1001 Albums Summary

A brilliant album, in part genre defining of east coast indie rock of the early 2000s. The Modern Age is a perfect song.

In 1992 I was listening to grunge. And probably 70s rock. I was in no way the demographic, target audience, or even considering 'gangster rap'. I like and appreciate rap, hip hop, the whole deal. I don't hold a connection to this album, though, because different times and places. I respect what it meant for the scene and genre, and the ground that it broke. It just doesn't resonate as strongly with me on a personal level.

Much like my review for The Chronic, 1994 saw me still listening to rock, be it classic or modern. Still, I like Illmatic more as the beats and sampling is more nuanced and rhythmic. There's more throwback to jazz and R&B. It's also an incredibly important album for the genre and the times.

Nick Drake is such a brief moment in time. His talent was supreme, and his musical styling sublime. I think I personally rate Pink Moon higher, but what a debut. Gone way too soon, of course.

Im not sure I’d ever heard this before. An album prefaced by its reputation, but, generally excellent punk in an error that was yet to even know what that was. Thoroughly enjoyable!

I reckon Can’t by a Thrill is a better album, but Rilki Don’t Lose That Number the better song.

First time listening to this album. I loved later Orbital back in the ought dickities. This feels like the threads that led to that. Enjoyable and worth a relisten.

A fun album that you can't help but tap your feet to. A true classic.

70s folk is hit and miss for me. This was miss. Saturday Night Fever though, I'll be right back.

I think this is the album before the album that I really love the Beatles. I think Help! was my jumping on point and the melody of Ticket To Ride. Don't get me wrong, still some good songs on here, but I'm more space Beatles than Yeah Yeah Yeah Beatles.

It's a vibe, for sure. Do I like Disco? That's probably the question. Can't deny Nile Rodgers' influence, however.

A truly remarkable album.

Appreciate her huge talent and influence.

I'd never heard this before and loved it. Great country album.

I can take or leave the Smiths. I'm too young for them to be formative. I get they were influential. How Soon Is Now is phenomenal (but not on this album).

Is it good music? No. Is it a jam, absolutely. Is it genre defining, likely. An enjoyable romp.

If only they’d released the first five tracks as an EP. It would be the greatest EP of all time.

Sadly not on the streams where I am (at least not any more). AMC feel like a band that time forgot. They're so good, but never got their due credit. First time listening to this album and it's really good.

All that you really need to know is Busta Rhymes spits 'Rawr rawr, like the dungeon dragon' in the Scenario. A sublime example of 90s hip hop.

I'm sure I have friends who would admonish me for this rating, but, I just find this album to be a bit samesy. That said, the first two tracks are fire, and it's peak Dylan (he's just not my jam).

A new discovery (for me). This is soft, melodious, yet expansive. So many influences stem from here. I will return.

Had never heard this before. High psychedelia that sometimes sounds like the Beatles, but also sounds like other contemporaries from the era. A lot of fun and a bit of a romp.

I enjoyed this, but I think it needs more listens to appreciate.

A very strong album with some absolute bangers.

It's definitely the start of many things, and very much the 80s. The last track is a banger.

Having only ever listened to Kind of Blue, this was a genuinely wonderful find.

The Queen.

Where would indie rock be without their #1 Record?

Two brilliant creators. It didn't work for me. Probably needs a dedicated listen. In my spare time.

About a 3.5. Some very strong songs. Was a lot funkier than I was expecting. Classics, also.

It's pretty great.

Smooth like butter. Not entirely my jam, but I get why this was so influential.

Again, not my meat and potatoes, but a very solid album.

A seminal piece of 90s grunge. A phenomenal album of power.

A fantastic 'loud' album from Mr. Young.

An album's album back in its day. I feel like, though, it is of its time and feels a bit dated in 2024. No doubt captured a scene (that I wasn't really part of), but still has some slappers.

Jazz that I likley need to listen to more than just sitting at my desk distracted by my inbox.

An album that defined a time in my life, it's still pretty great.

Influential, groundbreaking, and some phenomenal songs. Still, it is a little of its origin decade, but still a very strong and enjoyable album.

Enjoyable rapping by a legend.

It's a two, but, I'll give it a three for the banging opener. It's just a bit too 'artistic' for me. I get why it is adored though, perhaps more for folks of its time.

Didn't grab me. In no way bad and I get why this would be influential.

It's an EP, but it's 10 tracks, but it's 21 minutes. It's hectic.

Listened in the background, enjoyable

There's some decent tracks on this, I've never been a big fan (not withstanding the uh, modern lens). I get why it was hailed at the time of its release, but not all disruptive art is liked by all.

There are better Zeppelin albums, but, this one is still pretty great.

Such an enjoyable album. Opener track is a certified banger.

Did not hook me.

Huge, and very enjoyable

I've never gotten the Stones, but, I absolute rate some of their tunes.

That is a hell of a lot of fun.

I have loved this album for so long. It's sprawling, ramshackle, exciting, and a moment in time.

Not my jam, but has some jams.

Groove

When there's more tracks than minutes, you know you've got a punk album (or it's GBV).

Clearly influential.

Eh, I could take or leave. A little too whimsical for my liking.

Eh, not my gear. A little less funkier and a little more preachier.

They did not lie re: Honky Tonk. A little too much for mine, though I guess I can see the proto alt-country in some of this.

A pure classic, genre defining album.

It's like a 2.5 for me. I think LA Women is their seminal album.

If you'd asked me to rate this in 1997 I'd probably have gone a bit higher. Not sure it's aged that well. And nor has he...

Really enjoyed this. Will be back for more.

Some icons on here, a good album

I mean, it has THAT song, but, it also has some pretty great other songs. Maybe the best Queen album?

It's been a while since I listened to this, but, it's still stunning.

I can see how it's highly influential. I just find it a bit wishy washy.

As an album, it's a four, but it definitely has five star songs. All double albums struggle to be perfect.

I mean, it has some bangers. It's actually stronger than I was expecting. It's VERY 80s, of course. For better and worse.

No major bangers, it's a New Order album for sure.

A near perfect album.

Probably their best album, in my opinion. As a not a huge fan.

Goes alright. Not my scene, but can respect the impact this music had in its time.

The two leads (Central Reservation/Stolen Car) are five star tracks. The rest of the album is solid, but there are definitely a couple of album tracks. Has a sentimental value for me, too.

I definitely prefer Muse earlier than this album, but, it's still a romp.

Solid hippin' and a hoppin'

Sugar coated pop.

They really are incredible bongos.

Some absolute bangers on this album. B.O.B. one of the finest tracks of all time.

This probably a 4.5. Such a freight train of an album, and a few superb singles. So much fun.

Some brilliant tunes on an album I'm not sure I've heard in full before

Honestly, his best, and so many great songs. I will defend Billy on this alone.

Not Beck’s best album not far away. A4.5

I mean, punk sensibility. But do I like it?

Probably a 2.5. It just doesn’t grab me.

Very strong album

Have never heard this and it’s really good. Sublime guitar tone.

A bit of casual racism (probably fine at the time) but also a lot of 'lifting from the blues'.

This feels like an album wedged between two much better albums. Still, it's okay. Probably a 2.5 for me.

Opens with one of the great songs, and a very solid album thereafter.

Lambchop has never truly resonated with me, but it's still enjoyable.

Goes alright. Fix Up, an absolute slapper.

Strong album, probably a 3.5 for me. I like his 80s output more.

Enjoyable in that west coast 70s rock vibe

Eh, it was okay. Nothing really grabbed me, but I get that it's influential.

This album is still fresh, which is pretty impressive given a description of 'funk metal'. Probably a 4.5.

Really enjoyable

A very good album. In the 70s country/rock vein. Enjoyable.

I don't mind it but it's not my favourite Shoegaze.

A pretty solid album with a lot of famous tracks. Not that much filler either. Solidly in the 80s, of course. But a landmark. 3.5

It's like the UK Pixies from the 80s in the 90s.

A bit before my time to be in 'the scene' and they've never hugely appealed to me, but this was pretty enjoyable. 3.5.

Probably not the strongest TH album, but, has one of their best songs in Psycho Killer. Still goes alright.

A classic, of course.

It's very very good, more than a 4.5. One of the finest examples of britpop.

It sounds VERY 90s put a beat on something and call it a pop song. Lead single is still a banger. 2.5.

2.5. Just not really in my area of things that I like, but, not bad. Background music.

Hot Chip always sound like Hot Chip.

I liked this more than Treasure, has a more interesting sound.

Very good. My kinda jazz

It's okay. I never really got into Incubus but always meant to. Probably a bit too nu metal for me.

It's big, dumb, rock, but it's a hell of a lot of fun. somewhere between a 4.5 and 5 for me as it defined a portion of my youth.

Didn't grab me, never heard it before. Rather cinematic.

One of his best, but not quite a revolution

Don't mind it.

It's dense. I think it would take a lot of listens to really embrace. Didn't mind it, though. 2.5

Pretty solid in the CCR canon.

Seminal. Some amazing tracks.

Has a couple of standout tracks, but feels like a bit of filler as well these days. Liked it more back in the day.

I'd like to like Chvrches more, but I just don't find a connection with it. Some of the 'hits' are interesting, but, overall, it doesn't ignite anything for me.

Still a banging album.

It's a bit of a concept album, probably needs more than one listen to appreciate. Some very good musicianship going on though.

This is pretty solid. I always had Iggy in my head as sloppy punk, but his music is much more fleshed out and nuanced.

It has one of the greatest songs of all time. It's a pretty good album.

I can take or leave Bob, but this seems like a good snapshot of him in the day.

It's very well heeled in its time. I reckon it was more impressive when it was released but perhaps hasn't aged as well, or just, not as good in the modern context. 2.5 but some 3.0 tracks.

Love the 90s Sebadoh albums and this is no exception.

It was okay, some of the covers were interesting but not a lot of compelling tunes.

Perfectly good and interesting jazz. More than one listen would be needed to appreciate it. Reckon I will.

A pretty good album, a couple of GOATs.

Probably a 3.5 for me. Like me some ELO but it can be very ELOish.

Had never heard this but really enjoyed it.

Goes alright for a protopunk album

It's really not a good album. They had so much potential after the first three.

Is it perfect? No. Would it be better if it was? No. It's the best of the G 'n' R albums, and probably changed the world. For better or worse.

I have a soft spot for this because of my back in the day. Probably a two otherwise.

Why couldn't they just keep making them like this?

Very strong (maybe underrated) album. Some absolute tunes.

Didn't appreciate this as much then as I do now, a very good album

A 90s classic but still holds up. 3.5 for me

An interesting album of oceanic dirges.

Was Meatloaf flawed? Yes. Is this album flawed, yes? Is it a hell of a ride, absolutely. 4.5

A very solid album at a transition between 80s new wave and 90s sensibilities.

Like solid 2.5, two opening tunes of high regard, but, not sure if he's a white guy stealing the blues.

What a great album. Several banging tunes and the perfect pop song (Heart of Glass)

Has some iconic tunes but didn't really grab me.

Retrospectively and perhaps at the time, an absolute tomb.

I mean, it's ambient, but, it's seminal.

Hard to rate this on one listen (though have listened many times). Entirely enjoyable, perplexing, and otherworldly. 3.5

Pretty solid album. 3.5. I think I like New Order remix/extended mixes more though.

Back in the day I absolutely loved Deep Purple. I still rate this album, but perhaps not as much as I did then.

I can see how this would have been interesting at the time. It's interesting now, but didn't grab me.

It was okay. New wave can be a bit samey

Very enjoyable. Had never come across this before. 3.5

Such a solid album with one of the greatest songs ever. Michael is fire, also, 4.5

I never really liked this style of 90s britpop. It's okay, no real hooks.

What a mountain of an album. 'tis nothing to fuck with, indeed. 4.5

I mean, it's not terrible. And I get that they're doing modern punk rock operas. I was well off the Greenday train by this album and not sure I'd heard it full. Like a high 2.

It's smooth, ain't no denying that. Not my thing.

Eh, my mate Ian would kill me for having this opinion, but this concept album doesn't really grab. Opening track bangs, of course. 2 and a bit

Seems pretty influential. Thinking Big Star et al. Didn't mind it.

Didn't mind it. Never been a huge fan, but, would listen again.

A genuine joy. Had never heard this before. Amazingly enjoyable, but what a tragic story.

It's a near perfect album for me. High enough at least to be rounded to five where there's no 4.5 (though it's closer to 5 than 4.5). A band redefining themselves in the face of changing culture brings forth some amazing rock songs and some equally touching music. There is force, momentum and heart all through this album and to me is likely their best.

A high 2.5 for me. I get that they were proto punk, but I don't take a lot away from the songs.

It was okay. I knew a song or two, but, the late 60s hippy folk scene doesn't butter my bread as much as others.

Have never been a huge B&S fan, but I don't mind it.

A grandaddy of an album for sure.

I've never listened to this before, but of course you know some tunes. Genuinely solid pop. 3.5

New to me. Interesting without being gripping. 2.5

I mean it’s no Funeral. It’s still pretty good though. 3.5

A mammoth album, some seriously brilliant songs. 4.5

J5 are that perfect fusion of intelligence and hip hop. Probably prefer Quality Control but this is still a high 3

I think most of Bjork sounds like Bjork. It's never really connected for me.

Did not care for this.

A pretty amazing voice and some great song choices.

Middle of the road, and so a 2.5

Psychedelic mish mash. Not really doing it for me.

Didn't mind this. Better than the other one.

A very solid album with an amazing closer

Goes alright. Should listen to more DP

Eh I guess it was new at the time, but I don’t really rate these early 60s British recordings. Especially when a lot of it is rehashing traditional music.

Very enjoyable. Ray’s sound is unique but his style brings a new life to these tunes.

You either love it or you hate it.

One of their best, high 4s so giving it a 5.

Enjoyable listen

I get it’s a departure for her, but it’s very samey.

Far from the biggest Elvis fan, this is a pretty good album.

A very strong album

They’re most accessible. Still challenging

A great find. Really enjoyable album.

It's what Alex Turner would like to be doing when he's not being a Monkey. It's okay.

Didn't really grab me.

Yeah, nah.

Grooveariffic.

What about the voice of Geddy Lee? How did it get so high?

They all the same, yet, are all great.

A landmark, perfection.

Solid 3.5. Glam rock 101.

Solid, but not the best album by the Triffids

A classic.

Bit of fun, not my thing.

Pretty classic punk album. I've grown to like it more over the years.

Goes alright, but they definitely have better albums.

A really strong album, probably not their best, but, not like they had bad ones.

Look I get her talent, but it's not really for me.

Blueberry Hill is a banger.

I'll give it a three for its historic appeal as it was something different in its time. Probably hasn't aged well?

Some big hitters here. Didn't mind it at all, especially the Nick Cave track.

Hard to get more 90s than the Prodg. Still, not bad.

Their best, near to a five.

A masterpiece. One of the greatest band redefinitions ever.

A huge album, and the Cure's best. 4.5ish.

I never really cared much for this. Still don't.

Was made for JK and Co in the 90s owing to their throwback sound. Not sure about the cultural appropriation in 2024, but, still some jams.

Highly influential, even if it almost descends into background music at times. Brian Eno would approve.

Very solid album and includes one of the most wonderful hip songs of all time.

Didn't resonate with me back in the day, but can see she had some very strong albums in the 90s (and recently)

Like a 2.5. It's rocky, I guess.

Really want to give this a 3.5, a very good debut. What happened Coldplay? Why you go like that?

This is a high 4s. It's sloppy, messy, and yet often perfect. An amazing album

That was pretty good. 90s D&B is a huge favourite

Short and sweet. Enjoyable

I get that she's a great, but, this didn't really grab me.

A damn near perfect album, but not as strong as at least one other of theirs so can't give it a full five.

Eh it's expansive. Which is its weakness.

Huge and noisy and eclectic. Moments of brilliance.

Solid 3.5. A novelty for the time, but still a great performance

Another solid 3.5. Buffalo Stance is an opening banger.

I think their best. The run from I want You, to the end of the album, is without peer.

A very strong album from the French electronic revolution.

Didn't mind it at all.

High fours, what an album and what an artist.

Not too bad, a couple of classic Dylan tracks. He's just not my cup of tea.

70s folk ain't my jam. It's okay.

Solid, track two a banger

Forgot how fun this is, Blur, continued.

It's okay, I dug a bit back in the day, but this doesn't really grab me. 2.5

Yeah, nah. I can understand why they were huge, but, doesn't do much for me.

A hell of an album, even though I don't care for 60s/70s folk, this is something else.

A bit wobbly in the second half. High 2s I guess.

Interesting, never come across it before.

High fours, probably his high water mark. Gone way too soon.

Smooth operator is a GOAT, the album is pretty good.

I mean, they have one song, but it's a bit of fun, 12 songs in a row.

That was better than I was expecting. Will have to give them a broader listen.

A great album, with some standout tracks. Sabotage is a GOAT. High fours.

Pretty polished and sharp album. A lot of fun.

Close to four but not quite. Still, Atlantic City is a goat.

Several bangers, and then a lot of Prince songs.

A very good album, high threes.

Bitta fun with a couple of bangers

Bitta fun with punk with some trumpets. Not really my thing. High twos.

A pioneer, even if it's not really my thing.

Still sounds fresh in 2024.

Opens and closes with two actual bangers. Solid album, high threes.

Vastly different to the norm.

Heroes probably tips this enough to get to four. Very solid.

Modern funk

A banger, such a solid, fun album

Don't really rate it. Seems like ideas left off of Abbey Road mostly

Probably needs more listens but doesn't immediately grab me like most of his work. Definitively him, however.

I can only hear Chef (that said, it's some smooth butter). High 2s.

I'm not sure what this is meant to be, but, it's not for me.

It doesn't resonate with me like it did in '94. Still, a bit of fun.

A very good album, but What's the Story is their best. Mid to high fours

Goes alright, like the Bluesy/Country stuff.

It's big and dumb and oh so fun. High 3s.

Late 60s jams, it's okay

Very good, though I'm not a huge fan. Mid to high 3s

Legendary and influential

Mid 3s, goes pretty good. Tame Impala be here.

Didn't mind this at all. Whole lotta country

Obviously a classic, signature performance. It's high twos for me as it's 'not the jazz I like'.

I don't think it's a perfect album, but it's awfully close. High 4s. MojoPin, So Real, and Lover and sublime. Wish I could give it a 4.8.

Very good

This is quite a confronting sound in place, being industrial and all. Still, didn't mind it. High twos.

Eh

It's good, but not their best. mid to high threes.

It's funny, I like some prog rock. I didn't really like this.

Yeah not bad, high twos?

Not a fan at all, but this is a pretty representative collection. Mid to high twos.

Mid to high threes, a classic.

Listening back to it again (twice) it's obvious what an influential album this is. Amazing that it was lightning in a bottle. Mid 4s.

A very good David Bowie album.

High 3s, this was very good.

Pretty solid album, wall to wall hits. Mid 3s.

A bitta jangle. It's okay, high 2s.

Loved it back in the day, still sounds great.

I've never been a massive fan, but I understand why people are.

I don't dislike it, but it's not really my jam. Mid to high twos.

Decent, never heard it before. Probably just on three.

A couple of bangers for sure. A bit of 80s schlock, also.

Very solid

Spooky, in a good way.

Enjoyable jazzin'

Yeah goes okay, high twos

High 3s. Fast car is a goat.

Bang on three, decent.

Very strong album, probably the Dan's best. High 4s

This was solid. Enjoyable. Classic song in Stepping Stone.

A pretty great album, probably a five for how much I loved it in the day. Still very strong.

An OG for whiteboys, 50s Weezer. That'll Be The Day is an amazing song.

I feel like a single listen can't really let you form an opinion here. Will have to revisit, so, a neutral rating of 2.

Actually don't mind this. And I don't really like Bob.

High threes. A very strong album. Actually surprised

It has a few absolute bangers. The rest is decent. High 3s.

Prog rock interpretation of a classical piece. Yeah, nah.

Yeah not bad, has some pretty deep imagery.

So good, counter for its time, didn't play the 'hits', covers out the wazoo. Feels like home. A five for all of that.

Timeless and still sounds fresh to this day. A massive, monster of an album. Perfect.

Eh it was okay, nothing leapt out at me.

Pretty solid CCR album, though not their best.

Near perfect album for me. Unfinished Sympathy is exceptional. High 4s

I get that it's unheralded but, I also do not wish to herald it.

Pretty solid 90s hippin and a hoppin

Pretty solid double album. Some classic Stevie tunes here.

Close to a five, but have to reserve some fives for their absolute best. So many great tunes.

Actually surprisingly fun. Almost a three.

It was okay, but not really my jam.

Solid U2, lots of fire in the belly. Not huge by any means.

Very enjoyable. Hope to listen to it again. Mid 3s

Mid to high threes, a very good SK album

I've never been a big fan of this album outside of Fools Gold. I'm probably in the minority there.

Actually better than a remember. Decent album

This is a banger. I wasn't a huge fan at the time, but liked the 'hits'. Holds up very well.

Didn't really grab me.

I had low expectations, but this is dumb rock fun.

Their best? Probably. Some phenomenal tunes, a truly great album. Mid to high fours.

Decent, and very different for the time. A solid debut

Pretty solid album with a couple of absolute classics. Mid 3s

Not too bad, though not sure mid 2000s hip hop is my jam in 2025. High 2s

Some absolute classics here that I didn't realise were from Spector. Even though I think Christmas songs are overdone in the modern age.

A decent outing by Mr McCartney

High threes, Sigur Ros just sound like something completely different.

Enjoyed some funk

Probably don't rate it as much as I did back in the day, but still goes alright.

Good album, Son of a Preacher man is a goat.

Decent, high twos for me.

Man they were on some good gear in the 70s.

I probably lost interest in the Black Keys about three or four albums in. I can see that remains the case.

Decent, a talent lost. High 2s

Proggy AF but didn't mind this. Would probably give it another run.

Iron Man cover was a surprise. Love Fool is a pop GOAT. Otherwise eh. High 2s

Banger of an opening tune. Rest is okay. High 2s

Ehhh, never really got the appeal.

Didn't rate it much back in the day, but it goes hard still.

Didn't really enjoy this. I guess it was interesting at the time.

High threes, maybe not their best? Still very good.

Mid to high twos. I think they have better albums.

A true legend, but I feel like by the IV one I'm not sure what there was left to say. He sounded so frail relatively, but I guess the songs still have value. Late twos.

The last good Coldplay album. But man, what an album. They could have gone down an amazing road. They did not. Mid 4s

I'm not huge on reggae. At all. This was okay. High 2s

I don't like thrashy Metallica as much as after the black album Metallica but this goes alright.

For the closer alone, this is amazing. The rest is okay.

I haven't really follow JW since the first few White Stripes album but this was decent enough.

A few bangers, probably better than I was expecting. High 2s.

A shame he turned out to be a shithead, as he one time made some good tunes.

A classic, some phenomenal tunes. Mid 4s.

Quite enjoyed this. Obviously captures a moment in time, but the grooves are undeniable.

Never heard of it, but it wasn't too bad. High 2s.

It's not in my wheelhouse but it ain't bad. High twos.

Pretty solid album overall.

Much more Talking Headseseque than music you'd hear at an airport. Decent.

Eh it's proggy. Some of it wasn't too bad.

It's a pretty solid album. Have to be in the right mind frame to enjoy it. Still high twos.

It was okay. Nothing really grabbed me. Mid 2s.

I'm only half way through it and it's literally terrible.

Extremely polished 80s, but not offensively so.

Genuinely great and enjoyable.

Opening track a banger, rest is decent enough.

Very strong album which saw me do a deep dive in to their discog. High 3s.

Absolute cracker of an album, perhaps even genre defining. High 4s.

Big Sur is a standout. The rest is decent. A shade under a 3, but I've given it one.

Ehhh, I didn't mind a track or two, but, I guess it was more impressive in its day.

A brilliant, left turn of an album that still sounds amazing today. High 4s.

A concept album from the 60s is not exactly my wheelhouse. Has some pretty decent tunes though. Just scrapes in for a three.