1001 Albums Summary

What often makes the music called proto-punk different from its evolved form is the blend of 60's rock, by then frequently called pop music, and aggressive, distorted instrumentals that, while exciting and innovating, somehow fit in seamlessly with the styles of the era. This album has pretty good examples of that.

With its unmistakable sound, Ramones (1976) is a highly influential and iconic record. The album helped to consolidate and simplify a new, emerging form of musical expression known as punk rock. The straightforward structure influenced the whole genre, as well as other genres that borrowed from punk. However, its consistency may also be its biggest flaw: it gets pretty repetitive, due to the lack of experimentation. The most popular songs, in general, are the ones with an exciting, catchy pop feel and instrumental dynamics that change things up just the right amount.

I expected greatness, knowing this is Sam Cooke but, somehow, it was even better than I could imagine. It's his powerful, moving voice, matched with showmanship and energy, that makes this a thrilling and immersive performance. Doesn't hurt that the record contains some of his best songs. Had a blast with this one.

While sounding fairly different, Big Boi and Andre 3000's solo ventures being released together was certainly no mistake. The experience is eclectic enough to keep listeners entertained through its duration of over two hours, but still has a hip-hop essence that ties it together and makes it enjoyable for its core audience. Predictably, it's an inconsistent record, but the dynamic between the 40 songs in total keeps it from ever getting boring.

What better way to revitalize punk - decades after its birth - than to make it even more personal and pop-oriented than it ever was? In a time when grunge was declining in popularity, especially after Kurt Cobain's suicide, rock was losing space in the mainstream. Green Day was one of the bands to fill that void. With catchy melodies and instrumentals, Dookie rarely has a dull moment, and its lyrics spoke clearly to their generation.

An exotic, beautiful and haunting trip through the mind of a musical genius coming to terms with his own death, ★ is an essential album to any Bowie fan. In face of extreme adversity, David Bowie managed to succeed in originality, sofistication and emotion in nearly every song. Truly a powerful statement to end a legendary career.