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Featured Review
Rubber Soul
Beatles • 5/5
Album 85 and my first Beatles album is possibly my favourite after Abbey Road! I don't need to write about how Rubber Soul marks the first real sign of their transition from an incredible rock 'n' roll band to the creative behemoth they became in the latter half of their career. That's been done to death so I will just list some elements I love about Rubber Soul personally: In My Life: inward gazing and pensive unlike many of Lennon's Beatles songs. Amazing and a funeral staple for a reason Vocal harmonies: obviously lots of Beatles songs have this but some of Rubber Soul's are up there.. I love the backing vocals on If I Needed Someone, Wait, You Won't See Me, The Word, I could go on Some great work from Harrison.. I like the lead guitar on Drive My Car and assume he's playing sitar on Norwegian Wood. The experimentation on that track is subtle, but they never did anything for the sake of it. The sense of cheekiness comes through, e.g. the inhaling on Girl or lyrics of Drive My Car. They were truly unafraid to do what they wanted.. Run For Your Life's theme comes into that, albeit it's slightly problematic. I could go on for ages here but it's 10/5
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2000s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
177
5-Star Albums
45
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
|
5 | 2.69 | +2.31 |
|
Yeezus
Kanye West
|
5 | 2.77 | +2.23 |
|
Whatever
Aimee Mann
|
5 | 2.82 | +2.18 |
|
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Raekwon
|
5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
|
Damaged
Black Flag
|
5 | 2.87 | +2.13 |
|
White Light / White Heat
The Velvet Underground
|
5 | 2.88 | +2.12 |
|
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Animal Collective
|
5 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
|
Copper Blue
Sugar
|
5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
|
Post Orgasmic Chill
Skunk Anansie
|
5 | 2.99 | +2.01 |
|
Exile In Guyville
Liz Phair
|
5 | 3.02 | +1.98 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
|
1 | 3.39 | -2.39 |
|
The World is a Ghetto
War
|
1 | 3.35 | -2.35 |
|
Selling England By The Pound
Genesis
|
1 | 3.18 | -2.18 |
|
Autobahn
Kraftwerk
|
1 | 3.09 | -2.09 |
|
Tanto Tempo
Bebel Gilberto
|
1 | 3.07 | -2.07 |
|
Music For The Jilted Generation
The Prodigy
|
1 | 3.07 | -2.07 |
|
Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
|
1 | 3.07 | -2.07 |
|
Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey
|
1 | 3.05 | -2.05 |
|
Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
|
1 | 3.02 | -2.02 |
|
Swordfishtrombones
Tom Waits
|
1 | 2.95 | -1.95 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 5 | 5 |
| Radiohead | 6 | 4.83 |
| Bob Dylan | 7 | 4.71 |
| Neil Young | 4 | 5 |
| David Bowie | 7 | 4.57 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 4 | 4.75 |
| R.E.M. | 4 | 4.75 |
| Neil Young & Crazy Horse | 3 | 5 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 4 | 4.5 |
| Beastie Boys | 3 | 4.67 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 2 | 5 |
| Belle & Sebastian | 2 | 5 |
| Elliott Smith | 2 | 5 |
| The Smashing Pumpkins | 2 | 5 |
| Michael Jackson | 2 | 5 |
| Oasis | 2 | 5 |
| The Beach Boys | 2 | 5 |
| Kanye West | 2 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | 5 |
| The Smiths | 2 | 5 |
| Black Sabbath | 2 | 5 |
| Pixies | 2 | 5 |
| Steely Dan | 2 | 5 |
| The Jam | 2 | 5 |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | 2 | 5 |
| The Stooges | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Rolling Stones | 3 | 4.33 |
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Velvet Underground | 3 | 4.33 |
| Public Enemy | 3 | 4.33 |
| Aerosmith | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Emerson, Lake & Palmer | 2 | 1 |
| Baaba Maal | 2 | 1 |
| Bee Gees | 2 | 1.5 |
| TV On The Radio | 2 | 1.5 |
| Emmylou Harris | 2 | 1.5 |
| Primal Scream | 2 | 1.5 |
| Genesis | 2 | 1.5 |
| Sepultura | 2 | 1.5 |
| Brian Eno | 4 | 2 |
| Roxy Music | 3 | 2 |
| The Fall | 3 | 2 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Kraftwerk | 1, 5 |
| Tom Waits | 1, 3, 5, 3, 5 |
| Miles Davis | 2, 2, 5 |
| Marvin Gaye | 5, 3, 2 |
| Van Morrison | 2, 3, 5 |
5-Star Albums (177)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Neil Young
5/5
Tonight's the Night has so many of the ingredients that make Neil Young great - the rawness of the playing is so refreshing compared with some of the overproduced crap that gets made today. Contains upbeat blues-rock (Come on Baby Let's Go Downtown) and beautiful ballads (Borrowed Tune) as well as some of his most personal and vulnerable lyrics. Perfect
4 likes
Janelle Monáe
5/5
ArchAndroid is an absolutely belting album with a mixture of every genre you could possibly think of: there are elements of soul, funk, jazz, hip-hop, RnB, synth pop and goodness knows what else.
She also has a real ear for a melody. The long running time and slightly niche sci-fi concept could make this a bit inaccessible, but it's really not.
You can easily enjoy this album simply for the catchy hooks and danceable grooves if that's your bag. Awesome!
4 likes
The Beach Boys
5/5
Very nice touch for the admin to nudge the Beach Boys into our daily albums today, clearly not a coincidence judging by Reddit! RIP Brian Wilson
I tried to be objective even given the timings, but I do love the band. This has a nice mixture between what first made them big with the punchy and catchy rock 'n' roll songs and soaring harmonies with Frankie Valli style falsetto. Clearly the songwriting was starting to evolve beyond surfing and girls to some extent.. tracks like When I Grow Up were starting to explore different lyrical themes, and they were starting to introduce more variety of instruments. Not quite the baroque pop masterpiece of Pet Sounds but I loved this as well
3 likes
Kanye West
5/5
My first Kanye album of the list so should preface by saying, he is a racist scumbag and a very bad person. I'm judging on my own enjoyment though so with some guilt I gave Yeezus 5*
It's really a creative behemoth.. a relatively short running time of 40 minutes has so much invention and ideas that it beggars belief. Really it's the greatest demonstration of West's range of talent, he's more than just a rapper. Some of the production is just visceral and drills into you, this album is an experience. It's a little disjointed with some songs having quite disparate sections, but he's a creative force
Still a dickhead though
3 likes
1-Star Albums (45)
All Ratings
ABBA
4/5
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
I love Springsteen so this won't be a biased review! There's so much to love about Born to Run. Thunder Road is one of my favourite songs of all time and my wedding dance, and the build still gives me goosebumps after playing it to death for years.
It also has some great saxophone bits, like Tenth Avenue Freeze Out and the title tracks solo. This is a big part of the Springsteen sound and an element that makes him so unique!
His vocals are incredible too on some of these tracks.. at times he's singing like his life depends on it, such as Night and Backstreets
Enough said and the first 5 stars I've given doing this project
Leonard Cohen
2/5
His lyrics are great, and some of the tracks are clearly very poignant given the context in which it was written. I just found it a bit downbeat and dull to listen to though
Frank Ocean
4/5
Ella Fitzgerald
2/5
Fine but just sounds like backing music or something. Not really my kind of thing
Adele
3/5
Someone Like You is an incredible the song
I found the rest quite vanilla. The radio friendly, Bridget Jones-style heartbreak porn wears a bit thin. She's clearly a talented writer and singer though so 3 stars
Prince
4/5
Mostly great: funky riffs, sexy lyrics, futuristic themes, and just toe-tappingly fun music
Docked 1 point because some tracks go on too long
Roxy Music
2/5
My 8th album so far and it's the first one I have had to think a bit about my rating. Objectively I feel like it has plenty of the right ingredients but I listened three times and it didn't click for me at all. I'll give an extra star because there's some great guitar work
Judas Priest
4/5
Day 9 and the first album I've liked considerably more than I thought I would, having not been hugely familiar with Judas Priest. I cranked my headphones up loud and was loving the riffs and solos..it's a little dated but it rocks.
Docked 1 pt because I'm not a huge fan of the singers voice, but enjoyed this overall.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Like a bit of britpop although don't know SFA beyond a few singles. Enjoyed this, can definitely see why they're seen as innovative but nothing jumped out at me that elevates it beyond 3 stars
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Brilliant, I give this 5 stars because it really defines a sound..when people think of sexy soul this is basically what you imagine.
Spacemen 3
1/5
Clearly influential and you can hear the similarities to the likes of Spiritualized. I'm rating on my own enjoyment though, and it's boring. I got to the third track which lasts for 8 minutes and goes nowhere. Tedious
Throbbing Gristle
1/5
Being influential is not a reason to rate it highly IMO. I had low expectations given the reviews and it probably wasn't quite as bad as I expected, however that isn't saying much. I have no idea when or why I'd want to listen to this, most of it doesn't resemble music, and I think people giving it 5* just want to look clever
Paul Simon
3/5
I like Paul Simon, found this a little passive compared to some of his other stuff though
Manu Chao
3/5
R.E.M.
5/5
Brilliant, one my favourite bands at the the top of their game. The guitar work is classic REM and one of the most unique sounds there is. The lyrics are enigmatic and intriguing, and the vocals are fun to belt out along with Michael. Released 36 years ago and still sounds fresher and more interesting than most of the rock music that's came since. FFIIIIIRRREEEEEEEEEEE!
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Love this and Joni, not all the tracks are consistently amazing hence docking 1 star
Elton John
4/5
Enjoyed this, the singles are absolute classics and there's some good other tracks too. Could've cut some the fillers so 4 stars
Duran Duran
4/5
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
My first thought is that this has just a bit too much filler to be 5 stars. However I had Duran Duran yesterday and gave that 4, and I can't have Jimi at the same level, so 5 it is. Recency bias thanks to the last 2 songs being all time classics might be a factor but fuck it, this rocks
Gorillaz
3/5
Came out in the sweet spot between me being old enough to buy CDs and moving onto mp3, I actually had a physical copy so it's some sweet nostalgia. I remember it being a big creative and quirky story at the time - the guy from Blur is now behind a cartoon virtual band! I think it's in this list because of the intrigue of taking the Sgt Pepper concept to a new level but it is still enjoyable. I think I prefer Demon Days and Plastic Beach for the actual music, where Gorillaz carved out more of a sound. I like this too though so will go down the middle
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
Like a lot of double LPs on this list, I now realise, some great tracks but would be better if a few fillers got the chop. I felt this in particular sags in the middle so can't rate it super high
I only really knew Mr Blue Sky before though, so I enjoyed hearing some of their other singles and I'm a sucker for vocal harmonies :)
Deerhunter
2/5
This came out around the time I started reading Pitchfork. I listened to it quite a bit as it had some hype. Didn't click with it then and didn't now either.
Sigur Rós
2/5
Washed over me
Arcade Fire
3/5
I like Arcade Fire, taking Win's disgusting behaviour out of the equation, however this is not their best. I would say Funeral is a classic = 5*, Suburbs = 4*, this is probably another tier down so I'll give it 3.
2/5
Interesting and quirky, I can see why it's on this list. Definitely original too, can't imagine many other bands have written a love song set at a harvest festival service. There's probably a reason for that, though. I probably won't listen again but I'll give it a extra star because at least I wasn't bored
fIREHOSE
2/5
A chorus or two would be nice, just feels like a bunch of guitar riffs shoved together
Jethro Tull
2/5
Don't like the singers voice and none of the songs really grabbed me. Won't listen again
Derek & The Dominos
1/5
Clapton is a racist and the songs all sound the same
Traffic
2/5
Tedious. I also had Jethro Tull a few days ago and can conclusively say I don't like prog rock
Bebel Gilberto
1/5
Picture the scene: you're enjoying the warmth of the early evening Mediterranean sun. You have a view of the sea, and a mojito to sip as you contemplate life. In that context, this album is passable background music.
I listened to it on a crowded commuter train in London on a frosty November day, with a child kicking me. In that context it is not what I wanted. 1 star
Otis Redding
4/5
The Stooges
4/5
I'd only previously heard "I Wanna Be Your Dog" and loved this. Reminds me a lot of the Velvet Underground and I got into them the more I listened, so I will give this more spins to see if it grows on me. Docked a star because We Will Fall is long and nonsensical
Miles Davis
2/5
I don't like jazz but he is good at playing a trumpet
3/5
Generally regarded as a classic and I like U2 however.. The first 3 tracks are big ones but I find them slightly.. safe? Then the rest of the album tails off. Found this a bit overrated, I prefer some of their other stuff
Belle & Sebastian
5/5
Having only been vaguely aware of a few B&S singles before this was an absolute treat. Clever lyrics that are at times super witty and at others, deal with some challenging themes. The melodies are nice and this also feels like a 'dense' album with plenty packed in. There's also some subtle variety in the musicianship with a bit of experimentation as well as brass and strings dotted around in places, without being there just for the sake of it. Loved it and immediately listened for a second time as soon as it finished.
King Crimson
2/5
Prog rock really isn't for me. Each song sounds like 10 minutes worth of random bits that they just knitted together and don't really go anywhere
Paul Simon
3/5
I think this is between a 3 and a 4. Maybe with a few more listens it might grow on me but I'm busy today tbh. I found most of the songs 'nice' without being compelling. I'll go with 3 because I prefer some of his other work to this
The Who
3/5
Unremarkable
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Kraftwerk
1/5
I have no desire to listen to this again whatsoever
Elliott Smith
5/5
I love Elliott Smith although consider XO and Either/Or his best albums, so thought I'd be giving this 4. Listening with a fresh opinion was a joy though, I always enjoy his vocals and the guy's ear for a melody is just unrivalled. The guitar work is subtle but beautiful and each track I found myself thinking "Oh yeah this one is great too!". Guess I'll have to give those other albums 6 out of 5 when I come to them.
Ice Cube
3/5
Kinda hard to rate. There is plenty to like: interesting and funky beats.. weirdly some of the drumming stood out to me. Social commentary of racism in the early 90s in America. The intensity that he raps with is really striking, some of these songs just hit harder than any modern hip-hop.
I can't give this 5* because of the misogyny, for fucks sake there's a song where he muses on killing a woman he slept with because he's worried she might be pregnant with his baby. What the hell!
3/5
Incubus
2/5
This album is VERY of it's time and sounds a bit dated. I should be in the target demographic for Incubus having been coming into my teens when this came out, and I liked some other bands in the "nu metal" genre. 12 year old me found Incubus kinda whiny though, and modern me definitely doesn't click with this. Extra star because drive is a decent song I guess
Lou Reed
5/5
Fantastic, I had heard some of the hits before but this was a treat. Every song brings something new - his breadth as a songwriter takes us in all kinds of directions from pop (Perfect Day) to glam (Hangin Round). The lyrics are great as well - easy 5*
Minutemen
2/5
Really jarring having all these 60-90 second songs. It felt like a demo tape in that they had all these ideas that they wanted to record, without really developing them. Maybe that's more a comment on me not being open minded enough, but I didn't like it
The Slits
1/5
Didn't enjoy this, the vocals are really grating and none of the songs grabbed me at all. Fair play for breaking conventions
Johnny Cash
4/5
Basement Jaxx
2/5
Wilco
3/5
I was looking forward to this, I love Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. I realised I prefer later Wilco though who lean more into the indie rock sound. This was a bit long and dragged slightly.
Fela Kuti
2/5
Didn't grab me at all. I imagine it'd be good live but listening to it on Spotify is not really that engaging
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Obviously Brown Sugar and Wild Horses are two of the best rock songs ever, hands down, but there's plenty else to love here. Some of my other highlights are: Bitch is them at their debauched and out-there best while Sister Morphine is a wistful and somewhat regretful track. An easy 5*
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
I love Neil Young but a bit less enamoured by CSNY. Some decent tracks and some a bit less so 3 it is
M.I.A.
4/5
I'd only heard Paper Planes before and this was an absolute gem. Endlessly creative and doesn't sound like any other hip hop record I've been heard. The second half is not quite as strong so docked a point but I will listen to some of these tracks more
Various Artists
3/5
Very nice, great renditions of some classic traditional songs including a few that remain decades later.
The Sonics
3/5
Not sure I can give an album of mostly covers any more than 4 stars but I did enjoy this. Some good versions and clear to hear why they were influential! It's a fun and riotous ride through some rock classics
Morrissey
2/5
I like Morrissey and the Smiths, his lyrics are great and I have no problem with them being a bit depressing. This is not his best IMO, prefer some of his other solo stuff. A lot of the songs don't really go anywhere, maybe I'm a simpleton who wanted some more choruses like 'First of the Gang to Die' or 'Everyday is like Sunday'.
Nina Simone
3/5
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
I'm a Neil Young fan and wouldn't have previously considered this one of his best albums, but listening again with a critical ear, I loved it. Hearing him rock out with Crazy Horse is a blast and although some tracks are a little long, I don't get bored.
Also the final track Mother Earth is an interesting preview of a priority we see more in his later songwriting.
Bob Dylan
5/5
A classic. One thing about Blonde on Blonde that strikes me is the sense of fun - he literally almost laughs out loud on the first track and songs like "I Want You" and "Absolutely Sweet Marie" have a jolly vibe I don't associate with a lot of Dylan's work. On the flip side though, it's hard to imagine another artist could conceive this album, the rambling storytelling of "Visions of Johanna" to me is archetypal of some of his tropes (I mean that as a compliment). Easy 5 stars
George Michael
2/5
He has a good voice but this doesn't really do much for me. Freedom is a good song
The Prodigy
1/5
Repetitive electronic music made for people who are off their face. If your songs are this tedious they should at least be short, what's with all the 7+ min tracks! Not for me at all
Dire Straits
3/5
10cc
3/5
Quite hard to rate as I found this varies a lot between good catchy songs, slightly more boring, and weird. The sheer amount of ideas and creativity make it interesting but not sure everything hits. I'll go down the middle but it was interesting
Van Morrison
2/5
Kinda bland easy listening
Screaming Trees
4/5
Pleasantly surprised by this, it really rocks
Lauryn Hill
4/5
Enjoyed this, she is a great singer and rapper and it's very easy to listen to, I nodded along for the duration. Too long to be 5* though, it's not enough content for the running time
Neil Young
5/5
I have always considered myself a Neil Young fan but thought the likes of OTB were second tier albums after Harvest and After the Goldrush. Listening more closely to this just makes me appreciate the great man man more.
I feel a vague similarity to Kid A here.. an artist attempting to follow a huge commercial smash but taking a massive left field turn. The opener Walk On just shows he could have written another record of radio friendly rock songs had he wanted to, but he instead created something true to himself.
It's packed with things to love.. the mini solos on See the Sky are real ear worms which I find myself humming for days. In Vampire Blues he attacks big oil explicitly, bravely and years before this became part of the zeitgeist. The personal nature and melancholy feel of the title track is pure emotion and I love the banjo on For the Turnstiles.
Imagine writing and recording an album this good and leaving it on the shelf for 30 years! Easy 5
Magazine
2/5
I thought this started strong but the second half kinda blurred into one.
It also struck me that having listened to it yesterday, I remember basically nothing about it this morning. I remember the first few tracks being quite good but not even sure why.
Wilco
5/5
I already knew I loved YHF and a re-listen did nothing to change that. Everything feels so deliberate and calculated - there's a lot of electronic sounds and other things beyond the core instruments, and listening closely reveals a lot of subtle layers that aren't just there for the sake of it
I like Jeff Tweedy's voice as well, seems like some find it boring but to me it's melodic and captivating, with emotion and gravity when the song requires.
Overall I enjoyed this because the 51 mins runtime absolutely flies by, and it doesn't really have any filler content I can think of except the outro to the last track which is admittedly not that interesting. I like every song so it's got to be 5*
Dolly Parton
2/5
Certainly one of the albums that has been released in the history of music
I'm sure these 3 heavyweights coming together for a collaborative record was a big deal at the time but it's all a bit bland. Maybe that's a function of not being any 1 artist's vision. Safe subject matter, mostly about missing a man
I liked the vocal harmonies and it's very easy to listen to but I feel like I enjoyed it just as much the first time as I would the 10th. If I got to 10, which I won't
I was going to give 3* before I realised that most of these tracks aren't even written by any of the 3 artists. Really what was the point of this? I don't mind covers that bring something interesting, but it just seems like 3 singers came together to produce a nice, but unremarkable record of covers to make some money. Yawn
Bee Gees
2/5
Kinda surprised they made it as far as disco on this evidence
I'm not even sure what this album wants to be. Apparently it started life as a concept album about a ship that sank but that didn't stick. A lot of it sounds like the Beatles, there's one song that I thought sounded like "The Weight", and a random square dance?? And two orchestral instrumentals in the second half. It's all a bit "throw mud at the wall and see what sticks".
Tempted to give 1 star but I think it's just about better than that
Black Flag
5/5
Album 74.. probably the first I've really loved having never heard any of the artist's songs before. I didn't think I'd like hardcore at all, it always seems quite inaccessible, but this is great. I loved the proper punk attitude: anti establishment and unashamedly aggressive, with some spots of sarcastic humour in the lyrics as well. All delivered with an energy and PUNCH befitting the subject matter.
Joy Division
3/5
I've never been fully on board with Joy Division. This is alright I guess
Arrested Development
4/5
Bill Callahan
1/5
Quite dreary and boring
The Notorious B.I.G.
5/5
Ready to Die is just an absolute epic. I am somewhere between a 4 and 5 on this.. it could do really do with getting rid of the sex noises
I lean towards a 5 though because his rapping is simply so much fucking fun to listen to, against the gritty backdrop of his NYC drug dealing backstory. The beats are great and Juicy might be the best hip hop song ever? Certainly one of my favourites
Yeah this is a 5. If you don't know, now you know!
Richard Thompson
4/5
I've only heard Fairport Convention, not their work in any other guise, but enjoyed this a lot. Linda's voice in particular is captivating, it's really nice and lovely music
Leonard Cohen
2/5
More like Leonard NOhen
The Black Crowes
2/5
Probably the most generic album I've had on this list so far. Timeless, but I don't use that as a compliment, rather it just doesn't like anything in particular
Radiohead
5/5
I was 13 when Kid A came out so not quite aware of the context, but it must have blown people's minds, and still does amaze me. OK Computer turned Radiohead into the biggest band in the world, and they followed up with something so different which surely marked the most fascinating artistic shift in direction in modern rock.
It's not just incredible for the fact it was surprising though. How To Disappear Completely is a compelling insight into Thom's anxiety and stage fright. The National Anthem's build into a crazy crescendo of horns and all kinds of other things never gets old to listen to. Morning Bell has always been one of my favourite Radiohead songs - great melody and drumming. I could go on and didn't even mention Idioteque which is the centre point of the whole thing
No one else has been able to make music like this before or since
AC/DC
4/5
Good fun rock and roll. What stops me giving 5* is it all sounds a little samey when listening all the way through. But enjoyable
Booker T. & The MG's
2/5
Fine but instrumental music is not really for me, I got kinda bored. When the album finished and Spotify started playing something else, I didn't even realise
Beatles
5/5
Album 85 and my first Beatles album is possibly my favourite after Abbey Road!
I don't need to write about how Rubber Soul marks the first real sign of their transition from an incredible rock 'n' roll band to the creative behemoth they became in the latter half of their career. That's been done to death so I will just list some elements I love about Rubber Soul personally:
In My Life: inward gazing and pensive unlike many of Lennon's Beatles songs. Amazing and a funeral staple for a reason
Vocal harmonies: obviously lots of Beatles songs have this but some of Rubber Soul's are up there.. I love the backing vocals on If I Needed Someone, Wait, You Won't See Me, The Word, I could go on
Some great work from Harrison.. I like the lead guitar on Drive My Car and assume he's playing sitar on Norwegian Wood. The experimentation on that track is subtle, but they never did anything for the sake of it.
The sense of cheekiness comes through, e.g. the inhaling on Girl or lyrics of Drive My Car. They were truly unafraid to do what they wanted.. Run For Your Life's theme comes into that, albeit it's slightly problematic.
I could go on for ages here but it's 10/5
Brian Eno
2/5
Weird and challenging. Not sure I am on board with this.. maybe with some more listens but I feel like it'd need a lot of listens. Note to self to give it another go but for now I don't like it that much
Kelela
1/5
Genuinely forgot I was listening to this most of the time I had it on
Milton Nascimento
3/5
The Cure
4/5
I would only consider myself a casual Cure fan.. just know the catchier hits really. Enjoyed this though! I didn't look at the Wikipedia or anything and wondered if it was a movie soundtrack or something. Partly because there's a lot of instrumental sections but also there's a real atmosphere and sense of dread throughout. Wouldn't listen to this endlessly but definitely caught my interest.. highlights Play for Today, A Forest, M and Seventeen Seconds
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
1/5
Plinky plonky prog rubbish
Beyoncé
2/5
This was massively hyped when it came out and I didn't really get it at that point, so thought I would at least try and see what the critics loved and consider some of the themes as I listened:
- Surprise release = no relevance when I'm listening 11 years later, so what
- Visual elements = I'm just listening for the music, no relevance
- Personal / intimate subject matter = is it? All of the songs are co-written and I just don't think she says very much of interest for an apparently personal exploration
- Exploring sexuality = Fair enough, this is there. Some highlights: "Oh yeah, he's so horny and he wants to fuck" and "Let me sit this ass on you, show you how I feel". I'm all for a strong woman being comfortable in her sexuality but is this good writing? It's not exactly poetic
- Great vocals = Agreed, she can belt out a tune
- Interesting / innovative production = I suppose it has quite a lot going on, although if anything I find it a bit overproduced. Some of the tracks just break down into electronic sounds that don't really need to be there
She was (maybe still is) the world's biggest pop star but I don't get much in the way of catchy hooks along the lines of Halo, Irreplaceable, Single Ladies which are great songs. In conclusion, despite my best efforts, I still don't get this
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Songs in the Key of Life is like a unstoppable cultural force, or a black hole - you may try to live your life without this album but if you have any interest in music it will eventually get you and you will love it.
Reminded me a bit of Rumours the first time I heard it - You keep going "oh I know this one as well!". So many of this album's songs just find their way into your consciousness, even if it's via being sampled like Pastime Paradise.
It goes without saying that it's incredible fun to listen to, taking you on a wide journey of emotions and musical styles, and just never letting up its hooks and funk
An absolutely staggering achievement from a genius artist
Nas
5/5
A rap classic that I've listened to many times. Illmatic is so tight - not bloated with skits or pointless tracks. Even within each song it's so densely packed with great rhymes and stories that I'll never get tired of listening to this - there is simply no filler anywhere. Although it obviously has highlights, the quality is so consistent.
The only element I'd say is slightly unremarkable are some of the beats, which is not to say they're bad, but more that they simply provide the canvas for Nas to paint his picture of the NYC streets. He is the star and facilitating his flow is really the backing music's job.
Perfection
Tom Tom Club
3/5
Arcade Fire
5/5
Can't quite believe this came out 20 years ago. I was 17 when Funeral came out so the 00s indie rock period is what I'd consider "my" era of music. For it to be 2 decades ago makes me feel old.
Anyway introspection aside, I saw AF live several times and consider myself a fan. I am probably slightly biased because of my rose tinted glasses, but I still like this a lot. The highlights (Tunnels, Wake Up, Rebellion) are great tunes and Arcade Fire really had a distinctive sound that stood out among lots of indie bands competing for attention at the time. Loved it on the re-listen
Van Halen
3/5
KISS
3/5
Kinda silly but fun enough to listen to
TV On The Radio
2/5
Kinda boring. Didn't chime with me when it came out and didn't this time
The Stooges
5/5
Wow - this hit me like a train. I cranked the volume up and just am blown away by those crunching guitars. I've genuinely never listened to music before like this, where I got such a feeling of "holy fuck that SOUND!". I've already had their debut album on this list, which I liked, but this was another level.
It's easy to see why Iggy was so influential in the 70s, it's a short record but packed with energy: this is a sprint not a marathon, in a good way. Also Raw Power could be the best album title ever, it describes the music absolutely perfectly.
I loved it and immediately listened for a second time as I write this. Probably a third straight after too!
Carole King
5/5
Pretty much flawless. Seems staggering that King was initially only a songwriter because she didn't sing. Considering even her own version of Natural Woman holds its own against Aretha Franklin, I'd say her voice is fantastic. Maybe not as powerful but she brings real intimacy and gravitas to the songs that we might consider "made famous" by others, performing in her own way. The piano playing is lovely too, and even in the more simple arrangements is more than enough to build beautiful songs.
Overall this is just packed with great tracks, and no filler, you could play Tapestry endlessly. Plus it has a cat on the cover - who could dislike this?
Lana Del Rey
1/5
Boring, more like Lana Dull Rey
Tom Waits
1/5
Going through this list has certainly changed my perceptions of some artists for the better, however Tom Waits is not one of them. I didn't think I liked him before and I was right. Boring
Linkin Park
4/5
Loved this as a teenager and played my copy to death. Oh for the days when I'd listen to albums repeatedly before moving on to the next one!
It's aged ok I think - a bit of its time but there are some belters on here. Chester was a hell of a vocalist as well - don't think I appreciated him at the time because there were a lot of shouty vocalists in the same manner, but he was amazing (RIP)
Would be a 5 but it's a little samey - one trick ponies, but it's a hell of a trick!
The Beau Brummels
3/5
I'd literally never heard of this band in my life. It's nice enough - reminds me of Dylan and Rubber Soul Beatles a bit. Don't really have strong feelings either way.
Morrissey
3/5
Some good tracks and some more forgettable. Suedehead is a cracking tune but I don't have a strong desire to listen to the whole thing all the way through again
Kate Bush
4/5
Bush is such a unique and enthralling artist. Enough has been said about Running Up That Hill in light of its Stranger Things inspired revival, but it's a fantastic song.
Every track has something of interest though, this is definitely an album that sounds like an artist looking to push boundaries and her influence on more experimental rock/pop in the 90s is clear
I didn't like all the signs on the second half so just a 4 instead of 5
David Bowie
4/5
Enjoyed this. I don't think it's quite 5 stars.. maybe 8.5 / 10 for me. There's plenty to like though, his voice is properly soulful at times and there are some funky as hell tracks. I feel it's a little overblown and too overtly a cocaine record to be perfect, but it's very good
B.B. King
4/5
Not really my favourite style of music but it's clear this is objectively great: his guitar playing and voice are incredible and there's just the right amount of crowd noise. Enjoyed
James Brown
2/5
I can't get on board with a live album that's only 31 minutes but still managed to cram a 10 minute repetitive track in the middle, that seems to mainly consist of screaming over the same riff being played endlessly. I was expecting something more funky but it's slow jazzy / R&B that I found to drag
Also the generator gave me back to back live albums which I'm not a fan of generally
Snoop Dogg
5/5
I veered between a 4 and a 5.. I nearly knocked a point for it being a bit childish but settled on a 5
The highlight are the beats - Dre is in his absolute pomp as a producer. Pretty much any of the backing tracks could be a highlight on another album, they're that good
Snoops rapping is completely effortless and although the drug and penis references are almost too much, his laid back style and sense of fun was so distinctive it created a real brand that's lasted to the present day. There are also some great hooks that give this mass appeal which is not always the case for gangster rap
The Pharcyde
2/5
Didn't really grab me. Clear to see they were doing something a bit different from most rap in the early 90s but I didn't get into this
Joy Division
2/5
I just don't really get Joy Division. I get that it's atmospheric and the gloominess is the point, but I found this not enjoyable to listen to
Fugees
4/5
Chilled out, groovy hip-hop vibes and spawned some mega-hits
SZA
3/5
The Cardigans
3/5
Nice music but nothing massively interesting. Like the clothes, Cardigans would probably be more suited to my mum than me but I enjoyed it fine.
Emmylou Harris
2/5
She has a very nice voice but I have little else to say about this. I don't think I could've told the difference between this and a Dolly Parton record, it's all a bit samey
5/5
A bona fide classic. Ziggy Stardust might be partly considered a classic because it epitomised Bowie's ability to reinvent himself and inject creativity throughout his career, but the music alone speaks for itself more than sufficiently. Five Years, Moonage Daydream, Starman, Lady Stardust, Ziggy Stardust, Suffragette City.. all amazing songs, and there isn't a bad track on here at all. Easy 5*
Heaven 17
2/5
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
The Band
3/5
Other than The Weight, which is a classic, I found the other tracks OK but nothing amazing.
Thundercat
2/5
Better as backing music, didn't really grab me
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Enjoyed this more than I thought. Like many I only know them for Come on Eileen but quite liked the blend of punk and brass which is quite novel. Not a fan of the singers voice though
Primal Scream
1/5
I probably judge this against Screamadelica just because I love that album. Maybe a bit unfair but this is way less "songy". Lots of instrumental sections and not many hooks. Some of the record has a real vibe of Lennon on LSD. I found it ok for a bit but the penultimate track is an 8-minute boring instrumental, and I just wanted the album to end at that point.
Garbage
3/5
1/5
Morrissey
4/5
I've had 3 Morrissey albums in my first ~130 albums but think this was my favourite of the 3 so far. Although the lyrics are suitably miserable, I would listen to this again
Johnny Cash
4/5
Very poignant. It's mostly covers but Cash really makes his mark on these songs, his version of Hurt is especially moving and is in the same territory of Hallelujah and All Along the Watchtower in how much it's owned by the new artist.
Sinead O'Connor
2/5
She does have a great voice and I like the politics where it's dotted in there. Doesn't stand out massively for me though
Tricky
4/5
From the description I didn't think I'd like this but enjoyed it more than I expected. It must have sounded pretty unique in the mid 90s - reminds me of some later electronic artists like DJ Shadow, Kid A Radiohead and Burial so doesn't surprise me that is was influential. Interesting
Dizzee Rascal
4/5
Ray Charles
3/5
This is fine and quite nice. Like the other jazz records I've heard on this list, I might have it as background music while I was hosting a dinner party or sipping a cocktail in a bar. Just to listen to, it's alright but not that exciting. He does have a good voice and the strings are nice, the slower songs sound like Sinatra-style swing in places.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Despite all my rage.. I had blast rocking out to this. I prefer the heavier tracks but the ballads are nice too. Just about justifies the long running time!
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
An incredible album. TPAB is so densely packed with ideas and themes that I think to properly appreciate it, you'd have to go through every track with Genius open (which I have done for a few of them). I'm always conscious of missing some of his metaphors! His lyrics are really incredible, it's the magnum opus of one of the greatest rappers ever. Kendrick pulls absolutely no punches in his commentary of racial tension in America, while also being incredibly personal at times too. The musical styles and collaborations across this record also show what a great songwriter he is, as well as lyricist.
Stan Getz
2/5
Just not my kind of thing. Suitable background music for a barbecue, if I didn't really want to pay attention to it. Other than that it's tedious
Fred Neil
4/5
Like many others, I wasn't aware of Neil before, so the list has given me something new. Found it very compelling, his voice isn't very typically poppy but it suits the tone of the songs and is melodic, deep and smooth. Some of the arrangements are not that complex, but the instrumental closer shows he can write more layered songs too. Nice!
Van Morrison
3/5
This is kinda interesting.. certainly for an ostensibly folky/singer-songwriter album, he was willing to experiment with less structured songs that are longer and more rambling than we might usually expect. Some nice instrumentation dripped in which gives it a lovely layered, but still folky, sound. I also like Van's vocals on this, he really is soulful at times
I will stick with 3* because I find the long tracks a bit dull and sometimes it feels like they don't go anywhere, which made me a bit bored
Antony and the Johnsons
2/5
Some of the lyrics are intriguing.. particularly on For Today I Am A Boy we hear Anohni openly musing on gender identity a full decade before she transitioned.
I didn't enjoy this though, the vocals really grate and they're the main feature really
The Cure
5/5
Disintegration is the archetypal Cure sound for me - listening to this makes their poppier hits like Friday I'm in Love and Lovecats sound like an exception. It's such a cohesive record, very much giving the feel of a singular vision and a real album, as opposed to a collection of songs. Disintegration has such a strongly overbearing and atmospheric vibe, it's a real experience to listen to, and some fantastic stand-out tracks like Lovesong and Lullaby
I'm probably a 4.5 on this but I'll just lean to a to a 4 because I don't think I'd listen to this repeatedly given a few tracks outstay their welcome. Nearly a 5 for me though
Tito Puente
4/5
Not my kind of thing but brilliant fun!
John Grant
5/5
Loved this - had only heard a couple of tracks before so it was a real treat. The vocals are gorgeous and melodic, and the lyrics mix some deeply personal and vulnerable topics with... space? It's weird but it works. The instrumentation is also a nice blend of folky sounds with electronica and more a psychedelic style, evoking influences from The Beatles to Bon Iver.
Highlights: JC Hates Faggots, Outer Space, Sigourney Weaver, Silver Platter Club.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
This album is so fucking good. The riffs, the vocals, the attitude, the politics.. I love everything about it. So many of the lyrical themes ring as true today, if not moreso than they did in 1992: police violence, control through propaganda, anti-war, the evils of US imperialism and the hypocrisy of the American dream. I could easily go on. It's great for more than just the lyrics though, crank it up loud and a lot of these tracks have such great energy
Super influential on some of the heavy rock that came later, especially the rap-metal of the likes of Linkin Park. None of those bands raged harder than these guys though. UUUUUGGGHHH!
Underworld
3/5
Listened to this in the background at work. Thought it was alright but maybe that's because I wasn't really paying close attention, so the repetitive nature and long running time didn't grate so much. Sounds like it was probably quite influential on some electronic stuff I enjoy like Daft Punk and Four Tet
The Isley Brothers
4/5
I thought I might give this 5 halfway through but I don't think it's quite perfect, a few songs dragged a bit. As others have said the funky guitar work is great, especially on the opening track, and some of the covers have become definitive versions especially Summer Breeze. Love the vocals too, good stuff
Kings of Leon
3/5
I like KOL but this is a little out of place on this list, it's a solid indie rock album but not ground breaking. Still it's a genre I enjoy and has some tracks that give me a nostalgic vibe, so 3 stars
Radiohead
4/5
Although this is one of Radiohead's weaker albums alongside Pablo Honey, their "low" points are still really good. The standout element of HTTT is Thom's lyrics - against the backdrop of the Iraq war, it's Radiohead's most overtly political album.
I like a lot of the tracks here - standouts include 2+2=5, Stand Up Sit Down, There There, Go To Sleep, A Wolf at the Door. Not sure it's consistently great enough to be called perfect so 4*
Iron Butterfly
3/5
Not sure I'd listen to the whole album again, but the title track is absolutely epic! I only knew the Simpsons parody version so was a fun journey to hear the full thing. The other tracks are not that remarkable, I hear bits of various other bands from the time like Beatles and Doors.. also strong sense of keyboard-prog like Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Not bad
Caetano Veloso
2/5
Can kinda see why it was influential but it' s not really my kind of thing
The Band
3/5
Tortoise
1/5
I'm not totally opposed to instrumental music but this doesn't even build to any big moments that grab you. I guess it's in the list because it's influential in the post-rock genre but I didn't need to hear it and I'm not big on post-rock anyway
Weather Report
2/5
The first song is very fun. The rest is pretty boring
The Mothers Of Invention
1/5
Juvenile crap
The White Stripes
5/5
Guitars YEAH!! It's pretty incredible how much they get out of just a couple of instruments, plus the odd piano part.
What's also notable is the variety on this album, White Stripes have a lot more going on than just crunching riffs. You never get bored with something different around the corner.
Dirty Projectors
5/5
Isn't life under the sun just a crazy, crazy dream?
Surprised this has such a low average because I think it's brilliant! A very nice blend of experimental and catchy. I particularly like the wonky sounding guitar riffs and vocal melodies. Standout tracks: Cannibal Resource, Temecula Sunrise, Stillness is this Move, Useful Chamber, Fluorescent Half Dome
The Police
4/5
Think i'm between 3 and 4 on this. The big hits are great, especially Message in a Bottle, so let's go 4 based on that. Some of the rest is filler but I like Sting's voice, and it has some nice parts from each of the main instruments including his bass lines, and some decent guitar parts. Also like the fact that they evolved their sound with each album, being heavily influences by ska/reggae music here, even if it doesn't all land.
Frank Zappa
3/5
Quirky and interesting. I find Zappa much more tolerable when I don't have to listen to him sing. Probably wouldn't listen to this again but there is some cool instrumental music and great guitar solos on this record.
Michael Jackson
5/5
Off The Wall is the sound of an artist finding their feet. His vocals are always incredible but this is the album when Jackson starts to add the quirks and touches that make him one of the most distinctive singers of all time
I mostly love the more funk/disco type songs on this, there's some great guitar parts and groovy bass lines as well as the awesome vocals. It's a step away for MJ from his more Motown sounding days, and he sounds like he's having an absolute ball doing it. Party people night and day, indeed
TV On The Radio
1/5
Didn't like this at all. The constant buzzing effect on a lot of songs really got on my nerves. Most of all it's dull though, I was already bored when I got to the acapella fifth track "Ambulance"... Dum dum dum dum dum.. yawn
Rod Stewart
2/5
Maggie May is a banger, clearly
The rest, I am a bit surprised that Rod stood in 1971, when guitar music was going in all kinds of different directions. I guess there was still a place for radio-friendly pop-rock songs. He doesn't even really bring much to the covers to make them truly unique and stand out on their own. I'll give an extra star because his voice is great and Maggie May is a good song, that's it
Queen
3/5
Quite a surprise as a a very casual Queen enjoyer - a much heavier sound than they evolved into later, and the fantasy-inspired second side is also quite cool. I quite like how the dark side doesn't have gaps, it gives it a proggy feel. I didn't LOVE this album but it shows an additional side of their songwriting that probably isn't what made them one of the biggest bands in the world
Tom Waits
3/5
I didn't really like the more avant-garde ones that are just percussion and vocals and little else (e.g. Such a The Ocean, In The Colosseum, Let Me Down Up On It). I started to warm a bit to the album in the second half, there are a few tracks I liked and I don't normally enjoy Tom Waits. Maybe I just need to listen more. The piano-led tracks are my favourites here (A Little Rain, Whistle Down The Wind) which maybe isn't the point of the album, given its experimental nature.
Anyway hard one to rate so I'll go down the middle in that case
The Go-Betweens
3/5
I'd never heard of this band before. Quite nice and jangly indie rock, reminds me a little of a more radio-friendly Pavement, so maybe ahead of its time. Doesn't strike me as super ground-breaking but I enjoyed overall, and Streets of Your Town is a good tune
Marvin Gaye
3/5
I guess I'm a philistine but I found What's Going On super overrated. It's not awful, but Rolling Stone's No1 album of ALL TIME?
Things I liked: his voice, arrangements (e.g. the jazzy elements and strings), bravery. It must have been pretty ground breaking to have a black man saying these things in 1971
Things I thought weren't worth the hype: some of the lyrics.. yes it's political but it's not all that hard hitting? Save the children, love will win, people should come together, Jesus left us something to believe in... Not a great deal of substance here. The first two tracks are basically just saying lots of things are bad without really having a great deal to add.
The other thing I didn't like is I was pretty bored listening to it. The tempo is all kinda middling and the tone is quite dour. Even listened twice to make absolutely sure I didn't find it as good as the critics and I don't.
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
Awesome. Lots of reviews on here all call out different songs as favourites which shows how consistent this album is. The highlight is All My Friends which is an absolute banger, one of the best songs of the 21st century for sure. They're all good though.. I can't stop myself tapping my foot and nodding my head to the beats. I also think James Murphy is an underrated frontman, his voice and lyrics are great
This also gives me great nostalgia for being 20 and putting on LCD Soundsystem at parties and trying to look cool. It still sounds amazing
The Icarus Line
2/5
Certainly they had a lot of ideas but tried to do too much, and that leaves this album lacking Identity and cohesion. Even within some tracks it feels like throwing mud at the wall, and seeing what sticks. Over a 53 minute album that just makes it seem like everything blurs together into a mush. I don't completely hate it but would find it hard to pick a highlight
Beatles
5/5
I'm pleased to see Abbey Road is the #1 album on this site. I've long thought that, although Sgt Pepper and Revolver have most of the hype as being the albums that made the Beatles great, Abbey Road is the one that's most enjoyable.
It really has everything I love about them.. John's invention and weirdness, Paul's storytelling and cohesion, the highlights of George and Ringo's songwriting with the band. The medley is clearly the greatest album 'side' ever, those songs bring pure joy and beauty every time I listen to it, which is a lot of times by now!
Not sure if it's my favourite album ever, it's probably in a tie with OK Computer and After The Goldrush. Tricky, but Abbey Road is incredible and obviously 5 stars
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Great voice and something quite innovative for a soul record. The long songs wear a bit thin in the end though. Probably would've given a 4 but the nearly 10 minutes of talking before the last track is a waste of time, why did he put that on an album??
Ash
4/5
Enjoyed this. The grunge/punk guitar riffs mixed with more sugary vocals is very Weezer. I saw Ash support Weezer once, that combination makes perfect sense now. As a side note, why is The Blue Album not in this list?? Travesty
Anyway the singles are good and the other tracks maintain the same energy. Only thing dropping a star is that it's a bit repetitive for a 50 minute album.
Norah Jones
2/5
My mum and dad used to put this on when they had people round for dinner. She has a nice voice, but it's bland.
"Music for people who don't like music" sums up my feelings about Norah Jones
Willie Nelson
2/5
I have a bit of an issue with covers that make songs less interesting than the original. The best covers are ones like All Along The Watchtower, Hallelujah.. they take the bones and expand it into something incredible. This seems to do the opposite.
The most obvious example being Unchained Melody, an epic pop song with soaring vocals and strings, it feels a bit.. stripped back like this. Relaxing enough to listen to, but really did the world need this?
Baaba Maal
1/5
I went through a range of emotions in this. Initially intrigued.. the guitar playing is relaxing. Then bored because the songs all seem to blend together. Finally irritated because the vocals are annoying, and it's a very long album. If an album is irritating by the end then it's probably gotta be 1*
The Only Ones
4/5
A fun album - love the energy. I had broadly classified the Only Ones as punk in my mind but there's definitely more to them. Another Girl Another Planet is the highlight but I liked a lot of these tracks
Docked a point because the vocals aren't great, although they are "authentic" and unique so I don't hate it so much
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
Genuinely sounds like they made an album to be deliberately annoying
I agree with the anti-religion message but during the last track even I was praying for the end
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
My 5 stars for this is partly nostalgia for being 19 and going to nightclubs, I have to admit, but it is clearly a great album. Full of great songs, catchy hooks, cracking indie riffs and wry observational lyrics.
Beyond that it's fair to say British rock music was given a kick up the arse around this time.. I like bands like Coldplay and Travis, but mid-00s was a lot more fun when the likes of AMs, Franz Ferdinand and The Libertines hit the big time. This album really captures that moment as well.
Mott The Hoople
3/5
Neil Young
5/5
The album that first got me into Neil Young. Although he's amazing at rocking out as well, Harvest is such a classic. It feels a little dismissive to call it Folk Rock, it does lean into that but there are other elements that elevate the sound beyond acoustic guitars and harmonicas. the strings on A Man Needs A Maid are particularly beautiful, and electric guitars on Alabama fit the tone of the song perfectly.
His lyrics are incredible, he has something to say on all these tracks, be it a political message or something more inward looking. I also like his voice, it seems a little polarising but it evokes the emotion of each song perfectly whether that be sadness, anger or whatever else. Brilliant
The Zombies
4/5
Bob Dylan
5/5
Some absolutely classic songs. The arrangements are super simple but it shows the strength of the songwriting, when Dylan can be so compelling and thought provoking with just an acoustic guitar and harmonica on most of the tracks.
George Michael
3/5
2/5
2 stars for Radio 2 music
Beastie Boys
4/5
Genesis
2/5
Over the top and overly long
Sade
3/5
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Very good although not every track hits the mark for me so not quite 5*. Maybe that's just a consequence of how good Superstition is vs. every other track, but it's still a solid album
Liz Phair
5/5
I enjoyed this a lot - mellow, lo-fi indie-pop. Clear to hear the enduring influence on female artists even up to the modern day (I'm thinking of the likes of Courtney Barnett, Soccer Mommy, Snail Mail, Boygenius).
Love the guitar playing and lyrics. I also enjoy the laid back vocals - people expecting Whitney Houston wouldn't like this I guess, but it fits the vibe perfectly. This is an album I'd never heard before that's right up my street
Brian Eno
2/5
Eno was clearly very innovative to have made music like this in 1975. I found it a bit boring but can see the artistic merit, even if it's not for me
Billie Holiday
2/5
Found this quite boring. Considering that this is mainly about the vocals, she can't even sing that well IMO
I guess this is a consequence of me not listening to Billie Holiday before and therefore not being a fan of her work before her voice declined. Judging by this album though I do not get the appeal
Oasis
5/5
Anyone reading who enjoyed the main album: I definitely recommend checking out some of the extra tracks on the deluxe edition. Sad Song, Take Me Away, Spaceman, Fade Away, Listen Up and Whatever are good songs. Some are a little more chilled out than the stomping rock of the main album.
It's probably impossible for me to rate this objectively so might as well lean into the reasons I love it! I was a bit too young to be into Oasis the first time (I was 7 in 1994) but when I started getting into music and borrowing CDs from my dad, Definitely Maybe was one of the ones I latched onto along with Nevermind and compilations from the likes of The Smiths and The Jam
I have strong nostalgia for listening to Oasis at gatherings with mates, on pub jukeboxes or in the car as we started passing our tests. It's probably the music that most reminds me of my late teens/early 20s, and the carefree times before adult responsibilities truly took hold
On the music itself, it's clear that they weren't the greatest musicians technically but to be frank.. who the fuck cares. I love Liam's snarling vocals - how many other rock singers have such a distinctive sound and attitude? Noel's guitar riffs might not shred like Jimi Hendrix but they could make a stadium full of people bounce like few others I've ever seen. Oasis were a VIBE.
Motörhead
3/5
Quite a fun album but all the songs sound a little samey
Ride
4/5
The Gun Club
3/5
Crowded House
4/5
Elvis Presley
3/5
Baaba Maal
1/5
OutKast
5/5
Stankonia is fantastic. The hits are absolute bangers that never get old- Gasoline Dreams, So Fresh So Clean, Ms Jackson, BOB in particular - any 1 of them songs would be the high point for most rap albums.
It's full of other great stuff too, there is always something of interest in every track and this brings influences from all kinds of different places, from funk/jazz to drum 'n' bass. I read on Wiki that they didn't listen to any hip-hop while writing this, and it shows. Classic
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
Laid back, folky album with strong vocal harmonies that I always enjoy. I could just imagine lying on the grass at Woodstock and having the serene sounds of CSN floating over me, it really took me away to another place while I was listening.
Also enjoyed their cover of Everybody's Talkin' from the bonus tracks
The Divine Comedy
2/5
Probably between a 2 and a 3 but the longer it went on, the more fed up I got. I don't normally like novelty / comedy songs and this leans into it too much. Most of the album is just crooning about shagging over horns or strings, which is both boring and creepy
The Killers
5/5
Great album and makes me feel very old seeing that this came out 20 years ago! Gives me nostalgia for indie discos.. sticky floors, cheap student pints and washing the smell of smoke out of my hair the next day. Great times
The music itself still sounds good: The obvious highlights are so ubiquitous now, especially Mr Brightside, but even listening to it on the train it's still clear why drunk people love to belt it out. There are plenty of other good songs though. Although The Killers leant increasingly into the stadium-filling anthems they're now know for on future records, you can see the clear potential for a 'big band' on Hot Fuss. Brandon has a great ear for a melody and the shimmering synths are a nice touch whenever they appear. I was surprised that it doesn't sound too 'of it's time' and enjoyed revisiting this a lot
Bonnie Raitt
1/5
If the Tesco Meal Deal combination of ham sandwich, ready salted crisps and water was an album, it would be this. Bland as hell
Prince
5/5
Stone cold classic and easy 5*. The highlights are obvious and some of the best songs ever, in particular the title track and When Doves Cry. There isn't a bad track on here though, even the slightly less heralded ones like Computer Blue have something to offer (in that case it's one of many examples of how great a guitar player Prince is)
Another thing I really like about Purple Rain is the pacing - it mixes up the funkier and upbeat tracks well with some nice slower ones, including the outro. It never outstays its welcome either, unlike some Prince albums which go on a bit.
The Undertones
4/5
I liked this album and I also learned that Feargal Sharkey was the singer in The Undertones before his later career as a solo artist / water hygiene campaigner. Who knew?
Hüsker Dü
3/5
I probably would've given this 4 but it's a bit too long. A double album needs a bit of variety or changes of pace to be great I think. Enjoyed it though and might check out some of their other more cohesive albums because I like Sugar too
Van Halen
4/5
Silver Jews
2/5
Lyrics are pretty interesting, I feel like this would be an acquired taste with more listens as the vocals are not very immediate
Brian Eno
1/5
It's hard to rate an album that was literally written not to be listened too. TBH even for background music I found it quite boring. Not for me at all
Orbital
2/5
Little Richard
4/5
White Denim
3/5
As others have noted this is a really nice blend of styles. Feels like an album that might need 4-5 listens to really sink in
Sleater-Kinney
5/5
I wasn't previously too familiar with Sleater-Kinney. I loved this - right from the opening licks the intensity just never lets up in true punk / grunge style. I wouldn't normally pay much attention to drumming, but on account of this being their first album with a notable new drummer I did, and I found it really 'drives' the music. The vocals are fantastic as well, I don't agree with the comments criticising - it's punk rock and it should sound passionate and loud!
It's also nice when you discover a band on this list that is still active so I'm gonna listen to their new record 'Little Rope' right now too
Eagles
3/5
Probably the definition of 3* in how I'm grading. Fun enough but didn't compel me to listen again. Take It Easy is a good song, the rest is... fine
The Fall
1/5
I would rather (Mark E Smith's The) Fall off a bridge than listen to this again
Klaxons
4/5
Anthrax
3/5
Didn't really think thrash metal would be for me and.. it's probably not, but I liked it more than I thought. The fact that the vocals are sung and not so shouty helps
The Strokes
5/5
The Strokes were the coolest band - there's a reason Alex Turner himself wanted to be one of them.
Is This It is so consistent, there's no filler here and it's hard to pick the best track. So I won't, and will just say it's all great
The Darkness
4/5
A very fun and over-the-top album. If you look beyond the slight silliness the guitars are genuinely rocking, and Justin Hawkins is a unique and talented singer
Docked one star because the last few tracks tail off in quality a bit
Madonna
4/5
I quite liked this. The slower tempo and more contemplative lyrics are not what you might expect from Madonna and her voice is showcased beautifully. I like the trip-hop / electronic production too. Not sure it has enough quality to justify the running time though, feels a bit dragged out.
The Temptations
2/5
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
Sabu
2/5
I don't care for music which is mostly percussion, just don't find it very interesting, and a lot of this is only conga drums and shouting. The tracks with guitars are ok
Astrud Gilberto
1/5
David Bowie
4/5
Good but not the best Bowie album. I'm not a massive fan of ambient / electronic type music but I found it a bit more tolerable as an interlude and can see the interest as it demonstrated Bowie's continuing evolution as a songwriter. I found it quite nice to listen to the second side on the train just watching the countryside go by.
I will still dock a point for it because I was a little bored but there's plenty of decent songs on here so still 4*
Fats Domino
3/5
Nice songs and I can see why Fats was very influential. I liked the bluesy ones like Blueberry Hill the most. Found the arrangements a little simplistic to rate this very highly but that's no criticism, he was ahead of his time
Spiritualized
3/5
I'd say Spiritualized didn't hit their peak until "Ladies and Gentleman" but this is nice dream pop / psychedelic indie. They create some lush sounds and it's super relaxing
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
I love folky music and vocal harmonies so Mamas and Papas is right up my street. Slightly simplistic songs beyond the vocals with the guitars and other parts not hugely interesting but the songs are nice and the hits sound great
Common
4/5
A bit too long but really nice chilled hip hop vibes. Lyrical themes stand out as quite alternative for the genre. Common has a really breezy and enjoyable flow but J Dilla's beats are my favourite element, there are a real myriad influences on show in them. Docked a point because it's too bloated mainly
Chicago
2/5
I'm not really a fan of prog, find an album like this feels like it was written to try and be epic and it all comes across as slightly silly. Some of the songs are alright, the jazz-rock fusion reminded me of Bruce Springsteen a bit, maybe the use of brass was an influence on him
I was ready for the album to end after the 7 minute long instrumental in the middle though. It sounds more like a chainsaw than music, WTF
Tori Amos
3/5
Pretty good, sounds a lot like Kate Bush, she has a great voice and some interesting lyrics. Nice melodic piano playing too. I found it dragged after a while given it's just vocal and piano mostly so I probably wouldn't listen again.
Beastie Boys
5/5
This is a hell of a ride. The production is incredible - more samples than I could ever hope to recognise and somehow it's pulled together into something cohesive. Reminds me of something like the Avalanches in more modern times, in now skilfully they meshed all these different elements without ever being reliant on any of them. The Beasties clever interplay and tongue in cheek lyrics are really on show, but the beats would stand up as an instrumental album, they're worth 5* alone
Steve Winwood
2/5
Not sure what to say about this, it's alright but unremarkable
JAY Z
5/5
Fantastic album and one of my favourite hip-hop records of all time. Some of the complaints on here seem to be that it's mostly bravado but let's face it, that's what a lot of rap songs are, and is there anyone better at it than Jay-Z? Pretty much all these tracks are good, fun beats and plenty of hooks. Renegade is probably my highlight particularly for Eminem's verse, but the album is consistently great
R.E.M.
4/5
Very good album, the hits are classic. I don't like Green as much as the albums either side of it in REM's chronology (Document/ Out of Time) as not every track is a win for me, but still decent
Skunk Anansie
5/5
This is really good. Skin's vocal range is incredible and is definitely the album's strength but there are some rocking guitar riffs. I also like the squelchy bass. The fact that there are a few quieter songs mixed in with the heavier tracks gives a nice pacing and moment to breathe.
It's also very cool to hear an openly queer, black woman singing about some of these lyrical themes in a heavy rock band. I'm not aware of many bands that meet that description nowadays, let alone 1999. Not in the mainstream, anyway. Loved it!
Metallica
3/5
Appreciate the skilled musicianship on show here, they really know how to play. I enjoyed the instrumental track in particular, and the title track is of course a classic. I find nearly an hour of Metallica a bit intense tbh, prefer them in small doses, but I can see why this is considered a classic.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
1/5
The kind of person who likes this is the kind of person I would not want to be stuck with at a party.
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
Marianne Faithfull
2/5
I found this a bit boring. Seems like it's mostly in the list for the context of being Faithful's comeback. The vocals don't quite have the power to bring the heft to the big moments. Instrumental bits are fine, there are some nice guitar licks and moody electronic sounds and whatnot, but nothing that massively grabbed me. The last track is by far the best on here for the venom and guitar solo, but the rest is dull
Todd Rundgren
4/5
Found this hard to rate. Most of the album is some decent stuff mixed in with less good.. Saw The Light is a classic and there's some other fun songs like Wolfman Jack and the instrumental. The album has a few too many soft rock ballads that made me kinda bored (examples: Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference, Marlene). The last side / mini album of the 4 is great and definitely my favourite bit, maybe it's the energy of having a full band that helped revitalise my listen. Overall, plenty of highs, but a slightly disjointed and inconsistent album.
I'll go 4 maybe because of the recency bias of the final few tracks being good!
Radiohead
5/5
Probably my joint favourite album of all time along with Abbey Road. I've had both of those in my first 250 so it's all down hill from here ;)
There's not much I can add to the existing discourse about OK Computer so I probably won't bother being too wordy here. It's incredible and one of those rare cultural icons that's worth every bit of its hype
The bonus disc from 2017's OKNOTOK reissue is also worth a listen - Man Of War and Lift in particular would fit in just fine on the main record.
John Lee Hooker
2/5
I'd never heard of John Lee Hooker so nice to get something genuinely new. Not really my kind of music but the guitar playing is quite nice. My favourite tracks (The Healer, Think Twice Before You Go) are probably the ones which sound most out of place which is not a great review for an album, really
Santana
3/5
Morrissey
4/5
Morrissey is a twat but Irish Blood and First of the Gang are surely some of his best solo tracks, they are good. A lot of the rest is quite moany but I guess that's his brand, his lyrics are never generic at least and he always has an ear for a melody
Janis Joplin
5/5
One of the best rock and roll vocalists ever and a life sadly cut short
Dennis Wilson
3/5
My favourite elements are the string and horn parts, very nice and melancholic. I wasn't particularly grabbed by the vocals or lyrics but he was doing some interesting things. Definitely wasn't what I expected from a former Beach Boy
PS to anyone using the Spotify link and complaining about the length, it's just the first 12 tracks
Dion
1/5
When I question some of the glaring omissions of this list, it's useful to have reference points: How did [Discovery / Blue Album / In the Aeroplane Over The Sea] not make the book when Dion did?
So bland and generic it's actually offensive.
Fleet Foxes
5/5
This has made me realise I'm biasing a lot towards albums that came out when I was in my 20s but.. I guess that's the case for everyone. I love Fleet Foxes and have seen them live multiple times so was always going to give this a 5.
The vocals are clearly the best element - Robin's Pecknold's voice is incredible and the harmonies are stunning. Nice finger picked guitars and other instrumental parts too, which lean into folky sounds.
If I have any criticism it's that the album is a little "twee" in the lyrical themes but it's still brilliant.
Elbow
4/5
A strong album. Some really great singles including the epic "One Day Like This" which is surely an impossible song to dislike. I love the strings on that and Mirrorball too. The orchestral elements are really nice
I find some tracks a bit too melancholy and slow to give this 5, but it's a good 4
Primal Scream
2/5
I thought I liked Screamadelica from a previous listen but I now realise my opinion was strongly influenced by Moving on Up.
The long, repetitive psychedelic rave type tracks (example: Don't Fight It, Feel It) are pretty tedious. Come Together and Loaded are pretty fun, but most of the others bored me. I guess you had to be there at the time
Led Zeppelin
5/5
The Doors
4/5
Stereo MC's
3/5
Enjoyed this more than I thought, the beats are funky and jazzy with plenty of influences and variety. I didn't really like the actual MCing which sounds very of its time and monotone, but decent overall
Dusty Springfield
2/5
This is fine. She has a good voice and some of the tracks are decent versions of classics. I don't have much else to say about it and probably didn't need to hear it that much
Yes
2/5
I could probably copy/paste one of my other reviews from the many 60s/70s/80s prog albums on this list. Good musicianship but just doesn't feel like the songs go anywhere with all the meandering
Finley Quaye
4/5
This was a pleasant surprise, an album with a really cool and chilled out vibe. Also a lovely mesh of styles which show a songwriter influenced by jazz, trip hop, soul, reggae and all sorts.
Not 5 stars because it gets a bit slow near the end, my attention waned at the instrumental track Red Rolled and Seen. Overall enjoyed though, and a note to self to come back to this when I'm lying on the beach in a few weeks
The Beach Boys
5/5
5 stars but I will say that I think Pet Sounds is a little overrated. Which isn't to say I dislike it - this is a beautiful set of songs with lush vocal harmonies, and much more complex arrangements than we might expect from the Beach Boys. The lyrics too are wistful, romantic and thoughtful throughout. There's much more here than a bunch of songs about surfing.
I don't think it's the greatest album ever and a true game-changer, but there's no denying how gorgeous this is to listen to.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
I expected to hate this and I didn't dislike it as much as I thought. Very experimental and idiosyncratic.. with all the mixed up time signatures it feels like all the band members are playing different songs at times. Very skilful even if it's not always fun to listen to
Not an album I really want to listen to again, but definitely belongs on this list
Iggy Pop
4/5
I enjoyed this - I only knew the 2 big hits but Success is another highlight. This record is VERY Bowie - I consider this kind of a negative, because I'm distracted by how much of another artist's imprint there is. But it's cool nonetheless
Sonic Youth
3/5
Not bad but there's a lot of 'noise' bits just consisting of songs breaking down into guitar feedback and fuzz. Sonic Youth are a band I prefer in small doses, I like them but get a bit of a headache eventually.
Janelle Monáe
5/5
ArchAndroid is an absolutely belting album with a mixture of every genre you could possibly think of: there are elements of soul, funk, jazz, hip-hop, RnB, synth pop and goodness knows what else.
She also has a real ear for a melody. The long running time and slightly niche sci-fi concept could make this a bit inaccessible, but it's really not.
You can easily enjoy this album simply for the catchy hooks and danceable grooves if that's your bag. Awesome!
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Fantastic, this is just full of great songs. Although Hendrix is obviously a (the) legendary guitarist I rate his songwriting and vocals as well. One of those albums that captured the essence of the day perfectly, i.e. the late 60s Woodstock / psych rock, but also iconic and timeless at the same time.
Also I think it's technically a bonus track but Highway Chile is one of the highlights! Great song
Pulp
4/5
Not heard this before and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought, given Different Class is the Pulp album with all the plaudits
Very intriguing lyrics which give a properly insightful view into Jarvis's thoughts on hitting the big time. Also notable for some minor but experimental elements which I wouldn't associate with Pulp, but does have the big choruses you expect.
Probably too long to give it 5*, the track Seductive Barry ruins it a bit. But I like this
Nirvana
5/5
Nirvana had the unenviable task of following Nevermind and created an album that stands alongside its predecessor. There's certainly a raggedness that Nevermind doesn't have, and some of the guitar riffs sound more metal than grunge as anger and disillusionment is expressed through the songs.
They're combined with some of Cobain's rawest and most emotional lyrics; when you hear him sing things like go away, I think I'm dumb, I miss the comfort in being sad... you can't fail but directly observe a troubled artist's inner thoughts. A fascinating insight into one of music's most tragic stories, In Utero fucking rocks but it's a hard listen in context
ZZ Top
3/5
This is alright. I've never found ZZ Top that compelling and it didn't really convert me but it's fun enough
Neil Young
5/5
One of my favourite albums of all time. Such a consistently quality record - I like many others keep a playlist of a track I'd like to remember from each album on the list, and I'd find it impossible to pick one from this, because they're all great (other than Cripple Creek Ferry). Maybe I just won't bother because I know them all so well anyway.
The title track is an obvious highlight - one of the most poignant and beautiful rock songs ever, and 54 years later the idea of needing spaceships to extract humanity from earth in the face of ecological breakdown looks eerily prophetic. Southern Man is also incredible, a great example of Young's ability to write biting and satirical music.
It's not just grander themes that he deals with so well though as he also covers love, loneliness and resilience, the whole time his voice evoking such strong feeling that he almost sounds on the verge of cracking with sadness at times.
5* for sure!
The White Stripes
3/5
Decent but not as good as White Blood Cells or Elephant
Nick Drake
5/5
I love Nick Drake although I more associate him with simpler "voice and guitar" songs like Pink Moon. His voice isn't what you'd call "powerful" but I find the almost ethereal nature of it very endearing. It's so soft that it almost gets lost in some of these songs, which have more textured arrangements than some of his work. The strings and horns are lovely though, I don't think it's a bad thing, just a slightly different style than what I associate with him. I especially like the strings on Fly. Beautiful, chilled out music
Spiritualized
4/5
The randomiser has been kind to me this week! I like this too - Spiritualized really do 'epic' like few other bands can and there's such an array of ideas and complicated arrangements on display here that you can listen to it many times. I loosely pigeonhole them as psychadelic indie in my head, but they're a band that defy genres in many ways.
It probably goes on a bit for me to give it 5* but it's a solid 4
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Mostly enjoyed this but there are a few lows that bring it down - the old people chatting bit is weird, and the song about wanting to be a muffin is a bit of an oddity. Some good songs (Mrs Robinson of course is a classic) and some less good so 3* feels fair
Paul Simon
5/5
Love Graceland. Weirdly the randomiser gave me a S&G album yesterday (Bookends) so it was quite interesting to get a Paul Simon solo album from two decades on, which obviously marked a big departure from his normal style with the influence of the African musicians he worked with. It's almost like another artist
Not sure I buy into the cultural appropriation angle - there are contributors credited as writers / performers on a lot of these tracks, and let's face it, would people in North America / Europe be listening to these without the exposure of Graceland? Not to the same extent surely?
Great set of songs including some classic hits, and the arrangements bring plenty of nice touches that add to the sound. By far my favourite Paul Simon solo album!
David Bowie
5/5
Great album, a worthy successor to Ziggy Stardust. Bowie evolved the glam rock sound that is probably his signature style, if he has one at all. Some elements of experimentation but nothing that prevented Aladdin Sane being a huge hit, I like pretty much every song on this. The title track breaks down into something slightly avant garde, but this is mostly accessible while also inventive.
Also I don't really take the cover art into account for my scores normally but this is one of the most iconic of all time
Lambchop
2/5
Nice enough music but I found it quite melancholy and too passive. The vocals aren't great so maybe that's why it passed me by a bit. Didn't hate it but wouldn't listen again
Green Day
4/5
I prefer Green Day's earlier, punky stuff, but no denying there are some very catchy songs here and it was certainly huge at the time.
Also one of my favourite music genres: "mocking-right-wingers-without-them-realising"
Hole
4/5
Hot Chip
4/5
This is a really consistent and groovy album, very danceable and catchy and 80s synth influenced
I think it doesn't quite have the bangers that Hot Chip's previous 2 albums have but there's a lot to like here, especially the centre point (Flutes)
The Velvet Underground
3/5
I hadn't heard this one all the way through, and only knew Pale Blue Eyes, which is a beautiful song. It's got quite a different vibe from the previous 2. I didn't get quite as on board with this one. Maybe it'll grow on me with more listens, the other VU / Lou Read I'm more familiar with certainly did. I'd say I found this more interesting than enjoyable though so 3*
Green Day
5/5
Pop-punk masterpiece filled with anthems, and an album that perfectly captures the angst and apathy of the youth. Great riffs and driving drums, catchy singalong choruses, what's not to like?
The Cars
4/5
Fun, synthy, classic rock. Singalong choruses and catchy tunes, what's not to like? Doesn't strike me as super groundbreaking but the first 3 tracks in particular are bangers.
Slade
3/5
Not bad but doesn't particularly stand out for me. It's lively and I like Noddy's vocals, he's a got a great voice for a glam rock singer. The covers are pretty good.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
This is true of most music of course, but I feel like Smashing Pumpkins need to be listened to LOUD! Crank this up and rock the fuck out
Herbie Hancock
3/5
As usual with jazz records I enjoyed it for a bit, nodding along with the funky beats, but it's not my favourite genre (on record, I like it live)
3 stars because I got bored in the last track and probably won't listen again, but appreciate the talent of the performers
Missy Elliott
2/5
Wasn't familiar with any of these tracks before, I only know her bigger hits from later in her career. Was surprised how.. sedate this is, it's pretty downbeat and lacks the bangers I was waiting for. The sung/rapped style is listenable enough but I didn't find this anything special. Way too long as well, it's not engaging enough to keep my attention for 1hr+
Billy Bragg
4/5
I like Billy Bragg, Wilco and Woody Guthrie so was never going to dislike this! I don't think it's strong enough all the way through to give 5 stars but this is lovely, chilled out folk rock. The first 5 tracks in particular are really good, and any album that is critical of the capitalist war machine is alright by me
3/5
I've never got fully on-board with PJ Harvey, she has all the ingredients I normally like, but her music doesn't grab me, and I'm not sure why. This is fine but I don't feel compelled to listen again so 3*
The B-52's
2/5
I hate the male singer's voice, he just sounds like he's trying to be ironic or something. It's also hard to take an album seriously when its centre point is a 6 minute song about a lobster. Better than 1* because the B-52s sound like a band that could make proper music if they wanted to, but instead they veer into joke territory too much for my liking
Beth Orton
4/5
She has a very captivating voice and this is a nice, melancholic set of songs. I particularly like the strings on Sweetest Decline, and the electronic elements on Stars All Seem to Weep. The folktronica thing doesn't feel like a gimmick, it seems a pretty natural addition to the sound. Chilled out and enjoyable
Bob Dylan
5/5
First of all I don't really see how people think Dylan can't sing, I mean he quite clearly could at this point in his career, the vocals on these tracks are fine. You might not like his style, but that doesn't mean he can't sing. Anyway moan over, this is classic and showcases his evolution away from more simple and folky arrangements into using more electronic guitars/drums etc. Like A Rolling Stone might be the greatest rock song ever and the rest is great too. No other songwriter has ever penned lyrics as great as Dylan could in the 60s
Joe Ely
2/5
🥱😴
Love
2/5
Not really sure what this album is supposed to be.. I like variety but at various times it sounds like psych, experimental, jazz-rock, prog, pop. It feels a bit all over the place but I can see the merit, the last song is cool once they get past all the weird yelping
Kanye West
5/5
My first Kanye album of the list so should preface by saying, he is a racist scumbag and a very bad person. I'm judging on my own enjoyment though so with some guilt I gave Yeezus 5*
It's really a creative behemoth.. a relatively short running time of 40 minutes has so much invention and ideas that it beggars belief. Really it's the greatest demonstration of West's range of talent, he's more than just a rapper. Some of the production is just visceral and drills into you, this album is an experience. It's a little disjointed with some songs having quite disparate sections, but he's a creative force
Still a dickhead though
Bob Dylan
5/5
The randomiser has given me lots of Dylan - fourth in my first 300. I feel like I'm being overly generous giving 5* every time but... Fuck it, the guy's a genius so here's another
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
I already had Trout Mask Replica which I rated 3* although I find it more interesting than enjoyable. This album is a lot more accessible and a fun blues-rock album. I'm not a huge fan of his vocals but liked it
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
Pretty good, strong female empowerment message and nice rapped/sung vocals which remind of Lauren Hill.
Meat Loaf
4/5
Cheesy and over the top but undoubtedly fun. He can really belt out a tune
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Never heard this one all the way through and it seems to me that the Stones took some time to hit their peak as a band. After a few albums of covers, this was the first of solely original compositions but I don't think they reached their heights until Beggars Banquet personally.
There are some decent tracks here and some less great ones (notably the tedious ELEVEN minute Going Home). Rating this on its merits, not its signs of potential, and I don't think it's any better than 3*.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
2/5
Fine enough jangly 80s new wave/pop. Some decent songs, nice guitars and vocals, but it doesn't stand out massively to me, there's a fair amount of filler here. An inoffensive 2*
TLC
3/5
Nice enough - vocals are good, groovy songs, some of the beats are enjoyable. Waterfalls is a classic of course, and the 3 singers mesh well, they all have distinctive voices which come together. Nothing massively offensive here
Surprised they mostly don't have writing credits, I gave TLC a bit more credit than that because Left Eye also had a solo career. I now position them more of a manufactured girl group than a rap collective, and that's nothing particularly special
Stan Getz
2/5
It's fine enough background music but washed over me
The War On Drugs
5/5
I enjoyed this having only really listened to a few of their singles but I now realise TWOD mostly don't do 3 minute singalongs.
I love songs that start quieter and build and this is full of them, it's quite shoegazey when a song like "An Ocean Between The Waves" descends into a wall of sound. This definitely one for a quiet moment and turning the headphones up loud.
Shades of Neil Young with the occasional harmonicas and noodly outros, and vocals remind of Bruce Springsteen. Big ticks for my taste
The only reason I wouldn't give 5* is that it goes on a bit but I was in the kind of mood for that when I listened, so 5 it is!
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
Young's self titled solo debut is decent, but this is the breakout hit for one of the all time legendary songwriters. It showcases both his ability to rock out with the extended solos of Cowgirl In the Sand and Down By The River, alongside more tender and thoughtful songs. Even with all the material he released throughout the long career that would follow, this album is still a shining example of many things that are great about Neil Young
Taylor Swift
2/5
I don't hate Taylor Swift, hate is a strong word. I do however think her music is simplistic and only interesting to children. She can write a catchy pop song, but her success is disproportionate to her talent in my humble opinion
Stevie Wonder
4/5
It's unbelievable that Stevie Wonder had released his 17th album in 1974, he was only born in 1950! Incredible output and at such high quality
This one I found a little heavy on the ballads to be a 5*. It's a really beautiful and pleasant set of songs though. A lot of these showcase his vocals more than other abilities, but we also have some more funky elements. I love the horns on You Haven't Done Nothin for example.
Emmylou Harris
1/5
I was pretty bored by the halfway point, and practically asleep by the end. At least she wrote most of these tracks having mostly made her name doing covers. Her voice is nice but there's not much in the music or lyrics that I find interesting at all. Sorry Emmylou
Neil Young
5/5
Tonight's the Night has so many of the ingredients that make Neil Young great - the rawness of the playing is so refreshing compared with some of the overproduced crap that gets made today. Contains upbeat blues-rock (Come on Baby Let's Go Downtown) and beautiful ballads (Borrowed Tune) as well as some of his most personal and vulnerable lyrics. Perfect
Fela Kuti
4/5
I normally find jazz boring, but this held my attention so it must be pretty good.
Sonic Youth
3/5
The combination of Sonic Youth, Daydream Nation and Teenage Riot might be the best band, album and song title to go together. Maybe Iron Maiden x 3 competes with it for comedy value. Titles aside, the opener is a classic, the rest I like but it does drag a bit with all the guitar noodling and effects extending a lot of these tracks to 7 min+. Good but not perfect for me
Def Leppard
4/5
Dumb fun which I can't help but enjoy. Like the movie Airplane, say
David Bowie
4/5
Bowie was certainly an experimenter right to the end of his life. Of course this is very poignant and the context is hard to disregard when considering the music. His use of horns is interesting, sometimes they create a mournful atmosphere, and sometimes they sound in the brink of reaching a mad crescendo, a bit like Radiohead's The National Anthem. I also find the lyrics to be self reflective and interesting.
Probably not an album I'd listen to endlessly but certainly impressive that he created this while dying of cancer
Sonic Youth
2/5
Given Pitchfork have 3 of their albums in their top 100 of the 80s, including Daydream Nation at 1 and this at 31, it's fair to say I probably don't appreciate Sonic Youth as much as I could. I found Evol quite a hard listen.. a little Cure like in places and with plenty of the guitar experimentation that SY are known for. Really lacks pop structures though so maybe an acquired taste?
Ray Charles
3/5
Reading the Wikipedia I understood why this is an important album.. breaking down a musical divide and the contribution to the civil rights movement was an interesting piece of context.
Overall it's very chill to listen to. Pleasant strings, it sounds like music one might hear in a 40s Disney animated movie. I know nothing about jazz in case that wasn't obvious. It wears a bit thin over the 74 minutes but I appreciate the vision to do this to a bunch of country songs. Maybe I'd score it higher for the invention if I knew more than a handful of the originals
The Cult
4/5
This is really fun, sounds a lot like ACDC with distinctive and crunchy riffs plus heavy rock vocals that are catchy enough for the pop charts. I guess it wasn't that ground breaking for 1987 but I enjoyed it.
One criticism is that the lyrics are kinda basic.. with all the "yeah" and 'baby" it's like Austin Powers came up with them. Fun album though
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
Find this a bit tricky to rate. They were certainly doing some interesting things and it was brave to make a more experimental record, when the temptation to follow Rumors with something equally poppy must have been present. I found the lyrics interesting with each of songwriter bringing their own thoughts, moving between themes of melancholy retrospect and reflection, as well as looking forward.
Lindsey's songs in particular bring some intriguing elements, weird tunings and whatnot. Great melodies and lyrics come so naturally to FM that even a more experimental album is still tuneful.
One final thought - no chance this would be at 3.45 on this site if it wasn't Fleetwood Mac
My rating is between a 3 and 4 but I normally use "do I want to listen to it again straight away" as the criteria between them and the answer is not really, so 3
T. Rex
5/5
Impossible to listen to this without tapping your foot and nodding your head. I only knew the singles previously but this is very consistent with no really bad tracks.
Bolan really had it all as a front man, great riffs, singing voice and exuding pure cool. The lyrics are never boring either, mixing groovy rock and roll dance style with.. frog men and wizards? It works for me
Thin Lizzy
3/5
Nothing wrong with this. Good renditions of the songs and Phil Lynott has a great singing voice. Did it need to be made though?
I struggle to understand the purpose of live albums, should one treat it like a greatest hits compilation?
Or are they of interest because the artist does something new vs. the recordings, like new elements in the arrangement? Like Nirvana Unplugged, which is great. If it's the latter, I don't know Thin Lizzy well enough to tell whether this added anything. Wiki says it was made because the producer didn't have time for a studio album, so I'm not sure why this is that important.
Like I say it's not bad but not worth more than 3
Pulp
5/5
Great album. Disco 2000 and Common People are the obvious hits, but it's really consistent. Some of the other highlights include Mis-Shapes, Pencil Skirt, Something Changed, Sorted for Es and Whizz, Feeling Called Love.. basically every track is good
I love Jarvis Cocker's lyrics, he can write songs that are wry, satirical or introspective, with the occasional singalong banger for good measure
Easy 5*
Alanis Morissette
5/5
I was only 8 when this came out but still somehow managed to absorb so many of the songs, given how huge this album was, all the radio airtime for the singles etc.
It's easy to see why it was huge though, her writing really taps into the angst of being a jilted lover. It's a common trope in music but I can't think of many albums that capture this better. The vocals deliver the big hooks with an emotional punch, you believe what she is singing
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
First few tracks I tapped my foot and nodded along, thought it was fine. Soft Machine is pretty rubbish and from that point I was mostly bored as it's all the same
I don't mind this kind of thing in small doses but the repetition wears pretty thin over a 53 minute album
Also it's dumb that this made it in and Discovery didn't, which is way better
The Young Rascals
2/5
Sounds like a knock off from various influences, like The Beatles, Zombies and Motown, without really meshing them into anything original. Inoffensive but kinda dated and doesn't really stand out
Bob Dylan
5/5
My joint favourite Bob Dylan album alongside Blonde on Blonde. Although he denied that the content is autobiographical, it's hard to avoid considering these some of his most personal lyrics. Even the breakup theme aside, it's pretty clear what a song like Idiot Wind is saying
It's also a very accessible album for Dylan, easy to listen to and plenty of great tunes. His vocals are strong and although the arrangements are not super complicated there is some great stuff, me e.g. I like the bluesy riff of Meet Me In The Morning
Perfection
SAULT
3/5
An important political commentary on what it means to be black in the 21st century. Interesting lyrics and nice vocals, with plenty of variety in style across the tracks. Influences of soul, funk, r&B and gospel
The songs themselves don't really grab me but it belongs on the list
The Byrds
2/5
Christianity and country are not my kind of thing
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
I've previously complained about both live albums and the amount of late 60s - early 70s prog on this list. Gonna contradict myself here though because I liked this one
Great improvisation and there is variety across these jams, they have intensity when required, and room to breathe when it suits as well. Some of the guitar playing is incredible, this is a live album that captures music as an experience for the audience.
Not my usual taste, but I don't make the rules. Only thing that prevents it being 5 is the length - 78 minutes of mostly guitar solos is a lot
Megadeth
2/5
Not really my kind of thing. Sounds like very technical guitar playing and I don't mind heavy rock, but a bit more melody would be nice
Portishead
4/5
Mellow and chilled out music but clearly very influential in the trip hop sub genre. Plenty going on as well here, this isn't an album that's chilled out because of "space", they are nicely layered songs and some thought provoking lyrics.
Boards of Canada
1/5
71 minutes which felt more like 71 days
Pink Floyd
5/5
A well renowned classic and an album I had never really appreciated up until now. Listening to the odd track doesn't really do it justice, this is a record you need to pay attention to and absorb.
It's great for more than just the concept though, there is some amazing musicianship, especially of course David Gilmore's guitar work. Not just roaring solos either, I like the finger picked acoustic guitars that appear occasionally as well. The lyrics tell a story of isolation and emotional withdrawal, and the vocals are good too
Only thing I'd say is I never really understood the story until I followed along with Wikipedia.. dunno if that's worth docking a point but..for example how are you even meant to know the character is called Pink when it's not in the lyrics until the 4th side?
Really this has so much to appreciate though so it's gotta be 5/5
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
It's hard not to nod and tap along with the Chili's at their best, they're all on point on this. I feel John Frusciante gets overlooked a bit because Flea is so cool, but he's a good guitarist. Lyrics are surreal, cheeky and fun
Not 5 stars for me as it's pretty long and not every song is good but decent album
Napalm Death
2/5
Added a star because I like the anti-capitalist elements of the lyrics. Shame you can't understand them without reading along as you go
Really not into the music or vocals at all I'm afraid
King Crimson
4/5
More prog. Why do critics love prog so much
I can see why this was so influential, most of the tracks are epic and create a grand sound. I like the softer track I Talk To The Wind as well as the rocking ones.
Moonchild is rubbish though so it's a 4/5 for 4 good tracks out of 5
David Bowie
5/5
Never heard this one, for some reason I didn't think Bowie could make something this good as a comeback album but it's absolutely cracking. Much more upbeat, rocking and ballsy than Black Star. There are some great parts here, love the drumming and horns, and the guitars are heavier than in some of Bowie's work. The lyrics are sometimes a bit sad but the vibe of the music lifts the mood in most tracks
Better album Black Star for me and a belter that I sadly overlooked!
Public Enemy
4/5
Enjoyed, it has the aggressive tone and unashamedly political rhetoric that you'd expect of Public Enemy. Not as consistent as 'Nation of Millions' or 'Fear of a Black Planet' as I feel like some of their signature intensity is a bit lacking in some tracks, particularly in the second half.
I hadn't heard the closing track Bring Tha Noize with Anthrax before. Very interesting and sounds like it might have influenced some of the nu-metal, rap-rock in the early 00s.
Good 4/5
The Fall
3/5
This is ok, it's much more accessible than the previous Fall album I had on this list. Some witty lyrics and great guitar riffs. Vocals still prevent it from being really enjoyable, but I didn't hate it
Jeff Buckley
4/5
Grace has a very high rating on this site and lots of plaudits from critics. I don't think it's quite 5* for me, I've listened to it a lot of times and haven't considered it one of my all time favourites. It's good though, clearly he has an amazing voice and these are incredibly emotional songs. Hallelujah is one of the greatest covers ever.
Radiohead
5/5
Arguably the album that makes Radiohead Radiohead? The sheer amount of invention and willingness to push themselves creatively is astounding, even at the expense of creating something that they just have known wouldn't have been hugely popular. The experimentation covers all sorts including electronics, distorted vocals, changing time signatures, unorthodox structures, jazz influences and lots more.
It's kinda hard to listen to in places, and but I love Radiohead so will overlook that. If they weren't trying these things they wouldn't be the great band that they are
Teenage Fanclub
5/5
I only had a passing familiarity with Teenage Fanclub before. This is right up my street, some cool guitar effects and instrumental sections in the vein of Sonic Youth, but they don't get in the way of good songs and melodies. It's a little lo-fi and the vocals won't be to everyone's taste but I like them. Listened again immediately after finishing
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Nice enough background music. I like the strings and of course his singing voice is what marks Sinatra out as a legendary artist. A piece of history given this was the first UK #1 album!
Not my usual style of music but enjoyable enough.
Björk
4/5
Very intriguing album and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought. The app has it down as pop/electronic but pop hardly seems appropriate, it's as experimental and avant garde as you'd expect from Bjork. The strings are really beautiful and the lyrics incredibly personal and affecting. Not totally on board with the vocals, she doesn't really do catchy melodies, but clearly Bjork is an amazing singer
Don't think this is an album I'd listen to repeatedly but it certainly got my attention so 4/5
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
I've had their second album before this from the generator and feel similarly about both. This one doesn't quite have the same catchy melodies but was hugely influential in the shoegaze genre. Still has good songs and the guitar noise effects are sound super cool, particularly given JAMC were one of the first bands to make music like this.
If I have any criticism it's that the tracks sound a bit samey after a while, but I like it
Eurythmics
3/5
Title track is a classic, and Annie Lennox is an incredible vocalist. The rest is fine, funky synths and enjoyed it a bit but not hugely engaging to me because some tracks get a bit repetitive. It's decent but not one of my favourites.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Great album. For some reason it was the first LZ album I listened to all the way through so I've been a fan of this for years. Jimmy Page's guitar work is great and there is an incredible diversity of styles that show how great a band they are beyond the signature hard rock
It's a quirk of the vinyl era that they added a few tracks to pad the length out, and I do think the first disc is stronger, but not the extent that I wouldn't give this 5*
Christina Aguilera
2/5
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
3/5
Not really my kind of music but very skilled piano playing and found it fairly enjoyable
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
A fairly simple album but I use that as a compliment. Great bluesy guitar licks that don't end up meandering into excessive solos, just does the job and it's a good time
CCR are a bit of a cliché now to me.. your ultimate Americana, classic rock radio band. If you just enjoy this record for what it though, it's hard not to love it
The Cramps
2/5
I can see why this is on the list, the weird punk / glam / rockabilly hybrid is certainly unique
I didn't enjoy it, the songs all sound very samey and the vocals are irritating. The only track that adds something is Fever which is the closer, and I'd checked out by then
New York Dolls
4/5
You can hear how important this must have been, very obvious influence on the punk and hair-metal directions that rock went in during the 70s. So anti-mainstream that it bombed commercially at the time despite its enduring relevance, similar to Velvet Underground and Nico, and must have been hugely challenging in 1973. They really pushed some boundaries but it's still a fresh, fun ride to listen to with plenty of intensity
Not 5* because I don't love the vocals but they do suit the style
5/5
Definitely Maybe was a breakout hit but this is the album that turned Oasis into a band who would sell out stadiums for decades to come (even with dynamic pricing taken into account!). Also the album where Noel emerged as a capable singer himself which was a key moment.
There's something about the production on this and DM which makes the guitars really 'pop' - Noel has never been a hugely technical guitarist but they sound amazing in places. Maybe it's just volume/mixing, I'm not knowledgeable enough to say, but it elevates the music a lot.
WTSMG has everything from rockers (Morning Glory), ballads (Cast No Shadow), smash hits (Wonderwall), singalong anthems (Don't Look Back In Anger) and an epic, psychedelic closer (Champagne Supernova). It still sounds great nearly 30 years on
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
First Elvis Costello album nearly 400 in. Judging by the other reviews I have more to come!
Fortunately I quite like him, although this isn't his best. I did really enjoy a few tracks in the first half, Tokyo Storm Warning and I Want You notably show what a great lyricist he is. It sounds a bit samey after a while so 3*
Nirvana
5/5
A rare album that's universally renowned as a classic but also every bit as good as the hype
R.E.M.
5/5
For REMs debut before a long running career, it's amazing how much of their sound was pretty developed at this point. Of course they evolved their style later to be a bit more poppy at times, and it's fair to say Murmur doesn't have many big anthems that would've contributed to them becoming stadium fillers, but it's extremely accomplished.
The jangly guitars and Stipe's vocal style which are their signatures are definitely here. The lyrics are very obscure and every song is interesting, he certainly doesn't write in clichés. There's just something inherently listenable about these tracks for me, they bounce along with a groove I find very addictive.
I can see why this kind of alt-rock wouldn't be for everyone but I'm a fan and it's a great debut so 5*
Marilyn Manson
2/5
The songs do rock and I think he's got a good voice for heavy music. I can't really get over the lyrics, they're quite off putting. Suppose it appealed to the crowd on the periphery of the mainstream with the shock value
Also 77 minutes is too much, it's long for an album in general but definitely too long for something intense like this for me
Talking Heads
4/5
I liked this album. It's funky, energetic, frenetic and intense in places. I only knew a few Talking Heads songs before, and none from this album, but can see why they were influential. The groovy, dance rock style is pretty cool
Sparks
2/5
Hearing the vocals, I honestly assumed the two Japanese women on the cover were the band. Good thing I tend to have a look at the Wikipedia most days.
That's not why I'm giving it 2* though, I just found it a bit annoying
Blur
3/5
I am probably more in the Britpop camp when it comes to Blur. This is a decent album but the first half is a lot stronger than the second which I found tails off a bit. Says a lot that the 4 singles are in the first 5 tracks, I guess
1/5
Sounds like a lorry carrying a load of drums and saxophones had a road traffic accident
Ice Cube
3/5
Michael Kiwanuka
5/5
This is so cool. The lyrics are very sad and heartfelt, I found them interesting to read along with. I always like lyrics that feel personal and give an insight into a songwriters real emotions.
Musically there's a lot of variety, some great guitar work in places, and the lush strings on some of the tracks are really beautiful. I tend not to notice bass that often but it stands out here at times too. Final note for Danger Mouse's production, that guy is so good
A stunningly beautiful album
Tim Buckley
2/5
Not really sure what to make of this. The genres its tagged on here don't seem very reflective to me. I don't think I particularly like it
It's not even the horniness (although that is off-putting), I more find the vocals annoying. He sounds like a bad Jim Morrison impersonator
The Incredible String Band
4/5
What an interesting album and unlike anything I've ever heard before! The folky melodies combined with a variety of instruments from around the world is very innovative and for me it comes together well. Surprised to see such a low score on the app for this as I found it very beautiful and intriguing.
Docked a point for Cellular Song which goes on a bit
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
It's Halloween and I got an album featuring the singles "Heads Will Roll" and "Skeletons". That's fun
This is a decent album with cool synths and great vocals. After the heights of the first two tracks the rest of the songs are not as good, IMO
Sex Pistols
5/5
Classic: rebellious, loud and raw. The very definition of punk and still sounds pretty fresh today. Ignoring what came after and Johnny Rotten becoming a bit of a tosser, Never Mind The Bollocks is both a riot and incredibly important album
Barry Adamson
2/5
The first two tracks are pretty good but I found the rest mostly meh
Faust
1/5
Well done for being different but this really isn't for me. I was actively looking forward to it ending from the first track which means it's gotta be 1*
ZZ Top
4/5
A bit silly but great guitar riffs and an overall fun album. I enjoyed this more than the previous ZZ Top album I've had on the generator (Tres Hombres). Cracking singles, particularly Sharp Dressed Man and Gimme All Your Lovin.
If I have any criticism it's that it's all a little samey and the fillers are just slightly inferior versions of the hits.
The Smiths
5/5
All 4 of The Smiths' studio albums are great, which is really quite an accomplishment when they also released a bunch of fantastic non-album singles during their relatively short run. Shame Morrissey and Marr's relationship eventually broke down after Strangeways, Here We Come.
As mentioned I love all of their albums and this is a belter. Girlfriend in a Coma might be one of the most archetypal Smiths songs - jangly guitars combined with catchy vocals and morbid lyrics. It's a consistent album though, no bad songs at all so easy 5*
Björk
3/5
Very intriguing acapella album with some cool vocal effects and harmonising.
Not sure I'd listen to this repeatedly so will give 3* but it definitely belongs on the list
Boston
5/5
Classic rock! I feel like Boston are pigeon-holed as fairly basic meat and potatoes rock 'n' roll / Dad Rock but I find this album better than that. The synths are a little of their time but create a really distinct sound. I also found it interesting how Scholz was influenced by classical music in terms of how he structured some of the songs.
Aside from that, love the guitars and especially love the vocals, what's not to like?
Peter Gabriel
2/5
OK album but I found the slower tracks a bit dull and dreary. And they make up most of it
FKA twigs
2/5
Couldn't really get into this at the time it came out, and not on board after a relisten either
The Police
4/5
By this point The Police had clearly moved pretty far from their reggae/post punk roots and this has a lot of different influences from around the world
Not a huge fan of every track, including the two non-Sting ones (especially Mother which is just annoying)
Mostly enjoyed though, Synchronicity I/II and most of the second side are good. 4* due to a few fillers
Pentangle
4/5
Really nice album. Beautiful guitar playing and the vocals suit the folk sound. I can see why this isn't to everyone's taste as it does sound quite old-school folk, especially several years after the likes of Bob Dylan was going electric. So maybe it sounded a little old fashioned when it came out even, but I like it!
Hawkwind
1/5
This is really not for me. Lots of spoken word verses about space. Noodly songs that don't really go anywhere. A live album, which I don't think really needs to be on this list. Overly long even without the bonus tracks. Only enjoyable to people on drugs, which I am not.
Basically it's a lot of the ingredients for an album I dislike
The Undertones
4/5
Fun album, good guitar riffs and punchy songs that don't faff about. Like Fergal's vocals on this too, some very catchy hooks which give it quite a pop-punk feel.
A bit short of a 5* album for me because it's not super deep or ground breaking really, but definitely worth a spin
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Eminem
5/5
I was 13 when this came out and got it for Christmas from my parents - not sure I was old enough to listen to it in hindsight, given the lyrical content. Nothing is off limit as Eminem seeks to shock throughout - rape, murder, homophobia, drugs, school shootings, and more
No denying what a great songwriter and rapper he was at this point, the lyrics constantly throw up incredible wordplay and the storytelling is incredibly vivid. He's capable of intricate flow and the album is packed with hooks in nearly every song, that make it very immediate. Dre's beats are great as usual without overshadowing the rapping.
Some of the songs are pretty hard to listen to, in particular Kim, so I suppose I give 5* on the basis of he was going out of his way to shock by saying some of these things as opposed to actually wanting to do it. Mission accomplished, you gotta say
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
1/5
Some nice guitar playing, but the vocals are really bad and songs are mostly tedious. Wouldn't want to listen to this again
Might have given a 2 but the last song is nearly 10 minutes of crap, so recency bias makes it a 1.
Elliott Smith
5/5
Great album from one of the most incredible singer songwriters. I never got fully on board with his first two albums, which are quite lo-fi, but Either/Or marked his music becoming a bit more polished and commercial, and it wasn't long before he was Oscar nominated.
Although it didn't sell well when it came out, Either/Or has some of his most beautiful songs in Speed Trials, Between the Bars and Say Yes, and I don't think any of the other tracks are weak.
I can see why his voice is a little polarising, but to me this starts one of the great three album runs in music history with XO and Figure 8.
Everything But The Girl
4/5
I only really know "Missing" from EBTG which was a big hit in the 90s and the single which inspired a bit of a change in style on this album. I find that Tracey Thorn's voice really suits the chillwave/ laid back drum 'n' bass vibe on this record, I could listen to this again when I just wanted to drift away and be peaceful.
Randy Newman
3/5
I love the new word cloud feature on this site. Very funny that my first thought on hearing this is that I just associate Randy Newman with Toy Story and sure enough, that along with Pixar/Disney etc. are some of the most mentioned topics. The market researcher in me finds this fun
Anyway the album is quite nice, not too remarkable or notable so I probably wouldn't listen again, but a pleasant 3*
LTJ Bukem
2/5
Not even sure I listened to this right, the tracklist on Spotify doesn't look the same as the Wiki page indicates.
Anyway, I played it while I was working and it's fine in the background. Wasn't really paying attention. Probably 2*
Kraftwerk
5/5
This is great. I've already had Autobahn from the generator and I didn't get on board with that, but Man Machine might have made me a Kraftwerk convert. It's a lot more danceable and fun I think that than album
Of course there are a lot of synths and beeps but they do a great job of creating atmosphere, melody and groove with mostly electronics. Some of this type of music can get repetitive but I never found that with this album. The Model is a classic and I didn't get bored of any of it
Also can't believe how much this sounds like Daft Punk, particularly Discovery. Or rather, Daft Punk sounds like this. Incredible influence
I liked it so much I'll give another listen to Autobahn and am willing to regret giving that a rubbish score
Talking Heads
4/5
Enjoyed, The guitar work is cool and the album has a slightly frenetic feel to it that draws me in. There is no other front man like David Byrne, he is truly unique
Think I prefer their later, more poppier sound as not all tracks hit the mark for me, but the highs are cracking
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
Thought this was alright, not normally a fan of instrumental electronica but I was intrigued by some of the sounds and haunting vibe created.
Album is a bit repetitive so I can't go higher than 3*
Black Sabbath
5/5
Never listened to this before all the way through. Every element rocks, but especially the guitar work
Contains some classic songs but will give a nod to Planet Caravan. Pacing is an overlooked album quality I think, and this provides a nice moment of calm between the chaos of Paranoid and crunching riff of Iron Man.
Sepultura
2/5
Suzanne Vega
4/5
I liked this, nice finger picked guitar and simple but effective arrangements. The synth/strings complement the sound well. She has an engaging vocal style and writes interesting lyrics too.
Highlights: Marlene, Small Blue Thing, Queen and the Soldier, Knight Moves
Lenny Kravitz
2/5
The White Stripes
4/5
Rush
3/5
Deep Purple
3/5
R.E.M.
5/5
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
Quite surprised how much I enjoyed this. I was aware how influential Buddy Holly was in the early development of rock 'n' roll and the very fundamentals of what a rock band is and looks like. I thought the music might be a bit silly but it's not really, for 1957 it sounds pretty cool
Ryan Adams
3/5
Strong start but not as good in the second half, gets a little dreary. OK album
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
Rufus clearly likes Radiohead, wow. I am not a huge fan of this, he can sing but the songs just don't grab me and it all sounds a bit samey
N.W.A.
5/5
Landmark album and set the template for a lot of gangster rap to come. Also launched Dr Dre into the mainstream, surely one of hip hops most important figures. It's a classic: hard hitting lyrics, funky beats and rhymes that hit every time.
Röyksopp
3/5
Kanye West
5/5
He's a racist asshole now, no doubt, but rating the music purely on its own merits this has to be a 5*. Kanye at his best is one of the most captivating artists in modern music and impossible to ignore. Although he became more overtly experimental in later albums, this was still extremely fresh and successful when it came out.
The beats are cool and all self-produced, showing his talent as a producer and ability to create a big, epic hip-hop sound. The rapping is great, with clever wordplay and tongue-in-cheek humour throughout. Oh for the days when Kanye didn't take himself too seriously. Packed with hooks and great moments, this is a classic
Pink Floyd
5/5
My favourite Pink Floyd album - the title track is one of the best rock songs ever, poignant and yearning with a beautiful guitar riff.
Shine on You Crazy Diamond is an epic tribute to their former friend Syd Barrett, that manages to entertain and build to great moments despite it's length across two tracks
Every track is good of course, Have a Cigar and Welcome to the Machine have some great, cynical lyrics and I like the synths too.
Love this one even better than The Wall / DSOTM
Duke Ellington
4/5
Could probably cut and paste my other jazz reviews here. I enjoy it and tap my foot along without loving it hugely. Appreciate the artistry even if it's not my favourite genre
It helped that I listened to a playlist of just the original LP (search Spotify if you don't want to listen to the expanded version with all the talking) so the length was manageable
This is pretty much what I imagine when I think of the genre, the brass bits are good and the last song in particular is cool
The Smiths
5/5
Classic and one of my favourite albums ever. Great if slightly miserable lyrics, catchy melodies and fantastic guitar work from Johnny Marr.
Some Girls is a weird track to close on, it's a bit of a rubbish novelty and surely it'd be better to just remove it and have There Is a Light as the last track. But anyway the rest is so good I'll overlook it
Paul Weller
2/5
I've always found Weller's solo work a little bland compared with The Jam and Style Council. Something about it just never really grabbed me, although I normally like the singer-songwriter genre too. It's OK but I don't know how important this is and not much stood out.
Radiohead
5/5
I listened to The Bends a couple of days ago, weirdly enough, nice coincidence from the randomiser. I still listened to it again because it's a belter - Radiohead moved on a lot from the grungier Pablo Honey, with a mixture of anthemic indie rock and more tender ballads. Thom's Jeff Buckley-inspired falsetto marked his transition to the frontman of the world's greatest rock band, and Jonny Greenwood's guitar playing is awesome.
Although it's not as chin-strokingly intriguing as Kid A / Amnesiac and some of their later work, it was still massively influential on the wave of UK 'sad indie' that followed the Britpop era, and sounds incredibly fresh to this day. Another plus point for The Bends is that every song is a belter - there's no skip here, which even some of Radiohead's other albums do have. I could listen to any random track of this album and love it every time.
Although it's my 4th favourite Radiohead album after OK Computer, Kid A and In Rainbows, it's still basically perfect. Just goes to show how good they are, I guess.
The United States Of America
3/5
This was an unexpected album, I'd never heard of the USA. The band, not the country
It must have been very ahead of its time particularly the use of synths and other wacky sounds. This is proper psychedelic and experimental
Not an album I'd listen to repeatedly but belongs in the book
Kings of Leon
4/5
I definitely prefer the earlier, bluesy Kings of Leon to the later version who focused on arena singalong anthems. This is nothing groundbreaking but it's a good time
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Love Led Zeppelin although III isn't as strong as some of their other work
I don't think Robert Plant's voice really suits the folk style of a lot of these songs, it's a bit intense and works better in the heavier tracks for me
This is certainly not bad though, some of the guitar playing is amazing and any band willing to evolve their style and try different things should be commended. Suppose I just can't help comparing it against II, IV and Physical Graffiti which are classics
Fiona Apple
2/5
Apple is a very acclaimed artist I've never managed to fully "get". See also: Nick Cave, who this reminded me of a bit, and I also don't really get
The lyrics are quite good and there's some nice enough arrangements to certain tracks and the piano playing is alright. I find her vocals a bit monotonous and the songs lack hooks though. Some songs are longer than they need to be, even the hit Criminal
Ok but I wouldn't be in a hurry to listen again
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Nice vocals, lyrics and arrangements. The lyrics are quite interesting and you could easily get lost just reading them.
The songs don't really grab me, this album could've done with a few 'singles' as the tracks all have quite a rambling/free-form structure.
It's pleasant to listen to, Mitchell's experimentation with jazzier arrangements, strings etc. create some nice songs. But after 2 listens not a lot really stuck in my memory
So a mixed bag means 3*
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
Mostly enjoyed this, nice lyrics and very melodic vocals. Uses a variety of styles without losing cohesion and he sounds a bit like Elliott Smith which I consider a plus
I'd give it a 4 but it's a fair amount of filler too. Cut some of the chaff and I'd give an extra star, but I'd listen to some of these tracks again for sure
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
This is cool. I'm not normally into jazz but I enjoyed this, some beautiful guitar playing, and loved some of the piano parts. I reckon these would be great fun in person.
Interesting to read on the AllMusic review that the songs were all recorded live - I was thinking that the songs have quite an organic feel and wondered if it was production, but I guess it's because of how they were recorded. It's fun
Raekwon
5/5
Love the Wu-Tang Clan and this is one the best albums coming from the group and it's members. Rae sounds unstoppable at his best with a relentlessly listenable flow. Some of his rhyming on this album sounds somehow both meticulously crafted and completely effortless.
I didn't really get the gangster movie concept but oh well. If I didn't read about that I'm not sure I'd have been aware it was even a thing.
RZAs beats and the guest spots are amazing too. Obviously Ghostface is most prominent but the Blue Raspberry track adds a nice change of pace too. This has got to be 5*
Dr. Octagon
2/5
The beats are decent but not a big fan of this overall. Immature concept and weird, juvenile lyrics. Half of the time I don't understand what he's going on about, and the other half seems to be related to rectums, doo-doo, rape or genitals. Honestly some of the lyrics read like a 12 year old wrote them
Production just about raises it above 1*
CHIC
3/5
Chic have some great singles but not sure they're an albums band, based on this. It's alright but the two hits stand out much more strongly than the fillers and I was a little bored in the last 3 tracks. Love Nile Rodgers' guitar playing though
Lightning Bolt
2/5
I don't completely hate this, there were some points where I got lost in the cacophony of noise. It's impressive that they make music like this with mostly just a bass and drums
Overall it's not for me but slightly better than 1*. At least it wasn't too long
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Sufjan Stevens
5/5
I've loved this album since it came out. Sufjan's songwriting really went to another level between Michigan and Illinois: this is a richly layered and beautiful beast. Although some of the songs have quite big, orchestral arrangements, the different sections never feel like they're simply present to create a pointlessly "big sound" - they're all meticulously designed, bringing something each time.
Vocals and lyrics are great too - there's a skilful variety of songwriting here covering deeply personal and tender subject matter as well as stories linking to the state concept.
Love it. An album to just sit with headphones and take in on a peaceful moment
Gene Clark
2/5
Unremarkable
The Stooges
4/5
From "I want to hold your hand" in 1963 to "I'll stick it deep inside" in 1970. Rock music really became a lot more direct in that time
Joni Mitchell
2/5
Already had Hissing of Summer Lawns, and I feel similarly about Hejira. Nice enough background music and the bass is cool, but the rambling / free-form structure doesn't grab me. The songs feel like they don't go anywhere and nothing is particularly memorable on this record. Please add a hook or two Joni..
a-ha
5/5
Enjoyed this. Obviously the opener is a big hit but the rest of the album is fun: catchy melodies, nice synth riffs, great vocals. Sounds ahead of its time when I consider how much I hear a-ha in 2000s bands like Hot Chip, Passion Pit, Holy Ghost
Ananda Shankar
4/5
Jimmy Smith
2/5
Not really a jazz fan, some albums in that genre on this list have been fairly enjoyable and started to convert me but this wasn't one of them. Was mostly bored
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Nice background music. Would work great in a cocktail bar. The bass solos are very good although let's face it does anyone get that excited about a bass solos? Of course Evans' piano playing is the highlight and he is incredible
The Thrills
3/5
00s indie is very much my bag and I know this album from when it came out, although was a bit surprised that it made it into the book. Fun and jangly indie pop with nice vocal melodies. The harmonies evoke the Beach Boys / Byrds. There's nothing to really dislike here. Doesn't stand out massively so I can't give it more than 3
The Coral
3/5
I had The Thrills yesterday so quite similar review yesterday. This is fine and I remember listening to it when it came out, but not sure it really belongs in the list. Quite strong 60s vibes and some decent songs, but nothing massively interesting
Beck
3/5
A melancholy and sad breakup album, not what you'd expect from Beck at all. Quite Nick Drake / folk rock esque, both in vibes and use of strings with acoustic guitars. There are some really beautiful and touching songs on this
Not sure this is his best work, Beck suits more upbeat and experimental albums like the classic Odelay I think. He can be a fantastically quirky and esoteric songwriter at times but this is a bit more vanilla. Not bad at all but maybe not the style to get the best out of his talents
Aerosmith
5/5
I read on Wiki that this album inspired Slash to learn to play guitar and was one of Kurt Cobain's favourites. It really sounds ahead of its time and must have been a big factor in influencing a lot of 80s and 90s hard rock as hair metal and grunge became big trends in guitar music
I loved it, at times I just zoned into listening to one of the elements at a time and they all sound so tight and deliberate. The guitar licks are great and there are some great basslines. Steven Tyler's vocals are classic and less tangible things like the attitude and intensity are on point as well - there's not a wasted second in this album
Nirvana
5/5
Having previously complained about live albums on this list, Nirvana's Unplugged is pretty much the perfect way to do it. Not just a greatest hits compilation, they chose a set list that suited the occasion and they're incredible renditions. The acoustic versions add something fresh that you don't get just listening to the studio tracks, which makes it a worthwhile live recording. I could listen to this endlessly
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Just an incredible album and defies belief that LZ came up with this in 1969. Robert Plant's voice just provides the archetypal hard rock vocal performance with subtlety where required, I'm not sure any of the artists that were inspired by his singing style could ever match the GOAT. Jimmy Page's guitar riffs absolutely rock, the rhythm section is on-point, basically it's as tight as hell and set the standard. I love the slight breakdown-followed-by-insane-solo trick they use on Whole Lotta Love and Heartbreaker - cool as hell
Rocket From The Crypt
4/5
One of the pleasant surprises from this list, never heard of the band in my life and expected it to be crap based on the cover art of what looks like Word Art next to a GettyImages photo of a scorpion. Don't judge an album by it's cover, i suppose
Not far off giving this 5* but I'm not a massive fan of the vocals, and a bit of pacing would help. Really love the energy and spirit though, it's a riot for its running time. The inclusion of brass in some tracks give it a bit of a ska-feel and reminds me of something like Reel Big Fish.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
An album I already knew I was giving 5* to but listened to it anyway
It's not my favourite Neil Young album (After the Goldrush is) but probably the one which best encapsulates the versatility that makes him great with an acoustic side and an electric side. Hey Hey My My is one of his most poignant songs, with incredibly evocative lyrics and an ultimately simple guitar melody.
Fair to say Young's 80s output to come afterwards wasn't quite as good as his peak, but this album sits aside his best work for sure
Grateful Dead
4/5
Quite a nice album. I'm not massively familiar with The GD beyond the deadhead / jam band thing, so this wasn't really I expected from their most successful studio record. Nice harmonies and guitar playing, very chilled out hippy vibes. Not a huge fan of Jerry Garcia's vocals but they're ok. Don't know if I'd listen to this repeatedly but I would play some of the tracks again
Genesis
1/5
This is really not for me. The very definition of wanky, pretentious 70s prog that I suspect people just claim to enjoy to seem smart. The medieval folk influence just adds another layer of silliness that Genesis don't really need. The longer songs simultaneously combine having lots of ideas without really going anywhere either, which is sub-optimal to say the least
Ironically the song 'After The Ordeal' is actually placed with a fair amount of the ordeal still to come
Japan
2/5
Sounds very ahead of its time for 1979 - if I didn't already know the date when I started listening, I would've put it right in the 80s. Very Duran Duran esque.
I didn't really enjoy it that much though, after a strong opening with the title track I found it drags as you get further in and there is a fair amount of filler
Sheryl Crow
3/5
Pleasant enough easy listening
Fairport Convention
5/5
Great album - the transition of folk into a more folk-rock hybrid genre is clear from this record. You can see the progression to modern artists like Frank Turner. In Matty Groves we have a cracking 8 minutes long folk song with a rocking guitar solo! What's not to like
The vocals are amazing too - Sandy Denny has a captivating voice. I wasn't aware she'd died so young until today. The fiddle on the medley just makes me want to jig, so fun
Can see why not everyone would love this but it definitely appeals to my taste
Super Furry Animals
4/5
Weirdly opens with a couple of less strong tracks. There are some belters on here though, Rings Around The World and Juxtaposed With You are classic britpop tunes if one can still use that word for 2001
SFA are a truly unique band, there's so much genre bending and interesting things going on in this album. Receptacle for the Respectable is almost like a prog song with the weird timings and parts, despite coming across a modest 4:32
Not far off giving this 5* but I didn't find every track great so 4* seems fair
The Auteurs
2/5
This is ok but unremarkable britpop/indie. Lyrics, vocals, guitars all decent but nothing massively stands out. Is all a fairly similar tempo and could do with some bigger moments, more intense singing or something to prevent it all sounding samey. Didn't hate it but won't listen again. The lyrics are probably the best element
The National
5/5
One of my favourite modern bands so a biased review of an album I've played numerous times. The National have an uncanny knack of creating epic music - most of these tracks have an anthemic quality with some arrangements that build beautifully (England in particular)
I see how Matt Berninger's lyrics and vocals could be polarising and suspect that limits the score, but I love them
Calexico
3/5
Nicely arranged songs, instrumentals in particular are lush and easy to lose yourself in. Nice variety of influences and mixture of genres. Probably wouldn't listen to this again as it's a little passive but enjoyed my time with it
Dexys Midnight Runners
1/5
Close to giving this 2* because at least there are some enjoyable strings and horns bits. The vocals are bad though and that's before I even consider how much talking there is?? The long tracks really drag. It's simply not enjoyable to listen to and shouldn't be on the list either
The Byrds
4/5
Enjoyed this. Sounds a lot like Rubber Soul which is one of my favourite Beatles albums. Like the jangly guitars and vocal harmonies, The Byrds certainly have a distinctive sound
Docked a star because it's mostly covers
Paul McCartney and Wings
5/5
A more Beatles-y album than a lot of Paul's other solo work so I rate it a lot. He's not necessarily pushing any boundaries here but this is a solid collection of songs that show some of his best writing qualities.. quirky storytelling, great vocals and some nice harmonies. It's a nice mixture of guitar solos, acoustic songs and the horn bits are cool too.
The first two tracks are the most celebrated but i saw Sir Paul play live in December 2024 and two of Band on The Run's other tracks also made the set (1985 and Let Me Roll It). Shows the strength of these songs, and Bluebird is also an underappreciated gem.
Elton John
4/5
I enjoyed this, the lyrics are interesting with some nice storytelling going on which I don't always associate with Elton and Bernie. The strings which are present in most tracks give it quite an epic sound alongside Elton's always great piano playing. I also think he delivers the vocals on a lot of these tracks with real heft and passion.
After Tiny Dancer and Levon I don't love the rest as much but it's a decent 4 for me
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
This is pretty good. Freak Scene is a strong opening and I enjoy the distorted guitars. There's some awesome drumming on this album as well, I noticed it a lot and wouldn't normally pay great attention to this. The drumming around the mini pauses in They Always Come really drives the song strongly
I found it starts to sound more droney as the album goes on. Don't is a pretty unpleasant song. Capping my score at 3
Miriam Makeba
3/5
She has an incredible voice but I do find this slow vocal jazz just a bit dull so I probably wouldn't listen again
Tears For Fears
4/5
Enjoyed this, although I think of Tears for Fears as being very 80s, I didn't think it was that 'of it's time' and sounds pretty fresh really. Shout and Everybody Rules the World are fantastic songs, I liked Mothers Talk and Head Over Heels too having not heard them before.
Not quite 5* as these are some long tracks that can drag a bit, especially the closer Listen. It feels like they wanted to drag out the album over a 40 minute running time without any real ideas to fill the time
Cowboy Junkies
2/5
Quite a slow and downbeat album. I like the singer's voice but the reimagining of various songs in this style doesn't quite grab my attention for 50+ minutes. I have a real issue with covers that just slow down and make the track more dull - it's really not that clever. Their version of Sweet Jane is way worse than the original IMO. Seems to happen in every Christmas advert so maybe they were trailblazers (of a bad thing)
I'd listen to the odd song again, didn't hate it but I was a bit bored listening all the way through
Bad Company
3/5
Has the ingredients I normally like but doesn't quite make a delicious cake. I found this album a bit generic
Roni Size
1/5
I only listened to the 1 disc version linked on Spotify, not the double disc one. Even this was too repetitive and bored me though. Not my kind of thing at all
Wire
4/5
Very fun album, reminds me of Minutemen with the short tracks, but they came a few years later. Liked the raw energy and punchy nature of the songs. Feel like I need another listen to probably take it in as there is so much going on, so may become a 5* with more exposure!
Roxy Music
2/5
Add Roxy Music to my list of acclaimed / influential bands that I don't get. Can't get on board with Bryan Ferry's vocal style and the songs just don't resonate with me at all
Fun Lovin' Criminals
4/5
I liked this. Only knew the hits before but it's an album of laid back rap vocals against funky and bluesy backing music with a few guitar solos and more rocking moments. Very chill
Adam & The Ants
3/5
I'd only heard Stand and Deliver and Prince Charming before. Probably enjoyed this more than I thought - there's some cool fuzzy guitars and catchy hooks in places. Certainly Adam and the Ants had a unique sound, image and attitude that still seems quite fresh and unique 4 decades on
I don't love all the tracks, especially in the second half it's not as strong, but decent overall
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
I enjoyed this - you know what's getting with CCR: bluesy, squelchy riffs and an album that's a good time. There's some cracking bass-lines on this too as well as John Fogerty's vocals which are always good
Don't think it's quite 5*, there are a few misses (like Graveyard Train) that bring it down.
Richard Hawley
4/5
Reminded me a lot of Johnny Cash's American IV The Man Comes Around. Baritone vocals and a very melancholic vibe. Lyrics are quite contemplative in places too (e.g. Waters of My Time)
The tracks with the strings are the highlights for me (title track and The Ocean), very beautiful songs. Not sure the rest is hugely remarkable but I'll give it 4* as I would certainly revisit this
Bad Brains
3/5
Interesting album, hardcore punk with some metal-like guitar playing and a reggae influence as well. The title track is fantastic, love the energy and intensity, from reading about Bad Brains it sounds like this was a real signature sound.
Close to giving this a 4 but I don't have a strong desire to replay. It's a good 3 for me though
Dolly Parton
3/5
The title track is really good, a beautiful piece of storytelling about childhood.
Some of the rest is a bit bland but I do think this album showcases Dolly's stunning turn of phrase and ability to write poetic lyrics. Some very nice metaphors. To take Early Morning Breeze as another highlight, I don't find it musically that interesting but she turns a countryside morning scene into something very evocative and visual. Nice
Don't think I'll go above 3*, country is not my thing and I got a little bored even in the 27 minutes. But it's pleasant enough
Deep Purple
5/5
Has a lot of aspects I normally don't like (live album, overly long tracks) but actually this is great. It's loud and it rocks! Some interminable solos but actually what I find fun is the kind of sounds they make even with a guitar vary quite a lot. I guess it's a lot of effects pedals
Not hugely a fan of Deep Purple on record but this got to me - loved the intensity and energy of the vocals too. Proper heavy rock!
Cee Lo Green
3/5
This is pretty good, it starts with some strong tracks, including the one with Pharrell. I like the southern style, there are some good funky beats on here. It's fun and happy music for the most part, the use of brass in some beats is great and makes it sound more like the soulful record the title promises (it's a rap album really to me)
It's a bit long and towards the end I got bored, I don't know if the lyrics have a huge amount to say. So I'll go down the middle for a mixed bag
Kacey Musgraves
4/5
I really liked this - I can sometimes find country a bit twee but this doesn't really feel like that. Her voice is so captivating - I could listen to it for hours. The musical backdrop is a somewhat "easy listening" but she has an ear for a melody
Props also for using a metaphor of a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis. Kacey knows her biology
Muddy Waters
5/5
Some people find the harmonica annoying. I am not some people people
Goldfrapp
2/5
🥱
Dwight Yoakam
2/5
I'm not massively into country so maybe I'm missing something about why this made the book. It seems pretty standard.. guitars, fiddles, twangy vocals about heartbreak and loneliness. There is some nice guitar playing for sure, but I doubt I'll remember this tomorrow
The Vines
4/5
Enjoyed this, a mix of indie, grunge, britpop and psychadelica. It comes together nicely with some good variety between the heavier tracks and ballads.
Probably not a 5* album because The Vines wear their influences very heavily on their sleeves. Factory sounds like The Beatles, In The Jungle sounds like Don't Fear The Reaper, etc. Could easily go on but those were the last two tracks as I write this. Still an enjoyable album though
Brian Eno
3/5
I haven't quite got on board with Eno's solo work from this list so far. Not sure I'd go so far as to say this converted me but the more upbeat tracks, which remind of a kinda prototype Talking Heads, are pretty fun and there are some catchy hooks here. I zone out a bit in the more ambient and mellow tracks on the second side, such as Through Hollow Lands
Hugh Masekela
3/5
This is alright. I don't love jazz but I find the upbeat and funky tracks quite fun. The musicianship is clearly very skilled but I did get bored by the end. Fine enough background music but too exciting as a whole album
Belle & Sebastian
5/5
Great album, I can see Belle & Sebastian probably aren't for everyone but this is so good. Stuart Murdoch's lyrics and turn of phrase are just on point and he has a real ear for a catchy melody. I get the comparisons to Nick Drake, especially the occasional use of strings and bigger arrangements than guitars and drums give it that chamber folk sound.
Franz Ferdinand
5/5
I loved this at the time and it stands up very well indeed. The angular guitars and tight playing are very reminiscent of Talking Heads and Gang of Four but that's cool. Indie rock from this period can get a bad name and, to be fair, there was some crap produced in that era (I'm looking at you Razorlight). Franz Ferdinand were one of the good ones though and it was a joy to revisit this. Super fantastic, you could say
Final note - after Belle and Sebastian yesterday, very happy to give 5* to two Glasgow bands on consecutive days, as a resident of this fine but rainy city
Mercury Rev
5/5
Never heard this before and I loved it. Obviously it's not groundbreaking to say they sound like Flaming Lips but I'm surprised I've never really come across Mercury Rev given how much I like FL
Will definitely be giving this some more spins as it sounds like an album that would grow on you. There's a lot going on and it's mostly awesome!
Goldie
2/5
Had it on as background music while I was working and didn't really pay much attention. Sounds like it was very influential given the mixture of drum & bass/jungle sounds with other styles, so I'm fine with it being in the book but not really my vibe
Slipknot
2/5
Not really into metal although there are some elements I quite like here. The drumming is awesome, I like the scratching too. Not a not huge fan of the shouty vocals though and it's too long, it just sounded like noise to me after a while
The Damned
3/5
Common
3/5
Enjoyed this, quite chilled out hip hop but don't think it stood out massively
Goldfrapp
3/5
Second Goldfrapp album I've heard on this list.. I don't think it really needed both tbh although they are pleasant.
Fine enough while it's playing, mellow and atmospheric electronica which is very Cocteau Twins-esque. Not particularly memorable though
I was probably in the mood for something melancholic this morning so I'll give it 3 just about, rather than 2
The Specials
4/5
Cool album, showed much more in terms of versatility than their debut, which is much more of a ska record. The Specials had such a distinctive sound though that I find this quite a natural expansion of their style
Shame that Ghost Town came after this album as that is a classic that would've lifted it. Still good though
Pixies
5/5
They probably didn't peak until Doolittle but Surfer Rosa is a belting album as well. I love the distorted guitars - just crank this MF up and it's hard to resist its charms. Loud, intense, chaotic but with catchy elements that you can sing along to in places. Massively influential on the grunge genre in the 90s but extremely fun in its own right too.
Lucinda Williams
4/5
I quite liked this, I normally find country a bit twee but prefer something like this with grittier and more personal songwriting. This is also a bit bluesy, it works with the subject matter. She has a great voice and although I don't find it groundbreaking, it stands out as an edgier and sexier album than a lot of the country on this list
Elvis Presley
4/5
Enjoyed this - considering it was his first LP, the quirks and style of Elvis's vocals are already showing the signs of what made him such a superstar. I like the rockabilly songs and the ballads, it's a nice balance. Considering how massive Elvis was in bringing rock 'n' roll to a wider (whiter) audience, this must've been such an exciting time.
The songwriting is obviously quite simple and love-focused by today's standards but that's reflective of the time, and these are all written by other people anyway.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Not really a fan of EDM but I liked this more than some of the others I've heard on this list. Some quite strong beats and songs that build nicely. Does suffer from the genre's typical repetition though which limits my enjoyment
Patti Smith
3/5
I liked some elements: her voice and the lyrics are good. The music isn't massively complicated but builds with some nice intensity in places and apparently massively influenced the formative punk genre. Gloria is a really strong opener
Don't like other things: in particular lack of hooks, a lot of tracks just happen without me remembering much. Her typical structure seems to build to a big outro which I don't find too appealing. Also Birdland is annoying
3* for a mixed bag seems fair
Daft Punk
5/5
I'd probably give homework a 4 rather than a 5 based on its own merits, I like it but some tracks do wear a bit thin
However given Discovery is not on the list, I will give this top marks as a proxy
The The
4/5
Between a 3 and a 4 for this. I like the lyrics which have some really nice poetry in places. Introspection, yearning and anxiety.. it's not songwriting one would normally expect from a synth pop act (knowing nothing of The The as I do)
The hits are really good...This Is the Day is a great song and the outro of Uncertain Smile is really stunning, it could've gone on for another 5 minutes without being boring
Second side is not as good as the first but still enjoyed it overall
Korn
3/5
Enjoyed this more than Slipknot's self titled album which I had a week or so ago from the randomiser. In my head they were basically the same band but Korn are a bit more Nu Metal, I hear some indications of how they might have influenced the likes of Linkin Park. The vocals are slightly less screamy than Slipknot and there are some decent hooks. I basically considered them the same band until now, but I prefer Korn
This album rocks but it's too long and sounds a bit samey so I can't go higher than 3*
Tina Turner
3/5
Slightly surprised by how EIGHTIES this sounds.. I thought Tina Turner was a timeless artist but I'm not sure about this. The drums are tinny and I'm not a fan of a lot the keyboard / synth sounds either. Just comes across as really sonically dated due to the production. I wrote that before the slightly cheesy saxophone of the title track as well
Vocals are amazing of course and the lyrics are ok. I'll give 3* just about for the power of her voice and the triumph of being able to come back after the trauma of her relationship with Ike.
Van Morrison
5/5
I expected not to like this but enjoyed it more than I thought. The band is tight as hell and the horns, strings and piano all get their turns to shine. Van's singing also sounds great. There's a nice variety between the songs as well, from jazzy ballads to more rocking songs. I can see why this is held up as a great live album, it was a very pleasant surprise for me
Incredible Bongo Band
4/5
This is really good, I wasn't expecting much but another pleasant surprise from this list. Good funky instrumentals with lots of vibrancy and energy, very fun music. And the bongos themselves aren't too much really, they're only 1 element other than a single track which is only percussion. You can hear the early roots of hip-hop's genesis in this, not just because of how their version of Apache has been sampled either. An important album but a great listen too
The Who
4/5
Pinball Wizard must be one of the finest songs with a story, just beaten by The Killing of Georgie and In The Ghetto. Alrite?
Saint Etienne
2/5
This is ok, I like the dancier ones. Already knew Nothing Can Stop Us which is good, and the Neil Young cover is fun. I zoned out slightly at various points though, the 7min penultimate track was enough to relegate this from 3 to 2
Animal Collective
5/5
Animal Collective are mainly known for their experimental and psychedelic style and MPP nicely mixes this with slightly more poppy melodies. The singles My Girls, Summertime Clothes and Brother Sport in particular are fantastic songs. This album has a really big sound.. probably like Pet Sounds would've come out like if it was made in the 00s. Loved this when it came out and loved it again on a re-listen
The Byrds
3/5
There's a lot of Byrds on this list.. not sure it needs 5 albums + Gene Clark solo work as well. But anyway the slightly more psychadelic lyrics and guitar playing is cool and something different from the other ones I've heard. They also retain some more folky elements on certain tracks.. I'm a sucker for nice vocal harmonies
I can see why it got criticised for being all over the place, as the styles as slightly mish-mash. I was leaning towards a 4 in the first half, but the second half is quite forgettable so 3 seems fair for a decent album
Steely Dan
5/5
I unashamedly love a bit of Dad Rock. Catchy melodies and good melodies, what's not to like? Reelin in the Years is an anthem
Having said that, I think Steely Dan are better than a lot of your middle-of-the-road soft rock, some of their lyrics are quite thought provoking. The jazzier elements of this album also sets it apart i think.. e.g. the piano intro of Fire in the Hole or sax solo of Dirty Work
Great album
UB40
4/5
Wouldn't have previously thought I was a big UB40 fan but enjoyed this more than I expected. Really groovy and mellow reggae sounds and the sax player is great. I like the political message e.g. Burden of Shame, and the instrumental title track was also a highlight for me
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
Between a 2 and a 3. It's nice guitar playing and pleasant background music. Think I'll go 3 as I listened to it while working and it was fine for that purpose. He was clearly very talented
2/5
This is OK, I didn't hate it, but gotta say not much stood out for me which marks it out as deserving a place in the book so going for 2/5. Don't really understand why it has so many perfect critic reviews either. Oh well, onto the next one
Roxy Music
2/5
Third Roxy Music album I've had on the list (so far) and I'm yet to hear a track I really want to listen to again. Don't get them at all
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
5/5
This is really good. Does Elvis Costello need 6 albums on this list? Maybe not, but This Year's Model is the one that deserves a place the most
Recruiting a new band makes a big difference and gives this album much more of a new wave type sound than his debut. It's less guitar focused and feels bouncier and fun than some of his other work. I especially like the keyboards on a lot of these songs, really cool
Janet Jackson
3/5
Slightly struggling with this. It starts with a few tracks with fairly political / socially conscious lyrics before she literally says "you get the idea, now let's dance" which I found odd. Then the rest is mostly radio friendly love songs with a dancey beat
I'm not a massive fan of the overproduced nature of it and there's a lot here given she says most of the important stuff in the first 10 minutes. I do like the fact that a few tracks mix up the style and keeps it fresh despite a long running time, eg the rockier Black Cat.
Just about 3 stars, it's alright but I doubt I'll listen again
Bee Gees
1/5
Let's just try to sound like the Beatles if the blandness dial was turned up to 11. Pretty unbelievable how much music the Bee Gees made before disco was a thing and that they managed to keep going, this is really unremarkable. "I know what the next track is gonna be! Plodding pace, strummed acoustic guitars and strings!"
This is one of those albums clogging up a spot that could've gone to Neutral Milk Hotel, Weezer or something else overlooked by Dimery for the book.
PS free Palestine 🇵🇸
The La's
3/5
I like a bit of Britpop although The Las is a little 60s sounding I think, and not a super consistent record all the way through. Some great singles and forgettable fillers, although I think it's worth 3* because they do sound quite distinctive
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
My thoughts kinda flit between: "wow this is so cool, they really push the boundaries of what guitar music is" and "ok getting bored of this one now, it's just noise". 3* for mixed feelings then
I think I prefer bands like Jesus and Mary Chain, Teenage Fanclub and Ride with a bit more melody to offset the fuzziness. But I don't hate it
Peter Tosh
4/5
Really nice, chilled out reggae. And I can get behind the decriminalisation message
Gram Parsons
2/5
Nice enough, I like the harmonies with Emmy Lou Harris but not really for me overall. Quite forgettable
1/5
I quite liked LB when I was 13 but this has not aged well. Saying "fuck" and "shit" repeatedly is not particularly clever. And the title is a reference to an asshole, haha, great stuff. There isn't a great deal of substance beyond that either tbh. The hits like My Generation, Rollin' and the Mission Impossible one provide a bit of dumb fun but that's the only good thing I have to say about it
I almost leant towards giving this 2* but it's too long, and what the hell are the last two songs which are apparently part of the album proper? A remix of a track that's already earlier in the album? And then a 9 minute outro that's mostly talking?? They annoyed me enough to relegate it to a 1 and not even Method Man can save it
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
This is alright. Pretty smooth jazz, nice horns and the first track in particular is fun. As usual I don't really have the attention span to properly enjoy a full jazz album
Bob Dylan
5/5
Loved this. I'm a Dylan fan but mainly for his 60s/70s output and I don't know his more 'recent' (ish) work that well. The gravelly, Tom Waits style voice suits his music very well and I love the bluesy style and production
As always with Dylan though it's the writing that's the real star... just picking out a few lyrics that I loved
(Tryin' To Get To Heaven)
You broke a heart that loved you
Now you can seal up the book and not write anymore
I’ve been walking that lonesome valley
Trying to get to heaven before they close the door
(Not Dark Yet)
I was born here and I'll die here against my will
I know it looks like I'm movin', but I'm standin' still
Every nerve in my body is so vacant and numb
I can’t even remember what it was I came here to get away from
(Make You Feel My Love)
I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
To make you feel my love
Could've gone on easily but that'll do. It's easily 5*
Sam Cooke
4/5
He has a fantastic voice and the setlist is great, not overly long and just giving the audience a good time.
Probably not 5* because as with a lot of live albums I'm not sure this adds a huge amount. I do like the energy of the crowd and enjoyed it though
Iron Maiden
4/5
Enjoyed this. It does descend into guitar wankery a few times which I wasn't really that into. But generally it rocks, good hooks and I don't know much Iron Maiden beyond a few later hits so nice to hear some tracks with the original singer
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
Clearly a very important album and even 30+ years later there's not much else that sounds like Loveless. Although I'm not really into dreampop so maybe that's why. They were clearly doing incredible things and the wall of sound they produce essentially with just guitars and effects is very striking
Not quite 5* as I don't know if I fully enjoy listening to it given lack of melody and structure. But I appreciate how innovative it is
Cocteau Twins
2/5
Not a massive fan of this
Jamiroquai
5/5
I have always thought Jamiroquai are a bit underrated - Jay Kay is a bit of a nob, but this is a really cool 70s throwback with the jazzy soul sound updated for the 90s. Funky and catchy tunes and good vocals, I like it
He is clearly a fan of Stevie Wonder but hey, who isnt?
David Crosby
4/5
The Flaming Lips
5/5
An album I already loved from a band I have seen live many times. Flaming Lips are fearlessly creative; this followed Zaireeka, an album released with 4 discs designed to be played simultaneously, so their experimentation wasn't always a hit. The Soft Bulletin is a psychadelic indie pop masterpiece though, without a single bad song. The arrangements are varied and intricate but without anything feeling out of place.
I also don't get the criticism of Wayne's vocals, I think they're great. You try smoking enough weed to come up with these lyrics and then sing falsetto, it's probably quite tricky
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
This is really good, especially the first half is just hit after hit. The band is on great form, John Frusciante is such a great guitarist and everyone knows how awesome Flea is. The second half is not quite as strong so 4* seems fair
Eels
5/5
This is great, I didn't know Eels too well before so the list has given me another cool discovery
Love the driving guitars which build to give a real oomph in some of the choruses. There are some good drum bits, the band has a great dynamic in some of these tracks
The lyrics are interesting throughout, dealing with some difficult themes in places. He writes some quirky and esoteric metaphors at times. I also like the vocals - it's not for everyone but reminds me a bit of Leonard Cohen or Matt Berninger. They're authentic and real
Great album
Supergrass
4/5
I suppose I place Supergrass in the second tier of britpop bands... Oasis, Blur and Pulp are a bit of a cut above the others, but this is brilliant on a retrospective listen
Full of energy, vibrancy, fun and catchy hooks. The bouncy keyboard and Beatles-y harmonies do give them their own sound. Just when you think it might slow down after the smash hit Alright, you get the album's heaviest track Lose It which is a rocker!
Musically it's not super groundbreaking, and the last 3-4 tracks relegate it from 5 to 4 for me. But it's a frenetic and enjoyable album
Jane's Addiction
2/5
I have a few issues with this: firstly I don't like the singers voice
And although the guitar playing is very accomplished, sometimes it seems unnecessarily showy and doesn't really fit the song. Like they're trying to show off rather than write cohesive music
Then when you get to the longer songs in the second half it feels like a different album. It's a bit all over the place and I didn't really like it
Funkadelic
4/5
I listened to what seems to be the original 6 track listing, the Spotify link seems to go to a shorter version of the album
Loved the first half, fun and funky and hard not to enjoy. Second half wasn't quite as engaging but still good
Sugar
5/5
Definitely like Sugar better than Husker Du. Copper Blue is an alt rock masterpiece, with some anthemic songs. The increased focus on melody and slightly poppier vocals than Mould's other work definitely marks this out. I'm a real sucker for heavy guitars with sweet singalongs and this ticks both those boxes ✅
Barry Adamson
2/5
I suppose the concept of a fake soundtrack is an interesting one and he can clearly write atmospheric and moody music. But i don't find it that engaging to listen to. I don't listen to soundtracks of films that actually exist, let alone imaginary ones
The Sugarcubes
3/5
Burning Spear
3/5
Simply Red
3/5
I wanted to hate this, because Mick Hucknall is an insufferable bell-end. I didn't dislike it as much as I'd hoped though
The jazzy elements are good and it does have a sound. His vocals are good, and the covers work
It's pretty bland and inoffensive so I'm capping my score at 3. Wouldn't say I love it but it's an alright album
The Human League
4/5
This album is unashamedly synth-pop, it's hard to imagine it existing at another time, but I wouldn't say it's 80s in a bad way. They properly lean into it, to the point where it sounds more like Kraftwerk-esque electronica than new wave at times. The synths are not just there to provide basic melody, they really create some varied sounds with them.
I can't quite give this 5* because the quality dips in the middle. But Don't You Want Me is such a banger, it leaves it on a high note, so definitely good enough for 4*
Pavement
2/5
I like a few of Pavement's poppier hits like Gold Soundz and Cut Your Hair, so was looking forward to this one. It didn't quite chime with me though, it's a bit shoegaze and a bit indie rock but not getting the best of either
The fuzzy, distorted guitars do rock and there are a few nice hooks dotted among the unorthodox song structures. Even after 2 listens I don't have a strong desire to replay any of these tracks though
Tom Waits
5/5
I'm certainly getting a taste for Tom Waits going through this list, I started hating him but really enjoyed this. Probably helps that it's a bit less experimental than some of the others I've had..Bone Machine was pretty hard going but this is jazzy, bluesy and has some really beautiful songs.
I love the strings on Saving All My Love and Jersey Girl borders on being a singalong pop song, relative to Waits normal work. There's real emotion to his voice on this album which works well with the gruffness
I guess I'm a Tom Waits convert now
Eric Clapton
4/5
This is alright, pretty nice groove to some songs and good guitar playing which suits the vibe of the songs without being too over the top. The ballads are pleasant if a little laid back to be very memorable. I don't normally rate albums which are mostly covers but this is not bad
Public Enemy
5/5
Landmark hip hop album. If folk was the protest music of the 60s and punk of the 70s, rap had taken on the mantle by the 90s thanks to Public Enemy
The beats are great, moving transcending the funk of sound of 80s hip hop into something much more full-on. The lyrics are fantastic and Chuck raps with such intensity and anger that it's hard to ignore. Classic
Miles Davis
2/5
Long, unstructured, random and boring. Just about above 1* because I do respect the invention and musicianship. This is very hard to listen to though
Dr. Dre
5/5
West Coast hip-hop classic. Dre branched out on his own after the split of NWA, but even in his 'solo' debut managed to pretty much launch the career of Snoop Dogg.
As always with Dre his rapping and lyrics are good but not the star of the show - the beats are just amazing and mark out what a great producer is. I can't think of many other albums that so perfectly define a sound like The Chronic does for West Coast hip-hop.
The Associates
2/5
Kinda interesting in some ways, it sounds a bit like David Bowie's experimental stuff with Brian Eno. A lot of this is annoying to listen to though. The synths on Bap De La Bap, for example, are just a bit sonically unpleasant and that's just in my mind as I'm on that track at the moment. Also it's not even to mention the vocals which are... unorthodox, let's say
Metallica
2/5
This is alright for a while, the combination of symphony and heavy metal is cool and the orchestra does create a new element to the songs. I'm not enough of a Metallica fan to still be enjoying this after 2+ hours though. It sounds a bit samey after a while and I was resolutely bored after about 13-14 tracks
Kind of a weird inclusion for the book, considering the critic reviews weren't even that great, and they could've easily added another studio album from the band instead. Anyway I won't listen again
Pixies
5/5
Tangerine Dream
3/5
I probably wouldn't listen to this again but found it quite cool. It sounds really fresh and modern for an album released in 1974, like an experimental album Pitchfork would give 8.5/10. Quite moody and atmospheric electronica which I was absorbed with for sections
Spotify link is missing some tracks, but the deluxe edition has all 4 tracks from the original album, for anyone reading this who might be confused by the short length
The Monkees
2/5
Beatles esque guitar pop from 1967. Obviously they were a parody but when you strip away most of the talent and creativity you get something a bit bland. Pretty amazing how dated this must have already sounded, given how much the fab four had pushed things forward
Nico
3/5
The Modern Lovers
4/5
I like this, very Velvet Underground although can see why the half spoken vocals are not to everyone's taste. It's alt rock though and suits the songs. The guitar playing is quite unique and doesn't sound like many other bands even in the proto punk days.
Not 5* because Girlfriend was a poor track. Mostly liked the rest though and might return to this
Rush
3/5
Not really a prog fan and going through this list has mostly confirmed that. This album is ok, they toned down the wankery a bit I suppose.
The Roots
4/5
Enjoyed this, the rhythm section in particular stands out to me, great drumming and groovy bass. The lyrics are varied and touch on all kinds of areas and it's all very listenable, if that doesn't sound a back handed compliment
Not quite consistent enough for 5 but a solid 4 to me
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
I only knew a couple of these songs before so this album was a treat. Paul Simon is just an incredible vocalist and he sounds amazing on this album. You don't need to write 10 minute prog songs to be a great guitarist, and tender vocals delivered like this can be miles better than any belting metal roar etc
Homeward Bound is the best track but I really like Dangling Conversation among the ones I didn't know. The strings are really lovely and reminds me of Nick Drake
Miles Davis
5/5
Time for some reflection. Going through this project (this is my 536th album) has opened my mind a bit.. I was previously someone who hated jazz. Now I tolerate some of it
I think going through the list has taught me there are many ways to appreciate music. Not every album has to have catchy singalongs, or make you want to dance, or headbang along. I have previously rated albums poorly if I consider them better as background music, but I suppose that's missing the point of what makes something like this good
Anyway navel-gazing aside, this is incredibly pleasant and atmospheric. As I write I'm on Blue In Green, a track with such a mournful and sombre tone, it makes you realise how much emotion can be conveyed without words. I'm not musically literate enough to comment on the modal jazz innovation or improvisation of it, but I like it
The Charlatans
3/5
Decent Britpop album but probably nothing that stood out enough to make me want to come back. Area 51 is a pretty interesting track that brings something a bit different, kinda Primal Scream / trip hop like. Similar for the closer. Some good vocal melodies on the more Britpop like tracks but I don't recall much else that was notable
James Taylor
5/5
James Taylor is a real guilty pleasure for me, I don't think this is anything ground breaking but I find his singing super relaxing and this album has some of his catchiest hits. I guess this is a personal 5* that I might not rate that highly if I was trying to be impartial!
Hole
5/5
I've given a lot of 5* recently and this is gonna be another. Not quite as hard hitting and angry as "Live Through This" but more melodic. The title track is obviously a belter but it's full of rocking songs with strong hooks. And Courtney Love is just a force of nature - what a singer and personality
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
3/5
I quite liked this, there is some good musicianship on show. Upbeat country and the fiddles, banjos and guitars are fun. There is some great musicianship here and I can see how it made country more accessible to someone like me who doesn't normally listen to it.
It is too long though even if you don't count the bonus tracks with all the talking etc. I was enjoying it for a bit but it's too much so I'm capping at 3
The Shamen
2/5
Didn't completely hate this, Move Any Mountain is a banger, but it wears a bit thin after that with the repetitive nature and long running time. From the band that sang "Es are good" I suppose it's clear who their music is aimed at.
Ian Dury
3/5
There are some quirky and inventive lyrics on here, although I find his vocals a bit annoying. He sounds like a parody cockney
Music wise there's some nice variety, I enjoyed the slightly heavier Blockheads and Sweet Gene Vincent is a fun single. I don't think I'd return to this but it has some merits
Supertramp
3/5
This album is very Pink Floyd, not even just the music, they went for a space cover a year after DSOTM 🤨 if you're gonna have an influence might as well make it a good one I guess
I did enjoy this, some of these tracks have a nice build and the brass is cool when they appear. The typical prog lack of structure puts me off slightly.
Also as I go to do the rating the next day, I realise I didn't find a lot of it memorable. So 3 seems fair
Soundgarden
4/5
Good album, it rocks and you have to give it that. Cracking guitar riffs that are a bit metal and a bit grunge, but there are also some more atmospheric moment, it has some variety. And Chris Cornell is just one of the great rock vocalists. Incredible. The hits such as Spoonman and Black Hole Sun still sound amazing
I feel like the album loses a bit of steam in the last few tracks, I guess this is a symptom of trying to fill out a CD. Love the solo of the last track but I was ready for it to end by then. Still, a good 4
Happy Mondays
4/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
I'm between a 3 and 4. Nick Cave is an artist I've never really got into, but this project has converted me on Tom Waits so maybe another listen or 2 is worth it.
Initial thoughts are I like the lyrics and tender instrumental elements, it creates a nice melancholy vibe and he certainly has plenty to say. It would be nice for a bit of variety, as the arrangements are mostly quite stripped back
Think I'll go 3 as I was getting bored towards the end. Black Hair, for example, is a bit of a dull track
One to revisit though
Metallica
3/5
A slightly less 'thrash' album which l find a bit more accessible than Master of Puppets, as a non-metal fan. As with the other Metallica albums I've heard on this list, I did find it a bit samey after a while. The riffs are good, solos rock, the vocals are strong and the songs have a great energy. I found this better than MOP as there are some gentle moments to break it up (like the classic Nothing Else Matters)
Still don't think I'd listen to this repeatedly though as I was ready for the end around the time of 'The God That Failed'. Capped at 3 as it's too much Metallica for me
The Byrds
2/5
There's a lot of Byrds and their various members solo work in this list. This is not terrible, it's a bit more psychedelic than some of their folkier albums I've heard already. I think I prefer the Gene Clark written songs from their earlier work.. these tracks didn't resonate too much with me. I had a weird feeling of them sounding unfinished, like some of these songs don't go anywhere and end as soon as you think it's starting to develop.
Found it an unsatisfying listen
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
I liked this better than Only In It For The Money. A bit more accessible and slightly less reliant on the parody - the music stands up pretty well aside from the concept. I didn't really get the satire of freak culture tbh, didn't know what the lyrics were about beyond surface level, but never mind. They must have been very out there for 1966
I liked the mixture of doo-wop and bluesy rock 'n' roll, it's a nice variety and each song brings something new. Zappa's weirdness is also relatively quite restrained (for the first half anyway) so this is a decent album for someone like me who hasn't acquired the taste
Nearly gave this a 4 as I write but the last 3 tracks bring it down a lot and reduced some of the positivity from what I thought earlier. That cream cheese nonsense is seriously irritating. So it's 3/5
LL Cool J
4/5
I really like LL Cool J's rapping style, pretty laid back but he has a smooth easy flow that's easy to listen to with some added intensity when it's required (like the title track)
Not sure this is anything ground breaking. Considering the politically charged lyrics of the likes of Public Enemy and NWA in the late 80s, this is a bit more chilled. But I enjoyed it
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
The cultural appropriation thing is bad although if this was a key influence in bringing hip-hop to a wider (whiter) audience in its fledgling days as a genre, then we can be pleased for that. It's a bit of a hard album to get your head around because I'm not entirely clear what Malcolm McLaren actually did for it, and his name is on the cover, but anyway. It's hard not to tap your foot and nod your head along at various points on this album. Double Dutch is a real groove
The record scratching and little radio skits were prevailing features of rap albums for years to come and sound fun. It does feel very disjointed and all over the place though - it starts with a very atmospheric instrumental track driven by bongos, goes latino at one point (Merengue) and ends with what sounds like a hoedown with fiddles etc.? All a bit weird, but enjoyable in places, so 3 seems fair
Give artists their props though please Malcolm
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Don't think this is quite 5* as Sound of Silver and This is Happening are, it doesn't have the immediacy and big builds that those albums do at their best, not until Emotional Haircut near the end anyway.
Nonetheless it was, and still is, great to have LCD Soundsystem back. The vibe is a little more melancholy than their previous work, musically and lyrically, but that's fine.
Buffalo Springfield
4/5
Quite a tough album to rate as it's a little all over the place, given the three songwriters who seem to have worked quite separately. I feel mostly positive about this though. I'm a Neil Young fan and was already familiar with Mr Soul and Expecting to Fly but also enjoyed Stills' tracks Bluebird and Rock and Roll Woman. The guitars on the former are especially cool. The closing track is weird
George Jones
1/5
I haven't given a 1* for ages but maybe it's time to break that duck. This is just bland.. slow tempo, generic lyrics and the amount of slide guitar! I quite like that sound sometimes, but it's a trick he clearly liked and repeated endlessly. It gets old fast
I confidently predict when I finish all 1089 albums and scroll back through, I will not remember this at all
The Jam
5/5
I like The Jam so was always going to be a biased review. I love their 'refined punk' sound and Weller always writes some cool lyrics. To Be Someone's depiction of the shallowness of fame is great, and Down in The Tube Station tells a great story. English Rose is a really beautiful song - reminds of Billy Bragg's folky love songs and provides a nice change of pace
A nod to the bass playing as well, the more upbeat tracks really bounce along with a good groove
Great album
The Who
2/5
This really didn't chime with me. I Can See For Miles is a good song and rocks like some of The Who's biggest hits but.. the rest varies between boring and forgettable (Mary Anne With the Shaky Hands) and stupid (Silas Stingy). Plus the ad jingles are not appealing - those are the bits we put up with to get to the music, so why is it a good thing to have them on an album? Sorry I'm not a fan of this
Paul Revere & The Raiders
2/5
This is quite catchy and ok, but two things I don't like: It heavily wears its influences on its sleeve, to the point of it's distracting. And the other is the best songs are covers, which I don't really approve of
Sebadoh
3/5
I enjoyed the first track, but a lot of the rest sounds like Pavement / Sonic Youth / Dinosaur Jr, which is the kind of thing I only really like in short bursts. Lots of fuzzy guitars and lyrics about heartbreak but not very "songy" for the most part.
Gotan Project
2/5
This is OK but it wears a bit thin. It's not atmospheric enough to be great background music, and doesn't really have the grooves and melodies to be something I actively nod along with. Not bad but it's an album that just... happens
Harry Nilsson
5/5
Really good album. The Beatles influence is strong.. The opener Gotta Get Up is very McCartney esque and bounces along much like Paul's middle 8 from 'A Day in the Life'. I also found Let The Good Times Roll to be quite Beatles-y but that's just fine. Without You is a belting vocal performance and surely one of rock's great covers, while I really liked the tender ballads Moonbeam Song and I'll Never Leave You. The strings on the latter are particularly beautiful. The only track I didn't really like is Coconut which just seems a bit of a dumb novelty, but whatever.
I was between a 4 and a 5 but I think I've convinced myself it's a 5
Mariah Carey
1/5
Even for a pop / R&B album, which is not a genre I really like, I found this bad. Her famous vocals often have a weird hushed vibe. And oh please, why must she do the OooOOOoooOOO thing after every line, it just loses all appeal. I don't find these songs good, it's a pretty bland production and I only really found the piano riff of the opening track catchy. Everything else is pretty boring until the Butterfly reprise which at least has a beat, some energy, powerful backing vocals. But by then my attention was already lost
Tom Waits
3/5
Tough one to rate. I thought I was starting to get a taste for Tom Waits after Heart Attack and Vine. I didn't enjoy this one so much.
The actual songs are pretty good here when he decides to perform something that sounds like music. Some great lyrics and storytelling as you'd expect, but about half the album is just talking and intros. That puts a cap on my score
Sepultura
1/5
From the wiki article it sounds like an interesting project, to blend metal with their Brazilian roots and use the influence of samba and music from indigenous tribes. I must be a philistine because it just sounds like a lot of heavy guitar riffs and roaring to me for pretty much the whole album though. The closer then comes in which is nearly 15 minutes of drums and cricket sounds, so i guess that's where the world music is, but it's really boring.
I was going to give 2* until that last track - not my kind of thing but can see some merit. However I have no desire to listen to this again now.
4/5
Never heard of this band in my life and quite enjoyed the album. This is probably just the right amount of weird for me - some infuence of prog and psychadelica but it's quite absorbing and not too pretentious. There's a nice variety in these songs, a bit of heavier rock, some is a bit spaced out and dreamy, there's horns, and all sorts going on. I wonder if I just have a short attention span sometimes but I like this in an album and you never get bored of this
Jeff Beck
4/5
Liked this. I haven't heard much Jeff Beck before but I was captivated by the bluesy guitar playing here. It's very reminiscent of Led Zeppelin, with some of these tracks sounding a bit like later LZ's epic style of song. It must have been very influential. Rod Stewart's vocals are great as well, he has a perfect voice for heavy rock
Big Black
4/5
Noisy, abrasive and challenging. The sounds of these instruments really get to you. Can definitely see how the drumming influenced industrial rock, some of it doesn't really sound like drums, I guess because they used drum machines.
I'm not sure I am even qualified to describe how they make their guitars sound, it's venomous, and really channels the anger and emotions of the writing. Talking of which the lyrics are... Certainly challenging. This is a brave album that I'm glad I listened to.. playing this thing loud is certainly an experience
Not sure I'd say I loved listening to this album but it definitely belongs on the list and is one I'll remember
Killing Joke
3/5
Weirdly I had Atomizer yesterday and have some similar feelings about this one as a forerunner of industrial rock. The rawness of the guitars and the bleak, almost dystopian political lyrics are pluses. I quite like the synthy elements too, combined with the considered heaviness of the songs this has a really interesting sound which must have been pretty ground breaking in the post punk era
Between a 3 and a 4 but I think just about a 3 as I probably won't revisit this. It belongs on the list though
John Prine
3/5
He's a good lyricist although I wouldn't say all these songs resonated with me fully. Some good, some a bit boring, so 3* seems fair. I'm not really into country but this was better than some of the others from that genre on this list
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Amazing album that it's impossible not to love, really. Packed with great songs and the second half is basically a mini greatest hits. Marley's writing is really evocative.. the reggae "peace on earth" vibe is a bit of a cliché but these lyrics have really nice themes of love and understanding but also a quiet spirit of fight and perseverance
And although the overall tone is calm and relaxing, there are some great instrumental flourishes here - it's not just mellow rhythmic reggae, we have some cool guitar licks and other instrumental parts throughout.
Easy 5*
Eagles
5/5
Legendary album. Not just the hits but it's pretty great all the way through, I also particularly enjoy Wasted Time and Try to Love Again. Not sure it's musically that ground breaking but these are just really solid songs, good harmonies, good guitar solos, cynical lyrics. What's not to like?
Jungle Brothers
2/5
Wasn't super engaged by this, compared to a lot of the rap albums on this list it's a bit forgettable and I was bored by the end. The African elements and funky beats are ok but overall I don't think this is that special
Big Brother & The Holding Company
5/5
Would be 5* for the vocals alone, but I like the music too. I'd say this is more blues rock than psychedelic with some great guitar playing, and the rhythm section brings a nice groove. Ball & Chain was an epic closer. This was a great discovery for me
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
Electric jug is certainly one of the instruments of all time
Blondie
5/5
What a great album, it's almost like a Greatest Hits in how many amazing singles it spawned, and pretty much any of these songs could've been justified as singles aside from the ones that actually were. Crammed with catchy hooks, Debbie Harry is just one of the coolest rock stars ever. I was also surprised to read that the producer thought they sucked as musicians - they sound pretty tight to me. I guess we can also thank him for getting a tune out of the band, too. It worked
Songhoy Blues
4/5
This is cool, really nice guitar playing and vocals. Surprised it doesn't even have its own wiki entry, it's a good album
The Psychedelic Furs
2/5
Not really a fan of this, the vocals are pretty bad and it's kinda dated 80s sounding with all the saxophones. Didn't really chime with me
Donald Fagen
4/5
Enjoyed this, I like Fagen's vocals in Steely Dan and he sounds good here too, the self-harmonies are nice. Also interesting to read about the production, it's an early example of digital-only recording and sounds pretty great, I'd say. Maybe a bit overly clean and polished if anything, but I'm not massively into lo-fi so I quite like this. I tend to listen with headphones and it sounds good in those.
Nice jazzy elements and quite catchy songs, this is quality
The Beach Boys
5/5
Very nice touch for the admin to nudge the Beach Boys into our daily albums today, clearly not a coincidence judging by Reddit! RIP Brian Wilson
I tried to be objective even given the timings, but I do love the band. This has a nice mixture between what first made them big with the punchy and catchy rock 'n' roll songs and soaring harmonies with Frankie Valli style falsetto. Clearly the songwriting was starting to evolve beyond surfing and girls to some extent.. tracks like When I Grow Up were starting to explore different lyrical themes, and they were starting to introduce more variety of instruments. Not quite the baroque pop masterpiece of Pet Sounds but I loved this as well
Talvin Singh
2/5
Quite creative to merge electronica/dance with Indian instruments but I found it a bit tedious eventually
Robbie Williams
3/5
Air
4/5
Liked this, very atmospheric and chilled electronica.
The Young Gods
3/5
I don't love the croaky singing but it's pretty cool they made something like this with sampling/keyboards, the 'personnel' section on wikipedia doesn't even mention one of them playing guitar, which kinda blows my mind. It's very foreboding music and to be frank, a bit scary. One of those albums that's a real attack on the senses
I probably won't listen again so won't go above 3 but this definitely made me feel something. And isn't what art is about?
5/5
There probably isn't anything I can say about Sgt Pepper which hasn't already been written but there are so many reasons it's regarded as a masterpiece. The iconic cover, concept and outfits pushed the boundaries of what a rock album can be, into a new holistic type of artistic statement. The music combines rock with psychadelica and baroque pop, and some of these tracks such as Mr Kite still sound so fresh and original even now. A Day In the Life is also a masterpiece, arguably their greatest song (if that's even possible to choose)
It's not my favourite Beatles LP because When I'm 64 is a bit "granny music", and Harrison's contribution Within You Without You isn't quite his best. But it's still an easy 5*
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
I'd never listened to Echo and The Bunnymen before at all and I liked this. Great guitar playing and rhythm section - I especially found the drumming really good. The lyrics are melancholy and slightly downbeat but intriguing. Definitely reminds of The Cure and Smiths who are bands I love
I found it a bit droney to enjoy for a full album so not quite 5* but one I might revisit for another spin
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
I was expecting disco from Earth, Wind and Fire but this is more like a soul record. Quite liked it - I'm between a 3 and a 4, the pluses are the funky bass playing, great singing (particularly Philip Bailey) and positive vibes.
On the other hand I wasn't completely grabbed by all these songs. I don't think a lot of it was that memorable. I think it's 3* for me
Aretha Franklin
5/5
This was fantastic, her voice is obviously incredible but it just has the uplifting and joyful vibes that great soul music can bring at its best. Loved it
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
Liked this. The 12 minute outro thanking people is a bit unnecessary, couldn't he have just put that in the liner notes? But anyway there's some good production here and the album is full of great hooks so overall it's decent. The Daydream sample is used nicely
Minor Threat
2/5
I like the guitar riffs and the aggressive energy but I wasn't really grabbed my this. Maybe it's the lack of melody and hooks.
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
New Order
5/5
I quite like the merging of their post punk / synth goth rock sound with dancier grooves. The outro of Round and Round is a nice example, that's a really euphoric ending to the song. The sporadic acoustic guitar bits shouldn't really fit with New Order's sound but they work
This album has both great rhythm and melodies. The bass playing and drums are impossible not to nod your head along to - as I write I'm on Guilty Partner which has a stonking bass line and reminds me of the Joy Division sound. There are some really fantastic synth melodies as well. Vanishing Point for example has an intro that goes on 1:30 but it's cracking
If anything I didn't quite take in the vocals and lyrics that much in my listen but the music is so great that I'll come back to them! This album just doesn't have any filler or down moments
Elvis Costello
2/5
There's some interesting lyrics here, but musically I don't think it stands out that much. Given Costello is in the list x6 times, this one could've been excluded for something more notable. OK album but nothing more
Might've given this 3* but for a fairly middling album it didn't need to be nearly 1hr long, and it sounds quite samey after a while. So it's 2*
Tom Waits
5/5
As my dad says, there are some Tom Waits tracks that just sound like he's reciting poetry while banging pots in the background. This, however, is everything that makes him great - the lyrics are evocative and create characters and stories that are so intriguing. The guitar playing is great and adds to the atmosphere and storytelling without being overly flashy. Really great album
Maxwell
3/5
Never heard of this guy and it was a nice discovery. Very smooth and groovy R&B - the bass lines especially are a real stand-out here, it's hard not to nod along with. The vocals are seductive and create a nice vibe. I found the second half a little less engaging so capped at 3*
Justice
5/5
This album makes me very nostalgic - I was in my early 20s, mostly an indie fan, but dabbling in some 'acceptable to rock listeners' electronica. Daft Punk, LCD Soundsystem, Chemical Brothers, Four Tet and the like. Justice were another one, so I have some bias on this but I think it stands up really well. Unlike some electronic albums it doesn't totally overstay its welcome; although the last 2-3 tracks do get a bit repetitive, it's nothing compared to something like the Prodigy or Goldie in that respect. They create some really great, catchy tunes, despite being mostly instrumental, and the production is just.. LOUD! And that can't be a bad thing when the songs are this good
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
I have already had Crocodiles, which I think I liked slightly more, given the darker vibes. But this is good too and the slightly poppier sound is not a bad thing. There's a feeling of a bridge here as it sounds like a pre-Britpop kind of genre, but with a more ambitious use of instruments such as string section and synths which give the album a rounded sound. Killing Moon is great and there are some other good tracks here which I will revisit
The Monks
2/5
This was very intriguing - has shades of all kinds of rock sub-genres; garage, alternative, psychadelic, punk, and all in 1966. It must've sounded very out there and been ahead of its time. Not sure I enjoyed listening to it that much but definitely see the artistic merit
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
Very good album - great guitar playing and vocals, and epic tunes without being overly ridiculous. Just a good time. I was close to docking it to 4* because side 2 isn't quite as strong, but closing on Free Bird makes it all fine again. It's simply one of the best rock songs ever, full stop
Mekons
2/5
Really struggling to get on board with this one. The vocals sound like they are taken from a different song, half of the time. And the music doesn't really have a lot of melody or anything to get into to. I don't get it
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Probably the easiest 5* album ever. It's near the top (or right at the top) on this site for a reason, pretty much every track is a belter. Every element is good - great vocals, catchy melodies, fantastic guitar playing. Lindsey Buckingham is really underrated in the latter respect. Quality songwriting as well from 3 masters - you don't even really need to be familiar with the band's personal dynamics to appreciate the lyrics, but they certainly take on another dimension given the context. Simple 5*
Siouxsie And The Banshees
2/5
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
This is quite good, I found the songs nicely textured with lots going on beyond their characteristic synths. The strings on Dreaming of the Queen for example are very nice. Not sure i'd go above 3 as it started to feel a bit samey until Go West woke me up again. But seems fair to go down the middle
Hookworms
3/5
Not bad and nice to hear a band I've never listened to before. Reminded me a bit of Animal Collective, LCD Soundsystem and Postal Service in places, spacey elecronica/indie with a bit of a psychadelic edge. Probably wouldn't listen again but quite a cool sound even if the album didn't entirely "hook" me
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Very deep, moody, and atmospheric singer-songwriter. Nothing too complicated musically but his guitar playing has a nice quality to it, and the strings are used sparingly to add heft to certain parts (e.g. in Love Calls You By Your Name where they come in and out).
This list has certainly helped me appreciate Leonard Cohen more, similar to Tom Waits. This is quite a dark and depressing album so I don't think I can give it 5*. He's growing on me as an artist though
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
Good guitar playing, he certainly knows how to write a great riff. I'm not a huge fan of Josh Homme's vocals though, the songs slightly blur into one by the end for me
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Didn't need to listen to this again to know that it's a classic, but did anyway. Even if it weren't for the retrospective evaluation of its influence, the album is great; mixing the whimsical and melodic Nico-led songs with Reed's baritone vocals and lyrics that delve into subjects that even now feel unsettling and seedy at times. The guitar work from John Cale is great too, he really makes that instrument scream, sing and wail without being excessively flashy.
Considering then the legacy it had in laying the foundations for lots of alt-rock and punk bands for decades to come, plus the iconic cover art, it's an easy 5*.
Travis
4/5
I liked this a lot when it first came out but I'm not sure it's aged quite as well as I remember. British guitar music took quite a melancholy turn in the late 90s with bands like Travis and Coldplay getting big but this one is very downbeat. I still liked it and Fran Healy has a beautiful voice, the second half in particular has some really strong tracks. But I can't give it 5*, with apologies to my 12 year old self
Billy Joel
5/5
Not heard this before, I loved it. Nothing majorly ground breaking musically but just good songs, catchy melodies and strong performances. Not sure Billy Joel gets the credit he deserves.. I don't know how influential he is but this record is just great to listen to
The Verve
5/5
Britpop classic notable for its anthemic singles. The Verve's previous 2 albums are stylistically quite different, particularly the first which is a much more shoegaze/dreampop type sound. By Urban Hymns they leant on a slightly more 'commercial' kind of output and it paid off massively - Bittersweet Symphony is classic and the other singles would go on to become acoustic anthems in the late britpop era
It's 5* because it's a strong album overall though, not just the singles - i also like Weeping Willow and Velvet Morning for example with some of these tracks echoing their more psychadelic background
Queen
5/5
I've given a lot of 5s recently but this is gonna be another! Never listened to any of Queen's albums before doing this list, and had Queen II already, so this was a real evolution of their sound from prog to glam. It absolutely rocks, right from the insane solo of Brighton Rock, and Stone Cold Crazy is an especially fun song. The complexity of the arrangements (especially vocals) give a good indicator of where they would go on A Night At The Opera, but this is a belter in its own right. Just a really fun time
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
This is decent. Bit of a bluesy throwback and interesting to read that Mick Jagger thought it was a better capture of that style than Sticky Fingers. I don't agree, but it is alright. Wouldn't listen again so 3*
Gotta say 'Teenage Head' by 'The Flaming Groovies' is one of the worst combinations of album title and band name i've heard on this list though...
Beastie Boys
5/5
This was a cool album. For all their bombast and partying lyrics, the Beasties were extremely accomplished musicians. I've already listened to Paul's Boutique on this list, which is quite different in how much it uses samples, so having a more punk and jazz infused album coming soon after shows how much they experimented their sound. The production all comes with their usual intense and vibrant rapping.
Plenty of highlights including Sure Shot, Sabotage, Root Down, Flute Loop, and some cool instrumentals as well which add some pacing I enjoyed.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Not my kind of thing but quite enjoyed. Some catchy beats and although it has the genre's usual repetition I didn't get as bored as with some other EDM
The Style Council
3/5
I was liking this in the first half which leans more until the smooth jazz sound. It shows Paul Weller's versatility as a song writer for sure
When the styles start to vary more with A Gospel and Strength of Your Nature introducing rap and funk into the mix it starts sounding a bit all over the place. 3* seems fair for a hit and miss album
Soft Machine
1/5
Aimless, meandering saxophone playing that goes on nearly 80 minutes. Might have given this a 2 if it was a single LP but i was fed up after the 1st side, let alone the 4th
Megadeth
3/5
Method Man
3/5
I've always had a soft spot for Method Man due to the fact that when I saw the Wu Tang Clan live, Raekwon and Ghostface didn't bother showing up, so he was the highlight of that show really
This wasn't as good as I'd hoped.. RZA is a great producer but I'm not sure this is some of his best work. The beats are not that catchy and in some places i don't find the mix with the vocals to be right.
His rapping is alright but it's hard not to compare to his contemporaries and their early solo efforts, and this didn't chime as well with me
Not bad, but not great either
The Pretty Things
2/5
Notable as one of the first examples of a rock opera. TBH i doubt i would have even noticed it was supposed to be that had I note read it. I found this a bit boring
Suede
4/5
Black Sabbath
5/5
After the death of Ozzy Osbourne (RIP) it's Black Sabbath's debut. The opening title track is incredible, sets a really foreboding atmosphere for the album and the lyrics are explicitly evil and referencing satan. This must have blown people's minds in 1970
I'm less impressed by the fact that this was the first real heavy metal album, and more just by how good the music is. Tony Iommi's guitar playing is amazing, the riffs rock but even more than that, it just has a real heavy and doom-mongering vibe. I don't normally like really long songs with loads of noodling but I loved Warning. Very good album
Drive Like Jehu
2/5
I realised after listening to this for about half an hour that I'd accidentally put it on shuffle. No way I'm starting again. 2*
The Beta Band
1/5
I found this extremely bland and forgettable. Sounds a bit like various other bands.. Elbow and Flaming Lips spring to mind, maybe Super Furry Animals. Other better bands who i wished I was listening to, in fact
The Who
5/5
I've previously found the Who albums on this list a bit hit and miss, but this one is bookended by two of the best rock songs ever and you can't argue with that
Michael Jackson
5/5
Sometimes you just have to not overthink these reviews. Bad is crammed with certified bangers. 5*
G. Love & Special Sauce
1/5
I didn't really get this. It's not really singing and not really rapping, and isn't particularly great at either
The instrumental elements are ok, quite nice bluesy/jazzy backing with a decent groove in some songs. But overall this is a pretty forgettable album, I'm not sure which tracks would be the standouts.
I might have given this 2* if it was shorter but it's way too boring for an album that goes on nearly an hour.
Circle Jerks
3/5
Quite cool hardcore punk. When I have enough time I like to make a coffee and listen to my daily album before starting work and i can't think of any other time I've finished said beverage before the album! This is shorter than a lot of EPs
It's very punchy and with great energy. Not sure it gets going enough for me to want to listen again but it's decent
Dr. John
2/5
More interesting than enjoyable. Can I call this proto-Tom Waits? Probably not but it sounds like it must have influenced him a lot. I found this a bit dull overall. The sparse instrumentation and repetitive nature of the 8 minute closer nudged it from 3 to 2
John Martyn
4/5
I like this a lot but don't think I can give it 5* due to the experimental track in the idle, which drags too long, and the odd song about jelly rolls. It's good though, May You Never and Over The Hill are folk rock staples and I'd never heard the whole album before so it was cool to hear the jazz influenced bits as well
The Replacements
5/5
I only knew two Replacements songs before, 'Androgynous' and 'Swinging Party', so I didn't really appreciate their sound was mostly more punky/garage rock. This is great, love the energy and and guitar riffs. A couple of slower ones provide some nice pacing and the lyrics deal with some concepts that are still relevant today (such as gender identity and... boners)
A previously unheard 5* for me
Leonard Cohen
4/5
A Leonard Cohen album, ok, hang on a sec.... Synthesisers? Female vocals? Choruses? This is not what I expected having only been really familiar with his earlier work. It's kinda funny that even Leonard Cohen made music in the 80s that sounds very if it's time production wise. Jazz Police sounds like it could be a Michael Jackson song, vocals aside
I thought this was good, I do pay attention to lyrics but I've found his other albums a little hard to get into. This is much 'songier' and that makes it a lot more engaging, which in turn made me pay more attention to the words. It starts strongly with First We Take Manhattan and the first side in particular has some strong tracks.
OutKast
3/5
Weird album to rate given the two halves are so distinct and were written as solo albums. It would've made much more sense to just release them as the artists intended, but y'know, record company politics.
It's a good album and there's plenty to like here but given both members had a lot of ideas to try and get in, it's VERY bloated. There's a lot going on, Big Boi's album is more hip-hop-oriented with some nice guests spots, great rapping and cool beats. Andre 3000's showed his more experimental side and is more of a genre mesh between soul, pop, funk, r&b. Which is all fine but it's a bit of an overwhelming album to take in, and I have a backlog right now so don't really have time to listen again. 3* as the highs are certainly very high but I was running out of steam by the end
David Bowie
5/5
It's worth considering the context of Hunky Dory in Bowie's discrography, particularly following his first two self titled albums, which are not that well-known beyond Space Oddity. The first one is especially quite a simple, folky album which is inoffensive but here he is really finding his creativity and leaning into the glam rock sound. In Changes and Life on Mars he wrote two of his absolute best songs which stand aside everything else in his discography and it's a strong album overall
Coldplay
5/5
Coldplay's second album, which embraces more of a soft rock/ arena filling sound than Parachutes. I can't help but like it despite the slightly obvious move towards greater commercial appeal. Chris Martin's vocals are strong and easy to listen to, and showcased nicely on some of these songs.
There's some mixing up of the sound too, the weird distorted strings (or whatever they are) on Daylight are a bit different while we also go from piano led songs in Clocks and The Scientist to a purely acoustic guitar led track in Green Eyes. Not groundbreaking but it's a consistent album of solid tracks. You could probably lose Whisper and I don't think anyone would mind, but other than that it's all good
A nod for Amsterdam too, one of their most underrated songs and a very nice closer
Elvis Costello
4/5
Everyone's favourite overrepresented artist on the list is back with his debut! I think Alison and Red Shoes are fantastic songs although I don't love this as much as This Year's Model - his more new-wave sound with The Attractions has a bit more bounce and fun vibe. This is a decent album but not that exciting beyond a few songs, with better to come from Declan
Dire Straits
3/5
The first half of the album is great, Walk of Life in particular is one of Dire Straits' best songs I think. A much poppier sound than their debut which I've previously heard on this list but with Knopfler's "geetar" skills at the forefront
The second half is OK but gets a bit 80s stadium soft rock - it's kinda middle of the road. Ride Across the River in particular is a boring song at 7 minutes long on the CD mix which I listened to. So I'm between a 3 and a 4 and will probably end up at 3 because of the homophobia
John Lennon
5/5
Not the easiest album to love as it's tinged with a fair amount of bitterness, both at the people in Lennon's Life (e.g. How Do You Sleep) and the wider world (Gimme Some Truth). It is a great set of songs though and reins in the experimental nature of his writing to be a little more traditional rock. Thankfully he got that out of his system with the Two Virgins rubbish! Not super immediate but great
3/5
I love Dyland but I'm not sure this really needed to be on the list. He's not bad as a live performer but his genius is mainly in his writing. I suppose it's interesting in terms of the history of his style as he switches to a full rock band halfway through the set, but as a live album I don't think it adds much to the recordings.
Prefab Sprout
2/5
Inoffensive but unremarkable
Youssou N'Dour
4/5
Enjoyed this, these are some really nicely textured songs with lots going on but nothing sounds out of place. The percussion is great, and along with the vocals, they really give it an African sound. I like the brass and guitar playing too.. actually I like everything. This album has a real vibe.
4* as i didn't think the second side was quite as fun as the first, particularly track 1 is the highlight. But it's good
2/5
I didn't love this but the energy is infectious and the songs are quite fun. I'm not really a fan of the yelpy vocals and Mongoloid.. well I would say it's not aged well, but was that acceptable in 1978?? I won't be returning to this
Julian Cope
3/5
Dagmar Krause
3/5
It's funny that this is even in the book. Not available on most streaming platforms and doesn't come with loads of critical acclaim based on the Wiki article. I listened on YouTube with the odd toothpaste ad, and I'm not sure it's the right version because Wiki says this was recorded all in English, and there is some German singing. It was enough to get an idea however
So anyway on the actual music, it's not my kind of thing at all and I really wanted to hate it, but do you know what? I didn't. The singing is good and there's a jolly bounce along to some of these songs, musical-theatre style. I didn't really follow what was going on but I'm guessing these songs were composed longer ago than 1988 as she's singing about Hitler and brownshirts at times. It's better than I thought though, in summary
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
This is cool, I was only familiar with 'Move on Up' so expected something more upbeat, but I enjoyed the chilled out vibes. The vocals are great albeit I had heard enough falsetto by the end. Loved the bass and guitar playing, very groovy and sets a good tone
Pere Ubu
3/5
Very interesting but challenging album to listen to. Probably leans a bit too much into the experimental elements for me to want to listen again.. there are quite frequent breakdowns of guitar noise which makes it unique albeit wears thin a little
Moby Grape
4/5
I'd never heard of this band but they are very reminiscent of The Grateful Dead, Buffalo Springfield and CCR. Nice guitar work and harmonies, and bridges the gap between blues and psychedelic rock
I'm on the train so I can only listen to the tracks on Spotify. They are good though. Note to self to revisit and listen to the rest, if I remember
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Sounds like a parallel universe where Thom Yorke went to stage school and decided to make cabaret style baroque pop instead of Kid A
I think I slated the previous Rufus Wainwright album I've heard on this list, but I'm either in a better mood today, or this one is better. It's a nicely textured and layered album. Some of the complex vocal arrangements reminded me a bit of Queen
My interest waned a bit in the second half but decent album
Koffi Olomide
3/5
This is a fun and upbeat album, the groovy percussion gives it a good rhythm and you could imagine this guy puts on a party
The long tracks wore a bit thin for me by the end, I wouldn't revisit but enjoyable enough
Slint
2/5
Sounds like the worst bits of Sonic Youth and Pavement stretched out over a whole album. Lots of guitar noodling and mumbling, I found it a slog
Madonna
4/5
The Fall
2/5
Vocals aren't everything but.. well I don't have a "but" for this sentence, I just can't get on board with the singing
Country Joe & The Fish
4/5
This was pretty good. The electronic organ (I think?) reminds me a bit of the Zombies and Doors, it really has that mid 60s psychedelic sound. There's some nicely textured songs here, as I write Bass Strings is a good example, the guitar sounds like it's being played in a metal bucket or something. Quite cool
Robert Wyatt
4/5
This album is batshit and I could have gone with anything from 1-5 at various points. Experimental, brave and challenging. Reminds me of Radiohead and Neutral Milk Hotel at times
The absolute madness of Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road (side 1 version) was a highlight, with its backwards vocals and cacophony of brass, that song is a real attack on the senses.
By the time we get to tracks 4 and 5 it genuinely sounds like he's making it up as he goes, and not even using real words half of the time. This is a difficult listen but it's a hell of an experience. I think I embrace the chaos.. just about
Cream
5/5
Good album. There are only 3 of them and each member really brings a lot: Clapton's guitar playing is obviously a particular highlight but I really like the bass playing, and Ginger Baker is an influential drummer as well. They all have space to shine and that's cool. Sunshine Of Your Love is the obvious highlight but I really liked SWLABR too
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Soft Cell
2/5
Some fun and upbeat songs with lyrics in places that must have been pretty cutting edge at the time, for the sexual content. I'm not opposed to some campy synth pop but a lot of these tracks didn't really stick with me though. I found it maybe too layered in places.. for example Entertain Me where at times it feels like there are 3 or 4 synth lines at the same time and quite frenetic vocals, so there isn't really any melody to cling onto
Sex Dwarf is just a silly novelty song as well, don't like that
Happy Mondays
3/5
Thrills, Pills and Bellyaches is better than this and belongs on the list. Don't think this was worth a second Happy Mondays inclusion but it's not bad. The album grew on me as it went and I got used to the acid grooves
The Electric Prunes
3/5
Electric Prunes
This is not bad. There's a lot of guitar effects going on with some of these songs and I like the slightly heavier vocal sound, eg the opener, Get Me To The World On Time and Highest Bidder
Not sure it's super notable though, especially the amount of late 60s rock there is on this list.
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Loved it. The guitar playing on this album is just visceral.. abrasive, loud and aggressive, especially Sister Ray. What a sound
Clear to see why this was so influential on the punk and noise rock genres
Steely Dan
5/5
Great album and Aja is probably the style I think of when I consider Steely Dan with the heavy jazz integration. Super smooth, the accomplished production is a big plus but the songs themselves are just so easy to listen to. "Easy-listening" is a bit of a backhanded compliment but I mean that everything just sounds good. Despite some of the tracks being long it's all a pleasure, with Peg a highlight, but consistent throughout.
Beatles
5/5
5/5 doesn't seem enough for Revolver, I'd give it 10/5 if I could. After Rubber Soul this was another step up entirely in how they made music; Eleanor Rigby's orchestral baroque pop, the LSD influence on She Said She Said and others, Harrison's use of sitars, the studio experimentation of Tomorrow Never Knows.
And, like all of the Beatles great albums, it not only pushed boundaries but was also so damn listenable. For No One is surely one of their underrated and beautiful songs.
Important and incredible
CHIC
4/5
Good Times is a legendary song but tbh this is the time I learned it was 8 minutes long. It really didn't need to be! I mainly like the album for Nike Rogers' guitar playing and some awesome bass lines. He and Edwards are really masters of their instruments
Not sure I can go above 4* as it wears a bit thin with the long songs
Beatles
5/5
Unlike Abbey Road, Revolver and Rubber Soul I wouldn't consider The White Album to be completely flawless. There are obviously some low points here, but without the willingness to push boundaries and move things forward, they wouldn't be the geniuses they were. Without Revolution 9 you might not have Strawberry Fields Forever, I suppose, in summary
Sprawling, unpredictable, bloated and brilliant
The KLF
4/5
Listened to a Spotify playlist with some live tracks replacing the missing ones. I think that might have made it better actually, this type of music is mostly made for a crowd so the occasional roars at the big moments made it feel less repetitive than some electronica.
It's also quite nicely mixed up with some tracks such as No More Tears which provide some pacing as well as the rave songs. If anything, I think I prefer the more chillwave type ones. This was a nice surprise
Laibach
3/5
Kinda batshit but I didn't hate it
Fishbone
4/5
This was a great discovery, very fun music and sounds really fresh today. I love the politics and the energy, it's a great time. Will be giving this another spin
Frank Sinatra
3/5
This is quite nice. Sinatra obviously has an incredible voice for this style of music, and the guitar playing is really nice. Not sure it adds a great deal to the musical canon but it's cool and smooth
Aerosmith
4/5
Public Enemy
4/5
Deee-Lite
2/5
Track 2: repetitive keyboard riff and dragged out with "wooooaaahhhhh" vocals
Track 3: repetitive keyboard riff and dragged out with "wooooaaahhhhh" vocals
Track 4: You're not gonna believe this...
Actually it got a little better to be fair, i quite like the brass on Try Me On / Smile On and the one with Q-Tip is obviously a big hit. Still, overall I didn't really vibe with this
Pere Ubu
2/5
Not really in the mood for this today, it's pretty hard to listen to
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
I was expecting to like this but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. I like the rapping and they sound good together. The lyrics are good, marking hip hop's development as protest music, and there are a few highlights (Rock Box was a new song to me). I'm not a fan of the tinny, drum machine beats though, and in some parts there's not much else happening. Not bad but not great either
Depeche Mode
5/5
Good album. Nice blend of dark and moody atmosphere with catchy hooks and songs which were crowd-pleasing enough to propel Depeche Mode into stadium fillers. Shows that synth pop can be serious music
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
4/5
This was an unexpectedly fun album to listen to. The mesh of hard/glam rock with musical theatre style songs makes it border on silly at times, but I quite enjoyed the flamboyance. Surprised me a little because the average score on this site is weak and there isn't much critical acclaim either, I thought it was better than that and would definitely listen again!
Massive Attack
4/5
Pretenders
5/5
I only really knew Brass in Pocket from this album before so the punchier, punky nature of some of the tracks weren't what I was expecting. Tattooed Love Boys in particular was a blast, great attitude and guitar playing. Chrissie Hynde is a fantastic front woman as well, quality vocals and songwriting. Private Life is an intriguing song and shows confidence in lyric writing that I thought belied a debut album's lack of experience
The Blue Nile
3/5
A band I've never heard of and a nice discovery. These songs have a real air of yearning and melancholy. They're nicely layered and even though it's mostly synths, it sounds more than the sum of it's part I guess.
After Tinseltown in the Rain my enthusiasm slightly tempered as it's a fairly plodding pace.. but the interesting textured sound is cool
Joan Armatrading
4/5
A strong album - Armatrading writes very evocative and arresting melodies. I'm not that familiar with her work but seems like she had found her voice as an artist at this point - it's a very confident set of songs. Not every track quite chimed with me, especially in the second half, but definitely a good 4*
3/5
Interesting inclusion, I only really knew Victoria from this album before and it's not one you'd consider as full of hits - The Kinks have lots of classic songs but none of their most famous are on this. I suppose it's in the book because as a concept album it's notable. Ray Davies' songwriting is certainly well suited to telling whimsical stories about English people so i get that, although I can't imagine myself returning to many of these songs in future
The Youngbloods
4/5
This was quite a decent album, I liked the little instrumental breaks that make it sound a bit like an improvised set and mixes up the sound between folk/psychedelic rock and a jazzier style. Interesting find from a band I didn't know.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
If they made the guitars louder it would've been perfect
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
I find this kind of album a bit hard to rate, as I tend to just have it in the background while I'm doing something else. I quite liked it though, nice melodies in places and shimmering synths which create a chilled atmosphere
Giant Sand
4/5
Interesting band, I'd not heard of them before and a lot of their previous albums don't have Wikipedia articles. Which is maybe an unfair barometer of stature, but it gives you an idea
This album is very mellow, with the subtle instrumentation and baritone whispered vocals creating a very chilled vibe. I found when I listened closely they were songs I could get lost in, the rhythm section is unspectacular but creates a nice groove that allows the listener to just float along with the music.
Shivkumar Sharma
1/5
Nice enough but not sure it's for me. I listened on YouTube and the first time I really enjoyed the melody of one of the tracks, I checked which one it was and it had started playing something else. So.. not a great review really. I found it boring
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
Pretty good album, Tom Petty to me is not a super groundbreaking artist but it's good songwriting that meshes old school rock 'n' roll with Americana and pop. Quite enjoyable and American Girl is a classic rock staple, although I don't think it's quite consistent enough for 5*, there are few weaker tracks here
Donovan
3/5
This is decent, Sunshine Superman and Season of the Witch are great songs and I quite like the Indian influence on some of the others. The King Arthur lyrics are a bit odd and I found the pace a bit too plodding to really grab me
The Temptations
2/5
Not that interested by this. The vocals are good, they harmonise beautifully, there's some great singing here. To my untrained ear I don't really hear much of the funk / psychedelic style which makes this notable though, the second side especially just sounds like standard Motown to me. Considering these guys have loads of classic songs, bit hard to understand why this album is in the book. Enjoyable enough listen but not that excited by it
The Doors
5/5
Classic - an album that really defines a genre for me, as it is the pure encapsulation of psychadelic rock. The keyboards and Morrison's oblique lyrics are so perfect for this sound. Pretty amazing that it was a debut as well as they seemed to already know what made them great. Full of classic songs - Break on Through, Soul Kitchen, Light My Fire, The End.. but basically every track is good
Marvin Gaye
2/5
This guy certainly went all in on a breakup album. Taylor who?
The lyrics are strikingly overt and many of which discuss Anna and their divorce. I struggle to sympathise that much if he cheated on her, left her for a 16 year old and spent too much money on drugs, meaning he had to make this weird agreement to release an album and give her 50% of the advance.
As for the actual music it's ok, it's not an album that's immediately catchy and packed with soul hits. There's some groovy tunes and Gaye's typically great vocals but I can't see myself returning to this given the combination of bloated inaccessibility and negative vibes
Fever Ray
4/5
These are nicely layered and atmospheric electronic songs. I quite like the Bjork style vocals but probably wouldn't say they are the highlight
One thing that constrains my enjoyment is I have a bit of a feeling that these songs leave you wanting more.. at times I expected a progression into a heavier beat and a track to kick in, but then they all just end. Maybe that's a good thing, I'm not quite sure.
I was between a 3 and a 4 and the closer left me feeling like this is great background music, or soundtrack. So it's a 4
The Stranglers
4/5
The Last Shadow Puppets
5/5
Great album and probably marks and interesting turn on Alex Turner's songwriting to branch out from his indie rock roots. You can definitely hear the influence of the soundtrack composers on The Last Shadow Puppets, the orchestral elements in particular give this a really epic quality. Considering there's also a 60s / mod type feel too, i thought it actually sounded incredibly fresh in 2008 and still does now
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Hard one to rate as I only give 4+ to albums I want to hear again. As beautiful and haunting as this is, it's quite a tough listen as Cave pours his heart out over his son's death. Atmospheric but ultimately I don't really want to return to it
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
2/5
I love Blur and Gorillaz so remember being quite excited when this came out, also given the huge critical acclaim. At the time I didn't get into it and I didn't this time either
Pantera
2/5
Appreciate the musicianship, especially the guitar playing, but it's not really my cup of tea
Radiohead
5/5
One of my favourite albums ever and an easy 5. Following the experimental Kid A and Amnesiac, and the return to a more rocking sound with Hail To The Thief, perhaps the most notable change for In Rainbows was the decision to allow legal downloads of the album for whatever price fans deemed fair. Pretty unheard of at the time but doesn't distract from the fact that the music is so good
In Rainbows is full of spine tinglingly epic vocal moments. Among them: "you'll go to hell for what your dirty mind is thinking" in Nude, "because we separate like ripples on a lake" in Reckoner, and the kicking in of the more chaotic singing in the second half of Jigsaw Falling Into Place. Thom is at his absolute best here - and also a nod for the drumming which is amazing, Bodysnatchers being a good example
I'm going to watch In Rainbows From The Basement now
Aerosmith
4/5
I found this quite good, the album has a fair amount of variety although most of it is the riff-heavy, hair metal precursor stuff we might mostly associate with Aerosmith. It's mixed with ballads (You See Me Crying), old school rock and roll / dick jokes (10 Inch Record) and a very Led Zeppelin Kashmir sounding penultimate track in Round and Round. I suppose it wears it's influences a bit obviously for me to give it 5*, but I enjoyed
3/5
Nitin Sawhney
2/5
D'Angelo
2/5
He can clearly sing, and I can see why he was a big pioneer in the development of neo soul/ modern R&B. There is a nice groove to the songs and great vocals but it's not my kind of thing. I have a bit of a feeling that some of these tracks are too long and don't go anywhere - Lady being a good example
Foo Fighters
5/5
A bit surprising that this made it into the book rather than The Colour And The Shape, as their second album to me is more what the Foo Fighters sound like, and Grohl's characteristic vocals were more confident by that point. In any case this is great too, it's a noisier and rawer offering than their later work with Grohl doing everything himself, but still with a lot of merit. The first four tracks in particular stand up there with the rest of their discography albeit with a slightly less arena-rock sound. Considering he wrote the whole thing in the wake of the suicide of one of his best friends, it's a pretty great achievement really
The Libertines
3/5
I have a lot of nostalgia for the Libertines and this reminds me of student clubs with sticky floors, and probably purple stains on shirts from drinking snakebites. The album itself has not aged super well, compared to some of their contemporaries like Arctic Monkeys and Strokes, it's not as good. Pete Doherty can't really sing but the music has a strong vibe of British punk bands which gives the songs a nice punchy feel. Some good tracks and some forgettable ones. I prefer Up The Bracket to this one but it's decent
Small Faces
1/5
The only really memorable bits are the nonsense spoken word sections. Which annoyed me enough to sour my perception of this album
Astor Piazzolla
2/5
Too much xylophone
GZA
5/5
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Springsteen's comeback album after a 7-year hiatus and it's a pleasant listen. I love The Boss although consulting my copy of the book, I am a little surprised that The Rising makes it in as of his 5 - I'd probably have gone for The River rather than this.
Anyway it was an attempt at a feel-good record post 9/11, and the writing and music both do a good job of bringing an uplifting feel. He's a great lyricist albeit maybe this doesn't contain any of his most iconic tracks. I think it starts strong and is a tiny bit MOR at times, maybe sagging in the middle, e.g. Worlds Apart is a track that goes on a bit. The fact that he was working with the E-Street band again is a plus though, especially the sax parts give it the feel of being Bruce as much as any other element.
Not quite 5* but it's good
Shuggie Otis
3/5
This was ok, quite funky and soulful, and I particularly like the bass playing. Shuggie sounds like a bit of an unappreciated song-writer although I'm not sure his voice is really strong enough to carry this into 4+* territory for me. Nice but not that memorable
Waylon Jennings
2/5
An influential album in the sub-genre of outlaw country, apparently. I'm not overly interested by this, it sounds like pretty standard yee-haw stuff to me
The Rolling Stones
5/5
When I listened to Exile On Main Street for the first time I found it odd. For a band with so many hits as The Rolling Stones to have this sprawling double album, released in their prime, that doesn't contain any of their most popular songs is jarring but it's brilliant nonetheless. Despite what I said about hits, it does contain some great songs, notably Rocks Off, Tumbling Dice, Happy, Shine a Light. This album really is a vibe more than anything though - probably the purest encapsulation of some of the things that make them great, mostly the blues-rock style and celebration of pure hedonism. Classic
Scissor Sisters
5/5
An album I had a CD copy of back in the day. It still sounds good and it's such fun music, they don't take themselves too seriously but it doesn't get seriously. A campy, disco/glam throwback that is unapologetically retro and all the better for it. Not a groundbreaking album but endlessly catchy and great
Nanci Griffith
2/5
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
This was ok, I suppose it gets a bit forgotten given what a fertile time the mid 90s was for hip-hop. Reminds me a bit of Illmatic in a few ways, even the cover, so it might have been influential
I'm not as big a fan of the beats as some comments allude to.. to me the dissonance is a bit jarring and I also find them a bit sparse at times. The drums are pretty dominant and sound kinda tinny. I did like most of the rapping though, he has quite an easy flow and it's a chilled out listen
Q-Tip
4/5
Haircut 100
4/5
I quite liked this. It's very 80s and I'm not really aware of Haircut 100 doing much after the hits from this, but it does have some cracking pop songs. I like the guitar playing and sax which gives it a smooth sound
Bauhaus
3/5
Fairly enjoyable, goth rock in the mould of Joy Division and The Cure. I liked the moody atmosphere and it's certainly a distinctive sound
Probably not super memorable, there are some decent tracks but also some plodders which make me unlikely to re-play
Love
3/5
I didn't really know Love before although I have heard the opening track before. That's probably the highlight, I like the second track as well, the rest it started to sound like a lot of the mid-60s psychedelic rock on this list. Of which there is a lot. I did enjoy the strings and brass in particular though, some nice arrangements here albeit i found the second side a bit forgettable
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
It's weird that a soundtrack is on the list, there don't seem to be many others. I missed the context of what was happening in the film which I suppose would make the music make more sense. Having said that it's nice there is something from Bollywood in the book, and I never would have listened to it of my own accord.
It's alright, although I can't help but think there might be better representations of this style of music out there.
Aimee Mann
5/5
Bit harsh to call this "mum rock" when it was written and performed by A. Mann
Mike Oldfield
4/5
I was close to giving this 5* but the Chewbacca and Blue Peter rubbish on the second side slightly reduced its appeal. It's a good album though, I normally find this kind of thing too pompous and overblown but actually i was mostly captivated to find out where it was going next. He was clearly a talented teenager
M.I.A.
4/5
Curtis Mayfield
5/5
This was super cool, I really liked the lyrics telling the story about the drug dealer and observing these issues in the community. It's told with a real smooth and funky soul sound. Loved it
Can
3/5
Interesting and experimental, I can see why this is cited as an influence by lots of bands. I quite liked most of the first half but the 5th and 6th tracks are just too avant garde for me and quite hard to listen to. Maybe let's say 4/5 for the first half and 2/5 for the second half, 3/5 average seems alright
Beck
4/5
I already had Sea Change on this list and I prefer this version of Beck to the more melancholy one. At his best he seamlessly meshes styles into a cohesive whole. This album starts with a great single in E-Pro which is more of a rock song, and I liked the more hip-hop style grooves of Qué Onda Guero. The tribute to Elliot Smith Broken Drum is another highlight. Think this is a 4 rather than a 5 though, I will save the top marks for Odelay :)
Count Basie & His Orchestra
5/5
This was great - swinging, big band jazz. The nuclear bomb on the front is a bit weird, because the music itself is really joyous and uplifting. I can imagine dancing to this in the 50s against the backdrop of rock 'n' roll being the cooler style. A small nod to the rhythm section as I liked the bass playing, and in general the interplay between the band is really seamless, they sound like they have good chemistry together.
Destiny's Child
3/5
It's kinda mad that the first 4 tracks, all the singles, go: female empowerment X2, celebrating big booties, slut shaming. Not sure the messaging is very consistent here. It's also probably the most overt example I've heard of a CD-era trend where all the good songs are shoved at the front, then you are left with filler for the rest.
My only other observation is that, after their lineup changes, this seems to be Beyonce's Diana Ross stage, where she was very much thrust into the limelight and catapulted towards mega stardom.
3* because after the first few hits, it's less strong
MC Solaar
4/5
This was really good. Without being able to understand most of the lyrics I just enjoyed his smooth rapping and the funky beats, there's plenty to like without the words.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
CHVRCHES
4/5
Really liked this when it came out and it stands up well 12 years later. Cracking 80s throwback, synth-pop/indie and I really like the singer's voice. If I have any criticism it's probably that it's a bit of a one-trick pony, but it's a good trick
Isaac Hayes
3/5
A good album albeit I always find a soundtrack a slightly weird listen, given it was made to supplement a visual /narrative experience as well, and you're only getting part of it. I enjoyed the funky vibes and it's quite engaging given most of it is instrumental and it's a double album, I didn't get bored. But I don't know if I'd listen again
Depeche Mode
4/5
Ironic title as I didn't feel like this was an album packed with obvious hits, which is not to say it doesn't have appeal. Although the synths are not mostly creating catchy and bouncy melodies in the vein of "I Just Can't Get Enough" it's a moody and atmospheric record with some quite mature lyrical themes.
Elastica
4/5
This is good, punchy and punky but has some of the Britpop sound as well, some of these tracks reminded me of Blur's more upbeat stuff. The vocals also have a Courtney Love type of sound. I wasn't really aware of the plagiarism, not being that familiar with Wire other than hearing it on this list. Maybe blissful ignorance is a good thing
2/5
This didn't do anything for me
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
Not the upbeat disco sound you would expect from the Pet Shop Boys given their style in their peak years, maybe with a few exceptions like So Hard. This mostly has the vibe of a comedown after the party bangers of the 80s - much more melancholy and almost has a chill-wave feel. I do think Neil Tennant is a fantastic lyricist and his writing probably shines a bit more in an album like this. As well as the singles I also thought 'To Face The Truth' was a moving song with a strong sense of yearning and regret
The Mars Volta
5/5
This was great, I don't really like the overblown prog of the 70s but I thought this combined some of prog's showiness with songs that actually rock, and good vocals. The lyrics are slightly nonsense, or maybe I'm just not clever enough to understand them. The album is a riot though.
Einstürzende Neubauten
2/5
I can't say I enjoyed this but I will give an extra point for:
- It's a genuine experience to listen to
- It sounds closer to actual music than I was expecting (which is admittedly a low bar, but still)
- The personnel section on wikipedia made me laugh, as it allocates all of them to 'noises'. The instrument I always wish I'd learned to play
The Lemonheads
2/5
This is ok but it's a bit bland. The songs all have a very similar jangly, strummed guitar style and tempo. I didn't hate it but I didn't find it remotely memorable
I had time to give it another listen, which i don't normally do, but thought it was worth a go and I then decided to downgrade from 3 to 2. It didn't grow on me at all
808 State
3/5
The Specials
5/5
Loved it, this has a really nice combination of party songs with social commentary. Ska is not a genre I'm really familiar so that might be why i consider The Specials to have a very distinctive sound. The energy and vibe of the more upbeat songs in particular is really infectious
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
Somebody to Love and White Rabbit are the best songs, the rest is ok but kinda forgettable
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Classic Springsteen. Deserves 5* alone for the right-wing nutters who he confused over the supposedly 'patriotic' title track, which is really anything but. It's packed with great songs aside from that though - Glory Days, Bobby Jean and No Surrender are some of my other highlights. His writing is incredibly evocative at it's best as it is on Born in the USA
Death In Vegas
4/5
This was good, the songs have a real build and Aisha is a great tune. I listened to it loud with headphones which probably helped, the sound hits you hard
Not quite 5* because I didn't think the last few tracks were as strong
The Residents
2/5
Interesting and quirky, seems a bit of a successor to Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart. Maybe a little too avant garde for me though
Ray Price
3/5
Not really into country or crooner type music, but actually I enjoyed this more than expected. He's got a great voice and the lyrics are quite heartfelt and melancholy. Poor guy had his heart broken a few too many times, by the sound of things
John Martyn
2/5
I listened to this twice and nothing really sticks in my mind a few hours later as I go to rate it. There's some quite interesting and textured sounds here but overall I just found it a bit flat
Scott Walker
3/5
I wasn't really familiar with this guy but he had a very weird career, also listening to some of his tracks post-1997 he became extremely experimental and avant garde later. This is nothing like that though. The opening track sounds like the Thunderbirds theme tune and the style in general of the album reminded me of crooners like Tom Jones, Neil Diamond and Engelbert Humperdink. Albeit it's a little darker in theme than some of their stuff though
Interesting but probably not one I'd revisit
Amy Winehouse
5/5
Easy 5*, Amy Winehouse became a superstar off the back of this and rightly so. Her voice is incredibly unique, soulful and powerful. The lyrics are full of heartbreak and the jazzy production was quite influential in returning this style to prominence in the mainstream pop world. Classic
Anita Baker
2/5
Frank Black
4/5
This was better than I expected. The first few songs sound quite Pixies like but after that it's a lot more varied. Headache is a brilliant single and there's plenty of other good tracks. If anything the length and number of ideas count against this album a bit as it's a lot to take in on a single listen. I liked it though
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
2/5
Some of the tracks are not available on Spotify but it still goes on a bit
The Bees
4/5
This was cool and surprised I've not heard of it given The Bees are a British band. a real mixture of styles, we have some funk, psychedelic rock, reggae and trip-hop all going on and I think it comes together quite nicely for music that washes over you. It's a very nice chill-out vibe that they create. Not sure there's any obvious hits or memorable tracks but pleasant music nonetheless
I now realise, having looked up some of their other work, that I have heard of them before, because of Chicken Payback from their second album. Which is a tune!
Neneh Cherry
3/5
The Jam
5/5
Digital Underground
3/5
In some ways this is quite ahead of its time for an 80s hip hop record. It definitely sounds more modern than something like Run DMC, e.g. with the jazzy elements. There are highlights (Humpty Dance, Rhymin on the Funk) but definitely lowlights as well (Gutfest 89, Sex Packets). I thought Doowutchyalike was quite an interesting song, almost like prog rap with the different elements, but back to back 7+ min songs (discounting the prelude) lost some momentum for me and the rest of the album was a bit of a drag. 3* seems fair for a hit and miss album
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
I really loved this, compared to the bombast of his work with the E Street Band it's a very different vibe. 10 tracks recorded mostly just with an acoustic guitar and harmonica on a 4-track, Springsteen's writing is what really shines. He's always a good lyricist but it's the melancholy storytelling that makes Nebraska great - music that makes you feel something this strongly can't be bad
The Waterboys
4/5
I really like the celtic folk sound to this, with the fiddles and whatnot it sounds pretty authentic, even though it's from the 80s band who did 'Whole Of The Moon'. Docked a point for some of the tracks going on too long
The Yardbirds
3/5
Good guitar playing, not that enamoured by the rest
Iggy Pop
2/5
I thought I liked Iggy and The Stooges but this did little for me
Carpenters
3/5
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
4/5
I liked this, mostly for the lyrics. Many of the themes are very much preavelent today, maybe even more so. The metaphor of TV as methadone is clever, you see this today with social media satiating the masses and numbing us to our realities. Talking about the duhumanisation of victims makes the language of violence mainstream, we've definitely seen this in the massacre of Palestinians in the 2020s where the media manages to justify war crimes in through the words they choose. The erosion of civil rights - after George Floyd this is still very clearly a thing. And these are just my notes from the first few tracks.
I suspect most people quite musicians talking about social/political issues, as long as it's vague. "Oh isn't everything bad, we need to love each other". Fuck that - there are bad people in this world and they should be called out for what they are, that's real commentary.
Not sure I can go to 5* as it sounds a bit samey over the 1hr + running time. The production is alright but not sure the beats are anything special, and it's kinda funny that every hook is just repeating the title a few times.