1001 Albums Summary

Have loved a couple of the songs for decades. Overall, though, the album just doesn't speak to me anymore. Radical AF when it was released, true, but some songs haven't traveled through time well.

Is every tune on this LP great? Well, almost every one is. Was kind of neutral about RUSH until semi-recently... after having been introduced to COHEED AND CAMBRIA, who clearly went to the University of Rush.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ What a great album! I'd never heard of NEAL HEFTI (trumpet, writer, and arranger) before listening to this collection of Bop/Swing tunes. 45 minutes well spent listening and reading about him.

WOW! Forgot how many great and classic songs are on this album. HOWEVER (and this is probably heresy), I could never really got into the "surreal" lyrics [e.g., I repeated that my friends were all in jail; With a sigh He gave me his card, he said "Call me if they die;" I shook his hand and said, "Goodbye;" Ran out to the street When a bowling ball came down the road And knocked me off my feet; A pay phone was ringing And it just about blew my mind; When I picked it up and said, "Hello" This foot came through the line]. Still can't do so. It would all be so terribly deep if only I were tripping on acid. No doubt a radical collection of tunes at the time (especially as he started going electric), but, IMO, the album doesn't translate to today. At least for me.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+⭐ An extra star for being almost perfect.

Just a great, revolutionary album...changed how popular music harmonized.Arguably the band that brought acoustic music into the electric world of Rock and Roll. First "supergroup"? (I think so).

I suspect that I won't be rating this beyond ⭐⭐. Correction: ⭐ max So happy it's over. _______________________ Saw this on someone's review and will try to follow that lead. Number of albums left to review: 994 Number of albums from the list I found relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 3 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 5 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (including this one): 2

As the opening luck starts up, I have fond memories of this album. Great, clean production values, despite being 55 minutes on a single piece of wax. This album contains many intricate compositions played expertly. Must be played over headphones. A key point in the evolution/blossoming of Mark Knopfler. Really, from here, he produced, played session, wrote/performed soundtracks in a variety of genres. ______________________ Number of albums reviewed: 7 Number of albums left to review: 993 Number of albums from the list I found relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 3 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 6 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine: 1

Lots of hidden guitar licks, etc. that I'd never heard when this was new. Headphones are a marvelous invention, are they not. HAPPY FEELIN' is wild...I don't think I ever heard it before. In fact, most of the non-hirs on this album are terrific.

Like it - and while several members of my family listen to reggae almost exclusively - to me it's good background music. __________________________________________ 🎧 Number of albums reviewed: 10 🎧 Number of albums left to review: 991 🎧 Number of albums that I found relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 3 🎧 Number of albums that I *might* include in mine later on: 5 🎧 Number of albums that I will certainly *not* include in mine: 2

This seems like it might've been an important album as I can hear similar sound in many bands since this came out (1996). The trio of "Innocent Smile," "Angel Interceptor," and "Lost In You"" make for a very enjoyable 15 minutes. Second, instrumental half of "Darkside Lightside" is excellent. Overall sound reminds me of Lit, Blink, and Weezer for no good, discernable reason. This album doesn't really seem worth ⭐⭐⭐⭐, but because I added five of the songs to my Spotify Liked Songs playlist, I'm giving it that rating. ____________________________ 🎧 Number of albums reviewed: 11 🎧 Number of albums left to review: 990 🎧 Number of albums that I found relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 3 🎧 Number of albums that I *might* include in mine later on: 6 🎧 Number of albums that I will certainly *not* include in mine: 2

If you listen to "A Forest" while watching a slow motion video of a hummingbird drinking out of a pink flower, well...... Very clean production, trippy songs in their patented trippy, sparse style. Is this trance music? Pre-trance music? A distant ancestor of trance music? Is trance music even a genre or does it go by another name? Shoe gaze? Clear choice when you want to put on the headphones and simply stare at the ceiling. ____________________________ 🎧 Number of albums reviewed: 12 🎧 Number of albums left to review: 989 🎧 Number of albums that I found relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 3 🎧 Number of albums that I *might* include in mine later on: 6 🎧 Number of albums that I will certainly *not* include in mine: 2

This is gonna be a chore. I've never been a fan, but it's only 42 minutes and 38 seconds of my life that I'll never get back, so... Yes, this LP has the massive hit "Sweet Dreams", and Annie Lenox has a heluva voice, and the production values are excellent, but I find the whole of the album boring and annoying. How I yearn to click the 'next cut' button and go out to shovel the snow and slush (a statement I never thought I'd ever make). Nevertheless, it's so so so much better than THE KLAXONS, so it will get ⭐⭐. ____________________________ 🎧 # of LPs reviewed: 13 🎧 # of LPs left to review: 988 🎧 # of LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 3 🎧 # of LPs I *might* include in my own list: 6 🎧 # of LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine: 3

Trippy opening on 1st cut - as 2nd cut opens up, this is an album made for headphones. "When I trust you we can do it with the lights on" - repeat ad nauseum. "Higher than a motherfucker dreaming of you as my lover" "I can fuck you better than her" "My thighs are apart for when you're ready to breathe in". It sounds like she has a good voice (kind of like Enya?), but juvenile lyrics and crappy computer music leave me embarrassed for the many many people who apparently dig this shit. Maybe it's a generational thing, but please.... Overall, I would rate this album as fucking awful. My impression by the middle of song #3 is that this album is designed for a different market than me (ya think?). Background soft porn music for being exceedingly high and having sex. While wearing headphones, so I don't know exactly how that would all work out. Good luck. __________________________________ 🎧 # of LPs reviewed: 14 🎧 # of LPs left to review: 987 🎧 # of LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 3 🎧 # of LPs I *might* include in my own list: 6 🎧 # of LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine: 4

It goes without saying that when I saw today's selection was LOUIS PRIMA, a broad smile spread across my face. The album cover alone puts you in a good mood. 1st cut, the classic JUST A GIGOLO/I AIN'T GOT NOBODY: Loosey Goosey band performance that backs his shouted vocals perfectly. I'm guessing this must've been an absolute blast recording this cut. If the rest of this album is at this level, it's a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for sure. [Postscript: it is!] 2nd cut, (NOTHING'S TOO GOOD) FOR MY BABY features a duet between Louis and Keely Smith - a perfect combo (and husband and wife!). Keely takes the lead on THE LIP, never heard it before. "Yip yip yip yip!" The band, Sam Butera & the Witnesses, is tight and loose at the same time, if you know what I mean. And even if you don't, they still are. I just picture crowds of fifties hep cats and cool chicks boppin' and stompin' to this album. Everyone should listen to the original version of JUMP, JIVE, AN' WAIL at least once. Listen closely and you'll recognize Louis' voice as that of "King Louie" from Disney's Jungle Book ("I WANNA BE LIKE YOU"). __________________________________ 🎧 # of LPs reviewed: 15 🎧 # of LPs left to review: 986 🎧 # of LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 4 🎧 # of LPs I *might* include in my own list: 7 🎧 # of LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine: 4

Any album that starts out with MANNISH BOY is gonna be great. This is the song and the version that I've always associated with Muddy....the kind of song that you start over and over just to hear the opening. I challenge you to put this album on and sit still. Muddy Waters – vocals, guitar. Johnny Winter – guitar, producer, miscellaneous screams. Bob Margolin – guitar. Charles Calmese – bass guitar. Pinetop Perkins – piano. James Cotton – harmonica. Willie "Big Eyes" Smith – drums. __________________________________ 🎧 # of LPs reviewed: 16 🎧 # of LPs left to review: 985 🎧 # of LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 4 🎧 # of LPs I *might* include in my own list: 7 🎧 # of LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine: 4

Have not heard of this. Let's see. What genre is this? Poetry? Jazz? Electro? Genre-free? A black-centric musical collective, per Wikipedia. Reminds me somewhat of the political soul music of early seventies, not musically, but message-wise. As I'm listening, though, "Wildfires" (cut #5) sort of harks back to that era. Honestly, there's a very low probability that I'll ever listen to this again, but so far it's pretty good. "Bow" (cut #9) great instrumentation and beat. Actually, you could say that about any of the cuts that aren't primarily poetry/spoken word. Production varies track to track...(to my ears, anyway) the highs are kind of fuzzy, especially the synth, snare, and occasional guitar riff. Maybe they want that sound? Vocals always crystal clear though. At almost an hour long, it does get repetitive. About 3/4 through it has become somewhat boring. I admit this was a wishy-washy review, but over the course of this listen, my opinion went through changes. ⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 # of LPs reviewed: 17 🎧 # of LPs left to review: 984 🎧 # of LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 4 🎧 # of LPs I *might* include in my own list: 7 🎧 # of LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine: 4

Reggae light? Nope. Mid-80s pop, electro-dance-pop, etc. Michael Jackson wanna-be? Pretty sure by 1985, every single person in the UK had put out an album just like this. Highly recommend listening to Thomas Dolby's THE GOLDEN AGE OF WIRELESS (1982), which blows this out of the water. Overall review: this album is inoffensive shit. ⭐⭐ because of clean production. __________________________________ 🎧 # of LPs reviewed: 18 🎧 # of LPs left to review: 983 🎧 # of LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 4 🎧 # of LPs I *might* include in my own list: 7 🎧 # of LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine: 4

Part of British 90s AltRock-Britpop invasion. I think opening cut, GIRLS & BOYS, was a hit and found its way onto my Spotify playlists over the years. 3rd cut, END OF A CENTURY, is very different - slower beat, acoustic guitars, jangle electric, great harmonies and background vocals (possibly Beatlesque). #4, PARK LIFE, is mostly spoken word, with lots of "Ooooo-ooo-oooh" in the background. Sorta reminds me of early Kinks. My memory tells me that bands in the 90s Britpop invasion modelled their sound on the bands of the 60s invasion. I'm surprised at the inclusion and quality of the slower songs, quite the opposite of the kind of punky vibes of what I expected. THE DEBT COLLECTOR - a nice little 2-minute carnival carousel instrumental! TROUBLE IN THE MESSAGE CENTER straight out rocks! Put it on repeat! Seagulls and harpsichord 🙂 on CLOVER OVER DOVER...and excellent harmonies - this album keeps making me smile. JUBILEE shows heavy influence of the ZIGGY STARDUST album. This album has really surprised me. I'd always assumed the rest of the album would be just like GIRLS AND BOYS. However, it includes a variety of genres and little musical twists and tricks, and shows that the band wasn't afraid of experimenting with their sound. While I'm not crazy about all of the songs, this is closer to a 4/5 than 3/5, so I'm awarding ⭐⭐⭐⭐. __________________________________ 🎧 # of LPs reviewed: 19 🎧 # of LPs left to review: 982 🎧 # of LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 4 🎧 # of LPs I *might* include in my own list: 8 🎧 # of LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine: 4

[Seems odd...2 Cure albums in my 1st 20 listens. Clearly, I have somehow offended the gods of random music selection.] I genuinely dislike Robert Smith's whining I-Feel-Life-Too-Deeply-I-Am-A-Victim voice. The theme of this album is "Hey - let's all take a shitload of downers, fuck around in the studio, and RECORD IT! Then we'll hire somebody to convince the children that this is art." Having a hard time deciding if this gets ⭐ or ⭐⭐. "Pornography" is one of the worst songs I've ever heard. Sorry, Robert Smith: ⭐ When I die, and my life flashes before my eyes, I pray to God this isn't the soundtrack. __________________________________ 🎧 # of LPs reviewed: 20 🎧 # of LPs left to review: 981 🎧 # of LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 4 🎧 # of LPs I *might* include in my own list: 8 🎧 # of LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine: 5

This is absolutely NOT what I thought The Jesus And Mary Chain sounded ilike. This will be interesting...I always enjoy being proven wrong. Plenty of heavy jangle. Like that the drums are right out front; cheers to the drummer. Oops - just read that they used drum machines on this. Still... I find the faster tunes much more enjoyable than the slower ones. Still, this is one of the better albums I've been introduced to so far in this 1001 project. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 # of LPs reviewed: 21 🎧 # of LPs left to review: 980 🎧 # of LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 4 🎧 # of LPs I *might* include in my own list: 9 🎧 # of LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine: 5

The cover alone is worth ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Title song pairs nicely with Talking Heads' LIFE DURING WARTIME both musically and lyrically. Also simply kicks ass. LONDON CALLING (song & album) marks the point when The Clash took over the world (from Queen?). Released as a double album, sadly not every song is at the level of LONDON CALLING. Because of that, while it warrants 5 stars in terms of "must hear before death" and its importance in the history of Rock 'n' Roll, it gets ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me. __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 22 🎧 LPs left to review: 979 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 5 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list: 7 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine: 7

SO YOU WANT TO BE A ROCK 'N' ROLL STAR is a great way to open an album HAVE YOU SEEN HER FACE is a clear example of how the Byrds were so important in transitioning popular music from folk (the harmonies are traditional folky) to rock (jangle 12-string, the beat). WTF is happening at the end of C.T.A.-102?!?!? [You learn something every day - "Chillman" gets a songwriting credit on many songs here. Looked him up and found that it's Chris Hillman - why he didn't use his full name is curious; Christopher Hillman also gets credit.] This album is flush with early psychedelic guitar and production tricks. Early hints of "country rock," likely due to Hillman. Love it. David Crosby had a wonderful voice and wrote some absolutely great songs. Sometimes, though, he could get a tad pretentious. MIND GARDENS is a perfect example. Was he tripping? How did the band allow this in the album? There are a handful of dogs in this album, but most of them have quality guitar and harmony components to redeem them. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 23 🎧 LPs left to review: 978 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 5 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list: 7 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine: 7

[[ I've been wondering what I was gonna do when a double album came up. Hope I can find the time to listen to the whole thing - 22 songs, 1 hour 42 minutes. ]] I have enjoyed some of these songs for years, especially FISHERMAN'S BLUES, which most people have likely heard. I'm embarrassed that I was unaware of the relationship between the Waterboys and World Party (Karl Wallinger), but listening and thinking about it, it makes perfect sense. A lot of the music feels like it was recorded live, as a full band, with spontaneous surprises allowed and kept on the final product - see SWEET THING, a Van Morrison tune "interrupted" by The Beatles ' BLACKBIRD. A BANG ON THE EAR is a terrific song. I was concerned about exactly what a “bang on the ear” meant - apparently, it's slang for “say hello to her for me”. This reminds me of The Pogues, but, while it's loosey-goosey and traditional-based, it's not as wild or drunken. THE STOLEN CHILD is wonderful. Includes spoken word and great instrumentation in a minor key. More violin than fiddle, if you know what I mean. Heartfelt. Best song on an excellent album. 'Come away, O human child To the waters and the wild With a faery hand in hand For the world's more full of weeping Than you can understand' Disc 2 including alternate versions of FISHERMAN'S BLUES and WHEN WILL WE BE MARRIED, both of which are very, very good. Final tune, SOON AS I GET HOME, is a 12-minute banger - where a typical R&R band would include a screaming lead guitar we find sax and fiddle battling it out. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 24 🎧 LPs left to review: 977 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 6 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list: 8 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine: 7

Judas F. Priest - Enough F. Said. ⭐⭐

Weird..was just talking about this album the other night. I bought this on the afternoon it came out and it eventually became the only album I actually wore out. As the reader may know, Neil Young removed all of his music from Spotify some time ago in response to Joe Rogan's (?) Podcast being carried on that platform. So I can't listen to it now to fully review it. However, it is most assuredly a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ album that is a mandatory listen. __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 26 🎧 LPs left to review: 975 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 7 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list: 8 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine: 8

Love the Pixies. CECILIA ANN is a great song to open an album - kind of a hard rock Western movie soundtrack. VELOURIA one of the best songs ever...loud driving beat and guitar with soft vocals. Loud/Soft Loud/Soft Loud/Soft Loud/Soft. This album has frenetic random activity periods (FRAPs) with intentional dissonance that really works for them. Includes periodic spoken word by Black Francis/Frank Black. Are you waiting for power chords? Wait no longer. Another reviewer wrote "The best description I read of this album was that it's surf rock for gothic kids who wear black to the beach...." That's not me at all, but I do so love this album and the Pixies in general. Not every song is great, and the album is close to a 5/5, but ⭐⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 27 🎧 LPs left to review: 974 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 8 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list: 8 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine: 8

The movie proved one thing - Prince had no business acting. But holy crap could he play a guitar. And no matter how he's doing it - spoken word, singing, falsetto, screaming, or just making cooing noises - his voice is perfect throughout. I was gonna say that even the weak songs are strong, but DARLING NIKKI is a little too self-indulgent for me, and it almost forced me to deduct one star. The 5-minute guitar-keyboard-strings conclusion of PURPLE RAIN redeems it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 28 🎧 LPs left to review: 973 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 8 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 9 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 8

Debut album by The Who. So basic - it was 1965 after all. Most songs written by Pete Townshend, but includes two James Brown tunes (I DON'T MIND; PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE) and a Bo Diddley (I'M A MAN). What's interesting about this album is that you can clearly hear the roots of what they'll become - lead vocals, harmonies, and instruments - but they're trying out a whole bunch of genres to figure that out. Therefore, a good percentage of the album is filler throwaway material, which was pretty typical of albums at the time - a handful of good tunes (or even just one!) and quickly record a bunch of shit to get the album out. But there in the middle sit MY GENERATION and THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT. Both songs are classics and have held up for almost 60 years!!! That's pretty amazing. THE OX (last cut on the album) - you can easily imagine that here is where they decided to smash their instruments on stage. I guess I can understand that this belongs on the list for historical purposes, but doesn't warrant 5/5 for me. ⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 29 🎧 LPs left to review: 972 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 8 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 9 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 8

Q: What can you say about Queen that hasn't already been said? A. Nothing. Brian May and Roger Taylor are two of Rock's greatest musicians. Freddie Mercury, the archetypical [wrong word?] singer. John Deacon, always in the background but always providing the perfect bass line. This album includes my all-time favorite Queen song, I'M IN LOVE WITH MY CAR, and, of course, BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, plus DEATH ON TWO LEGS and '39. Production is insanely clean and crisp (thank you, Roy Thomas Baker). SWEET LADY, kind of a throwaway bit, and SEASIDE RENDEZVOUS, a vaudevillian fun tune, were probably enjoyable to create, but hearing them once per decade is plenty. THE PROPHET'S SONG is somewhat self-indulgent. Actually, very self-indulgent. And 5 minutes too long. Not my favorite of the early Queen albums. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 30 🎧 LPs left to review: 971 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 8 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 10 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 8

HIGHWAY STAR - What a tremendous way to open an album! Had to play it twice! Loved this album when it came out - especially HIGHWAY STAR, SMOKE ON THE WATER, and SPACE TRUCKIN'. Looking forward to hearing this thing again. In many ways, this band and this album helped define 1972. I had forgotten this important fact (per Wikipedia): They were listed in the 1975 Guinness Book of World Records as "the globe's loudest band" for a 1972 concert at London's Rainbow Theatre... LAZY cooks. Opening reminds me of The Band's CHEST FEVER. SPACE TRUCKIN' - How many octaves does Ian Gillan have, for fuck's sake?!? I think this still holds up as an excellent album. Can't decide between 4/5 or 5/5. It's weird that I'd give A Night At The Opera a 4 and this a 5, but......... ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 31 🎧 LPs left to review: 970 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 9 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 10 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 8

[I've heard of the group, but never heard them.] After a few pieces, I really like it, and, so far, anyway, no F-Bombs, rapes, or murders - sorry, that's my old white guy stereotyped impression of rap (and I just found out that this genre is Hip Hop - see? you learn something every day!). Is it wrong to say that this reminds me of Arrested Development? This is an easy album to listen to the whole thing and just let it flow, but the lyrics need your attention. You don't often see/hear references to Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego. Or Afrika Bambaataa, for that matter. "...if you really liked yourself, then you would try and be you." True. "...the world is kinda cold and the rhythm is my blanket... Wrap yourself up in it, if you love it, then you'll thank it." Now that I'm 2/3 through, though, I'm not 100% on it. And will have to spend some time researching the people they reference. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 32 🎧 LPs left to review: 969 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 9 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 11 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 8

You can hear every modern blues guitarist - hell, every lead guitar player - in these licks. And his vocals! Easy to understand how he was key in bringing the blues to the general public. Love how you can hear the audience talking to him. I've never been able to determine how much I like B.B. King. Too polished maybe? ⭐⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 33 🎧 LPs left to review: 968 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 9 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 12 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 8

It had to happen sooner or later...an album that I know I don't like before listening. I'd vowed when I downloaded this app that I'd listen to every album on the list. Filling raps with F-Bombs, MF-Bombs, Bitches, and Hos is too easy a way to get your message across and guarantee an audience I sort of understand where it's all coming from, given the world in 1988 (+/- forever), but that doesn't mean I have to listen to more than a song and a half. Vows were meant to be broken. For being politically in tune, important, and (sadly) influential, ⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 34 🎧 LPs left to review: 967 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 9 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 12 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 9

Opening cut, BROWN SUGAR, boring and repetitive; don't want to hear his thoughts on having a menage a trois. Or his constant use of the word "Nigga." D'Angelo seems to find a groove, fit in a lyric, and put it on repeat for 5+ minutes per cut. While he's at it, he throws in as many "Ooooohs" as he can. Reminds me of Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, and Lonnie Liston Smith, all of whom I'd rather be listening to. I stopped listening in the middle of SHIT, DAMN, MOTHERFUCKER. This album would be much better without the vocals. ⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 35 🎧 LPs left to review: 966 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 9 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 12 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 10

Will I listen to an hour and three minutes? Not likely, but not what I was expecting at all. What genre is this? Trance? Trip Hop? I'm thinking it's it's own genre. Just read that this is composed almost entirely of samples - interesting challenge to compile it all into an organic whole. Let's see if DJ Shadow can actually do it. The whole issue of sampling... especially if it's ALL samples, who gets credit for the compositions? Is this the same question of AI using art already in existence to create something new? Is ANY piece of art new, or is everything influenced by what came before that then gets built upon? I honestly don't know what to think of this album. I mostly enjoyed listening to it, and I think I comprehend the amount of work required to pull and put together enough samples to fill 63 minutes. But if every beat, every note, every riff, and every word is taken from someone else.....🙃. Would Andy Warhol even have existed if somebody hadn't designed the Campbell's Soup label first? Is it 63 minutes of some radical new fusion or 63 minutes of shit? Can't decide so it gets ⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 36 🎧 LPs left to review: 965 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 9 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 12 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 10

First impression: Prince wannabe. Too negative? Oh ... This is a young Pharrell? Ah. I appreciate the thought behind this - merge hip hop, rock, and 70s soul - but this doesn't do much for me personally. I don't think I'll remember any of these songs an hour from now. I look forward to reading other reviews to see why this is on the list. Is it supposed to be, like, the Sergeant Pepper of hip hop or something? ⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 37 🎧 LPs left to review: 964 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 9 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 12 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 10

Smash hit and excellent song LET'S STAY TOGETHER opens it up. Such a great beat. Spare horns are perfect, but no more than Green's vocals. Up, down, and all around. BG vocals also terrific...can you tell I love that tune? Kind of a dropoff for the 2nd cut LA-LA FOR YOU, although the horns come through to the rescue. I think the horns and the Hammond organ are my favorite parts of this LP. Classic early seventies soul. Other highlights: - I'VE NEVER FOUND A GIRL - HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART (perfect in every way: didn't know he wrote it) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 38 🎧 LPs left to review: 963 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 9 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 13 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 10

First thing I think of when I see this cover is singing along to the radio and strumming a badminton racquet like a guitar. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 39 🎧 LPs left to review: 962 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 9 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 14 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 10

I don't know why, but I had the mistaken impression that Sufjan Stevens put out "romantic" bubble gum pap. I was really wrong. This is really good. Very very interesting song titles (e.g., "The Black Hawk War, or, How to Demolish an Entire Civilization and Still Feel Good About Yourself in the Morning, or, We Apologize for the Inconvenience but You're Going to Have to Leave Now, or, 'I Have Fought the Big Knives and Will Continue to Fight Them Until They Are Off Our Lands!'") There's a lot of complicated things going on here. And a significant amount of creepiness. Oddly and inexplicably, I am experiencing a sense of dread. This is not background music. It requires that you devote an hour and 14 minutes to paying attention. Is it a symphony? The Sergeant Pepper of the 2000s? Although I don't particularly LOVE every song, I enjoyed the listening experience very much. There's just so much going on (did I already say that?). Vocals (lead and background), instrumentation, everything together... very nice. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 40 🎧 LPs left to review: 961 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 10 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 14 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 10

Ooh. Paul Weller. The Jam! Well known for loving the British bands of the sixties, here Weller extrapolates that sound, often calling up a Steve Winwood-like voice. Although INSTRUMENTAL - PT 1 and PT 2 hint at Marvin Gaye (at least to me). Boy - I really hear a lot of Traffic here. Psychedelic influences throughout the album. At least a few songs (5th SEASON; THE WEAVER; FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN) could've been early Frampton. Started out a 5, slipped to a 4, and ended up a ⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 41 🎧 LPs left to review: 960 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 10 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 14 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 10

Oh how scandalous this album cover was when it first came out. A working zipper (!) that opened onto someone's tighty whities!!! Almost every song here is great, and they are all different from each other (e.g., BROWN SUGAR vs. WILD HORSES; YOU GOTTA MOVE vs. BITCH). One of the things I love about this album is the practiced/perfected sloppiness, if you can call it that, of Keith's guitar playing. And, as an inverse to the Stones' sloppy, swampy music comes the album closer, MOONLIGHT MILE. Lots going on this one... perhaps the best tune on Sticky Fingers. I'd forgotten how great this album is. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [I have always wondered about the relationship (if there is one) between CAN'T YOU HEAR ME KNOCKING and Poco's EL TONTO DE NADIE, REGRESA.] __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 42 🎧 LPs left to review: 959 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 10 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 14 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 10

No idea. Oh. I remember the principle lick in DEFINITIVE GAZE. I guess you could say this is a precursor of electronic pop. So far, I'd rather be listening to Thomas Dolby (SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE; ONE OF OUR SUBMARINES IS MISSING). Right now, song #2, MY TULPA, this is looking at ⭐⭐. The lyric "You can touch yourself any time" makes me want to go play the Tubes' DON'T TOUCH ME THERE. Vocals are punk-ish on SHOT BY BOTH SIDES, with excellent drum and guitar. Seems to have evolved into a more punk-ish album than I initially thought. [So I just learned that this is "post-punk". Meh.] Apparently, this album was influential to several bands I sorta like, so while I don't love any songs, the fact of its influence plus the excellent drums and guitar, I'll give it a reluctant ⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 43 🎧 LPs left to review: 958 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 10 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 14 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 10

Ahh. Something I've never heard of. The cover and the artist's name tell me it's gonna be jazz.....And I'm right! Seems like this would have been fun creating it, but, at least the opening cut seems unworthy of being on this list. If I hadn't seen the release date of 1986, I'd have placed this in the fifties or early sixties. Production is occasionally fuzzy, and, whether intentional or not, it's distracting. Bass on MANENBERG REVISITED is very nice. And TUANG GURU is a pretty cool tune. But I don't find anything outstanding about this LP as a whole. I hate to actually say this but our small town's high school jazz band could have put this out. While listening, I tried to research why this is an important album. There's barely anything out there in terms of a review; the Wikipedia entry basically verifies its existence. I'm not a real "jazz person," so ⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 44 🎧 LPs left to review: 957 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 10 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 14 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 10

Another band I've never heard of. Electronica. Too fucked up for me to devote 71 minutes of my life to. Adios. ⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 45 🎧 LPs left to review: 956 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 11 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 14 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 11

This was such a huge album. Haven't listened to it in years. Coincidentally - and I find this extremely weird - Hotel California came up in today's news and as today's 1001 pick: _____ NEW YORK (AP) — A criminal case involving handwritten lyrics to the classic rock megahit “Hotel California” and other Eagles favorites went to trial Wednesday in New York, with three men accused of scheming to thwart band co-founder Don Henley’s efforts to reclaim the allegedly ill-gotten documents. The trial concerns about 100 pages of drafts of the words to songs from the 1976 release “Hotel California,” which is the third-biggest selling album ever in the U.S. _____ Produced by Bill Szymczyk: mandatory headphones. This album is where The Eagles took over the world - Bernie Leadon was gone (along with his country influence) and Joe Walsh was in (along with his hard rock influence). One of my favorite lines ever: "...she was terminally pretty." As great as this album is, it's also almost too perfect, too polished. But I guess you could say that about any Eagles album. This was around the time I kind of soured on them. They'd become more of a corporate machine than a band. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 46 🎧 LPs left to review: 955 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 11 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 15 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 11

The only thing I remember about Brian Eno is that his music was considered at the time to be so avant garde/weird that I gave myself the benefit of the doubt and never listened to it. In the time since then, I've listened to some pretty weird shit, so let's see how this goes. Were I to have been stoned out of my gourd in 1975, I think I would've loved listening to this on repeat through headphones while staring out the window. Very clean production, of course, and that makes falling into "the zone" easier and more interesting. Best songs (to me): - THE BIG SHIP - I'LL COME RUNNING - SOMBRE REPTILES Trippiest: - SOMBRE REPTILES - LITTLE FISHES - GOLDEN HOURS Best surprise: - Exactly halfway through GOLDEN HOURS a smiling guitar pops in for a visit "I can't see the lines I used to think i could read between Perhaps my brains have turned to sand Oh me oh my" (GOLDEN HOURS) And speaking of surprises, now that I'm 75% through it, I realize I really like this album and will likely find it again when I just wanna watch the back of my eyelids and zone out. See especially ZAWINUL/LAVA. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [Last song, SPIRITS DRIFTING, is a throwaway.] ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 47 🎧 LPs left to review: 954 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 11 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 16 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 11

I took time off from this listening project to have emergency abdominal surgery, and I'm wondering if my exploding gall bladder was surreptitiously helping me postpone listening to this album. It was released in 2012, but it sounds like mid-80s. Voices are nice, instruments and computers are well played, and production is as clean as can be, but it really doesn't do much for me. DON'T DENY YOUR HEART is an okay song (I wonder what it would sound like in another genre); if you found yourself drunk on a crowded dance floor, it'd be a great song. I guess that's what most of the album is designed for, so I can't fault it for fulfilling its destiny. I bet it gets a lot of play at weddings and reunions in the UK. The slow song, LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE, sounds vaguely like a throwaway song by 10cc. I'd rather be listening to 10cc. Overall, it's neither good nor bad, but it's way too long, so I give it ⭐⭐. ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 48 🎧 LPs left to review: 953 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 11 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 16 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 12

Oh Nooooooo!! A 2-hour album that I never heard...please please please be good. Well, so much for that hope..... Starts with heavy psychedelic vibe. I guess you've gotta love a guitar player whose name is Sonic Boom. However, there is very little (read: no) booming going on in track #3, HOW DO YOU FEEL, sonic or otherwise, a spoken word repetitive drone. The title of track #4, I BELIEVE IT, answers the question "Do you suffer from a feeling of over-self-importance?" The semi-decent songs are too short and the crappy songs are too long...make that way to long. I question the decision to include this album in the list of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Personally, I would include it in the list of albums to avoid at all costs. Another album that I won't get through. I would give this 0 stars if I could. ⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 49 🎧 LPs left to review: 952 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 11 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 16 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 13

Finally. One of my favorite bands, although I think there are better Sigur Rós albums [Kveikur; Valtari; Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust; Inni (Live)]. Sigur Rós music is so strange that I think many people will absolutely hate it. So much going on here. Including lyrics in an invented language (Vonlenska). Jonsi uses a bow on his guitar. Unusual voice, but fits the music. Strings, horns, and effects float in and out. Echo very important component of their music. Very quiet, soft intros open up to crashing orchestrated soundscapes. This is definitely a headphone album. Made loud to be played loud. 4th cut, FLUGUFRELSARINN, brings is the sonic dissonance and drama that they're known for. VIÒRAR VEL TIL LOFTÁRÁSA, the 7th cut is just a beautiful, sad piece. For me, OLSEN OLSEN, track 8, is one of their best pieces. Haunting bass line, harmonic vocals, then in come the horns and strings - just a great arrangement. I don't know why, but listening to track 9, ÁGAETIS BYRJUN, just makes me smile. I hesitate to give this ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ because I think there are better Sigur Rós albums, so I'll give it ⭐⭐⭐⭐. ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 50 🎧 LPs left to review: 951 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 11 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 13

My first impression of the opening is that it's a ripoff of P-Funk's Mother ship. This isn't what I'd typically listen to, and I suspect it's really good if this is what you listen to. It's just not something that I'd take time out of MY day to, although I'm obviously taking time out of my day right now. Recognizing that MFs are required for this genre, I get turned off by lyrics like "my dick in her mouth." ⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 51 🎧 LPs left to review: 950 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 11 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 14

Cut #1, SLOW BURN, is A+. "Grandma cried when I pierced my nose." Reminds me of a fraternity brother of mine who, in Maine, back in '71, painted his toenails with bright red nail polish. I asked him why, and he told me that it upset his grandmother, who lived in Pennsylvania. Beautiful voice. Simple, effective instruments. Very clean production. Nice harmonies. Certainly didn't expect synthesized vocals on #4 - Cat Power did it better on her "Sun" LP. #5, MOTHER, great 1:18 love song to her mother. Uh oh...just read that 'Musgraves discussed being under the influence of LSD when composing the songs "Mother" and "Slow Burn"', my two favorite songs #6, LOVE IS A WILD THING, showcases her as a wordsmith, and all kinds of instrumentation sneaks in ... banjo, steel, and something I can't identify (electronica?). #9, VELVET ELVIS. For no good or sane reason, I'm embarrassed that someone wrote this song. Taking back that earlier "wordsmith" comment......"But, baby, I ain't Wonder Woman. I don't know how to lasso the love out of you." Much of this collection (to me) sounds like what the competitors of The Voice here.ould be singing. Don't know what that means, but that's what I hear. I think I dislike the poppier tunes (especially HIGH HORSE). ⭐⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 52 🎧 LPs left to review: 949 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 11 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 14

*** Sorry this review is so long *** I've done myself a disservice by not listening to this album for years. But Lucky Me! I get to climb inside my headphones and spend almost 2 hours listening to one of my favorite albums. It is insane how excellent this album is. Yesterday I heard someone refer to Stevie Wonder as a singer-songwriter. He is definitely a storyteller. And a genius. I remember, as a kid, being blown away by FINGERTIPS, fascinated by the music a "fellow kid" was making, and then being further amazed that he was blind! Seemed impossible. Now, listening to this album, it's equally amazing that he mastered the music in his head and produced such excellent complex, joyful, spiritual, and political music. There are so so many things going on in the background of these songs. Mid-seventies is my favorite era for Stevie Wonder music. Very tricky. VILLAGE GHETTO LAND sounds like a light classical piece, but the lyrics sharply define life for a large segment of American society. And suddenly - Boom - the jazz bouncer CONTUSION smacks you upside the head. Gonna listen to this twice. (Little Feat basically ripped this off a year later for A DAY AT THE DOG RACES.) I'm not gonna write down my reaction to every song in this collection, but Holy Moly is this great! And he writes a terrific love song (e.g., KNOCKS ME OFF MY FEET; ISN'T SHE LOVELY; AS; ANOTHER STAR). Required reading: the lyrics to BLACK MAN while listening to the funk. AS - This 7:03 gem gives me rolling chills, as very few songs do, when it breaks at 2:03 into the "Until..." list. Love it. [[ One negative thing about having sold/given away all my vinyl is that I can't sit on the floor and read the liner notes to see who played what. There's so much going on here, I'd love to know who's doing it. I bet they had an absolute blast.GO HERE: https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songs_in_the_Key_of_Life ]] I would give this ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+⭐ if I could. ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 53 🎧 LPs left to review: 948 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 12 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 14

Well. THAT was quick. This is EXACTLY the music I enjoy listening to ....... for about a minute a year. ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 54 🎧 LPs left to review: 947 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 12 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 15

I've put off listening to this LP long enough. Never been an ELP fan. Let's see how it goes. Very dramatic (of course). Excellent musicians. Nice vocals. But I just wasn't into them at the time and am not into them now. Q: Was this the first R&R / Pop record to employ the MOOG synthesizer? NO! Looked it up and, very weirdly, it was the Monkees! I'm giving this ⭐⭐⭐ because, while I don't hate it and will never listen to it again, it served as a solid base for future prog albums. ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 55 🎧 LPs left to review: 946 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 12 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 15

Bitch, don't kill my vibe. Oops - too late. "I pray my dick gets big as the Eiffel Tower" - seriously? Do we need this shite? ⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 56 🎧 LPs left to review: 945 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 12 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 15

I've loved the name of this band since the first time I heard it, but I don't think I've ever actually listened to them. Read a bunch of 1001 reviews and surprised at all the ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ratings. Someone, giving this a ⭐, complained about it being "sustain guitar depressed teenager music". But for a band named SONIC YOUTH, who formed in the middle of the post-punk no-wave period, what would you expect?!? "Sustain guitar depressed teenager music" is what they were supposed to do. I wonder if they were influenced by the PIXIES... On another day, I might give it ⭐⭐ - it's not my cup of tea, but I'll give it ⭐⭐⭐ because it's a pretty accurate picture of what was happening in 1987. ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 57 🎧 LPs left to review: 944 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 12 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 16

Another band that I'd heard of but never listened to (or forgot doing so). This is good ..really like 1st cut, ASSESSMENT. Nice harmonies, rhythm, and guitar. Whoa - then, at 3:00, it mutates into a semi-hard-rocker - more toms and bass drum, louder guitar, and dissonance. LION THIEF kind of harks back to early seventies psychedelia with great instrumentation. A not-so-great song like EASY at least has interesting sounds snuck in. The vocals on these slow or slow-ish songs (e.g. TROUBLES) seem to copy Pink Floyd. Nice, clean production throughout. The electronica bits don't always work. They frequently don't seem to care all that much about lyrics - or they really love repetition - SPACE BEATLE repeats the line "I love you to pieces" around 30 times. Some songs are good / some are throw away / some are in inbetween. Giving this a ⭐⭐⭐. ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 58 🎧 LPs left to review: 943 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 12 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 16

Yet another one that I've never heard of... After listening to the first three tunes, my initial thought is that this album would be better as an instrumental. Vocalist doesn't have a "great voice," but cramming extra words/syllables into the beat calls attention to it. Not to mention...lyrics are meh. "Was your day hard you can barely answer 'Yes my world's Tumbling down Stone by stone To the ground' Please take out the garbage." It's a shame, really. The lyrics are like what a high schooler would compose while stoned and trying to be deep while everyone kinda just looks at their shoes in embarrassment for the poor guy. Ultimately boring. I'd like to give it ⭐ ⭐ ⭐, but excellent instrumentation and production can't compensate for whatever the hell it is that I wrote above. ⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 59 🎧 LPs left to review: 942 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 12 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 17

B O O M !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And away we go! This was such an amazing album. When it came out, everybody bought a copy and just blasted it - made loud to be played loud. Excellent production...bold concepts in several songs...though not all the songs have carried their relevance for the 54 years that the album's been out, it was pretty cutting edge for the time. An excellent Tommy medley and, of course, the mega-hits (SUMMERTIME BLUES, SHAKIN' ALL OVER, MY GENERATION, MAGIC BUS) close the album. [[ A lot of 1001 reviewers complain that live albums suck, and, yes - many do. But in 1970, who got the chance to see The Who? This album is a slice of reality from that era. ]] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 60 🎧 LPs left to review: 941 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 13 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 17

I BELIEVE IN A THING CALLED LOVE is just an absolutely fabulous song. Listening to 1st cut, BLACK SHUCK, not so sure the campy vocals can be carried across an entire album. The band rocks its socks off, is very tight, but when the bizarro vocals come in they detract from what's going on. This would be so so so much better if Justin Hawkins simply sang it straight (see GROWING ON ME). I'm trying to figure out who they remind me of and it suddenly dawned on me - they've synthesized the best sounds and musical tricks of EVERY HARD ROCK BAND THERE EVER WAS. You want driving bass, screaming guitar leads, and power chords? Voila. Things kind of go downhill after BELIEVE, especially the lyrics. First half of the album rates ⭐⭐⭐⭐, but because it all gets boring in the second half, it gets a ⭐⭐⭐. ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 61 🎧 LPs left to review: 940 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 13 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 17

Not bad, but just another Rutles wannabe. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 62 🎧 LPs left to review: 939 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 14 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 17

Been off this program for a while... Opening cut, SONG FOR LINDY, makes me wanna dance. And I don't dance. Pretty cool mashup of beats and music clips circling around each other. Buuuuttttt, 2nd cut kinda boring. And way too long at 7:30. Don't wanna dance anymore. As track 3 starts up, my immediate thought is "I don't think I'm gonna make it through this whole album." GOING OUT OF MY HEAD, again boringly repetitive, but always nice to hear the chord progression of The Who's CAN'T EXPLAIN. My earlier thought has become prophetic. Saying goodbye to Fatboy. 2 stars cos I liked the 1st song. ⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 63 🎧 LPs left to review: 938 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 14 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 17

There are some classic tunes here! Recommend listening on headphones. I expect high production levels, excellent musicianship, multi-octave vocals, and I'm getting all that and more. Not a fan of electro-techno keyboards that are all over this album, but at the time this was recorded, it was kinda mandatory. With songs averaging over six minutes long, there's a lot of repetition. Make that A LOT of repetition. In fact, put that very close to TOO MUCH repetition. My expectations are being lowered with each passing song. Admitting that I'm both old and old-fashioned, the f-bombs in LETS PRETEND WERE MARRIED strike me as 80s-fashionable but unnecessary. Coming into this album, I was sure it would warrant 4 or 5 stars, but ultimately, for me anyway, it'll fall somewhere between 3 and 4. This album was probably remarkably cutting edge in '82, but doesn't cut it today. Ultimately boring. ⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 64 🎧 LPs left to review: 933 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 14 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 18

A classic. 1970 was incremental in the evolution of music, and this album was certainly in everyone's ears. It could be found in just about every college dorm room, and, if you didn't own it, you knew it was readily available for listening at someone's room down the hall. Oh, a Saturday night party? This was there Many/most of these tunes were probably overplayed - they were both Top 40 hits and staples on "underground radio." I think this was an important album, though I can't think of anyone it influenced, at least off the top of my head. It probably belongs in this list. However, when it popped up as the next record to review, I paused the program; 3 weeks later, finally skipped through the songs. Hoping for better next time. ⭐⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 65 🎧 LPs left to review: 936 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 14 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2):

Definitely in their top 5 best fantastic albums, if only for the opener, SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL. Is this the best ever opening cut? By anyone? What is it that makes this song so remarkably good? Is it the lyrics? The driving, perfect bass line and the fact that they put it right up front? How about the cut's opening tabla/conga (or whatever it is) riff that runs through from start to finish? Is it the "Ooo-ooo"s? The razor sharp lead guitar? Or the piano tying everything together? So so many great songs in this album. If only MONKEY MAN were on this one; I think that would've made it perfect. Its absence and the inclusion of JIG-SAW PUZZLE are offset by the extraordinary STREET FIGHTING MAN. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 66 🎧 LPs left to review: 935 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 14 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 18 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 18

Totally unexpected and pleased that an Elliott Smith album made it on this list. Great power pop (16 songs in 52 minutes) with excellent vocals and harmonies. Very clean production. I wanna say that these are cheery songs about depression, but listening closely, there's really not a whole heck of a lot of cheer here. And, for reasons unknown, I find the closing number, BYE, exceedingly sad. Despite the melancholy (or maybe because of it), I'm giving ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 67 🎧 LPs left to review: 934 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 15 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 18 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 18

Don't know anything about this band. To paraphrase another review, "Of all the albums ever made, this is certainly one of them." Some of these songs are enjoyable listening, but then get a bit boring. Perhaps if I were young and stoned and collapsed in a couch after a crazy evening...the only song I clicked "like" on Spotify was CATCH THE SUN, but that went on about a minute longer that necessary. Never made it to the end of the album. I find this to be neither good nor bad; a pure ⭐⭐⭐ album. ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 68 🎧 LPs left to review: 933 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 15 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 18 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 18

Ahh. Back in the day, when a good album needed only 28 minutes. And I think this WAS a good album...for when it was released. Listening to it, I'm reminded of the TV show "Mad Men" - men wearing suits all the time and women wearing dresses and heels. Everyone drinking highballs and Manhattans. Neither the fashion nor the music really lasted. In 1967, popular music shifted violently(?) and generationally from "our parents' music" to the Beatles, Small Faces, Jefferson Airplane, Love, The Beach Boys, Cream, the Byrds, the Rolling Stones, the Who, and Young Rascals. No more #1 singles for Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, etc. Times were changing. Per Wiki, this album lost to Sgt. Pepper for album of the year, and Frank lost to Glen Campbell for male vocalist. ⭐⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 69 🎧 LPs left to review: 932 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 15 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 18 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 18

There is a lot of shit on this list. Listened to a few seconds each of maybe 4 songs. ⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 70 🎧 LPs left to review: 931 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 15 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 18 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 19

Ahhhhhhh, yes! Was hoping this would be here. 1977. Out of nowhere scream Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman. Where the hell did that voice come from?!? Outrageous album cover. Overly dramatic and absolutely awesome music. What a voice! What videos! Sex! Sweat! Rock'n'Roll! Todd Rundgren produced and played guitar, inviting his fellow members of Utopia to join in on the fun. Add to that a couple of members of the E Street Band, Edgar Winter on sax, and Gene Orloff as concert master. Somebody knew this was gonna be a huge album. [If you've ever heard PARADISE with Abbott and Costello's WHO'S ON FIRST replacing Phil Rizzuto, consider yourself fortunate. WBCN (Boston) used to play it a lot - they might even have created it. Can't find it anymore.] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 71 🎧 LPs left to review: 930 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 16 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 18 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 19

I've been on a streak of either lousy or uninteresting albums for a bit. 2nd excellent album in a row, and I'm sitting here smiling. The band is tight and sloppy at the same time, sticky and sharp. 1st and 2nd cuts (WAITIN' FOR THE BUS & JESUS JUST LEFT CHICAGO) make such a terrific medley. Sure, not every song is as great as those two or, of course, LAGRANGE (what is though?), but the overall feel of the album ranks high. Giving it 5 stars, admitting to being influenced by the impression it made on me when it was released. 😎😎😎😎😎 ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 72 🎧 LPs left to review: 929 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 17 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 18 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 19

Cut #1 is a great way to open an album - loud, noisy, and fuzzy instruments with a calm, almost disinterested vocal. The fact that they served as an influence for BUFFALO TOM gives them points, but, as much as I generally like this style of music, I just can't love this particular album. Didn't click "Like" for any of the cuts. As the album nears it's inevitable conclusion, I'm realizing that the boring quotient of each tune has exceeded that of the one before. When it opened with FREAK SCENE, I was thinking it a surprise 5-star, but, as DON'T starts up....what a bullshit song. Dragging it out to 5:41 is insulting my ears. Maybe they were influenced by GG ALLIN? ⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 73 🎧 LPs left to review: 928 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 17 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 18 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 20

When this LP was released, it caught everyone's attention. A unique sound, voice, and nerdy look was so different from the other music that was out there in the ether of 1977. You can hear producer Nick Lowe all over it (a good thing). Got a ton of airplay in Boston and on my turntable, and, despite its importance at the time, not every song maintained its reputation. Best songs looking at it and listening to it now? - Alison - Welcome To The Working Week - (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes - Watching The Detectives ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 74 🎧 LPs left to review: 927 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 17 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 19 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 20

HIGHLY EVOLVED = Excellent Opener But suddenly drops in quality on #2, #3... Either I'm just not in the mood for this or it's really boring. Although, HOMESICK seems really good (lead vocals, answering vocals, guitar), but at 4:53, a tad too long. I guess if you were stoned, though... Somehow, GET FREE has generated 101,466,521 plays on Spotify. Perhaps a glitch in the counting program. In sun, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. 🥱🥱 ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 75 🎧 LPs left to review: 924 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 17 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 19 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 20

All classics on this album. Songs by André and Dory Previn, Irving Berlin, Fred Rose, Johnny Mercer, and others. 12 songs - 6 with a string orchestra, 6 with a tight jazz band. A very good album. A very calming album. This version of DON'T LET THE SUN CATCH YOU CRYING far outshines any other. Excellent excellent production by Jerry Wexler and Nesuhi Ertegun. I'm gonna give this 5 stars. I don't know when I'll listen to it again, but it is just so good. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 76 🎧 LPs left to review: 925 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 18 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 19 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 20

Perhaps because piano is so prevalent, I was reminded me of high school musicals. Not in a good way. Includes experimental rhythms in the percussion, and vocal dissonance and repetition, but all of that becomes boring. I know I'm supposed to like this, but I just don't. I bet the drummer had fun though. ⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 77 🎧 LPs left to review: 924 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 18 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 19 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 20

1970. Right around the peak of new music revolution. Protest songs. Environmental songs. Wooden music. Tillerman is an appropriate album to introduce a decade of music that started off caring about everything, but ended with disco. Bummer. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 79 🎧 LPs left to review: 922 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 18 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 20 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 21

Bad idea right from the start - a cover of Jumping Jack Flash featuring sitar and MOOG synthesizer. Even if it didn't have sitar, it would be a poor cover. With it the sitar and tabla it's almost too weird to listen to. Two tunes later, and it's Light My Fire. Even weirder. I can understand trying to grab the world music raga wave going on at the time, but, oh, is it embarrassing now. The following Woodstock warning could just as easily apply to this album by substituting 'raga rock music' for 'brown acid'. "The warning that I received, you may take with however many grains of salt you wish, that the brown acid that is circulating around us, is specifically not too good. It's suggested that you do stay away from that; of course, it's your own trip, so, be my guest." ~ Chip Monck ( Woodstock '69 ) Or maybe "Don't listen to this album if you've dropped the brown acid." At least it's no FKA Twigs, so I'll give it ⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 80 🎧 LPs left to review: 921 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 18 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 20 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 22

When I started this project, I promised myself that I'd listen to complete albums. Bad decision. I foolishly thought that the 1001 ALBUMS YOU MUST HEAR BEFORE YOU DIE would actually be good. JUSTICE is not my cup of shit. ⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 81 🎧 LPs left to review: 920 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 18 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 20 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 23

I thought this was a sh*t album when it came out. That puzzled me and still does. I guess some people's genius is found in their interactions with others, but disappears on their own. Six minutes of WELL WELL WELL is a crime against the recording arts. PS: I still think it's a sh*t album. PPS: I did like the album cover though. ⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 82 🎧 LPs left to review: 919 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 18 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 20 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 24

I've heard of them a lot, but never heard them at all. Let's see. Cut #1, TIME TO PRETEND - love the lyrics, but not crazy about the vocals or the music, so... WEEKEND WARS, same deal. I sense a pattern here. Gotta say, I'm pretty bored as cut #3 begins. Am tempted to zoom through this album. As Neil Young once said, "It's all the same song." This particular song doesn't do anything for me. It exists. ⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 83 🎧 LPs left to review: 918 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 18 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 20 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 25

I've never sat and listened to an entire White Stripes album, so this will be fun (I hope). I immediately hear the early version of his sound. More garage/punky than his recent stuff. After three tracks, I'll say that I like the music Jack White made with The Raconteurs better. After eight songs, make that much much better. WE'RE GOING TO BE FRIENDS, a nice little ditty, is really the only song I would listen to again. Here, White's voice echoes McCartney (which probably everyone in the world has already noted). I THINK I SMELL A RAT is shit. As is ALUMINIUM. Gave the rest of the album 30 seconds per song. Gonna go listen to The Raconteurs. ⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 84 🎧 LPs left to review: 917 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 18 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 20 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 26

This is not my kind of scene This is not my kind of dream Apparently a history making album so ,⭐