1001 Albums Summary

Nice little ideas. Sonically pleasing at times, especially the vocal. Great instrument playing. I feel like that I can’t really relate due to my age (24) and time. First notes reminded me of Chris Whitleys Album Dirt Floor I was introduced to earlier. Day Is Done sounds like it laid the foundation of Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. There is no specific song that got stuck in my head. My Takeaways: It is always nice to underline the main melody sung with an instrument following the same notes.

Not my type of music. Don’t enjoy his singing. Did not listen fully through.

Cohesive sound from the first track onwards. I like how he comes in with the Harmonization on Welcome To The Working Week. Short Pop/Rock n’ Roll songs. Costello shows versatility in his voice. For me not sharing any memories with his music it feels like ephemeral Pop. I like where the last note of the guitar riff/short melody line lands in I’m Not Angry. Waiting For The End Of The World reminded me of a collaboration between Udo Lindenberg and Jan Delay (The song is called ‘Ganz anders’).

Musical Ideas I never heard before. Sometimes they were not interesting enough to keep me excited over the duration span of a song. The rhythmical interaction between the guitar and the drums stood out to me. They made heavily use of key switches by moving a pattern up and down on the fretboard of the guitar. Interesting/oldschool panning decisions (e.g. vocal to the left and guitar to the right or drums to the left and the bass to the right, also they moved the guitar to the center when it was the only instrument (including the vocal) playing). They already used some modern sampling methods (e.g. reversed sound on Amazing Journey). I like the small imperfections and subtle tempo changes. Didn’t fully listen through. Couldn’t find a personal connection. Takeaways: Rech Vocal Depth through harmonization. Make panning decisions in dependence to the song/genre/effect you want to achieve.

I knew this one before and it is my favorite album so far. I also share some special emotions with it. I like everything about his passionate piano playing.

The album didn’t resonate with me at first but I can really see the influence on modern day artists like Lana Del Ray or Adele.

Refreshing, well balanced, warm, effortless.

Free, creative, experimental but the songs still have a clear direction (good storytelling). I could hear some of the Beatles in it and the attitude of performing heavily reminded me of Pearl Jam. Listening to it made me realize how influential he was as an artist. At some point during the album I got kinda annoyed of the unpredictable movement of the guitar, the vocals or other sounds constantly switching their panning.

Besides his biggest hits, I discovered a few more tracks that I really like. I don't enjoy the tracks with Blues influence also some tracks are only sketches that I wouldn't consider full songs. So I don't think I will go back to this album and listen to it in its entirety. Still, he created a near-perfect soundscape on many of the tracks.

Noisy and intimate, mostly simplistic musical arrangements. The outbursts of the guitar solos really make the record come to life. They feel very focused on call and response melody and rhythm lines. I don’t like how Jacks voice is often mixed very boxy with unpleasant frequencies. What I do like is the signature bass sound, bass heavy but still griddy.

My Second The Who Album. Still can’t get into it. Dunno if it is the overall theme, genre or the different times. Probably a combination of all. In Hall Of The Mountain King they took from a famous classical piece. Sadly I can’t remember which one exactly.

A classic. So far I was only familiar with Rock With You and Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough but listening to the full album I discovered gem after gem. You can clearly hear his influence on pop music, specifically on artists like Bruno Mars. Hard to believe that this record is 45 y old by now.

Excluding its role in the history of DnB music and with me personally to liking this genre too much I don’t rate this album very high. Though I can imagine this was or still can be a good and hypnotic listen for many.

Beautiful recording. Sends you back in time. Will come back to this record for sure!

Challenging Listen. Unrestful. Makes me feel uncomfortable. But I can see the musical genius in it and I think it is important to expose yourself to music like this from time to time, it can open up how you think about, experience and create music. As it doesn’t match my musical taste I’ll give it a mid rating.

I really like his production, mixing and instrumentation. The drums cut through so well and feel so full. Also I appreciate the dramaticism in his music without feeling forced or being over the top. He is one of the artists/producers of the last generations that I think can really grow on me. The album also made me dig deeper into his discography. At the moment this album is my favorite sonically.

(Atm) I’m not too much into the Beatles. Obviously his/their style carries over to his work as solo artist. But surely it has its qualities and legitimation. Nevertheless I spent the rest of the day listening to Radiohead.

The album feels like it takes from the production of Michael Jackson records. He was probably heavily influenced and participated in a musical movement at the time. Comparing those two artists he has more power and uniqueness in his voice. I don’t feel like missing anything in my life not listening to Madonna. The album didn’t captivate me, her voice bored me at times. On most songs, it’s neither griddy, carrying-you-away-light nor blessed with any other interesting features. Also with a few exceptions I gravitate more towards intimate and less ‘placative’ music (soundwise). I must say that it didn’t pull me in so I would pay attention to the lyrics.

This is not my type of music but I like Kristins strong attitude. Still I stopped the listening session midway through and didn’t find my way into the record even later that day.

Doesn’t excite me. For me, the listening experience switches between monotone and stressful. I think over the last weeks I realized that not everybody likes everything. It comes down to personal taste and preference. There might be some very influential albums but today we have the privilege to choose from a wide catalogue of records that not only includes all the 'classics' but everything that came after. I also think that if we limit ourselves to records that had the chance to evolve into pop culture (supported by the industry) we miss out on so many great artists and records. Going in the future I'll always be open and curious not only about music from the past but also about contemporary art. I think we have phenomenal upcoming artists (that did not break the surface yet). While I think it is important to expose yourself to all kinds of musical expression you should not force yourself to like something if you can't connect to it (atm). Ultimately, I want to stick to records that not only satisfy me for the moment or have reached high critical acclaim but records that fulfill me and make living on planet Earth even more exciting.

Chill, soft, happy music. A bit generic. Good Production. Perfect background music. No instrument pushes to the front. Even the guitar solos are a bit reserved but they fit the mood perfectly.

I never really liked how artists in the 'old' days tried to combine dance music with rock. To me, it always feels kind of cheesy and cringy. To this day, only a few artists could really find a good and organic balance/synergy of rock with electronic influences. Linkin Park comes to mind. Also, the soft pop/rock songs on this record are very boring, plain and unengaging.

Didn’t connect with me as I don’t really like classic Blues or Country. Maybe I will find my way into it at some time. If I try to break down why I don’t like these genres, I’d say it is the way the singer sings/speaks/tells a story and a missing musical theme besides the typical cadence. It feels more like musical banter which would be cool in a bar or something but consciously listening to it on the road or elsewhere It doesn’t do it for me. I also think that it matters with what kind of music you grow up. Additionally my age (mid twenties) and the many years between now and when the record came out could play a role here. Going forward I’ll still try to be open minded and will not just skip those records. Maybe I just do not have the ear for it right now and am missing something. In the end there are still a few parts and elements I really enjoy.

I already knew this before and remember listening to it first time. It was one of those rare moments. I could not believe how good the record is. Perfect songwriting and beautiful vocals. I was impressed and hooked by every note and sound. By now this is the greatest Pop Record I ever listened to.

A bit too heavy for my taste. As I am not interested really in the music I dived deeper into the lyrics for a better understanding and higher appreciation. For the most part they ware spare and simple. With the exception of ‘Motor City Is Burning’ where they got more specific and stated their political agenda and ‘Starship’ which lyrics are really creative and imaginative. Overall I feel like the music is heavily carried by its attitude.

The first two tracks lie somewhere between a kids’ movie score and a musical. For me, they feel a bit too soft. I enjoy slow-paced music, but they didn’t catch my interest. After his famous ‘Wild World’ I started slowly getting into the record though. I can hear some David Bowie and Bob Dylan in it. It is a peaceful record that can fit the mood and is worth playing occasionally.

The organ of ‘La femme d’argent’ gave me ‘The Doors’ vibes. Really cool track. I also like ‘All I Need (feat. Beth Hirsch)’. The rhythm section of ‘You made it easy’ reminds me heavily of Sades ‘Smooth Operator. I probably won’t listen to the full album again.

The opening track ‘Drive’ has a big Pink Floyds influence. But not as powerful or original. Michael Stipes voice also sounds a bit like Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder but not as lively or energetic. I’m also getting a bit or Eros Ramazotti vibes from him. Even their big hit ‘Everybody Hurts’ didn’t bond with me. As I was getting further into the record the urge to turn it off rose. I battled my way through. Overall it presented itself to me as an unexciting Soft Rock record. The production preserved it from one star only.

Am I just unlucky or does the 1001 albums list primarily consists of rock records from the 1970s. From now on I’ll start skipping records, if they don’t catch my interest in any special way. This one was boring and annoying at first but the second listen was already more enjoyable. I’d describe the record as challenging Pop/Soft Punk.

And another 70s rock album. What the hack! I like the simple positive lines over a more tense, complex instrumental on ‘Perfect Day’. It creates perfect tension and makes me feel like there is a deeper message. Other than that I’m not too big of a fan of this album.

I listened to the regular album as the legacy version would probably exceed my attention span. It's cool. Without being too familiar with his music I already knew a few songs. Also, this guy has good humor. This record has a vibe going. His and the musical interaction with the crowd is just perfect. His songs sound very similar but are ideal for him to tell his stories.

The lyrics to me are a bit cheesy and over the top. Unfortunately, I don't see the beauty but the attempt to give them meaning and weight by painting bigger pictures or asking philosophical questions without looking for answers. Regarding love and her relationship with men, she shows vulnerability and fears of losing someone. While these feelings are universally relatable, I'm still not fond of the execution. It feels like she doesn't see her worth and needs to persuade her crush or lover that she'd be the superior or less flawed choice compared to someone else. I wish she would reveal a more confident side of herself as well. Other than that she has a nice voice and the album is well-produced. I don't really dig the music though.

Sounds cool, not forced, effortless. I hear some Nirvana in it (‘Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out’). I should rather say hear some of them in Nirvanas music. I like the attitude. Great riffs, nice piano in ‘Androgynous’. Good balance of energy levels and noisy vs. melodic passages. At the end of a phrase they often land on strange, disharmonic notes/chords (as in ‘Seen Your Video’). I hear some of Radioheads ‘Creep’ in 'Sixteen Blue'. Also, they are giving me a bit of the Kooks vibes. They either have been part of a larger movement or were influential for a generation of artists.

I didn't know much about his music or personal life. There is a controversy about if he 'stole' from black people's music. Doing some research it looks like he greatly respected black artists who practiced Blues and invented Rock n' Roll. For him going to colored churches as a kid was a big musical inspiration. Nevertheless, black artists would never reach the same heights, praise, and status that he has (at least at the time). What I find undeniably problematic is his relation to young teenagers at the time. Altogether I find it hard to give an unbiased opinion. From what I've heard, I wasn't too much of a fan of his music anyway.

The first four bars of the verses from 'Bell Bottom Blues' (one of my favorite tracks off the album) sound like ‘Everybody’s Gotta Live’ by Arthur Lee which came out just two years later. I realized the other day that it makes a huge difference whether you are listening on earbuds or monitors (no matter how good your earbuds are). Monitors let the sound evolve and have more weight to it. It is almost like watching someone do a cool/exciting thing compared to doing it yourself. You can feel it. ‘Have You Ever Loved A Woman’ sounds like some Jimi Hendrix song I can’t think of right now. This slow blues transports a cool attitude. I remember reading about a club where Jimi would play and guys like Clapton or McCartney would go and see him play. ‘Little Wing’ is also a great, long-stretched cover. Going back to the original I started appreciating it even more. While Clapton's version sounds cleaner and more polished, Hendrix's has more character and sounds raw, cool, and flawless. I like both for what they are. To me 'Layla' is iconic. There are few tracks I would skip when listening to it again. Altogether this was a very enjoyable listen.

It has a great sound. Not totally raw as they ,for example, edited some phasing to the drums solo at the end of ‘Sha-La-La’. The solo came out of nowhere and I really enjoyed it. ‘Still in Love With You’ hooked me in. What stands out are the two lead guitars harmonizing. But to be honest I don’t always like the sound of it. At first I also liked ‘Dancing In The Moonlight’ but it’s feels a bit generic towards the end of the song. I’m happy that I got to know the band but will probably not listen to the full album again. One takeaway for me is that a phaser sounds really good on cymbals.

I like the jazzy and classical bits. My favorite tracks are the Variations on a Theme by Erik Satie and the first 8 minutes of Blues, pt.2. Although I don’t like the brass player hits.

Hearing the first notes of this record felt really refreshing after so many rock records. I prefer laid back, spare jazz to the Big Band feel. Unfortunately on this record you find mainly the second. Sometimes you hear some creaking from the players themselves or the surrounding what let me take off my headphones quiet often, to check if someone was entering the shared flat I live in. It made the record more intimate and gave me the feeling of sitting next to the musicians.

Beautifully orchestrated. Sonically pleasing. Compared to what else I’ve been listening to from that time they were pushing the boundaries by creating their own style and unique storytelling. This listening session I learned that your environment, mood and what you’re doing at the moment can dictate how you will perceive and also appreciate music.

Cool beats. Oldschool flow, I still haven’t got used to. I am not a native speaker so I would need to consciously listen to all the tracks and maybe read the lyrics. I didn’t have time for that the last two days. From what I could pick up they revolve around the subjects of Black empowerment, social injustice and anti violence (among the Black community). Also, they often discuss god and religion in their raps.

Especially like the first half of the album.

Nice background music on a sunny day. Lots of short pop songs. I actually quite enjoy Britpop.

Good music but, I'm not too fond of the symbiosis of Rock/Metal and Rap.