619
Albums Rated
2.89
Average Rating
57%
Complete
470 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1980
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Perfectionist
Rater Style ?
28
5-Star Albums
24
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
|
5 | 2.84 | +2.16 |
|
Another Music In A Different Kitchen
Buzzcocks
|
5 | 3.08 | +1.92 |
|
Machine Gun Etiquette
The Damned
|
5 | 3.16 | +1.84 |
|
Deloused in the Comatorium
The Mars Volta
|
5 | 3.19 | +1.81 |
|
Rust In Peace
Megadeth
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Dead Kennedys
|
5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
|
Smash
The Offspring
|
5 | 3.36 | +1.64 |
|
Bossanova
Pixies
|
5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
|
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
|
5 | 3.4 | +1.6 |
|
Odessey And Oracle
The Zombies
|
5 | 3.41 | +1.59 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
|
1 | 3.63 | -2.63 |
|
Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
|
1 | 3.55 | -2.55 |
|
Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
|
1 | 3.32 | -2.32 |
|
Kenya
Machito
|
1 | 3.27 | -2.27 |
|
Screamadelica
Primal Scream
|
1 | 3.16 | -2.16 |
|
The Wall
Pink Floyd
|
2 | 4.13 | -2.13 |
|
Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
|
1 | 3.08 | -2.08 |
|
Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club
|
1 | 3.03 | -2.03 |
|
Savane
Ali Farka Touré
|
1 | 3.03 | -2.03 |
|
Heavy Weather
Weather Report
|
1 | 2.98 | -1.98 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Nirvana | 3 | 5 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.67 |
| Metallica | 2 | 5 |
| Iron Maiden | 2 | 5 |
| Beatles | 6 | 4 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Orbital | 2 | 1.5 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 4 | 2 |
| U2 | 3 | 2 |
| Brian Eno | 3 | 2 |
| Talking Heads | 3 | 2 |
5-Star Albums (28)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Stephen Stills · 4 likes
2/5
Stills was so happy with his songs that he had to release a double album. Yet, none of the songs are memorable.
Megadeth · 3 likes
5/5
This is the album where Megadeth's riff machine and technical expertise was combined with catchy songs, making one of the best thrash albums ever. Oh, and the solos! I feel sorry for every album that doesn't have an opening double as good as Holy War/Hangar 18. Tornado of Souls, what a song!
Soft Cell · 2 likes
3/5
There are things I like here. Such as the almost punkish style, the vocals (when they hit the right note) and Tainted Love. Except for Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, none of the other songs hit this heights, so all in all it’s a little underwhelming.
The The · 2 likes
2/5
This kind of music, it’s just not nice. Others might find pleasure in the monotone beats and vocals, and the complete lack of hooks, but I don’t like it at all. Don’t hate enough to give one star, but it’s a weak 2.
Neil Young · 2 likes
2/5
Twang-plank-plank. Whine-whine. For 38 minutes. No good songs, just a snoozefest.
4-Star Albums (116)
1-Star Albums (24)
All Ratings
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Mostly boring, however there were a few decent tunes. Thrasher, Sail Away, Powderfinger and the closer, I wouldn’t skip.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Good album, but far from their best
Johnny Cash
2/5
I thought I liked Johnny Cash, cause I quite enjoy some of his songs. That was until I listened to an entire album. Every song sounds the same until I got Stripes changes it up and makes it the best song on the album.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
Maybe the most overrated album in the world. 15 songs whereof 3 are decent and 1 is great (Otherside). After the title track, there are 8 tracks of nothing before Roadtrippin’ ends the album on a high. And don’t get me started on the lifeless production…
Kanye West
3/5
Surprisingly good! Quite a few bangers, but too many fillers and skits, and the last track really drags on, doesn’t it?
Highlights: Never Let Me Down, Two Words and All Falls Down
Simon & Garfunkel
2/5
I had only heard the hits and liked them, so I was kind of excited to listen to this. Man, was I disappointed. Mrs Robinson is a classic, same with Hazy Shade, but there was only one other good song (Falun’ It) and one other listenable song (At the Zoo). The rest was boring and tedious.
The Temptations
2/5
When the setting is right, say in a Tarantino movie, I can appreciate some soul music. I don’t go out of my way to actively listen to some, though. However, this album I did not like. Sure, the vocals and a lot of the instrumentation is really good. Also, I like the vibe of the music. What I didn’t like at all, were the songs. There was not one single memorable song on this album. Not one song I remember after listening to it. I didn’t even notice that the album had started over
Chicago
2/5
Someday and Listen save this neverending over-indulgent w*nk of an album from getting one star. I don’t want to listen to this band ever again
The Only Ones
2/5
Another disappointment. I’d heard Another Girl, Another Planet, which is a great song, and was looking forward to becoming more familiar with this band. Then the first track started… His voice is great for punk, but that only applies to 3 of the songs here, and the rest is just forgettable.
Fever Ray
3/5
Not my kind of music at all, but I could hear it had certain qualities and I actually liked «Seven» and «Now’s the Only Time I Know». The other songs did norhing for me, but I didn’t hate it either, and had no problems finishing it. A weak 3/5
Pixies
4/5
This is a classic! Almost all the tracks are good, maybe with the excpetion of Dead and La La Love You. Standout tracks are Here Comes Your Man, Debaser and Monkey Gone to Heaven
The xx
2/5
Who decided that this was an essential album? Nothing memorable at all, just tedious elevator music mumbling on for 40 minutes. Fair enough, Islands had a quite nice hook, but otherwise I couldn’t separate the songs.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
3/5
You’re kidding me, right? 2 hours of country music in one day? Nobody could survibe that? Except I did, and even though I crew awfully fed up during the album’s playing time, I can’t say I hated it. So much better than what passes for country music these days. Did I like it? No, but I appreciate it for its historical value and some quality music, and not least, musicians
Pulp
3/5
Some songs, like Help the Aged, This is Hardcore and Sylvia, are really good. Somgood that even David
Bowie would be proud. Some songs, like I’m A Man and Glory Days, are
almost good, but a tiny bit too boring. Unfortunately some songs are also plain boring, such as Seductive Barry, Party Hard and Dishes. And why finish with an 11 minute track? So what could be a 4 star record with an acceptable playtime, becomes a 3 star album that’s at least 20 minutes too long. Yes, I’m looking at you, Seductive Barry and The Day after The Revolution!
Megadeth
3/5
This album had a lot of cool riffs and amazing musicianship. However, with the exception of My Last Words (a definite highlight) and Good Mourning/Black Friday, there really isn’t anything memorable on here. It just makes me wait for Rust in Peace, which is far superior
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
Not my kind of music, but this is anyway a fun live recording. Would have loved to be there at the time. Lots of energy and the best versions I’ve heard of some of these songs
The Avalanches
3/5
This is actually quite nice and really well made. I like the groove and the seamless flow between the tracks, However, for a fan of hard rock and punk, it becomes quite repetitive and boring after a while, as I’m not at a party nor doing drugs. Why such long??? Also, quite underwhelming end to the album
3/5
I feared the worst after the horrible granddadrock intro. To my pleasant surprise the second track had a great chorus with pleasant harmonies. Then it all went downhill again.
Anyway, to not be Mr Grouchy, I have to say that the last half of When I Touch You is really good, and Morning Will Come is overall a good song. Soldier isn’t half bad either.
Traffic
2/5
Oh my! Never a good idea to start off with a six minute instrumental with the saxophone being prominent! It picks up a little with the second song having a real good buildup to the chorus and some nice instrumentation. The production throughout is really good. Track 3 lacks anything noteworthy and track 4 goes down in the history of the forgettable.
Did I mention that the production and mix is really good?
The penultimate track is a ballad in the original sense of the word, and it has a nice melody and some good harmonies. But it outstays its welcome by more than 3 minutes, which is half the song. Dynamics and variation is key if you’re to have a six minute song!
The last track of the thankfully rather short album is also the longest, clocking in at seven minutes. It’s also the most boring track, having nothing memorable to offer. Other than good musicianship and stellar production, of course. I really hope I can get something else than plodding 70s rock tomorrow.
Common
2/5
No, this was not for me. Some cool rapping and sampling throughout, but the only really noteworthy track is They Say, featuring John Legend and Kanye West. Also, Kanye’s production is clean and really good. Maybe if I’d been a bigger fan of rap music in general, but I’m not.
Sam Cooke
4/5
Now this was a pleasant surprise! I expected smooth soul music, but what I got was more akin to 60s garage rock. At least the first tracks. Then it slowed down a little and got too smart for a while, before it finished on a high. Will definitely listen to again!
Beatles
4/5
First three songs are really solid, Elenoar Rigby being one of their best songs, period.
Then tracks 4-7 don’t do much for me, before there’s banger after banger until the end, only interrupted by the silly Doctor Robert.
Discovery of the day: For No One
Tom Tom Club
1/5
On on on on has a good chorus, and that’s the only positive thing I have to say about this mess of an album. Congratulations, this is my first 1 star review!
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
It’s not summer, it’s so cold that it’s stopped snowing. I don’t have a drink in my hand nor a fat spliff, I’m in my car, driving om a slippery highway (as I’m listening, not while writing).
This is not a scenario in which it is even remotely possible to fully enjoy this album, and I really don’t get what the fuss is all about. Except for No Woman No Cry, not a single song stands out in any way, it’s all in the same rhytm and tempo, no catchy vocal lines, no excelling playing.
That being said, there is not a bad song on here, so it gets 3 stars
Buena Vista Social Club
2/5
I can appreciate this album for its vibe and the musicianship. It’s kind of a good album, I just don’t like it. I will never listen to a single one of these songs ever again if given a choice, so it’s unfortunately a two from me. Can see why others may like it, though.
Dolly Parton
3/5
I don’t like country music. I might enjoy a song or two, but after a short while it grates on my nerves.
However, I’ve developed a higher tolerance after having to endure the entire Nity Gritty album, so I’m not as opposed to country as, say a month ago.
On the positive side here is Dolly’s voice, which is absolutely phenomenal and cleverly enough stands out in the mix. Also? the title track is such a good song, which Dolly delivers with all the emotion she van muster.
Unfortunately, the rest of the songs just aren’t as good and despite of the album’s short running time, I get bored. Only Early Morning Breeze blows some relief at the end.
Franz Ferdinand
2/5
Now this was underwhelming. On the positive side, there weren’t many bad songs per se, but on the other hand, there wasn’t a single good song that I want to listen to again either.
Bland hipster rock for people who don’t really like music.
The Crusaders
2/5
The title track is good, albeit twice as long as necessary. It shows groove and soul, with a great vocal performance. The rest of the album features no vocals and is competently played but completely forgettable.
The Black Keys
2/5
No. I don’t understand how this album got selected in the exclusive list of 1001 albums while Weezer, Tool and Deftones were left out. I simply don’t. The music here is not bad, it just isn’t any good. None of the songs have any passion. Some songs, like Too Afraid to Love is almost really good; I like the style, the ambiance created with the keys and the vocal melody, but it’s delivered as though they don’t really mean it. It’s like they took a mix of all their influences and put it through a blander (see what I did there?)
The album might be a three, but I’m going all the way down to two, because of the needlessness of it all
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
I’m not the world’s biggest fan of psychedelia, but I’m not really opposed to it either. Just like with this album. Not a big fan, didn’t hate it, no skipworthy songs, but no songs that really grabbed me either. A solid middle of the road album.
Nick Drake
3/5
Things Behind the Sun really was a revelation. Really beautiful song! I couldn’t quite get as much into the rest of the album, though. There were qualities in almost every song (except for Know, horrible song!) but something just didn’t click. Maybe it would be better if I hadn’t just started my holidays and weren’t in such a good mood.
The Isley Brothers
3/5
Im not a fan of soul music. I don't own a single soul album, nor do I actively seek out soul music elsewhere. However, I quite enjoyed this album. All the songs were good, no skippers, however only "Summer Breeze" was really great, which makes it a solid 3/5. Positively surprised!
MGMT
4/5
I didn’t think I would like this at all. One listen proved me right, but on the second listen, most songs started to grow on me, such that the only song I actively dislike is ironically enough one of their biggest hits, Electric Feel.
Otherwise, Kids and the opening track are great songs, which I’ve added to my own playlist. Moreover, there is much variation going on, from psychedelic space rock on «4th dimensional transition» to funk on «Electric Feel» via the Bowiesque ballad «Pieces of What»
I can actually see myself revisiting this album and checking out the rest of their discography.
Booker T. & The MG's
2/5
35 minutes of instrumental music, where the majority are covers. And lesser versions as well, I might add. And after hearing Poison Idea’s cover of Green Onion, the original pales in comparison. Boring.
Spiritualized
1/5
An hour long snoozefest. The only song having some kind of dynamics is Take Your Time, and that was an okay track. The rest just made me long for the album to end
Van Halen
3/5
Although competently performed and Eddie VH being a guitar playing pioneer, this kind of slow, blues based hard rock does very little for me. However, you can’t deny the hits, which are all found in the first part of the album, and makes the second part kind of a drag to get through, with the exception of Little Dreamer
Blur
3/5
The first six tracks are more or less bangers and make for a great start to the album. But then it ends. The sequence from The Debt Collector to Magic America is honestly quite dull with no songs standing out. Then Jubilee comes and rescues some of the album’s honour before it all fizzles out with a slightly boring ballad and a circus instrumental
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
Quite good album! Catchy 60s psychedelic rock with a couple of really good songs (Somebody to Love, White Rabbit, Go to Her) and only one really awful song (In the Morning). Almost a 4, but the strong songs didn’t quite make up for the 10 okay ones
Joy Division
2/5
Halfway through the album I suddenly realized how much Therapy? has been influenced by this band, that I had to turn it off, listen to some Therapy? to get more insight and then start over with new and fresh ears. Unfortunately, it didn’t help much. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t get much enjoyment out of the album. Although it’s probably wanted, the repetitiveness of the songs became tiring, and even if I could get some hints of cool riffs from time to time, appreciating the cold bass tone, there is nothing here that sticks with me after listening. I’d much rather listen to Therapy? (who in fact cover Isolation on their excellent album Troublegum, which I can’t fathom isn’t on here) every day of the week.
Twenty Four Hours and The Eternal raise the quality a little against the end, but not enough to som me over.
Frank Ocean
2/5
Most of this album I don’t get, at all. Slow, boring beats with mumbling vocals, which is a shame, cause he can really sing. When I get to Pyramids, the pace picks up a little, the beat hits harder and it has an interesting buildup. Lost is my absolute favourite on the album, and it’s such a summer banger. That’s why it’s a shame that White enters the chat to lose all momentum. Bad Religion is actually quite nice, but it stops there. Will occasionally spin Lost again, but nothing else.
Kate Bush
2/5
I don’t get this album at all. Except for the beautiful And Dream of Sheep, and the haunting Under Ice, there is nothing here I really enjoy. I read the raving reviews and try to understand its greatness, but no. I don’t like the songs. I will not listen to this album again if I have the choice. Which is a shame, cause I really like the song Wuthering Heights, and was excited to delve further into her discography.
B.B. King
2/5
This is not my type of music at all. To these untrained ears, everything sounds the same, and I find it hard to focus on the music, even if the album is short. Boring.
Beck
4/5
I was actually positively surprised by this one. Had no expectations, only having heard Loser before. This album consists of sad songs, many of which also found their way to my sad song list. All in all a solid pop album with good production.Two things drag the album a little down. Firstly, it’s about 10-15 minutes too long. It’s hard to take so much sadness in one sitting. Secondly, I’m annoyed by his vocal style on some of the songs. Most notably on Sunday Sun, which could have been on of the highlights, and the Paper Tiger. Lonesome Tears is my favourite and is, except for Sunday Sun, the most dynamic song
Drive Like Jehu
4/5
Kind of like The Get Up Kids covering Nirvana’s Endless Nameless in At the Drive-In's rehearsal space in different variations for an hour. Or The Blood Brothers with less annoying vocals and too much time on their hands. Lots of cool riffs, some nice vocal melodies, grooves really hard. On first listen I found it too repetitive and hard on the ears; but on the second listen I can really get into this. The only problem with the album is that some songs outstay their welcome by many minutes.
Ali Farka Touré
1/5
I have started listening to all albums twice, when I have the time (no, not the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), because I’ve found that getting more familiar with the album and knowing more what to expect, mostly impacts rating positively. This time, I only got more annoyed and took it down one star. That’s how little I like this album
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
I like the music and the musicians are great. However, live albums are not quite my thing, especially when the songs end up as 24 minute-long jams. Which might be cool if you're at the concert, but not when you're listening at home.
Cream
3/5
Sunshine of your love is such a banger (easy to hear the influence it had on Black Sabbath) that the rest of the album pales in comparison. Except for the last track, there isn’t really any bad songs on here, but none of the other tracks stand out in any way either. Like, World of Pain has excellent verses, per-chorus and bass lines, but the chorus is painfully average, and that’s the story on many tracks here.
Devendra Banhart
3/5
This is an album with no strong tracks. It’s flat, the singer’s got an annoying voice, and I really don’t understand its collective praise nor its inclusion here. The only saving grace is that none of the songs are really bad. They just are.
Edit: Upon a second listening, I don't mind the first 6 songs, which are okay. The last 10 on the other hand...
Goldfrapp
4/5
A nice and comfortable album from beginning to end. Nothing to dislike at all. She has a soothing voice and the 41 minutes pass by quite quickly. However, nothing really sticks either. So is it a 6 or a 7/10? Noone really knows
Sparks
4/5
This album is weird, it’s fun and it’s infectious. It is a little front heavy, though. It drags a little after the first four tracks, except for Talent is an Asset, Equator and Lost and Found. Four reserves stars
Isaac Hayes
2/5
No time to review, other than the album got worse for each track...
Wilco
3/5
Inoffensive, slightly good, slightly boring. Probably a grower, but it will never grow. beyond a t(h)ree
Goldfrapp
4/5
Second Goldfrapp album in a week, and I’m still enjoying the duo’s music. Great 1-2 punch opening with Lovely Head and Paper Bag. Then there is not much memorable (Deer Stop being an exception) until Utopia wins Best Song By A Mile. I’m just as torn as with Seventh Tree. Is it a 6/10 or 7/10? Noone really knows.
Moby Grape
3/5
Quite good 60s pop. Not many of the songs are particularly remarkable, but Fall on You and 8:05 stand out from the pack. Better than Jefferson Airplane, not anywhere near
as good as the Beatles.
Michael Jackson
4/5
There’s really only one throwaway here, Speed Demon. Just Good Friends and Bad are okay. The rest are pretty good (love the pre-chorus in Another Part of Me), except for The Way You Make Me Feel, Dirty Diana and Smooth Criminal, which are great. However, I can’t escape the fact that the production is really 80s sounding. So much that it retracts from some of the songs.
Depeche Mode
3/5
Not being familiar with Depeche Mode, nor the genre, this album took a couple of listens to really get. I could hear the influence they had on Paradise Lost during their One Second/Host-era and AFI post Art of Drowning, but without the infectious melodies and hooks. Moreover, the slow pace of the songs made it hard to really focus on what was going on. The different layers of instrumentation, etc. It didn't hit me as hard as I hoped, but there were a couple of decent songs. So instead of a new One Second/Sing the Sorrow, I got a Believe in Nothing/Burials instead.
Best song: Little 15
Weird sequencing: Pimpf would be much better off opening the album
Leonard Cohen
3/5
There are many good songs on this album, but as an album it is just too monotonous to be a great album. Only So Long, Marianne breaks up the constant ballader with a nice pace and a variety of instruments. I also enjoy the few times a female vocal appears, but it is not often enough.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
The album starts out in an excellent manner, but unfortunately takes a nosedive after Love is A Losing Game, which prevents it from teaching the top.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
Good mix of southern rock, 60s pop and a little twang og c&w. Great harmonies! Mostly okay songs, none bad but none truly great either. Helpless is basically Knockin’ on heaven’s door with different lyrics.
John Cale
3/5
Two stars upon first listen, three stars upon the second. Thus, this album is a grower. However, as there is a new album tomorrow and plenty other music I’d rather listen to, I don’t have the time to let it grow.
Best track: The Endless Plain of Fortune, which he manages to destroy with his lifeless vocals. Try the Manic Street Preachers cover instead.
Oasis
4/5
At the time this album was released, I was much more hyped about Offspring, Bad Religion and Green Day. I still am, and hadn’t given this album any thought in decades. With good reason. It’s not a bad album at all, but it doesn’t live up to its hype. Of the first five tracks, only Live Forever is something to write home about. Then Supersonic turns things around, and starts the strongest 3-song sequence of the album. The last 3 tracks are also quite good, and salvage the four stars. Good debut, but having the strongest songs on the final half is rather strange
Portishead
3/5
I like the chill vibe of the album, and it’s pleasant to the ear. However, it’s very monotonous, so by the end of the album I get rather bored. There can’t be too much of a difference in bpm throughout the album, surely?
Roads, with it’s beautiful vocal melody and efficient use of strings, Glory Box, which is more adventurous and Wandering Star, with added bass to give the beat some more punch, break out of the average mold and secure the 3 stars. But man, it most be a boring band to watch live!
Doves
2/5
The three first tracks, which try to create an atmosphere but only create background muzak, make me lose interest so much that I think this will be a drag to finish. Then comes an interesting guitar pattern in Sea Song, with vocals that brings to mind OK Computer era Radiohead, and it's quite good, apart from the fact that it lasts six minutes and doesn't really go anywhere.
Then the snoozefest starts again with Rise and continues for 3 tracks. I understand what they're trying to do, and why people might like it, but it's not my cup of tea at all. I'd rather listen to Sigur Ros all day long.
Catch the Sun and The Man Who Told Everything and lift my spirits a little, being more guitar-oriented and poppy, before the album ends up in an underwhelming manner. Electric guitars are few and far between in this project, aren't they?
The Boo Radleys
3/5
What is good:
a) The variation. From indie to trip hop to dub to noise to ska to pop, also within single songs.
b) The execution of those genres is good and seamless
c) No bad songs
What is not so good:
a) The length. You don’t need to make 1hr+ albums just because you can
b) Because of the length and the diversity, it’s really hard to get a grasp of the album. After two listens, I’m still not sure what I think of it
c) No real standouts (so far)
I know it’s a good album, but it hasn’t «done it» for me so far, therefore only 3 stars
The Prodigy
4/5
Starts off with 3 straight bangers, lets down a little before there’s bangers galore again. The beats hit hard, the songs are agressive and in your face, like a punk band. Not every song is top notch, but those who are, are so good that it's a solid 4.
De La Soul
3/5
This is a fun album! Great use of samples, good rapping and many good songs. However, as often before with hip-hop, the album is far too long. I'm full after 40 minutes and then it goes on and on. As a sidenote; there is not enough scratching on newer hip-hop!
Soundgarden
4/5
I went into this album, not having listened to it in ages, and thought it was a certain 4. Then the 4 first songs left me quite unimpressed and I started to second-guess myself. However, the sequence of songs from Head Down to Kickstand is so incredibly strong, with The Day I Tried to Live being the absolute highlight of the album. Many great riffs, The 4th of July being the meanest and heaviest on offer, and amazing vocal performances from the late Chris Cornell makes this a solid 4.
UB40
3/5
Only got the time to listen to it once. All the songs are better than Red Red Wine, and the album’s got some swagger and cool vibes. However, those vibes are almost similar throughout the entire album. Guess a couple more listens could make me separate the different tracks, so all in all 3 stars
Rod Stewart
2/5
Not a bad album, in the awful sense of the word, but it's far from good. The Bob Dylan cover is quite good, and Maggie May is an alright song. The closer is also decent. The rest, I'm okay with never hearing again. It doesn't grate on my ears, but I get bored of the songs.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
Many good beats and there's a great groove to a few of the tracks. I also like the message in the songs, even though from time to time they're delivered in a way that they could be a political TV ad, which takes away from the overall impression. Also, during the middle of the album many tracks became a little boring. Cool that they've included a Dead Kennedys cover!
Best songs: Satanic Reverses, Everyday Life..., Financial Leprosy and Water Pistol Man
Iggy Pop
3/5
Everybody knows and loves the classic title track and The Passenger. None of the other songs quite keep up to the same quality, and the trio of songs following Passenger really bring the album down. Some Weird Sin and Neighborhood Threat are quality songs, but a 4/9 success rate doesn’t make a classic album.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Every song starts off with a cool groove, which makes me feel like I’m going to enjoy it. But then, for some reason or other, I get really bored of almost every song after 1 minute. None of the songs have that super catchy chorus or special something that makes me want to revisit them. And the second and 7th track are outright bad! And I’ve tried! I’ve listened to the album in its entirety twice, and the best songs (Stand, Somebody’s Watching You, You Can Make it If You Try) at least thrice. But it just didn’t click for me. Barely 3 stars
Al Green
4/5
After getting albums by The Temptations, Sly and the Family Stone, The Crusaders, Isaac Hayes and The Isley Brothers, and not being convinced by either of them, I can finally say that there's a really good soul album out there. This is it. Not every song is a winner, and about half the album is just okay. But then we get some certified bangers, like the opening track, which is instantly danceable, What is this Feeling, Judy and How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, and I am partial to handing out my first soul 4.
The The
2/5
This kind of music, it’s just not nice. Others might find pleasure in the monotone beats and vocals, and the complete lack of hooks, but I don’t like it at all. Don’t hate enough to give one star, but it’s a weak 2.
Björk
3/5
I agree with one reviewer further down here, the album is very hard to review. It’s kind of cool in its weirdness, but I can’t see myself playing the album nor any of the tracks ever again.
Vokuro reminds me of Myrkur, and is one of the highlights. Where is the Line is all over the place and I kind of like it in all its weirdness. Who is it is the closest we get to a «normal» pop song and hits fine.
On the other hand we’ve got Oll Birtan, Ancestors and Submarine, which make no sense and have nothing remotely close to a hook. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it, rated 3
The Zombies
5/5
This album was a really pleasant surprise! High quality 60s pop with no bad songs. Half the album is good, the other half is great. The closer, Time of the Season, is of course a standout, along with Care of Cell 44. I would also like to highlight Butcher's Tale, with its haunting chorus and lyrics, and the sad and beautiful A Rose for Emily.
I've been in serious doubt whether to 4 or 5 it, but I let the best songs decide. 75 albums in, my first 5!
Herbie Hancock
1/5
With all due respect to people who enjoys this racket, this is almost unlistenable. 10 minute-long free jazz tracks has never been my idea of a good time, and it still isn't. The first track starts up nice with a decent main riff, but about a third into the neverending tune, the keys show up and destroy everything. It's not nice at all. The Watermelon song is just awful, making my ears beg for mercy. The third track has some periods of nice sounding melodies, but this time it's the saxophone's turn to make unpleasant sounds and ruin it all. The fourth and final track is mostly calm and soothing, but from time to time there are parts I absolutely hate, so it's a 2/10, which makes 1 star. Sorry
Supergrass
4/5
The album starts up great with a 1-2-3 punch of three great songs, before the only okay "Back in the Day" slows the tempo down, along with G-song. Then Sun Hits The Sky gets the album back on track for a short while. The rest of the album passes by with no obvious highlights, except for the brilliant verses of You Can See Me and the bouncy closing track.
Talking individual tracks, the obvious highlights are the singles Richard III, featuring amazing backing woos in the chorus and excellent use of the theremin, and the aforementiones SHTS, making handclaps cool again and having a driving bass lick. Also, Tonight is a catchy rocker, being driven forwards by efficient brass.
All in all it’s an uneven album, but the high highs bring it up to 4 stars
Beck
3/5
Some weeks ago I got the Sea Change album, which I liked a lot, so I was looking forward to listening to another Beck album. And the first track was a good and upbeat song, so I stayed positive. However, there were not much else to enjoy. By no means is it a bad album, it’s just not very good. It’s inoffensive background music you can bob your head to, but nothing I will go out of my way to listen to, except for the aforementioned E-Pro and
Earthquake Weather, Girl and Go it Alone. A solid 3-star rating, but still a 3-star rating
Everything But The Girl
2/5
Only had the time to listen once. The first song was really nice, so I was looking forward to the rest, but the rest was not nearly as good. Boring songs with nothing special going for them. There are albums I've rated lower that I think are more entitled to a spot on this list due to their unqueness. Nothing unique here, just skimmed milk.
The White Stripes
4/5
You don’t listen to this album for the great musicianship, but for fun, unashamed garage rock. And the first four tracks sleiver in spaden. In my opinion, the band work best when they turn up the punk, like in Hotel Yorba and their (imo) best single ever, Fell in Love…
However, after the first four great tracks we get three okay- tracks, and that was not what we asked for. We’re going to be friends starts another streak of quality, only abrupted by the unecessary instrumental Aluminium.
All in all it’s an uneven album, but the good songs make it a 7/10
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
My preconceptions about this band, as another bland band in the Franz Ferdinand/The Strokes/The Black Keys-vein were heavily put to shame. This album is more fun, more rocking, a lot more good. That is, until Riot Van rears its ugly head and falls into the brit-garage-ballad-trap. The album never truly recovers after that song, with the honorable exception of When the Sun Goes Down and From the Ritz to the Rubble. In all fairness it’s a 6/10- album, but I feel it’s a bit harsh to rate it only 3 stars.
The Beta Band
2/5
Only had the time to listen once. Didn’t get it, nor what the band was trying to do. The songs passed by uneventfully
Orbital
2/5
The opening and losing track are so annoying that they almost earn a 1-star review in themselves. The second track isn’t much to write home about either. Boring same-y rhytm and noises throughout. Things start to change with lush 3-1, having more melody and danceable beats. However, it never catches my interest, and one hour with this kind of music bores me out of my mind.
Madness
3/5
No time for a real review. Some good songs (first two + Our House, and a couple more), more boring songs, An ok album, I prefer the rawness of their earlier releases.
Metallica
5/5
The drum sound alone is almost enough to earn five stars. However, when the songwriting is on point, James sounding the best he’s ever done (and ever will) and almost every track is a winner (Through the Never doesn’t quite do it), the 5 stars are a given. One of the great rock records of the 90s, and it’s not even Metallica’s best album
U2
2/5
I went into this project with the preconcetion that U2 is the most overrated band in the world, only by hearing their biggest hits. This is the first full album I've ever listened to by the band, and I listened twice, looking for songs and things to like. And it starts out adequately. Sunday Bloody Sunday is an okay, almost good opener. I like the use of viloin, and it's rather catchy. Still, I got bored by the time the last verse kicked in, when the song by all means should be done.
Tracks 3 and 4 are the best songs I've heard from the band. New Year's Day has a cool intro akin to Him's Love Me in Death, but it goes on for too long. Like a Song is potentially their best track, but it should be better structured. The only other song that's decent, is Two Hearts Beat as One, but even that one's too long. The rest is just boring, except for Drowning Man, which is awful.
U2 is still the world's most overrated band.
Queen
3/5
I like everything about this album, except for the songs. Not that they are bad, but they are a little all over the place. Once you get into the groove of the song, they switch up to a completely different part/pattern, and after a while, another song starts. I only had the time to listen to the album 1,5 times, and would perhaps have rated it higher if I had more time to get familiar with the songs. Seven Seas of Rhye is a banger, though.
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
Goldie
2/5
Drum and bass, not exactly my kind of jam. Angel and State of Mind were decent tracks, the rest was just 'there'. And boy, did the album go on and on and on and on! Okay background music while working, but nothing I would put on just to listen to.
Pixies
5/5
Generally not held in as high regard as Doolittle, I listened to the album waiting for a few clunkers. They never arrived. A solid album from start to finish. Highlights being Velouria, Ana, Allison and Is She Weird. Admittedly, the highs don’t quite reach the Doolittle highs, but it’s a more consistent album overall.
Public Enemy
4/5
Yeah, bass! This is exactly how I want my hip hop to sound. Aggressive and heavy like a soap on a rope cause the beats and the rhymes are so dope. The only thing preventing me from giving 5 stars, is the album’s length. 1 hour of rapping is still too much in one sitting. Check out the collaboration with Anthrax as well, which hits really hard
Brian Eno
3/5
I was immediately struck by the great, punkish opener. And then it got weird. Still, The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch, in spite of its title and outlier noises, managed to stir something in me. And then it got weirder. Baby's on Fire is one minute of monotone, not very nice singing and a 4 minute long noisy guitar solo. Annoying. Cindy Tells Me is boring, Driving Me Backwards is outright awful, and then On Some Faraway Beach Comes to save the day, being by far the strongest song on the album. A real gem! Of course happiness never lasts, and Blank Frank is maybe the worst song on the album. The three last tracks are really nothing to write home about. Or, Some of Them are Old could have been a great Beatles-esque track, if not for more than half of the song being weird instumentation.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
I’ve never understood the Beatles vs Stones debatt, as The Beatles are hands down superior songwriters and, not least, singers. Street Fighting Man is catchy and rocking, Salt of The Earth is a nice song. The rest is boring and tedious, and I tire really fast from Mick’s vocals. Trying to swag, but later Iggy came along to show how it’s really done
The Fall
3/5
Some cool sounds and riffs and ideas, especially in the first half, but as the album drags on, the annoying vocals grate more and more, the monotony kicks in and turns to boredom, the more I understand that I can only rate this 3 stars
The Black Crowes
2/5
This is a prime example of dad rock. And unfortunately not in a very good way. The album starts out nice enough with two okay songs which have good choruses. Then the good choruses disappear along with the quality of the songs, and all we are left with is boredom. The singer has a good voice, the band play well, but there's nothing, aside from the two starters and the fun enough Hard to Handle, that makes me shake my money maker.
The Band
3/5
Quite decent album, but nothing mindblowing
Tina Turner
3/5
Some good, some okay, some bad, all 80s
Meat Loaf
3/5
Slick, self indulgent, grandiose, epic and super catchy. And that’s just the first song. Unfortunately, the rest of the album doesn’t quite reach the standard of the title track, but it’s still good fun. Maybe a couple more listens would elevate this to a four, but it’s not quite there
Slade
3/5
This is quite a fun album. Unfortunately, the songwriting isn't quite there, except for the opening tracks and, of course, Mama Weer All Crazee Now. 6/10, a little underwhelming for album number 100
Elliott Smith
3/5
Many of the songs on the album are good, but they’re not great. And the songwriting quality falls a little by the end. I guess I’ll revisit the album in the winter, cause there is something good going on here, but I’m not quite in the mood for it
John Lennon
2/5
The title track is in a league of its own on this album. The only other tracks that are okay are Jealous Guy and Gimme Some Truth. The Soldier thing is horrendous. The solo albums of former Beatles members remind me of the solo ventures of Kiss members; none of them are remotely as good as the full bands’ albums. That being said, Jealous Guy sounds like it wouldn’t have been out of place on Peter Criss’ 78 solo album. Now try not to hear Peter’s voice on the track!
Arrested Development
2/5
Starting this project, I wasn't a fan of hiphop. Then, album after album has proven me wrong. Public Enemy is great, De La Soul is fun, Kanye West is talented, The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy have a good message, etc. There is a limit though, and Arrested Development draw that line. I didn't hate the album, I just disliked it. Not for me.
Big Star
2/5
Till The End of The Day is so much better than the rest of the album, which is completely forgettable. I wouldn’t miss this album at all, if I were to die yesterday
Silver Jews
2/5
Not a bad album, per se. It’s just a massive amount of boring and has not much going for it. I actually don’t mind the songer’s voice, I just don’t find the music very interesting.
Johnny Cash
3/5
This album is quite good. I like how the sparse arrangements highlight Cash’s voice, giving more emotion to the songs. This also makes the rare occurences of backing vocals and extra instruments more efficient. However, the album is far too long for such a stripped down album. 35-40 minutes would be optimal.
Best songs: The first two tracks
Arcade Fire
3/5
Good start to the album, but after the 4-5 first songs the songs start to blend into each other and become more and more boring.
David Bowie
2/5
The first of a million Bowie albums in this project. And it’s soul, average soul, with way too long songs and an awful Beatles cover. The title track is the only decent song here
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Decent album, but nothing mindblowing. Carey is probably the best track here
Sarah Vaughan
2/5
This is a rare one; an album that gets worse the more I listen to it. Jazz is awful music, and even if Sarah Vaughan has a great voice, she chooses to use it as an annoying instrument. The scatting on the final track is
horrible, the way she drags out the syllables is annoying. Even if the album is less than 40 minutes, it never seems to end. At least the first tracks are listenable, but I will never listen to this album again.
T. Rex
3/5
It's a good album, but there are only two REALLY good songs, that I'd willfully put on, Get it On and The Motivator. 6/10 means 3 stars
Jack White
3/5
Decent album, as in I wouldn’t turn any of the songs off if I heard them. But I wouldn’t actively seek out any of them either. Best tracks: Sixteen Saltines and Trash Tongue Talker
Sugar
4/5
I like this album, even if there’s nothing spectacular here. Some cool riffs here, nice harmonies there, all in all quite solid songcrafting. It suffers a little under lack of catchiness and some songs drone on too long, but it’s enough for a 7/10, aka 4 stars. Best songs: The Act We Act and Hoover Dam
Deep Purple
4/5
Child in Time is a masterpiece and even at 10 minutes, it never feels too long. Speed King and Living Wreck are great songs, displaying the band’s knack for writing rocking riffs. The musicianship os great throughout the album, with both Blackmore, Lord and Glover given moments to shine.
True, some of the songs are quite lengthy (Flight of the Rat) and Ian Gillans’s screeches are an aqcuired taste. Also, while riffing hard, Bloodsucker and Hard Loving Man aren’t the greatest songs ever written. Still, the highlights here are strong enough to warrant a weak four stars. If we consider Black Night a part of the album, the four stars are unquestionable
Fats Domino
3/5
Joni Mitchell
2/5
I didn’t mind her album «Blue», which I got last week. This one, however, I don’t like at all. More annoying than awful, so I’m giving a generous two stars
Fiona Apple
4/5
It’s been a while, but finally I got another album I’d never heard, that I can imagine playing because I want to listen to it. Some songs are a little boring and drag on too long. The album in itself is also a little too long, but when Fiona showcases such great songwriting as in the first four tracks and Never is a Promise, I’ve got to 4 it
Judas Priest
4/5
Taylor Swift
3/5
Decent radio friendly pop with no edge whatsoever. And I can’t really find any immediate hit songs either. To add to undulat, the album is way too long, so what should be a nice collection of songs really starts to annoy me during the last 10-15 minutes
American Music Club
2/5
No. Besides Jazz, this is the kind of music I dislike the most. Indie with a country twang and whiny vocals. None of the songs grab my attention. They just exist. And shouldn’t be on any list.
CHIC
3/5
First four tracks are fun and danceable. Then the table turns, and we get three boring and repetitive songs, before the album enda with a dance. 3 stars, quite fun
John Coltrane
1/5
With all due respect to the legend and the musicianship on here; I’ll never ever listen to this again. I tried, but jazz is not for me. Track 1 sounds like random sounds on the saxophone. Track 2 sounds like random notes on the piano. Track 3 sounds like random notes on the saxophone AND the piano, while the last track wraps everything up.
Kings of Leon
2/5
This album doesn’t belong to the list. At all. A study in bland and mediocre.
T. Rex
3/5
This album’s got stagger and a cool sound, but the songs are only decent. Not great, like Get it On.
Love
3/5
Good A-side, horrible B-side
The Doors
2/5
37 minutes that seemed twice as long. Waiting for the Sun was the only highlight on this album. Boring.
Public Enemy
3/5
Second PE album in this project. But where «It Takes a Nation…» starts off with maybe their best track, this one doesn’t really get going until the Ice Cube-featuring «Burn Hollywood Burn», with «Meet the G that killed me» providing a false start.
The rest of the album is really good, but the overall length and the first eight tracks drags it down to 3.
The Pharcyde
3/5
A decent album, but like so many hiphop albums, it’s far too long
Jimi Hendrix
2/5
This album’s only saving grace is All Along The Watchtower. Next!
3/5
The album starts off with a banger, the best track of the album, Victoria. It never really recovers afterwards, with a few honorable exceptions, so I can’t be more generous than handling out three stars
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Listening to this, I've found out that classic songs are classics for a reason. Dazed and Confused and Communication deserve all the praise they get. Also, the two opening tracks are great. However, I've also found out that I utterly hate slow blues, so I Can't Quit You Baby is unlistenable. The rest of the album is just there, neither to enjoy nor annoy.
Supertramp
3/5
Only two good songs (Hide in Your Shell & If Everyone Was Listening) and a decent closer makes three stars. The rest is just average.
Foo Fighters
5/5
Not many rock albums have a better 4-punch opening than this one, and there are no really bad tracks here. Weenie Beenie, albeit having a solid riff is the only mid track. The production and lack of variety in sound are a minus, but 9/10 is still a 5-star rating
Gang Starr
3/5
Chill, monotonous and far too long
The Killers
3/5
2/5
Still don’t understand the appeal. The only two songs I like on the album are Red Hill Mining Town and In God’s Country. The rest is just snoozing past me
Big Brother & The Holding Company
2/5
Too much blues and only one good song
Throbbing Gristle
2/5
Now, how to review and rate this album? An album without a single song, essentially a compialtion of noise and conversations. I’ll never listen to the album again, and there are no individual tracks that I’d go back and revisit. However, if I had to choose between this album and an experimental jazz album, the choice would be easy. I guess it’s 2 stars, then
The Byrds
3/5
Good songs, but a little too much of the same throughout
The Cure
4/5
Cool haunting and depressing atmosphere that sucks you in, even if there’s no immediate carchiness to the songs. If only all songs were as good as One Hundred Years and The Hanging Garden! Of the 8 tracks, half of them are excellent, 3 are okay, and the final track is so unlistenable that I almost considered handling out 3 stars. Almost. And I start thinking of the goth kids in South Park when listening to the album. Not sure if that’s a good thing or not
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
I really wanted to love this album because I like their garage rock sound and the singer's style. However, there was more style than substance here and the songs didn't reach the standard I wanted. I also got quite tired after listening to the entire album in one sitting. Still kind of cool!
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
I actually thought I’d like this one. I remember 14-year old me loving Under the Bridge when it was released, and I think I liked Give it Away and Suck My Kiss as well. Not so much now. The only good songs are the Bridge-song and Breaking the Girl. The rest are just soulless ballads or funky tracks without any substance. Flea and Frusciante do their job well, but it’s not good enough.
Grant Lee Buffalo
2/5
After listening to this album twice, I still don’t remember a single song. If you don’t count the Sweet Home Alabama-riff, which I found annoying. Will not listen again
Spacemen 3
3/5
After listening to the first 4 tracks, I was certain this was a 1. Slow, repetitive, boring and one-dimensional. My mind was drawn to the awful Spiritualized-album. Then Revolution started with a nasty Stooges-sounding guitar and made me see the world in a different light. And a little later, the claustrophobic, droning and noisy Suicide took it to another level, before the last song said its soothing goodbyes. Now this is really an album of two halves!
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
David Bowie
3/5
Not really anything noteworthy about this release. A couple of bad songs, the rest are okay. As middle of the road as you can get. 5/10
Pink Floyd
2/5
It’s really all about the songs, isn’t it? And even if the musicianship, story and føow of the album is really good, not many songs catch my attention. Hey You and Comfortably Numb being the honorable exception ,along with the slightly better than decent couplet Mother/Goodbye Blue Sky. 4 songs do not a good double album make. Honestly, it was a chore to sit through, and I did it twice!
Boston
3/5
First of all; great production! Clean and big sounding. The opening trio is really good, catchy rock. Then comes three rather mid tracks, before the album picks up again at the end. Not quite a four, though
Stevie Wonder
4/5
I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this album, and I’ve added several songs to my playlist. However, when Contusion goes too far into jazz city, and the playtime is almost endless, I can’t give more than a 4.
Neil Young
2/5
Twang-plank-plank. Whine-whine. For 38 minutes. No good songs, just a snoozefest.
Fela Kuti
3/5
I respect Fela Kuti’s guts and he makes me
want to like this album more than I do. Because it’s not really my kind of music at all, and both songs could be half as long without losing any impact. However, as opposed to many artists in the genre, the melodies are hummable, none of that «playing random notes Herbie Hancock John Coltrane» garbage. An extra star for the sentiment and impact
Beatles
5/5
This is a hard one to rate. On the one hand, Side A is among the best album sides in history, with only the blues part of I Want You not being top notch. On the other hand, not a fan of the first three parts of the medley. At the end of the day, the highs are so high, the production so good, the playing and singing so excellent, that I can’t not hand out 5 stars
Culture Club
2/5
After the opening couple I thought this wouldn’t be as touch a listen as I’d expected. But then Black Money decided to spoil the fun, and with honorable exceptions in Miss Me Blind and Stormkeeper, it stayed that way. Not too much to fuzz about
Elvis Presley
3/5
Suspicious Minds is an excellent song. None of the others come close, not even In The Ghetto. However, there are not many skippers either. 6/10
Johnny Cash
3/5
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Badlands and The Promised Land are decent, catchy songs. I don’t really care about the rest. Kind of boring
Queen
3/5
Some great songs on this one! Killer Queen and Stone Cold Crazy are obvious, but even Tenement Funster and Flick of The Wrist are good compositions. However, the rest of the songs don’t quite add up to a great album. 3 strong stars
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Sweet soul music, the kind of soul music I can groove with. It's quite a pleasant album, easy to listen to, no skippers. However, there are no real bangers that stand out from the rest here, no songs I'll save to my discovery playlist, no songs about which I can say "This is a banger". Easy 6/10, which means 3 stars.
Sepultura
4/5
I find it, as usual, really hard to rate. On the one hand, I think it’s really great that they wear their origins on their sleeves, collaborating with the Xavante trine. And it shows by the excellent percussion throughout the album. Also, the opening four are among their best songs. On the other hand, the album is way too long, so it’s hard to sit through in one listen. In addition, I’m not too keen on the tribal sounds. I’ll let the positives somehow outweigh the negatives and rate it 7/10
David Holmes
2/5
Not bad, just bland and uneventful. 1001 albums to listen to in the background and not pay attention to before you die.
Slasher's Revenge is a dub banger, though!
Jimmy Smith
2/5
Something as rare as a jazz album I didn’t hate. But neither did I like it. Not much going for it, some decent hammond organ playing and some part decent part annoying saxophone
Calexico
3/5
Nice surprise! There are a lot of good songs on here, and it flows well as an album. After just one listen it's hard to say how good it really is and whether I'll revisit it often.
Butthole Surfers
3/5
Weird, fun, not something I’ll return to often, but it’s not a chore relistening to it. Best tracks: Kuntz, The O-men and Human Cannonball
The Rolling Stones
2/5
An album which is more even than its predecessor and has better production. Where BB had 2-3 excellent songs, this one has 1 okay song, the opener Gimme Shelter. The rest are mid to bad.
CHIC
3/5
Quite good. Not quite as good as their previous album, but still a 3
The Band
2/5
Might have been groundbreaking and spectacular at the time, but now I’m mostly bored. The Weight is an honorable exception, and the two following songs are also listenable. The rest I can do without
Elvis Costello
4/5
First Costello album out of several hundred on this list. And if I were to guess, I’d guess that this is the only one that truly deserves its place. Several good songs, with Alison being the cream of the crop. After Less than Zero the quality drops a bit, but ends on a high with the reggae number Watching the Detectives.
Iron Maiden
5/5
What an introduction to one of the greatest ever metal vocalists! Starts off with a bang with The Invaders, and doesn’t let down until Gangland ruins the impeccableness of the album, being the only dud here (I don’t count the arguably worse Total Eclipse, as it’s not part of the original album). The album ends with perhaps the best metal song in history, Hallowed be Thy Name. 5 solid stars
The Smiths
3/5
Setting all prejudice and the fact that Morissey is a prick aside, this album really isn’t all bad. The ska rhythms of the opener threw me for a loop, and was really good! However, Morissey’s way of phrasing hos vocals get old and tiresome rather quickly, so otherwise decent tunes turn annoying (Stop me if you think…). Paint a Vulgar Picture is the only other song I liked enough to take notice of. 5/10
Mike Ladd
2/5
Can’t say I liked it. Nor did I understand why it’s included on this list. Perhaps because it is futuristic, and it WILL be important, we just don’t know it yet?
Bladerunners is by far the best track, To the Moon’s Contractor is the most unnecessary one
Stan Getz
3/5
Finally a jazz album that doesn’t leave me enraged after listening! Smooth, easy-going background music. However, all the tracks blend into each other, and I can’t picture myself actively putting this on
Sister Sledge
3/5
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
Many of the songs are well written and hummable. I particularly enjoyed Expectations, with a nice addition of trumpets.
However, Electronic Renaissance is horrible, and I find myself nodding along to a song while at the same time being outraged from the toothlessness of it all. 5/10
The Kinks
3/5
There’s nothing wrong with this album, but not many songs present themselves as essential either. Kind of like a second rate Beatles, nice to listen to while having afternoon tea with your aunt and her friends
Q-Tip
2/5
Quite good beats and flow, but all in all the songs are too reptetititve, nothing much happening there. I liked Won’t Trade, but won’t listen to the other songs again
Billy Joel
3/5
Quite decent
Nick Drake
3/5
Some good songs, especially Way to Blue and Day is Done, but mostly I was bored throughout the album. The songs drag on too long, whereas the two aforementioned are 2:30 and 3:05.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
52 minutes passed by faster than I’d thought. Many good songs, Into My Arms and Are You The One… being the pick of the bunch.
Orbital
1/5
So many sounds! And all at once! Got kinda annoyed on my hour drive. Didn’t hate Kein Trink Wasser, it had something going for it. The rest? Nah! Too busy to be background music and not catchy enough to make me wanna dance or move in any kind of way
Sonic Youth
4/5
Really good album, but not great, and a little too long. Best tracks: 100%, Wish Fulfillment, Sugar Kane, Nic Fit and Purr.
Frank Zappa
2/5
I don't particularily like long instrumental jams. At least track 1 and 3 are pleasing to the ears, and track 3 has some excellent bass playing. Then comes track 4 and is absolutely horrible, and drags track 5 along the destructive path. It's a shame, 'cause there's a lot of great playing going on.
Elton John
4/5
Cut 4-6 songs, and it’s an instant 5-star album. Bennie & the Jets is one of those that should be cut, along with that Jamaica-thing
Joy Division
2/5
Dolly Parton
3/5
Great voices, excellent harmonies, easy on the ear. However, by track 6 I start to lose interest, and it doesn't really rewake until the final track, the majestic Farther Along. A solid 3, not strong enough throughout to warrant any better.
The Cramps
5/5
Love this album! Not every song is top notch, but those who are, really are! A unique band
Michael Jackson
3/5
Really good start to the album! The first half’s got me grooving. However, I tire a little through the second part
Beck
3/5
This is a really cool and laidback album, with no really weak tracks. However, there are no tracks that stand out and scream that they're awesome, so I can't go any higher than a solid 3. Even though there's almost a new genre for every track, I found the album to be surprisingly cohesive, and I enjoyed listening to it. Won't relisten anytime soon, though.
Jimi Hendrix
2/5
Little Wing is a fantastic song and Castles Made of Sand is really good. The rest, not so much. Jimi might’ve been a guitar god, but he was not a songwriting wizard
Cocteau Twins
3/5
An album that's easy to listen to and quite nice throughtout. Great vocals. However, the songs are quite immemorable, I don't remember a single song after listening to the entire album twice.
Wire
4/5
This is a really cool album. Energetic, packed with catchy short old school punk. There are a few songs that fall a little way short of the mark, but there’s no denying classic like Manmequin, Mr Suit (also, check out New Bomb Turks’ cover) and Three Girl Rumba
The Who
2/5
Now this was underwhelming! A drag to get through this overindulgent bore of an album! Pinball Wizard isn’t even that good!
Fleet Foxes
3/5
By no means essential. Not bad, but quite boring. Your Protector stands out and save 3 stars
Gorillaz
3/5
Cool vibe album, and It’s got such a good run up to and including the obvious highlight «Clint Eastwood». Then «Man Research» (horrible, horrible song) takes the full 180 turn and starts a really awful streak before «19-2000» settles the score, and it’s quite decent until the end.
Garbage
4/5
For no apparent reason, I’d always written Garbage off as a singles band. This album, with no really weak tracks, proves me wrong. There are some really strong songs on here, not only the singles Happy When it Rains and Stupid Girl. And the run between those two songs is simoly excellent.
On the shadow side of things, the three tracks after Stupid Girl are a letdown, and the opening pair leaves a little to be desired. Supervixen is a poor choice for opening
Pavement
3/5
Quite decent indie-rock. It seems that I don’t have the time to listen to it enough to do it justice. A couple more spins, and I guess more songs would’ve grown on me.
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
Quite decent hiphop, Can I Kick It being the clear standout track. As usual with hiphop, it’s a bit too samey and lengthy.
Tears For Fears
2/5
I actually don't like Shout, never have, and that's the best track on the album. Why are the songs so long? They don't need to be! The Working Hour slightly reminds me of U2, which is a horrible band. The bass line on the start of Broken is awesome, the song is not. Well, not an album for me.
Blue Cheer
2/5
The album has more signifcance for its time than quality. Summertime Blues is a good song and they cover it quite well here. The rest is incredibly boring. None of the other 7 tracks are any good, and it’s a chore to get through
The Monkees
3/5
Quite nice album, but it has one big flaw; Daydream Believer is not on this album. Neither is Lookout, Here Comes Tomorrow, which means the best songs, like the opener ,You May Just be the One and No Time, are only "4 star-songs" or "Beatles-fillers", which only makes the average a solid 3 stars.
Alice In Chains
5/5
Dark riffs, even darker lyrics, haunting harmonies, exquisite melodies. Love this album!
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
I read the reviews before listening to this album and was really excited to dig into it. The first song started and I thought that this was something I could really like. But then song 2 and 3 happened, and with the exception of "Go Your Own Way" no other songs made me think "Yeah, this is good!". None of the songs are bad, but there's really not much to be excited about.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Like all Stones albums, this has a couple of
really great rockers (Brown Sugar, Dead Flowers) and a nice ballad (Wild Horses), while the rest is horrible blues and country. This one is the best out of the 3 albums I’ve listened to yet, though.
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
Ok as background music. Not okay as listening music.
Happy Mondays
2/5
No
Throwing Muses
3/5
I want to like it better than I do, cause it’s cool, it’s original, and the singer has a really cool style. However, the songs just don’t do it for me. Green and Rabbits Dying are the highlights for me.
The Cure
4/5
The album is depressive, haunting and beautiful. Everything you want on a dark autumn afternoon. Unfortunately, it's quite long. A little too long, so it becomes tiring in the end. And that's the only negative thing about it.
Pink Floyd
3/5
I like Wish You Were Here. Nice twist on the Rednex classic! There’s also something intriguing about the first part of «Shine on…» (except for the saxophone solo), but I don’t really care for the three other songs. Too much noodling, not enough song
Merle Haggard
3/5
My measurements for a good country song is whether it would sound good covered by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Not many of these would. It isn’t a bad album in itself, but it gets quite monotonous in spite of its short running time. I liked Drink Up and Be Somebody, though. More of those kind of harmonies!
Björk
3/5
Björk is a difficult artist to handle, and just a couple of hurried listens before the next album is due, isn't enough to fully take in the untraditional song structures and the layers of sound she builds. Here, I really like the two first songs, and the gigantic Black Lake. However, when she comes with songs like History of Touches and Family, with no cohesive rhythm, and what seems like vocals over an alternative rhythm not present in the song, it's hard to handle. I guess I want to like the album more than I do. At least yet.
Stephen Stills
2/5
I really liked the opening track. Happy, uptempo, soulful and catchy. Then the rest happened, and passed me by, without any noteworthy moments. Bland blues and gospel. And what’s up with the cover art?
Van Halen
2/5
I prefer their debut over this one. I've never liked Jump (it's supposed to be hard rock, not synth "rock"), but Panama is a decent enough song. I like the catchiness of I'll Wait, in spite of the synths. You can hear that they are talented musicians, particularly on Hot for Teacher, but when the song is as bluesy and busy as it is, I can't enjoy it at all. The song quality is more important than talent. Drop Dead Legs is horrible, Girl Gone Bad is horrible, House of Pain is boring.
Black Sabbath
5/5
One of the best debut albums of all time. And what an impact it must have had! As it was released before my time, I can't even imagine how the opening track must have felt for the unsuspecting public. Pure evil, and it still sounds great today. The unmistaken Iommi-riffs, Butler's prominent bass lines, Ward's tight drumming and Ozzy's better-than-you-think vocals (he reaches really high notes!). I'm not too fond of Behind the Wall of Sleep, but the rest of the album is top quality. Just to rub it in, they recorded it in less time than it takes Metallica to tune their guitars. Not a dead set 5-star album, but the quality of the best tracks, along with the album's historical significance, takes it to the top.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
2/5
Most songs here are pointless and boring, but inoffensive. Zopf: Milk is annoying. Mostly instrumental pieces, none of which move me, even though I appreciate the violin throughout. The Sound of Someone You Love… is okay, nice background music until the violin takes a left turn
2/5
Jazz electronica bossanova? Not quite my cup of tea, but I don’t hate it. Okay background music. It’s quite long, though, so by the time track 9 has started, I’ve had my fill
Van Morrison
2/5
Live albums should not be included on this list. Double live albums should ABSOLUTELY not be on this list. At least it’s over and there are only two Van Morisson albums left on the list. Didn’t mind tracks 4, 5, 10 and 15.
Talking Heads
2/5
It sounds like something I could like, but I don’t. None of the songs make me want to listen to them again, and I’ve tried to listen to it thrice. Not for me
Bob Dylan
3/5
Positively surprised by this one. I’ve never been a big Dylan fan, and thought it would be 46 tedious minutes of listening. However, I’ve quite enjoyed many of the songs. Mr Tambourine Man is, as we all know, excellent. I love RATM’s cover of Maggie’s Farm, and it turns out that the original is decent as well. I really liked the opener, which might be the second best song on the album. The last three tracks drag on a little, and I don’t like track 2 and 5 at all, so I can’t go up to a 4-star rating.
Peter Frampton
2/5
As I mentioned when pulling the Van Morrison live album - Live albums have no business being on this list. Neither does this album, which only has 1 good song, which is Show Me The Way. I’m tired.
The Jam
4/5
Nice and prominent bass. Nice and poppy. Nice melodies. Just nice. And sometimes all you want is something nice in this world, even if there’s nothing astonishing or original on display
Willie Nelson
3/5
I've tried listening to this album twice, and even though the songs are quite nice and calm, performed sparsely with good vocals, it's too dull for an entire album. I lose focus and have a hard time seperating the tracks from one another.
The Offspring
5/5
1994 was the year that defined my taste in music for the next decades. Punk in Drublic, Dookie, Stranger than Fiction and Smash. Can’t believe it’s been 30 years already!
This is the album that broke punk, along with Dookie, and it’s still The Offspring’s best album. So many bangers, but also a little filler. Genocide, Killboy Powerhead and So Alone don’t reach the heights of the other songs. But none of them are bad, so I guess the 5 stars are warranted
Rush
2/5
More focus on music skills than songwriting, and that is never okay in my book. It’s not bad, Limelight and Tom Sawyer is okay, it’s just really dull
William Orbit
2/5
Not my thing. There are glimpses of cool beats and some nice melodies from time to other, at least in the first half, but mostly, it’s just long songs that go nowhere. And that makes the last helg og the album a gjort to get through
3/5
Some decent songs, a handful of boring songs, far too long. The songwriting doesn’t quite reach Parklife levels
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
I’m not too into this kind of music, but I can appreciate Prodigy. This sounds like their well behaved little brother who always dors his homework and never gets into trouble. It’s not bad, I even like the two first tracks, which have cool beats, but as a whole, the album gets too monotonous.
Amy Winehouse
2/5
This album was a letdown after having been pleasantly surprised by her sophomore album when that was generated. Here, on her debut, there is not much that reminds of the catchy, pop-oriented songs on Back to Black, rather focusing on jazzy songs. And I don’t like jazz. Won’t listen again, whereas I return to many of the songs from BtB
Carole King
3/5
Boring, uninspiring granddadrock
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
Almost so bad it becomes good. But any album that starts with 10 minutes of awful will never go beyond a 1
Fred Neil
2/5
Great voice boring songs awful last track
David Bowie
4/5
Good album! My favourite Bowie album so far
AC/DC
5/5
I knew there were some classics here, but I didn’t realise even the deep cuts were really good. Probably the best boogie rock album ever
The Temptations
3/5
The Pretty Things
4/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Sounds like the missing link between The Cure and U2, but not quite there with the songs. Decent but forgettable
4/5
Cool album! Albeit none of the songs reach out to me to make me love them, The Big Exit, The Whores Hustle and This Mess We’re in stand a shoulder over the rest, while Beautiful Feeling and Horses make me disinterested. Rounded up to a 4
R.E.M.
4/5
Starts out with 4 strong tracks before falling down to decency in the middle. Man on the Moon picks up the proceedings and the album finishes as strong as it started
Syd Barrett
2/5
This is a tough album, both to listen to and to review. It sounds like he’s making up many of the songs as he’s playing them. There’s no production value to speak of, and it’s obvious that Syd’s not well. Still, there are some good tracks here. No Good Trying and No Man’s Land are in some ways predecessors to Sonic Youth’s noise pop, and are quiet interesting. Octopus is maybe the best song, with a nice chord progression and a catchy chorus, kind of réminiscent of The Beatles. From thereon it’s all downhill, outtakes recorded and released for profit.
Motörhead
3/5
Generally, I’m really tired of Ace of Spades, but when that bass kicks un, I still get excited. It’s a really good song, and this version brings a lot of energy! I’m also opposed to including live albums on the list, but I have to admit I like the rawness it brings to the songs here. As for Motorhead being a one trick pony, I’ll just counter with AcDc and Ramones.
Still, not the biggest Motorhead-fan and about half the songs are rather nondescript, so it’s a strong 3
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
I liked this a lot better than I’d expected. The first two tracks and track 6 and 7 are all excellent! I still hate Go West, though
Curtis Mayfield
2/5
I can hear that the music is objectively good and he sings with so much emotion. Still, I don’t like listening to it. The opening track has a nice rhythm and groove, but it goes over for too long. And the less said about the horrible Jesus track, the better!
The Velvet Underground
4/5
After two spins I find it intriguing, but not quite legendary. Great side 1, need a little more time with side 2
Common
3/5
For some reason I like this album a lot more than Be. No tracks really stand out like They Say, but the overall impression is better. A huge problem is the length. After 9 tracks I start to lose interest, and only the odd track picks it up again. Only just 3 weak stars
Television
3/5
Upon my first listen I hated the album. Unremarkable songs, weak vocals and not much to enjoy about it. Which still rings true to the first three tracks. But then the title track kicks in and the album shifts. From subpar new wave to some kind of a (paradoxically) catchy prog. Even though the title track is much to long, it is hypnotising, with a great lick and awesome playing from the band. Elevation is the highlight of the album, and it ends on a really high note. The weak start still means it’s only a 3, but a strong one
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Finally a rap album that's shorter than a week and a half! And it's a fun, bouncy album, with the banger "It's Like That" as the highlight. Unfortunately, almost all the tracks sound kinda alike, so it won't get more than 3 stars from me, even though it's enjoyable.
Coldplay
3/5
Not as bad as I’d thought before listening. The opener and Trouble are excellent songs. The rest are decent to good, but slightly boring. I didn’t mind listening to it, though
Radiohead
3/5
This is a weird one. Many of the songs are good, like 2+2, Where I End, There There and A Wolf. However, it doesn’t feel like a proper album. The sequencing is
weird and makes the album hard to «get».
The Hives
4/5
From song quality alone, this album deserves a fine. But since it’s a compilation, with the strongest tracks from 2 albums and an ep, I’ll round down to 4. Not many better garage punk bands around as The Hives in their heyday!
Method Man
4/5
Oh no, not another hour-long rap album! I thought, stupidly. This album hits hard, and for once I didn’t mind the length. Dirty beats, agressive rapping, all around à vert good album. But as a non-connaisseur of rap, it didn’t amaze me.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
2/5
Really good harmonies, but not a single memorable song
Lauryn Hill
3/5
I can hear that it’s got qualities, and I find myself liking a few of the tracks, but it’s not quite my thing. Ex-Factor, That Thing and I Used to Love Him are standouts
R.E.M.
3/5
While I enjoyed AfTP quitte a bit, this album doesn’t have as good songs. After listening twice, I can only recall one chorus. Boring.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Nice enough, but no songs stand out. I like that it’s not at all what I would expect from a Beach Boys album
Various Artists
4/5
THE christmas album! Most of these versions are the definite ones. Merry christmas!
Joni Mitchell
2/5
I’ve been guilty of enjoying the occasional singer/songwriter, but I simply hate the watch show phrases her lines when signing. Halfway into the last song I got so annoyed that I has to turn it off. Not an album for me
Neil Young
3/5
Not bad, quite easy listening. I wouldn’t skip any of these songs, but I won’t be adding any to my playlist either.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Surprisingly good album! I feared the worst when this double album was generated, but not once during its 82 minutes playtime was I bored. It only gets a 4 because none of the tracks really stood out as winners. Guess it will be even better with more listens, but no time today.
The Damned
5/5
Really great album! Even though I prefer their debut, there’s no denying the quality of songwriting and a great variety in style and genre. Of course I prefer their punkier tracks, such as Anti-Pope and Melody Lee, but I can appreciate the album as a whole. These Hands and Plan 9 Channel 7 stray à little to far off the punk path, but the rest are great! Splendid way to end 2024!
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
If you skip the godawful opener and the unlistenable closer, you’re left with a rather decent album. Great guitaring and bassing. Unfortunately, almost half the album is left on the two aforementioned atrocities, so I won’t be shouting the its praise from the rooftops anytime soon.
Fiona Apple
2/5
I faintly remember really liking Tidal, but I can’t stand this one. No memorable songs, maybe except for Cosmonauts, lots of jazz-influence on the vocals, which I don’t like. It might be a good and important album, but it’s not for me
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
3/5
Nice background music for a dinner party, but not antything I would actively seek out.
Björk
3/5
I seem to like the idea of, and the artist Björk, better than her music. I really like her eccentricity and she’s got a great voice. The album starts with the banging Human Behaviour, and that’s the absolute highlight, along with Come to Me. Not too much into clubbing.
Travis
3/5
Even though the album is bland, unoriginal and rather boring most of the time, it has a good production, and none of the songs are bad, per se. There are even a couple of nice songs, not including Why Does it Always Rain on Me.
The Associates
2/5
Most songs are horrible, but track 7 and 8 were quite decent. Not a big fan of post punk, it seems.
David Bowie
3/5
All in all a quite good album, but it didn’t hit me in the same way that Hunky Dory did. Lady Grinning Soul is my favourite by far
Jurassic 5
3/5
All over a high quality rap album. Flows well and despite its length, I don’t tire of it until the last two tracks. Lacks real highlights, though, so it's a strong 3-star album
Beatles
3/5
Moments of brilliance surrounded by unfinished business and mere ideas
Burning Spear
3/5
Rather cool album, but as with most reggae, most of the songs blend into each other. It’s not an advantage for the album that it’s winter, dark, cold and lots of snow
Femi Kuti
3/5
Danceable, if I only knew how to dance… I like the instruments and the female backing vocals. I don’t like the length of the songs and the album, and it’s not the kind of music I’d actively listen to.
Daft Punk
2/5
Great music for clubbing, which I don’t like. Terrible music for couch surfing, which I thoroughly enjoy. Each track sounds like they had one really good idea, but decided to exhaust that idea for 7-8 minutes until they were sure that everyone was annoyed
Beastie Boys
5/5
Excellent beats, great trade-off rapping, unbeatable sampling! New things to discover for every listen, and I still haven’t unwrapped everything
2/5
Starts promising, but the songwriting is not up to scratch. The last half of the album is really dull, not danceable at all, and I don’t feel the soul. Too much sax in the monitor
Motörhead
4/5
This is what rock n’ roll is about! Not every song is high class songwriting in the vein of the title track and Roadcrew, so I can’t quite five it.
Eminem
4/5
KISS
4/5
More of a Bob Ezrin album than a KISS album, but still rather good. Even though I consider this one to be the weakest of their classic first six studio albums, there are a lot of classics here. The opening trio alone is enough for three stars, and when you hear Shout it Out Loud and Flaming Youth as well, you know you’re onto a a winner. The horrible chorus of Do You Love Me and Beth drags it down to a four
Songhoy Blues
3/5
I really don’t understand all the comparisons to Ali Farka, just because they share his last name. Songhoy Blues is a lot more western sounding, taking more inspiration from 50’s rock n’ roll than blues. And it’s not half bad. Mostly western rn’r with that cool call/response vocals that seem to be à western african thing (I don’t have enough knowledge to state it confidently). Don’t think I’ll ever listen to the album again, but I didn’t hate it. I even liked Petit Métier quite a bit
Arcade Fire
3/5
Intervention is an excellent song! So why are most of the other tracks so nondescript and dull? At times there are glimpses of greatness, but for the most part, the songs just plodd on. Like Antichrist, wicht coule be décent, but is at least two minutes too long. 3 stars for 4-song run that starts with Intervention and ends with The Well And The Lighthouse and the excellent production
Roxy Music
2/5
I liked the sax and the bass at the end of Out of the Blue. In fact, the sax player saves the rating. Because I didn't like the songs on this album. I mean, there's nothing to grab me, they are just songs. They just exist.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
After a quick glance on the cover photo, I expected to hate the album and was ready to 2-star it right away. Although it wasn’t as horrible as I’d thought, I never became really invested in many of the songs either. I don’t mind the Thom Yorke-ish vocals.
His phrasing is tiresome at length, though. I like the harmonies on the opening track. The panning on Vicious World is terribly annoying!
But hey, how good is Go Or Go Ahead? Instant hit, and the only really good song on the album
Iggy Pop
2/5
The last Stooges album: Excellent.
Lust for Life, released later the same year: Some classic songs.
This album? Not at all for me. I don’t like postpunk in general and there is none of the Stooges agression nor the Lust for Life catchiness to find on this album. I understand the album’s relevance and influence, but I don’t listen to influence, I listen to good songs
Yes
2/5
Roundabout isn’t half bad, but the rest of the album is. I lost interest quite fast afterwards. This is everything punk rebelled
against.
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
Nirvana
5/5
One of my favourite albums! Here they took the quiet/loud dynamics to new heights. The perfect mix of crunch and pop sensibility.
Underworld
2/5
The first few tracks are decent background music, but as the album goes on and on and on, I start getting annoyed. Will it ever end?
Morrissey
4/5
I remembrer listening to this when it was released, but I don’t remember it being this good! The first mine tracks are well crafted and performed pop songs. However, the last three tracks let the quality dip a bit, so it’s not a stone cold classic
Stan Getz
3/5
Not the world's biggest bossanova fan, but I don't mind it either. Ok background music.
The Who
3/5
Considerably better than Tommy, but still, there are really only 3 good songs here
Stereo MC's
2/5
Sooo monotonous and far too long
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
A really fun, over the top, bluesy and theatrical album. Guess they were brilliant live, but no matter how influential they were, the album doesn't quite cut it.
Gary Numan
3/5
This kind of music is normally not my jam, but I have to admit I kind of liked it. Minimalistic synth based songs with thin, punk-ish vocals. A whole album is too much, though. It is rather monotonous.
Best songs: M.E. and Cars
4/5
Great A-side, okay B-side, which ends with one of their best songs ever
Bob Dylan
4/5
I shouldn't like this album. I really shouldn't. But here I am, halfway through the album, nodding along and only finding track 2 and 7 skipworthy. It can't last, can it? Not quite. The "C-side" of the album is maybe my least favourite, with only Absolutely Sweet Marie standing out. And around then I start to tire a little. It's a really long album. And then comes the Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands and reels me in. All the standouts elevates it to a 7/10.
Brian Eno
1/5
Not an unpleasant listen, but a completely unnecessary listen
Wilco
3/5
It’s well produced, well written and well played, but it’s nothing special. And it’s way too long.
Edit. Disc 2 is horribly boring and almost drags it down one star
Screaming Trees
3/5
This is a good melodic rock album which makes a pleasant listening experience. However, it very rarely is a really good album, like in Sworn and Broken and Witness. Therefore 3 solid stars, wouldn’t mind revisiting it later on
Willie Nelson
3/5
The sparse production lets Willie’s voice shine, and the story becomes more prominent. Unfortunately, most of the album is in the same tempo and except for Hands Behind the Wheel (which is fantastic) and the title track, no songs really stand out.
Lou Reed
4/5
A really good album up until and including Satelite of Love. Then it takes a nosedive and only I’m So Free is listenable among the last four. 7/10
Death In Vegas
3/5
I really liked the first track, but quickly lost interest. There are cool parts here and there, and I think I could appreciate it in the right circumstances, but I don’t want to listen to downbeat electronica infused with rock influences, like a more exciting Portishead or a rougher Gorillaz right now. Broken Little Sister wants to be Sonic Youth, and that’s not the worst thing to want to be
Everything But The Girl
2/5
Chill triphop that is well produced and with a great vocalist. And incredibly boring, I might add. Will not listen again unless I decide to spend some time at a posh coffee house
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Best Stones album on the list so far. After the first two tracks I was convinced er dere talking about a classic, but the Shake Your Hips happened and they went back to their normal selves with some great songs and a lot of filler. Apart from the mentioned tracks, I really enjoyed Sweet Black Angel and Shine a Light. 6/10.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Their debut is a solid 5, and this, their second album, is even better. Classic riff after classic riff
Kraftwerk
3/5
Super strange and super repetitive. But not an unpleasant listen. Some tracks (We Are The Robots, The Model) were actually quite catchy. I will not listen to the whole album again in its entirety, though.
Rod Stewart
2/5
My god, this was a boring album! I understand why the Maggie May album is included on this list, but this one? Totally nondescript
Mariah Carey
1/5
I understand that Mariah Carey is on the list, but I don’t understand why they didn’t include the Ken Lee-album, which is far superior. This was a horrible listen
Lambchop
3/5
Good production, good arrangements, not so good songs, and a little boring, but enough variety to deserve 3 stars
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
The B-side is flawless and the A-side is rather good. By far the best Bob Marley-album on the list
Blondie
4/5
A really good pop album, where the only real song is the sixth track. The rest are enjoyable. Of course I knew that Hanging on the Telephone and Heart of Glass were bangers, but 11:59 and the great Buddy Holly cover were nice discoveries as well.
Btw, check out the original version of … Telephone as well. Didn’t realise it was a cover un til today
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
Very uneven album. Some cool new wave-ish tracks with a dark undertone, some happy bouncy tracks, and a lot of dross. The worst part is that it drags on too long. Far too long. And the last two tracks, 25 minutes in all, are in the end what drags it down to a two
Robbie Williams
3/5
Much better than I expected. Angels shines more than usual in the context of the album, and it makes me appreciate Let Me Entertain You more. The (for me) deep cuts are a varied bunch of nice Beatlesy pop (Killing Me, One of God’s Better People), Oasis throwaways (South of the border, Old Before I Die, Lazy Days), uptempo rockishers (Life Through A Lens) and nondescript tracks, as you'd expect. The production is slick and rather soulless, but it works on tracks like Ego Agogo, where the brass and hammond really adds to what is otherwise a really mid track.
The Triffids
2/5
After reading all the negative reviens, I wanted to be a contrarian and actively looked for positives om the album. Well, tracks 9 and 10 are listenable. The rest of the album is dull new wave-ish pop with both production, vocals and especially song writing being below par. Nothing much going on here, on to the next!
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
A really good album! But it's a little too long. I get tired by the time there are 3-4 tracks left.
Hugh Masekela
2/5
76 minutes of instrumental impro-jazz to start the week? Now that’s just fuckin’ great! I have to admit I really like a lot of the main themes in the songs. Therefore it is a shame that they improvise away from them most of the time. I have found out throughout this project that I hate impro with a passion.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
There are no indications that I should like this album. Dated soundscape, cheesy casios, annoying vocals and it all is kind of boring. Still, I find myself, not exactly enjoying, but more tolerating the album. So Hard is a good song, and there are only two songs I dislike, track 4 and 6. Well, I guess people change
Marty Robbins
3/5
This is real country music! Not by ant menas great music, but sturdy, solid well played. What you see is what you get. A few more spins, and I’ll find myself humming along to quite a few tracks here
The Icarus Line
3/5
This album is a little all over the place! Some garage rock, some Soundgarden-ish, some post-hardcore, some noise. I like them best doing post hardcore, as in tracks 6 and 7. The opening two tracks are also quite good. But all in all, it’s not an album I’ll be visiting frequently, if at all
Arcade Fire
3/5
Third and final album on the list from AF, and even though they have moments of greatness, their albums are too uneven to be huge highlights of listening experience. City With No Children, Month of May and Sprawl II are the best tracks. 3/3 3-star albums
Rush
3/5
What I like about this album: Great bass work. Some cool riffs (in particular the one in «A Passage to Bangkok). Great solos.
What I dislike about this album: No really good songs. The first track, which is only one track because the bloke ego master ed the album couldn’t be bothered separating the disjointed pièces of music and tuning i to several tracks. I really should rate this album two stars, but the musicianship tips it to the band’s favour
The Gun Club
2/5
I really like the first track, as it is quite punky and raw, but I don’t care much for the blues, and there is too much blues and racket on this album, and not enough songs like Black Train
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Kind of taken aback by how much I enjoyed this album. Good songs all the way through and a lot «rougher» than I expected. Cross-Tie Walker could have been a Cramps song, while Sinister Purpose wouldn’t sound out of place on a Hellacopters album
The Beach Boys
3/5
I really like the A-side, bit I’m not as big a fan of their slower songs on the B-side, which are mostly boring, with the exception of She Knows Me Too Well. 6/10
The Strokes
3/5
Bought it not long after the release to hear what the hype was, but I guess I've played the CD only a handful times, as I was not very impressed. Rather underwhelmed now more than 20 years later. A-side is mostly boring, most of the good songs make a late appearance.
Miles Davis
3/5
Jazz. Smooth, cool, laidback. Not doing it for me at all
Christine and the Queens
2/5
This album does have its qualities, and some of the songs are quite easy on the ear. But they are not very interesting. La Marcheuse is the best of the bunch, but there are no real highlights
Koffi Olomide
2/5
When getting albums like this, I feel really un-cultured and some may call me narrow minded. I just don’t like this kind of music. I get that there are some nice danceable rhytms, and the music makes me smile from time to time. However, the songs are far too long and I lose interest about halfway through them
Madonna
2/5
I’ve always hated the title track, and the other songs are mostly worse. Only Amazing, with its Foo Fighters-like/lite chorus, and Gone prevent this album from getting the lowest score. Horrible album
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Immigrant song is a classic and Tangerine is great. Since I’ve Been Loving You quite a track. The first half is pretty solid in all. However, I’m not a fan of the vocals. He sings great and has a great voice, but I don’t think they sound good, and that’s why I’ll probably never listen to the album in its entirety again.
Talking Heads
2/5
Not my cup of tea. There is some cool playing and I don't mind the vocals, but they don't fit with the music. I really liked Air, though, which I haven't seen anyone mention as a standout track. Heaven is just plain boring
Christina Aguilera
3/5
Surprisingly good pop album! The songs hold a consistently high quality throughout, and the variation in styles makes the (too) long runtime seem less unbearable than I feared. I’m not too into RnB though, so songs like Loving Me 4 Me make my annoyed&bored-muscle twitch. A solid 6/10
Public Enemy
4/5
Hard Hitting Hip Hop! From their three albums on the list, I’ve learned that I really like Public Enemy
Minutemen
2/5
I’m a big fan of punk music. However, I absolutely despise jazz and funk. This album was more jazz and funk than punk and I really hated it. Terrible vocals, annoying bass lines, awfully busy guitar. There is not a single mémorable song on this album
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
The music is rather good, a nice blend of soul and funk, but I don't like a single song on the album. Two stars is too harsh, but I don't feel it's good enough for three.
4/5
Oasis aren’t as bad as some people claim. But neither are they as good as others think. This is not as good as their debut, and it has that godawful Wonderwall, but there are still a few quality tunes, such as Some Might Say, Hello and Don’t Look Back in Anger (which I’m still not tired of). Wonderwall almost drags it down to 3 stars, but almost never cut it.
Nirvana
5/5
One of my all time favourite albums. Excellent mix of originals and brilliant cover choices.
Bob Dylan
2/5
The album starts off great with one of his best songs. Tjen the album continues in the exact same vein, but with lesser songs. Track 6 and 7 are ok, but there is not much variety and the songs just pass one after another, and when you think the album is finished, there are still 3-4 songs left
The Vines
3/5
The Vines mix a lot of genres on this album. The first track is grunge, the second is britpop and the third is garage rock. Later on The Beatles come for a visit, bringing their indie cousin. I don’t mind a bit of variety/stealing, but the songs really aren’t that good. And in the end that’s what it’s all about. 5/10
Aretha Franklin
4/5
A huge surprise! I really vibed with this album, from the excellent opener Respect, to the majestic closer. A couple of songs were a little below average, but for the most part, this album is sublime soul with Aretha's awesome vocals in the forefront.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
No really bad songs no really good songs decent but hardly essential
Beatles
5/5
Pure pop perfection. Impeccable harmonies, infectious choruses and the first two tracks have even better bridges! I am surely in the minority here, but I think this is better than both Revolver and Abbey Road. Yeah, I said it.
Drive-By Truckers
2/5
They are probably good at what they do, but southern rock is not my thing, so I didn’t enjoy much of this album. Guitar Man Upstairs and Shut Up and Get on The Plane, the two more boogie-ish tracks, are décent and prevent the lowest score
Grateful Dead
3/5
I don’t understand the greatness of this album, as there are no songs I feel like relistening to. But I don’t hate it either. Ok backgroundmusic 5/10
Neil Young
3/5
Décent album with a couple of bangers (Heartbreak of Gold, Words, Old Man). I don’t mind Neil Young’s voice, but it doesn’t have the strength to carry songs like A Man Needs a Maid. Slightly boring overall
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Once again I’m taken by surprise, but this time it’s from an 80s pop album. The first six tracks are excellent and well crafted pop songs. The album dips in quality for the last four tracks, but the first six make up for it in a way. 7/10
The Pogues
4/5
Good fun album! No really bad songs, but I prefer when they speed it up a little. Best track: Sally MacLennane
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Klaxons
3/5
Quite good and competent danceable indie-garage-rock-pop. The swinging beats and basslines separate them from the boring pack, but it is only almost there. It is telling that (IMO) their best song is a cover
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
The first four tracks and Freebird are really good, but the three in between drag down the quality considerably
Coldplay
3/5
The hits on this one are actually quite good, even of they’re really overplayed and slightly boring. The deep cuts are just boring.
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
I like the opening track, Waiting on a Sunny Day and Further on (Up the Road). But they are only three songs on a seemingly endless album filled with boring.
Santana
2/5
Not my cup of tea. It see med like one long song of guitar noodling over latin rhytms with some random singing from time to time
Nitin Sawhney
2/5
Long album without any highlights
The Verve
2/5
This is what it would sound like of Colin Robinson were to start a band influenced by Oasis and REM. Except for the chorus in Sonnet, there wasn’t much to enjoy. The songs dragged on for way too long
The Clash
5/5
One of the best debut albums of all time. Raw, melodic and fun. White Riot is a such a singalong anthem!
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
Most of the digital rhytms we are served by these french act are repetitive and annoying. Some tracks even make me angry. Then again, we have Soft Machine, which is surprisingly rocking and good, and Hypnotise, which is almost catchy. These are in the minority, though.
Scissor Sisters
3/5
Better than expected! Quite fun, danceable and easy listening. Track 2 and 4 even remind me of Elton John. Their cover of Comfortably Numb is atrocious, but I respect them for doing their own thing. Not something that will overflow my playlists, but it’s decent entertainment for a night
Ghostface Killah
4/5
This is one of the best rap albums I’ve heard! The rapping is in your face, the beats slap hard and the production is great! The only thing I mind is the length. The album is so intensive that it wears
me down about 3/4 down. I’ll revisit this for sure!
Violent Femmes
5/5
Fun and earnest album. Cool basslines, energetic, stripped down, nice melodies, good songs. 10 years later most bands would try to copy this album, they were really ahead of their time. The only song I don’t like is To The Kill, so I guess it’s five stars then?
David Bowie
2/5
This is not the Bowie I like and I’m not a Brian Eno fan. This is an album I’ve listened to for the first, the second and the last time. Warszawa is such a drag to get through!
Prefab Sprout
2/5
The first two tracks were decent 80s pop. The rest of the songs were horrible 80s pop, without hooks.
PJ Harvey
3/5
Cool sound and overall attitude, a little lacking in the song writing department. Tracks 1, 8 and 10 being welcome exceptions
The Stooges
4/5
We Will Fall is an overlong, horrible, horrible track. The rest of the album is really cool garagey proto punk.
Iron Maiden
5/5
This is not up to the level of some of their later albums, like Number of The Beast and Piece of Mind. Still, I really like this one. First of all, there is not a single bad song here. Also, Paul DiAnno's voice is a much better fit to the raw and at times punkish material than Bruce. You can in retrospect hear that this is the rough beginnings of something that will develop and become more grandiose and epic. You can also see the first little hints of what will become in Remember Tomorrow and Phantom of the Opera.
Taking the cultural impact the album had into consideration, I can't help but handing out another 5-stars to Maiden.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Decent toe-tapping dad rock. Little variation within each song, which makes them sound longer than they are. The title track seems to go on forever. Dancing in the Dark is the only really good song, but there really aren’t any bad songs, just eventless ones
Todd Rundgren
2/5
So many songs, so many different types of genre. Really impressive that Todd did 3/4 of the album all alone. Unfortunately, none of the songs are any good
The Beta Band
2/5
This is the second album by this band that’s been generated so far, and I still don’t know why this band is included at all. It’s not horribly bad, it’s just not good at all. Pointless inclusion!
TV On The Radio
2/5
I’ll never, ever call Coldplay boring again…
Just like The Beta Band, TV on the Radio have two albums om the list. Just like The Beta Band, there is no reason whatsoever, that TV on the Radio should appear on the list at all
The Pogues
4/5
This album is great fun! If you have this, you don't need any "Greatest Irish Drinking Songs" compilation, because these are the greatest Irish drinking songs. Except for the last song.
Eagles
2/5
One classic song, followed by a decent song, followed by a load of rubbish
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
1/5
Sorry for being narrowminded and uncultured, but I didn’t like listening to this at all
Lou Reed
3/5
It was an ok album with a bleak subject matter, but the songs didn’t really engagé me in any way. It’s nice to listen to, but not much more
John Martyn
2/5
Hated the vocals, and the coffee-table-jazz and blues influenced singer/songwriter-music didn’t do much to rectify the situation.
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
I liked this a whole lot more than I’d thought. Except for the skits, there are no bad tracks. The beats and rhymes are excellent and it’s quite catchy at times.
Fav tracks: Everyday Struggle and Respect
ZZ Top
3/5
Decent enough southern blues rock, but it seems that the way to listen to ZZ Top is to listen to a compilation.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Baaba Maal
1/5
Not for me. Had a hard time finishing the album. Some nice call/response-chant in the first track, but it was never revisited. One track had nice harmonies, none of the other tracks had that. Some driving group chanting at the end of one track. Not anywhere else.
Didn’t like the instrumentation, and none of the tracks were memorable
The Beach Boys
3/5
Is this the most overrated album ever? God, how most of the songs drag! Track 2-6 is a snoozefest beyond compare, as are the last 3. The remaining 5 songs are good good real good, though
Blur
3/5
Too much filler among the killers
OutKast
4/5
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
Not bad at all, but I can't really notice much variation throughout the album. In stark contrast to the Outkast album I got yesterday. Almost twice as long, but still seemed about the same length
Megadeth
5/5
This is the album where Megadeth's riff machine and technical expertise was combined with catchy songs, making one of the best thrash albums ever. Oh, and the solos! I feel sorry for every album that doesn't have an opening double as good as Holy War/Hangar 18. Tornado of Souls, what a song!
Air
3/5
Positively surprised! Many decent tracks, Dirty Trips and Dead Bodies were really good, but too many tracks were more interlude-like.
I like the consistently dark mood of the album
Michael Jackson
3/5
The opening track is quite good, but the chorus is too "nagging", in a way. You can't really fault the excellent trio of songs in the middle, but I'm not a fan of the other half of the album. I like Bad far more than this one.
The Go-Go's
4/5
It would be easy to write off this band as the token easy pop girl group inclusion, and I has that impression too. Until Lust to Love reached my ears. I went back to start with refreshed, unbiased ears, and was really impressed. Both the playing, songwriting and production is on point. And the run from track 2-7 is not easily beaten.
The United States Of America
3/5
So weird, so eclectic, so ahead of their time. There are some horrible tracks here, but 4-7 + 9 are really good psychedelic pop songs. Best tracks: Where is Yesterday and Stranded in Time
The KLF
2/5
I don’t like clubbing. Much because I can’t dance, but also because I don’t like the music. After reading about the band, I really wanted to like it, but I couldn’t be bothered to spin it another round on youtube
The Thrills
2/5
My god, this was a really boring album! Seems like they’ve watered down ever single one of their influences and put it in a blender with lukewarm milk
Funkadelic
3/5
Excellent guitar work on the first track. Unfortunateøy, the rest of the album doesn’t live up to the standard set by the title track.
Jeff Buckley
3/5
I has no expectations going into this, and was pleasantly surprised by the time I got to the second track, with flavours of Anathema and Radiohead. Unfortunately, as the album went on, it became too much whining.
Best tracks: Grace, Lilas Wine and Lover, You Should’ve Come Over
The War On Drugs
2/5
As many others have said, it’s the same drumbeat on almost every song. The songs go on and on with little to no variation. It’s simply boring
David Bowie
3/5
The title track is one of Bowie’s best songs. It goes on for over 10 minutes, and it never feels dragging. Word on the Wing is also really good, with a strong vocal performance. I also have to credit his band for their performance throughout. Wild is The Wind is a strong end to the album.
However, I can’t get into any of the three singles, so all in all it’s a 6/10
Sheryl Crow
3/5
Not as bad as I feared. The first and third track are actually quite well written pop songs with good choruses. I also liked the smooth, jazzy We Do What We Can. I’ve always hated All I Wanna Do, though. And The Na-Na Song was even worse. Horrible song!
All in all a 5/10
Ramones
5/5
The perfect pop record
Dire Straits
3/5
I’ve never liked Dire Straits, not even their singles. However much I hate Walk of Life, you can’t deny its catchiness. And the saxophone on Your Latest Trick really makes the song, which would be worthless without it. The B-side is totally forgettable
5/10
Randy Newman
2/5
Horrible vocals which ruin any potential enjoyment I’d otherwise have from the songs. Not that I think I’d like the cabaret-sounding songs with a better singer. Don’t see the greatness in this at all. No favourite songs
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
Salsa isn’t my kind of music, and I’ll never listen to the album again. But I has a good time listening to this, it is nice summer weather and life is good
N.W.A.
4/5
Cool album, hard beats!
The Smiths
3/5
4/5
Grandiose and over-indulgent, and I like it! At least most of it. Starlight is an obvious highlight, but the triple treat of tracks 6-8 is also a really nice gift
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
This album is bleak! But it's a collection of really good songs. However, it's on the lengthy side, so I get tired at the end.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
It’s ok, isn’t it? Like his debut better, though. Oliver’s Army and Goon Squad are good. And mots of great bassing all over
Scritti Politti
2/5
The opening track is a little fun. The rest is anything but
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Great production! The studio musicians are excellent and there is a good variety in the songwriting. But I don’t like the songs at all. Not one of them. 5/10
Stephen Stills
2/5
Stills was so happy with his songs that he had to release a double album. Yet, none of the songs are memorable.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
It’s hard to rate this album as, track by track, I wouldn’t rate any higher than a 3. But as an album, it flows well with a seamless transaction of the different genres. It works as an entity. So even if I will probably never listen to it again, it deserves a four.
Solange
2/5
I don’t think I needed to listen to this
The Charlatans
2/5
Oasis on Temu
Radiohead
2/5
I like Radiohead, but they lost me on this one. Knives Out prevents one single star.
Nico
2/5
I don’t like the production nor the arrangements. Most of the songs are quite forgettable as well, and Nico’s voice is an acquired taste. However, I really like the two first tracks + Chelsea Girls.
Mercury Rev
2/5
Incredibly boring album, and on some songs the singer decides to use an annoying voice as well. Track 8 is quite catchy and 2:15 into the ninth track, they impress with some nice musical skills. The rest is nondescript
Big Star
3/5
Decent 70s rock. No more, no less
Gram Parsons
3/5
The harmonies with Emmylou Harris are beautiful. Unfortunately, not all the songs are as good. I really like the opening and closing track, as well as a couple of others. That leaves half the album with songs I don't care for.
Electric Light Orchestra
3/5
Much better than I festes. Great production, fantastic arrangements, a lot of good songs, but there really is no heart. I don’t feel the songs, I just hear them
Hüsker Dü
3/5
There is a great album hidden here, but instead they had to fill the album with every song they wrote. A double album is not a good idea when most of the songs follow pretty much the same formula, even if it's a good one.
The Beau Brummels
2/5
The first two tracks lull me into thinking that we're dealing with a decent folk record. From there on, it gets worse with every track. The Dylan-esque vocals start to grate the ears. "It will never be betteeeeeer". And despite the short running time of less than half an hour, it seems like the album is more than an hour long.
Miriam Makeba
2/5
Once again, when facing non-western music, I’m standing left as the uncultured ignorant. I simply don’t like the music. I can appreciate her vocal prowess, even if I dislike her shrilling highs. I also appreciate hearing what later became «The Lion Sleeps Tonight», and prefer this version. Other highlights include the chorus of the opener and the fascinating Click Song. However, I dislike most of the songs, particularly the Flea Song and the laughing duet.
Barry Adamson
2/5
Well. He manages to create an album with different moods fitting a mobile. It’s also quite good variation. However, I didn’t particularly enjoy listening to it, and I will never listen to it again
Primal Scream
1/5
I'd only heard the song "Rocks" by the band before, and this album is far away from that song. Except for the Mick Jagger influenced vocals that appear throughout. The songs are super long and super repetitive and I hated every second of it.
Ice T
3/5
Not a bad album, but not many certified bangers either. And it drags on a bit too long. Love the Black Sabbath samples in Midnight and the Body Count preview
Love
3/5
Brilliant opener, but the rest of the album, while well arranged and written, is sadly more forgettable. Would be better with more hooks.
On second listen, the strings and horns are amazing. Would still like better hooks, though.
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
This album is a given inclusion on the list. Doesn’t mean I have to like it
The Soft Boys
4/5
I like The Soft Boys the most when they play pop punky tracks in the vein of Buzzcoks and The Undertones, such as in tracks 1, 3 and 6. Queen of Eyes with its 60s pop sound is also an obvious highlight. I don’t like The Soft Boys when they play Old Pervert. God, how I hated that song!
The Specials
3/5
I like the A-side. The B-side is almost unlistenable
Muddy Waters
2/5
Not big on the blues, unfortunately. I understand its influence and importance, but everything sounds similar and I get bored. Uneducated, I guess
John Prine
2/5
I’ve been positively surprised by the other country albums on the list, as I thought I hated the genre. A few of them haven’t been half bad, though. This one, however, was a chore to get through. The vocals have the same nasal tone throughout, and none of the songs bring any highlights or joy.
Adele
4/5
Surprisingly good. Great voice, comfortable and well crafted pop songs. Someone Lile You is immense
Giant Sand
2/5
I don’t understand the inclusion of the list. It’s so incredibly boring and nondescript
Mike Oldfield
3/5
Impressing, considering he was only 19
when he made this and played most of the instruments himself. Unfortunately, I only appreciated parts of both tracks, and will probably never listen to it again.
Bad Brains
4/5
Like the style and you can’t underestimate its influence, but the songs aren’t quite 5-standard
Wild Beasts
3/5
Quite interesting and varied music. But that one singer’s falsetto is ruining the first half of the album
Cowboy Junkies
2/5
If I havent’t rated the album yet, it means I’m still sleeping
The White Stripes
4/5
In general a really good rock album, with a little duo in quality midway through
The Residents
1/5
This is weird. I can appreciate weird, like Butthole Surfers, but I had a hard time listening to the entire album in one sitting, in spite of its short running time.
Finley Quaye
2/5
I like the sound and the production. I don’t like the songs. With the exception of Sunday Shining and Supreme I Preme, which were rather nice
Def Leppard
3/5
Quite a few good songs, but the album is tarnished by the slick production and overall softness. Also, outside of the singles, there isn’t much to root for. Album is at least 20 minutes too long
2Pac
3/5
Not a bad album, just too long and too much of the same. Not really my kind of rap either
The Stooges
4/5
Raw and dirty sounding rock, the way it’s meant to sound! Search&destroy and Raw Power are mainstays. However, 3/8 songs are mid (Tracks 4, 6 and 8), which means it’s only a strong 4 stars
The Divine Comedy
2/5
I can’t be arsed writing a proper review for this album
Kid Rock
2/5
Bawitdaba is a certified banget, and prevents the album from receiving a lonely star. Only God Knows Why might be the worst song I’ve ever heard
Kate Bush
3/5
Crowded House
3/5
Some nice melodies spread throughout the album, most notably "Four Seasons in A Day", but all in all, it didn't excite me much
Funkadelic
3/5
So much great groove and playing going on! But I don’t like the songs very much at all, unfortunately
White Denim
2/5
Good at their instruments, bland at songwriting
The xx
2/5
I was not looking forward to this after hacking heard their other album on the list. However, this was much more varied, has better songs and was all in all a nicer listening experience. Still not my kind of music, but at least parts of it were actualité listenable
Paul Revere & The Raiders
4/5
Listening to this album is like listening to a Nuggets or Teenage Shutdown compilation. Garage-y, psychedelic and poppy. Not every song is a winner, but the two first tracks and tracks 6-7 are really strong. Love the Cramps-like solo on track 2
Steve Winwood
1/5
Oh my, I didn’t enjoy this album. Everything that was wrong about the 80s crammed into one album. I was prepared to hand out a generous two stars, but it just went on and on for what seemed like an eternity, with no redeeming qualities, and mase me angry, scared, frustrated and borderline suicidal. Utter crap!
Incubus
4/5
Billy Bragg
3/5
Decent album with a nice collection of songs. New Brunette and Power in a Union stand out, the rest just exist, in a mostly positive way.
4/5
A really good rock album. Except for a little dip in the middle of the album, it stats consistently good throughout. Starman is one of the best songs ever written. 8/10
The Rolling Stones
2/5
I really don’t like the blues, and here we find mostly blues covers. Contrary to most others, it seems, I actualily think their sole original is the best tune, along with their cover of Carol, which is fast and fun.
Bebel Gilberto
2/5
This album is so boring that I wouldn’t even consider it for background music
SZA
2/5
The Stone Roses
3/5
Better than I’d expected, thinking it’d be some dull pub rock band. Quite decent britpopindierock, but none of the tunes really grab me.
Machito
1/5
Instrumental samba-ish jazz with the trumpet as a prominent instrument. You really can’t win if that’s the starting point
LL Cool J
3/5
Not bad, but not my cup of rap. Not enough variation
Dead Kennedys
5/5
One of the best punk albums ever made
Aerosmith
3/5
Title track is the best song here, showing from where Guns n’ Roses (or mostly Slash) took their inspiration. Unfortunately, none of the other songs are as uptempo, but Walk This Way and Sweet Émotion are still quite good. Tracks 2, 3 and 7 are decent, I don’t really like the rest. Especially Big 10 inch is baaaad.
Tim Buckley
3/5
More folk, yeay… Well, I rather likes tracks 1 and 3, hated the circus track, rather indifferent to the rest.
5/10
Tom Waits
4/5
I quite like this. Weird, varied and fascinating. It makes me want to listen to it later on, to really get into it. A little too long, though.
Best track: Hang Down Your Head
Jamiroquai
2/5
Jamiroquai. The man with the funny hats and cool music video who don’t have any really good songs. Funky and danceable but unmemorable. Creds for the Revolution song
Pere Ubu
3/5
The opening track, despite its ear-deafening shrilling noise at the start, is a drivingly good punk track in the vein of Dickies. It continues like this for the first half of the album. Great songs spiced with weirdness. The tracks on the second half aren’t as good, weirdness without the songs to back it, but the bass and drums keep a high standard throughout.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
2/5
Nice harmonies and it’s easy to the ears. However, it’s very samey, both across the album and within each track. No variation at all
The Stooges
4/5
Cool and raw. I can appreciate chaotic up to a certain level, but the final two tracks are a little too much. 1970 is far and away the best track here
Simply Red
2/5
Heaven is half decent. Elsewhere there really isn’t much to enjoy
TLC
2/5
One of my least favourite genres, and I only remember Waterfalls and a lot of horniness after listening to this
The Mamas & The Papas
2/5
California Dreamin’ is in a league of its own. Tracks 1 and 11 are decent, and in spite of the pretty harmonies, I find the rest of the album boring
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
Good album with a really cool vibe. What drags it down are the two unnecessary instrumentals at the end, and the consequential too long running time. This kind of music warrants a 40-50 min album.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
1/5
This was awfully hard to get through. The vocals were not to my kiling at all, and the songs sounded like they were made up on the spot. The last part were like Kurt Cobain’s home demos, which we know were never intended to be released. But even there we could hear that Sappy had the potential. None of that exists here
Patti Smith
3/5
Quite good, rather cool, very influential, but not something I’ll voluntarily revisit in the future.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
I really liked the Exodus album, but with the exception of Stir it Up, I can’t see nydelig returning to any of the songs on this album. For me, this is an example of generic reggae.
Os Mutantes
3/5
This is the good kind of weird, which just gets better for each listen. Much more interesting than 13th Floor Elevators, miming 60s psychedelia with latin rhytms and general weirdness.
I wouldn’t put on any of these songs individually, but as an album it is quite the journey
Ministry
4/5
This is a really good album. Riffs aplenty, thundering drums, Slayeresque solos, Motorheadish songs, tongue in cheek lyrics and a lot of oomph. It fades in quality by the end, so I’ll given it four healthy stars
Ice Cube
3/5
Janis Joplin
3/5
Metallica
5/5
Is this the best album ever? I might think so
Le Tigre
4/5
Cool album with a punky attitude. With there were even more squealing and uptempo songs like the opener and The the Empty
AC/DC
4/5
A really good A-side gives way to an ok B-side. No bad tracks on the second half, but they don’t quite reach the rock n roll boner standard of tracks like Highway to Hell and Touch Too Much. All in all a solid album
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
Calm and chill album with nice harmonies. Slightly boring, though
Taylor Swift
3/5
Surprisingly good until Bad Blood is done. Then the songs start to lack any real substance or trace of quality.
Sleater-Kinney
4/5
Cool attitude, cool sound, great voice! Not every song is top notch, but the tail ends are great
The Byrds
3/5
I like the Byrds better when they don’t meddle with country. If I want to listen to country, I’d rather have some old Willie Nelson, Marty Robbins or Dolly Parton. There are a couple of good songs here, like The Christian Life and You’re Still on My Mind, but overall it’s slightly too boring. Then suddenly Nothing Was Delivered ends the ball by being the best song by far, and earns the album 3 stars
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Another solid album from Nick Cave! I didn’t think I’d like him as well as I do. There are no certified bangers, but except from the last song, every track is one that I’d happily listen to over and over.
ABBA
4/5
The Style Council
2/5
Lots of different styles on this album, but in my opinion only tracks 4 and 5 work well. The rest is mostly a mess
Alice Cooper
3/5
Quite good glamrock album, quite far removed from the Poison and Trash Alice Cooper I grew up with. I loved the title track and No More Mr Nice Guy, but none of the other tracks made a solid impression on me
Miles Davis
3/5
I don’t like jazz. However, this type of jazz is much easier on the ear than the Duke Ellington kind of jazz. Not bad, I just never need to listen to it again
Ray Price
2/5
As a person not immersed into the world of country, there have been a few country albums I’ve enjoyed surprisingly well during this project, such as Marty Robbins, Nitte Gritty and Dolly Parton. This one, however, is too «nice» and one dimensional. I can’t really tell the songs apart. Not too keen on the vocals either.
Radiohead
4/5
Gearing up to OK Computer, with a lot of good songs
Lucinda Williams
2/5
Country flavoured singer/songwriter pop with no outstanding qualities. On a 50 minute album as well. I was extremely borde listening to this. By track 4 I thought I was halfway through. It turned out I wasn’t.
Not unpleasant though, so an extra star for that.
M.I.A.
3/5
Yes, it’s annoying. Yes, it sounds like she’s singing naughty nursery rhymes in the choruses. Yes, everything sounds the same. Still, there’s no denying the danceability of the beats and the catchiness. It makes me smile, so why not three stars?
Hot Chip
3/5
The opening track is so much better than the others that it’s not even funny. Expected to hate this album, was pleasantly surprised by the opening track. However, I was increasingly bored and annoyed as the album went on
FKA twigs
2/5
Despite being old and grumpy, I really like the production on this album. Every sound and beat sounds clear, clean and distinct. And she’s got a good voice. I just don’t like this kind of music, and after listening through the entire album, I can’t remember a single song.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Great production and it sounds good. But I don’t like the songs very well, and I’m thrown off by his voice. Something about his tone just doesn’t click with me
The Velvet Underground
2/5
Sorry, I don’t do drugs
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
Donald Fagen
2/5
Surely, there’s got to be better music out there? It just exists, nothing sticks out in any way
Teenage Fanclub
4/5
In no way anywhere close to the quality of Nevermind, but nevertheless a nice addition to the world of jangly indie rock. A lot better than expected
Soft Cell
3/5
There are things I like here. Such as the almost punkish style, the vocals (when they hit the right note) and Tainted Love. Except for Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, none of the other songs hit this heights, so all in all it’s a little underwhelming.
Guns N' Roses
5/5
Forget what I’ve said on former reviews. THIS is the best debut of all time.
Every member is at the top of their game, the songwriting is excellent. Except for maybe 3 tracks, every single song here could be a single. Not to mention the guitar tone with just the right amour of grit, impossible to recreate.
It’s been one of my favourite albums for 36 years, and even though I should be sick to death of the radio singles by now, I still get excited when they crank it up on the second part of the lead in Sweet Child O’ Mine.
Favourite Track: Rocket Queen (still gives me goosebumps)
Most underrated track: Think About You
Saint Etienne
2/5
I actuelly liked the first track, so the second track was a massive letdown. From there on there were moments I enjoyed, om particular the 60’s influenced parts and some of the dub parts. However, in the end I tired of the album and wouldn’t revisit again anytime sooner or later
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
2/5
Dull, dull, dull. I was bored from a few seconds into the first track until the album ended. The only positive to take from this album is that it didn’t make enough impression on me to make me hate it with a passion
Nas
3/5
Quite good album. I liked the beats, the flow and the production. It got a little too samey for me after a while, and no tracks really stood out. Could change my mind after a few more listens, but right now it’s a 6/10
CHVRCHES
4/5
This is actually a really good and catchy album. Quite consistent, no really bad songs, but none that make my heart go boom either. It’s a little too much in one sitting
Billy Bragg
3/5
It starts out great with the there best songs on the album. Then Birds and Ships doesn’t quite hit the mark, and Hoodoo Voodoo misses it completely. From there on, only She Came Along to Me, Eisler on the Go and Hesitating Beauty get honorable mentions. The middle part of the album I could do without
Kings of Leon
2/5
If Kings of Leon had à vocalist with a less annoying voice, better songs and a sensé of humour, I would like this a lot better. As it is, I don’t understand the inclusion on the list. Rolling Stones did this better 30-40 years estimer, and even they weren’t very good.
I have to admit I like track 6. It’s got a great chorus. The others are totally forgettable
Cornershop
2/5
Mostly boring. Also, not the version of Brimful of Asha I had in mind. During the last few tracks I just waited for the album to end
Fairport Convention
2/5
One other reviewer said it bored him to tears. I have to add that that this hippie crap was annoying as well. Who Knows Where The Time Goes? Well, in this case it stood still
Magazine
3/5
This album will take some time to get into, I think. Even though Shot By Both Sides is a fantastic song, I prefer Devoto’s work with Buzzcocks,
Prince
3/5
Funky and danceable. The album is quite long, but I never get tired of it. But it’s not something I like. I’ll never listen to it again. I don’t really get Prince, even if I can appreciate the talent. Of all the songs on here, I think I prefer Free
Jane's Addiction
4/5
A really good album with great musicianship and creative songwriting. Just not enough great songs, like Ocean Size, Mountain Song and Jane Says
Fishbone
3/5
I like the variety of genres and the playfulness of the album. I’m not sold on the songs, though. I appreciate the musicianship and them being one of the forerunners in the funk rock movement, but the songs aren’t as good as I’d hopes. They’re at their best when they enter FNM territory, such as in Bonin’ in the Boneyard and Subliminal Fascism
Tricky
2/5
The first third of the album was listenable/tolerable, but the samey beats and lack of hooks made me feel slightly frustrated at the end of the album. I hated the second to last track
The Sugarcubes
3/5
The first half of this album is good, with standout tracks such as Birthday and Mama (which is just breathtaking). The latter half tests my patience quite a bit, as none of the songs are remarkable in any other way than Bjork having a great voice.
Okay new wave album but I’ll just listen to a couple select tracks
Paul Weller
2/5
Music for white, midlle-aged men. I might seem like the target audience, but there was nothing to like. It tries to be everything; some blues, some country, some yacht-rock some pop, but it manages to be nothing. Just a too long album with no memorable songs.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
This is a good collection of calm and relaxing songs. Fit well to my mood today. A little too monotonous to get me really excited, but a nice listen nonetheless.
Beatles
3/5
You can hear that there’s something prewing, notably in It Won’t Be Long, All My Loving and Don’t Bother Me. But they’re not quite there yet
The The
2/5
This is an album of music. None of which I like. just boring songs that seem to last forever, and that I recall nothing of. To quote my review for their other album on the list (yes, they have TWO albums on the list, whereas Tool and Deftones have none): «This kind of music, it’s just not nice. Others might find pleasure in the monotone beats and vocals, and the complete lack of hooks, but I don’t like it at all. Don’t hate enough to give one star, but it’s a weak 2»
Astrud Gilberto
2/5
Inoffensive, uninspired and bland. Too much «dabababa»
The Byrds
3/5
I don’t mind this album at all. Decent 60s pop/psychedelia, but it doesn’t really stand out in any way. Might return to a couple of tracks, though
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
Good album, they don’t make music like this anymore, unless they’re Trevour Blendour or Pat Termite. Unfortunately not enough songs of Oh Boy-quality, but a nice listen nonetheless.
ZZ Top
4/5
I guess this is as good as southern blues rock gets. Excellent guitar work and vocals bordering on metal territory. A couple of duds, but mostly solid tunes
Skunk Anansie
3/5
Actually quite a good rock album, but in all there are too many ballads and filler to give it a really good grade
John Lee Hooker
2/5
I don’t like the blues, but still I don’t get why JLH’s only album on the list is one full of collaborations, and not one of his original music. I wouldn’t like it anyway, just questioning the list.
As I thought, I didn’t like this one bit, except for the track with Bonnie Raitt, which was decent. The worst tracks were, ironically, the last ones where he played alone.
Muddy Waters
3/5
I respect the rawness and "realness" of this album. It has soul and identity. I just don't like the blues.
Brian Eno
2/5
There are some interesting parts scattered throughout the album, but none of the tracks make me want to listen to them again. The non-instrumental tracks are really underwhelming
Joanna Newsom
1/5
This is an impressive album, in the way that the arrangements are inventive and grandiose. The songwriting is original and explorative, and I appreciate that she’s doing something different. That being said, I hated listening to it and I really
disliked her voice
Anita Baker
2/5
Nonplussed. I'm nonplussed as to why this album is included on the list. Okay, it's got good production for the 80s some songs with nice playing and she's got a good voice. But the songs are utter and completely forgettable, and that's a sin, no matter which genre.
Pink Floyd
2/5
I’ve found out that I’m not a fan of psychedelia without hooks, with silly lyrics, annoying panning and nonchalant vocals. That being said, the songs are well written, they just don’t do anything for me.
The Fall
3/5
This album is simultaneously excellent and grating. There are a lot of cool riffs and driving songs. You can hear where Sonic Youth and their ilk got their inspiration. At the same time, there is little variation within the songs. They find something that works and beat it to death
Soul II Soul
1/5
I don’t like to talk bad about music, but I disliked every second of this album. I didn’t find anything to enjoy at all, so we are down to a single star today
Sebadoh
4/5
I’ve never really listened to Sebadoh before, but that’s about to change. I really enjoyed the pop sensibility paired with the jangly or fuzzy guitars, interspersed with some noisy punkers, in the vain of Nirvana’s Incesticide. Would listen again, will listen again
Madonna
4/5
The title track is one of the best pop songs ever. The rest of the album isn’t anywhere near as good, but there are still many well crafted songs here. The only songs I dislike are the Prince duet + tracks 9 and 11.
Pulp
4/5
Solid album. The opening track sets the standard, and except for 2 or 3 mediocre tracks, the album keeps a high standard of songwriting. By first glance/listen it might seem a little stock, but listening closely, you find these subtleties that raise it above standard fare.
Bruce Springsteen
1/5
An absolutely awful album
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
There are moments in most of the songs where you think it’s catchy and cool, but then they exhaust that idea to the point where you can’t stand the part you thought you liked. Repetitive to the point of boredom and neverending songs. Who thought electronic brit pop made by americans was a good idea?
Marianne Faithfull
2/5
Really mid album. Nothing stood out, didn’t really hate anything. Just a slight ennui. 4/10
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this album. Smooth soul like you would find in Blacksploitation movies. And Tarantino ones, with which I am more familiar. So good I listened to it twice in a row, even though this is not my favourite kind of music.
Eric Clapton
2/5
I’ve never liked Eric Clapton songs whenever they’ve popped up on the radio. Furthermore, I’ve always hated every version of I Shot The Sheriff. So, I didn’t have high hopes going into this album. The first track proved me wrong, as it was a poppy and energetic track. The next one was okay. Then my fears were proven right. The next 8 tracks compete in being the most obnoxious or most boring song, with an exception in tracks 7 and 8 which have nice harmonies
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
Christina Aguilera
3/5
Surprisingly good. I’m not big on modern r&b, but this album has good production, great variety - she dabbles in gospel, soul and jazz as well - good songs (Hurt is an all time classic) and a great singer. A double album is too much though. And it’s still modern r&b.
Donovan
2/5
Has an album ever had such a huge dropoff from the first to the second track? Where the opener gave us glimpses of the Nuggets compilation, the second one sucked all the joy out of the afternoon. Something too many of the songs did. Session of the Witch and The Trip give us false hopes before the medieval ballad suit is put back on for one of the dullest songs in the history of mankind.
Elvis Costello
3/5
There are a lot of decent songs on this album, but none of them take the extra step up to real good. Also, it’s too long, and the songs start to blend into each other. I’m one of the few that like Costello’s voice, but after an hour, I’ve had my share. 5/10
The Mothers Of Invention
1/5
Not too fond of humour in music, and not at all humour I don’t find funny. Good music should send shivers down your spine, and not because the sounds are so nasty.
Van Morrison
3/5
After the three first tracks I thought this would be a good album, but the rest of the tracks simply made me bored. It’s okay for this type of music, but it’s not for me. 5/10 for the opening trio
Steely Dan
2/5
I like harmonies, but the Steely kind of harmonies do nothing for me. Too slick and soulless. Much like the music. Not for me
Moby
4/5
If the album had ended with Natural Blues, it would have been a 10/10 album. If it had been 20 minutes shorter, it would still be a 5 star album. Instead, Moby let it drag on for too long, so when the soothing, final track, which should have been a nice and relaxing end to an impeccable album, rang its final tones, I was relieved rather than pleased. Still, the opening half is so strong that 4 stars are warranted
The Stranglers
3/5
I like the sound. Especially the dirty bass that’s really prominent on Goodbye Toulouse. His fingers had to be spent after recording that! Otherwise, the songs are okay, but not something I’d listen to very often.
Suede
4/5
My only knowledge of Suede before listening to this was their hit "Beautiful Ones", which I found okay. So I was pleasantly surprised when listening to this. With the exception of track 10, there wasn't one single song that I truly disliked. Despite the album's long running time, I was never bored, and I even took it for a second spin immediately. The one thing that prevents it from being five stars, is that, even though I enjoy the songs, I can't really remember many of them afterwards. Will listen again.
Favourites: We Are The Pigs, Heroine, New Generation
Jethro Tull
3/5
This album starts strong with two great songs, and it finishes with two even better songs. My God solidifies in the middle. However, in between there is a lot of weirdness, medievialness, flute and boredom.
The Zutons
2/5
Sounded much like a second-rate White Stripes at times. Sounded ok on track seven. Almost fell asleep towards the end
The Birthday Party
3/5
This is weird, noisy postbluespunkrock. I enjoyed the vibe and think that these kind of albums need to be on the list (unlike the Zutons) but can’t see this album returning to regulator rotation anytime in the beat nor distant future
The Cars
4/5
Nice powerpop album. Not overly keen on most of the songs, but Just What I Needed and You’re All I Got Tonight are great tracks.
Thankfully, it’s short, as an album of this genre should be, so I get tempted to revisit immediately
John Grant
3/5
Just looking at the cover and release year, I expected to hate this album. Colour me surprised! I didn't love it, but there were many songs with nice melodies. I liked the vocals, I liked the variety of sounds and genres he touched upon. A little too long (even without the bonus tracks), but an okay listen. Best songs: Where dreams go to die and JC hates faggots
Manu Chao
3/5
As I’m writing this, it’s freezing outside. It’s dark and the porch is recently shoveled for snow. There is no way whatsoever that I can judge this album fairly. It’s not something I would listen to casually, but I wouldn’t mind it being on in the background at a summer party. Except for Bongo Bong, which is a horrible little tune.
Yes
2/5
I really dislike music where the sole purpose is to showcase the musicians’ skills, with no catchy parts. Yes is one of those bands. It was a struggle to get through in one sitting. I even tried to listen to it again, just in case I’d been missing something. I found it even worse, so I quit halfway through.
Astor Piazzolla
2/5
First track was calm and pleasing to the ears. The rest, not so much.
50 Cent
3/5
I thought I was going to dislike this, but I actually quite enjoyed the album. Good beats and many nice songs. In Da Club might be the track I enjoyed the least here. No real standouts and too long running time makes 3 stars.
Raekwon
2/5
Not being a hiphop afficiando, I don’t know what makes a rap song good or not. I just know what I like. And having really enjoyed the Wu-Tang- and Ghostface Killah-albums, I expected to like this one too. Especially as Ghostface is omniprésent omnipresent on this album. But the album lasted. And lasted. And I didn’t enjoy a single track, sorry to say. It all passed without a fanfare.
The Adverts
4/5
I really like the sound of this album, and the A-side is packed with classics. After «No Time to be 21» the standard drops quite a bit, so I can’t go all the way up, but it’s a solid album which I’ll revisit when I get the urge
Tim Buckley
1/5
After listening to this album, I instantly regretted my harsh ratings at the start of the project. Tim’s voice makes annoying sounds over endless blues songs, please spare me!
The La's
3/5
2/5
Music for Beatles fans that think Maxwell’s Silver Hammer is a little too heavy
Kelela
1/5
This might be my least favourite genre of music. There is absolutely nothing to grab on to. Just sounds like random sounds and beats with floating vocals. The production is crystal clear and she has a nice voice, but the music is horrible
Kraftwerk
3/5
Nina Simone
2/5
Was expecting a nice listen after the first song, but then it slowed down considerably, and I couldn't connect with most of the songs. Quite relaxing to listen to, but neither the genre nor her voice is for me, alas.
Germs
4/5
A really cool album that’s a little ahead of its time, spearheading the US hardcore movement. Personally, I’d like to see Descendents’ debut here, as it is more varied and has a few better songs, but all in all this is solid. No clonkers, but not too many instant classics either
Happy Mondays
2/5
This album is so nothing. There is nothing cool about it, no good hooks, nothing that grabs me and tells me to love it. It’s so bland and inoffensive to the point that I get angrier than I have the right to be.
Maxwell
2/5
This was a chore to get through. Every song sounds the same, the music is nothing unique and there has been made better soul and r&b than this. The production is smooth saillant though. And Til the Cops Come Knockin had some redeeming qualities
Mott The Hoople
3/5
Boogie-glam with a strong taste of Bowie, but it never reaches anything beyond decent. I quite enjoyed some of the songs, and never hated anything, but I won’t be revisiting it. There is too much great music out there. It starts to wear a little thin with the overly long songs on the B-side
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
There’s no denying the classics on here. Not the influence Hendrix had on most, if not all, guitar players coming after him. But do the other songs justify an hour long album? I don’t think so. Groundbreaking for its time, but it hasn’t held up that well. An enjoyable listen, but not a triumphant one
Afrika Bambaataa
2/5
Most likely an influential group in its day. It’s fun and happy, but unfortunately not very good in light of today’s hiphop. RATM do a considerably better version of Renegades of Funk and the album is rather drawn out
Carpenters
3/5
Not bad if digested track by track. Karen’s got a nice voice, and even though none are outstanding, the songs have some kind of quality to them. As a complete album, it’s way too sugary sweet and bland.
Elvis Presley
3/5
For historical importance, there is no other way to review this but giving it a 5/5. However, listening with the jaded ears of a middle aged man in the 2020s, it just doesn’t hit the same way. Of course, the songs are good, and many of his versions are tolerable, a select few are even superior to the originals. The less said about Tutti Frutti, the better. All in all a pleasant enough listen
Suicide
3/5
There is something cool about the mood the album sets. Kind of like a downward spiral into insanity. Frankie Teardrop takes it way too far for my taste, which I think is intentions. I enjoyed listening to it, but there’s too much music out there for me to revisit it in the near, and distant, future
Mudhoney
4/5
Like the missing link between The Stooges and Bleach. Lacks a little in the hooks department, that even the gnarly riffs and crunchy guitar sound can’t fully compensate. Could, and probably will, listen again
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
It’s a nice album. I like the atmosphere and the songs are good and haunting. However, in contrast to the other Nick Cave albums on the list, I find it too one-dimensional in terms of dynamics. It’s not enough variation. I guess it’ll grow on me if I décide to revisit it in the future, but for now I prefer Abattoir Blues
Ozomatli
3/5
Latino sounds with pop hooks. Some danceable rhytms and good variation. Not bad, but not anything I’d like to revisit ever again.
Sonic Youth
3/5
I got introduced to Sonic Youth with Dirty, which is a more accessible SY. I like their sound, I like the dynamics and buildups throughout the album. What I don't like is that their artsy side shines through too much. Like the spoken words songs. That's too much. For me, Green Light is the best track.
Scott Walker
2/5
He might have a great voice, but when the songs are as dull and uninteresting as these, it doesn’t matter. Boring, even though he songs with emotion. The Old Man’s Back Again and Duchess bring some quality and variation to the album, but on the while, it can’t be saved
The Who
2/5
3rd album we’re getting from The Who (yet), and I have to admit they have been one of the biggest disappointments this far. There are not many really good songs here, and almost all of them are places on the last half. Not a moment of joy until I Can See… breaks up the crap.
The Mars Volta
5/5
Music wise, I'm more of an At The Drive-In person than a Mars Volta person. However, this album is a classic. The only album where the band got the balance between prog and catchiness just right, without sounding overindulgent.
Prince
2/5
There is no denying Prince was a musical genius and songwriter, but I’ve never really got into him. I like that this album is varied and has a really good production, especially for 1987. I’m just not really into any one of these songs. Which is my exact sentiments for his entire catalog. I don’t even like the song Purple Rain that much, and it’s still one of his best songs.
The Louvin Brothers
2/5
Going track by track, this is not a bad album. I like the bleak lyrics and the infectious harmonies. But as an album, it is too much. After 20-25 minutes those harmonies that were charmaine on Kentucky start to grate and everything starts to sound annoying. Really annoying. Props for doing the first ever Nirvana cover, though!
Mudhoney
4/5
I really regret not diving into Mudhoney's discography at the time. Listening to it for the first time now doesn't have the same impact as it would have back then. I still like the album a lot. The songs are more "hooky" than on Superfuzz/Bigmuff and there's a great variety in the songs. It lacks the X-factor that made Nevermind a classic, though. Well, maybe if I'd started listening to them in the 90's
Elastica
4/5
If Wire and Blur had a bastard child. And I like it. Not every song is a winner, but the sound and attitude is cool throughout
G. Love & Special Sauce
2/5
At first I thought it was a little cool for being different than most other bands on the list. That thought lasted for 3 songs and then the annoying vocals got the best of me. The rest of the album I listened to out of duty. If RHCP were slightly more annoying they would sound like this
Paul Simon
2/5
Dull and uneventful. I like Simon as a part of a duo, but I don’t care for this at all
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
This is basically a scam of Milli Vanilli proportions. Most of the musicianship on this album is made by uncredited musicians, with Malcolm McLaren adding oh yeahs and that line Eminem sampled. As always with this man, there’s a scam involved. However, the album isn’t bad. It’s danceable and innovative, ahead of its time. 5/10 or thereabout
XTC
2/5
Thought it was kind of interesting at first, but after 45 more minutes of almost, I was more annoyed and bored. The only GOOD song on here, isn't even on the original album.
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
She’s got a really soothing and nice voice, and the songs are decent and calming. But they are not really good
U2
2/5
Once more an album from the most overrated band in the world. And as usual, it would be wrong to say it is bad. Well, «Love» and «… Wild Horses» are even decent songs. The entire album is however truly boring, and I don’t ever feel like listening to it again.
The Bees
2/5
After listening to this album twice, I still don’t know which genre it is, because every single song sounds different from the next. Some might say it’s a good thing, I say it’s confusing. At least when most of the songs are’nt any good. The end of the album is much better than the beginning, but then it is too little too late. The Os Mutantes cover is ok, at least
The Dictators
4/5
This is by no means a great record. But it’s fun and catchy. It also sounds more punk than their contemporaries, and could be mistaken for a second wave british punk album. At times I get a strong Sham 69-ressemblance.
No real standouts, but if I had to choose, it would probably be Master Race Rock
The Doors
3/5
Nirvana
5/5
Even though it’s not as immediate as Nevermind, there is a great collection of songs here. After Pennyroyal Tea, it falls into mediocrity, that only All Apologies manages to break out of. 9/10
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
This is the only Cave-album I own, but after having listened to all his 5 albums on this project, it might actually be my least favourite. Of course, the duets might be some of the best songs in his catalogue, but many of them are too repetitive and go on for too long. Decent album but far from his best
The Kinks
4/5
Third Kinks album to show up on this list, and the best so far. Good songwriting and interesting touches to many songs, which takes it above the second-rate Beatles connotations of their other albums. Good stuff
Sonic Youth
4/5
A clear progression from Evol. Gone are most of the avant-garde tendencies, and the noise is more prominent as building tension and dynamics. It’s varied, at the end they go straight from garage rock in «Hot Wire…» to Velvet Underground worshipping in Cotton Crown. Sampling one of the best Kiss songs, Strutter, in «Master-Dik» is just genius.
Green Day
4/5
The first three songs + the first double track might be the best start to any poppunk album ever. Usually I don't have the patience to listen to long songs, but Jesus of Suburbia manages to keep my interest. The last three tracks are also of really high quality. It's those three couplets in the middle that make American Idiot lose one star, as they are mediocre at best.
As a rock opera, it is much better executed than Tommy, in my opinion. Just to be controversial right at the end.
Hole
4/5
A good, poppy alt-rock album! Good arrangements, plenty of hooks and lots of attitude
Tortoise
3/5
I really like postrock bands like Aereogramme, Explosions in the Sky, An Autumn and Godspeed! You Black Emperor, so I thought this would be a great album. Well, it’s not. And I think it’s more post-baroque/pop than rock. It has its moments, but that’s all
Justin Timberlake
2/5
Cry Me A River is a banger. There are also a couple of other good songs on the album. The production is stellar. However, there is just too much filler to justify the 1 hour plus running time. And Still on My Brain might be in my bottom 10 songs ever
The Streets
1/5
I'm hungover and wish that this album would "Get out of My Ears". Yes, you see what I did there. Blinded by The Lights is the only saving grace about The Streets' sophomore album, but it's not enough to reward it with two stars.
Dwight Yoakam
2/5
I don’t really mind many of the songs, but the production and performance is just so «nice». There’s no edge to it at all, and the only time I take notice is during the harmonies on the last two tracks. At least it’s a million times better than what goes for country nowadays. 4/10
Sonic Youth
4/5
Interesting album. Not enough time to really get into it, but you can hear that there's something going on that will just grow on you. Certainly not as immediate as Sister, but a nice collection of noise pop numbers.
Weather Report
1/5
They are probably good musicians, it’s just that I can’t listen to any of these songs without wanting to push the «next» button. On every single track. Fusion jazz? Count me out
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
2/5
After the first track, I was really excited to listen to the rest. However, as the album went on, track after track, with no obvious highlights, electronic mood settings that don’t go anywhere, vocals without variation, and dull songs, I just waited for the album to end. Two last tracks are probably ok.
Tom Waits
4/5
Not quite as good as Rain Dogs, but not far from it. Interesting album where the ballads really shine, but no tracks stand out as being bad. Best track: Dirt in the Ground
Talking Heads
2/5
Third Talking Heads album on the list, third two-star rating on my part. Not looking forward to a fourth album. Danceable in an annoying way, and the songs go on for too long
Sisters Of Mercy
4/5
Good and dark album. Feels very 80s without sounding dated. More songs in the vein and quality of Lucretia My Reflection would make an all time classic
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Cool sound, cool style, cool vibes. At first you think that the songs don’t quite hold up, but then Helter Skelter makes you reconsider before Mirage suckerpunches you with being one of the best pop songs of the 70s. Great discovery!
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
This album is okay. I like Elvis Costello’s voice and his style. The songs are just there. Nothing outstanding in either direction, nice as a background album. Should not be on this list.
Beyoncé
3/5
Exquisite production, good vocal performances and a handful of good songs. It goes on for too long, though. And I simply dislike Drake and everything he does. Blow also, ehhh Blows, and I get a little bored in the middle section. Much better than I’d thought, actually
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Why did they have to release two hoies of music at once? Disc 1 is one of the best collections of alternative rock ever, but after 1979 tones out, there’s not much more to get excited about. X.Y.U. being an extremely honorable exception. Too bad, because the songwriting merit for the first hour is great.
Billie Holiday
2/5
Quite relaxing to listen to, songs not noteworthy at all, and every single one of them sound the same
Fatboy Slim
2/5
Listening to dance music while lying down does not add up. Neither does me
dancing. I don’t say it’s without merit, it’s just not my cup of tea at all
Buzzcocks
5/5
The first pop punk album? And also one of the best? Count me in! It’s a shame that What Do I Get didn’t feature
The Cure
4/5
Sparse, dark, depressing and it hits the right spot. It took me three listens before I «got» the album, but then it got me as well. Only two standout songs, but with this album it’s more about the vibe.
Standouts: A Forest, M
Suzanne Vega
3/5
Not the most exciting or challenging album I’ve ever heard, but it’s okay to listen to. There are some nice melodies and she sings quite alright. The last track is horrible, The Queen and the Soldier is the best track
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Surprisingly good album! Rolling Stones is one of the most overrated bands ever. IMO, they’re more of a singles band than an album band, but this album is actually okay. It starts out really strong before the 11 minute drag starts, and brings along the next 3 poor tracks. Out of time is awesome and the album ends in an okay manner. 6/10
Emmylou Harris
3/5
All in all a decent country album. She's got a great voice. However, there are too many ballads that don't really move me one way or another. Adiitionally, her Dolly-cover is far inferior to the really moving original. She redeems herself with the beatles cover and the album closer, though. 5/10