1001 Albums Summary

Zeppelin has such an iconic sound if you heard one Zep song you’ve heard them all. Didn’t hook me til halfway through the 3rd track. Usually albums front load with their best songs and singles. This one buries them in the middle. Zeppelin is pure stoner music. All I wanted the whole time was to be high off my ass, making out in the basement from That 70’s Show. Tracks added to my Spotify… 4

Perfect start to a Friday. Get going with the boogie. I wanna hear Tragedy cover “Lost in Music” Can’t hear the title track without thinking of every wedding, reunion, and milestone birthday party gathering I attended growing up. Bunch of Italian/Irish moms and aunts tearing up the dance floor.

Always liked REM. Have Document, Automatic… and Up. Don’t have any history with this one though. Passion transported me back to summer ‘91 with that guitar sound. Like an aural episode of Pete & Pete. Overall a good debut but not as good as REM gets. No real hooks or bops. Songs added to Spotify: 1

Makes me think of good 70’s Blacksploitation movies. Cool jams but every song is very repetitive. Keep Gettin’ It On was good but just kept going with no variation. I could see putting this on behind a romantic dinner. Tracks added to Spotify: 0

I’ve always been a Talking Heads fan but I don’t know much beyond the hits and Little Creatures so this is a good choice. Aptly named, cuz these songs are kinda scary and disconcerting. Heaven is a great homage to Bowie. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for this on vinyl. Tracks added to Spotify: 3

I’ve heard of this album but didn’t know a single track. I still don’t. It’s fine but Morning Glory is so much better. I guess this is where Fountains of Wayne got a lot of their inspiration. Does every song have to be 5 minutes or more? Oops. I was wrong. I know and like Married w/Children. One of the two shortest tracks and the most like their better known songs. Tracks added to Spotify: 0

One summer I was involved in local theater and spent a Saturday helping rig lights. The sound guy was testing the system and put on a cassette of Prince’s greatest hits. Up til then I only really knew When Doves Cry and, like, Batdance. I’ve been a big Prince fan ever since that day. 5 stars no notes. Songs added to Spotify: 2

By this time in the 70’s music was all big and complex and fancy… and then the Ramones came along. Is every song the same? Yes. Does that make any song less awesome? No! Songs added to Spotify: 0 (they’re already there)

Oooh. A Queen album. Never heard of this one. Oh, it’s not Queen. It’s some band I’ve never heard of in my life. Yet they’re one of 1001 albums I should listen to. So I should probably already know of them, yes? Well, 2007 was a bad year for me, personally, so maybe it just slipped under my radar. Why does this sound so familiar? Oh. It’s Gorillaz. Well, I like Gorillaz. This is the most British album since Dark Side of the Moon. I dig most of it. Dunno why it’s not more popular. Songs added to Spotify: 4

I mean… it’s Joni. Songs added to Spotify: 0 because Spotify is garbage and Joni took her songs off it. This is why we can’t have nice things. But it wouldn’t matter because they’d all already be on my playlist anyway.

“Outer space dance music for earthbound freaks” eh? We’ll see. Makes me think of Oingo Boingo but I like them more. I could see myself listening to this album again, for sure. Especially if I was really really high. But I don’t want to listen to any one particular song again by itself or even shuffled in with other stuff on my Spotify playlist. Songs added to Spotify: 0

I bought this album when it came out. It’s been a while since I’ve listened to it all the way through, though. So that was nice. Some beautiful music on here and it’s such a shame he’s gone.

I can understand why our parents were so scared of this when it came out. In retrospect though it’s really just a bunch of fun macho posturing topped off with a goofy dance number. A while ago I listened to this album to start “expanding my horizons” and dug a couple tunes but it didn’t really grab me. I can appreciate it but it’s just not really my jam. Songs added to Spotify: 0

I feel like I’m watching In Living Color. Not bad. But certainly not my bag.

Ok. I’m gonna need someone to explain to me why I needed to hear that album before I die. As far as I can tell it’s a Nick Cave album. That’s it. His 7th album. No hits. No great innovations. Did it inspire a generation? Was it a turning point? If this keeps up I’m gonna start needing some justification for why these albums are on this list.

I only knew Calexico from XPN playing Alone Again Or… to death. They’re pretty decent. I dig the instrumentals the most. I may do a relisten on a nice hot summer day. It seems made for that. Songs added to Spotify: 1

I listened to it on Friday and can’t remember anything about it now that it’s Monday. So… yeah. I recall thinking it was fine but ultimately I didn’t care at all. Songs added to Spotify: 0

See, that’s what I’m talking about. I like Neil Young but I don’t really know much beyond the radio and soundtrack hits. I didn’t know any of these songs going in but I soon found myself singing along with the choruses. I’ll definitely keep my eyes peeled for this one is goodwill stores and yard sales. Songs added to Spotify: 0 (Neil don’t play that way)

Proto-Punk psychedelic hippy music! Nice! I didn’t know I knew some of these already. That’s what I’m doing this for! I appreciate an epic piece, sure, but this feels kinda sloppy and unpracticed. But as a precursor to prog it’s pretty cool. Songs added to Spotify: 3

When I watched the Farewell Concert I was really enjoying it til I saw it was over 3 hours long. That's too much Elton John. This was the perfect amount of Elton John. A couple hits (Levon has been in my head all night) a couple decent deep tracks. Boy that Indian song is cringey now. I know his heart was in the right place, but hoofadoof. Anyway, not bad. Wouldn't be opposed to listening to it again sometime. Songs added to Spotify: 1

I got scared this was a live album. Glad it’s not. I guess Run, Charlie, Run never got much radio air time. I bet it really inspired Childish Gambino, though. Love the full length version of Papa… so funky. A terrific showcase of the Temptations and an example of why they’re still so revered. Songs added to Spotify: 3

This was a good one for a Friday. I was able to spin my vinyl copy while enjoying my coffee.

I’ve always been one of those “ick, Coldplay” snobs. Though secretly I’ve always liked The Scientist and, apparently a few other tracks too! So… ok, fine. I guess I dig Coldplay. Why not? (Clocks was still overplayed and I prefer the version with the Buena Vista Social Club) Tracks added to Spotify: 3

I started doing this project so I would be sure to always have something new to eat up a chunk of time while I’m driving at work. Since I’m at work I need to be sober. I really need to listen to this album again when I’m stoned. I prefer when she sings in her native Icelandic language, I don’t have to worry about understanding her or how weird her pronunciations are. But in all it’s very neat and haunting stuff. But it’s also not something you’d want to randomly pop up in your Spotify feed.

I’ve heard of the Strokes but couldn’t name a single song of theirs. Turns out I knew “Last Nite”… but that’s it. And all the rest are the same. I’d rather just listen to The Buzzcocks.

Oh boy. Now we’re getting into uncharted territory. Ok, I didn’t hate it. It’s very much not my jam, but I was able to groove along with some of it. Certainly no stand outs to me and nothing to revisit but it was just kinda dorky and innocuous. Just went back and forth between thinking of Trolls movies and being mad he did Janet dirty.

Aww yeah. That’s the stuff. That was a perfect Friday afternoon listen. If I wasn’t an Al Green fan already I certainly am now. Songs added to Spotify: 3

You’d think this would be up my alley. But I’ve always hated Everyday People. Sing a Simple Song isn’t my fave either. I do enjoy a long-ass instrumental funk jam, so that saved it for me. Songs added to Spotify: 0

Ooooo. A friend of mine, Michael Wexler, is a singer songwriter now. Got a couple albums. One of the reviews called his guitar playing Janschian which always struck me as funny. Like the average person knows who Jansch is. Guess I’ll find out for myself now. Huh. Yeah, that’s a fair assessment. I’d call his guitar “Mike Wexlerian” if I didn’t know better. Kinda reminded me of Phil Ochs if Phil was better at guitar and worse at poetry. But all around very cool. Will definitely add to my collection Songs added to Spotify: 4

Never been a fan of U2. Let’s see if that changes… Nope. This album is from when they were fine. As far as I’m concerned they’re just another pop-rock band from the ‘80s. Like Duran Duran or Echo & the Bunnymen. If they quit after this album they woulda been good. But then Bono had to Bono and make them all pretentious. Songs added to Spotify: 0

How have I never heard these guys before?! This is very much my jam and exactly what I wanted from this silly project. Songs added to Spotify: 5

When this album came out XPN played the hell out of it. I liked Jesus etc. and Heavy Metal Drummer so I bought the album. Listened to it a couple times and, years later, when I left my ex I didn’t lament not getting this CD in the split. Still like those two songs. The rest are too long, too “look at me” experimental, or just not interesting enough. Songs added to Spotify: 1

Yeah. It’s the Stones. Good stuff. The hits are great. The deep tracks are fine. Tracks added to Spotify: 0

I dig it. Reminded me how cool Costello is. No surprises, just good rock n roll. Songs added to Spotify: 3

I got into Zappa at the perfect time. The summer before college. I wish I could Eternal Sunshine this album out of my mind so I could hear it again for the first time. Wonder what I would think…

Y know, as much of a crap person Van Morrison is, you can’t deny he’s got a hell of a voice. Can’t understand a word he sings, but he’s good. This is the best mix I’ve ever heard on a live album and that’s including Zappa. Every instrument is crystal clear. Makes up for Van’s mumbling. Didn’t think I’d like this but I loved almost every damned song.

Just like We’re Only In It For The Money last week, The Yes Album is the soundtrack to my younger days. I know every note and every lyric. Even the ones that make no sense.

I’ll admit that hip hop is not my forte. There’s some that I like and while I can appreciate this it never really grabbed me and it was way too long.

Oh boy. Another Eno album. Eno ran so Fiery Furnaces could fly.

I saw Lenny live in the mid-90s. I didn’t know any of his songs but he sang Let Love Rule for, like 15 minutes and went through the audience during the super long chorus. I agree with the other critics on here. Impressive work but he sounds like the guy on the quad with a guitar trying to pick up chicks. Not bad but no real standouts.

It’s been established I’m a Bobby fan. I don’t have this on vinyl (yet) but I did have almost every track on Spotify already.

The first time I heard the title track (once I recovered) I got mad at everyone who had known about it and hadn’t told me about it for 40+ years. Not since Watermelon in Easter Hay had an extended guitar solo felt that way. So… yeah, big fan. And the other tracks are pretty groovy too. Tracks added to Spotify: 2

When you think solo Paul Simon this is the sound you hear. Not as great as Graceland but I liked it more than Rhymin Simon. Some good deep tracks and some pleasant discoveries. Songs added to Spotify: 3

Another British band from 2007 I’ve never heard of. Well, 2006 is a big blind spot for me so let’s see…. Did the guy who made this list have a brother in this band? Was he sleeping with the bassist? Why is this here? This is the forgettable background music you heard in British Abercrombie stores in the early 2000’s. There is no need for this to be on the list. Even other albums that didn’t “do it” for me I could see why they’re there. This baffles me.

I like the sound of early rap. The creative rhymes, the beats and samples and all. They’re having fun and not taking themselves too seriously. I can imagine roller skating at the rink listening to this. But my god some of these lyrics are soooooo dorky. There’s such a sincerity and earnestness but it just comes across dorky now.

I think I’m the only white of certain age and temperament who is just so-so on Rush. I dig their instrumentals and arrangements, but their lyrics and vocals just don’t do it for me. Especially their goofy Ayn Rand “rock is illegal” story. Give me Joe’s Garage for that one. I’ve always liked the title track, but the rest is just… yeah, that’s a Rush song.

A strong debut album that really shows off their variety and talent. I’ve always been a big fan of The Who. Not their strongest but a good first showing.

Bought this when it came out. Played it to death. Got sick of it. This was a good excuse to revisit. Some of these are already on my Spotify but it’s good to hear it all together with the little 20 second bits in between where they belong. Like an old friend you stopped hanging out with and by the time you part again you remember kinda why you stopped hanging out. I can’t listen to this without being disappointed that, instead of doing more states, Stevens just released an extra long version of Illinois with extra tracks and remixes and then disappeared for years. Still gorgeous… still kinda self important.

I dig Miles Davis, but I never think of listening to him. I’m familiar with Bitches Brew, but this is a lot smoother and more accessible. This is what you put on while making a nice dinner. Thanks to Vin Scelsa I already knew a couple of these tracks. Good listening for driving through the city on a spring day.

It’s easy to see why Aretha was the Queen of Soul. All pretty similar in sound, but if that sound is what you’re after, boy, it can’t be beat. Great version of A Change Is Gonna Come. Songs added to Spotify: 2

Another British “no hit wonder” that only put out two albums that no one has ever heard of. Did I need to hear this before I die? Probably not. Am I mad I listened to it? No. It was pretty decent. I agree though, none of the songs particularly jumped out or stuck with me and they were mostly overlong and repetitive. Especially that When I Dream one. It hit the outro 3 minutes into a 7 minute song. It just repeated the same lick for 3 more minutes.

Ever since i was a kid I’ve loved S&G’s music. Their harmonies have always been some of the best and the most fun to sing. But a few years ago I really listened to the lyrics and realized just how “coffee shop intelligentsia” pretentious they were. This is a primo example of that. The second side is way better than the first. There’s a reason I already knew most of the back half and little of the first. Songs added to Spotify: 2

I was familiar with some of this album already so I was excited when it came up. Holy moly. Johnny just put it all on the table here. Fantastic covers. Great collaborations. Songs added to Spotify: 5

Oh boy. Another unknown British electronic band. And the reviews are terrible. So excited for this one. 😑 Actually… I didn’t hate it. Sure most of the songs are one bar repeated 7 times, one bar of a vocal, and then the repeated one 7 more times with an added bloop or thump for 6 minutes. I would never choose to put this album on. And none of the songs were catchy enough to stick with me at all… but as background music it wasn’t too bad. Sure doesn’t belong on this list though. I’d love to know the reason it was.

Back in 2002 I was listening to WXPN as they interviewed some band I didn’t really know. I wasn’t paying much attention but then this squeaky scratchy voice sang a beautiful love song about a girl saving us from evil natured robots accompanied by an acoustic guitar and I was transfixed. I went out and bought the album that day.

All I knew about this album going in was that my kid has it on a tshirt and I don’t really like Waterfalls. (Not even the Weird Al version!) So when I told my wife this was the album of the day she said “Oooh, you’ll like it!” I was curious to see. And I really did! It really is crazy, sexy, and cool. Good beats, tight vocals, fun lyrics. I still don’t like Waterfalls though. Songs added to Spotify: 4

Were all of James Brown’s concerts a half hour long? By the time I was in the groove it was half over. JB was a rocking performer, but live albums are generally awful. This one wasn’t too bad for being live, but still…

Boy that Louis sure has fun. Gotta agree with everyone else, this is just a “joyous” album. The soundtrack to every fun family cooking montage ever. Songs added to Spotify: 2

It’s good to see Tracy getting some kudos all these years later. I wasn’t familiar with this album besides Fast Car and a few other radio tracks but all of them are pretty decent. Sadly they’re all just as relevant today as they were when they came out. Songs added to Spotify: 5

It’s fine. Beautiful harmonies. Beautiful voices. Stereotypical production. Good background music, but nothing really stood out as a great song. Moving on.

I was psyched to see another Prince album come up but… ehhhh? Do they allllll have to be so long? A lot of repetition and very “bleep bloop” sounding. Maybe I’m in the wrong headspace but I definitely wasn’t grooving like Prince intended.

I listened to The Man Machine on iTunes and found it exceptionally dorky. Bleep bloops and silly repetitive lyrics. Then I had a thought… they’re a German band, why are all their songs in English? Autobahn is in German and it sounds way cooler than the English version “Drive drive drive on the highway” So I looked up the German version, Die Mensch Machine. It’s still bleep bloops but their native language sounds so much better! So I give the English version a 3 and the German version a 4. I also think it shoulda counted as my Duolingo for the day.

I had always (perhaps unfairly) lumped Rage in with Nu Metal Bands and wrote them off. While they may have inspired a lot of dorky white boy rap/rock they are the progenitors and (I guess) the best at it. Still not really my bag, but their message kicks ass and the songs are interesting enough musically I didn’t get bored. Songs added to Spotify: 1

It’s the Specials. What’s not to like? Had me dancing all afternoon.

Eh. Not bad but not great. A lot of the songs are pretty repetitive. But some of them are pretty good. Nothing too out there or interesting just some solid early 80s bops. Songs added to Spotify: 1

Those who say this isn’t punk have a very narrow view of punk. Part poetry part coffee shop part shouting in the street. Patti’s pretty cool. Songs added to Spotify: 2

The Duke is great. An all time classic. But not really one I’m gonna go back to for more than just background music.

When I think of Late Stage Elvis I think of this. You can hear the glitter and sequins on the band behind him and the background singers. Some songs sound like he’s in a big empty cavern. They should all be playing in the background at a dingy truck stop diner.

Leonard is a poet, not a singer. But it takes someone special to do his songs Justice so really he’s the best man for the job. Diamonds in the Mine is the most punk song that’s not a punk song. Songs added to Spotify: 2 (somehow I didn’t have Famous Blue Raincoat already?!)

I am a big fan of the long funky jam. And this has 4! I knew Watermelon Man already but the rest were new to me. But none of them were as good. But it was a fun time on a nice warm spring day.

I am disappointed! I like Madness! One Step Beyond is my favorite ska tune ever! But this was boring! Someone said it sounds like a musical soundtrack and I’m inclined to agree. One that saps all the energy from the performances. I didn’t care for a single track besides Our House which hardly counts.

I never cared about Soundgarden. But, this album hit when I was 15-16 years old and I must have absorbed it through osmosis because I was instantly transported to Junior year of high school. Songs added to Spotify: 2

Eh. Most of it sounded like interstitial music for an 80’s drama. I liked that one song better when Devo did it. Nothing great here. Not sure why it’s listed.

Just like Soundgarden the other day, I didn’t hate it as much as I expected to. I really don’t care for Pearl Jam. But they’re not bad. I’ve had Better Man in my head all day.

I’m pretty sure I’ve heard of the Youngbloods but I sure never heard any of these songs before! And this is very much my jam. Kinda like the Turtles or Lovin Spoonful. Quirky little tunes, good harmonies and plucky instrumentals. Songs added to Spotify: 4

It’s Frank. Singing Bossa Nova. I listened while making fruit salad and hors d’oeuvres for a school event. It was perfect for that. But there’s nothing that exciting that’ll bring me back.

A perfect cloudy Friday album. Love Lou. Wasn’t familiar with all of this album, though. Some fun deep tracks. Songs added to Spotify: 2

Love the Talking Heads. Love David Byrne. No notes.

I really expected to hate this. And, while it’s not my taste, it wasn’t bad! It’s a solid pop album. But that’s all. It doesn’t have any hits. It’s nothing big or groundbreaking. It’s just a Christina Aguilera album. Are her more popular ones on the list too? Why was this here? Anyway, she’s got a great voice. Most songs would fit well as the closing credits of an early 2000’s rom com. Songs added to Spotify: 1

Y’know… if someone had played TV Party for me at an impressionable age I’d probably have been a hardcore punk growing up.

This customer was satisfied. This is S&G at their best. Paul shed most of his collegiate pretensions that made some of their earlier stuff cringey. He’s settled into being a beautiful songwriter and poet. Not just showing off how smart and cool he is to impress chicks.

Now Y’know I love me some old Dylan.

I think my wife has this on cd. Good to put on in the background if your mom is coming over. Norah has a great voice and the arrangements are very well done. But it’s just so safe and clean.

Between this and Norah Jones it’s been an Adult Contemporary radio kinda week. It’s alright. Not as ear catching as I’d hoped. Though I have had Constant Craving in my head all day now. Otherwise nothing stood out to me. Maybe it’s someone else’s bag but it’s not mine.

Another gem I totally missed out on at the time. Besides that one hit there’s some fun little tunes on here. Songs added to Spotify: 4

When I first saw how many tracks there were I was horrified. Then I saw the majority were less than 2 minutes long. I’m reminded of one of my favorite jokes from the Drew Carey Show. “I may not be very good at sex, but at least I’m fast” Once I looked up the lyrics I dug their nihilist anger… I can only assume that’s what they were really saying. By the end of the first half I was kinda getting into it. Some real good riffs and just driving rocking metal. Then the second half ruined it. Gone were the riffs and even slightly followable vocals. Now it’s all speed drums and screeching. Even if a song started with good instrumentation it quickly devolved into speed drums and screeching.

I’ve never been a fan of Running Up That Hill, so I was afraid this would all be more of the same. It was and it wasn’t. Not bad. Songs added to Spotify: 1

It’s Sabbath. ‘Nuff said.

I told my wife this was the album of the day and she got all excited. It’s one of her favorites. I enjoyed it well enough but none of the deep tracks grabbed me and I already mostly like the ones I already knew. So… yeah.

I dunno. I wanted to like this more but Al I could think was that they sounded like The Cramps with their makeup washed off. I’ll listen to it again but nothing really grabbed me.

Eh. Syd Barrett was better.

Pretty fun. Get the one song everyone knows out of the way quick and then have some fun. They don’t all sound the same like it seemed they would. Decent Friday afternoon listen. Songs added to Spotify: 3

One thing this project has taught me is that I’m not the only person who hates live albums. Thin Lizzy is the quintessential “70s rock band”. The kids on That ‘70s Show definitely listened to this in the basement. It borders on generic. Only this is a live album so there’s stupid banter, long boring drum solos, and muddy vocals. Yay!

That poor piano. He’s beating the snot out of it.

Sounds like the interstitials that play between ads on Tubi. Somehow the use of “on the street” recordings of black folks in NYC by this little British white boy feels exploitative to me. Absolutely no reason to be here.

Gotta be honest. I never listened to the last two tracks. I can’t imagine I missed anything mind boggling. Or even worth the 15 minutes.

Fun but not my thing. Oh well. I tried anyway.

Huh. Another seemingly random “fourth studio album” with no hits or anything really to make it special… But this kinda slaps. I’m not usually big on hip hop but this is a fun time. Good message. Good beats. Creative lyrics. I dig it. Songs added to Spotify: 1

It took two years to make this album? You mean it’s supposed to sound this way? If I bought this on cassette I’d bring it back to Sam Goody and say it was warped and unlistenable. Smashing Pumpkins without the oomph. And I just barely like the Pumpkins.

My 100th album! Whoooo. This was fun. I love that Buck Owens sound. And he’s such a scamp. Not all my favorite versions of these songs but they’re all great. Songs added to Spotify: 2 Let the times roll, good or sad, your choice.

I was friends with the metal heads in high school so Metallica will always make me think of that. If this had come out 5 years earlier it probably would’ve caught my ear and made me a Metallica fan. As it is it’s just a bunch of nostalgic tunes with the James Bond soundtrack mixed in. Also, the James Brown live album on this list was barely a half hour long. 2+ hours is just too damned much.

Don’t trust anyone who doesn’t give this album 5 stars.

If you know one song by Fleet Foxes you know them all. If you like that song then you’ll like this album.

Have it on vinyl. Stone classic.

I think I need to give this one another listen. Maybe with the lyrics in front of me. It’s good sounding punk but nothing really grabbed me. Maybe I was just having an off morning.

So stereotypical it borders on parody. I agree with other reviews here… if not for the vocals and lyrics this would be a great country album.

Already own the vinyl.

Is it possible to give 6 stars? This thing keeps throwing Stevie at me and I ain’t mad.

Better than I expected.

You either love Dury or hate him. There is no in between.

Fun. Good first showing. Glad they got better.

Freakin beautiful

See? Proof that just because I have an album on CD doesn’t mean it automatically gets five stars.

Pure distilled WMGK classic rock.

Eh. It’s the Kinks. I like them but this isn’t their best.

Never heard of this guy before. You’d think since I’m such a fan of Zappa and Ian Dury I’d really dig this but… I just don’t really. Some was fine but there seemed to be too much Frampton mixed in.

If I’d heard this album when I was 16 it probably would’ve changed my life. Sadly I was almost 30 when it came out and 46 now so it’s really just kinda dorky and overwrought.

If you only know the Queen songs from the radio or greatest hits albums then there’s a lot you don’t know. Sometimes you’re really missing out on a treasure. Sometimes it’s an epic about fighting orcs.

This did not need to be this long.

I can fully understand why people hate this and also why they love it. I’m not rushing to listen to it again, but I gotta say I dug it.

Desert Island Disc. I’ve loved it for years.

Why aren’t I stoned?

The consensus is correct. Great first half. Meh second.

So much of this album almost works I can’t put my finger on exactly why it doesn’t.

I wanna learn Portuguese now.

More Blondie please

I dig jazz and all but these are just so samey samey sounding. I couldn’t tell you which one I liked more or less than any other. Good background music though.

Eh. It’s the Stones.

I think the only thing that kept me from being Goth in college was the music.

Really cool. Really fun. Really too long.

This was after my time with XPN but I know they love it over there.

Classic. Loved it for decades

Like Zappa’s jazz only not as good.

I may be getting lackadaisical about this. But I think I’ve heard enough to know I don’t care.

Terrific album. But fuck Morrissey.

Reminds me of that time I took a PT boat into Cambodia…

Love Willie. Love standards. Two great tastes that taste great together.

I’d definitely listen to this again, but no one track stood out to me. Not yet anyway.

I like the Cramps… but the vocals are so buried… and it was way too long. Why the repeated tracks?

A lot of fun! They’re more than just Eileen.

When I was in high-school I found someone’s discarded brown paper bag book cover in the hall. It had doodles and stuff on it, as well as a few lines written in alternating black and blue pen. “Make a joke and I will sigh And you will laugh and I will cry. Happiness I cannot feel Like love to me is so unreal” This was before the internet so if you didn’t know what it was you had no way of just looking it up. But it stuck with me for years until I happened to actually be paying attention to the lyrics of Paranoid and it blew my mind. I’m not sure who the metal head was in RBC circa 1994-95 but I thank them for inadvertently introducing me to Sabbath.

Culturally significant. Historically mind blowing. Now it just sounds like the oldies station had a glitch.

Boring Spottiswoode. Nobody needs to hear this before they die.

For years my name on Twitter was Wilsson Schmilsson and my profile pic was my face photoshopped over Harry’s. So yeah.

I’m a middle aged man. I recognized more of these songs than I care to admit. It’s also the only album I’ve come across with a perfect 3 ⭐️ rating. I’m not going to mess with that.

Goofy nostalgic fun. Yes it’s culturally significant and all that, I enjoy when their hits come on the radio. But I’d never deliberately put a Beastie album on.

Grace’s vocals make the band. And the guitar. Whatshisface didn’t do much for me.

Disco II Disco is why people hate EDM. If the only thing they say is that this album was number 53 on the charts I’m going to need a good reason why it’s on this list.

Two EDM albums in a row? This list must hate me. Started ok but after what felt like an hour I was only 3 tracks in and track 4 was annoying as hell and they never got better again. Repetition is not music.

Not bad. Liked the other OutKast album better. Also wayyyy too long.

Listened to it twice, back to back.

I did not expect this to be as good as it is. Like someone else said here, this is why we do this project, to find hidden gems we otherwise would’ve totally missed. I gave it 5 just to spite the guy why gave it 1 and is just too pretentious to have fun.

I love ELP… except for the synth noodling. Everything else is fantastic but once those high pitched bleeps and squeals start the dog in my brain starts to freak. Unfortunately, synth is 1/3 of their makeup, and this was no exception.

Feels like the beginning of the current era of female pop music. A girl with a good voice in front of highly produced electronic music Enjoyable enough but nothing stood out. I wasn’t singing along or humming the tunes after.

Gnarls Barkley is some good shit. This is just regular shit.

See? I can like electronica! I just like it trippy and downtempo. I’ve always loved La femme d’argent, and I really dug the tracks that sounded like it here. The rest was pretty whatever.

It will always amaze me that this is from the early ‘80s.

While this proves they’re more than just a pop disco band I prefer the pop disco. Sometimes I like to listen to European radio stations online. This is exactly what they all sound like.

Now this I dig.

Look, I don’t like the dog-bark vocals on metal albums. I just don’t. I think it sounds stupid and it makes me roll my eyes. But! You can still pretty much understand the lyrics here, and even if you can’t you can tell they’re at least words. That seems to go a long way with me. People call this early nu metal but it’s so much better than that. Nu Metal just sounds like whining brats to me. This has actual earned anger in it. And it rocks. The instrumentation is fantastic. I could rock out to that all day. At least til the vocals kick in. I really dug the native influence. Very cool.

Great Bowie album!

I’m going back to 1988 and telling Flav that he’s going to be a beloved figure at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Definitely ahead of its time. Some good rock and some weird stuff I’m not that into.

My wife loves Scissor Sisters. She listened with me. We agreed we needed some fun drugs and a dance floor.

Yeah uh… why is this here?

Huh. I dug this more than License. Less shouty and annoying and posturing. Better produced.

Have it on vinyl. Blow your harmonica, son.

They said no hits came from this album but I’ve at least heard a few on the radio before. Pleasant surprise. Stevie is always great.

Not anything to write home about.

A decent Who album. Not my favorite. I don’t hate the radio conceit. I’ve always hated Armenia.

Quintessential Neil Young. When you think of Neil this is what you think.

For being labeled as Hard Rock and knowing their hits I was surprised by how many slower ballads there were. Was great for Labor Day relaxing in the back yard.

Some good fun tunes… but man are those interstitials annoying as heck!

One of my biggest regrets is losing my vinyl of this when I left my ex. Possibly in my top 10 albums ever. Yes, even with the car song.

The countriest country. Makes me think of truck stops and dive bars.

I played this CD constantly in college. I still know it front to back but it’s been a while since I listened all the way through. So this was fun.

Wow he stole a lot of music from Black people, huh? Mostly I prefer the originals.

Based on nostalgic memories alone.

Front-loaded with all the songs you know and love. The rest are decent to middling.

Ironic since they worked together but I think of Björk like Lars von Trier. I like her music when I’m listening to it. But I need to be in a very specific mood. I’m glad I experienced it. But I don’t think I ever need to go back and listen to it again.

Sure is sexy. Damn.

See? Proof that just because I own an album on vinyl doesn’t automatically mean it gets 5 stars.

That was repetitive and annoying as hell. I had to cut some tracks short the bleep bloops were so annoying.

More high school nostalgia

This is what I do this project for. To hear crazy neat stuff I never would’ve known about otherwise. Some of its silly, some of it’s cool, some of its a bit too long. I shoulda been blissed out on the couch or in the back yard not driving down the Garden State Parkway. It’ll zone you out real quick.

For a band with only 4 albums it’s crazy I got 2 in one week.

Seemed like fun by I was not in a good Gorillaz mood yesterday

Do they have monitors or are they just playing along with what they *think* the other guys are playing? Feedback almost made me drive off a bridge.

Devo is Dead Kennedys for nerds. I’m a nerd.

I already knew and liked the title track. And I still do. The rest is fine.

My kid is going to be in Mama Mia this spring. I better enjoy Abba while I can before I’m sick to death of them.

Proud Dad Moment: After Hours comes on my kid’s Spotify. Me: You know this song? Her: Yeah! You played it for me. Me: I didn’t think you were paying attention! 🥰

The 5th album of a fairly middling indie band has no place on this list. No hits. No breakthroughs. Nothing special or unique here. Sonic dishwater. The soundtrack to a forgettable Zach Braff movie.

47 years and I finally get it. I just don’t like Mick’s voice.

Another one that hit big when I used to listen to WXPN all the time. I knew those first 3 songs pretty well already. Turns out the rest are (mostly) really good too. This is the kind of quirky interesting stuff that belongs on this list.

If you’re already a fan of these guys I guess this is fantastic. If you’re not is pretty uninteresting. Like Bjork, the music is kinda cool but I don’t understand a damned word.

I slept like crap the night before. My coffee didn’t help. But folk-punk was there to save the day.

Sounds like my ex-brother-in-law’s band. Or like a band that just missed out on being the house band for Pete and Pete.

I can’t tell if this was really cool or really dorky. Some of it was really annoying though. Happy 200th album to me.

Y’know I kinda dig some of this. Reminds me of that album Sting did around that time.

My ex liked Steely Dan. I always thought they were dorky. It’s been 17 years now. I guess I can look past her love of them, but they’re still dorky.

Listened on my way to work. Forgot it by the time I finished my coffee.

Right on.

“Here’s a song I wrote while I was mopping up your dried blood and teeth” This music was made for dive bars and truck stops.

I’m certain Side A of this album got way more worn than Side B ever did.

Good stuff but man did it make me move slow at work.

Can country sound like this again, please?

Oh the college flashbacks. I really liked everything without vocals. There’s a reason Trent got real big in movie soundtracks recently.

Did every song have to be 4+ minutes?

This is my 211th album and (I think) only the second time I’ve said “that’s enough of that. I I doubt the last 2 tracks are going to wow me and even if they do it’ll hardly redeem what came before”

Got three tracks in before I realized I was on the radio edit version. Got better after that.

Have on vinyl. Love them Monkees.

I’m pretty certain there’s nothing in the last hour that’ll blow my mind more than anything in the first two. I’ll finish it one day but as good as it is it’d be better if it was only 12 tracks.

Zappa. X-ray Spex. The Residents. Fiery Furnaces. I like a lot of unlistenable crap. But Roxy Music just doesn’t do it for me.

Trite as it is to say, but you don’t have classic rock without Skynyrd.

I like the couple songs I already know. The rest didn’t do much for me

The irony of getting this album on Election Day 2024 is not lost on me. There’s been some surprises on this list. This is not one of them. Every day I didn’t get The Wall was a little disappointing.

I was not excited for this. But it turns out that the day you find out Trump is going back into office is a good day for some angry rap. But god I hate the “skits” in between. Maybe I just wasn’t paying enough attention or something but they’re never good on any album.

That guitar was giving me strong Elliott Smith vibes. I wish the vocals were clearer, but I liked what I got when I could read along.

Lesser Bowie is still Bowie.

I dunno. I can appreciate it for what it was but I think we’re all too cynical and know too much about John to really fall for it anymore

I didn’t care at the time, but yeah, that album slaps. I get it now.

Not bad. Decent beats. Some songs were way too repetitive. Just didn’t grab me at all. I was really hoping it would.

Just some good clean obviously ’80s country music.

Not my favorite Beatles album but it does have some of my favorite Beatles songs.

I’m from Jersey. I was raised on this stuff.

More 80s metal than the hardcore punk I’m familiar with from them. Not bad.

The Oasis comparisons are not unwarranted. I liked it better as it went on. Really dug the instrumentals.

I sure hope he felt better after all that. Seems he left all the subtext in his other pants cuz this is just straightforward bitchin.

“Stop begging. We have Patti Smith at home”

Probably been 17 years since I listened to this whole album through. I forgot how good it was.

This must be “albums my ex wife liked” week.

You don’t really need to listen to this album. If you’ve listened to any classic rock radio station you’ve heard all these songs before.

If Todd is your jam then this is probably the best album ever. For the rest of us it’s passable background music while doing literally anything else.

I don’t like live albums, but as they go this is pretty decent.

I thought I was kinda over Fleetwood Mac, turns out I was just sick of Rumors. These songs were all new to me (save a couple) and most of them were bangers. Like Plastic Ono Band you get one really beautiful song by Stevie or Christine and then some fuzzy experimental stuff from Lindsey. But even those were pretty decent.

Indie shoe gaze isn’t usually my thing but this grew on me.

That was pretty awesome. The first track had me worried but the rest was great!

One day a coworker put on a funk mix CD he’d made. It was my introduction to Parliament and Funk in general. I definitely remember Give up the Funk was on it.

I wish back in the 90’s when I was big into prog rock someone would’ve hipped me to this album. Not that my life would’ve been much different overall but I would’ve had 30 more years of this album in my life.

You can put this on whenever you need to feel like you’re in a cool exploitation movie.

I have a pretty expansive Steeleye Span collection. This was right up my alley

First track: this isn’t bad what’s everyone complaining about? The rest of the album: oh.

Took a bit to come around on this one. But once I caught the vibe I was pretty into it. It’s weird to find a genre you’ve never even heard before.

My name is Peaches!

Some fun old school beats… but it gets really repetitive after a while.

Just couldn’t get into it. A couple songs were alright enough but I just don’t care.

Took a while to warm to it. Might try again sometime. I’m a fair weather Nick fan.

I kept going back and forth about whether this was too dorky or not. This was kinda a thing in the mid70’s and it’s easy to tip just a bit too far. Queen and Harry Nilsson walk that tightrope perfectly to me. 10cc and Steely Dan are just a bit too into the dork category while still being very good musicians.

Didn’t think I’d care but that was actually really good

That was a fun time. I really need to listen again with the lyrics in front of me

Eh. I dig Birdland. That’s about it.

I’ll admit I got choked up at the end… then I remembered Phil is a lunatic. All your Christmas favorites are here. Can’t go wrong.

One thing this project has done is made me appreciate clean and clear lyrics. I dug the music but couldn’t understand a word. And the narration was no help at all.

U2 is just Irish Bruce Springsteen

As one of the few fans of Warning I had dropped off the Green Day train in the interim and never really listened to this one. I need to spend some time with the lyric sheet, I’m not sure what makes it an “opera” just yet. But I dug it.

Is it any surprise this came out at the same time as Deep Throat?

I still maintain that there’s too much Nick Cave on this list. Not *every* album needs to be on here. But I did enjoy this one much more than last time.

As much as I hate nu metal this wasn’t terrible. Not a whiny as Linkin Park or the rest I was actually able to channel my inner 14 year old and bop to some of it.

Definitely a bigger fan of the first half. If that’s all it was it’s be 5 stars

I feel bad for that drummer trying to keep up.

Roxy is one of those groups with a rabid fan base and I just don’t get it.

I’m putting this on at my next soirée for all the cool cats and kitties.

Knowing Snuggie played with Zappa I was expecting something closer to his early jazz music. Not so much. Funky but not that exciting to me

Crazy I got this album on the 9th anniversary of Bowie passing and sending the world into the tailspin we’re currently in.

Great way to start the week!

This album needs to be listened to on a little turntable on the floor with some candles

Perfect Neil. No notes.

Huh. So apparently I do enjoy thrash metal I just hate growly demon vocals.

You can just picture The Boys in a smoky pub playing these tunes to a crowd that has no idea what they’re witnessing

Despite being an hour long it never got boring or felt overlong.

I feel like I’m going to be listening to a lot of punk music the next four years. Good start.

Big thanks to Marcus Parks, Carolina Hidalgo, and No Dogs In Space for their series on the band. It was good preparation for actually listening to the whole thing and appreciating it.

It’s like if you sucked all the Camp out of White Zombie. And someone in the studio said “instead of repeating the same bit for 4 bars how about 12?” for every song.

“Nobody cares, Moby. Nobody cares” -Space Ghost

Holy crap! This is what this project is all about!

Not Joni’s greatest but it’s Joni so it’s great.

Liked it more than I thought but after a while it all sounded the same and I didnt care as much.

Cool music ruined any time a human voice shows up.

Such a beautiful and tragic album. I never say this… but I wish it was longer.

Yeah. Björk just ain’t for me.

The comparison to U2 is not unearned.

Billy Bragg is the proto-Frank Turner.

Yup. That’s Elvis Costello alright.

Fun stuff I found myself singing along to songs id never heard before. But nothing really grabbed me or made me sit up and pay attention. Still amazed I never heard of this guy.

Zep’s never done it for me.

Damned good, though I like Smile more

It’s fine but totally unmemorable. Why is this here?

Thus began the lame-ification of country music.

Peak REM

That was fun, but I understand why people don’t like it. They’re no fun.

In a cooler timeline than this one these guys are The Rolling Stones.

“Ladies and gentlemen please welcome Cake! With guest vocalist, Lou Reed!”

A perfect album by the best Beatle.

There’s a reason you’ve heard most of these songs on classic rock radio constantly. Solid stuff. SWLABR kicks ass.

Just the coolest music for a swinging party after a long day of doing hip stuff.

To no one’s surprise… I like the old garage rock Monkees sound.

Maybe if Natalie Portman gave me her headphones and told me this would change my life I’d care more. But as it is it’s just boring generic shoegaze.

Another XPN staple I’ve heard a bunch of times but never really *listened* to before. Goddamn she’s good.

ELO isn’t prog rock. It’s Prog Pop.

AC/DC rocks pretty good. But then again they played the same song 10 times, so they should be good at it.

ASMR by way of pop music.

Maybe my life would be different if I’d heard these guys before the Flaming Lips. But they just sound like a knockoff to me.

Would’ve been great but it has Kanye’s stink all over it.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be… Willie is the best.

I get it but I didn’t care.

Usually I think “If I could understand the lyrics maybe I’d like this more” but I think the opposite is true of Morrissey. I need to hear him sing his songs in French. Then I can think “wow, I bet these lyrics are really deep because I love this music and he’s got a really unique voice” but then it turns out his head is so far up his own ass that his lyrics are nothing but self imposed cringe.

Yesterday I complained that the worst thing about Morrissey is his lyrics. Today I was blessed with an hour of funky-ass instrumentals!

Dull as dish water. Why is this here? Even the synopsis can’t explain why this album is interesting or included.

Yes, Clapton’s a wanker. But this album is full of real classic songs. I even bought it on cassette in high school.

Yeah, I like Taylor and Billie and Olivia and them just fine, but I don’t like the high pitched breathy thing… and that’s all Lana does. Also, way too soon to be on this list. Come back when you’re older, sweetie.

I bet this is what Elon Musk listens to while pretending to play Diablo while on Ketamine.

I dug it. It’s familiar yet unlike anything else. My ears couldn’t keep up with it. But everyone should definitely experience it before they die.

If I did drag I’d sing Son of a Preacherman.

I’m putting the Doors in with The Stones and Zepplin… I like hearing a song in the wild on occasion, but a whole album is too much for me.

“Whew! Glad that’s over. Not the worst but definitely not my… what do you mean that was only the third track?”

I was not familiar with these guys and the haters got me nervous but… I like 80’s synth pop stuff! And the symphonic aspect just made it even better. So happy I discovered this.

The Apple Music version of this album is almost 6 hours long. I assume the first “disc” is the original which is already too damned long at 80 some minutes. Nobody needs this much repetitive garbage. Maybe instead of remixing your tracks work on making something interesting and listenable.

Funny I just complained how long a couple tracks on the last album were and the list delivers me an album that’s just 4 long tracks. Difference is, this is funky soul and not just a drum machine and bleep bloops and samples of vocals. Coulda done without the whole story time, that works great live but is boring as hell on an album track.

Good dependable Dad Rock

I really dig that. Kinda a “Matthew Sweet with a band” vibe. Good early 90s alternative

Dunno what he’s saying but I like the way he says it.

If you like Neil Young rocking then you’ll like this. Long jams. Comfortable chord progressions. I sang along with half the songs even though I never heard them before.

Been a while since I got something I already have on vinyl

Rock & Roll is safe… but as electronic jams go this was pretty chill and ok. I didnt hate it and might actually put it on if I’m stoned and need some background grooves.

A bunch of two minute bops that get less familiar the further you go. But it’s peek Beatles rock and the harmonies are so damned good.

Kinda reminded me of the Blues Brothers. “We got both kinds! Country *and* Western!”

Meh.

Any one of these songs would be perfect in the soundtrack to an early 90’s indie flick.

Only the Allmans could make a 20 minute jam feel no longer than 12

If you’ve heard an Elvis Costello song on the radio it’s probably from this album.

Great for making sweet sweet love. Not very interesting when you’re just driving for work.

I’m sure it’s very important and influential… but most of it sounded like the same song over and over to me. A couple fun ones but mostly just not my thing.

I guess I kinda like the White Stripes.

When I was a dumb kid I thought Joni was that weird hippy singer whose voice was too high and whose songs didn’t rhyme correctly. Then one night, probably in my early 20’s, (I shit you not) she came to me in a dream. We were seated next to each other at a huge lavish banquet and we just talked. I could never remember what we said but I woke up and said “Shit, I’ve been wrong” and she’s been a guardian angel ever since.

The story of Buddy and how the studios screwed him even after his death is more interesting than most of this album. The hits are great and the rest is just lesser versions of the same thing. They have one trick and, while it was amazing and new at the time, it’s still just one trick. I do appreciate that, like the Ramones, each song is pretty much 1st verse chorus 2nd verse chorus 1st verse repeats chorus and out in around 2 minutes.

Some albums are perfect for driving through the Pine Barrens. This is one of them.

War always makes me think of Cheech & Chong movies.

Kept waiting for something to grab me but nothing ever did.

Sound & Vision sounds like a song from Bob’s Burgers.

It’s their biggest. It’s their mostest. But it’s not their bestest. Lotta filler and eh.

I was 2 minutes into a track from another band before I realized the album was over and another was autoplaying. That is to say it all sounded the same and I didn’t care at all.

Is that Lin Manuel?

Not bad but yeah there’s similar better bands doing the same thing at the same time. Maybe if the vocals were at all understandable…

I was hoping they were more than just that one song that I’ve heard before (and don’t care much for). But they’re not.

The production is fantastic. No notes. This is what I think of when I think of rap. But the lyrics..? Are we twelve? C’mon fellas. That said, I prefer the Ben Folds cover of Bitches Ain’t Shit.

I love the late Beach Boys sound but what are these lyrics? You open with a track that sounds like it was the winner in a middle school earth day contest? Just give me Smile.

If you threw all songs by Lorde, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, and Taylor Swift in a hat and pulled one out there is very little chance I could tell you whose it was.

I feel like for every Clube Da Esquina by Milton Nascimento I have to sit through five Brit Pop albums and two overlong terribly repetitive electronics dance albums.

The Green Day-NOFX-Dead Kennedys-XRay Spex pipeline is real. This was “baby’s first punk album” for a lot of us and is still a whole lot of fun. Don’t listen to gatekeepers and snobs.

I was a big fan of American Beauty when it came out. A big part of that was the soundtrack, especially the final song, a cover of the Beatles’ “Because” by some guy named Elliott Smith. I bought Either Or along with a few other albums one day, listened to it once and said “oh… well… they can’t all be great, I wonder if the used CD guy will take this” A few days later I gave it another try and it clicked. I became a huge fan overnight and even saw Smith the last time he came to Philly. So… yeah. I dig this one.

As much as I usually enjoy the “suburban garage sound” this was too shouty and not all that interesting. Also… a compilation album? Really?

Yes please. More hidden gems like this. Less early 90’s Brit-Pop.

Fuck you this did not need to be two hours.

Makes me wanna sip Bartles & Jaymes poolside with an overly tanned older woman with just a little too much plastic surgery.

Have it on vinyl and if I ever do karaoke I’m singing Maggie May.

If I don’t give this 5 stars my 12 year old will somehow find out and never speak to me again. Also it really is a good album.

“Mom, I wanna get some Velvet Underground!” “We have Velvet Underground at home” This is the Velvet Underground at home. And I mean that in the best possible way.

Some of their best.

Girl was my ringtone back when you paid 99¢ for a 10 second clip. It got old real fast. Unlike this album.

Like the ghost of Nick Drake joined Wilco.

I still remember how it blew my mind the first time I really listened to Stairway.

While I do hold a certain nostalgic fondness for that early ‘90s sound it’s not really my jam and this in particular didn't do much else for me.

Oh fuck. Why didn’t anyone tell me this was so good? Two of the three weakest songs were the big radio hits.

Have it on vinyl.