Good album! I love a lot of the songs on it, and Damon does a good job as 2-D.
This album is just pure gold (as a man who’s never listened to an RnB album before). I adore how “Switch” samples “Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight, and of course “Waterfalls” is amazing. “Case of the Fake People” is probably my favorite song from the album due to its message.
Really good album full of nice songs, like “Rockin’ Stroll” and “It’s a Shame About Ray”.
Interesting album. It’s not necessarily my cup of tea, but it’s still good. Would I listen to it just for the sake of listening to an album? No. I’d probably only listen to it while working.
Holidays in the Sun is fantastic.
“Bodies” has good lyrics, but it didn’t age well due to the meteoric rise in abortion mentions.
“No Feelings” is a nice song with a meaning that even I can relate to 46 years later.
“Liar” just has all of these lyrics that I would definitely scream at the top of my lungs if I could.
“Problems” is just pure punk.
“God Save The Queen” screams British angriness.
“Seventeen” is kind of Johnny Rotten complaining about hippies.
“Anarchy in the U.K” is a classic song.
“Submission” is kind of weird. I can’t tell if the meaning is NSFW or about a submarine.
“Pretty Vacant” is just ‘Young People Are Dumb: The Punk Song’. Probably my favorite track.
“New York” takes a whole spin on the punk fakes and just adds in some timely angst. It’s my least favorite track because of the timely nature.
“EMI” is hatred towards the label of the same name, but the band hates them more than anyone could ever think.
Overall, a super consistent album. 4.5/5.
A nice album from an incredible songwriter. I wish he had more songs to make this album a little longer, though.
4.7/5
Favorite: “Sit Yourself Down”
Least Favorite: “Cherokee”
Not really my type of music, but the lyrics (despite the vocalist’s often incomprehensible ramblings) serve some meaning that makes it a standout album in my opinion.
3.1/5.
Favorite/Least Favorite: I have no opinion on my favorite or least favorite tracks of this album.
Good album! I love how powerful Brian Johnson’s vocals are on it, even if the instrumentation is simple. I can tell these guys partied hard before writing this album. It’s a nice collection of the sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll lifestyle.
4.4/5
Favorite Track: Shake a Leg
Least Favorite Track: Kind of hard to decide.
Tori Amos excels at what some bands and artists fail to do: Make good piano-based rock songs. Her debut solo album ‘Little Earthquakes’ is no exception, being a melodramatic and confessional album full of Kate Bush style lyrics and grandeur bigger than some Ancient Greeks’ hubris.
The album’s cover shows a metaphorical representation of Tori’s story. She’s trapped in a box, and the look on her face tells the listener that she needs some help to get out. By making this album, Tori became a sensation, being on Rhino Records for her whole career. Coming from a person who hasn’t listened to any of Tori Amos’ songs before listening to this album, she’s more amazing than I thought she would be.
4.8/5 (rounding up to a 5 because I can)
Favorite Track: Happy Phantom
Least Favorite: Precious Things
This album is two things:
1. Unapologetically queer.
2. Unapologetically 80s.
Those two factors are what make this album a hidden gem in my eyes. Héloïse Letissier assumes a masculine alter ego in the form of Chris. This album has a version in English and a version in French, which is a rarity in today’s music. Songs like “Girlfriend”, “Doesn’t Matter” and “Make Some Sense” are an introduction to Chris’ beliefs, and make for some pretty solid foundation. This album was unexpected in all of the best ways possible.
4.6/5
Favorite Track: Doesn’t Matter
Least Favorite: The stranger
Motörhead play punk and funk influenced metal for the drunks and the rebellious ones. Lemmy’s voice is half-singy and half-screamy and makes for the perfect jolt of energy in a live setting. This makes this live album a gem in my eyes. If I could, I would’ve seen Motörhead live in the 80s, much to my dad’s dismay.
4.3/5
Favorite Track: Stay Clean
Least Favorite: Iron Horse
Such a trip of an album in a good way. It feels refreshing to hear old music that still pioneered legends like Kurt Cobain. I don’t know how to understand spoken Portuguese and haven’t read up on the meanings of the lyrics, but it’s still a good listen.
4.3/5
Favorite: A Minha Menina
Least Favorite: Don’t have one
Classic album in my eyes. I love the way the boys seem to cooperate so effortlessly. Most of the album is Lennon and McCartney providing their songwriting genius to the table, but occasionally Ringo and George write good songs, too. This is a prime example of late Beatles gold.
5/5
Favorite track: “Because” or “Oh! Darling”
Least Favorite: I have none.
Elton John is the master of crafting wonderful 70s pop songs. A lot of his work is regarded as classic and for good reason. This album is a nice introduction to him for anyone who wants to get into Elton John. The only downside is that it’s a little long for me.
4.4/5
Favorite Track(s): Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Saturday Night’s Already For Fighting
Least Favorite: Jamaican Jerk-Off
Nice album full of psychedelic gems. The Kinks do an amazing job of providing trippy instrumentals, whether it be through their chord progressions or choices of instrumentation.
4.8/5
Favorite: “Death of a Clown”
Least Favorite: I have none.
Probably one of the best albums of the 60s I’ve listened to. “Wrote a Song For Everyone” is amazing, and I love John Fogerty’s twang on all of these songs. That’s what gives this album a southern rock feel, and one that makes me want to explore this genre even more.
5/5
Favorite song: “Commotion” or “Bad Moon Rising”
Least Favorite: I have none.
Good album, but most of the songs sometimes have instrumentals that drag on, and the lyrics are sometimes nonsense. I don’t think I would fit well within the Madchester scene, and this album reeks it all.
Favorite: “Step On”
Least Favorite: “Grandbag’s Funeral”
3.4/5
Good album. It verges on experimentation, but sometimes the instrumentals drag on for too long.
4.0/5
Favorite: “Bubblegum”
Least Fav: “Death to Our Friends”
Amazing album. I’d never really listened to Bowie before, but this album makes me want to explore his discography more. All of the songs are radio length except for “Five Years”, which means that my attention isn’t given away immediately.
5/5
Favorite: “Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide”, “Hang on To Yourself”, “Ziggy Stardust”
Least Favorite: I have none.
This album is one I have never listened to before (I’m not that much of a country fan), but it is good. Each of the girls’ voices blend really well together, and the harmonies sound amazing.
4.8/5
Favorite: “Wildflowers”, “Hobo’s Meditation”
Least Favorite: “Telling Me Lies”
Decent album. I don’t have a lot to say about it, because it was another run of the mill Smiths album but with Morrissey’s name slapped on it.
4.0/5
Favorite: “I Don’t Mind If You Forget Me”
Least Favorite: “Late Night, Maudlin Street”
I don’t really know the whole shindig about Phil Spector being a murderer, but this album slaps. -2 points for the accusations.
2.7/5
Favorite: “Frosty The Snowman”
Least Favorite: “The Bells of St. Mary”
Phenomenal album. I loved how it’s fully immersed in the story of Jesus of Suburbia. It’s very compelling as well.
5/5
Fav: Letterbomb
Least Fav: None
I haven’t tried a prog rock album yet, but this is a good intro to it! I love Peter Gabriel’s silky voice flowing over the instrumentals of every song. To me, this album feels like a musical. I wish to see a stage production of this in any way possible.
4.8/5
Fav: “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway”
Least Fav: “The Colony of Slippermen”
Good album of Britpop. Definitely would listen to more of The Manics if I could.
4.4/5
Fav: “Enola/Alone”
Least Fav: “Kevin Carter”
My Britpop streak is about two days in a row. I kinda love it (and I’d be opening to exploring more of it). The singer kinda has a weird voice.
4.3/5
Fav: “North Country Boy”
Least Fav: “Tellin Stories”
Amazing album full of folk rock. Some of the songs didn’t age well, but the covers are good.
4.8/5
Fav: “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better”
Least Fav: “Spanish Harlem Incident”
This album was unexpected in the best way possible. Nick’s voice is haunting, and it feels like a poet is singing me to sleep (but in a good way; I just can’t get enough of it).
4.9/5
Fav: “Way to Blue”
Least Fav: I have none.
This is a very relaxing album. It’s got the nice sentimentality I’d expect from a Neil Young album, with some very nice storytelling to boot. The fact that it’s this long with only 8 songs, though, makes me wonder where my attention span went.
3.7/5
Fav: “For The Turnstiles”
Least Fav: “Ambulance Blues”
This is probably the first metal album I’m listening to, and it’s a lot of fun to listen to. A lot of the songs are long (8 songs with a 36 minute run time) but it’s okay. The instrumentals do get a bit repetitive though, even if Mustaine and Poland trade solos.
4.4/5
Fav: Wake Up Dead
Least Fav: Bad Omen (solo absolutely rips, though)
This is a nice album full of poppy and rocky hits that seem so 80s that you wanna go to a mall and get an Orange Julius.
4.6/5
Fav: Pretty in Pink
Least Fav: All of This and Nothing
This album is some nice southern rock that is the south’s equivalent of The Strokes. I used to hate the vocalist when I listened to Sex on Fire, but now I kinda think his voice fits more with the vibes of this album than that song.
4.4/5
Fav: “Happy Alone”
Least Fav: “Trani”
Nice album full of amazing songs from the legendary songwriter.
4.9/5
Fav: “Are You Ready For The Country”
Least Fav: I have none.
Decent album of folky songs. Will Oldham’s voice is kinda weird on this album. It’s also kind of good, though. It sounds like a proto Will Toledo from Car Seat Headrest.
3.8/5
Fav: A Minor Place
Least Fav: Knockturne
Perfect album in general. I love Stephen Malkmus’ voice, and it fits the instrumental so well.
5/5
Favs?: “Elevate Me Later”, “Cut Your Hair”
Least Fav: None
Is this in my top 50 albums of all time? Yes. Do I love it a lot? Also yes. Van’s voice is legendary here.
4.5/5
Fav: “Everyone”
Least Fav: None
I don’t have a lot to say about this album, but it’s good.
4.2/5
Fav: Sold To The Highest Bidder, Get Me To The World on Time
Least Fav: I have none.
This might seem like a weird story, but I’m gonna put this in anyway.
I first heard a song by The xx when I listened to a 2000s indie playlist on Apple Music. The song of choice? “Crystalised”. It was a pretty nice song, and I listened to it almost every time I listened to that playlist. I loved that song from the first moment I heard it.
Now, we go to Thanksgiving of last year. I’m in an airport with my parents and bored out of my mind trying to wait for our flight. I hear a song that seems familiar to me. It’s almost like I’ve heard it before. I said to myself, “Is this ‘Heart Skipped A Beat’ by The xx?” I Shazammed the song before realizing I was right! I guess I’d heard the guitar riff or something somewhere else.
This album was a phenomenal listen. I love how there’s interplay between the vocalists, and everything sounds so smooth yet minimalist. Will I listen to this again? 100% yes.
5/5
Fav: Heart Skipped a Beat, VCR
Least Fav: I have none.
This album is good but long. Frank’s voice sounds as good as a Pixies album here, and it feels like he made a Pixies album under his own name. What a genius.
5/5
Fav: “Calistan”, “Headache”, “Whatever Happened to Pong?”
Least Fav: None
This is my first Pink Floyd album!
Let me just say that this was longer than I thought. 44 minutes with a 5 song run time? Even though each of the parts of “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” are separated into two different songs, it’s still kind of concerning.
This was a nice album, though.
4.2/5
Favorite Song: “Wish You Were Here”
Least Favorite: None
Good album. I really love how Lenny’s able to encapsulate the ‘60s while making an album that released in the ‘80s.
4.6/5
Fav: “Flower Child”
Least Fav: None
This album is a staple of 90s alt/indie rock. I love the way Harvey uses references from old folk tales and myths to give the album an eerie and provocative feel.
4.6/5
Fav: “Highway ‘61 Revisited” or “Yuri-G”
Least Fav: None
Good album. I love Karen O’s voice on every part of this album.
4.8/5
Fav: “Zero”, “Heads Will Roll”
Least Fav: None
I did not expect this album to be on here, but it was a nice change of pace. I like how the generator’s giving me a lot of albums from the 21st century. Dan Auerbach’s voice on this album is both comforting and emotional, and the riffs on this album pack so much into a 3 to 4 minute song. Truly one of the best albums of the 2010s.
5/5
Fav: “I’m Not The One”, “Tighten Up”
Least Fav: None
Amazing album. I wouldn’t call it an album, though; it’s more of a compilation. We already got a Motörhead live album as an album, so I don’t really blame Dimery for his choice. Definitely gonna listen to more of The Hives soon.
4.9/5
Fav: “Die, All Right!”, “Main Offender”
Least Fav: None
I adore Kate Bush. She’s an arty, sometimes comical, overly sensitive when she needs to be and tough when she’s not rock singer. Even though I haven’t listened to a lot of her albums (I’ve only listened to some of Lionheart and The Kick Inside and this one today), she makes some really good songs that stand the test of time.
Her songwriting on this album is just like the others: Adventurous and not afraid to go the distance. Songs like the title track and “Heads We’re Dancing” are stellar examples of this newfangled sound she seems to have made. All of the songs on this album are pure gold in musical form. This is an album I’d definitely recommend to other people for the adventurous sounds alone.
I’ll be sure to keep a look out for Hounds of Love and any other album of hers on this list, and I’ll definitely listen to this one again.
5/5
Favorites: “Deeper Understanding”, “Heads We’re Dancing”, “Between a Man and a Woman”, “This Woman’s Work”
Least Favs: None
Adele is a complete icon. A legend, at that. She signed with XL in 2008, gave us her debut album 19, and then gave this masterpiece in 2011.
Long story short, this is an amazing album from an amazing singer. Her hits defined a generation and introduced them to soul. She’s like an Amy Winehouse in her own right.
The songwriting is emotional and you might end up screaming to it. People say this album is made for the masses, but I disagree. Remember what I said about Amy Winehouse? Adele carries that torch. Scratch that, actually. She RUNS with it.
Legendary album.
5/5
Fav: “Set Fire to The Rain”, “He Won’t Go”
Least Fav: None
Wouldn’t you know it, this album is my lowest ranked album yet! Just like Lust For Life, it hits when it hits. This time, it barely hits. This is my first album with no 10s so far, but Neneh Cherry is truly someone who pioneered hip-hop in the 80s. From the smashing club hit “Buffalo Stance” to songs like “Heart” and “So Here I Come”, she truly has her moments. On songs like “Love Ghetto” and “The Next Generation”, her message tries but fails to reach me through all of the sensual lyrics. The only sense I feel with them is panic and cringe. The album is good otherwise and I give it a 75/100 or 3.75/5.
Coming from an American, this album is the most British psychedelic album I’ve listened to ever since I listened to Rubber Soul. I hadn’t really heard of Small Faces before this, but I did hear that someone made a Broadway show based on their legacy.
The songs on this album are a treat from my past listening (mostly had 2000s albums for a couple of days). The thing is that this band seems like an oddity. Not in a Captain Beefheart way, but in a way of their own.
Also, it’s kind of weird to have a 19 minute closer. I’m not in the mood for long songs.
4.3/5
Fav: “Afterglow (Of Your Love)”
Least Fav: “Happiness Stan”
This is a decent album. Not my favorite, but it’s good.
3.7/5
Fav: “Wheels”
Least Fav: “Hot Burrito #1”, “Hot Burrito #2”
Nice album! I didn’t know it was a collection of Woody Guthrie songs, but that just makes things even better. I wonder how Guthrie would’ve orchestrated some of his own lyrics that he didn’t put to music.
4.6/5
Fav: “Christ for President”
Least Fav: None
Good album! I really love how Justin Hawkins’ voice just floats over everything. Songs like “Givin’ Up” and “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” transport me back to the 80s in a good way. “Love on The Rocks with No Ice” does the same but in a bad way. Regardless, it’s decent enough for me to give it an 82%, almost tying it with Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (82.2%). That’s why I’m using percents here, and that’s why the album receives a 4.1/5.
In a good way, this album is all over the place. Some of the songs don’t hit as hard as I thought it would, but the album is somewhat lush in good parts. The opener “The Wrong Way” starts off with an unexpected expletive but slowly drifts into a saxophone and bass collision with drums that slowly progress in somewhat intensity. Despite that, “Bomb Yourself” is just political. It’s not too political, but it is political.
I guess this 20 year old album deserves an 82.2% or 4.11/5.
Favs: “Dreams”, “Staring At The Sun”
Least Fav: “Bomb Yourself”
This album is everywhere. Tom Waits does his best impressions of Americana and soul while talking about death and absolute chaos. There’s a method to his madness, though. He apparently worked in the back room of a studio cellar to record this album! Songs like “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up” and “A Little Rain” perfectly encapsulate the feel of being around a campfire and singing a song with a couple of friends. It would honestly be an amazing album if some songs had less cringey lyrics or less gore-focused lyrics. That’s why this album gets an 4.03125 or an 80.63%.
Great album. I’ll probably grow fonder of one or two songs, but it’s an emotional rollercoaster all throughout. This is my first album by Paul Simon (as a solo artist) on this list, and it’s honestly one of the best albums I’ve heard in my life.
4.2/5
Fav: “The Boy in the Bubble”
Least Fav: “Diamonds On the Soles of Her Shoes”
This album is a nice one. I didn’t listen to this originally due to time constraints, but now I like it. I love how Matt Berninger’s voice flows through every note. The instrumentals are clean and smooth, like how a nice indie album should be, and the harmonies are dense and altogether, which makes for some amazing dissonance.
4.3/5
Fav: “Anyone’s Ghost”, “Little Faith”, “Lemonworld”
Least Fav: None
This album is legendary.
To preface this, I listened to Elliott Smith’s albums last March (non-posthumous) and everything changed for me. I covered “Say Yes” from Either/Or on my YouTube and then kind of fell out of Elliott Smith. I realized his songs kinda weren’t for me because most of them were about topics I thought were taboo and didn’t wanna talk about.
A couple of weeks ago, one of my friends (mind you, we’re both high school kids now) asked me for a 90s recommendation. I showed her Elliott Smith and gave her Either/Or, and I listened to it again for the first time in almost a year. It felt nostalgic and vulnerable. I loved it so much that I decided to cover “Rose Parade”. Well, that cover was literally the day before this one, and I got Figure 8 today. I was so happy and I realized how Elliott Smith is a master craftsman of what he does.
This is my favorite Elliott Smith album for a reason, and that reason is because it’s so cohesive. It’s the full amalgamation that is Smith’s sound.
5/5
Favorite Track: “Color Bars”, “L.A.”, “Pretty Mary Kay”
Least Fav: I have none
This album is… interesting.
I love how Twigs’ voice compliments the sparse instrumentals very well. This album just flows with a combination of the two, and the result is very intriguing.
Certain songs on the album kind of overstimulate me, like “Numbers”, but the album as a cohesive whole is very minimalist. I appreciate the songwriting, too.
I really like a lot of the layered electronic elements from this album, but a lot of the songs almost sound the same (if you take key and BPM factors into consideration).
Overall, it’s a decent album. Would I listen to it again? Probably not.
3.5/5
Fav: “Video Girl”, “Give Up”
Least Fav: “Numbers”
I do not wanna listen to this album, so here’s me just getting the review out of the way.
DNF/5.
Nice album! I don’t have much to say, but Jimmy Page absolutely rips. I kinda hate how 1/3 of the album was just covers, but it’s okay because they do those covers justice.
3.7/5
Fav: Heartbreaker
Least Fav: Moby Dick
This album is ahead of its time. Probably one of the best funk records I’ve ever heard (and I haven’t even listened to it). Despite some of the songs just feeling weird, “We Are Family” showcases the Sledge Sisters’ best efforts as a team, and “One More Time” as a closer is perfect. The album sums up disco and funk in the seventies while also giving a familial edge to it. Despite that, “Somebody Loves Me” should’ve either been shorter or faster. My attention span already dwindled after that! Regardless, this album is a gem and deserves to get an 86.25/100, or a 4.3125/5.
Fav: “One More Time”
Least Fav: “Somebody Loves Me”
Not a bad album! It’s got the charm of Rubber Soul, the attitude of Badfinger, and the lyrics of 80s Britain. Lee Mavers has an odd voice that shines when it shines and dims when it dims, but otherwise, the album is good.
3.4/5
Fav: “Feelin’”, “Son of a Gun”
Least Fav: “Looking Glass”
This is a nice album! I love Phillip Oakley’s voice on songs like “The Sound of The Crowd” and “Open Your Heart”. The instrumentation is sparse but fluid. Everything flows like a stream.
4.5/5
Fav: “The Sound of The Crowd”
Least Fav: “Get Carter”
1/5.
I didn’t finish this album because it’s not for me. I only heard a little bit of “Frownland” and was disappointed.
This album is good. There’s a lot of songs I was somewhat familiar with, but most of it was new. I absolutely love the title track (both parts) and how the overall album flows together to make one ridiculous concept.
4.3/5
Fav: “Fight Test”, “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pts 1 & 2”, “Are You A Hypnotist??”, “Do You Realize??”
Least Fav: “In The Morning of The Magicians”
Let me get this out of the way: This was one of the hardest albums for me to listen to in the history of me listening to albums.
It was a long one (seriously? 12 songs divided into 58 minutes?), and my attention span was crawling and waiting for some of the songs to end.
Regardless, the musicianship is on point. Corey Taylor makes for a great vocalist as always, and Joey Jordison’s drumming carries the songs.
3.6/5
Fav: “Dead Vendetta”
Least Fav: “This Cold Black”
This is a legendary album. Cat Stevens’ voice is smooth and calm as butter, and the entire album feels like some long-lost nostalgic memory I never knew I had.
5/5
Fav: “Into White”, “On The Road To Find Out”, “Wild World”
Least Fav: None.
In short, this album is amazing. Some songs will definitely grow on me if I listen to the album more, and it’s a nice display of alternative music that isn’t afraid to show its true colors. It’s political, as seen with “Orange Crush”, heartbreaking, as seen with “The Wrong Child”, and creepy, as seen with “Stand”. There’s a lot more to it, but it is genuinely one of the best alt rock albums out there, and it deserves a 4.36/5.
Fav: “The Wrong Child”, “You Are The Everything”
Least Fav: “Orange Crush”
This is an angsty and left-turn filled 90s album that’ll have anyone screaming along in minutes. The vocals are raw and powerful, the instrumentation is half sample filled and half raw talent from guitars, basses and drums, and the lyrics are sardonic and perfectly executed. This album deserves a 4.4/5 or 88/100.
This album is surprisingly not what I thought it would be. It’s an adventure, but in the same way that a trip to the grocery store is an adventure: some people get excited over it, and others don’t. I was the latter. Songs like “Morgenspaziergang” and the two parts of “Kometenmelodie” do redeem this album, though. They’re soundscapes that just feel good to listen to. But, the album’s 22 minute opener of a title track really threw me off of my rocker. And that’s why I think this album gets a 58% or a 2.9/5.
Fav: Nothing really stuck out to me here.
Least Fav: “Autobahn”
This album blows me away every time I listen to it. Coldplay is a masterful band full of talented musicians and great people in general. Like I said, this is possibly my favorite album of the 2000s, and people might hate me for it. It’s true! Chris Martin’s songwriting sounds passionate and bounces off the instruments really well. Songs like “A Whisper” and “In My Place” really showcase the band’s flexibility. This album deserves a 96.3%, or a 4.815/5.
Fav: “A Whisper”
Least Fav: None
This album is a representation of what it was like to live in a third world country in the 2000s, and parts of the album are so creative. M.I.A. really knows how to tell a story, and Kala is no exception. Songs like “Jimmy” talk about falling in love with a UN worker (when the song very well could be a cover). The features here are a mixed bag, with Afrikan Boy’s feature being the best out of the three and The Wilcannia Mob (a one-hit wonder group in Australia full of preteens) being the worst. “Mango Pickle Down River” is just decent.
Regardless, the album is amazing and a must listen. That’s why I think it deserves an 84.1/100, or a 4.205/5.
Fav: “Jimmy”
Least Fav: “Mango Pickle Down River”
This is a nice album. It really shows the outlaw country vibe that some artists had in the 60s. Merle’s voice really is the key here. With a Johnny Cash inspiration, he gave way to country crooners. Some of the lyrics, though, do sound a bit out of place at times, like “Life in Prison”. I guess that means I wouldn’t like a lot of Johnny Cash songs. The album does have 10/10 songs in the form of “Mary’s Mine” and “All of Me Belongs to You”, though, but it deserves an 85.8%, or a 4.29/5.
In short, this album is probably one of my favorites so far. The rankings don’t lie, though, and the closing track “Eclipse” sounds rushed and rambled both lyrically and vocally. I do love the opener “Squares” and how vibey it sounds. You also can’t go wrong with the sudden change in “Dragon”, though. This album rightfully deserves a 4.4/5, or an 88% (88/100).
Fav: “Dragon”, “Squares”
Least Fav: “Eclipse”
3.85/5
This album hits sometimes and misses others. When it hits, though, it hits. Hard. Most of the songs either didn’t hit as hard as I thought they would or Iggy Pop is a little more twisted than I thought.
From “Lust For Life”’s chaotic opening, to the twisted realm of “Turn Blue”, to the absolute comedy gold that is “Success”, Iggy Pop displays a lot of emotions here. He’s joking in one song and apathetic in the next, and in the one after that, he cruises on by like Tony Marston in And Then There Were None without a care. This album confidently gets a 77/100, or a 3.85/5.
Fav: “Success”
Least Fav: “Turn Blue”
Overall, this is a nice album. I love how PJ Harvey stepped away from her Riot Grrl contemporaries from the time and wrote songs mostly about gender politics. “O Stella” highlights a name given to the Virgin Mary, while some songs like “Sheela-Na-Gig” make me cringe due to the lyrical content. Regardless, PJ’s vocals are definitely powerful and worthy of praise. That’s why I think this album deserves an 85.4/100, or a 4.27/5.
I adore this album. When I first listened to it, though, I thought Live Through This was better. I was wrong! This album is basically if Live Through This was more polished, and I respect the artistic decisions to do that. Billy Corgan wrote some of the album’s songs, and it’s pretty cool to see all of them be good songs. That’s why I think this album deserves a 95.8%, or a 4.79/5.
Fav: Boys on the Radio
Least Fav: None
This album perfectly sums up the Summer of Love era of music for me. It’s got chill instrumentation, conscious political lyrics, and is a perfect example of a psychedelic record. This album deserves a 4.15/5 or an 83/100.
Fav: “Salt of The Earth”
Least Fav: “Stray Cat Blues”
That was a hilarious way to spend 35 minutes. Songs like “Gut Feeling” and “Space Junk” really show that you gotta be silly to have fun. Also, the Stones cover, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, really threw me off in a good way. Despite this silly positivity, Devo’s humor is somewhat different from mine, as illustrated by “Sloppy”. This album deserves to be in the Library of Congress, and it also deserves a 4.315/5, or an 86.3%.
Fav: “Gut Feeling / Slap Your Mammy”, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
Least Fav: “Sloppy”
In short, this album is experimental. It ticks all the right boxes of an experimental album and leaves me feeling dreamy afterwards. A lot of the songs are long, but that only makes the experience better, in my opinion. This album deserves an 86.7%, or a 4.33/5.
Fav: “if i am”, “new you”
Least Fav: “is this and yes”
This is an insane album. It was amazing for its time, and it kind of held up well. Songs like “Communication Breakdown” and “Good Times Bad Times” show Led Zeppelin’s ability to adapt. Despite this, four of the nine available songs on the album are covers of folk songs or blues songs. This album is so versatile, but when you take its shortcomings into account, it deserves a 80%, or a 4/5.
This is a good album. I didn’t know I’d be into this type of dream pop or shoegaze, but I’d say I am. Victoria Legrand’s vocals just make me feel like I’m floating, and everything is very Cocteau-Twins-ish (from what I’ve heard of Cocteau Twins’ songs). This album definitely has a lot of strong suits: “10 Mile Stereo”’s metaphor of a heart represented by a rock, “Used to Be” and its almost folky sounding instrumental, and the sneak disses on material wealth with “Norway”. This album definitely deserves a 91% and a 4.55/5.
This is a good album. I adore how the vocals from Buckingham and Nicks play into each other, and a lot of the songs are confirmed classics in my eyes. Even though “The Chain” has some unexpected instrumentation, the whole album is good and chock-full of banger songs. That’s why I think this album deserves a 93.6% or a 4.68/5.
If I’m being honest, this is probably my favorite folk album I’ve heard so far. Nick Drake does a really amazing job at making his songs up to interpretation, and most of these songs are up to interpretation. The songs are mostly melancholic, like “Poor Boy” and “At The Chime of a City Clock”, which add to the already amazing instrumentals. Drake is also a good storyteller, and songs like “Northern Sky” and the aforementioned “Poor Boy” do just that. That’s why this album deserves a 92/100, or a 4.6/5.
Fav: “Fly”
Least Fav: None
This album is amazing. In some cases, it shows ABBA’s new side very well, but at other times, some of the songs are too long. It’s good, though, and that’s why the album deserves an 87.7%, or an 4.35/5.
Favorite: “Head Over Heels”
Least Favorite: “I Let The Music Speak”
Banger. An amazing album from front to back. This is possibly one of my favorite albums of all time, and in my personal ranking of these albums so far, it’s a 93/100. Morrissey’s vocals complement the instrumentals so well, and he’s the king of ‘80s jangle. This albums deserves a 93/100, or a 4.65/5.
Fav: “I Won’t Share You”, “Girlfriend in a Coma”
Least Fav: None
No comment. Just gonna say that this didn’t age well after all the allegations came out, and I’m not gonna listen to it.
