#1
The Black Keys - Brothers (2010)
Blues Rock
Garage Rock, Swamp Rock, Soul, Psychedelic Rock
All the sleaze of classic blues rock without any of the douchebaggery. Pretty well done and enjoyable, even if it stretches itself thin with 15 songs. Good start.
Favourite Tracks: Tighten Up, Next Girl, Howlin' for You, Everlasting Light, Never Gonna Give You Up
Least Favourite Track: The Go Getter
#2
The Rolling Stones - Aftermath (1966)
Blues Rock
British Rhythm & Blues, Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues
The Stones' Rubber Soul is definitely a far cry from the actual Rubber Soul. While I appreciate the experimentation on display here, the aimless songs and concerningly large amount of misogyny (???) keeps it from truly being a *good* album. Sure was a different time.
Favourite Track: Out of Time
Least Favourite Track: Stupid Girl
#3
Beastie Boys - Ill Communication (1994)
East Coast Hip Hop
Funk, Jazz-Funk, Hardcore Punk, Instrumental Hip Hop, Experimental Hip Hop
Not as good as Paul's Boutique... but I can see why someone would think otherwise. This is really different from what I'm familiar with for the Beastie Boys, the trio taking a backseat in the second half to make way for some pretty cool instrumental hip hop tracks. It's cool, but I doubt I'll be returning to it anytime soon.
Favourite Track: Get It Together
Least Favourite Track: Bobo on the Corner
#4
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland (1968)
Blues Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Acid Rock
Hard Rock, Heavy Psych
Lucky me, getting this classic so early in the list. Undeniably one of the most creative psych albums of all time, it holds absolutely zero punches. It is a bit too long though...
Favourite Tracks: All Along the Watchtower, 1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be), Crosstown Traffic, Still Raining Still Dreaming, Voodoo Child (Slight Return), Come On (Let the Good Times Roll), House Burning Down
Least Favourite Track: Burning of the Midnight Lamp
#5
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (1959)
Modal Jazz, Cool Jazz
An incredibly rewarding listen, it gets better with every listen. So simple yet so complex at the same time
Favourite Tracks: Freddie Freeloader, So What, Flamenco Sketches, Blue In Green
Least Favourite Track: All Blues
#6
Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962)
Country Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Traditional Pop
Big Band, Swing, Countrypolitan
Never listened to Ray Charles beforehand, damn. I can see why he's so influential. This album was before the likes of Pet Sounds and Rubber Soul so it does feel more like a collection of hits than a cohesive statement... but man do those hits HIT. It's like a bridge between the music of the 50s and 60s.
Favourite Track: Hey, Good Lookin'
Least Favourite Track: Half as Much
#7
The Go-Betweens - 16 Lovers Lane
Jangle Pop, Indie Pop
Chamber Pop
Finally, I can listen to the Smiths without having to worry about supporting Morrissey! Well, the vocalist for the Go-Betweens isn't as good as Morrissey, but he does hold his own here. Good album, but it begins to lose steam by the end.
Favourite Track: Quiet Heart
Least Favourite Track: I'm All Right
#8
Van Halen - 1984 (1984)
Hard Rock
AOR, Heavy Metal, Pop Rock, Glam Metal
Essential cock rock. The production kinda sucks, but the songs absolutely hit when they need to.
Favourite Tracks: I'll Wait, Hot for Teacher
Least Favourite Track: 1984
#9
The Police - Synchronicity (1983)
New Wave, Pop Rock
Sophisti-Pop, Art Rock
That was... not what I was expecting... huh. It's good, mostly, but a lot weirder than I was anticipating, especially in the first half. Side B has a lot more in common with EBYT. Overall a pretty good ending for the Police.
Favourite Tracks: Every Breath You Take, Synchronicity II, Miss Gradenko
Least Favourite Track: Tea In the Sahara
#10
Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A. (1984)
Pop Rock, Heartland Rock
AOR
C'mon man. It's Springsteen.
Favourite Track: Cover Me
Least Favourite Track: Bobby Jean
#11
Jefferson Airplane - Surrealistic Pillow (1967)
Psychedelic Rock
Folk Rock, Acid Rock, Psychedelic Pop
Ha, cool album. Hopefully these guys don't completely sell out and turn themselves into embarassments... right? Right?
Favourite Tracks: Somebody to Love, My Best Friend, Today
Least Favourite Track: D. C. B. A. 25
#12
Dolly Parton - Coat of Many Colors (1971)
Country, Nashville Sound
Singer-Songwriter, Country Pop
I LOVE YOU DOLLY
Favourite Tracks: Coat of Many Colors, She Never Met a Man (She Didn't Like), A Better Place to Live, Traveling Man
Least Favourite Track: Here I Am
#13
Bob Dylan - Time Out of Mind (1997)
Singer-Songwriter, Folk Rock
Blues Rock, Country Blues, Blues
A return to form for Bob after over a decade of shit. While it isn't anywhere near his music he made during his peak, Time Out of Mind is a pretty damn good album for a veteran this late into his career. It's way too long though.
Favourite Tracks: Love Sick, Not Dark Yet
Least Favourite Track: Can't Wait
#14
Sarah Vaughan - At Mister Kelly's (1958)
Vocal Jazz
Standards
Pleasant album but imma be real I'm literally never gonna listen to anything on here ever again. At least the audience is having fun.
Favourite Track: Just One Of Those Things
Least Favourite Track: Honeysuckle Rose
#15
Nirvana - In Utero (1993)
Grunge, Noise Rock
Post-Hardcore, Noise Rock
An album that just gets better and better the more I listen to it. The best combination of noise rock with mainstream music ever made. RIP Kurt.
Favourite Tracks: Heart-Shaped Box, Dumb, All Apologies, Rape Me, Frances Farmer...
Least Favourite Track: Milk It
#16
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black (2006)
Pop Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Soul
Neo-Soul, Jazz Pop, Brill Building
This album sounds like a fancy expensive wine. What a goddamn voice Amy had, gone far too soon.
Favourite Tracks: Back to Black, Rehab
Least Favourite Track: Me & Mr Jones
#17
Barry Adamson - Oedipus Schmoedipus
Acid Jazz, Trip Hop
Trip Hop, Dark Jazz, Spy Music, Lounge, Spoken Word
Bit of an odd choice for this list. I'm not sure why this album is here over other more important and well known acid jazz albums. It's good, don't get me wrong, but it also doesn't really have a good idea of what it wants to be.
Favourite Track: Achieved in the Valley of Dolls
Least Favourite Track: Dirty Barry
#18
Metallica - S&M (1999)
Heavy Metal, Symphonic Metal, Hard Rock
Thrash Metal
Why does... why does James sound like that? Anyways, interesting idea with a good enough execution, but not something I'm itching to come back to.
Favourite Track: For Whom the Bell Tolls
Least Favourite Track: The Thing That Should Not Be
#19
The Auteurs - New Wave (1993)
Britpop, Indie Pop
Jangle Pop, Glam Rock, Art Rock, Indie Rock
Surprisingly more interesting than I was expecting. Don't think it should be on the list though.
Favourite Tracks: Show Girl, Bailed Out, How Could I Be Wrong, Housebreaker, Idiot Brother
Least Favourite Track: American Guitars
#20
Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs (1970)
Psychedelic Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic Pop
Barrett's solo work has the same issues that I have with his music with Pink Floyd. It's too weird and yet too normal at the same time. Meh.
Favourite Tracks: No Good Trying, Love You, No Man's Land
Least Favourite Track: Octopus
