341
Albums Rated
2.66
Average Rating
31%
Complete
748 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010s
Favorite Decade
Britpop
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Perfectionist
Rater Style ?
11
5-Star Albums
31
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
|
5 | 3.42 | +1.58 |
|
Illmatic
Nas
|
5 | 3.61 | +1.39 |
|
Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
|
5 | 3.64 | +1.36 |
|
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
|
5 | 3.7 | +1.3 |
|
Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
|
5 | 3.74 | +1.26 |
|
American Idiot
Green Day
|
5 | 3.76 | +1.24 |
|
The Stranger
Billy Joel
|
5 | 3.85 | +1.15 |
|
Tapestry
Carole King
|
5 | 3.91 | +1.09 |
|
Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
|
5 | 4 | +1 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Violator
Depeche Mode
|
1 | 3.7 | -2.7 |
|
Remain In Light
Talking Heads
|
1 | 3.67 | -2.67 |
|
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
|
1 | 3.66 | -2.66 |
|
Aladdin Sane
David Bowie
|
1 | 3.61 | -2.61 |
|
Moving Pictures
Rush
|
1 | 3.59 | -2.59 |
|
The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
|
1 | 3.53 | -2.53 |
|
All Directions
The Temptations
|
1 | 3.46 | -2.46 |
|
Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
|
1 | 3.44 | -2.44 |
|
Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
|
1 | 3.33 | -2.33 |
|
Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
|
1 | 3.32 | -2.32 |
5-Star Albums (11)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
The Zombies
3/5
Super mellow, but blended together for me. To me it feels like one of those albums that’s cover art is better than the album. Season of Love I recognized immediately, maybe because of the Eminem song, but I also feel like it was in a movie or something.
1 likes
Muddy Waters
3/5
3 star. It seems like the first song was the original inspiration for “Bad to the Bone.” I really liked this version though, so it’s really interesting that the other version seems to be more famous. I liked the album in general too! Couple really good songs with an ok rest of the album - that makes it a 3!
1 likes
Beastie Boys
2/5
2 star. Never really been a fan of the Beastie Boys and this album confirmed that bias. There were a couple songs that I liked, but for the most part the album sounded like being in a crowded room. They kinda remind me of rage in a way, but I think rage is better across the board. Other than sure shot, the main song I liked was the one with the Q Tip feature. 2 stars.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (31)
All Ratings
Nick Drake
4/5
Very enjoyable as background music. The titular song is an old favorite. When taking into account the background of the artist, it gives you an entirely new outlook on the music and his writing. Haunting. Very similar to JCF. Nick Drake even does a cover of Blues Run the Game.
Pixies
2/5
Debaser and Monkey Gone to Heaven steal the show.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
I feel like this album could have come out anytime from the 80s until today. Unique and timeless.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Undeniable classics in don’t you worry bout a thing and higher ground. The songs are noticeably longer and there are less of them than the last few albums.
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
Guitar Hero 3! A lot of recognizable sounds and good songs.
Taylor Swift
4/5
At least 6 absolute hits on one album. The second half of the album drops off heavily. Taylor’s songwriting is undeniable.
Fleetwood Mac
2/5
Likable. There were a few songs that were especially enjoyable, but nothing jumped out at me. I bet if I listened to it a few more times I would like it more, but this is 1001 albums and competition is fierce. Interesting that this was the album directly after the album with Dreams/Everywhere/etc. it didn’t have any comparable hits.
Tom Waits
3/5
What first sounds like someone jokingly singing in Mr. Krabs’ voice opens up into heartbreaking and actually very good songwriting. A lot of the riffs are memorable and the progression of the album works - as the last song ended I reached for my phone to turn it off, intuitively knowing the song was the conclusion.
Overall, I’m extremely impressed with the songwriting, music, and subject matter. His voice is integral to the sound, but also makes it jarring and inaccessible. Make Adele cover this album and every song would be a hit, but it would be empty without Tom’s voice. I give it a three because it is compelling, but inherently flawed. I will be revisiting this album.
Deerhunter
3/5
Much more easy to listen to than Tom Waits. I didn’t feel anything groundbreaking from the album, but it was noticeably more fun to listen to in the car as opposed to just on my phone. I also felt as if the album ramped up throughout, which was nice.
Fairport Convention
2/5
Felt very generic for me. Likely because I don’t have the familiarity with the genre. Lead singer’s voice was technically solid, but sounded like a parody of itself. When she talked at the end I liked her natural voice better. I thought of yodeling throughout. The music itself sounded like b real Western background music.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Many iconic sounds/riffs/melodies that have been copied so many times at this point that they’ve become a cliche. Brilliant album that has clearly been an inspiration for many.
Sister Sledge
3/5
The titular song takes me back to Elementary/Middle School and Cove Camp. This song was family friendly and so of course was on steady rotation. There was this one kid who could belt the Sister Sledge voices super well. All of the camp counselors and other campers were super impressed and kept making him sing it. I thought I did it pretty good but he was obviously better, and I was quite jealous.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed my listen through of the album. I went back to “Thinking of You” and listened to it again later in the day - I’ll probably sample it for the mixtape.
Kate Bush
2/5
Sounded very experimental and all over the place. Leading with the title song is always interesting to me, because it would be like starting a movie with the climax. Kate Bush hit a lot of different sounds on the album, but to me it feels like something of its own time. I imagine it was quite groundbreaking when it came out, but so was the Atari. With that in mind, I’m not going to go out of my way to play an Atari.
Eels
1/5
Susan’s House and the Shrek song alone bring it up to a 2 stars for me. Otherwise, it isn’t musically compelling enough to carry the humor and isn’t funny enough to carry the music. Too presumptuous and relying on the fact that the listener “gets it” as their making their way through the album.
Just kidding, the Susan’s House piano is from Gladys Knight. It’s a 1 star from me dog.
Iggy Pop
3/5
Enjoyable to listen through. Had multiple songs that I had heard but didn’t know the name to (namely The Passenger and Lust For Life). I have always heard of Iggy Pop, but didn’t know if I knew any of his songs. Glad this one came up on the list.
Wu-Tang Clan
4/5
Quite possibly the most overrated rap album of all time. It really is pretty wild how Wu-Tang is a household name after the listen through. The concepts are really what made them money as a pop culture icon. The way they reference and sample old kung-fu movies is so quotable and repeatable, and also something that was ahead of its time, echoing throughout rap even today.
With that in mind, they do have some all time rap hits on here in protect ya neck, cream, wtcantfw, and maybe even bring the ruckus.
In my listen through I liked it even more than I thought I would. I think this album dropped right before rap really started to elevate, and in retrospect I imagine it likely had a huge impact on that. I could continue writing, but to put it succinctly - I think this is a grossly overrated album, but I still think it’s iconic and a good listen. The wrap equivalent of watching an old western movie.
The Black Keys
3/5
I remember when this album came out in high school. I played guitar and sang Jim Croce for my senior project (mediocre at best) but the girls and Ms. Bowman in my class loved it. This dude came after me and did the most mind blowing piano playing and it was completely under appreciated. Shoutout Traeton! Anyway, he loved this album when it came out, so I always think of him when I hear it.
With that in mind, the album had some hits but was an easy listen. To me you could play that entire album through as background music at a bar and I would be cool with it.
This was another one of those albums that had a definitive finish. As the last song faded out, I knew it was over.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
2/5
Listened to it all the way through at once on YouTube. I thought it was fine. Definitely appeared older and was not as timeless as some of the other older albums on here. I thought it was easy listening but not specifically compelling.
Michael Jackson
4/5
It’s MJ. What can I say. Found myself singing multiple songs after listening through. Definitely front loaded with hits, which makes sense when it comes to records/cassettes/CDs that start at the same point. Still not the elusive 5 star that I’m looking for.
Afrika Bambaataa
2/5
Cool and unique, but not super listenable. At over 40 minutes with 7 songs, we’re looking at almost 6 minutes per song on average. The cool factor is that the songs actually change and progress, but they’re not compelling enough to hold my attention for that long.
Especially in modern day when we have catchier songs that are less than 2 minutes long. I acknowledge that the instant gratification that comes from less nuanced, shorter songs, certainly impacts my view of this.
With that, the rapping is a relic of the past. It’s like the first time someone landed an Ollie in skateboarding it was the craziest thing, but now everyone is (rightfully so) desensitized to it. I’m looking for the 900, not the Ollie.
R.E.M.
2/5
Couldn’t tell you a single song. Good mellow background music, but I felt that the vocals were washed out by the rest of the sound. Probably good to study or read with. I can’t dance to it, I can’t sing to it, I can’t wallow in my misery to it, I can’t party to it, and it doesn’t hype me up. So there’s a limited use case for me. After all, to me the entire album felt like a Murmur…
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
2/5
When it started I felt like I was in 101 Dalmatians. The first few songs were definitely the poppiest, with discernible, catchy riffs. The remainder really blended together for me.
It’s timeless though, everything from the production quality on felt solid and clean. Unfortunately, I feel like this kind of album is played out now, just because it has been parodied so much in pop culture. I can imagine when it came out it was groundbreaking though.
Cream
3/5
Guitar Hero 3! Sunshine of Your Love has one of those riffs that you feel like was always there. It’s so simple, yet so iconic and catchy. One of the best riffs of all time. I feel like there were a couple of other good songs on the album, but it was mostly forgettable otherwise. I will give it a 3 star for housing an all time song.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
This is the kind of thing that if the boys were at a bar and a live performer played this it would be funny and surprising and would be a fun inside joke that we would have after that. I am all about over the top comedy, but I am expecting more musically from 1001 albums.
For this type of album to land for me on this list, it needs to be very strong (or at least memorable) musically. The most memorable thing about this album were the lyrics to Stagger Lee. But even that song is a reimagining of an older song not attributable to the band. The most similar type of music to this that I would like from the list is The Metal by Tenacious D. It’s Jack Black trolling, but he also has a hype all time guitar riff.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Definitely an improvement compared to the first album we listened to from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It was solid but didn’t blow me away.
Harry Nilsson
4/5
I was pleasantly surprised with the album. Coconut was a fun thing to have thrown in there, followed by Without You as well. I enjoyed my listen through. I felt as if Nilsson had a good balance of music and jest/comedy. Most of the funny albums we have listened to have been lacking musically in comparison.
Queen
3/5
Trademark Queen sound. I didn’t know any of the songs and probably won’t revisit any of them. A quick and fun listen.
Bobby Womack
3/5
Pleasantly surprised. Liked the hard hitting anthems he started with. Something simple and fun about this type of R&B. Reminded me a lot of Luther Vandross. Definitely belongs on the love making playlist. Much to wholesome for the slaying sloots playlist.
Rod Stewart
4/5
I really enjoyed the album. The sound was iconic and felt very patriotic. This is the kind of music that you would listen to while you’re doing hoodrat shit with your boys back whenever it came out. I imagine us turning this on, combing back our mullets, jumping in the eep, and going to fight the establishment. This is the type of music that was always there and I imagine will always be there.
Fiona Apple
2/5
I Want You to Love Me is actually a banger. Well, at least the first 2 minutes of it is. I really wanted to give this 3 stars, but I can’t for 2 prime minutes in a 51 minute album. So many of these albums have their best song(s) front loaded in general. I don’t like it.
With that in mind, awesome piano sample (sped up nine inch nails?) with some edgy angsty lyrics? I’m in.
“I move with the trees
In the breeze
I know that time is elastic
And I know when I go
All my particles disband and disperse
And I'll be back in the pulse
And I know none of this'll matter
In the long run
But I know a sound is still a sound
Around no-one.”
That shit is hard, en garde.
1 star for each good minute of the album.
Neil Young
3/5
Really good. Nice melodies and songwriting. I have a few of the songs stuck in my head. I listened to the album all the way through though, so I will have to go back and see their names. This is either a high 3 or a low 4 for me. Enjoyed it the whole way through.
Guns N' Roses
4/5
Great stuff. The hits are spread throughout, unlike a lot of the albums we’ve had that are very front loaded. One of those albums that feels very American. I still remember the first time I saw Slash. He just permeated cool and needed no introduction. Kinda like a rapper in that he was one of those guys that you never saw without his sunglasses on. I still think I’ve never seen his eyeballs. He really is like an anime character.
Welcome to the Jungle was the introduction song for GH3, so anytime someone turned on the game they heard that first riff.
It’s actually hard for me to believe this album came out only 6 years before I was born. I would have guessed way earlier. An all time great.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
2/5
Not bad. Remarkable for being a side project, but I’m not quite sure what caused it to make the list. With a third of the songs left I was waiting for it to be over. No real interest in listening to it again.
The Isley Brothers
3/5
Great album. Starts off going ham and carries it throughout. Odd with the different remixes/radio versions and interviews being included on the album though. What I thought was an interlude ended up being a 6 minute interview. Either way, original songs that have been heavily covered mixed in with covers. Good stuff.
John Cale
2/5
Liked the vibe. I didn’t necessarily “get” the album though. Short and moderately sweet, but fairly forgettable.
3/5
2 absolute bangers in with or without you and I still haven’t found what I’m looking for. My memory of U2 for the longest time was simply them being referenced in 1985, as well as switchfoot talking about bono in one of their songs.
Then there was this animated graphically violent video of a bunny protagonist fighting against impossible odds. The video was set to Sunday Bloody Sunday. The bunny dies a gory, heartbreaking death. Very sad.
Finally, Tim Cook force downloaded the one U2 album to everyone’s iPods without consent. It still auto plays every time Allie plugs her phone into her car.
All of that to say, most of my memories of U2 have been the culture surrounding them. They do have some bangers though.
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
This was like the Skyrim of albums that we’ve listened to thus far. 22 songs at an hour and fifteen minutes long. So much content, but there was also so much diversity built into the album. It was weird, for sure, but I was pleasantly surprised from the beginning on. Pleasant to listen to, not overly obsessed with itself. Great album.
Meat Loaf
2/5
Hard to follow right after Illinois. But this album had an average song length of almost 7 minutes. Thats way too crazy. As I was listening to the last song I thought to myself, “Ok that was a pleasant ending, seemed shorter than some of the other songs though.” When I looked at the time there was still 5 and a half minutes left. Insane. I found it hard to stay engaged. Conceptually it was interesting with each song seeming to have multiple parts/acts, but it just wasn’t entertaining enough to carry it.
The Dictators
2/5
The feeling from this album blended in with the last album to me. I think that’s going to continue to happen and I am going to get more snobbish as we go through the list. It’s hard not to be critical when the biggest thing that jumps out at me is a Sonny and Cher cover. I do not have the historical context to this band, but I wasn’t super impressed.
TLC
4/5
The first true peer to 1989. A mix of anthems and ballads. Romance, infidelity, drama, and ending it out with an uncredited Andre 3000 verse. This album is oozing with talent - P Diddy, Dupri, Babyface, and even Prince all have production looks.
This album actually carries all the way through and doesn’t slow down. The main hit is midway through and they creatively use interludes to provide levity and keep the album from dragging in the second half. I really thought the last song had to be a throwaway, and then they kick it off with a verse from one of the greatest rappers of all time.
It’s tempting to make this a 5 star, especially considering I only knew creep and waterfalls prior to listening. However, while this album was more consistent throughout, 1989 had significantly more hits front loaded. A strong 4 star performance.
David Bowie
2/5
Love David Bowie’s style but couldn’t jive with the album. The titular song is iconic, but other than that I will not seek out any of the songs from this album.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Liked it. Very pleasant to listen to. Like a Rolling Stone is a brilliant song. I hope there’s more Bob Dylan on the list for us to listen through.
Antony and the Johnsons
1/5
Sounds like a drag queen singing contemporary Christian music. Don’t get me wrong, I watch RuPaul every Friday. Good singers are the exception. Contemporary Christian speaks for itself.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Really enjoyed the album. Was surprised to see Changes on there/had no clue it was them. Very pleased to see a well-known band like Black Sabbath deliver on an album that isn’t considered their best or most well known. Felt very content/satisfied listening to the album.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Didn’t know what to expect and went in blind. Was met with multiple hits that everyone has heard before. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and Time After Time have both been played in movies and other forms of media throughout my life. Fun to see where they come from. I had no clue they were from the same person let alone who that person was. Another great example of the type of album I would want to be on the list.
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
The new holder of the Skyrim award. Such a huge amount/variety of content. It really is a sign of the times though. If I had to pay $10 for an album like this vs $10 for a 45 minute album, the value would be insane. The problem is that time is a lot more sacred in music now because of accessibility and streaming. I don’t just have a cd in my car, instead I can stream basically whatever I want. As a result, this album becomes a chore to listen to after some time.
That being said, they spread their hits out very well on the album and it was definitely generally enjoyable. It would at least be a 4 if they took 40 minutes of the best songs and made an album out of that. I really do applaud the band for the work as a whole. It’s just not captivating enough for me to not feel inconvenienced listening to the whole thing.
Elvis Presley
2/5
I like both Elvis and Memphis, but I didn’t find the album super listenable. Some of it is this kind of music being out of style, but other than Suspicious Minds, there weren’t any big hits. Additionally, “In the Ghetto” is very cringeworthy to listen to nowadays.
Based on looking up the songs from Elvis that I know, it seems like there are multiple albums that are better than this. I’ll be interested to see what else makes the list.
Doves
2/5
Good background noise. Fairly boring and not memorable, but if it was playing at a bar I wouldn’t mind it.
How many stars does being not off putting rate? Another one where I’m not quite sure why it’s on the list.
Arrested Development
2/5
Some fun beats but the rapping is too weak for me to enjoy it. Keep in mind this dropped the same time “It Was a Good Day” by Ice Cube and the first singles of Illmatic came out. There was significantly better rap coming out at this time.
Do I give it a 3 because I like rap and it was probably influential?
*Insert Lord of the Rings Isildur “no” meme*
Common
3/5
Made 6 years after Common dropped one of the greatest rap songs of all time in “I Used to Love H.E.R.” Like Water for Chocolate is an awkwardly placed album. The old rap that Common came out of is getting left behind as we move into early 2000’s rap. Eminem was in his prime dropping The Marshall Mathers LP. OutKast was dropping pop hits. Gangsta rap was on its way.
Common’s album is in between. He has a similar style to the older records, but has also somewhat adopted the new styles. “The Light” “The Sixth Sense” and “The Questions” are all great songs, but I can’t help but feel that Common got left behind. To me he feels like a dad trying to rap with the kids. It feels disingenuous to hear him saying the “pussy n words” and the “f words.” It’s jarring and makes the album less timeless, while in an arena where he couldn’t/wouldn’t compete with the other rappers coming out.
In the skit at the end of “The Sixth Sense” he acknowledges the hypocrisy by intentionally saying that he is out to represent women, followed by him smacking a prostitute. It’s oddly self aware, but also a good example of his hubris. Common has always seemed to have that “holier than though” rap style, but I feel like he also brought himself down to everyone else’s level.
Aside from that, aside from the standout songs, the album is bland and forgettable. I don’t think Common had the ability/motivation to ever really leave the early 90’s style behind.
3 stars due to an overall bland album with some standout awesome songs.
Neil Young
2/5
The album came in strong with Walk On and then faded until the titular song. I played it in the background of a family gathering and it provided good vibes. Two good songs, the rest of it being good background music makes it a 2-3.
I don’t know if it would be the type of thing that I would be satisfied/content listening to all the way through without doing something else. Overall, I’m glad I listened to it, but it doesn’t provide as an album.
Yes
2/5
Really like Roundabout but the rest of it wasn’t super memorable. I know I have heard Roundabout before but I don’t know where. I think it must be a song my Dad likes. I definitely associate the familiar part of it with like Chicago or The Eagles. The Chicago part may be similar to 25 or 6 to 4? Idk but I would like to find out.
2 stars for a song I really like on an album that I don’t care for too much.
Bad Company
2/5
Didn’t mind it, but wasn’t particularly impressed or intrigued. I was pleased that it was only 34 mins. I think a lot of the albums recently have been way too long.
If my favorite thing about an album is that it’s short, prob can’t go above 2 star.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
I felt like I was listening to a greatest hits album for the first half. There are a lot of bangers/familiar songs. Even if I didn’t specifically recognize a song, there would be a guitar riff or something that was undeniably good/iconic. Cool to see a branch off project be so successful. It’s limited to 4 stars instead of 5 for a bit of a lull in the 2nd half.
Overall really enjoyed it.
Rush
3/5
3 stars for being unique and cool/interesting. I’m curious to know where the album came from conceptually. Also, was it just me or did the last part of the first song sound a lot like don’t get fooled again by the Who?
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
How high can one song carry an album? Hurt and its legacy are undeniable. I don’t feel as if the album is very accessible, even hurt took me a few listens to appreciate it. That makes me wonder if the rest of the album would be the same way, though. Being that we have ~950 albums to listen to still, another listen will have to wait.
Fleet Foxes
3/5
This sounded like what I imagine contemporary Christian music would sound like if it was good. Very light, uplifting, and pleasant to listen to. One thing I thought was odd/interesting - a lot of the riffs seemed super familiar. I know I’ve heard of fleet foxes, but maybe I’ve heard a few songs here and there.
k.d. lang
2/5
Pretty boring. Talented singer, but the compositions weren’t super compelling. I appreciate that it ended with what I feel is the strongest song in “Constant Craving” but by the time we got there I was just ready for the album to be over.
Gene Clark
2/5
Another background music album. Very pleasant, but nothing jumped out at me. Probably good for a homework playlist or something. I feel like I must be missing context for these albums. But hey, this is 1001 Albums - you gotta come hard.
Fiona Apple
3/5
Much more accessible than bolt cutters. I enjoyed it in the first listen. I still think “I want you to love me” is her best song and I am still listening to it, but Tidal as an album is significantly better. I think she conformed more earlier in her career, which for a first time listener is easier to digest.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Really liked it. Joan came in very strong and the album felt quick. Good singing, composition, and songwriting. It definitely blended a bit at the end. I’m surprised I’ve never heard of her before.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
The first few songs felt like good singer-songwriter folk blues type music to me (reminded me of JCF). The Pocahontas song was straight up troll. Would never fly today.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
Catching up, so I just finished this one this afternoon. It was cool though, I liked the vibe. Lots of jamming with no lyrics. Nice driving tunes.
Def Leppard
3/5
Great album to have on the list! Def Leppard is one of those bands I always knew of but was interested to actually listen to. So ideal for the list! I enjoyed it. I hope we will get more from them.
PJ Harvey
2/5
Made it through. Thought it was better than Nick Cave, but that’s not saying much. A lot of it was noise, but there were some good transitions and guitar riffs. The way the album was mixed was odd. It seemed super quiet and far away, but it also further showed that it was from a different time/more raw than stuff I would listen to today.
Kanye West
5/5
The first 5 star album of the list for me.
Strong from the Nicki Minaj fairytale intro until the end of See Me Now. This is not my favorite Kanye, but it is probably the best Kanye. Between his rapping and production, this is his peak (alongside WTT). While his first few albums are very positive and he continues improving throughout them, his mom died before 808s (which directly preceded this album). That showed a big change in the hopefulness that came from his first few albums. 808s was his emo rap response to his mom passing away. This album is one step further where he’s on the edge between greatness and insanity. After this album, Kanye’s narcissism takes over and his albums reflect his deteriorating mental state (if you want to be kind to him) or his self-idolatry and obsession with controversy/maintaining relevancy.
Now for the album itself - great production, good features, Kanye-tier rapping (which I wouldn’t consider to be technically good on its own, but very relatable and with all time punchlines) every song (except arguably 1 or 2) are great songs on their own. While Kanye isn’t as strong a rapper, (which admittedly is why I didn’t like him as much when I was at the height of my rap music listening in high school) he is undeniably entertaining and quotable. The album is relentless in giving you banger after banger. From All of the Lights (perhaps his best song of all time) to the radio hits packed with stars (Monster and So Appalled) to ballads like Blame Game.
I came into the album thinking it was going to be a 4, but there simply aren’t that many rap albums that can compare across the board all the way through. I hate the cliche of me making a rap album my first 5 star, but I don’t mind the irony in Kanye dethroning T Swift for best album thus far.
The Velvet Underground
2/5
Boring. Fine to listen to and I feel like it’s somewhat timeless, but I’m not super interested in listening to any of it again.
Van Halen
3/5
Fun! The type of album I like to see on this list. Classic.
Judas Priest
3/5
Enjoyed it. Another one of those old rock albums that blends together for me. Nothing breakout, but I liked it throughout.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Good vibes easy listening!
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Still a 3 for Marvin. Some bangers, but it felt like it had a bunch of filler for only being 35 minutes long. Good vibes though as always.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Loved it. It comes as no surprise, but a bit of familiarity goes a long way with me for an album. I had never listened to this one before, but the band’s sound is so distinct and consistent that I recognized it instantly as being associated with a song from my childhood. That song turned out to be from a different album, but the key elements of it are all present here.
The vocals and simple, yet mesmerizing guitar riffs carry the show for me. The message is angsty, anti-establishment, and mad. The sound matches the name perfectly.
I also felt as if this album was a continuous thought. From start to finish, it could have been one really long song. Maybe at some point that will show as a limitation or shoehorn for the band, but as a casual listener, I felt it made it easy to follow and get behind. As the album went on I was continually pulled in. The way they use chants to get you to sing along is genius and makes it easy to feel like you know a song quickly.
This is the best example of what a cohesive album should be from what we’ve seen thus far. No gimmicks, no heavy production, no features, just what felt like a heavy jam session that materialized into an album. Natural and fluid.
Finally, I want to make an analogy with MBDTF. MBDTF is like a Michael Bay blockbuster - crazy budget, tons of stars involved, etc. awesome. This album is like American Graffiti, no budget, just some prodigy’s and some magic. This album has cut Kanye’s reign of terror short. The crown goes to rage!
Morrissey
2/5
Boring and cringe. Probably made for some good love making in the 90s but it’s too late to pologize
The Zombies
3/5
Super mellow, but blended together for me. To me it feels like one of those albums that’s cover art is better than the album. Season of Love I recognized immediately, maybe because of the Eminem song, but I also feel like it was in a movie or something.
The Clash
3/5
I really liked it. Super unique and a great variety. This album would have a ton of value in the 6 cd changer challenge. Multiple vibes and even genres throughout the album. This album felt like it took more risks and was more innovative than some of its contemporaries. At the same time, it had a handful of awesome hits. I’m a sucker for montage type songs and this album has them. A lot of the riffs are so familiar. I would like to see a family tree from this album of all the influences.
Black Sabbath
3/5
With having the song named after the band in the album named after the band, I expected a bit more. Black Sabbath is one of those bands I’ve always been more curious about. I always assumed they would be more metal. This is obviously their first album, so maybe they build up as it goes.
Kanye West
4/5
Spoiler alert - Graduation Kanye is my favorite Kanye. I prefer Kanye’s message and personality in this album, but his overall abilities as an artist (producing and rapping) are not to the level of graduation, 808’s, and MBTDF. He still has some of his highest highs in this album in songs like all falls down, we don’t care, and slow jamz. The album in general is clearly more elementary though and has some weaker songs. Kanye is corny as hell, but still so arrogant that it works. He shows more humility in this album than later albums though, talking about how people didn’t think he could rap and how he had to prove himself. Jesus walks was one of the biggest middle school anthems for us. I could see Kanye looking back at this album and cringing at some of the songs though.
With all of that in mind, this album has one of my favorite Kanye lines - “Some of them dyslexic, their favorite 50 Cent song 12 questions.” In spite of him not rapping to the same level of some of his peers, he is one of the goats of 1 liners like that.
Grizzly Bear
3/5
Very excited to hear Two Weeks. It’s one of those songs I never would have known who it was by, but it was a welcome surprise in this album. I thought the album started really hot with the first few songs but I didn’t like the second half of it as much. Solid 3!
Roni Size
2/5
Too long. I was feeling it the first few songs, but I didn’t feel like there was enough variety to keep it going. I am fine with albums being consistent in their sound, but this album felt way too bland. If it were 20 mins it would be different. This is just too long. I think I would still like drum and bass though in general. You know what you’re gonna get with the drums, this album just didn’t have the accompaniment I would have liked. Shoutout toonami!
Janet Jackson
3/5
I like Janet, but was dreading listening to a whole album by her. This one was pleasant though! I enjoyed it. I think in general I will stick with singles from her. And Poetic Justice of course.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
I was expecting to feel like this album was overrated, but I was pleasantly surprised. Absolutely iconic. So many familiar songs. This album came out well before the era where I really started to like rap. Nice work!
Jimmy Smith
2/5
Probably because I’m ignorant in Jazz, but it felt like elevator music. It was pleasant to listen to, but I feel like someone could preform this whole album at a bar and I wouldn’t be super impressed.
Sonic Youth
2/5
Thought I would like it more. Felt like noise.
Slipknot
2/5
It had some redeeming qualities. It would be interesting to me to ask someone that really likes this genre how this album separates itself.
Air
2/5
Felt like what it was - a movie soundtrack. Cool to have on in the background, but mostly just that. In saying that, I guess that the whole point of some music is just to have something playing in the background. For this list, I feel like we need something that sets it apart musically to be on here.
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
Unexpectedly awesome album. Great change of pace and fun to listen to. High 4!
Alanis Morissette
3/5
I really liked it. I felt like I was transported back to Laguna Beach or something. I didn’t realize “Ironic” was going to be on this album, so that was a welcome surprise. That song is an all time banger.
William Orbit
1/5
I didn’t get it. Boring and I I don’t see why it’s on the list.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
2/5
Definitely preferred it to the preceding album. Kinda felt like a anime soundtrack. Some of the melodies felt familiar, which made me enjoy it even more. I’m kind of tempted to make it a 3, but this is 1001 albums - gotta come harder.
Fred Neil
2/5
Upon hearing the start and general sound of the album, I thought I would like it more. The melodies just weren’t that great. Fred seems like a nice man though.
Alice In Chains
2/5
Good sound. This is one where the bias sets in. I just don’t see myself listening to this.
Sade
3/5
Not my typical kind of music, but Sade has a very unique/recognizable voice. It was relaxing and enjoying to listen to.
Skunk Anansie
3/5
Kinda wtf but also kinda liked it. A few songs I would listen to again and a bunch of variety. Very strange and edgy which I think is what they were going for.
George Michael
2/5
I feel like I like George Michael but I just wasn’t vibing to this album. Feels like contemporary Christian music. Too bland and meh.
3/5
I liked it. Not too long and thematically consistent. Good sounds and good vibes.
The Who
3/5
I mistakenly listened to the 30 song version and it definitely didn’t help them. My biggest complaint would be that it’s too long. Trying not to hold that against them though, the song that stood out to me is love is like a heat wave. I don’t necessarily like all of the talk-singing in the middle of the songs in general, but this album did feel like one of the albums you could throw on and do any activity. Good nostalgia factor.
Aretha Franklin
3/5
Solid album. Lots of hits and classics. I need to catch up so my reviews can be better.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
5/5
Amazing. I was never into RHCP when I was younger and I’m not sure why. I think I was turned off by the lead singer’s voice for whatever reason. On my listen through of the album, I felt the complete opposite. The rapping and singing was excellent. The overall sound is really just it though. A lot of the albums on the list so far have had decent music, but they haven’t been infectious like this album. The sound is consistent and executed well throughout, like the Rage album. It feels like a whole album. Definitely frontloaded with hits, but as I was on the last couple of songs I was sad that it was ending. This is different than a lot of other albums on the list, where I’m kind of waiting for them to end.
Solange
2/5
Boring. Some good features but I just don’t get the album. Not pop enough but also not unique enough.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
I learned from this album the way to make a pop song is to repeat the title 100x. I thought it was ok. Didn’t feel super memorable to me.
Metallica
4/5
Was pleased to listen to this. Definitely knew more of it than I thought I would. I’ve always been a “One” and done Metallica fan. The more we go through the list, the more it’s apparent how much familiarity factors in to how much I like something. It isn’t an end all be all, but it definitely softens me towards stuff that I know/is similar. The lead singer’s voice is another one that was originally off-putting to me, but now only adds to the overall sounds. A 3 or 4 for me. I gave Black Sabbath a 3 and I feel like this album is better, so we’re sending a 4.
The Prodigy
3/5
Awesome! I know a lot of the songs somehow. “Breathe” is from something but a google search isn’t coming up with what. I considered making this a 4, but other than the songs I know, I wasn’t that into it. A surprisingly good album.
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
“OMG it’s over!” I audibly gasped as another song came on shuffle once the album ended. Not many redeeming qualities for this one.
The Stooges
2/5
There’s definitely some bias because I just started this directly after finishing Kollaps, but hot damn was it nice to listen to actual music. I appreciated it for being shorter, but that’s the best thing I can say about it.
Paul McCartney
2/5
It was fine. I hate to two star a McCartney album but it just felt bland. There was not a memorable song in the album from my perspective.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Childhood music for me. One of the bands I listened to the most with my parents. This album has the two standout hits in “Wouldn’t it be Nice” and “Don’t Worry Baby” but I don’t think the rest of the album was on the same level. There was always a story my mom told me about her riding to a beach boys concert in a limo with The Beach Boys. I’m going to have to go back and get the retelling of that story.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
I was pleasantly surprised and knew more songs than I thought I would. This album seems so familiar.. I feel like it must just be the picture and the handful of hits in it. I definitely enjoyed it, but felt like it tapered off in the second half.
Stephen Stills
2/5
Too long and boring. There were some good songs but it should be half the length. I really like longer movies but I feel like I might be biased against longer albums in general. I don’t think we’ve listened to a single album that I felt was too short. More often than not I feel like the albums are too long.
Joanna Newsom
3/5
The oddity/dynamics of Fiona Apple meets the songwriting of Tom Waits meets the type of music you would hear at a pub in the Shire. All the bad and good stuff you would associate with each of those. The artist is a technically strong singer, but chooses to yodel/whine like a kid singing in the bathtub. The album has plenty of good moments, but it is very inaccessible. Especially the last song is an absolute banger, though. AND I MISS YOUR PRECIOUS HEART
Brian Eno
2/5
The first couple songs were recognizable and kinda fun, but the rest of the album fizzled a bit. Interesting, but not super fun to listen to.
Frank Ocean
3/5
Thinkin Bout You is one of my favorite songs. I always wondered why I didn’t vibe with the album back then. I feel like the album starts with the best song and the rest of it isn’t as memorable. I also wonder why novacane isn’t on this album.
Beatles
4/5
Very nice to listen to. I think in terms of the music overall it’s a 3+ and it gets a bonus point for being so short and sweet. I’m very excited to listen to more Beatles on this list.
The Prodigy
2/5
This album was inferior to the first The Prodigy album that we listened to. Less recognizable and more bland in my opinion. This especially gets hit a bit harder coming off of a refreshing 30 minute Beatles album. Long in general and especially long for what it is. I think it makes sense for the first prodigy album to make this list, but not this album.
3/5
Nothing stuck out but I felt that the whole album was easy to listen to, which I feel is impressive for a live album. This is one of if not the first live albums that we’ve gotten and I wouldn’t mind seeing more. Fun solid riffs and rock music.
Rahul Dev Burman
2/5
Spunky and fun but also all over the place. I didn’t really feel it was cohesive. I bet I would have a liked it more if I had seen the movie. Oddly, a lot of the songs sounded very familiar. So either songs I’ve heard stole from songs on this, songs on this stole from songs I’ve heard, or I actually have heard some of these songs somehow.
The Band
3/5
Surprisingly enjoyed it. Would be interested to hear the background of these guys. Nothing groundbreaking, but a pleasant listen.
Peter Gabriel
2/5
A lot of the albums on this list are timeless. This one is most certainly not. Definitely has the 80s vibes right off the jump. I guess it’s the synths that were in style back then maybe? And the vocal style/mixing. Instantly gives it away. It felt boring/cliche to me. It was a shorter album but the songs were SO long. I remember looking down at my phone at 330pm and I was shocked I was only halfway through. Another part of the album that was a bit out of style. To me this album is like a niche tech that took off, but was ultimately rendered obsolete years ago.
Al Green
3/5
Iconic titular song. One of those songs that has been in various media throughout my whole life. Also a song that is fun to sing and I know most of the words to, but if you asked me the name or who it was by I wouldn’t know. Glad this one came up. Definitely starts with the best song but what I best song it is.
Paul Weller
4/5
Deceptively good. Nice to vibe too but there’s also a lot more too it. The main songs are great, but the background riffs and melodies would often play through as epilogues to each song. In a lot of the other albums I would be waiting for the next song, but in this album I was vibing hard to the minute or so instrumentals. Great stuff!
Meat Puppets
2/5
Shame that this album followed Wild Wood. I felt as if it similarly blended together and I couldn’t pick out individual songs, but it just wasn’t as good. Cool name and cool artwork, just not as good as some of the other 3 stars on the list.
The Smiths
3/5
Good 80’s vibes. Blended together for me for sure, but I didn’t mind it. Quick and fun listen.
Paul Simon
3/5
You Can Call Me Al is a 5 star song. I didn’t mind the rest of the album, but I’m not going to be adding any of the other songs to a playlist. Nevertheless, very happy it came up on the list!
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
A riff would come up that I liked and then the lead singer would come in and ruin it. I definitely think there’s something there with this album, but I wouldn’t be impressed if I heard it at a bar.
The Who
1/5
Not worth the time I spent listening.
The Cult
2/5
Allie - “Instant one star. This album sux.” I didn’t think it was bad, but overall I would consider it average to below average, which puts it at 2 stars.
Hugh Masekela
3/5
This album was a rollercoaster for me. At the beginning I thought it only had the chance to be mediocre. By at the beginning, I mean the first song, because it’s 10 minutes long. It really did just sound like someone free styling on a sax. With a total length of 76 minutes and only 10 songs, this album has everything going against it when it comes to my preferences for this list thus far. But Minawa came on and I actually really enjoyed the next half hour or so of the album. It felt therapeutic and relaxing to listen to. By the last couple of songs the album was dragging again, but I feel like I really did get into this one and enjoyed it. To be fair to the list, it’s probably more of a 2.5, but I’m going to give the benefit of the doubt and round up because of my enjoyment.
R.E.M.
2/5
A bit boring. Nothing really stands out to me. I looked back at the tracklist and Stand is the only song I remember. Maybe one of those that doesn’t hit without context.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
I would consider this album the most similar to a Tom Waits album so far. I think the songwriting isn’t as good, but it’s more accessible. Famous blue raincoat and avalanche were the most memorable to me (I think famous blue raincoat is sampled somewhere…) but songs like love calls you by your name just didn’t land for me. I would rate this slightly lower than Tom Waits, but rounds up to a 3.
Stereo MC's
3/5
I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Before my time in rap, but unlike a lot of early rap, this is not super in your face. It’s very much a vibe/background type music and i enjoyed listening to it without being fully invested in it. I felt that I would listen to it in the same situation that I would listen to LOFI.
The Teardrop Explodes
2/5
Background listen. Didn’t give this as much attention as most albums but from what I heard I think that’s ok. Feel bad giving it a two, but gotta hit to at least get a three from me!
Jack White
3/5
Wasn’t blown away but enjoyed it. Timeless sound, couldn’t place it in a decade.
4/5
This was a great album. Oasis really captured something special in their sound and it has stood the test of time thus far. This deserves to be a top album on our list so far.
With that in mind, this album is not better than at least one of the albums that didn’t get the elusive unanimous 5. As a result, I cannot in good conscience give this a 5.
The search continues…
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
2/5
One of the more unique albums on the list. Definitely bias here, but even if it’s fun to sing stuff like this, I’ve never really enjoyed listening to this kinda music. I thought it was fine, but in regards to the list, I didn’t feel anything groundbreaking from it.
Billie Holiday
3/5
I love Billie Holiday! I enjoyed this album more and more throughout, but it doesn’t have any of my favorite songs from her on it. She is one of those artists that has a zillion albums/live albums, so I’ll be interested to see if any more are on the list. One thing that was neat about this album was that it showed you behind the scenes a little bit. You got to hear a few takes with some stopping and starting. It was cool, but also jarring and overall I would say that it took away from the album. Based upon my reviews for the list so far, coupled with my love for Billie, 3 is fair for me here.
2/5
It wasn’t great. The album was very strange, it seemed to change a decent bit throughout. The album ends with a catchy carnival/sea shanty type song. The rest is not memorable at all. I did like the last song, so I will reluctantly give this 2 stars.
Sex Pistols
3/5
This had some good vibes, but my biggest complaint would be similar to Matt’s for the Paul Simon album. There’s a lot of “talk-singing.” Especially for this kind of music, I want to be able to jam out to it, but it takes away from it when I go to sing along.
Electric Light Orchestra
5/5
I absolutely loved it. Braden’s in laws are onto something here. There are a lot of times where I felt like the situation I was in impacted how I felt about an album. For this album, I was sitting outside an urgent care with a sick wife and sick baby and I loved the whole album. Very familiar-seeming. I didn’t know them before, but I knew the melodies. Excited to do some digging and see all the things they’re connected to.
Lou Reed
3/5
I generally thought the songwriting was good, the talk-singing just takes away from it so much though. We’ve had so many great songwriters on the list that seem to artificially limit themselves based on execution.
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
It’s so hard to rate these kinds of albums compared to a pop album or an album of bangers. I really liked the first song, but it mushed together afterwards.
Steely Dan
3/5
Enjoyed it. Didn’t blow me away but I didn’t hate my life the whole time I was listening to it. Good length and some stuff that was recognizable to me.
Stan Getz
3/5
I liked it! But I find it hard to distinguish from other Jazz. It is probably my ignorance towards the genre, but I don’t know what sets this apart. With that in mind, it was an easy listen, and I wouldn’t mind a few more albums like it in the list.
Little Richard
3/5
Definitely some familiar songs. I enjoyed it. It was a fun, peppy, energetic album.
The Fall
2/5
Starting with Mansion, I was thinking that it was super familiar. I felt like there were pockets throughout where I recognized songs, but it was too long and meshed together. I was definitely waiting for this one to end.
Beach House
3/5
This album is a high 3 or a low 4 based on my ratings so far. I enjoyed it. I thought the first three songs (specifically “Norway”) were excellent. Great vibes for a hump day album. Even better for a chill boat cruising day or some adventuring.
The Mars Volta
2/5
I really did enjoy this album. It is so strange but has a lot of high moments. It was too long though. Even being an hour it felt like it dragged on forever. It had a few of the 10 minute long songs. It would go from some satisfying angsty vocals to noise for 5 minutes. This is definitely the kind of album I like to see on the list though, so unique!
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
I appreciated the length and the vibes. I don’t think it has enough to be one of our top albums, but this is another one of those types of albums that we want on this list! Some songs on here sampled on other big songs. Cool!
The Stone Roses
3/5
Pleasant but nothing groundbreaking. It is also jarring when I’m thinking, “ok one song left” and that song is 10 minutes long. To me it felt fairly sterile - clean without a lot of glaring issues, but without the edge.
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
This is probably a 2, but I actually really like the song Jupiter and Teardrop. I have to give a bias whenever the albums have an awesome standout song that I’ll definitely listen to again. Glad to have listened to it!
Cowboy Junkies
2/5
Felt similarly to this album as the last one, except this didn’t have a standout song to me. 2 stars based on that.
Black Flag
3/5
I could definitely see us listening to a few of these songs in the basement. The roguish angst and silly fun is spot on. I enjoyed my listen through. Not something I would normally listen to but a few songs seem very familiar.
Portishead
2/5
Kinda gave me evanescence vibes. I didn’t think it was particularly great though. I also need to write my review on Friday.
Pretenders
3/5
I enjoyed it! Some familiar songs I would never have been able to place!
Madonna
1/5
To me this just feels like Madonna interpretation of various parts of the 90’s. The singing is like Celine Dion and the production is like The Prodigy. It’s like someone put “make me an edgy late 90’s album but with dramatic, heartfelt vocals” into CHATGPT. It’s like a boomer’s interpretation of late 90’s music. It’s like Disney trying to make Star Wars or Amazon trying to make LOTR. You can’t adapt it if you don’t understand the subject matter.
I am interested in hearing more Madonna on this list for her earlier stuff. This is far from her best though, and should not be on the list.
Frank Sinatra
1/5
Maybe it is a sign of the times, but I found this unlistenable. I really like Frank Sinatra (or maybe I like his voice? Idk I like his hits..), but this album was not the best Frank Sinatra. Every time I start to get into a song the lyrics are just so cliche and trivial I feel bad listening to it. “I watch her so sadly… I’d give my heart gladly.” That line itself has to be on the album like 10 times. Too many yes men made this album. I assume it’s groundbreaking in some way I don’t understand, but the effort was not put into the composition for Frank’s vocals/lyrics. You can throw Adele on a track, but if she’s going to sing hot cross buns for 46 minutes, I don’t need to listen to it.
Iron Maiden
4/5
I enjoyed this one. I was able to understand and appreciate it without having as much of a background in this type of music. This album is a high 3 or low 4 for me. I like how they built until the titular song at the end and I think they did that better than a lot of the albums that we’ve listened to. I will give it a 4 for its execution and accessibility.
Jeff Buckley
3/5
I enjoyed it! It was solid throughout. His voice is great and I like the melancholy songwriting throughout. Simple and satisfying to listen to.
Nirvana
3/5
I would describe the album as pretty good. “Rape Me” was probably my favorite from the album, but it uses the same riff as smells like teen spirit. Based on listening to this album, I assumed it was before the Nevermind album, but it was actually after. I’m excited to listen to that album, because I felt like this album could have given me more.
Soft Cell
3/5
I thought this was too long, but I actually did enjoy it for the most part. It seems to be a band I had never heard of and then boom, I’ve heard the second song a bunch of times. Another thing I appreciate is that the last song is actually good as well. A lot of the longer albums that we’ve had like this have a last song that is a rehash or b reel type song.
They seem very chaotic and fun. They are also a 1 hit wonder though - best song is 50 times more popular than any other.
The Go-Go's
4/5
I really liked this album. Short, with multiple smash hits and a lot of fun songs in general. I would never have associated these songs with this band. The Hilary and Hailey duff version of Our Lips are Sealed can’t hold up to the OG!!
Soundgarden
3/5
Solid 3! Too long but some hidden gems throughout. Really glad it made the list!
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Solid, good album. Zeppelin is one of those bands that people always throw in their favorites. It was fun to listen to a full album from them. We’ve already listened to a number of self-titled albums. I actually liked Iron Maiden better than this, so I am going to put it at a high 3!
Pink Floyd
4/5
The biggest album on the list so far! Iconic. From the cover of the album to the last song. We should definitely listen to this one through again together at a party or something again.
The Adverts
3/5
Solid. High 2 or low 3. Making it a 3 for maybe inspiring that Pokemon song.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Hard to believe this came out in 2016. That was the same year as Closer by the Chainsmokers, for context. For additional context, Cohen was born a year before Elvis. Wild. Cohen also died 3 weeks after this came out. I went and read a quick summary of his life after listening and I would highly recommend it. Extremely interesting person.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
I have to admit - there was a brief moment where I thought that this album could get a 2 (it’s better than the last one). Then I realized there was still 45 minutes left of the album.
Trash
Eagles
3/5
Hotel California is a 5 star song, but the rest of the album is forgettable. I didn’t mind listening, but I don’t think it holds up to a lot of the 4 star albums from the list. 3 stars it is!
Television
2/5
2 Star. Forgettable and deceptively long. It’s only 45 minutes, but there are also only 8 songs. So each song is almost 6 minutes long. Would like to know what sets this apart because I don’t know the context!
Christina Aguilera
3/5
High 3! I think the hit to song ratio is too low, but there are a couple of songs I hadn’t heard before that I liked as well. The hits were bangers!
Scritti Politti
2/5
This album doesn’t transcend the decade like some of the albums on the list. I thought it was solid, but being so jarringly 80s would keep me from putting any songs on a playlist or anything. It is cohesive, but maybe too cohesive in that it’s too niche, for me at least.
PJ Harvey
1/5
Unlistenable. This album came out in 2010. No excuses.
Jethro Tull
2/5
Long and boring. Not my favorite but definitely not the worst album we’ve listened to.
AC/DC
4/5
Really enjoyed this album. I hate when albums start with the best song and then it’s all downhill from there, but I really did appreciate the rest of what this one had to offer. In terms of the “sound” this is one of the albums that had captured it extremely well. Every song was familiar because the band has a unique sound. To me that benefited it throughout. At times I thought of giving this one a 5, but I think a high 4 is fair.
Machito
4/5
I enjoyed it. I was hesitant to give an album like this a 4, but it was one of the few albums on the list that was over too quickly for me. This album has more structure than a lot of the instrumental albums that have been included on the list. The songs are consistent enough that I can vibe to them without it getting repetitive.
Depeche Mode
1/5
I couldn’t get over the lead singer’s voice. Somehow throaty and nasally at the same time. It kinda has that British sound to it too. Just made the album so jarring. I can’t say I liked a single song. I think if you put a different vocalist this might be a 3 star, but it was so unlistenable I have to give it a 1.
Elis Regina
3/5
I enjoyed it! Especially not being able to understand the lyrics, I thought it was a good album and I would enjoy having it in the background.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
I liked it. I was stoked when Superstition came on. I liked it as a whole, but don’t think it was good enough to be 4 stars.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
3 Stars. I liked it a lot for having now familiarity with it. There were a lot of times in this album that a part of a song came up and started nodding my head. Glad to have listened!
Slint
2/5
The entire album felt like b reel background music. That being said… I liked it. Tempted to make it a 3, but I don’t think it lives up to some of the other 3 stars on the list.
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
This is probably one of my lower 4s, but I really liked the album. Fun to hear something that you like that you’ve never heard before. Sounds very familiar and like the kind of music I would’ve liked outside of the list. Very glad this album was on here!
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
I feel like this type of album would normally be a 2 for me, but I liked it. A bit long, but interesting and unique. I’ll give them points for the intentionally artsy and pretentious title as well.
Radiohead
3/5
Was thinking it may be a 4 star in the first half, but the second half kinda dragged for me. I really do like Radiohead I think now though. I remember listening to them a little probably like 15 years ago and I could never get into them. Really hope to get some more Radiohead on this list!
The Police
3/5
I liked this album more than I thought I would. Every breath you take was a nice surprise. I did like some of the melodies throughout as well. Solid 3.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Awesome! Thought it was a clear 4 and then the 11 minute song came on and hurt my feelings. There are also a lot of covers, but the album is still great. Lots of familiarity and they just have a fun sound. 4.
Ms. Dynamite
2/5
Too long, too mid, no bars.
Crowded House
3/5
I liked it. The sound was unique/strange. Also there’s the fun hidden track at the end. Maybe someone can better quantify this genre of music, but it kinda reminds me of the black keys. 3 stars!
Norah Jones
3/5
Really good! She is clearly very talented and has an awesome sound. She has the type of voice that would improve anything. I think the stand out song was the first song. The rest of the album was pleasant but didn’t really grab me to the same extent. I really do appreciate her melancholy sound though. High 3 or a low 4.
The Smiths
2/5
2 star for me. I appreciated the brevity but I wasn’t a fan of the lead singer. The British nasally sound really isn’t my thing!
Guided By Voices
2/5
I really wanted to like this but I don’t think it’s good enough to be on the list. I appreciate the shorter songs with more of them, but it’s quantity over quality here. 2 star because it is very unique, but I don’t think it’s polished enough.
The Kinks
3/5
Enjoyed it. Solid but didn’t jump out.
The Jam
2/5
I thought it was fine but not memorable. Maybe genre fatigue but I could do without it.
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
Classic but outdated imo. Still can’t rate it below a 3.
MGMT
4/5
One of those albums I’m really glad is on the list! At least three songs were absolute bangers that I recognized instantly. I didn’t know what band they were from or that they were from the same band. I am impressed!
Elastica
3/5
This song is very much a 3 from how I have been rating albums. Solid with some edginess but largely average based on the list.
Maxwell
3/5
Added to the slaying sloots playlist. Really though I liked this more than I thought I would. I wasn’t blown away, but it was pleasant.
Jeff Beck
2/5
Ok. I’m not sure if it’s just the last few albums or what but I felt like they’ve all blended together in the 2-3 range. I appreciate the length, but I felt the album wasn’t anything special.
The Cure
3/5
I actually really liked this album. It was too long and somewhat repetitive, but the sound was solid. To me that’s the most important thing. If I like something a lot I’m more willing to listen to it for 75 mins. This is a low 4 or a high 3.
Michael Jackson
5/5
Amazing. Succinct, beautiful, one of those that may never be topped. Listening to this album after hearing so many of the other albums on this list just gives me more of an appreciation for it. Truly a triumph. This album permeates through culture, with almost every song having a ridiculously famous cover/interpolation. I think of RHCP and Rage, but I don’t think either of them are as universal as this album. The pinnacle of the list thus far.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Actually really liked it. Especially Seven Days… so pleasant. I don’t know how to articulate exactly what makes the song stand out to me musically. I love the melody, hopefully as we continue through the list I will be able to start to break apart what it is more and more.
Kanye West
3/5
I definitely thought I was going to rate this lower before I listened. The reality is that this is some of Kanye’s best production. Specifically Blood on the Leaves and Bound 2 are fantastic. Really it’s between a 3 and a 4. I am going to lean towards the 3 for this one because I do think college dropout has better songs overall.
Ella Fitzgerald
1/5
I like Ella Fitzgerald, but for most of her songs, I would rather it be Billie holiday singing. That said, if you took the 8 best songs off of this and made that into an album, I would have ranked it higher. Whether it’s because of the sheer length or consistency, I don’t feel as if there are any standout songs. I don’t find her as cringeworthy as the Frank Sinatra album in terms of lyrics, but they were comparable. I liked it to begin with, but it was a chore to finish. With how I have been grading the list, I can’t give it more than a star - it shouldn’t be on the list. Pick an album that isn’t 3 hours with better songs and get a good taste of Ella.
Janis Joplin
3/5
Really enjoyed the album. Janis Joplin has a great voice and insane energy. One of those names that everyone knows but I couldn’t have placed her before this. Wouldn’t mind seeing more of her on the list!
Muddy Waters
3/5
I enjoyed it. Great voice and great music history. A really nice live album.
Sly & The Family Stone
2/5
Jarring at times and funky at other times. Thematically I thought it was all over the place. Musically I thought it was fine and pleasant to listen to. Definitely some recognizable songs here and there. Mid, but not to the level of some of the 3 stars we’ve had on the list thus far.
Madonna
1/5
Boomer music
The Killers
3/5
After the first couple of songs on the album, I thought we might have another 5 on our hands. After the next couple songs I thought it might be a 4. By the end, I can only rate it a 3. The first part of the album is fantastic but it gets very forgettable afterwards. When the album ended, my phone auto played “When You Were Young” which is kinda what I was waiting for after the first few songs. It isn’t part of this album though. Overall, I love the Killers’ vibe.
The Who
2/5
I thought that it was engaging, especially for a live album. I enjoyed listening to it for the sound, but couldn’t tell you any of the songs. There were times driving around where I tried to listen to the words, but with the quality it’s much more difficult to understand them. High 2 or a low 3. We’ll go 2.
Nick Drake
3/5
Love Nick Drake! This album doesn’t have any of my favorites from him on it, but I still enjoyed it. For this style of music, I actually prefer it to just be the guitar and singing. The background music didn’t age well in my opinion and takes me out of the “emo singer/guitarist songwriter” vibe. I do love his songwriter and general mood. Very melancholy and nice, especially with his story in mind.
Drive Like Jehu
2/5
I actually really liked it for what it was. I don’t think it’s to the level of what an average album on this list should be though. I think the guitar riffs are really the highlight of this album for me. The singing is part of the mood, but I couldn’t tell you a single lyric. I feel like this is the kind of album that you would play all the way through working at a chop shop. Idk I kinda like it.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
I don’t really like Elvis Costello’s style. Maybe it feels like the voice is too performative or something. The songs feel like they should be more memorable than they are as well.
Jean-Michel Jarre
2/5
It kinda reminded me of the PlayStation introduction song. Kewl and fun to be on the list, but I don’t feel as if it’s particularly groundbreaking. Something fun to have in the background when you’re exploring space.
Dr. Dre
3/5
The album is full of hot beats and a young Dogg, but that’s it. Dre is obviously an awesome producer, but he’s never been a great rapper. I could put a couple of songs from this on an old gangsta rap playlist, but that’s really the only niche it fills.
Reflecting on it, especially when I was in my prime rap listening time as a teenager, this should have been right up my alley. I’ve just never actually liked it that much. Kinda similar to Wu Tang. The actual music never lived up to the hype. For West Coast rap, I pretty much exclusively liked Tupac up until Kendrick/YG/Dom Kennedy.
With all of that in mind, there are still hits and I enjoyed this more than a lot of albums on the list thus far. 3 stars!
The Who
3/5
This album is very similar in my mind ratings-wise to the killers album. A couple absolute bangers and then a bunch of largely forgettable songs. It’s slightly more balanced in having the songs at the beginning and end, but I was actually disappointed in won’t get fooled again. I guess I’ve only ever heard the CSI Miami version, but the rest of the song isn’t as hype as the snippet. I was pleasantly surprised by Baba O Reilly though. Just assumed it was called Teenage Wasteland. One of the best songs on the list so far though. High 3/low 4 based on my past ratings
Prince
3/5
1999 is one of the best songs that we’ve seen on the list. I felt as if the songs were each a bit too long, but I don’t know if I would have felt that way if I was just vibing and not intentionally listening to the album to get through it and rate it. Prince is like the Bean to Michael Jackson’s Ender in Ender’s Shadow. Michael Jackson is better in a lot of ways and more renowned, but there is something special and magical about Prince. He is a little bit looser/more experimental/less polished, but I think it makes his music fun and unique. It also makes it less easily digestible.
Femi Kuti
2/5
I like this genre, but I don’t understand the nuance to really embrace a whole album. I was just waiting for it to end.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Really feels gratifying in light of the list getting to this album after listening to the nine inch nails album so long ago. Listening to that version of hurt gave me even a new appreciation for this version. I really like both. In general I liked the album. In contrast to the background accompaniment in the last Nick Drake album, I felt Cash’s was executed much better and in a more timeless manner. I really do like this kind of music!
Fela Kuti
2/5
Interesting to have this right after Femi Kuti.. 5 songs at an hour long is too wild. I liked the sound but not enough to justify that.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
I’m assuming this isn’t their best work, but I was unimpressed. Especially with how famous The Rolling Stones are in general. Nothing really made the album stick out to me. A lot of the sounds/instruments reminded me of SpongeBob oddly enough.
Daft Punk
2/5
I thought it was fine. There were nuggets that were stuck in my head, but it was too long and conceptual for me in general. I really like the idea of Daft Punk, but this album wasn’t exactly my speed.
Dolly Parton
3/5
Solid. Not my cup of tea, but I felt like the album worked as an album, with some nice melodies and talented artists. Pleasant to listen to and succinct.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
I liked this album better than a lot of similar ones. Not entirely sure why. Felt like the Prodigy and old Toonami music. Reminds me of the old days.
Moby
3/5
This album was a trip. Not even really sure how to define it, but I did enjoy it. A lot of strange and familiar samples and such. I felt like this was truly unique in the context of the list. The type of album I am really glad made it.
ZZ Top
3/5
La Grange is an all time song. I thought the album in general was fine, but that song is a banger for sure. 3 based upon my ratings for the list. Too many 3’s recently. We gotta mix it up!
Morrissey
1/5
Cringeworthy. Cannot take it seriously. Walmart Michael Buble. The lyrics of the songs were all spiteful/passive aggressive break up style songs. This guy probably gets broken up with a lot. The composition was all just soulless background music. To top it all off, his voice is annoying as well. 1 star.
The National
2/5
Chill and nice sound. Very interesting how there’s an album like this that came out during my prime music listening time, (I guess now is my new prime listening time because of this list actually) that I’ve never heard of before. Not super memorable though. None of the melodies specifically gripped me and I couldn’t give you the tune of a single song. 2 Star.
Tracy Chapman
4/5
Really great. Her songwriting and voice really shine through. Another thing that I think this album does really well is the production aspect when it comes to the singer-songwriter genre. She has a lot of unique accompaniment in the album, but it feels natural and fits in extremely well with the minimalist style. It is very crisp and timeless, despite being unique.
Fast Car is such an amazing song. I’m not sure if it’s the right interpretation of it, but I imagine it as a child singing it to an adult. In the way they address an impossible problem with a seemingly simple solution. It is heartbreakingly sweet and earnest. It fills you with hope while also recognizing the beauty and sometimes futility in that hope.
Metallica
3/5
Two things I love about this album number 1 is “One” - amazing song. Number 2 is the guitar style which had to be the inspiration for the power rangers music. Otherwise, I wasn’t a huge fan. 9 songs at 65 mins is long and especially long for individual songs. Those 2 things carry it pretty far though. High 2 or low 3.
ZZ Top
3/5
Good album! 3 out of 5 because of some good hits on the first have of the album. I also appreciate the length.
Tortoise
2/5
Moody background music. It was a unique experience because I imagined the movies scenes that would be rolling with this. With that, there was no progression or real build up or payoff or anything with the album. Not as bad as some of our ones but not that great. High one or low 2.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
I came into this with a mindset of Bullet for my Valentine. Obviously just because the name is super similar. The album was weird/unique but didn’t really feel groundbreaking in any way except for one song. I actually think “No More Sorry” is sick. It’s hurt a bit by the mixing/production, but the mood and the build up is really nice. If you turned up the vocals and made it feel less mushy it would be more discernible, but I think that’s kinda the point too. The album was short and to me was worth listening to just for that song. Still can’t rate it above a 2.
Bee Gees
2/5
Cool but not groundbreaking. Definitely not the best Bee Gees album, curious what caused it to make the list. Pleasant to listen to but not likely coming back.
R.E.M.
3/5
Solid 3! Good surprise with the end of the world song and a nice listen throughout.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Great album. Good hits including an all-timer in Stairway. To me it didn’t hit to the same level as the handful of albums that I’ve had at 5 thus far, but I do think it’s better than a number of the 4 stars.
Ice Cube
4/5
Great album with a lot of gangsta rap iconic moments. The same way Ghostface Killa is the best rapper from Wu Tang, Ice Cube is the best rapper from NWA. Made as a snapshot in time during the race riots, the album has an aggressive and violent message. Ironically, the best song is almost like a dream sequence apart from the rest of the album in “It Was a Good Day.” A fun listen, with a lot of shock value.
Steve Earle
2/5
Didn’t mind it, but wasn’t super into it. I liked the part about his “…brother going to college to play football, but I didn’t get to go cause I’m a little bit small.” In general fairly neutral album.
De La Soul
2/5
I like the idea of De La Soul more than the execution. Part of it was probably listening to the album during a 9 hour car ride and the judgement I received from my wife whenever they said “so and so has dandruff” for a minute straight. I see them as a similar niche to Tribe, but I like Tribe better.
Miles Davis
2/5
Probably just my ignorance in this kind of music, but I find it really hard to rate these types of albums. Based on my past ratings this is a two or a three. The length is right on from a general perspective, but the sound doesn’t set itself apart enough to distinguish between songs. I listened to this in 3 parts over the course of a day. In the last part I ended up listening to multiple songs over again without even noticing. That’s both a positive in that it flows, but a negative in that maybe it’s not identifiable enough for me to pick out. It’s chill as background music, but so is a random YouTube jazz or lofi playlist. 2 stars.
Nirvana
3/5
Debating between a 3 and a 4. Smells Like Teen Spirit and Something in the way are both 5 star songs to me, but the rest of the album is just ok. I really love Nirvana’s vibe, mystique, look, and multiple individual artists in the band, but apart from a few songs, I’m not super into their sound. I’ll be interested to see if there’s any more albums from them. This is a high 3 alongside the Killers album.
Ian Dury
1/5
1 star. Why is this on the list?
Richard Thompson
1/5
Another album that wouldn’t impress me if they played it at a local bar. Not sure why it’s here.
Bob Dylan
2/5
Never listened to a lot of Bob Dylan. I weirdly like him from the two albums we’ve listened to, but “Like a Rolling Stone” from the last album is the only actual song that I saved and want to listen to again. I find his voice endearing, but I just don’t care for the actual songs. We’ll see if we get a 3rd album.
Aretha Franklin
3/5
Great album. She’s extremely talented and respect is universal with an awesome message. Succinct, but I still don’t feel compelled to listen to any of the songs again aside from respect. With that in mind, it was thematically consistent and enjoyable to listen to all the way through. 3 stars.
Sigur Rós
3/5
Idk how to rate this. It isn’t as much just straight noise as similar albums on the list were, but I hesitate to even really call it an album in the traditional sense. With that in mind, I enjoyed it. There were some pretty high highs actually and some pretty catchy tunes built into the atmosphere of the album. I definitely felt a build up that lasted through multiple songs into somewhat of a climax. Almost like a movie soundtrack. Fun and cool album to be on the list.
Bauhaus
2/5
All over the place. There were a couple of decent songs though. Weird, but better than some of the 1 stars.
Ministry
1/5
Bleh. Maybe it’s ignorance of lack of context, but I don’t need to listen to that again.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
2/5
I liked it more than I thought I would. Actually catchy and somewhat pleasant to listen to. Consistent throughout, which is a good and a bad thing as this seemed to almost be like a stream of consciousness. I am glad I heard it, but too long and not varied enough to get a 3.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Pleasant throughout. Low 3 for me.
Duke Ellington
3/5
I really don’t know how to rate this. It was enjoyable, but it doesn’t have the depth or structure of a normal album. Low 3, but I don’t really think of it like other albums on the list.
Screaming Trees
2/5
I actually had multiple songs that I liked in terms of the melodies and rifts. The biggest thing holding this band back is the lead singer. The voice was whiny, but not in the endearing Tom Delonge way, more so friendly uncle with a sinus infection type way.
Billy Joel
5/5
Only the good die young is one of the best songs that we’ve heard on the list and this is one of the best albums. I didn’t have the same background context that others did - I couldn’t name a Billy Joel song before listening. I did recognize most of the songs as I was listening through, though.
One of the things I really appreciate about this album is the composition. You have some piano and then some whistling and some guitar. Each one is iconic on its own and I wouldn’t really associate them with one another, but they somehow all come together. Then you have an insanely catchy chorus to top it all off.
I did give this album an additional listen. I did read everyone else’s reviews prior to reviewing it myself. I didn’t want your reviews to impact mine, but they definitely did.
It made me reflect upon music and my relationship with it. A lot of the music I truly love is built upon the people and the memories that I associate that music with. From Marley to Blink to AVPM, I have distinct pictures in my mind of when I fell in love with that music and who I was with when it happened. Reading about everyone’s personal memories with the album made me project those memories onto it as I listened. Now I get to kind of share in those memories too.
I would love to stiff arm the album with a 4 and be contrarian, but it doesn’t deserve that treatment. Earnest, beautiful, and a bit corny at times, 5 stars.
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
I liked it. Kinda whiny at times, but the album was thematically consistent and beautiful. Kinda reminds me of Fiona Apple (or maybe I should say it the other way around). Either way, definitely great moments in the album, but there were some long stretches where I was a bit bored. 3 stars.
The War On Drugs
3/5
I actually liked it. Mood music with a few fun melodies. Very dreamlike, per the title.
Muddy Waters
3/5
3 star. It seems like the first song was the original inspiration for “Bad to the Bone.” I really liked this version though, so it’s really interesting that the other version seems to be more famous. I liked the album in general too! Couple really good songs with an ok rest of the album - that makes it a 3!
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
I really don’t know how to rate these albums. I was pleasantly surprised by this one though. Giving it a 3 because I genuinely enjoyed it.
Various Artists
3/5
Christmas album so hard to rate. Includes a lot of good songs, as well as multiple songs that are the “best” version of that song. 3 stars!
Julian Cope
2/5
Pretty boring. I had a good analogy for this when I was listening to it but it’s been a few days now. 2 stars.
Parliament
3/5
This deserves at least 3 stars. Crazy how much west coast hip hop in the 90’s was influenced by this album. Awesome.
Radiohead
2/5
I have tried to get into Radiohead a few times. They’re another band that I feel like I should like, but I only end up liking a few songs. This album is no different.
Kings of Leon
3/5
Good. A couple heavy bangers and then some mid level songs throughout.
Kraftwerk
2/5
Don’t want to rate it a 1 because it wasn’t terrible, just not sure why it was on the list.
1/5
There was the one song where they would spell bad words and relate them to something else. Pretty cringe. Going to one star.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
2/5
List is way too saturated with these guys. Some good songs, but giving it a 2.
Talking Heads
1/5
Too boring. Very moody but I didn’t take anything away from it.
Os Mutantes
3/5
Maybe because the last couple of albums haven’t been great, but I am glad to have listened to this album. Kinda reminds me of some of the instrumental music on Joe vs the Volcano. Fun! Low 3.
Yes
4/5
I really liked this actually. The singing kinda reminded me of Chicago maybe? The way they harmonize the vocals while they’re belting them. Either way, I really enjoyed it. Thematically consistent and succinct. Without ever having heard it before I enjoyed it. 4.
Aimee Mann
3/5
This album felt like it inspired a lot of late 90’s/early 00’s music. The singer very much gives me Fiona Apple with maybe some Sara Barellies? The song “I Know There’s a Word” reminds me of the verses for teenage dirtbag. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were influenced by her. 3!
Carole King
5/5
Wow! I knew a handful of the songs but had no idea that I would before going into it. I never associated any of the songs with the others, which is crazy because in the context of the album they fit so well together. There are so many songs that can stand on their own, but the album itself is awesome all together. Surprise 5! Great job Carole!
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
3 Stars. I loved Californication but I don’t think this album was close to that level. Felt less polished and almost more of a Rage vibe for a lot of songs. Still good, but similar to some of the good 3 star albums that didn’t make 4 because they weren’t quite there.
Kate Bush
3/5
I actually think she was fairly consistent and good to listen to. Surprisingly good to me to be honest. I like some Kate Bush!
The Doors
4/5
I really liked this one. High 3 or low 4 but I’ll give it the edge to 4 because of my consistent enjoyment of it throughout.
Sleater-Kinney
2/5
Quintessential 2 star here.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3/5
I felt like I was teleported into fallout. I did enjoy this, but can’t give it more than a 3 because of the precedent from the rest of the list.
Van Halen
4/5
Another good 4. Really enjoyed it. Wouldn’t have associated the songs that I knew with Van Halen.
David Ackles
1/5
Yuck
The Waterboys
1/5
Too long. 1 star for torture.
The Stooges
2/5
Definitely better than the last two albums. I liked the guitar riffs, but the album as a whole wasn’t good enough to meet 3 stars for me.
Arcade Fire
2/5
Similar to the last album. Good components but strong enough for a 3. Sorry for the weak reviews. Almost caught up!
Lauryn Hill
4/5
Low 4 or high 3 for me. Really enjoyed X factor specifically. The rapping itself is fine for my taste, but the songs are good throughout. I really enjoyed the singing and the musical aspect of the album the most. I’m doing this review after listening to this and jungle bros back to back. Very crazy to see the development in the genre over about a decade. This is another album that permeates across the culture. I will give it a 4 because it was consistently good and had a few standout songs. This album doesn’t garner a five because it’s too long, which results in some troughs in quality, and the rapping (while better than the late 80’s) doesn’t hold up to her contemporaries.
Jungle Brothers
2/5
2 stars. Jarring to listen to after Lauren Hill. Groovy throughout, but there are no bars. The album is middle school level lyricism. It makes sense because it was earlier on in the genre, but having virtually the same drums throughout alongside weak rapping cannot give it above a 2 for me.
The Last Shadow Puppets
2/5
I was bored with it. Cool vibe but nothing super memorable. Not bad but not notable. 2 stars.
Simple Minds
2/5
Similar to last album. Album was ok but nothing stood out. 2 star.
The Doors
2/5
The Doors is the type of band I want to hear more of from the list. I think the album was just ok to me though. It didn’t stand out enough to get 3 stars.
Funkadelic
2/5
Funky, but not in a super standout way. I enjoyed listening to a few songs, but don’t feel compelled to listen again.
ABBA
2/5
Fine. Wasn’t my favorite but definitely wasn’t bad.
Elvis Costello
1/5
Virgin Michael Buble.
AC/DC
4/5
Awesome album. I really liked the hits but I didn’t care for the songs I hadn’t heard before. The sound was consistent throughout and it was a good length. The songs I know are iconic, but I have to go with a 4 because of the album as a whole.
Supergrass
3/5
Big surprise knowing some of these songs! Liked their sound overall, but only a few standout songs. Low 3.
The Doors
2/5
Idk if I’ll be with the group on this one, but I wasn’t super impressed. The band and name are so iconic I would have expected more. Not bad by any means, but it didn’t stand out to me.
Pavement
3/5
A great 3 star! Fun. Allie said it reminded her of Doctor Dog. We enjoyed listening. Really good alternative(?) sound!
The Pretty Things
2/5
2 star. Pleasant but not remarkable.
Minutemen
2/5
I actually found this fun. The jackass song was nice to have in there, but the album as a whole had a rough charm to it. If it was half the length with the best songs I might be thinking 3 stars, but it was too long with too much stuff.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Awesome album. This is one of the highest rated albums on the list. It is 100% warranted. Amazing. Completely deserving of 5 stars.
Massive Attack
2/5
2 stars. I thought most of it was pretty unpleasant. The rap wasn’t good and the singing was fine. The reason it’s not 1 star is because there were brief moments when it was just the orchestra and I thought it sounded great. The album as a whole kinda has mall ninja vibes. This is like Walmart brand Linkin Park.
Alice Cooper
3/5
I think I’m feeling nice today because I was tempted to rate this one a four. Really enjoyed it! It fits my standard for three stars due to it having a 5 star song in schools out, followed by a bunch of pleasant but not amazing songs. Also appreciate it for the length. Good job Arice!!
Morrissey
2/5
Better than I expected coming into it. Don’t know why the guy who made this list likes him so much though. 2 stars! Which is impressive for Morrissey.
Joan Baez
2/5
I really do like this genre of music! I give this album a 2 for a few reasons. I thought that the voice was too loud relative to the guitar. It was a bit jarring a lot of the time because the voice would be very piercing while you couldn’t hear the guitar at all. She took a heavy storytelling vibe throughout the album and it was super consistent, but I felt as if it was fairly monotonous as well. I would’ve liked to see more variety and distinction between each song.
Boston
4/5
Loved it! Reminded me of childhood.
Jurassic 5
3/5
Pretty good! Didn’t blow me away but was better than a lot of this style of rap that’s on the list.
Turbonegro
3/5
I actually enjoyed it a lot for what it was. Goofy, but fun to listen to. The silliness didn’t detract from this one like it has from a lot of albums we’ve listened to.
The Smiths
1/5
Dull and long. There’s an argument for a 2, but I’m tired of this sound on the list!
The xx
3/5
Another album that I actually was pleasantly surprised by. The vocals were good and mixed in well. It kinda reminded me of evanescence jumping on what otherwise would have been instrumental tracks, but adding to them instead of detracting from them. Glad to have heard it!
Dusty Springfield
3/5
This is a two or a three based on my ratings thus far. I thought it was pleasant to listen to throughout and I didn’t get bored, despite the fact that this isn’t my typical kind of music. Typically my 3s have been decent albums with a couple of really good hits. I felt like this album was a 3 as a whole, but didn’t have the highs or lows as other 3s. Reluctant 3.
Beastie Boys
2/5
2 star. Never really been a fan of the Beastie Boys and this album confirmed that bias. There were a couple songs that I liked, but for the most part the album sounded like being in a crowded room. They kinda remind me of rage in a way, but I think rage is better across the board. Other than sure shot, the main song I liked was the one with the Q Tip feature. 2 stars.
The Zutons
2/5
Fine. Not a lot to say about it. Is this the band Amy Winehouse sampled? Either way, her version is better.
Hawkwind
1/5
Too long and boring. Couldn’t tell you a single song.
Dagmar Krause
2/5
Kinda fun but odd to be on the list. 2 stars.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Possibly best band name of all time? Good album and actually way more diverse than I expected.
James Brown
3/5
Classic. I enjoyed it me. I really love the layered vocal sound if executed well, which this album does!
Supergrass
3/5
I don’t ever remember knowing this band, but the sound is super nostalgic. Couple big songs with an ok album overall. 3 stars.
Megadeth
2/5
I do love crazy guitar riffs, but it’s harder for me to connect with albums with this type of singing. I’m into the sound until the vocalist comes in and then it alienates me a bit.
Björk
2/5
I actually really like her for moments, but most of it isn’t super listenable. I’ll give her a hesitant 2 stars. She’s obviously talented, but the album expects way too much of the listener. Like some of Kanye’s shittier albums. Too arrogant and trying to be too artistic.
Talking Heads
2/5
Not really memorable. Just seems kinda bland to me.
David Bowie
2/5
Couple good songs but a lot of not good songs. 2 stars.
Brian Eno
1/5
Noise.
David Bowie
1/5
Hard to have 2 albums of DB and Bjork in close proximity. Too performative. Kinda lame idk
Björk
1/5
Same as Bowie. Probably extra harsh, but it’s a chore to listen to.
The Temptations
1/5
I was expecting to really like this, but I didn’t all that much. I know the temptations have some good songs so I was disappointed. Maybe there will be a better representation of them on the list.
Miles Davis
3/5
I really enjoyed vibing out to this. Not the typical 3 star, but I think for this type of album, I enjoyed it a lot more than others on the list.
Radiohead
1/5
I really like some Radiohead and Thom Yorke, but this album wasn’t listenable to me. It was like a whiny stream of consciousness. No discernible melodies or enjoyable songs.
Beastie Boys
3/5
I liked this album WAY more than the last beastie boys album. It was fun to listen to. I still think they’re a niche that is filled better by other things, but this album was a good representation of what they have to offer.
The Monks
2/5
Fun album. Familiar throughout although I don’t think I’ve heard them before. The guitar riffs were classic sounding and I enjoyed it.
Rush
1/5
Consistent throughout but nothing really jumped out at me. I think maybe too consistent.
Ray Charles
3/5
I really vibed to this. I do like this kind of music in general. With that in mind, I do think this was executed well and I wouldn’t mind hearing it again.
Beck
4/5
This one’s a huge surprise for me. No idea what to expect coming into it, but I really enjoyed it. I felt like they had a lot of discernible melodies and I found myself vibing to multiple songs as if I had heard them before. I like their style and while lyrics didn’t stick out to me, their ability to write catchy, engaging songs is definitely there. Great album!
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
Really enjoyed it. Great sound and awesome hits. This is like Elvis Costello if he was good. Easy 4 stars.
Arcade Fire
3/5
2.5 but I’ll round up to 3. Pleasant, but I didn’t feel blown away.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
Permeates throughout rap culture. The impact is crazy. Very much like Lauren Hill - there are so many iconic songs that have been made just referencing this album. It doesn’t get 5 stars because some of the language and themes have aged poorly. Additionally, snoop is one of those artists that relies on his aura a lot in making music. I think his style is unmatched, but his production/lyrics aren’t to the level of some of the other rap albums that I gave 5 stars.
Public Enemy
2/5
Before my taste.
D'Angelo
2/5
Good for the slayin sloots playlist. Not good for a lot else.
Blue Cheer
3/5
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
2/5
Neil Young
2/5
Songhoy Blues
1/5
Fun for a song but the novelty wears off quick
JAY Z
2/5
Too long, too many mid songs. Overrated.
Michael Kiwanuka
3/5
Fugees
3/5
Nas
5/5
Amazing. The greatest rap album of all time. Arguments can be made for other albums, but no argument needs to be made for Illmatic.
Tears For Fears
5/5
Had to stop and rate this. 2 all time songs, good other tracks, and not drawn out. 5 stars.
Adele
4/5
Green Day
5/5
Amazing. Up there with the top albums on this list. I remember a couple kids in our middle school playing this on stage. I didn’t understand it at all but it was such a bop (that means cool song, for the young whipper snappers reading this).
Mylo
3/5
This was cool. I felt like I was listening to a video game soundtrack in a good way.
The Flaming Lips
2/5
I’m tempted to rate it a 3 because I liked the beginning so much, but this is a 2 on my normal scale. I liked the production even though it was a lot. I couldn’t distinguish some of the instruments and they were intentionally distorted. Cool, but only mostly as novelty.