498
Albums Rated
2.95
Average Rating
46%
Complete
591 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Perfectionist
Rater Style ?
11
5-Star Albums
21
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| S&M | 5 | 3.26 | +1.74 |
| Hybrid Theory | 5 | 3.39 | +1.61 |
| Dirt | 5 | 3.47 | +1.53 |
| Van Halen | 5 | 3.63 | +1.37 |
| KE*A*H** (Psalm 69) | 4 | 2.69 | +1.31 |
| All Hope Is Gone | 4 | 2.7 | +1.3 |
| Yank Crime | 4 | 2.7 | +1.3 |
| Atomizer | 4 | 2.72 | +1.28 |
| Master Of Puppets | 5 | 3.73 | +1.27 |
| Among The Living | 4 | 2.85 | +1.15 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| The White Album | 2 | 4.18 | -2.18 |
| Permission to Land | 1 | 3.14 | -2.14 |
| Kimono My House | 1 | 3.06 | -2.06 |
| Sheet Music | 1 | 2.96 | -1.96 |
| AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted | 1 | 2.93 | -1.93 |
| Kick Out The Jams (Live) | 1 | 2.91 | -1.91 |
| Slayed? | 1 | 2.89 | -1.89 |
| Destroyer | 1 | 2.86 | -1.86 |
| Greetings From L.A. | 1 | 2.86 | -1.86 |
| 69 Love Songs | 1 | 2.84 | -1.84 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Metallica | 2 | 5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 4 | 4.25 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.33 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| The Mothers Of Invention | 2 | 1.5 |
| The Divine Comedy | 2 | 1.5 |
| Public Image Ltd. | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (11)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Gang Starr
4/5
Top 10 phrases from this album:
10. Swiftly as we embark on a journey, I had to get an attorney
9. For I can excel real well like a gazelle
8. You’re heated up like a thermostat
7. So make like a camper, and go take a hike
6. You puny Protozoa, you’re so minute you didn’t know
5. I’m like a neurosurgeon, operating with a purer version
4. I’m rushing you like a defensive end as I recommend
3. Have enough brain cells so I can stay paid well
2. Chic and unique with lots of kicks like a cleat
1. MCs like me will rise like the Enterprise
16 likes
Miriam Makeba
2/5
Great voice, enjoyed this album until “The naughty little flea” and “One more dance” which were utterly terrible.
2 likes
Yes
2/5
Pretty much what I expected from a Yes album, a few bright moments but mostly obnoxious and full of random noises.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (21)
All Ratings
Arctic Monkeys
2/5
Not bad, maybe 2-3 good songs, gets a little repetitive. Sounds like a British Cage the Elephant
Keith Jarrett
2/5
Not bad. But you definitely have to be in the mood.
Talking Heads
3/5
Kind of psychedelic. Tried to like it but just okay.
OutKast
2/5
Pink Floyd
3/5
Classic concept album but man it’s long
Circle Jerks
1/5
Pretty manic. Fortunately the entire album was only 15 minutes long.
Queen
3/5
A little too theatrical
The Beach Boys
3/5
Not bad. Those guys could definitely harmonize.
The Beau Brummels
3/5
I had never heard of the band so didn’t know what to expect. Didn’t care for the first half of the album as it sounded like folksy Bob Dylan. Thought the latter part of the album was better, more psychedelic, and the songs more textured.
Ramones
2/5
Album didn’t do much for me but I am appreciative of the influence they had on later bands (Nirvana, Metallica, Green Day).
American Music Club
2/5
Never heard of them. Apparently they were pioneers for slowcore, a genre I also had never heard of. Now I know why.
Supergrass
3/5
Never heard of these guys. Not bad but one song sounded like it was sung by Alvin and the Chipmunks.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Definitely had a great voice. Brass instrumentation on the tracks was nice.
David Bowie
3/5
Never listened to this album before. Not what I was expecting from David Bowie. Very different than his later albums and mainstream hits.
Dr. John
4/5
Haunting and trippy with cool percussion
Suicide
1/5
Terrible, F. The only thing I liked about this album was when it ended.
Fugees
3/5
Entertaining but a lot of chatter between songs.
Funkadelic
3/5
Lot of random sounds in that last track, impressive that they somehow managed to incorporate a cuckoo clock in a rock jam.
Adele
4/5
Never listened to this album before but it’s worth the hype.
Paul Simon
4/5
Great singer / songwriter. “You can call me Al” video gives it an extra star.
The Byrds
2/5
Felt like an SNL skit with Christopher Walken yelling “I gotta have more tambourine”
Green Day
3/5
A lot more polished than their earlier work. The only good songs from the album made it to the radio, otherwise pretty average.
Jack White
4/5
Pretty solid
Van Halen
5/5
I probably slightly prefer the Van Hagar era but this is the best VH album with Diamond Dave as front man.
Motörhead
2/5
Pretty rough
Guns N' Roses
4/5
As is the case with most GnR albums, a few really great songs displaying Axl’s range and Slash’s talent but also several songs which are downright awful.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Couple of good songs. Really liked “Pastime Paradise” and didn’t realize that was the original that the Coolio remake was based upon.
The White Stripes
3/5
Some cool guitar riffs but overall album was just okay. Nothing stood out.
Youssou N'Dour
3/5
Cool rhythms, overall enjoyable
Soft Machine
3/5
Could perhaps be used as background music if something more interesting was going on
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Bleh
Björk
3/5
She has an interesting sound
The White Stripes
2/5
Jack should stick with playing guitar rather than tinkering around with marimba, tambourine, and maracas. But I guess it’s hard to jam out with the guitar when you are singing about doorbells.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
Had a hard time finding this album because apparently he recorded over 100 albums and is in the Guinness book of world records. Hard to comprehend recording that much music.
Tricky
4/5
Intriguing album, some songs gave a UK night club vibe, while others sounded like they could be on the soundtrack of an HBO “after hours” movie.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
Some sort of mashup of country, rock, and grunge but unfortunately took the worst elements of each genre. Overly distorted guitars, off pitch vocals, and ridiculously long outros.
Fatboy Slim
2/5
Some decent songs with good beats / mixes but repetitive at times. Some songs were so bad though I had to skip to the next track.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Some iconic riffs. Probably my second favorite Led Zeppelin album behind IV.
SZA
2/5
Some of the songs were okay. Felt like the entire album was produced with just a synthesizer so no real depth to the tracks.
Al Green
2/5
Just okay
The Louvin Brothers
2/5
Felt like 16 different versions of the same song. Maybe the lyrics were different but after a few songs I found myself tuning them out.
The Smiths
3/5
Not bad but I can only take so much Morressey at a time.
Beck
3/5
Typical Beck with random sounds and lyrics. First song was good, rest of album was entertaining but not memorable.
Steve Winwood
3/5
He is a talented musician but overall the album was a little too groovy for me.
Jurassic 5
3/5
Somewhat entertaining, had some good beats.
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
Quintessential NIN
Elton John
3/5
First song was good, rest of album was just okay.
Beatles
2/5
The Beatles apparently opted to go with quantity over quality for this album.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Couple of very good, classic songs. His clean vocals are so much better than his harsh vocals which are often unintelligible.
Willie Nelson
2/5
Sleep inducing
Pulp
3/5
Not bad, had a few catchy songs.
Sigur Rós
2/5
Interesting but kind of have to be in the mood for this one
Jimmy Smith
2/5
Probably would be cool to listen to if hanging out at a jazz bar.
Buzzcocks
2/5
Was annoying to listen to.
The Police
4/5
First half of the album is terrible, particularly “mother”. The second half would be an outstanding EP.
Blue Cheer
2/5
Felt like had some potential but missed badly.
Air
2/5
Nah, boring.
James Brown
3/5
Very brass forward backing music, but entertaining
Gang Starr
4/5
Top 10 phrases from this album:
10. Swiftly as we embark on a journey, I had to get an attorney
9. For I can excel real well like a gazelle
8. You’re heated up like a thermostat
7. So make like a camper, and go take a hike
6. You puny Protozoa, you’re so minute you didn’t know
5. I’m like a neurosurgeon, operating with a purer version
4. I’m rushing you like a defensive end as I recommend
3. Have enough brain cells so I can stay paid well
2. Chic and unique with lots of kicks like a cleat
1. MCs like me will rise like the Enterprise
Talking Heads
3/5
Knew one song which was decent. Rest of the album just kind of blended together
The Kinks
2/5
Underwhelming
Metallica
5/5
I was skeptical when this album was first released 25 years ago but they managed to pull it off. The orchestra doesn’t necessarily make the songs better but definitely an interesting reinterpretation. Enjoyed re-revisiting this album after many years since the last listen.
B.B. King
4/5
Entertaining
Bad Company
3/5
Good but not great. Paul Rogers vocals were the highlight but the guitar and drums felt mundane.
David Bowie
4/5
Very interesting musically
Billy Bragg
2/5
Bleh
Deep Purple
3/5
This album was much heavier than I had anticipated.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
It was alright, she has a soulful voice.
Paul Simon
2/5
I generally like Paul Simon but this was not his best. Was like listening to a bad book of poems with silly metaphors put to music. Could rename the album Paul Simon “Songs about Things”.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Pretty bluesy for The Stones
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
A little heavy on the synthesizer but some classic 80’s songs.
Arcade Fire
3/5
Album was okay, not really memorable
Massive Attack
3/5
Some songs had a pretty good vibe
New Order
2/5
Only enjoyable song was the instrumental. Perhaps if the vocal tracks were from the entire album, then it might be decent.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
Lyrics were a bit repetitive at times and very heavy on social commentary. But entertaining underlying tracks and mix.
R.E.M.
4/5
Overall solid album.
GZA
3/5
Just okay
Muddy Waters
3/5
Probably a lot of fun to see this in a live concert.
Destiny's Child
3/5
Album started off strong but then faded
Pavement
2/5
The production on this album was terrible, very unpolished.
Sufjan Stevens
2/5
So boring. At least didn't do all 50 states.
Beatles
3/5
Weird album
Incubus
4/5
Solid
Madonna
2/5
Auto-tune garbage
Judas Priest
3/5
Not bad, got a bit repetitive though
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
Handful of good songs, the rest of this bloated 2-disc album felt self indulgent and forgettable
The White Stripes
3/5
Besides the opening track, nothing really stands out. Just feels like more of the same from The White Stripes.
Daft Punk
3/5
Pretty entertaining
The Residents
2/5
Very weird, yet somewhat intriguing.
Nick Drake
2/5
Painfully boring
Steely Dan
3/5
Not bad but a little too groovy, sounded like even had some wind chimes on the first track.
The Temptations
3/5
Not bad, enjoyed the baritone.
Van Morrison
3/5
The title track was great, rest just ok
Little Richard
2/5
Album started off strong, a little heavy on the saxophone. However by the end felt repetitive with the same tunes and random shouts, just different lyrics.
Kendrick Lamar
2/5
Very disjointed
Garbage
3/5
Typical 90’s alt rock
Malcolm McLaren
2/5
The instrumental intro was cool, the rest of the album was silly.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Underwhelming
CHVRCHES
3/5
very different, somewhat enjoyable
Beastie Boys
4/5
Not my favorite Beastie Boy album but solid.
Talking Heads
3/5
It was okay, nothing special
Ryan Adams
2/5
Never heard of this guy, not my thing
Ice Cube
1/5
George Harrison
2/5
Folksy and boring
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
2/5
Kind of hokey
Tracy Chapman
3/5
Pretty good, album started off strong but songs started to blend together toward the end
3/5
Just okay, probably more suited to being played at an outdoor bar versus general listening
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Just okay
David Crosby
2/5
After listening to this boring album, I definitely won’t remember his name.
Eagles
3/5
Three classic songs, but the rest of the album was somewhat disappointing
Radiohead
3/5
Interesting but vocals a little whiny at times.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Weird vocals, sounded like they were recorded under water.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Pretty solid debut album, the songs and riffs tend to stick in your head
Iron Maiden
2/5
Sonically similar to Spinal Tap and deserving of the same two word review “shit sandwich”
Dr. Dre
3/5
Well produced, smooth rap vocals, cool beats and samples, plus bonus points for introducing Snoop. But the lyrics are rough at times
Pink Floyd
3/5
Crazy Diamonds parts 1-48 could have been trimmed way down. Other songs were good.
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
First part of the album was surprisingly catchy, but the latter half was quite forgettable
Can
2/5
Better than expected, except “Aumgn” and “Peking O” which sucked
Love
3/5
This album was all over the place, bonus points for the Ron Burgundy-esque jazz flute, but “Revelation” became tiresome.
The Who
4/5
Talented musicians
Muddy Waters
4/5
Solid blues album
Green Day
4/5
Good album, high energy
Miriam Makeba
2/5
Great voice, enjoyed this album until “The naughty little flea” and “One more dance” which were utterly terrible.
Frank Ocean
3/5
Meh
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Great alt rock album, Smashing Pumpkins at their peak.
The Kinks
3/5
Not what I was expecting, but unsure if better or worse
Pulp
4/5
First time listening to this band, a bit melancholic at times but overall enjoyable
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Very different, enjoyed the baritone but became tedious after a while.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
A few good songs, some were surprisingly heavy on the bass guitar.
The Pogues
3/5
Entertaining, for a while at least
Portishead
3/5
Definitely below expectations
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Great voice, album was just okay though.
Holger Czukay
2/5
What the hell was that?
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Entertaining except “Dumb Girl” was pretty ridiculous
Beck
3/5
Sad Beck
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
Probably would have been great to see live, as an album just okay
Siouxsie And The Banshees
2/5
While I appreciate the influence this album had on later bands, the overall sound of the music felt hollow
Joy Division
4/5
Has a brooding but cool vibe
R.E.M.
3/5
Pretty subpar album compared to their usual high quality work
The Smiths
3/5
Not bad but not very memorable
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
Felt like I was listening to The Brady Bunch’s greatest hits album.
Gene Clark
3/5
Kind of a snoozer
Yes
4/5
Interesting guitar work, vocal harmonies, and use of stereo sound
Julian Cope
3/5
Some songs were cool, some were a jumbled mess
Wu-Tang Clan
3/5
Was unsure about this one, so gave it a second listen. While it had a few catchy songs and some interesting sounds at times, overall it was just okay.
Iron Maiden
3/5
Not as heavy as expected
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Was pretty forgettable until “No Sympathy” which was wild.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Heard of the band but never listened to them. Definitely enjoyed this one. Reminded me a lot of INXS.
The Pretty Things
2/5
Was not overly compelled by the story of Mr. Sorrow
Nirvana
4/5
Excellent production for a live album. Could have been 5-stars with a better setlist
Supertramp
3/5
Pretty groovy, not a big fan of the percussive use of clapping and snapping
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Some classic songs. Yet neither google nor AI could clarify the definition of the apparent verb “choogle”
White Denim
3/5
“Is and Is and Is” was good, the rest of the album was pretty soft.
The Go-Go's
4/5
Enjoyed this album, especially after having watched the documentary of the band which is also excellent
Songhoy Blues
4/5
Even without understanding the language, the music itself was very enjoyable
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
Obnoxious and annoying
Adele
4/5
Not exactly my cup of tea and the album is pretty melancholy, but she has an amazing voice and listening to “Hello” gave me chills
Scissor Sisters
4/5
First time listening to this album, bizarre but intriguing. Could hear some influences from The Bee Gees and Wham. Undecided about the cover of the iconic “Comfortably Numb” but have to give some credit for remaking it into a completely different vibe.
Nirvana
5/5
Not only an all time great album, but also created a seismic shift in the music landscape for a generation
Lorde
3/5
Found myself tuning this out several times, but yet don’t feel like I missed out on much
Roxy Music
3/5
Pretty indifferent
The Prodigy
3/5
Not bad but needed more vocals, otherwise just felt like club music
Beatles
3/5
Good but not great. Is every Beatles album on this list?
Eminem
2/5
I enjoyed the movie “8 mile” so was hopeful this album would be decent but it was pretty rough
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Album was okay, easy listening
Spiritualized
2/5
Album didn’t do much for me
Japan
2/5
Felt like an unrefined, crappy Duran Duran
Slipknot
4/5
One of my favorite bands but probably my least favorite album from them. “Psychosocial” and “Snuff” are solid.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Pretty heavy but melodic guitars riffs, plus Ozzy, what’s not to like?
Radiohead
2/5
A couple of good songs, the rest were pretty boring
k.d. lang
3/5
Wow, not what I was expecting. Not exactly my favorite style of music, but she definitely has a great voice.
The Auteurs
2/5
Didn’t get much out of this album, except this guy really hates his job parking cars.
Randy Newman
3/5
Just ok, glad he found his niche with animated movies
Blondie
3/5
Knew the hits, rest of the album was pretty fun
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
Slightly better than his first album, still not my thing though
The Fall
3/5
Not bad, liked “Paintwork”
Sepultura
2/5
Started out somewhat interesting, but by the middle of the album was just too much
2/5
Not much to like, except it was over in less than 30 minutes
Joan Armatrading
3/5
A few interesting songs, otherwise pretty average
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Grooviness of the 70’s in full effect
R.E.M.
3/5
Album starts off solid with “Finest Worksong” and the hits “The End of the World” and “The One I Love” still hold up. Tough call on this one as the rest of the album was pretty middle of the road.
Barry Adamson
3/5
Interesting concept. Really enjoyed the first half of the album but the second half fell flat.
Depeche Mode
3/5
Thought I was somewhat familiar with Depeche Mode but did not know any of these songs. After listening to the album now I know why, nothing special here.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
no doubting his guitar talent, but this album was not as strong as his first
Beastie Boys
4/5
No big hits on this album, but still pretty solid overall
Kid Rock
2/5
First few tracks were entertaining, but the album progressively devolved into garbage.
Bob Dylan
3/5
The good: songwriting
The bad: vocals
The ugly: way too much harmonica
Bob Dylan
4/5
Somewhat shocked by having back-to-back Dylan albums from a random generator. Yet was pleasantly surprised by this album. His voice is still a little rough but thankfully he ditched the excessive harmonica.
Cream
3/5
Some great guitar riffs throughout, was ready to give this 4-stars but the last track was absolute shite
Steely Dan
2/5
Feels like this album was AI-generated. Technically sound but boring and lifeless.
3/5
Never heard of this band, album was okay but a bit disjointed
KISS
1/5
Couple of decent songs, but the rest were cheesy and/or obnoxious. Was teetering on 2-stars until “Beth” which was so cringeworthy had to drop to 1-star.
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
Found myself zoning out on this multiple times, tried to refocus but then a piece of debris drifting in the wind would catch my attention and that was actually more interesting
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Overall solid album, groundbreaking guitar work, innovative use of stereo mixing
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
Entertaining and lively album
Scott Walker
3/5
Mixed feelings on this album. Smooth vocals, some interesting arrangements, but the last few songs were super sappy.
Pretty underwhelming especially compared to their peak music from the 80’s and early 90’s.
The Zutons
3/5
Great album name and artwork, besides that the music itself was pretty middle of the road.
Janelle Monáe
3/5
Pretty indifferent. If I heard this album again, I probably wouldn’t recognize any songs.
Pearl Jam
5/5
Solid album from start to finish.
Happy Mondays
2/5
Whatever this genre is, I could do without.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Album felt like a slow meandering waltz, but did close out with a great rendition of “All Along the Watchtower”.
Morrissey
2/5
No…more…Morrissey….
The Band
2/5
Bleh
The Notorious B.I.G.
2/5
Was not as good as I had hoped
Thin Lizzy
3/5
For a live album this fell a little flat. Even the hit “The Boys are Back in Town” was rough.
The Libertines
3/5
Just another British indie rock album, nothing special
The Mothers Of Invention
1/5
Album started off weird but tolerable, became progressively more annoying, but the insufferable final track ultimately dropped it down to 1-star level
The Isley Brothers
3/5
Pretty enjoyable album, high energy, decent cover songs
Charles Mingus
4/5
Enjoyed this album, had a different jazz vibe
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
Not bad, lot of innovative and interesting sounds.
Jungle Brothers
3/5
Just okay, kind of got tired of the album about halfway through
Supergrass
4/5
Album was better than expected, having 2 Supergrass albums on this list not expected
Bob Dylan
3/5
Not a huge Dylan fan, but this album was pretty good
Radiohead
4/5
Solid album
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
What have I done to deserve that? “Shopping” and “Heart” dropped it to 2-stars.
Janet Jackson
3/5
The hits and dance songs were good, the slower songs not so good.
Yes
2/5
Pretty much what I expected from a Yes album, a few bright moments but mostly obnoxious and full of random noises.
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
Title track is great, the rest of the songs better suited as background music.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Solid album, was good to listen to again after a long hiatus
Sex Pistols
2/5
Just don’t like this genre, understand this was apparently a pivotal album but was relieved when it ended.
Brian Eno
3/5
Innovative, enjoyed the sampling and percussion.
Primal Scream
3/5
First half of the album was okay but then things fell apart. “Come Together” was twice as long as it needed to be, and the latter half of the album was soft and uninteresting.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Solid debut album, crazy to think that this was released 55 years ago
The Specials
2/5
Definitely nothing special
The Velvet Underground
2/5
The longer “European Son” dragged on, the closer this album got to 1-star.
Red Snapper
3/5
Never heard of this band, album started strong, had a few questionable songs toward the end.
The Waterboys
3/5
strangely hypnotic
The War On Drugs
4/5
solid album, well produced, vocals feel like blend of Paul Simon and Bob Dylan
N.W.A.
3/5
All-star cast, but some of the songs are rough
Neil Young
3/5
Talented musician, but just can’t get behind the pitch of the vocals
Moby Grape
3/5
Felt extremely basic, from the 5-second guitar solos, to the simple keyboard arrangements, and almost entirely quarter-note percussion beats.
The Cars
4/5
Solid debut album with several great tracks, seamlessly blends synth with rock
Fiona Apple
3/5
Great voice, album kind of dragged on toward the end, hard to believe that she was only 19 years old when this was released
Miles Davis
4/5
Very solid
Paul McCartney and Wings
2/5
First song was good, but the rest of the album was pretty disappointing. “Bluebird” and “Mamunia” were annoying enough to drop this down to 2-stars.
Meat Puppets
3/5
Pretty mixed bag, the vocals were a bit harsh and some of the songs were overly manic, but did enjoy the instrumental songs
Dolly Parton
3/5
Certainly not my genre, but good songwriting
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Not bad, pretty easy to listen to
Soundgarden
4/5
Great album, hits are good but overall not quite as good as Badmotorfinger.
Arrested Development
3/5
Entertaining, lot of interesting sounds and layers. Probably a 3.5-star album, just not quite enough for 4-stars.
Lambchop
1/5
This album was an absolute mess, mostly a snoozefest, but the falsetto songs were cringeworthy enough to earn 1-star
Nas
3/5
Had a good flow and rhythm, not spectacular enough though to warrant more than 3-stars.
Neil Young
3/5
Very similar to the previous Neil Young album on this last, still not a fan.
The Yardbirds
3/5
Album was okay. More impressive was that in a just a few years this band launched the careers of 3 legendary guitarists — Clapton, Beck, Page.
Missy Elliott
3/5
Mostly entertaining, some songs a bit slow
Pavement
4/5
Had a lot of dissonant sounds and was pretty heavy on the guitar distortion at times, but was intriguing enough that I might give another listen.
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
Album wasn’t bad, until ending with that shitty song about New York.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Still not a Neil Young fan, however the backing by Crazy Horse was just enough to keep this from dropping to 2-stars.
The Fall
3/5
The vocals are a bit of a mess, but the underlying music is captivating enough to keep at 3-stars.
Various Artists
4/5
Great Christmas album, could have done without the monologue during “Silent Night” though
Sepultura
3/5
Lot of great guitar riffs throughout the album, but can only manage to listen to this in small doses at a time.
The Offspring
4/5
Great album, definitely some mediocre songs on this, but the hits were hugely successful at the time and still enjoyable today
Elvis Costello
3/5
Never have been a big fan, but this album was okay.
Skunk Anansie
3/5
Never heard of this band, very interesting opening track, but then the album kind of falls off
Eagles
4/5
The Eagles at their best, so many great lines from this album
Dirty Projectors
2/5
A sloppy mess, to put it kindly
The Who
3/5
Maybe a handful of “live” albums deserve to be on this list, this album is not one of them.
The Temptations
3/5
Kind of a roller coaster, a few enjoyable songs, some were overly groovy, and the slower songs were pretty boring.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
When yet another Neil Young album popped up on this list, I felt a sense of dismay.
However did like the heavy guitar distortion on the second version of “Hey Hey, My My” which added some extra punch.
The Specials
2/5
Even less special than their first album, definitely did not enjoy myself
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
Was only familiar with “Feel the Pain” so this album was much harder and grittier than expected, overall was a pleasant surprise.
Depeche Mode
3/5
The hit singles are decent, but overall the album is way too synth heavy.
If the album had been released this year, I might be convinced that it was completely AI generated.
Radiohead
3/5
Not their best work, but a few decent songs. Overall pretty melancholy, whiny, and slow even by Radiohead standards.
Michael Jackson
3/5
First two songs are solid, but the rest of the album is pretty mundane.
Wanted to give an extra star for spring-boarding his trajectory, but this falls well short of “Thriller”.
Orbital
3/5
Solid background music, not something that I would actively listen to.
Eels
4/5
Never heard of this band, but the vocals were distinct and captivating.
The Doors
3/5
Two solid songs, the rest of the album is pretty average.
John Coltrane
4/5
Don’t listen to jazz much, but that was impressive and very well done.
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
Yet another album on this list that I might throw on as background music. Impressive though that was made nearly 50 years ago.
Pixies
4/5
Had heard of this band but never really listened to their music. Pleasantly surprised by this album, lot of interesting textures and grooves.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Felt like a more upbeat version of The Cure with hints of U2 at times. I’m surprised these guys weren’t more commercially successful back then.
Johnny Cash
3/5
Interesting concept and apparently worked out well for him. Entertaining at times, especially the crowd interactions.
Sister Sledge
3/5
The title track was great, however the rest of the songs were ok to slightly boring.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
She has a great voice, this genre is just not my cup of tea
Sonic Youth
4/5
Atypical song structures, dissonant song fade-outs, but kept my attention
Doves
3/5
Very reminiscent of Cold Play, but with 7 less Grammy’s
Frank Zappa
3/5
Some pretty decent jams, probably more enjoyable live versus on a studio recording
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Pretty raw emotions on display
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
Underwhelming, sounded like two guys playing their Casio keyboards in the early 80’s
Kanye West
4/5
First time listening, pleasantly surprised. Lyrics are questionable at times, but the production is top notch.
The Strokes
4/5
Tightly arranged songs, could do with a little less distortion on the vocals, but all-in-all solid album.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
More entertaining than Super Bowl LIX
Pink Floyd
4/5
Iconic album cover art, solid concept album.
Sam Cooke
4/5
All around great performance, that show must have been electric.
Shivkumar Sharma
4/5
Is this the background music of every spa in America?
Steely Dan
2/5
This album must have been one of the last four in.
Willie Nelson
2/5
The guy is a legend but didn’t get much from this album. Was shocked that this was his 18th album until reading that he just released his 153rd album.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Good chill music but started to lose interest toward the end.
Gary Numan
4/5
Enjoyed this album much more than anticipated
Marvin Gaye
2/5
Tough listen, many songs were overly drawn out, hopefully this album was cathartic for him in this rough time of his life.
Coldplay
3/5
Three days after listening to this album, I don’t remember much which is telling I guess.
Iggy Pop
3/5
Was enjoying this album, lots of energy, but “Turn Blue” knocked it down a full star
Coldplay
3/5
Not these guys again. Another hour of music so unremarkable that I already forgot about it an hour later.
Elbow
3/5
Never heard of this band, somewhat reminiscent of Blue October and Hinder, overall decent listen.
The Streets
2/5
Overall was just dreadful, barely gets to 2-stars for originality
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
Great harmonies but otherwise not too much to get excited about.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Album started strong, but the nearly 10-minutes of intro talking on the final track was a bit much.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
First time listening to this album, was only familiar with his later hit songs. Was mostly enjoyable, interesting rhythms and sounds.
Ministry
4/5
Very intense, felt like being hit directly the face, but somehow in a good way.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Didn’t get much from this, wasn’t good, wasn’t bad, just meh.
Fela Kuti
3/5
Some good grooves, songs are a bit too long, probably better enjoyed in a live setting
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Enjoyed this album more than “Natty Dread” but can only take reggae in small doses.
TV On The Radio
3/5
First listen, not impressed. Pretty sure there won’t be a second listen
Mott The Hoople
3/5
Never heard of this band, hard to categorize this album as it was all over the place
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
2/5
Was only familiar with their hit single “Relax”. Album slightly exceeded my low expectations and progressively devolved into cheesy and sappy
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Impressive start to the album, but gets a bit repetitive toward the end.
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
Was only familiar with the hit single “Take Me Out”. Album started a little slow but grew progressively stronger and ultimately exceeded my expectations.
Common
4/5
Overall decent album, gets an extra star for his acting role on “Silo” which was solid
1/5
This album is just horrendous. Somewhat reminiscent of Spinal Tap but without the satire or humor. If ever an album was worthy of the review “Shit Sandwich”, this one fits the bill.
Queen
4/5
Enjoyed this album, very tight arrangement but does get overly theatrical at times.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
Several classic songs but the rest of the album is underwhelming.
ZZ Top
3/5
Album has a couple of classic songs, solid bluesy guitar riffs, yet the band had not quite hit their peak
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
Could see this as interesting background music
Grateful Dead
2/5
Wow that was boring, what a snoozefest
Dizzee Rascal
2/5
Had never heard of the musical genre “grime”. After listening to this mess, hopefully will never hear it again
Jethro Tull
3/5
Album got better as it went along, too much Ron Burgundy jazz flute though
Dusty Springfield
3/5
She has a good voice but these songs were pretty uninspiring.
Aphex Twin
2/5
Had a few interesting segments, but otherwise just sounded like someone messing around on a Casio keyboard in the late 80’s
R.E.M.
4/5
Solid debut album, especially considering the music landscape in 1983
Bee Gees
1/5
this was bad on so many levels, cringeworthy at times
Linkin Park
5/5
groundbreaking, one of my all time favorites, RIP Chester
Blur
3/5
“Song 2” was good, high energy song. The rest of the album was pretty underwhelming.
Fugazi
2/5
Somehow this band flew under my radar, now I know why. Album had few decent songs but overall just sounded like slightly heavier punk rock.
The Flaming Lips
2/5
Couldn’t get past the whiny, grating vocals.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Overall solid album, especially “The Boxer”. Unfortunate but perhaps not unexpected that the duo parted ways after this album
Radiohead
3/5
Sub-par compared to their earlier albums.
Beck
4/5
Good, not great, although hard to replicate the brilliance and success of “Loser”
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Kind of a mixed bag. Did not particularly enjoy the concept album comprising “side 1” of the album. But the mishmash of singles on “side 2” were solid, including “Mrs. Robinson” and “Hazy Shade of Winter”
David Holmes
3/5
Had a few cool songs, but this album is near the bottom of the 1001 albums.
The Smiths
3/5
Morrisey is much more tolerable in The Smiths versus solo.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Good stuff. Somehow I did not realize that “Higher Ground” by RHCP was actually a cover of Stevie.
Kraftwerk
3/5
Not quite as cool as I had hoped
Shack
2/5
Did not enjoy this album at all, some songs were downright awful.
Björk
3/5
Interesting textures and layers of the background music, smooth silky vocals, but some of the songs just meander aimlessly.
The Triffids
1/5
I’ve had bowel movements that were more satisfying than listening to this turd of an album.
Ray Charles
4/5
Very solid, enjoyable album.
AC/DC
4/5
Besides the iconic title track, the rest of the album was enjoyable but not necessarily spectacular.
John Lennon
3/5
Album started off okay, until the last few tracks which made me not “believe in” Lennon.
Santana
4/5
Strange start to the album with the wind chimes, but then the guitar and percussion kicked in and overall ended up being quite solid.
Big Star
2/5
Completely unenjoyable
Parliament
4/5
Pretty enjoyable, crazy how many samples came from this album by later artists.
Van Halen
4/5
A little synth heavy at times, but just enough Eddie guitar work to get 4-stars.
Dire Straits
3/5
Album started strong, but then faded into mediocrity
The Divine Comedy
1/5
What a stupid album
Megadeth
4/5
Generally not a fan of Megadeath, but this album was better than expected
MGMT
3/5
Pretty forgettable, like most of the music from this decade.
Prince
3/5
In typical double album fashion, this had a handful of good songs and the rest was mediocre. His music with The Revolution was definitely better.
Mekons
2/5
Not sure what genre this falls into, but it’s terrible.
Had no idea Rod Stewart was in this band, thank you 1001 album generator for the music history lesson
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Couldn’t understand a word, but the music was cool.
The Stone Roses
3/5
Pretty middle of the road stuff
Nirvana
4/5
Hard to follow up “Nevermind” but still solid, actually found the slower songs more enjoyable
Roxy Music
2/5
Vocals were terrible, music was annoying, really not much to like about this album except the intriguing artwork.
Elvis Presley
3/5
I just don’t get the hype
Elvis Presley
2/5
Still don’t get the hype.
Patti Smith
3/5
Pleasantly surprised by this album but some songs were a bit long.
Louis Prima
3/5
Pretty fun album, a little corny at times though.
Caetano Veloso
2/5
Didn’t get much from this
George Jones
2/5
Great voice, otherwise the lyrics were the epitome of the melancholic 1970’s country music vibe.
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
Sounded like a bit too polished version of Artic Monkeys.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
First time listening, quite a treat, Ingenious fascinating lyrics
Black Sabbath
5/5
Black Sabbath at their best, iconic riffs, plus Ozzy
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Never heard of this band, overall pleasant listen
The Electric Prunes
3/5
Album started out okay, but then fizzled into forgettable territory
TLC
4/5
Overall solid album, good rhythms, pretty steamy at times.
Was “Sexy (interlude)” the mirror version of Dre’s “Deeez Nuuuts”?
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Solid album, just not quite as good as “Blood Sugar Sex Magik”
David Bowie
3/5
Strange second half of the album, even by Bowie’s standards
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
Painful at times
Genesis
4/5
Big fan of 1980’s Genesis music with Phil, but not as familiar with the Peter Gabriel catalog. Their voices are somewhat similar but still distinct enough. Album was a bit too long though.
The Beach Boys
2/5
Most of the vocals are about an octave too high, “Bull Session” was obnoxious
Led Zeppelin
5/5
One of the greatest albums of all time.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Music is good, however the recoding has feedback from the bass guitar frets (isolated to the left stereo output) that is annoying and distracting enough to drop a star.
Pentangle
3/5
Album was okay but not necessarily one that I would revisit.
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
Not much to like about this, hair metal at its worst.
Def Leppard
4/5
In typical Def Leppard fashion, the hits are great, lyrics a bit subpar, but a fun listen nonetheless.
Metallica
5/5
The best album from the most influential heavy metal band of all time.
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
Songs featuring Grace Slick were the highlight of the album, the rest were a bit groovy
a-ha
3/5
“Take on me” gets extra credit for the music video which was amazing especially at the time, otherwise a pretty forgettable album.
The Bees
2/5
Not sure which is worse, the music or the album art
The Darkness
1/5
To say this album sucks is an understatement
Beatles
3/5
Decent but still not my cup of tea
The Doors
4/5
Pretty good stuff, perhaps a bit self-indulgent at times.
Kings of Leon
2/5
Never have understood the popularity of this band, the vocals sound like they are being sung by the “Oh Long Johnson” cat
Nico
2/5
Tend to agree with the artist’s own assessment: “I still cannot listen to it….The first time I heard the album, I cried and it was all because of the flute.”
The Black Keys
4/5
Solid album
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
First time listening, was only family with “Maps”, overall an enjoyable album.
The Byrds
3/5
More psychedelic than anticipated, the end of CTA-102 took me by surprise
Gillian Welch
3/5
Never heard of her, album was decent
Bonnie Raitt
2/5
She has a nice voice, but stereotypical trite lyrics and over-production drag this album down
4/5
Was only vaguely familiar with Polly Jean, a little edgy at times, album was more enjoyable than expected.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Not the best album in his discography, “Breakdown” and “American Girl” were the only noteworthy songs
Kanye West
2/5
Felt like Kanye still hadn’t brushed off the fish sticks joke when he made this album
Cowboy Junkies
3/5
Was that a music album or the Calm app?
Steve Earle
3/5
Pretty typical country music album, nothing special
Thelonious Monk
4/5
Some songs take a minute to get going, but overall solid
Astor Piazzolla
4/5
Needed to warm up to this album, once it got going though found it to be enjoyable
John Prine
3/5
Not my favorite genre, but the songwriting and lyrics were great. Probably a 3.5 out of 5, just not quite enough for a 4.
Pixies
4/5
Aggressive and hard hitting, bordering on cacophonous at times
Elvis Costello
2/5
Not this guy again
Basement Jaxx
2/5
Songs to play at the club if the goal is to get people to leave
The Police
3/5
Album has two hit songs, the rest is pretty mundane, but “On Any Other Day” was downright terrible
Paul McCartney
3/5
Maybe slightly more enjoyable than The Beatles albums
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Pretty impressive songwriting
The Lemonheads
2/5
Very disappointing album, felt like listening to an hour of The Brady Bunch songs
Doves
3/5
They still remind me of Coldplay, and I still don’t particularly care for either band
Klaxons
2/5
Was skeptical based on the crappy album art, the music was as advertised
The Kinks
3/5
Strange album, some songs have a bit of an edge, while some felt like they had been written around a campfire or sung by hobbits.
Extra credit though for introducing me to the phrase “harry rag”
Public Enemy
4/5
Some great rhythms and sampling, Chuck D is ferocious but with a smooth delivery
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
Neil Young is like Harrison Ford, he just keeps showing up all over the place.
50 Cent
4/5
Good stuff, enjoyed the collaboration with Slim Shady
The Divine Comedy
2/5
Boring and overly theatrical, couldn’t wait for this to end
The Who
3/5
Album was okay, nothing spectacular, and way too long
Michael Jackson
5/5
All-time classic, groundbreaking album and music video
Frank Black
3/5
Kind of a hot mess
The Zombies
2/5
Back story was more interesting than the music
Bad Brains
2/5
Pretty messy and unenjoyable, was perilously close to 1-star but a few tracks were decent enough
Justice
3/5
Weird album, sounded like they were sampling 1980’s Atari games at times.
ABBA
4/5
Was skeptical based on the limited mostly pop-driven ABBA songs I knew, this was much better than expected
Public Enemy
3/5
Enjoyable but not quite as polished and refined as their 3rd album
Mariah Carey
2/5
She generally has a great voice, but a lot of the vocals on these songs were breathy, and the album was pretty boring
Drive-By Truckers
1/5
outright painful, this album must have been a captain’s pick, certainly does not deserve to be on this list on merit alone
Beastie Boys
4/5
Great stuff, these guys were ahead of their time
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
She has a good voice, album was okay, this music is not my cup of tea.
Brian Eno
3/5
Album started out decent but bogged down toward the end
Pere Ubu
1/5
Nope, hated it as soon as the vocals started
Britney Spears
2/5
Ugh, this was somehow worse than my low expectations
The Monks
3/5
Strange album, the percussion was definitely the highlight
Gene Clark
2/5
Uninspiring and boring. If this was playing on the radio, I would change the station
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Wanted to like it, but just kept feeling like “Smashing Pumpkins” light.
Alice Cooper
4/5
Not at all what I was expecting, a little bluesy at times.
Beatles
4/5
Not a big fan of the Beatles, but this album was a welcome change of pace, much more psychedelic than their original output
3/5
Not generally a fan of songs over 7-8 minutes long, beyond that and it’s basically just a jam session. Good luck trying to play an 18 minute song on the radio today.
PJ Harvey
4/5
Strong debut album by Polly Jean
MC Solaar
3/5
Might have been 4-stars if I understood French
Fishbone
2/5
Album was a total mess, with the lowlight being “Bonin’ In the Boneyard”
Thundercat
2/5
More like “Pussycat” than “Thundercat”
Brian Wilson
3/5
Reminiscent of “The Beach Boys” but with all of the fun stripped away, and “Vega-Tables” was obnoxious
Finley Quaye
2/5
A few decent songs, but overall not particularly enjoyable
Everything But The Girl
3/5
This band flew under my radar, pretty chill music but nothing spectacular
The La's
4/5
Liked this much more than expected, excellent guitar work, tight production.
Nina Simone
3/5
She has a compelling voice with a lot of emotion, however somehow this album falls kind of flat
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Amazing that they could produce this masterpiece despite the inner discord and turmoil within the band at the time
Billy Joel
4/5
Was not familiar with his older catalog, album was pretty enjoyable.
Rage Against The Machine
4/5
Gritty album that still resonates today over 30 years since its release.
Bobby Womack
4/5
Pretty fun album, great vocals
OutKast
3/5
Lot of creatively, but also some pretty bad songs on this 2-disc set, ultimately this stank of self-indulgence
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Album was definitely funkalicious, what a tragic backstory
The Magnetic Fields
1/5
The more I listened to this album, the more it pissed me off. The Magnetic Fields can kick rocks.
Ozomatli
4/5
Never heard of these guys, but pretty fun album with solid rhythms, understand why this won a Grammy
Stereolab
2/5
Pretty uninspiring, and got progressively less interesting as it wore on.
Tim Buckley
1/5
Absolutely terrible, should have saved “shit sandwich” for this
The Thrills
2/5
The only thing with less edge than this album is a sphere.
The Pharcyde
2/5
Oh shit…this was shit
Anthrax
4/5
Pretty good stuff, I should listen to these guys more often
Little Simz
3/5
Was unfamiliar with MC Little Simz, overall a decent listen
Duke Ellington
4/5
Great stuff, probably was mind blasting to experience this in person
G. Love & Special Sauce
2/5
I don’t get the hype
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
Not completely sold on the vocals, but the guitar and percussion were strong enough to merit 4-stars
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
Like nails on a chalkboard, hated this
Sparks
1/5
Never heard of this band, and hope I never have to listen to them again
The Byrds
2/5
Pretty middle of the road album, but “The Lear Jet Song” was obnoxious enough to drop a full star, and Jimi’s version of “Hey Joe” is way better
Rod Stewart
3/5
Not sure how his raspy voice works so well but it does, however this album was pretty damn boring
The Hives
2/5
A.K.A. N-O-I-S-E
Justin Timberlake
3/5
I guess it was better than *NSYNC, but that’s a pretty low bar
Wild Beasts
2/5
Not particularly enjoyable
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Great listen, and had no idea that “Respect” is ranked #1 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
Hole
3/5
Album starts off strong, but then meanders around and loses the edginess.
Slade
1/5
I Won’t Listen T’ This Agen
Haircut 100
2/5
Never heard of this band, and got nothing from this
John Cale
2/5
After “Hanky Panky Nohow”, I was done with this collection of questionable poetry put to music.
Tears For Fears
3/5
Just never could get into this band, decent enough but overplayed and too synth heavy.
Drive Like Jehu
4/5
Never heard of this band, album was pretty solid, somewhat reminiscent of Nirvana at times
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
So boring
Fred Neil
2/5
Lots of very skippable songs on this 2-disc set.
Talking Heads
3/5
The percussion was solid, kept this from falling to 2-star territory
Cocteau Twins
4/5
A little dreamy at times but overall better than expected, sound production was solid.
Alice In Chains
5/5
Powerful vocals, aggressive riffs, and haunting melodies. Top notch Seattle grunge music.
Big Black
4/5
Somehow borders between insufferable noise and cool industrial rhythms. Extra star for Steve Albini’s overall influence on the music industry.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
Never heard of this band, pretty typical 1960’s California rock album, very close to losing a star for “Happy Trails”
10cc
1/5
Obnoxious, album was barely hovering around 2-stars until “The Sacro-Iliac” sealed its fate
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Was pretty indifferent to this album after the first few tracks, but the second half of the album was punchy with strong vocals and intriguing and catchy riffs
The National
4/5
Might have heard of this band but never listened to them, pretty melancholy but accessible, vocals somewhat reminiscent of Leonard Cohen
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Ugh, not this guy again. Was okay but a bit repetitive towards the end
Fairport Convention
3/5
A little folksy, but album was decent enough I guess.
The Birthday Party
1/5
Completely unenjoyable shit show
System Of A Down
4/5
Strong debut album by Serj and the guys
Stephen Stills
3/5
Sufficient as background music
Bee Gees
3/5
First time listening and if I had not known the artist beforehand, would have never guessed the Bee Gees. Probably prefer this style versus their later disco years.
Interestingly on a list of the top ranked Bee Gees songs, the highest ranked song from this album was “Marley Purt Drive” at #150.
Napalm Death
1/5
Had the misfortune of seeing Napalm Death open for another band several years ago, was hands down one of the worst shows that I have ever witnessed
The Replacements
2/5
Gritty vocals, decent guitar work, but several questionable songs.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
The Boss seemingly wrote his own review of this album in the first track: “it’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright, yeah”
Super Furry Animals
2/5
Super Furry Animals = Super Soft Music
Roni Size
2/5
Pretty uninspiring
The Afghan Whigs
2/5
I got the impression that he was not happy about the dissolution of a seemingly toxic relationship
The Clash
4/5
Generally my ceiling for punk albums is 3-stars. However given the overall influence of this album, 4-stars seems appropriate
Talk Talk
2/5
This album could cure insomnia
Incredible Bongo Band
4/5
For an instrumental album it was surprisingly enjoyable, and the covers were an added bonus