I knew the hits well but the deep cuts were newish to me. I’m not sure if my knowledge of the hits made it seem uneven or if it truly is uneven. L’America stood out to me just for Jim’s distaste of America and his move to France around this time. You could hear some anger in that track. Personally, Riders on the Storm is my favorite track here. I could take a whole album that lets you drift into the mystic United States southwest with Ray’s keyboards twinkling over the top.

I want to like this album more than I actually do. I’ve definitely listened to it before. I guess this is just one of those albums that doesn’t quite do it for me.

There is no way I can be unbiased on this one. Such a gem! The Beatles discovered drugs from their friend Dr. Robert and went to places we never imagined before. Leaving us in their trippy wake of Tomorrow Never Knows.

Oh, this album. I think I was vaguely aware this album came out in 1989 when I was 12 years old. I kinda remember Hey Ladies playing on MTV while thinking this doesn't sound like anything from License to Ill. Apparently critics and others dismissed this album at the time too. At least I have the defense that I was 12 years old. Fast forward to circa 1997-1998, and this was a staple CD for driving around with my friends. We appreciated it all, especially the super awesome samples of the Beatles among other very cool and very numerous samples. This album was a last of an era (no one can sample this liberally anymore) but also so ahead of its time it did not get the proper recognition it deserved until decades later. Shake Your Rump with its "disco call" and "The Sounds of Science" are stand outs. Hats off to you Beasties for making an ignored classic, and here's to more money to Sir Paul for all samples on the record.

Good stuff. Have a weird thing about old rap albums. They just don’t seem as good if you weren’t listening to them when they were new and hot. I have a feeling this is how it will be for most of the rap albums I encounter on this journey.

Really liked this album too! Way more eclectic than I realized. I missed too much good music in the 90s. Still had plenty of good music but wish I had branched out even more.

While this isn't a timeless classic, I dig it man! This is more of a time capsule that is fun to revisit. I enjoyed the other songs I didn't know ("Care of Cell 44" and "Beachwood Park") but still doesn't come close to the all-timer "Time of the Season". "What's your name? Who's your daddy?" Pure genius! Great trippy 60s psych vibes galore.

I did NOT like this one. I did listen all the way through because I'm a masochist. I'm not sure there are enough drugs to ever make me listen to this again. This was like a bad D&D soundtrack gone wrong. I might accept this at the renaissance fair but even then I'd prefer just a dude with lute and some jaunty rhymes. While listening, I mostly debated whether I'm a guy who will give only 1 star. I've decided if I never want to hear it again, it will get a 1-star rating. Congrats to The Incredible String Band for earning my first ever 1-star review.

This one isn't as good as Live Through This but that guitar riff on the song "Celebrity Skin" is an all-timer. That is a 5-star riff! However, this is probably an under-appreciated album that should have got more love in the 90s and more love now. Anyway, 3-stars. I'll probably revisit this one again.

I like this one alright. Listened to it a few times but didn’t grab my attention.

I forgot how much this album kicks ass! So fun to revisit some of my jams from the mid-2000s. At first, I thought they picked the wrong White Stripes album and thought it should have been Elephant. But this album actually is probably as good, maybe even better. Blue Orchid kicks major ass and is a great opening track but is definitely an outlier in terms of sound for this record. "The Nurse" with the cool marimbas featured lets you know this album covers a lot of ground. There are a few country-like offerings ("Little Ghost") and then one of my favorite White Stripes tracks on here is "Take, Take, Take". "Red Rain", "My Doorbell", and "The Denial Twist" are other standouts. I was excited to listen to this one twice!

Classic! I had the opportunity to see Dave Brubeck live around 2010. I think he was approximately 150 years old. Anyway, this is a great album. The opening track and Take Five are recognizable even for non-jazz fans. The whole album is solid. I got props from Susan for playing this yesterday. However, Julian says this is over-played and only deserves a 3-star rating. He’s only 13 and wrong. 😀

Not sure how to rank this one. I really couldn’t listen to it all the way through. I doubt I’ll put this one on again. Also, tons of tracks seem to be blocked by Spotify. I guess this just isn’t my jam.

I super like this one! I wonder why I’ve never heard of it. Oh, because it was released 6 days after Nirvana’s Nevermind. I vaguely feel like I’ve heard Visions of You before. This shit had to be super popular with the hipster college kids in 1991 when they were dismissing grunge. I’ll be spinning this one again.

Indie chill breakup album. Not as good as Bon Iver. Few good tracks like Golden Age and Lost Cause. Feels a little too long. Solid outing but I’m not pulling this one out too often.

I want to like this one so much. All my cool metal friends tell me this is when Metallica was awesome before they sold out with the black album. I turned it on once on Tuesday morning and just couldn't play it. I finally listened to the whole thing today. Honestly it felt more like homework than checking out music. Master of Puppets is awesome though! Listened to that one a few times. Of course, I had been indoctrinated to that one from Stranger Things. Anyway, another description for 3-star albums: albums that are critically acclaimed but that you just can't get into it for whatever reason. See Notorious BIG for another example.

The quintessential 2-star album. Okay listen, probably won't again. I think the makers of this website must be huge Doves fans, a member of Doves, or a relative with Doves. I can't understand why this album is on this list.

Pretty rad album. Indians and A Skeleton In The Closet were standouts for me. I'd listen to this one again in the future.

I've never heard another Verve song except for Bittersweet Symphony. I wasn't missing much. I won't be picking this one up again. BTW - the funny hidden track thing is a definite relic of the 90s when CDs were the main format. I bet that confuses the heck out of the kids today. lol

This one was better than I expected. Nice to pick an Irish band for St. Patrick's Day. I doubt I'll pick this one up much but it was a decent listen. Honestly though, I only made it 3/4 through this album. I'm sure I would have been a huge Thin Lizzy fan if I was in my teens or twenties in the 19070s.

I forgot how consistent and thoroughly good this Beck album is. Some of his albums are a bit disjointed. Arguably, this might be his best album start to finish. Not the highs of Odelay but just straight solid gold alt-indie rock throughout. A few tracks jumped out to me on relistening (Black Tambourine, Go It Alone). Of course, there's the hits too (E-Pro, Que' Onda Guero, Girl, Hell Yes) Please remind this guero to play this album more!

I didn't hate this album but I don't like it much either. I did chuckle at a few of the songs and their political barbs and mocking. The whispering part was okay once but just stop it after that. 2 stars only because I did laugh at the cultural satire. Otherwise, maybe not forgettable but definitely not one I'll be picking up again.

I liked this album overall. I let it play a few times. I might revisit this. "Remind Me" is on an old playlist I've been listening to for almost 20 years so it was weird to hear a bunch of songs I didn't know with one I know really well. Kinda like a lot of CD purchases in the 90s. Anyway, vibes are cool but this is not music that will change your life.

I like this album even better than I did in the 90s. I wasn't much of a Smashing Pumkins guy tbh. I was ride or die for Stone Temple Pilots. (I guess I needed a little more hair metal and glam in my grunge.). Anyway, this is an awesome grunge record. Disarm is so good. Also, I heard on a podcast recently that Courtney Love wrote in a letter to Billy Corgan the words: "the killer in me is the killer in you." Mind blown. Cherub Rock is also one of the better rockers from the 90s.

This is my gateway Zeppelin album and probably was for others too. I found my dad’s album of this and was immediately hooked. Of course Whole Lotta Love was my favorite back then but as I've dug in further, I’m now solidly enamored with Bring It on Home, which is my current favorite Zepp tune. This album is stocked with bangers, What Is And What Should Never Be is a standout for me personally. And 4 minutes of Bonham on Moby Dick, yes please! If I had to drop a song it would be Lemon Song which say a lot about the quality of this album. Give me more of this!

Sigur Rod is a cool and awesome group. I was introduced to them via the Vanilla Sky soundtrack with Svefn-g-englar which is an awesome track. For whatever reason I’ve n ver listened to this album in full or just don’t remember. I really listened to () a bunch and love that album. This album is way more varied and indie rock than I expected. I’ll probably check this one out again but most likely will just listen to Svefn-g-englar and their weird pseudo-English over and over.

It's alright. I'll crank this up next St. Patrick's Day but probably won't be revisiting this otherwise.

I dug this one a bunch. Check out Cattle and Cane by the Go-Betweens. That’s a great track I was already familiar with.

That Thing is an all-timer. Outstanding album

I listened to this one through but I was distracted. It was more chill than I expected. I see why I only know the hits off of this one. Me and Julio is an all-timer but a lot of the rest is meh.

This sounded great. Not really the kind of music I dig. But she did cover the Beatles, so she’s cool with me.

Love some Beach House dream pop. I actually listened to Depression Cherry this week before this album was revealed. Overall this album is fine but there is nothing as magnificent and captivating as Space Song or Myth. All of their albums are still good for floating and drifting off to.

Way more R&B than I expected. I had never listened to this one before. I wanted more rap as I owned and have listened to Missy’s later albums especially Under Construction. I might have to revisit this one to truly get it.

Heart of Gold, Old Man, Needle and the Damage Done. All classics. Not one I reach for often but still iconic. For some reason this got me into a My My, Hey Hey rabbit hole this weekend. Never realized there were 2 different versions of this song: - My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) - Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) Both are great but I prefer the lyrics of Blue but the Black rocks! Anyway, the godfather of grunge is awesome!

This was like listening to a deity. Huge respect and admiration but not as entertaining as I hoped. Cash's version of the Hurt is amazing though!

Just the first 2 tracks make this a great album. Maggot Brain is Funkadelic going psychedelic. Can You Get to That has always been a song i dug a lot but then got a second wind with me when Mt Joy started covering it in the middle of Astrovan. Anyway, I like this album a lot.

This was a cool album. I think I would have been a huge fan in 1965. Seems like others do this kind of music better now. This did lead me down a Roy Harper hole. Yes, the Hats off to (Roy) Harper guy. Did you know he is the singer on Pink Floyd's "Have a Cigar"? I hope I just blew your mind like mine was blown last night. Anyway, chill stuff but I probably won't revisit this again. I liked it well enough to play it through twice.

I really liked this one! I'll be re-listening to this one again. Over the Hill was a standout to me. How have I never heard of this artist or album before? John Martyn > Bert Jansch

I know this is a classic jazz album. I couldn’t make it through all the way. I’m going to give it another listen tonight.

I'm really debating between 4 and 5 star on this one. There are some amazing tracks (Changes, Life on Mars, Queen Bitch, Pretty Things) but then there are some less desirable tracks (Kooks to point one out). I really like the Andy Warhol track. I heard this album didn't go platinum until the 80s. Bowie's genius was on display here but people didn't get it for a while. I can relate as it took me several years to "discover" Bowie. Somehow, I didn't know or I forgot that Bowie played the saxophone. He even plays the saxophone on Changes! Anyway, not quite there for a 5-star album. But some amazing highs!

What a great album. I even like the tracks I had never listened to, especially liked Keep the Customer Satisfied. The Boxer is an all-timer and I just read that they spent hundreds of hours recording and producing that song. There is only the single drum part which was recorded in the lobby of the record company building. Paul Simon is a musical genius and Art Garfunkel was a great friend. But seriously Art owns Bridge Over Troubled Water. Amazing song. Love this.

I enjoyed this. It's not really for me. I can see why people are into it. I played this around Susan and she wasn't into it. It didn't work as intended. :) Almost dropped a star for not working.

One of my dessert island albums. This is truly a masterpiece. Jesus, Etc. is the standout track but the whole sonic landscape of picking up radio signals across the midwest is so cool. The weird "Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot" voice at the end of Poor Places is one of my favorite parts of the album. Heavy Metal Drummer might be the only track that doesn't fit in on this album but it's such a great song about reminiscing about the good ol' days that it still works in the middle of this album. I'm going to go put on the headphones and listen to it again.

This album is legendary. Do I like it a bunch or want to listen to it often? Not really. It basically invented gangsta rap (apologies to Ice-T) and introduced the world to Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Eazy-E. I had an uneasy relationship with the lyrics as a young man and my uneasy relationship with the lyrics and misogyny has only gotten more strained as a middle-aged man. "Straight Outta Compton" and "Express Yourself" are the standout tracks for me.

I actually listened to this one on vinyl yesterday. What an underrated album and group?!? I really enjoyed this one. I didn't realize this was a concept album. "Cross-Eyed Mary" is a banger! And Aqualung is amazing with that killer riff. Even led me to listen to Jethro Tull for a couple of hours. Somehow they don't have the respect of their peers. Maybe it's because of the flute. Anyway, I'll be reaching for this one again.

Bob Marley is great! But this album is just okay. That's not "No Woman No Cry"! So weird to hear the recorded version after hearing the Legend version a million times. Does this prove the live version is superior or have I just heard the live version so many times that any other version would sound weird? Still kinda shocking to hear the version on this album. Lively Up Yourself is great! But the rest of the album kinda blended together for me. Maybe I'm just spoiled from Legend and Natural Mystic being greatest hits collections. Shrug.

50 Cent was alright album. I liked this better than some of the other rap albums we’ve listened to here so far. I forgot how much I like the track P.I.M.P. It’s so catchy! In Da Club is still a banger and should be played for everyone’s unbirthday because we don’t give a fuck it’s not your birthday.

Really liked this one! It was perfect for a rainy Saturday morning this past weekend. I'll pull this one out when I need to chill out again.

There are clearly some classic tracks on this one. I don't love it like a child of the 90s should. For whatever reason I've always been pretty neutral to Pearl Jam. Anyway, some of the tracks are simply iconic (Alive, Evenflow, Jeremy). Pearl Jam is right there at the turning of the tide when grunge and alternative took over the mainstream in 1991.

This one is pretty great. Got a little too country for me before bringing down the house with (lifts up lighter in the air) FREE BIRD!!!!! I Ain't the One is a hidden gem and one I hadn't heard before. I also enjoyed Poison Whiskey too. I'll rock out to this one again.

Muddy is a legend. Mannish Boy is an all time banger!

I heard this band name inspired Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album title. Sadly this is not a Sgt. Pepper’s. The jam band songs were pretty good. I did take note of the LBJ bashing song “Super Bird”. I also liked the first two tracks: “Flying High” and “Lorraine” but the psychedelic stuff just was blah.

Not really my jam but I liked this pretty well. Honky Tonk Heroes and Ain't No God in Mexico stood out to me. I don't usually notice this but the bass really jumped out at me on the recording. Not sure if it was the playing, recording, or mix but damn it sounded good and added a drive to the songs.

Bowie made the best Radiohead album on the 2010s. This is pretty dark but I assume it was meant to be since he was dying. It felt a little hard listening through this one. Blackstar is a standout track. Plus there is one line in "Tis a Pity She Was a Whore" that cracked me up. I'll go back to Hunky Dory way sooner than I'll head back to this one.

I got into this one during Covid when I tracked down the samples from Digable Planets. What a great funk/jazz album. Chameleon is a funky jam and the updated Watermelon Msn is great too. I had only known Her ie as the Rock It guy from the 80s song, so it was great to learn a bit more. I put this one every so often.

Getting jiggy with it! I recognized that sample right from the moment I turned this one on. This is a pretty good disco album. I could see throwing this into the mix when I'm in an ABBA kind of mood. We are Family is an all time classic and should be played at every wedding reception.

I still remember all the fuss when this one came out. Mick Jagger endorsed! Ok, so "I Bet You Good on the Dancefloor" is an exceptional song. Did Arctic Monkeys live up to the hype? Probably not but they are pretty damn fun. This isn't their best album (AM is) but this is a pretty dang good first album. Still a good listen too.

This was pretty cool. I could jam out to this occasionally. This is not the genre of music I would typically choose but I did let this one play longer and re-listened to some of it. I might revisit again someday.

Meh. I know I'm supposed to be intrigued by Jarvis slumming it with the Common People. Maybe I'm too basic to get this class exploration. Maybe I'm too American. Anyway, Common People is a fun song but the rest I could do without.

I kind of stopped listening to Kanye as his craziness got louder. Or maybe because I got older. I really like College Dropout, Late Registration, and Graduation but kinda just stopped after that. I probably should have kept listening. This is a solid album. I'm likely to revisit someday. I did listen to Blame Game twice just for the funny Chris Rock bit at the end ("that's some Cirque du Soleil pu$$y you got there"). Anyway, Kanye knows his stuff.

Wow! Besides Heroes this seems like a mid album. Maybe I need to listen again at the right time. 🤷‍♂️ I’m interested in what you will say. I always write my reviews before I read yours.

I liked this one slightly better than Heroes but still didn't jump out and grab me. I feel like I'm missing something when it comes to Bowie. Maybe he's just not my cup of tea. I like him fine but don't love him. (shrugs)

This is my jam. I'm familiar with Elliott Smith but never listened to this album. I'll definitely be revisiting this album. It wasn't as much of a downer and was a little more rocking than I expected.

This is the only actual album by Rush that I own. Give me a futuristic 20 minute ode with thrashing guitars. YES PLEASE! This album is awesome. I have no clue what this concept album is actually about. Some day maybe I'll decipher the lyrics. But I will keep listening to this one.

This is probably a 3.5 star album. I don't like it quite enough to push to 4-star territory. It is obviously a historical and deeply admired album. I like the tracks Superfly, Pusherman and Little Child Runnin' Wild. The instrumental bogged this one down plus "Freddie's Dead" is a dud. Anyway, cool, landmark old school 70s funk jam.

This is alright. It sounds like a slightly more eclectic Santana Supernatural. It kicked off pretty great and then just sort of faded into the background for me. I may have vaguely heard of this band before but had never listened to them. I wouldn't turn it off if it was on but I doubt I'll reach for this one again.

This was pretty good. I need to listen again to truly evaluate.

Classic pop perfection. There are so many great songs on this album it is basically a best of compilation. Hard not to just jam out to this one. I did listen to this while driving the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. :)

This one was interesting. And a reminder that ZZ Top were just 3 dudes from Texas who loved the blues. They have to be one of the weirdest pop sensations of the 80s. Nice to hear their blues roots here. Definitely a bit light since they included 3 live versions of tracks.

I liked this one enough to play it twice. I'll be revisiting this one for sure. BTW - been a bit of a slacker due to family vacation in Oregon last week. I'm fully back in business now.

I am today years old when I learned that U Got the Look was a Prince song officially. I knew Prince and Sheena Easton were connected but I thought it was a Sheena song that Prince was involved in and not the other way around. Regardless, that song is a banger and is the standout track on this album. I'm not a huge Prince fan, I'm into some of the hits but didn't really invest in Prince or his "artist formerly know as" persona. Anyway, this is a totally fine album and a decent listen but not a classic. I did notice he was 90s R&B before it became the dominant music force in the 90s. Plus he had a little funk that came from George Clinton.

I thought I would hate this after the first song but I kinda enjoyed it. Euro-sex and Euro-noir? Yes please! Concept album! Hell yes! Cool artist guests? Oh yeah! First and last tracks are drags. Really liked “The Case Continues”. Best line on the album: “If sex was an Olympic sport, we’d have won gold” Split was good too and it should have ended with the James Bond-esque sounding “You Were Meant For Me”. Btw - never heard of Ute or this album before.

I listened to both San Quentin and Folsom Prison to compare. San Quentin is loose with lots of stage banter and wasn't edited so tightly. Might be a little light on the music since they reprise the same song But San Quentin closes much better with Boy Named Sue and Folsom Prison Blues. I think I prefer San Quentin and see why it was chosen here. Johnny Cash is a legend and how great is it to have a live recording of him to listen to whenever we want.

What a classic! I absolutely adore this album. I just feel cool putting it on. I'm sure this album spawned a million lesser jazz albums and is probably almost a stereotype now. I can imagine this was a breakthrough in 1959 and still holds up 65 years later. I always feel more relaxed after listening to this album.

I was trying to figure out why this album sounded like a grimy version of the Doors. It's way more guitar forward than what is considered classic doors. "Waiting for the Sun" has that classic Doors sound with all the organ from Ray. But the rest either has more guitar or has Ray trading the organ for a piano giving the Doors a more down to earth and bluesy vibe. Stand out tracks are "Roadhouse Blues", "Peace Frog", and "Waiting for the Sun".

I guess this was a breakthrough album. I could take it or leave it. I probably would need to really listen more attentively to "get" this one. Still mad respect for Miles. He was a musical genius.

60s psych band that has sort of been forgotten by time. Is it just that this music did not transcend the time and place they were in. Lots of music from the 60s is still hugely popular. I feel like this group must have had a smaller and passionate following that has kept them in the conversation but they never were able to truly break through like others (Beatles, Doors, Velvet Underground). While not particularly bad, it just doesn't have the same appeal and luster.

Great and amazing classic voice. Nice old timey jazz and other easy listening. I'll definitely give this one another spin.

Can’t remember how I exactly happened upon this one but it’s been a staple for years. These amazing Cuban musicians get their due on this record. You can almost taste the pressed sandwiches, black beans, and plantains when playing this album. Delicious music indeed.

This definitely didn't need to be a double album. I guess he felt trapped by CSN(Y). I think we know why they didn't use his music. It wasn't good enough. Even the tune "Colorado" fell flat for me. Ok, I'm being harsh. This is alright background music for the patio but this is not an engaging album. I won't be going back to Manassas.

As I'm listening to this album I thought "Wow, this is a great album, why don't I listen to this more often!" This one is a classic for the standouts of "London Calling", "Train in Vian", "Rudie Can't Fail" etc. But why don't I go to this one more often. Is it too political and not party enough? Is it not rock enough? Is it because The Clash is like their own thing? I feel like this might be a criminally underrated album and I might be contributing to it. Great album, should be listened to more often.

This is pretty cool by my standards. This must have been seriously groundbreaking since it sounds like it could have come out new today. These krauts were way ahead of their time. I’m going to revel in this one a few more times.

I've listened to Nick Drake for some time. While always good, you kinda need to be in the right mood to listen to Nick. He can kinda take you down a hole depending on where you're at. This album is perfectly fine but doesn't have any of the Nick Drake "hits".

I've never thought of Buddy Holly as an album artist so it was weird to listen to him this way. But he's an all-time legend, and without him there would be no Beatles or modern music as we know it. Oh Boy, Not Fade Away, and That'll Be The Day are the standout tracks. But overall I just enjoy the sound of Buddy Holly both his voice and percussive beat-oriented music. It still has a unique and crisp sound almost 70 years later. Buddy Holly truly will never fade away.

Copacabana mixed with Pet Shop Boys and a sprinkle of Wham! mixed in. Weird but I like it. Love Plus One is the standout track and the one I recognized.

Wow! This one is super chill and recorded at an extremely low volume. I had to crank this one up just to hear it. I'll be revisiting this on some super chill night. I have hope this one will grow on me. The covers of Sweet Jane and Blue Moon jumped out at me. This requires a lot more than one listen to really feel this one.

This sounded like a bunch of other alternative 80s music that I missed back in the day. Nothing new or exciting here to be found. Solid for sure but I know I won't be back here anytime soon.

I'm trying to catch up here! Jimmy Smith Christmas '64 is one of my favorite Christmas albums. I never thought about checking out his regular work. I like it. Same style as the Christmas record. It definitely is a good one to throw on for an evening of jazz listening.

I did re-listen to this one recently for this exercise. I want to say something amazing for an amazing album but I'm speechless after another listen to this masterpiece. This is one of the albums that deserves a 5+ rating imo. The first track is arguably the best opening track on any album. This album is a cinematic experience. Also, listening to the track Kid A, I have no doubt that this album is a concept album about the first cloned baby. I'm not sure what all the debate is about. It's about a futuristic society where everything is a bit weird and off. Anyway, masterpiece!

I think I might like country music as a genre better than this. I'm sure this is fine but it is not my cup of tea. I made it to track 8, "Human Interest". Anyway, I'll pass on the rest. No judgement here. This is just not for me.

I was hoping to be blown away by a lost masterpiece. I see now why I only know "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love". Was this "Somebody to Love" before or after the Beatles "With a Little Help from My Friends"? I never drew a line between those two songs since they sound so different but the whole "somebody to love" thing makes me wonder if one influenced the other. Anyway, just give me the hits from this one.

I dig this one. I’m surprised such a recent album is on this list. I actually found this one a few years back and made it on to my “Recent Favorite Albums” playlist. The first couple of tracks are really good. It kind of mellows and meanders toward the end but is good quality.

Weirdly we were deep diving into Supertramp last week as we heard an amazing rendition of Goodbye Stranger by a School or Rock band from Arlington Heights, Illinois. We actually heard their version twice. I glanced at the albums and songs before putting g this one on. I saw that the hits were all on “Breakfast in America”. However, I really liked this album as a whole. “School” is a great opener and I really liked “Bloody Well Right”. Supertramp is such a weird group that I know so little about. They definitely made some great pop rock music and feel like they are underrated. I will be listening to this one again!

This might be my favorite rap album of all time. Love the combo of Lauryn, Wyclef, and Pras. The reggae influence adds a nice dimension to the the rap, r&b, and hip hop. A couple of great covers. Some great originals especially “Ready or Not”. Maybe this was lightning in a bottle since we never got another Fugess album. I can not overstate how big this was in 1996 and remember seeing the Fugees at the Smokin Grooves concert where they were an opener but everyone was there to see them!

I want to pray at the altar of Bruce. I've seen the followers and man it looks fun. I'm hoping one day I see the light. I did listen to this and it was an enjoyable listen. "Streets of Fire" came the closer to making me a believer. Until then, I'll keep trying and see if I am ever overcome with the spirit one of these times.

This is not the Uplift Mofo Party Peppers or even Sir Psycho Sexy Peppers, this is a darker and more stadium anthem Chili Peppers. I personally was introduced to the Chili Peppers via Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Over the last 40+ years (!!), the Chili Peppers have been new to each generation and I'm sure for many this was their RHCP entry point being it was their most commercially successful album. I know the hits from this one prior to this listening (Scar Tissue, Otherside, Californication). I did enjoy the other tracks that I'm not familiar with such as Around the World and Parallel Universe. This album is a bit front loaded but did end with Road Trippin' which I really liked.

Run DMC were rap and hip hop pioneers. They will always be one of my favorites. If I had been a bit older and cooler I would have known about Run DMC when this album came out. Instead, I learned about them when Raising Hell came out and I saw them on MTV. This sounds so old now but it was truly revolutionary at the time. My favorite tracks are "It's Like That", "Sucker MCs" and "Hard Times". While not my favorite Run DMC album, total respect for completely changing the game.

Oh, I am experienced. It's been quite some time since I listened to this one straight through. I've been missing out. This is an absolute classic!!! This album transformed music and I think you can hear Jimi in all rock music after. I can't think of anything rock music doesn't have owe some influence to Hendrix. So many instant classics ("Purple Haze", "Fire", "Foxey Lady") but it was some of the others that I haven't listened to enough that jumped out at me on this listening ("The Wind Cries Mary" "Highway Chile" "Stone Free"). Honestly, I don't think there is a bad track on this album. In terms of still listenable, influence, and excellence, this is an absolute gem among gems.

While I've always considered myself a Santana fan, I've mostly been a greatest hits guy. I can't remember listening to an entire Santana album except for Supernatural until this past year. I did see Santana live on the Supernatural tour in 2002-2003 timeframe and even got to meet him after the show through a radio meet-and-greet. Anyway, Abraxas is basically a Santana greatest hits! Great album by a transcendent guitarist. I listened to this one three times over the last 24 hours. My favorite tracks are "Oye Como Va", "Se a Cabo", "Samba Pa Ti", and "I Hope You're Feeling Better".

Chill listen. I liked this one better than Manassas by Stephen Stills. I knew I was a David Crosby kind of guy. ;)

Never heard of The Coral. Maybe this has too much throwback to styles of 60s rock to truly breakthrough in the 2000s. This is an interesting listen. I’m listening to it again and already appreciating this album more upon second listening.

Sounds so 90s. Can't really put my finger on the specifics but maybe the guitars and production. I was into the first track and third track but kind of lost my attention after that.

Nice effort but fell flat to me. I love a concept album but this one did not capture me. I did enjoy "People Take Picture of Each Other". Maybe this song explains our social media culture we live in currently. Very prophetic. Otherwise, yawn.

Fun listen! Obviously some classics here like Monday, Monday and California Dreaming. I was surprised by the covers here especially of the Beatles "I Call Your Name". I also enjoyed "Do You Wanna Dance" and "Spanish Harlem". I can see why people romanticize the 60s. How could you not swoon if new music like this was coming out every other day?

I like this one alright. Was good to work with this on in the background. I'd never heard these songs before. I became familiar with Fatboy with "You've Come A Long Way Baby" when he was everywhere especially all over MTV. I'll have to pick this one up again and give it another listen.

I never really was into Public Enemy when it came to rap. I liked the Beasties and Run DMC, then gangster rap, and any "pop" rap too. This is not party music as it is much more social commentary and awareness. This has aged much better than gangster rap in my opinion. I was never broadsided by misogyny listening to this album. I didn't feel the hooks on this but overall it was a good listen. I'll like add this to the list of albums that need multiple listens to truly appreciate.

I'm familiar with the solo Nico stuff thanks to Wes Anderson's use of the first 2 songs on this album: "Fairest Of The Seasons" and "These Days". "These Days" is probably one of the better songs about getting older. Both are written by Jackson Browne, which is maybe why they are the best tracks. You can definitely hear Nico's old pals the Velvet Underground on several of the other tracks but VU did it better. I like "Chelsea Girls" even at 7+ minutes long. It was a bit of a chore to get through the rest of the album. Not necessarily bad but is definitely reserved for a specific type of mood, maybe a rainy/snowy morning.

As far as older rap albums I missed back when they were popular, this one was one the the few "new to me" albums that I quite enjoyed. "Me, Myself, and I" and "Eye Know" are the standouts for me but there were plenty of others that I enjoyed too. The rap skits here were dumb too. I guess I don't get the "art" of rap skits. I feel like an old man about this. Anywho, give me the tunes!

This is the Mona Lisa of cock rock. This is basically an AC/DC greatest hits album. I'm not by any means a huge AC/DC fan but this record is undeniable. There is a reason so many of the songs are still played today and even featured in Marvel movies. On this listen a few of the less played tracks jumped out at me: "What Do You Do for Money Honey", "Have a Drink on Me", and Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution". This should be a weekend staple for me!

This is indie + punk for sure. Songs are so short I can't really get into any groove. But thank goodness some of them are short because some of them are horrendous - hello "Ex-Supermodel" and your snoring. I won't be coming back to this one.

First song made me think I wish I had got more into the Lemonheads when this came out in the 90s. Why was I sleeping on this? Also, the song "It's a Shame About Ray" stole a riff from Rush but it still sounds cool here too! Wish I'd spent more time with this one way back when. I'll have to spin this one a few more times.

Queen of Soul with her signature song, Respect. So amazing they had to put it on the album twice?! Ok, maybe one is a mono version and the other is stereo. No reason though to not listen to Respect twice. I can't say I've listened to much Aretha besides the hits but this was a solid listen and I'll have to put this into the rotation.

Do I lose my Irish heritage if I say I find the Pogues just meh? I don't really like or dislike this. I'd play it on St. Patrick's Day but probably not reach for it otherwise. I also don't turn to "Fairytale of New York" at Christmas but also won't skip it. I think people like the idea and spirit of The Pogues more than the actual music.

Solids listen. Enjoyed this quite a bit. Of course, Sultans of Swing is a all-time jam. "He don't care about any trumpet playin band". The rest of it washed over me nicely but didn't pull my attention. I'll play it again but nothing jumps out to me as a classic album.

I enjoyed this album way more than I thought I would. It was way more jazzy than I was expecting. I was expecting a more country/sad vibe and was pleasantly surprised.

Well, there might have been some break through music and concepts in here but there was a lot of "noise" too. I don't think I have the patience to put in the effort to get out all the good/interesting parts. I'm glad I live 45 years past this album so I can hear all the good music that benefited from these pioneers.

Is 'Perfect Day' about heroin? Well, regardless, it's an amazing song on an excellent album. Key tracks are "Vicious", "Perfect Day", "Walk on the Wild Side", and "Satellite of Love". "Satellite of Love" is the far superior satellite song over Dave Matthews Band's "Satellite". There was a bit more jazzy/musical-like sounds (see "New York Telephone Conversation" and "Goodnight Ladies") in here with horns etc than I remembered. I thought it was just the best parts of Velvet Underground but Lou definitely adds his own flair that is definitely not VU. The refined Velvet Underground stuff is still far superior. Still a classic album with a few amazing tracks.

The first 2 songs are bangers. The rest is pretty good but I don't think I've ever listened to the whole album before. I think the potential of the YYYs is greater than their actual output. If they could just have more songs like Heads Will Roll and Maps. Maybe I'm being a bit too harsh but they have always seemed like a bit of underachievers to me.

Key tracks are the opener, "Sexy Boy", and "Talisman". I wish I had discovered Air sooner. These Frenchies are cool as hell. I was into the other Frenchies, Daft Punk, but this is a way more chill and sexy version of electronic music. I need to breathe more Air.

This is a solid REM outing with 2 awesome tracks: "End of the World" and "The One I Love". I remember discovering REM for myself via the "One I Love" video. I recall being home sick from school and watching one of the UHF channels that played music videos. And I remember seeing the video several times during that sick day. I definitely was hooked based on that song. It led me to buy the "Eponymous" album which is my only experience of early REM. From then on, I was an REM album consumer. So I have less fond feelings for the early REM albums since I basically went straight to the best of material.

You could argue this is a 5-star album just for the drum fills on Tom Sawyer specifically the fills at 2 minutes 30 seconds. The first 4 songs are awesome! The last 3 songs are kinda meh. I'm not sure if this is peak Rush but it is definitely one of their high points. YYZ is the airport code for Toronto. Rush showing their Canadian roots and pride!

Listened to this one on Youtube. I guess I'm not a fan of Ornette Coleman. It was a bit of noise jazz and I appreciated the Youtube ad breaks to give my ears a break. Anyway, John Zorn seems cool. The next video that came on was way more enjoyable. My taste is not refined enough to enjoy that kind of music.

This is one of my desert island records! Key tracks are Come On! Feel the Illinoise!, Chicago, and They Are Night Zombies. The best way to describe this music is concert band + indie. There really isn't another artist quite like Sufjan. I just wish he'd finish out his 50 states project and make some more coole records. I want a Colorado album. I did see him on the Carrie and Lowell tour. (BTW - Carrie and Lowell should be the Oregon album). He was incredible! It was one of the best shows I've ever seen. We still talk fondly of that show often. Anyway, give me Illinois forever and I'll be happy.

This was a beast to get through since it was technically 2 albums. 2 hours and 15 minutes! I think I owned this album but I've definitely listened to it before. Anyway, I went into this listen trying to decide which "album" was better, Big Boi's Speakerboxxx or Andre 3000's The Love Below. I have to give the nod to Andre 3000 only because I like his eclectic style, his overall weirdness and horniness. Big Boi's side is more party and I was surprised by all the guest rappers on that one. I didn't remember any of those big name collabs (Jay-Z, Killer Mike, Lil' Jon). Meanwhile, Andre 3000 hits so hard with probably one of the biggest song of the 2000s with "Hay Ya!" but I also like Happy Valentine's Day, Spread, Behold a Lady, and Roses. Even a throw away track like "Dracula's Wedding" is so weird and freaky it is still fun. Listening to these 2 albums now while still good, does bring a bit of melancholy realizing that Outkast had really broken up by the time this album came out and would not be releasing anymore real albums ever again (at least through 2024).

I’ve tried to get through this one a few times and the “helicopter/doppler” noise in this one just got worse upon additional listens. Anyway, I could leave this one. I did like the slower/chill track which was 2 or 3. I won’t be revisiting anytime soon.

Some poor record executive definitely got fired for this album. They were expecting Come On Eileen the sequel and they got this. Wow! It’s not a train wreck but there is nothing pop sounding on this album. Except maybe One of Those Things which is a total ripoff of Werewolves of London. I hope Warren Zevon got royalties for that song. I’m convinced that the record executive that greenlighted this release also started the "this is a hidden gem” noise. And then I end up listening to this a few times in 2024.

"I will now sell 5 copies of the three E.P's by the Beta Band." Huge break to be featured in the movie High Fidelity. Squares might be their best song and Hot Shots II might be the better album too. This is still cool music anyway you slice it. I don't pull this one out often enough but I was pleased to listen to this lo-fi sort of hippie/electro/folk album. This probably more of a 3.5 but I'll round up and give them a 4.

This is generously the 6th or 7th best Radiohead album. I was hoping I'd missed out and just overlooked this album. I remember not liking it much when it came out and have not revisited it since. There are a few tracks ("There, There" and "Myxomatosis") that point to the highlights of their other superior albums. But this is not the album to give someone to turn them onto Radiohead. This one is for the die-hards only. This is best forgotten like George W himself.

Son of a Preacher Man is an all-time classic. The rest of this is good stuff and her voice sounds great but it sounds like something I would have loved if I had been alive in 1969. The first song sounded like Burt Bacharach. The rest was more generic blues/pop and was fine but I haven't been missing a hidden legend here. Whenever I hear the beginning of "Son of a Preacher Man", I still hear Cypress Hill's "Hits Form the Bong". I guess that was deeply imprinted on my 16 year-old brain. lol

This was a weird one. It sounds like Ice T became super political and woke in international politics. Was weird to hear him singing about the future of Hong Kong becoming an official part of China which it now is and is struggling under their authoritarian ways. I can see why this never really worked the way that Rage Against the Machine does. I think justified angry rapping is a hard line to walk. Rapping is more fun when it is party music. If it is angry, it should be about the streets. Maybe this isn't angry rapping maybe it is more lecture rapping. "Music and Politics" jumped at me due to the jazzy track and weird repetitive lyrics. "If ever I would stop thinking about music and politics I would tell you that I pooped in my own dog dish." Take that great political minds of our times!

TV On The Radio is an interesting group and a critics darling. Probably admired due to their varied sound and experimentation. They sound like a darker and edgier version or Broken Bells or Gnarls Barkley. I think I bought this as an mp3 during my iPod days. "Dancing Choose" was the song that was the hit then. But then TV on The Radio hit me again when DLZ appeared in an episode of Breaking Bad. It was used to perfection and showed that it is the best song on this album. This is a good listen but is so dark and moody, it is definitely not an album for any occasion.

Solids listen. I'm not feeling too wordy today. Respect this as a pioneer album. Nothing really jumped out at me. Hey, wait a minute! No skits. I did like that. Anyway, mad props to these trailblazers. There are other rap albums I'll be cranking or listening to again.

I wanted to love this one but it felt like some real homework to listen to it. I can now see why people were so disappointed after Rumours. Tusk, the song, is an all-time banger featuring the sounds of the USC Marching Band. Props to all the band geeks out there. The other interesting tidbit from this one is that it was the most expensive album to be created at the the time with an estimated value of $3.4m in today's money. WOW! The record lable did not get a great return on investment. Anyway, I'm sure there are some gems in here if you put in the time with this. Someday, maybe.

You know I'm not a huge metal fan, but this album does contain my favorite Metallica song, "One". The combination of the song and video are definitely hit me hard and continues to do so to this day. That alone puts this up there for me.

This was pretty good stuff. I know the name better than I knew the music. Didn't realize he was the OG mambo king. I'll probably pick listen to this again when I'm in the mood for something a little spicy.

I listened to this one again as I listened to this when San Quentin was on the 1001 list. I said I preferred San Quentin but this one is pretty great too. The opener goes hard with Folsom Prison Blues. I also really liked 25 Minutes to Go and Jackson from this album. The ending is n't great. It kind of ends weird after Greystone Chapel. Also, not the best closing number. Still, Johnny's spirit and genuine care for the men incarcerated shine through. What a great document and testament to the man in black.

Never heard of Joe Ely before this. I enjoyed this despite it not being my kind of music. "Fingernails" and "Honky Tonkin" were standout tracks. Dude can get after it!

The first 6 songs on this album are top notch, grade-A certified. Closer is a jam and should be an instrumental cover for someone (I'm sure it is). The interplay of soft-loud is on full display with some excellent melodies. The second half drags and is a little too much wallowing. Even Johnny Cash took Hurt and made it so much better. PS - the video for "Closer" is a classic and you can instantly picture it in your mind if you've ever seen it before.

This my favorite Chili Peppers album. Sadly, when I saw them in concert in 2022, they only played " Give It Away" and "Under the Bridge" which is a crime. "Suck My Kiss" and "Breaking the Girl" are awesome songs too! Plus the rest of the album is funky, sexy, horny, jamming, and fun. This is definitely peak RHCP. This one will always be one of my faves.

Led Zeppelin III was always a bot of a funky album compared to I, II, IV, and Houses of the Holy. It doesn't quite flow the way the others do with it's rock, then acoustic switch back and forth. It's still an absolute gem. "Immigrant Song" might be the most well known Zepp song of all-time and is kinda of their theme song. I always sort of gravitated to "Gallows Pole", "Tangerine", and "That's the Way". Those are the meat of this album for me! I do love Bron-Y-Aur Stomp too. Ryder!!!! I could do without Hats off to Roy Harper though. Minor complaint for an otherwise amazing album. Hammer of the Gods!!!!

I really wish Louis Prima had been around for David Lee Roth's version of Just a Gigolo or the the Brian Setzer Orchestra's Jump Jive An' Wail. That previous sentence imparts the impact and fun Prima's music had on the world. Fun is the right word. While it probably was some of the very first genre-bending mix of rock, jazz, and blues; it most definitely wasn't last.

I was familiar with "Everything Is Free" song before jumping into this whole album. I think with some repeated listens this one could really grow on me as a whole well beyond the song I already knew. I know she is held in high regard by many music aficionados. I'll give it another listen when I'm in the right mood. BTW - Sylvan Esso does a great cover of "Everything Is Free" PS - this song is from 2001 and it is about how music is free now (napster, MP3s,etc) and artists just will keep making music because they have an inner need to make music and they will just keep getting ripped off. Bummer.

I've never listened to a whole Queen album before. I have the greatest hits and that's been great for me. The songs and style didn't really surprise me on this album. Queen's 70s sound is a weird mix of cock-rock, musical theatre, and opera. Obviously, Bohemian Rhapsody is one of the greatest pop/rock songs of all time. I enjoyed the other tunes fine. Love of My Life was a key non-greatest hits track that jumped out at me but I do think it was featured in the biopic. I won't be putting this one on frequently as I'm more inclined to the greatest hits.

2 Fatboy Slim albums. I swear we already reviewed this one but it must have been a different album. This has the classic Fatboy Slim tracks that are still regulars spins everywhere: "Right Here, Right Now", "Rockafeller Skank", "Gangster Trippin", and maybe the best of the bunch: "Praise You". I never though of Fatboy Slim as an "album" artist. He was always about the singles but this is a good album with several now classic tracks. (Shit, that last sentence made me feel so old.).

This is some dark grunge shit. Not sure what to make of this one. This is definitely not my cup of tea. I could see how someone is into though. IT definitely has a vibe and is locked into that vibe. I think I tried this one years ago based on a similar list or some random deep cut recommendation. I didn't particularly like then and I still don't like it. Maybe I'll remember this time to not bother again.

Well, I have never intentionally listened to Morrissey or the Smiths before. I'm sure I probably recognize some of the more famous songs but honestly couldn't name one off the top of my head. Anyway, I like this music. It's sad indie music which is right up my alley. I played this album several times and it kind of fit my mood yesterday since it was a sad day. The clearly stand-out track was "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get". "Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning" caught my attention each time and made me look at the song title probably because that one is extra sad. I'm looking forward to other Morrissey and The Smiths listening.

I could see this one might grow on me but this is a solidly meh album with one killer track, "Games Without Frontiers". Hopefully you learned that it is French lyrics and not "She's so popular". But that does kinda sounds cool too if you hear it that way instead.

Interesting fact: I read that due to the popularity that Stranger Things brought to “Running Up That Hill” that Kate Bush was pulling in $400k in royalties on a regular basis now (daily, weekly, monthly? Can’t remember). Good for her! This album is meh. I listened to this and it was okay but outside of “Running Up That Hill” none of the other songs or the album really grabbed me. This is a 2-star album with one 5-star track. I guess that equals 3-stars in my system.

Pale Blue Eyes is the stand-out track here. I really liked "After Hours" too. I doubt I would have guessed it was a VU track if you had played it for me and made me tell you the artist. They were less noise-experiment here and seemed like they actually cared about melody and song structure on this album. Even "Murder Mystery" which gets a little noisy was still quite pleasant. Better than White Light / White Heat but not as good as The Velvet Underground and Nico.

I'm really on the fence with this one. I guess the whole nu-metal kind of got a bad rap. I think it isn't too bad but not as good as the proponents make you think. It was definitely massively appealing looking at album sales and the continued popularity. In The End it doesn't really matter.

Interesting music. I did like the preacher song saying the names of the bands/artists just a bit wrong. lol Nothing of this jumped out at me as particularly interesting or worth picking up frequently. It wasn't bad, just bland.

Weird, lounge-y, ahead of its time. Scott Walker sounds like how alternative artists do 60s homages now - see Arctic Monkeys’ Tranquility Bae Hotel & Casino. “The Old Man’s Back Again” was an enjoyable track. I liked the opening track too. With the trumpets it reminded me a bit of Mexican flair and also Father John Misty. I doubt I’ll come back to this but I’m glad I heard it.

I'm assuming this will be our first foray into many Dylan albums. Dylan is definitely an acquired taste. I've been exposed to his music my whole life but it gets more interesting the older I get. I've only recently got into the albums and expanded beyond the greatest hits. His catalog is daunting to say the least. "Blowing in the Wind" and "Don't Think Twice" are all-time classics and are undisputed in my opinion. I enjoyed the humor on some of the songs like "I Shall Be Free". "Corrina, Corrina" sounds like 21st century Dylan. Obviously, this acoustic period is pretty awesome and some people wished he would have never plugged in. I'll look forward to some of the 'electric' Dylan albums later on.

While Van Morrison the person is debatable, his music is not. This is peak Van and the first 5 songs of this album might be the best side 1 of any LP, ever. Side 2 isn't quite there but it's hard to compare to side 1. Don't make me choose my favorite track because it is impossible. I love them all. His voice and smooth music is so amazing and soothing. I need to listen to this one more often.

I have a soft spot for this one due to this sounding similar to the Flaming Lips. This seems like one you’d have to give yourself time to grow into. It didn’t quite have the highs of the Flaming Lips but seemed to have a more polished and consistent musicality. I’d definitely revisit this one.

Mad respect for the Afro-Cuban congo music. I dug this one. While it is old it doesn't sound as dated as I imagined. I doubt I'll reach for this one often, I'd rather listen to Buena Vista Social Club. But this was an interesting listen and one I'm glad to experience. I could really hear the African rhythms in here more than usual when I hear Cuban music.

I continue to explore African music and this is a nice addition to my knowledge and expanding tastes. While this isn't up there with Fela Kuti it is still pretty damn good. I'm going to need several listens to see which tracks stick with me. However, if you have not already heard it, check out Baaba's collab with Mumford and Sons called "There Will Be Time". That is an amazing song!

As a child of MTV, this is straight dopamine to my brain triggering massive nostalgia. ZZ Top has always stayed true to their Texas blues roots and sound even when they went video to kill the radio star. This is a very specific sound and not one I usually go for but is a nice change of pace.

I've never quite fell for the Pixies. I'm not sure why they never captured my attention like the other bands from the 90s. I really like "Here Comes Your Man". And before today, I couldn't have told you it was a Pixies song even though it is a song I like and am familiar with already. The song has a throwback quality that sounds like it came out way before 1989. I don't like when Black Francis's voice gets all shredded and screamy. That has always kept me arm's length away from the Pixies. I can see why the Pixies are so influential in all things 90s especially grunge and Nirvana.

Did I need to hear 3 different live versions of ""Black Night"? No, I did not. Was I mad about it? Also, no. Deep Purple feels a bit underrated. I didn't realize that "Highway Star" was one of their songs. and of course, everyone knows "Smoke on the Water". It was entertaining enough. Do I need a 20 minute live version of "Space Truckin"? Not during the day with no alcohol or weed for sure. Again though it was enjoyable enough. I did start thinking about the legacy and descendants of Deep Purple. Are Deep Purple the real Spinal Tap? Are their descendants Kiss and Motley Crue? Interesting band who doesn't get talked about much these days.

Far out man. My love of George Harrison has made me like and appreciate sitar music. I personally really like the "Light My Fire" cover. I'll add that to late night listening. "Sagar (The Ocean)" was too much and I'd skip that one going forward. I did dig the last track, "Raghupati", with its unitarian vibe of we are all one. This does feel a bit gimmicky overall trying to capitalize on The Beatles and their introduction of the sitar into their music. However, it has a certain nostalgia that is fun now in retrospect. Is it a classic, nope. But still some fun tracks anyway.

I listened to this and only one track stood out for me; “Like Dylan in the Movies”. I’m familiar with Belle and Sebastian but it was never my jam. B&S have a distinct vibe and it is probably a love or hate thing for most. Being the indie guy I am this should but up my alley but I find it just alright. I have no hate for really any music (minus Joanna Newsom) but I find Belle and Sebastian very meh. Maybe someday I’ll get it but for now I won’t seek it out but I also won’t actively avoid it.

CCR just doesn't get talked about enough. John Fogerty is a legend and this album is a testament to a band that is tight and focused on making music. I've always been a CCR hits guy so this is the first CCR album I think I've ever chose to listen to. I do remember seeing a CCR cassette back in the day at my Aunt and Uncle's place. I'm pretty sure it was the album with "Willie and the Poor Boys". So I probably listened to that one. Anyway, awesome, distinct vocals. Tight playing. Great cover song choices. "Heard It Through the Grapevine" is particularly good here. Tons of the hits are on here too. Great listen for back patio or around the camp firs.

I liked this one quite well. I'm down foe some Count Basie. This isn't the known tracks from my days playing in jazz band, a la April in Paris. This is a burner of a big band album. I wonder how it was received in pop culture in 1958? I tried imagining hearing it played at a diner or on the radio. Were kids or middle-aged adults into it? Was it the equivalent of dad-rock in 1958? Anyway, solid jazz tunes. Will listen again.

I actually owned this one in the 90s. Back when you had to buy the whole CD for 1 song. But again I might have also got the CD from BMG music club for one penny. Anyway, I've always enjoyed this album and the band. Obviously, any person of the 90s will recognize and adore "Lovefool". I enjoyed "Been It". I totally forgot they covered Black Sabbath. Once I heard that, I swear there were 2 other songs that weren't straight up covers but definitely cribbed some of the chord progressions from Sabbath as well. "Choke" is on of the songs that sounds like they borrowed from Sabbath. Overall, a fun little throw back to the 90s. This is not essential for anyone. I don't know how it made the top 1001 albums to hear but is a nice listen anyway.

Never listened to a Genesis album before this. And to jump in on a double disc release! Let's Go! First disc was cool and prog rock stuff that I liked overall, sounded a bit like Emerson Lake and Palmer: opening/title track, "Back in NYC", and "Counting Out Time". Hope you caught this gem from "Counting Out Time": "Erogenous zones I love you, Without you, what would a poor boy do?" Second disc seemed really atmospheric and less musical overall. What I remember was a pass. I liked disc 1 and could do without disc 2. I'd probably need at least another listen to have a really proper opinion. Will it happen. Maybe.

I couldn’t name a single Sugarcubrs song before today. I’d definitely heard the group name before. I vaguely knew in the back of my dusty mind that this was Bjork’s band Motorcrash specifically sounds like it should be on the Ferris Bueller soundtrack. Overall, I like this one pretty well! I think I like it better than Bjork solo. More rock and less Broadway.

Wow! Why did someone not tell my 12-year-old self to check out the Cure? It probably would not have landed like it does at 47. Why was I sleeping on this all these years? Of course I knew Lovesong but outside of that I barely knew the other hits had never listened to the rest of the album. This is an awesome album. I should have been getting sad to the Cure long before now. This is definitely going into my heavy rotation. That baseline along on Fascination Street is so driving and addictive. Great album!

Fela is a genius and a political revolutionary. This is an awesome album with jazz, afrobeat, and politics all mixed into one package. I'm wondering if they will not have "Water Got No Enemy" since it is technically a single. This may be the only Fela entry in 1001. So, while I wasn't familiar with Zombie before this listening and I dig it a lot, it is not as good as "Water Got No Enemy" so I'm going to bump this one up to 5-star by including "Water Got No Enemy" into this rating. Otherwise, Zombie is added to the rotation and earns a 4-star rating. Cheating, I know but I had to get my love for that song in.

I listened to this one 1.5 times. I really tried to get through this one a second time because I felt like it was just kinda there. I'm not sure I had the time to give this the listen it deserved. It sounds good and interesting but nothing really caught my attention. I know this band has a cultish following so I'd like to "get it". I'll try it again someday.

Oh Bob, you old devil. Hard to believe that Bob Dylan is still going at it over 60 years on. This was his comeback album 30 years ago!!!! This was the template for later day Dylan. I can appreciate it but it is definitely no party music. He's aged quite nicely into the old guard, wise, old man singing and I feel like it started here. "Not Dark Yet" and "Make You Feel My Love" are the stand out tracks.

I like this one more than I thought I would. It was way more pop and melodic tha. I expected. Punk always makes me think it will be noise but this was good. I’ve heard about X for so many years but never actually bothered to listen. I’m glad I did. This will not be in regular rotation but I’m glad I listened to it and would definitely listen again.

This is Stevie’s answer to Marvin Gaye if I got the timeline right. Some great tracks including: Living For The City, Higher Ground, Don’t You Worry About a Thing. I like some of the lesser known tracks like Too High and Misstra Know-It-All. The slow songs were huge drags though. Pass on those. The great ones almost make up enough to make this 5-star but not quite.

This was my intro to LCD Soundsystem. Who knew dance music could be funny? North American Scum still cracks me up today. Someone Great is heartbreakingly perfect. All My Friends is awesome too. And I personally love the Lou Reed-esque NY I Love You. No band is really like them because they are a little bit rock but also electronic. Kinda dance but maybe more indie. All I know is this is LCD’s best album.

Does 1 or 2 songs make a great album? No, they do not. Donovan killed it on the singles. Sunshine Superman is a banger! 100. Season of the Witch might justify you buying the album. The rest is very meh or worse. Just add Sunshine Superman to your golden oldies playlist and Season of the Witch to your Halloween playlist and skip the rest.

Quite enjoyed this one. Lots of great cuts on here. Left My Wallet, Can I Kick It. For whatever reason Tribe escaped my young radar which is a shame. I was too into pop and gangsta rap.

This was even better than the previous Aretha album in my opinion. This just hit perfect for a Monday morning. Chain of Fools and Natural Woman were great to hear in context of the rest of the album. I can see how Aretha blew up in 1967-1968 with these releases and probably never reached those heights again but she kept on making music and displaying that incredible voice for another 50 years. I see why she was crowned and the Queen's legacy lives on!

Random thoughts review: - What if you took Zeppelin and leaned into fantasy even more, added some Broadway flair, and mix in some glam rock? You'd have Queen II. - I always thought that this album had Bohemian Rhapsody based on the cover art. Apparently, they just used that cover art at the end of the Bohemian Rhapsody video in the early 90s. - I never really noticed the glam influence in Queen until hearing this album. You can clearly hear the connection to T Rex. - What is this story about? Did the White Queen destroy the Black Queen? Did the ogre's win the battle? I couldn't quite follow - Surprised there are no proper Queen hits on this album. - I see what you did there 1001 Album Generator. Queen of Soul to Queen. Well played.

"Grounds for Divorce" was the stand out track on this album. I didn't have much thoughts on this album but it did feel a bit melancholy overall and maybe that had to do with the fact that a "friend of the band died suddenly in 2006. The closing track, "Friend of Ours", as well as the liner notes of the album, are dedicated in his memory." I doubt I'll revisit this one. I actually thought this was the Eels. So I was initially disappointed because this didn't match my expectations. I hope we get to The eels at some point because I like them better.

Breakin the law! Breakin the law! I listened to this and nothing really caught me outside of Breakin' the Law. I know they are metal gods and I think the lead singer is gay. I guess I'll revisit this when I get into my metal phase. Julian is working on me but still has aways to go.

I vaguely remember this one from the early 2000s. I see why critics liked it so much. It was just different and cool compared to popular rap at the time. I like Just a Rascal. It was a fine listen but I won’t be rushing back to this one.

Imagine alone makes this a 5-star album but there is so much more: Jealous Guy, Gimme Some Truth, How Do You Sleep? and Oh Yoko. Crippled Inside really grabbed me this time. Underrated song that spoke to me differently than on previous listens. Also, How Do You Sleep? is a dis track at Paul McCartney. Go listen again. I'll wait... Damn! John goes hard on Paul. That is a blistering track. I know there were some regrets from John for putting out that track. But that track is still a great song. Last random thought, I watched a documentary about John Lennon and he wished he had given writing credit to Yoko for Imagine as she was integral in the lyrics of that song. I thought that was so cool and admirable of him to admit later on. He was still a growing person and it is too bad to have lost a revolutionary like him at such a young age. I would love to hear what he would say about the world today.

This is the international release. The album and song choices are different for the international release (ass cover) versus the US release (subatomic particles). I never knew this before today. Anyway, I remember when The Strokes saved rock n roll in the early 2000s. I kinda forgot this was in the shadow of 9/11. I wonder if they would have been a bigger success without having the specter of 9/11 hanging over everything NYC at that time. I own this album on CD and I find it similar today as I did then. The songs are good and it is a pleasurable listening experience but I don't get all emotional or pumped up much for any single song. Honestly, the lyrics don't hit me at all. I'm not sure I've ever tried to listen closely. The voice is just another instrument to me. Anyway, I do see the legacy connection between this and the Velvet Underground. Still a good listen. Not quite a classic.

George is my favorite Beatle and I love this album. There are several all-time tracks plus a few amazing Dylan covers, especially "If Not For You". All-time tracks are "My Sweet Lord", "Wah-Wah" "What is Life", "Beware of Darkness", and "All Things Must Pass". If George had cut this down to a single album this would be an all-time classic. He added way too much music but can you blame the guy after being shut out by Paul and John for the previous years? This album has always been a dour listen and I wondered if it was an ominous sign for election date 2024. Just remember what George said, all things must pass.

Make my funk the P-Funk! I want my funk uncut! George Clinton is a funk godfather. I don't know what title he has but it should be something like that. This music is just plain fun. There is definitely a civil rights/black movement element here but who doesn't want to get down when you hear this music. Iona was in the car while we were listening to "Give Up the Funk" and she said"Isn't this song famous or something?" I said yes it was but that also dad plays it frequently because he likes to get down. :) She also queried: "Why are they called Parliament? Are they from England?" lol

Awesome album! Short, sweet and to the point. Born on the Bayou is my favorite track but also props to John Fogerty for writing Tina Turner’s classic Proud Mary. Crazy that this album is only 33 minutes and 7 tracks. Packed a lot of punch in a short amount.

I want to like this so much. But I find it just alright. Listened to this twice in a row and only perked up when I heard California. I want to “get” Joni because it seems like she brings so many people so much joy. I’ll keep trying. I do like “River” as well from my many viewings of Love Actually.

I've always enjoyed War's greatest hits. Had the CD since the 90s. I enjoyed this one but Cisco Kid was the only track I was familiar with prior. Was surprised there were three 10-minute long jams (Four Corner, City Country, and the World is a Ghetto). I totally dug it though and could see myself popping this one on for a relaxed afternoon or evening. I will be exploring more of War's discography.

I listened to this during a very traffic-filled commute home. So this might be quite biased due to the circumstances this was listened to. I was already one foot out on this one and then the "Born To Be Wild" cover came on and I jumped right out completely. Nothing about this resonated with me. It wasn't pop enough to be catchy and it wasn't musically varied enough to keep me interested. This should have been left in the 80s. I won't be listening to this one again.

Super chill. While this isn't quite up to the Girl From Impanema standards. This is some chill music that I will likely listen to again.

I think my Bruce awakening is happening thanks to the Blinded by the Light movie. This is a very stark album and is definitely not gateway Bruce. I really like Atlantic City track. I will revisit this one and read the lyrics and do some real active listening.

Love the opener and the closer. I decided the opener is slightly better than the closing track but both are awesome! The rest of this album was okay. Neil Young is another one of those artists that I've never fully delved into. He has such a deep and daunting catalog which is still expanding!

I see why so many indie nerds love the Talking Heads. This is prototypical indie music. I should have been listening to more Talking Heads all these years. This album sounds like it could be released today and would tear up the socials with fawning indie fans.

I like this one better than Rust Never Sleeps. Although "My, My, Hey Hey" is my favorite song from these albums. I need to do some more Neil listening to fully appreciate him. I'll keep this one spinning again for sure.