What The? A lot of this reminds me of the weird music the dude from Silence of the Lambs was listening to in his freaky lair. Not a good visual. The one bright spot was the piano jam on “Uncertain Smile”. The beats in the middle of the last track were kind of cool. Overall, I can see it fits a niche, but not in my wheelhouse. 1

I was not familiar at all with this artist. At first, a lot of the tracks seemed repetitive and had a similar formula. Vocals lacked clarity in places. On the second time through I found it more interesting and I liked a handful of tracks. Great bass line in Bombast. Overall I thought Side 2 was stronger than Side 1. Worth another dive at some point. 2.5/5 rounding up

Well, if there is anything I have learned in this exercise, it is not to judge anything in the first 60 seconds and that “Jazz” is a much broader category than I realized. This was a groovy listen making me wish I was in a hammock on the beach in Costa Rica or the Jungles of Belize. Huge props to the horns but most importantly the Drums on this one. Very interesting background stories on these artists too. Starting out I didn’t think I would be tagging anything for my 1001 playlist, but Ye Ye de Smell made the cut. 3.5/5 rounding up for the drums.

This album has paces very well and plays like a seamless medley, in a good way. Not in the way that it all sounds the same, it just connects and flows very well between songs. On top of that, it has the two timeless hits that have been smooth R & B hits for decades.

First side is very strong steeped in classics. The second half was ok, no new takeaways. Overall still a strong enough album to let play through.

For much of this listen I felt like the dude attached to the hands of the prison bars floating through space on the cover. I found myself either looking at the bar to see how long was left in the track or tapping back to the song list to see how many tracks were left, incarcerated by wanting to preserve the integrity of the 1001 experience. Outside of the two mainstream hits, other than annoyance not much else here.

The one standout on this, “Without you”, is fantastic and has more than stood the test of time. “Jump in the fire” would probably have been a great song if they had cut it down from 7 to 4 minutes. I was pretty board with the rest. Average 2.5/5 rounding up for the one great track.

This was decent. I liked it more than I thought I would. I can tell as jazz goes, this is really good. Would probably rate higher if I was a bigger jazz fan.

I somehow don’t think I was aware of this back in the day. It was an enjoyable listen, some killer drumming. I can see where this fits in along the progression of alt/grunge. 3.5/5 rounding up

It’s been a long time since I listened to this one all the way through in one sitting. Very chill and relaxing. It lives up to the hype and lore. It’s crazy how artists like the Beatles (and the Stones) could just crank out a solid album annually or faster in that time period. Giving it full prop of stars.

I didn’t love it or hate it. I liked the title track, it has good guitar work and overall vibe. “Elevation” sounded like a skipping LP at times, but I guess that was the point and it was cool the way it settled back into the groove. Outside of those it was ok. I would probably revisit. Average 2.5/5 rounded up.

I had never heard of PJH until the YouTube algorithm served me up a live version of “Dress” which is now in my normal video rotation. “Rid of me” is also another good one from her earlier work. This album was pretty much a struggle to get through. 1.5/5 rounding up

I loved this one. The whole album flows freely and is all consistent with the concept. Just a few callouts: I love Aqualung-epic journey. And if there is something that puts the icing on top of an epic journey that is a strong long intro. The contrast and progression of Locomotive breath more than holds up after 5 decades. Lastly, On “Hymn 43”, that gritty isolated riff coupled with those clean keys is just sick. Strong 4 on the heavier side.

Another catch up album for me, and this one did not disappoint. I agree with the observations of the group. Solid album and truly a distinct signpost marker on the music timeline of our generation. 4/5

Interesting album, I liked the tone and style for some settings. I do prefer the bands earlier work with the powerhouse blues vocals of Eric Burdon. I have been known to appreciate extensively long album side length tracks, but a couple of these play a little long for even me. It is unique. Interesting liner note that the final live performance of the great Jimi Hendrix was with this band the day before his death. 2/5

Wow, this was quite a flashback. I came of age during this albums release, and it was huge. Every track plays solid to this day. The deeper tracks are in some cases heavier and have more pronounced guitar work. Landmark album and so influential. 5 stars.

What The? A lot of this reminds me of the weird music the dude from Silence of the Lambs was listening to in his freaky lair. Not a good visual. The one bright spot was the piano jam on “Uncertain Smile”. The beats in the middle of the last track were kind of cool. Overall, I can see it fits a niche, but not in my wheelhouse. 1

While an abstract and interesting listen, this is not something that would be any kind of go to for me. Dr. John is a cool cat and an accomplished musician and has also had very notable collaborations including an appearance on Exile on Main Street. 1.5/5 rounded down for this work.

I was not familiar with the deep tracks on this and really enjoyed most of the Album. The foundational riff in “Panic in Detroit” is quite an infectious hook. That and “The Jean Genie” alone gets it to 3 but not quite a 4. I liked some of the others as well. I’ll go 3.5 rounded down.

This sound has such a stamp on the early 90’s. Many strong driving hits. “Would?” Is probably my fav from this one. There are 5-6 really good songs on this one but the rest was largely forgettable to me. Solid signature representation of the time though. Struggle between a 3-3.5 so I’ll round down to a 3.

The music and cultural impact of this album are heavy hitting. Kind of his breakout as a solo artist and young adult, this was a huge splash at the time and holds up. This album and Thriller are kind of like consecutive mile markers between Disco and 80’s pop. Lots of hits, the album starts out blazing with the last few not as. Notable song writing credits to Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. Very enjoyable listen on a cool spring evening by the fire. Strong 4

I have never heard anyone sing about a crack rock with so much passion and soul. Also, much like I am quite confident that Annie is not OK, I understand that Cleopatra is employed at the Pyramid and is scheduled to work this evening. I know this appeals to a sizable niche, so I won’t leave it in the basement. 2

For background music, like this more than messy jazz. Average rounded up from a non-jazz enthusiast. 2.5/5

I agree with many of the comments of the group on Bob. I have always loved his mainstream stuff, but have sort of always felt internally “obligated” to like / appreciate his deeper tracks for being more than they really are. That said , I did love his work with the Wilburys ( Spoiler Alert: TW first album will get a rubber stamp 5 from me if/when it pops up). Bob and Tom work well together and Tom Petty is probably the greatest American singer songwriter of my/our generation as Bob was to the last. That may be why he carries the heavy legacy with him in some circles. 3.5/5

Another catchup album for me, and I echo the impressions and comments of the group. Landmark album for sure, albeit somewhat compartmentalized and situational (THE situation). Well above average for the genre, I’ll give it a 3.5/5 rounding down.

Even though I’m not that into jazz, I know enough to know Duke Ellington is a, if not the, premier name in the genre. This was a relaxing listen for a Friday work afternoon, I committed to the full 2 hour experience. I could picture cool cats like Cab Calloway wearing black suits and dark shades just jamming away. I can tell this is a selection of top notch players, and the pace is very measured and the set is arranged well. I like the commentary, adding context for the listener that may not be as familiar with the genre. 3.5/5 rounded down

Just a Bitte above horrible. While I am sure many may pretend to revere this record in the most pretentious hipster coffee shops anyone can imagine, “Stillness is the move” is interesting enough to barely get this to a 1 for me.

I know this is one I probably should put more thought into and appreciate more, but I just don’t have any desire, and all out of beer to cry in.

Joining the group late, I had a lot of catch-up work to do. I “saved” MM for last because to be honest I was dreading the thought of listening to screaming and compressed music for over an hour. The tone of his voice sounds like the hounds of hell, which I guess is the point. Like most, I have always loved “The Beautiful People” and that song holds up and fits this style perfectly. The rest of it I can do without. He did an excellent job with covering “Tainted Love” later, but those two tracks are pretty much all the love I have for MM.

Largely agree with the groups comments. I also liked track 1, but the rest was largely forgettable. Good mellow background music.

They could not have chosen a more sinister opening track or album cover to represent themselves in their debut. This album is an incredibly raw, impactful, and influential work. I love the low, deep vibes. N.I.B. Has always been one of my favs. 4/5

With 6 or 7 of these tracks becoming signature songs of the band, and with them being one of the top faces of Woodstock, it is impossible not to recognize the cultural significance and influence of this band and debut album. The three recently recently parted ways with their previous bands, connected, and subsequently harmonized their way into history. Solid 3.5/5

This sounds the band they would have been expecting at Bob’s Country Bunker before the Blues Brothers hijacked the gig. I appreciate the style to some degree and this seems like a great representation of the time. I’ll go average here 2.5/5 rounded up.

Yikes. While I enjoyed the movie “Whiplash”, generally speaking full-on Jazz is just not my bag. I would choose to chill with some SD 10/10 times over this. .5/5 rounding up.

I have owned this album on all the various types of media from 8-track to CD. It is a masterpiece and I could give a callout on every song. I’ll keep it to side 2. Love the push/pull, slow muddy walk of Electric Funeral, the methodic chugging of Hand of Doom, the drum clinic on Rat Salad, and Fairies wear Boots is probably my favorite Sabbath song. One of my personal top 10 albums of all time, I give it a 5.5/5 ( when you need that extra boost…)

Legendary and incredible work. So many different elements and intricacies. Visionary and transformational. Nuff said. 5/5

I was not that familiar with this band , but I am pretty sure I’ve heard a song or 2 before. I found a few songs that got my attention somewhat. Worth a revisit and checking out the earlier albums. 2.5/5 rounded down to a 2.

This was definitely a trip back in the Time Machine. It was refreshing in the way it displays hip hop with a fun loving and party type vibe. She was a trailblazer for sure and I recognize the significance of the work for the time. Not sure I will be revisiting this one though. 2.5/5 rounded up due to the artist’s staying power and evolution into television, film and icon status.

Another catch up album for me and the 2nd SD in a week. Pretty much the same as pretzel logic to me, I never sought them out in my younger years but was not too bothered by the “hits” in the background. The caveat to that is, I may have been under the influence of some Indicas at the time. 1.5/5

I was not familiar with this artist, but this seems to be an above average work for the genre and the time. Many of these early blues artists were so transformational and pivotal in terms of influencing British Invasion rock and American blues rock. Solid.

I was not familiar with this artist. A slow start for my ears but the second half got my attention. Worth a revisit and a deeper dive at some point. A solid 3

Kind of one dimensional but I can see where this would fit some moods/situations. Reminds me of relaxing music you would hear in a waiting room, spa , or meditation space. A high 2, but closer to 3 than 2.5 so I’ll round up.

I am admittedly a little biased here as Rush is easily in my top 10 bands of all time, but it didn’t start out that way. I was first introduced to this album at a friends birthday party in 8th grade. I liked some of it, but whether it was the complexity of the music or Getty Lee’s vocals I didn’t get the hype at the time. I obviously liked Tom Sawyer and Limelight as they made up some of the sound track of my high school years. It was only when I revisited Rush in depth 30 years later that I truly appreciated this band. The way these three are able to create such a full sound is quite amazing. The first four tracks is arguably one of the strongest side one’s of any rock album. The short, but iconic drum solo in Tom Sawyer packs a powerful punch. Then on to Red Barchetta. I love songs that take you on an epic journey musically, lyrically, or both; and this track certainly delivers that along with a drum track that is unique in its own right. I love YYZ, again speaking to how 3 dudes can fill the space and intermingle with each other perfectly. Limelight is just another beautiful track that speaks for itself. Side two I have not listened to as much but is still strong and consistent with the rest of the album. 4.5/5

This album was not my bag. I kind of liked track 2, but overall a struggle to get through.

Far ahead of its time in terms of recognizing the modern challenges minority communities face. Blues music while a clear separation from traditional blues, musically. Love the simplicity of the vocals and acoustic sound.

I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting this album as a complete work, vs just the tracks that got airplay. Along with Beggars Banquet, another great stones blues album with great drive and rythms. Love the horns, keys and range of styles. A strong 4 if not 4.5 for me.

Not my speed then, or now. While I can appreciate it fits a niche, if I was scanning the dial I would punch out immediately on any of these tracks.

I only recognized two tracks from this album. I always thought of it /them as 70’s easy listening/ soft rock thing. In the deeper tracks the jazz elements are more pronounced. I never owned any Steely Dan but didn’t mind the occasional “hits” if they showed up in a background mix depending on the setting. While the lyrics are dark, I kind of liked the pace / keys of “Charlie Freak”. That said, im glad it was brief. Probably getting an artificial bump due to Simply Dread, I’ll give it a 2 by a hair.

Wow, who knew you could use random warm ups and instrument tuning to produce album tracks? WTF was track 2? A handful of tracks stood out to me, the opening track, a couple in the middle and the nod to Dylan towards the end. Overall I was largely bored with this one. 1.5/5 rounded up to 2 just for the unique factor.

She says “hello”, and I say goodbye. Pop is just not my preferred genre. Even though I may not dig the music style, I can appreciate some pop singers for their vocal range and voice quality and Adele would be included in that group. I recognized a couple of the hits but most of it sounds very similar.

The band (no pun intended) has a few catchy tunes including a few on this album. Much like SD, I never had the need to own it, but the hits added to certain mixes I was around. Kind of swampy jug-band sound you would hear in the deep south on a random front porch, saloon, or town square. Other than the hits, overall I was pretty bored with the rest of it but a mellow listen. Interesting note: My favorite song from this band , “The Weight”, was redone with a click track sent to musicians around the world then later the video and audio were mixed together in a series called “Playing for Change”. Features most notably Robbie Robertson and Ringo Star. Check it out on YouTube if it strikes you… 2.5/5 rounded down to 2

I had only been familiar with live cuts and greatest hits compilations from this legend so I was excited to get into this listen, however, that feeling was pretty quickly deflated and overall it seemed to run together. Depending on the mood I can see it fitting in the background poolside, tiki bars and tropical beach situations. I do recognize the cultural significance of the artist and style. I’ll give this particular album a 2. I prefer the hits and the live energy.

Good listen, power punk. I got more into it as it went on. I knew a few, favorited a couple more. Was not aware of the history and extent of Bowie’s involvement. Will be digging into the earlier stuff and revisiting this one. 3.5/5

This didn’t really grab me the first time through. I listened a second time and I liked a few tracks. 2.5/5

Great flow & heavy riffs. Show tunes meets opera meets rock and roll. Another great example from this list of an album that plays very cohesive as a complete work. Thoroughly enjoyed this all the way through. I especially liked “Stone cold crazy” and the last track- “In the lap of the gods - revisited”. Seeing them live back in the day would have been one memorable experience. 4.5/5

This certainly was a standout album and artist at the time. The hits were milestones of the time for sure, but they also have been played so frequently that this didn’t seem to hit me as much on the nostalgia level. The rest was ok. I’m middle of the road on this one. 3/5

Back in the early 80’s, I think I had either the 45 rpm single of Tainted Love or the 12 Inch extended mix of TL & “Where did our love go”. Either way, that was the correct purchase. The rest of the other tracks I struggled to get through. There could have been some comedic production value if the boys from Spinal Tap would have covered “Sex Dwarf”. I can see where the synth beats would have been popular in raves back in the day. The one super hit is iconic, and later done very well again by MM, but I can’t get higher than a 1 here.

I was not familiar at all with this artist. At first, a lot of the tracks seemed repetitive and had a similar formula. Vocals lacked clarity in places. On the second time through I found it more interesting and I liked a handful of tracks. Great bass line in Bombast. Overall I thought Side 2 was stronger than Side 1. Worth another dive at some point. 2.5/5 rounding up

I have a deeper appreciation of everything Elvis after visiting Graceland a couple years ago. I like many of his songs including a couple on this album. While a relaxing listen, much of this album seems formulaic and runs together. Much of it has me immediately visualizing awkward high school dances with a 50’s themed backdrop. 2.5/5 rounded up.

No wonder I love this album, it is sandwiched in between Beggar’s Banquet and Exile. I really dig this phase on the timeline of the Stones. Many stand outs on this, most notably for me: Monkey Man, Let it Bleed, Midnight Rambler, and the legendary opener Gimme Shelter. Interesting the timing connected to founding member Brian Jones’s death. Also another reminder of something that has gotten somewhat lost in music over time, album cover art. Interesting side note: One of my favorite renditions of Gimme Shelter is with U2 performing the music live at Rock HOF show 2009, and Fergie knocking it out of the park standing toe to toe with Mick. (…and sexy AF doing it too…) 4.25/5

I was dreading my Monday morning rainy commute until I pulled up this power punch. I have always liked the hits and a few deeper tracks. I love the low rumble of the back line and the dueling guitar sound. I have a few new takeaways from this one, Massacre and Dancing in the moonlight. Loved the live versions of Cowboy Song/ Boys are Back. I will say I prefer the studio version of “Emerald”, one of the best guitar solos of all time IMO. Overall a great listen pretty much all the way through. 3.5/5

Pretty sure I have heard a few of these on hold with AT&T or walking into a wedding reception. Abstract and somewhat interesting. Situational for sure, but it was not terrible. 2/5 1/5

I was a little underwhelmed the first time through. On the second pass, I liked a couple other than Walk on the Wild Side. “I’m so free” and “Perfect day” are solid songs and the one super hit is a classic for sure, but I found most of the rest largely forgettable. Some of the melodies are catchy. The last track is kind of comical. 3/5

I recognized the first track, and I kind of liked the second. This was a mellow and somewhat different listen, but after the first two nothing else stood out to me.

Some of this sounded familiar, and after reading the wiki info about some songs being featured on the “Good Will Hunting” soundtrack, I understand why. It also has a similar feel to some of the Shins music on the “Garden State” soundtrack. It was a relaxing listen, but the second half kind of seemed one note to me. I enjoyed Figure 8 better. 2.75/5 rounding up.

I like some Rap (less gangsta), and the mainstream hits for sure. “Gin & Juice” holds up. I’m out on the rest of this, too repetitive and grating with all the language. I’m giving it a 2 just because I know it was relevant to the time. He does have the cool factor working for him, he would be fun to hang with, and somehow he was able to create a persona and strike a chord enough to enable himself make millions of dollars by smoking weed and partying his entire life. For those reasons, I ain’t mad at ‘em.

I started out not liking this to the point where it was flirting with “1” territory. It is very bizarre and lots of abstract ideas going on here. There are tracks that I dreaded, but I actually ended up saving 3 after circling back and listening to the first half again. I liked “Staring at the Sun”, “Poppy”, and the bonus track demo of “Staring at the Sun”. Generally speaking I like my rock sans the “Art” element, but I will revisit some of this. 2.5/5

YES! What an album for hump day! This album more than holds up and really cooks! Especially the second half. I really needed some in-yo-face driving drums and guitar to get my blood pumping today. There is something magical about a solid timeless hit like “Surrender” when it is captured live so close to the release date. The energy and enthusiasm of the band is so fresh and tight, like lightning in a bottle. This may be getting a slight artificial bump from me after the last handful of rap, art rock and indie albums we have had, but if it is, it isn’t by much. 4.5/5 rounding up

I thought the first two tracks were ok. I recognized the one from Lost Highway, not from the film just that I had heard it before. The rest was forgettable, although some of it could also could be fitting in a Lynch or film noir soundtrack. Quite a blend of styles, but seems to be primarily Art/Jazz which is evidently a thing, just not my thing. 2/5

And….even more JAZZ! I visualize a dimly lit smoky room with red velvet tufted upholstery and excessively small tables holding dirty martinis….that I would be in for 30 minutes tops. Very nice for the genre though and was a pleasant listen. 2.5/ 5 rounding up.

Another album recorded at the historic Headley Grange, this record opens up with track 1 hard driving and exactly how you would expect it to based on their earlier work. Then it takes a turn, a very interesting one. This album ranks somewhere between 3rd and 5th for me personally among Zep’s full catalogue, depending on my mood. This work really displays a deeper side of the group as musicians, and in terms of ideas and production. It doesn't have all the flashy hits, but it is a pivotal work in its own right; and best experienced complete - front to back IMO. Perfect placement of several LZ songs within the “Almost Famous” soundtrack, including two from these sessions. Other interesting notes are some of the left over songs from these sessions ended up on Physical Graffiti, and the “B” side of the “Immigrant Song” single was “Hey Hey What can I do” which was not released on a studio album and retrospect would not have necessarily fit with this grouping. Kind of genius in the way they lure you in with one track of what would be expected and change lanes. It’s only a 5 point scale so I’ll call this a strong 4.25 to leave room for what is to come later. 4.25/5

I liked this album very much. I can see where some may say it sounds a little one note, but it was a rockin good time and great production by the great Rick Rubin. Billy Duffy’s guitar work is distinct and awesome. I would have loved to have seen them live back in the day. Fav tracks are “Lil Devil” and “ Love removal machine”. So-so rendition of “born to be wild”, I prefer the classic there. Above average though.

I had not heard of this band or album. I didn’t dislike it or love it. To me it was average or slightly less than, mostly forgetable. I saved one track on my 1001 playlist, “Lend’s some dough”. 2.25/5

“The Killing Moon” alone gets this to a 3.5 for me. There are a few others I like as well. I was not as into this band at the time of this albums release as I was into more of the 80’s rock. I came to appreciate them much more later. So unique for the time and influential for other great bands to come later in the new wave and alternative sound. 3.5/5 rounding up

THE groundbreaking band for American punk. Blitz is such an iconic song and so fitting to be T1S1 on their debut. The songs are very short but pack a powerful punch. The album is arguably somewhat one note, but the teens punching air and slamming into each other before mosh pits were a thing didn’t seem to care. They were just loud and proud to have their own sound and distance themselves from the previous hip generation. This band and style was very influential for progression of many punk and alternative bands through the 70’s and on, I’ll go 3.5/5 rounded up.

The two heavy hitters on this one alone get it to a 4. The American Girl riff is one of my top faves of all time. Great song and sustains the energy from the open all the way through. Solid debut for the greatest singer/songwriter of our generation. RIP Tom.

The first 15 min might be heard at a rave. Good for its intended purpose. The rest was not bad chill music. I liked it more than I thought I would as background music. 2.25/5

I didn’t hate this enough to warrant a 1, but most likely will not be revisiting. 1.5/2

From the crashing high hat of Rock and Roll to Bonzo’s booming drums in Levee, and the masterpiece musical journey of Stairway, this may be the easiest 5 ever. The whole album absolutely cooks and is a landmark in the history of rock. If anything needs a knob that goes to 11, this does.

Well, I guess as R&B/Hip-Hop goes this would be average or above. The vocal quality is there. It’s a little repetitive and one note and I didn’t hear that stand out hook I would necessarily remember. It’s just not a style I engage with often or purposely seek out a full album. Mellow tone mostly though.

This was a relaxing listen. Good album, although I think I’ve come to realize I prefer a handful of Bob songs sprinkled in a mellow-ish mix vs going front to back with a full album.

This was different and cool, kind of punk bridging to thrash bridging to grunge. Solid drums throughout, especially on “In N Out of Grace”. 3.25/5

5 full stars without question for this one. I listened today, but didn’t even have to because this is so engrained in my memory and still called up periodically in my rotation. Released just about 2 weeks before my 14th birthday, I ran to the Peaches record store with high anticipation to get my hands on this ASAP. This one really broke DL into the mainstream and launched them to stardom. A production masterpiece by the band and Mutt Lange, every track is a standout. My favs would have to be Foolin, Too late for love, and of course Photograph. I was already well familiar with the band from their 2 prior albums, most notably their debut released in ‘80 “On through the night”. It ranks just as high in my book, being a little heavier sound and style with their original guitar player Pete Willis. DL’s first 3 releases really bridge the heavier rock from the late 70’s to that classic 80’s metal sound. Killer album cover too.

All legendary voices in harmony. Interesting that they wanted to collaborate earlier on but were contracted to different labels. Glad they stayed the course and fought through it and made this album. What American country music should be. Relaxing listen.

This is a great album. I had a lot of solo road time this weekend so I actually just let it roll 2X. It was stronger than I remembered, especially the second half. 7 Nation jumps out of the gate super strong and the next few are good, but really enjoyed it a lot midway through the end. Bangin drums and very creative guitar work with multiple effects and styles. Will add to the rotation for sure.

Well, if there is anything I have learned in this exercise, it is not to judge anything in the first 60 seconds and that “Jazz” is a much broader category than I realized. This was a groovy listen making me wish I was in a hammock on the beach in Costa Rica or the Jungles of Belize. Huge props to the horns but most importantly the Drums on this one. Very interesting background stories on these artists too. Starting out I didn’t think I would be tagging anything for my 1001 playlist, but Ye Ye de Smell made the cut. 3.5/5 rounding up for the drums.

To think they had 5 albums before this, and then 8 years later came Saturday Night Fever. That gives a whole new meaning to never giving up and just “staying alive”.

Landmark record from the band just reaching the peak of their powers from a mainstream perspective. There are the obvious super hits on this, and the whole album plays through well and is cohesive. Very strong and innovative in terms of lyrics, instrumentation, and production. I very much enjoyed revisiting.

When you submit a review and the next album pops up, and the first thing that comes to your mind is “5”, that kind of tell you all you need to know about this one. Arguably the most iconic and influential album of grunge, this one is essentially a straight line of heavy hitting bangers. It would be a 5 with the first 8-10 alone. Side note is it still blows my mind that after the tragic ending of Nirvana, Dave Grohl’s reaction was to conceive and record the Foo Fighters first album, then go on to step from behind the kit to found and front another legendary band for 30 years.

I ran this 2X this weekend and I appreciated it much more the second time around. I love the blend of multiple styles- blues, rock, ragtime, country, folk, and I even think I heard a smidge of jazz. It really highlights White’s musical knowledge and creativity. Interesting the way he chose to use hired guns to maintain creative control. I love that it seemed to feature the piano more and was accented by guitar work. I went in to the second listen at a 3-3.5, I landed at a 4.25/5

This was a chill listen, and I was not aware of her age at recording which is impressive. It does have the one big hit, however, I was largely bored with the rest of this. She has the vocals for sure, but this wouldn’t be something I would routinely select.

I can dig some hip-hop/rap , but this one just seemed like more noise than music to me. Some of the rhymes were creative, but back beats were mostly one note/one beat. All the senseless chatter and N-bombs are grating.

I don’t have much to say about this, other than the “2” on the album cover is rather prophetic. I kind of liked the groove of the title track.

I was very bored with this. I guess I expected more because of the hit “All the young dudes”, which I now learned was written by Bowie which explains a lot. I can tell there is some decent musicianship here in the components but I’m just not feeling it from a band/songwriting perspective.

I don’t know that I have ever listened to this front to back, and it’s a fun ride. I was familiar with what got radio play, and from the band in general I was more familiar with 1980’s Autoamerican. This album as a whole was stronger in its components and unique style than I remembered/expected. Blondie always stuck out as going against the grain and Harry’s signature vocals remain unique and timeless.

Art rock to the max. This was a chill listen, and I would play it in the background in certain settings. I liked some of the elements and experimentation. I listened to it twice to give it a fair shake. Outside of the mainstream hits, I’m just not a huge Radiohead fan.

I liked the opening track and the title track. I appreciate the arrangements and instrumentation, but most of the rest was a little slow for my taste.

Welp, This was better than Shadowland! 1.5/5

This was really bad, not sure how it made this list.

I was surprised by this. There is a lot of forgettable filler here, but “Power” alone gets it to a 3. I also liked Runaway, Hell of a life, and Lost in the world. 3.5/5

I was pretty bored with the repetitive nature of this, but I do recognize the significance and influence to everything from later electronica bands in general and the use of synth mixed in smaller doses in the 80’s new wave and beyond.

You know that confused madness you feel in your brain when you suddenly find yourself boxed in, on a multilane highway with no exit ramp bailout anywhere in sight and all that lies before you is a sea of brake lights with some cars frantically trying to change lanes to break free but no one is really getting anywhere? That is one long sentence, but if I had to attach a soundtrack to describe that feeling, this would be it. I realize I should probably appreciate this more for some reason, but it’s just a little too abstract and gritty for my taste.

I enjoyed this listen very much. I love the blues sound and grooves. I marked several fav tracks. A very unique style with a splash of rockabilly in places and some smooth R &B also. Yet another band I wish I had seen live at some point. 3.75/5

This album is solid throughout, with my favorite track probably being Dazed and Confused. What gives this the high ranking for me is not just the quality of the music. It is the fact that Page was so confident that he had struck gold with this assembly of players, that he basically financed the album himself and produced it as well- in 36 hours of studio time. Page is legendary player and a quite a visionary. I love his out of the box style and I learned so much about how he approaches his craft in the documentary “It might get Loud”. Looking forward for what is to come eventually too. It’s quite possible every studio album made the list.

Anyone who claims to have deep musical knowledge that can’t name the opening track from the first two notes needs to turn in their card immediately. Track 1 has to be the most iconic for this artist. Track 2 is an awesome blues jam, loved that one! And then….the speed limit drops drastically for me. I don’t think I will be revisiting past the first 2 mile markers on highway 61. He is a very talented lyricist and musician but I can only handle Bob in 10-15 min stretches. That said, I strangely liked the 11 min saga on the last track, and the title track. 3.75/5 3.5/5

I am not a huge fan of Billy Joel, especially his later work, but I have to give him props in this album. When I read the track listing I forgot how many hits were on this record. This one and 52nd street are the pinnacle of his career IMO. I remember these vinyl LP’s around the house and hearing them in the background and much on radio. Soft / mom rock, but he made it work to make a significant splash at the time.

Interestingly I was introduced to this album in 83-84, by the same friend who also introduced me to Metallica “Kill ‘em All” and “Ride the lightning”. Both bands were arguably considered underground at the time. While BF is a little too thrash for me, it seems they kind of bridged the gap between pure punk and thrash metal and ultimately, grunge. Interesting that this album was mentioned by Kurt Cobain as one of his influences and in his personal top 50 all time. While not my flavor, I’m rounding up to a 3 to recognize the future influences and out of the box thinking/style. 2.5/3

Ooh, that voice is grating AF and bordering on creepy. I want this bird to fly away and not ever enter my airwaves again. .5/5

Absolutely love the groove of the high hat in one ear and the bongos and tambourine in the other on Runaway child. Keys, horns and guitar popping in and out. I loved the funky grooves on the title track also. Those two alone get this over a 3 for me. Most of the rest is good quality music, but arguably more or less just the generic Motown sound. Very enjoyable listen, the passion and soul really comes through the music. 3.75/5

Interesting listen, I recognized a couple tracks and favored a few. Sound and style is consistent with the time and they probably got outshined a little by the Beatles. Overall a solid album. 3.5/5

Great listen. She has an amazing and unique sound. Exceptional range and passion. I was surprised that this was only her 2nd release, and post mortem at that. Left such a legacy and inspired so many. Tom Petty mentioned his song “The Waiting” was inspired by a quote from JJ- “I love being onstage and everything else is just waiting”.

This was decent and consistent all the way through. I like his work with the Smiths better. I know some of his other solo stuff, just has never been in a solid rotation for me.

Average album, or slightly less than. A little bleaker than yesterday’s album, “Your Arsenal”, which I think I enjoyed a little more because it seemed to have a little more pep. Once again, give me The Smiths over his solo stuff thus far. 2.5/5

Aptly titled, this album was coming in “Luke Warm” vs coming in hot for sure. I didn’t necessarily hate this but it didn’t grab me much either. I tried to find something here, but the most interesting part is probably the album cover art.

I liked several tracks on this, with “No 13 Baby” being my fav. It has a killer bass line particularly, and the guitar closing it out. The rest was hit and miss for me. I liked probably 5 tracks but it is not a full play through for me. 3.5/5

Some albums are best experienced and appreciated windows down and blazing down the highway, while others need 100% focus with over ear headphones in a recliner (and maybe some Indica). This album definitely falls into the latter category. 21st century is a jam, to say the least. So many layers anchored by some complex and well thought out drumming. The middle three tracks are slower and more mellow for sure, but still brightened up by creative back beats, and symphonic elements. This album is a journey, with the two strongest tracks anchoring the start and finish. I can see why it is acclaimed for its influence and associated with the prog greats. There is a lot of ground breaking styles and experimentation going on here, enjoyable listen.

This was an easy listen. I liked the jangly sound of a few, others droned on a bit long. Only saved one, “Say it aint so” (no pun intended). Average or slightly above. 2.5/5

I would have probably dug this more back in the day when I was grinding on ramps and rails at the skate park. While not a repeat listen today most likely, I do give it some cred for its Punk/Pop influence. I can’t definitively say exactly who it influenced, however , I can’t imagine a world without the likes of drummers such as the great Travis Barker.

Happy this was not our album to enjoy over the weekend, Sad I spent most of the time fighting through this one. It wasn't horrible, but there is plenty of “easy listening” I would choose over this. I really tried to like “Gypsy Woman”, I think that song had some potential if it was cut to 6-7 min. About halfway through it I was imagining how it would sound if CCR did a condensed arrangement.

I am so glad we had the whole weekend to let this album bake. I wanted to give PJH a fair shake and I really enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I listened to it four times through over the weekend and liked it better each time. I really liked at least half the tracks (1,2,4,5,9,10,12) and the rest is strong enough for a play through. Just a call out on the drums on “Kamakazi”; short track but interesting. 4.25/5

Headphones listen for sure, classic stuff. I also appreciated much more after I saw the film, “Love & Mercy” in 2014.

This album sounds like Cyndi Lauper and Black Flag had a baby that wasn’t that talented, and tried to make a record that was influenced 60’s pop. I’ll pass…. 1.5/5

This is not a preferred genre in my rotation, but I do recognize the cultural significance of the artist, and have much respect for the way she has been able to reinvent herself and evolve continuously to maintain relevance for 40 years. All that said, this album pales in comparison to everything she did leading up to this release. The two singles merit and I can see where they achieved mainstream success. There rest is average at best IMO. 2.5/5

This was a pleasant listen. B.B. is a legend for sure and he knows how to command a room. He has a relaxed confident delivery and I enjoy his conversational bridges between songs, great flow. I enjoyed it but don’t see it making the higher marks as it does in some circles. 3.5/5 rounding down just because while a decent listen, nothing really grabbed me enough to revisit this particular album.

Deep Purple is one of those bands you either love or hate, and I am on the love side with the “Mark II” line up of Blackmore, Lord, Paice, Glover and Gillan. This album has several bangers, Space Truckin, Lazy, Smoke on the Water, and Highway Star- which was the soundtrack background for the one time I drove 125+ MPH in a vehicle at 17 years old. Smoke on the water, while a simple riff, is the signature song everyone back in the day first learned when they picked up a guitar. DP was also the first Rock act to perform with a full orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in 1969- while commonplace for bands now, it was quite out of the box thinking at the time. For me the is the 2nd best work of the band, 2nd only to “Perfect Strangers” when they got this line up back together in 1984. 4.5/5

I enjoyed most of this, and I understand its significance, influence and staying power. Stevie definitely had an ear, some funk and a solid groove. Several of these tracks are stapes of any 70’s pop or easy listening list. I should have known that Coolio borrowed basically the entire song of Gangstas Paradise from Stevie, but that was a surprise. Plays a little long and has some lulls, but I still give it a high mark all things considered. 4.25/5

I love Metallica, but generally speaking I like my Metallica just straight forward heavy metal. There are a handful of tracks on here that are really well done with the enhancement of the orchestra, most notably “Nothing else Matters” For whom the bell tolls”, and “the thing that should not be”. I am sure I would be rating this much higher if I would have had the live experience. 3.5/5

I was a little surprised by this, given it is not my style or go to by any means. When I saw it pop up I immediately thought “here comes a 1 or 2”, but I approached it with an open mind. While a bit formulaic and playing on the sad/scorned girl theme, she is a better pure songwriter than Adele and the like by leaps and bounds. She doesn’t over sing like some either. I thought she could have picked a more complimentary voice for the duet on Coney Island. If I had to choose an easy listening TS album on a road trip or just chillin, this would probably be the one. Fav track would probably be “Tolerate it” for the piano melody. Rounding up a half star for the song title “Tis the damn season” and album cover. 3.5/5

This was decent, situational music. Not something I would ever reach for but in the right situation it’s above average for its style.

A smooth and funky listen. A few recognizable hits here. I enjoyed Cloud nine much more.

Meh, I was bored with the majority of this. Some of the drums were interesting. I kind of liked track 2.

Some of this ran together and was a little one note. Some decent guitar work though. I liked “Fall”. Overall a pleasant listen.

This is a great album. Not as strong as Purple Rain but a preview of what is to come for sure. The first three are legendary and got all the airtime, but my favorite track was always track 4, “Let’s pretend we’re married.”. Could have been the roller rink , my age at the time, or both.

Great album, vocals are in their own stratosphere obviously. I liked “I am stretched on your grave” and the rest was enjoyable. I was not familiar with a lot of this outside of “compares 2 you”. Probably considered sacrilege to S.O. Purists, but there is a great acoustic cover of nothing compares to you on YouTube by Chris Cornell.

Innovative and time tested. Good and interesting listen. Obvious hits and nostalgia here…

Chill listen. Sounded very similar after awhile. I would punch out more to boredom than annoyance, which I guess is the difference between a 2 and a 3 here. 2.5/3

Chill music for department stores/spas. I don’t hate it but limited to moods/situations. 2.5/5

This was quirky and different listen. Nice surprise and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Has that 60’s folk vibe for sure. I liked a handful of tracks, most notably “Live and let live”, “A house is not a motel”, and Bummer in the Summer”. 3.25/5

While not a preferred genre of mine, I do have fond memories of the 2 hits off this album at the time of its release. Both “Gossip Folks” and “Work it” stand the test of time after over 2 decades. The rest is average. Hip hop artists seem to make a career out of referencing each other and other figures in pop culture worked into their rhymes. Interesting DJT gets a mention within the first minute of this…lmao.

This would not have been on my short list for a hands down “5” rating, but with arguably 6 of 9 tracks certified bangers, it’s hard not to give a full boat of stars. The drums are good throughout but particularly on “Hear that voice again”. “Red Rain” is a solid opener. The duet with 80’s icon Kate Bush is a sleeper I forgot about. “Sledgehammer”, while well played was one of the most recognizable videos of the MTV era, “Big Time” gets a mention there as well. Then finishing up super strong with “In your eyes”, prompting me to revisit the great John Cusak holding up the boom box in the classic 80’s coming of age film, “Say Anything”. Nice weekend surprise on the nostalgia front.

I was not too familiar with this band, but I did recognize “The Sprawl II” , and I also liked “The month of May”. I can tell there is good musicianship and production here, but nothing else grabbed me on the first pass. Worth a revisit… 3.5/5

Didn’t love or hate. Easy listening, soulful R & B good for certain settings.

I got nuthin, pass.

I was working on a project outside and I actually let this play through just into a 3rd turn. It grew on me a little, I enjoyed more than I thought I would. Really liked track 2 and track 1 while a little repetitive was ok too. 2.75/5

Another album, another handful of sleepers and surprises I was not aware of. This album has several staples of CCR’s playlist of hits, but the songs that stuck out to me were “Ramble Tamble” - I had no idea this song even existed, the gradual ramp up/ramp downs in tempo amplify this awesome blues jam. Then, “Oobe doobie” is a great tribute and nod to their American blues influences . “As long as I can see the light” is a great original blues tune that features John Fogerty on Sax (I had no idea the Sax was an instrument in his wheelhouse). And then the 11 minute “Heard it though the grapevine”. I guess like some others I am a little burnt out on the lyrics of this Motown classic, but the instrumentation on this long cut is amazing, particularly the high hat, cymbal crashes and tom rolls in the middle. Throw in a little cow bell and you have a jam.

Not an everyday listen, but this is a solid play-thru album. Many strong tracks with my favs being “Invincible”, “ Assassin”, and “Knights of Cydonia”. Rounding up to a 4 just because if I was going to reach for this ( most likely on a road trip) it would be for a full spin front to back vs selected tracks. 3.5

I like a lot of Neil Young and his various collaborations. Not a big fan of this album. 2.5/5

I liked a few tracks on this, but this album is not the strongest in their arsonal. 2.5/5

Layup

I’m giving this a 3 for the 3 mainstream hits. I do like the longer version of “I’ve seen all good people”. That said, YES has always been one of those bands that I strangely felt obligated to like/ appreciate more than I actually ever did.

The repetitive nature of this was painful to get through at times. I understand the nature of establishing a groove in a club setting. This is average at best IMO, but I’ll round up since it had some mainstream success. 2.5/5

I appreciate this for what it is in the genre/world realm. For my taste, I can appreciate and enjoy in small doses in a few settings, a very few. 2.5/5

I really enjoyed this listen. I was not familiar with this early collaboration of these two and I was surprised at the depth of blues vocals that Rod the Mod could go to. The Beck guitar stylings speak for themselves as he is great talent.

I liked this, but not as much as the Jeff Beck “Truth” album yesterday. “Stay with me” clearly stands out as what would shape and define Rod’s style and sound moving forward. Great track.

I was familiar with their mainstream hits that got airplay, but had never actually listed to this whole album in its entirety. What a mistake that was, but what a surprise bonus today! This is a bangin record. I favored 7 tracks on the first pass, but will most likely plug in for the full ride on future revisits. The riff on “Hateful” is infectious. The drums are great throughout, but particularly killer beats on “The guns of brixton” and “Koka Kola”. Love the lyrics on “Lost in the Supermarket “. I could go on, but the end of this story is a full 5 banger from me.

With influences extending from the Beatles, to CCR, to Zep, the Stones, and Prince, and many more one cannot deny the significance of this splash on the timeline of history. Love the passion and energy of the vocals and keys; and the use of the sax throughout. Fave track is probably “She’s got it”. I’ll stop just short of a full five stars but it’s mighty close. 4.5/5

“8 miles high” is the obvious standout, but outside of that one touching down not much else landed for me. Good musicianship, some good sounds and grooves. Some props for influence but more or less average IMO.

Decent background music. Scratching my head wondering how it is that we have seen a Simply Red album, two from Steely Dan, and now a compilation yet at 150+ in and not one power chord from AC/DC.

This album has paces very well and plays like a seamless medley, in a good way. Not in the way that it all sounds the same, it just connects and flows very well between songs. On top of that, it has the two timeless hits that have been smooth R & B hits for decades.

This is a slam dunk 5. I distinctly remember the first time a friend of mine played this “cassette” for me of this “new band” in ‘87. G & R did not break mainstream until sometime the next year. The hits are the hits and speak for themselves, but I always liked the deeper tracks “Night train” , “My Michelle”, and “Rocket Queen” as well. Solid staple of rock and roll and landmark Album. Side note: Check out Fergie covering “sweet child o mine” and Carrie Underwood covering “Welcome to the Jungle”. They absolutely kill it and look damn good doing it too.

I enjoyed revisiting this on a full listen vs just the radio hits. I liked the title track and Pictures of you. Rounding up for the mass appeal and influence at the time. 3.5/5

Some interesting ideas here but this will be “long gone” from my memory banks in very short order.

This Albums forecast: Boring and disjointed with a chance of scattered snooze early on. This 1001 project has introduced me to some off the beaten path Jazz fusion that I like, but this ain’t no “Ye Ye De Smell”.

Really enjoyed this, love me some bluegrass fiddle, banjo and harmonica. Nice arrangements and collaborations. I like the jam session feel as well. Rounding down due to the length. But this is quality stuff. 4.5/5

I enjoyed this, chill listen. 3.75/5

I am probably in the minority here, but outside of “The Real Slim Shady” there are about 2 other tracks on this album that I would not immediately punch out on if they just came up on a mix. Just too many B,D,F, and N bombs. Also, cussing out and lambasting your GF/Wife is not what I would consider creative lyrics. I get he was groundbreaking and innovative, and I love me some 8 Mile. For those reasons Ill round up to a 3, but I was so glad when this was over. 2.5/5

As R & B albums go, this is one of the most influential and recognizable landmark releases for sure. There is no denying her signature sound and style. My first introduction to her was actually in the 1980 film, “The Blues Brothers”. This is not a frequent go to genre of mine, but I do understand this contribution to the evolution of modern R&B/ rock history.

I forgot what a strong debut album this was, and I don’t know that I have ever listened all the way through as one offering. “Crawling” is my fav track and a timeless guttural punch that more than holds up over two decades later. This band and others such as Limp Bizcut blurred the traditional lines between rap, metal and grunge which was an interesting turn in the late 90’s/ early 00’s. Several other strong hits on this one and it is a cohesive play through. Very strong 4. 4.25/5

I’ve always like some MH mixed in, and I really like about 4 tracks on this including “The Roadcrew” and “Fire Fire”. I like the short track/fast punk feel. All that said, a full album ride of Lemmie’s voice plays a little long for me. I prefer MH in smaller quick doses. 3.5/5

This album has some catchy hooks and rockabilly beats, love some of the bass lines, particularly on “Nowhere Fast”. I like the overall sound of this, but I like other albums of theirs better.The last track/title track is a downer and doesn’t fit the vibe of the rest of the songs IMO.

I was less familiar with this album than their later releases with Bruce Dickinson. Their sound and production is much improved on their later offerings, but this was a decent listen. 3.5/5

The first half of Track 1 sounds like some music I heard while walking through one of those “jump scare” haunted house one year. The rest just sounds like an experimental jam session, a failed one.

Very strong album with great songwriting and the obvious hits. Hard to believe this is two decades back now. The first half is stronger but the play through holds up and has a consistent flow. 4.5/5

I started off thinking this was a slam dunk 5, but I will stop just short of full stars. Reason being, my internal acid test for a 5 is “do I actually prefer to listen to the full album vs individual tracks?” When I think about 2112 I am going straight to “2112:Overture/The Temple of Syrinx”. Those are among my top 5/6 Rush tracks. I also like “A passage to Bangkok “. I do appreciate the concept album and many props to the band for sticking with their artistic direction despite the previous lackluster album/tour, and pressure from the record company. 4.5/5

Great album. I was familiar with “Changes”, but there were some deep track surprises. Nice bonus for a Labor Day.

Chill listen, some interesting sounds here. 3.5/5

I enjoyed most of this, I also like the acoustic versions at the end. 3.5/5

I thought this 808 was sounding like a massive Error 404, but I managed to catch a little groove on 808080808. 2.02/5

I didn’t hate this, but it all seemed to run together a bit and was a little one dimensional. 2.5/5

I remember what a huge splash “South Side” was, most likely due in part to Gwen Stefani being at the peak of her powers and popularity; although the version with her vocals is not included with this release. I also thought “Run On” and “Honey” were interesting. Outside of those few though, I didn’t much care for the rest of this.

I liked aspects of this, not much to take away. May revisit at some point to make sure I’m not missing anything.

I liked this to some degree. I had it on it the background doing deck work/finish carpentry. All that said, I would choose something else in the future. 2.5/5

I recognized the hits on this, four or five at least. I liked this but I was a little underwhelmed. I feel like this should be higher but I can’t get above a 3 here.

This made for a rather slow start to my day. I liked the strings on “for you”, and there were some other flashes here and there. Based on the street cred this artist gets in some circles, I’ll give it another spin at some point and check out their first two albums. 2.5/5

RHCP has always been one of those bands that I have liked and appreciated, but not so much that I ever felt the need to extend a lot of effort to hear outside of their normal exposure ( which was a lot). Listening to this all the way through didn’t really do anything to change that. They have the landmark hits here which gives it the round up. 3.5/5

“Sabotage” is obviously the clear stand out here. “Eugene’s Lament” was interesting. There were a few surprise more chill tunes that broke it up a bit. Still 20 tracks/ an hour of the Beasties is a lot.

While I appreciated the creativity and commitment to the horns as the driver, this didn’t blow me away.

I have always liked the hits but never did a deep dive on the band or the catalog. I went into this cold without even reviewing the track listing. I was a little lost in the first half but then “Psyco Killer” came on and it all made perfect sense. It is a sound and style that was definitely ahead of its time in ‘77. A preview of changing sounds and styles to come.

I needed to hear this album like I need a hole in my head. Next….

This was very enjoyable. Some killer solo playing especially considering the instrument problems. Nice surprise… 3.5/5

Really enjoyed this. The obvious hits are here but I really liked the last two instrumentals I had not heard before. Great drum beats on “Broken Spoke Shuffle” and nice riff on “Glory Be”.

This was interesting and kept my attention the majority of the time. Some catchy riffs and progressive style especially for the time, but I didn’t have a true standout. I may revisit at some point to make sure I’m not missing anything. 3.5/5

This was barreling towards *1 territory until the two tracks featuring LK came up. These were not banger tracks either, but I was able to find enough of a groove to keep this out of the basement.

Just not feeling this…

This was a relaxing listen for a Friday afternoon. The three heavy hitters on this one make it a stone cold classic. When “I Believe” came on to close it out, my mind immediately pictured the ending scene and credit roll from “High Fidelity”. Nice nostalgia bomb there and prompted me to revisit that film over the weekend. It holds up…

Rarely does one think, this album was a key driver in a seismic shift in music that helped set the tone for the decade. With 4 solid bangers that were major milestones on the soundtrack of the early 90’s, it’s hard to think about going less than a full boat of stars here. The full album plays well also, finishing strong with “Release” ( at least the first half).

I prefer the lighthearted early hip hop vs. angry Gangsta rap full of heavy language. These songs are peppy and fun. RDMC has a unique approach with the alternating banter. The collaboration with Aerosmith in the MTV era cannot be understated. This was one of the most radical cross genre collaborations up to that period of time. Coupled with the video breaking down the wall and performing together, it was a huge splash single/video at the time. Rounded up for influence… 3.5/5

Didn’t care for this, even Humpty plays longer than I remember. The one song was huge back in the day at the clubs, so gets >1 cred, but not by much.

This was a nice and enjoyable listen. I can’t go less than a *4 here with heavy hitters like “Under my Thumb”, “Mothers little helper” and “Paint it Black”(US release); and early classics I forgot about like “Lady Jane” and “Out of time”. The Stones are one of those few bands that has been able to evolve and shape their sound to stay relevant spanning nearly 7 decades, including the latest release Hackney Diamonds ( killer video for”Angry”) .

I looked for the full ride of 24 tracks and was glad I did. This was like a time capsule that transported me to another time and place. Very well done and Ray is a very versatile and talented artist. A long way from Rays’s Music Exchange…

This was great, really gives you that feeling of what it must have been like to witness the some of the roots of what would become modern rock and roll.

Solsbury hill (which I always assumed was an 80’s song) gets this to a 3 for me by a nose. That’s a strong stand out but the rest of this I just didn’t really get into. There was some interesting experimental use of instruments and sounds. Some of the tracks reminded me of show tunes you may hear performed live during a play/drama production. “Down the Dolce Vida” and “Here comes the flood” at the end helped nudge it to a 3.

This plays a little long and there is some filler here. Not really any specific callouts but this album has a good vibe and style, and is really strong for a debut. Not quite a 4 for me but I’ll round up. 3.75/5

This was interesting. I recognized the first track although I’d not heard of the band. “Dirty Dancehall” was a nice surprise near the end.

Really good Brit pop with a splash of punk. I was pretty much at a 3.5 rounded down to a 3, but the back half persuaded me to round up. 3.5/5

I remember this at its release. It’s one of those that I heard a lot on radio and also owned. Back then I didn’t listen to the layers of music as I do today. Upon revisit I appreciate the bass lines much more, particularly on the title track. Great musicianship/songwriting throughout and this really broke through the new wave/pop era well, and with staying power. “Hungry like a wolf” is still quite the banger (no pun intended and the opening hottie giggle is genius). 4.25/5

It’s hard to comprehend that a single track could propel an album to a *5 rating nearly by itself, but in this case it does. The impact that “Every breath” ( and the album) had on the 80’s cannot be understated. The are plenty of others on here that are heavy, heavy hitters as well. The drumming is in another stratosphere, especially on “Oh my God”, and the rest of the musicianship and song writing is top notch as well. The way the recording was done in separate rooms was an interesting fact I didn’t know.

I was not even aware of this band and once again it is a genre that is not a regular punch up for me. That said, this was a fun and chill listen. This sound and style lean more towards the lighter and fun side of 80’s hip hop vs the mainstream gangsta rap that was getting all the attention at the time. Nice to hear some of this style that is more more focused on what binds us vs what divides us. Major kudos to them for believing in themselves and staying the course long enough to be signed. The LP needle static in places is a nice touch too. I saved a couple from this and will revisit, although most likely not often. 3.5/5

I can appreciate for background music. Beats are cool for a while but a bit repetitive.

If there ever was a case where I have to separate the man from the art, this would be one. This is not a preferred genre for me but there is no denying MJ’s stamp on the music industry. This record is no exception, several mainstream hits here and future influences/sampling. One thing is for sure, I am quite confident that Annie is NOT ok. I think Thriller has to be a full tick up from this so rounding down. 4,25

This was different and had some moments. I liked Common people and Disco 2000.

This had some interesting moments, particularly the first three tracks. Interesting enough to listen 2x , but nothing really grabbed me to come back again. 2.5/5

Another classic 70’s chill album. Released in ‘70, this album helped set the tone and style for the decade. I remember so many from this on frequent radio rotation throughout my childhood. A strong *4 plus rounding up for influence and impact. 4.5/5

Time to bump off this list and throw this one away…

This was a decent listen, in that southern blues rock kind of way. Kind of in the same vein as that Skynyrd, Outlaws, Marshall Tucker style. They take the long jam to new lengths, the last track announced on the album as “a little number” and checking in at 23 minutes. I like a long track more than most but damn.

I found this after being directed to YouTube since it was not available on Spotify. I liked the title track, but the rest played a little long to me. Rounding up for the signature 70’s funky grooves and unique style, but I don’t expect to revisit with any regularity. 2.5/5

This was a very nice flashback. Several bangers on here, and there was not much that was bigger in 1994 as “Self esteem”. Great summing and drive throughout. 4.25/5

Appropriately titled. I didn’t hate this, but it was a long 36 minutes. I much prefer his later work on ‘93s “This Time”.

This was a chill listen for an early day 1 hour road trip on an overcast Saturday. The first couple tracks were probably the strongest, but it flowed well and was just about the right length. Didn’t save anything to a playlist and most likely won’t revisit, but it was above average. 3.5/5

I’ve always appreciated the hits here, but I obviously did not give the complete work the attention or accolades it deserves. Some great jams and percussion. 4.25/5

Meh.

Really tried to find something here, it’s just not my bag.

There are some stand out grooves on this for sure. Solid album and a nice listen. Like most reggae, I generally appreciate it more in smaller blocks splashed into a mix vs full albums. 3.5/5

What a refreshing album for the weekend. The story on how this album was actually cut is amazing in its own right, worth reading up on if you haven’t. The first 5 tracks alone get it to a hands down 5 for me, the rest is just icing on the cake. I won’t even call out specific instruments or tracks because it gels and flows so seamlessly. I listened to this on the highway at about 11 on the dial and 80 on the speedometer, and could just feel my blood pressure dropping a few points and the stress and weight leaving my body. Staple party album of the 70’s and 80’s. Probably helped coin the term “Dad rock” as well, but a positive bangin play through nonetheless.

Some of this is catchy, a lot of it sounds like it was done to the same click track. Just not a huge fan but I recognize its impact.

This was interesting and unique. I liked the relaxed peaceful feel. The strings were good too. 3.5/5

I was not as familiar with this album as I was with Ocean Rain. Classic cutting edge 80’s new wave sound. I enjoyed this and saved several tracks. Some great drumming and hooks throughout, although I’ll stop short of calling it a solid play through. 3.75/5

“Time of the Season” is obviously the stand out here, and a quintessential signature song of the Hippie generation soundtrack. The rest was a pleasant listen and a strong album deserving an high rating. Interesting history on the recording and connection to Argent. 4.5/5 3.25/5

I’m a live cut junkie so most of the classics on this I am familiar with the live versions on “The Concert in Central Park” album from ‘82. There are few artist duos or groups from the 60’s & 70’s that are in the same stratosphere as these two when comes to harmonizing and songwriting. 4.25/5

This was a relaxing listen. I had it on in the background of my workday. It didn’t have the quality standouts like the earlier album featuring Ginger Baker. This ain’t no Ye Ye de Smell.

Such a strong debut album. The first three out of the gate are timeless classics, and with 5-6 of the 9 getting regular radio rotation from its release through the 80’s and beyond this is a hands down 5 for me. This album helped define the rock/pop sound bridging into the 80’s. Classic album cover too.

This was a great listen, I love Johnny’s genuine relaxed interaction with the crowd. I’m a little more partial to the energy on the first prison album in the series, “Live at Folsom”. Side note: Joaquin Phoenix was robbed for best actor (2006) in “Walk the line”, IMO. 3.5/5

This was a nice blast from the past. I like the three heavy hits, and the rest plays well too. “Elevator” has always been one of my favs from that time. Went down the rabbit hole and revisited some of those iconic videos from the 90’s too. Aerosmith is one of this bands that has always stood on their own and been able to reinvent themselves to fit in across many changes in popular music.

This was a big splash back in the day and has several tracks that have stood the test of time and are still staples in his set list today. I like the way the E-Street band is piano and horn driven, making them a unique sound in the world of rock and roll. If I am going to listen to a Sax solo/jam, CC is the shit. Close to a 5 but not quite. 4.25/5

Solid 4. The hits are great and the rest is a solid play through. I never really made this connection before but if anything ever happened to Jeff Keith, Chris Robinson is the only singer that I can think of that could step in and effectively front Tesla.

Must be “D” movies.

Nothing particularly stuck out to me but it was fine for background work music.

Enough of that jazz.

Cinnamon Girl, Down by the river and Cowgirl in the sand are great jams. There is some “go get a beer” length to some of these but I like the live jam feel nonetheless. There rest is ok, but those three carry it to a 4.

Better jazz, but still doesn’t jazz me too much.

Nothing less than a strong 4 for Dolly. She broke through at an early age through determination, grit, and a whole lot of talent. She has been impossible to ignore or deny her entire career. She has never really gone away , and like Elvis has never forgotten her roots and has given so much back to her home state and community. One of the greatest American singer/song writers of our generation.

I was not as into this at the time of its release, I considered it more “chick pop” music based on the radio hits. I did recognize it was ground breaking. Upon listening now all the way through I hear so much more punk flair in the deeper cuts. Amazing that they decided to form a band with no hands on musical experience and just three years later came up with this. One things for sure, the moment Belinda screamed “Jump baaaak!” , she had already arrived. Almost a 5 for impact and influence. 4.5/5

Sub par elevator music

This was more or less rather one note and played almost like a medley. Classic country sound though and a pleasant listen.

I liked “Come on Baby , let’s go downtown” but the rest fell kind of flat to me. Neil is Neil, but this is probably on the lower end of the spectrum of his work for me ratings wise. Some of the darkness surrounding the inspiration most likely adds to that overall album feel. 2.75/5