449
Albums Rated
3.21
Average Rating
41%
Complete
640 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1990
Favorite Decade
Punk
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
53
5-Star Albums
37
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Contino Sessions
Death In Vegas
|
5 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
|
I Against I
Bad Brains
|
5 | 2.94 | +2.06 |
|
Walking Wounded
Everything But The Girl
|
5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
|
Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
|
5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
|
Central Reservation
Beth Orton
|
5 | 3.05 | +1.95 |
|
I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Richard Thompson
|
5 | 3.05 | +1.95 |
|
Another Music In A Different Kitchen
Buzzcocks
|
5 | 3.09 | +1.91 |
|
Talking Timbuktu
Ali Farka Touré
|
5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
|
Double Nickels On The Dime
Minutemen
|
5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
|
The Sensual World
Kate Bush
|
5 | 3.17 | +1.83 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
|
1 | 3.67 | -2.67 |
|
Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
|
1 | 3.55 | -2.55 |
|
Low
David Bowie
|
1 | 3.55 | -2.55 |
|
Abbey Road
Beatles
|
2 | 4.45 | -2.45 |
|
The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
|
1 | 3.31 | -2.31 |
|
Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth
|
1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
|
Bongo Rock
Incredible Bongo Band
|
1 | 3.26 | -2.26 |
|
Toys In The Attic
Aerosmith
|
1 | 3.26 | -2.26 |
|
The Visitors
ABBA
|
1 | 3.21 | -2.21 |
|
Queen Of Denmark
John Grant
|
1 | 3.13 | -2.13 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Dylan | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Smiths | 2 | 5 |
| Nirvana | 2 | 5 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 2 | 5 |
| Miles Davis | 4 | 4.25 |
| Radiohead | 4 | 4.25 |
| Marvin Gaye | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Kraftwerk | 2 | 1 |
| Beastie Boys | 3 | 1.67 |
| Paul Simon | 3 | 2 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Pink Floyd | 5, 2 |
| ABBA | 4, 1 |
| Depeche Mode | 5, 2 |
| Everything But The Girl | 5, 2 |
| David Bowie | 5, 4, 3, 4, 1 |
5-Star Albums (53)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
The Libertines · 4 likes
1/5
Tosh. Pete Doherty killed a man and got away with it to make mediocre jangle pop like this.
Cornershop · 2 likes
1/5
This seems to have made it onto the list due to the short-lived popularity of Brimful of Asha. There is a reason it was short-lived.
Johnny Cash · 2 likes
4/5
Johnny Cash does a great set for the lads at San Quentin, and there's a clear feeling of 'but for the grace of God' in the way he speaks to the prisoners between songs. I enjoyed listening to this very much.
Harry Nilsson · 1 likes
3/5
Not my cup of tea, although technically pretty accomplished. I wouldn't turn it off, but wouldn't put it on either.
Marvin Gaye · 1 likes
5/5
Ah, Marvin Gaye. Beautiful voice, well constructed songs. A pleasure to listen to.
1-Star Albums (37)
All Ratings
Jack White
3/5
Jack's squeaky, scratchy, high-pitched voice is annoying over this pure indie album descended from gritty punk.
Distorted but sparse guitar lines reverberate over simplistic drum beats. Melodic intrigue is added by the use of a keyboard/electric piano/rhodes around the crashing drums and guitars.
A couple of slower, folkier, less 'noisy' songs are a welcome respite from the sharp, loud tone across the rest of the album, but Jack's voice doesn't have the same range as say Frank Turner or Dallas Green, and the high-pitched squeaky scratch doesn't carry those songs as beautifully as I would hope.
Not really my cup of tea, but I can see why folks like it.
OutKast
2/5
I almost like this. Interesting collaborations, intriguing beats, and a good flow. But I don't. It's just a bit too discordant and noisy, shouty and aggressive, and full of random noises that make it sound a bit weird and over engineered.
I did enjoy Flip Flop Rock and The Way You Move, but there were also some self-indulgent, artsy efforts like 'Where Are My Panties' which I don't think add anything of value to the album.
Very varied and diverse, but it didn't chime with me, and by the end of the second hour I was just waiting for it to end.
R.E.M.
3/5
R.E.M.'s debut album. Great basslines and driving drum beats, with guitars twinkling over Stipe's distinctive voice.
Sparse verses with louder, busier choruses throughout. Lyrics are basically nonsense, but the melody laid down by the vocals are crucial to the cohesiveness of the tracks.
Generally listenable and enjoyable. Musically could have been written yesterday, but mastering and recording gives away its age.
I wouldn't be disappointed for someone to put this on at a dinner party, but I wouldn't ask for it myself.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Original version wasn't available, so I'm listening to the 2023 remaster on Apple Music with Dolby Atmos(although I remember listening to a vinyl copy as a young child on my dad's hi-fi).
Beautiful vocals underpin a guided tour through a variety of sounds.
Where I criticised extraneous noises included in Outkast's album a couple of days ago, they accentuate here a change in track, change in theme, change in tempo, which otherwise is part of a continuous flow from start to end.
It also doesn't feel quite as pretentious, just experimental. The segue track between 'Breathe' and 'Time', called 'On the Run' features some vocal samples, some risers, and an arpeggiated synth driving the album forwards, and while clearly being an interstitial piece between the two, it has merit in its own right.
An 'album' in the traditional sense, not a collection of tracks, it only works in order.
Overall, an absolute masterpiece. No surprise that it is a timeless classic.
Jethro Tull
4/5
I don't remember listening to much Jethro Tull before, rather unusually as I know my Dad had at least this album in among his Pink Floyd, Led Zep, and others.
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. It's not my favourite type of music, but it is definitely better than I expected. Clearly the product of some rather heavy narcotics, but I suppose that's the signature sound of the seventies.
Pleasant, tuneful, melodic guitar riffs over folky drums and other instruments as well as folky vocals.
Very enjoyable, and a pleasant surprise.
Joy Division
5/5
A classic. No wonder the cover has become a staple on T-shirts and other merchandise.
Simple, understated punk-inspired riffs and basslines, with Curtis's droning and dissonant vocals layered over the top.
Unfortunately this was not the first time I've heard this album, so I didn't have the enviable experience of hearing it for the first time.
Fantastic from start to finish.
Dr. Dre
2/5
Very strong start to the album, but the second half is pretty weak.
Dre got much better and later albums were more polished, but this album is a bit puerile and silly.
Nothing wrong with having a little bit of childish fun, but there's not much of substance on the whole album.
It's hard to come up with a fair rating for this album. The first 8 tracks are probably a four overall. Interesting, tuneful, enjoyable, and well produced. The second 8 are probably a one. I've gone for two overall, because overall, I think I'd turn this off before getting to the end.
The Stone Roses
4/5
I Wanna Be Adored is a classic for a reason, and with such a strong opening track, the album is setting itself up for success.
Muddy, grimey, madchester indie, that set the stage for bands like Oasis and Blur to dominate the 90s British indie-pop scene.
Pleasant to listen to, enjoyable melodies. No dominant instrumentation in the album. Guitars, bass, drums, and vocals all dance around each other, which at times makes it feel... distant?
Although it's an interesting listen in and of itself, it also seems like it wouldn't interfere with conversation at a dinner party, and could fade into the background easily.
Sounds a bit like the calmer afternoon bits of a rock festival before the evening acts get started.
Lambchop
3/5
Pleasant, easy listening, but essentially background noise. I'm surprised to see this considered as one of the top 1001 albums, it doesn't seem to be outstanding in any particular way.
I enjoyed this, don't get me wrong, but don't think my life has been enriched by listening to it, and don't think I'll be saving this one for later.
Björk
4/5
The better known tracks (Human Behaviour, Venus as a Boy) stand out as quirky but interesting pop, while the rest of the record is a bit dancier, and relies on electronic drums and keyboards to push things forwards for the most part. Björk's unique voice with it's huge melodic jumps and quality of sounding like it's permanently about to crack is the key defining feature of the album.
Pretty good overall. Not the first time I've heard this, but I enjoyed it.
William Orbit
2/5
Interesting electronic vibes to start the album off. Early 90s chill house-y type, and some of the electronic instrumentation sounds a little dated by now, but I'm enjoying it.
The album actually finished before I realised it had started. Not bad, but not great either. Probably sounds better when you're smashed on MCAT or something.
Elvis Presley
2/5
So, I know Elvis Presley is... well, Elvis, right? He's called 'The King' for a reason.
Problem is that the King is dead, and this album, while probably a perfect fit for its time, is nearly twice as old as I am.
I've listened to it so I can cross it off the list, but I won't be going back to it.
Beastie Boys
1/5
I dunno, I never really got into Beastie Boys. Just too much shouting. Nothing about this relisten changed my mind.
A lot of people love them, but I just can't wrap my head around it.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Great hip-hop album, Walk this Way and Tricky stand out amongst the rest of the tracks, but are far from being the only ones worth a listen.
Interestingly, I found this to be a huge contrast from yesterday's Beastie Boys album, even though many connoisseurs of the genre would mention these acts in the same breath.
All in all, pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this.
Primal Scream
3/5
Movin' On Up is pretty good, although familiar. Same for 'Come Together'. The rest of the album feels a bit... meh. Beats for clubs full of folks taking ecstasy rather than actually well put together songs in their own right. Not bad, but I wouldn't bother going back to this, I don't think.
CHIC
2/5
Meh, not that great. Decent background music, but not particularly fun or interesting for me.
John Lennon
4/5
This was better than I expected. Obviously the titular track is particularly well known (and I actually am not a huge fan), and this coloured my view of John Lennon overall. But actually, I enjoyed this in a sort of, pop rock, gentle way. Odd, given the lyrical content, but nevertheless, pretty fun to listen to.
The Black Keys
4/5
Decent, bluesy, gritty rock. Distortion and basic guitar drive things forward. I enjoyed this, but there are better blues-rock artists out there.
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
Hm, interesting. I like Sufjan Stevens, but this is a bit... pretentious indie nonsense. A few good tracks, but overall disappointing.
Miles Davis
4/5
I love Miles Davis, and this album does not disappoint. Somehow loud and quiet at the same time, Davis's brand of discordancy, tension and release, and subtle touches of sonic steering make for a hugely enjoyable 40 minutes. I do feel like they could have taken some of the ideas a bit further, rather than looping and repeating, but what was there was great.
George Harrison
3/5
Lots of famous folks on this 'Layla' era album. Fun and open music, with interesting themes that others have built on since. Definitely seminal for modern rock music, this album is lazy summer afternoon tunes. Just pack plenty of beer—the music gets more and more self-indulgent as the needle creeps towards the centre. Good job I like self-indulgent blues guitar solos. Pretty good overall.
Elton John
4/5
Better than I expected. I thought Elton John was boring and irrelevant, but listening to this album has made me interested in listening to more. Not every track is a winner, but they're all well-constructed and pleasant to listen to.
A fun blend of rock, pop, prog, and folk.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Funky. But not so funky as to be unlistenable. Fun music, cool beats, energy and chill all together. The album has a really nice structure to it that ebbs and flows through the tracks, thoroughly enjoyable.
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
Teddy and Linda Thompson lending guest vocals and the medieval cover make it look like this is going to be folk. It isn't. I'm not quite sure what it is. But it's not folk. From a vocals perspective, heavy reliance on long held notes with seemingly poorly controlled vibrato is very reminiscent of Thom Yorke.
Movies of Myself could be a B-side to Street Spirit. Even some of the chord changes are the same.
It has similar desperation in the vocals, but the drums and instrumentation paint a driving, positive picture. Intriguing.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
Overall the album is a bit jingly 70s folk-rock for me (perhaps a bit early for its time). That said, Guinnevere is a stand-out track: absolutely beautiful. Haunting and is a clear ancestor of a lot of the more modern folky singer-songwriter stuff I enjoy.
Wooden Ships also has some nice guitar work, I enjoyed it more than the rest of the album.
Living Colour
3/5
Fun, but not earth-shattering. 'Soundtrack rock'. A few shallowly explored social commentary pieces (Funny Vibe, Open Letter), but seem a bit... lost in the context of the rest of the album.
Beatles
3/5
It's the Beatles. Never got into them, never really found them as ground-breaking as everyone else seems to.
It's fine, but won't be going back to this.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
Fantastic album. Great guitar work, great songs. Young's voice is an acquired taste, but once you get used to it, it really adds to the story-telling in his music.
Marianne Faithfull
1/5
This was not great. Boring and uninspired. I wondered if there was something I wasn't getting and checked others' reviews of this, and discovered that indeed, there was, but nothing musical.
However, Marianne Faithfull's life story unfortunately doesn't make her music better.
Not unlistenable to be fair, but the Deluxe Version on Apple Music seems to have the same tracks twice, and I'm just not masochistic enough to let the second mastering play through, even if they're somehow better.
Van Halen
4/5
What can I say, it's Van Halen. Although it's a lot more accessible than I thought it would be, fundamentally it's a half hour of technical guitar solos.
I think in this case, function follows form, and some of the songs themselves are a bit... emotionless? The Kinks cover in particular seemed weak compared to the original.
Fun to listen to on the whole though, and Ain't Talking 'Bout Love is a masterpiece.
Butthole Surfers
2/5
Experimental loud noisiness. I love a bit of punk but this was too much for me. There were a few bits I likes, some social commentary and a few more interesting songs, but on balance, not an experience I would want to have again.
ABBA
4/5
Always had a bit of a soft spot for Abba. There are some superbly produced pop songs on this album. I enjoyed being 'allowed' to indulge a guilty pleasure as part of this 1001 Albums.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Not bad. I thought I didn't like Amy Winehouse very much, but this album was a pleasant surprise. I'll explore her back catalogue a bit I think.
Elvis Costello
5/5
Unfortunately, for some reason Apple Music has Alison, Red Shoes, and Watching the Detectives blocked in my location. Fortunately, I know those pretty well already, and it gave me an opportunity to listen to the 'worse' 80% of the album... and it's still pretty great. Love it.
The Band
3/5
Pretty decent generic American folky-bluesy rock. I definitely don't dislike it, but it doesn't stand out in its genre, and could be essentially the complete backing track to Almost Famous—great film, but music shouldn't be in its element as backing for some other art form.
The Cure
4/5
Dark, dreary. No really distinctive tracks, but a whole mood. Loved it.
The Cars
2/5
Not bad, but then autoplay kicked in and I didn't realise that the artist had changed. So I guess not that good either?
Neil Young
4/5
Great classic Neil Young. Really enjoyed the vibe and Young’s vocals are always something that I like, even if they’re not for everyone.
Supergrass
4/5
Great album. Lots of energy and fun music. Britpop at its finest.
The Band
3/5
Meh, fine. I liked Whispering Pines a lot, a bit Neil Young-y, but otherwise a bit boring.
Drive Like Jehu
4/5
Hard to listen to. Noisy and aggressive and gets in your ears. Blood pressure has gone up and heart rate is high. Absolutely loved it. And this came out in 1994? Way ahead of its time.
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
Not bad. Bit boring, but actually better than I expected given my general dislike of Beatle-y stuff.
Arcade Fire
4/5
I like it. A bit jangly and indie, but overall, pretty good, and enjoyable background music. Not an all-time favourite, but definitely a fun listen.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
Utter madness. Crazy lyrics, self-indulgent bluesy jam sessions poured into your ears. Nice.
Depeche Mode
5/5
Depeche Mode at their absolute finest. This album came out in 1990 and it set the scene for the next 25 years of electronic music. Oh and this was already their SEVENTH.
Bill Evans Trio
5/5
Ahhhhh, something a bit chilled. I actually prefer a bit of trumpet or sax in my jazz otherwise it becomes a bit muzak-y. There's also always something a bit special about a well-performed live recording. Hats off. Some super spicy bass work as well.
Judas Priest
3/5
Not bad, but got fairly boring in the second half of the album. I wouldn't turn it off, but I wouldn't pick it out and put it on either.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Genre-defining. Great voice, beautifully constructed songs. Easy listening, but without being boring, the hard-hitting lyrics are almost masked by the softness of Gaye's voice. A stand-out album.
The Libertines
1/5
Tosh. Pete Doherty killed a man and got away with it to make mediocre jangle pop like this.
Grateful Dead
3/5
Yeah, not bad. Never really got into Grateful Dead, and this album doesn't change my feelings about them.
Prefab Sprout
3/5
Decent, I liked it. Not life-changingly good, but a decent bit of 80s pop.
The Doors
5/5
Absolutely love it. Memories of my Dad's old Panasonic stereo on a Sunday afternoon when mum was out.
I don't think it's just nostalgia though, there's a foreboding tone that runs through the whole album which I think comes from the tone of the keyboard along with Morrison's voice.
A lot of negative sentiment around The Doors being primarily a masturbatory vehicle for Morrison, which I can see. The End in particular is... well, long, meandering, and thoroughly odd. But the music evokes something in me. Fear, or excitement, I'm not sure. And that for me makes this worth a five.
Tears For Fears
4/5
Not bad. Electropop fun. I would listen again.
The Cramps
3/5
Fun but nothing to me that really stood out as exceptional. I can see how they became an influence to bands that followed, but I wouldn't bother listening to this again.
Ride
3/5
Interesting, ambient, loud in parts, quiet in others. Sounds like the soundtrack to a not-too-exciting film where the protagonist goes through a few negative events and then 'finds himself' before the camera zooms out and we close with him standing on a beach looking out to sea with the wind blowing through his hair.
Astor Piazzolla
3/5
Pretentious attempt to make tango into jazz.
That said, not bad, I quite enjoyed it as background music while I worked.
Pixies
4/5
Occupying the space between punk and grunge, this was super enjoyable to listen to. No single track stood out as exceptional, but as an album ,the whole thing works really well.
Carole King
4/5
Interesting to hear this album, but feels a bit like listening to Jim Steinman rather than Meatloaf. The songwriting is very strong, and if so many songs weren't more famous sung by someone else, then I think it would be excellent. As it is, it's just good.
ZZ Top
4/5
I liked it better than I thought I would. Never really got into ZZ Top, but it's a bit of fun. Didn't feel like it was trying to break any new ground, but also didn't feel like that was the point. Hats off to them for choosing what they wanted to do and then doing it well.
Paul Simon
2/5
Not great. Like he was under contract with the label to produce another one and started writing nonsense songs just to get out of it.
Musically decent, if fairly boring. Not for me, although not actually offensive to my ears.
5/5
This isn't the first time I've heard this. Brilliant album, great vocalist, excellent musically. Love it.
DJ Shadow
4/5
I liked this a lot. My wife did not. I think that's probably a pretty reasonable summary—it's noisy but I like the beats and sampling. I can see it being a very divisive listen though, and probably wouldn't put this on for others.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Obviously, a few very famous tracks on here. Quintessential pop. I particularly liked Witness, but overall, there weren't any flops. A few 'late album' tracks lacking inspiration, but nothing unlistenable. I liked it overall.
Paul McCartney
3/5
It was fine as background noise. Did not love it, but did not hate it. Overall, not bad.
Manu Chao
4/5
Love Manu Chao, great memories and great music.
Hookworms
2/5
A bit weird for me. Not dreadful, just not really my thing and didn't really speak to me.
Beastie Boys
2/5
A bit less loud and shouty, I enjoyed this a bit more than the previvous Beastie Boys albums. Still not my favourite, but a bit better.
Sister Sledge
4/5
Great record. Lots of fun, Nile Rogers-y stuff. I enjoyed.
Dagmar Krause
1/5
Not on Apple Music, but the full album is available on YouTube. One of the few albums I've really disliked since starting this. Sorry Dagmar, I'm sure it appeals to some folks.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Pretty decent, noisy and grumpy but enjoyable. Dissonant in a positive way.
Slint
4/5
Pretty good. Midwest Emo before that was a thing. Not convinced about the vocals though, which (for me) just grate, and aren't really an enjoyable part of the soundscape.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
'Scarborough' is not pronounced the same way as 'scar borrow'. Other than that, a bit plain and uninspired for me, not horrible or nasty, but it doesn't make me feel anything, and I feel like it should.
On the plus side it's very short.
The Smiths
5/5
I love the Smiths. A few great tracks on here. Very good album, rivals 'The Queen Is Dead'.
Ice Cube
3/5
Not my favourite type of music, but overall I enjoyed this.
TLC
3/5
It was better than I expected, but not by much.
Iggy Pop
4/5
Not earth-shattering, but enjoyable, and Iggy's vocals are interesting and unconventional. Musically, Bowie's influence is clear, and I don't think 'that sounds like Bowie' has ever been used as a criticism.
The Zombies
4/5
I quite liked this. It's not aged particularly well, but I enjoyed it anyway, and would happily listen to this again any time.
Beck
3/5
Not a huge fan of Beck, I find them a bit pretentious and boring, but this was listenable.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2/5
I dunno... first this was not on Apple Music so I had to play around and make my own playlist of the album from YouTube and what was there. But I wish I hadn't bothered because it wasn't very good.
Pavement
3/5
Noisy and boring for me, but better than I expected given previous experiences with Pavement.
Big Black
3/5
Good noise. Angry and loud. Almost too much so, but good for the right mood.
Radiohead
4/5
I like Radiohead, and this album is no exception. But I think this is the beginning of Radiohead's decline from greatness. Still worth listening to, but there's a certain... drudgery of going from one song to the next, downbeat, complex musical soundscapes overlaid by Thom Yorke's insistent and unmistakable vocals. All in all, a good album, but feels like a collection of a great band's post-greatness B sides (which, as I understand, is a fairly accurate summary of what it is).
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Not my cup of tea, although technically pretty accomplished. I wouldn't turn it off, but wouldn't put it on either.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
Enjoyable. Nice vocals, compelling compositions. I particularly enjoyed the guitar work on Tall in the Saddle, turns out it's Jerry Donahue, who was lead guitarist of Fairport Convention after Richard Thompson.
Todd Rundgren
1/5
What the fuck did I just listen to?
Megadeth
3/5
Fun, bouncy. Nothing that stands out, but a solid hour of enjoyable riffs.
Would be nice to have some more pleasant vocals to offset the constant growl, but I liked it overall.
Garbage
4/5
Enjoyable, although not outstanding. Even though I liked it, I am not sure why this is a 'must listen'. There's nothing particularly ground-breaking in there, although there's some decent music and well-put together songs.
The Temptations
4/5
Great collection of well put together tracks. Really enjoyed listening to this in its entirety, and would happily listen again.
Gil Scott-Heron
5/5
Loved it. Great poetry, great vibe, beautiful music.
Mercury Rev
3/5
Barely noticed that this was even playing.
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
Don't really know what to say on this. It's fine, I guess. Not really my scene, and I can't understand whose scene it would actually be. It feels like I'd only ever put this on as a joke. That said, it's a pretty well-executed joke.
Violent Femmes
5/5
This was great. Lots of energy, lots of punky noises, but also somehow not as loud and abrasive as a lot of other punky stuff I like. I could listen to this over and over and not get bored.
Derek & The Dominos
5/5
Layyy-laaaaaaa, you got me on my knees, Layy-laaaaaaaaaaa, I'm beggin' darlin' please
Bob Dylan
4/5
Never really got into Dylan, but I enjoyed this.
Massive Attack
4/5
I love the chilled-but-tense feel that Massive Attack put in their music. Great album. The problem is that Mezzanine is so much better, so I can't give this a five...
Brian Eno
4/5
I like this. Pretty experimental, but most of the experiments seem to have been successful.
Norah Jones
4/5
I like Nora Jones's vocals, chilled, uplifting. Positive dinner party music.
Frank Zappa
3/5
A bit too weird for me.
Peter Frampton
3/5
Yeah, fine. Not bad, not particularly good. Listenable, but fairly middle of the road, and not much better than that.
Blondie
4/5
Blondie, what's not to like!
Les Rythmes Digitales
1/5
Not very good, I'm afraid. Not sure what this is doing here.
Fela Kuti
3/5
I liked this, but not enough to go out and listen to more... Also, can't help feeling there's something a bit... voyeuristic? Exploitative? Colonialist? about sticking Ginger Baker's name on the cover in as big a font as Fela Kuti's.
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
Yeah not bad. Interesting guitar work, but not really my style.
Neil Young
5/5
Love me some Neil Young. More like this please!
The Police
4/5
I like the Police, but would not consider myself a 'fan'. Nothing really new for me on this album, I knew (and like) all the tracks.
Beth Orton
5/5
I loved this album when it first came out, and still love it now. Full of emotion, desperation... just a brilliant album altogether. Orton's voice is fantastic and the whole album just sits together beautifully.
Miles Davis
4/5
Yeah, nice jazz, but not 'Kind of Blue'.
The White Stripes
1/5
The vocals are too nasal and whiny for me, and something just seems a bit... empty?
White Stripes have always felt a bit Emperor's New Clothes-y to me, this audition didn't change that for me.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I sort of like the Rolling Stones, but I dunno, this one didn't land with me.
Love
1/5
Guess you had to be there.
Aretha Franklin
3/5
Great showcase of vocal talent, but not coherent as an album and not particularly exciting for me musically. Amazing voice though!
Jurassic 5
4/5
I thought this was pretty good. I'm not normally a fan of hip-hop, but this was pleasing to my ears.
Green Day
4/5
I'm a bit torn on this one. On the one hand, I don't like it and I think it's trash, kids playing at punk rock.
But then it's Green Day, and they've got their stripes, so I dunno. Musically, it's a bit bland and overplayed, but also fun and listenable.
Man I dunno. I'm gonna give it a four.
Pulp
4/5
Pulp are an interesting band. I like them, but I'm not really sure why. I always feel like it's generic indie-pop with nothing special going for it, but I can't *quite* dismiss it.
Fats Domino
3/5
I guess it's here for a reason, just sounds like generic old time pop to me I'm afraid. Nice, but not something I'll look out again.
Incredible Bongo Band
1/5
Feels like I wasted 3 hours on this album, but turns out it was only 1h18m. Absolutely unnecessary.
Yes
5/5
Self-indulgent musical masturbation and I'm completely here for it. Brilliant.
Radiohead
4/5
I do like a bit of Radiohead, and they had one more good album in them before they lost the plot. Kid A is a solid effort, but it's not OK Computer, and it's not The Bends.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
I never really got into the Chilis. Still don't love them, but no special reason why. It's a pretty accomplished album, just doesn't do it for me.
David Bowie
4/5
I like Bowie. This is no exception. Short, cocaine-fuelled fun. What's not to like?
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Lovely summer vibes, a little bit sterile for some reason, but a fun album nevertheless.
Black Flag
4/5
Loud and angry, good fun. Unrefined and not very musical. At the edge of my tastes with regards to dissonant vocals, but I enjoyed it.
Patti Smith
4/5
Great album. Uncomplicated, simple, but also complex and deep. Enjoyed this a lot.
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
Not really my thing, but very well done even so.
Dolly Parton
4/5
Dolly Parton is a great singer, and this is a well put together album of good country songs. Not my favourite genre, but I'd put this on again.
Otis Redding
4/5
Great voice, good song selection. Fades into the background nicely.
Mudhoney
4/5
Decent grungey album, but plays a clear second fiddle to Nirvana in the same space.
Radiohead
5/5
Outstanding album. Shows a band maturing from Pablo, Honey, and moving towards their peak on OK Computer. But if OK Computer is Everest, this is K2.
T. Rex
4/5
This was more fun than I expected :)
Led Zeppelin
4/5
So many LZ hits. Great album.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Never really got into Sabbath, but this is decent. Shows an interesting, more refined side of the band that I wasn't previously aware of.
The Dandy Warhols
4/5
An artifact of its time, but it's good memories and positive vibes. I'd listen to this again.
The Shamen
3/5
The Shamen... ah a long repressed memory. Nothing about this album is outstanding, but it's part of a longer story about 90s dance music, and deserves its place.
Underworld
3/5
Decent background electronic music.
The xx
3/5
This is fine. Neutral background music. Expertly done, minimally challenging.
The Doors
4/5
A bit disappointing. I like the Doors, but this is a relatively weak effort, formulaic and nothing particularly outstanding. Still fun to listen to, but just lacking the wow factor of (e.g. L.A. Woman)
Barry Adamson
4/5
Actually I liked this. Weird. Wasn't sure what it was at first. It's not really anything. Just a collection of sounds arranged musically. But still. I felt like I was able to get a lot of work done with this on in the background.
George Michael
2/5
Meh, boring pop. Not BAD, just bland.
The Electric Prunes
1/5
Odd. Not my cup of tea.
Kanye West
4/5
Not really sure about this. Hard to reconcile what was actually quite an interesting and artistically meritorious album with the route that Kanye has gone. Feels like sipping tea while watching the mushroom cloud grow.
5/5
I like the Kinks. This was fun. Smart and well constructed. Will definitely be listening again.
Everything But The Girl
5/5
Beautifully put together. Maybe my nostalgia is giving this five stars rather than its actual musical merit.
Nirvana
5/5
Some folks will say that Bleach was Nirvana's best album. Bleach was good, but abrasive and unrefined. Nevermind polishes off the edges and moves from barely-corralled noise into actual music. Fantastic, varied, and loud.
Queen
3/5
Never loved Queen. This album didn't really change my mind, I'm afraid. Not bad, but didn't start a fire in my heart either.
Electric Light Orchestra
3/5
Yeah, pretty decent. Not my favourite, but heard worse.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Nice, well put together. Musically intelligent and accomplished, but sounds a bit manufactured. Enjoyable though, and will listen again.
Drive-By Truckers
4/5
I don't know what I was expecting. The album title explains exactly what you're in for and they deliver beautifully. A history lesson intertwined with many (MANY) mentions of Lynyrd Skynryd, all set to a country-rock backdrop. I actually really enjoyed this one.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Absolutely brilliant.
ABBA
1/5
Meh, boring pop. Not ABBA's best, and ABBA aren't the best.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Good, fun, fast paced metal. A bit samey, and glad it's over after 40 minutes, but it's good for that long.
Prince
4/5
Better than I expected, but not as good as the hype.
KISS
2/5
Glam rock at its most stereotypical. Not my cup of tea.
Roni Size
3/5
Oh god, the only version which isn't remixes I could find is like 5 hours long. So I only listened to disk 1. I liked it though, reminds me of the background music at a coffee shop that thinks it's trendier than it really is. Impressive for 1997, and has not really aged in the 25 years since it came out apart from DnB being a bit of an aging genre.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
It's the Velvet Underground & Nico. Absolutely iconic. Buuuut a little boring, actually.
Ramones
4/5
Ah man I want to love it, but I just don't. It's good, it's genre-defining, it's fun... I just don't love it.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Decent jazz. I liked it. Great sax work, which as I understand was actually Stanley Turrentine, not Jimmy Smith.
GZA
3/5
Meh, smells like Wu-Tang spin-off. Nothing special going on here.
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
Jefferson Airplane are pretty good dad rock.
Guns N' Roses
2/5
Boring. Never liked G'n'R, and this did not change my mind.
Paul Simon
2/5
Mostly found this boring, I'm afraid.
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
Found this less annoying than I expected after years of finding Smashing Pumpkins annoying. Not my favourite, but no longer feel like I’d skip them.
Stereolab
2/5
Erm, what was this?
Radiohead
4/5
Actually I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I didn't get on too well with Radiohead through their Kid A/Amnesiac period and so slept on this.
Metallica
3/5
I like a lot of metal, but never got into Metallica. I wouldn't even say that I went into this open-minded, I was actively trying to like it, but I just didn't. Maybe that says more about me than Metallica though. Not so bad I'd turn it off, but I just can't get excited about it.
Beck
2/5
Rubbish. Didn't even notice it had stopped.
Ray Charles
3/5
Beautifully done, but not really my thing. Another one I wouldn't turn off if it came on, but won't be seeking out again.
4/5
Now that was cool. Really enjoyed this one.
Rod Stewart
3/5
I thought I didn't like Rod Stewart but I was wrong. This was good.
Korn
4/5
Better than I remember it. I always got a bit turned off by Korn. Not sure exactly why, but it just seemed a bit... silly? But having listened to this whole album, it seems that was primarily fueled by the breakdown in Freak on a Leash.
Pretty good after all. Glad this came up.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Come on Eileen dragged out over a whole LP.
Deep Purple
4/5
Loved this. Obviously 'Smoke on the Water' is well-known everywhere by now, but the rest of the album is also solid early metal. Really enjoyed this, more than I thought I would when it popped up.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
This was the first album I think I feel like I really connected with on here that I did not know before. Puts everything together in a way that feels right. Not challenging, not aggressive, but sits comfortably there and rewards you for careful listening. I'll be listening to this one again.
Stan Getz
3/5
Not bad. Not great. Just background music. Pleasant enough not to turn off, not pleasant enough to dig out again.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Same as the last Dexy's album, just more of it.
Lou Reed
2/5
Not dreadful, but a bit annoying. I liked most of it, but not enough for me to add it to my library.
Blur
3/5
Not bad, not great. A bit weak if you take out Beetlebum and Song 2
Isaac Hayes
4/5
I liked this and will be playing this again. Smooth and listenable.
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
I half-enjoyed this as a story of drugs and guns and violence, but I struggle to relate to those themes, and I found it a bit repetitive after a while.
Pink Floyd
2/5
This is like a superhero's origin story if their origin story was 'I took a lot of drugs before I learned how to make great music'.
I mean, it's not dreadful, but it's not the Pink Floyd that found fame.
The Sabres Of Paradise
1/5
This sounded like computer game menu music. I did not enjoy it very much but it was not unlistenable.
Keith Jarrett
5/5
I really enjoyed this. It's jazz, but accessible and fun to listen to. Sometimes, jazz for me falls into the trap of being a bit too clever to be fun. This didn't. That doesn't mean it's not clever, but it's musical enough that you can uncover the layers for yourself, rather than having them thrust down your throat.
The Prodigy
5/5
Fantastic album otherwise. Iconic cover as well. I remember my Dad buying this and only putting it on when Mum was out...
Hard to put the misogyny of the lyrics aside, but on the other hand, it's hard to imagine anyone with a straight face arguing that this is some kind of incitement to domestic violence. It does seem a bit... dated nowadays, but I suppose it is coming on for 30 years old now, and every other part of the album still slaps as hard as it did in 1997.
The Strokes
2/5
Was this it?
I suppose it's not as bad as all that, but I can't put aside the 'torn skinny jeans' vibe that this gives off. Feels like an act, a fake, put on to make sales.
Probably that's very unfair, but I can't feel any emotion in the music.
Mekons
2/5
A bit nothingy. Not my favourite, but listenable.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
Amazing album, fantastically written, incredibly performed.
Portishead
5/5
I never used to think I liked Portishead. But I was wrong. This is great.
Van Halen
4/5
Good, fun metal.
Gorillaz
3/5
Yeah, same opinion on this as when it came out. It's not dreadful, but it's not that good either. Decently put together tunes.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
I feel like I need to be in the right mood to enjoy this, but it's fantastic if you get hooked in. Absolutely beautifully put together, perfectly balanced unmusical noise.
Solange
2/5
Actually better than I expected for 'Beyoncé's' sister, but not something I'd dig out again.
Rush
4/5
Self-indulgent, brilliant prog. Not great story-writing though.
Beatles
2/5
Meh, boring Beatles. Sorry.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
1/5
Rubbish. One of the worst albums I've come across so far on this.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Better than I expected. Nice one Frank!
Joanna Newsom
3/5
A bit odd. Not bad, per se, but weird and not really for me.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
OK, Buddy Holly. A bit outmoded for me, but I quite liked it anyway.
Kate Bush
5/5
This was absolutely brilliant. Never dug into Kate Bush's back catalogue beyond the obvious Running Up That Hill and Hounds of Love, but I've liked Tori Amos for a long time, and I see a lot of similarities. If you take Bush's more experimental stuff and extrapolate, you end up with Björk, but if you take the core of this album and extrapolate, you end up with Little Earthquakes. Probably the most enjoyable discovery so far on this voyage.
Depeche Mode
2/5
Meh not great. I like Depeche mode in general but this was a bit too much for me.
Sigur Rós
4/5
Nice background music. Dark, nordic, soundscapey rather than fun listenable tunes.
The Incredible String Band
1/5
Dreadful. I can't rightly imagine what the label must have thought as they pressed this. When John Peel arrived at the pearly gates, St Peter probably had this second on his list, after all the Yewtree stuff he was involved in.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I'm more Stones than Beatles, but honestly, neither of them ever really did very much for me. This was OK. Nothing super special.
Happy Mondays
3/5
Yeah I didn't mind this, but I won't go looking for it again.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
This was pretty OK, but not so good that I can't wait to cue it up again.
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
I didn't particularly enjoy this when it came out, and I still don't today, but I think it has aged relatively well. I don't think it shows its age at all and that I think is praiseworthy in and of itself.
PJ Harvey
3/5
I liked this but I'm not as much of a PJ Harvey fan as her reputation requires. Decent, but not *great*
Guided By Voices
2/5
I don't get it. I checked some of the reviews by other people, and it seems that some people love this, but I couldn't find anything to love in it I'm afraid.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Ah, Led Zeppelin. Great blues rock. I particularly enjoyed Moby Dick, because I've learned how to play the main riff (a sort of 12 bar blues shuffle) with my guitar teacher and it's a fun way to warm up before practising.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Ah, Marvin Gaye. Beautiful voice, well constructed songs. A pleasure to listen to.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
I liked it, but not life changing.
Wire
4/5
Punky fun. I liked this.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Yeah not bad, but background music for me.
Kanye West
1/5
What a load of tripe. Angry man being rude about women.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Not my thing really. Not bad, but not my thing.
The Police
5/5
I think my first exposure to The Police was watching my uncle's band do a cover of Message in a Bottle. That main riff caught my ear, and I've loved the song ever since. This is a fun album and pretty critical for reggae/rock fusion. Great stuff.
Syd Barrett
1/5
It's hard to separate the tragedy of Syd Barrett from the quality of his post-Pink Floyd work, but by this point, sadly his best years were clearly behind him already.
Supertramp
3/5
Decent rock. I enjoyed this as background music while I was working, but don't think I'd sit and just listen to it. I was surprised to learn it's not a concept album telling the backstory of the perpetrator of the 'Crime of the Century' but turns out they just liked that track name best.
Sugar
4/5
I actually enjoyed this more than I probably should. Brings up a lot of memories of 90s films and stuff. It's not great art, but *shrug* I like what I like.
Pixies
4/5
I mean yeah, Pixies. Give me more. A relic of its time for sure, but every track on this album brings the same energy. Great alt-punk-grunge-rock, if a little out there.
Television
2/5
Nothing rock. Not bad, just bland.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
Odd, but enjoyable. Thursday afternoon in a dive bar in the US vibes. Not too much call for that kind of music in my life, but also not something I'd rush to the jukebox to change.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Brilliant album from start to finish. I'm taking this voyage through music and doing my best to ignore controversy, so I'll keep doing that here, but yeah. Every track is brilliant. No surprise it's a best seller.
Deep Purple
4/5
I actually liked this a lot more than I was expecting. I might give this another listen at some point.
The Pogues
5/5
Great fun, no-nonsense Irish punk. Love it.
The Who
4/5
Given what we know today, could have done without some of the non-musical interludes. As live albums go though, the musical bits are pretty good.
David Bowie
3/5
I love Bowie, but this album is weak, I'm afraid.
Neu!
1/5
I did not enjoy this at all.
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
An album of its time for sure, but a great time it was. Love the guest vocals from Beth Orton too, and the whole thing just sort of rolls out in front of you. Great album.
Van Morrison
4/5
Van the Man, bit of an unlikeable bloke by all accounts, but great music.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Not bad, but not Costello's greatest work.
Ali Farka Touré
5/5
I have loved this album since I first heard it. Beautiful guitar work, flavours of Africa and blues music throughout. Absolute master class.
Bobby Womack
3/5
Yeah, nice. Soulful.
Pere Ubu
1/5
Just goes to show, the trope of older folks saying 'Is that what you call music?' works in reverse too.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Nothing special. I mean it's nice and everything, but I won't be rushing to re-listen.
Beatles
3/5
Still not a Beatles fan, but this was actually pretty OK.
Mike Ladd
3/5
This was interesting. I thought I was going to enjoy it but in the end it just got a bit boring and samey.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
Better than I expected, but not by much. Pleasant enough to listen to but I'm not writing home about any of the songs on here.
Charles Mingus
4/5
I enjoyed this. Quite an accessible dive into jazz, and pleasant to boot.
The Who
4/5
I like the Who, this was pretty fun.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Ahhh, Jimi. This was great, just as I remembered.
Kanye West
2/5
The best thing about this album is the selection of samples.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
A masterpiece. The energy and anger come through beautifully.
Probably not one for folks who are more melodically minded, but who said music needs a melody, right?
The Stooges
4/5
Great fun. Loud and aggressive. More like this!
Johnny Cash
4/5
Johnny Cash does a great set for the lads at San Quentin, and there's a clear feeling of 'but for the grace of God' in the way he speaks to the prisoners between songs. I enjoyed listening to this very much.
Fiona Apple
3/5
Not bad, not great, just... a thing? I don't really get it, I guess. Pop-rock with a side of jazz, I'd listen again, but only if someone else suggested it.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I never considered myself a fan of the Stones, but this was great.
The Stooges
4/5
This was great, but hard to listen to.
Teenage Fanclub
4/5
A bit culty and of its time, but not bad. I would probably put this on again if the mood took me for something under-polished and raw, but not too hard.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
An absolute masterclass in lyrical and musical excellence. But imagine the hubris required to think HE was the best person to sing his songs. Fantastic songwriting, suboptimal execution.
The Clash
5/5
Fun punk. Never mind the Sex Pistols, here's the Clash.
Simple Minds
3/5
A bit samey and boring. Felt like a bus ride through suburbia.
Incubus
4/5
I really enjoyed this. But, I'm a bit confused about the metal label. This belongs on mixtapes with Goo Goo Dolls, Third Eye Blind and Matchbox 20, not Deftones, Korn, Limp Bizkit.
Simply Red
3/5
My wife walked in while I was listening this and says 'it feels like I'm ordering a drink in a hotel lobby'. She's not wrong. Pleasant, but ultimately pointless and says nothing of interest of value in a fairly mundane way.
Solomon Burke
3/5
Great voice, a bit boring though.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
My dad played this for me once a long time ago and I didn't find anything to connect with in the music. Now I'm older, I really enjoyed it.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Never really listened to Sabbath before, but this was really interesting, bridging from blues to metal. A worthwhile listen.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
A lot of varied music on here, and decently done, but nothing that jumped out as fantastic. I enjoyed, but it's showing its age.
Bad Brains
5/5
This one was a lot of fun. I'd listen to this again for sure.
The Avalanches
4/5
Quite nice. Ambient alternative electronic indie.
I'd put this on again.
N.W.A.
3/5
It's hard, reading the lyrics today, to think that this was actually meant seriously. Lyrics like 'I think with my ding-a-ling'... If this were a joke, I'd think it was a pretty funny one. Still, hasn't aged well given the misogyny.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
I wouldn't particularly rave about this, but it's put together well, and it's enjoyable.
Sebadoh
4/5
Well, that was fun.
Waylon Jennings
2/5
Yeah not for me. Not terrible, just boring.
Elton John
4/5
Beautiful. Elton John at his best!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Fun indie-pop from the late naughties. Better than most of the other stuff that was coming out around that time, but not exciting musically.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Great blues album, beautifully written and executed.
1/5
Waste of my time tracking this down and then listening to it. What a shame.
Cheap Trick
3/5
I quite enjoyed this. Loud and fun, more or less what I expected.
Soft Machine
3/5
I... hm. I want to hate it for its arrogance and self-indulgent wankery, but I can't. I actually found this quite enjoyable as background music.
Talking Heads
4/5
I liked this very much. Absolutely prototypical Talking Heads. Great album.
The Cure
4/5
More Cure? It feels like this whole list has been nothing but The Cure. I looked back though, and seems there was only one album before this? Anyway I like The Cure and this was no exception.
Scissor Sisters
3/5
I had a friend once called Dan. We met in Yaroslavl', he was on a semester abroad from Nottingham Uni, and I was there from Sheffield. He was unintentionally hilarious. He had an iPod, and on his iPod was a playlist called 'Dan's Playlist', and all it had on it was 'I Don't Feel Like Dancing' twice.
This album doesn't have 'I Don't Feel Like Dancing' on it, and isn't fantastic, musically speaking, but it brought back some fun memories.
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
I liked this. Not groundbreaking (at least, not for me), but decent, 90s indiebritpoprock.
Janet Jackson
3/5
Great voice. A little boring, but not bad.
Parliament
2/5
I did not enjoy this one really..
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Meh. I guess this was OK, barely remember it the next day.
Frank Sinatra
2/5
If you like this sort of thing, it's probably fun. Mostly reminds me of elevators.
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
This was odd. Not unexpected for Zappa, but odd nonetheless. And not really good.
N.E.R.D
1/5
Yeah I have no idea how this middle-of-the-road nonsense rap-pop ended up on this list. Skip this one please.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
Very polished country rock. Separate the art from the artist, and this is a pretty great album.
Adele
3/5
I liked this more than I thought I would, but not enough for me to actually be impressed by it.
Faust
2/5
Weird and noisy. Not really my jam, sadly, because it felt like there was probably some gold in here that I couldn't quite mine out.
Ray Charles
3/5
I liked it, but for me this is a relic of its time, and however seminal it may have been, it's just... not that fun to listen to any more.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
3/5
Went on a bit long, but was actually quite good.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Iconic, but sounds like the theme tune to a not-very-good film now through overuse.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Loved it, although two live prison albums by Johnny Cash might be a bit unnecessary.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Marvin Gaye, beautiful voice, lots of emotion, but musically a bit stale.
Supergrass
4/5
I actually enjoyed this a lot. Good late-spring fun.
Can
4/5
Yeah not bad. A little... sparse? But enjoyable.
Nirvana
5/5
Outstanding.
AC/DC
4/5
AC/DC, great fun, good music, high-energy.
Rod Stewart
2/5
Meh, fine, sounds like something my mum might enjoy.
Elbow
2/5
Not much fun. Felt a bit... 'done', and of its time.
Lightning Bolt
2/5
At a bit of a loss to know what to say about this. I certainly didn't enjoy listening to it, but on the other hand it was in a perverse way kind of interesting.
Frank Ocean
5/5
I love this album. Smooth, calm, while the lyrics are anything but. Great album.
Cream
5/5
Absolutely brilliant. Clapton at his best.
Tangerine Dream
3/5
Interesting, but not really my scene.
Buzzcocks
5/5
Absolutely brilliant. Fun and enjoyable, punk as it's supposed to be. I love it!
Cornershop
1/5
This seems to have made it onto the list due to the short-lived popularity of Brimful of Asha. There is a reason it was short-lived.
Booker T. & The MG's
2/5
This was OK, but apart from the title track everything else seemed a bit... empty? Like something was missing.
Coldplay
2/5
Boring. Clocks is OK.
Dennis Wilson
3/5
This was better than I expected, all the Charles Manson stuff was a wild read while I listened. Overall, I enjoyed this, but not enough to go searching for it again.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
Generally mediocre with a few moments of brilliance. I like the message, but the execution isn't great.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Not bad. I like the Beach Boys. Brian Wilson died yesterday so I had the opportunity to listen to one of his contributions to the world. It's cool, but I'm not converted, I'm afraid.
Fugees
4/5
I liked this. Very cool hip-hop!
Public Enemy
2/5
Just not that great, sorry.
Tom Tom Club
2/5
This was... I dunno what it was, but it wasn't something I enjoyed.
Klaxons
3/5
I think this is very much a relic of its time. Definitely not top 1001 albums, just a (decent) one-ish hit wonder group.
The Crusaders
4/5
This was more fun than I expected. Inoffensive, funky jazz, great background music.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
2/5
This album feels like I *should* love it. I love all the component pieces, but put together it just sounds... I dunno. Not for me.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
It's Led Zep, what's not to like?
The Coral
3/5
Actually quite good, but another example of a band that were added because they were the big thing when the author wrote the list, not because they wrote music that would stand the test of time.
The Byrds
2/5
Yeah, not excited about this.
Scritti Politti
2/5
Boring, like if MJ had no energy.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
Not bad, actually. I am not a huge hip-hop fan, but this was quite listenable. Intelligently written, great beats, and well-delivered rhymes.
I liked this.
Talking Heads
4/5
This is great. Lots of Talking Heads goodness, sparse, aggressive but restrained. Very enjoyable.
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
I like Ali Farka Toure. Chill blues with an African vibe. This album is great, very cool.
Haircut 100
1/5
Yeah, pass on this one I'm afraid.
Kraftwerk
1/5
I mean, seminal, but in the same way that milking a bull is: not something I particularly feel the need to experience first hand.
Duke Ellington
4/5
Excited and engaging jazz. I enjoyed this.
Adele
3/5
I have avoided this album because that Hello song was played *EVERYWHERE* and I hated it, but actually, you dive further into the album and it's just more of the same. Which is good, if you're in the mood for something sung beautifully but without much challenge. I enjoyed this.
Not bad, not good, just... in the middle. Mostly forgettable.
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
I am glad that is over.
Steve Winwood
2/5
Fine. Not special.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Bob Dylan. Forever a reminder of my godfather.
Sade
3/5
Great voice, average music. A few gems, though.
U2
2/5
The beginning of the decline of U2. I remember my aunt giving me a tape cassette of U2's War once in a long and distant past, and I played the shit out of it. I enjoyed the energy, the post-punky angst, and the musicianship.
Sadly, this album doesn't really embody any of that, and marks a turn towards mediocrity for U2.
Roxy Music
4/5
I liked this more than I was expecting. A pleasant surprise.
Beastie Boys
2/5
Meh, not for me. Beastie Boys are a bit too boisterous for me to enjoy properly.
MGMT
3/5
Not bad. Reminds me of my year abroad, but I think other than that, I would probably just pass over this.
Prince
3/5
I enjoyed this about as much as I thought I would.
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
Another one which did not stand the test of time. Decent in and of itself, but not a top 1001 in my opinion.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Not sure if this was intentional or not, Ozzy died the day before I got this album. Nevertheless, great rock, and an inspiration for so many amazing artists since.
The Replacements
5/5
Very cool. Probably the first album on this list that I LOVED that I've not heard before (333).
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I dunno, not really my think I think. Fine as these things go.
The Killers
4/5
Actually quite good, I didn't give it a proper go when it first came out, but it's stood the test of time.
Tom Waits
4/5
I really enjoyed this, great bassline, Tom Waits's... unique vocal style. Worth my time.
Beach House
2/5
I only listened to it yesterday and already I can't remember it well enough to write a review.
Madonna
3/5
Actually better than I thought it would be on balance. My younger self would be disappointed that I'm not cooler as a grown-up.
Steely Dan
3/5
This was fun, it grew on me as the tracks played out.
Duran Duran
4/5
I enjoyed this. Obviously the title track is great, but the whole album is actually pretty fun to listen to.
2/5
Not my thing, I'm afraid. I'm sure it's good, but just didn't jive for me.
The Smiths
5/5
Shame Morrissey is who he is, but fantastic music.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
2/5
Yeah, this was OK. Again, not my style, but sounds like a decent effort if you like salsa music.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
3/5
I mean, fine. Jazz, I enjoyed.
Sam Cooke
3/5
Not bad, a guy clearly loving what he does.
Van Morrison
2/5
Meh, Van the Man, just mum pop.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
Yeah, Jane's Addiction are fun and loud. More of this please!
Death In Vegas
5/5
I love Death In Vegas. Great memories, great music.
Al Green
3/5
That was fine, nothing special though.
Simon & Garfunkel
2/5
Meh, Simon and Garfunkel. Boring.
Christina Aguilera
1/5
Wow this has two discs.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
I liked this. Fun blues-rock with an unmistakable African spin. I'd listen again.
The United States Of America
1/5
Not my thing.
Eminem
5/5
Excellent rap music. If you can get over the profanity, vulgarity, and general nastiness, this is incredibly well put together, intelligently produced and written rap music.
Little Richard
3/5
I think there's a lot to be said for being the first person to do something, and so credit to Little Richard for that. But I guess it's just a bit too old-fashioned for me to fully enjoy today.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
1/5
I am sure their mothers think they did a good job.
Gotan Project
2/5
Meh, I don't really understand what this is doing here.
Ghostface Killah
3/5
This was ok, as these things go. Won't look it up again, but had worse recommendations here.
Fela Kuti
3/5
Not bad, I'd consider looking this up again.
Prince
2/5
Prince is a good singer and a good guitarist, but this just didn't sing to me.
Van Morrison
2/5
Actually much worse than I remember. Not particularly interesting. Competent, well-crafted, but mostly manufactured rather than created.
Sinead O'Connor
4/5
Nothing Compares 2 This.
Ravi Shankar
4/5
Actually quite interesting. This was 1957. I feel like this exposes a cultural gap in my knowledge, because I feel like a lot of 'Indian music' sounds like this. But then if Indian music sounded like this 70 years ago, then I must have missed a lot.
David Bowie
4/5
David Bowie is cool. This is good. Happy to listen to this any time.
Talking Heads
3/5
I like Talking Heads, but they have done better than this.
Goldfrapp
2/5
Yeah, I don't really think this lives here. It's one of those albums that seemed like it might be a classic at the time, but didn't last.
Minutemen
5/5
This was fun. Loud and right on the edge of punk. I enjoyed this!
Jeff Buckley
5/5
Excellent album musically. Fantastic lyricism and vocal work. Not the first time I've listened to this, and it won't be the last either.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Pretty enjoyable. I accidentally put some kind of deluxe version and didn't realise that I'd listened to much more than I originally intended, which is a good sign, I think!
Coldplay
2/5
Not quite as boring as I remember Coldplay being, but still pretty boring.
Miles Davis
4/5
An interesting experiment that didn't *quite* make it as far as being great, but definitely good fun to listen to.
Stevie Wonder
2/5
I have already forgotten this. Sorry, just not my thing.
Blur
3/5
Great album, original, fun, but not really my thing.
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
Not really my genre, but fun and listenable!
Yes
4/5
Surprisingly good. Proggy without being too weird.
Bon Jovi
3/5
Well, it's Bon Jovi, so you know what you're getting. Fun.
The Pretty Things
2/5
I don't particularly like the Beatles, and these guys quite clearly want to be the Beatles.
Lorde
3/5
Never quite managed to get on the Lorde hype train I'm afraid. Good, but not great.
Sex Pistols
5/5
Absolutely love it. Fantastic album
Billy Joel
3/5
This was OK, a bit boring though.
Linkin Park
4/5
Great album. I kind of slept on LP when they first came out because I thought they were too 'mainstream' and I was too cool.
I regret it now.
The Modern Lovers
3/5
This was OK, but nothing special.
TV On The Radio
2/5
I didn't really get on with this.
R.E.M.
4/5
A lot of memories, I like this album. Weird but well put together.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Clearly an excellent musician. Separating the art from the artist is always tricky, but in principle, this is excellent pop music. There's a reason he's still well known decades later.
Mariah Carey
3/5
Great voice, but she knows it.
John Martyn
3/5
I quite enjoyed this as sort of jazzy ambient music, but lost focus on it half way through.
4/5
This was actually a lot of fun. I enjoyed this.
AC/DC
4/5
This was fun!
Willie Nelson
2/5
I mean, meh. Not really my thing I'm afraid.
CHVRCHES
5/5
A lot of hate for CHVRCHES out there, but honestly, I put it on and the world feels a bit brighter.
It's not particularly complex musically, lyrically, or thematically, but it is a fantastic example of what pop could be.
PJ Harvey
2/5
I dunno, this kind of flew over my head I think.
Queen
2/5
Queen and I never really got on. Good, I guess, but meh.
Alice In Chains
4/5
Heavy stuff.
Sonic Youth
1/5
There were some tree surgeons outside and they were cutting the trees. I paused the album and thought my pause button was broken because I could still hear the incessant drone. It occurred to me at that point that it must not be that enjoyable if it doesn't sound much different to a chainsaw.
Public Enemy
4/5
Pretty decent, considering I am not normally a big hip-hop fan.
PJ Harvey
3/5
I dunno, I liked it, I guess? Not fun or easy listening though.
D'Angelo
4/5
I enjoyed this. D'Angelo was in the news recently because he died. I wonder if this is intentional, the same happened when Ozzie died.
David Bowie
1/5
Almost unlistenable. I love Bowie, but...
3/5
I enjoyed this more than the previous PJ Harvey. Well written, sounds good, but a bit to indie-y for me.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
1/5
Not my thing. Too boring.
Paul Simon
2/5
I am not a Paul Simon fan, and this didn't win me over.
LL Cool J
4/5
Great music, but a bit aged by now lyrically. Still, for a 35 year old album, it's doing remarkably well.
Miles Davis
5/5
Ahhhhh. I love it. Not everyone's cup of tea for sure, but for me, this is incredible.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Pretty samey and uninspiring for me, although I did feel like he was pouring his heart into it, so earns an extra star.
Gene Clark
4/5
I actually quite enjoyed this. Sounds like the inspiration for a lot of the vocal sound used by Del Amitri.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
Absolutely horrible. I love it.
Billy Bragg
5/5
Billy Bragg has a dreadful voice and fantastic lyrics. Love this.
Method Man
2/5
Not bad, a bit gritty and growly.
Girls Against Boys
3/5
Noisy and fun, but not really top 1001, I would say.
Venom
2/5
That was boring.
Donald Fagen
2/5
Not really my thing. How did this get on the list? Pretty forgettable.
Aimee Mann
2/5
The title says it all, really.
The Auteurs
2/5
Not bad, not great. Just "OK".
Steely Dan
3/5
OK, not great, not terrible. Pretty boring Dad rock.
Queen Latifah
3/5
I liked this, but in a sort of a... it's on the radio on a long drive and I've listened to all my tapes 100 times and will listen to anything different whatever it is kind of way.
Common
4/5
Pretty good, I enjoyed this. Love, a hipster with a humanities degree.
M.I.A.
1/5
This is possibly the worst album I've had on here. Maybe it's a taste thing?
Laura Nyro
2/5
Not special, but also not terrible.
Tricky
3/5
I enjoyed it, but not enough to remember it a few days later
Os Mutantes
1/5
Not my thing, I'm afraid.
Hanoi Rocks
1/5
Not really that good, to be honest.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Never really got Simon & Garfunkel. It's fine, just... a bit boring.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
Frank Zappa for the most part is just a bit much for me. Feels a bit samey, self-indulgent. Not bad, but not something I particularly feel in awe of.
Holger Czukay
2/5
This was hard work. Not for me, I'm afraid.
John Grant
1/5
Nope.
Peter Gabriel
2/5
I'm just not a Peter Gabriel fan, I'm afraid.
Ray Price
2/5
Again, fine, but not really my thing.
Beatles
2/5
Never been a fan of the Beatles, and I am familiar with this album already.
The Blue Nile
2/5
This was OK, but again, nothing to write home about.
Richard Thompson
5/5
Beautiful, although also sentimentally significant, so don't read too much into my words (but do listen to the album).
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
This was quite good. I enjoyed the guest appearances, and although I get it's a taste thing, I actually quite like the vocals.
Queen
2/5
I don't love Queen, not sure why.
Traffic
2/5
Not bad, but I wouldn't listen to this again.
Kraftwerk
1/5
What a load of rubbish. Boring and uninspired. Sounds like a 12 year old made it.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Bob at his best.
System Of A Down
5/5
Morrissey
1/5
Shame he's a cunt.
Skunk Anansie
4/5
Great punk, enjoyed this a lot!
The Vines
3/5
I don't remember most of this. Middle of the road Indie.
50 Cent
3/5
I enjoyed this. It's gangster rap, and a bit out of my normal comfort zone, but it got me bopping my head without really paying attention to the lyrics.
In Da Club is overplayed, but other than that, the other tracks didn't make me want to turn it off.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
3/5
Yeah, pretty good. My Dad likes these guys. Dunno, I don't think I'd pick this out of a line-up though.
Machito
2/5
I think it lives up to the 'Afro-Cuban Jazz' moniker. If that's what you like, then you'll like this.
Aerosmith
1/5
They tell you to separate the art from the artist, but even so, the art itself isn't great.
John Coltrane
5/5
Goldie
3/5
Not bad, but a bit samey after a while.
Everything But The Girl
2/5
A bit boring to be honest. I liked Walking Wounded, but this wasn't worth the time I spent on it.
Big Star
2/5
Completely forgettable, if not bad.
Circle Jerks
4/5
Fun and loud.