1001 Albums Summary

Let's be honest: you're not here for tight lyricism or complex instrumentation. You're just here to rock out, and this album succeeds in that regard. A lot of the songs that I would normally consider bad were saved by their energy. Plus, the singers' accents lead to some unintentionally funny moments ("Texas Chainsaw Mass-a-cree" is one example). All in all, this album is a punk rock classic and I had a fun time listening to it. Best song: Blitzkrieg Bop Worst song: 53rd & 3rd Underrated Gem: Listen to My Heart Best Song Title: Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue Album Score: 6/10

I don't even like rap. Album Score: 10/10 Best Song: i Worst Song: You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said)

I did not expect live concert albums to be a part of this list, but okay... Being a live performance, there is a lot of extended jam sessions on this album. The most egregious example is Space Truckin', which lasts for almost 20 minutes. That being said, there is always something interesting going on in these jams that make them worth listening to, whether it be a seven-minute drum solo or a duel between a guitar and Ian Gillan's screeching falsetto. It may not be the most impressive thing out there, but it is definitely a good album to have playing in the background while doing other things. Best Song: Child in Time Worst Song: Lazy Underrated Gem: The Mule Best Guitar Impersonation: Strange Kind of Woman Album Score: 8/10

For a rockin' punk band with an unsubtle political stance, this album is really, really boring. It's not bad, but I have absolutely no feelings for it whatsoever. At least this band would go on to make some actual great music. Best Song: Janie Jones Worst Song: Police and Thieves Underrated Gem: idfk uhhh Career Opportunities i guess Punk Reggae: Police and Thieves Album Score: 4/10

5 albums in and I got someone I never heard of before. I must say, I am super impressed. If anyone tells you that modern music sucks, direct them to this album! Best Song: I've Been Dazed Worst Song: Piano Joint (This Kind of Love) - Intro Most Likely to be Used in a Car Commercial: Rolling Album Score: 9/10

Songs are definitely too long for my taste, but they're fine. Besides, this album gave us "Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo Doo Chasers)", so it can't be bad. Best Song: Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?! Worst Song: Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll!) Fried Ice Cream: A Reality Available on Spotify?: lol no get real >:P Album Score: 6/10

Very corny but very fun. Lauryn Hill has an amazing voice, she kills every RnB song on the album. Also they censor every cuss word by backmasking the vocals WITH the instrumental, and that gets annoying. Best Song: Ready or Not Worst Song: Zealots Most Epic Hood: New Jersey Album Score: 7/10

Thirst half of this album did not leave a good impression on me, but that second half... goddamn! Adult contemporary still isn't my thing, but this album's second half might convert me one of these days. Overall, the album is perfectly decent, would be higher if that first half was better. Best Song: Constant Craving Worst Song: Wash Me Clean Underrated Gem: Still Thrives This Love Album Score: 6/10

Best Song: So Long, Marianne Worst Song: basically everything else Album Score: 3/10

A lot of these songs are great, but most of them just stick to the AC/DC formula with no big deviation. It's a fun formula, but I kind of wish there was more going on under the hood. Best Song: Back in Black Worst Song: Let Me Put My Love Into You Underrated Gem: Shake a Leg Most AC/DC Song Ever: Have a Drink on Me Album Score: 7/10

Very great album, even if it drags a bit sometimes. If you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go gaze at my shoes now. Best Song: Vapour Trail Worst Song: Paralysed Underrated Gem: In a Different Place They Stole Taxman's Bassline: Seagull Album Score: 8/10

Was gonna be unbiased for this album, but they ruined "Helter Skelter," so I gotta give them 1 star out of principle. Album Score: 4/10

Best Song: Friction Worst Song: Venus Album Score: 7/10

Very grungy and slimy. I like it. Best Song: Rooster Worst Song: Untitled Album Score: 8/10

Yep, this album is definitely white reggae. Not awful, but not fantastic either. Basically this album has "Message in a Bottle" and that's it. Album Score: 6/10

This album is an absolue classic. Every song gives off massive good vives, and it feels like everyone working on this album is having the time of their lives. Even the more ridiculous songs like "(I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You" work because of Louis' infectious energy (plus it's funny how he giggles to himself partway through it). I had a huge smile on my face the whole way through, and if you hate this album, you might want to see a therapist. Best Song: Just a Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody Worst Song: Five Months, Two Weeks, Two Days Underrated Gem: Whistle Stop Shoobie Doobie Hooboy: Guaba Haba Zoozow Album Score: 9/10

Coldplay's modern pop endeavors may not be the best music out there, but their older stuff still holds up for me. The first half of this album is amazing; the chord progressions and melodies are hauntingly beautiful at points. However, the second half is full of less exciting stuff. Not bad stuff, but it's nothing particularly notable for me. Will definitely be coming back to this one. Best Song: The Scientist Worst Song: Green Eyes Underrated Gem: Politik OH MY GOD I'M SO SICK OF CLOCKS! I HAVE TO HEAR THIS SONG EVERY DAY AT WORK, I CAN'T ESCAPE IT! MAKE IT STOP!!! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, MAKE IT STO-!!!: Clocks Album Score: 8/10

*insert Nostalgia Critic joke here* Okay, so this album has a concept I like, and the story it presents is compelling and cool and stuff, but the songs themselves don't do much to stand on their own. A lot of these tracks I like in context, but I'm sure they wouldn't be very understandable taken out of context of the overall narrative (the ultimate cost of being a concept album). I guess what I'm trying to say is that I respect this album more than I like it, but I still think it's good all in all ("you're just another brick in the wall"). Best Song: Comfortably Numb Worst Song: Bring the Boys Back Home Album Score: 7/10

A timeless classic. Ray Charles has a fantastic voice and he effortlessly converts these country songs into beautiful swing and soul numbers. Fantastic all around! Note for Spotify Users: Volumes 1 & 2 are combined into one album on Spotify, but only Disc 1 was on the original album. Best Song: You Don't Know Me Weakest Song: I Can't Stop Loving You Album Score: 10/10

Best Song: Fame Weakest Song: Can You Hear Me Underrated Gem: Fascination Album Score: 7/10

Southern rock at its finest. A few songs are simply decent rather than great, but it's still a fun time regardless. Best Song: Free Bird (obviously) Worst Song: Mississippi Kid Album Score: 9/10

A decent mixed bag. At its best, it has some great proggy goodness; at its worst, it's just generic 80's dad rock. Best Song: YYZ Worst Song: Limelight Rush's Favorite Time Signature: 7/4 Album Score: 6/10

Honestly, what is there to say about this album that hasn't already been said? Best Song: Money Worst Song: On the Run The Lunatic: On the Grass Album Score: 9/10

I'm finally returning to this website after over a year, and boy, what an album to return to! This seemingly quaint and inconsequential collaboration between some of the most artsy Englishmen of the time (Soft Machine drummer Robert Wyatt, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, "Tubular Bells Guy" Mike Oldfield, celebrated poet Ivor Cutler, prolific guitarist Fred Frith, etc.) has exceeded any and all expectations I had going into it. Each of the six tracks on this record create a vibrant and colorful picture of the ocean, delicately balancing the beautiful landscape of the ocean floor and the treacherous, stormy waters above. After learning about the making of Rock Bottom, it becomes very obvious that Wyatt's accident played a large part in developing the tone of this album. The marine environment this album resides in also doubles as an allegory for the emotional turmoil that he must have felt at the time (e.g., "Sea Song" includes references to seasonal depression, "A Last Straw" may imply a domestic argument), and many of the more avant-garde moments create an uncomfortable tension that further exemplifies this metaphor. Overall, Rock Bottom is a captivating and rewarding listen that I imagine will become one of t=my personal favorite records very quickly. Standout Tracks: Sea Song, Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road, Little Red Robin Hood Hit the Road Score: SS

I'm wondering how the critics at the time thought this album would become a defining influence in popular music, but I'm not complaining. This is still a fantastic album that blends the traditions of its creators with the passionate energy of blues rock. What may come across as the trite, stadium-sized "alt-rock" of acts like X Ambassadors is transformed into a soulful, engaging performance by way of African polyrhythms and vocal stylings. In the second half, the band takes a slower, stripped-down approach and shifts its focus to a more folk-inspired sound. While I do enjoy the first half more, the entire project remains a great listen and neither side of the group overstays its welcome. If you're looking for a project that takes the elements of American music and makes something unique from it, I would highly recommend checking this out. Favorite Tracks: Soubour, Al Hassidi Terei, Petit Metier, Desert Melodie Score: A

In the final album of Nick Drake's tragically short career, his melancholy sound reaches its logical conclusion. Compared to his first two records, Pink Moon is as lonely and as bare as ever. Almost zero studio overdubs this time around (with the obvious exception of the title track), consisting solely of Drake's poetry and an acoustic guitar. This lack of instrumentation, however, works to the album's benefit, allowing all the focus to be placed on the words and how they are sung. Each track contains subtle changes in mood based on how the guitar is played, which keeps the record from feeling repetitive despite the simple formula. And even if you don't like this type of album, it's only 28 minutes, so you won't have to endure it for long. Standout Tracks: Pink Moon, Horn, Things Behind the Sun, Parasite, Free Ride Score: SS

"The DJ's name is Premier, and I'm the Guru" With Gang Starr's sophomore release, the duo ups the ante of their debut with a solid collection of tracks. Each beat that DJ Premier produced for this record is superbly mellow and understated, which is beautifully juxtaposed by the focused lyricism of "The Guru," Keith Elam. His rapping is rather complex for the time, employing internal rhyme schemes that could easily be written off as Guru just showing off, but he manages to come off as a smooth and refined MC. While this project is not as polished as their later works, and a few of the tracks can be seen as dated by today's standards, Step in the Arena still stands as a solid hip-hop record that I would recommend to anyone looking to get into the genre. Standout Tracks: Step in the Arena, Execution of a Chump, Check the Technique, Love Sick, Just to Get a Rep Score: B

Standout Tracks: Down to the Waterline, Sultans of Swing, In the Gallery Score: C+

I guess Edwin Starr was wrong - War IS good for something. For those of you who only know about this group from their single "Low Rider," you're not going to get the same style of music on this record. The World Is a Ghetto takes things in a more standard funk/soul direction, with lots of extended funk jams throughout. While the longer tracks can definitely drag on for some people, I think the tight musicianship helps to maintain energy as the tracks change in flow. This album is a fantastic funk classic that deserves more attention. Standout Tracks: The Cisco Kid; City, Country, City; The World Is a Ghetto; Beetles in the Bog Score: A+

With this being a list of "must-hear" records, I get how a country album can be seen as to plain and traditional to deserve a spot. That being said, Joe Ely's "Honky Tonk Masquerade" is well worth the listen for me. What can easily be ridden off as bog-standard country music is elevated by Ely's passion and charm, as well as a bright, sparkly production. There's also plenty of unconventional instrumental touches that break up the usual honky-tonk sound, such as an accordion and a Moog synthesizer (of all things!). Even if you're not the biggest fan of the country genre, I would still recommend checking this album out. You may be pleasantly surprised. Standout Tracks: Because of the Wind, Boxcars, Honky Tonk Masquerade, Fingernails Score: B-

So forward-thinking that it still sounds futuristic today. Gary Numan had just discovered a Minimoog synthesizer sitting around in the studio before making this album, and his fascination with his shiny new toy creates a record like no other. Every track is thoroughly coated in the warm, spacey sound of the synth, while the limited composition and songwriting trap each song in a claustrophobic atmosphere. These two conflicting forces paint a picture of an advanced, futuristic fantasy world hiding a somber note of isolation and paranoia. Of course, with every song containing similar textures and structures, it can often feel like the whole project bleeds together, and no particular track stands out (except, of course, for the hit single "Cars"). Despite this, the album comes together into a mesmerizing proto-New Wave classic that convinced me to check out the rest of this man's catalogue. Standout Tracks: Airlane, Metal, M.E., Conversation, Cars Score: A-

"Come on, England!" *deepthroats microphone* It sucks reading through all the negative reviews on this website where the only criticism is that "this bloke is annoying and stupid and misogynist and yadda yadda yadda." That's very clearly the point to this record and Ian Dury's whole schtick -- dirty rock n' roll where any semblance of modesty and chivalry are chewed up and spat out. The fact that songs this raunchy and nauseating are as fun and danceable as they are is a very concerning fact, yet that's exactly the type of music that tops the charts. The only thing that sets Dury's work apart is that he's being brutally honest about the type of person who writes these songs, and that makes for an unforgettable project. It's cheeky, irreverent, and very, very British. The only criticism I have is that his vocal performance is very inflexible, and it gets pretty annoying by the second half. Regardless, I believe this album is severely overhated and well worth a listen. Standout Tracks: Wake Up and Make Love With Me, My Old Man, Billericay Dickie, Plaistow Patricia, Blackmail Man Score: B+

I guess I'm just too old for this... Standout Tracks: All the ones where Johnny does the funny beatboxing thing IDK Score: E

They really should use the original album cover on this website; it'll be hilarious seeing people get jumpscared by the freaky faces. A lot of the jazz records I see get praise from critics and music nerds tend to skew towards songs with fast tempos and/or complex improvisations. Compared to those albums, /Home Is Where the Music Is/ comes off as a breath of fresh air. This is a much more relaxed album where the ensemble chooses to vibe with each other and create a collection of mellow African-infused jazz songs. The tracks on this record are incredibly uplifting and life-affirming (this fact becomes much more poignant when you learn about Hugh Masekela's life up until this point), and this mood allows the album to be enjoyed by anyone regardless of their jazz experience. The fact that this is a double album, which would intimidate anyone including myself, doesn't really register when listening to this in full; everything on this project just flies by. I know a lot of folks on this website don't enjoy this as much as I do, and that's okay. I'll just be here having a grand old time with this album. Standout Tracks: Part of a Whole, The Big Apple, Maseru, Blues for Huey, Maesha, Ingoo Pow-Pow (Children's Song) Score: S

Another album everyone hates? This is gonna be fun... It might just be due to the fact that I'm more in tune with music from other cultures, but I really enjoyed this one. The odd pair of Hindustani vocal traditions and downtempo "drum and bass music" is strangely captivating and creates an interesting atmosphere. The album does go on for a bit too long, as most 90's albums tend to do, and I don't think this style of music fully captures the grand ambitions that Sawhney had for this project. Nevertheless, I still appreciate it for going for an understated and intimate mood rather than an overblown one. Standout Tracks: Broken Skin, Pilgrim, Serpents, Anthem Without Nation, Beyond Skin Score: B-

Decent blues rock, it's got "La Grange" on it. Probably won't listen to it again but I didn't mind it while it was on. Score: C

Mindless drivel and shallow hedonism have never sounded quite as grand and satisfying as this. Standout Tracks: Hello, (anyway, here's) Wonderwall, Don't Look Back in Anger, Hey Now!, She's Electric, Morning Glory, Champagne Supernova Score: S