704
Albums Rated
3.5
Average Rating
65%
Complete
385 albums remaining
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Rating Timeline
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1950s
Favorite Decade
Samba
Favorite Genre
other
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
179
5-Star Albums
40
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kollaps
Einstürzende Neubauten
|
5 | 1.91 | +3.09 |
|
They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
Liars
|
5 | 2.12 | +2.88 |
|
Oar
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
|
5 | 2.46 | +2.54 |
|
Logical Progression
LTJ Bukem
|
5 | 2.52 | +2.48 |
|
Devotional Songs
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
|
5 | 2.58 | +2.42 |
|
Pictures At An Exhibition
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
|
5 | 2.64 | +2.36 |
|
Two Dancers
Wild Beasts
|
5 | 2.75 | +2.25 |
|
Beyond Skin
Nitin Sawhney
|
5 | 2.77 | +2.23 |
|
The White Room
The KLF
|
5 | 2.78 | +2.22 |
|
Third/Sister Lovers
Big Star
|
5 | 2.79 | +2.21 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
|
1 | 3.7 | -2.7 |
|
Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
|
1 | 3.55 | -2.55 |
|
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
|
1 | 3.48 | -2.48 |
|
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
|
1 | 3.47 | -2.47 |
|
Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
|
1 | 3.41 | -2.41 |
|
Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
|
1 | 3.4 | -2.4 |
|
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
|
1 | 3.39 | -2.39 |
|
This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
|
1 | 3.32 | -2.32 |
|
The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
|
1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
|
The Undertones
The Undertones
|
1 | 3.26 | -2.26 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| David Bowie | 8 | 4.88 |
| Bob Dylan | 5 | 4.6 |
| Talking Heads | 4 | 4.75 |
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 4.75 |
| Johnny Cash | 3 | 5 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 5 |
| Beatles | 4 | 4.5 |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 3 | 4.67 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 3 | 4.67 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 3 | 4.67 |
| Common | 2 | 5 |
| Nick Drake | 2 | 5 |
| John Martyn | 2 | 5 |
| Curtis Mayfield | 2 | 5 |
| Fela Kuti | 2 | 5 |
| Miles Davis | 4 | 4.25 |
| Radiohead | 4 | 4.25 |
| Kraftwerk | 3 | 4.33 |
| Arcade Fire | 3 | 4.33 |
| Kate Bush | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Eminem | 2 | 1 |
| Elvis Costello & The Attractions | 4 | 1.75 |
| Elvis Costello | 2 | 1.5 |
| The Undertones | 2 | 1.5 |
| Billy Bragg | 2 | 1.5 |
| Bee Gees | 2 | 1.5 |
| The Rolling Stones | 5 | 2.2 |
| The Velvet Underground | 3 | 2 |
| Beastie Boys | 3 | 2 |
| The Byrds | 4 | 2.25 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| The White Stripes | 5, 1 |
| Morrissey | 5, 2 |
| The Chemical Brothers | 5, 2 |
| Neil Young | 2, 5 |
| Pixies | 2, 5 |
5-Star Albums (179)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Common
5/5
I am definitely not the target demographic for this album, but I still thought it was very good. There's a lot of skill and artistry put into these tracks, so much so that it is almost invisible. 4 stars for me, plus an extra star just to spite the mathematics PHD guy.
128 likes
FKA twigs
5/5
This album is an entire environment, and I don't mind getting lost in the landscape. The music and vocals combine to create a rich texture: dreamy, dangerous, sensual.
Favorite track: "Two Weeks"
2 likes
Kraftwerk
3/5
This band was groundbreaking at the time, but the genre has come a long way since then. Still, this album is easy on the ears and fun on the Autobahn. Favorite tracks: Kometenmelodie 1 & 2
1 likes
Can
4/5
It's long, it's weird, it's atmospheric. This album is not so much "listening music" as it is "music that plays in the background while you listen to your thoughts."
Favorite tracks: "Paperhouse" & "Oh Yeah"
1 likes
1-Star Albums (40)
All Ratings
The Stone Roses
4/5
Pretty decent, I like the opening and the songs were all good. Nothing that excited me too much, though.
5/5
Great album, full of classics!
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Solid all around, love The Boxer especially.
Elton John
5/5
Quite like "Tiny Dancer," "Levon," and the title track. The rest have their moments as well.
5/5
What can I say? It's Muse.
Meat Loaf
2/5
Aside from the title track, I didn't really connect with this album.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
All very lovely songs, "Mercy Mercy Me" is the most powerful and my favorite.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
A good album. Favorite song is "Free Bird," of course.
Sam Cooke
3/5
This is a pretty good live recording, you can feel the crowd energy coming through. At first I enjoyed the roughness and imperfections, but by the end it had started to grate a bit. Favorite track: "Feel It (Don’t Fight It)"
Jerry Lee Lewis
2/5
This sounds like a fun concert, and I probably would enjoy the album more had I been there.
Leonard Cohen
5/5
It started out slow, but this was a surprisingly moving and beautiful album. Knowing the backstory made it better.
Waylon Jennings
1/5
Not really my thing.
Astor Piazzolla
4/5
The album grew on me as it went along. I think my favorite track would be the building intensity of "Operation Tango."
Van Halen
4/5
It's good, and the guitar solos especially are predictably great. I honestly expected to enjoy the album more, but I think my problem is that I didn't play it loud enough.
Blondie
2/5
k.d. lang
3/5
Prince
3/5
Jefferson Airplane
5/5
Really liked this one. Favorite songs: "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit"
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Pretty good throughout, I liked the sound and it was consistent.
Leftfield
4/5
This is art class music. Probably nothing that I would listen to intently, but great background music for a creative activity
Amy Winehouse
2/5
This wasn't really something I cared for. That said, I did like "What Is It About Men"
Mj Cole
4/5
This is a long album, so I had to listen over multiple sessions. Overall, I felt that the album was quite good, with dreamy beats and a slick sound. Some of the remixes are not quite as enjoyable, so I would take off half a star for that (but I can't, so I'll round up). Favorite track: "Crazy Love."
Ride
5/5
A really amazing album, all through. I discovered shoegaze recently and have quite enjoyed it, and Nowhere was no exception. From the opening notes of "Seagull" to the hazy vocals of "Today," it was a wonderful journey. It's hard to pick a favorite track, but on this listen it's probably "Decay."
The Temptations
5/5
Great album, each song was beautiful in its own way. Standouts for me were "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" and "I Ain't Got Nothin'"
Snoop Dogg
4/5
Lyrically this album isn't really my thing, and I don't really care for the skits between the songs. That being said, it sounds pretty good!
Hüsker Dü
3/5
Decent album, I liked the sound and it was very consistent. I think my favorite was "Ice Cold Ice."
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
5/5
This was a really good album, but I di6care as much for the latter half. That being said, the bombastic first half is more than enough to make up for that. Favorite song is a run-off between "Two Tribes" and the title track.
Parliament
3/5
The sound was alright, but I couldn't get into it even though I wanted to. Maybe I will revisit it in a few years and feel differently.
Steely Dan
3/5
It's alright, the opening track was great but nothing else really stood out to me.
David Bowie
5/5
None of these tracks are going to dethrone my top songs from Bowie, but they are consistently good. "Young Americans" is probably my favorite.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Quite good overall, will have to listen again to choose a favorite track.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
A decent album overall. It picks up quite a bit after my favorite track, "Superstition."
Portishead
4/5
I vibe with it! Good beats, chill songs. Favorite track: "Wandering Star."
Rod Stewart
2/5
Don't really feel strongly one way or another, to this album's demerit. Favorite track is "My Way of Giving," I guess?
Eagles
4/5
Good album. "Hotel California" and "Life in the Fast Lane" are rightfully classics, and I also appreciated "Victim of Love" quite a bit. However, about 50% of these songs didn't connect with me more than as decent background music.
Kraftwerk
3/5
This band was groundbreaking at the time, but the genre has come a long way since then. Still, this album is easy on the ears and fun on the Autobahn. Favorite tracks: Kometenmelodie 1 & 2
Ms. Dynamite
4/5
Not someone I have ever heard referenced before, but I quite liked the sound. The lyrics were fine and the message is good, even if it is handled un-subtly. Favorite track would probably be "Seed Will Grow."
The Pogues
5/5
"Fairytale of New York" has been a favorite Christmas song these last few years, but I hadn't sought out the rest of the Pogues' music. That was a mistake, this album is full of excellent songs.
Thelonious Monk
2/5
This is the kind of music I would enjoy in the background at a fancy restaurant, but not the kind I would really choose to listen to. It's technically good, just not to my personal taste. That said, I did quite like the final track, "Bemsha Swing."
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Smooth music. The opening is hard to take seriously after years of memes.
Manu Chao
5/5
This album is quite good, with the laid-back, sun-drenched sound associated with places like Tijuana. Favorites are "Desaparecido," "Bongo Bong," and "Lagrimas de Oro." Also, this is an album where I feel that the audio samples work quite well- even if I can't always understand the words.
Talking Heads
4/5
Talking Heads! A great band, even when they hadn't yet quite figured out their sound. This album gets 4 stars, not as a knock against it but because I know there is better to come. Favorite track is probably "Psycho Killer," and I am also a fan of the acoustic version.
Fred Neil
4/5
This was alright. I liked "The Dolphins" and the last song.
Dead Kennedys
4/5
The album has a good energy and a bit of variety. The songs, though a bit repetitive, are quick enough to not overstay their welcomes. I'm not a huge punk fan, but I mostly enjoyed this album, and it gains points for daring to mess with the United States Postal Service.
Supergrass
4/5
This was overall pretty enjoyable. Favorite track: "Mansize Rooster," probably.
Morrissey
5/5
I quite liked this album. The vocals were distinctive and evocative with the trilled r's. Probably a 4.5/5 for me, but we'll round up. Most songs were quite good but my favorites were "Everyday Is Like Sunday" and "Suedehead."
R.E.M.
3/5
Favorite tracks: "It's The End..." & "The One I Love."
Ministry
2/5
It was good to have something heavy in the rotation, but this particular album didn't excite me too much.
GZA
3/5
The epic audio samples between the tracks really elevate the album.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
This was a fine album, I enjoyed the energy and lyrics of songs such as "Tokyo Storm Warning" although the vocals grate a bit, and I enjoyed the sound of songs like "Uncomplicated." Unfortunately none of the songs 100% came together for me.
Can
4/5
It's long, it's weird, it's atmospheric. This album is not so much "listening music" as it is "music that plays in the background while you listen to your thoughts."
Favorite tracks: "Paperhouse" & "Oh Yeah"
The Prodigy
5/5
I really enjoyed probably every track except the first one, this album rules
Tom Waits
5/5
I ended up quite enjoying this album. The atmosphere works for me, the humor and rambling nature of the songs evokes a storytelling feeling. Favorite track is probably "Emotional Weather Report."
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
5/5
Great album, the energy in the opening tracks is infectious and the lyrics in "The Message" are moving.
Drive Like Jehu
3/5
Nothing grabbed me, but nothing repelled me either. I would be fine listening to this album again, but also fine without hearing it.
Paul Simon
4/5
Grew on me as the album went on. I think "Peace Like a River" was my favorite track. Really enjoyed the guitar on this album.
There was nothing wrong with this album, I just didn't care much for it. Favorite track: "Memphis," probably.
5/5
A classic, and I believe the first album I encountered on this list that I had listened too many times before (and thus have some nostalgia for). I am fond of each song, although some are admittedly weaker than others. It's impossible to choose a favorite track.
Arcade Fire
4/5
I realized when I started listening that I had never sat through an entire Arcade Fire album before, despite being a big fan of some of their songs. So I was a little disappointed that a few of the songs dragged, in places. Overall, I still enjoyed the album, but not as much as I hoped that I would. 3.5/5, rounded up. Favorite track: "No Cars Go," easily.
The Pogues
4/5
A good album, but I don't feel it is their best.
The Vines
2/5
This sounds like my childhood (in the late 90s/early 2000s), but not the best parts of it.
Cowboy Junkies
4/5
Very lovely music.
Bill Evans Trio
2/5
This is restaurant background music. Another example of an album that I probably would have loved live (and would be fine with playing while I work), but will never remember.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Great album with some really fantastic songs. "Stairway to Heaven" is great, but my current favorite may be "The Battle of Evermore."
The Everly Brothers
2/5
This album just feels a bit insubstantial to me. That said, "Love Hurts" is a pretty good song. The rest isn't bad, but it doesn't speak to me.
Fairport Convention
4/5
Quite liked this one, beautiful and haunting. Favorite track on this listen: "A Sailor's Life"
A Tribe Called Quest
2/5
I just didn't feel this one.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Awesome album, impossible to pick a favorite track.
Soul II Soul
4/5
😎
The Black Keys
5/5
Really like this album. The songs all have their own feel, but there's a distinctive "sound" to the whole thing. A lot of great tracks, as well, but my favorite is probably "Howlin' For You."
Miles Davis
4/5
Small Faces
2/5
I wish I could like this album more than I do, but the gibberish-sounding narration is really distracting for me, and not in a good way. Which is a shame, a number of the songs appeal to me quite a bit otherwise. Favorite track would be "Mad John" if it didn't have the narration.
Miles Davis
4/5
Pretty cool.
Arcade Fire
4/5
A good album with a number of iconic songs, most notably "Tunnels," "Wake Up," and "Rebellion (Lies)." I'm not sure it is Arcade Fire's best work, but it does perfectly encapsulate the angst of its time.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
A pretty good album. I liked the way some songs started out quiet and built up, like "Inner Crisis."
The Velvet Underground
1/5
I... don't like it. The tracks mostly feel samey, some of them are excruciatingly long or repeated. Everything has an unappealing layer of electric fuzz over it. To top that off, there seem to be random screeches and loud shouts that are at totally different volume levels.
Def Leppard
4/5
It's good ol' fashioned rock with a bit of a metal feel and pop sensibilities. This is like the musical version of a greasy diner hamburger, and I don't mind that one bit.
Elvis Presley
4/5
Quite liked this overall, it's upbeat and saccharine but not without depth, in addition to the energy that enabled Elvis to get so famous. Favorite track: "Blue Suede Shoes."
The Divine Comedy
4/5
This is decent, very dramatic and a bit soap opera-esque. The lyrics don't do the album too many favors, as I am sure others have noted. I did like it overall, and it is short enough to not overstay its welcome. Looking at the artist's information, it seems he also wrote songs for the recent Wonka movie, which feels appropriate with these songs.
Napalm Death
2/5
Somewhere along the way I started imagining that the vocals were performed by Animal from the Muppets, and that made the album just a bit enjoyable.
Paul McCartney
4/5
Pretty good! It's impressive how talented all four Beatles were in their heyday. Favorite track: "Every Night."
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Good music, even if it's nothing flashy. Favorite track: "So Long, Marianne."
Marilyn Manson
2/5
There are some OK songs in here, but not enough to overcome the nastiness of the lyrics and the creepiness of the artist.
Eric Clapton
3/5
Pretty decent, I liked "Give Me Strength" and "Get Ready" the most.
Gorillaz
5/5
I'm mostly familiar with Gorillaz' newer stuff, and I have been missing out. I like the idea of the band as well. Favorite tracks on this listen: "5/4" and "Clint Eastwood."
The Smiths
5/5
Something about this album catches me in the right way, and the vocals are very appealing to my ears.
Beastie Boys
1/5
I really don't like the Beatie Boys' yelling rap style, or the way they finish each other's sentences. The sequence of short songs at the end of the album particularly grates. If this was an instrumental album, it would probably earn 2 more stars from me.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
Very solid and quite enjoyable, even if it didn't make a super strong impression. Favorite track this time through: "Fooled Again."
Beatles
5/5
Really good overall, with a bunch of iconic tracks.I can only imagine how groundbreaking it was at the time. I think that I liked "I'm Only Sleeping" the best.
4/5
It's a fun album with some bombast. It shows its age, but in a charming way. I probably liked "Valentine's Day" the most.
Jack White
3/5
It's fine, I guess. I definitely could have gone my whole life without listening and not missed out on much. Sounds older than it is.
Van Halen
3/5
It's OK.
Common
5/5
I am definitely not the target demographic for this album, but I still thought it was very good. There's a lot of skill and artistry put into these tracks, so much so that it is almost invisible. 4 stars for me, plus an extra star just to spite the mathematics PHD guy.
Jurassic 5
3/5
Pretty good, some of the samples were very fun, but not quite my thing overall.
Joy Division
3/5
After all the times I have seen the album art on t-shirts, I thought that it would be better.
Garbage
5/5
I would make a joke about the name, but others funnier than I have already beaten me to it. Looking at the date of this album, it seems it really helped set the stage for the next decade. Favorite track: "A Stroke of Luck."
Beastie Boys
1/5
Listening to them sing about girls turned me asexual.
Randy Newman
2/5
Blur
5/5
Surprisingly good and a fitting treat for my 100th album from the list. "Strange News..." especially was right up my alley.
Bill Callahan
5/5
Really lovely album throughout, with lyrics that paint beautiful pictures. Not an every day listen, but emotionally affecting. Favorite tracks: "Too Many Birds" (his only song with which I had prior familiarity) and "All Thoughts Are Prey To Some Beast."
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
I got tired of this album very quickly, the vocals especially sound flat to me.
The Afghan Whigs
4/5
Enjoyed this one a bit, there is a pained and soulful yearning to it. Favorite track: "Fountain and Fairfax."
Taylor Swift
4/5
By coincidence, I was served this album the same day as Taylor Swift released her album "The Tortured Poets Department." She seems to many to be at the apex of her fame at the moment: her blockbuster Eras Tour, her chart-topping albums, her concert film, her political relevancy; even her boyfriend just won the Superbowl. It's hard to imagine anyone flying much higher than this.
1989 is a great example of how she reached these heights. These tracks were (and are) ubiquitous: I have never gone out of my way to listen to one of Swift's albums before, but I knew each song on this one. Far from the "Tortured Poets" she is currently invoking, this album displays her simple, often hollow lyrics and saccharine melodies. There's not a lot of substance here but dang it, it's still pretty fun.
Favorite track: "Out of the Woods," just because I haven't heard it three thousand times on the radio.
Frank Ocean
4/5
Favorite track: "Thinkin Bout You"
Sister Sledge
4/5
Fun album with the feeling of a really specific moment in history. Favorite track: "We Are Family."
The Flaming Lips
5/5
Fun and endearing, in addition to being good music. 5 stars for not letting the evil robots win.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
5/5
There's something special about a large group of talented musicians playing (mostly) traditional songs, and this album really delivers on that front. The conversational inserts help give it that "family" feel, which is present at most small-town concerts in this genre. It's a very good encapsulation of a specific piece of America.
Favorite song? Probably the title track.
Nitin Sawhney
5/5
This was a strange and enchanting album. The only song I didn't care for was "Pilgrim."
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Laid-back but complex. Just a solid album overall.
Justice
4/5
Oddly enough, I first looked this album up today not realizing it was also assigned to me on this app! This is the second time recently that I have been given an album on the same day its artist released a new album (in this case, Hyperdrama).
The album itself is good electronic music, if a bit inconsistent. "D.A.N.C.E." is a fairly iconic track, although I am ambivalent towards it. Solid album overall.
Milton Nascimento
4/5
A good album, even though I barely understood any of the words. I enjoyed the way each track seemed to evolve. The opening track stood out the most to me.
Beatles
4/5
Good album with some good songs. I think "Norwegian Wood" was my favorite.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
5/5
Very powerful music- searching yet joyous.
The Kinks
2/5
"Sunny Afternoon" is alright, I guess.
Sonic Youth
4/5
Pretty good! I dig the grimy, noisy feel of the songs. This album feels like a graffiti-covered underpass, but in a good way.
Tracy Chapman
5/5
The music is great, the issues she advocates in her lyrics are as relevant today as when they were written- and Tracy Chapman's voice is simply sublime. Truly a timeless album.
The Chemical Brothers
5/5
There's a lot of electronic music to compete with these days, but this one holds up very well. Sweet beats and exciting sounds abound, especially in "Three Little Birdies" and "Chico's Groove."
Pere Ubu
3/5
This is an interesting one. I can't say I *enjoyed* listening to it, but it was certainly *interesting* to listen to these tracks. I also wouldn't say it is bad music- everything feels intentional and correct, even when it makes my eardrums uncomfortable. 2/5 for enjoyment, but I am glad to listen to something so different.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
I just don't have strong feelings about this.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Every now and then a moment of strong emotion springs through, but otherwise this doesn't impress me.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
This album really strengthened in the latter half. "Three Days" is probably my favorite track.
Rahul Dev Burman
4/5
Not something that I would typically listen to, but enjoyable. Deserves some credit for being less anglocentric than most of the list.
Thundercat
2/5
This feels like something I would stumble across on YouTube at 3AM, which isn't a bad thing, but it isn't my thing.
Santana
3/5
Generally good but inconsistent.
Booker T. & The MG's
1/5
This got old really fast for me. "Green Onions" is OK, but I found myself tuning out more and more with each track.
Alice In Chains
3/5
Not bad, but all the songs kind of blended together in a muddy, indistinguishable glob.
Christina Aguilera
3/5
A very talented musician singing songs that I just don't care about.
The Who
2/5
It's OK, but not served well by being a live album.
Nick Drake
5/5
Lovely music, as always, from Nick Drake. I looked him up while listening and was heartbroken to read how young he died, and how long ago- his music is timeless.
Pavement
4/5
Enjoyed this one a fair amount, though it was not necessarily my favorite. My preferred track on this listen: "Cut Your Hair" (which reminds me, I need to cut my hair).
Electric Light Orchestra
3/5
A pretty good album, but there is a reason "Mr. Blue Sky" is the most well-known track (although I thought "Birmingham Blues" was also pretty good.
Pink Floyd
5/5
It doesn't get much better than this. I can't choose a favorite track, you've just gotta listen straight through.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
I enjoyed the fuzzy, noisy sounds of this album. It served as a decent background soundtrack, and I think it would be better if I blasted it loudly. My main complaint is that a lot of the tracks seemed to be playing at different volumes.
Cat Stevens
5/5
I just adore many of the songs from this album- "Where Will the Children Play?" will always have a special place in my heart.
Billy Joel
3/5
There were a few high points, but the album felt bogged down by the songs in the middle. Favorite track: "Scenes from sn Italian Restaurant," I think.
Merle Haggard
2/5
I'm sorry, but there are a thousand country albums that sound just like this and are just as memorable.
The Beach Boys
4/5
I've been critical in the past of the Beach Boys for all their songs sounding the same, so I was surprised by the variety present in this album. I guess modern radio just has bad taste? Anyway, favorite track is "Sloop John B." A much higher ranking than I expected to give.
B.B. King
4/5
This isn't bad for a live album, in fact it is kind of fun to hear everyone losing their minds over each song. I do wonder if the tracks would sound better in a studio recording, but they're not bad at all. Favorite track: "How Blue Can You Get?"
Patti Smith
5/5
I hadn't heard any of these songs before, but I quite like them! It's a bit strange and the lyrics paint some interesting pictures. The overall package is fairly enchanting. Favorite track: "Birdland."
The Specials
1/5
This was a thoroughly annoying album, but I did think it was kind of funny when they just listed James Bond movie titles.
The Incredible String Band
4/5
I didn't really care for this album at the beginning, but as it went on I found myself enjoying it more and more (and I think that it will continue to grow on me on repeat listens). Favorite tracks were "Waltz of the New Moon" and "Three Is a Green Crown."
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
You know what, this is pretty good, and short enough to not overstay its welcome.
U2
3/5
I don't mind this album, I just think that it is forgettable outside of a few tracks. Not as good as The Joshua Tree. Favorite track: "So Cruel."
Hookworms
4/5
Honestly pretty good, although a few tracks kind of pulled me out of the flow of the album. Favorite track is probably "Opener."
Beastie Boys
4/5
OK, this was actually pretty good. Their yelling/rapping didn't bother me as much as it had on other albums. Of the three Beastie Boys albums I have been served on here, this is the only one I would willingly listen to again; in fact I quite enjoyed a few of the songs. My favorites were "Sabotage" and "Flute Loop."
Tim Buckley
3/5
This is one of those technically good albums that just doesn't stand out enough for me to care greatly for it, although that may just be me writing from my 21st century perspective on it. That being said, every one of these songs would be awesome put over a scene of a car driving down a California highway in some 1975 movie or TV show.
Aphex Twin
4/5
Exactly what it says on the tin.
4/5
This was a pretty decent album, favorite track is probably "A Place Called Home."
U2
3/5
Maybe it is just a lack of familiarity with these songs, but I just didn't care about it much. It may be that U2's "sound" was consistent enough to make this album feel like a copycat of their earlier work, and the way they evolved their sound by this point was to make it more generic. Perhaps this album will grow on me in the future, but for now it sits on the better side of OK.
Favorite track: probably "Surrender."
Killing Joke
5/5
15% of the way through the list and I have gotten a few punk albums which I didn't much care for. This one... I actually liked a lot! (I guess it's technically post-punk, but I don't know what the distinction is) Favorite track: either "Complications" or the single version of "Requiem." There's a catharsis to a lot of these tracks.
Faith No More
4/5
Wasn't familiar with this one before, but it was pretty good! Favorite tracks: "Epic," "Woodpecker From Mars," and the "War Pigs" cover.
Queen
4/5
Bohemian Rhapsody is an amazing song, the rest of the album not quite as much. I wanted to love this album, but unfortunately I only kind of like it.
The Cure
4/5
It's a good album- very dark and atmospheric, a bit too consistent. If there was a little bit of light to shine through the clouds, it could be a masterpiece.
TV On The Radio
3/5
It's a good album, if inconsistent. The bonus track especially felt a poor ending to the album. "Staring at the Sun" is great though, but a lot of the other songs feel kind of muddy.
John Cale
2/5
It's OK, but it kind of sounds like he is singing with his mouth full on a few songs? Title track & "Graham Greene" were pretty good, though.
Prince
3/5
There's a lot of variety here and some good songs, but I would have enjoyed this album more if it was half as long.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
I enjoyed this album, once it got going. Favorite track: "Overground," although I also quite liked "Suburban Relapse."
Roxy Music
4/5
This is like a 3.5/5 to me. There's some very good sounds and some serviceable lyrics. I think the album generally improves as it goes on. But still, there isn't a song that I absolutely love.
David Bowie
5/5
This is not at all what I expected from David Bowie, and I was very pleasantly surprised by this album. It is atmospheric and manages to feel emotional with very few lyrics. Simply wonderful.
Coldplay
3/5
Honestly I'm kind of tired of Coldplay, their music has been played so often that it seems less special. That being said, it's still not bad, and "Yellow" especially is a good song.
The Beta Band
3/5
This was... fine. Not bad, but not something I will be eager to return to.
Calexico
4/5
I think this one will grow on me. I can't say I love it, but it's got some uniqueness. Favorite track: "Black Heart."
Al Green
4/5
Silky smooth throughout.
2/5
This album sounds like the background music in a small-town dive, which isn't a bad thing. Unfortunately, it's not a good thing either, as the album is painfully generic.
Aerosmith
4/5
Not the greatest rock album by a long shot, but still quite enjoyable. It definitely encompasses the feeling of its time well. Favorite tracks: "Walk This Way," "Sweet Emotion" and the title track.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Pretty good album! My favorite tracks were "I Want To Take You Higher" and "Sex Machine."
The Stranglers
4/5
Not bad, although it does feel a bit... uncomfortable at times. First track is my favorite.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Quite a good album, the instrumentation is the best part. Favorite tracks: "Graveyard Train" and "Proud Mary."
k.d. lang
3/5
This was an OK album, which I could see myself appreciating more if I was in a more melancholy mood. As it is, nothing really impressed me until "Constant Craving," but that's kinda... the last song on the album.
The Police
3/5
A really inconsistent album. Sure, there's The Song That Everyone Knows®, but then there's also that Mother song, which... really killed my enjoyment of the album.
Favorite track: probably the second "Sync" track.
Weather Report
4/5
Pretty good, even if it is kind of background music. Favorite track: "Rumba Mama."
Nirvana
3/5
Nirvana was a bit before my time, and thus I am not really familiar with them besides the biggest hits, and honestly I wasn't incredibly impressed by this album. It was fine, but the only tracks I particularly enjoyed were "Pennyroyal Tea" and "All Apologies."
5/5
Weird and unique, I really enjoyed this one. I get why not everyone would like it, but this sort of experimental stuff is right up my alley.
King Crimson
5/5
At last, the screaming face record! I knew it would be on here somewhere. I haven't listened to it before, so I wasn't sure it would live up to the hype. I don't feel like it is the best album ever released, but it is still really great, and certainly is never boring. Very enjoyable overall.
Elvis Costello
2/5
Really didn't care for this. Not bad, just not my thing. I could have lived a hundred lifetimes without listening to a single one of these songs and not miss them. Favorite track: "Mystery Dance." Also, I was tempted to take off a Star because of the illegibility of the album art.
Fever Ray
5/5
I really enjoyed this one, it's got a great feel. The lyrics are sometimes awkward, but that is easily forgivable. Favorite track: "Keep the Streets Empty For Me."
The White Stripes
5/5
I really liked this. There's some variety and a wide range of emotions. A very strong album overall.
Sonic Youth
5/5
Road trip music doesn't get much better than this.
Linkin Park
3/5
It's fine.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Excellent album, especially "Living for the City" and "Higher Ground."
The Killers
5/5
This album has a ton of hits, which by itself is not necessarily an indication of quality, but even the songs I have never heard before are good to great. I loved the opening track, and even if the album drops off a bit towards the later half it rallies at the end. The Killers hadn't really been on my radar before, but they will be now.
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
A fairly good album, it is great to get one that gives a sense of place. My one real knock is that some of the lyrics just don't feel like the same quality as the music. Favorite songs: opening track, "Jacksonville," and "Chicago."
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
4/5
This album varies between a Disneyesque playfulness and an eerie carnival, with a wide range of other emotions in-between. It's weird and experimental, and just the kind of thing I want from this list.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
This is one where I can see why some people love it, I just don't care for it much. Favorite track on this listen: "Beginning to See the Light."
John Martyn
5/5
I like what's going on here. Favorite track: "Dealer."
The Dandy Warhols
5/5
This is one of those albums that grabs you immediately. Not the best album on this list, but it rounds up to 5. The instrumentation is definitely what puts this over the top for me. Favorite track: "Every Day Should Be A Holiday."
Funkadelic
5/5
Impossible to not give 5 stars to an album with that opening track. The rest is very good, too.
De La Soul
4/5
Quite good! Favorite tracks: "The Magic Number" and "Eye Know." It's a fun, playful album.
Big Star
5/5
This album really does feel like falling apart, but does so in a beautiful way. Favorite tracks: "For You" and "Nature Boy."
The Waterboys
5/5
A really fantastic album, I love the rock music with folk instrumentation. It's very hard to pick a favorite, but each of the first few tracks are a contender.
Elvis Presley
5/5
You know what, this holds up pretty well. Elvis rightfully holds his place in the canon of modern music.
Joe Ely
2/5
I don't understand how it is that, whenever the words "Honky Tonk" are uttered, ot makes the song sound exactly the same as every other song that uses the same phrase. At least this album has some scattering of more unique lyrics and instrumentation scattered about, but not enough to raise it much in my estimation. Preferred track: probably "Boxcars."
The Damned
3/5
There are some high points here, unfortunately not enough to make me excited about the album. Competent and good enough, my favorite track was probably "Plan 9 Chapter 7."
The Style Council
3/5
I appreciate the variety, but not everything worked. The vocalists feel unevenly matched, and the instrumental tracks have variable quality. Gold goes to "The Paris Match" (I've been watching the 2024 Olympics all week).
Fats Domino
5/5
Such a great voice, and way too short of an album. A wonderful reminder of a bygone time. Favorite track: "Blueberry Hill."
Moby
4/5
There are some good songs here, but I think my favorite is "Natural Blues." Reading other reviews explains why some of these tracks feel so familiar- good on the artist for finding a way to make money from the album!
Prince
4/5
I went into this expecting a 5/5 album, but this didn't reach that height for me. Perhaps it is my expectations, or perhaps I am comparing Prince to later artists he helped inspire, but this album is somewhat bland (if generally good; like a hearty bowl of oatmeal).
I think my favorite track would have to be "I Would Die 4 U," something about the staccato lyrics manages to excite me more than the other tracks.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Simon & Garfunkel had higher highs than this. Perhaps it's unfair to judge them against themselves, but the songwriting just seems a bit weaker here. Still quite good, though; my favorite track may be "A Hazy Shade of Winter."
Fugees
4/5
I'm not really into hip-hop, but I rather enjoyed this. The rhythms are great, the lyrics tend to be witty, the samples are good- overall, an excellent package. The skits unfortunately were constantly pulling me out of the album, perhaps my biggest gripe.
5/5
Listening to this, I am pretty sure I heard this album playing while I was exploring between the walls of the City Museum in St. Louis circa 2010. It's a great soundtrack and some creative music overall. Favorite track: "Satisfaction" or "Space Junk."
Todd Rundgren
4/5
There's a lot going on in this album. The early tracks are quick, an interconnected jumble of style and sound. The album seems to slow down in the latter half. There is a lot of variety here, but my favorite track is "Is It My Name?"
Louis Prima
5/5
This album has a song where the singer wishes death upon a friend who ate too many meatballs.
The Kinks
5/5
Sometimes an album is good and there isn't much more to say about it.
Favorite track: "Village Green"
Caetano Veloso
4/5
Good stuff, and it's great to have some less anglo-centric music for a change. It's a dreamy, atmospheric album. Favorite track: "Tropicália."
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
I liked a few tracks, namely "Hiding All Away" and "Easy Money," but overall found this album to be a bit of a drag.
Jean-Michel Jarre
4/5
It's kind of insane that this album came out in 1976, long before today's ubiquitous electronic music. But in a way, this feels like an ancient album: there has been so much growth since the first experiments with the medium. This album is a great example of those pioneer days.
Tom Waits
3/5
This album is consistently interesting, even if it isn't particularly... musical, I guess? There are a few tracks by Tom Waits that I rather enjoy, but these songs don't do quite as much for me.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
"Sledgehammer" and its music video are all-time classics, and the rest of the album doesn't disappoint. As a 90's kid, maybe the 80's were alright.
The Stooges
4/5
It's good rock, and the sign of things to come. Favorite track: probably "Death Trip."
Kraftwerk
5/5
Such a prescient album, it still sounds futuristic almost 50 years later.
The Who
5/5
There is a version of this album on Spotify that is almost 10 hours long, which is completely insane.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
It's hard to find any fault with this album, it's iconic for a reason. Favorite track on this listen: "Who'll Stop the Rain."
Derek & The Dominos
1/5
There's provably at least a dozen bands local to me that have better blues rock than this, and I would much rather listen to them perform live than sit through this again.
Kanye West
2/5
I acknowledge the popularity of the album and the impact of the artist, though I care for neither. Favorite track: "Lost In The World."
Röyksopp
3/5
This is a fine electronic album, but I don't think it belongs on this list. Favorite track: "Röyksopp's Night Out."
Johnny Cash
5/5
If ever a live album belonged on this list, this would probably be the one. The environment adds greatly to the storytelling of the album, and the themes ring out strong from Cash's iconic voice and masterful instrumentation. Even the errors and interludes serve as an important element of this intensely human album.
Favorite track: "Folsom Prison Blues"
John Lee Hooker
4/5
An overall solid blues album. Favorite track: "The Healer."
Teenage Fanclub
4/5
OK, the album art ain't great but the songs are pretty good. Favorite tracks: "I Don't Know" and "Is This Music?"
Jethro Tull
5/5
Some really great instrumentation combined with gripping lyrics makes this a top-notch album. Just the opening few seconds foretell that this album will be something special. Spotify has an interview with a band member at the end, I always enjoy hearing skilled artists talk about their work and this was no exception.
Favorite track: "Locomotive Breath."
fIREHOSE
4/5
It's a good album, even if it doesn't have any really stand-out parts. I will probably return to this one in the future.
Travis
2/5
This was an ok-ish album, but immediately after listening I couldn't recall anything that happened in any of the songs, except I think that I liked "Driftwood" and "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?"
Buzzcocks
5/5
Listening to this, I realized that this is just about exactly what I want from a punk rock album. Still not my favorite genre, but this one rules. Favorite tracks: "Get On Our Own" and "I Don't Mind."
Siouxsie And The Banshees
5/5
A haunting and fascinating album, even if it doesn't all live up to the high point that is "Spellbound." Overall a very captivating piece, though.
Shivkumar Sharma
5/5
Quite lovely, I will have to track down a CD or download of the original version, I think. The complex melodies are really something special, and it's great to listen to something that comes from a different family tree than western music.
Radiohead
4/5
As someone who wasn't really familiar with Radiohead, I found this album pretty good overall. Favorite tracks: "Pyramid Song" and "Dollars and Cents."
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Bob Marley's reggae feels very consistent to me, it would take quite a few listens before I could really tell a difference between this album and the other two of his that I have encountered thus far on this project. That is in no way a knock against his work, consistent quality is to be commended. Still, this doesn't quite make it as one of my favorite albums or genres.
Favorite tracks: "Rebel Music" and "Revolution." (I wonder what that says about me?)
Underworld
3/5
Like a lot of electronic music, this would be better if it were shorter. Still a decent enough album. I think that I have overcome my bias towards electronic music on this rating. Favorite track: "Pearl's Girl."
Carole King
4/5
Tapestry is pretty good, and I very much loved the title track, but I unfortunately didn't care quite as much for the rest of the album. "It's Too Late" would be my second favorite.
Devendra Banhart
4/5
I generally like this album, but there were bits and pieces that I love mixed in with other things that I almost hated. I think that contributes to something eerily beautiful. It's a bit hard to categorize, which I appreciate. I imagine I will be coming back to this album again.
Sex Pistols
3/5
I was expecting to either love this album or hate it, and honestly... I just don't feel that strongly about it. Favorite track: "God Save the Queen."
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
I don't know, this didn't do a whole lot for me. Aside from a few of the more bombastic tracks, this album felt like some kind of guitarish sludge. I did enjoy a few of the songs, though, such as "Australia."
Beck
3/5
The mix of genres grew on me over time as I listened to this album, but I did find it a bit grating towards the beginning. My favorite track from this album was "Ramshackle," but ultimately there are other works from Beck which I enjoy more.
Alanis Morissette
2/5
I heard "Ironic" enough on the radio at my old job to make me want to tear my ears off, so this album has that going against it. Other than "Forgiven," I don't think there was a track that I greatly enjoyed despite really wanting to like this album.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Joni Mitchell's body of work illustrates a talent not just in music, but in other media. However, I just didn't care much for this album. Maybe it is the synthesizers, which just haven't aged well in some places. It's still a fine album, just not her best work.
The Byrds
3/5
Eh, it's not bad. Perfectly inoffensive old country music. Favorite track: "Lazy Days."
Kelela
4/5
This album seems to showcase a lot of trends in music from the late 2010s-early 2020s, and is overall an enjoyable listen. It remains to be seen if it will stand the test of time, but it's pretty good for this time. Favorite track: "LMK."
ZZ Top
3/5
A classic album, but there's not a lot of meat here. There's a few enduring hits, but the tracks that support and surround them are fairly lackluster.
The Cardigans
5/5
My uncle played this version of "Iron Man" for me when I was a kid, but I hadn't heard it since that time. 4 stars for dredging up a pleasant memory, and one more because the rest of the album is pretty great too.
Dusty Springfield
2/5
Yep, this sounds like music that was popular in the 60s.
Franz Ferdinand
5/5
There's a distinctive sound here, but it still allows for a lot of variety within it. I've liked "Take Me Out" since the first time I heard it, and "The Dark of the Matinée" also stood out while I listened. The entire album is very strong, though.
KISS
2/5
This is decent and sounds like the time, but there's not a lot to offer. The album falls off as it goes on.
Prefab Sprout
3/5
The start of this album was really promising, but I just didn't like much of this album. I think there are bits of each track that work well, foreshadowing some of the alternative/indie music of decades to come, but the overall cohesion just isn't there.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
"Eclectic and inconsistent" is an apt descriptor of this album. I may be rating it higher than I should based upon my mixed feelings on this album, but I appreciate that it is something out of the ordinary. Unfortunately, it just doesn't always land, and even the best tracks have weak portions. Favorite track: "If You Don't Want Me To Destroy You."
R.E.M.
5/5
This is another album where the most popular song is my least favorite one (in this case, "Everybody Hurts"). The rest of the album is appropriately dreamlike and timeless.
The Replacements
3/5
It's fine, it may have hit differently when I was a few years younger though. Favorite track: "Black Diamond," probably.
Keith Jarrett
5/5
Sure, it's an hour of background music. But the guy just played the piano for an hour straight - is that not impressive enough?
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
I don't think this one was worth my time.
Metallica
3/5
There's really just one trick here, and it's fine.
Dire Straits
5/5
This one flew right on by. Favorite track: "Sultans of Swing."
R.E.M.
4/5
2 R.E.M. albums in a week! I wasn't familiar with any of the songs on this one. It was good overall, but it didn't blow me away. A strong debut, though.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
4/5
Enjoyed this one pretty well. It contained less Freddie Mercury than I originally expected. Favorite tracks: "Kingdom of Doom" and "Nature Springs."
The Rolling Stones
2/5
I liked this less than I thought I would. There's some hits here and the rest is deservedly obscure these days. I did kind of like "Salt of the Earth," though.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
5/5
The album feels raw and broken, appropriately reflecting its artist. I appreciate it, in this case. This album just feels so human. Favorite tracks: "Little Hands" and "Books of Moses."
Little Richard
3/5
This isn't bad - I just have trouble telling the difference between any two songs in this style.
4/5
Pure 90s, I'm here for it.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
The songs on this album range from decent to great according to my taste. I think the album is good, but maybe not distinct enough from its context. Favorite track: "Gods Will Be Gods," probably.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Glad to listen to this one, I needed to recalibrate my mojo.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
5/5
Everything about this album works on some level- the unique cover art, raw vocals, epic guitar riffs- is it possible for the '60s to get much cooler?
4/5
I'm sure this sounded great live, but especially the first side just makes me wish that I were listening to the album versions of favorites such as "Desolation Row." The second half picks up in quality a bit, but still doesn't feel like the best of Bob. The biggest redeeming quality is that this unpolished performance jives well with Bob Dylan's enigmatic lyrics and working-man personality.
Soundgarden
3/5
"Black Hole Sun" is used in the show "For All Mankind" in a montage as three missions launch towards Mars, and reminding me of that high makes the album worth at least three stars.
Michael Jackson
5/5
If ever there was an appropriate album to be assigned on this crisp autumn day, it is this one! The fact that people debate whether or not this album is the best ever made only proves that it is one of the greatest.
Look, this album isn't perfect, but it is the perfect example of a great album. There's are nine tracks, each with a unique feel but a cohesive sound. There's a guest appearance of a huge star from yesteryear. There's an iconic music video. There's a three-track run of mega-hits which are more popular than most religions.
What other grade could this album get?
The Avalanches
4/5
This album reminds me a lot of the work of the Pop Art movement, such as that by Roy Lichtenstein. In both cases, it relies upon some pre-existing piece (in Lichtenstein's case, a comic book panel; in the Avalanches', an audio sample). But by altering the context and scale, it becomes a totally separate work of art. (I realize this album is more similar to collage art, but the comparison remains the same.)
Every other artist is just copying someone anyway.
Favorite track: "Frontier Psychiatrist"
Lou Reed
2/5
So I listened to this a few days ago, and forgot that I had listened and what any of the songs were like. I relistened, and I think that I liked it, but it drifts from my mind like flour through a sieve. Favorite track: I think there was one called "How Do You Think It Feels"
Curtis Mayfield
5/5
What a pleasant surprise. A beautiful and calming album musically, there is a lot of lyrical meat as well. The songs manage to be fiercely romantic while also addressing racial issues which are sadly still relevant almost 50 years later.
The Charlatans
4/5
This has a great sound, although maybe it is nostalgia for this kind of music since it was everywhere when I was a kid. Fave track: "One To Another."
Kate Bush
4/5
Kate Bush has a really special, unique sound, and it is very evident here. Favorite track: "Rocket's Tail."
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Look, these songs are lyrically interesting, but they aren't in any way musically interesting. I was out by the time Cohen started playing a trite waltz. This should have been a book.
Pink Floyd
5/5
My university dining hall had a soundtrack that consisted of about eight songs playing in rotation, including "Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2" amongst a hodgepodge of contemporary pop music. I always found it ironic when the chorus of "We don't need no education..." came around every half hour or so, making me question whether it really was worth it to take out all those loans.
As for the review, "The Wall" is a really powerful concept album. I hadn't ever listened to the whole thing before, but it was great to hear it unfold as the motifs build upon each other throughout its length. Genre-defining instrumentation and generation-defining lyrics complete the picture, and the full story is a powerful introspection even if it does meander in parts.
Unfortunately, the experience is slightly marred by being chopped up into tracks for streaming- but if I have to choose one chapter as a favorite, it would be "Comfortably Numb."
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
This album didn't ever feel special or unique, and I was feeling less-than-middling on it until the last three tracks, where I finally said "Eh, these songs are alright."
Sonic Youth
4/5
This appeals to the dissatisfied youth in my past. Favorite track: "Bubble Gum," probably.
Talking Heads
5/5
The Talking Heads continue to be fantastic. David Byrne's enigmatic, almost awkward, everyman lyrics and vocals are such a breath of fresh air amongst the music of the 70's and 80's, and are a large part of the band's timelessness (although the influence of the other band members is not to be understated!)
Favorite track: today, I'll say "Life During Wartime," although "Memories Can't Wait" also stuck out to me on this listen.
Beatles
5/5
There is a staggering breadth of artistic ability on display in this album. As someone born long after the Beatles dissolved, it's kind of shocking that this album could have been so popular, as strange and experimental as it is. Not that I am complaining- it is obvious how much this album influenced the artists I listen to even today.
Favorite track: "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Dwight Yoakam
1/5
This is some moderately good country instrumentals ruined by having lyrics and a country singer. The title track is the most tolerable.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
I surprisingly enjoyed this one, Springfield has a lovely voice and the instrumentation is good. Definitely an album I will revisit in the future.
Favorite tracks: "Son of a Preacher Man" and "The Windmills of Your Mind."
David Bowie
5/5
I think that it's fine sometimes that the circumstances around an album's release influences the way people perceive it, and this album certainly takes on a more final tone due to its proximity to Bowie's death. Even though this isn't Bowie's best work, it is still rather good! It seems a rare occurrence that an artist can continue quality output throughout their life, and David Bowie is to be commended for his skill and his adaption of new styles on display here. I think I've talked myself up to giving this album a 4.5/5 (rounded up).
Favorite track: "Lazarus"
The Rolling Stones
2/5
Not sure I get the point of this inclusion, there is only one original track and I would probably rather listen to the original versions of each of the covers.
The Young Rascals
4/5
I didn't expect to care for this much, but at least musically this album avoids falling into the tropes of similar bands. I found the tracks "Find Somebody," "A Place in the Sun," and "It's Love" to be fairly enjoyable.
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
Lovely vocals and good old-fashioned music. Unfortunately, the live album format doesn't contribute much here.
Favorite track: "Willow Weep For Me"
Curtis Mayfield
5/5
Hey, so there are soundtracks on here! Although this album easily stands on its own. The songs are wonderfully crafted, and the lyrics are fervent and moving. Mayfield's concerns are just as relevant as ever. I look forward to listening again.
3/5
I enjoyed this but didn't love it. It's good, it's incredibly atmospheric, it just isn't particularly interesting. It's definitely something that I would put on in the background at a party or maybe a coffee shop, but I wouldn't really "listen" to it.
Favorite track: "Felicidade"
David Bowie
5/5
David Bowie can't keep getting away with this!
Deep Purple
5/5
When I was a kid, my dad told me about a trip he took to Montreux, Switzerland to see Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention in an old casino. In the middle of the concert someone a little ways in front of him launched some sort of firework or flare, it started smoking in the rafters and soon flames engulfed the ceiling. They evacuated and he stood on the lakeshore with his friends and watched the building burn.
As he told me this story, he fished out a cassette and put it in the stereo. "A few months later, I was listening to the radio, and someone had made a song about it," he said, and then he pressed play.
Yes
5/5
I have been familiar with "Roundabout" for a long time and, though it is still my favorite track on the album, the rest of the album does not disappoint.
Talk Talk
5/5
Much of my favorite music has a certain atmosphere that I find difficult to describe, and this album has that feeling in spades. I wish that 14-year-old me had "Living in Another World" on my mp3 player so I could listen to it on repeat until I fell asleep, it would have been one of my favorite songs. I guess I have to make up for lost time...
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
There's a lot going on here, it's a complex album. For the most part the tracks are skillfully put together, even though I don't relate much to this particular album. Kendrick Lamar may be bigger than ever right now, with "Not Like Us" and his upcoming Superbowl halftime show. I just don't get it all, I guess.
Wilco
5/5
I'm glad I stumbled across Wilco about ten years ago. I didn't care much for them then, but my opinion has grown over time. The shadow of this album looms large over the modern indie scene, and the album artwork warms my architect heart. Favorite track (on this listen): "Heavy Metal Drummer."
Solomon Burke
4/5
Great, old-fashioned music, exactly as described on the tin.
TV On The Radio
5/5
I was passingly familiar with the band, but what an enjoyable album it is. This is one of the clearest examples I have encountered of the variety of works that have influenced more contemporary indie music.
Beck
4/5
I thought this was pretty good, a wide variety of styles but a consistent quality. Favorite track: "Go It Alone."
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
Always great to get some non-English music on the list. Favorite track: "Candela"
Mariah Carey
3/5
Inoffensive, but almost offensively so.
Radiohead
4/5
I overall really liked this, really my only complaint is that a few of the tracks went too much into the noise territory and hurt my poor sensitive ears.
Ali Farka Touré
5/5
Give me more of this!
Big Star
3/5
This is an alright album that almost makes it to really good, but never quite measures up. Favorite track: "Watch the Sunrise"
William Orbit
4/5
It's electronic music with some global influences. Good, although not jaw-dropping in a now-crowded field. Favorite track: probably "The Story of Light."
Green Day
3/5
Kind of better than I expected, but also just kind of OK. I did like how Spotify combined the tracks, I guess? It made things flow well.
The Smiths
3/5
Favorite track: "Well I Wonder"
Jungle Brothers
4/5
I'm not really a hip hop fan, but I genuinely enjoyed much of this album. I appreciate the more upbeat tone and that the album doesn't rely on slurs to invoke an emotional response. It does go on a little too long, if it was a tighter package I could picture myself coming back to it occasionally. Favorite tracks: "Feelin' Alright" and "Doin' Our Own Dang"
Stevie Wonder
3/5
This album sounds like an overpriced candle shop in the Rockies.
Rod Stewart
2/5
This album started off promising but I soured on it as it went on. It's not a good sign when I am already tired of an artist with 2-3 songs left. The almost honky tonk twang of a few tracks just didn't work for me.
Black Sabbath
5/5
It's always a good sign when an album leaves me wanting more, and that is certainly the case here. From the mysterious album art to the haunting guitars wailing like banshees, this is a great package. Favorite track: "Wicked World," but it's a tight race.
The Undertones
2/5
I failed to find this music in any way hypnotic; it was serviceable but not an album I would ever see myself seeking out again.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
I am happy to have this experience, the tracks are each well-crafted musically. Hendrix earns his position as one of the greats.
Favorite track: "Purple Haze"
The Isley Brothers
5/5
A great album with some wonderful songs, including my favorite version of "Summer Breeze" so far. I enjoyed it enough that I listened to the interview at the end, which added a new layer of depth to the music.
Fela Kuti
5/5
A really good album with some fascinating history behind it. The world needs more musicians like this.
Talking Heads
5/5
I was catching up on my list and just enjoyed "Zombie" by Fela Kuti before I listened to this album. I almost immediately felt the shared DNA, and was rather pleased with myself when I saw that his work was an influence on this album! One thing I appreciate about this list is when it adds context and meaning to music I already enjoy.
I've become a big fan of the Talking Heads over the last few years, and although this isn't my favorite of their albums, I still find it excellent. It's a great display of the band's talents and each of the member's skills as a songwriter. Also, shoutout to the amazing music video for "Once in a Lifetime." I would point anyone unfamiliar with the band to that video, as I believe it is the most succinct expression of what the Talking Heads "are."
The Strokes
3/5
This album certainly sounds like my childhood in the early 2000's. Unfortunately, whatever points it would gain from nostalgia are negated by how overplayed some of these songs have been in the ensuing two decades. The music itself is fine (and the guitar work is great in a lot of places!), but overall I am just slightly above apathetic about this album.
Favorite track: "Alone, Together" (mostly because of the aforementioned guitar)
Koffi Olomide
3/5
It's decent music, but it may have been cheapened by imitators of this style in pop culture.
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
The track "Public Image" is a 4/5 for me, but I just don't think anything else works. The rest of the album grates between grating sounds, egotism, and annoying whines. A pity, the album art is kind of cool.
Janelle Monáe
4/5
I recently had the privilege of watching Fritz Lang's Metropolis accompanied by a theater organ performance of the original score, and I can feel a lot of the DNA from both the film and its soundtrack in this album. There's a massive stylistic variety on this album, and it stands utterly unique from most of the music of today. There is a lot about this album that I love- but unfortunately I can't bring myself to love the album itself. The thing that frustrates me is that I cannot pinpoint *why* I feel somewhat apathetic to this album, despite liking so much about it. There are a few tracks I do love, especially "Wondaland" and "BaBopByeYa," but the whole package just doesn't land for me. That said, I am still a fan and hope that I can grow to appreciate Monáe's work more.
Frank Sinatra
5/5
They say not to judge a book by its cover, but you can judge this album by its art and understand exactly what it is.
"In The Wee Small Hours" is a reflection on love and heartbreak, beautifully rendered in melancholy piano and Sinatra's soothing tones. It's the musical equivalent of curling up in front of a warm fire on a cold rainy night.
The album as a whole is comfortably blue, each track blurring into the next - it perhaps works best for background listening, but a few tracks stand out; my favorite on this listen being "Mood Indigo." Overall, this album is a wonderful package.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
I can't believe Weird Al Yankovic would copy Stevie Wonder! Where's the originality in this world?
Herbie Hancock
4/5
I had a lot of fun with this one, especially with the first two tracks. It's a funky and cool album. Some of the sounds are just really intriguing, too.
Slipknot
3/5
It's good and probably influential, but I don't feel like I enjoy this any more than any similar metal. Besides that, my enjoyment of this style of metal is very much mood-dependant.
Favorite track: "Wait and Bleed"
The Sugarcubes
5/5
Such a unique sound and an interesting album. "Birthday" is the standout track but most are quite good as well. I definitely think that I will listen to this one again.
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
I just don't think this album is that strong. "The Killing Moon" is the one great track, the rest just didn't work for me.
Jorge Ben Jor
5/5
This is a really great album that just flies by. I don't understand the lyrics, but who cares? It's good music.
Finley Quaye
2/5
Nightmares On Wax
3/5
Immaculate vibes, unremarkable music. It's good but this kind of music is a dime a dozen these days, and while I would easily listen again, I don't think I will ever seek this out. Favorite track: "Mission Venice."
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Honestly pretty fun, although I mostly prefer the later songs on the album. Favorite tracks: "Black Tongue" and "Maps."
Django Django
4/5
This album had some high highs and some low lows for me, it will take a few listens for me to really figure out my favorites. But I do plan to listen again, which says something! The opening two tracks together are great, and I absolutely love the album art.
Adele
3/5
Adele feels weird for me to encounter here. Among music I am familiar with, this is the most recently released album the project has served to me thus far. I enjoy her voice, and I think most of these songs are pretty good, but they aren't among my favorite of her work. "Hello" was memed to death within days of its release, and it's hard to take some of the emotional pleas seriously after that.
Listening through the whole album for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised by the tracks I hadn't heard before, but unfortunately the tracks that did receive a lot of radio play just end up reminding me of the lousy jobs I had at that time.
I considered picking "Hello" for my playlist (despite thinkingof that Star Wars parody everytime I hear it, it is a good song), but "Sweetest Devotion" really stood out to me at the end of the album. Altogether it is an enjoyable listen- but not one that I feel strongly about.
The Streets
3/5
Not really sure how I feel about this one. I kind of found the story (unintentionally?) funny, and I enjoyed parts of some of the songs. I may listen again, but I also don't really like the album. But it's interesting, at least.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
This is a fine album, I just didn't feel that every track landed, and it's quite long. "Kashmir" is rightly revered, but the rest doesn't do all that much for me.
Oasis
2/5
I thought it was fine but largely unmemorable, which unfortunately is a crime. Favorite track: "Live Forever," maybe, I think. I don't know, I'm probably not listening again to make sure.
Nirvana
4/5
I don't like everything about this album, but I like enough. The opening track, "Smells Like Teen Spirit," could very well be the anthem of every generation since the baby boomers. "Come As You Are" and "Lithium" are also both really great tracks. Some of the rest fade to background, but maybe just because they are in the shadow of these.
Lou Reed
2/5
This album started promising, but felt tiring as it went on. I like the social message, but I don't care for the music itself.
The Associates
3/5
This album is stress-inducing but, like, in a good way. Favorite track: "Party Fears Two."
Paul Simon
2/5
This is kind of a dreary album, almost like half of it is missing... It could use a little Garfunkle, I think.
Favorite track: "Song About the Moon"
Primal Scream
5/5
A cool, highway-headed album with some great effects. I was worried that the album would mostly be primal screaming, but upon analysis it is an alternate soundtrack to a little-known movie, which is also pretty neat. Favorite track: "Burning Wheel," a fantastic opener.
Metallica
5/5
I'm glad I was able to listen to most of this album on some good speakers, it begs to be played loud. The title track is my favorite, but the rest of the album is pretty good as well. The guitar riffs are iconic and there isn't a whole lot of music with more of the (now-retro) metal energy than this. I think this one earns its five stars.
Beach House
5/5
I've admired Beach House and their dreamy, ethereal music for a while now, but had yet to listen to a complete album. I can say that I don't think this is a perfect album, but I did find it very enjoyable and it works very well as a cohesive body. Favorite track: "Walk In The Park."
Roxy Music
3/5
This has some decent prog rock moments but also a ridiculous song about Texas. It's a fine album I guess, but it's not a great sign when the most memorable thing about an album isn't the music.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
It's a toe-tapping breeze of an album, even if not everything is of the same quality as "Bad Moon Rising." Still, it's a good time.
Steve Earle
5/5
Look, I'm not at all a country fan, but this is good stuff. Other people might not agree, but I probably feel this way because this album aligns quite a bit with my small-town experience. This is especially the case for "Someday," a song that is disturbingly relatable to me. I also rather enjoyed the title track and "Good Ol' Boy."
I wasn't looking forward to this album, but I can see myself coming back to it occasionally in the future.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
I listened partway through the UK version before I realized that I could be working through an album that was 10 minutes shorter and had a track that was better than anything else on the album. I guess the Rolling Stones just aren't for me.
Paul Simon
5/5
This is the kind of music my parents like- and that's OK, I love my parents! 😀
Favorite song: "You Can Call Me Al"
Fleet Foxes
4/5
I've been an admirer of Fleet Foxes' sound since I first encountered it. It's a lovely bit of 21st century folk music. The real question is- is "White Winter Hymnal" a Christmas song?
Joni Mitchell
4/5
I appreciate how Joni Mitchell doesn't feel confined to traditional lyric or song structure. It is very inspiring and when it works, it works well. "A Case Of You" is probably my favorite track off of this album.
Gotan Project
4/5
Very cool music, even though it falls more into the "ambient" category than perhaps I would like. Favorite track: "Tríptico"
The Cure
5/5
I've heard a lot of great things about this album, and I think it lives up to the hype: dark, striking, hallucinogenic. It transcends its moment. By the end, I was utterly enraptured and didn't want to leave this misty, alluring atmosphere.
Favorite track: "Lovesong"
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
This is a fine country-ish album, occasionally uplifted by psychedelic influences (perhaps chemically as well as musically), but unfortunately is too inconsistent to be something truly great. "Mr. Soul" is a great opener, but unfortunately the tail of the album ends with a whisper. Nothing is really bad, though, it just could have been a little better with all the talent involved.
Various Artists
4/5
These aren't all my favorite Christmas songs or versions of said songs, but it's hard to be cynical about them. Favorite track on this listen: "A Marshmallow World"
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
A fine ambient album, although it's kind of weird how this list has so many of these. Favorite track: "Ballad of Nicky McGuire"
John Coltrane
5/5
What a wonderful album. It's built like a pursuit, reaching its highest intensity with the drums of part 3, before relaxing into the smooth, romantic melodies of part 4. Overall, an excellent jazz experience.
Neil Young
2/5
I didn't love this one. "Heart of Gold" is great and I thought "Alabama" was pretty good as well, but the only other track that stood out to me was the one about a maid, and it was honestly pretty awful. Just barely better than two stars, but I'm not feeling generous today.
Barry Adamson
3/5
They say a sign of good music is that it provokes an emotional response, so this must be good music because it certainly does - even if the emotions it illicits are often stress, paranoia, or panic. It's certainly a unique album, and I found the more instrumental tracks decently enjoyable. Not everything lands, but I'll give points for trying.
Favorite track: "Something Wicked This Way Comes" (I like Ray Bradbury)
Crosby, Stills & Nash
5/5
"Helplessly Hoping" is probably in my top 10 favorite songs of all time, and I could wax positively about many of the other songs on here. I've been served several albums in the last few weeks featuring these three skilled musicians (+ Young), but nowhere do they shine like they do when they are together. Five stars.
Tom Waits
3/5
Tom Waits is an interesting artist, I enjoy his gravelly voice and lyrical pictures, but I don't want it in big doses. This was a good-sized package, and I enjoyed "Downtown" quite a bit.
Basement Jaxx
2/5
It's EDM- industrial, sexy, intense. I'm sure it's great in the clubs, otherwise it's alright.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
2/5
This was a competent yet dull album, it could have been edited down to a shorter package and I would have enjoyed it better. I don't think I will ever remember listening to this album, and that's a fate worse than death.
ABBA
4/5
There are some really good songs here - well-deserved hits like "Dancing Queen" and "Fernando;" "Money" is good and constantly stuck on repeat in my head. I quite liked "Arrival" as well, I'm sure that I have heard it before but I don't remember it. A few of the songs didn't land for me, but it's still pretty great.
Tortoise
5/5
There's a lot going on here and I think I enjoy most of it. It's a sort of liminal album, existing in the space between genres. I can definitely see myself listening again, and exploring Tortoise more.
Pere Ubu
1/5
This isn't a one-star album. There's some pretty good stuff here, including the bass line on the opening track. But that screeching noise... I'm sorry, it drags the whole thing down into the mud. This album would probably get 3-4 stars from me if it just didn't have a few actually, physically painful sound effects. Favorite track: "Humor Me" (I didn't)
DJ Shadow
5/5
This is pretty awesome. Great samples, impeccable vibes, an exploration of the potential of an entire genre of music. Favorite track: "Midnight in a Perfect World."
Justin Timberlake
2/5
I've never really cared for Justin Timberlake, and that's not going to change today.
David Bowie
5/5
This is the sixth Bowie album I have gotten on the list, and each one has been a joy to listen to. I could easily see each of them being someone's favorite album of all time, and I am quickly realizing he is one of my favorite artists of all time. This definitely isn't my favorite Bowie album (that honor probably lies with Ziggy Stardust), but I still enjoyed each track - particularly "Time."
Gang Starr
4/5
I enjoyed this album a fair bit, it's one of the best hip-hop albums I've heard on this list so far. It's cool and witty, a very enjoyable listen.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
I know this album gets a lot of love, and I guess I just don't "get" it. "Dreams" is good and so is "The Chain," but nothing about the rest has ever really impressed me. In fact, I don't think these versions of those two songs are even my favorite performances. That's not to say I dislike this album - for me it's just good, not great.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
What a cool, ominous title for an album. Tye title track was my favorite, and the rest of the album was fine.
Suede
4/5
This album feels so much like the '90s, I can almost smell the stale cigarette smoke. It's a pensive, melancholy album all the way through, with dome very lovely moments. They don't make things quite like this anymore.
Favorite track: "Sleeping Pills"
Foo Fighters
2/5
This feels rather generic and unmemorable to me. I don't think it's bad, it just doesn't stand out from the rest of the crowd.
Marianne Faithfull
3/5
A decent album, although I think the cover of "Working Class Hero" is my favorite track. Otherwise it was fine with good moments, but not an album I would listen to often. 2.5/5 stars, rounded up.
The Gun Club
3/5
This is the 366th album I have listened to on this list, which means I have been listening for an entire year! In this time, I have listened to many wonderful albums, a few albums I've hated, and quite a few albums like this one, which I have mixed feelings about. There's a really interesting mix of genres and the sound is pretty good, but I don't find the lyrical content to be all that good. It looks like I will be rounding off this first year of albums with a 3/5- here's to approximately 2 more years!
Favorite track from this album: "Ghost on the Highway," probably.
Anita Baker
4/5
Very lovely music, performed beautifully. Perhaps a bit bland from today's perspective, but still rather good.
Willie Nelson
3/5
A decent concept album, "real" country as opposed to the sanitary stuff they put out these days. Favorite track: either "Can I Sleep in Your Arms" or "Hands on the Wheel."
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Pretty good overall, although far from perfect. I appreciate an album with some variety to it, I just don't think the specific mix of genres and sounds here always works. That said, there were quite a few songs I did enjoy: chief among them "Solsbury Hill and "Here Comes the Flood."
The Police
3/5
It's an OK album, with some decently good songs. I'm not sure it lives up to the hype, though. Favorite song: "Walking On The Moon"
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
1/5
If Elvis Costello isn't in Chelsea, I want to be there. The last ~5 minutes of this album are actually somewhat... interesting? That is the only thing that even slightly redeems this album for me, Costello's voice really grates on my ears.
Britney Spears
2/5
I guess this was an influential album, but it's pretty hollow and helped inspire decades of similarly hollow music. Still, listening to it is incredibly easy.
Dennis Wilson
3/5
This was an alright album that didn't really impress much - but I am not sure it needed to. It is competent and listenable.
Butthole Surfers
2/5
I found this album rather weak except in a few isolated moments. I appreciate weird but this just doesn't work for me.
Stan Getz
5/5
A beautiful collection of music that makes me eager to continue exploring music from this part of the world. The instrumentation is masterful and captivating, and each composition is its own journey while contributing to a consistent feeling for the whole album. Truly a treat.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
5/5
This album really makes a statement with its cover, equating big-band music with such modern innovations as the theory of relativity and the atomic bomb. I would have to say Count Basie is right in his comparison. Modern music has had a socially transformative effect similar to either of those two scientific developments. This album itself is a great exploration of just what is possible in music, and is still enjoyable almost 70 years later (unlike the atomic bomb).
Favorite track: "Splanky"
Marty Robbins
4/5
This is a pretty typical cowboy album - or perhaps prototypical. It's fun, often melancholy, and a great listen. Favorite track: "Big Iron"
Aretha Franklin
4/5
A great and highly influential album from a great and highly influential singer.
Todd Rundgren
2/5
I kept waiting for this album to give me something, anything that I would enjoy; alas, I never saw the light.
Elvis Presley
3/5
I have a theory that the popularity of Elvis correlates with the excessive consumption of jello salads, but it's too complicated to get into here. Also I still find it crazy that Elvis was drafted.
The Louvin Brothers
2/5
This brand of western folk music is incredibly familiar to me, and unfortunately there's just not a ton here that distinguishes these brothers (at least from a 2020s perspective). My favorite track on the album is "I'll Be All Smiles Tonight," but there's a band local to me that performs it better, in my opinion. I am fond of the mournful, human realness of the lyrics, though.
Isaac Hayes
5/5
A really superb album all the way through. It feels brand new, despite being from the 60's! I'm pretty sure I have heard samples of this album before, but the original songs were a very pleasant surprise. Favorite track: "Walk On By"
Pulp
4/5
"Common People" still resonates 30 years later, and probably will for the rest of time. As for the rest, the music is great even when the lyrics sound like they were written by a stalker. I don't imagine this album will make it into my regular rotation, but it's close.
Neneh Cherry
2/5
I don't know about this one. It's fine, but very dated. OK for one listen, but I will probably never sit through it again. Favorite track is probably "Heart."
Duran Duran
4/5
This was a pretty great album overall. I think I enjoyed every single track, but they did all blend together a bit. I imagine I'll be listening to Duran Duran more in the future.
Favorite track: probably "Hungry Like the Wolf"
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Right off the bat they are screaming about Valhalla, hard to beat that. The rest of the album was enjoyable as well, maybe it's time for me to give Led Zeppelin another chance.
Radiohead
5/5
I wasn't really familiar with this album except for "Karma Police," which is among I like but don't really love. However, the oppressive feel of the entire album works really well, songs are distinct but contribute to the whole, I'm sleep deprived right now, favorite track: "Lucky," 4.5 stars rounded up.
King Crimson
4/5
Some albums sound like they were meticulously crafted and polished in a laboratory; other albums sound like they grew, wild, out of the raw earth. This is one of the latter, an organic sonic exploration that wanders unsteadily from song to song. It's not a straightforward journey, but it's one worth taking. Favorite track: "Easy Money."
The Clash
2/5
"The Clash" is OK, it's very same-y from track to track, but it doesn't overstay it's welcome. Favorite track: "Cheat"
Fela Kuti
5/5
Simply an awesome album. 5 great tracks, the last being a quarter-hour long drum solo, with great musicianship and an infectious energy throughout.
Digital Underground
1/5
I don't really understand the appeal. I don't really care to listen to music that objectifies people. Maybe I am misunderstanding this album; the sci-fi storyline at the end implies something deeper is going on here. It started to redeem the album for me, but then it didn't stick the landing.
The Cure
3/5
It's a decent album, even if it is a little longer than the title implies. Favorite song: "A Forest"
David Bowie
5/5
This album features the song "Life On Mars?" by David Bowie.
Pixies
2/5
I started off only liking about every other song, but I thought that we were getting into 4-star territory about halfway through. Unfortunately the end of the album left me unimpressed. Maybe if I come back to this sometime I will like it more, but it's just not my favorite. Best track: "All Over the World"
Nick Drake
5/5
The world would have been a better place with more Nick Drake.
Favorite tracks: "Three Hours," "Day Is Done"
Beyoncé
2/5
I've never really listened to Beyoncé, so I was quite pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the album a few tracks in... and then I didn't. I actually found myself getting pretty bored by the end of the album. Favorite track: "Haunted"
SAULT
3/5
This is certainly an album of its moment. It doesn't strike me as particularly innovative (musically or thematically) or influential, but it's so far from the worst thing to come out of 2020. Favorite track: "Wildfires"
Cocteau Twins
5/5
A beautiful, ethereal album. I knew within the first two tracks that this was at least a 4/5. By the time it reached "Frou-frou Foxes in Midsummer," I wasn't ready for it to end. If that doesn't say this is a great album, I don't know what does. This is what this app is for!
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
This is an enjoyable funk album, although not my favorite of all time. I didn't find it incredibly consistent, unfortunately. I could potentially see myself enjoying this more on repeat listens.
Favorite track: "Runnin' Away"
Tangerine Dream
4/5
This dark, broody electronic music laid the groundwork for so much modern music. Unfortunately, like a lot of early electronic music it is eclipsed by more polished releases that came afterwards. But this still holds up and is a wonderful accomplishment over 50 years later.
3/5
A lot of energy and overall very enjoyable. It definitely has that live concert, rough-around-the-edges feel to it.
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
It's alright, but it's kind of "just" rock. I enjoyed it more than some of the similar albums I've listened to on this project, but it didn't really impress me. 2.5/5.
Favorite track: "Louie Louie"
Saint Etienne
4/5
This album is a lot of fun, a great little dose of pop mixed with electronic music that still feels pretty fresh. Favorite track: "Nothing Can Stop Us"
Violent Femmes
2/5
This album has good compositions and interesting instrumentation, but falls flat vocally and lyrically. Not something I'm likely to listen to again.
Silver Jews
1/5
This is a rather dull album with some meme-level lyrics. I have listened to it before I died.
Public Enemy
4/5
Still sounds good, sadly still relevant. It's an energetic album with some great loops and samples.
John Lennon
3/5
You can't play poker with a deck of spades, you can't recapture that Beatles magic without Paul, Ringo, and George.
Robbie Williams
2/5
I can't believe a chimpanzee made this album.
Orange Juice
2/5
Started out decent but quickly grew thin. That said, "Breakfast Time" was my favorite track.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
This album is like a warm hug from a nostalgic past. The songwriting, the instrumentation, the vocals- all contribute to a feeling of safety without feeling overbearing or overly corny. This is the kind of album that says "Sure, the world is messed up and sometimes life is sad, but in the end it will be alright."
Rocket From The Crypt
2/5
I wouldn't say that this is a bad album, but I don't think that it makes the list on its own merits. It seems more like a showcase of some punk-adjacent genres in which the list is otherwise light. It's got a bit of edge to it, and the album works when that edge cuts, but it isn't consistent. Which is a lot of words to say: it's fine, I guess.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
5/5
The human voice is truly one of the most wonderful instruments, and the talent of the a capella singers here is a wonderful example of how much power the voice can have.
Favorite track: "Golgotha"
Black Sabbath
5/5
I enjoyed this album a lot more than I expected to. It's heavy and loud, and the melodies are great. The slower and (relatively) quieter "Changes" is really the glue that holds this album together, adding both emotional and musical depth - although my favorite track is probably "Supernaut."
Miles Davis
5/5
This is a beautiful little album, although I think I like the second track a little less. That being said, I regret not giving "Kind of Blue" five stars, so this album gets them in its stead (not that it wasn't close on it's own).
George Harrison
3/5
Less is more.
David Bowie
4/5
This is a good album, but I don't think it should be on this list. It's not quite as good as he was at his height, but also feels a little weaker to me than "Blackstar." There are some interesting innovations on his sound, especially towards the latter half of the album, but most of this is pretty standard Bowie fare. It's still great music; I found "How Does the Grass Grow" to be my favorite piece.
But essential? Probably not.
The Boo Radleys
3/5
It's alright and I appreciate the variety. There's a lot of good moments which outweigh the medium bits, but this hardly feels essential.
Missy Elliott
2/5
Having heard some of Missy Elliott's other work, I don't feel like her debut album was her best work. It's fine, but not really my thing.
Van Morrison
4/5
A good album overall, folksy with a bit of jazz. "Into the Mystic" is my kind of music.
Queen
4/5
Fantasy themes + electric guitars = awesome, just about every time. This isn't an album that I absolutely love, but I will definitely listen to at least the 2nd half of it often.
Favorite track: "The March of the Black Queen"
Eagles
2/5
I am indifferent towards this album.
808 State
3/5
Pretty good, but unfortunately also pretty dated. Favorite track: "808080808"
The Flying Burrito Brothers
1/5
If this is an influential album, then it must have influenced a whole bunch of music that I don't much care for.
Billie Holiday
4/5
Billie Holiday has such a beautiful voice here. Even though they felt a bit too similar to each other, the tracks transported me to an exclusive jazz club over a fancy dinner.
Favorite track: "The End of a Love Affair"
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
I didn't hate this album, but I guess I expected more. McCartney doesn't soar to the same heights as the Beatles here, but a couple songs are good. This album is structured like a sandwich with some really tasty bread on the top and bottom, but bland and unspiced fillings- not bad, satisfying, but it doesn't attract me back to the restaurant.
Favorite songs: the title track and "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five"
Donald Fagen
5/5
This album feels like how I imagine the 80s want to be remembered, in the future they hoped to have.
The production on this album is so incredibly clean, the tracks are fun, and there's a consistent quality throughout. Even the album art is great, and perfectly in keeping with the mood of the songs. I definitely ended up enjoying this one.
Favorite track: "New Frontier" (Some of the lyrics are relevant to me, a nice bonus)
The Rolling Stones
2/5
This album comes across as insincere to me, and with each song except the first and maybe the last two being faux-honky tonk, there's not much here for me to enjoy. That being said, "Gimme Shelter" is pretty great.
Sparks
4/5
I'm not sure how to evaluate this one, I generally liked it but wasn't able to figure out a rating. I'm listening to it again right now and I still like it, but I feel like in five years I'll come back to this album and love it. I'm rating it 4 stars for now- sorry, future self.
Favorite track: "Equator," but that's probably because the Severance season 2 finale just came out and it had a line about meeting at the equator.
Goldfrapp
5/5
This is a lovely, fairy-like album; it has inspired me to check out more of the artist's work. This kind of dreamy electronic music is very appealing to me. I'm definitely coming back for more.
Favorite track: "Caravan Girl"
Tom Waits
4/5
You always know what you're going to get with Tom Waits. And you know what? He tends to be pretty good at it. This is a mostly good album and would make for a fun occasional listen.
The The
3/5
I really enjoyed this album at first, but then it got more and more boring as it went along. I even tried listening back through and didn't quite enjoy the opening tracks as much as I had earlier. I can't pinpoint what element it is that developed a patina so quickly, but this album quickly lost its luster. It's still mostly OK, though, but my rating still reflects that first listen.
Donovan
5/5
A lovely modern-day folk album with psychedelic influences and mythological references- of course I'm going to love it. The fact that it is now sort of dated serves to add to the charm, in my opinion. Contrasting the mythic themes with contemporary things really elevates the album, maybe a ferris wheel or an airplane is just as fantastical as King Arthur.
Favorite tracks: "Three King Fishers," "Guinevere," "Season of the Witch"
Jane's Addiction
2/5
This album wasn't really bad, but it felt like a chore to listen through.
The Byrds
3/5
This album is fine. There's some cool effects, but the tracks themselves aren't very memorable and feel very dated. I enjoyed listening to it once, but this one won't make my regular rotation.
Animal Collective
4/5
This is a rather neat album with some really cool effects. "My Girls" especially has such a unique sound, it's very iconic. It's just a fun album.
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
I discovered LCD Soundsystem a few years back, so I was already familiar with most of the songs on this album. Unfortunately, I have probably blocked a few of them from my mind, there's a handful that I just don't care for such as "North American Scum" or "Sound of Silver." But what I do like, I love. "Someone Great" found me at the right time of my life, and along with "All My Friends" and "Get Innocuous" was on repeat constantly throughout the COVID pandemic. This was a tough rating to decide, but I think the great outweighs the less good: 4.5/5 stars.
Stan Getz
3/5
This is good music and I would be thrilled to hear it live in a dimly-lit bar. That being said, I probably wouldn't play it for myself too often.
Favorite tracks: "Desafinado," "E Luxo So"
Ash
2/5
Boy, this one sure is from the 90's. It has all the hallmark elements of that period, which aren't really a bad thing- they just maybe haven't aged as well as some other styles. This album is fine, but I found it mostly unremarkable.
CHIC
4/5
The first few songs on this album are catchy and fun, but this does tend to wear out its welcome by the end of the album. I think the album is still carried pretty heavily by the first two tracks, though.
Elbow
5/5
This was a pleasant surprise, I hadn't ever heard of this group or any of these tracks before, but I enjoyed them immensely. Definitely will listen again.
Favorite track: "The Bones of You"
Jeff Buckley
2/5
This album was kind of a drag for me, if I'm being honest. "Hallelujah" was one of the songs I preferred most, but even that is a song that I have never been a huge fan of. This one's not for me.
The Band
3/5
I kind of expected more from a band called "The Band." This is a serviceable collection of songs, completely inoffensive and well made. I just wish they lived up to the article.
Favorite track: "The Weight"
New York Dolls
3/5
I'm sure this album inspired a lot of music that I like, unfortunately it isn't terribly inspiring to me.
Favorite track: "Lonely Planet Boy"
Massive Attack
4/5
This one is pretty good. It hooks you fast and doesn't let go, but there is still some nice variety between tracks. I can imagine myself growing to like this album even more over time.
Favorite track: "Safe From Harm"
Bob Dylan
5/5
Bob Dylan doesn't have a great singing voice, but there are a scant few artists who can conjure up images as enchanting as his with their words. Each track on this album is an enigmatic puzzle-box, and it is impossible to listen through the whole hour and a quarter without trying to pick at their lyrical mysteries. This is one of the great ones.
Favorite track: hard to choose, but I'll go with "I Want You" today
Janet Jackson
2/5
I didn't really care for this one much, and it felt overly long. I wouldn't say that it's bad; it's just not for me.
Favorite track: "Black Cat"
Harry Nilsson
3/5
A decent album with a few cool songs. Favorite tracks: "Gotta Get Up," " Coconut"
LTJ Bukem
5/5
I've noticed the list is light on this kind of electronic compilation album, probably because there aren't many albums like this that have broken into the mainstream. This one is decent enough, although I think the vocal mix is stronger than the instrumentals in the version on Spotify. It looks like this isn't the original album, though, for reasons I don't understand. After listening to that version, it seems even better.
Talking Heads
5/5
This is when Talking Heads started to get more consistent and really find themselves. It's a wonderful (but imperfect) sophomore album, and contains some of their best songs, especially "Take Me to the River."
Everything But The Girl
2/5
This wasn't a bad album, just an incredibly forgettable one. I kept waiting for a song that impressed me, and "Lonesome for a Place I Know" came closest with some folksy charm, but it was much too little and much too late. It's the pinnacle of inoffensive British music.
Depeche Mode
5/5
This one's pretty great. The synths ooze cool and the vocals have an enchantingly dark aloofness to them. I even listened to a few tracks again and liked them more the second time around.
Favorite tracks: "Strangelove," "Agent Orange"
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
The jazzy elements really help this album to stand out, in addition to the skilled rapping. Overall, a very good album.
Favorite track: "Check the Rhime"
The Mars Volta
5/5
This is pretty sick.
John Martyn
5/5
This is a wonderful discovery. This album transcends folk and touches on some adjacent genres to great effect. Each track varies from pretty good to great, but my favorites were "The Man in the Station" and "Dreams by the Sea."
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
My rating may make it seem like I didn't like this album, but I actually rather enjoyed it. There's just something that strikes me as "off" about this one, unfortunately, and I'm not sure that I can say exactly what.
Favorite track: "My My, Hey Hey"
Steely Dan
3/5
Steely Dan is a band that I don't particularly love, but I do enjoy. They are remarkably consistent, especially in this album. It's an enjoyable listen even if no song really sticks with me other than "King of the World."
Ice T
3/5
It's a fun album. Still not a fan of the skits between songs, but they're alright here.
Favorite track: "New Jack Hustler"
Les Rythmes Digitales
3/5
This is a fun enough album with some good production. There's a few tracks and moments that really remind me of Daft Punk, which is a bit of a knock against this album.
Favorite track: "Hypnotise"
ZZ Top
3/5
This sounds like music made by guys with big beards.
Favorite track: "La Grange"
Christina Aguilera
2/5
That's a name I haven't heard in a long time. Honestly, most of this music is fine, in the same way that highly-processed junk food from a gas station is fine. Best track: "Walk Away"
Iron Maiden
4/5
This is really good, I get the hype now.
Favorite track: "Remember Tomorrow"
Arrested Development
2/5
Hip hop doesn't really impress me, I guess. It doesn't help that the lyrics are entirely unsubtle. This one's not bad, it's just not for me.
Doves
4/5
This is a good album, but it would perhaps punch harder if it was trimmed down a fair bit.
Favorite track: "The Cedar Room"
The Velvet Underground
2/5
I know this is a cornerstone album of modern music, but it overall failed to impress me much. A lot has been made of Andy Warhol's involvement in the production of the album as well, but even that element doesn't seem very strong to me. It's mostly fine, but some high-pitched noise on a few tracks made for an unpleasant listening experience, I feel I have to deduct a star for that. Maybe I was overhyped on this one.
Iron Maiden
5/5
This album feels epic in a way that transcends time. If you played it for a caveman, he would still get it.
Favorite track: "Run to the Hills"
FKA twigs
5/5
This album is an entire environment, and I don't mind getting lost in the landscape. The music and vocals combine to create a rich texture: dreamy, dangerous, sensual.
Favorite track: "Two Weeks"
Iggy Pop
2/5
I've waffled between 2 and 4 stars for this album, but in the end I think it's a bit on the weaker side. I thought "Nightclubbing" was kind of fun for being so deadpan, and I actually really liked "Mass Production," but the rest of this album just didn't land for me.
Liz Phair
3/5
Pretty good and very consistent, would listen again.
Favorite track: probably "Never Said"
a-ha
5/5
This was a surprisingly fantastic album, even beyond the famous single. In fact, that's probably not even the best track on the album.
Michael Kiwanuka
5/5
What a pleasant surprise! This is a beautiful and moving album. It's the kind of music that really transports you, excellently performed and masterfully recorded.
Favorite tracks: "Hero," "Piano Joint"
Mott The Hoople
2/5
Every now and then this album made me think about David Bowie, so when it was done I went and listened to David Bowie.
The Doors
3/5
Favorite track: "Peace Frog"
And... yep, that's the review.
David Gray
2/5
The line on the album art is a graph of my enjoyment of this album over time.
Favorite track: idk, probably "Babylon"
The Go-Betweens
3/5
It's OK, probably a bit closer to a 2.5 for me though. It reminds me of a lot of other music on this list, for better and worse.
Favorite track: "Was There Anything I Could Do?"
Sade
3/5
This is a good album, bookends between two very strong tracks. Unfortunately I found that it was a bit too long and blurred together towards the latter half.
Joanna Newsom
5/5
This is a meandering, idiosyncratic album (which already endears it to me), but it also has some real emotional weight behind it. Newsom's voice really complements the fanciful lyrics. This is one I will come back to, for sure.
Favorite track: "Cosmia"
CHVRCHES
5/5
I'm passingly familiar with CHVRCHES, but I'm not sure I've actually heard any of these tracks before. It's great synth-pop music, and I was happy to see that at least a bit had made the list.
Favorite track: "Tether"
Frank Sinatra
3/5
This is a pleasant album, and I enjoyed the Spanish, but it's just OK.
The Beach Boys
2/5
This is a Beach Boys album full of Beach Boys songs that sound like Beach Boys songs.
Barry Adamson
4/5
It's really amazing how well the concept comes through on this album despite being essentially wordless. There's a story preserved within these songs.
Favorite track: "Sounds from the Big House"
Gene Clark
1/5
There were a few moments in this album that made me think I might be starting to enjoy it, but they were few and far between. It was overall bland and sounds just barely in tune.
The Beta Band
2/5
This one seems pretty weak to me, like it has veen watered down somehow. I guess you shouldn't buy your music while it's still in beta.
Favorite track: "Dragon," I think.
Depeche Mode
4/5
Dark, cool, and stylish. This album sounds like a neon-soaked 80's sci-fi movie filled with brands that have since gone extinct.
Favorite tracks: "Enjoy the Silence," "Policy of Truth"
John Grant
1/5
I think this one is... kinda bad. Every song sounds exactly the same, the lyrics often come off as pretentious, and it's overall bland. The social commentary bits don't land at all. That being said, there were two tracks I kind of liked: "Sigourney Weaver" (I didn't care for it too much, but it's funny) and "Outer Space"
Super Furry Animals
3/5
There's some cool genre-shifting stuff going on here that I'm a fan of. If this album played around with that a bit more, I think that I would be more interested in it. The rest of the album is fine, but doesn't catch my interest as much.
Favorite track: "No Sympathy." I liked "[A] Touch Sensitive" quite a bit as well.
Germs
1/5
This is probably the most boring punk album I've heard on here.
Favorite track: "Lexicon Devil"
Air
5/5
Very chill and psychedelic electronic music, and perfect listening fare for this rainy night. This is the kind of music I could easily listen to for hours, especially the instrumental tracks.
Nina Simone
5/5
When even the leftover tracks are this good, you can be sure that the artist is a master of their craft. Nina's voice is unique and powerful, and that's not even talking about the excellent music that backs her up!
Favorite track: on this listen, "Break Down and Let It All Out"
Lenny Kravitz
3/5
I didn't really have high expectations going into this album, but it's pretty decent. My favorite song is the title track.
JAY Z
3/5
What a day to release an album.
Favorite track: "U Don't Know," probably
The Last Shadow Puppets
4/5
This album somehow feels older than it is, in a good way. It's very dramatic and still stylish.
Favorite track: "My Mistakes Were Made For You"
Grateful Dead
3/5
This is a good album but it leaves me wondering what sets this band apart to the point that their fans are almost a household name. I mostly enjoyed this one, but it didn't sell me on the Grateful Dead.
Favorite song: "Ripple"
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
5/5
It's a live album of a keyboard-driven progressive rock band covering a 150 year old Russian romantic composer, and it sounds like video game boss music.
The Verve
2/5
This album felt pretty empty to me, despite its length. None of the tracks really grabbed me, aside from "Weeping Willow" and (of course) "Bitter Sweet Symphony." Other than that, this seemed like a pretty generic album.
Shack
1/5
This album's biggest sin is its mundanity. The artwork made me think I was in for an album of sea shanties, which would have been preferable to the rather dull album we have here. There were a few tracks that I initially liked somewhat, until I realized that it was because they reminded me of other songs. That said, there were two tracks that I did enjoy: "Streets of Kenny" and "Daniella."
TLC
1/5
Everything about this album feels dated, including "Waterfalls," the best track.
Screaming Trees
3/5
This one was pretty good, although I would hesitate to rank it among my favorite albums so far. I would definitely listen to it again.
Favorite track: "Dying Days"
Scissor Sisters
2/5
This one has a few things that I like, but it doesn't quite work for me. There's a lot going on but it doesn't quite come together.
CHIC
3/5
This is pretty good and there is some nice variation, even if it sometimes feels a bit goofy from a 2020s perspective.
Favorite track: "Savoir Faire"
Klaxons
5/5
This is album #500 for me, and was a very pleasant discovery. A bunch of cool songs with literary references? Sign me up! There's a variety to the tracks and a feeling that is almost sci-fi, like they are building some kind of modern mythos. I may be feeling a bit generous because of the milestone, but this album has a lot going for it.
Favorite track: "Golden Skans"
Jacques Brel
3/5
That was very French. I enjoyed this album even if I didn't understand a word Monsieur Brel sang. I probably would have enjoyed it much more were it not a live album, in this instance I don't think hearing the audience reaction added much to the experience (except for one moment where the audience began rhythmically clapping). Other than that: more of this, please.
Favorite track: "Les timides"
Queen Latifah
2/5
I've accepted by this point that hip-hop isn't my thing. This is a fine album, I just personally didn't care for it much.
Best track: "Ladies First"
The Who
2/5
I've always thought of the Who as a good band despite rarely listening to them, but good lord this was one of the dullest albums I have encountered on this list. It almost put me to sleep on my drive home. Fortunately, the Who have other material which I enjoy more. And fortunately for this album, there was nothing outright bad about it. I will likely never listen to it again before I die, though.
Favorite track: title track
Elis Regina
5/5
A very excellent album overall. Elis Regina is a skilled enough performer that the songs come across well even to me, speaker of no Portuguese.
Favorite track: "O Trem Azul"
Brian Eno
4/5
I definitely prefer Brian Eno as producer to Brian Eno as solo musician, but this album is still very good. It's a strong showcase of a broad skillset. On this listen, one track stood out in particular: "Everything Merges With the Night." It somehow straddles the line between Eno's more mainstream music and his more ambient work.
Neil Young
5/5
Maybe it's the hot, sunny day talking, but the beach sounds like a good time - and so is this album. I haven't been the biggest fan of Neil Young's solo work, but this one hits like a cold drink on a midsummer day.
Favorite track: "On The Beach"
The Electric Prunes
4/5
This one sounded old, but far newer and fresher than the 60s. The psychedelic elements were a very pleasant surprise. I'm definitely interested in checking this band out some more.
Favorite track: "I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)"
The Beach Boys
5/5
Wow, I never would have guessed that the Beach Boys could sound like this. There's a sorrow behind these tracks that gives them more power than the playboy goofiness I associate with this band, and a lot more musical depth than their early outings as well. Perhaps I am influenced in my interpretation by the recent passing of Brian Wilson, but even the album art conveys a great heaviness.
Favorite tracks: I liked most, but "Long Promised Road" and "'Til I Die" stood out to me.
Chicago
3/5
This is a great album instrumentally that is unfortunately somewhat let down by the vocals. Still, it is a fairly enjoyable listen.
Favorite tracks: "Listen," "Liberation"
The Cars
2/5
As a rock album, it's fine. It doesn't seem very functional as an automobile, though.
Favorite track: "Good Times Roll"
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
This is an interesting combination of heavy metal and electronic music. The components come together into something that is more interesting to listen to than it is enjoyable, but it does a good job of conveying emotion. I'm looking forward to the Tron soundtrack, hopefully it's good!
Pixies
5/5
This is a great album even before we get to the song that starts with the word "Stop" that is so iconic.
Favorite tracks: "Gigantic," "River Euphrates," and of course "Where Is My Mind?"
Joy Division
3/5
This is a very dark album, appropriately so now that I read about the context. I think that it's mostly good, but there isn't anything that really sticks out to me as exceptional.
Minor Threat
2/5
I wasn't too impressed by this album, but "Cashing In" was a pretty good track to end this short album on. Also, the artwork is cute.
Antony and the Johnsons
2/5
This seems like a deeply personal and heartfelt album, and I appreciate the emotion behind it. Unfortunately, I think that it's just OK both musically and lyrically. It does have a few strong moments, though.
Favorite track: "Spiralling"
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Thus is another fantastic example of Joni Mitchell's style, featuring lyrical complexity accompanied by almost spartan musical arrangements. I really enjoy the pictures she paints of life on the road in this album.
Favorite tracks: "Coyote," "Amelia," "Refuge of the Roads"
Nico
4/5
This album is the musical equivalent of a starchy meal: it's satisfying but leaves you kind of sleepy at the end. Nico's cottony voice seems to be divisive, but I think she's just right for these tracks. I think I can safely say that I enjoy this over anything by the Velvet Underground.
Favorite tracks: "The Fairest of the Seasons," "These Days"
Mudhoney
1/5
This was such a nothing album for me. My rating may be overly harsh, but I just finished listening and can barely remember anything I just listened to. I did have to crank the volume up to cover the sound of my carbon monoxide detector, though.
Guided By Voices
3/5
My major problem with this album is the length of the tracks. I prefer songs that give you space, where they are long enough that you can breathe and live in them for a while. I enjoyed these songs, but they are claustrophobic in their brevity. Just as soon as I start to get into the song, it's over and the next track is almost done as well.
The Beau Brummels
2/5
This is a fun little album, I enjoy the mystic/fantastic elements, but other than that it doesn't do much to distinguish itself from other rock of the time. This may be closer to a 3/5 or even 4/5 to me in the future, but today I am only giving it 2 stars.
Favorite tracks: "Only Dreaming Now," "The Wolf of Velvet Fortune"
The Kinks
3/5
A solid album with a lot of variety. Favorite track: "Lazy Old Sun"
Radiohead
4/5
A good album with great album art. The whole album is pretty decent, but my favorite track is definitely "Bodysnatchers"
Elliott Smith
3/5
This one is pretty good. It's definitely melancholy music. There's a few very good tracks but it's maybe just a bit too slow and quiet.
Favorite track: probably "Say Yes"
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
I started coming around on this album near the end, but it's still not one I would likely listen to in whole again. Most of it just feels pretty average to me.
Favorite track: "Heart" probably
Kraftwerk
5/5
I like trains.
The Smiths
4/5
I like this. I actually enjoy this guy's voice even if it sounds like he's singing with a mouthful of breakfast cereal. There's a variety to the tracks, which I appreciate.
Favorite track: "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before"
Destiny's Child
2/5
This album is emphatic in its message, but unfortunately can't figure out what that message is, leaving it a confusing mix of tracks. The music itself is OK, but feels dated now. It closes with what sounds like heartfelt messages, but after the massive commercial production of the rest of the album, it doesn't feel all that genuine.
Favorite track: "Dangerously in Love"
The Crusaders
4/5
Not bad at all, I enjoyed this one all the way through. It's not the best jazz album on this list, but I would never complain about listening to it.
Wu-Tang Clan
3/5
I don't really care for hip hop but this is fine. I expected it going into this list, and I can't quite say it lived up to my expectations, but I can see the influence it had on the genre. I like the martial arts references, it adds a bit of humor/theming that really helps the album to stand out.
Pavement
4/5
It's a good album, it does have some weak points but the strong parts are quite strong.
Beatles
4/5
This band is pretty good, they should be famous or something. The title track is a great opener to an album, it may set the bar a little too high for the rest (even if it is all quite good).
Dolly Parton
4/5
Great stuff.
Favorite track: "Wildflowers"
5/5
Favorite track: "Brainwashed"
Miriam Makeba
5/5
I'm always excited when this list introduces me to things I was totally unaware of before, such as Miriam Makeba's wonderful voice and these amazing songs. Who ever could have guessed that there was so much more to music than just British rock?
Favorite track: "Mbube"
Morrissey
2/5
Musically, I thought this was a very good album, 4/5 stars. I didn't like it quite as much as I have some of the other Morrissey music I have heard on this list. However, lyrically it is another story. This album just feels so pretentious and judgemental that listening to it was kind of a chore. Maybe others would feel differently, but it just kind of dragged the whole experience down.
Anthrax
4/5
Favorite track: "Medley: ADI/Horror Of It All"
Sonic Youth
3/5
This was alright, but I didn't care for the album as much as for other Sonic Youth projects on this list. This album takes a while to figure out what it seems to want to be, and then it wanders away from that. Like many Double albums, I wonder if it would be better if it were merely edited down a bit.
Favorite track: "Sugar Kane"
Madness
2/5
There is an edit of "Our House" on YouTube which just repeats "Our house, in the middle of our house" repeatedly for nine minutes. In college, one of my friends hated that video so much that he would leave the house if someone pulled it up. One time someone played the song in the car and this guy got out to walk two miles home from Olive Garden.
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
I actually did rather like this album, but it doesn't really feel essential. I had never heard of this group before, so maybe they are more influential than I give them credit for, but this doesn't stand apart from some of the other rock on this list.
Run-D.M.C.
2/5
I never cared for this sort of back-and-forth style of rapping. I can see where the genre was still developing here, especially in the diss track, but this album doesn't work for me. "Rock Box" is pretty great, though.
Stereolab
4/5
I don't know how to rate this one, I keep going back and forth on whether I love this album or am vaguely annoyed by it. There's some really interesting and experimental things going on here, but I don't think everything quite works. But the simple fact that I have had to think about it this much means it belongs on this list.
I have to decide upon a rating now, I think that I will say this album is great but imperfect.
Favorite track: "Metronomic Underground"
Ryan Adams
2/5
This is OK, but kind of hollow.
Favorite track: "Bartering Lines"
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
This is a pretty unforgiving album, and I will give it props for being uncomfortable without just being edgy. I didn't find it very interesting musically, unfortunately.
Skepta
4/5
I like this album quite a bit. Skepta's performance has a snappiness to it that makes this album, if nothing else, a refreshing change of pace from the albums I have listened to the last few days.
Favorite track: "Konnichiwa"
Deerhunter
5/5
This album is all atmosphere, specifically the atmosphere of realizing you are trapped in an indie horror movie. Stay out of the woods.
Favorite tracks: "He Would Have Laughed," "Desire Lines"
Public Enemy
3/5
Sheryl Crow
3/5
This is a very "fine" album. Nothing impressed me overmuch, but it was enjoyable.
Favorite track: "The Na-Na Song," since it stood out as interesting compared to the rest of the album.
Korn
1/5
This album is a muddy mess which occasionally yields something sonically interesting. It's innovative in a few ways, so I guess it belongs on this list, but does every possible thing really need to be invented?
Black Sabbath
5/5
This is an epic album, both musically and in content. Music is at its best when it takes you on a journey, and this album takes you on a legendary adventure.
Favorite track: "Iron Man"
Pink Floyd
4/5
A suitably weird album for the origins of Pink Floyd. It wasn't quite what I have come to expect from the band, I even detected some Beatles-esque elements to the music. This isn't quite as good as the band's later work, but I would say it certainly belongs on this list.
Favorite track: "Interstellar Overdrive"
Incubus
2/5
This may be an overly critical rating, but this album just wasn't quite what I wanted it to be. I was unfamiliar with this band, but the sound is familiar to me (and somewhat nostalgic). Unfortunately there was a fair bit of the album that I thought didn't work well, and it compounded over time.
Kate Bush
5/5
Kate Bush's eclectic style is on full display in this wonderful album. Her lyrics and compositions combine to create a mysterious, engaging musical force.
Favorite tracks: "Running Up That Hill," "Cloudbusting," "Under Ice"
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
This is a really great album throughout and I don't think there was a single track that I didn't at least somewhat enjoy. Sometimes less is more, but this is one time where I'm glad to have one-and-a-quarter hours of listening.
Favorite tracks: "Voodoo Chile," "1983," "All Along the Watchtower" (Although I still don't understand why it was in Battlestar Galactica)
Jeff Beck
2/5
The guitar work on this album is really great, often overwhelming the other aspects of the tracks (for better and for worse). Unfortunately this album jumps around so much that there isn't really any throughline to grab onto other than that. I do always appreciate a good "Greensleeves" cover, though.
Favorite tracks: "Morning Dew," "Beck's Bolero"
Common
5/5
It's great to come back to an artist I listened to towards the beginning of the project with a much deeper appreciation of their musical inspirations and references. This album calls out such far-flung members of the list as Snoop Dogg, Fela Kuti, and Kraftwerk, and it's really cool to see music that I have come to appreciate being called out in this way.
In addition to that, the album is really good. Something about Common's voice and songwriting works well for me, and the social message is strong. As with many other hip-hop albums, I could do without the skits between tracks (although here at least there's a strong connection between the skits and the tracks), and there are a few slurs that leave a bad taste in my mouth, as other reviewers have pointed out.
On an unrelated note, I recently watched "Silo" and really enjoyed Common's character in the show.
Favorite tracks: "Time Travelin'," "Cold Blooded"
The Monks
2/5
This was OK. The history behind the group was the most interesting thing about the album, unfortunately.
Gang Of Four
3/5
This is pretty good post-punk music, it's moody and broody just the way it should be. Unfortunately the tracks kind of muddle together. I'm probably a bit tougher on music in genres like this 500+ albums in than I was at the start of this project, but this ranks as very good, not quite great for me.
Orbital
4/5
There's a really great electronic album in here that is unfortunately dragged down by a few weak tracks. The section from "Lush 3.1" to "REMIND" seems to be telling the story of a massive disaster, which is very cool. I'll give this one the benefit of the doubt.
Favorite tracks: "Lush 3.1," "HALCYON + ON + ON," "IMPACT"
Red Hot Chili Peppers
1/5
This album has aged remarkably poorly, which is saying something considering there are probably only a handful of singles from the album that were worthwhile in the first place. This album is greatly let down by the lyrics and vocals, and even the big hits are tired from years of radio play. There's nothing here to draw me back to this album. I expected something much better.
The album art is nice, though.
Favorite track: "Otherside" (but I would rather listen to the track of the same name by Lena Raine)
Van Morrison
3/5
This is a great quality recording for a live album. The tracks themselves are fine, but the real selling point is that it sounds like a great concert.
Favorite track: "Domino"
2Pac
3/5
At my age and background, I mainly just knew Tupac as the rapper who was shot and then later performed as a hologram. The album itself is very easy to listen to, it is well made and most tracks are enjoyable but not exciting. "Dear Mama" injects some much-needed warmth into the album. Overall, I now understand 2Pac's claim to greatness, even if I wouldn't necessarily place him at the forefront.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
This is an undeniably tragic album. Something about Nick Cave's voice and songwriting style never sits right with me, but here that fortunately works with the raw emotion and unease the album conveys. I guess I am willing to overlook some of my other problems with the album.
Favorite track: probably "Leviathan"
The Residents
1/5
I got a flat tire today and I listened to this album. What a way to start my week.
I am glad stuff like this is on the list, but listening to it caused me physical pain. I like the eyeball costumes, though.
Stephen Stills
3/5
Crosby Stills Nash and Young are like the Avengers, they have some great solo work but it's when the team comes together that things really get exciting. In this metaphor, Stephen Stills is Thor.
Favorite track: probably "Go Back Home"
The Shamen
2/5
This is kind of cool, but there's better electronica out there. I do quite like "Hyperreal Orbit," but the rest of the album is a little less interesting.
Wild Beasts
5/5
This album really works for me. There's just a bit of whimsy, and the androgynous vocals are lovely and intriguing. There's an ethereal quality to the album which draws me in, I doubt anyone who knows me would be surprised that I enjoy this one.
Favorite track: "We Still Got The Taste Dancin' On Our Tongues"
The Rolling Stones
3/5
This is my fifth Rolling Stones album on this project, and it's the first one that I thought was pretty solid all the way through. I still don't get the hype behind the band, but just about every track is decent to good. Unfortunately there isn't really anything that stands out as exceptional, it's a consistent album for better and for worse.
Favorite track: "Tumbling Dice"
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
It took until "good kid" for this album to click with me, but from there on out I have few complaints. Kendrick Lamar's vocals are laid back, almost conversational in places, like he is just telling you a story. I think it is this attribute which makes the more emotionally charged lyrics even more intense. The first part of the album didn't engage me as much, either in music or content, unfortunately.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Pretty good, I like the longer songs best.
Favorite track is probably "Over and Over"
Ray Price
2/5
This is fine but there's a place and time for this music- and it's not my morning commute. I'm sure this would be pretty amazing to hear live, though.
Favorite track: "Night Life"
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Once again this is alright, but it would be better in the right time and place. This is a very aggressive and loop-heavy album, the kind of music that sounds best witch flashing lights and a fog machine. Unfortunately, it is lacking in substance without that.
Favorite tracks: "Setting Sun," "The Private Psychedelic Reel"
Pentangle
4/5
This one hits a soft spot for me with the vaguely medieval-sounding folk rock. It's very enjoyable (indeed I had already liked several songs on Spotify) with its acoustic melodies and plucky sitar. It's definitely not my favorite of this sort of folk rock subgenre, but I probably would have given it 5 stars if I were listening in November.
Favorite tracks: "Light Flight," "Train Song," "Hunting Song"
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
It hasn't been long since I listened to "Electric Ladyland," and this album isn't quite on the same level, but it's still pretty great. It's all the masterful guitar work you would expect from Hendrix, unfortunately the songwriting is a bit weaker. Fortunately, weaker here is still world-class. Unfortunately, this album is just edged out of the top rating for me.
Favorite track: "One Rainy Wish"
X-Ray Spex
5/5
This album comes out of the gates swinging and never lets up the pressure, to combine some metaphors. It's an already solid punk album even before the sax comes out, which gives it a new level of character that sets X-Ray Spex apart. There's just the right amount of British silliness throughout that it has to be taken seriously. "Germfree Adolescence" is really the track that brings everything together, taking a moment to slow down and make sure the message gets through. This is everything I want to hear in a punk album.
Lauryn Hill
3/5
Pretty decent, for some reason this album sounded great in my car but less good on my headphones, though. Anyways, I liked this more than most hip hop.
Favorite tracks: "When it Hurts So Bad," "Ex-Factor"
Dire Straits
4/5
The first half of this album is a 5 star album and the second half is three stars. It starts off really interesting but there's a disconnect and a lot of the final tracks are pretty bland (though the guitar work is still skillful).
Favorite tracks: "Money for Nothing," maybe "Ride Across the River"
Baaba Maal
4/5
Always excellent to see a non-English album on the list. This one is very good, but the tracks are very difficult to distinguish to my primarily-English language hearing. This album doesn't move me quite as much as some other World music, but it is still great.
Favorite track: probably either "Djam Leelii" or "Maacina Tooro"
The Byrds
1/5
Sometimes being boring is worse than being bad, and unfortunately this is a pretty boring album. It's just so flat throughout, there is nothing that stands out to me here. Even my favorite track on the album, "My Back Pages," is a Bob Dylan cover. I don't think anything here was bad, but I don't see myself coming back to this album in the future.
Dizzee Rascal
1/5
This one just didn't work for me, the style feels like a gimmick. Maybe another time I would have found it fun, but unfortunately this was largely a chore to listen through.
Favorite track: "Fix Up, Look Sharp"
Deee-Lite
2/5
There wasn't a lot to this album, but it was fine. There wasn't a song that made me really want to listen more.
Duke Ellington
5/5
This is great music performed by excellent artists, the concert vibe is cool as it is a glimpse into the experience of a 50's concert.
Favorite track: there's a lot of good stuff here, but probably "Festival Junction"
Metallica
4/5
"Enter Sandman" is a great opener, and the rest is good but doesn't quite rise to that level (although I also quite enjoyed "Nothing Else Matters" as a bit of a change of pace.
Bert Jansch
5/5
This is what I wanted to sound like when I was a kid learning guitar. Maybe I should pick it up again.
The Who
4/5
A good album that works together very well, especially towards the beginning. I think it does get bogged down a bit in the concept, but it's still a very impressive achievement. A few tracks were misses for me, but it is generally a great sound with a few standouts.
Favorite tracks: "Underture," "The Acid Queen," "Pinball Wizard"
Coldcut
4/5
Older electronic music is really interesting because it has a lot of experimentation that you have to look off the beaten path to find these days. This is a pretty good example, using interesting samples and bridging elements between tracks to great effect. It's a little too long, but most tracks are pretty good. It's a shame that it's so difficult to find this album streaming anywhere.
Favorite track: probably "People Hold On"
Bad Brains
5/5
I had never heard of Bad Brains before, so this one was a great surprise. It's such a punchy album. The guitars are intense in the best way, the vocals have a raw edge to them, and there's an interesting history behind the band and this album in particular. What's not to like?
Favorite tracks: "Re-Ignition," "She's Calling You"
Kate Bush
4/5
It hasn't been long since I listened to "Hounds of Love," and my comments about Kate Bush's style still stand. I don't care for this album quite as much, it's more subdued in a way.
Favorite track: maybe "Night of the Swallow"
Eurythmics
3/5
This is another one of those albums that's decent but is elevated by one big hit (the title track in this case, of course). The album started pretty strong but I feel it got weaker towards the end, or maybe the style just started getting repetitive. That being said, I also really liked "This City Never Sleeps," it really nails the feeling.
ABBA
3/5
It's a fun enough album with a bit more bite than I normally expect from ABBA.
Favorite tracks: "Soldiers," "The Day Before You Came"
Drive-By Truckers
4/5
As someone who went to high school in rural America, this album pretty well encapsulates the feeling. The album rotates between tracks with a lot of talking, more traditional-sounding country songs, and gruffer, more "Drive-By Truckers sounding" songs (for lack of a better descriptor). The story of the album is correlates to the scenes I experienced: the hero worship of Lynyrd Skynyrd (in my case, it was Duck Dynasty that people fawned over, but really anyone with a redneck persona would suffice), the car full of kids wrapped around a telephone pole (in my class's case, shortly after graduation). Musically, I find the raw vocals of Drive-By Truckers much more fitting for country music than the overly-polished music you typically hear on the radio. Overall, this album accomplishes exactly what it set out to do.
Favorite track: "Plastic Flowers on the Highway"
Megadeth
2/5
This is instrumentally good but I found it mostly unmemorable.
Favorite track: "Bad Omen"
George Jones
2/5
This one is fine, I don't really have anything against it except that it feels like the same song over and over again, except for the last song which is a dig at judgemental fans.
I don't know. It's OK, but I would only listen again if someone else put the album on.
The Stooges
4/5
This album has a neat sound and it hums along at a good pace. The style is pretty forward-thinking for 1969.
Favorite track: "I Wanna Be Your Dog"
Lambchop
3/5
I thought this one was pretty interesting at first, but something about it just didn't work well in the long run. I think the vocals are just a bit too relaxed or detached, I enjoyed the orchestral score on "Nashville Parent" a lot but the lyrics didn't impress me. This does seem to be prescient of a bunch of post-2000 indie music, so it is an interesting album on that front.
Favorite track: maybe "Up With People"
Q-Tip
4/5
I enjoyed this quite a bit, despite not usually preferring hip-hop music. The album has a relaxed feel to it in most places that really sets it apart.
Favorite track: "Life is Better"
Bob Dylan
5/5
This is Bob Dylan at the peak of his game for me (he stayed up there for a long time, fortunately). His strengths here are his lyricism and musicianship, of course, and his distinctive voice lends a grounded, common-man quality to this music. This album features a number of hard hitters: "Blowin' in the Wind," "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," "Oxford Town," "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right," and more. We are lucky to have him.
Femi Kuti
4/5
It can be annoying to always be compared to your parents, but Femi Kuti does a good job carrying on his father's legacy here. The social message is still relevant and the music is very good as well. I don't think this album is quite as strong as the Fela Kuti albums on the list, but it's not far off.
John Lennon
3/5
I was bracing myself for Yoko Ono, but fortunately she was only mentioned by name. I thought this album was pretty good overall, but I didn't love it. I can see how influential it was, and the primal screaming is a wild direction for an artist as popular as Lennon to go in. But there is something that rubs me the wrong way about this album, I suspect it is the lyrics of John Lenon unrestrained by the other Beatles.
I feel that "Mother" really encapsulates the best parts of this album. Overall, it's an interesting listen and certainly belongs on this list.
Ananda Shankar
3/5
Now this is a curious album! I appreciate an album that spells out its mission right on the album art, and I think it fulfills Ananda Shankar's ambitions well. The cover of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" is fun but also a little uncanny. This aspect of the album strikes me as some kind of precursor to a lot of YouTube music channels that mix styles and cover songs. Unfortunately, the album overall reminds me of those kiosks you used to see at museums that had samples of new age CDs, but that is due to something that came later than this album.
Favorite track: "Sagar (The Ocean)"
M.I.A.
4/5
I didn't know what to expect going in but I kind of love this. It's a difficult album to pin to a genre.
Favorite tracks: "Amazon," "Bucky Done Gun"
Rush
5/5
The first side of this album is phenomenal, especially the "Temples of Syrinx" portion of the medley. The second half of the album is a little weak in comparison, but "A Passage to Bangkok" was another highlight of the album.
Richard Thompson
5/5
A very nice folk album with a lot going for it, the track "The Calvary Cross" is the star here but the album is pretty solid throughout. This one probably ekes into the top rating.
Eminem
1/5
"Role Model" firmly establishes this album as satirical, but unfortunately I knew a lot of kids growing up who took Slim Shady to be that role model, and that hinders my ability to enjoy this album. The beats are good and there are quite a few of the clever rhymes that make up Eminem's signature style, as well as a few moments such as "My Fault" which are actually pretty interesting, but I just can't get behind Slim Shady.
Supertramp
5/5
This album is a lot of fun, and each track works together very well. As a unit, I may like "Crime of the Century" more than "Breakfast in America," although I probably prefer more tracks on the latter album.
As for a favorite track, it's a tight race between "School," "Bloody Well Right," and "Crime of the Century"
Os Mutantes
5/5
It's super neat to see a style which has popped up numerous times on this list be adapted to a different language and culture, Os Mutantes does not disappoint on that front. The Neatles-esque sounds of this album and Portuguese lyrics make for a unique and valuable listening experience. I expect that my appreciation of this album will only grow on repeat listens, and am rating it accordingly.
Favorite track: "A Minha Menina"
Massive Attack
5/5
There's really great vibes in this album. A few tracks don't 100% land for me, but listening to this album was a great experience. I have always been aware of Massive Attack, but I will definitely check them out more after hearing this album.
Favorite track: "Protection"
Soft Cell
4/5
This is some pretty classic synth-pop, glad to see it on the list. There's a few really good songs and some which are... not as great. But even at its worst, this album is still deliciously retro. 3.5/5, rounded up.
Favorite tracks: "Tainted Love," "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye," "Where Did Our Love Go?"
The Bees
3/5
This is a sunny, chill album and made for perfect listening on my morning commute. As a whole, it gets less totally consistent as it goes on, unfortunately. It was really weird to hear "A Minha Menina" on here just three days after getting Os Mutantes, I initially thought that something had gone wrong with my streaming. I appreciate the connection: here you have a British indie group adapting a Brazilian psychedelic group which, in turn, adapted an American folk rock song. These little connections show the evolution of our modern music so well and are fascinating to discover.
Favorite track: "Angryman"
Billy Bragg
1/5
I don't know what it is, but this album just doesn't work for me. I think it's partly Mr. Bragg's voice, partly the compositions, and partly the entirely unsubtle lyrics. I could probably work with this if it was just two of the three, but it sadly falls flat.
Favorite track: probably the one about trains
Primal Scream
3/5
This started off pretty strong but, like so many other albums, I don't think it was able to maintain the momentum. It's still a solid album throughout, but maybe doesn't feel essential. There is a surprising lack of primal screams, though. Anyway, I could see myself rating this higher on another day, but here it stands today.
Favorite track: I liked a few, but "Movin' On Up" is the easy answer.
Television
5/5
Will I give this album five stars based off of the title track alone? Signs point to yes.
I don't think the rest of the album quite lives up to "Marquee Moon," but there are still inventive counter-melodies and clever lyrics enough to carry the album.
Mercury Rev
4/5
There are two standout tracks for me on this album: "Holes" and "Goddess on a Hiway." I found he rest of the album just kind of OK, but then something about the transition between the closing tracks ("Pick Up If You're There" & "Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp") recontextualized the rest of the album for me. There's a continuous movement towards going away throughout the album, interspersed with yearning introspection.
And also there are holes, dug by little moles.
Dirty Projectors
2/5
I found the front half of the album somewhat weak, but things started improving with "Stillness Is the Move." By the end I was left thinking that this was a decent album, but unfortunately not one I am likely to seek out often.
Pink Floyd
5/5
"Wish You Were Here" was my introduction to Pink Floyd. I didn't have access to a lot of music at the time so it ended up on frequent repeat, and my appreciation for the album grew a lot over time- and it did have to grow, I kind of didn't like the album on first listen. But the haunting synths and slowly-evolving melodies drew me back. These days, the title track is probably my favorite Pink Floyd song. I'm leaving out a lot of things that I could say in my review here, but I will sum them up briefly: this is a masterpiece of an album.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
It's fine. Leonard Cohen isn't growing on me but I certainly don't hate this album. Should it be on the list? Maybe. I'll give it three stars and then nobody will ever read this review again.
Favorite track: "The Partisan"
Traffic
2/5
This was a folk album, sure. It's not even bad, but I don't think it belongs on this list. Things didn't get interesting until "John Barleycorn" which is, like, it's the end of the album. I dunno. On this list I sometimes think a boring album is the worst kind of album. I guess it doesn't deserve a 1, though.
Laura Nyro
3/5
This is an interesting album and, while it doesn't always work perfectly, is rather innovative for something released in 1968.
Favorite track: probably "Once It Was Alright Now (Farmer Joe)"
Air
3/5
Something felt odd about this album, but seeing that it is a film soundtrack explains that. (Honestly, I wish there were more soundtracks on the list, this is my second one that I am aware of and I am 600+ albums in.) It's a very good electronic score, but there are fumbles in a few points for me - especially the narration track at the end, which is fine but seems unnecessary.
Favorite track: "Dirty Trip"
Gene Clark
3/5
I really loved "Silver Raven" and wish the rest of the album was a little more like it. This is still a solid album overall.
Arcade Fire
5/5
This album really captures the inherent angst and unease of the modern Western city. "Sprawl II" is the song that introduced me to Arcade Fire and is probably still my favorite track on the album - but listening through the whole album in order for the first time, "The Suburbs" and "Ready to Start" strike me as equally strong examples of the album's thesis in addition to fitting into the structure just a bit more organically. And I don't idly invoke an element of a college writing assignment here, this album is structured like a typical essay with an introduction, a body containing the bulk of its arguments, and an engaging conclusion. The main difference, of course, is that this album is a much more enjoyable listen than anything I wrote in ENG 201.
The Modern Lovers
2/5
If I heard one of the first few songs from this album in a movie from the 70s, playing while the square-jawed, golden-haired protagonist drove down a California highway in his convertible with a girl at his side, I'd think that it was pretty cool music. I would pay attention to the credits and look up the song on Spotify and listen to it about three times in a row. Then I would add it to a playlist and three months later it would come up again and I would wonder where I came across this song and why I added it to this specific playlist. Yup.
Favorite track: "Roadrunner"
The KLF
5/5
I remember when I was a kid and my dad played an old record titled "Doctorin' the Tardis" by a band that called themselves The Timelords. The record sleeve featured a photo of an old police car which proudly proclaimed itself to be the creator of the album. The entire thing consisted of several remixes of the Doctor Who theme song - and it was awesome.
Of course, I later learned that this album was not in fact created by a motorcar, but was instead a work of the enigmatic KLF.
Even if this weren't an awesome album (which still holds up decently well, in my opinion), it certainly belongs on this list if only for the sake of introducing people to the strange band that created it. I mean, they announced their retirement from music by firing a machine gun towards the audience, deleting their catalog, and burning a million pounds - and their antics neither began nor ended at that! This is certainly a band everyone should hear at least once, it's just a shame that their music is still difficult to find on streaming.
Favorite track: "3 A.M. Eternal"
The Auteurs
2/5
This was a fine album, and I probably wouldn't mind listening again. But unfortunately, that's just 2 stars under my system. There's a lot of promise in this album but it doesn't quite get there. I don't think this one makes the cut, but it's not bad.
Favorite tracks: "How Could I Be Wrong," "Home Again"
Fugazi
4/5
This album works. It's loud, has some cool sounds, and speaks to a timeless message: the world is a frustrating place.
Favorite track: probably "Repeater"
PJ Harvey
2/5
This one didn't 100% work for me, unfortunately. I get what the album is going for but it, but I didn't care for most of the songs. Maybe I will feel differently if I ever come back to this album.
Favorite track: "On Battleship Hill"
Giant Sand
1/5
"Shiver" was decent, "Satellite" was good except for the vocals. Unfortunately, the only chore here was staying awake through the album.
Bee Gees
2/5
This was interesting, it was kind of neat to learn that the Bee Gees did a different style. It's fine, but a far cry from "Stayin' Alive."
Favorite track: "When Do I" is kind of neat
Janis Joplin
5/5
It's hard to find problems with this album, it was a great listen on my morning commute.
Favorite track: maybe "Move Over," but will take some more listening to decide.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
It's unsurprising how natural African rock music feels, considering that Western rock was born out of African traditions. This album is pretty great, and there's a really fascinating story behind it.
Favorite track: "Sekou Oumarou"
Nirvana
5/5
I would agree that this album is essential listening. It's very good for a live album and really captures a snapshot of the time. I find Nirvana to be a little inconsistent, but this album does capture some of their best songs. True to form, my favorite track was the Bowie cover. I'm feeling a little generous on this rating, because even if it is far from my favorite album, I think it is a very important one.
Björk
4/5
It's been hard for me to quantify my feelings about this album, but the almost eerie quality of Björk's vocals works well. Even if the songs feel a little disjointed, it's an enchanting and even romantic sonic experience.
Favorite tracks: "Atom Dance," "History of Touches"
Tito Puente
3/5
This is a very fun album, and a very of-its-time album. An enjoyable listen, but not an everyday listen. Accompanied by the right food and atmosphere, this would be a 5/5 album.
Favorite track: "Hong Kong Mambo"
David Ackles
1/5
Something felt off about this album to me. Unfortunately, I didn't review it right away, and it didn't stick out enough to me to listen through it again. I believe my favorite track was "Midnight Carousel."
The B-52's
3/5
This one was a little rough at the beginning, and it felt rather dated to me. However, towards the middle I had come around a lot more on it. There's a playfulness here that is infectious. I could see myself scoring this album higher in the future.
Favorite track: "Rock Lobster."
The Undertones
1/5
Of all the self-titled debut albums released in 1979, I prefer "The B-52's," which I happened to draw from the list just yesterday. This is a fine album, but it suffers in the comparison.
Favorite track: "Get Over You," maybe
Steve Winwood
5/5
Looking at the reviews, some people dislike this album because it sounds dated. That's funny, because for me this album is more appealing because of the retro sound. The synths on "While You See A Chance" aren't something we hear much of these days, and we are worse off for it. The album is a really fun listen overall.
Favorite track: "Night Train"
The Icarus Line
1/5
I didn't much care for this one, it was mostly indecipherable noise. A few tracks worked alright, but the overall package was monotonous. Maybe a little harsh on this rating, but there were a few times these songs rubbed me the wrong way.
Favorite track: "Getting Bright At Night"
Tim Buckley
1/5
I've probably mentioned it in another review, but I like longer songs. I prefer when the music has a chance to breathe and you can just... live in it for a while. But the song has to be interesting enough to engage me for the whole length. Unfortunately, this album does not succeed at that. Six minutes of "Buzzin' Fly" is great, but ten minutes of "Love from Room 109..." is painful to sit through. The compositions on the first two tracks are great, and the melancholy folk songs are refreshing in small doses. This album is so close to being something I could love, but in being so close it ends up being farther away from what I want to hear.
OutKast
3/5
That was a lot of music. It's very creative, but I am not sure it gave me the best picture of the group, since the two halves are almost entirely separate. I thought this one was pretty good, but it doesn't earn credit for being two albums.
The Only Ones
4/5
This isn't the most unique album on the list, but I'm fine with that. "Another Girl, Another Planet" won me over despite my initial skepticism, and the rest was just good, solid rock music.
Billy Bragg
2/5
I like Wilco, but this collaboration falls on the weaker side for me. Trying to create music in another artist's style seems to have dampened the creativity Wilco and Bragg somewhat. It's not a terrible album, but it could have been a lot more.
Favorite track: "California Stars"
Incredible Bongo Band
4/5
Yeah, I guess I needed a bunch of bongos in my life.
Hanoi Rocks
1/5
On first impressions, this album was fine but one of the weaker rock entries in the list so far. Upon revisiting the album for this review, I liked it less. It's not really bad, but it gets the bottom spot. I could've lived without this one.
Favorite track: maybe "Ice Cream Summer"
Simply Red
4/5
I enjoyed this one quite a bit. It's got a bit of jazz and some retro synths, it's just a fun time.
Favorite track: "Money's Too Tight (To Mention) - The Cutback Mix"
AC/DC
4/5
This album is aptly titled, since it is "Highway to Hell" followed by a bunch of tracks that remind the listener of "Highway to Hell." That's not really a bad thing, though.
Favorite track: "Highway to Hell"
Queens of the Stone Age
2/5
People around me who like the same type of music I do seem to love Queens of the Stone Age, but I have never really been a fan. There are a few tracks from their discography that I am quite fond of, but unfortunately none of them put in an appearance here. There isn't much unique about this album, but it's still good-just not something I will come back to often. Or maybe ever. 2.5/5, but I am rounding down.
Favorite track: "Mexicola"
Eminem
1/5
Eminem is talented, and his rhymes are entertaining, but I just don't like this at all.
Stereo MC's
3/5
This is a fun enough album, and it makes for great background music while doing artistic work. It probably just eases into 5-star territory.
Favorite track: likely "Everything"
Jane Weaver
3/5
I liked this album, but it's been a few days since I listened and it didn't stick with me very well. Listening again, I still think it is pretty good, but this just doesn't hold its own among some of my top albums on the list. I've tended to be more generous on my rankings, but this one's probably middle of the road.
Favorite track: "Slow Motion"
Tears For Fears
5/5
Of course I've heard and enjoyed "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," but the rest of this holds up as well. I'm actually more familiar with this album than I first expected.
Favorite track: "Shout"
Scott Walker
2/5
I liked the energy at the start, but... I dunno. This one gives me weird vibes. The orchestral backing is great but the audio on the vocals feels detached in a distracting way. On top of that, the lyrics feel dated in places. 2 stars for Scott 2.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
4/5
Based on the album name, the artist name, and the album art, I expected something unique and experimental. I wasn't picking up on those ideas though, at least not until after the title track. The second half of the album delivered a lot more of what I hoped for in this album, and from this list. I can definitely see myself growing to like this album more in time.
Favorite track: hard to say. Maybe "The Romance of the Telescope?"
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
1/5
650 albums in, this list has yet to convince me to enjoy Elvis Costello.
Stephen Stills
2/5
This was a decent album, if a bit overlong. It was also consistent with how I feel about other solo albums by various artists named Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young: if these guys worked together they could probably make some pretty good music.
Favorite track: "The Treasure - Take One"
Bad Company
4/5
Bad Company
Bad Company
Bad Company
Einstürzende Neubauten
5/5
Albums like this are the reason this list should exist. It's strange, it's distressing, and I never would have sought it out on its own. But it's the kind of thing that everyone should hear at least once.
Great music provokes an emotional response. The album starts incredibly abstract and industrial, building track upon track until it reaches the title song, which is the first piece on the album that sounds like a traditional song. It's a moment to breathe, but even still, the driving beat keeps up. After "Kollaps" ends, it dissolves back into sounds of metal clashing and abandons the pretense of melody and harmony. It's an utterly unique experience, and puts me in the mind of an art gallery, which is neat.
Favorite track: "Kollaps"
Elvis Costello
1/5
In the past five days I've had two Elvis Costello albums and Kollaps. What will this do to my spotify recommendations? For some reason, the more I listen to this guy, the less I like him, and the more weird vibes I get from his music. This album certainly didn't change that, and I'm still not convinced he is singing the notes he thinks that he's singing.
Favorite track: Guess what, I don't have to pick one. This is an entirely self-imposed rule, and I don't even follow it half the time anyway. (I will add a track to my playlist though, because some things are sacred even in the face of adversity.)
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" brings to mind my years working in a kitchen (it played on the radio at least once an hour), but overall this album itself is pretty fun. I like the '80s synths, and there's a huge range of tracks here. I have heard many of them before, and would never have guessed it was the same artist. It's all very good, but "Time After Time" is my favorite track on the album by a country mile.
Ice Cube
3/5
This is the first album I've listened to by War of the Worlds 2025 star Ice Cube. The album is OK, but it's the relationship between Ice Cube's struggle and the LA riots of the early nineties that makes this album so significant. This is the rare hip hop album where I found the "insert" tracks to really elevate the listening experience.
Elton John
4/5
Elton John is great here, but this album stumbles a bit as it goes on. The 11-minute opening track is phenomenal, and there's quite a few great, classic Elton John sounds throughout the album. Some of the tracks make me cringe a bit - "Jamaica Jerk-Off" especially - but despite those missteps it's a really fun listen.
Favorite track(s): "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"
Robert Wyatt
4/5
I've been watching Twin Peaks lately, so this album fits pretty well into my current mood. It's a very interesting album, and I would be willing to listen again.
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
This is nice jazz music, but it doesn't wow me in the way that some of the other jazz albums on this list have.
Favorite track: "Manenberg Revisited"
Boston
4/5
This is kind of the epitome of classic rock. I'm only vaguely aware of some of these tracks, but listen to it evokes images of cool old cars, listening to the radio with the windows down, and neon lights. The sound of this album is sharp as crystal. The album art has guitars that look like UFOs, and the band is named after a place in America. It's everything you could want from a '70s rock album.
The only thing holding this back for me is that I think the tracks themselves could be a little stronger, and I don't really care for "Rock & Roll Band" (I think the trope of artists singing about their history in this way isn't super interesting, although some musicians do it very well). This rating is a close one, though.
Favorite track(s): "Peace of Mind," "Foreplay/Long Time"
The La's
2/5
This one's fine, but aside from "There She Goes" there is not much I'm excited about. I don't think I would ever complain about listening to this album, but I doubt I would often go out of my way to listen to it.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
Album #666 on this project, and there aren't many more aptly named for me to draw in this slot. I thought this was a good album, but overall I liked it less than "Tigermilk."
Favorite track: "Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying"
Little Simz
5/5
I went into this album with low expectations and was very impressed. There's quite the variety of influences and sounds, but the album works really well from track to track. Little Simz's rapping is great and the more musical nature of the background instrumentals really makes this something special.
Favorite track: "Wounds"
Happy Mondays
3/5
It's hedonistic pop rock, it's fine general and great in small doses. I kind of like the remixed tracks better than the original versions.
Bee Gees
1/5
Well, this was a rather boring album. The concept sounds interesting on paper, but something went wrong between there and the execution of the album. If I wanted a good story about a ship and Odessa, I would watch the 1925 silent movie "Battleship Potemkin." If nothing else, I could have some peace and quiet without this bland concept album.
The Coral
4/5
The opening track alone is a lot of fun, and there's a lot of varied influences and entertaining genre mash-ups throughout the rest of the album. I was all for the sea shanty fad a few years back, and I'm for this as well.
Favorite track: "Spanish Main"
Aretha Franklin
5/5
You can't argue with this album (well, you could, but you'd be wrong). It's just one great song after another.
Favorite track: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
Miles Davis
4/5
This is a really good album, though not Miles Davis's best entry on the list. (It's probably one of the coolest album arts on the list, though). The tracks are long and meandering, just as one would expect from an avant-garde jazz album. That's a good thing, in my mind, and it gives this album a more immediate feel, almost like you are listening live. My main demerit against this album is that the very long tracks blur together quite a bit, I think I would have liked the whole package better if the individual songs had more identity.
Favorite track: "Pharaoh's Dance"
The Doors
2/5
I normally enjoy psych rock, but this album just doesn't work for me. Everything's fine, but for the most part, things are just that: fine. I don't really see myself coming back to this album.
Favorite tracks: "Light My Fire," maybe "The End"
New Order
4/5
In the year 2025, this album oozes retro cool, and especially with the synths.
Favorite track: "This TIme of Night," "Elegia"
Johnny Cash
5/5
What is it that makes someone near death produce such poignant music? This is at least the third album I have listened to on this list recorded by a great musician soon before his death, and they have tended to be excellent. And what other artist can say that their sixty-seventh album is among their best?
There's a few folk and country songs here that are readily associated with Johnny Cash, but what really makes this album special are the covers of tracks like "Personal Jesus" and "We'll Meet Again." (Even with Cash's voice, I still picture the bombs going off when I hear that track - another enduring image, thanks to Stanley Kubrick.) These meditations on life and death are soulful, devastating, human. Well done, Mr. Cash.
Favorite Track: "Hurt"
The Doors
4/5
Definitely liked this one better than the last Doors album from three days ago. There was a lot more emotional punch to the songs. The blues direction is a good change.
Favorite track(s): "Cars Hiss by My Window," "L.A. Woman," "Riders on the Storm"
Johnny Cash
5/5
I rolled my eyes a little yesterday when I saw the Doors come up again, but I was legitimately excited to get this album today even though I just had Johnny Cash's "American IV" the day before yesterday.
"At Folsom Prison" was a great album, and this recording is even more energizing. There's a lot going for this album, from Cash's music to the rowdy atmosphere. If there's one complaint I have, it's that Cash seems to be acting a little too hard to be relatable to the inmates (He was a very charismatic man, but I've never found him to be a very convincing actor - even though he is in one of my favorite episodes of "Columbo").
Favorite track: "A Boy Named Sue." Do yourself a favor and listen to the version performed by the writer, Shel Silverstein.
Jazmine Sullivan
2/5
There's an odd feel to this album that a lot of pandemic-era productions have. The music feels underdeveloped and impersonal, which ends up feeling strange in the context of such intimate subject matter. The framing device for the album is interesting, but the way the stories are integrated feels completely detached from the rest of the album. I wonder how it would feel without those segments?
That being said, I didn't find it easy to get into this album, but I came around on it some by the end. As I write this, the album is a mere 4 years old; I wonder how it will be regarded in the future.
Favorite track: "Lost One"
2/5
This album bounced back and forth between "Hey, this is pretty good" and "Uh, this is kind of bad," but fortunately it's interesting even when it's goofy and not entirely put-together ("Your Dictionary"). I'll probably come back to a few tracks in the future, but the album as a whole doesn't work super well.
Favorite track: "Greenman"
Grizzly Bear
2/5
This is a very good album, and I had already come across a few tracks from it on my own, which I enjoyed. Unfortunately, I don't think it's a *great* album. I would describe this as a steady album, with no great peaks or valleys in quality, but unfortunately being so flat makes it kind of unmemorable. There's tons of indie folk rock out there that's more interesting than this - trust me, I've listened to quite a bit of it.
Favorite track: On this listen, "Two Weeks"
Mike Ladd
3/5
You might think that you can win me over by referencing sci-fi masterpieces. You would think correctly.
Favorite track: "For the Moon's Contractor"
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
I thought this was pretty good, and I liked how it felt like "I love America" rather than "Everybody else is worse than America"
Favorite track(s): "Further On (Up the Road)," "The Fuse"
Goldfrapp
3/5
I liked this album, but it had a few tracks that dragged it down for me, and several with obnoxious sounds. This one just could've been a little better, but it's not bad.
Favorite track(s): "Utopia"
Genesis
5/5
I love these sprawling songs full of mythic references and an epic feeling of Importance, even though they may cover such small things as a gang fight in a forest. I could listen to a lot more of this (fortunately, the list provides).
Favorite track(s): "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight," maybe "Firth of Fifth"
Slayer
2/5
You know what you're getting into with this one, and you aren't surprised by anything. This album is fine, but it kind of feels like if you have heard one thrash metal song, you've heard them all. That being said, a few of the tracks had kind of interesting combinations of loud noises. This one's fine.
Favorite track(s): probably "Raining Blood"
Baaba Maal
3/5
This is an enjoyable album, even though I don't understand the language or know the culture. It speaks to the universality of music that it can be convey emotion even when it cannot be fully understood.
Favorite track: "Yela"
Sabu
4/5
This one's pretty fun, although it's really all-in on the drums. There should be more call-and-response songs these days.
Favorite track: either "El Cumbanchero" or "Billumba-Palo Congo"
Sepultura
3/5
I'll echo what I said about the slayer album the other day: you know what you're getting into with this one and none of it is very surprising. That being said, I did enjoy this album more than the Slayer album, there were some pretty interesting tracks. Probably not quite enough to warrant an extra star, but close. The album art is cool.
Favorite track: either "Murder" or the "Desperate Cry" alternate mix
Mike Oldfield
5/5
What an odd little gem of an album. I could never quite predict what was coming next, aside from the fact that there would be tubular bells. The theme sounded vaguely familiar, maybe I recognize it from watching the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. I thought the part where he introduced each instrument was fun, and the manor tour during "Sailor's Hornpipe" may not make for the best song, but at least it's funny.
Favorite track(s): "Tubular Bells"
Iggy Pop
2/5
A few of these tracks reminded me of David Bowie, and reading the story behind this album easily explains that connection. That being said, I don't think this is as good as Bowie at his best, and a track like "Sixteen" really drags the album down in my estimation. This album is wavering on the line for me, maybe my opinion will change in the future if I choose to revisit it.
Also, why does Iggy Pop look like a completely different person in every photo I've seen of him?
Favorite track: "The Passenger." This one falls in the category of a few other albums that I gave low scores to, but I *really* like one track.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
I don't understand what it means to be safe as milk. I don't understand a lot of things about this album. But I did enjoy it.
Favorite track: "Electricity"
Magazine
3/5
This one's pretty decent overall. It doesn't sound like the 70's (not that the 70's necessarily sound bad, it just feels ahead of its time). It's got some cool tracks but a few are weaker. There's some really great guitar motifs.
Favorite tracks: "Burst," "The Light Pours Out of Me"
Guns N' Roses
3/5
Yup, it's Guns N' Roses. Yup.
Favorite track(s): Actually kind of a tough one. "Welcome to the Jungle" is a fun track, but I'd probably have to go with "Sweet Child O' Mine." These are some crazy huge hits to be on an album together. Unfortunately, even though I like these tracks, I'm not really in love with them or with this album as a whole.
Led Zeppelin
2/5
I thought this album was fine, but I really didn't care for it all that much. The exception would be for "Ramble On," but only because it references the Lord of the Rings.
Living Colour
3/5
A really interesting album that I can see myself enjoying more on future listens. Good thing none of these issues still plague America in 2025!
Favorite track: "Open Letter (To a Landlord)" stood out
Björk
4/5
Bjork is just as haunting in her aptly-titled debut album as she remained later in her career (sometimes, encountering albums on this list out of chronological order can be odd. Listening to an artist's early work after being familiar with their later work can be very revealing, though). I think the album stumbles occasionally, but it's still a great experience.
Favorite track: "Venus as a Boy"
Bob Dylan
4/5
Bob Dylan can sure paint a picture. These tracks are all lyrically rich, even if they aren't all my favorite tracks of his.
Favorite song: "Meet Me in the Morning" stood out to me on this listen, if for no other reason than I hadn't heard it before.
Mekons
1/5
I would swear I had never heard of this band, but lo and behold I have two of their songs saved on Spotify. The bizarre faux-country styling of this album unfortunately didn't work for me. There's moments: "Flitcraft" is pretty good. But this one probably isn't for me.
Spacemen 3
2/5
I really like all the versions of "Suicide," but the rest of the album doesn't work as well for me. It's a bit disjointed and the production doesn't seem great. I may listen again, but I don't see myself coming back to this one often.
Favorite track(s): see above
David Crosby
3/5
Pretty good and the album doesn't overstay its welcome. The variety of collaborators really lends itself to some interesting variety, but it sounds thoroughly like David Crosby's work. He has stronger music elsewhere, but this album isn't bad at all.
Favorite track: "What Are Their Names" stuck out to me
Norah Jones
2/5
This is a pleasant enough album, but it takes a swing into country-adjacent that I didn't care for. In a week if you played a song off of this album for me, I wouldn't be able to tell you if I had heard it before.
Favorite track: "I've Got to See You Again"
Culture Club
3/5
This one's alright. The lead singer's androgynous voice is very nice, but most of the tracks aren't very memorable.
Favorite track: "Stormkeeper"
Mylo
4/5
This is some great electronic music, and a cool time capsule of the evolution of that whole genre of music.
My favorite tracks from the album were "In My Arms" and the staccato "Rikki," but I have to give a shout-out to "Destroy Rock & Roll" which is pretty much a list of artists on this list, including yesterday's album (Culture Club).
The Byrds
2/5
This one's a decent album, but it's not all that memorable. It's probably telling that my favorite track was "Wild Mountain Thyme," a traditional melody, as opposed to any of the album's new material.
The White Stripes
1/5
I wasn't familiar with this album but, after listening to it, I am surprised it's on this list. It doesn't seem to offer anything really new or interesting. Somehow, almost everything about this album comes across as irritating to me, from the melodies to the vocals to the lyrics.
Shuggie Otis
3/5
I enjoyed this album. It's a very relaxing listen, but not much was standing out. However, "Sweet Thang" and "Freedom Flight" came along and kind of blew me away. I'm on the edge of increasing my rating, and I very well may in the future- I'm sure I will listen to this one again.
Genesis
3/5
The music itself is good, but the album is too long and held back in places by the narrative. I like that the story is kind of bizarre, but it's abstract enough that I don't know if there's really a point to making it a concept album.
Favorite track: maybe "In the Cage"