Dec 04 2023
View Album
Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
I was a Led Zeppelin kid in junior high school, and this is the one we listened to a lot. Nowadays, I prefer Led Zeppelin III (hippie folk rock) or their first (a "hit you in the head" debut). But IV is holding up pretty well as a blend of those approaches, even if I never need to hear the overplayed "Stairway To Heaven" again.
4
Dec 06 2023
View Album
Boston
Boston
You can't mistake Boston for anyone else, although the keyboard parts hint of an ELP influence. I appreciate the DIY effort of Tom Scholz, but the music itself is obnoxious, with throwaway lyrics. By the end of the eight tracks here, it all sounds the same.
2
Dec 08 2023
View Album
Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
3
Dec 11 2023
View Album
The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
4
Dec 15 2023
View Album
Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
4
Dec 18 2023
View Album
Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
4
Dec 20 2023
View Album
The White Room
The KLF
2
Dec 21 2023
View Album
Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
2
Dec 22 2023
View Album
Tanto Tempo
Bebel Gilberto
3
Dec 27 2023
View Album
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
5
Jan 02 2024
View Album
Abbey Road
Beatles
5
Jan 05 2024
View Album
Lost Souls
Doves
Doves have a definite early 2000s Brit sound that hasn't aged well, similar to Coldplay. There are some tuneful moments here, notably "The Man Who Told Everything." But muddy production and drab vocals bring this down a notch.
3
Jan 08 2024
View Album
Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
1979 was the year of double albums: The Wall, London Calling, and Tusk. Each had notable showstoppers. In the famously quirky Tusk, those showstoppers are the title track and "Sara." The former is Peak Lindsey, the latter Peak Stevie. Those two songs alone make this album a rewarding listen, but don't overlook hidden gems like "Brown Eyes" and "Walk A Thin Line."
5
Jan 10 2024
View Album
Good Old Boys
Randy Newman
A compelling chronicle of the South. This album has a cinematic feel, a foreshadowing of Newman's move into film soundtracks later in his career.
4
Jan 15 2024
View Album
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips
The Lips' magnum opus. Even if you find Wayne Coyne annoying, you will be pulling for Yoshimi as you glide thru the lush soundscapes of "It's Summertime" and ""Do You Realize??"
5
Jan 16 2024
View Album
A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
The only Coldplay album you need, and it established the band's brand of user-friendly rock. "Politik" jump-starts things, with other highlights including "The Scientist," "Amsterdam," and the title track. These are fine songs that are well written, produced and performed. In a more dubious achievement, "In My Place" and "Clocks" remain in heavy rotation at grocery stores.
4
Jan 29 2024
View Album
Sign 'O' The Times
Prince
Prince in his prime.
5
Jan 31 2024
View Album
Disintegration
The Cure
An epic achievement. My favorite Cure album with my favorite song of theirs, "Pictures of You."
5
Feb 07 2024
View Album
Larks' Tongues In Aspic
King Crimson
Deep, deep 1970s prog. This album is at its best during its lengthy instrumental sections and at its worst with the feeble vocals of John Wetton.
3
Feb 12 2024
View Album
After The Gold Rush
Neil Young
4
Feb 13 2024
View Album
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
A few clunkers outweighed by several bangers (including "Fools Gold," available on the US version of the album). Ideal music for shuffling at the club whilst staring at your shoes.
4
Mar 04 2024
View Album
Paranoid
Black Sabbath
Gritty, tough and occasionally scary. The track order is off: close it with "War Pigs."
4
Mar 08 2024
View Album
The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell
I prefer jazzy Joni over folkie Joni.
4
Mar 13 2024
View Album
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
Pile on many more layers, and I'll be joining you there.
5
Mar 18 2024
View Album
Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
4
Mar 29 2024
View Album
War
U2
The one that created the U2 sound. Strong songs from start to finish.
5
Apr 05 2024
View Album
Porcupine
Echo And The Bunnymen
Ocean Rain is the one you need to listen to.
3
Apr 11 2024
View Album
Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
5
Apr 23 2024
View Album
Doolittle
Pixies
4
Apr 25 2024
View Album
Parachutes
Coldplay
2
May 03 2024
View Album
1999
Prince
4
May 28 2024
View Album
Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
5
Jun 03 2024
View Album
L.A. Woman
The Doors
The title track is their best song — actual poetry without the pretension that characterizes their other work.
3
Jun 04 2024
View Album
Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
3
Jun 18 2024
View Album
Tidal
Fiona Apple
4
Jun 24 2024
View Album
Remain In Light
Talking Heads
I'm a tumbler. I'm a government man.
5
Jul 05 2024
View Album
Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
The first three tracks kill it, especially the cover of "Comfortably Numb."
4
Jul 11 2024
View Album
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
4
Jul 15 2024
View Album
Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
Not so much a concept album and more of a contrivance album, burdened by irritating vocals and complicated arrangements.
2
Jul 17 2024
View Album
Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
4
Jul 18 2024
View Album
Raw Power
The Stooges
4
Jul 22 2024
View Album
Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
4
Jul 25 2024
View Album
Imagine
John Lennon
4
Aug 09 2024
View Album
Life's Too Good
The Sugarcubes
My first CD!
4
Aug 20 2024
View Album
Eliminator
ZZ Top
3
Aug 21 2024
View Album
Who's Next
The Who
5
Aug 26 2024
View Album
Graceland
Paul Simon
3
Aug 27 2024
View Album
Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
Delete the obvious filler and it would be a solid 55-minute CD, if that technology had existed at the time. Docked one star for the band claiming writing credit for "In My Time of Dying."
3
Sep 02 2024
View Album
In Rainbows
Radiohead
5
Sep 06 2024
View Album
McCartney
Paul McCartney
Macca music for quiet Sunday mornings
4
Sep 13 2024
View Album
Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
You better put your kingdom up for sale.
5
Sep 17 2024
View Album
Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
4
Sep 27 2024
View Album
Teen Dream
Beach House
3
Sep 30 2024
View Album
Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
4
Oct 11 2024
View Album
I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
4
Oct 23 2024
View Album
Heartattack And Vine
Tom Waits
4
Oct 28 2024
View Album
Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
Unlike its predecessor, this album is sloppy and unfocused. There are the usual Zeppelin ripoffs of blues artists. The album is redeemed by the ballad "Thank You," and the bass and keyboard work of John Paul Jones, the band's most valuable player throughout its run.
3
Nov 08 2024
View Album
Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4
Nov 11 2024
View Album
The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
5
Nov 15 2024
View Album
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
4
Nov 18 2024
View Album
The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
4
Nov 19 2024
View Album
Van Halen
Van Halen
3
Nov 27 2024
View Album
Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
Intermittently interesting hippie noodling.
3
Dec 11 2024
View Album
Nighthawks At The Diner
Tom Waits
4
Dec 31 2024
View Album
Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
3
Jan 06 2025
View Album
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2
Jan 14 2025
View Album
Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
3
Jan 23 2025
View Album
Vauxhall And I
Morrissey
The last solid Morrissey album, thanks in large part to producer Steve Lillywhite
4
Jan 28 2025
View Album
The Cars
The Cars
4
Feb 05 2025
View Album
Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
The one you want to hear is Blue Bell Knoll.
3
Feb 10 2025
View Album
The Doors
The Doors
3
Feb 11 2025
View Album
Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
This hasn't aged well, and it has some obvious filler. "Love Over Gold" is the one you need to hear.
3
Feb 14 2025
View Album
The Stranger
Billy Joel
2
Feb 18 2025
View Album
My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
4
Feb 24 2025
View Album
More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
5
Feb 25 2025
View Album
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
4
Mar 04 2025
View Album
The Yes Album
Yes
The only one you really need to hear is Fragile and its best track, "Heart of the Sunrise."
2
Mar 05 2025
View Album
Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
5
Mar 11 2025
View Album
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
4
Mar 17 2025
View Album
The Wall
Pink Floyd
Sides 1 and 3: 5 stars
Sides 2 and 4: 4 stars
Best track: "Nobody Home"
None of it works without producer Bob Ezrin and engineer James Guthrie.
5
Mar 24 2025
View Album
The Wildest!
Louis Prima
4
Mar 28 2025
View Album
Pump
Aerosmith
Simply unlistenable.
1
Apr 02 2025
View Album
Let It Be
The Replacements
4