321
Albums Rated
3.46
Average Rating
29%
Complete
768 albums remaining
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2010s
Favorite Decade
Hip-hop
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US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
58
5-Star Albums
8
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
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Ratings by genre
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Ratings by country
Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ctrl | 5 | 2.91 | +2.09 |
| Your Arsenal | 5 | 3.05 | +1.95 |
| Treasure | 5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
| Legalize It | 5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
| A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector | 5 | 3.28 | +1.72 |
| The Slim Shady LP | 5 | 3.29 | +1.71 |
| The Next Day | 5 | 3.3 | +1.7 |
| Channel Orange | 5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
| Surf's Up | 5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
| The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady | 5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parklife | 1 | 3.38 | -2.38 |
| Faith | 1 | 3.27 | -2.27 |
| Hysteria | 1 | 3.21 | -2.21 |
| Colour By Numbers | 1 | 2.84 | -1.84 |
| Live / Dead | 1 | 2.83 | -1.83 |
| Hot Fuss | 2 | 3.74 | -1.74 |
| Morrison Hotel | 2 | 3.59 | -1.59 |
| The Wildest! | 2 | 3.54 | -1.54 |
| The Clash | 2 | 3.54 | -1.54 |
| Surrealistic Pillow | 2 | 3.53 | -1.53 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| David Bowie | 5 | 4.8 |
| Black Sabbath | 2 | 5 |
| Beastie Boys | 2 | 5 |
| Talking Heads | 2 | 5 |
| Eminem | 2 | 5 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Beach Boys | 3 | 4.33 |
| Beatles | 5 | 4 |
5-Star Albums (58)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
The Beach Boys
5/5
This week I had Blackstar, Highway 51, Diamond Life, Remain In Light and now Pet Sounds. 5 straight 5s for me. The perfect week.
3 likes
4-Star Albums (85)
1-Star Albums (8)
All Ratings
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Little Richard
4/5
finger waggin music
Adele
5/5
Art Class c.2011 no skips
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
Hello Cowgirl in the Sand
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
Sometimes it hurts so badly, I must cry out loud
The Go-Go's
4/5
This……. Town
Opening Fast Times scene
The Temptations
3/5
you gotta do your thing
The KLF
2/5
Not my style, but some enjoyable moments. (Uh-huh-uh)
Girls Against Boys
2/5
Motörhead
3/5
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 out of 5
Black Sabbath
5/5
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
Thanks Ned for the CD.
Anthrax
4/5
Imitation of Life! Didn’t expect to like this as much as I did.
Grizzly Bear
3/5
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Coldplay
3/5
Very solid album. Not my personal preference so I don’t see myself revisiting much, but worth a listen for sure.
Metallica
5/5
Justice
3/5
Very enjoyable for a guy that doesn’t frequent this style. Worth revisiting if you want to do the D.A.N.C.E
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
Very high 4, but a few skips. Definitely need to revisit more.
The Band
5/5
Did you ever milk a cow?
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Didn't expect to like this, but can't stop listening. Silvio is the man. Bruce is the Boss.
Herbie Hancock
4/5
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
George Michael
1/5
Ruined my drive home.
Cornershop
2/5
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
Rush
4/5
These guys rock. I don't find myself ever turning on Rush, but every time I do, I have to appreciate how hard they rock.
N.W.A.
5/5
Van Morrison
3/5
I like what I hear, but I wish some of the songs were a little shorter. I think Van Morrison really perfected what he was trying to do with his next album, Moondance.
The Monkees
2/5
plain
Stan Getz
3/5
Snoop Dogg
5/5
The Beach Boys
3/5
The Human League
2/5
Decent songs, but too 80s for me.
Ute Lemper
2/5
Ute Lemper has a beautiful voice and when paired with the writing of Nick Cave, Tom Waits, Phillip Glass, and many more legends, there are some interesting songs on here. That being said, the songs are pretty slow and long. I’m not sure I’ll ever pop this on again, but there was some enjoyment to be had.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Undeniable classic, but way too long.
The Who
4/5
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
I prefer other Simon and Garfunkel projects. This was enjoyable, but I couldn't get into it that much.
Portishead
5/5
Listened five times in a row.
Magazine
3/5
Steely Dan
5/5
Fire in the hole! Listened on the drive home after the last day of school before Christmas break. Will be revisiting.
Various Artists
5/5
Christmas 2023 - While sad or hectic at times, weirdly one of the best holidays I’ve had in a while.
The War On Drugs
2/5
boring
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
1/5
This was hard to get through. I hate when people just play noise and try to call it punk. It didn’t feel genuine. It’s like someone said I think I’ll make a punk album next and made this.
Elis Regina
2/5
Decent songs but not something I’ll revisit
Television
4/5
Beatles
5/5
Air
3/5
Van Morrison
5/5
The Mothers Of Invention
4/5
I’m surprised how much I liked this. Worth a revisit.
David Bowie
5/5
While I’m not an ambient fan, my favorite ambient songs are on Low. The first half is flawless. Since I’m not always in the mood for ambience I’m tempted to go 4 stars, but that first half is just too good to deny.
The Kinks
4/5
Arrested Development
2/5
Louis Prima
2/5
Typical swing.. Not bad, but not sure I'll ever revisit
Culture Club
1/5
Hard to get through
Wilco
3/5
Solid indie rock, not my favorite genre, but I enjoyed multiple songs on here for sure.
Nick Drake
4/5
Revisit
Tina Turner
4/5
Tina rocks
Liz Phair
3/5
Revisit
Beck
3/5
I thought Loser was on this one and was kind of bummed when it never came on. I listened on my morning commute. I enjoyed most songs, but not one of my favorite styles. Reminds me of going through my uncle's CD collection.
Alanis Morissette
5/5
Hailing a taxi cab
Jefferson Airplane
2/5
You might recognize this song as performed by Jefferson Airplane, in a little rockumentary called "Gimme Shelter," about the Rolling Stones and their nightmare at Altamont. That night the Oakland chapter of the Hell's Angels had their way. Tonight, it's my turn.
I'm not into psychedelic music. I am just not on the right amount of drugs for it. There's a few good songs though.
T. Rex
4/5
Leftfield
2/5
There's some pockets that I can get into, but house is just not for me.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
Nas
5/5
30 years later and there's still no misses. I got into this as a freshman in college, and it instantly became one of my favorite rap albums. The hype is real behind this.
Aerosmith
2/5
Classic rock is just not for me. There are a few good hits on here though.
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
Not my favorite genre, but still entertaining enough.
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
The songs are really long, and the whole album is pretty long. I did like the sound, and I am surprised I had never heard of this. I think it is worth a revisit in the future, but nothing that blew me away.
Queen
3/5
While I'm not really into the classic rock sound, Queen has a way of getting into pockets that I really enjoy.
Pixies
4/5
IS SHE WEIRD? IS SHE WHITE?
I love Doolittle and a lot of these songs sound like they could have been on Doolittle. There are a few misses though, but definitely worth revisiting again in the future.
The Band
4/5
The Incredible String Band
1/5
Hard to get through
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
I remember you was conflicted.
Kendrick Lamar is the best rapper of all time and this is the best rap album of all time. This album had a huge effect on me. As someone who was always a casual rap fan, the release of this album made me dive deeper into rap. Years later, I still love all the songs. It’s hard to pick a favorite.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Santana
4/5
Carole King
5/5
I have made so many memories with this album throughout my whole life. I love every song. It is timeless.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Great opener, but Joni has better albums
3/5
The Afghan Whigs
3/5
Decent but much better out there with this style
Pink Floyd
5/5
Funkadelic
3/5
Cocteau Twins
5/5
Here’s what it says
Def Leppard
1/5
So outdated... I had never really listened to Def Leppard and I will never again.
Van Halen
2/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Elton John
3/5
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
It’s too rock-y alternative for me. I like the punk elements. Decent listen, but probably won’t revisit.
Traffic
3/5
Mid
Brian Eno
3/5
Influential to music I like but not something I’ll listen to often
Pearl Jam
3/5
Not as bad as I thought, but still not for me.
The Zombies
3/5
This is one of my favorite psych albums I've heard. The songs are catchy and very re-listenable. I hardly ever turn on psychedelic music, but this was enjoyable.
Brian Wilson
3/5
I didn’t know the story of this album, but I had heard a few songs from Fantastic Mr Fox. I’m interested in hearing the Smile sessions they released.
Ian Dury
3/5
Not nearly as bad as people say… some solid singles and the deep cuts aren’t too bad either
David Bowie
4/5
Not my favorite Bowie, but I enjoy every song and definitely will revisit.
Paul Simon
5/5
Chicago 5/30/24
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
some good songs, but Queens of the Stone Age have better albums to hear before this one. After a whole hour, their sound gets old to me.
Guns N' Roses
3/5
“I drink and drive” is one of the lyrics on a song talking about how easy it is to have sex with women… I hate this era of music. It’s hard to listen to because it’s so dated. Paradise City is 7 minutes long. Why? Riffs go crazy at times though, and the San Andreas commercial changed my life. I want to give this 2 stars, maybe even 1 when I really analyze it… but I can’t deny the impact.
Pretenders
3/5
Maybe revisit eventually
The Cure
5/5
Bon Jovi
2/5
Morrissey
5/5
It’s really laughable ah ha haha haha
Tim Buckley
2/5
Boring…
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Little Wing is one of my favorite songs. I’ve always respected Jimi Hendrix from a guitar playing perspective, but I haven’t been crazy about his music. Few hits on here that I love but I don’t care to relisten to most of the deep cuts.
The Police
5/5
very surprised by how much I enjoyed this and how much I foresee myself revisiting
Radiohead
4/5
Way better than I anticipated
MGMT
4/5
Few skips but every song that I like I like a lot
Sepultura
4/5
Riffs
Queen
4/5
Flick of the wrist
Beatles
3/5
They don’t make bad songs, but they’ve made much better.
Otis Redding
3/5
The Vines
4/5
Ray Charles
3/5
Let the good times roll
Elton John
3/5
Some undeniable big hits, but a lot of skips for me.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Who is this son of a preacher man and why ain’t he preaching no more?
ZZ Top
3/5
Ice Cube
3/5
A few classic songs, but lots of corny rhymes and skits. Rap has evolved so much that some of the early classics aged poorly.
Very influential album, but not something I want to listen to other than the classic songs
David Bowie
5/5
Bowie doesn’t make bad songs.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
Couple tracks
The Police
3/5
Not my favorite stuff from them. Mother is an immediate skip.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Super sick
The Residents
1/5
I can appreciate the experimentation, but the product is simply something that I don’t want to hear.
Stephen Stills
3/5
Shivkumar Sharma
2/5
Metallica
3/5
Not something I’ll listen to again. Metallica has better hits and better deep cuts on multiple different albums. I want to give it a 4, but the truth is I’ll never listen to any of these songs by choice.
Norah Jones
3/5
Very easy and chill.. it has its place but it’s just not my first choice of music.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
Tom Waits
3/5
This really grew on me as I listened to it. It’s amazing how he can take something that’s kind of harsh to listen to and still find a way to create catchy, memorable moments. I think I’ll regret going this low as this continues to grow on me.
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
Enjoyed enough to add to my library
The Smiths
4/5
Sonic Youth
4/5
deep dive soon
Carpenters
3/5
Underworld
2/5
Hugh Masekela
3/5
Revisit if you wanna hear some keys
Kate Bush
4/5
I might regret not giving this a 5 later. This is like nothing I’ve really heard before. I love most of the songs, but I’m not sure I like the whole album as much as my other 5s.
Kraftwerk
4/5
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
Guitar guy music… can’t fully enjoy without a fedora and a fender shirt
Prefab Sprout
3/5
Decent
Pink Floyd
3/5
While I like all the songs, they’re not songs I want to hear very often. That being said, Have A Cigar fucks.
Ramones
3/5
This album directly influenced the music I love, however, it’s not something I want to listen to very often. There’s a couple tracks that are good for sure, but it gets old.
Peter Tosh
5/5
3/5
A good collection of Dylan songs with some interesting history. Not sure if I’ll ever particularly seek out the bootleg live album though.
Röyksopp
3/5
A couple decent tracks, but not my usual style of music
Fugees
5/5
Beastie Boys
5/5
I smoked up a bag of elephant tranquilizer.
Milton Nascimento
2/5
Not bad but won’t listen again
Soundgarden
3/5
Public Enemy
3/5
Production is crazy, lyrics and flows are influential… but too old school for me
Prince
4/5
I don’t like the 80s sounds typically, but these are the best 80s songs I’ve heard.
The Stone Roses
4/5
I wanna be adored
Ali Farka Touré
2/5
The Slits
3/5
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
Solid
4/5
Underrated band
Elvis Presley
4/5
William Orbit
2/5
Ozomatli
3/5
Better than I thought.. Latin-Rock/Rap that can be fun, but probably won’t revisit.
Björk
4/5
Björk is a one of a kind artist.
Lorde
3/5
Solid
David Bowie
5/5
In 2016, this was my introduction to David Bowie. I have always respected his ability to release one of his best projects days before his death. Upon revisiting, there are a few low points, but the other songs are incredible. The low points aren’t bad, but get overshadowed by stronger tracks (some of Bowie’s best ever).
Bob Dylan
5/5
Sade
5/5
Talking Heads
5/5
Where is that large automobile??
The Beach Boys
5/5
This week I had Blackstar, Highway 51, Diamond Life, Remain In Light and now Pet Sounds. 5 straight 5s for me. The perfect week.
The Temptations
3/5
Decent but nothing stands out
George Jones
3/5
Not super into country but decent
Fred Neil
3/5
Revisit… never heard of this before but pretty good
Roxy Music
3/5
Solid
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
Solid
Björk
3/5
VIOLENTLY HAPPY
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
My niece loves this
Slade
2/5
The Sugarcubes
3/5
I didn’t know Björk had a band. Thank you 1001 for the info.
Parliament
4/5
I loved almost every song. It is the perfect album to scratch your funk itch. I don't necessarily get a funk itch often though, so I don't know how much I'll revisit. That being said, this album obviously inspired Dr. Dre to create the G-Funk sound, which resulted in some of the first songs I have ever loved including Let Me Ride which samples Mothership Connection. I am sure I'll revisit whenever I want to get funked up.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Not I! I have heard of multiple Arcade Fire albums, but never this one. I was surprised to see this on the list, but it is my official introduction to Arcade Fire and I like what I heard. I’m excited to hear there other albums on the list whenever I get them.
Dolly Parton
3/5
The Louvin Brothers
3/5
Go down Knoxville girl
Elliott Smith
5/5
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Worth a revisit. Very fun.
4/5
Not my favorite from them but still an awesome album
LL Cool J
4/5
Surprised how good this was. Respect to Ladies Love
ABBA
5/5
So many good songs
The Modern Lovers
4/5
A lot of the songs are in the same key leading it to sound samesy throughout but I do enjoy the songs on their own. Very influential to music that I love
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Marvin Gaye
5/5
I got this in the heat of a political crisis. I chose to revisit a few days later and heard news of a murder by police. Fifty-three years later and the question still lingers: What’s Going On?
White Denim
3/5
Very jammy
Gorillaz
4/5
Pretty sick
Dr. Dre
5/5
I don’t think The Chronic holds up as well as some other rap classics (Illmatic, Doggystyle, Reasonable Doubt). The hits are huge and the deep cuts have great verses from everyone in Death Row, but there’s a lot of skits and some skips in the back half. However, this is one of the most impactful albums ever. While I almost want to give it a 4 since I don’t like it as much as other classics, the impact speaks for itself. It’s a must for anyone wanting to listen to rap for the first time.
The Byrds
3/5
Marianne Faithfull
3/5
That last song had me shocked.
Destiny's Child
4/5
Fun, but Beyonce has so much better.
Al Green
4/5
Joan Armatrading
3/5
I had never heard of Joan, but enjoyed what I heard.
Kings of Leon
3/5
Solid
Jeru The Damaja
4/5
Never heard this before but enjoyed it. DJ Premier
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Janelle Monáe
4/5
Impressed
Korn
3/5
Korn is a very influential band, and directly has inspired a generation of metal and heavy music. The band specifically was foundational in the creation of Nu-Metal. This record is when they became huge. My parents had this CD, and I definitely liked a few songs. That being said, it never was a super important record for me. It’s important for Nu-Metal, but that’s a genre that I don’t particularly enjoy. Listening to this as an adult was tough honestly. I will give the record its props for being influential, and delivering a few solid tracks, but it’s just not for me. It’s way too long, and the lyrics are super cringy at times. I know Jonathan Davis really poured his heart into the lyrics with most being about childhood trauma, but some are just hard to listen to and take seriously. All respect to Korn, but I was too young to really enjoy this when it was popular, and I feel like it’s too dated to enjoy at my current age.
Madonna
3/5
The American Pie cover sucks, but there’s some great songs.
Sigur Rós
4/5
Euphoric. Some tracks, such as stood out more than others, but the whole thing is super enjoyable.
The Offspring
3/5
Big hits but just okay. Shoutout Bad Religion.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Cover songs done well, but nothing that really stands out for me.
Metallica
3/5
Chug chug chug. Ultimately, I think the band has better albums, but there are definitely some great standout tracks on this record.
Metallica
2/5
Super cool idea, but also never listening to this again.
Beck
3/5
Good, chill, but too slow for me
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
Scott LaFaro, influential Jazz bassist, recorded this a little over a week before he sadly passed at 25 years old. I’m not going to claim to be an expert on Jazz. It’s a genre that I’ve heard a handful of records, but have trouble deciphering what’s great and what’s bad. I really rely on my personal preference. I enjoyed the piano from Evans, and the bass definitely stood out. That being said, I’m not sure this is a Jazz record I will revisit often. The instrumentation was phenomenal like most Jazz records, but not much stood out to me compared to other records, other than the bass, which I did love.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Most of the music I listen to goes back to this in some way.
Dire Straits
3/5
Lot of licks
The xx
4/5
I originally heard most of this album on a mashup album by Wait What that combined this with Notorious BIG. I grew to love the hooks and both of their voices. It took me a long time to actually properly listen to this record. I’m happy that I did. It is the perfect early morning/reading/chill album.
Kanye West
4/5
Overrated by many, but still a great rap record.
Radiohead
4/5
I’m new to Radiohead. I have sampled in the past but nothing has stuck. 1001 has gave me two now and I’m enjoying it! Excited to get one of the more popular albums
The Avalanches
2/5
Long and not for me.. few highlights though
Eminem
5/5
Some of the lyrics have aged super poorly. It’s full on cringy at some times, but I can’t get myself to give it less than a 5. The hits are undeniable classics from my childhood, and the deep cuts are some of Eminem’s best songs.
Neil Young
4/5
I’m a huge Neil Young fan, and this is loaded with great songs. It’s Neil’s most famous record for sure, for good reason, but a lot of the core fan base prefers other records. I recommend the 33 1/3 book about this album.
Paul Simon
4/5
Megadeth
3/5
Thrash staple with lots of great riffs, but not really for me
Deep Purple
3/5
Early metal that influenced guitarists all over the world
Beatles
4/5
Not their best, but they don’t make bad songs.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Not my favorite from Bruce Springsteen, but very good.
Ray Charles
2/5
Way too long
Charles Mingus
5/5
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
I would consider myself a very casual Jazz fan. I can’t expound my opinion on it and rely solely on what catches my ear. A friend showed this to me in high school, and it instantly caught my ear. The time signatures keep the music interesting, but never make it sound too uninviting. As a casual Jazz fan, I have room for only a few Jazz records in my life, and this will always be one of them.
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Funk is not my primary genre, but there’s so many great tracks on this record. Some of the slower and sometimes seductive songs end up getting skipped, but it’s still a super solid Funk album.
Bob Dylan
5/5
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Low End Theory is a classic rap record that everyone should hear. Tribe was introduced to me by my mother who had their greatest hits CD. I grew up loving all of the hits and the hits on this record are some of my favorite rap songs of all time. Tribe is influential in Jazz Rap which led to my favorite album, To Pimp A Butterfly. As much praise as I have for the influence and a handful of tracks on this, it’s a bit repetitive. Some of the deep cuts are skips for me, because it’s the same Jazz beat with the same style of flow over it. I love the style, but it gets old after a while. It’s great for what it is, and a must listen for anyone wanting to get into rap. I think of it every time I have a Dr Pepper. RIP Phife!!
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Backstreets is the stand out for me, but the tracklist is solid from front to back. The piano riff on Jungleland reminds me a lot of Tiny Dancer, but it’s still a great song. I don’t think this is Springsteen’s best but it’s definitely a classic.
Beastie Boys
5/5
I heard this at the skatepark at a very young age, and it changed the course of my life. Girls has aged poorly for me, but the rest still holds up. Paul Revere is one of my favorite songs ever. I have so many memories with this record.
Iron Maiden
3/5
I typically don’t like this type of music. On my first listen, I appreciated this record, but I didn’t expect to revisit it. After a long day with kids, I had a few beers and found myself turning it back on. It rocks.
Butthole Surfers
3/5
Influential to music I don’t really like. Highlights here and there for sure, and I can appreciate the artistry, but it’s not for me.
The Flaming Lips
4/5
I liked this way better than I anticipated. The production is insane, and it makes for a replayable record.
The Soft Boys
3/5
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
One of the best funk albums of all time. Growing up, my brother bought a guitar. Since he got to that first, I decided to buy a bass. I quickly learned the name Sly Stone. This rocks, but I probably won’t return to it often.
Keith Jarrett
5/5
Keith Jarrett requested a specific piano for this concert. When he arrived, he learned it was a much different, smaller model. He almost didn’t play at all, but decided to improvise to make up for the lack of bass in the piano he was forced to play. I was blown away with his performance already, but after learning the background, it makes it that much more impressive.
The Clash
3/5
The Clash’s London Calling is regarded as a classic and a must hear by many. I’m a long time Punk fan, but being born in 1996, The Clash wasn’t on my radar for a long time. I found the Misfits at a young age, and never really listened to The Clash based on the overplayed hits I heard all the time. I went a different direction as far as Punk goes. I finally took the time to listen to this super long record, and I’m sorry, but I’m not impressed. I get that it has ska, early punk, early new wave, etc. I get that it’s influential for those reasons, but there’s only a handful of tracks on this record I even kind of like, and it’s over an hour long. When compared with other music that is foundational for Punk, it’s hard to even call this Punk. I feel like this is what that one “Classic Rock bro” you grew up with says he listens to when you say you like Punk. If they only put out the best ten tracks off of this record, I’d probably rate it higher, but as is, it’s just not for me.
The Stooges
3/5
Influential and historic, but too basic for me. I Wanna Be Your Dog is a great song, but there are many others that just don’t do it for me. Lyrically, The Stooges is obviously lacking. Musically, they were foreshadowing the creation of Punk in the 70s. Punk being one of my favorite genres, I have to respect The Stooges. That being said, I think Raw Power is better. John Cale has some nice production on here for the time, and Iggy is an icon, but overall, it’s not something I see myself revisiting very often.
Cat Stevens
4/5
Cat Stevens is an impeccable writer and showcases that talent on this Folk classic. There are some stand out tracks, and the low points are still enjoyable.
Nick Drake
4/5
The instrumentation, specifically the Nick Drake’s guitar performance, is so awesome. I feel like the 70s Folk scene had some secret shredders that don’t get the respect from Big Guitar. In addition to the instrumentation, Drake’s writing and vocal performance really solidify Bryter Layter as a classic collection of timeless Folk songs. I’m tempted to go 5, and I think with more time I will eventually value this as a 5, but I’m so damn far behind on the list that I don’t have time to let it sit much more than I already have.
3/5
I think this guy likes guitar pedals. Decent album, but not really for me.
Stan Getz
3/5
Enjoyable, but just not something I will revisit
Steely Dan
4/5
Steely Dan incorporates more Jazz and shows off some great songwriting on Pretzel Logic, but it doesn’t live up to Can’t Buy a Thrill for me personally.
Talking Heads
5/5
I was first introduced to Talking Heads with Remain in Light when I got it on the site. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved that record, and when I got Fear of Music, I was excited to hear it. I need to relisten to Remain in Light, but I think I prefer Fear of Music. The vocal performance and lyrics from Byrne are so unique and fun. I have Remain in Light a 5, and as I said, I think I prefer this one, but it doesn’t feel like a 5. More like a 4.5, but as we all know, the site does not believe in .5s.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Exodus was one of the first records I truly loved. My dad had this CD in his truck, and I immediately enjoyed a lot of the songs. The tracks that I didn’t enjoy as much have grown on me over the years. I think part of the reason for favoring some tracks to others was my lack of understanding of the meaning behind some of the deeper more political tracks.
Joy Division
5/5
Atmospheric Post Punk that was almost accidentally created by producer, Martin Hannett. Multiple members of Joy Division went on to say they weren’t happy with the sound of this record. They felt it should be a lot more energetic and driving like their live shows. I think I would love to hear these songs in a live, more energetic setting, but I also love the way this record sounds. It’s dark, bleak and mysterious. Unknown Pleasures is iconic for so many reasons. One being the cover art, but it is also influential to Post-Punk and New Wave which directly inspired so much of the music I grew up loving. Some of the record gets a little repetitive for me, but I also can’t stop playing it. After hearing of Ian Curtis’ tragic story, it makes some of these lyrics hit way harder. It makes the dark aesthetic so much darker. I knew I’d love this, but put off listening to it for so many years. I finally got it on 1001, and now I can’t wait to hear Closer. A loaded gun won’t set you free, so you say.
The Notorious B.I.G.
5/5
A bonafide classic that is loaded with massive hits and some of the best hip hop deep cuts ever. Puffy’s production impresses throughout this record. Considering Diddy’s crimes, and some of the outdated lyricism from BIG, I was expecting to not like this as much as I used to. The sexual interludes and “sucking on your daddy’s dick” level of nastiness included in the lyrics is uncomfortable to say the least. That being said, BIG’s lyrics and flow are influential and timeless. The personal lyrics about thoughts of suicide are some of the first deeply personal lyrics included in hip hop. It’s hard to give this much lower of a score, because it shaped my interests at a young age honestly. And although, it has aged poorer than others, it is loaded with classics. Everyday Struggle isn’t a song that gets mentioned often, but I like it more than other rappers’ whole discography. Juicy is one of the best songs of all time regardless of genre. There are so many other tracks I could mention, because it is that loaded.
Solange
3/5
A Seat at the Table is an incredibly solid Neo-Soul record that lyrically offers both political views and personal trauma. This is a record that you can put on and let play and thoroughly enjoy while simultaneously offering much more depth for a focused listen. The over abundance of interludes definitely get in the way of the flow of the record, but are necessary to help complete the story that Solange is trying to tell. I enjoyed this record, but I’m unsure why it’s included on 1001albumsgenerator.com. It’s very solid throughout and culturally significant, but I don’t think it stands up to other Neo-Soul records of the 2010s.
Green Day
5/5
Dookie is a classic for many reasons. It’s truly the first commercial Punk record. Although, Bad Religion and Epitaph Records released some records that saw widespread appeal, Dookie was the first Punk record to be super radio friendly and mainstream. There’s obviously classic songs on this record that everyone knows. My mother had this CD in her car when my brother and I were very little and I remember those car rides fondly. Green Day really opened a lot of doors for me, and I think that’s what makes this record so special is that it opened doors for a lot of people. Kids who didn’t have a Punk scene in their city were exposed to something they had no idea existed. There are a few skips on this record though. The influence and big hits really carry this record in my opinion. The bass doesn’t get enough love either! Personally, it’s a little too mainstream, poppy and slow for me, but that’s what made it accessible to my mother which made me fall in love with Punk. It’s important, but not something I listen to often.
Beatles
4/5
It’s hard to rate Beatles albums. Almost every single record by The Beatles contains revolutionary ideas and some of my favorite Beatles songs from their catalog. A lot of them also have a few misses for me personally. My ears have never enjoyed the sound of sitar. I respect them for exploring all genres of music, but it turns me off from some of their songs. Some songs like Birthday from the White Album or Good Day Sunshine from this record are just corny to me. The musicianship is always great, but those songs amongst others are skips for me. Despite having a few skips, it’s hard to criticize this record too much because of how revolutionary it was. The Beatles started using the studio as an instrument, which really changed music as we know. And while there’s some songs I personally don’t love, they also have some of their best songs ever on this record.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
The first three tracks of this are great. The last track is good, but the long spoken word intro just isn’t for me. When Walk On came on I instantly recognized it from how many times it’s been sampled, and I think that shows just how impactful this record has been.
The White Stripes
3/5
I’m admittedly not a huge White Stripes fan. Growing up, my mom was, so I have an appreciation for some of their tracks that I grew up with, but this album doesn’t have many of those tracks. Elephant is much better in my opinion. That being said, Blue Orchid is a banger.
FKA twigs
3/5
Tim Buckley
2/5
It’s gonna be a no for me dog
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
Half of this album consists of 4 of the most iconic songs ever made. The other half makes me want to kill myself.
Duke Ellington
3/5
Finger waggin music! Fun to listen to, and I can understand the cultural significance of this performance and moment in history, but it’s not something I see myself listening to again. I’m not super well versed in jazz, but Swing/Big Band is not really my thing.
Dusty Springfield
2/5
I know covers were popular when this was released, and I don’t hate covers, but this whole record is just a compilation of super popular songs. Sure, Dusty’s a good singer, but it just doesn’t really interest me I guess. The songs aren’t changed much at all or anything. It’s not bad, but it’s just not for me.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Dinosaur Jr is insanely influential for music that I really like, but I think they have better albums than this one.
Bad Brains
3/5
I against I against I against I against I against I.. Some standout tracks, but falls short as a whole for me personally.
Oasis
3/5
Straight forward Rock N Roll. I like the hits and a few other tracks, but there’s a few skips for me.
Meat Loaf
3/5
Not really for me, but a fun listen
The Velvet Underground
5/5
There are so many tracks on this record that are instantly enjoyable and timeless to say the least.
Kings of Leon
2/5
I prefer their earlier, more garage stuff. But even then, I’m not super into these guys at all.
Lauryn Hill
5/5
This is the perfect blend of R&B and Rap. Lauryn Hill has a lovely voice and better bars than most rappers. Front to back, this album is loaded with great songs. It’s a fantastic record, but that being said, I think it might be the most overrated album ever. Apple making this the album of all time is insane to me. I’m a big fan of the album, but I think there’s quite a few better rap albums out there let alone albums from all genres.
Kanye West
4/5
This is an iconic album for so many reasons, but it’s bloated with skits and multiple skips. Despite the skits and skips, there’s too many great tracks on the top half of this record to not give it a decent rating. Tempted to go 5 stars, but the back half really waters it down in my opinion.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
The first three tracks of this are great. The last track is good, but the long spoken word intro just isn’t for me. When Walk On came on I instantly recognized it from how many times it’s been sampled, and I think that shows just how impactful this record has been.
CHIC
4/5
This was a thoroughly fun listen. I obviously knew Le Freak, and heard of Nile Rodgers being a great guitarist, but I finally heard for myself. It’s groovy and fun to listen to, and despite not having tons of words at times, it never got old or boring for me personally.
Stephen Stills
3/5
I was initially excited since I grew up loving Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (mainly Young). I also like the little Buffalo Springfield I’ve heard. This record isn’t bad by any means, and has some tracks I’ll add to my liked songs, but it’s just okay to me. There’s not much to say about it really.
Iggy Pop
4/5
A few duds, but overall an incredibly influential album with a couple stand out tracks
Frank Ocean
5/5
The White Stripes
4/5
This rocks. My mom had this CD and was a big fan of The White Stripes, so growing up, I naturally was a fan as well. I got this on 1001albumsgenerator.com and was surprised how many songs I remembered. While somewhat simple, and very bluesy, a genre I don’t typically enjoy, this record has some great tracks on it. Jack White’s guitar tone is instantly identifiable.
Queen
4/5
A Night at the Opera is a diverse and unique record with a few huge hits. When I first started collecting vinyl, I found this at Goodwill and bought it for the hits alone. Now those hits are almost tough to listen to since they are so overplayed. However this record doesn’t miss with its deep cuts. Tracks like Death on Two Legs and ‘39 stand out. None of the tracks are bad by any means, but this isn’t my favorite type of music, and with the massive hits on this thing, I’m not sure I will relisten very soon. Queen is a special band, but they’re just not one of my favorites.
Blur
1/5
I want to write this while this record is very fresh in my mind. Mainly so I never have to suffer through it again. God damn, I hated this. I’m sorry to the fans out there, and I will say I like Gorillaz, and even Damon Albarn’s solo record, so I went in with some excitement, but was in pure misery by the end of it. I’m on a road trip right now, and decided to chip away at my long list of 1001 albums, and Parklife sucked the life out of the car. When listening to Chic I was talking about how much I love the road. Blur made me want to crash the car. I’m sure there’s some genius I’m missing, but I have to say this is amongst my least favorite albums ever.
Violent Femmes
3/5
I originally heard Good Feeling from Marshall and Lily. If you know, you know. I liked that song a lot, but finally got around to listening to the whole record. I’m not sure I would find myself turning this on much, but I can see the influence that this album has on a lot of my modern favorites. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but some of it got to be a tad too repetitive for my taste.
Mike Oldfield
3/5
I’m so far behind on this site. I decided to just randomly select one of the many albums I have unrated. I was initially considering a redo, but I decided to give the Bells a shot. I was pleasantly surprised. In the 50 minute runtime, there were so many moments that caught my ear. So many different rhythmic changes and parts that brought me back in when I lost focus. That being said, I think some of the transitions to said parts could have been better. Sometimes it felt like wow I like this new section, but it didn’t flow super well. I’m not sure I’ll revisit this, but I hope I do eventually.
Fleet Foxes
4/5
I’m not typically into this Folky-Indie Rock style, but I listened to this multiple times. I hope to revisit it again soon.
De La Soul
3/5
A fun listen that I have put off for many years. The runtime always prevented me, but finally, I listened. It was fun, but it’s way too long.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
The title track is in the running for best song of all time. The rest of the album has quite a few hidden gems. I’m not sure I’ll revisit this, but I hope I do.
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
I get it, but it’s not for me
David Bowie
5/5
Hunky Dory has some of Bowie’s best songs on it. That being said I do think he has better albums. That’s not necessarily a knock on Hunky Dory though, because Bowie has made some of my favorite albums ever. It’s just while this record has some of Bowie’s best songs, it also has some songs I could live without such as Andy Warhol. Despite having a few low points, I think this the perfect Bowie record to start with for a new fan, and it’s one that I hold dear because it was one of the first Bowie records I heard. It’s insane that there’s multiple albums I would take over this, because it is damn near flawless, but that just shows how consistent Bowie’s catalog is.
The National
2/5
Zzzzz… I’m sorry, but I find this very boring. I told myself I just wasn’t in the mood, and decided to relisten. I definitely appreciate it more, but why the hell is this on the list?
U2
2/5
Not a fan of U2. I would probably give 3 stars if this wasn’t the 3rd U2 album I had to listen to on this list. I never thought I listen to 1, and while I was surprised that I didn’t hate the band, I don’t need to hear this much U2. Fix the list.
Beach House
4/5
I went into this not expecting to like it all that much. I was wrong.
Elvis Costello
3/5
Elvia Costello doesn’t miss often for me. Although there are a few misses on this record, it’s thoroughly enjoyable. I listened to this because of the 1001 list. Elvis Costello has 6 albums on said list. I have yet to get one I haven’t enjoyed, and as good as this is, I’m not sure it belongs on the list.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
If you haven’t gotten the Led out in a while, I recommend doing so, but I’d put on Houses of the Holy or Led Zeppelin 2 instead. Physical Graffiti obviously has some huge songs on it, but there’s a few I could do without and the band has more thorough albums for me personally.
Sufjan Stevens
5/5
In college, I feel like I listened to every new release. So my introduction to Sufjan Steven’s was his 2015 album, Carrie and Lowell. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and I knew he had acclaimed records before that, but I never got around to finally listening to them. The runtime was intimidating. After finally getting to listening, it instantly hit. Illinois is special for so many reasons, and despite being over an hour and 22 tracks long, there’s little to no misses on this record. I have yet to hear Michigan, but I think it’s time someone makes an ode to Indiana even if it’s the worst of the Great Lakes Midwest.
Judas Priest
4/5
This was a super fun listen for me. I dread 80s Rock based on bands like Def Leppard, Poison, etc, but this was actually super enjoyable. This album influenced Metal as a whole, and I think it holds up 40+ years later.
Merle Haggard
3/5
I’m not typically a country fan, but every time I hear Merle, I question how true that statement is.
The Beach Boys
5/5
I took far too long to listen to this. I couldn’t get off this wave despite drowning in the 1001 list. Everytime I got in the car, I relistened.
The Killers
2/5
Death to Indie Rock. Listen to Queen Bitch instead.
Nick Drake
3/5
My least favorite Nick Drake. I enjoyed it, but nothing really sticks with me like his other albums.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
They have numerous better albums. Not worth the time.
Aphex Twin
3/5
Listened for 1001 on a road trip… I know this is super influential for this genre, and I did catch a few grooves in this, but I still probably won’t revisit often, if ever.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
It’s always good to get the Led out. IV has some huge songs, but I think the bands best album is elsewhere.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
A buddy of mine at work loves this and I would’ve never expected that. For me, it’s fun for a while and worthy of some appreciation but simply not my bag.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Cohen has always felt slow to me. Recently, I’ve been feeling slower than ever before. I enjoyed this a lot more this time around, but not sure I’ll revisit very often.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
This has some of my favorite Neil Young songs, but isn’t my favorite Neil album.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Enjoyable, but the bands these guys get compared to are all significantly more enjoyable for me.
Yes
4/5
Rocks
Sex Pistols
4/5
I was expecting The Clash, but got something way better.
Miles Davis
3/5
Enjoyable but Miles has many better records
Depeche Mode
3/5
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
The instrumentation is technically proficient but while some moments rock, others sound like Mario music.
SZA
5/5
One of the best R&B records of our time. It’s so much like Frank Ocean at times that I question if he helped write it.
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
Zzzzz...
DJ Shadow
3/5
Every time I’ve heard this I’ve enjoyed it, but it’s not something I see myself revisiting. The impact of this record speaks for itself, and if someone puts it on, I’d enjoy it, but if I want hip hop there’s so many other records I’d rather hear. If I want instrumental music, there’s so many other records I’d rather hear. Regardless, this is still an influential and thoroughly enjoyable album.
Nirvana
3/5
I think this is awesome but at times can be too over the top. I also think the band has better releases.
The Clash
2/5
I’d like this better if people stopped calling it punk
The Doors
2/5
Can we say this stands the test of time if I loathe listening to it? I dislike this almost as much as Aerosmith or other classic rock but I almost rated this higher based on the legacy of the Doors, but at the same time, why? I was happy when this was over.
The Strokes
3/5
Romcom core
The Smiths
3/5
I love the Smiths and Morrissey. I’m also vegetarian. Sadly, I think the Smiths have multiple better albums.
Linkin Park
3/5
The hits hit. The deep cuts are so so. RIP Chester. It’s just too dated for me to unironically listen to.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
2/5
This style of music is easy to listen to, but has been used in so many horror movies that it has an eerie feeling these days. It's kind of torturous.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
Another time I wish I had the ability to use a half star. I liked this growing up, but as my musical exposure grew, I listened less and less. In recent years, the Chili Peppers have been consistently mocked, and made a joke of. I was expecting to not enjoy this record this time around. However, even past the hits, there are numerous great tracks on here. Their unique style can come off as corny sometimes, but the band offers enough diversity in the track listing that they find a way to win me over. Obviously there are some skips, and honestly, I've heard some of these hits so many times, I don't see myself turning this on again any time soon. That being said, it was a fun commute to work this morning thanks to the Chili Peppers.
Dead Kennedys
3/5
The subject matter on this record is sadly still so relevant. It gets a tad monotonous after so long of a similar sound, but the impact this had is still evident in modern hardcore punk.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Classic heartland sound
Megadeth
4/5
This kind of blew me away. I wrote Megadeth off for so long, but this rocked hard.
GZA
4/5
Arguably the best Wu Tang related record ever, which says a lot, because they have so great albums between all of their discographies. Personally, I prefer some of those others to this.
50 Cent
4/5
There are so many classic tracks on this, but unfortunately is weighed down by skips. If this was 13 songs instead of 20, it'd be regarded as one of the best rap albums ever.
Grateful Dead
1/5
Influential for creating the worst genre of music ever…
Stevie Wonder
3/5
This period of Stevie’s career is unmatched, but of that great material, this is among the worst I’ve heard.
Eminem
5/5
After many years of loving this, some parts can stand out as corny at times. For example, I think Em’s chorus writing ability is a clear low point. I’m not sure if it’s cause I’ve heard all of these choruses before but sometimes they do hit. However, when I listen closely I think those choruses can be on the annoying side. Speaking of annoying, I think this record just goes on too long. It’s very of the time to make a 18 track multiple skit album, but it takes away some of its staying power because of that. That being said, for 18 tracks, this thing is consistent. Tracks like Bitch Please 2 get overlooked because of the massive hits on here, but would be huge hits on a different album. Overall, I think this is a top 10 rap album of all time. I don’t think it represents the genre as a whole to be the best rap album of all time, but I think it’s consistency and cultural impact make it one of the greats.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Overrated in my opinion, but maybe it’s just cause there so many other albums by Dylan that I prefer to this one.