1001 Albums Summary

objectively, this is a near-perfect representation of the early 70s blues-gospel-soul-funk marination. it's hard to fault as a contributor to this scene: great soul harmonies, melancholic guitar, jabbing horns, even an organ. if you are looking for the pinnacle of the al green sound, and the sounds of this genre, look no further. personally, al green always feels like an artist I am supposed to love, but I can't quite get there. sure I like many of his songs (many of which I discovered studying samples), but I can't help but feel like you had to be there when this all came out to fully appreciate the artistry and what his work meant. i'm sure many love this album, and it is iconic, but I found myself wanting to skip most tracks. imo he has better albums with better songs ("livin' for you" and "i'm still in love with you" namely). best songs: so you're leaving, judy worst songs: let's stay together

Objective I wish i was there when this album was made, and i wish i was there when people were hearing it for the first time. Minds must have been seriously blown. For 1981, incredibly ahead of its time. It’s easy to see the incredible influence this must have had on late 90s / early 2000s samplers. Groovy, creative, avant garde. Pushing limits in a very cool way. World drums had such a chokehold on musicians in the 80s. Personal You know when you walk into a music store and they have all the keyboards, drum machines, and hand percussion out for people to try? This sounds like a school bus full of toddlers got off at the magic flute and all tried all the instruments at the same time. I respect the art and the influence but don’t enjoy listening (save a few grooves). It’s been done much better since. These guys walked so dj shadow could run.

Objective Pinnacle 90s hip-hop. Really, really cool to hear missy and timbaland this early in their careers, still honing their sounds. Star-studded features, but holds its own without them. This truly was the golden era of hip hop. Personal Missy falls into the category that many rappers fall into for me: not amazing or elite, but solid in their offering, adding to the collective mosaic of hip hop sounds. She and timb have put out some certified bangers in their time together. Grateful for that. However, this album comes down to timbaland for me. He is one of the most versatile and consistent producers in the hip-hop/r&b arena. I didn’t think I could love him any more, but then this amazing 90s sound. You can have your favorite hip-hop producers in your youth, but just like paying your taxes and getting your own place, maturity as a fan of the genre means embracing the fact that timb is just far more talented than your favorite.

objective frank ocean is always on the cutting edge as an artist, and this is certainly embodied in his debut album. Risky and eccentric, this album brings the listener through a sonic roller coaster, with some familiar views as well as plenty of new ones. It was groundbreaking when it was released, and remains a bold artistic statement from a rare artist. personal I have been meaning to get to this album for years, and I'm not sure it was worth the wait. it has some very strong moments and some good features, but that was about it for me. I do appreciate frank ocean a lot as an artist; I love that he is bold and I actually like that his albums are packed with creativity and nuance. I just didn't connect on this one as much as I'd hoped. while the two are similar in their eccentricity, I actually preferred blond; I thought the highs were higher and more interesting.