468
Albums Rated
3.16
Average Rating
43%
Complete
621 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
61
5-Star Albums
23
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Call of the Valley
Shivkumar Sharma
|
5 | 2.94 | +2.06 |
|
Microshift
Hookworms
|
5 | 3.03 | +1.97 |
|
Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey
|
5 | 3.05 | +1.95 |
|
Pump
Aerosmith
|
5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
|
Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
High Violet
The National
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi
|
5 | 3.29 | +1.71 |
|
Private Dancer
Tina Turner
|
5 | 3.3 | +1.7 |
|
At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
|
5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
|
Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
|
5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
|
1 | 3.41 | -2.41 |
|
Live Through This
Hole
|
1 | 3.3 | -2.3 |
|
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Dead Kennedys
|
1 | 3.27 | -2.27 |
|
Le Tigre
Le Tigre
|
1 | 3.14 | -2.14 |
|
Repeater
Fugazi
|
1 | 3.13 | -2.13 |
|
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
|
1 | 3.03 | -2.03 |
|
Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
|
1 | 2.97 | -1.97 |
|
London Calling
The Clash
|
2 | 3.97 | -1.97 |
|
Swordfishtrombones
Tom Waits
|
1 | 2.95 | -1.95 |
|
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Ice Cube
|
1 | 2.93 | -1.93 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Led Zeppelin | 4 | 4.75 |
| Beatles | 5 | 4.4 |
| Metallica | 3 | 4.67 |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 2 | 5 |
| Adele | 2 | 5 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 2 | 5 |
| Queen | 2 | 5 |
| Stevie Wonder | 4 | 4.25 |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Kanye West | 3 | 1.33 |
| Pere Ubu | 2 | 1 |
| Billy Bragg | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (61)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Sigur Rós · 21 likes
4/5
This is what the northern lights would sound like if they made music.
Television · 21 likes
3/5
Am I missing something? What’s the big deal with this album?
Scritti Politti · 17 likes
2/5
If you castrated George Michael and made him sing against his will, he would still sound better than this group.
Suede · 12 likes
2/5
Man oh man am I tired of getting served bands like this, where the lead singer is a whiny wet blanket. Why are so many of these albums in this style making this list? Where is the instrumental stuff? World music? Anything but western male-dominated bands? Oh well, I kinda liked their sadder songs like "The Drowners" and "Sleeping Pills."
Syd Barrett · 10 likes
1/5
Controversial opinion(?) but Syd Barrett without Pink Floyd sucks. Especially all the outtakes at the end of the album. I don’t care what kind of genius he is, I don’t need to listen to him cough into the mic.
1-Star Albums (23)
All Ratings
Count Basie & His Orchestra
2/5
Instrumental. Jazz. Not my favorite, but I appreciate being exposed to it. Good background work music.
Lorde
4/5
I already liked Lorde so this was an easy one to enjoy.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Really enjoyed this!
Arcade Fire
3/5
Fine. Nothing stood out to me as particularly great on this album.
OutKast
5/5
Wow what a lush tapestry of sounds. I loved the diversity of the tracks. This is a masterpiece.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
So nice to listen to Stevie Wonder for a full album. What talent, such a unique and recognizable round sound.
Yes
4/5
Weird and experimental and off the wall. I liked it, but probably not for a repeated listen.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Swanky, funky. I enjoy it but it's not one I'd pick up again.
The Thrills
3/5
Studio mixing and overall sound is thin. Repetitive.
What exactly is so great about this group? They sound like a throwback to traveling groups of the 70s. The music is basic, no particular instruments (including the lead singer's voice) stand out as talented or musically beautiful.
Best song is \"One Horse Town\" because it has a sweet melody and easy harmonies.
They grew on me over time, but still... not my style.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
Great album - can you imagine hearing this for the first time ever? Great hits entering the world: Free Bird, Simple Man. Wow.
The Allman Brothers Band
5/5
I looove the slide guitar! This must have been absolutely wild live. I don't prefer listening to live albums but this one was mixed well and I didn't hear the distracting crowd noise too much. And the talent (esp on the guitar) is on another level. Very "American" sound.
Billy Bragg
2/5
A resounding MEH. “California Stars” is recognizable and I love nearly everything Natalie Merchant does but I was left wondering why on Earth this album was included.
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
All in Spanish, nice cultural change up from what I've been listening to. I respect its contribution to the global music scene but it's not a re-listen for me. Lots of horns, that Latin percussion style, a recognizable cadence. I like the piano & slide guitar on "Murmullo."
Ali Farka Touré
2/5
I feel like I'm stuck in a rut of being served albums that are "fine" for me but have a lot of love in other parts of the country. I'm trying to appreciate them but this one is another album where I'm like OK, next. Good background music for working though!
Arctic Monkeys
3/5
Fun and raucous. This would have been a riot to dance to when it first came out. The lead singer embeds a lot of character and emotion into his voice. A little too "punky" for me to fully love, but I appreciate it all the same. All shorty songs, longest (by almost a full minute) is 4.5 minutes.
The Who
3/5
A cleaner sound than I would have expected for how I understand live shows from The Who to be. I enjoyed it, fondly remembering how silly some of their songs are.
Janis Joplin
5/5
Fully immersive and soulful sound. I love it.
Every song is (or feels like) a smash hit. Holy crap what an amazing album. I even loved the instrumental piece.
My Bloody Valentine
1/5
Categorically disliked this album. Every song set my teeth on edge. I’ve seen “shoegaze” type bands live and they are not any better that way.
Silver Jews
2/5
While I liked the voice of the singer, all songs similarly blended together into one long blur of sound. It was gentle to listen to but nothing stood out.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Tiny snippet songs. Feels old-timey, definitely from the mid-60s! Sweet voice, soaring background music. Pleasant listening but didn't evoke much of an emotional response for me.
5/5
This album still slaps, even all these years later. Timeless. Sorry not sorry, but Oasis crushed Blur in the Brit Pop competition.
Hanoi Rocks
3/5
Fun, immature, shallow. I would have loved to see these guys during a glam metal music festival along with Motley Crue, Cinderella, the Scorpions, Ratt, etc.
Beatles
5/5
I'm biased of course because I listened to this album quite a bit growing up. What a delightful mess of boundless creativity. I love it.
Mercury Rev
3/5
Kinda quiet and oddly distorted vocals. I liked the orchestra mixes behind "The Funny Bird." Never heard of these guys and I doubt they'll leave a lasting impression.
DJ Shadow
2/5
Not a lot of experience with listening to full-length albums by DJs. I guess I view them as a completely separate category in music since they are creating a collage rather than strictly brand new material. But I guess the same could be argued for all music? It's all recycled, built on previous artists, using the same sounds and instruments... Anyways this guy was fine.
Oasis
3/5
Kinda whiny, very Oasis. I liked it well enough but it's not like I'm gonna enter any of the songs into my personal rotation.
Beatles
5/5
I'd almost give this album 5 stars just based off of the song "Here There and Everywhere." What an absolutely lovely song. Keep giving me Beatles albums and I'll keep giving them 5 stars.
The Beach Boys
2/5
Meh. Studio mixing is primitive. I only recognized one song and it isn’t even a polished version of it. 2 stars because of sentimentality, otherwise it would be 1.
Billy Bragg
1/5
Oi really did nowt loike dis awbumm. And it 'ad two discs! Just a guy singing with his electric guitar... did not like this voice. I hope this is the end of Billy Bragg for me.
Air
4/5
Ethereal and trippy. I really enjoyed listening to this while I worked, I'd probably love cranking it with the windows down while I drive through a city at night.
Deep Purple
4/5
I enjoyed this more than I expected because of my limited understanding of Deep Purple's scope. I love this type of glam metal vocals, pumping guitars.
White Denim
3/5
Some hints of Rush with the interplay of guitar and bass runs. A little too jam-bandy for me to LOVE, but still way better than Phish, Dead, etc. I like the voice on the singer but only when he goes hard.
Dennis Wilson
2/5
Swanky and swaggery at times. It has a hint of the Beach Boys but different enough to stand on its own feet. Heavy threads of sadness throughout, especially the songs "Home," "Farewell My Friend," and "End of the Show" which hit hard knowing he is struggling so much with substance abuse at the time of recording.
Actually forget it the whole gd album is acutely sad.
Scissor Sisters
5/5
Campy, genuine mood-lifter. I loved nearly every track. Wavered between 4 and 5 stars but the sadder song "It Can't Come Quickly Enough" sent me into 5 stars.
David Bowie
4/5
I love this phase of Bowie. I like all the saxophones and saucy background singing. Almost five stars but not quite. "Young Americans" is always a banger.
Tears For Fears
3/5
A couple of huge hits, obviously, which makes it hard to imagine what it must have been like to hear them for the first time. I am wavering between 3 and 4 stars, that last song was so weird I'm afraid it's pushing me to giving this 3.
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
I love this album - it's full of fun, bluesy rocks songs. Puts a smile on my face, nostalgia from "Bell Bottom Blues." Minus one star because Eric Clapton broke my heart by becoming a dickhead.
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
I'm not a country music fan but her voice is sweet and pleasant to listen to. Her music is soothing and positive. Enjoyed it!
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
What the actual fuck is this?
It's like Primus, but take away all the talent and add a bucketload of annoying noise.
I almost turned this off but I sat through it. Once is more than enough for this lifetime.
Beastie Boys
3/5
This was their debut album! I'm not even a little bit of a Beastie Boys fan but I knew at least three of these songs. They sound like they're having so much fun. I want to give them 4 stars but a whole album of their thin yelly voices got tired after a while.
James Brown
3/5
So this is where Janis Joplin got her singing inspiration from. What a soulful performance. The energy of the crowd is high and infectious. I don't love live albums so I can't go above 3 stars on this one.
T. Rex
2/5
Honestly I like glam rock and I hear traces of Bowie in this but this album had no standout pieces. Boring.
Paul Weller
2/5
Who even is this? Pleasant background music, nothing remotely interesting about it.
Michael Jackson
5/5
I, like many people, remember where I was when I first heard this album. The crooners aren’t as good (Paul, just no) but everything else is so remarkable, it just doesn’t matter.
Beatles
3/5
Weird to hear so many covers by the Beatles who were absolute masters at writing their own music. Best song is "All My Loving." It's a little unpolished but undeniably fun. While I enjoyed this, since almost half of the songs were covers, I am only awarding 3 stars.
Talking Heads
3/5
Strange experience: I kept waiting for "Life During Wartime" to turn into "Psycho Killer" haha. Classic Talking Heads album. Fully of catchy bops, and I don't even particularly like this band.
R.E.M.
2/5
I historically have been pretty ambivalent towards REM. They're one of those bands whom I respect for what they have contributed to the world of music, but I don't choose to listen to. This album was a pleasant surprise. No standout songs, nothing to make it GOOD per se, but Michael Stipe is less whiny here than my audio memory of him would indicate.
Bob Dylan
2/5
This is tough because it's Bob mfckn Dylan. I went through a Dylan phase in college and really loved his poetic ramblings. I guess my tastes have changed since I really don't have the patience for his nasal inflections and longass songs. I do like "Tangled Up in Blue" and other singles, just not a whole album at once.
The Jam
2/5
Beginner’s rock. The singer is too punk-like for me. Forgettable. I liked the bass on “Down in the Tube Station at Midnight” though.
Talking Heads
3/5
This was fun! A romp through the unique sound of Talking Heads. A bit experimental so there are some misses, but most of the songs are cool and weird.
The Cars
4/5
I love the Cars. This is a tremendous (debut) album, chock full of hits. Punchy pop, immediately puts me in a good mood. Rock on.
T. Rex
4/5
I liked this album much better than the other T. Rex album that I was served from this project. It was sultry, glammy, and the musicians sound like they're in love with every song they perform.
The Only Ones
2/5
I liked the band and the music on this album a lot! But the lead singer ruins the songs. Like total annihilation.
Fugazi
1/5
Is this punk? It's mostly yelling. I don't like it. Pass.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
I listened to this while driving anxiously around North Philly in a torrential downpour. Joni, your voice soothes all storms. I love your grace and simplicity.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
I've never been a fan of Elvis's voice. His band is undeniably talented and his songs are catchy but his vocals just sorta wreck this for me.
Suede
2/5
Man oh man am I tired of getting served bands like this, where the lead singer is a whiny wet blanket. Why are so many of these albums in this style making this list? Where is the instrumental stuff? World music? Anything but western male-dominated bands? Oh well, I kinda liked their sadder songs like "The Drowners" and "Sleeping Pills."
Haircut 100
3/5
Another band with a lead singer who has this type of singing voice. I feel like I'm in a rut. I liked the funky guitar, percussion, and horns on this album - it was a nice peppy way to shake things up. But please give me a break from dudes who sing like Simon Le Bon/David Byrne/Billy Bragg. Not bad, and it's not their fault that they're showing up after a long line of similar bands.
Gene Clark
2/5
Low-key. Pleasant to listen to, but honestly whose world would this actually rock? Maybe that's not the point. "Where My Love Lies Asleep" is a soft, sweet song, and represents most of what is on this album.
De La Soul
2/5
This was clearly a lot of fun for these guys to record. I enjoyed the light-hearted nature of the tracks. One listen is fine.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
I love this band. It's another album where I wish I could have experienced what it was like to hear all of these hits on one album when it first dropped. I love the vocals, I love the twangy guitar. So different for what passes as "hits" these days.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Love Fiona. This was an amazing album when it came out - every song is great but SIX hit singles out of ten tracks? Greatness. And a perfect broody soundtrack for my angsty teen self. Swanky and jazzy at times, ragey and rocking at others, I really enjoyed the range of emotions displayed here.
Richard Thompson
2/5
I don't know these people but I really like the reverb guitar, gentle background vocals, and occasional falsetto on The Calvary Cross. The title track is very catchy. The rest of the album is pleasant for a listen, except for "The Little Beggar Girl" like who green-lights songs like this. The last track was a royal bummer.
Eminem
3/5
I really like "Rock Bottom" - this was the first time I've heard it. It's like the only song on the album that follows a standard song format. The rest of the album is a mess of crude and violent imagery, unconventional story-telling, and immature characters. While I respect Eminem's massive talent and how he carried rap into a different corner, I found most of the songs difficult to listen to. So how do I rate this? Based on talent (5 stars) or enjoyability (1.5 stars)?
Mike Oldfield
3/5
I was enjoying this as kind of a quirky background work music type of album but then the demon(?) voices started on track 2 amidst some pretty rockin guitar and I was jolted out of my flow. The rest of it was widely varied and interesting. Of course I recognized The Shining melody at the beginning. What exactly is going on in the last track?
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Quite the range of sounds out of this band - who even are they? Blues, honky-tonk, rock, gospel, some country vibes... Tirelessly recorded, I can hear the cocaine from here. I liked the soulful backup singers of "Let It Loose" and "Shine a Light."
The Stone Roses
3/5
An enjoyable album of jangly 80s pop. Given that I love music from this decade, I'm surprised I hadn't heard of this band. Particularly liked songs like "Made of Stone" and "This is the One." Enjoyable yes, but will I listen again? Probably not.
Ice Cube
1/5
Wow. I guess I'm not a gangsta rap girl. I appreciate some diversity in the albums (finally!) but... Such profanity and tough talk mixed with some good ol' misogyny. He's angry, and probably justifiably so (there is literally a drive-by as one of the tracks) but I still did not like this.
Madonna
4/5
I like this album - Madonna is going through her sleek, ethereal club phase and it evokes a wistful sense of nostalgia for my 90s life. Some wonderful songs on here, like "Frozen" and "Skin."
Beth Orton
3/5
I liked her wistful way of singing, perhaps for one song at a time. I don't love a whole album of her voice. Her songs are pretty but aside from "Stolen Car," nothing really stands out to me.
Kanye West
1/5
Fuck Kanye. Narcissistic sack of shit. This album is very good, some real bangers. But 1 star because his shoes suck and his public stances on white nationalism and antisemitism are reprehensible.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Lead singer's voice is airy and refreshing. The songs are light and fun. I'd put this on again and go for a drive in my nonexistent convertible. I especially liked the dreamy "Hysteric."
Tito Puente
3/5
A joyous departure from what I've been listening to. Compels me to get up and dance even though I don't know how. Not sure how to rate this. I liked it but probably won't listen again. Unless I'm throwing a Latin-themed dinner party.
Sade
4/5
OK. This is just a cool album made by a cool group.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
1/5
This album is full of stupid songs, which tracks with the past productions of the lead singer of Blur. whinge whinge whinge
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
One of my all-time favs. I will forever love the music these two poets make. One of my favorite lyrics of all time lives on this album: "I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep let the morning time drop all of its petals on me. Life, I love you..."
"For Emily..." is incredibly beautiful and inspired heartache in me even as a pre-teen who had no grasp of love.
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Most of the songs on this album are pleasant enough, easy-listening stuff. Nothing really stands out, except for when he goes hard, like during "Down." And that was awkward and didn't work very well. "Without You" is a recognizable power ballad. "Coconut" is cringey.
Otis Redding
4/5
One of the most expressive performers of all time. Most of the songs are covers, but I'd argue - with few exceptions - these are the best versions of these songs.
Common
2/5
I'm not a the world's biggest hip-hop fan but I'm open to the possibility of liking some. This album is not it for me. Common seems to be providing a lot of commentary on race and gender issues but it doesn't resonate with me. Must have been under a rock in the early 2000s because this was the first time I heard "The Light" - a vulnerable and sweet love song, but not enough to save the album for me.
Bon Jovi
5/5
Listening to this album again immediately transported me back to my high school days driving around in my clunky standard transmission Volvo station wagon. I loved this album, knew - and still know - every word by heart. The nostalgia, the guitar riffs, the talkbox, the heart and soul, the crush I had on Richie Sambora... it's all still there.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
2/5
While I recognize, appreciate, and have immense gratitude for this dude's contribution to rock and roll, I find his songs hokey. His songs are the formula used by many who came after and even though he's the giant whose shoulders they stood upon, I'm not yearning for another re-listen anytime soon.
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
Historically I'm not a jazz fan but this singer has a magnificent voice. "How High the Moon" includes her scatting (live) and it's like watching a gymnast execute a perfect routine.
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
A different listen for me. This album used a lot of the ethereal sounds I associate with sci fi and space-themed movies. It was fun to have on in the background as I drove around on a rainy day but it's not my favorite type of music.
Heaven 17
2/5
I like a lot of 80s music but this was a lot of fluff (needs more pumping base). I think I just wanted them to be Depeche Mode and they aren't. Honestly, this is what people are probably thinking of when they say they don't like 80s music. And why was this album so friggin long?
Syd Barrett
1/5
Controversial opinion(?) but Syd Barrett without Pink Floyd sucks. Especially all the outtakes at the end of the album. I don’t care what kind of genius he is, I don’t need to listen to him cough into the mic.
Boston
5/5
This is some of my favorite type of music. Classssssic arena rock painstakingly arranged, I love the layers of carefully and deliberately screeching guitars. I wish they (Tom Scholz) could have made 50 albums like this.
Daft Punk
2/5
Techno beats. Rather than grinding away at an ecstasy-fueled club, I'm listening to this during a slow Tuesday morning at work. I'll give it one additional contextual-dependent star as an acknowledgement of this unavoidable situation.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
3/5
Nice background music (especially if played live) for a dinner in a candle-lit, velvet-lined, red wine & martini-serving restaurant.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Wow what a voice, what an experience. I love the baritone and sultry vibes of this record. I love how his voice is buttressed by the soft backing vocals. -1 star for the synth use. Don't care for that sound, even if it was edgy for the times.
Le Tigre
1/5
God I hate this music. Punk sucks. And, sorry, but it's several orders of magnitude worse when it's being screeched at me by girl voices.
The Flaming Lips
3/5
A couple of WEIRD songs on this one. But I enjoyed it more than I expected - the tunes and singer were actually kind of soothing, wistful, and dreamy. And then there were space lasers (?) I wonder how the musical was. 3.4 stars.
Muddy Waters
3/5
Live. Very talented. Foundation of blues in America? I knew a couple of the songs.
Megadeth
4/5
Oh fuck yes. Drums yes. Guitar YES. Vocals were good, not quiiiiite great, which is why this album gets 4 motherfuckin stars from me.
Cat Stevens
5/5
A real banger, from start to finish.
Suede
4/5
Better (different!) than the other album I've heard from them on this list. Singer found his niche: dramatically belting out a song like it's a musical's closing number. I rather liked "The Wild Ones." "The 2 of Us" is full of anguish. Given how much I loved Queen (and glam rock) when I was a teenager, I probably would have gotten into Suede if I had known about them.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
What a classic sound. I'd recognize it anywhere, even if I didn't know the song. I can't believe I am just learning today that his father murdered him. YIKES. Anyway, this album is sex.
Metallica
5/5
Gods of rock, we are not worthy. Every single track is majestic, stellar, magnificent.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
4/5
This was a delightful, if unpolished, musical romp. I love Janis and I love her bluesy band but parts were uneven.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
I love this album. I walked down the aisle to “Thank You” but every song is a phenomenon.
Hole
1/5
I hated Hole when they were big, and I hate them now. Screaming into mic does not a song make. In my unpopular opinion they have only one not-too-bad song and it’s not even on this album.
Stereolab
2/5
I guess this type of music exists. And I guess there are people who go fucking nuts for it. I cannot imagine losing my shit for this chill synth repetitive sound. But it wasn't the worst thing I've heard. Some parts were pleasant.
Portishead
3/5
I enjoyed it. Nothing stood out but it was soothing to listen to. Would give it another, more thorough listen, perhaps.
The Clash
2/5
Historically, I have not enjoyed the radio hits from the Clash. Two of them are on this album. But there is also a wide range of offerings which have given me a greater appreciation of this band’s scope. However, I still dislike this type of lead vocals that seems so be so popular on this list: whiny, pissed off British boys.
Alice In Chains
3/5
Iconic sound from my adolescence. Perhaps due to this nostalgia, I did not tire of the songs. I welcomed the change up to a harder sound!
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Whoever made this list had a raging hard-on for British boy bands from the 80s. That being said, this band was one of the slightly better ones. I probably won’t remember it though.
Chicago
3/5
Parts of this album are like warm sunshine on my brain and it’s difficult to separate the quality of the songs from the love I have for the memories associated with that horn/guitar/vocal combo. And then there’s parts of the album that need to be tightened up: do I really need to hear six minutes of guitar feedback?
Frank Sinatra
5/5
How could I give this icon less than 5 stars? I fell in love for the first time while listening to “Under My Skin.”
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
I liked this: fun sound, peppy guitar. I wonder if they’re any good live.
Coldplay
5/5
I love this album. I bought it when it first came out and thus became an early fan of the new band Coldplay. The warm and immersive guitar, the soft vocals… every song is wistful and soothing and evokes a gentler time.
Carpenters
4/5
What a sweet album for these ears to take in. I enjoyed every track except the one where Richard sang and whatever the heck that last experimental one was.
Yes
4/5
Classic Yes sound. I have always liked their instruments, but I don’t care for the vocals. 3.5 stars rounded up - this album is short and sweet and leaves some wanting me.
Brian Eno
2/5
Too off-kilter and experimental for me.
Nick Drake
4/5
I have loved the song “Northern Sky” for years and I was happy to see I knew that and another song on this album. It was pleasant listening, features an unexpected amount of flute.
Elton John
4/5
Almost an AMAZING album. If it had been reduced by five or so songs, this would have been a masterpiece. All tracks were full of varying levels of fun and camp (except for “Candle in the Wind”) but that Jamaica song has got to go.
Ghostface Killah
2/5
I have no real way to evaluate if this is a good hiphop album since I am not a fan of hiphop. The gunshot made me flinch since I was outside listening to this. Takeaways: Drugs. Objectifying women. Numerous puzzling references to Tony Stark. I’m sure I just don’t get it.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Short and sweet. The guitar sound >>> Ozzy’s vocals. Of course this album is on this list, no problem saying that even though they’re not my favorite band.
The Roots
4/5
Eclectic, creative, and fun. I enjoyed this and want to return for a closer listen. +1 ⭐️ for Philly representation
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Marvin Gaye: the world is a mess
Also Marvin Gaye: just love one another
This album is seamless, a work of art.
Common
3/5
Seemed rather good. Hip hop isn’t my thing but I enjoyed a few of the songs, especially the title track and “They Say.”
George Michael
4/5
What a voice. His music is dramatic and soulful and there really can only be one George Michael. Some of it is a little over the top and I prefer his upbeat hit on this album ("Freedom.")
Pixies
2/5
Music like this - where the instruments drown out the barely audible vocals - really doesn’t do it for me. Like why even bother having worthwhile lyrics if nobody can hear them? The band sounds fine enough and maybe it was more a problem with my stereo but the mix is trash.
Neil Young
3/5
Mournful, almost country-rock at times, Neil Young probably deserves his own genre. I like him best when he's harmonizing with others, and that only happened a couple of times on this album.
Depeche Mode
4/5
When Depeche Mode are good, they are SO good. That bass sends me right back to an earlier time. That voice is instantly recognizable anywhere. The hits on here and out of this world, pulling up the average for the rest of the album.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
To quote my father (a serious CSNY fan) “they just don’t make music like this any more.” This is a rare moment in which I agree with him. This album is perfect.
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
This album was almost good but nothing really stood out to me. If it was a color, it would be a pleasant beige. Not offensive, but not interesting either.
Metallica
4/5
The mix on this album was crap - it was very bass-heavy and I don’t like not being able to make out James Hetfield’s voice and lyrics. However, the drums were phenomenal and while this version of Metallica is less melodic and more thrashy than the Metallica that I prefer, there is definitely a place for this album in my heart. I loved the last track, “Dyers Eve.” What a way to end.
GZA
3/5
While I am still not (and, this point, probably will never be) a fan of rap, I appreciate this guy’s obvious talent.
Snoop Dogg
2/5
He’s Snoop Dogg so he’s got that recognizable smooth flow which is just so cool. What isn’t cool is the casual misogyny and exhaustive profanity, both of which make this album a difficult listen.
Machito
2/5
To my untrained ears this just sounded like an organized mess of horns. I know I know. I’m sorry.
Scritti Politti
2/5
If you castrated George Michael and made him sing against his will, he would still sound better than this group.
Nirvana
3/5
Mostly crashy clashy noise with 2-3 major hits thrown in. I’m not a fan of Grunge but I appreciate these kings and what they did for music.
The Beach Boys
4/5
I liked this album more than their early silly shallow stuff. The songs here are somber, full of warnings and questions and wistfulness. I hadn’t heard a single one of them before, so I gained a greater appreciation for the Beach Boys’ breadth of talent.
Television
3/5
Am I missing something? What’s the big deal with this album?
Radiohead
4/5
An absolutely beautiful album to listen to the day after your cat dies.
New York Dolls
2/5
If someone went back in time and killed the butterfly who flapped its wings and set off the events that made New York Dolls a success, would that mean we’d be spared all the insufferable imitators of this vocal style? The band is fine. Can’t stand the singing.
The Electric Prunes
3/5
What an odd little album. I rather liked some of the tracks and others seemed silly, like songs for children.
Pearl Jam
5/5
One of the best. I love this album.
Depeche Mode
4/5
I love Depeche Mode. This album had a bit of everything - some hits and some wonky tracks. Like what is "Pimpf" even doing. Anyways, when they're good they're SO good and when they're weird, they're like normal weird.
The Prodigy
3/5
This was fine. Nice to paddle my kayak to.
The Boo Radleys
3/5
I feel about this album the same way I feel about some modern or minimalist art. "I suppose somebody had to do it, so why not them?" But that means it's a one-time listen from me, dawg.
The Byrds
4/5
A pleasant listen. The best song (by far, in my opinion) is the Bob Dylan cover. I am grateful to these musicians to provide shoulders for many others to stand on. Waffling between 3 & 4 stars...
Siouxsie And The Banshees
2/5
Ugh enough with this style of music already.
Linkin Park
4/5
Iconic sound. LP hit a vein of gold and then milked it for all it was worth. This album was for all those angsty teens existing without normalized therapy and proper mental health awareness. Hits like a greatest hits album.
Judas Priest
4/5
I love the theatrics of this band, especially coming from singer Rob Halford. What a fun time it was to listen to this! Some obvious hits, but the entire album is a celebration of metal <3
Guns N' Roses
5/5
I love this album. The raw vocals of Axl Rose and the over-the-top guitar off the Slash, it's all here to enjoy. Fun silly manic energy that must have been so crazy to hear for the first time. I know like 3 songs of these are played to death but just IMAGINE it. Put yourself into the shoes of someone hearing these guys for the very first time.
Neil Young
4/5
Very very Neil Young. Mournful and poetic. I don't really get where Neil got his reputation as a rocker since all of these songs seem carefully mellow. Maybe his live shows are real gnarly.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
I’ve never had a very high opinion of The Rolling Stones and this album did little to change that. Who actually wants to hear Mick Jagger free-style for 11 minutes. [I listened to the UK version]
Eagles
5/5
Probably one of the best albums ever made. And I'm not even really an Eagles fan. It's just that good. Don Henley fucks.
The Black Crowes
3/5
These guys are fine. I guess they opened the door for others to borrow some pretty recognizable sounds of the 90s. Nothing really stood out to me, but I was also fully immersed in that decade as I was growing up and all of the bands kinda blended together as their sounds washed over me.
Jimmy Smith
3/5
Difficult for me to rate soft organ jazz. The music gave me warm and fuzzy feelings, and I would love to have this playing in the background as I sipped a glass of red wine next to some candles in a dim restaurant.
Roni Size
2/5
Listening to this gave me anxiety. Spotify served me up a 5 hour, 4 disc album set for this title. No chance I was going to make it through that without falling ear-first onto a fork. I listened to the first one and called it a day.
PJ Harvey
2/5
She's talented and unique, just not my favorite. She just came and played at the Met here in Philly so good for her to have this kind of staying power.
Miles Davis
3/5
Jazz. Seems cool. Easy to listen to, I guess.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Somewhat sleepy until we were served up "Proud Mary" which is a delicious slice of glorious blues rock art. Aside from that track, the album is fun to listen to but mostly forgettable. Mostly.
Gorillaz
3/5
Almost there, but ultimately unsatisfying. Like a single coat of cheap paint in a really great color on a dry wall. Also, their art inexplicably gives me the heebie jeebies.
Fela Kuti
2/5
This drummy trumpety rhythm album resulted in the death of his mother and the destruction of his home? What?!
The United States Of America
2/5
Weird and trippy, very "of the times." Not my cup of tea, but I acknowledge that their contributions were far-reaching.
The White Stripes
3/5
The thin vocals paired with minimal instrumentation somehow result in a sound that is greater than the sum of its parts. I think the Whites could have shaved off 3 or 4 songs to maximize the punch of these particular Blood Cells.
Michael Kiwanuka
5/5
Ethereal, gorgeous, heartfelt. The soaring melodies, the swelling background vocalists, these arrangements make me FEEL deeply. The world needs more artists like Michael Kiwanuka. I'm very much looking forward to seeing him perform at the Met in a few days!
5/5
Well shit I love this album. Second half cannot keep up with the galactic speed of the first but that is only because the first three songs left the world breathless. “Running to Stand Still” remains in my list of top 10 songs of all time.
Jungle Brothers
3/5
This was enjoyable to listen to. Comfortable, like a soft pair of jeans. Can’t explain it.
The Go-Go's
3/5
Recognizable bubble-gum sound. Good for them, not interesting for me.
Jurassic 5
2/5
It's not my least favorite of all hiphop albums I've heard from this list. But it's not my favorite either. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I'm grateful for the exposure because I would have never listened organically to these guys.
Elvis Costello
2/5
I honestly don't get the hype. Would this guy even be famous if he hadn't changed his name and have the fortune of having an album gain popularity in the wake of [the other] Elvis's passing?
Can
2/5
More noise than music. This sounds like a bunch of above-average New York subway buskers found themselves in a recording studio. I would love to meet a dedicated fan of this group and have them explain to me what they love about listening to this album.
Bob Dylan
4/5
A handful of recognizable hits as well as a handful of songs that sound like the recognizable hits. He’s less of a singer than a poet soliloquizing his thoughts with a guitar and harmonica. I like when he laughs mid-speak/song.
Kings of Leon
2/5
I like quite a few of Kings' of Leon songs... but none of the songs on this album were any good! What even was going on with the lyrics on "Taper Jean Girl" and "The Bucket?" The latter was the only song that sounded like the Kings I loved in the mid-aughts.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
What a bonkers album. FM's musical genius shines through the experimental mêlée at times like beams of pure golden light. Many risky songs live here but only "Tusk" was a hit. And even that one is bananas.
Frank Ocean
3/5
Sexy and swanky. I already knew/liked "Thinkin Bout You" and other favorite track was "Sweet Life." A lot of sexy talk which isn't typically my vibe, but it was fun to listen to at a low volume.
Jane Weaver
3/5
Difficult to pin down a review for this one. Twinkly, ethereal, shallow… I feel nothing.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Leonard Cohen doing Leonard Coheny things. Man sounds like he’s lost all his friends, flung himself into an empty well, and then decided to cut an album.
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
Fun, get up and dance music. I don’t understand any of the lyrics, of course. But I enjoyed bouncing and bopping along to the snazzy beat.
Nina Simone
2/5
I want to give this queen five stars because of her legacy and impact on the music industry. But I found most of this album somewhat difficult to listen to. Maybe it's just not my style? I feel some kind of way that I like the white-man-covers of two of these songs better than her originals.
Sigur Rós
4/5
This is what the northern lights would sound like if they made music.
The Police
3/5
I wish I liked Sting's voice more. If I did, I'd be a much bigger fan of the Police. That said, this is a pretty good album. Quirky, eclectic, silly at times, and downright awful for one track ("Mother" seems like it was recorded by Primus before they figured themselves out). I want to give it four stars but it didn't quite reach that level for me.
Dr. John
2/5
Felt like I was on drugs listening to this. But if I were actually on drugs, this album might give me a very disturbing experience. If I saw this guy live, I'm 100% certain that his entire audience would be tripping balls.
The War On Drugs
4/5
This album washed over me like a warm waterfall. Wistful, wonderful, their use of reverb really tugged on my heart (esp "Burning"). Now I want to see these guys live. My one gripe is that many of the songs sounded similar.
Kate Bush
4/5
Eerie and ethereal. Though I admit that I was one of the millions who made their way into Kate Bush's catalogue due to "Stranger Things," "Running Up That Hill" is still the best track on this album. "Cloudbursting" was also good.
Miles Davis
3/5
Not a jazz fan, but I enjoyed listening to this while I worked. It felt like a great productivity booster.
Dizzee Rascal
2/5
I'm grateful to this project for giving me an album that I'd never listen to by an artist I've never heard of, in a genre that is brand new (to me). I didn't really like it but still, grateful.
Duran Duran
3/5
The hits are the hits. No doubt, great songs. I saw Duran Duran in 2004 and they were terrific. All that aside, the rest of the album is forgettable, too much same same in the other tracks.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
2/5
This is more country than rock for me: not my cup of joe. And the band name is just embarrassing. Sorry to be in a bad mood with a headache while listening - if I felt better, I might be a bit more generous with my rating.
Frank Zappa
2/5
So Zappa is like the original jam band guy? But with trumpets? Dislike. And I was really bummed to see another entry featuring one of the only artists I've given one-star on this list (Captain Beefheart). Blech.
David Bowie
4/5
This man changed my life and sculpted so many of my musical tastes. This album is yet another serving of his endless creativity: unique, exciting, tragic. This heavy dish is not for easy listening.
Gillian Welch
3/5
Pleasant enough, a little too twangy for me. The last song lingered way too long. 14+ minutes of going nowhere slowly. Yawn.
Sonic Youth
2/5
No matter what happens and how evolved I become in this life, I don’t think I’ll ever be into punk. Even the more “musical” punk such as this. Bangy bangy yelly yelly done.
Wild Beasts
4/5
I’m a sucker for a leading man who sings the high notes.
The White Stripes
4/5
I liked this. It gives a vibe of stripped-down Beatles.
John Lennon
4/5
The first half of this album makes my heart flip sideways with nostalgia. But then we hit songs like "How Do you Sleep" and "Oh Yoko" and I'm like yeahhh there: this is why John will never be more than my third favorite Beatle.
Doves
4/5
Throwing me back to that emotionally turbulent time of the early aughts when I listened to these guys *on repeat.* I still like them, but I'm not sure I love the memories their songs are dredging up.
Sheryl Crow
2/5
I do not like Sheryl Crow. I find her to come across as low-effort and low-energy, the iceberg lettuce of rock and roll. She opened for the P!nk concert I went to a few weeks ago and I showed up late so I didn't have to see her. This album was still better than I expected. A begrudging 2 stars.
Love
3/5
Groovy and pleasant, this is the music that I would call "hippy shit." I like it well enough, especially the first track "Alone Again Or."
Beck
4/5
This was a beautiful album. Mournful and understated, I really like this version of Beck. He should have his heart broken more often and write albums from the resulting chasm of sadness. I'm sure certain billionaires will attest that this is a money-making strategy.
Radiohead
5/5
Honestly one of the most beautiful works of musical art I've ever experienced. I can't believe I'd never heard "Bullet Proof..." before today. Gorgeous.
Bob Dylan
3/5
I listened to this the day that Tr*mp won the US presidential election. I was depressed. As far as Dylan sounds go, this is the stuff I tend to prefer. However, I keep reading how he didn't like the production on this album, which means I just don't care for the "typical" Dylan sound. That's not news. I was vibing along until I hit that final track which felt like it lasted for 16 hours, just like this week feels like it has lasted 16 years. Minus one star just for that, for making this terrible day in this terrible week seem even longer than it already is.
The Saints
2/5
Did the lyrics of a song from this album just use the word "retarded" over and over? Yes. Does this make me somehow dislike punk music even more than I did before? Yep. At least these songs are all short. Say what you want about punk, they don't belabor their point.
Incubus
4/5
Yes, I love this album because it takes me back to a different, exciting time in my life. But, and I may be in the minority here, I also love how it sounds today. Great vocals, pounding guitar, even the DJ in the mix serves as a flourish and not relied upon too heavily.
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
I mean... it was fine. What I expected. They are psychadelic. They are fun. No surprises.
Prince
5/5
The genius of Prince is that he makes his masterpieces seem effortless. The man was operating on a plane several levels above his contemporaries. I don't *like* every song on this album but that doesn't stop me from recognizing the brilliance. Everyone should listen to this. In addition to classic Prince sound, this album even offers up "conventional rock" with "The Cross."
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4/5
I greatly enjoyed listening to this - all the layers of voices, meshing together to create a warm, auditory tapestry. That said, my untrained ear didn't discern much difference between the tracks. They all sort of melded together into one unified super-song.
Solomon Burke
5/5
This was an incredible album. No notes.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
I think I was more familiar with the live recordings of some of these songs: "No Woman No Cry" sounds very clean and less impassioned in this studio cut. It's a general theme here that these tracks seem very clean and tidy which is to say that they lack some of the emotion that I usually associate with Mr. Marley. I admire his careful and delicate control of his voice and while I'm firmly out of my reggae phase, this album was a nice way to revisit the roots of that time in my life.
Marty Robbins
3/5
How do I rate a collection of songs that I personally do not care for or about but recognize the importance of to the broader cultural landscape of this country?
Adele
5/5
When we sing from the heart, we imagine we will sound like Adele. We never will but that is OK. She is a once-in-a-generation talent.
Pere Ubu
1/5
OK I hated this. It's like everything terrible about "rock" music jammed into one album. Talented musicians aside, this audible dementia is garbage. Thank all that is holy that the entire absurd mess lasted less than 40 minutes.
Tina Turner
5/5
She pours her entire soul into these performances. I was carried away on the wave of raw emotion. The only miss is the song penned by my personal music god David Bowie and I feel like I’m committing a crime by saying so.
The Velvet Underground
2/5
For chrissakes, Nico’s voice makes me wanna perpetuate violence and I’m pretty sure that’s not a good thing. This album was better than I expected but still tremendously in enjoyable. Two stars for two very enthusiastic thumbs down!
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Funky and fun. This album was consistent with its delivery of a catchy beat and some sweet falsetto. Many of the songs sounded very similar, so I am only feeling three stars.
Kraftwerk
2/5
Beep boop this music is made by computers. I am a human, therefore I do not understand it.
Eagles
3/5
Listening to the Eagles is like eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich made with Skippy, Welch's, and white bread. They're so easy to like but you don't necessarily feel that good (or mature) about it.
Kendrick Lamar
2/5
I wanted to like this. I really tried. I must be missing the gangsta hiphop gene.
Suzanne Vega
3/5
Enjoyable. Simple pleasures.
Pink Floyd
5/5
The lush tapestry this album weaves immerses me in an audio landscape from which I never want to emerge. Musical geniuses.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Classic Neil Young. What can I say that hasn't already been said? He's got a recognizable sound. He's fine.
AC/DC
3/5
Nothing really stood out to me other than the vocals, the pure pomposity of rock-and-roll, the catchy tunes, and the guitar.
Beastie Boys
2/5
Interesting funky moments, experimental swanky sounds I'm not used to hearing out of the Beastie Boys. They seem to be in love with using the voice distortion mics though.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Eerie, gorgeous background strings and soft vocals. Cohen dramatically speak-sings the majority of this album and that approach lends itself perfectly to the album's title. I didn't realize it but I DO want it darker, at least for this listening experience. I want to curl into a fleece-ensconced ball and listen to this again on decent headphones.
The xx
4/5
This was kinda neat. Airy, dreamy, ethereal. I wonder why I haven't heard of these guys.
Ananda Shankar
2/5
This was kinda cool at first with all the synths and sound effects. But I just don't think the sitar is doing it for me as a lead instrument. I prefer when it tiptoes into a [Beatles] song, adds some flavor, and spirits away. By the 5th song, I was tired of the noise and oh god the next track is 13 minutes long.
The Stranglers
2/5
Punk: complete with that annoying nasal/throat singing style that I’ve come to know and hate. It wasn’t as bad some of the other wankery tripe in this style that I’ve been served on here… but that doesn’t mean it’s good.
The Magnetic Fields
1/5
Imagine the level of self-worship that it takes to think you can write 69 love songs and put them all on an album. This same someone clearly never heard the phrase “less is more.” I wouldn’t want to listen to this many love songs all at once by someone with talent like Freddie Mercury or David Bowie so this album never stood a chance. It took three sittings to finish and at no point was I enjoying myself.
Stan Getz
4/5
Deeply enjoyable to listen to. Suggested soundtrack to painting rocks or eating leftover spaghetti.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
A classic for a reason. Great music, great memories.
Jamiroquai
3/5
I think I’m good for one Jamiroquai song at a time. Their unique sound sounds less unique after 3+ soundalikes in a row.
Various Artists
4/5
Good timing on the appearance of this album in my lineup - it’s December! Most of these are classics, what can I say? Only a few lesser tracks.
Public Enemy
2/5
Ok I guess.
The Strokes
3/5
Quick, dirty, fun. Though it was all a bit sameysame, it was a good sound to hear over and over, especially since the entire album was less than 40 minutes long.
The Cardigans
3/5
Fun. Bubbly, airy, effortless-ish. Her voice is a bit too thin and shallow for a repeat listen. "Lovefool" is still a banger. The cover of "Iron Man" was a grotesque miss.
Difficult to rate the entire album since it was a bit inconsistent for me. Some of my favorite U2 songs are on this one ("Walk On," "Beautiful Day") but then there are moments when Bono goes into his sad mode like "Peace on Earth," which just didn't hit right for me.
k.d. lang
4/5
I'm not a fan of country music so I've avoided k.d. lang up til I was served this album. What a remarkable and marvelous voice. Absolutely floored by how much I loved listening.
The Smiths
2/5
Someone killed Morrissey's kitten and now I guess we all have to listen to him cry about it. He clearly needs to get laid.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
I remember exactly where I was when I first saw the recording of Jimi Hendrix at the Monterey Pop Festival, performing and then lighting his guitar on fire. My teenage brain exploded. I love this album, Jimi Hendrix can do no wrong. The only weak track was the Noel Redding one, it was such a break from the style of the rest of this masterpiece. Rock on, my dude. Rock on.
Pere Ubu
1/5
The fact that this pile of garbage band has made at least two albums which appear on this list means they have now stolen approximately that many hours of my life. If any of my friends or loved ones ever reveal to me that they like this group, I will immediately sever all ties with them. Dead to me. Like I wish my ears were as I listened to this putrescence.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
It's Stevie Wonder.
Minor Threat
2/5
Well that was different. Rapid-fire delivery, the entire thing was over before it began. The drummer is amazing. The rest of it is, sadly, too punk for me to enjoy, but I appreciate it.
Bob Dylan
4/5
This is peak Dylan. Even if you don't like him, he's iconic. And I genuinely liked a lot of this.
Soundgarden
4/5
This was a terrific time. I love Chris Cornell's voice and the entire fabric of this album is woven through with his singing like gold thread through a tapestry. The whole thing is a touch long, which is why I was ready to move onto different sounds once it wrapped up.
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
I know she's a pop icon, and I appreciate her impact on music and the general 80s aesthetic, but I am not and never have been a fan of Cyndi Lauper. Her voice is just too shrill for me. I did like 2 songs on this album, however. So +1 star for that.
Metallica
5/5
The magnificent energy, the delirious chugging guitar, the instantly recognizable vocals... Metallica are legends for a reason. I love this album and I love absolutely rocking out to it.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
What a delightful collection of smooth listening. So many recognizable tracks, hardly a miss on here.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Hm. It's definitely country. I have tremendous respect for Willie Nelson. And this music just doesn't set my heart on fire.
Louis Prima
4/5
Well this was quite a rollicking fun time. Trumpets, singing, happy vibes.
Aerosmith
4/5
I had this album when I was younger! Aerosmith was the first band I saw in concert and they were excellent. Steven Tyler is a vocal hero and Joe Perry is a phenomenal guitarist. "Sweet Emotion" alone is enough to give this album 4 stars, even though the rest of the tracks are a lower caliber than some of their other work.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
Fine. All around fine. Rock my world, it did not.
Van Morrison
4/5
This falls on my ears like a warm soft blanket made of golden sundrops. Van Morrison himself has fallen off the deep end in terms of sanity, but his music (in particular this album) is timeless. "Crazy Love" in particular is a fav.
MGMT
4/5
Swirly, bubbly fun. I've only heard their hits before, so I'm glad to have this exposure to a genuinely enjoyable listening experience.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
This is pop gospel for the masses. My husband doesn't like Stevie Wonder and he is wrong.
Dead Kennedys
1/5
Whoever made this list must have had a hard-on for punk. The only redeeming factor of this shit music is how short the songs are. I hate it. Please no more punk. PS. The cover of "Viva Las Vegas" was almost OK.
Boards of Canada
3/5
Somewhat soothing and trippy to listen to. Good as a backdrop for various low-energy tasks. Some weirdish moments.
Simply Red
3/5
Glossy, synthetic 80s sound. With all the excellent (and far superior) music in circulation at this point in our collective musical journey, I can't really fathom why anyone would pick this up and throw it on the record player.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
"Shelter Me" is such a phenomenon, those backing vocals bring the frisson every time. That alone is enough to catapult this album to at least four stars. The middle of the album is full of good tunes, nothing really stands out. And then the last song bookends this album with another classic. Chef's kiss.
Meat Loaf
5/5
A gloriously fun rock and roll musical. “Bat Out of Hell” is one of my all-time fav songs and I even saw the show on Broadway a few years ago. It was good, the album is better.
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
I mean, they are a timeless sound. How can I rate any lower?
Big Black
1/5
This piece of shit has no business being on this list.
Robert Wyatt
1/5
Bizarre stuff. A conglomeration of sounds with some absolute nonsense lyrics overlaid. Some of the overlaid tracks sound like they're being played backward to no decipherable effect and some are just... breathing.
King Crimson
2/5
While I love some aspects of prog rock, my brain craves structure. This experimental stuff led to some of my favorite bands (Rush, for example) but most of this album is a bit too off-kilter for me. Also I hate the album cover. Ugh.
Prince
4/5
The first three tracks are classics, top notch. The rest of the album is more experimental, with Prince showing off his range and boundless talent.
3/5
Sends off early goofy Beatles vibes, but shallower somehow. Mellow easy listening, absolutely no standouts. 2.5 stars.
Slayer
3/5
Shock me shock me shock me with your lyrics, Slayer. Their music is tight and packs a powerful punch. Somebody's gotta push the envelope by writing about unsavory things, it might as well be these talented guys.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
TIL Leonard Cohen used to be a folksy baritone. I want to hear him re-record this album with his characteristic smokey-throat bass. Alas.
Pulp
5/5
How have I never…! This album has everything I love. Big swaggery swinging melodies, a dramatic frontman singer, tongue-in-cheek lyrics, such drama. Grateful for this project for finally, after 261 albums, introducing me to someone new that I’m already crushing on.
5/5
There's no way that this album earns less than five stars from me. Longtime, lifelong fan. RIP, Starman. You're a legend, a musical genius. NOTE: if you all haven't watched the documentary called "Moonage Daydream," I'd recommend checking it out. It beautifully demonstrates what a creative force David Bowie was.
Blur
3/5
Not a Blur fan. But since this was less Blurry than the other stuff I've heard, I'm willing to shift, just barely, out of the 2-star range. The songs are decent musically, but Damon Albarn needs to go off in a corner and cry with the rest of the wet-blanket singers who sound like him. Wait...is that a harp?! No matter, Oasis is still better.
Blondie
4/5
Glittery pop-rocking set of songs. “Heart of Glass” makes me happy. The rest is solidly enjoyable.
Massive Attack
2/5
Spotify doesn't offer the second track "Bumper Ball Dub" so I didn't get to experience the full effect of this album. But maybe that was OK. This ecstasy-rave space-laser music isn't really my thing outside of an ecstasy rave.
The Police
3/5
I’ve never been a huge fan of Sting’s voice but I enjoyed most of this album more than I expected. “Walking on the Moon” was a forgotten hit that I rather like. Stewart Copeland’s drumming is impressively tight.
Lauryn Hill
4/5
Undeniable talent: multilayered tracks with her melodic voice winding throughout like silken tendrils. She seems equally at home with singing and rapping. It's not my go-to style of music to listen to, but I can recognize the gem that this album is. And in this case, the top-tier quality trumps my personal preferences.
Meat Puppets
2/5
I saw another punk album and cringed. But these guys were waaaay better than expected. Still not great - what's up with the deliberately shitty singing? - but rising far above my expectations. I hear Kurt Cobain in some of their songs... I even almost liked the guitar and bass interplay on the instrumental tracks. Rounding down to 2 stars.
Bill Evans Trio
2/5
Live jazz is best enjoyed live.
The Kinks
3/5
If I wanted to listen to the Beatles, I would listen to the Beatles.
Steely Dan
2/5
While I do love the tight harmonies on the title track, the rest of it is a bit too easy listening (read: hokey) for me. Unfortunately, I have an inexplicably intense dislike for "Rikki Don't Lose that Number."
Nick Drake
4/5
The instrumentation on this album is masterful. Nick Drake's voice is instantly recognizable and softly enjoyable. A perfect demonstration of how less is more.
Violent Femmes
2/5
Simpler songs than I remember. I like the unique spotlight on the upright bass. The whiny vocals got tiresome after 2-3 songs. "Blister in the Sun" is entrenched in the auditory catalog of my adolescence.
Mj Cole
2/5
Surprised I recognized at least one track here. Listening to this album is like being a very G-rated club from a simpler time.
Jane's Addiction
2/5
Performed like a bunch of little brothers who just learned about sex and cursing. The band is talented - I get Primus vibes at times - but the lyrics and vocals are intolerable.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Excuse me, when did Black Sabbath get so melodic and soothing? They're supposed to be these heavy metal rockers and at least three songs on this album are soothing lullabys.
Fugees
4/5
The. Sheer. Talent.
In these artists on this album.
Not typically music that I'd reach for but hotttddamn that cover of Killing Me Softly is magestic.
Primal Scream
3/5
Opening track absolutely slaps. Then there was a bunch of songs that sounded like remixes but I think were original songs. "Damaged" sounds like a Stones song.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
I thought I knew Peter Gabriel. I did not. This album is a cornucopia of creativity. Some of it is not to my taste but it avoids boredom like the plague. Hats off to this genius for ditching ho-hum Genesis and spreading his wings.
Garbage
3/5
Time travel to the 90s with me as we listen to the soundtrack of ennui, brought to you by Garbage.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Dusty Springfield just sounds effortlessly cool. I bet she'd be fun to hang out with.
Queen
5/5
Booker T. & The MG's
2/5
Amusement park remixes of popular hits... Opening track is obviously embedded in our musical cultural identity. But aside from being groovy background music I don't know what purpose this music serves.
Neu!
2/5
What is noise? What is music? When does noise become music? That seems to be the thesis of this album. Data point to consider: chainsaws are not music. Also the last "song" sucked. Like what am I even listening to?
I'm sure other artists have sampled from this record since it's basically a library of sound.
Hookworms
5/5
A joyful bounce of sound from start to finish. I loved this and I'm so glad this project introduced me to Hookworms! The only dud was "Boxing Day" but it was so quickly negated by the ethereal "Reunion" that I quickly forgot any bad feelings.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Bursting with creativity, it’s no wonder these luscious tracks could not be limited to a single disc. I loved this beauty.
Queen
5/5
This was the album where I first fell in forever love with Queen. Majestic and masterful, they will always be my favorite band.
Fleet Foxes
3/5
I heard the hobbits hired this band to play at their annual harvest festival. The general consensus was that they weren't bad, just not ... good. They were not invited back. Hobbits went with a Fleetwood Mac cover band for the following year's festival.
Stereo MC's
2/5
Slow jams dance tracks. Yawn.
Calexico
3/5
Kinda groovy, kinda fun. I had no expectations and I found this to be an enjoyable (though forgetable) listen.
Portishead
3/5
This music time warped me to my college days where my best friend was super into Bjork and this band. Nostalgia aside, they're still not for me.
The Who
3/5
I thought I knew The Who. I had a brief but serious Who phase in college where I considered myself a true Fan. Truth is, downloading their "greatest hits" album doesn't count. This album is a fascinating slice out of the evolutionary tree of rock and roll. There's a bit of everything here, from doo-wop to beach bop to heavy rock.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
I liked this. The songs were a bit same same and - to me - VERY quintessential Nick Cave. But it was a pleasant listen. [Brave of him to casually throw around "c**t" in a mid-90s release.]
The Bees
2/5
Entirely underwhelming. No envelopes pushed, no emotions triggered, absolutely zero excitement, other than the oddly terrifying cover art. One exception was "Lying in the Snow" which was decent.
Scott Walker
4/5
Low expectations were wildly exceeded. What a voice. Some drama, some theater, some unexpected scatting. This guy fucks.
Napalm Death
1/5
Jesus Christ what did I just listen to?
Frank Black
2/5
A lengthy selection of eclectic pieces, none of which particularly stood out to me. There were moments that reminded me of Primus and this is not a good thing. Minus one star for how unnecessarily long it was.
Beatles
5/5
So many happy memories associated with this album and this movie. It's one of the greats.
Nirvana
5/5
And I don't even like Nirvana.
Serge Gainsbourg
3/5
Someone's clearly obsessed with Melody Nelson and her natural red hair. It was interesting listening to this and trying to understand it. Honestly the French can speak nonsense into a microphone with sultry guitar and backing choir vocals and it would sound good.
3/5
This music comes from the heart. I really hope there isn’t a dark backstory to this album too… I can’t take another one.
Massive Attack
4/5
I can see why this is called trip-hop. I expected to dislike this band, but it was actually pretty cool. And I hear their live shows are epic. It's not my favorite style, but I found myself bopping along, especially when the female vocalist was featured.
Billy Joel
5/5
Someone once described Billy Joel as the iceberg lettuce of rock and roll. Put some ranch dressing and grated cheddar on this iceberg lettuce and call it a delicious salad because I unabashedly loved this album. He is the soundtrack of my childhood and I won’t tolerate anyone besmirching him. Also he gave me front row tickets to his concert in Citizens Bank Park so I’m a forever fan.
Fatboy Slim
2/5
Since I’m not currently tripping balls at a horribly mismanaged rave at Woodstock ‘99, this album of DJ recordings serves no purpose for me.
Tangerine Dream
3/5
Artsy people on this site will have sophisticated opinions about this album. I’ll roll my eyes as I read them and then throw on some more Billy Joel.
Pink Floyd
5/5
David Gilmour has absolutely mastered the emotional pull of his soundscape. This richly gorgeous and funky album is no exception. I love pretty much everything he does. The rest of Pink Floyd can come too.
Black Flag
1/5
This whole group of big boys just need a hug from their mommies.
The Cure
3/5
This collection of funeral dirges has an unfinished feel to it.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Swanky and smooth and full of sweet lovin'. Hello there children, come listen to this album.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
Shiny and campy and unserious like a disco-ball wearing a piano key necktie. The covers aren't bad, but the originals are such gargantuan hits, it would be difficult to match up.
Carole King
5/5
Carole King demonstrates that less is more. Her simplicity and direct approach to her music causes the tracks to shine with a straightforward rawness rarely seen nowadays. [Another album from the soundtrack to my childhood]
The Band
3/5
Some obvious classics. But (unpopular opinion) The Band doesn't particularly stick out to me as a talented collective. I have heard covers of their hits that are better than the originals.
The Lemonheads
2/5
Absolutely nothing remarkable about this band. I recognized their cover of "Mrs. Robinson" but it's not as good as the original so who cares.
The KLF
3/5
Not my style but this album was pretty splashy and interesting. I caught myself bopping along more than once. I liked the change of pace from my usual music choices.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Kinda dreamy, soft, whimsical, pleasant... I could go on. I would have liked to see where this guy went next. A real shame what happened to him.
Public Enemy
2/5
Here's another one (and my second Public Enemy album) where I have trouble rating it because I personally didn't like it but I understand that it's a very important, very good hip hop album.
Randy Newman
2/5
I’ve always thought that Randy Newman must have an incredible amount of hubris to sing his own songs. His voice sounds like he’s singing through a wad of cotton and marbles. Curious about who actually … like genuinely … likes this artist? Are you out there?
The Prodigy
2/5
A soundtrack for a high-intensity video game. Since I’m not rolling at rave, this noise is not it.
The Beach Boys
4/5
I can't say anything about this that hasn't already been said except that my husband is currently obsessed with the song "Sloop John B."
The Pogues
3/5
An odd little morsel of an album. On its surface, I don't think I should like this. But the combination of the grunty-broguey-singing, flutes, drums, and fiddles works in an unexpected way. I would have given another star if it was about 25-50% shorter.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Hard to give any double album here 5 stars but this one came close. A classic.
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
I happen to love the vocalist of this band. However, they are - sadly - a victim of their success. I hear COE in every song. I enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek nature of this album so much that they just eked out an extra star.
Christine and the Queens
3/5
Take some Ace of Base and mix it with Paula Abdul, sprinkle some Michael Jackson on top and then make it French: et voilà! Double albums have a one star penalty. (Je suis désolée, Christine & Queens)
Brian Eno
3/5
Yawnnn what a snoozefest. Not bad but instantly (and I mean instantly) forgettable.
Fats Domino
3/5
Spotify didn’t have this album so I had to piece it together from the track listing. The songs are so old, been around for lifetimes, so of course he should be on this list for his widespread effect.
Thelonious Monk
2/5
I know. He’s a legend. I think. And I’m grateful to this project for presenting this album for me to listen to because I absolutely would never have done so otherwise. But. But. It. Is. Jazz.
Lana Del Rey
5/5
Absolutely astonished how much I loved this dreamy summer haze of an album. She nailed her vibe and I am here for it. I wish this experience would happen more often with this project, where I am served an artist I had not previously listened to, only to delight in their work.
Elbow
4/5
I liked their creative musical landscape! Dude sounds a bit like Peter Gabriel when he sings but it’s infinitely better than sounding like Billy Bragg / Robert Smith / etc like so many other British bandleaders do.
Laura Nyro
2/5
No disrespect intended: just because someone has talent does not mean they are enjoyable to listen to. Sounds like a senior project for someone majoring in “music” at a liberal arts college. Yes, let’s throw some xylophone at this track. That’s surely what it’s missing!
4/5
A mixed bag of bite-sized songs, featuring drugs and sitar. Some misses (Mr. Kite, Lovely Rita) and some hits (A Day in the Life, 64, etc) but honestly even the misses are Beatles misses which makes them leagues beyond much that has been produced since.
Steely Dan
2/5
For the life of me, I cannot understand why Steely Dan is so popular. Even my friend's snobby husband with "sophisticated" tastes about "wine" and "grilled vegetables" looooves Steely Dan. We have gotten into long, heated conversations about the merits and demerits of Steely Dan-dom, but I have not been swayed. Neither has he, for that matter. Only one of us can be on the right side of history. Coincidentally, only one of us sleeps well at night. And it's me.
Slint
2/5
So uninteresting I forgot I was listening to them while they were still on. Moments where they almost sounded like Smashing Pumpkins were ok. Just, I dunno. Spoken word is not my bag.
The Damned
3/5
This was probably the best punk album I've heard from this list. The singer didn't piss me off, he was theatrical with his delivery which I like. The band was talented: their music was music, not just sound.
Supertramp
4/5
Far more sweeping and theatrical than I expected. I’ve always thought Supertramp’s radio hits to sound kinda lazy… not the case on this album! I’ll have to give it another listen when I can pay closer attention. For now, they get the benefit of one more star than I was thinking to give.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Torn about this one. Some songs were decent ("Spellbound," for example) but others were blah blah blah. I have never been enamored with any version of punk, even if it is 'post.' This album was just largely uninteresting. 2.5 stars, rounded up for 1-2 decent songs.
Nirvana
4/5
The best plugged-in unplugged album of all time. I mean honestly, Kurt Cobain's vocals carry this entire performance. The raw anguish seeps out of every pore as he pours himself into the microphone. +1 star for the enormous effect this album had on society and culture.
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
Easy listening. This album didn’t have their hit on it so nothing really stood out. Boy does our country love Neil Young though, huh. He has his fingers in so many projects and Americans are like HELL YAH.
Wilco
3/5
I've always found Wilco underwhelming for the amount of hype they receive. This album was no different. Not bad! Just not great either.
Holger Czukay
2/5
That's a no from me, dawg.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
I think I like rockin’ Zeppelin slightly better than chill Zeppelin. Even so, these guys fuck.
Supergrass
2/5
Unimpressed.
2Pac
3/5
My experience with 90s hiphop is woefully minimal so I wasn't sure what to expect because - I can't believe I'm saying this - I've never knowingly listened to 2Pac before. I found this album surprisingly melodic and woefully as sad as it is prophetic.
Germs
1/5
Yet another terrible punk album.
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
Like actual trash. This is not music. It's noise pollution.
Miles Davis
2/5
Jazz > Punk
Still not my jam, no disrespect intended for the great Miles Davis.
Black Sabbath
4/5
What a slam dunk of a first album. I don't consider myself a Black Sabbath fan but the melodic yet rockin guitar, the dramatic and gothic delivery of the vocals, the drum frills... honestly, what's not to like?
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
I liked parts of this - Rush is a favorite band of mine, so the prog rock elements shared between these two groups were welcome. But nothing really stood out as a rockin' good time for me. I am glad to have listened to EL&P finally though. Not sure how these staples of the prog rock community have fallen through the cracks in my listening experience.
Pavement
2/5
Some of the songs were OK, but a few of them were unpleasantly weird enough to bump this down to two stars. Dude sounds like Lou Reed. I don't like Lou Reed.
Spiritualized
3/5
A little trippy, but also sounded like Oasis at times. I was grooving along but the final 17-minute long track kinda lost me.
David Bowie
3/5
Like walking through a gallery full of different pieces of art, each song is different but shares a theme. I liked hearing a couple of instrumental pieces though they weren't my favorite. This album is decidedly funky, with an assortment of music forming a colorful bridge between the 70s and 80s and beyond.
5/5
I heckin love this album. Queen-like enough but modernish (at least it was when it came out) and it rocks just the right amount. I love all the studio flourishes, I love the vocals, I love the harmonies, I looooove the drama. This was a welcome injection of adrenaline and verve after what felt like weeks of punk and otherwise bleak albums. I hope I get to see Muse one day before I or their ability to perform live dies.
Burning Spear
3/5
I kinda liked this taste of a simpler but also spicier time in my life when I was attending reggae festivals in the dead of summer, eating pot brownies handed to me from strangers, and following my boyfriend Todd around who was on paid disability from his construction job with an early prescription for medical marijuana for a "back injury." Whassup Todd, hope you're doing well.
Funkadelic
3/5
This was a rollicking good time. Could do with less chants of "maggot brain" and fart noises though.
1/5
What if someone took a handful of talented brass and percussion musicians and told them to play "noisy whatever" and then jammed all the recordings on top of each other. That's this. It wasn't all bad, but it was mostly bad.
The Stooges
2/5
I really thought I would have liked Iggy Pop more than this.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
Joan has such a warm presence, especially on songs like "Somebody Who Loves You." And this year, Richard Ashcroft released a banger that samples her hit "Love and Affection" which made me so happy for both of them.
The Smiths
2/5
While I rather enjoyed the lush melodies of the songs, that stopped whenever (1) Morrissey started singing or (2) when the song abruptly ended because these all felt like demos on a mini disc from the early 90s.
Elastica
3/5
Better than most punk-inspired works on this list and I recognized one of the songs from the depths of my history but ultimately it was merely ... fine.
Pentangle
3/5
What in the Ren Fair was this? Sounds like the soundtrack to a 60s love cult.
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
An interesting artsy concept album. Reminded me a bit of what Damien Rice did with "O" back around the same time. I wonder who copied who. I liked Damien Rice's final product better, but this was cool. The recurring themes were a bit same same at times: I accidentally restarted the album 4 songs into it and didn't realize it.
Kanye West
2/5
I don't like Kanye West. However, this album featured plenty of other [more talented] artists like Ludacris, Twista, and the Boys Choir of Harlem. So it wasn't a miserable listening experience.
Green Day
4/5
I love Green Day. If Green Day is classified as punk, then I guess there is some punk out there that I like. This album in particular has a special nostalgic place in my heart. I was in college, dating a guy going through a divorce, and hoping that he'd get want to get more serious beyond quoting lines from "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Braveheart" over martinis after our shifts ended at Trader Joe's.
Tom Waits
3/5
A grittier Bruce Springsteen. Or Bruce Springsteen is a smoother Tom Waits. I don't know which is right.
Dire Straits
4/5
The moment the opening chords of “Down to the Waterline” kicked in, it felt like I was collapsing into a comforting embrace. Mark Knopfler is one of my favorite guitar players and Dire Straits played a big role in my formative years. This album brought me smiles and feels like warm honey.
Michael Jackson
4/5
It's a banger. The hits are massive hits, we all know them. The misses are fine, but by other artists' standards, would probably be on the Billboard Top 100.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
I like Bruce Springsteen. And this is pretty classic Bruce Springsteen. He springsteens all over the place on this album. My man locked into a springstheme of the challenges of being young in a small town and he just went hard with it. I like the variety of instruments: hell yeah, give me more glockenspiel.
The Zombies
3/5
Genuinely easy listening, soothing and gentle. I liked it best when they got spooky on "Time of the Season" - this song really stood out from the rest of the tracks which were like Beatles lite.
Tom Waits
1/5
Two songs in and I already hate it. I just don't have the patience for this kind of auditory nonsense at 2pm on a workday. It's not helping that this is my second Tom Waits album this week. The first one was much better, which isn't saying much considering the low bar set by this one. The last track was a quiet instrumental and that was rather nice. Not enough for this album to get an additional star though.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
This Joni Mitchell sound is so iconic and haunting and meandering and it’s just not my favorite Joni Mitchell.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
I must be in the minority with cringing every time I hear Anthony Keidis's voice because these guys have been huge for what feels like my entire life. I remember when this album came out and the world was obsessed. +1 star for Flea being an absolute beast on the bass, but then -1 star for his seeming inability to keep his dick covered up.
OutKast
4/5
Listening to Outkast - for me - feels like what it must be like to listen to American music if you’re not a native English speaker. I love how it sounds and I can absolutely get down to it but hell if I know what they’re saying, esp when the flow gets FLOWIN.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
I don't care for Lou Reed's voice and I think The Velvet Underground are largely overrated. But this album wasn't too bad. It was cruising for a high 3 star rating but then it ended on a shitty note with the bizarre (and not in a good way) "The Murder Mystery." Left a yucky taste, so I grant this album a begrudging 3 stars rather than a curious and optimistic 3 stars.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
I must be unAmerican because I am pretty much the only person in this country who isn't in love with everything Neil Young does. Unless he has a C and an S (sometimes even an N) near his name in the lineup, I find myself underwhelmed. +1 star because my husband said he liked it.
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
Who let the 12 year old with a limited exposure to real music put an album on this list?
The Specials
2/5
375 albums in and I'm realizing that my musical tastes do not align with those of whoever made this list. I would rather listen to "A Night at the Opera" 375 times over than ever hear some of these albums - this one included.
Radiohead
3/5
While I am not a consistent fan of Thom York, I really appreciate his skills with creating a soundscape (especially on tracks like "Motion Picture Soundtrack"). This album twangs a string in my nostalgia guitar but I remember not really caring for it when it came out - too strange for my teenage tastes. But I appreciate more the vision today, as an older, wiser millennial.
David Bowie
3/5
Big David Bowie fan here: even I know this genius had his highs and … slightly lower points. This album, while prettyyyy prettyyyy prettyyyy good in its own right, stands in the shadow of the Ziggy Stardust predecessor. Iconic cover aside, this album rates as a slightly lower point in his catalog, as far as my Bowie opinions go.
Songhoy Blues
3/5
Wow there are definitely some classic rock sounds here, even some nods to the Beatles, all overlaid by the hypnotic Malian singing. Couldn’t understand a single word. Interesting!
Björk
3/5
Rolling her Rs, singing in Icelandish, trippy modern art sounds, halting phrases, a pervasive sense of sorrow and loneliness and loss... yep! Typical Bjork!
Dr. Dre
2/5
This music just isn't for me. All I hear is n-word and big dick this, f*ck that, inexplicably interspersed with some sex noises... cool. I get it: you're all so hard.
David Bowie
4/5
My man sings from the depths of his cocaine-addled soul in this album. I love hearing his voice showcased - this particular Bowie phase is one of my favorites.
Girls Against Boys
2/5
I’ve never heard of this group. And after listening I’m certain that I won’t remember their whisper mumble screaming set to half decent music.
Marilyn Manson
2/5
This music is scary.
Primal Scream
3/5
Sorta poppy but then then shifts into a low-key trance rave vibe. Not particularly exciting for me but not offensive.
The Doors
4/5
Bluesy and smooth and dark. I can imagine stumbling into a dim pub at 11:15pm and hearing these guys and sipping a stout while nodding my head like yeahhhh I think these guys could be really big one day. And then my jaw would hit the floor during "Riders on the Storm" because hotdam that track slaps.
Elliott Smith
4/5
Wistful bite-sized songs seem like a harbinger of what's to come for this star-crossed artist. I like his songs because they take me back to that time of shallow innocent sadness. A whole album of this is a bit much, but it's a gentle way to start my day.
David Holmes
2/5
I would love to hear the author of this list justify why he put this album on the list.
Shivkumar Sharma
5/5
I don't know if this was just what I needed at this moment, but this album was like a warm, glittery hug for my heart. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The musicians are masterful and the vibe is so gentle.
Kanye West
1/5
Zero stars. I'm not even going to listen to this because I don't want his hate-filled ass to receive a dime from me and he doesn't deserve the Spotify listens.
B.B. King
4/5
This is what a master sounds like.
Tracy Chapman
5/5
Oh my god the moment her voice came through my speakers I was so happy. Her sound is so gorgeous, so laden with emotion. I couldn't listen to her sing anything all day long.
The Clash
2/5
392 albums in, what fees like a third of them have been punk, but not a single Rush album (yet). Feels like a crime. These guys whinge, like all the other punks out there.
Missy Elliott
2/5
I think I can tell she's good, but as someone who is new to the Missy Elliott scene, I could not always tell which performer was her. This is a fundamental issue I have with rap albums, where every track features one or more other talented artists. Who are we actually showcasing here? Unpopular opinion, but I think it's more the producer than anyone else...
Bobby Womack
4/5
Warm tones, good vibes. What a classic sound.
Radiohead
3/5
Mournful noisy noise. I really like some of what Radiohead has made but this album just sounded like Thom Yorke wailing to the sound of off-beat Pink Floyd.
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
Such a warm, melodic, creative, and carefree expression of sound. Almost childlike in their approach to music, the whimsy is exceedingly fun - I wonder why there hasn't been an ELO musical yet. Perhaps there has been and I just don't know it. If they had gone with approximately 75% less robot filter on the voices I think this could have been a 5 star album.
Japan
3/5
Did I accidentally turn on an album full of Duran Duran B-sides?
Julian Cope
3/5
I automatically slump whenever I see a double album, especially from someone with descriptors like "experimental" in their biography. This guy is fine but I didn't need 2+ hours of him. I've said it before, but artists who produce double albums better have something amazing otherwise it's just plain narcissism. Since the second disc seems all remixes and club music, I stopped after the first.
Pixies
3/5
I liked one song on this album. I really didn't like one song on this album. The rest was fine.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
This queen deserves no less than five stars.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
2/5
My man's over here lit'raly yodeling and singing about boll weevils and I just cannot relate. Side note: is this how our modern music is going to sound to people in 50 years? Dayum.
Talvin Singh
2/5
Rave music with an Indian vibe and some tracks feature what sounds like screaming children. Not my jam.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
So an 80s pop group went soft rock and wound up sounding like a lounge music lullabye for a robot baby. Alas, these Boys shall never be men: they peaked in high school with “West End Girls.” “Being Boring” indeed.
Ravi Shankar
2/5
I guess this album is truly meant to be instructional: the entire first track and the beginnings of others have him giving a literal introduction to Indian music. I like a little sitar as a embellishment, or a side dish, not as a main course. I recognize Ravi Shankar as one of the greats so I feel like this album probably deserves higher than the stars I'm giving it based on my personal enjoyment.
Def Leppard
4/5
I have a huge soft spot for 80s hair bands and an enormous amount of respect for the drummer continuing to deliver with just one arm. Def Leppard falls just short of 5 stars for me even with their biggest hits and it seems like most of those were on this album. I totally rocked out in my car, though.
Amy Winehouse
5/5
A masterpiece of talent, gorgeous sound, and raw feeling. I loved every moment of this album. She deserves every accolade and I wish we could have heard more from this tormented soul.
Laibach
3/5
I liked the parts that were inspired by Queen. The rest of it was a bit too noisy noise for me. Waffling between 2 and 3 stars but the beginning of the album was a good time.
Ryan Adams
4/5
Do they even make music like this anymore? Ryan Adams sounds a little like if Bob Dylan had all his gritty bits buffed down to a smooth sheen. It’s comforting and comfortable, and completely unsurprising. Takes me back to when the world made a bit more sense.
John Martyn
3/5
I can’t decide if I like this guy’s sound or if it a bit too off for me. Wondering why I’ve never heard of him.
Stephen Stills
3/5
An odd observation about this album - some of the transitions between songs are sort of herky-jerky. I wish they were a bit more seamless given the short songs paired with a slight jam-band inclination. I liked some of the sweeter tracks like "Colorado" and "So Begins the Task."
CHVRCHES
4/5
This was a bundle of electronicky sparkly poppy fun. I thought I would know more songs from this album but it was all new to me. I especially liked "Under the Tide." It's a nice change to hear something a bit more recent from this list.
Aerosmith
5/5
The year is 2003. I am deep into a passionate love of Aerosmith, having seen them five years before as my first ever famous band concert. I was inexplicably attracted to Stephen Tyler and I found myself cruising around on the relatively new internet to find music videos of him and his weird sexy face. "Toys in the Attic" was my favorite album by Aerosmith. And then I heard "Pump."
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
My husband tells me that, when he was in high school, his friend Sam used to drive up to their hangs with The Chemical Brothers playing loudly through external speakers on his pickup truck. Maybe that’s the right setting for listening to this type of music. I am not Sam, nor do I have a pickup truck with external speakers. I am also not a teenage boy. All of these could be reasons why I didn’t like this endless drivel.
Tim Buckley
3/5
This music set my teeth on edge, esp. “Gypsy Woman.” The final song is sweet enough to push the rating into 3 star territory.
Even so, Jeff is way better than his deadbeat dad.
Dagmar Krause
2/5
I found this album (I think) on YouTube. It was very dramatic, but the recording was a little glitchy. This is absolutely not bad music, it's just very different from what the typical listener seeks out. Not sure how to rate it. If I was into some chick singing along in German and English to some orchestral shit, I'd slam this with five stars. But it's just me with a predilection for the predictable pop song structure.
Don McLean
3/5
My mom hates this album's title track so I grew up thinking I also hated it. But I don't! Screw you, Mom! I'm allowed to like simple folky rock sung with a warm silky voice!
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
Another double album. Another meh experience. They’re good, sure, but hardly anyone is great for two whole discs.
Steve Earle
3/5
As country as it gets for me. Pleasant enough listening, but not my milieu.
AC/DC
4/5
Anytime someone looks up "Rock and Roll" in Webster's dictionary, this album starts to play.
Sugar
3/5
Sounds like unrefined Collective Soul. Definitely 90s.
Green Day
5/5
I think if I heard this album for the first time today, I may not like it. But hell if this doesn't immediately transport me back to those days of awkward preadolescence. I wasn't allowed to listen to them then (too hardcore and crass), but now it's my tiny act of rebellion.
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
Soothing to listen to, like a cozy wrap-around heated blanket set on medium.
Bert Jansch
3/5
I like the sounds this guy makes with his guitar. His fingers are clearly very talented. Mellow, chill. Great coffee shop vibes.
Small Faces
3/5
“Afterglow” is good, the rest sounds like Moody Blues wannabe crossed with the crappier aspects of psychedelic rock.
Cornershop
3/5
Well this album was all over the place.
I remember when the hit came out and even then I was like... her?
The National
5/5
Call me a brooding basic bitch millennial but I loved this. It was like warm chocolate velvet with some counter-swirls of despair rubbed against the grain. The only miss was when they veered into Smiths territory with “Conversation 16.”
Adele
5/5
It's difficult to overstate the massive splash this album had on the musical world. Adele is a talent often imitated but never duplicated. People who say that she's overrated are kidding themselves and absolutely try to sing along in their cars before quitting mid-note in shame.
Donovan
3/5
Donovan definitely has a distinctive sound. It's not my favorite, it doesn't rock my world, but it's gentle and inoffensive ... like vanilla soft serve.
Anthrax
4/5
What a burst of guitar/bass/drum/vocal flourish into my Monday! I really enjoyed these guys - their sound and their message. I especially loved the unrestrained over-the-top exuberance of “One World.” I feel like Joey Belladona was holding back a bit - I’d love to see him fully unleashed, like he was on “Imitation of Life.” But otherwise hell yeah, rock on. Their punk influence comes through a bit too heavily on some tracks, otherwise this would be five stars.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
The title track is one of the rare perfect songs created in this world. "Only Living Boy" is also an intensely gorgeous track. I love this album. Timeless.
Iggy Pop
3/5
David Bowie’s fingerprints are all over this album but Iggy Pop will never have the pump and charisma of his friend. Also the songs are only OK.
Iron Butterfly
3/5
Quirky but what started out as funky 60s pop rock + organ transitioned into jam band + organ and I lost interest.
Johnny Cash
3/5
While I love attending concerts and shows, with rare exception, I do not particularly care for live albums. I’m not there, I don’t need to hear banter with a crowd I’m not a part of.
Talking Heads
3/5
I’ve always thought that the Talking Heads would make the perfect soundtrack to a toddler throwing an elaborate and lengthy temper tantrum.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
If Nick Cave’s music were to be visible, it would appear as a swirling black cloud.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
Some people, when granted the gift of musical talent, choose to make something beautiful. Others like this Primus wanna-be decide to make a profane pile of noise. It wasn’t all bad, just most of it.
Digital Underground
2/5
Early 90s hip hop seems so gentle to me, so quaint. That said, it wouldn’t surprise me to hear that the members of Digital Underground dreamed up the concept and lyrics for this album as high school virgins.
Joan Baez
4/5
There's something gorgeous about the simple combination of a voice frolicking with a guitar that has all but disappeared from our music these days. Despite creating some of the most achingly beautiful music of all time, Joan Baez has been overshadowed by her grit-voiced male counterpart because ... men, I guess.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
Country's not my go-to music but I like her voice.
Missy Elliott
3/5
This album definitely bops. I like it. But I remember what I wrote about the other Missy Elliott album on this list - how hard it is to judge the titular artist since there are so many other musicians showcased on the album. That is true here as well.
Maxwell
4/5
This album fucks.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
This was a stone cold groove. So many diverse sounds, many samples I recognized. I had fun!
Gene Clark
3/5
It's like someone took the hard leather cowboy boot that is Neil Young and turned it into a soft suede slipper. That's Gene Clark.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
I have a tough time tolerating a whole album of the whining vocals in Jane's Addiction. I quite liked the rest of the band - there is musical variety in their songs, and the unapologetic 90s guitar and delicious thumping bass is great. I just can't do a lot of awwhhhwweahhwhwhweah.
Lou Reed
3/5
I have never been a fan of Lou Reed's lazy speak-singing style. And today is no different. I guess it's not the worst album in the world, having it on in the background as you smoke a bowl and mold something out of clay oh wait there are children screaming? Never mind, ah but the last two tracks are nice though.
Nick Drake
4/5
I really liked this. His voice is soothing and makes me feel sentimental for a time I don't know that I've experienced.
Killing Joke
2/5
This album doesn’t belong on this list.
American Music Club
4/5
This was quite lovely, actually (especially "Laughingstock"). I don't know why this album isn't available on Spotify but the entire thing is streamable on YouTube. "Bad Liquor" is a miss on an otherwise soothing collection. There wasn't anything particularly special happening here but it was pleasant and a nostalgic walk down an auditory memory lane. The last track is simple in its sadness.
Little Richard
4/5
Little Richard is the king of the 30 second dance party. Great bops for short attention spans, the man gets in, delivers a balls-to-the-wall performance, then fucks right off. Mad respect.
Scott Walker
3/5
Such drama - I picture him singing every song with a smirk and an arched eyebrow from the depths of a brightly-lit casino stage in Vegas.
Janet Jackson
3/5
Sparkly and polished like a rare diamond. This is glittery pop, delivering important messages. I particularly liked "Escapade." Lots of Michael crossover sounds, like on "Come Back to Me." Or maybe he featured a lot of Janet crossover sounds? The sappy parts are a bit too saccharine for me, minus one star.
Ryan Adams
4/5
I can’t think of a creative and unique way to say that I really enjoyed this album. It was long. But the songs were pleasant. And sometimes that’s all you want. Pleasant. Comfortable. Low drama.
ZZ Top
5/5
The music of ZZ Top makes me so happy and this album is full of joy. I love everything - the grindy guitar, the sassy groove, their coordinated moves on stage, the BEARDS.
Pink Floyd
3/5
Like seeing a beautiful sculpture while it is still in its raw block of marble, I can detect the shape of the Pink Floyd I love hidden among all the silly bits of rock that will eventually get chipped away.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Hell yeah. I love singing along with Robert Plant.
3/5
457 albums in and there have been 2.5 Blur albums and 0 Rush albums. Make it make sense.
k.d. lang
4/5
Are you kd-ing me!? She has one of the most magnetic and beautiful voices I've ever heard. How I have I never heard anything besides "Constant Craving?" This served up an auditory experience that is delightful and smooth, like a caramel soft serve on a hot day.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
I remember exactly where I was the day I saw the video of the Monterey Pop Festival where Jimi Hendrix set his guitar on fire. I had grown up in a very sheltered household and my parents carefully censored what music we were allowed to listen to. For whatever reason, Hendrix didn't make the cut, so I was older than I should have been when I finally learned about him. Anyway, he's a legend for a reason.
Faust
2/5
Like a dark, silly circus. I can't take it seriously. "Krautrock," OK.
Like a piece of art in a museum that is absolutely not there to please its audience, I guess albums like this exist.
The Monkees
3/5
C-side Beatles.
The Psychedelic Furs
2/5
Another day, another band with the same sound: whiny punk British dude. How can there be so many on this list? How?
Korn
2/5
This is the music Focus on the Family and my mom warned me about because if I listened, I would start to worship Satan.
Tim Buckley
2/5
Weird skatty noise-making, especially on "Devil Eyes." What the heck. I've heard two Tim Buckley albums so far (464 albums in) but no Jeff. Whoever made this list was wrong.
Minutemen
2/5
Wow the bass on these tracks is phenomenal. It's definitely not my favorite but I recognize the musical technical skill, like whoa. Unfortunately, though each track is like a little sample, this album is like a 34-course meal: far too long. I run out of listening stamina.
Gram Parsons
3/5
Two lovebirds singing beautiful harmonies! The style of music isn't my favorite but it's a lovely time to listen to these two, and extra salient given their eventual sad ending.
Giant Sand
3/5
Take Lou Reed and suck out any remaining energy and you get this guy. It was the most low-key chill performance I've heard and I'm not sure that I mean that as a compliment.
Radiohead
3/5
Lush and sweeping, the songs like brush strokes made of notes. It's experimental and weird and definitely not for everyone.