (shamwow) 2.5/5

I'm conflicted here. I loved these songs when they came out. Now, the vibe in a few tracks seems pretty off, especially in the opener. Some great riffs and great energy though. 3.5, I think

Someone should have introduced the singer to the rest of the band. They maybe could have got together and made some music. Instead they went with the approach of some dudes playing (somewhat decent) guitar & drum lines and another dude (sort of) singing different songs to a different melody. After hearing their first album a couple of weeks ago, I expected this to be completely shit. Turns out it was not quite as bad as I expected. Still pretty bad, but not to the same level as First Issue. 2/5

Rap version of elevator music? It's OK, I guess, I can't really remember

Usually I find R&B insipid. This was generally better than that, with their big hits carrying some energy and good vibes, but then it fell off. 2.5/5

The Intro: Look how wacky and crazy we are!!!11!!! After that it's OK. 3/5

A song called guitar town should have more and better guitar. This was execrable

I can't see why this made the list - nothing stands out beyond standard 80s pop-rock. 2/5

I really liked this. Can't follow the lyrics at all, but the frenetic drumming, spaced-out guitar and funky bass make for a fantastic, if way out-there sound. Was a fan of At The Drive-In before I came to this and didn't know about the connection until I heard this and looked them up. And then I found out that it's Flea on bass - playing harder than on any RHCP album, maybe since Freaky Styley. Echoes of Tool in the sound as well. 4/5 - nearly a 5, but a little too crazy to get the final star, even though I know I'll come back to this

Thought I would hate this because "She Don't Use Jelly" shat me to tears, but I was pleasantly surprised. 3/5

Took a while to grow on me but I liked the sparse, atmospheric sound. No idea on the lyrics but that meant the vocals became more like another instrument, which worked well. May even come back to this in the future. 3/5 for now

That was kind of cool. More enjoyable than Sgt Peppers, that's for sure

Perfect muzak to block out the sounds of a loud office. Ambient electronica is quite useful, even pleasant, but could you really distinguish this album from countless others? I couldn't.

Another one of those albums where you had to be there. While I'm not a massive fan, Rumours was pretty good. This one has its moments but doesn't hold them. Title track is great, and Sisters of the Moon is good too, but otherwise the album didn't grab me

Not bad at all - it went by quickly but it was all kind of interesting and boppy. 3.5/5 No real stand-out tracks as it's consistent and pretty cohesive, but Have You Seen Her Face and Everybody's Been Burned were catchy And something tells me that George Lucas got inspiration for the Ewok voices from CTA-102