1001 Albums Summary

Really good start to my 1001 albums. Always liked ZZ Top, but never enough to really follow them. This album is great, and you can really tell the bluesy roots to their rock and roll. Will definitely listen again!

Definitely an album you have to be in the mood to listen to....which I wasn't when I played it. Definitely a brilliant album, which actually reminded me of Pink Floyd - I just wasn't it the right maudlin mood.

Beautiful! And soooo smooth and cool! In fact the only thing cooler is Frank Sinatra stepping out of a helicopter with a glass of whisky in hand. My favourite album so far, although the last two tracks did slightly take the vibe away a bit. I would definitely recommend

Another great album on my daily list. Picture an idyllic beach area with a skatepark at the side for afternoon skating, the beach for a relaxed and cool early evening late summer bbq next to beach bonfires, and then a funfair after that and finally cruising the highways and beach-sides in a very cool open topped car. This image perfectly describes the album. Wonderful.

I really enjoyed this album. I'd only ever heard their singles before so it was really nice to hear a wider selection. Lots if different genres hit in their unique stripped back way. Favourite track was Little Ghost.

Not my favourite, and i didn't make it through the whole album. The band seemed to struggle with what genre they wanted to be and, to my mind anyway, just seemed to be a blandish version of each.

Thank you I wouldn't normally listen to this genre, however I'm glad I did. I'm not 'converted' but I enjoyed it, and would happily listen to Little Simz again.

Dreary!

Sometimes the stupidity of, and lack of creativity by, the human race really disappoints me. All those endangered species??? Simple to fix! Just put them into a room, dim the lights, and then play this record. Problem solved! There will be baby rhinos, pandas, and things running all over the place in a matter of months. In fact, this record is so potent, that as I played it, I felt my vasectomy reverse itself.

Meh. Not the best or worst I've ever heard. I love punk, so it's not a genre thing....I just can't even remember any of the songs I've just heard.

I'm not a country fan, and this just sounded to me like generic 80s middle of the road country fare

A great album that really shows the early stages of their creativity and experimenting with styles, vocals, and ideas. Love it!

Great to hear this innovative band again, after many years.

I was sadly disappointed with this. I only knew her for the Royal song, and was looking forward to more in that vein, with strong vocals and feel... but it all just had a generic pop middle-of-the-road radio station feel about it. Such a shame

It's Pink Floyd's The Wall ! 5 stars, obviously! Nothing more to be said.

I can appreciate the skill and the experimentalism, it's just not my cup of tea.

I really enjoyed this. I haven't ever listened to Beck, but will now explore his work more.

The first song was great, I loved it. Great vocals, and lots of influence from Bjork, Kate Bush and even Shirley Bassey. The rest, though, were all in show tune style, which I didn't really like but understand that is her background. That being said, I also felt there were Bond theme vibes occasionally,and maybe this was a type of audition for her to potentially sing a future James Bond theme...which I think she would have been brilliant at. If I can find her singing non-show songs, (I bet she'd be a great jazz singer!) I would definitely listen to her again.

It's probably not what the band want to hear, but this was 'nice'. The music was good Southern Rock, and really pleasant to listen to for the whole 90 minutes. I gather that the lyrics are quite political, and intended to be thought provoking....but I just liked the music :)

I haven't listened to this album for many years. Thank you for reminding me of it. LOVE IT. 5 stars.

I wanted to like this, but I don't think it has aged well. 😕

Quite pleasant. Which, I'm sure, is exactly what they were aiming for a middle aged bloke to say when they created it :) :) :)

Beautiful

A nice throwback to a time I don't explore that often.

Nice and cool from the Modfather :) Whilst I really loved The Jam and their unique sound, you can't argue that Paul Weller's voice and writing style is perfectly suited for soul too. Really nice stuff

Dull. Insipid. Uninspiring.

This was a really welcome surprise. I didn't know what to expect, but being someone who likes early electronic music especially Kraftwerk and Jean Michel Jarre, I loved this. Will definitely listen again, and will search out other music from them.

This album couldn't be any more 80's!

It's not a genre I like, but I pride myself on being able to appreciate excellence no matter what genre or artist. For example, I appreciate that Prince was genius, even though I didn't really like his stuff. That's not the case here, though. I couldn't listen to any track in full. A bit pants.

A bit sweary.

Utter rubbish. I pride myself on listening to every style and genre I can, and appreciating the talent of the artists within it, even if I don't like it. No talent displayed here! I cannot imagine why this is in a 'must listen' list.

I haven't listened to the Manics for a while....shame on me! I loved this, thank you for giving me the nudge to listen again.

"THE AAACE OF SPAADDEEES, THE AACE OOF SPAAADES" Raw. Gutsy. Awesome!

Raw original punk. Awesome!

Nope!

This was a lovely surprise. I'm not a fan of the genre, but these were GREAT. Thank you again for challenging my musical tastes

A collaboration between two icons of the age, Iggy and Bowie.... what could go wrong? Unfortunately, to my ear, this ends up being a watered down version of both. I can see what they were trying, and I'm glad they did....this could have been amazing! It just didn't work for me.

I really enjoyed this.

It's Aretha at the height of her career. What's not to love???

I haven't listened to this for ages. It's wonderful!

5* Raw, passionate, impactive, important.

A couple of brilliant songs that everyone knows, and then, sadly, a bunch of nice, generic songs that would fit nicely into a 'bland FM' radio station.

They were 'alright'. Nice enough. I can't imagine why they're on a 'must listen tools though.

Nice and cool

I really enjoyed this album. I've always liked UB40, but never really 'listened' them, so this gave me a chance to di just that.

Nice

I was never a Stones fan, and this album is really just a series of accomplished musicians covering some good blues music. I didn't realise how 'meh' this was until Spotify played a T-Rex song straight after that was lively and original, and kind of woke me up!

Okay, so I'm not a fan of this genre of music. That being said, I completely appreciate genius at the height of its power......and that is what I just listened to.

I liked their hit singles, but never listened to an album of theirs, so thank you again for this app! A nice, original indie sound. Love it.

Loved it! Just what I needed to get me going in the morning!

Bleak. Brilliant.

I enjoyed this. Nothing earth shattering, and I'm not sure why it's on a 'must listen' list.....but good stuff.

This seems a really important album staring to move into more creative and innovative music at the height of their power.

Perfectly pleasant background music for a slightly cool social gathering. Which is a bit disappointing 😞

Loved it!

Really enjoyed this.

I had no idea what to expect, as I had never heard of Pere Ubu nor do I research them first. I loved the style. Experimental, with a proto-Talkinhlg Heads feel. Will definitely listen again

Nice

I'm sure he's a good exponent of whatever subgenre he represents. I pride myself on listening to as wide a spectrum of music as I can and appreciating it, even if not actually liking it. This just sounded like maudlin, whiny, self important crap to me though.

I was hoping for a more distinctive sound, but this just sounded like a generic weak jazz to me.

Standard indie fare. Nothing exciting.

I think I missed whatever was great about this. It's just that I've heard better than this loads of times.

I absolutely lived this. Will definitely listen again.

It was just fine

Awful

Pretty cool

I happened to listen to it whilst I was in the gym. As gym music it was great...but I think I would have got bored of it mid-album in any other environment.

I enjoyed it, but wasn't blown away. A shame, because I really liked her released singles.

Oh, that was disappointing nonsense :(

I expected/wanted this to be great, good, or at least innovative. It was just poor

Unfortunately, this was so 'middle of the road' that when I was listening to it in the car, I realised that I had gone through 3 or 4 tracks without 'hearing' any of them. Disappointing

Not terrible, but certainly not something I needed to listen to before I die.

Was fine

Not a band I'd listened too much, but this was a really good album.

Didn't like this at all

Great album!

Perfectly average 60's cover band.

I really enjoyed this!

This is the reason I live this app. I have never really given Janis Joplin much thought. I was vaguely aware of her, but wouldn't have been able to name one of her songs. This album was an amazing wake up for me! Her voice is (was) amazing! I will definitely listen to this again. Thank you!

I'm pretty sure that how much a person appreciates music depends on their environment and mood, because I normally kind of like Suzanne Vega. However, today I switched it off because it was so dreary!

Otis could sing the terms and conditions from a badly designed insurance website and it would still be 5 stars! Simply amazing!

I was looking forward to listening to this....but it was awful! It reminded me of a comedy spoof band called Bad News: a deluded, self important group thinking they were much better than they were. However, Bad News was actually better than this! (Give Bad News a listen, it's worth it!) Really disappointed in this :(

Awesome!

I love finding new (to me) artists like this. I had no idea what I was about to hear, but found it surprisingly engaging. I would definitely listen again, and have already looked for more of their work.

Nope

Another pleasant surprise. I'm so glad I use this app :)

Nice

Absolute genius. I'd never listened to this album. I was obviously aware of the hits from it, but nothing more. Not only did I love it, but I really heard the genius of the man coming through.

Not for me

I love Scott Walker's voice. However, in the late 90's in the UK there was a comedy singer called Divine Comedy ( if you are interested search his version of the Oasis song Wonderwall and also National Express ) who sings in the same fashion as Scott.....and I can't take Scott seriously any more. Nonetheless, I don't think this was the best example of Scott work. Also...Marc Almond did Jackie much better. Sorry.

Better than the last Sonic Youth album on this list.

Dolly is lovely, and she has a great voice. But I really don't like this type of Country music, so on balance it's a 2

Very interesting album. Genuinely not sure if I liked it or not!

I'm sorry, but this was simply underwhelming

Strangely compelling and brilliant

Brilliant. Just brilliant!

A bit underwhelming, really. Sounds a bit like Talking Heads on an off day.

It's the B-52's.....how can it not be 5* ! Brilliant, weird stuff

Oh my goodness, that's AWFUL! The absolute worst, most dreary, and pretentious band of a truck load of similar bands; only a few of which were objectively 'good' ( by which I mean displayed talent rather than whether I liked them or not). I can only guess that whoever put this on the list was either related to one of the band or lost a bet. Terrible.

Not terrible, but just a pale imitation of Beatles work from a few years earlier

A one-joke act that got old really quick. Sing a slightly amusing song in the faux emotionally serious style of Scott Walker. Aaaaand repeat.

Here's a suggestion for the app developers. Give each person 10 All Time Best votes to use, alongside the normal 1-5 stars. Some albums just deserve more than 5 stars, and for me this is one of them. 6 Stars from me!

Bloody good album!

Mediocre.

A perfectly pleasant slice of early 80's UK pop, no doubt still being played regularly on mainstream "bland fm" radio stations. It took me back to a simpler time (ie my youth), which was nice, but in fairness I don't think it deserves to be on a 1001 Albums list.

Really good album! I was more into Blur at the time, but I think this stands the test if time perhaps a little more

It gets 4 stars simply for Immigrant Song, one of the best songs ever. The rest is just so-so bluesy rock.

Quite pleasant in an inoffensive way.

There are those who love Frank Sinatra, and those whose musical taste-buds haven't matured yet. Wonderful!

For a brief moment in time The Streets were very popular in the UK. A kind of musical punk-poetry that reflected it's era in a way that Ian Dury did (much better in my humble opinion) a couple of decades earlier). It never had any longevity, but was interesting at the time. Worthy of listening to.

I'm sure there's an audience for this. It's not me though!

THIS IS WHY I LOVE THIS APP!!! Wow!!! This isn't going to be for everyone, but I loved it!!! I'd heard of the band, but hadn't 'listened" to them before. There is very much a bjork style to the band, and I love the haunting vocals and almost cinematic music.

Wow...I did not expect that! Other than the Ramones, I've never been a fan of American punk. I guess it's what you grow up with. I was lucky enough to grow up during the original UK punk movement, and so I obviously tend to value that more. So, when I heard Bad Brains for the very first time today, I was very pleasantly surprised. The style and 'feel' of the sound was very much more aligned to 1970s UK punk (in my very humble opinion) and so I really enjoyed it. Thank you 1001 !

Nope. Generic and dull.

This is another one of those albums that I seem to be getting at the moment that is one great song and the rest of the album is 'meh'. Disappointing.

Excellent original UK punk. Really enjoyed it.

I can see this would appeal to some people, but it's not to my liking

Hardly earth shattering

Just wonderful. Bjork's music and voice transports me to a different world.

I wasn't expecting to like this, I've never really liked excessive prog rock stuff....and while I can see why some people liked it, to me it's only real benefit was to be one of the reasons that punk came into existence! That being said, this was a really nice album that engaged me fro start to finish.

Meh

Just bloody awesome! Early metal, and it's brilliant!

Wow! This is my 2nd Portishead album from the 1001, and I was just as amazed as the first time! I just love the sound and feel of them

OK, I love metal and I was a teenager when this album came out....so it was always getting a 5 score from me! BUT.....I also listen to and enjoy music from as many styles as I can and this why I'm here. Therefore I try to be a little more objective in my views. There is a reason that Iron Maiden are one of the most revered bands on the world of metal and even rock.....its because they are technically great, their songs are very well written and have interesting subject matter, their lead singer has a powerful and charismatic voice, and their album art is awesome! (OK, I only said I'll be 'more' objective haha!). This album absolutely fucking rocks 🤟🤘🤟🤘🤟🤘🤟🤘

4*

Some pretty good music.....and then Kashmir .....bloody good song!

That was wonderful! I like reggae but don't love it. However, the obvious genuine genius of Bob Marley lifted the whole album for me. I can't explain it better than that

I expected to go "Oh, this is a nice quaint revisit to olden days".....but it was really cool!

I try to listen to all the albums here, even if I don't like the genre...and I've had a few very pleasant surprises. This wasn't one of them. I really don't like Country music...and after one and a half songs from this album I had to turn it off. I couldn't even last the whole album.

It felt like it should be an important album.....but it wasn't. It was fine.

Raaaaaaaaaggghhhh!

Wow! I like Stevie Wonder...but that was awful!

Just lovely!

A nice journey back to the 80's for me

Not as bad as I feared it might be

Interesting, but I guess you have to be in the mood for it to really appreciate it. I wasn't.

I loved this album. The Ramones are, by far, the best non-British punk band.

Background music

A pleasant enough noise

Pretty damn good! It has a definite UK punk vide, and that's just what I like!

Very nice!

Some bands are lucky enough to have their own "sound" and no other band could ever sound like them. Madness is one of those bands. No matter what song comes on and even if you've never heard it before, you know it's Madness and you also know that at the very least it'll make you happier. Wonderful stuff.

Ooh, I wasn't expecting this! I was kind of expecting it to be ... we'll, I'm not sure really...but not this. A very pleasant ambient sound that you can either focus on and appreciate, or have it as background music whilst you concentrate on other things. I listened to this during a rare office base admin day, and so this was perfect for me. Not 'brilliant' but I'll definitely keep it for future listening again. THIS. IS. WHY. I. LOVE. THIS. APP !!!

Nope. This is sooooo not my type of music.

Very average Country music...to my ear anyway. I'm sure some will love it, but not for me.

Wow... I did not expect this! What a great album, and amazing that he more or less invented this genre! Love it.

Every now and again, you see some art or listen to an artist and suddenly see 'genius'. I always knew Peter Gabriel was really good, but he wasn't someone I would particularly follow or seek to listen to. This album made me hear his genius. Maybe not Bowie level genius, or Jackson, or Hendrix level but certainly up there amongst the most gifted.

Damn fine

Another great unexpected treat! My French isn't very good at all, but it doesn't need to be. The sound is so great, that the language simply doesn't matter!

Brilliant. I played this album to death when it first came out.

Nice background music.....but why is background music on a 'must listen to' list?????

I love punk and grunge and all those types of genre. However, when I listened to this album all I could think was that a bunch of rich kids had some music lessons paid for by their parents, along with some recording time. There was nothing really 'wrong' with their music, i just didn't feel the raw, hungry passion that the genre warrants.

He sounds a bit like ... Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and so on. Unfortunately, sounding a 'bit like' a genuine artist means that they aren't as good as that artist. I'm not really a fan of Dylan or Petty, but if I want to listen to someone who sounds like them....I'll listen to them!

It was "ok".

Oh dear. Kings of Leon have just gone from a band that I know a couple of songs from and enjoy, to band with an album full of very samey songs and a singer with a whiny voice! I wish I hadn't listened to this album :(

I haven't listened to this album in decades! Brilliant, innovative (for the time) stuff. 5 stars!!!!

Very nice easy listening. Not sure it's a 'must listen to' album - but I'm glad I did.

Not for me. It seemed self indulgent and dull. Sorry

Better than I expected! Courtney Love's reputation preceded her on this one with me and I was expecting rubbish. Good quality grunge.

Wonderful

Very safe, middle-of-the-road music suitable for repeat play on bland, generic radio stations. Nothing worth being on a 'must listen to' list

Wow! Fucking awesome! I'm not a Johnny Cash fan at all, but this album absolutely deserves to be on a 'must listen to list'. An old man, knowing he is close to the end, sings songs full of pathos, regret, sorrow, and wistful memories.....but boy can this old man sing! The emotion is so strong in this. (Caveat... except for Bridge Over Troubled Water, that one really didn't work for me). 6 out of 5 stars.

OK. So I'm a bit of an aging metal-head so I know that I'm biased. If this album were produced today would it hold up? Maybe not (except, obviously, Smoke On The Water which would be epic no matter when it was made). Is it a key part of the journey that rock made towards more modern metal? Hell yeah! Still sounds pretty damned good to me

Bloody brilliant. The lyrics of Weller were just so clever and visceral. In "Down at the Tube Station..." he describes a group hanging around as smelling "like pubs, and Wormwood Scrubs, and too many right-wing meetings". (Wormwood Scrubs being an infamous London prison). Just incredible! The Jam were very popular in the UK and still get a lot of air play, but their depth and social commentary were so much more than just popular music!

Wonderful 80s rock from some absolute legends

Perfectly pleasant stuff

That was NOT what I was expecting! I was expecting the dull, safe, generic music that worked so well for them and feature daily on 'bland fm' radio stations. However, from track 1 I had to double check that I was listening to the right band! The guitar thing toward the end was completely out of place though

Not really my thing, but very clearly good within it's genre

I can see why some people don't like this music. As with lots of albums here, there is a context. The Slits were breaking new ground. This isn't what female bands had done before, and it happened in a time in UK (at least) where such rebellion was seen as a male domain. Many popular female uk bands either directly or indirectly attribute their success to ground laid by the Slits. Is it 'good' music? No. Is it meant to be? No. It was meant to challenge the system, and open new doors...and it succeeded at that. A good album? No. An important and influential one? Yes!

Having been lucky enough to see Queen live with Freddie at the helm in 1986. This album could only ever be a 5. I love the early stuff, but they had to evolve and I'm so glad they did!

I am a very casual Led Zep fan...in that I really like the popular songs. I didn't really like LZ IV when it appeared on this list...but I really enjoyed this album. Pretty damned awesome!

No-one can honestly say that there aren't some genres they like less than others. For me Rap is one of those. However, this albun was a very pleasant surprise for me. I can't say that I really heard the lyrics, but I really liked the overall musical sound of it all. I shall listen to this album again

I try to listen to all the albums with an open mind, even if I don't like the genre (and I don't like country). However, this just sounds like generic, dull-radio-play stuff to me. Awful

Awful! Well done to them for catching the zeitgeist of 1990 and making the most of their 30 seconds of fame....but this would have sounded dated and infantile even a couple of years later.

Perfectly pleasant, bland, alternative rock fare that blends into the background on generic radio stations. Not a 'must listen to' album though

A nice 'background noise' album, that couldn't be more indie 80's if it tried (and it did try!).

Dull. Safe. Middle of the road.

Perfectly pleasant....but not earth shattering

Dull. I've already forgotten it.

Wow. That was unexpected. I went into this cold; I'd never heard of the band and I didn't read the reviews. And I'm really pleased that I didn't! After the initial confusion/surprise I really got into it. Did I like it? I honestly not sure. Does it deserve to be on this list? Hell, yes!

Ok

Just beautiful

Another great reason for using this app. I would NEVER have listened to an album called Bongo Rock. Never! It's huge fun, but really good....and has been sampled sooo many times! Loved it

Well I managed to make it half way through the album...... and that's about the best thing I can say about it. Overproduced. No discernable talent displayed. Generic genre fluff. I would go as far as to say a cynical release based on the fact that they know people will buy it/listen because of who her sister is. Awful.....and most definitely NOT an example of how wonderful, varied, brave, and challenging music can be. To summarise, in case i was too polite: I didn't like it.

Brilliant. Being a massive Queen fan, I obviously saw their influence on this band. I was lucky enough to see Muse live, and their show adds even more dimensions to their work. However, this is a review if an album....and I love this one!

I think my expectations were a little high here; I only know his most famous songs and his rock/style god status and so was expecting to be blown away. However, what I got was a very nice album with clear Prince and Lennon influences...that if my expectations weren't so high, I would be waxing lyrical about. My bad, but only 4 stars from me today.

It was fine

Really cool!

I like all the artists and styles that soundsystem have very obviously been influenced by....and so after initially wanting to hate it, I really quite liked it. Nice

I liked this much more than I expected to

Wow! Everything I hate about Country music, all rolled up into one album! I've listened to around 300 albums on this list, and I think this is only the second time (including a few Country albums) that I stopped listening part way through. I try to be as objective as I can when listening to new/different stuff....but I just hated this.

Just lovely, easy, smooth listening

I LOVED this! Great sound, energy, and happiness. i listened to more of them and similar bands for the rest of the day.

Nice

I can understand why people don't like this; it's definitely not designed to appeal to everyone. That is why I love this app....it makes me listen to stuff I wouldn't normally listen to and even if I hate it, at least I've given it a try. Sometimes I don't like the music, but can appreciate the genius of the artist....sometimes I just think the music is average or below average for that genre. On a personal level, I would rather listen to something challenging or different that doesn't quite hit the mark, than listen to generic bland music....but wouldn't the world be dull if we all had the same taste? However, I LOVE Bjork and so this was an easy 5 for me.

Nope. Average at best

Pretty cool stuff

If music was a colour, this would be beige....but a particularly dull version of beige. I'm sure it has an audience, but it certainly isn't me!

Nice

Not a bad copy of the uk punk scene from a few years earlier.

I generally listen to my albums from here whilst completing admin at work, so Sepultura was a bit of a blast! I love metal, and will definitely listen to them again at the gym 💪 Great stuff