1001 Albums Summary

Have I heard this album before? No Highlights: Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song), Just the Way You Are, Vienna, She’s Always a Woman Rating: 8/10 Billy has a knack for writing great melodies, coupled with his excellent piano playing. Some truly incredible ballads on here such as ‘Just the Way You Are’ and ‘She’s Always a Woman’ that steal the show, with some of the rockier tracks a little less memorable in comparison.

Have I heard this album before? Yes Highlights: Heaven is 10 Zillion Light Years Away, You Haven’t Done Nothing, Please Don’t Go Rating: 6.7/10 Been a while since I’ve heard this one. Remember a couple of the funkier tracks that I definitely enjoyed more. Unfortunately while a decent album, this one is just a bit forgettable compared to some of Stevie’s other releases.

Have I heard this album before? Yes Highlights: Ready or Not, The Beast, Fu-Gee-La, Family Business, Killing Me Softly with His Song, The Score, The Mask, No Woman No Cry Rating: 9.1/10 The trio work really well together, Lauryn Hill has incredible singing ability and Wyclef and Pras rap with real flavour. Caribbean influences blended with hip hop and R&B make for a really funky listen. Loved this one.

Have I heard this album before? No Highlights: Across the Great Divide, Rag Mama Rag, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Up On Cripple Creek, Jemima Surrender Rating: 7.4/10 It’s an interesting listen with different members of the band singing each song. Nothing on here really blew me away, and I think Music From Big Pink is a stronger effort. For me this is just a solid folk rock record.

Have I heard this album before? No Highlights: Rating: 3/10 I could tell from the start of the album that this one probably wouldn’t be for me. The music in the first half sounds like the introduction to an old 50s talk show. The second half was pretty boring, felt a lot of the songs were very similar.

Have I heard this album before? No Highlights: Rating: 3.5/10 I’m not really qualified on what makes jazz music enjoyable. I looked it up and this album is hard bop. Monk is clearly quite good at piano, but this style of you solo, I solo music doesn’t really click with me yet.

Have I heard this album before? No Highlights: Djed, Glass Museum, The Taut and Tame, Dear Grandma and Grandpa, Along the Banks of Rivers Rating: 8.4/10 The intro track Djed is a really cool, minimalist rock piece that moves through different phases and holds the attention the whole time despite its simplistic nature. The rest of the album features some post rock and ambient type tracks that I enjoyed a lot.

Have I heard this album before? No Highlights: Watch That Man, Drive-In Saturday, Panic in Detroit, Cracked Actor, The Prettiest Star, Let’s Spend the Night Together, Jean Genie, Lady Grinning Soul Rating: 8.8/10 I’m a big fan of Bowie from what I’ve heard but hadn’t got round to this yet. It feels like Ziggy 2.0, with the glam dialled up and the guitars really rocking on a few of the tracks. Another excellent Bowie album.

Have I heard this album before? No Highlights: Frustration, Tainted Love, Say Hello Wave Goodbye Rating: 4.2/10 Everyone knows ‘Tainted Love’, a classic of new-wave synth pop, but having never heard any other songs from Soft Cell I was unsure whether the rest of this album would hold up. Aside from a few tracks, I found the singing a bit obnoxious, though the production was mostly good. The album also really drags on too long.

Have I heard this album before? Yes Highlights: Whole Lotta Love, What Is and What Should Never Be, The Lemon Song, Thank You, Heartbreaker, Ramble On, Moby Dick, Bring It On Home Rating: 8.9/10 This isn’t my favourite Led Zeppelin album but it still absolutely kicks ass. When you think of ‘classic rock’, this is the sound you think of.

Have I heard this album before? No Highlights: Opus 40, Hudson Line, Goddess On A Highway Rating: 5.6/10 Never heard of this group so had no idea what to expect. It’s some indie dream pop type music which is well produced but, bar a few great tunes, didn’t excite me that much. Overall a decent listen.

Have I heard this album before? No Highlights: Seagull, Kaleidoscope, Vapour Trail, Unfamiliar, Sennen, Beneath, Today Rating: 7/10 ‘Seagull’ really kicks this album off with a bang, love the energy given by the driving bass line and jangly guitars. Unfortunately there is a run of tracks after the first couple that I didn’t find particularly interesting. ‘Vapour Trail’ is great and the album ends strongly with some lovely tracks. It’s good.

Have I heard this album before? No Highlights: Roundabout, Cans and Brahms, We Have Heaven, South Side of the Sky, Long Distance Runaround, The Fish, Mood For a Day, Heart of the Sunrise, America Rating: 9.2/10 Roundabout is a masterpiece. The musicianship on this album is incredible, each member gets their own chance to show off as well. Amazing prog rock.

Have I heard this album before? No Highlights: Rating: 3.2/10 Thought this was really boring 80s pop rock.

Have I heard this album before? Yes Highlights: Breathe, Time, The Great Gig in the Sky, Money, Us and Them, Any Colour You Like, Brain Damage, Eclipse Rating: 9.5/10 I’m a big Pink Floyd fan and I own this one on vinyl, always love a chance to spin it. Some of the moments on this album really send a shiver down my spine; the solos on ‘Time’ and ‘Money’, the vocals on ‘The Great Gig in the Sky’ and the climax of ‘Eclipse’.

Have I heard this album before? No Rating: 7.7/10 Some really well written songs and nice harmonies. Good album.

Have I heard this album before? Yes Highlights: We Don’t Care, All Falls Down, Spaceship, Jesus Walks, Never Let Me Down, Slow Jamz, School Spirit, Two Words, Through The Wire, Family Business Favourite Song: Never Let Me Down Rating: 9.4/10 The production on this is amazing, so rich and soulful. Kanye himself raps with so much personality and there are great features littered throughout. So many hits, possibly his best.