702
Albums Rated
3.54
Average Rating
64%
Complete
387 albums remaining
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When do you listen?
Taste Profile
1990s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Generous
Rater Style
133
5-Star Albums
20
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
Genre Preferences
Ratings by genre
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Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bubble And Scrape | 5 | 2.65 | +2.35 |
| Follow The Leader | 5 | 2.65 | +2.35 |
| Slipknot | 5 | 2.68 | +2.32 |
| Yank Crime | 5 | 2.7 | +2.3 |
| Arise | 5 | 2.73 | +2.27 |
| Isn't Anything | 5 | 2.74 | +2.26 |
| Roots | 5 | 2.78 | +2.22 |
| My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts | 5 | 2.78 | +2.22 |
| Vulnicura | 5 | 2.79 | +2.21 |
| Tago Mago | 5 | 2.79 | +2.21 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Suburbs | 1 | 3.51 | -2.51 |
| My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy | 1 | 3.42 | -2.42 |
| Neon Bible | 1 | 3.35 | -2.35 |
| The College Dropout | 1 | 3.32 | -2.32 |
| Deloused in the Comatorium | 1 | 3.2 | -2.2 |
| 461 Ocean Boulevard | 1 | 3.12 | -2.12 |
| The Rising | 1 | 3.05 | -2.05 |
| evermore | 1 | 3.04 | -2.04 |
| The Coral | 1 | 3.01 | -2.01 |
| Will The Circle Be Unbroken | 1 | 2.99 | -1.99 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| David Bowie | 7 | 4.86 |
| Beatles | 5 | 4.6 |
| Led Zeppelin | 4 | 4.75 |
| Björk | 4 | 4.75 |
| Pixies | 3 | 5 |
| The Cure | 3 | 5 |
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 5 |
| Prince | 3 | 5 |
| Radiohead | 3 | 5 |
| Talking Heads | 3 | 5 |
| R.E.M. | 4 | 4.5 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Smiths | 3 | 4.67 |
| Beastie Boys | 2 | 5 |
| The Doors | 2 | 5 |
| Oasis | 2 | 5 |
| The Smashing Pumpkins | 2 | 5 |
| Joy Division | 2 | 5 |
| Beck | 2 | 5 |
| Green Day | 2 | 5 |
| Sepultura | 2 | 5 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 2 | 5 |
| Nirvana | 2 | 5 |
| Massive Attack | 2 | 5 |
| LCD Soundsystem | 2 | 5 |
| Brian Eno | 4 | 4.25 |
| The White Stripes | 3 | 4.33 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 3 | 4.33 |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 4.33 |
| Michael Jackson | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Arcade Fire | 2 | 1 |
| Kanye West | 2 | 1 |
| The Byrds | 3 | 1.67 |
| Bee Gees | 2 | 1.5 |
Controversial Artists
Artists you rate inconsistently
| Artist | Albums | Variance |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Cube | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (133)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
5/5
Muse are a guilty pleasure band for me, I know they aren't great (especially now), but I still have a soft spot for them since they were the first band me and my wife saw live together.
I was a little surprised to see Muse on this list, and even more surprised that they picked this album over Absolution or Origin of Symmetry. That being said I think that this is a very good album and I enjoy every song on it. I wouldn't say this album is great though. This was the turning point for Muse where they started to become more campy and cheesy.
4.5
4 likes
Cream
3/5
I've never understood the argument for Clapton being one of the greatest guitar players of all time. There are thousands of blues/rock guitarists that sound just as good or better. He doesn't really bring much to a song imo. He is also a racist asshole, but I am going to try to separate art from artist on this one.
Sunshine Of Your Love has a cool riff, but besides that this album is incredibly lame. Not really sure what people see in Clapton, he really is average at best. Even for his time he doesn't sound that ahead of the pack or that unique. The production also sounds really muddy, but it was the 60's so I can let that slide a little bit.
I can't tell if there are multiple singers or not, but no one here can sing.
Low 3.
4 likes
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Kashmir is an all time best song, sadly nothing else on this album quite lives up too it. There are other great songs here though like Bron-Yr-Aur, Trampled Under Foot, and Houses of the Holy (which always bugged me that it was on this album).
My biggest problems with this album are that I am just not crazy about In My Time Of Dying, and In The Light and they are so long they just take up such a large chunk of the album. Also the second half has a lot of filler that are throwaway songs.
High 4.
3 likes
The Who
2/5
Ok, so you have to understand that I think The Who are one of the most overrated bands of the 60's and a pretty lame band, and those horns on the Overture are not helping, but I guess here we go.
I do appreciate that the songs flow together, but I guess it is easy when most of the songs kind of sound the same. A lot of these songs sound unfinished, they don't really have a hook or anything to really draw the listener in.
I guess I spoke too soon because Eyesight To The Blind and Christmas sound different, but they also sound really bad. who thought the "AH AH AH AH AH AH" was a good idea. We also could have done without Fiddle About. PINBALL WIZARD COMES AFTER FIDDLE ABOUT!?!?! WHAT IS THE STORY AGAIN?!?!? HUUH???
This album has a very ambitious idea, but I think the music suffer for the sake of the story, which makes the actual album pretty flawed. In order to tell their story a lot of the songs just end up feeling really bland or unfinished.
The Who weren't able to break their accusations of being lame.
High 2.
3 likes
Christina Aguilera
2/5
I really hate 2000's pop (not as much as I hate 2010's pop though), so going into this I thought I was going to give it a 1, but honestly it isn't that bad. I definitely have some problems but it isn't as unlistenable and annoying as I thought it would be.
Pros:
- She has a good voice
- The songs are written well (especially for pop music)
- She tries a bunch of different ideas / styles of music so the album doesn't get stale
Cons:
- The production feels a little cheap in some areas (the strings feel really artificial)
- I hate how the introduction of the CD made everyone think they needed to add as much music as they could. The track length really hurts this album.
- The guitar tone in Fighter is god awful
- This album was a victim of the loudness war
- The 2nd half of this album drags and could have been trimmed
A lot of people are really over reacting with this one, it has problems but it isn't that bad. I probably would have given this a low 3 if it was 1/2 the length
Mid 2.
2 likes
4-Star Albums (222)
1-Star Albums (20)
All Ratings
The Temptations
3/5
The funky songs are good, and have some great guitar playing/tone.
The ballads are ok, never been a huge fan of ballads in general.
Eels
3/5
Some really good songs, some ok songs. A lot of the songs seem very one note. I've always liked Novocaine for the soul and the Shrek song.
Steely Dan
4/5
I've never been the biggest Steely Dan fan, but they are really good at what they do, and they never disappoint.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Some of the best Rolling Stones songs.
Low 4.
Arcade Fire
1/5
sexual abuser
Pixies
5/5
Surfer Rosa is a chaotic raw album that is all over the place. This is a hard album to get into but it has a lot of great sounds that the Pixies would perfect on their next album.
Morrissey
3/5
Johnny Marr was the heart of the Smiths, and without his unique guitar playing most of these songs are ok/good at best, with a few stand out exceptions
Tricky
4/5
I am a pretty big Massive Attack fan, so I have been meaning to listen to this album for a while. The first half of this album is very good, and reminds me a lot of Lovage. The 2nd half drags
Saint Etienne
2/5
I get why it is influential, but it didn't really click with me. It had some good ideas and songs that I liked, but a lot of the songs are just too long and repetitive. I don't think this album holds up too well over time either, a lot of the production and vocals seemed sloppy
Metallica
3/5
The official mix for this album is terrible. I feel like this album would be a lot better if it was 10 - 15 minutes shorter, a lot of the songs feel repetitive and too long. Despite how tired I get of Metallica some times, One is always a banger
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
I enjoy a good amount of noise rock, but I have never really connected with JAMC. It clicked with me a little bit on this listen. I like all of the guitar tones and effects I just wish that the underlying songs were more complex it feels like every song vamps between the first and fifth. I will probably enjoy this much more on a 2nd listen.
I give this a 3.5, but I can't so I guess it rounds to a 4
Ice Cube
2/5
It's fine.
A lot of the songs feel the same, and once you've heard the first 30 seconds of any song, you've heard the whole song.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Not my type of music. A little boring, but I respect what it is.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I have no strong opinions about this album. It was more acoustic/folk than I was expecting based off of Sympathy For The Devil
Deerhunter
2/5
Sounds as if an indie version of George Harrison was on the verge of falling to sleep. There are some pretty moments, but I don't think I will ever think about this album again
The Cure
5/5
Pornography is one of the all time greatest goth rock album. Despite not reaching the highs of some of The Cure's later albums, I love how dark and cold this album is. 100 years and Cold are easily the best tracks on this album. I also really like how most of the album has this machine like drumming that almost sounds industrial. My only issue with this is album is that the middle does drag a little bit due to the tone and tempo being the same for majority of the tracks.
Low 5.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
My My, Hey Hey is a great song, and a really good opener, and Thrasher is a really good continuation. After that everything is just ok not too much stands out to me, besides Welfare Mothers which is really bad.
Low 3.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
I have been burnt out on Led Zeppelin for a while now, but every time I put one of their albums on it always surprises me how much I still like them. This album has so many great tracks, and I will never get tired Going to California or When the Levee Breaks
Portishead
5/5
Amazing album. Everything is perfect, the singing, the production, the samples, the James Bond esque guitar. It sounds like a dark smokey dingy club in the best way possible. I will never get tired of this album.
Beastie Boys
5/5
The original deez nuts
The first couple of times I have listened to this album I always enjoyed it, but it never really clicked. However this time it may have passed Paul's boutique as my favorite Beastie Boys album. There are so many great songs on this album and so many great lines that come into my head all of the time.
Root down is such a great song, the Update may be one of my favorite Beastie tracks (the upright bass!!), Get it Together has so many great lines and moments, sure shot is a banger, even the instrumental interludes are great, and If anyone hates sabotage they cannot be trusted.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
The first 4 tracks are so strong that the rest of the album suffers in comparison.
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
A very solid album with a lot of very well made garage rock songs. I enjoyed almost every track, but after listening every thing is kind of sounds the same and not much stands out. Probably closer to a 4, but I am feeling generous
Sister Sledge
3/5
Not my type of music, but still a very solid album. Some tracks were a little dull, but I enjoyed the album. Great bass parts and tone. Probably closer to a 3.5
Van Halen
4/5
Side 1 is a 5 with a lot of great guitar work and melodies. Side 2 is a 3 with a lot of forgettable songs.
Keith Jarrett
4/5
A very unique and interesting album, I enjoyed it while I listened to it, but I don't think I will ever actively listen to this again, but maybe as background music.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
This album is good, but it has never really clicked with me. I think Stop, Been Caught Stealing, and Three Days are Great, everything else is just good/ok. I don't know what it is, but it feels like something is missing from Nothing Shocking. If everything on this was as consistent as Been Caught Stealing, this would probably be one of my favorite albums. Still a good album though
Eminem
2/5
My Name Is is a fun track... everything else is pretty repetitive or just plan bad. I am glad some songs had choruses, it breaks the redundancy of the album. This album feels like it should be 40 minutes rather than an hour
Big Black
4/5
A pretty good punk / noise album. I really like how this album sounds (especially the guitars and drum machine), but some of the songs are a little cheesy and the vocals aren't the best at times. I can see me enjoying this album a lot more on future listens.
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
I found this to be an inoffensive, safe, by the numbers album. Nothing great, nothing bad, nothing I need to listen to before I die. I might enjoy it more if I listened again but idk
David Ackles
4/5
I was surprised how much I liked this album. A very unique and interesting album that will stick with me for a while. I enjoyed the frantic nature of some of the songs with all of the shifts in tempo and instrumentation. If I liked this genre more, this may have been one of my favorite albums.
AC/DC
3/5
I have a very unique and rare take on AC(lightning bolt)DC: all of their songs sound the same, and I don't quite like the singer's voice. I would have given this album a 5 if I was in highschool.
The White Stripes
4/5
A jaunty little album with some good tunes. A lot more piano than I was expecting
The Flaming Lips
3/5
Not a bad album, just not something for me. A lot of the songs are a little too melodramatic and I am not the biggest fan of the singers voice, which is weird because he reminds me of the Pavement singer (which I do like).
George Harrison
5/5
At first I was put off by the length, but I ended up really enjoying this album. The production and song writing is top notch. There are a few duds here and there, but that is to be expected with this many songs. I doubt I will ever listen to the bonus tracks/jam again, but the main album is surprisingly good.
4.5
The Blue Nile
4/5
This is definitely something that will take multiple listens to fully appreciate. On first listen there are some really great tunes, with a couple that fall flat. I really like the production and the ambient synth noises in the background. The synths and the vocals remind me a lot of Berlin/80's era David Bowie.
On first listen I would give this a 3.5, but I can see this easily going to a solid 4 on further listens.
The Mars Volta
1/5
Rant Time:
I have tried to get into this band four or five times now, since they have overlap with bands I like. When the intro started I was starting to get into it, "maybe I was being to harsh on them before", and then the vocals came in and reminded me why I can't stand this band. This dude has one of the most annoying voices in rock (and I like Billy Corgan). I have no idea what it is about this guy in particular, there is no other band that ruins songs as much as this guy for me. Why are his vocals like 20db louder than the instruments, its like a jump scare every time he starts hitting the high notes. The instrumentals are really good, which is a shame. Having his voice isolated to the right headphone in Drunkship of lanterns is giving me a headache. You shouldn't be allowed to make your songs this long if your voice is this annoying. Why is everything mixed so loud?
Reflecting on the album after finishing, there isn't much that stands out. It seems like every song uses the same vocal melodies and quiet/loud/quiet structure. It gets quiet guitars go clean, the dude whispers, drums go onto the toms, then the distortion comes back and this guy tries to hit the most annoying notes possible. If you asked me to sing anything from this album I would just riff around in my upper register.
instrumentals: 3.5/5 (a little repetitive but they have talent)
vocals: -5/5 ( >:( )
This album made me feel physically ill and I hate the stupid gold head on the album cover
Wilco
3/5
I liked the first track a lot, I liked the feed back and I thought the quiet parts were nice. After that was a nice acoustic song which was fine. But then it started to sound like a Disney Channel original movie soundtrack where the band gets back together after learning the meaning of friendship. And then they started playing country 🤮 🤮 🤮.
There were a few songs here and there that were good, but most of them were forgettable. I can see why some one would like this, but it just isn't for me.
2.5
Neil Young
5/5
I am not a big fan of folk music, but I have no complaints about this album. It's a pretty relaxing / melancholy album with some great production and guitar playing. I love 30-40 minute albums that have no filler and just get right to the good stuff.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
A very solid album. If CCR would have slowed down their releases and combined all the best songs, I think it could have been one of the best albums of all time
Doves
3/5
Ehhh... I'm not crazy about the singing, but the instrumentals are fine. I doubt I will remember this album by the end
Arcade Fire
1/5
I have never liked Arcade Fire, but knowing that there is a creep in the band. It makes it hard for me to separate artist from art on this one. I would have given this a 2 or 3, it's pretty bland, but I can't bring myself to really listen to it.
Johnny Cash
5/5
Great album, I love the energy, charisma, album cover, and the down to earth nature.
Björk
4/5
Weird ass album
George Michael
3/5
I am a little disappointed with the album. Faith is a great song, but everything else just feels like a low tier Prince song. Nothing bad, but I expected more.
Beach House
3/5
This reminds me of a modern version of Cocteau Twins. I would have expected to like it, but I just can't stand the singer. Their voice does not suit the music, it is mixed to loud, and doesn't blend well with the rest of the instruments. They also pronounce some words weird (but it is 1000 times easier to understand than the enchanting table lyrics of the Cocteau Twins).
If the vocals were turned down around 15-20% in the mix I might have given this a higher rate. There are some good moments, but just as many forgettable ones.
Instruments: 5/5
Singing: 2/5
2.5/5
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
Ramble Time:
Such a dark, dirty, grimy, depressing albums (the album cover matches this perfectly). This album sounds so good, the production on this is top notch. All of the synths have this great unique tone, and all of the overlapping synth parts (especially the outro on closer) are perfect. The drums/drum machines all sound super powerful, and I love the clean guitar tone on this album.
Closer is such a funky little number with some of my all time favorite synth tones. The muffled screams on the Downward Spiral are such an interesting and unique idea. And hurt is such a powerful closer with those last three hits. This album also has great sequencing, with a good balance of quiet and loud moments
The easiest 5 I have given yet.
Killing Joke
5/5
A really solid album, way ahead of its time. Some songs sound a little dated, but the overall production is still great. I don't have many complaints about this one.
4.5
Otis Redding
4/5
This one took me two listens to appreciate. I think it is a very fun and soulful album with some great singing, but I have some minor nitpicks that keep me from giving it a 5.
JAY Z
3/5
Not my type of music, but I can definitely see why someone would really enjoy this. Overall I think the sample work is really good and the rapping is good. Tracks 1-3 and Renegade are a lot of fun, tracks 4-7 are the worst one and the samples are kind of annoying. Then the rest of the tracks are fine.
2.5
The Coral
1/5
This is embarrassingly lame. If this came out in the 60's it would be excusable, but it didn't. IT CAME OUT IN THE 2000's. It's just the Doors if they couldn't sing or write interesting songs.
They stole It's A Small World on the song Goodbye...
Skeleton Key is one of the worst songs I have ever heard.
Usually when I see a decent mix of 1's and 5's, I tend to lean towards the 5's or at least understand why people like it. But this is just straight ass, no idea why it was picked.
Björk
5/5
This is one of those album you need multiple listens to fully appreciate. However on first listen I can tell this is very good, not perfect, but it has some very good arrangements and I really like the sound of the drums.
Currently a 4.5 but I could see it becoming a 5 on future listens.
Ramones
2/5
Pink Flag, The Clash, Television, Sex Pistols, and The Talking Heads would all release next year and are all 10x more interesting. The best thing I can say about this album is that it inspired better bands, and blitzkrieg bop is a fun song.
I don't hate the Ramones and I wouldn't turn them off, but I just find them really boring most of the time.
When loudmouth came on I had to check to make sure the album wasn't repeating. I wonder if any other reviews mentioned that all of the songs sound the same?
2.5 (rounding down)
Kanye West
1/5
I have never listened to a kanye album. I am definitely not starting now.
0/5
Sebadoh
5/5
This is the kind of album I was hoping for from the list; a really good album from a band I have never heard of. I am shocked that the rating for this is so low. Going in I thought it would be unlistenable, but there are some really good indie / alt rock tunes on here. Sure, there is a little bit of noise rock and screaming at times, so I understand why people wouldn't like those songs, but in between those are some really solid songs. It is like Sonic Youth met Pavement met the Foo Fighters debut with a tad of the Pixies.
This album is far from perfect and it does have some stinkers, so realistically it is closer to a 4, but I feel I need to give it a 5 out of spite.
The Doors
5/5
One of the greatest debut albums of all time. It is so strong that it almost seems like a greatest hits collection. Definitely one of my top 10 albums of the 60's. The organ parts are what really bring this album together, there are so many great lines, the tone is superb, and that solo on Light My Fire is next level. Jim Morrison's lyrics and vocals are great, a lot of stand out lyrics and melodies. I love the line "You men eat your dinner, eat your pork and beans. I eat more chicken than any man ever seen", I just think it is really funny. And what a closer, The End is one of my all time favorite songs, such a great atmosphere and the guitar really gets to shine here.
The album cover is also great, it really captures the mood of the album. It is one of the best covers that is just a photo of the band. Also the typography is great.
Easy 5/5 for me.
Shuggie Otis
4/5
Reminds me of a more guitar oriented Stevie Wonder. This album just sounds really good, especially the guitars, electric piano, and bass. The first track has a great blend of jazz and funk. Sparkle City almost sounds like something off of Head Hunters. Happy house feels like a late 90's hip hop or early Gorillaz song. I imagine these songs get sampled a lot.
My only complaint is that some of this album is too mellow for me (especially the 2nd half). I really enjoy high energy songs (metal), but I can definitely see people digging the calmer songs a lot more than me.
4/5
The Black Crowes
3/5
Even for 1990 this album sounds dated by a couple of years. Nothing on it is bad, but it feels more like the tail end of the hair metal movement rather than something influential that I have to listen to.
A lot of the songs feel like wannabe Aerosmith songs that all just kind of sound the same. Once again, none of it is unlistenable (maybe besides Thick N Thin), but this album is just really bland. She Talks To angels is the stand out song.
Middle of the road
2.5
Dizzee Rascal
2/5
I am not a fan of rap/hip hop, and I am sure this is influential for grime, but this is not for me.
The overall production sounds good, but I found a lot of the beats really annoying and I did have to skip a few tracks. I also found this to be really distracting and hard to focus on work while it was playing. There are some good moments here are there, but this is my least favorite rap/hip hop album I've gotten yet.
I am sure if you like this type of music it is really good, but it is not for me.
1.5/5
Solomon Burke
4/5
Great soul album and a great voice (he sounds like John Fogerty at some points). The instruments and arrangements are what really pull this album together. To me, the thing that makes one soul album sound different from another is the band, and this band is great and has some really fun parts.
The first half of this album is 5/5 second half isn't as strong and lowers it down to a 4 (but it is close to a 5).
Bruce Springsteen
1/5
I've had an irrational hatred of Bruce Springsteen's music since high school, but I was willing to put all that behind me. However, I think this was the worst album that could have been picked to give him another shot. I couldn't wait for this to end, three songs in felt like 30 minutes.
This album is too long, and there are way too many mid tempo semi ballads. For some reason, every song on this album sounds like an album closer to me. I completely zoned out by the last 6 or 7 songs.
This is probably closer to a 2, but this is the most boring album I've gotten yet. Why is every song between 4 and 6 minutes? This would be so much easier to get through if they were a little shorter. The list would have been fine with 4 Springsteen albums.
David Bowie
5/5
I am a pretty big David Bowie fan, so I am going to be given all of his albums on this list somewhere between a 4.5 and a 5.
I really like this album. I love the way it sounds, the lead vocals, backing vocals, and all the instruments are all great. Young Americans and Fame are easily some of David Bowie's best songs, they are so unique and funky. I love the vocal parts of win especially the deep notes when he sings: "All you have to do is win". Fascination and Right are great funky song, and I love the bass part in Right. I also think that this version of Across the Universe is way better than the Beatles version.
My only complaints are that Somebody Up There Likes Me and Can You Hear Me are kind of duds.
Not a perfect 5 but it easily rounds up to one.
Funkadelic
4/5
They really like to say the word funk.
This is close to a 5 but something I'm not sure of is holding it back. Maybe if some of the songs were a little shorter/tighter/not as repetitive it would have clicked a little more. However, this album has a lot of really great bass parts, and I will definitely check out some other albums by them.
KISS
1/5
I had to listen to this one at the office and I was embarrassed someone might see me listening to this. I don't know much about KISS, but I never thought they had a bad singer, but man who ever is "singing" on God of Thunder is not it.
Great Expectations is one of the dumbest, lamest, blandest ballads I have ever heard.
High 1.
Baaba Maal
4/5
This album sounds really clean and modern despite being recorded in 1984. I love the way the guitars sound on this album.
My only complaint is that it goes on for a little too long, but it is great background music.
Living Colour
4/5
Cult of Personality is a straight up banger, I love the guitar solo, that triplet drum intro, and the political speech snippets. Sadly the other songs don't really live up to the heights of this song. Nothing is bad, just some songs run a little on the generic side. There is great guitar and bass playing throughout though. Also shout out to the album cover.
Some other stand outs:
- Funny Vibe is funky, and almost sounds like an early Faith No More Track
- Memories can't Wait: I love the talking heads and this is such a unique funky cover.
- Glamour Boys sounds like if Sting tried to sing a Sublime song.
3.5 closer to a 3 but I could see it going closer to a 4 on future listens. On second thought I'll just make it a 4
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
The title track is great, but every thing else just seems like a lesser version of it. I ended up completely zoning out during the middle third of this album.
The musicians on this album are great and I love the sound of the organ, but it just couldn't really hold my attention. Also for 35 minutes, this album felt very long.
Cocteau Twins
5/5
I love Cocteau Twins, they are probably my favorite shoegaze band (if you would call them that). I love the sound of this album it is so ethereal, the singing is perfect, and there is so many great effects.
Ivo is a great song and a great opener. Lorelei is one of my favorite Cocteau Twins songs and I love the stuttered breathing thing she does in the chorus. Persephone has a great guitar part. Pandora is such a pretty song and I refuse to believe that the lyrics are in English.
Easy 5
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
I know next to nothing about the Allman Brothers and I have no idea how important this album is, but I am surprised that the only album they have on this list is a live album.
Overall this album is pretty good, there is some great guitar playing, and the extended solos don't overstay their welcome in my opinion. You Don't Love Me lost me a couple of times, but other than that a solid album
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Banger after Banger, every member is perfect at what they do. This is one of my all time favorite albums to play bass to there are so many fun unique lines, the drumming is really tight, the rapping is perfect, and of course Tom Morello basically reinvented the guitar on this album.
This was my favorite album in high school and even after so many listens it is still great to listen to. There is so much energy and passion behind every song. Zack also has a great scream on songs like Wake Up and Freedom that I wish he used more in his later albums.
Shout out to MJK on Know Your Enemy.
Easy 5.
The Police
4/5
The Police have a problem were their hits are far far superior to their lesser known songs which can make their albums really hit or miss. That being said this album is more hit than miss. The deeper cuts on this album aren't as cheesy and bad as some of their other albums. A lot of really good songs and some really tight playing. The last 4 or 5 songs are bordering on cheesy but they are okay.
Tom Tom Club
3/5
I guess I need to preface that I am a huge Talking Heads fan but I have never listened to this album before. I knew Genius of Love from Stop Making Sense and I liked that song so I was excited to check out the rest of the album. However, this album is pretty rough and a lot of songs feel unfinished. The instrumentals are good for the most part, but the lyrics and singing don't feel like a finished project. It is almost charming how juvenile a lot of it sounds, but I expected more from band members that just wrote Remain In Light.
Genius of Love is still a great and funky song that I will continue to come back to, but I doubt I will ever check out this album again. I am surprised that this album was even included on the list when Speaking In Tongues (my favorite Talking Heads album) didn't make the cut.
2.5 (a very generous 3)
Soundgarden
5/5
Such a great album with so much to love. Of course Chris Cornell's singing is out of this world, the guitars are so unique and have such strange melodies, and there are a lot of weird time signatures but the drumming is so good that it is hard to even notice. Every song has such a strong melody.
This album is stacked with great songs, almost every song stands out in its own way. Blackhole Sun may be one of the greatest songs ever written, it is so unique and memorable (great guitar tones too). I also love the drum break in Spoonman.
Easy 5.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
This one is probably my favorite Rolling Stones album, a lot of really good songs especially Rocks Off and Sweet Virginia. The album is not perfect though, I think ~1/3 of the tracks could have been easily cut.
A lot of these songs usually end up getting skipped when they come on shuffle because I listened to them a few too many times, but objectively this is a good album.
3.5 (rounding down because I don't think it's as good as the other albums I gave a 4)
MGMT
4/5
Of course the big 3 hits are great, they have great production, great synth tones, and really catchy melodies. Time to Pretend has always been my favorite of the 3 so it surprised me that it had half the streams of the other 2.
The second half of this album isn't nearly as good. It's not bad, but they lose what made the first half sound so special and they start to sound like a wannabe Strokes band or something.
3.75
Blue Cheer
3/5
Great guitar tones and feedback, the drums are also pretty good. Everything else is a little lacking, especially the vocals and overall song writing.
This album 100% deserves to be on the list and is very influential, but personally I just think it is fine.
3/5
Isaac Hayes
3/5
I feel bad giving this one a 3 but it didn't really connect with me. Isaac Hayes has a great voice with a lot emotion, and I thought the first song was really good. However, the other 3 songs just felt a little lacking specifically the instrumentations/arrangements. A lot of people are complaining about the length of the songs, but I felt they were fine. I think that the idea of this album or what this album represents is far greater than the actual songs on the album.
Rush
4/5
2112 is probably my favorite Rush song. There are so many great riffs, solos and such great energy. The drumming is out of this world, there are so many great drum fills (a great song to air drum along with). My only complaint is that the discovery kills the energy and flow of the song.
Despite loving the song 2112 I never listened to the whole album before. After listening I am a little disappointed that the rest can't live up to 2112. Most of it is just run of the mill Rush songs that are all okay/good but not great. Which sucks because I think they keep me from giving this album a 5.
2112: 5/5
The rest of the songs: 3.5/5
White Denim
3/5
Pretty decent album, the instrumentals remind me a lot of KGLW (which I really like). My biggest issue with this album is that the vocals don't really seem to fit this style of music. His voice reminds me too much of the dude from Imagine Dragons especially when he got louder/more strained.
This album is somewhere between a 3 and a 4, but I don't think there were enough songs that I really enjoyed to warrant a 4.
Check out Paper Mache Dream Balloon by King Gizzard if you like this one.
Oasis
5/5
Oasis write pretty generic songs, but they are really good generic songs.
The Who
3/5
This is fine, not as boring as I thought it would be. Not sure why it made the list though.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
This album is really weird and I love weird music. The second half does lose me a little bit, but this was a lot better than I expected.
I am definitely going to give this one a second listen and I could see my rating going higher
My Bloody Valentine
5/5
I have only listened to loveless by mbv, but if I didn't know better I would have guess that this was an early slowdive album.
A lot of people here are complaining about this having too much distortion. I am surprised it didn't have more, this album was a lot closer to the dreamy side of shoegaze than I expected.
Anyways this album is great. I am definitely going to need to give this a couple more listens to fully appreciate it.
Elvis Presley
3/5
This album is good but not great. The singing and backing band are pretty good, but the biggest thing holding this album back is that it is very samey. It feels like every song is a 2:40 mid tempo semi country ballad with sappy strings and a fade out. If I'm not mistaken I think every single song faded out.
I doubt I will ever listened to this again, but it was fine while I did listen.
Les Rythmes Digitales
3/5
I don't listen to this type of music, but based off of the reviews I thought that this would be unlistenable to me. Turns out this album is a fun little EDM/dance album.
There are a couple stinkers, but overall this was a fine album.
The xx
3/5
I don't have many opinions about this album. The production is good, but most of the songs start to sound the same. This reminds me a lot of mall / forever 21 music. I wouldn't care if it came on, but isn't very interesting and I wouldn't seek it out.
2.5
Queen
5/5
So many great songs. Queen really does make timeless music.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
I forgot how stacked side 1 of this album is. So many great songs with no misses. Side 2 could have been a little tighter. There are a couple of okay songs and some that could be trimmed down a few minutes.
Overall still a really great album and it reminds me I need to listen to more Stevie Wonder.
4.5
Bob Dylan
3/5
I'm not the biggest Bob Dylan fan, so this album isn't really for me. It was enjoyable enough and definitely deserves to be on the list, but it isn't really my perfered style of music.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
5/5
While I think I prefer the noisier sound of their first album, you can definitely tell that they have improved as song writers on this album. The songs are more complex and more atmospheric.
This isn't my favorite album ever, but I will relisten to it at some point.
4.5
R.E.M.
5/5
I have tried to get into REM a few times before with little success, so I am surprised how much I like this album. There are a few songs that I'm not super crazy about so this is probably closer to a 4, but I am feeling generous and I can see this growing to a 5 on future listens.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
A couple months ago I decided that this is probably my favorite album. Whenever one song comes on shuffle I almost always listen to the entire thing.
I listened to this a couple of hours ago and I am typing on my phone so I am just going to list a bunch of things I love off the top of my head.
1. This album probably has my favorite production and mixing of all time
2. That layered big muff guitar tone is my favorite guitar tone, especially on mayonnaise
3. All the drum parts are killer and all the fills have so much energy and weight to them
4. The bridge in geek USA maybe the greatest minute of music ever recorded and it gives me chills every time.
5. Geek usa is probably one of my top 10 all time favorite songs. I love how it mixes all the different parts together.
6. This album has great lyrics vocal hooks/melodies and Billy's singing has so much emotion behind it
7. Cherub rock is such a good song and is so much fun to play on guitar
8. Soma is such a great song. It may be my favorite solo of all time, there is so much emotion and power behind it
9. Idk what that string synth sound thing is on space boy but it reminds me of a melatron and I love it
10. I love all the mini solos Billy and James throw in between the vocal parts
Ok I think 10 is enough but I could keep going
10/5
R.E.M.
4/5
A very solid album, a lot of good songs not too many great ones though. It is interesting hearing REM before they really found their sound.
CHIC
3/5
I don't have much to say about this one. All of the musicians are good, but the songs are a little too repetitive for my taste. There wasn't anything bad, but not much really stood out to me. I think this album would be better if every song was half the length and then the number of songs was doubled.
5/5
Muse are a guilty pleasure band for me, I know they aren't great (especially now), but I still have a soft spot for them since they were the first band me and my wife saw live together.
I was a little surprised to see Muse on this list, and even more surprised that they picked this album over Absolution or Origin of Symmetry. That being said I think that this is a very good album and I enjoy every song on it. I wouldn't say this album is great though. This was the turning point for Muse where they started to become more campy and cheesy.
4.5
Dire Straits
4/5
Why worry to one world drags a little, but the rest of the album is very good. Money for nothing has a killer riff.
Prince
5/5
I love prince, he really was a very talented song writer and musician. He always knew how to write fun and danceable songs.
This album does have a couple of stinkers so it is probably my least favorite of the 3 on this list, but it's a double album and there are so many great songs that it doesn't really matter.
Some stand out tracks for me are: the title track, it, slow love, its going to be a beautiful night, you got the look, and the cross.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Sinatra doing what he does best, a lot of good songs. My only complaint is that all of the songs start to sound the same by the end.
Public Enemy
4/5
First off, this album has great production, one of the best sounding hip hop albums. I also think that the interludes do a lot to add to my overall enjoyment of this project.
The first half of this album is really solid, a lot of really good beats, samples, and rapping. The second half of this album isn't as good (besides Fight The Power of course) and holds me back from giving this a 5.
I think the ideal version of this album would cut 5 or 6 songs from the second half.
Buck Owens
2/5
I have a very low tolerance for country. All I can say about this album is that it is short and isn't completely unlistenable. However, I swear they tried to sneak the same song in 2 or 3 times.
I would rather listen to this than any country album released in the last 30 years, but I would also rather not listen to any country. I bet this has a lot of historical significance, but I know next to nothing about country musical history.
This is a pretty bad album cover too.
1.5
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
I had a good enough time listening to this album, but I was ready for it to end by the time I got to the last 3 songs. The production is good, I like the sound of the drums throughout the album.
I doubt I will ever listen again since this isn't really my style of music, but it was enjoyable.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
I like this album a lot and I want to love it since I see a lot of parallels with David Bowie's Blackstar. This album is so much more interesting than the last Leonard Cohen album which was on the list, and the instrumentation is really great. I even think that the vocals work for this album. However, my biggest problem with this album is that the vocals are mixed WAY TO LOUD.
The title track has a really cool baseline but then the vocals come in and you can barely hear any of the instruments. Who mixed this album Billy Corgan and Lars Ulrich. The second half is better, but the vocals could still be turned down just a little bit.
Ray Charles
4/5
This is a very good album, great singing and great instrumentation. Ray Charles has a great voice.
My two biggest complaints are that it seems like he somehow manages to say "love" in every other sentence, and the slow love ballads (the ones with the sappy string arrangements and choir that sound like Christmas music) all kind of sound the same.
3.5
Beatles
4/5
I am not super crazy about the early Beatles sound, so this is my first time listening to a pre Rubber Soul Beatles album all the way through.
After listening, I would say that this album is good, but not great. There are a couple very good songs, but for the most part I would describe the songs as just good or okay. This is probably a high 3 close enough to round up to a 4.
Check out Kurt Cobain's cover of And I Love her, it's very good.
Common
2/5
Not a huge fan of this one, I am just not crazy about his voice / flow. Also something about the production rubbed me the wrong way, either too much compression, too much high end, or something like that. Some songs also had annoying chipmunk vocals, or annoying back up singers.
Also fuck Kanye
Dinosaur Jr.
5/5
I've listened to Where You Been before and I liked it enough so going into this album I was expecting to give it a 3 or 4. But I don't know, I guess this was what I needed to listen to today, because I really enjoyed it. It is a lot more noisy than I expected (and I love noise rock). I also think that J Mascis' voice suits this album very well, and it provides a very interesting texture and emotion. The songs are pretty simple, but I think that it works in it's advantage. I absolutely understand why people don't like this album, but I think it is very good.
Laibach
3/5
I think that this album is more interesting than it is good. It reminds me of a mix between Rammstein, early Killing Joke, and a little bit of Type O Negative.
This is one of the most interesting and unique album that I have gotten on this list so far, and I want to like it more, but it is just too sloppy. The instruments don't really blend well (especially the horns), the vocals aren't great, the song writing is a little lacking at times, and I think the happy horns clash with the industrial/doomy guitar and drums. I think I would like this album a lot more if it went in a darker more atmospheric angle and sounded more like what Type O Negative would end up becoming.
Even with all of those complaints I did enjoy the album, I just wish it was a little tighter. I might check this one out again some day to see if I still feel the same, but who knows.
Also shout out to this album cover, it is super sick. Ever time I would scroll by it looking at the albums on this list it would always catch my eye, and I was really curious how it sounded.
The Byrds
2/5
This album is fine, but a lot of the songs start to blend together, and there isn't really many standout moments. This album sounds very 60s, which I think holds it back just a little. It is also weird how many songs are around the 2 minute mark, but I guess that was just the time.
I wasn't crazy about this one.
High 2.
The Band
2/5
I'm not a fan of folk music, so there wasn't much here I enjoyed. The biggest thing holdng me back on this album is the singer, he just isn't very good. A lot of the songs sounded very generic and ended up sounding repetitive. But that may be due to my lack of experience in folk music.
George Michael
4/5
I wasn't super crazy about the first George Michael album on this list, something about the production made it sound like cheesy versions of prince songs. However, this album is a lot better, it seems a lot more developed and mature. A lot of really good songs on this album too. Freedom is easily a 5/5.
I was debating whether to give this a 5, but I think the last couple songs are just ok, so it's closer to a 4. It might grow to a 5 on future listens though.
Joy Division
5/5
This is one of the rare examples of an album where the first time I listened listened to it I was blown away. Every song has so much atmosphere. This is also one of my favorite albums production wise as well. It is crazy this came out in 1979, everything on this holds up so well.
The bass is great and is the backbone holding this album together. The drums have this really unique sound, especially when it mixes in the electronic drums. The guitar has a some really great tones, but it is also very minimal and let's everything breath. Ian Curtis does have an acquired voice (personally I think it fits the album) bit he writes really great depressing moody lyrics.
I love this album, I remember nothing is easy my favorite song, I love how dark it is. I recommend anyone who likes this album to buy the vinyl, it is a really good pressing.
Almost forget to mention that this is one of the greatest album covers of all time
Depeche Mode
5/5
I like me some Depeche Mode, and this is some good Depeche mode. He really has a great voice and a great sense of melody. A lot of catchy moments and good synth tones.
This is probably my 2nd favorite Depeche Mode album behind Violator.
Erykah Badu
3/5
Good album, the instrumentals are really great. I like the jazzier songs.
I'm just not a huge fan of her voice, and the album does go on a little long.
Iggy Pop
3/5
The Passenger and Lust for Life are obviously the stand out tracks here, there are a couple other songs I think are good, but not enough to warrant a 4. Overall I would describe this album as "fine"; it has it's moments and I can hear the Bowie influence.
3.5
Can
5/5
I heard that this was an inspiration for Radiohead and I can definitely see it. Very experimental and influential album. It is crazy this came out in 1971. Aumgn reminds be of a mix between Swans and something off of Mr. Bungle's Disco Volante.
I also really like this album cover, it has a nice use of color and texture.
One of the most interesting and coolest albums I've discovered yet. I need to check out their other stuff.
4.5
King Crimson
4/5
This is one of the albums I have been meaning to listen to for the longest time. I knew 21st Century Schizoid Man going in, and I kind of expected the rest of the album to sound like that, but only the title track has the same sound. The slower songs aren't bad, just not what I was expecting.
It is crazy that this album came out in 1969, it is way ahead of it's time. Great drumming on the songs that bookend the album.
I don't find the album cover super appealing, but it is definitely iconic.
fIREHOSE
3/5
I feel like I should like this more than I actually do. I like a lot of bands with similar sounds, but this one just isn't clicking for me. Maybe it's too DIY for me or something idk.
Interesting album though, it is always moving and is constantly providing interesting idea, nothing overstays it's welcome. A lot of great bass parts too.
I wish I liked this one more.
Willie Nelson
2/5
I don't know. This album is fine. I liked the title track, I thought it had nice guitar parts. However, after that it really lost my attention. Every song started to sound the same, especially the second half. I will be honest, I started to play Counter Strike around the 6th song, so maybe if I listened more actively I would have enjoyed those last songs more.
This is probably the one of the only times I will ever listen to a Willie Nelson album, so I am kind of bummed that it was all covers. Hopefully the other one on this list is better.
Overall, I thought the production and guitars were good. However, I found it really hard to pay attention to this album and I am not a huge fan of the idea of a covers album. The covers I did recognize I thought the originals were better
David Bowie
4/5
This is probably the weakest David Bowie album on the list, however it is still David Bowie and it is still very good. This is also the only one out of 9 I haven't heard before, so my thoughts may change on future listens.
Overall this album this album has great lyrics and some really good song writing. However, I don't think it reaches the highs of his other albums. I also found some of the songs in the 2nd half to be a little bland. I am glad that this wasn't his last album, because I think a lot of the ideas covered on this album are done 10x better on Black Star.
This album cover is great. Such a unique idea to reuse a previous album
On my initial listen I would give this a high 4.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
4/5
I don't know much about salsa music, so I don't have much to say about this one. I liked the horns and piano parts, but I wasn't too fond of the back up singers. I enjoyed this enough while listening to it, but I doubt I will seek it out again.
3.5
UB40
3/5
Fun album, very chill. Great bass and great drumming. The biggest problem is that a lot of the songs sound the same and get very repetitive by the end. Madam Medusa really didn't need to be 13 minutes.
I enjoyed this album while listening to it, but would only listen to it again if I needed calm background music.
I would give this a "high" 3.
Cheap Trick
2/5
Not really feeling this one. The recording isn't great and it is a little sloppy. The songs I did know sounded better in the studio (maybe besides I Want You To Want Me).
Fun Fact: the line "This next one is the first song on our new album" was sampled in the Beastie Boys song Jimmy James.
2.5
Calexico
4/5
I tend to dislike most indie music past the 2000s. However, I enjoyed this album quite a bit. I think the horns and strings really add a lot to my overall enjoyment. The instrumental songs are also really good and add a nice flow to the album.
My favorite song is easily Black Heart because it just sounds like a Placebo song and I love Placebo.
Also this album cover is butt ugly
Beck
5/5
It Is crazy that this album came after Midnite Vultures, one of his happiest and most absurd and over the top albums. This album is so stripped back and depressing, and I love the string arrangments. I've always been a fan of Beck's lyricism, and this album is no exception.
The only thing I can say that goes against this album is that since it is so stripped back some of the songs start to sound the same. However, I still enjoy every song so it's not a big problem.
The Saints
3/5
This is a lot more interesting than the Ramones, but I am still not a huge fan of this style of punk music. I appreciate how the songs sound different from each other.
Al Green
4/5
Al Green is a great singer and this is a great album. However, the lead single is so good that the rest of the album suffers in comparison.
Dr. Dre
4/5
The first half of the album is great. Great production, rapping, synth tones, and structure. The second half loses focus a little and doesn't feel as strong. There are also too many skits and songs I am not crazy about in the second half that keep me from giving this album a 5.
Taylor Swift
1/5
This album is not for me.
I don't want this review to come off as I hate all modern music. However, this album is also the epitome of all of my least favorite genres: post 2010 pop, acoustic indie, folk, and country.
First off, I really hated the production, this is a personal preference but I just can't stand music that sounds too clean (to me it sounds almost soulless). There is very little dynamics, every song sounds very similar, and I really disliked the electronic drums (or house style drums or whatever) they really didn't blend with the piano ballads. Every song also had a very similar melody, vocal harmonies, and song structure that got really taxing as the album went on.
I wasn't paying too much attention to the lyrics, but every now and then I would catchy a really cringy lyric.
Objectively this album isn't bad, it does everything it aims to do, and I guess it does it well. However, this is my review, and I was bored out of my mind listening to this.
This isn't the worst quality album on the list but it is my least favorite (so far), because it is just too boring.
evermore, more like eversnore!
Marianne Faithfull
3/5
This album has a very interesting backstory and the mix of new wave and folk is something i have never heard before. I liked some of the lyrics but the overall music is just okay.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
Another album with a very interesting backstory, and the music is pretty good too. Nothing blew me away but it has a nice groove.
Paul Simon
2/5
Not feeling this one. I just don't like his voice. A lot of the songs also sound dated and cheesy in a bad way. I would give this a 3 but I'm subtracting a star for the apartheid stuff.
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
I received the Songhoy Blues - Music in Exile album two days ago so I am going to compare the two. Talking Timbuktu has better production, tones, and they are probably "better" musicians, but MIE had much better song writing, song structure, and I found it more more enjoyable to listen to. The songs on Talking Timbuktu tend to drone on one riff for 5ish minutes without really going anywhere. That is fine if that is what you are into, but I just found the other album more interesting.
Overall I did enjoy this album, I just thought it dragged on a little long in some parts.
The Stooges
3/5
This is an influential punk album, but I am not a fan of his voice here. There are some good guitar parts, but not enough to hold my attention for long.
If I have learned anything from this list, I learned I am not a huge fan of 70s punk.
Justin Timberlake
2/5
This album is better than I thought it would be. I am still not crazy about it, but when everything aligns it can be fun. Rock Your Body is easily the best song here.
My 3 biggest problems with this album:
1. Some songs are just cringy, or have cringy lyrics.
2. On some songs it sounds like he is trying to impersonate someone else, especially when he tries to show off
3. The album is just a little too long and some of the similar songs could have been cut.
I would give this a high 2.
Emmylou Harris
2/5
I feel bad giving this one a 2, but it is just too twangy for me. I enjoyed the slow piano ballads when her country accent wasn't as strong. The Beatles cover was my favorite. But there were too many up beat twangy songs for me to give this a 3.
Jazmine Sullivan
2/5
This album is not for me, it is fine. I thought that the spoken word segments were interesting and tie the album together. I don't have any bad to say about this one, but it's not something I would ever listen to again.
I've been on a rough patch recently with this list. hopefully I can get some albums I really enjoy soon.
Ella Fitzgerald
4/5
Ella Fitzgerald is a great singer, and this album is varied enough that it doesn't get too repetitive. This album is VERY long, but the sequencing is good enough that it doesn't feel too bad, especially as background music. The backing band is also very good, and complements her voice well.
3.5
Minutemen
5/5
Very fun album with some great funky bass parts and some great lyrics. All of the instruments and singing feel perfect for this type of music. I love well made indie music (indie meaning independent not what would become the genre). Obviously nothing overstays its welcome here. The 2nd half isn't as good, but it is still interesting, and the weird songs don't last too long.
Anything that even vaguely reminds me of Black Midi is good music in my book. The singer also reminds me of Ian MacKaye from Fugazi a little bit too.
Django Django
3/5
I like the instrumentation and the way the songs flow, but something about the singing just sounds amateurish to me and really holds me back from enjoying this. If I wanted something in this sound I am just going to stick to King Gizzard.
3.5
Janis Joplin
4/5
A very solid album, not many negatives in my opinion. I wasn't alive back then but I associate this sound more so with the mid to late 60's so this album may be dated by a couple of years, but it is still a good album.
Mudhoney
4/5
It's dirty, raw, and exciting but it is also a little sloppy and doesn't have the best song writing some times. Some of the choruses are a little weak but if they really committed to the dirty noise rock and were a little more mature in their songwriting this could have been a 5.
Also this album cover is 1000x better than the actual music (and I did enjoy this album).
Very influential early grunge album. If you like this album checkout Bullhead by Melvins
Kid Rock
1/5
I am going to be writing this review as I listen so I may ramble and sound disjointed.
I guess I need to explain that I love (good) nu metal; Korn, System of a Down and Deftones are some of my all time favorite bands, but this is straight dog turds. I knew Bawitdaba from high school, but I never realized how bad his vocals were, there is almost no energy behind them.
I am the bullgod is like babies' first metal song. Barely even a riff.
Roving Gangster is basically the same song.
wtf is that annoying noise in Wasting time. IT IS SO ANNOYING WTF! how is this the 5th highest stream song on this album.
I got one for ya is a terrible song
Somebody's Gotta Feel This is the same song as Roving Gangster and Bullgod in a different key.
Fist of Rage is just a bad Filter song.
HOLY SHIT ONLY GOD KNOWS WHY IS THE WORST SONG I'VE HEARD ON THIS LIST SO FAR!
The worst thing about this album is that it sounds fake. Kid Rock is a poser and doesn't belong in this scene. Korn and nu metal as a whole were huge at the time and he is just cashing in on the hype. I don't believe that any of this was made out of the love of music but rather what could make him the most money.
I can't believe that this made this list and Korn's debut (the birth of nu metal) didn't
Kid Rock has a terrible voice, his music has no soul and worst of all his riffs are weak. I am going to go listen to the Coal Chamber album now.
Supertramp
5/5
Supertramp makes really good fun music. It's not the best thing I have ever heard, but I had a lot of fun listening to it. This made me want to check out some of their lesser known albums after listening to this one.
4.5
Sigur Rós
4/5
Some really interesting soundscapes, but some of the more boring songs do drone on a little long.
Pixies
5/5
Out of the original Pixies' albums this one is probably my least favorite, because the second half has some filler. But it is still the Pixies so it is amazing and I did enjoy it more than previous listens. This album also has some of my all time favorite Pixies' songs:
Velouria, Is She Weird, The Happening, Ana
I recommend seeing them live if you get the chance.
4.5
Suede
4/5
Some of the best brit pop I've heard. Almost sounds like a long lost Bowie album. The first 5 or so songs are really great, but then the middle does drag a little and sounds a little generic. But the production through out is great.
This is really close to a 5, but not quite.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
A pretty fun album with some great guitar playing. I enjoyed the covers too, very good interpretations.
Radiohead
5/5
Finally some Radiohead! Radiohead and System of a Down are my two favorite bands (I know it's a weird combo) so I am going to nerd out a little.
There are a lot of really good songs on this album that don't get enough attention in the Radiohead fandom. Personally I think the I Might Be Wrong guitar riff is so cool and I find the melody that goes with it so catchy. And I can't believe Like Spinning Plates and Life in a Glass House don't have more streams.
**Note to future listeners**: I like to substitute Pulk Pull Revolving Door with Pulk Pull - True Love Waits Version it doubles my enjoyment of this album. I just think the original version is too long to be so weird (and they ruin a really good beat with the vocals)
I have a hard time picking a favorite Radiohead album, it is probably not this one, but if you ask me one specific day a year I might say this one.
Spoiler alert: I am going to give every Radiohead album a 5
Also Check out the KID A MNESIA virtual exhibition, it is definitely worth the experience.
Faust
3/5
It is impressive that this album came out in 1973 it sounds great and is very interesting, but the overall music just isn't that compelling. I thought the opening track set a good tone for the album and had some interesting ideas. I also thought Jennifer was a nice little song with a cool noise section near the end.
The next 2 songs have some cool funky parts but also some bad / annoying parts. Lauft... almost feels like it would belong on The King Of Limbs, but it never really goes anywhere.
Overall, some cool ideas and impressive for the time, but as a whole a little boring.
Sparks
3/5
The best thing I can say about this album is that it is never boring.
The worst thing I can say about this album is that it is too campy for me.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Pleasantly surprised with this one. I've always avoided Peter Gabriel's music for whatever reason, but I enjoyed this one. Nothing on this is life changing but it has a good vibe and good production.
So > Graceland
(it's not even close)
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Not really my style, but I can still appreciate it.
Very chill
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
It is fine. A lot of the songs start to sound the same, and the one with the kid singing was a little annoying, but overall it is fine.
Moby
4/5
A lot of really good songs and some just okay ones. Great production throughout.
A lot of people are discrediting sampling as if he is just pushing a button to take a sample and then he releases it as a song. There is an art to sampling and it takes a lot to make these short samples compelling. Moby gets a lot of mileage out of 20 - 30 seconds of vocal samples per song.
FYI My Weakness is the last official track before the B-Sides according to Wikipedia
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
A couple good songs and a bunch of ok songs. It is a fun listen, but I don't think it is good enough for a 4.
Fun Fact: the intro to Superfly was sampled for the Beastie Boy's song Egg Man.
Slipknot
4/5
TLDR: Some good moments, but kind of generic. Very generous 4.
I had a short Slipknot phase a couple of years ago, now their debut is the only album I still enjoy out the ones I have listened to (besides a few songs here and there). This is my first time listening to this album though.
.execute. is a really good intro and sets an exhilarating tone but then Gematria is just kind of generic Slipknot and kills the vibe.
Sulfur has a memorable chorus, but it's a little too poppy for me.
Psychosocial is a really fun song, and I will always enjoy the breakdown. This is probably the first Slipknot song I ever heard.
Dead Memories has a good melody and something about it works a lot more for me than Sulfur does.
Vendetta has a cool breakdown, but the rest of the song is kind of generic.
The next four songs are just more Slipknot.
Snuff and the title track are good.
I am surprised that this album was picked over their 2nd or 3rd album. But I am also surprised that they picked two Slipknot albums (RIP Deftones)
3~ (rounding up because people rate metal low without listening)
Devendra Banhart
3/5
I struggle with a lot of indie folk, but this is fine I guess. I wish that the songs varied a little more, the guitar parts are very similar on a lot of songs. His voice isn't as bad as people made it seem.
2.5
Black Sabbath
5/5
Such an influential and genre defining album. Great drumming and guitar playing throughout, super catchy riffs. I never really noticed how strong of a part the bass plays in almost every song; really great bass tone and cool counter melodies. I am not the biggest fan of Ozzy's voice but it fits here and he has some catchy melodies.
side note:
despite being iconic I think this album cover is kind of ass. Their first album looks so spooky and this one just looks lame. Also the font looks like a spaghetti western or local mexican restaurant
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
I've tried to get into Sly & The Family Stone a few times now. While I enjoyed this listen more than previous attempts there is still something holding me back from saying it's great. Everything on here is fine, but it is missing something that would take this to the next level.
Brian Eno
4/5
I've been aware of Brian Eno for a long time now but never listened to any of his original music before. The first half of this reminds me of Little Creatures era Talking Heads or something. I enjoyed a couple of songs off the first half, but the second half is so much better. I really enjoyed the slow ambient pieces. I am excited to get more of his albums later down the list.
Tears For Fears
4/5
A very 80's album with some absolute bangers. The middle does drag a little though
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
A fun little funky album. It definitely helps having some recognizable songs. I am assuming there are a lot of samples from this album. The one I recognized was the drum break in Last Bongo in Belgium was used in Massive Attack's Angel and the Beastie Boys' Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun.
Richard Thompson
3/5
It is fine, but there were a couple of songs I had to skip because they were too twangy. The Great Valerio was my favorite song.
2.5
Skunk Anansie
4/5
I have never heard of this band before, so I had no idea what to expect, but what a fun album. Kind of trip hop, kind of nu metal, kind of soul.
Even though I enjoyed this album and I am glad I discovered it, it does seem like a weird pick for this list.
High 4
Green Day
5/5
So many huge songs. So many great and catchy melodies. The transition from chump to Longview will always be cool.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Pretty good album, but I expected a little more after hearing so much about it. Some of the songs start to sound the same after a while, but that is okay, because they are still good songs.
Underworld
2/5
Eh... I didn't hate it, but the length definitely hurts this album. There are some fun ideas here and there, but they all get dragged out so long that I lost interest. This would make fine background music if you like this type of music.
high 2.
Fela Kuti
4/5
A very fun and groovy album. This is probably my favorite album from Africa so far from this list. Some sections could be trimmed a little, but overall a very enjoyable album.
Janet Jackson
3/5
This reminds me of Prince, but a lot less fun / funky. Also Prince was doing this stuff a decade before and moved on to new sounds, so isn't this sound a little dated for 1989.
Overall it is fine, but not much to write home about. I would have rather added something like Controversy or Dirty Mind to the list in the place of this record. But this record does have some historic significance so its inclusion makes sense.
low 3
Janelle Monáe
3/5
An enjoyable album, but probably not something I would listen too again. I was kind of surprised that this album had some very good guitar solos.
3.5 (rounding down because the last 1/3 drops the ball)
Sleater-Kinney
4/5
Short and Sweet, some very good songs and some ok ones. The title track is going to be stuck in my head all day.
Louis Prima
3/5
It's good but not much stood out. Every song here has this really weird reverb that makes it sound like they are playing in a cave and once you notice it, it's hard to ignore it. A lot of songs have the same I'm just a Gigolo piano / bass intro. I'm also not a huge fan of his voice.
Beyoncé
1/5
I'm sorry I have a strong grudge/bias against Beyonce ever since I had to do an entire unit on Lemonade my junior year of college.
ok so this review turned out to be more of a rant.
Is this album quiet? It felt way quieter than I am used to, I had to double check everything was set up properly.
I'm not a fan of the 808 and synths (especially on Drunk in Love) they sound like default garage band synths. The synths in the background of Jay-Z's verse sound like wet farts. Partition also has annoying synths.
Rocket really didn't need to be 6 and a half minutes. Actually a lot of these songs feel way to long and never really go anywhere dynamically.
Flawless is a terrible song (I am really considering a 1 now).
Superpower is so long and boring. (yeah I can't do this this is getting a 1)
I tried I am sorry, there is very little I found enjoyable here. This is now a contender for one of my least favorite albums so far. I couldn't stand any thing past the first couple of songs. They all just meander for way to long and the production hurts this album so much. The last 7 songs all sound exactly the same and have no drive or anything to keep me interested.
Overall, some very generic pop songs with some truly awful synths. The second half of this album just drags on forever there are like 0 choruses or anything engaging and they are just SO BORING. I also expected more from her vocally, everything seems pretty reserved (which is fine, but when the rest of the music is so boring I would like something to grab onto).
Jeff Buckley
5/5
A truly great album with some great vocals and songwriting. There are a couple songs I am not crazy about but I can see myself enjoying them more on future listens. I can also see how he inspired Thom Yorke to use his falsetto more.
4.5 (but may go up to a 5 on future listens)
Jimmy Smith
4/5
From my initial reaction to the cover to my actual enjoyment of the album this is one of the biggest underdog stories so far. Very chill/smooth/funky, great musicianship throughout. My only complaint is that this may have been the same song 5 times in a row and I really have no way of confirming one way of the other.
Sam Cooke
3/5
I don't have many opinions about this album, it is fine but nothing really stood out. I don't really listen to this type of music ever and I think this is the only Sam Cooke album on the list so I would have preferred to listen to one of his studio albums because now I probably never will.
I hope this live album had some historical significance that made it more important than all of his studio albums.
Sepultura
5/5
Man I love this album, it is definitely in consideration to be my favorite metal album. The louder you make it the better it sounds! Air drumming and stank face can also increase your enjoyment of this album.
Everything on this is so heavy, the last 2 minutes of Roots Bloody Roots is some of the best/heaviest music ever recorded (I have been listening to this song basically once a week for the past 5 years). Max Cavalera's vocals are crazy and he may be my favorite metal vocalist primarily due to this album. And of course I can't forget about all of the indigenous Brazilian instruments and chanting, it is such a creative and unique sound.
The only thing I can say negatively about this album is that they probably could have cut a song or two in the second half for better pacing, but I love them all so I don't really care. Also my vinyl copy of this album has demos on side 4 instead of Canyon Jam, so that is kind of a bummer (but it does have Kaiowas so that is a plus).
Also shout out to Johnathan Davis and Mike Patton on Lookaway
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
This is one of those albums I am going to forget I listened to in a month. It is fine, but very one note and not much stands out.
low 3
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Very good album. Great singing and instrumentation. Not really my style though so I don't know if it is really something I would ever really return to again.
low 4
Echo And The Bunnymen
5/5
I am surprised how much I liked this album especially considering how many people are calling this mid or that they don't like the singer (I think he has a great voice). The first half of this album is great, a lot of great songs and melodies. The production overall is really good too; peak 80's sound. They even beat the cure to this sound that they would adopt on Head on the Door.
The second half isn't as strong, but it is still very enjoyable. I am definitely going to listen again and can see this growing on me on future listens.
4.5
Pearl Jam
5/5
The definitive all killer no filler album. Realistically any of these songs could have been a single; the ones they did pick were the best ones though.
This album has so many great riffs and vocal melodies, it's hard not to song along to. One of the few albums I think may be perfect.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
This album has some of Jimi's best songs but it also has some of his most "okay-iest" songs, so I am really debating between a 4 and 5 here. A lot of great solos and bluesy riffs. Bold as Love is a great closer
4.5 (This is probably closer to a 4 but Little Wing and Castles Made of Sand are too good)
Elbow
3/5
It's okay, but I am just not a huge fan of his voice, it sounds like he needs to clear his throat. The production is also a little too clean for my liking (almost sounds like commercial music at times).
Grounds for Divorce sounds like the Home Depot song.
Weather to Fly has these annoying vocals in the background.
One Day Like This sounds like a nursery rhyme.
low 3 (very very close to a 2)
Doves
3/5
I am a little surprised that this kind of generic indie rock band I never heard of has not 1 but 2 albums on this list. I am not a huge Arctic Monkeys fan, but you could just as easily have replaced one of these 2 with AM or something like Interpol.
That being said I do enjoy this one more that the other one (at least I think I do, I barely remember it). This album has fun moments, but the middle of this album is a real drag.
Japan
4/5
Pleasantly surprised by this one. Don't know much about them but I am guessing this was an early trendsetter for the new wave movement. This album has some really great instrumentation and production, especially the synths and bass. The singing could be a little better, but it is fine.
This album isn't straight synth pop either, it has some really good dark moments, which are a great mood setter and adds a lot diversity
Black Sabbath
5/5
Nowhere near as catchy as Paranoid, but a great album none the less. A lot of really great guitar and bass tones throughout this album, and a surprisingly good piano ballad. The last half of this album has some very heavy songs (respectively for the time).
I can never hear Supernaut without thinking of Tim and Eric's "Bang Bang Cops and Robbers"
Also checkout System Of A Down's cover of Snowblind they really make it their own song.
Antony and the Johnsons
2/5
This album has a lot of meaning and emotion behind it, but judging it on a purely music level it's okay. To me they remind me of songs that some one with a sob story would sing on American Idol or something, and I hate singing competitions. A lot of the songs sound the same too, but the album is short so it isn't too bad.
Also the guitar tone during the guitar solo on fistful of love is terrible.
2.5
Lou Reed
5/5
I didn't expect this album to be a downer. Anyways, I've always liked Lou Reeds softer songs better, and there are a lot of great guitar and piano ballads here.
This may be favorite Lou Reed project I've heard so far. Definitely going to need to give this a few more listens.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
Very smooth, very influential, very good jazz album.
Steely Dan
3/5
I've always enjoyed Bodhisattva from Rock Band 2, everything else is okay.
Prince
5/5
Man I love Prince, such a talented musician. So many great songs on this album, a lot of funky and sexual jams. I love all of the synth sounds and especially that snare sound he uses on some songs (you know the one). Prince is super underrated as a guitarist, but Lady Cab Driver has a short, but kick-ass solo. 1999 is probably my goto party song. The word "automatic" has been ruined for me, I can't hear it anymore without thinking a-u-t-o-matic
All the Critics Love U In New York is the only song I really don't care about on this album, beside that this album is perfect.
Frank Black
4/5
I was very surprised to see this album. It is good, but it could have easily have been replaced with Trompe Le Monde or Last Splash.
I've always really enjoyed the song Whatever Happened to Pong, it's just a weird chaotic song. Space is Gonna do me Good also gets stuck in my head every now and then. Headache is also a really good song.
Besides some standout songs, a lot of the songs on here are just good or okay. This album could have easily cut 1/3 of the songs and been ~40 minutes.
3.5
Nirvana
5/5
This album is soooo good that I don't even really consider it a live album (if that makes any sense). If Stop Making Sense didn't exist this would be my uncontested favorite live album and it wouldn't even be close.
Such a depressing and intimate performance, and a great setlist. But it is the covers that really sell me on this album. They take every cover and make it 10x better than the original.
I recommend watching the performance on youtube if you don't have a copy of it, you can find a playlist of every song on their channel
Easy 5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Very good album, the second half is where it really shines. This reminds me of a more atmospheric Sleater Kinney.
I'm looking forward to their other albums on this list.
Peter Tosh
3/5
This is fine, but I think reggae music as a whole suffers the same problem reggaeton does. When your genre is based off of a specific rhythm (in this case all upstrokes emphasizing the off beat) it makes it hard to distinguish songs. I think Peter Tosh does a good job adding unique sonic palates to each song to distinguish them, but I could have used a little more rhythmic diversity or tempo variations.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2/5
I don't know, this is fine, but I feel like there are probably better Tom Petty albums out there. A lot of this songs don't feel finished, they kind of just fade out as they are getting started. A lot of them sound the same too.
I feel like this album was only picked because it had two hits songs, not because it is a good album.
2.5
Butthole Surfers
3/5
A very interesting album, I understand why people don't like it (because it isn't very good) but it is something I won't forget. I feel something like Melvins' Ozma to fill the early sludge metal spot or Mr. Bungle's debut to fill the weird spot would have gone over better.
The Byrds
1/5
I did not enjoy the last Byrds' album, so when I figured out this one was a country album it set my expectations to the floor. Man, this album is so boring and twangy, I have no patience for country music.
EVERY SONG SOUNDS THE SAME I AM GOING CRAZY!
I am not looking forward to their other 3 albums on this list. (did they really need 5 spaces?!?!)
Yes
4/5
The two songs I knew going in to this album were Roundabout and Heart of the Sunrise, so I was a little surprised that most of the songs were around 2 or 3 minutes.
I am not a huge Prog Rock guy, but this is some of the best Prog Rock out there. Very good guitar playing and some funky basslines.
High 4
Pixies
5/5
This is your favorite band's favorite album.
This is easily a top 5 album for me. Everything is just so short and sweet. They cram so many ideas into such short songs. Every song has such a strong melody and it is so much fun to sing along too. Whenever I'm feeling bored or don't know what to listen to, I usually end up throwing this album on.
This album is probably one of the single most influential albums in the last 50 years. Radiohead have a quote that is something like: "We stopped using guitars in our music because the Pixies stopped releasing music we could rip off". And of course they inspired countless bands like Nirvana with their loud quiet loud song structure.
10/5
Dr. John
3/5
Here is another album that is more interesting than it is good. Some cool ideas here and there, but I don't like the back up singers. Their voices are annoying and I think it hurts the album.
Low 3
Goldfrapp
3/5
It ain't no Portishead, but it is decent. Idk, something about it seemed off but I couldn't tell you what.
Björk
5/5
This is probably my favorite Bjork album yet. It is weird and artsy but in no way self indulgent or hard to get into. Some very good instrumentation and production throughout. Also some surprisingly funky tracks which were fun.
The Vines
3/5
There are some good song, but not enough that I can comfortably give this a 4. The ballads are what really hold this album back, they are all just so bland. It doesn't help that he doesn't have the best voice.
I don't think this is an album I needed to listen to. It is okay at best, but I don't think it really had a big impact on anyone. Their one hit is just a copy of Nirvana's Breed (which came out 11 years before). I don't know enough about the garage rock revival movement, but the strokes came out a year before, so they weren't breaking new ground in that aspect either.
John Lennon
3/5
I've always associated Lennon with the more experimental Beatles tracks, so I am a little disappointed that most of these songs are kind of generic blues songs. They are fine, but nothing exciting or anything I would want to return to.
Small Faces
2/5
Yikes, this one is pretty bad, (but so is the album cover so I am not surprised). A lot of people are defending side 1, but it is sooo cheesy, his singing just isn't good, and the production sounds really fuzzy. There is a good idea every now and again, but it is quickly followed by something cringy or annoying.
The only positive I can say is that nothing overstays its welcome.
low 2
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Not really my style, but it has its moments.
High 3
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Not my favorite Stevie Wonder album, but it is Stevie so it is still great. There is not a single person who dislikes superstition.
4.5
U2
4/5
A little on the generic side, but it has some good moments.
3.5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
What a great opener. At first I was not super into it, but then after the switch up I was hooked. Ok, so Ooby Dooby isn't a very good song, but it is short. But besides that this album is stacked with hits.
Tom Waits
3/5
I feel like I should probably hate this album, but something about it is weirdly charming. I don't know, this album is just a vibe.
It could have probably been trimmed down to ~45 minutes or so, but it is fine.
high 3
Judas Priest
4/5
Compared to what metal would become (even a few years later) this album is pretty tame. I consider it more hard rock than metal. There are some good songs, and there are some stinkers.
3.5 (rounding up because of how influential this album is)
The Damned
4/5
One of my biggest problems with late 70's punk is that most of the songs on an album sound the same. That isn't even close to a problem here, most of the songs here don't even sound like themselves by the end. There are so many sonic, rhythmic and tonal changes throughout this album that it keeps you on your toes. There are a lot of good melodies too.
I really like to production on this album. The bass and drums sound killer.
high 4
Eagles
2/5
I wonder if anyone here has seen the big Lebowski? /s
But for real though I can't stand the eagles, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be
Christine and the Queens
2/5
This album is not for me and I thought it was very middle of the road.
Pros: the production was very good, and it had some good synth tones.
Cons: I don't like their voice, and the songs were a little generic.
I'm subtracting a point because the last couple songs were a little cringe and they gave me a head ache (I may have been hung over)
Brian Eno
4/5
A very good album, but I do think that having recognizable "melodies" does hurt this album. Especially when they are repeating for 10+ minutes.
R.E.M.
5/5
I've been on an R.E.M. kick recently, and this may be my favorite album now, but I need to let it sit more. I think this is one of the most consistent album I've heard from them so far. There was only 1 song I didn't really like.
Low 5
John Prine
2/5
Man I can't stand country music. Listening to this after a 5 hour drive isn't helping either.
This isn't the worst album ever, but it is the last thing I want to hear today
Very low 2
Lightning Bolt
4/5
If your favorite bands/artists are Bob Dylan and The Who and aren't open to anything past 1975 you can skip listening to this one give it a 1 and just say it sounds like white noise.
I discovered this band somewhat recently, and have been meaning to give them a listen, so I am glad they are on this list. This album has some surprisingly groovy noise rock played by some really great musicians. I am definitely a fan now and will check out their other albums.
Pushing the boundaries of Rock music. High 4
3/5
Eh, this is okay, but the singing is pretty bad, and everyone just seems really bored. There is a weird lack of energy to this album, everyone seems like they are about to fall to sleep. If I had to guess I would have said this album came out 5 years earlier than it actually did. I can't overstate how old this album sounds for 1981 (the same year damaged by Black Flag came out). Also for only being 30 minutes, this album felt like 45.
I'm not exactly sure why this album was included, it doesn't sound very good, or that ground breaking/influential.
low 3
Daft Punk
4/5
I liked this alot more than I expected to. I never listen to this genre, but it was almost industrial at some points which was fun.
Going in I thought it would be really repetitive, just because that is what dance music is, but to my surprise they were able to keep my attention throughout the album and I enjoyed the variety in the tracks. I also never realized that Daft Punk were a 90s band, so I guess they really were ahead of their time.
Don't know if I will ever listen again (maybe as background noise), but I enjoyed this album quite a bit.
Hawkwind
2/5
Ok, so this album is good in the sense that they can play their instruments well, and for a live album it sounds pretty good. However, (as many people have pointed out) IT IS WAAAAAY TO LONG. I enjoy some jam bands so I get it, but 2+ hours when every song sounds the same is just too much.
Here is a list of complaints:
- too long
- can't sing well
- individual songs are too repetitive
- every song sounds the same
- too many spoken word segments
- spoken word segments are too long
- spoken words that are spoken are cringe
- the riffs they play are annoying (every song has 1 guitar riff on repeat until the required solo section. I found myself skipping to the solo everytime because the riff would get annoying)
I might have enjoyed a condensed studio album, but this was just too much nothing and made me angry
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
This album is ok. The singing isn't my favorite and it is a little repetitive, but it has some good moments.
Eminem
4/5
I think Eminem matured a lot on this album (as a musician not as a person). The songs seem a lot more complete and not as repetitive. I do still think that the album is too long, but I didn't find it as annoying.
Some good songs and some good beats. I found this album a lot more engaging than the last one.
3.5
Peter Frampton
3/5
I don't know much about Peter Frampton, and I may be stupid, but one thing that has always confused me is that it sounds like he is playing to a pretty big audience that love him and know all of his songs, but this is also his breakout album???? something doesn't add up here.
Not really sure why this site lists "Hard Rock" as one of this album's genres. This is some of the softest rock out there. This album was a little dorkier than I expected, but it is fine.
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
Post punk and new wave are some of my favorite genres of the 80's, so I had high hopes for this album. However, I guess there is a reason I never heard of these guys, because this is one of the most average albums on the list. I guess the only reason this was chosen to be on this list is the Echo and the Bunny men connection, but I think they have enough representation and I would have enjoyed another Cure album much more. This album also came out after the Cure's 17 Seconds so it's not like this album is ground breaking or anything.
The singing here isn't that great, and those Trumpet synths sound terrible.
When I Dream is way too stupid to be that long.
low 3
Gang Starr
3/5
Pretty good album. Very enjoyable beats and good rapping. However, it does get a little samey after awhile. A very strong debut, but I feel like their later albums would improve on this sound and be a step up (the streaming numbers on spotify seem to agree).
high 3
Kate Bush
3/5
It is good, but not something I would listen to normally. This just kind of became background noise after a bit, but I enjoyed it enough. The second half does fall off though.
above average 3
3/5
I'm not a huge kinks fan, but I enjoyed the first song a decent bit and thought I may have misjudged them. But then the rest of the album is just a little bland. There are some good moments every now and then, but not enough for a 4.
Also it's a little too British for me.
The Beta Band
3/5
More interesting than people make it out to seem. It reminds me of a tamer version of Beck's Odelay. Nothing here was nearly as good, but it had its moments.
3.5
Funkadelic
4/5
Groovy, funky, great guitar playing. Maggot Brain is the clear standout track here, but there are moments to love throughout the album.
low 4.
Afrika Bambaataa
3/5
This is going to be a weird album to rate. On one hand it is a fun and influential album, but on the other it is kind of corny, most of the songs could have been 50% shorter, and the sounds here haven't aged super well.
high 3.
James Taylor
3/5
It has now been 16 albums since I gave out my last 5, which is the longest dry stretch I've had out of the 231 albums I have rated. I hope I get something I love soon.
Anyways, back to this album, uh... it's ok.
Folk and Singer-Songwriter are my least favorite genres, not because I find them bad, but I just don't get much out of these type of songs and I find most of it boring. James Taylor has a good voice and the songs sound good, but this music is just too calm for me and a lot of it sounds the same.
The blues track was interesting and I liked the horn section.
Not really sure why Fire and Rain has 350 million streams on spotify and Oh, Susannah only has 4 million. To me these songs sound exactly the same, not really sure why people would so heavily gravitate towards one.
Anyways this album was more enjoyable than I thought it would be, but not something I think I would listen to again.
Pink Floyd
5/5
I can't believe I made it 1/4 of the way through this list without any Pink Floyd, but I am happy to start with what might as well be my favorite album from them. All 5 songs are basically perfect.
-SOYCD 1: I love the opening guitar solo, it is one of my all time favorites. I love the build up to when the vocals come in. And those 4 notes are so cool. Also love the beat switch at the end.
WTTM: I love how cold and industrial this song is. I also really like the melody of the chorus, it is fun to sing along too.
Have A Cigar: Really one of the only "funky" Pink Floyd songs I can think of, really great vocal melody too. I love to sing the gravy train line. Checkout Primus' version of this song if you like their sound.
WYWH: It's Wish You Were Here.
SOYCD 2: I love the lap guitar and all of the shrieking high notes it hits. I don't think this song is as good as the first one, but it is a good book end to the album and has great moments.
5/5
ZZ Top
4/5
Very solid album with some nice grooves and some great guitar playing. Nothing here blew me away, but it still a very strong album.
Low 4
Brian Eno
4/5
Very interesting album, reminds me a lot of David Bowie. The singing here isn't the best at times and there are some weird moments, but over I enjoyed this album enough.
low 4
Elton John
4/5
I tried to listen to this album 5ish years ago and didn't really enjoy it (besides tiny dancer of course), so I didn't really expect much going into it again. However, I found myself really enjoying the first half of this album. A lot of great songs and great piano and vocal melodies. Everything after Indian Sunset is just ok, but the rest of the album is great.
High 4
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
I feel like I have been saying this a lot recently, but I am not a big fan of folk music. It just doesn't do much for me and a lot of it sounds the same.
This album doesn't do much for me and a lot of it sounds the same. It is fine and they have good harmonies, but that is about it. Every song sounds like you could throw in the Mrs. Robinson chorus and I wouldn't bat an eye.
low 3.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Rant Time:
In the past 30 days I've had 18 albums from the 70's (that's 60%) and I feel like a good chunk of those, especially recently, have all been folk/country/singer songwriter. There is only so many ways I can say I don't have much of an opinion on this genre. To me a lot of these songs all sound the same and I don't get much out of them. I get that this album are important and people who like folk love these albums, but man there are just too many. Did we need 5 Leonard Cohen albums, 5 The Byrds albums, or 8 albums that have Neil Young on them. All of these artist deserve to be on this list and have some good albums (maybe not The Byrds), but there are so many better and more interesting album that got excluded from this list. The best thing I can say about these early folk albums is that they tend to be short and don't overstay their welcome.
Back to this album:
I am indifferent on his voice here, I see why people don't like it, but it is the only thing really going for this album. I like the artsy elements here, but still it is a little bland and could have been taken farther. I think Diamonds in the Mine was the most interesting song here, but I wish it wasn't so twangy. The rest of the album is fine, and has some good moments, but I am just tired of 70's folk right now.
Beastie Boys
5/5
When I want to listen to the Beastie Boys I usually gravitate towards Ill Communication, Paul's Boutique, or Check Your Head, but that doesn't mean this one is bad. When comparing this to their later albums, this album feels a little incomplete and immature (quality and personality wise). The production here is good, but once again compared to their later works feels a little unrefined.
Shoutout to She's Crafty, I don't think that song gets enough attention.
This album is probably closer to a 4, but compared to all the bland 70's crap I've had this past month this is a breath of fresh air.
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
I've been aware of The Manic Street Preachers for a while, but never really listen to their stuff before. Very interesting guitar parts, almost metal at some points. I think the vocalist is what is holding me back the most here. His voice is fine, but something about the way he sings just doesn't mesh the best with the instrumentals in my opinion. Putting that aside, this album is constantly shifting and throwing out new ideas that keep you on your toes.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3/5
A pretty fun album, I enjoyed the upbeat songs. However, it does get a little samey as it goes on. Very Fallout-core music.
high 3
The United States Of America
3/5
Ok, so when this started, I had to pause it to make sure there wasn't an add playing in the background at the same time, because it is literally just 2 different songs playing at the same time.
This album is experimental and innovative, but not always good. It has a lot of interesting idea, not all of them pan out, but it is enjoyable at the very least. I am not a huge fan of the female singer, but she is a lot better than the male singer.
Some songs do sound a little too derivative of specific Beatles' songs, but I'm not sure which would have come out first.
Arrested Development
3/5
This album is fine, it is a little too repetitive for its own sake, but the length doesn't help either. However, I think the biggest problem keeping me from enjoying this album is the weird holier than thou are vibe I got throughout the album. Children play with earth sounds like someone who would say "no phones, just people living in the moment" unironicly, and people everyday is some kind of weird power fantasy.
Probably could have cut 4 or 5 songs and had a tighter album.
Low 3
Nick Drake
4/5
Out of all of the folk/singer song writer albums I've gotten so far, this is easily the best. I see why this album is held in such high regard. Great singing and lyrics throughout the album.
When listening to horn I immediately noticed that this song had the same melody as boris' farewell. I knew Boris had an album cover that referenced another Nick Drake album, but I never knew the connection between these songs. So I guess that song is a tribute to Nick Drake.
In short, very good album, I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. (Also check out Boris if you like shoegaze, noise rock or sludge metal)
High 4
Meat Loaf
2/5
Story Time:
10-15 years ago, or whenever I was in high school, I used to drive a relatively old car to school that only had a cassette player and a radio. At the time I was into classic rock, and there was really only one rock station in my area, so I would listen to it as I drove to school. I don't know who ran that station, but who ever they were they LOVED Paradise By The Dashboard Light right when I would start my drive, because it felt like at least twice a week minimum I would hear it. I get that you can't really make more "classic rock" so there is a limit pool of songs and what not, but that song is 8 and a half minutes long, and my drive was only 10ish minutes. So if that song came on I would be stuck listening to it my whole ride. At first I didn't really have much of an opinion on the song, but I kind of liked the chorus. But as the year went on I slowly grew to hate and despise the song and Meat Loaf himself. The point of this story is I have a grudge against Meat Loaf.
Ok, back to the album. First off, this album cover is waaaay too cool for how lame the music is. Grudge aside, Meat Loaf is a good singer, but the songs are a little too theatrical and campy for my taste. The ratio to piano ballads to rockers is also too high in my opinion. I still hate PBTDBL.
If I didn't have a bias, this would be a 3. But I do have a bias, so it is a 2.
Soul II Soul
3/5
I'm seeing way too many 1s and 2s for what is a perfectly passable album. I don't even like dance or soul music, but this album isn't even close to as bad as people make it seem. I think the beats are actually pretty good, especially for 1989, and the guest vocalists are also really good. The biggest problem here is that the lyrics are really surface level. They sound like stuff I would write (and I consider myself a terrible writer). I think that the mix of RnB, soul and dance music is really interesting and there are a couple funky little tracks here. Some of the beats even remind me of the Talking Heads, so that is a huge plus.
high 3, nowhere near as bad as people make it seem.
Gene Clark
2/5
Rant Time >:(
A couple days ago, in some random folk review I made a snide remake about how the Byrds feel over represented in this list with 5 disappointing albums, but to my surprise THEY HAVE SOLO ALBUMS TOO!!!! I had to google the members of the band to make sure others don't have solo albums too. Of course Crosby went on to do stuff so that makes sense he has 3, but Gene Clark (who never charted) has 2, and Chris Hillman has 1. THAT'S 11 BYRDS RELATED ALBUMS!!!! WHY?!?! Unless I am missing some, that's 1 less than the Beatles and its members. No one on earth can argue that the Byrds are even close to as important to the Beatles, I couldn't have even named a Byrds' song before this list. It really is quite annoying how a lot of these early bands feel like they get 5 or 6 albums and then when you get to the 80's and beyond you will be lucky if a great band gets 2.
When I read that this dude was a member of the Byrds I made such a loud groan my wife thought I got hurt. The Byrds are quickly becoming my arch nemesis on this list.
Also maybe if the quote "Like all of his post-Byrds records, it did very poorly on the US charts." Takes up 1/5 of the review and is one of the only things worth mentioning, this album isn't worth being on this list.
Ok, I guess I have to actually listen and talk about the album.
First off, Gene Clark is not a very good singer. The first two songs are ok, a little bland, but ok. But the title track is awful and felt like double its length. Because of You starts off nice, but it really drags on and doesn't really evolve. The rest of the songs are pretty boring, and also don't really go anywhere.
I try to save 1's for albums I think are unlistenable, or that I absolutely hate. Despite how much I complained, I don't think this is unlistenable (It is completely unnecessary and bland).
very very low 2
The Who
4/5
I don't remember if I said this in another review or not, but I used to like the who a decent bit, but then one day I woke up and thought they were a little too cheesy/cringe and I couldn't bring myself to really listen to them. That being said this album has most of the songs I can still listen to and enjoy.
The singles on this album are great (except the end of baba o'riley, it kind of dies like a wet fart). Everything in the middle of this album is a little lame and doesn't do much for me. If these songs were tighter I could have given this a 5. The lyrics for getting in tune are something I would make up when writing a song and then later change, but they never changed them.
Kinda wish I never learned they peed on the obelisk.
High 4.
Milton Nascimento
4/5
Pretty good album. It does get a little repetitive as it goes on. I think 45 minutes would have been the perfect runtime. Maybe if I spoke Portuguese it would have helped too.
Great vocals throughout the album, and I enjoyed that every couple songs they would incorporate new genres and mix in new ideas to keep the album sounding fresh. However, I still think they could have trimmed it down a little bit.
Low 4
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Pretty good, this was my first time actually listening to Bob Marley. This album made for some good background music as I did chores around the house. It was short and sweet, and I don't really have much else to say about it.
Low 4.
The Prodigy
5/5
This album sounds very 90's, like cool hacker 90's, and I think it pulls it off very well. Out of all of the Electronic albums I've had so far, I think that this one is my favorite. Fun beats, interesting soundscapes, and it is always shifting to never sound boring or repetitive.
Low 5.
The Human League
3/5
Wow "that" synth in The Things That Dreams Are Made Of sounds terrible. The next song also has a terrible synth around the two minute mark. What is going on? Who thought these sounded good?
Track 3 has this really annoying popping sound in the right headphone. I thought my headphones were breaking for a second.
I should say, that despite some annoying noises here or there I am enjoying this album. Nothing is blowing me away, but I have a surface level appreciation. It really is funny how 80's one-hit-wonders can write some of the most forgettable/passable songs and then everything will come together, like the perfect storm, and they will write one of the greatest melodies of all time.
I Am The Law is barely a song. I get what they were going for, but I don't think it turned out like they wanted it to.
Don't You Want Me really is (Human) Leagues above the rest of this album
low 3.
Deep Purple
4/5
I am satisfied. Not the greatest rock album, but a very good one. The star of this album is all of the great organ solos.
I've never really understood why they were considered metal. Even for the time, they are more of a blues rock band.
Talk Talk
3/5
A little forgettable, but still a pleasant listen. I am writing this review about 12 hours after listening to this and don't really remember much.
T. Rex
4/5
Pixies released a cover of mambo sun reccently, and I had no idea it was a cover until 5 minutes ago.
Overall, pretty good album. I'm not crazy about his singing, but he makes up for that with his song writing.
Massive Attack
5/5
Let's fucking go!!!! I love massive attack!!! It really is a crime that mezzanine isn't on this list though. If you even slightly enjoyed this album I HIGLY HIGLY recommend Mezzanine. It is a lot darker and colder, and has more rock elements, and some of the best production of all time.
Now back to this album. I love the title track it is such a comforting track, and probably one of my all time favorite massive attack songs. I feel like I should hate karmacoma, but it is just so hypnotizing and I love the chorus.
Three has some fun parts and nice singing. But weather storm is just such a chill song. Spy glass has a great beat, I don't know the singers names, but I always enjoy this guy's songs. Speaking of good singers, any of their songs that feature a female vocalist is top tier.
Euro child is such a groovy track, I'm usually not the biggest fan or their hip hop tracks, but this one just has such a good beat.
The rest of the album is good except for their cover of light my fire, which is one of the only Massive Attack songs I would describe as bad.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
I don't know... I'm just not feeling this one today. I think I liked it more than other Leonard Cohen albums, but I just wasn't in the mood for another folk singer song writer album. Every song here really does sound the same, and for being 30 minutes this album really does drag on. Maybe I'm just unlucky but this list is starting to feel over represented with folk music.
High 2
The Killers
4/5
The Killers easily wrote some of the best pop rock bangers of the early 2000s. All These Things That I've Done is my favorite out of all the singles.
They really did front load this album with all of their best songs, the second half is fine, but nothing really stood out.
High 4
Method Man
3/5
This album is fine. It has a few fun moments, but not many. I like the beats for the most part, they are grimey. I think the worst thing about this album is the vocals. Sometimes they just seem really sloppy.
Low 3
Violent Femmes
5/5
I LOVE THIS ALBUM!!!! There no other album that sounds like, which is crazy because it is basically only vocals, hi hat, snare, acoustic guitar and bass. What is also insane is that this came in 1983. It sounds 10 years ahead of time.
This album is so much fun, all the songs are so much fun to sing along too and have really great melodies and some witty lyrics. Their bass player is on another and is really what sells this album for me.
The 4 track run at the start of this album is perfect and one of the strongest openings of all time. I love the harmonies in Please Do Not Go, the bridge of Kiss Off, and the main melody of Add It Up is so good.
I really should try to listen to their other albums.
High 5.
Buzzcocks
3/5
I guess I should start by saying that the guitars and drums sound really good. They don't play many memorable parts, but at least those power chords sound good. If you played the isolated guitar part from any track I don't think I would be able to tell which song is which for the most part.
However, the worst part about this album is the vocals. I just find his voice to be annoying. He is just a little too whinny, too high pitched, and too bri'ish.
Despite all of this complaining, I didn't hate this album. It's just more late 70's run-of-the-mill punk.
Low 3.
Rush
5/5
I don't think there is a single person who dislikes Tom Sawyer, such a cool song. It's been such a long time sense I've listened to this album I forgot how good the album Is as a whole. Red barchetta is really solid song. YYZ is one of the best instrumentals ever recorded. There are so many great parts throughout like when the synths come in, the chicka chicka guitar part halfway through, or just that main riff.
I've never been the biggest fan of limelight, but it's a good rush song and i like the chorus. I think Witch Hunt is the most underrated songs on the album. I just love that main riff, and when the synths come in *chef's kiss*. Vital signs is the only song I don't really have an opinion on. It is fine.
Somehow I wrote all of this without praising the excellent drum work. RIP Niel.
I like the three way pun on the album cover (you can only understand the 3rd if you can see the back sleeve).
Low 5.
Kraftwerk
4/5
Kraftwork is a band I've been meaning to listen to forever, so I am glad I am finally doing it. I really like all of the sounds they are making, it is super impressive for 1977. I just wish each song was like 50% shorter. I like every song I just think they go on for far too long without introducing many new ideas.
High 4.
The Gun Club
3/5
This is one of those albums that is more interesting than it is good, and by interesting I mean unique because it is a little boring.
I think the genre meshing is cool, but every song is a little too samey. I can see a through line between this and double nickels on the dime which I enjoyed a lot more.
Low 3
5/5
One of the most impressive things this album does is make Wonderwall not feel overplayed in the context of the album.
There are a couple of stinkers, but for the most part this album has some all time bangers, Don't Look Back In Anger, Some Might Say, and Champagne Supernova especially. A lot of great melodies throughout. Champagne Supernova is one of the best closers of all time, I just love the solo/outro section.
Low 5
a-ha
4/5
I guess I will no longer think of A-ha as a one hit wonder.
This album is good, but it seems like every song besides Take On Me is a ballad. I think I would have enjoyed this a lot more if there were more bangers. I've just never been a huge ballad guy, but they were fine, and the production was good.
Low 4.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
This is my third Neil Young album, and I don't remember disliking his voice so much on the previous albums. Maybe it is just that he is older, or maybe this album is just more country inspired. He just really seems to be struggling to hold a note which I didn't notice on previous albums. This album also has country/folk inspired group vocals that I am not a fan of.
The writing on this album also seems weaker. The songs aren't bad, they just don't feel as biting or necessary. The production is good though, I like the guitar tones and the feedback some songs end with.
Something about Love to Burn reminds me of the Simpsons' joke were Milhouse's dad gets divorced and writes a song called Spare me a Feeling or something like that. I have no idea why I made this connection.
Farmer John is a terrible song... I could excuse it if it was 1:30-2:00 but 4:14 is really pushing what feels like a joke song.
This list probably would have been fine without this one, there are plenty of other Neil Young albums on this list (too many IMO) that make up for this forgettable one.
I like the album cover. It is very punk/DIY.
This album is more boring/bland, than it is bad.
Low 3 (very close to a 2).
CHIC
3/5
Good instrumentals, very very cringe lyrics. When they aren't repeating the same phrase for 2 minutes the vocals sound like a parody song a middle school would make up on the spot.
All of the instruments have a great groove and sound really good, I just wish that the vocals had more thought put into them.
Mid 3.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Boy can these guys play. Very funky, very groovy, very... jazzy? I don't listen to a lot of jazz, but this may be a contender for one of my favorite jazz albums.
high 4.
John Cale
2/5
Another bland 70's album... not really sure why this is on the list. There are a dime a dozen albums like this that sound leagues better and more interesting.
Nothing here really stands out. This dude can't sing, the songs all sound the same, and the melodies are really lazy. The only thing going for this album is that the strings sound good at some parts.
I can tell I am going to forget about this album in 2-3 days.
High 2.
Barry Adamson
5/5
Before we talk about this album we need to talk about movies. David Lynch is probably my all time favorite director, and I just watched Lost Highway for the first time about a month ago. Such a weird and creepy movie, highly recommend if you like weird art films. Something Wicked This Way Comes plays in the scene where the mystery man is first introduced (great scene!). I can see why Lynch likes this album and if I had to guess Lynch's favorite song from this album it would probably be Business As Usual.
Ok, now the album. First off, Oedipus Schmoedipus is such a funny title. I think this is the only time I've ever actually laughed at an album title. Not really sure why I am seeing so many 1's and 2's this is just a chill little trip hop album. Never mind some of these songs are not so chill (still very good though).
I don't want to be a contrarian, but I did really enjoy this album. It is really weird and it is something you will never forget. I wish this list had more stuff like this album.
I am definitely going to need to check this one out again.
Low 5.
The Cure
5/5
One of the greatest albums of all time, and one of the few albums I would call a masterpiece. There is just such strong song writing, lyrics, vocals, production and a great sense of nostalgia and melancholy. This album is the reason why The Cure are huge, if they never released this album I don't think they would still be as half as popular as they are now.
First off, Plainsong is one of the greatest openers ever. It just sounds out of this world. And then there is all of the hits: Love Song, Pictures of You, Lullaby, and my person favorite Fascination Street. The bass part in Fascination Street is just too good. Another thing I love about this album is that the vocals usually don't come in until you are 1 or 2 minutes into the song and it really lets you appreciate just how good all the instrumental parts are.
Did I mention how good the lyrics are?!?! And everything is so much fun to sing along too. Also that synth melody in Lullaby is great, and I love the way he whispers the lyrics.
High 5!
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
1/5
This list is really making me despise the 70's. This is the only decade I get upset when I see an album I don't already know, because I know it's going to be some awful country folk album, or some bland singer singer writer easy listening music.
These guys are technically skilled at what they are doing, but the problem is that I hate country and cannot stand their voices, and I am REALLY REALLY not in the mood for a 2 hour country album.
This album is long enough, did we really need banter in between songs. I don't need to hear them tune or say "let's play this one real good this time". I hope they play good and are in tune every time, they don't need to reassure me.
Another problem is that they really only have 1 melody, and 2 or 3 variants of the backing band. You could take the melody from any song and place it over any other song and no one would notice. Nowhere near enough variations or ideas to draw out this dreadful album.
This album is torture. The only positive is that they can play instruments to an acceptable level.
I made it through disc one, I am going to skim disc 2 and I'll listen to any song that sound noticeably different or unique.
Surprise! there wasn't anything, but I can't believe they added a 2 minute track that's all dialog. I liked that there was a group of instrumental tracks, but they all sounded the same.
Terrible album, they dragged 20 minutes worth of ideas to 2 hours and 10 minutes. They have 3 songs: fast fiddle, not as fast banjo, or slow finger picked guitar. I feel sorry for people who listened to this without skipping through (you are stronger than me).
Time to clean my ears (Amplifier Worship has never sounded this good).
Low 1.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
I am not really sure why this album was included. It sounds like it was recorded in 20-30 years before it was actually released. The album cover also looks like it made in the 70's. The only thing that kind of sounds modern is the guitar tone. This album isn't bad, but it isn't pushing any boundaries, and it isn't phenomenal, so I am just confused why I "have" to listen to this before I die.
Inoffensive, and I will forget I ever listened to this in a week. This guy's voice also sounds straight out of the late 60's or early 70's, and I mean that in the worst way possible, because he isn't a good singer.
FYI for people on Spotify, track 12 is the end of the official release.
3.
Talking Heads
5/5
FINALLY SOME TALKING HEADS!!!
This review may be a little biased because I love the Talking Heads. They are just so groovy, funky, influential, innovative, and most importantly fun to listen to. Talking Heads and LCD Sound System are my goto party bands when I want to have a good time.
This is the first Talking Heads album were they really found their sound and started making truly great music. The first 6 songs on this album are really strong, funky, and have great melodies. The rest are weaker but I've grown to really love them. Heaven is a lovely little song, I LOVE the outro to Animals, it is just so weird, and this may be a strange opinion but Drugs is one of my favorite songs off of this album. I just love how creepy and weird it is, and that guitar solo is just perfect (listening tip: the more of a stank face you make while listening to this solo the better it sounds).
Somehow I wrote this whole review without mentioning how great David Byrne's lyrics and vocal delivery is. Everything he does and sings about is so weird, but he just sells it so well that it becomes infectious and endearing. I also love how the guitars are really understated on this album and really let the vocal melodies breathe. They are more of a rhythmic element rather than a melodic one.
High 5!
The War On Drugs
4/5
This is just Bob Dylan singing Bruce Springsteen songs with reverb. It is fine, it is very chill but nothing ground breaking or that memorable.
Low 4.
Billy Bragg
3/5
The story behind the album is interesting. The music itself is just ok.
High 3.
Jethro Tull
4/5
Aqualung, Hymn 43, and Locomotive Breath are all great. Everything else is just good.
I feel like the pacing of this album could have been a little better. All of the boring acoustic songs are all back to back in the middle. I feel like I would have enjoyed them more if they were spread out.
High 4.
Cream
3/5
I've never understood the argument for Clapton being one of the greatest guitar players of all time. There are thousands of blues/rock guitarists that sound just as good or better. He doesn't really bring much to a song imo. He is also a racist asshole, but I am going to try to separate art from artist on this one.
Sunshine Of Your Love has a cool riff, but besides that this album is incredibly lame. Not really sure what people see in Clapton, he really is average at best. Even for his time he doesn't sound that ahead of the pack or that unique. The production also sounds really muddy, but it was the 60's so I can let that slide a little bit.
I can't tell if there are multiple singers or not, but no one here can sing.
Low 3.
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
I've been on a huge LCD Soundsystem kick recently, so this is great timing. I knew this album was on the list so I was specifically waiting for it to come up for my first listen. So let's see if it was worth the wait.
This album seem to be a lot more drone / trance rather than groovy / funky. Which is fine, but what I love about LCD Soundsystem is that I want to dance, and I didn't really want to so much listening to this album. There is still a fair number of funky tracks, but most of them seem like slow burners. I still enjoyed this album and I think all of the songs are good, but I just expected something else.
This album sounds great, I always love all the synth sounds they choose. However, this album is on the longer side, the last 2 songs could have been shorter.
This is probably my least favorite LCD Soundsystem album but it is still very good and I had a good time listening to it. It is a shame that This Is Happening wasn't included on this list though.
Low 5.
Tim Buckley
3/5
I really wasn't expecting what ever genre this is, like funk rock, or soul or something. I really thought Tim Buckley did folk or Americana.
This album is good, nothing here really stuck with me, but I had a good time listening. It reminded me a lot of the band Geese, which is a good thing because I love 3D Country (check it out if you want a more modern version of this sound).
Mid 3.
The Stranglers
4/5
This album is like the missing link between punk and new wave.
Pretty good album, I wish they took it further. There are some neat ideas here and they that I feel they could have really expanded on. Also some of the synth sounds aren't the best.
They could have left off the last 4-5 songs and had a tight 35 minute album.
Low 4.
Wilco
3/5
I really was expecting something different here. It is good I guess, but it had a lot more country elements than I expected. The production of this album sounds really great, it is just the songwriting that is a let down.
I liked the first song, it was indie, electronic, and some noise (almost Radiohead-esque), but then the rest of the album is country indie, and most of it all sounds the same. I am not really sure why Jesus, Etc. has so many more streams than the rest of the album, they all sound just as equally boring. Every now and then there will be a glimmer of something exciting, but then it will go back to the slow paced indie country.
Heavy Metal Drummer sounds like a rejected Pavement song without all of the charm.
I am being really negative, but I didn't hate this album.
Mid 3.
The Beach Boys
4/5
I've avoided this album for the longest time, because I thought the Beach Boys were just a little too cheesy. This album isn't as cheesy as I thought it would be, but it also wasn't as good as I thought it would be. It is a fine album and I did enjoy it, but a lot of the songs really do sound the same, and too many of them end with fade outs. I am definitely cutting this album some slack because it is historically significant and a beloved album.
Also, I hate this album cover. It is iconic or whatever, but the green bar and the text are really ugly.
Low 4.
Van Morrison
2/5
The word meandering represented in album form. Whatever you hear in the first 20 seconds you will hear until the song ends. None of these songs needed to be over 5 minutes, yet some of them are nearly double.
Normally I would give this a low 3, but it gets minus 1 for being an antivax idiot.
Low 2.
Dire Straits
4/5
Of course Sultans of Swing is a great song, I also enjoyed Down to the Waterline. Everything else is just okay/good. There is a weird twangy sound throughout this album that makes it almost sound like country that I really didn't expect.
Great guitar playing throughout the album. Not so great singing throughout.
Low 4.
Soft Machine
4/5
I am a pretty big fan of noise rock, so hearing these sounds at the beginning of the album is insane for 1970. However, the recording of the horns/woodwinds could have been a lot cleaner.
Ok, this reminds me a lot of In the Court of the Crimson King. I'm not sure why there are so many 1's and 2's.
I had crazy low expectations for this album, but it was a pleasant surprise. Very unique album that I would happily listen too again. If you enjoy this kind of stuff, you should think about attending a King Gizzard concert.
Mid 4.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
2/5
Rant Time:
I can't believe there is another Byrds related album I didn't know about, I think that brings the total up to 12. That is insane that this list has 12 album from a band that 1. isn't that great 2. isn't that relevant and 3. At least 3 of these album weren't even successful. The review says: " it was not a commercial success" and peaked at 164. The Gene Clark review said he never had a successful album and he has 2 on the list. WHY!?! He made boring music that people didn't care about and still don't. There are plenty of other albums that could have been chosen. Especially around the late 60's early 70's. Such as:
Pink Floyd - Animals/Meddle
Led Zeppelin - House of the Holy
The Beatles - Let It Be (I'm not even a huge fan of this one)
The Velvet Underground - Loaded
The Doors - Strange Days
Simon And Garfunkel - Sounds of Silence
But whatever, I guess it's time I listen to another bland late 60's country "rock" album were every song sounds the same.
The actual review:
Wow this guy has an annoying voice, and the songs are boring, what a surprise.
In all honesty I would have probably given this a 3 and called it bland, but The Byrds just piss me off and now I am in a bad mood.
Low 2.
Common
3/5
I think the production and rapping is a lot better here than the other Common album on this list. I think I like the beats here a lot better too. The problem is that it is just too long.
Mid 3.
Carole King
4/5
Great voice and great songs. They do start to all sound the same after a while, but I still enjoyed the album.
Mid 4.
New Order
5/5
I've been a huge Joy Division fan for a while, but never really checked out New Order. I am glad to say I enjoyed this. It reminds me a lot of the early Cure works. The singing isn't the best but I think it fits the music well. My favorite thing about this album is the production and the way all of the instruments and synths sounds together.
Low 5.
Ash
5/5
I'm surprised I've never heard of these guys, because this is right up my alley. The singer reminds me so much of someone else. Maybe Weezer, sebadoh, or hum or a combination of them.
A bunch of very enjoyable tunes. Some great melodies, and great guitar tone.
This will definitely go into my rotation.
Mid 5.
B.B. King
4/5
A very endearing performance, it really holds your attention. Great guitar playing and singing. Some of the best blues out there.
High 4.
Anita Baker
3/5
It is fine. Kind of forgettable, but she has a good voice.
Someone else mentioned Whitney Houston and I got curious, apparently she didn't make the list which feels really weird. I don't know enough about her, but maybe she was more of a singles person, or maybe she got snubbed IDK.
I think the fact that I talked 5x more about Whitney Houston than this album shows how unremarkable this album is.
low 3.
Steve Earle
2/5
Some of the most generic country I have ever heard. Sounds like wanna-be Springsteen. I'll be honest, I completely zoned out during the last 5 songs, but if I remember correctly they all sounded exactly the same.
Low 2.
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
I was not expecting this to have such massive streaming numbers. I mean it is good, but I don't know if it 30-90 million (and one 230 million) good.
Enjoyable album, but I think it overstays its welcome just a little bit. The guitars, percussion and grooves are great.
Low 4.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Very good album, I liked this a lot more than Catch a Fire. Great vocals, great grove (a lot funkier than I expected), I also really like the organ parts (it may be an E-piano idk).
Mid 4.
Muddy Waters
4/5
This is a very good album. He has a nice voice and the guitar sounds great. I also really like what I think is a harmonica (I can't tell if it's a guitar with weird fuzz effects).
The only thing holding me back from enjoying this more is that every song has the exact same structure and it can get tiring after a while.
Low 4.
Orange Juice
4/5
This reminds me a lot of the talking heads and starts off really strong, but it sort of dies out in the second half. It is still good, but I just wish they made it funkier and more up beat.
Mid 4.
Cat Stevens
4/5
As a registered folk / singer-songwriter hater, I am a little surprised that I enjoyed this album. I think the biggest thing that separates this album from the countless bland 70's folk album on this list is 3 fold:
1. He can actually sing, and is a really good at it
2. There are melodies which are complex but still memorable.
3. It has more instruments than just an acoustic guitar
Probably not something I would listen too again, but I wouldn't be upset if it came on.
Low 4.
50 Cent
3/5
The worst thing about the CD era of music is that everyone thought that they had to add as much music as they could to an album, and now everything from this time sounds bloated. This album did not need to be an hour and ten minutes.
I don't know a lot about 50 cent, and maybe this is just how he talks, but on the first song I heard him slurring some words and for the first half of the album I couldn't help but pictured him drunk and that didn't really help my enjoyment.
Some bangers, some not so much, great production/beats throughout.
The length of this album is the biggest downside.
mid 3.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Very enjoyable album, very funky and great vocals. Not much to say about this one, just a solid album.
Mid 4.
Weather Report
3/5
Pretty fun jazz album, I like the electronic elements mixed in. I couldn't tell you what, but it is missing that tiny edge that would bump it up to a 4.
High 3.
David Bowie
5/5
I have been meaning to relisten to this album for the longest time, and I am so glad I finally did. This clicked a lot more for me this time than my first listen. It is a great continuation of the Young American's sound with an eerie underside. On the surface it is a fun, happy, funky album, but there is something under the surface you can't put your finger on that is a little unsettling.
I really enjoyed this album and is probably a top 5 Bowie album for me now.
High 5.
Slayer
5/5
I feel bad to people who can't stand metal, but this album is very influential and important in music history. (Also just because someone screams does not make it screamo or death metal, but it will always be funny when I read these review)
This is one of those bands you know the drummer is jacked even if you've never seen him.
When I first heard this album I didn't like it, besides angel of death and raining blood. Every song really sounds the same when they play so fast and you dont pay attention, but over the years this album has really grown on me. It is short and sweet and has some great riffs. Like that breakdown in the middle of Angel Of Death *chef's kiss*. Also it is impossible not to head bang to the "your time slips away" breakdown. The angel of death scream is so cool too. The halftime parts in Piece By Piece are great. The Criminally Insane drum groove is criminally underrated.
One of the funniest things is that the expanded version of this album on spotify adds one remix and that's it. Some expanded version.
High 5.
The Clash
4/5
Pretty good straight forward punk album. I liked Police & Thieves and how it foreshadowed their more reggae infused music they would create in their later albums. Besides a few songs, this album wasn't super memorable, but I still enjoyed it while I was listening.
Low 4.
Adele
3/5
Ok, so Adele is a good singer, but I have a few problems with this album.
1. All of the hits are overplayed and I cannot stand them anymore
2. Rumour has it is really annoying, and the chorus makes me mad
3. I am not a fan of pop music
I really didn't expect a cover of The Cure, but that was nice (check out their new album it's great).
That being said this is some of the best pop music out there.
High 3.
Joy Division
5/5
Such a dark and gloomy album, but in my opinion no where near as good as Unknown Pleasures. Still a very good album, I just feel like the production is a step down on this one. You can really start to hear them moving towards the New Order sound here with some catchy songs like Isolation. I also love the bass line on Twenty Four Hours.
Low 5.
Aerosmith
3/5
Steven Tyler is a mega creep, which makes it hard to listen to Aerosmith, but that's ok, because this album is ok at best. Back In the Saddle has always been my favorite Aerosmith song, but besides that there isn't much going on in this album. They really did just write the same riff 9 times.
Low 3.
Incubus
5/5
I dove into Incubus in preparation for the first Sick New World festival, and I was really surprised to find they were a funk/semi-metal band since I only knew Drive. One of my favorite things about this album is they have some really catchy choruses. Some of my favorite are: Privilege, Nowhere Fast, Make Yourself, and Pardon Me.
Very fun album, funky and fun to sing along too.
Low 5.
The Who
3/5
A very revolutionary and innovative album for the time, but compared to modern music it is just okay. The title track is fun, but everything else is kind of bland. I really didn't expect all of the Beatles-esque harmonies.
Mid 3.
Anthrax
4/5
Anthrax are the only band out of the big four that I don't really know anything about, so I am glad to finally listen to them.
This album has some great riffs and grooves, but I think the singer is really what is holding me back. I think I would have enjoyed this a lot more if it had more traditional metal singing like Slayer instead of the hardcore/punk inspired singing.
He isn't a bad singer, he is actually pretty good. I just think I would enjoy this album a lot more if was sung in a different style.
Low 4.
John Coltrane
5/5
Very chaotic jazz. Not much to say, but great playing throughout.
Low 5.
The Doors
5/5
What a way to close out your discography! (We don't mention the other ones). Easily my second favorite Doors album behind their debut. It is really sad that Jim Morrison died after this album, because I think this album has some of their best song writing and I would have loved to see where they would have taken this sound.
There are a couple of songs near the end that I am not super crazy about (but still enjoy), but besides those this album is very fun to sing along to and just have a good time. Also if you don't like the "Mr. Mojo rising" section you should question what you are doing.
Mid 5.
Suzanne Vega
2/5
This album is okay. Every song kind of sounds the same, and none of them really have a chorus/climax or really go anywhere. She also has this weird way of talk singing which doesn't always work. There are some moment that I like, but for the most part this album doesn't really work for me.
High 2.
Nick Drake
4/5
Out of all of the folk singer-songwriters Nick Drake is easily the best. I didn't enjoy this album as much as Pink Moon, but it was still good and had some great melodies.
Low 4.
Mudhoney
4/5
I think this album is a step up from their previous album both song writing and production wise. The only thing it is missing is a big song like Touch Me I'm Sick. I really like the guitar tones here, they have this compressed fuzz sound or something, where they are very dirty, but still kind of clean and don't muddy up the mix. I don't remember their previous album super well, but I think the vocals are a huge improvement here too.
I think I'll checkout some of their other albums in my free time.
High 4.
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
I've been meaning to checkout this album for the longest time, and I am glad I finally did. I understand why this album is held in such high regard. Great beats, great rapping, and great energy throughout this album. There are a few misses on the album and a few too many skits, but besides that there are a lot of bangers on here.
Low 5.
Nina Simone
4/5
Nina Simone is a great singer/songwriter, some of the songs feel too short for how good they are.
Mid 4.
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
Idk, she is a good singer and the songs were good, but this album really didn't hook me. I kept zoning out and the album became a blur. I already knew the Prince cover and Black Boys On Mopeds, but besides that I remember nothing from this album.
High 3.
Neu!
4/5
Very influential album. They were defining the sound of post punk before punk music ever really took off. I really enjoyed the ambient and moody tracks. The more straightforward punk/Velvet Underground sounding tracks were ok.
Mid 4.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Pretty decent album, nothing really blew me away, but also nothing bad. Son of a Preacher Man and The Windmills of Your Mind are the best songs here, everything else is OK.
High 3.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
I was expecting a lot more from this album. There is a weird moment here or there, but for the most part it is just a straightforward rock/blues album. The last three songs are strange, I kind of expected the whole album to be like that. There are some silly lyrics, but besides that and the last few songs I don't think I would have guessed this is Frank Zappa. This reminds me of Pink Floyd's debut album (if that makes any sense).
Mid 3.
The Zutons
3/5
Out of all of the semi-obscure 2000's UK indie rock bands on this list, I think this one is my favorite so far, it's not great, but it isn't generic. I kind of get White Stripes vibes from them, just not as good.
High 3.
PJ Harvey
4/5
Pretty good album. I only knew her song she did with Thom Yorke, so this was a lot more punk than I expected it to be, it reminds me of Sleater Kinney.
Mid 4.
Lauryn Hill
4/5
Here's another hip-hop album I've been meaning to listen to for the longest time. However, unlike the Wu Tang album, I don't think this one quite lives up to the hype. It is still a very good album and she is a great singer, but I just wasn't a huge fan of many of the beats, they were just a little bland. Also this album is too long, I think there is an edited down version of this album that is a lot better. Some of these songs just drag on a little bit (like To Zion or When It Hurts so Bad) without changing things up too much.
Also a pet-peeve of mine is tagging skits and stuff onto the end of songs, they should be their own tracks so that they don't come up on shuffle. I do like the interludes though, they tie the album together.
Low 4.
Tori Amos
3/5
She is a good singer and song writer, but she kind of writes the same melodramatic song over and over again which gets really tiring by the end of the album.
Mid 3.
The Divine Comedy
4/5
No idea why the rating for this one is so low and so many people are having negative reactions to it. This album has some of the most unique and interesting string parts and vocal melodies I've heard from this list in a long time.
Mid 4.
The White Stripes
5/5
I forgot how stacked the first half of this album is, a lot of great garage rock / bluesy songs. This is my favorite White Stripes album out of the ones I've heard. Some of the later White Stripes albums kind of lose that raw bluesy feel that makes this album sound so great. I love how simple these songs are, but are all still really unique and never gets repetitive. There are a lot of great vocal melodies too.
Low 5.
The Stooges
3/5
Very good and influential for 1970, but it didn't really do much for me. The last 3 or 4 songs stated to get on my nerves.
Mid 3
The Adverts
3/5
Wow, the drop in quality between track 1 and 2 is astounding, the mix sounds awful and the song is painfully generic (besides the bass solo).
I always get disappointed when a late 70's punk band I've never heard of appears on this list, because I know it is going to be one of the blandest and most repetitive albums I've heard. However, I thought the first song was really good. It had decent production, the song structure was interesting, and it had a good melody. But then for the rest of the album they said "What if we didn't do that. Let's just write the same punk song everyone else already has 12 times".
This came out in '78 there really is no excuse for this to be on the list. This album came out after: The Ramones, The Clash, Television, Pink Flag, and Talking Heads. Talking Heads basically started the New Wave movement. You know, as in THE NEW WAVE OF PUNK. This album came out too late and is way to generic to be on this list.
The main riff of Newboys sounds like something The Shaggs (literal children) would write. I'm just now realizing that the Shaggs' album came out in 1969, almost a whole decade before this album. Man, now I wish that the Shaggs were on this list instead of this forgettable British band no one has heard of.
Low 3.
Moby Grape
3/5
When I saw that the genres for this album were Country and Psychedelic Rock, I got worried that they would sound like my least favorite band on this list, The Byrds. However, thankfully they sound more like the CCR, The Beatles, or any other 60's rock band that can write songs that are at least semi interesting.
Speaking of semi interesting, these songs are just fine. Nothing here really stood out to me, but there also wasn't anything bland or terrible. It was all just good, nothing more, nothing less. It is a little weird that almost every song is between 2:00 and 2:30. I feel like they could have let some of these breathe a little bit more.
High 3.
The Go-Go's
4/5
Pretty fun album, they have a great energy. Some songs are better than others, but this album is short and sweet.
Mid 4.
CHVRCHES
2/5
I am a little conflicted on this one. On one hand I can't stand her vocals or the production, and the song writing is a little bland. But on the other hand I like the synth tones, it is pretty good for pop music, and I get a hint of LCD soundsystem.
High 2
Dolly Parton
2/5
I'm not a fan of country music, but it was okay. There was something about her voice that was bothering me throughout the album that I couldn't figure out. It might have been her microphone, the way it was mixed, or maybe it was just clipping (she was kinda shouting). But there was something about her voice that wasn't meshing well with the instruments.
I'm just glad it's short.
High 2.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
First Wu Tang, then Lauryn Hill, and now A Tribe Called Quest. I've been getting a lot of 90's Hip-Hop groups I've been meaning to listen to for a long time these past 2 weeks.
Very enjoyable, and funky album. I liked the way they incorporate all of the samples. There are some really big sample in there that would be really hard to get nowadays.
The second half isn't as good, but it is still a pleasant listen.
Very high 4 (almost a 5).
Nico
4/5
It looks like I can tolerate Nico's voice a lot more than other, because I am indifferent on it. It's not great, but I think it is fine (it is definitely unique). The instruments are the real highlight here. Some of the most interesting instrumental parts out of all of the 60's.
I really like the more artsy songs like It Was A Pleasure. I can hear the Velvet Underground in that song specifically.
Low 4.
Iron Butterfly
4/5
Pretty good 60's Psych Rock. I never realized he almost has a David Bowie quality to his voice. I didn't think I would like anything besides the title track, but I found the other songs to be enjoyable in a way I don't always do with 60's music.
But of course everyone is here for the title track, and I do really love it. It has such a dirty and crunchy guitar tone, and the organ complements it perfectly. I also really like the drum solo section. Oh! and that organ solo back into the main riff is crazy. And that chorus melody is perfect.
Mid 4.
Jurassic 5
3/5
My favorite type of hip hop is the stuff that samples a lot of old funk and jazz tracks, and this album has some pretty good beats. However, I didn't really like their flows or rapping in general. It was just a little too cheesy, and the guy with a deep voice sounds like a cartoon character in a very distracting way.
I was also ready for this album to end by Track 10, there just isn't enough variation to keep me interested.
Low 3.
Miles Davis
5/5
This album is a lot more energic and funky than I thought it would be based off of the title and the album cover. Great energy throughout the songs that keep everything flowing well, you really don't feel the long run times. Very slick album.
Mid 5.
The Shamen
3/5
I listened to this while building ikea furniture and it made perfectly passable background music. It was a little long and got a little repetitive, but whatever.
Low 3.
SZA
2/5
I understand why someone would like this, but it hits a lot of musical pet peeves for me. Also a lot of the songs have the same flow and just kind of sound the same.
Mid 2.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Wow, the wikipedia album summary really overhyped one of the most 'okay-est' blues rock albums of all time. They made it seem like this was going to be some phenomenal experimental pysch-rock masterpiece. I was actually a little excited to listen to a Rolling Stones album for once, but just like every other Rolling Stones album it is just the same bland Blues Rock songs. This album does have Paint it Black, which is my favorite Stones' song. Every other song is pretty boring and whatever that last song was had no business being 10+ minutes.
This is my least favorite Stones' album so far, it is passable, but there is nothing interesting about besides Paint it Black.
Low 3.
Fairport Convention
3/5
Wow, a folk album with actual melodies, interesting instrumentation, and someone how can actually sing. The Byrds wish they could write something as interesting as this album.
Despite all that, I am not blown away by this album. It is fine, but for a folk album it is on the higher end of the scale.
high 3.
New York Dolls
3/5
I'm usually not a big fan of any punk that came out before '77, but this one is pretty good. The singer has a very unique voice, and I think he uses it well. Also this album has some pretty good guitar tones and production.
The last couple of songs do drop the ball a bit though.
High 3.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
I knew this album was on the list, but somehow I was still surprised that I got it. I guess I thought I was exempt or something.
The album is fine, it's not very memorable or something that I would include in a list like this, but whatever.
Low 3.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
90's hip hop is just so much fun. This album has a great energy and flow throughout. The beats are also infectious, I love when jazz and hip hop mix.
Mid 5.
Bobby Womack
4/5
A groovy little soul album. Reminds me a lot of Stevie Wonder. Not much to say about this one, just a decent album.
Low 4.
Digital Underground
2/5
These past 30ish days I've had 2 Tribe Called Quest albums, Lauryn Hill, and 36 Chambers, so this album had some real competition, but just couldn't quite cut it. The beats are ok at best, but it just isnt that fun. However the real problem is the "bars". A lot of cringe lyrics, bad flow and I don't like his voice.
Mid 2.
Pulp
4/5
Mis-Shapes and Common People have such great choruses and energy that really drives the song. Common People especially really gets you pumped up as the key changes and the tempo keeps increasing.
Despite having some all-time bangers, a majority of this album is just good/ok. Still a very enjoyable listen.
Mid 4
Nitin Sawhney
4/5
Very unique and interesting album that blends Indian, jazz, electronic, and classical music. This is definitely an album you won't forget about whether you like the album or not.
Mid 4.
Christina Aguilera
2/5
I really hate 2000's pop (not as much as I hate 2010's pop though), so going into this I thought I was going to give it a 1, but honestly it isn't that bad. I definitely have some problems but it isn't as unlistenable and annoying as I thought it would be.
Pros:
- She has a good voice
- The songs are written well (especially for pop music)
- She tries a bunch of different ideas / styles of music so the album doesn't get stale
Cons:
- The production feels a little cheap in some areas (the strings feel really artificial)
- I hate how the introduction of the CD made everyone think they needed to add as much music as they could. The track length really hurts this album.
- The guitar tone in Fighter is god awful
- This album was a victim of the loudness war
- The 2nd half of this album drags and could have been trimmed
A lot of people are really over reacting with this one, it has problems but it isn't that bad. I probably would have given this a low 3 if it was 1/2 the length
Mid 2.
Willie Nelson
3/5
As a certified country music hater, this album is fine. He has a nice voice, and has some good melodies. Every song does kind of sound the same though, and that is despite Time of the Preacher appearing 3 times.
High 3.
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
For the most part I enjoyed this album and it is very close to a four. The worst thing about this album is on some songs you can hear one of the other members going "huh hmmm hmm huh hmm" and making weird grunting noises through out the whole song. She has a great voice, but besides the fact that this is live, I don't think there is enough here to really separate her from other jazz artists in this style.
Very high 3.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Very enjoyable album, but I don't think it's as creative as some of their other albums. My favorite songs by them are the noisy ones, and there aren't really any on this album.
This is my second listen to this album and I enjoyed it a lot more this time than the last, maybe I'll like it even more on a 3rd listen.
High 4.
Eric Clapton
1/5
Oh boy! Another album from Eric "I wish I had more time to be racist" Clapton. And what a surprise, it sounds like ass. If you're going to steal your entire career from black musicians at least steal some good guitar tones, because this first song sounds like dog turds, what a terrible riff. Also I don't know if he is singing or not but the voice is super weak.
I've never understood the argument for clapton being a good guitarist. He just takes what people before him did, but then plays it in the most boring way possible. This album legit sounds like something that would have came out in 1968.
Track 2, 3, and 4 all sound the exact same (boring!). But for real, why would you frontload your album with slow barely songs that have the same riff.
Oooooohh, I see what's going on here. I forgot I Shot the Sheriff was on this album. Clapton discovered reggae and thought he could just steal that too. What an idiot.
The only positives I can give this album are that it is short and Please Be With Me sounds like an actual song.
I wonder what other song starts with the words "Let it ___" that inspired Clapton to rip off, I mean write, Let It Grow.
I think I went about 100ish albums in a row since my last 1, but I'll happily break my streak for this.
Low 1.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Johnny Cash is a great performer, and does such a good job working the audience. He just has so much charisma.
I don't know if this is a popular opinion or not, but I think I like San Quinton better. I think he just played more up beat songs at that one, and had more variety.
Very high 4.
Radiohead
5/5
This album takes the more straight forward rock of Pablo Honey and greatly expands on it with better song writing and lusher instrumentals.
I sometimes wish Radiohead would return to this style of music because there are some all time bangers on this album such as Fake Plastic Trees and Street Spirit. I also think Nice Dream may be the most underrated Radiohead song.
Just is also a banger.
For those who don't know My Iron Lung is about their song Creep and how people were calling them 1 hit wonders
High 5
Various Artists
3/5
I've reach the point in my life where Rat Pack Christmas music is the only Christmas music I can still stand. This album is fine, and has some of the best renditions of certain songs, but it also has some clunkers.
Red Water (Christmas Mourning) by Type O Negative is my all time favorite Christmas song for anyone wondering. Check it out if you like dark Gothic music.
Mid 3.
Bob Dylan
4/5
I'm not the biggest Dylan fan, but this album is fine. There is some good songwriting. I don't really have much to say besides that.
Low 4.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
I feel like what this list chose to represent the last 5ish years of music has been pretty lackluster. However, this album seems to be the exception. Very artsy, great instrumentation, and no 2 songs sound alike.
I went in with low expectations, but came out pretty surprised. It's really hard to describe this album it's kind of retro through back soul and jazz, but also kind of shoegaze and rock, and just a hint of electronic and dance.
High 4.
Korn
5/5
So, this is a very weird album to include on the list. It is technically thier highest selling album, and probably their most popular, but ask any korn fan, and I don't think any of them will say this is their favorite. Personally this is my 3rd of 4th favorite korn album behind their debut, Life Is Peachy and maybe Issues. If you were to include any korn album on this list I think the debut would make the most sense being that it birthed the nu metal movement.
When listening to this album I always skip All In The Family (the album is 10x better when you do), but I actually just got the vinyl for Christmas so I guess I'll listen to the whole thing. Okay it's been a while since I've listen to that and it was worse than I remembered. I draw the line at limp bizkit.
The biggest downside to this album is the hip hop tracks, some of them just aren't that good, but I've grown to enjoy them for what they are. There are also some really good riffs and break downs throughout this album.
Pretty is a really messed up song, so look up the backstory if your into that kind of stuff.
Korn also puts on a pretty good live show if you ever get the chance to see them.
I understand why this is rated so low, I just think this music has a fun blend of funk, metal, riffs to headband too, and singable choruses. What I'm trying to say is that this is just a stupid fun album.
Low 5.
Mariah Carey
1/5
Oh boy another pop album of the CD era that is 20 minutes too long, just because they could. I strongly believe no pop album should be over 45 minutes unless you have an artistic point to make, or these are the strongest pop songs ever written. These are not the strongest pop songs ever written. I swear anytime something is described as "adult contemporary" what they really mean is "this is the most boring album ever and we have no other way of describing it that makes it sound good".
Wow Mariah, you sure practiced your scales, now try to stick to one note and then write a memorable melody that will stick with the listener, because ever song sounds the same here. Mild tempo lofi r&b groove and then someone showing off all the scales they know. It doesn't really make for great music.
Ok, so this isn't the worst album ever, it is "listenable" but tracks 2-12 are barely songs that never get start. Like for real is there a single chorus or bridge, it felt like every song just looped the verse for 5 minutes. I also started to get a headache by the end. How did you make a Prince song sound boring!!!
High 1.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
This is my first time listening to Simon and Garfunkel, and idk I guess I expected more. It is fine, but a lot of these songs sound really lame. They aren't bad, but they just sound really cheesy.
There is definitely stuff to enjoy here, and I can see why people like it, but this album just isn't for me.
High 3.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
I forget the name of the last Zappa album I got (I think it was his debut), but I like this one a lot more. This is what I was expecting when I hear the name Frank Zappa. Very strange album, but honestly not that bad, and surprisingly flows together really well.
I like all the weird experimental stuff, and I still think the more straightforward British invasion sounding parts are the worst and dated. It is crazy this album came out in 1968.
Weird way to end the year.
High 3.
The Verve
3/5
The drop off in quality between Bittersweet Symphony and the rest of the album is absurd. I can't believe they wrote one off the most timeless greatest singles of all time and then 12 throwaway wannabe Oasis songs. Also the lyrics in The Drugs Don't Work are really lazy and cringe.
I think its fair to compare this album to Pablo Honey. One really strong hit and then a bunch of generic 90's songs that are fine. He also kinda sounds like Thom Yorke.
Also this album does not earn its length.
Mid 3.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
This album stared out super strong and was even considering giving it a 5. The first two songs are funky and a lot of fun, and I love any song that samples Genius Of Love. Track three was fine and reminded me of Robot Rock by Daft Punk. But then track four was really lame. And track 5 was a pretty bad ode to Stevie Wonder, and then track 6 is a wannabe Stevie Wonder song. At this point they really lost me. The message is good and the last song with all the samples was fun, but at this point I think the album is too flawed to gain any points.
High 3.
Santana
5/5
Great grooves, great guitar playing, and great rhythm section. Just an all around great album.
One of my favorite gags in the Big Lebowski is when it hard cuts to them in their beat up car eating in and out burger and Oye Como Va is playing.
High 5.
The Prodigy
4/5
Nowhere near as good as Fat of the Land, but as far as Electronic music goes, this is still pretty good.
Mid 4.
M.I.A.
1/5
Look, I love weird music and I love noise so I appreciate those aspects, but these songs are just annoying.
The only song that wasn't annoying was Paper Planes and that's because Straight To Hell (the sample) is my favorite Clash song.
I feel bad giving this one a 1 because it's very unique, but on a scale of every album on this list, this is one of my least favorites so far. I see why people would like this, but it is not for me. I had to skip a few songs, because they were giving me a headache.
High 1.
The Who
2/5
Ok, so you have to understand that I think The Who are one of the most overrated bands of the 60's and a pretty lame band, and those horns on the Overture are not helping, but I guess here we go.
I do appreciate that the songs flow together, but I guess it is easy when most of the songs kind of sound the same. A lot of these songs sound unfinished, they don't really have a hook or anything to really draw the listener in.
I guess I spoke too soon because Eyesight To The Blind and Christmas sound different, but they also sound really bad. who thought the "AH AH AH AH AH AH" was a good idea. We also could have done without Fiddle About. PINBALL WIZARD COMES AFTER FIDDLE ABOUT!?!?! WHAT IS THE STORY AGAIN?!?!? HUUH???
This album has a very ambitious idea, but I think the music suffer for the sake of the story, which makes the actual album pretty flawed. In order to tell their story a lot of the songs just end up feeling really bland or unfinished.
The Who weren't able to break their accusations of being lame.
High 2.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
The Killing Moon is an all time favorite song of mine, but besides that nothing here really comes close. Personally I think Porcupine was a much stronger and more consistent album. The melodies here feel a little lacking.
Mid 4.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Very groovy album, I really like the bass sound. The hits are great, everything else is good. I've never found a Michael Jackson ballad that I've enjoyed so Girlfriend and She's Out of My Life are my least favorite songs here.
Mid 4.
XTC
2/5
I don't know, I guess this album is too British for me to understand it or something, because this album just sounds really boring to me. The songs just kind of meander around and he isn't a very captivating singer, so there isn't really much going for this album.
If I wanted to listen to this type of music I would just pick Tears for Fears, since their songwriting is infinitely better (and they have a nice voice).
I really had to stop myself some skipping some of these songs.
Mid 2.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
There really is no comparison to classic Stevie, he is in a class of his own. Such a great singer and songwriter, and a lot more funky songs on here than I expected.
High 5.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
The problem with the Rolling Stones is that everything that isn't a hit is just ok (especially their early works), and this album has no hits, so it is just okay. It's more enjoyable than I thought it would be, but it is just fine.
Mid 3.
Ian Dury
3/5
I know nothing about who wrote the original book, but albums like this makes me sure this guy was from the UK, because no one else would have ever picked this album. I mean it's fine, its a little too British/weird, but it isn't bad necessarily.
No idea why I NEEDED to listen to this one before I died. This will be completely forgotten in a week.
Low 3.
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
This is a pretty good album, but just not my taste. It is fine, and that's about it.
High 3.
David Bowie
5/5
It is so hard to pick a favorite Bowie album, there are so many classics. Some days I think it's Ziggy Stardust or Station to Station, and others I think it's Heroes or Low, but I also really like Young Americans and Scary Monsters.
Anyways, the song heroes is one of the most timeless songs, Beauty and the Beast is a banger, and then there is side 2. I love all of the instrumental tracks on this album, they are so eerie.
High 5.
The Notorious B.I.G.
5/5
Such a great voice and flow, it really is a shame he died so young. It is kind of weird how much he talks about dying on this album. The beats on this album are also really great and groovy.
Mid 5.
4/5
"Play Whip it!" "No. Play the other one."
DEVO are a weird band, and I love strange music. He almost has a David Byrne quality to his voice which I like. A lot of these songs have very funky (in both meanings of the word) beats.
A short and strange album.
Low 4.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
For Free? is just a Geordie Greep song.
I know people love this album and its one of the highest rated on RYM, but I just don't like his voice. It is just too high pitched and nasally for me. I think I would like this album so much more if anyone else was rapping. The beats and production are great though, some really creative ideas.
I was also ready for this album to end around the 50 minute mark.
low 4.
Frank Zappa
4/5
I was not expecting an almost instrumental chaotic jazz album, but it was still pretty good. I think I'm going to need to give this one another listen to full appreciate it.
Mid 4.
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
Much like the Wikipedia blurb I don't have much to say about this one. It is jazz, and it doesn't seem that deep or complex. Nothing on it is bad but nothing on it is really that engaging either.
There is a lot better jazz albums out there.
High 3.
Beatles
4/5
I've never been a huge fan of the early Beatles. It is still a good album (especially for 1963), but there are only a couple of songs that I really care about here.
I think this one is right on the edge between a 3 and a 4 and leaning towards a 3, but it just feels wrong to give the Beatles a 3. I guess it is close enough that it can be rounded up to a 4.
Low 4.
Nanci Griffith
2/5
I'm sorry I just can't stand country music. I'm also not really sure why this album was picked, it is pretty average for country and it seems like she only had a handful of minor hits.
This album is more boring than it is unlistenable. This is also the longest 36 minute long album of all time.
Low 2.
Scott Walker
4/5
The orchestral arrangements here are truly great and seem very ahead of their time. The song writing here is also very good.
Last year Beck did a tour with an orchestra and he played 2 or 3 songs from Scott Walker, and this was my first exposure to him. I'm glad to have finally listened to one of his albums.
Low 4.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
This album is a lot more interesting than their other album on this list, but I'm still not super crazy about it. Something about his voice and the melodies he chooses is just a little too cheesy/cringy for me. A very creative album and a step up both song writing and production wise from their other album on this list.
Also its Death Metal influence is highly exaggerated, which is a bummer.
High 3.
Neil Young
4/5
Definitely one of Neil Young's better albums, short and sweet.
Mid 4.
4/5
I'm not much of a prog guy, but this is some really good prog.
High 4.
Sisters Of Mercy
5/5
I've really come to appreciate goth music these last couple of years, and this here is some really good goth music. He has a really great voice, it reminds me a lot of David Bowie.
These guys were at the first Sick New World, now I feel a little bummed that I missed them, but I think they were on at the same time as System Of A Down.
Low 5.
Guns N' Roses
3/5
I was a pretty big fan of Guns N Roses back in Highschool, which meant that I only listened to the singles so this is my first time listening to this album as a whole.
First off, I just can't stand the singles anymore. Whenever I turn my car on it defaults to the radio before my phone connects and I swear 50% of the time it's one of these 3 singles and I just can't stand them anymore. Especially Sweet Child O' Mine; I'm going to lose it if I hear another cover band play this song.
The deep cuts are fine, but don't really change my opinion on GnR. They are one of the best Hair Metal bands, but I just can't stand Hair Metal anymore.
This would probably be a low 4 if I wasn't so sick of the singles. It's also funny how almost every single 5 I see talks about how they listened to it as a teenager, or how it is nostalgic to them.
Mid 3.
3/5
Ok...
So there are two sides to Nu Metal. There is the dark, creepy, more groovy side made by outsiders like Korn, Coal Chamber, Kittie, etc. And then there is the "dude bro" frat guy side like Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach, and Trapt that feel more like they are trying to capitalize on the success of Korn.
Now, I love the outsider side of Nu Metal (I gave the Korn album a 5 recently), but I can't stand this side of Nu Metal and it really gives the whole genre a bad name. I guess that's enough stalling and I should finally listen to this album.
So, Fred Durst is obviously the worst part of this album. He has one of the most annoying voices in music, and his lyrics are cringe. However, the band themselves are actually pretty good (for the most part). Like if Chester Bennington was singing instead (with his own lyrics), this would probably be a top tier Linkin Park Album. I like the guitar tone, and the riffs are very interesting and have a good grove.
Look I hate Fred Durst as much as the next guy, but this album is over hated, there is some decent stuff here, and I don't feel like ever one is giving it a fair shot.
Also, this album is actually interesting and unique. I'd rather get 100 more albums like this than anything ever related to The Byrds ever again. I'd give this a 2 on normal circumstances, but I feel like it deserves a small bump.
At least Scott Weiland appeared somewhere on this list...
Low 3.
John Grant
3/5
I swear every time I see this cover I think it's Jerma.
This album is fine, not much really stands out though. His voice kind of reminds me of Beck, but he lacks the lyrical chops and interesting compositions. I'm not really sure why this album was included either. It doesn't look like it was a huge success, had that much influence, or is historically significant. This just feels like they were grasping at straws to include an album for 2010 (and if that's the case I'm pissed that This Is Happening didn't make the cut).
WOAH?!?!? can he say that word (I get what he was going for, but I just didn't expect that)???? I zoned out by that point and somehow caught that lyric and had to doubletake.
Low 3.
3/5
Wow, that first song gave me a headache and now it's going to be hard to listen to the rest of this album. There are some interesting orchestral arrangements every now and then, but most of the album is just really cheesy.
Why is every song on Spotify marked as explicit? I don't think they swore once. I guess he spelled it out.
This is one of those albums I wish I could rate with 1/2 stars, because this is the ideal middle of the road 2.5.
Low 3.
The Temptations
4/5
Not much to say about this one, just a sweet blend of funk and soul.
Low 4.
Madonna
3/5
I really like trip hop and I had no idea Madonna made this type of music, so that was a surprise. I really liked the first song, but then ever other song just felt like lesser versions of that song. Nothing was bad, and the production was great throughout, but few songs stood out.
High 3.
Talking Heads
5/5
I LOVE THE TALKING HEADS!!!!!!!!!!
And it makes me so upset that Speaking In Tongues and Stop Making Sense aren't on this list. Especially Stop Making Sense since it is one of the most critically acclaimed live events of all time, and there are plenty of subpar live albums here. Like who really cares about a live Cheap Trick album...
Anyways, this album is so much fun. Great grooves, infectious melodies, and great song writing throughout. It is impossible not to sing along to the "I'm still waiting" part of Crosseyed and Painless. And don't get me started about that chorus melody.
I know people don't like the 2nd half of this album as much but I love how it ends on a slow and creepy song, idk why but it just ties the album together in a really weird way for me.
High 5!!!
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
Indie singer songwriter is a genre that does next to nothing for me. It is always just fine, nothing more nothing less. This is definitely one of the better ones out there, but still this album goes on for too long, and a lot of the songs kind of sound the same. I do like the horns though, that was a nice touch.
High 3.
The Beach Boys
3/5
This album cover is too cool for how corny this album is...
Kind of a lame album, there is a decent moment here or there, but for the most part this is kind of a dud.
Low 3.
The Smiths
4/5
I'm a pretty big Smith's fan (I can separate artist from art on this one), but I think this is one of their weaker albums. It is still really good and I love the title track, The Headmaster Ritual, and That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, but everything else is a little forgettable but not bad in any way.
Johnny Marr really is the standout on this album (he and Andy carry this band).
High 4.
Lenny Kravitz
3/5
A fine album. A lot of the songs feel like they are a few BPM too slow though.
This one definitely feels like filler. There are plenty of other albums that deserve this spot over this album.
Mid 3.
The Byrds
2/5
Well well well... if it isn't my arch nemesis of this list the mf Byrds. These guys wouldn't be living rent free in my mind if they didn't have like 15 albums on this list (including solo and other related bands). If they only had 1-3 I would say "that was kind of bland" and then move on and forget about them. BUT THEY JUST KEEP COMING BACK. Ok time to talk about this album.
This is by far thier best one yet (still not great), there is actual experimentation and some unique ideas. Overall it is still pretty boring, but atleast it isn't mindless country yet.
Nevermind as soon as I typed that they started playing country...
The second half of this album loses anything that made the first half interesting and becomes a slog that will never end.
Mid 2.
Death In Vegas
4/5
I thought this would be a lot worse based off of the reviews, but it honestly isn't that bad. I think this is one of the better electronic albums on this list. It's a lot more interesting than that Shaman (or whatever they were called) album.
Very unique beats and instrumentation.
Low 4.
Ms. Dynamite
2/5
Ehh... I don't know. I mean it's passable, but it's also way too long and it feels like she thinks this album is a lot deeper than it actually is. Some of the lyrics give off I'm 14 and this is deep vibes.
I'm also not a huge fan of her voice.
High 2.
Kanye West
1/5
I have never listened to a Kanye album and I am 100% not going to start now.
This is a real bummer because I was really looking forward to listening to something new today. At least there is only one more certified nazi album I have to skip on this list (that I know of).
It is kind of strange that both Kanye albums I have gotten have been pretty soon after one of his major meltdowns. I can't wait to see what happens right before I get Yeezus.
Lowest 1 imaginable.
Metallica
4/5
Metallica were the band that got me into metal back in high school, I don't listen to them as much anymore, but this has a lot of their biggest hits so it's good. I think one of the biggest problems with this is the mixing. The quiet parts sound really good, but the distorted guitars just seem mixed too low and the orchestra seems to be mixed too loud (poor Jason).
Low 4 (rounding up from a 3.5).
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Kashmir is an all time best song, sadly nothing else on this album quite lives up too it. There are other great songs here though like Bron-Yr-Aur, Trampled Under Foot, and Houses of the Holy (which always bugged me that it was on this album).
My biggest problems with this album are that I am just not crazy about In My Time Of Dying, and In The Light and they are so long they just take up such a large chunk of the album. Also the second half has a lot of filler that are throwaway songs.
High 4.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Nick Cave is a very strange artist, it's really hard to describe what kind of music he makes. This is a very interesting album though, I really like the sonic pallets he creates. His voice fits very well with this kind of music too.
Mid 4.
Patti Smith
4/5
She is a very good lyricist, and songwriter; a lot of these songs have really cool climaxes and energy. Not much else to say about this one, just a very solid album.
Mid 4.
The Boo Radleys
4/5
I am a big fan of noise rock and shoegaze, so this was a pleasant surprise. Not every song here is great and it does go on a tad too long, but I found plenty of songs I really enjoyed.
Mid 4.
Justice
5/5
Wow, what a great album. Super funky and groovy. All the tracks flow together really nicely too. Great production throughout too.
Low 5.
Country Joe & The Fish
3/5
As King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard fan, let me say that Country Joe and the Fish is terrible band name, especially if you don't even make country music.
This just sounds like early Frank Zappa without anything that makes it unique, interesting, or clever. This is going to be one of those albums I completely forget I listened to in about a week (looking back at my review a couple of hours later and I already forgot about it). It's not bad, it's just middle of the road 60's music. I also don't think this deserved a spot on this list.
Low 3.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
A very solid Soul album. Not really much to say about this one.
Mid 4.
Ray Charles
3/5
The first two songs are pretty fun, everything thing else is good at best, but it starts to get a little repetitive.
High 3.
LTJ Bukem
2/5
IDK what the version on Spotify is, but wikipedia has a completely different tracklist, so I listened to a playlist on youtube that matched that tracklist.
First off, if we are doing compilation albums now too, there is no reason why Hatful of Hollow couldn't be on this list (it's my second favorite Smiths album). Secondly, on some other review someone said something about how this list keeps trying to push UK electronic artist, but the French and German ones keep blowing them out of the water, and that couldn't be more true. It's not like this one is bad, it is just pretty boring. It was basically designed to be background noise.
This album is also too long, and the 2nd half all sounds the same.
Mid 2.
Klaxons
3/5
An interesting album that doesn't live up to its full potential. I like the noise elements and wish they fully committed to that sound, because the pop, indie rock, brit pop or whatever you want to call it elements are easy the worst part of this album. I feel like if they removed those popier elements I would have enjoyed this a lot more.
High 3.
Bad Company
3/5
It's the most classic rock of all of the classic rock albums. It is fine at best.
Mid 3.
Joan Baez
3/5
A fine folk album. It does get a little repetitive as it goes on though.
Mid 3.
Herbie Hancock
5/5
Easily my favorite Jazz album! It's just so funky and groovy that it's impossible to have a bad time while listening. That bass tone is legendary. I also love how slow they start playing Chameleon and then by the end of the song they are grooving so hard it's like 25-50 BPM faster then when they started.
High 5.
Kraftwerk
4/5
Very influential album, I can definitely hear how this influenced Bowie works such as Low and Heroes. The title track flew by a lot faster than I thought it would, it is very trancelike and has some really good production.
Low 4.
The Police
4/5
The first half of this has some stinkers (I don't think Mother is as bad as everyone makes it seem though), the second half has some great songs. Synchronicity II is probably my favorite Police song.
High 4.
The Bees
3/5
I was going to start this review by making some snarky remark about how this list has too many weird British Bands no one outside of the UK has heard of and how you can tell that it is going to be a bland 3/5, but then I ended up really enjoying the first song. It is like a nice mix of indie rock and trip hop. But thankfully the rest of the album is pretty bland so I am able to keep some of the snark.
But for real though, this album does have some unique instrumentation and ideas, I just wish that they took those ideas further. Songs will start kind of strong and then just kind of linger and die. Like Binnel Bay for example has some really interesting percussion and then the vocals come in with an okay melody, and then it repeats and fades out.
Overall, this album has some potential, but doesn't make the most of it.
High 3.
Roxy Music
4/5
It is pretty crazy this came out in 1973, it sounds like it is 10 years ahead of its time. This isn't the greatest music of all time (or even just Brian Eno), but it is good/fine and way ahead of it's time.
Low 4.
The Fall
3/5
Man... I love post punk and the 90's are my favorite decade of music, but I don't know if my summary at the end of this is going to represent that because this list keeps throwing out the most average and subpar albums of the 90's. Here's some great 90's albums this list didn't include: Toadies - Rubber Neck, Hum - You'd Prefer an Astronaut, Deftones - Around the Fur, Modest Mouse - Lonesome Crowded West, Faith No More - Angel Dust, or any of the Type O Negative albums just to name a few off the top of my head. I mean I know that some of these are not the most popular, BUT NEITHER IS THIS ALBUM!!! the only difference is that those albums aren't from the UK, because for some reason we need like 50 obscure UK bands instead of some massively influential genre defining American albums.
This album is fine, but it is pretty repetitive and doesn't push any new boundaries. Also the singer isn't that great.
Mid 3.
Throbbing Gristle
4/5
I've seen enough video essays that bring up this band to know what I was getting into, and I remember trying to listen to them s couple years ago and thinking this was unlistenable. But I don't know, I kind of enjoyed this. You kind of have to think of it more as art than music. I also became a lot more of a fan of noise music in the past couple of years so that helped.
Realistically I think this is a high 3, but I'm going to give it a small bump for being really interesting, ahead of its time, and I want the kid rock album to be the lowest rated.
Low 4.
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
I know very little about Indian music so I have no idea how culturally relevant, significant, or representative of Indian music it is. But this album is good and surprisingly funky at parts. I could do without the lyrics on One Two Cha Cha Cha though.
Mid 3.
Goldfrapp
3/5
This reminds me a lot of the new Beth Gibbons (Portishead) album that came out last year, just not as interesting. She has a nice voice, but some of the songs are just a little lacking.
High 3.
Miles Davis
4/5
A pretty solid Jazz album. I feel like it would be a lot better with fewer but longer songs like his later albums do. I don't think that 3 minutes is really enough time to explore this ideas thoroughly enough.
Low 4.
Bob Dylan
4/5
I'm not the biggest Dylan fan, but I think this is my favorite one so far.
Low 4.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Both of the big hits on here are some of the best Stones songs, everything else is okay at best.
Mid 3.
The Young Rascals
3/5
A very forgettable, generic, by the numbers 60's album. Not even the little Wikipedia blurb has anything to say about this album. Every once and a while there is an interesting flute or horn part, but majority of the songwriting is pretty boring.
Low 3.
Stan Getz
4/5
Very chill album. Not much else to say about this one.
Mid 4.
Grizzly Bear
3/5
Most Indie music that came out after the turn of the century really doesn't do much for me, and this album has not changed my opinion. Once Indie became a genre instead of just being a label for independent artists, I really lost interest. None of it is bad, but it all just sounds the same now and I just find it really boring for the most part.
Every once in a while this album has a unique/interesting part, but a lot of this album ends up feeling the same especially after 8th or 9th track. I think it is the production that is really throwing me off here too. It seems a little over produced, like the underlying songs are good/fine, but the production on the more upbeat songs just makes it sound like generic radio music.
Mid 3.
Sepultura
5/5
The mere existence of this album on this list is surprising in so many ways,
1. This list actually has a really good (and somewhat niche) metal album
2. This list has a Sepultura album
3. This list actually has TWO Sepultura albums
4. And then for some reason they chose Arise over Chaos A.D.
I still love this album too but I think Chaos A.D. is a little more refined and it has bigger hits too.
Man I forgot how much this album rips. My favorite thing about this album is that whenever a song start to get boring or repetitive they add this crazy breakdown. I swear the second half of every song here is better than the first half.
Low 5.
Astor Piazzolla
3/5
Pleasant background music, but I have a couple of nitpicks with it. One, the vibraphone (marimba or whatever) is mixed too loud and it really pierces through the mix. Two, this album could be 15 minutes shorter. Three, a lot of the songs get a little repetitive and could be made a little bit tighter. But other than that this album is good.
Mid 3.
Steve Winwood
3/5
A little cheesy, but it has good synth parts at times. Pretty typical 80's music.
Mid 3.
The Sabres Of Paradise
4/5
When I saw I got another UK electronica album and it had the lowest ratings out of all of them so far, I got really worried. But honestly this one is my favorite and I don't even think it is close. I love how metallic everything sounds, and the beats are really funky. This one is massively over hated, not really sure why this one in particular got so many 1's.
(it didn't need to be this long though)
Mid 4.
Finley Quaye
4/5
I don't know if this is blasphemous or not, but I think this is my favorite reggae album I've gotten so far (including multiple Bob Marley albums). My biggest problem with reggae is that when it's in album form, a lot of it starts to sound the same, but I don't think that's the case here. Sometimes it infuses elements of trip hop, or sometimes it's R and B, and there's even some hints of psych rock. Your Love Gets Sweeter also sounds like a folk or polka song or something. The production here is the real champ.
Low 4.
Fleetwood Mac
2/5
I've always been under the impression that Rumors is overrated, it's good, but it's no where close to being the greatest album of all time and this album is reinforcing my opinion that Fleetwood Mac got lucky with a few hits. Some of these songs (most of them with male vocalists) sound god awful. Like is Not That Funny supposed to sound bad as a joke? Were they trying to be experimental?
Ignoring the songs that sound like dog turds, my biggest problem with this album is that a lot of the songs sound unfinished. A lot of the songs feel like they have 3 verses in a row and then fade out. There are no hooks or memorable melodies anywhere on this album. If I can give Rumours is that it has hooks "Chain keep us together", "Thunder only happens after it rains", or "YOU CAN GO YOUR OWN WAY!!!". Nothing here sticks.
High 2.
Parliament
4/5
Probably my favorite funk album I've gotten so far (if you don't count Head Hunters). The production sounds really great here.
High 4.
Tom Waits
3/5
It is fine, but I like the other Tom Waits album I had before this better, the 'live' jazz album called live at nighthawks or something.
Mid 3.
Kelela
2/5
This album is not for me... I have never really cared for R&B, it is just too slow and lacks anything that makes me excited about music. The production and singing here is fine (the autotune or whatever vocal effect is a little too much though), but overall everything just seems really boring to me. All the songs feel too long as well which makes the album feel bloated. I was completely zoned out and ready for this to end around track 7.
Not a bad album, and I understand why someone would like this, but this did nothing for me.
Mid 2.
Talvin Singh
3/5
Rant Time:
About 200 albums ago I had 2 straight months of 70's folk music and I kept ranting about how it is over represented in this list. Since then I have only gotten one here and there, so I guess I just got really unlucky. Now, I feel like the real genre that is over represented in this list is UK EDM/Electronica/Dance. Is the UK electronic scene really that important? I like to think I know more than the average person about music history, and I am involved in various music discourse, and no one has EVER brought up any of these artists. To be fair I don't follow much electronic music though.
I feel like 1 or 2 UK albums on this list would be fine, but it feels like there are 30-40, and they always are the same. Some UK guy no one has heard of in the last 20 years that had one decently successful album in the 90's (usually a debut), all the songs have 100,000 streams, and then it is over an hour of some of the most average electronic music ever.
I'll give this album some credit, it does provide a unique spin on the electronic genre with the flutes, strings, and Indian influences, but overall it is still a little generic and boring. The thing I like about EDM is the D (no one laugh), and more than half of these songs feel too slow or chill to really dance to, which just makes chunks of this album little boring to me.
Overall, this album is "OK". (This is an original joke, do not steal)
Mid 3.
Billie Holiday
2/5
Yeah this is not it. I'm just not a fan of her voice and a lot of the songs are too slow for me. This is my least favorite of all the old jazz albums so far. It doesn't help that every song sounds the same.
Mid 2.
Spiritualized
5/5
This album blends so many different genres, sometimes it's britpop, and then it's noise rock, or chamber pop, or spacerock. And it blends all this genres really well without feeling disjointed or random.
A very exciting listen, not many albums out there that sound like this one.
Low 5.
Stephen Stills
2/5
As someone who's been to Manassass a lot, I feel qualified to say the album and place have a lot in common; the longer you stay the more boring it gets. But for real, this album starts off decent (like a low 3), it has some nice grooves, but as soon as they start breaking out the honky tonk crap I completely checkout.
Could have been a low 3 if they made it a 1 disc album without the honky tonk.
Mid 2.
Queen Latifah
3/5
I have never listened to Queen Latifah before, and couldn't name any of her songs, but I always thought that she was somewhat of a big deal in the hip hop scene, but I guess not because this album only has 1K ratings on RYM and is ranked #487 for 1989 which isn't great. Also 7 of her top 10 songs according to Spotify are from film soundtracks, and if you go to the "Popular Releases" section her #1 most popular release is from Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs which is really funny, because I don't think anyone saw that movie.
Ok that's enough talk about number, this album is good but not great. A lot of songs have really fun beats, but some have some truly awful parts like those chipmunk children voices, or that reggae song that goes on for too long.
High 3.
Beth Orton
3/5
A fine album, but it feels like another album that is on here because it is British. It will always continue to confuse me why so many no-name British bands made this list, while several massive albums were excluded (I have ranted about this too many times, look at my other reviews for some examples that were excluded).
I have no complaints about this album (beside the fact it could have been 15 minutes shorter), this is just a very middle-of-the-road kind of album. Nothing mind blowing, nothing terrible, and not very memorable.
Mid 3.
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
It's an enjoyable album, but the songwriting is a little on the generic side. I like the string parts though.
Low 4.
4/5
I have never really been a U2 fan, but this is a really good album with a super strong opening. Of course the hits are great, but I also really enjoyed Bullet the Blue Sky, it is a rocker. The quality in the second half does drop a little, but it is still a great album.
High 4.
Scott Walker
3/5
I don't really have much of an opinion on this one. It is fine, kind of interesting for 1968, but a little boring in 2025. I can see some parallels with Geordie Greep's The New Sound, which is cool, but overall this album didn't do much for me.
Mid 3.
ZZ Top
3/5
This sure is some classic rock. Not much else to say about it. The hits are good, but I've heard them too much so I don't really care for them anymore, and everything else is just ok.
Mid 3.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
I've reached a point in my life were most classic rock has become overplayed and stale to me. However, I think this album still holds up pretty well. Some great tunes, amazing drumming and catchy memories. I really like some of the extended jam sections on this album.
Mid 5.
Heaven 17
3/5
I have been getting really into Model/Actriz recently (super hyped for their new album), and I can definitely see how albums like this would lead to their style of music.
I really like the verses of Fascist Groove Thang, but the chorus is a little weak. And that is kind of the problem with this album, there are some really creative funky parts, and then some kind of lame parts that kill the groove.
High 3.
Suicide
3/5
This album is definitely ahead of the time, and would have been mind-blowing back then, but looking at it through today's lens it is a little tame. Still a nice album and very influential, but a little on the boring side.
I know James Murphy worked on the organ sound (iykyk), but he could have worked a little harder on Frankie Teardrop /s.
High 3.
Massive Attack
5/5
I really love Massive Attack and it is such a crime that there are 2 of there albums on this list but neither of them are their magnum opus Mezzanine.
I really like how jazzy this album is, a lot of great beats and production. My only complaint with this album is that some of the more obvious hip-hop inspired songs like Five Man Army go on a little too long and get a little stale especially when compared to the rest of their discography.
Mid 5.
Bill Callahan
3/5
As far as country, singer-songwriter, or whatever you want to call this genre goes, this one is okay. If you look at my project summary my lowest rated genres are country, singer-songwriter, and folk so this album is not for me, and there was a very slim chance I would actually enjoy it. All-in-all this album is fine, I think the instrumentation is good, but the singing is overall pretty bad.
Pretty bland inoffensive Americana album, I'll forget about this one pretty fast.
Low 3.
Roxy Music
3/5
Ehh... I don't know, there is a lot of music out there thats a lot more interesting. I guess it's kind of ahead of its time, but it is also forgettable.
Mid 3.
Röyksopp
3/5
A fine album for background music, but nothing really stood out to me.
High 3.
Gang Of Four
5/5
I've reccently learned that I really love dance punk, and I've been meaning to listen to this album for a while. I usually tend to find 70's punk pretty boring, but this album is a blast. Super fun beats and very energetic. My only problem is that it does all start to sound the same as the album goes on.
Low 5 (on the verge of a 4).
Neil Young
3/5
I'm not the biggest Neil Young fan, but he still has better music than this. It is fine, but it seems a little lacking.
Mid 3.
Thin Lizzy
3/5
As far as live albums from classic rock artists go, this is definitely one of the better ones. They are good entertainers and the songs sound good and engaging, despite the fact I only know a couple of them. I would have enjoyed it more if it was shorter, but it is fine as is. I enjoy the guitar tones they got here, they sound really full.
High 3.
Laura Nyro
2/5
I really like this album cover, it looks very contemporary. Unfortunately, the music does not sound contemporary. It doesn't even sound like it came out in the late 60's. If I saw the cover I would have guessed this album came out in the 2010's, but if I heard the music I would have guessed it came out in the late 50's.
The album doesn't sound bad, but it just isn't that interesting and something about her voice puts me off.
High 2.
Pink Floyd
3/5
I was a huge Pink Floyd fan in High School, but that being said, I never really cared for anything before Atom Heart Mother. My biggest problem with this album is that it just sounds too British in the worst way possible. A lot of this album just sounds cheesy and super dated. However, Astronomy Domine is one of their best early works and the Lucifer Sam riff is fun.
I appreciate that this album was experimental and what it did for the genre, but man songs like Matilda Mother and Flaming just sound so lame. It is just something about the way Syd sings and the melodies he chooses that I can't stand. I think if this was an instrumental album It could be a high 4, but those vocal parts just throw me off.
Mid 3.
Traffic
3/5
I don't have much to say about the actual album, it is fine and they are good musicians but nothing really gripped me. However, I want to talk about how 30-40 minutes is the perfect album runtime. It really makes you think about what you want to include on your album, and it isn't a huge commitment to the listener. It is the perfect album to throw on for a car ride. I can throw on an album like Doolittle or In Rainbows anytime because they are jam packed with hits and they don't overstay there welcome at all. Once an album hits 55 minutes or more, it really makes me consider if I want to listen to it or not. For example the New Sound by Geordie Greep was one of my favorite albums of 2024 but idk an hour and 2 minutes just feels a little bloated, and I often end up throwing on Schlagenheim over it because it is a nice crisp 43 minutes.
I also don't want this ramble to come off as I am impatient, Mellon Collie is one of my all-time favorite albums (2 hrs.) I also just listened to Soundtrack for the Blind (2 1/2 hrs.) the other day for the first time and enjoyed it. I just want to express my love for sub 45 minute albums.
Anyways, this album made fine background music as I ranted about album lengths.
High 3.
Duke Ellington
4/5
Pretty good big band jazz album, great playing overall. But let me just say, it is so annoying when Spotify only has the extended (or in this case "complete") versions of albums. The way I like to listen to music is by adding them to the queue, so when it's the extended version it adds a whole bunch of demo/live versions/b-sides that I don't really care about. However, this extended version doesn't even start with the original 1956 release, it ENDS with it, with some other stuff shoved in between. Here is the original track list:
Festival Junction
Blues to Be There
Newport Up
Jeep's Blues
Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue
Anyways it was a good album.
High 4.
Chicago
4/5
These guys are doing some pretty innovative stuff for 1969, especially on the guitar. I would take this guy over Clapton (massively overrated) any day.
Not everything here is that crazy though, some of the songs feel very of the time, but then they will hit you with some crazy passage that sounds like it could have come from the Windmill Scene in the UK. Also shout out to Free Form Guitar.
Mid 4.
Dennis Wilson
3/5
The first track was pretty good, I enjoyed the choral arrangements, everything else was just okay. There were some cool moments here and there like the digeridoo (or whatever) on Dreamer. But not too much of this was very memorable.
Some of these songs just sound like generic 80's songs (Dreamer, Thoughts of You, You and I, etc.), so I guess it's cool that this was made in 77, but it still sounds a little generic.
FYI: since Spotify only includes the deluxe edition, the last song on the original album is End of the Show.
Mid 3.
Linkin Park
4/5
There are definitely some really great songs here, but I do have a couple problems with this album.
1. The guitar tones aren't great and sound pretty dated
2. The production has always put me off of this album, I can't explain it but it seems a little too clean and perfect
3. I am not a fan of Mike Shinoda's rap parts.
Besides that, there are some good songs here.
Low 4.
Jeff Beck
3/5
Ehh... middle of the road 60's UK blues rock album. Not very memorable. I also have no idea why this album is tagged as metal.
Mid 3.
David Holmes
3/5
Here is a copy/paste of my rant from the last 90's UK electronica album:
"About 200 albums ago I had 2 straight months of 70's folk music and I kept ranting about how it is over represented in this list. Since then I have only gotten one here and there, so I guess I just got really unlucky. Now, I feel like the real genre that is over represented in this list is UK EDM/Electronica/Dance. Is the UK electronic scene really that important? I like to think I know more than the average person about music history, and I am involved in various music discourse, and no one has EVER brought up any of these artists. To be fair I don't follow much electronic music though.
I feel like 1 or 2 UK albums on this list would be fine, but it feels like there are 30-40, and they always are the same. Some UK guy no one has heard of in the last 20 years that had one decently successful album in the 90's (usually a debut), all the songs have 100,000 streams, and then it is over an hour of some of the most average electronic music ever."
I feel like this rant still mostly applies here, however this album has more of a Trip-hop feel and it is surprisingly his sophomore album, one song almost has 8 million streams, and it is 35 seconds shy of an hour.
The album itself is fine, but not interesting enough to warrant the long runtime. Even the song lengths don't feel earned. They are fine songs and have some interesting arrangements, but nothing really happens or changes for 6+ minutes. Most of these songs could have been 2:30 and then the album could have been 30 minutes and I would move on and not really care. However, this album just drags on, and it really gets ruin by the runtime. Which is a bummer because I love triphop and this album has some potential, but it really wastes it with meandering songs that go nowhere for too long.
Overall this just feels like a more boring version of Endtroducing or Oedipus Schmoedipus.
Low 3.
The The
4/5
First off can we all agree the the is a terribly stupid name. Secondly, I am so close to loving this album but just can't. On paper everything here works for me, but something is holding me back from actually liking this album. I think it sounds good, has interesting and unique melodies and the song writing is good. But idk something still feels like it is missing.
Low 4.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
I think Jimi Hendrix is one of the greatest guitarist of all time, but fir some reason I listened to this album once almost 10 years ago and never listened to it again. I would listen to all of the songs individually, but for some reason I always would put on Axis Bold as Love and Electric Lady Land over this album. I guess that was a mistake, because this album is great. There are still a couple of songs that aren't great, but there are so many all time classics here that it's hard not to love.
Mid 5.
Genesis
2/5
I have the same problem with this album as I do with Tommy. It feels like they spend more time focusing on creating a narrative than creating memorable music. A lot of the songs here sound the same and nothing really stands out. If you are going to make an hour and a half plus album you need some absolute bangers to carry you through that runtime. The Wall has Another Brick in the Wall, Comfortably Numb, Mother. Mellon Collie has Zero, 1979, Tonight Tonight. Songs in the Key of Life has Sir Duke, Pastime Paradise, Isn't She Lovely. This album has 20 half baked songs that meander and melt together into one boring blob of prog rock.
If this album had a normal runtime (half of what it currently is) I would give this a mid/low 3, but it a horrendous hour and a half of nothing.
If you want a good hour and a half long album about a lamb check out The Lamb As Effigy by Sprain, they remind me of Swans.
Mid 2.
The Thrills
3/5
I see a lot of reviews comparing this to Pavement so that has me excited, but I also see a lot of people saying it is too country, so I guess it is closer to the Silver Jews or something. Anyways let's give it a spin.
Ok, I can see the Pavement comparison, his voice is almost a 1-to-1 with Stephen Malkmus. This is another album that I almost really like, it is right on the edge of being something I enjoy, but just falls short.
Overall, this album is fine.
Mid 3.
Gene Clark
2/5
Hey guys biggest Byrds hater here once again complaining about how many albums by them and their solo members were included on this list. I am happy to say that this quote has brought a smile to my face: "it was largely ignored or lambasted by critics and was a commercial failure; the studio time and cost were seen as excessive and indulgent. The record label, Asylum Records, did not promote the album, and by 1976 had deleted it from their catalog. Clark never recovered from the failure of the album". And don't forget his OTHER album on this list said: "Like all of his post-Byrds records, it did very poorly on the US charts." It's almost like we didn't need to include over 10 (If I remember correctly I think it was 13) Byrds related album. Ok rant over, time to listen.
What a surprise it is another boring forgettable 70's kind of country kind of psych album. However, this time the more rock oriented song, No Other, is the standout boring tune. Nevermind, that 8 minute track was pretty painful. In the grand scheme of the Byrds' extending listening universe this one isn't as bad as some of the others, but it is still really boring and didn't deserve a spot on this list.
mid 2.
Bob Dylan
3/5
A fine album, but there are better Dylan albums. Also shoutout to the to the RATM cover of Maggie's Farm.
Mid 3.
Megadeth
4/5
I am a pretty big metal guy, but I have never actually listened to a Megadeth album in full, mostly because I am not a big fan of Dave Mustaine's voice. I like some of the hits, but every time I try to dive a little deeper I don't find much of it very enjoyable. Maybe this time will be different ("It better work this time").
My opinion hasn't really changed, Peace Sells is an all time great, and Wake Up Dead was pretty good, everything else is a little forgettable and generic. Nothing was bad, but nothing really stood out to me. They are great musicians and his voice didn't bother me as much as I thought it would, but a lot of the songs just have a lot of chugging and then go up and down a scale really fast. It sounds good I guess, but I don't know I just want a little more. I think that the openings of both Good Mourning and Bad Omen sound really good and interesting, but then they just turn into every other Megadeth song.
This is probably closer to a high 3, but I will give it a bump to counteract people who give all metal a 1 without listening (You guys can handle this one, it's not that heavy).
Low 4.
Skepta
1/5
LMAO look up the video "RZA unironically creates a terrible beat for a Guitar Center promo", there is a lot of overlap with that beat and Crime Riddim. The fact that this album reminded me of that video is hilarious and I can't even remotely take this seriously anymore.
I understand why some people like this, but I just don't like Grime. The UK are really good at making rock music and that is about it. Whenever they try to branch out to other genres it always sounds a little lame. I just don't think the British accent fits rap at all. A lot of the beats are also pretty annoying, I'm pretty sure that overused airhorn sound effect was in its ironic phase in 2016. I'm also not a huge fan of his flow, he makes ever song sound the same, and it has a lyrical spiritual kinda vibe.
Every synth he used for the rest of the album just made me laugh, because I just kept thinking about that stupid video. Specifically the part right before he adds the doorbell sound effect. Skepta is trying so hard but it just sounds so weak.
Ok, so I don't think this is the worst album ever in the grand scheme of music, but in terms of this list, this is one of my least favorite albums so far. Ever song sounds like a joke song or a parody of real rap music, those synths sound terrible, it is way too tryhard, I don't like his flow, I was starting to get a headache, It was a slog to get through. Despite those complaints it isn't the worst album ever, I just feel like it is the bottom of the list and I don't give enough 1's so here we go.
High 1.
Aerosmith
2/5
I am usually pretty indifferent about Aerosmith, but man this album is kinda bad. I thought people used to swear this album was great. The 2 hits are good, but they've become so overplayed that I don't really care about them anymore and they can't hold up the album by themselves. Every song here that isn't a single is incredibly lame and some of the worst songs by Aerosmith I've ever heard.
Atleast this album is short.
High 2.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
3/5
This album is like fast food, I can tell ots not great but sometimes it just feels good. Some of these songs are just dumb, but the production and sampling is really good and sometimes it just hits right.
High 3.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Save the Life of My Child is way more experimental than anything I thought Simon and Garfunkel would ever do, that synth blast in the beginning is like a jump scare.
Besides some interesting moments every now and then, this is just some more Simon and Garfunkel. I have never been a huge fan of them, but it is fine, short and sweet.
High 3.
Holger Czukay
3/5
I know it's not his fault, but his accent reminds me too much of the Germans from The Big Lebowski and it makes it hard to take him seriously.
There is some interesting stuff here, but not as interesting as his CAN projects. The 10+ minute songs are my favorite, but they lack a little direction and I feel they could be trimmed a little.
High 3.
The Verve
3/5
It is good not great, individually every song sounds good, but as a whole album it is a little bloated and not super interesting. Nothing here sounds bad, but nothing sounds great either. Many of the songs feel like a slog because they are just a little too slow and too long. There is probably a low 4 in here if they trimmed this album, but as it it is a 3.
High 3.
X-Ray Spex
4/5
A pretty solid punk album. They have a great energy, and I like the singer and the sax.
Mid 4.
The Birthday Party
4/5
I enjoyed this one quite a bit, a very unique album. I am a big fan of noise rock and post punk, so I was excited that there is an album here that combines them. I do however think that there is room for improvement here. This album reminds me a lot of Atomizer by Big Black.
Low 4.
Black Flag
4/5
Very raw hardcore/punk album. I've always preferred My War, I just think his voice fits the slower and deeper music better.
Low 4.
Fela Kuti
5/5
Very fun and groovy album. I had a very fun time listening, I think I would have liked it a little more if the songs were trimmed and they added more songs though.
Low 5.
The Replacements
3/5
A pretty solid punk album. Perfectly fine for what it is.
High 3.
R.E.M.
4/5
Not my favorite REM album, but still a really good one. It is a lot slower/calmer than some of their other ones.
High 4.
Lambchop
2/5
Man this list picks some of the most boring albums for anything past 1999. There is a lot of really interest music from the past two decades, but no.
Every time we get some easy listening music that won an award in the UK (I wonder why they picked this one) or one of the blandest UK Indie bands to exist. I swear the people compiling this list became out of touch around the end of the 90's and had no idea how to finish this list so they just looked at whatever won some award in the UK and added it despite the albums having 0 staying power. This album averages 200,000 streams on Spotify and has 2K ratings on RYM, I don't think people really care about this one. Rant over.
The album itself is fine, every song is a slog to get through because they are so slow and bland, but if you isolate any individual song it would be fine. However, when dragged out into album format it gets tiring really quickly. I am on Track 4 right now and I don't remember if these guys even have a drummer, RYM says so, but in my mind every song is just slow guitar strumming and vocals. Update! I zoned out and now on track 7 and I still don't remember if the album has drums on it. Also his falsetto sounds like Miss Piggy.
For my rating system I have been using "High", "Mid", and "Low" to give a little more variance in my ratings and to give a little more context about how I feel. I always worry that when I say something like "Mid 4", people will interpret it as I am saying the album is mid. However this is not the case, this is one of the most mid album of all time.
Mid 2.
5/5
I mean come on, it's Sgt. Pepper's.
It took me 492 albums to get a Beatles album that was Rubber Soul or later.
High 5.
The Associates
3/5
You guys know I love weird music and Post Punk, so you'd think I'd love a weird Post Punk album, but I don't know, this one was just kind of boring. It's not weird enough to be interesting and it's not punk enough to have any energy. Nothing here is that bad, but it is just boring.
Mid 3.
Grateful Dead
3/5
I am a pretty big King Gizzard fan and I know these bands fans have a big overlap, but I've never really listened to the grateful dead before.
Sorry to say but it was a little too country for me. Still fine though.
Mid 3.
Harry Nilsson
3/5
This reminds me a lot of Paul McCartney, however the first couple songs feel a little underdeveloped. They feel like they should go on for another minute, but they just abruptly end. Still a good album though, not great.
High 3.
Hot Chip
3/5
I love some Indietronica (LCD Soundsystem is one of my all time favorite bands), but I just wish the songs here were a little better. If the songwriting was a step up I feel like I could really love this album, however, as it I find this one a little boring, which sucks because I am always looking for more party music.
It's not a bad album, I just expected a little more.
High 3.
Shack
3/5
I am tired of ranting about this. It is another unknown Alternative UK late 90's early 00's band that made no impact, has no lasting power, and no one remembers. However, for some reason (i.e. they are British) there are like 30 of these bands on this list and they all make the most generic music imaginable. At least some of the other bands had one single with a couple of million streams, the highest one on this album just broke 2 million and every other song is 100k-200k.
This is just diet Oasis. It is fine. I don't need to listen to this. No one does.
I am still upset that Lonesome Crowded West didn't make the cut. At least now I know what Oasis would sound like if they didn't have great hooks and strong melodies.
Low 3.
Sex Pistols
4/5
A fine punk album with a lot of energy, my biggest problem with it is that a lot of the songs sound the same. This is one of those albums that I am glad I finally listened too (and 100% deserve to be on this list (fuck Shack)), but not an album that think I will ever listen too again. This is probably closer to a high 3, but I'll give it a few extra points for being such an influential album.
Low 4.
The Zombies
3/5
A pretty good album from the 60's, it does kind of feel like they wrote the same song 11 times and then had a big hit.
High 3.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
A decent album, but I found Nick Caves other albums more interesting.
Low 4.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
A fine album, I think I preferred the other album they had on the list better. This kind of reminds me of Greeps The New Sound, but not as chaotic or interesting.
Also, I could have sworn this was OK Computer era Thom Yorke on the cover.
High 3.
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
Very solid jazz album. I swear I'm not crazy, but some of the bass parts remind me of brown era Primus, especially the solos in Alice In Wonderland and All of You.
High 4.
Elastica
4/5
Very solid punk album, sounds like it came from the 80's more than 1995 though.
Mid 4.
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
Out of all of the countless no-name 1997-2003 UK Indie bands this one is the most okay-est. I wish it was shorter, but it at least has a little bit originality and a unique sound. I still don't think it really deserves a spot on this list but, it isn't a bad album.
Mid 3.
Slint
5/5
LFG!!!!!!!!!!!!! Over the years of me listening to this album it has slowly (slowcore lol) grown to be one of my favorite albums. And this is the album I really needed to here right now. I've been in a little bit of a slump recently, nothing bad but just a lot of generic 3/5 albums.
I know that this album isn't for everyone, and I get that it is spoken word, but a 2.98 is criminal. This album probably has the highest rating differential between this site and RYM. On RYM it has a 4.17 and is the 31st highest rated album OF ALL TIME. but here it can't even break a 3.0.
No other album gives me the chills like this one. I mean the climax of Good Morning, Captain is so chilling, that scream just feels so desperate. I also love the sharp harmonic parts in Nosferatu Man, the chords in Don Aman are perfect, and there are just so many great climaxes throughout this album.
High 5.
Tom Waits
4/5
I am not the biggest Tom Waits fan, but it is still a very interesting and unique album. All of the songs feel really dirty and gritty, so as the album goes on it can feel a little one note, but it is still a good note.
Low 4.
Carpenters
3/5
A fine album. Not that great, not that awful. The cover of Help was... interesting.
Mid 3.
Slipknot
5/5
I had a phase in college when I got pretty into Slipknot, now i will usually skip anything that comes up on shuffle except for this album.
I forgot how stacked the first half of this album is Sic, Eyeless, Wait and Bleed, and Surfacing are all great. The reason I still like this album over the other Slipknot albums is the groove. This album has a really fast chaotic energy with great sampling and grooves that never relents.
Low 5.
David Bowie
5/5
It finally happened after 500 albums, I got an album that I just listened to in my free time. I hadn't listened to this album in over 3 years and then just listened to it 2 days ago.
I'll just say as a very big Bowie fan, this album would probably be a 4 if Changes and Life on Mars wasn't on it. This album cam be really hit or miss. Life on Mars is one of the top 10 greatest songs ever written and then kooks is one of my least favorite Bowie songs. The second half of this album also falls off.
Low 5.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
This is the weakest Nick Cave album I've gotten yet. I really prefer his evil bluesy songs, these ballads are fine, but they all sound really repetitive. Nothing here is bad, just a little boring.
I think there are enough Nick Cave albums on this list that this album could have probably been skipped.
High 3.
Pavement
5/5
Pavement are one of the most consistent bands out there. If you love this album you will probably love their whole discography. Personally my favorite album by them is Brighten the Corners, so it is a little sad that one didn't make the list, but their early records are the most important so I understand why it was cut.
There is something that is just so perfect with the simplicity of their music.
High 5.
Germs
3/5
A pretty solid punk album. All of the songs kind of sound the same, but they are all so short (besides the final song), that it doesn't really matter.
Mid 3.
Simple Minds
3/5
I literally can't think of anything to say about this one. It is fine, the production sounds good. It is kind of weird we didn't get the album with their massive hit.
Mid 3.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
4/5
I was expecting a forgettable new wave album here, but I was pleasantly surprised. I really liked the way that the first song sounds, it has a really unique sound palette, especially for the early 80's. As the album goes on, it loses that special touch a bit, but there is still stuff to enjoy throughout.
Mid 4.
Tracy Chapman
4/5
Not really my style of music, but she has a nice voice. This is a good length for this type of music too, any longer and I think it would have suffered.
Low 4.
Sugar
4/5
Very solid grunge album, but nothing supper special. He writes some pretty good melodies though.
Mid 4.
Bee Gees
1/5
Man, this album is a mess. The production sounds pretty awful, the reverb is terrible and obnoxious, the acoustic guitars don't blend well in the mix, and you know when you can hear yourself talking through your headphones and you struggle to talk, and you end up talking slower, that is how they sing especially on the first song.
Every time I think I am overreacting and this isn't really that bad, they play the most annoying half-baked song.
This album is also terribly boring and has no reason being a double album.
This isn't "that" bad of an album when compared to all music ever written, but compared to everything on this list, it is one of the worst. A lot of times I will say something doesn't deserve to be on this list because it is too generic or forgettable, but this is the rare occasion were this doesn't deserve to be on the list because it is just a bad album.
High 1.
Miriam Makeba
3/5
It's good, she has a nice voice. Probably won't listen again.
Mid 3.
Robbie Williams
3/5
For someone who has an Oscar nominated movie (lol) based on his life, the number of total ratings his albums have is shockingly low. It's funny reading the reviews there, almost everyone says they liked him in the past tense.
This is the most nothing-burger middle-of-the-road album on this list. As soon as a song would end I would already forget how it sounded. It is crazy that Angels has 650 million streams on Spotify, it is fine, but like common guys there are plenty of better ballads out there.
I swear when I finish this list I am going to add up all of the UK albums that had no right being on this list.
low 3.
Gary Numan
5/5
Yesterday I had a really strong urge to listen to Gary Numan, but I guess I forgot or got distracted because I didn't, but this couldn't have come at a better time. I really love how this album sounds. It has some of my favorite synth tones, it is almost industrial but it is still kinda poppy. This also the most 80's sounding 70's album, it was ahead of its time for sure.
Nine Inch Nails have a really good cover of Metal, check it out.
Low 5.
Dagmar Krause
2/5
Does it sound good? No, but at least it is interesting...
It sounds like quirky theatre kid music, or a Simpsons song with out the jokes or decent singing. She sounds like she is adlibbing.
High 2.
Baaba Maal
3/5
Pretty good album but it does suffer from its length a little bit. There are some good moments but as it goes on the songs start to all sound the same, especially the calmer ones.
High 3.
Television
5/5
The title track is one of the best songs ever, it is so far ahead of its time, and this album would have been a 4 without it. The solo section is probably the best thing to come out of the 70s punk movement. When it kicks back into the original beat gets me every time.
The other songs are also good, but nowhere nearly as good as the title track. I like the call and response in songs line See No Evil and Friction.
Low 5.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
This is my 3rd Nick Cave album in a month, he is fine, but I don't really care about him THAT much. Thankfully this is my last one though.
First off this album cover is really ugly it looks like an AI image of a Kinkade painting.
What I've learned while doing this challenge is that I really don't care about music where the lyrics are the focus. I love music that has rhythmic complexity or just great grooves. I am assuming people who love this album love it due to his lyrics. I get that it is sad, and I am trying not to sound like a horrible person, but this album is just a little too slow/one note for me to really get anything out of it. I mean it sounds pretty, but I just have never enjoyed piano ballads and this album is full of them.
Mid 3.
Culture Club
3/5
Never been a huge fan of Karma Chameleon, it always reminded me of a rejected disney song. The rest of the album is pretty forgettable, not bad, just bland.
low 3.
Kate Bush
2/5
While I've been doing this challenge I have also been going through the RYM top rated albums of all time, but skipping the albums that I know are also on this list. I had Hounds of Love from this list already and I wasn't super crazy about it, but it was fine, it shocked me to see that it was the 56th highest rate album on RYM. I am currently on album 150, and this one is rated 142 so I just skipped it.
I don't get it. I don't know what people see in Kate Bush, it sounds like circus pop music. I don't know how see has 2 albums in the top 200 of all time on RYM. It isn't the worst album, and I love weird music, but this like weird in boring way.
This just kinda made me want to listen to the Cocteau Twins, but I was also buying David Byrne tickets as I was listening to this so I was thinking about that more... and it is hard for anyone to compete with the Talking Heads
High 2.
The Beach Boys
4/5
I feel like if I got this album anyone other day I would have given it a high 3, but I don't know. I was never really a Beach Boys fan, but after Brian's death it kind of recontextualizes this sound. It has this strange mix of nostalgia and melancholy and some really great harmonies.
RIP Brian Wilson
Mid 4.
Jack White
4/5
A very solid album, but it is missing that extra bite the White Stripes had.
Mid 4.
Sade
4/5
I don't really have many notes for this one. She has a great voice and this is a very solid album.
Mid 4.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
The funky songs are fun, but there are too many ballads that I just don't care for.
High 3.
Aerosmith
2/5
I had a pretty decent run of album recently and I had a good feeling about todays album, but when I refreshed this page and saw this album I think I got some kind of psychological damage. There was a time in my life when I thought Aerosmith were one of the best hair metal bands, now I just can't stand them or any hair metal for that matter.
They definitely have worse music, but I still didn't really enjoy this.
If you like Aerosmith you'll like this, if you don't you won't.
Mid 2.
Hookworms
4/5
I had this whole snarky review in my head where I was going to name British rock bands that I love from this era, but it turns out this album is pretty solid. It can't hold a candle to LCD soundsystem, but it is still good. Unlike numerous other UK indie rock albums from 2000 to present day on this list, this album actually has some character.
I guess you guys will have to wait until tomorrow when I get some no name white bread British band for me to write my snarky review.
Low 4.
Metallica
5/5
Like many other people this album was my gateway into the world of metal music. I don't listen to Metallica very often anymore, but this is still a really great album.
Mid 5.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I guess I've been kinda lucky so far, 534 albums and I am just now getting my first (out of 6) Elvis Costello albums. Or maybe I am unlucky because they are all going to be concentrated towards the end. Now the only band that has a lot of albums on this list that I haven't gotten yet is Sonic Youth (which I love).
Anyways, this album is fine. I feel like if I had 3 or more Elvis Costello albums before this I would be writing a long rant, but that will have to wait. I have no idea why I Want You is the "hit" of this album, I think it was one of the more boring ones.
I will never understand why he got 6 albums. We didn't even get Magical Mystery Tour.
Low 3.
Drive-By Truckers
1/5
I haven't used a private session in Spotify in over a year, but seeing the name "Southern Rock Opera" and that it was over an hour and a half long, I wasn't taking any chances that Spotify might think this is my new favorite thing.
The only thing these guys are good at are stretching out short basic ideas out as long as possible. Once you've heard the first 10 seconds of any song on this album you know exactly how the rest of it is going to sound. The same riff on repeat forever, basic country vocals, guitar solo, and then back to the riff. If this album was 30 minutes I would have given it a Low 3 said "It's not for me but it is fine", but no this atrocity had to be AN HOUR AND A HALF!!!! This band barely has enough unique ideas to fill out an EP. Birmingham is a 5 second loop for 5 minutes and it sounds exactly like one of the 5 other songs I have already heard.
This isn't the worst album of all time (It is one of the hardest albums to sit through), and there is a decent album in here. If you trimmed like 3/4ths of this album I think you could have a solid 3/5 album, maybe a really low 4 if you are lucky, but as it stands this is pain to listen to.
High 1.
Thelonious Monk
3/5
Very solid album, but not my favorite type of jazz. It all sounds good, just gets a little repetitive in an album format.
High 3.
OutKast
4/5
Out of the major US hip hop areas I think my ranking is:
1. East Coast
2. Southern
3. West Coast
But out of all the southern hip hop I've listen to, I think this is my favorite. I just wish it was shorter.
Mid 4.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
This album is more interesting than it is good (and I don't think it is that bad). There are very few albums that sound like this, so before you shut this off after 1 or 2 songs and give it a 1 remember that there is 6 Elvis Costello albums, 11ish Byrds related albums and what feels like 20 boring UK indie and boring UK Electronica bands each. What I am trying to say is that there is a lot of music you are going to have to listen to on this list that isn't very exciting or unique so take this chance to try something new. This definitely could have been shorter though.
Low 4.
Duran Duran
3/5
A very good 80's album, but the deeper cuts aren't the strongest. Still a good listen though.
High 3.
Michael Jackson
5/5
If any album had to be the highest selling of all time, this is a pretty good album to pick. I've never understood why people like the Paul McCartney song, I think it is pretty boring, but besides that this album has some all time bangers on it.
Low 5.
Scritti Politti
2/5
What a surprise a British band that almost no one has heard of and has no right to be on this list and it is one of the blandest, most boring albums I've listened to. I used to think I liked British music more than American, but this list is showing me I dread anytime I see a British band that I don't already know.
This guy has terribly weak voice, and they thought they could just get away with writing the same melody over and over again.
High 2.
Serge Gainsbourg
3/5
I'm too lazy to look up the age of consent in France (I can't believe I had to type that for a review), but I am going to assume that album isn't him admitting to a crime. So I am just going to ignore that aspect of the album.
Anyways, this album is fine, a little boring, but it has a couple good moments. Not good enough to admit you are a pedophile though.
Low 3.
Throwing Muses
4/5
Very good album, I definitely need to check out their other work.
Mid 4.
John Martyn
3/5
I am not much of a folk guy, but this guy does some pretty nice folk music. I was really thinking I was going to give this a 4 but then he started doing his impression of a blues singer. He really should have stuck to his strengths because the blues songs are truly awful.
High 3.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
This is my third Simon and Garfunkel album on this list, and it is probably my least favorite. It isn't bad by any means, just feels a little redundant. The songwriting just doesn't feel as strong on this album. I still enjoyed the album as much as a guy who doesn't like folk can.
High 3.
Dwight Yoakam
2/5
Yikes! At least it is short...
This has the same production level as a karaoke cover song.
Not the worst country I've heard, but I can't stand country.
Low 2.
Prince
5/5
I mean common, it's Purple Rain.
I almost listened to this yesterday, but even if I did I would be fine listening to it again today. I think Prince's guitar playing is massively underrated on this album Let's Go Crazy, Computer Blue, and Purple Rain all have masterful guitar solos.
High 5.
Barry Adamson
4/5
The other Barry Adamson album on this list was one of my favorite discoveries so far, it is such a smooth but also creepy album. However, in that review I think I ended up talking more about David Lynch than the actual album. Sadly since that time David Lynch has passed away. He is my all time favorite Director and is really a shame that he is gone. I have rewatched most of his movie and am currently in between seasons 2 and 3 of Twin Peaks (need to order the blu-ray). If you haven't, I highly recommend you check out his work, Twin Peaks is some of the best television out there (until, well you know... but it isn't that bad), Blue Velvet is probably one of his most accessible films, or if you want something a little more abstract I would recommend Eraser Head, it was the first film I watch by him. I know none of this really matters but it felt wrong not to mention it.
Anyways... back to the actual album.
I don't think it is as good as Oedipus Schmoedipus, but it is still a very weird and unique album.
Mid 4.
David Gray
3/5
It's fine, but it is the same song over and over again.
Mid 3.
The Smiths
5/5
There is too much Smiths hate on this site. I get it Morrissey is a horrible person, but they wrote some great much as a group. Johnny Marr is one of the greatest guitar players of the 80's.
I was not crazy about this album when I first heard it, but on ever sequential listen it got better and better and a different melody will stand out until you have the entire album memorized. There are so many catchy melodies in this album, it is so much fun to sing along too.
There are very few albums I would consider perfect, but this one is definitely in the discussion. It has the perfect run time, some of the greatest melodies, every song is perfect, and some fun lyrics. Shame about Morrissey though.
High 5!
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
There are some standout songs here, but there are also some really lame ones. With 4 different members and each song sounding like a different genre, it's not really a very coherent or consistent album.
Mid 3.
Burning Spear
3/5
I am not the biggest Reggae fan, but this is fine.
Mid 3.
Mike Oldfield
4/5
Very solid Prog album, it reminds me a lot of Long Season, I wouldn't be surprised if the Fishmans were inspired by Mike Oldfield. Some of the sections don't work all that well, but it is constantly changing so nothing overstays its welcome.
I guess I need to state that I also think that The Exorcist is a great movie.
High 4.
Little Simz
4/5
Pretty good album, one of the highest praises I can give this album is that it is a British Rapper that doesn't sound cringe. Some of the songs here don't work all that well, but it has good beats throughout and it is a short listen.
Mid 4.
The White Stripes
4/5
I think I still prefer White Blood Cells, but this is still a very good album. There are a couple of filler songs, but for the most part it is a very enjoyable album.
High 4.
Drive Like Jehu
5/5
2.69?!?! Common people, this album is great. I listened to it once a year ago and loved it, but for some reason never listened to it again. This is probably my favorite hardcore album that isn't Title Fight. There are just so many great riffs, and his voice matches the music so well. He really has a great scream.
High 5!!!
Elis Regina
3/5
This is a really strange album to pick right? I am not even sure it exists. I tried searching for it on Spotify and nothing came up, so I clicked the link on this site and the album cover looks a little different but whatever. Then when I hit play the album cover on the little box at the bottom is completely different. Then I notice Spotify says this album came out in 1998, which would have been 16 years after her death, rather than 5 years before like this site says. So I go check the Wikipedia article attached, but it is just for her page and there is no reference at all to this album. So I go check Rate Your Music and it is just not on there. I expanded every category on her page and did a ctrl+f and there was nothing. HOWEVER, if I search for the album specifically something comes up but this one has a completely different track list and another slightly different album cover. AND IT SAYS IT CAME OUT IN 1985!?!?!?! DOES THIS ALBUM EXIST?!?!?! WHY IS THERE A POSTUMOUS COMPILATION ALBUM THAT HAS NO REFFERENCES ANYWHERE!?!?! WHAT IS GOING ON???!?!?
Anyways I'm not much of a samba guy but this is fine.
Mid 3.
Brian Eno
5/5
I am so happy I got this album, I am seeing David Byrne live in October but I don't really know much of his solo stuff. However, after listening, I doubt he Is going to play anything from this album since it is mostly instrumental.
Very enjoyable album, I like the funky songs they feel like peak era Talking Heads. I think this album drags a little in the middle but overall is really good. I think this is a high 4 rounded up.
Low 5.
The Cramps
3/5
I found this one a little boring. The guitar tones were cool, I liked the fuzz guitar panned left mixed with the cleaner guitar on the right, but the vocals were just so-so. Every song kind of sounded the same too. Yeah, idk it is fine.
They kinda sound like the B-52s on some songs but not as fun.
Mid 3.
Steely Dan
4/5
There are some great songs here, but some of the lesser known ones are a little too cheesy for me.
Low 4.
Talking Heads
5/5
I am a huge Talking Heads fan, however, I do think this album is a little weaker than some of their later albums. If I was in control of this list I would have switch this and their first album with Speaking in Tongues and Stop Making Sense. There are some really good songs here still, specifically the second half.
Low 5.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
I am glad I finally listened to this album but it does have some problems. First off, I feel like a lot of the songs go on just a tad too long to the point were it starts to get boring. I don't think 6 minutes is long for a song, but I don't think enough happens in these songs to really need that length. Another issue with this album is that the first 3 songs all kind of sound the same, they are good songs, they just kinda sound the same.
I should say I do enjoy this album, it is just hard not to compare it to Loveless.
Mid 4.
Tom Waits
4/5
I am not really a Tom Waits fan, I can appreciate his music, but I don't really ever seek it out. that being said I am seeing WAY too many 1's and 2's in these reviews. It isn't that bad, I get his voice is weird, but common, it's not unlistenable. In my review for Spiderland I said that it probably has the highest disparity in ratings from this site and RYM (1.2), but this album is close with 1.12 (current rated a 3.97 on RYM).
Anyways this album is good, I really like The Earth Died Screaming, and it is cool that Les Claypool makes an appearance on this list, still there are a handful of songs I am not crazy about. A very good album overall though.
Mid 4.
Megadeth
4/5
The problem I have with Megadeth is that their hit songs are always twice as good or better than the rest of the album. In this case the first two songs are great and have amazing solos. The rest of the album just feels weaker in comparison. Still a good album though.
Mid 4.
Venom
4/5
For being one of the first heavy metal albums, it's not bad. The production is really bad and it is a little cringe, but for the time I can let that slide. This ended up sounding more like Motorhead than I thought it would.
Low 4.
3/5
Pretty decent album. There are some songs like Animal Zoo and Love Has Found a Way that are a little too cheesy for me, but over all it is a good album.
High 3.
Beatles
5/5
First off, I have never met someone who says "The Beatles are overrated" who has a good taste in music. This is probably the most important album in modern music. This album really did shape all future music. However, I don't even think it is close to being my favorite Bealtes' album. If I had to rank my top 5 without putting much thought into it it would be something like:
1. Abbey Road
2. Sgt. Pepper
3. White Album
4. Magical Mystery Tour
5. Revolver
I think my biggest problem with this album is their are a few songs in the middle that are a little weak when compared to the rest of their work. I still like the songs, just not as much.
Mid 5.
Black Sabbath
4/5
The title track is probably my favorite Black Sabbath song, I love how eerie and dark it is. And the "Oh god please help me" line just feels so desperate. Sadly, I don't think the rest of the album really holds up that well. I think it is the weakest of their first 4 albums, a lot of the songs are just too bluesy and a little cheesy. I am glad they stuck with the darker themes on their future work.
That being said, this is still a really good album, and I also enjoy N.I.B. a lot. I also like The Wizard for what it is despite sounding more like a Led Zeppelin track.
RIP Ozzy.
High 4.
The Magnetic Fields
2/5
Oh boy... here we go... I don't work tomorrow, so I was one day off from getting this on the weekend. I guess I will divide my review by disc.
Looking back at this review is like watching someone slowly go insane.
DISC 1:
First off, I am not crazy about his voice, I wouldn't say he is bad, but I couldn't say he is any better than good. Second off, this just sounds like generic mid 2000's indie radio rock, so I guess it was ahead of its time. Third off (?), I am currently on song 15 and I feel like every song so far has been 4 chord songs in 4/4 with the basic open chords without any other instruments besides that one with a synth part. I really hope they add more instruments on the later discs because this is really starting to get boring and repetitive. Well song 16 added some drums, but the song sounds like ass :/.
Tangent:
About 10 years ago when I first listened to Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness the only version on Spotify was the extended version that Spotify say is "about 6 hours" (lol). I knew it was a double album and at that time I was really into Pink Floyd's The Wall, so I thought oh ok, it is only like an hour and 20. Then I listened to the whole thing (the main songs, not the demos) and loved it. Every song sounds so unique and there are so many great ideas. I personally think it is one of the best paced albums ever. I had no idea I was wrong, I still thought it was an hour and half. I thought this for years, and I listened to this album a lot. It took me years to realize it was actually a double CD and not a double vinyl, and it was really 2 hours long. I have no idea how I didn't notice sooner, but it is just so good that it doesn't feel long.
Back to Disc 1:
Now comparing that feeling to this album. Disc 1 has felt like the same song 20 out of 23 songs. I heard somewhere that this album had 69 unique interpretations about love, but so far most of them have just been sappy love songs. Unlike Mellon Collie, this album definitely feels like it's length. I just don't think these guys have enough ideas to make an almost 3 hour album. At least the end of Disc 1 had more songs with the full band.
Disc 2:
"The same song a million times" haha I get it. I don't really get the "in different ways" line though. I am not really sure I would call that song jazz, it sounds more like Cleopatra's Cat by the Spin Doctors if you know that song. So far, Disc 2 has been shaking things up quite a bit, which is good, a lot of new styles of songs, but I don't think there has been a single song over a 3/5 on this album yet. I think the female vocalist is worst than the guy, and it seems like they give her all of the worse songs too. If You Don't Cry is not very good. 3 synth songs in a row... the synth ones are the worst ): all of the variety at the start of Disc 2 seems to be gone. Disc 2 is starting to become kinda bad. I am at the halfway point, and this is the song were I am changing my rating from a 3 to a 2. The generic indie pop rock songs were inoffensive, but these synth ballads are just bad, and there are too many of them. Kiss Me Like You Mean it, is also pretty bad. This album just keeps getting worse, I might start skipping the songs that I can't stand. "The light reflecting off the mirror ball"???? you mean a disco ball, it is the same number of syllables. I completely zoned out for the last 5 or 6 songs, anyways onto Disc 3, hopefully it gets better.
Disc 3:
Underwear is not a good sign of things to come, and these streaming numbers are really starting to fall off. HOW IS IT'S A CRIME ONE OF THE LONGEST SONGS ON THIS ALBUM?!?! ITS A 3 SECOND IDEA!?!? IT IS BARELY A SONG?!?! I AM LOSING MY MIND!!! Every Disc gets worse and worse... Love in the Shadows another nothing song, great just what I needed. I just can't anymore, these are barely songs. They are fragments of ideas. They really did throw all the worst songs at the end of the album, they really thought no one would get here. But I did, and they suck. They really ended with a knock off krusty krabs ass song. What a joke.
Review:
Well that was 1 and a half hours of some of the most mid music I have heard followed by an hour of torture. I don't think even if you condensed this down to 45 minutes of the best songs it would be any higher than a high 3. I think the only way to "fix" this album in my eyes would to take a handful of the better songs and expand on them and really work them into something more unique. This album is the definition of quantity over quality. I really did not enjoy this album, but it isn't unlistenable which is the only reason it isn't a 1.
This should be called 1 love song 69 times.
Low 2.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
A fine album, but nothing really stood out to me. None of the songs were bad, but none of the choruses or melodies were really that memorable. I thought So was a much better album and this one could have probably been left off the list.
Mid 3.
Elton John
4/5
Of course there are some really good songs, but there are also some really not good songs like Jamaican Jerk Off. This album could be a lot better as one disc.
Mid 4.
Deep Purple
3/5
Ehh... it's not bad, but this really does nothing for me. Some of the solo sections are cool, but when ever there is singing it is some of the blandest classic rock on this list.
Mid 3.
Britney Spears
2/5
So, I love 90's music. It is my favorite decade, but I think that late 90's pop is some of the worst music ever written. This however, isn't that bad (besides soda pop). I don't think it is great, and I will never listen to it again, but it isn't unlistenable. The ballads are really boring though.
High 2.
Mekons
2/5
I don't know what to say. The mix/production just sounds so weak. Everything sounds so flimsy and the song writing isn't much better. I also have no idea why this was even included, it doesn't seem that popular or influential. Violent Femmes and Meat Puppets already did MUCH better cow punk years earlier and are already on this list. I don't want to make another "They are only on here because they are British" rant, but that is the only reason I can see why this was included.
Mid 2.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Born On The Bayou and Proud Mary are great, the everything in-between is good, but the biggest problem with this album is Graveyard Train. It is almost 9 minutes, which is about 1/3 of the album, and nothing happens during it. It isn't bad, but man it really drags the album down.
Mid 4.
Iron Maiden
4/5
I've never been a huge Iron Maiden fan, they have always been a little too campy for me, but I can still get behind this album (maybe not 22 Acacia Avenue). It's kinda weird they put all of the best songs on the second half of the album.
Mid 4.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
Making your debut album a double album and then having the first real song on that album be almost 14 minute long is kind of pretentious right? It is a good song, I don't think the extended solo section really adds much and could have been trimmed, but it is a good song. I think I would have really liked the song if they condensed it to 4-5 minutes, there just isn't enough ideas to make it that long, it also ruins the pacing of the album. I like Relax, but I just can't listen to it, because it is too obvious and kind of gross. He really didn't need to call it a laser beam.
Man, every song so far, is just so close to being something I dig, but then they mess it up. I like their cover of War, I think it is funky and they put a cool spin on it, but the spoken word is just WAY TOOOOO LOUD.
I was digging Fury too, and then it just ended... And this Springsteen cover is just weird. And now the album is 1/2 over and IDK and I really don't have any strong feelings.
There is a good album in here somewhere, but it needs a LOT of editing.
Mid 3.
The Kinks
3/5
I've learned in the past month I really just don't care for baroque pop, I think it is one of the boringest lamest genres out there. This didn't change my opinion.
I've heard several times that the Kinks are this massively underrated phenomenal band. This is my 2nd album by them and I really can't say I enjoyed a single song on either album. Nothing was band, just boring and forgettable.
Mid 3.
4/5
This album is a little disappointing. I already knew the one song that Thom Yorke is on and really like it, and there are a couple of other songs here that are really good. However half of the songs feel like filler.
Overall I still enjoyed the album though, I just expected move.
FKA twigs
3/5
I have never really been a pop guy, but this isn't bad. It doesn't really do much for me, but I wouldn't describe it as bad. It is a little repetitive and the songs all kind of sound the same, but it isn't that bad.
High 3.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I don't like country music, and I've never really been a fan of Springsteen either, so when I say this is okay that is a complement. This album is ok, I think it is a little boring, but whatever, I can see why people would like it.
Low 3.
The Avalanches
5/5
First off, I really love how all of the tracks flow into each other, this album just has a great flow to it. When the tracks on here hit, they hit, however, there are a couple snoozers on here. I think this album could have trimmed ~10 minutes, but it is still a great album.
This is my second time listening to this album. The first time I listened to this I enjoyed it, but got kind of bored by the end. This time I had a lot of fun listening to this and thought it worked a lot better.
This is probably a very high 4 rounded up to a low 5.
Low 5.
Mj Cole
2/5
I just went from a great 2000's electronic album (Avalanches) to a very generic and kinda bad one, so this review may be more negative than if I got it some other day. Anyways here is my copypasta UK electronica rant because it always applies and if they are going to keep giving me the same album I'll give the same review:
"About 200 albums ago I had 2 straight months of 70's folk music and I kept ranting about how it is over represented in this list. Since then I have only gotten one here and there, so I guess I just got really unlucky. Now, I feel like the real genre that is over represented in this list is UK EDM/Electronica/Dance. Is the UK electronic scene really that important? I like to think I know more than the average person about music history, and I am involved in various music discourse, and no one has EVER brought up any of these artists. To be fair I don't follow much electronic music though.
I feel like 1 or 2 UK albums on this list would be fine, but it feels like there are 30-40, and they always are the same. Some UK guy no one has heard of in the last 20 years that had one decently successful album (I don't think that applies to this one lol) in the 90's (usually a debut), all the songs have 100,000 streams, and then it is over an hour of some of the most average electronic music ever."
Now back to the album:
This album is really boring and I don't really have much to say about it so here are some short snippets that came to mind while I was listening.
If that is MJ Cole "singing" on Introduction, he really shouldn't.
Why does Tired Games cut out like that, it sound bad.
Danny Vicious is not good at rapping.
I completely zoned out, but I think You're Mine was 6 minutes of a 6 second loop.
No idea why Sincere has 11 million streams, it sounds just like every other song.
I just remembered Mezzanine isn't on this list and got upset. BUT THANK GOD MJ COLE IS HERE! I am so glad I got to experience an hour of the same beat on repeat.
Low 2.
The La's
4/5
Not great but still very solid. Not much to complain about, just a very good record.
High 4.
Björk
5/5
This is probably the prettiest Bjork album I've hears so far. It is great but a lot of the songs do sort of start to sound the same by the end. They are great but there isn't much sonic variation.
Low 5.
Tim Buckley
4/5
Not to much really stood out to me, but it was still an enjoyable album of that makes sense.
Low 4.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
It is crazy that a "1 hit wonder" has 2 albums on this list, and neither of them have their one hit. Anyways, Protection is one of my favorite Massive Attack songs, but I had no idea who Tracy Thorne was for the longest time.
This album sounds good, not great, but good. She has a nice voice, but the songs are a little generic.
Mid 3.
Kacey Musgraves
2/5
This album is like an endurance test of all my least favorite music cliches. First off, I cannot stand country music, I know this is barely country, but that accent and style of singing just gets right under my skin. Secondly, I just find pop music that leans more towards singer-songwriter to be some of the most boring music out there.
Ok so, this album isn't unlistenable, but I find it incredibly tedious and repetitive. As soon as a new song would start I would immediately forget whatever played before.
There was a lot of really good music released in these past 10 years, but apparently whoever picked these albums hasn't heard them. All of the albums that were picked for the 2010's are always whatever won some award, and they are always the most boring, inoffensive, opposite of boundary pushing album ever.
Low 2.
Motörhead
4/5
I've always had this problem with Motorhead, where I think Ace of Spades is probably the single greatest Heavy Metal song ever written, but everything else by them just pales in comparison. The closest thing they have is Overkill, but besides that everything else just doesn't do much for me. Ace of Spades rips, and then every other song sounds like a slightly heavier version of ZZ Tops.
Low 4.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Frank Sinatra is a great singer, and I think his voice goes well with Bossa Nova. Very solid album.
Mid 4.
The Electric Prunes
4/5
I tend to find these lesser known 60's psych rock band to be a little boring, but this one held my attention and was pretty good overall. The middle does drag a little when they breakout the baroque pop, but other than that it was a very decent album.
Low 4.
4/5
I am not trying to be a contrarian and rate all of the lowest rated albums highly, but I just tend to find those albums so much more interesting than another UK Electronica album. Like, I never even though to put thrash drums over free jazz, it is such a cool idea and an interesting sound. My only complaint is that it can get a little repetitive and I think this album would be great at 30 minutes.
It is kinda weird we got this album but only 1 Coltrane album, and not even one of his free jazz ones.
High 4.
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
Do you ever judge a book by its cover and end up completely correct. This album looked lame, and somehow turned to be one of the lamest albums I have ever listened to.
This album does have a couple of surprises though, first off I thought it was going to be another new wave album, then when I learned it was actually a hip hop album with African and Latin influences, my worries subsided and I became interested. The first song started, and honestly it was pretty good, but then he started rapping and I got my next surprise, he is white. He is honestly one of the lamest rappers I have ever heard, which is a shame, because I think a lot the beats are actually really good for it being the early 80's. Some of these beats sound 10 years ahead of there time, but if anyone else was rapping over them I would enjoy this so much more. It also doesn't help I paused Ready To Die (probably my favorite rap album) to listen to this.
As the album goes on he raps less, but the beats just become generic Caribbean/Latin songs and I don't really find them that interesting.
So I am conflicted, on one hand I think the beats are really interesting and this album sounds ahead if it's time and influential, but on the other hand this guy is incredibly lame.
Also another thing I found funny, when you Google this guy's name it shows him as a fashion designer over a musician, so I guess this wasn't as influential as I thought.
Also it ended with a terrible country song for no reason.
I guess I'll go mid 3.
Aimee Mann
3/5
Usually these generic through-away bland albums are from the UK, I had to double check that she was American. Look, I love the 90's it is probably my favorite decade of music, but this just sounds like the watered down version of every band that got forgotten about once the 90's ended. Looking through her music, it looks like she had some hits off of the Magnolia soundtrack, but this album didn't really seem to do much, so I swear to god if this was only chosen because Elvis Costello mentioned it once.
Overall, this isn't a bad album, just a very forgettable, and bloated one.
Low 3.
Merle Haggard
2/5
As someone who cannot stand country this album isn't that bad. It is short, he has a nice voice, and it isn't that twangy/honky tonky. Not something I would listen to again, but it isn't unlistenable.
The second half, gets a little too generic country for my liking and drops my rating down from a low 3 to a high 2.
High 2.
David Bowie
5/5
--ATTENTION!!!--
This album needs multiple listens to fully enjoy!!! When I first listened to this album 10ish years ago, I didn't really enjoy it, I thought it was fine, but that was about it. However, this album just gets better and better after every listen. For a long time this used to be my favorite Bowie album until I rediscovered my love for Station to Station.
Anyways, I just finished a challenge where I went through Bowie entire discography and had a lot of fun doing it, so this album couldn't have come at a better time.
There is so much to love about this album, I love how funky side A is and the productions and synths sound so good. I also love the melody of Sound and Vision, it will just randomly get stuck in my head. I also love how the end of side B gets more ambient, Warszawa is probably a top 5 Bowie song for me. Sometime I realized on this listen that I never noticed before are the guitar solos, there are a couple of guitar solos on this album that are a little buried but sound really great.
Also some fun stats: I am currently at album number 596, and have gotten 6/9 David Bowie albums but 0/5 Sonic Youth albums (which is who I am currently doing a discog dive of)
High 5!!!
Lupe Fiasco
3/5
I am only 3 songs into this album, but everything seems to be drawn out. This intro could have been 30 seconds, but it was 3 minutes, Real was only a 20 second chorus on repeat for 4 minutes. Just Might Be OK has actual verses and a chorus, but still feels too long. Also I am now noticing that his voice really isn't that distinct, not bad, just not very memorable.
Ok, I am complaining a lot, but this album sounds good, the beats are fun and he isn't a bad rapper. I think this album could be a 4 if it were trimmed down but as is I think it is a little bloated and repetitive (especially that outro).
High 3.
Stereolab
4/5
Pretty solid album, it reminds me of a more electronic version of the Cocteau Twins. I think this album is good, but it could be great if they took this sound further.
Mid 4.
Emmylou Harris
2/5
She's a good singer, but man these songs are boring. These are 2-3 minute songs stretched out to 5 minutes, and every song sounds the same. Once you heat the first 15 seconds of any song you can guess with 100% accuracy how the rest will sound.
Did we need to listen to this 60's country/folk artist's 19th album?
No.
Low 2.
Garbage
5/5
I listened to this album a few years ago and really liked it, but for some reason never listened to it again, so I'm glad to finally relisten to it.
This album has so many great choruses and hooks, a lot of really memorable parts. There are a few stinkers on here, but the good songs make up for it.
Low 5.
Beck
5/5
I am a huge Beck fan, and this is probably his magnum opus. One of the most unique albums of the 90's, it just combines so many crazy and unique ideas.
I think the more lowkey songs are underrated on this album, I really love Jack-Ass and Derelict, I think they just have really great vocal melodies. Also Ramshackle is one of my all time favorite songs.
High 5 (MF more dead than alive)!
Beatles
5/5
This album has some of the all time best Beatles' songs (While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Blackbird), but also some of the worst (Bungalow Bill, Wild Honey Pie). Also I think this is the most experimental Beatles album despite not really having any complex string parts, backwards masking, or any crazy studio tricks. There are just so many different genres and styles, weird songs, and insane song writing. I am also a Revolution 9 defender, I just think it is a really cool sound scape.
For a while, this used to be my favorite Beatles' album, but the length and the 2nd half of disc 2 do drag it down just a tad.
(This is also my 3rd 5 in a row, something I haven't done since 500+ albums ago, so lets see what we get tomorrow)
Mid 5.
The Smiths
5/5
First off, Death of a Disco Dancer is the most underrated Smiths' song, it is probably a top 5 Smiths' song for me. Secondly, I am just going to ignore Morrissey as a person, because this album is really good. I don't think it is as good as The Queen is Dead or Hatful of Hollow, but there are some really great songs like Last Night I Dreamed Somebody Loved Me (what a great song). I also love the "typical me" part of I Started Something.
This is also the longest streak of 5's I've had so far after 600 albums (four in a row). Let's hope for 5.
Low 5.
Bob Dylan
4/5
This album killed my longest streak of 5's (600 albums in), I know this is a 5 for a lot of people, but I am just not really a Bob Dylan guy. I think he is good, but I would never choose to put his music on.
I think this may be my favorite Dylan album so far, but I wish it wasn't a double album, some of the songs just sound too much alike. There are definitely some songs I would have trimmed, or removed in the case of the leopard skin hat song, but overall, a decent album.
Mid 4.
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
You know it is good and all, but for being just shy of an hour I need a little more substance. Like once you've heard the first 30 seconds to a song you've heard the whole thing. Some of the instrumentation on this album is also really sparse which doesn't help the repetitiveness feeling.
I'll be honest I kinda zoned out about halfway through this album and it just became background noise. This album isn't bad, but it isn't very memorable.
Mid 3.
The Pretty Things
3/5
This album walked so that Tommy could be an embarrassing mess of an album. This album is good, but not great.
High 3.
The Residents
4/5
For the longest time I had no idea Hello Skinny / Constantinople was not an original Primus song, but they couldn't have found a more perfect song to cover. This dude even sounds exactly like Les Claypool. Anyways I find this album pretty funny. It's not the most listenable album ever, but if you just have some fun with it, it can be a good time.
I know I am rating all the lowest rated albums high, but they are always the most interesting, and I love weird albums. How can you listen to The Birthday Boy and not have a huge smile on your face.
This is probably closer to a high 3 bit I'm going to round up.
Low 4.
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
I LOVE LCD SOUNDSYSTEM!!!!!!!
This is one of my all-time favorite albums. It is just sooooo good. If you aren't having fun and dancing while listening to this album maybe you just hate fun. So many of these songs are just have such a great groove, and then there are the songs Someone Great, New York I Love You, and All My Friends which are this weird blend of melancholy, nostalgia, and positivity.
I know it's not on this album, but I want to do something a little different for this review. In the song Losing My Edge off of their debut James Murphy lists a lot of bands that he was inspired by, and I thought it would be fun to figure out which ones were (+) and were not (-) included in the 1001 albums.
Can +
Suicide +
Captain BeefHeart +
Daft Punk +
Larry Levan -
Beach Boys +
Modern Lovers +
Niagra -
Yaz -
This Heat -
Pere Ubu +
Outsiders -
Nation of Ulysses -
Mars -
The Trojans -
The Black Dice -
Todd Terry -
The Germs +
Section 25 -
Althea and Donna -
Sexual Harassment -
A-ha +
Dorothy Ashby -
PIL +
Fania All-Stars -
Bar-Kays -
The Human League +
The Normal -
Lou Reed +
Scott Walker +
Monks +
Joy Division +
Lower 48 -
The Association -
Sun Ra -
Scientists -
Royal Trux -
10cc +
Eric B and Rakim -
index -
Basic Channel -
Soulsonic Force -
Juan Atkins -
David Axelrod -
Electric Prunes +
Gil Scott Heron +
The Slits +
Faust +
Mantronix -
Pharaoh Sanders and the Fire Engines -
The Swans -
The Soft Cell +
The Sonics +
Anyways, I love this album!
High 5!!!!!!!!!!
Meat Puppets
4/5
I am probably in the minority here, but I think the Meat Puppets segment of Nirvana's MTV Unplugged performance is the best part. I think Kurt really transforms those songs in a great way. They are still really good here, just not as intimate. Overall, this is a very good album, it is very unique, but there are a couple of songs I am not super crazy about.
High 4.
Supergrass
3/5
Eh... It is okay. It sounds good, but it also doesn't really sound all that special. No idea why Alright is such a big hit, that one was one of my least favorite.
High 3.
The The
3/5
It is okay, nothing on it is bad, just nothing that is really that interesting.
It made fine background music while I worked, but not something I would really return back too.
Mid 3.
King Crimson
4/5
I'm not really much of a prog guy, but this album is pretty good. I really like some of the quieter parts.
High 4.
Grateful Dead
2/5
I am a King Gizzard fan and I can see why they are compared a lot. But one thing King Gizzard does a lot better is make their jams interesting. This 20+ minute song had less ideas going on in it than a 1 minute punk song.
This album wasn't bad, it was just boring.
High 2.
Public Enemy
4/5
Very very solid album. Some songs are a little too repetitive, but overall it's a very fun album.
High 4.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
While doing this list, I've learned that I don't really care much about music that focuses on its lyrical content, and singer-songwriter is the genre that does that the most. This album is fine, but a lot of the songs all sound the same, and I find it a little boring. I know this is my problem not the albums but this is also my rating.
High 3.
Michael Jackson
4/5
The hits on here are some of the all time best pop songs, but there are just a few too many ballads on this album. I feel like the ballads were always Jacksons weakest element. I think they are better on this album then Thriller, but I still wouldn't choose to listen to them.
High 4.
Einstürzende Neubauten
3/5
I was really looking forward to this one, but I am kind of disappointed. I really wish they took it further and added more power tools. Most of the songs are just a single drum and a guy moaning. I was expecting super harsh noise with a jack hammer.
This is definitely a unique and influential album, but it is kind of a boring listen.
High 3.
Scissor Sisters
3/5
IDK, I was kind of expecting more from this album. I remember there one song from Just Dance and liking it, but nothing here really stood out. This just reminds me of a watered down Jamiroquai. Nothing on here is bad, but I just was expecting to have more fun with this one.
Mid 3.
John Lennon
3/5
I think during his time in the Beatles, John wrote some of the most experimental and boundary pushing songs. However, once he left and start releasing solo albums, he just wrote generic blues rock, and I lose all interest in anything he does. This isn't a bad album, just a very predictable and boring one.
I wonder what he thinks women's place in the world is?
Mid 3.
Ravi Shankar
3/5
It is fine. The individual songs feel a little too long for how much goes on in them for my taste.
Mid 3.
Pere Ubu
4/5
I love noise rock and dance punk so this album was basically made for me. First off, this is insane for 1978. I really like most of the songs on here, but there are a couple that fall flat. I am also not a huge fan of the singing, but overall this is a really great album.
Also the wordle for today was "noisy" and I thought that was funny.
High 4.
The Soft Boys
3/5
First off, this album cover is terrible.
This band may have influenced a lot of band, but everyone they influenced is a lot better than this, because this is pretty bland. It's not bad, but I don't think anything here really stands out.
mid 3.
Foo Fighters
4/5
I had a big Foo Fighters phase in high school, but haven't listen to them much in the ten~ years since. If I had to pick an album that was my favorite, it might be this one. I love the simplicity of it and it has some really catchy songs. I like This is a Call, Big Me, Good Grief, and I think Floaty is one of the most underrated Foo Fighter songs, that chorus gets stuck in my head all the time.
High 4.
Pink Floyd
5/5
I mean common, it's Dark Side of the Moon, this is one of the few albums that I consider basically perfect.
Time probably has my all time favorite guitar solo, Great Gig in the Sky is phenomenal, and I love how funky Any Colour You Like is.
High 5!!!!
Travis
3/5
Does it sound bad? No, not at all, in fact I kind of like how it sounds. But man, is this album absolutely nothing. I am currently on track four as I am writing this and can not remember a single thing from the first three tracks. This album goes in one ear and out the other. Even the "hits" sound exactly like all the other nothing-burger songs.
Not a "bad" album, but this makes no sense being on this list.
Low 3.
Tom Waits
4/5
I've listened to a handful of Tom Waits albums already so I knew what I was getting into, but when I turned this one on some random neuron fired and I said: "Oh my God, did he do that song in Robots", and then I realized IT WAS THAT SONG! So I was frantically looking up the soundtrack and it wasn't on there. I thought I was going insane, but I found the scene on YouTube and confirmed it.
Anyways this may be my favorite Tom Waits album, it's really weird.
Mid 4.
Leftfield
3/5
I am not going to do my UK electronica rant this time, but just let it be known that I think there are WAY too many of these albums on this list, and they are always WAY too long, and not that interesting.
Compared to all of the other electronic UK albums I've gotten this one is probably my favorite. It sounds the most like an actually complete project, it even reminds me of Massive Attack at some parts and has the same Incredible Bomgo Band sample.
However, like every other UK Electronica album this needs to be trimmed, also the second half just kinda becomes generic.
Mid 3.
Coldcut
3/5
I can't believe I got back to back 90's (technically 89) UK Electronica albums. I've really been getting into Electronic and dance music recently, but my God, this list has shown me I really hate this scene. I get that it was important, but did we really need 50 of these albums? They are never bad (besides that mj Cole one), but they are always a chore to sit through. Thankfully this one was a little more lively and I could see people actually dancing to it.
Anyways this was ok and I'll forget about it tomorrow morning.
Mid 3.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Probably my second favorite Led Zeppelin album behind IV, just a lot of really great songs. Not sure why Thank You has more streams than 1/2 the songs on this album though, it is my least favorite song on this album and I always forget it exists.
Low 5.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
It's good, but man I cannot stand Kendrick's voice, it is just way too nasally. When he is rapping it is fine, but any time he "sings" it is unbearable. Also there are some song on here that are just bad like Backseat Freestyle. Other than that there are some good beats.
Low 4.
The Dandy Warhols
4/5
Not really any notes on this one, just a very solid album.
High 4.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
Snoop has had a pretty controversial year, so I probably would have enjoyed this more if it wasn't for that. This was still a good album though.
One think I have to say is it feel like there are more guest vocals than Snoop himself, and the guest vocalist almost always outshine him.
Low 4.
The Flaming Lips
4/5
I've never really been able to get into the Flaming Lips, but this is good. Nothing here is really that great, but I think there are enough interesting moments throughout that it kept me engaged.
Low 4.
Basement Jaxx
1/5
Why are there SO MANY @%#^#^#% 90'S UK ELECTRONICA ALBUMS?!?!?!?!!? This is my 3rd one this week. Yeah sure it was an important genre for a brief period of time, but there are like 50 of these albums and they are always an hour long. Did we need all of them? No.
This albums is by far the worst one out of all the other UK Electronica albums. It is Soooooo annoying. It's like they tried to make the least danceable music. Usually in dance music the drums and instruments are played straight to make it easy to dance to but not here, songs like U Can't Stop Me, they just awkwardly start and stop each measure. And every song has to have the most annoying vocals ever. This feels like a shitpost.
This is one of the worst albums I have ever heard.
Low 1.
Radiohead
5/5
A perfect album. The perfect length, all killer no filler. I love how Body Snatchers is one of the most energetic songs they have ever written. Nude is also the prettiest song EVER written, we played this song when we cut the cake at our wedding. We also had our first dance to All I Need, so this album means a lot to us.
Weird Fishes is also a really pretty song, and I love Ed's harmony in the later choruses. All I Need has such a crazy bass synth sound, and I love how that song comes to a climax.
Also shout-out to Jigsaw Falling into place, Videotape and House of Cards.
High 5!!!!
Faith No More
5/5
I am a huge Faith No More fan, but for the longest time, I wasn't the biggest fan of this album because Mike Patton had a much more nasally way of singing on this album that he doesn't on future albums. I still don't think this is as good as Angel Dust, but it I now see it as a truly great album. Every song on here is just so much fun and it is such a unique style of music.
High 5!!
D'Angelo
4/5
I am not much of an R & B guy, but this is good. Reminds me a lot of Prince, but just more mellow and not as fun. A lot of the songs seem to go on just a tad too long, but overall a fine album. This feels like a 40 minute album stretched out to 55 minutes
Low 4.
William Orbit
3/5
Made fine background music, but nothing really stood out.
This is either my 3rd or 4th UK Electronica album in the last 2 weeks. Why is this list the 1001 UK Electronica albums you need to hear before you die?
Mid 3.
The Sonics
3/5
The Sonics. The Sonics. The Sonics. The Sonics. The Sonics. The Sonics. (IYKYK)
This album is good, it sounds more like 50's style rock than I thought it would. The recording quality on this one is really bad though.
High 3.
Kings of Leon
3/5
I am looking through my excel sheet (I am a nerd) and I am just now realizing that there are 3 Kings Of Leon albums on this list. Not sure who made that happen.
This album sounds like ever song on the "Rock" station in the 2000's, nothing is bad, but nothing really stands out. His voice also reminds me of someone that I find annoying, but can't place it. Maybe Mumford and Sons or something IDK.
Never realized Use Somebody was by them, but I could go with never hearing that song again.
Mid 3.
Bob Dylan
2/5
I've never really had a problem with Bob Dylan's voice, but my God this is unbearable. He doesn't even sound like himself anymore.
Not only does this album feel too long, but each individual song feels like it will never end. Each song starts with some generic blues/folk riff, Bob dylan moans for 5+ minutes, and the song follows the most predictable structure.
This is my 4th or 5th bob dylan album, and the only one, where I really can't see the idea. This one is bad, I'm sorry.
Mid 2.
Bee Gees
2/5
This album is sooooo sappy. Every song sounds like Can You Spare A Feeling from the Simpsons. One of the singers has a really strange vibrato that kinda makes him sound like Kermit.
Mid 2.
John Lee Hooker
3/5
It's ok, it isn't bad, but it also doesn't really do anything for me.
mid 3.
Gram Parsons
2/5
I. Hate. The. Byrds.
Why do they get like 6 albums on this list, and then every member gets 2 solo albums too. THEY ARE NOT THAT IMPORTANT!!!! Counting their solo albums they have more spots on this list than The Who and The Rolling Stones combined (and I am not even a big fan of those 2 bands). Their music isn't even that bad, it is always just SOOO bland.
I can't stand country, and this album is the most generic country album ever, I am sorry, but I cannot stand this album.
Low 2.
Terence Trent D'Arby
3/5
It's fine, kinda sounds like Disney music though (with a hint of Prince).
Mid 3.
Jane Weaver
4/5
I liked this more than I thought I would. Still not the greatest album, but I think it has a unique sound and she has a nice voice. Also Valley is just the Twin Peaks theme song.
Mid 4.
Def Leppard
3/5
This is probably the most 80's sounding album I have ever heard (derogatory). It sounds really dated, but it was big at the time.
Mid 3.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
It is really strange that a band that is essentially a one hit wonder has 3 albums on this list. This album really could be left off. It isn't bad, but nothing really stood out. A lot of the songs feel too long as well.
Mid 3.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
This is probably the most derivative album I have ever heard. If I wanted to listen to Public Enemy I would just listen to Public Enemy. These guys don't really add much to the sound and some of the songs really drag on. But overall it is good.
High 3.
Giant Sand
3/5
It is good, and there are some moments that I think are great, but as the title says this album is a "chore" to get through. Too many of the songs just kinda drag on and really delude those great moments.
High 3.
Electric Light Orchestra
5/5
Some of the best production of the 70's, I really love the string arrangements. There are a couple of songs here I am not crazy about, but there is enough great music that it balances out.
Low 5.
The Afghan Whigs
3/5
I feel like I should have liked this more. Nothing here is bad, but nothing here really stood out. It all just sounds like generic 90's rock (this is coming from someone who loves 90's rock).
High 3.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
Protection is one of my favorite Massive Attack songs, but nothing here really stands out. There isn't anything bad here, just nothing that great. I do like this one better than their other album on this list.
High 3.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Solsbury Hill is an all-time banger, nothing else on the album comes close. There are a lot of different genres here and I find that interesting, even though some of them are pretty weird.
This is right on the edge of a 3 and 4, I guess I can give it a slight bump.
Low 4.
The Go-Betweens
3/5
I have had so many of these middle-of-the-road nameless bands recently. It is fine, it sounds like a watered down version of Echo and the Bunnymen. Actually, every song just sounds like a slowed down version of Big Mouth Strikes Again, but without the catchy melody. This album is fine, and a couple of songs stood out, but I did not need to listen to this before I died.
High 3.
Green Day
5/5
So many of these songs are overplayed to hell, but man, as an album everything just flows together so impressively. This is probably the best sequenced album of all time. All of the singles are great but I really love Homecoming and Jesus of Suburbia. The later is such an impressive feat for a punk band. It is almost 10 minutes, but it feels like 5 and is jam packed with so many great hooks.
High 5!
The Beau Brummels
3/5
There are a handful of these 60's psychedelic rock / country albums by bands no one remembers. This one might be my favorite out of the bunch, it's not great, but it isn't bad, and more importantly it is short.
Mid 3.
Motörhead
4/5
Ace of Spades (the song) rips harder than almost any other song ever written, and then the rest of the album is this weird mix of hard rock and blues.
Low 4.
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
I usually find these 60's Psych Rock bands that I have never heard before to be pretty boring, but this one stands out. I don't think it is great, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Roller Coaster was my favorite song.
High 3.
Youssou N'Dour
4/5
A very fun album. I love all of the percussion and horns. One of my favorite African albums so far!
High 4.
Pulp
3/5
This album is good, but it pales in comparison to their previous album. The songs on the last album just felt so much more bombastic, and the melodies were stronger. This is still a decent album though.
High 3.
The Cure
5/5
A huge improvement from their debut album, it sounds a lot more somber and slowed down. I love the production on this album, especially the bass, and Robert Smith's vocals are a lot better here too. A Forest is easily one of my favorite Cure songs.
Low 5.
Jacques Brel
3/5
It was fine, but I am writing this review 12 hours later and don't remember the album.
Low 3.
Magazine
4/5
Very solid album, some standout songs.
Mid 4.
Nirvana
5/5
The most influential album of the last 40 years hands down. Every song on here is killer. Kurt just had a knack for writing great melodies.
High 5!!!!
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
As an addendum to my last review I just realized that I Nevermind was my 666th album generated, which is cool i guess (I don't really know how to relate that though).
Anyways, this album is fine. It jumps through a lot of genres and styles, not a lot of cohesion throughout. Every song sounds like it had a completely different producer. Some of the songs (the more country ones) were pretty bad, but other than that this album is good.
Mid 3.
Caetano Veloso
4/5
Pretty good stuff. My biggest criticism is that some of the songs seem a little too short/unfinished. He has a great voice though.
Mid 4.
Os Mutantes
3/5
I like experimental music, but this just seems like "lol we are so random". It's fine.
Mid 3.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
I am not a big fan of Leonard Cohen, but this one wasn't so bad. I think the mix between his song writing style and synths is interesting. Some of the songs are a little boring, but overall, a decent album.
Mid 3.
David Bowie
5/5
I recently finished listening to David Bowie's discography and ranked them all, I believe I put this one at number 5. This really is one of my favorite Bowie albums, it has a playful charm that not many of his other albums have. A lot of the songs here are also really fun to sing along too, a lot of great melodies. I also really enjoy the theatrical elements of this album, especially in the song Time.
High 5!!!
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3/5
The album is good, and has some unique ideas. Some blues albums can just be the same song 10+ times, but each song here has pretty different sonic palettes.
However, Eric Clapton is one of the most overrated guitarist and a terrible person. I also can't hear really any of what he contributed, besides the solo on Have You Heard.
Mid 3.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Very good blues album, I had an Eric Clapton "blues" album yesterday, and you can really hear the difference. This one sounds sooooo much more authentic and from the heart.
Mid 4.
Femi Kuti
4/5
A very fun album that continues the legacy of his father.
Mid 4.
Elliott Smith
5/5
As someone who really doesn't care much about indie folk, or singer songwriter music that much, Elliott Smith is truly great. I don't know if this is going to make sense to anyone else, but I see a lot of the same songwriting techniques in Elliott Smith that I see in Kurt Cobain. They are both super authentic, and able to create amazing catchy melodies, that seem so deceptively simple that anyone could have come up with them. However, Elliot Smith is much more on that sad / somber scale compared to Kurt Cobain's angst and rage.
Anyways, I really enjoyed this and have been meaning to listen to it for a while now.
Low 5.
Fiona Apple
5/5
This seems to be a very personal album for Fiona Apple, and a pretty good one at that. A lot of really good song writing and great hooks. I don't normally like this kind of music, and didn't really connect much to her other albums that I have heard, but this one is very good.
Low 5.
John Martyn
2/5
Let's be honest, no one has ever heard of this guy and this album really has no business being on this list. First off, I cannot stand his voice, there are some okay instrumentals but this guy cannot sing. Also I have no idea what they are talking about with the trip hop comparison, I don't see it at all.
High 2.
Blur
4/5
I am a sucker for unique 90's rock albums. There is a lot to like here, a lot of the songs take really strange turns and none of the songs sound like any other song on the album. Also Song 2 is an all time banger, and I don't even care that the song was made as a joke (maybe they should have made more jokes because it is a really good song). This is close to a 5 for me, but there are a couple of songs that I am not really crazy about.
High 4.
The Style Council
3/5
This album is all over the place in the worst way possible. I like albums with wide sonic palettes, but I also like some element of cohesion. The first half of this album is fine, and I enjoy the instrumental jazz songs (the ones with vocals are a little generic). However, the second half has, a hip hop songs, a new wave/synth pop song, a song with a fiddle, a wannabe Steely Dan son, and more weird jazz soft rock. This is really close to a 2, but I will round up.
Low 3.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
This is one of the most impressive albums ever written. It is over 2 hours of all-killer-no-filler bangers, but it feels like an hour mainly due to the phenomenal sequencing. I think this is probably the best sequenced album ever, every song just flows so perfectly into the next one, and there is a great balance of ballads and high energy rock songs. There are the obviously great songs on here like Zero and 1979, but I want to shout out, Here is No Why, Bodies, Muzzle, Thru the Eyes of Ruby and especially X.Y.U., no song gets my blood pumping like X.Y.U. (it is also really fun to drum along too).
This is the best double album.
High 5!!!!!
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
This is the only person in the world who kinda sounds like Geordie Greep, besides that there isn't really that much that is interesting about this album. I feel like if I was around in the 70's I would have really dug this, but music has come such a long way since then that I don't really find it that novel. Not really sure why this made the list, the two sentences in the summary are just quotes from other musicians saying this guy is cool.
Mid 3.
The Specials
2/5
I bet this was influential, but man this album is not very good, especially towards the end. I can't believe there is a song where they just name James Bond movies. I really started to get a headache towards the end of this. It isn't the worst thing though...
High 2.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
I am not that big of a Neil Young fan, but this is undeniably a great album. I already knew Cinnamon Girl through the Type O Negative cover, but besides that there are a bunch of really great songs. I especially really enjoyed the last song, with the extended solo.
Low 5.
Sonic Youth
5/5
It almost took me 700 albums, but I finally got a Sonic Youth album. I am a big fan of noise rock and few bands do it better than them. Kim Gordon is my favorite female vocalist and she really makes the band for me. Kool thing is one of the coolest songs ever written. I also love the noisy freak out sections throughout the album.
High 5!!!!!
Eagles
3/5
The song Hotel California is good, albeit overplayed, and I think Life in the Fast Lane is kinda fun, but besides that I cannot stand The Eagles. They just write really boring songs. This album is a lot better than their other album on this list, but I am still not crazy about them.
Low 3.
Maxwell
4/5
I am not much of an R&B ran, but this is a very solid album. Very good production and funky beats.
Low 4.
The Strokes
5/5
I am a sucker for rock bands with a really unique style, and The Strokes are definitely one of those bands. This is basically a perfect album, 35 minutes of non-stop back-to-back bangers. A lot of really great guitar playing, catchy melodies, and great vocals.
High 5!!!
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
I'm not the biggest reggae / Bob Marley fan, but this is a pretty good album. My biggest complaint is that some of the songs sound too similar, but besides that it's a good album.
Low 4.
Frank Ocean
4/5
One thing I've learned while doing this list is that I don't really like R&B, it's not that I dislike it, I just find it very bland. This however is one of the better albums. Not something I'd return to, but I see why people like it. It right in-between a 3 and 4 for me.
Low 4.
The Libertines
3/5
They definitely have a unique sound, but not one I am super interested in. The album is good, but not something I am not going to return to.
Mid 3.
Tortoise
3/5
The 20 minute song starts off really well, and I could see it slowly turning into a super epic explosive song, but instead it just kinda turns into a wet fart of nothing. Around the 11 minute mark the beat changes to something more interesting, but not as exciting as the opening led me to believe.
I want to like this album so much more than I actually do. I can see a lot of elements from albums I love, but it never quite takes their ideas far enough to be interesting. Some of the albums this reminds me of are: Slint - Spiderland, Can - Tago Mago, and Soft Cell - Third.
High 3.
The Pharcyde
5/5
This is a really fun album. East coast hip hop is my favorite, especially when it is on the jazzier side. This reminds me of A Tribe Called Quest, but just a slight step down.
Low 5.
The Only Ones
3/5
This has all bad the elements of Television and Velvet Underground (Dated production, "unique" singer, rough around the edges) but none of the elements that make them some of the greatest musicians (great songwriting, interesting and genre pushing ideas, being able to sing a note).
What I am trying to say is this is just diet Television and it is not very interesting. It is fine, but no one needs to listen to this before they die, unless they want to listen to the 1001 British albums that you maybe kind of heard of that one time.
Mid 3.
Dr. Octagon
4/5
I am a big fan of some of Dan the Automator's other work (Lovage, Gorillaz, Deltron 3030) so I was pretty excited for this one. However, sadly this is my least favorite thing I have heard from him. It is still good, and there are some stand out songs, but there are just too middle of the road songs, too many skits and too many songs that just feel like a bad joke.
Overall, I enjoy the production and there are some standout songs, but there is also a lot of filler here.
Low 4.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
This lacks a lot of what made Trout Mask Replica so unique. Without the weird avant-garde instrumentation this is just a kinda generic blues rock album. It's not bad, but I don't think it really stands out. It just feels like a lesser Zappa album.
There are still some things to enjoy though, I like the weird synths that appear sporadically.
High 3.
Ice Cube
5/5
This is one of the greatest rap albums ever. Such great beats throughout the album but the first half is especially good. The second half of this album does have a slight drop in quality, but overall it is still a great album.
Mid 5!
Gorillaz
5/5
There are definitely some stinkers on this album, but the highs are so high that it balances it out, also the production throughout is just superb. I really like the early Gorillaz catalogue when they had more obvious Trip Hop elements.
Low 5.
Van Morrison
3/5
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, but that isn't really a compliment because I thought I would hate it, but came away thinking it was ok. First off this album is too long and a lot of the songs end up sounding the same, also some of them are a real slog to get through. The saving grace of this album is the live band.
Nowhere near the "one of the best live albums ever" as the description made it seem like. The real best live album is Stop Making Sense and it pisses me off everytime some boomer slop live album makes this list and that album didn't.
Mid 3
10cc
3/5
I always wrote off 10cc as a generic dad rock band, however they are a lot weirder. There are some very strange creative choices on this album and most of them don't really pay off. This isn't a bad album, but it is a strange one.
Low 3.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
3/5
The instrumental parts are the best parts, the parts where he is singing are really cheesy and lame. These guys know hiw to play thier instruments really well, but they are not great songwriters.
Mid 3.
Fugees
3/5
I originally got The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill the same week as Low End Theory and Enter the Wu Tang and thought that it was over hyped; a good album but not the best rap album as people made it seem. This time I get the Fugees right after The Pharcyde and Ice Cube's The Predator, and once again I feel like this is the weakest of the three.
On Miseducation I thought Lauryn's style of singing/rapping got a little tiresome after an hour+ of music, but I was excited to have her voice broken up with two other rappers. Sadly these guys are charisma blackholes. They sound so bored on almost every song and their flows aren't very exciting. Their verse on Family Business sounds like the "I am riding down the autobahn with megatron" freestyle (or whatever that was).
Once again this album is just too long.
Also the Chinese restaurant interlude is definitely a thing that happened.
High 3.
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
It's fine, nothing really stood out though. Not much to say about this.
Mid 3.