354
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3.86
Average Rating
33%
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735 albums remaining
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1990s
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Hip-hop
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63
5-Star Albums
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You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Madcap Laughs | 5 | 2.62 | +2.38 |
| A Grand Don't Come For Free | 5 | 2.67 | +2.33 |
| Odessa | 5 | 2.72 | +2.28 |
| D.O.A. the Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle | 4 | 1.87 | +2.13 |
| Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle | 5 | 3.02 | +1.98 |
| Fifth Dimension | 5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
| Scum | 4 | 2.07 | +1.93 |
| Here Come The Warm Jets | 5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
| Younger Than Yesterday | 5 | 3.14 | +1.86 |
| Dear Science | 5 | 3.16 | +1.84 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 2 | 3.27 | -1.27 |
| Golden Hour | 2 | 3.09 | -1.09 |
Artist Analysis
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Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 4 | 4.5 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Byrds | 3 | 4.67 |
| Radiohead | 3 | 4.67 |
| Talking Heads | 3 | 4.33 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 4.33 |
5-Star Albums (63)
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Popular Reviews
Syd Barrett
5/5
Psychedelic Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Psychedelic Rock. Dark but playful. It's a very vulnerable album. Like what I'm hearing is someone heart laid bare. It's sad but beautiful. A tough album to listen to but it's special because of that. Like what I'm hearing will never be recreated. I loved it, any flaws it may have melt away because it's just so real.
Would love to revisit.
5/5
2 likes
Ghostface Killah
4/5
East coast hardcore hip hop. I'm pretty mixed on this album. Like I love the energy and aggressiveness but sometimes I kinda find that the beats take a backseat, which was a big reason I liked the Wu-tang album. Ghostface's lyrics and flow were all really good most of the time, and I actually enjoyed a lot of the features. The album itself is quite long and bloated with skits and other stuff that just makes it feel so incohesive. The first half was really good but it really runs out of steam. I like variety usually but the album was mostly just all over the place which made for a big clash in sounds sometimes. That being said, I did have fun listening to it and enjoyed every song to some extent. A solid album.
Probably won't revisit save for a few tracks.
3.5/5
1 likes
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
Alt-country, Americana, Alternative rock. Kinda mixed on this album. Like it was mostly good but I didn't really connect with it at all save for like, one song. It was ok, not much I wanna say about it really.
3/5
1 likes
All Ratings
Al Green
4/5
Beautiful southern/pop soul. Perfect love songs, production makes it sound as old as it is but the songwriting is timeless. Al Green is a master of comfort.
Instant Classic.
Definitely will revisit.
Jethro Tull
4/5
Incredible prog rock with plenty of acoustic guitar, strings, and even some flutes. Peak Ren Fair-core. The title track is an all-time classic, the rest of the album is just a bonus to get to hear the band flex their chops.
Definite Classic.
Will revisit.
Dr. Dre
5/5
Top notch West Coast Hip Hop/Gangster Rap. Super tight beats with pretty good raps, nothing but everything works so well together who cares if some of the lyrics are a little wack. Not a single bad feature pretty much every song the perfect length. Funny skits. Man this record had it all.
Classic is an understatement.
Absolutely will revisit.
The Go-Go's
4/5
It's like some kind of new wave or something! A lot of really good classic power pop songs from one of the greatest bands to ever do it. Like all of the songs were good but a few were definitely weaker than the others. I had a good time listening to this album, but the sound got a little old by the end.
Classic for sure.
Might revisit eventually.
Tears For Fears
4/5
Beautifully lush and ethereal synthpop/new wave from one of the greatest groups to ever do it. For me, the quintessential album of 80s synthy new wave. Incredible mixing, comforting soundscapes. Unfortunately it suffers from the fact that the hits are leagues ahead of some of the other songs on the album. Overall still a great record, just wish all of the songs were as good as the bigger hits.
Undeniable classic.
Would revisit but most likely just the hits.
Portishead
5/5
Dark and atmospheric Trip Hop. Love this album so much because it's so easy to just lose yourself in. From the very beginning to the end it's a masterpiece of sensual songwriting. Hauntingly beautiful vocals and mellow beats makes this such an unnervingly comfortable listen. I've been listening to this album on and off for many years and won't be stopping anytime soon.
Timeless classic.
Already have and will continue to revisit.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Energetic east coast hip hop/early rap rack. Beastie Boys are always a load of fun to listen to. Humorous lyrics layered onto fun beats and samples makes it a blast to listen to when playing a game or something, but listening on it's own can get old. Brass Monkey is timeless, and many of the other songs on this album are great, but it's pretty apparent this was their first album. It's quite, I don't know, stuck in its time. Their next few albums are way more enduring.
Somewhat of a classic, in that its the first album from a legendary group.
May revisit a handful of songs.
Bert Jansch
4/5
Introspective folk singer-songwriter. Reading up on the legacy of Bert Jansch really makes me wonder why I have never heard his name thrown around given how many legends were inspired by him. I guess he's the folk "favorite musician's favorite musician". Amazing guitar skills and songwriting all throughout the album. His vocals were a perfect fit for every song, and I quite liked how occasionally he would kinda struggle to hit a note. It's a very "real" album in that sense.
Classic of the genre.
Would maybe revisit, but would also like to hear his other works.
3/5
Honky Tonk Country. This album didn't really do anything for me, I was over it midway through the second song. Don't really see what's so essential about this album but that could be due to my ignorance of the genre. Overall I guess there wasn't anything glaringly bad, just not my cup of tea. Loretta does have a really nice voice though, I will admit that.
Not really a classic in my eyes.
Probably won't revisit except for maybe the title track.
Gary Numan
4/5
Quirky futuristic Synthpop/New Wave. Kind of at a loss for words for this album. Like I really enjoyed what I heard, and I loved several of the songs a lot, but I can't say they didn't all kinda blend together at points. Which isn't a bad thing all the time. I mean it's synthpop where there is no guitar, the only instruments usually are the synth, drums, bass, and the occasional violin or piano. Nonsensical lyrics really added to the weird mechanical feeling of the album, loved that. I would probably need to hear more from the genre to fully appreciate Gary Numan, but this album really sets a high standard moving forward.
Definitely a classic.
Will revisit, especially select songs.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Dark heavy metal/hard rock. Man there's so much to say about this album. Black Sabbath created one of the most influential albums of all time with their first album. The roots of doom metal can be traced to this very album. I've heard this many times before but the riffs never get old. The production is just perfect, not too clean and not too messy. Bits of weird psychedlic sprinkled in here and there. It's just an incredible album.
Without a doubt, timeless classic.
Not even a question, of course I'll keep revisiting.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
Jazzy East Coast Hip Hop. Boom baps out in full force. Low End Theory is full of smooth jazz bass lines and sick drum beats. Incredible flows and lyrics from everyone involved. Even though all the songs had similar feelings, it's a feeling you never get tired of. For me, it's like I'm nostalgic for a time I was never alive. It's cool I got to listen to The Chronic before this to really see the difference between between coastal styles.
Definitely an all time classic
Will for sure revisit.
The Youngbloods
3/5
Psychedelic folk rock with some jazzy elements. It's like both halves start out really strong, and then kind of lose momentum towards the end. Great piano throughout the album, and vocals and guitars all sounded great. The opening track was killer, that pretty much makes the whole album worth it. I think this album might need further listens to truly understand.
Somewhat classic for now.
Will have to revisit.
Kanye West
4/5
Anthemic hip hop. Without speaking on Kanye as a person, his musical output for many years was unrivaled compared to most of his contemporaries. MBDTF followed 808s in a big pivot of style. Some of his greatest songs can be found on MBDTF. Grandiose production value, every song sounds really good, amazing mix. Beats are all killer, lyrics are top tier for the most part. It kind of drags in the middle with two songs back to back bloated with features, but then picks back up quickly afterwards. Quite a long album overall but it never feels like it's dragging since the energy is always there.
For sure a classic.
Don't listen to Kanye much anymore but I'll still probably revisit.
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Artsy pop rock. This album was incredibly tight. Like the composition of the entire thing was nearly flawless. Very introspective and mellow, immaculate vibes. I'm not very familiar with Velvet Underground so I'm not sure how this stacks up against some of the rest of their discography, but this album definitely makes me want to hear it all. Masterclass in music making. My only gripe is that The Murder Mystery felt a little out of place in this record. Otherwise fantastic album.
No doubt a classic.
Can't wait to revisit.
4.5/5
White Denim
4/5
Indie psychedelic rock. Man what an gem. Wasn't really sure what to expect from an album of these genres from 2011, but nothing could have prepared me for how hard this slapped. Eclectic and raw, this album was pure fun from start to finish. Clear influences from older prog and classic rock bands, but White Denim really makes it their own. All instruments stand out in their own ways throughout the album, and who can turn down a little flute here and there. Loved this album.
Not a classic per se but a damn good album nonetheless.
Will definitely revisit, especially certain songs.
4/5
Blondie
4/5
New wave/pop rock. Love the energy through most of this album. I already loved the big hits from this album but was pleasantly surprised at the rest of the songs. Tons of fun melodies and really tight composition made for a great experience. It does kind of feel like "just a collection good songs" than like a cohesive experience as a full album but sometimes you just wanna listen to great pop songs.
Starting to see the issue with claiming these albums classic because they're considered essential for a reason.
Anyways it's a true classic.
Will revisit but probably just certain songs.
4/5
5/5
Amazing pop rock opera. A concept album that tells a very broad story. This album was very fun from start to finish. Engaging melodies at all times, I was never bored. Some of these songs gave me the same sort of whimsical feeling that Paul and Linda McCartney's "Ram" does. Where it's clear these musicians were having a good time, enjoying the music they were making. I just straight up had a really good time while listening to this album, not just because it was good. I listen to a lot of albums that I consider just as good as this one, but not all of them make me feel as good as Arthur does. It's something special.
Classic, duh.
I have to revisit, not for a second opinion but because I just want to listen again.
4.5/5
TV On The Radio
5/5
Eclectic indie rock. I had heard some TOTR prior to this, songs from the album they released prior to Dear Science. I knew what to expect but was still surprised out how tightly each song was written. Funky polyrhythms everywhere, I love the vocals layered so perfectly. Beautifully mixed and produced, it's one of those albums where there's so much going on but it never gets overwhelming or messy. Each time you listen to a song you notice something new to love about it. It doesn't feel like something that would come out in the 2000s, maybe I'm not familiar with the scene around that time. My only nitpick is that occasionally it drags, but it's very good about drawing me back in.
Personal classic, I really really enjoyed.
I've already listened more than once, safe to say I'll keep revisiting.
4.5/5
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Passionate pop soul. My goodness what surprise this album was. I was fully prepared to just sit through this album and just tolerate it at most but I was completely blown away by the power behind Dusty's voice. At every turn it really felt like she was giving it her all, even in some of the softer songs. Incredible soul-inspired pop with plenty of blues elements. As with a lot of other first albums for singer around this time, I've come to find that a lot of these songs are covers, which probably explains why they just kinda feel thrown together. All of the renditions of the songs were great but it's Dusty's singing that really stands out above all else. That alone makes this record special.
Surely a classic even if the songs aren't all original.
Will probably revisit certain songs.
4/5
Cat Stevens
4/5
Introspective folk pop. It's remarkable how expressive you can be with so little. The first track really showcases this in the beginning, and then opens up with more energy later. Steven's voice is at the perfect soft-but-forceful level most of the time, and then occasionally he belts out with strong vocals. Who needs drums when you can keep the beat with a guitar? Strings and piano come in sometimes as well, all the accentuate Steven. Lovely lovely album.
Will need to revisit, I'm sure I'll appreciate it even more.
4/5
Mike Oldfield
4/5
Progressive rock. A weird meandering album consisting of two parts, each over 20 minutes. I can't say I hated it, I really like how quirky it is, but I also can't say I loved it. It had moments of genius and then would regress into what sounds like someone playing random notes. Maybe my brain isn't big enough to fully comprehend it all, but it just felt very unfocused at times. Like each instrument was taking its turn until a new one would take its place, the only thing linking them being the times where the "background" instruments just played the same thing over and over. Very cheesy to just call out an instrument every time it joins the song, but at least the payoff was pretty good when it built up to the finish. I enjoyed part two slightly more, but overall this album just didn't quite hit how I thought it would.
I'd revisit in the future because I feel like I'm missing something, not necessarily because I really liked it.
3.5/5
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
Hardcore east coast hip hop. Such a crazy album. How in the world did they manage to fit so many rappers in one album and have it not turn out a cramped mess? Seriously, they all stand out on their own too. Insane flows, insane lyrics, insane beats. I could hardly believe it was over so quick. Loved it from start to finish.
Will have to revisit for sure.
4.5/5
4/5
Alt/indie rock. Great album. Really well structured songs, great mixing and production. I think it starts and ends strong but a little lacking in some songs during the middle. A good emotional performance from PJ, really tight vocals. I found some of the songs a little lacking one way or another though, maybe I just need to be in the right mood. This album at least feels like it could grow on me given enough time.
I should revisit, feels like I missed something.
3.5/5
The Black Crowes
3/5
Southern blues rock. Didn't really care much for this album. It might have been cool back when it was released but this genre/sound is just really boring. Vocals were ok sometimes but when he got really high it sounded thin and annoying. I liked some of the soul elements I guess, the cover of Hard to Handle was ok but I much prefer the original. The album just got old really quick and didn't really switch anything up.
Probably won't revisit.
2.5/5
Aerosmith
4/5
Bluesy hard rock. While a strong album with a lot of hard hitting songs, it lacks variety and gets kinda samey. Not really in the way the songs sound or anything, more like how they feel. Strong vocals, great riffs, full of catchy songs. I had a good time listening, makes me wanna listen to more of Aerosmiths early work.
Might revisit, moreso makes me want to listen to their other albums.
3.5/5
Q-Tip
4/5
East coast hip hop. Very fun soulful production, with some beats that feel a little safe or goofy but overall very clean. Flow and vocal delivery all pretty tight but I wanted maybe a little more edge to the whole thing. Maybe just a bit too poppy in that regard. Kind of out of place in the 2000s, especially 2008, but I think it has plenty of moments to enjoy, I was just hoping to be challenged a little bit more from one of the great minds of A Tribe Called Quest.
Really good but I'd have to be in the right mood to revisit.
4/5
Moby
4/5
Downtempo electronic. Really don't know how I feel about this album. It's really just a collection of repetitive songs using repetitive samples. But then occasionally it's just really good electronic/pop instrumental. A very mixed bag but overall I really like pretty much all of the instrumentals, it's just the samples and other vocals I didn't really vibe with. Especially the ones where you can still kind of hear the background instrumentals to the vocal samples, just drew me right out of it. I think as background music it fits pretty good, not so much if I am actively listening.
Might revisit to put on in the background, especially the second half.
3.5/10
Neil Young
5/5
Singer-songwriter folk/country rock. A very powerful album, full of incredible songwriting and performances. Very introspective and melancholic, Neil provides a subdued yet potent vocal performance, really letting his lyrics and guitar playing shine on every song. Great additions of harmonica, Bob Dylan could never. Some songs felt a little long for what they had to offer, but the nearly 9 minute closer was perfectly paced and deserved every second. An amazing album that really stands out among the rest in its genre.
Will definitely revisit if I'm feeling mellow.
4.5/5
The Young Rascals
4/5
Pop rock. This album was warm and cherry from start to finish, I think the gospel elements can be thanked for that. I was really roped in by the first song and the good vibes stayed until the end, dang near listened to it again right after. Lots of fun instrumentation added, like some Spanish guitar, accordion, piano. Every song seemed to have a little thing special about it, all wrapped together with the underlying band and their powerful vocalist. I had a great time with this album overall, but my big nitpick was mixing and production. I could only find the mono versions and while that's not normally a death sentence, this time many songs just did not sound very good.
I'd really like to revisit this album, maybe there's a better sounding version somewhere.
4/5
Dolly Parton
4/5
Nashville country. I've only ever heard some of Parton's bigger hits, so it was nice to listen to a full record from her. I was definitely not disappointed by any means. Very strong songwriting, each track had incredible story telling and Parton's vocal delivery really ties it together. Instrumentals were as expected, nothing too crazy but they get the job done well. Honestly wish it was a bit longer, like one or two more songs. Overall a very good album and I enjoyed it immensely.
Would love to revisit if I were to run Parton's discog some day.
4/5
Santana
5/5
Latin rock. I say Latin rock but there is a mix of blues, jazz, prog, psychedelic, etc all held together with the Latin roots. Incredibly raw and powerful guitar playing throughout the entire album, Santana is a god on the instrument. But while the guitar is amazing, I have to point out how important all of the percussion is on the album. It's what gives the album the Latin vibes the most I think. A bunch of fun jams that are easy to lose yourself in, I listened to this album twice in a row I was so into it. There is not a single weak moment on this album.
I really can't wait to listen to this again.
5/5
Red Snapper
4/5
Acid jazz/trip hop. A funky, jazzy, hop hoppy album. Not the same kind of trip hop found in Dummy by Portishead, this album does not have the same atmospheres and soundscapes. It's much more rock inspired. A lot like the Moby album, each song kind of had it's own vibe, didn't really feel like they flowed super well into each other all the time. But they were all unique and fun to listen to. My major gripe is with the length. nearly an hour long and only 3/11 songs were shorter than 5 minutes. I just don't think there was quite enough going on in each song for it to justify being that long. It would serve for good background music, not so easy for active listening.
I would revisit to put in the back while playing a game or something.
4/5
Afrika Bambaataa
4/5
East coast hip hop and electro. Such a crazy unique album, at least for me. I am not too well versed on the origins of hip hop but this definitely sounds like early hip hop. Great electro beats really carry this album, they're simple and sometimes annoying but they somehow just work. Vocals are also great, good production lets them shine. I don't want to give the album too much praise just because of how influential it seems to have been, I want to judge it just on how I enjoyed it. I liked this album enough on its own, some songs were a little long, beats got a little old in those. It's really cool just to hear how fair hip hop has come, especially with the other essential hip hop albums I've heard so far.
May revisit for a couple songs or to show other people.
3.5/5
Steely Dan
4/5
Pop rock. Such a beautiful album, cheesy but so pleasant. Catchy pop tunes full of harmonies and some jazzy influences here and there found in some of the chord progressions. It starts off really strong, the entire first half of the album is incredible. The second half starts off strong with maybe the best song on the album, but then can't quite keep up. I particularly liked the song "Dirty Work", the progressions just sound so cool. Very accessible and straightforward. On the other hand, it's a very safe album from my perspective. Just a great pop rock record.
Makes me want to listen to more of their records, should revisit.
4/5
Adele
3/5
Pop soul. Pretty mixed bag, this album. I can't deny Adele's ability as a vocalist but man do some of these songs just not hit. And the whole album has this like, mopey vibe. Everything feels way too slow, like there's not enough energy. She can sing as loud as she wants but sometimes it kinda just feels like she's going through the motions. Most of the tracks have good instrumentals, wouldn't really write home about any of them. And the album as a whole just goes on a bit too long. I will say there were a few songs I wasn't previously familiar with that I really like, towards the end of the album. Overall not super impressed.
Might revisit a couple songs.
3/5
The Beach Boys
5/5
Psychedelic progressive pop. Man what a mixed album. Most of the tracks were truly phenomenal, and then the other several tracks were just really missing something. Didn't really like Disney Girls all too much, Student Demonstration Time felt kinda weird, like it wasn't saying anything special that necessitated having it as a track. Lookin' At Tomorrow was way too short and dull, and Take A Load Off Your Feet was kinda just stupid. But man, the rest of the songs are just too good to really care about the duds. 'Til I Die and Surf's Up were incredible, hauntingly beautiful. Feel Flows and Long Promised Road were really great psych pop songs, absolutely adore the instrumentals even if they are a little out of place, I think that's the point. Overall fantastic album, definitely worth listening even if some of the songs just didn't do anything for me.
Would love to visit The Beach Boys full discog one day, if this album is any indication of the quality.
4.5/5
The Hives
4/5
Garage rock/punk. Pretty cool compilation of songs from the swedish band The Hives. I had never heard of this band but was pleasantly surprised by the quality of their music. All of the songs sounded good on a technical level, loved the energy and vocals. But the big problem with the genre is that it's very easy for all of them to kind of blend together. Many of the songs were unique but there were also several that just sounded too similar. I think if they played with the styles a little bit more they could have had something really special. That being said it was just a compilation so there's not much that can be done about the songs at that point. Overall a collection of a bunch of pretty good songs, I had a good time even if it was a tad bit on the short side.
Might revisit some songs, it's short enough to revisit all if I want.
3.5/5
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Jazzy conscious west coast hip hop. I mean there's a reason RYM has this rated as the best album of all time. I don't necessarily agree with it but there's definitely a reason. A beautifully introspective political concept album, TPAB is so dense that even though I have heard it many times before, I am still noticing new things I never heard before. Kendrick's flow and lyricism is nearly unmatched in all of the hip hop or rap I have ever heard. I love the poem that serves as a through-line for the whole album, popping up and adding more each time. With over an hour run time, it's amazing that it remained so consistently entertaining. I can't praise this album nearly enough, and others have already done so in ways I could never. This is an all time classic, people already look back on it as a decade defining release. A rewarding listen both for the brain and the heart.
I will no doubt continue to revisit this album. Perfect album.
5/5
Eagles
3/5
Pop country rock. Pretty mixed feelings about this album. I liked the big songs I already knew and then one or two others, but everything else just didn't do anything for me. Like I recognize the talents behind the songs, good singing/harmonies, great guitar work, etc. However, I didn't really get anything out of them. Especially the ballads, my god we're they boring. I wish I liked it more, but for a first listen I was not impressed.
Might revisit some songs.
3/5
Johnny Cash
4/5
Country. A wonderful live performance at the San Quentin prison. Several classics like I Walk the Line and A Boy Named Sue, with some other songs I had never heard. It was quite short, with him playing Saint Quentin twice. The album was also full of banter from Cash, mostly funny and enjoyable but I kinda just wanted more music. But I get it, it's a live performance and all. Chas's voice is timeless and only gets better the more I hear it, and while simple, the instrumentals on each track just fit the vibes. I think as an album experience it is lacking, but I had a great time listening overall.
Will revisit, it's short and fun.
4/5
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
Folk rock. An album filled to the brim with masterpieces that have truly stood the test of time. Folk rock is such a fickle genre, sometimes it doesn't age well. Deja Vu is one of those albums that was so masterfully put together that it will never grow old. It's full of, naturally, amazing guitar work and beautiful vocals and harmonies. I do wish the bass had a bit more presence but it serves its purpose. The album had great mixing and production, just an overall masterclass in songwriting. More can definitely be said but after only one listen it's hard to go into great detail. I typically get tired through folk rock albums, for some reason they don't always keep me engaged. But Deja Vu was a different breed, not once was I tired of what I was hearing.
Will have to revisit and listen to other releases.
4.5/5
John Grant
4/5
Singer-songwriter folk indie pop. A weird collection genres, it touches on a lot of sounds. Mostly acoustic guitar with the normal bass and drums accompaniment. I was a pretty big fan of the singing, not so much the lyrics. They felt very honest but in the same way quite childish and weak. There was a lot that I liked on the album, I don't think any song really stood out as being the worst. But also none of them really stood out as being greater than the rest. Just an overall solid enjoyable album.
Might revisit, maybe I was missing something.
3.5/5
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Blues Rock. Very solid album. Love all the bluesy vibes, amazing guitar tone. Strong vocals, fun lyrics. The standout is the guitar performance on this record. Very passionate riffs and solos. Great bass work all over the album, especially in some of the slower songs. Not an entirely cohesive album, many genre jumps between songs that don't always work out, but it's overall a great collection of individual songs with strong performances throughout.
Might revisit, mostly makes me want to visit other The Rolling Stones records.
4/5
4/5
Folk rock, singer-songwriter. Right off the bat, I am not a Bob Dylan fan. I find his singing incredibly irritating and just downright bad. I don't know how or why anyone can be a big fan of him. That being said, I concede that he is an incredible musician and songwriter, which really shows in this live performance. A great setlist, split between the acoustic side 1 and electric side 2, full of his big hits. Was not a big fan of side one, his singing was up front and in the spotlight and it got old very fast. Harmonica and guitar were good, like I said he's very gifted in those departments. Side 2 was much more bearable, his more energetic and loud singing helped mask some of the quirks I don't like about his voice. The backing band The Hawks, technically not The Band yet from what I can gather, was incredible and kinda stole the show at least in my deeply biased eyes. Overall a great performance from Dylan, I can't deny his skills as a musician. While I probably won't revisit, I did have a pretty good time.
Almost certainly will not revisit.
3.5/5
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
Cool Jazz. Such a beautiful album. Technical and progressive but still soft, rhythmic and soothing. I have never really been a jazz listener, so there isn't much to go off of. But this album was magical. Every moment was so intentional and precise, no filler. Perfect length, and every song was unique. Loved all of the weird time signature stuff going on. Not to mention this was the origin of Take Five, one of if not THE biggest jazz song ever. And it's just as beautiful as the last time I really listened to it, back in high school for jazz band (we couldn't play it). I also recognized Kathy's Waltz from somewhere, but even the songs I didn't know were amazing and comforting. I was in love with this album after the first minute of the first song. Overall, just fantastic.
Would love to revisit.
5/5
Bill Callahan
5/5
Singer-songwriter, alt-country, Americana. I was pretty skeptical of this album at first, not really the genres I delve into a lot especially one as recent as this. The first song kind of threw me off, some of the vocals sounded dangerously close to spoken word and I did not want a full album of that. But as the album progressed, Callahan shows off his vocal ability and the lush, soothing instrumentals backing him really pulled me in. It was a very mellow and introspective album, the lyrics clearly felt very personal even if I didn't read into them a whole lot. I think this album was mixed and produced masterfully and I loved how weird it occasionally got. I felt like it picked up a lot in quality towards the later half, but it could have been that I listened to that part at a different time. Overall, very happy with this album. I would love to listen to it again and read the lyrics.
Really want to relisten.
4.5/5
Sister Sledge
4/5
Disco, pop soul. A very warm, happy album full of energy. Admittedly, I do not know a lot of disco. There is not a whole lot I can compare this to, so I have to go on pure enjoyment. That being said, I did really enjoy this album. We Are Family is like a perfect song. Very catchy, memorable, fun, etc. The rest of the album was kind of just a bonus. Each song brought the same feelings coming together to make such a comfortable experience. Vocals were on point, funky instrumentals ruled, nothing really stands out as being overtly bad. With that in mind, I did think some songs went a little long for what they were and sometimes got a bit repetitive, but I guess that comes with the territory. Overall a really nice, fun album with a few songs that will be saved to playlists.
Might revisit, mainly just in it for a few songs.
4/5
Black Sabbath
4/5
Heavy metal, hard rock. A pretty enjoyable album full of riffs. I definitely enjoy other Black Sabbath albums over this one, I prefer the doom roots rather then just heavy metal. Ozzy is still great though, good lyrics and delivery. Like I said, full of riffs, but that's kinda where my enjoyment mostly ends. I like some of the softer moments in this record, and I especially liked Changes with it's piano and sombre mood. Some of the instrumental moments were great too, loved when so gs would get a little psychedelic with it. I think overall it's a good album but it's just missing the hits, the melodies, that other early Black Sabbath albums have.
Would like to revisit in maybe a discog run, other than that just choice songs.
4/10
Ghostface Killah
4/5
East coast hardcore hip hop. I'm pretty mixed on this album. Like I love the energy and aggressiveness but sometimes I kinda find that the beats take a backseat, which was a big reason I liked the Wu-tang album. Ghostface's lyrics and flow were all really good most of the time, and I actually enjoyed a lot of the features. The album itself is quite long and bloated with skits and other stuff that just makes it feel so incohesive. The first half was really good but it really runs out of steam. I like variety usually but the album was mostly just all over the place which made for a big clash in sounds sometimes. That being said, I did have fun listening to it and enjoyed every song to some extent. A solid album.
Probably won't revisit save for a few tracks.
3.5/5
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Hard rock, blues rock. I won't touch on the plagiarism with this band or even this album, I'd like to be as objective as possible. I enjoy Led Zeppelin enough but for me this album just isn't it, save for a few songs that I really like. The rest are serviceable but nowhere near as memorable and just feel like they're in the way of the good stuff. I love bluesy rock, and the bass and drums on this album are phenomenal. Vocals and guitar are probably the highlights. The album as a whole drags a bit here and there but it's not too long so I can move past it. Overall a fun album, even the songs I don't care for have a little bit to offer.
Would revisit for several songs.
4/5
PJ Harvey
4/5
Alt rock. I think I liked this a lot more than "Stories". I liked the grungier, punkier sound she has on this album more than the singer songwriter indie vibes. I will admit that this album definitely was not nearly as refined, but sometimes that adds. There's some time signature stuff going on that I like. I like her singing on this and the instrumentals are good at what they're there to do. What I like the most is the edgy, sensual lyrics and the overall energetic and catchy songs. They're simple but man it just works. I think this album has the chance to really grow on me.
Would love to relisten.
4/5
4/5
Psychedelic pop rock. I don't if it's just me but I was aa little let down by this record. It met certain expectations, like I knew it would be eclectic and silly and weird, and all that but it was almost too quirky. Like they chose quirky over quality. There were some standout tracks, A Day in the Life in particular, but it just didn't feel cohesive. I really understand the importance of this album in rock history, but it still just didn't hit the spot for me. Just too many tracks didn't measure up to the rest. It was by no means bad and I thoroughly enjoyed it, just not as much as I thought I would.
I should revisit to make sure.
4/5
Lou Reed
4/5
Glam/pop rock. I am kind of at a loss for words for this album. Not because it's so good or so bad, but it's just so different. At least from what I was expecting. A very artsy, poetic album, Lou Reed fills each song with his deadpan delivery. I really thought I would get tired of it but I definitely found the charm in it. I won't pretend to know what each song was about, it was hard to pay attention and the lyrics were sometimes just a little too odd. I found each song to be very catchy, especially choruses. Nothing about the instrumentals really stood out in terms of like, certain instruments being written or performed well. I just overall liked the variety in instruments and song genres. A very artsy album in that way. Love some of the vocal "ba ba bas" and "do do doos" and stuff like that, always a big fan. Overall a very fun oddball of an album with very strong songwriting.
Might revisit the whole thing but otherwise only select songs.
4/5
Flamin' Groovies
4/5
Blues/Garage rock. Energetic and raw, this album was just good plain ol rock and roll, of course with some blues and maybe even some proto-punk influence. Songs were straightforward and didn't really offer any mind-blowing revelations, but it was still very much enjoyable. The production was a little rough around the edges but was clear. Instrumentals were pretty simple but very effective. Vocals were fun and full of energy but I didn't notice anything crazy as far as lyrics go or even vocal delivery. Overall a very raw album that has its moments but on a first listen I didn't notice anything too special.
Probably won't relisten, but there's a chance.
3.5/5
Snoop Dogg
5/5
West coast hip hop gangsta rap. In the most positive way, this is the stereotypical west coast hip hop ever. It's got sexism, racism, homophobia, it's all about money and sex and drugs. But my god is it fun. The beats are way more intricate and layered than they need to be, every song is just so laid back and full of memorable lines. It's full of little skits and I am usually not into those, but here it just fits. Snoops sense of humor, his flow, and even just his voice are all so perfect it's a shame he never repeated the success of this album. Every song is great, it's just an overall super fun album, just don't go in expecting anything introspective or humble.
Would love to listen again, wish I could cut out the skits.
4.5/5
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Blues rock, rhythm and blues. I don't really know what to say about this album. Like I enjoyed it I guess but nothing really stood out to me. I like the bluesy sound they pull off, and they have a talent for pop hooks and catchy songs. Never really been a fan of Stones singing, find it pretty standard. Good lyrics here and there but the album is much too long, there is no reason to have an 11 minute song on an album like this. It just dragged on and on, I was tired of the album way before I should have. I like their energy when they actually have it, but it doesn't happen as often as I'd like. Overall I was pretty underwhelmed with this record, didn't do much for me.
Probably won't revisit any time soon.
3.5/5
Kings of Leon
3/5
Southern rock, garage rock revival. If this album has anything, it's energy. Raw and simple riffs and vocals. I don't know what to say about this album, I didn't really care for it too much. Everything sounds good but all together I just can't get into it. The singing is a little too wacky for me, it's not a very serious album. It just feels so empty too, I wish I could more accurately describe it. There were a few tracks I enjoyed enough but overall I was just not feeling this album. And I don't really care to examine it any longer. Just so painfully average.
Won't revisit.
3/5
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
Alt rock, jangle pop. A very clean and refined album, I really enjoyed the somber, melancholic attitude of this album. Strong themes of rain really makes me want to listen to it when it's pouring outside. Like a nice summer fall rain. Jangly guitars with plenty of fuzz and pretty monotone vocals make a very atmospheric soundscape, however the drum machine really holds this album back. Like it could be so raw but the drums make a touch TOO refined. I liked the sound of the album, which is good because they have one sound and really stick with it. I feel this is the kind of album that has a good setting or mood to listen to it in, otherwise it's just kind of good. The length helps this though, does not overstay its welcome. Overall a great listening experience, very relaxing, but it feels like its missing something.
Would revisit in the right setting.
4/5
The Doors
5/5
Bluesy psychedelic rock. I am so into this sound. It's slightly off kilter and raw and dark. Full of poetic imagery and eerie lyrics, and packed to the brim with blues, there is also a lot more to be seen in this album, there's acid rock, even some poppier sounds, and tons of jazz influence all throughout. I loved the longer songs on this album, which I wasn't quite expecting but I was enthralled the whole time. Morrison's voice is all powerful all the time, I can not overstate how commanding a voice he has on this album. Guitar solos and riffs are on point, drums are groovin, and I just love the keyboard on this album. There were times it maybe got to be a bit much but overall I loved it. The length of this album was just right, not too long and not too short. This album is pretty full of great tracks, and maybe a couple I am not to keen on, but all in all this album was killer and was surprised to love it.
Would love to revisit, maybe on a Doors discog run.
4.5/5
Wilco
5/5
Alt-country, country rock. I was only a little familiar with Wilco. I had only ever heard YHF before this and it's one of my favorite albums, so I was eager to get into this one, especially since it's a double album. I was definitely not let down by this album. It had what I expected and then some. The overall vibe is much like YHF in that its laden with bittersweet and longing lyrics and vocals. I love the acoustic guitar and piano and love when it breaks out electric ever once in a while. The brass instruments on some of these songs were not expected but were amazing. Incredible songwriting at play on the whole album, so many catchy tunes I could easily see myself singing along to if I knew them a bit better. I think my one gripe with this album is the length. While I believe every song on Being There is fantastic, I don't know if they all needed to be on there. It doesn't feel bloated but it could use a bit of a trim I think. But that's just my opinion after listening once. Overall beautiful album, loved every minute.
Will have to revisit for sure.
4.5/5
Django Django
5/5
Indie pop, neo-psychedelia. What an oddball of an album. Don't think I've personally ever heard anything quite like it, and it was quite a breath of fresh air compared to some the albums I've been getting recently. Super poppy electronica with a psychedelic twist, this album was full of catchy songs. Great vocal harmonies, all I strunents were really strong as well although the real standout for me was the synth. The lyrics were all pretty goofy and nonsensical but that really added to the silly fun vibes. The only real thing holding it back for me was the length, I think it overstays its welcome by just a hair. Overall a great fun album that I've already recommended to friends.
Will revisit, it's just too fun.
4.5/5
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Soul Jazz. Pretty standard bop with Jimmy Smith playing organ over top. I don't know if it's that I was not in the right mood for it but I was pretty unimpressed with this record. Like yes the top tier musicianship is pretty clear through the whole record, great guitar, sax, and organ parts, but I just wasn't sucked into it like I had hoped. I did appreciate that it was a different twist on jazz than I am used to, but only slightly. It had me bobbing my head, tapping my foot at times so I gotta give it props for at least being able to do that. Overall there's not a whole lot I can say on it, just wasn't feeling it this time.
Probably won't revisit, but I did enjoy it enough.
3.5/5
The Pogues
5/5
Celtic rock/folk. First off just have to say I loved this album. It was a new sound to me and was so refreshing. There's a real passion and energy behind each song that I could feel the whole time. And the instrumentation was beautiful as well, incorporating a lot of traditional instruments that made the whole album just that much more genuine. Gruff singing but again, very genuine. Felt like I wanted to be in a pub drinking with the boys while the band plays in the background. Just an incredibly fun and unique experience. Well, fun if you ignore the darker lyrics I guess. Overall had a great time listening.
Would love to relisten, maybe visit their other albums.
4.5/5
Miles Davis
3/5
Jazz fusion, modal jazz. I'm pretty split on this album, if you can really call it that. On one hand, it was very relaxing an atmospheric. On the other hand, I was honestly kinda bored. Maybe I just don't always understand jazz the way some people do or pretend to do. Like I can hear it and say, yes this is very good I like this. But also realize that wow, I was kinda bored. Like watching a symphony that's objectively well put together but being bored by the actual music they're playing. I don't know, I did enjoy the improv aspect of this album, it felt really natural and slightly psychedelic. But it doesn't feel like anything more than really really good ambient background music? Like it's hard to be an active listener of it. I understand that historically this is an important jazz record, but I just wasn't grooving with it man.
Probably won't revisit.
3/5
My Bloody Valentine
5/5
Shoegaze, noise pop. I mean I could gush about this album forever but I'll post a quote from my good friend moo: "This is one of those rare albums that is a truly singular piece of music, it is an enigma, spawned a zillion imitators and not one of them captured the magic of it." Loveless is beautiful and it's one of those albums I'm very happy to be alive to listen to.
Duh, I'll relisten.
5/5
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3/5
Big band, swing. This album was pretty good, lots of energy and very dense. There were some really exciting songs, some ok songs, and some pretty forgettable songs, so it was a mixed experience. But I did have fun listening. Lots of cool solos and what I would guess were some improvisational bits. I don't really know what to say other than that, it was just fun to listen to but I wasn't very engaged. Maybe I still just don't get the genres yet, maybe it's just not quite for me. It was evident that everyone in the album had fun and were playing their hearts out. The album was fun for me as well, so I guess it does its job.
Won't revisit, but I did like it.
3/5
The Byrds
5/5
Folk rock, psychedelic rock. Lovely harmonies, a very calm and peaceful album. I really liked the atmosphere of the songs, just mellow and almost hypnotic. Incredible guitar work, with drums and bass really flowing together. Pretty cool learning that this album is thought of as the first psychedelic album ever released. Also worth mentioning that this album as produced masterfully, everything is so clear when it needs to be, my only gripe is that it's mixed where pretty much each instrument is panned to one side or the other. And it doesn't stay consistent either. That aside, everything about this album was beautiful. Absolutely loved it all.
Might listen again, I think visiting this bands other albums would be cool as well.
4.5/5
Napalm Death
4/5
Grindcore. Historical importance aside, this album is pretty messy. Sometimes in the good sense, sometimes bad. It's fast, heavy, chaotic, noisy, aggressive, and even political. I love grindcore usually, this was no exception. I really did like most of this album, but it lacks any kind of focus. I get that both halves have different members and one is basically a demo and blah blah blah. But it really slumps after the first half for me. It got a bit too samey and production differences were not in a direction I liked. However, the whole album is kickass blas beats and loud shitty vocals and fast riffing. It rules even when it loses focus.
Might revisit, I should listen to their other stuff some time.
4/5
DJ Shadow
5/5
Instrumental/experimental hip hop, plunderphonics. What a beautiful masterpiece. I'll just start by saying this album kicked ass front to back. So rhythmic and hypnotic, amazing production and mixing. I was so immersed in this album, listening at work in a mostly empty building. The drums to me is the true star of this album, dictating the feel of every song. Then the bass and piano fully flesh the songs out. There's even some saxophone that blows my mind, and I love the samples all throughout. I could gush on and on about this album, use every adjective in the book. It was one hell of an experience, and one I am assured to visit again.
Definitely will revisit.
5/5
Mike Ladd
4/5
Abstract/experimental east coast hip hop. Not really my kind of hip hop, pretty goofy lyrics but for some reason not in like a good way. I liked a few songs here and there, and I really liked the mellow instrumental bits. I think the album is much too long for what it is, even if it does kind of switch things up a fair bit. I liked the beats a lot, they were pretty fun with a mix of styles. I just kind of got bored way too often. Not really all that much to say about it, just wasn't super into it.
Probably won't revisit.
3.5/5
The Byrds
5/5
Folk rock, psychedelic rock, pop rock. What a lovely follow up to Fifth Dimension. I mentioned in that review I wanted to listen to more of their albums and here we are. A poppier take than the previous, YTY feels like a proper continuation. Better songwriting, better mixing. Still great harmonies and amazing guitar work, this album is full of catchy tunes. I think overall it's more refined that Fifth Dimension, feels like they know what they're doing. But there was a certain charm in being a little more raw. There's some weird stuff at the beginning of the album but it clears up and it's just boo after bop. Big fan of this album, like it about as much as the previous.
Might relisten, really impressed by this band and would love more.
4.5/5
Radiohead
5/5
Alternative/art rock. I'm not gonna waste time talking about this album. I have nothing to add that hasn't been said by someone else. It's amazing from start to finish, perfect flow, perfect length, blah blah blah. I used to not really be into it too much but I'm really getting it now. Perfect album.
Will revisit of course.
5/5
The Police
3/5
New wave, pop rock, reggae rock. It was a fun album for most of the time and then it kinda took a turn towards the end, just a bit too long. A song or two definitely could have been cut. It's a playful and energetic album, love the drums all throughout, guitar and bass are superb. Singing was kind of all over the place, sometimes I vibed with it and other times not so much. Also definitely enjoyed when the reggae influence was more subtle, it just worked better. Overall just too bloated, and some songs were clearly worse than others. I had a good time though.
Might revisit some songs.
Light 3.5/5
Lana Del Rey
3/5
Singer-songwriter. Pretty mixed feelings about this album. I normally like the soft singer-songwriter music kinda like Phoebe Bridgers or something like Weyes Blood, who happens to be featured in a song on this album. But for some reason Lana Del Rey just doesn't scratch that same itch. At least not as consistently as others. Really didn't like the first song, weird whispery vocals and weird cadence in a part of the chorus or something. The rest of the album is mostly fine, nothing too crazy for. I did like the last few songs a good bit more. Instrumentals in all the songs are pretty good, still just nothing crazy. Overall not very impressed with the album, it's good I guess just not for me.
Probably won't revisit.
Light 3.5/5
The Smiths
4/5
Jangle pop, indie pop. I am not a fan of The Smiths. Morrissey is one of my least favorite singers of all time. Unfortunately, I love the instrumental parts but and Morrissey writes some pretty great lyrics. I love the jangly guitars, bass guitar is really groovy, and the drums hold it all down. If I just tune out Morrissey then I can have a pretty good time listening to it. The album has a good length, but some songs feel like they drone on a bit too long. Overall I enjoyed the album enough, I still have my issues with the band, but I can recognize good songwriting.
Not likely to revisit any time soon, but maybe eventually.
Strong 3.5/5
Bob Dylan
4/5
Contemporary folk, singer-songwriter. Another singer I'm not a huge fan of. I've always enjoyed the instrumentals for Bob Dylan, good acoustic and harmonica playing all around. But his singing voice just never really clicked for me, it's like he's straining to hit notes or something, I don't know. I was surprised while listening to this album to find that I had no problems at all with it. Super solid blues, very mellow vibes with great lyrics. Very strong performances with. Vivid, direct, passionate. Great length, not too much fat. Overall a great album, was very impressed.
Might revisit, I quite enjoyed this one.
4/5
System Of A Down
5/5
Alternative metal. I'm a huge huge fan of SoaD, especially their early stuff. The self titled album is so unique in it's playful and energetic sound. Crazy rhythmic, each song is catchy in its own way. Drums and guitar are always amazing, with bass holding it all together. Not to mention Serj's and Daron's insane vocal ranges. From weird shrills and high pitched screams, to the lowest of growls, with a huge range of clean vocals in between. Lyrics are either absurd or full clear political thoughts, seemingly switching from one to the other at the drop of a dime. This album really has nothing I don't like. My one complaint I guess is that it drags juuuust a bit right at the end with the last two or three songs. It's ok though because these songs are still amazing, just maybe not placed well within the album. Overall fantastic album, not really much to complain about. Just so much fun.
Duh I'll revisit.
5/5
Astrud Gilberto
4/5
Bossa nova, easy listening. Not a whole lot to this album really. Short songs that showcase bossa novas relaxing powers. It's not a mind-blowing album at all, not gonna change you perspective on music or anything crazy. Just a collection of great songs, performed passionately by everyone involved. A simple experience but a very welcome one.
Probably won't revisit but I did enjoy it.
Strong 3.5/5
The Yardbirds
3/5
Blues/psychedelic rock. More blues rock with psych elements. It's not that it can't be done well, it's just that these guys don't really hit the mark the whole time. Lots of fluff in the album, just kinda hit or miss. The hits are quite good, and it's not like the misses are unlistenable, but it's just too mixed for me too really get into the music.
Might revisit certain songs.
Light 3.5/5
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Funk/alt rock. Man if I had one word to describe this album, it's hedonistic. Just over the top funky grooves, insane performances from everyone involved. And somehow I just wasn't into the whole thing. Probably due to the length, over an hour and it's got some definite filler. But man do the big songs hit. Full of classic RHCP songs, but even the deeper cuts I didn't already know we're on the same level or even better. It's varied in style but they're all weird and fun. Honestly just writing about it makes me want to rate it a bit higher than I was going to. I loved this album, it's a classic in rock history and the band is pretty close to my heart. How could I not love it.
Will revisit for sure.
Light 4.5/5
Ray Charles
4/5
Country Soul, rhythm and blues, traditional pop. I'll say it straight up, did not like this album at all on first listen. I was very bored by it and could not wait for it to end. But I have it another shot the next day and turned a complete 180 on my opinion. It's sultry and beautiful, passionate and romantic. It's so smooth and powerful. Even the songs of longing and loneliness hit hard. Ray Charles has some pipes on him for sure. The more modern take on country classics was something I didn't like at first but I find the beauty in now. I don't know what happened but this album rules.
Probably will revisit.
4/5
Prince
3/5
Contemporary R&B, pop rock. Wasn't really into this album to be honest. Like it has all the makings of a great album, I mean it's Prince. He's an amazing vocalist. The talent of the musicians is on clear display, and the production is top notch. But still it felt kinda hollow to me. Definitely didn't help that it's as long as it is. I will admit I wasn't actively listening the entire time, hard to set aside time for the whole album and really pay attention. I didn't dislike it by any means. I thought it was good. Just not as good as everyone else seems to think. Just feel like I missed something, so I hate that I can't change a rating.
I should revisit, doesn't feel fair.
Light 3.5/5
Ray Charles
3/5
Vocal jazz, soul. Took a bit to get into this album, but Ray has such a great voice and the choir adds a lot. I liked the variety on this album, big band stuff and lovely string filled ballads. Not everything was memorable but it was all enjoyable. Still not familiar enough with the genres to really go in depth, but I had a great time.
Probably won't revisit.
Light 3.5/5
Sam Cooke
5/5
Southern soul. One of the best live albums I've ever heard. Nonstop amazing songs, amazing performances, powerful vocals. SO much energy and love packed into one concert, somehow properly captured in the recording. I can't help but imagine what it must have been like to be there. All bad feelings wash away while listening to this. Impossible to not enjoy.
Would love to revisit.
5/5
The Cult
4/5
Hard rock. Good, plain, simple late 80s hard rock. Not at all to say it was average; it was quite great. Normally not my thing, but there's a lot of energy and passion in this album. You can hear it clearly in the vocals and guitar work. It's not like they do anything mind-blowing, but it's completely fun. Just great riffs to turn your mind off to.
Might revisit.
4/5
The Stone Roses
5/5
Baggy, indie rock. Incredibly memorable album full of catchy tunes. Post-punky bass, twinkly guitar, psychedelic and shoegazey soundscapes. An album to truly get lost in. It simply makes me feel good while listening to it.
Very likely to revisit.
5/5
Massive Attack
4/5
Trip hop. A pretty solid collection of songs. Atmospheric, mellow, hypnotic. Super chill album with hip hop beats with a ton of energy and creativity. Heavy or light when it needs to be, intense or chill. Very polished and pure fun.
Might revisit, would like to try other albums by them.
4/5
Holger Czukay
4/5
Art rock, krautrock. Rhythmic and warm, but very weird.
It was cool and experimental, was not what I expected. Not super familiar with the genres but it was great. Ambient, rock, and soundscapes all in one album. Not a huge fan of having a 40 minute album spread between only 4 songs.
Might revisit.
4/5
Coldplay
3/5
Post-britpop, pop rock. Pretty middling album that has some really high highs, but then everything else is just kinda forgettable. At its best, it is bittersweet, lush, soothing. Pretty great songs in Sparks, Yellow, and Trouble, with some other good ones. Not a whole lot to write home about for me though. It's overall just good. Nothing more nothing less.
Most likely won't revisit.
Light 3.5/5
Paul Simon
5/5
Pop rock, singer-songwriter. An eclectic collection of pop rock songs heavily influenced by African music. I don't know enough about the different styles presented, but I really enjoyed the variety. It would be hard to listen to this album and not have a fun time. Very political lyrics layered over cheerful instrumentals. Overall a beautiful album colorfully mixing light and dark.
Definitely would like to revisit.
5/5
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
Blues rock, psychedelic rock. One word describes this album, and that is "raw". It's got the energy, it's quirky, somewhat abstract, and it has passion. Just not a whole lot of polish. Which is good, a mix of these genres needs to feel less like a studio album and more like a band you caught at a gig one time. I think given some more time and more listens to the genres and bands that Captain Beefheart pulls from, I would like it more, but I did have fun as a first time listen to this band.
Should revisit.
Strong 3.5/5
Jeff Buckley
5/5
Alt rock, singer-songwriter. Just an amazing album beginning to end. I don't really have any favorite moments, the whole thing was just incredible and sincere. Just dripping with melancholy and love and romance. And great variety too, never a moment where I was wanting it to end. Such a gifted songwriter and musician.
Will revisit for sure.
5/5
Rod Stewart
3/5
Folk rock, blues rock, roots rock. It's unfortunate that I'm writing this review several days later, because I am struggling to remember what this album was like. I remember enjoying it, I reached the end and I remember feeling satisfied, but I remember nothing else other than Rod's voice being great and the acoustic guitar being great. I know there was a good deal of piano and such. I can't in good faith give this a really high score, I think it probably says something about the album that I don't remember it well.
I should revisit it to be fair.
Light 3.5/5
Talking Heads
5/5
New wave, post-punk. There's a lot that can be said about this album. And I don't have the energy to say it, and I certainly don't have the vocabulary. I love this album, that's what I know. It's weird, it's funny, it kind of makes me anxious. It's over before you know it, I really value albums that can pull you in that well. I have not listened to this album enough but the few times that I have always leave a lasting impression on me. And my god is Once in a Lifetime catchy.
Will revisit, no doubt.
5/5
Eminem
4/5
Hardcore hip hop. I completely understand why this album, and Em, get a ton of hate. He has a, let's say, certain image he has been trying to keep alive that doesn't work anymore. If you can put yourself in the mindset of 1999, which is hard because I was like 1, then you may realize how inventive Marshall was for the time. Sure it's long and full of skits, what hip hop album at the time wasn't. But the perspective of his raps in certain songs, his vulgar but creative language, it's very special. And sometimes what he does is so simple but effective in lyrics, his attitude is palpable. I think this album deserves more praise, even if I don't think it's perfect.
Probably will revisit.
4/5
Soft Machine
3/5
I don't really remember this album all that much at this point that I am reviewing it. I remember it being kindad noisy and directionless at time, the first song had like two separate halves with totally different mixes. It was like, jazzy and proggy? I don't really remember, but I do remember it being pretty ok. I can't give it a high rating cause I don't remember.
I'd like to revisit for sure.
Strong 2.5/5
Beatles
5/5
Pop rock, psychedelic pop. I think this is my favorite Beatles album I've listened to. I haven't listened to all of them but of the ones I have, Revolver is the highest quality from start to finish. Catchy tunes, great vocals, great performances from all. Just a delight.
It's a classic, I'll definitely revisit.
5/5
Boston
4/5
Hard rock. I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. But there's so much energy and passion behind the vocals that you can't help but have a good time. I knew a couple songs ahead of time but I really enjoyed the other ones. I think it struggles a little bit due to being overly polished, but that comes with the genre.
Would like to revisit.
Strong 3.5/5
Syd Barrett
5/5
Psychedelic Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Psychedelic Rock. Dark but playful. It's a very vulnerable album. Like what I'm hearing is someone heart laid bare. It's sad but beautiful. A tough album to listen to but it's special because of that. Like what I'm hearing will never be recreated. I loved it, any flaws it may have melt away because it's just so real.
Would love to revisit.
5/5
Nina Simone
5/5
Vocal jazz, soul. I don't know which songs are original and which are not, but they are all sung with the same high quality and performed at the same high quality. I see why Simone is considered one of the greatest performers of all time just based on what I hear in this album. It makes me wish I was there for just one performance. I don't find any flaws in this album, I wish it was longer.
Will revisit.
5/5
Willie Nelson
5/5
Outlaw country, singer-songwriter. Not much I can say about this album. It's calming and mellow, very straightforward and honest. It's subtle when it needs to be and all is placed where it is needed. It's damn near perfect.
Would love to revisit.
Strong 4.5/5
Air
4/5
Downtempo, ambient pop. Smooth, easy listening that I can kinda zone out to. But when you focus on it it's clear that it was meticulously created to invoke that vibe. It's great background music but the focus on ambience makes active listening a bit difficult. I can't count against it for that alone, but just something I noticed.
Would like to revisit.
4/5
Machito
4/5
Afro-Cubam jazz, big band. Beautiful blend of sounds, never got tired of it.
Might revisit.
Strong 3.5/5
Steely Dan
4/5
Pop rock. Steely Dan is always mixed really well and this is no exception. A solid collection of catchy songs, great songwriting. I just tend to like some other Steely Dan just a bit more.
Should revisit.
4/5
Brian Eno
5/5
Art rock, glam rock, experimental rock. With what little I know of Brian Eno, I was expecting something electronic. Definitely not anything as crazy as this. I really enjoyed it, just very bizarre rock, but not weird just to be weird. There's a science to it.
Would love to revisit.
Strong 4.5/5
Deerhunter
4/5
Neo-psychedelia, indie rock. Great production, very dreamy. Love the themes. Definitely need to give this another chance, the gym wasn't the best place to listen to this.
Will revisit.
Strong 3.5/5
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
Post Punk. Loved the bare production, really adds to the urban vibes. There were a couple standout tracks for me and the rest was still good just not as memorable.
Should revisit.
Light 3.5/5
Beatles
5/5
Pop rock. An album full of classics, and plenty of diversity in sounds. It's prime Beatles, not much more to say that hadn't been said before.
Will revisit.
Strong 4.5/5
Sonic Youth
5/5
Noise rock, alternative rock. An absolutely phenomenal album. Really just a masterpiece of vibes. I'd love to listen to it another time and really digest the lyrics, but just the music alone is enough. It's lush and deep but not too heavy. Like I'm floating on top of it. I really loved it.
Will revisit.
5/5.
The Divine Comedy
4/5
Chamber pop, baroque pop. An interesting album, very lush and romantic. I had a great time but nothing really stands out, just a solid album.
4/5
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
Samba rock, MBP, Funk. Energetic and uplifting, infectious vibes. Love the fusion going in. Impossible to have a bad time.
Light 4.5/5
Elliott Smith
4/5
Singer-songwriter, indie folk. Acoustic and mellow, just oozing sombre vibes. I really liked it, I can get lost in it. I understand why some friends adore this album, it's fantastic.
4/5
Iron Butterfly
3/5
Acid rock, psychedelic rock, heavy psych. Yeah this might be a little much for me. I didn't hate it but I wasn't all that into it. Maybe should retry it at some point.
Light 3.5/5
Pink Floyd
5/5
Progressive rock, art rock. A perfect album. Another album I just get lost in, so melancholic and introspective. Can't say anything about it that hasn't been said.
5/5
David Crosby
4/5
Folk rock, singer-songwriter, psychedelic rock. A warm and comfy album full of longing. Great record with many great songs.
4/5
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Heartland rock. Pretty good but thought a lot of the piano made this album incredibly goofy. Jungleland was fun.
3/5.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Standards, vocal jazz. A romantic, upbeat, playful group of songs. Unfortunately not too many of them really grabbed my interest.
3/5
Brian Eno
4/5
Experimental rock, art rock. Weird wacky album that made for pretty fun and relaxing background music while working.
4/5
David Bowie
5/5
Art rock. A beautifully human album. Really enjoyed it.
5/5
The Avalanches
5/5
Plunderphonics, dance. Super sample heavy instrumental. Loved it all the way through, honestly wish it was longer.
5/5
Soundgarden
4/5
Fela Kuti
4/5
Afrobeat. Rhythmic, energetic, hypnotic. Very easy to lose yourself in the repetitive beats.
Strong 3.5
The Killers
4/5
Post-puni revival, Pop rock. Pretty crazy for a debut, no wonder they were everywhere for so long. Not a huge fan of every song but the classics are still great.
Strong 3.5/5
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
Southern rock. Beautiful, perfect album. Every song is memorable, every moment is amazing. Not a single thing I would change.
5/5
Fela Kuti
4/5
Afrobeat. I liked this better than Live! There's so much energy and passion, infectious. Should listen to more of them.
4/5
The Who
4/5
Hard rock. I listened the the full extended version but still had a blast. What a talented band. Amazing energy and great performances.
4/5
The Who
3/5
Freakbeat, Mod, Pop rock. Kind of a weird album, wasn't crazy about everything I heard but it was good I guess. A bit more eclectic than I want out of The Who.
Light 3.5/5
3/5
Alternative rock. Yeah it's Muse they're ok. Origin is better even with its faults. I liked some stuff on here but overall they're kind of exhausting to listen to.
3/5
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Art rock, experimental rock. Listen I get it. Everyone and everything rock related or punk related or industrial related etc. came from this album/band. But that doesn't automatically make this album perfect. It's good, great even, but not perfect. I understand peoples infatuation, and I do love this album, but it does test me at times. Which I guess is also good?
Light 4.5/5
Simply Red
3/5
Pop soul, blue-eyed soul. Energetic and passionate, I enjoyed this album even though it went on a bit long. I can see why fans of the genre enjoy it but maybe it's not completely for me.
Light 3.5/5
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
Noise pop, shoegaze. You know, it's not far from what I expected as their first album, preceding Loveless. They just hadn't figured out the whole formula but there's a lot here to enjoy. It's raw and hypnotic. Very enjoyable album but sadly immensely overshadowed by what's to come. Still great!
4/5
Cheap Trick
4/5
Power pop, hard rock. Was not expecting to like this, never really been into cheap trick. But this live album had so much charm. The band played great, I liked the songs. I adore how they start and end concerts. The crowd was amazing. Man I bet it was fun to be there. Good time!
4/5
MC Solaar
4/5
French hip hop, jazz rap, conscious hip hop, boom bap. I was kinda surprised at how much I liked this one. Like yeah I didn't understand hardly anything that was said, but I could feel it a little. Beats were great, flow was cool to hear but it could just be because it was in French. Really really solid album, even if it was just a bit too long.
4/5
Fiona Apple
5/5
Singer-songwriter, art pop, progressive pop. Stunningly percussive, dense and hard to chew. It's a hard album to listen to for all the right reasons. I struggle to describe it.
5/5
Tracy Chapman
5/5
Singer-songwriter, folk rock. Beautifully melancholic and passionate, very political. What an amazing experience. Love her vocals and the instrumentals fit perfectly. Especially loved the vocal only song. Very special album
Strong 4.5/5
Genesis
5/5
Progressive rock, symphonic prog. Man I love this kinda stuff. Just super proggy rock, amazing performances, wish I had listened with both earbuds. So much fun, medieval feeling is just what I like.
Strong 4.5/5
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
Alt-country, Americana, Alternative rock. Kinda mixed on this album. Like it was mostly good but I didn't really connect with it at all save for like, one song. It was ok, not much I wanna say about it really.
3/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Roots Reggae. Man, Bob was such a gifted person. I adored this album, it was so warm and comfortable. It all blended together at one point, but I think that was a good thing. Nothing quite like it that I've heard.
Light 4.5/5
Fever Ray
4/5
Artpop, synthpop. Pretty good, I liked how mellow and introspective it was. Couldn't really pay attention to the lyrics but the bits I heard were cool. Might not be entirely my cup of tea but I understand it. Given the right atmosphere I could really dig it.
4/5
Joan Baez
4/5
Contemporary folk. What an amazing voice. Loved the selection of songs, no idea if any of them were original or if they were all just covers of traditional folk songs, but her voice and I'm assuming her guitar playing were incredible. I think it dragged on just a little too long but overall very good.
4/5
Mekons
3/5
Cowpunk, post punk. Yeah I don't know about this one. I wanted to like it but at times it felt like it was trying hard to sound, well, bad. I'm not against a little dissonance but when it feels so forced, even if it might not be, it really turns me off. That being said it wasn't awful, I liked a lot of it, but I left with a weird taste in my mouth.
Light 3.5/5
James Brown
4/5
Soul, Rhythm and Blues. God there's so much energy and passion behind these performances. A master of the crowd, just an amazing thing to hear. Live albums like this are so much fun.
4/5
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
Big Beat. Repetitive samples, hypnotic soundscapes. A good album to get lost in without really losing the enjoyment. I thought it was really good but I really have to be doing something, hard to actively listen to.
3.5/5
Stan Getz
3/5
Samba-jazz, Bossa nova. I guess it was good? Really struggle to tell if albums like this are good or not. Performances were good and it sounded alright. Just not really my thing I think.
Light 3.5/5
Supergrass
4/5
Britpop, Power Pop. Amazing energy and the talent to match. Just punky enough as well to have a little edge. Eclectic and manic, had a great time listening to it.
4/5
Pixies
4/5
Indie Rock, Alt Rock. Of course Pixies are great, but there was something missing from this album that later albums had. It had the energy, the manic, chaotic lyrics. But none of the polish. Some of the songs almost felt redundant? I liked it though, very good.
4/5
The Streets
5/5
Legendary 5/5
Megadeth
3/5
Missing all the heart from Rust in Peace
3.5/5
Duran Duran
4/5
4/5
Tim Buckley
3/5
Singer Songwriter, folk rock, psychedelic folk.
Light 3.5/5
Bee Gees
5/5
4.5/5
AC/DC
4/5
3.5/5
Radiohead
4/5
4/5
Miriam Makeba
5/5
5/5
The Slits
4/5
4/5
Elvis Presley
4/5
4.5/5
The Rolling Stones
3/5
3/5
Rod Stewart
3/5
3.5/5
The Strokes
4/5
4/5
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
3/5
The Rolling Stones
3/5
3.5/5
The Go-Betweens
3/5
3.5/5
Elvis Costello
4/5
4/5
Gene Clark
3/5
3.5/5
Isaac Hayes
4/5
4/5
Paul Simon
4/5
4/5
Public Enemy
4/5
4/5
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
4/5
Mj Cole
4/5
4/5
Meat Loaf
3/5
3.5/5
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
3.5/5
The Bees
4/5
4/5
Violent Femmes
5/5
5/5 Classic
Billy Bragg
4/5
4/5
Eagles
4/5
4/5
4/5
4.5/5
Liz Phair
4/5
4/5
Sex Pistols
3/5
3/5
Solomon Burke
4/5
4/5
Slade
3/5
3.5/5
George Jones
3/5
3.5/5
The Temptations
3/5
3.5/5
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
3/5
Taylor Swift
2/5
2.5/5
The Black Keys
3/5
3.5/5
Everything But The Girl
4/5
4/5
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
3.5/5
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
4/5
Dennis Wilson
4/5
Wowie
4.5/5
Incubus
4/5
4.5/5
Dizzee Rascal
4/5
4/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
4/5
Louis Prima
4/5
4/5
Stephen Stills
3/5
3.5/5
Kraftwerk
4/5
4/55
Nirvana
4/5
4/5
Ms. Dynamite
4/5
4/5
TLC
4/5
4/5
Nick Drake
3/5
3.5/5
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
3.5/5
The Zutons
3/5
3.5/5
John Coltrane
4/5
4.5/5
Randy Newman
4/5
4/5
Public Enemy
4/5
4.5/5
The Stooges
3/5
3/5
Os Mutantes
3/5
3.5/5
Motörhead
3/5
3/5
The Flaming Lips
5/5
5/5
New Order
4/5
4/5
Donald Fagen
3/5
3/5
Fairport Convention
3/5
3.5/5
The Saints
3/5
3.5/5
JAY Z
4/5
4/5
The Lemonheads
3/5
3/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
4/5
The Cramps
2/5
2.5/5
The Flaming Lips
4/5
4/5
Wire
4/5
4.5/5
Keith Jarrett
5/5
5/5
The Jam
3/5
3.5/5
Boards of Canada
4/5
4.5/5
4/5
4/5
Jane's Addiction
4/5
4/5
Lupe Fiasco
3/5
3/5
Beatles
4/5
4.5/5
Hawkwind
2/5
2/5
Finley Quaye
3/5
3.5/5
Sonic Youth
4/5
4/5
Baaba Maal
3/5
3.5/5
Throbbing Gristle
4/5
4/5
Merle Haggard
3/5
3/5
Frank Ocean
5/5
5/5
B.B. King
3/5
3.5/5
Fugazi
4/5
4.5/5
The Offspring
4/5
4/5
Anita Baker
3/5
3.5/5
U2
3/5
3.5/5
Serge Gainsbourg
3/5
3.5/5
Pixies
4/5
4/5
Def Leppard
3/5
3.5/5
The Byrds
4/5
4/5
Death In Vegas
3/5
3.5/5
Yes
4/5
4/5
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
4/5
Nanci Griffith
3/5
3.5/5
Japan
3/5
3.5/5
Mylo
4/5
4/5
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Easy 5/5
Lauryn Hill
5/5
Easy 5/5
Destiny's Child
3/5
3/5
Beastie Boys
4/5
4/5
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
3.5/5
Traffic
4/5
4.5/5
M.I.A.
4/5
4/5
Scritti Politti
2/5
2.5/5
Anthrax
2/5
2/5
Wild Beasts
3/5
3.5/5
Television
3/5
3/5
Julian Cope
3/5
3.5/5
Coldplay
4/5
4/5
Minutemen
4/5
4/5
The White Stripes
4/5
4/5
Country Joe & The Fish
3/5
3.5/5
3/5
3.5/5
Youssou N'Dour
4/5
4/5
Solange
4/5
4/5
Pearl Jam
5/5
5/5
The Incredible String Band
2/5
2/5
4/5
4/5
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
4/5
Black Flag
3/5
3.5/5
Orange Juice
4/5
4/5
Weather Report
4/5
4.5/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
4/5
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
4/5
Bee Gees
3/5
3/5
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
4.5/5
Suede
4/5
4/5
Radiohead
5/5
5/5
Manu Chao
4/5
4.5/5
Kanye West
4/5
4.5/5
Peter Tosh
3/5
3.5/5
Sigur Rós
5/5
5/5
Elastica
3/5
3.5/5
New Order
4/5
4.5/5
Black Sabbath
5/5
5/5
The Fall
4/5
4/5
Goldfrapp
3/5
3.5/5
The 13th Floor Elevators
4/5
4/5
Cocteau Twins
4/5
4/5
Songhoy Blues
4/5
4/5
Paul Simon
3/5
3.5/5
Pulp
4/5
4.5/5
Kraftwerk
4/5
4/5
The Beta Band
4/5
4/5
Alanis Morissette
4/5
4/5
Mudhoney
3/5
3.5/5
Neil Young
4/5
4/5
Sinead O'Connor
4/5
4/5
Laura Nyro
4/5
4/5
The Blue Nile
4/5
4/5
3/5
3.5/5
The Specials
3/5
3.5/5
The Cure
4/5
4/5
Talking Heads
4/5
4/5
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
4/5
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
3/5
Megadeth
4/5
4/5
Beach House
4/5
4/5
The Stranglers
4/5
4.5/5
Kanye West
4/5
4.5/5
Christine and the Queens
3/5
3.5/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
4/5
SAULT
4/5
4/5
Ash
4/5
4.5/5
Korn
4/5
4/5
Fatboy Slim
5/5
5/5
Cee Lo Green
4/5
4/5
Heaven 17
4/5
4/5
The Everly Brothers
2/5
2/5
Tom Waits
4/5
4/5
Talk Talk
4/5
4/5
Orbital
4/5
4/5
The Icarus Line
4/5
4/5
10cc
4/5
4/5
Pantera
4/5
4/5
Rush
5/5
5/5
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
3.5/5
The Temptations
3/5
3/5
Circle Jerks
3/5
3/5
Tangerine Dream
3/5
3.5/5
Emmylou Harris
3/5
3/5
Tori Amos
4/5
4/5
Traffic
4/5
4/5
a-ha
3/5
3.5/5
Gram Parsons
3/5
3/5
Kacey Musgraves
2/5
2.5/5
Talking Heads
4/5
4.5/5
Basement Jaxx
4/5
4/5
Stan Getz
4/5
4/5
Burning Spear
3/5
3.5/5
Jacques Brel
4/5
4/5
The Flying Burrito Brothers
2/5
2.5/5
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
3.5/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
4/5
Nirvana
5/5
5/5
Calexico
5/5
5/5
Nirvana
4/5
4.5/5
Stevie Wonder
4/5
4/5
Tom Waits
4/5
4/5
808 State
4/5
4/5
Green Day
5/5
5/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
4.5/5