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Albums Rated
3
Average Rating
43%
Complete
621 albums remaining
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1950s
Favorite Decade
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Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
54
5-Star Albums
61
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
KE*A*H** (Psalm 69)
Ministry
|
5 | 2.69 | +2.31 |
|
Scream, Dracula, Scream
Rocket From The Crypt
|
5 | 2.77 | +2.23 |
|
Apocalypse Dudes
Turbonegro
|
5 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
|
Midnight Ride
Paul Revere & The Raiders
|
5 | 3 | +2 |
|
No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
Motörhead
|
5 | 3.06 | +1.94 |
|
Repeater
Fugazi
|
5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
|
Junkyard
The Birthday Party
|
4 | 2.16 | +1.84 |
|
Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
|
5 | 3.19 | +1.81 |
|
Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Public Enemy
|
5 | 3.23 | +1.77 |
|
Liquid Swords
GZA
|
5 | 3.28 | +1.72 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
OK Computer
Radiohead
|
1 | 4.1 | -3.1 |
|
Elephant
The White Stripes
|
1 | 3.86 | -2.86 |
|
Is This It
The Strokes
|
1 | 3.82 | -2.82 |
|
American Idiot
Green Day
|
1 | 3.77 | -2.77 |
|
Hot Fuss
The Killers
|
1 | 3.74 | -2.74 |
|
Can't Buy A Thrill
Steely Dan
|
1 | 3.72 | -2.72 |
|
Kid A
Radiohead
|
1 | 3.71 | -2.71 |
|
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
|
1 | 3.7 | -2.7 |
|
Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
|
1 | 3.64 | -2.64 |
|
Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
|
1 | 3.58 | -2.58 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Public Enemy | 3 | 5 |
| Prince | 3 | 4.67 |
| Elton John | 2 | 5 |
| Johnny Cash | 2 | 5 |
| Black Sabbath | 2 | 5 |
| Motörhead | 2 | 5 |
| Miles Davis | 3 | 4.33 |
| Beatles | 5 | 4 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Radiohead | 4 | 1.25 |
| Leonard Cohen | 3 | 1.33 |
| Steely Dan | 3 | 1.33 |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | 3 | 1.33 |
| Grateful Dead | 2 | 1 |
| Eminem | 2 | 1 |
| Kanye West | 2 | 1 |
| Bob Dylan | 5 | 1.8 |
| The Smiths | 3 | 1.67 |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | 2 | 1.5 |
| Yeah Yeah Yeahs | 2 | 1.5 |
| Fairport Convention | 2 | 1.5 |
| John Lennon | 2 | 1.5 |
| Beck | 3 | 2 |
| David Bowie | 6 | 2.33 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Green Day | 1, 5 |
| Elvis Costello & The Attractions | 5, 2 |
5-Star Albums (54)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Motörhead
5/5
It's been maybe the longest stretch of this experiment so far that I've seen a guarantee 5 star.
Motorhead. Everything louder than everything else. Don't like it? Fine. They are the best rock band ever.
I remember a lot of the experience of buying the cassette. Used, 6 years ago, Washington DC, with someone I fell hard for and ended up breaking my heart. Still have the cassette though, and something of this magnitude is worth many times the $6.99 I paid.
I remember one specific experience driving to this. I was working a comic book convention in New Hampshire with a local shop, and while the owner drove the box truck with all the inventory back to the shop in Massachusetts, I drove his bigass truck and put this on. It gave me focus for such an ungodly beast.
Really wish I got to see them just once. I love Motorhead old and... older, I guess. Not just the s/t and Iron Fist but also Bastards and Kiss of Death. I have a Motorhead / Star Wars mashup (sorry) tattoo of a clone trooper helmet with Snaggletooth on top, saying "BORN TO LOSE / LIVE TO WIN."
Maybe even better than the Ramones at keeping things simple.
13 likes
Paul Revere & The Raiders
5/5
This is a metal album cover. They're gonna play some doom. Whatever this sounds like, I'm listening to Candlemass afterwards.
Sure enough, this is rock. Probably as hard as it went in the 60's.
4 likes
Randy Newman
1/5
Randy Newman on a movie soundtrack: ok, this makes sense for a CGI film where toys come to life.
Randy Newman on a full-length: Fuck no
2 likes
Radiohead
2/5
Not as bad as I was bracing for, but not something I'm going back to anytime soon.
2 likes
1-Star Albums (61)
All Ratings
Pearl Jam
2/5
Like 5/10? Front half is radio hits. Some of these are long dong songs. Would probably drink coffee to again. I suspect this will be among my higher-ranked on this list, sad to say.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Solid fit being covers. Neat arrangements.
Beatles
5/5
Best Beatles album
Kate Bush
2/5
I feel like I don't like fairies enough to appreciate this album
Jeff Buckley
2/5
I forgot what I was going to write. Didn't get interesting for me until Eternal Life.
Blur
3/5
Song 2 is an essential Jock Jam™. The songs are all over the place here but that keeps an hour of material fresh.
Drive-By Truckers
1/5
When I typed in "Drive" and YT suggested "Like Jehu" I very much almost just went with that. I'm sure there's people that appreciate this album, but I'm not sure I want to meet them. I do not need a country rock opera concept album in my life.
Paul Simon
2/5
This is Sunday morning listening. Not controversial in the slightest. Not bad, not moving.
Lemmy: do you want to rock?!
Crowd: ehh
Paul Simon: I got this
Pixies
3/5
Solid mix of songwriting, all gas no brakes
Radiohead
2/5
Not as bad as I was bracing for, but not something I'm going back to anytime soon.
CHIC
5/5
Hell yes
Dennis Wilson
2/5
Is this Kurt Russell. It runs either good or background.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Classic without thought. It's always there with all the samples and swipes.
Elvis Presley
3/5
ELVIS WAS A HERO TO MOST BUT HE NEVER MEANT SHIT TO ME
... with Memphis in the title, my first thought was that it was a live album. It's not! He's talented for sure but I think he knew he was milking it with the voice. Like going all Cher on it before Cher. Good songwriting, though.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Pretty chill. Apparently I didn't keep notes on this, so, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty chill.
Little Richard
5/5
THIS ALBUM IS STILL HOT FIRE AND IT HASN'T FLICKERED OUT ONCE SINCE 1957.
Leonard Cohen
1/5
It's... like some dude started songwriting when he was HORNY then by the time came to record he was hopped up on barbiturates
Nico
2/5
Not a fan of the vocals. Love the instrumentation.
Elton John
5/5
Classic. I remember playing this working at a hole in the wall comic shop. Starting a pop album with an 11 minute song is baller. Then Candle in the Wind! Benny and the Jets! The title track! Not an instrument out of place nor wasted.
The Velvet Underground
2/5
Better than Nico solo, but just not for me.
Elvis Presley
2/5
Didn't like this one as much as Live from Memphis. He's not at full strength yet, as you should expect from a debut album. Wonder what happened to him.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
A good album, but I feel like I never have to hear Led Zeppelin again. Forgot how influenced by the blues they were and it's all over here.
Serge Gainsbourg
1/5
Hmm this is a provocative co--looking at what this album is about--OH NO
Didn't know I'd need to bust out Muzzy to interpret this. "Je suis la jeune fille" YEAH APPARENTLY
I took French in school because I thought Gambit was cool at the time. He's not. I took a 200-level course in college for a gen ed. Went to class one day after a GWAR show and I still had some of their fluids in my ear. Classmate thought my ear was bleeding until I said I saw GWAR. He understood then.
Interesting instrumentations. I can see where it's influenced so many. Horrible subject matter. Wish this was GWAR.
Janis Joplin
4/5
I got excited as soon as I saw this pop up.
"Buried Alive in the Blues" is a great instrumental - upbeat and energetic. How has this not been used in a movie or show?
The instruments are balanced well, production crisp. Her voice is something authentic and not forced IMO.
Rush
5/5
Yeah, I'm a nerd that likes Rush. Gimme math equations to listen to.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
5/5
I don't have a lot to comment on this. Mostly I listen to these while working so a rating and elaboration is secondary. This is a bopper, okay?
Miriam Makeba
5/5
Well, this is nice. Soothing. Peaceful. I don't know the language in some of the songs, but I'd hope Miriam wouldn't pull one over on me and sing about kicking rabbits or anything nefarious like that. Rabbits are cute, they don't deserve that. I'm not saying something's intrinsic cuteness is tied to whether it's kickable or not, because snakes freak me out, I wouldn't call them cute by and large, but I wouldn't want one to be kicked, either. This has some good beats, but, again, don't beat up animals. Unless it's a life or death thing. But even then, a bear wants to kill me, who am I to stop a bear? If I don't have my bear repellent on me, that's my fault and I'm just not fit to survive.
Beastie Boys
5/5
Only the debut album by one of my all time favorite groups, no big deal. Everything instantly hits, but then peeling it back and breaking it down, they did their homework.
T. Rex
2/5
This didn't do much for me. Not bad, but not compelling.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
All-time favorite. Great beats and verses.
Carole King
4/5
KITTY
Classic parent jams
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
Not bad. Better than expected for college indie?
Talk Talk
3/5
Well, the art is really cool.
Not quite a Cure or Depeche Mode kinda thing but I think it could be in the same neighborhood.
Fishbone
3/5
Upbeat!
Supergrass
2/5
First guess: I'm not familiar but will recognize something from this.
Sure enough, I was right. Some of it is cool, but it's SO upbeat, it feels sugary. I'm diabetic and I need insulin listening to this.
Harry Nilsson
4/5
I know nothing about this.
Ah, another time I was wrong and recognized stuff without knowing it. HITS. Those aside, there's a good variety of bass-thumping rock and ethereal. Big surprise here. Plus doing the "schm-" prefix has to be a first for major American rock. Hell yeah.
George Michael
2/5
Again, I'm not sexy enough for this.
Dolly Parton
3/5
I liked it. Not the strongest effort of anyone, but good on its own.
The Specials
4/5
Although I love the Bosstones, I've never listened to the Specials. Anticipating an enjoyable listen to me.
"A Message to Rudy" is very notable but I was dreading if that set the tone as far as energy for the whole album. Thankfully, "Do the Dog" picks right up (pun intended).
Yeah, I'm really liking it. "Concrete Jungle" is a bopper. But "Too Much Too Young" is a drag.
The Police
4/5
This was a bopper.
Pink Floyd
2/5
I don't think I need double-album rock operas in my life.
Prince
5/5
THIS is how you do a concept album! Suck it, Pink Floyd!
I defy anyone to find a single note out of place or played where it's not needed on this. It's the 80's encapsulated. It's perfection. It's also the best $5 I ever spent for a perfectly playable LP with the poster!
Yes
4/5
I'm not as familiar on this one as The Fragile, but it's tight.
David Bowie
2/5
I tried listening twice and it didn't stick with me.
Miles Davis
5/5
HE DEFINED COOL.
Prince
5/5
I need a 6 Star option for this. Non-stop party. I don't care that I'm partying like 35 years ago, I don't party but this is the one exception.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
5/5
This is a metal album cover. They're gonna play some doom. Whatever this sounds like, I'm listening to Candlemass afterwards.
Sure enough, this is rock. Probably as hard as it went in the 60's.
The Beach Boys
5/5
Yeah. Classic.
Tracy Chapman
3/5
Sister Sledge
4/5
Cat Stevens
3/5
"Sad Lisa?" Because Lisa needs braces?
Johnny Cash
5/5
Sorry, Johnny. You weren't around to see it knocked down.
Leonard Cohen
1/5
Whenever you see a photo of Leonard Cohen smoking a cigarette? He's not huffing tobacco; he's huffing his own farts.
Grateful Dead
1/5
"You're my woman now
Make yourself easy"
What the FUCK
I've never been so happy to hear "Truckin" start as this listen-through because I knew it meant the album was almost over.
The Flaming Lips
2/5
The Smiths
2/5
So, I'm almost 40, grew up in hardcore, and this is the first time ever listening to The Smiths on my own.
It's fine. The instrumentation is good.
What the fuck is with some of these lyrics? I don't know if it's bias or not, but it feels to me like Morrissey is inauthentic with his vocal delivery. Like, he actually thinks he has a bighead, because he does, but then he plays it down, because he thinks he's just that smart? Fuck Morrissey.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
4/5
I'm giving this minimum 4 stars no matter what based on the art alone.
But, really, for being a more calm album, it still goes through different and ambitious ideas. I'm able to clearly picture in my head activities and interpretations as done by penguins, fulfilling the mission. Wait, that's not the mission? Shouldn't have been so penguin forward. This is an album by penguins, for penguins.
The Black Keys
2/5
Adele
4/5
I was familiar with the hits before and didn't mind them, but didn't pay them much attention. The songwriting and emotion here is genuine, playing up strong influences in R&B, without being inauthentic.
If I knew there was a Cure cover, I would've checked it out a lot sooner. Well-done on that.
Janelle Monáe
4/5
This is out there. Ambitious. Not totally disconnected to itself but a span of things, like a soundtrack for a movie at times. Grand. Vibrant. I'm not smart enough to provide a sufficient review, but I like it.
Miles Davis
4/5
An anytime kind of album. Cleaning, cooking, great for being alone with your thoughts. It'll take you on a jazzy journey.
Michael Jackson
2/5
Honestly not that great. The non-single tracks reek of filler. Not the Minor Threat 7", either.
Björk
4/5
Never listened to Björk before. Soothing, ethereal. Reminds me of Zola Jesus. Not that they're necessarily that close, but if you r enjoy one, it's worth checking the other to change things up.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
At first this just seemed like sex jams, albeit really good ones like opening with Who's That Lady. You Walk Your Way really opened up to its true cadence, in my mind. Great versions of Listen to the Music, Sunshine (Go Away Today) and an actually bearable version of Summer Breeze with that little bit of guitar having me do the metal claw.
Bon Jovi
1/5
Milquetoast. Putting any more effort into describing it would do a disservice to my brain.
Kraftwerk
2/5
This was one of those where I can recognize all the craft (heh) going into it, but it's just not for me.
Fugazi
5/5
This is my second-favorite Fugazi album after In on the Kill Taker so I'll gladly listen to this any day. And yes I will listen to the version on streaming with 3 Songs because you can't stop me.
Turnover starts the album off unsuspecting but by the time Guy starts yelling, you're locked in. Then Ian gets groovy with the title track.
Merchandise is upbeat and always gets stuck in my head as a materialistic guy, then Blueprint brings the tone right down.
Quit reading this shoddy review and listen to the album!
The Streets
1/5
Yeah, this ain't it.
3/5
Pretty good. Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good.
DJ Shadow
3/5
Solid beats. That's all I've got, I'm on 4 hours of sleep right now.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
The instruments are good enough. But then you put on Anthony Keidis and it's like putting diarrhea on a cake.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
I'm not sure the measured influence of this album, as far as I can't recall it mentioned in conversation, but given the timing of it, elicits a lot of what came in pop music afterwards. I Don't Remember and Family Snapshot really call this out, whereas the earlier tracks kind of go the more industrial route, almost like Killing Joke at the time.
Never thought I'd compare Killing Joke to Peter Gabriel, but I'm not upset.
The whole album flows well and doesn't take too much off the gas unless it needs to. Not One of Us is a great standout track towards the end.
I'll be damned if Phil Collins didn't take a bit of Biko into making In the Air Tonight. Also a great subject to write about. Closing an album in 1980 with an anti-apartheid song is what's up.
The Mars Volta
2/5
One of those "I know there's a lot of talent that went into this, but it's not for me" albums.
The Kinks
4/5
Hell yeah, this is some rock and roll music.
Steely Dan
2/5
So I was dreading this. I always proclaimed to hate SD based on the hits and knowing a friend is a HUGE fan I wanted to avoid eating my words. So, how did this end up? Well, big fan of hot pretzels for 15 cents so the cover is a promising start. As for the music:
Rikki Don't Lose That Number - Not going to judge this too much as it's a hit, heard it a thousand times.
Night by Night - ... Not bad
Any Major Dude Will Tell You - Not feeling this one
Barrytown - Promising start. Didn't like the wavering voice, though.
East St. Louis Toodle-Oo - Not bad? If it were set to like a Tom and Jerry cartoon? No, could see it more for an Itchy and Scratchy one. I think it's the talkbox.
Parker's Band - Ok, this was probably the best one since Night by Night.
Through With Buzz - Me too! Fuck you, Buzz!
Pretzel Logic - This is funky but seems melodramatic.
With a Gun - Western kinda start. Probably one of the best tracks on the album.
Charlie Freak - Honestly, this album has a back half.
Monkey in Your Soul - I just like the track title.
Overall? It's okay.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
This is some cool stuff. Not wildly bombastic, but there's range.
The Go-Go's
4/5
Pleasantly surprised to see this one pop up. Don't know them outside of the hits but glad to have this as an introduction. Belinda's vocals remind me of Delores from the Cranberries (Rippity pippity).
The songs of heartbreak from the female perspective in pop music, very often, are from a position of submission or capitulation to a masculine, but "How Much More" is level-headed and feels realistic in its lyrics.
Love the instrumentation throughout. "Lust to Love" is just a solid songwriting example.
Great album beginning to end, unlike this review.
Eminem
1/5
TLDR: This album could've been called "I Should Go to Therapy."
I'll get the one good thing to say out of the way: The music to Kim sounds like the Corporate Ministry theme from the WWF and that goes.
I wish this album went past the submission process for this list and I didn't listen to it. Some of the albums I've listened to for this I'd consider BAD but this was maybe the worst to get through so far. Why?
Beats - solid 3/5, would be 3.5 if I could rate it as such
Flow - 3/5, not my bag but not bad
Delivery - 4/5, it's powerful and committed
Lyrics - instant, irredeemable 1/5. So much so that it weighs everything else down.
I grew up in the 90s and graduated high school in 2003. Eminem was inescapable. I never got into him, at the time not being into rap but since opening my mind. I've added "Without Me" to my running playlist. But, damn, dude, these lyrics are SO misogynistic and homophobic, what the fuck am I supposed to do with this? Forget the murder fantasy schtick, I love death metal and Gravediggaz did it great, but, oh yeah, the rape fetishizing too. Fuck off with this.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Hot damn there's some good shit on this!
Aretha Franklin
4/5
It's Aretha. C'mon.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Not my favorite Bruce album, but that's like saying Rocky Road isn't my favorite ice cream. There's still all the elements that make it great, plenty to appreciate on its own, and it hits me good enough on such a certain day.
Louis Prima
4/5
This is a bopper!
Steely Dan
1/5
Didn't Guantanamo Bay prisoners get tortured to this album?
Nine Inch Nails
2/5
So, two women that broke my heart in seemingly irreparable ways were both big NIN fans. Tried approaching this without that bias, as I do like some industrial, mainly Ministry and Killing Joke.
This is fine. For as batshit as the opener goes, the second track hits the E-brake and just changes the mood entirely. Then stretch that out a bit.
Really, remove the bias, I'd probably skip this anyhow.
Love the Johnny Cash cover at the end though.
Judas Priest
5/5
I have the 1980 US release with Breaking the Law as the first track, but honestly prefer the wider release with Rapid Fire starting things off. This is a top 3 album by a top 2 artist for me personally, so yeah, I was a little excited.
There's so much power and commitment in the songs and no slacking. Rapid Fire is the metal song, and Metal Gods and United are the metal anthems. Living After Midnight has gotten stale from me just in seeing them live but I can still recognize that it's a party song.
You Don't Have to be Old to be Wise? Heck, that's just something to keep in mind. Also to keep in mind, JUDAS PRIEST FUCKING RULES.
David Bowie
2/5
I like Neuköln and that's about it.
This didn't do anything to sway me on my indifference of Bowie.
The Temptations
5/5
It's the Temptations. Shut up and listen.
Jurassic 5
4/5
This fits right in with ATCQ, Digable Planets, etc. Powerful MCs.
Sam Cooke
5/5
Sam Cooke LOVES his woman.
This album is less of a live set, more of a party and a proclamation. His energy is bombastic, the audience part of the band. It's electric.
The backing band is great, but they are a bit behind because this is Sam's show, and he shines. Incredible capture of a night from 60 years ago.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
How the hell is Yeah Yeah Yeahs one of 1001 albums that's essential to listen to before death? This is not revelatory at all. It's just power pop. And I hate the vocals. And the name.
Led Zeppelin
2/5
So, II is my "favorite" Led Zeppelin album, but this is also a band as a whole that I'm quite content never hearing again. I don't mind blue-influenced rock, and they were definitely wearing it on their sleeve, but they're like the Deftones in that any intricacies in the songwriting that could be appreciated by my dumb brain are blown away by some fan, unprompted, going "OH THEY'RE HTE FUCKING BEST DOOD" (no I'm not fixing that typo). Should I let someone else's opinion dwindle mine? No. Except when it goes beyond playing something ad nauseum. Much like tube TVs had a percentage of static coming directly from the background radiation of the universe, Americans have a not-insignificant play of Led Zeppelin in their collective conscience.
... Right. This was about a single album. It's fine.
The Beau Brummels
2/5
Funky lil folk album. Thought at first I was going to dread it, but not that bad.
OutKast
4/5
Okay. I love some Outkast. I usually go for Stankonia because it's tight and ALIVE.
This is, to be sure, two albums. 2 hours 15 minutes. A lot to listen to at once as a package. I preder Speakerboxxx, but The Love Below has some highs, and the better singles. The whole package of Speakerboxxx just works better for my tastes. Love the ambition, though. No one as big as Outkast can I think of has done something comparable, and they were always pushing the boundaries like that. Who's even close? Boris?
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
So. My Bloody Valentine. M B V. m b v. Ah yes here we go. There it is.
Droney, spacey, ambient, shoegazey -- hey, spell check, quit yelling at me, because I ain't listening. I can spell tociluzimab and Bill Sienkiewicz without questioning myself.
If you know what it is from their older releases, don't be too shocked here. I'm at a bit of a loss as why this one in particular is on here instead of, say, Loveless, but I'm not the nerd that came up with this. I'm a nerd following along.
The instrumentations flow like they were an extension of nature. The vocals, too. I honestly don't know what they're saying without looking at the lyrics, so it could be about the Armenian genocide or a recipe for Beef Wellington (do NOT let that shit go out raw!) but the presentation is less dependent on the words here.
Since it is a bit spacey, I tried a little bit of playback at double speed. Not as amusing as playing something like Cursed - I or Ride the Lightning at 33 instead of 45. That, you ride out.
Dusty Springfield
2/5
First of all, this is damn near impossible to find on streaming.
Secondly, great voice. I'd think Adele picked up on it here and there
The songs range from okay to sappy... Like super. Ok album that goes way too long.
Lauryn Hill
3/5
Solid
Oasis
2/5
Bro, I'm listening for the first time because I always thought the Gallaghers were insufferable.
The instrumentation is fine, bro. The vocals lose me. Seems like the tracklisting could flow better.
The lyrics in Supersonic especially... not for me.
Cigarettes and Alcohol is just Bang the Gong.
Married with Children feels totally unnecessary.
"SAID MAYBEEEE" maybe 125 times, bro. Get a little less indecisive before finishing a song.
Traffic
1/5
A notably long album for the time.
And you feel it. SHEESH.
Boring and then when it's not boring, like Vagabond Virgin... yeeeewwwww
Hot Chip
2/5
One of those ones where I can't criticize, but is 100% not for me.
Johnny Cash
5/5
Not my favorite of the American releases, but you can't go wrong either.
Run-D.M.C.
5/5
If this was the 101 albums to listen to before you die, this would be a first-round pick for me. Ok, maybe it would've been KING OF ROCK. Can't lose either way.
"It's Tricky" is a hell of a jam. It shows how much power both Rev and Darryl have in their deliveries.
"My Adidas" - of the time, for sure. Classic. Wouldn't cheer Adidas these days, though, dropping Bella Hadid for supporting a free Palestine. Shame.
"Walk This Way" is why this was included, undoubtedly. Run-DMC brought Aerosmith back to the front... for better or worse. But the overall rock sampling by Jay was also something huge for rap.
These three were a well-oiled machine. There's no denying what they did for music.
David Bowie
2/5
Peter Gabriel
2/5
Not feeling this as much as IV. Definitely don't need Slowburn. If I wanted that I'd just put on Stevie Ray Vaughn. Down the Dolce Vita makes up for it, though.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Beatles
3/5
The third album from one of the biggest bands ever ain't their best, but so early on, that's to be expected. The elements are there. I don't care for some of the stuff like "Any Time at All," but I also like a lot of the songs, like... "Any Time at All." What? Do I like this song or not? I really can't tell. What is going on? Why is everything getting hazy? Paul died in 196------------------------------sdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd..................................................
Beck
1/5
As someone who does not shop at Abercrombie and Fitch, or take downers, I'm not into this.
Orbital
3/5
I think I like this album? I really wasn't expecting that given 1. it's electronic, and 2. over an hour. But the more time that passes with this, the more it branches out in different directions. Plus I like the lil character on the cover.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
I dig it. I listened to the remaster and the production was a little slick, but I think it can still ring true that there's powerful delivery on here.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Finally, we're back on the winning track with these! You're locked in right away with War Pigs. Lots of bands try to capture it but Faith No More is the only one that got close.
I always loved Paranoid as a faster Sabbath song. My friends' band played it some years back at a show and I was going off.
Planet Caravan: If you start talking about the Pantera version, I'm going to call you a baby.
Iron Man: Overrated? Probably. Hard as hell? YES.
Electric Funeral: Frenetic.
Hand of Doom: I'm pretty sure this is about Black Sabbath's mission statement.
Recently, I've been listening to a lot more Dio Sabbath, and I really don't get how this list didn't include ANY Dio, but that's an aside to this - It's fucking Sabbath. It's not Technical Ecstasy, Born Again, or 13 - THIS is textbook Sabbath.
Guns N' Roses
4/5
This is a bit of a blind spot as far as never checked out, can't say I've had strong feelings against it, but never got around to it. I got two songs in before I had to pause for work and "It's So Easy" was already in my head.
Fuck it, I'm at "Paradise City" and I'm gonna re-start the whole thing.
I'm already losing count of how many times I do that Axl Rose slither move.
Obviously, a lot of hits came from this. Even the ones that didn't, like "You're Crazy," are pretty good. Definitely catchy.
I think "Anything Goes" is the best example of what crappy bar rock bands have been trying in vain to capture since 1987. She's not gonna fuck you, bro. That and "My Michelle" are probably the low points of the album for me.
It's no 9 Shocks Terror, either the Lip Cream release or the Clevo band, but it'll do.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
I like the layers of the music that are going on here.
Big Star
2/5
I don't know... I wasn't feeling this. It felt like an overcooked noodle of rock.
Ride
3/5
Yeah, this is solid. Drug Beatles bass with contemporary Britrock.
Screaming Trees
3/5
A little over 10% through this, and this is one of my favorite album covers that I hadn't seen prior, so far.
Another case where I'm familiar with the name but not the music. Not in the same cul-de-sac as The Cure, but in the same town enough that it's that powerful rock delivery.
I don't know what Gospel Plow is about, but it kinda diverts the flow of the album. Makes sense since it's the last track. Nevermind.
Fela Kuti
5/5
This is POWERFUL right out of the gate.
It doesn't stop, either.
The White Stripes
1/5
This one was not for me. I'm definitely not a fan of Jack's vocals. The lyrics, I don't care for.
Mudhoney
4/5
I think this may be my first time listening to Mudhoney on my own? To skip the inevitability of talking Nirvana, I like a whole lot of Sub Pop stuff past and present. And probably future.
Some of this fits on the chill, almost Dino Jr side of the scale, then some of it is energetic and right at home on a cool skate video, like Foundation's The Good Times are Killing Me, which also has... Modest Mouse. Okay.
ABBA
2/5
Why did ABBA kiss the teacher
Kinda easy to see why Dancing Queen became an anthem. It hits everything.
Why Did It Have to be Me? More like Why Did You Have to Go Away from Disco? This is so out of place.
Tiger seems a little goofy on the surface but honestly it's a bopper.
Adam & The Ants
4/5
I knew right away that I was going to dig this. Like the music overall, LOVE the drums.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
I'm immediately interested in this. I only know Curtis Mayfield from Superfly, plus the first track is called BILLY JACK. Great movie hero.
More chill than that, musically.
"Depression ain't quite just what you promised." - I don't fully understand it, but I think I feel it.
I put this album on immediate replay after a first listen. No ragrets.
Ella Fitzgerald
2/5
Three hours.
I know this is from a time where attention spans aren't what they are now, but three hours. Was this intended for a single listen?
I made it three songs. When I saw the fourth was "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," I did that with this album and put on Mobb Deep.
* ok, I'm trying again. But I'm not enjoying it. This is just not something I can find something to admire - plenty of talent, but nothing I'm enjoying.
If this was 1001 macaroni and cheeses to try before you die, we've had Stouffer's, we've had the solid box vegan one, we've had the shitty box ones that don't even reconstitute. We've even had a couple of real delicacies. This is the Costco 30 pound bucket and you're told to eat it all at once.
At least it's not a concept album.
4/5
It's drug Beatles.
Iron Maiden
3/5
So there's 3 good songs on here but fuck Paul Dianno. This is like like telling everyone to check out the Chicago Bulls before Michael Jordan... okay.
Ash
3/5
I'm digging this and surprised I'm not already familiar. 90's TV show / movie background music but with a bit of substance to it as well. Perfectly serviceable alt rock.
Fugees
4/5
Calexico
1/5
This sounds like the soundtrack to someone struggling to pick which color Patagonia puffy vest to buy
Muddy Waters
3/5
I really don't know blues well, but Muddy Waters is definitely one of the main names I'd associate with the genre. This album is a good exposure to blues - classic off the bat and engaging throughout.
The Charlatans
2/5
I don't think I need this! Not bad but not for my ears!
Queen
3/5
U2
3/5
This is some solid stuff. Good before the band became a parody of themselves.
Otis Redding
4/5
Smooth like butter. Some different takes on big songs than you're used to.
Silver Jews
1/5
As soon as I started this album, I blurted out: "oh god."
This album is an exercise in survival.
The Smiths
1/5
Another exercise in suffering.
Mike Oldfield
2/5
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
Stan Getz
3/5
This is music for some kind of vacation I don't think I'll ever have... But I'd like to.
Booker T. & The MG's
5/5
Instant favorite. Instantly recognizable. A feel good album!
Tangerine Dream
4/5
Intense; establishes a mood right away
George Harrison
3/5
Maximum 3 stars: over 2 hours, plus the track listing on streaming sites is all screwed up from the original order. It's really not THAT far off, but it should be exact, and certainly not with isolated tracks right in the middle.
Anyways, George was probably the best Beatle, this proves it, and that he had this so long because all these ideas were held up and let out "like a fire hose" to quote him are a shame.
R.E.M.
3/5
So, this wasn't bad. End of the World is an obvious standout. Not much to remark on, honestly.
The Pogues
2/5
I thought I already paid my penance for this type of music when I listened to Flogging Molly in high school.
Beatles
4/5
IT'S STIIIIIINNNNGGG
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Rodd Tundgren.
I can tell right away that this was an influence on Jack White.
This is a bit dynamic, isn't it?
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
Didn't hate this, to my own surprise. Of course I was already familiar with a lot of it. Gotta call out the bass because that was really good.
Derek & The Dominos
1/5
You know how there's overrated talents? People regarded and loved and they may be talented, but not as much as what everyone makes them out to be? Some say Dimebag Darrell Abbott is one of those. I'd say he was definitely talented, but part of that talent was ripping off Exhorder.
Eric Clapton, however, is definitely overrated.
And a piece of shit.
Moby
3/5
Before listening to this, my only formed opinions of Moby were that:
- He did the Sopranos theme. He didn't.
- His restaurant is good. Not the best cinnamon roll ever, but after a full brunch, it was small enough to enjoy without being too indulgent.
Anyways. This is something where I was aware of, had never heard, but had no objection to listen to. On that itself, it wasn't bad. Solid beats, not surprisingly. More hits than I remember and I think those, especially Southside, are among the lower points of the album. The back half, like Corrosion of Conformity's Animosity, is where the magic lies.
Iggy Pop
3/5
I'll always know Iggy Pop first as Michelle Trachtenberg's dad on The Adventures of Pete and Pete.
His music is fine.
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
I like it. Knew nothing of it going in. Probably good study / work music.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
I'm not TOTALLY sure what to make of this album. Love the cover, at least. It's solid stuff and some notable songs but I'm not entirely sold either.
Jack White
2/5
I really don't see how this is an essential album to listen to before one's exit from this mortal coil. It's fine. It has some weird stuff. I just don't care.
"I Guess I Should Go to Sleep." Guess this album should've ended with that.
Like this is why Ronnie James Dio was snubbed entirely??
Ramones
5/5
I can't possibly add anything that hasn't already been said about this. Classic.
Waylon Jennings
2/5
I fail to see this as necessary. So, here's a recipe:
Mini Pecan Pie
Ingredients
• 1 pie crust storebought or
homemade
• 1/3 cup light corn
syrup
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 and 1/2
tablespoons unsalted
butter melted
• 1 egg lightly beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
extract
• 1/2 cup chopped
pecans
Directions
• Preheat oven to 350°F
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the pie dough out
into a 12-inch circle. Using a 3-inch cookie cutter (or
glass), cut out 12 circles from the dough
• Place each piece of dough in each muffin cavity of a
12-count muffin pan, making sure each piece comes
up the sides just a little bit (you may need to stretch
the dough just a bit). Transfer the muffin pan to the
refrigerator while you making the filling.
• In a mixing bowl, mix together the corn syrup, brown
sugar, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract until
fully combined; then mix in the chopped pecans.
Remove the muffin pan from the refrigerator. Evenly
distribute the filling (about 1 full tablespoon)
between all 12 muffin cavities, making sure the pecan
pie filling does not come up over the edges of the
dough.
• Bake at 350°F for about 25 minutes or until the filling
is set. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan for
about 10 minutes
Gene Clark
3/5
Wasn't sure what to make of this at first, but it clicked about halfway in. Fits under the same roof in my mind as James Taylor, Jackson Browne or a little bit of Warren Zevon (though he has his own shack, let's be real).
David Crosby
2/5
Maaannnn this is some Sunday morning listening.
Sufjan Stevens
1/5
This album makes me hate Chicago.
You know this was background music for mid college bros trying to get laid and probably succeeding.
This album is an affront to every instrument used in its creation.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
This is some dependable stuff.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
This is more of a mix than I had anticipated, and while I think I've listened to some other albums around this era of the Stones (Let it Bleed, Hot Rocks), I don't think I've given this one a full listen. Can't You Hear Me Knocking lost me a bit, but Bitch brought it back around. Overall, a good listen.
Dagmar Krause
2/5
So, this isn't available on streaming, so I'm relying on a Youtube playlist.
Uhh... this is a musical? At least it sounds like it. To what I understand (reading Wikipedia), this is a late-80's take on songs written some time before, which is reflective in the tunes. Is it good? Is it recommended? I don't know. I'm definitely not the target audience for this. You mention German music and I go to Teutonic thrash right away - Kreator, Sodom, Destruction, a little Tankard. It's not bad, to be sure, just not my kind of listening.
The Sugarcubes
3/5
I didn't know that Bjork was in a band before going solo. Before going into this, it sounds like this is pretty tongue-in-cheek.
It's pretty good! Definitely Bjork with the ethereal vocals.
The Who
3/5
I used to listen to this a ton as a kid. So much of it was still familiar despite not having listened for years. Thinking of it now, I wouldn't search it out. Rock operas aren't something I entertain really.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
I knew some of this was going to be recognizable. I didn't know it was going to be 3 songs right off the bat.
I do like this. Understanding and familiarizing more beat-driven (electronic?) stuff has been a standout with this project for me.
Also, the original cover is way better than the American one.
Chicago
4/5
I know some Chicago, basically the hits. I love 25 or 6 to 4. Chicago is the only band my mom has a hoodie for. Never listened to this beginning to end.
It's solid. The bass is killer. The instrumental songs are great, not waste.
The Boo Radleys
2/5
What is this besides an average if not meandering 90s rock album? What am I missing here?
MC Solaar
4/5
First thought with today's album: A Tribe Called Qu'est que ce.
Lots of comparisons to American hip hop, I feel the beats are closer to Erik B and Rakim. For the quantity of tracks, it stays fresh, and I only know my high school class level of French, but the delivery is good.
This is one of those cool discoveries from this project.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
I don't have anything with Evans as the main feature in my library, but I have Kind of Blue, so his sound is familiar. Relaxed but not boring. Solid. Great quality for a live recording as well.
Marty Robbins
3/5
Solid G-rated murder ballads
Jacques Brel
3/5
Another French album. This guy looks like the dude from Dragnet. Not Colonel Potter, the other one.
I can only follow some bits and phrases of French, and the rest is by tone. That said, he carries emotions through his voice effectively, for whatever those French emotions are. A lot of contempt, I think. It passed the time on the morning commute pretty well until it ended. That's more Philadelphia's fault then Jacques, though.
This being a live album, I was expecting the audience to express more. Maybe they're a more polite audience. Or they just have contempt for Jacques.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Well, I'd be a hypocarite if I didn't like this. I don't know why. But I like it. That I know. It's solid.
Mariah Carey
2/5
We get it, you can SING
Arctic Monkeys
2/5
I like the guitar work but nothing else.
Garbage
4/5
I liked garbage for a while and only recently appreciated that they've taken an industrial driven beat to the mainstream.
Heaven 17
1/5
Flock of Dodos
Eels
1/5
Boring. I can't think of why this is on here but Quicksand isn't. PRO TIP: Don't listen to this one while driving. I very seriously had to pause it to put on something else just so it didn't drag.
"Your Lucky Day in Hell," huh? Sure feels like I'm in hell listening to this but I'm not lucky if I'm listening.
Coldcut
4/5
This is pretty funky stuff. Solid beats.
The Velvet Underground
2/5
This was fine.
Prince
4/5
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man is probably my favorite Prince song.
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
This is another one filed under "I know the name, never heard, had nothing against." Putting it on the first time was too stop-and-go, so I waited until my morning rush of meetings was done and started again.
I'm digging. Reminds me of Dramarama.
The Blue Nile
2/5
Didn't really register for me
Motörhead
5/5
It's been maybe the longest stretch of this experiment so far that I've seen a guarantee 5 star.
Motorhead. Everything louder than everything else. Don't like it? Fine. They are the best rock band ever.
I remember a lot of the experience of buying the cassette. Used, 6 years ago, Washington DC, with someone I fell hard for and ended up breaking my heart. Still have the cassette though, and something of this magnitude is worth many times the $6.99 I paid.
I remember one specific experience driving to this. I was working a comic book convention in New Hampshire with a local shop, and while the owner drove the box truck with all the inventory back to the shop in Massachusetts, I drove his bigass truck and put this on. It gave me focus for such an ungodly beast.
Really wish I got to see them just once. I love Motorhead old and... older, I guess. Not just the s/t and Iron Fist but also Bastards and Kiss of Death. I have a Motorhead / Star Wars mashup (sorry) tattoo of a clone trooper helmet with Snaggletooth on top, saying "BORN TO LOSE / LIVE TO WIN."
Maybe even better than the Ramones at keeping things simple.
Adele
4/5
There's one crack of her voice in "When We Were Young" that damn near broke me.
After the last Adele listen for this, I didn't add Adele to my rotation, but did appreciate her, so I wasn't disappointed to see this.
She has a command over her voice that calls from the surrounding instrumentation. Like an MC in the sense that she knows how to use the accompaniment to add to the delivery.
The Who
2/5
Don't really care for the Tommy tracks live
Boston
4/5
This is classic rock. No other way to put it.
Fairport Convention
1/5
I knew right away that I did not need this in my life.
Pink Floyd
3/5
I actually don't hate some Pink Floyd? Reminds me of Spinal Tap.
Beck
2/5
Talented but nothing I need
James Brown
4/5
There's nothing like James Brown live. Apparently. Because he's dead.
Haircut 100
2/5
It's not bad at all, but I also don't see myself going back to it often.
Motörhead
5/5
Okay, so here's a Motorhead memory from me:
One of my friends' bands (Life of Crime, I think?) were playing a basement show and said a cover was for me. It was Ace of Spades. I went nuts.
Best rock band ever and I can't be convinced otherwise.
The Roots
3/5
I used to listen to this quite a bit, but with listening yesterday, I remembered how 100% straight through was a bit much.
Rock You is a perfect opener, energizing and bringing the listener to attention.
The Seed (2.0) is what I've always gone back to. The beat is incredible, the flow is great, and Cody Chestnutt wraps it all up nicely.
The beats on this, at first you think they're minimal but then you pick up on everything going on. Very cool in that sense.
Break You Off is where it starts to lose me. I think compared to the tempos before that, it's just a downer.
Complexity would've been a great closer, but then it kept going for 13 minutes.
Massive Attack
3/5
From my group chat:
I think I may have to check other albums from them because I liked a song that they did with Mos Def but cant say I liked the album overall
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
Classic stuff, really. The first two tracks are hardwired into my brain from such a young age - when I first heard and can remember hearing those songs, they were 20 years old. That was 35 years ago. I'm turning to dust.
The Clash
3/5
Despite loving London Calling, I just never went into the rest of The Clash's discography. Pretty much what I was expecting, though, in a good way.
Julian Cope
2/5
I like some stuff with similar elements, and there's particular songs I like, but the longer this album went, the less I cared for it.
Talking Heads
4/5
I'm familiar with some Talking Heads beyond the hits, but not a lot. They pushed the envelope, showing that you can understand music and it doesn't have to be just self-fellating, but substantive and connecting with people across the board.
Frank Ocean
5/5
Crack Rock. Instant 12 stars.
Iggy Pop
4/5
It's Iggy Pop. I like Iggy Pop.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Isaac Hayes was objectively cool before becoming a Scientologist.
Stan Getz
4/5
This is feel-good stuff.
PJ Harvey
3/5
4/5
Dang it, I like an Oasis album. My friend Nick of Moral Injury was right in saying I'd prefer the back half.
Herbie Hancock
3/5
This cover is already 5 stars on its own.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Instant win, leading off with my favorite Stones song. No Expectations flips the script but doesn't lose any momentum in the process. Dear Doctor shows their knowledge of what's going on outside of strict rock and roll.
Jigsaw Puzzle is pretty classic Stones.
Street Fighting Man is one of those bigger songs that has been in a few TV shows and movies, but for good reason, I guess.
I'm too lazy to write through this as I work. Shit's good!
The Who
2/5
I think I just like Who's Next as a full album.
Les Rythmes Digitales
1/5
I was liking it at first, but the more I listened, the more annoying it got for me. It's irritating.
Billy Joel
4/5
Bops
Neil Young
4/5
SHUT UP it's Neil Young
The Mothers Of Invention
1/5
This is another one that goes downhill. I hate that I spent my lunch break listening to the second half of this.
Rocket From The Crypt
5/5
Perfect album. Rock at full blast. Long live the Swami.
Taylor Swift
3/5
It's not Folklore
Talking Heads
4/5
You could see where they were going in the future here, and very very fun to listen to on its own.
The Band
4/5
Hell yeah. Aside from the atrocious Bob Dylan cover art.
The Darkness
2/5
My first thought seeing this... really? Well, okay. See what this is about.
Good start, but the vocal cadence of the singer? I think I don't like it. He just tries to squeeze in too many words in the verses.
The songwriting is there. I don't mind the falsetto. It's just that syncopation,
The hit single "Get Your Hands Off of My Woman" is indeed a hit single.
I'm not much of a glam guy but this is ok. I don't know that it necessarily qualifies for top-1001 necessary listens before you die, but I didn't write this book. Maybe I'll do my own so RONNIE JAMES DIO gets some recognition, you plebs.
I don't think I can give "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" a fair assessment. I've heard it way, way too much. That and I don't believe in it. Embrace nihilism because it's the only thing that will meaningfully embrace you back.
"Givin' Up" fits this dark mold except it's upbeat. Small steps.
The cover artwork elicits Boston's self-titled. To truly embrace nihilism, I would recommend Dystopia's album "Human=Garbage."
Various Artists
4/5
Phil Spector was a weird piece of shit, but you can't argue that he knew music.
The Byrds
3/5
Bit of a difference starting this after Ringworm.
"Have You Seen Her Face?" No, but I dig this song.
"C.T.A. 102" - To review this song with one syllable: huh.
I think I appreciate their branching out into the psych, but don't need it here.
The Smiths
2/5
This is the third Smiths album I've been obligated to listen to for this project and I hate them more. Okay instrumentation, and then it's a race for worse vocals or lyrics. Thanks for somehow influencing actually good bands like Quicksand, I guess.
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
Basically Method Man is like
Roll that shit, light that shit, smoke it
And then Baby U, he a psychopathic
He a psychopathic thinker
And and, then we got, then we got the Ol' Dirty Bastard
'Cause there ain't no father to his style
That's why he the Ol' Dirty Bastard
Ghostface Killah, you know what I'm sayin'?
He on some "now you see me, now you don't"
Know what I'm sayin'? And and, the RZA
He the sharpest motherfucka in the whole Clan
He always on point, razor sharp
With the beats, with the rhymes, whatever, any DJ
[Raekwon]
And the GZA, the G is just the Genius
He, he's the backbone of the whole shit
[RZA]
It's self-explanatory, Genius, word
[Method Man]
He the head, let's put it that way
We form like Voltron, and GZA happen to be the head
You know what I'm sayin'?
I'll fuckin', I'll fuckin', sew ya asshole closed, and keep feedin' ya, and feedin' ya, and feedin' ya, and feedin' ya.
The Beta Band
2/5
Honestly, not that bad, but nothing about this grabs me to come back for more.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
I'm not sexy enough
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
Nirvana
4/5
Probably my least-favorite proper full-length by Nirvana but still lots to like here. They knew what they were doing. Even if they didn't.
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
So I thought this was bringing back some core memories, but then I realized I was thinking of the Carpenters. But this is good stuff. They worked the angle that they weren't the prettiest (and to be fair, I think a lot of popular music at the time didn't care as much about aesthetics as today). But what am I saying? I don't know! Listen to it! Or don't!
Arcade Fire
1/5
I was frozen with my bemused reaction to seeing Arcade Fire long enough to take a picture of it and send to my group chat.
Arcade Fire? Arcade Firestorm that shit.
By the time I got to "Wake Up," I had to chug coffee to do just that.
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
This is deserving of an overly wordy review, but it's 4:30 am here. It's good. I will listen to it again.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
I'm not familiar with this going in to this listen, but the Wikipedia article citing Robert Smith calling Alex Harvey a forefather of punk is enough to get me locked in.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
1/5
I hate that I even typed in that dumb title to listen to this album. It took 30 seconds for this to turn to shit.
In order not to recognize the talents of a band that doesn't deserve it, I'm referring to them as Jalapeno Peppers That Were Neutered by a Tech Bro so They Have No Heat.
This album starts with a cool bass line, because Flea on his own is rather talented, but once the singer takes over, it's all JPTWNbaTBsTHNH as usual.
The first song isn't over and I'm getting Sepultura ready to clear my head afterwards.
What the FUCK is with that fake-Chinese?-mimicry?
You know what? I'll go ahead and say all the instrumentation is fine. Anthony Kiedis fucking sucks. Completely destroys anything credible.
I take that back. The rest of the band are enablers. They all fucking suck.
"How long how lonnnnnnnonnnnnnnnnng" will I have to listen to this fucking album.
You can tell Kiedis is a sex pest because he writes nonsensical lyrics he as a thirtysomething at the time would think teenaged girls would like. Sure enough I googled and found an article from the mid-2010s (AFTER this album was made) where he was dating a 19-year old.
Nick Drake
3/5
Emmylou Harris
3/5
Liked it more than I thought I would!
Richard Thompson
2/5
Not bad but not for me
The Cure
4/5
I should work this into my Cure rotation more.
Radiohead
1/5
Out of respect for the friends I have who love Radiohead, I will not comment about this album.
Fiona Apple
5/5
I love love love this album. I just picked it up a couple of months ago in a depression, not knowing the depression was about to get worse.
It was an album I had loved in the past with a partner, this and Extraordinary Machine together. With that breakup, I had to put them away for a while. This was YEARS ago and I've had breakups since then where I could reclaim those musical memories faster. But I'm back to Fiona Apple. And I'm grateful.
I think this is good sad-boy music, but this is something that also says "it's okay, not everything is your fault, and there may be an end to this."
Also, Fiona, if by some weird chance you read this, I'll run into traffic for you. Just saying.
Radiohead
1/5
Todd Rundgren
1/5
LESS IS MORE. This shouldn't have been a double-length album. It made me angrier the further into it I got.
Gil Scott-Heron
3/5
This is a different kind of record. I like it.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Holy crap, this is good!
Peter Gabriel
4/5
The upbeat singles of this album hide that the majority of it is sullen and deep. Both prove how solidly effective Gabriel is as a musician. I've grown a new appreciation of him through this project.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Overlooked by Pet Sounds, but great
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Good, but very long.
Pere Ubu
2/5
Not my thing, sorry.
ZZ Top
5/5
There's only one album I've driven down the highway to at 100mph and this is it.
4/5
Good stuff right here. If you disagree, that sucks.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
The Birthday Party
4/5
This is cool. Can hear The Jesus Lizard and Melvins in it right away.
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
Why does the streaming service of my choice have the whole album EXCEPT THE TITLE TRACK?
Anyways, this is a good album. Not the most bombastic jazz and that's quite all right. You can tell there's a story with the movements.
Green Day
1/5
Dookie is one of the most influential albums of my life. This is not Dookie. Ambitious, maybe, but that didn't make for good listening for me. Each song I was hoping to be the last and there'd be another. And another.
The Clash
5/5
I don't know, I think this lil ditty is a classic.
Moby Grape
4/5
Can't recall hearing this before, but it hit right, right on the first track. It's a shame there isn't a proper upload of it on streaming. Makes such a gem really hidden. I'll have to search out a physical copy.
Kelela
2/5
Soft Cell
4/5
My first job was at an arcade. One day, as I'm clocking in and getting situated, my boss is singing just the part of Tainted Love about getting away.
He quit the next week to become a cook at Hooters.
Great album.
Violent Femmes
3/5
Hey, this was pretty dang good.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Pretty good stuff
Roni Size
2/5
This is not for me. Good instrumentation, but very, VERY repetitive, over 70-80ish minutes and I'm lost.
Deep Purple
5/5
FUCK YEAH
SAULT
3/5
I thought it was solid beginning to end. Maybe loses a bit of steam but hey.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
I listened to the 2021(?) remaster and I don't remember the original being that fuzzy in the guitars. I mean, it's *pretty* fuzzy.
Anyways, you've probably heard this whole album involuntarily, if not beginning to end. It's great! It's also the be-all, end-all for so many when there's so much more out there!
OutKast
5/5
Bombs Over Baghdad alone is a 50-star song, so even if the rest of the album sounded like RHCP's "Californication," this would still be an easy 5 stars.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Dang, this is good.
Suicide
3/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Classic. Great tone that doesn't necessitate a modern "remaster." Great flow from one song to the next. You just know there's some guy in Missouri named Kris who's against the very idea of liking the Pumpkins at all that when they finally give it a try, they're going to kick themselves for missing out.
U2
2/5
Funkadelic
4/5
Fela Kuti
4/5
The story behind this is SAD.
This album is GOOD.
The Gun Club
4/5
Love me some punk but I wasn't familiar with this. Reminds me of Wipers and The Damned a little, at least with the sound. This will be in rotation.
Koffi Olomide
2/5
I wasn't feeling this one. It was fine, but a necessary listen? I'm not sure.
Pulp
4/5
So, this is a fun little trip. I got into Pulp initially from... William Shatner. At the first comic book store I worked at, it was the iPod days. We had my friend's, the owner's, iPod hooked up most of the time. He had William Shatner Has Been on there. Two tracks stood out on that - I Can't Get Behind That, with Henry Rollins, and Common People, which opened the album.
Common People is on this. Before I branched out beyond just my hardcore and metal listening, Common People took hold. It wouldn't be for years until I gave this a proper listen and I kicked myself for not doing so sooner.
Green Day
5/5
This album was my world for a while. The third CD I ever had, the oldest one I still have. Even if it wasn't an underlying theme of the album, which I believe it is, it's a piece on growing up for me. It might not be my #1 album anymore, or have the most plays, but it had one hell of a head start. Still great, too, and not just for nostalgia.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Costello has stuff all across the board with his output and I don't think this is in the stronger end.
Pixies
3/5
Pretty solid album through and through
Billy Bragg
3/5
This is a solid album. You know how, sometimes, you listen to albums, and it's like, "Yeah, this is solid"? Well, yeah, this is solid.
Plus the cover art rules.
Portishead
2/5
This is sexy jam music for sad people. I'm neither sexy nor sad enough for this, but I do have a story.
Years ago, I worked in a hospital pharmacy. It was like 2011 so streaming wasn't taking off yet, but we had XM radio. Usually the senior pharmacist made a pick, and usually that pick was the Grateful Dead station, so we'd hear 3 songs in an 8-hour shift, but sometimes they'd give the reins over.
One night, a resident pharmacist put it on some 90's channel and Portishead came up. They got VERY excited. They were the same age as me and so they asked if I was also excited, or, rather noticing, why I wasn't as excited.
"I don't know them?"
"We're the same age and you don't know Portishead?"
"Do you know Slayer?"
"...No."
I'm going to put on Slayer after this.
Public Enemy
5/5
One of my absolute favorite albums. Changes up throughout to keep it interesting. I can't adequately piece together in a review like this my love of it, of PE, and the effect it's had on me. I think very often these days of both "Brothers Gotta Work it Out" and "Fight the Power."
"Who's that--Broowwwwnnn!"
Air
2/5
Eh.
Grizzly Bear
2/5
I'm not sure where I really land on this - not bad, but nothing really stood out?
Frank Sinatra
3/5
I never listened to a Sinatra album all the way through. Not sure this one counts since I had to pause it and unpause through the work day. You think you know a lot of his stuff just from being surrounded by it, but he's got such a deep bench.
It's fine. Not something I'd go out of my way to listen to.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
1/5
NO NO NO.
Kanye West
1/5
This ain't it
Common
2/5
WTF, Kanye two days in a row?
The Bees
2/5
Nothing on this stood out for me.
Crowded House
2/5
This reminds me of something, but I can't think of what. That's funny, because it seems otherwise totally unremarkable.
Elvis Costello
4/5
Talking Heads
4/5
Don't be afraid! You guys are good!
Sonic Youth
4/5
Beatles
4/5
Great album by great musicians, not the best. Good send-off, though. I listened to my parents' copy but had to clean it up prior to doing so as it was just the bare record in the jacket.
Ray Charles
4/5
I'm pretty sure Ray Charles's music could make a colonoscopy feel soothing.
B.B. King
4/5
Muddy Waters
4/5
Hey, this Muddy Waters guy is pretty good.
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
Led Zeppelin
4/5
My personal favorite Ledathon Zeppelinson album
The Cult
3/5
I'm kind of surprised this one was seen as a must. I always gravitate towards Sonic Temple, which I think is a more polished and dynamic album overall.
Patti Smith
3/5
A name I've been familiar with but haven't delved into. This is definitely early punk, though, as much as Iggy / the Stooges.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
AC/DC
3/5
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Neil Young AND CRAZY HORSE
WHOA THAT HORSE IS CRAAAAAAAAAZY HE'S BRUSHING HIS BOTTOM TEETH BEFORE HIS TOP TEETH
Simply Red
2/5
This did nothing for me.
Neil Young
5/5
C'mon.
Blur
4/5
Solid. Going to do a Blur deep dive because of this.
Iron Maiden
5/5
Classic album, but just an indicator of what Maiden would deliver with Dickinson. Stands great on its own. Great lyrical journeys and the instrumentation is basically flawless.
Björk
3/5
I'm not feeling this one as much as other Bjork releases I've listened to. Not bad, but not compelling.
Barry Adamson
2/5
Yup, this sounds like sexy movie soundtrack stuff. It's fine. Am I going back to it anytime soon? No.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
2/5
I know that it's WIDELY regarded as a classic, but, sadly, it did nothing for me.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Classics
Talvin Singh
3/5
This surprised me. Not shocked, because that would evoke energy, and this is more of a chill concept, but I do like it. Good for concentrating. Not entirely sure it's a top-1001-albums-of-all-time contender, but I do appreciate learning about it.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
John Cale
3/5
Not bad, not... enthralling?
Eminem
1/5
He has a line about wanting to fuck a 15-year old.
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
Good cut of a live album.
Grateful Dead
1/5
The title is cooler than the album.
PJ Harvey
3/5
I like this Pajama Harvey.
Tim Buckley
3/5
I like this. This is my review.
The Band
4/5
SHUT UP. IT'S THE MOTHERFUCKING BAND. LISTEN TO THE BAND!!!
Radiohead
1/5
Did you live through the time in the early 2000s when, if you set your cell phone close to a computer speaker, it'd create a buzzing through the speaker? Imagine if someone took that annoying-ass sound and turned it into a concept album, but then, on the last track, all of a sudden there were wind instruments.
Boards of Canada
3/5
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Hell. Yes. Great stuff here.
David Holmes
4/5
This was pretty dang cool.
Paul Simon
3/5
Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by Paul Simon by
Nick Drake
2/5
Eh, it was okay.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
This was decent. Some influence from Talking Heads, it seems.
The National
1/5
Good Lord, I knew this was going to be boring after listening to it for a minute. I wasn't wrong. I was struggling for it to end. I listened to it while working, and was relieved when someone called me, except, when the call was over, I still had 23 minutes to listen to. I thought that I was done. So. Many. Times. And I wasn't. But I am now, and, I am relieved. Never again will I listen to this.
50 Cent
2/5
Liked it more than I thought I would
Funkadelic
4/5
Van Halen
5/5
This might be the best mainstream rock album of the 80's. I don't know if it's shorter than I remember, or that it's just so good that everything flies by. It has the big opening, goes bombastic with Panama, and, if you think that's wild, Alex gives you a killer motorcycle-revved drum fill with the beginning of the B-side on Hot for Teacher. You're locked in until the end of HOUSE OF PAAAAIIINNN and, when the time comes to pick up the needle again, you get that feeling like you're back at the beginning of the roller coaster, jostled back to safety.
Sade
3/5
I wasn't really feeling this until the second half, but then it locked in.
The Temptations
4/5
Can't go wrong here
Barry Adamson
2/5
Eh
Leonard Cohen
2/5
I think I didn't hate this Cohen album? Maybe? It wasn't as fart-huffing, I know that much. It's 1:30 am 3 days after I listened. This is my review.
Ray Charles
4/5
Ray Charles rules.
Bob Dylan
1/5
Blues appropriation with a tone -deaf vocal delivery.
The Divine Comedy
2/5
Love it when this thing doesn't save my review. "If" was so bad it's good, and the rest is just bad.
Talking Heads
4/5
Fuck yes. Couldn't help myself singing along to Psycho Killer.
Steely Dan
1/5
Definitely can't buy a thrill with this album!
The Offspring
4/5
Not my favorite album ever, but it came along in my formative days, and I still have a lot of it not just memorized, but down to instinct.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
1/5
She had brown sugar all over her booger wooger
She had brown sugar all over her booger wooger
She had brown sugar all over her booger wooger
She had brown sugar all over her booger wooger
She had brown sugar all over her booger wooger
She had brown sugar all over her booger wooger
She had brown sugar all over her booger wooger
She had brown sugar all over her booger wooger
She had brown sugar all over her booger wooger
She had brown sugar all over her booger wooger
She had brown sugar all over her booger wooger
She had brown sugar all over her booger wooger
She had brown sugar all over her booger wooger
She had brown sugar all over her booger wooger
She had brown sugar all over her booger wooger
She had brown sugar all over her booger wooger
The Killers
1/5
I've hated The Killers since I first heard them. Vapid.
Brian Wilson
4/5
Metallica
5/5
5 Stars but not perfect, because BASS.
AND JUSTICE FOR JASON.
Public Enemy
5/5
Can't say anything new here - PE IN FULL EFFECT
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
This was certainly a bopper
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
This was something different. I think I listened to the right album, but it's hard to find on streaming. Good background music for working? Certainly not bad in any subjective term I'd throw at it instinctively.
Bad Brains
4/5
A magnitude down from the st and Rock for Light, but still mostly stands on its own
Bob Marley & The Wailers
1/5
No thanks
Fleet Foxes
2/5
Not as bad as I was bracing for, but not memorable.
Common
2/5
This is a bit of a drag. Way too long.
Beyoncé
1/5
All I get from this is that her songwriter/s like Prince and Janelle Monae and I'm sure a bunch of other people and that rich people can in fact be horny.
Baaba Maal
3/5
This is chill.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Powerful
John Lennon
2/5
Probably my least favorite solo Beatle. The title track is inescapable from that horrible COVID video by Gal Gadot and other braindead celebrities. A lot of the tracks read either as Beatles songs that didn't make the cut, or just flat. I liked one song, that being How Do You Sleep? I write this at 3:56 am, so, not well!
Japan
2/5
I like a decent amount of new wave, but this was just a bit boring to me.
Ghostface Killah
2/5
Long.
Lana Del Rey
1/5
Chemtrails Over the Country Club, described as "folk, country folk, and Americana" but so far she's just whispering too many words in too little a space. There wasn't a moment of this album where I wasn't looking for relief by way of a meeting or just waiting for it to be over. Maybe the hardest test of patience with this project yet.
Duke Ellington
4/5
Lots of talent on stage here.
The Beach Boys
3/5
This is definitely a different Beach Boys than Pet Sounds.
The United States Of America
4/5
This is funky. It's cool. Not an every day listening, but that's fine. Like if the Mamas and the Papas met Flower Travelin Band at Jefferson Starship.
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
Better than the other UK rap I've listened to through this, that's for sure.
Dr. Dre
3/5
Pretty good album, but automatic points off for Dre being instrumental in bringing in Eminem.
The Who
3/5
Solid and straightforward. I listened to the mono version, which isn't often these days.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Bob Dylan
1/5
I bet he thought this sounds a lot deeper than it actually does.
Scott Walker
4/5
I really liked this.
CHVRCHES
1/5
Meh.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Hell yeah
Fats Domino
3/5
Not bad, kinda tame.
Don McLean
2/5
Don MehClean
Black Sabbath
5/5
It's not often you can identify a single work where something definitively started. This is where heavy metal started.
The Dictators
3/5
David Bowie
2/5
The Cars
4/5
Good Lord this is solid pop-rock.
GZA
5/5
DENYS COWAN. SHADOWBOXIN. COLD WORLD. 4TH CHAMBER. I GOTCHA BACK.
Best beats and maybe the best album overall by the whole creative efforts of the Wu-Tang Clan.
If you're not going to help yourself by listening to this, I'm not going to help you.
Metallica
3/5
Would I put this in 1001 Albums to Listen to Before You Die? No. But I would put it in a list of 250 Ambitious Albums by Billboard Top Whatever.
Neat idea with varied results. The symphony at times doesn't really seem to add much, but hey, I'm not a composer. Very cool to hear them do the Ecstasy of Gold but then there's 2 hours left. I think that is part of the issue, too. It was two sets. Make it digestible, split it up.
No Leaf Clover is killer and I'll stand by that. No, I won't. Whatever. But the real thing is: take away James's vocals and this could've been a lot better. He sounds like an orangutan mid-stroke. Like, the brain one or vinegar strokes, you decide.
George Jones
3/5
It was grand. It was a tour. It was George.
Kanye West
1/5
The Stooges
5/5
I thought this sounded different than I remembered, but then I realized I was thinking of the self-titled. That was my fault. Their fault is having this ripper of early punk.
Morrissey
1/5
GODDAMNIT GODDAMNIT GODDAMNIT GODDAMNIT GODDAMNIT
Wild Beasts
1/5
This is, respectfully, not for me.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
1/5
This was boring until it turned annoying.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Low-key, well-written.
Dire Straits
2/5
Eh, it's fine.
Fred Neil
3/5
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Damn, this is sad and powerful.
The Only Ones
2/5
Snoop Dogg
4/5
Bob Dylan
2/5
Soul II Soul
2/5
Frank Sinatra
3/5
I liked this more than I thought I would. I'm not usually big on Sinatra but this is a different gear.
Ute Lemper
2/5
This sounds like the score to a musical I went to, but not by choice.
R.E.M.
3/5
Not bad but not yet in full gear
The Cure
5/5
Perfect album.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
Faust
3/5
The Strokes
1/5
Boring and derivative. A waste of a spot.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
Hell yeah.
John Lennon
1/5
Nah.
Solomon Burke
4/5
This is solid.
Beck
3/5
Bob Dylan
2/5
Bluh.
Justice
3/5
This was way better than I was expecting by the description.
Miles Davis
4/5
It's Miles Davis.
Cheap Trick
4/5
Hell yeah
Parliament
4/5
The Kinks
3/5
I thought I was going to like this one more than I actually did.
Randy Newman
1/5
Randy Newman on a movie soundtrack: ok, this makes sense for a CGI film where toys come to life.
Randy Newman on a full-length: Fuck no
Elton John
5/5
Eagles
1/5
Better than Eminem, at least
Fever Ray
3/5
Ice Cube
2/5
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
Turbonegro
5/5
REALLY wasn't expecting this, but not upset!
The Fall
4/5
Cyndi Lauper
5/5
Top tier 80's pop
Primal Scream
2/5
Tito Puente
4/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
10cc
1/5
This sounds like if Steely Dan tried to make a rock opera. So, I hate it.
3/5
The Specials
3/5
More chill than the st, but good on its own
808 State
4/5
This is cool.
Led Zeppelin
2/5
Boring for the most part
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
3/5
Ian Dury
1/5
File under: Very talented, but too much going on. The instrumentation is all well but the vocals and lyrics just kill it. The longer this went on, the less I could look at the upside to it.
Germs
3/5
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
I just listened to this on my own last week. Great album of its own unique flavor; subdued in presentation, but, enthralling.
The Byrds
3/5
MOOG
The Pogues
2/5
Madness
3/5
This was pretty cool
James Taylor
3/5
Dire Straits
2/5
Not bad, and ambitious, but not really engaging for me, either. I was driving on the highway in the morning as I listened to this, and it wasn't energizing. At least for me. I understand times were different, but using a homophobic slur in the 80s still wasn't good.
Public Enemy
5/5
SHUT EM DOWN.
Everything that PE did with their albums is amplified here. Bigger production, tighter lyrical delivery by Chuck. This is a rocket launcher of an album.
Bad Company
3/5
Soft rock that goes hard.
The Damned
4/5
The Damned rule.
The Saints
3/5
Aussie Dead Boys.
Sparks
3/5
This starts off with a more rock-oriented ABBA but then the rock just takes over. I like it.
ZZ Top
3/5
It's not Tres Hombres, but it's okay.
Neu!
3/5
This is rad
Lambchop
2/5
It's Monday and I don't remember this from Friday.
David Bowie
3/5
I like this more than other Bowie albums because there's less of his vocals.
Kings of Leon
2/5
This drags on and on and on but at least it doesn't have their whiny-ass hits.
Goldfrapp
1/5
Very forgettable.
Slade
3/5
This is some cool rock stuff.
Fairport Convention
2/5
Not bad, by talent, but not my bag.
Method Man
4/5
Yup. Straight off the 36 Chambers and staying methodical about it.
Shack
1/5
Another one that I don't understand why it's on this list.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
For being a double album, something entirely unnecessary, this is pretty good.
Jane Weaver
1/5
No clue why this was included as an essential album
Destiny's Child
1/5
Repetitive beats.
Kraftwerk
4/5
Solid.
Scott Walker
2/5
Yeah nope
fIREHOSE
2/5
Christine and the Queens
1/5
Again, not sure why this album is on as an essential.
Holger Czukay
3/5
This was neat.
Alice Cooper
4/5
I never really listened to Alice. This is pretty solid 70's rock.
The Police
4/5
Nina Simone
4/5
You can't help but be moved by Nina.
Orange Juice
3/5
Giant Sand
1/5
Yes, this was definitely a chore.
Madonna
3/5
I really don't know Madonna, but this was neat. It sounds futuristic to me, 25 years after its release date.
Coldplay
1/5
Coldplay could cure cancer, end hunger, and house everyone, and kick Elon Musk in the dick, but that wouldn't change my opinion that their music is dog shit.
Happy Mondays
2/5
Not bad, but not remarkable, either. Another one where I'm confused by it being an "essential."
New York Dolls
3/5
Yeah this was good
Can
4/5
This was cool. Listened to another album right after this one was done.
Ministry
5/5
You aren't an industrial album in my consistent rotation for half my life without being absolute whoop-ass.
Brian Eno
3/5
Ryan Adams
1/5
Setting aside he is an incredibly shitty human being, this is uninspired and just reeks of his influences. Nothing to stand out on its own.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
2/5
4/5
I like me some Blur.
Mike Ladd
3/5
This was cool. Wasn't familiar, which is a bit surprising given he's from Boston and I used to live there, but hey.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Primal Scream
3/5