715
Albums Rated
3.53
Average Rating
66%
Complete
374 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Rock-and-roll
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
115
5-Star Albums
12
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kings Of The Wild Frontier
Adam & The Ants
|
5 | 2.83 | +2.17 |
|
Greetings From L.A.
Tim Buckley
|
5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
|
Good Old Boys
Randy Newman
|
5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
|
Street Signs
Ozomatli
|
5 | 2.87 | +2.13 |
|
Eli And The Thirteenth Confession
Laura Nyro
|
5 | 2.94 | +2.06 |
|
Joan Baez
Joan Baez
|
5 | 2.96 | +2.04 |
|
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
|
5 | 2.98 | +2.02 |
|
Searching For The Young Soul Rebels
Dexys Midnight Runners
|
5 | 3 | +2 |
|
The Coral
The Coral
|
5 | 3 | +2 |
|
Fifth Dimension
The Byrds
|
5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Drunk
Thundercat
|
1 | 3.12 | -2.12 |
|
Scott 4
Scott Walker
|
1 | 2.8 | -1.8 |
|
Konnichiwa
Skepta
|
1 | 2.74 | -1.74 |
|
KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
|
2 | 3.74 | -1.74 |
|
Kid A
Radiohead
|
2 | 3.71 | -1.71 |
|
Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagon
|
1 | 2.7 | -1.7 |
|
Orbital 2
Orbital
|
1 | 2.7 | -1.7 |
|
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
|
2 | 3.66 | -1.66 |
|
To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
|
2 | 3.61 | -1.61 |
|
Illmatic
Nas
|
2 | 3.61 | -1.61 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 5 | 5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 4 | 4.75 |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 3 | 5 |
| The Who | 5 | 4.4 |
| Talking Heads | 4 | 4.5 |
| Deep Purple | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Doors | 3 | 4.67 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Kinks | 3 | 4.67 |
| Queen | 3 | 4.67 |
| Funkadelic | 2 | 5 |
| Van Halen | 2 | 5 |
| Van Morrison | 2 | 5 |
| Bob Dylan | 6 | 4.17 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 4 | 4.25 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 3 | 4.33 |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | 3 | 4.33 |
| U2 | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Scott Walker | 2 | 1.5 |
| Orbital | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (115)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Eagles
4/5
The Eagles are so easy to listen to, and I hate it. Their harmonies are like honey, even when there is a country twang to the rock. Every song I didn’t know was worth the listen.
3 likes
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
5/5
Normally I would say this was too long, clocking in at just under 2 hours, but the songs are so well done I was going to listen for that long on repeat, anyway. It’s finger-plucking good.
3 likes
Alice Cooper
5/5
Cooper’s jazzy rock has always always appealed to me, and, as one who just can’t seem to get out of high school, the satire of School’s Out is all the more appealing. Grading on a slight curve.
2 likes
Louis Prima
5/5
Great harmonies and great horns. It’s impressive that he could take one song that was 25 years old and another that was 40 and make them modern hits (that others have covered as recently as ‘17). This had me smiling and swinging, from start to finish. Keely Smith has great vocals in front and in harmony.
2 likes
The Human League
3/5
Bold move putting the two best songs last on the album. Mostly arcade noises and simple lyrics. This album is an oversimplification of what the early 80s were. A 3 is generous.
2 likes
1-Star Albums (12)
All Ratings
Ella Fitzgerald
5/5
George and Ira’s lyrics and compositions combined with Ella’s beautifully controlled voice (no scatting here) was perfect.
Supergrass
4/5
Very interesting and fun.
Fiona Apple
2/5
Billy Joel
4/5
The good songs are great, the others are just okay.
Depeche Mode
3/5
Interesting parts, but mostly simplistic mood music. Better than Violator - maybe.
Röyksopp
2/5
While there were some good beats, I mostly wanted it to be over.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Fine enough, but not something I will look for again.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
Creative. Wish I could like it more, but only “Relax” works for me.
Funkadelic
5/5
There is not enough good funk in the world. Rounding up because this album should be available to hear in more places than just YouTube.
Youssou N'Dour
3/5
Suede
3/5
Good production and playing, but it does little for me.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Straight up great blues singing.
Solomon Burke
4/5
Loved that he gave a shoutout to Sam and Charles. Very good music, even if not hits.
Robert Wyatt
2/5
For acid trippers? It’s a bad trip for me.
Digital Underground
4/5
The way I like my hip hop: silly. 3.5
Blur
4/5
Bloated, but there is a lot of good alt rock here. Too bad they didn’t know what to cut.
Incubus
3/5
Did nothing for me, and I forgot I was listening to music a couple of times.
The Residents
1/5
Absurdist “music.” I assume I had to hear it to know someone tried it; it cannot be that anyone liked it.
Fela Kuti
4/5
Fun rhythm, taking their time with every song.
The Stooges
4/5
Perfect name for the album, and when I want some I’ll know where to look.
Little Richard
4/5
Made me want to take off my shoes and find a sock hop! Some variety, but it’s the feel-good vibe that makes this so good.
Jane's Addiction
5/5
The Who
4/5
Dion
2/5
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Steve Winwood
2/5
Harry Nilsson
5/5
Paul McCartney
3/5
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
Moby
2/5
Bob Dylan
4/5
Boston
5/5
Pixies
3/5
Julian Cope
4/5
Mercury Rev
2/5
Michael Jackson
4/5
Soundgarden
5/5
The Killers
3/5
Blondie
4/5
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Skepta
1/5
Pretenders
4/5
Public Enemy
4/5
Elliott Smith
3/5
Hole
4/5
Eurythmics
4/5
Michael Kiwanuka
2/5
Astor Piazzolla
2/5
Maxwell
2/5
Santana
5/5
The Police
4/5
Pantera
3/5
AC/DC
4/5
James Brown
3/5
Jeff Buckley
5/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Elton John
3/5
Ozomatli
5/5
Scott Walker
1/5
The Soft Boys
3/5
The Smiths
2/5
Tom Waits
2/5
Hüsker Dü
3/5
The Go-Go's
4/5
Stereolab
2/5
Teenage Fanclub
3/5
Baaba Maal
3/5
Norah Jones
4/5
Janelle Monáe
5/5
Deep Purple
5/5
Supertramp
5/5
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
3/5
Aerosmith
3/5
Rocket From The Crypt
4/5
Talking Heads
4/5
The Verve
3/5
Cypress Hill
3/5
Adele
4/5
Thundercat
1/5
Eagles
4/5
Laura Nyro
5/5
Count Basie & His Orchestra
5/5
Doves
3/5
Beth Orton
3/5
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4/5
Sigur Rós
2/5
David Bowie
2/5
Robert Wyatt
2/5
Beatles
5/5
Oasis
4/5
Fatboy Slim
3/5
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Frank Ocean
2/5
Charles Mingus
3/5
Beatles
5/5
The Streets
2/5
Beastie Boys
4/5
The Beta Band
4/5
Miles Davis
3/5
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
B.B. King
5/5
Leonard Cohen
4/5
John Prine
4/5
The Temptations
4/5
4/5
The Byrds
3/5
What’s special about covers, especially when they aren’t re-arranged? The Byrds play fine, but there is nothing special about this particular album, and I hope no one things these are their songs.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
I understand why they did it, but this album would have been better with just the really good songs, instead of being a double album. 4+
Blur
3/5
Different band, same problem: they would improve simply by dropping a few mediocre songs. Better still, drop the pretentious silly noises on most songs. There was potential to be a solid album.
The Smiths
4/5
MUCH better than their previous album. Their darkly humorous lyrics were secondary to upbeat and unique music that kept my attention.
Elvis Presley
4/5
Good, but not great. Really a 3.5, but I’ll give half a point because Elvis’s vocals are more mature or because of the saxophones. Probably the saxophones.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Three great songs spaced out, with good and okay songs in between, led to three full listens yesterday. 4 stars for the music and 1 for the balance.
3/5
As with many orchestral songs, there are parts I like and parts I don’t. But at the end of the day, there was almost nothing memorable about this album, except for the concept.
Neil Young
3/5
Getting drunk and high and playing music might be a way to grieve the deaths of friends; recording the music and selling it does not make it great. The grief is palpable on these tracks.
The Who
3/5
The humor and the tribute to pirate radio aside, the music is uneven, making “I can see for miles” stand out. It’s worth a listen to hear the birth of Tommy in “Sunrise” and “Rael” but people would have to wait two more years for that brilliant album.
Kendrick Lamar
2/5
Lamar likes to play with a theme throughout an album, as an extended story. This was clear from m.a.a.d., which was a better album with songs that might linger. This one had none.
Scott Walker
2/5
Unnecessary redundancy, but better than SW 4.
The Specials
3/5
Worth listening to, if only to try to figure out if it is good music. For me, it had really good moments (like the second half of “Stereotypes”) and a lot of juvenile tracks (especially on the second side). Other bands did the sound better.
Duran Duran
4/5
Disco pop is not my thing, but this is what you get when people have talent and they know how to produce quality sound: a solid album. “Rio” is the standout hit.
Tori Amos
4/5
Worth listening to again. Strong, interesting vocals; impassioned lyrics; balanced instrumentation. Not sure why I avoided her music in the past.
Dennis Wilson
4/5
Wilson knows how to jam. Even better on the second listen.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
I would wear out the A-side of this album, if I had it, but the second half is lacking the energy that makes this group so good.
Nick Drake
2/5
Drake has nothing on Jim Croce or Donovan. Fine for background music at a pub, but the lyrics are laughable and the vocal creative range is minimal. I cannot believe there’s more than one album on this list.
Butthole Surfers
4/5
Since Butthole Surfers is to hard rock as Miles Davis is to jazz, I shouldn’t like this album - but I do. The group’s ability to create catchy phrases of lyrics and riffs, along with keeping each song and the album short, made me want more. The jerks!
The Flaming Lips
2/5
Van Halen
5/5
Jungle Brothers
3/5
Often mundane music, but the lyrics were good.
The Incredible String Band
1/5
While amusing at first, by the end of the album and the beginning of a second listen, I felt all that was missing was electric shock therapy and some official insisting that this is what good music sounds like.
The Divine Comedy
4/5
Tender, poignant, and humorous. Scott Walker could have learned a lot from this guy.
Eagles
4/5
The Eagles are so easy to listen to, and I hate it. Their harmonies are like honey, even when there is a country twang to the rock. Every song I didn’t know was worth the listen.
The Human League
3/5
Bold move putting the two best songs last on the album. Mostly arcade noises and simple lyrics. This album is an oversimplification of what the early 80s were. A 3 is generous.
The Hives
4/5
Quite late in the game for punk, but enjoyable.
Radiohead
3/5
I expected more from Radiohead than Sleepy Pop.
Method Man
2/5
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
This is the folk music I grew up on: superb poetry and harmony.
Radiohead
3/5
Better than In Rainbows, this is still nothing to write home about. The first really interesting song was the ninth.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Probably a 3+,but much better to my ears than Radiohead. The early tracks are the best.
Frank Black
3/5
Waylon Jennings
4/5
Really good music, for country. I was hoping for one more upbeat song, but the slow-dancing songs have a beauty to them. Some fun lyrics!
Nirvana
4/5
Good for both MTV and grunge.
Dr. John
3/5
Worth a listen for its strangeness, but I expected more from psychedelic swamp rock.
MGMT
3/5
Fun for background dance music, but none of the songs stood out to me. 3.5
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
Taking ok music and making parts dissonant does not make any of the music better. Poor philosophy that others glommed onto.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Love the beats and the way they finish each other’s lines. Kickin’ it old school.
The Doors
4/5
Plenty of good music here. I just wish Morrison would let the band jam more; a few of the songs would have been better without the vocals.
Duke Ellington
5/5
Damn, that is some red hot jazz! I love that the crowd recognized how good it was, even for a festival.
Sly & The Family Stone
5/5
Not only are the songs’ lyrics powerful, but the arrangements bring out an energy from every instrument and voice that beg to be listened to over and over again.
Guided By Voices
2/5
Guided By Voices answers the question of whether one can get to know a band through samples.
Carpenters
3/5
Great vocals, but not my cup of tea. Music to make one sad.
Dr. Octagon
1/5
Immature concept in every respect. Alice Cooper: Welcome to My Nightmare succeeds where this one fails.
Ray Charles
5/5
Normally this would be a 4 for me, but context matters. Appropriating these songs in 1962, re-arranging them (often for the better), and choosing songs with lines about chains and being a slave and having it harder than others suddenly becomes much more poignant. Don’t tell me he was blind to what he was doing.
Paul McCartney and Wings
5/5
Made it through three listens and would have gone for a fourth if there had been time. Great energy and a lot of subtleties worth unpacking.
John Cale
3/5
Uneven; it started well enough, but by the fourth song I was dreading finishing the album. Even as the songs got better, those few tainted the collection.
Arcade Fire
4/5
They’ve perfected the second half crescendo, with a driving beat (and organ) that beg for this album to be used in celebration/as a pick-me-up. Just right for the last day of the year with students.
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
Looking for the line between noise and music, they must have gotten spun around and lost the horizon. Awful.
Erykah Badu
3/5
Pleasant voice and interesting compositions, but the songs ran too long to keep my attention - R&B rambling.
Iron Maiden
3/5
This would be a four if there were no vocals; the singing does not hold up against the deft guitar licks. I think they knew this, as the singer often sounds like he is behind the instruments. A tip of the hat to “The Prisoner” clip. Three plus.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
One of the best groups for Blues Rock. Only a few radio-play songs here, but that does not diminish its appeal. Great balance of ebb and flow energy, and what a Stomp! I’ll round up.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
I wanted to like this more, but after two listens I didn’t feel there was anything memorable about this album. Good, and easy to listen to, but not memorable.
De La Soul
4/5
Their energy is infectious despite (or maybe because of) their juvenile behavior, much like watching children playing at recess. Guessing samples from songs of my youth is a game in itself.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Amazing how quickly this double album flew by. Brilliant!
The Lemonheads
3/5
The sound of many bands in the 90’s that strayed from or rebelled against synthesized sounds of the 80’s. Difficult to tell this group from the rest. Songs don’t really move past the hook.
Tim Buckley
5/5
I feel I stumbled upon a backwoods after hours lounge. It’s a bit naughty, but the musicians are giving it their all, and I am totally captivated. I gave it three listens and I’ll be back for more soon!
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
I can see this album’s influence on Grunge bands and, therefore, it was worth a listen. Beyond that, it was not as good as those that come after it, especially the vocals, which do not blend well with the rough music. Three plus.
ABBA
4/5
Abba is a guilty pleasure for me. The harmonies make me blush like a kissed teacher. This album was fun throughout, even though I only knew two songs.
Billie Holiday
4/5
This was not the jazz I was expecting from one of the greats, and that really affected my first listen. However, the second go round I heard how the orchestration fills in the space around Holiday’s vocals beautifully, and, while this is not Holiday in her prime, her vulnerability connects so well with the songs she’s chosen. Depressingly emotional from an aging, worn out singer at the end of her career.
Mariah Carey
3/5
Running scales are tiresome, but her voice is beautiful.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
I have always wanted to like Elvis’ work, but the songs I have heard have not caught my interest (except for the hit “Veronica”). Clearly I have never heard this album. It’s good and catchy; I liked it even better the second time. Probably a 3.5, but I’ll round up to a 4 because it was startlingly not strange.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
It’s amazing none of these songs became generational hits. Each is compelling, and Armatrading’s vocals are understated beautifully.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Lesson: Good things happen when you dwell on your problems and you put them out there for the world to hear.
The Dictators
3/5
Something to be said for hearing the first of a genre. Thankfully there were others that liked the sound but believed they could do better. The two covers aren’t as good as the originals. Quite a silly album - and there’s a place for that.
T. Rex
4/5
Elements of the Troggs and Mungo Jerry, it’s a fine sounding album, with “Bang a Gong” at the next level.
Gang Of Four
3/5
It started out interesting - good bass lines- but grew tiresome, until the last song.
Missy Elliott
2/5
Supposedly this album changed rap. I can’t say it was for the better.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
It starts a little slow, but it is a nearly perfect side two. This version of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” is a lasting masterpiece. Rounding up.
Drive Like Jehu
3/5
Solid noise for those who like to jam.
Randy Newman
5/5
Can almost give this a 5 for “Rednecks” alone. Ballsy, patriotic, and heart-crushingly tender, this album is a true salute to the Deep South. I would have loved to hear it performed in Georgia, with Newman conducting the Atlanta Orchestra.
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
Too much experimental electronica, not enough hard rock.
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
Just enough (or little enough) industrial and electronic sound to make things interesting.
Herbie Hancock
5/5
From the first notes of “Chameleon” I was enthralled, and it didn’t even matter that it became chaotic during “Sly” or sounded like music that would be used on Buck Roger’s.
The Pharcyde
4/5
Very catchy, despite its raunchiness and crassness. Their energy and playfulness works, as it does for De La Sol and A Tribe Called Quest.
The War On Drugs
3/5
Mellow mood music.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Solid, but leaving me wanting more.
fIREHOSE
3/5
Despite being enjoyable and interesting, with a sound that seems to have influenced bands of the 90s, most songs feel incomplete. A great sampling of their talent that I would listen to again; frustrating that I cannot give them more than a 3 because of what’s missing.
Soft Cell
4/5
Probably would have been more popular in its time if not for the subject matter. More than three singles here.
Derek & The Dominos
5/5
Clapton could take a 40 year old standard and make it sound as new as his own compositions. This studio album sounds like a live album, jamming for an incredibly short hour and seventeen minutes. Encore!
Napalm Death
2/5
Was it really 28 songs or 28 variations of the same song? Like a child’s tantrum, thankfully it was over quickly.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Three albums in one year!? No wonder they were writing about forgetting songs and breaking bones to get a vacation.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
I was thinking this one wasn’t going to be as good as the other two we’ve had, but then “Save the Life of My Child” began and I remembered how good this album is. “Fakin It” and “A Hazy Shade of Winter” are two of my favorites. While “Overs” through “Bookends Theme” are subdued, there is power in their message that gets more poignant to older I get. All the emotions are on display on this one.
3/5
It did make me grin to hear what is the quintessential sound of the 80s. However, that doesn’t make it automatically good. The only song here I know/remember is “The Look of Love” and that is easy to pass over.
Kanye West
2/5
So he’s been spouting nonsense for a long time. The last song really shows his ego.
Pavement
2/5
Who are these pretentious punks? Their good songs are rip-offs of great artists, like Buddy Holly and Dave Brubeck; and they openly dis Smashing Pumpkins for no reason. Pavement was meant to be walked all over with no second thought or listen.
Tracy Chapman
4/5
Musically, the first songs are the most interesting, and this is a three star album; however, the socio-political nature of the lyrics take this up a notch. Unfortunately, still relevant today. “Talkin’ about a Revolution” is worth a listen.
Muddy Waters
4/5
This seems to be old hat, but as the “first” live blues album, it’s showing just what the blues were all about. As I listened, I couldn’t help but think of a generation of rock artists who were influenced by Muddy Waters, from the Beatles to the Stones to the Yardbird - and everyone they influenced as a result.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Dank groovin’ throughout this album. “Graveyard Train” is especially good.
Sam Cooke
4/5
It’s too bad this album sat on a shelf for 22 years. Cooke shows that he knows how to party, changing up each song just enough to make it a unique experience and keeping the crowd involved. Slightly higher rating for the spirit captured in the album.
Michael Jackson
3/5
It has the good singles, but the rest is quite forgettable. I don’t think the next generation will look kindly on the album.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
If I am going to listen to hip hop, this is the type of album I’d choose: lots of energy, positive, and a bit silly.
Kid Rock
2/5
I’m totally biased, but so is he.
Neil Young
4/5
Solid Young, which is saying a lot after Tonight’s the Night. Good blues riffs.
Slipknot
3/5
If I’m ever in the mood for heavy metal, this might be the type I’d listen to: some variety to the yelling.
Lenny Kravitz
4/5
Surprisingly enjoyable, and nice to hear several songs with positive messages.
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
Solid album, with their own songs being the strongest and the weakest contributions. The covers are mostly good by being unique, except for “You Baby,” which is a poor knockoff of the original.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
5/5
Excellent blues! While Clapton headlines, his guitar does not seem to feature more than the other instruments, and the standout moments of sax, harp, organ, and piano, make this a well-blended album. Mayall it a great artist.
M.I.A.
4/5
Catchy beats from a British hip hop artist AND the title helped her reconnect with her activist father? I’ll round up.
Stan Getz
3/5
Easy listening, but not as interesting as I expected.
Eminem
2/5
Given time, he doesn’t upset me like he used to, but I still don’t like it.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
The great thing about Marley is he found a sound that works so well that there isn’t much of a drop from the great songs to the lesser known ones.
Can
2/5
Not being on meds, I could not appreciate the noises they created. Except for when they “sang” or involved animal sounds, I was tolerant enough to round this up.
Metallica
4/5
They know what they’re doing, and they do it well. “Orion” was enjoyable.
Jamiroquai
4/5
I’m going to want to listen to this funky, festive album again. Unfortunately, I couldn’t remember any particular song shortly after listening. Maybe that changes with repetition.
Common
3/5
Interesting religious theme to some of the songs. Otherwise, it sounds like so many of the others.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Good, driving beat, but annoying repetition of simplistic lyrics. Forgettable.
The White Stripes
4/5
Minimal, but usually with a sound that is fuller than two people ought to have. Always creative and interesting, if not always great.
Ananda Shankar
4/5
The two covers may have been the best part of the album, proving that Eastern and Western music can mix. 3.5, but I’ll round up.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
5/5
The influence on the Beatles and countless other groups came from so few songs (three albums), but what songs! Add to that the nostalgia of my father singing them and that influence on my music appreciation, and that these songs are still hip, albeit naive, tunes. What could have been had he not taken that flight?
The Stone Roses
4/5
This is a 3.5 for me: it was artistically unique for its time and kept me entertained, although I didn’t give it as thorough a listen as normal.
Turbonegro
3/5
Started well enough, but played themselves down.
Arrested Development
3/5
Good message, good beat, but lacking the banter that other groups deliver.
Gene Clark
3/5
I see why it sold poorly in the US: it’s not bad, but there is no standout for radio play. An example of several famous musicians coming together and not making a great album.
Nina Simone
4/5
Melancholia for its own sake is not for me, but these songs have purpose. Especially powerful are “Four Women,” “Lilac Wine,” and “Either Way I Lose.” These songs may have been castoffs from her other albums, but there is a respect given to each one that’s worth a listen.
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
This album forced its rating down by choosing to keep a couple of annoying songs on an already lengthy disc. Rave material that’s too fast for most workouts and too long to bounce to in one sitting. 2.5.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
I really disliked some of these songs, but I unexpectedly liked others. Weird, but playful.
Beastie Boys
4/5
A lot going on, and good samples throughout, but not as enjoyable on the second listen. 3.5
Metallica
3/5
Well done, but I didn’t want to listen to it again when it was over. Maybe that will change with time.
The Who
5/5
Three hits and a lot of really fun “others.” “The Ox” shows off Moon’s talent. Rounding up.
Nick Drake
2/5
The music is good, but the vocals and lyrics make me cringe. The first and last songs are the best, as they are vocal-less.
George Harrison
5/5
Being stifled by two great artists can lead to something like this, once freedom prevails; however, instead of doing a “solo” album, Harrison chose to surround himself with other greats, including Dylan, Billy Preston, Clapton, and members of The Band (among others) to create this masterpiece. Thank you, John and Paul.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
Fun, upbeat African beat throughout. Did I hear the sound of the chorus to “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” on one of the songs? Definitely influenced several artists of the time.
Cream
4/5
This is a 4.5 for me. A few iconic songs, some good , and a few fillers. The great songs seem to end abruptly.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
It sounded fine but, as ethereal as dream pop is, I have forgotten nearly everything I heard now that a night has passed.
The Bees
3/5
3.5: There are a lot of interesting things going on in most of the songs, and the members really seem to know what they are doing with the construction of these songs. Maybe worth another listen one day.
Screaming Trees
4/5
Good representation of 90s rock. The upper side of 3.5 and worth listening to again.
The Byrds
4/5
Phew, there is a Byrds album I do like: when they do psychedelic folk. Good harmonies and haunting sound on this one, with “Artificial Energy,” “Draft Morning,” and “Tribal Gathering” standing out.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Interesting concept: going from acoustic to electric, although it would have been better if it built throughout. Other than first/last song, the music wasn’t really interesting.
Circle Jerks
2/5
Too manic.
Love
2/5
I know what is sophisticated, and what is well produced, and then music critics go and rate an album like this 37th best ever. What?? While the arrangement can be well done, like on “Live and Let Live” (easily the best song on the album), the singing and the lyrics can also be a disaster, like on “andmoreagain.” Even the Wrecking Crew couldn’t fix what ailed this album.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
Exactly what we should get from a supergroup: brilliant lyrics, harmony, and playing.
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
3.5 that I’ll round to 4 because the 80s vibe and the subtle commentary on British society worked for me.
Goldfrapp
2/5
The potential for greatness was there, however the choice to have psychedelic, French cafe, alien, clown music made it too strange for anything more than background noise.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
4/5
Highbrow rap about themes of the day (that are mostly still a problem).
Beatles
5/5
A masterpiece. This is everything Let It Be was not; finished and well-conceived. A fitting encore that seems to show something new on every listen.
CHVRCHES
2/5
The negativity in the lyrics in the lighthearted, upbeat music was disturbing. Not for me.
The Vines
4/5
Good variety of rock styles kept my interest. A nice surprise.
Paul Simon
3/5
Seems to be missing something and, while it might grow on me with more listens, it falls flat the first two times.
5/5
Fully conceived concept album. Serious and silly, complex and garage sounding, as only the Kinks could do.
Tim Buckley
3/5
“Pleasant Street” is by far the best track. There are other good ones, but the folk ballads of wandering vocals keep me from giving a higher rating.
Wilco
4/5
Surprisingly good. They knew how to make an interesting rock song, so the random noises didn’t detract.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I’ll assume I’m rating the UK version, which is a pity because the US version has “Paint It Black” on it - a superior song to the also great “Mother’s Little Helper,” which inexplicably is only on the UK version. Sadly, neither song can prevent my disgust with the second track, “Stupid Girl,” and several subsequent songs about misogyny. The 11 minute blues jam “Goin’ Home” is worth a listen, as it pushed the stereotypical limits on a song. This record reminded me that the Stones, at their core, are not just a blues band, but a country-blues band.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Great jazz for foreground or background, orchestrated for long grooves. The venture into electronics even seems natural. I’ll have to remember Masekela.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
What pipes! Great lyrics and depth, but the last song’s jazzy slide blew me away.
Television
4/5
Similar to Talking Heads. A grooving punk, alt rock type band. Definitely worth more listens.
Pere Ubu
2/5
Honking reed instruments and smashing cups are musical? Not for me. Too bad, as there were moments of good music underneath.
Merle Haggard
3/5
I respect the music, but the twanging country is not for me.
Pulp
3/5
Breathy/whisper rock annoying at times. Odd blend of sorrow and cheer in the music.
Lou Reed
4/5
There’s something about Reed’s voice that sounds unpracticed, unpolished, and often flat, and yet ultra cool. Or maybe that’s why he sounds so cool. This is an album for multiple repeat listens.
Sonic Youth
3/5
It was okay.
King Crimson
4/5
Floyd-like, but without any connecting thread from one song to the next.
Joy Division
3/5
First two and last two songs were the best here, but the album was just okay. Terrible name for the sound.
The Byrds
4/5
Tried too hard with backwards tracks and Indian instruments, but the harmonies were spot on. Mostly good songs.
Slayer
2/5
Not my speed.
Neil Young
4/5
Young knows how to sound emotional, and the emotions run the gamut on this album.
Janis Joplin
5/5
Man, did she know how to sing the blues! The one song on the album without her voice (because she had passed away) reminds us that there was a funky band there, too.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
The second record is the better one, because there is some funk to it; however, I just can’t get into this soul.
Soul II Soul
4/5
From their name, I thought there would be double what I don’t like, but they brought the funk to each and every song.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
There is something about this album that transcends Soul. Quietest political music ever.
Depeche Mode
3/5
Better on te second listen, but still a 3.5.
Sebadoh
3/5
What a range of rock. Some of this is quite good, but some is quite bad/weird.
SAULT
4/5
Second quietest political album this week. A good companion to What’s Going On.
Meat Loaf
5/5
Brilliant wit and irony abound throughout this musical style rock album. Beloved by preteen me, and I still find myself singing along.
Simple Minds
3/5
More complex than Depeche Mode, but it still didn’t grab my attention.
The National
4/5
High enough 3 to round up. Something interesting here.
Talking Heads
5/5
There’s a lot of interesting things going on with the percussion and strumming. Well produced. And then there’s Byrne’s vocals. 4.5
The Clash
4/5
I like this a lot, but still a bit raw and, perhaps, not enough variance in the second half. Unfairly, perhaps I am comparing with what comes next.
Sepultura
2/5
A one trick pony, if playing hard (to like) is a trick. It certainly was no treat.
The Yardbirds
5/5
Complex blues rock. There is something new to appreciate with every listen. The percussion is fascinating. Much better in stereo!
Paul Simon
5/5
Brilliant! This is what happens when everything aligns. Thank goodness for that car trip south!
The Libertines
4/5
There is a rawness that is either genuine or contrived, but it works. Retro 60s vibe to the rock.
Heaven 17
2/5
What started off as all right became intolerable, and I was openly mocking it by the end. Unsuccessful second listen.
Queen
5/5
More vaudeville than opera, there’s a bit of everything here. And, as with the Marx brothers’ movies, it takes several listens to fully appreciate the wit.
The Beach Boys
3/5
This seemed behind the times, rather than ahead. I know vocal harmonies were their thing, but I forgot how little they did anything else.
Jean-Michel Jarre
2/5
Might be a good meditation album, except for the lasers.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
The PT Cruiser of the music world; like it or hate it, it’s worth discussion.
Beck
4/5
So different from other rap/hip hop albums. 3.5 that could be rounded up or down depending on the day.
Prince
5/5
Really well produced. 4.5
Orbital
2/5
While different from each other, each song was too monotonous for me.
Coldplay
4/5
I wanted them to have more energy, but what they brought was a 3.5.
Raekwon
2/5
Not for me; crass language, and the music was boring.
Happy Mondays
3/5
Rhythm was fine, but the vocal and lyrics were juvenile.
Devendra Banhart
4/5
21st century folk; a cross between Donovan and Mungo Jerry.
Foo Fighters
4/5
Solid 4. Could be a 5 by removing the last two songs and a middle one. Impressive what one drummer can do without any band mates.
Cheap Trick
5/5
This is a solid 4, until the second side, and then it turns it up a level. “Ain’t That a Shame” through “Surrender” is shear bliss. Then we add the bookends of “Hello There” and “Goodnight” before the encore and we have a perfectly packaged concert. The constant cheering of the fans added another layer of energy to the set. This is what I want in a live album.
Drive-By Truckers
2/5
Some interesting lyrics, but country rock.
Parliament
4/5
They funked me in the ear, and I liked it!
Orange Juice
3/5
There is some good playing here, but the choice to sing dramatically the most foolish lyrics ruins several songs. Is that a Scottish thing? Quite a rollercoaster.
Radiohead
2/5
More sleepy pop from Radiohead. Innocuous, but dull; and I think their title proves they knew it.
Faith No More
4/5
Better the first listen, but it gets the benefit of a dry week.
Rush
4/5
No hooks that I’ll remember, but great orchestration, and a distinctive voice that sucks me in.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
So much that should have been cut out of this one. A few good songs. Weird pronunciations, such as “may” for “me” did not endear him to my heart.
The Afghan Whigs
4/5
Breakup themed. This was surprisingly interesting music.
Jack White
5/5
Just listen to the last song to realize there are no cheap throwaways on this album. Clever and interesting throughout. 4.5
Megadeth
3/5
I’m more tolerant than I was at 12. I’ll try again at 88.
The Stooges
3/5
Definitely challenging people’s definition of music at the time. Unimaginative lyrics, but interesting instrumentation.
Motörhead
4/5
There’s only one speed to this album, and every song is pretty much like the next, but I like it.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Really good; right up there with Ella and Billie. If I have a complaint, it’s with the continuous short line, pause being in every song that would make this monotonous if not for her distinct voice.
Badly Drawn Boy
4/5
Too long to be listened to twice in a normal day, yet fun and interesting folk pop. Will listen again sometime.
Adam & The Ants
5/5
Two drummers is a great idea for a band that cares more about driven sound than message. The hooks are repetitive and often silly, but that’s extraneous. 4.5
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
It might be my failure, but I didn’t hear much of interest. I liked their first album better.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Not enough in these songs to really hook me, although I can see the artistry and talent.
Kings of Leon
4/5
This music tries to be inspirational. I think it succeeds well enough to round up.
Hanoi Rocks
3/5
It had some moments that raised its score, but I did not hear a reason why I needed to hear this album.
Prince
4/5
Not as good as Purple Rain, more eclectic, but the quality production is still top notch. High 3.
Thin Lizzy
4/5
Wasn’t impressed with the album, but that might have been the commercial interruptions. The last 20 minutes were untethered and I was able to fully appreciate their concert sound. Annoyed that Apple Music does not have this album.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Such energy. Continues my concept that multiple people rapping with and over each other is better than single rappers.
Sonic Youth
2/5
This album did not agree with me.
The Temptations
4/5
Iconic couple of songs, and the rest was okay. 3.5
The Magnetic Fields
4/5
This is a clear 3.5 for me: the styles, instruments (and vocals) run the gamut, with a tongue in cheek look at the variations of love. Compelling enough. The half step up is more a celebration of making it through without becoming disgruntled.
The Divine Comedy
4/5
Lyrically funny, like a pompous musical performance. I would have liked to have a second listen.
Weather Report
3/5
I was promised heavy weather and all I got was light rain and fog. Funky version of Parker’s “Birdland,” but the addition of the synthesizer to the jazz didn’t do anything for me.
Portishead
3/5
The vocalist and her haunting voice make this album. The instrumentation supports it, but it is rather blasé when she isn’t singing.
Morrissey
3/5
It started well, but the energy of the first song didn’t last. The others were rather basic.
Rod Stewart
4/5
His chain-smoking vocals (3) are rough, but the arrangements (4.5) are great. “I’m Losing You” is the prize winner.
Bob Dylan
4/5
This might have been the transition, but it’s not a great album. 3.5 Worth the listen, but not worth possessing. Yet, I feel for this guy.
Rod Stewart
3/5
Second and last songs were really good, but Stewart’s vocals do nothing to enhance the others. Jarring duet at one point.
Joanna Newsom
3/5
Dadaist lyrics, which is too bad, as she had a lovely voice.
Garbage
3/5
The music was fine, but not memorable, even the hit. 3.5
Eminem
2/5
If he had just stuck to politics, posers, and positively neurotic fans this would be a great album. Unfortunately, the ultra homophobic and misogynistic songs weigh too heavy and sway my vote.
Slint
2/5
The spoken lyrics were really annoying. If they changed alternative, it was not for the better.
Christina Aguilera
3/5
My guess: the second record is the one someone wanted to make, but everyone thought it was too risky by itself. For me, it was the better, more interesting half.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
Fine, but nothing stood out to me.
XTC
4/5
Inventive and well produced. Worth more listens.
5/5
So inventive and so much fun to sing along to. Very difficult to top, and yet I think they did - twice!
UB40
4/5
Groovy music.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Whereas the Stones brought a mix of blues and country to rock, Zeppelin used blues and bluegrass; that makes all the difference - that and the superb vocals. Each song on this album is great, and together they are balanced.
OutKast
2/5
Supposedly one of the greatest rap albums ever; however, following Zeppelin, it showed a lack of rhythm, and its energy was too monotone.
Talk Talk
3/5
I can see some people really liking them; for me it was ok.
Steely Dan
4/5
B-side is the dominant side, upping the tempt a bit. Cool jazz is not my thing, but their creativity and vocal work makes it click.
Van Morrison
5/5
I often wonder about spending more money on a concert ticket than it would take to buy the band’s entire repertoire; Van the Man’s album shows us why. Each song is taken in a perfectly new direction, creating a new experience. His understanding of jazz makes his blues truly unique. The first record and the last couple of songs are masterpieces. And no overdubbing!!
Tears For Fears
3/5
Aside from the couple of hits, this album was disappointingly dull. Should have been a single.
Deerhunter
2/5
Evidence that there was a lack of good music in 2010.
Kate Bush
4/5
This album is greater than the sum of its songs, and it really needs to be listened to in one sitting. I liked it better each time.
Sheryl Crow
4/5
Folk pop, but also country and jazz in here.
Bonnie Raitt
3/5
If I squint, half of these songs sound like they could be on a Christmas album.
Van Morrison
5/5
Brilliant blend of folk, blues, jazz, and gospel.
Tom Waits
2/5
There were a couple of songs near the end that saved this from a 1 rating.
Janet Jackson
3/5
It was just okay for me, although I know it was iconic in its day.
The Replacements
4/5
Very polished unpolished sound that took me by surprise. 3.5 or higher.
King Crimson
3/5
Top notch first song, but the rest are all low energy snoozers. Incredibly disappointing.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
3/5
Liked the beats, but not the spacey-ness that went with it. Good for background or exercise music.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
5/5
Normally I would say this was too long, clocking in at just under 2 hours, but the songs are so well done I was going to listen for that long on repeat, anyway. It’s finger-plucking good.
The Doors
5/5
There is something about their groove; I think it’s the organ that separated them from other blues rock groups (except for the Animals). 7 greatest hits songs to start the album isn’t too shabby.
Johnny Cash
4/5
His cough, the way he interacts with the inmates, and these songs being performed in a prison are more interesting than the songs themselves.
Various Artists
4/5
The Ronettes and the Crystals rock these standards. Hokey intros, but that’s a part of Christmas.
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
The few good ones keep this from a 2, but 2 hours is really asking for it.
U2
4/5
Poignant politically charged album that still sounds good.
PJ Harvey
3/5
The extra noises did nothing for me. Good voice; forgettable music.
The Sonics
3/5
The garage band sound quality doesn’t hold up well. This is a 3.5 that might be a 4 if re-recorded with today’s equipment.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Great beat in the first half of the songs. I was interested throughout.
The Charlatans
3/5
A couple of interesting songs, starting with 51.
John Grant
2/5
Generic, but pleasant, music with silly lyrics. It really started to annoy me in the second listen.
Dolly Parton
4/5
Great harmony. The songs that bent toward bluegrass are the best; the country did not annoy me.
Elvis Presley
5/5
Holds up well for being almost 70 years old. While Charles’ “I Got a Girl” and Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti”originals are better, Presley’s voice is incredibly good on almost every track. A giant in his time.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Costello is a challenge, with his non-traditional song formation - probably stemming from his love of jazz. The Attractions seem to keep him more grounded, though. This is definitely worthy of the list.
The Teardrop Explodes
4/5
Silly pop that works.
Pixies
4/5
Juvenile at times, but the music is mostly really good.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
There is music in here, but it’s wrapped up in annoying, often flat, sounds.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
The first half is more interesting than the second, but it is too good to downgrade. Not sure how I feel about the message of the final song.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Great voice. I wanted to like this more, but it was too monotonous and I couldn’t follow the stories.
The Velvet Underground
5/5
The jitters of “Waiting for My Man” and the rollercoaster experience of “Heroine” transcend most songs into shared moments of true empathy. There is something about these songs that, even with the distortion of the music or the off-key notes, allows the peak performance to be heard. Brilliant and challenging compositions.
The Gun Club
4/5
This blues-y punk worked for me.
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
About 15 minutes of music that worked for me, but a 70 minute run-time meant that wasn’t nearly enough.
Funkadelic
5/5
I hit it, but I could not quit it. Two plus listens, and I want more. They bring the psychedelic, then the funk, and then the psychedelic again - and it’s brilliant!
The Kinks
5/5
More complex than their previous album in its simplicity: This is an album about memories and the good old days, so the song styles harken back, while tinged with 60’s rock. Not as catchy as others, but impressive.
Deep Purple
4/5
I’ll round up, due to its creativity and influence on Sunny.
SZA
3/5
Interesting, but not for me.
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
I’m not sure this is their best album, although the titular song is iconic; however, they influenced generations of stadium and arena sports with this sound, which is not nothing. I really hope Fats Waller is on this list for comparison of organ/piano tickling.
Bad Brains
4/5
This is heavy metal light, and I kind of liked it, although I can’t remember any of yesterday’s songs. 3.5
John Lee Hooker
4/5
Great way to learn styles of blues, and Hooker smoothly works with each artist’s style. A few songs are too simple/slow for me to give this a perfect score, but it’s more than a four.
Talking Heads
5/5
Great album, between Byrne’s energetic singing and the lead and bass phrases that start each song. It’s a wonder there are only two greatest hits here.
Steely Dan
4/5
I’m understanding and respecting these sophisticated compositions more in my older years. The jazz within is quite good.
Taylor Swift
4/5
Bubblegum pop for the new generation. Like its predecessor, it makes you feel good and is easy to sing along to. The crescendo to every song creates endorphins, but it is as formulaic as those simple 50s/60s tunes.
Jurassic 5
4/5
The interesting, fun, inspiring songs outweigh the dull ones. 3.5
4/5
There’s something I like about this raw sound.
John Martyn
4/5
Solid album of blues. Loved his vocal inflections, from sandpaper to butter; and the electric and bass violin held it together.
Small Faces
3/5
They had me with their psychedelic rock right up until the last song, and then they completely lost me.
Songhoy Blues
3/5
A blending of western and African; good background music, but nothing I would seek out.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Brilliant as a psychedelic concept album. My interest would lag on a few songs if not for the storyline effect; and too many amazing songs to worry about the others.
Perhaps I am rating this too high because I had such low expectations, but I found the songs to be mostly enjoyable, without any lemons.
Missy Elliott
3/5
Interesting to listen to once, but not something I would seek out a second time.
Sex Pistols
4/5
I don’t care for his voice on most songs, but the band’s sound is really good, throughout. The sound starts off with prog riffs from ten years prior, and then the second half has music that we don’t hear until the eighties or nineties.
Britney Spears
3/5
Easy to make fun of her vocal growl and lyrics, both of which were probably chosen/influenced by others. Campy, but not annoying, as the arrangements were decent.
Dexys Midnight Runners
5/5
I did not know they were so prominently a horn band. A second listen was essential, and I’m looking forward to many more. Rounding up.
The Notorious B.I.G.
3/5
Not for me. I thought I would be able to hear how much better Biggie was than other rappers, but I couldn’t.
The Sugarcubes
4/5
Weird, but really interesting. Worth another listen.
Ice T
3/5
“Body Count” to “Escape…” are worth listening to and bring the rating up.
David Bowie
3/5
This didn’t really hold my attention, even though I wanted it to. The songs were forgettable.
R.E.M.
4/5
No gems, but this is the sound they stick with through the great ones. Rounding up because this is ‘83, and they seem to come out of nowhere sounding good.
The The
4/5
Maybe there is something to working solo, until needing to bring in musicians. Full sound, catchy, and interesting.
The Jam
3/5
I really want to rate this higher - every time I start thinking it’s a simple song they do something interesting; however, I’m not going to seek it out, and the songs aren’t likely to come back to me. I don’t know they were ever truly punk, but this is pop that gets its sound from the late 60s. The final song was fun.
The Go-Betweens
3/5
Guitar work was decent, but the vocal was fine to annoying. I blame Lou Reed for being so good that many people have tried to copy his style and failed. “Was There Anything” was the best song, hands down.
The Associates
2/5
If these are the associates, I want to work alone.
Dwight Yoakam
3/5
I wouldn’t walk out of a bar because of this music, unless they were playing the Dixie song, but I would never seek it out. Whatever.
Klaxons
3/5
Next time I want to jump up and down for 35 minutes with music I might choose this album - or not.
Tortoise
3/5
I rarely hear music that is interesting and dull at the same time: interesting concepts, but so simple that I found myself thinking of listening to Kansas, who, 25 years earlier, did this much better.
Radiohead
4/5
Definitely better than the other albums of theirs we’ve had, but there was no hook for me to remember yesterday’s songs; this is not my preferred style or time period of music.
Louis Prima
5/5
Great harmonies and great horns. It’s impressive that he could take one song that was 25 years old and another that was 40 and make them modern hits (that others have covered as recently as ‘17). This had me smiling and swinging, from start to finish. Keely Smith has great vocals in front and in harmony.
Mylo
2/5
The tactic here seems to be to bore rock to death, which they put into practice throughout the long album. I’m not sure, but I think they played a couple of “songs” a second time.
The Saints
4/5
3.5ish, but I’m rounding up partially because the previous day’s album was so bad. Again, a punk band that is feeding off the riffs of the ‘60s.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Dylan is best on this album when he is being sassy, with “Rainy Day…” and “Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat.” Good, but not great.
The Beach Boys
3/5
This is the sound of the world passing them by. Wilson seems to be throwing everything at the wall to see if it sticks. A few very interesting songs (and sounds) that made this one worth a listen.
Lauryn Hill
4/5
Better than most of the rap we’ve heard, as far as content is concerned (mostly from male artists). Better on the second listen.
Alice Cooper
5/5
Cooper’s jazzy rock has always always appealed to me, and, as one who just can’t seem to get out of high school, the satire of School’s Out is all the more appealing. Grading on a slight curve.
Joe Ely
4/5
A large section of country seems to be on display here, from waltz to boogie, with some accordion, string, and organ to keep things interesting. A few typical (read: boring) tunes, but I’ll still round up.
Sister Sledge
4/5
It didn’t have to hit me over the head to send its message of love. A slow groove, but one well worth listening to. Can you dig it?
Steve Earle
2/5
This is the type of country that irritates me: basic instrumentals, foolish lyrics, and vocals that countrify every word.
Mudhoney
4/5
Even better after an annoying album. Give ‘em some fudge.
Brian Eno
2/5
It started tolerable, but the bit of singing was annoying, and then the noise really didn’t sound like music anymore.
Solid bluesy and jazzy rock tunes, with Rod sometimes taking a backseat on vocals. By this time, they have dropped “Young” and the foolish psychedelia.
Ray Price
3/5
A crooning country singer, a la Elvis and Bing; but he is neither. The monologue at the beginning is ridiculous.
5/5
The first three songs are iconic on an otherwise solid album. This is their peak before a great fall… but what a peak.
Jane Weaver
3/5
The last 30 seconds of this album was obnoxious. A good voice, especially in harmony, but the spacey/electronica was only interesting once, if that.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
The best songs here are not better than the best from Mellon Collie, but this is tighter.
Gil Scott-Heron
4/5
Piano jazz is not my cuppa, but this is quite peaceful and pleasant. The two best songs are “Bottle” and “H2O Gate Blues” which make this album worth listening to. Gil Scott-Heron, where are you when we need a song about this admin?
David Bowie
4/5
Bowie and Van Morrison are jazz musicians at heart; while Van is standards, Bowie is free form; and, while I didn’t know where Bowie was going with many of these songs, the album grew on me. A lot of tributes here, a lot of silliness and sarcasm (I think), and two great songs in “Changes” and “Life on Mars.”
The Offspring
5/5
Better than solid, the lyrics, hooks, and rhythms blend into a top notch album.
The The
3/5
Good to hear only to realize how much he grew/improved with the next album. The last two songs are the best.
Slade
4/5
Lots of good rock, including a memorable voice that works well with the sound.
CHIC
4/5
Easygoing disco sound that worked well for a predawn commute. They are having fun, and it spills over to the listener.
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
Strange, but mostly background music.
Lou Reed
2/5
Not a good album to listen to after a hard week. Lou is an advocate for the forgotten urban’s plight, which I respect, but I’d prefer this album if there were no vocals. His voice was just too jarring for me.
Hot Chip
3/5
Like sticky, sweet candy: the memory of it does not last, and if you have too much (55 minutes!) you regret having any.
Gary Numan
3/5
While more interesting than Hot Chip, it was not as much fun. Sadly, other than “Cars” it lacked memorable hooks. One-handed keyboarding does not impress.
Kate Bush
4/5
She takes some time to adjust to, but this album’s emotions come through in every song. I’m becoming a fan.
The Stranglers
4/5
Interesting punk: more of a strut than a stomp.
OutKast
2/5
Too few enjoyable songs to validate the 135 minute run-time. I relished the sound of traffic when the album was finally over. (The second album was the better of the two.)
Serge Gainsbourg
3/5
Good bass line, and it made me laugh, but who not named Melody would buy this album? I guess it’s the French answer to Barry White.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Lots of honky tonk blues here; great stuff. The titular track might sound like a Beatles title, but the mostly over the top singing sounds like “With a Little Help From My Friends.”
Keith Jarrett
3/5
Good background music, but jazz with only a piano is rarely enough.
Dusty Springfield
5/5
So many hits here! And they seem to keep building until the end. 4+ but I’ll round up because of the unexpected pleasure of the album. Thank you, Memphis, for filling out these great songs.
Les Rythmes Digitales
3/5
This was equal parts interesting and tedious, as it introduced a new sound/rhythm and then repeated it to death.
The Mars Volta
4/5
Their mix of Pantera and Santana works for me, at least when I might be in the mood for that kind of mix.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Beautiful voice. While I like her next album better, I can see why this is a top 100 album.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Pop and discotheque: middle school dances must have loved them.
Chicago
5/5
So many greatest hits songs on this album I can forgive “Free Form Guitar.” Amazing horns!
The Who
5/5
Brilliant. The two or three songs that are a tier down from Greatest Hits are still great songs. This is a desert island album.
Manu Chao
4/5
A lot of fun and, as a result, I will round up; however, I don’t think it is better than other good world-music bands.
Elbow
4/5
Subdued but pleasant. Some of this reminds me of Carbon Leaf in their quieter moments. Easy to listen to multiple times; however, it might possibly run its course.
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
Pleasant groove, but you’ve heard the entire song’s sound after the first 20 seconds - merely repeating for another 5 minutes.
Brian Eno
3/5
I respect his love of sounds and his ability to fill up the silence/round out a full sound, but I don’t feel enough about these songs to round up. Talking Heads sound in the first songs; I can see why he worked with them on an album.
Lorde
3/5
I’ll admit I like the songs, but they’re mostly (all) the same formula: quiet solo singing with single note or chord, slow build to dance celebration - whatever the subject matter. It makes it difficult to round up.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
5/5
The harmonies are beautiful; the songs are a product of the hippy movement.
Madonna
3/5
It didn’t annoy me, and the dance beats changed throughout; actually, it was mostly interesting, although simplistic lyrically, and deserves a 3.5, but I won’t round up.
The Cure
3/5
Kate Bush does this sound better.
Brian Eno
3/5
I respect what he was doing, and a few songs remind me of Adam Ant, but I wouldn’t reach for this album when there’s an option.
Jerry Lee Lewis
5/5
I would be upset if I only got 22 minutes out of a concert ticket, but as an album it allows for “all killer and no filler.” Easy then to listen over and over without complaint. Top notch boogie woogie, reminding me how much fun piano jazz can be.
Richard Hawley
3/5
I wanted to like this more, but the lack of range, backup singers, harmonies, and variety make this too stripped down for me. I’ll stick to the classic melancholic crooners if I feel the need.
Common
2/5
Same topics and same inherent problems as most solo rap albums on this list. Not impressed.
LTJ Bukem
1/5
Because the waffle maker breaking and the difficulty finding the album is probably not LTJ’s fault, I am going to round up; however, the same repetitive beat and little else for nearly an hour and forty-five minutes certainly is. It’s difficult to call this monotonous drivel music. I prefer silence.
Marilyn Manson
4/5
He’s got the beat.
Kings of Leon
4/5
Interesting and fun(except for “Milk”) alt blues rock.
Miles Davis
5/5
The sounds of a misty New York at dawn, when the city seems empty. Normally I prefer peppier jazz, but this is iconic.
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
Pleasantly surprised by this one. Full sound and rhythmic rapping of more than basic messages.
M.I.A.
4/5
The British vocals and the Indian rhythms made this hip hop more compelling.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Chorus-less songs really don’t work for me on this one.
TLC
3/5
The more I listened the less I liked it.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Like a cattle drive over the dusty plains, this album is raw but rewarding. Even in its simple state each song (guitar and vocals) sounds unique.
MC Solaar
4/5
This is the way rap should be: funky rhythm and lyrics that I don’t even try to understand. Actually, rap is perfect for the French because more words rhyme en francais.
Alice In Chains
5/5
Great hard rock, song after song.
Mekons
3/5
Playfully bad? Are they trying to make others feel better about their own musical abilities? Just good enough in the right places to make them interesting.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
This is the iconic voice of Indian/Pakistani songs for generations. The music is good, but generic to my ear.
Pere Ubu
2/5
As with their other album on this list, the instrumentals can be good, but the vocal is too distracting and annoying to warrant a second listen.
Miriam Makeba
5/5
From “Mbube” to the end I was hooked on the beauty of Makeba’s voice and the humor or seriousness of each song. Simply mesmerizing.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Chose to go weird to distinguish themselves in the 90s rock sound. It doesn’t help. Rounding up.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
2/5
20% of this rating is probably due to the pouring rain on the highway, but the other 80% is all Orchestral Manoeuvres. Too monotonous; they should have turned on the lights to find a few more keys.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
3/5
Yeah, I can see its influence on music I don’t really care for. It was clever in spots.
Jethro Tull
5/5
A second listen improved the score; while I have a difficult time with folk Tull, rock Tull has a bluesy complexity that has me wanting more. “Aqualung” and “Locomotive Breath” are the standards, but this is a great album from start to finish. Slightly rounding up.
Gram Parsons
3/5
Interesting enough to give a second listen. Some fun and some sincere songs. 3.5
Frank Sinatra
3/5
I don’t care for Sinatra’s voice, despite Jobim’s playing.
Talking Heads
4/5
Can really hear Eno’s influence on this album. Good, but not as good as some of their other albums. I don’t know if he made this one better or worse.
Skunk Anansie
3/5
Hard to pin down, but the vocals on the harder stuff didn’t work for me.
The Icarus Line
4/5
More hard rock album than alternative, in my opinion. Slight rounding up.
The Fall
2/5
The vocals were far too distracting to listen the music. Again, the influence of Reed and Morrissey led to some awful followers.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
What a great start! It lets down a bit on the third song, but I was willing to still give it five stars, until he chose to lose the funky vibe with ten minutes of talking that was unnecessary (or could have been summed up in 30 seconds). The fifth song was good, but it had lost the momentum by that point.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
First time through I noted the easy listening tunes; the second time through I was wowed by the creativity from one song to the next. Not my normal, by I have to tip my cap to a great artist.
The xx
3/5
I liked the duet sound; the songs were rather basic and not memorable.
Basement Jaxx
2/5
For dance music, this one felt a bit like drowning.
Billy Bragg
4/5
Should I listen more to this album I can see myself singing along. Sometimes silly, sometimes political, always Cockney; somehow it works.
Peter Frampton
3/5
Quintessential 3.5 for me; although, I have to admit only the last side would get any play, if I had this album.
New Order
4/5
Interesting enough for an immediate replay. Dance music that’s sophisticated enough that you can sit down and listen to it.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
I still feel like making fun of the hip hop rock songs, even if they are okay.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Like exploitation films, there is a rawness here that’s not necessarily bad, just true. Good to return to every now and again.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
I can’t say that these songs are amazing, other than “Stir it Up,” but they put/kept me in a good mood. 3.5
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
This is performance art meant to annoy. Except for the bass line, it succeeded.
Aerosmith
5/5
A tamer Tyler and the desire to bend genres created a dynamic album. David Lee Roth and U2 were probably influenced by this one.
Randy Newman
4/5
I love Newman’s voice, whether he is being sincere or sarcastic. This one is really easy to listen to.
Madonna
3/5
Glad there was variety to the songs, but there wasn’t anything here to write home about.
Cowboy Junkies
4/5
The right venue for these songs. Really good blues, and a great vocal for “Walking After Midnight.”
Wire
4/5
Better the second time through. The short songs take some getting used to. 3.5
The Black Crowes
5/5
First: I think the Stones had a major influence on this group. Second: they are a mix of Southern rock of the 8s and the alt rock sound that formed much of the 90s. Great energy and talent shown here. 4.5
Frank Zappa
4/5
Very sophisticated jazzy jams. Some jarring moment prevent a top score. “Gumbo” and “Green Genes” were favorites.
Fugees
3/5
Interesting that they used samples of songs from this album on this album. Otherwise…
Japan
3/5
Definitely the 80s synth sound. Not hard to listen to, but not likely to be remembered. I prefer Nico’s “All Tomorrow’s Promises.”
Bob Dylan
5/5
Easy to listen to; easy to get caught up in the lyrics and meanings. Dylan show his voice is a musical instrument, with various tones. The funny songs are just as good as the serious ones here.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
MAYBE I would score this higher on another day, but not today. It was just okay.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Some good moments, but too much talking/whispering. I don’t know what to think of using “Werewolves of London” instrumental for “One of Those Things.”
4/5
Perhaps because everyone was saying I’d hate it, but really because it was fun to listen to I can easily forgive the length and round up.
Dizzee Rascal
2/5
Didn’t like the background noises or the whining.
808 State
2/5
Didn’t like the background noises or the whining.
The Byrds
5/5
This is really beautiful music, and complex, like the band that gave us such diverse sounds.
Suede
3/5
The vocals bordered on annoying. The music got better as the album went on.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Bluesier than I expected. Similar to Cream, at times.
Leftfield
3/5
Interesting sounds from one song to the next, but this is definitely a 2.5 that I won’t intentionally listen to again.
Megadeth
4/5
Kept me awake on the drive to and from work. Probably a 3.5.
Eric Clapton
4/5
Toes the line between great blues and popular.
Violent Femmes
5/5
This sounds like a demo - raw, unpolished - and the result is something quite amazing. The complex construction of several songs is brilliant.
Dire Straits
4/5
Difficult first listen hearing the transition from the iconic first three songs to something more like Al Stevens, although it does pick back up in places. Much easier second listen.
New York Dolls
5/5
Pre-punk punk? I really like it.
Morrissey
3/5
I don’t dislike it, but I think there were hundreds of musicians who did the same thing in the 80s and never were discovered.
Radiohead
4/5
Much better than I was anticipating. This is not the sleepy rock they explore in future albums. The creativity and strong vocals are here.
Q-Tip
3/5
It had several moments that interested me. Probably a 3.5.
Milton Nascimento
3/5
Pleasant sounding tunes, a couple hummable, but only background music for me.
The Beach Boys
5/5
Fitting that this was the album of the day upon Wilson’s passing: the rest of the group was on tour while he was perfecting it. Much more complex than the innocent songs ought to be. Rounding up because of the album it directly, and competitively, influenced.
AC/DC
5/5
Brilliant order of songs enhance the album’s overall status. A perfect side, instead, becomes a near perfect record. 4.5
Motörhead
3/5
More than their studio album, I thought I was listening to slight variations of the same song for 45 minutes. As a live album, I kept hearing the cuts that reminded me I was only hearing what was deemed the best; no continuation meant the majority of a show was not spectacular. Maybe a 3.5.
Green Day
5/5
Still relevant, and quality music that shows their full abilities. A slight rounding up.
George Jones
2/5
Quality recording and good performance makes this album all the worse for me, as this is the type of country music I least appreciate.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
Frustrating when the potential for greatness is there but the choice is silliness.
Stan Getz
4/5
Ok, the uplifting beat is difficult to be unhappy with. Pleasant for background noise, but these songs beg to be in the foreground. Like nursery rhymes, some of these songs are a part of my being.
The Fall
3/5
They seem to be of the mind that if they create some bad music the good will sound even better. They might be right. 2.5
Femi Kuti
4/5
I will take this political music over rap or Nick Drake everyday of the week.
Tito Puente
4/5
Running late and hit a traffic jam, but this music kept me in a positive frame of mind. Some of this felt like improvisation.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
So weird I like it (and I don’t want to get in trouble with the jazz police).
Johnny Cash
4/5
Some great versions of songs; some not so great: the danger of doing a cover. His own songs on this album are solid. 3.5
Syd Barrett
2/5
Syd seems to be the only one laughing on this one. No one without name recognition could have gotten this album released.
The Kinks
4/5
The fullness of the sound impresses, as does their ability to write about everything under the sun in an age of love songs. “Dandy” and “Sunny Afternoon” stand out, but the rest are worth a listen. 3.5
Beck
3/5
Didn’t do anything for me. It couldn’t keep me from being distracted.
The Blue Nile
2/5
That was a long 38 minutes from someone who thought he was Peter Gabriel. He wasn’t.
Red Snapper
2/5
Their aim was way off the mark. Second song ruined a great riff. The same short noises (samples?) played repeatedly with little variance, no story, makes for a forgettable album.
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
Fine, but nothing remarkable. A tendency to flatness on some songs was a strange choice.
Daft Punk
2/5
Did not work for me; too repetitive; not very clever.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Solid 4 went up to 4.5 once “Three Little Birds” played. On second listen all of it holds up, although I would have liked some change of tempo; everything is the same groove.
Public Enemy
4/5
Poignant and good. Something about his voice that really works.
Elvis Costello
4/5
Very approachable, and worth a second listen, at least.
Gotan Project
3/5
Okay background music, but I felt I should be watching some avant garde art house film about the streets of Paris after dark.
John Lennon
5/5
Easy to sing along with. There is a simplicity to the tunes, yet they cover the emotional gamut, with some repetitive mantra in most. 4.5
Roxy Music
3/5
Some pretty good music, but the vocals are too pretentious.
The Birthday Party
1/5
It doesn’t help that I mistakenly listened to The Junkyard’s titular album (which should be on this list) before listening to this. It wouldn’t help listening to any music because it would beg a comparison. Amateurish and annoying. They should have left off at Junk.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
4/5
A lot of Latin fun.
Genesis
4/5
Missing the repeating hook that the great rock operas possess, but there’s a plethora of creativity in the first hour to warrant repeat listening.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
Gets better with multiple plays, but it’s a little frustrating that Petty heads for an outro after a bridge, instead of singing another verse.
Beach House
3/5
Definitely influenced by Kate Bush. Decent music for a montage or an end credits crawl. Too long for me.
Gillian Welch
4/5
Beautiful voice and great harmonies, backed by a mix of picking and strumming, gives off an Appalachian bluegrass feel. Worth a second listen.
Willie Nelson
3/5
The songs tend to sound alike, but the instrumentals for a couple of the last songs are quite beautiful.
The Young Gods
4/5
Genre bending metal that kept demanding my attention, despite (maybe not) the guttural vocals. 3.5
Bill Callahan
3/5
Voice is good but needs training; music is fine. 2.5
Elvis Presley
3/5
The fact that “Suspicious Eyes” did not make the album shows that they didn’t know what they were looking for. Most of the songs lack any conviction from Elvis. This might be why “In the Ghetto” is the standout.
The Louvin Brothers
3/5
Good bluegrass plucking; mostly good harmonies. Boilerplate song format could become wearisome with repeat listening. 3.5
The Waterboys
3/5
Seemed like they wanted to go in lots of different directions. Terrible vocal on “Blackbird.”
Van Halen
5/5
The brilliance of this group is their acknowledgment of past genres as they charted a course into new territory. The energy and clever song writing, to go along with a plethora of talent, propelled them to the hof for a reason. Opened for Black Sabbath that year? I would love to have seen that!
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
Not bad music, but not memorable beyond the 90’s sound.
Kraftwerk
2/5
I cannot think of a time when someone would feel the need to listen to this album/type of music. Is this in line with or a reaction to the Nazis?
Iggy Pop
4/5
These stripped down songs wouldn’t work with a lesser voice, but here is someone who knew his voice was an instrument. Perfect for the time; still works today.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Really interesting to hear how this album has mellowed through the years. A few cringes with the gothic folk sound, but there are also a few treats, like tracks 1, 3 and 7, to go along with the two classic tracks. Rounding up slightly.
Christina Aguilera
4/5
Maybe a bit too long, but the quality is good throughout, and the message is positive, even if it isn’t my type of music. I thought I would have to power through this, but I found it capturing my interest.
Pentangle
4/5
I have to hand it to them, these songs sound like ballads from hundreds of years ago remade for the hippie generation. But they are all self made. Beautiful, and sometimes haunting, they improved with multiple listens. Slightly rounding up.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Most of these covers I like better than the originals, including the first song (covering themselves). There’s something bold in covering so many white guys’ songs. A lot of soul, but a lot of funk with it.
Barry Adamson
2/5
Taking someone else’s creation and manipulating it has never really sat right with me; worse is making it sound like noise. A lot of left/right speaker manipulation with pulses that gave me a headache.
R.E.M.
5/5
I don’t think it’s their best album, but it has the hits, lots of interesting construction choices, and the sing-along factor. Maybe they could have cut one or two songs here, but that is forgivable. 4.5
Stereo MC's
3/5
It’s dance music; it’s fine; the best parts are the samples; I’d rather listen to the originals.
Dagmar Krause
2/5
German opera/folk ballads. Singing them in English does nothing to improve them.
Simply Red
3/5
Started well, but lost its drive as it went along. Would have been better if it was determined to be a disco album.
The Coral
5/5
Loads of fun, and they have the creative ability to change things up even within a song. Some 60’s rock, some psychedelic, some British ska; maybe not a true 5, but worth rounding up.
The Police
4/5
The b-side is a solid 5; but the a-side is a 3 (brought down by the bad trip song about mother).
Goldie
2/5
Can’t anyone replicate this with a quality 80’s synthesizer? Says something that there are three versions of this album, ranging from 45 to 105 minutes. Thank goodness the vinyl was the shortest!
Minor Threat
3/5
The vocals are out of sync with the music, but that’s the point?
Terence Trent D'Arby
4/5
Better on the second listen. 80’s sound, but rather interesting. Terence has pipes! 3.5
Ryan Adams
2/5
Two pretty lively songs, but the rest are snoozers. This is country folk.
Traffic
4/5
Excellent first tune; the others are all right.
The Doors
5/5
The compulsory psychedelic song notwithstanding, this is classic blues rock at its finest. “Riders on the Storm” help round this up. 4.5
The Black Keys
4/5
Good bluesy sound, but the distortion on guitar and vocals could easily get tired after a while.
The Byrds
3/5
A must listen for its inception of folk rock and (more importantly?) the Wrecking Crew; however, it’s very flat after the first two songs, and the final track is a dud. I understand why teens glommed onto this sound, but the band could have used more practicing/gelling before releasing this. “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better” is the best track.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
On this album, Mr. Wonder shows he not only has a mountain of talent, but he also has a social conscience. As a result of these two strengths, these funky, soulful songs demand multiple listens. Too close to top notch not to give it.
Queen
4/5
All the things I like about Queen with none of the songs I know. And no synthesizers! Definitely worth more listens.
3/5
I thought I might like this better on another day, but it turns out I don’t.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Tamer than expected for an album about/on cocaine. The most interesting thing about the album is the non-traditional (arrhythmic?) percussion. Solid.
Eels
3/5
I get what they are doing, although some of it sounds amateurish/juvenile. 3.5
Cyndi Lauper
5/5
Sometimes the level of positive energy improves the final product, and Lauper dials it up to eleven on this album. Because of/despite her classical training, she does some unusual things with her voice; and the synthesizers, while prominent in every song, are adjusted often to create unique sounds; add to this the female empowerment/challenge of sexual norms and we have a true 80s winner.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
I like the music, but a lot of the lyrics are ridiculous. A toss up for rating direction, until I found some songs stuck in my head.
Stephen Stills
5/5
Stills and friends really bring it. Great blues, folk rock, and spiritual music.
Steely Dan
3/5
Two great songs here, but mostly the album is full of the sounds that, for some reason, make my gut cringe. Apt title.
Bee Gees
3/5
Who came up with this concept: we’re going to make an album that doesn’t feature a single song that has falsetto singing and some songs won’t have singing at all? For me, that makes this their best album. Mostly pleasant trivial songs.
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
Nothing I haven’t heard before.
The Damned
4/5
I like the percussion on a lot of songs. High 3s, but I’ll round up because I can see listening to them on a high energy day.
Johnny Cash
4/5
I don’t know if we needed to hear both prison albums, but I like hearing cash’s dialogue and humor with the inmates. Less coughing than the other one.
The Pogues
4/5
The catch-22 is that the rawness that moves this up to a 4 prevents it from being a 5. Great fun for a whiskey night or a facsimile thereof.
Calexico
3/5
A little something for everyone, which means no one feels like they got very much. A lot of the songs are interesting until I realize I’ve wandered to another topic, much like watching the majority of spaghetti westerns (which seem to be their inspiration).
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Another example of needing to know which version (US or UK) to listen to. On this one, the US version has “Purple Haze,” “Hey Joe,” and “The Wind Cries Mary”: arguable three of Hendrix’s best songs; however two of the three missing (“Remember” and “Red House” from US version are great, too. Putting them together on one album (as Apple music does) places it on a whole new level. Any which way, Hendrix oozes cool on this album and the creation of these songs was brilliant.
4/5
Really surprised they did not get radio play. Solid sound, good horns, and harmonies are on point.
Pearl Jam
5/5
I know it’s called Ten, but this one goes to eleven. Full sound and good production, but the truly impressive thing is the content: these are songs about the downtrodden and misunderstood, set in a way that we root for them. Also, the intro/outro is clever.
Arcade Fire
4/5
3.5 that I’ll round up because of the positive spirit of the music. Possibly ethereal, but good fun to listen to.
The Last Shadow Puppets
4/5
Not only do they embrace the spaghetti westerns music vibe but the 60’s pop sound, in general. The songs are catchy, although I keep expecting a whip crack or gunshot to ring out.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
That I have heard a better sung version of most of these songs is a testament to their quality. The orchestration is good and Sinatra is not as over the top as he can be, but that doesn’t make this a great album. I’d rather hear Crosby or Bennett do these songs. Too safe to round up.
Spiritualized
4/5
From serene to chaotic, this album finds a way to touch most emotions (or trips?) in their sound. Impressive because most bands couldn’t pull this off.
Venom
2/5
I understand many metal bands point to this album as their inspiration, but the first two songs, in their juvenile composition, really put me off, despite the other songs being a bit better. I hope the demons and their followers don’t get too mad at me.
Laibach
3/5
The cover of Queen’s “One Vision” is worth a listen (and only a year after the original). Monotonous, but strangely fun. This guy has the voice for metal.
Deee-Lite
4/5
Good beat, positive themes, and Kirby’s sweet voice mean rounding up this 3.5 album.
CHIC
3/5
Some good rhythms, but a lot of repetition and the slow dance disco songs were as painful to listen to as ever. If not for “Good Times,” this would be a 2.
John Martyn
3/5
Adding electronica to pop blues is worth one listen. Now I can move on.
David Ackles
2/5
Sounded like I was at an off (off off) Broadway musical, although the storyline was a montage and the chorus (in either sense) didn’t show up. Still, there were a few tender moments and a lot of laughable ones (although not intentionally), and the orchestration was interesting.
Hookworms
3/5
The mostly uplifting music (a la Fun) added ambient/electronic noises (meant to give a fuller sound) that tended to dull the emotion, rather than enhance it. Each noice that connected one ending to the next beginning became annoying, beginning with the tap “dancing.”
The Cure
3/5
The good songs are in the first half of the album. The others are fine, although I couldn’t remember any of them five minutes later. Ethereal rock at its finest? Rounding down.
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
Really peppy first song, but the other numbers were just okay. Interesting to hear a variation of “United We Stand,” whether it was intentional or not.
4/5
Really interesting to hear how Dylan changed his phrasing in concerts; however, his emphasis and exaggerated vocals in the first set bordered on laughable. The second set helped me understand why people got upset with his electric change, although I really liked it. Historic (and quite clean) bootleg. Worth the listen.
JAY Z
3/5
All the tropes are here. Honestly, Eminem shows smoother, tighter rapping on the song he features in. Jay Z sounds, like many of these rappers do, like he has an inferiority complex and, as a result, tries too hard to pretend he is the greatest. Who wants to hear bragging?
N.W.A.
4/5
Good beats and tight phrasing through most of the album, moving between playfulness and seriousness.
Dirty Projectors
3/5
They have a nice sound, but the falsetto and the mandolin (?) phrasing gets old after a while.
Antony and the Johnsons
4/5
A lot of vibrato, but the passion throughout the album is compelling. Modern gospel?
James Taylor
4/5
A solid album for those looking for folk and blues. “Steamroller” is better than I remember.
Massive Attack
3/5
The last two songs almost bring this down to a 2; however, the rest of it would be decent enough reception room music. “Karmacoma” is the one really interesting song.
Django Django
4/5
Their focus seems to be on stripped down rhythms, and they do them well. The playful electronics are mostly enhancing, rather than annoying. While this is most definitely bubblegum, when one wants to blow bubbles, this is not a bad choice.
Iron Butterfly
4/5
Two very different sides to this album. It sounds like they were trying to get airplay with one of their first songs, but they mostly fall flat in comparison with the title track. A great smoke-break song for dj’s, this was the song I would hear on my way home after closing up shop, the song that would cause me to slow down so I could hear more of it before getting home.
Killing Joke
3/5
As debuts go, it seemed they were trying to find the right genre. It did get better a few songs in, but I think they would have benefited from more practice and revision.
Ravi Shankar
4/5
This one is a challenge to rate because the music is really good, and the information is interesting, but I will choose another Shankar album if I want to listen to great Indian music. The best documentary album I’ve heard.
The Zutons
4/5
Really surprising. Another retro 60s vibe band from the ‘00s, but this one brings a higher level of sophistication. At the end of the second listen I was craving more.
4/5
This male and female vocal duo really works, the way they play off each other. They make me want to keep hitting repeat.
The Electric Prunes
4/5
The band might not have liked most of the song writing coming from outside the members, but this album really works for me. Besides the hit opener, the songs continued to be interesting (except for one obvious dud) and tempo changing.
Ryan Adams
3/5
This one bends the lines between country, folk, and pop rock, evoking the likes of James Taylor, Van Morrison, and the Stoned. The problem for me, besides the country underbelly on much of the album, is many of the songs sound too much like knockoffs of several great hits, failing to reach their own greatness.
Tom Waits
4/5
Waits’ vocals did not detract from this blues album, even giving some tender moments. Great blues.
Fever Ray
2/5
That this album had four singles proves the dearth of quality music in the aughts. Mostly mundane electronic beats that the kid next door could do. 2.5, but I can’t round up.
The United States Of America
3/5
While one probably needs to be on drugs to fully grasp what this group was laying down, this is psychedelia that seems to know what it’s doing. Very intriguing, but not something I would ever go back to.
Grizzly Bear
3/5
I think it’s my first experience with heavy mellow. It was just okay, and forgettable.
The Thrills
3/5
My problem with this Irish band appropriating an American sound is that it’s so mundane and poorly chosen, from the breathy vocals to the Appalachian sound while calling out west coast cities.
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Donovanesque at times, their LGB incorporated songs grew on me. The hooks dug a bit deeper the second time through. 3.5
David Bowie
4/5
Bowie really challenges me with the songs between the mega hit bookends of this album, begging the question of why he chose to do certain things on each song. It’s a rollercoaster, but it rounds upwards.
The Stooges
4/5
Sure it’s pretentious in places, but it really rocks like a live act on a Saturday night. The last song is just a bit too free form rock, but this is a solid 4+.
Electric Light Orchestra
5/5
Man, could ELO create a full, well-orchestrated sound! This album was long, but crafted so well, with numerous hits, that I could keep listening.
Thelonious Monk
3/5
Another challenging artist; Monk purposely chooses notes that sound like mistakes, but end up working in the context of the full composition. This is an album that grows on a person, and it sounds better and better with each listen. Not my normal choice for jazz, but it is good; Having a difficult time rounding up.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
5/5
Nearly perfect blend of jazz and rock. Al Kooper’s influence is still present on several of the higher energy songs.
Björk
3/5
I’m more tolerant of the strangeness of this album now than I was when it came out my first year of college. Bjork is a Picasso in the music industry.
4/5
This caught me by surprise and was even more interesting on the second listen.
4/5
Some of the music sounds like songs I know, but it is good music, especially when they pick up the beat.
Beatles
5/5
While what makes this album special for many is that they wrote the majority of the songs themselves, thus turning the music industry on its head, the consistence of high quality arrangements throughout should not go unnoticed. Rounding up because they were the Beatles of music.
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
African blues is appealing, despite the language barrier, because of the instruments used and the rhythm. I don’t know if I like this album more or less than others of its genre, but it kept me interested. 3.5
Yes
4/5
“Roundabout” might be a perfectly composed rock song. The others on this album could not attain that level, but they are very good, too - or, at least, very interesting.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Good, but it sounds too much like someone trying to sound like the Beatles.
Os Mutantes
4/5
This has all the psychedelic tropes: slowing/speeding up the track, strange noises, and reverb, adding in familiar song sounds (one song screamed “Sunshine Superman” to me). Somehow they did it in a way that really sounds intriguing and controlled.
Sepultura
3/5
The percussion is quite good, but I could have done without the scream-singing.
KISS
4/5
Really easy to listen to; even better the second time through. “Beth” is iconic.
Michael Jackson
4/5
The screams are still annoying, but the music, especially the rhythms are good. 3.5
Silver Jews
2/5
Pretty sure it was a choice to sing off key. “Transylvania Blues” shows he had talent, but this album strays far into hipster country, and it just doesn’t work.
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
The vocals are enhanced by the accent and the music is enjoyable, but forgettable. The most memorable song is the Lovin’ Spoonful cover: cute, but its not good.
Burning Spear
4/5
Difficult to do much that is distinctive within the restrictive reggae beats, but the sentiment and the horns are good.
Joan Baez
5/5
The bravado takes getting used to, but the tender tone and the heart-wrenching ballads kept alive by her arrangements are exceptional. Classic.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
4/5
Not sure if they are sincere or not, but this fun album kept my attention. 3.5
Billy Bragg
5/5
Wow! Top grade for taking Guthrie’s lyrics and creating a sound that is both his and accessible. The union/political songs are really good!
Nas
2/5
Didn’t work for me.
Faust
2/5
Proof that the German belief in a supreme race is laughable.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Mostly jazz, rather than funk, but it’s good stuff. “Do Your Thing” is outstanding.
Metallica
5/5
I’m not often in the mood for this genre, but this is the album to turn to if I am. Some songs are lifted by the strength of several great songs, which is the reason for the perfect rating. The Grammy was deserved.
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
Fun music, with plenty of tempo changes to keep things interesting.
Giant Sand
2/5
This was a rough one. The playing of instruments was fine, but the “singing” was pretentious, at best, and the lyrics left a lot to be desired.
Grateful Dead
3/5
Of all their live albums this cannot be the best. Volume changes make it a challenge to listen to without adjustments, and “Feedback” is not fun to listen to. I do appreciate hearing what their jams were like, but I wanted better.
David Bowie
4/5
Nothing unpleasant on this album, and I can see it being popular on that front, yet it still brings Bowie’s creative spirit as it bends towards several genres. 3.5
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Page knew what he was doing when he assembled this band: Each one an incredible artist. Amazing blues; amazing debut album.
Shack
3/5
Fine; the harmonies were okay, but necessary to fill out the sound; unfortunately the album was bloated, as many were during the cd era.
Ray Charles
4/5
If only the second half sounded as good as the first. His sassy energy is top notch through the first side, but the strings and slower pace on the b-side misses the needed crescendo.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Almost gave it only one listen; but, because of the second, I found the middle songs more interesting than at first.
PJ Harvey
3/5
A few odd decisions keep this one low, in my estimation; otherwise, it’s pretty good punk.
Coldcut
2/5
Excellent question! The other possibility for an apt title could have been: Why Is This So Long?
Miles Davis
4/5
Nothing really stands out here because it is all good, balanced jazz. Worth studying.
Dire Straits
4/5
While “Sultans…” is the clear hit, the rest of the album consists of accessible blues that are very easy to listen to.
Tim Buckley
3/5
More sad than happy about this one. Interesting, but it wanders, without the spice that LA found. “Gypsy” is as close as this one gets.
ABBA
4/5
As always, the vocals are good. A slightly more sophisticated composition than their previous albums makes for a more pleasant listen. Easy to round up.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Fine for 90’s rock, but not special. I think a better voice might help the sound.
Earth, Wind & Fire
5/5
I won’t nitpick over how good this is. Today it had all the elements of a great album both times I listened to it. Refreshing to have songs whose length left me wanting more.
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
Solid laid back Latino music for background or foreground, but lacking anything of note to make me choose this over others of the same genre.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Nothing to dislike, but nothing to distinguish it from other pop bands, except doing something that had been done before, while others had moved on.
Spiritualized
4/5
I never look for this type of music, but I cannot deny that I like its laid back sound and creative choices.
Def Leppard
5/5
Maybe I’m rounding up, but I’ve gotten used to turning up the knob with every song. Really interesting filler samples made this album memorable.
Queen
5/5
The problem with greatest hits albums is they prevent some from trying the original albums; thus, I missed this one growing up. Beautifully constructed songs, with several surprises along the way, leads to a record that’s really easy to listen to over and over. I’ll be back.
Elton John
3/5
Really tried liking this bold move, and I thought I was going to give this a 4 after the first listen, but Elton John just can’t pull off folk music ideology within his style. As a result, I couldn’t make it through a second listen.
a-ha
3/5
A lot of filler after their one mega-hit. Very 80’s: simple, one-handed synthesizer, with multiple electronic beats, and repetitive phrases. “Sunny on Television” was a surprise.
The Cure
2/5
Very, very boring, especially in the first half. After an annoying song it picked up a little, but not enough to achieve mediocrity.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Neil is all about emotion and groove, and he brings both to this album. Blues are definitely more forgiving.
Love
3/5
I was blowing this one off, until I heard “Revolution.” Giving it my full attention, I can see why it’s on the list. I’m sure this influenced a lot of bands, even if it wasn’t for good. I liked it a little more than okay, but I can see a lot of people really disliking it.
Kraftwerk
2/5
How does one decide the length of a song when it is just the same couple of measures on repeat? There must be some kind of testing to avoid violent rage against the band. These songs press that limit.
George Michael
4/5
Very easy to listen to multiple times, with the third song (Stevie Wonder cover) hauntingly beautiful.
Orbital
1/5
I’m thankful they let me know from the opening song this was an album intent on annoying listeners. Also thankful cds only had 80 minutes of space. A child could make more interesting music.
Big Star
3/5
Very interesting; shoe-gaze musicians could learn from their choice to use real stringed instruments. Some days I would round up, but not today.
The White Stripes
3/5
Okay. Some songs weren’t that interesting; a lot had riffs that sounded like ones from great songs of the past (I don’t know if that was on purpose or not).
The Style Council
3/5
Their best songs are sans vocals, but the entire album felt too safe to be on this list.
The Darkness
2/5
Excellent example of the need for vocals to blend with the instruments. This shrill, thin voice does not work with the thick sound of glam rock.
The Band
4/5
More complex in all facets than it first appears. I was going to say that, like Dr. Hook, they are best when they don’t take themselves or life seriously; however, on second listen, there is a lot of thought that went into creating and performing these songs. Worth studying.
Black Flag
3/5
This garage band punk, with abrupt endings to several songs, sounded like amateur hour. Thankfully it was half that long.
The Undertones
3/5
Bubblegum punk? Very simple, but easy to listen to. 3.5
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Springsteen has a way of creating empathy for every character he sings about, even the creep in “I’m on Fire.” More of a country feel to his folk on a lot of these tracks, but still compelling.
Deep Purple
5/5
Three of seven are iconic heavy metal songs, but “Lazy” blew me away with its bluesy jam. Only the second song is a throwaway.
Radiohead
2/5
Stuck in two miles of bottled up traffic, I finally was passing the car being pulled out of a snowbank. Wondering what might have caused the accident, my eyed locked with the clearly frustrated driver, and mine asked, “Kid A?” His replied, “It was just so boring.” And I nodded because I knew.
The Everly Brothers
4/5
Good harmonies, and songs that reflected simpler times (even if they weren’t); yet, it’s the subtle instrumental choices that raise these songs above the average of the times. 3.5
Buzzcocks
3/5
Maybe on another day I would like this more; not today.
Brian Wilson
4/5
A cornucopia of winsome sounds and harmonies. The elongated songs that were on Beach Boys albums are better than the originals, except for “Good Vibrations.”
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
Nope! (Although now I know where the sound bite “It’s the blimp” came from that WBLM used.)
The Beta Band
3/5
Some really haunting vocals in the early songs, and a mostly enjoyable album, but I can’t round up. The lyrics are too simplistic, leading to too much repetition, without variance.
The Who
5/5
A well-crafted concept album from beginning to end. Just the overture is worth the price of admission, but whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Richard Thompson
3/5
If you’re looking for country/folk/Irish(?) music you still might want to look somewhere else. There’s nothing on here that’s memorable, unfortunately. Even the live extras aren’t worth it, sounding more like karaoke than professional singing, and the longer versions added nothing interesting.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
If I were forced to listen to dance music I might listen to this: raw, garage-style.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Too much of this album reminded me of a lounge singer. When he picked up the energy it was much better. 3+
The Rolling Stones
4/5
The blues are really good, but the Stones are too much country here for me to love.
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
Really think another singer with a fuller sound would enhance this, otherwise, decent group. “Little Babies” was a standout.
Cee Lo Green
4/5
This one pleasantly surprised me: easy rap to listen to, and that’s not easy to find.
Bad Company
4/5
So much more easy-listening than I expected, and I liked it.
10cc
3/5
Silly, with a few songs that had interesting beats.