579
Albums Rated
2.93
Average Rating
53%
Complete
510 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2000s
Favorite Decade
Samba
Favorite Genre
other
Top Origin
Critic
Rater Style ?
60
5-Star Albums
52
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Remedy
Basement Jaxx
|
5 | 2.68 | +2.32 |
|
Destroy Rock & Roll
Mylo
|
5 | 2.89 | +2.11 |
|
Kala
M.I.A.
|
5 | 2.91 | +2.09 |
|
I Against I
Bad Brains
|
5 | 2.93 | +2.07 |
|
Modern Life Is Rubbish
Blur
|
5 | 3.13 | +1.87 |
|
The Real Thing
Faith No More
|
5 | 3.2 | +1.8 |
|
I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
Sinead O'Connor
|
5 | 3.25 | +1.75 |
|
S&M
Metallica
|
5 | 3.26 | +1.74 |
|
Cross
Justice
|
5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
|
Since I Left You
The Avalanches
|
5 | 3.28 | +1.72 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
|
1 | 3.67 | -2.67 |
|
Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
|
1 | 3.64 | -2.64 |
|
Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan
|
1 | 3.63 | -2.63 |
|
In A Silent Way
Miles Davis
|
1 | 3.61 | -2.61 |
|
Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
|
1 | 3.56 | -2.56 |
|
Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
|
1 | 3.5 | -2.5 |
|
Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
|
1 | 3.43 | -2.43 |
|
More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
|
1 | 3.42 | -2.42 |
|
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
|
1 | 3.41 | -2.41 |
|
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
|
1 | 3.39 | -2.39 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Radiohead | 4 | 5 |
| Metallica | 4 | 4.5 |
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 4.5 |
| Nick Drake | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Cure | 2 | 5 |
| Green Day | 2 | 5 |
| Pixies | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Doors | 3 | 4.33 |
| Blur | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Dylan | 5 | 1.4 |
| Talking Heads | 4 | 1.5 |
| Aerosmith | 2 | 1 |
| My Bloody Valentine | 2 | 1 |
| Kanye West | 2 | 1 |
| Pere Ubu | 2 | 1 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 4 | 1.75 |
| Miles Davis | 3 | 1.67 |
| Barry Adamson | 2 | 1.5 |
| Motörhead | 2 | 1.5 |
| Dexys Midnight Runners | 2 | 1.5 |
| Ryan Adams | 2 | 1.5 |
| Prince | 3 | 2 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Pet Shop Boys | 4, 1 |
| Amy Winehouse | 2, 5 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 4, 5, 2 |
| Steely Dan | 2, 5, 3 |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 2, 5, 4 |
5-Star Albums (60)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Aerosmith
1/5
Aside from the music being bland my rating and review is based on Steve Tyler being a pedo c*nt. I listened to the full album, but its just forgettable generic rock. The music is whatever, but Steve Tyler can go choke on his big ten inch record.
From Wikipedia "Tyler claimed their relationship was consensual and that he had immunity because he was her legal guardian at the time" speaking about a 16 year old girl he groomed, adopted and abused - what the actual fuck.
15 likes
My Bloody Valentine
1/5
My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything {worth listening to}
9 likes
Bob Dylan
2/5
This album was only slightly less annoying than the previous Dylan we listened to - only 5 more Dylan albums to go, FML.
Death to harmonicas
5 likes
Fleet Foxes
5/5
I really love this album - it’s one I had forgotten about until this challenge, I was so happy hearing it again after so long! Fleet Foxes was on high rotation for me in the late naughties along with other indie folk revival musicians like Angus and Julia Stone, Joanna Newsom and Beirut. A whimsical time in my life - starting my dream job post uni, before becoming a mother and the change of pace that brings (Of course at the time I didn't realise how magical this season was!)
Back to the music - I really enjoy the harmonies, powerful vocals and mostly acoustic instrumentals. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song is particularly burned into my memory as one I'd listen to on repeat riding my bike to work - its probably still on my ipod shuffle somewhere. Sad that my copy of this album got lost somewhere in the many house moves of my 20s, but happy to rediscover it in the age of streaming!
Its aged pretty well, but I think it could be pretty repetitive to new listeners. I’m into it.
2 likes
Paul McCartney
2/5
This was just a bit boring - not much else to say! Nothing bad, just not particularly interesting
Fave track: Junk
2 likes
4-Star Albums (116)
1-Star Albums (52)
All Ratings
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Nice background music
Fave track: Three little birds
Talking Heads
1/5
Apart from Psycho Killer I haven’t listened to much Talking heads - this album did not inspire me to change that. I did feel a bit like Patrick Bateman listening to them - I too would be inspired to murder people if I had to listen to more talking heads
Fave track: hard call, The girl wants to be with the girls?
ABBA
3/5
I enjoyed listening to this one for the most part though every track feels pretty similar - Arrival was an interesting departure from the rest of the tracks
Least fave track: Happy Hawaii
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3/5
Even though I don’t usually listen to a lot of swing or big band music I enjoyed listening to this album. I liked the mix of tempos and different instruments and it was a nice one to listen to with R
Splankiest track: Splanky
R’s fave: Midnight Blue
The Smiths
4/5
I love The Smiths. Not my fave of their albums but I still enjoyed the listen through. I'm surprised this was the album chosen as part of the 1001? but maybe there will be more to come from The Smiths!
Fave track: The joke isn't funny anymore
The Temptations
2/5
Funky vibes - not really my cup of tea but good to get my groove on for something different (track 2 - yikes)
Most tempting track: Mother nature
Adele
3/5
There is no doubt Adele is incredibly talented - wow, what a voice! Apart from hearing her well known tracks I haven't listened to much Adele. I enjoyed listening to this album, however its not something I think I'd revisit as a full album - it became a little repetitive plus is not a genre I'm that into. I think it was maybe just a bit too over produced for me.
Fave track: Million years ago
The Bees
4/5
I'd never heard of The Bees (and sort of surprised they made this list when I first started to listen through) But I actually quite enjoyed most of the tracks - feels like would be a sunny-afternoon-gardening kind of vibe. Some of the tracks felt like they just had a few too many instruments trying to do too much, but overall I would listen to again for some chill background music. The track Sunshine scratched my brain in a way I didn't know I needed and I ended up listening to it on repeat
Buzziest track: Sunshine
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
I really enjoyed this album - I got right into the synth-pop, it was just what I needed!
Fave track: It's a sin
Metallica
5/5
I love Metallica - I was so excited to listen through this album and I thought this would be my first 5 star rating. It has some absolute bangers, but the full listen through wasn't quite as good as I expected and there are a few songs I'm just not that into. Still a solid 4 for me :)
All time face Metallica track: Unforgiven
EDIT: I saw Metallica live for their M72 tour and had to come back and fix this rating, this album has so much good stuff on it! Plus since rating this there are other albums I've rated 5 for just loving one song, so I felt like this was an INJUSTICE for all!!!
Joan Armatrading
2/5
This one was really interesting, I had never listened to any of her music before! On the one hand I didn't really get into it, but on the other it really reminded me of some other artists I really love who were around in the 90s (I assume were probably inspired by Aramtrading?) I think with time I could get into this album, but as a first listen it has piqued my interest but it hasn't grabbed me.
Fave track: Down to zero
Elliott Smith
4/5
This album transports me back to another time! I haven't heard it in years and apart from one Elliott Smith track in my favourites playlist (Waltz #2) I haven't listened to any of his music since I was at university. I love his sound. This album has some great tracks, but I feel a few tracks too long (or maybe I was just in too good a mood on the day I listened! I'll do a relisten on a melancholy day - ha)
Fave track: Son of sam
Yes
2/5
There were a few enjoyable songs in this album and I appreciated the funky bass. This would be very mood based for me - and I was not in the mood :( Just too much going on - calm the fuck down Yes, I'm feeling Fragile.
Track I'd say Yes to again: Roundabout (which I only learnt today is what is sampled to make a song I really love by Slugabed called 'Mountains Come out of the Sky' - who knew!?!)
Bobby Womack
3/5
A few tracks were geolocked and the listing needs to be updated to the 2021 release (Possibly just for Aussie listeners?) for the full album
It was pretty groovy - some crazy lyrics, I'm not sure I'd class as poetry!
Finger lickn' good track: Secrets
Pet Shop Boys
1/5
I don’t know if it’s that we just listened to a pet shop boys album, but this one was not as good as Actually.
Ironically the least boring track: Being Boring
Ice Cube
3/5
I enjoyed listening to most of the tracks, but I don't think I'd listen to the full album again. I can hear so many influences from other music/ians and can tell this influenced many to come after this album. I was really interested to read about what was happening in LA just before the release of this album and can hear it reflected passionately in the lyrics. Also cool to hear the same song sampled in 'Check yo self' as in Salt-n-Pepa's 'Shoop' ('I'm Blue' by The Sweet Inspirations) though I looked it up and its totally outrageous that Salt-n-pepa don't seem to be on the 1001 list at all?!?
Fave track: We had to tear this mothafucka up (nice Cypress Hill Vibes)
Stan Getz
5/5
I loved this album! Its my first 5 star rated! I had heard 'The Girl from Ipanema' before but none of the others on this album - just such beautiful music and I can see myself coming back to this full album over and over!
Fave track: The Girl from Ipanema (I had only heard the full English version before - I adored hearing the singing in Portuguese on this track and throughout the album)
Billie Holiday
3/5
The musical instruments in this album really highlight Billie's iconic voice.
Track/lyrics that hit the spot: I'm a fool to want you
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
This album was really cool - very cool to think what a big impact this sound had on heaps of other bands I love!
Fave track: Hong kong garden
The Lemonheads
2/5
I am usually a fan of a bit of 90s alt rock, but this feels like it could be one of a dozen bands from around the same time and nothing really stuck out as that ground breaking. So it was fine, and I enjoyed the first hald but probably won't relisten. It doesn't help that the album linked has all the demos so I felt like I listened to the radio versions and then to a highschool boyfriend playing them to me in his dank bedroom while I pretended to care.
Moby
4/5
This is such a great album and brings back so many good memories! It also makes me want to rewatch The Beach. This podcast is worth a listen, its about Moby not returning CDs to a friend he sampled some of the songs from.
- https://gimletmedia.com/shows/heavyweight/brholm
Fave track: Honey
Beatles
3/5
Ok so, big admission here but I'm not a massive fan of the Beatles - I think they are just ok. I can totally see why they were hugely influential and made their mark on music - I'm just not convinced they are worth the hype (don't hat me!). While this album has a few good tracks it didn't land for me as a whole. It feels a bit disjointed, but still overall its pretty enjoyable.
Fave track: Taxman
Harry Nilsson
2/5
When I first saw the Nilsson Schmilsson I thought it would be completely new to me - but turns out I have heard some of the songs and covers of the song over the years! Sounds like an off-brand Beatles. Not unlistenable but I won’t be listening again!
Weirdest track: Coconut
Janis Joplin
3/5
Amazing voice and really interesting album, not one I've listened to before. I think I could get into her music with a bit more listening time.
Fave Track: Move over
Nina Simone
4/5
I have to be in the mood for this kind of music - but when I am, I absolutely love Nina Simone and there is nothing that beats her sound. She's a fascinating person and had an amazing impact on music. Great album
Fave track: Wild is the wind
Marty Robbins
3/5
Not something I'd normally listen to, but I actually enjoyed it once I got into it. I love me some Marlon Williams, and Marty Robbins vocals were similar so it might be something I revisit at some point. Mainly I enjoyed this album because I put it on while my 12 yo was trying to go to sleep next to me after getting very freaked out after sneakily watching a horror movie she wasn't supposed to at a sleepover - helped distract her enough to get off to sleep, so thanks for that Marty!
Fave track: Saddle Tramp
Fela Kuti
3/5
This was fun and funky - but I found the songs a bit too long. Not the kind of thing I'd think to listen to, but I can see myself listening to this one with my Jazz loving kid!
Fave track: Zombie
Snoop Dogg
3/5
This had a couple of ok tracks and the rapping has some good flow, but the misogynistic gangsta lyrics ended up being a bit irritating and lame with the full listen through. It's a classic and an album of its time, but not one I'd listen to again (apart from the classics Gin and Juice and Whats my name)
Fave Track: Gin and Juice
Japan
2/5
I can see how this would fit into the landscape of influencing bands to come in the synth pop and new wave genre. Some of the instrumentals were ok but the singing was awful and made it a hard listen.
Fave track: Quite life
The Notorious B.I.G.
2/5
Unfortunately probably too soon after a Snoop album to hear this one for me - more of the same glorification of gang violence, drugs and misogyny which I totally get is an album its time, but a hard listen with 2023 ears when I have no nostalgia for any of these tracks. I can appreciate his skill, his rap had an incredible flow, but I'd rather not hear him getting blown thanks.
Biggest track: Just playing (Dreams)
The Strokes
4/5
I enjoyed this album and will be listening to it again! I have a few friends who love The Strokes but I'm not sure why I never got into them! I think I probably would have loved them more back in the early naughties, but still good now :)
Strokiest Track: Alone together
Bob Dylan
1/5
I’ve never understood why people like Bob Dylan - I don’t get it. The annoyingness of the harmonica as an instrument is only surpassed by how annoying Dylan’s voice is. What a whiny arsehole. No more Dylan thanks. I do have a funny story to tell about one of his songs which will no doubt pop up later in this challenge but that can wait, and hopefully a long wait - my poor ears need a rest.
Fave track: none - it was enough to scrape my way through the album
3/5
For some biazzro reason in the mid-late 90s I decided that ‘my’ Britpop band was Blur and so therefore Oasis (The Verve, Pulp etc) sucked and I refused to listen to them 😂. Thank you to 1001 for giving the chance to revisit my prejudices. I didn’t hate this, some tracks were quite ok, some meh. The brothers are still obnoxious wankers, so that brings it down a star
Fave track: Roll with it
Jane's Addiction
3/5
I had put off listening to JA because Spotify kept recommending them to me - shut up Spotify, you don’t know me and can’t tell me what to do!! In the end Spotify was right and I quite enjoyed this album. I was really interested to hear the mishmash of punk and glam rock, and the beginnings of grunge in this album
Most addictive track: … Ocean Size
Sepultura
3/5
Thrash metal is not my usual jam, I did find this A LOT to get through, and had to do it in a few sittings- but I did actually enjoying the album musically! Not every track but I’d listen to some of this again if I was in a particular mood. Some of its a bit silly including the cover art, but also kind of rad at the same time
Not sure if a fave track for this one - they blended together a bit after a while!
De La Soul
3/5
This was such a fun album - I really enjoyed it! I enjoy hiphop the most when the artist isn't taking themselves too seriously!
Fave track: Buddy
Jethro Tull
4/5
Such a great album! I remember listening to this one with my Dad, but I haven't thought about it or listened to it in about 20 or more years! The flute would normally irritate me - but here it just really works! Folk prog rock at its best
Fave track: Locomotive Breath
The Go-Go's
5/5
Wow! I loved this so much! What a great album - I had heard 'Our lips are sealed' but never listened to any other music by The Go-Go's - I've been missing out all these years! This was fun and full of early female punk rock power - so good
Fave track: Lust to love
The Stooges
3/5
This has some great tracks on it - and I quite liked it! Not one that I think I'd listen to as a full album again, but 'I wanna be your dog' is a great track that I'll continue to come back to again and again. I'm not sure why Iggy Pop isn't labeled a sex offender - "At age 23, Pop had a relationship with 13-year-old" - it's pretty messed up.
Fave track: I wanna be your dog
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
I love how stripped bare this music is - raw and emotive, and a bit bleak (whats not to love about a little bit of bleakness?). While I do enjoy Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, I've probably been more of a sprinkling of hits than full album fan, so its good to hear this all in one sitting. One of my all time favourite songs is on Murder Ballads (great album!), and of course I have a soft spot for some homegrown Aussie music, plus his voice is very sexy (even if sometimes more spoken word and a little out of tune, no complaints from me!) I didn't love every track, but there's enough here to make it a solid 4 from me.
Fave Track: Lime tree arbour / Into my arms (tie)
Elton John
2/5
Apart from Tiny Dancer (which is an amazing song - and always makes me think of that great bus scene in Almost famous! Amazing film) the rest of this album is a bit of a sorefest. I feel like I should really like Elton John's music, but I've just never got into it. I enjoyed watching Rocket man, can sing along with a bunch of his music, and the version from 'Sing' of 'I'm still standing' has even brought a tear to my eye (this coming from the woman who rarely cries!) - BUT I just don't ever feel excited to listen to his music, its just a bit boring :(
Fave track: Tony dancer
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Such an incredible album - I really enjoyed listening to this one! I had no idea they had so many hits that come from this single album. Another part of my music taste profile I thank my Dad for - I love CCR! This album feels like the soundtrack to my childhood - high sing-a-long value. Fogerty's voice is so good and the musicianship is fantastic - you could argue that I'm just being nostalgic, but I think the mix of swampy rock and blues is amazing! One small criticism is the drums are a little basic at times?
Hard to choose only one fave track from this, but this CCR cover of I Heard it through the grapevine has been a longtime fave.
David Bowie
3/5
OK - honesty time , I actually haven't listened to much David Bowie! Considering I've just learnt he put out 26 studio albums (What a machine!) I've really only listened to a small percentage of his music. This album wasn't what I was expecting, and seemed heaps different stylistically from other music of his that I've listened to. I have a dear friend who is a huge Bowie fan, so I've definitely grown to appreciate him over the last few years :)
Fave Track: Fame
Paul McCartney
2/5
This was just a bit boring - not much else to say! Nothing bad, just not particularly interesting
Fave track: Junk
Dagmar Krause
1/5
I found this one a hard listen mostly because I just couldn't follow the logic of it and also listening through Youtube is annoying AF. It felt very 'out-there' in terms of mixed styles and instruments - which isn't necessarily a bad thing? Kind of show tunes mixed with jazz and orchestral and operatic singing - lots of emotion - and a bit painful (both in terms of the subject matter and in making my ears bleed)
I get the point of it - but to me its more art performance than music and Das ist nicht mein Fall.
Queen
4/5
Amazing album art - their eyes are all whispering something different - ha ha. This isn't my favourite Queen album, but it does have my favourite Queen track on it!
I probably wasn't in the best frame of mind to listen to this properly today - so I'll give it a repeat listen another time!
Fave Track: Killer Queen
Various Artists
3/5
Some classics on this album and just in time for Christmas! I’m guessing the generator is not so random after all 😉 I think this is the only compilation style album we’ve seen so far on this challenge?
Putting aside for a moment that Phil Spector was an abusive murdering piece of sh*t - this has some fun and frivolous holiday music with some excellent 60s vibes! Not the type of music I tend to listen to at Christmas (many years of being indoctrinated has left me a very traditional carols, hymns and Handel’s messiah sort of gal - I wish I was cool & hip, but alas I am not!) But I’ll be adding this one into the Xmas mix for next year - it certainly beats the music my S.O. plays at Christmas!
It would be 4 stars (and I’m sorry to all the fabulous musicians!!!) but minus a star for Spector being a bit of a c**t
Don McLean
4/5
When I was 5 my dad made me a mix cassette tape which featured 3 songs from this album: American pie, Vincent and Babylon (along with a bunch of other favourites of his). It was this mixtape I listened to back to back while we went on a ‘round the world’ family holiday. I only remember snippets of the trip, but these songs are burned into my memory in the most beautiful way. I have a particularly vivid memory of listening to Babylon while arriving at Stone henge
The rest of the album is good too, I love Don Macleans voice and the mellow folksy music - but mostly my vote is nostalgia
Fave Track: Babylon (probably the only song you’ll ever hear me say for a song that for which features banjo 😂)
Jeff Buckley
5/5
I would love to know what music Jeff Buckley would have put out if he had lived and his music had matured. His sound is incredible! It's such a shame he is no longer with us and under such tragic circumstances.
I love this album - it transports me right back to mid highschool when I first listened to it. Buckley's covers of Lilac Wine and Hallelujah are amazing and obviously well loved - but it's 'Lover, you should've come over' which will always be my personal favourite. I feel like Mojo pin is the weakest, so it is a shame that is the opening track, but honestly the whole album is amazing - his voice, the lyrics, the guitar/band - I love it all. I had a bit of a moment to myself while listening to the album last night - standing outside on the balcony, full moon over the river, glass of wine - completely ethereal (or maybe I just have a thing for musicians who sing in falsetto?)
Top three in order to most fave: Dream brother, Grace, Lover you should've come over
Mariah Carey
2/5
No thank you.
This just sounds like one very long, boring, over produced song. Though its quite a feat to sound that breathless while pumping out those vocals.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
2/5
I feel like I should have liked this one more than I did, but I found it pretty boring and hard to get through tbh (or maybe it was too much prosecco and too little sleep after NYE?). Country/southern rock isn't really my thing (except CCR but that's all sentimental) So I could skip listening to this album again - except for Free Bird which is epic (even with the very long solo). What I didn't quite get was there are 7 musicians on the cover of the album, but the songs feel like there are only 4 or maybe 5 people playing at once? hmm
Fird birdiest track: Free bird
Nick Drake
5/5
Wow! What a gem. I didn't think I had ever listened to Nick Drake before and really enjoyed this album, but then I realised I had heard one of his tracks on the Garden State Soundtrack (excellent film and soundtrack!) The music feels before it's time, and akin to the the music of Elliott Smith, José González, Emilíana Torrini and alike from the late 90s/early00s, I'm sure they must have been inspired by Nick. The guitar is warm and the singing is so full of sadness and soulfulness - a beautiful mix (not sure what it means that I'm always drawn to sad music written by depressed musicians!?). I'll be listening to this one again - thanks 1001!
Fave Track: Things behind the sun
The Avalanches
5/5
Good memories - this is another album which transports me to another time and place! I remember this album being huge in 2000/01 in Australia - and I love some home grown talent!
I knew I was going to enjoy this one, yes it's a bit repetitive and there are more samples than you can poke a stick at, but it's pretty fun and its great chill background music. It was the perfect thing get me back into the workflow of 2024! I'm feeling generous, 5 stars
Fave track: ETOH
Waylon Jennings
2/5
I like to think I have a pretty wide music taste, but my ability to enjoy country music is pretty limited I must admit! I'm sure there is nothing wrong with this album, its just not my thing and so I found it really boring to get through. Not unlistenable, but I don't need to hear it again for the rest of my life! Death to harmonicas
The Fall
4/5
I really enjoyed this album - I hadn't heard it before! I enjoy a bit of post-punk and I can see how this music could have influenced other bands I love like The Pixies and Blur (and reminds me heaps of the local pub bands I used to go listen to in the mid 00s). I really like the repetitive riffs in each track allowing room for other sounds to be layered and I quite enjoyed the drunken mumbling too! I'll be going back to listen to other albums (there is a few!)
Fave track: Mansion / Petty (thief) lout
Joni Mitchell
2/5
I can't tell if I liked this or not? On the one hand I can see the influence Joni Mitchell has had on one of my favourite folk artists Joanna Newsom, the poetic lyrics and whimsical singing is all there - but at the same time I found the singing a bit grating and boring. I think I'd need to listen to it some more (but probably not seeing as its only on Youtube - yuck), so in the end I think I'm intrigued but not yet sold on Joni.
U2
2/5
I didn’t hate it
(but I still hate Bono because he’s a twat)
Pixies
4/5
I love, love, love the Pixies, but tbh this is not my favourite album and I haven't listened to it much. I think it was pretty hard for them to follow up after Surfer Rosa and Doolittle (my fave) but I think it's still a fun alt-rock grungy vibe which is very much my scene. Kim Deal is up there with with gutsy women rock legends - love her.
Fave track: Cecilia Ann - I love an instrumental! (this one sounds like it could have influenced Muse, Knights of Cydonia? Thoughts?)
Stereo MC's
3/5
Was this great or well made music - no.
Was it still lots of fun - yes!
It was a bit long, but I really enjoyed it for the most part and plus I have a bit of a soft spot for dance music from the early-mid 90s (and rapping/singing with an English accent! ha ha) Great vibe for my morning walk today!
Fave Track: Chicken Shake
Meat Puppets
2/5
Ok - so this is a tricky one! I didn't love it, but I did like it a bit. I think? What made it all the better was realising that a few of the songs on the Nirvana MTV unplugged in New York (one of my desert island albums) are covers from this album by the Meat Puppets! Who knew!? (not me obviously)
Will I listen to this album again? Probably not, BUT.... will I now go listen to MTV unplugged ad nauseam (which incidentally has my all time favourite cover song - 'Man who sold the world' originally by the amazing David Bowie)
Fuck.
Yes.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
When I first started listening to this album I though it was boring but it was ok, whatever, I'm just not really into it - that was until I got to 'Running Dry (Requiem for the Rockets)' which was frankly auditorily offensive with it's violin/fiddle section.
Lots of people seem to have a fondness for Neil Young, and maybe its a time and place thing (?) I found his voice is pretty irritating - so I don't really get it. Next
Jorge Ben Jor
5/5
This album was so much fun and really lifted me out of my Neil Young Youtube funk (I am actually feeling a bit bad about my recent Neil Young review - I was a bit too salty! ha ha)
These were the perfect backing tracks to driving around today and taking my kids and their mates to the beach - good summer vibes - I'll be back to listen to this groovy album again! Maybe even this evening with a cider on the balcony!
Fave track: Camisa 10 Da Gavea
Stevie Wonder
2/5
I didn't mind most of the songs on this album. I wasn't a fan of the synth in Living for the city, but the rest was ok. Good to hear it as a full album, but probably won't relisten - I'm just not very funky!
Fave track: Don't you worry about a thing
Baaba Maal
2/5
This was interesting - I quite like a bit of world music and reading the entry in the 1001 book made this getting into the selection a bit more sense and understandable. It was the bad synth instruments that let it down for me - its not aged well and I would have rated it higher if real instruments had been played.
The Doors
5/5
I love the doors!
I listened to this multiple times today and loved it each and every time! Not every track is perfect, and it’s not my fave album of theirs but it’s still pretty solid and has some excellent songs. I love the rock/bluesy chord progressions, and even through synth sometimes irritates me it just works here and is so good!
Moody and raw, you can feel Jim Morrison’s decline through some of the songs. What a voice! So hot
Fave track: Love her madly
The Cure
5/5
I really enjoyed this album and loved having it for a few days over the weekend. I haven't listened to much of The Cure, I really only know their bigger hits, so I loved listening to a full album and it makes me wonder why I haven't got into them before? Maybe because of their reputation? Even though it says their music is Goth rock, the beats and synth are pretty upbeat. Maybe it's just by comparison less depressing than the music I normally listen to?
Fave track: A Forest (and I love the Ramin Djawadi cover for Westworld, so much so this album led me to sharing it with my 15yo and now we've started watching the show from the beginning!)
Kate Bush
4/5
This was a great album. I'm still not completely sold on all the tracks, but I feel like Kate Bush is such an amazing and interesting musician
Fave Track: Running up that hill (deal with God)
(and I love love love, the Placebo cover too!)
Wilco
2/5
I'm writing this review before I've finished the album which I don't normally do, but I can already tell at the end of first disk that I'm just not feeling it and this is pretty lame. I probably should like it more than I do, mid 90s alternative, guitar heavy - my favourite genres/time! But it's just boring, meandering, weird in places (but not in a good way), and has a twangy country bend to it - it is all over the place. Maybe it could have been something if they'd had a better producer who could have edited back a bit better and thrown the banjo in the bin? Dunno - I guess theres a reason I've never heard of them
Finished it, it didn't improve
Blondie
3/5
Good, but not anything ground breaking or super exciting (for me) I'm sure it would have been different if I'd heard it when it first came out. Another band that I'd only really heard their big hits and not delved into full albums.
Fave Track: Heart of glass
Prince
2/5
This album is turning 40 years old this year just like me!
I can appreciate that Prince had a huge impact of music and was an incredibly talented musician - but this music/album just doesn't do it for me at all! I did enjoy 'When doves cry', it makes me nostalgic for the Quindon Tarver cover on the Romeo + Juliet sounds track. I wish I could rate it higher, but I really didn't enjoy the album and don't see myself listening to it again. So 1 star for the album and a bonus star for the influence Prince had on pop music.
Willie Nelson
2/5
Just not my thing - thankfully its a pretty short album!
Johnny Cash
3/5
I'd love to hear this if I was in prison - what an atmosphere he created! (fingers crossed in never go to prison though!) While I'm not a huge fan of the style of music or Johnny Cash, I did start to get into it on a second listen through. I found the bleeps a bit distracting and don't think its an amazing recording (which is fair enough, it'd be pretty hard within that kind of space and at that time I imagine), but that aside from that it was pretty alright.
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
There were some elements to this album that I kind of liked but it didn't ever fully assemble into something coherent for me - probably the closest track was 'She is suffering'. The lyrics are pretty messed up - it didn't feel 'deep' but more like Edge Lord word spaghetti. Don't get me wrong - I think its great to have a band that no subject is off limits, it just felt a bit pretentious, and, well, manic I guess... ok, so maybe it all makes sense afterall
Aerosmith
1/5
Aside from the music being bland my rating and review is based on Steve Tyler being a pedo c*nt. I listened to the full album, but its just forgettable generic rock. The music is whatever, but Steve Tyler can go choke on his big ten inch record.
From Wikipedia "Tyler claimed their relationship was consensual and that he had immunity because he was her legal guardian at the time" speaking about a 16 year old girl he groomed, adopted and abused - what the actual fuck.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
I really enjoyed this album (for the most part!) Little wing is one my all time faves! Some of the songs feel like they are a bit much, truth time - I'm not a huge fan of guitar solos and also the drummer could calm down a bit on the crash - but on the whole I loved the music! I would give it a 5, but it's not really an album I think I'd go back and listen to in full, probably more the top hits fan, so its a solid 4 from me.
Fave track: Little wing
The Allman Brothers Band
2/5
For a start, I’ll admit I’m not a fan of live albums. Live music in person I love - but very few live albums capture the atmosphere of the performance or the energy of the musicians. I think I would have loved this if I’d actually been there! No doubt they are talented musicians and have a whole jamming thing going on which would be incredible in person! But listening through this as a recorded album got more and more tedious the further through I was. Started out great, but I was actually quite grumpy by the end.
In my last review I said I didn't like guitar solos - that's not entirely true, what I don't like is self indulgent solos. Self indulgent solos is the glue that held this album together - zero desire to revisit.
Deep Purple
2/5
Same same - different day, different band.
I already spent 2 hours too many listening to this album, so I rather then wasting anymore time I’ll rinse and repeat my review from yesterday for the Allman Brother Band, At Fillmore East 😂
“For a start, I’ll admit I’m not a fan of live albums. Live music in person I love - but very few live albums capture the atmosphere of the performance or the energy of the musicians. I think I would have loved this if I’d actually been there! No doubt they are talented musicians and have a whole jamming thing going on which would be incredible in person! But listening through this as a recorded album got more and more tedious the further through I was. Started out great, but I was actually quite grumpy by the end. In my last review I said I didn't like guitar solos - that's not entirely true, what I don't like is self indulgent solos. Self indulgent solos is the glue that held this album together - zero desire to revisit.”
Jeff Beck
4/5
Unfortunately for Jeff I’ve just overdosed on late 60s/early 70s bluesy rock. I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt and I’ll earmark this one to revisit later with fresh ears. I think I’m into it having never listened to him before, but it’s hard to tell after a string of similar music! I’d feeling generous, so let’s go with a tentative 4? 😬😂
4/5
This one was a nice surprise! I'd never listened to X and I quite enjoyed it. I really love a bit of pop punk and punk. I love that the music is not polished and is even a bit off key at times - it has such a good energy! I also love the sound of the female and male voices paired together! I'll be listening to more X (not into the name though)
The xx
4/5
I enjoyed this one. I didn’t think every track was strong, but on the whole I liked the sound and would probably listen to it again if I was in the mood. It turns out I have listened to The xx before without realising it (on the Great Gatsby sound track - which is great btw) Nice to listen to something more recent - so far the challenged has been 30% 70s!
Janelle Monáe
2/5
"shaking like a schizo" 'like a schizo running wild' - geeze, get some better lyrics Janelle.
I thought I might get into this album after the first track, but it went downhill from there. Over produced, muddled and didn't fit with the ideas of the concept over the full album. It just felt like musicians who wanted to show off their range, but as a listener there's nothing really to pull you in and keep you there. I can't even say it's just that its not my kind of music, because there were so many genres I had musical whiplash! Clearly talented musicians who maybe just need a better producer and it's not that it is awful, its just really lame.
John Lennon
2/5
John Lennon is overrated (as are the Beatles) His lyrics to 'Imagine' are more ironic than Alanis Morissette's 'Ironic' (which ironically isn't at all ironic - it's just bad luck) 'Imagine' may be one of the most irritating songs ever.
Funkadelic
3/5
I'm not usually into funk - but this was pretty fun (for about the first half!) Some of the songs went on a bit too long and a bit too much shredding in the later tracks for my taste. No idea which song was which because I had to listen through youtube so they all sort of ran into each other.
Aerosmith
1/5
Music your creepy uncle listens to.
The Temptations
3/5
I enjoyed this one more than the previous Temptations album - maybe I was feeling a bit more funky today? CCRs heard it through the grapevine still wins for me though - just sayin
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
This was awesome! I loved this style of hip hop and I’ll be listening to this album again. I hadn’t listened to A Tribe Called Quest before but can hear their influences on other hip hop artists I really like. It had some nice jazzy vibes and didn’t take its self to seriously which I appreciate in any musician.
Radiohead
5/5
Radiohead is my second favourite band of all time - I love them and I'm pretty much always in the mood for them! I was so excited to finally have an album from them pop up in this challenge - although this isn't my favourite album, its solid, atmospheric and immersive. I love Thom Yorke's vocals and feel like this album he had really started to develop his unique sound. Previously my fave track of this album was 'High and Dry' but in this listen through I was really captivated by 'Street Spirit (fade out)' and ended up listening to it on repeat for most of the day. So good.
fIREHOSE
2/5
I was really confused by this album - I disliked it, but also I think I liked it a little bit?
It was so incredibly annoying to listen to, but at the same time I could hear similar sounds to Primus (a band I love), and some of the guitar riffs were interesting, and I like how there was some really push and pull within the music - but then I found it unlistenable and wanted to turn it off, then a little something would pique my interest again. Urgh - a frustrating listen. Mostly it felt annoying and musically immature.
Maybe if I was younger I could be bothered to listen to this on repeat for a few days and break past the annoyance barrier, but I'm too much of a grumpy old lady to listen to it more than once.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
This was pretty funky and I enjoyed it for what it was! Probably won’t be on high rotation as it’s not really my thing
The Doors
5/5
A pretty amazing debut album! I really enjoy The Doors and this is mostly a great album. I'm giving it top stars, even though there are a few tracks that I'm not into the rest of the album makes up for it
Fave track: Back door man
Beastie Boys
4/5
Peak Beastie Boys is mid-90s for me - so while I absolutely love them and their fun and playful antics, Licensed to ill is not my favourite album. I appreciate this album carries much more over from their hardcore punk band days, plus making beats was pretty different and experimental when this album was made (mostly on cassette tapes). I've always loved that they are musicians rather than only MCs - so it's still a great album and there are some incredible tracks for a debut!
Fave track: No Sleep til Brooklyn
Pink Floyd
5/5
🌒 Sublime 🌘
Mudhoney
3/5
I love a bit of grunge rock and so it was pretty cool to hear this album by Mudhoney (a band I don’t think I’d heard of) The whole Seattle rock scene of the late 80s/ early 90s is pretty legendary! I think I could revisit it when I’m in the mood, but today it was just way too long and messy - I listened to about half the album while I was working and took note of the song title I was up to so I could come back and finish it later - only to discover ‘mudride’ seems like it’s on the album about 10 times!
If I feel like listening to a less good version of Nirvana I know where to go
Muddy Waters
3/5
I enjoyed this one - I haven’t listened to a lot of blues, this had nice vibes
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Horny rock should be a genre all of its own!
I adore Led Zeppelin - this isn’t my favourite album, but it’s still fantastic. Unfortunately I can’t seperate the art from the artist, so this one is getting a star taken away for preying on underage girls. I spent so much of my teen years listening to Led Zeppelin with friends - they remain an important part of my music taste profile and nostalgia for that time in my life and the people I hung out with
Fave track: every inch of Whole lotta love
Steely Dan
2/5
I've never got into Steely Dan - talented musicians, tight music - but I get zero emotional response listening to them. Feels cheesy.
Nick Drake
5/5
I loved this - I’d never heard of Nick Drake before starting this challenge and he’s such a gem. I can see myself coming back again and again
Spiritualized
1/5
Noise. Harmonicas… and is that a whole orchestra of.. kazoo? or the sound of the last thread of my patience disappearing?
I probably shouldn’t have listened to this while in an insomnia spell - I thought maybe ‘shoegaze’ genre would help me back to sleep, and to be fair there was some nice chill vibes at a few points in this album, I quite enjoyed ‘broken heart’ but the rest made me pretty irritated with its bloated sounds, meandering tracks and weird shit. Will not be listening to again
(I wrote this at about 3am, I’m not changing it because even though it’s a bit grumpy - it’s not untrue 😅)
My Bloody Valentine
1/5
After 2 shoegaze albums in a row - I can see why I've never been into this genre, it sounded a bit like tinnitus. I would change the name of the band to 'my bloody ears'
Donovan
3/5
This was just ok - I can’t see myself coming bank to it. Just a bit forgettable
David Bowie
4/5
Listening to this album makes me want to go and listen to Bowie's full discography in chronological order. I felt like I couldn't get the full force of the importance of this music having only really listened his hit top hits in the past. I was kind of into it, it's dark, ethereal and a bit haphazardly confusing (to my ears) - but I think its a bit outside my usual 'Bowie zone'. One of the things I loved was the cover - love the typography! I'm giving this 3.5 stars, but I'll round it up!
Given I'm reviewing this on a Monday - "Where the fuck did Monday go?'
Steely Dan
5/5
When I saw this was another Steely Dan album I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly toppled over, but how pleasantly surprised I was by Preztel Logic (terrible name!)
I loved this! It put me in such a great mood and although it was a bit cheesy in parts I really got into it! It’s not quite a 5, but I’m making it 5 stars because it’s close and I’ll want to come back to this one later! Or I’m high on paint fumes? Regardless, it was heaps better than the last Steely Dan!
Queen
4/5
I love Queen. Some absolute bangers on this album… and then ‘I’m in love with my car’!?!
I don’t think it’d ever heard ‘death on two legs’ and really loved it! Some killer singing by Freddie and all round pretty great album! I don’t think it’d be on high rotation as a full album, but many songs I’ll revisit again and again
Fave track: Love of my life
The Dandy Warhols
4/5
I love me some Dandy Warhols! This is not their best album, but it's got some great tracks (mixed with a few bland ones too!). On the whole I still really enjoyed their sound and I love that this album shows the potential of where their music was headed for.
Fave track: Everyday should be a holiday
Happy Mondays
2/5
I didn't get into this one - nothing actually wrong with the music, just felt a bit superficial and boring.
... and while I'm at this review I'm adding a little gripe - I wish the albums were just the original track list so I didn't have to sit through additional remastered or live tracks. As a completionist I feel like I have to listen to the full linked album, so it is super irritating when it’s an extended album.
Nas
2/5
It was ok, didn't love it, didn't hate it - it didn't really capture me so probably not one I'll listen to again
Elvis Costello
1/5
Did I actually need to hear this before I die? No.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I enjoyed most of the tracks - nice bluesy sounds, a few I could skip next time around but I listened through the album a few times which is usually a good sign. I’d say I’m more of a greatest hits fan when it comes to the stones - but still pretty good for some horny ol’ rock. I learnt today that we all need someone to cream on - who knew?!
Fave track: Gimmie Shelter
Prefab Sprout
1/5
It’s not offensive - it’s just bland. Why is it on this list.
M.I.A.
5/5
I loved this album! I’ve loved a few of M.I.A.’s songs in the past (Bad Girls is a stand out) but I’d never listened to a full album of hers for some reason?! This album had some incredible tracks! The were a few bits I didn’t love, and a few of the samples were a little hit and miss, but I listened to it over and over and particularly loved … Come Around as a new to me track. I think it’ll go on high rotation! There’s something about the beats and repeated vocal and instrumental elements that really tickles my brain, clashing sounds and international vibes that just really do it for me! Yes!
Iggy Pop
4/5
I really enjoyed this album! I was already a big fan of Lust for Life (and it reminds me of Trainspotting - amazing film - and book!) and Passenger, and it was great to be introduced to the rest of the tracks!
I'll be back to listen to this one again
Buena Vista Social Club
5/5
I feel like I'm being a little fast n loose with my 5s recently - but this is another 5 for me! I remember a friend burnt me a copy of this album in about '99 and I listened to it on repeat for years - it was a big part of my musical journey. Chan Chan is still on high rotation now and will forever be one of the best songs of all time for me - love it, such a good groove and so sexy. Candela is a great track too!
Suede
4/5
Where has Suede been all my life! I really enjoyed this album and I'll be listening to it again. I'd say it’s more brit-horny-rock than britpop - I particularly enjoyed the guitar on the album, some excellent riffs. What a great new find!
Fave track: She's not dead
The Cramps
3/5
I might be a bit into this if I was in the right mood, but today is not that day. I got through about half and will revisit it another time - giving it 3 in anticipation
Guns N' Roses
2/5
I didn't enjoy this album at all - this style of rock has just never been my thing. Axl's voice is irritating and one dimensional and I found the whole thing pretty hard to get through.
Dire Straits
5/5
This reminds me of hanging out with my dad on long drives - the ultimate nostalgia album. Nearly every track is excellent and I love Mark Knopfler's voice. I wonder how I'd rate it if I didn't have such strong positive memories - it makes me wonder what music tastes I've passed on to my children if any? This album probably has the most misheard lyrics of any music I've listen to - maybe come from hearing it as a kid?
'Now here I am again in this amino town'
"you might get a piston on your lil finger'
"we've got some movies, refrigerators, we got some movies, colour tveeees'
'he do the song about the single of the moon, he do a song about the night, he to the walk, do the walk on by, yeah he do the walk on by'
Fave Track: Brothers in arms (probably the only one I didn't really listen to as a child, but came to love on my own as an adult! Great song)
Fugees
5/5
I love this album so much and its been a love that has spanned decades at this point in my life! The Score is still on pretty regular rotation, 'Ready or Not' is one of my all time fave tracks - I used to listen to this track on repeat while lying in bed with headphones, Enya panning in the backing track blowing my lil' adolescent brain. The rapping is witty, intelligent, political and referential. While some of the skits between tracks haven't aged well, this in-between humour and/or leading into the next track feels like something that couldn't happen as much with the way we listen to music currently - its a storytelling tool that feels sadly missing these days. I'd give it 6 if I could! I wish they'd made more music together.
Fave Tracks: Ready or Not and The Mask, Refugee Global mix of Fu-Gee-la
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
3/5
I don't want to go on and on about how annoying this was to listen to on youtube where the deep and emotional tracks are interspersed with upbeat loud ads for grammaly and KFC (the album is not available on Spotify Aus) BUT it does impact on the enjoyment of the vibe.
I don't mind a bit of this style of music and I'd possibly listen to Bonnie Prince Billy again if I was in the kind of mood for some depressing pared back folk
The Electric Prunes
2/5
Completely over the amount of psychedelic rock on this list - I see it has it's place but it really feels like the makers of this list must have had their formative years in the late 60s and early 70s - The Electric Prunes were VERY ordinary and I don't think should have a place on this list when so many other great bands and genres of music have been overlooked (well, so far at least ~120 albums in!)
2 stars because its not offensive, its just boring
Marilyn Manson
1/5
I listened to the first 2 tracks, wanting to make an effort to complete this challenge and listen to all the albums from beginning to end in full - but it was so awful I gave up for most of the day deciding I just didn’t need this trash in my ears and brain. I did end up going back and skimming the rest - and I’m now annoyed at myself for giving this any extra thought, reading about the band and about the lead singer, and in the end giving it more of my headspace than it deserves. Putting aside Warner being an abusive disgusting creep, the lyrics are just awful (as in both content and also just lame - ‘oh look at me look at me, I’m so scary, and weird, and random, and spooky’) and I just don’t think the music is a good example of the genre either. I sometimes enjoy a bit of industrial. This is just hype.
So it’s just gross to me on multiple levels and I have no desire to ever hear it again.
Ramones
3/5
The guy second from the left has a slightly weird belly button. All the songs sounds the same, I kind of dig it.
(The music not the belly button)
Fave track: Havana Affair
The Velvet Underground
2/5
Not convinced this is worth the hype. For years I've been told I'd love this album, but this is my first proper listen through and while most of it is fine, its only that at best. At worst its me skipping songs with jarring scratchy bits and discordant notes. Maybe I would have felt differently if I'd heard it when it came out? I guess listening to it amongst the other mid-late 60s drug-filled, sitar-enhanced rock makes it feel pretty underwhelming.
Queen Latifah
4/5
The only other Queen Latifah music I've listened to before this is "When you're good to Mama" from Chicago (My favourite song from my favourite musical!)
I'm voting this album up higher than I would if I only based my scores on the actual music (I can't seperate other personal factors when rating the albums - I'm just rolling with it)
So - the music is fine, not amazing, and in my opinion not the best example of female rap artists from the late 80s (I ask again WHY oh WHY isn't Salt n Pepa on the 1001 list?? Its a travesty) but the reason I am adding an extra 2 stars is because there are NOT ENOUGH WOMEN REPRESENTED IN THIS LIST, the music industry is already so biased against female artists and this list seems even more so! Hats off to Queen Latifah for making her mark on the entertainment industry and generally kicking arse as a powerful female voice. Not even just as a female voice but one who spans other Intersectionalities too - yassss Queen!
The Black Keys
4/5
I think I've only listened to a few Black Keys tracks here and there, but I really enjoyed delving into a full album. I've listened to "I'm not the one" a bunch of times on one of the The Leftovers playlists. I'd listen to this album again
Madness
2/5
I was trying to keep an open mind - but I'm not fan of ska. There was a few fun tracks, but mostly it was just too long and not a style I really get into. Not terrible, not my thing
Television
3/5
Enjoyable - guitar was excellent! I think I’ll come back for a relisten sometime and I think I could get into it with a few repeats. Nothing really stuck out, but pretty solid album overall
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
My eldest loves jazz (and discussing polyrhythms and unusual time signatures) and we’ve listened to The Dave Brubeck Quartet together a fair bit, a few of these tracks have been heard tinkled on the keys or honked on the sax coming from his bedroom which has given me such a fondness for the album (and jazz in general which I’d never been super into before) I love talking about music and the way you can connect with people when listening to it or discussing it - it brings me so much joy to get this stage in life where my son has his own taste / ideas and shares them with me - super special. I love a random text from him with a track ‘I simply MUST listen to’.
MC Solaar
3/5
Pretty fun!
Guided By Voices
2/5
Yesterday I had a terrible headache and listened to the first track and thought I’d save it for another day - it’s not any better today. This album desperately needed a producer who could help the band turn these demos into actual songs - it’s not even that I mind some of the tracks being short, they just don’t go anywhere and are so half arsed - full arses only please. Twangy and out of tune without a built up release or intention, some weird noises. There could be something here, but its not enough and I don’t have the patience for more listen throughs to find it - if anyone needs me I’ll be laying in a dark corner with a wet flannel on my eyes with my ears gently bleeding.
The Incredible String Band
2/5
#tooktoomuch
Black Sabbath
4/5
What a solid album - I knew I'd enjoy this one, but I actually ended up loving it even more than I thought I would on the full listen through! It's not even that I'm that big of a Black Sabbath fan, its just really great music!
I wish I had been around to hear it when it first came out - it would have been incredible to hear such a different and brand new sound! I have zero doubts this album had a huge influence on many of the bands and music genres that I love!
A truly landmark album!
Deep Purple
3/5
2 stars for the music, and 1 extra star for the nostalgia! Dad rock yes, but I still enjoyed it :)
The Band
2/5
I listened to this last night - today I can’t remember a thing about it except that I’d heard one or two tracks before. Clearly forgettable
The Beta Band
2/5
The first few tracks had me a little curious and then it went downhill from there. There was such great music from the mid naughties and this is not it (Blue Notebook by Mac Richter or The Milk-eyed mender by Joanna Newsom are both the same year as this album for example but not on the list from what I can see) who is choosing these albums?
Tears For Fears
3/5
This was ok - a few good tracks and some nice 80s vibes.
Parliament
3/5
I want to like funk - but it’s just not my thing! Still, this was pretty fun and I found a few bits that had my toes tapping. Musicians were great but probably won’t get a relisten from me.
N.W.A.
3/5
While I'm not a huge fan of gangsta rap or the messages it sends - this album is incredibly important in both the musical and historical landscapes of the time. Angry, raw and brave. I can't understand what its like to have grown up and lived in Compton, and while I find a lot of the lyrics challenging there is no denying how impactful and influential this album is sharing for an hour what it might be like to walk in the shoes of Dr Dre, Eazy-E and Ice Cube.
It was groundbreaking at the time it came out, and as a big Beastie Boys fan I loved hearing all the samples in the NWA tracks. Probably not something I will revisit, but worth a listen!
Wilco
2/5
I was so bored during this (2nd) Wilco album that I decided to look at the 1001 book and make sure it was the last - its not, still another to go :( As I said in my last Wilco review, I feel like I should like this with my taste in music, but I just don't - total snoozefest! I also was horrified to realised when I was looking at the book that there are ZERO Cranberries albums?! 3 Wilco and no Cranberries, how is that possible?
My Bloody Valentine
1/5
My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything {worth listening to}
Missy Elliott
3/5
Great album! The rapping is fun and clever - Missy has a great vibe! OT something I’d revisit lots, but I enjoyed a few listen throughs and appreciated the female voice (which is so lacking in this list and hip hop in general)
The White Stripes
5/5
I love The White Stripes, even though this isn't my favourite album of theirs I'd give it 5 stars for Fell in Love With a Girl alone (which has an awesome Music clip directed by Michel Gondry). Some other great tracks on here too (and some slightly meh ones) but I've always enjoyed their pared back approach to rock. Their red/white/black aesthetic particular appealed to me when I first started listening to them while in design school in the early 00s. I know lots of people love to hate Jack White, but I've always enjoyed the twangy raw grittiness he brought to the White Stripes music and Meg's solid yet sparse drumming. Uncomplicated and fun music
Pink Floyd
5/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
No notes
Ghostface Killah
3/5
This one was enjoyable - not an album or artist I think I'd heard before (except in Wu-tang Clan). I don't think it'll get much of a repeat listen from me - the lyrical content is still very much out of my wheelhouse of interest, though it's a little more nuanced than some of the gangsta style rap we've had in the 1001 list so far.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Some people shouldn't sing falsetto - probably only do it if you can hit and sustain the notes?
The album was ok - but I don't think The Beach Boys live up to the hype. A few of the tracks are catchy and it was good to hear the full album as an important part of music history
Emmylou Harris
3/5
Emmylou is not someone I had come across before and makes me questions my general dislike of country - maybe I just like floaty , folksy country? This was really nice
Willie Nelson
2/5
Blandest of the bland music - its not unlistenable its just tedious.
*adding my usual ‘Death to harmonicas’ (even if those harmonicas are actually keys playing fake harmonicas!)
Sade
2/5
I don’t see myself listening to this again - sophisti-pop (first time hearing of this as a genre) is not really my thing. Both stars are for Smooth Operator
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
I quite liked bits of this album - probably not something I would have heard of without the 1001 challenge. I found myself tapping along to a fair few of the tracks, but some were a bit repetitive. Great to hear some more music from outside the usual UK and USA!
Kendrick Lamar
2/5
Bitch, killed my vibe.
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
I enjoyed this - not something I’d put on regular rotation but nice background music
Iron Maiden
4/5
I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would! I've not really given Iron Maiden much of a listen in the past. Definitely a 'in the right kinda mood' for it style of music for me - but its pretty fun and energetic. I did get a bit over the lead singers voice after a while. I don't think it'll go on high rotation, but it'll get another listen in the future for sure. 3.5 stars (upgraded to 4)
The Cure
5/5
What a great album! I'm late to The Cure (apart from having heard their hits) I had only listened to Seventeen Seconds as part of this challenge - I loved that album too and they've grown on me even more after this album, I had it on repeat all day! Moody, layered, eclectic, mercurial and scruffy hair - the best!
Fave Track: Lovesong
The Killers
5/5
This album turns 20 in 2 weeks - I'll have to be honest it's the first time I've listened any Killers all the way through! When I first heard The Killers in 2004 I think I found it a bit too pop for my taste and wrote the band off - for too long obviously! I really enjoyed this album, it has some great tracks that I think could really grow on me! I was going to give this a 4, but I really fell in love with Andy, You're a Star - so it's a 5 from me!
Devendra Banhart
3/5
I hadn't heard of Devendra Banhart before and I really enjoyed this guitar, folksy vibe! It really suited the overcast melancholy of the weather today, perfect for cuddling up in front of the heater with a coffee. I found the vibrato annoying in spots, but I think I'd come back to listen to this one again sometime.
King Crimson
5/5
this
was
a lot
I think I liked it?
not at first, but it really grew on me
Air
5/5
Sexy French floaty low-fi beats? Oui, oui!
The Velvet Underground
2/5
Maybe this wasn't a total snoozefest 50 years ago - but it is now. As someone who has no nostalgia for the band I fail to see The Velvet Underground hype - or maybe I'm just sick of this genre and the love affair the list creators have with it.
There is nothing wrong with the music, it just elicited no excitement or joy from me.
(The Murder Mystery got a skip about half way through for being too long, and tedious)
2/5
Is Natures Way the inspiration for the Law and Order theme?
I'm not sure I'm judging this album fairly but I'm just so sick and tired of psychedelic rock from the late 60s early 70s!
~1/3 of our groups albums so far in the challenge have been psychedelic rock genre
~1/2 of all albums have been from 60s&70s
Yawn. Next
Björk
3/5
This is the first Björk album I’ve seen in this challenge - I don’t know if there are more? Even though this isn’t the kind of music I’d actively choose - I enjoyed having something a bit different! it’s not my usual cup of tea and parts are hard to listen to and a little jarring - I think the challenge and interest of Björk’s music earns its place on this list. It was good to work to - the lyrics are hard to follow so it felt like her voice was more instrumental
Peter Gabriel
3/5
This one is a tough one to rate - it doesn't feel like one complete album but instead like someone trying on lots of different hats. On the one-hand it is impressive how Peter Gabriel captures different styles within this album and he's clearly musically talented, but on the other hand it feels disjointed. To be honest I don't see myself listening to it again.
It's not a car wreck, but I did get whiplash.
Pink Floyd
5/5
What a ride. This is an album I had only ever dipped in and out of, and this experience has shown me I've been missing out! Absolutely must be listened to in full, uninterrupted, with headphones. Sprawling, emotional, uncomfortable, operatic and what has to be one of the top concept albums of all time.
Immaculate musical storytelling at its finest.
Elvis Presley
2/5
talented musicians - doing something I’m just not that into. Felt lacking in passion and authenticity - I appreciate a bit more grit
Dusty Springfield
3/5
I quite enjoyed this one!
The Coral
3/5
This was ok - I might gone back to it, I might not? Some interesting bits, but nothing really wowed me
The Shamen
1/5
{my ears are no longer} en-tact
Linkin Park
2/5
I didn't like this when it came out, and I still don't like it :(
Michael Jackson
3/5
Tricky one to rate!
I'm not a huge Michael Jackson fan (for either his music, or his character!) but the impact of this album and his music is undeniably wide reaching. I did find myself toe-tapping along to a few of these tracks (obviously not to The Girl is Mine - which is just fucking awful. Get in the bin Paul). I can see why this album is well loved by many, but I can't get past MJ being a creepy nonce.
4 for the album, minus 1 for being a disgusting filthy paedo, and rot in hell to all the people that took advantage of and abused Michael. Hurt people hurt people, but theres no excuse for abuse!
Digital Underground
1/5
A light hearted (ish) hip hop album from this era which isn't about angry sex and drugs and guns (like most of the hip hop albums we've listened to so far!) - on the other hand it's still about futuristic sex and fictitious drugs, so not that far from the usual themes! I guess the creators of this album had to make up scenarios of virtual reality sex - because I can't imagine anyone wanting to f**k them IRL.
I'd sum this up by saying its cringy, immature and creepy and still pretty misogynistic. No desire to listen again!
Leonard Cohen
2/5
I thought maybe I'd like this, but I didn't (except for 'I'm your man' which I have a bit of a soft spot for!)
Smooth vocals, a few nice lyrics - then completely destroyed by epically awful synths, backing vocals and drum machines.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Not something I'd probably think to listen to, but I really enjoyed it. Dusty has a gorgeous voice and it was a nice way to end such a flat week
Beastie Boys
5/5
Peak Beastie Boys - my favourite album of theirs! I particularly love the instrumental tracks. I bought this album in about '98 and listened to it non-stop for years, and its still on fairly high rotation! Its so good
Fave tracks: Flute loop, Get it together, Sure Shot
Van Morrison
3/5
A friend in highschool wanted to lose her virginity to Moondance - I hope you got laid to the sweet dulcet tones of Van Morrison Claire.
Soft Machine
1/5
Soft machine - a trinity of more accurate names:
impotent instrument
limp unit
droopy device
Hawkwind
1/5
I felt so many emotions during this album!
Boredom, anger, frustration, confusion and finally, acceptance (I accepted my need to skip the second disk!)
The thing is there was a few interesting bits where I can hear Hawkwind starting to do something cool and interesting - and then we're right back into the weirdo meandering space astral projection transcendent jam session!
I maintain the view that live albums are only for the fans, and are mostly too long and too annoying. Plus I'm not high enough to listen to this!
Roxy Music
1/5
This was not for my pleasure, I’m surprised how many reviews found this pleasurable tbh!
I couldn’t even fake it for this
The Rolling Stones
3/5
This album showed me I'm more of a greatest hits Stones fan
Death to harmonicas
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
There are a few songs I love on this album (Zero, Thirty-three, Bullet with butterfly wings, 1979 and Tonight tonight) - but most of the rest I could skip!
The album is bloated and pretty insufferable at times (not unlike Billy Corgan) - but I'm still giving it a 4 because there's enough good stuff going on here that'll come back for - I have a soft spot for alternative rock of the mid 90s so there's a least 1 nostalgia point here!
Wanna go for a ride?
Air
4/5
The first track from this album is on my 'all times favourites' playlist, but I had never listened to the rest of the album - I have been missing out! A different feel to the previous Air album we listened to on this challenge, that it is a score really takes you on an emotional journey - which I fully embrace! So much so I ended up watching the film for the first time (I was a Virgin Suicides virgin!). I'd certainly recommend it to any Kirsten Dunst fans - you know who you are!
This album captures the themes from the film: mundane suburbia, power/control, obsession, objectification and the male gaze.
Pretenders
3/5
This was alright - I think I could have got into it a bit more if I'd had time today to give it a few more listens!
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
I've always been more of a greatest hits fan when it comes to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. I love Nick's voice - so sad and sexy and mysterious and dark, the lyrics to lots of their songs are pretty dark too! This album was pretty good but all the songs sounded pretty similar on the first listen - after a few more listens I enjoyed it more.
It was just a really nice change from the never ending 60/70s rock.
Fave track: Loom of the land
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Too funky for me
T. Rex
2/5
Except for 'Get it on' I didn't really get it on for this
R.E.M.
4/5
I've never been a massive REM fan and I find Michael Stipe's vocal style a little irritating, BUT theres a lot of nostalgia here! REM absolutely ruled the airwaves when I was growing up and despite having never owned any of their albums I can still sing a bunch of their tracks word for word. I really enjoyed this listen through, particularly the songs that haven’t been overplayed to death on the radio.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4/5
I loved this! We had a Ladysmith Black Mambazo album on high rotation in my youth, but I’m not sure which one it was, I’ll have to track it down! Certainly Paul Simon got lots of airtime so I have a deep fondness for the tracks they collaborated on together. I loved that this album made the list - I wish there was more like it!
William Orbit
2/5
'Hazy shade of random' sums up this album well. I didn’t really enjoy it, fine as background music but not very engaging or exciting
Boston
2/5
Snore
George Harrison
3/5
I quite enjoyed the first side, enjoyed it more than the Beatles albums we’ve heard so far, and definitely more than the other solo post-Beatles albums! It was just too long. I think I would have rated this higher if it was less self indulgent
Dolly Parton
3/5
While this isn't really my 'go to' genre I really admire friends (and fans of each other) getting together to make music!
Fave track: Those memories of You
Those memories of you still haunt me
Every night when I lay down
I'll always love you, little darling
Until the day they lay me down
Duran Duran
4/5
This was such a fun album! The bass guitar was awesome - loved it! I've only listened to Hungry like the wolf from this album so most of this was new to me - I'll be back for more listens in the future
Barry Adamson
1/5
It's a fun idea - I guess? But so self-indulgent and musically a hard listen, I don't think this album deserves a space on this list.
Van Halen
2/5
Great title - What a year! I like the playfulness of the cover art, and it was interesting the read about. Margo Nahas apparently declined to draw four 'chrome women' dancing and instead painted a putto stealing cigarettes - go Margo!
First up I'm not a fan of Hair Metal in general. I can appreciate Eddie Van Halen is seen as an incredible guitarist of this genre, but its just noise to me! Too much crash symbol, too many dive bombs and creepy dude lyrics.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
My love of this album is heavily influenced by nostalgia - this was an album I listened to heaps in high school and its my favourite Hendrix album (except for the title track which is pretty ordinary!) and even though psychedelic rock is waaaay over represented on this list - this is a keeper!
Hey Joe was a particular favourite, a regular on the bass jamming with friends. Once someone tried to woo me to Foxey Lady, which was pretty embarrassing but funny 😂
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
I mostly didn't enjoy this album - not sure if its my mood or if it was just too long and too samey? I do enjoy Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds sometimes - but maybe just not this album. O Children saved this album from being a 2
Green Day
5/5
This album summed up so many of my feelings being a teen in the 90s - boredom, frustration, desire, excitement, curiosity, ennui - its all here in a pop-punk wonderland!
My brother made me a cassette tape with Dookie on one side and Smash by The Offspring on the other in about '97, I wore it out playing it over and over again on my walkman! Basket case lined up perfectly with Self-esteem and I used the flip the cassette over to listen to those 2 songs on repeat (a rare treat in the days of cassette tapes!)
This is peak Green Day for me, and while they went on to make excellent music after this, dookie will always be special and was a key influence in how my music taste evolved though my teen years!
Love it.
Metallica
4/5
Amazing album! I'd listened to the title track heaps of times before, but I don't think I've ever sat down to listen through the full album. What a treat Orion is!
Radiohead
5/5
I think this might be my favourite album of all time
Pixies
4/5
I enjoyed most of these tracks, some of them are a little much though (even for me!) I think the Pixies hit their stride the next year with Doolittle (which I am hoping has made the list!)
Surfer Rosa is a 3 for me, but an extra star for 'Where is my mind?' because not only is it an incredible track, its also a personally significant song for me.
Metallica
5/5
In general I'm not a fan of live albums - it's usually just too much of a noise overload. This is no exception with the addition of the orchestra making a wall of sound at times. I did still quite enjoy this album! It's a little nostalgic for me, a bit like a greatest hits. The orchestra gave it a Bond movie soundtrack vibe. Usually I'd say its too long, but I watched the first half of the video of the concert and the rest just with my ears, low-key into it.
Fave track: For whom the bell tolls
Miles Davis
2/5
Kind of Boring.
I’m sure this is an important jazz album, but not being a massive jazz fan it just felt self important
R.E.M.
2/5
Made sense while I was listening to it, but at the end I couldn't quite remember what I'd just listened to - bit like a dream
Duke Ellington
1/5
Not sure if it was the music, the audience, the host, the production value or a combination of all - but I found this incredibly irritating and I could hardly get through it. No doubt the musicians are extremely talented, and if you're into jazz/swing this would probably be amazing. I found it too long, grating and frustrating to listen to. I might feel differently if I was there in person, and I can enjoy this style of music - but the album actually mad me feel angry to listen to.
Santana
3/5
I rolled my eyes so hard when I saw today was Santana, but was surprised I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would! (as background music)
It got a couple of repeats, but now I think I've overdosed and never need to listen to Santana ever again.
Radiohead
5/5
Everything in its right place is a song that has got me through some dark times especially a few years ago when it was on repeat for a solid few months - I love the layering of sounds, uncomfortable timing and dreamscape creepiness. One of my favourite pieces of music of all time.
Its pretty incredible how the band moved away from the sound that had made them so popular to really explore new, different and challenging music in Kid A. I love the atmosphere of this album and the experimentation of Radiohead
I think it's probably a 4.75 as a full album, but as a gesture of good will towards the band I'll bump it up to a 5
The Hives
4/5
I really enjoy The Hives - they’re lots of fun! There’s some great tracks on this album but I think it devalues one of the key components of the challenge by listening to a complication rather than an album as the artists intended the tracks to be heard. I think I’d rather hear an album like Veni Vidi Vicious or tyrannosaurus hives! Hopefully there’s more Hives to come - it’s music I love to play loud!!
The Everly Brothers
2/5
Ok, but pretty vanilla and boring, with a little hint of 60s charm. Cover art looks like they don't have 2 cents to rub together - cheap.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
This album is just so awesome - I'm not sure it deserves to be the top 2 of all time, but I can see why so many people love it! Good listening, easy listening and literally everywhere still - I was at a meeting this morning and Dreams was playing in the cafe. Its not perfect, but still deserves 5 stars if you ask me!
Billy Joel
2/5
Not bad, but not my thing
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
1/5
45mins of my life I won't get back
Eminem
2/5
While I get that Slim Shady is a character, and is supposed to be an immature comedic psychopath, and this album was a 'fuck you' to the world by Mathers/Eminem who created this rapping persona out of a really dark time in his life - it’s a really grim listen.
I can't help but feel this violence and hatefulness is just Mathers saying it behind a mask. For sometime he was distancing himself from this character, but it looks like there's just been another album released last month (The Death of Slim Shady Coup de Grâce) and I'm not sure I can be bothered listening to Eminem try to figure out his past, or trying to stay relevant for the future and figure out where he and his multiple personas fit in the culture wars.
I actually quite like some of Eminem's work, he is a cunning linguist. But I'm here to rate this album! Its divisive and had a huge impact on music when it came out - I just don't need to listen to it ever again.
Primal Scream
3/5
Well this was a surprise! I think I was expecting some-kind of death metal - this music couldn’t be further from it! I could hear the influence of Rolling stone's in Loaded and Kraftwerk in Higher than the Sun. Probably could have been a bit shorter and cut out some of the fluff - but it was ok and I enjoyed a bit of happy clappy to bring home the end of a long week.
One ongoing gripe is I wish the original track list was linked in Spotify - rather than the extended versions of albums!
Fleet Foxes
5/5
I really love this album - it’s one I had forgotten about until this challenge, I was so happy hearing it again after so long! Fleet Foxes was on high rotation for me in the late naughties along with other indie folk revival musicians like Angus and Julia Stone, Joanna Newsom and Beirut. A whimsical time in my life - starting my dream job post uni, before becoming a mother and the change of pace that brings (Of course at the time I didn't realise how magical this season was!)
Back to the music - I really enjoy the harmonies, powerful vocals and mostly acoustic instrumentals. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song is particularly burned into my memory as one I'd listen to on repeat riding my bike to work - its probably still on my ipod shuffle somewhere. Sad that my copy of this album got lost somewhere in the many house moves of my 20s, but happy to rediscover it in the age of streaming!
Its aged pretty well, but I think it could be pretty repetitive to new listeners. I’m into it.
Kanye West
1/5
Lame music by a moron
Cream
2/5
3 stars for the song Strange Brew - minus 1 star for Eric Clapton being a turd.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Ok - I preferred Paranoid
Supergrass
4/5
This genre of music is usually my jam, but I wasn't feeling it today. So on the whole I enjoyed it, but I'd like to come back another time when I can properly get into it and listen to it a few more times. Todays listen was a 3, but I'm bumping it up to a 4 because I think thats what I'll give it later! Optimistic!
Jerry Lee Lewis
1/5
I put on the first track and went to wikipedia because I didn't really know who this guy was - he married and beat 5 women, one of whom was his 13 year old cousin, 2 who ended up mysteriously dead around the time they left him. I'm not giving another listen or cent to the estate or legacy of this noncing prick. Zero stars
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Not my thing - pretty boring.
I accidentally left my phone connected to the car bluetooth in the bottom of my bag, and nearly had to listen to this album again - I chose silence and being with my own thoughts over listening to another round with Bruce.
Charles Mingus
1/5
Jazz noises
Is this music? They are clearly musicians, but I don't want to listen to it.
Rush
2/5
I didn't really enjoy this one, nothing special and a bit tedious.
David Ackles
1/5
Awful - just a horrible steaming pile of shit. I think this has been the lowest voting week of the challenge so far (1,2,1,2,1)
This album has so few listens on Spotify, if you go by voting numbers anywhere from a quarter to half the listens could be from this challenge
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
There is A LOT of psychedelic rock on this list - but this is one I actually enjoyed compared to many of the others! Most of these stars are for Somebody to Love and White Rabbit - great tracks! Somebody to Love always makes me think of that karaoke scene from The Cable Guy and both tracks are in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - I think these films might need a rewatch! I haven’t heard the Boogie Pimps remix of Somebody to Love for years - thanks 1001 for the blast from the past!!
Arcade Fire
2/5
I found this pretty tedious. I like some mid-naughties indie, but this didn't hit the spot
Motörhead
2/5
Was this just one long song?
Not a fan of live albums particularly when they go for nearly 2 hours! 2 stars for the first track only, the rest was very ordinary. Why would you open a live show with your only good song?? Also I'm tried of listening to creepy dudes sing about 'jailbait' girls - fucking gross.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Started out feeling like this had a nice vibe - then got over it pretty quickly - slight up-tick for Come on Eileen - then straight back down again
Suzanne Vega
4/5
I really enjoyed this album and I think I’ll come back to it again! I have heard some Suzanne Vega, but only her well known songs
The Stone Roses
5/5
Apart from Fools Gold (which I though was by INXS! ha ha - whoops) I hadn't heard any of these tracks - I've been missing out! I really enjoyed this album and listened to it all day today, I had to do a lot of driving and it was a great album for the car. I feel like this sound influenced so many other musicians I love - but my one major criticism is backwards recordings are so naff (Waterfall/Don't stop), plus a few of the outros were a bit too long - BUT on the whole I loved it.
I've delayed writing my review because I couldn't decide between a 4 and a 5 - It's not quite a 5, but I'm a lover, so I'm giving it 5!
Beck
3/5
Great name - ok album
The film clip for E-pro is an all time fave though
Liz Phair
2/5
Hearing this for the first time and I’m not getting the hype? It has lots of the ingredients I normally love, but it just didn’t do it for me.
TLC
3/5
For years I thought the lyrics were 'Don't go Jason Waterfalls' and that the song was about a wayward youth called J. Waterfalls.
While RnB isn't really my thing, I have big respect for these talented ladies and the roads they paved for many other artists.
Jean-Michel Jarre
4/5
This was the perfect album for all the driving around I did Thursday! Very chill and loved most* of the early electronica sounds (*it got a bit annoying in bits, but you have to hand to to Jarre for creating an entire new genre of music!). I'd only listened to 1 track from this album previously, but I have a a soft spot for both early electronica and french electronic music - so this was an enjoyable listen!
I imagine it would have been cool to listen to through headphones, staring up at the sky, in a field of flowers, smoking a cigarette with a pain au chocolate in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other - maybe one day!
Thelonious Monk
2/5
I'm trying to like jazz - but mostly I just don't. This is in the never listen to again jazz category
The Police
2/5
I wanted to like this more than I did. Message in a bottle is great, but I wasn’t that into the reggae sounds for the full album listen through
The Libertines
1/5
I almost couldn’t finish this - which is weird, normally I like a bit of indie rock (and I love the Arctic Monkeys - which people are compare to The Libertines? But I couldn’t disagree more!! They are nothing alike!)
Maybe I’m just having an irritable day, but I thought this was equal parts annoying and boring. First and last listen for the libertines
The Divine Comedy
1/5
I nearly didn’t make it through this one, not my thing at all. Awful
Bummed that the recent few weeks of albums is bringing down my average rating
Marianne Faithfull
2/5
This was fine but nothing stand out
Beatles
4/5
What a crazy album! I enjoyed this one more than the Revolver album (which could be because I listened to it while tipsy, in a hot tub, with a Beatles loving friend, who was singing along to every track!) Its pretty bizarre in places, unhinged lyrics, and I imagine it was released in a time where no one could say 'no' or edit down the track listings! Its a bit long and I didn't enjoy every track, but I'm giving it a 4
Fave Tracks: While my guitar gently weeps and Blackbird
Dolly Parton
3/5
Big respect for Dolly! Not really my scene, but I appreciated the different vibe today
Giant Sand
3/5
I hadn't come across Giant Sand - Reminded me of Smog/Bill Callahan and I really enjoyed it as some background music today. Usually I'd baulk at a nearly 2 hour album, but for what I needed today - an album that didn't ask much of my attention and that I could just leave on repeat - it was pretty good. Not about to become a mega fan, but will keep it in my back pocket for another rainy day (like today)
Jimi Hendrix
2/5
Just too much going on, musically but also in my day today - I just couldn't get into this album at all. My last Hendrix album was a 5, this one I could hardly get through and almost skipped through some of the bloated tracks with the endless noodling. I stuck with it, but by the time All Along the Watchtower and Voodoo child came on (which I normally love) I was so irritated I just didn't enjoy them.
Not sure if I'll regret this score, but its made me realise just how much my mood can impact on the enjoyment of an album, and even bangers can be soured by the tracks leading up to them!
I do love that this is randomly generated, but sometimes the album does not match the vibe of the day!
Jane's Addiction
2/5
It's very high pitched and whingy isn't it - maybe if I had some nostalgia too boost it up it would have been ok, but I've never been into Jane's Addiction.
Depeche Mode
4/5
I loved this album! What a vibe!
Amy Winehouse
2/5
I wish I had Amy's incredible voice! But I'd sing different music!
Talented musicians, but I think this is one of the deletions from the list I don't mind, it doesn't feel like a well put together album.
Kraftwerk
4/5
Whats not to love about German men making music about how much they love trains!
Bruce Springsteen
1/5
Album starts with harmonica - straight to gaol.
I just don't get the love for Bruce Springsteen at all, maybe its a generational and location thing? I don't find his music engaging - very bland rock to my ears
Death to harmonicas
Big Star
3/5
It was ok, I played it through a few times. There were a few greyed out songs, I didn't mind the ones that were available. It felt a little before its time and like it could have been from the mid 90s. I did really enjoy the cover of Nature Boy, but we all know Bowie did it best x
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
This is the second of seven Neil Young albums on this list - at least he's back on spotify which made it easier to listen to this time! My impression is he is overrated - 7 albums from one artist seems like overkill! I didn't mind the last track
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
This album was really fun - I knew a few of the tracks already but had never listened to a full album before! Its pretty joyful fun music, a tad long but I'd revisit!
Kendrick Lamar
2/5
This was tough to get through and so long! At no point could I guess what was going to happen next - maybe for some that is innovative and exciting, but for me it felt frustrating and inconsistent. I seem to be one of the few who doesn't get the Lamar hype, but I just couldn't get into this at all
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
I think I listened to all of this? I may even have listened to it more than once, who knows? It all sounds pretty similar. I'm not sure this album should really make the cut BUT its really nice to have a break from all the dude bros from the UK/USA.
2 stars for the music, and bumped up to 3 for featuring a woman who is from Brazil instead of the usual crowd.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
I enjoyed this one - I think having it in a different language added to my enjoyment and I could just enjoy the vibes of the music - I can only imagine the lyrics are pretty sad/angry about needing to flee their country where music was banned due to extremists. The melding of music from different cultures is so interesting to me - this feels a bit hypnotic in places, I like the repeating elements and the power of the grouped voices.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
I thought I'd enjoy this more - and I did enjoy it, but I think maybe it's just a genre that is so overrepresented. Janis Joplin's voice is incredible - she really tests it limits in this album, so raw and passionate! The musicians really know their craft! The cover is pretty wild, though not as wild as it could have been reading about the album!
Sigur Rós
4/5
Sigur Rós is ones of those bands I've been meaning to listen to for years and years and never got around to! I'm glad 1001 gave me the kick up the bum to give this album a listen - I really enjoyed it! I think it will take a few more listens to get into properly, trying to juggle work and school holidays has made it a bit tricky to give the challenge my usual attention the last few weeks, but I think with a few more listens this one will grow on me, I'm bumping the initial listen of 3.5 up to 4
Derek & The Dominos
1/5
The first CD my family was ever given (my parents bought their first a CD player so they could listen to it!) was Eric Clapton unplugged, featuring my favourite version of Layla. Aside from Clapton by all accounts bring a turd of a person (which is why I no longer listen to Layla by choice), this album possibly the longest wank with no happy ending on this challenge so far. They’re trying so hard, you can actually hear them chafing.
Beyoncé
1/5
Ok, she can sing - but this is such over produced commercial rubbish, I just don't think I needed to listen to this before I die and I don’t think it belongs on the list. 1.5 hours of my life I’m never getting back
Fiona Apple
2/5
I'm not sure about this one. I didn't wholly enjoy the experience of listening to this album, it has a bunch of the ingredients I would normally like, and it had some good bits and some boring bits. Parts reminded me of Coco Rosie and Suzanne Vega - but also felt repetitive in spots. On the whole it was ok, but not sure I'd come back for another listen
The Who
2/5
No doubt influential at the time - but I didn't really get into The Who, sounded like a slightly more hardcore version of the general 60s rock sound. All good though, apparently I have at least 4 more chances to see if I like them in this challenge !
Björk
4/5
I was a bit of a ‘theatre kid’ in high school - I have such a fond memory of an interpretive dance we did to ‘Human Behaviour’ which I think was probably the first time I’d heard Björk!
This is a great debut album! It’s a little all over the place - but it works!
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
A fun little trip down memory lane, feels very mid naughties indie/alt rock and I'm here for it! Apart from their hits I haven't listened to much Franz Ferdinand. Pretty enjoyable for the most part - there's a few tracks I'll come back for, but a few I'd skip. Makes me wonder why I didn't get into them more when they came out - what was I even doing in 2004?
Cheap Trick
2/5
This album was a bit of a drag until I got to 'I want you to want me' which is such a banger! A great cover by Letters to Cleo features as the last scene/closing credits of '10 Things I Hate about you' (I'm embarrassed to say I only realised it was a cover today!) This track saved the album for me and I won't bother repeating how I feel about live albums
I want you to want me
I need you to need me
I'd love you to love me
I'm beggin' you to beg me
Jack White
3/5
This album has one of my all time favourite songs - Sixteen Saltines! The rest is ok.
The War On Drugs
2/5
I guess there's nothing offensively wrong with this (except for the drums being rubbish and repetitive)
It just had no personality, it's like if you asked AI to make Americana
Bob Dylan
2/5
This album was only slightly less annoying than the previous Dylan we listened to - only 5 more Dylan albums to go, FML.
Death to harmonicas
John Grant
4/5
What a surprise! I actually really enjoyed this despite going into having no idea who John Grant is, and having read some not so flattering reviews on here.
Queen Of Denmark was a breath of fresh air - the lyrics are pretty wild in places, I took them as parodies and social commentary, and as such had a great time listening to this album! The album takes you in all kinds of directions both musically and lyrically - weird and kind of wonderful.
Bad Brains
5/5
Another great surprise, and a lesson in don't judge a book by it's cover, or in this case an album by its typography! Bad Brains is new to me - but the sounds are right there in my wheelhouse!
I really enjoyed this and it grew on me as I listened it over the course of the day. Hints of Def Leppard / Van Halen (except not as pretentious), Metallica, early Beastie boys, Green day, Pixies etc - I can imagine Bad Brains was an influence on many of the bands I really love!
Even though I think its probably more like a 4.5 - I'm bumping it up to a 5! I'll be putting this one on rotation!
The Gun Club
2/5
Boring, not awful.
Beatles
5/5
This album is as good as people say it is! Not sure why it took me so long to give it a full listen?! Will this album make me a Beatles convert finally? Maybe!
Fave Track: I want you (She's so heavy) - I loved this track so much and listened to it on repeat for most of the weekend, but I don't love that it ends so abruptly!
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
This is an incredible album!
I bought this when I was about 14, there's nothing quite like listening to RATM when you're an angsty teen! I remember singing 'F*CK YOU, I WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME' with gusto (but actually quietly, because I couldn't let my parents hear - my Mum to this day has never heard me swear)
A 5 star album that I will love and listen to until the day I die. The heavy bass lines always hit in such a good way, and the way de la Rocha speaks/raps/yells feels like it compliments the music/themes in a way singing never would. The use of the Malcolm Browne's photograph of Thích Quảng Đức on the cover is both powerful and disturbing! Also love the appearance by Maynard James Keenan on Know you Enemy.
Fave Track: Freedom
'Anger is a gift'
Simon & Garfunkel
2/5
Hazy Shade of Winter saves this album from being a total snoozefest
ZZ Top
2/5
I’m sure well loved by many, but I just didn’t get into it at all.
XTC
2/5
Well, this was dull. Even nude flautists on the cover can’t spice this album up.
2/5
I have tried to get into U2 - but... I still haven't found what I'm looking for.
I agree U2 should be on the list, and it's good to see an influential band from outside of the UK / US represented - I just don't want to ever have to listen to this album again. U2 are basic, Bono is a wanker, and With or Without You I'm making an Exit, to listen to something better!
... and then I made a monumental mistake by looking at the full list to see which album/s from my all time favourite band from Ireland will be coming up. U2 features 4 fucking times and The Cranberries don't feature at all.
I am livid.
Alice In Chains
3/5
New to me, and enjoyed it for the most part as background music for work today!
Made me realise how much what I’m doing while listening (as much as mood and nostalgia) impacts on how much I enjoy the music. I’m not sure I would have enjoyed this as much if I was in the office rather then out painting? I love a bit of grunge.
Sonic Youth
2/5
It had bits that were ok, but mostly it was just lots of noise. I feel like I should like Sonic Youth with elements of both rock and punk - it just didn't click for me and I felt pretty irritated by the end
Small Faces
3/5
This was a weird one! Not quite good/funny enough to get me out of my post Trump funk, but ok! The spoken bits reminded me of the Tales from Fat Tulip's Garden
John Prine
2/5
Sounded like Bob Dylan doing country music - 2 things I'm not really into.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
This was pretty good, but I preferred the previous Siouxsie and The Banshees album we had - this one feels a bit more 'samey' through out and tbh I wasn't in the mood for this genre when listening to it. I wish I'd given the other one 4, so I could give this one 3 - but I guess I'll just have to give them both 3!
Not sure having this album in the challenge adds much, I wish there was more diversity in bands rather than multiple albums from the same artists
MGMT
3/5
The album is ok, but the singles have been so overplayed over the years that I didn't really enjoy the album. I think it deserves to be on the list, but not a huge fan on the full listen through personally
Brian Eno
3/5
I enjoyed most of the instrumental tracks, not a great singer though is he!?
The Go-Betweens
3/5
Putting aside the heinous harmonica solo*, this was just ok - a bit boring and sounded like U2 (not a compliment) - but not awful. I just want to hear some passion.
Extra star for being from Australia 🇦🇺
*Death to harmonicas
Metallica
4/5
Back in the day when you had a song as your ringtone my husband had ...And Justice for All. Now phones are mostly (and should be!!) on silent, but its pretty funny to remember that 20 years ago we all had our favourite songs as ringtones! ...And Justice for all is burned into my memory from that time in my life!
It's not their best album, but One is undeniably a great track and I mostly enjoyed the listen through the full album, overall it's a bit too stark and tight for me. I took this opportunity to try out the Spotify music videos option for One - I hadn't seen it in years, so good! Probably a 3-3.5, but I'm feeling generous
"I don't know whether I'm alive and dreaming, or dead and remembering"
Carole King
5/5
I love this album - another of the ones my Dad would play to me on vinyl when I was a wee girl! Fond memories
Great for a singalong, such powerful lyrics sung beautifully and the bass lines are funky AF!
Fave Track: It's too late
Steely Dan
3/5
I was feeling cynical going into it, but my tapping toes don't lie!
Stan Getz
3/5
The musicians are talented and I appreciate a bit of Bossa Nova in the mix, but this album felt very similar throughout and didn't really get me excited. Nice for something in the background but I preferred the previous Getz album. Love the cover art though!
Ryan Adams
2/5
ok, but nothing to get excited about. The harmonicas filled me with rage.
Rocket From The Crypt
2/5
With a few more listens I could probably get into to this a little more, but I’m not sure why I’d bother. There are much better bands doing similar (better!) music from a similar location and time. I don’t see how this album adds anything to this list.
Albums from 95 I’d rather have on the list, just for the example; No Doubt -Tragic Kingdom or Silverchair - Frogstomp
DJ Shadow
4/5
New to me and I loved it (mostly - Some of the tracks were a bit repetitive) This was a really fun album and didn't demand anything of you as the listener - sometimes you want something that pushes the boundaries, but sometimes you want something like this that you can just groove along with. Great for music to listen to while working - I'd listen to it again.
U2
3/5
Well, this is awkward.
Having based most of my personality on hating U2, now I find out through this album that one of my all time favourite songs - Love is Blindness - is actually a U2 original. The rest of the album is trash, but that song is pure gold. What is even worse is I prefer their original to my all time favourite version (a cover I now realise!) by Jack White. What am I supposed to do with the rest of my life?? I'm having an existential crisis. Not to mention how this might effect my Spotify wrapped this year!!
Obviously all these stars are just for the final track - because at the end of the day - FUCK U2
Amy Winehouse
5/5
I love this album and have given it many listens over the years (and sung 'You know I'm no good' and 'Back to Black' a fair few times in the shower!). Some of the tracks feel a little overproduced - but there is no denying the honesty and raw pain in her lyrics, the power of her vocals and the impact her work had on music at the time.
Amy was so talented, so open to sharing her vulnerability in her work, and so messed up by addiction, fame and the machine of the music industry - I can't help but wonder what her life could have been if she'd been able to conquer her demons or had better support from the people who should have been there for her. Vale Amy
I told you I was trouble - You know I'm no good
Serge Gainsbourg
2/5
I am on a 109 day Duolingo streak, so I feel qualified to help translate some of the words in this album:
vélo means bike
content means happy
cheveux rouges means red hair
Gainsbourg means ephebophile
If you ever needed the phrase 'Aimable petite conne' in referring to a 14 year old girl, then you should probably go to prison. Interesting music, and I did enjoy the french, but still - qui donne la chair de poule!
Manu Chao
4/5
I hadn't listened to this album before, but I recognised Bongo Bong from the Tiktok/reels zeitgeist. Its such a funny phenomena hearing songs which maybe weren't that popular when they were release, or getting a second wind of popularity in short form videos over the last few years!
I enjoyed this one - loved listening to the different languages and chill vibes - would listen to it again while working!
AC/DC
5/5
This album has so much energy! I was quite excited getting into this album, but it’s made me realise I prefer my acca dacca in smaller doses!
It’s a classic and one of the best bands in the pub rock genre - and an extra stars for being Australian 🇦🇺! It also should be noted it’s an amazing album / comeback after losing their front man Bon Scott. I can’t think of any other bands who recovered after such a loss.
So while I’d probably give this a 4 to listen to, and it does get a bit repetitive at times - I’m bumping it up to 5 for my appreciation of horny rock n roll Aussies.
Lauryn Hill
5/5
This was one of the albums that was bought as part of my high school CD buying / sharing group - I always loved it when it was my turn! 'I used to love him' and 'Everything is Everything' are two personal faves, I'm not so big on 'Doo Wop' and a few other tracks - but this album still stands up well today and I loved having it on all day today. This is an awesome album for Hill to put out after the success of Fugees The Score (which I also love) full of passion, heartbreak, self love and female power. I have always enjoyed the little skits between tracks in albums, and I remember this one coming out while I was in high school, so I think I really connected with the concept.
This album is very nostalgic for me, so this will probably influence my rating - though to be fair I think it is an amazing album of a powerhouse performer (even though sounds like she might be a bit problematic as an individual)!
Iggy Pop
4/5
I really enjoyed this album! It lost a bit of energy towards the end, but that was just part of the journey. I didn’t read anything about the album before I listened to it, and kept thinking how much it sounded like Bowie! All makes sense now after reading the description!
Fave track: nightclubbing (which I’d heard before, such a banger!)
Machito
4/5
Spangly and sparkly! If I have to listen to jazz, then this is what I'd listen to (but probably not all at once!) High energy and fun - but I really need to be in the mood!
Megadeth
3/5
I really wish the linked albums were the closest to the origin track listings - these epic deluxe remasters are a bit much. I did not need mega Megadeth!
Today was not the day for this album, but it was ok. On the verge of being too metal for me, but ultimately it was pretty fun
Beck
3/5
Dreamy and dull - this was ok, nothing really captured me
Great name though
Taylor Swift
2/5
Over produced and not my thing at all. I get that hundreds of thousands of people in my demographic feel a strong emotional connection the Taylor Swifts music - but I just get nothing emotionally from her music or lyrics.
I can certainly appreciate she is a stand out in her generation of musicians, an astute business woman and powerhouse performer, but this music feels so 'handled' that its lost its authenticity. I wonder if I’d enjoy it more if it was either a solo acoustic or band with her? This should be on the list - but I'm not interested personally - don’t come for me Swifties!
Syd Barrett
2/5
I can appreciate the Syd Barrett was an integral part of music history. This was a bit of a mess and meandered around the place, some of those places were interesting, but a fair few were sad and hard to listen to.
Laura Nyro
2/5
I didn't get into this one and found most of it pretty irritating. Some of the song were ok
The Rolling Stones
3/5
All these stars are for Sympathy for the Devil, the rest of the album was ok
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Great album! Can I kick it - a classic!
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Frank Sinatra's voice is amazing - its just a shame its not singing music that I enjoy! I'm still giving this a 4, because even though its not my personal cup-of-tea the musicians are amazing and it deserves to be on this list. I class myself as a lover, but I can't see myself coming back to this album.
Peter Frampton
3/5
I haven’t heard this full album before except for a dozen almost identical albums on this list in the 300 we’ve done so far. We get it Dimery, you love 70s rock - please stop banging on about it!
This isn’t an awful album, it’s just so samey and I’m also not a big fan of live albums. 2.5
George Michael
4/5
I enjoyed this album much more then I thought I would - what a great voice!
Ride
2/5
A few of the tracks stared out ok, but went downhill pretty fast. Long, boring and truly terrible drums. Further confirmation that shoegaze was a blip
B.B. King
3/5
Talented musicians - annoying crowd noises.
Judas Priest
2/5
It was ok, but not great. I found myself wanting to skip past the tracks which all sounded pretty similar after a while
The Monks
2/5
There was only 2 tracks (3mins) of this album on the linked Spotify - it was ok, but not enough to make me want to seek out the rest of the album if it means listening through YouTube - it’s Christmas Day and I’m too full of pudding to be dealing with that kind of bullshit
Steve Earle
2/5
This is probably good for country - but I just really don't love country
Ryan Adams
1/5
Shit music from a turd
Talking Heads
2/5
I was surprised by how much I disliked this album - I feel like Talking Heads has lots of ingredients I should love, but it's the most irritating wank to actually listen to and I guess I'm just missing something here - clearly they are well loved by many, but I just don't get it! I Zimbra was tolerable, I'd be happy to never have to listen to Talking Heads again.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
This is my last album of 2024 and I think it sums up my experience of this past year of life pretty well.
All around a bit shit, glimpses that things might turn around but ultimately you wish you could have skipped this year, I mean album. Not the worst, not the best - bring on 2025 and albums 313-570ish - I’m optimistic
Mj Cole
1/5
2025 albums can only go improve from here!
Repetitive, too long, unimaginative and not a great example of the genre - particularly given this was released in 2000 I would really expect a better choice in place of this album! I got about halfway through - life’s too short to listen to Mj Coleslaw
The Beta Band
3/5
Most of this was ok, but I see both Beta Bands albums have been removed from the list? No huge loss, but I can think of heaps of other albums on this list I'd kick off before this one.
Bob Dylan
1/5
This was the easiest to get through of the Dylan albums so far, but that might just be because we've had a particularly shit run of albums over the last week or so. Death to harmonicas
Van Halen
2/5
I'm just not a fan of this style of rock - I get it has its place, but that place is not on my playlists.
Foo Fighters
3/5
It's pretty impressive what Grohl put together after a rough few years leading up to the release of this album. Loosing a band member (and frontman in particular) in such a tragic way would have been life altering, creating this album almost entirely on his own out of that time is pretty incredible - writing the whole thing and performing/recording every instrument is epic!
The music would be 80% better if there was 30% less cymbals - its the main thing that puts me off the music. Foo Fighters have been on reasonably high rotation in my household as one of my husbands fave bands, but they don't really do it for me. This isn't the best of the Foo Fighters, but its an important and interesting addition to the list in terms of rock history and legacy.
Fave Track: For all the cows
FRESH POTSSSS!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhdCslFcKFU
The The
2/5
This album is weird theatrical 80s jazz new wave tedium - pick a fucking lane TheThe! Wikipedia says thats exactly what Post Punk is, really? This is not what I think of when I think of post punk! I tried to get into it, but really it was just too much and I was glad when it was over.
The Human League
3/5
Pretty fun for a one time listen, I'll continue to enjoy 'Don't you want me baby' on the mixtape b-sides playlist
2Pac
1/5
Take out all the b*tches and n-words and this album only goes for about 10mins.
The Prodigy
5/5
Every year at the all girls school I went to the senior students would organise and supervise dances with our brother school, and at one memorable formal in '97 the only CD they had was the single for Breathe - so they just played it on repeat for 30 mins until someone finally rocked up with more music - lots of people complained, but I loved it! Pretty good for dancing to, probably a bit less good for dry humping to - which seemed to be mostly what we were trying to get up to at those dances!
This was the beginning of high school and the blossoming of my eclectic music taste (and being eclectic in general?)! I loved watching the couple of music videos that were on Rage pretty regularly at the time - Breathe and Firestarter, they were just so different from the kind of things I'd seen before - RIP to Keith Flint, one of a kind
I adore this whole album and its still on regular rotation nearly 30 years later! Big nostalgia! Too hard to pic a fave from this album, but my top three would be Minefields, Funky Shit and Fire Starter
I'm a bit surprised by the global rating on this one!
Blur
3/5
I'm more of a best hits Blur fan - the songs I love, I really really love! Couple of good tracks on this album, but not their best.
My all time top Blur tracks would be; Coffee & Tv, Beetlebum and Sing (I wanted to take the opportunity to share my appreciation for the band even if their best work isn't represented on this list! AND I also want to mention in my review the travesty that Gorillaz have been kicked off!! Like his music or not, Damon Albarn has been influential on music over the last 30 years and deserves his place (plus the other musicians too).
Holger Czukay
3/5
Wow this one was weird - I kinda liked it
Turbonegro
3/5
This album gets an extra star for being from a different country outside of UK & USA - the music was was ok but not amazing. Not the best example of Punk Rock from this time period, and I don't think I'll be back for more, but I'm glad to have listened to something I probably never would have heard of without this list. I love me some punk music, and mix it with some rock even better, I even love a bit of infantile humour and lyrics - but this was just a bit lame and boring.
This list is severely lacking in the punk department - I'd be swapping this out for NOFX from a similar time period - I'm all for hidden gems but this album isn't it!
Black Flag
3/5
I was just having a moan yesterday about the lack of punk on this list - and here we are! 2 stars for the music, because I'm more into the fun cheeky punk than the angry punk, but an extra star because I think this is an important addition to the list in terms of music history and genre.
Queen
3/5
I just didn’t enjoy this album as much as I thought I would! To be honest, even though I enjoy Queen, I don’t think I’d ever heard any of these tracks. Cover is amazing though
The xx
4/5
I enjoyed this as some calming background music to work to - I needed it today!
Red Snapper
2/5
Left me feeling a little unsatisfied
Propellerheads would have been a better addition IMO
https://open.spotify.com/album/5xbDEJ9xCamw1OSOjaTdzV?si=xPVbNegWQMCT8UGbwTkA3Q
Barry Adamson
2/5
Surprisingly this isn't the first concept imaginary film score album that we've had on the list. I think this was a case of an ok album, on a bad day. It has some good moments, but then super irritating for large chunks and I had to keep turning it off - it took me forever to listen to and forever to decide what to write. On the whole I didn't like it.
Patti Smith
3/5
I wanted to like this more than I actually did - pretty good but I found her voice a bit grating at times
Cocteau Twins
3/5
This was a really interesting album, Cocteau Twins were new to me! At the start I really enjoyed the ambient pop vibes, but as the album progressed the "Glossolalia" was distracting and felt gimmicky. I can appreciate the concept of incorporating a mix of different languages and made up words to focus on more the musicality and sound - but in practice it was annoying and a bit too abstract. 2 for the music, but an extra star because I think it is an important and interesting addition to the list
Miles Davis
1/5
Too much noodling for me.
Sex Pistols
3/5
I enjoy a bit of punk, though I hadn't listened through a full Sex Pistols album before. It had great energy! I'm a bit hit and miss with punk, so while this was fun for a bit, it was also pretty repetitive!
It put me in the mood for some Amyl and the Sniffers - an Aussie band I'd highly reccomend to anyone who loves energetic punk rock with loads of swearing - I listened to them on repeat for the rest of the day!
The Clash
4/5
This was fun
UB40
3/5
I think my Dad was into UB40, me - not so much! I had a really interesting chat with someone about appropriation verses appreciation of culture in music. I was ok
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Not only is this not my jam in term of style, I couldn't feel LESS like hearing Americana patriotism bullshit given the last 2 weeks of utter political shitshow from the USA.
From what I read The Boss himself is anti Trump, so no shade on him there.
4/5
I haven’t rated funk this high before - this album was pretty fun! A couple of ones I skipped on the third listen through, but pretty good overall
Big Black
4/5
I don't know if I was just into this because it was the perfect music for fangin' up the highway in my car, or because it just tickled my brain in just the right way. It kind of reminded me a bit of NiN and RATM, I liked (most of) the discordant sounds mixed with a furious pace, sometimes this would be too much noise, but today it was just right.
Madonna
2/5
I found this a bit disappointing. The hits were ok, though I don't get hyped for pop or Madonna, the rest fell flat
Haircut 100
2/5
Boring music and stupid band name. Next!
Nirvana
5/5
I love this album. This would be one of my desert island albums!
Not only is it nostalgic (its very nostalgic particularly for me at around 16 in the late 90s when my highschool sweetheart wanted to BE Kurt Cobain including his not-so-sweet end) but its also a huge marker in my music taste journey. This album is still on high rotation nearly 30 years on since I first heard it.
It was great to listen to this on repeat and rewatch the MTV video on youtube - I'm so happy it landed on a weekend!
Fave track is Man Who Sold the World (Sorry Bowie, this cover is better than the original, it's a hill I'll die on)
Coldplay
4/5
I quite enjoyed listening to this album today, except for Yellow which is completely overplayed and I never want to hear it again. Not a massive fan of the band as it went on, but I feel like Coldplay deserves their place on this list - they had such a huge impact on music in the early naughties!
If we stopped listening to music because the musicians were insufferable wankers - there'd be no more music to listen to, ne?
(except for Bono who I reserve my right to dislike intensely)
Piano, guitar and men singing in falsetto just does something to me - I must admit!
Throwing Muses
3/5
I’ve listened to the original tracks of the album, but not the full 2 discs on Spotify - it’s too hot today and it’s all a bit too much!
I think another different dat I might have rated this higher, but it was a bit screechy and samey throughout for me to really get into it. Extra star for a powerhouse female singer which there isn’t enough of on this list.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
The first half of this album is really enjoyable, except for Road Trippin' (amazing track!) the rest is a bit meandering. The music is fun, the lyrics are not particularly deep or interesting but fits with the vibe - Ding ding Dong dong.
Lots of nostalgia for this album (and RHCP in general) Flea is a machine on the bass and I have really great memories listening to them over the years. Reading Scar tissue with my bestie started off the greatest book club of all time.
4 stars for the music, minus 1 for Kiedis being a pedo
Bauhaus
3/5
There were bits of this I liked, and bits that were a little grating - particularly some of the singing. I think I'd listen to it again though. I was a bit on edge today!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
This was ok, Maps seems to have some current TikTok:reels fame, but I hadn’t heard the rest. Gold Lion is a great track ( by this band but not on this album) that I have fond memories of!
The Clash
3/5
London Calling is an amazing track which the rest of the album didn't live up to. Important album so I'm giving it a bump, but I'm not sure if I'm just having a shit listening day, or if I'm just not that into it?
The Residents
2/5
If I ever write a crime thriller, this is the music the serial killer will be listening to. Wow - this was an absurd one, and while I never want to listen to it again and some of the tracks were a real challenge to get through, it also made me laugh! A few parts reminded me of Primus (I do enjoy a bit of Primus!) but mostly it was just creepy and weird.
Pere Ubu
1/5
Yesterday Duck Stab and now this - what the fuck was going on in '78?!
The Kinks
2/5
This was ok, but I guess just a product of its time and sounds pretty samey to lots of music from the same period to me - production values are pretty poor. I think a Kinks album should be on the list, but maybe not this one?
Neil Young
3/5
Sorry, I just don’t vibe with you Neil
The Police
2/5
I was a little surprised to not enjoy this one really at all. I’m sure it was super interesting and innovative when it came out, and I quite like Sting’s voice in other music I’ve heard, but found most of this album really grating - also highjacking this review to say Diddy ruined the only good track on this album with his lame sampling (Also fuck Sean Combs - what a piece of shit)
The Modern Lovers
4/5
The things you learn in this challenge! M.I.A covered part of Roadrunner in her track Bambo Banga - who knew?! This is what I really love about the challenge, the weird music crossovers!
I actually quite enjoyed this one, although at face value it feels like its just another mid 70s blah-rock-whatever, I felt like it had more of the pre-punk and pre-alt-rock sounds. A very laid back and casual approach, sounding a little like a drunk version of the Doors.
Joe Ely
1/5
I like to think of myself as someone who has a reasonably broad taste in music - but - Honky Tonk makes me want to stuff my ears full of 'Cornbread Moon', Pedal steel guitar is like 'Fingernails' down a chalkboard, so 'Tonight I think I'm gonna go downtown' to drown my sorrows because I just can't listen to anymore country music.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
I didn’t mind this album, and it was pretty quick. Fine as some background music while I was lazing in bed, doubt I’d come back for another listen though
Neil Young
4/5
Two Neil Young albums within a week is too many, and there is definitely too many in total on this list! Mostly he sounds like a muppet and I can't unhear it.
That being said I enjoyed Harvest much more than the others we've had and I wish I'd actually spent more time listening to it over the weekend. I particularly love 'The Needle and the Damage Done', Lior did a great cover of this track for Triple Js Like a Version (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1G9shwZgyw) which I had the CD of back in the early 2000s. I love both versions of the song, and hadn't listened to either in years, so it was really lovely to hear it again! I'd listen to it again.
Death to harmonicas
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
I miss the days where you gambled on one song you'd heard on the radio a few times, buying the album hoping the rest will live up to it! This was one of those albums for me, and I absolutely love it! I still remember buying this album in '06 on a girls weekend in Sydney - this album and a pair of boots!
Arctic Monkeys (despite having a dumb name) are such a great band, I particularly love the youthful, horny, loutish, loud energy of this album! Alex Turner's accent is amazing, and I've always enjoyed the way they feature each instrument with momentary gaps in the music before it all picks up raucously again (there's probably a musical term for the style?) I also love the album AM which I don't think features on this list, but I'll make special mention of my favourite Arctic Monkeys song 'Do I wanna know?'. They have some music I'm not as into, but we are not here to talk about that - this album is fantastic and even though some of that might be nostalgia I still think this stands up nearly 20 years on as great rock music!
5 star album - I listened to it 6 times today! Perfect album for driving up and down the midlands, only shame is I've lost my voice, otherwise I would have been singing along!
I was thinking while listening to this album that it'd be great to pick a few shared favourite albums as a group and do a listening party - this one would be on my list!
Joni Mitchell
3/5
This was pretty good, not something that I'd listen to heaps - but I appreciated it in my ears today
Janet Jackson
2/5
This is not my thing - at all. Everything sounds fake, except her voice.
Jimmy Smith
3/5
Nice for what it is, but not really my thing. Talented musicians but I don’t think it’d get another spin from me unless I was hosting somekind of wine tasting (except I don’t drink wine, or have people over very often - so I guess I’ll probably not listen to it again!)
Joy Division
4/5
Why haven’t I spent more of my life listening to Joy Division?! This was great
The Flaming Lips
2/5
Sometimes the 1001 list challenges your preconceived ideas about bands - sometimes it just confirms it. I've been told by so many people that I should check out The Flaming Lips, and I've tried, but I just don't like them. I find them really irritating and wanky.
The Doors
3/5
Not their best is it. I enjoyed listening to it on my road trip today, but it comes back to the same argument about too many albums from individual bands on this list and this album adds nothing. This is the 3rd we've had from The Doors and while I absolutely love them, particularly Morrison's deep and dirty vocals, I just don't need to hear every album they've every done especially when its not their best, or doesn't add anything to their musical progression.
I wonder how much space would be freed up on this list for other artists if there was a cap of 2 albums per band?
The Associates
2/5
Its just not for me - I found it a tough listen.
The only highlight was hearing 'Tasmania' in the track Australia, I tried to look for the lyrics but couldn't find them anywhere?
Django Django
4/5
This was really fun - I'd listen to it again! 'Default' was the only track I'd heard before, I went and searched through my CDs and it was on Hottest 100 Vol 20 (which must be around the time I aged out of listening to Triple j!). All the tracks were a little samey - but give me some male vocal falsetto harmonies and I'm pretty happy. Beach boys meets indie-electro-chill-wave. I think I prefer Alt-J, but I'd listen to more of this band.
Pearl Jam
5/5
Pearl Jam is undeniably a powerhouse of the 90s rock scene, Ten has to be up there for one of the best debut albums! I love a bit of Pearl Jam and really enjoyed seeing them live for the first time a few months ago on their Dark Matter tour in Melbourne - an unforgettable experience! I think even after all these years I'm still a little bit in love with Eddie Vedder. This isn't my favourite album of theirs and probably closer to a 4.5, so I'll just quickly mention Vs. with Crazy Mary as my favourite album/track because we sadly only get 1 Pearl Jam album in the 1001 list. Fave track on this album is Black (I wish they'd played it live!)
I know someday you'll have a beautiful life
I know you'll be a star - In somebody else's sky
But why, why can't it be mine
(always gives me shivers)
Green Day
5/5
I listened to A LOT of Green Day in my highschool years, but by the time this album came out in my 2nd year of uni, Green Day's sound had become more pop/mainstream and less raw/gritty, and I had become more musically snobby - maybe like many know-it-all artschool kids, or maybe its just me?! This album fell in a gap where I was listening much less mainstream music (even mainstream alt) and thought of myself as very punk/folk so I missed the boat on this album at the time. Its a great album, one I will give a bit more time to now I'm older (but honestly probably not much wiser)! I've always had a real soft spot for protest music - I appreciate bands that can capture the feeling of a moment and tell the government or injustice to fuck right off.
Recently watching Green Day play this full album (plus my fave Dookie) on their Survivors tour was a life highlight! It was an incredible concert (wild to get this album and Pearl Jam back to back - both bands I've seen in concert back to back in that order!?!). Bille Joe is an amazing front man and the crowd was heaving, the show was an absolute feast for the senses - I sang and danced my heart out. Loved that they are still political and speak their minds - even changing the words of 'Jesus of Suburbia' and asking if the crowd wanted Elon and Trump to 'shut the fuck up' - nothing quite like hearing 60,000 people roar in agreement!
For me this album is about a 4, but the band has been very important to me over the years and I think this album will grown more on me as I give it some more listens, so its bumped to a 5.
I ended up getting a bit distracted today with a different album - because at the time this album came out (2004ish) I was listening to another political punk album - also angry at the George W Bush government of the time but I think it holds up pretty well right now given the state of US politics! NOFX doesn't feature on the list, so I want to do a quick shout out because The War on Errorsism is an amazing album well worth a listen.
It's ok, allow yourself a little hate
Hatred is not so bad when directed at injustice
You can turn the other cheek, just don't turn the other way
Enemy of the planet we finally have a common hate
A reason to forget about our differences
And stand as a united front
Fairport Convention
3/5
I didn’t mind this one - was a bit samey throughout but I’d listen to it again
Khaled
3/5
Tricky to rate! There were some bits I really enjoyed, and I liked the overall vibe - but some bits were pretty ordinary and felt dated. Mele Hebibti was my favourite. Imagine was a cover I never knew I didn't need! From the perspective of needing to listen to it before I die - I'm happy I heard it.
Adam & The Ants
4/5
This was really fun, and ridiculous and pretty silly! New to me except Antmusic - I really enjoyed it
ant music for sex people :: sex music for ant people
The Isley Brothers
3/5
3 + 3 = 3 stars (I’m not great at maths!)
This was ok - but not really my thing
Lorde
3/5
This album was a struggle for me to get through. I’ll get my 3 main gripes out of the way; overproduction (pop - so I guess that’s a given, but it’s not my cup of tea), vocalising like a mouth full of honey only annunciating vowels (very of its time), and not singing in her own accent but putting on an American one instead. Those things being said - hats off to Lorde for her amazing career so far, she unconventional in many ways which is awesome, but her music is just not for me. 2 stars for the music, extra star for being a powerhouse lady from over the ditch
The Last Shadow Puppets
4/5
I didn’t know about this Arctic Monkeys spin off! Some tracks were a bit forgettable, but I mostly enjoyed it
Mekons
1/5
'My sex drew back into itself - tight and dry - closed up' - thanks to the words in Psycho Cupid Danceband on the Edge of Time, summed up my feelings about this album perfectly.
Radiohead
5/5
I needed this album for a bit longer to decide how to rate it. Although I adore Radiohead, I’ve never listened to this album all the way through. It was important to me to give it time to permeate and I’m glad I did. Main thing I’d cut would be the intro crackles to many of the tracks. Overall I enjoyed it
It’s not my favourite of Radiohead’s music - but it’s really grown on me in a short time.
4.5 for the music, extra 0.5 for the 1984 reference.
4/5
This mess we're in.
OutKast
4/5
I had a great time with album today - some very fun, silly and pretty horny lyrics (which is exactly how I like my hiphop!) Its a bit too long (I tend to get a bit grumpy with anything over 1 hour on this list) and it was a little hit and miss particularly in The Love Below, but I enjoyed the move away from the ganster style rap that has mostly been represented on this list so far. Hey Ya! and Roses are classics!
I'm, just bein honest - uh-oh!
Belle & Sebastian
2/5
This was a little tedious - another band that I feel like on paper I should like, but I have never warmed to. I find Stuart Lee Murdoch's voice equal parts boring / annoying. I'm sure this band was a huge influence for many bands I do like, I just got nothing from listening to it.
Talking Heads
2/5
I have an irrational dislike of Talking Heads - I have no idea why or where it came from. The music isn't THAT bad, it just irks me in a way I don't fully understand.
Stars adjusted up slightly because I feel like my dislike is unreasonable.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
Just kind of gross.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
I just unashamedly enjoy CCR - I know they are a bit daggy, but so am I! Give me some swamp rock any day!
Massive Attack
4/5
I expected to like this more than I actually did. I really really love some of their other music, and this was ok. 3.5
Afrika Bambaataa
3/5
I'm so disappointed to find out that Afrika Bambaataa is a piece of human shit - so I have to use my minus 1 star rule for creeps (though maybe it should be more!)
I enjoyed the music - especially the samples from Kraftwerk and knowing how many artists I love have sampled from this album! Its a piece of music history and provides a lot of context for the story of hiphop. One of the things which is fantastic about this challenge is finding out how many songs that I've only ever known the cover versions of(and has no idea they were covers!) Renegades of Funk is even better by Rage Against the Machine, but I enjoyed hearing its origin.
Common
2/5
The music was ok, not the usual hiphop I listen to - middle of the road 3 stars, but 1 less star because of Kanye
Weather Report
2/5
Its not unlistenable - its just not my thing.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
I enjoyed this one. Most of these stars are for Band on the run - such a great track, the rest wasn't quite as good but that's because comparatively the track Band on the run has high nostalgia vibes! If I was ever going to listen to a post Beatles solo album this would be it.
Little Richard
3/5
Little and Richard, I mean short and fun!
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
The first track reminded me a bit of U2 (not a compliment) but it grew on me a little from there. I don't think I'd listen to it again, but it was ok,
The Adverts
3/5
Usually I love a bit of punk, so I’ll come back to this one to give it a relisten when I’m in the mood - today was a bit overwhelming and this was too noisey, crash and samey throughout. I did a bit of toe tapping, so it’s got something about it that I’ll come back for
Tom Waits
4/5
‘First it was fun. Then scary. Then fun again. Then spooky...but in a fun way‘
First time listen for me - mostly ready enjoyed it’s bizarre-fairground-gravely feel, some tracks in the middle I’d skip on a realised - Waits has a fabulous voice
ZZ Top
2/5
Meh - pretty boring.
'Hard Rock' as a genre never goes that hard
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
I expected to enjoy this album and give it a 4, but on the listen through I was transported! (plus I really wanted to add Homeward bound to the 1001 Best of the best playlist)
The only track I didn't really love is the last one, but so many of the others make up for it! Fave tracks include; Homeward bound, For Emily and A Poem on the underground wall.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
I love heaps of tracks on this album, particularly 'Babe I'm going to leave you' which has personal significance for little 16 year old me as I was pining after the 'love-of-my-life' who had moved away, I cried to this song for weeks! The whole album has strong nostalgia vibes for my late highschool years.
Reading through some of the reviews and doing some digging, it seems like a fair few of the tracks are covers, plagiarised or at a minimum very heavily influence by other songs/musicians - I listened to a bunch of the original songs these tracks are based on and musically the Zepplelin ones are far superior. I guess the issue is more that they were flogged as originals and musicians not credited - tricky with the blues, but the band still could have done better on giving credit where credit is due. That plus being creeps to women and underage girls gives this album minus one star.
Love the music though.
Culture Club
2/5
Not really my thing and felt like a bit of a chore getting through the full album.
Fave track: Miss Me Blind
Violent Femmes
4/5
I found this pretty enjoyable and a bit annoying at the same time - which is honestly kind of my thing 😅
Extra star because the bass player lives in Hobart
Yes
2/5
This was tough to get through - not a fan
Public Enemy
3/5
Solid 3. Not really my thing, but appreciate the impact this music had at the time it came out and influence on hiphop as a genre
Dizzee Rascal
3/5
It got a bit repetitive, but I didn’t mind it. I enjoy a bit of grime and love an accent
Funkadelic
4/5
First time listen and I really loved this! Probably the first time in this challenge I've said that for a funk album. This felt a little more rock X funk? I especially loved the opening track, even though I've complained before about guitar solos that go too long, that doesn't seem to apply if the whole track is a solo!
I'm giving it a 4, but it might end up being one of those I later regret and wish I'd given a 5!
Aphex Twin
3/5
An enjoyable-ish blur of background sound - kind of reminded me of the boops and beeps music that sometimes played in the A-team office. Is it a submarine? Is it a robot? Nobody knows. Nobody cares.
Highlight was finding Ageispolis which is sampled for Ugly Boy by Die Antwoord - who knew!? not me.
Calexico
4/5
Ignore the shit cover - this is a great album! First listen of Calexico for me and I really enjoyed the fusion of genres! Heaps of influences which made for a interesting listen.
Lots of the track listings are missing from the Australian Spotify album linked but inly 1 20 second track from the original album is missing and the rest are all disc 2 remixes (which I am MORE than happy to skip!) I would prefer if all the albums linked were just the original tracks only where possible.
I'll be back to listen to this one again!
Mudhoney
3/5
It was ok. Pokin' around sounded a bit like a rip off of Dancing with myself - except it had harmonicas?
Death to harmonicas
Dexys Midnight Runners
1/5
‘They all sounded the saaaaaame’ - One Of Those Things by Dexys Midnight Runners
Why is this on the list?! I will actually cry if I have to listen to another Dexys Midnight Runners album, and then right after I’ll die of boredom.
FKA twigs
2/5
Overproduced beathy high-pitched beepboop pop is not my thing. I read a few reviews on here saying that as this was FKA twigs debut, this was more about finding her voice - but I went and listened to some of her newer music, I guess she's still looking.
Cee Lo Green
2/5
I'm not sure why this album is on the list. Firstly its not great, is it? and its a bit too long, and a bit boring, and his voice is a bit annoying.
Secondly, its not even the album that has his most popular song, he's basically a one-hit-wonder with 'Fuck/Forget you'? At a pinch you could say a two hit wonder as Gnarls Barkley (Crazy is a great song, not featured on this list as far as I can see)
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Since I’ve Been Loving You is an all-time favourite track of mine, it has a funny and memorable anecdote to go with it, but the story is not appropriate for a public review!! 😳 All 3 stars are for that track. The pedal squeaking is endearing rather than annoying, but once you hear it, you can never unhear it!
Not as big a fan of this album as the other 2 Zeppelin albums we’ve had so far, and still gets a minus star for the band members being pervy creeps.
Circle Jerks
3/5
I didn’t much get into this on the first listen through, but given it’s only 15 mins long I listened to it another time, and then again and again. More albums should get to the point quickly like Group Sex.
It reminded me that I am filled with just-below-the-surface rage. Maybe one day I’ll let it all out and sound like this album, all shouty and crude and fast and fucken pissed off. I hope so.
Prince
2/5
Prince was very talented - but its just not my thing at all. This overstayed its welcome
Blood, Sweat & Tears
3/5
This one’s a bit of a mess to begin with but I got with the groove a few songs in. Probably not one I’ll revisit, but it was good for driving around in my van today.
The Pogues
4/5
This album made me want to drink a pint (or 3!), spin around, snog a stranger and then fall down.
Erykah Badu
3/5
I find albums like this tough to rate.
I’m just not that into this genre, and also I dislike the ‘sexy baby voice’ in singing (and IRL) it just really grates! (with one exception on a track called Plenty by Guru)
That being said, Erykah Badu was hugely important within neo-soul, is an icon, and a powerhouse woman in a male dominated industry.
I’m not into the music, but I do think it should be on the list
Aretha Franklin
4/5
What a voice!
Stereolab
3/5
Frenchy Dandy Warhols
I feel like I would have been into this if I'd heard it back in the 90s, it was an ok listen, but probably won't get another spin from me.
Love
3/5
I listened to it a few times and enjoyed it, but nothing really stuck out. Another psychedelic-background-music experience for me
The Cardigans
4/5
Dear, I fear we're facing a problem
you love me no longer
I know
I’ve often said the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack would be my desert island album, (I’m not sure that’s still my pick after this challenge?), all four stars are for Lovefool. An anthem of my first year at highschool and a track I still love.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
I found this surprisingly boring
Def Leppard
2/5
Ok, but doesn't light my fire - which I would expect it to given the title.
The Kinks
2/5
Our 2nd of 4 Kinks album on the list, and still not kinky enough for me.
Scott Walker
2/5
Started out ok, but was a bit bland.
The Streets
4/5
Obligatory "Why isn't this 1001 listing for Original Pirate Material?" a superior album which would have got a 5 from me!
I still really like how quirky it is and the story thats told through the tracks - I think that's the kind of hip hop I'm into. I get why people don't like it, but I think there's something really fun about listening to basic beats with someone talking about how shit their day was, or the girl they fancy, or wondering where their phone is.
Michael Jackson
2/5
While I’m not a fan of MJ there’s no denying this is a bop. I did enjoy some of the disco funk vibes. On the whole not really my thing and minus 1 star for kiddyfiddling
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
1/5
Three albums that are from 1996 that could/should replace this absolute abomination - Evil empire - RATM, Aenima - Tool, To the Faithful Departed - The Cranberries.
Does Robert Dimery even have ears?
Kacey Musgraves
2/5
Not awful, but pop-country is not my thing. I just found this boring and forgettable
Everything But The Girl
3/5
The only track I've known by Everything But The Girl is 'Missing', which has strong nostalgia vibes for me - but oddly isn't featured in either of the albums on this list despite being their most popular track - quite literally it's Missing.
I didn't mind this, and I really love Tracey Thorns vocals - but the beats feel fairly basic and I guess its just a bit dated.
Orange Juice
3/5
They wish they were David Bowie - not even close. I didn’t mind it though
Elbow
4/5
Elbow is pretty new to me, I think maybe one track was a little familiar. Right up my alley, I'll be listening to this one again!
Isaac Hayes
3/5
This was fine, but I wanted a bit more from it. The linked album in Spotify doesn't have the full track listings available, but you can find it here https://open.spotify.com/album/5HAXYSqdNjjbvoFrXwtrBw?si=tEeyeA62TXyFgPLDMiL3dg
Ok as background music but not really that much to get excited about.
The Triffids
2/5
Couldn’t be more dull
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
This was totally fine as background music you'd drink a few cocktails to, but nothing on here that got my blood pumping or my feet tapping
Brian Wilson
3/5
I hope there are lots of slide whistles, unnecessary banjos, crazy layered harmonies, songs with way too many sections and psychedelic circus tunes for you in the after life Brian! Vale!
(not-so-random generator today!)
John Martyn
2/5
Bit wanky isn’t it? The track that stuck out was Big Muff (who knew anyone could sing about a big muff for 6.5 minutes?!) and I didn’t mind the instrumental at the end
Kate Bush
4/5
This is why its so important to listen to the full album - if I hadn't I might have missed Night of the Swallow which is such an incredible track and I've been listening to it on repeat all day! I really love the rhythm and the uilleann pipes!
The rest of the album is interesting, wild and experimental, but not something I'd listen to again. All these stars are for that one track and also that Kate Bush is an incredible musician, innovative, gutsy and an inspiration to many! I wish there was more amazing female artists on this list.
Ray Price
2/5
Zoned out a bit in that one, not a fan of the old timey country.
The Fall
3/5
This has lots of ingredients that I usually love - but it just didn't work for me! It felt a bit like a mash up of Joy Division, Iggy Pop and Underworld? Bit of a mess of sounds.
The Byrds
2/5
This was ok, right up until the track that was backwards (a pet peeve).
Johnny Cash
2/5
I can appreciate the importance of this album and Cash's influence on music, but I found this album tough to get through and overrated. My husband and I had an argument over which version of Hurt is better (Controversial - but I'll stick with NiN)
Died of a broken heart :'( (and diabetes)
I remember the day he died, my uni tutor made us listen to Cash's music loudly all day while he cried quietly in the corner.
Dennis Wilson
2/5
This listen was overshadowed by the knowledge of how intimidatingly long it was going to be - at nearly 2 hours long it really put me off getting into it and through it.
There were some tracks that were ok (Mexico was a fave) but I was just frustrated the entire time. I would probably have enjoyed it much more if it was 2/3rds less long. Wilson is an excellent name, I enjoyed seeing it emblazoned across the album cover plus a somewhat distracting amount of hair.
Portishead
3/5
I adore Portishead, but this is not their best.
I would swap this album for Roseland NYC Live which is an incredible album and has some of my all time fave recordings of Portishead songs.
Some of the choices for this list really surprise me when looking at a full catalogue of an artists work, I'm not convinced Robert Dimery even listens to them all. I'd love to know his rating system (or lack thereof!)
Arcade Fire
3/5
I didn't mind this one, very mid naughties sound. Doubt I'd give it another spin though
Elvis Presley
2/5
Elvis wrapping up a mediocre week - maybe I would have felt differently if I'd heard his music in the landscape of other musicians at the time? Huge cultural impact, but his music doesn't do anything for me. At least it was a quickie.
Tracy Chapman
5/5
Tracy Chapman's voice and music is incredible, haunting, powerful and hugely impactful for teenage me when I first heard this album! I still remember the day my high school friend loaned me this album (which she had stolen from her mum's girlfriend!), and I still love it nearly 30 years on. I'm forever blown away by the sadness, anger and beauty of her lyrics.
I've added For You to the 1001 playlist, but Behind the Wall is actually the most powerful track
Spacemen 3
2/5
If this challenge has taught me anything its that shoegaze fucking sucks. Its not music - ITS JUST NOISE!
Pink Floyd
3/5
I'm more of a 70s/post Gilmour Pink Floyd fan
I think it was good to listen to it to understand the band history/background, but I found it a little all over the place and some of the lyrics were pretty out there. There's quirky and then there is just plain annoying with some genius sprinkled in and a prelude of what was to come. Probably won't get another spin from me though.
Traffic
3/5
This was fine as some background music today, but I'm just so fatigued by this style of music from the list - it all starts sounding the same.
Roni Size
1/5
Started out promising and went steadily downhill from there. Which is such a shame because I would love this list to mix up the genres a bit more, we haven't heard enough electronica in this challenge so far. This is scraping the barrel though, there are heaps better drum and bass albums.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
Good memories of a few tracks from this album - a few party anthems from my high school years - this album was everywhere! Its not a genre I listen to heaps, but enjoyed the spin today (mostly anyway, there are a few tracks I'd skip on a second listen through!).
Fatboy Slim has some awesome music videos! Ya Mama (Push the tempo) - a long time fave.
The Who
2/5
The music is a bit whatever - I've never really been into The Who. Downvoted by a star because I generally dislike live albums.
Controversial opinion, but I don't think any live albums should feature on this list
Common
2/5
bloated
Neil Young
2/5
Is he drunk?
Death to harmonicas.
Paul Simon
2/5
Twang binga di bong, beeebooop, doobie, twing twing, nee nee nah nah.
My daughter described someone's music as 'the chicken breast of music' - that seems pretty fitting for whatever this is, not offensive, sometimes ok, boring AF.
Pixies
5/5
Peak Pixies! My favourite of their albums, the perfect mix of good tunes, fun times and chaos! Just my kind of thing. Love Kim Deal on the bass.
Soft / quiet + loud / hard perfection
I'd give this more stars if I could.
Jamiroquai
3/5
I actually didn't mind this, pretty funky for most of it. I didn't listen to the second disc that was in the linked album, just the original release. Some of the tracks maybe went on a bit and overall I prefer Jamiroquai's later stuff.
Tina Turner
3/5
Tina Tuner has an incredible voice! I didn’t mind this album, not my usual thing but had to do lots of driving around to school holidays activities, so enjoyed this in the car for a change from my kids music tastes!
I was going to give it an extra star for having a track called 1984 - which many people correctly say is the best year - but then I realised it was a Bowie cover, and then I realised a bunch of them were covers
Buck Owens
2/5
The recording production was pretty bad, plus not a genre I really enjoy to begin with. Listenable but won't get another spin from me.
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
I can see why Cyndi is/was such a popular artist, and huge respect for her. Its just not a style of music that I really enjoy and I find her voice a bit grating, but I'm glad I listened to the full album and I won't mind listening to the hits when they come on the radio.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
I didn't mind this in the background today, a bit repetitive after a while but not bad.
Supergrass
4/5
This started out with such promise! I got into the first 8 tracks or so, I wish it had just ended there, the last few on the first discs were duds. I did end up listening to the second disc which were not part of the original track listings just incase, 'Sex!' was a funny little interlude, but I do wonder with lyrics like 'sometimes it stings, sometimes it burns' if you're doing it correctly, but then again maybe thats what you're in to? Who am I to judge.
I'd listen to the first few tracks again, and I'm feeling generous today and frustrated with only having 5 stars to play with when sometimes I'd like to give something a 3.5
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Wow - this one is a tricky one to rate for me! High on the nostalgia! When I was in year 10 a boy gifted this album to me, so I have some fond memories of that time in my life tied up with the music.
I would give it 5/5 for the instrumentals, but since finding out Anthony Kiedis is such a disgusting fucking creep, I find it hard to enjoy the full music anymore. A few years ago I would have told you 'I could have lied' was one of my top tracks of all time. Plus his lyrics are pretty stupid.
This album outstays its welcome (should have finished with Under the Bridge), and while it does have some great tracks on it and instrumentally is really fun and funky - I remember it more fondly than it actually is in reality.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Rest well Ozzy
Donald Fagen
2/5
If you’d like a 80's pop jazzy version of The Beach Boys - then this album is for you!
But sadly its not for me.
Aimee Mann
2/5
Not good, not terrible. This album is well titled as "whatever"
Louis Prima
3/5
I mostly enjoyed this as a one off!
Not usually my thing and the production value has dated, but fun overall.
The Zutons
3/5
Started out ok but quickly became underwhelming.
10cc
1/5
This is not a review, this is a prayer
Heavenly music gods - please bring me a new album that is less shit than this one.
The bar is low, I beseech thee.
Forgive me for not understanding why your prophet Dimery makes us walk in the desert of crap, infantile and useless music.
Help me to be serene and at peace when I'd rather tear my fucking ears off
Amen.
Traffic
2/5
Pretty standard for this genre and nothing really stuck out. Skippable
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
I'm a sucker for some Simon & Garfunkel
The Sonics
3/5
I enjoyed the energy and unpretentiousness of the rock n roll / precursor to the punk sound - on the other hand the production value hasn't aged well and I the blown out 'wwhhaaahooos' are pretty jarring after a while, plus the originals of the covers are way better (IMO) and the lyrics are basic. Quick and fun for the most part, but won't get another spin from me.
The Dictators
4/5
I enjoyed this proto punk rock - new to me! I'd listen to it again. Clearly before their time and its not the most amazing album, but I loved hearing this little step in the history of one of genre I like
3/5
The music was alright, but I'm generally not a huge fan of live albums.
New Order
4/5
Classic ‘don’t judge an album by the opening track’
I was really worried in the first 30 seconds of this album that I was going to hate it, there’s a bit of harmonica-like but possibly a synth that had me feeling nauseous, BUT it really turns around in track 2 and I loved it! The vocals (as others have mentioned in their reviews) sounds slightly off, but I kinda liked it with the backdrop of the more polished music. I haven’t listened to a lot of New Order, but I think I’ll have to do a deep dive!
Emmylou Harris
3/5
I wasn't sure going into this, but it grew on me and I appreciated hearing from a mature female voice. I'm not usually much of a country fan, but this verged into folk territory so I thought it was pretty listenable.
Hüsker Dü
2/5
Hey mum, I'm going to band practice
Ok son, please take your sisters Charity, Chastity, Prudence and Hope with you
Awww Mum! They don't even play instruments!
Play nice son, just give them a bunch of annoying bells or something
Justice
5/5
Geeze the French really know how to do electronica don't they! Daft Punk, Jean-Michel Jarre, Air - and Justice! So good
I loved the gritty electronic vibes, the bits where it pulled right back to the riff and then built all the way back up! Yes, I'm here for this and this album is going on the rotation. I'd only listened to (and loved) We are your friends - Justice Vs Simian and I don't know why I never listened any further. I'd say this is probably closer to a 4.5, and there are a few tracks I wasn't as into - but I'm giving it a 5 because its rad
American Music Club
2/5
I’ll be honest, I did skip through this one a bit, partly because YouTube is painful, but mostly because this music is painful
Talking Heads
1/5
Get in the bin. I just can't. No.
Jacques Brel
3/5
J'aime le français, un peu!
Depeche Mode
3/5
Enjoyable - love them asses.
Hole
4/5
I really love a couple of songs on the this album (Violet and Doll Parts). If I was just rating this on the musical experience of the album I would probably give this a 3, but I think you already know that I'm not someone who can take music or musicians out of context. I really love the 90s grunge scene and Hole is an important part of that story, so its an extra star from me today (given that the lead singers husband died tragically a week before its release, and the bass player 2 months after - I can only begin to imagine how hard this time was for the band)
I wrote a hole (see what I did there) thing about Courtney Love and deleted it - because it’s complicated. So I’ll just say I think Courtney’s had a rough time of it, and most of that seems pretty unfair, and some of it she’s brought on herself - but I admire (mostly) her courage in a world not made for women who are loud.
Wire
3/5
This was a pretty fun, fast and energetic album! I'd listen to it again
Eels
4/5
This is a blast from the past! I haven't listened to the Eels in a long long time - I really enjoyed it.
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
The original track listing was surprisingly enjoyable (and fun to realised how many of these tracks have been sampled), but by the end of track 8 my bongo tolerance (BT) had significantly decreased. My BT is much higher than my HT (harmonica tolerance)
Hopefully neither my BT or HT will get tested again any time soon.
Bob Dylan
1/5
Death to harmonicas.
When I was in high school there was a girl called Bhree, I remember her talking about the song 'Hits from the bong' by Cypress Hill and how most people liked it because they thought 'it was cool' but she liked it because she ACTUALLY smoked pot which was 'way cooler' - I imagine people who like Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 for the same reason are as insufferably annoying as she was.
Anecdote 2 - when I first heard 'everybody must get stoned' I was quite young and only knew of it in the biblical sense (I don't think I'd mind getting stoned if it meant I never had to listen to Bob Dylan again)
Meat Loaf
3/5
Pretty wild! I felt like I was in a rock musical! Not really my thing, but a nice little escape for the afternoon
Missy Elliott
3/5
Timberland's wickawickawickas have always irked me a bit - I feel like they are in every song he's produced - probably not, but they are distinctively annoying when they do pop up.
Overall I didn't mind this album, pretty solid by Missy Elliott. I feel as the second album we've had by her it could have been swapped out for Salt-n-Pepa (yes, I'm going to keep banging that drum - its a huge omission if you ask me. No one did ask me, but its my review and I'll say what I like!)
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
I did not enjoy this. Felt like Sesame Street music for adults, at any moment some numbers and letters might start dancing.
Motörhead
1/5
Boomers singing about how much they want to sexually assault girls {AGAIN!!}. Fucking gross and tired of this shit.
Gotan Project
4/5
I enjoyed this - perfect music for getting me focused at work (and then vacuuming the house ha ha!), just the right amount of interest without distracting me! I'm sure one of these tracks was on a 'So frenchy so chic' compilation I had back in the day - feels very late 90s frenchy filmy!
Oui Oui Oui!
Morceau préféré: Santa Maria
The Auteurs
2/5
The breathy whisper singing ruined this for me, sounds a bit passive aggressive and half arsed. I prefer my music full arsed. It was ok, but overall I didn't feel like this added anything new to the challenge.
Death to harmonicas 💀
The Replacements
2/5
This should really be my jam! I guess I just wasn't feeling like listening to songs about Gary's boner today :(
I'm going to come back to this one another day for a fresh listen another day and maybe edit my rating.
Fever Ray
4/5
I quite enjoyed this, I’d take it for another spin!
Edit: I came back to this after a few days and loved it even more! I realised where I knew the first track from, its in the opening credits for the tv series 'Vikings'. I really loved how deep and dark and moody this album is - totally don't get why this is rated so low by so many - open your minds!
The Byrds
3/5
Imagine being at the dawn of rock n roll, and just doing covers and trying to sound like Dylan/The Beatles? A missed opportunity! I didn't mind this album, but it didn't get me going.
Mylo
5/5
Drop the Pressure has been one of my 'go to' GET PUMPED songs for years, so I feel like I have to give this a 5 just because of how many times I've listened to it! The rest of the album is pretty fun too - I enjoyed listening to it in full! Another one that I think is surprisingly underrated on here. Its a touch long, and I can see why people might say its repetitive - but I'm into it.
Motherf*ckers gonna drop the presssssuurrrrre
The Thrills
2/5
Failed to Thrill me
Ash
3/5
Such a blast from the past! I remember they played ‘Oh yeah’ and ‘girl from mars’ a fair bit on Triple J back in the day! I’m pretty sure one of these songs was on a hottest 100! I haven’t listened to the band since, and hearing this album made me think of all the band that nearly reached fame, but disappeared - I wonder what happen to Ash?
Hole
4/5
There's a few really great tracks on this album I really enjoyed a few listen throughs today - this would have been a good weekend album!
Raekwon
2/5
Hot Chip
2/5
Hot Chip: the food = delicious
Hot Chip: the band = unsatisfying
The Fall
4/5
I enjoyed this, there were a few tracks I wasn’t as into, but on the whole The Fall has been a good (new to me) find through the challenge. I’m just a bit annoyed this is the third album we’ve had by them. I don’t think this album was wildly different from the last two, if I was writing the list I’d put a cap on entries by the same bands unless their style drastically changed.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
I don’t really ‘get’ The Velvet Underground hype. This was ok
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Weird and I was low-key into it
Alice Cooper
2/5
I don't think it was meant to be funny, but Alice Cooper is such an edgelord I kept laughing at how completely ridiculous this album was - its like he sat down and tried to figure out what would be shocking, weird and spooky but then decided to put it to light-rock-panto-music - with a bit of harmonica for good measure (death to harmonicas).
In someways this reminded me of Flight of the Concords - except that they are actually trying to be funny, unlike this which maybe hasn't aged that well and is just a bit embarrassing. Maybe you had to be there and I/m born a few decades to late?
Not on this album, but I remember my brother being OBSESSED with the Alice Cooper song 'Poison' when he was about 10!
I didn't mind the drums in Billion Dollar Babies, but lyrics about SA and necrophilia (even if they weren't supposed to be serious) can get in the fucking bin.
Sinead O'Connor
5/5
Such a powerful album by an incredible woman.
The music is 4 stars for me, but I think its such an important album, and Sinead is such an important musician I'm giving it an extra star.
1/5
A little while ago I read Maynard James Keenan’s biography - he liked Devo so much he named his son after them. So I thought, I love Tool, maybe I’ll love Devo too
Wrong.
This was awful and I hated it. It sounded to me like first tracks chords are a straight up rip off of Led Zeppelin’s Misty Mountain Hop. Some of the lyrics have not aged well, or maybe were always in poor taste. The whole thing really grated for me
Ms. Dynamite
2/5
I think I could have lived without hearing this - its not bad, but its not the best example of this genre, and its not a genre I really enjoy
Herbie Hancock
3/5
Now I know who the songs my eldest has been playing on the sax are by! Great to listen, but not really my thing, though I love learning about what music my kids are into :)
Nick Drake
4/5
I preferred the previous 2 Nick Drake albums, and while I'm so pleased to have listened to his music through this challenge I don't feel like this album adds much.
Country Joe & The Fish
1/5
Urgh - so annoying. Such a Mish mash of sounds. Some bits seemed like they were going into an interesting direction and then straight back to clanging shit again. Too many drugs
Nightmares On Wax
4/5
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would given the type on the cover and the name of the album! Solid music for getting shit done to.
The Band
2/5
Dull
The Smiths
4/5
I needed to sit with this one for a few days before I was able to rate it, there are a couple of songs on this album that I listened to over-and-over in a pretty dark time a couple of years ago. Music has the power to us help feel our feelings, but I guess can also take us back to those feelings in a instant - which can be a good and bad thing! I wish I was better at talking out my problems, but I'm not, so I'm glad there is miserable music to feel miserable to.
I'll acknowledge that Morrissey is a bit of a twat.
Still, I quite like The Smiths.
Fave track: There is a light that never goes out
Prince
2/5
Prince bangs on about sex and sexiness - it makes him sound like a virgin overcompensating. I couldn't be drier.
A very unsexy 2 stars from me.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Gee 1984 was a great year!
I mostly enjoyed this, its maybe a tad repetitive and a bit slow, but its really important in the history of the genre and given the technology used at the time to put these tracks together its pretty interesting.
The Specials
3/5
The songs I liked I really liked! and the songs I didn't like sucked. Overall pretty fun and silly album - glad I listened to it, very different from my usual music taste.
Enjoy yourself while you’re still in the pink
Girls Against Boys
2/5
When you've bought a distortion pedal, and you don't know how to turn if off.
Give it a fuckin' rest lads
Burning Spear
4/5
I thought I didn't like reggae, but maybe I just don't really like Bob Marley? I enjoyed this one!
Curtis Mayfield
2/5
Maybe I’d like this more if I’d watched the film? Or if I liked funk?
This feels a bit like a ‘had to be there’ moment, it’s lost on me.
The Cars
3/5
After reading the reviews I thought I’d recognise some of these tracks - but completely new to me! Nothing really grabbed me though, it was fine but probably won’t get another spin.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
2/5
Felt very 60-generic-rock to my ears as a first time listener, I’m sure I would have felt differently if I’d heard it when it first came out, but as something that I MUST listen to before I die? It’s a pass at best
Os Mutantes
2/5
This is the kind of weird shit I'm doing this challenge for!
I didn't like it, but I listened to it - yay!
Milton Nascimento
3/5
Started out finding this one really interesting! It just went on a bit long and didn't hold my interest - not bad though!
Goldie
2/5
Timeless, as in time becomes meaningless?
I actually didn't hate this in the background, but I also don't think I REALLY listened to it, it was just there as constant noise, much like existential dread that you know is there, but don't want to examine too closely, so you just learn to live with it and mostly just ignore - you know?
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
I wanted to like this, but the singing reminded me too much of Talking Heads and U2, which was an instant turn off! Not for me!
Massive Attack
4/5
The first track on this album is awesome, and I also love the second, the next seven tracks are pretty good chill/background, the last track is abysmal - wtf, how is it possible to make a cover of an already terrible song SO much worse.
Mostly good, so I’m giving it 4
Faith No More
5/5
Awesome album!
I think I would have probably given it a 4 except that it would be a disservice to the group playlist not to have Epic on there, so I am playing my part, rating it 5 and adding it to the 1001 top rated playlist ;)
The Beau Brummels
2/5
Not a fan, waste of time - at least it wasn't long.
Ananda Shankar
4/5
Surprisingly dreamy and enjoyable! I'd listen to this again for sure
Goldfrapp
3/5
When I had my first professional job out of uni my boss used to play Goldfrapp all the time - I don’t hate it, but it’s about as bland as my boss was. To be fair, I don’t think she liked my music taste either.
The Slits
4/5
Great band name and the cover is such a vibe! This one was super interesting and while in some ways it was awful, in other ways incredible - this kind of music just makes me want to be in a band. I feel like I could play/sing as well/poorly as this, and be all full of rage/quirkiness and just weird people out, so good. Listening to this I appreciated that The Slits were clearly and intentionally pushing all the boundaries and breaking them too. (Even if it sounded a bit bad)
David Crosby
2/5
What a snoozefest
Not for me
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Ok, but I don't think it'd get another spin from me. Sounds very 'of its time'
Bob Dylan
2/5
WOW! I didn't hate this as much as the previous 10 trillion Bob Dylan albums we've suffered through!
It was still shite though!
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
I'm really happy that this challenge is giving me the opportunity to revisit some prejudices I've had against bands - QOTSA is a good example.
Teenage-me decided not to listen to Queens of the Stone Age or the Foo Fighters because in some weird way I felt like Dave Grohl should have still been mourning Kurt Cobain, like a widower who never remarries because they're lost their one true love. Instead he was floozying around with other bands and musicians who could never be as good as Nirvana! Obviously, in hindsight this is pretty unfair and dumb of previous me.
Still, it checks out. Queens of the Stone Age hasn't got anything on Nirvana. I started out liking the alt rock feels of this album, but god, it just went on and on didn't it, and then there felt like there was some experimental sounds stuff, and I just wasn't feeling it, at all. Its a blah-3-stars I guess from me
Minor Threat
4/5
Apparently punk (and metal) have been studied and is ‘a healthy way of processing anger’, I'm not sure about that - I love it, but I think maybe its just the only thing loud enough to drown out the internal shitshow going on in my head.
This was great, I'll be coming back again when I have a spare 21 mins where I'd like to escape the monotony of my own thoughts.
TV On The Radio
2/5
When I was at uni I had a friend (who I’m still friends with) who had a boyfriend who loved TV on the Radio, but he was really snobby about music and pooh-poohed my taste as being too ‘mainstream’ and that if I truly loved music then I should know more about the ‘local scene’. As a result of those conversations I refused to listen to TV on the Radio - until now, about 20 years latter. I don’t think of myself as someone who holds grudges, but possibly this is an exception, or maybe I holds lots of grudges and posses little self insight?
The album seems like something that music snobs would enjoy being edgelords about. I didn’t really love it, so I guess you were right Patrick, I guess I’m not cool like you.
Jazmine Sullivan
2/5
Did Lauren Hill grow up and become a 'Heaux'? My favourite bits of this album were the spoken word interludes - they showed more insight than the tracks, and were an nice way to break up the fairly basic music and ordinary production.
I personally reject the idea that tracks like these are about female sexual empowerment - its still entirely for men and for the male gaze, screaming 'pick-me' energy and female self-deprecation (which I suppose makes a change from the male deprecation of women so often heard in this genre!). While I don't feel like like this album was even remotely empowering, I am all for women singing about whatever they want, especially breaking down barriers around sexuality and power imbalances. There are far too few female artists on this list.
This music just isn't for me, not only in the lyricism but in the style, the whole thing felt very superficial - or maybe I just need to check my privilege? It really feels like Dimery phoned it in with this addition.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
This was fine - in my usual wheelhouse but just nothing really stood out and I found the vocalist a little whiney.
5/5
I had never heard this album, though I've always quite liked Blur, I hadn't heard much of their earlier stuff (apart from 'Sing' on their debut album which is a favourite on mine from the Trainspotting Soundtrack - I can listen to that song on repeat and often listen to it about 30 times in a row) - I've got sidetracked!
I loved this album and listened to it in full about 3 times, then just Miss America on repeat for the rest of the day. It was just perfect for my mood and work today, and seeing as I've been on a Metallica and Tool tear, it was nice to change up the pace. (Plus, I have a bit of a weakness for British accents)
I'm tempted to give this a 5 - so I will! (I think I'm less likely to regret giving this a 5 than when I gave Steely Dan a 5 ha ha)
Alanis Morissette
4/5
I will attempt to sum up the themes of this album:
I want you! … and it’s all your fault
I hate you! … and it’s all your fault
I love you! … and it’s all your fault
I’m a pervert! … and it’s all your fault
This album has a pretty special place in my music taste journey, I remember listening to it heaps when it came out, and it was probably the one of the best intros in to female rage a young lass can get. It’s dated, sure, and the harmonica solo can go fuck itself, and ironic is not actually that ironic - but I enjoyed this little trip down memory lane today.
Embarrassing story time. I was in grade 5 when this came out, and I had a mega crush on a grade 6 boy - things seemed like they were going to happen between us, he’d asked me out, I’d said yes, instantly I was in love.
That night listening to the local radio request line I hear him call up and request a song, and dedicate it to another girl who was in grade 6, Philippa.
I. Was. Devastated.
I listened and sang my heart out to You Outta Know over and over, and felt ALL THE FEELINGS little 11 year old me could. (Maybe a slight overreaction?)
Here begins the start of me having feelings for boys that I liked waaay more than they ever liked me, and being all dramatic about it. Thanks Alanis 🙃
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
As if my week couldn’t get worse - this album made me listen to nonstop harmonicas.
Death to harmonicas
The Flaming Lips
3/5
Whoops - I haven’t listened to this yet, but accidentally rated it. I’ll come back later!
This is me back later - it was ok but nothing to write home about
Pavement
2/5
I thought I'd enjoy this more?
Robert Wyatt
1/5
Yuck - I wish I could have shlept through that one.
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
Well thanks Trent, now I’m all angry and sad and horny!
Which tbf is pretty much how I always feel, and probably why I love this album so much! 😅
This really is a masterpiece - It scratches my brain in all the good ways
Jurassic 5
4/5
Such a great album! I already knew What's Golden, but the rest was new to me - loved it
Thin Lizzy
3/5
The apple music listing for this album has nearly 10 hours of music.
Your Lizzy might be thin, but that's just still too much Lizzy for me thanks.
Another one where 'you shoulda been there'. Live music should just be live, and not recorded (with a very few exceptions)
Orbital
3/5
A bit repetitive and tedious - but could be great music to disassociate to, noting it down for next time I need to enter the loop of mindless numbness.
Beatles
2/5
I think I prefer this sound to the 'took too much' vibe of some of the other Beatles albums we've had - plus its very short which helps. The Beatles are not really my thing, and I've never got the hype, but I appreciate their contributions to music - there's just way too many Beatles (and offshoot projects) on this list.
Minus one star for the harmonica solo in Little Child AND that its fucking creepy to sing lyrics which say: 'Little child, won't you dance with me? I'm so sad and lonely. If you want someone to make you feel so fine, Then we'll have some fun when you're mine.' What is wrong with men? Why is there so much infantilising women, and/or singing about literal children/under age girls? Fuckin gross dude, groom much?
The Vines
4/5
I really enjoyed this - an extra star for being an Australian band (under represented on this list if you ask me!)
I'd only really heard one other track by this group 'Ride' which is a banger and worth a listen. I'll come back to listen to this again
Killing Joke
4/5
Wow! I loved this! Ahead of its time. Such a great combination of punk, industrial, metal and alt rock - right up my alley and such a good find from this challenge - I'll be back to listen to this one!
Suicide
3/5
Started strong - went down hill.
There's something really interesting going on here that I can't quite put my finger on, but I think it was somewhat ruined by the repetitive beat/synth, the same one in the majority of the tracks. I think if this had been mixed up a bit more I would have been more into it?
I liked the harsh minimalist beats juxtaposed with the airy ethereal voice - but it went on a bit hey, even for a 30min record!
Kanye West
1/5
Everybody know I’m a mutha fuckin' monster - you said it Ye
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
I didn't mind this album and enjoyed the sound of his vocals - but I think I wasn't in the mood. I'd be interested to pop this one on for a listen when I'm feeling moody and whiney - just the ticket.
Slayer
2/5
I enjoy a bit of metal, but this is too metal/thrash for me!
Blur
5/5
Ok full disclosure - the full album is closer to a 4 star rating for me, but I NEED to add Beetlebum to our playlist, so its getting a bump! Beetlebum is one of my all time favourite tracks !
I vividly remember when Song 2 was released - I was 12 years old, sitting watching Rage one Saturday morning and it totally blew me away! I was really just starting to figure out my music taste, had just started learning the bass, and the chunky bass riff juxtaposed with the lighter guitar just really got me. Plus I thought Damon Albarn was hot. Great flim clip!
I just slip away and I am gone
Peter Gabriel
4/5
This was kind of great actually - I haven't listened to a lot of Peter Gabriel, but I enjoyed the journey this album took me on.
Where it gets let down a little for me is pop drum/synth vibes, which I guess is just 'of its time', but I'd be super interested to know how these songs would translate as acoustic versions.
Fave track: Mercy Street
PJ Harvey
3/5
I'm annoyed at myself for not liking PJ Harvey more. She has all the ingredients! I should LOVE her.
...but I always get about 4 tracks into her work and I've had enough - sorry PJ, not sure what it is, but I will keep working on it.
Gene Clark
1/5
You lost me at harmonica.
What a snoozefeet
Suede
4/5
I really enjoyed this album - felt like a bit of a Bowie and Killers mashup in parts, a nice mix of new wave, post-punk, alt-rock. I think what I enjoyed so much about this album was the variation across the tracks compared to some of the other britpop era we've had.
I've not listened to much Suede - another one of those funny music hang-ups I have. It felt like in the mid-90s you needed to pick a britpop band, and my pick was Blur, so Oasis, Pulp and Suede went by the wayside. Dumb in hindsight, but teen me had weird unnecessary rules that I'm still unpicking as an adult.
I'm giving this a 4, but I might come back and bump it up after a few more listens
The Style Council
3/5
If Dissociative Identity Disorder was an album
Sabu
1/5
Today was my last day (working) at the prison, except it nearly wasn’t, because this album made me want to commit a murder.
Richard Thompson
2/5
I mostly didn't enjoy it, but it had a few nice moments, The Great Valerio was a highlight
Cornershop
3/5
Felt nostalgic for a few of these tracks, but mostly not that into it and probably wouldn’t give it another spin
Neil Young
2/5
This would be such a great list if you enjoyed Neil Young. Its just too much Neil Young for me.
Astor Piazzolla
2/5
I'm not against the mallets, its an important part of an ensemble, but this was too much mallets (for me)
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
4/5
I really liked this, I'll be back for more listens
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Not really my jam, but appreciated the listen.
Pere Ubu
1/5
This album can just fuck all the way off.
Mott The Hoople
2/5
Skippable
Björk
4/5
I really enjoyed this album, beautiful, floating, falling and rising. Plus i'm a big fan of the harp! I hadn't listened to it before, but I'll be coming back to this album, and I loved the cover art.
Basement Jaxx
5/5
I don't understand why so many have downvoted this album! It's an absolute banger!
Some of these stars might be a little nostalgic, but I stand by that it is a great album! This was another of the albums my friends and I shared in our CD club in school, so its not only had many spins from me, but was also a regular at house parties! My friends and I made up a group dance to Red Alert which we 'performed' at every possible opportunity - ha ha!
It was also my first graphic design 'job' - I redesigned the cover (not sure why, its pretty rad as it is!) as my first assignment in a graphic design short course in year 10, and as they say... the rest is history!
KISS
2/5
I prefer my kisses with the perfect amount of tongue, and my music challenges with a lot less KISS.
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
I really enjoyed this album in the beginning, then the further I got through the more it sounded just like The City on a Hill Christmas Album. Lovely voice, mostly really enjoyed the musicality, just outstayed it welcome by about 30mins
Miles Davis
2/5
Jazzy - talented musicians making music I'm just not that into (I'm trying for the sake of my child though!), at least it was a quickie!
R.E.M.
3/5
This is the third R.E.M. album we've had, which is just too much for me. I've always found Michael Stipe's vocal style a little irritating, so all the songs turn into a blur for me. They are not bad, but I'm just not in love with them
Fred Neil
2/5
I probably could have enjoyed this album if it wasn't so full of harmonicas.
Throbbing Gristle
3/5
Tough to rate!
I have mixed feeling about this album - on the one hand the cover is appalling, the song titles/lyrics are pretty creepy and dark - the whole album puts you on edge. It's not what I would call an 'enjoyable' experience.
On the other hand - this music hasn't been created for an enjoyable experience (nor should it be, there's plenty of music to help you feel happy or sad or sound lovely - this is something different entirely!), so ultimately I found the musicality and instrumentation really interesting and it drew me in. I can imagine this type of experimental industrial sound paved the way for bands like NIN and Marilyn Manson, Tool, punk and some electronica too.
So I'm left feeling conflicted - I can certainly see why so many have rated it poorly, but I also don't think the band is just for pretentious avantgarde music nob edgelords (unless maybe I am one, and just have no insight?). Its a tough listen but also fascinating and complex.
Dark and bad and weird - maybe that's why I was kinda into it.
Could be worse!? It could be more harmonica shit.
Dr. Dre
1/5
Should be rereleased as The Chronic {fatigue} because I am SICK and TIRED of all the misogyny in 90s rap.
I don't want to hear any more about your dick, or how you belittle women, or the glorification of violence, drugs and money.
Obviously this music is of its time, and it was deeply encouraged by the music industry and the audience in the 90s - but I just don't want to listen to this kind of music anymore.
Not trying to be woke, just had enough.
The Black Crowes
2/5
I'm not sure how anyone would 'shake their money maker' to this? Although then again MY money maker is my brain, and yes, I am shaking my head, so I guess it checks out.
Can
4/5
This was so unexpected! I loved it!