514
Albums Rated
3.14
Average Rating
47%
Complete
575 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Hip-hop
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
38
5-Star Albums
16
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
In Our Heads
Hot Chip
|
5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
|
John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
|
5 | 3.17 | +1.83 |
|
1989
Taylor Swift
|
5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
|
First Band On The Moon
The Cardigans
|
5 | 3.29 | +1.71 |
|
The College Dropout
Kanye West
|
5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
|
Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
|
5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
|
25
Adele
|
5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
|
Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
|
5 | 3.38 | +1.62 |
|
Sincere
Mj Cole
|
4 | 2.38 | +1.62 |
|
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
|
5 | 3.39 | +1.61 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
|
1 | 3.32 | -2.32 |
|
Homework
Daft Punk
|
1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
|
B-52's
The B-52's
|
1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
|
Liege And Lief
Fairport Convention
|
1 | 3.1 | -2.1 |
|
Autobahn
Kraftwerk
|
1 | 3.09 | -2.09 |
|
Murder Ballads
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
|
1 | 3.08 | -2.08 |
|
Fred Neil
Fred Neil
|
1 | 2.92 | -1.92 |
|
Vulnicura
Björk
|
1 | 2.79 | -1.79 |
|
Isn't Anything
My Bloody Valentine
|
1 | 2.75 | -1.75 |
|
Phaedra
Tangerine Dream
|
1 | 2.74 | -1.74 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | 2 | 5 |
| Green Day | 2 | 5 |
| Adele | 2 | 5 |
| Michael Jackson | 3 | 4.33 |
| Kanye West | 3 | 4.33 |
| Beatles | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 3 | 1.33 |
| Björk | 2 | 1 |
| My Bloody Valentine | 2 | 1.5 |
| Kraftwerk | 2 | 1.5 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Fleetwood Mac | 2, 5 |
5-Star Albums (38)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
My Bloody Valentine
1/5
I wouldn’t want to look anyone in the eye either if this was what I called music.
3 likes
The Jam
3/5
This was the last album I listened to before Helene hit Asheville like a week ago. I honestly don’t remember a thing about it but I do remember that adding a decade to the Brit Pop sound helped. I’ll go middle of the road to be safe.
3 likes
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Does every drum and bass album have to be an hour long? It’s not that I dislike it, it’s that it’s way too long. The last song is by far the most interesting.
1 likes
Eels
4/5
I have a huge soft spot for 90s Alternative Rock and I can’t believe I hadn’t come across this album before. This one is great for background music with its mellow vibes that can be played from beginning to end (maybe skip Susan’s House every now and then if you don’t want to be a buzzkill). There also seems to be some influence from Beck and artists like him. Definitely something I’ll be coming back to and a discography I'm excited to explore.
1 likes
Tom Waits
2/5
I imagine if Roz from Monsters Inc. was the lead singer of a band this is what their music would sound like. Such a Scream and Goin’ Out West are jams. The Ocean Doesn’t Want Me is creepy. I wouldn’t mind having a couple songs from this album come up on a shuffle of my entire library but I won’t be seeking out this album on its own. That being said, it still wasn’t a struggle to get through it.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (16)
All Ratings
Nick Drake
4/5
Reminds me of Collin Hay’s solo projects. Easy listening, good melodies.
Pixies
3/5
More rock-forward/alternative/punk than I anticipated after already knowing ‘Here Comes Your Man.’ Good album but not all of the songs are my preferred style of music.
Looked more into the meaning behind ‘Debaser.’ Based on a weird ass scene from a Salvador Dali-inspired movie from the 1920s.
Smashing Pumpkins but more punk? And add in some Weezer on some tracks.
Heavy video game soundtrack vibes like the group discussed.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
Early reaction but I feel like this album would be a lot more fun to hear performed live instead of listening to the album.
I can see the appeal but it’s not music that I personally enjoy. With out ‘Maps’ I don’t know how much I’d ever come back to this album.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Funky but not always funky on every track. The different instruments used throughout the album really add a lot. And of course, Stevie’s voice is timeless.
‘Higher Ground’ and ‘Don’t You Worry Bout a Thing’ and absolute classics and by far the best songs on the album. Bass line on ‘Too High’ makes me want to have loud-ass noise cancelling headphones on while I smoke a blunt.
‘Golden Lady’ is a jam. Kinda reminds me of melodies that Chicago would have in their songs.
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
Billy Corgan’s voice is like a double IPA. Abrasive at first and definitely an acquired taste, but once you’re about it, by god you’re about it. The album starts off loud and rock heavy but slows down by the end. And it keeps that classic Smashing Pumpkins grunge sound the whole time.
‘Cherub Rock’ and ‘Today’ take me right back to those Guitar Hero and Rock Band days in the late 2000s. ‘Disarm’ is another classic that will have me saying “the killer in me is the killer in you” all weekend.
I want to give this a 4, but I don’t know that I can justify anything more than a 3.
Taylor Swift
5/5
There’s so many hits that it’s hard to deny the relevance of this album. The biggest flaw, as we discussed, is that the finish of the album is weak. But when you have multiple top ten hits, is the album really that weak? The first two thirds of the album is perfect for a road trip.
It’s a five on this rating system but I might give it a four and a half if given the opportunity.
Fleetwood Mac
2/5
I feel like it works really well from beginning to end. But I don’t think the songs standout so much as they work really well in the flow of the album. Not sure that I will return to re-listen to it more than once but I am going to give it another chance.
Tom Waits
2/5
I imagine if Roz from Monsters Inc. was the lead singer of a band this is what their music would sound like. Such a Scream and Goin’ Out West are jams. The Ocean Doesn’t Want Me is creepy. I wouldn’t mind having a couple songs from this album come up on a shuffle of my entire library but I won’t be seeking out this album on its own. That being said, it still wasn’t a struggle to get through it.
Deerhunter
3/5
There’s a heavy throwback of 50s and 60s pop throughout the album. That mixed with what seems to be an influence of maybe Coldplay or Snow Patrol makes for a very low key sound that’s really enjoyable. Could definitely see some of the songs being played in the background at get togethers. The three most listened to songs from this album are the peaks of the album but there are some lows here and there. I’ll definitely listen to this one again and check out more of Deerhunter’s stuff.
Fairport Convention
1/5
I’ve heard Folk music all my life and I really enjoy it but this album was a struggle to get through. Obviously 60s British Folk Rock is different from what we have here in the Appalachians, but still, not much held my interest. Bright spots were Farewell, Farewell and Tam Lin for me, everything else was forgettable.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Short, sweet, and simple with a driving rock sound. It’s hard to believe this is the first of three albums CCR released in 1969 but I guess that explains why it’s only half an hour long. This version of Proud Mary is a timeless classic and every other song has replayability. There really isn’t much negative to say about this one, other than its brevity. Great instrumental sections, meaningful lyrics, and a decent level of variation within the seven songs. It’s a strong four with a potential to be a five the more I listen to it.
Sister Sledge
3/5
This a landmark album even if it's only for We Are Family. I'm pretty sure we all heard it at a young age from our parents or in movies/tv shows/commercials and it’s stuck around almost 50 years since. On top of that, there are so many different samples taken from the other tracks that eventually turned into hits of their own (looking at you gettin' jiggy with it Will Smith). A great disco album with great rhythm and catchy lyrics, no wonder people wanted to get up and dance. The genre and musical styles might be a little outdated but really there isn't much to dislike about this album. Best tracks are We Are Family (obviously), He's the Greatest Dancer, Lost in the Music, and Thinking of You. Also, the original album without all of the remixes is super short.
Kate Bush
2/5
I knew Kate Bush’s music was experimental but I didn’t know it was this far out there. Every song seems to be different and the only thing that remains the same is the 80s sound. Each song tells a story so it’s great for those that pay attention to lyrics. All that being said, I don’t know if I’ll go searching for more Kate Bush music after this, except for Runnin Up That Hill. Solid songs were Love and Anger, Never Be Mine, the breakdown on Rocket’s Tail, and This Woman’s Work. This album is a two in my personal opinion, but I could be swayed to a one or a three based on the argument.
Eels
4/5
I have a huge soft spot for 90s Alternative Rock and I can’t believe I hadn’t come across this album before. This one is great for background music with its mellow vibes that can be played from beginning to end (maybe skip Susan’s House every now and then if you don’t want to be a buzzkill). There also seems to be some influence from Beck and artists like him. Definitely something I’ll be coming back to and a discography I'm excited to explore.
Iggy Pop
3/5
The first half of the album is incredibly strong, with a classic in The Passenger and a giant in the licensing/advertisement industry with Lust For Life. But once you get to the third quarter of this album it becomes very bluesy and slows way down. The last quart picks up slightly but doesn’t finish in a memorable way. Of the 70s/80s rock stars I feel like you rarely hear about Iggy Pop and that’s unfair, because I don’t think this album should be overlooked.
Wu-Tang Clan
4/5
The influence of Wu-Tang Clan is undeniable. Ask any of the most popular rappers today and they’ll name-drop RZA, Raekwon, GZA, Ghostface, or Method Man as their idols. When I think of 90s rap this will always be the first group that comes to mind and specifically this album as the game changer of the decade. But I’ve got the tiniest bit of beef so I’m gonna bring the ruckus, even though I know the WuTang Clan ain’t nothin’ ta fuck wit. Each song is essentially about just that, there’s nobody that can top them and don’t dare try it. While I’m inclined to believe them I think the lack of variation and repeated lines in multiple songs brings it to a 4.4, so I have to round down. It’s one I already come back to listen to from time to time so not much is gonna change for me.
The Black Keys
3/5
I probably haven’t listened to this album from beginning to end in about a decade and it was nice to come back to it. The first four songs are a great start to the album, then the Blues Rock carries you through to the end. There are some certified jams on this album, like Everlasting Light, Tighten Up, Howlin’ for You, and Never Gonna Give You Up. The biggest flaw is that some of the songs blend together in the middle of the album and it’s hard to differentiate between them if you aren’t paying close attention. I’m juggling back and forth between a three and four, but I think I’ll stick with a three because it’s early in our 1001 albums and I know there will be even better Blues Rock albums.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
A really enjoyable album to listen to. You can tell that the music is shifting between the sounds of the 60s and heading into the 70s. The songwriting is incredible and so are the harmonies. The instrumental sections show off each artist’s skill. The album has a ton of variety and most of the songs stand out from one another. Top tracks in my opinion are Teach Your Children, Helpless, Deja Vu, Our House, and Country Girl. A solid three and I’d hear arguments for a four.
Michael Jackson
3/5
It’s an album by the King of Pop. It’s also a disco album that sure as hell isn’t Thriller. It has its strong moments, especially the first two songs, but there’s a reason disco music isn’t popular anymore. The rhythms are great but the repeated lyrics get old pretty quickly. Definitely something that would be fun to dance to but having to listen to the album in certain environments takes away from it. I think it’s a three because it really marks the beginning of MJ becoming MJ but that could be more to do with Quincy Jones than Michael. Ask me next week and who knows, I might say it’s a two.
Afrika Bambaataa
2/5
One of those cases where the originators aren’t exactly the best to do it. It’s a groundbreaking album but this is when rap had really just gotten started by adding lyrics to breakdancing beats. I’m sure if I heard this in 1986 it would have blown my mind, but it doesn’t really hold a candle to the great rap albums that released in the decades following. That being said there are a couple classic tracks that deserve some replay from time to time and Afrika Bambaataa has to be mentioned when discussing the history of rap. Two stars because I know there’s gonna be better rap albums in our journey.
R.E.M.
3/5
I listened to this album twice through with it being a weekend, so clearly I at least somewhat enjoyed it. The second listen was from beginning to end straight through and some of the songs started to blend together so I think that detracts from it a bit. R.E.M.’s influence on alternative rock is apparent even with it being their first album. You could tell me this was released in the 90s and I would believe it because it sounds like it fits right in. Easy listening, great background music. Best songs were Radio Free Europe, Laughing, and West Of The Fields. It’s gonna be a three for me.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
3/5
One of the main ways I recognize that I’m getting older is that I have been appreciating jazz music more and more. I’m not quite to the point that I’d go to a jazz club to hear it live but I’m always willing to put it on while getting some work done. Some of these songs have even been playing in the background my whole life with how often they’re used in media. That’s what this album will become for me, along with more of the quartet’s music. A solid three. Nothing earth-shattering but an enjoyable listen.
Cream
3/5
The genius of Eric Clapton is hard to deny, but I don’t find much that stands out too much in this album from other 60s psychedelic rock. Sunshine Of Your Love is a classic and by far the best song on the album. Strange Brew right before Sunshine makes for a strong opening. I don’t think it’s a bad album by any means and it wasn’t hard to get through. Overall, a quick, solid album. I still think I’ll stick with listening to Clapton’s solo stuff before I get back to Cream, though.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
Am I listening to a standalone album or the soundtrack to a dark and depressing musical? I guess the storytelling is decent, but this style of ballad just isn’t for me. I like sad music usually but this taking it to a whole new extreme. The best songs are the duets. I won’t be listening to much more of these guys except for the Peaky Blinders theme.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
With a month removed from our first Yeah Yeah Yeahs album I’m not sure if they’ve grown on me or if I was always going to like them and Fever To Tell was a bad starting point. This anlbum also feels much more mature and sentimental, which is a bonus for me, even if they still repeat lyrics in every song. Heads Will Roll passes Tom Haverford’s “is it a banger?” test. Other good songs are Zero, Dull Life, Runaway, and Hysteric. I’ve really come around on this band and I think it’s a four.
Harry Nilsson
3/5
It definitely sounds different than a lot of 70s music. There’s a lot of variation in the songs in just a short amount of time. I also find it funny that Jump Into The fire takes up a fifth of the album but I’m not complaining because it’s a jam. Other good songs are Gotta Get Up, Without You, and Coconut. Overall a solid listening experience that was a nice way to start a Saturday morning. Three stars for me.
Queen
3/5
There aren’t many of Queen’s big hits on this one but you get plenty of operatic lyrics and Freddie absolutely crushing it. Great guitar riffs throughout the whole album. Killer Queen is far and away the best song on the album. I think this is a really good album but I know there will be better Queen albums on this list, so I’m going to keep it at a three. Will absolutely be listening to it again.
Bobby Womack
4/5
Can’t say I’ve ever heard of Bobby Womack but I sure as hell have now. I listened to the original 1980 five-track release first before listening to the first three tracks on the 2021 rerelease. Just My Imagination is a great starter and has that quintessential yacht rock sound. Stand Up is a freaking jam that had my attention in about 15 seconds. The jazz and soft rock in Games switches up the vibe in an instantly and gets into the blues for If You Think You’re Lonely Now. From there I don’t see any reason that Where Do We Go From Here needs to go on that long. The additional three tracks are solid but nothing spectacular. The bass and guitar parts as a whole are phenomenal. I know every song can’t be incredible but the good-but-not-great songs bring this down to a four for me. Can’t wait to listen to more of his stuff in the future.
Rod Stewart
3/5
I know a handful of Rod Stewart songs, including Maggie May, but I was absolutely surprised to hear such a strong country/American folk sound from a British rocker in the 70s. The back end of the album is much better than the beginning though, which brings the rating down a notch. The rendition of Amazing Grace at the end of That’s All Right was gorgeous and Mandolin Wind was as well. A good album that would be great mood or background music. I’ll listen to it again but it’s nothing that blew my doors off. Three out of five.
Fiona Apple
2/5
Feels like if Kate Bush was making experimental music into the 21st century. I think the album gets better as it moves along, which is only because it starts out weird as hell. I don’t think it was hard to get through but it wasn’t my cup of tea. If we hadn’t already listened to Murder Ballads by Nick Cave I’d probably give it one star, but it’s better than that so I guess I have to give it a two? Gonna keep Criminal as Fiona Apple’s only song in my library.
Also, I listened to the beginning of For Her again and it reminded me of the Star Wars Bad Lip Reading song Seagulls, Stop It Now and now I’ll never hear it any differently.
Neil Young
3/5
Neil Young is an excellent songwriter. The lyrics are timely and the melodies and harmonies will draw you in. I can’t exactly give the same praises to his singing voice. That being said, the album is a pretty solid listen. You can also tell that Neil Young has been a massive inspiration on music for the past sixty years. Personal favorites on the album were Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Southern Man, and Birds. Three stars.
Guns N' Roses
4/5
It’s wild that a band’s debut album has three of the most well-known rock songs of all time on it. An iconic band and Axl Rose has an iconic voice. It rocks the whole way through and was a gritty but fun listen.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
I hadn’t ever heard of this group before but then I looked up their lineage and was completely shocked. Also had no idea that there was a connection between Blur and Gorillaz, so it really is a banner day for me. I mostly listened to this album in the background and it was excellent to let play through from beginning to end. Nothing blew me away but it’s definitely one that I’ll return to, as well as their other album.
The Isley Brothers
5/5
I absolutely loved listening to this album. Between the original tracks that have been the inspiration, some being straight up samples, for other great songs and the covers, I thought it was fantastic. Who would have thought you could improve on a James Taylor classic? Excellent melodies and lyrics, great musical techniques, and just the right amount of funk. The only critique I can give it is that I couldn’t tell much difference between the regular tracks and the different versions offered on the back half of the album. But, I do think the commentaries are a pretty cool addition. I haven’t given out many fives, but I think this is deserving.
John Cale
2/5
This album wasn’t for me. It wasn’t hard to get through by any means, it just didn’t do much to compel me. There were a couple solid songs in the quick listen, but nothing notable. If I had to choose my favorite it would be Macbeth, and the fact that it sounds so different than the rest of the album is probably why.
3/5
I’ve always thought of U2 as a band that was massively important for Gen X but just didn’t do much for Millennials. I know their hits, especially the ones on this album, but after that I couldn’t tell you much about them besides Bono’s humanitarian work. That and their infamous forced album download we talked about along with them being the poster band for the early iPod classics. Come to think of it, maybe they did have a big impact on Millennials. I can see why this gained so much acclaim around the world, it’s easy to get into and the lyrics are socially conscious. It didn’t blow me away and it wasn’t bad, so it’s in three territory.
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
I knew a couple of these songs coming into this album and knew the vibe I was getting into. The composition on this one is incredible, so many moving parts in each song and each song comes together so well. The songs have some very diverse topics, some of which are on the darker side, but the delivery is so calming and soothing. There are also a few moments where I felt like I was living out the Juno soundtrack. My drive to and from work was super peaceful today, and that is always appreciated. I don’t think it’s quite a five, but a strong four.
Meat Loaf
2/5
The whole operatic rock thing was never really for me, but there were still parts where I was thinking this was a great album. There were even more moments where I was wanting the song to just be over already. I also could do without the couple bits of dialogue added in. All that said, the musical ability and skill is evident and the ballads were excellent. I don’t know how I feel about this one. I don’t think it’s a two but I don’t know that I can justify a three. I’ll sleep on it and decide in the morning.
The Dictators
3/5
I’ve never felt more like a midwesterner in the 70s knocking back a six pack of cheap beer in the truck on the way home from work. It’s really a fun listen and it has an all-American rock vibe. I’m not sure how much influence they had on the later punk movement, but it seems like a lot. It’s not my kind of music but I still appreciated it.
TLC
3/5
I thought this album was pretty good, which makes sense because TLC have reached legendary status as far as 90s music in general goes. I knew Creep and Waterfalls coming in, but I was pleasantly surprised by a few of the other tracks Diggin’ on You and Switch. Still, I wouldn’t say it’s an album I’d listen to on repeat, I’d just come back for that handful of songs. Rest in peace, Left Eye.
David Bowie
3/5
David Bowie is a legend and there’s a lot of his music that I really enjoy and think stands the test of time, like Heroes from this album. But I just didn’t feel much of a draw from this album as a whole. I thought there were only a couple good songs and even though they were gorgeous, the instrumental songs at the end were too much of a surprise. I’m stuck between a two and a three on this one, but I think I’ll give it a three because I’ll come back to it at some point and I bet I’ll appreciate it more the second time around.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Bob Dylan’s vocal style might be incredibly different and the butt of a lot of jokes, but his music might be one of the most purely American sounds ever produced in the country. On top of that, his lyrics don’t talk about life in the cities and about the glamor, but about what living was like for a majority of those in America. The songs are really heartfelt and the mix of folk and early rock was really a nice listen.
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
I had no idea what I was getting into at the beginning of this album but I was pleasantly surprised by the end of it. The composition held your attention and parts of this album were hauntingly beautiful. The subject matter was surprising once you got into it, especially for something that came out in 2005 when the world was a lot different. I don’t know how often I’ll return to any of the songs on this album, but it was nice to listen through at least once.
Black Sabbath
4/5
I’m pretty sure this is the first Black Sabbath album I’ve listened to from beginning to end. I can firmly say I’ve enjoyed this listen through and the album simply rocks. The instrumentals hit hard with great solos, and the two slower songs don’t feel like a drag. Snowblind is a journey and I loved every second. Will listen to this one again next time I’m jonesing for some classic rock.
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
I’ve got a huge soft spot for 80s synth pop and Cyndi Lauper is an icon, so I was excited for this one considering it put her on the map and has three of her most famous songs. Is it a little dated at this point being 40 years old? Sure, but I think that’s part of the appeal. That being said, there are a couple songs on this album that just don’t do it for me and drag it down. And I really didn’t see any point in He’s so Unusual, like what?
Also, even though her version is a classic hit, the Quietdrive version of Time After Time is in the conversation for covers better than the original.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Second time with the Smashing Pumpkins in only a couple months and I think a lot of the initial statements remain for this one. Billy Corgan’s voice is unique and the band will give you a bunch of different rock sounds. This album has two of the first songs that come to mind when I think about the Smashing Pumpkins with 1979 and Bullet With Butterfly Wings. The heavier metal usually isn’t for me but I feel like it works within the album and kept the energy up when cycling between metal, early punk/emo, and the softer rock. The biggest drawback to this album is that it’s two hours long. Yes, the music is good, but that length is excessive. I’d give this one a 3.5 if given the opportunity, and I’m gonna round up because of the iconic 90s alternative rock hits on this album.
Elvis Presley
4/5
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I’ve heard all the hits so this was a great introduction to more of his discography. I can start to see why Elvis had so much hype surrounding him. I liked this one from beginning to end. The mixture of blues, country, and a little bit of gospel was wonderful.
Doves
4/5
The whole time I was thinking that this was a background music type of album but I think it deserves more credit than that. There are a lot of really good songs on here, like There Goes That Fear and Last Broadcast, and I felt the album flowed well throughout. There were enough changes of pace to keep your attention, as well. The slight hints of indie, pop, and rock sounds from the early 2000s are like little bits of nostalgia that give it a familiar feeling. Overall I throughly enjoyed this album and I’m interested to see what else Doves has in their repertoire.
Arrested Development
2/5
This is a classic example of 90s rap having incredible beats with lyricism that just ends up sounding corny 30 years later. I can see that it was groundbreaking in its era and there is a lot of meaning behind the lyrics, but goodness, rap certainly matured over time. There were a couple songs I enjoyed, but most of the album I would rather have just listened to the instrumentals. The baseline on Dawn Of The Dreads goes so hard. It wasn’t bad, I just don’t know if I’ll come back to it.
Common
3/5
I’m assuming this was the first full Common album I’ve listened to and it was on par with what I expected. A laidback feel, smooth flow, and overall excellent production. Common is definitely overlooked when it comes to 2000s rap and shouldn’t be, but I think the low-key sound plays into that. Nothing that blew me away, I think it would be really good to have on in the background.
Neil Young
3/5
Honestly, I’m just lucky that two Neil Young albums came up on this list within my 30 day free trial of Apple Music. All because of the Joe Rogan/Spotify deal I’ve gotta have some other streaming service to listen to this album. And I get it, I’m not a fan of Rogan either, but now cancel culture is effecting me and I hate it. I’m fully embracing my old man shaking his fist at the sky moment. Are these my first steps towards conservatism?
But for real, I thought this album was pretty good. Easy listening and blues made for a great Saturday afternoon on the porch. A couple solid songs, like Walk On, Vampire Blues, and On The Beach stood out, and the rest blended together pretty nicely. I enjoyed this album more than After The Gold Rush, but it still wasn’t anything that I’d consider groundbreaking.
Yes
3/5
The first album our group has had that has been name-dropped in School of Rock, and as Dewey Finn promised, it blew the classical music out of my butt. Also the first Prog Rock album I’ve listened to all the way through. The solos and blends of different styles seemed like a new experience, and some of the chord progressions were very interesting and kept you guessing. I really enjoyed listening to this one. Mood for a Day was my personal favorite, with Roundabout coming in second.
Bad Company
3/5
I can’t think of another band that has a song title that’s the name of their group on a self-titled debut album. Talk about some cojones. I thought this was a pretty good classic rock album. There were a couple memorable songs like Don’t Let Me Down and the aforementioned Bad Company but nothing that stood out too much from the crowd. When I think about what classic rock sounds like, this is a pretty general style that pops into my head.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
It’s Paul McCartney’s side project where he can let his creative juices flow without having to deal with John and Yoko. In the end, does it sound like more Beatles music? Yes. Is that a bad thing? Absolutely not. A wonderful album. My only drawback is that some of the more country-western influenced Beatles songs tend to be my least favorite and now we know if was Paul who pushed that sound into the music.
Rush
3/5
I listened to this album over a two hour drive and didn’t look to see what the song titles were, but I did look to see how much of the first track was left. This album had some great guitar solos and instrumental sections. But it seemed like every other song the lead singers vocals would almost ruin the song. I still really enjoyed it and it made for great road trip music.
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
I like doing this random generator because I don’t know that I’d ever give Nine Inch Nails a full album listen otherwise. There were definitely parts that were way too rock heavy for me, the screaming isn’t my thing. But there were parts that I enjoyed, like the instrumental sections at the end and a couple of the other songs. I came into this one only knowing Hurt and Closer, and those two are probably the only ones I’d potentially go back and listen to. I also think it’s wild that this came out in 1994, it sounds like it was much more recent. Good, just not for me.
Fleet Foxes
4/5
I was reading the artist description on Spotify when I started the album and saw that Fairport Convention was an influence and got scared for what I was about to endure. Luckily, the sound I knew from White Winter Hymnal and Ragged Wood stayed consistent throughout the album and I couldn’t be happier. The indie folk movement has really grown on me and I’m sad I didn’t give Fleet Foxes a deeper look until now. I know it’s a pioneer-like situation, but I wonder if they’d be more popular if they were gaining popularity now? Either way, I thought this was very enjoyable and from what I read, their second album is in line with this one, so I’ll listen to that next.
I really liked the song Blue Ridge Mountains. But the Smokies are mountains in Tennessee and the Blue Ridge are the eastern-most peaks in North Carolina and Virginia, both being part of the larger Appalachians. “Near Tennessee” isn’t specific enough. So get your shit together, Seattle boy.
k.d. lang
3/5
I wouldn’t say there’s anything that absolutely blew my mind with this one, but I did enjoy it. Super low-key vibes would make it great for some background music, which is essentially what it became during my afternoon listening to it. Constant Craving will always be a jam. Good but not great, and I’ll add a couple more k.d. lang songs to my library.
Gene Clark
2/5
I’d play this album for background music but actively listening to it is not for me. There was more than once that I was hoping for a pickup in the tempo or a key change because I thought that’s what the song and album needed, but it never came. This is one of those albums that I question why it’s on the list. It’s not bad music by any means, I just don’t see the significance right away. I was sitting on a three, but the cover of Stand By Me was not it, and frankly why even try to cover that masterpiece? The Opening Day/Winter In combo was also trippy.
Fiona Apple
3/5
I thought the album started off pretty strong and slowly faded into mediocrity. I definitely enjoyed this one more than Fetch the Bolt Cutters and I liked how the same chord progression was built into multiple songs to make the album feel more cohesive. You can definitely hear the 90s alternative influences and that helps it catch my interest, but it’s still not anything incredible. I’d probably give it two and a half stars if I could, but I’ll round up to three willingly because Criminal is an all-timer for me.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
I, too, have learned a valuable lesson about mixing water with my wine next time.
Came into this album completely blind and I was pleasantly surprised to discover this artist. I really enjoyed listening to this album and some of the songs were truly jams. I’m curious if more of her work will show up and if it will compare to this album. Either way, I think this one earned the four stars.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
The Neil Young burnout from this list is real. And whether it’s his solo work or a band he’s affiliated with, this is the worst of what we’ve listened to so far. There wasn’t much that caught my attention and it’s weird to hear a live album that cuts out pretty much all of the crowd noise. I’m sure we’ll have some more Neil Young, hopefully the rest are better.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
2/5
I wouldn’t call this one an album, it’s really like a handful of really long songs. It’s not bad or anything, the jam band thing just really wasn’t ever for me. Maybe they’re significant, but I couldn’t tell you why.
Def Leppard
3/5
Did anyone else’s dad refer to Def Leppard as Blind Cheetah? Just mine?
There are a couple classic songs on this album and the rest has that quintessential 80s hair metal sound. Nothing too wild on here, just some solid rock. The only thing, is like most hair metal, it all eventually blends together. I’ll give it a three because I enjoyed it and Photograph is probably one of the most famous songs of the era.
PJ Harvey
2/5
Recognized PJ Harvey’s name from the track list on Nick Cave’s Murder Ballads and got a little scared. And the first half of the album seemed to validate those fears. But with the back half of the album, things took a turn in my favor. There were influences from all kinds of genres and I’d assume even some of the artists we’ve listened to so far. I liked the punk and 90s grunge that kind of snuck through. That being said, I can see the significance but this just wasn’t for me. About midway through Man-Size Sextet I knew this was either a one or two, and the back half keeps it at a two. Not unbearable, but not something I enjoyed.
Kanye West
5/5
Just gonna get it out of the way, it’s a five. One of the best examples of old Kanye being the best Kanye. Yeah, he’s hella problematic as a person, but this is a separate the art from the artist situation.
I have so many memories attached to this album as a whole and to individual tracks. I bought this one the week it came out, which just happened to be my first Black Friday weekend at Target, and then bumped it on the way to work that whole Christmas season. And then of course all of the memories of hearing these songs with friends while being a teenage degenerate. This album has the radio hits, it’s got the deep cuts, the 2000s era Kanye production, and best of all it’s a fun one to go back to after a few years. Very glad it came up on the list, now I hope College Dropout, Late Registration, and Graduation are here as well.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
I found this album to be a pretty pleasant listen. Nothing abrasive or too difficult to get through but also not much that stood out, except for maybe The Murder Mystery but that was only because I’m pretty sure that bass line has been covered a few times. There were some moments that felt like the band was ahead of their time as far as styles and genre went, but most of the time it sounded like 60s rock.
Van Halen
4/5
So we start this album with one of Van Halen’s biggest hits in Runnin’ with the Devil, go into Eruption, one of the top five most well-known/best guitar solos ever, and then probably the best cover of You Really Got Me Now. No wonder Van Halen blew up and became huge in the 80s. It’s short, but it’s a fun ride and it’s clear that this album helped to propel glam rock fully into hair metal and into what many would argue is the genre most associated with 1980s American culture. A strong four.
Judas Priest
3/5
Other than knowing of them, my only prior experience with Judas Priest is when my friend Josiah commits minor traffic infractions he sings the chorus from Breaking the Law. And if Ozzy didn’t have such a unique voice I’d probably easily confuse them for Black Sabbath. But being like Black Sabbath definitely isn’t a bad thing, this was a solid listen and I definitely enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I also thought it was interesting to have this album the day after Van Halen to really see the different ends of the spectrum when it comes to the metal genre 40 years ago. Nothing stood out all that much, but it definitely wasn’t bad.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
I'd really love to know the backstory and inspiration behind this album, because it has to be a juicy story. Marvin Gaye's voice is timeless and such a joy to listen to, even if I have no prior experience with any of these songs. I also thought the difference in topic from What's Going On to this album was very interesting. Overall, its not a bad album at all, its just a very specific subject.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Absolutely an album I expected to see at some point on this list. Between the talent of Marvin Gaye and the social commentary, this is not only a great album to listen to but an important work of art in American history. It’s brief, but the only reason that’s bad is because I want to hear more of Marvin’s voice.
Rage Against The Machine
4/5
I still find it hard to believe that even in 2024 people get surprised by what machine is being raged against. From their debut album they’ve been pretty clear about their stance and outlook on the world. The power to the people lyrics are incredible, but even if you took them away you’d still have an album that goes so damn hard. I really enjoyed getting to rock out to this one today.
Morrissey
2/5
I’ve always held the opinion that I like The Smiths but I don’t really like Morrissey, and this album only hardens my stance. It’s not bad and definitely better than other albums we’ve listened to, it’s just not what it could be. Sometimes solo projects are great, and I know with this artist I’m probably in the minority, but this one doesn’t fall into that category. Not much caught my eye, except for maybe a couple songs towards the end. Stuck between a two and a three so I think I’ll round down.
The Zombies
3/5
Good lord, Butcher's Tale is so dark and depressing, but I guess so is trench warfare. Only knew Time of the Season coming into this and I was surprised that a lot of the album had less of a psychedelic sound. Overall, I enjoyed listening to this very short album and would go back to it again.
The Clash
3/5
Coming in looking for punk and hearing influences from all different genres was a huge surprise. I liked the album, but there were parts that seemed to blend together in the middle. I also thought the bookending of London Calling and Train in Vain was a great way to start and end the album. And shoutout to the mid-2000s NCAA Football games for having great throwback hits on their soundtracks.
Black Sabbath
3/5
I gotta say, the format of this album is a little frustrating. I get we want to keep the integrity of the original, but can’t we just separate these tracks when it was remastered? Overall, this was a decent album, it just obviously blended together and was pretty brief. Wicked World was probably my favorite song and had the most recognizable sound. Hopefully if we get another Black Sabbath album it’ll have more than five tracks.
Kanye West
5/5
As I l mentioned in my MBDTF review, this is one of my favorite Kanye albums, so because of my previous rating and by the transitive property, this album is a five. The only thing I dislike is the number of skits and the story at the very end of the album where Kanye is talking about his come up, definitely glad that’s something rap has slowly moved away from. I wouldn’t blame anyone for ranking this album lower because of that. But for real, what a debut album with so many hits, quotable lines, and excellent social commentary. The early 2000s rap sound takes me right back to middle and early high school, such a nostalgic feel. Had a blast re-listening to this one.
Grizzly Bear
3/5
The variation between songs in the first half of the album was a welcome surprise, and not one we usually get when it comes to rock-ish albums on this list. A lot of the classic rockers have a distinct sound either on one album in across their entire discography. But of course, as I sing those praises the second half does slow way down and the tracks lose a little bit of that variety. When you add them both together you get a pretty good background music album. Other than Two Weeks, which get a lot of playtime on a couple playlists I regularly listen to, not a whole lot stood out. I do feel like this one deserves a second listen though, maybe on a road trip on a more dreary day.
Roni Size
2/5
It’s any old 90s afternoon. I’ve got my Bagel Bites, a blue Kool-Aid jammer, and some Dunkaroos. Everything is lining up to be great except I walk into the den at my grandma’s and my brother already has the tv on Cartoon Network. That means I’ll either have to start a channel changing battle without the remote, or I’ll have to watch Toonami instead of Nickelodeon. To make matters worse, Sailor Moon hasn’t even ended yet and there’s still a half hour after that until Dragonball Z comes on. That’s what listening to this album is like. Some good, some bad, but ultimately it’s not really what you wanted.
Janet Jackson
3/5
I was worried about this one pretty early on. The industrial synth rock from the 80s rarely ages well, so this being so heavy on it early was starting to drag. But the ballads on the back half of the album absolutely save the whole thing. I also get that the interludes do exactly that, bridge the gaps between songs, but I don’t know that eight interludes including the bookends of the album is really necessary. Overall, there’s a couple hidden jams on this album that I might come back to, but other than that it’s a bit forgettable. It’s like a 2.75.
And goodness, Someday Is Tonight is gonna make people in our group make some more babies.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
When an album has two of the most iconic rap songs of the 20th Century, and they happen to be some of the first rap songs that 90s kids had memorized word for word, you’ve gotta give it its flowers. I was worried about how well the album was gonna hold up all these years later, and some parts were a little dated, but overall it was better than expected.
Jimmy Smith
3/5
Can’t say I’ve ever sought out jazz featuring the electric organ. Exactly what you’d expect, though. Easy listening and solid background music. Now I just have a strong urge to watch The Sandlot.
Sonic Youth
3/5
For an album with so much critical acclaim there sure were a more than a few times that it couldn’t hold my attention. At the same time, there were moments where I was really enjoying the music and could clearly spot the influence that Sonic Youth has had on the indie scene since the 80s. There’s some good songs but nothing that really blew me away or that I’d come rushing back to.
Slipknot
2/5
Insert generic comment about the technical ability of the musicians but not liking the genre of music at all here.
I was surprised by a couple of the songs but other than that, I wasn’t a fan. And I somehow knew psychosocial. I’m giving it a two because I’d still rather listen to this or more Nick Cave or Tom Waits.
Air
3/5
It was honestly a shock to see this on the list, but it was great background music. Probably won’t listen to the album again but I will probably watch the movie at some point.
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
One hell of a debut album. The pacing makes this album fly by and then you won’t realize that it’s over. It leaves you wanting more, which isn’t bad because this is one most everyone will want to return to eventually. There are some bangers on the album, like I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor, but Mardy Bum is my personal favorite. I think I could give this a five and feel alright about it, but a strong four will do.
Alanis Morissette
4/5
Our first Alanis Morrisette album means I’ve gotta share the links to the first two things that come to mind when I think about her and this album.
Alanis is Canadian and has issues:
https://youtu.be/XqcemLA4f9g?si=0B5me3_u0ry5bq58
The best You Oughta Know cover:
https://youtu.be/nixsUgSDdjw?si=1X94Js7x6nKa0IV2
We all know it at this point and it’s no secret, but I still can’t get over You Oughta Know being one of the greatest breakup/fuck you songs of all time and it’s about Uncle Joey from Full House. Absolutely wild.
90s alternative rock hits me right in the nostalgia more than almost any other genre, and Jagged Little Pill has five iconic songs from the decade. Hard to deny the relevance and importance. The vocals on some of the lesser-known songs does drag a little bit, but hey, that’s just Alanis being Alanis. Part of me feels like this should be a five, but I think it’s solidly in the four range.
William Orbit
2/5
Jesus Christ… that’s a Wish Jason Borne soundtrack.
Still better than Nick Cave and Tom Waits.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
2/5
Sometimes it was a movie score, sometimes it was background music at a wedding, and sometimes it was beeps and boops. Why is this on the list? A two because the album artwork made me chuckle.
Fred Neil
1/5
He sounds like a slightly more country version of Elvis, just without as much talent. I knew 60s country/folk wasn’t gonna be for me coming into this one, and I was right. Everybody’s Talkin’ is by far the best song, but it’s not even the best version of the song itself. Another one where I’m left wondering why it made the cut. Zero desire to come back to this one.
Alice In Chains
3/5
Early on during Covid when everyone was working remote, I went to go live with my friend Cotton for a few weeks. There wasn’t much to do except watch tv and play video games. So naturally, we brought out his old Wii and started playing Wii golf while drinking cheap beer and blasting 90s alternative music. Cotton has one hell of a playlist, so there’s almost 18 hours of music ranging from Toad the Wet Sprocket to Nine Inch Nails. Dirt is a critically acclaimed album from the legendary 90s rockers Alice In Chains, so of course there’s like five songs from this album on that playlist. And like I said, there wasn’t much going on in the world, so I’ve had my fair share of drunken attempts trying to hit the fairway on that stupid island shortcut par five and listened to more 90s alternative jams than a drug user living in Seattle in 1992.
We’re four years removed from that, and things have upgraded a bit. We play Switch golf now, there’s a second tv so we can watch sports while I shoot an even par and still lose by ten strokes, and sometimes, I’ll drink cheap wine instead of Coors Light. But one thing remains the same. I only really want to frequently hear two songs on this album and the others I might as well say “ok Google, next song” to before I down the last swig of $9 rosé.
Sade
3/5
Smooth and easy listening to start of the week was much appreciated. Sade’s influence on future artists is very apparent and I’d even go so far as to say she opened the door for soulful British female singers that blew up in the 2000s. I enjoyed it, and there will be some tracks I’ll come back to.
Skunk Anansie
2/5
I don’t know about y’all, but I was completely taken back by the N-word and hard-R usage in the first few songs. Can’t say I expected to hear it in this genre at all, but it does make sense in the context. I hadn’t ever heard the term ‘clit-rock’ before either, but somehow that also makes sense. I thought there were some really great parts to this album and other parts were forgettable. Either way, it held my attention and it was an interesting band to discover, it just wasn’t a top 1001 album to me.
George Michael
3/5
The first half of the album had so much ear candy that it was hard not to jam out. It was classic George Michael using melodies and chord progressions that get stuck in your head like RFK Jr.’s brain worm. But, the back half of the album kinda drops off and blends together. Early into the album I was leaning four, but I’ll settle on a three.
3/5
We're almost a tenth of the way through this list and one thing I've learned is that the extra long track was a very popular move during the 60s and 70s. Unfortunately for my millennial mind, a 12 minute song causes me to eventually lose interest if I'm not listening to it live. The album is funky, it has socially conscious lyrics, and it jams, but it also makes me tune it out eventually. Not bad at all, and would make good background music.
The Who
4/5
I listened to this album while driving on a road trip. When The Ox came on, it started pouring rain and visibility dropped to be g able to only see the car directly in front of me. Something I’ll probably never forget. It felt like I was running out of time in my Donkey Kong Country level or some shit.
Really enjoyed it, though. Lots of pop, rock, and blues influences throughout. I have a better understanding of why The Who have been so critically acclaimed for so long.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Holy hell, what a voice. There’s so many classics on this album, and even though I like some versions more than Aretha’s, it’s still a great listen. Her vocals on Ain’t No Way were incredible.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
5/5
What is there to say? This album is fantastic. It’s got some of RHCP’s most well-known songs and it’s something that you can either put on for background music or actively listen to and jam out. Everyone obviously loves the hits, but the B-Sides also have a lot to offer. It was a five before I re-listened to it, and it’ll stay a five.
Also, it took about 100 albums, but we finally got an album from a band I’ve gotten to see live, so that was cool.
Solange
3/5
As far as the social commentary goes, I can see why this album has so much acclaim. Musically, the album kept my attention the entire time and there were a few songs I enjoyed. I’m not saying the lack of “radio hits” brings it down, I’m just assuming that’s why I’m so unfamiliar with the whole thing. It’s an album I’d check out again, but didn’t leave me wanting to listen to it again right away.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I know the movie came out well after the peak of Elvis Costello’s career, but his voice always reminds me of the lead singer in That Thing You Do. Not a bad thing, but I definitely might watch that movie tonight.
You can clearly hear all of the influences other bands have picked up from E.C., including Lenny Kravitz who essentially stole his whole vibe while singing. Also not a bad thing, because I really like a lot of the bands that picked up that influence. It was a short, easy listen that'll I'll come back to again for sure.
Metallica
3/5
I don’t think I’ve ever listened to a Metallica album from beginning to end, but I guess this was the one to start with. Of the songs I know, a bunch of them were on this album. The pacing was solid with a good mixture of songs that absolutely rocked and slowed ballads. I’ll obviously listen to songs like Enter Sandman, Sad But True, and Nothing Else Matters again, I just don’t know if I’d go all the way back through again.
The Prodigy
3/5
Major ‘you wouldn’t steal a car’ anti-piracy ad vibes.
At first I was upset because I wasn’t a huge fan of our first drum and bass album. But I quickly realized that I’m actually familiar with these songs and after a google found out a decent amount were included in the soundtracks in what seems like every 2000s and 2010s action movie. Still, its mood music, and a rainy day off from work definitely isn’t the same as being in the club. The familiarity gives it a little extra oomph for me.
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
Never gonna get this hour back.
Listening to Kollaps be like:
https://youtu.be/mMh9A_4u2ic?si=BbPioCxtCP1270kV
If you told me this band was from East Berlin it would make more sense.
Gotta credit the resourcefulness to even make instruments out of the Berlin Air Drop packages.
I’m not cool enough to get in but this is all they play in Berghain, isn’t it?
The lesser-known German Fourth Reich: nothing but a capitalist-driven psy-op to make shit music that’ll make the communists go crazy.
The Berlin Wall stood like five years longer than it should have just because of this noise.
Does anyone else randomly want to watch a WWII movie now?
It all comes full circle. One of the band members was also a member of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.
The Stooges
2/5
Do I see the relevance and impact this played on later punk music? Absolutely. Is this groundbreaking for the era and an album that should be included on this list? Absolutely. Am I gonna hold off on 70s punk and just skip to the 80s at the earliest? Also absolutely. It’s almost a bad version of CCR, like they got all the songs Fogerty didn’t want to touch. And then having to listen to LA Blues after having Kollaps the day before? Little bit of a nightmare scenario.
Paul McCartney
3/5
After a few not so great albums in a row, it was nice to get some good music, and from a Beatle nonetheless! I was thinking this was a no-doubt four, but then Kreen-Akrore came on and the doubts came in. There’s a timeless classic in Maybe I’m Amazed and another personal favorite in Every Night, but I don’t think that’s enough to solidify that four rating. And I gotta say, it is really impressive that McCartney recorded it all himself.
The Beach Boys
4/5
I think when artists try to make an album that flows together, this is the album they’re trying to emulate. It’s only a little over a half an hour, but every single song flows into the next and the cohesiveness of the album is what really sets it apart. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great album, it’s just a little dated and it doesn’t have as many hits as you’d expect for how many greatest album lists it ends up on. I’d give it a nine out of ten if I could, but for now I’ll stick with four stars.
The Velvet Underground
2/5
Add this one to the “I’m sure it was revolutionary and influential in its time but has aged like milk” category. There’s a lot of cool things going on musically, I just don’t like the way they come together every time. I’m not trying to do it, but I’m sure tripping acid and listening to it would be a different experience. Except for all the feedback on European Son. Like what the hell? Was that considered edgy at the time or something?
Stephen Stills
3/5
Influence be damned, they’re stat compilers. Like an athlete you thought dominated for two decades but when you break their career down you discover they were actually just above average the whole time. Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young and whoever else’s name they throw on there are just that. You’re bound to have some chart toppers when you release 73 albums combined.
I did actually enjoy this album, at the very least more than the Neil Young and CSNY albums we’ve had. It’s got some good variety and it’s nice to have on in the background. Still on the fence with the double album thing.
Joanna Newsom
2/5
Am I in a 1950s Disney movie? Am I walking through a Renaissance Fair? Is this the 21st Century version of Kate Bush? We may never know.
I’m not gonna say all experimental music is bad, but I am gonna say there are more times than not that I’d rather not be a part of the experiment. The different instruments featured are a highlight, especially the harp sections. For the most part I find her singing voice pretty soothing, except for the shrieking here and there. This is probably the first album to truly benefit from the post-Kollaps listen, so it’s not a one, but I’d also honestly hear arguments about it being a three.
Brian Eno
3/5
This album is all over the place, and that isn’t a bad thing. That made for a very interesting listen that held your attention for the very short album. I don’t know if I’d go back to it anytime soon, but it was more enjoyable than a lot of other albums we’ve had.
Frank Ocean
4/5
There are a lot of great songs on this album and Frank Ocean’s singing voice is fantastic. Easy to go back to for either the hits or to go through the entire album. It’s a nine out of ten for me, but on the five star scale I’m gonna have to round down to four.
Beatles
4/5
I think almost everyone has heard the two singles from this album, but there are some pretty good B-Sides as well. I especially enjoyed the slower ballads. Obviously this isn’t anywhere near The Beatles best album, but it’s so catchy even if it’s only half an hour long. I would accept arguments that this is a three star album, but I’ll let my bias show and proudly rate it a four.
The Prodigy
2/5
I can tell you one thing: this is not the album you want to listen to in a "hurry up and wait" situation as a teacher on the last day of school while waiting on the district office to finalize grades for your high school seniors a day later than planned because a singular individual did not have their grades done on time and refused to work late to get them done. Essentially, I'm listening to club music while being held captive by an archaic reporting system and someone's inability to read their emails. Too long, just like the amount of time I had to sit in an empty classroom today. I guess you could say Their Laws and Claustrophobic Sting were tracks that really stuck out for me.
Also, how does a kid that I’ve seen be glued to their laptop for four years fail an Intro to Computers class?
I don’t know if it’s that this genre is growing on me, or if The Prodigy is really good at what they do, but these albums really aren’t terrible. They’re just very situational listens. Rounding down from a two and a half.
3/5
There were times when I thought this album rocked, and times when I thought this album flopped. And I can see the punk beginnings but I heard more psychedelic and blues influence on MC5 more than anything. And then I read about the band, John Sinclair, and the White Panther Party and holy hell, these dudes were punk as fuck. There’s better late sixties albums but this one wasn’t that bad. A three for the political influence.
Rahul Dev Burman
2/5
I’m not a Bollywood expert but this is pretty much exactly what I was thinking a 70s Bollywood soundtrack was going to sound like. It’s not bad by any means, just not knowing anything about the movie or being able to understand the lyrics puts you at a disadvantage. A little dated but the vibes are solid.
The Band
3/5
There have been some 60s rock albums that we’ve come across that have left me wanting more, and this wasn’t one of them. Great vibes, chord progressions that catch your attention, and a good mix of blues and rock. I think if there were one or two more songs I really liked I’d give it a four without question, but I feel comfortable sticking with a three.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Oh shit, we got a surprise Kate Bush feature. I was excited for this one. I love Genesis but I don’t know too much of Peter Gabriel’s solo work. My biggest issue is that I don’t know that I need this many six minute songs, even if they are fairly entertaining. In Your Eyes is by far the best song and an 80s classic. Overall, it was pretty meh. Not bad, but not all that great. I think I’ll stick to Genesis.
Al Green
3/5
Fifteen years ago when I was working in a factory at my very first job, I had a coworker in his late forties that was a temp worker like me. I’m pretty sure he came to work either drunk, on cocaine, or both every day. Couldn’t tell you his name, but I do remember that he was short-tempered if you even insinuated that he was acting dumb, and he loved some Al Green. This was probably one of the first times coming back to this album since then, and I can tell you it’s a much better listen driving around town than it is doing manual labor with a dude that will rage when you tell him he put something on the wrong pallet. Al Green has a great voice, but he’s no Marvin Gaye or Stevie Wonder.
Paul Weller
4/5
This is one of the reasons I love getting a random album from this list, sometimes it’ll give you some absolute heat that you probably wouldn’t have ever come across otherwise. You know how every now and then you’ll be at a bar or brewery with live music and the band is absolutely killing it? These were the vibes I got throughout the whole album. The mixture of blues and rock blended together perfectly. Paul Weller’s voice reminded me a little bit of Chris Stapleton and the lead singer of Collective Soul, and I wonder if there’s any influence on those artists. Definitely a strong four and an album I’ll be listening to again soon.
Meat Puppets
2/5
Unsurprisingly, I enjoyed the instrumental tracks a lot more than those with lyrics. One of those times where the musicianship is let down by the vocals. I’d give this album a three if the singer didn’t sound like he was the inspiration for every band on the Juno soundtrack. And don’t get me started on the whole same song title but slightly different thing.
The Smiths
3/5
I like The Smiths, but even though this is usually considered to be their best album it’s not my favorite of theirs. I know they’re an acquired taste, but I still think it’s a decent album. Nothing bad, but nothing to write home about.
Paul Simon
4/5
This album was all over the place, but in a good way. The different parts of the world represented on the album kept you on your toes, and somehow Paul Simon’s voice blended in with all of them. There were a bunch of songs I enjoyed and of course You Can Call Me Al is timeless. For me, this is one of those albums that gets shafted by the rating system. Easily a nine out of ten, but it’s rounded down on the smaller scale.
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
Back at it again with the strange vocals. The instrumentals were just a little too strange for my liking. Overall, it’s a no from me, dawg.
The Who
2/5
I can’t say I was a big fan of the artistic style of this album. The fake British radio broadcast and ads are obviously dated and don’t hold up well. There’s also really only one hit to draw in your attention. I like The Who and understand their influence, but I guess I have to care that they sold out to fully appreciate this one.
The Cult
2/5
Ultimately it’s unremarkable and sounds like most 80s rock. The best song on the album is a cover, and after reviewing 100 albums that’s a pretty strong indicator of a low rating. I wasn’t bored listening to it and I didn’t dislike it, I just probably won’t listen to it again.
Hugh Masekela
3/5
Perfect for background music or in my case, enjoying coffee on a cool summer morning. When compared to albums that have and will be on this list, it’s nothing special. But that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy listening to it. Worthy of a solid three, only because until I can start to pick out really good jazz from decent jazz I can’t go higher than that.
R.E.M.
3/5
I read the Wikipedia summary and had high hopes for this album. Unfortunately, I found it pretty bland. There are a couple songs I enjoyed, Stand and Orange Crush, but otherwise it was a mostly forgettable album. It would be good for background music but I don’t know if I’d go back to it. Not bad but also not great.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Lyricism aside, I had a hard time getting into this album. Not much to catch and hold your attention. I appreciate Cohen’s storytelling, it just wasn’t for me.
Stereo MC's
3/5
Vibes for days. The only criticism I have is that when listening to the album all the way through some of the songs tend to blend together because the drum beat isn’t all that different from song to song. Hard to say this one doesn’t belong on the list because it feels like Connected has been in popular media and advertising forever. May not come back to the whole album, but I will with a couple songs.
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
There were times that I thought that I was going to give this album four stars, because early on I really enjoyed it. But the double album mixed with too many echoed lyrics killed it for me. I went from jamming out to wanting to put on something else for a roadtrip. Was the feedback on the live track even necessary?
Jack White
3/5
I’m more familiar with Jack White’s work with The Ranconteurs and The White Stripes, so I had a feeling this album was gonna have some jams with slick guitar riffs. There wasn’t anything that blew me away but I did enjoy the variation between the songs, you can definitely see the influence from different genres that he draws from.
5/5
An album that contains an eternal classic in Wonderwall and another quintessential 90s alternative jam in Champagne Supernova. It’s hard to deny the relevance of an album when it has a song that you’d have a hard time finding someone that’s never heard its biggest single that still produces memes 30 years later. The rest of the album is fantastic, a personal favorite of mine is Don’t Look Back in Anger, and there are other hidden gems as well. A great way to kick of the week.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3/5
Really takes me back to those chorus days. A solid listen, and even with the language barrier I still enjoyed a few of the songs. Glad I listened to it, but probably won’t again.
Billie Holiday
2/5
I was really enjoying having this album on in the background, right up until the last half hour of the album is the same song over and over. I’d definitely listen to this again for background music, but just the first half. Billie Holiday is a massively important artist but as an album, it just doesn’t hold up.
2/5
Just, no.
I read this band has albums that are all very different from one another, so maybe I’ll enjoy that if it comes up, but I didn’t enjoy this one. The only reason I’m giving it a two is because I have a better understanding of what the depths of this list have to offer.
Sex Pistols
3/5
An all-time punk album. I knew more of it than I expected and enjoyed it for the most part. I was also surprised it was really their only official album.
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
There’s really only two things wrong with this album in my mind. I’ve found I’m not always a huge fan of the double album so there’s a couple tracks that could be dropped and it wouldn’t change much, and that what were considered to be “futuristic” sounds almost 50 years ago don’t really hold up. That being said, the antiquated old school lasers mixed with yacht rock vibes makes for such an excellent listen. The album has a couple great standout songs as well as some deep cuts that are jams. I was excited for this one and I’d say it met expectations.
Lou Reed
3/5
Ultimately it was an enjoyable album except for the talk-singing. A couple solid songs in Walk on the Wild Side and Perfect Day, but not much else stood out. I don’t know that I’d come back to it except for those two songs. Better than a good bit of what we’ve heard, so I’ll go with a three.
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
A very pleasant listen. Nothing amazing, but also nothing abrasive.
Steely Dan
4/5
There’s only been a handful of albums we’ve come across so far that have a stronger first two tracks than this one. Even though the rest of the songs, minus Reelin’ In The Years, are lesser known, I still thoroughly enjoyed this album from beginning to end. This would be a nine out of ten on a larger scale, but I feel like I need to round down for this one because of the lack of hits.
Stan Getz
4/5
Light and breezy! I feel like I should be enjoying the night sipping a cocktail in a cigar bar in Rio. The upbeat tempos keep you interested and it’s not the double album length, so that’s a huge plus. Overall very enjoyable.
Little Richard
3/5
Listening to this album only made me think about people in their mid seventies and older and how they’ve witnessed the entire transformation of rock and roll to this point, with this album being the starting point for many of them. I also thought about this style of rock and roll being retirement age and how that’s fitting because it doesn’t work anymore. It’s a massive influence, I just found it too repetitive and not dissimilar enough between songs. I’m giving it a three because everyone knows Tutti Fruitti and it created a great IHOP entree option.
The Fall
3/5
Usually when the Wikipedia article mentions an album being the band’s most accessible I get worried with this list, but overall that’s a pretty accurate claim. Definitely punk rock, but it’s not in your face and doesn’t fall into that category of punk with a lead singer that wouldn’t be a lead vocalist in any other genre. Solid listen.
Beach House
4/5
I really enjoyed this album! Great vibes and it was perfect for a rainy day. Added a couple songs to my library that I didn’t have before and will probably check out more of their discography.
The Mars Volta
3/5
I definitely appreciated this album even though this side of the spectrum on this genre isn’t always for me. Sounds like there has been plenty of influence on later bands as well. It made for great driving music on the way home after a long weekend.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
It’s always hit or miss listening to a soundtrack of a movie I haven’t seen, but I’d be interested to see this one. The album was funky and truly did tell a story. In addition to the title track, there were a couple other songs that caught my attention that were added to my library. I’ll round up to a four because I was grooving to this one.
The Stone Roses
4/5
This is one of the Brit Rock albums I’m glad I came across on this list. Has a somewhat timeless feel to it with some songs seemingly in the wrong decade. A lot of fun to listen to front to back, plenty of songs that were jams, and something I’ll be returning to.
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
I was a little more excited for this one than I should have been. Usually I’m a sucker for the singer songwriter/soft rock stuff, and it started out strong, but this one was a little lacking. Great for background music but when you listen to some of the lyrics they don’t work that well (can’t say I’ve ever heard a song start with “oh, jambalaya”). The composition is really what saves it for me, a mood music three.
Cowboy Junkies
4/5
Absolutely pleasantly surprised by this album. Little bit of blues, folk, and soft rock all mixed into one. Peaceful and soothing throughout, so really there aren’t many complaints. I’d give it a nine out of ten but here I’m rounding down.
Black Flag
4/5
I think I’ve only ever seen Henry Rollins labeled as a “rockstar” in the media because they don’t want to associate him with a band and album that came for the throats of the mainstream. Hardcore punk is not my favorite genre but I can’t think of a better example than this. Loud, abrasive, and absolutely furious with the man. For thirty minutes I felt like toppling the capitalist system. Definitely understand this album’s place in the list, a surprising four from me.
Portishead
3/5
Nothing that stood out besides picking out a sample and seeing the influence this band might have had on future artists and engineers. Chill vibes the entire time and good background music. Middle of the road for this one.
Pretenders
3/5
Brass in Pocket is a classic and there are a couple other good songs as well. Other than that, not much made me feel like this was an album deserving more than a three.
Madonna
2/5
Little Star makes me feel like I’m playing a low budget Dreamcast game. One great song, one decent song, and that’s about it.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Smooth and easy to listen to. Not a huge fan of the bossa nova sound but it wasn’t too bad.
Iron Maiden
4/5
I don’t think I’ve really ever listened to Iron Maiden because I’d written them off as metal and something I wouldn’t be interested in. It’s still not my favorite genre but I absolutely understand the hype and staying power of this band. The songs blended together really well and some did have a similar sound, but there’s still a lot of variety for being just over half an hour. I’m sure we’ll get more Iron Maiden in the future and I’m looking forward to it.
Jeff Buckley
5/5
I was worried that I was too high on this album after my first listen because I was starting a road trip and excited for the weekend. After my second listen on Sunday evening, I can firmly say that this album is a five. Yes, the standout song is a cover, but I think there’s a lot more to offer even if the styling of this cover is now how every cover since has been done. Lover, You Should Have Come Over, Forget Her, Grace, and Last Goodbye all caught my attention instantly, and Eternal Life comes out of nowhere absolutely jamming. The only critique I have is that Corpus Cristi Carol seems completely out of place and isn’t that good in general, but it also helps the shock factor with Eternal Life coming in with heavy rock right after. I’m willing to overlook that blemish with how much I enjoyed listening to this album.
Nirvana
4/5
It’s not Nevermind, but damn, it’s close. So many great songs and such a great album. I teach about ‘what if?’ moments in history and this whole album is a “what if life had been less cruel to Kurt Cobain?” This album is one I usually listen to a few times a year so nothing will change there, but I don’t think it’s quite in five territory.
Soft Cell
2/5
I’m teetering between a two and a three. On one hand, Tainted Love is an all-timer (also find it crazy that Where Did Our Love Go? doesn’t directly follow it on the track list) and the synth beats are so damn catchy. On the other, the lyrics are absolutely wild and scandalous (and not always in a good way) and the best song is a cover. I’m going with a two because there’s not much to draw me back besides the two songs. Not looking forward to Sex Dwarf popping into my head at random points later in life either.
The Go-Go's
3/5
A really fun and breezy album that reminds me of the songs they played in gym class in middle school. The combination of new wave and surf rock is a lot of fun to listen to.
Soundgarden
3/5
Spoonman will always remind me of playing Rock Band for hours on end, even if it wasn’t a song we chose very often. There are three really good songs on this album and one all-timer, the rest just kinda leaves me wanting a little more. Half is also strange and doesn’t really fit with the vibe of the rest of the album. Overall, a decent listen that felt like a slog towards the end but gets a bump for the hits.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Fantastic album. A handful of great songs that are surprising to be from a debut album and a ton of variety. Enjoyed every minute of this one, but I know Led Zeppelin has more to offer so I’m sticking at four.
Pink Floyd
4/5
This is the first album we’ve had where I need to be wearing noise-cancelling headphones and just disassociate for 45 minutes. I wasn’t in the right environment for this one, so maybe I’d rank it higher than a four but it’s a solid four.
The Adverts
3/5
I listened to this album but I can’t tell you anything about it that has any substance. Less abrasive than a lot of punk rock, but it’s punk rock so is that actually a good thing? I didn’t dislike it and it’s better than a lot of other albums we’ve come across so far.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Nobody ever said Leonard Cohen was easy on the ears, but this is a hauntingly beautiful retrospective from someone in their final moments of life. The half spoken-word delivery adds so much emotion to the lyrics. I don’t know how soon I might return to this if I ever do, but I’m glad I’ve listened to it.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
Do you think if Nick Cave just played music in a garage instead of in recording studios that he would get welfare checks called in by his neighbors? Because I do. Not nearly as bad as Murder Ballads, but way too long and still not for me.
Eagles
4/5
I specifically saved this album for a late road trip home on a Sunday and I’m so glad I did. Even with slower songs this one really gets the blood pumping and it just rocks overall. Great variety, incredible guitar riffs, and the harmonies provide that perfect ear tickle. The only thing that drops this to a four for me is that the front half is loaded with hits and the back half doesn’t quite hold up. Can’t wait for more Eagles albums.
Television
2/5
Elevation is a terrible song. One of the worst on this list that isn’t made by a German junkyard instrument band. Most of the rest of the album is pretty pleasant just not very memorable. Sitting at a two and a half bit Elevation is bad enough to round down.
Christina Aguilera
3/5
Couple high school throwbacks, couple hidden gems, couple fuck you tracks, a thank you song that in hindsight probably would have put up NUMBERS on 2006 YouTube, and more than a few that could have been left off. Christina’s voice is absolutely incredible and I never got bored with it, i just felt like I could have used that extra half hour differently. I also got the style this album was going for (Ain’t No Other Man and Candyman make so much more sense with that context), but I still found the intro to the second disk unnecessary. A three that could have been a four.
Scritti Politti
2/5
Between the heavy synth drums and the lead singer’s voice, this one didn’t cut it for me. It wasn’t the worst, but it definitely wasn’t that memorable. From what I read, there are samples throughout the album and that’s why it’s influential, but the only thing that sounded familiar was a potential Mario sample.
PJ Harvey
2/5
The beginning of England sounds like a goat dying. There were times early on that I thought this was better than Rid Of Me, and then it slowly got worse as it went on. I can respect the musicianship of PJ Harvey but her music is not something I enjoy.
Jethro Tull
3/5
With only knowing Aqualung from this album I had all kinds of assumptions coming in but I was pleasantly surprised to find a good variety and a great sound. Really good instrumentation and a solid listen if not a little lengthy. I also found out this is an album my dad listened to a lot when it was more popular, so that’s pretty cool, but he doesn’t know where his copy on vinyl went, so not as cool as it could be.
AC/DC
3/5
Ultimately, the only memorable song is Highway to Hell. It’s better than a lot of other seventies rock albums we’ve had, but there’s nothing that makes me want to come back to this album specifically rather than listen to a greatest hits compilation.
Machito
4/5
Pleasant and great for background music while getting some work done. Couldn’t tell you much more about it, but I did enjoy it.
Depeche Mode
3/5
My biggest critique is that some of the songs are longer than they need to be. I don’t know if Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence would be such hits if they never made single edits. I would also say the album is too long, but the 2006 rerelease adds an extra 30 minutes and I was upset I found this out after listening to all of it. Overall, not bad at all, but I’m only coming back for the hits.
Elis Regina
4/5
I don’t understand any of the lyrics but the music is so good that I don’t need to. Great composition and plenty of funk. I read she was a Bossa Nova singer and if this is the other end of the Bossa Nova spectrum I need to reevaluate my feelings towards it. Great listen and a strong four.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Only knew two songs coming into this album but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Good variation and obviously some incredible vocal talent from Stevie. There were some moments that reminded me of a Yeah Yeah Yeahs album with the repeated lyrics, but it didn't effect the experience too much.
Cocteau Twins
2/5
This one came in with some high praise from the Wikipedia blurb but it failed to live up to it. Nothing special, and wasn’t a bad listen, but it didn’t captivate me in the least bit.
Slint
2/5
The spoken word is what does it in for me because the best parts of the album are the stretches that don’t have lyrics. Was hoping I was going to discover a new band I’d like. I did not.
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
I really liked this one! The 90s alternative sound was right up my alley and I’m honestly surprised I hadn’t ever heard of them before. I can hear different influences from previous musical acts and what I assume are influences on later bands. The lyrics are full of introspection, political commentary, and critiques of popular culture. They can be dark at times and tackle some difficult subject matter, but I think that adds a lot to the experience. I would not mind at all to have more Manic Street Preachers albums.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
Would definitely listen to it again as background music to get some 80s vibes going, just might skip a couple songs.
Radiohead
5/5
I listened to this album twice over the weekend. Once while drinking on Friday night celebrating having next couple days off, and once on Sunday finally getting over a two-day hangover. This album was somehow perfect for both settings. My attention was held from beginning to end and the album flows together seamlessly. The 90s sound gets right to the nostalgia, even if I was only four when it came out. There are some great songs on here as well, not just the most popular tracks. Might be showing my bias towards the era, and I definitely understand the common complaint that Thom Yorke is whiny, but this is a five in my mind.
The Police
3/5
With Every Breath You Take, King Of Pain, and Wrapped Around Your Finger this album might have the best three track run of soft rock/synth pop in the 80s. The only thing is getting to it felt like a slog at times and Mother is incredibly strange and out of place.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Not much to say other than this album is fantastic. Only critique is that I don’t need an eleven minute cover of Heard it Through the Grape Vine, but it’s got a good groove so I’ll let it slide.
Ms. Dynamite
2/5
Between the length and the outdated style mixed in, this one was hard to get through. I didn’t dislike it, but being over listening to it and finding out you still have eight songs left is pretty disheartening. It also sucked that Anyway U Want It was the song I liked the most and it was the third track. I was misled. I feel bad giving it this rating with some songs having a great message and meaningful lyrics, but it’s just not something I’ll come back to.
Crowded House
3/5
Pleasant for background music with a couple standout songs. I can see the appeal and I do love the 90s pop rock sound, but I don’t think it’s anything groundbreaking or massively influential, just good music. It’s a standard, middle of the road three for me.
Norah Jones
5/5
Probably the most soothing album we’ve had so far. Nora Jones’ voice comes over you like a wave and you just kinda float off with the smooth jazz backing, the experience is unmatched. I am very familiar with this album and getting to come back to it is always a treat. Even with this album being two decades old, it still holds up. I’ll accept that the length might be a drawback and that it’s not something you’d play all the time, but that only brings me down to a four and a half and I’m gonna round up.
The Smiths
3/5
Pretty standard Smiths album. Every album solidifies my stance that Morrissey by himself just isn’t as good. A solid listening experience if you enjoy their sound, can definitely understand complaints against it.
Guided By Voices
3/5
Definitely get some hints of inspiration from the 60s pop/rock bands and overall it’s not too bad. Nothing blew my mind by any means, but enjoyable enough even if there were a couple times I asked myself what I was listening to. I don’t know if I’ll come back to this one, but a couple songs coming up on a shuffle wouldn’t bother me.
Also, this has to be the winner for shortest average track time out of all of the albums on the list.
The Kinks
2/5
At this point, I’m afraid that when we do finally get another Beatles album I’m going to be completely burnt out on 60s Brit Pop. It’s not bad but it’s hard to separate it from a lot of the other bands from the decade if it’s not something you listen to often. Not entirely sure if it’s the band, album, or a single that counts as influential on this one.
The Jam
3/5
This was the last album I listened to before Helene hit Asheville like a week ago. I honestly don’t remember a thing about it but I do remember that adding a decade to the Brit Pop sound helped. I’ll go middle of the road to be safe.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
So many slick beats, which is a staple for Tribe. I’m interested to look into the samples that have been used on the album and who has sampled these songs since. The delivery can be very dated at times, but we’re further away from the release date of this album than this album was from the invention of rap, so what exactly do you expect? So many great tracks and ending with Scenario goes so hard. This was the first time I’ve listened to music in like a week since the world ended in WNC and it was so great to have a different form of entertainment, but I don’t think that’s impacting my rating too much.
MGMT
3/5
No song takes me right back to high school like Time to Pretend, and there aren’t many songs that hit close to home like it does in adulthood. This album wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great either, the hits standout well above the rest. I definitely see the influence this album has though, I would even guess we don’t get Gambino’s Awaken, My Love without this album being made.
Elastica
3/5
Knew a couple songs and it was cool to put some hits with the band that they’re attributed to. The opening of Indian Song instantly reminded me of the sand level in Mario 64. I only wish the sound mixing raised the audio levels so I could hear the vocals a little better. Solid listen.
Maxwell
3/5
“Sounds like Justin Timberlake if he was good.” - My brother.
This is some straight up baby-making music. So smooth, so funky, and the lyrics leave nothing to the imagination. It’s really good, just has a bit too much length. A couple songs will be added to the library but that’s about it. I thought the instrumental tracks were better than most of those with lyrics.
Jeff Beck
3/5
I honestly had no idea that Rod Stewart got his start with Jeff Beck, so I was surprised to hear his voice throughout this album. The second half is so much stronger than the first. The blues tracks are what takes this album from a two to a three.
The Cure
3/5
I listened to this album once on Friday, and again on Sunday. It’s not bad, but aside from Lovesong not much was all that memorable. Great for background music, but I don’t think I’ll have a strong desire to listen to it again.
Michael Jackson
5/5
What is there to even say? This is arguably one of the greatest albums ever made. Hit after hit from beginning to end. I love the timeliness of getting Thriller to kick off spooky season, it’s like this list has a mind of its own. PYT is my favorite MJ song, Beat It and Billie Jean are all-timers, and if Human Nature isn’t on your Yacht Rock playlist, I want nothing of it.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Meh. The only reason this gets a two is because I know what a one on this list truly sounds like. The back half of the album was kinda tough to get through, probably only going to listen to Come On Eileen from this group.
Kanye West
3/5
I think I have better memories attached listening to this album for the very first time than I do the music itself. The day this released, same day as J. Cole’s Born Sinner by the way, I was on a road trip with Hayden to Wilmington. This is the same infamous trip where I would fall asleep during game seven of the NBA finals and Jackson would scream and run by the ocean at midnight to celebrate the Heat winning the title. I’ll never forget being a degenerate flying down the highway with the windows down, my long hair in a mess all over the place, smoke billowing out of the car, and the look on Hayden’s face while he was blitzed out of his mind absolutely astounded by the beat on New Slaves. What a weekend. We almost got ran over by a semi on that drive, saw Zac Brown Band, partied listening to Get Lucky and Blurred Lines all night on Franklin Street, and I met Tyler Hansbrough who wouldn’t take a picture with my drunk ass.
All that being said, when people ask me if I like Kanye I tell them: “everything up to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is incredible, Yeezus has a few good songs, and I don’t care about the rest.” This still holds true. That and you can’t top a Kanye beat.
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
I fully understand the importance of this combination between vocalist and composers, as well as their importance in the evolution of music, but releasing the whole songbook is a bit much. Ella’s voice is and always will be incredible, and listening to it while sipping coffee on the first chilly morning of fall was delightful, so those are the only reasons this album gets a three.
Janis Joplin
3/5
I hadn’t ever listened to a Janis Joplin album all the way through, and damn she’s got some pipes. I can also see why she was able to captivate audiences before her death, even on this recording she came across as genuine. The album itself is good but not great, and I wouldn’t seek it out specifically but also wouldn’t be mad if it made it back around in a shuffle.
Muddy Waters
3/5
I’ve heard of Muddy Waters and I’ve heard about how legendary and influential this jazz festival was, so it was cool to get to listen to a piece of history. Great blues riffs and an enjoyable album overall, made for some great driving music on the way home from a trip. Nothing here blew me away, nice middle of the road start to the week.
Sly & The Family Stone
2/5
There’s a lot of funk here, but the times that the beat continuously repeats along with the length is what does it in for me. A couple good songs that could boost this to a three, but I don’t think it’s in that tier as a whole.
Madonna
2/5
There were a couple decent songs but otherwise this was a slog. Don’t see much influence besides it being Madonna. At least we’re knocking out some of the latter albums in her career.
The Killers
4/5
This album has me split between a rating more than any of the 200+ we’ve rated so far. On one hand, there’s a four song stretch of hits that almost every millennial knows by heart, including an all-time anthem in Mr. Brightside. On the other hand, the second half of the album is incredibly weak compared to the first. Regardless, cranking out these singles from a debut album is super impressive, even if they haven’t topped that success since. I think this is one where the singles give just enough boost to round up from a three and a half.
The Who
3/5
I think that this album helps me to better understand the influence The Who had in the 60s and 70s, and seeing them play live would have been a lot of fun. That being said, I still don’t find it to be all that great, but would be good background music.
Nick Drake
4/5
Nick Drake is probably my favorite artist I’ve discovered on this list. I think I like Pink Moon more, but this one is in the same vein, making for great easy listening or background music. Definitely something I’ll come back to while sipping coffee and easing into a Saturday morning.
Drive Like Jehu
2/5
It’s a shame these guys didn’t stick around for much longer after this album, I can definitely see the influence they would have had on bands that would get their start shortly after this release. My only issues are that it’s lengthy and not too many of the songs grab your attention and draw you in. Gonna go with a two because I just don’t think I’ll be listening to this one again anytime soon.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Some of the riffs sounded familiar but I’m not sure if they’re samples or if later artists sampled Elvis Costello. It wasn’t bad by any means, just wasn’t for me.
Jean-Michel Jarre
2/5
Part one reminded me of the Stranger Things theme song a little bit. It was chill, probably gonna play it in my classroom during independent work. Who knows what teenagers will think. Dope album art.
Dr. Dre
3/5
There may not be too many hits on this one but it’s a solid listen, especially sitting in traffic with the windows down. It’s really cool to listen to an album that will play a part in changing modern rap music and Dr. Dre introducing legends in the game. I also appreciated the lack of skits on this album, I don’t know why that became a trend. There are better rap albums on this list, but I was very close to giving it a four.
The Who
4/5
Definitely the best of The Who albums we’ve had so far. Still not crazy about them but this album is really solid from beginning to end, has some hits, and kinda helps me understand the hype.
Prince
3/5
An album that I had no idea was going to rival Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret for the coveted Horniest Album on the List award. Starts out super strong with 1999 and Little Red Corvette and then the length and repetitive nature of the songs just drags you down. I’m not one to question the musical genius of Prince, but I will say my rating would be a star higher if the album was 30% shorter.
Femi Kuti
3/5
A really enjoyable album for some background music, it just has the same flaw that dampens the rating of a lot of albums on the list, the length is a bit much. Liked it enough, but probably won’t seek it out to listen to it again.
Johnny Cash
4/5
The impeccable cover of Hurt was the only song I was familiar with coming in, and boy, was I in for a treat. Not only does he put his own touches on other covers, and does them wonderfully for how late in life he was, but the specific songs he selected are reflective and heart-wrenching knowing his story. There wasn’t a dull moment in the album and I enjoyed it from top to bottom. You really can’t beat listening to some smooth Johnny Cash.
My only issue is that this isn’t an album I could listen to all the time because I can’t walk around in emotional shambles, and that’s the only reason I’m dropping to a four. I also realize that admitting that an album making me feel such a way is grounds for a five, but I don’t think a four is a disservice to an album that’s mostly covers.
Fela Kuti
3/5
If I ever want to experience the vibes of an Asheville drum circle without the hippies, body odor, and patchouli, I know exactly where I’ll come looking.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
Really wasn’t expecting such a country sound from what I know about the Stones. Starts off strong with Sympathy For The Devil, but there wasn’t too much worth mentioning after that. This is probably the first time I’ve listened to entire album of theirs, but so far it’s solidifying me being more of a Beatles guy. Kinda feel bad about my rating but I don’t think this is their best.
Daft Punk
1/5
Really didn’t need something repetitive and this lengthy on an already tense Election Day. Daft Punk have some hits, and Around The World is one of them, but I really didn’t enjoy this album.
Dolly Parton
4/5
Feels like home.
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Does every drum and bass album have to be an hour long? It’s not that I dislike it, it’s that it’s way too long. The last song is by far the most interesting.
Moby
3/5
There was a ton of variety for an electronic album and that was a pleasant surprise. It was also fantastic for a road trip. Some songs were added into my library, but I don’t think I’ll ever find myself seeking out this album as a whole.
ZZ Top
3/5
La Grange might be one of the most fun rock songs to listen to, but it’s not enough to boost this above a three. Enjoyed the classic rock vibes, but there was a lot that blended together in this really short album.
Morrissey
3/5
Of the Morrissey albums and songs I've listened to, this one has been the most bearable. I think the transition from popular music styles between the 80s, 90s, and 2000s is the main reason that I find this album better than the others. Still can't really give the album more than a three, but it is an improvement over Vauxhall and I.
America Is Not The World definitely hits harder twenty years after release and seeing two female presidential candidates fail to be elected when running against a clearly weaker convicted rapist and felon. At least we've had a Black president since then?
The National
2/5
As I was listening to this I was really wishing it was a rainy fall day because it seems like it would have created a perfect vibe for the album. Because of that, I think I wanted to like this album more than I actually did. Early on I thought I’d go with a four, but then I found myself losing interest. There’s rain in the forecast tomorrow, maybe I’ll see if my theory is correct. For now, I’ll round down from a two and a half.
Tracy Chapman
4/5
There are very few artists that have been and will be on the list that have a singing voice that I enjoy listening to more than Tracy Chapman. Combine that with the composition and the social commentary in the lyrics and it’s really something special. Not quite a five, but a strong four.
Metallica
3/5
I fully understand the draw of Metallica, but it’s just not for me. But, a bunch of the Metallica songs I know are on this album and I really did like this album even if I did have to take a couple breaks so the length wouldn’t drag on. Definitely have to be in a mood for this one, but if you are it slaps.
Still wild that they were featured in Fortnite for like two months.
ZZ Top
3/5
The hits being frontloaded on this album bring it down from a four to a three. The front half has three of the biggest hits ZZ Top has ever released and then the second half is mostly forgettable generic southern rock. Overall, I did still like this album, just can’t get behind anything above a three.
Tortoise
2/5
It’s not a bad album, but it’s nothing great, either. Starting out with a 20 minute track really takes the wind out of your sails. There were some sections of songs that were really enjoyable but the rest is pretty meh.
My Bloody Valentine
1/5
I wouldn’t want to look anyone in the eye either if this was what I called music.
Bee Gees
2/5
First time I can remember taking a deep dive into a Bee Gees album. A pleasant album to listen to with a lot of great harmonies but I guess they don’t start hitting the high notes regularly until later in their discography? I’m teetering between a two and a three, and what’s gonna push me to a two is that one song towards the end of the album where it sounds like a muppet is singing. I know I like The Bee Gees, but maybe not this version of their sound.
R.E.M.
3/5
I enjoyed this album a lot more than Green, especially with two of R.E.M.’s biggest hits on the track listing, but I’ve put myself in a conundrum. I gave Green a three and I think Document is better, but I don’t think it’s a four. It did make for a good road trip album and it does have the sound that you’d expect from R.E.M., I just need a ten star scale more than I have so far on this list. Mostly only coming back to this one for Its The End of The World and The One I Love, but I’ll be alright with the other songs coming up on a shuffle.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
When this era of classic rock was making its resurgence in the mid-2000s, this was the album that caught my attention the most. So much so that I actually went out and bought the CD since streaming was still a decade away. Everyone knows Stairway and it’s guitar solo, but there are so many jams on here. Always a pleasure to listen to IV, and today was no different.
Stairway might also be the first time I’ve been alright with a seven minute track from the list. I know it’s overplayed quite a bit, but it’s still incredible.
Ice Cube
4/5
Knowing Ice Cube more as an actor and then taking a deep dive into his music career is a wild ride. There is a lot of violence portrayed in the lyrics, but knowing the history explains why. It’s a huge moment in American history and this album serves as a voice of those experiences living through police brutality in LA in the early 90s. Great beats with a clearly old school style, but it never felt dated. Really enjoyed this album and will come back regularly for a few songs.
Steve Earle
2/5
Maybe my ignorance is showing because I’m not a huge country music fan, but I really don’t see the influence here. It’s mostly unremarkable 80s country for me.
De La Soul
3/5
Me, Myself, and I will always remind me of playing NCAA Football 2007 for hours after school and on weekends. 90s rap can sometimes sound dated, but the flow of the lyrics was nice. As always, I could do without the skits. Overall it was fun to have on in the background while hanging out, but it wasn’t anything special. No complaints, but definitely can’t go higher than a three.
Miles Davis
4/5
Really missed my opportunity to sit by a fire and sip cocktails while listening to this one. I absolutely see why people hold Miles Davis is such high regard, and there are other legends featured in this ensemble. I’ll definitely come back to this one, it’s just restricted to dinner party and background music.
Nirvana
5/5
Iconic in every sense of the word. Massive hits, solidified the grunge sound, and changed music afterwords forever. There are a couple songs I could do without, but there are too many classics to justify anything lower than a four. I’m bumping this one up to a five on the influence alone.
Ian Dury
2/5
The only reason I’m giving this a two is because I’d actually be willing to listen to it again if it were an entirely instrumental album. The talk-singing with incredibly crass lyrics just doesn’t do it for me.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a song with fart sounds that I’m going to go learn every word to.
Richard Thompson
2/5
The decade jump from 60s to 70s British Folk is much appreciated, but I'm starting to think I'll always be more of a fan of good ol' backwoods Appalachian Folk. Not bad, and maybe I'll give this another chance when I'm not listening to it mostly stuck in traffic, but really wasn't my speed.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Of the couple handfuls of Bob Dylan songs that I know, two are on this album so that was nice to listen to those in the context of the album. I enjoyed the mixture of folk with a little pop, even if Dylan’s singing voice is an acquired taste. I think this album automatically gets bumped up a star after listening to I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight the day before.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Good lord what a voice. First time diving deep into an Aretha album and I was very pleased. Respect is an all-timer and you really never get tired of hearing her sing. Not quite a five but a solid four.
Sigur Rós
2/5
I don’t know how I feel about this one. There were times I was really vibing with it, but there were other times that it felt like listening to ambient noise for longer than I wanted to. Between the length and the language gap, I’m gonna go with a two.
Bauhaus
2/5
Anyone else randomly get a couple Rock Lobster vibes at the beginning and end of the album? I didn’t dislike it but it definitely isn’t something I’ll come back to listen to again, especially with its length. The rest of the album being at least decent to listen to saves the fishcakes song from dragging this down to a one.
Ministry
1/5
First thought: this is the kind of music that made 90s evangelical Christians boycott the world.
Second thought: I don’t know if I can do 45 minutes of this.
Third thought: it’s true, sometimes you do have to ding a ding dang your dang a long ling long.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
3/5
As I get older I realize that I’m not so far from my southern roots as I thought I was, I genuinely do enjoy bluegrass music. It’s not something I actively seek out, but if it’s being played live there’s not much better. I’ve also found out that I much prefer a banjo and fiddle going to town rather than hearing the lyrics. This album’s biggest downfall is its length, but getting to listen to the great Doc Watson on a few tracks makes it go by fairly quickly. If it were only the second disk I’d be rating this a four, but the double album length brings it down a star.
Willie Nelson
3/5
A really pleasant album to listen to, and the first time I’ve ever listened to a Willie Nelson album from front to back. I enjoyed it, I just don’t know how I feel about giving an album of covers a four.
Duke Ellington
4/5
Some wonderful jazz to have on in the background while working and driving. I’ve never heard a trumpet wail like that, really impressive. Already two live albums from the Newport Jazz Festival and it’s really cementing how important this series of shows was for music history. My biggest complaint is that the original release isn’t on Spotify and jumping around the complete version was a pain, but that’s not the album’s fault.
Screaming Trees
3/5
Pretty generic 90s alternative rock, but right up my alley so I didn’t mind. I only knew Dying Days coming in and that’s pretty much what the rest of the album sounds like. Kinda like a mixture of Collective Soul and Eels. No big hits and left a little to be desired but wasn’t bad at all, so I don’t feel wrong going middle of the road here.
Billy Joel
5/5
I can vividly remember my first real introduction to Billy Joel, not counting the absolute banger that is Why Should I Worry? from Oliver and Company, of course. I was around 10 years old, out running errands with my mom on a Saturday morning. We stopped at the tiny strip mall on Hendersonville Road for lunch (for those of you from Asheville, the one near Asiana with the post office and Amish furniture store). We ordered pizza at some place that isn’t there anymore and then went to look at CDs in a second hand record store, also not there anymore. I probably wanted some boy band CD, but all we left with was The Essential Billy Joel, and from then on I probably played his greatest hits hundreds of times over. Obviously, there’s a handful of songs from this album in the compilation, but even the b-sides have that classic charm that embrace you like an old friend. I haven’t really ever gone through his albums individually, at least not in a couple decades, so I’m really excited to see what other albums of his make the list. Listened to this one twice in one day, I think that’s clearly grounds for a five.
Sinead O'Connor
2/5
Nothing Compares 2 U is one of the best breakup songs of all time. The rest of the album just isn’t for me, though. Could be impacted by having such a great album the day before, but I think a 2 is fair.
The War On Drugs
3/5
When your friends ask you to play some background music for the hangout so you put on Lost In The Dream because you’re a chill guy.
Muddy Waters
3/5
The most bluesy Blues album I think I’ve ever listened to. Was pretty solid, just don’t know how often I could listen to it.
Shivkumar Sharma
2/5
Not much to say about this one other than it was pleasant and I can see the journey through a day as a shepherd through the music. Not something I’ll return to, though.
Various Artists
3/5
Definitely conflicted with rating this album. It’s such a situational album that you can really only listen to for about a month out of the year. But, it also has a handful of tracks that I’ve heard around Christmas time pretty much every year that I’ve been alive with classics that have stood the test of time for the past sixty years. I love the Motown sound, and I think it would be higher if it wasn’t exclusively a Christmas album.
Julian Cope
3/5
I feel like I’m supposed to know who Julian Cope is. I liked the variety between songs, seemed like there was a wide range of influences that went into this album. The length probably should put it into the twos, but I’ll hop up to a three because I was vining here and there.
Parliament
3/5
So damn funky that you forget that the lyrics in funk music are almost always repeated. Give Up The Funk is a classic and was fun to jam out to for a minute. A good album but I don’t know if I’d rate it this high at a double album length.
Radiohead
3/5
I know this is an all-time album for a lot of people, so I was surprised that it wasn’t at least drawing me in when I listened to it. I re-listened to the first half of the album, and I was starting to see the appeal, but I also started to see why people rag on Thom Yorke quite a bit. I don’t think it’s a bad album, it’s just not as good as The Bends for me, and I probably need more time for it to grow on me.
Kings of Leon
4/5
I’m sure it’s nostalgia winning out, but I love this album. The grip that Kings of Leon had on alternative music in the 2000s was inescapable, and for good reason in my opinion. There’s two hits that pretty much everyone knows, but the other tracks are solid as well. Manhattan takes me right back to my old Mazda driving around with my busted speakers blasting music off my iPod. Getting to come back to this album today while on a road trip was undefeated.
Kraftwerk
1/5
Even driving down the highway while listening to this one couldn’t save it for me. Also, ‘krautrock’ is a new favorite term.
2/5
I can’t explain it, but Greenman makes me feel like I’m listening to every theme song to every 90s and 2000s PBS kids tv show all at once. Quite catchy, but nothing groundbreaking or notable for me. One of those that you question how it made the list.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
Damn, Neil Young is what makes this band worse. I don’t agree with the amount of albums on this list that feature one of these four guys, but this is the best one we’ve had so far. A pretty damn good album to listen to and have play in the background. Has just enough standouts to keep you interested. I would assume their other albums without Neil Young will be on the list and I’m honestly excited for them.
Talking Heads
3/5
Once in a Lifetime is a hit, but that’s really all that sticks out from this album. Better than a lot of other ones we’ve listened to, but a surprisingly bland debut album from a beloved band.
Os Mutantes
3/5
This is more in line with what I expect with albums I should listen to before I die. Something I probably wouldn’t have ever come across, let alone listen to. Intriguing throughout, lots of different styles and genres represented, and the composition kept me invested while dealing with the language barrier. Glad I listened to it, happy to add a couple songs into my library.
Yes
4/5
I wonder how many reviews for this album are just ‘Yes.’ and nothing else? A really good album that I wasn’t expected after our earlier Yes experience. Will definitely return to this one again, especially a couple of the songs like I’ve Seen All Good People.
Aimee Mann
3/5
Was vibing to this album and then Mr. Harris comes out of nowhere with a cringey sucker punch. Could still be a good song if you don’t pay attention to the lyrics either the composition. Aimee Mann also has a lot of qualities in her singing voice that remind you of other artists, so she seems like a familiar voice while listening. I also love the 90s melancholy rock sound that’s featured throughout. Not good enough to be a four, but a solid three.
Carole King
5/5
Snow day album! One of the best three-song intros to an album we’ve had so far. This album is always in the conversation for best album ever and for very good reason. So many hits and something that can be played at any moment and still be a crowd pleaser. Easy five stars.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
5/5
There’s so much going on with this album. RHCP’s and Anthony’s typical love for LA, Frusciante being a wizard, and Flea and Chad Smith laying down the rhythm. There’s six songs on this album that I really enjoy, and the rest of the album is a solid listen. My only complaint is that it’s a little long and there’s not a lot that’s memorable after Under the Bridge, but still worthy of five stars in my book (also leaning towards five to dethrone Kanye as my top artist).
Kate Bush
2/5
After Stranger Things, I thought about giving Kate Bush a try since Running Up That Hill was such a banger. Didn’t really enjoy this album then, still don’t really enjoy it now. Cloudbusting is decent but that’s about it. It’s barely a two, might even regret not giving it a one later on.
The Doors
4/5
Damn, Jim Morrison was so good. There aren’t many hits, but this is definitely an album you can play all the way through and not get tired of, except for maybe The End. Hard to go from such a driving rock sound to spoken word that takes up a quarter of the run time. I respect the artistic value of The End, but it definitely detracts from the rating here.
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
I feel like there are a lot of influences on this band and other artists they’ve influenced themselves, I just can’t put my finger on it. Great mix of rock, punk, and grunge. The lyrics are very topical for the era they came out in and are still relevant today. Overall, a solid album.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
Back to not knowing enough about jazz to fully appreciate this like I should, but I made for great in-flight background music while I read. I’ll take that all day long. I do know enough to know that Count Basie is a legend, so I’m not going to discredit him with a low rating.
Van Halen
4/5
A classic album with three massive hits and really good b-sides. I enjoyed this most recent listen and will enjoy coming back to it again. Not a five star, but pretty close.
David Ackles
2/5
If David Bowie were Mountain Dew, and Meatloaf were Dr. Pepper, this album would be like mixing Great Value's Mountain Lightning and Dr. Thunder. Not the ingredients you wanted and probably wasn't ever going to be good in the first place. Two for the composition.
The Waterboys
3/5
Its not that its a bad album or that there are bad songs, its just too damn long. There are a bunch of songs that could take two to three minutes off the run time and still be solid. I enjoyed listening to it, but I could have just as easily given this album a two.
The Stooges
3/5
Starts off with two upbeat songs that get you going, and then everything comes crashing to a halt with We Will Fall. The monotonous chanting that takes up a third of the original release and totally kills the vibe just about does it in for me. And then it picks up only for Ann to slow the album down just two songs later. Maybe I’ll give the extended edition a chance because I enjoyed the majority of the album, but I’ll be skipping those two tracks.
Arcade Fire
2/5
Keep the Car Running sounds like a Bruce Springsteen song. I have heard of Arcade Fire but never really knew much about them. A little mundane and hard to immediately see why it’s on the list. I didn’t dislike it, but I wasn’t all that interested throughout.
Lauryn Hill
5/5
The only complaint I have is that it’s a double album length. Other than that, it’s Ms. Lauryn Hill, that speaks for itself. Crazy that this is her only studio album and even crazier it debuted at number one and sold 20 million copies around the world. I’ve been on the fence between a four and five all day, but I think I’m gonna go with a five because of the notoriety of the album.
Jungle Brothers
4/5
What a vibe and such a breath of fresh air compared to other 80s rap. The run time is a little longer than I’d normally like, but I was invested in it from beginning to end. The lyrics are socially aware and topical for the era, the beats and production is fantastic, and the flow of each rapper scratches that classic rap itch. Easily a strong four.
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
Essentially a supergroup that just makes more orchestral Arctic Monkeys music, which is absolutely fine by me. Definitely would like more of the rock influences. When I inevitably have a random Arctic Monkeys listening weekend later this year I’ll probably throw it in the rotation. A high three, but a three nonetheless.
Simple Minds
3/5
There were a couple solid songs, but it’s pretty generic 80s pop at the end of the day. Nothing I’d complain about having on in the background and also nothing all that notable. Middle of the road album if you enjoy 80s music vibes.
The Doors
3/5
It’s fine. Nothing to write home about, really, but good for some background music. I think the only reason I’m giving this a three is because it’s The Doors and Jim Morrison.
Funkadelic
2/5
Maybe I’m ignorant to the importance of the use of repetition in funk music, but eventually it gets to be too much for me. Solid grooves, but I’m sure this would be a much better experience in person. Probably wouldn’t be coming back to this one even if it were available on Spotify.
ABBA
3/5
Exactly what I expected from the first full-length Abba album I've ever listened to. Was a little disappointed that none of their massive hits were on this one, but overall it was a pleasant listening experience.
Elvis Costello
3/5
Becoming more and more aware that there’s really only two Elvis Costello songs I want to come back to, and neither are on this album. Wasn’t bad, and I do love the ear tickle you get when he goes on a vocal run, it’s just not something I’m all that into. Middle of the road like my feelings towards Elvis Costello’s music.
AC/DC
5/5
Already had a majority of these songs liked on my Spotify, so this was a fantastic listen. Some of the biggest classic rock songs of all time are of this album, and it still holds up after multiple decades and replays. Easy five stars.
Supergrass
3/5
One major hit that a large majority of people know, a few other good songs, and not terrible background music. That’s a three if I’ve ever heard one.
The Doors
3/5
I'm completely ignorant to the history surrounding The Doors and how Jim Morrison became known as 'The Lizard King,' but if I had to guess, if he didn't already have the nickname then he got in during this era of his life. This album has some solid blues vibes and isn't a bad listen at all, but it doesn't live up to the hype The Doors always seem to get. I'll give it a three just because Riders on the Storm is such a legendary song.
Pavement
2/5
I think I see why this album made the cut? I feel like they could have influenced later groups, but I’m not sure. Either way, it wasn’t all that good.
Also, not exactly new info, but one of the songs used on Pardon The Interruption is on this album, Cut Your Hair, but they only play the ‘woo-boo’ part. Using that song on a show with two bald hosts is a brilliant move.
The Pretty Things
2/5
I think I messed up by listening to this one while grading assignments instead of just relaxing and listening to the storytelling. The music reminded me of The Beatles from time to time, but besides that, nothing ever really grabbed my attention. Maybe one day I’ll give it another shot in a better environment.
Minutemen
2/5
I appreciate the social commentary of the lyrics, and I’m sad that there are still some things we’re dealing with fourth years later. Also cool to see the Jackass theme pop up on this list, as I’m sure we’ll all mention. It was just really long and the short songs made it hard to find one to catch my attention and get into a groove. I’m wavering between a two and three, but I think I’ll go on the low end for this one.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
One of my favorite college memories is 4/20 my first year while I was living with one of my best friends, Josiah. Somehow I had convinced him to eat a homemade weed cookie (thank you, Marie) and while we were waiting for it to kick in we went and got Cook Out. When we got back I grabbed my Rumours vinyl and cranked up my shitty speakers. If not for what happened after, Josiah would have told you that was the best Cook Out experience he’s ever had. Ranch wraps taste better when you can’t feel your body and the drop on The Chain hits. Unfortunately, a few hours later I convinced him to rip my tiny bong. After facing a rip that looked like cotton balls had been stuffed in the glass, Josiah spent the next hour by the toilet, having his worst Cook Out experience. Overzealous, I know, but my naivety and state of mind had me thinking this newbie could embrace the holiday like a veteran. While tending to my fallen comrade, I figured I might as well keep the party going. So I flipped the record back over to Side A and finished off the rest of the pack in the bong. Dancing to Dreams as I brought him another glass of water.
There are seven songs on this album that I can listen to at any moment, and a couple that are absolute all-timers. Fleetwood Mac are amazing, and this is by far their best work. An easy five stars.
Massive Attack
3/5
Really nice to have on in the background while you're doing something else. Chill beats, cool vibes, and super British rappers. Would definitely come back to a couple songs, and might even keep it in reserve for music to play while hanging around the house.
Alice Cooper
2/5
A West Side Story sample was the last thing I expected on an Alice Cooper album. Once you hear School's Out, this album is mostly forgettable. I know Alice Cooper has been an icon for decades now, but I don't think this album had much to do with it. Not bad by any means, just doesn't leave much of an impact.
Morrissey
2/5
I’ll repeat myself, and with how this list goes I’m sure I’ll do it again, but I’m just not a Morrissey fan. This one was a little more tolerable than the others, but the lyrics were still insufferable from time to time. If it were more like The Smiths I’d probably enjoy it more and give it a three, but this one is getting a two.
Joan Baez
3/5
Peaceful, relaxing, and perfect for a chilly morning watching snow flurries outside. I hope we have more of her albums later on. Especially enjoyed her version of House Of The Rising Sun.
Boston
4/5
I listened to this one twice over the weekend and I’m still really struggling with the rating. The first three songs might be one of the strongest openings to an album that we’ve had on this list, but I think with how short the run time is and how front loaded the album is, I found myself losing interest towards the end in both listens. I think it’s a great album, but when rating it as a whole, I’m gonna have to go with a four. Hopefully I won’t regret this later on.
Jurassic 5
3/5
I wish I knew the percentage of millennials that were introduced to Jurassic 5 while playing ATV Off-Road Fury 2, I’m betting it’s well over 60%. Chill beats, decent flow, socially conscious lyrics, and a song that’s engrained into my brain. Could see myself giving this a four, but I think a three is the better rating.
Turbonegro
2/5
Was not what I was expecting at all. Thought I was in for heavy metal but got some punk music instead. There wasn't anything necessarily bad about the album, it just isn't my most-liked genre by any means. Overall, I mostly enjoyed listening, but what might have been edgy enough lyrics for a punk band in 1998 mostly just comes off as corny a couple decades later. Its a two and a half, but I'm rounding down.
The Smiths
4/5
I can’t explain how Morrissey is less insufferable with The Smiths, but I feel like going from a solo album to a group release in just a few days helps with my argument. Definitely an acquired taste for most, but I actually did enjoy this one, and having There Is a Light That Never Goes Out on the track listing is a bonus. A low four for me, but I see why others might rate it lower.
The xx
4/5
Short and sweet. Great for sitting back and relaxing after work with the hypnotic beats and chill vibes. The composition isn't anything special, but it was still enough to hold my attention. Will definitely be coming back to this one.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Saved this one for a lazy Sunday afternoon and I’m glad I did. Made for some excellent music while enjoying the sunshine on the porch. I think I’m a little ignorant when it comes to Dusty Springfield, though. It’s a solid album, but other than Son of a Preacher Man, I don’t see why this one might have made the list. Either way, a solid three.
Beastie Boys
4/5
It's been a long while since I've listened to any Beastie Boys at length, they're usually a band I go to for the hits and that's about it. Always been a fan of their sound, even if it hasn't aged all that well in the last 30 years. I was also surprised by the amount of instrumental tracks on this album, I can't remember if their earlier albums are this loaded with instrumentals. The length is one thing, but I didn't mind it as much as I have with other albums. An easy four, and will come back to it for some classroom background music in the future.
The Zutons
4/5
Only knew Pressure Point coming in, because, as previously mentioned in the group chat, it is featured on what many consider to be the greatest traditional sports video game soundtrack of all time, MVP Baseball 2005 (is that better for y'all extreme sports fanatics?). Was pleasantly surprised by the variation on this album, it felt like each song could have just as easily been placed in a different genre or decade and it would have done just fine. I'm honestly more surprised that this album is not more popular in mainstream culture. Will be coming back to it and I hope we have more Zutons albums in the future.
Hawkwind
2/5
The only Space Ritual I want to take part in is the Friday night drum circle in downtown Asheville, where I can leave after like 30 minutes to go drink on South Slope. This is definitely something you had to be there for to fully enjoy. Listening to it as a double-length album fifty years later, I don’t know that I fully appreciate it. Not bad, way too long, and probably need to be tripping on acid in the 70s while experiencing are the characteristics of a two.
Dagmar Krause
3/5
One of my favorite parts of history is studying about what it was like to live through different eras for the common person, instead of what it was like for leaders and the decision-makers. This album is an excellent look into the lasting effects of all-out warfare on the home front and recovering from that, physically and psychologically. Keeps an ominous tone throughout, with some tracks being some of the most haunting songs we’ve had on the list. Probably won’t come back to this album, but I am glad I listened to it.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I feel like I need to give this one another listen to better rate it and just because I enjoyed it. The US version is right in the sweet spot for album run time and it’s interesting to see the influence of different genres on the Stones. Paint it Black is a classic and there wasn’t anything I disliked about the other songs. Maybe I’ll change my mind later on, but for now I’m going with a four.
James Brown
3/5
I think this is another album that I’m ignorant of when it comes to its impact and importance. Clearly, this one has been held on a pedestal for the past sixty years, and it is a really enjoyable album, it just doesn’t have the staying power that all of the accolades would lead you to believe it has. Still a solid listen, definitely short and sweet. I could be swayed to a four, but I’ll play it safe.
Supergrass
3/5
I was digging it until the experimental sound became a bigger part of the composition. I enjoyed the two slower songs, Late in the Day and It’s Not Me, the most, but the upbeat tracks early on in the album were better than average. A middle of the road album if there ever was one. Good enough to keep your attention, but it had a couple drawbacks to keep it from getting top marks.
Megadeth
4/5
Maybe I do like metal? Or maybe listening to anything fast paced while driving with the windows down on the first warm day in weeks is always going to be a pleasant experience. First time actually listening to anything Megadeath has released, and I was pleasantly surprised. This album rocks so damn hard.
Björk
1/5
Hadn’t really ever listened to Björk. Now I know why. Thought about a two because the composition and instrumentation is at least interesting, but let’s be real, there’s no way I’ll check this album out again. I’m afraid that a 2015 release from Björk implies there will be more albums ahead of us.
Also, this gives me the urge to go back to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs albums.
Talking Heads
2/5
A better album overall than their debut album, but without any big hits it isn’t very memorable. Run-time isn’t too long, has that Talking Heads charm, and lyrics that are just strange enough that you question what you’re listening to. Rounding down from a two and a half.
David Bowie
3/5
Better than our first Bowie album, but still not a lot to take away from this one. Fame is by far the biggest hit, and the cover of Across the Universe isn't bad by any means, but the rest is mostly unremarkable. I appreciate the more R&B sound of Bowie, but so far, both albums have not been the masterpieces I expected with how people hold him and his music with such high regard.
Brian Eno
2/5
Can’t tell if this list has me burnt out on 70s British rock, or if this just isn’t a good album. There are definitely moments here and there where it shows some promise, but the majority feels like it drags on with monotonous rhythms and randomly placed noises. A couple decent tracks but other than that, nothing that stood out or that makes me want to come back.
David Bowie
4/5
I definitely understand the Bowie hype more after two albums in a week. Even without any of his major hits, this album flows really well from beginning to end and feels like you’ve completed a journey. I appreciated the varying musical styles and the little bit of weirdness that Bowie adds in. Glad I finally listened to the album that introduced the world to one of the most iconic images of David Bowie.
Björk
1/5
Definitely not a Björk fan, and scared of what two of her albums in less than a week will do to my Spotify Wrapped. I can appreciate the vocal skill and talent that Björk has and in the background vocalists, but that’s really about it. Somewhat intriguing to listen to, but I don’t need to listen to it again. Kinda want to give this a two to keep Nick Cave as my least liked artist, but I can’t make myself do it.
The Temptations
4/5
Such a jam. Absolutely iconic baseline on Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone, but I don’t know if it’s fair that it takes up a third of the album. I could’ve gone for more tracks instead. A really good listen and I hope we have more from The Temptations.
Miles Davis
4/5
Can't think of a better album to have playing in the background while I got my classroom and assignments ready to go for the week. Upbeat, catchy, and smooth as hell. Might even go ahead and listen to it again since its short and sweet. As always, still learning the difference between 'Good' and 'Great' jazz, but this is Miles Davis and has been touted as a groundbreaking moment in the jazz scene, so its gotta be in the Great category, right?
Radiohead
4/5
I wasn’t exactly enjoying this album, but I think the second half saved it for me. It was more of the Radiohead sound that I enjoy, even if there were some songs that had repeated lyrics that wear on you. I was thinking this would be a three early on, but I feel comfortable giving this a four. I would definitely want to give it another listen at some point.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Exactly what you would expect from a Beastie Boys album. The lyrics are just crass enough that if your mother heard you listening to it she would yell at you to turn it off, and the production of the beats has that nostalgic feeling that only rap from the late 80s and early 90s can give you. Has this style aged all that well? Not really, but its fun to come back to it from time to time. Not many of their hits on this one at all, but for a debut rap album from a group of white kids, its pretty solid.
The Monks
3/5
I was trying to figure out which Apple ad Boys are Boys and Girls Are Choice was from because the beginning of the song isn't too unique, and then the 'woo-hoo' part hit and it was a shot of nostalgia. But then I felt really old when I looked up the ad and saw that it was advertising features on the iPhone 7. Pretty generic 60s rock, but better than some of the others from the same decade that we've had prior to this one. Would come back to listen to a couple of the songs, but them not being on streaming services makes it difficult.
Rush
4/5
A short and sweet album that has two of the most recognizable prog rock songs of all time on it. The length coming in at just under 40 minutes also helps with not getting lost in a longer album. I enjoyed this one a lot more than our first Rush album.
Ray Charles
4/5
Any reason to listen to Ray Charles is good enough for me. Really interesting to hear his style applied to some classic songs, in some cases making them better. Length is a little bit of a drawback, but otherwise, this was a very enjoyable album and exactly what I was hoping for.
Beck
4/5
Love an album with a Rock Band 2 song on it. There’s a lot of variety in each track that keeps you on your toes, at least in the first half, but it still stays within the same realm so it’s not too outrageous of a jump from song to song. I have listened to this album more than a handful of times, and it doesn’t ever disappoint.
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
Take Me Out has been in the rotation for years and I was happy to add a couple more from Franz Ferdinand. The early-2000s rock sound is definitely there but it holds up pretty well twenty years later. It’s on the shorter end of the runtime and I probably could have used a track or two more, but I won’t complain too much in that department. Will definitely come back to listen to this one again.
Arcade Fire
4/5
I was familiar with Wake Up and Rebellion before giving this album a listen from front to back. I didn’t necessarily get the reasoning behind naming a bunch of tracks the same thing but I also didn’t read into it. Chill rock and folk vibes that made for a really enjoyable experience. I’ll definitely be checking this one out again and might do a deeper dive into Arcade Fire in the future.
Snoop Dogg
5/5
I love that the same people that protested rap like this the hardest are the same people going “oh isn’t Snoop and Martha Stewart’s relationship so cute” thirty years later while they chuckle at marijuana innuendos. But to be fair, these lyrics and skits are pretty explicit for the early 90s. Definitely can’t say the style of rap has aged gracefully, but there is some staying power with more than a few of the tracks. Either way, this album makes it easy to see why Snoop is still a cultural icon. I didn’t expect to enjoy this album so much, but I was vibing from beginning to end. I could entertain arguments for a lower score, but I think this is a five star album.
Public Enemy
4/5
https://youtu.be/eJ_bgq8CCEg?si=5YHI_hnIbeAqbQTQ
First time I’ve had a deep dive into a Public Enemy album and it was a little long, but fun nonetheless. Always a big fan of socially conscious lyrics when it comes to rap, and this album has plenty to go around. It also deserves a second listen to catch all of the different references from the 70s and 80s. It’s a travesty that almost all younger millennials know Flavor Flav as a reality tv star. Also definitely going to try and model my basketball public announcer voice after Chuck D’s delivery.
D'Angelo
3/5
Another album on the list that would benefit from most of the songs laying off the repetitive verses to close out each song. It’s mostly an enjoyable listen and D’Angelo’s vocal talent is incredible, I just don’t need to hear the same line 15 times in a row. Shit, Damn, Motherfucker had to be written by Nick Cave and is also the exact sequence of words I grumble under my breath when I hit my toe on something. Cruisn’ could be the best cover of Smokey Robinson’s song but the length takes it out of the running. Ultimately it’s a middle of the road album that has potential. I can see its appeal as background music and I wouldn’t mind a couple songs coming up on shuffle, but I wouldn’t seek out the entire album again.
Blue Cheer
3/5
It was really cool seeing where metal got its start and see how far it has come in the sixty years since. Also so strange that this is incredibly tame music today, but would have been the most out-there thing people listened to a few decades ago. It’s nothing to write home about, and it isn’t bad at all. Short and sweet and its place on the list is undeniable, an easy three.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
4/5
Short and sweet with a really nice mix of blues and rock. Obviously I’m well acquainted with Eric Clapton and his talents as a musician (don’t much care for his other opinions), but I had never heard of John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers so I was surprised that this album was so highly regarded but flies under the radar decades later. The songs sound really similar in places, but it’s not enough to take away from the rating. I feel like this would be a good album to have playing while driving with the windows down.
Neil Young
3/5
I really think that if we had this Neil Young album before the like eleven others we seemingly had, I’d have a different opinion of his music. There are a couple all-time hits on this album, but they’re also the ones I was waiting for from him because it’s all I really knew. The album has great composition and is well put together, but even after his most well-known album I don’t really see the hype. Good enough for a three, but I can’t really go any higher.
Songhoy Blues
3/5
Really enjoyed the mixture of blues, rock, and cultural music. My biggest mistake was listening to this on a flight, so I wasn’t able to look up the translations for the lyrics. Definitely something I’ll have to come back to, but I don’t think it would be able to boost this album to a four.
JAY Z
3/5
Really conflicted with this one. Izzo and Heart Of The City are great songs that everyone immediately thinks of when Jay-Z is mentioned but the album itself drags in places and even though Jay’s flow is legendary, the laid back style doesn’t help with the pacing. I also know that this album is important, but it’s not the best of the Blueprint series. Between a high three and a very low four, so I’ll go three in hopes we get other albums from his discography.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
A rare gift from the list, a solid album from someone I’ve never heard of that I’ll definitely come back to listen to. Smooth instrumentals and great vocals, an album that you can throw on to have playing in the background and it does the trick. Not quite a five, but a high four.
Fugees
5/5
A classic. Had a fantastic afternoon vibing with the beats and trying to pick out all of the samples and interpolations in each song. Three absolute bangers on the track list and the rest of the songs keep you entertained the whole way through. Easy five stars.
Funkadelic
3/5
Change my mind: the urge to put a ten-minute track on an album in the 70s is the same urge dudes have to start a podcast with their buddies today, just evolved. At the very least, it’s an entertaining album. There’s definitely a lot to applaud, but I don’t quite get the funk genre enough to fully appreciate the hype. Would be great to have playing with the windows down on a road trip.
Pulp
2/5
I was pretty excited when I initially read the Wikipedia blurb and saw the praise this album had gotten but boy was I let down. Some solid tracks but overall it left a lot of things to be desired. Not as much of the 90s/post-grunge sound I was hoping to hear and unnecessarily sexual topics in places. Never really caught my attention, and for that, it gets a two.
Doves
3/5
This album really benefitted from being able to hang out on the porch watching the rain and having this play in the background. Really laid-back sound and great for some afternoon background music while disassociating after teaching and sitting in meetings. I didn't enjoy this release as much as The Last Broadcast, but it was a decent listen. Middle of the road three on this one.
The Divine Comedy
1/5
I’m four songs in and I can’t tell if it’s supposed to be ironically cringey or if this is a serious attempt at making music.
Alright, apparently it’s just the sub-genre being different but I’ve finished the album and it doesn’t make me look at it differently. He absolutely has a wonderful singing voice, so can’t say much of anything negative in that regard. But overall, I can’t see myself ever listening to chamber-pop again. The writing comes off as way too simple and there are parts that are so European it hurts. I wouldn’t say it was a waste of time, more of a one-hour session of learning I don’t want to explore this branch of popular music.
Bon Jovi
4/5
Hell yeah, brother. Rocks from front to back and was a blast to listen to. Three massive hits on this album as well, so it’s an easy four. Only negative thing is the corniness from this era of rock not holding up is there sometimes.
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
Incredible talent and a great, quick listen. Love that they kept the recordings with the mistakes and ad-libs in it since that’s such a big part of the genre. Would happily give this one another listen.
Frank Zappa
4/5
First time ever listening to a Zappa album and I can’t say I fully understand the hype, but I do understand how he can mesmerize musicians. It was a little lengthy but the composition and instrumentation is so interesting that it doesn’t seem like a longer album. It was fun to sit back and have no idea where a song was going to take me. Can’t say I’ll be taking a deep dive into his discography, but I’m sure we’ll have more of his work in the future.
Faith No More
3/5
There were times I was rocking out and there were times I could have sworn the band that made the Power Rangers theme song somehow had an album that made the list. Epic is a classic, The Real Thing is a great lesser-known hit, and the cover of War Pigs is solid. The rest of the album was either decently good or aged too poorly to be taken seriously for me. Another one right in the middle.
The Cars
3/5
Lone of the better starts to an album that we’ve had on the list so far. Being so front-loaded on a short album takes away from the experience a little bit. The back half isn’t bad, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the beginning. Will come back to this one for the hits and that’s probably it.
Minor Threat
4/5
The punk music you hear in your head when you think of punk music. So short that I didn’t realize I had listened to two songs from different releases thinking it was still Out Of Step. Not bad at all, enjoyed the short time we had together.
U2
4/5
Really starting to firmly believe that I’d have more of an appreciation for U2 if I was born in the early 80s. On the fence between a three and four with this one. Always enjoy lyrics that are a direct response to issues going on around the world, and I should expect nothing less from Bono, but that doesn’t mean it makes for the best music.
Going with a four because I came back and listened to this one again over the weekend and enjoyed it more the second time.
OutKast
4/5
This isn’t an album, it’s an experience. A long experience, but an experience nonetheless. Andre 3000 and Big Boi are true artists. So many features and so many different styles. Great storytelling on the tracks, picking out all of the samples other artists have used was a lot of fun, and even the skits aren’t that bad. And then you have the three massive radio hits from this album. Hey Ya might be one of the best and is one of the biggest songs of the decade (also check out Obadiah Parker’s cover for a folk-pop take on it, so good). I Like The Way You Move is such a jam and Big Boi’s first verse is a treasure. I have distinct memories of listening to Roses on the radio on the way to an 8th grade Rec League baseball game and spending my night on the bench trying remember if roses really do smell like poo-poo-ooh. Metaphors weren’t my thing. The only thing keeping this at a four is the length, but I also don’t think you can cut anything out.
Bob Dylan
2/5
I realize this came out like forty years after Bob Dylan’s heyday and nobody had ever praised his vocal talent, but dang, old age really turned him into Tom Waits. And album of the year? Really? Must have had a great publicist. It’s not terrible, but it’s also not anything I’ll want to seek out again. Maybe I should watch A Complete Unknown to get the hype a little better.
Kraftwerk
2/5
Was a much more enjoyable listen than I was expecting after our first Kraftwerk album. I think the difference in length might be the biggest boost with this playtime being right in that sweet spot. Got Stranger Things theme vibes throughout and from time to time I felt like I was a computer hacker. Might be good as some background music but I can’t say I’d seek it out specifically.
Culture Club
3/5
If for whatever reason there were a scenario where you had to pick one 80s album to explain the sound and vibes of the decade, this is an album that should be considered before a lot of others. A lot of fun to listen to and starts off strong with Karma Chameleon. I did get a little bogged down towards the middle, but not too much. Might give it another listen but it’s more likely I’ll just come back to listen to the songs I enjoyed the most.
Elton John
4/5
Such a fun album that I listened to it twice over the weekend. There’s a handful of hits and the deeper cuts are really enjoyable as well. I’m pretty sure this is the first full album of Elton John’s that I’ve listened to that wasn’t a greatest hits album. I’m sure we’ll have more of his stuff and I’m looking forward to it.
The Clash
3/5
Had much more of the punk sound I was expecting that we didn’t get on London Calling, which I enjoyed. What’s odd is that even though it’s more of what I initially wanted out of the clash, I prefer their sound from later in their career. Still a solid listen
Killing Joke
3/5
Definitely less punk than I thought it would be, but that wasn't a bad thing. Seemed ahead of its time as far as most 1980s rock is considered. Enjoyed a couple that have been added to my library, and maybe I'll come back to give it another listen in the future, but for now I'm fine with surprises on shuffle.
Santana
4/5
So silky smooth with great grooves and rhythms. Didn’t even consider that we’d see some Santana on this list but now I’m hoping for more. A fantastic listen that’s short and sweet, and Oye Como Va is such a classic. Makes me want a few Dos Equis and some tacos al pastor (only if it’s on the trompo).
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Not a whole lot of variation in the sound, but that’s not any new thought I’ve had about Jane’s Addiction. Definitely enjoyable, the songs just blend together in places. Thank You Boys wasn’t a song I was expecting to be on the album, either.
The Temptations
3/5
Tough to rate this one because while it is good, I know it’s not as good as The Temptations’ other work. On top of that, having one track take up a third of the album adds an extra level of difficulty. I could hear arguments for a four, but I think a three is where this one is for me.
Nas
5/5
An absolute masterpiece. When J. Cole said that “Nas wrote the [rap] bible,” he wasn’t joking. Definitely won’t be the last time I listen to it, and will probably hear samples from this album for the foreseeable future.
Ryan Adams
3/5
I was really enjoying the singer/songwriter vibes from this album early on, but then it got a little off the path late in the track list. There are times where that’s not a bad thing, but in this case, I wanted it to stay in the same sound as the beginning. Pretty long, and I lost interest but stuck with it, so I’ll give it a three.
Otis Redding
4/5
It’s a cover album but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a great listen. Otis Redding has incredible vocals and it was really fun seeing what personal touches he put on each song. It was also the first time I can remember hearing Respect from the opposite point of view. Really good album, but I don’t know that I can justify a five.
Pink Floyd
3/5
One of the many things I’ve learned from this list is that I’m not a fan of rock operas. As it is with Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2, it has been fun to hear some of the biggest rock hits of all time in the context they were meant to be heard. Unfortunately, I’ve also found that even though the storytelling and composition are usually fantastic, I’m just not all that drawn to them. That applies to The Wall and is why I can’t really go higher than three stars, even if it may be rock blasphemy.
Miles Davis
4/5
With it being a time that jazz hadn’t really brought electronic instruments into the genre yet, I can see how people might have been apprehensive with this album. But Miles Davis brought the heat and merged them together well. Great for some evening listening to wind down to. Would listen to again.
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
Language barrier aside, a very fun album to listen to. Kept me engaged the entire time and had a lot of variation and funk. Would listen to again as some background music.
John Coltrane
4/5
An excellent album to relax and listen to. Wonderful composition, I'm glad I had a reason to seek out John Coltrane and I hope we have more of his albums in the future.
Germs
4/5
I'm glad I listened to this one, and its really cool to see the beginnings of Pat Smear's legacy. Classic punk sound and I can see why it became such a popular genre. I wonder what could have been with this group if tragedy didn't hit.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
Would be a great album if you enjoyed long, drowning, dissonant guitar chords. Otherwise, not for me but still somehow better than other albums on this list. Sticking with my rating from the other My Bloody Valentine album.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Not sure if this is the best Drum and Bass album we've had, or if I enjoyed it because I've heard a bunch of these songs and snippets from this album in commercials, on soundtracks, and in various other places pretty much all my life. Praise You goes so hard, and I'd assume its hard to find someone that hasn't at least heard the main part of Right Here, Right Now. Definitely notable, just don't know how much I'll seek out this album on my own.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Enjoyed this album more than any of the other Bob Dylan albums we’ve had so far. Dylans’s vocals didn’t seem as sing-songy and he actually carries a tune throughout. It wasn’t a slog to get through like the others have felt like, even with it being a 50-minute plus runtime. Added a few songs to my library and could see myself listening to this one by the fire over the summer.
Massive Attack
4/5
A totally different vibe than other electronic albums that we've had and much more laid back. Made for very good driving music and something I could play in the classroom as students work. I added a few songs to my library and I could see myself adding more if a gave the album a second listen.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
I think I should have liked this more, it just wasn’t as memorable as I was hoping. Finished faster than it felt like it would because the songs were pretty good, but I can’t really tell you much about anything I had listened to.
Iron Butterfly
2/5
The title track is a classic, but I don't know if I need a full 17-minutes. Decent listen, good chord progressions, but I'm only coming back for the single version of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
There’s not much that I can add when analyzing this album that hasn’t been said already. Kendrick’s storytelling is unmatched and draws me in every time. It’s incredible how the singles from this album flow seamlessly into the story and not only are the skits not corny but they’re massively important parts of the story. An easy five stars and a masterpiece through and through. But more important to me are the memories associated with GKMC. It’s an album that I remember exactly where I was, who I was with, and what I was doing the very first time I heard it. From hanging with Pete in his mom’s driveway, to blasting Swimming Pools at parties, and road trips where we listened to the entire album with no skips, this album was the soundtrack to my life for almost two years. I can’t count how many times I’ve listened to this album, but over a decade later I added two more to that tally and enjoyed every second. Shoutout to The Recipe with Dre and the Black Hippy remix on the extended edition.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Oh sweet, Reynolds just won that soccer game.
I think I’ve mentioned my old Mazda that would only play factory produced cds and didn’t have a radio antenna, but if I haven’t, that limited my listening options on my drives for a few years. One of the cds I had was Bob Marley and The Wailers’ greatest hits and it includes most of the second half of this album. Waiting in Vain will always remind me of driving with the windows down through the mountains on that first warm spring day while I was living in Boone. Easy four stars.
Wild Beasts
2/5
Pretty forgettable, except for the Elmo-sounding falsetto lyrics in the beginning of the album. Maybe it deserves a second chance, I just don’t know if I’ll ever get back to it.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
A fun, upbeat album and a great way to celebrate being done for summer break. I feel like the next time I listen to it should be at the beach or something.
The Beach Boys
4/5
So different than the poppy surf sounds you’d expect from The Beach Boys, but was still a great listen. It was strange to hear social commentary coming from the band that’s known for singing about girls and cars, but eventually I was digging it. It’s definitely no Pet Sounds, but still pretty good.
The Kinks
3/5
There’s distinctions between The Kinks and The Beatles, but there were moments on this album that felt like it was a straight up copy of The Beatles sound. I can’t tell if that’s just the way British rock sounded in the 60s, or if they were looking to capitalize on Beatlemania. Decent album, couple songs I’ll go back to. Pretty sure we’ll eventually listen to each album that has a song Apple has featured in their commercials.
The White Stripes
4/5
Held my attention the entire time and the amount of variation was a big part of that. For not really having any of the hits I already knew, I really enjoyed this album. Worthy of a four and something I’ll come back to eventually.
Raekwon
3/5
I know Raekwon is a legend, there just wasn’t much that held my attention with this album. It’s always fun to listen for the samples that later rappers have used when listening to thirty year old albums, and other than a couple tracks, that’s about all I was listening for by the end. Not bad by any means, just doesn’t separate itself from some of the other 90s rap in my opinion.
Mj Cole
4/5
Apparently I enjoy the house music/UK garage genre. Even with and overload of drum and bass and dance albums on the list, this one felt fresh and different. Listened to this one twice, including the deluxe edition on accident the first time through, and I was vibing the whole time. Pleasantly surprised by this album and hope to move away from the DnB albums into more house music. I’m so tempted to give this album a five, but I’m more at a 9 out of 10 that will get rounded down.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
I started listening to this on a Thursday and didn’t finish until the following Monday. It’s not because I thought it was bad, it just wasn’t the vibe I was going for this past weekend. Still pretty good, though.
Keith Jarrett
4/5
Incredible musicianship and even more impressive that this was recorded live. Without knowing any significance behind this performance or album I still feel comfortable giving it a four.
R.E.M.
3/5
Sounds exactly what you would expect an R.E.M. album to sound like, except just a little more depressed. Was a decent listen with a couple well-known songs but those are probably the only ones I would seek out again.
Big Black
2/5
Not entirely sure of the significance of this album. I did find their use of other styles of 80s music added to a couple of the songs, otherwise it just seemed like pretty generic punk music.
1/5
Art is subjective but this is buns.
a-ha
3/5
Really refreshing to have some 80s pop for the first time in a while. Take On Me is one of the greatest songs of all time and such a strong start to an album. From there everything blended together well and I was never bored. The title track was also solid. Wouldn’t mind any of the album coming up on shuffle, but there’s really only one song I’m coming back for.
Beatles
5/5
Really can’t say much that I dislike about this album. The difference in the front half and back half of the album is really interesting and there’s a couple huge radio hits that most everyone knows. It’s not my favorite Beatles album, but it’s really hard to give this anything less than a five. Shoutout to Asheville’s own Moog Synthesizer and whatever role it might have played in breaking up the Beatles.
Fela Kuti
2/5
Fun vibes and not bad by any means, but the length and repetition over only four tracks really brings this one down for me. Good for some background music, depending on the scenario.
Elliott Smith
4/5
I was excited to get an Elliot Smith album because I absolutely love the Good Will Hunting soundtrack and he’s featured pretty heavily on it. The sound was exactly what I expected, as were the lyrics and storytelling, and I absolutely enjoyed it. Excellent music for a rainy fall day or just when you’re in your feels a little bit. Might have to listen to Either/Or next. Also a very strong possibility I’ll be watching Good Will Hunting in the next couple days.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I’m not entirely sure about the need for this many Elvis Costello albums, maybe I’m just ignorant but it seems like a lot. Pretty much par for the course with his music: sounds like the guy from That Thing You Do and there’s like two songs of his that I like, neither being on this album. Between a two and a three, I’ll go three to keep my personal average at a 2.5.
Kings of Leon
3/5
Forgot how hard it is to understand the lyrics on this album. Regardless, Taper Jean Girl and The Bucket will always remind me of driving around in my old Milennia with the windows down without a care in the world. Still not my favorite of their albums, but not a band I’ll ever complain about coming up on the list. A solid three all around.
Green Day
5/5
This is very much an album that I was familiar with before having it appear on the list. I even did a group project on it in college (my analysis focused on Basket Case). It had been a while since I had last listened to it though, and I forgot how many bangers there are on this album. So many great songs and the b-sides aren’t too bad. The only negative thing I could say is that the last few songs I lost some interest, but I still feel good giving this album five stars.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Some great grooves that were a lot of fun, but the repetitiveness of the lyrics over an hour really takes away from the rating. I would potentially rate this higher if there was less singing.
KISS
3/5
This is the first time I’ve ever listened to a KISS album from beginning to end and it was mostly exactly what I expected. The rock was fun, the ballads were soulful, and I thought it was deserving of a spot on the list.
Gotan Project
4/5
I have never wanted to be sitting at a rooftop bar watching a sunset falling into the ocean with an Aperol Spritz in my hand more. Jazzier than I expected and I was digging it.
Traffic
5/5
Really enjoyed this one, so much so that I listened to it twice. It’s in the Goldilocks timing zone, the opening instrumental track is a jam, and Empty Pages is a great radio single. The mixture of folk, jazz, blues, and rock was very well done and never felt like they were trying too hard. I was skeptical at first, but this album is very much a surprise five stars. Will be listening to it again.
4/5
This album rocks. Right from the buildup in Take a Bow I knew I was in for some fun. The blend of rock and electronic is put together so well, and the way different sub-genres of rock show up throughout the album really helps keep you interested to see what’s coming next. I went back and forth between a four and five while I was thinking about this album, and I’m going with a four due to length and the sometimes difficult to understand vocals.
Tears For Fears
5/5
The first time I remember actively listening to Tears For Fears was on a cross-country road trip to Wyoming in a 15 passenger church van. Somewhere in the Midwest I was sharing headphones with my friend while we watched Donnie Darko on his video iPod. Eventually, Head Over Heels begins playing and I’m mesmerized. I ask Aaron who the band is for a mental note on what to find on Limewire to add to my iTunes after we got home a week later. He quickly realized that I also hadn’t heard Everybody Wants to Rule the World or Shout, so from there my mind was blown and I was swapping iPods with him every chance I got the rest of the trip to listen to this album and any other new-to-me albums he recommended. That road trip was truly a canon event for me, seeing parts of America that weren’t the Southeast and all the different music I discovered while spending 48 hours in a van with my friends was a huge part of that, and would go on to shape my taste in music, so I was very happy to return to this album in particular seventeen summers later (I feel so old typing this and have also realized that iPod screen was smaller than the area my keyboard takes up on my phone now, what a terrible way to watch that movie for the first time).
As far as the album itself goes, there are three massive hits that I never get tired of listening to and the rest of the album always holds my attention with the atmospheric and poppy sounds that somehow make me nostalgic for a time I wasn’t even alive for. Also I couldn’t tell you why, but I think Songs From The Big Chair is an incredible album title. My bias might be getting the better of me here, but I’m going with five stars.
The Incredible String Band
2/5
Not bad by any means but I found myself pretty bored listening to it. Fun to hear different styles from around the world but I won’t be coming back to this one.
Queen
3/5
It’s hard to deny the musical talent of Freddie Mercury and Queen, and this album is a great example of that. The only personal problem I have is that my favorite parts of the album were when the band left the operatic sound and leaned more into the rock. A three feels blasphemous, especially when Bohemian Rhapsody is on the track list, but it’s where I’m ranking it.
Pantera
2/5
The musical talent and ability is unquestioned, and im sure there’s a lot that’s influential when it comes to Pantera and Dimebag Darrel, I’m just not a fan of heavy metal.
Tim Buckley
3/5
Not much on this album that was crazy memorable, some good grooves mixed in here and there that I feel like justifies the three.
David Bowie
3/5
I feel like I need to give this one a second listen to fully appreciate it. There wasn’t any part that I found boring or that lost my interest, but aside from Changes, there weren’t many stand-out songs. It was really easy to let this one play and enjoy as background music, but nothing blew me away.
Little Simz
4/5
British rap is so different from American rap, and this was such a refreshing sound compared to other modern artists. This was something I never would have listened to if not for the list, and I’m glad it came up. Gonna have to listen to more of her discography in addition to relistening to this one.
Black Sabbath
5/5
This album rocks. Three quintessential rock hits on this album that have stood the test of time is enough for an easy five stars. RIP to the Prince of Darkness.
Röyksopp
3/5
Even if it was on a commercial I saw countless times growing up, Remind Me is such a jam. Otherwise this album is pretty middle of the road. I’m more and more convinced by this list that Europe got ahold of the techno bug in the late 90s/Early 00s and never looked back.
Goldfrapp
3/5
The enunciation on the first album had me thinking this album was going to be in another language, but eventually I got used to the vocals and settled in. Great for background music but other than that, not much stood out with this one. It’s a low three, but still better than most of the twos. Not entirely sure what the significance of this album is.
LTJ Bukem
2/5
Maybe I listened to the right album? Either way, I put in my three hours and I’m counting it as completed. I can see how this would be a perfect album to have playing in the background while playing old video games, unfortunately when I listened to it I wasn’t doing that. I also don’t think it would improve the rating. I’m only going with a two because we’ve listened to some truly wild shit on this list so far.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Easy listening with a couple standout tracks. Her vocals seem old fashioned but also have a little bit of a timeless characteristic to them. Pretty sure that’s the first Joni Mitchell album I’ve ever listened to and I’ll definitely listen to it again.
The Kinks
3/5
Sounds more and more like The Beatles every time we get one of their albums, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. Going with a three because it was a fun listen even if not many songs stood out.
Beck
2/5
Kinda knew what I was getting into with this album, and Beck in general. I really enjoy Devils Haircut and Where It’s At, but this particular genre experiment from Beck isn’t my favorite of his. The length and the musical choices made on Novacane and the end of the album are definitely something. I don’t think three songs I like on this album can bring it up to a three.
Ice T
3/5
I’m not one to complain when the groove of an early 90s rap album actually ages well, but I will complain about the length of said album. I think I’d rate this a little higher if it was about half an hour shorter. I was also very happy to have very limited skits included in the tracks, I feel like that’s an anomaly for the era. Not bad but not anything I’ll seek out again.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
Gotta giddy up a ding dong.
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
Solid all around, I don’t really have too many complaints but not exactly all that memorable either. Nice for some porch listening on an overcast day.
The Byrds
3/5
Had a fun 60s sound that brought together a lot of influences. There were some standout tracks but nothing that absolutely blew me away. Will come back to give this one another listen but only worthy of a middle of the road rating.
Throwing Muses
3/5
Really interesting album that was a fun listen with vibes that reminded me of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at times. Even if it was difficult to find, it was a super random pull from the list that still keeps it interesting 400 albums in. I’m probably going to check out their newer stuff.
Stereolab
2/5
Eh. Good for background music but that’s about all I got from this one. Struggling to see the significance.
The Vines
4/5
I’m always a sucker for that early 2000s rock sound, it has to be the nostalgia factor that wins out when I’m listening to something from that era. There were a couple standout tracks, but I was grooving the whole time. I know a couple other songs from The Vines but I’m excited to explore their deeper cuts.
Adele
5/5
Absolutely phenomenal, so good I listened to it twice and then went through more of her songs. Adele has an incredible voice and the singles from this album are certified bangers. The b-sides are also great songs and really there’s no better artist when it comes to contemplating life and getting in your feels. It’s not my personal favorite album of her’s, but it’s fantastic nonetheless. Easy five stars.
Mekons
2/5
Not sure where the country influences are that would allow this to fall into the genre, but I definitely hear the punk. Overall it’s just not for me, and definitely not something I’ll come back to.
Jerry Lee Lewis
2/5
I just want to watch the first Top Gun now. RIP Goose. There’s definitely a couple great tracks on this album, and I’m sure seeing him live and rocking the stage must have been incredible, but the biggest drawback of this album is how similar each song sounds to each other. I feel like this was something I noticed with Little Richard as well and I’m sure is more just an early rock and roll issue, but that doesn’t make it more enjoyable seventy years later. Also I’d be kind of pissed if I only saw a thirty-minute set at a concert.
T. Rex
3/5
Had some really fun grooves and was a lot of fun for some Saturday afternoon jams. I'm not sure what the rest of his discography looks like past this one, but I'm interested to see what else I might know of his besides Get It On.
The Cardigans
5/5
Such a fun album to listen to. I did prefer the more upbeat tracks over some of the slower ones, but the pacing worked really well for a short album. This has ‘I bought this album at a used music and bookstore because I knew Lovefool from The Office but ended up playing over and over’ written all over it. And I was digging the Iron Man cover. Honestly a little surprised but I’m willing to give this one a five.
David Bowie
2/5
I get that it’s Bowie and he’s an incredible musician that deserves his accolades, this album just wasn’t really for me. Not much stood out to me or caught my attention. It’s like a two and a half at best.
The Pharcyde
3/5
Always love some early 90s hip hop beats. There wasn't anything that left a lasting impression, but it was fun to listen to a group I hadn't really ever heard of. Good for some background music vibes and I definitely appreciated the skits not being so goofy.
John Prine
4/5
I wish this is what country music sounded like today. I really enjoyed the social commentary of the time instead of hearing about how great Friday night in a field is. Just the right amount of folk influence as well. Overall a great listen I’ll come back to again.
Well done, hot dog bun, my sister’s a nun.
Lorde
4/5
I didn’t know what to expect from this one but I really enjoyed it. Wasn’t as upbeat as Royals and Team, but I think that worked out better this way. Will definitely come back to this one again.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
What an absolute pleasure to listen to. Sinatra has one of the silkiest voices of all time and this is definitely an album that can be played and listened to over and over again. Not too many of his biggest hits are here, but that doesn't take away from the album at all. I hope we get some more of his work soon.
Also I really want some Italian food now.
The B-52's
1/5
I thought I liked Rock Lobster but I guess Donkey Konga on the GameCube had a shorter version because I had no idea it was that long. Even crazier that it takes up almost a fifth of the album of what feels like the longest 40 minutes ever. And the Downtown cover is completely unnecessary. Really just didn’t enjoy this album at all but at least I can check it off the list.
Adele
5/5
My bias is shining through here with this rating but I think this is five stars regardless. Adele hits her stride with this album, having four of the biggest songs of the decade (right as the decade starts), some fantastic b-sides, and an incredible cover of Lovesong. It’s my favorite album of hers so I’ve listened to it more times than I can count but I’m never gonna be upset to have a reason to come back to it.
P.S. The dude that let Adele slip away is an absolute dumbass but I’m thankful his mistake led to this album.
P.S.S. Two fives for Adele should at least tie her with Kanye as my favorite artist on the list so far, definitely a good thing.
Giant Sand
2/5
Reminds me on Tom Waits and Nick Cave, with a little bit of Eels. Two of those make for a terrible mixture. Not surprised I hadn’t come across this band after this listen.
Missy Elliott
3/5
Love some early 2000s beats, and there are a ton of really fun features from legends of hip hop. I think Work It is enough to bump this album to a three, but I don’t need the bookended “I hope you like this album but I don’t actually care if you do or not” skits.
Badly Drawn Boy
2/5
Meh. Couple good songs, definitely reminded me of Elliot Smith here and there. Just not really anything that caught my attention or held it. Would be some good rainy day background music.
Tom Tom Club
2/5
Just alright. It was a lot of fun to listen for samples that had been used in other music, but that’s about all of the positives I’ve got for this one. Would only come back to listen to Genius of Love.
Madness
3/5
Didn't know anything other than Our House coming in, and I was also expecting more of a 90s Ska sound. Wasn't a bad album at all, just not something I'd seek out to listen to again.
Elvis Costello
2/5
I think Alison is a good song, I’m just sick of Elvis Costello at this point. What is the point of a solo project when it doesn’t sound any different from the band? Please tell me there’s only five of his appearances on this list.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
I might be a little more open to Nick Cave's music if we started with this album instead of Murder Ballads. Not all that difficult of a listen, minus the spoken-word parts of the last track, its just really somber and some of the melodies continue throughout the album and feels like its just repeating the same sad song. Probably only worth coming back for Into My Arms, but this band will be going back to 'Do Not Play' on my Spotify.
Suede
3/5
There were a couple good songs, but not really anything that was super memorable. I enjoyed the mix of sounds and wouldn’t mind if it came on in the background. Middle of the road album.
Simply Red
3/5
Really thought I was in for a treat after the first song, I was digging the mid-80s soft rock vibe. I lost some interest in the middle of the album, especially in the random chanting sections included in multiple songs, but I felt like the ending was strong. I hadn't ever heard of Simply Red before and I'm glad he came up on this list so I can check out more of his discography. Could give this album a four, but a three for an artist's debut album is still a good rating.
Gang Starr
4/5
Always nice when we get some older rap music that holds up for 30+ years, especially with such a clean flow from an iconic duo. Probably need to give this one a listen when I’m not at work, but still enjoyed it a lot.
Mariah Carey
3/5
Not entirely sure what’s notable about this album. Not bad by any means, there were more than a few songs I was grooving to, but it doesn’t really have any of her biggest hits and kinda blends in with other 90s acts. Love the house beat on the Butterfly reprise and The Beautiful Ones cover. Enjoyable but won’t come back to listen through the whole album again.
Pere Ubu
2/5
This was the 11th best album of 1978? Must have been a slow year. Fine, nothing special at all, or sure why it makes the list.
The Fall
3/5
I know this list has changed me because I enjoyed the drum and bass tracks on this album the most. Really enjoyable listen that keeps you on your toes from each song to the next. I could do without a couple songs from just the 12 original tracks, I don’t know why someone would want to listen to five hours of additional content. Either way, not bad but nothing special, keeping The Fall with a three-star personal average.
M.I.A.
4/5
The whole album was such a jam. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and it’s easy to see why she became such an international star even before Paper Planes. A strong four.
Donald Fagen
3/5
Love some yacht rock vibes, I’ll never complain about that. Not too many standout tracks but all of them were above average in quality. Gonna go listen to some Steely Dan now.
Patti Smith
3/5
I think the significance of this album are lost on me. I also found my level of enjoyment depended on the environment I was listening in, at work while trying to meet a deadline was not the best way to start listening. Maybe one day I’ll look into this album, for now it’s just a generic three.
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
Going back and listening to the debut album from Queens of the Stone Age was a lot of fun, and seeing the development of their sound from this album to what I'm most familiar with (Songs For The Deaf) was really interesting. I feel like the album is ahead of its time, not really sounding like it belongs in the late-80s but more in the mid-90s. A handful of songs were good, with others being above average, but I know there's better from this band so I'm sticking with a three.
David Crosby
4/5
What do you know, Neil Young’s vocals coming in hot to absolutely ruin a song right off the bat. Who would have thought one of that crew would show up on another’s solo project?
Aside from the first song, the album is fantastic. Great mixture of folk, rock, and hippy vibes. Could almost go up to a five from here, but when my first reaction is "what the hell is this?" to Neil Young singing it really ruins the whole experience. Please god, no more Neil Young features or solo albums.
Easily accessible and mixes blues with rock effortlessly. Always love Rod Stewart’s vocals and Stay With Me is a classic jam. Easy four stars and I’ll come back to it for sure.
Miriam Makeba
4/5
Loved the mixture of traditional South African songs and English language tracks. A short, fun listen. I’m interested to see if we have any more of her albums, would love to see what her music later in her career develops into.
Sparks
2/5
Counter culture is definitely the best way to describe this album. Very interesting, sometimes a little grating on the ears, but I still can see some noteworthiness to it. Their studio recordings probably aren’t something I’ll seek out because I thought the live track at the end of the album was the best by far.
Suzanne Vega
3/5
Really wasn't a fan of the spoken-word intro to this album, but it slowly grew on me as the album went on. Really missed an opportunity to enjoy this one in some gloomy weather this past weekend, I think it would have added to the experience. But I'll be happy to give this a three and maybe get some more of her work down the road.
Ryan Adams
4/5
Right up my alley, I’ll never say no to some melancholy singer/songwriter vibes, especially on the first chilly and rainy day of fall. There were more than a few great tracks on this album and I even enjoyed the country influences. Will absolutely listen to again, easy four stars and was on the fence with bumping it up to five stars.
Fatboy Slim
2/5
This Fatboy Slim album just was not as enjoyable as the other one we have already had. That album had me feeling like I hadn't given drum and bass enough credit, while this one left me feeling burnt out like I had been. Still great driving music during a commute, and also makes me feel like I'm about to pirate music and media in the 2000s while giving the family computer a deadly virus. Could hear arguments for a three but two is where I'll land.
Randy Newman
3/5
I'm pretty sure Randy Newman is the most soothing voice to listen to for just about every 90s kid. If there was a movie I watched hundreds of times as a child, odds are high that Randy Newman composed and performed the soundtrack. Obviously, its a lot different to listen to some of his other original works, but was still enjoyable. Probably gonna watch Toy Story here soon.
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
This album is all over the place, in a good way. There were clearly a lot of influences from all around the globe and I’m sure it had some influence on later artists as well. It’s also always fun to find a snippet of a song that an even bigger song sampled later. Probably won’t come back to listen to this one but I understand the significance and its place on the list.
Lambchop
2/5
Its not that I dislike the album, I just find the random use of falsetto a little off-putting when the rest of the album is sung at such a low tone. The music was solid, just overall the album wasn't for me and I don't fully understand the significance of it. I'm somewhere between a two and three, but I'm rounding down.
Grateful Dead
3/5
I know how legendary the Grateful Dead are, but the only song I knew coming into this album was Friend of the Devil, and that’s mostly because the Counting Crows cover version is one of my favorites of theirs. A lot folkier than I was anticipating but I can see the appeal to a bunch of druggies in San Francisco during the Haight-Ashbury days. A solid album that I definitely enjoyed, I just feel like seeing a live performance with a jam band and in a different headspace would boost the rating significantly. Maybe one day I’ll try and catch a Dead and Company show.
Pentangle
3/5
The more baroque-style sound was just not doing it for me. But the folk/bluegrass and more modern sounding music was really good. Sounds like a three to me.
Ray Price
4/5
I know this isn’t all that country, but I wish modern country music sounded like this. Or at least the newer country music that resembles this sound got more play. I enjoyed this one a lot more than I thought I would, even if the intro was strange and seemed unnecessary.
The Blue Nile
3/5
Probably missing whatever part of this is important or influential, it was just some pretty standard 80s music where not much of anything stood out.
Country Joe & The Fish
3/5
I remember that it was very psychedelic and overall a fun listen, but mostly forgettable as I write this two days after listening to it.
4/5
Fun and refreshing, the new wave sound is always so intriguing to me and I really enjoyed this quick album.
The Psychedelic Furs
4/5
Gotta love a second solid 80s album this week. Reminded me of The Smiths a little bit, just not as depressed. Added a few songs to my library and will come back to them again without a doubt.
Ash
4/5
The album starts out with the tie-fighter sound effect. That’s awesome. I was a fan of this one, a lot of fun for an album that clearly needs a little more polish in the studio and might sound like Weezer here and there. 90s alternative rock will always get high marks from me.
Gene Clark
3/5
I agree that this album didn’t deserve the hate it got on its initial release, but I don’t know where people are getting this greatest album ever talk from. Some good songs and a chill listen, glad I heard it but I don’t know if I’ll come back to it again.
Hot Chip
5/5
We have not had an album that makes me want to be in a shitty bar late on a Saturday night in my 20s more than this album. This vibe and $2 Well Liquor rum and cokes would have gotten me going every single time. I listened to this one twice in very different head spaces each time, and each time I thought it was fantastic. A pleasantly surprising five star album.
Aphex Twin
2/5
Would be decent background music but otherwise I didn’t really see the hype. Pretty generic electronic music.
Beyoncé
3/5
I’m fairly certain this is the first time I’ve ever listened to a full album of Beyoncé’s. Very sexual, very empowering for women, and has a couple bangers. It’s not my favorite album I’ve heard on the list but it also wasn’t bad at all. I’m somewhere between a three and four but since there’s no Crazy in Love or Single Ladies on this album I’ll round down.
Wilco
4/5
I always had this preconceived notion that people that liked Wilco were part of the older crowd and that it wasn’t current enough to warrant my attention. I’m not sure why I ever thought that. But it looks like I’m part of the older crowd because I’m definitely a fan of Wilco after my first listen. It being fall probably helped with the vibes but I’m not complaining. Other than the length, I thought it was a great intro to the band and made me want to dive into more of their albums.
U2
4/5
Sounds pretty much exactly like what you’d expect a U2 album to sound like, and Mysterious Ways is such a banger. I know people love this band but I still don’t fully understand the appeal, even if I am giving this a higher rating.
Gram Parsons
3/5
I enjoyed the country and folk vibes, but wasn’t really anything that stuck out or separated this album from others. Mediocre in my opinion, wouldn’t seek out this album specifically in the future.
Tangerine Dream
1/5
Well, I listened to it. I won’t again unless I randomly need some ethereal electronic music.
Linkin Park
5/5
Is there a better album to experience as you enter into adolescence? Probably not. Its 100% bias based on my age/generation, but this album hits so hard and still slaps today. I really hope Meteora or Collision Course are also on the list. RIP to Chester Bennington.
Nitin Sawhney
3/5
I listened to this a few days ago and just realized I hadn’t rated it. I listened to it while working and had no complaints, and the mix of different cultures was interesting, I just don’t remember much else about it.
Ute Lemper
2/5
A who’s who of artists I’ve come to absolutely hate on this list. Most of the songs were either super strange and I really can’t take Nick Cave seriously at all. It was better than I expected, but still really not that good.
Laura Nyro
3/5
Really strong vocals, a couple good songs, but ultimately not something I’ll come back to. Pretty much like every other three-star album I’ve rated.
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
It’s really good, I’m sure experiencing this live was absolutely insane. But a decades old jam band live recording is not usually my vibe for most weeknights. Would definitely be good to have on in the background, especially with the length. I could totally give this a four, it’s just a couple too many solos for my liking.
The Undertones
4/5
I really enjoyed this but I couldn’t get over how, on a couple songs, the lead singer sounds exactly like the lead singer of a 90s Christian Ska band I used to listen to. There were fun groves and I definitely wasn’t expecting an Under the Boardwalk cover from an early punk band. I wouldn’t mind listening to this again or checking out more of their music.
Sheryl Crow
4/5
All I Wanna Do still gets all the airplay (and too much of it in my opinion), but Strong Enough is the best song on this album by far. There are parts of the album where Sheryl’s vocals are a little whiny, but I still enjoyed listening to this album the whole way through.
Blur
3/5
Song 2 has to be one of the most recognizable songs for most millennials, I feel like it was everywhere when I was a kid. Other than that I felt like the album was pretty average.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
A strong four from me. Short, solid songs, and overall very enjoyable. I know this is a highly rated album but I just don’t see it as a five.
Cypress Hill
3/5
Pretty typical 90s rap sounds but nothing that blew me away. Middle of the road once again.
Steely Dan
3/5
Always love the smooth stylings of Steely Dan, even if I only knew one of their songs on this album coming into it. Still so hard to believe Chevy Chase was briefly part of this band. Probably could round up to a four but I’ll stick with a three.
Jeru The Damaja
4/5
I absolutely prefer the more lyrical sounds of 90s rap and that is especially apparent after getting two albums on each end of the spectrum this week. Within the golden runtime bracket for an album and had just enough variation to keep you on your toes. Great lyricism as well. Easy four star album.
Michael Jackson
5/5
I’ve been going back and forth on how to rate this album and whether or not to give it a four or five. It’s not as prolific as Thriller, but it does have so many iconic songs. It’s not MJ’s best work, but when compared to other albums on the list, it does stand out quite a bit.
Tori Amos
3/5
Kate Bush walked so Tori Amos could run. Even though I know a couple songs of Tori’s that aren’t on this album don’t have this exact sound, all I could think about is just how similar her and Kate Bush sound while I listened to this album. What helps the rating overall is that this album is much less experimental and is a lot more accessible.
Slayer
3/5
Nowhere near my preferred genre of music but I didn’t hate it. At the same time I’m not entirely sure I see the draw in the subject matter of the songs. I can see why they’re such a popular band, it’s just not for me.
The Triffids
2/5
I listened to this whole album and never really thought much about it until it was over. And the only thought I did have was that the lead singer had moments where he sounded like Nick Cave. I’ll stick with this modern Australian rock movement that’s happening and skip the older stuff.
Elton John
3/5
Starting to discover that I’m only really a fan of Elton John’s hits and not much else, so a front-loaded album like this kinda made me lose some interest halfway through. It wasn’t bad though, I’ll never complain about some piano-driven ballads, it just didn’t blow my socks off.
John Lee Hooker
3/5
Great vibes and features from legendary artists. Its definitely not a genre I could listen to all of the time but would hit the spot in certain moods. Will be looking through his discography in the future.
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
I definitely enjoyed the second half of the album more than the first, and that’s because of the different genres blended with country. I think Kacey Musgraves has a great voice and I was reminded of Norah Jones more than a few times. The biggest drawback of this album is the few times there’s predictable rhymes in the lyrics it really stands out and I find it hard to take the next little bit of the song seriously.
TV On The Radio
3/5
Eh, it’s alright. I was grooving to a couple songs but some were just a little too outside the box for me. I can see the appeal for some background music though.
DJ Shadow
3/5
I fully respect the technical ability of the artist and how much ball knowledge you have to have to live this together, but there’s a part of me that was always thinking about how teenagers do this kind of stuff on TikTok every day. It was a decent listen and would be great for background music, it’s just not something I’m coming back to.
Prince
4/5
I knew coming in that it was going to be off the beaten path and a little weird simply because it was a Prince album, and I wasn’t wrong. There were still so many tracks that were absolute jams and kept you engaged. There were parts that haven’t aged well since the 80s, but it added to the charm.
Terence Trent D'Arby
4/5
Haven’t ever heard of this guy but goodness, he’s got some pipes. I enjoyed a bunch of these songs and I’m really interested in checking out the rest of his discography. Love when the list offers up some heat from an unknown artist.
Dire Straits
4/5
Can’t complain about some blues-driven rock, and I’ll always appreciate one of the greatest guitar riffs of all time on Sultans of Swing. Made for some great driving music on a cold and rainy day.
The Hives
3/5
Sounds like punk rock to me. Not really anything I have to complain about, other than the songs sounding very similar. I thought it was alright, but I’ll still with the earlier punk groups.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
Damn, never thought I’d hear so many different ways for someone to explain they want to have sex with someone without explicitly saying it. Glad we eventually evolved to Akon’s “I Wanna Fuck You.” It’s great to go back and listen to where modern music originated, but thank goodness for those musical developments over the last 70 years.
Beatles
4/5
Having a Buddy Holly album the day before an early Beatles album was such a great way to see the progression of rock music in such a short time. It’s also crazy to think that the jangly early-Beatles sound was groundbreaking and a heavier rock sound. There are a bunch of covers on this album, but that was common for the Beatles and how they broke into the mainstream. Not a whole lot of huge hits but I’ll gladly come back to this album often.
Green Day
5/5
I have zero notes or complaints on this album. I can't count the amount of times that this album was played front to back on my Walkman in middle school. As an eighth grader I probably wasn't keen to the message of the lyrics, but as an adult they are clear and apparent, especially American Idiot (also, the line "twenty years has gone so fast" hit me like a ton of bricks on this most recent playthrough, considering its been 21 years since release). So many bangers and too much nostalgia to rate this anything less than a 5.
Ray Charles
5/5
The man truly was a genius. Right in the sweet spot for runtime. There were no huge standouts but that’s not really an issue because I thought every song was fantastic. Easy five stars.
Gang Of Four
2/5
The album would have been a lot better if there weren’t songs made to sound terrible on purpose with all that dissonance. Otherwise, there were some tracks I really enjoyed.
OutKast
4/5
It’s innovative, it’s catchy through most of the album, there are three generational hits, but it’s also just a bit too long for me. Probably in the range of a high three/low four, but I’ll round up because who am I to criticize OutKast?
5/5
This has to be the most accessible Bowie album we’ve had so far. So much fun to listen to and still holds up so many years later. Starman always makes me want to watch The Martian. I think this album is closer to a 9/10, but I’m gonna round up because this truly is an album everyone should hear.
Mylo
3/5
I was worried early with the repeated dialogue in Sunworshipper, and thankfully that trend only carried over to a few more tracks, but I absolutely preferred the songs that were completely instrumental. Absolutely love the Bette Davis Eyes sample on In My Arms. Would listen to some again, but definitely not the whole thing.
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
A little conflicted with this one. On one hand, it’s whiny as hell. On the other hand, I kinda don’t mind? I really enjoyed I Don’t Know What It Is and Vibrate, and there were some decent songs mixed in, but was still a longer album than I would have preferred. I could argue for a low three but I’ll go with a two for the only two songs I’ll come back to.
Beck
3/5
Somber and melancholy, which got a huge boost from the weather the day I listened to it. I do enjoy how Beck tries different styles but this isn’t the one I find the most appealing. Middle of the road.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
I enjoyed getting to go back and hear Leonard Cohen’s singing voice when he was younger, it was fantastic. Loved the mellow vibes and the lyrics were hauntingly beautiful in places.
The Flaming Lips
3/5
Forgot I hadn’t rated this and it’s been a few days since I listened to it. I like Do You Realize? by The Flaming Lips but the lead singer’s voice straddles the fence between eccentric and obnoxious. Not the worst but ultimately forgettable.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Has some timeless classics and you can’t top the duo’s vocal ability. I listened to this one twice and loved every second.
Neneh Cherry
2/5
There were moments I enjoyed in this album but overall it comes off as cheesy as hell. Better than other albums I’ve given one star so it’ll get two stars, but just barely.
Spiritualized
2/5
This mostly just dragged on too long. I wouldn’t say it’s terrible by any means, I can appreciate some ethereal sounds here and there, but it didn’t seem all that significant to have made the list. Somewhere between a two and three but I’m rounding down.
Sonic Youth
2/5
I had high hopes for this one, unfortunately it was a bit of a letdown. There was nothing that stood out from the other tracks or that grabbed and held my attention. I feel like a poser for this score but it just wasn’t for me.
Calexico
4/5
Super chill vibes and incredible guitar playing, it was perfect for wrapping the last of my Christmas gifts today on an overly-warm Christmas Eve. Excellent background music that stands out from other artists.