841
Albums Rated
3.27
Average Rating
77%
Complete
248 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
146
5-Star Albums
61
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Opus Dei
Laibach
|
5 | 2.39 | +2.61 |
|
Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water
Limp Bizkit
|
5 | 2.49 | +2.51 |
|
Idlewild
Everything But The Girl
|
5 | 2.58 | +2.42 |
|
All Hope Is Gone
Slipknot
|
5 | 2.7 | +2.3 |
|
Basket of Light
Pentangle
|
5 | 2.76 | +2.24 |
|
Tarkus
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
|
5 | 2.79 | +2.21 |
|
Oedipus Schmoedipus
Barry Adamson
|
5 | 2.79 | +2.21 |
|
Ys
Joanna Newsom
|
5 | 2.79 | +2.21 |
|
A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
|
5 | 2.84 | +2.16 |
|
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Raekwon
|
5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Transformer
Lou Reed
|
1 | 3.67 | -2.67 |
|
Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan
|
1 | 3.64 | -2.64 |
|
After The Gold Rush
Neil Young
|
1 | 3.62 | -2.62 |
|
In A Silent Way
Miles Davis
|
1 | 3.61 | -2.61 |
|
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
|
1 | 3.53 | -2.53 |
|
On The Beach
Neil Young
|
1 | 3.46 | -2.46 |
|
Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
|
1 | 3.38 | -2.38 |
|
Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
|
1 | 3.37 | -2.37 |
|
Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
|
1 | 3.32 | -2.32 |
|
The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
|
1 | 3.31 | -2.31 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 5 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 3 | 5 |
| Metallica | 4 | 4.5 |
| The White Stripes | 3 | 4.67 |
| Fela Kuti | 2 | 5 |
| Aretha Franklin | 2 | 5 |
| Fairport Convention | 2 | 5 |
| Black Sabbath | 2 | 5 |
| AC/DC | 2 | 5 |
| Yes | 2 | 5 |
| Muddy Waters | 2 | 5 |
| Nirvana | 2 | 5 |
| Green Day | 2 | 5 |
| The Smashing Pumpkins | 2 | 5 |
| David Bowie | 7 | 4 |
| The Rolling Stones | 6 | 4 |
| Steely Dan | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Dylan | 6 | 1.83 |
| Neil Young | 4 | 1.75 |
| Leonard Cohen | 3 | 1.67 |
| The Smiths | 3 | 1.67 |
| Spiritualized | 2 | 1.5 |
| Lou Reed | 2 | 1.5 |
| Grateful Dead | 2 | 1.5 |
| The Cure | 2 | 1.5 |
| My Bloody Valentine | 2 | 1.5 |
| Gene Clark | 2 | 1.5 |
| The Divine Comedy | 2 | 1.5 |
| The Jesus And Mary Chain | 2 | 1.5 |
| Miles Davis | 3 | 2 |
| Nick Drake | 3 | 2 |
| Elvis Costello & The Attractions | 4 | 2.25 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Adele | 5, 2 |
| Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band | 4, 1 |
| Bee Gees | 1, 4 |
| Brian Eno | 5, 1, 3, 4 |
| Miles Davis | 1, 1, 4 |
5-Star Albums (146)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
King Crimson · 19 likes
5/5
I found myself constantly feeling like I was caught off-guard. This was despite going into this album with 0 expectations or knowledge of what it would be like. So much of it was unexpected. Take the first song Lark's Tongue in Aspic for example. It starts with a simple tune using what sounds like a glockenspiel or xylophone. Am I in kindergarten? What is this trash? Next thing I know I'm being blown away by a disgusting guitar solo. Then a cacophony of string and drum instruments. This is all just the first song. And I think oh so this is just a crazy experimental instrumental album or something? Next song, Book of Saturday, features mostly vocals and sounds a lot like Tool. There's animal sounds, the unmistakable sound of feet sloshing through the mud, and just a vast array of instruments you don't normally hear. You can feel a Pink Floyd influence reminiscent of Time. My first listen to this album was a trip to say the least.
Raekwon · 6 likes
5/5
I love finding old school hip hop gems on this project. I've heard most of Wu-Tang's big projects but haven't really explored the individual artists' catalogues. This album is just straight fire from front to back. I really feel like this east coast style shines through here.
The Roots · 3 likes
5/5
This was a chill rap album until the song "Water" took me into another dimension.
The range on this project is very broad. Almost to a detriment as it feels disjointed. But there's no denying that Phrenology is fire from cover to cover.
Bob Dylan · 3 likes
1/5
I rolled a Nat 1 on the generator today. Not only am I cursed to listen to Bob Dylan wail for an hour and a half, it's a live album so the audio quality/production value is trash. Guitar riffs are simplistic and slow. I think the only positive for me on this set is a handful of mildly interesting harmonica parts.
The main issue with these singer/song writer albums is that if you don't like the singer, it doesn't have any other legs to stand on. That's the case for me here.
Blood, Sweat & Tears · 2 likes
3/5
How many genres can we fit into one album? Blood, Sweat, & Tears does their best to answer that question here. Somehow, they manage to land pretty much all of the genres they attempt. It is a bit disorienting though.
1-Star Albums (61)
All Ratings
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Growing up I have distinct memories of listening to Led Zeppelin with my dad while grilling on the back porch. I have heard many of the hits but this album just hit different than some of Zeppelin's more melodic albums. Much more rock and roll in this album. I love the guitar riffs and harmonica mixed into the background on some of the tracks. The pacing of the album slowed down in the middle and picked up for a strong finish.
Supergrass
3/5
The album starts out a little flat/monotone. However, it picks up on the song Tonight where the band starts to mix in some jazz elements and more engaging guitar riffs. The album picks up in pace in the middle. I thoroughly enjoyed the solo on Sun Hits the Sky. There were moments that really bored me and moments that brought me back in to being interested. None of the album was truly outstanding or unique to me but it wasn't a complete slog either.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
5/5
October was a great time of the year to get this album. The spooky vibes are awesome. It feels like the soundtrack to an 80s slasher movie. There were some sections that were too repetitive for my liking but overall the album was a fun listen. Spellbound, Halloween, Voodoo Dolly, and Arabian Knights were among my favorites.
Miles Davis
1/5
Zzzzzz
This album was pretty lackluster for me. The first song, shhh/Peaceful, played off the same two cords the whole time. Which wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't an 18 minute song. It got very old and almost annoying. In a silent way wasn't as stagnant but it was still way too slow for my tastes
Taylor Swift
2/5
Being a guy growing up during the rise of Taylor Swift, it was very much uncool to like her music. That on top of the fact that I'm not big into country and pop has led me to pretty much ignore her music all together. I acknowledge my biases going in to this listen and I'm going to try my best to put them aside...
Damn this bitch has some catchy songs. Despite it not being a song I ever sought out, Blank Space was stuck in my head for hours while at work today. But some of her other hits like Bad Blood and Shake it off make my brain bleed. Overall I struggled just to finish this album today. The first two songs and the last two songs were enjoyable but the rest was a slog.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
5/5
I knew this music sounded familiar off the start but I couldn't pin point it initially. The psychedelic guitar solos reminded me of Jimi Hendrix but there was an unmistakable combination of jazz and blues fuzed in. It wasn't until Piece of My Heart came on that I knew exactly where I had heard this style before. The crowd noise and raw audio mix made it feel like I was hearing Big Brother & The Holding Company live in a small jazz bar in New Orleans. Even though I wasn't born yet, I feel like I'm dropped right into the 60s listening to this album. And let's not forget Janis Joplin's fantastic vocals dominating this album. The way she seamlessly switches from the emotional scratchy sound to the smooth and serenading sound fuels this album with so much emotion. Loved this listen and definitely saved for later.
The xx
3/5
Very spacey vibes on this album. Mellow. Chill. The mix of vocalists were nicely weaved together throughout. I enjoyed the heavy use of bass guitar although there the music felt very simple. The pacing was a bit slow for me to rave about but it was a relaxing listen for sure.
The Kinks
3/5
This was a quick and fun album. The strained vocals kind of got annoying but I enjoyed the piano and the upbeat tempo.
Bebel Gilberto
2/5
The singing is good and the vibes are good on this one. It's just too mellow for me. I feel like this would be good music to study to or play in the background at a fancy black tie party. But when I actively listen to it I just grow bored.
Teenage Fanclub
2/5
Way too many repetitive songs. Each song is basically a 30 second loop for 3 minutes
James Brown
4/5
While the crowd noise was distracting at times, this was a really fun live album. James Brown kills it on the vocals. Every song has its own vibe but the whole set has a consistent aesthetic at the same time. Just great vibes from start to finish.
King Crimson
5/5
I found myself constantly feeling like I was caught off-guard. This was despite going into this album with 0 expectations or knowledge of what it would be like. So much of it was unexpected. Take the first song Lark's Tongue in Aspic for example. It starts with a simple tune using what sounds like a glockenspiel or xylophone. Am I in kindergarten? What is this trash? Next thing I know I'm being blown away by a disgusting guitar solo. Then a cacophony of string and drum instruments. This is all just the first song. And I think oh so this is just a crazy experimental instrumental album or something? Next song, Book of Saturday, features mostly vocals and sounds a lot like Tool. There's animal sounds, the unmistakable sound of feet sloshing through the mud, and just a vast array of instruments you don't normally hear. You can feel a Pink Floyd influence reminiscent of Time. My first listen to this album was a trip to say the least.
David Ackles
3/5
This definitely isn't the type of music I normally listen to. It reminded me of Christmas music at times but the subjects of the songs were more depressing. There were times that really bored me. That being said, there were also spots on the album that had a lot of life. Ballad of the Ship of State and Oh, California! stand out in that regard. It felt like there was a narrative going on but I had trouble following it. I'd like to go back and give it a second listen to try to digest that aspect.
After some research, I assume the album title is in reference to the famous painting American Gothic by Grant Wood depicting a farmer and his daughter in front of an Iowa farm house. My assumption is that the story of the album is telling about life in America in throughout the depression era. So if I do have time to go back and listen again I'll keep that in mind while focusing on the lyrics.
The Beach Boys
3/5
A lot of screechy guitar and whiney love songs. It was okay. The overall sound is good for background music but not something I would go out of my way to listen to.
New Order
3/5
This was a fun pop rock album. The second half of the album really made me feel like I was at the roller rink in the 80s. I especially enjoyed the bass. That being said there weren't any elements that really stood out to me as particularly impressive. Kind of reminds me of a filler episode in a long running TV show. All of the pieces of a good pop album are there but the end result came out kind of bland.
Common
4/5
Common is a product of the golden era of hip hop and unfortunately due to his lack of radio play left him mostly forgotten over time by anybody who isn't a big fan of hip hop. It's a shame too because Common shares a lot of the same skill sets that the greats like Andre 3000 have. In songs like Cold Blooded he showcases his lyricism as he crams an ungodly amount of rhymes into a couple bars. For example:
"The stylist and violence with vibrance
The sign of times with rhyme shit is timeless"
And
"With penitentiary talk, Coke and Hennessy walk
My imagery talks, metaphors and similes stalk"
He has the ability to paint a picture and portray thought out concepts throughout a verse. Take verse 3 from 6th sense for example:
Some days I take the L to gel with the real world
Got on at 87th, sat by this little girl
She recites raps, I forget where they was from
In em, she was saying how she makes brothers cum
I started thinking, how many souls hip-hop has affected
How many dead folks this art resurrected
How many nations this culture connected
Who am I to judge one's perspective?
Though some of the shit y'all bop to, I ain't relating
If I don't like it, I don't like it, that don't mean I'm hating
I just want to innovate and stimulate minds
Travel the world and penetrate the times
Escape through rhythms in search of peace and wisdom
Raps are smoke signals letting the streets know I'm with 'em
He even has the ability to tell a story throughout the course of a whole song. Take A Film Called (PIMP) and A Song For Assata for example.
I have always heard about some modern rappers who were heavily influenced by Common but I never really took the time to sit down and digest his stuff. Excellent album with a ton of replay value.
Incredible Bongo Band
2/5
This album overstayed its welcome for me. Both within each individual song and as a whole. 80 mins is just far too long for an instrumental album like this one. Most of the songs I would start out enjoying mostly just because they were a change of pace from the previous song. Then they would get repetitive and I'd grow tired of it again.
That being said, the songs where the guitar took the for front really shined for me. Satisfaction- I Can't Get No was a really fun listen. But even that song could have ended at the halfway point.
I think this is a good album to throw on in the background while you clean your house or something. But there isn't enough substance to justify the length.
Metallica
5/5
I'm envious of anyone discovering this album for the first time. Metallica has perfected the art of the guitar solo. Their lead guitar sings and screeches. It really steals the show in most of their songs. They do such a good job of building up each song by ramping up the pacing. Then it crescendos when the solo kicks in and the solos are always face melters. I love the way they weave soft vocals in with the harsh scream/singing too. There are so many good Metallica albums that it's hard to pick a favorite. But Master of Puppets has to be one of the most iconic and it easily makes my top 3.
Pere Ubu
3/5
This album starts out very jarring. It's nothing short of weird. The abnormal high pitched vocals paired with the high pitched keyboard will definitely get your attention. The singing style is so weird that the lyrics are indistinguishable most of the time but it gives off a very counter-culture vibe. The album starts to settle down around the third track, Dub Housing, on which I really enjoyed the background vocals. Then it really quiets down on Thriller! where it switches to droning guitar with spacey background noises in a way that is reminiscent of a horror movie. It feels like you're in a fishbowl listening to somebody's distorted voice talk over the radio. This song doesn't feel like it belongs on the album stylistically and I'm not sure what purpose it's supposed to serve. But we jump right back in to the unique vocals and alt rock sound in I, Will Wait. I think my favorite song on the album is Drinking Wine Spodyody. It's fun, short, and sweet. (Pa) Ubu Dance Party follows a similar vibe. The last couple songs lose me. Blow Daddy-O has the pacing of Thriller! without the intrigue and Codex is super repetitive with very strained singing.
Overall I feel like I should love or hate this album because it's so weird. But truly there are spots that I love and spots that I hate. For only being 35 mins, it feels like this album takes a lot of stylistic twists and turns. Some I like more than others. I wish it were more cohesive and transition better from song to song.
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
This is a relaxing listen. I don't speak Spanish so I can't comment on lyrics. Listening to this album reminded me of a vacation I took to San Juan. Not that it's particularly island music but it does give off the chill latin vibes that I got spending a day at the beach in Puerto Rico. I typically prefer music a little more up tempo but I enjoyed this listen regardless.
Sonic Youth
2/5
I knew the name Sonic Youth sounded familiar. Then I instantly recognized Kool Thing from Guitar Hero 3.
Overall this album is kind of meh. Gives off very idgaf vibes and as a result I don't care much for it either. I'm not huge on the reverberated guitar aesthetic and the female vocals aren't great.
Pulp
3/5
Well I can definitively say that I like British pop more than American pop. That is a pretty low bar though. I liked some of the more up tempo songs like Monday Morning. There were some uncomfortable songs like Common People and Underwear that I didn't like as much. Overall most of the songs were just okay. It was all pretty forgettable at the end of the day.
Jeru The Damaja
4/5
New York style boop bap rap. Sounds like a blend of Notorious B.I.G. and Nas. Enjoyed it front to back although it did kind of all blend together. I'll definitely have to look into some more of Jeru's other albums because his work doesn't come up much on most 90s rap playlists but it definitely encapsulates that east coast vs west coast golden era.
Spiritualized
1/5
The name of the album is appropriate. It's a very spacey album. By that I mean empty. It's too boring to actively listen to. It's too slow to put on as background music. The only situation I think I would ever put this album on is to fall asleep to.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I listened to my first full Rolling Stones album, Hackney Diamonds, last week. It opened my eyes up to what I had been missing with the Rolling Stones. Then I get this album. I didn't recognize any of the songs so I'm not sure what made it special enough to make the list. But I definitely enjoyed it more than I thought I would. There were a lot more blues elements than most of the Stones songs I've heard in the past. Lots of harmonica and trumpet (?). It was a fun listen. Solid album.
Lana Del Rey
2/5
Lana Del Rey is a fantastic vocalist. Her singing is melodic and enchanting in a way. I enjoyed the skills being shown but I wish there was more going on with this album. Each song was slow. Almost like the music itself is meant to be a blank canvas for her singing to stand out. Which it does. It just feels one dimensional. Compared to her breakout hit Summertime Sadness, I would have preferred her to pick up the pacing on this album rather than slow it down.
The Psychedelic Furs
2/5
For a band named Psychedelic Furs I was hoping for something a little more... colorful? Imagine Green Day meets Smashing Pumpkins. Vocals were uninspiring, guitar was bland (only time it stuck out was on It Goes On), and the tempo stayed more or less the same front to back. Listening to this album was like eating a plate of unseasoned chicken and rice. I like chicken and I like rice. But I need some more flavor in there to make it interesting.
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
Groundbreaking hip hop. This record has ENERGY. The skits drag on a bit and focus a little too much on intimidation/braggadocio. But that is completely forgivable due to the sheer amount of hits. Bring Da Ruckus, C.R.E.A.M., Method Man, and Protect Ya Neck will regularly appear on your best of the 90s hop hop playlists. Great rhymes and great lines. This album doesn't let up. Fire front to back. Wu-Tang Clan ain't nothin to fuck with.
Gorillaz
3/5
Gorillaz are an interesting fusion of genres. There are elements of pop, electro, latin, hip hop, and rock. They've got some good songs and they've got some real snoozers. I like most of their work but this isn't my favorite album. Clint Eastwood is good but the rest is pretty forgettable.
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
I was not a fan when I first started to listen to this album. It felt like a bad acid trip embodied in music. The pacing, the raw reverberated guitar, the static effects on the vocals. It's uncomfortable. But the more you settle into this album the better it gets. If I had more time to sit down and digest this album today my rating may be different but as a whole I just wasn't feeling it.
Norah Jones
4/5
Beautiful booming vocals paired with a soft backdrop of piano, acoustic guitar, and light drums. It is warm, soothing, and uplifting. This is not the type of music I normally go for but I couldn't help but find myself entranced. I was working out while listening and still really enjoyed this album (it is by no means workout music).
Dire Straits
4/5
Groovy bass lines, twangy guitar, country/rock vocals. Dire Straights provides a fun mix of styles. It's laid back without being boring.
The Young Rascals
3/5
I appreciate the good vibes on this album. It's a whimsical collection of love folk/rock songs. I enjoyed the flute on It's Love and harmonica peppered in combined with the conjoined vocals. There was nothing extremely remarkable about this album but it was enjoyable front to back. Standout tracks for me were I'm So Happy Now and A Place in the Sun. The album is short and sweet.
Jerry Lee Lewis
4/5
Listening to Live at the Star Club feels like witnessing the evolution of swing into rock and roll. There are swing elements which make you just want to dance. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On is a great example of a song that's just meant for dance. You could picture it playing at a 60s high school prom. But then you have songs like Money and Great Balls of Fire where Jerry really belts. Funny enough, it reminds me of the Max Rebo Band from Star Wars which I'm guessing drew influence from Jerry. This album feels very Elvis as well. Just feels like 1960s in a time capsule.
The Monks
2/5
This album is weird but not in a way that's particularly interesting to me. I was trying to like it but it just wasn't very easy listening. The singing is pitchy. The blend of instruments is unrefined and feels like they are clashing instead of working together most of the time. I didn't hate it but I don't think I'll be revisiting this one.
Foo Fighters
4/5
A common criticism I hear of the Foo Fighters is that all their songs sound the same. Similar to Metallica, they really didn't evolve much out of their brand of rock. But in this case it's the Foo Fighter's debut album so I am going to disregard that criticism and look at it at face value. The album is good. It's a B+ in all departments. I really enjoy Big Me and This is a Call.
Syd Barrett
1/5
I know this album came out before a lot of Pink Floyd's more successful albums. But it really feels like a bad Pink Floyd knock off. It's terribly boring.
System Of A Down
4/5
System of a Down is an acquired taste. Even for people who already enjoy metal, they are unique. This album is a landmark in the early development of the sub-genre later to become known as Nu Metal. Thankfully I've already acquired that taste for SOAD and this album was a joy to listen to as I've mostly only listened to their hits and the Toxicity album. I think the most impressive element of SOAD is Serj's vocal range. The way he is able to bounce back and forth between high pitched singing and gutteral growls is insane. Another notable aspect of this album is the topics it covers. From anti-war to anti-religious extremism it really is a criticism on a lot of the brainwashing that happens in America.
Television
5/5
Unexpectedly impressive. Poetic lyricism, killer guitar, catchy hooks. I really enjoyed this album.
Slint
1/5
Depressing. Atypical. Long chord progressions that provide the backdrop for Slint's storytelling. They go back and forth from slowly talking to singing. It's borderline creepy.
The Velvet Underground
1/5
I don't know if it was poor audio mixing, out of tune instruments/singing, or what but I really struggled to finish this album. There were a couple songs with some bluegrass feel that I almost enjoyed. But as a whole it felt like it was written and recorded by amateurs at a church camp. Not a fan.
Nina Simone
3/5
Arcade Fire
2/5
The Sugarcubes
3/5
Scott Walker
2/5
Pretty boring to be honest. Definitely it picked up a little bit at the end but as a whole I was not very engaged listening to it. I liked The Seventh Seal and Rhymes of Goodbye the most.
R.E.M.
4/5
This album feels like it is what rock and roll is supposed to be. Drums, lead/bass guitar, and solid vocals to lead the way. There are a million and one variations on rock and roll but R.E.M. really feels authentic to the way it is supposed to sound like. I found myself really liking some of the bigger hits from this record in Orange Crush and even moreso, Stand. That being said there were times listening to Green where the music seemed to kind of fade to the background. As if it's almost too cookie cutter, too plain. As a whole it was a solid listen.
Prince
5/5
I had heard of this notorious album but it struck me as I looked at the track list that I didn't really know anything about it. Pop is far from my favorite genre. But this fusion of synth and rock is clean. When Doves Cry definitely stands out as my favorite song. Purple rain (the song) dragged on a little bit.
Lou Reed
1/5
I'm really not sure why this album made the list. It honestly sounds like it was made by a local band in a small town. Unrefined. Singing and lyrics are cringy. Not a fan.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Nice and relaxing vibes. Quality singing although it got boring by about halfway through the album. Some more diversity would've been nice.
David Bowie
4/5
Sam Cooke
4/5
Love a fun swing/soul album. Normally I like live albums like this but the crowd work can get a little annoying. But the vibes are good.
Air
3/5
Calm, quiet, exciting, and sad. This album is a flow of emotions.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
Metallica
5/5
Metallica will never not be a 5/5 for me. Just seeing this album pop up today put a smile on my face.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
I'm not classy enough to really jam out to this album. I can recognize the quality enough to enjoy it though.
Queen Latifah
3/5
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Lovely vocals. The background instruments are just enough to keep it interesting without distracting from the singing which is clearly meant to be the focal point.
Blur
4/5
Awesome 90s alternative rock. This flew under my radar but there are a handful of songs I recognized. Just a good combination of angst and rock.
Billy Joel
5/5
Compelling storytelling. Fantastic vocals from Billy Joel. The composition let's all instruments shine. From piano, to drums, to guitar. From whistling to singing.
I think my favorite song is The Stranger (I'm assuming the derivative of the album art). Joel tells a story about himself and his lover both keeping a secret identity or part of themselves from each other. Then one day he comes home and doesn't recognize his lover as she has let The Stranger out. But he can't be mad because he has The Stranger inside him as well. The Stranger has kicked him right between his eyes.
Joel just has such a poetic way of telling real relatable stories behind metaphors. So yeah this album is fire.
Arcade Fire
4/5
This is my second Arcade Fire album. They are to American alternative rock as British comedy is to American comedy. It's quality alternative rock but it's kind of dry. Everything feels sort of flat which makes it hard to get all too excited about it.
Metallica
3/5
I saw Metallica and automatically assumed I'd be listening to a 5/5 today. But hearing these remixed versions of Metallica's greatest hits honestly just makes me wish I was listening to the original versions. I still enjoy it because I love Metallica but even I can admit this album does not belong on the 1001 albums to listen to before you die list. I guess it is interesting because of the Symphony Orchestra mashup and that's what is supposed to make it stand out. But it's just too long. The audio isn't as crisp because it's live. Metallica has a long catalog of amazing albums that everyone should hear at least once. Greatest Hits type albums shouldn't be on the list.
Louis Prima
5/5
Swanky. I love the mix of all the jazz elements but it has more of a uniform feel.
Queen
5/5
I love so much about this album. What struck me first is how clean the electric guitar sounds starting with Death on Two Legs carrying out throughout the album. Mixed with the wide variety of other instruments used, the production value on this album still stands to be phenomenal to this day. Everything really culminates into a very grandiose sound. Freddie Mercury wastes no time to go into belting his famous vocals as well. Of course I've heard "You're My Best Friend" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" plenty of times and I love them both. But it was nice to get a greater understanding of how they fit into this album as a whole instead of as a single. Bohemian Rhapsody in particular stands as the pinnacle of this album coming in at the climax.
Keith Jarrett
4/5
Anytime an album is comprised of just one instrument I am hesitant. Especially because I'm not a very big fan of the piano on it's own. When I was actively listening I actually found myself really enjoying the ride. Keith does a good job of constantly mixing up what he's playing to help prevent it from getting stale. But eventually I did lose interest at times and I would get distracted by other things. Thankfully, this album works just as well for background music. The jazzy/improv nature of it makes it so that you can pop in and out of paying attention to it without feeling like you've lost your place. All in all, the fact that this is all improv and learning the story behind the creation of this album bumps it from a 3 to a 4 for me. Which is significant because my expectation when I saw that it was a solo piano album was that I'd come out of it with a 1 or 2. Just undeniable mastery of one's craft.
Robbie Williams
3/5
Fela Kuti
5/5
Such a positive, lively album. I don't know if I've ever sat down and listen to Afrobeat but I'm certainly intrigued.
The Clash
3/5
Os Mutantes
4/5
Just the right level of weird
Japan
2/5
I was hoping based off of the band name for some Japanese music I had never heard of. Maybe some city pop or something of the sort. But this album was not that. It's a slow, dreary version of European synth pop/glam rock. I was not a fan of it at first but it did grow on me. Not a fan of how bleak it is though.
Simply Red
4/5
This is a cool album. Really reminded me a lot of some other pop from that era like Prince. I found myself really enjoying the drums and vocals. But like most pop albums, there are some songs that really slap and some that are forgettable
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Not big on the first 3 songs but I loved Contusion and the classics Sir Duke and I Wish. I was shocked when I heard Pastime Paradise. Had no idea Ganga's Paradise was an homage to Stevie!
Overall I enjoyed the funk elements of this album but wasn't big on some of the slower romance songs. I can totally get behind this album being on the list. It's clearly a very diverse and influential piece of art. Stevie has a ton of range which works in his favor although the album feels disjointed at times. Maybe it's the length or the genre skipping but it almost feels like the whole album is on shuffle.
Mike Oldfield
2/5
There are some fun guitar moments but on the whole this album feels pretty empty. I didn't hate it but it didn't really grab my attention at any point.
Goldie
2/5
There are no individual songs that I specifically hate. The drum and bass genre is just way too repetitive for my liking. Especially for an album that falls just shy of 2 hours. It feels like there's a ton of fat that should have been trimmed off this album. I would've enjoyed my time listening to it a lot more if it was like 30 mins long.
Elvis Costello
2/5
Mehhhh. At least it doesn't drag on. Nothing really special about this record to be honest.
Patti Smith
5/5
Such a riveting vocal performance. Patti's voice strains, belts, softens and chops. She interlaces poetry throughout her verses. The opener Gloria really set the tone and is probably my favorite on the album. Unlike your conventional song structure, the songs on this album are in poetry format. There are no choruses. Just lines of rhymes and storytelling. I highly recommend listening to this one along with reading the lyrics.
Fever Ray
4/5
After 2 listens in a row I can't say with any certainty what this album is about. I can say how it felt though. Ominous. In tune with nature. Consistent in style throughout. It felt like a trippy TV show soundtrack. It specifically reminded me of a show called Three Pines (a murder mystery set in Canada's snowy forests). This album is a trip and I'm here for it.
Miles Davis
1/5
You've heard of word vomit. Ladies and gentlemen I introduced to you music vomit.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Nice and relaxing folk. Some of the lyrics seemed forced into rhymes. Like just flowed weird. It was a little slow for me but I did enjoy the listen.
4/5
Classic. Lots of quality songs, good flow from song to song, good production.
LTJ Bukem
1/5
Anybody up for 3 and a half hours of ringtones from 2005?
Yikes
Various Artists
4/5
Merry Christmas
The Byrds
3/5
What came first the Byrds or the Beatles? Not sure but they give off the same vibes. This album is pretty melancholy and mellow. Some fun guitar riffs in Hey Joe and Captain Soul.
Röyksopp
3/5
Remarkably unremarkable. Forgettable even. Really not much to say here. There are some relaxing and mildly interesting tracks. It's not off putting. But there is nothing that is attention grabbing. Very middle of the road for me.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
4/5
Santana meets Sublime with a hint of Beastie Boys. I dig it.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Primal Scream
4/5
Just the right level of weird. Very psychedelic. This album is a trip.
Living Colour
4/5
Some excellent guitar solos and riffs saves what can sometimes be a repetitive/flat album. The guitar elevates it from okay to good for me. Plus bonus nostalgia points for having a song from guitar hero 3.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
How could you give this voice any less than 5 stars?
The Beta Band
4/5
Despite what the album art and name may suggest, this is a very calm album. Nice relaxing jams to throw on while working or driving. Not too repetitive, good production, just solid all around.
Fairport Convention
5/5
Very interesting and immersive album. It feels like I'm transported to a tavern in Middle Earth listening to a famous band play for a rowdy dancing crowd. I loved it. Especially the solo on Matty Groves. Albums like these make me happy I started this project. I doubt I ever would have found this on my own
Johnny Cash
3/5
Cash has a great voice. Deep and smooth. I can see why he is so well known in the country genre. I appreciate the lyrical content of the songs under the context that he's singing to a group of dangerous prison inmates. He controls the crowd well, is comedic, and has good energy. Where the set falls short for me is how simple the music is. A little bit of background vocals and a bass guitar. But it's mostly just acoustic guitar strumming and Cash talking/half singing.
B.B. King
4/5
I love the crowd work, the band, and the vocals. For a genre called the blues, I had a lot of fun listening to this one.
Deep Purple
4/5
Some sweet classic rock. Nothing super special here but it has all the elements of a good classic rock album. Plus it doesn't overstay it's welcome. I'm a fan
Iggy Pop
3/5
I'm not sure how to fully put this album into words. It's party music I'd never want to party to. It's spooky music that wouldn't make the cut on my Halloween playlist. It's alternative rock that doesn't rock. The vocals remind me of Muse. Lots of long droning notes. A lot of these songs aren't quite skippable but outside of the last song Mass Production, none of them have any qualities that really stand out of me. Mass Production has the right level of weird that I wish Iggy Pop had leaned into for the whole album.
The White Stripes
4/5
Listening to the style of this album reminded me a lot of one of my favorite alternative rock bands The Black Keys. There's a nice mix of piano and electric guitar. I'm not in love with the amount of pacing bread downs throughout the course of the album where the songs would slow down to a screeching halt like in White Moon. I much prefer the more up tempo songs like Blue Orchid and My Doorbell.
Femi Kuti
3/5
A fun and energizing album. Great music to vibe to. I enjoyed the medley of different instruments used and the singing. It might be because I don't listen to much afrobeat in general but all the songs started to blend together and feel rather repetitive by the second half of the album.
Incubus
4/5
This album embodies the alternative rock I grew up on. Even though Drive and Pardon Me were the only songs I recognized the whole album felt so familiar. It's a fairly simple and played out recipe of lead + bass guitar, drums, and vocals but they do it well. There's some really interesting baselines, catchy choruses, and just a nice grunge feel.
Billie Holiday
2/5
I have a couple main issues with this album.
The biggest one is Billie Holiday's singing style. She has a nice voice but she embellishes her long notes with this high pitched falsetto. As if she's using a whammy bar for her singing. Which can be an interesting touch but it's so overused it is like nails on a chalkboard for me. She clearly has masterful control of her voice I just don't like the way it sounds.
The second issue is the pacing. The pacing is slow and steady. As a result it really drags on and every song sounds the same.
The biggest redeeming quality about this album is the band. If you were to take the instrumentals only I feel like it could pass for a lot of film soundtracks. It's elegant, whimsical, and the only thing bringing this album up from a 1 to a 2 for me.
The Avalanches
3/5
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
3/5
This is perfect. I was in need of something to listen to during my peyote ceremony tonight.
Traffic
4/5
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Death In Vegas
4/5
Very alien, dystopian vibes. It reminds me a lot of some of the Gorrilaz work. Great music to relax to for sure.
The The
3/5
Morrissey
1/5
This album just does not resonate with me. From the album art to songs themselves. For one, I'm not a fan of Morrissey's singing voice. It's simultaneously flat and winey. With songs like "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get" and "I Am Hated For Loving" I'm getting a lot of stalker/simp vibes as well. All in all, this one was a struggle to finish.
The Notorious B.I.G.
5/5
This album shines despite its gaping flaws. The skits are atrociously uncomfortable and heavy handed. The lyrical content is misogynistic and braggadocios. But the execution of the songs themselves is flawless. Buttery smooth vocals paired with catchy rhymes and bubbly boom bap beats. Lovely background vocals lift a lot of the songs up as well. Every single song on this album is a hip hop classic with good reason. That's very difficult to pull off. The strengths are so strong that it gets 5 from me even despite its blemishes.
Meat Loaf
5/5
Not at all the vibes I was expecting based off the album name and artwork. I was expecting metal and I got 70s Queenesque opera rock. Even though they aren't the vibes I expected, they were good ones. Very high paced. I mostly enjoyed the quick piano progressions paired with the electric guitar. I realized about halfway through the listen that there's actually a love story being told not just a collection of love songs. On the second listen I read the wiki first. Come to learn it's actually a retelling of Peter Pan (never would've came to that conclusion on my own). So on the second listen I payed much closer attention to the storytelling.
Grateful Dead
1/5
I know the Grateful Dead had a big influence on the counter culture/hippie movement of the late 60s and that they had a huge cult following. Given that knowledge going in I was really hoping for something a lot more interesting. To the naked ear this is just another brand of boring country music. Maybe I needed to get super high to enjoy this one because it was a real snoozer for me.
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
Throbbing Gristle
1/5
To call this album bad would be giving it to much credit. It's a shame there isn't a way to give it 0 starts.
The United States Of America
2/5
Somewhere in between annoying and tolerable. There's an excessive use of experimental sounds and instruments. Sometimes they land, sometimes they miss. At times it is exciting, at times it is boring. Just all over the map for me. Kind of feels like this album was an assignment for a group at an arts college where they were required to use X number of instruments. If this is supposed to be psychedelic rock, I really feel bad for anyone who made the decision to trip while listening to this. Seems like a recipe for a really bad time.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Very strong start to this album with War Pigs, Paranoid, and Iron Man. Even some of the lesser known tracks like Rat Salad and Hand of Doom kick ass. Turn up the speaker and jam.
4/5
I definitely can vibe with this. It doesn't strike me as anything special. I don't think I would seek out any songs individually. But as a whole it blends well and I do think any of the songs could come on a playlist without feeling like must skips. Overall, pretty good.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
Dre's beats are a 6/5
Snoop's flow is a 5/5
Skits and subject matter are a 1/5
This is a really fun album but it's about as shallow as the kiddy pool. Misogynistic, braggadocios, and the skits are borderline obnoxious. Very typical of this era of hip hop and as a result I can slide that aspect of it under the rug to some extent. It's meant to be something you turn up to when you want to have a good time and it does that well. This album put a smile on my face this morning.
3/5
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Chill vibes with some smooth guitar. An enjoyable listen with fun hippy vibes.
The Who
4/5
This album has a very classic feel to it. I haven't listened to a ton of The Who but I enjoy what I've heard. Early elements of folk and rock blended together pretty smoothly.
Al Green
3/5
The opening track Let's Stay Together is a classic for sure. But the album really falls off after that. Maybe because I'm not a huge fan of soul but the rest of the album just feels like more boring spin offs of Let's Stay Together.
Lorde
4/5
Frank Ocean
5/5
The Doors
4/5
Pixies
4/5
The Prodigy
5/5
It's wild how even though I've never heard of Prodigy or this album, every song is so familiar. I don't know if I recognize the songs from movie soundtracks or what. Either way, I totally enjoy the vibes on this. Some old school electronica does not age well, this does in my opinion.
The Pretty Things
4/5
This album gives me very similar vibes to one of my favorite albums of all time, Pink Floyd's The Wall. It doesn't feel quite as polished however. I'm gonna need more than a day to fully absorb this one I think. For now it's getting a 4/5 from me. Good, interesting, compelling, but a little screechy at times.
American Music Club
1/5
I'm struggling to find anything interesting or significant about this album.
Pixies
4/5
The Pixies are consistently good but not great for me. I like the punk rock elements but it feels a bit lacking. I would take any of these songs mixed in a playlist without a skip. But there aren't any that I feel in love with.
OutKast
5/5
Gang Of Four
3/5
Radiohead
4/5
This album is definitely better than the sum of its parts. I don't think I would enjoy any of these songs very much on their own. But listening to the album as a whole you kind of get into the groove of it and it becomes enjoyable. It's very alien. Lots of long drawn out notes, clashing notes, and synthesized sounds. I don't know how much replay value it's going to have for me but I did like it.
Eurythmics
3/5
This album didn't grab me. It felt one dimensional.
Neil Young
3/5
The first few songs are kind of rough but the album picks up in the second half. Having to endure the YouTube ads didn't help either.
The Crusaders
4/5
Jazz is typically very hit or miss for me and this album was an instant hit for me. So swanky it just made me want to dance off the bat. I will say that I think Street Life ran a little long for how repetitive the hook is. Nonetheless I still really enjoyed it. I love the mix and execution of all of the different instruments.
Marty Robbins
4/5
Marty Robbins has such a classic voice and singing style that I love. It really makes you feel like you're in a black and white western film. The story telling is probably the biggest strength of this album. It's a shame the stories aren't more cohesive though as each song seems to be it's own little tale. I thought I hated country but this album proved that wrong because it was a joy.
Judas Priest
4/5
As a metal head I do enjoy some Judas Priest. I think the highlight of this album has to be Breaking The Law, by far their biggest hit. There are some other good songs in there too. I particularly like the ones with extended guitar solos like Grinder. There is something about Judas Priest that just falls a bit short though. While I think they emulate all of the elements that make up classic 80s metal, they aren't particularly strong in any areas. The vocals are good but don't hold up to the likes of Dio (one of the closest band comparisons imo). The guitar riffs throughout most songs are pretty basic and forgettable. The solos are good but they're too few and far between. I feel like Judas Priest never really found an identity beyond the typical metal tropes and that's why their best album here caps out at a 4 for me.
Neil Young
2/5
Bearable but not interesting
Frank Sinatra
3/5
I wanted to like this one more than I actually did. I enjoyed Franks voice and from the Swing that I've heard in the past I have mostly liked it. But it was a little slow and a few too many love songs for me.
Buffalo Springfield
4/5
Solid mix of bluegrass and rock it caught me off guard.
The Killers
5/5
You've got some classic hits on this album between Mr. Brightside, Somebody Told Me, and Change Your Mind. But even beyond that this album is solid throughout. I easily listened to this album back to back which to me is a mark of a good album.
The Saints
3/5
27 songs wow it didn't feel like that many. This album is pretty mid. Easy listening for a classic rock style album but at the end of the day, pretty forgettable.
AC/DC
5/5
I used to be in love with this album back in middle school. Just pure 80s hard rock. It's a very iconic album and easily ACDC's best. Unfortunately as I got older I fell out of love of their work a bit. I realized how much of it is all sexual innuendos and that weirded me out (something I recognized originally but not fully until adulthood). Plus the songs are not very complex in terms of composition. Regardless, I'm giving this album a 5 because it holds a special place in my heart. Lost of nostalgia tied to this one.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Very trance-like album. Feels like it could be a movie soundtrack as the vocals are minimal. It's not something I would listen to regularly but I can see it being good study/work music to get into the zone
Suede
4/5
ZZ Top
5/5
Such a groovy album. I enjoyed this one front to back.
Frank Zappa
5/5
This album is all over the place and I kind of love that. It would be less enjoyable if the instrumentation wasn't so hot. I especially love all of the guitar-focused songs.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
4/5
I'm not sure what I was expecting out of a "blues explosion" but upon reflection I'd say this fits the description. I thought this album was fun. Some groovy guitar and goofy vocals. Definitely doesn't take itself too seriously. The run time is a little long.
David Bowie
3/5
Depeche Mode
2/5
This is music for somebody. But not me. It just about put me to sleep.
Randy Newman
2/5
I just can't get past my distain for Newman's singing voice
5/5
There's a notable lack of traditional music structure to the songs which increases immersion for me. Feels more like a concept album although if I'm being honest I had a hard time making out the lyrics so if there was a story I couldn't follow. I did enjoy the sound of the lead vocals. It gave off folk vibes. The solos on this album are very impressive. All around this album was interesting, enjoyable, and well executed.
The Cure
2/5
Zzzz
Harry Nilsson
4/5
MGMT
5/5
Every song on this album feels so familiar. Even the ones I'm certain I've never heard before. It is an easy listen front to back. Chill without being boring. Loved it.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
I'm struggling to see what makes this album notable as it seems pretty bland to me. But I guess that's a lot of British pop culture. For me, it's just okay.
ABBA
5/5
Most pop albums feel like they are carried by their hits. This album is no exception as Dancing Queen and Money, Money, Money are easily the standouts. But where most pop albums simultaneously feel like their non-hits are dragging them down, that is not the case here. Without the two aforementioned songs this album is probably a light 4. But it's getting a 5 from me because those hits really hit.
SZA
5/5
Such an amazing vocal performance by SZA. She conveys so much emotion in her voice. She also has a lot of range. I remember when this album came out listening to it on repeat. She also pulls some huge hip hop features like Travis Scott, Isaiah Rashad, and Kendrick Lamar. Just a great blend of hip hop, RnB, and pop. I think my favorite track is Broken Clocks although the whole thing is good front to back.
Orange Juice
3/5
Short and sweet. Chill. Kind of forgettable.
The Police
2/5
This album just didn't grab me. Not that it was bad, I just couldn't really get excited about it. Of course everybody has heard Every Breath You Take but even that song has never felt very significant for me. It's surprising because there are a handful of songs by The Police that I like but I guess none of them are on this project.
Van Morrison
4/5
A smooth blend of country/folk, jazz, and soft rock. I enjoyed Morrison's vocals and sax
The Sonics
3/5
This album is definitely a 60s vibe. I enjoyed it in parts. But the high pitched "woah's" got really old.
Eric Clapton
4/5
Solid relaxing album. Surprisingly, the only song I recognized "I shot the sheriff" felt the most out of place. It was also probably my least favorite song on the album as a whole which I think speaks for the quality of the rest of the songs because I don't really have any issues with that song on its own. The balance just feels really nice. None of the instruments overpower Clapton's soft voice.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
I'm torn on how I feel about this album. It's so unique that it's hard not to like it for that alone. Cohen's voice is very powerful, every word he says feels like it has weight. Unfortunately, as a musical number it feels very flat. Especially in the first half. His cadence doesn't really change over the course of the whole album. His "singing" consists of just barely changing the inflection in his voice. It's a weird dichotomy where the lyrical content is very emotional but the delivery of those lyrics is very emotionless. Songs with some extra flare and background vocals like "Traveling Light" helped break up the monotony. I think Cohen just needed some more variety to accent his one-note vocal style.
Coldplay
2/5
I understand the appeal but Coldplay is just too slow and soft for me. I like my music to have more energy. With that said, Yellow is definitely the standout track on this album.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
I've got a whole lotta love for this album. In the words of Jack Black, sometimes you've just gotta let the Led out
Beck
3/5
I see the appeal. It's a very elegant and peaceful piece of work. It's a little soft for my tastes but I do think it is well put together.
Megadeth
5/5
Rust in Peace has everything I could ask for in a metal album. Face melting solos, kick ass drums, dark themes, high energy, and intense vocals without relying solely on screaming/gurgling. I've known of Megadeth and heard many of their hits but for some reason I never sought out anything beyond that. This album solidified my belief that I need to take a deeper look at their catalog because it is fire.
Elvis Costello
3/5
The Who
3/5
Michael Kiwanuka
5/5
This album is sweet. It is a very smooth blend of genres. So smooth I really couldn't pin it down if I tried. Michael has a great voice and the production is crisp.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
There are some fun moments and there are some really repetitive moments.
Heaven 17
3/5
This album wasn't bad but it just didn't grab my attention
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
The Kinks
4/5
Good energy on this album. On my first listen I had it on as background music and it kind of missed the mark. On my second listen I turned it up and focused in a little more and it was definitely enjoyable. Feels like an up beat version of the Beatles. My chief complaint holding me back from falling in love with this brand of 60s rock is that it feels a little stale. A little too simple, soft, and monotone.
Santana
5/5
This album makes me feel like I'm jamming in a South American jungle. I love Santana's vibes. My favorite is the way he's able to project the guitar into the foreground where it almost sounds like it is singing. So much expression in that guitar. The real vocals fall to the background with the rest of the instruments and prop up the guitar as it shines.
Coldplay
3/5
Coldplay is notably good at creating a sense of build up or progression through repetitive beats and rhythms. I found this album a lot more enjoyable than the first Coldplay album I got (Parachutes). It is powerful, meaningful, and moving. Not only that though, it is a lot less bland and monotonous.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
I loved this album. Fun energy. Makes me want to take another trip to my favorite city, New Orleans. The way the gravely vocals pair with the twangy guitars just syncs up really well.
Tricky
3/5
This definitely an interesting and unique album. Very experimental sound. I'm not a huge fan of it's low energy. But I appreciate Tricky going outside the box here.
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
Some sweet folk rock. There were a few songs that were a little too slow but that was matches with a few songs that absolutely kicked ass. Overall a solid album.
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
I thoroughly enjoyed this album from Arctic Monkeys front to back. Somehow I missed the boat on this band. I have heard some of the hits on some old sports games but never explored their catalogue. The vocals are smooth. The pacing is high without being in your face. Loved it.
Destiny's Child
4/5
As a 7 year old boy when this album first came out, it's safe to say I missed the boat on my appreciation for Destiny's Child. But hearing it now as an adult I can see the power and influence that this album brought to all women. I wanted to give this album a 5 as it has a really strong start, powerful messaging, and some great songs throughout. But it does feel like it has just a tad too many filler tracks in the middle.
Love
3/5
Good vibes on this album. Kind of a strange twist on psychedelic rock. Feels like there are many other rock elements at play. In fact, each song feels like it could be coming from a different artist with the exception of Que Vida and She comes in Colors feeling similar. There's a lot of variety packed into that 36 minutes. The closing track "Revelation" especially feels like it has more Credence and Clearwater style bayou jazz than anything. I appreciate the length of the album as it was very digestible.
Finley Quaye
3/5
I'm trying to get over Finley's likenesses in sound to Bob Marley. Because it truly just makes me want to cut the album off and listen to Bob Marley instead . The main difference is in the band. Notably less catchy hooks but more genre adventurous.
The Who
4/5
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
5/5
Every time I get a prog rock album on here I'm reminded that there's a whole genre of cool music that I've yet to explore. This album was awesome
Ride
2/5
Mildly interesting. To me, this album is unseasoned rock. Sure it has all the elements and I catch myself rocking my head to it in moments. But at the end of the day it's just too bland to be memorable.
Deep Purple
4/5
Lovely live set. Deep Purple has some face melting guitar solos spicing up some of their classic hits. Normally I'm not a big fan of live albums because of the decrease in audio quality. While I do think this album suffers from that issue, it is still a really solid listen.
Milton Nascimento
3/5
John Martyn
3/5
Solid start. Got really slow and somber at the end. I liked the groovy bite the most
The Auteurs
2/5
Not really finding much to get excited about this album. Pretty repetitive choruses. The overall sound is kind of bland. Feels like there are so many rock albums on this list, this one is relatively forgettable by comparison.
Johnny Cash
2/5
Just a man slowly singin with some simple acoustic guitar to set the rhythm. There's something endearing about the simplicity of Cash's music paired with his one of a kind voice. The charm does wear off on me after a few songs though and I grow bored of it.
Mariah Carey
1/5
Struggled to finish. Nothing against Mariah Carey's singing ability. It just doesn't work for me.
Alice Cooper
2/5
I like this genre and don't hate Alice Cooper. But this entire album is just bleh. I don't know what it is but none of it really stands out.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Got to love Hendrix and his unique style. It's simultaneously exciting and relaxing. He is one of the experts at giving personality to his guitar. It feels like the guitar is singing right there with him. There are some lulls in this album why is where it falls just short of a 5 for me.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
4/5
I'm not really familiar enough with Latin music to be able to distinguish whether this album stands out as good or not comparatively. But I did enjoy it. I don't think it's anything I'd rave about to a friend. But it had good vibes.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
Emilylou has a lovely voice. I love the folk feel in her vocal style. I wish there were more folk elements to elevate the project though. The background elements of the music tend to drone on a bit.
Violent Femmes
5/5
Blister in the Sun is a classic song and a strong kick off to the album. I love the punk rock sound here. It makes me think this was probably a major influencer for some of the big 90s punk bands like Green Day and Blink-182. There's a folk type of flavor to it that makes it sound unique. Solid album front to back.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
When I heard Son of a Preacher Man I immediately thought of one of my favorite movies, Pulp Fiction, so that was a good start. That song is pretty definitively the strongest track on this album for me but that's not to say the rest was bad. I enjoyed The Windmills of Your Mind and Just a Little Lovin'. I think some of the songs just fell a little flat. However, Dusty's vocal performance was solid throughout the whole project.
Supertramp
5/5
I'm not sure why I had categorized Supertramp in my mind as Hair Metal but that's what I was expecting when I turned this album on. But much to my surprise it is more in the Pink Floyd psychedelic classic rock lane. I very much enjoyed this listen. The production value is high. It's sophisticated. It feels unique enough to stand on it's own but not so much that it feels quirky. Definitely piqued my interest in this band and I'll need to look into their work further.
My Bloody Valentine
1/5
This album is about as interesting as a beige painted wall. "Background noise" is probably a more appropriate term for it than "music".
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Springsteen has a unique spin on rock and roll. It feels like it comes from a similar vein as some of the other rock classics from that time like David Bowie. But it's got a particular American aesthetic. Almost like if rock and roll were to cosplay as country, this is what you'd get. It's alright for me. There's some nice guitar riffs and some catchy hooks. I don't particularly love it either.
The Libertines
3/5
Pretty forgettable punk rock. Not sure why this album in particular stood out enough to be picked for this list but as a 90s kid who grew up on this stuff, I really don't think it does the genre justice.
Steve Winwood
4/5
Happily surprised with this one. Elegant, solid production, some sweet keyboard, and quality vocals. Just good vibes in general.
Jethro Tull
5/5
I discovered this album a couple years ago and have been in love with it ever since. There's something so visceral about it. It feels like Led Zeppelin with more umph and some wind instruments. The guitar riffs are electric, the choruses are catchy, and the whole album has a consistent aesthetic. I love concept albums like this.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Sisters Of Mercy
5/5
I've only had a small handful of 80s goth bands so far. They have all been new to me and I'm learning that it's a genre I really enjoy. Just edgy enough that it isn't cringey or overwhelming without being bland or boring.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
The music itself is full of good vibes. Smooth and relaxing with some good singing. Not a fan of the long breakdowns where Isaac is basically just talking with a simple beat in the background.
Carole King
5/5
The War On Drugs
4/5
This album feels like it is specifically targeted to people with drug addictions to help pull them out of that dark place. While I can thankfully say that I can't relate, I can feel the power of the message nonetheless. Typically I wouldn't enjoy an album this depressing but it is simultaneously peaceful and uplifting.
Randy Newman
3/5
After how cringey the first Randy Newman album I got was, I expected to hate it. Off the bat with Rednecks I was taken aback. Did the Toy Story guy just say the N word? Yes he did. Repeatedly. Once I realized that it was satire I understood the lengths he was going here to pull this off. I respect the effort. This album feels really personal and authentic to Randy. It's not something I'm going to put on outside of this challenge as it really doesn't strike me as the musical genius that it sometimes gets acclaim for. But it was a lot better than I expected going in.
MC Solaar
4/5
Don't know what he's saying and don't need to. This is fire. Love the jazzy beats.
Boston
5/5
Every song on this album is a classic. Hard to give it anything less than a 5. Even though I've heard these songs countless times, they still hit and that's what makes Boston so good.
Ice T
2/5
I love rap but this album is just lame imo. The skits add nothing. Ice-T's flow is choppy as he annunciates each syllable. The lyrical content adds nothing to rap as a whole. It's just more braggadocio and acting hard. The highlight of the whole album is a guitar section on Body Count as it's really the only thing that stands out.
Pink Floyd
4/5
This is my first time listening to Pink Floyd's debut album after hearing Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall (one of my all time favorite albums across all genres) countless times. Due to that bias I was expecting something more cohesive. But it's clear that they started out even more disjointed, dystopian, psychedelic. I had trouble getting into it at first. Maybe because I was looking into it too hard. When I first heard Interstellar Overdrive that's where I really got hooked. It's so spacey and it kind of just helped me zone out and enjoy the album. I listened to it one more time through and enjoyed it a lot more on the second listen. I feel like I can't give this album a true rating without listening to it while tripping but that's not going to happen any time soon. So for now, a 4 it is.
Talking Heads
3/5
Sonic Youth
4/5
Harsh gritty guitar balancing mixed with a combination of melodic and grungy vocals. This album does a great job of encapsulating teenage angst. Similar to the first Sonic Youth album I got on this project I share the same sentiment that none of these songs really stand out to me. Like there aren't any that I would look up just to put on. But at the same time none of them stand out as obvious skips either. Any of them could come on in a alt/punk rock playlist and I wouldn't bat an eye.
Les Rythmes Digitales
3/5
Lots of annoying samples were chosen for this project. Music Makes you Lose Control and Hey You What's that Sound are particularly repetitive. There are some spots that I vibe with though.
Anthrax
3/5
You can see the huge Metallica influence in this album. Unfortunately it feels like something is missing. For me that's the shredding guitar solos. There's a decent one at the end of the album but for the most part it's pretty much just thrash. When Metallica does it, the building thrash sets up the solos and that's what makes it great. So for me, while I thought it was alright, it does fall a little flat.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
Radiohead
2/5
I think with more caffeine and attention I could grow to like this album. Reading the wiki on it, it seems like a strong concept album. But in actuality I just couldn't get into it. Too slow and droning for my tastes.
Sonic Youth
3/5
The White Stripes
5/5
Such an underrated album. Everyone has heard Seven Nation Army. And for most bands with one-hit wonders like that, you wouldn't expect much from the rest of their catalogue. But the White Stripes hit a home-run with this album for me. It is filled with unique, high energy songs front to back. Jack White's vocal performance reminds me a lot of Robert Plan from Led Zeppelin.
Brian Eno
5/5
Very enjoyable sound. The cover art is aptly appropriate as it feels less like your stereotypical album and more like an experimental piece of artwork that belongs in the music version of a museum. Which I guess is exactly what this list is. Some songs hit harder than others. Sky Saw might be my favorite.b
Dagmar Krause
3/5
Machito
4/5
Big band jazz infused with a heavy dose of hand drums. The highlights for me are the sax solos and horns.
Rush
5/5
Van Morrison
3/5
Kind of long. Some nice singing and work from the band. Something falls just a little flat for me though. Probably would be better live it just doesn't feel as authentic as a lot of soul I've heard so far.
Jeff Beck
3/5
Metal blues. Not a genre I've heard of but I kind of dig it. Not a fan of the fact that they did so many covers though.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Fun and swanky album. They do a good job of keeping each song feels fresh and different.
Black Flag
3/5
At first I was feeling this album. Crashing drums plus very harsh vocals creates a violent raging punk rock sound. The guitar playing is even pretty proficient although I'm not a fan of the highly reverberated sound. This album feels like the spiraling of a man society. The scratchy vocals and harsh sounds really are not easy on the ears after 30 minutes or so. Definitely pulling some of my favorite songs from this for my workout playlist though.
Skepta
4/5
Insane beats. Hard hitting flow from Skepta. Weak skits. Average lyrical content.
Napalm Death
3/5
This is some real demonic depths of hell type shit. Not the vibes I anticipated jamming out to today but, when in Rome, I guess.
The drums on this album are absolutely mind boggling. Guitar hits pretty hard too. I'm typically not a fan of screemo just because the vocals get tiresome. I prefer a mix of singing and screaming. Could do without the gurgling. But if you just focus all your attention on the drums and let the vocals fall to the background, this album gets a lot better.
I will say, I did not enjoy the band switch up halfway through the album. I felt the first half was a lot stronger on the guitar and just had a more aesthetic, less goofy sound.
The Smiths
2/5
This is kind of before alternative rock really found it's footing for me. You can see where the roots came from but there's not really much I enjoy about it. Kind of bland and soft.
The Jam
3/5
Beach surfer vibes mixed with alternative. Not bad but nothing too excit
Gil Scott-Heron
5/5
Lauryn Hill
4/5
Todd Rundgren
5/5
Very trippy album I dig it. The soft, whimsical vocals are pleasant. The sounds are unique without being unnecessarily complex. I enjoyed the flow of the album from song to song. It really felt like a complete piece of work. Definitely plan on revisiting this one.
Steve Earle
3/5
Not a country fan but pleasantly surprised. At times it felt cliche but the songwriting stood out to me. Verses weren't complex by any means but they were tight and catchy enough. After reading into Steve Earle's bio it makes me curious to hear more of his folk and rock albums that he released after he broke out of the genre.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Coming off another Todd Rundgren album A Wizard / A True Star two days ago, I was hoping for more out of this album as it has done better than that album by far in listens on Spotify. But it is lacking in character in my opinion. A lot closer to standard soft rock. There were parts I enjoyed but as a whole it came across a little flat.
The Flaming Lips
5/5
Alien feel to this album. Wiki says it's not meant to be a concept album but it certainly feels like one. Gives me the same vibes as one of my favorite artists, Tame Impala. Listening to this mentally transports me to an unknown universe like I'm in Meow Wolf or something. Very psychedelic.
Johnny Cash
3/5
This album feels interchangeable to the San Quentin prison album so it's going to get the same rating. Same gimmick. Same simple song structure with lyrics crafted for a specific audience. Cash's charismatic stage presence can really be felt. It's a shame there isn't more variety in sound here because I do really enjoy Cash's voice. I just grow bored of the similarity after a few songs.
Jamiroquai
2/5
Decent background music but this 2 disc album is way too lengthy. I think there's probably an hour and 15 minutes of fat that could have been trimmed off. Because for the moments that I was really digging, there was twice as much time where I was just waiting for it to move on.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Classic
Buck Owens
3/5
I think if I had received this album early into this generator project it would have been an automatic 1. But it has expanded my tolerance for country. Specifically country from this era. While I couldn't listen to it on a regular basis, it has a charm to it that I can't seem to shake. I especially enjoyed "Wham Bam". Laughed my ass off listening to that one. I'm not sure if this album is meant to be taken seriously or not, but I couldn't take it seriously. And through that lens, it was a fun ride.
Rod Stewart
3/5
This album feels like very stock rock and roll. Nothing about it stands out at bad or distasteful. But nothing about it stands out as unique or interesting either. Very mid for me.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
5/5
One of those albums that I immediately celebrated seeing show up on the randomizer. Red Hot Chili Peppers are S tier 90s rock. They revolutionized the genre and created a style that couldn't really be copied. My favorite aspect is their heavy use of funky base riffs. Californication is filled with so many classics that have stood the test of time. One could argue that there are a few too many filler tracks making this album lengthier than it needs to be. But honestly, I like the filler tracks too so I'm not even mad about it.
Herbie Hancock
3/5
Funky but a little over the top at times
Animal Collective
4/5
This is a tough one for me to rate. I really did not like this album at first. It's early tracks are borderline headache inducing as it is a lot of noise. Very loud/busy if you set your volume high enough to hear the vocals. But the more I listened to it the more appreciation I grew for it. The songs are very densely layered with various beats. Most of them have thrumming and dripping sounds which creates a very immersive, psychedelic feeling. If you let yourself zone out to this, it really can take you places in your mind space. I listened to this completely sober but I felt high listening to it. I can only imagine what an experience this album would be while tripping.
The Electric Prunes
3/5
Kind of feels like a garage band version of Pink Floyd.
The Who
2/5
Albums like this are exactly why I typically dislike live albums. The audio balancing feels so off. The guitar and vocals get washed out by the drums and everything sounds extra distorted. Production value aside, the rock is decent. Some fun guitar riffs and proficient drums. The vocals are kind of bland to me. I listened to the expanded edition and grew tired of it by the end.
Basement Jaxx
2/5
There are a very wide range of EDM sub-genres at this point and I do appreciate some of the originators. I think that for 90s EDM this album is actually well done. It really isn't my favorite style of music though. I'm not one for going clubbling and that feels like the true setting for this type of music. Good execution but not for me.
The Cars
5/5
This is such a a nostalgic album for me. My dad had it on CD so I'd listen to it in the car a ton as a kid. When my dad died we played Let the Good Times Roll along with his photo slideshow at the funeral.
This is one of those albums that takes you somewhere. I feel like I'm a high schooler in the 70s listening to it. Just reminds you of a simpler, happier time.
Public Enemy
2/5
Yeaaaaaaaaa boiiiiiiiiii
That ab lib was used ad nauseum. Overall the beats are nothing special. The skits on this album don't add much but at least they aren't too drawn out. It's a mix of crowd work (odd for a non-live album) and brief setups for upcoming songs. Most of the songs are really similar. Standouts for me are Bring the Noise and She Watch Channel Zero for the sick guitar.
This album comes in an era of hip-hop where the bar for originality is still set pretty low. Between NWA, Cypress Hill, and Public Enemy would the untrained ear really be able to tell the difference? It's high energy, in your face rhymes with an emphasis on violence and rebellion against white America. I wanted to like it a lot more than I did but I really don't think this album stood up to the test of time.
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
The Only Ones
3/5
The only one word I can think of to describe The Only Ones by The Only Ones is forgettable.
Not bad. Not great. Just another old punk rock album buried in this list.
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
The first song really pulled me in. Very dark, artistic vibes on this album. There were some moments where it was a little too slow for me but overall I enjoyed it.
Elvis Presley
2/5
Not a very compelling album from the king of rock in my opinion. The opening track Blue Suede Shoes might be the most memorable and typical Elvis. But even that song starts to feel repetitive by its end. Some of the songs on the back end, I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin) and Blue Moon - Take 9/M are really slow and boring. Wanted to like this one more than I did.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Reggae isn't my favorite genre but I do enjoy Bob Marley. This isn't one of my favorite albums from him though. Half the songs didn't really put off the island vibes that I've come to expect from a Marley song and instead are more bluesy. I think some of his later work is a lot more essential.
Nitin Sawhney
4/5
A very unique blend of genres for a concept album and I dig it.
The Hives
3/5
This feels like one of those albums that gets added because it has a strong single with that single being "Hate To Say I Told You So". The rest of the album is pretty mid. Angsty punk rock with fast progressions.
The Smiths
2/5
Probably the best of the 3 or 4 Morrissey albums I've gotten so far. But overall, still pretty bland and forgettable. Just too slow for my tastes.
The Soft Boys
3/5
Adele
5/5
Never considered myself an Adele fan but this album absolutely slaps. Adele's voice on this record is just so powerful. Love it
Leonard Cohen
1/5
I'm sure there's an interesting story being told here but I'm so bored by the sound it's hard to follow without mentally checking out. The most compelling song has to be Teachers as it takes on a darker tone and faster pace.
N.E.R.D
3/5
Sonically this album reminded me a lot of Goldlink just with less edge. There's a lot to like her but not really a lot to love imo. It's a fun album but it isn't very gripping.
Gene Clark
1/5
Björk
3/5
Very spacey vibes. I enjoy Bjork's accent. The album as a whole feels very artistic like it could be playing on a loop in a modern abstract art museum. I did get tired of the instrumentation and choppy flow of the singing style after about 4 or 5 songs.
Muddy Waters
5/5
In the words of Michael Scott "BUH DUH BE DUH DUM"
Big Star
2/5
Nirvana
5/5
Undeniable alt rock classic. Found myself singing along to the majority of these songs.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Nick Cave has an intoxicating voice. Very fitting for the subject matter of murder. The story telling in these ballads is poetic and gripping. I don't know how many of these I'd like to listen to on their own but as a collection it's immersive and plays well.
Q-Tip
4/5
Happy Mondays
2/5
Elliott Smith
2/5
Björk
3/5
Alluring. Enchanting. Is Bjork a siren?
KISS
3/5
Easy listen. Some classic songs but most of this album is pretty forgettable
Steely Dan
5/5
Absolutely love this album. I have some very fond memories of listening to this album in my dad's car growing up so it has a special place in my heart. Played Reelin' in the Years at his funeral. Easy 5 star.
5/5
This album is such a fun fusion of genres. It doesn't take itself too seriously and I appreciate that. Just chaotic in your face energy. The outro was a waste of 10 mins of my life but honestly I had so much fun with the rest of the album I'm excusing it.
The Fall
2/5
At its best, mildly interesting (League Moon Monkey Mix). At its worst, cringeworthy (I'm Going to Spain) and forgettable. The instrumentation really isn't bad but the vocals are terrible. Next please.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
R.E.M.
4/5
Bee Gees
1/5
Fatboy Slim
2/5
Not much to get excited about
Neil Young
1/5
Can't stand Neil Young's voice. That on top of this just being a really slow album, was hard for me to get into.
The Replacements
3/5
Some nice guitar moments. Grungy production value kind of hurts the overall quality to me. I like the angst and energy. I wish the hooks were catchier.
David Gray
2/5
Singing is good. Production value is decent. Instrumentation is decent. Pacing is slow.
Overall David Gray feels like a lesser version of James Blunt. I think if you're into soft rock this is good enough to garner appreciation. But for me and my tastes, it just doesn't stand out enough to be noteworthy.
Buzzcocks
3/5
Fun British punk album with good energy and some humorous bits. Nothing remarkable here though. Most of the songs sound really similar so I found myself tuning out a lot.
Parliament
4/5
Give Up The Funk is a banger every time and it really surpasses everything else on this album. That's not to say there aren't other fun moments. The instrumentation on this set is crazy. Lots of funky sax grooves, baselines, and all the other sounds that accompany quality funk music. My chief complaint is the amount of times the album comes to a halt for speaking skits. A few skits aren't really a problem for me but it's a bit heavy handed on this one.
The Coral
3/5
Charming but unnecessary for this list. Not really much to say about it. Standard rock sound and ingredients. Most interesting things about this album is probably the cover art.
PJ Harvey
5/5
Never heard of PJ Harvey ahead of this listen and it was a pleasant surprise. This album is a gem. PJ's singing is vibrant and passionate. The band behind her does a great job as well. A nice mix of fast and slow pacing. Reminds me of one of my favorite bands, Paramore.
Green Day
5/5
As a 90s kid this is a very nostalgic album for me. Many big hits that I still enjoy to this day. There's a handful of filler songs that don't quite live up to the big ones. But with songs with high levels of acclaim such as Longview, Welcome to Paradise, and When I Come Around, it's easy to look past the lesser songs. This is the exact genre of alt rock that I vibe with.
Can
4/5
This album is quite the journey. From the more standard rock songs to the chanting, to the hypnotic drums at the end. It is not a casual listen by any means. I enjoyed it. Not enough for it to be an every day album that I can just put on but it has its own dark, ritualistic vibe and aesthetic that I can totally get in the mood for.
Rod Stewart
3/5
Decisively just a little better than middle of the road for me. I enjoyed Stewarts raspy vocals at times. Some good passion in there and some smooth folk sounds. But overall something about this band just feels very stock rock. None of it feels very original or ground breaking. 3.5 rounded down to a 3.
1/5
I rolled a Nat 1 on the generator today. Not only am I cursed to listen to Bob Dylan wail for an hour and a half, it's a live album so the audio quality/production value is trash. Guitar riffs are simplistic and slow. I think the only positive for me on this set is a handful of mildly interesting harmonica parts.
The main issue with these singer/song writer albums is that if you don't like the singer, it doesn't have any other legs to stand on. That's the case for me here.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Really nice production value and instrumentation propping up Gaye's smooth vocals. The religious ties to it are a little strong for me.
Kid Rock
2/5
As a big fan of hip hop I feel the need to immediately knock Kid Rock for the blatant cultural appropriation. Before there was frat rap for rich white people there was party rap/rock for white trash people brought to you by the Kid.
Despite throwing up in my mouth a little bit when I originally saw that I'd be listening to Kid Rock today, there were a few bearable songs on this album. Bawitdaba is actually borderline good. But overall, this album is a turd.
Justin Timberlake
4/5
I'm typically not a big fan of Pop music but I have a sweet spot for JT. Obviously Cry Me a River and Rock Your Body are the standouts on this album. There are some other hits too, namely Senorita and Like I Love You. While this album has some big highs, it also has some really skippable songs. The slow R&B love songs are the worst in my book.
Jurassic 5
4/5
Bon Jovi
4/5
Mr Bonvine Joni really understood what it took to make a good classic rock song back in the 80s. Some light synth guitar with one short solo for each hit song. Some grandiose production and vocals. Not every song on this album landed but to have 3 hits that go down as all time classics in one album, that's pretty impressive.
Paul McCartney and Wings
5/5
Badly Drawn Boy
2/5
Easy listening for sure. A little too bland for me personally
Miles Davis
4/5
Buttery smooth jazz. I enjoyed the pacing and the riffing.
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
Elbow
4/5
Normally slow and depressing are adjectives I would use to describe music I hate. But honestly, this album shines through despite those qualities. The composition was elegant, lyrics were compelling, and even in its slow moments it was relaxing.
Willie Nelson
2/5
Ghostface Killah
4/5
Pulp
3/5
Tangerine Dream
2/5
Jimmy Smith
5/5
Fun, light, swanky. This might be my favorite brand of jazz. It just puts you in a good mood.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
I enjoy Fleetwood Mac but this one doesn't feel like their best work. There were a handful of songs on this album that just didn't really resonate with me
Deee-Lite
4/5
Fun disco album. Groove is in the Heart might be my favorite track. Definitely good energy that makes you want to dance.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Yes
5/5
I dig the Yes album. It's prog rock that feels like classic rock. I mostly love it for the sick guitar.
JAY Z
3/5
I've always been pretty indifferent about Jay Z as an artist. I think he did great work to propel the East coast hip hop scene similar to Dr Dre in the West. But like Dre, the people he puts on tend to have better music than his own work. I still like the beats and Jay Z has some good flows. Just a lot of forgettable songs on this album to go along with the hits.
The Who
4/5
Oasis
4/5
Iron Butterfly
5/5
U2
3/5
Radiohead
2/5
Meat Puppets
3/5
This album was sonically all over the place. Transitions between songs were not smooth. I was indifferent about maybe half of the songs on here. There were some I liked and some not so much.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
Enchanting, angelic, and intoxicating
Lucinda Williams
1/5
Funkadelic
5/5
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
A unique album that I'm struggling to form a strong opinion on. I liked the musical composition. It was elegant. The vibrato singing style I did not like and it overpowered many of the songs. The lyrics felt personal and significant. I don't think it's going to break into any of my personal playlists but I wouldn't go as far as to say I disliked it.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
2/5
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
Fun oldies album
David Bowie
3/5
The Temptations
5/5
Really vibed with this album today
The Beau Brummels
1/5
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
1/5
Just an obnoxious clashing of saxophone solos layered on top of each other with no consideration for making the music actually sound good.
Aerosmith
3/5
For me this album is really measured by the songs not named "Walk This Way" and "Sweet Emotion". Those songs I've heard a million times and they've withstood the test of time enough to keep the album afloat at a 3 minimum. But what about the songs I've never heard? Any gems hidden in there?
The answer unfortunately is a big fat no. Big Ten Inch Record is corny as hell. Toys in the Attic and Adams Apple are beyond forgettable.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
The Smiths
1/5
If The Smiths were a color, they would be Brown. I think this is my 4th Smith/Morrissey and I really don't understand how it garnered that amount of attention considering I'm only a third of the way through the generator.
The vocals are flat. Most of the songs are slow. I get that this album is a political statement but I had meat for breakfast and lunch today so I'm not exactly digging the messaging.
Solomon Burke
4/5
The lyricism on this album comes across really desperate to me. I know it's meant to be sweet but it gives off borderline stalker vibes. Anyways, in terms of the actual music, it's not bad. The singing well harmonized. I liked the band too. Overall, good not great.
Elvis Presley
3/5
T. Rex
4/5
The Undertones
4/5
G. Love & Special Sauce
3/5
Janis Joplin
5/5
I listened to the Legacy version of this album. Easiest 2h 15m listen. Love Janis.
Koffi Olomide
3/5
Feels like I'm on vacation. Sadly, I'm not.
Beastie Boys
5/5
Jean-Michel Jarre
2/5
Whenever I get albums like this, stuff I deem "ambience music", I think about in what context would listening to this make sense. Because while it's not unpleasant, I don't think I'd ever just play this to listen to casually.
It reminds me the soundtrack to an indie game I played called Cult of the Lamb. In which, the music was very fitting. I think in a similar vein, a movie/show/game soundtrack context is appropriate. I can also see the argument for this as study music although it's not quite rhythmic enough to tick that box for me. Overall it was interesting but I probably won't ever listen to it again.
Bob Dylan
2/5
Gang Starr
5/5
Love the word play
The Go-Betweens
3/5
The Isley Brothers
5/5
The Undertones
4/5
Crosby, Stills & Nash
2/5
T. Rex
3/5
Fiona Apple
3/5
Britney Spears
1/5
Butthole Surfers
3/5
The Stone Roses
2/5
Leftfield
5/5
This was fantastic background music for a long gaming session today. Checks the two most important boxes for me when it comes to EDM.
High energy
Not overly repetitive
Hot Chip
4/5
Fun album. I like the mix of chill and and dance vibes. Just enough creativity to feel more elevated than your standard pop mix.
The Divine Comedy
2/5
Common
5/5
Classic album. While Kanye really molded the Chicago hip hop sound into what we know today, it was Common who provided the clay. It's a jazzy twist on the 90s New York sound. Where Common's style lacks in flash, he more than makes up in a cool, smooth delivery and buttery beats. I enjoyed how he ends the album with an empowering message to the listener to be their best self.
The White Stripes
5/5
Ash
3/5
5/5
The Icarus Line
2/5
Something just felt off about this album. There were no melodies. It wasn't very rhythmic. I can't recall a single chorus.
Eels
5/5
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
Lovely voice on top of a pleasant piano band. Sarah's heavy handed use of bravado sometimes rides the line between tolerable and annoying so that's a knock for me. But the production quality for an old live album is great.
Cyndi Lauper
5/5
This album is kind of a 2 hit wonder but to be honest, I enjoyed the whole thing.
Janelle Monáe
4/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
George Harrison
2/5
4/5
Sugar
3/5
Depeche Mode
3/5
90s night club vibes. I wasn't in love with this album but I enjoyed it enough.
Neil Young
1/5
Slipknot
5/5
Controlled chaos. I love it. I forgot how many good songs are on this album. Of course I remember the big single Psychosocial but Dead Memories and Sulfur came back to me like I listened to them just yesterday. I wouldn't consider myself a big Slipknot fan but this album really is some of their best work. I love the hard gritty nature layered with the some occasional soft vocals. The squealing guitar and relentless drums really set the tone.
Getting this album generated in October is just the cherry on top because the memories this album invokes are from my middle school/ high school days going to haunted houses on the weekends. They would blast this stuff while you waited in line and went through the mazes.
N.W.A.
5/5
Extremely influential rap album featuring some of the greatest of the golden era of hip hop. I've heard it many times and since I have some extra free time today I'm going to watch Straight Outta Compton to complement this listen.
Stan Getz
3/5
Elegant, chill, good vibes
Beth Orton
3/5
Prefab Sprout
2/5
Barry Adamson
5/5
I spent my entire time listening to this album completely at a loss trying to figure it out. It is very much all over the map. It's in one moment blissful, then funky in the next, then sinister, then depressed, then cheery. At times it feels like there's an unspoken narrative and at time there's a very explicit narrative. But the narratives, said or unsaid, don't seem to match.
Is it meant to be a collection of stories or one very winding road telling all the stops of one person's story? I really don't know. I don't know how to put this album into words. All I know is that it is by far one of the most interesting albums I've received on this album generator project. For that I really enjoyed it.
5/5
I love the vocals from Matt Bellamy. Muse has this wonderful ability to continually ramp the energy of their songs. Knights of Cydonia is definitely my favorite track. The wicked guitar gets me every time.
Rush
3/5
On paper I expected to love this album but it didn't quite land for me.
The Human League
2/5
Kind of refreshing hearing an 80s pop album that was completely unrecognizable. I will admit though, I grew tired of it about halfway through. This album just doesn't really hold up to the test of time in my book.
Otis Redding
4/5
Timeless classic
David Crosby
5/5
Something about the composition of these songs is just so clean. So relaxing. So comforting. Feels like your stressors just melt away.
I was going to mention that the vibes really reminded me of Santana's work. Come to read the wiki and find out Santana helped work on the album! Makes sense.
Talking Heads
3/5
Some fun songs. Some boring and repetitive songs. Overall nothing about this album really grabbed my attention.
Julian Cope
3/5
Iggy Pop
3/5
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Bob Dylan
2/5
I totally see the appeal. Unique and charming vocals. Honestly, I can see myself really enjoying this album on a cool night sitting around a campfire. But in reality, I was bored through a good chunk of listening to this. And when I wasn't bored, I was annoyed at the shrilling harmonica.
Robert Wyatt
4/5
Something about this album just stuck with me. Surprising because I usually don't go for low energy music like this. Experimental, interesting, and relaxing. I had never heard of Robert Wyatt before and this album definitely makes me want to check out more of his works.
John Martyn
3/5
Some fun jams on here. I loved the instrumentation. Interesting mix of genres. I enjoyed the songs that leaned more into the jazz/blues. I'm not a huge fan of the vocals. They feel like they fall in this awkward spot where they don't punch hard enough to sell the blues style but they aren't eloquent enough to sell the folk style.
Favorite song was Dreams by the Sea.
3.5 rounded down to a 3
ABBA
3/5
5/5
R.E.M.
3/5
Ryan Adams
2/5
Linkin Park
5/5
I was going to write a long review of this album. I tried so hard and got so far. But in the end it doesn't even matter.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Wilco
2/5
Boring, long, and depressing
Björk
3/5
Beautiful voice. Very choppy singing style where she seems to sing against the beat of the songs instead of with it. In some ways it's hypnotic. In some ways it's abrasive.
David Bowie
3/5
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
Deep Purple
3/5
808 State
3/5
I love the energy. Found myself mindlessly tapping my fingers or feet to the beats. It really is a berade of sounds though. I think this album didn't age well as there are many more edm projects out there now which have more interesting sounds and compositions. I would say this album best fits in a high tempo exercise class.
Pavement
2/5
Meh
Sabu
4/5
Never would have listened to this without the generator so for that I'm grateful. It's a weird album. Felt like I was sitting around a campfire during a ritual in some indigenous tribe.
D'Angelo
2/5
I'm not much of an r&b fan to begin with.This album didn't do much to persuade me to change my stance on that unfortunately. It was chill yet boring. I couldn't see any qualities to set it apart from other generic r&b I've heard before.
Ice Cube
4/5
Bee Gees
4/5
Garbage
4/5
I was surprised by how familiar most of the tracks on this album were considering I had never heard of the band. Maybe it was just growing up in the 90s these songs made it into soundtracks of shows/movies I watched.
Regardless of that,
Cream
5/5
Short and sweet collection of well crafted jams
Tito Puente
3/5
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
This album reminds me a lot of Christmas music for some reason. Pleasant enough but nothing I'm too excited about. Makes for solid background music.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
2/5
The The
4/5
Missy Elliott
4/5
This album came out during the peak of rap/hip hop's party phase. Just fun music to dance to with some motivational messaging for young women peppered in. Is it a masterpiece? No. But was it enjoyable? Yes.
Germs
1/5
Abrasive vocals without much support from the rest of the band. This is punk before it finds it's stride. Really just not enjoyable to listen to.
Spacemen 3
2/5
Ray Charles
4/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
I love the poetry but this one had less punch than the other Nick Cave albums I've gotten so far
The Kinks
4/5
Charles Mingus
4/5
Is this good jazz or bad jazz? It's so hard to tell sometimes. Plus this album toes the line by being pretty energetic and boisterous. Overall, I liked it though. So I'm going to say it's good jazz.
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
Only dinosaur jr song I had heard before this was Feel the Pain so I was expecting this album to be a lot more bleak than it was. Instead it reminded me a lot of smashing pumpkins. Still bleak but enough energy to rock out to.
Gotan Project
5/5
Brilliant balance of simplicity and complexity. Just really enjoyed vibing to this album
The Jesus And Mary Chain
2/5
Pretty unremarkable if we're being honest
Fela Kuti
5/5
Love the big band energy. A fun and unique blend of afro-beat and jazz
Kraftwerk
1/5
A very long 36 minutes. Just extremely repetitive. It's trying to be an interesting concept album but in reality it's pretty dull.
Janet Jackson
2/5
Sigur Rós
1/5
Frank Sinatra
2/5
Amazing voice but just too slow and sad for my tastes
Pretenders
3/5
R.E.M.
5/5
Tears For Fears
4/5
Some good songs and a good length. I can't say the whole album was strong because there were a couple snoozers in there. But overall it was a good album.
Motörhead
3/5
Some really sick guitar if you can bear through the trash vocals, poor audio quality (due to it being a live recording), and length of the album.
Def Leppard
3/5
Classic hair metal. It's got some fun moments and some moments where it relies so heavily on the synth sound it just all sounds the same. Obviously there's some huge hits on this album but as a whole it's really brought down by the other songs.
Suede
2/5
Orbital
4/5
Very solid high tempo EDM album. It's trippy without being too abstract. There were a few moments where it felt a little too repetitive but overall, it was a good listen.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
I love the folk sound mixed with traditional rock. It's light-hearted and interesting. Fun album.
The Beach Boys
3/5
This album is a very digestible length so I appreciate that. The Beach Boys really try to capture that teenage angst. I personally feel like punk music captures it better. Songs like When I Grow Up (To Be a Man) the Beach boys find themselves wondering if they will be into the same type of women they are now. Is this really something any young boy reflects on? I don't know it just seems out of touch and maybe that's just the messaging being dated. Maybe young boys really did wonder those things in the age before the internet. The album as a whole felt more like grown men pretending to be 15 than grown men reflecting on their life as teenagers.
Thelonious Monk
5/5
Nick Drake
2/5
The Teardrop Explodes
2/5
Kraftwerk
3/5
Weird vibes. Not my favorite album but I didn't hate it either. Just felt like one 20 minute song.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
5/5
A surprising 5/5 as normally I'm a country music hater. But the instrumentation alone on this project is top notch. Songs like Black Mountain Rag and Lonesome Fiddle Blues are very impressive. There's some good story telling on this project too. Really the total length and the in-studio talking between tracks are the only aspects I didn't like.
Astor Piazzolla
3/5
Belle & Sebastian
1/5
I didn't really like the vocals and the pacing was very slow for me.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Bobby Womack
4/5
Really enjoyed the funkier songs. Not as big on the slower R&B songs. Overall, solid album
Fatboy Slim
4/5
Fun EDM album. Not too overly repetitive or monotonous.
Funkadelic
4/5
A chill non-traditional funk album. Less dance tunes and more abstract art. I think I'd give this album a 3.5 but decimals aren't an option so I'm going to round it up to 4.
John Lennon
4/5
Cowboy Junkies
1/5
Slow, depressing, boring. The vocals are skilled, the project just didn't grab me today.
Raekwon
5/5
I love finding old school hip hop gems on this project. I've heard most of Wu-Tang's big projects but haven't really explored the individual artists' catalogues. This album is just straight fire from front to back. I really feel like this east coast style shines through here.
Van Halen
5/5
This album has 3 bangers (Hot For Teacher, Panama, and Jump) that have withstood the test of time. The rest of the album is great too. A fun mix of synth guitar, kick ass drums, and classic 80's style vocals. Honestly, I'm not sure what else an album can do to earn a 5/5. Peak Glam Rock and there really aren't many other projects from that genre/era that can compete with it.
Little Richard
5/5
Holger Czukay
3/5
One of those weird experimental albums that really breaks out of any genre definitions. I would name it a blend of jazz, psychedelic rock, and prog rock. I did enjoy it at times but to be honest it was a little too disjointed for me to fall in love with it.
Richard Hawley
2/5
The Last Shadow Puppets
4/5
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
We need more bands like this today. Just a channeling of the populous' frustrations with the way the world is run channeled into kick ass music.
Some of my favorite mantras from this project:
"Shackle their minds when they're bent on the cross
When ignorance reigns, life is lost"
"Some of those that work forces
Are the same that burn crosses"
"FUCK YOU I WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME"
"Freedom! Yeah!
Freedom? Yeah right!"
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Khaled
1/5
I'd like to pretend I'm cultured and that I enjoyed it but truthfully I kept checking to see how much time was left because I wanted to turn it off.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Wow Crazy Horse really elevates Neil Young here. I went from "oh great another Neil Young album..." to "oh wow I can actually jam out to this Neil Young album"
That being said, Young's annoying Kermit the frog voice still kills the vibes.
The Pogues
4/5
Fun Irish folk drinking album
3/5
An interesting album to say the least. Experimental for sure. Lots of weird sound bites and edm sounds mixed in with some light vocals and percussions. It's probably not going to break into my regular rotation but it was enjoyable enough.
The Cure
1/5
Paul Simon
3/5
Not typically a big fan of soft rock or singer-songwriter. But this had some good vibes and some quality vocals. It just felt like it was missing something.
Garfunkel maybe?
Giant Sand
1/5
Struggled to get through the bonus tracks
Kate Bush
4/5
An interesting album. Feels like some alternate pop with just enough levels of weird that I don't automatically dismiss it. This album has its moments where Kate is making some strange ad-lib background vocal sounds ranging from high pitched "Toad from Mario" to scratchy screams. Overall I enjoyed Kate's performance and the overall flow of the album.
Paul Simon
2/5
2 Paul Simon albums in 4 days seems like a crazy coincidence. This one feels very different to his self titled album which was basically default soft rock. My main critique was that it felt like it was missing something. Well apparently by 14 years later he had found some direction. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I like the direction it takes. It feels like music for Christians on mission trip to Africa. Like there's cultural appropriation going on but it's still very much music for white people.
The Vines
4/5
Enjoyable alternative album that feels familiar but I didn't recognize anything on it. Was I in love? No. But it was a good album.
New Order
3/5
k.d. lang
4/5
Not at all where my mind goes when I think of Country or Pop. This album felt like it had some Hawaiian influence but still maintained it's western roots. I really enjoyed the blending of the vocals with the acoustic guitar. Long vocal notes would eventually turn into a long guitar note and it would be hard to identify where one began and the other ended.
XTC
2/5
John Cale
2/5
Scissor Sisters
4/5
Mudhoney
4/5
The vocals are uninspiring and sound like any generic punk album. The guitar has so much reverb it sounds like it was recorded in a garage. Within the first couple songs I was ready to give up on this album. But I hung in there, in search for something that made it great. That's when I picked up on the drums. My god the drums on this album. The pacing and complexity at which it's played really just brought me right back in and brought this album up from a 2 to a 4 in my eyes.
Bonnie Raitt
3/5
Marilyn Manson
3/5
I wanted to like it more than I did. I think Manson has a unique vocal style which I appreciate. But overall most of the songs are grungy. There aren't any interesting hooks or guitar pieces that grabbed my attention. It's just screeching and grinding through songs.
AC/DC
5/5
To quote the great Robert California "Everything is sex"
I'm in between 4 and 5 stars on this one. ACDC did a masterful job of balancing the rock and roll formula. High octane vocals, repetitive and memorable lyrics, simple drum line, most songs peak with a guitar solo. Along with the Back in Black album this is easily their best work. Most of the songs really hit. Some are just so so. I think objectively this album is a 4 but I used to be obsessed with ACDC in my teenage years so nostalgia is going to give it a little lift.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
I tried but I only made it about halfway. This album feels like it was made intentionally to be hard to listen to.
Adam & The Ants
3/5
This album feels like it falls just short of "good" in every regard. It's missing that last bit of enthusiasm and instrumental significance. It's almost exciting. Almost interesting. Almost memorable. But at the end of the day I can rest easy know I will probably never hear this album again and that's okay.
Justice
4/5
ZZ Top
4/5
The La's
3/5
I feel very middle of the road about this album. It's alt rock without a twist. Is it exciting? Not really. Is it offensively bad? Not really. It kind of just exists. It's quality background music but nothing I can jam out to.
Kate Bush
2/5
I enjoyed the vocals. Overall the tempo was a little slow for me and it was kind of forgettable.
Laibach
5/5
I honestly have no idea what's going on with this album but it's powerful, and grandiose, and weird, and hypnotic, and just strange. I'm probably in the minority but I liked it. The album features strong vocal performances and each song has its own identity. Not knowing German, I would expect each song to more or less sound the same. But Laibach did a great job of differentiating the sound on each song while still making the album feel like one cohesive project. It was definitely a trip to say the least.
I'm not sure how much I'll be revisiting it but I did enjoy it as a whole.
Deerhunter
2/5
This album is very chill. So chill in fact that it is better describes as boring.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
This album is very chill. So chill in fact that it is better describes as boring.
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
This album had some hits. Geno and Thankfully Not Living in Yorkshire It Doesn't Apply being my two favorites. The vocals are weird. I'm still not sure if I love them or hate them. The pacing of the album was good as it had its ebs and flows. The drumming stood out on the higher tempo tracks. Overall it was a solid album.
TLC
1/5
One-dementional poppy R&B album. There were a couple interesting rap features but not enough to redeem it for me. I don't think that the singing is bad or anything. It just feels like it is nothing special and it's just not flavor of the R&B genre that I'm into.
The Stranglers
3/5
Malcolm McLaren
1/5
Cultural appropriation embodied in an album.
The KLF
2/5
Portishead
4/5
This is my first time listening to Porishead. It feels like what you would get if Bjork were to become the new lead singer of Muse.
You have the long mystical vocal notes cutting through the rhythmic beats. The more I sit with "Third" the more it grows on me. It is dark, powerful, and melodic.
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Mediocre. Long. Offensive amount of pandering to an American audience during a very sensitive time in their history. Overall, this album just did not belong on the list in my opinion.
The Bees
5/5
Prince
3/5
Cheap Trick
4/5
I immediately entered this album with a negative bias as I do towards all live albums. Poor sound quality and usually it's just a compilation of well received songs as opposed to a crafted piece of art that a good album should be.
While this live album does have some of those flaws, it really won't me over. It feels like Cheap Trick really excels at live music and that's why this live album was chosen. There were some killer guitar and drum solos on this set and the vocals are very energetic. Funny that the two most famous Cheap Trick songs I Want You To Want Me and Surrender were probably my least favorite on the project. Overall it was a great listen.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
1/5
Boring alternative rock at its best and abrasive distortions at its worst. Just a very colorless album that did not grab me in the slightest outside of being annoying.
Sex Pistols
3/5
Devendra Banhart
3/5
Daft Punk
3/5
The longer I listened to this album the lower the score I talked myself into giving it. I think Daft Punk was a major player in the early EDM scene and for the time, the music they were making was revolutionary. But with time to age, in an album format, it's just too repetitive and too lackluster. I still appreciate some of the hits like Around the World. But for every song I can jam out to there are at least 3-4 songs that are borderline annoying.
2.5 rounded up
Merle Haggard
2/5
Let's start with my biggest gripe. The storytelling or lack thereof. The album opens up with a compelling song about a man on the run. Even as a non-country fan I recognize this as a great song. Then a song about how our main character feels lonely because his life on the run prevents him for being with the woman he loves. The next song House of Memories finds our main character in jail. I also felt this was a great song. But how did he get caught? No idea. Feels like they missed a couple songs in between there. In this song the main character is depressed because the woman he loves is writing him less and less. From this point on the album devolves into a collection of country love ballads and any semblance of a narrative is forgotten until the album just abruptly ends with no real conclusion.
My next gripe is the instrumentation. Many of the melodies sound the same and the guitar/drums don't do much to grab your attention throughout. This would be fine if the vocals were unique or the storytelling was compelling. But see my first gripe.
Overall this album had potential but it fell short in my eyes. If I liked the genre more I'd probably forgive the divergence into a collection of love songs but that type of song is country at its worst to me.
Mekons
3/5
John Prine
2/5
10cc
4/5
Never heard of this band. It kind of reminds me of a British version of what Tenacious D came to be. Just a silly combination of genres breaking the 3rd wall, making jokes, and imitating some of the popular sounds of the time. Was it perfect? By no means. But its was interesting enough for me to give it two listens today.
Girls Against Boys
3/5
Very rhymic bass thrums life into the tracks. Indifferent song/talk vocals take the life back out. The double bass is a subtle and unique choice. But does it really elevate the tracks? If so, not by much.
Ravi Shankar
2/5
Makes for some okay background music. But it needs to be far enough into the background that the high notes don't annoy the shit out of you.
Something about the way the sitar notes play. It's like there's a whammy bar on every other note. Which is cool but it gets to be too much.
Sonic Youth
3/5
They did some interesting guitar work and experimentation with amp sounds on this project. But overall the vocals are underwhelming and as a whole the project feels pretty one note.
Slipknot
3/5
I enjoy heavy metal and some of the experimental sounds Slipknot does here. Some of the sounds they get out of their guitar are unlike anything I've ever heard. Wait and Bleed and Spit it Out are solid songs. But there are many songs that just don't land for me. Too much screaming without interesting instrumentation to balance it out.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Elvis isn't my favorite and this is a more tame version of his music than I'm used to hearing. I don't think I recognized a single song on this album. But it does make for pretty easy listening. I think I made it 2 times through the album before deciding to move on to other music for the day.
4/5
John Grant
4/5
Some funny social commentary in put in a very listenable medium.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
3/5
How many genres can we fit into one album? Blood, Sweat, & Tears does their best to answer that question here. Somehow, they manage to land pretty much all of the genres they attempt. It is a bit disorienting though.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
I'm feeling pretty indifferent about this album. It's easy listening for sure. Some smooth melodramatic pop beats in there. The vocals don't do much for me. Not that the singing is bad, it just doesn't stand out in any way. Overall I think this album is pretty forgettable.
Crowded House
4/5
Bob Dylan
1/5
Joni Mitchell
3/5
I enjoyed Joni's strong vocals and lyricism. The instrumentation was a tad boring for me.
Traffic
4/5
Genesis
5/5
The keyboard gives the feeling of Yes while the wind instruments gives the feeling of Jethro Tull. Two prog bands I really enjoy. Despite the connections, Genesis really does feel like its own thing and I'm here for it. The instrumentation is delightful and varied. The vocals are soft but still feel impactful. Good stuff.
Suicide
1/5
I can confidently say that this album is abysmal. I got about halfway through Cheree and thought "surely this is the worst song on the album". It sounded more like an interlude than a song, the moaning whispery singing was cringey at best. But then it continues to devolve into more of the same garbage and a couple songs manage to top Cheree. The songs Girls and Frankie's Teardrop were difficult to sit through.
Baaba Maal
3/5
I'm struggling to decide where to settle on this album. On the one hand, I think it's unlikely I will ever revisit it. But on the other hand it really is a good listen. The vibes are chill and the instrumentation is one of a kind. The high pitched singing style does get annoying at times. I wish I knew what the lyrics were saying and maybe I could get a better grip on this project. Although sometimes I even have that issue with songs that are sung in English.
Listening to this album is akin to going to a foreign restaurant and ordering a dish that you've never had before. Even if it's not your favorite thing in the world, it broadens your pallet. And for that alone, it's worth trying.
Amy Winehouse
5/5
I didn't realize I was going to become an Amy Winehouse fan today. Growing up I wasn't exposed to much of Winehouse's music. I knew of Rehab and her tragic alcohol withdrawal death. But that was the extent of it.
This album features a strong vocal performance and a very obvious Frank Sinatra inspiration. The imagery in the lyrics are provocative. The instrumentation is elegant and a little jazzy at times. It's quite often artists are described as being ahead of their times. I think in Amy's case the opposite is true. Amy would have absolutely slayed in the 50s/60s where this music style shined. Instead she came up in an era of music where her competition/peers were making songs like Beyonce's Crazy in Love and Ciara's Goodies. It was all about the high tempo R&B/hip hop dance songs back then and Amy didn't get the respect that I now see she deserved.
Kanye West
5/5
Kanye West is a racist, narcissistic, egomaniac, and a terrible person. That being said, I am separating the artist from the art for this review. Especially because the majority of his unforgivable public behavior has taken place after this album came out.
Kanye had a string of albums from College Dropout up to MBDTF that are fantastic. Just about every song on this album is a hit. It's crazy because of those albums I mentioned, this is not even his best imo. Kanye's use of sampling is unparalleled in the hip hop industry. Monster is probably my favorite song on this project but truly it's hard to pick because so many stand up to the rest of time even despite his antics in real life.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Not a big fan of the vocal performance by Costello. The musical arrangements are unique and at times interesting. But overall the project is very forgettable.
The National
1/5
Zzzzzzzz
Joe Ely
3/5
Solid country album
Beck
5/5
Mott The Hoople
4/5
Faust
2/5
Waylon Jennings
3/5
Nirvana
5/5
Ananda Shankar
2/5
Ozomatli
4/5
An interesting patchwork of Latin-American sounds. The album is energetic and dynamic. I would say that it can be repetitive and borderline cheesy in spots. While latin music is not my favorite, this was pretty good.
Ramones
3/5
I feel like I just listened to the same songs 14 times. Mind you, it's not a bad song, just sort of repetitive and one-note. I'm thankful for the 30 minute runtime of this album because much longer and it would start to grow tiresome.
Dead Kennedys
4/5
Finally a punk rock album with some character. I enjoyed the energy and rebellious lyrics. Bonus points for having a Guitar Hero 3 song: Holiday in Cambodia
The Thrills
4/5
Tina Turner
3/5
Spiritualized
2/5
Tom Waits
2/5
Couldn't get past the muppet voice
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
I'm never really sure where to rank EDM albums that are this old. From a technical stand point, I've got a random friend who could replicate this production and sound quality back in high school on a laptop in his spare time. Post Soundcloud era it all sort of sounds the same. I think overall the album is chill and puts off good vibes. But it isn't very interesting or thought provoking.
Radiohead
3/5
Little Simz
3/5
Little Simz has an impressive delivery and some interesting beat selection. The beats on this album provide most of the variety in style but they all still fit together surprisingly cohesively. I didn't feel that there was any real message behind the lyrics. While the pace of Simz delivery is impressive flow style also felt one dimensional.
Overall I'm always happily surprised to find modern rap artists that I have never heard as it is my favorite genre. Simz has skills but I don't think she did enough to break into my normal music rotation. The songs are not very catchy and the lyricism doesn't stand out. My favorite songs on the album were Venom and Flowers.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Hole
2/5
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Zeppelin IV is packed with classics and it's probably my favorite of their albums. Of course there's Stairway to Heaven which is a masterpiece but we can't forget Black Dog, Rock and Roll, and When the Levee Breaks.
The balance between the melodic rock and smooth guitar solos is delightful.
UB40
3/5
Interesting take on reggae with a hint of dubstep in the beats. I felt like the bpm was the same on every song so they all kind of blended together. It was not a bad listen though
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
a-ha
3/5
Joan Armatrading
5/5
Shuggie Otis
4/5
The Monkees
3/5
Calexico
3/5
Well assembled collection of songs. There was an interesting mix of songs which I appreciated. It was a little slow.
Hanoi Rocks
4/5
Solid album. Good energy and some fun guitar solo and drums.
Country Joe & The Fish
3/5
There were some really fun guitar moments. But overall the production is terrible and there are a lot of moments where it's just random noises.
PJ Harvey
4/5
Not quite as engaging as the first PJ Harvey album I received on the generator but her voice still carries nonetheless.
Can
2/5
Happy Mondays
2/5
Scritti Politti
1/5
Boring synth pop
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
Crazy how many familiar instrumentals from this project have been covered, sampled, etc. It's a pretty important album to music as a whole. That said, pretty much all of the iterations spun from these songs are improved versions. I'll give it a 4 for impact on the industry and 2 for actual listenability. Averaging out to a 3.
Venom
3/5
I enjoyed the dark themes and there were some spectacular guitar moments. The vocals didn't do much for me and the production quality felt like it was recorded in a garage. I think the rhythms and melodies were nonexistent and it just made this album not as palatable as it could've been.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
Love ballads over dance beats. This is not a genre that I emotionally or physically connect with but I don't have much negative to say about it. The beats are clean and just dynamic enough to not sound overly repetitive. The vocals are smooth and skillful.
The Dictators
3/5
Surprisingly happy with this one. I had low expectations after reading the very short wiki entry. This is a goofy album for sure and there are some cringe moments. Like "I live for cars and gug gug gug gug girls!". But overall it was a solid punk album with some really tasty solos.
The Go-Go's
2/5
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
Definitely has an old timey feel. I can't say I fell in love with this album like I have with some of the other oldies on the generator. But it wasn't bad and it was short/sweet.
Caetano Veloso
2/5
Thin Lizzy
5/5
The boys are back in town!
Fun live album. Some sweet guitar solos and an energetic performance by Phil Lynott. I didn't know most of the songs but they all felt familiar and there wasn't a single song that I wanted to skip.
Afrika Bambaataa
2/5
This is your favorite rapper's favorite rapper. I want to give it a higher score because it spawned some of my favorite genres- funk and hip hop. But unfortunately this record just didn't age well. Similar artists like Run DMC and Grandmaster Flash would have been a better selection to represent this style of music in my opinion. One thing I did really appreciate was discovering Renegades of Funk. I always assumed that was a RATM original. Cool to find out that it is actually a cover from this album.
Laura Nyro
4/5
Very unique and talented voice. Not a very catchy album but it was enjoyable to listen to.
The Mars Volta
5/5
This album is firing on all cylinders. Vocals, drums, guitar, production value, it's all high quality. It is unique and weird while still being palatable. The story described in the wiki entry didn't really shine through for me. Maybe with more listens. But this album definitely struck me and it will make its way into my regular rotation.
The Clash
3/5
I liked the vibes and energy but I didn't love the music. The vocals especially felt bland
Nick Drake
2/5
David Bowie
5/5
Beautiful album. Starts out very pop rock and divulges into an ambient space. Quite the journey
Duke Ellington
4/5
Sade
3/5
GZA
5/5
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
This is my fourth Springsteen album and while I thought this was the best of the 4, I really hope it's the last. This one feels more rock than country which is probably why I liked it more. When Bruce leans into his country side it comes off cringy to me.
Born in the USA, Glory Days, and Dancing in the Dark were the best songs on this album in my book. The rest weren't bad but they were fairly forgettable. It's kind of funny because I'm just realizing all 3 of these songs feature as background music in one of my favorite shows, IASIP, which is probably why I have a positive bias towards them.
The Byrds
1/5
Coldcut
2/5
Tediously long. There are some fun tracks but it honestly gets tiresome to try to finish in one setting.
Fairport Convention
5/5
John Lennon
5/5
David Bowie
5/5
Blown away by this album and shocked I was so out of the loop when it came out and Bowie passed. He's quickly rising to be one of my favorite artists thanks to this project. Blackstar the song feels particularly heavy after knowing the context of Bowie's passing from liver cancer 2 days after the album released.
Side note, you can really feel Kendrick Lamar's TPAB influence on this album which I think is really cool and unexpected.
Ian Dury
2/5
There are some albums that I praise as having the right level of weird. This one has the wrong level of weird for me. Stylistically it's all over the place. I'd say it lands somewhere between circus music, jazz, and Irish rock if you can picture that.
While I don't have a lot of love for this album I can absolutely see why it made this list. This is the type of album that you will never find naturally. And there is likely a pocket of people who will find Dury's work brilliant.
DJ Shadow
3/5
Motörhead
4/5
I love the instrumentation and energy. Ace of Spades (the song) is a classic and there were some other fun songs on this album as well. Lemmy's voice is very unique and I wish I liked it more but it is a bit of a hangup for me.
The Police
3/5
Astrud Gilberto
2/5
Chill, good vocals, not really my jam but I appreciate it.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
While Rumours isn't my personal favorite album of all time, it is certainly in the debate for best album of all time. It has the extremely unique qualities of both withstanding the rest of time without growing old/feeling over played. The harmonizing triple vocals led by Stevie Nicks is what really strengthens this album for me.
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
I love the sound of The Allman Brother's guitar. I could listen to Jessica (a song from them that is not on this album) all day long. It does feel like the drums and the guitar are a bit out of synch though. A little more rhythm would go a long way for me here.
Queen
4/5
Blondie
4/5
Drive-By Truckers
1/5
Christina Aguilera
2/5
Travis
3/5
Madness
3/5
Cartoonist, carnival, and child like. kind of annoying, kind of fun.
Pantera
5/5
When I first started getting into metal, I really didn't care much for Pantera. I liked Walk and that was about it. Over time I've grown an appreciation for them and it makes for great workout music. High energy guitar riffs and a vulgar display of power.
Duran Duran
3/5
4/5
Mj Cole
2/5
Portishead
4/5
Underworld
3/5
The Slits
2/5
This is a tough one. There were times where I gritted my way through a song because the vocals were that cringey. But there were also times where I really vibed with the punk essence of this album.
The Darkness
3/5
Beatles
5/5
Seeing as you'd be hard pressed to find many legitimate sources that rank this album outside of the top 10 greatest albums, including this site where it currently sits at the top, I felt that I really had to give this one as much of my attention as I could afford it today. I was surprised to realize that I had never actually listened to this album in full until today.
I think the intro tracks to the A and B sides of the album (Come Together and Here Comes the Sun) are easily the strongest tracks and they are very good outside the context of the album. The production quality is a big factor in why this album shines so bright in my book. Every song has an array of sounds that breathe life into it.
I think the biggest thing that both works for and against this album is the creative differences between band members that have been documented when The Beatles were creating Abbey Road. It works in the albums favor because each song feels like it received special attention by whichever member created it. It reminds me of a high budget TV show that has a different director for each episode. Where this hurts the album in my opinion is the lack of continuity. In terms of themes, characters, and sound styles it is kind of all over the place including some awkward cuts between songs. This feels especially the case on the B "medley" side.
I would give Abbey Road a 4.5 if I could because even the tracks that I don't love, I still enjoyed. But since I can't I will round it up to a 5 on cultural significance alone.
De La Soul
4/5
Björk
2/5
Roxy Music
4/5
This album was a trip!
Sebadoh
3/5
This album embodies the dichotomy of a mad and sad teenager in the 90s before/after a breakup. Surprisingly I liked the softer songs more than the punk songs. They were surprisingly mature in their "being guilty about loving another man is not a good reason to stay in a relationship with me" and "even if we break up I still want the best for you" messaging.
Burning Spear
2/5
The Beta Band
3/5
This album felt like it was meant to be epic and significant but it just fell flat of that for me. Not to say that it was unlistenable or boring. It just didn't really stick the landing.
Steely Dan
3/5
I love Steeley Dan but this album is not their best work. Sonically it's a little disjointed and the smooth production that you get on Aja and Can't Buy a Thrill is missing. Rikki Do t Lose That Number still slaps though.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Faith No More
4/5
CHIC
4/5
Method Man
4/5
Kanye West
4/5
Adele
2/5
This album did not hit as hard as the first Adele album I got. Everything was either trying to be too poppy or it just fealt flat.
Lou Reed
2/5
Really sad album. I was not a fan of the vocal performance. The delivery was kind of awkward. But you can tell that Lou put a lot of thought into this album and the production on The Kids is haunting.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Got this beautiful album therefore today is the greatest.
Siamese Dream encapsulates all my favorite parts of grunge while still having a palatable sound. Really masterfully done and one of the best alternative rock albums to come out of the 90s.
Django Django
3/5
Minutemen
3/5
Liz Phair
3/5
Ute Lemper
3/5
Emmylou Harris
1/5
I tried to get into this album because the singing was genuinely pretty good. But I got very bored of it very quickly.
Erykah Badu
4/5
I've heard these songs sampled on countless other hip hop songs. Clearly an influential project. I loved Didn't Cha Know. I started to lose interest a little at the end but overall solid album.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
5/5
Sexy album. I loved the instrumentation on this thing. The guitar from the Clapper is delicious, vocals are smooth, and the harmonica isn't overused.
4/5
Ali Farka Touré
2/5
The Byrds
4/5
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
2/5
U2
3/5
Pentangle
5/5
What a fun folk rock album. It's like all the best parts of country music without the annoying accents. After getting albums from artists like Fairport Convention, I've been craving more albums like this from the generator. Gems from a genre I'm unfamiliar with and from a time period where I wouldn't even know where to look for this type of stuff.
Blur
3/5
Fats Domino
4/5
Guided By Voices
3/5
Alice In Chains
5/5
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3/5
Barry Adamson
4/5
A soundtrack for an imaginary noir movie. What a unique concept for an album. I can't imagine how difficult it is to tell a story through the music medium without words. But I believe this album nailed it.
Digital Underground
2/5
Not a big fan of this album. It feels really dated both in how inappropriate some of the sexual references (talks about rape and giving a "sex packet" to a 17 year old) and the rapping style. A lot of the MC Hammer era rappers all sound the same and it's pretty corny in my opinion.
Brian Eno
1/5
Even in the appropriate setting, this isn't my preferred background music. It's incredibly slow, soft, and boring. The only use I can think of would be to help put my child to sleep.
Bert Jansch
2/5
Ministry
3/5
I'm kind of split on this one. There are some really fun guitar rifts on this album. The screaming was a bit over the top but I've heard worse. The biggest downfall on this album is its corniness. I get that conservative Christians back in the 90s had a bit of a culture war against metal so naturally, the genre fought back. But this aspect of the album just doesn't feel like it aged well at all.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Love Joni's voice. Some of the instrumental backing is lackluster but that is made up for on songs like The Jungle Line and Shadows of the Light.
Sidenote, I accidentally listened to this album on shuffle so I might have missed some continuity between songs.
Big Black
3/5
Brian Eno
3/5
CHIC
3/5
Fun and light album. I don't normally enjoy dance music all that much but I do enjoy Funk and this has elements of both.
Killing Joke
2/5
Pretty forgettable punk album. Good energy but nothing really stood out to me.
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
Small Faces
4/5
Massive Attack
3/5
Solid background music. It doesn't feel like it has a ton of substance, as much as it is just something to put on while you work on other things. The pacing is good and each song feels unique between the male and female vocals.
Def Leppard
5/5
Fun album with some big hits like Photograph, Foolin', and my favorite Rock of Ages. This really feels like an 80s music time piece. I liked this one more than Hysteria even though it has their biggest song on it (Pour some sugar on me).
Def Leppard has this unique version glam rock sound that is just so clean. They have some sick guitar solos, catchy choruses, and good energy.
Mercury Rev
3/5
Very creative project and I appreciate it for its uniqueness. I don't feel like people were doing this avante garde psychedelic rock in the 90s. It was however a little too slow at times and the wobbling alien noises felt overused.
Black Sabbath
5/5
The title track gives me chills. The imagery Ozzy is able to evoke is unlike no other. Rest in peace to a legend and the godfather of metal.
Special should out to Tony lommi and Bill Ward. The lead guitar and drums on this album are fantastic.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Billy Bragg
1/5
This album is very rough around the edges
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
4/5
Tim Buckley
3/5
Goldfrapp
2/5
Kate Bush
3/5
There were a couple really fun songs. My favorite being Waking the Witch. But most of them were kind of bland.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
I feel like I should love Hendrix. I enjoy early evolutions of the heavy rock genre and most psychedelic rock. I'm a sucker for a good guitar solo. But I think it's the production quality that kills it for me. His sound feels like it was recorded in a basketball gym. Purple haze is a fitting name for that song sonically because the it sounds very hazy.
Dennis Wilson
1/5
Metallica
5/5
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Ryan Adams
2/5
M.I.A.
2/5
Reading the wiki entry post-listen I'm really surprised that this is a political album. I listened on YouTube so also caught a few music videos and picked up on no political messages.
Outside of the message here, this feels like the type of music that would appeal to teenage girls in the 2000s. Similar vein as Shakira. Not really my thing. I didn't hate it but probably won't revisit.
Tom Waits
2/5
The Birthday Party
1/5
Not a good album to get on a sick day. Really had a hard time finding any enjoyment in this listen. At lease the cover art is... unique?
Beck
3/5
Where it's at is a fun song. There are some other interesting experimental tracks on here but nothing that jumps off the page.
Simple Minds
3/5
Circle Jerks
2/5
Some sweet drums on here. Not a big fan of this brand of punk though, especially the vocals. I feel like the length was too short to even really consider this an album.
Love
4/5
Light and fun album. There were some nice guitar riffs. Good Vibes.
John Lee Hooker
4/5
John Coltrane
4/5
The Roots
5/5
This was a chill rap album until the song "Water" took me into another dimension.
The range on this project is very broad. Almost to a detriment as it feels disjointed. But there's no denying that Phrenology is fire from cover to cover.
White Denim
4/5
Bill Callahan
2/5
I really did not like the vocal performance, the pacing, or the repetitiveness. However, there was a unique and ethereal element that you don't really find in country so I give it some bonus points for that. Overall I'm still not a fan but I can see the value it in.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Anita Baker
2/5
Doves
2/5
Neneh Cherry
1/5
How to make an hour feel like 3 hours
Nanci Griffith
2/5
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Le Tigre
3/5
CHVRCHES
3/5
The Black Crowes
5/5
Beautiful alt rock album. So many good songs
The Byrds
3/5
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Sepultura
4/5
Dr. Dre
5/5
Crazy how many classic gangster rap albums spawned from the NWA breakup. But this has to be the best one. Dre and Snoop have such good chemistry on this record and the west coast style beats are phenomenal.
Tori Amos
3/5
Impressive singing. Stylistically, it started to bore me by the second half.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
LL Cool J
4/5
Gene Clark
2/5
I dig some of the bluesy elements but overall this was not my cup of tea. It was too slow and too country for me.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Turbonegro
3/5
Joanna Newsom
5/5
Awesome folk album
Aerosmith
4/5
Starts out really strong then feels like they slowly run out of gas as the album goes on as if it were recorded live
Frank Black
3/5
X-Ray Spex
4/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Dire Straits
4/5
Smooth mix of songs. I had heard the two big hits and they are solid but the rest of the album holds up on its own
Pearl Jam
5/5
Even Flow!!! Rufememuphemereee!!
Before there was Mumble rap there was Mumble Rock and it was amazing. Love me some Pearl Jam
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Bob Dylan
2/5
3/5
Jane's Addiction
4/5
Terence Trent D'Arby
3/5
Eagles
3/5
I was honestly expecting better. The first two songs are masterclasses in song making. Take it Easy and Witchy Woman have such chill vibes, great instrumentation, and catchy choruses. But the rest of the album is pretty forgettable.
Skunk Anansie
4/5
The Youngbloods
3/5
This is one of those albums that is pleasant to listen to but doesn't really stick with you. The blend a handful of genres in an intriguing way and manage to prevent them from clashing with each other. That being said, it's really easy to let Elephant Mountain fade into background music.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Hugh Masekela
4/5
50 Cent
5/5
I was expecting this one to have aged poorly like some of the other hip hop hits from this time but nah, bangers front to back.
Solange
5/5
Doves
2/5
The Last Broadcast has a grandiose feel to it but the songs don't really live up to the weight. It's a very slow and forgettable album that sort of just drags on.
Sheryl Crow
1/5
Roxy Music
2/5
Pere Ubu
1/5
I respect the artist putting out something unique. But it also needs to be digestible. The Modern Dance just has too many random sounds with no rhythms. Congrats to anybody who actually managed to dance to this album.
Tim Buckley
3/5
Pleasant enough. There are a few high notes that are grating when Buckley hits them. I like the overall folky vibes though.
Manu Chao
4/5
Leonard Cohen
1/5
Cohen's voice has so much potential for some high quality music but his singing style feels so uninspired and there's not much going on if you take the vocals out.
Radiohead
5/5
Prince
3/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Fred Neil
3/5
Very eclectic album. I don't know how often I will revisit Fred Neil but I enjoyed the instrumentation.
The Yardbirds
5/5
What a gem to pull out of the generator today. This album has it all: a unique sound, multiple instruments shining, catchy choruses, and meaningful messaging.
Tom Waits
3/5
Great album to receive in October. The moments where it gets too singy lose me because Waits voice is not easy to listen to. But I loved the percussion instrumentation on the faster cuts. The opening track Earth Died Screaming was my favorite.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
The Young Gods
1/5
Stan Getz
3/5
Fugazi
3/5
Nico
1/5
rough
Kelela
2/5
I'm struggling to see the significance of this album. It's an r&b edm fusion. The mix is not bad to listen to but it doesn't feel particularly unique or profound.
Joy Division
3/5
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Light funk album featuring some good vibes. I don't know how long There's A Riot Goin' On will stick with me but it was a nice listen for today.
Everything But The Girl
5/5
If you liked this check out Japanese City Pop. Same vibes
Cee Lo Green
3/5
Really surprised by this album. The beats and features are great and CeeLo has got bars!
If I like this album, does that make me crazzzy?
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
Iron Maiden
5/5
There's so much to rave about this album. Between vivid demonic the lyrical themes, the crisp guitar, and impress drums, The Number of The Beast comes close to an 80s metal masterpiece. I will say I am not the biggest fan of Dickenson's vocals but it's easy to overlook with how bright the rest of the components shine here.
Moby Grape
3/5
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Muddy Waters
5/5
Grateful Dead
2/5
This a lot more listenable than the first Grateful Dead album I got but that was a low bar. This album is just a collection of live freestyle jamming. Which sounds interesting if only the music itself was actually interesting. It feels like everyone is doing their own thing and none of it is particularly exciting
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Screaming Trees
2/5
M.I.A.
3/5
Silver Jews
1/5
The Zutons
4/5
Tom Waits
3/5
I think Tom Waits has got to be an acquired taste because this is my 3rd or 4th album of his and I've grown to like/tolerate his style a little bit more each time. It's one of a kind. It's dark imagery and lyricism with a silly cartoonish delivery.
Elton John
4/5
Nas
5/5
One of the most influential rap albums ever made that came out on my born year. Illmatic is a classic. It balances clean east coast boom bap beats, themes of life on the streets of Queens, and strong flow/delivery from Nas and company.
This album comes from an era of hip-hop where albums were bloated with skits and misogynistic lyrics. See The Notorious B.I.G's album Ready to Die, which came out later that year for example. Illmatic largely manages to push the genre away from reliance on those things which imo drag down some of the classics from this time period. It also pushes the boundaries in terms of rhyme scheme composition where each bar has multiple internal rhymes. This was one of the first (if not the first) rap albums with a collection of high level producers who competed against each other to create the best beats and you can feel it in the quality of the beats. This is a trend that many following rappers would adopt and it's commonplace today.
SAULT
3/5
Culture Club
2/5
This feels like one of those filler albums that makes the list because of a One-Hit-Wonder (Karma Chameleon). Colour By Numbers isn't bad per se, but it is certainly forgettable. All the songs sound very similar. Vocals are soft and the songs feel drawn out. I'm giving it a 2.5 rounded down.
Tortoise
4/5
The Strokes
3/5
Talking Heads
4/5
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Lightning Bolt
2/5
Take the concept of jazz then apply it to industrial rock and this is what you get. I don't know how much I enjoy listening to it. But I get it. Bonus point for being unique.
Crown of Storms was a standout track for me.
Kings of Leon
3/5
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
Pavement
3/5
Kacey Musgraves
2/5
Sounds like Taylor Swift. Maybe a little less poppy and sung a little better. But still, it's a boring sound for me.
Kings of Leon
3/5
The Specials
2/5
The reggae elements of this album drove me crazy. It just felt out of place and repetitive. Not to mention the lyricism and delivery of the vocals was pretty corny.
The Residents
2/5
This is a very weird album. I didn't find it as insufferable as the other extremely weird albums on the list. I'm going to give it a generous 3 for creativity and actually being semi enjoyable to listen to towards the end.
Soft Cell
2/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
The Sabres Of Paradise
2/5
I'm not sure who is dancing to this. Sadly misleading album title. There were actually some moments that I vibed to, especially towards the end. But in general, I didn't feel like this album was particularly significant or enjoyable. Maybe unique? But not enough to give it bonus points.
The Fall
3/5
Youssou N'Dour
3/5
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Beastie Boys
3/5
Jeff Buckley
4/5
The Prodigy
3/5
Sleater-Kinney
4/5
Stevie Wonder
5/5
1/5
The Divine Comedy
1/5
And this album is a must listen because...?
Soul II Soul
2/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
Wire
2/5
The Temptations
4/5
The Louvin Brothers
2/5
It was not bad for a country album until it started to get super preachy
The Cult
4/5
Marvin Gaye
3/5
A little too crooney for me but still respect a legend
Paul Simon
3/5
Wild Beasts
4/5
Interesting indie album. The pacing was a little slow for me at times but I liked the album as a whole.
The Stooges
5/5
So much chaotic energy funneled into 36 minutes. I loved it.
Ray Price
4/5
The instrumentation and similar cadences between songs got repetitive by the end and the intro is a little too drawn out. Despite that, I enjoyed the vocals and storytelling quite a bit.
Don McLean
3/5
How much does one timeless song carry an album. American Pie the song does a lot of heavy lifting on American Pie the album. Enough that it even carries the album name.
I think as a whole I'd give it a 3.5 but going to round down.
Dwight Yoakam
2/5
This album is like a speed boat trying to go fast with the anchor down. In this metaphor, Dwight's voice is the anchor and everything else is the speed boat. If you can somehow tune the vocals out, it's quite enjoyable. But that's a BIG "if".
The Afghan Whigs
2/5
Like a bland and chewy piece of meat. Unappetizing.
The Fall
2/5
Donovan
2/5
The Season of the Witch was fun but as a whole its a pretty slow album.
The Blue Nile
2/5
Slow and droning vocals backed by some light synth. The pacing of the album felt like it was trying to present some grandiose concept but it all honesty most of the lyrics were either intelligible or just didn't make sense. So if there was a message here, it went straight over my head.
Fleet Foxes
4/5
The Verve
3/5
Megadeth
4/5
I'm not in love with the Dave Mustain's vocal range but the drum and guitar is nutty on this album. More than makes up for it. I like the lyrical themes as well.
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
Simultaneously fun and obnoxious
Hole
3/5
Nick Drake
2/5
Vocals were pretty good but nothing that really demanded my attention. The instrumentation was forgettable at best. The pacing was slow.
Public Enemy
3/5
I want to love Public Enemy but honestly there's just too much where it's just a repetitive drum sections and there's no raps just dudes making noise. I enjoy the rapping and style. Just wish there were more bars.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
How does one review the best hip hop album of all time? This project is dense. It really requires more than a day to digest. Luckily for me, I've had this record in my rotation for a decade.
TPAB is Kendrick's first real attempt at abstract storytelling. In terms of creativity, it is leaps and bounds ahead of his previous album, Good Kid Maad City (not saying that album isn't excellent in its own right). He tells the story of his life after immediately after becoming famous through a poem. He reads a line of the poem at the start of the album. For each song he rereads the poem and adds another line. Each new line is then expanded on as it is the subject of the next song. The payoff at the end when he finishes the poem is that we learn he is reading the poem to Tupac.
The entire record is an homage to black music, history, and culture. It is not only telling Kendrick's personal story but the story of all black people. It is a true masterpiece in every sense of the word.
For anybody who is intrigued by this album but doesn't really "get it". I don't blame you because there is so much to unpack. I would recommend looking into the Dissect podcast and listening to the first season where the host breaks down each song line by line. It's a rewarding listen.
Steely Dan
5/5
Jack White
4/5
Brian Eno
4/5
A little slow at times but just the right level of weird
Bad Company
4/5
I feel like this is a classic rock sound that most everyone can agree on. Is it the boldest, most ambitious classic rock? No. For that reason, many of the songs have been drowned out over time. But it embodies everything that makes that genre enjoyable.
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Gillian Welch
1/5
Elis Regina
5/5
What a hidden gem! Regina's vocals are lovely. The band comes up with a variety of interesting arrangements that keep every song feeling fresh. The vibes are just fantastic on this thing. I don't know how the global rating isn't higher.
Dizzee Rascal
2/5
I'm torn between loving and hating this. Is it cringy or hard? Is it obnoxious or sonically pleasing? My opinion bounced back and forth as I listened through the tracks. I think if I focus on the dubstep and let the vocals fall into the background I like it. Then it's the opposite of I try to focus on the vocals/lyrics first.
I think if this was a 35-40 min album it would get 3 stars but it overstayed its welcome a bit too long.
Red Snapper
1/5
A collection of instrumental jams that are struggling to be mildly interesting. I'm not seeing the significance.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Did MJ's music warrant the insane amount of attention it got? No, I don't think so. But the same could be said for many modern day music icons at the well. So putting everything aside, the music on it's own is great in some spots and dated/forgettable in others. Rounding out to an album that's above average but not something that I feel the need to revisit beyond the hits that I'll naturally hear out in public.
The Triffids
2/5
Pink Floyd
5/5
Growing up I had heard the big tracks off this album numerous times. Another Brick in the Wall pt 2, Comfortably Numb, and Hey You. None of them really stood out to me compared to the other classic rock songs that came on those radio stations. It's kind of shocking to me that anything off this album had commercial success.
But at some point in my mid 20s I decided to listen to this album in full and it all clicked. Those songs aren't songs. They're scenes. They're scenes as part of a masterfully told story about a man who shuts himself off from the world and loses him mind/life through this isolation.
The Wall is a master class in story telling through music. The story starts at birth and we witness our main character go through all these traumatizing events including verbally abusive school teachers, an overly protective mother who causes more harm than good, and relationship troubles caused be his behavior. He builds a metaphorical wall one brick (traumatizing event) at a time. At its peak we see the main character lose himself and his soul is trying to return to his body. At this time we hear this phone call going on in his actual body that he can't respond to. We learn the main character is dead. He is buried and eaten by worms before being reborn at the end of the album which kicks off reincarnation and the album restarts.
The production is elite for the time this was released as well. The sound balancing pulls you in to the quiet moments so that it can smack you in the face with crescendos in the big moments. The transitions from song to song are perfect. So much so that the last song of the album actually bleeds back into the first. There aren't many albums that I would call perfect but this is one of them.
Grizzly Bear
2/5
Pretty forgettable indie rock. Pleasant enough for background music but it's too long.
Peter Frampton
3/5
Some classic songs on here. Frampton can shred and in its worst moments, this album is still solid. Minus one star for it being a live album though.
Beach House
2/5
Christina Aguilera
2/5
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
2/5
Didn't have enough Bob Dylan on the list. Gotta get some Bob Dylan derivatives in there too. zzz
Alanis Morissette
4/5
My first impression was recognizing You Outta Know as the karaoke song Kevin sang at Jim's house party in the second season of the office. Great deep cut there that amplifies the joke of Kevin singing that song just a little bit. This album feels very 90's in a good way.
The only song I can truly say that I knew going in was Ironic and it's probably for a good reason as I'd say it's the strongest track. There were some blemishes. Some spots were a bit pitchy and without rhythm. Nonetheless, overall solid album.
Primal Scream
4/5
I definitely need to revisit this album on better speakers (had to just use my phone speaker today). But regardless, it was an interesting edm mix. I think they really capture the "primal scream" name. Lots of weird sounds that feel like they were pulled from nature. I appreciate the uniqueness of this album because I feel like a lot of edm gets stale quick and this one really held my attention the whole way through.
The Band
2/5
This album feels very middle of the road. The arrangements are interesting enough to hold my attention but not enough to grow fondly of. The vocal performance feels like he's giving it everything he's got but still coming across flat. I can see some appeal here but it feels pretty forgettable to me.
Wilco
2/5
Teetering back and forth between being too boring to care about and being just interesting/artsy enough. Either way, I was not very impressed.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
I appreciate the energy but I grew tired of this trip hop about half way through
The Streets
2/5
This is such a goofball of an album. At face value it's really not good. The storytelling is alright but the story itself is so dumb. The singing is very cringy with no pitch or vocal range. The rapping has no rhythm/flow, feels off beat most of the time.
All of that negativity being said, this album does have a layer of charm to it. Something about that dry British humor. And I can't even tell if it is meant to be humorous or not. It just is. So for that, it gets one bonus star.
Boards of Canada
3/5
I learned about a new genre today, IDM (intellectual dance music). I think this would be hard to dance to to be fair. Maybe I'm just not smart enough. Anyways, it was a chill album. I always appreciate electronic music that doesn't sound like the same thing over and over again. There's a pretty varied mix of sounds. Didn't even feel like it was over an hour long.
FKA twigs
4/5
Nice avant pop album. Not as obnoxious with its heavy singing elements as I would normally find this style of music.
Aimee Mann
1/5
Not really enjoying Aimee's vocals. There are some lovely instrumental arrangements but honestly, Aimee's voice drowns a lot of them out. But ya know, Whatever.
The Specials
3/5
The longer this album went on, the more it grew on me. I went from thinking the whole thing was bollocks to finding some moments I really enjoyed. The sound styles varry pretty greatly. There's some ska which gets old but there's also a handful of catchy choruses and at least one nice keyboard solo. So I'm settling on a generous 3.
Hüsker Dü
2/5
Quite the bloated alternative rock record. Honestly nothing really stood out to me here other than annoying vocals. I'm imagining the only reason this was significant enough to make the list is this album's young age relative to the age of this style of music. It's a very 90's sound. The problem with that is I can point to dozens of albums that sound similar but with better production, vocals, and whatnot. Overall, pretty underwhelming.
Thundercat
4/5
A fun album although the back half sort of drags on. Definitely some fat that could have been cut. I love the funky bass grooves. They make most of Drunk's shortcomings forgivable. The soft vocals are pretty enjoyable most of the way through as well. The lyrics are kind of goofy sometimes but that doesn't bother me too much.
Green Day
5/5
Classic punk album. In Green Day's breakout album their assertive criticism of America and its people became the rallying cry for anti establishment groups. Green Day set the standard for what a true punk album is supposed to stand for and sound like. Loved it.