1001 Albums Summary

The album is almost transcendental techno disguised as teen angst fueled rock. The music is beautifully composed but the immature lyrics and Billy Corgan’s voice are dealbreakers. Props to the Instrumental trax but his vocal ruins the album for me.

Fun and funky. I like the story telling aspect. Made me feel like roller skating.

Jazz funk disco! Savior Fare steals the show- Nile Rodgers guitar solos are exquisite. Pleasantly surprised with this one.

If yacht rock was angry, this is what it would sound like.

Daft Punk brings zen to electronic house music. Their hypnotic repetition is soothing. All of my love to this album, definitely the best robot guys in the game.

Really fresh sound. Modern 60-70’s vibes. I enjoyed the range of emotions from celebratory joy to ominous misfortune. Danger Mouse doesn't miss, the production is excellent.

Iconic. The Beatles best work. This album changed music and the recording process. Experimental genius.

Iconic. The Beatles best work. This album changed music and the recording process. Experimental genius.

As new wave as it gets. Horns, guitars, pop synth, weird lyrics, moody vocals, this album has it all. Some of the tunes have a Dexys Midnight Runner vibe that I really dig. Some of them were repetitive and lame. Overall it was fun to listen to.

Coltrane gets weird in all the right ways. This one took me to another place and time. Very brain stimulating.

Pinnacle of AC/DC greatness. This album rocks hard but keeps their blues foundation. Mutt Lange rarely misses, the mix is impeccable, and the band brings it with their raw unrefined sound that is often lost in recording. Take away the in your face sound and some of the lyrics are beautifully penned (others are clearly nothing more than trying to get laid).

Each song on its own is enjoyable but actively listening to the entire album was rough. It felt like a lullaby for the Vietnam war. Their harmonies are gorgeous but there isn’t much variety and it got old fast. I’m not sure if the gloom was production or purposeful, but it doesn't feel authentic.

The godfathers of Indie Rock. I prefer Automatic for the People, but there is no denying the success of Document. Not many pop/rock bands in 1987 were adding dulcimers and watching the songs climb the charts. Stipe jumped the shark in the following years, but this album is solid.

Wasn’t my jam.

Appropriate title. When you think it can’t get any worse, it does. My favorite part of this album was when it was over.

Is Cowboy Folk a genre? The play by play of his nature walks might as well be narration of a low budget 70’s kids show. Hated the pretend John Prine vocals.

I adored this album and what the band could have been, but they fell short. It’s an overproduced album by a group of entitled rich kids led by a control freak who is ruled by substance abuse. Is This It was what we needed to jumpstart the change in radio at the end of a decade of dad rock. Its a shame Julian wasn’t held accountable 25 years ago (or ever). This album influenced a lot of experimental garage pop bands on the scene to up their game, that is the contribution of The Strokes.

Never paid much attention to Deep Purple, that was a mistake. This album is the heaviest psychedelic rock imaginable and it’s awesome.

The mother of all comeback albums! Tina Turner was the definition of a powerhouse who left it all on the stage. We wouldn’t have a Beyoncé without first having a Tina.

Iggy performs to every person in the house. Great album (go with Iggy’s mix over Bowie’s). The early punk roots mixed with blues and psychedelic rock is a lot of fun.

Lauryn Hill walked into Hip Hop right after we lost Biggie and Tupac. She soothed a lot of hurt with her gorgeous voice from another time. She earned every accolade assigned to her. I’m not a fan of this album, or Lauryn Hill, but her mark is undeniable.

It’s Adele. Her voice is amazing but song choices are dreadfully depressing. Not my jam but can’t deny her talent.

Perfect album. Problematic person. It’s difficult to reconcile. Do we separate the man from his art? Can we commend one while banning the other? It’s a fine line to walk. This is one of, if not the, best folk album ever recorded.

U2 is band people seems to love or hate, not a lot of in between. The album begins with social unrest and civil war and ends with beauty, love, and peace. This tour had the Red Rocks video that sparked a life long obsession with the venue for a lot of kids across the U.S., myself included.

Cool music, Denny’s style isn’t for me. It’s an excellent album though.

If the Beatles and Dylan had a baby it would sound like Elvis Costello. His music is so smart and weird that I don’t always get it, but definitely appreciate it. He’s in a different class like David Byrne, simply genius.

The intro was cool in an ambient way. The rest of the album blows. Hopefully this poor band was going through a phase and wasn’t actually as depressed as their music.

Pleasant little song length album.

Highs and lows, but mostly rides the middle. She deserved a better album.

Weirdest Pepsi commercial ever. Madonna was the original queen of pop. Add His Royal Purpleness and this album became her best work.

Might be the one thing we can get people to agree upon.

Sinatra was brilliant at phrasing and pacing. He told stories with his voice. I’m not a big fan of this style of big band, but it’s a great album.

Weird AF. Some of it is really good. The rest is complete suck. If it wasn’t so screechy I would rate it higher.

Arcade Fire has a Springsteen vibe that is very listenable. It’s not stand-out, but solid background music.

Lovely mix of children’s sing-a-long songs and straight up pop rock. Some of them have a Yellow Submarine vibe, but I don’t mind. Definitely worth a listen.

Mental illness is not an excuse for being an asshole.

This album is like going to church. It can make the most tired soul feel alive again. Willie was blessed by the ganja gods, or maybe he is one.

One of the best albums of all time. Quincy Jones, Eddie VanHalen, Sir Paul McCartney, and Toto stepping in to assist the king of pop was genius. Michael was weird and the charges against him later in life are deplorable. Neither of those things impact my opinion of the quality and impact of the Thriller album.

Adding a B3 to weird country songs doesn’t make them cool. This album’s wasn’t for me but it didn’t completely suck.

The music was cool, the attempted singing was dreadful.

Modern day yacht rock. The yodel whining gets old, but otherwise the album is beautifully done. Perfect for a rainy afternoon or Sunday listening.

Such an obnoxious album, yet I enjoyed it. It’s very well produced and probably would be in my regular rotation if the vocals didn’t suck so much. The lead singer lacks charisma and ruins the incredible vibe the rest of the band brings. Too much yelling, not enough singing.

In 1987 it was fun to see how long I Want Your Sex could play on the radio in the family car before your mom lost her shit over the smut and changed the station. George went from day-glo shorts to international sex symbol with this album. So much that it almost overshadowed his immense talent. The passion and sincerity in his soulful voice, the honest vulnerability in his writing, his masterful production skills, exceptional musicianship…this album showcases it all. George Michael was leading the charge for equality by singing about communication, sexuality, abuse, recovery, and change.

This was like listening to a 1970’s B movie starring Danny Trejo. It’s not fair to give it an actual rating because I’m not sure what I just experienced.

Fun songs, great showmanship. On their own each song is a treat. As an album it becomes a child banging on the piano.

Rolling Stones vibes on a few tracks. I like the brightness in the percussion without the 90’s compressed vocals shoved down our ear holes. Cool album.

You don’t have to listen to the entire album, every song sounds exactly the same.

Biggies skills were smooth. The skits are terrible and the videos are worse. West coast did it better.

Much more enjoyable than I expected! Sometimes it crosses over into being a little campy or theatrical, but that’s who Alice Cooper is. The jazz blues influence caught me off guard and some of those bass lines are pure funk.

There’s nothing left to say. Brilliant.

Punk rock polka. The lyrics may have been “ok” in 1977 but definitely didn’t age well. The Stranglers don’t stand out for me.

The first couple of minutes are fun, then reality hits. Overproduced boring crap that goes on for what seems like forever.

Messy distorted noise.

Creepy AF.

Short but not sweet.They found a balance between fantastic songs and genuinely dreadful ones on this album. I’m cool with never hearing it again but appreciate the contribution to the genre.

This one didn’t ABBADABBADO-IT for me.

Maybe I’m just not adult enough for this adult contemporary album. Sounds like a dentist office in the 1980’s.

This is the Wish version of Pet Shop Boys.

The warm up before getting weird and changing the course of music forever. The innocence of this album is charming.

I expected to be annoyed by this album but was pleasantly surprised. Noel’s songwriting was exceptional.

This album sounds like it needs a shower. Not a fan.

Sounds like every screamy band from 1995.

Hypnotically dreamy. This album was a lovely treat. From beginning to end it felt like being on a secret side quest that only the fairies and I knew about.

Solid album, I enjoyed its run. Too bad Caleb was such a twit. Would I listen to this album for fun? No. But it had its place.

Elton is always fantastic. Indian Sunset and Rotten Peaches could have been left behind but the rest of the album is better than good.

Album is smooth easy listening (until you catch the lyrics). I’ll always be West Coast but the importance and talent of Wu Tang is undeniable. Their influence still goes hard. Check out the FBI file (RIP ODB), it’s outrageous but true.

Neil Young songs always have an interesting bridge that take you to the next part of the story. His style isn’t for everyone, but I’m glad it’s for me.

Has anyone considered hugging Beck? It’s a beautiful album but hauntingly sad.

Kendrick Lamar is responsible for some of my favorite features, I’m a big fan of Dre and Aftermath, the production on this album is brilliant, the story telling is well done, but the vocals are atrocious.

Sly wasn’t afraid to take up space and fill every ounce of it. This album made listening fun and sitting still impossible.

The heaviness of social injustice presented in a funk, soul, gospel masterpiece.

So much rage. The production is brilliant and the band is surprisingly tight. I hated every second though.

Background music with the occasional attention grabber.

Soulful funky story telling.

Bright shiny album start to finish.

GnR was a train wreck waiting to happen but it sure was fun while it lasted. The importance of this album is often minimized because so many of the songs were/are played into the ground. Slash is one of the best guitarists of all time. His riffs from this album have become part of American culture. Axl is a problematic diva, but we lost Shannon Hoon so Axl is the Hoosier we are stuck with. All time favorite GnR song - Rocket Queen.

Sounds like my third grade best friends older stoner brothers room. Never been an Iron Maiden fan but didn’t hate this one. It’s actually a decent album.

Emmylou Harris is phenomenal on this album. The mix is weird but it’s listenable. Gram Parsons seems mediocre and probably would have been playing clubs in his hometown if he hadn’t been from such a privileged (yet cursed) family. Generational trauma is real, sadly Gram was a victim of his own circumstance.

Joshua Tree is often referred to as one of the greatest albums of all time because it is. Everyone mentions the opening three of this album, but I’d take it to opening five. Running to Stand Still is a profound beauty while Bullet in the Blue Sky is dark heavy driving rock. Every U2 album has its own vibe, this one is urgent and passionate. Not only does Bono make you feel every word, The Edge makes you pay attention. Some of the most profound moments are in the perfectly placed silence.

Floaty tunes, otherworldly sounds.The instrumental tracks were super interesting, possibly my favorite part of the album. I don’t know much about Bowie, looking forward to exploring more.

The beats are great, lyrically the ninjas are flying a little much for my liking. The Roots are culturally significant and I respect their work but this album didn’t do it for me. Break You Off was the only track I felt I could say I liked. The rest didn’t connect.

Decent album, but not great. Aerosmith brought the guitars, Joe Perry is front and center as he should be. The production value is lackluster, thin, and brassy. It’s an ok album, not great. Couple of cool songs but it’s mostly forgettable. 2.5 but not enough to round to 3.

Anger, rage, sadness, happiness, love, this one has it all. Bob Marley & The Wailers include funk and soul in their sound but this album even has rock and gospel. It’s a phenomenal reggae masterpiece.

Never paid much attention to Rod Stewart’s catalog so this album was a nice surprise. Mandolin Wind kind of sucked but the rest of the album is blues rock and it’s fantastic.

Pretty sure he had to worry because it was obvious this album is complete crap. Sounds like a freshman art project or your idiot neighbor who thinks he has a garage band that rocks. Over compressed was a trend but this one sounds like it was recorded through soup cans.

Eerily beautiful album. There is no doubt Dark Side is one of the all time best albums, even the artwork is iconic. It’s like listening to a descent into the madness of a tortured soul.

Haunting beatnik style spoken lyrics with beautiful instrumentation and backing vocals. Out of context the album would be weird, but knowing the state of the world and Cohen at the time of production makes the album profound. I don’t want to listen to it again, but appreciate the experience.

Repetitive and childish. Not a fan.

My goodness this album is enjoyable! I’m not educated enough in this genre to give a credible review but 5 stars from me, I loved it.

There’s a sense of urgency to this album, like Dave was frantic to get out the lyrics and music trapped inside of him. The passion is palpable. Revisiting this album was worth every rough around the edges second. Impressive one man debut. Dave Grohl reminded everyone that you can be a badass rocker while being a most excellent human.

Janes Addiction is a sleazy dive bar with sticky floors personified. This album had something for everyone. Mountain Song is the epitome of rock while Jane Says is pleasantly pop (by the way, she got clean and has a great life). Summertime Rolls is sheer trippy floating in the ether weirdness. Toss in some punk and jazz, it’s all there. I have a lot of love for this album and its artistic value. Nothing Shocking was the perfect primer for the grunge movement that followed in the early 90’s.

If you’re into bigoted dirty old men, the lyrics of this album are for you! If you can shut that part out, the rockabilly is top notch. I would listen to the instrumental version of Welcome to L.A. often. Buckleys voice is fantastically interesting, the musicianship is superb, but the lyrical content is horrendous.

The title track is possibly the worst one on the album. Every member of Traffic is exceptional but this was a weird transitional period for them and it just didn’t work. This album highlights why they went their own ways.

My only complaint with this album is how clean it is. It’s almost too perfectly engineered and has lost all of its grit.Steely Dan was pretty great, this album just isn’t for me.

Tago Mago is mostly an infuriating mess of noise. Just because you “Can” doesn’t mean you should.

Not an album I’m listening to on the daily but it’s a lovely folk record that became a piece of Americana.

Much respect to Bruce Springsteen, he is one of the best songwriters of his generation. He writes in reality, even when it’s ugly. I’ve never been a huge fan but if you lived through the 80’s you know almost every track on this album and like at least a few of them.

Heavy on the bass and drums with fairly bright guitar. Cool album but it got monotonous. The roaring vocals are just meh. I wanted to like this album more than I actually did. After a second listen it was dull and didn’t hold my attention. I’m curious if they ever evolved or if they just burnt out with the same old sound.

The guitar at the 14 minute mark was jarring and could have been approached in a more kind manner, otherwise this album is near perfection. Not sure what listening is like for a neurotypical but my neuro spicy brain was bouncing back and forth with the left to right change in the bells. Very soothing and stimulating at the same time. I listened to an anniversary edition that included a performance for the London Olympics and it was spectacular!

Sounds like skater punk met grunge in an alley and nobody won the fight. It’s not bad, but not good either.

Together Outkast created a lot of unforgettable hip hop. Andre 3k seemed to get most of the attention but this album shows Bog Boi deserved way more credit. His piece of the album is still fun to listen to but Andre 3k’s mostly sounds goofy and desperate. This album is too long, the skits/intros are unnecessary, and it’s certainly not a masterpiece like people claim. Nostalgia doesn’t equal greatness. Speakerboxx alone would have got a 4 but as a whole this one gets a 2.

hear a little Madness influence maybe even REM. This album and band may have been playing all around me in the 90’s but I didn’t notice, their sound is bland and mundane.

Always be yourself, never make yourself small to fit in. If you’re too much for someone they can go find less. After this album, I’m searching for less because this was way too much for me in loud obnoxious ways. The early 90’s had a lot of angry woman rock, some of it was incredible. This album wasn’t.

“I think prison songs are popular because most of us are living in one kind of little prison or another, and whether we know it or not the words of a song about someone who is actually in a prison speak for a lot of us who might appear not to be, but really are.” – Johnny Cash

Track one sounds worse than a middle school ensemble before warm ups and should have been trashed. The rest is almost cool. I dug Moon in June. Jazz fusion prog jams with one track of noise.

One of the best storytellers of a generation. Tracy Chapman successfully tackled injustice when the rest of the pop chart was filled with love songs and hair bands. Her voice is mesmerizing. Mountains O Earth is a standout.

Fantastic album from a much more innocent time. There isn’t a song on this album that I would skip. The covers are a treat and the originals are gems.

Doesn’t sound like 1978, it’s very fresh. I’m not a big fan of Springsteens vocals but really enjoyed this album. The solo in Prove it All Night has a tone of frantic desperation and I love it.

Listener beware, I’m pretty sure I was hypnotized by the last track, Sindhi-Bhairava. The educational pieces of this album were unexpected, the counts are fascinating. Maybe I’m a sucker for a sitar, but this album is great.

Sounds like Neil Diamond doing folk songs on Broadway. The entire album is pompous. If you ever watched The Lawrence Welk show with your grandma you’ll understand the balance of not liking something but not hating it. Definitely not something to seek out on your own but it’s tolerable.

All Boston songs sound the same to me. I don’t dislike the band or the album, but I wouldn’t seek it out either.

Sounds like the music played on a carousel ride while the horses go up and down. This album is cheesy, no wonder Peter Gabriel split to do his own thing.

The Charlatans seem to be the happier cousin of Oasis and Smashing Pumpkins. Sounds like 1997.

This album would be globally rated much lower if John Lennons name wasn’t associated. If he would have released this under a pseudonym it would have flopped. I adore the Beatles and a lot of Johns work but Plastic Ono is lousy.

There seems to be a theme of religious despair, depression, and mortality in Cohen’s work. This is a heavy album that reads like a mental health journal gone awry.

The suburbs has a familiar sound but it was also very fresh. One of the better albums in the 2010’s.

1989 was an incredible year for music but I wouldn’t have associated this album with that time. Back to Life was a popular radio jam but the rest of the album was boring.

One of the most enjoyable albums on the list so far! Primitive bare bones rock n roll when it was still innocent and pure. Buddy Holly lived on thought a lot of artists, this album is an example of why. His talent was immense.

Joan Baez is a badass political and social activist. Her song selection and writing is impeccable but her shrill voice is like nails on a chalkboard. This album felt like an extended play of church camp Kumbaya, and that’s not my jam.

Did Leonard Cohen find a Casio keyboard in a dumpster and decide to make this album with it? Not enjoyable or good.

I expected to dislike this album. yet here I am giving it a solid 4 stars. Bragg and Wilco managed to capture the vibe of a live bar band at their best. It’s honest and perfectly accompanies the wonderful lyrics left behind by Woody Guthrie.

2112 is filled with phenomenal musicianship and creativity. If you take the Ayn Rand crap out of the equation and consider the subject matter within the context of the battle with record company execs and freedom of expression, it’s less douchey.

Black Sabbath is epic, but this album is not. Maybe it’s the cocaine but they missed with Vol. 4.

When the Lone Ranger looking album turns out to be a Psychedelic, you gotta go with it. Not horrible but I wouldn’t seek it out. The band is technical and stiff, they need to loosen up and have some fun.

Paul Simon is a master story teller with exceptional lyrical phrasing. He brought the best and most innovative musicians to his albums. His music just feels good.

What’s with the random electronic music? It sounds like a jam is playing in the background while she is singing a different song. Kelela has a cool voice but it drones on much too long with little change in inflection. I didn’t get this one.

Neil Young is like Dave Matthews Band or U2. Insanely popular, gigantic catalog, extremely dedicated fan base, top rated, yet people come out of the woodwork to let you know they hate them because “they suck”. This isn’t Neil’s best album but it’s damn good.

Snoop influenced the lexicon of a generation with this album. Dont take the lyrics too seriously, have some fun with it. G Funk era!

Sounds like an impossibly pretentious dinner party that nobody wants to be at but they still smile politely. It’s nice enough but not how I want to spend a Friday night.

If you are in crisis reach out for help. In the U.S. you can connect to the suicide and crisis hotline by texting or calling 988.

I liked this album. It’s chill and calming.

This album was hard to get into. The vibe is hard to identify, I prefer more fluidity. The reprise was very nice, but I probably won’t listen to this one again.

Quite a few people seem to dig Sonic Youth. I’m not one of them. Overall, Goo was noisy and dull, but not unlistenable. Makes me think of clove cigarettes and teenagers drinking coffee trying to be edgy.

The music of Tarkus is great, the singing is awful. Pretty sure they made up the lyrics as they went. If ELP left this album as an instrumental it would have been a 4 or 5. Sadly it’s pushing 2’s luck.

His Royal Purpleness never failed to innovate. Even with drum machines and stripped down tracks he created an album that sounds full and fresh. The cultural relevance of Sign O The Times cannot be denied. One of his best albums, even though the singles weren’t his most popular.

How can an album with so much going on at once sound so clean? I love the crispness of Carlos Santana’s playing, you notice every note. This is another album that may not be enjoyed by everyone, but it’s a fantastic master class (especially for guitar and organ).

Jeff Beck is one of the greatest players out there and Rod Stewart isn't a chump, but this album is a horny mess.

Bunch of skater punks slashing around yelling instead of singing. Hated it.

Unique beautiful voice. Was Amy Winehouse the best at this style? Probably not, but she was the only mainstream artist doing it at the time. Her addiction made her a stumbling mumbling mess and stole every bit of promise from her.

Beck went back to his roots on this one. Smooth and cozy jams. Sometimes he tries too hard but Guero feels just right.

The production value of Justice is garbage and the blame falls squarely on Lars Ulrich and his ego. One became an iconic song and I’ve always had a fondness for Harvester of Sorrow. Jason Newstead was the best decision Metallica ever made, it’s a shame he is almost non existent on this album.

Smooth and palatable but it got a little too noisy for my preference. The album cover tricked me into thinking ambient but it’s straight up jazz.

Hauntingly gorgeous. Disintegration gave us a mature version of The Cure. Fascination Street is still a musically interesting track all these years later. It takes a winding path that you feel more than you hear. The entire album stands the test of time.

What’s with the dreadfully monotonous vocals? Parts of every song are cool, then quickly morph into mundane annoyance. The production quality is great, I dig the mix but not the project. It’s not sucktastic but I definitely wouldn’t tell a friend to check it out.

Sounds like a mental health crisis. There isn't a single part of this album I enjoyed or considered worthy of being released ,no less making it a “must listen”.

The band was tight but the frantic pace was anxiety inducing. Never been a fan of the songs Deep Purple produced but they were definitely a solid band.

For Your Pleasure is not a noticeable record, the cover art is cool though. Turns out the model (Amanda Lear) was a muse for Salvador Dali. The panther on the cover was given so much Valium it couldn’t move so they had to 1970’s photo shop the poor thing.

Better than OK! Added to my library, really great album.

Relaxing jazz interrupted by anxiety inducing horn runs. This album is hell for neuro spicy brains, I would be pleased to never hear it again.

It’s Jimi Hendrix. You just have to accept it for what it is sometimes.

Sounds like James Addiction meets Depeche Mode. Hookworm is a band I’ve never heard of but this album was fun to explore. Is it worthy of being on the list? No. But it isn’t miserable.

Classifying this one as Country Poetry. The entire album is Midwestern sad. Open All Night is a standout gem, but the rest feels heavy. Excellent album for a rainy day or a sad drive across Kansas.

Pretty cool journey! I went into this album knowing a few songs but hadn’t experienced the album beginning to end.

Trip-Hop that lost its hop. Every song had a cool ambient vibe that is promptly wrecked by an off tempo beat drop. Melody A.M. sounds unfinished and thrown together.

Sounds like Led Zeppelin. Page and Plant were meant to find each other. Not my favorite, but undeniably a great album.

This dude is purposely annoying. He could use his unique voice for good but clearly chooses violence. Lousy writing, performance, and production.

I didnt get what the songs were about but the rhythms were infectious. Funky 70’s jams!

Quintessential Rush. I never noticed how similar the songs sound on this album. Tom Sawyer was a GenX staple and Limelight is in constant rotation on classic radio. Listening to Moving Pictures made me connect the dots of Rush’s influence on bands that followed. By the third track I was hearing Queensryche. Probably the best album by Rush.

What a weirdo recording. Not a fan.

Simple stripped down rock n roll with a blues flair from the ground up. I could listen to this album multiple times in a row and not get bored with it.

Beautiful Freak is a sweet album. It’s melodically comforting and the lyrics are genius. There’s a bit of a mom rock vibe but sometimes that’s nice.

Less cool version The Dandy Worhals. The songs got aggressively angry and weren’t fun to listen to.

Trip Hop is a strange genre. Smokers Delight has a new age sound that I like but the trax are arrogantly long.

Genius album! It’s equally fresh today.

The entire album was noise. Just dreadful.

Yes is a no for me. They were a huge band, I just don’t get their music.

Pretty sure Sinatra was a sleazy douchecanoe but his music never failed to hit that smooth spot. This album feels nice, almost cozy.

Punk isn’t a high rated genre for me but I really enjoy The Clash. This album is no exception, it’s listenable and carries solid energy without getting aggressive.

Hi there. This album is immaculate. It’s a five. I don’t care if you were born in 1998 and you don’t get it, listen again and open your mind. It’s brilliant.

The Stones deserve their own genre. There’s a reason this band has been successfully recording and playing out for over 60 years. Nobody does exactly what they do on or off the stage. Exile is a solid album, not their huge hits but sonically pleasing. Loving Cup is still one of my favorite Stones songs.

Id rather listen to the mating sounds of whales than this album. It drags on endlessly and drains the listeners will to live. I would like a few words with the moron who decided this piece of crap album needed “bonus” tracks. 1 star because less isn’t possible.

Born To Run sounds like a musical or rock opera. The writing is Dylanesque and beautifully poetic in a relatable blue collar tone. As a complete album it gets redundant and tiresome but each song is strong on its own. This album isn’t a masterpiece and I’m not sure why it gets lauded as one. 3.5

I don’t have a favorite Police album, but if I did it wouldn’t be this one. Sting seems like a pretty smart dude but this album is idiotic. Sure, they pulled off a couple huge hits with this one, but it’s hard not to notice they don’t sound like the remaining tracks.

1974 music was way more like a Trump rally than I expected. The bigotry runs deep with this one and all the songs sound the same. I’m pretty sure they changed the lyrics and used this album in a Pixar movie. It’s not the worst but it’s not anything I’d listen to by choice.

This album seems super sad. The vocals remind me of the whinier Jack Johnson songs. I didn’t love Either Or but didn’t hate it.

Happy disco sung by a group that sounds like a school choir. Weird lyrics but I enjoyed this dancy number.

I thought King Crimson was a heavy metal band. Psychedelic jams were a pleasant surprise although the vocals were a little too goody goody, sounded a lot like America. The music was fun but the entire album needed more grit.

Joni Mitchell is best served in small doses. While this album is fantastic, it gets old quick. Her phrasing is interesting but I’m not a big fan.

Not original or great, but it’s ok.The chics voice is the weakest link but she sure puts it out there. The bass line is pretty cool but all the songs sound the same.

Welcome to Death Row. The most influential album of a generation, The Chronic introduced G Funk with real musicians instead of just samples (and that creepy high pitched horror film sounding moog). There’s no denying the Parliament influence and the stacked talent Dre brought to the album. The production value is insane! A bunch of white kids in small town USA got their first glimpse into west coast gangsta rap life. It became part of the lexicon. It was provocative, raw, and definitely vulgar - we couldn’t bump it hard it enough. The lyrics were playful in that time and place, today they would never be acceptable (rightfully so). We’ve since grown up, Dre made millions selling headphones and Snoop is besties with Martha Stewart - they aren’t the same guys. When you know better you do better, this is why cancel culture is harmful. People deserve the opportunity to grow, art can be uncomfortable, some of y’all need to lighten up and appreciate a good Deez Nutz joke.

Welp, this album is a hot mess. I wanted to like it but couldn’t. The genre crossing is almost cool but comes off cheesy. I’m giving Fly or Die a two because the mix is good, solid production. The actual project is terrible.

Risqué isn’t your standard happy goofy coked up disco album, it gets dark and heavy. Nile Rodgers brings genius to his songwriting, this album is no exception. It’s real and gritty, even sophisticated.

First listen and it was ok. Felt like a Peleton commercial after a while, solid treadmill music. Least favorite track was DANCE, enjoyed One Minute to Midnight.

Lynyrd Skynrd is the band your redneck uncle loves. He probably has a confederate flag hanging in his garage. Other than the uncomfortable associations, this album was a solid listen. Blues meets country with some rockin guitars. Felt a little power ballad heavy, but it earned its spot on the list without question.

Kinda sounds like Great White with a shitty lead singer. Not a fan.

Latin funk hip hop! Something about this one just brought me joy, the songs feel good. It doesn’t make sense that they aren’t more popular in the U.S., they should be.

Do people go to Adele concerts to cry and hug each other? There’s a couple upbeat songs but even they have hints of despair. Adele has masterful control of her gorgeous voice but the genre wears me out more than the constant radio play Rumor Has It received.

Masterpiece of a pop album from start to finish. His Royal Purpleness crossed genres like no one before him and pushed the envelope at every turn. It’s one of the few albums worthy of listening to front to back without skipping songs, but of course there are standouts like “Take Me With You” and the driving “I Would Die 4 U”. Saying the song Purple Rain is Prince’s greatest is like saying Skynrds best work is Freebird or Zepplins best work is Stairway to Heaven. Prince kept everyone guessing and wanting more. Fun fact: play the end of “Darling Nikki” backwards to hear the message “hello how are you, fine, fine cause the Lord is coming soon, coming, coming soon”.

I had Frank Ocean confused with Billy Ocean. Once that was resolved, I found Channel Orange kind of dull. Frank’s voice is nice but not unique - at times he sounds like Pharrell Williams. Lyrically I was less than impressed but it was a smooth tolerable listen.

Beastie Boys never missed. Paul’s Boutique is my least favorite in their catalog, but it’s a great one. 105 samples was unheard of! Nobody was snarky and creative with their rhymes like the Beasties.

Whoa! This is a rockin funky take you to church album that gets downright nasty. There’s no need for two songs over 9 minutes. This album could be mood dependent but it worked well for a Friday morning.

Dreadfully unoriginal and way too long. I don’t understand how this album made the list, most cover bands are better.

Weird 80’s sound, like an album they would have played at the local head shop or skate shop. It’s pretty great and not what I expected. Almost punk, I dig it.

The first track off this album is pure bliss. Floating through the ether and magical for 7 minutes, then shit gets weird. The synth vocal sound and shrill tones are over used to the point of being campy and the added textures of sounds becomes noise. Not bad, but not going into my rotation.

Exceptional album. Stripped down in complex simplicity. Either you get it or your don’t, the global rating is biased and should be much higher.

Whiny boring album that I hope to never suffer through again.

This is a rough one. Tom Waits is cool and an incredible musician/writer. At the same time this album wore me out. I would have enjoyed reading the lyrics as poems instead of him grunting them at me. Middle of the road stars, I wanted to like it more.

Start to finish this album pops and rocks. Really fun to revisit, those hand claps are perfection. Seems they should be a bigger band.

Crazy to think this album was a debut. Sheryl Crow is one of the best singer songwriter players in a generation. “I Shall Believe” is one of my favorites.

Not sure how these cats got signed. They are ok, but not good. #1 sounds like it was recorded with a boom box off the radio while your mom did dishes.

Nope. This band is not edgy or cool. Enjoy conforming while trying to be non-conformists, kids.

Just ok, bordering on cheesy. Definitely not a Soul Machine, more like one of those boxes on sleazy old motel beds that take quarters.

Trippier yacht rock. The Flaming Lips should be in your face punk, but The Soft Bulletin is a perfect rainy day album. I kinda liked it. Not sure it should be album of the year, but 1999 was a weird time.

Whoa! They would be an incredible U2 cover band. I dig their sound but something is off. The energy is wonky between the music, vocals, and lyrics. I have no idea what they were singing about. Surprised this one is rated so poorly.

How so much talent and soul filled a singular human is beyond me. Innervisions is still fresh and relevant. Those funky bass lines can’t be touched.

Stephen Stills is a wonderful album, very listenable and enjoyable. The only exception is Cherokee, it doesn’t belong on what otherwise would be a masterpiece.

Something is off with this cat. It’s sounds like one of those compilation albums where popular songs are made squeaky clean and performed by teens. Like playing a 33 album on 45. It’s not terrible but I’m cool with never hearing it again.

Now we know who created call center hold music.

Impeccable. Start to finish The Who deliver. Their sound is so clean there is zero room for error. Quite possibly a perfect rock album.

Strange but in good ways. I expected a drum circle but was pleasantly surprised by how much this album rocks.

One of the most important rap albums ever made. This is the Big Bang in the evolution of rap. Show Em Whatcha Got samples Darkest Light by Lafayette Afro Band. I’ve never heard the actual song but it’s got to be one of the most recognizable samples in rap/hip hop. Wreckx-N-Effect’s Rump Shaker, N2Deep’s Back to the Hotel, Jay-Z’s Show Me What You’ve Got, and hundreds more…but Public Enemy did it first.

Very campy. Like listening to the Rocky Horror Picture show. It’s kind of funny but mostly annoying.

The most forgettable album yet. Supergrass does a great job of sounding like every other popular band in the late 90’s. The production is well done and the band seems to be solid but the vocals and songs are a joke.

I don’t know a lot about jazz. This was the least chaotic jazz experience I’ve had on this journey and I liked it. Really smooth, nothing jarring or abrupt. It certainly earned its spot on the list.

A lot of screaming teen angst in this album mixed with depression. Hole had the potential to do really cool music but missed the train. I’m sure being in Nirvanas shadow wasn’t easy for Courtney Love. She wasn’t taken seriously (for good reason), but she was more than right a few times. Worth the listen not worth frequent rotation.

Hunky Dory may be when Bowie gave the middle finger to anyone telling him how he should sound or what he should do. So many genres and influences are identifiable and he owns them all. My fave track is Song for Bob Dylan.

Repetitive and noisy are the best descriptors I can come up with. I get they are short staffed but maybe they could invest in someone to growl random words or something to break up the monotony. The metal aspect is cool but the sound gets messy after awhile, like 20 seconds in.

The 50’s throwback fad isnt my jam, but Janelle is one of the best at it. She has such a clean Doo Wop vibe and lovely enunciation. Tightrope was my favorite on this album but all of it is radio worthy. The alter ego is over theatrical but she probably would have been more commercially successful in the U.S. on a different label with more artistic control.

Best Reggae Performance of the year award? Was this the only reggae album in 1997? The entire project sounds like a dorky kid in his bedroom making an album using Garage Band on his MacBook.

Sounds like The Rembrants formed a Smiths cover band. Bordering on lame, but still listenable.

I didn’t care for RHCP when they hit the scene. Under the Bridge is one of the most annoying songs from the early 90’s. The album is not as obnoxious as I expected, too long, but not unlistenable.

Sounds like that one band that sounded like alll those other 90’s alt bands. Never heard of Sugar but this album is better than most of the shiny post grunge noise.

This guy is moody af. Musically it’s a beautiful album, Nick makes it weird though.

A lot more piano than I anticipated, but in a good way. Not the style of music I want to listen to on the daily but tolerable.

Odd production by a couple of strange dudes. Paul Simon is a treasure, but his Simon and Garfunkel days were musically all over the place. What’s with the bizarre talking set break on a 30 minute album? Some of the songs are magic while others are a snooze fest. This 2.5 of a compilation gets a 4 because the few songs that are enjoyable truly shine brightly.

I like this one. It’s weird, it’s loud, it’s not like anything on the radio but in familiar ways. Keep an open mind or do some drugs before this one.

Common is just that. Ordinary and boring.

Radiohead is difficult to review. Some of their music is otherworldly and some of it down and dirty rock. This album is stuck in between. The whiny high pitched 90’s baby talk vocals are horrendous no matter who is singing, that alone keeps me from being a fan. The band is incredible, no denying it, but there’s so much whine singing.

Sounds like the background music in a video game. I don’t mind it but it’s not active listening material.

Beautiful talented woman, great voice, sucktastic album. There is not a single part of this mess that is enjoyable.

There’s something sexy about this one. Van Morrison isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I really enjoy his music. For the time period the production of the live tracks was outstanding.

Beam me up! The first track of this album is wasted space but the rest is Parkiament innovation and funk. George Clinton is a wacky dude but he gets art.

Sounds like an identify crisis. Mediocre rip off of every band and sound that was getting paid in the era. Not good, not bad, definitely not original.

Didn’t realize I was familiar with Bossa Nova, no less that I like it. Super smooth and enjoyable album.

This might be the perfect treadmill album. No clue what the songs are about but the rhythms are fantastic.

Alanis said what women were thinking. Until this point, men were calling it like they saw it in songs but women were expected to be sad and soft creatures when relationships ended. Jagged Little Pill showed the world we were pissed off and not playing fragile little flowers anymore.

Lame attempt at a rap album. Not only did they suck, they sucked for 18 tracks. The beats are boring and the rap is sloppy. The only thing worse than their rapping is the font on the album cover.

Immature ignorant ramblings screamed into the void. Trashy is the best I can come up with.

As an 80’s kid my relationship with MJ’s music is different than younger gen’s - rightfully so. Bad is 3 parts insanely incredible and 2 parts weird. The videos were innovative but Michael comes off predatory instead of sexy. No excuses, things were different then. We don’t want to go back, but that doesn’t change how things like this were perceived and embraced at the time. Smooth Criminal video is probably the last huge video premier-the choreography is top tier. Man in the Mirror has become iconic and still can bring me to tears. Leave me Alone video was supposed to make fun of all the tabloid stuff but really just reinforced how weird Michael was. We just accepted the music and talent and ignored the strangeness.

New wave surfer girl pop. All the songs sound similar but that’s probably because they only used a few chords. It’s a fun simple album and produced a couple classic hits. Probably not as noteworthy as people seem to think it is.

Best album ever made. The Beatles outdid themselves and George Martin delivered. Abbey Road is work of art. Perfection.

Complicated artistic man from an equally complicated era. Definitely transgressive - making it difficult to know who Lou Reed truly was. I’ve always enjoyed his work but an entire album at a time is too much.

Completely new to me but it sounds very familiar. I was surprised to learn it’s from 79, could have been an early 90’s album. Just ok, but I felt the same way when Blink 182 arrived and they grew on me. This album needs more than one listen.

This album starts out as perfect concentration music. It’s enjoyable and keeps my brain focused enough to ignore outside noises. Then track 4 happens and it all goes to hell. Tracks 5 and 6 aren’t terrible but it’s a jarring difference from where the album started.

Is this a parody? The production value is high, so was whoever signed this dude.

One of the classiest hip hop albums ever made. Perfect for Sunday morning porch sitting.

Loud but fun. The 90’s were a weird time in music, so many bands sounded exactly the same. Offspring was a standout in their genre but still kinda sucked.

Electronic but maybe a little trance? I don’t know but I liked it. Smaller doses instead of the full album would be enjoyable.

Look, this album sucks. It’s not magical, beautiful, awe inspiring, or emotional. Is this supposed to be music on some other galaxy? I’m not buying it. I saw Star Wars and the Cantina band jammed.

If Billy Idol and Marlyn Mason had a love child it would sound like this. Very interesting textures, especially for ‘89.

Vocal Jazz isn’t my thing but Elis Regina has a fantastic voice. Felt like it should be a vinyl listening album only. Ambiance required.

Some of Sabu is fun and exciting, most of it is obnoxious and annoying. I wouldn’t recommend to anyone I like.

Lorde’s lyrics and delivery are impeccable. She rocks the old soul vibe. This album is brilliantly produced, I loved it.

Paul Simon became a favorite and this album started it all. His ability to keep making fresh music by experimenting with different genres and co-oping them into his own style sounds like joy even in his darker periods. He was an old dude to me when Graceland came out, but it was a gateway into a world of really cool music. As an American kid in 1980’s I didn’t know what Apartheid meant - We Are The World and Graceland were my introduction to conversations about what was really happening globally.

I couldn’t like this album less without hating it. 2 stars.

It took decades to quietly fall in love with this album. Pink Floyd isn’t one of my favorite bands, but The Wall is a rock masterpiece. Elvis Morrison, I will not forget.

People talk shit about Taylor Swift writing about her relationships but Rumors is flat out biopic when it comes to lies love loss and infidelity. Impeccable album, certainly one of the best of all time.

Have you ever read a book that transports you to a magical world? Well, pack a bag because this album is a similar adventure. Lyrically bizarre at times, but still perfect.

Maybe if this album had a fuller sound with actual music I would have liked it more. Way too much noise and screaming. Sounds like kids making pretend instruments out of random stuff they found in the basement.

Perfectly penned pop album. I question the emotional intelligence of people who trash Taylor Swift. Pop may not be something you enjoy, but even a glance shows her immense talent. She is the most prolific songwriter of her generation, an outstanding role model, business woman, philanthropist, and storyteller who also writes, produces and directs her own music videos. She is an exceptional human being who quietly does the right thing every chance she gets. She’s also so damn humble, real, dorky and relatable. Long live the Swifties and all they stand for - they are our past, present, and future.

I like this album a lot, doesn’t mean that it’s exceptionL. AC:DC music in general is simplistic and loud and off color, Back in Black is no exception. There was a time when every other walk up song was AC/DC

The entire album is moody and none of those moods are happy. If you’re into angry conflicted feelings this album might be for you.

Bob Dylan is such a cool dude. His storytelling is top notch and so is this album. Maybe a little harmonica heavy but definitely a gem.

Whiny bullshit songs that all sound the same. I don’t hate Oasis when the random song comes on the radio but a full album is way too much. It’s a definitely maybe not for me.

I expected this to be a redneck delight but was pleasantly surprised. Steve Earle is a fantastic songwriter and genuinely multi-faceted.

We really needed The Black Crows when they came on the scene. Music was in a weird in-between place and Shake Your Money Maker produced hit after hit and appealed to multiple genres. I’m not a fan, but I do own She Talks To Angels on cassette single and acknowledge their pop culture significance.

Over rated album. Sure, there’s a lot going on in terms of the usual music you hear in the grocery store, but it’s not great. It’s cluttered sounds and Bowie is overly dramatic in his vocals. I appreciate his art but I’ll never listen to this album again.

Sounds like a bad Coldplay cover band. It’s not miserable but wouldn’t pay the cover charge.

Sleepy little album that won the lottery with a bunch of college kids who believed it was greatest ever.

Frantic and aggressive British pop rock. Cookie cutter crap that isn’t special but filled a void when it was released. Nothing special, but dudes seemed to dig it.

Ever been to a concert and had a dude next to you that wouldn’t shut up? He just kept talking about mundane random shit the entire time the band was playing? That experience is this album. Some dude spouting pointless stories over a band for 40 minutes.

I refuse to believe that anyone truly enjoys PJ Harvey. Even the artistic value of this “album” is low.

R.E.M. when they were magical. Green has pop perfection, hard rock with driving guitars, in your face folk tunes, and a couple of ballads for good measure. Their voice was extremely important to those of us who saw issues in the world and needed the political rhetoric to remind us we can speak out and fight for change and succeed.

I don’t the the blues are supposed to make you feel happy, but this album always does.

All I knew about Slade was Cum on Feel the Noise (because the Quiet Riot cover). This album is kinda fun in a hair band before hair bands were a thing way- but I don’t want to hear it again.

Not his best work but a hugely successful well received album. You’re allowed to be offended by his music all you want but it shows your lack of critical thinking. Eminem is the most commercially successful rap artist of all time for a reason.

A Hard Rains Agonna Fall is my favorite Dylan song. Overall, Freewheelin is a fantastic album. Would be cool to stumble across one of those $35k copies in a half priced books.

Mellow melodic beats and slow smooth rhymes make Afterfuture enjoyable. I’d listen to it again without being forced. Mike Ladd has a huge catalog, not sure why he wasn’t more mainstream.

Hated Chemical Brothers back then, still don’t like the sound. It’s too heavy and dark, I prefer my electronica bright and happy. If you’re into aggressive music, this album is for you.

I’ve never called a 1-900 sex line before but the baby talk vocals of this album are what I imagine it would sound like.

Iconic album! The Ramones always sound like they are about to get into some shit and it’s going to be epic. The vocals are distinct and the driving surfer punk drums make all of their songs a good time.

Smooth sexy album responsible for a lot of babies.

I didn’t feel empowered. At all.

Jurassic 5 should have had way more commercial success. Their music can make the gloomiest days feel bright and shiny.

Short and weird. I loved Jump Steady but it has more of a Dr Seuss vibe than Dr John. I’m definitely going to check out more of his work, he’s a fascinating character.

“You’re not Dylan Thomas, I’m not Patti Smith. This ain’t the Chelsea Hotel, we’re modern idiots”

Dexys Midnight Runners had their sound locked in! Most of the album kind of blends together but there are a couple of fun standouts.

Fresh and fun 50 years later! This album was my first experience with Jazz. My middle school home room teacher played it on a record player. He seemed out of touch back in the age of cassettes and pop, but I sure appreciated the introduction later in life. Thanks, Mr Mac.

I still know every word to every track. Somewhere along the line Bon Jovi stopped being rebellious and became my mom’s band.

Sounds a lot like the guy from your neighborhood who wrote a bunch of slightly dorky songs to impress the girl in the drama club. It’s not horrible, nothing great, but I’m sure she liked it.

Beautiful floaty dreamy pop. Cocteau Twins didn’t get much airplay in the U.S. but they should have.

I dig the eagles. Especially Don Henley. Their music is well constructed, impeccably performed, and wildly popular. This album is just ok. 3.5 stars for me.

Right about now-the funk soul brother! I love this album. Instrumentally it’s perfection. Lyrically it’s just random phrases and words and they somehow make perfect sense. Quentin is a genius- his work with the Beasties, Tribe, even the incredible David Byrne should be a bio of its own.

Was surprised to like this album. It has a more modern sound The Presidents of the United States mashed up with Green Day is as close as I can come up with.

Intensely beautiful story telling. The entire album is a vibe that you genuinely feel.

Such an arrogant prick. Even his music is obnoxious. Sorry Morrissey, I dislike you more than Moby.

Fantastic! Not really my cup of tea but perfectly executed. Not sure why Ray Charles doing country/western songs feels like a Christmas movie but it sure does. Definitely an album everyone should hear at least once.

I hated this album. Is it incredible jazz? Yes. Are the horns screachy af? Also yes. This one was anxiety inducing. I’m rating it middle of the road because I respect other people’s appreciation, but cannot go higher than a 3.

Imagine putting this album on for the first time in 1969 and experiencing Gimme Shelter right out of the gate. Stones are a hit machine, starting with this album.

It’s an ok album. Lyrically it’s not profound like a lot of Neil’s work. I enjoy his music either way.

Cool at first but the beats are just meh.

I like the smiths better than anything else Morrisey has touched but that’s not saying much. Moody pop masquerading as mod.

This is an entire album of 90’s Nokia ringtones strung together in song form. 808 should be 404 because talent was not found.

Abstract and noisy in mostly good ways. Made me want to bust out an interpretive dance. If you dig kooky art projects, this album is for you.

Ashamed I didn’t know this man by name. Soulful and sexy R&B with impeccable backup singers. A couple of the songs are cheesy or this would have been a 5. Really enjoyed the majority of the album.

What is this? Possibly a failed rock opera? Soundtrack to a weird musical? It’s bizarre. I didn’t hate it but didn’t like it much either.

Eminem is one of my favorite artists but this album blows. It’s childish to the point of being lame. If you hate Eminem don’t base it on this album. He has grown into a badass human who used personal struggle to be the best at his craft. He will piss you off and offend you because he gets you, he might even be the dark side of you. Sincerely yours, Stan. P.S. we should be together too

Sounds like clove cigarettes and sadness.

Musically this album is phenomenal but the vocal style gets old fast. Good ol Oogie Boogie.

Culturally relevant and slightly provocative for 1990. This album was the precursor to Janet genuinely taking control of her life, career, and freedom of expression. Rhythm Nation introduced a bold Janet who was strong, facing hard topics like social injustice, while at the same time embracing her sexuality and showing the world she was all grown up. Not my favorite JJ album, but it deserved the accolades received.

Beautiful Album filled with masterpiece songs.

Better than their first album. Jesus and Mary Chain should have been as popular as Joy Division or the Cure

Every Wilco song sounds like it belongs on a low budget teen angst movie soundtrack produced for Hallmark. Except for that one song where the chant WIL-CO over and over. That one just sucks.

Ten is a masterpiece, just a monster of a debut album. In a time of pop, glam, and rap, Pearl Jam brought us back to rock. And rock we did.

Punky grungy pop. It’s a very commercial sound. Good enough to not be annoying yet doesn’t stand out or warrant recognition.

I’ve always enjoyed Elvis - mostly the phenomenon surrounding his popularity. This album is mediocre at best, but it drove the masses wild.

Too brassy for my brain in one sitting and the “vocals” suck. Other than that it was kinda cool. Hanging middle of the road on this one. It sounds a little dated for a 2007 release.

The Clash meets The Cure and falls in love with Blondie is the only way I can describe Orange Juice. Decent new wave sound, solid bass lines. Would make a great John Hughes soundtrack.

One of the best Stones albums. Sticky Fingers is less in your face than some of their work. Blues, country, rock, it’s all there. Dead Flowers is probably only second to Loving Cup.

Wonderful album. Every track is fully formed and beautifully composed. God Only Knows is a perfection, as is Pet Sounds. I could do without Caroline, No - but that’s preference and doesn’t reduce the value of this masterpiece.

The screaming seems well done if you’re in to that. The entire album is loud and messy and not very fun to listen to.

Big band crooner delight. Too bad the album doesn’t end as bold as it starts, it gets a little sleepy. Overall it’s a nice listen.

Nope. Immature spoken word crap. Suzanne Vega has a beautiful voice, too bad she used it for evil.

Early pop stylized like the later version of The Beatles. A couple of the songs had sickeningly sweet vocals but most were really great. Didn’t know I liked The Kinks!

Is this supposed to be edgy? It’s a little dark but mostly dreadful. Baby talk isn’t sexy, neither is this embarrassing album.

The sound is HUGE on this album. Very full rich tones with gorgeous vocals. I have no idea what we are giving devotion too, but this album is fantastic.

I like the funk.

The entire album sounds how unstable feels. Maybe they should try meditation or goat yoga. The goofy voices were annoying but the screaming then sweetly singing over rage guitars sealed the deal.

Never heard of this band but the album seemed familiar in a comfortable way. Crisp early 80’s pop rock. The Taxman guitar riff ripoff caught my attention but it was a fun nod.

Good then not so good then ok. This album was all over the place. It was middle of the road listenable for me.

I get it. It’s smooth, the sax is lovely, she can saaaang. It’s still dreadfully dull. The vocal control is incredible but the loud power at the end of every other syllable is obnoxious and becomes a one trick pony. Every word doesn’t need to be dramatically emphasized. No thank you, Sade.

I get it, the chic stole his money and he was living as a monk but why should we be punished for that? Love and Hate is mostly hate.

Not as bad as expected from browsing the reviews but certainly lousy. Every song sounds unfinished and lacks direction. The cool moments are quickly obliterated with noise.

Harsh edges but a good listen. Never heard of Television but definitely hear their influence in later one hit wonders and a couple main stays.

The Talking Heads were pure twisted genius. Fresh bright guitars, the entire album is crisp and clean. Lyrically fascinating, dark but so much fun. David Byrne sounds like he could become completely unhinged at any moment. It’s glorious.

Emmylou’s voice is pure and her phrasing is perfection. The song choices on Pieces of the Sky are not for me, but the album is excellent. Not only is she one of the best in country music, she’s as intelligent as she is beautiful. Her later work is some of her best.

Not my fave G.Love album but it’s still a fun one. Nice and dancey but the lyrics get a little goofy at times.

This may be the album that brought heavy metal to the masses. There’s no denying the success and appeal of Black Sabbath. Paranoid is top notch in every way and fairies really do wear boots.

Some of the most beautiful lyrics rest within American Beauty. Its endearing charm has already lasted generations. The Dead are a completely different experience live, that makes studio albums a more acquired taste for me. This one isn’t my favorite, but I’m forever grateful.

I’ve always ignored Kacey Musgraves because a sleazy guy who was forever trying to play in my park was obsessed with her. Assumed I wouldn’t like her music if she attracted dudes like that. I was mostly right. She has a little girl voice and her lyrics are immature. The album is overproduced for her stripped down sound. Didn’t hate it, didn’t love it.

Jump was the number 1 song on the hot 9 at 9 for months when I was in fourth grade. It felt like the entire school year. To say this album was popular would be an understatement. I prefer Sammy, but 1984 is pure Van Halen in your face rock.

Steely Dan is a sound engineers wet dream. Fantastic album, impeccable production. They did all those songs you know but don’t realize you know, and a few more.

I like The Doors. Blues rock at its finest. Morrison was a weird cat but he inspired generations. It would interesting to see who he would have become later in life. L.A. Woman isn’t a constant rotation album, but it’s great for a rainy day listen or a roadtrip.

Green River is one of the very best albums ever made. Fogherty put his soul in every song he touched (he still does). I’ll always love Lodi, even if it’s the oddball on the album.

So many top reviews but not a single one explained why I’m supposed to like this shit album. It’s not even good, certainly not great.

If you are facing addiction or a mental health crisis in the U.S. text 988. This album doesn’t matter much, but you do.

Every song on the album starts the same. Track one is promising but by song two it’s clear that Maxwell is going nowhere fast with this one.

Couple of fantastic songs blended with pretentious whiny crap on this one. Never got why Teach Your Children was such a hit, Woodstock is a much more pleasant listen.

Not a fan of concept albums nor this flavor of The Bee Gees. This album isn’t fun and it’s pretty hard to get though.

Upbeat fantastic Christmas album. Fun fact, Cher sang backup for Darlene Love on Christmas Baby Please Come Home. Spector ended up being a murderous lunatic but his musical genius cannot be denied.

Beautiful voice. I don’t love the tempo of Dusty In Memphis but her vocals are dreamy and otherworldly.

Aretha takes it to church every single time. This gorgeous woman sings with every ounce of power and life within her. Straight fire. Outside of the vocals this album has some of the funkiest bass lines. Really great listen.

Dramatic. Whiny. Melancholy. Radiohead could be cool, but they aren’t. The production is nice so it’s getting a 2.

Never heard of The Jam until now. All Mod Cons is one hell of a bop. Not a lousy track on the album, can’t wait to hear more from them.

I hated this Blur album way less than the last one. Still didn’t like it, but found some value.

Album is way too long, vocals are childish baby talk, otherwise it’s ok. Indie techno, not super annoying but also not motivating. Middle of the road is the place I’ve landed with Chvrches.

Nick Cave is like the macabre version of Kid Rock. Some of his work sucks less, but it’s still obnoxious and creepy.

The band is great but the singer sounds like an extremely inebriated Bob Dylan. It’s too bad they didn’t kick ol’ slurry voice to the curb, this album could have been good.

Back to basics stripped down Americana folk rock. The entire album feels warm and comfortable. All the stars.

No regrets. Bosssnova is the perfect blend of peak 80’s and welcome to the 90’s rock weirdness. Beginning to end this album is fun and quirky. Well done Pixie pals.

Some of the songs give a Dead or Alive vibe. Maybe it’s the vocals. En-Tacr starts strong but bottoms out after track 4.

Wowza! Sultry and moody in all the right ways. I want an entire album of “I Love Your Lovin Ways”.

Ya know that part in “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by the Clash where nobody knows what he’s saying so we all sing random nonsense? That’s this entire album. The music is decent but that’s all it’s got going for it.

I was introduced to Waylon through Alvin and The Chipmunks. They covered his song Luckenbach Texas, and I loved it. Honkey Tonk Heroes is a five star album, beginning to end.

Sounds like they hijacked a church organ and played a concert as fast as possible while the clergy worked to bust down the doors.

RUN D.M.C. convinced a lot of white parents in the burbs that Rap might be ok. Tricky even showed up at the skating rink wedged between Hall & Oates and Disco Duck. Raising Hell is one of the most important rap albums- without it we wouldn’t have a lot of the artists, art, and fashion that we have today. It’s a shame they weren’t rewarded the way they should have been. Rest well Jam Master Jay. We still love your jams.

The War On Drugs sounds like everyone other than an original band. Coldplay, Springsteen, OK Go, some 80’s yacht rock. It’s a solid album, great musicianship, vocals are decent, songs are bland. Maybe they should have tried drugs? I dunno.

Breathy country show tunes. Her voice is nice but the album is a chore to get through.

Bernie and Elton at their brightest. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is fantastic start to finish. This album deserves all 5 sparkling glitter covered feather boa wearing stars.

I’ve always been a fan of the Monkees. They had a rough road and weren’t ever taken seriously because of the way they were created - but their success was earned and warranted. This isn’t one of their best albums, those were probably The Wrecking Crew, but it’s still a decent record.

A better album title would have been Robot Sounds Rejected by X-Files. A little bit ambient, slightly techno, mostly weird in a “hey, join our cult” way.

Even if you avoid political music you should listen to this one. Passionate and powerful.

Otis Redding was the king of the classics bit the production was dreadful on this one. Brassy and turned into one long song.

Hadn’t heard of Cornershop and wasn’t aware of their other 6 incarnations but the 7th has a groovy vibe. I would have given it a 4 but the 90’s angsty boy Everclear vocals didn’t work for me.

The talent of Brian Eno, the artistic vision of the Talking Heads, along with the genius of David Byrne made everything they created feel extraterrestrial. I’ve yet to hear one of their songs that doesn’t suck me in or hype me up. Mad love for them and their influence.

I don’t know what they were doing in 1963 but the frantic hype sounds like cocaine. I dig the instrumental interludes and every song is top notch. Moderation though, this album all at once is too much.

Pretentious parading as cool. The entire album sounds like it’s being played at full volume through a blown speaker at a mall arcade.

Eerily beautiful. The break for silence is fascinating and thoughtful. Lyrics are poetic and profound.

Sounds like a Duran Duran cover band on The Cure night at a local dive bar.

New wave surfer punk! Violent Femmes were ahead of their time. I accidentally walked up to them playing a street concert in the early 2000’s. They played this album front to back. It was even better live.

Dude spits slow and over articulates while still managing to mumble. The beats are mediocre and there’s not an identifiable flow. Production is worse than most homemade cassettes.

Mark Knopfler fills space differently than other guitarists. It’s never messy or overdone. Perfect crisp clean riffs that demand your attention and often reaction. Rock, blues, country, undefinable. Even with the less than stellar vocals this album earns five stars.

Favorite Metallica album: Ride the Lightning. Most exciting album and live show: Metallica Black Album I was ride or die for Jason Newstead and the magic he brought to the band. The Black album showed their complexity and ability to be more than garage dwelling head bangers. The last great hard rock album by a classic band.

I thought he was singing “Chicken Street” instead of “Shakin”. It addd to the experience. Grungy aggressive rock n roll in the name of resistance.

Don’t Steal Our Sun is an ok track. The rest of the songs are boring. The band is decent but the album is bland and unoriginal. They tried way too hard to be commercial.

So many pearl clutching reviews about this disgusting horny band and album. It must not have been too bad because the majority of the album was (and still is) played on heavy rotation. Aerosmith is a solid blues rock band who made extremely successful pop crossovers mid career. I’m not a fan but Pump is a great record.

LED Zepplin’s sound has a heavy dark fog that is distinctive and dramatic. Certainly the best at their craft. Could have been a single album, it gets long.