551
Albums Rated
3.23
Average Rating
51%
Complete
538 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
85
5-Star Albums
57
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ghosteen
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
|
5 | 2.95 | +2.05 |
|
The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators
|
5 | 2.95 | +2.05 |
|
No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
Motörhead
|
5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
|
Pieces Of The Sky
Emmylou Harris
|
5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
|
New York Dolls
New York Dolls
|
5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
|
Tonight's The Night
Neil Young
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
|
5 | 3.26 | +1.74 |
|
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Dead Kennedys
|
5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
|
Raw Power
The Stooges
|
5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
|
Live At Leeds
The Who
|
5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dire Straits
Dire Straits
|
1 | 3.72 | -2.72 |
|
Parachutes
Coldplay
|
1 | 3.46 | -2.46 |
|
A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
|
1 | 3.43 | -2.43 |
|
Synchronicity
The Police
|
1 | 3.41 | -2.41 |
|
xx
The xx
|
1 | 3.35 | -2.35 |
|
Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
|
1 | 3.34 | -2.34 |
|
The Yes Album
Yes
|
1 | 3.31 | -2.31 |
|
Homework
Daft Punk
|
1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
|
Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin
|
1 | 3.21 | -2.21 |
|
Under Construction
Missy Elliott
|
1 | 3.15 | -2.15 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Led Zeppelin | 4 | 5 |
| Neil Young | 4 | 5 |
| Beatles | 4 | 4.75 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 5 |
| The Who | 4 | 4.5 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Rolling Stones | 3 | 4.67 |
| Johnny Cash | 3 | 4.67 |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 4.67 |
| Marvin Gaye | 2 | 5 |
| Fleetwood Mac | 2 | 5 |
| Aretha Franklin | 2 | 5 |
| Willie Nelson | 2 | 5 |
| OutKast | 2 | 5 |
| Beastie Boys | 2 | 5 |
| The Smiths | 3 | 4.33 |
| Miles Davis | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Coldplay | 2 | 1 |
| The Beta Band | 2 | 1 |
| Pet Shop Boys | 3 | 1.67 |
| Elvis Costello & The Attractions | 2 | 1.5 |
| Brian Eno | 2 | 1.5 |
| Arcade Fire | 3 | 2 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Portishead | 4, 1 |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 5, 2, 3 |
5-Star Albums (85)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Neil Young · 6 likes
5/5
Neil Young is always interesting. He's created such a weirdly, darkly beautiful album that there's no way that it could have done well commercially, while also being a great example of what I love about rock.
Motörhead · 3 likes
5/5
Right from the opening this blows you away. I like the live versions of these songs better than the album versions.
The National · 2 likes
2/5
This is yet another album that someone who was 22 at some point between 2007 and 2012 would probably tell me changed their life after trying to hand me an IPA.
Radiohead · 1 likes
2/5
I like that this seems more rock oriented than other Radiohead albums I've listened to. One Radiohead song is fine, there's usually something interesting going on, however it's exhausting to listen to a full album of this.
Pet Shop Boys · 1 likes
1/5
This came out one week after In Utero, just for a reference for how dated it sounded at release.
1-Star Albums (57)
All Ratings
Dire Straits
3/5
Hits were alright, deep cuts were too long and just okay. The definition of mid.
Aerosmith
4/5
Solid classic rock album, fun listen
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Masterpiece album, If I Should Die Tonight gave me chills
Steely Dan
3/5
Rikki Don't Lose That Number: 7.5/10 Classic but a tad dull
Night By Night: 8.75/10 Really liked this one, cool guitars, vocal style is a bit dull
Any Major Dude Will Tell You: 6/10 Heavy on the keys
Barrytown: 4/10
East St. Louis Toodle-Oo: 2/10 Interesting guitar tone but too noodley. Not into this instrumental.
Parker's Band: 6/10 most interesting song in a while
Through With Buzz: 3/10
Pretzel Logic: 6/10
With A Gun: 6.5/10 decent story
Charlie Freak: 6/10 a second interesting story
Monkey In Your Soul: 7/10 sounds kinda Motown-ish, like the horns
The Strokes
4/5
Is This It 3.5/5
The Modern Age 4.5/5 cool solo
Soma 4/5
Barely Legal 4/5
Someday 4.5/10
Alone, Together 4/5 cool solo
Last Nite 5/5 Banger
Hard To Explain 4/5
When It Started 4/5 Interesting solo
Trying Your Luck 4.5/5
Take It Or Leave It 4/5
Metallica
3/5
Metallica is great, this is a really interesting project, but it has a lot of Re/Load era songs that I'm not that into and runs way too long.
The Police
3/5
3.5/5, it's interesting but not quite doing it for me.
The Kinks
4/5
Not sure if it's copying or influencing but it sounds very familiar despite only having heard maybe one song on it.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
One of the greatest albums of all time.
Dreams is one of the best songs of all time.
Don't Stop is an ear worm.
Go Your Own Way is a classic.
Songbird might be one of the greatest love songs written
The Chain is a favorite
You Make loving Fun 8/10 fun love song
I Don't Want To Know 8/10 simple but catchy
Oh Daddy is scathing
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
Intense
Prince
5/5
Fantastic album of '80s funk/pop. Love Prince.
Let's Go Crazy is fun, Computer Blue is more relevant now than it was when it came out, Darling Nikki is the reason we have warning stickers, When Doves Cry is excellent musicianship, as is Purple Rain. Excellently crafted and played album.
Beach House
2/5
Not bad, a little boring. 2.5?
The Zutons
3/5
3.5/5 Songs are catchy and kinda match the old movie poster vibe, but don't seem super original. Derivative but still fun. Highlights: Pressure Point, Havana Gang Brawl, enjoyed the solo in You Will You Won't, Remember Me. Fun but not sure it's a must listen.
Iron Maiden
5/5
4.5/5 rounding up to 5. I've heard songs off it before but never listened through. Captivating riffs, powerful vocals, solid rhythm section, great guitar harmonies, each song is a vignette. Hallowed Be Thy Name is a favorite, TNOTB and Run To The Hills are classics, but my favorite new song was probably Children Of The Damned or Invaders.
Nightmares On Wax
1/5
Good background album. The less I actively listen to it the more I like it to just chill to while I work. If it was on in a coffee shop or some kind of lobby I'd probably think it's a cool place. Not sure why it's on this list.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Powerful, emotional vocals in beautiful songs of heartbreak and a relationship gone bad. RESPECT is a classic, Drown In My Own Tears is relatable for anyone who's had a relationship fall apart. The guitar at the end of I Never Loved a Man was a nice bluesy touch. Baby, Baby, Baby 10/10 twists who hurt who in the relationship from the rest of the album. Good Times brings the mood up with early rock style guitar and piano. Incredible cover of Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come to close out the album.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Dennis Wilson
4/5
Nice easy listening yacht rock with a bit of a darker side.
The Specials
3/5
Do The Dog and Concrete Jungle are the standouts. Pretty decent even though it's ska.
Taylor Swift
4/5
Haven't really listened to much Taylor Swift before, just heard the radio hits from time to time. champaign problems is the stand out track so far, willow was pretty good too. no body, no crime is a great twist on a murder ballad. Back half of the album was a little weaker than the front half, but evermore (song) is pretty good.
Willie Nelson
5/5
Honestly, I think Stardust is one of the most beautiful songs recorded. This whole album is incredible even though it's all covers.
Little Richard
5/5
This album is a little dated, but incredibly original and energetic for the era. It's interesting to see the piano and saxophone used so heavily compared to what came later in rock music with a standard 4/5 piece band. You can feel this record resonating through popular music through the eras if you listen closely. Though it's sound is a little dated and the lyrics are fairly simple, it's an incredible force of an album that deserves it's spot on this list.
The Cars
5/5
Well written, fun sounding songs with an excellent rhythm section and tasteful guitar playing. Synths sound a little dated, but there's not a bad song on this album. It's interesting to hear as kind of an in-between of punk, alternative and 70s style album oriented hard rock.
Bert Jansch
4/5
It was surprising how much it reminded me of Americana folk music.
Ash
3/5
It's pretty good, but it sounds like everything in the 90s combined into one album.
Pixies
4/5
Massively influential on alternative music. Great dynamics, interesting song structures, I like the mix of vocalists. Never realized just how sexual the lyrics are before.
Elvis Costello
3/5
Deceptively simple sounding 50's style rock n roll songs with more modern topics. It's not breaking any new ground, but it's well made and pleasant to listen to.
Yes
1/5
Yours Is No Disgrace - It's alright, but it doesn't pull me into the album. Not a huge fan of the vocals, they're just kinda there. I'm not really into the vocal harmonies or noodly guitars.
The Clap - Acoustic noodling
Starship Trooper - 1st 1/3rd isn't bad, not feeling the acoustic bit in the middle.
I've Seen All Good People - is this about chess?
A Venture - Again with the harmonies and noodly guitars.
Perpetual Change - first 4 minutes weren't bad, then the noodling came back. I'm just not meshing with this album at all.
Foo Fighters
4/5
Probably the best Foo Fighters album. Good Grief and Floaty are the sleeper hits, but the back half is better than the front half of the album.
Queens Of The Stone Age
4/5
Rock solid album, but not the best from QOTSA. Regular John is a hell of a riff to start off with. Avon is cool sounding. It's interesting going back and actually listening to QOTSA albums how much Josh's vocals have changed. If Only is another fantastic riff. Walkin on the Sidewalks has a very uneasy feel on the verses that feels more like a stumble than a walk. The fuzzed out guitars on How To Handle A Rope are what I'm here for and the lyrics are interesting. Dig the outro solo. The bass intro on Mexicola is dirty as hell and builds the pacing well. Mexicola is a sweet riff too in a trip to a Mexican jail. You Can't Quit Me Baby has extremely uneasy lyrics with great instrumentation behind it.
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
It's good but I'm just not meshing with it this morning.
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
It reminds me of a lot of 80s and late 70s stuff, but not as interesting. Vocals are not great and the songs are all about 2-3 minutes too long.
The KLF
1/5
I couldn't finish it.
Arcade Fire
3/5
It feels like an indie-rock Bruce Springsteen album about the suburbs. I like it a lot but it feels like it keeps going without a lot of variation.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
1/5
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
It clearly influenced new wave but it doesn't do anything that later bands didn't do better. Nothing about it stands out. I've never gotten the hype around Costello.
The Lemonheads
3/5
3.5 solid album, but not mind blowing. Reminds me of a poppy Dinosaur Jr
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
Definitely a change up from the typical stuff on this list. Beautiful, if not slightly too long, songs in a wildly different style than I'm used to. I'd listen to music from him again, but not this much at once. 3.5
New York Dolls
5/5
4.5/5 You can feel the influence this album still has on music today. This was your favorite band's favorite album. Bridges the gap between 60s rock and punk fantastically with a view into a NYC that doesn't exist anymore. Definitely a must listen.
Harry Nilsson
4/5
Interesting album, very of it's time, but with some good songs on it.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
Not my normal style, but an interesting album that pulled me in. Much more than it appeared at the surface when paying attention to the lyrics and stories.
The Mothers Of Invention
4/5
Way ahead of it's time. Other than the references I wouldn't have guessed this was from the 60s. Odd but interesting compositions. The overlapping voices were a bit of a drawback but overall I liked it and I need to check out more Zappa.
The Last Shadow Puppets
2/5
It feels like the soundtrack to a musical where all the songs are the reveal of something bad. Nothing really stands out though. 2/5
Spacemen 3
1/5
So far, Revolution is the only song that has caught my attention, but even that managed to lose it by the end. I see how this could have influenced some bands, but honestly, it sounds derivative of several other bands and their friends hyped them up a bit to help them out.
4/5
Pretty good album with a couple great songs. Interesting audio references to other bands like the Beatles.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Great blend of Reggae and rock. The back half of the album is my favorite, but the front half doesn't miss either. The opening two tracks pull you in to it. Turn Your Lights Down Low is my favorite track on the album 3.5/5
The Boo Radleys
3/5
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Interesting sonic textures, wild sounds, and a surprising amount of feel to it. 3.5/5
Talking Heads
4/5
Unique and catchy songs, a bit dated now, but still different than anything modern and fun while making you think a bit.
Otis Redding
4/5
I love some Otis Redding.
Goldfrapp
2/5
It's not bad, but it doesn't do anything that makes me want to keep listening. I wouldn't turn off any individual song, but I wouldn't want to listen to the whole thing again. I'm not sure why it's on this list.
TV On The Radio
1/5
It feels like it's trying to hard to incorporate too many influences and not really succeeding at any of them because of it. It's not my thing at all.
Tom Waits
4/5
It's not for everyone, but it's got a charm that pulls you in. It's both "other" and classically cool.
The Verve
2/5
Starts off with the best song on the album and then just gets monotonous. This could have been better if it was about half as long. Space and Time is one of the better tracks, and it's kinda okay.
U2
3/5
A few good songs, but I don't get the hype.
Jamiroquai
3/5
Pretty interesting take on funk and jazz, dig the didgeridoo. I'd listen again.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Radiohead
4/5
15 Steps - it's different and catches my attention. Feels a cold open to a mysterious journey.
Bodysnatchers - I dig it but I want to know more about it
Nude - This whole album feels uneasy and leaving me hanging.
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi - It does sound like the sound track to something in the deep ocean, dreamlike, washed, and with some danger. One of my favorites so far.
All I Need -
Faust Arp - Like a dark Beatles song
Reckoner -
House Of Cards - the traditional instrumentation intro caught my attention again. It's a good mix up. I like how this song feels more intimate after most of the rest of the album.
Jigsaw Falling Into Place - fairly accurate depiction of a night out, and the darker side behind it.
Videotape - The simple piano instrumentation is nice, and I like how the song builds. There's a very human thing about wondering how your life looks when played back.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Custard Pie & the Rover are two tracks I love that don't get enough recognition.
The slide intro to In My Time Of Dying is one of my favorite Led Zeppelin intros.
Houses Of The Holy is good, but one of the weaker tracks of the album imo. I do like the outro solo though.
Love the Trampled Under Foot riff. It just feels so cool. The change up leading to the keys solo is fantastic, and the cocked wah sound of the bass is wild.
Kashmir is the classic epic song. The mystical lyrics, the eastern influence, the trance like riff. Love it. What a journey.
In The Light starts off cool, sounds kinda Beatles-ish in the middle, and then brings it back around. I like how they made the keys have that bagpipe like drone.
Bron Yr Aur is a fun little instrumental.
Down By The Seaside - that strong effect on the guitar track makes it sound oceany, the switch up in the middle sounds more sinister than the fun sounding first half.
Ten Years Gone's build up to quiet is genius. It's got a fantastic guitar solo that sounds unique.
Night Flight - I know I've listened to this whole album before but I don't recall ever hearing this song.
The Wanton Song - What a cool riff to kick it off, and then that stumble just before the verse, and it just keeps getting cooler.
Boogie With Stu has that old time rock n roll feel from the 50s which I dig. Black Country Woman feels folksy and fun, but tense.
That intro to Sick Again is sick. The lyrics however have not aged well...
Wu-Tang Clan
4/5
Unfortunately, the only version available to me is censored and it's killing the vibe. Especially on the hits.
Dirty Projectors
1/5
It's like it's close to being good, but it's just weird in the wrong ways to be good. It feels like it doesn't know what it's supposed to be or where it should go. It was mostly just unpleasant to listen to.
Stereo MC's
2/5
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
I like the sound of it, it's different that what I'm used to. She has a nice voice and I like the movement in the music.
Kraftwerk
4/5
We Are The Robots was cool, I've never heard anything like this before. The repetitiveness of it is trance-like, and it feels like the bedrock of every electronic song I've heard before, but still really catchy and earwormish, despite it's sparseness.
I enjoy the way the songs build up with droning tones into the main song. I'm not normally into synth sounds, but this album is great. It reminds me of playing old video games.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Beth Orton
3/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Malcolm McLaren
2/5
I get where this could be influential, and some of it is pretty cool, but most of it is stolen, ripped off, or otherwise not made by the guy who's name is on the cover in any way, shape or form. It doesn't flow well either. Its the best 2/5 I've gotten in this project so far, but something about it is just off since it's stolen.
Arcade Fire
2/5
It's not bad, but there are tons of bands that do a similar sound better. The lyrics feel like they're trying too hard to be deep.
Pretenders
4/5
An interesting album, cool new wave vibes, great guitar playing, some sweet bass lines. I like the singer's voice and lyrics too.
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
The Stone Roses
4/5
Sounds like a precursor to a lot of shoegaze and other indie styles.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
This is one of the albums where rap/hiphop got more musically complex while also being fun to listen to. It's one of the first rap albums that still feels fresh, where as, for example, even though Straight Outta Compton is great, it does sound musically dated.
The Doors
3/5
3.5/5 Break on Through is a favorite. You can hear the influence it had on harder rock later.
Everyone has heard Soul Kitchen even if you don't think you have. It's all over movies and shows.
20th Century Fox is a classic.
Alabama Song (Whisky Bar) is a weird choice but it fits in a way that differentiates the band from contemporaries.
Light My Fire is legendary.
The xx
1/5
The kind of generic indie pop that hipsters couldn't get enough of in 2010 but that everyone else ignored. Its not awful but I can't understand how it ended up on this list.
Radiohead
2/5
I like that this seems more rock oriented than other Radiohead albums I've listened to. One Radiohead song is fine, there's usually something interesting going on, however it's exhausting to listen to a full album of this.
Machito
4/5
This is an album that will transport you to another time and place. It feels like a fancy, smoky jazz lounge in Havana or Miami in the 1950s. I need a white suit with a hat, a big cigar, and a glass of rum, and we're walking through the back like in Goodfellas.
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
Public Enemy
4/5
Powerful lyricism and beats that go hard. Some of these samples are insane (sounds like Slayer on She Watch Channel Zero?!). Some songs sound a bit dated, but compared to it's contemporaries you can tell why it was revolutionary. Solid record. 4/5.
Beatles
5/5
Elvis Presley
4/5
Mostly made up of Elvis song's I haven't heard, with the exception of Fever. Fever and Dirty, Dirty Feeling are the standouts for me. DDF has that harder rockabilly edge that was pretty interesting compared to the other ballads.
The Coral
3/5
They incorporate a lot of stylistic influences, and while different, it isn't necessarily unique or great as a whole, despite the creativity and approach. Feels like the kind of band who's music would be interesting in the background of a comedy show but not enough to make you look it up later.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
1/5
Please tell me this is the third and final Costello album on the list. I skipped at least half the song on most of the songs. Every time I hear something that does catch my attention I realize it's because it reminds me of something that came out before this, so the interesting parts aren't even original.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Not my favorite Bob Marley album, but there are some good songs on it.
David Bowie
3/5
A couple great songs, a good album, but not my favorite by Bowie.
Saint Etienne
2/5
I'm starting to consider skipping anything I haven't heard of from the UK during the 1990s. This is another perfect example of an album that does nothing for me from then and there.
LTJ Bukem
1/5
Above & Beyond is the best track on this album, and even it I couldn't make it through. I don't understand why these bland electronic albums keep making this list.
Devendra Banhart
3/5
The Pogues
3/5
Nice change up, it's different, it didn't capture me.
Fela Kuti
4/5
Eels
2/5
Buck Owens
4/5
I love this older country sound. Sure, the mix is weird and sounds dated, but the songs are written so well (there's a reason every song on this album has a hundred different covers). It's an album that transports you to a time and place, even if it isn't your favorite sound. You can see the lights, the smoke in the air, and the man in the ridiculous suit strumming his guitar on stage. Heck, I can almost taste the cheap beer from here.
Randy Newman
3/5
Well that's one way to start an album.
It's actually pretty good, and the satire is plain to see. The way it mocks society is pretty scathing.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Stevie Wonder writes some great songs, and I know this is the start of he best period of work, but this album has songs that hit that point and is not fully a part of his peak.
Supergrass
3/5
I've heard Alright before. That's the only song I recognize so far. The album is pretty good though. It's more up my alley than most albums I've gotten lately.
Nick Drake
4/5
Norah Jones
3/5
Judas Priest
4/5
Black Sabbath
5/5
I love Black Sabbath
King Crimson
5/5
So far, out the gate this album is exceeding expectations with 21st Century Schizoid Man. I Talk To The Wind was interesting. I like where Epitaph is going so far, this is way better than I expected so far. Moonchild is great too, but it got a little long. I'm digging Crimson King
3/5
Tom Waits
4/5
Some interesting choices were definitely made here. It's pretty good, but it's a lot.
Ian Dury
2/5
Apparently if you're not a British man of a certain social class from a certain time period this doesn't make much sense. I agree with that take.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Van Halen
5/5
This album changed music. It's that good.
The Young Gods
3/5
It's definitely weird, but it's still more interesting than a lot of albums. The riffs are actually pretty good on some songs. Its a solid 3.8. I wouldn't listen to it on my own but I think the hate is overblown.
Motörhead
5/5
Right from the opening this blows you away. I like the live versions of these songs better than the album versions.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Pretty interesting mix of jazz and African influences. The horns are great, but the drummer has been going crazy. I'd definitely listen to this again.
Black Sabbath
5/5
One of my favorite Sabbath albums. Just amazing start to finish.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
But why are the giraffes insincere?
Tim Buckley
3/5
I'd heard Jeff before, but never Tim. I know they don't know each other well, but it was interesting to hear the contrasts and similarities. 3.5
Red Snapper
2/5
I feel like heard all the instrumentals as the menu music of a PS2 game. It's not quite a 1 because it's not awful but it's definitely a weak 2.
Green Day
5/5
I've heard this album before, I know the singles, I've never really listened to the all the lyrics before. I already liked this album, but I it's better than I thought it was.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Not my favorite Iron Maiden album, but still great and better than most albums on this list so far. Not quite a 5, but 4 isn't high enough. You can definitely feel the shift in metal albums after this though. Rhythm section is incredible, guitars are great, Harris being the songwriter the songs are well crafted, but Dickinson was definitely an upgrade from the vocals on this album.
The Triffids
1/5
Shack
2/5
Perfectly average and inoffensive. It's a 3/10 but in the top 1001 albums ever made it is not.
Joanna Newsom
3/5
I just finished the first track. That started strong but wore out it's welcome. There's interesting things going on, but hopefully it starts to mix things up more. It's as if every song is a more orchestral Silver Ships Of Andilar but twice as long. Probably the best album on this list that I never have to listen to again so far. I think this would benefit from shorter songs building on some of the themes from each song instead of having several ideas thrown into one massive long song together. 3.8?
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
It's big, it's long, and it's not bad.
Jerry Lee Lewis
5/5
This rocks harder than anything else I've heard from 1964, louder, meaner and faster.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
OutKast
5/5
I like Outkast, they got me into hip hop, but I'd never actually listened to this album outside the singles which was a mistake because this is heavily influenced by some of my favorite artists (Prince, George Clinton and his crews, Hendrix, etc). It's all over the place in the best ways, easy 5/5.
Jethro Tull
3/5
One thing I'm realizing about all of these progressive albums is that they'd be much better if they didn't overstay their welcome. Here we're introduced to two unusual characters and then they're never mentioned again. Then we get a few songs rambling about religion. Musically, it is better than I expected, but lyrically it left me wanting, and no matter how you look at it it had too much filler material.
The White Stripes
4/5
Neil Young
5/5
Neil Young may not be the greatest singer, but he's one of the best songwriters and nobody can play guitar like him. The vulnerability and rawness in his music pulls me in every time.
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
I get it, I can see it's influence, I appreciate it's place in history. That said, it is not for me.
Elton John
5/5
I knew the singles, but I've never dove into Elton's catalogue. That was a mistake. Elton and Bernie have put together an incredible album here. Every song holds my attention, the piano is a great change up from normal, the string arrangements are really cool, and I love the guitar work too. Lyrically I'm invested in every song. Another in a string of great albums lately.
Bill Callahan
1/5
It all sounds the same, and it sounds derivative. It's not something I need to listen to again.
The Temptations
4/5
Radiohead
2/5
Well, let's see how this goes. I typically don't mind a Radiohead song but their albums are beatings. At least it isn't Elvis Costello again.
Planet Telex: I kinda like the soundscape that's created, but it isn't completely capturing me.
The Bends: I actually kinda like this one. Feels more like the 90s stuff that I enjoy.
High And Dry: This sounds like the 90s stuff I don't like. It's got that generic acoustic guitar and ultra-repetitive lyrics. He even did the thing with the last line that every 90s band did.
Fake Plastic Trees: The lyrics feel relatable here, feeling rundown and surrounded by fake stuff.
Bones: Sounds like an Oasis song.
(Nice Dream): I think I've hit my limit of Radiohead
Just: I've hit my limit of Radiohead. Thom York's voice is starting to annoy me. His voice is one of my least favorite things about Radiohead.
My Iron Lung: The intro guitar is actually pretty cool. Props for that.
Bullet Proof: this is an example of why I can't listen to a full album of this. I'm trying really hard to listen to this whole thing for this project.
Black Star:
Sulk:
Street Spirit: cool looping guitar part.
Sebadoh
3/5
Big Brother & The Holding Company
5/5
This is everything I wanted it to be. The distorted guitar, the trance-like rhythm section, Janis' wailing vocals. Love it.
Kate Bush
2/5
It's weird, but it definitely feels like it has it's fingers in a lot of things that came after and draws from all kinds of influences.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
There are a couple hits and some deeper tracks that are pretty good, but overall a lot of this sounds pretty similar. Wildly influential, changed the game, but ultimately fairly middle of the road for me today.
The Police
1/5
It's like a discount Disney soundtrack, so it's not even benefiting from the positives of sounding like that.
Hanoi Rocks
3/5
Is it innovative? No. Is it the peak of it's genre? No. Is it special? Not really. Is it well made? Not particularly. But it is fun if you just want some dumb glam rock and can appreciate it for what that means.
Willie Nelson
5/5
Willie Nelson is in the top 2 when it comes to America's contributions to the world, and this is one of his finest albums.
Iggy Pop
5/5
I've listened to The Stooges a lot, and heard a couple of Pop's solo songs, so I was excited for this song. It lived up to expectations. It's not as raw as The Stooges, but it's got more edge to it than the poppier works Bowie was attached to.
Gorillaz
3/5
There's a lot of good stuff, but a lot of filler too.
ZZ Top
4/5
ZZ Top has a swagger to them that's just so damn cool. Billy's guitar playing is supreme and the rhythm section carries the vibe. This isn't their best work, but it's still great.
1/5
The instrumentals aren't bad. It's the vocals and the lyrics that kill this album. The lyrics are made for angry 14 year olds, and Fred Durst sounds like an angry cartoon character most of the time. A couple songs are fine, but as a whole I can't endorse that you NEED to listen to this before you die.
Why is the last track 9 minutes of rambling about how awful the band is? Who does that?
Bebel Gilberto
4/5
Some albums are on this list because they are the greatest creations of man. Some are on here because they had an undeniable influence on the next 50+ years of music. Some are here just because they are pleasant to listen to, and that's where this album sits. It's cool, but it's chill enough to have on in the background, it doesn't necesarilly force a strong reaction, but you'll feel something while listening to it without having your mind blown. Solid 3.5-4 range.
Orange Juice
2/5
This is like a 2. It's okay, I don't hate it, but I don't understand why I needed to listen to this before I died.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
One of the only albums I've immediately hit replay on.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Parliament
4/5
The Cult
3/5
Honestly, fairly surprised by this one. It's better than I expected, but people are all saying it's not the best Cult album so I'll have to check them out. It's a good mix of 70s and 90s rock even though it came before the 90s. However, the first song that autoplayed after this for me was Led Zeppelin and it put it all into context. It's good, but it isn't legendary.
Lambchop
2/5
This is listed as country and pop, and wikipedia calls the band a rock band, but it sounds like all the most boring parts of those genres. The weird bells, the orchestra, the bad falsetto, nonsense lyrics. It lacks anything to connect with.
The Smiths
4/5
This is one of The Smiths albums that I haven't given much time to in the past. It's pretty good, Johnny is a master as always, rhythym is tight, and Morrisey is just as sarcastic, detatched and English as always. Hopefully there are other Smiths albums on this list, because this isn't their best album.
Metallica
4/5
Janis Joplin
4/5
Another great addition from Janis. Some of her best hits and hidden gems are on this record.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
It's weird, it's unique, it isn't making my daily playlist despite being more deserving of being on this list than a lot of albums so far. 3.5
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
One of my favorites from the get go. Nobody plays or writes like Neil.
Buena Vista Social Club
5/5
I actually first heard about this the other day and thought it sounded cool but hadn't had a chance to check it out yet. I've wanted to get into Ry Cooder and Cuban music has always appealed to me so this is a great way to start my morning. There's something beautiful and sad in music from this part of the world that captures me. I would love to see this live.
Arcade Fire
1/5
I feel like Jean Girard after watching Highlander.
I continue to be baffled by the hype around this band. So far it's the best album I've heard from Arcade Fire. It's like Bruce Springsteen but bad, boring and forced through a 2000s hipster filter.
The Style Council
3/5
It's actually got some pretty decent jazzy bits, but there's also quite a bit that should have stayed in the '80s.
Sugar
3/5
Being a Bob Mould album, this has some pretty decent poppy hooks, big guitars, and it sounds very of it's time without being dull.
Violent Femmes
4/5
I remember a few of these songs from Tony Hawk games.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
This is one of those albums that I don't understand how it could be anything other than a 5. Everything about it is top notch.
Jorge Ben Jor
5/5
Love the combo of Brazilian music and funk
Hookworms
1/5
When more people have opinions of your non-musical activites than they do of your music, it isn't a must listen to album.
Small Faces
2/5
I'm not sure how to feel about this. It's got moments that are pretty good, but sometimes it feels lost.
Miles Davis
4/5
This is one of those albums that has some really cool, interesting points, but goes on for too long. I really like it, but it feels like too much to just sit down and listen to in one go. It's like a 3.9 for me because of that.
Curtis Mayfield
5/5
I love the groove of this album. It's so smooth, but you can feel it boiling underneath. Billy Jack is a wonderful vibe of a song hiding much darker lyrics. So In Love felt like a slow soul jam from Prince before Prince was a thing.
B.B. King
5/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Classic album that might as well be a greatest hits album
Can
3/5
It sounds a lot more modern than I expected.
The Undertones
4/5
This is what a British Ramones sounds like. It's got the poppiness, simplicity and similar themes.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
This is one of those albums that you hear people recommend, but you kinda put it off until one day you listen to it and you realize how good it is. It starts off strong, and it keeps going. The harmonies are great, the guitar playing is solid, the lyrics have more going on than you really expect them to if you don't know who Simon and Garfunkel are. Solid album.
Louis Prima
5/5
This albums sounds like a party and I would much rather be there than work. Nobody knows what time it is and that isn't important.
Einstürzende Neubauten
2/5
I think this might make me reevaluate how I rate these albums. There have been several that give me basically no reaction, and I gave them 2 or 3. This definitely got a reaction, but not a good one, and for that it gets a 2. The forgetable albums will probably start getting 1s. I don't want to finish this, but it's a bit like watching a trainwreck where I'm not sure I can not look. Is it better if I did speak German or does the unknown yelling add to the atmosphere?
Note: I tapped out in the middle of the 8th/Title track.
Daft Punk
1/5
Once I got to the back half I started skipping parts of songs. I don't know much of their work, but from what I do know this doesn't seem like their best. It feels like if you hear the first 30-45 seconds of a song you've heard the song.
I was talking about this website with one of my coworkers and he told me it needed more electronic stuff, and when I told him this was my album of the day he told me I would be way too sober to enjoy it at work.
Neil Young
5/5
Neil Young is always interesting. He's created such a weirdly, darkly beautiful album that there's no way that it could have done well commercially, while also being a great example of what I love about rock.
Neil Young
5/5
Back to back Neil Young albums, let's go. I love the way he focuses so much on getting the feeling of his songs right instead of being perfectly produced. The songwriting and human imperfections are what make his music special.
John Lennon
2/5
This album is proof that the Beatles were more than the sum of their parts.
Muddy Waters
4/5
An excellent example of what the blues is from a titan of the genre with a legendary band.
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
Layla is by far the best track on this album. Cut 30 minutes out, just take the best songs, and give Duane Allman more time on the album and we'd be looking at a 5, but this is more of a soft 3.
Van Morrison
4/5
I'm not usually one for live albums, but when done well they can be great. The band is tight, and the energy is way better than on the album versions of some of these songs. It's a bit long, but it's a great performance.
The Isley Brothers
5/5
Dude i got some fucking Isley Brothers at work today dude. Hell yeah. My mom told me if i wait for things, like, good things will happen to me dude and fucking i waited for some things and i got some Isley Brothers at work today dude. hell yeah. so it just goes to show that waiting for things is, like, worth it. but there’s a lot of bad things in this world, dude. like fucking skunks dude? hell no. Scratching you’re eye, but it’s STILL fucking ITCHY dude?! HELL no. The fucking CUBS, DUDE? HELL NO!! LIKE GETTING PAID NOT A LOT OF MONEY, DUDE?! FOR FUCKING WORKING?! HELL NO!!!! BUT ISLEY BROTHERS?! AT FUCKING WORK, DUDE?! HELL YEAH!!!!!! HELL YEAH, BRO!!!! HELL YEAH!! ISLEY BROTHERS, BRO, AT FUCKING WORK, DUDE!!!! HELL YEAH!!
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
10cc
1/5
Another subpar British band. Some of it's kinda fun, but none of it is a must listen.
Bad Company
4/5
Bad Company is one of those bands that I've heard of, but before listening to this album didn't realize that I knew so much of their stuff. Not world changing, but really solid, well crafted songs.
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Decent indie pop album with some 60s whisper singing and very lesbian vibes on several songs.
David Bowie
5/5
Bowie is an artist that I've taken too long to get into, but I've grown to appreciate in the last year. The weirdness (Time or some of the jazzy piano parts in other songs) is part of the draw and appeal, but he can also put out a straight forward rocker like Cracked Actor that sounds like it belongs with any of the hard rockers of the era. The narrative carries you, or pushes you, through the adventure that Bowie was on. He's the chameleon, and is made up of characters, but none of it feels inauthentic. It's like he's embraced the excess, the madness, the wilderness of the city and magnified it.
Coldplay
1/5
The music is bland and uninspiring. Chris Martin's voice sounds like an animal in pain. I've never heard a coldplay song I liked and this just solidified the fact that they do absolutely nothing for me. At least Kolaps and Limp Bizkit are entertaining to hear what the hype about them being awful was, this was just a generic waste of time. And not even in the "this was okay but not for me" way some of these have been where I just leave it playing. I'd rather sit in silence than listen to this.
The Clash
4/5
One of the albums that put punk on the map. It's angry, it's got attitude, and it's what started "The Only Band That Matters".
Cocteau Twins
3/5
This makes me want to ride a bus around Tokyo or somewhere lit up at night. I don't know how to expand on that feeling.
The Sonics
4/5
This feels like one of the first albums to sound this "heavy". You can hear where some later bands like The Stooges got inspiration from this album.
The Who
4/5
Great classics, and wonderfully of it's time. It has a bit more of a lyrical edge to it than a lot of bands at the time seemed to.
The Black Keys
4/5
I love this album. It's just banger after banger. Is it the best album by The Black Keys? No. But it's better than a lot of these random albums from 1985-2003 that I've gotten so far on this list.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I think it's a really important album from a historical perspective, as it's one of the albums that, while not as good as the original versions of these songs, introduced them to an audience that wouldn't have known about these songs at the time and was part of the launching pad for what has become modern music. As for how enjoyable it actually is to listen to now, I'd say it's about a 3, but the historical importance brings it up to a 4. I get why it's on the list, but it makes little sense out of context of it's time for why it's on the list.
The Smiths
4/5
The drums are tight and steady, the bass is really interesting on this album actually, Marr is amazing as always, and the lyrics are top notch while the actual vocals are polarizing. All that being said, this is the first time I've listened to this album and while it's good, I still don't think this is the best Smith's album, though it is growing on me.
Neu!
3/5
There must have been a lot of bands in the late 1970s and early 1980s that listened to this album. It isn't my favorite, but I can hear where this might have had a greater influence than I'm expecting it to have.
OutKast
5/5
This thing is insane in the best ways. The vibes of both albums are totally different, but they both manage to explore a lot of sonic territory while keeping a unique vibe. I'm here for it.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
A classic album and a one of their best. It's loaded with awesome songs front to back.
Emmylou Harris
5/5
It's mostly covers, but wow they are well done. The emotion in her voice is pure. I'm always a sucker for "Coat of Many Colors" too.
Depeche Mode
4/5
I don't know much Depeche Mode, but what I do know is on this album.
Soft Machine
2/5
The fact they could do this live is impressive. The fact they did this is not.
Johnny Cash
5/5
I love Johnny Cash, but I'm a touch curious why it was this album and not At Folsom Prison. Though this has been a great listening experience. It's also great to hear his interactions with the prisoners.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
Wow. This was not what I was expecting to listen to early this morning. This is a powerful album that wonderfully expresses the emotions and thoughts around loss, greif, and love in a way that very few works of art are able to. I didn't expect much from so recent an album being a "Must listen to before I die" but this certainly is.
Herbie Hancock
4/5
3/5
Brainwashed sounded more like something from the White Stripes than I expected.
Overall it's not a bad album but it's just alright.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
This is one of my favorite albums of the 90s, and I love 90s alternative. The sound is wildly full and lush. They hit the full vibe from barely a whisper to crushing you under the walls of sound. The lyrics are sad and relatable. Love it.
Christine and the Queens
1/5
Now playing through the busted out speakers of your closest TJ Maxx.
The Bees
3/5
Based on the cover I wasn't expecting much. The first track was a vibe though, felt like a good song to chill to. Angryman a little less so, but I'm willing to see where this goes. It reminds me of some of the music on Bojack Horseman, especially once that horn pops in. This ended up being a nice, chill background album for the morning.
Dire Straits
1/5
There's some groove to it, but it's so boring and the singer sounds like he needs some laxatives. I hope they don't have a 3rd album on this list.
Beck
3/5
It's interesting, pulling from lots of influences and doing it well. I've liked every song so far, but I don't know if I would listen to this as a full album again.
Taylor Swift
4/5
I remember hating on Taylor Swift when I was younger, but I don't think I heard anything beyond "Shake it off" (still don't like that one) and a couple other hits. It turns out that beyond the radio/TJ Maxx tracks there are actually some catchy songs in her discography.
Dion
1/5
This sounds like if Prince was white and played music in a church. And then it did the boring 60s folk thing.
George Jones
4/5
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
I realize that I'm probably not the target audience for this album. I like the fairly stripped down instrumentals, she has a nice voice, but I'm not connecting with the lyrics that well and I could do without the spoken word interludes. I don't think it's bad, but I don't think it's one of the best albums of all time, though it does offer a different perspective than most of these albums have.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Deep Purple
3/5
This is bookended by the two best tracks on the album, but I enjoyed actually listening to this whole album vs just the highlights.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
I'm going to have to come back to this one.
KISS
3/5
Whatever you think about Kiss, Detroit Rock City is a banger. Great Expectations is immature. Beth is a classic. The rest of the album isn't bad, but it's not incredible.
The Beta Band
1/5
A while back this would have been a 2. It's inoffensive. It doesn't make me want to turn it off. But then I got to Kollaps. That was an album that was so offensive to the ears that it got a reaction and made me reevaluate how I feel about these bland, generic albums. Kollaps was not a good album, but it at least got a reaction out of me, which is the purpose of art, to speak to someone, whether that be in a good or bad way. Kollaps spoke to me so I gave it a 2. This doesn't say anything to me. This is a 1.
Thin Lizzy
2/5
Thin Lizzy is pretty cool, but this is a lot of Thin Lizzy and the overdubs kinda ruin the live feel.
Pink Floyd
4/5
Not my favorite Pink Floyd album, but dang is it good.
The Icarus Line
1/5
This isn't even a must listen to album in this genre, let alone all albums ever.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
It's an interesting mix of 90s alternative, 70s rock, and 60s pop-psychadelia.
Death In Vegas
2/5
I keep wanting to like this album, I like the build up in a lot of the songs, but they all have the build up to.... nowhere. It'll find a cool groove, and then do nothing with it. There's no crescendo or release of tension, just build up and hold. Even Iggy Pop and a Rolling Stones song couldn't hit the spots it needed for me.
Blur
5/5
Though the Beatles influence is blatantly apparent, this is a wonderful mix of everything I love about 60s music and 90s music, with a couple moments that you can imagine singing in large groups at a bar that is mostly absent in American music. The darker moments like Death Of A Party, You're So Great and Beatlebum are poignant and raw. This is an easy 5 that I wish I'd heard sooner.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Once you get past the fact you've heard half of these songs a billion times, there's a lot of great songs here. They're catchy, well written, and fun. Definitely worth a listen.
The Stooges
5/5
I love The Stooges and this is one of my favorite albums. It's over 50 years old and still sounds ground breaking.
Talking Heads
4/5
Solid album, the first song definitely caught me offguard though with the non-English singing
Rahul Dev Burman
4/5
I enjoy world music, but I always feel like the picks are something out of left field just to be included and not the best or most accessible options out there. This does have a cool retro-exotic vibe that feels missing in modern times. It sounds like there's an adventure underneath it all.
Ray Charles
4/5
It's kinda crazy how much you can change the arrangement of a song and keep it indentifiable, interesting and also extremely original sounding.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
I'm not sure what I expected based on the album cover, but it wasn't this. I am pleasantly surprised though. This is a pretty enjoyable big band jazz album with good energy and my day is better for having heard it.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
A lyrically beautiful and complex album of well crafted songs. A bit samey sounding, but undeniably emotional.
Dolly Parton
4/5
The title track is one of the most iconic country songs of all time. There are some other good songs on the album too, but it does get a bit similar sounding. The stories told are well crafted if not a touch standard for older country.
The Dictators
3/5
A bit immature, definitely some things that on surface level haven't aged well but aren't what they appear either. It's actually a pretty good listen, but it's not the greatest album ever written and it doesn't have to be. You can see where later punk pulled from here. 3.5/5
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Laid back beats, creative samples, and lyrics and flow that were different than anything else at the time with a chill vibe. Hugely influential and you can hear it.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
While this has some great songs and some of my favorite RHCP songs, I also could do without about half of the album.
Elvis Presley
3/5
A solid album of Elvis sounding like Elvis again. The non-album singles are better than the album though. 3.5/5
The Shamen
1/5
'90s electronica is absolutely not for me.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
This album hits like a ton of bricks. The raw anger, the heavy instrumentation, and the charged lyics, absolutely classic.
Frank Sinatra
5/5
I got hyped when this was revealed as my album of the day. I love Sinatra. His voice is classic, the band is always tight, and his ability to convey emotion is incredible, whether happy, sad, or inbetween. Loving it.
Dusty Springfield
2/5
It's pretty, Son Of A Preacher Man is an all time classic, but as a whole it's pretty dated and not in a good way.
DJ Shadow
3/5
More interesting than I expected, sounds pretty complicated to make, but it's about twice as long as I really wanted it to be. Worth listening to, nice background vibes.
The Flaming Lips
2/5
Someone needs to tell these hipster bands to cut the synths. This album has some moments, but it's a one time listen for sure.
Morrissey
3/5
It's better than I thought it would be, and had more sonic variety than I expected, which was nice, and several tracks were pretty good, but Morrissey's solo work proves that The Smiths were more than the sum of their parts.
Miles Davis
4/5
A cool album, nice in the back ground, pretty laid back and enjoyable.
Johnny Cash
4/5
A solid collection of mostly covers that prove that Johnny still had the ability to convey emotion to the end.
Morrissey
3/5
He's nothing if not dramatic. It's not bad, but it's an aquired taste.
Bobby Womack
2/5
Middle of the road.
k.d. lang
2/5
I get this version of country but not a single Waylon Jennings album so far? Or Haggard. Zero Hank Williams, Bob Wills, Chet Atkins, but we must listen to this hotel lounge country caricature before we die? She has a nice voice, but for everything saying she's similar to Patsy Cline, I'd rather just listen to Patsy Cline.
T. Rex
4/5
Some big riffs and good songs. Didn't sound quite like I expected, but I did check out more of their music after listening to this.
David Bowie
4/5
I do enjoy a good broody atmospheric album. The cover captured the vibes well. It's not my favorite Bowie album, but it's a mandatory listen.
Missy Elliott
1/5
Basic rhymes, decent but dated beats, not much to say.
Various Artists
4/5
An album of Christmas classics.
Pink Floyd
5/5
A masterpiece, journey of an album.
Funkadelic
4/5
I realize that it's the most commercially successful album they had, but it's not the best or the grooviest. Still a good intro to their sound.
Laibach
3/5
Catchier than I expected. The Cookie Monster voice works, but I also just don't enjoy being yelled at in German. The guitar solo in track 1 is pretty cool too.
The Residents
2/5
It's cartoony, but I don't need to listen to it again.
The Doors
4/5
Probably the Doors album I like the most. The last 3 songs are the most solid run in the album, but there are some good songs scattered throughout.
Deep Purple
4/5
This is much better than I expected. I thought it would be a generic 70s rock album, but this is actually fantastic. The solos are great, the rhythm section is tight and driving, the organ is actually a nice touch, and the vocals are solid. I'd add some of this to a playlist.
Björk
2/5
Not my thing but not bad.
ZZ Top
5/5
One of my favorite guitar albums. ZZ Top always has good grooves.
Stephen Stills
3/5
Great musicians, varied styles of music, mostly well made songs, but as with any double album, a few could be cut for sounding a bit samey.
Burning Spear
4/5
I kinda dig the darker sounding Reggae. Very emotional album, and I'm here for it.
De La Soul
4/5
The samples are really cool, the artwork looks fun, and everyone could use a little more positivity in their lives like these lyrics bring.
Guns N' Roses
5/5
I mean, what is there to say about this album? The best selling debut album of all time, one of the best selling albums of all time, you know most of the songs. It's ubiquitous. It's the evolution of bands like AC/DC and Aerosmith. It's not complex, it's rock n roll, and it's some of the best ever put to tape.
Underworld
1/5
No. Techno from the 1980s through the mid-late 2000s will never be something you "Must listen to".
Green Day
4/5
This is one of those albums where I've heard most of the songs, but never listened to it as a cohesive album. I can relate pretty well to the disillusionment of growing up in suburbia around the time this came out and after. It captured the way the world was headed.
Shuggie Otis
4/5
Cool soulful, funky guitar album. Great to have going while working. 3.5/5
Cream
4/5
A pretty loaded, psychedelic blues album, that had a strong influence on some of the greatest bands to come later. I get people's dislike of Clapton, and that Baker was a nut, but Cream put out some solid stuff. I'd give this a 4.
The Who
4/5
Some of this is really good but some of it just has me questioning who it was for. Tracks like The Acid Queen and Go To The Mirror! are great, but Fiddle About and is just odd, at least Cousin Kevin felt like it was thought out and added to the album. This could probably be half as long, but the highs are high enough to drag this up to a 4.
Dr. Octagon
2/5
This is a weird one to rate. The atmospheric part of the music is interesting, but the actual beats all are pretty basic. The lyrics are both more complex and more juvenile than I expected. I got about 5 songs in before I started considering skipping songs. I'd probably give it a 2 just because I can tell a lot went into it but it also just isn't very good.
The Fall
2/5
I want to like this, but everything bleeds into and over eachother in a way that makes it difficult to listen to, with lyrics being mumbled, buried, or otherwise hidden in what could be songs with interesting ideas that don't develop or flow beyond their initial creation.
Pulp
3/5
This album feels ludicrously Enlgish, and includes too many homewrecker songs.
The Who
5/5
Probably my favorite Who album. Daltrey's vocals are killer, Moon's drums are more reserved, but still hit like a truck, and not a single song feels like filler. Favorites are Bargain and Won't Get Fooled Again. I don't think I'd ever listened to this full album before.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
My My, Hey Hey and Hey Hey, My My are two of my favorites. I love how some of the songs jam and meander before coming back to the main song bits. Neil's songs alwasy grip me. The lyrics, the raw instrumentals, the whole vibe is great.
Alice Cooper
4/5
I can imagine how this would make for an excellent live show. Raped And Freezin is pretty catchy, but clearly titled to fit the shock rock theme. Elected is almost cliche with the "youth rise up and take power" theme at this point, but was pretty rebelious at the time. I really like Billion Dollar Babies, even if it is a bit haunted houseish, it's just a cool song. Unfinished Sweet is probably a killer live, especially with the spy music seeming solo in the middle, though that does make it seem a little jokey. No More Mr. Nice Guy is a classic through and through. Generation Landslide and Sick Things feel like they were made for a live show with props and a show. Mary Ann feels like a bit of a joke, but I do enjoy the piano change up. I Love The Dead was pretty good too.
Roxy Music
3/5
It's alright. Nothing stood out, but nothing was really bad either.
Morrissey
3/5
It's okay, but it's the weakest Morrissey album so far.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Following Rumors would be impossible, but Tusk is as good as anyone could do to try.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
I'm just not vibing with this album.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
Odd and bluesy. Worth another listen sometime, but I'm not rushing back to it.
Baaba Maal
4/5
I really enjoy the rhythms on this. Something about music from Africa, western Africa particularly, is something I tend to enjoy when I can find it. There is definitely a missing component without being able to understand what's being said though.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
This is an absolute classic, and album 2 in the greatest 4 album run of any artist. It's got a swagger to it that nobody but the Stones could pull off; bluesy, country, rock n roll that feels primal and wild.
Elliott Smith
5/5
There's a vibe and rawness that permiates this album. Even when there's a positivity to the songs, you can feel the clouds building, crowding the sky and bringing you down on a sunny day. The whispers roar and what's inside you controls what's around you.
3/5
The Zombies
3/5
Tom Waits
3/5
Quite the interesting project.
Peter Tosh
3/5
There are actually some pretty good songs here beyond the stereotypical title track. Till Your Well Runs Dry was the real surprise here. 3.5
James Brown
4/5
I think I've mostly hear James Brown's hits and later work, but I really like this early 60s R&B sound. The band it tight as always, his voice is killer, and it sounds great.
Eagles
3/5
The first two tracks are great, then from there it's mostly okay. Peaceful Easy Feeling isn't bad either. It's largely forgettable though. The Eagles best albums were with Joe Walsh, though they had some good songs and their solo albums were pretty good.
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
Cool beats and samples, old school flows, some of the lyrics are pretty cool but others have been dated like most 90s hip hop. 3.5/5
M.I.A.
3/5
This album is too annoying to be as catchy as it is. It gets pretty similar sounding, but is unique compared to anything else. I want more experimentation and variety with her touch on it. This is like a tease of what could exist with some extra vision.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
Sounds like The Smiths meets J Giles Band.
The White Stripes
3/5
Honestly, this is one of the weaker White Stripes albums to me. I prefer their loud garage rock sound over this more acoustic sound. They do some experimentation which is to be commended but it isn't for me. Give me more like Blue Orchid.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
This is one of those rare nearly perfect albums. There's zero filler here. I still get excited any time one of these songs comes on. Even the more mellow songs like Thank You and Ramble On are beautiful and contribute to the tour de force that is this album.
Sister Sledge
3/5
I knew more of this album than I expected. Disco doesn't suck, it just is kinda okay.
Frank Zappa
2/5
Writing this the day after listening to it, I really don't remember much of anything about it. Like I remember it being alright but nothing stood out.
Screaming Trees
4/5
While Lanegan is a great songwriter, and has an instantly identifiable voice, this album walks a line between good and okay. It's lacking a big hook song, but none of the songs are bad. I like the way some of it feels like a reinterpretation of 1960s psychadelia through a grunge lens.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
This sounds less polished than some of their other albums that are loaded with hits, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Nick Drake
4/5
D'Angelo
1/5
All these songs have the same energy, same emotion and little variation. I'm not a big fan of heavy falsettos either. There's no crescendo.
3/5
I enjoy some Dylan, he wrote some great songs, but this is a lot of Dylan. The first side is fairly dull, and the harmonica is always a grating instrument to me. The electric side of the album is better, the Hawks are a fantastic band that went on to be The Band.
Miles Davis
5/5
I love this album. Give me a rainy day, a cozy chair and some coffee, throw this album on, and I'm in heaven.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
This is a vibe: chill, slightly depressed, and full of passion.
Jack White
3/5
It's fine, but it doesn't really live up to the hype it had.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
This is the classic Stones album. While not my personal favorite, it is an incredible album. 5/5 must listen.
LL Cool J
2/5
This feels like one of the most dated hiphop albums of the 1990s.
Astor Piazzolla
3/5
It was different than I expected, I thought there would be more dramatic swings, but this was an interesting and emotional album. It felt quite whimsical even when dramatic, like Nintendo soundtracks. I am a fan.
The Doors
3/5
While still radical for the time, this feels about as straight forward as The Doors get. While it doesn't have a ton of the big hits, it's fairly solid throughout, and not a bad listen. 3.5/5
Thelonious Monk
4/5
Before I got this album I thought Thelonious Monk was the name of a 70s prog band. I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong, because this was much better than more 70s prog.
The Beta Band
1/5
Utterly forgettable.
Donald Fagen
2/5
Feels very 80s, vaguely familiar, and yet not that special.
Adele
2/5
Adele has a wonderful voice, but if I had to pick just one Adele album, this wouldn't be it. If I had to pick two of Adele's 4 albums this still wouldn't be it.
The Band
3/5
It's a solid classic rock album with some all time hits and a southern flair from some northern dudes. 3.5
Nas
4/5
A strong album that transports you to Nas's environment in NYC in the early 90s. The struggles, trials and tribulations are real. The lyricism is great, delivery is excellent, but a lot of the songs are at a similar tempo and while they are different, they can fade together more if you don't pay attention as closely.
Throwing Muses
3/5
Like The Cure meets Dead Kennedys, but not quite as entertaining as either. The dead kennedys influence seems to have fallen off after the first song.
Anita Baker
4/5
It was a nice background album, I got the feeling I should be actively listening though. I'll have to listen to it again sometime. Beautiful voice and some tight bass lines.
Simple Minds
1/5
R.E.M.
4/5
Interesting beyond the hits
R.E.M.
3/5
REM isn't bad, but I've also never quite understood the hype. 3.5/5
Grateful Dead
2/5
There are moments of interesting spread throughout this hour, but they don't quite make up for the fact that this is over an hour of jamming. 2.5/5
Marianne Faithfull
3/5
It's not bad, theres not a track I'd skip individually, but this is here because of the context of the album and not the album itself. It's fine, but I can't imagine anyone is obsessed with this album.
Rod Stewart
4/5
For some reason I expected something poppier, but this was a fun rock n roll record. It's not ground breaking, but it's well made and enjoyable. Kinda wish I'd given Rod more of a chance earlier.
Nick Drake
4/5
Radiohead
2/5
I stand by my previous assessment that Radiohead is tiring.
Suede
3/5
I keep going back and forth on this album. It doesn't quite sink its teeth into you, but I want to see what comes next. I keep thinking maybe it'll be over soon but being pleasantly surprised when it keeps going. I see the Bowie vibes but it never hits that full Bowie masterpiece mark, while also having plenty of other directions that it excels in.
Leftfield
1/5
Video game menu music from the early 2000s. Please no more electronic music.
Blondie
5/5
I've actually been surprised how much New Wave stuff I know and enjoy, but only from hearing it play around me, not that I search it out. A solid album that will be making it in my rotations.
Bob Dylan
4/5
A departure from what he'd done previously, and changed the way people looked at popular music in the 60s.
John Coltrane
4/5
I used to think I didn't like saxophone, but Coltrane just makes it sound so nice.
Don McLean
3/5
I'd only heard the title track, but I need to listen to this again for a proper review.
Portishead
4/5
My initial reaction to seeing this was another 90s electronic album was dismissal and dismay, but the first song is so far actually kinda cool. I wish it had a little more going on dynamically, but I like the sonic environment, it's mysterious, dangerous, and intriguing.
So this turned into a cool vibing trip and I'm glad I was able to find it through this project.
Can
2/5
Some of these experimental albums aren't bad, the first few songs are pretty good on this one, but I don't understand why all of these experimental albums are must listen to.
Supertramp
2/5
Honestly, it feels like if someone tried to redo 60s Who songs in a 70s prog style.
The War On Drugs
3/5
Cool ambient vibe
Grateful Dead
2/5
The Grateful Dead are so confusing to me because sometimes they'll do something interesting and then never use that part again in the song. The best lick in the song passes by so quickly you can miss it if you aren't actively listening. I also always thought they'd be way more trippy but they're a pretty straight forward country-ish rock band with noodly guitars.
Happy Mondays
1/5
Did nothing for me.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Immigrant Song is a 10/10 classic. One of their best songs.
Friends 7/10
Celebration Day is a bit odd lyrically, but the music is fire 9/10
Since I've Been Loving you is one of my favorite Led Zep songs 10/10
Out On The Tiles 7/10
Gallows Pole I like the story 9/10
Tangerine is also a classic, love the vocals 9/10
That's The Way a surprisingly sad tune. Let the kids play 8/10
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp weakest song on the album so far 6/10
Hats Off To (Roy) Harper guess we're ending on a weak spot 6/10
Charles Mingus
4/5
I think I'm beginning to like Jazz. I never thought that would happen, but between Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Count Basie and more on this list so far, I'm finding a lot more to enjoy about jazz than dislike.
Adele
4/5
It's pretty good, I like it, but I'm not sure what it says that my favorite song on the album is a cover.
Cypress Hill
3/5
I get that it's influential, and they have some cool songs, but this isn't my favorite.
The The
2/5
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
Some of it is pretty good, but some of it is too avant garde for me.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
A lot of the songs are great, the lyrics tell an interesting story and have a lot of meaning. I also like the diverse influences of the album.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
Legendary album from one of the earliest innovators of rock n roll. Buddy Holly was taken too soon and I wish we could have seen what he made later in his career.
UB40
1/5
This felt like it lacked a lot of the passion that I do occasionally find interesting in reggae.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Weirdly dark and atmospheric, I kinda like it but I feel like I need more time with it. It doesn't really stick in your head.
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
This is better than most electronic music, but it still sounds like video game music left on repeat.
Al Green
5/5
Fantasitic songs, amazing voice, I love this album.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Liked all but the last song
Tears For Fears
4/5
An album of hits with some nice deeper cuts
CHIC
4/5
The Pharcyde
2/5
Some of the beats are catchy but I'm not super into this album. The vocals are a bit dated.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Great soulful, energetic sound track with some great songs from Curtis. I'd love to hear more of his work.
The Smiths
5/5
The best Smiths album, even with the last song.
John Grant
4/5
It's a great combo of weird, catchy and relatable. It's got some Bowie, Pink Floyd and Bo Burnham vibes, with some out there influences that make it hard to tell how serious it is.
Fatboy Slim
2/5
I remember hearing some of these, but I'm just not a fan of this genre. It is nice to know that it is "the funk soul brother" and not "the funk's so rubber" even though it still doesn't make sense.
The Sugarcubes
2/5
Can't stand the vocals. The music isn't bad but the wailing and spoken delivery isn't working for me at all. I'm fine not listening to this again, and I can't even hear where this influenced anything.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
A fun, enjoyable, quick jazz album. I'd heard Take Five somewhere before, but I liked the energy in the whole album. Horns were great.
David Bowie
4/5
Solid work from Bowie again.
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
Some classics, some good deep cuts, and a lot of biting reality of the rougher side of life. The skits bring it down a bit, and the songs haven't all aged that well.
Pet Shop Boys
1/5
Honestly, this album did nothing for me. I listened to it yesterday and I can't remember a single lyric or melody.
Korn
2/5
Freak On A Leash is listenable, but one, maybe two, songs is all I need from Korn for a while. As an album though, it's exactly what I imagine a performative edgy kid from the late '90s and early 2000s latches onto for no reason other than they think offending people is cool. What even was "All In The Family"? There's a very samey energy all the way through.
Stan Getz
5/5
Very relaxing, I enjoy the instrumentations, the vocals are calming, and even though most of it isn't in English I feel like I know what's going on. It makes me want a cup of coffee in a cozy cafe.
R.E.M.
2/5
A couple hits but otherwise uninteresting.
Sonic Youth
3/5
It's not my favorite but I can definitely hear where it inspired a lot of stuff I do enjoy. Some of the riffs were pretty cool. I probably need to hear it more.
Badly Drawn Boy
2/5
There are a couple songs here that sound like they should be in a 2000s indie movie, but overall this feels like it's a victim of it's length and would do better to be shorter with more focus on individual songs as opposed to adding more songs that sound similar to each other.
Jungle Brothers
2/5
The beats are pretty cool, if a bit dated. It's what you expect from late 80s hip hop. Nothing exciting but nothing bad either.
Duke Ellington
4/5
Excellent instrumentation
Duran Duran
3/5
Opens with a hit and then it's an album of decent 80's pop.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
This is a very front loaded album. The back half is unmemorable, but not bad, with the exception of Road Trippin. RHCP has better albums, but it's nice to have John back on this one.
T. Rex
3/5
Better than average but not quite a 4. It's good but nothing on this one really captured me like some other albums, even other T. Rex albums.
Brian Wilson
3/5
It's a bit of a trip seeing as it was written mostly in the 60s and abandoned for decades before being reshaped into the album before us. It sounds like if the 1960s got dropped into the early 2000s in the best way, but still isn't what I want to listen to on the daily.
Jeff Buckley
5/5
I never really realized how Zeppelin-ish this album is. Incredible voice, gone too soon. I'm really glad I revisited this one after a few years. Incredibly emotive and every song has a journey that you go on through it.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
If you like music made after this album, you owe a debt to this album. You can't name me a single musician that wasn't directly influenced by Hendrix or influenced by someone influenced by Hendrix. That's how wide the influence of this album is. It changed music as we know it and the world has been searching for something that reaches these heights since Jimi died.
Skepta
3/5
Pretty good, the beats go hard, but are British guys really this hard? Some of this sounds like he thinks he's as tough as the toughest American hoods but I have a hard time seeing that. Overall, I'd listen to most of this again.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
This is one of the 6/5 albums on this list. I'd never heard it before but it's everything it had been hyped to be. The lyrics draw you in and make you feel. The instruments fit perfectly, and her voice is beautiful. Absolutely stunning and I wish I could hear it for the first time again already.
The Incredible String Band
2/5
This is one of the strangest albums I've come across on this list because it's not good, but I also can't turn it off because what the heck is going to come next? I can't imagine who honestly enjoys this, but if you hate this I think something is wrong with you. It's just so weird and whimsical and strangely captivating.
Steely Dan
3/5
Unpopular opinion: Reelin In The Years is my least favorite song on this album. I'm not big on Steely Dan but this was actually a half decent surprise of an album. Probably their best that I've heard, but it also sounds very Eagles like.
Beastie Boys
5/5
The influences pulled from and genre's covered/sampled is incredible from this album. They're never lacking in energy and always manage to keep my attention throughout the album. I'd listen to this again in a heartbeat.
Portishead
1/5
It's an album. But not one that I wish I had listened to. I actively dislike this.
Tom Waits
3/5
I like Tom Waits, but I'm not sure he has this many albums that I must listen to before I die.
Pet Shop Boys
1/5
This came out one week after In Utero, just for a reference for how dated it sounded at release.
The Beach Boys
4/5
This is a bizarre mix of what people love about the Beach Boys while also being a victim of their desire to expand what they can do. A lot of the base songs sound pretty interesting but the way something is mixed or arranged is sometimes a detriment to something that is otherwise pretty cool. I was pretty shocked seeing this album cover, and that it was a Beach Boys album.
Cat Stevens
4/5
Somewhat similar sounding throughout, this is a nice collection of 3 & 1/2 minute folk pop songs, with a few all time classics spread throughout.
The Associates
1/5
I know they say not to judge something by it's cover, but this is exactly what I feared when I saw this album cover.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
3/5
The thing about jazz rock is it's not as good as straight jazz or rock. This isn't too bad, as it seems to lean more on the jazzy soul side of jazz rock, but there are only a few songs I really would want to listen to again.
Tracy Chapman
3/5
A few good songs, nothing super standout.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
There are some great songs on this album and a lot of really cool riffs, emotionally poignant lyrics and it's a great album, but dang is it long.
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
Look, I get it, Ella Fitzgerald has a lovely voice, she's a legend, but I can't imagine listening to one of my favorite artists for 3 hours straight, let alone an artist I barely know in a genre I don't typically listen to. There are some wonderful songs on here, but 3 hours is too much of anyone. Also, why does she get a compilation album while others get one random album with a hit single on it instead of comps of their best work? I'm not going to finish this, but I'll enjoy it for a while.
Minutemen
4/5
It's a cool album, it draws from a lot of interesting influences, and maybe this is the albums I've had recently influencing this, because this is my shortest album in almost a week, but it's a bit too long for it's own good. It's got a lot of cool ideas for sure though.
Neneh Cherry
1/5
One "hit" and an hour long album full of songs that nobody has listened to since 1989 that sound older than that.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
"She's Fresh" is super fun and funky. It's a little dated, but these guys helped invent the genre and it still is more interesting musically than a lot of early hip hop. Overall, cool album of fun, funky beats, pulling from some cool influences to create a really interesting album.
N.W.A.
5/5
Dre brings the beats, Cube brings the lyrics and E brings the attitude. Sure, it sounds a little dated at times, but that happens when you change the game and everyone wants to sound like you. There are actually some pretty good songs in there besides the hits.
Kate Bush
2/5
Her arrangements are ambitious, but I'm still yet to truly enjoy one of her songs through two of her albums.
The 13th Floor Elevators
5/5
This is what people mean when they say "Keep Austin Weird", not whatever corporate bullshit it has turned into where tech bros and corporate Karens call the cops on music venues for daring to have live bands in a town known as the live music capital of the world. If you want to know what made Austin cool, just listen to this album and Willie Nelson's 70s live albums recorded in Austin, and then look around and see what's left of any of that.
Britney Spears
2/5
Of course there's the title track, but Sometimes felt like it could have been a 70s ballad. Soda Pop feels like a cheesy bubblegum pop song, definitely reminds you this was an album by and for teens. Born To Make You Happy feels like it was made for the credits of a 2000s teen movie. From The Bottom Of My Broken Heart: I didn't expect so many sad pop songs, I figured there would be more like fun party stuff. I Will Be There is more 2000s teen movie music. I Will Still Love You: I definitely expected a bit more energy to this album, a lot of it is much slower than I expected. Email My Heart is the most 1999 teen girl thing I can think of.
Beastie Boys
5/5
There's a reason people call this the Hip Hop Sgt. Pepper
Eminem
4/5
This is definitely one that my tastes have moved away from as time has gone on. Some of it is still great, but some of the shock elements land more poorly than they used to. That doesn't negate the great beats, word play and lyrical twists. It definitely changed the game and Eminem is still one of the best to ever do it.
Beatles
5/5
This is one of the best albums ever made. A true touchstone of 20th century pop culture and where the Beatles really started to experiment and put depth into their songs. I love this album start to finish.
The B-52's
3/5
The B-52's are certainly one of the more unique bands that got attention in the 80s. Not my favorite, but at least they had some interesting ideas. It's like a 1950s cheesy horror movie poster.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Completely changed the game and still sounds incredible.
Tangerine Dream
4/5
It sounds pretty epic and grand, like it could be a sci-fi soundtrack for a slowburn space drama or some kind of feverdream depiction of an early morning or late night of solitude in a foreign city. But it's not necessarily something I want to sit down and listen to for two hours straight.
Garbage
2/5
Kinda generic 90s alternative pop rock.
Randy Newman
2/5
This feels like the album that made Family Guy make fun of him.
David Ackles
1/5
I hear where this influenced people who claim him as an influence. It sounds like adult versions of Disney songs though. I didn’t finish it.
Digital Underground
1/5
Yeah, I wasn't feeling this one. There's the Humpty Dance, and that's about it.
Beatles
5/5
The whole album is great, but Something might just be the greatest love song ever written. Come Together is a cool start, Octopus's Garden doesn't deserve the hate it gets, I Want You (She's So Heavy) rocks harder than it should, Here Comes The Sun always cheers me up, Because is an interesting trance of a song, fantastic album. The difference between this and a lot of other experimental songs/albums is that underneath the experimental stuff, the Beatles still wrote great songs. A lot of experimental albums try stuff just to try stuff without having good songs to go with it.
George Michael
2/5
First impression of the first song is how thin everything sounds. Hopefully that changes as the album goes on. Freedom is kinda catchy and has a little more going on...Oh its the song from the bank commercials. Three songs in and I feel like we're treading water here. I zoned out again until Waiting For That Day ripped You Can't Always Get What You Want at the end. Mothers Pride sounds like it might go somewhere, and now there's 80s style "exotic" flutes or something added so who knows. Honestly, idk what to think of this album, it isn't bad, but there are so many artist that make similarish stuff that I prefer, and I don't want a whole album of this vibe.
Dead Kennedys
5/5
There's something to be said for having a serious delivery of Let's Lynch The Landlord and a sarcastic delivery of Kill The Poor. The combo of punk, surf, horror themes, and topping it all off with Viva Las Vegas is great.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
As much as I want to like this, there is an aspect that feels overly dramatized to an inauthentic degree, like if Tom Waits wasn't in on his schtick. Not to say it's bad, I enjoy the songs individually, but together they get a little too similar and the vocal delivery loses it's impact.
The Charlatans
2/5
Not bad, you can hear the Oasis influence. A couple catchier songs but mostly just alright.
Kraftwerk
3/5
I see why this would be highly influential, and the idea of an album about trains is pretty cool, but ultimately this is not something I need to listen to multiple times.
Beatles
4/5
It's not the peak of their songwriting, but it actually is a lot more interesting than I expected. I've heard a couple songs off of this before, but I've never sat and listened to it.
The Waterboys
2/5
First song, I'm into this vibe. Then I saw the album length and this is going to have to be really special to keep my attention for that long. I do like Strange Boat, but it reminds me of another song. It's good but it overstays its welcome.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
I love this band. Green River and Lodi are my favorites on this one.
The Band
2/5
This is not what it has been hyped up to be.
Pink Floyd
5/5
One of the greatest albums. I could listen to it on repeat all day. It's great for an introspective album that makes you think or something you can just lay back and let the soundscapes wash over you. Love it.
Aerosmith
4/5
Aerosmith feels like the missing jump between something like Led Zeppelin or The Rolling Stones and Van Halen or Guns N Roses. They have their own flavor that doesn't quite sit with either, but in between them. A bit of a missing link.
Bob Dylan
3/5
I generally enjoy Dylan, but this did little for me.
Jurassic 5
2/5
This doesn't feel like it stands out compared to other albums at this time. If anything, it feels like a step back.
Kings of Leon
2/5
We've all heard Sex On Fire and Use Somebody, but this isn't even this band's best album, let alone one I need to listen to before I die.
Fugazi
3/5
Fugazi is a cool band, but this is not a full album of no misses. It feels like a first album and there's nothing wrong with that. It's wildly influential in the underground scenes but that doesn't make it a 5/5.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
There were some interesting songs, but then there was a lot of sucking on ding dongs.
Nico
1/5
Not good. Her voice is pretty bad. It's been a while since I skipped every song. I did force myself to listen to what she had to say about Lenny Bruce though.
Giant Sand
3/5
Kinda interesting but too long
Bee Gees
3/5
I was expecting more disco, but this could be worse. I actually don't mind it, but it's not hooking me in for the most part.
The The
2/5
Hole
4/5
I'd only heard a couple Hole songs before, I'd never really listened, but I was surprised how much I actually enjoyed it. I'd listen to this again for sure.
The Pogues
3/5
I actually enjoyed this one. It feels like it's got more of the folk side of their sound than the punk side, and despite it being a specific vibe, it doesn't go on too long and get annoying like some of these do.
Ryan Adams
2/5
I can't quite explain it, but this album sounds like it was written by an asshole, and not in the good way.
Sinead O'Connor
4/5
Quite low energy, but she does have a nice voice and excellent songs.
Van Morrison
3/5
Some great songs and a great voice. I'd only heard his hits so I didn't quite expect this.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Love this album. Hits harder with everything going on lately. Great choice for today.
Talk Talk
1/5
Another 80s Synth Pop group I'm not into. Surprise.
Billie Holiday
4/5
James Taylor
4/5
Seems like a great coffee shop album. I'd listen to this on a cozy couch with some fancy coffee and just hang out for a while.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
She has a beautiful voice, the songs are well written and emotional, but something about it feels slightly off in a too similar to itself way.
Tina Turner
2/5
This sounds like a lot of the other 80s albums. I'm not particularly into it. The best song wasn't even on the original cut of the album (I Wrote A Letter). I didn't enjoy the Beatles cover.
Moby Grape
2/5
Unfortunately, this full album does not seem to be on streaming and it's mostly studio outtakes. Still not bad, I'd be interested in hearing the real deal.
Fairport Convention
2/5
My initial reaction is that why are we listening to British folk when there's plenty of American folk. The first song here sounds like an imitation of Appalachian folk.
Sabu
4/5
I'm not a dancer, and this made me want to dance.
3/5
Definitely not what I expected. My last album was a 1950's Cuban jazz album and I expected more Brazilian jazz this time, but I'm digging the mix of Latin music with Electronica. Except track 3, that went off the rails in a bad way. The more latin songs are cool, the more 90s electronic parts I could do without.
Lucinda Williams
3/5
Drunken Angel is about Blaze Foley, a dude who should be on this list somewhere. Overall, this sounds like a typical Texas alt country album of the late 90s. It's solid, but there are better examples.
Cheap Trick
4/5
Cheap Trick is always a fun band, rocks but kinda poppy. I'd love to have been there for this show.
XTC
2/5
It's like someone listened to The Beatles, The Beach Boys and some Bowie, and then decided to just do that, but worse in the 1980s.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
Pretty cool album, definitely had this band confused with someone else. I'd listen to it again.
The White Stripes
4/5
It's interesting how if you have seen Jack talk about what music he likes how clearly you can see that in his music on this album.
Queen Latifah
1/5
I don't really care for 80s rap flows, and I feel like the 80s were the peak of bloated albums that are twice as long as they should be, and that both of those are exemplified in this album.
Brian Eno
2/5
An interesting experiment of an album. The pull of all kinds of music can be felt across this record, and I definitely feel Byrne's influence on it as well.
Sigur Rós
2/5
It starts interesting and atmospheric, but that wares thin fairly quick.
U2
2/5
After listening, I can confirm that this is indeed an album made by the band U2.
The National
2/5
This is yet another album that someone who was 22 at some point between 2007 and 2012 would probably tell me changed their life after trying to hand me an IPA.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
Classic, but not their best. I'd listen to any song on this album on a day that ends in Y.
Hawkwind
4/5
Pretty cool, quite the long album, but there's some whacky stuff going on in there too.
Ghostface Killah
4/5
Solid NYC style hip hop album
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Solid pop album with a retro lounge singer vibe. I'd never listened beyond the hits, and I'm into her.
Genesis
3/5
Yeah, super English, pretty proggy, and I'm not really a prog fan.
King Crimson
3/5
Suprisingly interesting despite being excessivly proggy. It has some great parts, but on the whole it's not something I really need to listen to again.
Big Black
2/5
A bit noisy and industrial feeling for my liking.
Rush
4/5
While I dislike Tom Sawyer, the rest of this album is actually pretty great. I was surprised. I've never really listened to Rush beyond the hits that occasionally get played out and about.
Mike Ladd
2/5
I feel like I see the idea, but they failed on the execution.
Goldfrapp
2/5
It had some moments, but was overall forgettable.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
There's something very Disney about In Your Eyes, but overall a pretty good album. I need to listen to it again. 3.5/5
Television
4/5
I love this album. You can hear where this influenced bands from New Wave to present day.
Living Colour
2/5
I've never understood the hype on this band. They're fairly plain and sound pretty dated.
Nina Simone
4/5
Beautiful voice, poignant songs, and a definite vibe.
Heaven 17
1/5
A handful of semi-interesting beats/motifs do not make an album a must listen.
Method Man
3/5
Pretty okay, maybe I'm missing some history, but this doesn't feel groundbreaking. By no means is it bad though.
Donovan
1/5
Not vibing with this. I gave up during Ferris Wheel.
There are two U2s. There's hits U2, which isn't bad. Then there's album U2, which is less interesting. This is 49 minutes of album U2.
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
Some pretty good songs, pretty cool beats. I feel like I should check this guy out more now. Soft 4
Air
4/5
Actually a pretty cool, funky-ish background album. The rare electronic album I enjoyed.
Milton Nascimento
4/5
Excellent vibes, some cool Latin parts, jazzy bits, and love the fuzz guitar on Trem De Doido.
The Byrds
4/5
Cool psych album. Seems to have been a turning point for the band with members coming and going around this album.
Madness
2/5
Unable to find the album on my streaming service. Apparently it's the "Our House" album, and there's not much else on it? Checked out a few songs on youtube... eh
TLC
2/5
It isn't bad, it just isn't interesting to me.
The Byrds
3/5
There are some cool ideas, I dig the 12 string guitars, the reverse parts are cool, the songs are well written. Definitely worth a listen. There's some pretty catchy stuff here too. And there are twangs of country in some of the guitar lines.
Killing Joke
4/5
I actually kinda dig this. It's almost like an early British Hardcore band. From the name, to the album cover, the instruments, vocals and lyrics it all fits together in this abrasive, aggressive work of art. It feels chaotic, but focused, not aimless.
Big Star
4/5
I think the version I found had a couple tracks that had originally been left off or something. There was a solid album in there, and then a hand full of songs at the end that felt like they should have been cut. That being said, I'm not sure why I haven't heard of this band really before. I know they were the That 70s Show theme, but I feel like I should know them beyond that.
Scott Walker
2/5
It's like a mix of crooner albums and 60s pop, but without a lot of the appeal of either.
Johnny Cash
5/5
I don't know that I've actually listened to this full album before, despite liking Johnny Cash. I know albums aren't big anymore, and I've listened to a lot of Cash, but I was surprised that more of the songs on this album weren't more energetic like Folsom Prison Blues, and were instead slower ballads through the middle of the album. Fantastic though.
4/5
A tour de force of protopunk garage rock.
Alice Cooper
4/5
I'm always surprised Alice Cooper doesn't come up more when people talk about the greats of rock. I get his main thing was shocking concerts, but the albums are good too.
The Everly Brothers
4/5
I always enjoy this old rock n roll/pop stuff. It reminds me of my grandparents.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Some fantastic songs, a little bloated but nothing bad.
Suzanne Vega
2/5
The vocal delivery is a weird mash of older folk styles and 1980s rap style that throws me off.
The Temptations
5/5
Supremely funky, infectious grooves, and powerful lyrics. This is the kind of album that absolutely belongs on this list.
Big Star
4/5
This is actually a pretty solid record. Before I got Sister Lovers a few weeks ago I only knew of them from the intro to That 70s Show. I'm surprised more songs from this album don't pop up here and there given their apparent cult following.
Mudhoney
4/5
The original six songs on this ep were a pretty big change from what was coming out at the time. Sure, there was punk/hardcore punk, and metal, but that's not what this was. This had that level of aggression, but with a taste for some melody that was missing, and wider range of emotions. It's a pretty cool ep and deserves to be remembered.
John Cale
4/5
An enjoyable singer songwriter album. A bit sounded familiar, but I enjoyed it and would listen again.
Ozomatli
3/5
A bit repetitive at times but I really enjoy the fusion of different styles
Klaxons
3/5
Another kinda generic 2000s alternative album, but with St. Anger style drums.
Rod Stewart
4/5
I have a new found respect for Rod Stewart. Everything I've heard from him seems to be pretty good.
Calexico
3/5
Some interesting moments, a bit repetitive, but some diverse influence pulls that are kinda cool. Nice background album.
Bonnie Raitt
4/5
Some nice songs, good guitar playing, nice voice, I need to listen to more of her stuff.
Koffi Olomide
3/5
Always down for some interesting world music.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
It's fine. It's a decent 90s alternative album, but something about it doesn't really strike anything special in me.
Sisters Of Mercy
1/5
As soon as I started listening I hated the drum sounds and couldn't get past it.
The Monks
2/5
Difficult album to find, but I found some of the songs on it. It's a strange mix of "yeah, I see where this influenced some stuff" and "wtf is this?" Overall, probably about a 2, maybe 2.5.
The Adverts
2/5
Pretty standard '70s British punk, but also lacking something to make it truly great. 2.5
White Denim
3/5
Some cool stuff going on here, I appreciate the psychedelia, but not much really grabbed me. 3.5
Dexys Midnight Runners
1/5
I was not a fan of this. The singer sounds like he's got a mouth full of peanut butter half the time. The instrumentals are boring, and the whole thing felt like hotel lobby music.
The Who
5/5
Absolute classic. A great example of what The Who had to offer. Some of their best songs, better renditions than the album versions of most songs. Fantastic Friday album.
Public Enemy
4/5
A solid album, good messages, and surprisingly relevant even if the sound is a bit dated.
Solange
4/5
Surprisingly good pop album. This exceeded my expectations and I would listen to it again.
Gang Starr
2/5
Some of the bars are cool, but mostly this just feels like another dated hip hop album.
Chicago
3/5
Solid album, I see why Hendrix liked it. I didn't really hear a hit though. 3.5
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
I can feel the influence on later alternative stuff, shoegaze and more. Interesting record.
Destiny's Child
2/5
There were like two hits on this album that are okay, but the rest has been forgotten for a reason. When is the last time anyone listened to anything other than the top 4 most played songs on this album? I doubt anyone's listened to Perfect Man in the last decade.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
A decent oldies album. I like it, but I'm also not sure she needed at least two albums on this list.
Mike Oldfield
2/5
I didn't expect to start my morning with the Exorcist theme song, but most of the first two songs wasn't bad. It was a bit strange. I've seen this album cover before and wondered about it. I'd be curious to know more about it's influence, but I don't really need to listen to most of it again. I see where people might like sampling it though.
The Divine Comedy
1/5
It's like if a theater kid with no taste liked David Bowie and took all of his dating advice from 80s movies.
The Byrds
2/5
It's interesting, but it's mainly made up of covers, which makes me question it being on this list at a time where contemporaries were writing most of their own music.
MC Solaar
4/5
Love the beats, great flow, and even though I didn't understand more than a word here and there I really like the vibe of this album.
Eagles
5/5
This is a 5/5 album. Every song feels intentional, well crafted, and fits the California desert vibe. It's an album that really takes you on a journey.
Steve Winwood
2/5
It's fine, but it's not the vibe I was feeling today.
CHIC
4/5
The production is great, the rhythm section is funky and tight, it's great. It's a little repetitive at times, but in a cool trance kinda way. The lyrics are mostly nothing special, but everything else is.
Aphex Twin
1/5
I got about half way through the second song before I had to start skipping through to see if anything caught my attention. This all sounds like the music that plays on a PS2 racing game menu, or under the monologue of a 15 year old at the end of a British TV show.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Very Doors-y, very 80s.
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
Weather Report
4/5
Pretty cool jazz album. Rumba Mama was a surprise after lots of instrumental jazz.
4/5
Love it
Terence Trent D'Arby
2/5
Feels very of it's time, but not particularly captivating.
Thundercat
4/5
I dig the vibes, and of course, this being Thundercat, the bass lines are fantastic. It's got a very funky hip-hop feel to it.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Completely game changing album, and they went on to get even better.
Culture Club
1/5
Albums that are one good single should not be on this list.
Neil Young
5/5
God I love Neil Young. Heart Of Gold, Old Man, and The Needle And The Damage Done are 3 of the greatest songs ever written.
Elvis Costello
1/5
Why would I listen to Elvis Costello when I could just listen to whatever artist he's attempting to emulate? I hope this is the last of his albums on the list. I've already had at least 3 and I've hated all of them.
This album started with a Springsteen rip off, and went straight to a Tom Petty rip off.
Pere Ubu
3/5
A strange precursor to postpunk and new wave. I've never heard any of this before, but I can feel it's influence in later albums. I don't exactly like it, but I also feel like I need to listen to it more. 3 for now.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Great funky R&B album. I've always liked Stevie Wonder, but I've enjoyed digging into his albums.
The Verve
2/5
This is not a band that requires multiple albums on the list. Nothing bad, but nothing great.
Keith Jarrett
5/5
Keith is a phenomenal pianist. I'd never heard of him before, but I was hooked for the whole performance. The fact that it's improve is incredible.
Billy Bragg
2/5
I mean, the songs aren't bad, but some of them beat you over the head a bit, and his voice is definitely an acquired taste, and it just keeps going on and on and on.
Ice Cube
3/5
Solid beats, a bit dated flows, very dated lyrics.
Really cool album that I wish I'd heard before. The guitar playing was great, rhythm section was solid, and the singer has a nice voice.
Prefab Sprout
2/5
Agressively '80s and excessively long.
The Offspring
4/5
Pretty solid 90s punk album. Poppy, some ska, feels somewhat of it's time and also timeless.
Simply Red
1/5
Yeah, I don't do this often, but I tapped out on this one. Every song feels like it's trying to be a better song that already exists. I'm not listening to over an hour of ripoffs.
Manu Chao
3/5
Kinda interesting influences and songs, a nice change of pace. I'd listen to it again.
Magazine
2/5
Feels like a slightly below average punk record.
Eminem
4/5
An all time classic, even if some of the shock elements feel a bit dated.
Deep Purple
3/5
I wanted to give this a 4 but some of the extended solos just don't keep my attention and get in the way of the actual songs.
The Black Crowes
3/5
Straight forward southern blues rock album. Nothing bad, but nothing earthshaking either.
G. Love & Special Sauce
1/5
Sounds like the bastard love child of Beck, Sublime, and Beastie Boys.
Madonna
1/5
Dated pop from after she was washed.
Deerhunter
2/5
Coldplay
1/5
Willie Nelson's version of The Scientist was better.
Gary Numan
2/5
I thought I recognized a song, then realized I was thinking of Cars from this same album when it came on. Which is also about where I was done with this album.
John Martyn
2/5
Like if ZZ Top did yacht rock in the 80s.
Metallica
4/5
One of the best Metallica albums, wish it had more bass. More political than I remember, but I haven't paid attention to most of this album in a long time. Love it.
Gene Clark
2/5
I feel bad saying it, but there's a reason that of all of his contemporaries (Dylan, Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, etc), I can see why he doesn't have the name recognition that they do. Inoffensive, but missing the gravitas that they had.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
It feels like a bridge between new wave and shoegaze, which it kinda is. This is one of those bands I've always said I need to listen to more, but never do. I'm glad I did.
Brian Eno
1/5
I don't normally skip my way through albums, but I had to on this one.