713
Albums Rated
3.42
Average Rating
65%
Complete
376 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
123
5-Star Albums
39
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Welcome to the Afterfuture
Mike Ladd
|
5 | 2.56 | +2.44 |
|
Justified
Justin Timberlake
|
5 | 2.68 | +2.32 |
|
Palo Congo
Sabu
|
5 | 2.69 | +2.31 |
|
Yank Crime
Drive Like Jehu
|
5 | 2.7 | +2.3 |
|
Damaged
Black Flag
|
5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
|
Bone Machine
Tom Waits
|
5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
|
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise
|
5 | 2.88 | +2.12 |
|
Gris Gris
Dr. John
|
5 | 2.88 | +2.12 |
|
D.O.A. the Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle
Throbbing Gristle
|
4 | 1.88 | +2.12 |
|
Kollaps
Einstürzende Neubauten
|
4 | 1.91 | +2.09 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Elephant
The White Stripes
|
1 | 3.85 | -2.85 |
|
Is This It
The Strokes
|
1 | 3.81 | -2.81 |
|
Station To Station
David Bowie
|
1 | 3.7 | -2.7 |
|
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
|
1 | 3.66 | -2.66 |
|
Brothers
The Black Keys
|
1 | 3.57 | -2.57 |
|
Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
|
1 | 3.57 | -2.57 |
|
Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
|
1 | 3.44 | -2.44 |
|
Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
|
1 | 3.42 | -2.42 |
|
The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
|
1 | 3.4 | -2.4 |
|
Blunderbuss
Jack White
|
1 | 3.4 | -2.4 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Neil Young | 4 | 5 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 5 | 4.8 |
| Miles Davis | 4 | 4.75 |
| Radiohead | 4 | 4.75 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 5 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 4 | 4.5 |
| Peter Gabriel | 3 | 4.67 |
| Marvin Gaye | 3 | 4.67 |
| Beastie Boys | 3 | 4.67 |
| Sonic Youth | 3 | 4.67 |
| Michael Jackson | 3 | 4.67 |
| Metallica | 2 | 5 |
| The Smashing Pumpkins | 2 | 5 |
| R.E.M. | 2 | 5 |
| King Crimson | 2 | 5 |
| Green Day | 2 | 5 |
| Kendrick Lamar | 2 | 5 |
| Stan Getz | 2 | 5 |
| Joni Mitchell | 3 | 4.33 |
| Bob Dylan | 5 | 4 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Morrissey | 3 | 1 |
| The Smiths | 3 | 1.33 |
| LCD Soundsystem | 2 | 1 |
| The Kinks | 3 | 1.67 |
| The White Stripes | 2 | 1.5 |
| Yeah Yeah Yeahs | 2 | 1.5 |
| Adele | 2 | 1.5 |
| Blur | 3 | 2 |
| Echo And The Bunnymen | 3 | 2 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| The Verve | 1, 4 |
| Kate Bush | 5, 5, 2 |
| David Bowie | 1, 3, 2, 5, 4, 3, 2 |
5-Star Albums (123)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Alice In Chains
5/5
Top 3 albums from the Seattle Scene, an absolute stone cold 6 out of 5 record. Perfect harmonies, perfect riffs, perfect solos, perfectly miserable.
3 likes
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
This is honestly flawless and is not even his best record. He is the GOAT. The reviews here are deeply depressing - why would you try to do this kind of challenge if you’re so closed minded?
2 likes
Sabu
5/5
I love when things like this come up that are completely unique and interesting and wash away the pain of the countless mediocre British indie bands
2 likes
Queen
2/5
Yeah this was quite bad. Queen very much just a hits band, and even the big ones on this aren't all that...
1 likes
1-Star Albums (39)
All Ratings
David Bowie
1/5
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
This was pretty nice, and Piece of My Heart is a classic for a reason. It didn't absolutely captivate me, but was enjoyable overall.
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
Absolute all time classic
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
This was pretty nice, a good Sunday morning record
Elbow
1/5
Jesus Christ this is beige. So so beige. Beige music for beige people living beige lives. Possibly the worst album.
Herbie Hancock
5/5
This is definitely a bit of me. Love the jazz funk fusion, and also whatever the fuck was happening on track two. Best new album of the game so far.
Hugh Masekela
3/5
This didn't blow me away, but this kind of jazz is always a nice time
Gil Scott-Heron
5/5
Gil Scott-Heron is a genius and this is another great record from him. Loved it
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
Completely different to every other Sufjan record I've heard, I'm not sure I took it all in in one listen but what I did get was very good. Will revisit.
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Björk
5/5
Love Björk, this is another absolute classic
Morrissey
1/5
Fuck Morrissey
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
This was a pleasant enough listen, didn’t blow my mind though
Pixies
5/5
A huge influence on so much that I love, and a great record in its own right.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Perfect album. 6/5.
The Police
5/5
Another absolute classic
The Associates
2/5
Wow this is very 80s. Not really for me - the guys voice is quite off putting
Def Leppard
4/5
Big dumb fun
PJ Harvey
3/5
There’s better PJ Harvey records, this didn’t move me too much.
The Smiths
1/5
Fuccccck Morrissey
Various Artists
3/5
A nice listen whilst making Christmas dinner. Knocked off a star coz Phil Spector is a murderer
Beck
3/5
This was alright, sad Beck isn't what I was expected. Reminded me a bit of the more recent Failure records, which just made me wish I was listening to Failure.
Gillian Welch
5/5
I’ve been on a bit of a folk/Americana kick lately so this hit the spot perfectly for me. What a lovely find.
Soul II Soul
2/5
This is very dated. And the male vocals were a struggle. Back To Life is annoyingly catchy though, and redeems it slightly.
The Offspring
2/5
I probably would have loved this at 15 years old, but at 30 pop punk isn't really my thing anymore.
The Doors
4/5
I don’t know what I thought The Doors sounded like but it wasn’t this - I wasn’t expecting a fairly straightforward blues rock record. I don’t mind it though! This worked for me and Riders On The Storm is a classic
Aretha Franklin
4/5
This kind of music is just so easy to love. It’s hard not to have a good time listening to these songs.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
This was a weird little record, which I really enjoyed. Probably would need a few listens to fully get into, but first impression was intriguing. And anything Kate Bush shows up on is worth re-listening to. Reading the book entry/wikipedia page on this also is well worth doing - loads of cool little details that make it more interesting still.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
This isn’t peak Bruce, but it is very good Bruce.
Alice In Chains
5/5
Top 3 albums from the Seattle Scene, an absolute stone cold 6 out of 5 record. Perfect harmonies, perfect riffs, perfect solos, perfectly miserable.
The Go-Go's
2/5
I guess this was pretty fun but it feels very throwaway. Won’t be revisiting.
Public Enemy
5/5
Another indisputed classic
Earth, Wind & Fire
2/5
Not feeling this one
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
Interesting record, I wish this project threw up a few more like this.
De La Soul
5/5
Obviously a classic, easy 5
The Black Keys
1/5
This was very dull.
The Prodigy
4/5
Not my usual thing, but this was an enjoyable experience.
Joy Division
4/5
This has a great, bleak atmosphere. I think I prefer Closer slightly though. Still really good.
Kate Bush
5/5
This is the kind of thing I want from this project. I've always wanted to dive into Kate Bush beyond Hounds Of Love, but never have made the time. This was absolutely excellent, and I will definitely go all in on her catalogue now. Such a weird, beautiful record.
Supertramp
3/5
Meh
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Becky told me to say “this makes me think of the cottage, I picture all the views. I stomp up the hill to Black Dog. 5*”.
M.I.A.
2/5
Get vaccinated kids
Beatles
3/5
There’s lots of good stuff on this but it’s just way too much. And the quirky, odd, silly bits don’t really work for me.
FKA twigs
4/5
Really cool, inventive and weird pop record. I think she topped it with Magdalena though!
Joni Mitchell
4/5
I love Joni, this one is not quite Blue but it’s pretty great
Miles Davis
4/5
This is definitely a lesser Miles Davis album, I’m not sure it would even be in his top 10. But lesser Miles is still better than 99.9% of other musicians.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
I always suspected I wouldn’t enjoy the Rolling Stones. It’s nice to have that confirmed.
Massive Attack
3/5
This was inoffensive.
Goldfrapp
3/5
Not sure what to make of this one, bits were cool, bits were awful, bits were weird, bits were boring. Give it a 3 and move on.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
This one is an all time classic, loved it
Massive Attack
3/5
Much like the other Massive Attack record this was inoffensive.
Miles Davis
5/5
I'm really glad we have done this one the week after Birth Of The Cool. This really showcases how much of a creative tear Miles was on at this period of his career - this is so different from what he was doing on Cool, and is the sound of a true artist doing whatever the fuck he wanted, a journey that reached it's peak a year later with Bitches Brew. truly a once in a lifetime musician, and this record is an absolute joy.
Method Man
4/5
The first Wu-Tang solo record I’ve listened to, this wasn’t surprising but it was fun
The Beach Boys
4/5
4* for God Only Knows alone
Nina Simone
4/5
Nina Simone is good and this was good Nina Simone
Radiohead
5/5
Perfect album
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
This was quite fun
Motörhead
3/5
I’m not opposed to Motörhead, but I am opposed to live albums. Why is this included? It isn’t even all from the same show! The songs are good but this is a very weird pick.
Randy Newman
3/5
This was fine
Lorde
3/5
I started out feeling like this was a 4 but it fell off pretty hard in the back half. Stopped being bangers and started being a little dull.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
We had IV recently, this is good but not as good as that so gets a 4.
Metallica
5/5
I’ve listened to this a million times, but gave it one more playthrough to confirm - yes, this is perfect. Deserves its status as one of the greatest metal albums of all time.
The White Stripes
2/5
Truly such a dull band
The Blue Nile
4/5
This is very much my vibe, classy weird 80s pop
The Kinks
1/5
Twee bollocks
2/5
Back to back Kinks is not what I wanted. This one was marginally less twee than the last so I loathed it a bit less. Thats the only reason they aren’t getting another 1
Pink Floyd
4/5
I enjoyed this a lot. I always thought Pink Floyd would be for me, maybe this will motivate me to listen to some more
Drive Like Jehu
5/5
This is an album I’ve always wanted to listen to but somehow never got round to. It’s cited as a massive influence by loads of bands I love, and deserves its reputation as an essential post-hardcore/emo record. It’s extremely my shit and I’ll definitely be revisiting this a tonne. This is what the club is all about! I’m very excited by this one.
Goldie
3/5
There was lots that I actually enjoyed about this, but it is way too long. I also don't think that the setting I played it in was the best - this isn't a sitting at your desk working album. Could've been much higher rated with some editing though
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
This is never going to be my favourite, but whilst it is on I had a very nice time.
Bob Dylan
4/5
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would - I don't know why but the thought of Bob Dylan fills me with dread. The reality was more enjoyable though.
Queen
2/5
Yeah this was quite bad. Queen very much just a hits band, and even the big ones on this aren't all that...
Femi Kuti
4/5
This was a vibe. Very into it. Throw up some more cool shit like this please game.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
I love Fleetwood Mac, but of the Buckingham/Nicks era this one is slightly weaker - doesn't have the sheer hit power of Rumours, S/T or Tango In The Night. I appreciate the sprawl of it, but it's lows are a bit lower too. Could do with an edit.
Radiohead
5/5
I was going to do a hipster review about how I prefer later period weirder Radiohead, and this gets a 4 in comparison. But then I put Planet Telex on and remembered that this is perfect just like all their albums are. God what an unbelievable band.
The Smiths
1/5
Fuuuuuuuckkk Morrissey for the third time (but this one is the best Smiths record)
The Specials
3/5
This was fine for a genre of music that I generally don't enjoy, but I will never be revisiting this.
Tricky
4/5
We've had a fair few trip-hop albums come up, probably more than I would consider "essential" enough to make this list, but I think I enjoyed this one the most - it had more variety than the two Massive Attack albums and the Portishead record.
Malcolm McLaren
2/5
Felt dated and all over the place - not sure what to make of it but I did not enjoy it.
Miles Davis
5/5
It's the cliche Greatest Jazz Album Of All Time pick for a reason - this is so good. The third Miles album that's come up, each with it's own unique flavour - he is an undeniable genius, and one of the best musicians ever.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
The first few tracks on this had me feeling very nostalgic for when I was 10 years old and discovered RHCP. But looking back now, this record is so front loaded, and has an awful lot of filler. 3/5 for the singles and the nostalgia.
Hookworms
2/5
Yet another modern pick that is very inessential - this was absolutely inoffensive but why this one out of all the records from 2018?
3/5
Yeah this was inoffensive. I feel like Americans would be turned off by this but as a Brit we rarely encounter this kind of country so it was nice as a novelty.
The Temptations
4/5
Funky
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Another record that I was already very familiar with, but which is unreal so it's nice to be reminded of
Muddy Waters
4/5
This was cool. Not lots to say other than I enjoyed it.
Brian Eno
4/5
This was an odd little record. Didn't love it as much as some other Eno I have heard, but a cool flavour.
Basement Jaxx
4/5
My expectations were low and this exceeded them. A couple of songs on here I knew and they still hit, and there was a pleasant amount of variety - I enjoyed the more chilled abstract songs as much as the bangers.
G. Love & Special Sauce
3/5
This was very long. What it did was fine, but could've been cut in half.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
I don’t like Amy Winehouse, but I didn’t hate this as much as the singles I knew going in, so it gets a 3.
Nirvana
5/5
All time classic and an easy 5.
Portishead
4/5
I've apparently listened to this once before, but I have no recollection of it. It was a very cool vibe for a morning depressed in work though. Highly enjoyed.
Machito
4/5
I was hoping for a bit less Big Band and a bit more Afro-Cuban, but this was still a nice find.
Sepultura
4/5
I didn’t expect to get much out of this one because I don’t love a lot of classic thrash, but this was actually very good. Cool riffs, cool solos, what’s not to like?
Jack White
1/5
How has Jack White come up twice in this? Possibly the most boring musician of the last few decades. I absolutely cannot hack this. Awful.
2/5
Not sure how I enjoyed this when I was 13? It turns out to be completely uninspired and boring . I didn't hate Assassin so it can have a 2.
The Cure
3/5
Very much a lesser Cure album. Wouldn't have been my pick.
Justin Timberlake
5/5
Just a great pop album with so many bangers
Eurythmics
3/5
This feels a bit dated, but the vocals are carrying it through. Better than most of the other new wave that have had. The title track is an all timer too. This is probably a 3.5 *
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Smooth
Pink Floyd
4/5
The second Pink Floyd album and the second one I've enjoyed. Probably liked it slightly less than Wish You Were Here, but the highs (Time and Great Gig In The Sky) were very high.
Shack
1/5
God this is so bland. I hate Britpop. How was this ever deemed essential? Maybe the most offensive inclusion so far - this is the opposite of an album you should hear before you die. It was less horrible when I hit the folky middle section, but then straight back to C-Tier Britpop dreck
Nick Drake
4/5
Nice listen on a sunny morning.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
3/5
I don't know what to say about this. It wasn't bad but I also didn't love it. I guess it's a 3 and move on.
The War On Drugs
4/5
Love this record, great wide-screen indie rock
Elvis Presley
4/5
I enjoy a bit of late period Elvis, and the highs on this are very enjoyable
Death In Vegas
3/5
Again, fine but nothing more.
Eels
3/5
This was also fine. A bit of a run of mediocre albums this week
Missy Elliott
4/5
This was pretty fun.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Great record, I particularly love Cecilia. Just classic pop songwriting
Pixies
4/5
Great band great album. Again, so much I love wouldn’t exist without this.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
This was very low key. If it has some magic I'm not sure I unlocked it off one listen - would need to really pay attention to the lyrics I think. It was pleasant though.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Yeah this worked for me, very chilled, evocative music. Maybe I should be a cowboy.
CHIC
3/5
Pretty nice sat out in the sun, but it is a bit of a one trick pony, and the constant repetition of the lyrics grates a little towards the end
Astor Piazzolla
3/5
Mixed feelings on this. Parts sound like the soundtrack to a Mafia movie, parts sounds like the coolest jazz band ripping the vibraphone and then parts feel like being a lift. Torn between a 3 and a 4, but I’m going to be harsher with my marking.
Sex Pistols
3/5
This was exactly as expected, and was entertaining enough whilst also being something I don't want to hear again.
American Music Club
4/5
Enjoyed this one a lot, I'm a sucker for folky Americana and pedal steel guitars.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
I’ve heard this record before and it is good at what it does - very campy songs about murder. I generally would reach for Tom Waits if I want this style of music though.
Dire Straits
5/5
I only knew Sultans Of Swing from this, surprised by how much this absolutely slapped. I love all the little guitar leads, it hit the spot so well. Will be revisiting.
Marianne Faithfull
2/5
Yeah this was a big nope. Hated her voice, hated the music. The last two tracks saved it from a 1.
Anthrax
3/5
Very meat and potatoes thrash, pretty silly. By far the worst band in the big 4.
Klaxons
2/5
Fair play this has aged horribly.
Norah Jones
2/5
Absolute snoozer
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Another lovely time with Simon and Garfunkel. I think I am a fan. This was lovely for a sunny morning listen.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
This was very cool, really hit right on a hot summer evening.
The The
4/5
What a little weirdo of a record. Eclectic, poppy and eccentric. I enjoyed this a lot
Beatles
4/5
This has way less wackiness and tweeness than previous Beatles so I enjoyed it more. These were good pop songs
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
You have to appreciate when bands take swings this big, especially when they come out with material this consistently great.
The Black Crowes
4/5
A nice summery Southern Rock record that worked very well with the sunny weather this week. Enjoyable
LCD Soundsystem
1/5
This stinks. Why is every song so repetitive and so bastard long? Please make it stop.
Common
3/5
This was a pleasant enough listen but a bit too pop-rap to be truly mind-blowing for me.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
I loved this when I was young, and loved it today - I kept expecting it to fall off but every song bangs
Bill Evans Trio
5/5
Stone cold classic, one of my favourite jazz records of all time, easy 5.
Tortoise
5/5
Essential, seminal post rock album, so influential on so much amazing shit, another easy 5. The club is on fire this week!
Gorillaz
2/5
I quite enjoyed the two singles but god there is so much fluff on this
Beastie Boys
5/5
So good, masterclass in sampling.
OutKast
5/5
So much fun, an all time classic hip hop record and the hits are absolutely huge.
The Jam
4/5
This actually surprised me, I expected to hate this. Music of this genre usually sets my teeth on edge but there were lots of good moments on this, and That’s Entertainment is a wicked song.
4/5
I enjoyed this more than the other PJ Harvey record we have done - I appreciated a bit more variety, and Thom Yorke lifts any record he is on.
The Yardbirds
3/5
This was very uneventful, didn't get me engaged at any point without ever being offensive. About as middle of the road as I can give.
D'Angelo
4/5
This was very enjoyable, smooth as fuck.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
This was ok, didn’t really grip me and I am generally pro country so that’s surprising.
Beastie Boys
5/5
Hard to really separate this from Paul’s Boutique, both records slapped and are easy 5s.
Iron Maiden
3/5
This is not really my kind of metal, but I appreciate the proggier bits. Overall not my cup of tea but not offensive.
The Electric Prunes
3/5
This record was weird as fuck, sometimes enjoyably and sometimes very much not. Balances out at a 3.
David Bowie
3/5
As a life-long Bowie skeptic, this was surprisingly not hateful - I enjoyed the jazzy piano bits and the rock and roll songs.
Motörhead
3/5
Only one song on the record repeated 12 times, but that song is enjoyable enough!
Songhoy Blues
3/5
This was alright but wouldn't be something I'd revisit. Decent quality for what it is though
Radiohead
5/5
Absolute easy 5, maybe my fav Radiohead album.
Coldplay
4/5
The hits hold up better than I thought they would, and Don't Panic is a good opener. Some lulls though, it's probably closer to a 3.5 but I'm feeling generous
Nanci Griffith
2/5
Didn’t like this one very much, my country phase seems to be over.
Wild Beasts
3/5
Great music, not great vocals. Dunno where to score this.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
This was interesting as a piece of history but not so much as a music listening experience
PJ Harvey
3/5
This one was less interesting than Stories Of The City. A bit more one dimensional
LTJ Bukem
2/5
This was a slog and I only played the first disc. Just not very engaging.
Slade
2/5
Did not enjoy this - the vocals are very grating and the music is pretty dull dad rock
GZA
5/5
This is a banger, listening to this after Run DMC just emphasises the point - the genre had come so far in just one decade. This was very cool.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Surprisingly I feel the same about this as I did about Buddy Holly - clearly very important and influential, but also incredibly dated and not actually that fun to listen to. Another 3 for importance
Tracy Chapman
5/5
This is an untouchable classic. The whole record is great but imagine having a song as good as Fast Car. That's once in a lifetime shit.
Van Halen
4/5
This record is fun, gets in and out quick and makes me feel like I’m in an 80s movie training montage. Good way to start the day.
Sonic Youth
4/5
Another band that I've always thought I should check out but had never gone in on. This was very cool arty punk that was very up my street - I will be investigating them further!
Moby
2/5
This was pretty bland - just repetitive loops of songs that sound like they would be better as a whole piece rather than a 15 second sample. It also massively gives up in the last 5 or so tracks, and meanders off into almost nothing.
Fela Kuti
4/5
This was a fun summer album, good stuff that I otherwise would never have listened to
Dolly Parton
3/5
This was perfectly pleasant without being life changing
The Specials
2/5
Vacillated between kind of liking this and outright hating it. The silliness is not for me.
Kraftwerk
4/5
I appreciated how odd this was. A cool quirky little record.
R.E.M.
5/5
What an unreal record, I've gone so deep on REM these last 5 years and this might be the best one
The Dictators
2/5
This one had a really rough start, and the Sonny And Cher cover is particularly horrible. It picked up as it went on though, and saved itself from a probable 1.
Foo Fighters
4/5
Probably the second best Foo Fighters record.
Blur
2/5
I was dreading this one, I expecting to hate it. What I didn’t expect was for it to just be broadly inoffensive, dull music. I couldn’t even muster up hatred for it.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
All time classic, one of the most evocative albums ever written with unreal lyrics. Bruce's best
Bob Dylan
4/5
More Dylan, and there really isn’t much to it but it does just work. An artist I feared but that is actually pretty good.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
1/5
This is horrible. So pretentious and "arty" which just equated to big mess. Even Maps being decent can't save this.
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
This was pleasant enough but slipped into the background a bit much for me to score higher than this.
50 Cent
4/5
This was full of bangers. A fun hour.
Guns N' Roses
5/5
The Teardrop Explodes
2/5
This list has a such a bias towards pretty dull 80s indie pop. This was not good - Poppies In The Field was pretty much the only track that actually caught my ear.
Franz Ferdinand
1/5
How the fuck is this considered an album you have to hear before you die? Genuine bottom of the barrel indie landfill. The epitome of one hit wonder, god this sucks so hard (Take Me Out aside)
Throwing Muses
3/5
This was a more enjoyable version of what the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were going for. I appreciate the early grunge vibes. Not amazing but enjoyable enough
Missy Elliott
3/5
This was fine, enjoyable enough without being life changing.
Little Richard
4/5
Pretty fun and clearly super influential, although it did get very repetitive.
1/5
I've put this one off for so long, and that is because I know myself. I hated every second of this.
King Crimson
5/5
This absolutely slaps. So cool. Love all the weird tangents and how much shit is thrown at this. Mad that it came out in 1969.
Green Day
5/5
This was the first album I ever bought, and I was obsessed with it as an 11 year old. I could still sing every word of it. If I heard it for the first time today I probably wouldn't score it like this but nostalgia is a hell of a drug.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
I'm a big fan of Marvin Gaye's classic run of albums, this is just so smooth.
Def Leppard
4/5
Bigger, dumber fun
The Cure
5/5
This record is unreal. An absolute masterclass in creating an atmosphere and keeping you invested in it the whole way through. This record is its own world and I was completely sucked in. The second half in particular, from Fascination Street onwards is just unbeatable.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
This was a bit of me - cheesy 80s pop is very much my thing. The hits are so fucking massive too. Enjoyable record.
2Pac
5/5
This album is really good. The lyrics and the beats are all pretty much as good as it gets. I wouldn't want to be friends with 2pac but his music is great.
Blondie
4/5
This was a bit of a hit factory and the songs I didn't know were a nice time too.
CHIC
2/5
This grabbed me way less than the previous Chic record, every song felt very repetitive and simplistic. Not a fan.
Beatles
3/5
This is fine, some decent pop songs on here. This clearly isn’t the stuff that Beatles are being hyped up for though.
Yes
4/5
I think I might be a prog rock fan. The only reason this isn't a 5 is because we did King Crimson the other day and that was even better.
Fred Neil
4/5
I'd never heard of this guy but this was a nice surprise, I enjoyed this a lot. The last track was a bit odd and out of place but the rest a nice vibe.
Sigur Rós
5/5
I love this band and this record, a completely unique flavour of post rock that is just deeply beautiful.
Alanis Morissette
4/5
This sounds quite dated, but I honestly don't care - there are bangers on this record
Mike Oldfield
3/5
Well this is fucking weird. Parts of it were cool, parts of it were bad. Why is he growling? Why are we naming instruments?
Black Sabbath
5/5
The first 6 Black Sabbath records are as good as music gets. Flawless band.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Another very easily likeable record. Just pleasant to listen to.
Robert Wyatt
2/5
What the fuck is this? The only redeeming bits were the trumpets.
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
Hard to find any justification for this being included.
Frank Ocean
4/5
This album is clearly very influential on the next decade or so of pop music, and it has some great moments - Thinking Bout You and Pyramids stood out to me. I thought Blonde was a bit more coherent as a full album but this was still great.
Prince
4/5
Like all Prince albums this album has good bits, bad bits and is also very long. I enjoyed the hits on this one so it gets 4.
Bobby Womack
4/5
Some lovely sunny 80s cheese, perfect for listening to in the garden.
The Afghan Whigs
4/5
This was a bit more my speed, enjoyable grungey indie.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Are Black Sabbath the best band? Where it all started, this is obviously flawless again. Give me the rest of the first 6 please!
Neil Young
5/5
Previously I had only heard After The Gold Rush, which I loved. This keeps the quality at exactly the same level, another great record. Heart Of Gold, what a single.
The Fall
3/5
Fine I guess, didn’t do too much for me. Musically interesting but the guys voice is not ideal
The Flaming Lips
2/5
God this was a slog, so monotonous.
Kanye West
3/5
This started really strong, so I was considering 5, but it sagged a bit in the middle for me. It's borderline 3/4, so I marked down for Kanye being a little Nazi cunt.
Living Colour
3/5
Pretty unremarkable funk rock. There are better versions of this type of thing - give me Faith No More any day.
The Who
3/5
Some good singles and a lot of songs that are also there.
Elton John
5/5
Elton is a master and this is a masterpiece
Arcade Fire
3/5
A frustrating album. High highs but also an awful lot of flavour. Give this an editor and it could be a 4.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
This verged between boring me to tears and actively upsetting me. It can take its two and be grateful.
Fela Kuti
4/5
This is a cool vibe throughout.
Little Simz
4/5
I really like Simz but haven't been back to this one too often. This is still great stuff though.
Lou Reed
4/5
I knew a surprising amount of these songs, mostly through covers I think. It was a nice chill album, I don't think improved by listening on the tube - this needed to be a Sunday morning coffee album.
Minutemen
5/5
This is a banger, such a quirky little record. Love how obtuse it is. Another hit from This Band Could Be Your Life.
Cream
3/5
Kind of felt like the midway point between Hendrix and the Beatles, but without hitting the heights of either. Also important to note that Eric Clapton is a colossal prick.
Daft Punk
2/5
Ironically this did feel like Homework. The other Daft Punk record we did was so funky and fun, this one was repetitive and dull. A chore to finish.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
I love the unique flavour of Bruce on this particular record, and Atlantic City is one of my favourite songs of his.
ZZ Top
4/5
Pretty cool - I would listen to this at a BBQ
Leftfield
2/5
This album really tried my patience. Too long and too repetitive.
Sheryl Crow
4/5
Very pleasant listen with some bops on it.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
I don't come back to this often because it's such an undertaking that requires so much attention. But every time I do I finish it thinking it might be the best album of all time. Kendrick's pinnacle. The poem and the Tupac track have maybe lost a bit of their initial impact but overall this is a masterpiece, and I'm amazed at the level of genius to create something like this, a record which you will never fully unpack.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
This is a fun record.
Simple Minds
4/5
I was expecting an album full of Don't You Forget About Me's, but this was surprisingly enjoyable - lots of dark synthy stuff that I am naturally predisposed to. An unexpected hit.
Everything But The Girl
2/5
I think if I listened to this in isolation it would be a 3. However it feels like we've had loads of shitty middle of the road British indie lately so I am not feeling in anyway generous. Take your two and fuck off.
Elliott Smith
3/5
I think I like the idea of Elliott Smith more than the reality. When he gets it right it's perfect (Behind The Bars, Say Yes and especially Angeles) but the whole record doesn't really hit those heights for me.
The Auteurs
1/5
This is offensively bland. The musical equivalent of watching paint dry. I wanted it to be over from about track 2.
Ella Fitzgerald
4/5
This was all very likeable. It’s a transportive record that I enjoyed for making me feel like I was living in late 50s America for a morning. But it is also not something I will be revisiting in full ever - it’s a huge undertaking.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
This was fine I guess, didn't love it. Especially not the piano tracks.
Leonard Cohen
5/5
This is so cool. It's really rare to hear music from an 80 year old, and I loved the way his voice sounds now. And the music surrounding it, and the backing singers, are absolutely beautiful.
Sabu
5/5
I love when things like this come up that are completely unique and interesting and wash away the pain of the countless mediocre British indie bands
The Jesus And Mary Chain
2/5
Fine I guess, but I found this pretty unremarkable.
Ray Charles
5/5
This was great, really joyous. I loved the Jazzy parts particularly.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
More good Joni Mitchell, but not quite at the level of Blue and especially The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
B-Tier Motley Crue. Bad
The Who
2/5
Lads, you aren’t funny. Ditch the skits and write some actual songs.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
This is nice, I saw another reviewer called this comfy which I think suits. Just pleasant, unchallenging folky rock.
N.E.R.D
2/5
She Want's To Move is good, but besides that it's rubbish.
Einstürzende Neubauten
4/5
What the fuck (complimentary)
The Velvet Underground
4/5
This is very much not what I expected - it's so dissonant and noisy. Clearly hugely influential on lots of stuff I enjoy. The vocals held it back from being a 5 to me.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
This was pretty innocuous, was hoping for some more 80s bangers but it was surprisingly chill
Sonic Youth
5/5
Sonic Youth are great, this album is great.
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
This is not usually the Queens record I would reach for (Songs For The Deaf, Rated R and Like Clockwork would all be above it), but this is still a good time. Less hooks than their later stuff but still lots of very enjoyable hypnotic riffs.
Beastie Boys
4/5
I was between a 4 and a 5, and I've gone 4 because the later albums we did were slightly more diverse. It's really splitting hairs though, this is still great.
Super Furry Animals
2/5
I did not like this. All my least fav Brit pop things in one album
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
I appreciate noisy scratchy rock music, and this is some nice grungey stuff. It is probably objectively bad but I really like the vocals always on Dinosaur Jr. Good band, good album.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
This was a pleasant listen until the last track which didn't half go on.
The Modern Lovers
2/5
Big nope to this one, just a less interesting version of other things we have done.
Thin Lizzy
4/5
This is excellent, I am a firm Thin Lizzy enjoyer - another of their albums popped up on a list and got a very high score from me. I am knocking a point off for two reasons - live albums are essentially greatest hits so don't belong in this game, and in this particular case the record doesn't sound that live - you kind of forget you're listening to a live album until the crowd comes in at the end of each song. On a song by song basis though this is top draw.
Nico
4/5
This is an oddball little record that I liked a great deal.
Talking Heads
4/5
This is less exciting than other Talking Heads we have listened to, but is still a good album.
Bad Company
3/5
Pretty middle of the road dad rock, a pleasant enough time tho
James Brown
3/5
So this is very enjoyable, but I disagree on principle with live albums being in here.
Al Green
4/5
This is a very pleasant Sunday listen.
The Gun Club
3/5
The vocalist on this is extremely annoying. Music is alright tho.
The White Stripes
1/5
Maybe the most boring band in all rock music. I absolutely cannot stand them. Just an awful awful band.
Queen Latifah
3/5
Pretty good old school hip hop. Likeable record.
3/5
My Beatles enjoyment seems to inversely correlate with how wacky they are - this one has a fair chunk of wackiness that puts me off, but I do enjoy the Indian influenced moments.
Morrissey
1/5
FuUuUcKkK Morrissey
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Another album that’s very evocative of another time that was nice for a morning but probably never again
Frank Zappa
2/5
I've played this a few times and always struggled - I dunno why but this feels like purposeless noodling to me for the majority. Captain Beefheart and the saxophone lifted it from a slog that the rest of it felt like. Maybe one day I will grow up and come round to this album but as of today it's a no.
Primal Scream
2/5
This was deeply boring.
Koffi Olomide
3/5
This was nice enough, but then I read his wiki page.... Yikes.
Mike Ladd
5/5
I definitely pre-judged this because he's called Mike Ladd, but damn this is so cool! Exactly the kind of hip hop I like. It has a Company Flow feature FFS. Shocking 5*
Beatles
4/5
I think this is the best Beatles record I've heard. This is actually innovative and boundary pushing without straying into the silly tweeness (almost, Yellow Submarine can fuck off). I genuinely enjoyed which is a surprise to everyone.
Black Flag
5/5
Absolutely seminal, one of the most influential albums of all time, absolutely bangs.
Le Tigre
3/5
Teetering between a 3 and a 4. This was very fun and likeable, like an energetic toddler, but also very throwaway and I probably won’t revisit. Landed 3 in the end.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Bruce is so good. This isn’t my favourite but even his mid ranking albums slap.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
I have to be very picky or everything is getting a 5 - this is unbelievable but it doesn't have most of my favourite Hendrix tracks, so scored against his own catalogue it gets a 4.
The Pretty Things
2/5
I see the take psychadelic rock and I wince. This is painful. Why are they doing silly voices and singing about nonsense ffs.
The Byrds
2/5
Yeehaw
2/5
I do not like David Bowie
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
This is a diminished version of the Beatles, a band I'm already lukewarm on. All my fav Beatles stuff is Harrison and Lennon, so this was always on to be a loser. Not bad but also not my cup of tea.
Gang Starr
5/5
This hit the spot when I was looking for some old school hip hop. Exactly what I'd hoped for.
Neil Young
5/5
If Neil Young didn't have such a ridiculously large catalogue I would dive in deeper, because everything we have done by him slaps, this included.
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
Another record that is just flawless
Slipknot
2/5
Pretty baffling pick for a Slipknot record, as this is comfortably their worst. Psychosocial is good though.
Country Joe & The Fish
3/5
I liked the bluesy track, and liked the psych tracks less
Kraftwerk
3/5
After 3 Kraftwerk records I can confidently say this is a very important band that I don't enjoy listening to
Cypress Hill
4/5
Pretty fun old school hip hop
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
This is what I was worried about when playing The United States Of America. This kind of psychedelic stuff is not for me. Pretty meh.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
This was a good partner to the Muddy Waters record because it was similar but the added variety made me enjoy it more.
Muddy Waters
3/5
This was all very well done, but was very samey and I was getting bored by half way through.
Judas Priest
4/5
Mostly walks the line between cheesy and fun expertly, with only a few exceptions (United I’m looking at you).
Fatboy Slim
2/5
This was very dated and very repetitive. Not for me.
Metallica
5/5
It’s Metallica, it’s obviously brilliant.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
It will never occur to me to put this on again, but whilst I played it I had a nice time.
John Prine
2/5
This pure country singer songwriter stuff probably has a place on this list in that loads of people love it, but it didn't connect with me - I guess you need to hyperfixate on the lyrics which I didn't do.
Nirvana
5/5
I’ve moaned about live albums being included, but it’s hard to gripe about this one given it is one of the absolute best of all time.
Michael Jackson
4/5
This is a more consistent than Thriller but with nowhere near as many highs. And like Thriller it has a stinker ballad in the middle. Shakes out as a 4.
George Harrison
3/5
There were good moments on this but it was too samey and not high enough quality to justify 2 hours.
The Beau Brummels
3/5
I didn’t love this, but after yesterday’s George Harrison one pro is that at least it is short. It did feel like B-tier version of that’s 60s rock and roll sound.
Otis Redding
3/5
A pleasant enough run through of some classic songs - not sure it's essential though
The Mothers Of Invention
4/5
I enjoyed how this started as a fairly straightforward 60s psych rock thing and descended into madness.
UB40
2/5
I enjoyed about 20 mins of this and then was bored.
Eagles
4/5
Good mix of country and rock and roll, fun time
The Pharcyde
4/5
A pretty breezy and fun record.
Spiritualized
2/5
This is such a slog
Jeff Buckley
5/5
This is really great, surprisingly proggy but with loads of beautiful bits too.
Meat Loaf
1/5
Wow this was bad. Springsteen if he had never seen a boob.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Comfortably the least interesting of the 3 Stevie Wonder albums we have done. Suffers from being between two great albums.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Fairly inoffensive.
Soundgarden
5/5
Maybe my favourite album of the whole grunge scene, this is just a great rock record.
The United States Of America
4/5
I was a bit nervous going into this because psychedelic music is generally a miss for me, but this was surprisingly cool and varied. There were moments that didn't work for me but they were over and done with quick enough that they didn't spoil the album for me.
Adele
2/5
Becky asked me why I was bothering with this one because I know that I hate Adele. I think it proved a worthwhile exercise though, because whilst the singles suck, a few of the album tracks were decent, in particular He Won't Go. So am album that I thought was nailed on to be a 1 has scraped a 2
Iggy Pop
4/5
I liked how loose this was.
Lauryn Hill
5/5
I gave this 4 when it topped the Apple Music list because I don’t think it’s the best of all time. It’s definitely really a 5 tho.
Ice T
3/5
This is on the high side of 3. Perfectly listenable old school hip hop that doesn't really change my life.
Rocket From The Crypt
4/5
I've heard of this band but never listened. This was a very fun version of a genre that can very easily become super cringe worthy. I kind of wish that I'd discovered this at 15 because I would've been obsessed. As I am now this was borderline 3/4 but I will go with a 4 for generosity.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
My least favourite of the Led Zepp we have done so far - was lacking the sauce in comparison
John Lennon
2/5
There’s too much John Lennon on this list.
The KLF
3/5
Bit dated but not bad, I listened to the real version not whatever was on spotify. Probably would've enjoyed more if I heard on release.
Ananda Shankar
3/5
I feel a bit cheated by this. You'd think that when you're presented with 1001 Albums To Hear Before You Die, you will get every flavour of music there is, yet so much of this list has been dreary British post-punk/indie. Here we finally get something that promises to be unique, and it kind of is, but why does it have to be sitar music filtered through the prism of Western rock music? It doesn't sit right with me, and the covers are painful here. But at the same time this feels fresh compared to a lot of what we have had. I'm gonna rate it a 3 but I honestly whatever rating I give it feels wrong.
Happy Mondays
2/5
As expected this was horrible
Beatles
4/5
Clearly this phase of The Beatles is the one I need to explore because this is interesting and creative without being overindulgent and wacky or boring and straight ahead like the early stuff. A hit with me.
Germs
4/5
Fair play this absolutely goes.
Björk
3/5
Björk is cool because she takes risks and the nature of taking risks is that sometimes they don't land. I think this is probably my least favourite of hers we have done - there were some tracks that didn't land. Still not bad though and the overall atmosphere is cool and still very Björk-ey.
Green Day
5/5
Green Day in 2024 are an absolute embarrassment, and have been for almost 2 decades. But this album is a fizzy, sugary pop punk masterpiece that is 100% bangers. Just a joyful album.
Grizzly Bear
2/5
I can't understand how something this unbelievably dull made it into this book.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
Generally I am a prog enjoyer but this was a bit much.
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
This record is the reason why The Strokes and AM scored so badly on the Apple list. This is quality. Honestly the only reason it isn't a 5 is because I've handed out too many today. This and Silent Alarm are pretty much all that is redeemable from that 00s indie scene. Actually fuck it it gets a 5
The Velvet Underground
4/5
This was good but not as exciting as Velvet Underground and Nico which was a bit of a revelation.
Slipknot
4/5
This is a really great album with so many bangers. I do think it has a bit of a sequencing issue in that the first 5 full tracks are such 00s metal classics that the rest of the album feels like a dip in comparison - spread those tracks out, keep the energy up all the way through and this would be a full 5 imo.
Steely Dan
2/5
This is like a really cheesy version of lots of things I actually like. I’m not sure how to articulate why this fails for me, but it feels so formulaic and structured for music that is meant to be fun and loose. I dunno. This was a miss.
Kate Bush
5/5
I'd be amazed if there's another record as weird as this one on the list, and I really appreciate how singular and unique it is. A true one off.
Moby Grape
3/5
This was decent enough classic rock sounding stuff, not too much to grab the ear, probably won't return.
Bad Brains
4/5
I was surprised by how poppy this was, given I have heard another Bad Brains record that was very punk. This was enjoyable varied.
Elastica
4/5
I saw Britpop and was filled with dread but this was actually pretty great! Had enough of an edge to get me invested.
Van Halen
5/5
There's not many better when it comes to hard rock - I love how tight this record is, 35 minutes of all killer no filler. Great band.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
This one didn't really hit for me. Perfectly fine but not my cup of tea.
Madonna
4/5
This was surprisingly nostalgic, I think my parents must’ve loved this record when it came out because I knew every song. Madonna doing trip hop, surprisingly good.
Radiohead
4/5
Radiohead are obviously brilliant, but this one feels pretty inessential to me, you can tell it's an addendum to Kid A. Still a worthy 4.
MC Solaar
3/5
This is not the kind of hip hop I enjoy. It's listenable but it didn't amaze me.
Britney Spears
3/5
The best singles on here were good, the ballads were much less enjoyable and the whole thing felt quite dated.
The Zombies
3/5
I am generally lukewarm on 60s psych rock, but as that genre goes this was pretty good. And the Time Of The Season deserves the hype, great track.
Michael Jackson
5/5
This is a really hard one because I think that Lady In My Life aside this is perfect. But also he is a wrongun and I don't want to praise him.
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
This was an enjoyable enough record of fizzy riot grrrl punk rock songs. Not a lot more to say about it.
Duke Ellington
5/5
I listened to the complete 2 hour edition, was a lovely Sunday morning soundtrack
Eminem
4/5
This is the best Eminem but is too horribly intense to get a 5. Lots of tracks on here are difficult to listen to
Django Django
2/5
This is the soundtrack to a car advert. Absolute landfill crap. So inessential.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
I really like Jane's Addiction, this is a great hard rock record with enough flavours to keep it really fresh and interesting through the whole run time - kind of an updated Led Zeppelin? Has rockers, has jazz breaks, has Middle Eastern inspired passages, has great acoustic tracks with steel pans - it's a good advert for taking swings and having them pay off. I am only giving it a 4 because I think Ritual De Lo Habitual is a better record
Doves
4/5
I was very pleasantly surprised by this, 2000s British indie is my kryptonite, yet this was almost completely good and interesting. A few songs strayed the other side of the line for me but they were few and far between. This is a relieved 4.
Sister Sledge
4/5
Disco is just very pleasant isn't it
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4/5
This is nice if not a little repetitive. Graceland works better for me because the pop songs break things up
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
4/5
Ok. So this is obviously way way way too long to get a 5. I think with some editing though it could've been. I feel similarly about this the way I felt about Ella Fitzgerald's massive record, I thoroughly enjoyed feeling like a cowboy for a morning but equally I will never play this again
The Strokes
1/5
Fucking awful album, Fucking awful band, fucking awful music scene. 2000s indie rock is the worst. please let this shit die.
Mudhoney
4/5
Grunge is great, this is great, Touch Me I'm Sick is an all-timer.
Faust
4/5
I A/B'ed this one with Emerson Lake and Palmer, and this was more my speed. Still weird and proggy but I liked the way it locks into grooves and becomes a bit funky.
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
Shit like this is the absolute nadir of this list. Proper C tier The Cure rip offs.
David Bowie
5/5
As a certified David Bowie hater, this was the only one of his records I'd heard before doing the game. And in a shocking twist, I think it's very good. I like it when he gets weird.
Tom Waits
4/5
Tom Waits is so good, this is maybe not his best work but it’s still a great record.
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
We did Ella Fitzgerald recently and this suffered in comparison - this was good but not great.
Nas
5/5
Unbeatable. One of the best of all time.
The Cramps
3/5
Pretty uneventful.
Mylo
2/5
I knew Drop The Pressure and In Your Arms, as they were both on compilation albums I had when I was a kid. The other tracks were all much of a muchness though. Not my bag, a bit like The Avalanches really.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Not the first Johnny Cash live album we have heard for this game, his personality really carries this. I am still anti-live albums being included though.
AC/DC
4/5
About as straightforward as it gets. The same song over and over again, but that song is very very good.
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
This was fine enough, pleasantly listenable but won’t be revisiting.
John Martyn
3/5
This was alright, the final track in particular was good. But didn’t absolutely move me.
Thelonious Monk
5/5
Always enjoy some Monk
3/5
There were parts of this that felt like an interesting twist on this genre of music. However mostly I was left feeling that this was quite dated. I don't know if that's just a function of electronic music being quite fast paced and this list being older, or whether the stuff they chose is just not that great. Overall mixed feelings shakes out at a 3
The Sugarcubes
4/5
Bjork fronting a punky rock band is cool. Does this list have too much Bjork though? Maybe. It's getting a 4 in any case.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
I like 80s and I like cheese, but I think even for me this might be too far.
The Clash
5/5
DEATH OR GLORY
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
This was perfectly fine 60s rock. Nothing really jumped out but it was nice enough whilst it was on
Joanna Newsom
3/5
I appreciated how unique and singular this is, and some of the harp arrangements were really cool, but the vocals were a little grating to me by the end.
Janis Joplin
3/5
Meh. This was fine.
Roxy Music
4/5
Musically this was cool, but I didn’t love the vocals. I think I expected a bit more funk to this, not sure why. As it is the arty rock stuff is pretty interesting.
Beach House
3/5
Mixed feelings on this one. There were bits that were quite atmospheric and then bits where it had a bit of an affected nonchalance that made it drift into boring. Evened out at a 3.
The Cardigans
3/5
There were bits of this that were good but overall it was a bit meh - I didn't love the vocals and the Iron Man cover wasn't it.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
This was a nice listen.
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
The other one was C tier Cure, this one wasn't even that interesting. Please god don't let this band come up again
Lucinda Williams
3/5
This was a pleasant enough blend of country and blues. I had never heard of her before and she has popped up on multiple lists - I can see that this is pretty influential on a lot of the current crop of singer-songwriter country folk stuff that is very popular, but I wasn't blow away by it.
John Coltrane
5/5
I think this might be my favourite Jazz record - it is almost spiritual. Him or Miles are the GOAT and this is Coltrane at the peak of his powers.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
I’ve done so much boring white guy rock lately that this was a breath of fresh air.
The Who
3/5
I definitely enjoyed this more than the whole album that was full of skits, but this was still pretty mediocre outside of a couple of good hits.
Ministry
4/5
I think this might have positively benefited from being a bit of cleansing fire after Mylo, but this was good. The only critique I have is that its not Nine Inch Nails, who are this but also so much more.
The Band
4/5
Nice, a bit Bruce Springsteen-ey in the vocals, and I liked the Americana parts being mixed into some RnB.
Khaled
3/5
This was pretty cool, I liked how poppy it was whilst still being a new flavour for the game. Unfortunately the Imagine cover is unforgiveable.
The Stooges
4/5
I think this is the third Stooges album we have done, I enjoyed this one, but I don’t think it was quite as good as Fun House, which remains my favourite.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
I'm a Tom Petty enjoyed but this very much feels like a debut. When it's good it is very good though. American Girl is undeniable.
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
Every review of this complaining about how noisy sloppy and out of tune it is - yeah it is, and that's why it's good. Stop being such nerds.
Stan Getz
5/5
I love this album, perfect for a sunny morning with a coffee.
Justice
3/5
Besides the singles this was pretty unremarkable
Ramones
3/5
Fun enough but quite 1 dimensional
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
Pleasant enough blues rock/rockabilly. Probably would’ve gone down better in the summer.
The Avalanches
2/5
His didn’t grab me. This kind of party electronic stuff isn’t really for me I don’t think.
Michael Jackson
5/5
It's really unfortunate that this is great.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Johnny Cash is the fucking man and this is about as iconic as live albums get. I've knocked off a mark though because should live albums even count? I'm not sure.
Deerhunter
1/5
We get it, you're cool. Too cool to try, too cool to care, too cool to even lift your head up. Wait, are you dead?
The Young Gods
2/5
I’m not a massive industrial fan if it isn’t NIN, so this was a bit of a slog.
The Pogues
4/5
I am extremely unlikely to ever listen to this again, but it was fun to cosplay as an Irish folk singer for an hour
John Lennon
2/5
Nah, you can't get away with this John. This is boring. Without George you're nothing.
Mj Cole
3/5
I'm not opposed to bleeps and bloods and there was a fair amount of variety here. Some vocals I liked more than others. Could've done with an edit. Overall a mixed bag that shakes out at alright and no better.
Public Enemy
4/5
This is really good, and the subject matter is still really relevant. It is on ten all the way through, with lunch in the face after punch in the face which is a little exhausting after 65 mins given musically it's not that varied. Still a very strong 4 that could end up as a 5 with more listens.
Neil Young
5/5
I've not been very discerning with Neil Young, there's lots of it that we've done and I've liked it all. This is no exception.
The Beach Boys
4/5
This sounds exactly as you would expect, and is perfectly pleasant.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
This was interesting because on paper I should've loved this but for some reason it didn't quite hit. Felt a bit old man shouts at cloud in the lyrics. Musically it was good but I wasn't convinced overall.
Christina Aguilera
4/5
This is high quality, and she is an excellent singer. My only criticism is that it could've done with an edit, there's a great 50 min album in here.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
This was not what I expected based on the cover. Fine enough jammy blues songs, won't be revisiting.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Marvin Gaye is excellent. This is not his best but it’s still a nice time, if a little lengthy.
Madness
3/5
Yeah this was fine, the hits hit and the others are listenable
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
This was a really welcome change of pace from the white British indie rock that gets served up so regularly here. Some chilly, sunny vibes
The Temptations
4/5
This is pretty good, pleasant all the way through. The funky numbers work more for me than the ballads but it's all listenable.
The Band
4/5
Pretty great vibes here.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
I love the other Peter Gabriel and I loved this one - maybe Peter Gabriel is really great?
Aphex Twin
3/5
I like this one less than the super long one we did because this one was more ear-catching, which is the opposite of what I wanted from ambient music.
Guided By Voices
3/5
I liked this well enough, pretty fizzy and melodic
Peter Gabriel
4/5
This one was a bit of a roller coaster. Most of the tracks were really good, like on for a 5* review good, and then there were a couple of ones aiming for something quirky that were absolute 1* stinkers. You can tell this is his first go at a solo album, and he fixed this for the later ones we have done. Interesting but not perfect.
Sisters Of Mercy
4/5
I enjoyed this a lot. Campy Goth 80s fun.
T. Rex
3/5
I'd listened to a few other T.Rex albums and been thoroughly underwhelmed so I was scared of this, but it wasn't so bad. Mediocre but I will take it in the circumstances.
The National
5/5
The National are great and this is one of my favourites of theirs - maybe controversial but I like their later stuff better, starting here.
The Stone Roses
3/5
I feel like I should have more takes on this than I do. I was expecting a britpop album and it mostly feels like that to me. There were a few Shoegazier/groovier songs that surprised me, and none of it was the truly hateful dregs this genre can sink to.
David Bowie
4/5
More like No by David No-wie amirite? (This was actually probably the best Bowie we have done but I thought of the joke and couldn't not. It hugely benefits from having multiple tracks with no Bowie on them). Addendum - I wrote this before the last 4 tracks which were all really great, particularly the last one. This is so much better than all the We Could Be Heroes bollocks. Bumping up to a 4.
Travis
3/5
So this is obviously not revolutionary, and all the reviews calling this Keane does The Bends are pretty accurate, but it is mostly pleasant and listenable. I'm not upset by it.
Everything But The Girl
4/5
I had not heard this bands name before, although I realised that I know their track Missing. Had no expectations of liking this but this was actually really fucking cool chill 90s electronic. Would like to hear more, including the album that has missing on it.
SZA
4/5
I knew this SZA record a lot more than the other one that we did, and this one I think deserves the hype a lot more - there's some bangers here.
The Verve
1/5
I expected to hate this and I was correct to. Boring music made by boring people to be played by Mondeo men.
John Martyn
4/5
This was better than the other one we did, I liked the jazzy numbers the best, the folky ones the least and enjoyed the overall variety.
The Charlatans
1/5
This album would fit much better in a book titled 1001 albums to make you wish you could die
Cornershop
1/5
Awful. Would have given this a 0 if I could.
Hot Chip
4/5
This is like dance music made by nerds who have never left their bedroom. That's a compliment.
MGMT
2/5
I'm not a monster, the singles are good. The less said about the rest the better.
Primal Scream
2/5
God this was interminable. Never ending dull shite.
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Definitely not the Manics strongest work, but still worthy of a generous 4 - I am a particular fan of Kevin Carter and Enola/Alone.
Tina Turner
4/5
This is definitely not cool to like in 2025, it was extremely dated. And yet here I am giving it a 4… what can I say, I am a sucker for the 80s production, I love the sax and What’s Love Got To Do With It is an all time banger
Ray Charles
4/5
Good album, a bit long and a few tracks that weren't at the standard. I liked how retro it was and also how varied.
King Crimson
5/5
Yep, shocker, like every other King Crimson record we’ve heard this was also very cool and very interesting throughout. I am just a big fan of this band. Not sure I can pick apart the different levels of quality yet but this is amazing.
Weather Report
2/5
These guys are good at music. It's a shame that they chose to use that talent by playing this cheesy bollocks. How is this the jazz that gets selected for this list?
The Police
4/5
I love The Police but this is never the record I reach for. I'm actually not sure I have ever heard this. It is very good though, although it does have the usual Police misses such as Mother. As it's new to me it doesn't feel like a 5 yet - maybe I should fully explore their catalogue though. I appreciated the more straightforward pop rock approach here though.
Oasis
3/5
This one actually is a 3 isn't it? Some good hits (Live Forever, Supersonic), some overrated hits (Rock and Roll Star, Cigarettes and Alcohol) and some mid songs (Everything that wasn't a single).
Scott Walker
3/5
Enjoyable songs, kind of feel like these should be in a 60s movie soundtrack. It’s another that was nice enough as a listening experience but probably won’t be revisited much
Butthole Surfers
4/5
I’m surprised this got a positive score from you. This is very weird and noisy and I don’t mind that at all.
Devendra Banhart
3/5
This was inoffensive I guess, very bland. To be played in a coffee shop.
The Cult
4/5
Dudes Rock
5/5
We've already done this but I took the excuse to play it again - yeah this is still one of the absolute best albums. That opening run is unbeatable
The Libertines
1/5
Hateful. Some of the most unbearable music of all time. Would give a 0 if I could.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
The majority of the Nick Cave I have listened to is the Skeleton Tree/Ghosteen albums, so it was nice to have something more upbeat, although I will say that I think the stuff that shines more here is when it goes a bit more laid-back/ambient
Terence Trent D'Arby
4/5
I am partial to a bit of 80s cheese
Ride
5/5
It was interesting listening to this post the shoegaze boom that has happened in the last few years. I enjoyed it a lot, and there were bits that were heavier than I would expect from what is essentially a British Indie album. Obviously it was too long, but if you condensed it to 45 mins we could've been on for a 5.
M.I.A.
3/5
Get vaccinated kids
Aerosmith
4/5
Aerosmith are great and this is really fun. Back In The Saddle is an all time banger
Billy Bragg
4/5
This was really good. The few tracks that stray away from country/folk were less enjoyable which stopped it from hitting a full 5, but it was close.
Heaven 17
2/5
An inferior version of other things we've done that sound like this, and it's very dated.
The Zutons
1/5
Truly awful. Again I find myself asking why this would ever be an album you simply have to hear before you die?
The Hives
2/5
This was pretty mid, Hate To Say I Told You So is miles clear of the rest
Abdullah Ibrahim
4/5
This is a nice enough time whilst it's on, but I generally like my Jazz to be pushing boundaries a little more than this dares to do
DJ Shadow
5/5
Just pure vibes throughout. I was expecting this to be closer to Dilla, but this was surprisingly beautiful.
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
This was pretty dull. Was expecting some bangers.
Roxy Music
3/5
This was weird but in a very mediocre way
Pearl Jam
5/5
Perfect album, one of my all time favourites.
Röyksopp
2/5
This was not for me. I think it suffered coming off the back of Everything But The Girl, which was a vaguely similar thing that I liked a whole lot more.
John Cale
3/5
This was better than I expected from a 70s album with psychedelic tags
The Streets
3/5
I'm feeling between a 3 and a 4 and I'm tempted by 4 to give an up yours to the 1001 boomers. This is a cool portrait of how drab and grey it is to live in Britain and how little there is to actually get excited about. My real thoughts are probably 3, just because I think the debut is better.
Raekwon
4/5
Why are hip hop albums always so long? This could've been a 5 with a trim but as it is we will stick to 4.
Jane Weaver
2/5
This album was a lot of decent enough ideas that didn’t really get taken anywhere. The vocal melodies aren’t strong enough to carry it either. A bit weird to include an absolutely inconsequential 2017 album as well, this definitely isn’t remember as one of the essential modern albums.
The Jam
3/5
This was fine, some good songs but overall this is not my cup of tea.
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
I like this guy a lot, this is a really cool twist on the blues. Perfect for when the sun is beating down.
The Young Rascals
3/5
I toyed with a 4 but that felt too generous. I liked this more than I expected given the reviews saying they were b-tier Beatles.
Cocteau Twins
5/5
I wasn't sure what to expect off this one, but what a delightful surprise. Really lovely dream pop.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
I've really liked everything we've heard by Neil Young. He is a cool guy.
Van Morrison
3/5
This feels like B Tier Bruce Springsteen/Bob Dylan
PJ Harvey
5/5
Wow this one was wicked and was so much better than all the other PJ Harvey albums. Why don't all lists just have this one and sack the others off?
Beck
3/5
I feel the same about this one as I did the other Beck we did, this is just B-Tier Failure.
Elvis Costello
3/5
Like a worse Tom Petty
Peter Tosh
3/5
Pleasant enough, same as all the reggae we have done.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
I feel the same about this one as I do the other Run DMC we did - it’s very important but also feels very dated, and like it’s been surpassed by a lot that has come out since.
Saint Etienne
3/5
This largely passed my by without ever really being engaging. Fine I guess.
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
This is a tricky one. It was varied enough to remain interesting all the way through but nothing really truly jumped out at me and the guys voice is not that strong. I’m balancing out to a 3.
The Stooges
3/5
This is another of those ones that is interesting as a historical document but not that fantastic to listen to
Can
5/5
I liked the chill, pretty take on this album compared to the funk groove of the previous one. Nice contrast. You could listen to this one on the beach.
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
This is not upsetting, but it is unspeakably dull
The Roots
5/5
Yeah this was a cool, varied, ambitious album and I am excited to try out the other one that's on the lists.
Neu!
4/5
We’ve discussed before that krautrock might be the most pointless genre tag. However there’s loads under that label that slaps, and this is another one to add to the pile.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
4/5
This has come up on a perfect day, when the sun is blasting. Very pleasant.
Yes
4/5
I enjoyed this, I think I am ready to enter my prog stage (I believe this is called middle age?).
Merle Haggard
4/5
This is exactly what you picture when you think of country music. And I didn’t hate it.
Nirvana
5/5
I think this is my favourite Nirvana album, although they do all slap so hard. Perfect band.
The Fall
3/5
This was serviceable but didn't blow my mind. Not loads to say. At least it was short.
Beyoncé
3/5
I've never heard either of the Beyonce albums on this list. This one way pretty wildly inconsistent - there were some tracks I really enjoyed and some that were pretty big flops. I think it probably balanced out as a 3. I was surprised at how few songs I'd heard - I knew the name Drunk In Love but had never listened, so I actually only recognised XO.
The Dandy Warhols
2/5
Ok, I was predisposed to dislike this. Knowing my own taste, when I see the tags “britpop” and “psychedelic”, and an album that is 70mins long and starts with a 7 min opener I got the fear. And turns out I was broadly right to - this isn’t outright offensive and I won’t be wishing ill to the band, but god it was boring.
Dead Kennedys
4/5
This was a banger, love the energy, the variety, and the great insight into how landlords should be treated.
Portishead
4/5
This was cool, does a lot of interesting weird things. I think I enjoyed this more than the other Portishead record we did.
Charles Mingus
5/5
This is such a rowdy, sassy jazz record. Mingus is a really fun step once you've done Coltrane and Miles
Jacques Brel
3/5
An interesting change of pace from the usual stuff served up. Ultimately though it was nice for a play through but won’t be revisiting.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
This is very easy listening and easy to enjoy.
Bob Dylan
4/5
This had me thinking about how these lists are kind of context free - I'm not sure there's written reasoning for why these were picked? I did a little bit of reading around how this was a controversial album at the time, with long songs and electric guitars which alienated his fans. The context made me appreciate this more, and had me enjoying the back half more, although maybe that is also just because I locked in with the storytelling from Ballad Of A Thin Man onwards. I think that piecing together the 3 Dylan records we've done and understanding how they grow from one another is useful in getting why this was picked though.
Traffic
4/5
Never heard of this, was pretty cool and vibey.
Sade
4/5
I liked this but I think not as much as Love Deluxe that we did for another list. Still very smooth though
5/5
Loved this, War are cool and this was funky.
The Darkness
5/5
This is absolutely ridiculous, but also very fun
Blur
3/5
Ok I was geared up to hate this, but it wasn't actually that bad once I got past Girls and Boys which truly stinks. The oompah song is bad, and it really runs out of steam but I was expecting a 1 and for the most part it was fine. Much better than the other Blur we did.
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
Yeah this was a cool listen. The review that describes it as a bedazzled Pink Floyd kind of nails it.
Talking Heads
4/5
Second time we've had this come up, after I did it whilst Jiff and Stu were still playing. This is clearly amazing but I think I'd need a few more listens to fully grasp it. Extremely funky though.
JAY Z
3/5
I've always thought Jay-Z was a bit overrated and this confirmed it - family friendly pop rapper who definitely should not be above the records it's above. There are pleasant songs on here but none of it is as vital as the true classics of the genre.
Can
3/5
I think quality wise this was as good as Ege Bamyasi, which it had a quite similar vibe to. But the length of it meant the impact was lessened - an edit would've made this a 5 for me. Not bad though, and I enjoyed it stretching into some slightly weirder territory. Aumgn is bizarre but I quite enjoyed it. Edit - I wrote this midway through Aumgn and the bizarreness continues… maybe too much.
The xx
3/5
This was pleasant enough but felt really insubstantial. Just one mood throughout that was fine, but not exciting really.
Skunk Anansie
2/5
This is rubbish unfortunately. Not offensive enough for a 1 but I was immediately wishing for it to be over.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
Yeah this was cool, a nice swing record. I usually like my jazz a bit more weird but it was pleasant.
Deep Purple
2/5
There are bits of this that are good, but for a live album to justify it's inclusion it has to be pretty special and this is not that. That drum solo is interminable as well.
Simply Red
3/5
This was pleasant enough for a Sunday morning in the poppier moments, whilst straying a bit too far into cheese at times.
Roni Size
3/5
I was expecting to hate this because of its length and genre, but it was surprisingly varied and engaging.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
3/5
Very stripped back and basic. I don’t have a lot of critiques but also probably won’t be returning. Just kind of what you’d expect from a 50s country folk guy
Screaming Trees
4/5
They’re a grunge band that has never fully clicked with me, I think they last the hit factor and the psychedelic influence is the opposite of what I’m after usually. This is probably their best album though. It’s between a 3 and a 4 and I’ve gone light 4.
Dolly Parton
4/5
Not revolutionary but this is a nice enough listen
The xx
4/5
We've done both these XX albums within a week, and I definitely prefer this one. It is a lot poppier, and less focussed on mood, and the prominence of the male vocalist lifts it higher for me.
Brian Eno
4/5
This was surprisingly hooky and poppy for what I know of Brian Eno, while still having interesting and experimental touches. Pretty cool.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
I liked this more than the other Leonard Cohen we did - it got a bit abrasive at times which was a pleasant surprise.
Carpenters
3/5
Better than I expected it to be, I was worried it was going to be mostly twee bollocks like the title track, but there were bits I liked too.
Bob Dylan
4/5
I agree that this is too long. Interesting doing this on the day I did Springsteen's Dylan record, because there were a lot of points here that felt quite Springsteen.
Tom Tom Club
2/5
Musically this is fine, enjoyable even, but the vocals and lyrics are so godawful I've had to downgrade it significantly
Adele
1/5
I expected very little and it delivered. Music for mums.
New Order
4/5
I liked this more when it was dark, moody and Cure-like and less when it went full pop
Sonic Youth
5/5
Every Sonic Youth album we have done is cool and good, and this one is no different.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
Less skin crawlingly pretentious than the previous Yeah Yeah Yeahs we did, but this is still absolutely devoid of any substance. A truly terrible band.
4/5
Teetering between a 4 and a 3 and I went down because I don't want to like this. Gallagher's are cunts, their fans are cunts, but this is pretty much the only Oasis record that actually backs up the hype - there's a lot of bangers here. I particularly love the title track and Cast No Shadow. *Amended this post Definitely Maybe because that is a 3 and this is better.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Weird coincidence for this to come up the day after Brian Wilson died. This was kind of what I would expect from The Beach Boys, with a few little twists. It was enjoyable but not up to their very best material. I love the album cover though.
OutKast
4/5
This is a mammoth undertaking to listen to in one sitting. I am a big OutKast fan but I can confidently say this is their weakest. I think Speakerboxxx probably more consistent, the Love Below has some high highs and some bits that weren’t fantastic. Definitely an interesting and worthy album still, but by their standards this is a 4.
Thundercat
4/5
This is enjoyably throwaway and silly, but with really excellent playing underpinning it. A fun summer album.
Finley Quaye
2/5
This is a watered down version of someone cosplaying as a genre I don't really like. Not great.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
This is obviously great, but it is a very challenging listen because it is so bleak. This is art to appreciate, not something to throw on and enjoy. It is very moving though.
Boston
4/5
Enjoyable, cheesy classic rock. What it did make me think is that it's mad that the darkness album we did the other week basically matches the standard.
John Lee Hooker
3/5
Track one isn’t very representative of this I would say. Not sure how I feel about the blues being given an 80s sheen. At its core these were still pretty good though.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
Tribe's style is my favourite flavour of hip hop - if you throw in jazz samples then I am likely going to like it. The godfathers of everything that I love in this genre.
The Shamen
2/5
This was quite the chore to get through.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
I've been overwhelmingly positive about everything Neil Young we've done, and by those high standards this one is a step down. I think I like him in a slightly less rock-forward mode, which is not the route he's gone here.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
This one is not really working for me, I don’t like him in this bluesy, rocking mode.
The Boo Radleys
1/5
How The Boo Radleys are in here is beyond me, and the audacity to name your album after a John Coltrane album is frankly astounding. Rubbish.
Gene Clark
5/5
I'd never heard of this guy, and never heard of this record, but this was so good. A beautiful blend of loads of really good Country/Folk/Rock that was a pleasure all the way through. What a great discovery, will listen again for sure.
Dizzee Rascal
3/5
Bit one dimensional and a bit long, but the production was cool and it's pretty unique.
Burning Spear
4/5
Reggae is by no means my favourite but this was a strong entry as a genre I don't love goes - I think largely because it is very brief so doesn't overstay it's welcome.
The Only Ones
2/5
The vocals on this are truly obnoxious. Musically tolerable though.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
4/5
Deeply uncool, but I am very open to some prog noodling nowadays,
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
A nice sunny listen, with lots of recognisable parts that have been sampled elsewhere. Probably won't come back to this though, but was good enough as a novelty.
Ray Price
4/5
This was nice, like Frank Sinatra singing a country album.
Pentangle
3/5
Was unique and odd, not sure it was all good but I liked hearing something a bit new.
Kings of Leon
3/5
I'll shock you by not absolutely panning this. It was serviceable enough, but I don't think there is anything here that would suggest they would go on to be a huge festival headlining behemoth. Just pretty run of the mill garage rock. I maintain that Because Of The Times is the only truly worthwhile album they've made.
4/5
Liked this a lot, properly raucous and didn’t at all sound like it came out in 1969
The Prodigy
3/5
Was interesting doing this straight after The Shamens. It benefited this I would say because this was clearly better, but it still didn't have the same energy and aggression I expected from The Prodigy.
Baaba Maal
3/5
I appreciated that this was something very different from the usual stuff we get in this game, but I probably won't revisit.
The Undertones
3/5
Breezy enough pop punk
Ghostface Killah
5/5
I was concerned this was going to be another hour+ hip-hop record that needed an editor, but actually this was front to back really enjoyable. You can really hear the Dilla/Doom influence on this and it's so good for it. Great album that I will revisit.
Dwight Yoakam
4/5
This is what I picture when I think of classic country, and it was pretty well performed, good songs and also blissfully brief. High 3/Low 4
Tom Waits
5/5
Tom Waits might be the best to ever do it, and this might be in my top 3 of his records. This is just so fucking cool, and all the reviews of this moaning about his voice are written by absolute losers.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Pleasant enough, with a surprising number of songs I knew.
White Denim
4/5
Psychedelic always scares me, but this was pretty unique and varied and the vocals were not off-putting in the way they usually are for this genre. Actually quite enjoyable.
Slint
4/5
Another record I am familiar with, this is very influential on lots of stuff I love but as a listening experience in and of itself it's not my absolute favourite. Still a classic though, and very justified inclusion
The Residents
2/5
I was pretty keen for this to finish from the very first track. We get it, you're wacky guys
Willie Nelson
4/5
Loved this, such a lovely vibe. Really chill and relaxing
k.d. lang
3/5
Lots of very well performed and sung songs that are fundamentally mediocre.
Ian Dury
1/5
Albums like this make me think this project was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. The music isn't great but Ian Dury himself - my god. Maybe the worst "musician" of all time?
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
Liked this a lot, very noisy and with some surprising variations.
Haircut 100
2/5
Mediocre British New Wave? On this list? Nooooo, surely not?!?
Circle Jerks
4/5
Fun fizzy hardcore punk. A quick 15 minute blast, what's not to like?
R.E.M.
5/5
REM are really great, I think they basically don’t have a bad album and this one is also a banger. The One I Love is such a great single.
AC/DC
4/5
As dad rock goes, this is about as good as it gets
The Doors
4/5
I think I had the wrong impression of The Doors, I expected something artsy and pretentious but this is straight ahead blues. It’s well executed though.
Black Sabbath
5/5
It's been such a treat revisiting these Sabbath records, they're genuinely all flawless. This one has the most hits on it. Just the best band
RIP to the absolute GOAT
Todd Rundgren
2/5
I am generally a fan of sprawling ambitious weird albums, but I found precious little to like in this. It was mostly just irritating.
The Coral
1/5
I knew one Coral song before listening to this. I wish that remained the case.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
This was thoroughly pleasant sunny vibes.
Van Morrison
4/5
I was expecting to hate this as a 90 minute live album by a weird Covid crank. However, this was actually surprisingly soulful, blues-ey and fun. Still too long but I had a nice time with it.
Q-Tip
4/5
This was enjoyable fun hip hop, not loads to say.
Cheap Trick
2/5
This is all pretty good, and the hits at the end are great, but I resent live albums being included in here so I'm docking a point to make it a 2
4/5
This was mostly quirky and unique in an interesting way. Occasionally strayed into b-tier Beatles, but mostly enjoyable.
Peter Frampton
3/5
Solid dad rock that I am docking a point for being a live double album
Coldcut
2/5
Nah, I didn't enjoy this. So dated.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Superstition aside this was a significant level down from the other two Stevie albums we have done.
The Damned
4/5
A pretty fun punk album that goes a few different places to keep it interesting.
Orange Juice
3/5
I'm always open to an album of that is this 80s, and there are some cool melodic moments on this. I didn't love the vocals though so it marks it down.
Beck
2/5
I was really scrabbling around for reasons to not give this a one - I am having a very hard time. If this had caught me on a grumpier day it would've gotten one. Stop rapping you're shit.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
This very much does what you expect but to a high standard.
Alice Cooper
4/5
I was expecting an album of Schools Outs, so the amount of variety, and the amount of fun this record has was a really pleasant surprise.
David Holmes
2/5
This is very dull and dated. A chore to get through.
David Crosby
5/5
Very enjoyable, I was expecting straight folk but this did some cool blues/prog things too that I really really liked. Maybe Crosby Stills Nash and Young are great too because all the individual components I like.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
This had a lot of the same problems other Rolling Stones albums we have done did, but Paint It Black is undeniably great, and I also enjoyed Under My Thumb
Louis Prima
5/5
Extremely likeable, fun album. You'd have to have a heart of stone not the enjoy this.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
Very appreciative of getting something a bit different. I think for me this was more a curio than a new favourite, but I definitely enjoyed it whilst it was on.
The Saints
3/5
I started this thinking it would be ok, and the brass was a nice touch, but it quickly got dull. Punk shouldn’t be this shiny and clean imo.
Bert Jansch
4/5
There's something to be said for one guy and a guitar playing pretty songs.
Shuggie Otis
4/5
Like this an awful lot, very cool, jazzy and proggy. Was bordering on a 5
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
4/5
This was pretty unique and innovative sounding synth pop, with some Robert Smithy vocals. I appreciated the pushing of the boundaries.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Perfectly serviceable folk that didn’t move me either way too much.
Sebadoh
4/5
I am a fan of grunge and this is very proto-grunge, I can see the influence on all the Seattle bands that I really love.
Fairport Convention
3/5
Didn’t have lots of thoughts about this, it was fine enough folk rock.
Fever Ray
3/5
Kind of Bjork-y but not that exciting about it?
Suede
3/5
Wasn't sure what to expect from this, don't think I've ever listened to them before. I see the Bowie thing definitely, and it's a bit glam rock too. Fine, but not really my cup of tea.
Rod Stewart
1/5
This is rubbish.
Alice Cooper
3/5
This was less fun than the other Alice Cooper, No More Mr Nice Guy was a banger though
The Youngbloods
4/5
I'm a bit surprised by the negative reviews on this one, I didn't really think there was anything to dislike, it's nice varied bluesy/folky/jazzy rock. Between a 3/4 and I've bumped it up to counter the negative narratives.
Barry Adamson
1/5
Why have we decided to do this challenge? This makes me question my existence.
Serge Gainsbourg
2/5
Pretty groovy and enjoyable. I wonder what the subject matter is….. *reads the wiki*…… Yikes.
Pink Floyd
4/5
There’s some of this that is not to my taste (The Trial), but overall you have to admire the musicianship and the ambition.
Elvis Presley
3/5
This was very much what I expected, it didn’t really have any of Elvis’s iconic songs though and nothing massively jumped out. Pleasant enough.
Bee Gees
2/5
I was expecting some fun disco, I got some sub-par Elton John. Pretty boring.
Solomon Burke
3/5
Very similar in vibe to the Elvis we just did, this one is also pleasant enough, good voice but again nothing massively jumped out
David Bowie
3/5
I know I'm a notorious Bowie hater but I do think it's a bit odd having this uneventful late career album in here. It's not upsetting to listen to but it's hardly sparkling in the same way Blackstar is
Giant Sand
4/5
I liked this a lot, good dreary indie/alt-country. Maybe needed an editor because it goes on a bit but overall strong stuff.
Jane's Addiction
5/5
This is a great, proggy weird hard rock album, probably their best.
Love
3/5
I'd never heard of this band, this was some good 60s psychedelic folky stuff. It's a high 3, but I think I've been quite generous lately and I probably won't revisit so doesn't make a 4
Minor Threat
5/5
Easy 5, an absolute classic and so influential.
Turbonegro
3/5
Does exactly what it says on the tin, fizzy, stupid glam punk, which is fun while it's on but I highly doubt it will leave any lasting impression
Kid Rock
1/5
What the fuck is going on here? This is so all over the place and so bad at everything it does. The autotuned country ballad Only God Knows Why needs singling out as maybe the worst music ever recorded. I won't deny that at moments I tapped my foot but I also won't deny that doing that made me hate myself so much that I contemplated packing in this whole challenge and going to live as a monk in the mountains.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
Doing this exercise has made me think, are Rolling Stones the most overrated band of all time? The gap between the hype and the actual music is massive - this is absolutely fine but very unremarkable.
Underworld
3/5
There were moments I locked in with this that I enjoyed, but also large sections that just passed me by, and the whole thing could've been edited down by about 30mins.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Maybe it is listening to this off the back of King Crimson and Mastodon, two records that were extremely my shit, but there was nothing here that really grabbed me. it was inoffensive but that's about as nice as I can be.
Billy Joel
4/5
I wasn't sure what to expect from this, I only knew Uptown Girl and We Didn't Start The Fire - this was nothing like that. Like Elton John if he tried to do storytelling like Bruce Springsteen. Pretty good!
Dr. John
5/5
This was a really cool, Tom Waits-y blues album from an artist I’d never heard of. Loved it!
CHVRCHES
4/5
Surprisingly enjoyable synth pop. I knew a few tracks, but there were some album tracks that were also very enjoyable, and I particularly like the few that got a bit darker.
Anita Baker
3/5
Very smooth, to the point that there wasn't much for me to grasp onto. It was well performed but I probably won't return. Mediocre ultimately.
Janet Jackson
4/5
I really loved The Velvet Rope, and this one was also great - probably not quite up to that standard but still a very fun album
Mekons
3/5
Pretty unique punk album with some varied instruments, a lot of strings and piano. It’s all a bit ramshackle and the vocals are quite grating though. Points for effort rather than enjoyment.
The Isley Brothers
3/5
The two hits on this were absolutely great, sadly the rest of it doesn't live up to that standard.
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
Pleasant but ultimate background music rather than anything more substantial and inspiring
Korn
4/5
It's undeniably angsty and childish, and the last track and All In The Family have aged terribly, but the highs are great and I was bobbing my head listening. One of the better albums to come out of Nu-Metal
Gene Clark
4/5
This is probably inessential, and is very slight, but I was quite charmed by it. It was a pleasant time so I’m feeling a generous 4.
Suede
2/5
I liked this Suede less than the other Suede. This one was less rocky, and more camp and Bowie-ish, which to me is worse.
Robbie Williams
4/5
Let's be honest this isn't great. However.....AND THROUGH IT. AAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL
k.d. lang
3/5
Constantly dancing back and forth between good and cheesy, the balance is a bit off here but when it is good it is pretty and fun.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
This is well performed and pleasant, but a little unexciting to really score that highly. Borderline 3/4.
U2
4/5
We all know that U2 have great albums, this was not one I had heard before and I was a little surprised and how rough and angular it was - it's a world away from The Joshua Tree. I still really enjoyed it though.
Talk Talk
5/5
This album is clearly the bridge and also the moment they went from a good new romantics band to a generational band. All the synths are gone, and the spacey jazz stuff with real instruments has arrived, but the pop song structures remain. This is magic. The children's choir on track one though, bin that off.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
A significant step up from the other 2 Stones albums we have done but also still not worthy of the hype imo.
Violent Femmes
3/5
This one is not really for me, the acoustic punk slacker thing was fine but wasn't really exciting me.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
This game has been worth doing because it has exposed Rolling Stones as absolute frauds to me. These bums don't have a single good album, and are 90% absolutely mid music. Maybe the most overrated group in music history.
Blue Cheer
2/5
This was a snooze
Megadeth
4/5
The vocals are pretty mid but this thing has riffs for days. Pretty melodic, very fun.
Baaba Maal
3/5
I won't shit on this because I've been asking for variety and this is certainly something new. And in isolation each track was pretty cool. I just think that it all got a bit repetitive and it was a very long record. 40mins of this was about all I needed.
The Go-Betweens
2/5
Lots of reviews comparing them to The Smiths. The Smiths are bad. This is worse. Very very dull.
Buck Owens
3/5
Straight down the line country, listenable without being the greatest thing ever.
Nick Drake
4/5
We’ve now done the full Nick Drake discography and this was the worst of the three I think, but was still very pleasant morning coffee music.
Pavement
4/5
Much like the other Pavement we did this was good, ragged, quirky indie that is pretty easy to like.
Tim Buckley
1/5
Absolutely rubbish sadly
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
Bit of a snooze, pretty uninspired 90s alt rock
The Smiths
2/5
I gave the other Morrisey/Smiths albums bad reviews without listening to them, but I thought I'd actually give this one a play, and it's nice to know that it's crap music as well as a crap person. Girlfriend In A Coma saves this from a one. Oh and once again , Fuuuuuuuuuck Morrisey
Ute Lemper
3/5
I’m a bit torn on this one. It was sometimes quite dark and ominous which worked for me, and sometimes veered hard into camp which did not. Shakes out at a 3 I think.
Afrika Bambaataa
2/5
Hideously dated and I’ve read that the guy is a nonce, so I’m not feeling generous.
Eagles
4/5
These lists have shown me that I would really like The Eagles if I dug in deep. This is just really cool chilled poppy rock.
Rufus Wainwright
1/5
I loathed this. Wanted it to be done as soon as it started. I hate everything about Rufus, the smug sounding prick. God I am furious with this.
David Bowie
2/5
It's more Bowie, the couple of hits are good, especially Changes but overall I just don't get on with him.
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
Hopefully this is the last time I ever have to listen to this dull dull band
The Human League
2/5
More dated rubbish. Saving the best track til last was smart.
Bonnie Raitt
2/5
Very dated, annoyingly ballady and overall dull
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
This is honestly flawless and is not even his best record. He is the GOAT. The reviews here are deeply depressing - why would you try to do this kind of challenge if you’re so closed minded?
Solange
3/5
Very pleasant without really blowing me away. Probably would usually be a 4 but I'm scoring very generously here so far so I downgraded to a 3.
Iron Butterfly
4/5
I saw psychadelic and that worried me, but this was more proggy which was good, and the last track was particularly fun.
Deep Purple
3/5
This was decent but won't be revisited.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
This slaps so hard, Good Golly Miss Molly, what a banger.
Manu Chao
3/5
Good vibes but it’s November in the UK so not the ideal setting for this. I’m probably never coming back to it tbh.
Kacey Musgraves
5/5
Made my top 20 for 2018, a perfect record for a summery walk with the dog. I love this.
The Verve
4/5
I am a certified Britpop hater, so it comes as a shock that I actually think this is pretty good. What's The Story aside, this is maybe the best thing from this genre we have done? As always I will take points off for a hidden track though.
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
I'm sorry, this one is a big no from me. I'm not sure what this is trying to say and I don't care to find out. Goofy and quirky for quirks sake
The Thrills
2/5
Sometimes you just know that an album is going to stink, I'm not sure why I bothered playing this.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Fun campy goth rock/postpunk
The Kinks
2/5
The kind of 60s stuff that I find very boring.
The Stranglers
3/5
This went by without much of note, until Peaches which is an all time great tune.
Madonna
2/5
I was quite excited to do this because the other two Madonna albums we have listened to were great, but this was mostly pretty poor, and extremely dated. A big fall off from Ray Of Light.
Marilyn Manson
1/5
Nah, not listening to this guy. Believe women.
The Everly Brothers
3/5
This was nice, clean cut 60s stuff. Not too exciting, but not offensive.
Throbbing Gristle
4/5
It’s mad that this is the lowest rated album on the whole site. There’s so many fucking mind numbingly dull britpop records, this one at least tries to do something interesting. It’s not exactly accessible but it is certainly atmospheric and unique.
Talking Heads
3/5
Very similar to the other two Talking Heads albums we have done, but perhaps without quite the level of wow factor.
Public Enemy
3/5
This was good but also it’s not really my style of hip hop and I wouldn’t reach for it again - the classic case of the museum piece.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Wow. I loved the other two Joni Mitchell records, and they were both folk classics but I was absolutely not prepared for this one. The palette is expanded so much here, there are so many new jazzy textures, whilst keeping the essence of what made her great in the first place. This is unbelievable, what a record.
Miles Davis
5/5
Jazz fusion perfection, this list has it correctly placed with how high it is. Maybe Miles best?
The Style Council
3/5
Incredibly cheesy in a way that I could sometimes accept and sometimes went too far. The jazzy bits were ok, You’re The Best Thing is fun, but the rap song was unforgivable
The Triffids
2/5
Pretty dull dated indie pop, not that enjoyable. Avoids a 1 for not actively upsetting me
Keith Jarrett
5/5
This is one of my all time favs, it’s such a joyous, beautiful album.
Drive-By Truckers
4/5
I can't remember which album I said this about but sometimes you have to admire bands taking big swings. This has lots to say, and has some cool conceptual stuff, and the songs are at worst good, and in places great. I have marked it down for perhaps a meta reason - I liked Three Great Alabama Icons so much that I really wanted more in that flavour but I didn't really get anything. But overall I both admired and enjoyed this, to the point that I can forgive it being 90mins
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Led Zeppelin are great and this more great Led Zeppelin
David Ackles
1/5
Truly horrible, musical theatre bullshit.
Madonna
4/5
The lows on this could've made it a 3, but when there are songs as strong as the pop bangers are on this I have to boost it up
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
I liked this a lot on a sunny Sunday. A little long to be a 5.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
5/5
I haven't listened to this for a while since it disappeared from Spotify but fuck me this is still as brilliant as always. My taste has moved way closer to this as I have aged so it might actually have grown on me.
Joan Baez
2/5
Didn’t love this, the vocals are quite unique in probably a marmite way, and the vibrato wasn’t doing it for me.
Kraftwerk
3/5
I appreciated how unique and weird this is, but that didn't translate to massive enjoyment.
Neil Young
5/5
Neil Young is an absolute dude and this record is so cool.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Every time Dylan comes up I am scared and every time I actually do it I am pleasantly surprised. Maybe he is just good. A few edits needed but this is mostly a good time
William Orbit
3/5
I was expecting to really dislike this because most of the electronic stuff in this vein has been really dated, but some of this held up surprisingly well. There were still moments that sounded very of its time, but overall this was tolerable.
Pink Floyd
3/5
I have a bit of an aversion to psychedelic music, but I was hoping Pink Floyd being cool could win me round. Unfortunately they're much better at being prog nerds than at doing this.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Very good bluesy country rock - Neil Young can do no wrong.
Paul Simon
3/5
These songs are all very pleasant and listenable, and Paul Simon has one of the most iconic voices ever, but the songs don’t really have that much to grab onto and some of them are actively annoying (the cars one….)
Television
4/5
I'm a bit torn on this one, there were parts I really enjoyed musically, I broadly didn't like the vocals or the parts where it was a bit less weird and a bit more straight down the line. I have teetered into 4 but was on the border of a 3 - I am giving it the benefit as it is clearly ahead of it's time.
Dagmar Krause
1/5
I'm naturally predisposed to generosity towards albums that do something unique on this list, so take this as the damning indictment it is
Rush
4/5
Rush are a lot of fun, a gang of big nerds doing their widdly sci fi nonsense.
4/5
This is obviously a very challenging album, and is right on the very edge of what music can be. But isn't that kind of the point of jazz? World class musicians testing the boundaries of what can be done. For the most part I'm just impressed, and when the melodies come through in the second half I'm tapping my foot. Give me some experimentation over the generic slop that the majority of this list is any day.
Lambchop
3/5
This floated by in the background making no impression positive or negative. It just is. The falsetto really sounds like Ms Piggy which is not ideal
Wire
3/5
Much like the other Wire album we did, the music here is pretty good, but I really don’t get on with the vocals. I didn’t realise that REMs version of Strange was a cover, but that negatively impacted this record but it made me wish is was listening to Document instead.
Steve Winwood
2/5
I expected to enjoy this when I saw the reviews saying it was cheesy yacht rock, but unfortunately it didn’t have the level of catchyness I wanted. I was expected an album of Higher Loves, but that wasn’t even on this record FFS. Quite boring in the end.
LCD Soundsystem
1/5
I knew I was going to despise this one based on how I felt about the last one we did, and this certainly lived up to that - fucking horrible. Why does every song have less than one idea in it and yet lasts for 15 mins?
The La's
1/5
No. Unacceptable.
Waylon Jennings
4/5
This was very well produced, well sung country that smartly didn’t outstay its welcome and so made me enjoy its whole runtime. Good stuff
Stan Getz
5/5
I love me some Stan Getz, this is just so pleasant and listenable, I played it through twice. Great musicianship to make some lovely sunny tunes.
The Beta Band
2/5
Pretty uninspiring electro indie that was best left in 2004
Grateful Dead
2/5
This is what I feared the other Grateful Dead album we did would be. The first track in particular was really just tuneless purposeless meandering. Not a fun time.
Air
3/5
Pretty cool and vibey.
Morrissey
1/5
How has this cunt got yet another album in here?
Donald Fagen
4/5
This feels like an album that would receive a rave review from Patrick Bateman in American Psycho (complimentary)
4/5
This is obviously incredibly cheesy and dated. And yet… I thoroughly enjoyed it. Date Stamp in particular was a banger.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
I can see why Corgan's vocals would be off putting but it really works for me. I love how the guitars sound on this record, and I always love the levels of ambition the Pumpkins have. Great band, and this could be their best record.
George Michael
4/5
Significantly less ballads than the other George Michael we did, and when it is upbeat it's all fun campy danceable pop.
Tim Buckley
3/5
I absolutely hated the last one of his we did, so I was braced for the worst. Musically I didn’t hate this, there were a few quite funky tracks that worked, but Tim himself is horrible and the lyrics/vocal delivery are so bad.
Big Star
3/5
Big Yawn from me unfortunately
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
This is the best Manics album imo, I like this fiery rage version of them over the orchestral cinematic grandeur.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Some more top class Bruce, I am just a sucker for him
Slayer
5/5
You won’t like this and you will be wrong though, this slaps.
Kate Bush
2/5
Sorry Kate this was a big no from me. The weirdness was amped up too far
Linkin Park
4/5
Undeniably dated and cheesy and teenage angst etc, but this does have unreal bangers.
The Sonics
4/5
I thought this was going to be a knock off Beatles, but actually the rawness it was recorded with made it a really fun listen.