1001 Albums Summary

Great start. I love instrumental music and have been trying to listen to more hip-hop this year. Took a couple tracks to get into what was being laid down, but I especially love the chill cosmic hang-out vibes of the second half. Can definitely see myself relistening to this album.

It’s Nick Drake, come on. Delicate, beautiful, lovely. I’ve heard most of these songs before - in other playlists or in movies or commercials - but it was wonderful to listen to them all together. In fact, I listened to it twice all the way through. The exact type of music you want to listen to on a rainy Sunday morning.

The first album I’ve gotten that I’m already very familiar with. This was one of the first records I got when I was gifted a record player back in 2020. I listened to this a lot! Pure pop goodness. It maybe peaks about halfway through, but the vibes are great from start to end. I love Cyndi’s voice so much. A true original. Time After Time will forever be an absolutely stunning song.

Not my cup of tea. I like prog rock, I like folk, I don’t even mind a flute in my music, but this all just kinda sounded like brown noise. When Aqualung, a six minute song about a nonce, is your best tune, it’s not very promising.

I wish I liked Wilco more, but ultimately this type of early 2000s dad alt-rock doesn’t do much for me. Wilco is one of the better bands from this era, so it wasn’t like this was painful of anything, it just is kind of “there.” I genuinely enjoyed a couple tunes, so it wasn’t a waste of time. This will just always be a genre that is confusingly popular to me!

Fantastic stuff, I get it. I’m a casual Radiohead fan. I usually like what I hear, I had a “greatest hits” CD in high school that I used to play, because even back then I knew Radiohead was an “important” band. This was the first time I listened to this album in full though. Absolutely wonderful experience. Very much my thing. I hear so much of stuff I like in this - Bowie, Eno, Nomi, REM, McCartney, Wings, Broken Social Scene - all made into something different and new. “Lucky” is my favorite track, sounds like a Bond theme for a Bond movie that never was. Can’t wait to relisten to this album some more!

Another album I was already very familiar with. I got big into this album over the pandemic, in all its goofy, overdramatic glory. Every track is a banger. Big, silly, stupid fun.

Liked the noise, the vocals and lyrics were eh.

Classic, solid disco pop. Didn’t hate it, don’t have much enthusiasm for it. Pleasant to listen to.

I love instrumental jazz, and Charles Mingus was cool as hell, but I like my jazz a little more melodic. This was fun, and there’s great moments in it, but sometimes it just wasn’t my groove. Respect the talent and musicianship, though.

Really trying to keep that one star for stuff I think is truly dreck, but boy oh boy did I get close to voting this one star. I found the lyrics bad, the voice cloying, just the worst kind of 60s singer-songwriter “this is deep” music. Sorry, Tim!

It’s Purple Fucking Rain

I’ve heard the name of this band before but didn’t know what they would sound like - I think I expected cheesier Brit-pop, since I know there’s a lot of that on this list. What I got instead was dark, angry, hardcore punk with great melodies and vocals. Exactly my type of thing. In my head I was debating between giving this a 4 or a 5 but hell, this project is about celebrating new music and expanding your horizons, and I KNOW I’m going to listen to this album again. So five stars it is!

I’m so glad I finally listened to this whole album! Anytime I’ve heard a Pulp song in the past I’ve dug it big time, and it turns out I dug the whole record! There’s a timeless quality to this - I had to keep reminding myself it’s from the 90s, not the 60s or 70s. It’s just this wonderful wall of sound with amazing production and cheeky lyrics. I listened to it like four times yesterday. Common People is truly an all-timer of a bop.

There was a part of me that was thinking “Wow, I’ve been served such great albums this week - three 5 star albums in a row, I really need a stinker so I don’t seem like I just rate everything highly!!” So when I got this I rolled my eyes and was like “yup, easy 2 or 1.” Then I listened to it and within minutes I was like “Oh no, this kinda slaps!!!” Reading up on the backstory and events surrounding this album, and it really makes sense. There’s this feeling of a group of friends helping their buddy through a rough time in his life. The longer songs kinda feel like jam sessions - a little aimless, investigative, angry. And then the solo tracks by Crosby are very delicate and sad. Forced to confront his emotions by himself. Love a short album too, I listened to this three or four times yesterday because it’s only around a half hour long!

Fantastic album! I knew a lot of the songs already, but the whole thing really works! I Know Billy Corgan is an asshole who actively has made the sport of pro wrestling worse, but he’s got a cool rock voice.

Fine. Completely inoffensive, really. Hard to get on board with the idea that this is one of the 1001 most important albums of all time. It’s like blander early Weezer. Thinking of some of the artists and albums I already know aren’t on this list, compared to…This? I listened to it once, I didn’t hate myself, I’ll probably never listen to it again.

Funky! Not my favorite Curtis.

I’ve got a soft spot for prog rock/ELP. It’s good background noise for studying and reading. Honestly the only standout track here is the first one, but it’s almost half the the length of the album, so that’s a solid two stars, another star for the best/worst album cover of all time. Legendary.

Power Rangers music

Excuse me, there are HOW MANY Byrds albums on this list?

I liked the vibes more than I was expecting to. Chill, quiet, reminded me of the XX in some parts. Incredibly modern production I thought. Sounds like it could have come out in the past five years, not in 1990. I will likely relisten to this one!

When this popped up as my next album I just sighed. Then I saw it was 73 minutes and I got angry. I started listening and soon was like “Oh, am I going to like this album?” It was fun, funky, catchy, had some hits - Rubin’s production is extraordinary here! I was thinking this might be the IDEAL RHCP album to listen to. Then the second half of the album came and it’s like Rubin just walked away and let them noodle around for 40 minutes. It’s their worst excesses, FOR HALF AN ALBUM. Ugh. Stop this thing at “Under the Bridge,” it’s honestly a fun, 4 star rock pop album. For subjecting me to another album of garbage after that, I’m dropping it a whole star.

It’s Surfer Fucking Rosa!

What a delight! I’ve always liked the singles I’ve heard from this band, but truthfully, I would have never got around to listening to this album if not for this project! This was just my type of thing! I can’t even figure out what my favorite track off the album is, I loved them all! Perfect electro-pop, I wish I could be slightly drunk in 2014 dancing to these tracks at the club!

The Lord is testing me Ok so actually I’ve been dreading getting any Frank Zappa since I know there is quite a bit on this list, and this ended up being not as bad as I expected. At least the first half. Sure, it was trolling and not as funny as Zappa thought it was, but the musicianship and melodies still worked to make actual MUSIC. Then, like most double albums, the last 20 minutes are garbage.

Best first 10 seconds of an album ever? Here’s the thing - the album never gets as good as the opening track, but when you start with a stone-cold classic, that makes sense. And the rest isn’t bad at all, it just isn’t “Let’s Get It On.”

Honestly a little surprise! There’s too much 90s Brit-pop on this list, but this had its own style. A lot of it is just funky instrumentals! Brimful of Asha is a classic. I think I remember the Fatboy Slim remix from the 90s, but it’s been like 30 years. I could definitely see myself playing this one again, or at least a few songs.

Fats is the Cat! Great voice, great vibes, a reason they’re classics!

Like many Talking Heads albums, the first listen feels a bit cold, a bit impersonal, but it’s on the subsequent listens the music reveals its raw, beautiful humanity. Once in a Lifetime is one of the great songs of my life. I transcended when I got to see Byrne himself perform it on a Broadway stage, I’ll never forget it.

No!

I wish I liked Lou Reed more!! Some stone cold classics here, I love the production by Bowie! I just, at the end of the day, plain don’t like about half the songs on this album! I find Lou Reed’s songwriting sometimes excessively cutesy with his rhymes and stuff! And his voice is nothing! Same, uninspired mumble on everything! Sometimes it works, but there’s a whole album of it! It gets boring! At least it’s not Korn!

Cosmic horror music! Really all about the first and last tracks, but damn, ain’t they something!?

Loved this! Obviously was somewhat aware of TCQ before this, listened to a bit of their stuff over the summer (inspired by the hip hop soundtrack to the new TMNT movie lol), but this was my first deep dive into one of their albums. This was just totally my wave length. Another review I read puts it very well - this album works in two ways: you can zone out and chill and it’s great vibe music, or you can listen intently and the depth of the lyrics and construction of the songs will reveal themselves. A new favorite for sure! And it ends with a wild Busta verse!

Boring Dadcore

I like the Rolling Stones. This is fine. Some okay songs, none of their great stuff. Overlong. Not really my thing. If it were played for me again I wouldn't fight it, but I will likely not seek this out on my own again.

Idk actually like 3.5. I liked it more than The Rolling Stones album from yesterday. It’s still just TOO DAMN LONG. Why is a punk album over an hour and has 20 tracks? I can cut this down to nine or ten great tracks and this is an easy 4. You can hear ska coming from this sound, and I liked that.

Love Peter Gabriel, love this album!

Took a couple listens to get it, but I did.

3.5. It’s cheesy and big and loud and stupid, but it’s kind of the platonic ideal of pop metal. The production is so crisp, the lyrics are fun and easy to sing along to, the hooks are unreal. I have a lot of great memories of listening to Def Leppard with my dad when I was younger. Sometimes you just gotta turn your brain off and enjoy the tunes.

2.5. Idk, fake punk that’s super samey and shallow and now the lead singer is a conservative twat. How lame. Important at the time and I’m not gonna pretend there’s not a couple fun songs, but not really into it.

Absolutely beautiful voice, didn’t get much else out of it

A masterpiece. An album I return to at least once a year. Always gives me something new to hear.

“Sir, the ‘It Slaps’ meter is off the charts!”

3.5 I enjoy the content, but I really don’t like Chuck D’s tone/rappint style, I’m sorry. Flava Flav of course is perfect.

Robot Rock

Like an audio party! Which feels like what she’s going for! I like that she also acknowledges that hip hop has gone through some major losses prior to the release of this album and wants to respect that, but also wants everyone to have a good time. All the features keep the variety up. This was a very fun listen!

Two Kendrick albums in one week! And they’re both masterpieces! This is so fucking good. Every song while it’s playing, I’m thinking “this is my fave,” and then the next one comes on. Incredible!

Garbage. Not even a famous or influential album or band? What the heck is this? Is someone in the band friends with the people who made the list? I like noise, this isn’t even good noise! The best part of the album is the song titles.

The coolest

I thought I was going to be such a little contrarian and not like the Bob Dylan albums but lol no this is incredible. Can’t wait to listen to it again and again.

3.5! Not my favorite Nirvana, but there’s great stuff here. Reminds me of riding in my dad’s car to school in the 90s!

The people were right! Kids shouldn’t be allowed to listen to this! That being said, and with the caveat that YES it’s sexist and homophobic and crude and vile - this rocks. I have never been an Eminem fan, never actually sat down with his music other than the hits, and while I think his albums eventually move away from this style - this is horrorcore! And I love horrorcore rap!

Not devoid of charms, but mostly bland. Really shows its age. Could only be from 92-95.

3.5! I like the sonic sound of CSNY, might have hit a bit harder if I hadn’t gotten the Crosby solo album already.

I REALLY enjoyed this! Wasn’t sure what to think at first, but I ended up listening to it like 3 times through. Maybe more of a “mood piece” than a traditional album; it’s like listening to a haunted house. Which I love. Going in the “spooky music” canon. Should revisit this album in the Halloween season! Also this guy is so neat he inspired a Muppet!!

I love Gabriel-era Genesis, but actually hadn’t listened to this entry yet! Glad I got to! Super sonically pleasing to me. Production is perfect, sounds so good. Instrumentation is stunning, his voice is enviable. Had a great time with these British weirdos!

Heads up - Stevie is one of my guys and I’m likely to rate all his albums on this list VERY highly. Honestly, this should be more of a 4.5, but I do admit this is probably the “weakest” album of his classic period. Still better than 90% of other music, but judging it against his other work. I still love it and listen to it all the time.

Almost good, but never fully got there

Fun! I listened to this a few times through and there’s some catchy tunes!

I think there’s way too many 1-star reviews of this album on here! This thing isn’t high art, but it’s a great example of the merging of nu-metal and pop. There’s great production and a TON of hits on here. It’s very easy to listen to. It’s not exactly my thing, but it does feel important to me, and I understand why it’s on this list!

Otis was probably one of the top five singers of all time. Just put on this album and let his voice wash over you. Sublime!

Four stars (sorry)

Y’all don’t wanna know how close I was to rating this 5 stars 😈 I’m Swifty neutral, but I think this is the moment in time where I realized she was going to be around forever. This album felt like a seismic shift, a statement, a cultural moment. Over half of the songs on this album were major hits - when does that happen anymore?!? They were inescapable, and I was blasting them on the radio just like everyone else. I’m not invested in Swift like other people are, but I truly believe this is a pop masterpiece. It was a delight to listen to, and I listened to it like three times yesterday.

I’ve listened to this album before and enjoyed it, but listening to it in this time in this context, it really hit me like a sack of bricks. In a good way. The Replacements really had all the ingredients, didn’t they? Too bad.

Man I remember when this came out. Bowie and I share a birthday, and it was so exciting for one of my favorites to release his new album on our birthday! And then it was so good! Everyone was playing it through that weekend, and going l “Wow, amazing work….hmm seems to kinda be about him dying though.” And then he was gone two days later. Two days. He gave us just enough time to realize what the album was about. And then he left. I can’t imagine what it is like to record an album about your death. But that was just Bowie. And it’s one of his best. Literally releasing vital, amazing work until hours before his passing. That was Bowie.

3.5 - sonically pleasant and pleasingly sad, woulda meant more to me if I had listened to it in my youth. Some absolutely stunning songs, sometimes gets a bit same-y.

3.5! Funky Bowie is not my favorite version of Bowie, but it’s still better than most music! Also, two Bowie albums in one week! Wow!

I fucking hate The Doors.

2.5. Inoffensive, bland, okay, overlong, likely won’t listen to this again. It’s fine. I’m surprised to learn it’s from 1996 since to me it has a very early 2000s rock sound. Probably influential. Probably why it’s on this list. Good for them.

4.5 This is my first time actually listening to Bjork and what an experience. Complex, but fun to listen to. I finally understand what the kids mean when they say “mother is mothering.”

Astounded by this. I’ve never really listened to Joni Mitchell before, and the instant this started I was so taken by her voice and the melodies and the words. What a wonderful surprise this was!

One or two good songs, I do not feel like I needed to hear this before I die. Why was this on the list?

Not a hater on the Zepp, but they were not my thing as a teen, which feels like it makes a difference. I like a lot of their hits, and tbh, “Immigrant Song” might be one of the best album openers ever. Just goes so incredibly hard. They lose me some when they indulge in their bluesy Americana thing, which this album has a lot of. Don’t begrudge anyone who love this stuff, it’s just not my cuppa tea.

Pleasant but hollow. It hits one note well, but that one note is the only note for the whole album. Halfway through I wanted to turn it out and listen to the more popular Mumford and Sons album or the catchier Local Natives first album with more interesting harmonies. That being said, it sure sounds like 2009 to me, which brings with it a certain amount of nostalgia. I surely listened to “White Winter Hymnal” approximately 1,000 times my first year of college.

Slightly more listenable than the other doors album I got this week. Maybe it’s actually a blessing to get their shit out of way this early in the project.

God saw that I was thankful that I had gotten listening to The Doors albums out of the way and said “hold my beer.”

I don’t know if it’s because I’ve had some AWFUL albums this week, but I found this perfectly acceptable. Pleasant, even. Not the sort of thing that’s gonna set my world on fire, but fun, well-made and well-produced Americana rock. I like the guy’s voice, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome. I remember some of these songs being in heavy rotation on my dad’s radio growing up.

Wasn’t sure what to think of it at first but after a couple listens (god bless short albums), it really started to click with. Like the bastard child of Zep and McCartney.

I love The Who, but I respect this one more than I love it. I get the criticism of vapid commercialism p quickly, and then it’s kinda the only note it hits (other than the fantastic songs). “I Can See For Miles” is one of my fave tunes of all time.

I’m sorry; I hate Chrissie Hyndes’s voice so much.

Boring old person music

About as perfect as pop gets! I listened to this album on vinyl so much during the pandemic!

I like it! Not my fave or anything, but I’ve discovered through this project that this is the type of old people rock I enjoy!!

A ton of fun! I could do without the five minute fart song, tho!

Well…at least it was short…

2.5 Glad to see some Love representation on this list. An underrated band of this era for sure, and they wrote one of my fave songs ever (not on this album tho). I’ve heard Alone Again Or covered by other bands, I didn’t know it was by them! This album starts really strongly but I get bored in the later half. I don’t think this is their strongest showing, but also, a lot of bands simply weren’t thinking about making cohesive albums at this point. I like Love, though!

Oh it’s fine. Van Morrison is an idiot but there’s worse music to have to listen to. If your grandparents put this on, you’ll live. His voice is nice and the songs are pleasant. The recording is really well done and sounds great for a live album. I don’t think they should let live albums be on this list though! I’ll say the final two tracks both being ten minutes long started to test my patience!

Love this album! One of the first albums I can remember being obsessed with! I was in a production of Tommy back in 11th grade and I basically ate, drank, and slept The Who for like 3 months straight. I have so many great memories of relistening to this album over and over and over. Fundamental to me!

3.5 Idk I thought this was fun! The Gift is a hoot and I didn’t mind the 20-minute song about a blowjob

2.5 Okay I know we all hate the Eagles but this is generally fine. I woulda rated it 3 but the last song is overlong and sounds like something you’d sing at church camp

A pleasant mix of Simon and Springsteen. Too long.

What a fun time! This band should have had a cartoon!

A pleasant listen!

2.5 I like Neil, but this isn’t my favorite. At least his stuff is back on Spotify which makes it easy to listen to him

3.5 Better than the last Stones album I listened to for this project, more solid classics. Wild Horses always gets me in the feels. I like the Stones just fine, probably more than many, I just don’t think they’re ever gonna touch me super deeply

I’ve had a few weeks of really mediocre albums and I was not super excited when I got this yesterday morning but it ended up being really fun. It might not actually be 4 stars but it’s definitely 4 stars in my current journey through this list!

3.5 I was just thinking a few days ago that I was almost 100 days into this project and had yet to have a Beatles album and somehow, lo and behold, the next day I got one! One of the least essential Beatles albums, tbf, but a Beatles album nonetheless. Listen - I love the Beatles, probably most of their other albums are going to get 5 stars, and even this isn’t bad per se. It can’t be, with the lovely lads from Liverpool singing and playing. It’s just, other than the iconic cover, what does this really have going for it? A couple classic songs up front, then most of the rest of the album is (good) covers! It’s not the most exciting or necessary work from them. But it’s the Beatles, and there’s some classic tunes on it, so it’s still getting above 3 stars from me.

I was starting to get tired of this challenge, thinking I was getting burnt out, because for two weeks almost all my scores were 2s or 3s….and then this came up, and within a couple seconds I realized, no, all that was really mediocre music. Because this was INCREDIBLE. Always enjoyed Monae as an iconic figure, the look, the music videos, the acting. Shamefully never listened to this in whole, even though I’ve had 15 years to do so (Jesus Christ where does the time go). WOW. Every song is a lovely delight, I never knew exactly where it was going, and they’re all so singular. I cannot wait to listen to this over and over again!

Please stop the music!

Cult of Personality is a bop, and they’re probably doing just fine off that huge hit, but it’s hard not to think Living Colour deserves more. They go so hard, they’re so funky, they could have been, should have been, the biggest band in the world.

3.5 Ultimate “chilling with the boys on the deck” vibes

Music at its rawest, purest form. Love it.

One of my favorite albums of all time! So pleased that I got to listen to it yesterday!

What is this band even about? Like yeah, they can play their instruments and sing technically well, but these songs lack any…depth or sincerity? Are they jazz? Are they rock? Are they soul? Because they lack any soul or funk to make that work. And then they have a 7 minute experimental fuzz song right in the middle of the album? This is a band in search of a reason to be a band….also every song is TOO LONG holy shit!

Wow. I was not expecting this. For some reason I thought Portishead was, like….industrial metal? But it’s just this incredible vibey electric trip-hop with angelic vocals and atmospheric lyrics?!? Absolutely one of my favorite discoveries so far!

Another surprise I really enjoyed! The ratings are kinda low on this but it clicked with me! Early Beck mixed with Ram-era McCartney!

Fine. Like a lot of records in the CD era, indulgently long for no reason, so it starts and ends strong, but there’s a lot of nonsense in the middle

A fun surprise! Punky, mean, cheeky. Had never heard of this band (except maybe I’ve heard “Peaches” before) and really enjoyed listening to them!

Selling drugs has never sounded so cool

Stronger first half than second, but I’m learning I love Bjork and that makes up for it

A really fun listen! Beatles-esque but not a heartless rip-off of them. Each song had its own unique feeling, super catchy and hooky! Smiles to this album!

Fun to hear the Temptations get weird with it, but not exactly my thing.

Worthless. I will never listen to this again, and there’s no reason for this to be on this list. Unnecessary to a serious degree. I’m only rating it two because it is music.

3.5 A very well-made album that I just didn’t connect with deeply, it doesn’t feel cohesive as an album to me too, they’re just doing a lot of stuff on every track, even though they’re all well-made. A certain amount of corniness because they’re The Roots, but I’ll accept it

3.5 I had no idea there was an Iron Maiden before Bruce Dickinson, so imagine my surprise when I turned this on and heard a voice that was definitely not his!! I kinda dig this version of IM! Grimier, punkier! I especially really love the first three songs on this album! But overall I really enjoyed listening to this!

Sorry, I’m a Beatles boy. This is probably one of the albums I’ve listened to most in my life. I had it on CD in high school and would play it all the time! I didn’t even need to download this one on Spotify yesterday, it was already downloaded!!! Has been for years!!! I love the Beatles!!!

I really do respect Public Enemy as historically significant, and it’s not like their music is BAD…it’s just really not for me. I do not like Chuck D’s flow and voice. This is a me problem I know!

What a delightful surprise to see this album pop up on the list! I discovered this band a year and some change ago through Spotify playlists - they’re not the most famous band ever- and really vibed with their first few albums! Sort of like a positive version of The Smiths!!

ELO is definitely one of my favorite “classic rock” bands. This is still way too long and has some fat that could be trimmed! Still, I love their arrangements and sonic quality. I’m on their weird wavelength! 3.5

There were 4-5 years there where OutKast were truly the biggest band in the world. What a great time to be alive. There’s way too many skits on this album but it’s also got some of my favorite songs of all time, so, four stars!!!

One night in 2016 shortly after a bad breakup, I got really drunk, taught myself a couple chords on my guitar, and recorded what I called “automusic,” where I just made up the lyrics as I strummed over a couple notes. I didn’t care about tone, or wrong notes, or the song composition. Just raw emotion on the tracks. That is what this album sounds like, but this was professionally recorded.

2.5 Already sick of these obscure Brit-pop bands that all sound like worse versions of better bands (in this case, Pulp). At least this one had some nice choruses and harmonies.

There was like a month in 2021 where I only listened to this album. And there was like a week of that month where I only listened to “Jet” on repeat. I love this album! I love Paul McCartney!

3.5 Honestly not that bad. Has a lot of nice pop hits, but “Mother” is literally one of the worst songs I’ve heard in my life so taking off a lot for that!!

It feels wild to give a live album five stars but there’s just…something about this one. They sound perfect. Kurt’s voice is flawless, Dave and Krist and the guest musicians just float. Not a single note is wrong or placed incorrectly. Kurt keeps saying he’s going to lose his voice or he’s going to have to change keys between songs, and then he just nails it exactly like he’s supposed to. It’s hearing greatness. An amazing band at their absolute peak, in full control of their abilities. It honestly takes my breath away at points, And they don’t even play “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

Interesting! Not really for me!

Another techno album! Again nice, not actively my thing but I didn’t hate it. Honestly could put this on in the background while I work or workout and enjoy it enough.

Diarrhea Streaks

Get in, release one of the best albums of the 90s, get out (ignoring their second album as almost everyone else does)

4.5 Two of the greatest pop songs ever to start it off, then a fucking PRINCE duet?!? And then MORE songs that sound like PRINCE?? Incredible album.

3.5 Cheesy but I dig it. Definition of “easy listening.”

3.5 Ideal American rock and the perfect length for an album!

Like I’m gonna give less than five stars to the album with Mr. Brightside on it? But seriously, love this one, sounds like being 13 again.

This was a wonderful surprise! Fully had never heard of this, but was a great, high-energy way to start my morning. The songs are catchy, the lyrics full of humor and fun wordplay, the music funky and the samples fun! Not to sound reductive but kinda like if Madonna were black. Points off for some…weird politics in a couple songs! But I’ll just skip those on a relisten! Most of the time just good fun! And the sister of the “Save The Night” guy, apparently!

Voices are nice, not really my thing

Buddy Holly rules so much. Just, like, 10+ perfect rock songs, none over 2:30. All so catchy and fun and deceivingly complex. Album is under 30 mins long? I listened to it twice through yesterday morning.

3.5 Fine early 90s alt-rock. A couple fun songs.

3.5 Yeah this was cool! The type of album this list was made for! I would have never listened to the soundtrack for this old Bollywood film, but I did, and it was kinda neat! Bollywood mixed with 70s funk and also spaghetti westerns, kind of a little bit of everything!!

3.5 Better than some other similar albums I’ve heard recently. Weird mix. First half is more ambient experimental stuff and then the latter half is more traditional indie rock.

3.5 Just absolutely classic DJing and samples. A couple awful songs in the middle (wth is Dreamin?) but worth a listen for sure.

It’s fine. Fine. Overlong, some stinkers, but it just sounds the same as the last Verve album I got, which was only like a week ago, and it’s just the same Brit pop that proliferates throughout this list. It’s fine! Why did the Verve need TWO albums on this list, when there’s amazing bands and performers I know not represented at all?!?

I like these guys

One of my favorite classic rock albums. Just the ideal of this era of rock. The basics hit so good!

Crazy how modern this still sounds

3.5

That first song is such a high bar for entry lol. Absolutely one of the worst things I’ve heard while doing this project. I was close to tapping out. Thankfully after that, it kinda grew on me. But, like, the way a toe fungi grows on you.

Yeah, it’s one song - but to be fair, it’s a pretty good song

This dumbass makes some pretty good music

This is the type of album this list is about! I have truly never ever heard of this artist before, but I ended up really liking this! Weird. But listenable. Not overlong, he has an interesting way of composing songs. A very singular voice. Operatic, dramatic, etc. I really enjoyed this! I listened to it twice!

I liked about half of this album!!

I think there’s a reason a lot of bands from this era’s best albums are their “best ofs”

(Don’t) Play that funky music, white boy

I enjoyed this! Light, easy, clever, good lyrics, good instrumentation! Short! I listened to it like three times!! Solid stuff.

I wish I liked Beck more, but I mostly respect him.

3.5 Honestly a lovely way to start my Monday. I listened to it two times through. Not my favorite type of thing, but when it hits, it hits good. Warm, nostalgic, simple. Quietly massively influential. Everyone’s mom had this CD magically appear in their mini-van in 2004.

Michael Franti doing a Public Enemy impression for 45 minutes. Exhausting. Franti seems like a smart guy and I guess I agree with most of his politics, but he’s just so….unimaginative. All his music sounds like someone else’s music - his big hit is just a soundalike of Jack Johnson/DMB, and there’s no cleverness or subtlety to his lyrics. It’s just “here’s what I think” shouted over the same beat, over 10 songs. An intelligent guy, I’m not sure if he’s a particularly creative or innovative guy.

An album that’s been there in different ways my whole life “Blister in the Sun” was one of my favorite songs as a kid, it reminds me of driving to school with my dad in the mornings, always delighted when it happened to be played. In middle school, talking to my best friend about how good of a song “Blister in the Sun” was. In college, downloading tracks from this album to my first iPhone And finally in my 30s, regularly enjoying full album listens. It’s perfect. It’s short, folksy, punky. The hooks are incredible and the lyrics are so fun. Every song demands to be screamed along to. Cannot imagine wanting more from a rock album.

2.5 Was expecting worse from all the reviews here! Sure this dude I guess is a culture vulture but the music is fine. Way better first half than the second but I didn’t hate myself listening to this, probably won’t seek it out again though.

Arcade Fire is a band I don’t actively listen to, but always quite enjoy their music when I do!

In my hyper pop-girlie era, what can I say?

Don't get me wrong, Ryan Adams is a vile, vile piece of shit. Unfortunately, and to my surprise, this album is right up my alley? I actually think I've heard a lot of this album before. I think in college friends would play it in their car, because a lot of these songs are sounding vaguely familiar to me.

3.5 My appreciation for Neil continues to grow!

Not my thing

Felt like I lost a ton of context because of the language difference unfortunately. Left me with okay, not great, blues music

Strong 3 Some great songs, but ultimately a little too derivative for me to rate it higher

No one was sonically perfect as Nick Drake.

3.5 Taking a look at the comments on this album and it’s interesting to learn how many of y’all are prudes! Horror rap rocks and this is one of the best ones, “Blue Flowers” is one of the best songs ever maybe.

Not really my thing but I thought this was done well! I enjoyed what this was doing for the most part. Fun noise. Party noise.

2.5 Yeah, there’s a reason we mainly remember her for Back to Black. Her voice is technically good here, but she’s still aping other people’s styles, she hasn’t come into her own. The album is too long, and the songs are bad and/or extremely forgettable. That first song is one of the worst I’ve heard doing this project thus far!

2.5 It’s okay. Idk why “punk” songs are 3-4 minutes long tho

Like if U2 were goth

Took almost 200 days but I finally got a Bruce album! Sorry everyone, Bruce is one of my guys and I’ll probably rate every album of his on this list 5 stars. But ya know what? He deserves it! This stretch of albums is legendary for a reason! They’re all spectacular!

3.5 I liked it, didn’t love it. Would listen to it again though

I was kinda busy yesterday and was worried I wasn’t going to have time to listen to an album, so I was desperately hoping it was going to be an album I was already familiar with. And I got probably my favorite album of all time lol. An album I’m likely listened more to than any other! Two Boss albums in three days!!! I’m loving it!!!

Liked some songs. Really influential on 90s pop country, which is a soft spot for me, since that’s what I listened to while growing up.

Is there a better “socially conscious” pop album? It’s perfect - everything sounds sonically wonderful, I love the way that’s it’s almost just one long song that flows and changes and transforms.

Barely skating by to a 2 rating on the strength of its first couple songs. Never have I seen an album absolutely crater so quickly. This dude can sing too! Shame he doesn’t do it after track 2!

I liked the last Sonic Youth album more. I get this, it’s an interesting mix of noise and traditional alternative rock. It’s an important stepping stone and extremely influential. Fully understand putting it on this list, it’s just not really for me.

3.5 Not the best of my favorite White Stripes album, but there’s four or five great songs

Vietnam War movie: The Album

Pleasant! I liked it all the way though, if it’s not particularly memorable.

2.5. Started off well enough, I was bored by the end. But nothing offensively awful.

3.5 Immaculate vibes. Loved the features, although it featured very little Dr. Dre for a Dr. Dre album!

I enjoyed this quite a bit! Like a British Fountaina of Wayne.

3.5 Grungy, sounds great, classic songs

The last Echo album sounded like goth U2, this one sounded like goth The Doors. I don’t like The Doors.

Great pop music! When I saw it, I thought “oh, shame, this is a lesser Adele album” and then somehow I knew like half the songs! She’s just inevitable! She permeates the culture! Long live Adele!

Technically fine, very much not my thing

It's not perfect (if it were me, I wouldn't have any songs where one of the best singers who ever lived is not on main vocals), BUT, am I really going to give the album that "Bohemian Rhapsody" comes from less than 4 stars?

As loved and respected as the Beastie Boys are, they still maybe feel underrated. This album is incredible!!!! At 20 tracks, even I was thinking “hmm that’s a lot of Beastie Boys at once,” but honestly, there’s probably only seven or eight “traditional” Beastie Boys tracks. The rest is made up of experimental, instrumental tracks, which sound amazing and are an early indicator of where they’d end up in their career. They also throw some classic punk rock in there as well, and have a couple delightful features (Q Tip and BB goes down SO smooth). No complaints! This was a treat to listen to!

3.5 From what I understand, this isn’t really original work? More a white dude taking world music songs he likes and just kinda throwing them in a sequence, with little substantial changes to them? So I can’t rate it higher because of that, but honestly, he picked great songs. This was really fun to listen to. Just great energy all the way through.

Kinda surprised at the lowish score here - I thought this was great. Immaculate vibes, incredible mix of different genres. Each song its own thing, the album moves quickly. I’ve heard of Bad Brains before but had never actually listened to them before! Glad I got to!

3.5 Starts really strongly but loses some steam in the latter half. Still, this is just big, loud, fun rock music. Been a great week for this project thus far!

Annoying that Spotify will not serve you the original album, sometimes doesn’t even feature the original album, as is the case here! The original is only like 40 minutes! The one on Spotify is over two hours of music! Good music, sure! But that’s a lot more of a time dedication! Thankfully some kind souls had reassembled the original album with playlists. I don’t mind expanded albums, or deluxe albums, or extras - but that shouldn’t be the default. The original album should be presented in its original form. This was fine. I like jazz, some of the those high notes go absolutely wild.

I was big into the first four or so Sabbath records a few years back. Forgot how good this one is. Maaaaaaybe the greatest hard rock album ever??

This kinda eats Metallica’s awful music for breakfast. Not my type of thing at all but it’s just really well made and hard and makes me wanna smash stuff and mosh, which are not my usual vibes. It’s just a big “hell yeah” from me. Great week of albums, can’t wait to get an awful album immediately after I rate this.

A perfectly cromulent record, like most CCR records, although the white boy patois can start to grate. Thankfully it’s also very short.

1.5 British rap is so unserious lol “I’m so rude, he’s the ting/ The guvment is rude, ring-a-ling-ding” It just comes off so insincere. And how is this Grime-y? I get that that’s what they call the genre, but it doesn’t particularly sound dirty or gross or intense. It sounds like mediocre pop rap, because that’s what it is!!! Sorry, I’m getting mad thinking about how many classic rap albums are NOT on this list! And this is!

Solid 4. Just a very good album. Also it extra nice because yesterday was my and my gf’s anniversary and our fourth date was a Pavement concert :)

3.5 Okay here’s the recipe for a Nick Cave song: Make it 5-6 minutes long Long verses with biblical and religious allusions Choruses with choirs in the background Towards the end the choir takes over and chants the chorus over and over Rinse, repeat Here’s the thing. It’s not a bad formula per se, but it’s definitely a formula. And it gets repetitive when it’s 90 minutes long. Again, not sure the need for a double album here, 45 mins would have sufficed and improved the rating. It’s not bad though! I can see why some people go wild for this dude. I would relisten to this and enjoy myself, but personally it’s not my fave thing. There’s a few bangers tho.

Nice, cool.

2.5 Sorry Bob, loved the last one I got from you but this was a a snooze. Nothing I hate more when good musicians age and get really into traditional Americana. What a bore!

Me at 16: Rage Against The Machine is the best band ever Me at 22: While influential in their time, there’s a certain political naiveté to RATM’s lyrics that makes it hard to take their music seriously Me at 33: Rage Against the Machine is the best band ever

A lovely mix of pop, rock and psychedelia, this Jimi kid is onto something!

Sweet, pleasant, harmless

3.5 REM is a band I always have wished I was more into. Unfortunately, I just really like them, don’t love them. There’s some songs of their’s I adore, and mean a ton to me, but overall, I respect what they do; it’s just not my favorite.

Bummer Liz Phair kinda ended up being a poser because this is so good. I fucked with this hard back in 2021 so it was nice to revisit it with new ears.

Bummer I didn’t like this more. I think the problem is the songs are so long, and there’s only four of them, so if I didn’t like one, well, it’s going to be ten more minutes until I can hear another. All time great name for an album, though.

3.5 Another good, not great album from The Cure. Some standout tracks, but because the album is so short, it never feels like it gets into second gear to me. But very listenable, and great vibes.

It’s labeled as a Miles Davis album, but honestly it’s like The Avengers of Jazz on this thing. John Coltrane, Bill Evans…it’s like the dream team up, guys who are/would become established legends themselves. I personally love Bill Evans, I listen to him all the time to calm me down and soothe me, so I was super excited to hear him so heavily featured here. I noticed him interpolating “Peace Pipe” in the final track on this album, it almost took my breath away. This album is beautiful and soothing and fun and just a group of guys who are essentially perfect at what they did showing off. Extremely listenable, I will keep this in my downloaded records and probably listen to it 500 more times.

A little chiller, a little more fun, a little rockier than the past couple Radiohead albums I’ve listened to for this list. Kind of a return to basics. I enjoyed it!

This is more of a 2.5 album, maybe even a two, and definitely should not be on this list; but I’m letting my nostalgia speak here. It reminds me of driving in my dad’s car when I was growing up. You could escape Incubus on alt rock radio from 99-09, they had a stranglehold on it. Honestly, I really enjoy the singer’s voice. It’s like if Anthony Kiedas could actually sing. I don’t know if they’d admit to it, but a lot of his tone and inflection seems to have influenced vocal styles of emo singers.

3.5 It’s nice! Sometimes it sounds like Wings, sometimes it sounds like Paul Williams, it’s got the theme song for That 70s Show and a song about going through puberty! Short and sweet and easy to listen to, doesn’t move me in any major way!

Very vibes, very nice. Reminds me of early college days where a bunch of bands hit really big but none made it to that “next” level. Too early before the bands really knew how to take control of Internet power but too late to make it on traditional radio.

One of the first “adult” albums I listened to; it still holds up. Production is incredible, every member of the band is vital and playing at the top of their abilities. Rose, who loses it later on, sounds fantastic here. One of the all-time great voices. I hadn’t listened to this in full for a really long time and it was a delight. Each song is catchy and has its own “thing” going on. In fact, and I remember thinking this as a little theater kid back in the day, there’s a certain theatricality to this album. Sometimes the songs sound like showtunes! This is a compliment! They’re just very dramatic and the lyrics do such a good job of setting a scene of grime and sin and bad behavior. Somebody should turn this into a jukebox musical, it’d rule. Don’t think you’re too good for GnR!!!

While I don’t love every song, I do think “All Tomorrow’s Parties” may be one of the single best “new to me” songs I’ve heard on this journey so far. So I’m going 3.5 for this.

Exhausting but can’t say it wasn’t rewarding in some aspects. Some of these songs aren’t great, but honestly, a lot are. And they’re truly spread throughout the album. You’ll get a length of okay songs and then one will just give you a punch to the gut with its lyrics and illusions and hook and chorus. I love a bass voice in pop music. Liked the songs where he sang the most. It’s hard to say this is “worth it,” but I’m glad I finally listened to all of it. I could probably make a twenty song playlist of absolutely beautiful songs from this and it’d be five stars. But as it is, a strong three. What an oddity!

Slightly better than the last Metallica album I got, but they’re really not for me. Endlessly long songs with just soulless metal. Their songs are joyless. Technically fine but uninteresting. This album is especially bad because they’re trying to be “political” but they’re dummies.

I can get into ambient music but honestly this is way too unsubstantial for its length. There’s only a few highlights, and unfortunately the Portishead collab here is a big dud.

3.5 I like the Undertones! Fun pop punk/power pop with an undercurrent of bratty humor! I’ve only heard random tracks from them before so I enjoyed sitting down and listening to a whole (short) album of theirs.

Not my fave Talking Heads album but still alright!

Sorry for the four stars At least I’m not at a point in my life where I’m so obsessed with The Smiths and Morrissey anymore that I pretend this is a perfect album. Unfortunately there’s no perfect The Smiths albums, they’d always junk them up with at least one stinker. And while this has some of their greatest work ever, it also has at least three songs that are in, like, the bottom third of their discography. Can’t in good conscience rate it higher because of that. But, “I Know It’s Over” might be the best song they ever made. The lyrics are perfect and gut-wrenching, the music delicate and dreamlike. It’s a marvel and helps this album earn its stars.

Sorry guys. But what I definitely didn’t need to hear was a four disc long pre-disco Bee Gees album. Almost nothing good to talk about here.

Perfectly acceptable southern rock

Immaculate vibes Why did that one popular review on here feel the need to tell us he fucked his girlfriend in the car while listening to this album?

This is actually exactly what 2012 sounded like.

3.5 Like an average Richard Thompson or Elvis Costello album. I liked it!

Musical guest on Chapelle’s Show-ass album You just KNOW he was wearing a little newsboy cap while recording this

One of the best voices of all time singing classic songs - does it get better than this?

Good vibes

I enjoy MBV

I’m not even really a Led head but this album is pretty undeniable. 8 of the most famous classic rock tracks, all on one album. All incredibly produced, with spectacular orchestration and singing and hooks galore. Does it get better? A well deserved album on this list.

Takes four mediocre British dudes to make one Bowie pastiche, and it’s not even that good! Sounds about right

Extremely mediocre. Listened to the whole thing and immediately forgot I did.

Worthless! One of, if not the, worst things I’ve listened to for this project. It’s not popular, it wasn’t critically successful, it’s not influential. It’s just some album the guy who made this list listened to and kinda liked and he needed to fill 1001 spots so thought “sure.”

Yeah, it’s all kinda one song, but it’s a fun and very important song that basically invented rock n roll as me know it! So stars for history!

Mediocre Squeeze. Sqooze?

Well the title song is pretty good. The rest of the album sounds like someone doing a bit about an 80s new wave singer. It’s real bad.

McCartney supremacy! Okay. It’s fine. The title track is, of course, one of the worst songs of all time, but the second half of the album isn’t bad. But it’s all just missing “something.” That spark! That magic! That McCartney touch!

Cool album cover

Good stuff, lotta hits

3.5 Another solid album from Scott, who I didn’t know before this project at all!! I love his interpretation of songs, his theatrical voice, his vibrato! This one maybe isn’t as good as the last one. It’s mostly covers, not his own work. But he still makes each song his own, and there’s some incredible tracks on here! Scott rules!

I had an awful morning yesterday, just got news that made me want to scream and cry and give up. And then I got this album. I’ve actually been listening to Talking Heads a lot in my personal time, just throwing on greatest hits playlists and what not for relaxation or when I’m walking around. Idk if other fans consider this the best TH album or whatever, but it was exactly what I needed to hear yesterday. A comfort in the dark.

It’s Rubber Soul!

From 2000-2005 every moldy old rock critic was, like, holding a gun to everybody’s head and going “Say this is the best music you’ve ever heard” (it’s not, it’s fine, it’s value brand The Stooges) while completely writing off and ignoring ACTUAL popular rock music (like pop punk and emo), mostly because it was championed by teenage girls. And what’s had the actual cultural staying power? :)

There’s a formula here, but it’s a good formula. Super iconic and easy to listen to; a little wild how, other than the two longer “jam” pieces, every song here is a classic. Can’t say that about many albums!

I was worried at first because I hated the last British rap/grime record I got. And the first track didn’t leave me much hope, but honestly, this grew on me. It was more creative and weird than the last one, and you could tell this had the energy of a young kid just throwing shit at the wall and seeing what worked. It didn’t all work, but I respected him going big. He has an interesting oddball rap voice. It’s not something I’d probably return to too much, but it’s definitely something I would have never listened to on my own, which is the purpose of this list!

Unfortunately didn’t really dig this other than the hits!

Fine, pleasant enough. Not sure what more I got from this than the first Alex Turner album on this list. Did there really need to be two of his albums on this list? Is he that special of an artist?

The whole “endless Southern rock noodling” thing doesn’t really do it for me. Isn’t this just prog rock at a certain point?

I really enjoyed this. It was rainy and grey and drippy and cold yesterday and this was such a nice complement to that. I’ll probably put this in my “listen to at work” rotation

I mean. It’s a classic. One of the greatest pop punk albums ever! I don’t love every song, but I love most. And the ones I don’t love have great production. It’s an easy record to listen to.

Another R.E.M. album, another album I enjoyed but aren’t enthused about! Some songs I really like, but it just doesn’t get “pushed over the edge” for me. They’re just a band I respect, not love. 3.5

Yeah it sounds like a commercial break from 1999-2001, and I’m not immune from that as a lover of nostalgia.

This early 90s indie college rock never did much for me (other than Superchunk) tho there’s some nice songs here

3.5 The best Sparks album, right? Even though I don’t always vibe with this, this is good.

Led Zeppelin in their most boring iteration to me - white boy blues

Albums used to be twenty minutes long!

It’s Kate Bush!

It’s Carole King! She’s one of the greatest song writers of all time!!! Ultimate cozy listening!

Very much not for me

Oh so this is where that Muppet song comes from!!

Sorry, giving another Morrissey project high marks, but I kinda love this album. This is good Morrissey, the stuff you’d want! Mostly bangers, little to no stinky self-indulgent garbage!

You know, I’ve not traditionally been a Jimi guy - nothing against him, he just wasn’t regularly in my rotation - but I’ve really enjoyed both the albums I’ve got from him so far! Obviously he’s an innovator and virtuoso on the guitar, but I think I’ve learned that people also aren’t talking enough about how his music is FUN. These songs are just fun and catchy! It’s good pop music! I loved this album, I listened to it twice yesterday.

What’s worse than white guy blues? BRITISH white guy blues. Just, couldn’t be worse. They technically know how to play their instruments well, but there’s no soul in it. It’s merely a means to brag about how technically good they are. Covering “What I Said” by Ray Charles as badly as they did should be illegal. I wanted to turn off the album right there. Also, fuck Eric Clapton. Appropriately black culture and music the entirety of this album while being a vile, racist POS….screw this shit!!!

Alright Beta Band. I put up with your first album on this list - heck, I even enjoyed it for how different it was! I defended you!!! But there is absolutely ZERO reason for a second Beta Band record, one that sounds EXACTLY LIKE THE FIRST ONE, to be on this list!!! What new aspect of The Beta Band was not covered in their first album on the list?? Absolutely no to this!!!

"Life on Mars" is one of the greatest songs of all time.

Quite enjoyed the one. The production is incredible and the vibes are funky.

3.5 Not as good as Talking Heads but still pretty great!!!

Where has this album been all my life? This is exactly the type of thing I love!!! The songwriting, the vibes, the VOICE. I can’t even decide what my favorite song is, I love and am deeply moved by them all. I listened to this twice yesterday and will keep it downloaded and listen to it many more times. So influential to SO much music I love. Sad girl Rosetta Stone.

Pretty damn good!

Is that a fucking JoJo reference?!?

I fully understand why an album like this is on this list, and honestly, I respect it more than some other albums I’ve heard for being its own thing. That being said, I don’t have to like it at all! It’s a German dude screaming over sounds of power tools for an hour. That’s it.

Brit Pop…my average nemesis…

Good noise :)

Frank Sadnatra

Fast Power Rangers Music

3.5 Not as cool as Kinds of Blue

Sounds wildly influential. Could have been released in the 90s. Every song is so good.

2Pac was so interesting, and different than the other “gangster” rappers. He’ll talk about all the “thug life” stuff but simultaneously talk about what a toll it’s taking on him mentally. He’s emotionally vulnerable, talking about how much he cries and worries. It’s deeper than a lot of other, blander music in this genre, that is a lot about bravado and bragging and not much else. I get why this is a step above the rest.

One of the most “sounds like a party” albums I’ve heard yet. And it’s a party you’d want to be at!

Extremely not my shit. Over-produced, early 2000s, very cheesy, genre mash-up Los Angeles jam band sounds like my worst fucking nightmare. The fellas making the music seem talented enough so I’m giving it two stars. Best part is maybe their rapper? He’s…..fine?

2.5 Dang I wanted to like this more. I was vaguely aware of this artist for years and it seemed like it would be up my alley but I just didn’t entirely vibe with this! There’s moments of greatness, where he’ll just catch upon something that’s wonderful and transcendent, but he doesn’t stay on it! He just moves on, leaving it not fleshed out or utilized, and there’s like a 50/50 chance the the next song is a stinker. He doesn’t seem to be aware of which ideas of his are worth diving into. Some really bad and embarrassing lyrics. Wish this were better.

Kinda undeniable! Pure-strain, vintage Dylan. I don’t love every song but I like most of them!

Starts super strong, one of the best rock songs of all time honestly, and the first couple tracks after that are good too. But eventually there’s just too little variety, it all starts to sound the same and mush together.

3.5 Not my fave Leonard but a good one

I came to this with open ears! I love Come On Eileen, one of my favorite OHWs of all time! So catchy and fun, so I was fully prepared to listen to other songs from Dexys! Unfortunately I just got nothing good. None of the cheeky fun of Eileen. Just…talking. Lots of talking. And halfhearted genre experimentation. Genuinely disappointed!

Garbage shoulda had a better career. I mean, I know they were a solid little band in the 90s but this is good!!! Real good!!

Even better than the last Missy album I got, which I also quite enjoyed! Thank you MissDemeanor for some great tunes on what ended up being a very difficult Election Day!

Absolutely needed this yesterday. It felt so fucking good after the horrors of Election Night to blast “Jail Break,” one of the greatest songs ever, as loud as possible in my ears. Thin Lizzy were the coolest, the best. Long may the reign. Imagine sounding this perfect live.

Saved by that second track which is pretty okay jazz. Everything else is overlong garbage I must say.

I wish I liked the Gorillaz more like cool people do but mostly I’m like “Yeah this is fine!”

4.5 Wow what a surprising delight! I saw this come up yesterday and kinda rolled my eyes and was like “great another 90s alt rock bore that has nothing to say” but I LOVED THIS. Listened to it three times through yesterday! It is so much deeper than it appears! Delicate, beautiful songs, catchy hooks, so many things I like (airy girl voice on counterpoint), interesting covers (there’s a random song from HAIR on here?!?). I adored adored it!! Can’t wait to keep this downloaded and listen many more times.

Da world is a vampire

3.5 Enjoyed it

2.5 Mediocre Frank. In one air and immediately out the other. Most interesting thing here is a bonus track where the laid back Frank has an increasingly difficult time keeping up with the driving Bossa Nova instrumentals. Made me laugh.

I’m glad some people enjoy it. It wasn’t bad to me just completely forgettable and not my thing.

Idk some songs I jammed out to but some was just pointless noise and it was generally overlong

Learning I’m finally old enough to really appreciate Bob Dylan

“Lovefool” is on here, plus a pretty neat cover of “Iron Man!”

This is a good one

A bop

Perfectly pleasant Kate Bush/Beatles riffs. Nothing more substantial than that. I imagine driving around with this CD in my car in 2008 as background music. That kind of thing

Tbh less of an album and more an incredible capture of a very specific moment in time - there’s probably as much talking on this album as there is music - but it’s fascinating seeing the Johnny Cash “character” (because it was a bit of a character) do his thing at the height of his powers. For those confused as to why he plays the same song twice in a row - did you actually listen to the album? It’s not like he did it for fun. It’s because it’s a song about how much the prison HE’S PERFORMING IN sucks ass, and the prisoners basically scream that he has to play it again immediately after he finishes the first time. That’s kinda amazing and really shows the power of music.

1.5, rounded up to two I don’t think it’s worthless, I really don’t. There’s aspects of it I like. The energy is there, there’s moments where the drums get very jazz-like. It’s just it’s SO long. The standard version of the album is TWO AND A HALF HOURS, of extremely similar-sounding music. And every song is like 6-11 minutes long! It’s a struggle. Eventually just had to put it on in the background while I did other stuff, which worked well. Extremely niche reference but I think the people that know will absolutely agree, it sounds like music that would be in the background of, like, a Toonami promo for DBZ from 1999.

3.5 After the laborious, 2.5 hour, drums and bass exercise of yesterday, I just wanted something palatable and easy. Then I got Frank Zappa. My heart dropped. I don’t like Zappa. But I fought on anyways, bc that’s the project! Turns out - this is actually pretty good! It’s just jazz Zappa, not troll Zappa. Is this what they call “acid jazz?” I liked it! There’s a couple moments where he gets silly and annoying but for the most part this is straight forward instrumentals that I honestly quite enjoyed!!!

It’s fine, totally listenable. I can see how in older times it resonated more for people. Idk the thing with Dirty Projectors is I can’t forget when the main dude made this other wildly pathetic and vaguely misogynistic album after his bandmate/girlfriend left him (they had also cheated on their previous partners to get together). Just very embarrassing and an album that should have stayed in the old brain buddy! Made me think less of everything he does tbh

2.75 rounded up to 3 Okay as a genuine Motörhead enjoyer, there’s no actual reason they need TWO albums on this list, BOTH of which feature “Ace of Spades.”

3.25 This album is very well loved and influential and important, and I like the hits from it! I will listen, and have listened to them, lots and lots. The rest of it doesn’t do a ton for me, gets a bit same-y, but all love to those who connect with this.

Dadcore

2.5 In one ear and out the other. I understand putting PJ Harvey on this list, but this feels like a random one to include.

These dudes used to be on Sesame Street all the time when I was a kid. Loved them then, love them now. Simply beautiful music, absolutely washes over you with an overpowering sense of serenity

Hey this was pleasant! Had not heard of this artist ever before but it was pretty nice, modern easy listening. Kind voice and good, if not revolutionary instrumentation.

2.5 rounded to 3 It sounds fine, but it doesn’t sound like a band with its own identity. Every choice sounds like the choice of a better band, done worse. Feels extremely untrue

Anytime I have a busy day I’m like “okay please give me one of those classic 30-35 minute banger albums” and this project is also like “no, you’ll get two hours of British electronica.” How many can there be?!?

It’s okay, it’s fine. There’s some good songs on here but something about Muse always struck me as “baby’s first rebellion.” Their politics and viewpoints are so shallow and based simply on being a devil’s advocate no matter what the person in power is trying to do, whether that’s genuinely something harmful or, ya know, a vaccine mandate during a fucking pandemic. Basically these dudes are really stupid and their continued slide towards right-wing reactionary politics irl shows this!

2.5 rounded to a 3 It’s fine, some great songs, but I’m just totally removed from any context about what makes it worthy of being on this list.

2.5 Lite FM Radiohead

2.5 Respect Eno plenty but it mostly wasn’t for me

3.5 My lowest Nick yet - felt weird for him to have songs that were over 5 minutes

2.5 Truly learning how endless the well of 90s British electronica was with this project….every couple days it’s a new one for me to experience!! 1001 British Electronica Albums you just listen to before you die, apparently

Bisexual paradise Frank Ocean’s music lives in nostalgia - that unattainable feeling of what used to be. His first mixtape is literally called “Nostalgia Ultra” and this album’s cover starts with the sound of a PS2 booting up, and its title and cover reference Nickelodeon. The songs here sound like reminisces of summers past, where you’re old enough to be left alone, but not old enough to be responsible for your own life. So what else is there to do but lay around and fall in love?

Alright, I’m going to be separating art from artist for this project. I’ve already done it! I’ve liked music by some pretty awful people! And Michael simply released some of the most popular music of all time during this era! It should be listened to and appreciated on its own! And of course it’s great! Probably not as good as Thriller. You could point out some points where it’s probably over-produced, and like any star who gets to indulge himself, the numbers start to get long and indulgent. And there’s some songs that simply aren’t as strong in the middle…..but then you get to “Dirty Diana,” and yeah, I could be convinced that’s the greatest song of all time.

1.5 He truly just picks British versions of better North American bands to fill out this list, I swear (in this case, it’s a watered-down version of The Flaming Lips). Also, why is there a track of, like, Mario 64 sounds at the end?

Nico is such a fucking vibe

It’s Sgt. Pepper’s

Not the best Zep. Overlong, plodding, with lots of eight minute songs that don’t particularly sound different from each other.

3.5! Quite enjoyed this! Solid British pop! Might go see that movie where it’s a biopic of Robbie Williams but he’s played by a CGI monkey for some reason!!

God I love sad lesbian music

3.5 There’s better Who albums but this is a good start

3.5 I’ve found no device capable of playing Search and Destroy as loud as it deserves to be played. One of the greatest rock songs of all time. I like the rest of the album less, but it’s not bad.

Okay first of all Marilyn Manson is a piece of shit rapist. But I rocked out to more of this than I was expecting. Still, too long and starts to run together at a certain point 2.5

Pleasant enough driving around music, which is how I experienced it yesterday

3.5 So I fully participate in the Coldplay teasing; it’s pretty well deserved. It’s a band that takes themselves far too seriously. That being said, I kinda have a soft spot for their actual music. I like the hits, and the album as a whole basically sounds entirely the same but it’s not unpleasant. If I had this in my CD player in 2003 it woulda been played constantly.

What are we doing here

Ah, Kings of Leon, the last gasp of American stadium rock. Big hits, and then disparaged for the things we used to celebrate our rockers for being - hard drinking, hard living. A classic band caught in the wave of a changing time. I know they’re not for everyone but I like this album. In all its overblown cheesiness. I love the whiny voice, I love the U2 guitar hooks, I love how seriously it takes itself. A couple suspect songs here (again, in classic rock fashion there’s a song about loving a girl who’s only 17), but most of this I really enjoy.

3.5 I like it, I see why it’s extremely influential, some songs are bops, I don’t love it.

An incredibly fun listen, even in its juvenile, puerile, and yes, oftentimes sexist way. Immaculate production. A reminder of what Snoop Dogg brought to the game before he became a brand

Best album ever named after a murderer? Merry Christmas!

There’s like, at least three songs on this thing that are transformative and make me feel like I’m seeing God. It’s the best.

I liked this more than Odelay. Fun variety of songs. I’ve heard a lot of them before it turns out. A lot of them were in commercials or movies. Most I’ve enjoyed a Beck album thus far.

Both hard to listen to (in that it’s not on Spotify) and hard to listen to (in that it’s awful). Just wholly unnecessary, sincerely maybe the worst thing I’ve listened to for this project thus far. At least the experimental noise music is trying to do something new. This is nothing. Weightless, devoid of worth. A stupidly named band with no identity and nothing to offer. Absolutely should not be on this list.

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It’s overlong and indulgent, but it comes back around to being entertaining and fun. Like, yeah, there’s an eight minute DRUM SOLO on this album. It’s just absurd, and you kinda have to give it to them. They’re great on their instruments. And the lead singer has a fantastic heavy metal screech. Dumb fun.

One of the greatest albums of all time. I will get married to “I Believe When I Fall in Love” someday.

2.5 Nice enough, didn’t hate myself while listening to this. A couple good songs and she has a pleasant voice. Just not sure what was special enough about this album to necessitate inclusion on this list.

3.5 I am not a huge Fugazi follower but always really enjoy them when I hear their songs. This is no exception. I had a compressed time to listen to this album, so I couldn't deeply sit with it; it could likely go up with further listens but rn it's a solid 3.5, trending towards 4. I love those chunky drums.

I have grown into liking and respecting the Grateful Dead more as time goes on. But it doesn’t mean I can dig a whole album from them, turns out.

There’s no way for me to be objective about this album - I’ve listened to it one million times in my life and will listen to it roughly one million more times before I’m gone. Just yesterday I listened to it three times through. Half the songs are huge hits, and the other ones could be, with amazing hooks and/or transcendent musical moments. Despite the sophomoric sense of humor, there’s a real sense of youthful energy/enthusiasm. A celebration of youth. The songs feel like being young, and the possibility of the future. I love that about it. It almost makes me cry. Even if the album is named after poop.

A good singer in search of an identity. Not surprised the singer is the only consistent member of this group because there’s nothing here other than his (admittedly good) voice. Every song sounds like it comes from a different group - pop, new wave, blues, R&B, with no consistency from track to track. It becomes, in that way, a vanity project. Just a way for the singer to show off, and we’re not really invited into that club. It feels self-indulgent.

Great bass and drums. A lot otherwise doesn’t hold up

A light four. I enjoyed listening to it - I actually listened to it all the way through twice yesterday. Of course I appreciated the hits and found the deeper cuts also pleasant. So I must have liked it enough!

The Bore

One of the most (the only?) essential double albums. Every song a masterpiece in itself.

2.5 I like the guy’s weird voice but a year in the endless parade of British pop does less and less for me

3.5 Good stuff, don’t love all of it.

This is a great example of this project - I don’t consider myself a total idiot about music but this was a band I had truly never heard of before! I wasn’t expecting much but then the first half of this album ended up being some really fun punk/new wave/Talking Heads style songs with just a sprinkle of Zappa and acid jazz here and there. Definitely one of a kind. The back half of the album lost the melodic nature of the first and got weirder and more experimental, and I didn’t find that as interesting, so only three stars, but I’m glad I got a chance to listen to this!

High 4 Idk this just hit perfectly for me yesterday. Listened to it on a cold and calm evening. Beck’s soft, sad lyrics just washed over me. I liked that he was quiet and serious here, letting his deep bass voice shine.

Not really my usual thing. But an easy listen and it’s very historically important.

Honestly, one of the great discoveries of this project so far! I had never heard of this band, never heard of this album, and for the first couple seconds I thought I knew what this was gonna be - ponderous 70s rock, easy 2-star album, but I was quickly proven wrong. This album is FUN! Adventurous, experimental, without ever losing sight of catchy choruses and melodies. I never knew what was coming next, but enjoyed what did. I listened to this twice, and looked up Discog prices for a vinyl copy (not too expensive at all). Loved this!

3.5 Ya know, if anything, this project has made me respect Eminem more, at least the earlier stuff. I like horrorcore a lot and his early work fits pretty comfortably in that genre. I say I’m impressed, while simultaneously maybe agreeing it’s WILD that this dude was so popular, especially with kids in the 90s. Kids should not have been hearing this!!! I found the content difficult to get through at some points, and I’m an adult who LIKES horrorcore! “Kim” is one of the most harrowing songs I’ve listened to in this journey. I was physically uncomfortable while it played.

2.5 Not the worst ambient music I’ve heard for this project (lol), but I definitely prefer my Aphex Twin spooky

Classic Rock 101

Expected to hate this, ended up appreciating its earnest goofiness. Could only exist in the 90s when there were less artists afraid of appearing corny. Honestly, these dudes can write a fun hook. I enjoyed myself while listening to this, and even went back to a couple tracks after it was done. A fun entry.

2.5 The music seems very well made and the guy has a good voice and there were moments where I was rocking out, but overall this isn’t my type of thing.

Was already one of my favorite albums! Life-changing!

Love Dwight’s voice, and the production here is super influential on 90s pop country, but the songs just didn’t hit for me.

This sucked! Sorry, Rod! Not a single enjoyable song.

Three for Third. The original Portishead album was one of my favorite discoveries thus far doing this project, but this one was just…okay. Not sure what it was, but it was missing that special “spark” the first one had. I didn’t hate listening to it, but it kinda felt like a more average retread of the first one. Thus, three stars.

Funky

Beautiful voice, I was somehow totally unfamiliar with her before this. My loss. Loved that this was more of a moment in time than a polished record, with multiple flubs and mistakes kept in the final recordings. Adds some humanity to this otherworldly voice we’re hearing.

A light four I enjoyed it more than my last Wilco album. I was originally grumpy at it being over an hour and a double album but I put it on while I was cleaning and ended up genuinely enjoying most of it. Like most double albums, the second half of the second album starts to feel not wholly necessary but, again, most of it was really fun.

It’s the Mamas and the Papas. It’s nice, it’s what you’d expect.

High high four Had never heard of this band or album before and I absolutely LOVED this. Sounds quite a bit like Peter Gabriel, tbf, but I love Peter Gabriel too so that didn’t bother me. Atmosphere, romantic, yearning, I listened to this one again and again. Great discovery from this project.

Last time I got a Tim Buckley album it was within the first week or two of this project, and I remember giving it a low 2 and saying it was definitely my worst album yet but I was trying to be open. Well I finally got another album by him and can confirm he’s really not for me. I don’t get it at all. Meandering, boring. Voice isn’t memorable. There’s an eleven minute track where he (a white man) basically just scream sings a slur over and over and over again. It’s music, sure, but it’s not music I like. At all. One star.

I was vaguely aware of EBTG. I think I listened to one of their earlier albums, when they were more straight forward singer/songwriters, before they had the electronic influence. It didn’t leave much of an impression then. But this? I loved! Clearly influenced by Portishead, the whole “sad girl singing over EDM beats,” but Portishead is one of my favorite discoveries of this project! I’ll take “slightly not as good as Portishead,” sure! This was still quite good, and I listened to it multiple times yesterday!

It’s fine. It’s Iggy Pop. Couple hits. Last track sounds like The Killers. Famous rock stars, I challenge you to NOT write a song about having sex with underage girls (might be impossible, it seems)

2.5 It’s fine. I like the voices, I like the history, I just don’t like most of the songs. Also why are a bunch of Canadians writing a song praising the Confederacy? lol

I think it's fine. It's just this is my 4th or 5th Radiohead album basically within a year and at a certain point, it's diminishing returns. They ALL had to be on the list? Really?

2.5 It’s whatever. I’m missing context obviously as to why it was important. The singer’s voice is annoying and I only like 3 songs

3.5, rounded up to a light 4 It’s just completely its own thing, which is very refreshing. Just unapologetically weird, spooky, horny. Like music intentionally made to be in the background of a bad B-horror movie, and I adore that for them.

Spanish trip hop. I can dig it.

One of the great discoveries of this project is that I really like Fiona Apple! This isn’t as good as Tidal to me, and it took a second listen for me to vibe with it more. But hey, I liked it enough from the onset to give it a second listen. And also, Tidal is maybe my favorite album I’ve been introduced to while doing this project thus far. Also of interest - I think it’s the most recent album I’ve had? This is from 2020!

When I got this album yesterday I laughed out loud. I know that Elvis Costello is kind of the villain of this project for many people; he’s got like eight albums on this list. I’ve been doing this for over a year and still hadn’t gotten a single one of his albums and was starting to wonder when I’d see him. And here he was, AND, it was his very first album. Here’s the thing - I LOVE Elvis Costello!!! Now, I don’t love every single album he’s made. But I love A LOT of them. So I was absolutely tickled to get this one yesterday. Perfect songs, perfectly short (I blasted through this album like three times yesterday). I love Costello’s voice, the lyrics are cheeky and smart. Hooks are there. This is truly a perfect album! Here’s to 7 more Costello albums!

Method Man is not my favorite solo Wu-Tang MC (I’m more a RZA/Gravediggaz/ODB kinda guy) but this is solid stuff.

I was sick on Sunday and y'all really wanted me to listen to a 72 minute Slipknot album from 2008? THE AUDACITY.

Fine. Depeche Mode improves through albums and while the first couple songs on this first record are strong, the latter half loses me

3.5 I rock with it

Absolutely not, brother. Are these songs? Or, like, LaCroix water-style impressions of songs?

Bill Evans is probably my most listened-to artist for three or four years now, no matter what the algorithm says. He’s the ultimate relaxing music to me. I put him on at home on vinyl, I put him on when I’m off-desk at work (sometimes when I’m on-desk and patrons aren’t around); he’s just my immediate go-to “background music.” He instantly calms me down, and his music helped a lot when I was dealing with untreated anxiety. This dude’s music literally helped me with health issues I was having! You know I love him!

Ya know, honestly I didn’t have a problem with this! It’s one of those albums where most of the tracks are hits. The production and (obviously) the guitar playing is fantastic. It’s a tight 35 minutes! It’s fun! I was surprised at how much Beach Boys I was hearing in some of those tight harmonies!!! This is a really great classic rock album, and I think you should listen to it!