1001 Albums Summary

This is a great concert that shows how versatile Jarrett was at his peak.

Just not my thing. I respect the "break stuff" reaction in music from the time, but I just prefer more versatility in an album than this one offers.

Pretty interesting album that I did not know. As it's Queen, it can get a little exhausting to hear anthem after anthem, but these guys were fun in their prime.

There were more instrumental sections than I associate with the Beach Boys (I always think about harmony). But ultimately, I think this music is a creature of its time and hasn't aged as well as other '60s-era bands.

I had never heard of these guys. I enjoyed a few of their songs, but I found myself looking forward to someone plugging in a guitar and breaking a string.

Fantastic energy. I’m fascinated by the “no guitar solos” approach with such a driving beat.

I didn't know this album but enjoyed it to a point.

Loved this. Sinatra at his best.

Enjoyed this. There's a surprising amount of diversity on this album given the "Ziggy Stardust" persona.

Just not my style . But I can't imagine these songs can be played the same way twice, which is sort of cool.

I liked this album a lot until "Frankie Teardrop." But man, I hated that song. It dropped my review two stars.

Ms. Lauryn Hill at her best.

This is some crazy stuff to listen to when at work. I'm hard-pressed to think, "What am I in the mood for? 'Maggot Brain'!"

Such a fantastic album, and deeper than I remembered. Maybe the songs are a little formulaic, but her voice more than makes up for any criticism.

One of my favorite albums of all time.

Several great songs that awesome artists -- U2, Tom Petty, etc. -- later covered. (Of course, Dylan wrote many of these.) I love the guitar. 30 minutes seems just about right.

Extremely solid album -- just a lot of rage expressed in those weird post-9/11 years. I obviously knew the singles, but hadn't listened to it straight through. I really like the combination of "Holiday" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." If I could go 4.5 stars, I would.

Very solid.

Testosterone much? The lyrics for several songs might not have survived the millennium, but you can't debate the EVH power and the DLR charisma.

Interesting. If I didn't know this was Motorhead, I couldn't have placed it between 1978 or so and today.

Maybe the best opening song on any album, and the run from Mr. Brownstone through Sweet Child is epic.

Certainly I knew some of the songs, but this (long) album was a treat.

No expectations for this, but very enjoyable.

Yikes. Not a fan. That vocal performance may have been my least favorite song on any album so far.

Was this one long song?

I enjoyed this album a lot more than I thought I would -- six very different, enjoyable tracks.

I felt like my keys should be placed in a bowl for this one -- and then that I couldn't get out of the club because there was one long track.

Enjoyable, although a little "preachy"/didactic for me ("Mother Earth"??). But Neil Young knows how to sequence power chords.

Definitely takes me back to the late 1990s, although I can't claim any experience with the British DJ club scene. FS really had a moment, though, and the beats (particularly "Praise You") have held up for 25 years.

Hard to beat. I probably listened to this album 500 times in high school, so I'm biased. It's been a while, so I had forgotten about things that couldn't/shouldn't be said in 2024 (how do you get away with "She's Just a Woman" and "The Lemon Song" on the same album?), but these guys really were at their best here.

Hard for me to distinguish between the songs. Not unenjoyable, just felt like I was walking through a supermarket.

Solid Al Green submission from his early days. I could listen to the title track once a week.

Really didn't enjoy it, and I find harmonization like this distracting. But I loved this story from Wikipedia: "Ira Louvin was notorious for his drinking, womanizing, and volcanic temper. He was married four times; his third wife Faye shot him four times in the chest and twice in the hand after he allegedly tried to strangle her with a telephone cord. Although seriously injured, he survived. When performing and drinking, Ira would sometimes become angry enough on stage to smash his mandolin when he was unable to tune it, and - when sober - glue it back together." I would give a smashed-mandolin performance more than one star.

I'm late to the party but a fan of The Smiths. I enjoyed this album a lot, but really love the song "How Soon Is Now?", which apparently was on the initial US cut of this album.

I'm not a huge fan of Beck songs when they come on individually, but somehow the album concept works better for me. (Maybe this is why we should listen to more albums.) Really enjoyed the first half.

Pretty enjoyable album by an artist I didn't know well.

Not remarkable musically, and also not significant to me in terms of a particular time of protest, etc., that would give this album staying power.

I should appreciate Trent Reznor more than I do. On every album, there are a couple of good songs, but listening to the full thing sort of beats me up.

Very solid album throughout.

I remember there were so many hits off this album that it got a little tiresome (but the songs were great). The "filler" songs aren't as enjoyable, though, so I'll hold off on the last star.

I love this album. Can't believe it was just his second release.

Pretty repetitive (kind of like "Bright Eyes"), but not unenjoyable. Very much British alternative rock of a certain moment.

Avant garde, to be sure, but I'm trying to imagine any scenario where I'd play this again. Dinner party? On the treadmill? Driving around?

Jimmy Smith is just cool, full stop. I love the way he gives plenty of space to the quartet. And Stanley Turrentine and Kenny Burrell are awesome on this album.

Expectations were low, but marginally exceeded.

Agree with others -- the excellent back half of the album can't quite make up for the craziness of the first half. But it comes close.

Another new album for me (and I thought I knew the history of rock!). I greatly respect the lineage but was glad this was 32 minutes in total. Would be a classic 2.5 rating if possible, but I'll round up on a Friday.

Did I hear "cleanup in aisle four," or was I reliving a recent HEB experience? Not my favorite.

Unlike some recent suggestions, I absolutely could play this album again. Tons of energy. It must have been unbelievable in 1963, and the sound quality for a live concert that old is fabulous.

A little repetitive for me.

I like this a little less than the other "Talking Heads" submission. I think they got better as they got out of the disco era, which influenced the percussion a lot.

I'm not a huge fan of the psychedelic period, but these guys could harmonize well. Enjoyed a couple of songs; the rest sort of merged together.

This hits me in a sweet spot, as it's one of my favorites. Some of the newer Metallica songs are better with strings, and it's great to see Jason Newsted on the very-non-HD video.

Pretty darn enjoyable, and an excellent recording of a live concert from a long time ago.

Some great anthems and a pretty deep second side.

Lots of versatility, and more range on Bowie's voice than I usually expect (especially on "Wild Is the Wind").

Terrific lyrics. Maybe a little repetitive on the delivery. But solid musicianship behind that.

I found this really hard to finish.

Obviously a terrific voice, but I didn't think these songs were nearly as deep as others with her sort of range (Adele or even Lady Gaga). And I'm not a fan of the songs she released here, especially "Rehab," which just makes me sad given her tragic life.

There are two great songs on this album, "Hearts and Bones" and "Train in the Distance." The rest are forgettable or borderline obnoxious ("Cars Are Cars").

This is a great album. I'm glad I listened to it all the way through. Amazing consistency but still a very nice arc.

Seems pretty time-specific to the '80s. Not a lot of these songs appeal to me forty years later.

I love this album, especially the anthems.

Pretty unremarkable.

My interest in Weimar-era agitprop has not increased with age.

Enjoyable if unremarkable.

I'm disappointed that I didn't know about this album before. Really enjoyed it.

Besides the hits, which don't seem to have aged particularly well, I don't think there's a ton of depth here (besides "Nightswimming," which I had forgotten).

I'm not sure there's a standout song, and many seemed a bit repetitive.

Fabulous live album. I knew his work much later in his life, but he had a ton of gusto in 1960.

Enjoyed it and love the Houston connections.

I know this band is considered pivotal, but can't say I enjoyed the album.

Far too precious and self-satisfied to be enjoyable.

I know I should appreciate the Beatles more, but besides the canonical songs, I just don't enjoy these albums, and not all of the canonical songs are my thing, either. The organ is a lot to handle on this release.

This album, besides "Our House," was basically impossible to finish.

Solid album with a lot of energy (if not remarkable).

"Nobody's Perfect," indeed. This felt formulaic and tired.

You certainly can hear where 80s-era metal went after this album.

Like many double albums, I wish this were a single, 12- or 13-track playlist without all the repetition. But you can't debate its impact on the 90s. I wish the lyrics were a little stronger to keep up with the music.

The best of the White Stripes/Jack White albums, top to bottom, so far.

Definitely exceeded expectations. I would say it reminds me of my clubbing days, but I don't remember being let in to any clubs.

Good God, that was terrible.

The backstory about this guy is really sad. It would have been interesting to hear his music had he lived longer. This particular album exhibits all the melancholy that apparently held a tight grip on him.

Not my favorite genre, but definitely consistent throughout, and some solid hits among the tracks.

Strange that "Grapevine" is one of my least favorite tracks on this album. Better than expectations overall.

I thought this was great. Van Morrison's voice obviously changed with age, but this was him at his best, and "Moondance" was particularly memorable.

Lots of energy, but it's hard to remember distinguishing songs besides the obvious.

I was really surprised by this. Does that mean I hate Drake?

I liked this album when it came out, and it's held up really well.

Nice to hear two Eminem hooks. Otherwise, this was a bit of a slog.

I've read so much about what a pivotal figure Kim Gordon was, but can't seem to enjoy her music.

There's more depth to this album than I would have expected. The songs are really tight for a first release.

Certainly not every lyric survives almost forty years, but this remains an impressive album -- one I've appreciated more over the years.

I'm not a huge Talking Heads fan, but there's a nice arc to this album, which isn't super-pretentious.

Decent album; hard to imagine finding a reason to listen to this again.

Was ready to go three stars, but just really can't get over some of the lyrics. Nice Snoop Job cameo at the end, though.

The slide guitar is cool, but this is one bloated album of generally very similar-sounding songs.

I was ready to be done after 26 minutes.

Such an unbelievable voice. Not every song is special, but there are just enough to push this into four-star territory for me. And "Fast Car" is one of the 20th century's great ballads, period.

Enjoyable and well-layered. I'd never heard of this album before but am glad to know it.

It's a solid movie soundtrack, if a product of its age.

It all kind of runs together for me. His voice is terrific, but I enjoy the CSNY stuff more.

The Eagles are just a quintessential "greatest hits" group, and they can fill two albums. But they miss a lot, and I'm pretty sure I can live without "Chug All Day" and its kind.

This is by far my favorite Radiohead album, and it's held up well.

Nothing remarkable here.

Man, I like this album. Somehow more than I did 30 years ago.

Solid album -- not sure I'd run through it again.

Deez Nutz!

Very solid album, and tighter than "The Wall."

Unremarkable.

Man, I was ready to go with four stars for the first 38 minutes. Then "Augmn" happened. Can I have those twenty minutes back?

Don't love this.

Lots of stuff to like here, including the synthesizer arc from "Baba O'Riley" to "Won't Get Fooled Again." And Keith Moon was unbelievable. A little bit of a letdown mid-album blocked the fifth star.

Incredibly talented musician. Not sure I'd choose to listen to this again.

Lots of great hits here, and the album really holds up after 30 years.

"The Click Song." Something about a flea. A dead husband. Many things distracted from a great voice.

Surprisingly enjoyable from beginning to end.

I loved this album thirty years ago, and love it still today.

Really just not enjoyable. I like The Kinks' edgier stuff. This ain't it.

Just enough in here to give it a third star, but otherwise very derivative of Pink Floyd. Glad to be introduced to it.

Great voice. Not my favorite Cohen stuff, but enjoyable.

For me, it's "Paint It, Black" and "Goin' Home" but not much else here. Still, it's The Stones.

Really liked this. Wavered between "3" and "4" for a while (again, would love the .5 addition), but I'm feeling generous.

Bleak and depressing. Felt like I should put on a turtleneck and drink coffee in a dark room all day.

Seemed like one long song. I like her (sadder) songs about addiction more than these songs about dangerous men.

Dangerously close to one-star territory, but the end of "Hollywood Sympathy" was enjoyable. Back from the brink.

A quintessential three-star pick. Some notable songs, but not a classic.

Solid, but not remarkable.

Enjoyable, but not sure I'd listen to it again. These guys were at the top of their games for this set, though.

Can't see much of a reason to revisit this one.

Not a fan, especially of the live tracks.

I think "Stand" only is a middling song on this album. Songs like "Orange Crush" and "World Leader Pretend" hold up. This would be 3.5 stars, but I'm feeling generous.

I should have appreciated The Smiths more at the time. Enjoyable album.

Very close to two stars, but "California Dreamin'" pushed it over. It's an interesting story that this band had such a short window as music changed around them.

Great musicianship. Not such a compelling album.

Surprisingly versatile; enjoyable.

Enjoyed "Safesurfer" despite the terrible title, "If You Loved Me at All," and "Beautiful Love." Otherwise, seemed artificial and pretentious.

I felt a bit bludgeoned by this one.

Not the Iron Maiden sound I know, but I actually liked this lead singer a lot.

Consistent and enjoyable.

Really liked it, especially keeping it tight (less than 40 minutes). Good energy.

Man, that was pretentious. Perilously close to one-star territory. Why do I care about this protagonist?

This is a close call -- almost five-star worthy, in part because it contains the saddest, most harrowing final song I've ever heard in a concert, especially given what happened six months later. But too many songs in the middle run together for me.

I enjoyed this -- love the mid-70s saxophone. I like the "cleaner" songs with more piano, which provided the vocals a little more room.

Very up and down. The best songs are great. The filler songs, not so much. They might need some more chooglin.

Interesting sound and more diversity between songs than I would have expected.

Excellent album; consistent throughout.

Relatively interesting, but I think I like the biography better than the music. Still, a nice find.

"Trouble Every Day" saved this from receiving a single star.

One and a half great songs, and no clunkers, but generally not something I'd put on repeatedly.

I'm all over the place with this album. Impressive musicianship; questionable lyrics. Not sure I care to listen to it again.

One of the best opening riffs on any album of all time, and so much power throughout. Nothing peripheral -- just three dudes jamming -- in such contrast to the decade of music before.

Really enjoyed this. Maybe no huge hits, but consistent throughout.

Didn't love it. Do we also rate the album cover?

Um, no. One saving grace was that I was at the gym for this. Hard to imagine listening to it from a sedentary position.

I know this is considered a pivotal moment in Beatles history, and therefore rock history, but I just can't get into anything but their hits. A reluctant but honest three stars.

Groundbreaking and inventive, but maybe four songs too long for me.

"Without You" is well-known. "Coconut," apparently, is as well. I don't know why.

One of my favorite surprises of this experience. Maybe it just caught me on a good day, but I listened to it twice and really enjoyed it.

I don't think I enjoyed a single song on this album.

Quite a transition from Japan to Slipknot, a band I am pleasantly surprised to see on this list.

Solid but not spectacular. I thought the whole story behind "Snowblind" was interesting. Would not have wanted to party with Black Sabbath in the early 70s.

Like most Radiohead albums, I must be missing something. I find it very hard to connect to this music.

Great voice. Can't say I need to hear this album again.

I'm a little confused as to why this is on the list. Enjoyed it enough.

Great songwriter. Less of a compelling performer.

This is fine but not that great. Great beat on some well-known songs, but the lyrics ("mucho mistrust"?) undermine overall quality.

Very enjoyable -- didn't know this at all. Great vibe throughout with different sorts of songs. I'm excited about the Super Bowl halftime show.

Strangest three-star review ever. Several songs I thought deserved one ("Get Out of the Quantifier," "Damo Suzuki"), and others deserved four ("My New House," "Spoilt Victorian Child").

This was a wild ride to something between 2 and 3 stars. I did like the Brazilian influences and sounds.

The lyrics aren't too subtle. Sounds like a rough life. Glad the album was shorter than a TV show.

Not so great, although I'd like the guy from "Love and Affection" to record my voicemail.

I enjoyed this, mainly as a relic from the era.

R.E.M.'s first great album, I think. Like the stripped-down sound, which gives a lot more room to the guitars.

What a crazy album. I loved "Miles" but can't say I enjoyed much else.

There's a reason I've never listened to the second side of a Depeche Mode album. This is a "greatest hits" band. Just don't love most of their stuff.

Prodigious talent, to be sure, but not every song kept my attention.

Really enjoyed the lyrics and the mixing. Fewer hits than "License to Ill," perhaps, but more consistency throughout.

Borderline two stars for the repetitive, testosterone-inspired lyrics, but enough catchy (NFL pregame soundtrack) songs to earn a third.

Great album cover. Excellent lyrics in several songs. Not my favorite voice, but an album I would revisit.

A big surprise. Definitely a lot more surrounding sound for Dylan's voice than the stripped-down folk songs that made him famous. And, no doubt, more references to his own mortality than in prior albums. But still the lyricism. When he's on, his songwriting is hard to beat.

Some great Clapton riffs and great percussion, but a little iffy on the lyrics.

These guys are talented musicians, but I just have a hard time getting through the songs. Not my favorite musical era.

Perilously close to one-star territory, which I will reserve for the abominable.

Wow, there were some bad songs on this album. The lyrics couldn't be more pedantic and juvenile. (It will take me a while to recover from "Great Expectations") But just enough decent guitar to earn a second star. KISS is another "greatest hits only" band in my book.

Can't imagine ever going through this again. The simpler songs with just piano were better than the overly structured ones.

One of the great guitar albums of all time, and well-structured melodies featuring very few musicians but lots of layers.

This is such a cheerful album, primarily by artists in a later chapter in life. Lots of different song styles, but all approachable.

I really don't want to listen to this again. Saved from one-star territory by some nice strings arrangements. But this would-be poet was not impressive, either in range or lyricism.

A return to form for U2 after the unfortunate Zooropa-era detours. Several perhaps overplayed hits, but awesome second-side songs like "When I Look at the World." Very solid if not spectacular.

Didn't know these guys at all, but enjoyed the album just fine. Lots of funky instruments and harmonies.

Enjoyable if unremarkable. No big swings and misses, which I feared. But no real hits, although "Cold War" gets close.

Easy five stars. The hits remain awesome and have aged well. And the songs between ("Once," "Why Go," "Oceans," etc.) remain terrific.

Not unpleasant, but seemed like one long song. I suspect this is more interesting at a rave than on a treadmill.

Two great songs -- "Voodoo Chile" and (especially) "All Along the Watchtower." But many of these songs just don't have natural endings, and I think the slow fadeout is always disappointing.

There's some real musicianship here, but I feel the condescension in every one of his songs. Lyrically, I feel like Morrissey is slapping my face with a wet rubber chicken.

This was fine. I know there's a famous Scorsese-produced documentary about their final concert. I can't say I want to watch it after listening to this.

Definitely some tough, not-kid-friendly stuff on here, but a wonderful arc of an album with often brutally honest lyrics about mortality and failure.

Not bad, but very much a creature of its time. Excellent drum work throughout.

As ephemeral and forgettable as anything on this list, but not unpleasant. Hard to cheer for Pete Doherty in any context.

This may have been important satire in 1968, but it's essentially "unlistenable" in 2024.

Some great songs on here, and overall a good experience.

I love this album. One of Mingus's two masterpieces. You need the right setting for it, but the single-take approach is awesome.

Interesting vibe with no crazy songs. Can't say that 24 hours later I remember any of them, though.

Some good songs; the entire album could have been 12-15 minutes shorter.

Some 4-star songs. Lots of 3-star songs. 3.25 seems about right.

Great album -- a great transition from his 60's-era folk to something more layered.

So many different types of songs, and all sorts of excellent individual musicianship. Thom Yorke can wear on you after an hour, but a solid 4 stars.

I've been saving this two-word review for a while: shit sandwich. This was mopey and over-dramatic when released and hasn't aged well.

Lots of energy from the familiar songs, otherwise pretty calm. Not sure I need to listen to this again.

This calliope-laden organ tour exhausted me, and the worst rendition of "America" didn't help.

This seems more recent than 1962. But still a three-star performance.

Some excellent drum and rhythm work here. The album maybe could have used one more genius song. Still, very solid throughout.

I'm exhausted and slightly offended.

Seemed like an album from 15 years later. No memorable songs, but solid throughout.

I'm hard-pressed to think of a reason to listen to this again, or, ten hours later, to remember any songs. Seems somehow simultaneously drug-filled and sleepy.

Not every song is fabulous, and some are even a little rough. But what a fantastic debut. The Page/Bonham combination at its best was as good as it gets.

This may have been an influential album, but it wasn't enjoyable, and each song melted into the next.

I really want to like Lou Reed, who is mentioned consistently among those who moved rock music forward. But the idea of listening to anything on the back half of the album depresses me.

Another album for which I was very glad to have been on a treadmill. Some interesting stuff and good rhythm.

Life is often about expectations, and I had none for this album. But I was impressed. Hard to believe this was a controversial change for them -- terrific musicianship and several different types of songs. Like a better "Mumford and Sons."

I love this album. Incredible guitar work over excellent melodies.

I know this is a canonical album, but I'm not exactly sure why (besides a series of future frontliners).

Do I respect this artist? Yes. Do I enjoy any of the songs? Next question.

Good guitar work, and very reminiscent of "The Who."

What a great beginning to this album. And it's surprisingly deep (helped by being only 35 minutes long). Excellent debut by The Cars.

Aside from the (few) hits, hard to distinguish between songs, but an amazing performer.

A masterpiece.

A little loose at times, with two solid songs.

This album is a bit of a mess, but it was cool to hear the three songs from Nirvana's "Unplugged."

I thought this was a great album -- a terrific surprise. The first two songs in particular were excellent. Dolly packs a lot into 28 minutes.

I thought this was terrific -- awesome combination of her voice with the strings.

An excellent album. Maybe one too many singles, and some missed songs in between, but tons of layers and opportunities to display brilliance.

This album hasn't aged particularly well, and the beat from song to song is maybe a little too similar. "Mr. Wendel" and "Tennessee" do their best to carry this into three-star territory.

Some good beats, especially towards the back, but generally felt like I was trapped in a mad-lib book I couldn't escape.

This was a fun album, with some good textures and crazy guitar action.

Great lyrics, if still not my genre of choice.

More enjoyable to me than most Neil Young recordings, but still not my favorite. The lyrics were especially morose.

There's barely enough Jeff Beck to get this into three-star territory.

Not unpleasant, but certainly not enjoyable, and I can't say I remember a single song eight hours later.

Had to listen to it twice and enjoyed it more the second time. I feel like this band could have been something even bigger. Lots to work with here, including the Dave Brubeck homage. Not crazy about the bitch-slap of Stone Temple Pilots, though.

Three great songs, especially "Someone Great," and I'll admit to enjoying the "adult dance party" vibe.

Older Neil Young seems quintessentially three-star territory.

You can tell this band was influential on indie rock to come, although the voice and lyrics were a bit rugged.

I can't believe I'm giving anything with Phil Spector four stars, but I also know I'll listen to this album again next year.

Better than the last Sepultura album. These guys can bring it.

I've come around on this album, which has aged well.

A very enjoyable and diverse album, especially for just 36 minutes.

This was a bit of a mess. I can't imagine listening to it again, having heard it for the first time at age 50.

Hard to beat the first three songs out of the gate. Earlier releases were more about harmonization and collective sound; this album gives the individuals a little more room to show their talents. The bass line in "Hotel California"; the lead guitar in "Life in the Fast Lane"; the drums in "Victim of Love" -- these guys were in their prime.

Dangerously close to one-star territory. Hard to say I enjoyed a single song.

I'm glad to hear some Keith Moon from his prime. All four of these guys sounded terrific (I think) -- the recording quality from 1970 wasn't the best. I guess that gives it some charm.

One classic song, for sure, but a strange collection of songs for a single album.

Another Neil Young album, another three-star review.

I'm happy this was recorded in 1980. Otherwise, the abominable "Sock it to 'Em J.B." would have had to canvass many more James Bond movies. Ugh.

I underestimated these guys in real time; this is a solid album. A couple of the later tracks, especially "Poledo," almost lost a star, but there's a lot to commend here. Way ahead of its (techno-beat) time.

A classic three-star performance. The singles have staying power. The rest remain a little preachy and condescending.

Obvious musicianship, as always with Radiohead. But I can't relax around this kind of falsetto harmonization unless it's Art Garfunkel (or maybe Axl Rose!). The great songs remain good. The rest can be difficult.

If any album would make someone enjoy the disco era, it's this one. Great first few songs. As a producer, Quincy Jones was a genius.

Nothing against these guys, but I have no idea why this album is on the list. There was nothing to remember. There was lots to forget, including the insufferable repetition of lyrics about philosophy, prodigal sons, and freak shows.

Another surprising album that I didn't know. Perhaps not the most diversity among songs, but good melodies.

One solid song, the title track -- everything works. But every other song is mediocre, and filled with Jim Morrison self-indulgence. Starting with "Changeling" set the tone, and the silly "L'America" song was the same -- repeating "change" or "L'America" doesn't do much for me. All in all, everyone just seems tired and done with being a rock band.

An all-time classic. Love that four-note double bass line that gets the album going.

Surprisingly enjoyable, and I like the story of how this hi-fi album was recorded in such a low-fi way. It sounded like the background music to 80s-era "Miami Vice."

A really terrific album, leading to the "Nirvana sound" that came out a few years later. Love the bass throughout -- Kim Deal was/is the real deal, indeed. Sorry this group didn't stay together longer, but The Breeders were a nice second act.

Great album. Wish I had known more about these guys in the '80s. Perhaps a little too much "Heaven and Hell" as a recurring lyrical motif, but great texture overall.

Sad to say that I like the idea of this album a lot more than the album itself. Certainly some highlights, including the title track and the song written by the inmate, but most songs blend together.

Like a wedding dance floor soundtrack, but enjoyable.

Interesting that "Coat of Many Colors" now has appeared on this list twice. Harris is a talented musician, and I enjoyed this album.

Complicated album that merited a second listen. There's a lot to like, especially the in-song tempo changes and the multiple guitars. And I'm a fan of Kim Gordon's vocals. (Interesting transitions this week from Johnny Cash to Sister Sledge to Emmylou Harris to this.)

No idea how I missed this album, but these guys are good. I feel like they'd benefit from having one more guitar on most of their tracks.

I didn't think I would like this album given my last few Zappa experiences, but this was pretty enjoyable.

Such a sad album, with some terrific songwriting.

Somehow unenjoyable and unmemorable at the same time.

A reluctant five stars. This is a great album by a very complicated protagonist. I'm going to put it in the sarcophagus.

This is a great album that really has held up. I love the simple drum and bass work behind the expansive vocals. I thought most of the Strokes songs I knew covered like a ten-year period; instead, they all are on the same debut album.

Second half of the album was good -- especially "Maps," of course -- but I felt a little bludgeoned by the beginning.

It's a consistent album throughout -- maybe the best songs aren't quite great enough to earn a fifth star -- but groundbreaking.

A fun album; hard to believe it's 62 years old. Was his microphone working between songs? The crowd was much more into the music than his banter.

Not my favorite.

Entertaining throughout, though perhaps with no true headliners. But very consistent and enjoyable.

The single-concept theme is cool, but the songs are really sparse and somewhat repetitive. Willie had a lot more to say and better ways to say it.

Fine performance; generally just not my style.

Turns out that I'm a fan of the guitar. Not having one on a synth-rock album for an hour is an interesting decision.

I'd give the album cover five stars. And it's quite a parting gift to an ex-wife (double album, no less). But every song has essentially the same tempo.

The band at its best. Could maybe have used one more hit, but lots of quality, with the band in its prime and before becoming a bit of a caricature.

Perhaps better than I expected, and the title track is a great song.

Unbelievable that we have two Coldplay albums within three days. Also interesting that this album was released only one year after "Parachutes." My review is essentially the same -- Coldplay at its best, before the 2010s. This one was more structured and arguably deeper.

Interesting album -- for me, like a quintessential 3.5 stars.

Interesting concept, and a completely unfamiliar album for me. I don't plan on listening to it again. Nor do I plan to adopt "Fair Play" as a saying, as featured in every song.

This album hasn't aged well. I know these guys get high praise for their harmonization, but it doesn't carry through for 41 minutes. I hate to say it, having listened to something like six of his albums on this list already, but I think these guys were better with the edginess of Neil Young.

A couple of good tracks, but the last one was endless.

Pretty mediocre, if a little (only a little) ahead of its time -- this sounds a little more like a late-1980s album. "Biko" is a highlight at the end.

Although generally not a huge Ministry fan, I liked this album.

This guy sure had a difficult life and obviously was blessed with a ton of talent, but this is just way too precious and sanctimonious for me.

Enjoyable for a while, but the fourth (live) song was difficult.

This is the most I've enjoyed Bob Marley, and an album I will revisit.

I came to like this band, but can't say I enjoyed this album.

I'm really not sure what to say -- some good guitar riffs, but lots of strange, morose lyrics about the downsides of rock-and-roll stardom and too much peripheral sound for a great rock album.

How bad does an album have to be to weigh down a classic 80s song I still (inexplicably) like? This bad. This was ridiculous. Bad cover songs. Discursive flights of fancy. A lyrical mess. Hard to understand how this made the cut.

This seemed long for a 32-minute album. And, despite the great title track, I can't give a fourth star to any album with a song entitled "You Sure Love to Ball."

A great, tight, muscular album that has aged very well. Hard to believe this is 20 years old.

Really enjoyed this, especially "The Corner" and "Testify." I'm sorry I didn't know this album when it was released.

Atrocious. No redeeming value. I wish I could get those 40 minutes back.

Lots of different styles here, all enjoyable. And I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't know "Stone Cold Crazy" was a Queen song!

Very solid album, even before "Free Bird." Several of these would be on an LS greatest-hits collection.

I like these guys' sound, but will admit that every song except for "La Grange" seems pretty much the same.

Enjoyable enough, but hard to imagine a situation where I'd listen to it again.

This is a tough call, but I think it earned just enough to earn a fourth star. It's nice to see the band evolve out of the psychedelic '60s motif into something more authentic and guitar-based.

24 hours later, I can't remember a single song.

I enjoyed the second half more than the first half. A bit heavy on the rock flute for my taste, but excellent work on the guitar.

I'm disappointed that I mistakenly listened to the remastered double edition, not just the 33-minute original album. Distinctive voice and enjoyable enough.

Ambient, indeed. Like a video game soundtrack.

Strange that a debut album is this mellow, given R.E.M.'s later arc. I enjoy their more driving songs a lot more, although this album holds up after 40 years.

This really just wasn't enjoyable. I'm at a loss for other comments.

I'm perhaps a little nostalgic, but this album helped push me through my final year of law school and remains solid 25 years later.

Not too remarkable or memorable.

Can't say I enjoyed this one.

Not very interesting and at time far too maudlin.

Just enough classics to push this into four-star territory, although I tend to enjoy the later versions of those classics more than the originals.

I think there's just enough to merit a fourth star, in part because I love "Jigsaw Falling Into Place" and "Reckoner."

Definitely some hits here, and consistent throughout.

Is there a better "greatest hits" band than Simon & Garfunkel? The best songs are incredible. The worst songs -- or "songs," if you include recording a bunch of retirees in a rest home -- are atrocious. It feels almost sacrilegious, but I can't give this more than three stars.

The "James Bond" release saved this from one-star territory.

Pretty middling stuff from The Smiths.

Another enjoyable album from Stevie Wonder that was new to me. Tons of different tempos and melodies.

Nope. Never again.

Ho, hum. Pretty unremarkable but not at all offensive.

Amazingly talented artist. And yet, generally I'm good after listening to like three of her songs.

Pretty condescending and treacly from a bunch of Australians.

Impressive stuff from a master.

Pretty cool story of how these guys tightened up their sound for this album -- eventually leading to even better stuff in the 80s. Less cool story of how the lead singer died of alcohol poisoning just after this release. I had no idea.

Not great. John Lennon sure was angry in 1970.

Hard to believe this is 55 years old. Carlos Santana was and is the man.

Pretentious. Not melodic. Hard to finish the back half. Otherwise, a great album!

Enjoyable, like a wedding reception mix. Definitely ahead of its time.

One of the great opening sets of songs in rock history, but man, the B-side stuff just isn't great. "Drop Dead Legs" is hard even to type.

Just enough great guitar work to merit a fourth star. "Money for Nothing" may not have aged particularly well, but lots of nostalgia on this album.

Way too much of a lounge act for me. Another surprising choice for the list.

Very surprising. Should have listened to these guys more in the day, especially the beginning of the album.

Three or four terrific songs, and an original sound that has held up for almost twenty years.

I know this album is considered a masterpiece, but I'm struggling to see why. Isn't "Purple Rain" better?

Not enjoyable.

First song: "Is that Rod Stewart?" Fifth song ("Stay With Me"): "That's definitely Rod Stewart." I'm an idiot. Crazy that Ronnie Wood was in the group as well.

I enjoyed this -- another group I've never heard of before this list.

A surprisingly great album from a group I didn't know -- and one that clearly didn't reach its full potential.

This is one of those albums I appreciate but, aside from the hits, don't really enjoy. I always had a hard time putting this on to play, although there's some pretty incredible material here.

Nope. That. Was. Awful. The only thing redeeming about it was the terrific album cover.

I like some Elvis music -- songs with a little more gusto -- just fine. This seems way too languid.

Slightly better than "Elvis Is Back," but only because more songs have more energy.

Original, groundbreaking stuff. I'd hope that if I were fifteen years older, I would have recognized it as such when it came out. I'm sorry I've come to this album later in life.

Definitely a better version of "Just a Gigolo" than David Lee Roth's later one. Some fun songs in here.

Not too exciting.

This sounded like one long, sad song to me.

Another completely new group for me, and enjoyable enough, but not memorable.

I'm surprised it's taken 366 albums to get to Leonard Cohen. Hope we get some of his later stuff down the road, but this is a great album.

A classic. Great guitar riffs. Incredible Ozzy range. And a clear rejection of all things hippie.

Maybe a little too precious for me, such that I struggled to tell the differences between songs.

Not too much to like here, and "The Toonerville Trolley" was especially unfortunate.

I can't quite tell, but suspect that some of these songs were about sex.

A surprising number of hits on this album, which holds up very well.

Didn't expect not to hear David Bowie's voice on the second half of the album. Overall, pretty enjoyable.

Flirted with one-star territory; redeemed in part by "Graveyard" and a couple of later songs. Johnny Lydon/Johnny Rotten just isn't my guy.

Seemingly a rare group that got better as they moved into middle age. I'm not huge on concept albums, and this concept could have been conveyed in 30 fewer minutes.

Hard to get excited about these guys. They don't give you a ton of opportunity to groove in with like 150 songs in 29 minutes.

Easy call. Fast and slow; layered and stripped-down; great melodies and opportunities for all four artists to shine. Plus, what I believe to be Led Zep's two greatest songs, "Stairway" and "Levee."

I love this album -- an amazing trio giving all three guys room to show how accomplished they were. So sad that the bassist died 11 days later in a car accident.

Just too precious for me. I don't think I would have enjoyed the mystical lyrics of this era.

Why is this album on this list? And can I remember any of the songs less than 12 hours later?

Uneven at times, but "Photograph" (my favorite DL song) outweighs some of the mediocre bits.

Easiest review ever.

Strong start; not so great consistency towards the end. Joe Cox loved this album.

It's almost inevitable that the album will get worse after the best song is the first song. It almost did enough to merit a fourth star.

Another strange choice for this list. I couldn't wait for this to end, then realized I had lost 20 more minutes to Apple Play's "extended release" version.

"Love on the Rocks with No Ice"? "I don't need your permission to take this matter in my own two hands"? Seriously? How did these guys tour with Metallica (albeit briefly)?

The best of the Beatles' albums on this list. Hard not to appreciate the chords and 12-string guitar work.

The best of this band and a terrific debut album. I don't buy into the "Morrison was a poet" motif ("Ride the snake. The snake is long."?), but there's a great variety of songs on here, and, despite myself, I really like "The End."

A couple of good songs; otherwise, frankly not that enjoyable.

Flirting with one-star territory. If we only graded precociousness, this is a five-hit wonder for sure. Tell Zamfir to calm down on the flute.

A bit surprised I ended up here, but it's one great song after the next. This is the Black Keys at their stripped-down, tight best.

I've always liked this album and am glad to hear the whole thing, not just the hits, again.

Enjoyable, but somewhat repetitive throughout (sans robot sounds).

A little hard to tell, but I may have fallen asleep to this while running on a treadmill.

I didn't appreciate that '80s-era country also contained peripheral sounds, over-dubbing, and perhaps excessive harmonization at times. Too bad for Bonnie Raitt, whose voice and guitar excellence gets washed out at times.