302
Albums Rated
3.02
Average Rating
28%
Complete
787 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010s
Favorite Decade
Hip-hop
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
31
5-Star Albums
24
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Of Denmark | 5 | 3.13 | +1.87 |
| Pink Flag | 5 | 3.21 | +1.79 |
| #1 Record | 5 | 3.26 | +1.74 |
| Sunday At The Village Vanguard | 5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
| This Year's Model | 5 | 3.33 | +1.67 |
| Dub Housing | 4 | 2.35 | +1.65 |
| My Aim Is True | 5 | 3.35 | +1.65 |
| Murmur | 5 | 3.42 | +1.58 |
| 3 Feet High and Rising | 5 | 3.45 | +1.55 |
| Paul's Boutique | 5 | 3.47 | +1.53 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Sabbath | 1 | 3.83 | -2.83 |
| Green River | 1 | 3.78 | -2.78 |
| Brothers In Arms | 1 | 3.74 | -2.74 |
| Dire Straits | 1 | 3.72 | -2.72 |
| Bayou Country | 1 | 3.66 | -2.66 |
| Fragile | 1 | 3.32 | -2.32 |
| John Barleycorn Must Die | 1 | 3.17 | -2.17 |
| Bluesbreakers | 1 | 3.16 | -2.16 |
| Led Zeppelin | 2 | 4.1 | -2.1 |
| Traffic | 1 | 3.08 | -2.08 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beastie Boys | 3 | 5 |
| R.E.M. | 2 | 5 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 2 | 1 |
| Dire Straits | 2 | 1 |
| Traffic | 2 | 1 |
| Kate Bush | 3 | 1.67 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Marvin Gaye | 2, 5 |
5-Star Albums (31)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Beastie Boys
5/5
This is a fantastic debut album. The Beasties were truly original and solid musicians on top of their legendary use of samples.
2 likes
Kate Bush
1/5
I do not get Kate Bush. This sounds like a parody of a rock opera.
1 likes
The Stooges
4/5
It’s incredible that this album was released over 50 years ago because it still holds up as classic example of the early punk sound.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (24)
All Ratings
Funkadelic
4/5
The xx
2/5
Curtis Mayfield
2/5
Jefferson Airplane
2/5
The Cure
4/5
Kate Bush
2/5
Gene Clark
3/5
I cannot believe I actually liked the majority of the songs on this because after the opening few riffs I was like, oh hell no. But the second song was my favorite, and a few others I found endearing in an almost John Denver way.
Yes
1/5
You know those girls who really dig Yes? Yeah, me neither.
Coldplay
2/5
It’s fine. If you told me this was the soundtrack to Grey’s Anatomy I’d believe you.
Mott The Hoople
1/5
A bunch of different sounds put together by musicians that aren’t very good. Nope.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
This sounds like a 3-martini lunch on a Friday.
Gotan Project
2/5
I think those scammers who “play” violin in parking lots use this album.
Nine Inch Nails
2/5
Closer is very good, but the industrial noise is in the rear view mirror for me.
Cyndi Lauper
2/5
A lot of my friends had this album in high school, but I did not. Girls Just Want to Have Fun is annoying, but True Colors is cool, lots of kitschy novelty filler.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Not an album I thought I would get into on a cold, cloudy day, but it was very chill and kind of made my day better : )
Green Day
2/5
There were a few glimmers of hope (Holiday stands out), but save some time and just listen to Dookie.
Björk
3/5
I think Björk is cool, but this was just atmospheric background music for me. Pretty, though.
Elton John
4/5
Although there were a few filler tracks that were underwhelming, the hits make this an undeniably great album.
Radiohead
3/5
This rating may be a bit unfair- the 3 is more in comparison to OK Computer, Kid A, and In Rainbows than all other albums…it was a good listen!
Marvin Gaye
2/5
Oh boy, I don’t spend a lot of time analyzing what artists are trying to say with their music, but these lyrics are fucking dumb.
Muddy Waters
5/5
Hard Again starts out so strong and never loses any energy throughout its entirety. I’m not a huge Blues fan, but this was exceptional - not a single song that was less than fantastic.
The Flaming Lips
4/5
I loved the mix of childish - They Might be Giants fused with Starboy-meets-Radiohead just waking up in the morning on a Saturday with the sun in your eyes feel of this “not conceptual” album.
The Doors
3/5
Definitely not a great Doors album, but I didn’t hate it.
Beastie Boys
5/5
In 1994 I was 25 years old, on the beach in Hawaii for the first time, and Ill Communication was in heavy rotation on my Discman. This album will forever remind me of sun, sand, the ocean, and the chichis awaiting me at the hotel bar later. She’s the cheese and I’m the macaroni.
FKA twigs
4/5
Beautiful. I can see this being a 5 star album for me in a year.
Leftfield
2/5
Fun club music, but not very memorable.
Peter Tosh
3/5
Oh my god, am I a fan of reggae?
Television
3/5
I liked this a lot, but the songs were so long that I started fast-forwarding to the next about halfway through.
Blur
3/5
It’s pretty clear that Blur was trying to capture the alt-rock audience with a harder-driving sound, but it leads to a disjointed album. Song 2 is a good example and sounds like the last days of all-day music videos on MTV.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
2/5
New Wave is totally up my alley, but this was not for me. Kinda boring, not very creative, just heavy synthesizers.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Stevie Wonder is a treasure, but he has better albums.
Kate Bush
1/5
I do not get Kate Bush. This sounds like a parody of a rock opera.
The Velvet Underground
5/5
So cool.
R.E.M.
5/5
I tried to be objective about this because I know it’s not even my favorite REM album, but I loved it. Not a skippable song (tbf, maybe the last 2) and a very remarkable debut.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
I had only heard the 90s Siouxsie music which is much more mainstream, so it was nice to hear her punk roots.
The Style Council
3/5
The beginning was nice and I wasn’t really understanding all the negative reviews…and then that rap happened. It was okay, though.
CHIC
3/5
I’ve seen Chic live, and it’s a super-fun dance party! Nile Rodgers is amazing and a huge talent, but I think if there’s a “best-of” album? That’s the way to go.
Deep Purple
3/5
Totally not a genre I like, but not gonna lie - Space Truckin’ just hits the spot sometimes.
Various Artists
2/5
It’s always fun to hear Christmas songs in a difficult genre, unfortunately this is a genre that I kind of detest.
William Orbit
2/5
Not nearly as bad as I expected, but this could have been made by anyone with some music software.
fIREHOSE
3/5
I’d listened to Ragin’, Full on and If’n, but not this one, and I’m glad I did : )
The B-52's
3/5
Depeche Mode
5/5
I bought this on cd when it was released, and am happy to report that it still fuckin slaps.
Beatles
4/5
It’s obvious that the Beatles are stretching their talents on this album, and it sometimes results in a disjointed feeling- like this could be an album of singles. It’s still great, though, and For No One is a hidden gem and possibly my favorite song of theirs of all time.
Le Tigre
2/5
It’s kinda fun, but the vocals are very annoying.
Green Day
4/5
There’s a few songs that offer a glimpse of the more pop-forward style that is to some, but mostly just solid punk bangers.
Kate Bush
2/5
Please make the Kate Bush albums stop.
Willie Nelson
2/5
I get that this was a huge departure for him musically, and kudos for taking that leap and the success of the album, but all these years later it just seems kind of hokey.
The White Stripes
3/5
I’m a White Stripes fan, but this is not an album I listen to often. Jack White is definitely experimenting with some different sounds on this, and while it does get loud and rock a lot, it just feels a little off.
The Crusaders
2/5
The song Street Life followed by some elevator music. No.
The United States Of America
3/5
After reading the reviews, I fully expected to hate this, but it was pretty fun! It could be the soundtrack to a psychedelic space romp or a kitschy sitcom from the 60s.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
1/5
I hate country-fried rock, and this is one of the worst offenders: the raspy voice, twangy guitar, and oh yay - a fucking harmonica. Absolutely not.
Radiohead
4/5
A less techno-sounding album but no less outstanding.
The Smiths
3/5
I wouldn’t say this is their best album.
The Kinks
2/5
This sounds more like a Beatles cover band than the Kinks.
3/5
I am a PJ Harvey fan, but I really only like 2 - 3 songs on this album.
Nico
1/5
Nico was good on some Velvet Underground songs, not so much on her own.
Gorillaz
3/5
This is very okay.
The Temptations
3/5
The funkier songs are really fun, but overall this doesn’t stand out as something to revisit.
The Police
4/5
Some songs on the first side are clear misses, but side two is pretty perfect. Unpopular opinion: Miss Gradenko is a jam and very underrated.
Fever Ray
2/5
Okay as background music, but not anything to seek out further.
The La's
2/5
It started out strong, like I would have listened to this for sure in 1990, but after their one hit it just sucked.
Radiohead
4/5
Gorgeous.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
That this was released 46 years ago, and it was Stevie Wonder’s 18th (!) album is unbelievable…a true classic.
Sabu
1/5
You will like this if you are a hardcore Congo drum fan I guess.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
2/5
Relax is still a fun song! …the rest is not very fun.
Christine and the Queens
4/5
I had never heard of Christine and was ready to dislike this album after reading the summary, but was very pleasantly surprised! I will definitely be playing more of this in the future.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Karen O’s vocals are reminiscent of Dale Bozzio from Missing Persons in the 80s, a band I really enjoyed.
Boston
3/5
I used to hang out with a bunch of stoners in the 80s who listened to this album ad nauseum, so I’m over it. But it is an impressive debut album with strong production value, a classic, yadda yadda yadda take my 3 stars and get the fuck out of here.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
There is some off-noise at times that is similar to a child’s musical toy that is running out of batteries. Dissonant in a bad way.
The Beta Band
3/5
Good. Not any more than good, certainly not bad, but not probably a band that would come to mind when looking for something to play.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
My first album (in first grade) and I can still listen to it in its entirety. Pretty much perfect.
Electric Light Orchestra
2/5
ELNo thanks.
The War On Drugs
2/5
Another just fine album.
Dolly Parton
3/5
A little hokey, but cute.
Skepta
2/5
Sometimes there was repetitive, droning music pumping behind some mediocre fast rap, sometimes it seemed like he was trying to imitate someone else. There were a lot of typical rap tropes but not much originality.
The Cars
4/5
Severely overlooked as one of the most classic new wave and debut albums in the US.
Pulp
2/5
Totally fine, but I listened to it 3 days ago and haven’t thought about it once since.
Adele
3/5
I can’t listen to Hello without thinking of the SNL sketch.
Steve Earle
1/5
I tried, I swear.
Pere Ubu
4/5
Very unusual, experimental, and original while still being reminiscent of Talking Heads and Devo. I’m not sure if they were using actual words sometimes, but I liked the sound.
The Human League
3/5
A lot of 80s synth-pop music is droning and repetitive, but this is not and has enough variety to keep it interesting.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Never been a Dylan fan, but I found this album to be remarkable. Really fun.
B.B. King
4/5
Live albums are so often a huge drag, but the audience noise in this actually made it more fun.
LTJ Bukem
1/5
I feel like I was on hold for 45 minutes.
The Bees
4/5
Never heard of them, but will definitely listen to more.
John Martyn
1/5
This fucker wrote a song called Big Muff.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
5/5
The epitome of hippy sound and the GOAT of vocal harmonization.
GZA
3/5
Great samples and strong rap.
Teenage Fanclub
4/5
I absolutely underestimated my relationship to this album because I found myself singing every word of every song. It was fun to remember where and who I was in 1991.
Dennis Wilson
2/5
I’m guessing Dennis Wilson wanted to branch out creatively, and this is definitely a departure from The Beach Boys, albeit a strange one.
Janet Jackson
3/5
One of my roommates in college played this so much that I know all the songs, and although I don’t love it for any musical merit (sorry Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis), it was a good listen.
George Harrison
3/5
Some really strong singles and then some twangy filler.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Rockafeller Skank used to be on my running playlist, so it got my blood pumping immediately. Otherwise every song is mind numbingly repetitive even though the beat is pretty fun.
The Verve
2/5
This just didn’t really grab my attention in any way. It sounded very 90s and kind of like they were trying to sound like Radiohead.
Dire Straits
1/5
No offense to dads in their sixties, but this is music for dads in their sixties.
The Who
2/5
I’ve seen the movie and have the album but haven’t listened to it for many years and found it just marginally okay. I can’t imagine how awful this would be as just an album without knowing it’s a soundtrack or having some background on the story.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Some true gems here, but it was a bit shouty and repetitive by the end. Still a very good time.
Queen
3/5
There are ballads, songs that rock, and then some hurdy-her hokey stuff that felt a bit unnecessary. Bohemian Rhapsody, though…still so good.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Back at the Chicken Shack is a very odd title for this smooth, cool, jazz album. Definitely something I will put on while cooking and hanging out with friends.
Adam & The Ants
3/5
The epitome of New Romantic style with a unique sound.
Korn
2/5
Nu metal is not for me, but I can appreciate the Nine Inch Nails-ish imprint on some songs and the Ice Cube appearance.
Arcade Fire
3/5
This is a good album with great production value and strong musicianship, but there’s something missing that makes me not love it and I can’t really pinpoint it exactly except that it just lacks some heart I guess. I would put it in the same category as Imagine Dragons, fine but a bit meh.
De La Soul
5/5
The heart I was searching for on my last album was found here, a joyous and unique experience through late-80s hip hop. This was super a super fun time.
The Stooges
4/5
It’s incredible that this album was released over 50 years ago because it still holds up as classic example of the early punk sound.
k.d. lang
3/5
She’s got a great voice and I preferred the cabaret songs more than the country ones, and could see adding some to a dinner party playlist.
Pink Floyd
5/5
One of my boyfriends in college went on spring break in California and brought this back for me (along with the Funky Cold Medina cassette single, both of which he had opened and listened to) as a gift. I liked him a lot, so I put this on at bedtime every night religiously. Wish You Were Here is not at all a souvenir of California for me, but of the thoughts and dreams of my 19 year-old self lying in bed at night trying to figure everything out. That the opening lyrics are, “Remember when you were young/ You shone like the sun”…sigh.
Beach House
2/5
I thought I liked this band but I had them confused with something else. I don’t like this band.
Elliott Smith
4/5
I like Elliott Smith but had never listened to this album and assumed I would like it fine. But it was so much better than that. The songs were lovely and sad without being too angst-ridden, although it’s hard not to hear the absolute despair in the lyrics.
And I hope you’re not waiting
Waiting ‘round for me
Cause I’m not going anywhere, obviously
Got a broken heart and your name on my cast
And everybody’s gone at last
Everybody’s gone at last
Terence Trent D'Arby
3/5
There were very big expectations of Terence Trent D’Arby that never really panned out for some reason. Great voice, definite “it” factor…not sure if he was a victim of poor management or just decided to wild out instead. I had a poster of him on my dorm wall in college and still enjoyed this, although it sounds pretty dated.
Neil Young
3/5
It’s not Harvest, so I assumed it wouldn’t be that great, but it is actually very good.
Tears For Fears
4/5
I got this album when it came out and it got *a lot* of play on my high school turntable. It was fun to blast it and sing along on my way to work this morning.
The Allman Brothers Band
2/5
This is a lot more bluesy than I expected, but still just not a sound that like at all.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
I was never a fan of Peter Gabriel, but was very surprised at how many songs I knew on this album. Not my style, but I enjoyed it for the nostalgia. Not super happy to see Kate Bush slide in for a song because she just needs to go.
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
This is a very good album, but it does sound a bit like any jazz group one might find at a dinner joint or supper club. I will definitely listen to more Sarah Vaughan, though!
Massive Attack
3/5
A very pleasant surprise! Massive Attack is kind of a misleading name, I thought it was going to be metal or something way more hard driving, but it was pretty mellow and enjoyable. I also listened to Mezzanine which is even better.
Badly Drawn Boy
2/5
I thought maybe the album had restarted from the beginning because it felt like I had been listening for a long, long time, but there were still seven songs left 😳
Dire Straits
1/5
I just have never liked Dire Straits. Don’t like the vocals, don’t like the jangly ass guitar, don’t like the lyrics. I actually didn’t hate Money for Nothing as much as I did when they showed the video ad nauseum on MTV.
Soundgarden
4/5
Chris Cornell was a great vocalist and this is a terrific grunge album.
Flamin' Groovies
2/5
Flamin Groovies didn’t really pick a lane with this…sometimes it’s similar to The Rolling Stones, a few songs have a NY early-punk vibe, and then there’s some bluesy slide guitar à la Jack White. Interesting if not entirely compelling.
Traffic
1/5
Picture that shrugging emoticon. That.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
It’s got fun energy, but the songs all sound the same.
Snoop Dogg
2/5
Like other reviews, I very much enjoyed the music here but just can’t endorse lyrics that boast about violence against women. Hopefully Martha Stewart skipped this one.
Talking Heads
3/5
Overall a great debut album, but we all know they get even better.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
This is a hard one because it’s fine, but Young had definitively not hit his stride yet, although he was already an excellent songwriter.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
1/5
I’m sure this is a fine album if you’re a blues fan, but I’m not and pretty much all blues music sounds alike unless it’s something remarkable. This is not remarkable.
Eminem
2/5
Eminem is a talented rapper and his way of using samples, rapid-fire rap, and collaborations creates a sound that is unique and original. Unfortunately it’s hard to endorse lyrics that are derogatory towards women no matter how good the music may be.
Nirvana
4/5
I distinctly remember going to work one morning and a friend asked if I had seen Nirvana on MTV Unplugged, and I had not. He was like, “I was really surprised that the drummer sang backup.” Lol. I own this album and Where Did You Sleep Last Night is easily one of my all-time favorite songs, but I don’t really like all their song choices here. Still great to hear them in stripped-down mode and be able to really focus on their raw talent.
Elton John
3/5
Madman Across the Water has that classic Elton John sound married with Bernie Taupin’s lyrics. It starts out with the two singles (who doesn’t love Tiny Dancer?) and then the rest is pretty one-note except for a few missteps.
Beck
4/5
This is a very mellow Beck, but still good. Some songs have a bit of an alt-country rock feel à la Jayhawks and some are more soundtrack oriented. In the morning sun, this was 3⭐️, but in the cloudy evening with a glass of wine a solid 4⭐️.
The Triffids
1/5
Why
System Of A Down
2/5
This is kind of fun, but this harsh screamy type of metal is not something I would choose to listen to again.
Sister Sledge
3/5
Nile Rodgers always brings the fun 🕺🏽
The Smiths
4/5
Surprisingly upbeat at times with the classic Morrissey/Marr sound.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
With bad rap, every song sounds basically the same and relies on vapid hooks and lyrics to keep the listener engaged. Kendrick shows his artistry here both musically and lyrically providing gangsta riffs and grooves that get you to move. I didn’t spend any time analyzing the lyrics but recognize there’s enough shit-talking of women to ding the rating.
Pink Floyd
4/5
Before there was MTV there were rock operas, and younger, higher me was a HUGE fan. Older, not high me still likes The Wall, but I forgot how long this beast is and I skipped a lot of the transitional songs. I did very much enjoy listening to it in its entirety for the first time in many years.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Good album, kind of a mix of 80s electronic with EDM/trance tracks as well, the latter of which could get repetitive and kinda boring.
Arctic Monkeys
3/5
This is a good album, but you kind of need to be in the mood for some hard-driving rock with some frenetic energy. For something more mellow, I highly encourage you to check out The Last Shadow Puppets which is an Alex Turner side project.
Metallica
2/5
If I was a metal fan I would probably listen to this.
Bad Company
2/5
Do these dudes wear acid wash jeans, white tennis shoes, and play at state fairs across the US? C’mon.
Milton Nascimento
3/5
What an eclectic album! I thought I was in for some chill jazzy relaxation, but then there were all sorts of different offerings along the way. An interesting experience, for sure!
Wire
5/5
Tiny punk rock amuses-bouches. Get in mah belly.
Pixies
5/5
Pixies songs are all over movies and tv shows today, so it’s bizarre that they never really achieved legend status and are currently playing mid-size venues and even breweries. Doolittle is full of classic singles that are both punk and catchy which can be hard to master in this genre.
Little Richard
4/5
I’ve never been a fan of 50s music, but you cannot overlook the importance of Little Richard and this album to the evolution of rock and roll. He was a huge talent and his unique character was refreshing and surprisingly appreciated at that point in history.
The Everly Brothers
3/5
Like a tall glass of egg whites, but I like the surf undertones.
Minutemen
3/5
I had to listen to this a few times for it to really grow on me. The first I was like, “Isn’t this fIREHOSE?” and thought it was a little thin musically. On the second listen, however, I was struck by the groove and just found it enjoyable overall.
Small Faces
2/5
I’m confused. What is this?
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
I mean, it’s Jimi Hendrix.
Sade
3/5
When this came out it seemed so cool because it was different than the other music played on MTV. It’s still a nice, laid-back listen but it sounds very 80s,
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Dr. Octagon
3/5
I don’t know, I actually liked it but tbh I didn’t spend any time actually listening to the lyrics, so maybe that’s the best approach?
The The
3/5
120 Minutes turned me onto The The, and I can still get the appeal.
Steely Dan
2/5
I kept picturing Will Ferrell hanging out in the background with the cowbell.
Bill Evans Trio
5/5
Just really great jazz that’s accessible without being derivative. Also a rare album that is better for having a live audience.
Neil Young
4/5
Fine. Now I’m a Neil Young fan. YOU’RE WELCOME.
Cream
2/5
When I was in my twenties I used to tell people that I wished Eric Clapton would marry my mother and become my stepfather. Such a fascinating history in the music world and one of our guitar gods - it would be a blast to hear his stories! Unfortunately he’s an asshole now. Also unfortunately so is my mother, so maybe it will actually happen someday.
But this isn’t about that. Other than the singles that were released there’s not a lot going on here of interest. The last track is very dumb. Meh.
Living Colour
3/5
I’m pretty sure some of my tinnitus comes from listening to Cult of Personality too loud.
Garbage
4/5
I was a big fan of PJ Harvey and Liz Phair in the 90s, but somehow Garbage is a blind spot for me. Enjoyed this album very much and it fits right into that cool rocker chick spot of that era.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Oh Jimi Hendrix, what could you have done if you had stuck around?
Dr. John
3/5
A wacky New Orleans sound with a sprinkle of Tom Waits.
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
We’re off to a bad start with the first track - the singer sounds bored and it seems to drag on forever. The rest of the songs that I got through were droning and tinny to the point that it actually kind of hurt my ears. Dnf
Madonna
4/5
This could be Madonna’s best album, or at least top two. A different sound from her that really showcases her vocal abilities outside of her earlier synth pop style.
Kanye West
3/5
Kanye is a jackass. Also this album is good. He loses a star for that time he wore a white lives matter t-shirt and for being a weirdo.
Depeche Mode
3/5
The first half of the album was very strong, but it was getting pretty droning with five songs to go and I was ready to be done.
Ananda Shankar
3/5
After an early morning pilates workout, I got the vibes, but only after skipping the first track…Jumpin’ Jack Flash? GTHOH with that cover song.
G. Love & Special Sauce
1/5
I didn’t listen to the entire album because it was not only bad but boring as well.
Culture Club
3/5
There’s a cool, jazzy feel to this that separates it from a lot of other 80s pop albums, and Boy George has a great voice.
Parliament
4/5
Parliament always brings the funk.
Linkin Park
2/5
I guess I thought Linkin Park was metal? This is like a Rage cover band or something.
Suzanne Vega
3/5
I’ve seen Suzanne Vega live but actually kind of forgot about her until this came up. She’s really good, but she’s got better albums than this.
Hugh Masekela
3/5
Nicely done, but there were times that some songs teetered on the edge of sounding like hold music.
Randy Newman
1/5
Randy Newman definitely has his own unique sound, I’ll give him that much. Still, every song just sounds like it is something off of a Disney movie soundtrack.
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Never been a Springsteen fan, but I thought maybe an older album could convert me. But as soon as I heard “ I got a 69 Chevy…” I was out.
Janis Joplin
3/5
I can’t help but picture a medication commercial playing on the tv whenever she really starts belting it out. “Side effects may include…”
Amy Winehouse
3/5
This album is very good, just not a sound I generally enjoy.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
Kind of fun and not nearly as bad as I expected.
The Black Keys
3/5
After reading the comments, I was poised to actively hate this album, but I didn’t?
Fats Domino
3/5
50s music is just not for me, but I’ll give credit where credit is due because Fats is a legend.
The Go-Go's
4/5
Todd Rundgren
2/5
This is pretty out there, not necessarily in a bad way, but not something I need to listen to again.
Louis Prima
3/5
Fun, if not a little cheesy.
The Vines
3/5
Fine, but not exactly memorable.
Meat Loaf
3/5
This is so not the kind of music I like, but it’s so cheesy and Meatloaf was in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Fight Club, so it gets a pass.
David Bowie
4/5
Bowie evolved his sound so each album is different, but they are all cool. This is no exception.
Magazine
4/5
Wow, this is a great punk album instrumentally, and the Buzzcocks influence is clear.
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Not a huge fan of EDM because it seems repetitive and droning, but if I was tripping balls this would probably be a jam.
Big Star
5/5
I had heard of Big Star, but never had listened to them…this is one of those times that I’m glad for this project. Sweet, fun pop that’s catchy but not saccharine, sometimes CSNY, sometimes 90s Matthew Sweet. This is definitely on my playlist.
Elvis Costello
5/5
Having listened to this album at times throughout the years, I was prepared to give it a 4⭐️ review, but quickly found that I enjoyed it more than that. Classic.
The White Stripes
5/5
This is my favorite White Stripes album, and Same Boy You’ve Always Known is one of my all-time favorite songs. Some tracks come across as a bit of a novelty now, but it’s still a really solid punk album.
Nanci Griffith
1/5
Not much of a country music fan and this did nothing to change my mind.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
1/5
CCR has been a staple of classic rock radio stations for maybe 35 years? Still doesn’t make it good.
Sam Cooke
5/5
So fun!
Beastie Boys
5/5
This is a fantastic debut album. The Beasties were truly original and solid musicians on top of their legendary use of samples.
Miles Davis
4/5
Obviously a great album, but a little basic as far as Miles Davis goes.
George Michael
3/5
George Michael had an amazing voice reminiscent of Freddy Mercury at times. Freedom is a banger.
T. Rex
3/5
I generally consider T. Rex to be repetitive and one-note, but this album had a bit of variety and was pretty fun.
Bob Dylan
3/5
This is what I think of when someone mentions Bob Dylan….classic, but not my fave.
Beck
3/5
Beck is so prolific and a solid musician, but not someone who comes to mind when choosing what to play. This is a good album, but he does have better ones.
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Everyone who’s seen Springsteen says he’s the ultimate showman. I will never find out personally because I don’t like his music. At all.
The Last Shadow Puppets
4/5
I wish The Last Shadow Puppets had continued releasing albums, even if it was only every eight years. The Alex Turner/Miles Kane collaboration is just really, really good.
Beatles
4/5
A Hard Day’s Night is certainly not as robust as their later albums, but these sweet little love songs really deliver the harmonies and catchy riffs.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Funny how listening to the new album off the list can set the mood for your day… Earth Wind and Fire will get you off to a fun start!
Beastie Boys
5/5
Sick beats, hilarious lyrics, great production. A classic.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
What I know about Nick Cave has been based mainly on his look - I assumed he was some goth who wrote angsty, punky songs about being misunderstood. Instead this was a pretty album that had a bit of whimsy to go along with touch of melancholy.
Stan Getz
3/5
Fine, fun, great background music for a party.
TV On The Radio
4/5
TV On The Radio is a brilliant combination of hardcore, funk, and soundtrack rock. The layering of noise and vocals on Halfway Home is so good played really loud in one’s ears and one of my all-time favorite songs.
Santana
3/5
I enjoyed this album way way way more than I thought I would. The Latin-style is cool and it’s cool background music to have on while working.
John Coltrane
5/5
This is exactly the type of jazz I like: freestyle to an extent, but not overly chaotic or abstract. Really gorgeous work.
The Who
2/5
My review was going to be that this album sounded like a collection of outtakes from bad commercials, then I read the wiki page and it’s sort of supposed to be exactly that. Still doesn’t make it very good.
Jacques Brel
2/5
Ça n’est pas si bon.
John Grant
5/5
Albums like this is why I continue with the list: Never heard of this guy, and looking at the album art, I had already concluded that I wouldn’t like it. But I love it Mix Bowie with America, Rufus Wainwright, and Great Lakes Swimmers and you have this compelling pop/singer-songwriter album.
Portishead
3/5
There’s background noise that sounds like you’re playing well-worn vinyl that really adds to the hazy atmosphere and is very cool. Listen to this on a cloudy day and relax.
The Notorious B.I.G.
3/5
Like other reviews pointed out, this really didn’t age well lyrically. The beats and rap still hit, but the message of violence and misogyny is difficult to overlook.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Solid Dylan album, although I prefer Jimi Hendrix’s Like a Rolling Stone and PJ Harvey’s Highway 61 Revisited better.
Wild Beasts
2/5
This is a rather confusing work. It’s fairly good musically, but the singing is pretty erratic, veering from a deep Bowie drawl to an unpleasant screeching falsetto within seconds. I was ready for it to be over before the end.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
I can imagine me as a little girl, wearing my prettiest dress, playing this on my mom’s huge stereo console with the attached tv and 8-track player, singing along to Son of a Preacher Man. Very evocative of that time.
Fiona Apple
4/5
There were so many strong female voices in the 90s and Fiona Apple is one of them. I had never listened to this album in its entirety and am impressed by her range and talent.
Nirvana
4/5
It seems as if there was a good amount of growth musically between Nevermind and In Utero, although ironically the less successful songs here tend to be the more punk ones, the sound they so wanted to stay more faithful to. Still a lot of really great tracks and excellent production.
Common
3/5
A nice, upbeat album for a sunny day. Totally fine but fairly unremarkable.
The Doors
3/5
The Doors were back in fashion when I was in high school, and Jim Morrison was the Kurt Cobain of the 80s - all the musical genius minus the angst and self-loathing. Maybe because this is the last album it is more boozy and bluesy, and there’s a little less of the early style and finesse of their unique sound. Still some good tracks, but they have better albums.
Traffic
1/5
Starting off with a 7 minute flute-and-organ heavy classic rock song made me crabby.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I’ve never been a big Stones fan, but I appreciate how great this album is. Probably an unpopular opinion, but the ballads take me out of it even though the sequencing is good.
Billy Joel
2/5
The Stranger was a huge hit when it was released, and people who loved it then probably still do today, but it just doesn’t do it for me. It sounds like the best of Randy Newman combined with the worst of Elton John with a dash of yacht rock. But it must have paid for Billy’s veneers, so more power to him.
Paul McCartney
3/5
Ironically, my first thought when listening to this was that there was something missing. Many songs sound like demos or outlines that needed to be filled in by other musicians, but after reading that it’s all solo McCartney finding his way through his first post-Beatles project, it became much more compelling. A very interesting listen.
Tito Puente
3/5
Dance Mania makes me want to cha cha by the pool with a daiquiri in my hand.
The KLF
1/5
Apparently this is a parody of euro trash pop, but I found it in the sleep sounds category and that fits. Zzzzz
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Some really fun tracks and some filler.
Led Zeppelin
2/5
Quite a bit more bluesy than I expected, but their signature sound is still apparent. They get better.
Killing Joke
4/5
I had never heard of this band or album, but liked it immediately. It sounds way more recent than 1980 and has a great range of styles.
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
Take Me Out has one of the all-time best opening riffs and is a great song along with many others on the album. The drums also stood out as being really good. But will I actively seek this out again? Maybe? Which lands this at 3⭐️
The Only Ones
3/5
Interesting! I played this through twice, and really enjoyed it more in the background as opposed to listening to it closely, some of the vocals can be a little grating.
Blur
3/5
Girls & Boys is a bop, and this is a fun album overall but really loses steam about halfway through.
Pretenders
3/5
Hmmmmm…a lot of people really like Pretenders, but I’ve just never been into Chrissie Hynde’s disaffected vocal style. Something similar that’s better I think is the Cars debut album.
Elbow
3/5
I would describe this as “soundtrack pop/rock” because it has a cinematic feel in both the lyrics and the sound. Mirrorball used to be a cool-down tune after an early morning run, so it’s near and dear, but I kind of lost interest with four songs left.
The Offspring
2/5
I remember their singles from the 90s and it was definitely a popular sound for that time, but it’s all very similar and shouty, so not super fun to listen to except for the nostalgia.
Beatles
5/5
Side 2 of Abbey Road is perfect, and the album in its entirety is a masterpiece. Anyone who says it’s overrated is a tool.
Duke Ellington
4/5
The commentary was probably a really cool concept back in the 50s, but it detracts from the music more than it adds any sort of interesting content. The rest is great but a little more big-bandy than I like in jazz.
Paul Simon
4/5
I’m familiar with Simon & Garfunkel and Graceland, so this was totally new and surprisingly good to me. I really like this in-between period of Paul Simon, although I think he should stay away from reggae.
The Who
3/5
My Generation is kind of all over the place musically - some 50s bop, some Beatles-esque, some classic The Who. Just not very cohesive or memorable outside of the singles.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
TIL Games Without Frontiers starts with the repeating line, “Jeux Sans Frontieres” and not “She’s So Popular”. So that’s cool.
OutKast
4/5
It’s refreshing to listen to a rap album that celebrates women instead of objectifying them.
Beck
3/5
Beck is a consistently good songwriter and musician. I’ve owned Odelay since it’s release, and although enjoyable, it’s not something that has gotten much play over the years.
Public Enemy
4/5
Classic 80s NY hip hop with driving beats and powerful lyrics, Public Enemy first got my attention in Do the Right Thing. I’ll bet no one would have imagined back then that Flavor Flav would become a Swiftie.
Red Snapper
2/5
Ummmmm…it’s fine, but I checked to see how many tracks were left and I was on the second to last, they all kind of started to blend together at some point without much variation.
The Black Crowes
3/5
When this album was released people were so happy to have an updated version of that southern-fried, bluesy rock sound. 34 years later, it sounds like any classic rock radio station standard, or, like another reviewer so aptly noted, shitty bar music.
Kraftwerk
4/5
I know Kraftwerk is iconic in the world of Electronica, but I hadn’t listened to them much other than single tracks on playlists. It’s amazing that this album is from 1974, and it’s their fourth, it really is ahead of the times for the genre. Not really in my wheelhouse, but an extra star for innovation.
Jerry Lee Lewis
4/5
It really doesn’t get more classic 50s than this and is pretty genius for this genre. I’m deducting a star for marrying his 13 year old cousin.
Nick Drake
5/5
I’ve listened to Nick Drake before and really liked him, but didn’t look into his story before getting this album. I wish he had stayed with us longer to see what he could have achieved. Lovely, bare, timeless.
Now we rise
And we are everywhere
Iggy Pop
3/5
Quite a departure from The Stooges, this basically sounds like avant garde Bowie on quaaludes: Slightly disaffected with an icy Euro feel.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
A completely fine, 28 year-old, adult contemporary album. Won’t last long in my memory.
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
This is by Malcolm McLaren? I guess I expected a punk album, but I actually enjoyed the world music beats quite a lot. The last track is rubbish, though.
David Bowie
3/5
Low is interesting and has some really good tracks, but it’s kind of lacking Bowie himself. Still impressed with his ability to grow and change and evolve but never release anything sub-par.
AC/DC
4/5
If you want your audience to like and accept a new lead singer, release an album like this. To start off with church bells and lyrics paying homage to Bon Scott, then transitioning to track after track of high-energy rock that is addicting and memorable is stellar. I actually had to dust off my sticks and go back to drum along with Back in Black, so take my 5 stars already.
Tom Waits
3/5
Very much better than I expected, but probably not something I would listen to a bunch…good, but plays as a novelty.
Ian Dury
2/5
What did I just listen to? Some songs are pretty good, and others are just kind of goofy. Most of the vocals are bad and the lyrics somewhat crass, just a very odd experience overall.
JAY Z
2/5
This is just a lot of monotonous fast-talking. Not a fan.
Charles Mingus
4/5
I like how Mingus and his musicians can veer from sounding like an elementary school orchestra tuning up before a performance only to suddenly come together for a beautiful, cohesive interlude and then break apart again into chaos.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Such a gorgeous album with a beautiful message.
Frank Black
4/5
I used to sit by this guy named Tim at work who liked the same music as I and we got to be great friends. One time he took a picture of my grandma and photocopied her face onto a bunch of different album covers including this one which was very cute. I forgot how cool Teenager of the Year is, and I wonder what Tim is up to these days.
Elvis Presley
2/5
A smoky casino, a quaalude downed with a swig of whiskey, big hair and heavy eyeliner, waking up to static on the tv. A relic of the past.
Simple Minds
2/5
This sounds like my early high school years, which were good, but not great.
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
This was my album today, and my partner had Dr. Dre “The Chronic”. Listening to them back-to-back, I have to say I like Dre’s better because there’s a lot more variety of sound and style. Still, Q-Tip is awesome.
Johnny Cash
4/5
I really tried to find things to not like about this album after hearing such praise for it for so long, but it really is remarkable to hear Cash’s take on songs that are sometimes so far from his usual genre. That he recorded this at the very end of his career and life makes it that much more poignant.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
I didn’t find this to be very cohesive, but did enjoy the duet with PJ Harvey.
Silver Jews
3/5
The first song threw me for a loop and I expected to hate the album because the vocals sounded so off. But…I felt the same way about Exile in Guyville, and it’s been one of my top albums for years so I listened to it all, and it definitely gets better. It’s got a little Bob Dylan/Moldy Peaches indie sound that is rather enjoyable if you’re into that kind of thing.
The Go-Betweens
2/5
Just listened to this in the background during dinner…seemed fine, but not that interesting.
Rush
3/5
This brings back memories of waking up hung over and smelling like smoke after a night of watching my boyfriend and his friends play D & D while drinking Black Label and listening to 2112. Nowadays it’s white wine, Netflix, and not 2112.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
This was totally my jam in 1991, but it feels a bit dated now. Still some fun tracks that show the versatility of RHCP.
John Lee Hooker
4/5
I used to go to a blues dive bar because I was poor and the beer was cheap, plus it was right by my parking ramp. There was live music later at night after many beers were had, and it still sucked, and that really sullied my entire blues experience. Plot twist: This is good! It’s smooth and not too baudy, a very nice surprise for a blues naysayer.
Tori Amos
2/5
We’re getting dangerously close to Kate Bush territory here, and now I have this overwhelming urge to watch Dawson’s Creek.
Prince
5/5
Full disclosure: I’m a Minnesota girl and Purple Rain came out when I was a sophomore in high school. My friends and I saw the movie in the theater and shouted every time we saw a MN license plate and sang along to all the songs. First Avenue was my favorite hang in the 90s and I used to see shows at Glam Slam. I’ve been to the place where Apollonia jumped into the water (spoiler alert: it’s not Lake Minnetonka) and I’ve toured Paisley Park. I didn’t really need to listen to this to give it 5 stars, but I did anyway and still love it.
Solomon Burke
3/5
Great voice, but just not into this genre,
Eurythmics
3/5
Sweet Dreams has a lot of uniqueness, good lyrics, and great vocals that sets it apart from many of the synth-pop albums in the 80s that were largely unimaginative.
The Waterboys
2/5
This is music for the pub, on its own it’s rather hokey.
Kraftwerk
2/5
Kraftwerk is obviously a pioneer in electronica and a big influence on many bands in the post-punk and synth-pop eras that were to follow, but I didn’t particularly enjoy listening to this album and wouldn’t seek it out in the future.
Sigur Rós
4/5
Lovely, atmospheric music.
Thin Lizzy
3/5
I found this much more enjoyable than I expected and I am shocked 😳
R.E.M.
5/5
I tend to be drawn to R.E.M.s earlier albums moreso, but this really shows their natural progression in songwriting, production, and just overall talent. They had garnered a lot of attention and financial backing when this was released and it shows. A pretty much perfect album.
Ray Charles
2/5
I prefer a more stripped-down, bluesy Ray Charles instead of this overly produced, big band kerfuffle. Can’t hate on the man too much, though, he was a true icon.
Wilco
3/5
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
I don’t know much about Buffalo Springfield but I dug the sound and had fun listening.
Orange Juice
3/5
This is right in my wheelhouse sound-wise, but it just comes across as a Talking Heads/David Bowie tribute band. Not at all original.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Aretha is a queen and we all know it, but I wasn’t really in the mood for this album when it came up. Then I put it on, and man did it make my mood immediately better. Classic.
Beatles
3/5
John Lennon said this album defines the Beatles sound, so I guess I have to trust him, but they have so many that are better.
Cat Stevens
3/5
This one gets overlooked a lot, but it was a huge folk hit, and the songwriting holds up.
Cornershop
2/5
Something about this album makes me want to describe it as “cute”: it’s kind of charming in a way, especially the songs that have a strong Asian influence.
The Divine Comedy
2/5
Okay okay, this is fun in a throw-back 60s trippy way, but kind of out of time for its era.
Alanis Morissette
4/5
This album was huge, and although it’s a bit dated, the songwriting is strong and Alanis’s vocals on the hidden track on the remaster are stunning.
Fleet Foxes
3/5
The throw-back harmonies are really lovely and the overall sound is so full and resonate.
Black Sabbath
1/5
I’m more Beastie Boys than Black Sabbath, more Adam Ant than Ozzy Osbourne…not at all the right audience for this album.
Motörhead
1/5
Love Ace of Spades, but I can’t 🫠
Jethro Tull
2/5
60s music was popular again in the 80s when I was a teen and I took this album from my Grandma’s attic because it was a cool find. It looked good in my collection, but it was never something I wanted to play.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
Simply a classic ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Devendra Banhart
2/5
I first checked out Devendra Banhart when he was dating Natalie Portman because I figured he must be very cool to score with her. He’s okay, I don’t really enjoy his voice. Not that cool.
Country Joe & The Fish
1/5
This sounds interchangeable with a lot of the jam bands of the time. Not my deal.
Aimee Mann
4/5
I Should’ve Known got me through a breakup: “And I don’t know what else you hear, but it’s not me weeping/ I should’ve known that it was coming down to this”. Hell yeah Aimee Mann.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
5/5
Another awesome Elvis Costello album.
Public Enemy
4/5
A great mix of rap styles and sampling keep this album interesting and not one-note.
Guided By Voices
3/5
I kind of liked these jangly little ditties!
Herbie Hancock
4/5
Bebel Gilberto
4/5
Smooth and chill, this would be a great play on a beachy vacation.
3/5
When the opening track began, I was all “Cool, this kind of sounds like Radiohead!”, but after awhile it all sounded pretty generic and highly formulaic. Supermassive Black Hole still rocks because of the baseball scene from Twilight— sorry not sorry.