Journey in Progress
Discovering music one album at a time
391
Albums Rated
3.3
Avg Rating
40
5-Star Albums
36%
Complete
698 albums remaining
Rating Speed
7
Per Week
390
Days Active
Reviews
391
Written
100%
Review Rate
vs Global
0.03
Avg Diff
3.3
Avg Rating
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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
2000s
Favorite Decade
New-wave
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Balanced
Rater Style
10
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penthouse And Pavement | 5 | 2.62 | +2.38 |
| Back to Basics | 5 | 2.75 | +2.25 |
| Survivor | 5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
| Beach Samba | 5 | 2.92 | +2.08 |
| Germfree Adolescents | 5 | 3.04 | +1.96 |
| Hypnotised | 5 | 3.06 | +1.94 |
| Armed Forces | 5 | 3.09 | +1.91 |
| Close To You | 5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
| Rid Of Me | 5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
| Tank Battles | 4 | 2.12 | +1.88 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Change | 1 | 3.33 | -2.33 |
| You Want It Darker | 1 | 3.33 | -2.33 |
| Rain Dogs | 1 | 3.2 | -2.2 |
| Heartattack And Vine | 1 | 3.07 | -2.07 |
| Rage Against The Machine | 2 | 4 | -2 |
| Swordfishtrombones | 1 | 2.95 | -1.95 |
| Kick Out The Jams (Live) | 1 | 2.91 | -1.91 |
| Gris Gris | 1 | 2.88 | -1.88 |
| White Light / White Heat | 1 | 2.88 | -1.88 |
| Millions Now Living Will Never Die | 1 | 2.87 | -1.87 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and high weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Beach Boys | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Green Day | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and low weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Waits | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Beck | 2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
5-Star Albums (40)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Neil Young
3/5
I really don't like his voice, but the songs were OK, I guess. I fail to see why we have already listened to 3 Neil Young albums because I really don't feel like any of them were that spectacular.
4 likes
Flamin' Groovies
2/5
Eh. I've heard a million albums that sound like this. Did this have to make the list?
3 likes
Beck
1/5
I have never heard a more boring album. This took me over a week to get through because it was so boring. Would it kill Beck to make a song that was even somewhat effective at holding my attention? Can he please stop mumbling for at least one song? The worst part is that I don't think the music was objectively bad. I just think it sounds like he went into the recording studio and had zero enthusiasm for anything he was doing. I truly don't know how this album is a "must hear".
1 likes
Destiny's Child
5/5
The harmonies, the vocal runs, the chaotic beats mixed with smooth melodies all result in one of the most enjoyable albums ever made. 5 stars for sure.
1 likes
Van Morrison
2/5
Shockingly well-recorded for a live album from the 1970s, but I just really did not care for the music or his voice. On the Wikipedia page for this album, it said that this captured one of his best vocal performances... really?! THAT was a good vocal performance?! And people claim that singers nowadays can't sing....
1 likes
1-Star Albums (10)
All Ratings
Marvin Gaye
4/5
It's good! A lot of it feels the same, but I see why this is considered one of the greatest albums of all time. It is very sex-heavy, and I like that the album sticks to that theme with every song. I had only heard a couple of songs beforehand, and they weren't even my favorite songs on the album. The smooth backing vocals >>>. It is not the genre of music I would normally listen too though.
Isaac Hayes
2/5
The songs were just TOO LONG. They were good for a little bit but dragged. Especially the one where he was just talking for like eight minutes at the beginning. There is a reason why most songs on albums range between 2 and 5 minutes, and while good longer songs do exist, they need to be long for a reason. I did really like "Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic" and will probably listen to that song every once in a while though.
Kraftwerk
2/5
Some of these songs were just too long. They felt repetitive, and while I know the technology was groundbreaking at the time, overly simplistic. I liked the rolled r's on "robots" though haha
AC/DC
3/5
The shrieking is a bit much for me, but I enjoyed the album overall! It reminds me a lot of my dad, since he loves AC/DC and definitely owns and plays this album a lot (to my mom's chagrin). Highlights were "Shoot to Thrill," "Back in Black," and "You Shook Me All Night Long" although those were also the songs I was most familiar with, so that could be why I enjoyed them the most. I am not the biggest fan of Brian Johnson's voice, but the guitars/bass/drums were great. The album did feel like a lot of the same thing over and over. I think I'd give this 3.5, but I am rounding down bc I want more room at the top for better albums.
R.E.M.
4/5
The second half of the album was definitely better than the first half. If you started the album at Track 8 ("Ignoreland") and replaced "Star Me Kitten" with "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite", it would be perfect. I really loved "Ignoreland", "Man on the Moon", and "Nightswimming," and I think that this style of music is more in line with the music I typically enjoy listening to. Some of the early tracks were a little bit boring though.
Björk
3/5
I don't really know how I feel about this album. The instrumentals of the songs were all incredible, but I just cannot get over Björk's vocals. The melodies are too drawn out, the lyrics are run-on sentences, and she is almost never right on the beat, which I know is intentional, but bothers me. I think with vocals that I found more enjoyable this would be a 5/5 album. "Frosti", the only instrumental track on the album was such a sonically cool song, and I wish the whole album was more like it.
1/5
I did not enjoy this. The songs all sounded the same (except the last one, which just sounded bad). The singer's voice was awful. And if I had to hear the band say "thank you! thank you!" or "rama lama" one more time, I was going to lose it. It all just sounded like noise to me. I don't mind punk rock if it is a little more deliberately crafted, but this just didn't sound good IMO. Worst album so far I think.
Cream
3/5
It was fine! Nothing really stood out to me, but I found it enjoyable. The last song was unique, but not in a bad way, just unexpected.
King Crimson
3/5
Ok, the first song was torture. But after that, I really enjoyed the album! All the songs were really interesting to listen to and kept my attention. "Easy Money" was great, and I loved the way that "The Talking Drum" built up from nothing to be an ocean of sound, but my favorite was "Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part Two." I love it when people play around with time signatures in songs, and this song kept switching back and forth between 5/4 and 4/4 and even some 11/8 time, and it was just so fun to listen to. I am very torn about the album's rating bc I cannot emphasize enough how much I despised the first song.
The Cars
4/5
Pretty good! I knew most of the songs already, and I enjoy them. Some of them weren't the most exciting, but probably my favorite album so far.
Pearl Jam
4/5
I enjoyed it, and I liked the overall sound of the album. Idk I don't really have too much to say bc I was frantically studying for my physics exam when I listened, so I wasn't paying as close attention as normal. But I never wondered when it was going to be over, which cannot be said for most of these albums. I think the only song I recognized was "Even Flow."
New Order
4/5
Idk how I have never heard anything by this band before. I thought it was fun! A little repetitive maybe, but I enjoyed it. I liked how it was kind of a cross between dance and rock. The frogs in "The Perfect Kiss" >>>. No particular song stood out. I can't choose between 3 and 4 stars.
The Band
3/5
it was fine. not my kind of music but i enjoyed it!
The War On Drugs
3/5
This was lowkey kind of boring, but it sounded soothing and cool. I couldn’t pick out any individual songs that stood out though. Even though I literally JUST finished listening to the album, I couldn’t tell you the names of any songs or how they go. But I really did like the vibe!
Ramones
4/5
It was fun!!! I like a good fast-paced song that doesn’t overstay its welcome, and this album was full of those. THIS is the type of punk rock I like, not MC5 lol. some of those lyrics though… 😬
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
It was fine…. The music was kind of a vibe, especially the bass on that first song, but the singer was not great. I also didn’t like that one song where there was a ton of beeping in the left channel.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Listening to this reminded me of listening to this CD on a road trip when I was little. I love the songwriting on this album and the way their voices meld together. Plus, the live performance of "Bye Bye Love" was fun. This is my first 5/5 album!
Fairport Convention
4/5
I really enjoyed this more than I thought I would! “Matty Groves” was fun, and I liked what they did with the time signature in “Tam Lin”. And her voice was fantastic. There were just a couple instrumental parts that went on for too long.
The Temptations
3/5
It was kind of boring? Also the lyrics to "I Ain't Got Nothin'" were just bad. But there is no denying that it is good music and that their voices are phenomenal. It's just not for me. Also, "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" did not have to be anywhere near that long.
Kings of Leon
3/5
Ok, I don’t know why I thought Kings of Leon was a one-hit wonder band from the 2010s (I thought “Use Somebody” was more recent than it is.) The album was fine? I didn’t love the singer’s voice, and I also didn’t like how multiple songs started with instruments panned all the way to one side. But some of the songs were fun enough!
Moby
3/5
It was better than I was expecting. I listened while working on an assignment, and it did help me focus. But god, was that first song annoying.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
It was pretty good! Lots of classic songs on there that I grew up listening to. Overall, no real notes other than it just isn’t the style of music I most enjoy.
Public Enemy
3/5
It was actually pretty good. I can tell that this album was hugely influential in hip-hop in the late 80s. I wish they would have less of that screeching noise that is in many of the songs.
Sisters Of Mercy
4/5
It was pretty good! "1959" was really boring though. I loved the backing vocals and how they were mixed in most of the album, but especially in "This Corrosion."
Robbie Williams
3/5
This album was a mix betweeeeeeen songs that i really enjoyed (“Let Me Entertain You”) and the type of songs that i had foreseeeeeen: kind of annoying and simple songs (“Clean” which had the worst lyrics).
Beck
2/5
I did not enjoy this at all. Every song had me thinking "when will this song be over?" and at the end of every song, I was praying it would be the last one. At least it didn't completely offend my ears? But I would not listen again.
The Sonics
3/5
This was pretty fun! Lots of classic rock standards that I recognized. I enjoyed it but it wasn’t my favorite.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
I did not like this as much as I thought I would. A lot of the songs felt the same, and I thought her vocals were mixed too quietly a lot of the time. "Rehab" was great as always, but I just don't love her style of music. I felt like a lot of the backing tracks sounded a lot like Lily Allen's first album, which was released only a few months before this one. Maybe that was just what albums sounded like in 2006? Idek what I am saying anymore.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Honestly better than I was expecting. I like how they didn't take themselves too seriously. I was familiar with more of the songs than I realized by looking through the tracklist. I could've done without a lot of the misogynist and homophobic lyrics, but I have heard that they have since apologized for many of them, so I guess that helps.
Gang Of Four
3/5
It was fine! But it was hard to focus on. I liked what I heard though.
Richard Hawley
2/5
I was just kind of bored the whole time. He sounded fine, just it was not my type of music. It really dragged.
The Fall
3/5
It's-uh not my favorite-uh album-uh. The music-uh was decent enough-uh, but what-uh was that singer-uh doing with his voice-uh. He did not hit-uh a single pitch-uh correctly lol, and his-uh pronunciation was-uh... interesting to say the least-uh.
Supergrass
5/5
I really enjoyed this one! I thought that the music itself was all super fun, and I just liked the overall vibe. I was not expecting to know a song on this album, but there was "Alright." I am torn between 4 and 5 stars.
Soft Machine
1/5
This was so difficult to get through. Every song was at least 15 minutes too long, and there weren't enough interesting changes to make the length worth it. It took me multiple tries to finish listening to it.
Skepta
4/5
Very listenable. This is not the type of music I would normally listen to, but I really enjoyed it. I liked the phone calls/skits that were near the ends of certain songs.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
I really enjoyed this one! Her voice is so pure, and her melodies are really satisfying to listen to. She kind of reminded me of Carole King. I'll be listening to more Joni Mitchell for sure.
Beastie Boys
3/5
Still fun to listen to, like the other Beastie Boys album. I feel like it is missing some of the innocence of the other album though.
Christina Aguilera
5/5
Of course Christina’s voice is fantastic! There wasn’t a single song that I didn’t enjoy, and most of the album (all but three songs) were new to me. This felt like two completely separate albums, and I honestly feel like the album would’ve benefited by being released as two separate albums. It was almost too much Christina at once. Especially since the two halves of the album are so stylistically different from each other, I think two 30-40 minute albums would’ve been better than one almost 80 minute album. But anyway, this is 4.5 stars for me.
Crowded House
4/5
The music was pretty good! It was just a little boring at times. Overall, not too bad. I am trying to figure out where I know the song “Fame Is” from because it sounded SO familiar, but as far as I know, I have never heard anything from this band before, and “Fame Is” was not one of their more well-known songs. Idk!
Pixies
2/5
This is just not my type of music. There were a few good songs in there, but I didn’t love the lead vocalist’s style of singing. 2.5 stars
Radiohead
4/5
I enjoyed this one. I had only listened to a few songs by Radiohead before (“Karma Police” being one) but I knew I liked their style of music. I really appreciated the variety of songs, and I think that “The Tourist” is my new favorite Radiohead song. I didn’t want the album to end.
The Kinks
3/5
Some of the panning made me a little uncomfortable, but otherwise, this album was fine? I’m running out of new things to say in these reviews.
Beatles
4/5
It's a pretty solid Beatles album! I've definitely heard all of these songs before, although there were only a couple that I am particularly familiar with. The Beatles are the biggest band of all time for a reason: their music is good! It did feel a little unoriginal style-wise, but I think that is more because other bands took inspiration from the Beatles, and less of the other way around.
Talking Heads
4/5
I feel like their music makes me want to move! I don’t always love David Byrne’s voice, but I liked the songs on the album.
Dire Straits
4/5
I love the musicianship in this band. A coupon of the songs were a little boring and too jazzy for my taste, but the ones that were great were really great.
X-Ray Spex
5/5
What a fun album! Poly Styrene’s voice has such a forceful character that works perfectly for the music. This is definitely a 4.5 star album for me.
Daft Punk
3/5
I don’t normally like to listen to this genre of music, but I didn’t hate this. It made me feel super productive, and even though it was over an hour long, it felt very short.
Frank Sinatra
2/5
There is no denying Frank Sinatra’s talent, but wow this was boring. I do not need to hear slow song after slow song after slow song. Love his voice though.
Fred Neil
3/5
It was fine? 60's folk is not my favorite genre, but I didn't hate this album. I did kind of space out during a lot of it, which means it wasn't so bad that it was distracting, but it also wasn't good enough to hold my attention.
U2
5/5
I love this album! The music is arranged so well, and I just love the U2 sound. Almost no notes.
4/5
I love a good 80s pop album. It was fun! And certainly wasn't boring.
Calexico
3/5
This was mid. It was kind of boring, and not really what I was expecting, but it wasn't horrible.
John Prine
3/5
Not my favorite style of music, but I like lyrics that try to make a political statement. The lyrics add +1 star to what I was going to rate it.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
It was pretty good! I don’t love Led Zeppelin’s style of rock in general, but I didn’t hate this. I really enjoyed “Kashmir” especially. I think an hour and 22 minutes felt too long though, especially since most of the songs were so similar.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
I loved her style of singing and her smooth, low voice! Plus a lot of her songs were really fun to listen to. Her career started to take off when she was in a touring production of Hair in the late 60s and you can lowkey tell that that style of music was an inspiration (which imo is a good thing.)
Keith Jarrett
3/5
It was good background music! I don’t enjoy when there isn’t a lot of variety in music, so this was kind of boring, but it was very impressive. I feel like I should have enjoyed it more than I did. I did NOT like the singing/mouth noises that were faintly audible sometimes.
Muddy Waters
3/5
I don’t love this style of music, but he does it well! It did not drag at all.
Frank Black
3/5
It was better than the Pixies album, but I still didn’t love his voice. I appreciated the short songs, but there were just so many of them!!! The vibe from the album cover vs the vibe of the songs themselves did not match.
Soundgarden
4/5
I liked, but didn't love this. I love a good rock album with fun time signatures in different songs though so this fulfilled that!
Germs
2/5
Not my favorite. I couldn’t understand anything that the vocalist was singing, and not in a good way. It did begin to grow on me though, the further into the album I got. 1.5 stars
Nina Simone
3/5
I felt like she was singing directly to me. I enjoyed this much more than I was expecting.
Roxy Music
3/5
It was fine? I didn’t love the lead singers voice, but I mostly liked the music. I did like how the instrumentation included some instruments not commonly heard in rock bands.
Bad Brains
4/5
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
Bob Dylan
2/5
God, I cannot stand his voice. This album had some great songwriting and decent instrumentation, but it was ruined by his complete lack of singing ability.
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
Love it. I need to listen to more Arctic Monkeys. There was never a moment that I wanted the current song or the album to end.
The Police
5/5
I loved this album! Sting's voice is great of course, and I also really love the sound of the drums on the album. So punchy! There were no songs that I got bored with, and I would listen to the whole thing again for sure.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
It was fine, but a lot of the same thing over and over. I got bored and was ready for it to end. It wasn’t bad music though!
The Kinks
3/5
I liked the variety of music, but some of the songs were a little too jaunty for my taste. I didn’t love the singer’s voice either.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5/5
I love this! Definitely one of my favorite albums we have listened to so far. I will be adding Yeah Yeah Yeahs to my Spotify rotation for sure. Fun songs, a great voice, what more could I want?
Deep Purple
4/5
For sure the best live album so far. Great music, but some of the arrangements were just painfully long. I did like that part where the singer was imitating the guitar. That was cool. 3.5 stars rounded up.
Various Artists
4/5
Phil Spector sucks obviously. (which is an understatement), but this album is a classic! I associate the music on here with so many good memories, and it has so many talented singers and musicians. -1 star for the track of Phil Spector speaking.
Richard Thompson
4/5
I enjoyed it! It was very English folk, like the Fairport Convention album, but I think i liked the Fairport Convention one better. Still, I thought the songs were all good and I really enjoyed Linda Thompson’s voice.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
How unique! I really am not sure how to rate this. I thought that it was actually pretty fun, and I liked a lot of the more experimental tracks (“Milk” was a particular standout), but I don’t really think I could listen to it all the way through again.
David Bowie
2/5
This was not my favorite tbh. I kind of got bored at some parts, but then some parts just had too much going on
Steely Dan
4/5
I don’t know that I loved the songs themselves, but this was just so satisfying to listen to. It was so well-produced and pieced together so perfectly. I enjoyed it!
Yes
3/5
Honestly, not too bad! I was very impressed with their musicianship, but prog rock isn’t my favorite genre.
Tom Waits
1/5
I’m trying to find one redeeming thing to say about this album: maybe the fact that it is over? Boring songs, a horrible, grating voice, bad lyrics, and too much spoken word. How is this guy’s music well-known?
Pink Floyd
4/5
I really enjoyed this! I love a concept album, and I was mostly able to follow the story. I thought that the album was well-written, performed, and produced. I didn’t love the style of some of the more “talk-y” songs? I’m not really sure how else to describe them. But other than that, I thought that this album was pretty good!
Judas Priest
3/5
Better than I was expecting! I’m not a huge heavy metal fan, but most of these songs were pretty good. “Breaking the Law” was actually one of the weaker songs on the album, I thought, but god is it catchy.
Alanis Morissette
5/5
This is one of my favorite albums of all time, so there is no hesitation in my rating it 5 stars. The songwriting >>>>, the authentic quality of her voice >>>. Every song is great, but “Forgiven” gives me chills every time. Ugh, I love this album.
Björk
2/5
Like last time, I love the production on the album. The string arrangements were great, and the whole sound design was really cool. I just cannot stand the way Björk lays out her melodies. They are so unsatisfying to listen to because they don’t ever really reach a satisfying ending. If this album did not include any vocals, it would be a 5 star album to listen to while doing other things. 2.5 stars
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
It was fine??? Idk, I got kind of bored, but these are all clearly very talented musicians and I know that their work was very influential.
UB40
2/5
It wasn’t awful, but it went on for way too long! At least a couple songs could’ve been cut, and that 12 minute song could’ve been significantly shortened. I’m so sick of this album LOL
Eagles
4/5
Better than I was expecting for some reason? It did not overstay its welcome, and it was enjoyable music!
The Beach Boys
5/5
Very listenable! This album was just so fun to listen to, and is so well-crafted. I could use a little less of the clicky percussion present in some of the songs but that is really my only note.
Billy Bragg
4/5
Actually pretty good! I liked this style of music and I especially liked how political the whole album was. I like political songs (as long as they are for the correct side lol)
Scott Walker
3/5
I thought that it felt longer than it actually was, but I really enjoyed this style of music. It was well-arranged and easy to listen to. His voice felt a little bit like he was doing an impression of someone though— something about it didn’t feel genuine and I can’t put my finger on it lol.
The Pogues
2/5
The overall vibe of this album was just annoying. I did not like the lead singer’s voice, and there is only so much Irish folk I can take. There were a couple songs that I might have been neutral about in isolation, but in the context of the album, it was all too much, and I just wanted them all to be over. Also, I’m typing this out as the final song plays, and it is just WAY too long without any major changes. It feels like it is dragging along. This gets 2 stars instead of 1 star for the “Waltzing Matilda” shout-out that brought me back to learning that song in elementary school.
Elvis Presley
4/5
I love how smooth his voice is, as well as the arrangements of many of the songs, especially “Suspicious Minds” and “Kentucky Rain”.
Talking Heads
4/5
I think I really like the Talking Heads. I don’t have many specific thoughts other than that I just really enjoyed this album, and I was sad that it ended.
Deerhunter
3/5
It was fine? Just kind of uninteresting to me, but not bad.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I enjoyed it, but I probably wouldn’t choose to listen to it again. I could recognize that it was good, but it wasn’t my favorite style of music.
Lou Reed
3/5
I liked the music, but couldn’t stand his voice. Also the children crying and screaming during “The Kids” was disturbing. I do like when music makes me feel emotions, but I don’t know if I liked that emotion.
Happy Mondays
3/5
The music was fun, but I didn’t love the singer’s voice. Also, I was definitely ready for the album to end long before it did. But I really did like the music.
The Roots
4/5
I really enjoyed this! That one spoken-word piece lasted too long but other than that, I thought that the album felt short despite being over an hour long.
4/5
I definitely enjoyed this more than the other David Bowie album we listened to. “Moonage Daydream”, “Ziggy Stardust”, and “Suffragette City” were my favorite songs from the album. I think that the album was pieced together very deliberately and effectively, which I appreciated even when many of the actual songs weren’t my favorite type of music.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
I really liked the music and vibe of some of the songs, but most of them went on for too long without any real need for their length. “emotional haircut” was a standout song for me.
The xx
5/5
I really liked the vibe of the album! I loved the sound design; it felt so immersive. And I also liked how most of the songs were duets, which isn’t common enough in pop music. I will definitely be listening to more by the xx in the future!
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
I like how I was constantly being surprised during this album. It was fun!
Johnny Cash
2/5
I'm honestly just not a huge Johnny Cash fan. I don't love his style of music, and I didn't like the parts of his personality that were showing when he was talking. I also just generally don't love live albums unless they are really well done. I can't deny that he and his band were talented, but this album wasn't for me.
Gil Scott-Heron
3/5
I vibed to this, and I really appreciated the keyboard playing. The second to last track with the spoken words was too long, but the rest of the album was pretty good. I just don't love jazz, but I liked this better than I like most jazz. 3.5 stars
The Killers
5/5
This album was just a lot of fun! I found myself grooving along to every song on the album, and of course, singing along to “Mr. Brightside.”
JAY Z
4/5
I vibed out a lot to this album, but I wasn’t really listening to the lyrics. I really liked the production, and it didn’t overstay its welcome, despite being over an hour long.
Television
3/5
This album was pretty average. There wasn't really anything I haven't heard done by other 70s rock groups, but I didn't hate it. I thought that "Torn Curtain" was particularly good, but the rest were just fine: not bad, but not amazing.
Stan Getz
4/5
Very relaxing vibes, almost too relaxing after half an hour of it. But overall, it was pretty enjoyable. I was very productive when it was playing LOL
The Avalanches
3/5
This wasn't awful. I liked how the whole album flowed together, but I definitely could not see myself listening to this again. Some of the samples definitely seem shoehorned in, but it was kind of cool to see so many come together like a puzzle. It just is not at all the kind of music I enjoy.
CHVRCHES
5/5
This was fun synthpop! I especially liked “Tether”. It had so many cool levels and was so high energy! I could definitely see myself listening to more by CHVRCHES.
Def Leppard
5/5
Sounds like stereotypical 80s rock LOL but I like it! This album gave me a lot of nostalgia because I used to listen to some of the songs a ton growing up (“Photograph” is one of my mom’s favorite songs). I especially liked the vocals, including the background vocals, which I thought were really well arranged.
The Who
4/5
I love the songs on this album, but most of them felt like they were missing an extra push, like they weren’t strong enough. “Acid Queen” needed way more energy in particular. I thought the entire album was put together very well, and even though I like the Broadway musical based on it better than the actual album, I still really enjoyed it.
Jurassic 5
3/5
It was fine! Not particularly groundbreaking, but I enjoyed it.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
This album had some real highs and lows. "Dogfight Giggle" was a real low. That was one of the most horrendous noises that my ears have ever suffered through. Idk why he put that on the album. A high was that medley that he put close to the end of the album. In particular, the "Cool Jerk" part of the medley in 7/4 time was very enjoyable, and I could see myself listening to that track again. There were a lot of questionable choices made of this album, and some of them landed but many didn't.
Common
2/5
It was fine? I didn’t feel like it was particularly unique. Also for a rapper who is supposed to against homophobia, he sure used the f slur a lot.
Rage Against The Machine
2/5
It wasn’t awful, but I probably wouldn’t listen again. I don’t normally love metal.
Talk Talk
3/5
It was okay! I like this style of music (SO 80s), but nothing really stood out to me. In fact, a day late I can barely remember any specifics, so that means it must not have been particularly bad or particularly amazing. I enjoyed the guy's voice, but some of his vocal stylings not my favorite.
The B-52's
5/5
This album is just fun!!! I don’t think it is possible for me to listen to this and not feel happy. I love how they embrace the weirdness of some of their songs and somehow make them cool.
Nitin Sawhney
4/5
I enjoyed this! Would I listen again? I don't know. But the entire time it was playing, there was never a moment when I was wondering when it would end. I thought it was interesting how the album ended around the same place it began. I just was kind of vibing the whole time.
Lou Reed
3/5
Honestly, not too bad! I enjoyed most of the songs, but I just really don't like his talk-y style of "singing". Also that last song was kind of hard to get through.
Travis
4/5
Honestly, I really enjoyed this one! I was worried that it was going to be a Mumford & Sons style folky album, based on the album cover and name of the album, so I was pleasantly surprised when it was a lot more rock/pop. I'd listen again!
Tricky
3/5
It was fine? I vibed during it, but I didn’t think it was particularly groundbreaking or incredible.
The Mamas & The Papas
5/5
This album is just so comforting! I could listen to it on repeat. Those backing harmonies are so locked in, and the entire recording has a warm feeling to it that really works.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
This was just kind of boring. I wanted it to be over.
The Zombies
4/5
This was pretty good! It sounded like the type of Beatles songs that I like.
Gang Starr
3/5
I think I’m getting sick of 90s hip hop albums. This was enjoyable enough though, although it is funny to hear them say “slay” so much before it gained its current slang meaning.
Snoop Dogg
3/5
I enjoyed it! Some of the lyrics were a lot and it would be nice if he didn’t keep calling women “hoes” or “bitches”, but I didn’t mind most of the songs.
Traffic
2/5
I got kind of bored tbh. It was not bad music, just not exciting at all.
Brian Eno
2/5
I thought this was really creative! Would I listen to this again? Probably not. Did I enjoy it? Kind of…?
Elliott Smith
4/5
I really liked the effects that they put on his vocals. The vibe was a little depressing but I was enjoying it.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
I liked his voice a lot, and I especially liked the variety of sounds on the album. I think that a few songs could’ve been cut for time, but honestly they were all pretty good.
Nirvana
3/5
There were definitely a couple of iconic songs on here, and I can see why this album would be included on the list. I just don’t like a lot of the more scream-y songs personally. But it wasn’t bad!
Youssou N'Dour
2/5
Every song was definitely too long. I enjoyed it, but it felt repetitive. It was a nice change compared to the rest of the albums though.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
This was pretty good! Lots of well-known songs on here, and I thought the songwriting was great.
Destiny's Child
5/5
The harmonies, the vocal runs, the chaotic beats mixed with smooth melodies all result in one of the most enjoyable albums ever made. 5 stars for sure.
Bad Company
4/5
It sounded like every other 70s rock band, which means it was good, but it didn't really stand out. 3.5 stars.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
It was fine! I think the songs could be more exciting though.
Koffi Olomide
3/5
I liked how this was something different than most of the albums that we have received on this list. I did feel like everything went on for a little bit too long, but none of it was bad.
Solange
3/5
I enjoyed this, but I felt like it didn’t really go anywhere. It was just at the same level throughout, and there weren’t really any energy peaks or valleys. I could’ve used some more variety.
Duke Ellington
4/5
This was pretty nice music to study to. It was interesting and not what I’d normally listen to at all. It definitely stands up to the test of time.
Beatles
4/5
There were some great songs on here, but there were also plenty of songs that probably should’ve been cut from the album. I think the issues I had with this album stemmed from the fact that there was nobody who would say no to their ideas.
Eagles
2/5
This album didn't have the peaks and valleys of energy I was looking for. It wasn't all that interesting, but it wasn't awful either. I'd say 2.5 stars.
Dead Kennedys
4/5
At the beginning of the album, I wasn’t feeling it, but by the end, I was definitely feeling the energy of the album. It won me over. I liked how consistent this album was, and it didn’t overstay its welcome.
Radiohead
3/5
There were some great songs ("Weird Fishes", which is my favorite Radiohead song) and some songs that sound like they exist only to be unique.
Carpenters
5/5
I love the silkiness of the vocal harmonies. Something about 1960s pop just always is so soothing.
Waylon Jennings
2/5
This was not enjoyable at all. It was just boring to me, and I just really don’t love the twang LOL. not awful but certainly not good.
Parliament
3/5
Very funky! I didn’t like whatever was going on in that last song.
Linkin Park
4/5
I think that this was a little too much 2000s energy for me LOL, but I really appreciate how this album (and other Linkin Park music) influenced albums I really enjoy. I can especially tell that early Avril Lavigne took some inspiration from Linkin Park, but I think she did it better than them.
2/5
This was too much Devo for me. I'm not a huge fan. Although I have had "We are Devo. D-E-V-O" stuck in my head for the past day LOL
Joe Ely
2/5
Too much honking, too much tonking, too much country.
Beatles
4/5
The panning was tough, but otherwise this was a great album! I love all the covers.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Pretty good! I wish they would’ve gone a little bit more experimental with some of the instrumental, but I really loved the overall vibe.
Paul Simon
3/5
I wasn’t feeling this tonight. Something about his voice was grating to me, which is odd bc I really liked the Simon + Garfunkel album that we listened to before. I liked how South African music was incorporated into his style of music though.
Elvis Presley
3/5
It was fine! A little too much of the same throughout the album, but nothing bad.
Jethro Tull
4/5
It was better than I was expecting! I really liked their use of the flute, especially in “My God.”
Garbage
5/5
I love this! I need more Garbage in my life. I love the lead singer’s voice too.
ABBA
4/5
It’s ABBA so of course it is a lot of fun! Catchy songs, nice vocals, but it was almost sickeningly sweet by the end of the album bc I had been so overloaded with ABBA.
GZA
2/5
I don’t really think I was in the mood for this today. It was fine, I guess? I just never got into it.
Manu Chao
4/5
Honestly, this was pretty good! None of the songs really felt the same, and I liked the overall vibe. I’ll probably listen to some more Manu Chao.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
2/5
I did not love this. There was this weird pitch-shifted "Alvin and the Chipmunks" vocal double that was panned to the right on multiple songs, which I absolutely hated. At one point, I started thinking, "Okay, maybe I am kind of enjoying this now. I've liked the last couple songs" only to find out that Spotify randomly decided to switch to playing a shuffle of other similar songs in the middle of the album. Every song that I had thought I had liked was not actually on the album. It wasn't completely irredeemable, so I will reluctantly give it 2 stars.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
This was pretty fun! I don't normally love this type of music, but it did make me want to move.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Honestly way better than I was expecting! I loved the energy.
Funkadelic
3/5
Very funky! I did not like that one song that had the guy saying stuff and everyone else repeating it. But overall pretty good. I probably wouldn’t listen again though.
Dr. John
1/5
Wow, I did not enjoy this at all. It just was not in a style that I am interested in, and was really poorly mixed, even by 1960s standards. I can’t imagine making music, and choosing this genre and these songs to be what you record and release.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
I’m not really into the slow, smooth style of most of the songs on this album, but there were a couple that I was able to get into (“In My Bed”, “Amy Amy Amy”). I really still don’t get all the Amy Winehouse hype though.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
I thought this was pretty good! I liked the callbacks to the first two songs in the last two songs. I still don’t love Paul McCartney’s voice, but it is good enough.
Green Day
5/5
This was the perfect energy for today. These songs are just fun to listen to and fun to sing along to. This is one of very few albums that I think is too short. I want more!
Wilco
3/5
I didn’t love the lead singer’s voice, but I liked the songwriting! I wasn’t feeling the vibe overall, but I think on a more depressing day, it would have been more fitting.
Louis Prima
4/5
I loved this! Louis Prima’s voice was very unique, and Keely Smith’s voice was so smooth. I loved the jazzy Broadway swing vibe.
The White Stripes
4/5
Did not love his voice, but I enjoyed the music. I liked the 11/4 section in “Take Take Take” bc I love when songs play with the time signature.
Dagmar Krause
4/5
I think I liked this? It was giving Sally Bowles in Cabaret, and I enjoy that musical so.... It certainly wasn't what I was expecting. I didn't really listen too closely to the lyrics but the lyrics I did hear were... interesting. 4 stars!
Sigur Rós
5/5
Wow, I loved this album! Very vibey, and just what I was in the mood for today. Despite it being 71 minutes long, it did not feel overly long. It was like 4.5 stars to me, so idk which way I should round.
Buzzcocks
4/5
This went by quickly! It was pretty fun, but nothing groundbreaking for me. I really liked the tone of the guitar on a lot of the songs. I'd listen again, but this isn't necessarily going to become a go-to album for me.
Goldfrapp
4/5
I really liked her voice! This would normally be exactly the kind of album that would be a 5 star album for me, but something about the songs themselves just dragged on for a little too long. I kept hoping for something a little more exciting.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
This was pretty okay! There was never a moment that I wished I wasn’t listening to this, but I also wasn’t particularly drawn in by any songs. I did enjoy the few songs that I knew.
Blondie
5/5
Yessss!!! Loved this. The energy, her voice, everything. I could listen to Blondie all day.
Kid Rock
2/5
The worst part about listening to this album was that I was actually enjoying the sound of it. If only his lyrics were better or he was a better person. I feel like I can’t give 1 star bc I didn’t really hate it, but I refuse to go higher than 2.
The Crusaders
2/5
This was nice to listen to, but I did get bored of it after the first song. It didn’t really grab my attention at all.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
I think I liked this better than the other Bob Marley album we recently listened to. In each song, it was nice how it sat on the same idea for a while, but then by minute 2, I was ready for some other new ideas.
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
This album started off so strong! I was liking the alt-rock vibes, but then it went downhill from there. It wasn't too bad, and some songs were really enjoyable, but there were a few that just went on forever for no reason, and just made me feel annoyed and a little sad.
Khaled
4/5
This was pretty good! I really did not like the cover of "Imagine" because I thought their voices did not blend well at all, but all the solo songs were pretty good. Most songs were pretty catchy and kept me entertained without going on too long. Shockingly, despite the length, I did not think this album felt too long. I enjoyed listening to this because I have no idea how I would even happen to come across this if it hadn't been for 1001 albums.
Neil Young
2/5
I enjoyed his songwriting, but really did not enjoy his voice. I probably wouldn’t listen again.
Jack White
2/5
I remember not loving this album, but also not hating it. It just didn't feel noteworthy, and not a single song from it has stayed in my head since I listened.
Pere Ubu
2/5
I really did not like most of this, especially the ending of "Sentimental Journey." The vocals just made me uncomfortable. I'm all for art rock, but at least make it a little listenable!
Eminem
3/5
If I don't listen to the lyrics too closely, this would be pretty good! Unfortunately, I had to listen to Eminem's thoughts about women and sex a little too much for my taste.
Pink Floyd
4/5
This was really good! It is very rare that I will listen to 25 minutes of the same song (split into two parts at the beginning and end of the album) and never get sick of it. I think conceptually, “The Wall” is definitely better than this album, but I liked the sound of this one better.
Beastie Boys
3/5
The more Beastie Boys we listen to, the less I enjoy it. I did really like that multi-part song at the end though because I liked the variety. But I'm just sick of this group.
John Martyn
3/5
I could not stand this guy’s voice, but the music was pretty inoffensively fine.
The Young Rascals
3/5
This was pretty good, but not as exciting as I would’ve hoped. I enjoyed it, but probably wouldn’t listen again because it wasn’t anything special.
OutKast
3/5
Honestly, I was hoping to enjoy this more. I mean, it was pretty good, but definitely wayyyy too long and not as exciting as I was expecting. “B.O.B.” was good though
Fugazi
2/5
Ugh, I hated this guy’s voice, and most of this just seemed loud just for the sake of being loud. Not my favorite.
The Cure
3/5
Pretty decent but not all that interesting. It was good background music for folding laundry though!
Fats Domino
3/5
Fun! But wouldn’t listen again. It did go by quickly though.
Aerosmith
3/5
It was fine! I don’t love Aerosmith but they do make listenable music. I feel like there have been a lot of albums I’ve been indifferent to recently, and this is one of them.
Holger Czukay
4/5
Woah, I thought I was going to hate this, but I actually enjoyed it quite a bit! It was great music to walk to and kind of space out during. A lot of art rock that I've heard has been quite unpleasant to listen to, but there was never any moment where I wasn't enjoying this.
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
The problems I have with live albums mostly boil down to awkward crowd interaction and poor recording quality, and this album (for the most part) had neither of these issues. I just wish they spent a little less time on each song so they could do more of them. But overall, not bad and pretty enjoyable!
Beck
1/5
I have never heard a more boring album. This took me over a week to get through because it was so boring. Would it kill Beck to make a song that was even somewhat effective at holding my attention? Can he please stop mumbling for at least one song? The worst part is that I don't think the music was objectively bad. I just think it sounds like he went into the recording studio and had zero enthusiasm for anything he was doing. I truly don't know how this album is a "must hear".
R.E.M.
3/5
Honestly, not too bad. "It's the End of the World As We Know It" was the worst song on there, but the rest were pretty OK! I'd say 3.5 stars, but I'm still in a bad mood from Beck, so I'll round down.
Gillian Welch
3/5
I really liked her voice, but this acoustic folk-y style of music really is not my favorite. A song or two in that style was good, but by track 3, I was ready for some more variety.
Joy Division
4/5
I liked the weird atmospheric vibe that most of this album had while still being rock. I can't really pinpoint much of what I liked or didn't like about this album, but it was pretty enjoyable.
PJ Harvey
5/5
Wow, I really liked this one! I think the last half of the album was stronger, and I really wish that her vocals had been more forward in the mix in the first half of the album. But I really loved the vibe of this one. 4.5 stars, rounded up bc I'm now in a good mood.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
This was just so good. It is always fun to listen to Aretha Franklin's vocals, and there was some incredible songwriting on this album. "Chain of Fools" is such a catchy song.
Brian Eno
3/5
This was a weird album, but I kind of enjoyed it? I couldn't really tell. I went back and forth between loving it, hating it, and feeling indifferent toward it. I appreciate Brian Eno for being unique though.
Miles Davis
4/5
I really loved this! This was so easy to listen to, exciting, and refreshing. Plus it was great study music. I love vocals though, so that is why it is not getting 5 stars.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
This was going so good! I was really enjoying the orchestral power and the theatricality of the music, but then there was that weird song about "If you were a horse, I would clean the crap out of your stall...", "if you were a dog", etc. The lyrics turned me off so much that I'm taking my rating down an entire star.
The Jam
4/5
This was pretty good! It reminded me a lot of the 80s bands that my mom likes to listen to. Nothing really stood out as particularly amazing, but I did enjoy the whole album.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
He was so talented on the guitar, but he definitely could’ve cut a few tracks from this album. Some of his noodling felt pointless. Still super fun to listen to.
Girls Against Boys
3/5
This is not what I was expecting LOL. I wish the vocals were mixed a little louder, and this style of music is not normally my favorite, but I appreciated the production, and thought that the band sounded pretty good.
Tim Buckley
3/5
Something about the way his voice changed when he sang higher made me really uncomfortable. I did not really enjoy this, although I did like some of the songwriting.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
This was fun! Unfortunately (and this was definitely mostly to do with me being home from college), this album led to a week-long procrastination of album listening, so it loses a star for that. But I really did enjoy this! I would never listen to salsa music normally, so I appreciate getting the chance to hear this.
Adele
5/5
Absolutely incredible! Each song is unique, perfectly sung, emotional, and so catchy. I could listen to Adele for hours and hours.
Beach House
5/5
I loved the floaty feel of this album! Out of all the albums so far that were completely new to me, I think this one might be my favorite. Great, relaxing songs, and easy to listen to vocals.
Jeff Buckley
4/5
I actually really liked his voice and style of singing!
T. Rex
3/5
Didn't love the vibe. It almost felt cheesy to me. But it wasn't the worst!
Jeff Beck
2/5
Did not love this. I got bored. This just feels so similar to too many albums I have heard on here.
Guided By Voices
3/5
It was interesting! I appreciate the shortness of the songs. I didn't like that the second I actually tuned into the lyrics I heard the f slur, but this seems to unfortunately be a common theme with many of these albums. Idk if I would listen again, but I appreciated hearing it once.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
I loved the voice of the lead singer omg! It was so angelic, and it contrasted well with a lot of the music. I really enjoyed this album. 4.49 stars... I think it just misses being rounded up to a 5.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
This was more exciting than the last Jimi Hendrix album. It was something I'm glad to have listened to, but will probably never listen to it again.
Rush
3/5
Wasn't my style, but entertaining enough! I thought the 20 minute song was varied enough to justify the length (although why not split it into multiple tracks?).
The Beach Boys
5/5
This was a fun album! I really love the sound of the Beach Boys, even if I didn't love some of the lyrics (the poor girlfriend in "She Knows Me Too Well"). I especially liked "When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)" and "Help Me, Ronda".
Kanye West
5/5
I think this was the best rap album I've ever listened to. It's a shame that he's a bad person. It was easy to listen to, didn't overstay its welcome despite its considerable length, and had lots of variety.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
2/5
Oh my god, I hated this. Bad voice, weird music. There is so much other better music from the 60s. Why is this here?
Lenny Kravitz
3/5
I was expecting more. It was surprisingly uninteresting to me. I was expecting more of a unique sound. I did not hate it though!
Ray Charles
3/5
This was pretty fun! The background choir reminded me of Christmas music from the 40s and 50s LOL. I'd listen again, but only if I was really in the mood for this type of music.
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
This was pretty enjoyable! I feel like a song or two could've been cut, but I really like their classical yet futuristic vibe.
The Who
3/5
I was disappointed in this! It wasn't a very creative album. There was nothing really groundbreaking. It was good music, but I feel like I've heard so many albums from before and after it that sound exactly the same.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
This was generally pretty good! Tbh I didn't really listen to a ton of the lyrics, but "Rock Box" sounded cool. It never got annoying, and although the beats were very simple, the songs always ended right as they were about to become too repetitive for me.
Solomon Burke
2/5
I really liked his voice, but unfortunately, I found the songs themselves to be kind of boring.
Ian Dury
3/5
I didn't really like the lyrics or his voice, but the music was varied and exciting! I liked "Sweet Gene Vincent", or at least the instrumental parts of it.
Suicide
3/5
Oh my god, that one song was so creepy: "Frankie Teardrop." This was overall a weird album and not really what I was expecting. I don't know that I enjoyed it, but I admire the unique quality of a lot of it.
Pavement
4/5
I like a good 90s indie rock album. This delivered, although I didn't think it was the most innovative album ever. Still, it was enjoyable.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
This was enjoyable! I don't know if I would listen again, but I did like the sound of the album as a whole. I don't think I'd ever heard a song by The Smashing Pumpkins before somehow, but I'd listen to more from them.
Pretenders
4/5
I really liked this! I LOVED her voice, although I didn't like the way it was mixed in a few of the songs.
The Verve
4/5
This was pretty cool! It did begin to feel a little repetitive (but then again, I listened to this near the end of my work day), but I generally enjoyed this style of music. I don't think I'd ever heard anything by them before.
Talking Heads
2/5
Honestly, disappointing. I expected more from the Talking Heads. It was fine, but not really exciting.
Stereo MC's
3/5
This was fine! Not all that groundbreaking, but. pretty good for 1990s hip hop album. There are so many albums that sound similar to this on this list though.
Steve Winwood
4/5
He is a very talented songwriter and musician! The one thing I will say is that I didn't fully vibe with the atmospheric vibe that was going on, but I am so impressed that he singlehandedly wrote, played, and mixed this whole album. I genuinely enjoyed it, even if it wasn't my perfect sound.
Goldie
4/5
I really really liked the sound of this! It was exciting, it made me feel productive, it reminded me a lot of music that I listen to outside of this project. Unfortunately every song went on for at least double the length it needed to be, which made everything feel super repetitive. There was no need for this album to be an hour and 53 minutes. It could've been less than an hour and still fit everything in, and I think it would've been a stronger album with less repetition! Today I learned I like drum and bass music.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Her voice is so powerful! Lots of great songs on here.
Tracy Chapman
4/5
I enjoyed her voice and the style of song, but I think there could have been more energy. I'd listen again though.
The Who
3/5
This was weird, and not always in a fun way. It was more annoying. I did enjoy hearing what would later become "Sparks" in Tommy during "Rael - Pt. 1 & 2"
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
I don't like his voice, but the album was ok! I don't know why Neil Young has multiple albums on this list with Crazy Horse because I feel like these albums aren't good enough to warrant multiple entries.
Tom Waits
1/5
This was horrible! How was Tom Waits ever popular?! The voice was painful to listen to, the songs dragged, and I really just couldn't wait for this to be over. I think if his voice was good, this would have been a 2 star album, but after hearing him sing, this immediately goes to 1 star. How does anybody enjoy this?!
The Monkees
4/5
This was fun! I like the Monkees, and I like how this album actually features them rather than studio musicians. Even the spoken word track was enjoyable (I think due to its rhythmic nature). I would say this was 4.5 stars rounded down to 4.
Steve Earle
3/5
I don't normally like country music, but if I had to listen to a country album, I wouldn't mind listening to this one. I liked his voice and the production of the album.
Talking Heads
4/5
I liked this Talking Heads album more than I liked the other ones we've listened to. I thought that the songwriting was really good, and I like how they have such a unique sound that you can instantly tell you are listening to the Talking Heads.
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
I liked this! It was exciting, and there was a good amount of variety. But why did that last song go on for 12 minutes?!
The Boo Radleys
2/5
I did NOT enjoy this at all. They really just let anyone put together 10-15 songs and call it an album. I felt like none of the songs went anywhere and there was no point to it.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
The songs were well-written and exciting! I just don't fully vibe with the style of the album.
Basement Jaxx
3/5
This was different than most of the electronic music we've listened to. I did not like "Same Old Show", but otherwise, the music kind of faded to the background. It wasn't bad; it just didn't stand out.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
This was boring. Why did they feel the need to speak so often? I was disappointed in this because I enjoy "Come On Eileen" so I was expecting more from this band.
Cornershop
4/5
This was pretty enjoyable! There was a good amount of variety on this album, and I liked the "Norweigan Wood" cover. I had never heard of Cornershop and did not know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Miles Davis
3/5
Why not split these tracks up? It wasn't bad though, just a little strange.
Os Mutantes
3/5
This was a fever dream LOL. I enjoyed some of the songs and sometimes their voices. I definitely liked "Le Premier Bonheur Du Jour" and there were a couple of others, but then some of them were just chaos.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
This was a pretty cool sound to start the day with! I enjoyed it and it was great background music, although I probably wouldn't listen again. I would have never been exposed to the music of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan if it hadn't been for this project, and I am glad that I have now heard it.
Tears For Fears
3/5
The three songs I knew were great! The rest not so much. His voice got pretty grating after a while.
4/5
I enjoyed this! I have found that I like a lot of the punk rock albums from the 80s that are on this list. They really know how not to waste my time and keep the energy up. I didn't think this was particularly original punk rock music, but it was fun!
Randy Newman
3/5
That first song really caught me off guard. I appreciate what he was trying to do with this album, and most of the songs were pretty enjoyable. I just personally don't like to listen to a white man singing racial slurs even if that man is criticising racism.
Serge Gainsbourg
2/5
This was a weird and creepy story. Why are the love interests in 60s and 70s songs often concerningly young? I didn't enjoy the singer singing in unison with the strings. I just kind of felt uncomfortable the whole time.
Steely Dan
4/5
Very old white man music, but it's good! They're very talented musicians and I like how they showed that you don't need to noodle to make good songs.
The Black Crowes
3/5
I didn't know I knew any of their songs, but I definitely knew "Hard to Handle" without knowing that that was the name of it. Pretty good!
Jane's Addiction
3/5
For some reason I always thought Jane's Addiction was a precursor to Maroon 5?! I don't know where I got that misconception. This was alright. I wouldn't listen again.
Massive Attack
4/5
Is it just me, or have we had multiple albums that sound exactly like this? Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed it, but it didn't feel fresh. What makes this album stand out was the interpolation of other songs (for example, "Here Comes the Sun", "Proud Mary), and that is what earns it the 4 stars. I'm being generous here.
N.W.A.
4/5
This is a classic! Honestly I was a little disappointed that it didn't feel super different than a lot of the other hip hop albums from this era that we've listened to. But "Fuck Tha Police" is great.
Metallica
4/5
I didn't think I liked Metallica, but I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. Maybe I do like Metallica.... I still think Rina Sawayama's cover of "Enter Sandman" is better though.
Venom
2/5
This is not for me! I really don't enjoy the style of whatever was going on there, but I'm sure this is a band my dad loves.
The Stone Roses
3/5
I was surprised I knew one or two songs on here! I liked the vibe this album was going for, and it sounded very clean. I just don't think it stood out all that much for me.
Van Morrison
2/5
Shockingly well-recorded for a live album from the 1970s, but I just really did not care for the music or his voice. On the Wikipedia page for this album, it said that this captured one of his best vocal performances... really?! THAT was a good vocal performance?! And people claim that singers nowadays can't sing....
fIREHOSE
4/5
I really really enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Short, varied songs from a band I've never heard of. I loved the tone of the bass guitar. I'd for sure listen again.
Neil Young
3/5
I really don't like his voice, but the songs were OK, I guess. I fail to see why we have already listened to 3 Neil Young albums because I really don't feel like any of them were that spectacular.
Happy Mondays
3/5
This was fine. I don't really know what else to say. Not groundbreaking, not bad, not exceptionally good.
The Smiths
4/5
I think I got the Smiths mixed up with another group bc I thought I didn't like the Smiths. I really liked this though! I enjoyed the songs and the lead singer's voice. I would definitely listen again. I was very surprised.
William Orbit
3/5
This wasn't bad, but it wasn't very novel or interesting. I'm not really sure why it is on this list. I did like some of the sound textures that were created on this album, but it did seem to be longer than necessary.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
I think it is funny that this album predates the alternate definition of "swinging" LOL. I liked the more upbeat feel of this album compared to the other one of his we listened to. This was more enjoyable than I was expecting, although he did manage to create the most boring version of "Anything Goes" I've ever heard.
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Not a fan. This was dull, and he didn't sound good. Plus, there was way too much harmonica.
Burning Spear
2/5
Eh. This got old quickly.
Nirvana
4/5
I see why they were popular. This hits hard, and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a classic for a reason. I've never actually listened to this whole album before, but I would definitely listen again.
Björk
4/5
I loved this! This was definitely her best album that we have listened to so far. I especially liked the final track. There was less weird, drawn-out phrasing (although it was present) and it all seemed more purposeful.
Sebadoh
3/5
This was fine. It wasn't the best album I've ever heard, but I didn't hate it. It was pretty unremarkable.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
I normally don’t love albums where they’re just kind of jamming, but this was alright! “Calvary” was definitely too long.
James Brown
3/5
He knows how to command a stage! This was short and sweet
Leftfield
3/5
I can’t see myself ever sitting down and just listening to an album of house music. This was okay, but it runs into the typical issue where it just keeps on going for no reason.
White Denim
2/5
It was just kind of boring. Not my favorite genre
The Doors
3/5
It was fine. I thought I hated The Doors, but I discovered I didn't mind them. I listened to this hours into a long drive, so that may have affected my opinion, but I'm not sure how.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
4/5
I really liked the 20 minute track, which surprised me. It was constantly fresh. The last half of the album wasn't nearly as good.
Frank Zappa
2/5
This was interesting. Not a huge fan, but it wasn't the worst thing I've ever heard. I thought Frank Zappa's music was supposed to be more weird.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
This band is STILL associated with Maroon 5 in my head for some reason. This was pretty good! Some of the songs were too long, but I did overall enjoy listening to it.
Leonard Cohen
1/5
Oh my God. This was torture. He wasn't even singing!!! He was just speaking, and not even speaking clearly. He was mumbling! And WOW was this album boring. Even at his best, Leonard Cohen was boring, but this is on a whole other level. Truly, I don't know who this album was made for. The whole album went by and not a single song stood out to me. I was just made deeply uncomfortable with his mumbling gravelly voice. God, I am glad this is done.
Chicago
4/5
I can tell they were having a lot of fun while making this album. I liked the creative use of the horn section, and while I did think that this album was longer than it could've been, I only found myself checking to see how much time was left a couple of times.
The Stooges
2/5
This wasn't fun to listen to. I did not like Iggy Pop's voice, and the whole album felt very one-note.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
This was pretty good! I probably never would've listened to this without this project, so I'm glad I heard it, but I probably won't revisit it. It was nice music for listening to while I was doing work.
The Lemonheads
5/5
I really enjoyed this album! This might be my first time ever saying this, but I honestly thought that most of the songs were too short. I wanted more! 4.5 stars, and idk how to round it.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
This was fun! I love "Sir Duke" of course. I feel like I don't have very many comments LOL but I enjoyed it, and I would listen again.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
2/5
This was fine, I guess. All of the songs on this album and the other Bob Marley album we listened to sound the same to me.
Coldplay
5/5
I always thought Coldplay was kind of boring, but I really really enjoyed this album! I was very pleasantly surprised. This may have turned me into a Coldplay fan somehow???
Mike Ladd
2/5
There were some clever lyrics in here, but I'm not gonna lie, this wasn't anything special. Like it wasn't bad, but I also really don't see why this made the list.
The Undertones
5/5
This was great! There wasn't any track on her that I didn't enjoy. I would definitely listen to more by the Undertones. This is a 4.5 star album, but I'm in a good mood, so I'm rounding up.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
This was pretty good. I liked how it didn't stick around for too long. I'm not a huge fan of Tom Petty's voice, but I liked the songs.
Afrika Bambaataa
3/5
Pretty cool to hear an earlier hip hop album than most of the ones we've had on the list. This sounded SOOO 80s LOL, but it was not bad! Nothing special though.
Sepultura
2/5
I really don't like the growl vocals. But the instrumentals were pretty cool! I tuned a lot of this out gotta be honest.
Ananda Shankar
4/5
This sounded pretty cool! It was a really interesting mix of early 70s psychedelic rock and Indian rock. Normally I don't love albums where it's a lot of instrumental noodling, but I listened to this as I was doing work, and I really enjoyed it. This is not something I ever would've discovered without this project, and I would definitely listen to this album again.
David Bowie
3/5
This was one of the better David Bowie albums we have had. It was kind of unremarkable though.
k.d. lang
2/5
I really did not enjoy this. I thought I was going to like this because I like "Constant Craving" but this style of music just felt cheesy to me. I was very disappointed.
The Temptations
3/5
This was good! I like the earlier stuff by the Temptations better though.
The Police
4/5
I didn't remember The Police having such a reggae-inspired sound, but I liked it! Of course, there were a few songs on here I knew, and they stood out, but I thought that all of the songs were pretty well-written and well-performed.
Green Day
5/5
I love this of course! Most songs on this album sound kind of the same, but I love the sound. I could listen to 2000s punk/pop punk all day.
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
This was pretty relaxing music to work to. Would I listen again? Probably not. Was it exciting? No. Did I enjoy it? Yeah, I guess so.
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
This was pretty good. I definitely like 60s psychedelic rock better than 70s psychedelic rock, but it was still a little too rough around the edges for me (which I know is intentional, but still).
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
This was better than the other CCR album we had, but it was still kind of a slog. I'm not a fan of the lead vocalist's voice, and I feel like a lot of the songs dragged, but there was no point at which I necessarily really wanted the album to end.
Derek & The Dominos
2/5
This is the overdone 70s rock that I'm sick of. I also dislike Eric Clapton. I'm also not in a great mood LOL. I wanted this to end.
The Cult
3/5
This sounded very imitative of a lot of other 80s hard rock. Like, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't special. I didn't feel like they did anything on this album that I hadn't heard before.
Norah Jones
5/5
I think I've only ever heard one Norah Jones song in my life before this, but this was really good! Her voice is just so soothing and smooth, and the whole album was really nice listening.
The Incredible String Band
2/5
This is so 60s, and not in a good way. There were some parts where I thought that the vocalists might be tone deaf. But the instrumental arrangements were kinda cool I guess.
Living Colour
4/5
This was pretty enjoyable! It felt fresh the whole time, and I really liked the production style of the guitars.
Cheap Trick
4/5
For a live album, this was pretty good! It didn't overstay its welcome, unlike most live albums, and there wasn't too much talking in between songs. The recording quality was also pretty good. I was kind of dreading this album, but I really enjoyed it!
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Some of this was pretty cheesy, but he has a nice voice at least!
Blur
3/5
I'm pretty sure "Song 2" is the only Blur song I know, so I was expecting this album to sound more like that, and I was disappointed that it didn't. Still, it was interesting enough I guess.
Aimee Mann
4/5
I recognized her voice from Til Tuesday's "Voices Carry"! I had no idea she had a solo career. This was pretty good! I really liked her voice and the songwriting. I was wishing for a bit more excitement in the music though.
The Offspring
3/5
This was interesting sounding. The Wikipedia page compared this album to Dookie, by Green Day, and I do not see the comparison at all LOL. They are very different sounds IMO. But this was enjoyable enough!
Led Zeppelin
3/5
This was more boring than I was expecting based on the tracklist. I like "Ramble On", but other than that, nothing really stood out.
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
This guy's voice is not fun to listen to. The music sounds like it would be interesting, but none of the songs were anything special. They just sounded like generic 80s pop rock, but with boring vocals.
Tom Waits
1/5
Oh my GOD. What is with this author's obsession with Tom Waits?! How did this man with the most obnoxious gravelly voice, the worst opinions on instrumentation, and poor songwriting skills (IMO) become popular enough to have even one hit, never mind multiple albums on this list?! It really boggles my mind!!! Needless to say, this is a one star. I can't believe I had to sit through this.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Honestly, I thought I was going to enjoy this more than I actually did. I knew "I'll Be Your Mirror" beforehand, and that's a song that I really enjoy, but the rest of the album was kind of disappointing. I mostly enjoyed the songs that Nico sang lead vocals on more than the ones with Lou Reed, and while I appreciate the fact that Andy Warhol being a producer meant that the album was always going to be experimental, I think it was not the fun kind of experimental.
LL Cool J
4/5
I really liked the mix of R&B and rap on this album, and it feels distinctly different than the other hip hop albums from this time period we have listened to, which is cool.
Cowboy Junkies
2/5
I did not love the country vibe, even if the lead singer did have a nice voice.
David Bowie
3/5
This certainly was David Bowie! I was honestly impressed with this album bc normally later albums made by "legacy acts" aren't all that great, but I thought this was a solid piece of work. It just wasn't my favorite.
Lucinda Williams
4/5
I really liked her voice! The songs were relaxing, but they did all feel kind of same-ish.
G. Love & Special Sauce
4/5
This was a really cool blend of a couple styles, and was pretty different to any album I've heard before. I probably wouldn't choose to listen to this again, but I enjoyed it while it was on.
Ali Farka Touré
2/5
This was so so SO repetitive. Not my favorite.
The White Stripes
4/5
This was pretty good! I especially enjoyed the last song for some reason. Until rather recently, "Seven Nation Army" was one of those songs I knew but had no idea what it was called. Jack White is a musical genius, but I wasn't in love with this whole album.
Heaven 17
5/5
Wow! I really liked this!!! I've never heard of Heaven 17 before, but I will be listening to more of them for sure. The first track ("Fascist Groove Thang") was definitely my favorite. It felt very 80s, but also fresh compared to a lot of 80s synth pop.
Astrud Gilberto
5/5
What a soothing voice, and I love the calm bossa nova vibe! Very "Girl from Impanena" (which features the vocals of Astrud Gilberto). I enjoyed this a lot!
Little Richard
4/5
Wop bop a loo mop alop bom bom! This was fun, even if every song sounded so so so similar. But Little Richard is legendary in the development of rock music, so I feel like I can't give this any lower than a 4.
Tortoise
1/5
Genuinely, what was the point of this album? This was so boring.
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
This was fine, but kind of bland I guess? I feel like I've heard this album before even though I haven't because it sounds like half the rock albums on this list.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
I cannot stand this guy's voice, but the songs were mostly well-written and instrumentally well-performed. I just really don't enjoy his voice at all.
Sister Sledge
4/5
This was a fun disco time! The song "We Are Family" brings back good memories for me because it was one of my grandmother's favorite songs, but the rest of the songs on this album were also just as fun!
Stevie Wonder
5/5
I could listen to Stevie Wonder's voice all day! I love his songwriting, and his voice is always so powerful and smooth. He is truly a musical genius.
The Modern Lovers
2/5
This man was not singing; he was speaking. I was not a fan of his voice, and the songs were just OK.
Bill Evans Trio
2/5
How jazzy! This was kind of boring, but it was fun to have a non-rock/hip hop/pop album, which are few and far between on this list.
Massive Attack
4/5
This was a really chill album. I did not enjoy the final track (the cover of "Light My Fire") but otherwise, I really liked the trip hop vibe, and I thought all of the vocalists had nice voices.
Nightmares On Wax
4/5
This was really great background music for working. Kind of crazy how we got two albums in the same (relatively rare) genre back-to-back, but I enjoyed listening to this. Would I listen again though? Probably not.
Elvis Presley
3/5
This was certainly Elvis! I didn't remember his voice being so nasal on some of the songs, and I gotta be honest, I wasn't a huge fan. "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Money Honey" were great though.
The Who
4/5
This was really really good. I loved the instrumental part arranging in this album a lot. They really know how to write a catchy song.
Flamin' Groovies
2/5
Eh. I've heard a million albums that sound like this. Did this have to make the list?
John Lee Hooker
3/5
This was satisfying to listen to, but a lot of it sounded the same. It was really well put together though.
Metallica
4/5
Metallica's songs are always so well-arranged and performed. I don't love thrash metal, but I appreciate the skill and complexity behind the songs on this album.
Ryan Adams
2/5
Not a fan! I didn't like his voice, and the songs all kind of felt the same. I don't enjoy the faux vulnerability of this genre of country rock.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
5/5
This was 70s pop perfection. I have always enjoyed Elvis Costello's voice, and this album featured some of his catchiest melodies and best lyrics (with some notable exceptions. I could do without using racial slurs.)
Dwight Yoakam
2/5
He had a nice voice, but omg wow do I hate this style of country music.
The Smashing Pumpkins
2/5
This album was so so so SO long for no reason. The music wasn't nearly good enough to justify the length. It put me in a bad mood, and I ended up listening over the course of a few days. Would not recommend.
Baaba Maal
3/5
This was pretty good. I liked his voice, but probably wouldn't listen again
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
2/5
This was just really cheesy. It felt like a history lesson and a political rant and a parody of a rap battle all at the same time.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
This was very Bruce Springsteen. I'm not the biggest fan of his, but this album was enjoyable enough to listen to! Definitely much better than "Nebraska".
Brian Eno
2/5
This almost put me to sleep LOL. It was nice, but reminded me of music I used to listen to when practicing mindfulness. I would literally never choose to just listen to this again. Also, this does not match the vibe of airports today at all.
Justice
4/5
This was pretty fun! I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty sick of "D.A.N.C.E.", but the rest of the songs were enjoyable enough. I would never find myself putting on this album for my own entertainment, but I enjoyed it in the moment.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
This was fine. I liked the Justice album more though. I think we've had a lot of electronic music recently, and maybe I'm just burnt out on that, but this didn't stand out to me at all as anything special.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Honestly, this was way better than I thought it was going to be. I'm not a huge country fan or a fan of Willie Nelson, but the songs were well-written.
AC/DC
2/5
Not a giant fan. Occasionally I'd be enjoying a song, and then the singer would do some weird Spongebob-esque laugh or adlib and then I'd hate it again.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
This ate. I loved the power of her voice and I wasn't bored at any part of the album.
Jimmy Smith
3/5
This was so jazzy! I was really productive while listening to this, but I probably wouldn't listen again. Some of the timing of the playing wasn't as tight as I wanted it to be.
The Smiths
4/5
I guess I forgot what the Smiths sound like, because I was expecting not to enjoy it, but I actually really liked their sound! Some songs were a little boring ("I Know It's Over" especially) but I liked the kind of soft rock/pop sound they had going.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
This was more gospel-y than I was expecting. I generally liked the vibes of the songs, but there were just too many of them and some of them didn't hit for me.
Dennis Wilson
4/5
I actually really liked this album! The production was well done, and I thought the roughness of his voice worked well with the songs (this is not a common thought for me).
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
They overstayed their welcome on most songs. However, I did think they had a cool sound.
Terence Trent D'Arby
4/5
I really liked this!!! He knows his style and executes it well. The first track was especially good.
Suzanne Vega
4/5
I LOVE love love the arrangements of these songs and her singing voice. This would be a 5 star album if she didn't do any of that annoying speak-singing.
Violent Femmes
3/5
"Blister In the Sun" and "Kiss Off" are great openers to the album, but then the singing style gets old quick.
Bill Callahan
3/5
This was pretty soothing. The whole album played like 1 and a half times and I was fine with it because it was easy listening. However, I also didn't notice that it repeated, which has to negatively affect the rating somehow.
3/5
Very country western! She has a nice voice but definitely uses too much vibrato. Also, all the songs sounded kind of the same.
Motörhead
2/5
A lot of these songs were just noise imo. They weren’t doing anything interesting with their writing or performance, and it just kind of felt like a waste of time. I really have no idea how this made the cut.
Depeche Mode
3/5
This is soooo 80s. I can so see the line between Depeche Mode and a lot of the artists I like today, but this album was just too dated-sounding for me. I was also not a huge fan of the lead singer’s voice.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
Not Kendrick’s best tbh. I do like the range, but this album could’ve used some cuts.
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
This was pretty. So much bossa nova music sounds the same, but “Bananeira” was definitely a standout. Her voice was really really smooth.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
This was fine.... I'm not a huge Stones guy.
The Velvet Underground
1/5
This was so awful. They got rid of Andy Warhol and Nico for this album, and apparently they needed them. This was just poorly produced noise. I really have no idea why this is on the list.
John Lennon
2/5
None of the rest of the songs on the album lived up to the title track. This was boring and honestly pretty disappointing.
Soft Cell
4/5
I'd listen to this again. "Tainted Love" was definitely the best song on there, but they know their genre and they executed this album well.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
For a Rolling Stones album, not bad! I'm not a huge fan of them, but "You Can't Always Get What You Want" always goes hard. I wish the mixing was better.
Missy Elliott
5/5
Such a great album! Missy Elliott has no misses on this album. "Work It" and "Pussycat" are the two standouts to me.
Harry Nilsson
2/5
This was lowkey kinda torture for most of it. Not a fan at all. I didn't know "lime and the coconut" was on this album until I got there, and it was a negative jumpscare.
Muddy Waters
3/5
This was pretty enjoyable! It sounds older than 1977 though. I probably wouldn't listen again since I'm not a huge blues fan, but I enjoyed it while it was on.
Radiohead
3/5
Not my favorite Radiohead album. I like the mix of electronic and more typical guitar rock, but the whininess of his voice got a little old.
XTC
4/5
I really enjoyed this! "Dear God" was particularly good, even though it wasn't originally on the album. I have never heard of this band, but I would definitely listen to more of them in the future.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
2/5
That was kinda awful. Just sad for no reason. I think maybe I'm in a bad mood and maybe this genre is not for me, but wow I did not enjoy listening to this guy strum and whine for like 40 minutes.
Van Halen
5/5
This was a really great album! I love the more synthy sound that they started to head toward in this album, and there wasn't a single moment where I was bored or wanting the song to end.
Antony and the Johnsons
2/5
I was not a fan! The songs made me want to fall asleep. Also, ew a Boy George feature?! I just don't know what was so special about this album that it needed to be featured on this list.
CHIC
3/5
Every song was inoffensive but WAY too long.
The Flaming Lips
4/5
For some reason, I had it in my head that I didn't like The Flaming Lips??? I actually enjoyed this album! It was very vibey music. Nothing in particular stood out, but I'd listen again.
Neil Young
2/5
Wow, I lowkey hated this. I will never understand why Neil Young was big. He has a whiny voice, and his songs are boring. There is WAY too much Neil Young on this list. I will not be listening again.
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
This was so British. Not bad, if a little boring. I wouldn't say it warrants inclusion on the list, but I didn't mind it.
Spiritualized
5/5
This was so close to being a 5 star album!!! I really really liked this, but I think some parts of it just went on a little too long. But I will DEFINITELY be revisiting. Actually, you know what? It's getting 5 stars.
The Doors
3/5
It was just OK... I'm not a huge fan of The Doors.
Thelonious Monk
3/5
Well, this was jazz. I don't love instrumental music most of the time, so this gets a maximum of 3 stars already, but he did keep it interesting!