Talking Book
Stevie WonderI'm not sure what they hype about this album is. Stevie slowed it down way too much through the vast majority of this. Superstition is miles ahead of anything else on the album. The rest of this is completely skippable.
I'm not sure what they hype about this album is. Stevie slowed it down way too much through the vast majority of this. Superstition is miles ahead of anything else on the album. The rest of this is completely skippable.
Really solid album from start to finish. Couple of great hits and some solid album cuts. Only 1 song that I wasnt into. Although I prefer the original a Bowie-fied Beatles song is always welcome. I think I'd be interested in basically any song getting a Bowie treatment. First album of the project. I plan to be pretty stingy with my ratings but I was impressed on the first listen. This feels more like a 3.5 but can't give partial stars.
Started strong with some engaging mode. I was confused how i had never heard of Kate Bush or this album. Why is this not known as an indie rock classic? As it went on it devolved into a mess closer to the likes of Bjork or Yoko, notorious experimental banshee rock beasts. I now understand why this is not an indie classic. A+ would experience the rise and fall again, 2 stars.
Dope. Boys being boys in the 80s. Grab a drink, shave your face and have a great time evidently. Surprised how much i liked it. Melodic and well assembled. I expect this is the album i would like the most but is entirely plausible I've been missing out on IM my whole life can't say i know a single song Bam.
A nice assembly of standard Christmas songs everyone knows. It's fine but nothing special for me when there are a million other versions of every holiday song. Darlene Love is the real star here. I guess Phil Spector gets credited for the production or putting it together?
Eminem was huge while I was in middle to high school. I'm pretty sure I've heard nearly all of the songs on this album but this is the first time I've ever listened to it in unison. I always knew he had a reputation for anger and violent references but didn't realize how extreme until listening in one sitting. Regardless the songs are catchy and entertaining. Eminem is clearly a master lyricist. His skill is on display throughout. This is a fantastic album that deserves respect even if rap isn't your genre of choice. 4.5 stars, would get my ears fucked again. P.s. never realized the direct diss/ callouts to ICP before which are fantastic.
Pretty interesting album for 1967. While I'm not sure I'll go to it for with any regularity I appreciated it on one listen. I dig the early psychedelic synth pop though by the end the songs were starting to sound very similar. I'd be interested to see if anything else from his discography is as good.
It's music from another time. There's nothing wrong with that but it's not for me. I'm pretty sure this could have been a shuffle of the same 2 songs over and over and i wouldn't have noticed. I'm sure this captured the audiences 70 years ago, but nowadays a slow set of redundant romance songs is nothing but a time capsule to the past. Meh. I'm much more a fan of his upbeat big band stuff than the sappy love songs.
I've heard of Wilco as an indie rock darling for years. This is my first exposure ever. Decent album. It's not hugely in my wheelhouse but I can see how they would generate a dedicated fanbase. Might check out more of their stuff down the line.
Talking Heads 11 year run was truly something special. Remain In Light is a great album in the middle of their discography. They had already hit their groove and proved to be one of the most unique rock bands ever. First half of the album is loaded. Second half is still strong and full of unique sounds. I personally prefer Speaking in Tongues to RIL but this was a complete joy on a re-listen. Anybody who hasn't delved into Talking Heads needs to do themselves a favor.
I definitely dig brit pop and shoegaze. As one of the flagship bands I'm a big fan off Blur. Love their overall discography but in a vacuum none of their albums blow me away. Blur self titled is a solid entry, but at 14 songs and 56 mins is a little threadbare by the end. 3 stars would gaze again
First song is an absolute classic. Unfortunately the rest of the album isn't as strong and doesn't do enough for me to give it any high praise. It's a solid entry but nothing special. 2.5 stars.
This album is very schizophrenic. Some absolute classics surrounded by tracks that hardly qualify as songs. 30 songs and 90 minutes was excessive. While it is still essential album for music history, it works have been better served had they trimmed a lot of the fat. I can only imagine how it rocked the world and influenced so much at the time. 60 years later it's still an important album but i don't expect myself to spend extended time with The White Album moving forward. 2.5 stars but gets the bump for to how iconic everything about The Beatles and this specific album are.
A Rush of Blood is a pretty solid debut album. Nothing special but a couple recognizable songs that stand up over time. Unfortunately it seems like Coldplay has been making a worse version of this album with each subsequent release. For years I called myself a Coldplay fan. After I spent some more time with their discography there was nothing to differentiate one song/album from another. It didn't help that their popular songs inevitably become overplayed. What starts as enjoyable becomes a nuisance after overexposure. 2.5 stars
Pretty solid album. I can't say there are any bad songs on it. At the same time I can't say there are any great songs on it. I appreciate the mixed vocals but Stevie Nicks vocals tend to elevate a song up a notch compared to the others. Some of the quick hit songs are fun, but I can't say I'll come back to this album with better Fleetwood options out there. 3 stars.
Easily the best Cuban mambo I've ever heard. That being said, that list is relatively short. That being said it's a pretty solid album. That being said there isn't much it does to differentiate it from any other Cuban (or similar genre) music I've heard. That being said you can tell this a group of very skilled musicians that clearly synergize and work really well together. It's definitely worth a listen. Best part was recognizing live that one of the lead players is Gorillaz collaborator Ibrahim Ferrer. 2.5 stars, gets the bump to 3 since I might throw it on in the background with the in-laws (also gorillaz collaborator) .
What a bizarre bit relatively enjoyable listen. A couple long drawn out songs of random instrumentals that kinda work for some reason? Not sure I'll ever recommend it but glad i was exposed to it. 2.5 stars, would kraut again
What a treat. I dug the punky acid rock sound. Had a sense of early shoegaze noise at certain points. I get the sense HM would be a blast to see live. Can't believe it's Shaun Ryder (Gorillaz Dare) on lead. Love it. 3.5 stars. Interested in checking out some other hits and remixes from Happy Mondays.
I'm sure it's a huge entry in rock history. Makes sense that it is on this list but after a few songs these all ran together for me. A couple good hits and then a handful of very similar filler songs. Little Richard is deservedly an icon and I'll always love how The California Raisins immortalized a couple of these songs. That being said I don't think I'll be coming back to Little Richard any time soon.
Pretty solid album. A few big hits and some really unique fun deep cuts sprinkled across all sides. There's enough here to make a Grade A album if Stevie chose to cut it down. I understand why this album is so highly regarded and it definitely belongs on the list. I definitely enjoyed the ride but the length is too much for me to want to revisit it. Stevie should realize that often less is more when it comes to a solid concept album. I can appreciate Songs in the Key of Life but I'll stick to singles play. That being said it is recommended for a single full listen and deserves its 3 stars.
Other than Fuckin' Up everything else was pretty middle of the pack. A couple decent jams I guess. Regardless Neil Young is always great. I'm a little surprised this is what is considered one of his bigger albums as I didn't find anything special in it. His discography is expansive so maybe his hits are just spread through 25+ albums and Ragged Glory is considered a cohesive and impactful project. It's worth a listen but I'll be moving on from this one pretty quickly. 2.25 stars.
Meh. Couldn't help but tune out a couple songs in. Really didn't do anything to pull me back in. I assume Dusty has enough of a legacy to show up on this list. I'm obviously completely out of the loop as I just realized Dusty Springfield wasn't a man by listening to this album.
I kinda dug the jams. Nothing spectacular but an album that can definitely provide a good background at the right time. 2.25 stars for John Barleycorn.
Pretty slick and unique. Definitely dug the trippy hip hop vibes. Some songs better than others but I enjoyed the versatility and varied styles. My first exposure to Massive Attack as far as I know. Would be interested in seeing what else they have put out. I had heard they had connections to Gorillaz though never saw them as a listed collaborator. I can definitely hear the influence. 3.25 stars
I get that Elvis is favorite for so many but he has never done it for me. I can stomach a handful of croony, gospel country songs due the immense icon that Elvis is, but after a couple songs I'm out. I get that Elvis needs to be included on this list but I'm not looking forward to further entries. I'll stick to the 5-10 hits that have remained relevant and avoid the rest of his catalogue for the most part.
Couple of decent songs in the middle but nothing special. OK background music but nothing memorable by the end of it. Never heard of Manic Street Preachers but I'm typically a fan of 90's britpop stuff. 2.5 stars
I was too young for this upon release. I'm not hugely into hip hop but expect that Missy's debut was a breath of fresh air. A couple decent beats from Timbaland, a handful of known collaborators, and I expect a couple long standing hits (not sure though). I expect this album was cemented over time as Missy emerged as a long standing hip hop icon. 3 stars
Never heard of Paul Weller prior to this. Relatively casual album between soft rock and easy listening. Surprised how much I enjoyed it. Seems like something I would been aware of previously. 2.6 stars
I'm not sure what they hype about this album is. Stevie slowed it down way too much through the vast majority of this. Superstition is miles ahead of anything else on the album. The rest of this is completely skippable.
Very solid album. This is right in the Neil Young wheelhouse that I typically associate him with. A handful of good hits and not really any low points on it. Very pleasant through and through. It's possible I've been stingy on my ratings for the past 25+ albums but nothing has really impressed me. It's so refreshing to find an album I was pretty much unfamiliar with that I enjoyed. Due to the lackluster run before this I'm giving it the bump to 4 stars. Unfortunately Neil is not on Spotify because I would plan to revisit this if so.
Some of the background tunes with strings and orchestra are nice but otherwise it is a series of similar sounding tunes arranged to a similar treatment. Maybe this was a refreshing take on some classics at the time. For me it was just a set of redundant, relatively dull love/soul songs. 1.5 stars.
Pretty emblematic of 80s arena glam rock. I'm not a huge Leppard fan but the album belongs on the list. A handful of good songs but it overstayed its welcome. Over an hour of what felt like the same songs structure again and again. This is Leppard at its best and even then it's pretty mediocre for me. 2.5 stars, probably bump it up a bit if they cut 2 songs of filler.
Not a heavy metal fan. Demon wretches surrounded by admittedly skilled musicians. I'm sure it's influential in the metal community but I'm just not into it. Incidentally the songs I liked the most were the ones that deviated from metal and included some of tribal mode. Not my bag baby. 1.5 stars.
I guess it can be nice to hear one of these songs while relaxing every now and then. But to hear multiple songs and even multiple takes is so completely redundant an unnecessary. Surprisingly, I wasn't there in 1961 but I'm not sure what the crowd sees in this. Evidently this is peak jazz? It's entirely possible I just listened to the same song 6-10 times in a row. I'm not sure I would have noticed a difference if any of these songs was put on repeat and someone told me I listened to this album. The first bass solo is somewhat refreshing and cool I guess? After that its all just the same baloney for an hour.
Meh. It's fine I guess. Stones have a handful of pretty amazing hits but otherwise they are mostly mediocre otherwise for me. In a 50 year discography I can fill a solid greatest hits and then skip the other 85%. Their deep cuts have rarely done it for me. I've never been high on Brown Sugar or Wild Horses so this album is nothing special for me.
What a unique and charming collection of songs. Some of them are little more than demos or short clips. A few of them are skippable but many of the songs are enjoyable. Overall the collection is a far too long and drags a bit by the end . As a collective project I don't expect to listen to this again but I am glad that I was exposed to this. Never heard of The Magnetic Fields before this. This lead singer has a unique voice that I suspect I will enjoy outside of this project. Interested in checking out some of their other hits. 3 stars
Very skippable. Isaac Hayes sings for about 8 minutes on a 45 minute soul album. I'm happy to stick to his brief tunes as Chef from South Park. 1.3 stars
This sounds like they told a bunch of ADHD children with no musical skill to pick up instruments and play them randomly. Car horns blaring while a set of monkeys smash drums, random elephants having their trunks stepped on, various flightless birds being picked up and punted, a litter of cats being thrown up against a wall of drums, etc. There are various ways to describe the absolute chaos over the first 20+ minutes of the album. I'm actually questioning whether myself and a group of my friends could go into a studio and spend a day to generate something more ridiculous to be passed off as music. Everything is mind boggling as to how this ended up on any sort of list by acclaimed music critics. Halfway through it all of sudden morphs into a somewhat controlled arrangement before mostly devolving again by the end of the album. All this did was confuse me whether I'm supposed to take this seriously or not. While I will never listen to this again something about it tickled me. At various intervals throughout the 40 minutes I found myself just listening and giggling like an idiot at my desk. Overall its surprising the amount of enjoyment I got out of an album that I can truly say I don't like at all. Consider me fully bamboozled. 1.1 star. Can't wait to see other reviews for this.
Really strong album from start to finish. Each band member brings their own style to the table and all 4 of them work. Relatively short and sweet with no filler in between. This album deserves a lot of respect it is given. 4 stars
Otis with very solid entry. Of the soul/R&B stuff I've encountered so far within project, Otis has been the best of the bunch for me. Good range of different sounds and a couple hits that have some lasting effect. 3.0 stars
I kinda enjoyed it. Little art rock weirdness here and there. Not really any great songs but not really any bad songs either. Relatively pleasant. 2.9 stars
It's not a bad album, but I don't think its a good album either. As soon as it ended I couldn't tell you anything about it. Nothing really stood out and it was basically just background music for more than an hour. First half of the album is marginally better than the second half though I did enjoy a few of the string arrangements near the end. Another example of an album that would have been better trimmed to a single release rather than a double album. I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between Christina Aguilera or any of the female pop/R&B stars from the 90s and 2000s. I don't suspect I'll ever listen to anything on this again. 2 stars
I dig the synth pop 80s sound. Couple of good songs. I've been tangentially a fan of Joy Division and New Order for years. This might give me more of a reason to check out more of their work. 2.8 stars
Damn. I've always heard Adele was a tour de force in the early 2010s and that her first couple albums dominated the charts. I was exposed to the hits and always thought she was talented but am blown away by the sales numbers and the magnitude to how big 25 was. Adele is definitely a beast. This album is really strong and I can now see why it took the charts by storm. Her vocals are incredibly strong. This album deserves the praise it gets and deserves to be discussed for its impact. While it's not in my personal wheelhouse I can recognize talent and quality when it is there. As a Bond fan I'll always appreciate Adele for giving us Skyfall. I'll have to go give 19 and 21 a listen at some point. 3.9 stars
Very enjoyable solid album. Really dug Mambo Sun and Bang a Gong is a well-known classic. Some very fine deep cuts to accompany. I dug the vibe pretty much the whole way through. Never knew T Rex was such a big influence on glam-rock roots. What a great slice from a band I only was exposed to 1 song of previously. 3.4 stars
I was exposed to Love years ago due to their history with The Doors. I checked them out but never found very anything memorable. It seemed like they had potential but never got over the hump. Da Capo is an OK album. The first half has a few songs that seem like they could be filled out a bit once the group grew into itself. I probably enjoyed the Side B long jam more than most but its still nothing special. Incidentally it reminds me of what The Doors were doing at the time with The End and When the Music's Over. The problem is that Love doesn't execute as well as The Doors long ball and don't have Jim Morrison's voice and antics to keep it interesting. When it's said and done it's a relatively mediocre listen. 2.35 stars
This exceeded my expectations as I went in fully prepared to endure an hour of demon-retch death metal. What I heard was actually relatively melodic lo-fi thrash that I was actually able to somewhat enjoy. I'm not really into metal but can appreciate the musical skill and showmanship it takes. I can see why this would be an influential album as it sounds like it lays the basics for a death/black metal album. It feels like it establishes the "tropes" of over the top satanic lyrics and imagery that I find ridiculous and sometimes makes me chuckle. I don't expect I'll listen ever again but I would rather revisit this than many of the other "classic" albums so far on this list. 2.1 stars
I would consider myself a passive fan of electronic music but I've never heard of Goldie. A mix of groovy beats and sensual electronica. I was pleasantly surprised by this album as I didn't know what to expect going in. Reminded me of Aphex Twin, Oakenfold and others. It's way longer than it needs to be and starts to feel a little redundant, but I found myself enjoying the majority of it. 2.3 stars
What an awesome debut album. Van Halen brings such a great sound. Eddie's skill and style is on full display. David Lee Roth's vocals and antics elevate everything. This must have blown people's minds when it dropped. What can be said that hasn't already been said? 4.2 stars
It's not bad, but it's also not great. Just another mediocre album from the Stones for me. Sympathy for the Devil is a great opener and the rest of the album is relatively forgettable. Some OK blues rock but nothing I feel the need to go back to. 2.1 stars
Never heard of Solomon Burke. Rock N Soul is fine for a one time listen but it does little to differentiate itself from the countless 1960s soul albums on this list. I guess I appreciate that he has a little more guitar accompaniment. Otherwise its just another soul album from this time period. 1.3 stars
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. Speakerboxx had a handful of upbeat tracks that I enjoyed. Overall I liked it more than the more experimental The Love Below. The entire package is too long as a 2+ hour listen is a tall order. However I respect the art and what they were going for on the project. Not something I'll likely go back to but I might throw an OutKast shuffle on for the right occasion which would hopefully include a few tracks from this double album. The hits from this album definitely have staying power as I still go back to them from time to time. This was my first exposure to the full project and I'm glad I listened to it. I feel like OutKast was everywhere for a couple years following Stankonia and Speakerboxx/Love Below and I now have a better sense for why. 2.2 stars
A fantastic album through and through. Loaded with hits that stick with you. Even the deep cuts are songs that I remain fond of. As I grow and listen to this album I get more and more out of it. Completely deserving of all the praise it gets. Billy's strongest work and deserving of AOTY for 1977/1978. Really surprised to see Just The Way You Are is the what got record/song of the year. 4.6 stars
Another snoozy 60s country album. It's not inherently bad, its just not something I'm interested in. It's fine as background music in the right setting I guess but overall pretty meh. This album seems to do very little to differentiate it from the myriad of other folk/country artists of the day. Simple beat, light acoustic, and a crooner with gospel vibes on vocals. I've never heard of Ray Price before this and expect that all his albums sound just like this. Not sure if there is a reason Night Life stands out or was selected to be on this list but overall this is skippable. 1.55 stars
Early garage punk rock. A dozen rapid paced, 2-3 minute songs. Despite the lack of polish its pretty to easy to digest which might be part of its allure. This sounds like something that would have been unique and refreshing at the time of release. I kinda dug it. 2.35 stars
Evidently this was our best answer to the British invasion? The guitar work is nice in parts but otherwise it's a handful of forgettable singles and couple Dylan covers. It's fine, I guess but really nothing special. 2.1 stars
This sounded like a low-rent worse version of every The Shins song I've heard. I feel like I could have heard this at a coffee house and wouldn't have noticed. It wasn't necessarily bad, but this album was completely forgettable. A few minutes after this ended I'm not sure I could name a single song or tell you anything about it. 1.6 stars
Started off groovy. Lost some of its luster by the end but overall some decent jazz fusion stuff. Definitely sounded like it was bridging genres and ahead of its time. Maybe not an everyday listen but works for background at work or while chilling. I dug the first half but was over it by the end. Been aware of Herbie Hancock for a while but don't think I've ever heard anything before. If this is what his other stuff sounds like I might check it out periodically. It sounds like he has assembled a handful of bands/projects over the years so not sure if that is the case. Either way glad I gave Head Hunters a listen. 2.4 stars
There have been a handful of foreign language albums thus far on the list. Some have been a nice treat. Clube Da Esquina did nothing to make me think this belonged on the list. I'm sure this is influential for Brazilian music but this is a skip from me. 1.2 stars
Pretty simple acoustic guitar with some nice backing tracks. The vocals are definitely the star. It's surprising how much emotion they can pull from you. There's nothing specifically great about it but I'm surprised how much I enjoyed it. I've only recently been made aware of Joni Mitchell's legacy. Prior to this I'm not sure I'd ever heard any of her work. I can see how this would have had an impact when it released. I don't think I'll be going back to Joni but I have a better understanding of why people speak so highly of her from this small slice. 2.3 stars
Another solid entry by Van Halen. 30+ mins of more of their recognizable sound. Not as good as their debut but still a worthy album entry. 3.7 stars
It's a sleepy little album. A couple of good songs but a lot of filler. Simon & Garfunkel are such a weird thing. I feel they belong in a conversation about music history because of the unique niche they carved out. Some of their songs are great but not for any of the reasons that line up with the genres or styles that I love. Bookends specifically did little to bring me back to S&G. 2.2 stars
I wouldn't call it loaded with hits but doesn't have many low points. Funky, groovy and sensual much like Prince himself. Starts to drag in the second half but overall I enjoyed the listen. It feels like Prince was carving out a new sound and it worked for the most part. Prince is certainly a unique and notable talent. Everybody knows plenty of Prince hits but his expansive discography means I haven't listened to a Prince album in unison before this. I expect he has plenty of other music I would enjoy but also plenty I would need to skip. I don't think I have it in me to delve into 20+ albums but hope he shows up on the list again. 2.8 stars
It's a fine collection of country opry music with some decent quick hitter honky-tonk jams mixed in. I didn't mind this nearly as much as I expected. The main issue I have is don't need anywhere near 2 hours of this. If you put a couple of these songs in a vacuum they would be above a lot of the earlier 50s/60s stuff from this list. I'd probably listen to some of the instrumentals again if I didn't have to comb through 40 songs to get there. Unfortunately I have to knock down the rating a touch as I would much rather listen to 30 mins of romance ballads than 2 hours of this again. 1.35 stars
Whether it's from Christopher Walken videos, FIFA soundtracks or some other organic reason I've always had a soft spot for Fatboy Slim. This is my first exposure to BLTC and I enjoyed it. Despite doing nothing I would consider groundbreaking Fatboy Slim has a uniquely identifiable sounds. Something about it works for me. I'm not sure this album belongs on the list. I would have deferred to their 2nd release which includes their larger and more identifiable hits. 2.6 stars
Solid album. Sabbath with young Ozzie has a great sound. Great hits and the deep cuts are enjoyable. Appreciated my listen from front to back. Worked great for a run. 3.7 stars
I've often heard that nearly all post-90's music stems from Pixies in some way. Not sure if it is a running joke or there is any merit to the claim. Regardless Bossanova is my first time listening to a full Pixies album in unison. While it wasn't bad I wasn't impressed with anything. Nothing notable that lead me to believe why this album was on the list. I'll have to go back to another album to see why they are supposedly one of the most influential artists in music history I guess. 2.3 stars
Meh. Better than some of the 50s stuff we've heard but nothing special. I get that it was a different time in music but everything sounds so similar. There is little to differentiate it. Would have been down to chill with the fat man though. 1.4 stars
I didn't recognize a single song. Despite this Van Morrison has a very distinct voice that makes most of his work pretty instantly attributable. There's some decent stuff in here but overall I lost track of the individual songs. I imagine if you are a Van Morrison fan this is right up your alley. I think I tend to prefer his pop radio hits over the more folk/blues deep cuts from VM. Astral Weeks wasn't something I need to hear again. I'll stick to the greatest hits rather than dive into 50 years of his prolific discography. 1.9 stars
What a unique pleasant treat. Easily the most surprising listen thus far. Didn't expect to enjoy this nearly as much as I did. Can't say I've ever been exposed to Senegalese music to my knowledge before. I wish have could have understood the lyrics. Even despite the barrier the songs are all relatively enjoyable. 2.8 stars
More early country from the 50s that I get nothing from. Simple melodies and standard empty lyrics. Music sure has come a long way since then. Completely skippable. At least it's relatively short I guess? 1.30 stars
The only prior knowledge I had of Jeff Buckley was the Hallelujah cover and that he is Tim Buckley's son. Not sure what I expected but it wasn't this. Surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Never realized this was a highly regarded album. It's got a good mix some emotional rock songs and some slower ballads. Incidentally the Hallelujah cover is the worst song on the album for me (song has always bugged me). I can see why Jeff Buckley was viewed as an up-and-comer before his tragic drowning. Not sure it's one of the greatest albums ever but I can see why someone might identify with it. 2.95 stars
Pretty good folky rock album. I liked the diverse use of keyboards and organs. Nothing really special but its a good collection of songs. The Weight is the only thing I recognized. I liked this much more than the majority of Bob Dylan I've listened to. 2.55 stars
I was worried as I initially hit play. Once this got going I was on board with the weird experimental indy stuff that Kate Bush went for. She managed to thread the needle of experimental weirdness while still keeping this engaging and effective. A fun varied listen. 2.75 stars
It's a pretty good ska/reggae album. A couple songs that stand alone on their own. A little weak to finish but overall a pretty good album that is worth a listen. I saw Fishbone many years ago with no prior knowledge whatsoever and had a blast. They were fun and engaging with a wide variety of music played. I'll always appreciate a band that can pull me in and turn me into a fan from an unknown live show. 3.05 stars
I've heard of Animal Collective before but wasn't familiar with any of their music. I'm glad I had an excuse to give this a listen. I appreciate the synthesizer heavy electronic songs but wasn't overly impressed with it overall. It's not bad but overall pretty forgettable. I'm sure there is a time and a place for this. 2.45 stars
I dug it. A little all over the place but a lot of fun. I'll always give credit to BB for doing something original and carving out a niche that worked for them. Love the various sampling sprinkled all over the place. I've been exposed to plenty of Beastie over the years through pop culture but I should definitely give the rest of their collection a good listen. This only piqued my interest in them further. 3.55 stars
It's a fine album but I'm not sure why it is held in such high regard. Nothing stood out as a hit. I'm sure there is a deeper meaning to it that I didn't pick up on. Decent background album but nothing more for me. 2.4 stars
Not what I expected in a good way. Pretty decent collection of quick 70s pop songs. Didn't mind it. Never realized Harry Nilsson was the source of Coconut or of Without You. Probably won't go back to the well on this but glad I gave the album a listen as a result of this list. 2.7 stars
Big fan of this album. A couple of huge standout hits that hold up nowadays and even the deep cuts have a great sound. I've always liked the vocal style and melding of rock and nu-metal sounds. This album has great vibes for me. In general the more I hear Incubus the more I like them. I've seen them live and they always put on a great show. I've talked for years of delving into their discography which I still plan to do. Excited to to hear the remainder of their albums. 3.75 stars
Pretty solid album. In a way it sounded like the same song repeated a couple of times. I guess I enjoyed the song though because overall I thought it was a pretty good listen. I did notice a couple of the later songs stood out a bit differently. From what I have heard of The Smiths they have a pretty distinct sound and are pretty good at staying within their comfort zone to relatively good results. Nothing blew me away but overall the album was very listenable. Morrisey (and The Smiths by proxy) is one of the iconic acts I think largely in part to his antics and extra-curriculars outside of music. I know people who love and worship him, but I personally have never understood it. He's a fine songwriter and I enjoy the handful of hits I've been exposed to but otherwise he seems like a miserable blow hard who would be a pain to be around. Whatever, to each his own. 2.75 stars
It's a fine listen coming from a non-rap fan. I'm aware of Kendrick Lamar as he is probably the most popular rapper currently. It is evident that Kendrick Lamar is skilled and why he has been creating hits over the past few years. I imagine a rap fan can tell you a lot more about the depth, style and linguistic skill on display on this album. For me it was a fun listen with a couple songs that stood out. I can respect the skill and art. 2.4 stars
Off The Wall is a disco classic that still holds up today. I love the early impact MJ had when he broke out and went solo. The main issue is that the album unfortunately has diminishing returns as you get through it. Side A is damn near flawless with a couple of timeless classics, but the back half of the album fizzles as you get through it. Regardless it is still a very strong pseudo-debut that is absolutely worth a listen. Always been a huge fan of MJ's music. While Off The Wall is a classic and belongs on this list it doesn't compete with his next 4 albums for me. 2.9 stars
It's fine freshman entry for JT as his breakout from the boy band. A couple hits but doesn't hold up over a 60+ minute listen. Its's fine but nothing special, even coming from a big Timberlake fan (both musically and from his extra-curriculars). I'm sensing a theme as a handful of 1st solo albums from former band members appear on this list. Maybe there was some importance in the fact the JT established himself as more than a N Sync boy band member but I personally think all of his other albums belong on the list far more than Justified does. Unless they show up later on the list skip Justified and listen to FutureSex or 20/20 Experience. Far more interesting albums in every facet. 2.65 stars
Weird, unique and a lot of fun. Never heard of The Divine Comedy but I'm definitely intrigued. Great pull from the 1001 list. Hope more stuff like this shows up down the line. 2.95 stars
It's a relatively pleasant reggae album. The issue is that a lot of the songs sound the same. After a couple tracks I felt like I tuned out to the relatively redundancy. It's not a bad album per se, but does little to establish itself a something I need to hear ever again. I'm not sure if the rest of UB40 discography is the same but if this is the best entry I probably don't need to delve into much more.