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

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

I have no desire to listen to this again whatsoever

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.

Juvenile crap

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

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

Fine but just sounds like backing music or something. Not really my kind of thing

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

Mostly great: funky riffs, sexy lyrics, futuristic themes, and just toe-tappingly fun music Docked 1 point because some tracks go on too long

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

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.

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

Brilliant, I give this 5 stars because it really defines a sound..when people think of sexy soul this is basically what you imagine.

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

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

I like Paul Simon, found this a little passive compared to some of his other stuff though

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!

Love this and Joni, not all the tracks are consistently amazing hence docking 1 star

Enjoyed this, the singles are absolute classics and there's some good other tracks too. Could've cut some the fillers so 4 stars

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

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

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 :)

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.

Washed over me

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.

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

A chorus or two would be nice, just feels like a bunch of guitar riffs shoved together

Don't like the singers voice and none of the songs really grabbed me. Won't listen again

Clapton is a racist and the songs all sound the same

Tedious. I also had Jethro Tull a few days ago and can conclusively say I don't like prog rock

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

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

I don't like jazz but he is good at playing a trumpet

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

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.

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

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

Unremarkable

I have no desire to listen to this again whatsoever

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.

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!

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

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*

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

Didn't enjoy this, the vocals are really grating and none of the songs grabbed me at all. Fair play for breaking conventions

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.

Didn't grab me at all. I imagine it'd be good live but listening to it on Spotify is not really that engaging

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*

I love Neil Young but a bit less enamoured by CSNY. Some decent tracks and some a bit less so 3 it is

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

Very nice, great renditions of some classic traditional songs including a few that remain decades later.

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

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'.

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.

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

He has a good voice but this doesn't really do much for me. Freedom is a good song

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

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

Kinda bland easy listening

Pleasantly surprised by this, it really rocks

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

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

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.

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*

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

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

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.

I've never been fully on board with Joy Division. This is alright I guess

Quite dreary and boring

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!

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

More like Leonard NOhen

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

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

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

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

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

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

Genuinely forgot I was listening to this most of the time I had it on

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

Plinky plonky prog rubbish

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

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

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

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

Kinda silly but fun enough to listen to

Kinda boring. Didn't chime with me when it came out and didn't this time

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!

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?

Boring, more like Lana Dull Rey

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

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!

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chilled out, groovy hip-hop vibes and spawned some mega-hits

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.

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

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*

Other than The Weight, which is a classic, I found the other tracks OK but nothing amazing.

Better as backing music, didn't really grab me

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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.

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

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!

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

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

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

Not my kind of thing but brilliant fun!

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.

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!

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

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

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

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*

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

Can kinda see why it was influential but it' s not really my kind of thing

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

The first song is very fun. The rest is pretty boring

Juvenile crap

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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??

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.

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

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?

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*

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

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

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.

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

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.

2 stars for Radio 2 music

Over the top and overly long

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

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

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

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

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.

Quite a fun album but all the songs sound a little samey

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

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

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

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

If the Tesco Meal Deal combination of ham sandwich, ready salted crisps and water was an album, it would be this. Bland as hell

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.

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?

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

Lyrics are pretty interesting, I feel like this would be an acquired taste with more listens as the vocals are not very immediate

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

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

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

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

I would rather (Mark E Smith's The) Fall off a bridge than listen to this again

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 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

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

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.

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

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*

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Not sure what to say about this, it's alright but unremarkable

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

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

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!

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.

The kind of person who likes this is the kind of person I would not want to be stuck with at a party.

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

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!

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.

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

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

One of the best rock and roll vocalists ever and a life sadly cut short

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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

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 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

This is alright. I've never found ZZ Top that compelling and it didn't really convert me but it's fun enough

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!

Decent but not as good as White Blood Cells or Elephant

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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"

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)

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*

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?

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.

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.

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

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

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+

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

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*

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

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

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

🥱😴

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

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

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

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

Pretty good, strong female empowerment message and nice rapped/sung vocals which remind of Lauren Hill.

Cheesy and over the top but undoubtedly fun. He can really belt out a tune

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*.

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*

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

It's fine enough background music but washed over me

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!

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

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

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.

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

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

I normally find jazz boring, but this held my attention so it must be pretty good.

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

Dumb fun which I can't help but enjoy. Like the movie Airplane, say

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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*

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

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

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

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

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

Christianity and country are not my kind of thing

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

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

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.

71 minutes which felt more like 71 days

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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*

Not really my kind of music but very skilled piano playing and found it fairly enjoyable

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

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

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

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

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*

A rare album that's universally renowned as a classic but also every bit as good as the hype

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*

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

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

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

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

Sounds like a lorry carrying a load of drums and saxophones had a road traffic accident

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

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

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

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

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

The first two tracks are pretty good but I found the rest mostly meh

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*

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.

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*

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

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?

OK album but I found the slower tracks a bit dull and dreary. And they make up most of it

Couldn't really get into this at the time it came out, and not on board after a relisten either

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

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!

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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*

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*

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

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

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*

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.

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

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

Strong start but not as good in the second half, gets a little dreary. OK album

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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*

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

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