Journey in Progress
Discovering music one album at a time
272
Albums Rated
2.34
Avg Rating
2
5-Star Albums
25%
Complete
817 albums remaining
Rating Speed
4.4
Per Week
433
Days Active
Reviews
268
Written
99%
Review Rate
vs Global
-0.95
Avg Diff
2.34
Avg Rating
Rating Distribution
How you rate albums
Rating Timeline
Average rating over time
Ratings by Decade
Which era do you prefer?
Activity by Day
When do you listen?
Taste Profile
1960s
Favorite Decade
Britpop
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Harsh
Rater Style
39
1-Star Albums
5-Star Albums (2)
View Album WallTaste Analysis
Genre Preferences
Ratings by genre
Origin Preferences
Ratings by country
Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter In America | 5 | 3.25 | +1.75 |
| Parklife | 5 | 3.38 | +1.62 |
| The United States Of America | 4 | 2.61 | +1.39 |
| Goodbye And Hello | 4 | 2.83 | +1.17 |
| 1977 | 4 | 3.03 | +0.97 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tracy Chapman | 1 | 3.78 | -2.78 |
| Tea for the Tillerman | 1 | 3.69 | -2.69 |
| The Joshua Tree | 1 | 3.67 | -2.67 |
| Transformer | 1 | 3.67 | -2.67 |
| Young Americans | 1 | 3.62 | -2.62 |
Popular Reviews
Leonard Cohen
1/5
It's as if Alan Partridge was asked to write the soundtrack to Scarface.
20 likes
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
The singles are enjoyable enough Downbound Train is alright too, pretty boring overall. I just think he's quite dull and really only appeals to certain types of straight laced Americans which is fine but he's not for me im afraid. Monica danced nicely though and it's nice to see Silvio get some time away from the Bada Bing.
1 likes
Sam Cooke
3/5
Great energy, great voice but a bit samey throughout.
1 likes
UB40
2/5
2.5 stars.
Too long, kinda samey in places. Burden Of Shame is cool. Definitely groovy in a lot of places.
1 likes
Run-D.M.C.
2/5
2 stars because it's not my thing but very important for the genre.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (39)
All Ratings
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Not really my thing, not terrible, wouldn't listen to whole thing again. In Your Eyes the standout.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Aerosmith
3/5
Pretty good, Big Ten Inch Record is howver, terrible. Definitely need to listen to it again and louder.
Carole King
3/5
A classic (but not for me).
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
Such a ling album, needs a few listens, didn't immediately grab me but it might.
De La Soul
3/5
I've tried to really get into certain hip hop but there's always something not quite there for me. Standout is Eye Know, obviously these guys are legendary but a lot of it just doesn't quite click for me.
Ash
4/5
Ash were never among my absolute favourite bands in the 90's but they were/are a lot of fun and can write a nice melancholy indie love sing too. A very enjoyable album that brings back lots of nice 90's memories.
Duke Ellington
4/5
Groovy
Buena Vista Social Club
2/5
I thought I might dig this but I didnt. I expect setting counts for a lot with this album.
The Cure
2/5
'One Hundred Years' and 'Cold' are the best songs but this particular incarnation of The Cure isn't really for me.
Arrested Development
2/5
Thought I'd like this more Mr Wendal the standout track.
Sugar
3/5
Not as good as File Under Easy Listening but great debut.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
What I expected from a Bruce Springsteen album having only heard singles/the big ones, it's fine, the saxophone is cool.
King Crimson
3/5
Only listened once, definitely liked it, need to hear again 3.5 score
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
What I expected, like some, others not, generally not my thing but obviously classic songwriters.
Faith No More
3/5
Red Hot Chilli Peppers I can listen to. Pretty good overall.
Norah Jones
3/5
Lots of very clever Starbucks comments on here. Granted, it's not the most exciting album ever but the lady has a lovely voice and it suits the music. Maybe she could get her sister to lay down some nice Sitar on her next record, that would be a cool collaboration. 3.5
Talking Heads
2/5
Just not my thing.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Didn't listen, it's not on Spotify because Joni hates Joe Rogan. I'll have to download it somewhere in the future.
Takes me back to the terrible days of ITV football highlight and no MOTD.
Couple of catchy songs, I dont particularly dislike U2 like a lot of people seem to but I can never get excited about them
Pink Floyd
4/5
Groovy. Not necessarily my sort of music but I liked it.
Kanye West
3/5
Pretty good in parts, great production but he's turned into such a terrible person the self aggrandising lyrics wear thin sooner/more than they might otherwise. Take your meds, Kanye.
The Smiths
4/5
It's The Smiths, obviously they're great but they've never quite been an absolute favourite of mine.
Alanis Morissette
3/5
Mylo
3/5
There's 4 or so pretty cool tracks here, the rest isn't my cup of tea but overall yea not bad.
It does seem like I'm marking everything 3/5 though. Marks out of ten would definitely had allowed for more specific ratings.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
The good songs are really good the rest is a bit generic but obviously a great and important band. John Fogerty has an excellent voice.
Harry Nilsson
2/5
A couple of songs are ok-ish, a few are forgettable, that coconut song is terrible.
Def Leppard
3/5
Not usually my sort of rock but this is a pretty fun and not dumb album as you might expect. Photograph and Stagefright are the standouts
Sebadoh
2/5
I've always liked the idea of Sebadoh more than the actual music they produce. I definitely prefer their more melodic stuff. Happily Divided is nice.
Tim Buckley
4/5
I really liked this, it's a bit mad in places and before it's time in parts too.
Some bits border on a bit too twee/mystical/puff the magic dragon merlin but it's also pretty groovy with some driving rhythms.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Bob Dylan is ok.
Snoop Dogg
3/5
Some obvious classics, Who Am I?(What's My Name), Gin and Juice, Tha Shiznit etc
A lot of the dumber/sexist stuff obviously the work of a 21 year old and I'm not sure this record would fly in 2023 and I don't think that's particularly woke because it's a very sexist record. It was funnier 30 years ago when I was a 13 year old boy, not so much now.
Obviously great production from Dee Barnes' violent attacker.
Still, a decent album with some painfully unfunny and completely unnecessary skits.
Bill Callahan
2/5
I always feel like I'd like to get into this sort of music but I think it's just not really clicking. Some of the lyrics are pretty good and has voice has a certain uniqueness.
The Smiths
4/5
It's The Smiths...again.
Scritti Politti
1/5
I didn't like this at all.
Leonard Cohen
1/5
It's as if Alan Partridge was asked to write the soundtrack to Scarface.
Orbital
3/5
Pretty good in the right circumstances
Elton John
2/5
Elton's ok but I don't really dig this album, it's kinda boring.
Tiny Dancer is obviously great.
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Dark album, lyrically and musically great.
Beatles
4/5
I like this 4 piece combo, they're like a modern day Oasis, hopefully they'll have a long career.
Various Artists
2/5
Bah humbug
Peter Frampton
3/5
Sort of what I expected, I think if I was a fan, a show like this would be amazing, man's obviously talented.
Eminem
3/5
Eminem innit
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
The singles are enjoyable enough Downbound Train is alright too, pretty boring overall. I just think he's quite dull and really only appeals to certain types of straight laced Americans which is fine but he's not for me im afraid. Monica danced nicely though and it's nice to see Silvio get some time away from the Bada Bing.
Songhoy Blues
3/5
Groovy, wish I knew what they were saying.
Heaven 17
1/5
Didn't like this at all, fascist groove is ok
Radiohead
4/5
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
Fun, vocal harmonies, magical.
Incubus
2/5
I didnt really need to hear this before I die. Why were there whales being tortured in the studio? It wasn't a good record but it's not the absolute worst I've ever heard.
Muddy Waters
3/5
The blues isn't really my thing but this was fun and pretty enjoyable if samey (but isn't that just the blues?)
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Joni's Joe Rogan vendetta continues
Led Zeppelin
3/5
I do appreciate Led Zep and some of their songs are absolute classics, the band themselves are supremely talented. I can just never really get into them, I think it bores me, maybe I really need to be in the mood, who knows.
Saint Etienne
2/5
It's alright, couple of good tunes, rest is ok.
Method Man
2/5
Blur
2/5
Not the best Blur album but some great tunes
The Monks
2/5
Only 2 tracks on Spotify. 1 star each.
Brian Eno
2/5
Not for me.
Sade
3/5
Sade is cool
Johnny Cash
3/5
Johnny Cash hates Condors
Culture Club
2/5
On 5 December 2008, Boy George was convicted in Snaresbrook Crown Court, London, of the April 2007 assault and false imprisonment of Audun Carlsen, a Norwegian model and male escort, who initially stood for a photography session with Boy George. Carlsen claimed that he had been handcuffed to a wall fixture and beaten with a metal chain during their next meeting
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
Really didn't grab me, some of the guitar riffs are cool.
Fiona Apple
4/5
First time I've heard more than just the big singles and apparently I hadn't heard all of those (Shadowboxer is great).
Great album, excellent voice.
Run-D.M.C.
2/5
2 stars because it's not my thing but very important for the genre.
The Pretty Things
2/5
Not really my thing but some pretty cool guitar for before it's time, Balloon Burning is great. 2.5
FKA twigs
3/5
Interesting.
Radiohead
2/5
Not my favourite and not the best Radiohead effort. Good in parts.
The Byrds
2/5
Not my thing, tends to all blend into one, Mr Tambourine Man has become annoying, I've heard it so much. Probably the best song on the album though.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Pleasantly surprised, great first 5 songs then trails off a bit but only really the last 2 songs I wasn't mad keen on.
Sam Cooke
3/5
Great energy, great voice but a bit samey throughout.
Scott Walker
3/5
This record indicates that many listeners aren't actually listening. One review said this record had no personality!? Some of the lyrics are absolutely bonkers and brilliant.
Sly & The Family Stone
2/5
Not as good as I remembered, pretty groovy in parts. Vocoder thing in Sex Machine is highly annoying.
Pearl Jam
3/5
I've heard 3/4 of this album a million times but rarely the last couple of songs. Never really got into Pearl Jam, I know a couple of other songs from elsewhere but this band really never truly grabbed me the way Nirvana did. Great first 6 or 7 songs though.
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
Super Hans : Correct. Oh, arsehole?
Jeremy Usborne : LCD Soundsystem.
It's not the worst thing in the world but it's very much not my type of music.
Black Flag
2/5
I know they're pioneers and all and there's a message in there somewhere but It's just not my thing. Gorilla Biscuits and CIV I prefer just for their more melodic nature.
Supergrass
3/5
Not as good as I Should Coco but 5 or so great songs.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Not my favourite of theirs but good.
Stephen Stills
2/5
Bored me silly
Ryan Adams
2/5
Few good tunes, I much prefer Gold.
Alice In Chains
2/5
There are some Alice In Chains songs I really like. Jar Of Flies and Sap are a great collection of songs. On Dirt, Rooster, Would, Them Bones are all good songs. The rest I really can't get into though.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Cool
Einstürzende Neubauten
2/5
It's interesting but I'm never listening to it again
The Doors
2/5
It's alright, there are definitely better Doors songs.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
Free Bird and Tuesday's Gone are the best tracks, some of the rest are pretty good, some not so.
The Go-Go's
3/5
Really enjoyable
The Cure
3/5
I like this version of The Cure.
Goldie
2/5
Couple of decent-ish tracks but as someone who really likes some Dn'B , I dont understand the legendary status of this record. Also, Goldie is a horrible human being.
Talking Heads
2/5
The second TH album I've listened to, I guess they are just not for me. Couple of ok tunes but it mostly just passes me by.
Deee-Lite
1/5
Groove is by far the best song. Some are sort of ok, some are outright bad.
Soundgarden
3/5
It's Soundgarden
Linkin Park
1/5
Even if I was a 12 year old American boy in a backwards cap and baggy jeans in 2000, I still don't think I would have liked this. Really really not for me.
Elton John
2/5
Elton John is definitely a greatest hits artist for me, I find a lot of the album stuff boring, I'm sorry, I can't help it.
Rocket From The Crypt
2/5
Fun for a bit but gets samey
Kate Bush
1/5
I respect Kate Bush as an artist but I do not like this album. She has some much better work. Some of this borders on unlistenable for me. 'This Woman's Work' is almost a song I really like.
Arcade Fire
2/5
Not really my type of music it's too twee Rebellion is ok in small doses.
Merle Haggard
2/5
Not particularly my thing
Lucinda Williams
2/5
Not without merit but boring.
Miles Davis
2/5
It's fine incidental music or in an actual jazz club but to just randomly listen to, not really my music. Definitely cool in the right setting.
CHIC
3/5
Savoir Faire and I Want Your Love are groooovy, not a fan of the last 3 tracks.
The Chemical Brothers
1/5
I once accidentally stood on Ed Chemical Brother's foot in the Brixton Academy toilets during a Charlatans gig.
The Jam
3/5
The Jam are not quite a Greatest Hits band for me, there are enough album tracks of interest throughout their career but 'A' Bomb and Down In The Tube...are clearly the best tracks here.
The Who
2/5
I don't mind The Who but prefer their slightly later stuff, this was pretty good in parts though
Wild Beasts
2/5
Nowhere near as bad as some if these reviewers would have you believe. The music is generally pretty good, vocals are hit and miss but that's just personal preference. I'm glad I listened but probably wouldn't again.
Maxwell
1/5
So smooth it completely fell off
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Pretty, pretty groovy. Some absolute bangers, bit of schmaltzy stuff but Stevie is that kinda guy, at least he's honest in his virtues.
Thin Lizzy
3/5
I quite liked this. Favourite song Still In Love With You
The White Stripes
2/5
I respect them, I like them but I don't love 'em.
Radiohead
3/5
Not my favourite Radiohead but pretty enjoyable. Myxomatosis is a great tune.
Beastie Boys
2/5
Sure Shot is one of their best. I get a bit bored with the samey rap tunes, jazzy numbers are alright.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I really like Jig-Saw Puzzle. Pretty good overall.
Nine Inch Nails
1/5
All the edgy kids in the 90's loved this.
I hate those "this is just noise" comments but...this is just noise.
Really sounds like it's trying too hard, moving into Sharon Tate's house to record, wtaf?
Beatles
2/5
Early-ish Beatles, some pretty good, others so so but culturally obviously very important in it's time.
2/5
Not bad, pretty fun in parts.
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
The Bronze was my favourite track. Definitely shades of later QOTSA stuff, not quite a 3 but nearly
The Hives
3/5
This was pretty fucking good, they border on hardcore punk in places, wasn't expecting that.
Rush
4/5
I really enjoyed this.
Röyksopp
2/5
Something about this album irritated me, nothing too monstrously but it borders on twee and too laid back and unimaginative.
Green Day
4/5
I don't care if it's pop or pop punk or punk, it's Green Day and they write catchy tunes with quirky, introspective and opinionated lyrics. I was around when this was released, it was great then, it's still great, don't be snobs.
Roni Size
2/5
Brown Paper Bag was a good single, favourite track is New Forms, I really like the almost spoken, close vocals. Bit samey elsewhere.
Randy Newman
1/5
This was all very samey and quite dull.
Julian Cope
2/5
I cant Cope.
Duran Duran
3/5
I liked some album tracks better than the singles, Last Chance On The Stairway especially
Dr. Dre
1/5
Nothing But A G Thang is great but I can't do a whole album of this, so much of it is infantile and I find it pretty boring.
Steely Dan
2/5
Definitely not my thing and some if the tracks are outright annoying.
Booker T. & The MG's
2/5
Green Onions by far the best track, all the rest fall short and a few of them just blend into one another. 2 stars purely for Green Onions.
The KLF
2/5
Not on Spotify. Going by other stuff I've heard of theirs I'll say 2.5
Radiohead
3/5
Better than Kid A
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
I enjoyed this.
David Bowie
3/5
Parts made me uneasy, had a bit of a wobble about my own mortality which I'm sure Mr Bowie would consider a job well done.
The Allman Brothers Band
2/5
I find this sort of music so boring but it gets the obligatory 2 stars because it's not worthless or horrendously bad, plenty of people love it and I try not to be too harsh on music people hold dear
Mj Cole
2/5
I was dead set on giving this 1 star after the first few offensively generic garage tunes (and one i recognised from my days actively trying to avoid this type of music), however with some amusing in a good way mc'ing and a couple of pretty catchy classic garage tracks 2 stars it is. But, I really did find some of the first half of this album fucking dreadful.
The Flaming Lips
1/5
I always hated that Yoshimi robot song. The music sends me to sleep on thus record and I've always really disliked his voice.
Cyndi Lauper
2/5
Couple of bangers, pretty good.
Rahul Dev Burman
1/5
Annoying
Mariah Carey
2/5
Not terrible The Roof is an interesting track. Needs puff daddy to fuck off, can't stand his shitty interruptions and all his noncing about (literally)
Nice to hear Bone, Thugs.
Depeche Mode
2/5
I was under the impression I liked Depeche Mode. Judging by this album it's just the singles I like. Enjoy The Silence is a great song. Having said that, even Personal Jesus kinda annoyed me. Maybe it's the mood I'm in.
The Clash
3/5
Some really great songs, Train In Vain Guns Of Brixton, In The Supermarket, Spanish Bombs etc but a few I personally find quite samey. Still very good though.
Killing Joke
1/5
It's different but I really didn't like it
The War On Drugs
2/5
That poor drummer playing the same beat over and over song to song. I found this really boring but can see why people like the vibe. Zzzzz
Creedence Clearwater Revival
2/5
I had a rough night and I hate the fucking Eagles, man.
Slade
3/5
We're all crazy now.
Grizzly Bear
1/5
This album made me wish that at every corner I turned there might be an actual grizzly bear waiting to eat me and put me out of my misery. Alas, I live in the South London 'burbs so it wasn't to be. There were several foxes but they were of no use. This album actually drained me of any pep I had in my step when I left the house. So boring, so boring.
The Zombies
2/5
Bit too whimsical for me. Hung Up On A Dream is nice though.
Elvis Presley
2/5
Elvis creeps me out and this was pretty dull.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
2/5
I haven't listened to this since it first came out. Musically very good but the rapping can get kinda old. It's chill though.
Radiohead
2/5
Not my favourite Radiohead era.
Everything and Idioteque are great.
The Byrds
1/5
And I thought the other one was dull, the one with Hey Mr Tambourine Man. The country thing just ain't it for me
Orbital
2/5
Orbital just aren't my type of dance music. If I was pulled up in a field I'd probably love it but as I'm not, I don't.
UB40
2/5
2.5 stars.
Too long, kinda samey in places. Burden Of Shame is cool. Definitely groovy in a lot of places.
Dolly Parton
2/5
Passed me by, nice enough. Dolly is great but this isn't really my thing.
Adam & The Ants
2/5
The guitars are the best thing on this album. The rest of it irritated me.
Jane Weaver
2/5
Perfectly pleasant in places but overall a bit dull.
Bill Evans Trio
2/5
Nice background music, bit of a toe tapper.
Marty Robbins
1/5
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn.
Drive Like Jehu
1/5
All sounds the same, nothing distinct about it compared to a million other emo bands. Why are the vocals so low in the mix, what's the point in having a singer when you can't hear them?
Eels
2/5
I remember listening to this album a few weeks after it came out. My friend Thomas Lutzeier lent it to me. I remember liking it more than I'd imagined I would based on the singles I'd heard. Alas, I no longer like it more than I thought I would. It's ok.
2/5
Didn't meet my expectations
Green Day
2/5
I'm not mad about any post Insomniac Green Day.
Paul Weller
2/5
Weller has a soulful voice and some of the music is decent but it's just so boring. The Jam were great, The Style Council were groovy but his solo work leaves me cold apart from the odd tune. I saw him live at The Royal Albert Hall about 14 years ago and all the bald mods were getting antsy cos he hadn't played any Jam hits yet and I could empathise.
Deep Purple
2/5
I can appreciate the technical proficiency of Deep Purple but I sort of prefer the odd live version for the skills to really shine through. Other than that it's all a bit much undeniably talented just not my thing.
Michael Jackson
2/5
Other than the obvious 2 hits, this is all a bit bland, plus you know, there's...that
The Flying Burrito Brothers
1/5
I'm allergic to this sort of music.
Tricky
2/5
Trip Hop isn't really my thing but I respect it and in turn respect Tricky, he's definitely a character and music is all the better for him being around.
This album has it's moments.
Queen
2/5
"David, kill the Queen."
I'm not really a fan of them in general but can't argue with Freddie's showmanship.
Happy Mondays
3/5
The Mondays are legends but they're not one of my favourite bands. This album is pretty groovy , it's not quite a 3 but I'll give 3 anyway.
The Offspring
2/5
I listened to this a lot as a teenager, I probably would have given it a 3 if I still was a teenager.
However it's lost it's once mildly rebellious effect on me. A few very catchy songs bit runs out of steam 2/3rds of the way through.
Deep Purple
2/5
The idea of Deep Purple is more appealing to me than the reality. Technically amazing, lots of grooves but just too bloody noodly and spaced out and it annoys me.
Pet Shop Boys
1/5
Pet Shop Boys big respect but you're a Greatest Hits band for me
Arcade Fire
2/5
Kinda boring, it's not terrible and I get why people like them, just not for me
Baaba Maal
2/5
I didnt like the vocals, music was ok.
The Stooges
2/5
Not particularly my thing. There's another Stooges album or maybe it was an Iggy solo record that I liked a lot more.
The Blue Nile
2/5
Heatwave and Tinseltown In The Rain I liked, other songs were ok, some boring. Mix of Sting and The Cure in parts.
Ananda Shankar
2/5
It's alright,bit naff in places.
1/5
I really found this quite irritating.
Guns N' Roses
3/5
The hits and a couple of others are obviously classics and to 12 year old me they were even more so but I've heard them all SO MANY TIMES i just can't anymore. It's like watching Goodfellas, it's an absolute classic but when it's on itv 3, I'll turn to a different channel. I cant get anything more from it. 3 stars for nostalgia and how I felt as a kid.
New Order
3/5
Better than I expected.
Iggy Pop
2/5
Couple of classic, rest is ok.
R.E.M.
2/5
2 catchy songs, Stand and Orange Crush which I already knew. I like REM generally speaking but this album draws a little
The Who
2/5
I quite like some Who stuff and I also find some of their stuff quite annoying. I had read years ago this was "the best live album ever". The Who are certainly competent at what they do, it just never particularly excites me. It's decent enough.
Tracy Chapman
1/5
Not my thing, sorry Tracy
The Pogues
3/5
Great
ZZ Top
2/5
This type of music has to really be something for me to take notice but unfortunately it just passed me by before I knew it.
The Pogues
3/5
It's a 3 from me. A fun time but thoughtful too.
Queen
2/5
As much as I respect Queen and as good as Freddie was as a front man, I dont really like them, a few songs here and there but none are on this record
U2
2/5
Even the more enjoyable songs annoy me
Crosby, Stills & Nash
1/5
It's just too hippy dippy for me , no bite.
Pixies
3/5
Death To The Pixies
Elvis Costello
3/5
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would, even after listening I feel like I shouldn't have enjoyed it as much but here we are.
Tina Turner
1/5
I don’t usually give 1 star just because something isn't really my thing but this whilst not with merit for some people was pretty bad to my ears.
Beastie Boys
2/5
I know it's genre defining and all but there's lots of Beastie Boys stuff I much prefer.
Gil Scott-Heron
5/5
Not on Spotify
Sex Pistols
3/5
As much as I find John Lydon a self important, cantankerous twat, he had a great voice and could write some good lyrics. I was never mad about the Pistols but it's a good album.
Coldplay
4/5
Given that Chris Martin seems like a pretty happy go lucky kinda guy and tries to do a lot for charity, I can only assume the reviews calling him a twat/knob/prick are from utterly miserable, envious and bitter blokes. And it is blokes, certain types of men just can't deal with guys like him. Anyway, I digress. This isn't music for bedwetters, it's just a nice collection of songs that all have a decent hook and elicit emotion upon listening. 99.9% of the moaners here couldn't even begin to write songs as good as these.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Leonard bores me senseless
Bob Marley & The Wailers
2/5
There's definitely better Bob albums.
Neil Young
4/5
Seems I really quite like Neil Young, I had suspected so.
Bonnie Raitt
2/5
Not my thing, sorry Bonnie
Beatles
3/5
Apart from the Harrison classics and Golden Slumbers, I'm not mad about this album but I cant sink to a 2, an iffy 3 it is.
Foo Fighters
3/5
I bought this album tbe day it came out, being a massive Nirvana fan and all. I used to really like it a lot. After this album I never really bothered with the Foo Fighters but a girlfriend at the time lent me The Colour And The Shape which was decent. Anyway, this is definitely better than the vast majority of Foo stuff I randomly heard later on. Dave Grohl probably should have gone solo. Given that his Probation stuff is heavy and great I do wonder why the Foo Fighters are so MOR.
The United States Of America
4/5
I really enjoyed this, the vast majority treads the line between kitsch/hippy dippy and groovy very well.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Some really great tunes and variety, not your standard reggae album.
Elvis Presley
1/5
Elvis gives me the creeps at the best of times. Having to listen to him sing swooning love songs to what I can only assume are 13/14 year old girls (his favourite) is tough to get through.
My Bloody Valentine
1/5
I kinda hated this, made meca bit nauseous. I really dislike giving 1 star because this is someone's creation and other people will love this so I feel bad criticising but wow, not for me at all.
Hole
3/5
30 years ago when I bought this album (my first ever CD purchase) I would have given it 4 maybe 5 stars. I was a big Nirvana fan and this came very soon after Kurt Cobain's death so it felt quite personal and a bit voyeuristic. 3 decades letter and it's still a great record but doesn't have quite as much of an impact on me. Kurt aside, Courtney has produced a great record here.
Jeff Beck
1/5
I found this terribly boring. 2 stars minus 1 because of Rod bloody Stewart.
Django Django
2/5
I found this quite annoying tbh. I can see why people like it but definitely not my thing.
The Black Crowes
2/5
I'm not much of a fan of this Southern type of rock n' roll, it all feels a bit like a caricature.
Teenage Fanclub
3/5
I mean, it's THE Indie record but it doesn't really excite me. 3 stars because it's so bloody 90's , like a mash up of being in an episode of This Life and Game On. It also came before all the rest and Kurt Cobain loved it too. Also, the bloke who said the British compiler of this list probably begrudgingly put this on here as they are Scottish. The Scottish ARE British! It's really not that difficult.
Ghostface Killah
2/5
I liked this album. As with 99% of rap albums that indeed skits, they were of course absolute shite. Enjoyable throughout though.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
The Stone it and miss for me. This is mostly miss, especially Jaggers affectations on You Gotta Move. 2 stars for Wild Horses obviously.
Garbage
3/5
When I was 15, I wrote an erotic (porno) story that involved myself and Shirley Manson. My sister who was younger found it screwed up in my wastepaper bin and tried to blackmail me with it.
Anyway, great album but meant more as a moody teenager with a high libido.
Stereo MC's
2/5
Pretty much what I expected, very laid back, that 90's Happy Mondaysish "vibe" .
I do have a strong urge to buy a carphone all of a sudden. Weird.
The Temptations
2/5
The funky stuff is better than the soul/rnb stuff , especially the first 3 tracks. Short album, flew by. Not bad.
Lana Del Rey
3/5
I'm not a massive Lane Del Rey fan or anything but I've heard maybe 3 other albums and I liked them all. This is nice but less impactful on me than those at first listen. I suspect I'd get more into it if/when I listen again
Moby Grape
2/5
It's fine, it's just not my thing. At least it's not offensively twee like The Byrds.
David Bowie
1/5
I didnt like this album. Young American and Fame id heard before but they're just ok. What the absolute fuck did he do to Across The Universe?!
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
I wasn't particularly into this at first listening but I was semi comatose second time around, feeling a bit ill and somehow I stayed awake for the whole album again and it dug it's way into my brain. It's a damn cool album which I've listened to a few times now.
Thelonious Monk
1/5
Just not my thing, not because it's Jazz, I'm just going on what I heard on this particular record.
Sonic Youth
1/5
I absolutely love some Sonic Youth songs. These are none of them.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Do I mark this for how great the songs are and the legendary status of this album or how I feel about it now that I've heard it a million times through me choosing to listen but by just how ubiquitous it is and that I'm kinda bored by it. It's a 5 star record I'm a bit done with.
Alice Cooper
3/5
This album surprised me. Catchy songs covering a more than expected number of genres.
Nina Simone
3/5
Pretty good, interesting time capsule. Not quite a 3 but I'll mark it as such.
Laura Nyro
3/5
Some of these tunes are great, her change of rhythm and how she annunciates certain things, she's different. For the most part, splendid. Drags a _little_but really good.
Jethro Tull
1/5
Absolutely not my thing. 1.5 stars.
Solomon Burke
2/5
More rock and less soul and it might be alright.
Fleet Foxes
2/5
Dude can sing, it's a nice album but passed me by, not really my cup of tea.
2/5
Pretty groovy, pretty rocking. Hard to really get into as I've never heard them before and a live album makes it tricky.
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
I didnt think I could find Johnny Rotten anymore annoying than I already did but here we are! The music is pretty good, Jah Wobble's bass is fantastic but those vocals are worth a minus star
The Smiths
3/5
It's The Smiths but it's not their best
Kings of Leon
3/5
Definitely a bit more strung out and laid back but still good. SOF and Use Somebody I'd be OK never hearing again. They certainly know how to write songs.
R.E.M.
2/5
Not bad, bit jazzy in parts.
SAULT
1/5
No one in this group knows how to write lyrics. Bit of a cringefest tbh. "Black, black, black, black etc" is not saying anything of any worth. I absolutely support equality for everyone but this was just fucking dull with extremely cliché lyrics.
Steve Earle
2/5
I'd hesitate to give this 1 star because it's not absolutely terrible, it's just completely not my thing and very very boring. A very generous 2 stars.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Much better than I expected and the Dylan pastiche is fantastic.
Blur
5/5
This Is A Low, To The End, End Of A Century, all absolute bone fide classic songs. This album is near perfect pop, Damon Albarn is almost definitely a genius, the man doesn't stop working and has so many musical projects. Blur deserve their place among the great British bands. And, I always preferred Oasis!
Jimmy Smith
1/5
Without wanting to sound like a philistine, I found this really boring. I just don't dig it.
Jack White
2/5
This particular album from Jack White just really isn't my thing. It's not a bad album though, just not my bag.
Mekons
2/5
Camden, Fiddles, Guinness, are they even of Irish descent, I dunno. It's fine but I'll never listen to it again.
Jeff Buckley
4/5
I used to listen to this album quite a bit in the 90's. However, I've just discovered I never made it to the last 3 tracks, or maybe I just forgot them?
Anyway, great voice, great sounds, just brings up lots of memories about how great the 90's were. I peaked in '97 , true story.
Jurassic 5
3/5
Conscious hip hop, pretty pretty groovy.
Prince
2/5
This album didn't really do much for me. The hits I'd heard and they're fine but the rest just didn't resonate very much. Obvious disclaimer, the man can play guitar.
a-ha
2/5
We all know the best song. The rest washed over me without making an impression of any real sort.
AC/DC
2/5
It wasn't as bas I was expecting, lots of melody going on, lyrics are pretty big standard, lots of 'hot and 'woman' and the such. 2.5
The Afghan Whigs
1/5
This band have been at the periphery of my music listening life for over 30 years. I just never got around to listening to them but I figured they must be indie/alternative legends because their name was always there, persistently gnawing away at my consciousness to actually give them a listen.
Bad lyrics, bad vocals, ok music.
Probably the worst album I've listened to on here and there's been some BAD ones.
Cat Stevens
1/5
"He must be killed. The Qur'an makes it clear – if someone defames the prophet, then he must die." With comments like that about Salman Rushdie, how can you take the words of this record seriously? Luckily, I found it boring as fuck. Minus stars if I could.
Sisters Of Mercy
2/5
Pretty much exactly what I expected which isn't a bad thing, it's just not really my thing.
The Coral
3/5
Having loved this when it came out and having seen them support Oasis at Finsbury Park in 2002, I was fully ready to give it 5 stars.
It's definitely lost some of It's magic. Maybe it was the time and surrounding music scene that made me more enthusiastic about it or maybe my tastes changed. Still, 5 scouse stoners having a lovely stoned time in the studio, I could never dislike it.
Belle & Sebastian
2/5
I prefer The Boy With The Arab Strap but this is nice too
Peter Gabriel
2/5
Not for me. Here Comes The Flood is decent, kinda late era Pink Floyd and Solsbury Hill we all know and it's fine. 2 stars because as with all my ratings, I understand why some people will like it. 1 star reviews are for absolutely mind boggling shite.
Joy Division
3/5
I prefer Closer but this is a pretty good album. Couple of tracks I'm not mad about. 3.5
Spiritualized
2/5
A lot of this album noodles away with little direction but all the hallmarks are there that would make Ladies And Gentlemen...such a great record. Given that Kate Radley is on this record, it's slightly ironic she left Pierce (and the band) for a relationship with Richard Ashcroft. His/ (The) Verve's record A Storm In Heaven is what this record could have been.
Nick Drake
3/5
Not my favourite Nick Drake but still beautiful.
Drive-By Truckers
2/5
I'd heard some DBTs before, specifically remembering "My Sweet Annette" which I really like as a standalone song. I cant say that about anything on this record. I'll give it 2 but it's in dangerous territory...
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
Nice.
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
Not my favourite manics album. The singles are all good.
Morrissey
2/5
Basically fine but missing a certain something.
Van Halen
2/5
Interesting guitars at times, cool synths, pretty fun
2/5
Interesting but not really my thing.
Throwing Muses
3/5
It's an interesting album, sometimes you have no idea which direction the beat/rhythm/melody is going to go. The vocals can be a little goat like but they generally work.
Lou Reed
1/5
At first this sounded alright but the more it went on the more irritating I found it. Some of the lyrics are absolutely shit and Lou Reed was a right mardy twat.
The Verve
4/5
I LOVED The Verve back in the 90's, I saw them support Oasis in '97 at Earls Court and they were brilliant. If you'd asked me then to score Urban Hymns, it would be 5 stars all day long. Now though, with extreme familiarity and maybe a little less youthful exuberance I score it 4 stars.
Weeping Willow, Catching The Butterfly, Rolling people are all just as good as the singles. Check out their debut A Storm In Heaven and the 2nd album A Northern Soul, both great in their own ways and very much 2 different sounds that came together well on Urban Hymns. Even their comeback album Forth is worth checking out. Come on!
The Beach Boys
2/5
I once owned a compilation album by The Beach Boys. It had 20 of their love songs on it. I think it was called 20 Love Songs By The Beach Boys, but I digress. Anyway, it was very good. Pet Sounds on the other hand, I just can't get hyped about. Other than Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows, it's so drippy and schmaltzy and it irks me. 2 stars for those 2 songs.
Nick Drake
2/5
Bit disappointed overall, I really like Five Leaves Left and Pink Moon but this not so much. The folky tunes are all good but I'm not mad about the more lavish arrangements.
Kanye West
2/5
Oh boy, where to start? Let's get it out the way. Praising Hitler is really not where it's at, any vaguely decent person knows that but we're talking about Kanye West here he's not a well man. However if we excused every unwell person for praising genocidal maniacs, we'd be in a real pickle. Music is decent enough, he's done better work I HATE skits on rap/hip hop albums.
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
The better known songs are the better songs, we all know them. I do like the bunnymen but there are a few songs on here I'm really not mad about.
Rush
1/5
Nowhere near as good as Moving Pictures which was essentially my first time listening to Rush. This album has none of the things that I loved about that record. Shame.
Dusty Springfield
2/5
This album passed me by very quickly. Amazing voice, we all know the best song, the rest aren't up alongside it but it's certainly a vibe.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Some of this was pretty good, interesting. Some of it droned on too much.
The Thrills
1/5
Twee, dull, annoying.
Lauryn Hill
2/5
Not really my thing, there's some real bops though. Good voice.
Devendra Banhart
2/5
Nice enough, little bit different from your average acoustic album
Hole
2/5
There's a couple of radio friendly unit shifters on this album but it's mostly pretty bland. Not anywhere near as good as Live Through This.
Stereolab
2/5
Promising in parts I can see why some people would dig it but never quite gets there for me.