506
Albums Rated
3.13
Average Rating
46%
Complete
583 albums remaining
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1950s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
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Rater Style ?
40
5-Star Albums
31
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
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You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Every Picture Tells A Story | 5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
| The Predator | 5 | 3.26 | +1.74 |
| 1989 | 5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
| 25 | 5 | 3.36 | +1.64 |
| Hybrid Theory | 5 | 3.39 | +1.61 |
| Sound of Silver | 5 | 3.42 | +1.58 |
| My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy | 5 | 3.42 | +1.58 |
| Sound of Silver | 5 | 3.42 | +1.58 |
| Illinois | 5 | 3.49 | +1.51 |
| Jazz Samba | 5 | 3.56 | +1.44 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| With The Beatles | 1 | 3.67 | -2.67 |
| Blackstar | 1 | 3.48 | -2.48 |
| Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus | 1 | 3.32 | -2.32 |
| B-52's | 1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
| Time Out Of Mind | 1 | 3.21 | -2.21 |
| Rid Of Me | 1 | 3.11 | -2.11 |
| Murder Ballads | 1 | 3.08 | -2.08 |
| Music From The Penguin Cafe | 1 | 3.01 | -2.01 |
| Millions Now Living Will Never Die | 1 | 2.88 | -1.88 |
| Bone Machine | 1 | 2.86 | -1.86 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| LCD Soundsystem | 2 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | 5 |
| Green Day | 2 | 5 |
| Adele | 2 | 5 |
| Miles Davis | 4 | 4.25 |
| Michael Jackson | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Björk | 2 | 1 |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 3 | 1.67 |
| Morrissey | 3 | 1.67 |
| PJ Harvey | 2 | 1.5 |
| Madonna | 2 | 1.5 |
| Elvis Costello | 2 | 1.5 |
| Bob Dylan | 4 | 2.25 |
Controversial Artists
Artists you rate inconsistently
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Beatles | 3, 5, 1 |
| Kanye West | 5, 4, 2 |
5-Star Albums (40)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Tom Waits
1/5
This album feels like a Key and Peele sketch.
Tom Waits (played by Peele) walks into the recording studio and talks to the recording manager (played by Key)
Manager: Come on it. Were glad to have you here. The band is all warmed up and were ready to go.
Tom Waits (speaking in a normal voice): Sounds great. Let's get started.
Tom begins singing like he's being tortured during the Spanish Inquisition and is quickly interrupted by the manager.
Manager: Ok..... that was great, but why don't we try it again with your normal voice.
Tom (normal voice): Not a problem. I love the feedback. Lets try again.
Tom sings in a high falsetto this time.
Manager: Stop! Let's try that again. Remember, we're paying the piano and saxophone player by the hour here.
Tom (normal voice): I completely understand.
Tom turns around and fires half the band leaving only the drums.
Manager sighs and looks down.
Tom begins singing like McGruff the Crime Dog on crack.
Manager: Fuck it. We recorded the band warming up earlier. We can just fill in the rest of the album with that and some background chatter.
21 likes
William Orbit
2/5
This feels like background music for a '90s heist movie montage where the tech guy is sneaking into the mainframe to hack all the cameras as a setup to the final heist at the end of the movie.
13 likes
Pink Floyd
5/5
The Dark Side Of The Moon is the best produced album of all time.
I have written two papers on this album and can talk endlessly about its tragic backstory with Syd Barrett or the deep meaning of it's lyrics, but I want to focus instead on the production of this album. Specifically it's composition and layout.
This album is truly a masterpiece as a whole, and should be listened to as a completed package rather than individual tracks. Every song perfectly builds on the next. They bleed together so seamlessly you don't know when one ends and the next begins. 10 songs split perfectly in half with 5 on side A and 5 on side B. It's organized absolutely perfectly and hasn't been topped since.
The intro song "Speak To Me" is a perfect set up. It starts out with a few seconds of silence to get you to think "Is my volume turned up?", and once you start to turn it up you begin to hear the heart beat of the album. The song takes you through a quick journey of what's to come with ticking clocks, cash registers, melodic wailing of a strange women, and the laughter of a mad man. It all builds into a crescendo until it stops and the next song tells you to....
"Breathe" and relax. That was only a taste of what's to come. You can take it easy and sit back in your chair. This album has only just started, so take a deep breath and gather yourself before we need to get...
"On The Run". A bridge between songs that on a normal album would only be 30 seconds long. Pink Floyd was able to make a bridge that keeps you engaged, but more importantly sets the pace for the next song. This track is much more than a waste of...
"Time". It was intended to lull you into a rhythm that is purposely interrupted by alarm clocks and ringing bells. Wake up, because this song is a big one! Played on the radio all over the world and the second most recognizable track on the album. There's not much that needs to be said about the heights this song has reached. It has climbed all the way to...
"The Great Gig In The Sky". Where we float high above everyone around us and bask in the openness. There are no words that need to be said when you're looking out at the vast emptiness. Just the emotions to be felt from deep within. So much can be pulled from Clare Torry's vocals. It's a beautiful song, but it won't be played on the radio and let's be honest, we need to make some...
(This is where side one ends on the vinyl. It's a perfect fade away and an intended break in the album to allow you to flip the record and let the next song to come in hard without sounding out of place.)
"Money". The big single from the album. Is it ironic that this is the most profitable song off the album? Or that it's criticism of wealth and capitalism has made the band millions? Is Pink Floyd still able to relate to the common man, or has their success put them on the other side of...
"Us And Them"? Should there even be an us and them? After all we are only ordinary men. Can't we all sit back and enjoy some beautiful saxophone? It's important to remember that we shouldn't be putting everyone into categories and fighting. Anyone can be...
"Any Color You Like". Another 3 minute long bridge song, but in reality it's the backbone of the back half of this album. Side B blends perfectly together because of this song. It links everything so that it could be enjoyed as a whole even if you had...
"Brain Damage". My favorite track off this album. It's a beautiful song with deeper meaning than just the struggle with mental illness. It's a song dedicated to Syd Barrett that hits so hard they made an entire album referencing back to him with Wish You Were Here. It's a reminder that this band has a past history, and it shouldn't be forgotten. It is a shame though because The Dark Side Of The Moon put everything Pink Floyd did before it in an...
"Eclipse". And there we have it. We've come back around with another song encompassing everything that has come before. A perfect summary of the album with a fade out back into the heart beat we heard at the start. Not only does every song play perfectly into each other, but the album plays back into itself. You can loop it right back to the beginning and not lose a beat.
Now take all of that perfectly composed genius and wrap it up in the most iconic album art ever. Every aspect of the album is so perfectly put together that I believe it is the best produced album of all time.
4 likes
Rush
2/5
If you like Rush then you're going to love this album! If you don't like Rush then you can go ahead and pass on this one. I'm going to pass on this one
3 likes
Kanye West
4/5
How does someone get so many different people featured on their debut album? That's not a rhetorical question. Someone please explain that to me. ....nevermind, I finished listening to "Last Call". I understand now.
There is some really cool foreshadowing in this album. "School Spirit" has the line 'I'ma get on this TV mama, I'ma, I'ma break ish down', which is now better known in his song "Good Life". "The New Workout Plan" introduces the auto tune lines for J-Cole's "Work Out", and what will further evolve with the auto tune in Graduate.
This is a great foundation that Kanye was able to build on and evolve throughout the years. The dude came out swinging, and if it wasn't for his more recent fall from grace and mental freak-outs, he would definitely be more in the conversation for greatest of all time.
3 likes
1-Star Albums (31)
All Ratings
Miles Davis
5/5
Probably the best Jazz album I have listened to
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
Nick Drake
4/5
If Jack Johnson was slower and sadder.
Pixies
3/5
The inspiration behind bands like Nirvana, Radiohead, and Weezer. Like many forms of art, they may have been the first to do it, but they are not the best to do it.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
I was expecting an electronic dance album only knowing their song "Heads Will Roll" (and all of it's remixes). It feels more punk inspired than anything else.
I started out slow with this album, but it really grew on me by Black Tongue. I came around on it, and a few songs will be added to the rotation. Maps is definitely the standout song!
P.S. Yeah Yeah Yeahs is a great name for this band as they love repeating words in their songs.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
This is a tough one for me because I can appreciate the genius Stevie Wonder, but I don't think I will ever go out of my way to listen to him. I would say this is good album, but it's not for me.
A few things to note though:
-Higher Ground is originally by Stevie Wonder not RHCP
-The arrest scene in Living for the City was wild!
-This feels like an important African American album especially in the early 70's
-I will never be able to hear Don't You Worry Bout A Thing without thinking about the arrest in Living for the City again.
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
A very unique sound. You always know when you're listening to Smashing Pumpkins. I feel like I should like them more, but every song sounds kinda the same. I don't know if that's a plus or a minus. There are three songs that I have heard before (Cherub Rock, Today, and Disarm) but I didn't realize they were all different songs. I thought Smashing Pumpkins was a one hit wonder.
One of the longer albums we've heard so far. Over an hour long.
Taylor Swift
5/5
Tay...lor... Yeah!
Banger after banger. When a single album has this many hits how can you not give it 5 stars.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
I don't know if a half hungover 2-hour drive home after a bachelor party is the best way to review an album, but this might have been the best album for this environment. No major standout songs. No real highs or lows. A steady enjoyable sound. That being said, when I want to listen to Fleetwood Mac I won't be coming here.
Tom Waits
1/5
This album feels like a Key and Peele sketch.
Tom Waits (played by Peele) walks into the recording studio and talks to the recording manager (played by Key)
Manager: Come on it. Were glad to have you here. The band is all warmed up and were ready to go.
Tom Waits (speaking in a normal voice): Sounds great. Let's get started.
Tom begins singing like he's being tortured during the Spanish Inquisition and is quickly interrupted by the manager.
Manager: Ok..... that was great, but why don't we try it again with your normal voice.
Tom (normal voice): Not a problem. I love the feedback. Lets try again.
Tom sings in a high falsetto this time.
Manager: Stop! Let's try that again. Remember, we're paying the piano and saxophone player by the hour here.
Tom (normal voice): I completely understand.
Tom turns around and fires half the band leaving only the drums.
Manager sighs and looks down.
Tom begins singing like McGruff the Crime Dog on crack.
Manager: Fuck it. We recorded the band warming up earlier. We can just fill in the rest of the album with that and some background chatter.
Deerhunter
4/5
Deerhunter has been part of my Alternative Chill playlist for years now, however, this is my first time actually listening to a full album. What a perfect album to have on in the background while working in the office. I didn't realize I was halfway through until I looked down to see the song name for Desire Lines. Very easy to listen to. I would love to have this on vinyl to put on in the background at home.
Fairport Convention
3/5
I never knew British Folk was a genre. I guess it makes sense that this album is what started it.
This was a welcome divergence to most of the albums in this list. I wouldn't normally go out of my way to listen to folk music, but I might have to start. A beautiful voice that's easy to fall into followed by a folk sound that's not quite Appalachian Mountains and not quite Celtic either. It's a great blend between the two to make it's own genre.
For an album that's 55 years old, it sounds like it could come out today.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
In a world with 3.5 hour long movies, 4 hour long concerts, and every new film idea being dragged out into 10 episode tv series, it's nice to have an album only 35 minutes long. What's to say about CCR? You know all their hits, and some of them are on here. The ones you don't know are 8 minutes of pure swamp doggin'.
Put a pot of water with spices on the stove and play this album. When "Bootleg" starts, put red potatoes and sausage in the boiling water. Add corn at "Good Golly Miss Molly". Put the crawfish in when "Keep On Chooglin'" begins, and enjoy a good ole fashion Low Country Boil once the album ends!
Sister Sledge
4/5
A cool funky album throughout. Not typically my genre. I was going to give it 3 stars, but I caught myself singing "We are Family" all day.
Kate Bush
2/5
I am a huge Kate Bush fan! That is as long as she is singing a song that has recently regained popularity for being a major plot point in a prestige TV show that is heavily nostalgic for the 80's. Outside of that, I'm not really a Kate Bush fan.
Eels
4/5
Sad/melancholy lyrics with an upbeat chorus is a winning formula for me. This album made me feel like world is shit, but I guess I'll keep on doing my thing.
Standout songs:
Novacaine for the soul
Susan's house
Rags to rags
My beloved monster (THE SONG FROM SHREK!!)
This is an interesting band to be signed to DreamWorks label. I guess it makes sense. DreamWorks isn't going to have a safe pop band to play in their Disney family friendly fairy tale. They're going to have an ugly sad ogre of a band that you eventually fall in love with by the end.
Iggy Pop
3/5
Another album that I should enjoy more than I do. I know that Iggy Pop is a major influence for the Punk movement, but does that mean I have to like him? Do I have to like Doom to enjoy Call of Duty? Do I have to like newspaper comic strips to enjoy cartoons? Do I have to like 2001: A Space Odyssey to like Interstellar?
That being said, it's not like the album was difficult to listen to. I just probably won't be coming back to it.
Wu-Tang Clan
3/5
Do you know when someone introduces themselves to you and you forget their name immediately? That's how I felt at the beginning of every song. They intro who's rapping every song and I forgot who's who by the end of it.
I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would. I think this would be a fun show to see in person. The biggest surprise to me was finding out that my wife listened to Wu-Tang Clan!
The Black Keys
4/5
I enjoy the Black Keys sound. It has a produced/manufactured roughness to it. A bit of buzz and distortion, but in a purposeful way. The first half of the album was stronger for me. I was getting a bit tired of it by the end, but I think "These Days" was a great way to finish it off.
I'm curios to see if their album El Camino is on this list. I think that would be more up my ally. A shorter album with more upbeat radio hits.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
Did you know that there's a deluxe edition of this album that is over 3 hours long?
Crosby: Alright guys. The album is sounding great, but we still need to come up with a band name. I was thinking "Crosby and the Crew".
Stills: Really?! Cause I was thinking something along the line of "Stills and Salty Sailors"
Nash: I'm not going to be a sailor. How about "Nash and the Nomads"?
Young: We could go by "Neil and his Young Boys"..........
Nash: Screw it. We can just go by all of our names. Who's going to be the lead singer?
Stills: Why don't we all sing the whole song at the same time?
Crosby: I wrote a song about getting a haircut. Do you guys want to sing it with me?!
Stills: On second thought, why don't you solo that one buddy.
This has been a NPR production of "Deja vu". If you enjoyed what you just heard, stick around for an additional 2.5 hours of alternate version of the same songs.
Michael Jackson
4/5
This album is not the end of Michael's career. It's not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.
You can tell he is beginning to transitioning into the pop super star that he is with this album. There's still a lot of Motown funk inspiration, but he is starting to find what will become his signature sound. "Don't stop til you get enough" and "Rock With You" are iconic off of this album.
For most artist, this album would be a peak for them. Multiple number one hits and 9X platinum. For Michael Jackson though, it feels far from his peak. This might be unfair to say, but I expect every song on his albums to be a hit single (looking at you Thriller).
Afrika Bambaataa
1/5
"I love 80s rap!" - a sentence I've never heard before.
The 80s beats are fun, but the rapping feels like it's in its infancy. Kinda like an educational rap teaching you about all the state capitals. I'll leave this album in the influential category rather than timeless classic.
R.E.M.
2/5
https://youtu.be/UIyoNvInzCI?si=uf5dgaFuQfQbfPm8
I'm not sure why R.E.M. is as popular as they are. I guess they work for some folks, but I was mostly bored listening to this album.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
What a pleasant album. I had one of the best commutes to work listening to this. I'm starting to enjoy more jazz albums. I don't know if my music tastes are changing, or if I'm listening to actually good jazz now. It could also be that I just recently watched Whiplash. Definitely a couple of riffs I recognize in here. Blue Rondo A La Turk is playing during the football scene in Wedding Crashers.
Cream
2/5
This is one of the cleanest recordings I've ever heard. I can understand every word spoken and every note played. That doesn't necessarily mean I like it though. Outside of the few songs with electric guitar licks by Clapton, the cords and melodies are pretty bland.
The standout song "Sunshine of Your Love" has probably had the largest negative impact on the mental wellbeing of every Guitar Center/music store employee that's had to listen to it played by amateur musicians looking at guitars. Maybe only outclassed by "Smoke on the Water".
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
I'm surprised this album doesn't have a parental warning on it. I'm guessing it's because they didn't think any kids would want to listen to it.
I like the idea of this album. A series of ballads connected together with a theme. However, every balled sounds the same with most of the choruses just saying the made up name of a person.
This was a slog to get through.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
I'm glad we got this album "It's a Blitz! (2009)" so soon after listening to "Fever to Tell (2003)". You can really tell the change in sounds that the band went through. In 2003 they felt kinda punk rock. This album feels more synthy party music (at least for the first half). I would love to know if this was a conscious decision by the band, or if this was just a natural flow with the rest of music in the time.
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Some sleeper hits on here. Easy to listen to and enjoyable, but I probably won't be going back to this album.
Queen
4/5
The only song I knew on here was "Killer Queen". That alone should put it above average. The other songs definitely have that Queen feeling but not the recognition. They have such a distinct sound that you can always pick them out. I'm sure if I listened to this album a bunch I would start to get into the rest of it, but for now "Killer Queen" still steals the show
Bobby Womack
3/5
This album got me pregnant.
Rod Stewart
5/5
I have been listening to "Every Picture Tells a Story" since I was a kid, so I "Maggie May" be biased in this review. I'm hoping that once everyone listens to this album they will "Find a Reason to Believe" it's as good as I do. It "Seems Like a Long Time" since my dad first played this for me, and although those days have gone with the "Mandolin Wind", this album has stuck around. I really love Rod Stewarts voice. It has an "Amazing Grace" to it's roughness. Like looking at the Mona Lisa through a dirty screen door. "That's All Right" if it's not your thing. This review is dragging on and "I know I'm Losing You", so I'll wrap it up. All I have to say is that "Tomorrow Is a Long Time" for me to have to wait to give this 5 stars.
Fiona Apple
2/5
I can see how "Fetch the Bolt Cutters" would resonate with everyone locked down during the COVID-19 pandemic. I don't think it really holds up outside of that mindset though. I usually enjoy an experimental album, and maybe this belongs on the list for when it came out, but I don't think this is revolutionizing anything now.
Neil Young
3/5
A pretty in offensive album. Listened to it while unpacking after a long trip, so I didn't give it my full attention. Nothing really notable about it other than I didn't realize Neal Young sang in an almost falsetto so often. I just hope Neil Young remembers a southern man don't need him around anyhow.
Guns N' Roses
5/5
I think an argument could be made that this is the greatest pure Rock album of all time. Half of this debut album is on their greatest hits, and the songs that aren't hold up just as well. They're just not as overplayed. That's probably the only complaint with this album. Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise City, and Sweet child of mine are just so overplayed. You are pretty much guaranteed to hear at least two of these songs at any event where music is being played over a loudspeaker. I don't think you can really take away from the album because of that though. If anything, it shows how much of an impact this album has on our society.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
2/5
I don't know how to describe this album. It's alternative, electronic, folky, synthy, emo, a little bit of pop, and a lot of bass. I've never heard an album with such soft spoken lyrics have so much bass. My car speakers were rattling.
This album has me all over the place. I'm between giving it 2 stars or 4 stars. 3 stars isn't right. It's anything but average. I just don't know if anything means good or bad. For now I'll give it the Queen.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Did anyone else know "That Lady" has a sick guitar solo in it?
Half of the songs on this album are covers, but The Isley Brothers make them their own. They don't do what a lot of bands do with covers which is making them sound exactly like the original. It's only half way through the songs that you realize wait a minute I know this.
The original songs on here are great. I would probably have given this album 5 stars if they were a couple fewer covers and some more original hits.
John Cale
3/5
The shortest album we've listened to so far at only 30 minutes.
I really like his voice. This was an easy one to listen to. Just as you start getting into it, it's over.
3/5
I feel like U2 should be rated higher, but for as much as I've tried, I can't really get into them. I like "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" and "with or without you", but that might be because I've heard them so much. I really couldn't tell you anything else about the album.
Sufjan Stevens
5/5
Ok, hear me out.... I think this checks all the boxes of a perfect album for me.
It has an overall theme and sticks to it. The songs are varied and unique without feeling out of place. The lyrics can be funny while still tackling serious subject matter. I don't know who else could make a song both fun and haunting about John Wayne Gacy. It's well composed with clean audio and a voice that's beautiful and easy to understand. It even has a "big song"! It may not be a radio hit, but "Chicago" is used in Little Miss Sunshine, The Bear (S1E7 opening), and sampled by Chiddy Bang. This is the definition of an album working as a whole rather than a collection of individual songs. I didn't think an album like this could do it for me, but I think this is very deserving of 5 stars.
Meat Loaf
4/5
This is a major nostalgia album for me. My mom used to play this all the time, and I've been listening to it for as long as I can remember.
This album is full of fun piano rock ballads performed with so much energy. Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman make for an awesome duo. If you've ever listened to a Meat Loaf album after those two broke up, you'll know that the sound by Meat Loaf and song writing by Steinman are both crucial to their success.
"Bat Out of Hell", "Two out of Three Ain't Bad", and "Paradise By the Dashboard Light" are all iconic. I can see how some people might get bored by the repetitive nature of a 9 minute long song, but that's also part of their epicness.
This album is epic, iconic, but a little repetitive. That's ok though, because two out of three ain't bad.
The Dictators
2/5
I can see why this album is on the list. It feels way ahead of it's time. I think this could have come out during the early 90's punk scene and fit right in. Majorly influential, but not something I'll be going back to.
TLC
3/5
"Wouldn't ya like a girl who has a nice sense of humor? That can kick it? Make you laugh? Then on the other side in the bedroom whip that thang on?". Yes ma'am. I do like that kind of girl.
A fun change of pace. Not my typical genre, but I still enjoyed. Who doesn't like "Waterfalls"?!
David Bowie
3/5
I like heroes. By heroes, I mean the song. By the song, I mean the Wallflowers cover of the song. By the Wallflowers cover of the song, I mean the movie The Replacement. What I'm saying is I like the movie The Replacement.
Bob Dylan
2/5
The electrician walks into his kitchen
looking at an ostrich baby wishin
he could take his unicycle fishin;
but mother Mary is carrying her baby
with a cigarette that says debt
its ashes falling into the pool
that was built by the school
with a sign that says "only for the politician"
See, I can do it too.
You can just stop after the first song with this one.
Antony and the Johnsons
2/5
Vibrato: The Musical
This is a really bold album to release in 2005. A time when being part of the LGBTQ community could get you ostracized. They don't hide anything in their lyrics. "For today I am a boy" straight up tells what they want. I enjoyed a few songs on here. "Fist Full of Love" was great, but as an overall album it's not my favorite.
Black Sabbath
3/5
I kind of thought that a Black Sabbath album would be a little more memorable. Most of the songs blend together. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but nothing really stands out. The only song that stands out to me is "Changes", and that's because it's the intro song in the Big Mouth.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
This feels like the sound track to Weird Barbie's life. A couple of major hits on here and the rest aren't bad either.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
I really enjoyed this album. It's more than just the album with 1979 on it. There's a good variation in songs and they work well together, but it did it really need to be 2 hours long?
Obviously I love the big hits, but I really love the punk sound of XYU. There is a lot of variation in this album
Elvis Presley
3/5
It's interesting to think that if "The King of Rock and Roll" debut today he would probably be considered a country/western singer.
There are some major classics on here. "In the Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds" are both all timers! The rest of it doesn't really do much for me though.
This feels like an album from the 50's that was released in 1969. Most of the influential albums on this list feel ahead of their time. This is the first one that feels behind the times.
Doves
2/5
Me: Can we get Coldplay?
Mom: No. We have Coldplay at home.
Coldplay at home: Doves
You know how in the song Wonderwall when they get to the part where they sing "and after aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllll", and you think to yourself that this is an unpleasant note to be held for this long? That happens a lot on this album.
Arrested Development
3/5
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would! Not a top album for me or anything like that, but I came in expecting some boring early 90's hip hop and was presently surprised by this album. The beats are cool, and the rapping is not bad. I was expecting to give this a 1 or 2 stars, but I think it's a solid 3 stars.
Common
3/5
A common (ha) thread that I noticed about myself with hip hop albums is that I really like the beats, but couldn't care less about the rapping. When that's such an integral part of an album like this, it puts it at a disadvantage for my rating. I guess I need to start paying more attention to lyrics. I did hear the hard f words though.
Neil Young
2/5
I started listening this album on a rainy Friday afternoon. It didn't quite feel like the right atmosphere for it. I wasn't vibing with it, so I stopped and started again the next day on a bright Saturday morning.... I still didn't really like it.
Yes
2/5
When I started collecting vinyl records, my father-in-law gave me all of his old ones. A majority of them were Yes albums. I thought I would give them a listen and maybe it would be a band that we could bond over. I didn't enjoy Yes then, and I don't enjoy Yes now. Not really sure what he sees in them, but I just don't get it. Cool album art though.
Bad Company
4/5
I wonder how many artists can say that their greatest hit is their self title song off their self titled album? Bad Company: Bad Company - Bad Company
Not every album needs to be deep and meaningful. Sometimes "I want you to stay, I want you today, I'm ready for love, baby I'm ready for love" is all you need to say. This was a solid rock album start to finish. It's not going to change anyone's life, but I'm sure most people would enjoy it.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
This was a fun one to listen to. These songs for the most part are not structured in a way I'm not used to. There's no traditional 2 choruses, a bridge, and then final chorus layout here. Listening to the first half of "Band On The Run" (the song), I thought to myself "Do I know this song?", and then halfway through it changed into the radio hit I'm familiar with. These songs all evolve and change as they go on. It makes for a very interesting listen.
The beginning is really strong. The first song sets the theme for the rest of the album, and "Jet" is a blast. the next few songs are solid, but I was getting a little bored around "Mamunia" and "No Words". The ending was great! "Picasso's Last Words" referencing "Jet", and "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five" going back into "Band On The Run" make for a perfect mirror. I wonder if I listen more closely to the middle songs would they also mirror each other?
Rush
2/5
If you like Rush then you're going to love this album! If you don't like Rush then you can go ahead and pass on this one. I'm going to pass on this one
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
This is how you put together an album that goes against the mainstream without being so absurd that it's impossible to listen to (Looking at you Tom Waits). It's a hard industrial rock album that has both crass offensive lyrics as well as a deep meaning behind them. It's very easy to see how this can connect with people who feel so far removed from pop radio.
I'm not sure why "Closer" became the standout song on this album. It doesn't feel that much different from anything else on here. I think "March of the Pigs" is the best representation of this album (and probably my favorite song on it). It's hard, fast and dark, but then the middle and ending hit you with a light piano and beautifully sung chorus. I think it perfectly represents the grittiness of songs like "Closer" and the beauty of songs like "Hurt" .
Fleet Foxes
3/5
I'm glad this came up. I've seen this album cover a bunch and have heard of Fleet Foxes, but never listened to them. When I saw folk band from 2008 I got excited, but to be honest I was a little let down. Nothing really jumped out at me. I never got into a groove or a vibe. It felt like decent background music. Which isn't a bad thing. Maybe I should have been in a different environment for this album, but for now I don't think I need to worry about Fleet Foxes.
k.d. lang
3/5
What a beautiful voice! The mix of instruments throughout the album is brilliant. I could easily see how this could be someone's favorite artist. That being said, I'd be lying if I said I was going to listen to more of k.d. lang. She's a beautiful musician. Just not for me
Gene Clark
2/5
Not sure why this is on the list. It doesn't feel innovative or inspiring. Wikipedia is saying that this was not well received in the the US, but did great in the Netherlands. I guess that means we'll be seeing a Drake Bell album on here do to his success in Mexico?
Nothing wrong with the album. Just boring.
I take back my previous statement. There is something wrong with this album. It's too long.
Fiona Apple
2/5
This is decent debut album. Song variety and a big radio hit, but why does she insist on trying to sing in her lower vocal range? Especially with the 90's female OOOOOoooooOoOOooooOOOOoOOOo vocals. It's not for me, but I can see why some people would like it.
If this was my first time hearing Fiona Apple I would probably rate it higher, but I know that the praise this album received ultimately lead to "Fetch the Bolt Cutters". I don't want to risk that again.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
I started playing this album around 9am on Friday morning. By 10am I was violently ill. I proceeded to expell everything inside of me utilizing both forms of egress for the next 24 hours. Sunday morning I began to feel like myself again. What I'm trying to say is that I don't remember much of this album. Just the feeling of a tile floor on my face all weekend.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
Neil Young feels like Bob Dylan with a G.E.D.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
When you think about the original final format of this album came in, it begins to make a lot more sense. The Who, When, Where, How, Which, and Who Do You Love are really just one 25 minute long song on side A. Although the rest of the songs on side B are named more uniquely, they really just blend right into each other. The whole album feels like two big cohesive songs. This is another example of an album that works better as a whole than any individual song song by itself.
Def Leppard
4/5
I accidentally started out listening to the wrong Album. Rather than listen to Pyromania, I listened to the first half of Hysteria (the one with Pour Some Sugar On Me on it). After listening to hit after hit, I was really disappointed that I had to shift from Hysteria to this album.
I came in not expecting much, but began to realize that I knew more off of Pyromania than I thought. "Photograph" is an all time classic (second best song titled Photograph right behind Nickelback). "To Late to Love", and "Rock of Ages" are both great. Overall a solid album.
PJ Harvey
1/5
Nick Cave's - Murder Ballads and Tom Waits' - Bone Machine couldn't stop my streak of listening to every song off every album and neither can PJ Harvey.
Kanye West
5/5
I don't really have much history with Kanye. I didn't listen to him when this album came out, and I only know his radio hits. That being said, I think this album has seeped into my subconscious from my friends playing it so much. I knew way more songs on here than I thought I did, and the ones I didn't know were still great. You can see how someone can compare themselves to Jesus when they put out music as good as this.
Also, only Kanye West could be someone who features Kanye West on a Kanye West song (So Appalled).
The Velvet Underground
4/5
A lovely album to have a heroin overdose to.
Van Halen
5/5
A 35 minute album will 5 radio hits! Talk about getting in, fucking shit up, and getting out. This album doesn't linger around. Every song is around 3 minutes long with awesome guitar riffs and great vocals. This is half of Van Halen's greatest hits, and the other songs are no slouch themselves.
Judas Priest
4/5
I don't think the term "Grinder. Looking for meat" means today what it meant in the '80s.
I've always heard that Judas priest as the Fisher-Price's my first metal band. If that's the case, I think I'm ready to move up to a first grade metal band level. This album is really approachable and a great stepping stone into the genre. I'm going to be saying "breaking the law, breaking the law" for the rest of the day now.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Taylor Swift has nothing on Marvin Gaye. You wrote a song about you ex-boyfriend? That's cute. How about writing an entire album about your ex-wife?!
This is classic Marvin Gaye sound all the way through with an emotional meaning behind the whole album. Really beautiful, but I wish it was a little shorter. A good album, but it makes me sad because I know I will never be serenaded by Mr. Gaye like Anna was.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
The songs all flow into each other on this album, and not in a bad way. It's not just one really long song split up into sections. It's a really cohesive album from start to finish. It's almost hard to see how some of these songs became standout hits when the album works so well together as a whole. It's short, It's strong, hard not to love this one.
Rage Against The Machine
4/5
An album for when you wake up in the morning and want to scream fuck you to the world! This is also the only album that I've ever had YouTube Music pop up an additional window stating viewer discretion is advised and required you to press confirm. Just another machine that I need to rage against!
They love to repeat phrases at the end of every song:
Bombtrack - "Burn, burn, yes, you're gonna burn" 16 times
Killing in the Name - "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me" 16 times
Take the Power Back - "No more lies" 8 times
Settle for Nothing - "If we don't take action now, we settle for nothing later" 8 times (with slight variation)
Bullet in the Head - "A bullet in ya head" 15 times
Know Your Enemy - "All of which are American dreams" 8 times
Wake Up - "Wake Up!" 8 times
Fistful of Steel - (It doesn't really happen in this one)
Township Rebellion - "Why stand on a silent platform? Fight the war, fuck the norm" 4 times
Freedom - "Freedom yeah" 7 times
Awesome album especially for when it came out! Not perfect, or something I would listen to everyday, but there will definitely be times when I need to put this on.
Morrissey
2/5
This was a major departure from our previous album Rage Against the Machine, and I think that really threw me off with this listen. It felt slow and boring. Something that would be played in the background of a movie with people talking over it. Not much really to say about it. Just like it's Wikipedia article.
The Zombies
3/5
An album of it's time. This feels like the "quintessential" 60's summer of love sound. Easy melodies with clear vocals singing songs about love.
.
.
....and then there's "Butcher's Tale". Who would have thought that an album about love and good feels would need a shake up song about the horrors of WWI?
Decent album, but will probably not listen to it again other than "Time of the Season" on my parents radio playlist.
The Clash
4/5
I started listening to the 1001 list for albums like this one. I've seen this album everywhere, but never went out of my way to actually listen to it.
With the songs being so different and changing throughout the album, it's easy to see why it's on the list. I'm sure so many bands can list this as a major influence for them. I never got bored listing. Every song felt like it had a different set of instruments and singing style. Hell, I never expected to hear a reggae song on here right before one of the biggest pop songs of all time. I'm sure that a lot of my favorite bands and songs wouldn't be what they are without The Clash.
Black Sabbath
4/5
I thought this album was just fine until I looked at the release year. HOLY SHIT!!! 3 years after the summer of love and the same year The Beatles released Let It Be, Black Sabbath introduced the world to doom metal. Shortly after that in the same year as this debut album they put out one of the most iconic albums of all time with Paranoid. Black Sabbath was on a different level from the rest of the world at this time. I was thinking giving it a 3 at first, but I might bump it up to a 4 because of it's influence.
Kanye West
4/5
How does someone get so many different people featured on their debut album? That's not a rhetorical question. Someone please explain that to me. ....nevermind, I finished listening to "Last Call". I understand now.
There is some really cool foreshadowing in this album. "School Spirit" has the line 'I'ma get on this TV mama, I'ma, I'ma break ish down', which is now better known in his song "Good Life". "The New Workout Plan" introduces the auto tune lines for J-Cole's "Work Out", and what will further evolve with the auto tune in Graduate.
This is a great foundation that Kanye was able to build on and evolve throughout the years. The dude came out swinging, and if it wasn't for his more recent fall from grace and mental freak-outs, he would definitely be more in the conversation for greatest of all time.
Grizzly Bear
2/5
I now know the name of the band that sings that one song.
Roni Size
3/5
This album wasn't necessarily a struggle to get through. More so it just blended into my subconscious while it played in the background. This is a new genre that I only heard about when someone asked if there was a D&B album on the 1001 list. I thought the nature of the genre would lead to a bunch of artists sampling songs off of here, but that really wasn't the case (at least from what I could find). I think it's best use is how it was first shown to me as the Toonami background music while Anime clips played over it.
Janet Jackson
3/5
Don't worry everyone. Janet Jackson has solved: racism, world hunger, illiteracy, drug use, gang violence, and poverty.
Honestly, I can't really make fun of someone for trying to use their success to try and make the world a better place. It may be a little naive of her to think that an album can change the world, but she's still going to try one boob at a time.
I didn't dislike this album at all. I would be lying if I said that I would listen to it again, but it's not bad. A perfect 3 for me.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
This album was way more fun than it deserves to be. It should be so dated and cheesy that it's painful to listen to, but the formula just works. "Walk This Way" should be in the conversation whenever we bring up great covers. This was definitely my one year olds favorite album.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Picture this.....
You wake up Monday morning after a 3 day cocaine bender with the phone ringing. You answer it and it's the famous movie producer on the other line. He reminds you that the movie score you promised him is due today. In a panic and with your head pounding, you tell him it's done and you'll have it to him this afternoon. You reach for your music collection, while barely holding in your hungover nausea, and find this album. You think to yourself "yeah, this could work as background music in any movie". 8 months go by and you have been blacklisted by Hollywood. You now live under an overpass next to the freeway known only as the man who scored 'Schindler's List 2' with 'Back at the Chicken Shack'. 4 out of 5 stars
Sonic Youth
2/5
This is another album that in theory I should love, but I just didn't connect with. Nothing jumped out for me. Songs were long and meandering with no real payoff. I felt mostly bored with this one.
Slipknot
1/5
Yeah it's gonna be a Slip no for me, dawg.
Air
3/5
I was not expecting to see a movie soundtrack on this list. It's a beautiful soundtrack, but without the context of the movie it all feels out of place. My guess is that the author of 1001 really liked this movie and the soundtrack brings back those feelings.
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
I always thought that I was not an Arctic Monkeys fan because I was so annoyed with "Do I Want to Know" on the radio all the time... I really liked this album! I liked it so much that I listened to it back to back. After listening to this album twice, I decided to listen to their biggest album AM..... which I hated. I don't know why I dislike Arctic Monkeys, but I like this album so much. Maybe it's because I didn't know any of the songs on here, or maybe I'm just a sucker for debut albums. On a 10 point scale I would rank this as a 9. I'm going to round up here and make it a 5 out of 5.
Alanis Morissette
5/5
This feels like the favorite album of a girl you'd date the summer after high school.
You were young, naive, and innocent. She pushed your boundaries, gave you new experiences, and showed you a part of life you never knew. It felt like she had everything figured out. Like nothing could get in her way or throw her off, but in reality she was just as young and naive as you were. You knew the relationship would never last, but that summer changed your life.
You're now happily married with a loving wife and three kids. Your middle child is going off to college and life couldn't be better, but you keep catching yourself thinking back to that girl with the Jagged Little Pill CD and some of the best two months of your life.
William Orbit
2/5
This feels like background music for a '90s heist movie montage where the tech guy is sneaking into the mainframe to hack all the cameras as a setup to the final heist at the end of the movie.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
1/5
I would have preferred listing to an actual orchestra. I liked the last minute of "Zopf: Giles Farnaby's Dream". That's about it.
Fred Neil
3/5
I branded 2 dozen steer and smoked a pack of Marlboro Red while listening to this album.
Alice In Chains
3/5
I can see why people like Alice In Chains, but they're not really for me. I'm giving them a three because I do like "Rooster".
Sade
3/5
How do you pronounce her name? Is it (Say-dee), or (Say-duh)? Is it just (Sad)?
Easy to listen to and I knew a few songs.
Skunk Anansie
3/5
After reading the description for this album and listening to the first song, I thought it was going to be way more metal and heavy than it was. This was a relatively easy listen with plenty of song variation to keep it interesting. My expectations were low coming in which I think helps. There was also some random snippets of Drum and Bass throughout the album which I thought was interesting.
George Michael
4/5
Who can listen to "Freedom! '90" and not sing along at the top of your lungs Freedom, Freedom, Freedom!!!? Outside of that song, the first half of the album didn't really do much for me. The second half on the other hand I really enjoyed. This was going to be a 3 for me until I heard the rendition of "You Can't Always Get What You Want" at the end of "Waiting for That Day". That bumped it to a 4.
2/5
Do you think bands plan on making 10+ minute long songs, or is it a situation where they need to fill time? "Alright everyone that's a wrap. Good work. Wait a minute... we've only got 23 minutes here. Think you guys can just sort of jam out for another 20 minutes?"
I was vibing with this album at the start, but it started to lose me with the long songs.
The Who
4/5
I really like The Who, but half of this album feels like they're just trying to be The Beatles. It feels like they start to find their voice around "My Generation". I still enjoyed this album, but less than most debut albums for me.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
A bunch of hits on here and the rest is great! You can't go wrong with Aretha. One of the best voices of all time with variety of songs with meaning behind them. Even if you don't like this genre of music, you can't deny its brilliance.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I thought "People Get Ready" was by Rod Stewart, but apparently it's not by Aretha Franklin either. It's originally by the The Impressions.
I'm surprised that the anti-trans far right movement hasn't co-opted "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman". Get a blond white woman singing that with a country twang, and you have a new confederacy national anthem.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
5 songs off this album are on the RHCP greatest hits collection. 4 of them are within the first 6 songs. Talk about a strong start and a very front loaded album.
I like to think that they recorded these songs in order. By the time they got to "Californication" they were on top of the world thinking they could do no wrong. Just keep writing songs because it's hit after hit. Then they started to quickly run out of steam and wrote songs about liking dirt.
If they cut out five songs from the back half of this album (Emit Remmus, I Like Dirt, Savior, Purple Stain, and Right On Time), it would be perfect for me! The lackluster finish brings this down to a 4 though.
Solange
3/5
It's fine.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I hated his voice.... then I loved it.... then I hated it again. I think it works well with the upbeat pop songs, but I really don't like it with the slower songs.
Metallica
3/5
There are some big hit on here and I feel like I need to give it a 4, but if I'm honest with myself it's a 3.
The Prodigy
2/5
I listened to this album in the car with Britta, John, and Kristin. This review is a compilation of all of our ratings
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
This album is a car crash. I don't mean that figuratively.... It sounds like a literal car crash.
The quiet dissonant tone of a vehicle approaching quickly followed by metal scraping against concrete only to be interrupted by the screams of a German man slowly dying in a burning fire. The jaws of life and angle grinders attempting to crack open the burnt carcass of a steel smoldering wreck not being enough to quit the screams of the man inside. A brief 30 second pause of silence as the rescue crew believes that the man has passed away. The silence is interrupted by the rhythmic sound of broken bone beating against steel as the man gives one last fight to break free of his iron coffin. The sound slowly fades away, and the drilling and cutting begins again to remove the corpse from the tangled wreckage.
The Stooges
2/5
I enjoyed "1970", but most of the songs on here are needlessly long, and that's saying something for a 35 minute album. Another album that is hugely influential for a genre that I love, but I enjoy the iteration on it rather than the album itself.
Paul McCartney
4/5
What a breath of fresh air! Very easy to listen to, and I wish there was more of it. A solid album with one of the most iconic songs ever on it.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Iconic songs, and easy listening. Easily a solid 4.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I didn't really like the first Velvet Underground album we listened to on this list, but I liked this one much more. Glad I finally gave such an iconic album the full listen to, and if I see this vinyl in the wild I'll probably pick it up. 9/10 if we were on that scale.
Stephen Stills
3/5
I enjoyed this album more than any of the other albums that have been part of the Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young super groups. Still not something that I would go out of my way to listen to, but by no means did I dislike it.
The names in this band feel like a group of space marines being introduced to a rookie.
"Welcome to the team new guy. Come over here and let me introduce you to the squad. We've got Dallas, Chris, Al, Joe, Paul, and this.... this here's Fuzzy."
Joanna Newsom
1/5
Not my cup of tea.
This feels like a mash up of the worst aspects from the following:
Lyrics by Bob Dylan look-a-like competition runner up
Music by the local renaissance fair court jester
Vocals by the theater kid who only ever wanted to do Shakespeare plays
Cover Art by "Just tell me everything you want and I'll squeeze it in somewhere"
Audience by "You just don't get it. This is genius."
Brian Eno
2/5
I enjoyed the music, but I can't get over the vocals. The echo or whatever it is over his voice is just too off putting for me.
Frank Ocean
3/5
I thought I was going to like this more than I did. I didn't recognize any of the songs. It was good, but a little slow. Frank Ocean has an amazing voice, but that's about it for me on this album.
Beatles
3/5
13 songs in 30 minutes! This is the opposite of most albums on this list.
There are obviously a couple songs on hear that everyone in the world knows. They're not The Beatles best songs, but they're memorable for a reason. The rest of the album all kind of sounds the same, and every song is about the same subject matter. It's not a bad thing. Just maybe a little stale. I almost feel obligated to rate it higher because it's The Beatles, but then there's the equal obligatory modern take the The Beatles are overrated. If I could, I would probably give this a 3.5/5.
The Prodigy
2/5
Every time I listen to The Prodigy I feel like I should be wearing a black trench coat with combat boots and sunglasses at night; kicking in a door to a vampire night club in the middle of a blood orgy. Wesley Snipes throws me a fully auto crossbow in slow motion as I combate roll across the room to catch it. Time resumes normal speed when all of the black leather clad vampires turn to me. "What a pain in the neck" I say before squeezing the trigger and begining the electronica fueled slaughter of the blood sucker monsters.
After 3 minutes of that feeling, I'm just sitting around listening to mediocre beats for another 1h and 12min. Wondering was that actually cool, or really lame in hindsight.
4/5
Another album and band that I have seen everywhere but never listened to. I liked this much more than most of the other early influential punk records. I'll definitely try and listen to more of their stuff.
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
Was not expecting
Cha Cha Cha
Another soundtrack
Cha Cha Cha
Kinda liked it
Cha Cha Cha
Do I need to
Cha Cha Cha
See this movie?
Cha Cha Cha
Can you guess
Cha Cha Cha
My favorite song?
Cha Cha Cha
The Band
3/5
Solid album, but no standout hits. Could easily have it on in the background anytime.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
QUICK REVIEW...... excellent review.
Classic 80s easy listening. This is what I picture when radio stations are labeled as Adult Hits. I didn't dislike it, but I won't remember it.
Al Green
4/5
One of the most iconic openings to any album! Great first song and it stays consistent throughout. I only recognized "Let's Stay Together", but the rest of the songs were solid.
Paul Weller
4/5
An album that I need to be in the right setting for to enjoy. Being forced to listen to this for as long as it is would probably get boring quickly for me. Lucky though, I had a 2 hour car ride with time to kill and was really vibing with this. I couldn't tell you a single song, but the whole album had me feeling good on a bright morning drive to the beach.
Meat Puppets
4/5
I got really nervous with a band name like Meat Puppets. I came in expecting some hardcore metal, but was surprised with what was delivered. Good song variation, some solid jam vibes, and a few standout songs.
These are some of the worst vocals I've heard and I love it! You see it a lot in punk music "I may have no talent, but I'm still going to try and jam as hard as those hair bands of the 70's". Just because they're tone deaf doesn't mean they can't learn the guitar and that they don't have something to say.
I liked this way more than I was expecting, but I can also absolutely see why someone would give this a 1 star. I can see this being an obscure band that I bond with someone over randomly in the future.
The Smiths
3/5
I listened to this album on Friday, and I'm writing this review on Sunday. I couldn't tell you a single thing about the album. Inoffensive, but unremarkable.
Paul Simon
4/5
I really enjoyed this! "Call Me Al" has been a staple of many playlists of mine, but I'm glad to say the rest of the album fits right along with it. I can clearly understand the vocals, but I still couldn't tell you a single meaning to a song. The melodies are light and fun and sometimes that's enough.
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
I want to start off by saying that I love the drummer and bass player! That's where my praises end. This whole album feels like the guitarist, vocalist, and producer are just adding random sounds on top of what would be a solid bass/drum beat. Hey, guess what! That's exactly what they did. According to Wikipedia, "Albatross" was completely adlibbed and recorded in one go and you can tell. I wish that we could get an entire album with just the bass and drums. We got a taste of that with "Socialist", but even then they couldn't help themselves by putting random beeps and tones on top of everything. If I was a record label in this time, I would steal Jah Wobble and David Humphrey, pair them with a strong lead man who can play four cords on a guitar, and own the 80's.
This would be a 1 star album for me, but the drum and bass brings it up to a 2.
The Who
2/5
I've always thought that I was a big The Who fan, but the more they come up on this list I've come to realize that I'm just a fan of their top 5 hits or so. Every album seems to have one big standout hit ("I Can See For Miles" on this one) that I really enjoy but then struggle to get through the rest of it. Just give me a greatest hits compilation that cuts out all of the fluff.
The Cult
3/5
A pretty solid rock album. Nothing to write home about, but I did enjoy it.
Not a fan of the Born to be Wild cover if I'm honest.
Hugh Masekela
3/5
Like many jazz albums, the time, place, and mind space make a big difference. Sunday morning while getting the house ready when everyone else is still asleep 4/5. Sunday evening as background music while trying to watch the X Games 2/5.
R.E.M.
3/5
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I don't know why R.E.M. is so popular. I've tried to like them for a long time, but they've never broken through for me. This is probably my favorite of their albums so far, but I still don't love it.
https://youtu.be/2jqKiVHS6x4?si=u5sNkKLiwO-CJ1Lb
Leonard Cohen
2/5
As someone who doesn't pay attention to lyrics, I feel like I'm really missing out here. The music is pretty slow and sad. It doesn't feel complicated or interesting, but I'm sure that the lyrics are deep and meaningful. Unfortunately, the melodies don't do anything for me.
Stereo MC's
4/5
I think I liked this more than it deserves. I was really vibing with it! The beats were cool and the vocals were decent. My only complaint is it's length. Some of the songs had about 3 minutes of looped beats with nothing else. Outside of that, I really enjoyed it.
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
Had it playing in the background during a conversation. It did it's job and was a surprisingly good fit.
Jack White
3/5
A solid rock album. Feels pretty timeless for something that came out in 2012.
5/5
Obviously everyone knows that the iconic song from this album has become a meme to be made fun of. Maybe it's because of it's slightly off drawn out notes, or maybe it was just over played. Regardless of the jokes, that song is always great every time I hear it. I was at a We The Kings concert recently and in the middle of their set they played an unexpected acoustic version of it. After the initial laugh and groan by the crowd everyone slowly started to sing along. Halfway through you couldn't even hear the band anymore. Just everyone singing the lyrics at the top of their lungs. The crowd even sang the chorus one more time on their own without the band. It's fun to make fun of, but deep down everyone loves it. "Don't Look Back in Anger" and "Champagne Supernova" are also songs that I've know forever but never new they were part of this album. The rest is solid and there's not really anything I have to complain about.
Anyway, here's Wonderwall!
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4/5
A very cool changeup with this one! I really liked it. I went back and relistened to a few songs that stood out. I couldn't do an entire genre of it, but it's a great mix up from the plethora of British Rock on this list.
Billie Holiday
3/5
I love Billie's voice. It's somehow sweet and gravely at the same time. I love her vibrato, and I even like the ASMR sounds right before she starts singing. That being said, I'm not crazy about the songs. They're all very similar with a meandering drum and bass line. The only variations that I can think of is the trumpet in "But Beautiful". This would be a 2 if it was based on songs alone, but Billie brings it up to a 3.
1/5
This would be the result if that High School Musical 2 scene where they play pots and pans in the kitchen took place at a school for witches.
Sex Pistols
4/5
I really liked this! I can definitely see the influence that the Sex Pistols had. It seems like most of the punk bands that I listen to can point to this as their biggest influence. I'm going to have to check out more of their albums.
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
Love me some ELO! Not only are the hits on here some of the biggest in the world, but the rest of the album is really solid. A consistent sound throughout without feeling too repetitive. I would give this an easy 5 stars if it wasn't for the length. 1h 10min is too long for any album. Cut it down to 50 minutes (or better yet 45) and it would be perfect. In this case I'm going with a 4.
Lou Reed
5/5
I've known this cover art for a long time, because "Walk on the Wild Side" is on my 'Parents Radio' playlist. This is the first time I've listened to the whole album though. I love it! Every song has me invested in the lyrics even with the talk singing style. The lyrics feel very progressive. Even the colored girls line seems to fit in appropriately rather than coming off as racist terminology.
The album is short, catchy, deep, and meaningful. I was expecting a one hit wonder song, but was surprised with a really great album.
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
I normally enjoy the jazz albums on this list, but this one didn't really capture me. Maybe I was just in a weird mood, or maybe there's not enough depth in this album. Either way, it wasn't bad or offensive. Just jazz
Steely Dan
4/5
I had no idea that "Do It Again", "Dirty Work", and "Reelin' In The Years" were all by the same band, much less off the same album! The rest of the album is just as good. Just not as well know.
Stan Getz
5/5
A review by my wife Kristin.
"I actually really like this. I'm not joking. It sounds like perfect hotel lobby music. There are no words to distract me. I can put it on and just do all of my work around the house. 5 stars!"
Little Richard
3/5
It's quick, fun, and very influential. I've never listened to a Little Richard album before, but I have heard a few songs. Once you hear one, you've pretty much heard them all. Absolutely iconic, but probably won't put it on again.
The Fall
2/5
I like a lot of Punk genres. I don't think I like Post Punk.
Beach House
4/5
I liked the dream pop vibe of this album. It's something that's right up my ally, but I feel like there are better versions of it. It got a little repetitive towards the end, but overall very enjoyable.
The Mars Volta
4/5
I.... I don't know how to rate this one. It's either 2 or 4 stars. Definitely not a 3. It's anything but average. I found myself enjoying the first half of it, but then had to stop to take care of some things. I really had to work myself up to start it again and was dreading it a bit, but once I started it again, I really enjoyed it. Listening to this album felt like going to the gym. I dreaded everything leading up to it, but once it was over I felt great and thought about going back again.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
I really had fun with this album! Awesome vibes, and I had to go back and listen to "Pusherman" again. I'll definitely think about this one again.
The Stone Roses
3/5
I didn't dislike it, but it didn't grab me either. Kinda forgettable.
Grant Lee Buffalo
2/5
A whole lot of meh...
Cowboy Junkies
3/5
Not bad. I can cross Canadian Alternative Country off the list now. I had a decent time listening to this album, but I probably won't be coming back.
Black Flag
4/5
Hugely influential album in the skate community! Every Gen X skater I've ever met has a Black Flag tattoo (probably because they're cheap to do). "Rise Above" and "TV Party" have been on my Skate playlist for a long time.
I would say that this is by far the best example of a Punk album. A group of guys playing load and fast about any topic they want. Can't sing? Who cares. Poor recording equipment? Whatever. No one will book us a big venue? We only want to play in shitholes anyway. A true "fuck you I'm going to do what I want" attitude that seeps further into you the louder you turn the music up. Fuck you, fuck society, and fuck me! Let's get hammered and go skate.
Portishead
2/5
An interesting album. Not much that I can really compare it to. I appreciate it's place on this list, but I wasn't crazy about it.
Pretenders
3/5
Very middle of the road. You can play the Pretenders on any radio station and not offend anyone. "Brass In Pocket" is a fun jam, but the rest is pretty forgettable. This is the easiest 3 I could give.
Madonna
2/5
I was really excited for this album after listening to the title track "Ray of Light". A dance club beat with Madonna belting it out at the top of her lungs! What's not to love? But then the rest of the album fell a little flat for me. The club beats stayed, but Madonna's singing was slow and low on every other song. Her singing never really matched the music for me. I was hoping for up beat, but instead got slow and dramatic.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Every song on this album sounds the same.... and I think that works in its favor. This feels like music that should be playing in the background of a very fancy restaurant. The only thing missing from the recording is the sound of clinking dishware, quiet conversations, and every song being followed by a polite golf clap. I've always been a fan of Frank Sinatra's voice and the blend with bossa nova is a fun mix.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Definitely not my genre, but I really liked it! It's not metal for the sake of metal. Songs are thought out and are more than just a series of choruses linking guitar solos. I'm not one to listen to lyrics, but I appreciate that fact that they bring melody and depth to the songs rather than just being screamed. A very mature and well put together album especially for a debut. I can see why Iron Maiden is so big.
Jeff Buckley
3/5
I waited all weekend to write this review which was a mistake. I remember liking it but not enough to remember it. Outside of Hallelujah I couldn't tell you anything about the album. That being said, Hallelujah I such a powerful song that it makes the listen worth it alone. I don't know if it's Jeff Buckley or just the song itself that makes it so great. Either way, I'm glad to see it get it's recognition.
Nirvana
4/5
I think I have Nirvana Stockholm Syndrome. I don't know if I like them or not. I've been told they're the greatest band of the 90's for my entire life and I have to like them. Am I singing along to "Heart Shaped Box" and "All Apologies" because I like them so much, or have the lyrics just been driven into my head over the years? Their influence is obviously huge, and they established the sound of the 90's. I just wish there was less influence over how I should feel about them to make my own determination, but I feel like I can't give them less than a 4.
Soft Cell
2/5
I am not a fan of this album. I really struggled to get through it. There's no real aspect of these songs that I like. The synth beats are too weird for me. I don't like the talk singing. This feels like the most put together album that I would give a 1 to.
But.... "Tainted Love" is too freaking good to ignore. That opening beat is iconic. Everyone in the world hears that bump bump I can say I know that song. A radio hit since it came out and I'm sure I could hear it over the radio on my drive home today.
There are some albums that have a song good enough to warrant listening to the entire album. I wouldn't consider this to be one of them. "Tainted Love" brings this from a 1 to a 2.
The Go-Go's
4/5
What a fun album! This is one of the rare cases where an album ends and I was disappointed there wasn't more. I thought this was going to be a one hit wonder with "We Got The Beat", but the rest was just as enjoyable. Perfect for what it is.
Soundgarden
4/5
Awesome album! I've always known "Black Hole Sun" but I've never listened to more Soundgarden. Great album that reminded me of high school weightlifting. It is too long though.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Love me some Zeppelin! I don't think I've heard someone call them this before, but I think they're just a jam band. A hard rock cruise through some awesome songs. There aren't really any peaks or valleys. Just a long plateau. I'm more familiar with Led Zeppelin II, so this was awesome to listen to for the first time.
Pink Floyd
5/5
The Dark Side Of The Moon is the best produced album of all time.
I have written two papers on this album and can talk endlessly about its tragic backstory with Syd Barrett or the deep meaning of it's lyrics, but I want to focus instead on the production of this album. Specifically it's composition and layout.
This album is truly a masterpiece as a whole, and should be listened to as a completed package rather than individual tracks. Every song perfectly builds on the next. They bleed together so seamlessly you don't know when one ends and the next begins. 10 songs split perfectly in half with 5 on side A and 5 on side B. It's organized absolutely perfectly and hasn't been topped since.
The intro song "Speak To Me" is a perfect set up. It starts out with a few seconds of silence to get you to think "Is my volume turned up?", and once you start to turn it up you begin to hear the heart beat of the album. The song takes you through a quick journey of what's to come with ticking clocks, cash registers, melodic wailing of a strange women, and the laughter of a mad man. It all builds into a crescendo until it stops and the next song tells you to....
"Breathe" and relax. That was only a taste of what's to come. You can take it easy and sit back in your chair. This album has only just started, so take a deep breath and gather yourself before we need to get...
"On The Run". A bridge between songs that on a normal album would only be 30 seconds long. Pink Floyd was able to make a bridge that keeps you engaged, but more importantly sets the pace for the next song. This track is much more than a waste of...
"Time". It was intended to lull you into a rhythm that is purposely interrupted by alarm clocks and ringing bells. Wake up, because this song is a big one! Played on the radio all over the world and the second most recognizable track on the album. There's not much that needs to be said about the heights this song has reached. It has climbed all the way to...
"The Great Gig In The Sky". Where we float high above everyone around us and bask in the openness. There are no words that need to be said when you're looking out at the vast emptiness. Just the emotions to be felt from deep within. So much can be pulled from Clare Torry's vocals. It's a beautiful song, but it won't be played on the radio and let's be honest, we need to make some...
(This is where side one ends on the vinyl. It's a perfect fade away and an intended break in the album to allow you to flip the record and let the next song to come in hard without sounding out of place.)
"Money". The big single from the album. Is it ironic that this is the most profitable song off the album? Or that it's criticism of wealth and capitalism has made the band millions? Is Pink Floyd still able to relate to the common man, or has their success put them on the other side of...
"Us And Them"? Should there even be an us and them? After all we are only ordinary men. Can't we all sit back and enjoy some beautiful saxophone? It's important to remember that we shouldn't be putting everyone into categories and fighting. Anyone can be...
"Any Color You Like". Another 3 minute long bridge song, but in reality it's the backbone of the back half of this album. Side B blends perfectly together because of this song. It links everything so that it could be enjoyed as a whole even if you had...
"Brain Damage". My favorite track off this album. It's a beautiful song with deeper meaning than just the struggle with mental illness. It's a song dedicated to Syd Barrett that hits so hard they made an entire album referencing back to him with Wish You Were Here. It's a reminder that this band has a past history, and it shouldn't be forgotten. It is a shame though because The Dark Side Of The Moon put everything Pink Floyd did before it in an...
"Eclipse". And there we have it. We've come back around with another song encompassing everything that has come before. A perfect summary of the album with a fade out back into the heart beat we heard at the start. Not only does every song play perfectly into each other, but the album plays back into itself. You can loop it right back to the beginning and not lose a beat.
Now take all of that perfectly composed genius and wrap it up in the most iconic album art ever. Every aspect of the album is so perfectly put together that I believe it is the best produced album of all time.
The Adverts
3/5
I liked it! I'm surprised I haven't heard of The Adverts before. This album didn't blow me away. I probably won't listen to it again, but I appreciate listening to it at least once. I'm glad I'm getting so much punk history.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Hot damn! I was not prepared for this album. A man on his death bed saying "You think this is bad? Let's see if we can get darker." The back half gets a little repetitive, but "You Want It Darker" is such an awesome song that the rest of the album doesn't even matter.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
Nope. Still not a Nick Cave fan.
I enjoyed two songs off this album. "There She Goes, My Beautiful World" and "Nature Boy". But for every one of those we get a "Fable of the Brown Ape". I liked 2 out of 17 songs or 11.7% of this album. I guess that puts this in the 1 star range.
Eagles
4/5
How can a band release their greatest hits album and then 9 months later dropped one of the most iconic records of all time?
"Hotel California" and "Life in the Fast Lane" are all timers, but the rest of the album left me a little wanting. This feels like a 3.5 album for me, but those two songs alone bring it up to a 4.
Television
2/5
There's nothing really wrong with this album, but it does commit the biggest sin for me. It's boring. I would recommend someone listens to Kollaps by Einstürzende Neubauten over this. With Kollaps, you can at least trauma bond with someone who's also listened to it. With Marquee Moon, you can say "yeah, I've heard it" and move on.
Christina Aguilera
3/5
I don't hate it. I actually kinda like it! Christina Aguilera has an amazing voice. To be honest, it's been so long since I've heard one of her songs I forgot what she sounded like. I really like the sound of this album. The R&B pop blend works really well, and I like the throwback sounds of the second half. The length on the other hand does not work. Just split it into two albums! There's a clear distinction between the first and second half. 1h and 20min is just too much. Especially when this was made during the popularity of my least favorite music trend. The early 2000's female lead singing OooOOoOOOooOoOOo yeahhhHHhhhHHHhhhhhHHH.
Scritti Politti
1/5
I hate it, I hate it, I hate it, I hate it. The voice. Why that voice?! If you run this album just a hair slower it could be the background music for a horror movie about a carnival run by murderous children. The music itself isn't bad. I just can't get over that voice.
PJ Harvey
2/5
Still not a PJ Harvey fan.
Jethro Tull
3/5
https://youtu.be/_ZI-lCsdiXw?si=XJ1aJUaMMqdULkqR
AC/DC
3/5
I listened to this album while wrangling a toddler at the airport, and I think it matched the energy of the situation perfectly. Came in strong thinking hell yeah I got this. After the title song I faded in and out of the album with distractions. Every time I came back in, I thought yep this is AC/DC. Not their best album, but one of their best songs.
Machito
4/5
I don't know why but the first thing that came to mind for me is that this feels like it would be in a James Bond movie where he is on a mission in the Caribbean. He would be walking around the streets in a white linen shirt as a local festival is taking place. Exotic dancers in elegant costumes dance past him as he sees the villain in the distance. He tries to get closer only for a nearby dancer to take off their mask and hit him with a blow dart knocking him unconscious.
Over all I really liked it, and will keep it in mind when I'm looking to put something on in the background.
Depeche Mode
2/5
I thought I liked Depeche Mode. Turns out that I don't.
Elis Regina
2/5
This has been my least favorite jazz album we've had on the list. I typically like jazz samba, but this one didn't really offer anything. The vocals being in another language doesn't help, but it doesn't really hurt either. The whole album just fell a little flat.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
14 albums before you release your biggest hit! Superstitious almost feels out of place with how big it is, but the rest of the album is great too. It just grabs your attention every time you here it. Even if you are grooving along to the rest of the album.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Really enjoyable. This feels like it could come out today with no problem. I was really jamming with the first half of the album, but the back half fell off a bit for me. This is almost a 4 star album, but I think it's going to stay as a 3.
Slint
3/5
This is a 1 star album...... but I...... I kinda like it. I like the narrator singing style (even if it's too low for me to understand what's being said). I like the ominous melancholy tone throughout the album. The songs are long, but I couldn't hit skip halfway through because I wanted to see how they would change. This album probably had a big influence on the modern Midwest Emo scene that's been picking up over the years. Overall, I won't be going back to listen to this album again, but I will be thinking about it for some time to come.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
I really like the sound of Manic Street Preachers. An hour of it is a bit much, but for the most part I enjoyed this album. I'm terrible at listening to lyrics, so I'll take everyone's word that they're deep and meaningful. If this album was 15 minutes shorter I might give it a 4, but it's probably going to fall to a 3 with the length.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
Solid album. Definitely has that 80s sound. It wasn't difficult to listen to, but I probably won't be going back to it.
Radiohead
4/5
If I'm honest with myself, I didn't give this album the listen it deserves. I was very distracted while listening to this on Friday and didn't write a review until Monday. I liked the overall sound of this album, but I couldn't tell you a single song.
The Police
3/5
Ugh... I want to give this a 3.5. I don't think this album is deserving of a 4. I wasn't crazy about its sound, and most of the songs I wanted to skip. There were a couple that I did enjoy. "King of Pain" and "Wrapped Around Your Finger". The big standout though is obviously "Every Breath You Take". It's a standout both in its popularity and its sound. It almost feels out of place. Is it enough to bump it to a 4? I guess we'll see tomorrow morning.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Fuck dude, this might be it. Starts out with a 7-minute jam to remind you of that CCR sound and then it's followed by hit after hit after hit. It feels like these guys were nailing out songs one day and then said "Hey, maybe we shouldn't make an album." There are so many iconic songs throughout this album. Most of theses songs were probably the background music for some of your favorite movie scenes. The peak of a band with a unique sound that should have been a one-hit wonder doing it again and again and again.
Ms. Dynamite
2/5
I liked this more than I was expecting. It felt like the dirtiest clean rapping you can do. Fuck drugs, I have a shit ton of self confidence, if you think you can get me you must be out of your fucking mind. I'm glad I listened to it, but I would still put this around a 2.5. We'll see where I fall
Crowded House
2/5
There goes God with his sexy pants and his sausage dog.
Not bad, but a little boring. I would have preferred if they leaned into their accents more. Instead, it just sounds like generic soft rock.
I'm still here.
I won't go away.
Norah Jones
4/5
A perfect album for a rainy morning listen. I had forgotten about Norah Jones, so this was a pleasant reminder that I need to keep her in the rotation.
The Smiths
2/5
I hope you enjoy The Smiths sound, because it does not change at all on this album. Every song is very similar. If that's what you're into then you have a winner here. I was not crazy about it and was really just waiting for this album to end.
Guided By Voices
2/5
I can appreciate why this album is on the list. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there whose favorite Brit pop rock band didn't make the list and are upset that this one did. This is different, unique, and a little strange. I'm not saying I necessarily like it, but I like that it is here.
The Kinks
2/5
I like The Kinks (really just the song Lola), but man did this album feel dated. Maybe it had to do with the mono recordings. Every song was a bit boring and safe. It dragged a lot for me. I was hoping something fun would come along but I was just met with blah.
The Jam
3/5
Not a bad album. I liked "English Rose", but I probably won't ever think about The Jam ever again.
The lines
"I fumble for change, and pull out the Queen
smiling, beguiling
I put in the money and pull out a plum"
from the song Down In The Tube Station At Midnight is one of the most British things I've ever heard.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Awesome album! I had a really good time with it. I didn't recognize any of the songs, but I feel like I knew some beats.
MGMT
4/5
I wasn't expecting this on here. I love this album! The first half is definitely stronger than the back half. If it kept up after Kids it could have been perfect record. When listening to the vinyl, I rarely flip it to side B. Side A is so strong though! A 9 out of 10 for me, but I can't say it's a perfect 5 stars.
Elastica
3/5
I could see myself really liking these guys if I discovered them earlier. This album feels like it could really connect with me if I had to listen to it on repeat from a CD. As of now, my music library is too big to really fit Elastica in anywhere.
Maxwell
2/5
I thought I was going to love this album after the opening song "The Urban Theme", but fell off pretty quickly once the singing started. I thought we were about to experience an awesome funky acoustic track that I could put on in the background while cleaning the house. The vocals lost me though. They sound like a Michael Jackson knockoff singing slow love songs. I wish I could get the tracks without the vocals.
Jeff Beck
3/5
Is this a Jeff Beck or a Rod Stewart album? I've always been a fan of Stewart's voice, so this is like discovering brand new songs of his. Becks guitar is great, but I probably won't be coming back to this.
The Cure
4/5
Yo, I can fucks with some Cure! Prior to this, I really only knew "Friday I'm in love". This album is right up my alley. It's is a little long, but I really enjoyed it. It hit me in the right time and place.
Michael Jackson
5/5
How is this not 5 stars? It's the best selling album of all time (20 million more than second place). It has seven top ten singles on it. It is objectively the most successful album ever created. The length is good, the hits are great, and it's impact is unheard of! Even if you don't like Michael Jackson, you can't deny that this is one of the greatest albums ever made.
On a side note, I can still remember where I was the first time I watched the Thriller music video. We were on a middle school field trip to the aquarium and we stopped at a restaurant for dinner. They were playing music videos on all the tv's that night, and one of the servers could do the entire dance. When Thriller came on, the whole restaurant stopped what they were doing to watch this guy perform the entire song and dance perfectly. It's a core memory that has stuck with me for 20 years.
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
I love the horns on this album! This is like an early British ska band. That was a real big fan of 7 days is too long and Tell me when my light turns green. I wasn't crazy about the slow songs, but I like this album way more than I was expecting.
Kanye West
2/5
I'm a little behind on my Christian literature, but if I'm not mistaken, you're not supposed to refer to yourself as a god while talking to Jesus.
I don't really like any of the songs, but they were intriguing enough to keep me engaged. The styles change so much throughout a song that it keeps you on your toes. It's a very interesting experimental album, but I'm not going to listen to it again.
Ella Fitzgerald
4/5
I want to give a round of applause to everyone who listened to the entire album. I don't know you, and you don't know me, but we both went through the same experience together.
I don't know how you call this an album. For some bands, it's an entire discography. 3h 15m is just too long. That being said, I really enjoyed it. Ella Fitzgerald's voice is amazing, and I will always love a big band! Every song sounds the same, but I'm not necessarily upset with that. It's a beautiful sound that you can come in and out of.
I listened to this on a road trip with my toddler in the back seat. She is terrible at sleeping in the car. I am pleased to say that Ella Fitzgerald's sultry voice lulled her to sleep for a 2 hour nap, and I will forever be in her debt.
Janis Joplin
4/5
I've never listened to Janice Joplin before. I've know her name forever, but never experienced her work. This album is kicks ass! I thought people just loved her for her voice and lyrics, but the music itself is just as good. Awesome album that I wish I would have known about sooner.
I never knew "Mercedes Benz" was a Joplin song. I thought it came off some comedy album that everyone covered. It's always fun to start piecing together all these songs that I've heard over the years.
Muddy Waters
2/5
I'm not really a blues guy. I can appreciate the influence Muddy Waters has, but it's really not for me.
Sly & The Family Stone
2/5
I like a few songs from Sly and the family Stone, so I was hoping this album would introduce me to some more. Unfortunately, that's not the case. I still like "I Want to Take You Higher" and "Everyday People", but I really didn't like the rest of the album. This will be a weird one to score.
Madonna
1/5
Oof... this album really is a product of it's time. It's so stuck in time that I wouldn't even say it's a 00's album. It's specifically the year 2000. When people say they don't like Madonna, this is the era they're referring to.
I've always heard that Madonna is the only artist to release a chart-topping record every decade since her start. I'm now realizing she only accomplished this by pandering to the audience of the time. She just chases whatever the trend is.
The only song I kinda liked was "Don't Tell Me", but even that feels like a rip-off of Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)". Specifically the guitar cutting in and out.
The Killers
4/5
You want white people to dance at a wedding? Boy do I have a song for you.
Did you know that "Mr. Brightside" has spent 260 weeks on the UK Top Singles Chart over the a past 13 years?! This album would be on this list for that song alone, but this band/album is anything but a one hit wonder. "Smile Like You Mean It", "Somebody Told Me", and "All These Things That I've Done" are all awesome singles in their own right. The rest of the album is just a cherry on top.
Unfortunately, the layout of this album suffers from the iTunes effect (I'm guessing). When iTunes started, you could sample listen to 15 seconds of the first 3 songs of an album before you bought it. Bands started to frontload their albums with their best songs to try and sell the whole thing. I'm guessing that's what happened here. I think this album would have benefited if the big hits were a little more spread out. The back half isn't bad, but it needs a little spice added to it.
I hate this rating system, because I want to give this a 9/10.
The Who
2/5
It was alright I guess. I'm realizing now that there are about 6 or 7 The Who songs that I like, and I like the studio version more. Just give me a greatest hits compilation.
Nick Drake
3/5
There's an alternate timeline where Spencer is dying in a Myrtle Beach condo closet after smoking K2, and rather than John Mayer saving him, it's Nick Drake.
I want to play this album as my toddlers bedtime lullaby's. I honestly couldn't tell you any of the lyrics, but the music and his voice are so soft and sweet, I could listen to it all day long.
Drive Like Jehu
1/5
The thing I like about punk songs is that they are fast, loud, and short. This album is missing one of those crucial elements. Can you guess what it is?
Every song on here is twice as long as it needs to be. "Do You Compute" has a 1:45 intro with the same 6 notes played over and over again. "Super Unison" opens with 30 seconds of a tinnitus inducing ringing. I don't necessarily dislike these elements, but they go on for way too long.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
I don't dislike Elvis Costello, but I'm never going to put him on. I liked the first album we listened to of his more (This Years Model).
Jean-Michel Jarre
2/5
I want to wait until sundown, smoke a fat J, get into my buddies old Lexus SUV, turn off all of the interior lights, and "spaceship" across the country while listening to this album.
Dr. Dre
3/5
I can respect the influence this album had on rap, but it's not really for me. There were a couple songs I recognized and few others I thought were good. I listened to this on Friday, and didn't think about it once over the weekend.
The Who
4/5
The Who albums have a lot of peaks and valley's. Every album has one or two of their best hits and the rest of it can usually be forgotten. This album is very similar, but the three songs "Baba O' Reily", "Behind Blue Eyes", and "Won't Get Fooled Again" are some of The Who's Highest Peaks. The other songs don't matter at all, but those three alone are enough for a 4.
When people think of The Who, they're thinking about this album.
Prince
4/5
Prior to this listen, I only knew Prince for his songs "Purple Rain" and "1999". I didn't quite realize how much of a nasty little freak (in all the right ways) he was. The lyrics to "Let's Pretend We're Married" are absolutely wild!
This album and it's songs are too long. That would normally be enough for me to take it down a star, but I had too much fun with this to go anything less than a 4.
Femi Kuti
3/5
A really cool album that I will probably never listen to again. The music style is awesome and the lyrics are really impactful. I don't have anything negative to say about it (besides it's length), but it's not really my genre and I'm not going to seek it out.
Johnny Cash
5/5
This album should not be as good as it is. A 70 year old man singing song covers on his deathbed. All signs point to this being an absolute train wreck, but damn it if this isn't a masterpiece!
Every cover has Johnny Cash's signature twist on it. He doesn't fall into the trap of just putting out an identical song to the original. This is how you cover songs (both your own and other artists) and make them your own.
This album will make you cry with the "Hurt" only a man looking back on his life can, and then make you cry again with hope that one day "We'll Meet Again". An absolutely perfect send off for one of the greatest artists of all time. We salute you Mr. Cash.
Fela Kuti
3/5
Dave Matthews has nothing on this jam band! I'm pretty sure that's going to be the longest drum solo I will ever hear in my life.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
One hell of a start with "Sympathy for The Devil"! The rest of the album is pretty forgettable though. By no means did I dislike it, but it's not a lasting album for me outside of the first song.
Daft Punk
3/5
I don't know if this album works as a whole. I think it is best enjoyed once it's been chopped, sampled, and remixed. It almost feels like this is a demo reel for other bands to pick beats and mixes to make songs out of. Really cool to see early Daft Punk, but not crazy about the entire album.
Dolly Parton
3/5
We play both kinds of music here, Country and Western!
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
I really liked this album... for the first 25 minutes. I guess it's easy to stretch out songs like this when you're just constantly looping everything.
I got distracted and stopped listening after writing that first part. I picked up the second half of the album while working on a spreadsheet. That's what you need to do to enjoy this album! Breaking it up really helped, and half focusing on something else is the way to go. Couldn't do it all at once, but still enjoyable.
Moby
4/5
The first half of this album was all over the place, but it did have its high moments. It's the back half of this album that really got me. It began to sort of all flow together and I didn't realize that I'd listened to 30 minutes of it so quickly. It put me in a good Zen mode while I was sweeping. Definitely some standout songs but generally have it on as a background album
ZZ Top
3/5
I'm not the biggest ZZ Top fan, but you have to respect the ripping guitar throughout this album. I felt cool just walking around with this playing.
Morrissey
1/5
Fuck you Morrissey. We've got Obama.
If I was in Morrissey's gang, I would also want to be the first one to die.
This album would be found on r/im14andthisisdeep.
The National
4/5
I really liked the feel and sound of this album. It's upbeat tempos with the singers low voice make it feel sad without being depressing. Like there's still a bit of hope to keep going towards. It falls right in that 2010's alternative sound that I love.
Tracy Chapman
4/5
This was a tough one to come into because I felt obligated to give it a high score especially with the recent resurgence in "Fast Car". I'm glad to say that I really enjoyed it!
Chapman has an awesome voice and is tackling some seriously deep subject matter with racism, unjust responsibilities, and domestic abuse. This is why I love debut albums like this because they come from real world experiences and a place of relatability, unlike later albums once an artist is successful.
I'm not going to say this album is perfect. It trails off a bit on the back half, but it's short enough that this isn't really an issue. This is another album that would be a 9/10 if we were on that scale.
Metallica
3/5
If I'm going to listen to metal, I want it to be Metallica. I'm still not crazy about the genre, but it wasn't hard to listen to. The songs mostly sounded the same. I guess that's good if you like Metallica, but it got pretty repetitive for me. Music like this just reminds me of a highschool weight room.
ZZ Top
4/5
The first half of this album rocks! I knew I liked "Gimme All Your Lovin" and "Sharp Dressed Man", but I didn't realize that I knew "Legs" as well. Those first 6 songs are really solid. After "Legs" the album falls off pretty hard though. Definitely can't be a 5 star with the back half of the album, but I'll gladly give it a 4.
Tortoise
1/5
This album is great if you're a movie producer about to make a Sci-Fi space movie and you can't afford Hans Zimmer. Just purchase the rights to "Djed" and chop it up as background music for the entire film.
I should really like this album more than I do. I like the sound of it, but the structure is just all over the place. It meanders and winds with no direction. A third of the way through "Glass Museum" the song just stops so the guitarist (at least what it sounds like) can tune his guitar. Next time I hope they actually write their songs before getting in the studio and start randomly playing.
My Bloody Valentine
1/5
I'm not sure how this album is great or influential. It just drones on and on. I would much rather listen to MGK's My Bloody Valentine.
Bee Gees
2/5
If I'm listening to the Bee Gees I want to be listen to Disco! I recognized "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" and I think it's a solid song. The rest of the album was pretty boring though, and not in the let's put it on as background music kinda boring either. Overall it's not bad, but I was a little let down by it.
R.E.M.
3/5
My dad used to play a lot of R.E.M. songs on his guitar when I was growing up. I never realized all those songs were from the same band. I loved them so much when my dad played them, but I really don't like the actual version. I guess I like R.E.M.'s song writing, but hate their sound.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
"Black Dog"
"Rock and Roll"
"Stairway to Heaven"
"When the Levee Breaks"
Each of these songs would have made this a successful album on their own. Having all four on one record has cemented this as one of the greatest rock albums of all time. The hits are well spaced out, and the lesser songs don't bring it down. I was teetering on a 4 or 5, but the album length of 42 minutes falls right in that perfect duration earning it at least one bonus star.
Ice Cube
5/5
Steve Earle
3/5
Some solid knee slappin, boot stompin, tobacco spittin county! If this album was an hour long, I would probably give it a 2. I didn't really get tired of it with it only being 35 minutes though. An albums length can really add or subtract a star for me.
De La Soul
3/5
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. I'm always skeptical of 80s rap, but this was really enjoyable. It wasn't too corny and I really liked the beats. It probably would have been a 4 if it wasn't so long.
Miles Davis
4/5
This album came at the perfect time. I had all of my wife's extended family over at my house and I was able to put this on as background music for everyone. I definitely prefer piano heavy jazz music over a horn, but this was really enjoyable. Right place at the right time with the right album.
Nirvana
4/5
Listening to this album for the first time in 2024 is a lot like finally watching that YouTube video your friend has always been talking about. You know all of the words because they've been said to you over and over again. By the time you watch the video you're not sure if you actually like it or if you've just heard "Snape, Snape, Severus Snape" so many time that you just recognize it.
I'll don't think I'll ever be able to truly review this album based on my impressions alone. I still enjoyed it, but I'm not sure if that's just because I recognize most of the songs being played everywhere I go. I wish I could experience this for the first time in 1991.
Also, who was like "Just throw the naked baby in the pool and I'll take a photo as our cover art"?
Ian Dury
2/5
I like all the parts where he isn't singing. Can I get an instrumental version of this album?
Richard Thompson
2/5
I don't know if its a good sign when the Wikipedia articles main takeaway from the album is that it was not commercially successful, nor was it critically successful either.
This would be a 3 star album for me if it was only Linda singing. I'm sorry Richard, but you bring this down to 2 stars.
Bob Dylan
3/5
I can count one one hand the number of Bob Dylan songs that I like, however, there are dozens of songs that I like that were written by Bob Dylan. I almost always prefer a cover of a Dylan song rather than the original.
This album was pretty mild for me. "Mr. Tambourine Man" is a classic, but I'm not really crazy about it. I'm excited for other Bob Dylan albums, but this one doesn't nail it.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Solid album all around. "Respect" is probably in the top 10 songs of all time. I have nothing really negative to say about this album. If a couple more songs were more recognizable I probably would have given a 5.
Sigur Rós
4/5
~~~~WARNING~~~~
Do not listen to while driving or operating heavy machinery!!!
I was listening to this album for the first time on a rainy morning drive to work. I did not realize the danger that I had put myself into. As the ambient Icelandic sounds of Agaetis Byrjun washed over me, I began to zone out. My thoughts drifted in the rain. I was becoming one with the world around me. It was only once my subconscious fought through the wall of dreamy synth and foreign words that I realize I had been slowly drifting into the other lane and was about to collide with another car. I quickly snapped back to attention and corrected my mistake, but I didn't dare change the music. The only thing keeping me from the reality of another week of work were these mesmerizing songs.
They have come to me, these songs. They shall be an heirloom of my kingdom. All those who follow in my bloodline shall be bound to their fate for I will risk no hurt to these songs. They are.... precious to me, though I buy them with great pain.
~~~~WARNING~~~~
Bauhaus
1/5
Yeah...... no.
Ministry
2/5
My thought process while listening to this album:
Yep, I still don't like industrial metal.
.
.
Maybe I can tolerate it for a song or two, but 45 minutes is way too much.
.
.
You know what, I kinda like some of these songs.
.
.
Hell yeah, turn the music up and let's fucking go!
.
.
Ok, I'm starting to cool down on a few of these songs. Let's see if it picks back up.
.
.
Yeah, 45 minutes is too long to listen to metal. Maybe I can tolerate another song or two.
.
.
Yep, I still don't like industrial metal.
High 2, low 3.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
3/5
I need a fire burnin, a homemade smoker cookin, and a jug with three X's on it to properly enjoy this album.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Matt 1.0 first introduced this album to me. It was on in the background while we were having a conversation. The conversation was constantly interrupted as I stopped part way into a song to ask "wait, is this?..." and Matt would respond with a "Yep!".
This is a perfect way to do an album of cover songs. Willie really makes each of these his own. It's not perfect, but you can't help to love recognizing a song 40 seconds in. Right before the first chorus is about to start. A great album, and I'm glad I know about it.
Duke Ellington
2/5
I've had a chance to listen to a bunch of Jazz on this list. I've learned over that time that I prefer a smaller group focusing on piano rather that a full band. I've also learned that I prefer a crisp clear recording rather than a live show for Jazz.
Obviously Duke Ellington is one of the greatest of all time, but I was mostly bored with this album. A lot of the focus felt like it was on the horns, and some of the other instruments were washed out in the recording. I guess it's cool that I can now pick different Jazz styles that I like, but Mr. Ellington's is not for me.
Screaming Trees
3/5
I liked this! I'm not sure why it's on this list, but I liked it. This feels like an album that a kid would find at a flee market, listen to over and over, fall in love with, and then have no one to talk about it with.
Billy Joel
5/5
When I first got into record collecting everyone my parents age was always eager to give me their old records and talk about the ones they loved. My father-in-law had a large collection at one point, but it had slowly dwindled down to just a handful by the time he was giving them to me. In that small handful was The Stranger by Billy Joel. He told me about how much he loved it, and how he always made his daughters listen to it. He was one of eight kids in a large Italian family, and this record just spoke to him. Obviously I knew Billy Joel's big hits, and some of them were on here, but I had never listened to a full album before. I was amazed at how great it was! I loved every bit of it, and recognized more than I thought I would. I knew it was a great album, but I hadn't even experienced the best part yet.
We hosted Easter at our house a couple of months after he gave me that record. My wife's family tradition is always making homemade sauce, meatballs, and cavatelli pasta on Easter. Knowing how much this record ment to him, I put it on for my father-in-law while everyone was cooking. I will forever have the core memory in my head of seeing my wife, her dad, and both of her sisters making homemade pasta and singing along to this album. Two generations, a parent and a child, bonding over recipes that had been passed down from their relatives. Listen to songs that they will be pass down to theirs. It was a beautiful moment to witness and learn that something as small as a song can help pass on memories and emotions that span generations. Their family slowly sees less of each other as time goes on, but they always know that they will be together on Easter making pasta and singing "Only The Good Die Young".
I can't wait to listen to this album and make homemade pasta with my daughter.
Sinead O'Connor
2/5
I've heard the name Sinead O'Connor, but I've never listened to her music before. Some of the songs on here are really strong, and others are really unpleasant to listen to (I Am Stretched on Your Grave).
Why does "Nothing Compares 2 U" have so many listens?! Did I miss something? Almost a half a billion listens on YouTube Music. Was it in a movie or something?
The War On Drugs
3/5
I've actually heard of this band prior to starting the list. I was studying at the library in college when I first heard "Red Eyes". I was listening to a random local radio station based out of Portland Oregon on the iHeartRadio website when it came on.
I liked it at the time, but never really followed up with the band. They're sound is right up my alley especially at the time. Perfect music to listen to while studying. I'm glad I did a full album, and I'll keep them in the rotation.
The War On Drugs has the most mid 2010's sound, and I discovered them in the most mid 2010's way.
Muddy Waters
3/5
I started off listening to this album. Not enjoying it at all. Found it pretty boring and repetitive. I was thinking of giving it a 2, however, by the time I got to "cross-eyed cat" I was really jamming along with it. I started out at 2. I ended at a 4. I guess I'll split the difference with the 3.
Shivkumar Sharma
2/5
I mean i guess it's a good representation of Indian music. Not really my thing. Also, it was really hard to find this album as it's shown in the list.
Various Artists
4/5
Darlene Love is doing some heavy lifting on this album! I thought this album would be a bunch of Christmas songs sung by people I don't know. I didn't realize that Darlene Love, and The Ronettes sing my preferred versions of a bunch of Christmas songs. Some major big hitters on here and the other songs are perfectly fine.
Well done on the album generator for giving this out on Christmas day.
Julian Cope
2/5
I hate his voice, I hate the lyrics, and I the length of this album. That being said, I love the actual music. Get a new lead singer and a producer to cut some songs down and you would have a 4 star album.
Parliament
3/5
Funk yeah. You better be prepared to listen to the Funk, the the whole Funk, and nothing but the Funk.
Radiohead
3/5
Radiohead is a major blind spot in my musical knowledge. I've always heard that OK Computer is one of the best albums of all time, and I've been looking forward to listening to it since this list started.
After a finally giving it a full listen, I think this might be one of the most overrated albums of all time. That's not to say it's bad, I just don't think it's as good as everyone says. Thom York's voice has a monotone droning to it that i guess defines the albums sound, but for me just puts an annoying blanket across the entire album. There are some big songs on here, but none of them are fun. The whole album has a melancholy sound which isn't bad. It's just hard to get exited for it.
I don't know. Maybe I just need to give it another listen, but right now I'm thinking a high 3 low 4.
Kings of Leon
4/5
I love the Kings of Leon sound. "Use Somebody" was a top 25 song for me at one point. "Use Somebody" and "Sex on Fire" are undisputed highlights of this album, and if you like those you will probably like the rest of the album. There's not a whole lot of variation, so if you don't like those, you probably won't like this album.
Kraftwerk
2/5
This album is not unpleasant to listen to. It's just super boring. I don't know how to rate this because it's not as bad or offensive as some other 1 star albums (looking at you Kollaps), but if someone were to put this on I would just ask "Why?".
2/5
Another album that isn't bad, but isn't memorable. I'm starting to wonder if these middle of the road albums should be rated as a 3 like I have been, or a 2 because they are so mediocre.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
I guess this is my favorite album of the many Crosby, Stills, Nash, and friends that we've had so far. I'm still not crazy about it though. I feel like I should like them more, but I just can't get into their sound. I can't put my finger on it.
Talking Heads
3/5
I absolutely love the song "Once In a Lifetime". It's been in my rotation for some time now, and I was excited to listen to more talking heads. I was hoping this would be an entire album of the same, but I was disappointed. I spent the first half waiting for "Once In a Lifetime" to come on, and I spent the second half wishing I was listing to it again rather than everything else. Maybe it's my bias, but the rest of the album was a bit disappointing for me.
Os Mutantes
3/5
Yo, I can fucks with this!
This album could have easily been another 'It's so out there that we have to put it on the list' kind of album, but's it's actually pretty good. I really liked the first few songs, and I went back and listened to "Panis Et Circenses" three times. The back half kinda drags, and it loses it's unique appeal after 30 minutes though. At the start of the album I was thinking 4 stars, but I think it drops to a 3 by the end. Maybe it gets a bonus star for being unique. We'll see in the morning.
Yes
2/5
Remember that sweet review about my father-in-law and the Billy Joel album he gave me? Well he also gave me a bunch of Yes albums... I don't like Yes, and I have no sentimental memories that revolve around any of their albums.
Aimee Mann
3/5
A really solid album. Perfect to have on in the background while working. It's nothing to write home about, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
Carole King
5/5
Wow! I was not expecting that! A really powerful album that somehow feels big and intimate at the same time. It's produced beautifully. The limited use of backing instruments and vocals makes you finding yourself slipping back and forth from feeling like you're in a massive auditorium to sitting right next to Carole King at the piano. Her voice is powerful, but also feels warming and cozy. I feel like I'm sitting in the same room as a woman, her piano, and her cat.
I've heard a bunch of these songs before, but I never knew they were all by the same person, much less on the same album. "I Felt The Earth Move" feels like one of those songs that has always existed, and it's not even the biggest song on here. Awesome album that I'll be keeping an eye out to grab on vinyl.
Shout out to Gilmore Girls!
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
I really like RHCP and a bunch of songs on this album, but 1h 14m is too much Peppers. They must love writing music, because a bunch of their albums are over an hour long. This is a perfect Greatest Hits band for me. They have some amazing songs across a bunch of albums, but I can't listen to them for that long. Really cool album that I just wish was shorter.
Side note, I really don't like "Suck My Kiss".
Kate Bush
2/5
I mean, how cool is it that a song can peak almost 40 years after it was released. It's awesome that a "Running Up That Hill" being a key aspect in Stranger Things revitalized it higher than it ever was. It's even cooler that she made it through her own label and receives 100% of the royalties.
Other than that fun song and fact, this album does nothing for me.
The Doors
4/5
I've been a fan of The Doors ever since I first did a 720 Christ Air over the New Orleans cemetery in Tony Hawk's Underground 2 while "Break On Through" blasted in the background.
I'm a big fan of the organ that plays throughout. It really gives them a unique sound. "Break On Through" and "Light My Fire" are staples in my music inventory but the rest of the album is just ok. The Doors are another greatest hits band for me.
High 3, low 4 for me.
Sleater-Kinney
2/5
This is a tough one. Every song has a glimpse of greatness, but overall I didn't really like any of it. The vocals are definitely the biggest drawback for me.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3/5
I love a good big band. It's such a classic sound that you can't really get nowadays. I can't tell you how this band differs from others, but I still enjoyed it regardless.
Van Halen
4/5
I love these Van Halen albums! They each have 2 songs that you know by heart, 1 or 2 songs that you kinda know, and 5 to 8 decent songs that match the tone of the big ones. Half an hour to get in, throw down, and get out.
I've never been able to commit to buying a Van Halen album, because I don't know which is my favorite. I still can't choose. I guess they're another greatest hits band for me.
David Ackles
2/5
On my drive home today I thought hey I should listen to the album of the day. It wasn't until I started playing it that I realized wait a second, I already listened to this on my drive-in. I guess what I'm trying to say is that this album is pretty forgettable.
The Waterboys
3/5
I had a good time with this one. I would be lying if I said I was ever going to put it on again, so I can't really go above a 3 based on my own scale. It was a fun mix up from what we usually get on this list.
The Stooges
2/5
I like The Stooges music, but Iggy Pop's vocals do nothing for me. I often found myself jamming along to the start of a song, and then immediately falling out of it when he started singing. Also, a lot of slow and quite songs for a proto-punk album.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Fuck it. I listened to this album driving home at midnight while stoned. I couldn't think of a better environment for this album. 5 stars
Lauryn Hill
4/5
This is an album that I have seen in every top album list. The cover art is in the background anytime people are talking about greatest records of all time. I'm glad I finally listened to it, and I can see what the hype it was all about. It's a really great piece of art with meaning and depth to it. I like how the song genres vary and blend back and forth between hip-hop and reggae.
This is a tough one because I do think it deserves a five, but it's not really a genre I typically enjoy. I'm going to go with a 4 but I reserve my one time a year edit right to bump it up to a 5 later.
Jungle Brothers
3/5
Not bad! I like the beats, but there's something about 80's rap that I just find funny. It's such a big contrast to the hard 90's rap that's coming. It's super smooth and easy to get into a groove, but also feels kinda corny at times. Still an enjoyable album throughout.
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
I mean.... this is just another Arctic Monkeys album right? I'm not upset about that. Just making sure I'm not going crazy.
Simple Minds
3/5
Want to know what the 80s sounded like? Here you go.
I did really like this. Super easy to listen to with that fun 80s sound. Not super memorable though. A nice 3.
The Doors
3/5
This album probably would have been a 2 if it wasn't for "Roadhouse Blues", but that song alone is worth a star.
Funkadelic
2/5
For an album as funky as this is, I thought it would be more fun. I never really found myself enjoying it. I probably wasn't in the best setting for it, but I expected more. Especially after listening to a few other funk albums on this list.
I was going to make most of my review using a bunch of innuendos and curse words replaced with the word "funk", but this album already beat me to it.
ABBA
3/5
I was super excited for an ABBA album, but I don't think there's a single "fun" song on here. I guess it makes sense when you learn about all of the drama happening behind the scenes, but I go to Fleetwood Mac for that, not ABBA. The music is good, but the entire time I was wishing I was listening to another one of their albums.
I feel almost bad leaving a review like this. It's like talking to your friend who is going through depression and telling them "You know, you're more fun to be around when you're not so sad all the time."
Elvis Costello
1/5
56 minutes is entirely too long to have to listen to Elvis Costello's voice.
AC/DC
5/5
Back when I reviewed Guns N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction I said that an argument could be made for it being the greatest pure rock and roll album of all time. The reason I said that an argument could be made rather than just saying it was the greatest is because I knew that Back In Black was waiting in the background.
So many songs on here are overplayed but for some reason that doesn't bother me with this record. I still love every time I hear "Hells Bells", "Shoot to Thrill", "Back In Black", "You Shook Me All Night Long", and "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution". 5 songs out of 10 that are still played on the radio everyday since this album was released. This album is half of their greatest hits.
Like I don't know what to say other than this album fucking rocks! I'm sure people are going to criticize it for being simple and sounding like every other AC/DC album/song, and all I can think is that those people just don't like having fun. Not all music needs to be deep, meaningful, or technically impressive to play. Sometimes you just need to rock out to power cords and screaming at the top of your lungs!
Now excuse me while I go watch Iron Man 2.
Supergrass
3/5
Huh... I always thought the "We are young. We are free song" was way older than this. Now I know where it came from.
The Doors
3/5
Not bad, but it's a lot slower than the last album we listened to by The Doors. I really like "Riders on the Storm", but by the time we got to it as the last song on the album, I was checked out and over how drawn out and slow everything else had been up to that point.
Pavement
4/5
I don't know half of the albums on this list half as well as I should; and I like less than half of the albums on this list half as well as they deserve.
This album is the opposite of the later half of that statement. I don't think this album should get that much love. It's fairly mediocre and probably could be replaced on this list..... but I kinda like it. Undeservedly so, I really like it. I can't put my finger on why though. Every song has a voice crack or a note played off beat that reminds you "hey, you shouldn't like this". Maybe it's just the mix up in the list that brings some fresh air. Either way, I favorited a few songs, and I'll probably come back to it again.
The Pretty Things
2/5
WARNING
L ................................................ R
Holy ................................................ shit.
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try ................................................ to
listen ................................................ to
this ................................................ album
with ................................................ only
one ................................................ headphone
on. ................................................ You
will ................................................ only
hear ................................................ half
the ................................................ album.
Minutemen
4/5
Hello my name's Johnny Knoxville, and this is the "1001 Albums List".
I often times praise albums for being a cohesive tight package that encompasses a theme or style that all works together. I'm going to praise this album for doing the exact opposite.
This feels like less of a produced album, and more like a collection of songs from random jam sessions. I guess it really encompasses the punk scene in that aspect. They're not going to conform to what is mainstream or safe. Who says an album can't be a collection of random 1 minute long songs? They're not even going to conform to traditional punk. Who says that you have to play fast, loud, and have screaming vocals to be considered punk?
The album is way longer than what I would normally enjoy, but the brevity and variation in the songs makes it go by fast. I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. I might consider getting it on vinyl especially after finding out that full version of the album is only available on vinyl.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
There are some albums that you always hear about being the greatest of all time. It's always at the top of lists and never has a negative review. It's been hyped up your whole life. You think to yourself that surely it can't be that good. Then you give it a listen.
The big radio hits are 5/5.
The instrumentation is 5/5.
The lyrics are 5/5.
The backstory of how the album is made is 5/5.
This album by itself is damn near perfect, and then you get the cherry on top of all the drama happening behind the scenes. You can get lost into everything about this record. This album really does live up to the hype.
Massive Attack
2/5
Ehh... it was whatever.
"Daydreaming" has some of those most English phrases I've heard in awhile. Other that that, it was pretty forgettable.
Alice Cooper
3/5
Not bad, but I'm not going to take anything away from this album besides the title song. "School's Out" is an awesome song that has seated itself properly in history. The rest of the songs are varied enough that I could see why someone would really like this album, but it's pretty mediocre for me.
Morrissey
2/5
My expectations were pretty low coming into this album, so I liked the music more than I thought I would. The problem is that I just can't get past Morrissey himself. Not even looking him up outside of his music. He just sounds so pretentious in his lyrics.
Joan Baez
3/5
Damn, that woman sure can pick a guitar! Her voice isn't too shabby either. This was a really fun collection of folk songs. I got chills listening to "House of the Rising Sun". I kept looking up who sings the original version of a bunch of these song, and most seem to be traditional folk songs that were recorded in the 30s but were around even before then.
Boston
4/5
Is it impressive or sad that the bands greatest song is the first one off of their first album? Is it more impressive or sad that the bands second greatest song is the second one off their first album? Is it even more impressive or sad that the bands third greatest song is the third one off their first album? Talk about peaking early.
This album, especially the first half, is awesome! The last few songs maintain that Boston sound, but don't hit nearly as high. This is the definition of a 4.5/5 album for me.
Shout out to that time we were stoned at the Mission Valley movie theater and this album was playing before the movie over the speakers. Matt quizzed Turk on who the band is three times in a row after each consecutive song and he got it wrong every time.
Jurassic 5
3/5
This album feels like it was out of place for 2002. In the same year that Nelly released "Hot In Herre" and Eminem released "Lose Yourself", we get a hip hop group that feels like their from the late 80's/early 90's. It's almost as if they took zero influence from the previous decade of rap and just made what they wanted.
It was pretty good. It's definitely not my genre, but I would be lying if I didn't say that I felt really cool when I was listening to this while walking the halls at work.
Turbonegro
4/5
Damn dude, I had a blast with this album! I liked it way more than it probably deserves. My enjoyment greatly benefited from the fact that I don't care about lyrics at all. Just fast punk with catchy guitar riffs. I added a few songs to my "Skate" playlist, and I could easily just put this whole album on anytime I go to the skatepark.
Nobody is wilder than the Warzone Tones, but the truth is, we love albums and we would never hurt one. Please, don't try anything you see on this list at home.
The Smiths
2/5
That's it. I can officially say that I do not like The Smiths or Morrissey. I think the order in which we listened to the Morrissey albums and The Smiths really hurt any chance I had to appreciate them. I definitely came into this review with a chip on my shoulder. I really can't stand his voice. He wasn't as pretentious in this album but I still didn't enjoy any song.
Objectively, this album is better than a 2/5, but this is my review so screw it. I won't fight anyone that says its a good album, but I will clench my fist like the Arthur meme.
The xx
4/5
This was a nice little album. Every song felt like it would be played at the end of a movie where the main character is doing one last voice over before credits. I was a little worried for my subwoofer. That bass was intense for how chill the album is.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Oh boy. Here we are again on Monday morning trying to remember the album from Friday. I do remember liking her voice, and "Son of a Preacher Man" is an all time classic. A pleasant listen with a big hit puts it around a 3.5 for me.
Beastie Boys
4/5
"Alright team, the studio for our new blockbuster movie needs us to finish the soundtrack for the film. We need to come up with a song for when our ragtag group of friends, who are rebelling against the system, come walking out one at a time in slow-motion wearing their new outfits."
"Hey boss, I think I got exactly what you need right here."
"You son of a bitch that's perfect! Now all we need is a song for when they get in a vehicle at night and begin driving to the city for the final confrontation...."
____________________________________
This album had a lot more variation than I thought it would. The Beastie Boys sound is so distinct with their big hits, but there was so much more going on here. Funky instrumentals, distorted and fast punk, smooth hip-hop, it's all here. It needed it too with the album being an hour long. Not as many hits on here as I was hoping for, but still a good listen.
The Zutons
3/5
A solid album that was pleasant to listen to. Not a whole lot to say about it though. I'm not entirely sure why it's on this list. Maybe if it came out in the 70's or was more influential, but for 2004, it feels like standard dad rock.
Hawkwind
4/5
Damn it! I was hoping that I would hate this so I could skip through some songs, but I'm a sucker for some psychedelic rock. I found the whole album really enjoyable. Songs flow into each other and the lyrics are few and far between. It's super easy to lose yourself in the music. I was jamming all day to this two hour monster. That's not an exaggeration either. I started at 7:30am and finished at 5:15pm.
I would never recommend this album to anyone, however, I can see the perfect situation of having this record on while getting stoned in a basement with a buddy. We're about 30 minutes in and he leans over to me and asks "Who is this?". I get to respond while blowing out a bong rip with "It's Hawkwind bro".
If I had one recommendation for this album, it would be shrooms.
Dagmar Krause
3/5
Huh, a lot of these lyrics seem a little too relevant living in 2025 America.
"When I saw your arm raised high son, in a Hitler salute, I didn't know all those arms son would wither at the root."
"When you told me our country was about to come into it's own, I didn't know all it would come to was ashes and blood".
"The [money's] gone 10,000 times into foreign pockets. The board of management has fixed the return and is ready to give you yours. You get the soup and they get the [money]. The authoritarians, don't accept their lies my friends. They owe you more than they give you. Take what is yours, but don't take their lies".
"They care for the pregnant women when they need a class to work".
2/5 for the music. 4/5 for the lyrics and subject matter.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I like The Stones. I like "Paint It Black". I like "Under My Thumb". Not much else I have to say about this album.
James Brown
3/5
The following questions and comments are for the song "Lost Someone":
I wonder what the sheet music looks like for this song. Is it just 4 bars with a x73 behind it?
I think the band needs a safe word. Are they just looking around at each other going "Do we end on this one? Nope, guess we're going around again."?
Is that how James Brown actually feels, or is this all scripted? Is he just going for it, or does he have a set of index cards with phrases he's going to say on them?
Halfway through, did someone tell James Brown that he wasn't actually singing into the mic?
I think the audience should receive a lead vocals credit on this recording.
The drummer is definitely a power bottom. James Brown is clearly in charge, but 2 hard bass drum kicks put the song to an end.
Do you think James Brown knows this album is really only 20 minutes long and is just padding for time?
Supergrass
3/5
Not a bad album at all. This was pretty enjoyable with some solid songs, however, I think the top global review sums it up pretty perfectly.
"NO WAY THEY HAVE TWO SUPERGRASS ALBUMS ON THIS LIST. NOBODY FUCKS WITH THEM LIKE THAT??"
Megadeth
4/5
I don't know how to rate this one. Musically, it's awesome! The songs have a constant driving force behind them. The singers voice is great. The guitar solos are crisp and clean. One of the better metal albums I've listened to, however, I still don't really like metal. Personally, this would fall into the 2 category for me, but from a wider perspective it's probably a 4.
Björk
1/5
When the first album started, I was really interested. Her voice was pretty mesmerizing, and I was excited to see where it would go. The answer unfortunately is that it goes nowhere. What started out as an interesting intro quickly turned into an annoying droning. I wish she wasn't singing in English. It was more interesting to me when I thought it was another language. Instead, it just sounds like someone singing with a speech impediment. The first letter of each word is dragged out in a unique but difficult to listen to way. I respect Bjork's style, but I just cant listen to it.
Talking Heads
2/5
I don't get the Talking Heads hype. This album was really underwhelming. They definitely have a distinct sound, but not much else.
David Bowie
4/5
I'm not the biggest Bowie fan, but this was definitely my favorite album of his that I've heard. Really easy to listen and a constant sound. The sax throughout was great, and ending on "Fame" was a cherry on top.
Brian Eno
2/5
I really liked the first song, but what happened to the rest of the album?
David Bowie
3/5
Not bad, but I still don't get the Bowie hype. I guess it comes more from his eccentricity during that time. I liked the previous Bowie album more.
Björk
1/5
Nope, I still don't like Björk.
The Temptations
4/5
It's hard to speak negatively about The Temptations, but I was expecting a little more. Don't get me wrong, their voices are unmatched and the music is super soothing. I think I was just looking for a little more. Papa Was a Rolling Stone is a classic, but it's really just 8 minutes of repeating funky beats smashed into a 3 minute song. I think this review is coming off a little more negative than I anticipated. I did really like it. I just thought it was going to be a five before listening to it.
Miles Davis
5/5
This feels like the standard that all jazz album should be held up to. It has highs and lows. It's fast and slow. The recording is crisp and clear. There's a variety of instruments that's lead by an absolutely perfect horn performance. It's short enough that it left me wanting more. I really can't find a single thing wrong with this album.
Radiohead
2/5
I think I like this less than the other Radiohead albums we've had? I don't know. I'm still not a Radiohead fan.
Beastie Boys
2/5
A review from my two year old daughter:
"There's too many words. I want shake it! [Shake It - Metro Station]"
The Monks
3/5
You know what? I liked it more than a lot of the albums on this list.
Rush
4/5
Rush is a lot of fun when they're playing a song you know! When they're playing a song you don't know, it can get pretty monotonous.
Ray Charles
4/5
This is how your supposed to do a cover album! Take existing songs a put a twist on them. You're not supposed to make them sound identical to the original (looking at you Weezer's version of Africa). You should only realize halfway through a song that you actually know it. That's what happens here a few times. The big band sound is great, and Ray is perfect. My only complaint is the length of the album. It begins to feel a little repetitive by the end of it.
Beck
4/5
Really cool album. A lot of variation in the song styles. There were a couple I knew as well. I like Beck and I'm excited to get some more albums.
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
I really like Franz Ferdinand! I already had a couple songs from this album on my Alternative Party Playlist. Their sound is right up my alley. This is a very high 4, almost a 5 for me.
Arcade Fire
5/5
I've never really listened to Arcade Fire before (besides the previous album we had on this list), so this was my first time listening to this album. I absolutely love it! It is a perfect Indy album. Songs are varied enough but still maintain a standard sound. It's a good length with some standout songs, but it works better as a full listen. This is another example for me that I typically enjoy bands debut albums the most.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
I was really hesitant coming into this. I put it off all weekend, because rap just really isn't my thing. This was way more fun than I was expecting. Snoop is just so smooth, or I guess Dr. Dre is. The beats are probably my favorite part of the album. You can't help but feel cool listening to this. I wasn't paying attention to lyrics so I don't know if that helps or hurts. "Gin and Juice" is so freaking good!
Public Enemy
3/5
This album coming on the heels of Doggy Style kinda hurts it. You definitely feel it's age after the comparison. The songs and sound are pretty good, but gets really repetitive. Every song sounds pretty much the same.
D'Angelo
3/5
It's smooth baby! Nothing I would personally listen to, but I'm not going to fault it for that. I can definitely groove to it if it's on. I'm sure D'Angelo is on a bunch of sexy time playlists.
Blue Cheer
2/5
I'm not sure how an album that is only 32 minutes can feel so long. I like bits and pieces of it, but most of the time I'm just thinking "Oh, we're doing this again I see". This is really close to a 1 for me.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
4/5
I think Matt and I listened to this in the perfect scenario. We had this album on in the background as we cleaned our shotguns together before shooting this weekend. We also added a little bit of banjo music to the album as it was playing on the YouTube video showing us how to actually clean our guns. Great album for that scenario.
Neil Young
4/5
Definitely the best of the Neil Young albums we've had so far. It kinda feels like it's the pinnacle of his career and we didn't need all of those other ones. "Heart of Gold" and "Old Man" are great, and the rest falls in suit. A solid album that helped lull my toddler to sleep on Friday when I had to drive her around because she was having a mental breakdown. That gets it a bonus star for me.
It's really cool to finally listen to "Alabama" and understand the Neil Young references in Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama"
Songhoy Blues
4/5
Cool album. Way cooler backstory. Can you imagine your entire country turning into the town from Footloose? I would love to see biopic about an American or English musician struggling with their manager, fame, or drugs and then we slowly pan over to these guys being like "What are they complaining about?".
JAY Z
4/5
I liked listening to it at the time but I don't really remember much of it the next morning. My favorite thing about it were the beats. Does that mean I like Kanye more than Jay Z? There were a few songs that I definitely recognized. Not sure if from pop culture or just Oakley playing them all the time. High 3 low 4 for me.
Michael Kiwanuka
5/5
How have I never heard of this guy before? This is a really good album! The sound is consistent a flows throughout the record, but there's enough variation so you don't get bored. I was going to give this a 4 and say with a few more listens it might be a 5, but I've gone back and listened to it again so I can give it the 5 it deserves.
Fugees
4/5
Awesome album with some awesome standout songs. My only complaint with it is the length. Make it 20 minutes shorter and you might get that last star from me.
Funkadelic
3/5
I listened to this album Sunday evening while cleaning up house after hosting Easter brunch with friends and Easter dinner with family. It was perfect for that scenario. A 10 minute long guitar solo would normally get on my nerves, but it works while you're cleaning. I was really grooving with this album and was planning on giving it a 4 up until the last song. Who decides putting cats screeching in a song was a good idea? Overall I liked the album, but it lost a star on the last song.
Pulp
3/5
Meh... It's not bad, but did I really need to listen to before I die?
Doves
3/5
Generally a pleasant listen but nothing really stuck out. I kinda already forgot what I listened to.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
This was a fun one. The songs are varied enough, and the lyrics are cheesy and funny. "The Frog Princess" got me. I'm going to be singing "there's something in the woodshed" all day.
Bon Jovi
4/5
Another 9/10 album for me. Some all time songs on here! Hearing everyone in a stadium sing "Livin On A Prayer" together is an amazing experience. I can't hear "Wanted Dead or Alive" without thinking of Deadliest Catch. The not top songs are pretty good, but their all very similar. This was close to 5 stars for me.
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
A perfect album for Sunday morning while making pancakes. Vaughans voice is silky smooth, and I could listen to it all day. I just wish this wasn't a live album. I want the cleanest recording for her voice. The audience didn't really add much to the performance which is the only reason you would want a live record rather than in studio.
Frank Zappa
2/5
Jazz-Rock? Rock-Jazz? Not sure what to call it. If you like long meandering instrumentals then this is for you. I got bored about halfway through "Willie The Pimp" though. I feel bad giving this a low score because I do think it has it's merits. The songs aren't all the same which is tough on an instrumental album, but I get so bored with long electric guitar solos. The first and last songs are the more jazzy side that I like. I'm glad this is on the list, but I'm not going to go back and listen to it again.
Faith No More
3/5
This album is kinda all over the place. After the first few songs I thought I was going to get really tired of their sound, but then they changed it up. I don't know if it was necessarily better, but it was different. I was more just confused by this album.
The Cars
5/5
Hot damn! What a 1, 2, 3 combo with "Good Times Roll", "My Best Friend's Girl", and "Just What I Needed". There are so many radio hits on here. I didn't realize that this album should be in the conversation with best debut albums of all time.
I really liked the rest of the album as well. "Moving in Stereo" had some fun synth in it. I was singing along to "Don't Cha Stop" and "Bye Bye Love" by the end of those song despite never listening to them before. The only song that I didn't like was "I'm In Touch With Your World". It was very jarring after those first 3 hits.
This is probably another 9/10 album for me, but I'm going to give it another listen to see if it can tip into the 5 star range.
Minor Threat
4/5
Dude, I love these riffs! The guitar is fucking sick. The baseline comes in perfectly. The drums are spot on, and the vocals are brutal. It's almost like the vocals are a way of gatekeeping to some really good music. It's a textbook setup for punk music. I can see how influential this album is to punk. I can't sing to save my life? Who gives a fuck. I'm still going to rock the fuck out!
Give me more!
U2
4/5
If it wasn't for Sunday, Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day, this would be a mediocre three star album. I do think those two songs elevate this to a four, but I'm not sure if it's because they're good or just recognizable.
OutKast
4/5
If I was a kid buying CD's with their pocket change, this would be the deal of a lifetime. As someone who's reviewing one album a day for 4-years, I could use a little less content.
This listen was the opposite of what I thought it would for me. I thought I might like one or two songs of Big Boi's, and the overall vibe of Andre 3000's. Turns out it was the opposite. I really got into Speakerboxx. For someone who doesn't like rap, it was really approachable, and all of the features in 2003 were a lot of fun. On the other hand, The Love Below really lost me. Every song was super repetitive and not in a good way. That being said, "Roses" is fun, and "Hey Ya!" is one of the greatest songs of all time.
Overall I liked it, but what a weird way to packaged these albums together. It's like one of those combo movie DVD's you would find in a bin at the grocery store.
Bob Dylan
1/5
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vNWNMh01Vn4
I was so bored with this album. It did nothing for me. Every song I was looking to see how much time was left. Dylan's voice is really rough as well. It's like seeing your favorite action movie star 20 years past their prime shirtless with beer belly on the beach.
The only thing that might save this from a 1 star for me is "Make You Feel My Love", and I much prefer Adele's version.
Kraftwerk
2/5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiZ6rwaEBTc
I'm glad this album is on the list. It's stuff like this that I want to discover. It's weird, it's different, it's something that I've never heard before, and it's not another Britpop album. That being said, I'm not that crazy about it. I really liked "Neon Lights" but none of the other songs did anything for me. That song is probably a 4 for me, but every other song is a 1.
Culture Club
3/5
It's kinda wild that "Karma Chameleon" is so big. It's a good song, but it doesn't really feel that much different from all the others on here. The whole album is really easy to listen to. Some songs get a little repetitive though. Overall a decent experience.
Elton John
4/5
I listened to this album twice over the weekend, and I find myself in the same conundrum as did with RHCP's Califonication. The highs are really high, and there aren't really any lows, but the length is ruining the 5 stars for me. There are 5 or 6 songs that you can easily cut from this album and no one would notice. Back in '73 I'm sure the extra songs were a plus, but in the streaming age, it's just too much. Don't get me wrong, this is easily a 9/10 album (it might be a 9.5/10), but I don't think it quite makes it to a 5 stars because of the length.
The Clash
3/5
A really good punk album, but still not that rememberable. I think I would really be into The Clash if I was around when this was coming out. There is so much else out there nowadays that this doesn't really standout like I'm sure it did in the 70's.
Killing Joke
2/5
Not bad, but not great. I was vibing with some songs, but then there were long stretches of mediocre boredom. High 2, Low 3.
Cool album art!
Santana
4/5
Really had a good time with this album, and two songs that I'd really forgotten about but absolutely love.
Jane's Addiction
2/5
This didn't do much for me. I don't really remember the next day, and I wasn't crazy about it while listening. I'm glad I listened to it because I've heard about Jane's Addiction in the background of conversations before. I won't be going back to it though.
The Temptations
3/5
The temptations have such a weird history. They have had so many members and so many hits, but it's been going on for so long that the great ones are scattered few and far between. Their lows are never really that low, but I was expecting some bigger highs on this album. Decent sound, but it's not a greatest hits that I was hoping for.
Nas
5/5
This is an album I've seen all over the place but have never listened to you. I always wondered why and now I realize it's because this album needs to be listed as a whole. There aren't really any big poppy songs to make it onto the radio, but the album works so well together. Nas has great story telling, and everything is crisp and clear enough to understand on a first listen. I definitely want to listen to this again.
Ryan Adams
4/5
A mix of Bruce Springsteen, and John Mayer?
I like this a lot. From all the comments, it seems like at the time this wasn't a big hit and Ryan Adams might not be the best person, but in 2025, this is a nice breath of fresh air. I'm glad his producers cut out five songs though. Not sure I could do a full double album.
I mean this in the most respectful way possible, but Ryan Adams looks like a poster child for autism in this cover art.
Otis Redding
4/5
How can you not love Otis Redding's voice? I do wish we got some more original songs though. The covers he does are very well done, but they're not that much different from the original. I wish he would have made them more of his own. I pretty much prefer the original version to all the covers. That makes it even funnier that I prefer Aretha Franklin's version of "Respect" more than the original. Most of the songs on this album I wish were a different version.
Pink Floyd
5/5
It has been a long time since I've listened to this full album. I was dreading it a bit going in because of its length, but I knew it had some songs I loved on it to get me through. I forgot how many songs I really do love off this album. "Another Brick In The Wall", "Mother", "Young Lust", "Hey You", "Comfortably Numb", "In The Flesh", and "Run Like Hell" are all songs that I love on their own. I can listen to them anytime anywhere.
This is first time I really paid attention to the other songs. Reading the quick synopsis on Wikipedia about the albums theme really helps when listening. The entire story of a man's life who isolates himself from society really comes through. The interstitial songs that I ignored in the past help paint the picture that the album is trying to show. I was really invested in the outcome of this life by the time we got to "The Trial". It's one of the few rock operas that I truly enjoy.
Before this listen I thought I would give this album a 4. Some good songs but way too long. However, I learned something this go around. I learned that you can't just have your dessert without eating your dinner. Listening to one or two songs off an album will be nice in the moment but will ultimately leave you empty. Consuming the entire course will introduce you to new flavors and leave you completely satiated.
After all... How can you you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?
Miles Davis
3/5
The year was 1988. Professional skateboarded Jeff Grosso was high on shrooms, getting kicked out of his house, and had one day to turn in his video part for Speed Freaks or he would lose his sponsorship. His tripping mind decided that the best course of action was to shave off all his hair, shave off his eyebrows, draw on new ones with a sharpie, skate a halfpipe, and film the whole thing. That's exactly what he did. Was this his best video part? No. Was this his most memorable part? Yes! It saved his professional career and cemented him as an all time great. He later explained that without his eyebrows sweat was constantly getting in his eyes. The only way he made it through his session was to close his eyes and let the shrooms takeover.
This album feels a lot like that. Is this Miles Davis' best album? No. Is this long one take his most memorable? Possibly.
If you want to see the Grosso part (12m16s):
https://youtu.be/Ydj4RBDDUOk?si=gH_WUW1n2bFSsn4Y&t=12m16s
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
A really solid album. I love the somba sound. It was really consistent throughout, and I would really enjoy listening to the whole thing again.
Also, did Rod Stewart just straight up steal "Taj Mahal" for "Do You Think I'm Sexy"?
John Coltrane
2/5
I've been really enjoying the jazz albums we've been getting on this list, but this one doesn't really do anything for me. I don't know why this one doesn't speak to me. I should probably give it another listen in a different mood.
Germs
2/5
I think these early punk albums work better as an EP rather than a full length album. I was starting to get a headache by minute 25. There were a couple songs that I did like. I've heard "Lexicon Devil" on a few skate punk playlists before, and I added it to my own. I didn't hate this album, but it's kinda like drinking a bottle of whiskey for dinner rather than eating a full meal.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Is this mumble rap for white people?
I kind of like it, but I don't think I would ever recommend it. It is definitely a vibe.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
Right about now
The funk soul brother
Check it out now
The funk soul brother
Right about now
The funk soul brother
Check it out now
The funk soul brother
Right about now
The funk soul brother
Check it out now
The funk soul brother
Right about now
The funk soul brother
Right about now
The funk soul brother
Check it out now
The funk soul brother
Right about now
The funk soul brother
Check it out now
The funk soul brother
Right about now
The funk soul brother
Check it out now
The funk soul brother
Right about now
The funk soul brother
Check it out now
The funk soul brother
Bob Dylan
3/5
I have some major respect for Bob Dylan's song writing. He really is unmatched. However, as I've stated in the past, I prefer when other artists play his music.
Massive Attack
3/5
Not what I was expecting at all. Some lofi beats with a different artist featured on every track. Definitely a cool listen, but I probably won't be coming back to it.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
It was good, but I'll probably forget about it in a week.
Iron Butterfly
2/5
The song, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", might have the most boring drum solo of all time in it.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
I was excited to go into this album blind, but I unknowingly knew way more songs than I thought I did. Mostly from osmosis of my friends playing them all the time. The big songs are great, but what I really blows me is Kendricks story telling abilities. The songs that aren't necessarily big hits are usually telling a story that's easy to understand and follow with. He brings you into his life. Most of the other rap albums on this list have a couple of radio hits with the rest being skits or songs about how cool they are. The off songs on this record hook you further into his life. Really good album and understand why all my friends like it so much.
I really want to know what happened to those dominos!
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
How can an entire genre be completely dominated by one man who died in 1981? When most people say they like Reggae what they really mean is they like Bob Marley. Maybe that's an ignorant statement, but for the United States I think it's pretty accurate. There's just something special about him. I have a couple other Reggae albums by other artists, but they just don't hit the mark. It's Marley or nothing.
This album is a big hitter in general. The first half has some solid songs, but it just keeps getting better and better as it goes on. "Natural Mystic", "Exodus", "Jamming", "Waiting In Vain", Three Little Birds", and "One Love" are all greatest hits songs. 6 radio songs on a 35 minute album is really impressive, and it's back loaded rather than front loaded like most albums. The further into the album you get, the more you want to listen to it. This is a genre defining album. How can it not be a 5?
Here's to everyone who played Halo 2 in the basement listening to Bob Marley - Gold with me.
Wild Beasts
2/5
I love the music. I hate the vocals. Find a new lead singer.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
My wife and I took 3 years of Salsa dancing lessons about 7 years ago. We listened to a lot of Salsa at that time. This album doesn't standout from any of the other songs we listened to back then. It's good music to dance to, but I don't know how it's claimed as the best Salsa album of all time.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Not a lot subtlety in these lyrics, huh?
I did enjoy this album. It's like seeing a friend from highschool for the first time in 15 years. They've changed and matured, but they're still the same person deep down. Never would have expected this album art from The Beach Boys either. I'm glad this is on the list, and I can now reference more than "Surfin' USA" from The Beach Boys.
The Kinks
3/5
The Kinks are nice. These songs are nice. This album was nice.
The White Stripes
3/5
I've never been the biggest The White Stripes fan outside of "Seven Nations Army". It's not that I think they're bad, they've just never really grabbed me. This album was interesting. It was more varied than I thought it would be with some standout songs. It's still not something that I'll come back to though.
Raekwon
2/5
Definitely not my favorite rap album we've got so far. The beats are pretty straight forward, so these songs are carried mostly by their lyricism. To be fair, they are good, but that doesn't really help someone like me who struggles paying attention to lyrics. I can see why someone would like this album, but it got old for me pretty fast. Not great especially when it's over an hour long.
Mj Cole
1/5
I think the best setting for this album is at your friend's expensive downtown penthouse apartment. A beautiful luxurious apartment that you know he can't afford and he knows he can't afford either, but he's been slowly ignoring that fact by doing heaps of cocaine and ecstasy. You decided to join him tonight on his last drug fueled bender before he is evicted from the property in the morning.
He puts on this album and then goes to get dressed in a suit that costs more than your car. He tells you that it's actually an investment because you have to invest in yourself before you can make money. On the way to the club, and without your knowledge, you meet up with two escorts that he hired. They look bored and annoyed to be there, because they can tell the difference between someone who's actually rich and someone pretending to be rich like your friend.
The blending waves of cocaine and ecstasy cause you to black out periodically throughout the night, but you can still remember that this album is also playing at the club your at. While your buddy is doing a bump in the bathroom, you notice the escorts sneaking off with the rest of the coke but you don't do anything to stop them. The next thing you know you're following your friend down an alley because he quote "Knows a guy who owes me some coke". When you get there you find out it's the opposite and your buddy owes this guy thousands. He roughs up your friend and throws him into the street all while your friend is screaming about how he's going to sue him for messing up his $15,000 suit. The rest of the night is a blur wandering around the streets listening to your buddy talk about how he has this whole town figured out and will be running wall street soon. His babbling drowns out most of the street noise, but you swear that you can still hear that MJ Cole album playing.
You finally come to your senses the next morning, and find yourself laying on the floor of an Apple store with a pounding headache. Someone is standing over you and is asking you if you'd like buy the protection plan on the iMac you just purchased. Your friend is nowhere to be seen, and somehow this album is still playing in the background over the speakers of the store.
Curtis Mayfield
2/5
I'm not crazy about the constant high falsetto singing. Other than that it was okay.
Keith Jarrett
4/5
Loved it!
R.E.M.
3/5
R.E.M. is so hard for me to like. My dad liked R.E.M. growing up. Not listening to them, but playing and singing their songs. Every big event we hosted he would eventually pull out the guitar and everyone would gather around to hear him play Jimmy Buffet, John Denver, and R.E.M.. I grew up listening to a lot of the songs on this album, but my dad's version of them. I loved them and they always remind me of him. That being said, I really don't like the original R.E.M. version of them. They just sound wrong because I'm so used to my dad's version. I've tried to break through this barrier, but I just can't get over it. I don't think I'll ever enjoy listening to R.E.M.
Big Black
1/5
Was the goal of this album to make fun melodies with the most annoying sounds possible? If so, I think they nailed it!
2/5
Is this jazz punk? Does the band also smash and destroy all their instruments at the end of every concert?
a-ha
4/5
Is having the first song off your first album be one of the greatest songs of all time impressive or sad? Is it kinda like peaking in highschool? People only ever talk to you about the touchdown pass you threw to win state, but is it really that bad? You did get drunk, got laid, and won state that night.
Beatles
5/5
Coming into this album I knew that there were some major hits, but I was trying to justify to myself how I could give this a 5 star with so much extra bloat. "Come Together", "Something", "Octopus's Garden", and "Here Comes The Sun" are all 5 star songs. "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" and "Oh! Darling" are solid 4 star songs, but that still leaves 11 out of 17 songs as filler... or so I believed. The back half of this album is awesome! Once you get past the radio hits, the songs all start to flow together. It's more like one big song that they broke up into 7 or 8 parts. They change slightly, but to the point that I have to look at the track list to make sure we're onto another song. I loved it!
Fela Kuti
4/5
Awesome album! Can I call this an album? It's not even really an EP. Awesome song? Yeah, lets go with that. Awesome Song!
Elliott Smith
4/5
I have never heard of Elliot Smith before this listen. It was a really pleasant album. Super easy to listen to. If I would have discovered him earlier I'm sure I would be a bigger fan. As of now, this is between a 3 and a 4 for me.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Not the worst, but still not a Costello fan.
Kings of Leon
2/5
Did we really need this Kings of Leon album? It feels really disappointing after already listening to Only By Night. None of their big hits are on here. His voice is extra whiny. There are only a few melodies that I actually enjoyed. At least it was short.
Green Day
5/5
Depending on who you ask, Dookie is either the greatest thing or worst thing to happen to punk music. This is the album that broke punk through to the mainstream. When this gained popularity, everyone in the scene saw it as selling out. You were either a real punk rocker, or you were just pretending to be while listening to corporate punk that's popular. Fortunately for me, I love what this punk albums popularity led to. Pop-punk!!!
I really like this album. You can hear the early punk influences in it throughout, but they make it very approachable. I always forget how many recognizable songs there are on here. I think this is a 4 star album, but it gets a bonus star for being the start of my favorite music genre.
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
This is a personal one for me. When I first started the 1001 list I got a Miles Davis album as my first one. I expected that for some music history. The second album I got was this one. I had never listened to LCD Soundsystem before, but I absolutely fell in love with this album. The driving beat has me entranced throughout. The first song had me worried about the vocals but then they immediately change for the next. This whole album is a masterclass in pushing a song right to the limit of being too repetitive, but changing it right before it gets annoying.
The three song combo of "North American Scum", "Someone Great", and "All My Friends" is one of my favorite music experiences of all time. "North American Scum" is a funny group song. It up beat and light hearted. "Someone Great" does the best job I've ever seen of properly describing grief. When you lose someone it feels like you're whole is crashing down, but everyone else is just going about their day. Don't they know that nothing will ever be the same again? "All My Friends" brings the mood back up. It's a song about growing up and seeing less of your friends over time, but it's still the best thing when you do.
I love this album, and it's definitely my most listened to one I've discovered on this list. This album is the reason that we have this 1001 album music group.
KISS
3/5
Not bad. A pretty classic sound. Not super memorable though.
Gotan Project
4/5
A great background album. Really unique jazz sound. Glad it's on the list.
Traffic
3/5
Solid. I liked the first half more than the second.
4/5
I listened on Friday and I'm reviewing on Monday. I know that's not the best way to review albums, but for the life of me, I can't remember a single thing about it. I know it wasn't bad, but clearly not a standout.
After being called out by the group, I gave this album another listen. It's much better than the original 3 I gave it. I absolutely love "Starlight", but I'm still not convinced this album is a 5. I think it's his voice that does it for me. It's right on the edge of being annoying. Still, a really good album.
Tears For Fears
4/5
"Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" are all time classics! The rest of the album could be dog water and it wouldn't bring it below a 3. I'm glad that the other songs are solid, and I really like "Head Over Heels".
The Incredible String Band
1/5
This is what happens when a cult leader convinces everyone to make an album rather than murder a celebrity.
....he still makes everyone have sex with him though.
Queen
4/5
"Bohemian Rhapsody" has such a pop culture impact that it's hard to even describe. This album could be 37 minutes of silence and then 6 minutes of Rhapsody and it would still get a positive rating. The rest of the album is classic queen sound. You're not going to be disappointed if that's what your into. Shout out to "You're My Best Friend" as well. I think this is a 9/10 for me.
Pantera
2/5
I knew the name Pantera, but I didn't think I knew any of their songs. That was until I heard "Walk". It all came rushing back to me of being in the high school weight room. There was only one CD left in the stack next to the stereo that was not scratch to hell and it had this song on it. I had to listen to this song everyday for 2 years.... still the only lyrics I knew were 'Respect, walk. What did you say?'. Even with the bombardment of Pantera, I still don't like Metal. I respect their talent, but it's just not for me.
Tim Buckley
3/5
It's fine.
David Bowie
4/5
Hot take: David Bowie is the most overrated artist of all time.
I think a lot of this take comes from his explosion in pop culture after his death in 2016. I don't think he's bad, but people act like he's the most influential musician ever. Every album I've listened to of his has one or two standout songs, and the rest is pretty forgettable. This album is the same. "Changes" is a great song, and "Life on Mars?" is fun. Other than that, there's not much else going on. This is a 3.5 star album for me. I might round up due to it's brevity.
Little Simz
3/5
I don't know what it is, but English rappers sound so funny to me. The accent just doesn't work with the music style. That being said, I did enjoy this album. Nothing I would ever listen to myself, but it has a great style. I like her flow. It's just so funny when the heavy English accent comes out on specific words. It always makes me giggle.
Black Sabbath
5/5
I really thought I would be done with this album after "Iron Man", but it just keeps going strong. I wish more metal was like this. I don't need a crazy amount of distortion and double peddle bass drums on every single track. This is heavy but its' also crisp and clean. It just goes, and I haven't even mentioned "War Pigs" or "Paranoid" yet! Fuck dude, this album really is that good.
RIP The Prince of Darkness
Röyksopp
4/5
Loved it! I'm going to keep an eye out for this vinyl. It feels like a perfect album for background record player music.
Goldfrapp
3/5
Is this ASMR?
LTJ Bukem
2/5
Is the goal of this album to have other artists sample it and then just collect royalties off of those samples?
Create a 15 second loop. Repeat it for 8 minutes. Add a quiet part 2/3rds of the way in. Now repeat that 7 times. You now have an album.
At least the 15 second loops were good.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
A lovely album to listen to. No real standout songs, but nothing I can really say negative about it either. 3.5/5.
The Kinks
3/5
I definitely enjoy the Kinks. I like their vibe. I like their sound. I like "Lola". If that song was on this album it would give it an extra star. This was still an enjoyable listen though.
Beck
2/5
My expectations for Beck albums are always too high. I'm disappointed every time I listen to one. My exposure to Beck is "Loser" and the Scott Pilgrim vs the World soundtrack. These albums are less that, and more random. I don't know how to explain it, but I was disappointed.
Ice T
2/5
Did Ice T create the phrase Original Gangster?
I think Ice T has a pretty good flow and his rapping is pretty good, but every song started to sound the same. None of the beats were fun to listen to. I think his acapella tracks were the best ones. This album is also way too long.
Shout out to "Body Count"! A rock and roll track with Ice T vocals in the middle of a rap album works really well. I think it's a highlight of the album, but only because it's surrounded by so much repetitiveness.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
1/5
I hate his voice. I hate these lyrics. I hate the music. These songs do nothing for me. At best they're boring. At worst they're unsuccessfully trying to be edgy.
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
A solid album. I don't have a lot to say about it. It's about as middle of the road as you get. No standouts, but no duds either.
The Byrds
3/5
I really like The Byrds sound and this album. Really easy to listen to, but with enough variation to keep you interested. This is a 3.5/5 for me.
Throwing Muses
3/5
I'm so close to really liking this album. Unfortunately, the lead singer has a little too much Stevie Nicks and not enough Hayley Williams.
Stereolab
4/5
This album is awesome! I was vibing with it the whole time. I think I prefer the French songs over the English. It probably has to do with the fact that I don't have to focus on lyrics.
Ok, I really like this album! I don't know why, and I'm not sure if I should. I've listened to it twice, and it's just gotten better.
The Vines
3/5
I feel like I should like this album more than I do. It just feels really empty to me. Like it has no soul. It's like a corporate version of Nirvana. I'm probably being too harsh, and I'm sure these guys really put in a big effort here, but it's just not coming through for me.
Adele
5/5
"Hello", "Send My Love", "When We Were Young", and "Water Under the Bridge" are all songs that I have never put on myself but I know intimately from all of the radio plays they've gotten. They're great songs mind you! Everyone is going to say that Adele has an amazing voice, but I also like that you can tell how she changes and evolves with her song writing as she gets older. It's always about some sort of hardship, but that hardship is ever changing. The rest of the album is beautiful and it's hard to give this a low rating. It's probably a 9/10 album for me, but the radio plays and cultural impact rounds it up to 5 stars.
Mekons
2/5
Nope. Not a fan. "Last Dance" was ok, but that was about it.
Jerry Lee Lewis
4/5
This album is fun and full of energy. It all sounds a bit the same but it sure is a blast.
T. Rex
3/5
This album was pretty boring. It was shaping up to be a two, but "Bang a Gong" saved it. Dope song, boring album.
The Cardigans
4/5
I really like this album. It's a perfect chill vibe without being boring. I appreciate the mixing on this record giving the vocalist a clear front and center feel. "Lovefool" is classic, but I was blown away by the "Iron Man" cover. What a unique take. 9/10 for me.
David Bowie
1/5
Guys, I.... I don't.... I don't think I like David Bowie.
The Pharcyde
4/5
Not really my thing, but I'll be damned if I wasn't walking with some swagger through the halls of my office. 3.5/5
John Prine
3/5
A pretty good folk album. The lyrics were fun, but no song really stuck with me. A nice change of pace for this list.
Lorde
4/5
I really like this album, but why is it on the list and not 'Pure Heroine'? This is a really good sophomore album, but why not give us the best album? A defining album that launched a career and has millions of radio plays. It's making me doubt the list a little bit.
I'm just saying why not give us Randy Marsh's best work.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
This is the first record I ever bought on vinyl. I bought it for my wife for our anniversary. She loves Sinatra, so it was my way of saying hey let's get a record player. It was a bit of a selfish gift if I'm honest. 3 years later we're still listening to it though!
This album is that classic big band Frank Sinatra sound. You know what you're getting before you even start listening. There are a couple of his big hits on here, but if I'm honest all the songs sound pretty much the same. That's not a bad thing since I love that sound. I just can't justify 5 stars with that flaw.
The B-52's
1/5
It's crazy to think that these guys were the first line of defense in the US strategic nuclear bombing deterrent during the Cold War and still put out an album. They could fly indefinitely near the Soviet border with in flight refueling all while carrying 20 nuclear missiles! They've served in every major conflict since the 1950's. They were so good that even though they were supposed to be retired in the late 90's, their service life was expanded to 2050. A truly impressive feat of engineering and military service.
I do wish they would have taken more leave time to make a better album though.
Adele
5/5
I wish we had this a little further apart from 25. I also wish I wasn't traveling so I could go into more detail on my review. The short of it is that 25 was a 4.5/5 and 21 is a 5/5.
Giant Sand
4/5
Ok, I actually really like this! It's part noise, part ASMR, part poetry, part emo. I shouldn't like it, but for some reason I do.
Missy Elliott
3/5
We have our number one quote that aged like milk "You don't see Bill Gates and Donald Trump arguing with each other because they both got paper".
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
Every song sounds the same, but it's a good sound. Perfect background music while cooking for a big group dinner which is exactly how we listened to it.
Tom Tom Club
4/5
Bahahahaha fuck it, 4 stars for the Big Dick Energy sample!
What a fun and silly album.
Madness
2/5
This album is completely unlistenable, and then they drop one of the greatest songs ever written on you with "Our House". What happened?
Elvis Costello
2/5
Yep. That's more Elvis Costello.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
By far the best Nick Cave album we've listened to. It has a constant somber mood throughout which matches perfectly with his voice. I definitely understand why it's on the list and I almost want to give it a 4, but that seems like a little too much praise for Nick Cave. It's really a most improved award.
Suede
3/5
Not bad. Really nothing to complain about here. I would probably give it a 3.5 if I could.
Simply Red
3/5
I don't know why this album's getting such hated reviews. It's about as middle of the road as you can get. Nothing really offensive here apart from maybe a little boring. I wouldn't say it needs to be on a list though.
Gang Starr
3/5
Super cool and smooth album. It's really easy to flow along with the whole thing. Every song is pretty much the same which is good and bad. It's nothing to write home about, but it was a fun listen.
Mariah Carey
1/5
IIiiiiIiIIIiIIIIiiiiII ReeEEaaaAAAaaaLLlllLLyyy ccaAAAaaNNnnnttttTTT ssSSttTTannDDDdd WWwhHHHeeEEeNNnn ppPpeeeEeOooOOOooppLLleEe SSSSiiiiIIIIiiNnnnNnGGgGG LiiiiIIIIIiiIiIIIIiiiikKKKkkkeeeEEEEee tttthhhHHHiiIIIiIIisssSSsss.
It really is one of my biggest pet peeves. The late 90s / early 00's solo female moaning singing is the worst thing to happen to music. And that includes the assassination of John Lennon.
Pere Ubu
1/5
Nah this ain't it man. Try again.
The Fall
2/5
The music is pretty good, but I really don't like the vocals. This has happened a few times on this list before. The lead singer just really brings everyone else down. I keep going back and forth on if it's better to be boring and generic or unique and unlistenable.
M.I.A.
3/5
I was not expecting to like this nearly as much as I did. I came in thinking it was going to be a generic rap album, and that M.I.A. was a one hit wonder. She has a really cool sound with a blend of a bunch of genres. If you don't like it though you're going to hate this album because it doesn't change at all. Much better than I expected!
Donald Fagen
3/5
Smooth and easy to listen to. About what you expect to hear when you see the words jazz Rock together.
Patti Smith
2/5
I've heard of Patti Smith before but never listened to her. I guess I was expecting more from all the praise I heard so I was a little disappointed with this album. The two 9 minute songs were way too long. I like her voice, but only for about 2:30 minutes. After that it gets kind of annoying.
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
Honestly, this was a really refreshing rock album after a bunch of duds on this list. I can't tell you a single song, but the whole album was a nice palate cleanser.
The kind of album that your friends older brother would play while driving you around in his Pontiac Sunfire.
David Crosby
3/5
It's fine. It's just....fine. Every album we've gotten by Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, or any combo of those names has been just.....fine.
I'm a sucker for Rod Stewart, so finding out he was part of Faces was a huge discovery for me. "Stay with Me" is an all time song and I only knew it from Stewart's solo albums. I wonder how the royalties work with that one? Overall, I really liked this album. Totally understand if people say it's forgettable, but compared to a lot of this list, it's a hit!
Miriam Makeba
4/5
This is what the list is for! Amazing voice and I love hearing albums from other cultures.
"Mbube" was a fun surprise, and I really want to learn how to sing "The Click Song".
4/5 album. 5/5 pick for the list.
Sparks
2/5
It's different.... not good, but it is different.
Suzanne Vega
3/5
This was a very pretty album. Not quite beautiful, but still enjoyable. Nothing really stood out to me, but I was flowing along nicely with it all afternoon. I was even thinking about giving it a 4 until a Fleetwood Mac song auto played right as the album was done, and I was reminded just how much better it was.
Ryan Adams
3/5
I do like Ryan Adams' sound, but something just feels off about him. It's like he trying really hard to be cool. It just doesn't quite feel natural. Maybe I'm just looking to much into it, but it feels like he thinks he's already the next Bob Dylan with just his debut album.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
I've been putting off putting together a presentation for work for about a week now. Today was the final day I had to turn it in. I sat down, put this album on, and cranked out a week's worth of procrastination in 1 hour. Absolutely perfect album to get work done to!
Right place and right time for this album.
Randy Newman
2/5
This is an album by Randy Newman.
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
Is this cultural appropriation? Am I allowed to like this? Because I kinda do.
Lambchop
3/5
Easy listening but a bit boring. I hate the songs in falsetto, but I really liked "Up With People". That song saved it from being a 2.
Grateful Dead
4/5
"The Grateful Dead have four more concerts this summer. I'm hoping by the last one I finally start liking them." - Geoff Schwartz; The Goldbergs.
The Grateful Dead is definitely a Stockholm syndrome band. No one likes them at first, but the more you listen the better they get. This is an absolutely classic album that deserves to be on the list, and a few songs have been drilled into my brain enough times for me to start liking them. I'm thinking 25 to 30 more listens and this may be one of my all time favorite albums.
Pentangle
2/5
A little too folky for my folk taste.
Ray Price
2/5
Man, white people sure know how to party am I right?
The Blue Nile
3/5
I wasn't a fan of the first few songs, but "Stay" really got to me. I feel like I've heard it before but I can't find it referenced anywhere. It felt very nostalgic. I'm a much bigger fan of the second half of this album than the first.
Country Joe & The Fish
4/5
A really good psychedelic rock album. There's a few songs that are kind of oddly placed and boring, but for the most part I really liked it. 3.5/5
4/5
I didn't realize that I like Devo! Some songs got irritating (I can totally see why someone wouldn't like them) but I was jamming with this album overall. It being nice and short helped with some of the annoyance that could develop from their sound.
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
Not bad. I always like hearing "Pretty in Pink", but it feels weird not hearing it in the context of the movie soundtrack. An easily enjoyable album.
Ash
4/5
I loved this album! It's not that deep or technically impressive. It's just has a great indie rock sound. It's like eating a good burger. I'm not going to tell people that they have to get it, but I'll order it any day of the week.
Gene Clark
3/5
This is the kind of album I would expect to come on the radio while I'm riding with my dad in his truck for 6 hours in the dry arid region of Southern Colorado.
Hot Chip
4/5
I like this album, but I'm all over the place with the review. Some songs like "Over and Over" and "The Warning" have me thinking about 5 stars, but then others are hard drop-offs (sometimes in the middle of the song) for me. It is making me think about the album and I keep coming back to parts of it. It's interesting for sure. That's way more than I can say for a lot of boring and forgettable albums on this list.
Aphex Twin
4/5
I got really luck with the timing of this album. Monday morning with a bunch of work that I needed to get done. I put this on and cranked out most of my days work. Perfect background music. Crazy that this came out in the early 90's. It feels like it could fit in perfectly with the 2010's lo-fi boom.
Beyoncé
4/5
After the first song "Pretty Hurts" I thought that this album would be a deep message about the female experience in a world that that puts so much emphasis on looks. Instead, this is one of the most sexual albums I have ever heard. It goes from saying that living up to others beauty standards is painful and that you should just be happy with yourself to I'm the sexiest person in the world. Not upset by that. Just not what I expected after that start.
Wilco
3/5
It was perfectly fine. I bet if I listened to this album a bunch I would really start to like it and learn the lyrics. For a one time listen it was enjoyable, but not really memorable.
U2
3/5
It's U2 with only one of their hits. They're definitely a greatest hits band for me. I get tired of their sound pretty fast.
Gram Parsons
3/5
As good to any other country western album I've listened to. I think western music is to me, as jazz is to most people. It just all sounds the same.
Tangerine Dream
1/5
Boring spa music
Linkin Park
5/5
It's really cool to know that Linkin Park are a gateway band for people who get into rap as well as those who get into metal. They have a really unique sound that just hits every time. There are four all time songs on here with "Papercut", "One Step Closer", "Crawling", and "In the End". The rest of the songs are all pretty similar, so my only real complaint for the album is lack of variation. I feel very similar when it comes to rating this album a 4 or 5 as I did with RHCP - Californication. I gave Californication a 4 due to it's length, and I think I'm going to give Hybrid Theory a 5 due to it's brevity.
Nitin Sawhney
3/5
I am all over the place with this album. I absolutely love some songs, and others I hate. Overall, it's a positive experience, and definitely had me engaged and interested the whole time. This probably would have been a 4 if it wasn't almost an hour long.
Ute Lemper
2/5
With how intensely these lyrics are being sung I feel like I should be moved more. It's one of those things where I know it's supposed to be emotional, but I'm feeling nothing.
Laura Nyro
4/5
I like this a lot. Has a Norah Jones kinda vibe but 35 years earlier. I didn't pay attention to the lyrics, but I really liked the vibe
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
This is a pretty good live album recording for a jam band if that's what you're into. The unfortunate thing is I don't really care for jam bands (especially live recordings) unless I'm sitting on a lawn and drinking a beer as the sun is setting.
The Undertones
3/5
I like the early pop punk kind of sound this band has, but I can't stand the ridiculous vibrato that makes it sound like this guy's trying to start a dead lawn mower.
Sheryl Crow
3/5
I think I came into this album with my expectations set a little too high. I was expecting a little more with such a well known artist (at least to me). "All I Wanna Do" is a classic, and there were a few others that I did enjoy. Overall I liked it, but her voice isn't as good as I was expecting and the lyrics did nothing for me.
Blur
3/5
Again, I wish we had a more granular way of rating these albums. Song 2 is an all-timer and I did like a lot of the rest of this album. It's pretty unique but overall too long. I'm falling right between a 3 and a 4, but if I give it a 4 I'm saying it's the same as Californication, and if I give it a 3 I'm saying it's the same as all the other generic stuff we get on this list. Doesn't feel fair either way.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
I listened to this as background music, so I didn't give it the most fair shot. Joni's voice has a unique beauty to it, but other than that I don't have much positive to say about the album. Mostly just boring.
Cypress Hill
3/5
They've got solid beats and a really good flow. I like their sound overall, but nothing really stuck with me after listening to the album.
Steely Dan
3/5
A classic band with a classic sound. One big hit and the rest of the album is solid. A 3.5 for me.
Jeru The Damaja
2/5
Early 90s rap has to be really good for me to enjoy it. This wasn't bad, but it didn't do anything great. I got bored of it early on. I wouldn't have finished it if it wasn't on the list.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Michael knows how to make an album! There are 4 all-time songs on this one, and he perfect spaces them throughout. The other songs are kinda forgettable though. Bad is definitely not as good as Thriller, but it's not that big of a step down. Probably the best way to follow up the greatest record of all time. This would be a 9/10 if we were on that scale.
Tori Amos
3/5
Solid mom music.
Slayer
2/5
Is this all just one song? I can't tell where one starts and the other ends, and not in a good way like some other albums. If you like that one sound and tempo then you are in for a good time. Much like how I can't distinguish anything that is being said in the lyrics, I cant distinguish a single melody or distinct riff. The best that I can say for Slayer is that it is fun noise.
The Triffids
3/5
This was totally fine. I had no issue listening to the whole album. Totally serviceable, but I won't remember it after today. I think the global review are a little harsh for this album. There are a lot worse on this list.
Elton John
4/5
That first track must be really worn out on a bunch of vinyl's.
This album is classic Elton John with his biggest hit on it. The other songs are good and don't drag it down. I just wish there were more big hits to make this a truly epic album.
It's Elton John. Your going to love it even if you don't know the songs.
John Lee Hooker
3/5
A solid blues album. I really like his voice and his style, but I got pretty bored during some of the slow songs. This would be an easy four if I could cherry pick some of the more upbeat songs, but then I guess it wouldn't be a blues album then would it?
Kacey Musgraves
4/5
I really like this album! I think a lot of problems people have with modern country music is the simplicity of its lyrics i.e. beer, trucks, and freedom. One thing I didn't think about is changing up the perspective from male to female. A country song from the female perspective feels much more meaningful. It's more of a singer songwriter who happens to have a country accent, rather than stereotypical pop country.
I enjoyed the whole album from front to back. I'll be looking out for a copy on vinyl. I could see myself rating this a 5 with a few more listens.
TV On The Radio
2/5
I did not like this guy's voice. Pretty disappointed with this album.
DJ Shadow
3/5
I really like the first half of this album. Cool beats that are super interesting and suck you in. The second half falls off. It devolves into random noises mashed together to see if "hey maybe this will work".
Prince
2/5
I guess this is my music hot take. Prince is overrated. He does nothing for me.
Terence Trent D'Arby
4/5
Awesome album. Very much a Michael Jackson vibe. I'm surprised this guy isn't more well known.
Dire Straits
4/5
Super clean and crisp recording! Exactly what you need so you can hear all of those precises guitar licks. An easily enjoyable album, and "Sultans Of Swing" is an amazing song.
The Hives
4/5
I love this style! Quick, fast, and loud. 2-minute long songs where you get in, fuck shit up, and get out.
In a world of 3 hour long movies and deluxe extended edition records, I will always appreciate a 90 minute movie or 30 minute album.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
2/5
Some music is so good it transcends time. It will be carried on forever. Played over and over throughout the decades. It was loved the day it came out, and will be loved just the same when mankind first puts footsteps on Mars.
This is not that. It is so stuck in the 50's that it hurts. Still fun to go back and listen to it though.
Beatles
1/5
I think I'm just not in a great mood today and I shouldn't take it out on this album, but oh well.
When man first discovered that they could record and broadcast music in stereo rather than mono it was a breakthrough that everyone recognized as genius. You could get higher fidelity in recordings to the point where you could finally pick out specific instruments. You could even pinpoint where in the room those instruments were being played (sound stage). It was revolutionary and bands were experimenting with the new technology. Like most experiments, they sometimes get pushed a little too far. That is what happened here. John, Paul, George, and Ringo were sitting in a room and decided why don't we put all of the instruments on the left side of the room, and we will all sing on the right side. But won't that get a little annoying only hearing lyrics out of one side? Who cares. This is stereo technology we're talking about. We have to put it to the test.
I absolutely can't stand the production of this recording. I'm getting a headache out of one side of my head. It's like when 3D movies were a thing and you could tell every shot that was intended for 3D. Did it add to the film? No. Is it distracting and take you out of the moment? Yep. Are people going to hate it in the future? Probably. So why are we doing it? Cause it's new and cool!
I couldn't tell you much about the actual music. I was too distracted by this stupid stereo recording to pay attention to it. Fuck you Parlophone. I hope you're proud of that little "stereo" stamp in the top right corner of the album art.
Green Day
5/5
It's crazy that Green Day put themselves back on top of the pop punk genre that they helped create 10 years after the release of Dookie. This album starts strong and doesn't let up. So many hits on here, and being a concept album is just a cherry on top. The double songs are sick! It's a good way to add continuity to the songs without having to do it for the entire album. I'm obviously biased from nostalgia, but if they can make a Broadway musical from this album, it must be good.
Ray Charles
4/5
I'm a sucker for a big band, so the first half of this album drew me in immediately. I think the second half with just the strings is stronger though. It's hard to beat Ray Charles on the piano.
Gang Of Four
3/5
Ehh it was alright. If it went on any longer I probably would have gotten annoyed with it and subtracted an extra star. Pretty forgettable, but inoffensive.
OutKast
4/5
I was pretty worried after "So Fresh, So Clean" and "Ms. Jackson" were over only 16 minutes into a 1h 13min album. I was afraid that the rest of the hour would be a slog, but I was wrong. This album just kept going. Even though I didn't know any other songs, I was still jamming the whole time. The album ending was a surprise to me. It went by so fast and I wanted more. One or two more radio hits and this would be an easy 5 stars. 9/10 if we were on that scale.
4/5
I totally understand why people hold this album in such high regard. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would going in. David Bowie is pretty hit or miss for me. I need to listen to this a few more times to truly appreciate it though. I didn't fully comprehend the story that was happening throughout, but the music is solid.