Journey in Progress
Discovering music one album at a time
423
Albums Rated
2.9
Avg Rating
35
5-Star Albums
39%
Complete
666 albums remaining
Rating Speed
3.8
Per Week
771
Days Active
Reviews
399
Written
94%
Review Rate
vs Global
-0.4
Avg Diff
2.9
Avg Rating
Rating Distribution
How you rate albums
Rating Timeline
Average rating over time
Ratings by Decade
Which era do you prefer?
Activity by Day
When do you listen?
Taste Profile
1960s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Harsh
Rater Style
20
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
Genre Preferences
Ratings by genre
Origin Preferences
Ratings by country
Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Rock Opera | 5 | 2.82 | +2.18 |
| Rum Sodomy & The Lash | 5 | 3.25 | +1.75 |
| On The Beach | 5 | 3.47 | +1.53 |
| Paul's Boutique | 5 | 3.47 | +1.53 |
| Power In Numbers | 5 | 3.48 | +1.52 |
| Violent Femmes | 5 | 3.5 | +1.5 |
| Straight Outta Compton | 5 | 3.51 | +1.49 |
| Exile On Main Street | 5 | 3.61 | +1.39 |
| To Pimp A Butterfly | 5 | 3.61 | +1.39 |
| Beggars Banquet | 5 | 3.63 | +1.37 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweet Baby James | 1 | 3.24 | -2.24 |
| Deloused in the Comatorium | 1 | 3.2 | -2.2 |
| Close To You | 1 | 3.11 | -2.11 |
| Music For The Jilted Generation | 1 | 3.07 | -2.07 |
| Tom Tom Club | 1 | 3.02 | -2.02 |
| Deserter's Songs | 1 | 3.02 | -2.02 |
| Future Days | 1 | 3.01 | -2.01 |
| Music From The Penguin Cafe | 1 | 3 | -2 |
| A Night At The Opera | 2 | 3.96 | -1.96 |
| Paris 1919 | 1 | 2.95 | -1.95 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and high weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Rolling Stones | 5 | 4.6 | 4 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Neil Young | 4 | 4.5 | 3.86 |
| Bob Dylan | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Radiohead | 5 | 4.2 | 3.75 |
| Beatles | 4 | 4.25 | 3.71 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and low weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can | 2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
| Madonna | 2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
5-Star Albums (35)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
The Byrds
2/5
Sounded more like a parody of a country album than the pioneering country rock album it was (according Wikipedia) but it sounds like they took a huge career risk to make it so I respect that.
3 likes
U2
2/5
I’ve always thought U2 was an overly self serious band who people who don’t really like music say is their favourite band. This album didn’t do anything to disabuse me of that opinion, but I can’t say I hated it. I haven’t totally closed my mind to the possibility that I might like one of U2s albums but it’s not this one. 2.3
2 likes
Ray Charles
2/5
Didn’t do much for me, honestly. Ray sounded good and the band sounded good, just seemed like pretty generic 50’s big band stuff to me.
1 likes
Arcade Fire
3/5
AF is too pretentious for me to be a big fan but I do appreciate the effort they put into making whole albums. This isn’t my favourite but it gets better as it goes along and “keep the car running”is a banger
1 likes
Drive-By Truckers
5/5
A lot of my favourite albums/movies/tv shows are ones that feel disctintive to a time and place and culture. In addition to being just a flat out awesome rock album, the album transports you to the late 90s/early 00s rural south. I feel like I’m drinking a beer in a field somewhere with a bunch of dudes with Skynard sleeveless shirts. It helps when you have Cooley and Hood writing all the songs too.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (20)
All Ratings
Living Colour
2/5
Sounds like the corniest hip hop group of all time really got into Jane’s addiction. Great Tony Hawk Pro Skater music, will probably never listen to the album again. 2.5/5
Green Day
2/5
These guys were more subversive when they wrote songs about jerking off.
The Louvin Brothers
3/5
Not exactly musically adventurous but enjoyed the super dark lyrics juxtaposed with the cheery delivery. Era adjusted 3/5
Radiohead
5/5
Pretty, pretty good. Forgot how hard Johnny Greenwood goes on this album. Hall of famer and no doubter 5 stars in the opinion of this pig, in a cage, on antibiotics.
Coldplay
3/5
This sucked a lot less than I expected.
Metallica
2/5
Not really a Metallica guy
Orange Juice
1/5
They should’ve limited it to 1000 albums
Pink Floyd
4/5
Iron Maiden
3/5
I feel like a traitor to my culture not knowing a damn thing about metal, but I have to say this album was surprisingly enjoyable. Love Jack Black’s vocals, album rips from beginning to end.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Probably could’ve been 5 stars if it was a little shorter. A masterclass in stealing black music, extra points for making me feel like I’m in a Scorsese movie
Fela Kuti
2/5
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
I don’t read anything about these until I listen to them so maybe this a groundbreaking satire and was incredibly biting in 1966, but it doesn’t hold up for me in 2023.
John Cale
1/5
If it’s going to sound this bad, I would at least expect better lyrics than “Andalucia when can I see ya”. At least it was short
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Billy Joel
4/5
A bit cheesy at times but overall a pretty classic album. Actually feels like a connected album all the way through.
Arrested Development
3/5
Thought I was going to like this more. Running up to a 3 based on Tennessee and to a lesser extent Mr Wendel
The Strokes
5/5
Somehow this album makes New York in 2001 sounds 100x cooler than Billy Joel made 1977 New York sound which is impossible.
Went into it planning to give it a 4 but enjoyed my drive to work so much I missed my turn. Extra points for this being Henry’s favourite album when he was 3.
Jurassic 5
5/5
Shocked this made the list! Wore this cd out driving around in David Berry’s turquoise Pontiac Sunfire.
4/5 on merit (One of Them was a skip then and still is) but when you’re 17 and eating a whopper riding shotgun around Sherwood Park with nowhere to go it’s a 13/5 so I’ll average it out to a 5.
Adele
3/5
She really misses that guy apparently. Her voice really is pretty incredible, wasn’t as slow as I thought it would be.
Sufjan Stevens
2/5
Only made it halfway through, I feel like if Iistened to it a few times maybe I’d get it but I didn’t have the patience. Default 2
Basement Jaxx
2/5
Nothing but 15 twink anthems. I can see why someone would like this album but I am not that person.
Judas Priest
3/5
I haven’t really listened to these old metal albums before and I can’t tell if they’re supposed to be somewhat cheesy or if it’s just that they’re 30-40 years old but I have trouble taking them seriously. Still pretty fun though, guitars sound great.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
This was a big disc man album for me when it came out. Doesn’t totally hold up, but I’ll round it up from a 3.6
Elbow
3/5
Had never heard of it, seemed Ok on the first listen.
Dr. Octagon
2/5
A+ production, C- vocals. Kool Keith takes the theme way too seriously and his rap style still sounds like it’s 1988. Couldn’t stop thinking about how much better this album would’ve been if MF Doom did it
Beastie Boys
4/5
Whenever I come back to this album I expect it to sound old or something only 20 year old me would like but it holds up so damn well. Whatever magic Rick Rubin puts into 3 jewish kids screaming absurd lyrics over a drum machine and guitar samples still fucking works somehow. Rounding down from 4.4
Iron Butterfly
2/5
Some real 60s shit, I think I needed to be in LSD. The first 5 songs are a complete waste of time, but in-a-Gadda is a classic though so I’ll round to 2 stars.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Any album with a tribute song to an architect is an automatic 4+
Black Sabbath
3/5
Kinda reminds me of Eric B and Rakim/Run DMC era rap, you can hear all the elements of something new, but a primitive and not fully formed version of the genre yet. Ozzy’s vocals sounds awesome too.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Neil Young
4/5
Back to back Hemmer Hall of Fame albums.
Happy Mondays
2/5
Very much feels like an album of a specific place and time and it is no longer that time or place.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
I’ve never really been a huge Hendrix guy and expected to give it a respectful 3 stars but the further I got into the album the more I appreciated it. Kind of sounds like it was recorded on a tape recorder in Jimi’s apartment though, surprised there isn’t a remastered version where we could hear the guitars a little clearer.
2/5
I was into it for the first two songs and then the 13 minute instrumental track lost me completely.
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
Quite a run of albums without lyrics in English. I suppose this would be OK as background music, don’t get why it’s on the list.
The Cars
4/5
What a first 3 song run to start this album. Drops off a bit after that but still a solid 4 for me.
The Smiths
3/5
Every Smiths song kinda sounds the same to me, I feel like if I listened a few more times through I’d hear the lyrics more and maybe bump to a 4 but I found it drifting into background music too much
Pere Ubu
2/5
Not what I expected given the album cover/title! Proud of myself for making it all the way through whatever this is supposed to be. There are parts of it that I liked, but mostly unlistenable.
Hard to rate considering it’s not trying to be good in any conventional way. Rounding up to a 2, giving extra credit for making an album filled with breaking bottles and high pitched squealing sounds (bagpipes? recorder?!) making a list like this 50 years after it was made
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
Jerry Lee is absolutely on fire, probably would’ve been more interesting if they kept more of the set on the album rather than cut it to 22 minutes.
I dont think I can give more than 3 stars to essentially a 20 min live cover album but it sure was fun.
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Back with another one of those block rockin beats! This album feels like it’s the background music for an hour long fight scene in the Matrix: Reloaded.
That’s certainly not a compliment but not totally an indictment either. 2 stars
Public Enemy
3/5
I’ve tried a couple times but never really gotten into PE. Chuck D has a great voice but is only an OK lyricist and Flavour Flav kind of sucks, but I think it’s mostly the production that I don’t like. NY rap is 2 or 3 years away from golden era Primo/Rza/Pete Rock beats and the bomb squad doesn’t quite measure up.
Black Steel in the hour of Chaos was the highlight for me, and of course tons of credit for the influence on conscious rap in the decades to come.
Bob Dylan
5/5
If not the best Dylan album at least in the top 3. Easy 5 star decision despite having to suffer through 7:46 of Idiot Wind.
Jacques Brel
1/5
The French Frank Sinatra I guess? I few too many selections from the HMV “World Music” section for my liking
Johnny Cash
5/5
May have been worth doing a stint at Folsom to witness this.
The tension in the room really comes through with the crowd and how he interacts with them. Even the announcements and interruptions add to it. I feel like Johnny could’ve started a riot any time he wanted. Sounds great for recording in a prison in the 60s too.
Pere Ubu
2/5
These guys fucking love Pere Ubu
The Bees
3/5
Was vaguely aware of the bees but hadn’t hear this album. Pretty good.
Foo Fighters
3/5
I don’t think the best Foo Fighters album but they have a really high floor.
Impressive that this is all Dave Grohl (plays all instruments). Maybe I’m just older and lamer or maybe it’s because rock music is so different now but FF seemed kinda generic and boring in the mid/late nineties but they sound awesome to me now. High 3 stars
Carole King
4/5
Banger after banger, hadn’t heard this before and didn’t realize how many hits/covers came from this album
Joan Armatrading
2/5
Sounds like an unpaid act at a coffee shop. Made it 4 songs in. Rounding up from 1.7
Everything But The Girl
2/5
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
4/5
Pretty high degree of difficulty to make a concept album this weird and keep the narrative coherent while somehow also filling it with catchy, radio friendly songs.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
Loooong album, more up’s and downs than I remembered. Highs are really good though, there’s a 4.5 star 13 track version of this album but the “Mellowship Slinky in B minor”s bring it down to a 3 for me.
Nick Drake
2/5
Got bored after a few songs
Sinead O'Connor
2/5
Sinead must have been fun at parties. Had its moments but was a slog for the most part.
Joy Division
3/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Pretty awesome actually. I had only listened to Melancholy before front to back and kind of thought it was more of a singles album with a lot of filler but this was the opposite, I liked the deeper cuts better than the singles that made the radio.
Charles Mingus
3/5
Not a big Jazz guy but enjoyed this thoroughly
Willie Nelson
4/5
Pulls off the country concept album!
Barry Adamson
1/5
Is this a soundtrack to something? Cannot fathom why it is on this list
AC/DC
3/5
Every song is the same but who cares, this album is a hell of a lot of fun. 3.4
Jack White
3/5
The best solo Jack White album still isn’t as good as the worst White Stripes Album.
The Band
3/5
Cripple Creek is still a banger, the rest is fine. 2.9
Santana
2/5
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Sappy Stevie is not my favourite but Superstition is one of the greatest songs of all time so that alone brings it up by a star.
Culture Club
2/5
Was worried this would be a one track album and boy were my concerns validated. I’m it’s better moments it’s a little Prince adjacent (I liked miss me blind) but overall it’s just shitty, sappy, surprisingly political pop.
Radiohead
4/5
Definitely a second tier Radiohead album but that’s still a pretty high floor
The Roots
3/5
Probably the 3rd best Roots album, surprised it’s on the list but really enjoyed revisiting it, I listened to it a ton when I got the CD when it came out but hardly at all since then. Thought is incredible and somehow is just as good (maybe better?) today. Somewhere between a 3 and a 4 for me
Neil Young
5/5
First time I’ve ever listened to this one, thought it was great.
Fats Domino
2/5
Blueberry hill is really all you need to listen to
Brian Eno
2/5
Sounds like the soundtrack to a Kubrick movie. I’m not sure if this is weird/brilliant or just weird/dumb. I few like if I listened to it 4 or 5 times through I might end up loving it or thinking it sucks so I’ll split the difference for now. 2.4
The Stooges
3/5
Probably will not listen to again but a 3 out of respect
The Rolling Stones
5/5
The rare successful double album! Maybe not the best stones album but definitely the one that feels the most cohesive. Keith said that their ambition was to be the greatest blues band in the world and this album feels like the best possible version of that. Add that it was recorded in a mansion on a canal (Main Street) in France while dodging tax/drug charges from the British government (exile) adds to the whole experience
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Several songs that I thought were on this album are actually on BOTW. I’m not sure I needed a 2 min track of old people talking but it still had its high points (America, Mrs Robinson, Hazy Shade….I even like the zoo song). 3.4
Hookworms
3/5
Hadn’t heard of the band before, after the first 30 seconds of the first song I thought we were headed to 1-star territory but it totally redeemed itself the more I listened. Had the stereo turned all the way up, might keep it on rotation in the car for the weekend. 3.0 on the nose.
James Taylor
1/5
What a fraud. The best parts are when he’s pretending to be a poor white kid from the country instead of a prep school kid from Boston. The worst parts are when he’s trying to sound like Robert Johnson, it’s musical black face. Fuck you James Taylor
Meat Loaf
2/5
Reminds me of that puppet vampire rock opera in Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Elvis Costello
3/5
At times I was into it, at other times the poor production, amateur musicianship, and Elvis’ singing style was more grating than charming. 2.6
Nirvana
5/5
I’d heard/seen bits and pieces of this album before but never listened or watched it all the way through. Lives up to its classic status, Cobain’s talent/charisma/intensity is undeniable. Need to go watch it now.
Holger Czukay
1/5
Listened to about 45 seconds of the first 2 songs and turned it off. Apologies to Holger if it got better and I missed it.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
Dr Dre is the most important artist of the last 50 years in my opinion and he’s in his prime on this one.
Beats are an 11/10, snoop’s in his bag and the album starts incredibly strong but tails off a bit towards the end and most of the features are mediocre (except the incomparable Nate Dogg of course).
Also the height of skits in rap albums which take more off the table than they add.
4.2/5
Steely Dan
2/5
Steely Dan seems to have developed some sort of cult hipster following in recent years so I thought this might be sneaky good, but it just seems mediocre to me.
Ghostface Killah
3/5
I had given up on Wutang adjacent albums by the 2000s so I missed this one. Mistake on my part, not a perfect album but it might be the only successful former wu member to have an album still retain some of the RZA sound but evolve to other producers (helps when you work with Just Blaze, Pete Rock, Dilla, Doom). 3.4
Syd Barrett
2/5
Michael Kiwanuka
3/5
Completely new to me. Dull in parts in my opinion but overall pretty cool
The Go-Go's
2/5
Like a middle aged music critic I found myself nostalgic for guitar driven pop music. All the songs are kind of the same and various degrees of catchiness. Our lips are sealed holds up
Steely Dan
2/5
Liked this one better than the last Steely Dan album, but I might just not be a Steely Dan guy. 2.4
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
I know this is a beloved album, but do they really Iove it or are they just trying to look cool? There certainly is a beauty to the distortion/wall of sound feel to it but 50 minutes of it is too much for me. I’d like to understand at least a couple words or on some songs even melody of some kind. Maybe if I was on the right drugs this album would be life changing but sober on the drive to work it’s a concept that doesn’t work for me.
Fleetwood Mac
2/5
Glad they gave us the weekend for this album as it’s a long one. Tough to follow up Rumours and suffers from what you’d expect, bloated album that sounds disjointed. Sounds more like each band member is taking turns writing songs than a band, which I guess is the interesting part of the album as the band breaks apart. I like Tusk the song a lot better than Tusk the album.
Beastie Boys
3/5
This album and check your head are blended together in my head as a good but not great Beastie period. Prefer the beasties hip hopping more than rocking. 3.4
David Bowie
3/5
Certainly not the best Bowie concept album (are they all concept albums?) but I enjoyed it for the most part.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
It sounds like a mash up album where they took Cohen’s vocals and laid them over some random synth backing tracks and back up singers. It kinda works sometimes but even when it doesn’t it’s at least kind of funny (Jazz police)
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
Best Finnish Glam rock album of all time?
The Killers
3/5
Have never been a oilers fan but I have to admit there are a lot of hits on this album
Sarah Vaughan
2/5
Great voice but it didn’t do much for me.
Tortoise
1/5
Forcing Alicia to listen to these on vacation. Her review: “Sounds like music from a coffee shop with a bunch of random noises mixed in”
Joy Division
3/5
Maybe a 4, need a relisten.
Michael Jackson
5/5
If not the GOAT pop album, certainly in the conversation. 40 years later and half the album would be hit singles. Some weak spots but it feels weird to give Thriller anything less than 5 stars
Portishead
3/5
1994 was the peak of rap production in my opinion so I’m a sucker for the beats on this album, though I’d much rather hear the Pharcyde rap over them than this girl sing over them.
Def Leppard
2/5
Is this the worst music the world has ever produced or do I just need to lighten up and have some fun? This was the debate I had with myself while listening to this album.
If AC/DC is a cold beer at BPs, Def Leppard is the warm Lucky lager at the bottom of your hockey bag that under the right circumstances might make you say “that wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be”
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
1/5
Stones. Beatles. Zeppelin. Penguin Cafe Orchestra. Not necessarily in that order
Radiohead
5/5
One of the best albums of the 21st century. Themes of technology induced anxiety have aged incredibly well, everything in its right place is the best RH song in my opinion.
Listened to OK computer again right after to compare, not sure which one is best but they have more in common tonally than I think most people think, just OK has more guitars and slightly more traditional song structure. Easy 5 stars
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
More good Neil on the list. Halfway through the album I was getting a little tired of it all being acoustic, then Neil went electric just when we needed it.
The Black Keys
4/5
If the ultimate measure of an album is how many whiskey commercials it’s featured in, this would be the GOAT.
While obviously the most successful Black Keys album, I’ve never thought it was the best but maybe that’s just me trying to go against the grain. Hit after hit for the first 6 or 7 songs and while it goes a little long it’s pretty solid all the way through.
Malcolm McLaren
2/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
I was worried I was going to hate this album and offend Mitsy with a bad review, fortunately it’s pretty fucking awesome on the first listen. Hiding all the way the standout track in my opinion
Hole
3/5
The Rolling Stones
5/5
My favourite Stones album and my favourite Beatles album in the same week. My favourite version of the stones is when they’ve got the country blues/southern rock lean to them and there’s a lot of that on this album. Even if all the middle was shit (it’s absolutely not shit) I might give it 5 stars for starting with Gimme Shelter and ending with You can’t always get what you want.
Billy Bragg
4/5
3.7. Can’t go wrong with Billy Bragg
Beatles
5/5
The run of great Friday albums continues. This is the best Beatles album in my opinion. It should feel disjointed given they were basically taking turns writing their own songs but they all work together somehow. I even like Maxwell’s silver hammer.
The Beach Boys
3/5
I waffled between thinking this is saccharine bullshit and the melancholy Brian Wilson songwriting classic it’s supposed to be. I think I need a few more listens to decide whether to bump this to a 4 or down to a 2.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Solid 3
Paul Revere & The Raiders
2/5
2.4 - certainly preferred to the psychedelic rock that was going on at the time but nothing particularly stood out good or bad for me
Arcade Fire
3/5
AF is too pretentious for me to be a big fan but I do appreciate the effort they put into making whole albums. This isn’t my favourite but it gets better as it goes along and “keep the car running”is a banger
Parliament
4/5
Would be a 3 for me on its own merit (unfunky UFO is the best song I hadn’t heard before) but the fact that most songs are sampled in 90s hip hop songs bumps it up. Is Dr Dre’s career even possible without Parliament?
Tom Waits
3/5
Inconsistent but it certainly has its moments (clap your hands, gun street girl, union square). At its low points it sounds like the bad guys’ theme in a Tim Burton cartoon, which really isn’t that bad.
U2
2/5
I’ve always thought U2 was an overly self serious band who people who don’t really like music say is their favourite band. This album didn’t do anything to disabuse me of that opinion, but I can’t say I hated it. I haven’t totally closed my mind to the possibility that I might like one of U2s albums but it’s not this one. 2.3
Rush
2/5
Impressive musicianship but doesn’t really do it for me.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Every Zeppelin album is such a good time. I thought this was my least favourite of the first 4 going into it but it may have jumped up the list. The 3 song stretch of Heartbreaker, Living Loving Maid, and Ramble On is as good as it gets.
Drive-By Truckers
5/5
A lot of my favourite albums/movies/tv shows are ones that feel disctintive to a time and place and culture. In addition to being just a flat out awesome rock album, the album transports you to the late 90s/early 00s rural south. I feel like I’m drinking a beer in a field somewhere with a bunch of dudes with Skynard sleeveless shirts. It helps when you have Cooley and Hood writing all the songs too.
Pixies
4/5
Killing Joke
2/5
Seemed fine, wasn’t in the mood for it and lasted 3.5 songs
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
Less of a one song album than I anticipated but it’s hard for me to get into any all instrumental album 2.8
Talking Heads
4/5
A lot of my 4 star albums are ones that I really like but they aren’t inventive/influential enough to be true 5 star albums (this is it by the strokes for example). This album is kind of the opposite. I think I like the idea of the Talking Heads more than I actually like the music. I can see why this would be someone’s favourite album but even though I like it, I’m not sure how many times I’d actually put this on to listen to. Highs are still really high though, I’m gonna go 3.6 and round up.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Interesting enough. Found the first half better than the second for the most part. Thought it was at its worst when it was overtly political or sentimental (we get it on Family Snapshot, you miss your Dad). Sonically sometimes the “experimental” stuff worked for me and other times is was too sparse or disjointed. 2.7
Lou Reed
3/5
I haven’t spent much time listening to Lou Reed in the past, but enjoyed this one on the first listen. Almost feels like beat poetry put to music at times, which sounds terrible but it works with Reed’s voice and lyrics (Reed’s storytelling is excellent) and the spare production. The album sounds like it could’ve been produced by Rick Rubin in a different generation.
I feel like an easy marker lately but a 3.8 for me.
TV On The Radio
3/5
Depeche Mode
2/5
Not exactly in my wheelhouse, but Personal Jesus is still a banger.
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
Much prefer the debut album, classic double album that’s too ambitious in my opinion. 2.6
Ramones
2/5
I know the simplicity of the songs is the point but 50 years later it’s no longer novel or edgy, it’s mostly just monotonous and boring. Obviously hugely influential and I like the one song, just not 14 times in a row. 2.2
Slipknot
2/5
Not for me and I only made it a few songs in but I actually appreciated it more than I thought I would.
Taylor Swift
3/5
First time I’d listened to a Taylor Swift album. Not sure if this is considered her best one or not but overall I thought it was a pretty serviceable pop album. I can see where she gets the reputation as being disingenuous, the overall theme of the album seems to be “I’m a relatable hot mess” from the most prolific and successful pop star of her generation. Shake it off had me turn the volume up as always.
Deep Purple
2/5
The great Tokyo wankfest of ‘72. The songs are fine, band sounds good, and the crowd is clearly into it but it’s 70% mastubatory solos that I mostly fast forwarded through. 1.8
Can
2/5
Erykah Badu
2/5
At its best, sounds a lot like D’Angelo’s brown sugar (didn’t change know, my life). Lost me when the songs were more about the vocals or the lyrics than the music. Turned a couple up but then skipped a bunch. 2.2
N.W.A.
5/5
Most attention (for good reason) was paid to the lyrics when it came out but 40 yrs later it’s the production that stands out. The Dre beats are light years ahead of the simple drum machine production you hear in all the late 80s east coast rap and this album starts him on a path to be the most influential musician of his generation (in my opinion). Also Ice Cube is really the only good rapper in the group and he’s absolutely shot out of a cannon on this album. No doubter 5 stars
GZA
4/5
Your favourite rapper’s favourite Wutang member. Probably the best of the debut Wu solo efforts (and probably the closest to 36 chambers in tone). A few bangers that are as good as anything from the Wu (duel of the iron mic, 4th chamber, shadow boxin), but on some of the tracks Gia’s subdued (albeit technically brilliant) rapping doesn’t pop like it does when contrasted with the other members of the clan.
Donald Fagen
2/5
Billy Joel but he sucks. 1.7
CHVRCHES
2/5
I was vaguely aware of the band but in my head they had a male lead singer (maybe I was thinking Eric Church?). Decent pop album I guess, no idea what makes this album significant enough to make this list.
Lou Reed
3/5
Accidentally listened to the live version. Not sure I got it as there’s clearly some kind of narrative but I liked it anyway
Talking Heads
3/5
The take me to the river cover is a banger. The rest of the album is typical talking heads, I like the vibe but I kind of find myself passively listening or thinking of other stuff
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
My number 1 draft pick for albums to drink 1000 beers to. Alex Turner is overqualified to write songs about going out, getting drunk, and picking up girls but it’s really his lyrics that make the album special. Turner manages to capture the drunken excitement, anxiety, regret, and more than anything the absurdity of it all on songs that would’ve rocked even with the dumbest lyrics possible.
Prince
3/5
Starting off with 1999 and little red corvette is pretty strong. Hit and miss for me after that, but the hits are pretty fun
Soul II Soul
2/5
However do you want me? However do you need me? - questions that define a generation. I can’t believe I had to wade through 13 mostly forgettable songs to get to the real Back to Life version which totally holds up. I also like the horns in Jazzies’s groove, sounded like a prime De La beat.
Talking Heads
4/5
Arcade Fire
4/5
I think this is my favourite AF album. Holds the narrative and sonic structure pretty consistently and Wake Up is the best song they’ve made in my opinion. 4.1
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Kind of hilarious that the unity anthem “Everyday People” is on the same album as “Don’t call me nigger, Whitey”. These guys are just the coolest motherfuckers 3.8
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
1/5
Sick public enemy cover band. Perhaps the real “hiphopcracy” is making a painfully earnest social justice album while completely ripping off the originators of conscious hip hop.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Probably the best Stones album and my second favourite album to drink 1000 beers to. Dennis Leary has this bit where he says he wants to open a bar called O’Leary’s that only serves Budweiser and Bushmills and only plays the Stones and that’s what I think of when I listen to this album.
The Police
3/5
Slower and weirder to get going than I would’ve thought (didn’t see “Mother” coming). Looking at the track list I thought I only knew “every breath you take” but the 4 song run from “synchronicity II” to “wrapped around your finger” is pretty good and all familiar. I probably won’t be playing this all weekend but I enjoyed the first listen.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
2/5
I feel like I should’ve liked this more than I did. Kinda dull and repetitive, maybe I should’ve been smoking weed. 2.3
Skepta
3/5
I hadn’t heard of Skepta before. While it was a bit repetitive (50%+of the beats had sirens) and the skits were grating at times, I thought it was a pretty decent rap album. 2.6
Duke Ellington
3/5
I’m not going to have to time to listen to a 2hr Jazz album today but the Duke and the band obviously sound great. I like how they left all the MC parts in, it kind of just seemed like any other night at the Newport Jazz festival. I can’t imagine they thought anyone would be listening to the recording 70 years later which I think gives you a better feel for the time and place.
Fugees
5/5
Classic hip hop. Wyclef produces solid beats and is entertaining on the mic, and Pras competently fills the role of Chris Bosh to Clef and Lauryn’s Wade and Lebron but Lauryn Hill is clearly the star. L is like if Whitney Houston could rap like Andre 3000. It’s a shame we only get one more album out of her, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone in Hip Hop history with more talent.
Steely Dan
3/5
I almost skipped this one after the last 2 Steely Dan entries in this list but I’m glad I changed my mind halfway to work. Still not exactly my favourite band but I now at least understand the appeal as this album is far superior to the other two in my opinion. The 3 singles are the highlights (if you don’t sing along to Dirty Work you’re a stronger man than I) but the deep tracks were pretty solid too (Midnite cruiser being my favourite). Solid 3.3
The Who
3/5
Well executed live album but not a huge Who fan
The Byrds
2/5
Title track was catchy, otherwise forgettable in my opinion
Sam Cooke
5/5
I can think of worse ways to use a Time Machine than to go back to the Harlem Square club in 1962 to see Sam Cooke
2/5
The most 2000 album possible (he dedicates a song to Ben Stiller for fuck sakes). Limp Bizkit obviously sucks but I was trying to figure out why they were so huge.
I was in Nashville a few weeks ago and saw a version of a bar band that I’ve seen a few times now. They have a charismatic lead singer who stands on the bar and gets into it with the crowd and who flips back and forth between genres and does medleys of seemingly unrelated songs. It’s a great time in a crowded bar after 9 Coor’s banquets. This should have been Fred Durst’s career. Holding down the 10-12 Saturday slot at Blake Shelton’s bar, closing with Devil Went down to Georgia with Sweet Child of Mine thrown in the middle of it.
However, through some fucked up cosmic aligning of stars Limp Bizkit briefly became the biggest band in the world. I think what happened is they happened to catch the tail end of the era where people identified as fans of only one genre of music, but just as the internet was making it a lot easier to discover a much more diverse catalog. Limp Bizkit rips off/samples/interpolates Nine Inch Nails, Rakim, The Eagles, and even the Mission Impossible theme on this album. It (rightly) feels extremely derivative today but it was novel in 2000 and I think appealed to people who liked “life in the fast lane” but didn’t think it was cool to say so. Throw in the generic heavy guitars, even more generic “fuck the man” lyrics, and enough references to sex to make teenagers not want their parents to hear it and all of a sudden they’re selling out arenas. What a time to be alive.
Jeff Beck
3/5
I had always seen Jeff Beck mentioned in the great guitarist conversations but never really spent any time listening to him. Not much I like more than a bluesy guitar and Beck certainly delivers that here. Feels like Led Zeppelin 0 and that’s definitely a compliment.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Got into the car in a bad mood, got out in a good one.
Dire Straits
3/5
Best off just playing the first 3 songs on a loop, falls off a cliff after that. Money for nothing is a great song though and I can’t think of too many better band names than “Dire Straits”
The Stooges
4/5
I always thought Raw Power was supposed to be their classic but I liked this one better, lost me a bit near the end and a couple of the songs probably didn’t need to be 7 mins long but that’s picking nits for an album that’s pretty fucking awesome front to back.
Neil Young
4/5
I think I’ve been sleeping on Neil, another awesome album I had never even heard of.
Sister Sledge
3/5
I hope the sledge family made a fortune off of “Big Willie Style”
Elton John
4/5
Didn’t have myself pegged as an Elton fan but had a great time through most of this album (Jamaican jerk off is regrettable). Benny and the Jets is a great song and Saturday Nights alright brings me back to 90s HNIC intros
Morrissey
3/5
Morrissey does longing and desperation really well but it becomes pretty dour over a whole album. I like when “everyday is like Sunday” shows up in the right playlist but things would have to be going pretty rough for me to listen to this for an hour again.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
My first thought was it’s hilarious to pick the Dexy’s album without Come On Eileen on it but it was somewhat interesting. The album is all over the place, sometimes it felt like they were trying to be a more ska version of the clash other times it’s kind of goofy pop. I’m a sucker for the horns though
Metallica
3/5
Wanted to get into this one but I just don’t think I’m ever going to be a Metallica fan. Enter Sandman is a hall of fame opener to an album though and is worth an extra star.
The Byrds
2/5
Sounded more like a parody of a country album than the pioneering country rock album it was (according Wikipedia) but it sounds like they took a huge career risk to make it so I respect that.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
1968 must’ve been a hell of a year to go the record store. Tough to argue anyone’s ever had a better voice than Aretha, but I’m not sure if most of these songs take full advantage of it. It’s one of the rare albums that’s too short and some of the songs are under 3 mins and don’t totally feel finished.
Pink Floyd
2/5
Dark side of the moon it aint
Nirvana
5/5
Remarkable that this album follows nevermind. Usually the follow up to the breakthrough album gets softer, more commercial, or at least less angry. In Utero goes the other way but with the production and talent of the biggest band in the world. A testament to Cobain’s talent and maybe why there was never going to be a 4th album. I’ve never considered myself a nirvana fan but each time they’ve come up on this list I’ve found myself listening to and thinking about them for days afterward.
Beastie Boys
5/5
Total flop when it was released because it was so different from Licence to ill, but rightly now considered a classic. Appropriately samples from the 2nd half of Abbey Road (one of a million samples that would cost a fortune only a couple years later, but labels hadn’t caught on yet) as the whole album feels like one big medley. I’ve probably listened to the album 100 times but I’m not sure I’ve ever just put on one song, they don’t really work in their own but altogether its a one of a kind 5-mic album
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Pretty impressive for an album so late in life. I guess when your style is pretty much spoken word you can sustain it for a lifetime.
Missy Elliott
2/5
This is a Brett Knutson exclusive.
This album has aged like milk. Most glaringly (and gratingly) are the Timbo beats but Missy’s rap style too all sound extremely 2002 and I now remember why this is the worst era in rap history. Maybe 20 years ago is just old enough to seem extremely outdated, but not yet old enough to be cool again and in 10 years this will be a 4 star album but I doubt it.
ZZ Top
2/5
Is La Grange about a whorehouse? If so, pretty cool it’s been on the radio for 50 years.
Overall not overly compelling music (though I did turn it up when la grange came on). Clearly can play the he’ll out of their guitars but I found myself thinking about other stuff 90% of the time. 2.3
Miles Davis
3/5
Don’t give this enough time for a proper review
Air
2/5
Liked some of the songs that were more daft punk-esque (l’femme de argent, Kelly watch the stars) did not like the songs with vocals. 2.3
Elastica
4/5
Take out “Indian Song” and this album pretty much rocks front to back. My algorithm has failed me by never suggesting Elastica before. I was vaguely aware of them but I had them pegged as an 80s pop band but they’re a lot closer to Everclear than the Bangles
Stan Getz
3/5
Warm weather jazz, a nice accompaniment to a sunny drive to work this morning
Michael Jackson
3/5
MJ doesn’t really make albums, just collections of singles that range from greatest pop song of all time to completely irrelevant unlistenable. For me this album has a couple of the former (the way you make me feel, bad) and at least one of the latter (Liberian girl) and a lot in between. When he hits, there’s no one in pop history that hits like Mike but there were more skips than I expected. 3.4
Louis Prima
2/5
Everytime I listen to something from the 50s I’m struck by how much music changed from the 50s to the 60s
Bill Callahan
2/5
I really didn’t have to listen to that before I died.
Dusty Springfield
2/5
After Son of a Preacher Man, I just started to look for covers of that song (as I had assumed Dusty’s wasn’t the original, but it is) and I ended up listening to the Aretha version twice.
So my review of Dusty in Memphis is that Aretha Franklin is amazing.
Fairport Convention
2/5
Between the cover art and the title I had no idea what to expect. Enjoyed some moments when they got into a groove, but mostly forgettable.
Queen
2/5
I really like Killer Queen, but there’s not much else on the album that appeals to me. I think I’d like them more if Brian May didn’t have jerk off his guitar solos every time and Mercury didn’t insist on doing the same with his vocals, but being way over the top operatic is what makes them who they are I guess.
The Smiths
4/5
Some of the Smiths/Morrissey albums can feel repetitive and boring once you get a few songs in but I thought this one changes the tone/energy enough to keep it interesting. It also feels like peak Morrissey dark wit songwriting “I was only joking when I said by rights you should be bludgeoned in your bed” “if you’re so clever/entertaining/good looking why are you on your own tonight? Because tonight is just like any other night”. Will definitely come back to this one. 4.1
Incubus
3/5
I was ready to hate this. In my head I had incubus lumped in with Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit but after listening through the album that’s not really the right category for them. The tone is a lot lighter than those guys and something about the way they mix the heavy guitars and the scratching feels less forced than other rap-metal of that vintage. I likely won’t come back to it but I actually thought it was a pretty decent album
Silver Jews
3/5
As a frequent listener of the National, I’ve had some Silver Jews come across my algorithm but I’ve never paid much attention. While I’m a sucker for the non-sequitur lyrics and unpolished musicianship, I thought the album was pretty inconsistent overall. The highs were high though, I thought “Remember me” was excellent story telling. I listened to it twice back to back which is really rare for me. I haven’t looked at the discography but this sounds like the album that just precedes a really good album.
Arcade Fire
4/5
The best AF album in my opinion. Feels like they got the formula right after the previous 2 concept albums. The narrative, both lyrically and sonically, holds together pretty well. I found my mind drifting in and out in the middle of the album but there’s definitely more good than boring.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Probably would’ve been better off cutting half out side 2 out and making it a single album but pretty damn good nonetheless
The Prodigy
1/5
I didn’t have the patience to make it more than about 10 mins. The matrix was a cool movie though.
Madonna
1/5
What a fuckin mess this album is. It’s like they took every shitty trend in pop music in the year 2000, randomly mixed them together and puked out 11 songs hoping a couple of them hit.
I guess it’s interesting that an aging pop star/sex symbol tried to revive her career in such an obviously contrived and desperate way…and it actually worked. I mean the album is called “music” and had Madonna in a cowboy hat on the cover for fucks sake and ends with a horrible cover of American Pie.
Wait, maybe this is satire and I’m just getting it as I write this. If that’s the case it’s a masterpiece, if it’s a genuine attempt to make good music it’s terrible (though I kind of like Don’t tell me).
The White Stripes
3/5
Maybe the 3rd best white stripes album? To me this is the transition album from bluesy guitar Jack White to more piano driven Jack White. It feels like he’s been bored of playing guitar basically since elephant came out. This is still a good album though, just not as good as earlier White Stripes. 3.4
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
2/5
Blondie
3/5
Pretty fun straightforward guitar driven pop album. Torn between a 3 and a 4. 3.4
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
The Doors
4/5
Break on through is an all time track 1 of your debut album. Hard to go wrong with an album about drinking, sex, and death. Lost me at times with the extended instrumental sequences but overall you can certainly see why Morrison was such a legendary figure
The Who
3/5
I think the way the who emphasize the “shiiioonnn” part of the word “generation” inspired Liam Gallagher’s entire singing style.
I think I like 60s Who better than 70s who, but I don’t really like either that much
The White Stripes
4/5
This era of Jack White is on the short list of my favourite guitarists. The tone is perfect and he’s not bored by it and trying too many effects or showy solos yet. Back half not as good as the first half but a great album.
Teenage Fanclub
3/5
Nothing makes me feel like the old man yells at cloud meme like feeling nostalgic for guitar driven pop music but here we are again. I didn’t think I’d heard of these guys until I recognized “what you do to me”, just classic early 90s 3-chord formulaic pop, but dammit I like it. The album wore increasingly thin for me as it went on but I had a good time for the first 20 mins.
Ice T
2/5
Not totally sure why this is on the list, maybe the mix of rock with the Body Count introduction. Overall this sounds like your average 1991 gangster rap album. Competent enough but there are better lyrics, lyricism, and production on similar albums of that era (Ice Cube comes to mind). I liked the beat on “midnight”. 2.5
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Solid all the way through. I’ve come to appreciate Lou Reed more through this list and I found myself wanting more of him and less Nico on the album though the change of pace every few songs is nice. Late 60s NY isn’t quite as appealing to me as 70s NYC but still pretty cool.
Gorillaz
4/5
This is essentially a hip hop album and a really good one. I wish they would’ve stayed that way instead of morphing into whatever they ended up becoming. At their best when they made this group as kind of a joke and used the defaults on the drum machine to make the beats (the Clint Eastwood beat is literally setting one on the drum machine they had).
Frank Ocean
3/5
I know this album (and blonde) are considered masterpieces by a lot of people, but I’ve given this album a couple chances and while there are interesting pieces ot all doesn’t come together for me. Super Rich kids is a standout and any song with an Andre feature always works. 3.3
Tom Tom Club
1/5
Most of this album sounds like that episode of Friends when Ross plays the keyboard. When I saw “Under the Boardwalk” at the end of the track listing I was expecting it would be an awful cover and it was worse than I feared. Not even “love genius” inspiring Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy” (certified banger) could push this album to a 2 for me.
David Bowie
3/5
So much Bowie on this list. Impressive late in life album, obviously not at top of his catalog but a high 3
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
I’ve never really listened to NIN before and my first impression is that this is a pretty impressive album. It’s not exactly an easy listen and I’m not sure what is happening 80% of the time but I think if I listened to it a few times over I might appreciate it more. 3 for me,
but I could see it higher for a lot of people
Nick Drake
2/5
This was fine, liked it better than the last Nick Drake album on this list.
Got bored halfway through and went back to the NIN album again, which I didn’t think I would do but it’s really an incredible album the more I listen to it. It’s like if Slipknot added Johnny Greenwood to the band and they’d been listening to a lot of INXS while they wrote it. A million different things going on sonically that I won’t pretend I understand, but it’s easily the most interesting album that I’ve ever heard that has this much metal influence. Ruiner is a standout for me (that Skynard-esque solo is awesome) and Hurt. It’s kind of weird that the Johnny Cash cover (which is really good) has almost become bigger than the original because it’s a remarkable song in its own right. Upgrade to 4 stars, probably will never get to 5 for me given how challenging of a listen this is but you never know.
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
I’ve tried to get into Dinosaur Jr a few times as they seem like a band I would really like but I’m always a little underwhelmed listening through the whole album. I think I like them better as a singles band (freak scene, feel the pain) that pops up on playlists occasionally.
Solomon Burke
2/5
Pretty standard 60s soul album in my opinion 2.5
Alanis Morissette
3/5
Slightly embarrassing but I had a dubbed cassette tape with this on one side and “sparkle and fade” by Everclear on the other side in grade 7 so I was interested to see how it holds up. Starts strong (All I really want is a pretty good song I had forgotten about and you oughta know is her best song imo), but after that it couldn’t really keep my interest. I can see why it was popular in its place and time but the song writing is pretty bad a lot of the time.
Robert Wyatt
2/5
Didn’t work for me but being a paraplegic drummer must be pretty tough so 2 stars
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
2 of the best rock songs of the 70s and 8 other fun but mostly forgettable songs (strangered in the night the best of them imo).
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Like a darker Lou Reed on the piano. Cave’s lyrics are poetic, complex, and almost always melancholy. A couple more songs like “west country girl” to break up the dour piano ballads would’ve been welcome but overall I can certainly see why this is album is so acclaimed
DJ Shadow
3/5
Sure, the beats are cool but hip hop without rap has a ceiling on it.
Van Halen
3/5
Not exactly in my wheelhouse but a good time nonetheless.
Super Furry Animals
2/5
Maybe this is why guitar driven pop died? Seems like all the elements for a good record should be there but I just found myself disinterested the whole time. “Hangin’ with Howard Marks” was the best of the mediocre lot imo.
Can
1/5
Mostly ambient noise. Didn’t work for me
Iggy Pop
3/5
One thing I’ve learned about myself from this list is that I’m an Iggy Pop fan. You can definitely hear the Bowie influences on this one, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. Didn’t like this as much as when he’s with the Stooges (a little too poppy) but still good.
Cat Stevens
2/5
Bargain basement Paul Simon. I was optimistic when I put this on because I really like “wild world”, but those hopes were quickly dashed. You need to be a really talented song writer to make the flowery acoustic guitar songs work and I don’t think “Cat” clears that bar.
Jean-Michel Jarre
2/5
My favourite French electronica album of all time
Röyksopp
2/5
Norwegian electronica > French electronica. Slightly higher 2 star rating
Neneh Cherry
1/5
Sounds like a one song album and the one song isn’t very good.
John Lennon
4/5
Maybe it was time for the Beatles to break up. This is the kind of album that John definitely wouldn’t have been able to make as a Beatle and it’s pretty remarkable. 4.3
Cheap Trick
3/5
There are definitely a few 45 year olds walking around Tokyo with single Moms and American passports as a result of this tour.
Steely Dan
3/5
1001 Steely Dan albums to listen to before you die.
Maybe the best of the mediocre lot we’ve had on the list? Highlights for me were hearing the original songs that were sampled in rap songs (peg and black cow)
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Sounds very much like a debut album, all the pieces are there but not quite put together properly.
Mercury Rev
1/5
Bands that sing and play off key are supposed to at least be interesting or inventive in some way but I found this album both bad and boring.
Haircut 100
2/5
If AI made an 80s pop album
Jimmy Smith
3/5
It’s been fun discovering some old Jazz albums through this list. This was another good one.
The Who
3/5
I can see why this is considered their best album. High 3, maybe a 4 if I listened a few more times
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
I want to like this but I just find their sound too grating too often to really enjoy it.
I used to crush “Maps” on rock band back in the day though.
2.6
The Clash
5/5
Could use a little more black Cadillac and a little less lost in the supermarket but tough to critique this album much.
Spiritualized
3/5
Pleasantly surprised, some poor man’s Radiohead vibes.
Fiona Apple
2/5
This probably hit pretty hard on the Lilith Fair tour
John Lennon
3/5
Thought plastic ono band was better
The Kinks
3/5
Radiohead
3/5
No question a disappointing follow up to Kid A. Leans too much into the industrial/outer space beep boops but it has its moments (not coincidentally it’s when they play their instruments)
Beck
3/5
Beck’s albums are all over the place, but this is a good one. Drops off after the first 5 songs or so
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
John Prine
4/5
John Prine is underrated as a song writer/influential artist and this is probably his best album (though I can’t claim to have listened to the whole catalog)
5/5
First heard this album when Daryl Ford lent me a copy in grade 5. Sadly (and somewhat surprisingly) I didnt really appreciate it beyond Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova. Turns out 10 year old me had bad taste because this album is awesome (but I can’t stand wonderwall anymore after hearing it a million times). They hit the cocaine/arrogance sweet spot before they went off the rails on the next album.
Kings of Leon
4/5
Had a burned cd of this one while I was in university. First 3 KoL albums are really good (especially because of the times).
Rod has such a great 70s rock lead singer voice. I just really knew him from his solo career and radio hits. I apologize Rod, I wasn’t familiar with your game. Ronnie wood is awesome too.
3.6 - the non Rod songs bring it down a bit
R.E.M.
2/5
I’ve tried to get into REM several times now and I just don’t get the appeal. Nothing about the music or the lyrics is especially interesting or compelling to me, they sound like an average band with a few catchy radio hits (I do like man on the moon).
Television
4/5
Big fan of the guitar tones on this album. I had only really listened to the title track previously, but the album is pretty good all around
Girls Against Boys
2/5
Trying to catch up so I didn’t spend much time on this one. I think I got the gist after 4 or 5 songs.
Digital Underground
2/5
I’m not sure who consulted on the rap additions to this list but it’s been a very strange collection to this point. This album wouldn’t come close to cracking a decent 100 rap albums to listen to before you die.
David Bowie
3/5
There are probably too many Bowie albums on this list but he’s earned it more than Steely Dan. Typical Bowie in that I have no idea what’s happening on this album but I enjoyed it nonetheless. High 3
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Pretty much every song is a hit single and they all hold up really well. One of the best pop albums ever
Van Morrison
3/5
I’d heard “Moondance” the song in movies and on tv a bunch of times but I thought it was some sort of 40s Jazz singer, not the Brown Eyed Girl guy. He’s got more range than I thought. Overall the album was ok, into the Mystic the best song for me. One thing I noticed that was weird is that every song seems to start very abruptly, like they cut off the first 10 seconds. Anyway, 3 stars
The Shamen
2/5
I had a feeling when I saw the cover and title that this album wouldn’t be for me and I was correct.
Tears For Fears
3/5
The singles are good, didn’t expect the rest to be saxophone ballads.
Radiohead
4/5
Had a tough time deciding between 4 and 5 stars but I think it’s a cut below Kid A and OK computer as I didn’t get the same sense of narrative as from those albums. That being said, at its best I’m not sure Radiohead has ever sounded better, especially Greenwood’s guitar and Yorke’s vocals
The Charlatans
2/5
Milquetoast Oasis
Sabu
2/5
Not the best fit for a dark, snowy January morning. I enjoyed the songs with the whole band a lot more than the ones that were just call/response and drums
Ali Farka Touré
2/5
Electric Light Orchestra
2/5
I didn’t know much about ELO other than a vague feeling that they were supposed to suck. Against those expectations, I thought it was pretty ok.
Fela Kuti
3/5
Catching this live in some African jazz club in the 70s would’ve been something. I hadn’t heard of Fela Kuti before but I’ll have to dig through the catalog a bit as this is pretty awesome on the first listen. 3.5, might round up after a few listens.
Tim Buckley
1/5
Starting to think the 60s were overrated. This sounds like the soundtrack to Monty Python and the Holy Grail, except painfully sincere.
Stephen Stills
3/5
Talented guy but feel like he might be better as part of an ensemble.
Thought he was at his best on the bluesier tracks (go back home, black queen)
M.I.A.
2/5
2/3 of this album is unlistenable but paper planes is still a great song. I also liked the last song (redemption for Timbaland)
Thin Lizzy
3/5
There was a time in my life when I thought I was too cool for bands like Thin Lizzy, but I was misguided insecure young man. Thin Lizzy is just good ol’ American Rock and Roll (I don’t care if they’re not actually American, Thin Lizzy is as American as apple pie) and I like it.
That being said, I expected more out of the live album. I thought the crowd would sound rowdier and I thought some of the guitar riffs lost some of the power they have in the studio version. Apparently there are like 10 Thin Lizzy live albums so maybe I’d like the mix better on one of those.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
I didn’t even realize that this was Janis Joplin’s band until I put it on. Another high 3 for me, production takes something away from it but the power of Joplin’s vice really comes through. I forgot what a great song “piece of my heart is”
Pavement
4/5
I first heard of pavement from a Chuck Klosterman article in GQ that I read on a plane around 2005 sometime so naturally I really wanted to like them but they’ve always been more of a greatest hits band for me than a full album listen. That being said, I appreciated this album more on this listen. Still up and down but 5 or 6 really good songs. Another 3-4 tweeter for me but I’ll round up out of respect to Chuck.
Sade
2/5
I mostly know Sade from references from 90s rap songs as baby making music and that pretty much checks out.
Not a huge fan for the most part, but I did like “hang on to your love”.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
I first heard of pavement from a Chuck Klosterman article in GQ that I read on a plane around 2005 sometime so naturally I really wanted to like them but they’ve always been more of a greatest hits band for me than a full album listen. That being said, I appreciated this album more on this listen. Still up and down but 5 or 6 really good songs. Another 3-4 tweeter for me but I’ll round up out of respect to Chuck.
Beatles
4/5
2nd tier Beatles album, but still pretty great
Frank Zappa
3/5
My only preconceived notion about Frank Zappa was he was a weird guy from the 60s so I had no idea what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this album.
Pretty much rocks front to back, band is super tight, and production is top notch. I often get bored when there’s no lyrics but but the music is more than interesting enough to keep my attention. I’m always hesitant to overrate an album after 1 listen so I’ll stick with a 3 but it might be a 4
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
The citizen Kane of rap, no doubt a masterpiece but not something I’m going to come back to a lot. Probably the most ambitious rap album of all time considering the scope of the storytelling. He pretty successfully weaves together his experience growing up and becoming successful with the history of black people in America and the use of the poem to tie it al together with the 2pac reveal at the end is almost cinematic. It’s long and not always an easy listen but it’s unquestionably and all time album
Afrika Bambaataa
2/5
Planet Rock is a very influential song in hip hop but I’m not sure we needed the whole album on a list like this. Certainly doesn’t age particularly well.
The Verve
3/5
I had a boss once (Yogi) who was an MIT grad from India and he had as close to zero personality as anyone I’ve ever met. All he cared about was making his metrics look good and avoiding criticism from his boss (Christian) who he was scared to death of.
One time I had to go on a road trip with the two of them to Lloydminister to meet a customer. I was driving, Christian was riding shotgun, and Yogi was in the backseat and we had the radio on at a barely audible volume on a random channel. For the 3 hours to Lloyd, Yogi only spoke when Christian addressed him and always about work. The trip home was more of the same, until about halfway home when Yogi leaned forward between the seats and asked me to turn up the volume on the radio because “he loved this song”. That song was Bittersweet Symphony.
I don’t care too much for this album but if that song can touch Yogi’s heart, I have to at least bump it to 3 stars, even though they stole it from the Stones.
Sly & The Family Stone
2/5
A little disappointed with this one after really liking “Stand”. Felt a little slow.
The Band
3/5
Started slow but I thought it really picked up after “the weight”. Stand out for me is long black veil and chest fever.
X-Ray Spex
3/5
Pretty fun ska/power pop/pop punk album. Had never heard of this band before.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
Is it a hot take to think the Beatles broke up at exactly the right time? Listening to Paul and John’s post Beatles work again makes it pretty clear that they wanted to make pretty different music from one another and both feel like extensions of their respective songs in Abbey Road and the White Album.
There’s nothing particularly novel about this album but it’s a very enjoyable listen, I love a McCartney medley.
Beatles
4/5
The greatest rarities and b-sides album of all time. I’ve always thought this album was a little overrated because of how random the song selection is (and how long it is) but listening through it yesterday there are so many great songs. I can’t rate every Beatles album a 5 so I’ll stick at a 4 but to quote Mits-92.5, who am I to critique the Beatles?
Primal Scream
2/5
This decidedly falls into the “not for me” category. Quit after 5 or 6 songs and went back to finish the white album (it is so long).
Minutemen
3/5
Hadn’t heard of these guys before. Didn’t totally resonate with me, somewhere between a 2 and a 3
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
Pink Floyd
4/5
A very ambitious album. Pretty impressive to get several singles out of a concept album like this. I didn’t totally get the narrative and had to google it but I did keep me interested throughout and had me thinking about it throughout the day. Also liked how they had the same riff popping up in different songs throughout the album to help it all hang together. I don’t think I’ll come back to it very often but 4 stars considering the degree of difficulty
The Libertines
3/5
Sounds a lot more like the Arctic Monkeys than I remembered. Liked it but my attention kind if went in and out for some reason. I wanted it to be a 4 but I think I’m landing on a high 3
Boards of Canada
2/5
If I ran a restaurant with a certain vibe, I could see this album being on in the background.
Mekons
3/5
Kind of up and down (what the fuck was “trouble down south”?) but it won me over by the end. I’m not sure I’d call this “alt-country”, sounds more like a mix of the pogues, the clash, and a the smiths to me. Darkness and doubt was the stand out for me
Otis Redding
5/5
Otis is just the fuckin best, which I knew but I forgot how great the band is on this album too. No wonder they sound good, it was Booker T and the MGs and Issac Hayes on the piano.
Kelela
2/5
This album is….fine. For the life of me I can’t figure out why it’s on this list, there doesn’t seem to be anything remarkable or innovative about it at all.
Manu Chao
2/5
I think the lyrics are probably the most interesting part of this album and I can’t understand any of them so a tough one to rate
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
I’m sure this was biting satire at the time, but it doesn’t really hold up and was a tough listen. Borderline 1 for me but I’ll bump it up because I appreciate what they’re going for. Definitely prefer the “Hot Rats” Zappa era
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
I’ve never really been a Hendrix guy but I really enjoyed this one and actually liked it better than “are you experienced?”. The production is way better and I like Jimi’s more restrained guitar
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
This album is….fine. For the life of me I can’t figure out why it’s on this list, there doesn’t seem to be anything remarkable or innovative about it at all.
Marvin Gaye
2/5
Hilarious album. Has there ever been an album as solely dedicated to fuckin as this one? I did not know we were getting a sequel to “Let’s get it on” 3 songs after the original but I’m glad we did. Also enjoyed “you sure love to ball”.
PS - the site messed up my last review by pasting in my review of that R&B album. My thoughts are pretty similar to Mits FM though, but a little more tepid on the album in general. 10th ave freeze-out definitely the highlight
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
This is a tough one to rate. On one hand, it’s an absolutely foundational rap album. On the other hand in 2025 it sounds like something 2 12 year olds made with a drum machine they bought at a garage sale.
I’ll go right down the middle with a 3. I still enjoy Dj Run and DMC going back and forth but it was a slog at times
Queen
2/5
Appreciate the ambition of the album but doesn’t really do it for me. Queen is greatest hits band for me and Bohemian Rhapsody (obviously) and you’re my best friend are the standouts on this album
Beatles
4/5
Even though I know it to be true, it always strikes me how much their music changes in such a short period of time. How is this only 3 years before Sgt Peppers?
The classics are great but the rest feel like failed attempts to make hit singles. Reminds me of a Michael Jackson album. Waffling between a 3 and a 4 but I don’t think I can rate an album with can’t buy me love and hard days night a 3
Leonard Cohen
3/5
With the mostly sparse musical content, the lyrics have to carry so much weight and while he’s obviously a brilliant song writer, I was kind of hit and miss of whether a song captured my attention or not. Probably need a few more listens to rate it properly
The Pretty Things
2/5
I think I’ve had my fill of rock operas for a bit. This one sounds pretty good but I couldn’t (and didn’t really find myself wanting to) follow the narrative. The mid period Beatles guitar tones were the best part of the album in my opinion. 2.4
Nick Drake
3/5
Not sure we needed every Nick Drake album on this list. I think I liked this one marginally better than the other two but still not a huge fan.
Dire Straits
3/5
I think I like the debut album better than “brothers in arms”. Doesn’t have as high of highs but is a lot more consistent, I like the funkier grooves on this one
Maxwell
2/5
After the first track, I thought this was going to be a modern jazzy instrumental type album that you’d hear in an upscale restaurant and I think I would’ve liked it better that way. The lyrics are pretty generic 90s R&B, I only made it about halfway through, got bored and turned it off.
Paul Simon
4/5
Tough call between a 4 and a 5 for me. A great album, probably Paul Simon’s best solo effort. One of the best songwriters ever and a really high degree of difficulty to merge African music with American folk and mostly pull it off. Graceland the song is an all timer.
Ultimately, there are just too many only OK songs to get to a 5 for me.
Richard Thompson
3/5
Thought the closing 3 live tracks were the strongest part of the album. The rest (other than the title track) didn’t do much for me. 2.7
Ray Charles
2/5
Didn’t do much for me, honestly. Ray sounded good and the band sounded good, just seemed like pretty generic 50’s big band stuff to me.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
When Sloan wrote “it’s not the band I hate, it’s their fans” it might have been about Skynyrd.
Great album front to back, had the volume maxed out on “simple man” at 7:45am
Dolly Parton
2/5
I wanted to like this, but I found it pretty bland. Turns out I just like Dolly, I thought the best moments of the album were her songs (Wildflowers, those memories of you)
Alice In Chains
2/5
I almost turned it off early but wanted to make it to “Rooster” which holds up and is far and away the best song in my opinion. The album actually grew on me after that. I’ll probably never listen to it again but I could definitely see the appeal as a metal/grunge hybrid. It definitely feels of its time, the vocal style has been copied/parodied so many times now that it’s hard to take it seriously.
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
I had heard of Rufus Wainwright but had assumed he was black and from the 70s based on the name alone so safe to say I was a little disappointed.
Some clever lines and I liked 14th street but it mostly was pretty forgettable. Maybe if I spent some more time with it I’d like it more
Oasis
4/5
Most of the songs are 1 min too long and the lyrics sounds like they were written by a 7th grader but that’s really a part of the charm of the album.
Just a pure rock and roll album before they got too big and self important. I think cigarettes and alcohol is my favourite track, but there are 5 or 6 bangers.
Lauryn Hill
4/5
Hemmer and I saw Lauryn at “Ed’s” about 10 years ago. The show was supposed to start at 9 and she came on stage around 11:30. She seemed miserable but she still sounded unbelievable regardless.
This was a 5 from memory but listening again, downgrading to a 4. It so long and while I like the classroom skit through line, it doesn’t need to be at the end of every song. Too many forgettable songs to be a 5.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
I think I like this one better than “loveless”, there’s at least somewhat of a coherent song structure but still not a big fan
Klaxons
2/5
Didn’t make it past song 4. Can hear the 00’s alt/indie rock influence in there but not used effectively to my taste.
Billie Holiday
2/5
The Police
3/5
I’ve never been a huge fan of the Police, but I do respect that they’ve got their own unique sound that’s hard to categorize. Enjoyed the album and how they weaved the reggae influence into it. May listen again down the road.
Carpenters
1/5
I can’t understand why this album of milquetoast covers is considered a classic.
Tom Waits
3/5
I counted at least 3 separate prostitution references, so that was pretty solid. I feel similar to the last album of his on this list, unique voice obviously and interesting style but probably won’t come back to it.
Neil Young
5/5
More good Neil. Unlike a few of the others, I’ve listened to this one a bunch of times and always considered it my favourite Neil Young album. It’s probably a bit of an overrate, but I think Neil deserves a 5 star as a career achievement award
Janis Joplin
3/5
Janis really does have an incredible voice. However, the songwriting is lacking somewhat in my opinion on this album (with the notable exception of me and Bobby McGee).
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
If aliens came to earth and wanted to know what rock and roll sounded like, I’d probably play them Sticky Fingers but this might be my second choice. Just good old fashioned American rock and roll.
Nico
2/5
I think Nico’s sexy midtown Manhattan girl vibe has carried her reputation a lot further than the music deserves. Some high points (Chelsea Girl, these days) but mostly forgettable in my opinion.
Pulp
3/5
Don’t think I have this one enough time to have a solid opinion. Was interesting though.
Small Faces
3/5
Fell asleep listening to it on a plane but liked what I can remember
PJ Harvey
3/5
I initially thought PJ Harvey was the flag pole sitta guy but I was way off.
I’m a sucker for a sultry indie rock songstress and PJ is right in that wheelhouse. Can definitely see what Nick Cave saw in her
Crosby, Stills & Nash
2/5
Had its moments (predawn downs and long time gone) bit overall I found it kinda boring.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Was interested to put this on as I was aware of Sonic Youth but hadn’t listened to them at all. In my head I had them lumped in with early 90s grunge, but this was a little different than I expected.
Sounds to me like a lot of Pixies influence but darker, harder and less concerned with melody. Can’t say I necessarily liked it but I did think it was interesting and probably worth another listen.
Cowboy Junkies
2/5
Interesting voice and aesthetic but overall found it pretty dull. Maybe I need to spend more time with it.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Interesting to hear the progression from EVOL. A little more traditional song structure and rocks a little harder. I still have no idea what they’re singing about but I’d definitely come back to this one. 3.5
Underworld
2/5
Only in electronic music can you get away with song titles like “air towel” and “sappy curry” and be considered essential listening. It’s rare for dance music to keep me interested and this never came close.
Throwing Muses
2/5
I couldn’t find this on n the streaming services so I listened to “University” instead, which was good but pretty standard 90s indie rock. 2.7
Gotan Project
2/5
This might be the worst album cover of the 1000, but the music was better than my very low expectations. Decent background music, some of these tracks could be used to make some pretty cool hip hop beats.
Cream
3/5
I’ve never really understood the deification of Clapton. Sure, his guitar is the strength of this album but it just seems to me like he’s really good, not God’s gift to the electric guitar. Maybe it’s just that the psychedelic stuff doesn’t really do it for me. Outside of the obvious, “take it back” was my favourite track.
Randy Newman
3/5
It’s a little strange for a guy from LA to make a whole concept album from the perspective of the south. He’s obviously a talented songwriter and it’s an interesting listen but it does feel heavy handed at times
Elvis Presley
3/5
I imagine listening to Elvis feels like watching pre-integration baseball, you kind of have to grade it on a curve knowing most of the talent wasn’t really allowed to play. Still, it had its moments
Hole
3/5
Quite a bit poppier than I expected, every song sounded like it could be on the radio in the 90s. I listened to some of their earlier stuff and it kinda sounds like they sold out in this album. Pretty decent listen nonetheless, Courtney’s a compelling front woman.
Lambchop
3/5
Had not heard of Lambchop before, so I’m not sure what I expected but this wasn’t it. Kind of reminded me of Father John Misty or some of the more ballad like Arctic Monkeys songs. I’m not sure the songwriting gets to the level of Alex Turner or FJM but it feels like something one has to listen to a few times to really get.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Likely the only straight man in North America to start his day with Pink Pony Club and an entire Pet Shop Boys album. Kinda weird they picked one from the 90s as they are such an 80s sounding band (and the songs that sounded more 90s were not good). I was in at the start but thought it got progressively worse as the album went on. I went back and listened to “West End Girls” afterward which really holds up but not a fan of this album.
The Temptations
3/5
Very different A side vs B side. The funky A side was a 4 for me, but the early 60s style love song B side was a 2.
The The
3/5
A lot going on on this album. When you name your band “The the” you expect a certain amount of goofiness and I think both lyrically and musically it doesn’t take itself too seriously despite some obvious talent. Kind of reminds me if Tom Waits was on a Frank Zappa album.
Grateful Dead
3/5
I haven’t ever been able to really get into the Dead, but maybe that’s because I’ve never seen them live while taking mushrooms.
Peter Frampton
2/5
Cool guitar effects bro
Brian Wilson
2/5
I don’t get why everyone thinks Brian Wilson is such a genius. I figured this was a movie score or something until I read up on it. Good vibrations saved it a little but I wasn’t a fan.
Slayer
2/5
Not my cup of tea but I can see the appeal. Jesus Saves was the most listenable imo.
Randy Newman
3/5
I like when we get two albums from the same artist in quick succession, gives you more perspective on their career and some more time to think about them. Randy Newman is interesting in how he can make such dark songs sound like show tunes (political science in particular). I found this album a little hit or miss but enjoyed it overall
The Beach Boys
2/5
Really waffled between thinking Brian Wilson was the most overrated artist of all time (don’t go near the water, Disney girls, student demonstration time) to kind of liking it (long promised road mostly but the last few songs were ok).
Peter Gabriel
2/5
Sledgehammer is still a banger (side note - I didn’t realize it was about his dick until now) and Big time kind of does (the poor man’s Sledgehammer which is also somewhat about his dick). The rest pretty much sucks. We do what we’re told randomly sounds like a bonus track from OK computer which is kind of cool I guess.
Prince
4/5
Prince is one talented motherfucker man. 2 hour albums are typically a recipe for disaster but this one is a banger all the way through. Might be a 5 but this is my first listen so playing it safe with a 4
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
3/5
The opening scream was a bit jarring at 7:30 this morning, but overall a really fun album. This is the kind of record I wish Jack White would make every couple years. “Dynamite Lover” was my favourite but solid front to back. High 3
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Obviously familiar with RATM but I’d never listened to one of their albums before. I now understand why the late 90s and early 00s were full of shitty rap/metal hybrids, it’s because these guys made it sound so fucking cool. Turns out it’s really hard to do without sounding corny or derivative. All 4 parts of the band sound great but in my opinion Morello’s guitar - I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone play guitar where it sounds like it belongs in a rap song before - really stands out. I think this a rare 5 for me on the first listen. They even pull off all the political stuff without sounding forced or insincere.
The Icarus Line
3/5
I had never heard of this band before at all, but thought the album was pretty good. Fits with the Strokes/Arctic Monkeys/White Stripes rock revival that was happening at the time but a little more punk/thrash than those other acts. I thought the album was at its best when it leaned more into standard rock structure (white devil, spike island, etc)
Destiny's Child
2/5
I was excited to see this come up this morning but it’s really not that good. Beyoncé’s talent is obvious but the song writing is terrible (I don’t think you’re ready for this jelly, every survivor lyric). Bootylicious still had me turning up the volume and I liked Independent women II. 2.5
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
Indie darlings that I’ve always been kind of indifferent to. My first listen all the way through and I don’t feel much different. I can’t really put my finger on why I don’t like it more, maybe just too much treble and noise for me at times. Heart Factory was my favourite.
Pink Floyd
4/5
I’m not sure I really got the concept of this one (something about the corruption of the music industry I think?), but liked it nonetheless. Wish you were here is an all time song.
Ozomatli
2/5
I think these guys got to like 900 albums and then just started adding random albums they listened to at one point in their lives. I don’t think Ozomatli is a band of much significance and they picked an album that isn’t even available on most streaming services. Anyway my only previous experience with Ozomatli is “cut chemistry suite” on the Tony Hawk soundtrack which is a great song. This album was fine. 2.5
Grateful Dead
3/5
Really good album all the way through, maybe you don’t need to be on mushrooms to enjoy the Dead.
Björk
2/5
Things I knew about Bjork prior to this:
1. She’s from Iceland
2. She performed that song with Eminem
3. She wore a swan to an awards show
I expected the album to be quite a bit more straightforward pop than this Radioheadesque pop. I was interested to start but that waned as the album wore on.
Sonic Youth
4/5
Sonic Youth rocks
Black Sabbath
3/5
Can’t be a coincidence this album comes up the day after Ozzy dies. The band seems to have evolved quite a bit in the two years since Paranoid. The songs sound more complete, whereas a lot of their earlier songs sounded more like just a heavy guitar riff and Ozzy singing with a lot of space between. Was surprised to hear a couple slow songs which Ozzy can pull off with his voice (especially Changes). Liked it, didn’t love it.3.3
Jamiroquai
2/5
All the songs felt like B- versions of virtual insanity. I just don’t think the social conscious stuff lands with the poppy “acid jazz” style of music.
Violent Femmes
5/5
Listened to this album a lot in university, not a lot since but it’s as good as I remember. Totally unique sound (is there another punk-folk band?), even some elements of 50s doo wop in there. Gano’s voice is one of a kind and the lyrics are memorable and pretty funny at times (listen to country death song on the extended version if you haven’t heard it). A bit of a stretch but I’m going to go 5 stars
The Doors
5/5
I didn’t know the Doors got this bluesy! Loved this album, obviously knew the 3 big songs but some of the deeper cuts were just as good (changeling, been down so long, crawling king snake cover) and really balanced out the longer, more meandering tracks (LA woman and riders on the storm are 8 minute songs that somehow don’t sag or feel too long). Certified 5 stars, would love to see a Mits perform LA woman at a karaoke bar
The Flaming Lips
3/5
I think this is some sort of concept album but I couldn’t follow the narrative. Musically kind of interesting but a little high pitched and whiny. Do you realize?? Is the highlight
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3/5
Big band was not what I was expecting when I saw the album cover. Some nice background music for a relaxed vacation breakfast on the terrace.
Devendra Banhart
2/5
Hadn’t heard of this guy before this. I lost patience for the pretty bland folk/americana quickly and stopped after 3 songs, maybe it got better after that.
The Damned
3/5
High 3 for me (3.7?). I was aware of them but I can’t recall ever listening to them before. Quite a bit of variety in tone/style for a punk band, I liked the title track the most but the first and last are pretty good too - smash it up almost sounds more dire straights than punk but they pull it off.
The Fall
2/5
Not a particularly flattering comparison to have this come right after the damned - seems like a light beer version.
The Style Council
2/5
A few songs in I thought this was going to be a mediocre white boy jazz album, but then they decided to try and make less than mediocre songs from seemingly every genre on the second half of the album. 1.8
Talking Heads
4/5
Another really good Talking Heads album. I thought I was heading for a 3 when it started but it grew on me to the point where I actually listened twice through it.
Scritti Politti
1/5
The fact that this album had any traction at all is a testament to how popular Michael Jackson was in the 80s. The only explanation I can think of for anyone listening to this is that people were so desperate to anything close to MJ that even this F-minus high school talent show impression was somewhat popular.
Rod Stewart
2/5
Songs that were too bland for the Faces album.
Bonnie Raitt
2/5
This feels disrespectful but Bonnie Raitt just sounds to me like the best version of a local act at a club.
Ali Farka Touré
2/5
Earth, Wind & Fire
2/5
Shining Star is a hell of a way to start an album but it goes downhill pretty quickly after that. Too many overly sincere piano ballads and disco and not enough funk.
The Waterboys
3/5
Pretty cool album. Sounds kinda like the Pogues but with some martimer and southern influences. I want to spend some time with it, the lyrics were interesting but need a couple more listens to it understand what he’s talking about.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Do we really need 4 Sonic Youth albums on the list? Probably not, but I still liked it nonetheless. I had totally incorrectly lumped these guys with the grunge bands of the early 90s, when really they seem like more of a bridge between the Pixies and indie bands of the 90s like pavement or 90s punk.
This album wasn’t my favourite of theirs (I think their next two are better) but still interesting all the way through.
Side note - Kim Gordon performed on Always Live with John Mulaney a few months back and still looks and sounds unreal (and is just as weird) in her 70s
Dagmar Krause
2/5
Certainly unique, won’t be coming back to it. Liked the song about the German mom regretting sending her son to the SS.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I came in thinking Elvis Costello sucked, but came away thinking that’s too harsh. His singing voice is grating to me and a lot of his music doesn’t seem particularly original to me, however this album is as close as I’m going to get to liking him. It kept the energy up and I forgot how much of a jam Pump it up is. 2.8
MC Solaar
2/5
Sounds a little like a poor man’s French Rakim. Apparently the French were a few years behind in hip hop production as these beats sound like the late 80s rather than the 90s. Kinda hard to appreciate without understanding the lyrics but he seems to have a pretty good flow.
The Sabres Of Paradise
2/5
What a way to celebrate the halfway mark! Haunted Dancehall is kind of an appropriate title as it would be a fitting two word review of the album. I guess this music must speak to someone out there but I’m not that person.
Justin Timberlake
3/5
It would be tough to explain to a 20 year old how big of a star JT was in 2002. Justin being MJ crossed with Jimmy Fallon didn’t age well but this album actually does. Pharrell is the real star of the album in retrospect - those Neptunes beats stand the test of time.
The xx
2/5
Im suspicious of any newish album I’m not familiar with (probably incorrectly as I’m not exactly plugged in to new music). This album ever so slightly surpassed those tempered expectations. Competent pop album. Pretty forgettable but I never considered turning it off, even if I frequently forgot it was on. Definition of a 2.5
The Rolling Stones
5/5
I’m such a hypocrite. I have multiple 1 and 2 star reviews on here complaining about white artists shamefully stealing black music….and yet I just fuckin love the Stones.
The best American band of all time just happens to be from London.
Aerosmith
2/5
I still had Beggar’s banquet on this morning in the car so I listened to a few songs before switching over to Aerosmith. The comparison was not favourable to Steven Tyler and Aerosmith.
It was fine overall. Sweet Emotion the highlight, a lot of the rest felt like a bad Stones impression. 2.5
Fugazi
3/5
Pretty unique album. If you hadn’t given me the year you could’ve convinced me it was made anywhere between 1980 and 2010. Every time I thought I knew where the album or even each song was going they would subtly subvert my expectations by throwing in a weird chord in what sounded like a standard progression or changing up the timing or something. I liked it, would give it another listen or two. 3.5
Super Furry Animals
2/5
A little spacey for me for the most part but it had its moments. “Sidewalk surfer girl” was the highlight.2.7
Moby Grape
2/5
The first few notes sounded like “pale blue eyes”, unfortunately the songwriting wasn’t anywhere near Lou Reed levels. Pretty standard late 60s pop/rock, nothing to get too excited about in my opinion. The version I found was only 20 mins long but that was plenty for me.
Soft Machine
2/5
Jazz rock I guess? Kind of interesting, didn’t mind having it on in the background.
2/5
Interesting blend of traditional Latin music with some modern electronic/hip hop. Sounds like background music at announced Brazilian “fusion” restaurant.
3/5
Pre-punk? Chaotic and political but in a pretty fun way and definitely feed ahead of its time.
Side note - the Presidents of the United States of America do a pretty great cover of kick out the jaws that I don’t know was a cover until I heard this
Jeru The Damaja
4/5
Jeru! I did not expect to see this pop up. Prime DJ Premier production. For my money the greatest hip hop producer of all time. This is the era where he had so many great beats he’d just waste 2 or 3 an album on a 45 second interlude.
Much like Guru, Jeru just can’t rise to the level of the production. Like most Gangstarr albums it’s B+ rhymes over A+ beats, good but not great.
That being said “Jungle Music” is an A+ song buried at the end of the album. Jeru softens his style a bit and rides the beat rather than competes with it. 4 stars
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Pretty much in line with his first album in my opinion. Clearly a transcendent songwriter but his style puts me to sleep.
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
Hadn’t heard of these guys at all before. With the title, kind of expected a vampire opera like in Losing Sarah Marshall but was pleasantly surprised with the fun pop-ish punk. Didn’t see particularly ground breaking but had a great time, would listen again. 3.4
The Mars Volta
1/5
These guys suck in a very specific way. I can just picture them practicing in the 6 car garage of their Dad’s McMansion with eyeliner on ripping off the guitar tones of the Strokes thinking they’re making Bohemian Rhapsody.
Might be a little harsh, but I didn’t like it very much.
Gang Of Four
4/5
Kind of reminds me of a more straightforward punk version of the Talking Heads. Feel like I've missed out not listening to these guys before. Pretty cool album, will Listen again.
Ice Cube
4/5
Did not expect this to be the Cube album in this list (Death certificate and Amerikkka’s most wanted are more lauded) but I think it might be his best. His first two solo albums felt like Cube rapping over public enemy beats, but this album (and the subsequent lethal injection and west side connection album) slow things down a bit to match his cadence and, to n my opinion, Cube finally finds a sound of his own a decade into his career. Then in the late90s he becomes more of an actor and really neuters his music career.
It’s kind of fascinating to listen to the star of the “Are we there yet?” franchise delivering some of the most violent and politically charged lyrics of 90s rap. You’d never guess that in 20 years he’d be way closer to Kevin Hart than Zack de la Rocha. It sure didn’t seem like an act, did the money just make him soft? Does he still have all kinds of political opinions that he just keeps to himself? I’d love to hear a long form interview where Gerald about how he got from the Cube we hear on the album in 96 to the CEO of the Big 3 league.
Anyway, I forgot how great he was, this is close to a 5.
PS - I’ll bet Mits FM loved the baseline on “Tear this mutha fucker up”
The Young Gods
2/5
The French Tom Waits? I have to assume the songwriting is considered excellent but I can’t understand a word so I’ll have to continue to assume.
Turbonegro
3/5
I usually don’t like to google the band/album before writing the review but I had to find out why the band was named “turbonegro”. Turns out it was between “Nazipenis” and “turbonegro” and they decided turbonegro was more commercially viable. To quote Jonah Hill in SuperBad - “why the fuck was it between Nazipenis and Turbonegro?”
Anyway pretty fun album, kind of hair metal- Norwegian punk I guess? Would
listen agan
Joan Baez
3/5
I couldn’t find this one on the streaming services so I listened to Farewell Angelina instead. There’s a chance I could really like this if I stuck with it but I was in and out on it this morning.
The Pogues
5/5
The Irish are the best of us. Listening to this album this morning reminded me of the time I was in Regina for work and I spent the evening sitting at the bar of an English pub drinking Guinness and Jamesons and played “Death of an American” on the jukebox. This happened last week so it was pretty easy to remember.
The only decision here was 4 or 5 stars. I was leaning 4 as some of the early songs were a little forgettable, but just as I arrived at the office “And the band played waltzing Matilda” came on. I had never heard it before and I just sat in my car for 8 minutes staring into an early October sunrise holding back tears as Shane MacGowan told me a story of the tragedy of war as plainly and beautifully as I’d ever heard it. 5 stars.
Astor Piazzolla
2/5
I prefer the Old Tango
Nirvana
5/5
One of the few no-doubter 5 star albums. It’s hard to believe an album this raw was as big of a hit as it was and it’s aged so much better than its contemporaries. It’s a testament to Cobain’s insane talent as a song writer and a performer. Maybe the band I’ve gained the most respect for goimg through this list.
The Streets
3/5
I realize it intentionally sounds very amateurish, but the bad singing chorus’ are grating more often than not.
The story telling is pretty good though, I didn’t expect the entire album to tie together and it kept my interest all the way through.
Miles Davis
4/5
I’m not a big jazz fan but I’ve enjoyed some of the entries on this list and, predictably, this is my favourite of the bunch. I’m sure this deserves a 5 but I just don’t know jazz well enough and I don’t want to rate it primarily on reputation.
Ute Lemper
2/5
Ok for a weird German opera I guess. I didn’t turn it off, but I didn’t really pay attention either. “If sex was an Olympic sport we would’ve won the gold” got my attention.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
I’d heard of the band, but had always assumed it was some sort of 60s hippie band (based on the name I guess?).
Instead, to me, they sound a lot like a 2010s indie band. Kind of like Kurt Vile was going through a Springsteen phase. Really solid front to back, I’ll definitely listen again. 3.7
Belle & Sebastian
2/5
Belle and Sebastian were big on the “Juno” soundtrack which I listened to for some reason when the movie came out.
Teenage angst music for gay kids? Songwriting is pretty good and some of the songs are catchy but it kind of seems like the same song 12 different ways. I didn’t hate it by any means but it’s nothing I’ll be coming back to. 2.5
Mudhoney
3/5
A 1991 sub pop garage rock/punk album should be right in my wheelhouse but it didn’t hit with me the way I thought it would. Maybe it’s because I tried to listen to it driving the kids around to various hockey rinks. I’ll have to try it again sometime.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
This is a long ass album Stevie. I can see why this is considered a masterpiece, but honestly I could live without 4 or 5 of these songs and several of the extended intros/outros that seem to make every song 6 minutes long.
You can hear the influence from this album in so much of the music from a generation later, either directly or indirectly (I had no idea “wild wild west” and “gangsta’s paradise” were direct Stevie rip offs).
I also thought the sappier songs that weigh down his other albums have a little more juice on this one. Deducting a point for length (and the fake blind thing).
Madonna
2/5
I don’t know much about about Madonna’s career, but something about this album feels desperate, like a pop star trying a little too hard to hang on.
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
Admitting that he dumbed down his music for a wider appeal, Jay Z famously rapped “Truthfully, I want to rap like Common Sense/But I did 5 Mil/I ain’t been rappin like Commin since”
I think Kacey Musgraves is Taylor Swift’s Common. Proof that pop-country doesn’t have to suck if you have a talented songwriter, this album is mostly good. It gets a little cheesy at times (you can have your space……cowboy) but pretty solid for the most part. I think “slow burn” was my favourite.
The Cult
3/5
I think these guys like to fuck.
If you put “80s Rock” into a really good AI generator, it’d spit out a reasonable facsimile of this album. Nothing particularly original but it’s a lot of fun. Most of the songs are built off of great little riffs, they would’ve been a blast to see live in a smallish venue in the 80s.
TV On The Radio
3/5
I thought this sounded awfully modern for an 80s band, then I checked the date (I guess I was thinking of Television?). I thought this vacillated between pretty cool and swings that just didn’t work (the “rapping” parts especially suck).
Overall thought it was interesting and more worked than didn’t.
Julian Cope
3/5
I’d never heard of Julian Cope before but I’m partial to these 80s post punk acts. Kind of a punk Frank Zappa vibe, I liked it.
Bob Dylan
5/5
The best songwriting (lyrics) on an album ever? Dylan sings about war, love, heartbreak, politics, and absolute bullshit (I shall be free) and effortlessly flips tones (angry, contemplative, forlorn, drunk) and makes it all fit together.
Ian Dury
3/5
Pretty fun album (sounds kind of like a post punk Frank Zappa to me). I think it’s tough to follow Freewheellin but some of the lyrics were grating (Billericky Dickie comes to mind). Highlights for me were the first song and blockheads.
The Magnetic Fields
1/5
Usually if you have a 3 hour album with 69 songs, I would expect you to have at least one idea. However this album sounds like it was made in an afternoon as a demo tape that they were then forced to release at gun point. Maybe it got better after song 20 but there’s no chance I was listening any further.
Scissor Sisters
2/5
Kind of a fun throwback to the 70s at times, at others (notably the exceptionally awful comfortably numb cover) it was prettt grating
808 State
2/5
Alicia had to keep checking on me while driving because she “was afraid this 80s lounge music was going to put me to sleep”
James Brown
3/5
I think a few dozen women in the audience got pregnant just from witnessing that show. I’m not the biggest James Brown fan, lots of style but not a lot of substance in my opinion. He’s also an absolute maniac if you’ve ever read anything about his lifestyle.
Marvin Gaye
2/5
When break up albums go wrong. I thought I was going to enjoy this one but found it pretty boring and painfully literal (“when did I stop loving you, when did you stop loving me” followed by “anger” - hard to decode the meaning of those titles/lyrics).
Guns N' Roses
4/5
An all time hard rock album. Not exactly a groundbreaking take, but Slash is incredible on this album. He does a great job getting right up to the line of overindulgence on his solos without going over it, my only knock is he inspired a generation of less talented guitarists to obliterate that line but that’s not on him.
The Associates
3/5
I almost gave up on this one on the way on work but put it back on in the office and liked it a lot more. Maybe the second half was better or maybe my mood changed. Kind of a little like if Bowie was the lead singer for the talking heads (but like 3 levels worse than that sounds). I’d put it on in the background again
The Rolling Stones
3/5
It stood out to me how close the sound to prime Stones right out of the gate. A little less swagger from the Glimmer twins but you can tell they’ve got something special. The production really hurst the album, they sound like they’re performing in a tin can. It would be interesting to hear them do the same songs 3 or 4 years later properly produced.