732
Albums Rated
3.27
Average Rating
67%
Complete
357 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
How you rate albums
Rating Timeline
Average rating over time
Ratings by Decade
Which era do you prefer?
Activity by Day
When do you listen?
Taste Profile
2010s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Balanced
Rater Style
78
5-Star Albums
24
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vulgar Display Of Power | 5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
| Fishscale | 5 | 3.06 | +1.94 |
| Dig Me Out | 5 | 3.08 | +1.92 |
| The Holy Bible | 5 | 3.14 | +1.86 |
| Closer | 5 | 3.22 | +1.78 |
| Let It Be | 5 | 3.25 | +1.75 |
| Teen Dream | 5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
| Since I Left You | 5 | 3.28 | +1.72 |
| Bitches Brew | 5 | 3.3 | +1.7 |
| The College Dropout | 5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Come Away With Me | 1 | 3.39 | -2.39 |
| Welcome To The Pleasuredome | 1 | 3.11 | -2.11 |
| Youth And Young Manhood | 1 | 3.1 | -2.1 |
| Smile | 1 | 3.06 | -2.06 |
| Veckatimest | 1 | 3.05 | -2.05 |
| Untitled (Black Is) | 1 | 3.05 | -2.05 |
| Imperial Bedroom | 1 | 3 | -2 |
| The Who Sell Out | 1 | 3 | -2 |
| Ogden's Nut Gone Flake | 1 | 2.95 | -1.95 |
| Songs The Lord Taught Us | 1 | 2.84 | -1.84 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Radiohead | 5 | 4.6 |
| Metallica | 4 | 4.5 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 4.67 |
| Beastie Boys | 3 | 4.67 |
| Miles Davis | 2 | 5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 2 | 5 |
| Joy Division | 2 | 5 |
| Beatles | 4 | 4.25 |
| Pixies | 3 | 4.33 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.33 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 3 | 4.33 |
| Bob Dylan | 5 | 4 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Scott Walker | 2 | 1.5 |
| Kings of Leon | 2 | 1.5 |
| Frank Sinatra | 3 | 2 |
Controversial Artists
Artists you rate inconsistently
| Artist | Albums | Variance |
|---|---|---|
| Joni Mitchell | 2 | 1.5 |
| Kanye West | 3 | 1.41 |
| The White Stripes | 3 | 1.25 |
| Elvis Costello & The Attractions | 3 | 1.25 |
| The Who | 4 | 1.12 |
5-Star Albums (78)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Rating: 10/10
A classic album. Joni Mitchell sounds fantastic, beautiful vocals and great lyrics. This album is absolutely gorgeous. Lush, detailed instrumentation and pristine production. Loved everything about this album, honestly wish some of the songs were longer but that speaks to how amazing this album is. Favorite tracks: Pretty much the whole album but highlights were Court and Speak, Help Me, Car on a Hill, Raised on Robbery, Troubled Child. Least Favorite song: Down to You, a bit too long but still great though.
6 likes
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Mixed bag album. This album is great when it's funky, dance-y, and when there's rapping. The rapping and production during these three songs was great and a lot of fun to listen to. The other five songs are incredibly underwhelming, sounds like the group's attempt to appeal to a wider audience by incorporating more R&B elements, which sound very derivative and boring. Favorite songs: She's Fresh, It's Nasty, The Message. Worst songs: Scorpio, You Are.
4 likes
M.I.A.
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Mixed bag album. For better or worse, this album is very experimental. The highlights are absolutely fantastic, the production is interesting without being overwhelming and it's very melodic. When the experimentation does not work it's bad but not totally awful, this album is so interesting sonically that even when it does not work it's still interesting, although oftentimes quite annoying to listen to. I don't enjoy a decent bit of this but when it works it's something special and very creative. Favorite songs: Jimmy, 20 Dollar, XR2, Paper Planes, Come Around. Worst songs: Bamboo Banga, BirdFlu, Boyz.
4 likes
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Rating: 10/10
A classic, one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. Not only is this one of best produced rap albums of all time, it is also one of the best lyrically as well. The album feels like a movie, Kendrick takes the listener on a journey through his childhood and the crime-filled streets of Compton. The lyrics paint a vivd picture of the street life of Compton and Kendrick does this with varied deliveries, clever wordplay, and thought-provoking lyrics. I have listened to this album many times and am still discovering new meanings lyrically. A truly timeless album. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Real.
2 likes
Bob Dylan
5/5
Rating: 10/10
Classic album, possibly Bob Dylan's best. Instrumentally this album is absolutely fantastic, nice blend of folk, blues, and rock. Production and mixing sound amazing as well, each song has a warm feeling to it which makes this album a pleasure to listen to. And of course Bob Dylan's lyrics are fantastic, the storytelling on this album is phenomenal. Favorite songs: Pretty much all of them. Least favorite songs: Temporary Like Achilles, Fourth Time Around.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (24)
All Ratings
R.E.M.
4/5
8.5/10
Consistently great songwriting, jangly, fun riffs. Orange Crush, Stand, and Untitled are fantastic. Nice blend of pop, alternative rock, and jangly riffs. Worst song: Get Up.
Nirvana
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing live album. Raw vocals, some nice orchestral elements were implemented, these songs really fit the unplugged arrangement. Prefer the originals mostly though but still an awesome album. Favorite song: The Man Who Sold the World. Least favorite song: Something in the Way.
Fleet Foxes
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great indie-folk album. Beautiful instrumentally and mostly great vocally. The band really shines when all instruments are playing, weakest songs are just vocals and guitar. Favorite songs: Sun It Rises, Winter Hymnal, Your Protector, Blue Ridge Mountains, Oliver James. Worst songs: Tiger Mountain Peasant Song, Meadowlarks.
The Who
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Mixed bag album. Singles are all fantastic as well as Love Ain't For Keeping. Bargain and My Wife are good. The rest of the album is incredibly mediocre, Daltrey and company are not good singers which is made obvious by these songs, which are also severely lacking in melody and memorable riffs/moments.
The Notorious B.I.G.
5/5
Rating: 10/10
The first rap album I ever heard back in 2017, absolutely fell in love with Biggie and hip-hop because of this album. Amazing flows, lyrics, cadences and beats. Love every song but two. Worst songs: Me and My Bitch and Friend of Mine.
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
Rating: 10/10
Incredible dance-punk album. Very catchy instrumentals, danceable and fun rhythms, and some fantastic emotional slower songs. All My Friends is one of the greatest songs of all time. Absolutely love this album and definitely one of the best albums of the 2000s. Worst song: Sound of Silver, still great though.
The Cramps
1/5
Rating: 3/10
Awful production on this album. The guitars sound like total crap. The mix is absolute garbage as well. Some interesting ideas, but overall a little one-note. Combines punk rock with rockability with a gothic theme and doesn't deviate from that. Ideas are sometimes good, execution is what is lacking here. Definitely won't listen to this again. Rock on the Moon and Garbageman are good songs though and Fever is decent.
Marty Robbins
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Great singing, great storytelling, and overall very good writing. Really enjoyed this album, also has very good production and mixing. The album is very one-note though, it does not need to be 15 tracks long. Everything sounds very good and is done well but does not needs to be this long, still a very good album. Favorite tracks: Big Iron, El Paso. Worst song: Master's Call, sounds too much like Big Iron.
Fred Neil
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great folk album. Really enjoyed the instrumentation, singing, and songwriting. Has some Indian influence which is really cool. Favorite songs: The Dolphin, I've Got A Secret, Sweet Cocaine, Cyni Raga. Worst song: Faretheewell, kinda boring.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great jazz album. Normally I don't like jazz, but this was fun to listen to. Loved the use of odd signatures, the best songs highly benefitted from this. Also loved the tone of the instruments and production, the saxophone, piano and drums sounded fantastic on this album. It does get a bit one-note towards the end of the album, but still a great listen from start to finish. Also loved the chill vibes from this one, will definitely return to this album. Favorite songs: Blue Rondo a la Turk, Take Five. Worst song: Pick Up Sticks, not bad but feels a little redundant.
Jethro Tull
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album, nice mix of rock and folk. Really enjoyed the flute solos, sometimes it was overboard though. There's a certain cheesiness to this album that doesn't always land for me, so I can't rate it higher than this. When it works though, it's fantastic. Favorite songs: Aqualung, Crossed-Eyed Mary, Locomotive Breath. Worst song: Hymn 43, a bit lackluster compared to the other tracks.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Rating: 10/10
A classic album. Joni Mitchell sounds fantastic, beautiful vocals and great lyrics. This album is absolutely gorgeous. Lush, detailed instrumentation and pristine production. Loved everything about this album, honestly wish some of the songs were longer but that speaks to how amazing this album is. Favorite tracks: Pretty much the whole album but highlights were Court and Speak, Help Me, Car on a Hill, Raised on Robbery, Troubled Child. Least Favorite song: Down to You, a bit too long but still great though.
The Crusaders
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Did not enjoy this one overall. The production is amazing, the album really sounds great and is recorded well. Despite this, I was not into this whatsoever, besides Street Life. As good as everything sounds, it is not interesting at all. No memorable ideas, sounds like background music. As it progressed, I just wanted it to end. Favorite song: Street Life, which is also too long. Everything else is pretty forgettable and boring.
Bonnie Raitt
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Mixed bag album. The upbeat songs are great, a lot of fun to listen to and a great mix of blues, rock, and pop. The slower songs are incredibly boring, not bad instrumentally or vocally just not interesting for me to listen to. Favorite songs: Nick of Time, Thing Called Love, Love Letter. Worst songs: Cry on My Shoulder, Have a Heart, Soon to Tell, all very boring.
Elton John
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Overall a great album. Elton John sounds great, a lot of variety on this album. Production is fantastic and so are the singles. The album is too long though, some songs are very boring and are definitely filler. Favorite songs: Funeral for a Friend, Bennie and the Jets, All the Girls Love Alice, Saturday Night's All Right, Social Disease. Worst songs: This Song Has No Title, Grey Seal, Roy Rogers.
Hole
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great rock album. Love the energy on it, almost every song on this album is great and not as a single bad song. Really liked Courtney Love's voice and passion as well as the energy throughout the album. Wish they took a bit more risk on this album but still consistently great. Favorite songs: Celebrity Skin, Northern Star, Petals. Least favorite song: Playing Your Song.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Mixed bag album. I applaud the band for their mix of styles and the experimentation on this album. The execution is what falls flat for me a lot of the time, but the times it does work it's really great and interesting to listen to. Favorite songs: God! Show Me Magic, Something For the Weekend, Hangin' With Howard Marks. Worst songs: Fuzzy Birds, Frisbee.
Coldplay
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Good album, I really liked it overall. Really pleasant album to listen to, the piano, guitar and vocals are very good. The singles are all great, definitely the best tracks. The rest of the album is good too, it can be a bit boring and one-note though. Favorite songs: the four singles (tracks 2-5). Worst song: Green Eyes.
Dolly Parton
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing country album. Loved the singing, instrumentation, and lyrics. The production and mix is fantastic and songwriting is strong, the album is short and sweet. The bass is absolutely amazing on this album and the storytelling is great. Favorite songs: Coat of Many Colors, Traveling Man, My Blue Tears, Here I Am, A Better Place to Live. Least Favorite Song: The Mystery of the Mystery, still good though.
Pixies
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing album. The Pixies always had an interesting and creative way of blending alternative rock, noise, and pop into a very enjoyable experience. The songs sound demented in the best way possible, from the instrumentation to the vocal melodies and harmonies. Sometimes it does not always land for me 100% but still an impressive debut album, they definitely had their sound figured out here, even though I think Doolittle improves on this formula. Favorite songs: Bone Machine, Break My Body, Where is My Mind?, Gigantic, River Euphrates, Cactus, Brick is Red. Least favorite songs: Oh My Golly!, Broken Face.
The Mars Volta
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Did not enjoy this overall. I really enjoy some of the ideas on it, these guys are amazing musicians. The songwriting is what leaves a lot to be desired. They have all of the tools to craft fantastic songs, and instead love to go overboard and fully chaotic, which I don't enjoy. The slower moments on this album is what really shines for me, but even the slower moments can be very boring. Still a creative album, they definitely have their own sound which I respect but I don't like their sound, at least on this album. Also, I really dislike the vocalist. Favorite song: Inertiatic Esp, Roulette Dares. Worst songs: Drunkship of Lanterns, This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed.
Herbie Hancock
5/5
Rating: 10/10
Masterpiece. I normally dislike jazz, but this album is something really special. A mix of jazz and funk mostly, it is incredibly groovy, virtuosic, and creative, combining technical ability with fantastic songwriting. Each song feels like a progressive journey and is never for a second boring. The songs are all very long but none of them overstay their welcome, it's truly a pleasure listening to every second of this album. I did not love a part of Sway and Watermelon Man but I loved literally everything else about this album.
Animal Collective
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Incredibly meh album. It is a very creative album, the band definitely has their own unique sound. Very psychedelic, they were under the influence of shrooms/LSD for sure, maybe that's what I have to be on to actually enjoy this album. Despite this, there is not a single memorable melody or chorus on this entire album. Very forgettable album, still was an interesting listen though. Favorite song: My Girls, everything else is very meh.
Kelela
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Decent album, I enjoyed it overall. Starts off good with the first song then gets incredibly boring for the next few, then gets a lot more interesting starting with Better. Has a good voice, nothing too unique though. The production is very good, has some cool electronic elements added. The album is pretty one-dimensional, not much variety on it. Favorite songs: Frontline, Better, LMK, Blue Light. Worst songs: Enough, Jupiter.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time, an absolute classic. Incredible songwriting and riffs, each song is very memorable. No weak moments on this album, unbelievable this came out in 1970. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Rat Salad.
Mudhoney
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good EP (only reviewed from Need to In n Out of Grace on the deluxe album on Spotify). I really like the energy and the guitar tones, the raw production really fits the music. Definitely an influential album, I hear the influences on grunge and alternative rock of the 90s here. I think a lot of the groups that came after them did their sound a bit better, still an enjoyable listen. Favorite songs: Need, Mudride, In n Out of Grace. Worst song: Chain that Door.
Nick Drake
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Decent folk album, enjoyed it overall. Really nice instrumentation and great guitar playing. Honestly Nick Drake sounds a bit monotone on this album, not much vocal melody which is why this album doesn't rate as high as it should. Drake's style of vocals worked a lot better on Pink Moon, this album is a bit boring. Favorite songs: Three Hours, Day is Done. Worst song: River Man.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing album. Great storytelling, loved the way Nick Cave used his voice, he was singing the songs in a multitude of ways. Instrumentally this is fantastic as well, very creative. The band have their own style and sound which deviates enough from popular music to make it interesting for the entire listen. The second half of this album is not as musically interesting or creative as the first but still great, first half is a 10/10 for me. Favorite songs: Song of Joy, Stagger Lee, Lovely Creature, Where the Wild Roses Grow, The Curse of Millhaven, Death is Not the End. Least favorite song: The Kindness of Strangers.
Ramones
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great punk album. Very melodic and catchy, it's very fun to listen to this album. Not any variety at all though, very one-dimensional, the riffs all sound very similar. It's influence was clearly massive on punk rock and pop-punk. Favorite songs: Blitzkrieg Bop, Beat on the Brat, Basement, Listen to My Heart. Least favorite song: Chain Saw.
Shack
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Decent Britpop album. Starts off excellent with the first three songs, then gets a little boring afterwards. Sounds like Oasis but not as good, the highlights were incredibly enjoyable, the use of strings was very tasteful. Favorite songs: Natalie's Party, Comedy, Pull Together, Captain's Table. Worst songs: Streets of Kenny, Re-Instated.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Very good album overall. Really enjoyed the sample-based production (which was probably groundbreaking for 1986) and the interplay between the rappers. A lot of these songs are just really fun to listen to, don't think they're saying anything meaningful lyrically, sounds like they're just having fun. The album sounds outdated from the production to the rapping but it's still fun to listen to, I definitely understood why it was so influential to this time period. Favorite songs: Peter Piper, It's Tricky, Walk This Way, It Is Live, You Be Illin'. Worst Songs: Perfection, Hit It Run.
Kanye West
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of my favorite albums and one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. This was one of the first rap albums I ever heard and made me immediately love Kanye's music. There is a genuine nature of this album I have not heard before or since (in hip-hop at least) and the lyrics exemplify this. The variety of lyrical topics include Kanye and the black community's struggles, self reflection, religion, critique of college and college culture, family, and braggadocio, with humor sprinkled into a lot of the tracks. Put some fantastic production on top of this (chipmunk soul) and you get a classic album, every song on here is fantastic.
Metallica
5/5
Rating: 10/10
My favorite album of all time. This is heavy metal (and thrash metal) at its finest: heavy, intricate, and melodic with virtuosic songwriting. The riffs are incredible, the production is incredible, and the solos are incredible, everything about this album is to the highest standard musically while still being very heavy and interesting throughout. All of the songs are amazing, not a single second is wasted on this album.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Decent album, slightly enjoyed it overall. The acoustic side (Side A) was pleasant to listen to, got a little boring and repetitive though. The electric side (Side B) starts off great and then each other song has parts I like and dislike on it, mixed bag on Side B. Favorite song: My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue), Powderfinger. Worst song: Ride My Llama.
The Kinks
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album, impressed with the consistency and variety here. This album is a mix of rock, pop, baroque with orchestral elements implemented and everything sounds very good, most songs on this album are really great. This album is also incredibly catchy, the melodies on here are fantastic. Some songs were not done as well as others but overall this is a consistently high quality album with plenty of variety and catchy melodies. Favorite songs: Village Green, Picture Book, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Big Sky, Village Green, Starstruck. Worst song: Do You Remember Walter?
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Rating: 9.5-10/10
Absolutely incredibly soul album. Aretha Franklin's vocals are unbelievable, she has technical ability of hitting all of the notes while having so much charisma, she's called the Queen of Soul for a reason. Instrumentally this is absolutely fantastic as well, very soulful with some blues and funk elements. Very tight songwriting on this album, no song overstays its welcome. Definitely need to give this many more listens, a fantastic introduction to soul. Favorite songs: Chain of Fools, Money Won't Change You, People Get Ready, Nicki Hoeky, Come Back Baby, Groovin'. Least favorite song: Good to Me as I Am to You.
Supertramp
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Mixed bag album. It starts off very strong with the first two tracks and then falls off after that. The first two tracks are interesting and fun to listen to whereas the rest of the album is very meandering and boring musically, the exact opposite of what progressive music should be. Every track after the first two is very forgettable musically, I won't be returning to this album. The production, mixing, and dynamics were excellent throughout and what makes this album listenable. Favorite songs: School, Bloody Well Right. Worst songs: Hide In Your Shell, If Everyone Was Listening.
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album, nice mix of indie rock and folk. Loved the variety of instruments on this album, the horns and strings were very tasteful. Songwriting was consistently great, no song is boring or too long and not a single bad song on the album. Overall very pleasant to listen to, I especially liked the faster paced songs but the slower ones are great as well. Favorite songs: She's Losing It, You're Just A Baby, Electronic Renaissance, I Could Be Dreaming, Don't Love Anyone. Least favorite song: The State I'm In.
Norah Jones
1/5
Rating: 1/10
Absolutely awful, worst album I heard yet and one of the worst albums I ever heard. This album embodies all of the worst qualities of music: it is not creative or interesting in any way and is insanely boring and predictable, every song sounds the same. The worst thing about this is that it may be one of the most forgettable albums of all time, there is not a single memorable melody (either vocally or instrumentally) throughout the entire album, which is an impressive feat considering that this is a pop/jazz album.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great pop album. The production and Michael Jackson's singing were great throughout, no bad songs on this album. Overall really fun to listen to, the upbeat songs are my favorites but some of the ballads are very good as well. Jackson and Quincy Jones also implemented more hard rock elements on this album, it's a bit more hard-hitting than his previous albums which I quite enjoy. Favorite songs: Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel, Liberian Girl, Man In The Mirror, Smooth Criminal. Worst song: I Just Can't Stop Loving You.
Björk
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Decent album overall. Bjork always has great production, very experimental with orchestral, electronic, pop, and glitchy elements. Where this album falls short for me is Bjork's vocals, sounded a bit monotone, it felt like she was talking instead of singing on a lot of the album. Also even though the production is pretty experimental a lot of the songs seemed to blend into one another, all of the songs sounded relatively similar. Despite this, the album is experimental enough that it kept my interest the whole time and I really enjoyed the production, the other albums I heard by her are definitely better though. Favorite songs: Stonemilker, History of Touches. Worst song: Quicksand.
Brian Wilson
1/5
Rating: 3/10
Hell no.
Elton John
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album, really enjoyed the progressive elements implemented on here. Elton John takes his time more on this album and lets the songs develop more, most songs are over 5 minutes and usually have long intros, which are done very well. Usually I do not love Elton's piano playing, I think he recycles ideas a lot on his songs but it was great on this album, the orchestral and rock elements were also great. Pretty cohesive overall, I think it is more consistent than Yellow Brick Road although it does not have as many hits. Favorite songs: Tiny Dancer, Levon, Madman Across the Water, Indian Sunset, Holiday Inn. Least favorite song: Rotten Peaches.
Koffi Olomide
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
The Cars
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great new wave/pop rock album. Very catchy album, has many memorable melodies and choruses. The synth really stands out, many of the catchy moments were due to it. Overall just really fun to listen to, wish it had a little more variety though. Favorite songs: Good Times Roll, Best Friend's Girl, Just What I Needed, You're All I got Tonight, Moving In Stereo. Least favorite song: I'm In Touch With Your World.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing debut album. The first heavy metal album, what an introduction to the genre and this fantastic band. Starts off particularly strong with truly evil sounding songs like Black Sabbath and N.I.B., the rest of the songs have a strong blues and hard rock influence which are all great. The riffs and tones of the instruments on this album are stellar. The second half of the album is not as good as the first half but still great, not a single bad song or moment on the entire album. I definitely prefer Paranoid and Master of Reality to this one though. Favorite songs: Black Sabbath, The Wizard, N.I.B, Evil Woman, Warning. Least favorite song: Sleeping Village.
Peter Frampton
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great live album. A lot of fun to listen to, plenty of energy from Peter Frampton and the rest of the band. Really enjoyed the vast majority of songs, Frampton plays guitar with charisma and character which is translated well in a live setting. Most songs were very groovy, a few were boring though. Favorite songs: Doobie Wah, Show Me The Way, Baby I Love Your Way, I Wanna Go To The Sun, Penny For Your Thoughts, (I'll Give You) Money, Jumping Jack Flash, Do You Feel Like We Do. Least favorite songs: All I Want To Be, Wind Of Change.
Fugees
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
Classic hip-hop album. Incredibly strong lyrically and production-wise. Loved the interplay between all of the rappers, especially Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, it felt like they were battle rapping against each other for the entire album and never lost focus or steam. A lot of clever and humorous lyrics on here. Loved the dark undertone throughout the album, the singles are all fantastic and the rest of the songs are great as well, not a single bad moment on this album. Favorite songs: How Many Mics, Ready or Not, Fu-Gee-La, Family Business, Killing Me Softly With His Song, The Score, No Woman No Cry, The Mask, Manifest/Outro. Least favorite song: Cowboys.
Fishbone
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Very good to great album overall. An eclectic mix of styles here: hard rock, ska, reggae, funk, and punk which is done very well and makes for many interesting and engaging songs. Really liked the singer, he sang with a lot of character; the production was great here as well. Some songs did not resonant with me as much as the others, but this album is very satisfying to listen to when the songs hit, which is most of the time. Favorite songs: Freddie's Dead, Ma and Pa, Question of Life, Bonin' In the Boneyard, One Day, Ghetto Soundwave. Least favorite songs: Deep Inside, Subliminal Fascism.
Miles Davis
5/5
Rating: 10/10
Masterpiece. Beautiful. Transcendent. Meditative. Mindblowing jazz album that keeps delivering. Miles Davis is a genius, knowing when to supplement the gorgeous instrumentals (guitar, drums, and bass) and when to shine with his trumpet. The trumpet tone on this album is fantastic, rather than blaring on some of his other albums. One of the best albums I've heard so far.
U2
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Decent album overall. Enjoyed the experimental nature of it, U2 changed their sound on this album while still sounding like themselves. A lot of the songs sound very similar but the highlights are really great, it at times sounds uncannily like Radiohead. Favorite songs: Zoo Station, Even Better Than The Real Thing, Ultra Violet (Light My Way), Love Is Blindness. Worst song: So Cruel.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album, a lot of fantastic songs on here. Sounds very mature for a debut album, Fiona Apple's vocals and lyrics really shine here as well as the instrumentation. The production and the wide range of instruments used is impressive on this album. I think the album slowed down for me right after the midway point but even the worst songs on here are still very good. Favorite songs: Sleep to Dream, Shadowboxer, Criminal, Slow Like Honey, The First Taste, Pale September, Carrion. Least favorite songs: Never Is a Promise, The Child Is Gone.
Elliott Smith
5/5
Rating: 10/10
Classic indie-folk album. What a masterpiece from Elliot Smith, so melancholic and emotional, you really feel his pain throughout the entire album. The singing is fantastic, the lyrics are fantastic, and instrumentally it is incredible as well. There are many memorable melodies on here too, each song sounds special in its own way while keeping the same theme throughout. Favorite songs: Pretty much all of them. Least favorite songs: No Name No. 5, Punch and Judy.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
1/5
Rating: 3/10
Hell no.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good debut album. Really enjoyed Amy Winehouse's vocals and the production. She sings with so much charisma and emotion, has a very unique voice and style. The album was slightly one-note but well done nonetheless. Favorite songs: Stronger Than Me, Fuck Me Pumps, What Is It About Men, Amy Amy Amy. Worst song: Cherry.
Doves
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Decent album overall. Pleasant to listen to but pretty forgettable. I liked almost all of the songs but nothing stood out too much, wish they took a lot more risks since I like their sound a lot. Favorite songs: Words, N.Y.. Worst song: The Sulphur Man.
Little Simz
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing hip-hop album. Loved Little Simz' rapping abilities and lyricism, the lyrics were very personal and introspective. The production on this album was fantastic throughout, it really complemented Little Simz' rapping. Very consistent as well, not a single bad song on the entire album, one of the best rap albums from the 2010s. Favorite songs: Pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Pressure.
Syd Barrett
1/5
Rating: 1/10
Absolutely awful album. Hated everything about this, the vocals are awful, the musicianship sounds demented in the worst way possible. A truly awful album, quite possibly the worst one yet and one of the worst albums I have ever heard.
Neil Young
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Decent album overall. Really enjoyed it instrumentally, the songwriting was very good as well. Neil Young's vocals sound awful on this album, he is really struggling to hit a lot of the notes. Favorite songs: Tonight's the Night, Speakin' Out, Come On Baby Let's Go Downtown, Albuquerque. Worst song: World on a String.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Rating: 10/10
Classic album, possibly Bob Dylan's best. Instrumentally this album is absolutely fantastic, nice blend of folk, blues, and rock. Production and mixing sound amazing as well, each song has a warm feeling to it which makes this album a pleasure to listen to. And of course Bob Dylan's lyrics are fantastic, the storytelling on this album is phenomenal. Favorite songs: Pretty much all of them. Least favorite songs: Temporary Like Achilles, Fourth Time Around.
The Stone Roses
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
Amazing album, one of the best debut albums of all time and one of my favorite albums of the 80s. The instruments sound so bright, this album always puts me in a very good mood. Songwriting is great, very catchy vocal and guitar/bass melodies throughout the entire album. The band also really shines when simply jamming out, like on I Am the Resurrection and Fools Gold. Favorite songs: I Wanna Be Adored, She Bangs the Drums, Waterfall, Bye Bye Bad Man, Sugar Spun Sister, Made of Stone, This Is the One, This Is the Resurrection, Fools Gold. Least favorite song: Don't Stop.
Holger Czukay
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Good experimental album. Really enjoyed the instrumentation, weird but not too much, Holger Czukay incorporated a lot of interest sounds without it ever being too overwhelming. I wish this whole album was instrumental, the singing is awful and what prevents it from being rated much higher. Favorite songs: Parts of Oh Lord, Persian Love, Hollywood Symphony. Worst song: Cool in the Pool.
Morrissey
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Decent album overall. Some songs were great, very catchy instrumentally with some clever lyrics by Morrissey. Some songs were very boring, however, the middle sections was not good. When it works though, this album works quite well. Favorite songs: America Is Not the World, How Can Anybody Know How I Possibly Feel?, First of the Gang To Die. Worst song: I Have Forgiven Jesus.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Rating: 10/10
Classic album, one of the best albums of the 90's and one of my all time favorite albums. Extremely cathartic album, Corgan pours his emotions out on each one of the songs. The guitar tone used on this album is one of my favorites ever, absolutely loved it as well as the production/mixing. Love this album instrumentally as well, a lot of aggressive moments but many beautiful ones as well which always makes this album a journey to listen to. Favorite songs: Pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Quiet.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Mixed bag album. On one hand, I really enjoyed the energy and passion of this album, the first two songs were great and a lot of fun to listen to. On the other hand, the singer is incredibly annoying and this album becomes more difficult to listen to as it progresses. This album is definitely best with a faster tempo, the slower tempo songs were not enjoyable to listen to. Favorite songs: Swampsnake, Gang Bang. Worst songs: The Faith Healer, Next.
Can
2/5
Rating: 5/10
The first album that is truly love/hate. The first half of this album was great, it had a lot of experimental and creative ideas while still being musical, even though it felt a bit meandering. The second half is where the experimentation became at times totally unlistenable, it seemed like they were trying to be weird just to be weird. Despite this, this album is very unique and one of the strangest albums I have ever heard, so I respect it for that reason alone even though I at times hated it musically. Favorite songs: Paperhouse, Halleluhwah. Worst songs: Aumgn, Peking O.
Various Artists
2/5
Rating: 5/10
It's alright, good performances but I hate Christmas music so I'll never return to this.
Happy Mondays
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Good album overall. I enjoyed the band's sound, rock with psychedelic elements. A lot of catchy melodies and cool guitar riffs. Some songs are really forgettable though. Favorite songs: Dumb Waiters, Pretty in Pink, Mr. Jones, It Goes On, All of This and Nothing. Worst song: I Wanna Sleep With You.
Frank Zappa
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album, a lot of fun to listen to. Really enjoyed the eclectic mixture of styles and instruments used throughout. The fantastic production and mix also made each individual instrument shine, making for a very dynamic experience. The experimental nature of the album was great, definitely very unique in sound while still being very enjoyable to listen to musically. Favorite songs: Peaches en Regalia, Willie The Pimp, Son Of Mr. Green Genes, Little Umbrellas, The Gumbo Variations. Least favorite song: It Must Be A Camel.
George Harrison
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album overall. A lot of great songs on here, the second disc was pretty fantastic in particular. Many catchy songs and melodies, although some songs do sound similar, especially on the first disc. This album would definitely benefit and be considerably stronger if it wasn't so long, I would personally take pretty much the second disc and the best songs from the first to make an absolutely stellar album. Favorite songs: My Sweet Lord, Wah-Wah, What Is Life, Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp, All Things Must Pass, I Dig Love, Hear Me Lord, Out of the Blue. Worst song: I'd Have You Anytime, Run of the Mill.
Tom Waits
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Good album overall. Has a lot of great songs but some that I did not like at all. For better or worse, I really appreciate the emotion in his voice, he sings each song with a lot of passion. I prefer when he sings in a clean way rather than his signature raspy voice, the clean/slower songs were my favorites. Favorite songs: Dirt In The Ground, Who Are You, Jesus Gonna Be Here, Black Wings, I Don't Wanna Grow Up, That Feel. Worst songs: The Earth Died Screaming, In The Colosseum.
Tori Amos
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Good album overall. Really enjoyed her voice and the instrumentation, there are many beautiful moments on this album. Very pleasant album to listen to. A few great songs are on here, no bad songs but many of them sound very similar in sound and structure. Favorite songs: Crucify, Girl, Tear in Your Head, Me and My Gun, Little Earthquake. Worst song: China.
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall. Very groovy and pleasant to listen to, the organ was nice and not something I would normally listen to. Pretty much no variety on here though, all of the songs sound very similar. Favorite songs: Green Onions, Ring Dink, Twist and Shout, One Who Really Loves Me, You Can't Sit Down. Worst song: Mo' Onions.
Simple Minds
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall. Really enjoyed the atmosphere on most of the songs. The bass in this album is beautiful, many memorable and melodic basslines. The production and the synths on this album were very good as well, adding to the ambience and beautiful nature on a lot of the songs. As pleasant as this was to listen to, some songs were very forgettable, there is not much variety on this album. Favorite songs: Someone Somewhere (In Summertime), New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84), Glittering Prize. Worst song: Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel.
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album, a lot of fun to listen to. The songwriting was consistently great throughout, loved the orchestral elements that were implemented. A lot of catchy vocal and instrumental melodies, the lush production really complemented the instrumentation. A lot of beautiful elements on this album as well, very pleasant and enjoyable to listen to. There was enough variety on here that it was interesting to listen to the entire time while having a consistent sound throughout. Favorite songs: River of Orchids, I'd Like That, Easter Theatre, Frivolous Thought, Greenman, Your Dictionary, I Can't Own Her, The Last Balloon. Least favorite song: Knights In Shining Karma.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Very good jazz album. Really enjoyed the trumpet and piano throughout, there were a lot of nice melodies. The afrobeat influence throughout this album was a nice touch as well, definitely makes this stand out a bit more than a stereotypical jazz album. The album is a bit too long but still very pleasant and enjoyable to listen to. Favorite songs: Part Of A Whole, The Big Apple, Maseru, Inner Crisis, Nomali, Maesha. Worst song: Unhome.
Carole King
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album. Carole King sings with a lot of character and charisma, she especially shines on the ballads. This album is a great mixture of ballads, which are sung with a lot of emotion, and a bit more upbeat songs that more so showcase the instrumentation. The production and mixing of this album is fantastic, it really makes Carole King's voice shine as well as the instrumentation. I wish there was a little more variety, but this album is consistently great with no bad songs. Favorite songs: I Feel the Earth Move, So Far Away, It's Too Late, You've Got a Friend, Where You Lead, Will You Love Me Tomorrow, A Natural Woman. Least favorite song: Beautiful.
Dead Kennedys
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great punk album, loved the energy, riffs, and sarcastic lyrics and vocal delivery. Many amazing songs on this album that have memorable guitar riffs and lyrics, the band definitely sounds one-of-a-kind for a genre that is normally pretty one dimensional. The incorporation of surf-like riffs was also done very well, a great juxtaposition to the stereotypical power chord dominated riffs of punk rock. Some songs did not land with me though, the combination of the singing and riffs is not always great, but I definitely see why this album is considered a classic and beloved by many. Favorite songs: Kill the Poor, Forward to Death, When Ya Get Drafted, Let's Lynch the Landlord, Chemical Warfare, California Uber Alles, Ill in the Head, Holiday in Cambodia. Worst songs: Stealing People's Mail, Viva Las Vegas.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album, really enjoyed the orchestral elements throughout. The instrumentation was great, the orchestral elements were perfect to create a beautiful atmosphere. The singer complemented this well with his style, not technical but it matched the music well. There were many catchy vocal and instrumental melodies throughout the album, the best songs benefited from having all of these characteristics. Favorite songs: Silver, Nocturnal Me, Crystal Days, The Killing Moon, Seven Seas. Least favorite song: The Yo Yo Man.
The Doors
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing album, great songwriting from start to finish. A lot of character and personality from all of the members, it made this album incredibly enjoyable to listen to the entire time. Really loved the interplay between the instruments, especially the bass and keyboards. Riffs were very blues-inspired but played with the band's signature style and swagger. Favorite songs: Roadhouse Blues, Waiting for the Sun, You Make Me Real, Peace Frog, Ship of Fools, Land Ho!, Queen of the Highway, Maggie M'Gill. Least favorite song: Blue Sunday.
Os Mutantes
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall. Really enjoyed the folk elements and experimental nature throughout. The singing was mostly very good as well, a lot of the album had a nice vibe to it and was therefore very pleasant to listen to. The instrumentation was definitely a highlight, a lot of different instruments used in unconventional ways. The album all sounds relatively similar though and some ideas did not resonate with me. Favorite songs: Panis Et Circenses, A Minha Menina, O Relogio, Baby, Bat Macumba, Trem Fantasma. Worst song: Adeus Maria Fulo.
The White Stripes
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album overall. Really enjoyed the guitar riffs and energy throughout the album. Most of the songs, especially the more upbeat ones, were played with a lot of charisma and personality from Jack and Meg White. The guitar riffs and drum beats in these songs really stood out and is what carried these tracks. There were also a lot of incredibly catchy melodies on this album. The production on this album is also the best up to this point in their careers and really complemented the instrumentation. However, some riffs were definitely recycled from their earlier albums and some slower songs were not interesting to listen to. Favorite songs: Seven Nation Army, Black Math, In The Cold Cold Night, Ball and Biscuits, The Hardest Button to Button, Hypnotize, The Air Near My Fingers, Girl You Have No Faith In Medicine. Worst song: You've Got Her In Your Pocket.
The Clash
5/5
Rating: 10/10
Masterpiece, one of the greatest albums of all time of any genre. Definitely the greatest "punk" album of all time as well, but this album is so much more than just punk. The band blends genres like punk, ska, reggae, jazz, and rock and roll into these songs seamlessly with virtuosic songwriting ability. The songs vary in structure and sound while always having the iconic "The Clash" sound to them, which is what makes this album so special. The instrumentation is absolutely incredible, very groovy and creative while incorporating many different types of instruments. The songwriting is fantastic, the melodies are fantastic, the production/mixing is fantastic, and the lyrics are fantastic; this album has become my favorite rock album of all time and I doubt that will be surpassed from any other rock album on this list. Favorite songs: Pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Koka Kola.
OutKast
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Speakerboxxx: 9.5/10
Love Below: 7.5/10
Great album overall. Speakerboxxx is especially exceptional, one of the first rap albums I heard and I always thought it was fantastic. Great production and clever wordplay by Big Boi throughout. The guest features were all fantastic and lyrically it's varied enough that it never feels redundant often thought-provoking. The Love Below is very good as well, more experimental than Speakerboxxx. Really appreciated all of the genres Andre 3000 incorporates on this album for better or worse, a lot of electronic elements and funk. I thought Big Boi was better lyrically than Andre but Andre's album was more varied in structure and genres, Andre disk has the two best songs on the entire album though. They could have made a classic if they kept all of Speakerboxxx minus the skits and took Hey Ya, Roses, and a few more great tracks from The Love Below. Favorite songs: Pretty much all of Speakerboxxx, Happy Valentine's Day, Prototype, Hey Ya, Roses, Dracula's Wedding, My Favorite Things, Vibrate. Worst songs: all of the skits, Reset, Spread.
The Beta Band
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall. Really enjoyed the chill vibes throughout, nice combination of electronic elements and rock. Every sounds very similar after a while though. Favorite songs: Squares, Human Being, Gone, Broke, Life. Least favorite song: AI Sharp.
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall, fun to listen to. Really enjoyed the new wave elements throughout the album. Not many of the tracks really stood out, the first few were great though. Favorite songs: Uncontrollable Urge, Satisfaction, Space Junk. Worst song: Mongoloid.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall. Songwriting is great throughout, no weak tracks on the entire album. Really enjoyed the acoustic and rock elements implemented, this album had Beatles influences but it definitely felt like something Paul McCartney has never done before. The production was very lush, making the instrumentation really stand out and sound beautiful. Wish there was a bit more risk taken on here but still great nonetheless. Favorite songs: Band On The Run, Jet, Mrs. Vanderbilt, Let Me Roll It, Picasso's Last Words, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five, Helen Wheels, Country Dreamer. Least favorite song: Bluebird.
The Byrds
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall. Enjoyed the acoustic and pop elements of the album, very catchy. The songs are written well and the album is very well produced, some nice studio engineering tricks implemented as well. This was a pleasant album to listen to but I think The Byrds are not doing anything unique compared to their contemporaries. Favorite songs: So You Want A To Be A Rock N' Roll, Have You Seen A Face, Renaissance Fair, My Back Pages, The Girl With No Name, Why. Worst song: Time Between.
Gil Scott-Heron
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Randy Newman
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
Nah.
Soundgarden
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing album. The tone of the guitars was a standout on this album, they sound absolutely fantastic. The riffs and songwriting are very strong on this album throughout, no bad songs on here. Chris Cornell's vocals were fantastic as well, he sang each song with so much emotion and passion. The performances were great from all of the band members, all of the instruments were played with a lot of charisma and the dynamics between all of the instruments was fantastic. The album loses a bit of steam for me after the halfway point but its still an amazing listen throughout, will definitely be coming back to this one frequently. Favorite songs: Let Me Down, My Wave, Fell On Black Days, Mailman, Superunknown, Black Hole Sun, Spoonman, The Day I Tried To Live, Fresh Tendrils, 4th Of July. Least favorite song: Limo Wreck.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing album. Fantastic production with great rapping. The jazz-influenced production and sampling are incredible throughout, very revolutionary for the time period and it still sounds great today, definitely timeless. Q-Tip and Pfife Dawg are just having fun for the entire album, not too much substance to what they are saying but there are plenty of clever lines and wordplay, a lot of the lyrics are very humorous. Wish there was a bit more variety on this album in terms of lyrical content and drum beats but there is a reason why this a considered a classic. Favorite songs: Excursions, Buggin' Out, Rap Promoter, Butter, Vibes and Stuff, Check the Rime, Jazz (We've Got), What?, Scenario. Least favorite song: Show Business.
B.B. King
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album. Really enjoyed B.B. King's guitar playing and vocals. He plays guitar and sings with so much emotion and passion, I can definitely see why he's considered to be one of the greats of the genre. Also enjoyed the incorporation of piano and brass instruments as well. The album is a very one-note for me but done so well that it's still great from start to finish. Favorite songs: Every Day I Have The Blues, Sweet Little Angel, Please Love Me, You Upset Me, Worry Worry, Woke Up This Mornin', Help The Poor. Least favorite song: It's My Own Fault.
Ella Fitzgerald
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Def Leppard
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Decent album overall. This album starts off great with all of the hits besides Hysteria on the first half. The whole album is incredibly cheesy and cliche but the first half is fun to listen to. A lot of catchy vocal and instrumental melodies, good guitar riffs, and great production. After this first half, the band starts to reuse ideas that simply don't work as well so the album begins to lose its appeal pretty quickly. Hysteria definitely saves the second half from being a complete dud. Generally speaking the songs were too long as well for the entire album, could have been better with maybe only 8 songs and 35-40 minutes of music. Favorite songs: Women, Animal, Pour Some Sugar On Me, Armageddon It, Hysteria. Worst songs: Gods Of War, Run Riot.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album overall. Really enjoyed the sampling and drum beat/brakes implemented throughout. The guitar sampling was the highlight of the album, a lot of samples used by iconic artists in creative ways. The way Fatboy Slim incorporates synths to complement the guitar and drums was also done very well. This album is stellar when there are no vocal samples in the song, I think the vocal samples are not used creatively and instead oftentimes become a nuisance; the best songs were ones that are completely instrumental. Favorite songs: Song For Lindy, Santa Cruz, Going Out Of My Head, The Weekend Starts Here, First Down, The Sound Of Milwaukee, Michael Jackson, Next To Nothing. Worst songs: Everybody Needs a 303, Give The Po' Man A Break.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall. Janis Joplin's voice is very unique, she sings with a lot of personality even though I don't like it all the time. Instrumentally this album is pretty standard for this era, nothing stands out too much. Everything sounds good but overall this album is nothing special (besides Janis Joplin) compared to its contemporaries at the time, the highlights were quite good though. Favorite songs: Combination of the Two, Piece of My Heart, Turtle Blues, Oh Sweet Mary, Flower in the Sun. Worst song: Summertime.
Deep Purple
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album from start to finish. The songwriting was very strong throughout, there were many progressive elements that made this unpredictable and therefore very interesting to listen to. All of the members were fantastic, the guitar and keyboard shined on the instrumental passages and the riffs were great, the singer sang with a lot of energy, and the drummer had his moments to showcase his skills, most notably on Flight of the Rat. This album was also clearly influential with the creation of heavy metal, many blues-inspired distorted riffs which were prominent in early heavy metal. I wish some of the transitions were better between some sections but overall this was very enjoyable. Favorite songs: Bloodsucker, Child in Time, Flight of the Rat, Into the Fire, Hard Lovin' Man. Least favorite song: Speed King.
Arrested Development
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing album. The production was fantastic, very sample heavy. The beats were very beautiful and uplifting and instrumentally everything sounded great. Lyrically this album is mostly about relationships and issues with the black community, which was approached in a thought-provoking and interesting way. Loved the combination of rapping and singing throughout the album, both of which were done incredibly well. This album makes you want to go outside and make some sort of change in the world and I am surprised I never heard it before, will definitely be coming back to this one. Favorite songs: Mama's Always On Stage, People Everyday, Mr. Wendal, Raining Revolution, Fishin' 4 Religion, Give A Man A Fish, U, Tennessee. Least favorite song: Children Play With Earth.
Mercury Rev
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall. A lot of the instrumentation was beautiful, the production and mix was also great. The highlights on this album are stellar, catchy instrumentals with great vocals. The lows are pretty boring and not interesting to listen to or the group experiments in ways that do not sound good. Favorite songs: Holes, Opus 40, Hudson Line, Goddess on a Hiway, The Funny Bird. Worst songs: Endlessly, Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp.
Little Richard
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall. Loved Little Richard's singing, he sings with a lot of passion and energy. The songs all sounded the same and had a classic rock n roll sound to it heavily influenced by blues. All of the songs are performed with a lot of energy but the severe lack of variety of song structure and sound is what prevents it from being rated higher for me. Favorite songs: Tutti Frutti, Long Tall Sally, Rip It Up. Worst song: Baby.
Paul Simon
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
Classic album, probably Paul Simon's best work. This album is absolutely infectious, it puts me in a fantastic mood every time I listen to it. The instrumentation and rhythms on this album are remarkable, very influenced by African and world music. The mix of styles from pop, African, world, and rock are masterfully done, it makes each song a pleasure to listen to. Paul Simon also sounds great vocally and lyrically, everything about this album is done extremely well. Favorite songs: The Boy In the Bubble, Graceland, I Know What I Know, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, You Can Call Me Al, Homeless, All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints. Least favorite song: Crazy Love Vol. II.
The 13th Floor Elevators
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Wire
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing album. This is punk that is so refreshing to listen to, very groovy, catchy, and interesting. The classic punk tempo is prevalent throughout, especially on the shorter songs, but the riffs and vocal melodies that are incorporated are so creative that no two songs feel redundant or repetitive. The longer songs are all fantastic, they were normally slower in tempo and very groovy. Overall, this album is incredibly catchy and fun to listen to; very close to being five stars, I think there are just a few too many of the short songs for me to give it a five but that may change with time. Favorite songs: Reuters, Three Girl Rumba, Ex Lion Tamer, Lowdown, It's So Obvious, Pink Flag, Mr. Suit, Strange, Fragile, Mannequin, Champs, 12 X U. Worst songs: 106 Beats That, Different to Me.
Electric Light Orchestra
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
I do not like this.
Slayer
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing album, definitely a classic thrash metal album. The energy and passion throughout this album is almost unrivaled. There are plenty of groovy and heavy riffs and the drumming is blisteringly fast. It is very one-dimensional however; the best songs are the ones that are a bit longer and groovier and don't always have the same style of thrash metal riffs and drumming. Favorite songs: Angel Of Death, Altar Of Sacrifice, Jesus Saves, Criminally Insane, Epidemic, Postmortem, Raining Blood. Worst song: Reborn.
M.I.A.
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Mixed bag album. For better or worse, this album is very experimental. The highlights are absolutely fantastic, the production is interesting without being overwhelming and it's very melodic. When the experimentation does not work it's bad but not totally awful, this album is so interesting sonically that even when it does not work it's still interesting, although oftentimes quite annoying to listen to. I don't enjoy a decent bit of this but when it works it's something special and very creative. Favorite songs: Jimmy, 20 Dollar, XR2, Paper Planes, Come Around. Worst songs: Bamboo Banga, BirdFlu, Boyz.
Aerosmith
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
This album is composed of two amazing songs and seven incredibly mid/mediocre songs. Walk This Way and Sweet Emotion are so good that it warrants this album getting three stars, very disappointed with pretty much the rest of it though. Favorite songs: Walk This Way, Sweet Emotion. Worst songs: Toys In The Attic, Big Ten Inch Record.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Did not like this but I found it quite amusing. Sounds like demented blues, it feels like the band is parodying blues, rock, and itself with this album. It's like this album is supposed to sound awful, from the ridiculous sound effects, weird song structures, and bad production. I commend the band for trying something unique but this was really bad; it has some legitimately great moments and even songs on here though. Favorite songs: Wail, Rocketship, Firefly Child. Worst songs: Skunk, Identify, Sticky.
The National
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Very good album overall. The instrumentation was extremely beautiful throughout, the use of strings to accentuate the somber tone of this album was a highlight in particular. The singer's voice perfectly matches the tone of the album, a deep voice that is filled with pain from his past. The crescendos that occurred during the ending of a lot of the songs was great, this definitely helped elevate all of the songs. As beautiful as this album is, it is very one-dimensional in sound and therefore difficult to distinguish a lot of the songs from each other, wish there was a bit more variety while keeping the tone and atmosphere they established so well. Favorite songs: Terrible Love, Sorrow, Anyone's Ghost, Lemonworld, Runaway, England, Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks. Worst songs: Little Faith, Afraid of Everyone.
Violent Femmes
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great folk rock album. Great instrumentally and vocally, many catchy melodies and interesting lyrics. The singer has a quirky voice that works very well with the instruments, has some Velvet Underground influence and it seems like the Pixies may have been inspired by these guys which is a huge positive for me. The more upbeat songs were the highlights, some of the slower ones did not resonate with me as much. Favorite songs: Blister In The Sun, Kiss Off, Please Do Not Go, Add It Up, To The Kill, Gone Daddy Gone, Good Feeling. Least favorite song: Confessions.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Short and sweet, a lot of great riffs and catchy melodies. Favorite songs: Breakdown, Hometown Blues, The Wild One Forever, Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll, Strangered in the Night, Luna, American Girl. Worst song: Rockin' Around (With You).
The Undertones
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Good album overall. The first half is great, very catchy with plenty of fun guitar riffs and melodies. After a certain point the charm of this album starts to wear off, the second half is decent but the ideas start getting repetitive and some of the songs start feeling redundant despite the album's short length. Favorite songs: the first eight songs. Worst songs: Get Over You, (She's A) Runaround.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall, really enjoyed the combination of blues, rock, country, and folk. The guitar tone sounded fantastic and the production was great as well. Nothing too innovative on this album besides Sympathy for the Devil, every other song is the Stones' spin on blues, rock, and country which is great. This album is somewhat missing Mick Jagger's charisma; the Stones shine brightest when they're blaring rock n' roll through your speakers and Mick Jagger's swagger is exemplified the best in this scenario. Unfortunately, this album has very few upbeat rock songs but has plenty of other great songs to somewhat make up for this. Not my favorite album by theirs, but still very fun to listen to. Favorite songs: Sympathy For The Devil, Parachute Woman, Jigsaw Puzzle, Prodigal Son, Stray Cat Cat Blues, Factory Girl, Salt Of The Girl. Worst song: Street Fighting Man.
Talking Heads
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
It's the Talking Heads, of course this is a great album. The first half is very good to great, has some nice rhythms and grooves but nothing too special for their standards. The second half is amazing, so many great songs, riffs, melodies, and choruses. So smooth and funky. Not one of their best albums overall, but still great. Favorite songs: The Good Thing, The Girls Wants to Be with the Girls, Found a Job, Artists Only, I'm Not in Love, Stay Hungry, Take Me to the River, The Big Country. Worst song: Warning Sign.
Spiritualized
2/5
Rating: 5/10
This album has moments that are very beautiful and a few great songs but most of it is very forgettable and extremely boring. Favorite songs: You Know It's True, If I Were With Her Now, I Want You, 200 Bars. Worst songs: Smiles, Symphony Space, Take Your Time.
Jeru The Damaja
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Kate Bush
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
Amazing album, one of the best pop albums of all time and one of the best albums of the 80s. Kate Bush sounds fantastic, she sings with so much emotion and passion which perfectly matches the production and instrumentantation. Instrumentally this album is stellar and gorgeous, mixing a variety of genres and styles. Orchestral elements and piano are prominent throughout the album but there are also elements of traditional pop, rock, folk, and experimental music. The production is incredible, all of the instruments sound so rich and beautiful. This is an album that is creative, experimental, and pushes the boundaries of what pop music can sound like; I love this album and will definitely be returning to it frequently. Favorite songs: Running Up That Hill, Hounds Of Love, The Big Sky, Cloudbusting, Waking The Witch, Watching You Without Me, Jig Of Life, Hello Earth, The Morning Fog. Least favorite songs: Mother Stands For Comfort, And Dream Of Sheep.
Gang Of Four
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album overall. Really enjoyed the experimentation throughout the album while having a punk rock foundation. There were a lot of catchy riffs and melodies throughout, the guitar and bass riffs were a highlight in particular. The production was also great, really stands out amongst the other punk rock groups at the time. I did not always like the ideas that the band implemented but this album is unique enough that it is still great to listen to from start to finish. Favorite songs: Ether, Natural's Not In It, Not Great Men, Damaged Goods, I Found The Essence Rare, Glass, 5.45. Worst song: Guns Before Butter.
Jamiroquai
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album, very funky and fun to listen to. Not much more to say, this album is an hour of great funk. Favorite songs: When You Gonna Learn?, Too Young To Die, Music of the Mind, Whatever It Is I Just Can't Stop, Blow Your Mind, Revolution 1993, Didgin' Out. Least favorite song: If I Like It, Do It.
Willie Nelson
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Ghostface Killah
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
Amazing album, my favorite album by Ghostface Killah. This album takes you on a journey and to me embodies all of Ghost's best characteristics and content matter: vivid storytelling, drug dealing stories, family issues/relationships, insane street slang, and all of this with clever wordplay, expansive vocabulary, great rhyming, and of course his iconic voice and delivery. There is an introspective and emotional aspect that this album does better than Ghost's others I think while still being amazing lyrically. The production is also great throughout, every song feels unique. Even though this album is over 25 tracks long it always passes by so quickly whenever I listen to it; a sign of a truly great album. Favorite songs: Shakey Dog, Kilo, The Champ, 9 Milli Bros, Beauty Jackson, Crack Spot, R.A.G.U., Whip You With A Strap, Back Like That, Be Easy, Jellyfish, Dogs Of War, Big Girl, Underwater, Momma, Three Bricks. Worst song: Clipse of Doom.
Soft Cell
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
The first three songs are good, the rest of this album is awful. A lot of awful lyrics, cheesy synths, and generally annoying singing and melodies. If it wasn't for Tainted Love this would be a 1 star album for me.
Slint
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album overall. Really enjoyed the instrumentation throughout, the atmosphere that was built in each song was fantastic. The band took its time to develop each song, the riffs and ideas are repetitive but the nuances added as each song builds is what makes this album great. I really did not enjoy the singing, mostly spoken word which I almost never enjoy, even though sometimes it worked well on the songs. Favorite songs: Breadcrumb Trail, Nosferatu Man, Washer, Good Morning Captain. Worst song: Don, Aman.
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty good album overall. The first few songs were just okay, I think the album really picks up starting with Without You. The music and melodies become a lot more interesting and enjoyable and his voice stands out more. Favorite songs: Without You, Coconut, Let The Good Times Roll, Jump In The Fire. Worst songs: Driving Along, I'll Never Leave You.
Thundercat
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty good album overall. Really enjoyed the mix of soul, funk, and R&B with some hip-hop elements thrown in. Very smooth sound and great production, this is a nice album to chill out to. It started to lose its charm towards the end, the songs throughout sounded pretty similar but the last few songs seemed redundant, wish there was more variety here. Favorite songs: Captain Stupido, Uh Uh, Bus In The Streets, A Fan's Mail, Lava Lamp, Day & Night, Show You The Way, Walk On By, Blackkk, Them Changes. Worst songs: Drink Dat, The Turn Down, DUI.
Jungle Brothers
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall. The production was definitely the highlight, very sample based and pretty funky. The production was probably groundbreaking for the time, even now it is very fun to listen to. The rapping was solid, nice rhyming and decent flows, even though I am not a fan of the delivery of this time period. Favorite songs: Beyond This World, Feeling Alright, What U Waitin' 4?, U Make Me Sweat, Belly Dancin' Dina, Done by the Forces of Nature, Tribe Vibes, Doin' Our Own Dang. Worst song: Sunshine.
Yes
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album overall. The songwriting was consistently great, each track takes you on a journey. The incorporation of classical guitar and keyboard was done exceptionally well. There were also a lot of strong bass and guitar riffs throughout and plenty of catchy melodies. I did not like the singing that much or some of the ideas but this album is great most of the time. Favorite songs: Yours Is No Disgrace, The Clap, Starship Trooper, I've Seen All Good People. Worst song: The Venture.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
Mostly boring and overly meandering. This album is very unfocused, there is no clear theme musically. This should have been completely instrumental, the vocals totally threw me off and did not fit well with the music. The only consistent theme is the use of orchestral elements but every song feels so random; it feels like they wrote 11 songs with orchestral elements and called it an album instead of crafting something with purpose. Despite all of these faults, I found two songs to be great and there were a decent bit of good ideas on here, even though most of it seemed pointless. Favorite songs: Penguin Cafe Single, Zopf: Giles Farnaby's Dream, parts of The Sound of Someone You Love... Worst songs: the rest of the Zopf songs.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album. Many very enjoyable songs and good storytelling and humorous interludes by Johnny Cash. The guitar playing is great throughout, not much variety but Johnny Cash is a master at country so it's still great from start to finish. Favorite songs: Wanted Man, Wreck of the Old 97, I Walk the Line, Darlin' Companion, San Quentin, A Boy Named Sue. Worst song: (There'll Be) Peace in the Valley.
David Bowie
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall, consistently high-quality songwriting throughout. This album has a lot of beautiful arrangements, instrumentally and musically it is very diverse and interesting to listen to. I really enjoyed the experimental nature of it, the mix of rock and jazz (and other genres) was done exceptionally well and the songwriting is unpredictable, making it a very enjoyable listen. I was not always a fan of the ideas on here but it works and sounds fantastic the vast majority of the time. Favorite songs: Blackstar, 'Tis A Pity She Was A Whore, Lazarus, Girl Loves Me, I Can't Get Away, With Everything. Least favorite song: Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime).
Queen
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall. Really enjoyed the eclectic combination of genres, from rock and heavy metal to opera and acapella. The vocal harmonies are fantastic, each member possesses an impressive vocal range that complements each other so well and sounds so unique. The album is very theatrical and the vocal harmonies accentuate this immensely. The songwriting is also pretty diverse in sound and structure as each band member writes at least one song on here and there are three different lead vocalists; the progressive nature of a lot of the songs is very well done. Some of the theatrical elements are a bit much for me but this a great album. Favorite songs: Death on Two Legs, Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon, I'm In Love With My Car, You're My Best Friend, '39, Sweet Lady, Seaside Rendezvous, most of The Prophet's Song, Bohemian Rhapsody. Worst song: Good Company.
Mj Cole
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Mixed bag album. Starts off absolutely awful with the most generic sounding electronic music ever, incredibly boring and derivative. Once Crazy Love hits the album is definitely better, catchier melodies and a lot more interesting production. Even then, there is nothing remarkable about this album, surprised this is on the list. Favorite songs: Crazy Love, You're Mine, Sanctuary, Strung Out, Rough Out Here. Worst songs: Introduction, Tired Games, Attitude, Bandelero Desparado, MJ FM Interlude.
Dion
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Deep Purple
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Good live album, they really focused on the improvisations which I was not the biggest fan of always. I enjoy the studio recordings of the songs more than this so I will not be coming back to this, even though it was an enjoyable listen overall.
Gillian Welch
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Revelator was amazing, the guitar had so much melody, dynamic, and rhythm. My First Lover and Red Clay Halo were both fun songs, really enjoyed the banjo playing and bluegrass elements she incorporated. The rest of the album is very boring, not interesting instrumentally whatsoever and vocally decent but nothing special.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album overall. Almost every song is extremely catchy and fun to listen to. The vocal and instrumental melodies were very strong throughout, even though the guitars were very distorted. The distortion is overwhelming at times, creating a wall of noise. I had a revelation while listening to this that there is beauty and emotion in the noise, so I definitely see the appeal to this style of music. The last three songs felt redundant and a bit boring compared to everything else but the rest of this was great; this might score much higher (or much lower) on repeated listens depending on how I end up feeling about the noise. Favorite songs: all but the last three. Worst songs: You Trip Me Up, Something's Wrong, It's So Hard.
Portishead
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
Amazing album, breathtakingly gorgeous from start to finish. The production is amazing, all of the instruments sound fantastic and the dynamics that were used created a beautiful atmosphere. The drums and samples sprinkled throughout were influenced by hip-hop but the other instruments and the production create a completely different vibe. The vocals are incredibly beautiful and really complement the instrumentation; Beth Gibbons always knows when to supplement the instrumentals with her voice and when to add a bit more volume and range to showcase her talents as well. There are some overlapping ideas between the songs so it can sound a bit same-y but it is so well done that this is not an issue for me; this is a classic of the trip-hop genre for a reason. Favorite songs: Pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Strangers.
Van Halen
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album overall. Plenty of great guitar riffs, solos, and melodies, Eddie Van Halen definitely carries this album. The singles are all fantastic and the highlights of the album. The rest of the songs are mostly good but sometimes questionable vocally and lyrically as well as having a few subpar riffs. Favorite songs: Jump, Panama, Top Jimmy, Hot For Teacher, I'll Wait, Girl Gone Bad. Worst songs: Drop Dead Legs, House of Pain.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Very good album overall. Really enjoyed most of the production, very sample heavy and fun to listen to. The flows, delivery, and lyrics are all outdated but the production and energy of the group makes this a very enjoyable listen from start to finish. Favorite songs: Hard Times, Rock Box, Jam-Master Jay, Sucker MC's, It's Like That, Jay's Game. Least favorite song: Wake Up.
Adele
5/5
Rating: 10/10
A soul masterpiece. This album is absolutely gorgeous and heart-wrenching, Adele pours out her emotions in each one of the songs and sings with masterful prowess. There is so much nuance in Adele's voice that complements every song so well. The production and instrumentation is incredible, very beautiful and perfect to match her voice. There is a decent amount of variety in the production with lots of details that will make repeated listens of this album interesting. This album is something special, definitely one the best of the 2010s and possibly one of the greatest soul albums of all time. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Don't You Remember.
ZZ Top
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall. The energy was infectious, each song was played with so much power and passion. The guitar riffs and solos were all great and the production was very polished, which suited ZZ Top's style well. This album is pretty cheesy and one-dimensional but so catchy melodically that it does not really matter. Favorite songs: Gimme All Your Lovin', Got Me Under Pressure, Sharp Dressed Man, I Need You Tonight, Legs, Thug, If I Could Only Flag Her Down, Bad Girl. Least favorite song: I Got The Six.
Fats Domino
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Good album overall, not my style though.
Talking Heads
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall. The first half is great, very catchy melodies and memorable songwriting. There is a weird element that the band does so well but it sounds mostly fantastic and their combination of styles works so well. The second half is when the album really falls off for me. The quirkiness of the band becomes overwhelming to a point where the sounds stop sounding musical and become a nuisance to listen to. There are still a lot of good ideas on the second half but overall not something I would want to revisit. Favorite songs: I Zimbra, Mind, Paper, Cities, Life During Wartime, Heaven. Worst songs: Animals, Electric Guitar, Drugs.
Sonic Youth
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall. The combination of the band's trademark noise rock and pop was very well done, this album seems a bit more polished than their previous releases while still maintaining their sound and energy. A lot of the songs were incredibly catchy and creative, especially on the first half. The noise elements were done in a unique way while having a beauty in them as well, making for a very enjoyable listen. Many of the song structures and guitar riffs were odd as well which both add to the enjoyment of this album. The vocal performances mostly work, the singers of this band are not good technically but make it work for the most part. Some songs were not as interesting due to poor singing or ideas but the majority of this album is great. Favorite songs: 100%, Swimsuit Issue, Theresa's Sound-World, Drunken Butterfly, Shoot, Sugar Kane, On The Strip, Chapel Hill, Purr. Worst song: Nic Fit.
Beck
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Mixed bag album. I really appreciated the experimentation and eclectic mix of genres on this album. The amount of samples were also impressive, many samples from many different genres were implemented making this album very unique in sound. In pretty much every song, there were parts I thought were done exceptionally well but also parts that were very annoying and frustrating to listen to. A song could start well with a unique beat and mix of sounds but be pretty much ruined by horrible vocal effects or random noises thrown in that do not complement the music whatsoever. The ideas on here are fantastic, the execution is lacking a lot of the time for me. Favorite songs: Devil's Haircut, Lord Only Knows, The New Pollution, most of Where It's At, Ramshackle. Worst songs: Readymade, High 5, Computer Rock.
Wilco
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Very good album overall. Really enjoyed the melodies, passionate singing, and use of a variety of different instruments. The implementation of country elements was very well done, it complemented the singing extremely well and the other genres (mostly rock) that they used. As good as a lot of this album is, it is too long. Especially in the second half the songs start to drag more and are not as interesting as the songs on the first half; definitely would have benefitted from being one disc. Favorite songs: Misunderstood, Far Far Away, Monday, Outtasite (Outta Mind), I Got You (At The End Of The Century), What's the World Got in Store, Someday Soon, Kingpin, Dreamer in My Dreams. Worst songs: Someone Else's Song, Why Would You Wanna Live.
Pavement
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Decent album overall. Some songs had excellent melodies and guitar riffs while others were much more bland in comparison. The production is very bad but matches the style with a few songs quite well while being a hindrance to quite a few. I will not be coming back to most of this album but the highlights were very strong. Favorite songs: Summer Babe, Trigger Cut, Here. Worst songs: No Life Singed Her, Chesley's Little Wrists.
R.E.M.
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall. A lot of catchy melodies, jangly riffs, and beautiful orchestral elements. The singles were a highlight in particular but the whole album is great, although sometimes slightly boring. Favorite songs: Drive, Try Not To Breathe, Everybody Hurts, New Orleans Instrumental No. 1, Monty Got A Raw Deal, Man On The Moon, Nightswimming. Worst song: Star Me Kitten.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Haircut 100
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Decent album overall. The first two songs are very good, the rest of the album sounded like a watered-down Talking Heads. A lot of the bass lines are great and I enjoyed the use of the saxophone and horns throughout, but the charm of the album wore out pretty quickly and what was left was mostly songs that sounded just okay.
Cornershop
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Very good album overall. Really enjoyed the mix of genres, especially indie rock and Indian music. There were plenty of catchy melodies throughout the album and enough variety to never get boring. Some of the shorter songs felt pointless though, more like extended interludes than actual songs. Favorite songs: Sleep on the Left Side, Brimful of Asha, Butter the Soul, We're in Yr Corner, Funky Days Are Back Again, Good to Be on the Road Back Home Again, Candyman, State Troopers. Worst songs: What Is Happening?, When the Light Appears Boy.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
A hip-hop classic, one of the best produced rap albums of all time. This album was probably so groundbreaking and refreshing for this time period. Very forward-thinking, humorous, and clever lyrics and absolutely fantastic beats mixed together to create an amazing album. The entire album is creative and fun to listen to throughout, every song is very strong and there no weak moments on here. This or Tribe's most recent (and last) album is my favorite of theirs. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Mr. Muhammad.
Talking Heads
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing album overall. A fantastic introduction to this band, at this point in their careers they already had their trademark sound figured out. The way they blended funk, new wave, and rock with odd melodies is done incredibly well here for the most part. This album has the quirkiness this band is known for while still being very catchy and fun to listen to. I did not enjoy a few songs as much as the others but this album is amazing for the most part. Favorite songs: Uh-Oh Loves Comes to Town, New Feeling, Happy Day, Who Is It?, No Compassion, The Book I Read, Psycho Killer, Pulled Up. Worst song: Don't Worry About the Government.
Motörhead
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Awful vocals, awful lyrics, and very one-dimensional songwriting. I appreciate the energy of the band and some ideas are good but overall I do not care for this album. Ace of Spades is great though.
Parliament
4/5
Rating: 9/10
It's so damn funky. Favorite songs: Pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Night Of The Thumpasorus Peoples.
Muddy Waters
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Good but not my thing.
Depeche Mode
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Very good album overall. Really enjoyed the dark tone of the album and ambience created by the band. The band achieves a lot with a more minimalistic approach on this album, it gives the songs room to breathe and develop while focusing more on the atmosphere. There were plenty of catchy instrumental and vocal melodies throughout, the album was quite catchy for also being dark. Some songs were pretty lackluster in comparison to the others but still very enjoyable overall. Favorite songs: Never Let Me Down Again, The Things You Said, Strangelove, Sacred, Nothing, Pimpf. Worst song: I Want You Now.
Alice In Chains
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall. So heavy and emotionally dark, the instrumentation complements the depressing lyrics so well. There are so many memorable riffs here, very influenced by metal and grunge which makes for many headbanging riffs. Layne Staley pours his emotions out in every song, there were so many great vocal melodies and harmonies. Sometimes the mixture of the guitar and vocals did not work very well but this album is great/excellent the vast majority of the time. Favorite songs: Them Bones, Dam That River, Rain When I Die, Down In A Hole, Rooster, Junkhead, Dirt, Angry Chair, Would?. Worst songs: Untitled, Sickman.
Solomon Burke
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Good but not my thing.
Miriam Makeba
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
1/5
Rating: 2/10
Awful album. Vocally this album is absolutely horrendous, Elvis Costello sounds awful and sings like he's tone deaf. There are no memorable melodies and instrumentally it's very boring and forgettable. The vocals make this album almost unlistenable, it's shocking how bad the vocals are. Favorite song: Shabby Doll. Worst songs: everything else.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Very good album overall. Really enjoyed the dance/disco influences throughout, the first half was especially strong and catchy. The production was also a standout, there were a lot of intricate details in the instrumentation and everything sounded great. They also did a good job building the slower songs, the songs would start off minimalistic and then slowly build as they progressed. The second half is a decrease in quality compared to the first but most of this album is great. Favorite songs: Zero, Heads Will Roll, Soft Shock, Skeletons, Dull Life, Dragon Queen, Hysteric. Worst song: Runaway.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Traffic
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall. Really enjoyed the mix of rock, blues, and country elements. A lot of good guitar riffs and melodies. The album starts amazing with the first song and then loses some steam but always stays solid throughout. Favorite songs: You Can All Join In, Pearly Queen, Don't Be Sad, Who Knows Tomorrow May Bring, 40.000 Headman, Cryin' To Be Heard. Worst song: Vagabond Virgin.
Bee Gees
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Rating: 10/10
A classic, one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. Not only is this one of best produced rap albums of all time, it is also one of the best lyrically as well. The album feels like a movie, Kendrick takes the listener on a journey through his childhood and the crime-filled streets of Compton. The lyrics paint a vivd picture of the street life of Compton and Kendrick does this with varied deliveries, clever wordplay, and thought-provoking lyrics. I have listened to this album many times and am still discovering new meanings lyrically. A truly timeless album. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Real.
Todd Rundgren
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Beastie Boys
5/5
Rating: 10/10
Classic album, one of the best hip-hop albums of all time. The sampling and production on this album is legendary, so diverse and fun to listen to. The amount of samples that were used is incredible and the fact that it all meshes so well is even more incredible; nothing on here feels forced. The Beastie Boys are having fun throughout the entire album, nothing serious lyrically but their interplay is fantastic. This is an album that was groundbreaking back then and still sounds amazing today; a timeless classic. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: High Plains Drifter.
Ray Charles
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Bauhaus
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
David Bowie
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall. The instrumentation and production was amazing throughout, Bowie pushes boundaries yet again on this album to mostly great results. The first half is more classic Bowie, experimental but catchy instrumentation with great vocal melodies. The second is very ambient and interesting musically, a lot of different instruments are used to create a beautiful wall of ambient sound. The second half can be a bit meandering and maybe a bit too long compared to the first but overall this album is great. Favorite songs: Speed of Light, Breaking Glass, Sound and Vision, Always Crashing in the Same Car, Be My Wife, Warszawa, Weeping Wall, Subterraneans. Worst song: What in the World.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall. The first half is particularly strong, plenty of gorgeous instrumental melodies and passionate singing by Nick Cave. I love how Nick Cave changes his vocal delivery to match the mood of each song. There were also many nuances instrumentally which will make for repeated listens. The second half is a dip in quality; still very good but not as interesting instrumentally or vocally. Still at least three fantastic songs on Disc 2, if this was one album it could have been 5 stars easily. Favorite songs: Get Ready for Love, Cannibal's Hymn, Hiding All Away, Messiah Ward, Beautiful World, Nature Boy, Abattoir Blues, Easy Money, Supernaturally, O Children. Worst song: Fable of the Brown Ape.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Very chill vibes, some of the ideas get a bit redundant on the second half. Favorite songs: Lively Up Yourself, No Woman No Cry, Them Belly Full, Rebel Music, So Jah S'eh, Natty Dread. Worst song: Am-A-Do.
The Gun Club
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Good album overall. Sounds like a lot of post-punk from this era but done with their own twist. Really enjoyed the blues/country influences throughout, the instrumentation was very interesting. Had some Velvet Underground influences as well in the instrumentation and vocally, overall good but I prefer to listen to their contemporaries from this time period and genre. Favorite songs: Promise Me, She's Like Heroin to Me, For the Love of Ivy, Ghost on the Highway, Black Train, Cool Drink of Water. Worst song: Sex Beat.
AC/DC
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
A classic, one the greatest hard rock albums of all time. This album is the definition of power in simplicity. Each song is so infectious and groovy; the band plays with so much energy and passion which translates so well despite its simplicity. Brian Johnson's voice matches perfectly with the rest of the band to create an amazing album from start to finish. It is a little repetitive but the songwriting makes up for this tenfold. RIP Bon Scott. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Let Me Put My Love Into You.
Metallica
5/5
Rating: 10/10
A classic, one of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time. The band really pushes themselves by incorporating more progressive elements in their music; the average song is 7 minutes and each one takes you on a journey. This is definitely their most technical album, the guitars are so locked in and Lars' drumming is the best it ever was. I really enjoyed the angry political messages throughout and the solos are all fantastic. The production gets a lot of hate but I think it matches the music perfectly, I wish the bass was audible though. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: The Shortest Straw.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Very chill and pleasant jazz album, but every song sounds the same.
Stephen Stills
3/5
Rating: 6/10
The first two songs are great, the rest of this album is boring but listenable.
Steve Earle
2/5
Rating: 5/10
The album was extremely derivative overall. Did not care for it besides Someday and a part of Fearless Heart.
Jack White
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album overall. Really enjoyed the mix of rock, blues, and jazz. The songwriting and style of this album is different enough from the White Stripes that it is definitely worth listening to. Favorite songs: Freedom At 21, Love Interruption, Weep Themselves To Sleep, I'm Shakin', Trash Tongue Talker, I Guess I Should Go To Sleep, On And On And On, Take Me With You When You Go. Worst song: Blunderbuss.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall. An eclectic combination of world music that is consistently interesting and catchy. The different genres mesh so well together that it never feels forced, this album is pretty experimental and succeeds in creating something memorable the vast majority of the time. Jah Wobble is not a good singer and some of the songs are a bit too long but I was surprised with how enjoyable this was. Favorite songs: Visions of You, Relight the Flame, Bomba, Erzulie, Everyman's an Island, Sweet Divinity, Wonderful World. Worst song: Ungodly Kingdom.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall. The band's spin on punk rock is very unique, this album is so dark in tone while still having the driving tempo and instrumentation of punk. What really separates this from other punk bands is the drumming, it feels very tribal in nature and complements the instrumentation perfectly. The atmosphere that is created on here is special since I hear how influential this was to many other bands, but some of the songs, especially on the second, half feel a bit redundant. Favorite songs: Pure, Jigsaw Feeling, Overground, Carcass, Mirage, Metal Postcard, Switch, Hong Kong Garden, The Staircase. Worst song: Helter Skelter.
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
Rating: 10/10
A classic, one of the greatest debut albums of all time. The band mixes indie rock, garage rock, and punk rock with masterful proficiency. The energy on here is absolutely infectious which makes it so fun to listen to from start to finish. The interplay of the instruments is stellar, the guitars and bass oftentimes are not playing the same thing but the synergy between them is fantastic. Lyrically this album is great too, very observational, witty, and humorous while also being relatable. This sounds like a band that spent years perfecting their sound rather than a debut which makes it all the more impressive. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights...
Alanis Morissette
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
Amazing album, Alanis Morissette has one of the most unique voices in all of music. She sings with so much passion, energy, and so beautifully and does so in a one-of-a-kind way. Her vocal inflections and technique separates her from other artists. The choruses on this album are phenomenal, incredibly catchy and interesting vocally. The lyrics are quite introspective and well-written as well. Instrumentally this album is great too, nothing too special but enough to support Morissette's fantastic voice. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Mary Jane.
Kanye West
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Mixed bag album. There are three great songs on here as well as a handful of interesting ideas, the rest of the album I find incredibly annoying and obnoxious, which is exactly the point since Kanye is flexing his ego to the maximum here. The songs that work incorporate electronic elements mostly while sounding different and catchy. Most of the other songs feel too experimental in nature without sounding musical, and with Kanye's awful lyrics it becomes a nuisance to listen to. Favorite songs: Black Skinhead, the end of New Slaves, Blood On The Leaves, Bound 2. Worst songs: I Am A God, I'm In It, Send It Up.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Good album overall. Fun and catchy, nothing special though. Favorite songs: Kicks, There's Always Tomorrow, I'm Not Your Stepping Stone, All I Really Need Is You, Louie Go Home. Worst song: Little Girl in the 4th Row.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest albums of all time, Stevie Wonder is a genius. The mix of funk, soul, and R&B (amongst other genres) is truly remarkable. The songs are all beaming with life and energy that is incredibly infectious while also being extremely creative. The songwriting is top-notch, the musicianship is fantastic, and the production is superb. A timeless classic. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Worst song: Love's In Need Of Love Today.
a-ha
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty good overall, most of the album sounded like generic 80s synth-pop but the highlights were quite good. Favorite songs: Take On Me, Living a Boy's Adventure Tale, I Dream Myself Alive, Here I Stand and Face the Rain. Worst song: Train of Thought.
Terence Trent D'Arby
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album overall. Incredibly soulful and passionate, D'Arby sings his heart out every song and does so with great instrumentation and production supporting him. The album shines through the most with the slower, more soulful songs but falls relatively short on the more upbeat songs. Favorite songs: If You All Get to Heaven, Wishing Well, I'll Never Turn My Back on You, Dance Little Sister, Seven More Days, Let's Go Forward, Sign Your Name. Worst song: As Yet Untitled.
Public Enemy
2/5
Rating: 5/10
The more farther I got into this album, the more I disliked it. It starts off pretty strong with the first few songs but continues to drop in quality as it progresses. I dislike a lot of the production, the deliveries and flows are outdated, and Flavor Flav can be very annoying. Ultimately, this was album that was groundbreaking for the time but today sounds clumsy and dated.
Jacques Brel
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Crowded House
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Radiohead
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Very good album overall. It is far from Radiohead's best, not as catchy, focused, interesting nor creative as much of their discography. Even though this sounds like Kid A leftovers, it can be special at times. There are many great moments but the lows are some of the band's worst material. Favorite songs: Packt Like Sardines, You And Whose Army?, I Might Be Wrong, Knives Out, Hunting Bears, Life In a Glasshouse. Worst song: Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors.
Van Halen
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
One of the best debut albums of all time. Amazing riffs, solos, and energy from Van Halen and the rest of the band. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Worst song: On Fire.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest rock albums of all time and maybe my favorite Led Zeppelin album. There is so much charisma on this album, every song has incredibly catchy melodies, amazing riffs, and fantastic drumming by John Bonham. Every member shines throughout to create a timeless classic. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Worst song: Thank You.
The Sugarcubes
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall. So many catchy melodies while also being very creative. The instrumentation sounds like post-punk from the early 80s with its unique twist to it. The production is great and Bjork's voice matches this sound so well which adds to the uniqueness. Very refreshing to get an album like this on the list, it does not always work but when it does it is very memorable. Favorite songs: Traitor, Motorcrash, Birthday, Mama, Coldsweat, Blue Eyed Pop, Deus, Sick For Toys, Fucking in Rhythm & Sorrow. Worst song: Taking Some Petrol.
David Bowie
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Good album overall. Sounds like this is the time David Bowie is defining his sound. There are a lot of great melodies but the songwriting can be quite dull at times. Favorite songs: Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Kooks, Andy Warhol, Queen Bitch. Worst songs: Eight Line Poem, Fill Your Heart.
Joan Baez
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
The Afghan Whigs
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Started off great with the first few songs then became pretty derivative. The first few songs have an alternative rock feel which resembles much of the 90s but the band put their own spin on it at least. After this nothing of note really happens, it's listenable but nothing special. Favorite songs: If I Were Going, Gentlemen, Be Sweet, Debonair. Worst songs: What Jail Is Like, Brother Woodrow.
Ice T
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Good album overall. The production was great and a lot of Ice-T's rhymes, flow, and delivery were great as well. The lyrical content got repetitive/redundant after a while and many of the songs after the first third were not that interesting. Too many skits and this album is about 30 minutes too long, there is a really great album among all of the filler. Favorite songs: Home of the Bodybag, Mic Contract, Mind Over Matter, New Jack Hustler, Bitches 2, Straight Up Nigga, Pulse of the Rhyme. Worst songs: all of the skits.
Foo Fighters
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Starts off great with the first few songs: catchy melodies, fun riffs, and great energy. After this the album starts to sound like generic 90s hard rock. It is impressive how Dave Grohl plays all of the instruments though. Favorite songs: This Is a Call, I'll Stick Around, Big Me, Good Grief. Worst songs: Floaty, Weenie Beenie.
Machito
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Sleater-Kinney
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
Amazing album overall, what a great mix of punk and indie rock. The guitar riffs are the standout element of this album, so incredibly melodic yet driving. The singer and drummer bring so much energy which helps drive the music and complement the fantastic melodies perfectly. Overall this album is very catchy and fun to listen to. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Heart Factory.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall. There are great moments in almost every song and one fantastic song. Instrumentally this album is either fantastic or very underwhelming; most songs have elements of both and a few are just underwhelming. The slower songs are not interesting to me, Springsteen's voice is not good enough to carry a song with sparse instrumentation. Favorite songs: Adam Raised a Cain, Candy's Room, the end of Racing in the Street, The Promised Land, Streets of Fire, Prove It All Night. Worst song: Darkness On the Edge of Town.
Black Flag
3/5
Rating: 6/10
The production and musicians might be awful, but they play with so much energy and passion. There are a decent bit of good riffs and catchy melodies here while maintaining incredibly high energy throughout. Favorite songs: Rise Above, Six Pack, TV Party, Depression, Room 13, No More, Life of Pain. Worst songs: Damaged II, Damaged I.
The Sabres Of Paradise
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Genesis
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall. A lot of interesting ideas throughout and multiple great songs. Every member of this band is a virtuoso but the ideas on here do not always translate the best musically. There are many great melodies, riffs, and solos but also very dull moments. Favorite songs: Dancing with the Moonlit Knight, Firth of Fifth, After the Ordeal, The Cinema Show, Aisle of Plenty. Worst song: The Battle of Epping Forest.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Short and sweet. Although most of the songs sounded the same and had the same structure and style this was mostly fun to listen to from start to finish. Favorite songs: Oh Boy!, Maybe Baby, Tell Me How, That'll Be Day, I'm Looking For Someone To Love, Rock Me My Baby. Worst song: You've Got Love.
Brian Eno
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Good album overall. The experimental nature of this album is simultaneously good and bad; it was definitely an interesting listen but not always the most enjoyable. It is commendable how Brian Eno combined rock, pop, and experimental into this album.
The The
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall. Even though it is poppy and has many of elements of the 80s, it is very unique and interesting in sound and structure. The melodies and instrumentation are incredibly catchy and the songwriting is quite varied in structure, making it a very fun listen from start to finish. Favorite songs: I've Been Waiting For Tomorrow, This Is the Day, Uncertain Smile, Soul Mining, Giant, Perfect. Worst song: The Sinking Feeling.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Would be a two-star album without Under My Thumb and Paint It Black, the rest of it is not that interesting.
Garbage
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall. Really enjoyed the combination of alternative rock, dance, and electronic music. Most of the songs are incredibly catchy vocally and instrumentally, the production is great and the singer matches this style so well. Favorite songs: Supervixen, Queer, Only Happy When It Rains, A Stroke Of Luck, Vow, Stupid Girl, Dog New Tricks, My Lover's Box, Fix Me Now. Worst song: As Heaven Is Wide.
Pretenders
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
I do not care for most of this album, a lot of it sounded unfocused and not that interesting, especially the faster tempo songs. The last third of the album was great, there was more time to develop the songs and create something with great melody and riffs. Favorite songs: Private Life, Brass in Pocket, Lovers of Today, Mystery Achievement. Worst songs: Precious, The Phone Call.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Mixed bag album. This album is great when it's funky, dance-y, and when there's rapping. The rapping and production during these three songs was great and a lot of fun to listen to. The other five songs are incredibly underwhelming, sounds like the group's attempt to appeal to a wider audience by incorporating more R&B elements, which sound very derivative and boring. Favorite songs: She's Fresh, It's Nasty, The Message. Worst songs: Scorpio, You Are.
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest albums of all time. Each member of the Wu-Tang clan is so strong lyrically and has their own unique style. The interplay and synergy between all of the members is unparalleled, the transitions between each verse feels so seamless every single time. Lyrically this album is battle rapping and about the struggles of the members' upbringings and is done in a way that is incredibly witty and thought-provoking. I heard this album many times and I am still discovering something new with each listen. A timeless hip-hop classic.
The Incredible String Band
1/5
Rating: 1/10
A truly heinous album, it sounds like a bunch of people that are beginners and are playing whatever they want without rhyme or reason with folk instruments. And because it's so bad and different this album is seen as experimental, but really it's some utter bullshit. There are some good ideas on here like in The Minotaur's Song and the first few minutes of A Very Cellular Song, but this gets overshadowed a thousandfold by how horrendous and unlistenable the rest of the album is.
The Who
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Sounds pretty good, but is a huge rip-off of the Beatles. I am not a fan of this band but at least for other albums it seems like they have their own sound.
Van Morrison
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great folk album with plenty of great vocal melodies and great instrumentation.
Everything But The Girl
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album overall. Really enjoyed the production, singing, and chill vibes. A lot of this album is very beautiful instrumentally, made for a pleasant listen from start to finish. I think this band is not as interesting as some of their trip-hop contemporaries (Portishead and Massive Attack) but they have their own sound which is definitely worth listening to. Favorite songs: Before Today, Wrong, Walking Wounded, Flipside, Big Deal, Mirrorball. Worst song: Good Cop, Bad Cop.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album overall. Really enjoyed the gothic elements mixed with interesting and melodic instrumentation. Favorite songs: Going Up, Do It Clean, Rescue, Villiers Terrace, Read It in Books, The Pictures on My Wall, All That Jazz, Happy Death Men. Worst song: Stars Are Stars.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall. The band's ability to combine gothic and jangly elements is really commendable, the album has a dark tone/atmosphere while having catchy instrumentation. This album is wildly creative and risk-taking which I respect but I don't find a decent bit of it to be that enjoyable. Favorite songs: Spellbound, Into the Light, Halloween, Monitor, Sin In My Heart. Worst song: Voodoo Dolly.
The Cure
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Great atmosphere but overall this is pretty forgettable, the Cure shine brightest when they combine a dark atmosphere with lush and interesting instrumentation, which is really missing on this album. Throughout most of the album the band tends to linger too long on a single idea; there is little variation in many of the songs which is an issue when the ideas are not that interesting to begin with. This is something the band will continue to improve upon in future releases: more interesting riffs, song structures, atmosphere, and melodies. Still an important album in their discography and still enjoyable overall. Favorite songs: Play for Today, A Forest, At Night. Worst songs: Three, The Final Sound.
Beatles
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest albums of all time. This collection of songs is something truly special, some of the band's best songs are on this album. The songwriting, melodies, and production on this album are legendary and the medley is absolutely genius. Besides Maxwell's Silver Hammer and Because, every other song is perfect. A timeless classic.
Scissor Sisters
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Funkadelic
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
So fun, so funky, so groovy, and so amazing. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad.
The Smiths
3/5
Rating: 7/10
This album is more of the same for them, it does not have the unique sound as their other albums do. A few great songs on here that are a bit different for them but mostly the same old song and dance. They have better albums, at least three of them. Favorite songs: A Rush and a Push, Death of a Disco Dancer, Girlfriend in a Coma. Worst song: Death at One's Elbow.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall, some of the band's best material is on here. I admire how ambitious this album is, around two hours long with diverse songwriting and different sounds/styles. The songwriting is mostly fantastic, because of its long length some songs are a bit underwhelming or feel redundant. This album is very cathartic, Billy Corgan sings and plays with so much emotion in every song. Most of the highlights are on the first half, this album could have been a five-star album if it was only one disc. Favorite songs: Mellon Collie, Tonight Tonight, Zero, Here Is No Why, Bullet With Butterfly Wings, To Forgive, An Ode To No One, Cupid De Locke, Where Boys Fear To Tread, Thirty-Three, 1979, X.Y.U., We Only Come Out At Night, Beautiful, Farewell And Goodnight. Worst songs: Love, Take Me Down, Tales Of A Scorched Earth.
Mike Ladd
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Some excellent swamp rock, played with so much soul, passion, and charisma. The band is heavily influenced by blues but their sound is so unique and works so well that it is quite impressive. The two longer tracks are a bit too long (and still great) and the rest of the album is fantastic. Favorite songs: Born On The Bayou, Bootleg, Graveyard Train, Good Golly Miss Molly, Penthouse Pauper, Proud Mary. Least favorite song: Keep On Chooglin'.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall. The melodies are fantastic for most of the songs, very catchy choruses and instrumentation. Bruce Springsteen sounds great, he sings with a lot of passion and emotion and his voice sounds better than some previous albums I heard by him. The album has an immaculate vibe to it, listening to this brought me immense joy. Definitely too long though, could have cut abut 4 songs to make this a Springsteen classic. Favorite songs: Lonesome Day, Into the Fire, Waitin' On a Sunny Day, Nothing Man, Worlds Apart, Further On (Up the Road), You're Missing, The Rising, Paradise, My City of Ruins. Worst song: Countin' On a Mircale.
Jane Weaver
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Good album overall, really enjoyed the chill vibes. This album is good background music, it has a few very good songs but the rest are pretty forgettable but pleasant to listen to. Favorite songs: Did You See the Butterflies?, Modern Kosmology, Slow Motion, The Lightning Back. Worst song: H>A>K.
Rush
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Abdullah Ibrahim
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Very chill jazz album, extremely meditative and easy to listen to.
The Kinks
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
1/5
Rating: 0/10
This is fucking shit, no words can describe how awful this is. Worst album so far and might go down as the worst album on this list.
Al Green
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Very soulful and pleasant to listen to.
Minor Threat
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing hardcore punk album, so many great guitar riffs and melodies. The energy is infectious throughout and the band really shines with the longer compositions. The shorter songs are great too, although they sound similar to one another. Favorite songs: Betray, It Follows, Think Again, Look Back & Laugh, Sob Story, Cashing In. Least favorite song: Out Of Step.
Wild Beasts
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Great instrumentation, very chill, but bad vocally.
Louis Prima
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
Pixies
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall. Incredibly catchy while also being unique to the Pixies' trademark sound. The riffs are mostly fantastic, the instrumentation and vocal melodies are great, as well as the production. Some songs are a bit underwhelming but the highlights are amazing. Favorite songs: Cecilia Ann, Velouria, Allison, Is She Weird, Ana, All Over the World, Dig for Fire, Down To The Well, The Happening, Hang Wire, Stormy Weather. Worst song: Rock Music.
Madonna
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Good album overall. The highlights are great, very upbeat and catchy while incorporating other genres that are unusual for pop. The slower songs can be experimental for pop standards but pretty boring. Like a Prayer is one of the greatest pop songs of all time though. Favorite songs: Like a Prayer, Express Yourself, Love Song, Cherish, Dear Jessie, Keep It Together. Worst songs: Promise to Try, Act of Contrition.
Mylo
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Good electronic album, a lot of songs are pretty meditative and laid back. Quite a few songs on this album sound like stereotypical electronic music but the highlights are quite good. Favorite songs: Valley of the Dolls, Sunworshipper, Muscle Cars, Drop the Pressure, Guilty of Love, Emotion 98.6. Worst song: Destroy Rock & Roll.
Kanye West
5/5
Rating: 10/10
My favorite hip-hop album of all time and one of the greatest albums of all time. Everything about this album is superb: the production, rapping, lyrics, and features are all incredible. This might be the best produced hip-hop album of all time and the production continues to be mind-blowing every single listen. Kanye is rapping mostly about his fame and fortune but does so in a creative way. The features are the best I have ever heard on any hip-hop album, everyone is absolutely fantastic. A timeless classic.
Lana Del Rey
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pleasant to listen to but overall too long and boring.
George Michael
2/5
Rating: 4.5/10
Incredibly boring, at least Freedom is fantastic.
The Zombies
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing album, loved the folk and country influences. There is a genuine nature to the songs that really resonated with me. The instrumentation, although quite sparse, really complemented Springsteen's voice.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Another great CCR album, not much more to be said.
Stan Getz
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall, the combination of jazz and Latin music was very well done. Incredibly pleasant to listen to from start to finish, although it all starts to sound the same after a while.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Rating: 9/10
So much soul! Every song is amazing but the intro to By The Time I Get To Phoenix is way too long and prevents this album from being five stars.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album, they toned down the noise on this one while still being incredibly catchy and melodic.
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty decent, really enjoyed her combination of singing and rapping but a few songs were quite underwhelming.
John Lennon
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Really good solo effort from Lennon, he clearly has his own sound here that does not just imitate the Beatles. Did not care for a few songs but it's mostly great.
Barry Adamson
2/5
Rating: 4/10
This album feels so pointless, it sounds like a film score to a non-existent movie. Some interesting ideas and a unique concept, even though I don't enjoy it.
Donovan
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Decent psychedelic album with a few decent songs and melodies.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
What a noisy mess.
Joy Division
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
Amazing album, one of the best debuts of all time. The atmosphere on this album is very unique, simultaneously haunting and melodic. It is impressive how dark this is lyrically (and at times instrumentally) while still being so catchy. The bass takes the lead on almost the whole album and the bass lines are incredible. The drums and guitar perfectly match the mood for the entire album, bringing the whole thing together. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Candidate.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Portishead
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty good album overall. I really respect the experimentation of this album, it is risk-taking while maintaining the group's trademark sound. There are a lot of cool ideas, from the odd instrumentation to the unorthodox song structures. Despite this album being quite unique in sound, I do not find a decent bit of it enjoyable musically. Favorite songs: Nylon Smile, We Carry On, Small, Magic Doors. Worst songs: Machine Gun, Threads.
Guns N' Roses
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the best debut albums of all time. Everything about this album is amazing: the riffs, the energy, the solos, the charisma, the production, and the mix. Most importantly, it has so much character that it is truly one-of-a-kind. I have heard this countless times and it is still pure bliss to listen to from start finish. A timeless classic. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Think About You.
Sugar
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Some generic alt rock shit.
Roxy Music
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Mixed bag album. First three songs are really bad, they have this Broadway-play type sound to them that I really dislike. The next three songs are great, a lot more interesting in sound and song structure. The last two songs are just decent. The production is fantastic on this even though a lot of the songwriting leaves a lot to be desired.
ABBA
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Very good album overall. The vocal melodies and harmonies are so catchy, as well as the instrumentation. The synths are the highlight of the album, very melodic while also being quite creative. The production is also fantastic, the album is a bit too long and some songs are underwhelming but there are a lot of great songs on here. Favorite songs: The Visitors, Head Over Heels, When All Is Said And Done, I Let The Music Speak, One Of Us, Two For The Price Of One, Slipping Through My Fingers, Under Attack. Worst song: Like An Angel Passing Through My Room.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album overall. Absolutely love the energy and sampling throughout, although this album is a bit obnoxious and has some underwhelming songs. The Beastie Boys improve with their lyrics, flows, and more interesting production later on in their career but this a great start to a great band. Favorite songs: Rhymin & Stealin, She's Crafty, Girls, Fight For Your Right, No Sleep Till Brooklyn, Hold It Now Hit It, Brass Monkey, Time To Get Ill. Worst song: The New Style.
Scott Walker
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
The Darkness
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall. A light-hearted album that is fun to listen to. The instrumentation is great throughout, inspired by glam and hard rock of the 80s but done with the band's own twist. The biggest drawback of the album is the vocals, the falsettos the singers does can be annoying and are quite frequent. Can easily be 4 stars if the vocals grow on me. Favorite songs: Black Shuck, Growing on Me, I Believe in a Thing Called Love, Givin' Up, Love on the Rocks with No Ice. Worst song: Love is Only a Feeling.
Pink Floyd
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall. The production and performances from all of the members is amazing, the atmosphere and sound on this album is truly unique. The standout songs are incredible and iconic like Time, Money, and Us and Them. My issue with this album is some of the other songs: On the Run should not be 4 minutes long, Any Colour You Like is forgettable compared to everything else, and Eclipse feels like an underwhelming closer. Although great, this album falls short to the band's best work (Wish You Were Here and Animals) which I think are more ambitious and interesting than this. Favorite songs: Breathe (In the Air), Time, The Great Gig in the Sky, Us and Them. Worst song: On the Run.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
2/5
Rating: 4/10
A Public Enemy ripoff. I don't even like Public Enemy that much to begin with.
R.E.M.
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Consistently great songwriting, jangly, fun riffs. Melodic basslines and tight drumming. Another great album from this band. Favorite songs: Radio Free Europe, Pilgrimage, Talk About Passion, Perfect Circle, Catapult, Sitting Still, 9-9, Shaking Through. Least favorite song: Moral Kiosk.
Grizzly Bear
1/5
Rating: 2/10
A complete dud of an album, not a single song was enjoyable. Some instrumental ideas were decent, but this is an album that is way too long and boring.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Rating: 10/10
A beautiful masterpiece, Pink Floyd's best work and one of the greatest albums of all time. Every song is perfect except for Welcome to the Machine, which is still amazing. Not much else needs to be said.
Hüsker Dü
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
A few great songs and quite a few that are decent. Plenty of catchy melodies but way too long, there is no need for this to be 20 songs and over 1 hour long. Favorite songs: These Important Years, Ice Cold Ice, Could You Be the One?, Too Much Spice, She Floated Away, She's a Woman. Worst song: You're a Soldier.
Air
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
The Smiths
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing album overall. Jangly guitar riffs, melodic bass lines, and Morrisey's signature vocal style come together incredibly well throughout the entire album, especially on the second half. This album contains some of the band's best material and melodies and is great from start to finish. Favorite songs: The Headmaster Ritual, That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Nowhere Fast, Well I Wonder, Barbarism Begins at Home, Meat is Murder. Least favorite song: I Want the One I Can't Have.
Jane's Addiction
2/5
Rating: 4/10
The vocals are awful, instrumentally I don't think it's that great either. I respect that they experimented with a lot of different styles but I don't enjoy it.
Madness
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
My House saves this from being one star, what a slog to get through. Overall incredibly derivative and boring.
R.E.M.
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Consistently great songwriting, jangly, fun riffs. Melodic basslines and tight drumming. Another great album from this band. The consistency of this band is truly remarkable. Favorite songs: Finest Worksong, Exhuming McCarthy, Strange, It's The End Of The World, The One I Love, Lightnin' Hopkins, Oddfellows Local 151. Least favorite song: Welcome To The Occupation.
Sade
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
So damn smooth, the best songs are incredible and have fantastic instrumentals, vocals, and production. The rest are definitely more generic, still have some nice instrumentation but no where near the quality of highlights. Favorite songs: Smooth Operator, Your Love Is King, Hang On To Your Love, Cherry Pie, We Can't Live Together. Worst song: Frankie's First Affair.
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Surprisingly good blues rock. Very catchy and fun to listen to but way too long. Favorite songs: Have You Seen My Baby?, Evil Hearted Ada, Whiskey Woman, Shakin' All Over, That'll Be the Day, Louie Louie, Walkin' the Dog, Scratch My Back, Carol. Worst song: City Lights.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Rating: 6/10
The danceable tracks are great, the ballads not so much.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
A lot of fantastic songs on here with plenty of melody and great riffs. Some songs are quite underwhelming in comparison but this is still a great album and one of Iron Maiden's best. Favorite songs: Children of the Damned, 22 Acacia Avenue, The Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, Hallowed Be Thy Name. Worst songs: Invaders, Gangland.
Tim Buckley
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Björk
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Beautiful and experimental, first half is particularly strong.
Kid Rock
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
This album is juvenile, obnoxious, and way too long. Despite this, it actually has some very good songs and some great ideas. The rap metal/rock sound has been done better before but this has some character to it at least. Kid Rock puts his own spin on the genre and he has pretty good flow, but awful lyrics and some absolutely horrendous songs. Did not enjoy it overall but not as bad as many people think. Favorite songs: Cowboy, Wasting Time. Worst songs: Welcome 2 the Party, Only God Knows Why, Fuck Off.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
This is the equivalent of the Beatle's White Album in terms of experimentation and diversity of sound from the band. A lot of great songs and very fun to listen to, although a bit too long. Favorite song: Think About Me. Least favorite song: Honey Hi.
Boards of Canada
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Choice cut: Roygbiv
MC Solaar
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great flows, rhymes, and beats. I really wish I understood French.
Jurassic 5
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing album overall. The synergy and interplay of all of the group members is absolutely infectious. The lyrics, wordplay, and production are fantastic throughout and each member has their own unique style and voice. The lyrical content could have been more diversified; a lot of songs just seem to be braggadocios. Despite this, was surprised that I never heard this before and how great this is. Favorite songs: Freedom, Break, A Day At The Races, Remember His Name, What's Golden, Thin Line, After School Special, High Fidelity, Sum Of Us, I Am Somebody. Least favorite song: One Of Them.
Skunk Anansie
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Really cool sound from this band, a nice combination of hard rock/metal, electronic, and funk. The guitar and bass tone are phenomenal and the singer is fantastic throughout. The faster paced songs are all great, but some of the slower songs paled in comparison. Favorite songs: Charlie Big Potato, On My Hotel Tv, We Don't Need Who You Think You Are, The Skank Heads, Lately, And This Is Nothing I Though I Had, I'm Not Afraid. Worst song: Good Things Don't Always Come To You.
Megadeth
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Fast and technical. A lot of great riffs and songwriting with a few underwhelming songs. The highlights are incredible and are some of the best Megadeth and thrash metal songs in general. Favorite songs: Wake Up Dead, The Conjuring, Peace Sells, Good Mourning, My Last Words. Worst song: Devil's Island.
N.W.A.
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Iconic album with incredible highlights. This album contains some of the greatest hip-hop songs of all time but a lot of the other songs feel redundant. The lyrical themes get pretty stale after a while as well as the production, definitely would have benefited from cutting some filler. Favorite songs: Straight Outta Compton, Fuck Tha Police, Gangsta Gangsta, Parental Discretion Iz Advised, Express Yourself, Dopeman. Worst song: 8 Ball.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album overall. Cohen's vocals felt so genuine and sincere, from his tone and the lyrics he knew he was dying and was accepting it and ready to move on. Very powerful and emotional album with pretty minimalistic instrumentation that complement Cohen's vocals very well. Favorite songs: You Want It Darker, On the Level, Traveling Light, It Seemed the Better Way, Steer Your Way, String Reprise/Treaty. Worst song: Treaty.
Pulp
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Mixed bag album with plenty of very boring songs but also quite a few that were very good. Overall too long but still slightly enjoyable. Favorite songs: The Fear, I'm A Man, Sylvia, Glory Days, The Day After The Revolution, Like A Friend. Worst songs: Party Hard, This Is Hardcore.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Blues played with some soul, but lacks variety. Favorite songs: All Your Love, Hideaway, Double Crossing Time, Parchman Farm, Steppin' Out. Worst song: Another Man.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Very smooth and funky. Best songs: Freddie's Dead, Superfly.
The Birthday Party
3/5
Rating: 6/10
An album that is absolutely unhinged, ugly, noisy, and experimental. Very unique in sound but not always the most enjoyable listen. Best song: Blast Off. Worst song: Hamlet (Pow Pow Pow).
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest debuts and albums of all time. Incredible mix of rap and metal with amazing performances and songwriting from all of the members. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Worst song: Settle For Nothing.
The Sonics
4/5
Rating: 8/10
A really fun album to listen to, plenty of catchy songs and melodies. Also seems to have been influential in hard rock and punk. Best song: Have Love Will Travel. Worst song: The Witch.
Adele
3/5
Rating: 6/10
A more poppy album than 21, which is not necessarily a bad thing but definitely sounds more derivative than its predecessor. Adele excels at her trademark soul sound, which this album has but not nearly as much as 21. There are a few fantastic songs here but many that fall flat. Best songs: Hello, Send My Love (To Your New Lover), I Miss You. Worst song: All I Ask.
Iggy Pop
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Very good album overall. The incorporation of electronic and dance elements was very well done, this album is so interesting sonically while also being quite catchy. Iggy Pop is able to be his quirky self without going overboard with the experimentation to create a very enjoyable album (for the most part). Favorite songs: Sister Midnight, Nightclubbing, China Girl, Dum Dum Boys, Mass Production. Worst song: Tiny Girls.
The Yardbirds
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Good overall, nothing stood out too much though. Seems pretty standard for the time period.
Rush
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album overall. The musicianship, production, and mixing are all fantastic throughout. Some of the band's best songs are on this album and the rest of the songs are at least decent. Wish the songwriting was better on Side B but still a great album. Favorite songs: Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta, YYZ, Limelight. Worst song: The Camera Eye.
John Grant
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Very good album overall. The vocals and lyrics were the standout: very nice vocals with honest lyrics. The instrumentation was great, folk/rock/pop inspired which complemented the vocals well. Second half falls a little short compared to the first half but still very enjoyable from start to finish. Favorite songs: Tc & Honeybear, Marz, Where Dreams Go To Die, Sigourney Weaver, Chicken Bones, Silver Platter Club, Jc Hates Faggots, Queen of Denmark. Worst song: It's Easier.
Soul II Soul
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
A fun dance and R&B album, nothing too revolutionary but a damn good time. Favorite songs: Keep On Movin', Holdin' On, Dance, Feel Free, Happiness, Back To Life, Jazzie's Groove. Worst song: Feeling Free.
CHIC
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Three fantastic songs and the rest are good enough to hold it down. So funky.
Choice cuts: Le Freak, Savoir Flaire, I Want Your Love
Sly & The Family Stone
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
So damn funky and soulful, can't believe this came out in 1969. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Somebody's Watching You.
The Flaming Lips
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall, but can't help to feel a bit disappointed. The concept, instrumentation, and genuine nature of this album are so unique but the execution is severely lacking on the second half, which feels incredibly boring and dull compared to the first half. Favorite songs: Fight Test, One More Robot, Part 1, In the Morning of the Magicians, Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell. Worst song: Part 2.
Maxwell
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Mostly very meh R&B, had some very good songs on here though.
Choice cuts: The Urban Theme, Ascension, Lonely's the Only Company
Sam Cooke
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty enjoyable but did not care for most of it.
Choice cuts: Feel It (Don't Fight It), Chain Gang
Elis Regina
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Gene Clark
1/5
Rating: 2/10
This album is impressive...impressively boring. Throw it in the bin.
Raekwon
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing album overall. The production and lyricism from Raekwon and Ghostface Killah are fantastic throughout. The duo was focusing on gangster themes while still tying in their own personal struggles, making for a unique experience lyrically and production-wise. Most of the skits seemed unnecessary and overall the album is a bit too long; still one of the best solo Wu-Tang releases. Favorite songs: Knuckleheadz, Knowledge God, Criminology, Incarcerated Scarfaces, Guillotine, Ice Water, Glaciers of Ice, Verbal Intercourse, Wisdom Body, Wu-Gambinos, Heaven & Hell. Worst song: Rainy Dayz.
The Cure
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest albums of all time. The atmosphere created on this album is truly one-of-a-kind, simultaneously haunting and gorgeous. The instrumentation is lush and beautiful, the production is incredible, and Robert Smith's voice matches perfectly with everything else. A timeless classic. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Closedown.
Paul McCartney
3/5
Rating: 6/10
This man really put out an album that is clearly unfinished. This "album" is more of a collection of ideas that do not go anywhere. However, these ideas are pretty damn good.
Choice cut: Maybe I'm Amazed
Daft Punk
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Fun dance album, not a fan of the more noisy tracks but most of this is great. Favorite songs: Revolution 909, Da Funk, Phoenix, Fresh, Around the World, Burnin', Indo Silver Club, Alive. Worst songs: Rollin' & Scratchin', Rock'n Roll.
Dire Straits
3/5
Rating: 6/10
The first three songs are fantastic, everything else is quite boring.
Choice cuts: So Far Away, Money for Nothing, Walk of Life
Paul Weller
4/5
Rating: 8/10
A great rock album overall, pretty diverse in sound while having excellent production. Wish he took a bit more risks but great nonetheless.
Public Enemy
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Choice cut: Bring Tha Noize
The Smiths
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest albums of all time, what an absolutely breathtaking album. Incredibly beautiful, lush instrumentation and amazing production. A timeless classic. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Vicar in a Tutu.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Very pleasant to listen to, a calm and relaxing album. On first listen a lot of it felt pretty forgettable but I would probably rate this much higher on a second or third listen. Would definitely like to revisit at some point.
Choice cuts: Blue Skies, Unchained Melody, On the Sunny Side of the Street
The Jam
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
A fun combination of rock, punk, and pop. Great performances and production, seems to be quite influential for the time but prefer other albums of this genre/era. Favorite song: Mr. Clean. Worst song: Fly.
The Doors
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing album overall. Very catchy, bluesy, and even a bit experimental. The highlights are particularly incredible, some of the band's best material is on here. The rest of the album is still great, more blues-inspired than the other Doors albums which was quite enjoyable. Definitely a dip in quality on Side B, Side A is 5 stars though. Favorite songs: The Changeling, Love Her Madly, Been down so Long, Cars Hiss by My Window, L.A. Woman, Crawling King Snake, Riders on the Storm. Worst song: L'America.
Steely Dan
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good, they have better albums though.
Germs
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Impressed this came out in 1979, sounds quite influential for hardcore punk. I am not impressed whatsoever with the music though.
Baaba Maal
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty decent, but probably won't remember this. Liked the African rhythms with folk instrumentation.
Eels
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Honest lyrics with catchy instrumentals. Amazing when it works and okay when it does not. Best songs: Novocaine For The Soul, Susan's House.
Pearl Jam
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
One of the best rock debuts of all time. First half is legendary, it contains some of the best songs of the 90s. Second half falls off a bit but is still great. The choruses, singing, and riffs are fantastic throughout. Loved the warm guitar tones and production. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Deep.
Keith Jarrett
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Surprisingly very good, could be rated much higher if it was shorter. There are so many amazing melodies, Jarrett plays with incredible technical ability while keeping his playing musical as well.
Orbital
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Choice cuts: Lush 3-1, Halcyon and On and On
Pulp
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Most of the songs are just decent, the highlights are amazing though.
Choice cuts: Common People, Disco 2000
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest double albums of all time and possibly Zeppelin's best work. This album is a culmination of the band's best attributes: Plant's charismatic vocals, Page's amazing guitar riffs, Jones' melodic bass lines, and Bonham's groovy drumming. Despite its length, almost all of the songs are excellent. A timeless classic. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Bron-Yr-Aur.
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Highlights are great, the rest of is decent.
Choice cuts: Starlight, Knights of Cydonia
Underworld
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
The first two songs are truly incredible. The songs slowly build to make something very unique for the electronic genre, it's like progressive electronic music with a great melody. The rest of the album is still good but not nearly as good as the first two songs.
Fela Kuti
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
Rated original LP. Amazing combination of jazz and African rhythms, the vocals accentuate the music so much as well.
Emmylou Harris
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Buena Vista Social Club
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
An eclectic mix of styles with fantastic production, great singing and instrumentation. Favorite songs: You Ain't The Problem, Rolling, I've Been Dazed, Piano Joint, Hero, Final Days, Solid Ground, Light. Worst song: Living In Denial.
Dolly Parton
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Choice cut: The Pain of Loving You
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
Rating: 6/10
It's pretty good, most of the songs are just okay.
Choice cuts: Mr. Soul, Bluebird
The White Stripes
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
One of the best albums of the 2000s and my favorite White Stripes album. The guitar riffs are infectious, the songwriting is consistently excellent, the dynamics are amazing, and the production is so raw. The definition of power in simplicity. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Union Forever.
Metallica
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
Metallica went "mainstream" and made an album most bands can only dream of making. Incredible production, fantastic guitar riffs and solos, and James Hetfield's best vocal performance up to that point. The Struggle Within prevents this from being a full 10/10 though. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Worst song: The Struggle Within.
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Very artsy and overall pretty enjoyable. The use of a variety of different instruments was commendable, most of the album will end up being pretty forgettable though.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Sounded pretty same-y but great production and vocals by Marvin Gaye.
Neil Young
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Just another Neil Young album: pretty bad vocals, good instrumentation and some boring moments.
Choice cuts: Walk On, Revolution Blues, Vampire Blues
Eurythmics
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Lou Reed
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album overall. Dark lyrically and pretty experimental instrumentally, the album takes you on a journey from start to finish. The best moments blend Lou Reed's quirkiness with great melodies and interesting lyrics while the worst of this is still decent. Favorite songs: Men of Good Fortune, Caroline Says I, How Do You Think It Feels, Oh Jim, Caroline Says II, The Bed, Sad Song. Worst song: Berlin.
Madonna
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good album overall. The production was definitely the standout, blending pop with electronic and country. Pretty experimental and sounds like this album had a large influence on other 2000s pop artists. Most of this aged pretty well (besides the horrendous autotune) and is mostly pretty catchy as well. Favorite songs: Music, I Deserve It, Don't Tell Me, What It Feels Like for a Girl, Paradise (Not for Me), Gone. Worst song: Nobody's Perfect.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Two great songs, did not care for the rest.
Choice cuts: Mrs. Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter
Madonna
3/5
Rating: 6/10
I respect the artistic change for this album: a lot more ambient and soothing production than her other albums. The problem is that it is way too long and there are not many memorable choruses.
The Saints
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Not bad, did not care for most of it though.
Choice cut: Know Your Product
Beck
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Beck is such an eclectic artist and decides to make a very boring and one-dimensional album. Very disappointing.
Sisters Of Mercy
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Goth synth-pop rock. The highlights are incredible, the rest of the album holds up quite well too. Favorite songs: Dominion/Mother Russia, Lucretia My Reflection, 1959, This Corrosion, Flood II, Never Land. Worst song: Flood I.
Deee-Lite
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty fun dance album, not much else to say.
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Nice instrumentation and vibes, nothing stood out too much though.
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Overall amazing, especially the first half. Just a very fun album, absolutely infectious and full of energy throughout. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them besides Cheating On You and Michael. Worst song: Michael.
Iggy Pop
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Very catchy album that also displays Iggy Pop's quirkiness. Great performances and production.
The Verve
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Overall pretty good, just way too long.
Choice cuts: Bittersweet Symphony, Weeping Willow
Kraftwerk
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Electronic robot music with genuine human elements as well. Unbelievable this came out in 1978, very catchy while also being cutting edge. Favorite songs: The Robots, Metropolis, The Model, Neon Lights, The Man Machine. Worst song: Spacelab.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Rating: 10/10
Masterpiece, one of the greatest albums of all time and probably the Rolling Stones' best work. A true culmination of the band's best elements, this album has incredibly groovy blues rock songs and slower emotional ballads that are all stellar. A true classic. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Worst song: You Gotta Move.
Erykah Badu
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Some damn good neo soul, runs a bit long though. Production was the highlight but Badu's quirkiness also works very well here.
Radiohead
5/5
Rating: 10/10
Masterpiece, one of the greatest albums of all time. Simultaneously beautiful and desolate, this album captures living in the electronic-dominated world of the 21st century. This was so ahead of its time it's almost unfathomable, a true classic. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Treefingers.
Blur
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Unbelievably catchy with excellent production and instrumentation. A dip in quality in the second half but still consistently great and an absolute blast to listen to. Favorite songs: Girls & Boys, Tracy Jacks, End of a Century, Parklife, Badhead, London Loves, Clover Over Dover, This Is a Low. Worst song: Far Out.
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty good but overall pretty forgettable.
Eminem
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. This album is simultaneously shocking and thought-provoking, Eminem speaks his mind in a one-of-a-kind way that was later imitated many times but never duplicated. Incredible flow, lyrics, wordplay, and production, this is a hip-hop classic. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Worst songs: Ken Kaniff, Kim.
Japan
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty good but pretty forgettable.
The Fall
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Stereo MC's
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Elliott Smith
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
More rock inspired and still great.
Happy Mondays
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing, simultaneously catchy, psychedelic, and creative.
Beach House
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
Feels like you're floating in the clouds. Gorgeous and blissful with lush instrumentation and pristine production. One of the best albums of the 2010s. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Norway.
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Some great songs, rest sounds pretty generic.
Choice cuts: Money Changes Everything, Girls Just Want to Have Fun
The Byrds
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
I thought this was a parody at first, just sounds like generic country.
Faith No More
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Creative mix of metal, funk, and hip-hop. Very unique and a few great songs but a lot of it did not fully click with me.
Small Faces
1/5
Rating: 2/10
First half is meh at best, second half is legitimately a 0/10. The narrator makes this unlistenable.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Spiritualized
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing production, ethereal and beautiful.
Silver Jews
3/5
Rating: 7/10
He might be an awful singer, but there is a genuine nature to the music that resonates with me.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Merle Haggard
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
LTJ Bukem
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Green Day
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
The highlights are fantastic, some of the other songs not so much.
Duke Ellington
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
The Black Crowes
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
A few good songs, the rest sounds pretty bland.
Donald Fagen
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Choice cuts: I.G.Y., Green Flower Street
Simon & Garfunkel
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
Choice cut: Scarborough Fair/Canticle
Roni Size
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Way too long but better than a lot of the other electronic albums on the list, has an interesting futuristic vibe to it at least.
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Massive Attack
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
A quintessential trip-hop album. The mix of genres and styles are immaculate, vocals and rapping are superb, and overall an excellent album from start to finish.
Beatles
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
It's unquestionably a great album, but also way too long. The range of styles on here is truly remarkable, but at 30 songs it's simply too long. Could easily be 5 stars if they kept the best 20 songs even.
Tom Waits
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
What an interesting and intriguing album. I commend Tom Waits on being ridiculously creative and unique with his style. Even if it does not always work for me it's so interesting musically and vocally to warrant 4 stars.
The Slits
1/5
Rating: 2/10
Interesting idea for an album (tribal punk), absolutely horrendous execution. The vocals are so bad they ruin the album, also could not stand the drumming on here.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Besides the first two songs, I found this to be surprisingly boring. Everything sounds great, from the production to the instrumentation, but musically most of this did nothing for me.
Circle Jerks
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good and fun punk album. Enjoyed the interesting song structures, riffs, and male/female vocals.
Throwing Muses
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album with strong songwriting. Interesting song structures and great riffs and production made this a very enjoyable listen from start to finish.
Pixies
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest albums of all time. Simultaneously weird, catchy, loud, quiet, and poppy, it is definitely one of the most unique albums I ever listened to.
The Monks
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good, proto-punk that sounds influential to a lot of the late 60s groups.
The Who
1/5
Rating: 1/10
A truly heinous album. Sounds like a Beatles rip-off if they had no musical talent whatsoever. I did not find a single moment of this to be enjoyable, in fact it's unbearably annoying.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
1/5
Rating: 2/10
Prog-rock wankery, this embodies all of the worst characteristics of progressive rock.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Rating: 8/10
A fun and catchy album, instrumentally very strong and good enough vocally to be enjoyable all the way through. The bass lines are especially incredible.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of my favorite albums of all time. So funky and fun to listen to from start to finish. Would cut the last two songs but besides that a consistently excellent album, definitely the band's strongest release.
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great production, fantastic lyrics and rapping by Lupe, but some weak choruses prevent this from being rated any higher.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Experimental and quirky while also being quite catchy and fun to listen to. Would probably rate higher on repeated listens.
Steely Dan
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
Amazing production, songwriting, and solos throughout. There is a warm feeling to this album that resonates with me so much.
The Associates
1/5
Rating: 1/10
0/10 vocals and mediocre instrumentals. Sounds like generic synth-pop that is trying too hard to be experimental.
Sepultura
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Incredibly heavy and groovy, what a fun listen.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Rating: 6/10
The slower songs bring this down substantially, the highlights are quite good though.
Mott The Hoople
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Pretty good.
Radiohead
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Some fantastic highlights, the band is a bit more experimental on this album. A few mediocre songs but great overall.
Metallica
3/5
Rating: 6/10
The orchestra enhances none of the songs. No Leaf Clover is fantastic and Hero of the Day and Devil's Dance sound cool with the orchestra but overall it severely detracts from most of the songs, especially the thrashier ones.
Faust
3/5
Rating: 7/10
What an intriguing album. Impressive this came out in the early 70s, very experimental while still being musically enjoyable.
Fela Kuti
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Another great album by Fela Kuti, the mix of jazz and African rhythms sounds so good.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Another great album by Nick Cave, simultaneously very catchy while being interesting instrumentally and vocally.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good overall, a lot of catchy melodies.
Rating: 4/10
Commercialized, uninspired, and mostly boring.
Slipknot
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Loved the energy, not so much the rapping.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Starts off great, ends not so much.
Pantera
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest metal albums of all time. So damn groovy and heavy.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Rating: 8/10
More rock, less folk, but still definitely Bob Dylan.
SZA
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
It's decent, the production is amazing but the themes and her vocal delivery and style do not resonate with me.
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
Rating: 4/10
I respect this album a lot. It takes many risks and it's incredibly unique but the vocals make a lot of the songs unlistenable. Instrumentally very interesting but towards the end that also starts to wear off. Shoutout to Jah Wobble for the cool bass lines. The highlights are great but the lows are absolutely atrocious, this album probably has some of the worst vocals ever recorded.
Teenage Fanclub
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Surprisingly great indie rock, very catchy and fun to listen to.
Boston
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
The hits are literally perfect, the rest of the album is good but not nearly to the level of the hits. Peace of Mind is the best Boston song.
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
The Replacements
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the best albums of the 80s. A seamless mix of punk, rock, and indie that's simultaneously infectious and thought-provoking. Sounds way ahead of its time.
ZZ Top
3/5
Rating: 7/10
A-haw haw haw-haw
Heh, a-haw haw-haw
Judas Priest
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Overall very good, has some cringe songs but most of this is great.
LL Cool J
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
Choice cut: Mama Said Knock You Out
fIREHOSE
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
It got better and better as it went on, an interesting combination of genres.
CHIC
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
So damn funky.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Synth-pop Leonard Cohen sounds like a terrible idea, but this was infinitely better than I ever thought it would be. The 80s synth sound suits his voice surprisingly well.
G. Love & Special Sauce
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
A unique mix of hip-hop, blues, and rock that definitely got back later into the album.
Big Star
3/5
Rating: 6/10
So decent 70s rock.
Thin Lizzy
4/5
Rating: 8/10
So much melody and so many guitar harmonies, consistently great from start to finish.
D'Angelo
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Silky smooth with absolutely incredible production. Sounds a bit same-y after a while but it's still amazing.
Stereolab
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Very good mix of indie rock and electronic, overall very enjoyable.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
One of the best debut albums of all time. Innovative guitar playing and songwriting while still being wildly enjoyable from start to finish.
George Michael
4/5
Rating: 8/10
One horny motherfucker that writes great pop songs.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Digital Underground
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Starts off very good, then becomes too committed to the "Sex Packets" concept which was awful lyrically. The production was great though.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Another great Dylan record, pretty diverse instrumentally. His aging voice matches the mood of the album so well, overall very enjoyable from start to finish.
T. Rex
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Very unique sound, cool guitar tone, and chill vocals.
The Vines
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
Why is this on the list?
Tom Tom Club
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
No David Byrne, no problem. Definitely hear the Talking Heads sound in the instrumentation but different enough to make a unique, fun, and catchy album. Not everything hit but the highlights are great.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
The Mothers Of Invention
1/5
Rating: 0/10
One of the worst albums of all time. This album mocks other bands from this era but is not funny or interesting whatsoever. There was not a single moment of this I enjoyed, a truly heinous piece of shit.
John Lee Hooker
3/5
Rating: 6/10
The first two songs are amazing, the rest of this was just decent blues.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Has some incredible songs, but the vast majority of this is pretty boring and way too long.
Choice cuts: Anger, Is That Enough, Time To Get It Together
Nirvana
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest albums of all time. Absolutely infectious energy with incredible guitar riffs, punchy bass lines, passionate drumming, and one-of-a-kind songwriting.
Astrud Gilberto
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
KISS
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
Would be one star if not for Detroit Rock City. Whole thing sounds like a giant gimmick, riffs are generic and vocals suck.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Some nice blues-inspired jazz.
The Stooges
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
I liked it...barely. Really like the proto-punk sound but something is missing here, possibly the production and the drumming.
Girls Against Boys
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Decent combination of world music and hip-hop.
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Bert Jansch
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Technical ability mixed with good melodies, some very good stuff on here.
Frank Ocean
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Incredible highlights (Thinkin Bout You, Pyramids, Lost, Forrest Gump), most of the other songs are around a 7/10. Did not care at all for any of the interludes/intro/outro. Amazing production and mixing as well.
Cypress Hill
4/5
Rating: 8/10
I love some funky buddha. Some amazing production and unique deliveries on here, very enjoyable from start to finish.
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Some very good classic rock.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Muddy Waters
3/5
Rating: 7/10
It's got some soul but also very same-y.
Napalm Death
1/5
Rating: 2/10
There's some decent songs on here, about 2 or 3 and some other decent riffs. The problem is when 20+ minutes of this is constant blast beats and incomprehensible vocals. I love some extreme metal but this is just overbearing, I can respect what they are trying to go for but musically most of this is unlistenable.
Neneh Cherry
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Choice cut: Buffalo Stance
The Prodigy
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
A lot of bangers and fun songs on here. Definitely more musically versatile and interesting than a lot of the other electronic albums on the list.
The Temptations
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
So damn funky and soulful.
Cee Lo Green
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Pretty good overall, not a huge fan of his voice but the production is great.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Not bad at all...
Public Enemy
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
A bit dated but great lyrics, energy, and production.
U2
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
An album that showcases the best attributes of the band while having consistently great songwriting throughout. This might be their best album, we will see.
Manic Street Preachers
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest albums of all time. Absolutely infectious riffs and energy. So catchy and fun to listen while also having dark and thought-provoking lyrics: the perfect combination.
Christina Aguilera
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Probably the most surprising rating to date, this is an excellent pop album with fantastic singing and production. Christina is consistently excellent and the production is varied enough to make this a fun listen from start to finish. There are about 4-5 songs I would definitely cut but the vast majority of this was excellent.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Very boring. The lack of choruses takes its toll on the album very quickly.
Method Man
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Van Morrison
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great album with very creative and unique instrumentation to complement Van Morrison's folky style. Could definitely be rated higher with repeated listens, I see why this album is so loved.
The Stooges
4/5
Rating: 8/10
The first four songs are excellent, there is a huge drop in quality in the second half but it is thankfully much shorter in length. Really enjoyed the proto-punk vibes on here.
Elvis Costello
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty decent, not his best but far from his worst.
Nina Simone
4/5
Rating: 8/10
What a unique voice, some nice variety here as well.
Ian Dury
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
Awful voice, has some good production and decent instrumentation at least.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Some very good songs and catchy moments, some songs would benefit from less noise but that's their sound so it is what it is.
Tom Waits
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty entertaining, Tom Waits is pretty funny but it sounds like one very long song.
Iron Maiden
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the best debut albums of all time. Catchy, fun, beautiful, and absolutely infectious.
The Bees
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
The Go-Betweens
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty catchy but mostly forgettable.
Funkadelic
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
So damn funky...and progressive.
Bad Brains
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Sounds like some decent heavy metal, nothing too memorable but good overall.
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Gene Clark
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Some really good instrumentation, better than any Byrds album so far.
Depeche Mode
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
Simultaneously dark and beautiful with all time great production.
The Mamas & The Papas
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Rating: 8/10
A great collection of blues covers that sets the blueprint for the Stones' sound.
Beatles
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Don't care for it much besides A Hard Day's Night and Can't Buy Me Love.
Morrissey
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty good, a few very good songs and a few underwhelming ones.
Robbie Williams
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Very generic Britpop, has a few decent moments though.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Rating: 9/10
There is a cheesiness to this entire album but it's amazing: insanely catchy, great melodies, great instrumentation, and just a fun listen from start to finish.
Antony and the Johnsons
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
Ministry
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
I like it...barely. It's interesting enough but the gimmick starts to wear extremely thin by the end, some very good songs on here though.
Paul Simon
3/5
Rating: 6/10
I remember this being better the first time I heard it. Some very good songs but a lot of is pretty boring.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Quite intriguing, I really enjoyed the bluegrass songs but not so much the country ones. Way too long but was surprisingly enjoyable throughout.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Overall very good but the noise is at times overwhelming and detracts from the album.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah, this a capella style does not work well for an entire album. This group was amazing on Graceland though.
Supergrass
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Not bad...
Scott Walker
1/5
Rating: 2/10
This is shit
Skepta
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Very good hip-hop album. Great production and decent rhymes but pretty pedantic lyrically.
Hot Chip
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Nice ambience and vibes, pretty dance-y and fun album.
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest albums of all time. An incredible culmination of sound that's angry, violent, and at times beautiful, there is something new to find with every listen. A timeless classic.
Van Morrison
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Pere Ubu
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
This album sucks but it has some promising moments. Instrumentally, an interesting take on post-punk with some of the worst vocals I've ever heard.
Hole
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Raw, noisy, catchy, and fun all the way through.
The xx
4/5
Rating: 8/10
What a chill and relaxing album. There is a beauty in the minimalism here, not too much happening instrumentally but there is so much attention to detail that with each listen I can probably find something I didn't notice before. Will definitely listen to it more, can see this being rated higher with repeated listens.
David Ackles
1/5
Rating: 2/10
What a heinous album.
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Overall very good electronic music.
Venom
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Decent but definitely dated.
T. Rex
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Great sound, great riffs, and so much fun to listen to from start to finish.
Everything But The Girl
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
The Go-Go's
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Punk without distortion, so many fun riffs and songs.
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Decent but overall not memorable.
Primal Scream
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Versatile, interesting, dance-y, and fun.
The Verve
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
So damn boring with no dynamic and variety whatsoever.
The Libertines
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty fun indie rock.
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
Rating: 8/10
One of the better live albums on the list, incredible playing and production and some fantastic jams throughout.
The B-52's
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
Riffs are quite interesting, the vocals ruin this album for me.
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Instrumentally this album is very good, the problem with it is Fred Durst. His softer delivery is pretty good but his more aggressive style is so obnoxious, the lyrics are consistently awful as well. Despite this, still a somewhat enjoyable listen from start to finish.
10cc
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Experimental pop that sounds pretty good as well.
Gotan Project
3/5
Rating: 6/10
French electronic music that clearly sounds French.
Fairport Convention
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Sounds like sailing the high seas.
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
The noisiness works so well. So many fantastic melodies and riffs throughout. The first half is especially strong.
Ananda Shankar
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
Frank Sinatra
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Kraftwerk
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
So cutting-edge and ahead of its time it is almost unfathomable. A bit repetitive though and melodies are not as strong as The Man-Machine.
Blur
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Very much a mixed bag. The first two songs (especially Song 2) are excellent. This album is all over the place and the songs are not strong enough individually to justify such a lack of cohesion. I respect the experimentation but more misses than hits.
Nico
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Probably biased towards Nico because of the Velvet Underground's debut, but I like her voice. The instrumentation is pretty interesting as well, even though her voice throughout the entire album gets a little stale towards the end since it lacks variety.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
Rating: 1/10
This album has around 4 minutes of genius songwriting in Pachuco Cadaver, everything else is pretty much unlistenable. I always respect when artists experiment but this just sounds like a bunch of beginners noodling on their instruments. Which I understand that is not the case, the fact that these guys are fantastic musicians and made this type of album is why it is so held to a high standard by some. But if inexperienced musicians actually made this, it would be considered an absolute piece of shit. I don't care how skilled the musicians are, that's exactly what this album is.
Kraftwerk
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Fun fun fun on the autobahn! What a masterpiece of a song, the rest of the album is not as good but holds up still. Ridiculous this came out in 1974.
Pentangle
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Sounds like medieval folk music, I like it.
Nanci Griffith
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Mostly forgettable but had a few decent songs and moments.
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
Rating: 1/10
Had a few moments that was actually decent, those few moments actually had some melody to them. The rest of this is truly heinous and unlistenable. I respect experimentation but this is a German guy screaming with repetitive and annoying percussion over it.
The Jam
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Some of the instrumentation is great, mostly forgettable though.
Dr. Octagon
3/5
Rating: 7/10
It's cheesy and some of the choruses are horrendous but the production is really cool and rapping quite good as well.
The Shamen
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Great album from start to finish. Really enjoyed the jam band direction Neil Young took on this album. A lot of great riffs and solos and just fun to listen to.
N.E.R.D
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Great production but I do not like this vocally. I commend them for the versatility of genres on here.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing album with stellar songwriting, melodies, and riffs. Not his best but still fantastic.
Eagles
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Hard carried by Hotel California and Life in the Fast Lane. Everything else is pretty boring and unremarkable.
Talvin Singh
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
As close to a one-star without being one, what a slog to get through this. It just gets progressively worse and the Indian/electronic mix wears thin very quickly.
Nick Drake
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Even with its beautiful instrumentation, I still found this boring. The instrumentation makes me feel nothing even though it's beautiful and I do not like Nick Drake's voice on this album.
M.I.A.
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing album with innovative and fun production, and some great flows and lyrics from M.I.A.
Burning Spear
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Enjoyable reggae album with some nice rhythms, mostly forgettable though.
Nirvana
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
More raw than Nevermind, the highlights are some of the band's best material. Other songs are amazing as well, even though Nevermind is more consistently immaculate from start to finish. Cobain feels more pained and emotive on this album and the guitar riffs are so god damn filthy.
X-Ray Spex
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Aretha Franklin
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
For a soul album, this is honestly missing some soul. Franklin is a great vocalist and the instrumentation is pleasant to listen to but it's missing something overall. Still slightly enjoyable but disappointing.
Bad Company
3/5
Rating: 6/10
The upbeat songs are great, too many ballads that drag the entire album down.
Queen Latifah
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Very dated production and unremarkable lyrics but still fun to listen to. Her energy is great and the beats are still a lot of fun.
Death In Vegas
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Very interesting album, combination of electronic, rock, and noise. The band does a good job building up the songs but they often over-stay their welcome.
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
The technicality of this album is truly impressive. What's less impressive are a lot of the riffs and musical ideas on here, oftentimes not memorable or just too long. Despite this, the ideas that work are great and musicianship is stellar throughout.
Q-Tip
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
A very good album with great beats and a great performance by Q-Tip. The album picks up after the first few songs and maintains this momentum, making this quite enjoyable from start to finish.
Dizzee Rascal
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Kings of Leon
1/5
Rating: 2/10
Generic instrumentation with absolutely horrendous singing. This is shit.
Rocket From The Crypt
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Fun, catchy, and punchy punk rock.
Sebadoh
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Started off awful but got better and better over time. Distorted indie rock with some catchy melodies.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
The highlights are amazing and masterfully blend their trade noise rock sound with amazing riffs and songwriting. A lot of is noisy just to be noisy and the album suffers for it, this band has a great sense of melody but only uses it for a handful of songs.
Justice
4/5
Rating: 8.5-9/10
Absolute banger of an album. Electronic music that is loud, punchy, distorted, and so much fun to listen to. The songs are all a reasonable length and are not nearly as repetitive as most of the electronic albums on the list. Will definitely be revisiting.
The Who
4/5
Rating: 8/10
I do not like this band but this was great. The band are amazing musicians and the songs on here were very good. Roger Daltrey has a great sense of humor and has a knack with engaging with the audience. Overall pleasantly surprised by this.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Fun album that blends rap, rock, blues, and jazz. Some of the songs are a bit redundant but a good listen overall.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Honestly Cash's engagement with the crowd brings this to four stars, the songs themselves are good but definitely elevated in this live setting.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Choice cut: Souvenir
Robert Wyatt
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Despite the second song being absolutely horrendous, a pretty intriguing listen. Interesting blend of styles and great production throughout, a few dull moments but overall enjoyable.
The Byrds
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Destiny's Child
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
Choice cut: Survivor
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Starts off incredible and ends on a decent note. The best songs are gorgeous, which is amplified by the vastly improved production on this album. Some songs are just pretty underwhelming, The Murder Mystery is simultaneously intriguing and awful and stains the album a bit. Despite some shortcomings, still a great album.
Johnny Cash
3/5
Rating: 6/10
The originals are all better besides maybe Hurt. He puts his own spin on it which is respectable but there is not much excitement to return to this album.
Pavement
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Better production on this one and good overall, not enough highlights to justify a higher rating.
Eminem
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Starts off incredible and slightly loses its charm as it progresses. Highlights are amazing and lowest points pretty cringey, lyrical topics are more repetitive here than his later work. Still great flow, delivery, and production on here throughout.
Janet Jackson
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
It sounds so 80s that it is almost cliche and corny, but damn is this enjoyable. A nice combination of slower ballads that are catchy and upbeat songs that slap.
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Best described as spacey sexy prog rock, great production and songwriting throughout.
Iron Butterfly
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Last song is great, the rest of it is very good as well. Proto-prog album with some nice keyboard and great guitar riffs.
The Specials
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
I liked it...barely. Decent ska album that all starts to sounds the same after a while.
Joanna Newsom
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Some moments on here are truly breathtaking, the medieval sounding instrumentation and her voice can truly produce something incredibly beautiful. The issue with it is how meandering this album is, only 5 songs and 55 minutes is ridiculous when there are not that many ideas to justify this length. It seems like sometimes she just plays the same thing to fill up time but without purpose.
Frank Black
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Slow start but picks up after the fourth song. Sounds like Pixies but with cleaner vocals, very interesting songwriting structures and pretty damn catchy throughout.
Incredible Bongo Band
4/5
Rating: 8/10
So many bongos, bongos are good.
Calexico
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Really cool album, nice mixture of styles from folk, Latin, rock, and jazz. A few boring moments but a great listen overall.
Ravi Shankar
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
Nah.
3/5
Rating: 6/10
The first song is the best, the rest is pretty good but too long overall. Definitely not as interesting or experimental as their other albums from this list.
Femi Kuti
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Like father, like son...this album is great. An absolute blast to listen to, great instrumentation, good vocals, and great production. Could be rated higher with repeated listens.
Kings of Leon
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Choice cut: Closer
Astor Piazzolla
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Charles Mingus
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Do not enjoy the blaring horns much, the last song saves this. Filled with many different interesting movements and some very catchy melodies, the final song is great from start to finish. The rest of this is just okay.
Ash
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
Choice cut: Lose Control
Nitin Sawhney
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
XTC
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
The Beach Boys
3/5
Rating: 7/10
The Killers
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Incredible first half and good second half.
Carpenters
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
Fever Ray
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Chill electronic vibes.
Mariah Carey
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
Nah.
Talk Talk
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Nick Drake
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
The Adverts
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Meat Puppets
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Singer can't sing for shit but this is great, nice combination of styles and quite catchy instrumentally.
The Dictators
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
What a stupid album.
The The
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Not as good as their album but still damn good.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty good but I won't remember any of it in the long term.
Marvin Gaye
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Coldcut
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Actually pretty good electronic album, pretty diverse range of genres and styles.
Stephen Stills
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Great production and nice variety of styles on here, there's a punchiness that resonates with me throughout the album.
David Bowie
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
The Prodigy
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Could definitely be rated a lot higher with repeated listens, starts off great but soon enough all of the songs start to blend with each other.
Slade
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty good indie rock, sounds like Billy Corgan.
Suicide
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
Mostly meh but Frankie Teardrop nearly tanks this to a one-star album. I respect the experimentation but this album misses a lot more than it delivers.
Waylon Jennings
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Randy Newman
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
The Fall
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Somewhat catchy post-punk.
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Rating: 6/10
An album about a man wishing his lover was a dog or horse so he can bang her. A love story for the ages.
Motörhead
3/5
Rating: 7/10
Great energy and song selection, it all sounds the same after a while though.
Love
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Mildly enjoyable jam band.
The Doors
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
What a great debut, some of their most iconic songs but a few underwhelming songs as well.
Yes
3/5
Rating: 6/10
They can play their asses off, no question about that. The longer songs were all quite good, even though these songs would oftentimes meander and the band would focus on the wrong ideas. The other songs are pure filler.
Frank Sinatra
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Has the possibility of being rated much higher or lower on repeated listens, sounds like I'm taking a journey through space. Very chill and ambient but not sure how it will hold up for repeated listens.
Thelonious Monk
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Frank Sinatra
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
Les Rythmes Digitales
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Sounds like a Daft Punk rip-off but honestly still pretty good. Half the songs were very enjoyable and the other half meh.
Billy Joel
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Most of his best songs are on this album, was pleasantly surprised by this one.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Rating: 6/10
I enjoyed it since it's funky, but will not return to this.
The Strokes
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
One of the best debuts of all time. Incredibly catchy and fun throughout and some fantastic interplay between the guitars and bass.
Billie Holiday
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
Nah.
Todd Rundgren
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Starts off horrible and partially redeems itself but was still bad overall.
The La's
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Unusually catchy melodies throughout the album, the longer songs bring it down.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
True doom metal.
Beck
4/5
Rating: 8/10
An eclectic album that feels coherent as well.
Billy Bragg
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
First three songs are amazing, then it slowly starts to get less and less interesting as it progresses. Still very enjoyable, the country style meshes with Wilco quite well.
Ray Price
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
John Martyn
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
The Streets
1/5
Rating: 1/10
This album is a disgrace to hip-hop. Absolutely dreadful flow, delivery, choruses, and lyrics. The production saves this from being a 0/10 but not even the production was that good either. Why is this shit on the list?
Klaxons
3/5
Rating: 7/10
A pretty fun dance-punk album with some cool songwriting.
The Clash
3/5
Rating: 6/10
This pains me as a huge Clash fan, but this album is just pretty good. Other bands did this pure punk sound a lot better (Sex Pistols, Ramones) and there's plenty of punk-adjacent bands that have better albums than this one. Still a good effort by the band, but they don't even begin to touch their potential with this album.
Pere Ubu
2/5
Rating: 4/10
This singer might be the worst one on this entire list, which is saying a lot. But somehow this album gripped me even though I did not enjoy it overall. The song structures and instrumentation are so weird that it sometimes works and even sounds decent. This is experimental music which for me misses more than it delivers, but I respect it for what it's trying to do.
Genesis
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Killing Joke
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Very good post-punk album with plenty of driving, groovy riffs. Also great bass work and drumming throughout this entire album. Overall very fun to listen to.
Radiohead
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
Feels like being enveloped in a warm blanket, their most beautiful album but not their best.
The Electric Prunes
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Patti Smith
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Lucinda Williams
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Starts off great, the title track is especially amazing. The rest of it is pretty boring stereotypical radio-friendly country.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Joy Division
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest albums of all time, so haunting yet there is a beauty in it. Literally Ian Curtis' suicide note, this album makes me feel emotions I have never quite felt before.
Richard Thompson
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty good country album, no standouts but consistently good throughout.
2Pac
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Not his best but a great album nonetheless. Great production, delivery, and flow, even though the lyrical content starts to wear thin by the end.
Heaven 17
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
The Specials
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Rating: 7/10
There is a beauty in all of this noise but god damn is it a lot of noise though.
Common
4/5
Rating: 8/10
Honestly this album is carried by Kanye's production which is absolutely phenomenal. Common is decent but his delivery and flow are so one-dimensional and I did not care for some of the lyrics here as well. Be (Intro) is one of the greatest songs of all time.
Beastie Boys
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
This album encompasses everything I love about this group: experimental production, great synergy between all of the members, and humorous lyrics. A bit all over the place in terms of style but it still somehow feels cohesive. The instrumental tracks are a particular highlight, so diverse instrumentally and musically throughout this entire album. This album is pretty long but goes by in a heartbeat, which is what makes it so great.
Jeff Buckley
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
What an incredible voice, one of the greatest singers of all time for sure. My issue with this album is the instrumentation is oftentimes just not interesting enough.
The Young Gods
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Sounds like a French Tom Waits and Ministry rolled into one. This industrial style is actually oftentimes pretty good and well executed, but I do not really enjoy it all that much. Still very memorable though.
Joe Ely
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
A country album I found mildly enjoying, how surprising.
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
Rating: 7/10
A lot of catchy riffs and melodies but too long, could have easily been 4 stars if it was 20 minutes shorter.
Aimee Mann
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
Grant Lee Buffalo
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
A country/folk albums with incredibly strong vocal melodies and delivery, and catchy instrumentation that propels the music forward. A pleasant surprise.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Really enjoyed the Celtic influences, even though it all starts to sound the same after a while.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
The highlights are amazing, the rest of the album is mostly okay with a couple of decent songs.
Prefab Sprout
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Some catchy vocal melodies and decent instrumentation.
Gang Starr
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
It's a good album but did not age that well. Production was probably amazing for its time (still is great) but Guru's delivery is one-dimensional and lyrically it's boastful and fun but nothing interesting.
Otis Redding
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
One of the best soul albums of all time, Otis Redding sings with so much...soul! Absolutely iconic voice with incredible instrumentals, culminating together to a masterful experience.
Anthrax
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Great riffs but bad vocally. The choruses are especially bad and songs overly long in general, but the guitar riffs and drumming make up for this. I still think Anthrax should not be considered part of the big 4 of thrash, this album does nothing that Metallica, Slayer, or Megadeth have done better before it.
Alice Cooper
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Cheap Trick
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Have not listened to a lot of this band but this feels like the only album worth listening to: has all of their amazing hits, great energy, and overall catchy and fun to listen to from start to finish. My favorite live album so far.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Another great Bob Dylan album, with amazing storytelling and good instrumentation. The singing is not as good as some of his previous albums as well as the instrumentation, but overall still a great album.
SAULT
1/5
Rating: 3/10
Instrumentally and vocally this was okay, Wildfires is an amazing song and the only standout on this album. My main complaint is the lyricism: just stating "black is beautiful" or "black is powerful" is not saying anything meaningful, insightful, or interesting. Other artists have covered this theme in a way that's a 1000X more interesting: Public Enemy, NWA, Kendrick Lamar, Mos Def, etc. This theme is consistent with every song on this album, so that is why I fault it so much. I understand the intention, but the execution is horrible.
Beatles
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest albums of all time, and the most consistent Beatles album from start to finish. The consistently excellent songwriting, creativity, and diversity of this album is simply remarkable. It is the perfect balance between creating catchy songs with wonderful melodies while also experimenting with different sounds. A timeless masterpiece.
The Cure
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Not a huge fan of early the Cure, this album also suffers from a lack of ideas. Songs would generally be one idea or riff that they slowly expand upon but that is it, I simply do not think these ideas are that great. I commend them on the atmosphere and depressing lyrics but musically this band has albums that are miles better than this.
Miles Davis
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
This man is simply a jazz genius: another Miles Davis album that pushes the boundaries of what jazz can sound like. All of the songs take you on a journey that is mystical: this is an album that is experimental yet beautiful and meditative. It is quite sprawling and long, so I prefer In A Silent Way, but this is also absolutely incredible.
Wilco
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Can
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
A bit meandering at times but what a great listening experience. A lot of ideas here are fantastic, the last track is not as good as the rest of this but everything was very enjoyable.
Justin Timberlake
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
Why is this on the list? It's not even the best Justin Timberlake album...
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest albums of all time. So experimental, creative, and groundbreaking, this sounds like nothing that came before or after it. A truly unique album that is perfect besides the last two songs. A timeless classic.
Air
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
This album makes me feel like a sexy boy that's floating in the clouds. Favorite song: Sexy Boy.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Thought this was going to be a country album, pleasantly surprised to hear it was a pop album. Pretty good.
Tina Turner
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
The production is outdated, even though I quite like this sounds. Tina Tuner's voice is phenomenal, definitely carries this album.
PJ Harvey
3/5
Rating: 6/10
I really respect the experimental nature of this, even though a lot of did not really click for me. Will definitely listen to again though, this intrigues me.
Prince
5/5
Rating: 10/10
Possibly my favorite pop album of all time, even though it's so much more than that. What an eclectic mix of genres and styles that culminate to make Prince's masterpiece. Even at its length, it does not overstay its welcome one bit.
AC/DC
4/5
Rating: 8.5-9/10
The second half is not as good, but this is amazing. This album is banger after banger track that's head-banging heaven. Simplicity can equate to greatness, and these guys simply have it.
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Competent blues rock, nothing too memorable besides Layla.
DJ Shadow
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of my favorite albums of all time, this is the definition in beauty in sampling. This album is absolutely gorgeous and deeply relaxes me, literally therapeutic.
Neil Young
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Southern Man is a masterpiece, everything else is just decent.
The Pogues
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Diverse and catchy Celtic-punk album that is quite diverse in style. Great vocals, lyrics, and infectious instrumentation. First half is five stars easily and it drops in quality a bit after that but still great.
Ozomatli
3/5
Rating: 6/10
An eclectic album that does not blow the listener away in any way, shape, or form. Just a good album from start to finish.
David Bowie
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Some amazing ideas and great songs on here, a few songs run a little long though.
Sinead O'Connor
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Really enjoyed the diversity of sounds on this album, Sinead O'Connor sounds fantastic while still being interesting sonically as well.
Queen
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
Great instrumentation but I cannot stand the vocals with this band. They take more risks here than their debut which I respect a lot.
Culture Club
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Carried by Karma Chameleon but there a few other good songs on here, the rest is just okay.
Roxy Music
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
Sounds ahead of its time but for some reason did not completely grab me. The production is amazing, might need to revisit this one.
k.d. lang
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
3/5
Rating: 6.5/10
The first four songs are amazing, the rest of this is just fine.
Orbital
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
Supergrass
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
What a fun, groovy album. Really enjoyed the punk influence which made the songs have this infectious vibe to them. Definitely better than their other album on the list.
The Avalanches
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
Beauty in sampling: this album is comprised of hundreds of samples but every song and transition sounds so cohesive. An impressive feat for sure, it also happens to be absolutely beautiful and a joy to listen to.
Turbonegro
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
Blondie
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
One of the best albums of the 70s: just incredibly catchy, amazing vocals, fun instrumentals, and varied and tight songwriting throughout.
Common
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Too long but the highlights are quite good. Still don't think Common is a top-tier rapper though, flow and delivery too one-dimensional.
Brian Eno
2/5
Rating: 3.5/10
Not good...what a disappointment.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Rating: 9.5/10
The best CCR album, has so many of their best hits as well as a lot of other incredible song. What a consistently excellent band.
3/5
Rating: 6/10
The first two songs are the best, the longer ones meander so would need to re-listen to this to see if it clicks more.
Moby Grape
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Rating: 7.5/10
Nothing mind-blowing but consistently very good rock album, a lot of catchy melodies.
The Cardigans
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
What an intriguing album, experimental pop that does not really click with me but I recognize the unique nature of this. Will definitely re-listen at some point.
ABBA
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Caetano Veloso
2/5
Rating: 4/10
Nah.
50 Cent
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Honestly I don't think that there is anything special about 50 Cent: I like his flow and delivery, but lyrically very replaceable. What stands out on this album is the production and choruses, both of which are fantastic. Besides a few lackluster moments, this album is consistently such a pleasure to listen to despite its shortcomings lyrically.
Big Star
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Serge Gainsbourg
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Def Leppard
4/5
Rating: 8/10
It's so insanely cheesy but I don't care: this album slaps.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Rating: 9/10
Amazing indie rock album with plenty of catchy riffs, melodies, and choruses.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
Rating: 9/10
What an ethereal and absolutely gorgeous album. Can definitely be a 5 with more listens, two of the songs are not as good as the rest of it.
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
Rating: 5.5/10
It’s got a certain charm to it, a lot of it is pretty pedestrian though.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Rating: 6/10
More folky Dylan which I think is inferior to his other albums on the list. Still a fun listen, did not care for a lot of it though.
k.d. lang
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Pretty decent overall, a few boring songs but most of it was pretty enjoyable.
Steely Dan
3/5
Rating: 6/10
Mostly meh but a few highlights carry this album.
Gram Parsons
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Nothing but chill vibes.
4/5
Rating: 8.5/10
Loved the vibe of this album, so many great songs. A few dull moments but mostly very enjoyable to listen to.
The Youngbloods
4/5
Rating: 7.5/10
Nice mix of jazz, folk, and rock, I very much enjoyed this even though there is no standout song (besides Darkness, Darkness).
Laura Nyro
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Meh.
Radiohead
5/5
Rating: 10/10
One of the greatest albums of all time. This album is absolutely gorgeous while having this alienating vibe to it. It predicted what society would be like today: interconnected but also desolate, and the music perfectly captures this.
The White Stripes
2/5
Rating: 5/10
Was not feeling this one, sounds like more of the same thing they always do but watered down.