765
Albums Rated
3.11
Average Rating
70%
Complete
324 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950
Favorite Decade
Reggae
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
67
5-Star Albums
14
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
KE*A*H** (Psalm 69)
Ministry
|
5 | 2.7 | +2.3 |
|
Spiderland
Slint
|
5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
|
Walking Wounded
Everything But The Girl
|
5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
|
The Man Who
Travis
|
5 | 3 | +2 |
|
1977
Ash
|
5 | 3.03 | +1.97 |
|
Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
|
5 | 3.08 | +1.92 |
|
Rid Of Me
PJ Harvey
|
5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
|
...The Dandy Warhols Come Down
The Dandy Warhols
|
5 | 3.13 | +1.87 |
|
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Devo
|
5 | 3.15 | +1.85 |
|
Close To The Edge
Yes
|
5 | 3.19 | +1.81 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Moving Pictures
Rush
|
1 | 3.56 | -2.56 |
|
Funeral
Arcade Fire
|
1 | 3.55 | -2.55 |
|
Sign 'O' The Times
Prince
|
1 | 3.45 | -2.45 |
|
MTV Unplugged In New York
Nirvana
|
2 | 4.2 | -2.2 |
|
I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
|
1 | 3.1 | -2.1 |
|
Nighthawks At The Diner
Tom Waits
|
1 | 3 | -2 |
|
At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
|
2 | 3.96 | -1.96 |
|
The Doors
The Doors
|
2 | 3.94 | -1.94 |
|
American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
|
2 | 3.87 | -1.87 |
|
Gold
Ryan Adams
|
1 | 2.83 | -1.83 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 7 | 4.71 |
| Beastie Boys | 3 | 4.67 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 2 | 5 |
| Fiona Apple | 2 | 5 |
| Radiohead | 5 | 4.2 |
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 4.2 |
| The White Stripes | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Leonard Cohen | 4 | 1.75 |
| Arcade Fire | 2 | 1.5 |
| Rush | 2 | 1.5 |
| Pere Ubu | 2 | 1.5 |
| Tom Waits | 2 | 1.5 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 4 | 2 |
| Pet Shop Boys | 3 | 2 |
| Miles Davis | 3 | 2 |
| Elvis Costello & The Attractions | 3 | 2 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| The Jesus And Mary Chain | 2, 5 |
| Prince | 1, 4, 4 |
| The Doors | 5, 2, 3 |
| Pink Floyd | 5, 2, 5, 4 |
5-Star Albums (67)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Scott Walker · 20 likes
2/5
I have no idea why this guy is on the list. He might have influenced a lot of people, but the most notable thing he did for me was influence me to never listen to this again. 2/5
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy · 3 likes
2/5
Man, interesting how our political landscape hasn't change much since the 90s but our music sure has. Sounds dated, with the same super bass-y beats. 2/5
Les Rythmes Digitales · 1 likes
3/5
I don't get this album's low ratings. Is it great? No. Did I need to hear it before I die? Also no. But I've also heard far, far worse on this list. Was just fine to get through some of my work to-do list today. Was great background noise. 3/5
The The · 1 likes
2/5
I really dislike this band. That one song from the commercials was the most bearable thing here. Why two albums from these guys on the list? I can think of better-deserving artists. 2/5
Beatles · 1 likes
5/5
If I know all the words to all the songs, it's a 5. 5/5
1-Star Albums (14)
All Ratings
Green Day
4/5
Liked it, gave 3.5ish stars
The Go-Go's
4/5
4 stars. Adding to workout and/or roadtrip playlist.
Kanye West
4/5
Classic case of art vs artist. The album is good, but I won't be listening to it again since Kanye is, well, Kanye. 4/5.
Metallica
3/5
3/5. I like Metallica, but the orchestra didn't add much to the listening experience. I'm sure it was fun for the crowd to sing along - just not so entertaining for those of us who missed out.
Boston
5/5
clapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapdoodledeeedoooooooodledeedeedoodeeedooodeedoooreeeedooooreeereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclap
4.5/5
N.W.A.
3/5
I can see why this album is on the list, but it's not for me. Some things just don't age well, even if groundbreaking for the time or pointing out injustice. 3/5
Beck
3/5
The production on this album is great, and I see why it's on the list. However, songs blend together too much/sound too similar for me to give 5 stars. 4/5
Hüsker Dü
2/5
Another album that I can understand why it's on the list but isn't great start to finish. 90's alternative rock before the 90's, and I can hear the influence on lots of other bands I like much more. I'll give their other albums a listen, though. 2/5
Bob Dylan
4/5
Found some songs I've never heard but liked which surprised me. His voice does keep me from ranking it a full 5 stars, but overall pretty solid album. Happy with this surprise today. 4/5
The Lemonheads
3/5
I wanted to love this, I really did. Songs are short and similar, and I can think of other bands that have done it better. 3/5, and only because I'd add it as a road trip album.
Ramones
5/5
1, 2, 3, 4
5/5
Franz Ferdinand
2/5
'Take Me Out' was the only thing good on this album, and it was way overplayed on the radio. 2/5
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
I'm waiting in line at Tomorrowland. Also, the inspiration for all the other vaporwave/synthwave/deep space music that gets me through my workday. 3/5
Talking Heads
2/5
Proof there's music for out there for everybody. This just isn't for me. 2/5
Todd Rundgren
2/5
Weird, but I liked it more than I've liked other experimental albums. Flamingo was a surprise song I'll add to a playlist or two. 2/5
The Stooges
5/5
After listening to a bunch of the "influential" albums on the list I was prepared to dislike this. So many of the bands I like also like this band - and usually that's meant I won't like it. This one broke the rule, though, and I was happy about it :D
4.5/5
Big Star
2/5
This album is deeply confusing to me. It starts off bad, then gets a little better. I don't know if I kinda like it or hate it. I'll listen to some songs again, but probably not the whole album.
2/5
The Doors
5/5
Surprising 5/5. Usually don't care for them too much. I like the band more than Morrison's vocals and lyrics at times, but would listen again.
De La Soul
5/5
This is just fun.
4.5/5
Beatles
5/5
I know every word to every song. How can this not be 5/5?
3/5
I've heard the hits on the album so much Ibdon't really want to listen to them again. And, nothing else on this album stuck out enough for me to want to listen to it again, either. 3/5
The Modern Lovers
3/5
Loved the music (5/5), hated the lyrics and the singing (1/5). On a song or two it works, but not a whole album. Averages to a 3/5.
Bert Jansch
3/5
He's talented, and I can hear the folks he's influenced. 3/5
Joni Mitchell
2/5
I've tried to like Joni Mitchell, but I just can't. By all accounts I should like this, but it doesn't speak to me. Did like the synthier/bassier parts of this. Kudos to her for being a pioneer, though. 2/5
R.E.M.
3/5
3/5
Jane Weaver
3/5
Was good, then became too long and overstayed it's welcome. A shame. 3/5
Circle Jerks
2/5
I like this like I like a punch to the face. Which is to say, some.
The Avalanches
2/5
I've listened to this more than once to truly nail down how I feel about it. The reality is, I just don't want to listen to it anymore, and probably won't ever again. The sampling is neat, but that's about it. 2/5
PJ Harvey
5/5
Why haven't I heard this before? It scratched all my dark, brooding itches. 5/5
Frank Sinatra
2/5
I'm just not a huge fan of Sinatra. I can see why it's here, but it's not for me. 2/5
Beastie Boys
4/5
Sabotage is still my favorite. 3.5/5
R.E.M.
3/5
Not great, not terrible.
3/5
Radiohead
4/5
Happier sounding Radiohead. 4/5
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
4/5
I listened to this on a pretty dreary day, so it was a good fit. Too bas it wasn't on a treaming service I have, so I had to suffer through ads. 4/5
Alanis Morissette
4/5
One of my first cassettes (bought it with Boyz II Men II). I can still remember screeching along with her in my room, with a Barbie as a microphone. My poor parents. 4/5
Drive-By Truckers
1/5
My disappointment was immeasurable when I determined Dale Gribble was not the voice on the title track. Would have been the highlight of an otherwise bad album.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
Songs started bad, then got a *little* better. Never a good sign when the hit doesn't sound like the rest of the album. 2/5
Maxwell
3/5
Smooooooooooth. Not something I'll listen to again, though. 3/5
Radiohead
4/5
Another good Radiohead album. 4/5
Mudhoney
2/5
Influential? Maybe? I liked it a little, but I'll pass on these guys. 2/5
The Notorious B.I.G.
2/5
The hits on this are iconic. Too bad the skits and everything else is pretty cringe. 2/5
The Doors
2/5
It's funny, how I could rate one of their albums with a 5, and this I'm giving a 2. I guess I like their later sound more than this. 2/5
Linkin Park
4/5
This isn't their best album, but still good enough for 4/5.
Youssou N'Dour
3/5
Not a bad album from someone I've never heard of. 3/5
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
Turns out I disagree with Mick Jagger. Talented bunch, though. 3/5
T. Rex
3/5
Another album where I can appreciate the influence on other bands I like, but overall just not for me. 2.5/5
The The
2/5
I like a lot of other bands that sound similar to this, just not this one. Music is better than the singer, and it's mostly forgettable once over. 2/5
Kraftwerk
3/5
If Minecraft beats were laid in the 70's, minus the German voiceovers. Not my favorite album, but I truly appreciate this band's influence on the ones I do love, and on one of my favorite SNL sketches (Sprockets!). Glad to give this a listen. 3/5
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
I can't listen to "Bridge Over Troubled Water" without crying - I heard that song in the car right after my aunt's funeral, and no song described her better. The other songs, while not as powerful personally, are still great. 5/5
The Smiths
3/5
It's a joke in our house that every time a random Smiths song comes on, I say something to the effect of "who is that? I like that." I was prepared to like this more than I did, so I can't really hide my disappointment in my review.
The music itself is great, and I think why I liked this album the most. The singing gets lost a little bit, which is a shame.
My criteria for a 5/5 is repeatable listening for the full album, and this just doesn't have it. A song or two is good, but not something I'll put on for a drive or for just a listen at home.
3/5
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
I wish I had more to say about this album - I can see why it's included, but wasn't something I really got into. Maybe just not a great day for it to be on my list? 3/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
CCR does what they do very well. Might it all sound the same? Sure. But it's done so well we're there's no bad song on the album. 5/5
Herbie Hancock
5/5
An album like this is exactly why I'm on this 1001 album journey. I never would have listened to this otherwise - while I know who Herbie Hancock is, I just never felt the need to give him a listen. I'm very glad to have heard it now, though!
Great music for a morning at home or a study session. I know this came well before Cowboy Bebop, but it's like I just found a long-lost soundtrack from that show in the best way.
5/5
Skunk Anansie
4/5
Sad I missed this when it came out originally, because I would have loved this as an angsty teen. Now I get to enjoy it as an angst adult. 4/5
The White Stripes
5/5
I can tell that we are gonna be friends.
Nostalgia 5/5
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Pretty great. Influenced lots of bands, yada yada yada. I can only stand so much Robert Plant, though. 4/5
David Crosby
3/5
Super mellow. I like this kind of hippie nonsense. 3/5
Eminem
3/5
Unhinged
3/5
Steely Dan
3/5
A good song or two, solid 3/5.
Little Richard
4/5
I miss hearing his songs on the radio. 4/5
Aretha Franklin
3/5
Easy listen, and she can sing :) 3/5
Turbonegro
3/5
I really would've liked these guys when I was in middle school. Too bad you grow out of this stuff, unless you're the guys from Jackass. 3/5
Elliott Smith
3/5
Sad and sleepy. 3=5
Pretenders
2/5
Alas, another album I wanted to like more than I actually did. Liked the music, just not so much the singing style (though she's talented!).
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Solid 3/5 from me. A good song or two, but not an album I would want to listen to in full again. 3/5
Adele
2/5
I was left wanting more. She has a phenomenal voice, but after lots of the same or similar songs, her voice loses its luster. And, the standout hits were just overplayed, so I don't even really want to hear them, either. 2/5
Jeff Buckley
2/5
Rufus Wainwright did it better, fight me. 2/5
Beatles
4/5
Feels wrong to give the Beatles less than a 5. But, they've got way better albums than this, so a 4 it is. 4/5
Stereolab
3/5
Interesting, quirky little songs. 3/5
The Pogues
3/5
Enjoyed the songs that were spanish/irish fusion :) Started closer to a 4, ended at a 3.
Jacques Brel
2/5
I feel like I missed much of what was here because I don't speak the language. +1 to give him the benefit of the doubt. 2/5
Death In Vegas
2/5
I usually like this kind of stuff (darker, goodies beats) but I struggled with this one. It just did not grab my attention, and there's nothing on here I can't live without. 2/5
The Doors
3/5
Struggled on this one. LOVE the music, dislike Jim Morrison's singing and lyrics. 2.5/5
Eminem
3/5
My dude has a way with words. Wouldn't listen to the album in full again, probably. 3/5
Lenny Kravitz
2/5
This... wasn't good. The songs are just too long with so little substance. At times, the lyrics were cringe and the whole thing felt like he was trying waaaay to hard to be retro/cool/activist. A riff or two was interesting and saved it from a 1-star. 2/3
Beth Orton
2/5
I can think of quite a few other albums that should be on this list more than this one. It's not bad - she's clearly talented, and I liked the electronic bits of her songs. But I wanted her to commit to one or the other, since both made the album too forgettable to me.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
There are some really great songs on this, but I can't give it more than 4 stars. It's influential, and I can hear/get that, but some songs are just too long for me to really get into. 4/5
Peter Gabriel
2/5
Just couldn't get into this one. 2/5
Fairport Convention
4/5
Not all songs are great, but the better songs on here are really great. I enjoyed her voice the most, and the arrangement on some of these songs is stellar. Glad to have heard it. 4/5
Beach House
3/5
So dreamy, I nearly fell asleep. 3/5
Elton John
3/5
Was just okay. In my head, some of the lyrics to the MST3K theme song fit to 'Jaimaican Jerk Off,' which was fun. 3/5
Deee-Lite
3/5
Couldn't have picked a better day for this album - went to a roller skating rink with my family. It for the vibe just right :) That said, even on the most perfect of days for me, was still an album that was just okay. I could hear lots of songs that were sampled by others which was also neat. 3/5
System Of A Down
5/5
Got me right in the middle school. Nostalgia 5
Yes
4/5
Liked this more than I anticipated. The bass lines were great and I liked the variety in song style. 3.5/5
Solange
2/5
Got better as it went. So mellow it was forgettable, which is sad because I wanted to like this much more. 2/5
Morrissey
2/5
The Album is Fill of Morrissey's Crashing Ego. 2/5
The Black Keys
2/5
This is just meh. Overplayed on the radio, for sure, and a whole album of this just isn't fun. 2/5
Harry Nilsson
4/5
Interesting, and had more hits on it than I was expecting. 4/5
The Magnetic Fields
2/5
This felt like the worst kind of homework. Cute at times, with some variety, but a slog. Like others have mentioned, they should have focused their attention on 10-12 really good ones instead of 69 mediocre ones. 2/5
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
Paul McCartney knows how to make pop hits. But, editing his own work / ideas eludes him, at times - the gimmickiness of mashing what should be two songs together works, but gets old after awhile. 4/5
Arcade Fire
1/5
I was not interested in this at all. 1/5
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Actually, I didn't like this very much. Maybe it's the day, maybe it's my mood, but I don't really have a desire to hear this again. I reserve my 1's for albums I hated listening to - this wasn't that bad, but still not great. 2/5
Talking Heads
2/5
The music itself is fine, but I just can't stand the singer. Not an album I would choose to listen to again. 2/5
Doves
3/5
Solid middle of the road album. Not great, not terrible, just is. 3/5
Pulp
2/5
A little too pervy at times for me. This didn't age well, if it was even good at one point. 2/5
Bobby Womack
2/5
Oof, too cheesy for me. 2/5
Minutemen
2/5
More like two-minute-men, ha. +1 for inventive song titles and for making the theme song to Jackass. 2/5
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
My parents loved this album, I love this album, and now my son does, too. 5/5
Oasis
4/5
Wasn't super in love with the first few songs but the rest of it grew on me. 3.5/5.
Gorillaz
5/5
Ha, I'd get my millennial card revoked if I rated this less than a 5. Trust me, I double checked the terms and conditions. 5/5
Megadeth
2/5
I like the metal, just not so much the voice. 2/5
David Bowie
3/5
I find myself conflicted on David Bowie. I want to like his music, but when I'm faced with a whole album I just don't care for it much. 3/5
The Smiths
3/5
Some songs I really liked, and others I really didn't. 3/5
Portishead
4/5
Gloomy and moody, just what I like. 4/5
Miles Davis
2/5
I'm not cool enough for Miles Davis. 2/5
LTJ Bukem
3/5
Not my favorite drum and bass, but okay. 3/5
Ray Charles
3/5
Probably something really neat when it was released, but not something I found particularly compelling. 3/5
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
Had a moment or two of being interesting. Otherwise, not worth my time. 2/5
Nick Drake
5/5
Just the right kind of rainy day or summer evening drive home album. Simple but very well done. 5/5
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Again, I really enjoy the music part, just not so much the lyrics and his quiet sing-talking. I'll still with my synthwave stations instead. 2/5
Scott Walker
2/5
I have no idea why this guy is on the list. He might have influenced a lot of people, but the most notable thing he did for me was influence me to never listen to this again. 2/5
Sister Sledge
3/5
I like the funky beats here, but won't go out of my way to listen to this again. 3/5
The Damned
4/5
Was fun, and upbeat while I worked remotely. 3.5/5
Joanna Newsom
1/5
I was going to give this a 2 - I just can't. What Bjork and Fiona Apple do so well is edit themselves. They are quirky, use their voices as instruments, keep it interesting by better curating what is on their albums.
This is just so long. It drags on, forever. For the first 5 minutes, I was intrigued; after 6, I was done, and still had 50ish more minutes to go.
1/5
Rush
1/5
Just no. 1/5
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
I don't like Bruce Springsteen. I tried, I really did, but I just don't. 2/5
Pearl Jam
4/5
Solid 4. Black is the best song on this album, and showcases the best parts of Vedder's lyricism and singing style. 4/5
Love
2/5
This was just okay - heard parts and pieces of other songs I like more. 2/5
Blur
3/5
I liked some of this, but not something I'm going to go out of my way to listen to again. 3/5
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Like the backing music, and the singing. The songs go on for too long for my taste, but an easy listen for the day. 3/5
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Love, love, love the harmonies. Not every song is fantastic, but this is my kind of hippie dippy bologna. 4/5
Saint Etienne
2/5
Was cute for a little while, but got boring and then was too long. 2/5
Norah Jones
3/5
Silky smooth voice, I really do love it. For a whole album of it, though, it's a bit boring. 3/5
3/5
Enjoyable. Was neat hearing bits and pieces of other bands they've influenced in these songs. 3/5
Willie Nelson
2/5
I like Willie, but the problem here is that it's almost all the same tempo and type of arrangement (read: boring). For a song or two, it's endearing, but for a whole album my attention is drawn elsewhere. 2/5
Sigur Rós
4/5
Easy to listen to while getting some work done. Loved the atmospheric vibes, but have to be in the right mood to get into it. 4/5
Deerhunter
3/5
I liked this, but not enough to really want to hear it again. 3/5
Johnny Cash
2/5
Guess I might be in the minority on this one. Was unique for a song or two, then just kinda blended together. Did appreciate his brand of country - seems more authentic and raw than our current country stars. 2/5
Pere Ubu
2/5
I liked the peppier, upbeat parts. Everything else was meh. 2/5
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Man, the first disc is great- something magical about it. The 2nd disc just gets lost and it's too long, though there are some good ones on it (Bron-Yr-Aur was a hidden gem). 4/5
Big Brother & The Holding Company
2/5
I get that she has an instantly recognizable, iconic voice. I just can take an hour of it all at once :/ 2/5
Happy Mondays
2/5
Might have been influential, but the folks who came after just did it better. Would have been a 1 but a song or two was just okay. 2/5
Louis Prima
3/5
Upbeat, fun jazz. 3/5
Metallica
3/5
Was just okay. Fun to listen to, though. 3/5
Weather Report
2/5
This sounds dated, and not in a good way. 2/5
Boards of Canada
4/5
This was just good to groove to while I worked. Didn't have to think to hard about it. 4/5
Stan Getz
3/5
Pleasant background music for working remotely. 3/5
Haircut 100
4/5
This was a fun and peppy 80's album. They aren't all winners, but good background noise for my workday. 4/5
Billy Bragg
4/5
I liked the songs with Natalie Merchant best. Jesus Christ for President was also great. 4/5
Common
3/5
Was okay. Kanye and John Legend made this much better. 3/5
Radiohead
4/5
High and Dry is one of my favorite songs. Haven't found a Radiohead album I dislike yet. 4/5
Magazine
2/5
Just wasn't something I was into. The punkier stuff was good, but I was bored by the rest. 2/5
Mariah Carey
3/5
11 year old me loved 'My All,' and part of me still does. Gets a bit repetitive at times, and there's only so much R&B diva I can stand at any given time. 3/5
Björk
4/5
I was surprised to like this. Her unique voice and pop melodies made this a good one to keep around for when you just want to feel violently happy. 4/5
Pulp
2/5
This is... gross. Music is barely okay, and the rest is just forgettable. 2/5
George Michael
3/5
Wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I don't typically like George Michael, and I was surprised by his range and the variety on this one. More somber/serious than I was expecting. 3/5
Beatles
5/5
It's between this one and Rubber Soul for the best Beatles album for me. This one wins by a smidge. 5/5
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
2/5
+1 for being a unique thing on this list, and another +1 for this dude's vocal stamina. 2/5
Prince
1/5
This was just.... not good. It made a long car ride even longer. 1/5
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
Oooh, I liked this. Nice ambient music for my work. 4/5
Charles Mingus
2/5
Very 60s jazz. Felt like I was hearing the soundtrack to a mid-budget spy movie. 2/5
James Taylor
4/5
Not every song is wonderful, but I have some really great memories with my parents seeing James Taylor live and listening to these albums. Boomer music, sure, but it's my boomer's music. 4/5
Simply Red
2/5
Some songs were okay. The rest just felt like 80s cheesiness. 2/5
Pink Floyd
5/5
I waited until I could listen to this with headphones. Have heard it/ been around it all my life, and wanted to give it the attention that it truly deserved.
I will say, both my husband and dad have the clocks from 'Time' as their ringtone, so I did think for a hot second that phone was ringing which was fun.
The tingliness in my ears at times was an added bonus. Breathe (In the Air) and Us and Them are my two favorites, and they aren't even the best on the album.
It warrants 5 stars. I can't find anything to fault here. The hype is real. 5/5
M.I.A.
2/5
Was just okay. Some beats are pretty good, but there's nothing here I must listen to again. 2/5
Laibach
2/5
I like industrial... this was a tough one to get through. As a plus, I now have a new way to torture my child if he doesn't do his math homework. 2/5
Rod Stewart
2/5
Mixed feelings about this surprising album. Much more blues than I was expecting, and the mandolin parts were cool. If I was out at a bar listening to him, I would enjoy it because of his energy, but I don't think I want to listen to this again. 2/5
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
Brings back memories of when they would actually play oldies on the radio. This rating is more nostalgia anyway, and in a good way. 4/5
Rahul Dev Burman
2/5
Interesting old soundtrack, and broke up some of the monotony of my more recent albums. Pretty unique but I won't be picking this up again. 2/5
The Flaming Lips
4/5
Yoshimi is better, bit this is still good. Yeah, still good. 4/5
Dusty Springfield
2/5
I couldn't get into this. I can think of quite a few singers who have tried to sound like her, which is a neat realization after hearing this album. Aside from that, it was a bit boring for me. 2/5
The Stranglers
4/5
I enjoyed this groovy little record. Wouldn't have ever stopped to hear this if not for the list. Great beats, but some questionable singing and lyrics knock it down just a smidge. 4/5
Cypress Hill
2/5
Not my favorite. But influenced a lot of rock bands I like, so that's cool. 2/5
Germs
3/5
I only rated this because the site made me, otherwise I won't conform to your authority. 2.6775437 / 5
Black Sabbath
4/5
Great listen on Halloween. 4/5
Ride
3/5
Mellow music. 3/5
Fatboy Slim
3/5
My son got in the car at the absolute wrong time during this album. As others have pointed out (and to contribute my own repetitive rating), the songs kinda blend together and are, you guessed it, repetitive. 3/5
Arcade Fire
2/5
Liked this better than their first album, but not by much. Not interested in listening to this again. 2/5
The Kinks
3/5
Nothing really stood out to me on this one. 3/5
The Icarus Line
2/5
Didn't enjoy this, even though it seemed like it would be right up my alley. 2/5
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
I liked this one, but didn't love it. There's enough to keep me interested, but fades away after a little bit. Guess that's shoegazing tho, huh?
Johnny Cash
2/5
I don't understand the hype for this album. The vast majority of these covers are worse than the original (including Hurt). Too much sing-talking, too many songs sounded too similar to one another. A few were decent, but l won't be listening to this again. 2/5
Khaled
3/5
Wish I could have found the actual version on Spotify instead of trying the YouTube version. Either way, I liked it. Pretty upbeat for a dreary day. 3/5
CHIC
3/5
This was a fun little album to listen to. I liked disco more than I thought I would. 3/5
Kanye West
4/5
Would be a 5, but Kanye's ego gets in the way. 4/5
The Beau Brummels
3/5
If Bob Dylan played a day at an off-season renaissance festival. Would've been a 2, but the session musicians did a really great job with what they were given. 3/5
XTC
4/5
I usually don't like when singers sound like this guy, but the rest of the music makes up for it. I'm a little enchanted. 4/5
Wild Beasts
3/5
The vocals were meh and the music was okay. 2.5/5
Black Sabbath
3/5
My son enjoyed this one more than I did, which I'm considering a win. 3/5
The Beach Boys
3/5
Like others, I didn't know this album existed. It's an interesting album, for sure, and I don't know that I would rank it as one of their best. 3/5
Foo Fighters
3/5
I really like the hits on this one, but the others were just so mediocre, enough to drop my rating from a 4 to a 3. 3/5
Black Sabbath
4/5
I had heard Planet Caravan before but never really took the time to look at the lyrics - I now have a new favorite Black Sabbath song. Was pleased with today's listen. 4/5
Machito
4/5
Guess I like Latin jazz. Was fun to listen to while powering through some programming. 4/5
Eagles
4/5
So nobody is gonna mention the wild banjo parts in Take It Easy? I got a fever, and it's definitely more banjo. 4/5
Solomon Burke
3/5
Enjoyed this, and reminds me of a time when this kind of stuff was actually played on the radio. 3/5
Bob Dylan
3/5
In general, I can't stand his voice and so that makes it really hard to get into this. But it's also amazing how pretty much everything he sings about still rings true today, which is impressive. I adore his guitar playing on this, too. 3/5
William Orbit
3/5
Mid mid-90s ambient techno. Even did some programming to this, but was still just okay. 3/5
Roxy Music
2/5
What a chore. 2/5
Funkadelic
3/5
Was a little sad this isn't on a streaming service, since I'm not sure the version I heard was the one that was meant to be rated. Was okay, I wanted something a little groovier and a little less... silly? But to each their own, I guess. 3/5
Richard Thompson
4/5
Her voice is phenomenal. Then I found out these folks had also been in Fairport Concention and realized why it sounded so good. 4/5
Jerry Lee Lewis
4/5
Holding my nose and giving a 4. Dude can play piano (this album is short and sweet), but he's a terrible human. 4/5
Aerosmith
2/5
I tried, but I just can't. Not my thing, and pretty perry. 2/5
Deep Purple
4/5
Heard one song previously, and thought this was going to be one of those albums where that's the only good song. I was wrong. Lazy was a surprise stand out for me. 4/5
The Monks
3/5
This was an interesting listen (youtube). One of the first times in the list I feel like an artist was a bit ahead of their time. Liked the punky nature of the songs, not always the singing voices, though. 3/5
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Paint it Black is such a good song and just matches the mood of this week for me. The rest is okay. Wanted to really like more songs since the first one is so good, but them's the breaks I guess. 3/5
Depeche Mode
4/5
Not quite as good as Violator, but close. 4/5
Alice Cooper
3/5
I don't think I have much to say on this one. Didn't love it, didn't hate it. 3/5
Grant Lee Buffalo
2/5
I liked the guitar some, but it's not good enough for this list. 2/5
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
4/5
I'm a simple lady - I hear Damon Albarn, and I like. 4/5
John Coltrane
2/5
Another one where I truly get why the artist is great/amazing/influentual/ the best, but the type of music just doesn't speak to me. I'm just not hip enough for jazz. 2/5
The Human League
2/5
This wasn't great 80s music. The one hit on here isn't worth it, either. 2/5
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Man this album sounds like they just took songs from the ends of Bob's Burgers episodes and made them into full songs. I didn't want to like this as much as I did. A fun album. 4/5
Beatles
4/5
Enough variety to be interesting; too many weird ones for a full 5. Some really good ones on here, though, and I'll always have a soft spot for it. "I Will" is the lullaby I sing to my kiddo at bedtime <3 4/5
Public Enemy
4/5
Never listened to a full public album before - wasn't expecting the complex beats and samples. Nor was I expecting to like Flava Flav (Flavor of Love, anyone?). 4/5
3/5
Cisco Kid is such a great song. Liked the funkiness of this, but some songs were just too long. 3/5
Iggy Pop
3/5
Started out stronger than it ended. Liked all the weird bits and pieces. 3/5
Duke Ellington
3/5
This could really take you back in time. Lovely work, but it's just not a type of music I'm into, nor could see myself choosing to listen to for fun. 3/5
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
This is my third Pet Shop Boys album, and it gets the same rating as all the others. Why are three of their albums on this list (so far, for me)? Surely, there must be two other albums worthy of a spot? 2/5
The Hives
4/5
I still sing 'hate to say I told you so' when I'm right (glad to say, pretty often). Slept on the rest of this album - enjoyed it quite a bit. Made my middle school heart happy. 4/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
I really disliked their first album. This one was a little better. 3/5
Les Rythmes Digitales
3/5
I don't get this album's low ratings. Is it great? No. Did I need to hear it before I die? Also no. But I've also heard far, far worse on this list. Was just fine to get through some of my work to-do list today. Was great background noise. 3/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
This was a bit of a slog. Occasional good bits, but felt like homework. 2/5
The War On Drugs
3/5
A love child made from a threeway between Bryan Adams, Dire Straits, and Bruce Springsteen. Each song could've been 2 minutes shorter. 3/5
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
He's a good one - the album just didn't capture my full attention. I tried with two listens, too :/ 3/5
Patti Smith
2/5
Couldn't get into this. Can hear her influence on others, which was cool. But not really a great listen. 2/5
Leftfield
2/5
Just okay techno. Sounds dated. 2/5
R.E.M.
3/5
I have tried, like really tried, to enjoy this band as much as other people seem to (and, to be frank - the makers of this list. Is every album on here?). But I just can't. The hits are good, but the rest are just okay. Best I can do is 'like.' 3/5
The Thrills
4/5
Not sure why there are so many low reviews for these guys. If I had heard them right at release, it would probably be a 5 instead of a 4, since I would have had more time to appreciate the album.
In any case, a good mix of Beach Boys, Wilco, Polyphonic Spree, Flaming Lips, Pete Yorn, and probably a few dozen other artists. Was nice enough to hear a little bit of each of those in the song style and composition. Some just prefer to just listen to those artists instead, which is fine, but it is nice every once in awhile to just hear something a little different. 4/5
Pixies
2/5
I wanted to like this more :/
Sam Cooke
5/5
I love Sam Cooke's voice - I don't know that there's anyone in my mind that will ever sound as good as him in this genre. You never know how well an album voice translates to a live performance, though, but this album proves he's good in any format. 5/5
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
This was fun. Sampling done right. Also, any artist that can fit the word 'nincompoop' in without being cheesy is a winner. 4/5
U2
2/5
This album produced no strong feelings on my end. The album equivalent of an unseasoned water chestnut. 2/5
The Clash
3/5
I couldn't decide what I liked more - that I thought this album was okay, or that my son really loved it. I really enjoyed the variety. 3/5
Beck
3/5
Didn't love, didn't hate. Solid 3. 3/5
Def Leppard
2/5
Cheesy 80's metal just isn't for me. 2/5
Syd Barrett
2/5
At times, glimmers of cool things that could've been. But the majority is something I didn't particularly enjoy, and it seems the story behind this album is horribly depressing. 2/5
Joni Mitchell
3/5
I understand why this is rated so highly by critics. But, the songwriting style (storytelling, minute details) just aren't for me. Her voice is divine at times, but the high falsetto gets a little jarring. "River" was a standout, and "A Case of You" is better with James' Taylor's guitar. 3/5
Soundgarden
4/5
Happy to have this one on the list. My son also loved hearing it, which was also pretty cool. Fell on Black Days is such a good song. 4/5
Q-Tip
4/5
Smooth. 4/5
Randy Newman
4/5
I was really ready to write this album off and was bummed when I got this album. 'Lonely at the top,' 'Political Science,' and 'God's Song' changed my mind. Sorry I doubted you, Randy. 4/5
The Flaming Lips
5/5
What a fun album. The whole thing is good, start to finish. 5/5
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
I don't know what I expected when I saw the armadillo tank album cover, but it wasn't this. 2/5
The Undertones
4/5
Peppy, punchy, punk. Short and sweet. 4/5
Suicide
1/5
I really wanted to give this more than a 1, but I can't. It's another instance where a band influenced a ton of other artists I love (Depeche Mode, Daft Punk, Nine Inch Nails, the list goes on), but I just can't understand the appeal. I guess that's why those other folks are music legends, and I'm just sitting here wondering what the hell I just listened to. 1/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Didn't love it as much as I thought I would, but I can hear how good this is. Good for a mellow afternoon. 3/5
The Cure
4/5
Gloomy, and I liked it. My inner goth would be happy, if it could feel happiness. 4/5
Fiona Apple
5/5
I don't usually like experimental stuff, but this was great. 4.5/5
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
Can't help I was already introduced to most of this from my parents. Love the harmonies, and the instrumentation on lots of these. Sometimes, it gets a little samey, but on the whole, great. 4/5
FKA twigs
4/5
I enjoyed this quite a bit. Was better with headphones, some parts made my ears feel all weird which was cool. 4/5
The Byrds
4/5
Realize I have a thing for twelve string guitars and harmony. 4/5
Bad Brains
2/5
As cool as realizing Re-Ignition was sampled in a song on The Matrix soundtrack was, the rest of this just wasn't my thing. 2/5
Queen
3/5
I just couldn't get into this as much as I expected I would. A shame. 3/5
The Cars
5/5
Pleasantly surprised by this, and it's their debut! I needed something to groove away to after a long week while cleaning my house, and this fit the bill. Mostly sing-alongable, with some songs here or there I didn't know that were still good. 4.5/5
Van Morrison
3/5
Gets samey after awhile, and that's not a good thing. Enjoyable listen on a quiet evening, when you just want to chill. 3/5
Deep Purple
2/5
Yea, I don't need to hear what is essentially the same song for 2 hours. I get it, you can jam. 2/5
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Man, Sympathy for the Devil is sooo good. The rest was just okay, and that's a bummer. 3/5
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
2/5
I fell asleep at one point, and my brain thought I was listening to the Muppets and I was happy. But alas, this album has no Muppets. 2/5
Holger Czukay
2/5
A pioneer, sure, and a weird journey with an album and an artist I'd never heard of. His voice sounds like Robin Williams at times and that made it a little better. 2/5
Depeche Mode
5/5
Been awhile since I've gotten an album I've already listened to a ton and can rate by heart. Sweetest Perfection and Waiting for the Night are great, underplayed songs. 5/5
Chicago
3/5
I enjoyed part of this - the production, the sound, the horn section. Then, it veered terribly into 'jam band' territory and I lost interest. Started strong, middle was meh, and ending was a little better. 3/5
Ministry
5/5
Well ding a ding dang my dang a long ling long, this was awesome. 5/5
Beck
4/5
Different and fun. Didn't love all the songs, but enough good ones to keep me interested. 4/5
Tortoise
3/5
Was okay. Could listen to while getting some work done. 3/5
Todd Rundgren
3/5
You can tell this guy likes music, which makes it fun. Even though he's having a great time, most of the songs are okay so nothing is a standout. There's just too many songs for them all to be great. Wishing sometimes that artists would edit themselves a little more. 3/5
Grateful Dead
2/5
This is akin to jazz for me - I can appreciate (and marvel!) At the ability to improvise for so long as a group. That's just so crazy to me, since I can barely get through playing a whole song even when I have the music in front of me. As cool as that is, it just isn't something I want to listen to. 2/5
Alice In Chains
4/5
The hits on here are great. Some of the other songs are good, but not enough to elevate this to a 5. Still good, though. 4/5
GZA
3/5
Liked the lo-fi. 3/5
Kacey Musgraves
5/5
If Trump loses this election, I'm gonna have "High Horse" on repeat for DAYS.
Country, or something else? Who cares.
She's great, and this album is great, start to finish. 5/5
Sex Pistols
4/5
I agree with one of the commenters- heard this years ago and hated it; this listen something just clicked. A fiesty listen for my ride to work. 4/5
The Velvet Underground
2/5
Too long. And storytelling /talking songs are just overrated. Only thing that saved it from a 1 is that I occasionally enjoyed a guitar riff or two. 2/5
Jeff Beck
2/5
The guitar is good but there's only so much Rod Stewart I can take in one sitting. As I said in other instances with Rod - if we were in a dark, smoky bar this would be great. At home in my pajamas not so much. 2/5
The Who
4/5
The hits really carry this. 'Getting in Tune' is pretty awful. 'The Song is Over was a surprise for me - one I'd never heard and enjoyed. 4/5
Elvis Presley
3/5
Enjoyed the rockabilly feel to these. 3/5
Faith No More
3/5
Again, I like a lot of bands that these guys influenced, but not them. Woodpecker from Mars saved this from a 2. 3/5
Living Colour
2/5
I don't like 'cult of personality even on a good day. The rest of this isn't as good as that song, and that song isn't great. 2/5
Muddy Waters
4/5
Blues just isn't for me. Listening to a whole album of what sounds like the same song is just... a bummer. That said, this was good. His voice is just blues, and there's not really any other way to describe it. So, even though it's not my thing, I enjoyed this just because he's so dang good at it. 4/5
5/5
I really liked this. 5/5
Van Halen
4/5
All I think of when I hear 'Jump' is Shamu. Thanks, Sea World!
Not bad. I don't usually like 80's hair metal. Made better because it's a short album and my son likes this so much. 4/5
MC Solaar
2/5
Ok background music while I got some work done. 2/5
Dolly Parton
4/5
Dolly is a national treasure. Great album and great person. 4/5
John Lennon
3/5
Sucks to live in the post- COVID celebrity 'imagined cover, since the song just makes me cringe every time I hear it. That's said, this album isn't a favorite. 3/5
Hookworms
2/5
Was okay. Not a must listen by any stretch. 2/5
Elliott Smith
3/5
Same as the other one, sad and sleepy. 3/5
AC/DC
4/5
These songs sound like fun to play. 4/5
The Associates
2/5
A good moment or two saved this from a 1. Just 80's synth weirdness, and glad I don't ever have to listen to it again. 2/5
The Kinks
3/5
I guess the Kinks are like the weird little brother of the Stones and the Beatles, and I dig it. 3/5
The Rolling Stones
3/5
It's consistent, but that doesn't make it a great one for me. 3/5
Lucinda Williams
2/5
There's nothing on this to keep my interest. Which is sad, since I usually like Americana. 2/5
ZZ Top
4/5
The music was good, the lyrics were bad. 4/5
Fela Kuti
3/5
Fun to listen to on a long drive home. 3/5
OutKast
3/5
I just don't understand double albums sometimes. Separately they're good, but it makes listening to it all at once a chore. The Love Below was the better of the two. 3/5
Muddy Waters
4/5
This guy is good. 4/5
The Roots
3/5
I liked the variety - just too long. 3/5
Metallica
4/5
Maybe this makes me one of those 'sellout Metallica fans, but this was pretty good. 4/5
Billy Joel
4/5
Couldn't decide if this was a 3 or a 4. Some songs are really great (only the good die young) but others were too long or two slow. 3.5 it is. 3.5/5
The Beach Boys
4/5
I don't know that I would go back and listen to the while thing again. But the hits off this are really, really good - Sloop John B, Wouldn't it Be Nice, God Only Knows. God Only Knows has a special place in my heart because it's the bedtime song I sing to my kiddo. 4/5
Elvis Presley
2/5
Just not my thing. There's other artists who do it better, and this just feels too clean for rockabilly or blues. 2/5
Dagmar Krause
2/5
Ugh, sounds like music from a musical which isn't anything that interests me. +1 for very, very short songs and another +1 for being something truly unique on this list. 2/5
Neil Young
2/5
Was kinda surprised by how much he sounds like John Lennon at times. As interesting as that is, I didn't love this. 2/5
The Verve
3/5
Not earthshattering or groundbreaking. Just okay. 3/5
The The
2/5
I really dislike this band. That one song from the commercials was the most bearable thing here. Why two albums from these guys on the list? I can think of better-deserving artists. 2/5
Marty Robbins
3/5
Aww, reminds me of my grandma, she loved this guy. I think he's okay.
Also, the replay I did when I heard this part of The Strawberry Roan:
He's about the worst bucker I've seen on the range
That was not what I thought he said. Be a lot cooler if he did, tho.
3/5
Arctic Monkeys
2/5
Nope. Didn't like it when it came out, don't like it now. 2/5
New Order
4/5
I liked this :) 4/5
Paul Simon
4/5
Easy listen. 4/5
Shack
2/5
Bleh, boring. The age old question on this site - did I really need to hear this before I die? No, no I did not. 2/5
Miles Davis
2/5
Again, I'm not cool enough for Miles Davis. 2/5
Caetano Veloso
2/5
Interesting and not something I would have sought out on my own. That said, no urge to listen to it again. 2/5
Raekwon
2/5
A bummer - was excited to hear this and it was just meh. 2/5
Jethro Tull
4/5
Never gave them a chance before, and I enjoyed it. 4/5
The Beach Boys
3/5
Not every song is a hit, but has their iconic sound. 3/5
Femi Kuti
2/5
Maybe it's my mood today - couldn't get into this. 2/5
Frank Sinatra
2/5
Still don't like Sinatra. 2/5
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Groovy, baby. Chain of fools is soooo good. 4/5
4/5
This sounds like what I normally listen to when I'm at work. Neat. 4/5
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Just not as good as 'Bridge Over Troubled Water.' 3/5
Metallica
3/5
Solid 3 for me. When it's good it's really good then it's just okay. 3/5
The xx
2/5
Good background music, but not much else. 2/5
Slipknot
3/5
Sounds like middle school. Wait and Bleed and Spit it Out are the best on here. The rest is okay. 3/5
Van Morrison
3/5
I really don't get the need for live albums on this list. That said, the production on this one is good. Too bad it's pretty boring. 3/5
David Bowie
3/5
There was a lot of hype for this one. My husband absolutely loved it, but I'm more lukewarm. 3/5
Robert Wyatt
1/5
I could not wait for this album to end. 1/5
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
I'm sorry, I just don't like this. 2/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
This is basically a greatest hits album. 5/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Sometimes less is more. Just a hair too many 'just okay' songs to make this a 5, but still wonderful. 4/5
Klaxons
2/5
Why? 2/5
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
All the hits are overplayed, the rest was meh. 3/5
Garbage
5/5
Loved the whole thing. My tween self wanted to be Shirley Manson but I was too shy. 5/5
Richard Hawley
2/5
Mellow and boring. 2/5
Christine and the Queens
3/5
Mid pop. Interesting, but not really my thing. 3/5
Sade
2/5
It all sounded like the same song. She's got a great voice, though. 2/5
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
The boss just ain't for me. 2/5
Led Zeppelin
5/5
I'm a simple woman. I see Led Zepllin IV, I give 5 stars. 5/5
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
2/5
I don't know what to say. It is an album, and it's on this list. 2/5
David Bowie
3/5
A few good songs, okay album. 3/5
3/5
Wasn't great, wasn't rubbish. 3/5
The Cardigans
3/5
Okie dokie pop. Wouldn't have guessed from just hearing Lovefool that they were from Sweden, so that's neat. 3/5
Kraftwerk
3/5
Sprockets! 3/5
The Teardrop Explodes
2/5
This was not good. 2/5
TV On The Radio
3/5
Was okay, I guess. Some catchy beats but otherwise forgettable. 3/5
Nirvana
2/5
Overrated. 'Where did you sleep last night' was the best song for me. 2/5
Kate Bush
2/5
Did not enjoy. 2/5
The Byrds
3/5
I don't understand all the hate for this - was pretty okay for a country/rockabilly album. 3/5
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Pretty good 80's music. 3/5
The Temptations
3/5
Pretty good, pretty groovy. 3/5
Wu-Tang Clan
3/5
I get the influence, which made me want to like this more than I did. They were better in my mind before I listened to this, which is a bummer. 3/5
Jurassic 5
5/5
Couldn't decide between a 4 or a 5, so a 5 it is. Just enjoyable, didn't hear a bad song. Loved the samples, beats, and flute. A nice change of pace. 5/5
The Soft Boys
3/5
For the benefit of everyone else - the original album is just the first 10 tracks on Spotify ('I wanna destroy you' to 'underwater moonlight').
That's a much more manageable listen, and keeps them at a 3 for me. If I had to actually listen to this for 2.5 hours, the rating would be much, much worse. 3/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Was a good one to listen to with my son. He says I can't rate this less than a 5, so a 5 it shall get. 5/5
Sepultura
3/5
Too long. 3/5
Ms. Dynamite
2/5
Giving her the benefit of the doubt with a two. But the off-key singing and sub-par rap just wasn't impressive. 2/5
Dusty Springfield
3/5
In most cases, the originals were better. 3/5
Air
4/5
Soothing and chill. I like it. 4/5
Van Halen
3/5
Loses a point for being a smidge too pervy. 3/5
KISS
3/5
Pretty basic rock music. 3/5
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
I guess I have a think for psychedelic music. Who knew? 4/5
Pere Ubu
1/5
I gave them the benefit of the doubt with the first album I heard, but not making that mistake again. Just not something I want to listen to. 1/5
The xx
2/5
I don't understand why there is another album by this artist on the list. There's plenty of other artists who deserve a spot and it was taken by this... I'd like this way more if there were no vocals - it's just mediocre singing over okay-ish beats. I don't get it. 2/5
DJ Shadow
3/5
I liked the samples :) 3/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
I don't understand the hype for this guy. 2/5
Various Artists
4/5
My favorite kind of Christmas music. Only gets a 4 since I can't listen to it all year. 4/5
Venom
2/5
Was a bit of a slog to get through. Influential it is, but great it is not. 2/5
Nirvana
4/5
I dislike giving this a 4. But compared to lots of other stuff on here, it's pretty good. I was just after Nirvana's prime, so I just know it as overplayed grunge so I get more annoyed by it than anything. 4/5
Grizzly Bear
3/5
I liked the parts that sounded like CSNY and the Beach Boys. The rest just sounded like any other mid 2000s band with an animal in the name (Band of Horses, Trampled by Turtles, etc). 3/5
Funkadelic
3/5
Pretty funky. 3/5
Stan Getz
4/5
Mellow, chill music. Makes me feel sophisticated. 4/5
50 Cent
4/5
I give it 4 millennial stars. 4/5
Björk
3/5
She is unique, for sure. Don't know that I would listen to this again but appreciated the creativity. At least its not 80s britpop. 3/5
CHIC
3/5
Nice background music to bop along with your day. 3/5
Radiohead
5/5
Okay, this one gets the 5. 5/5
ABBA
2/5
Not a fan of ABBA. Can hear the influence on current music, but didn't enjoy this. 2/5
Lou Reed
2/5
I don't understand the appeal of Lou Reed. Only avoided a 1 because it's not the worst thing on the list. 2/5
Queen
3/5
The hits are great, the rest was okay. 3/5
Dire Straits
3/5
The guy can play a guitar, that's for sure. Yacht rock. 3/5
Wilco
3/5
This one isn't bad - I hope there are other Wilco albums on here (Ghost is Born, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, or Sky Blue Sky). Not their best but has some great gems. 3/5
The Jam
3/5
Okayish pop? Sounded alit like Colin Hay to me, which was nice. 3/5
Radiohead
4/5
I like. 4/5
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3/5
Peaceful and calm. 3/5
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
Was okay, beats were pretty good. 3/5
King Crimson
4/5
Oh, I liked this. I like the similarities between this and the Moody Blues (which came first, I don't care - give credit to whoever it is - I just like the way it sounds). 4/5
Lorde
2/5
Boring. :/ 2/5
The White Stripes
4/5
Pretty, pretty, pretty good. 4/5
The Rolling Stones
3/5
3/5
Beatles
5/5
If I know all the words to all the songs, it's a 5. 5/5
Hot Chip
2/5
Boring and bland electronic pop. 2/5
The Kinks
3/5
Sounds like all the other Kinks albums. I'm thinking the maker of this list has a Kinks kink. 3/5
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Okay, this one gets the 5. Other albums are okay - this one feels more cohesive. 5/5
New York Dolls
3/5
Was okay. 3/5
The Rolling Stones
3/5
A bunch of ok covers. 3/5
Gotan Project
4/5
Smooth, easy listen while getting some work done. 4/5
Massive Attack
4/5
Oh man, enjoyed this. Isn't the best of massive attack, but pretty great anyway. 4/5
The Byrds
3/5
8 miles high is a really great song. The rest is just okay enough to give it a 3. 3/5
Rod Stewart
2/5
In a smokey, dimly lit bar, this would be great. Anywhere else it's bland. 2/5
The White Stripes
4/5
Hard to find an album of theirs I don't like. 4/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
This was just so boring. I don't get the love for this guy. 2/5
Barry Adamson
2/5
I did really enjoy the techno / bass lines in this. However, not a thing I'm coming back to, so it gets a 2. 2/3
Bonnie Raitt
3/5
I really did want to like this more. Love her voice but this is pretty boring. 3/5
Eagles
4/5
Do folks not realize this is grandpa rock now? Dad rock is like from the 90s.
Either way, it's a 4. The first 3 songs are the best, the rest is just okay.
4/5
Laura Nyro
3/5
Gets a 3 because the production value is good. Sounds like the late 60s. I really don't like her singing style, though - at times it's good, but when it's bad, it's really bad. 3/5
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Was okay. Little too muffled and chaotic for my liking. 3/5
Derek & The Dominos
2/5
White guys sing the blues. 2/5
2/5
Punk rock noise. 2/5
Suzanne Vega
2/5
Feels like 80s Taylor Swift. Otherwise pretty bland. 2/5
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Was surprised to hear a little bit of TOOL here. Not a ton, and mostly the earlier stuff, but it was there. That was neat, but not neat enough to give this more than 3 stars. The dude's voice is super annoying. 3/5
Beatles
5/5
If I know all the words, it's a 5. Also, the 2nd best Beatles album (behind Revolver). 5/5
Fats Domino
4/5
Aww, I wish they still played this on the radio. 4/5
The Blue Nile
2/5
Enjoyed the ambient music parts - this would be so much better without a singer. 2/5
The Who
2/5
It wasn't great to listen to. 2/5
Sisters Of Mercy
4/5
Wow, found a new band for my inner goth. 4/5
JAY Z
2/5
Renegade was the best one on this. Otherwise, I don't think this aged very well. 2/5
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Boring and depressing. 2/5
Wire
5/5
Ok, this one makes up for the series of crap albums I had before this. I did not believe it when I saw this was out in 1977 - it sounds like something that could come out today. What a cool find, I never would have discovered this otherwise. 5/5
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Was not expecting a funky James Taylor cover, but here we are. 4/5
George Jones
4/5
Getting a 4 out of 5 - would have been 3, but my kid really liked it (surprisingly) so giving a +1. 4/5
ZZ Top
4/5
4 Ah-haw-haw-haw's out of 5.
Donovan
3/5
Season of the Witch is just so good. Everything else was okay. 3/5
Screaming Trees
3/5
Yea, I don't get this inclusion on the list. They sound a little like a lot of bands from the time but don't do any of it very memorably. 3/5
Prince
4/5
Started a 3, ended a low 4. The hits from the album are strong, the rest was okay. I don't think this is the best album ever, though. 4/5
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
2/5
Man, interesting how our political landscape hasn't change much since the 90s but our music sure has. Sounds dated, with the same super bass-y beats. 2/5
Koffi Olomide
3/5
Enjoyed this - nice background music for a resort vacation. Or, at least that's what I was daydreaming about while at work. 3/5
The Band
4/5
Was torn between a 3 or 4 rating. Gets a 4 because it really is interesting to hear this and hear lots of other bands I know they influenced. 4/5
Dion
2/5
At first I thought this sounded like Counting Crows or Billy Joel, then it veered into John Lennon territory. I like older Dion better, though. 2/5
Minor Threat
3/5
Short and sweet. 3/5
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
2/5
Maybe it was the day, but I was just annoyed by this. I'm sure other people "get it" but it's just more white guy blues to me. 2/5
U2
3/5
I wanted to like this more than I did, which is a shame because 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' is such a good song. 3/5
Ray Price
2/5
Not my kind of country. 2/5
Buck Owens
3/5
Enjoyed this one. My son and husband gave it a 4, which surprised me. Overall, not bad, kind of fun. It's a 3 in my book, though (some of the covers just weren't good imo) 3/5
Frank Zappa
2/5
Just not for me. Sounded like hot garbage. 2/5
Deep Purple
3/5
I can hear the influence on other artists, I just happen to like them more. 3/5
The Darkness
3/5
They took the 80's and turned it up to 11. Too bad the singer's voice is just so annoying. The music is corny, catchy, and fantastic - his voice just ruins it for me. 3/5 despite the singer's grating vocals. 3/5
Madonna
3/5
Solid middle of the road album. It was also pretty interesting to hear just how much Lady Gaga ripped off this album. Nothing new under the sun, I guess. Super dated, though. 3/5
Kelela
3/5
Good to groove to while doing data entry. 3/5
The Strokes
5/5
Easy 5. Unlocked all my end of middle school, start of high school nostalgia. We'd jam to this driving around aimlessly - a perfect soundtrack to scream-sing in the car. 5/5
Kate Bush
2/5
She's talented, just not my thing. 2/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
Boring. 2/5
Pantera
4/5
Son and husband jammed out to this in the car. Maybe they made this more of a 4 than a 3. 4/5
John Cale
2/5
Another boring one :( 2/5
Terence Trent D'Arby
2/5
Now I know who Bruno Mars ripped off. Doesnt make it sound any less dated, though. 2/5
The Residents
2/5
Man, a beat or two was pretty good. The rest of this was just awful. 2/5
Madonna
3/5
An okay inclusion on the list. 3/5
ABBA
3/5
Pretty good, just not my favorite. 3/5
Michael Jackson
4/5
A begrudging 4. The hits are pretty good, everything else was meh. Also, he loves "Liberian Girl" so much but can't even give her a name? Was a bit cringe :/ 4/5
CHVRCHES
3/5
Decent electronic pop. 3/5
Spiritualized
4/5
Space Simon and Garfunkel. 4/5
Morrissey
4/5
Enjoyed this pop version of Morrissey. 4/5
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
This gets me closer to god. 5/5
Neil Young
2/5
Yeah, yeah, yeah, he's the godfather of grunge. You can hear from this album just how much Kurt Cobain took to heart that you can screech your way through songs/parts of songs.
Knowing that doesn't make this album any better. What a slog. 2/5
Pixies
3/5
Positively mediocre. 3/5
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
Okay background noise for work. Not really a great listen on its own. 3/5
Bob Dylan
4/5
Nit bad, thought I would be more annoyed by this. Really enjoyed the music, his lyrics /singing stop this from being a 5. 4/5
Brian Eno
4/5
Another good one for a busy workday. 4/5
Red Snapper
3/5
Decent electronic music. Not my favorite, though. 3/5
Steely Dan
3/5
Music was good, though nothing really stood out. Pretty good for an album I'd never heard of before. 3/5
UB40
3/5
Pretty mellow reggae. 3/5
The Specials
4/5
Fun - I liked this! 4/5
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
Enjoyable listen for my workday. 4/5
Antony and the Johnsons
2/5
The vibrato really ruined lots of this for me. Very personal songwriting that would have more of an impact if the singing style wasn't so jarring. 2/5
Destiny's Child
3/5
I totally forgot that my weekly Italian night dinner song was inspired by this album:
"I don't think you're ready for spaghetti, I don't think you're ready for spaghetti, I don't think you're ready for spaghetti, my pasta is too delicious for ya babe"
Thanks Destiny's Child for helping me annoy my family since the 2000's.
3/5
N.E.R.D
3/5
Interesting, liked the mix of styles and influences. 3/5
Marianne Faithfull
2/5
I liked the music more than her voice. Wasn't all bad, just mostly. 2/5
Can
2/5
It was great until it wasn't. 2/5
Paul Simon
3/5
Okie dokie. 3/4
LL Cool J
2/5
The cringe is strong with this one. 2/5
The Beta Band
4/5
If the Beach Boys were an indie group from the 2000's. I liked it. 4/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
I usually love a dark and gloomy album. This was not my kind of dark and gloomy :( Too long and too boring. 2/5
Ryan Adams
1/5
Was going to give it a 2, but it just kept gooiiinnnnnng. So boring. 1/5
The Allman Brothers Band
2/5
Oh god another jam band live album. It's only good if it's a show you actually went to. 2/5
Small Faces
2/5
Strange, but not in a good way. 2/5
Peter Tosh
3/5
Pretty okay reggae. 3/5
a-ha
3/5
1 good song, really. 3/5
Prince
4/5
It's a 4, probably on the better side of the Prince albums on this list. 4/5
Tangerine Dream
3/5
I liked this, was good coding music. Only complaint is that it was pretty stressful sounding electronica at times. 3/5
The Black Crowes
4/5
Good production, even if the music isn't 100% my taste. After listening to some pretty awful albums this one deserves a 4. 4/5
PJ Harvey
3/5
Not my favorite PJ Harvey album. Still solid, though. 3/5
Japan
3/5
I liked this better than some actual new wave. Cool. 3/5
James Brown
3/5
The quality of recording was really great, but live albums are generally not my thing. Solid 3. 3/5
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Smooth and mellow. Lots of 'chill jazz' YouTube channels are clearly inspired by this dude. Sip some coffee and chill out, man. 4/5
Randy Newman
2/5
The other album on this list rated higher for me - I wasn't so impressed with this one. 2/5
PJ Harvey
4/5
I heard her later albums first - what a solid start for a dynamic artist. That crunchy guitar sound just gets me. 4/5
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
I wanted to like this more. Pretty repetitive, long instrumentals. 3/5
Daft Punk
5/5
Yea, I don't care if this is repetitive. Easy to listen to while getting stuff done and you don't have to think too hard about anything. Just a good listen. 5/5
Nina Simone
5/5
A gem like this is why I like this project. Never would have chosen to listen to this otherwise, but what a lovely, soulful journey. 5/5
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
I want to rate this higher, but experimental rock just doesn't cut it for me. Love Christine McVies' songs on this, tho. 3/5
Tim Buckley
2/5
Didn't much care for the son's music, so not really surprising that I wouldn't be impressed by his dad's. 2/5
Supergrass
5/5
Never heard this before. And, it's been a little while on this 1001 album journey where I've liked something almost instantly. Surprise 5/5
The Slits
3/5
Was okay. Appreciated the variety, and truly an album I wouldn't have found otherwise. 3/5
Iggy Pop
3/5
Was okay. 3/5
Blue Cheer
3/5
Okay garage rock. If Janis Joplin was a dude. 3/5
Elvis Presley
3/5
Eric Cartman had the best version of "In the Ghetto." 3/5
Doves
3/5
A very early 2000's album. Budget Coldplay, which isnt necessarily a bad thing. 3/5
Marvin Gaye
2/5
A really bad album about a divorce :/ 2/5
Traffic
3/5
Can hear the influence on later bands. 3/5
Method Man
3/5
Liked the lo-fi. 3/5
Soft Cell
2/5
Why do these new wave albums have to be so insufferably long? 2/5
The Smiths
4/5
This is the better of the Smith's album's I've heard so far. 4/5
Dr. John
2/5
Oof, not a favorite. 2/5
Green Day
4/5
I don't think this is my favorite Green Day album, but it is very good. At the time it came out I was pretty annoyed the hits got so much radio play. Now with a little time (and a little less repetition on the radio) I think I can be a little more objective about it. 4/5
Slayer
4/5
I drive so much faster with this on. 4/5
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
5/5
Another album I never would have given the time of day if not for this list. Whar a fun, upbeat gem. 5/5
Paul Weller
2/5
The album equivalent of talking about the weather. Nothing much to say, nor very memorable. 2/5
White Denim
3/5
Definitely heard who they were influenced by (fleetwood mac, pink floyd), but not so much who they've influenced. 3/5
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
At the time I'm writing this, the ratings for this average to exactly 3. Who am I to rock the boat? 3/5
Ice Cube
4/5
I enjoyed this. Top-notch sampling. 4/5
American Music Club
2/5
It's interesting that this was released earlier than folks like Sufjan Stevens or other 90s alt or 2000s indie rock. Interesting doesn't equal good, though. 2/5
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
I tried to like this, but I just couldn't. 2/5
David Bowie
2/5
The ambient parts were the best. 2/5
John Prine
3/5
A unique voice and perspective. I think he got better with age. 3/5
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Very short, well- done album. 4/5
Elton John
2/5
Tiny dancer, good as it is, is just so overplayed. The rest just wasn't my cup of tea. 2/5
Michael Jackson
4/5
It's a good listen. Songs got pretty similar, but they aren't bad. 4/5
Fred Neil
2/5
The very definition of a 2/5. Nothing remarkable, not something you hate when you hear it - just something you forget as soon as it's over. 2/5
The Louvin Brothers
4/5
Super depressing bluegrass, which is just how I like it. -1 for being too preachy tho, even though I understand it's part of the history of the genre. 4/5
Afrika Bambaataa
3/5
Amazing how this has been sampled and reimagined by countless artists - proving just how influential this album (or group of singles) was. Too bad it doesn't really sound better removed from its original time. 3/5
Neil Young
3/5
Don't know that I'll revisit this - his voice isn't something I can stand on it's own. Interestingly enough, though, I like CSNY so go figure. 3/5
Basement Jaxx
2/5
Bargain basement (jaxx) beats. 2/5
Ice Cube
2/5
Ice Cube used the word dick so much he had to resort to 'ding-a-ling' instead. 2/5
Michael Kiwanuka
5/5
Wow, heard a few of these before but the whole album is good. Good for a straight listen, also as chill background music. 5/5
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Giving this a 2 - just not a fan of The Boss, but I can understand that this is good. Not for me, at all. 2/5
The B-52's
5/5
Silly album, and proof that lyrics don't have to be so serious for you to have a good time. 5/5
Baaba Maal
3/5
Aww, I liked this. Good background music for work or a walk but probably will choose something else. 3/5
Arrested Development
3/5
This album is a time capsule, and a little preachy. It is unique for the time (the positivity!), but just seems so dated. 3/5
The Saints
4/5
Punky and great. Exactly what I wanted. 4/5
Alice Cooper
3/5
Interesting mix of rock and musical theater music. Too bad I'm not into music theater :( 3/5
Elbow
4/5
Music for millenials. 4/5
Little Simz
3/5
Was okay. A rarity for a recent album to be so short, which is in this album's favor. 3/5
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Groovy, meaningful. The definition of soul music. 4/5
Thundercat
3/5
Good beats, and I did enjoy the quirky blending of genres and lyrics. It's too long, though, and I think that's the major flaw. Was hard to tell any differences between the songs after awhile. 3/5
The Young Rascals
3/5
Pretty groovy. 3/5
Tom Waits
1/5
Oh god, this was terrible. I feel so bad for a 1 rating for the background musicians because they were the only good part of this whole thing. Too long, just talking or sing-talking for over an hour. I'd rather go to an actual jazz club. 1/5
Brian Wilson
3/5
Maybe this just caught me on a sad day, but this album made me sad even though it's literally called "Smile." As great as Brian Wilson was, there's just something missing without the harmonies from all of the Beach Boys. 3/5
Iron Butterfly
3/5
Psychadelic jam rock. 3/5
Throbbing Gristle
2/5
Narrowly misses a 1 just because it kept me guessing. Something unique in a sea of other unknown mostly same-ish British artists. 2/5
2/5
Budget Beatles. Even at 49 minutes, it's too long. 2/5
Moby
4/5
Enjoyed it, and owned it when it was new. 4/5
Missy Elliott
3/5
Enjoyed this 3/5
3/5
Double albums are always just too much for me. Just too long, man. This is a neat concept though, an acoustic side and an electric one. I liked the electric side better. 3/5
Steely Dan
4/5
Was torn between a 3 or a 4. 3 because it's pretty much smooth adult contemporary music without much to separate songs. 4 because it's just so well produced and sounds amazing. Since there's no half-ratings, a 4 it is. 4/5
Paul Simon
2/5
Songs about allergies, cars, and the moon. I feel like he just gave up on lyricism here. 2/5
SAULT
3/5
Liked the beats. 3/5
The Last Shadow Puppets
4/5
I liked this, as I'm a suckered for 60s mod stuff. 4/5
Emmylou Harris
3/5
I can hear the influence on other alt-country singers. 3/5
Joni Mitchell
2/5
The music is pretty great, just not in love with the stream of consciousness lyrics. 2/5
1/5
I have never been more thankful for ads on YouTube. 1/5
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
Too long and too boring. 2/5
The La's
3/5
Pretty mid. 3/5
The Vines
4/5
My era of music. I was there when it was all about whether or not you were a fan of the vines or the hives. Both are good :) 4/5
Pink Floyd
2/5
I like other Pink Floyd stuff, but not this. 2/5
Love
2/5
Not sure why they're here - were they the first psychaledic band? Others have done this better, even if they came later. 2/5
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Fun and funky. 4/5
SZA
4/5
Not quite a 5 but almost there. I enjoyed this a lot, and glad it's on the list. 4/5
Sugar
3/5
I feel the same about this as I do Husker Du - the essence of the 90's sound, but not very memorable otherwise. 3/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
I don't get the appeal, much less why this guy is on the list so much. 2/5
5/5
Didn't go in expecting to love this as much as I did. But honestly, it was fantastic. 5/5
Merle Haggard
2/5
I dont hate country, just a little too much of the same for me. 2/5
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
Music for a 90's hacker/spy movie. Love. 4/5
Miles Davis
2/5
I'm not as cool as Miles Davis. 2/5
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
2/5
Another album that's too long for its own good. 2/5
Sonic Youth
3/5
Some songs were cool. Others were just okay. 3/5
Tito Puente
4/5
Got this album on a pretty depressing day, and while it didn't cure my sadness it definitely made me feel better. Hard to mope around when your body just wants to move. 4/5
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
Whoever said this guy sounds like Elvis Costello is right, and that's a bummer. The punk parts were cool, but I just couldn't get into it. 3/5
Ute Lemper
1/5
Ugh, this was bad. It was made in 2000? It sounds dated in the worst way - not nostalgic or retro in any good way, just try-hard and overly emotive. Will not ever listen to again. 1/5
Dizzee Rascal
3/5
I didnt mind this. Pretty innovative for 2003. 3/5
Hole
2/5
This was not good. 2/5
2/5
Can confirm, is noise. 2/5
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
A good example of a genre that also happens to be really good. 4/5
Justin Timberlake
2/5
In case you have any questions about how bad this is, I've provided a lyric sample:
You're out of this world
Except you're not green
I rest my case. 2/5
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
Rock and roll organ needs to make a comeback. 3/5
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
I, too, was disappointed by the lack of either a Belle or a Sebastian. 3/5
Hawkwind
2/5
Some really nice riffs. Just way too long- jam bands are not my thing. 2/5
The Pharcyde
3/5
Was fun, not too serious. 3/5
Julian Cope
2/5
I'm so over this album I don't even have the words to say how over it I am. 2/4
David Bowie
2/5
Fame was the only good song on this one. 2/5
Portishead
4/5
Loved how moody and dark this was. 4/5
The Crusaders
4/5
I liked this, mostly because it sounds just like the jazz I listen to when I have to get stuff done at work. 4/5
Led Zeppelin
4/5
-1 because there's only so much Robert Plant I can take. I dont want to like them, I want to think its all hype but goddamn they can really play. 4/5
Mj Cole
3/5
Okay to get some work done at my PC. Otherwise, pretty boring and repetitive. 3/5
The Triffids
1/5
Calenture refers to a fever-caused delirium where sailors envision that the sea is a green field and walk to their deaths.
It's a little known fact that folks who make "best of" lists can also suffer from the musical version of this, where they believe whatever album is a personal favorite is also worthy of inclusion on whatever list they are making.
1/5
The Byrds
4/5
Grew up with a boomer dad, this was on heavy rotation. 4/5
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
Got better towards the end. Post-punk just ain't for me. 2/5
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
Was an okay listen, enjoyed the beats. Not super into spoken word interludes every so often. 3/5
OutKast
3/5
The hits are really great but the rest is meh for me. 3/5
Rush
2/5
Not a fan of that dude's voice. 2/5
Dwight Yoakam
4/5
Did everyone forget that country music has roots in murder ballads and gospel music? This is peak 80's country and it's good. -1 point for the confederate nonsense. 4/5
Taylor Swift
3/5
Solid 3. Started off pretty strong, then the rest kinda dragged on by the end. 3/5
Air
4/5
Enjoyed the ambient, chill vibes. 4/5
Nico
2/5
The wiki said Nico cried when she heard the flutes on this album. Me too, Nico. 2/5
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Groovy and brief. 4/5
The Who
3/5
I mean, it's a live album. Was probably really cool for folks who got to go. 3/5
Joni Mitchell
3/5
I can see why this one is her most popular album - it's much more condensed and palatable than her others. Pioneer she may be, she's just not for me. 3/5
The Fall
3/5
Man, I feel like this could have been so great. Some pretty good moments, but they dont seem to last. 3/5
The Clash
4/5
I love albums that are short and to the point - they know who they are and can show you without dragging it out. 4/5
The Monkees
2/5
There was nothing memorable about this. 2/5
Django Django
5/5
I really enjoyed this. Sounded like the Beach Boys in the best way. Tried to listen to this while getting things done at work but it kept pulling me in. Well done. 5/5
The Prodigy
3/5
Good songs on here but very, very (did I mention very?) repetitive sound. 3/5
Killing Joke
3/5
This was a little all over the place but in a good way. Sounds way before it's time. 3/5
The Young Gods
2/5
Man, I got hyped when folks said Pink Floyd/Nine Inch Nails. I get why folks say that, but this isn't anywhere as good. 2/5
Anthrax
3/5
Kick you in the face metal. Not my thing so much these days, but a fun listen anyway. 3/5
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
I was more on board with this in the beginning, bit it got a little stale towards the end. 3/5
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Decent punk rock. 4/5
Jamiroquai
4/5
I think the average is right on this one - 3.5, but for the sake of whole numbers, 4/5. Other folks probably do it better, but its just such a fun listen. Started in a kinda grumpy mood but was grooving by the end. 4/5
Sheryl Crow
3/5
The hits are the only highlight here. 3/5
Donald Fagen
3/5
I'm so confused by this album. Production is good, some songs are pretty catchy. But I just can't muster up any feelings about it. 3/5
4/5
Good,but I liked Rid of Me much better. 4/5
Orbital
3/5
Sounds like techno to me. 3/5
Bob Dylan
2/5
I mean, sounds like Dylan. It's just too long - three songs in and I was already wishing for it to end. 2/5
Animal Collective
3/5
A little too experimental for me. But not bad ambiance on a rainy day while getting some stuff accomplished 3/5
Led Zeppelin
4/5
My ratings thus far have shown Led Zeppelin IV is the best. Pretty awesome for a debut, tho. 4/5
Guided By Voices
2/5
Its like they kept changing the station midway through songs, except all the stations were the same mid-90s college station. 2/5
Morrissey
3/5
My ratings are all over the place for this guy. Rating just the music, not his gross stances on stuff. Long story short - sad man is sad, album is mid. 3/5
The Stooges
3/5
Was less impressed with this one. 3/5
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
Getting a 3, since I can't see myself coming back to this. Glad I got to hear it tho, and his Superbowl appearance was A+. 3/5
Sebadoh
2/5
This was all over the place, and not always in a good way. 2/5
John Lee Hooker
3/5
I wish it was an older album of his, sounds a little dated with all of the collaborators. Good blues tho. 3/5
Bill Callahan
3/5
Was not expecting this. Didn't long the sing-talking, but the arrangements were great. 3/5
Underworld
4/5
I was insanely productive listening to this at work. Dunno if it tapped into my millenial brainwaves or what, but this was a winner. 4/5
Happy Mondays
2/5
There was nothing memorable about this. 2/5
Thin Lizzy
3/5
Was surprised at how good it sounded for a live album - then I realized it wasn't really "live." 3/5
Suede
2/5
I should like this, but I didn't. 2/5
The Boo Radleys
3/5
This is what it sounds like to listen to college student run radio. Some good, some bad. Mostly meh. 3/5
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
Kooky album. Didn't hate it as much as I thought I would, some songs were goofy and fun. Very much like DEVO or Weird Al. 3/5
Country Joe & The Fish
3/5
This was a 4 for awhile, then got too jam bandt for me. But there are some really neat parts here. 3/5
Incredible Bongo Band
4/5
Was peppy music on a day I needed it. Also, it's incredible how hearing this can put you right in the 70's. 4/5
R.E.M.
4/5
I actually liked this one. 4/5
Taylor Swift
5/5
In general, I dislike Taylor Swift because I think she embodies the worst of consumer-driven music. A thousand versions of one album with slight variations, limited edition merchandise, releases all tailored (ha) to get her fan base ravenous enough to buy the next thing lest they miss out. Her marketing machine works overtime. Everything about her image and music is carefully curated.
Credit where credit is due, though. I'm 500ish albums in and very few have this many hits or are good listens in one sitting. Is that because Taylor Swift is actually that good or because of her dedicated media / marketing empire that I already know most of the songs without really trying? Are her hits actually hits because they deserve to be or because her fans decided they should be regardless of what we all think, and the media doesn't want to upset the Swifties?
Keeping with my rating scale, this is a 5/5 despite my reservations.
Gang Starr
4/5
It's interesting - like in alternative universe this would have been a hit. I have never heard of these guys at all, but enjoyed it quite a bit because it just captures the essence of 90's rap. 4/5
Meat Loaf
3/5
Ah, so that's where Jack Black gets it. 3/5
The Temptations
4/5
I needed this today. Short and sweet. 4/5
Mylo
4/5
Enjoyed the heck out of this while getting through some programming. 4/5
Miriam Makeba
4/5
Was nice to listen to something different. She sounds so joyful. 4/5
John Lennon
4/5
I liked this the best of the John Lennon albums I've heard. 4/5
Goldfrapp
3/5
Ethereal and dreamy. Also boring. 3/5
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Fun listen 4/5
Super Furry Animals
2/5
Ugh how many times am I going to get something that sounds like Elvis Costello? 2/5
Common
3/5
Was pretty good. Didn't hear anything I thought was super exceptional. 3/5
TLC
3/5
Was a little disappointed in this one. I love Creep and Waterfalls, but none of the other songs even come close to being as good. I really wanted to like this more. 3/5
Ash
5/5
Struggled between a 4 and 5 for this one. Yes, sounds similar to lots of things, but teenage me would have loved this if I'd heard it sooner. Also, I get the grunge references, but I somehow like this more than Sonic Youth and some of the others already on the list. Feels a little more pop-punky, which I like. Okay, talked myself into the 5. 5/5
Fugazi
3/5
I think this is another one of those cases where the bands I really like happen to like this band a bunch, but I dont. 3/5
Slade
3/5
A more irreverent, less serious Led Zeppelin. It makes the gap between Led Zeppelin and 80s hair/glam metal make a TON more sense. That said, I don't love 80s hair metal so this was an okay album for me. 3/5
The Libertines
3/5
Pretty bland? I mean it's not terrible but also not great. Why can we have this but no Tool? 3/5
Beastie Boys
5/5
This was pretty fun. Yea, maybe a little obnoxious at times with the yelling, but you really just want to go out and party with them anyway. Also, makes me realize how much I miss good sampling. 5/5
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Hard to give Stevie anything less than a 4. Pretty good for something I've never heard. 4/5
Lupe Fiasco
3/5
Most thankful rapper I've ever heard. 3/5
Massive Attack
4/5
Mellow and trippy. 4/5
Aimee Mann
2/5
We get this but no Sarah McLachlan. Bummer. 2/5
The Jam
3/5
Nothing special, and glad it was short. 3/5
Coldplay
4/5
Maybe it's the nostalgia, maybe it's actually good. This is the Coldplay I like, and it's a shame their recent stuff has been so commercial. 4/5
The Replacements
3/5
Another 'nothing special here' album for me. Again, thankful this one was a short listen. 3/5
Mike Oldfield
2/5
It wasn't terrible, but also pretty boring except for the first 4 minutes where I thought I had turned on The Exorcist soundtrack by accident. 2/5
The Beta Band
4/5
The thing is, I like this. My problem is we get two okayish albums from one band and no albums from really, really great artists. That's not this band's fault, they just happen to be the example at the moment. 4/5
Frank Ocean
4/5
Glad I heard it, but his off-key singing sometimes made it hard to really get into. 4/5
The Dandy Warhols
5/5
Was hard to decide between a 4 and 5. Some songs are a little ling, but otherwise I feel like the sound just.. gets me. 5/5
Tom Waits
2/5
I didnt hate this one as much as the other one mostly because I could get into the more Halloween-townesque songs. He's just not for me. 2/5
The Zutons
3/5
Nothing special. 3/5
The Stooges
4/5
The 10 minute song kept it from a 5 star. Guess I like the Stooges - didn't have that on my bingo card when I started this quest. 4/5
Megadeth
3/5
Standard-issue thrash metal. 3/5
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
All the soungs sound pretty much the same. As everyone else mentions, Come On Eileen is the best song here. 3/5
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Solsbury Hill is the standout here. Everything else is just okay. 3/5
Coldplay
4/5
A good album, and brings back a wave of nostalgia. "Clocks" and "The Scientist" were massively overplayed, which is why I think this album gets the hate it does. Creditbwhere it's due, though. 4/5
Gang Of Four
5/5
I think what makes this a 5 is that I really don't expect it for the era it comes from. It sounds so modern. And, for post punk, a pretty great listen! 5/5
The Only Ones
2/5
There was nothing special about this. 2/5
Television
4/5
Definitely catchy, those hooks are pretty good. 4/5
Slint
5/5
I was not expecting to fall for this. Something about it, though - hit my brain in all the right places. Also, I like when bands can show you what they're all about in less than 40 minutes. 5/5
Blondie
4/5
Aww, I liked this. Such a weird little gem. 4/5
Waylon Jennings
4/5
I like this kind of country. 4/5
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Mostly forgettable. But, sometimes forgettable is a good thing - it's exactly the kind of jazz I like to listen to in order to be at my most productive. Mellow. 4/5
Frank Black
3/5
He might have been crowned Teenager Of The Year," but this definitely isn't winning Album Of the Year. 3/5
Willie Nelson
4/5
This sounds like authentic country to me. The new stuff just ain't as good. God, I sound like such a Boomer. 4/5
Carole King
5/5
Enjoyed this. Debated between 4 or 5, but with that many hits on one album I felt like a 5 was warranted. 5/5
Brian Eno
2/5
Thought this would be a good choice to help me get some work done today, but it really wasn't. Influential or not, it just sounded like noise. 2/5
The Go-Betweens
2/5
The biggest thing going for this album is that it is short. 2/5
Paul Revere & The Raiders
3/5
Fun and short album. 3/5
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
Was anxious, put this on and it was pretty calming. 4/5 for getting me through a tough moment.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
Its not on this album, but I loved their song "Missing", and it was odd coming into this knowing I recognized her voice from somewhere. Her voice is the best part of this, really. 3/5
The Dictators
2/5
Sometimes, being the earliest version of something means that other folks come behind you and do it better. This is one of those cases. 2/5
5/5
Pretty great. Can't say anything that hasn't already been said. 5/5
The Police
4/5
Gets a 4, despite 'mother.' The hits are just too good. 4/5
The Cult
3/5
Mid review for mid metal. 3/5
Nitin Sawhney
3/5
A 3, since as a whole the sum was a little better than the parts. Not always a great listen, tho. But a more unique entry on the list anyway. 3/5
Sonic Youth
3/5
I don't know what's on here that I haven't heard in the other 2 albums on this list. 3/5
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Was okay. She has a nice voice, but the songs are all pretty much the same. 3/5
T. Rex
4/5
Hard not to like this one. Amazing to hear all the other bands that copied this style. 4/5
Fiona Apple
5/5
Honestly, glad I came across this later in life. Teenage me would not have appreciated this. Her voice and lyrics are phenomenal. 5/5
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
Enjoyed this one. 4/5
Abdullah Ibrahim
4/5
Reminds me of NPR's "all things considered" theme song. Easy listen, great to unwind with a crossword puzzle book. 4/5
The Cramps
4/5
This was fun rockabilly, glad to have discovered it thru the list! 4/5
Aphex Twin
4/5
Reminds me of chill Sunday mornings after a night out, not wanting to get up but also not wanting to lay around forever. 4/5
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Dude is boring. 2/5
Sabu
3/5
Upbeat album, fun. 3/5
Judas Priest
4/5
This was fun. 4/5
Bee Gees
2/5
Oof, long and not great - bad combo. The more country-sounding songs were the better ones. 2/5
The Jesus And Mary Chain
2/5
Man, I wanted to like this, just to much noise. So disappointing, since I'm sure there's a gem in there. 2/5
Guns N' Roses
2/5
Even the hits are annoying. 2/5
Genesis
4/5
Not gonna lie, that opening song blew my mind. Gets a little stale in some parts, but I like prog Genesis. Really, both are good. 4/5
Liz Phair
2/5
Too long. I think I got it in the first 3 songs, and there were 15 more. 2/5
Ice T
3/5
You either die a hero or live long enough to become a recurring character on a syndicated crime procedural show. 3/5
Beastie Boys
5/5
It sounds like a fun party. If you don't like it - well, it's not a party you'd be invited to anyway. 5/5
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Realizing that post-punk just isn't my genre. Cool name tho. 3/5
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
5/5
Another reason why I'm doing this list. I never would have given this album the time of day before and I was just enchanted by it.
Some cringe lyrics? Yup. But man, the beats are just infectious.
5/5
Pavement
3/5
100% what you can find on any indie college radio station. 3/5
Leonard Cohen
1/5
Can I be arrested by the jazz police so I dont have to listen to this anymore? 1/5
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
I love that my kiddo loves this. Is fine, but not something I would intentionally put on. 3/5
Crowded House
2/5
I sit, staring into the middle distance. This album plays in the background. "Why?" I wonder. The album plays blandly on, nothing to stop it. 2/5
The Velvet Underground
2/5
I've tried... I just don't like this. 2/5
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
Beepety boop, I liked this. 4/5
AC/DC
3/5
Same, same, same. 3/5
Traffic
2/5
Lots of rock n roll flute. 2/5
Pink Floyd
5/5
Having now listened to 700 albums from this list, it's just so easy to give this a 5. Everything about it - the production, the music itself, everything - just sounds so good. The fact it holds up 50+ years later is astounding. 5/5
The Shamen
4/5
I'm not really understanding the hate for this one. Seems like a specific type of 90's techno, but it's by far not the worst thing on here. I enjoyed it while knocking out some work spreadsheets. 4/5
Brian Eno
3/5
Solid 3 rating album. Not great, not terrible. 3/5
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Was an okay album. A somewhat surreal experience listening to it in a traffic jam - got to groove along (slowly). 3/5
Yes
3/5
Not so much a yes as it is an "I guess." 3/5
Einstürzende Neubauten
3/5
Doing my part to move Kid Rock to the worst album slot! 🫡
Brian Eno
3/5
Mellow, good for blasting through some tedious spreadsheets. 3/5
Carpenters
3/5
Look, my angsty 10 year old son didnt absolutely hate this. Which says it must be pretty okay if a 10 year old thought it was fine. 3/5
The Cure
5/5
Man, this might be the only "post punk" album I've really enjoyed. My goth heart rejoices. 5/5
Fun Lovin' Criminals
2/5
Yea, 50 minutes was too long for this. 2/5
Fairport Convention
3/5
I realized the list gave me the newer albums first, then this one. The newer albums are better, in my opinion. But this is still good. Yea, still good. 3/5
The Auteurs
2/5
I feel.... nothing when listening to this. It's not the worst thing here, so a 2 it is. 2/5
Eurythmics
4/5
Was undecided between a 3 and a 4. Will go with a 4 this time, but it struggled to keep my attention at the end. 4/5
Leonard Cohen
2/5
My 4th Leonard Cohen album and my opinion is unchanged. Booooooring. 2/5
Nanci Griffith
3/5
Pretty voice, pretty sounds. Not something I'll seek out again, but was glad to listen to it. 3/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
As we listened to this in the car, my son said "this music just makes me want to close my eyes and smile." Pretty good description. 4/5
Def Leppard
2/5
I just can't with the 80's hair metal. My least favorite genre. 2/5
TV On The Radio
2/5
This is not the indie I'm looking for. 2/5
Beyoncé
2/5
Every description of this says it's a "visual album," so it's unfortunate that half of it seems to be missing. Maybe that would provide better context to the music. In any case, 2/5
Otis Redding
5/5
Been awhile since I've found such an easy 5. Sure, these are covers, but it takes a special talent to translate that into a timeless sound. 5/5
Sonic Youth
5/5
I'm so conflicted on this album. By all accounts, I should love it. Influential, alternative rock that was truly ahead of it's time. I love some of the bands that cite this group as a heavy influence.
But- there's just something off. I can't explain or place it, it's like I just can't convinced enough to care about whatever it is they're singing about. Songs feel like they go on forever and not in a good way.
My son (10 at the time of this review), though, adores this band. He occasionally listens in on my album of the day and rarely feels anything is worthy. He was thrilled with everything about this. He went on a (very long) rant when he found out they aren't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
So where does that put my rating? My son rates it a 4.5/5, I'm more on the side of a 3.
5 it is, because I love my kiddo. One day, when he's older (maybe at Prom? Wedding?), I'll remind him of the time he ranted for a solid 20 minutes about the poor choices of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
5/5
Le Tigre
4/5
Girrrrrrllll rock. 4/5
The Zombies
3/5
A neat sound, but Time of the Season is the best part of the album. 3/5
Al Green
4/5
Smooth soul to start the day. 4/5
The Electric Prunes
2/5
This reminds me of a radio station in San Antonio called "No Hit Radio". It's like the uncanny valley of 60's and 70's radio - things that in an alternate universe would have been hits but just aren't in our dimension. Close but just not quite there. Somewhere out there this is a 5, but in our little part of the multiverse is a 2. 2/5
Calexico
2/5
Early 2000's indie is annoying to me. Too long, too slow, too boring. Maybe I'm annoyed because a certain hipster subset of my friend group would only listen to/talk about this kind of stuff, and it just got overhyped for what it was. A neat song or two (El Robot) but the rest was mid. 2/5
The Sonics
4/5
I dig this kinda stuff. Rough and ready to party. 4/5
Nirvana
3/5
Not much of a fan. Yes, I know they're influential/important or whatever, but maybe I'm just over the hype. 3/5
Scritti Politti
2/5
Pretty bland. 2/5
Fela Kuti
4/5
Feels like a Mardi Gras parade in the best way. 4/5
4/5
Oh man, this is the country music I like. Vintage sound, bluegrass feel, messy relationships, hillbilly nonsense. Give me that over whatever country music is popular today. 4/5
Aerosmith
2/5
Sweet Emotion and Walk This Way are monster hits, but it doesn't make up for the rest of the album being so... bad. 2/5
Kings of Leon
2/5
Ugh, this mid-2000s indie rock. Groooossss. 2/5
Tears For Fears
4/5
The hits are great. Some of the other songs on this album are okay, and the last one is way too long. Solid 4/5
Bee Gees
2/5
Even the "good" song wasn't good. 2/5
2/5
The OG douchebag in a red hat.
Gets 2 stars purely for nostalgia's sake and actually nothing to do with the music. Songs from this album were in the background in middle/high school, and those memories happen to be pleasant ones. To be fair, though, they were a joke to us then too.
2/5
Slipknot
4/5
I have a soft spot for Slipknot. Maybe it's just the millenial in me. 4/5
Big Star
3/5
Solid 3. Nothing special, not especially bad. 3/5
Mekons
2/5
It's not the worst thing on this list (by far) but it's... also not good. 2/5
Tina Turner
3/5
It was weird to listen to this and hear some newer artists she's influenced. Specifically, Lady Gaga. Very dated in sound, tho. 3/5
Spacemen 3
3/5
Was a 4, worked it's way to a 3. Seems innovative for '89. Weirdest music to clean your bathroom to, though. 3/5
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
This was fun. Made me realize that like 90's and 00's R&B / pop rap would not have been possible without these guys (looking at you, OutKast) 4/5
The Offspring
5/5
Alright, gets a 5. Kiddo says 5, I said 4. Upon further reflection, it's just good pop punk all the way through. 5/5
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
No doubt, influential. Just not the kind of thing I love to listen to as much. 4/5
Prefab Sprout
2/5
This was not good. Dated and cheesy. 2/5
Orange Juice
3/5
Was okay. Started out stronger than it ended. 3/5
Skepta
3/5
Not really my genre, but I enjoyed the video-game style beats. 3/5
Travis
5/5
Guess I'm in the minority on this one, I liked it quite a bit. Sounds like Radiohead, it's a miserably rainy day, and this brings the late middle school nostalgia. 5/5
Dead Kennedys
5/5
Another disagreement between me ans the kiddo. He says 5 stars, I say 4 stars. I'm giving it 5 stars because I'm glad he learned to fight the power at such a young age (thanks Dead Kennedys!).
Iron Maiden
4/5
Behold, the metal. 4/5
Blur
4/5
I'm not British enough to give this a 5. 4/5
Kanye West
4/5
Goddammit I liked this even though he's a garbage human. 4/5
5/5
Quirky and fun. Nice to have something not so serious in what's been a pretty serious week. 5/5
Buzzcocks
4/5
Enjoyable punk. 4/5
The Jesus And Mary Chain
5/5
I really disliked their debut album, it was just too noisy. This is exactly what I thought was buried underneath all of that, and I loved it. Gloomy, moody, chill. 5/5
Butthole Surfers
2/5
Mercifully short 2/5
The Band
3/5
Okay rock 'n' roll. 3/5
Joan Baez
3/5
Enjoyed her guitar work - was hard to listen to a full album, though since it all sounded so similar. 3/5
The Flying Burrito Brothers
4/5
I enjoyed this - like a more country-fied CSNY. 4/5
Hole
4/5
Not bad at all 4/5
Billy Bragg
3/5
Rough start, but eventually made it's way to a 3. Punk-folk-protest is good in very specific circumstances. 3/5
Tricky
4/5
I think I have a type... Regret that I saw them in concert before I really knew the catalog 4/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Hard to not feel happy listening to this. I just want to be out at the beach somewhere, enjoying a drink and the breeze. 5/5
Everything But The Girl
5/5
Oh, I'm so going to be in the minority on really like this. But this mellow, Massive Attack-style electronica with her voice is just lovely. Reminds me of laying in bed on a Sunday morning after a night out drinking, trying and failing to merge into the sheets to rid myself of a hangover, all while listening to chill hop in my college days. 5/5
Joe Ely
4/5
Being from south Texas makes it really hard to hate on tejano accordion and pedal steel. 4/5
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
2/5
I dunno, was okay. Sometimes being the first at something means others get to come after and make it better. 2/5
Pink Floyd
4/5
Sorry, can't help it I think of Shamu during "Run Like Hell." This album is great but just a smidge too long. 4/5
Billie Holiday
3/5
Its not something I would want to listen to often. But I appreciate the times when singers adjust their music to their voice as it is at the time of recording (read: with age! experience!) and treat it as an instrument. Everything else "tunes" with it. It's a better album for it. 3/5
Simple Minds
3/5
I can hear a ton of other industrial / techno bands in this. Shame that pioneers often have others come after who are better, but it's the nature of the game. 3/5