329
Albums Rated
3.44
Average Rating
30%
Complete
760 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010s
Favorite Decade
Funk
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
33
5-Star Albums
1
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sunshine Superman
Donovan
|
5 | 3.09 | +1.91 |
|
The Age Of The Understatement
The Last Shadow Puppets
|
5 | 3.25 | +1.75 |
|
Liquid Swords
GZA
|
5 | 3.28 | +1.72 |
|
Feast of Wire
Calexico
|
5 | 3.29 | +1.71 |
|
The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
|
5 | 3.29 | +1.71 |
|
Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
|
5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
|
Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
|
5 | 3.38 | +1.62 |
|
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
|
5 | 3.41 | +1.59 |
|
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
|
5 | 3.42 | +1.58 |
|
All Directions
The Temptations
|
5 | 3.46 | +1.54 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Time Out
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
|
2 | 3.84 | -1.84 |
|
Yank Crime
Drive Like Jehu
|
1 | 2.7 | -1.7 |
|
A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
|
2 | 3.63 | -1.63 |
|
Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
|
2 | 3.56 | -1.56 |
|
The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
|
2 | 3.5 | -1.5 |
|
Blue
Joni Mitchell
|
2 | 3.49 | -1.49 |
|
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
|
2 | 3.47 | -1.47 |
|
Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
|
2 | 3.43 | -1.43 |
|
Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
|
2 | 3.41 | -1.41 |
|
The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
|
2 | 3.41 | -1.41 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Led Zeppelin | 4 | 4.5 |
| Stevie Wonder | 2 | 5 |
| The Doors | 2 | 5 |
| Beatles | 2 | 5 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Joni Mitchell | 3 | 2 |
5-Star Albums (33)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
Good, catchy, classic rock. Also I like the old style of albums which are like half an hour.
Favorites: Breakdown
2 likes
Saint Etienne
4/5
Really enjoyable album by a group I had never heard of. Very rhythmic, I liked the fast tempos combined with the softer, usually slower singing. The skits were interesting as well.
Favorites: Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Nothing Can Stop Us
Least Favorite: Kiss and Make Up
1 likes
Arctic Monkeys
3/5
Very catchy, cool album. I see why they're so popular.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (1)
All Ratings
The Beach Boys
4/5
Not as groundbreaking now as in 1966 but still a nice listen. I particularly enjoyed Lets Go Away for a While which constantly seems ready to transition into a verse but never does. Even without lyrics it says more than most songs can with a dozen verses.
Boston
5/5
A quintessential classic rock album. I'm really not sure what more you can ask for from this genre.
The Temptations
5/5
Amazing album all the way through. Catchy, funky, and soulful. This one is enjoyable from start to finish and a glimpse of Motown at its height.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
Beck
4/5
Overall the album was very enjoyable, I especially liked the variety between songs and even within individual songs. Beck experiments with a lot of different genres and for the most part is adept with each one. The first two songs are a great example. E-Pro is a catchy rock song while the second one is like a spanish-infused rap, but both are equally effective.
All that variety did result in a couple of missteps in my opinion. I liked the idea behind Hell Yes but the execution was a bit clumsy. However, the biggest offender for me was easily Farewell Ride. This song is all over the place and not in a good way. I expect I'll be skipping this track on repeat listens, but overall a great album.
Public Enemy
2/5
Public Enemy certainly had a lot to say on this album. I didn't delve too deeply into the lyrics but it sounds like they had some interesting points especially on political and social commentary.
I am giving this album a rating of 2 stars based on my personal enjoyment, not because I believe it is a bad album. To me the style of rapping and the production just sounded very dated and I didn't find enjoyable to listen to. I would probably like this album better if I heard it in 1988, but from a 2024 perspective I found that it aged poorly.
Beach House
4/5
Very enjoyable album. Both the production and the vocals were excellent.
The Hives
3/5
I enjoyed album's frenetic energy and pace. It's a very good punk album but I don't see anything in particular that elevates it above other efforts in the genre.
Hole
3/5
Solid but unremarkable album. I don't expect I'll be revisiting.
Mike Oldfield
3/5
I actually enjoyed most of the first two songs a lot, interminable as they were. However, my enjoyment vanished any time he opened his mouth. I think this whole album would have been better served as an instrumental.
The third song, the first short one, was probably the highlight of the album. I found the last song so annoying that it singlehandedly dropped this album by a star. It's not the type of album that I expect to revisit.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Personally I am not a big fan of live albums in general, but this one is very effective for a few reasons. Firstly, the setting makes this concert inherently interesting, as it is being played for prisoners at San Quentin. Cash plays to the crowd wonderfully, joking around with them while also showing his sympathy for their situation. His ad-libs are endearing and add flavor to the recording.
The music itself is also quite good, though surprisingly absent of a few of his biggest hits. I don't mind this, however, and enjoyed hearing some of his other songs for the first time. A Boy Named Sue was especially enjoyable for myself and the prison audience. Cash also plays a new song called San Quentin created specifically for the occasion, and it clearly resonated with the audience, to the point that he immediately played it again as an encore.
David Bowie
4/5
I always thought I didn't like David Bowie. It turns out I just don't like his hits which they always play on the radio. This album surprised me very much because I enjoyed it much more than I expected. I particularly liked the final song.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Absolutely classic blues from one of the legends of the genre. The album was more or less as expected, though some may be surprised to hear that the iconic Bad to the Bone riff was lifted from Waters' Mannish Boy. The songs do start to feel a bit repetitive by the end but I suppose that is to be expected on a blues album. Also, unrelated to the album but Muddy Waters is such a great name.
Air
2/5
I absolutely love the first song and had high expectations for the rest of the album but was immediately disappointed. I'm sure this record is good as a movie soundtrack but it doesn't really work as an album on its own.
The Human League
3/5
Everyone knows Don't You Want Me but I had never heard of the group or the album before. Overall a solid but unremarkable 80's pop album. They remind me of a slightly worse Depeche Mode.
Elbow
4/5
I found this album very interesting and enjoyable. I had never heard of Elbow before (what a terrible name for a band) so I was not sure what to expect. What I found was a lovely, consistently excellent record.
I particularly enjoyed The Bones of You as well as the off-kilter yet balanced song The Fix, which reminds me of something from a bygone era which I can't quite put my finger on. Grounds for Divorce was also a nice change of pace after the first few songs. The crown jewel of the album, however, is probably One Day Like This, with its beautiful string introduction which could background the climactic scene of a Wes Anderson film.
I couldn't quite get to 5 stars so I settled for 4 for this review but I will definitely be revisiting this album regularly.
Fats Domino
3/5
I only listened to half of the album because the rest was unavailable on Spotify. Of course Blueberry Hill is the standout song, but the rest were decent if not a bit repetetive.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
Great album. Nice harmonies. The Beatles influence is evident from the first minute. Definitely a product of its time but the record holds up very well. I guess that makes it timeless.
I particularly liked the first song, as well as Wooden Ships and Long Time Gone. I also enjoyed the Creedence vibes on Everybody's Talking.
David Bowie
3/5
Another Bowie album. This is the second David Bowie I have gotten so far from this list (out of 8!) and once again it's a solid album but I am yet to be truly impressed by his work. Fame is the best and most famous song on this record, but Fascination, Right, and the title track are also quite good. I still feel as if I'm missing exactly what makes Bowie so renowned. Maybe by the time I listen to 6 more of his albums I'll get the appeal.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Starting the record with Paint It Black, one of the greatest songs ever written, certainly sets the bar high for the rest of the album. Unfortunately, it underwhelms. That's not to say there are no other good songs; I Am Waiting and Flight 505 are both solid, and Under My Thumb is a certified classic. But everything else is average at best and a disappointment relative to my standards of the Rolling Stones.
Snoop Dogg
5/5
Certified G-Funk classic alongside the Chronic. Dre and Snoop in their element, at the peak of their creative powers. There's not some impressive message or depth in the lyrics, but Snoop never pretends that there is. Also, I find it absolutely hilarious how often Snoop refers to himself in third person or spells out his own name.
Animal Collective
3/5
Decent album, pretentious name.
Donovan
5/5
I'm not exactly sure what it is about this album that I love so much. It sounds like pretty classic 60's psychedelic rock, in the vein of the Beatles, but all the songs work together so well. I enjoyed the mythical, mystical theme about the legend of Camelot. I also enjoyed the use of Indian instruments like the sitar and tabla. Overall, a lovely listen.
The Who
2/5
I understand this is considered an innovative concept album, especially for the time, but that does not make it good or an enjoyable listen. Several of the songs were actively annoying, and by the end I hated the character of Tommy. The highlight of the album by far was Pinball Wizard. Lowlights were plentiful but Tommy Can You Hear Me and Tommy's Holiday Camp were especially rough.
Paul Simon
3/5
Decent but not very memorable. I doubt I'll ever come back to this one.
Pentangle
4/5
At its best, this record conjures visions of nature, of peace, of a time and place and way of life which no longer exist. The female singer's voice is absolutely ethereal. Songs with the male singer are also very good and a nice change of pace because they are a little less folksy. It's a shame that the worst song on the album (Sally Go Round the Roses) makes THREE appearances on the album in the form of re-recordings. Still this is not enough to detract from the excellence of the rest of the album.
Beastie Boys
2/5
Some classic songs like Slow Ride and Fight for Your Right but overall the record sounded old and dated. The production especially was a muddled mess at times. I also disliked their voices, one guy especially which made it hard to enjoy.
Liz Phair
2/5
Not offensively bad but just kind of boring and I dislike the singer's voice. I don't see much to recommend here.
Calexico
5/5
A brilliant, brilliant album. I am sad to say I had never heard of this album or even the band Calexico before, but I've seen and heard of them now. And I can't wait to hear more from them.
Music like this can only be made by a group from the American southwest, and sure enough Calexico took their name from a town on the Mexican-American border. Just listening to these songs can transport you to the desert. I can almost hear the crinkle of cowboy boots against sand. My mind continuously conjured images of tumbleweed rolling across a vast landscape. That vastness contains a unique solitude which in my view can also be found in the music.
Clearly, this record was heavily influenced by Mexican artists, which greatly enhances the music. The album is consistent, both in content and quality, but never feels repetitive. It is difficult to isolate any particular highlights or lowlights because there really aren't dips in quality. Overall, this is probably my favorite album I've heard so far from this list.
Nirvana
5/5
There have probably been more words written about Nevermind than almost any record in history, so I won't belabor the point. All there really is to say is that this is an amazing album, a historic album, and it remains a fantastic listen more than 30 years after its release. It is certainly front-loaded in terms of the hits, but the quality does not drop off much in the second half, with the exception of the final track which is the only one I didn't enjoy.
Portishead
4/5
Eerie, dark, and exceptional. Only reason it's not 5 stars is because it can a bit repetitive.
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
Southern rock is generally not my favorite, but with that said this is definitely a highlight of the genre. It contains interesting lyrics as well, touching on some political themes throughout.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
What a beautiful, wonderful album. There's really nothing to say about this album that hasn't already been said, but it was a joy to listen to. One note: I didn't know that Coolio's Gangster's Paradise sampled Stevie Wonder.
Sabu
2/5
This album does not belong on this list.
Green Day
3/5
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
A soothing and pleasant listen, but I doubt I'll ever listen to it again.
Van Morrison
4/5
In my view live albums don't belong on this list, but this one was excellent. Lots of enjoyable songs, especially in the beginning.
Björk
3/5
Quirky album, lots of variety. I enjoyed the disco aspects on a lot of the songs. Bjork's voice is definitely unusual and a little off-putting at first but once I got used to it I enjoyed her style.
Favorites: Venus as a Boy, One Day
Fairport Convention
3/5
Albums like this are part of why I enjoy the 1001 albums journey. It's not one of my favorites or anything, but it was definitely interesting and there's no way I'd ever listen to this otherwise. Who listens to semi-medieval folk?
Foo Fighters
3/5
It's a fine album but not particularly memorable. I don't really see much to set it apart from other efforts and I doubt I'll be revisiting.
The Last Shadow Puppets
5/5
Such a sick album. Sometimes punky, oftentimes lovely. I heard it three times and it's only gotten better on each listen.
I also love the album cover which isn't that important but still appreciated, especially when the artwork matches the album contents.
Pere Ubu
2/5
Musically it's actually kind of interesting but the singing is truly awful.
Kings of Leon
4/5
For what it is, it's very good. No technical notes but I like the overall vibe. Even though I wouldn't say the vocalist is a particularly good singer, he perfectly matches the energy of the album. I also like his weird accent.
Also, it's not very important but I appreciate when the band and the album have cool names. Aha Shake Heartbreak by the Kings of Leon just sounds like it'll be good even if you've never heard of them.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Incredible album, probably my favorite by Led Zeppelin. Straight bangers which is rare for a double album. Favorites are Kashmir and Trampled Under Foot.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
I have no idea why this album is on this list. It's fine, I guess but that's not exactly high praise. It's not famous, I don't see anything unique about it, it's just a decent indie rock album. I almost took a point away just because of the group's god-awful name. So stupid.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Bon Jovi
4/5
Definitely has some bangers but there is not enough consistent excellence to merit 5 stars.
Nanci Griffith
4/5
This is not at all my kind of music but I have to acknowledge that it is undoubtedly an excellent album.
Pulp
3/5
Led Zeppelin
4/5
It doesn't reach the same highs as some of the other Led Zeppelin albums on this list, but it's still consistently very good. Of course Immigrant Song is a classic, and Since I've Been Loving You is another standout. I also love their cover the Yardbirds' Tangerine.
Destiny's Child
3/5
Decent pop album. Nothing remarkable.
Neil Young
4/5
Some really nice songs here. Young's singing at times is a struggle but for the most part is ok. He does a great job of making you feel the emotion of the sing, even if you are not paying particular attention to the lyrical content.
Justice
3/5
Not my kind of music but it's certainly well-made.
OutKast
4/5
Great album, of course everyone loves the hits like Ms Jackson, B.O.B., and So Fresh So Clean (my personal favorite), but some of the other songs are excellent as well. In particular Gasoline Dreams was a great way to start the album. I also enjoyed the variety and different styles used between songs.
Stan Getz
3/5
It's pleasant to listen to but a bit boring and the songs all blend together. I doubt I'll ever seek it out again.
The Damned
4/5
Very enjoyable punk album by a group I'd never heard of.
George Harrison
4/5
Oftentimes beautiful, certainly interminable. I will never understand what compels artists to release albums of 2 hours or longer. Just make a second album at that point. I'm in no rush to listen to the whole album again in its entirety, but there are enough great songs and moments to merit a high rating.
Basement Jaxx
3/5
I'm not really into electronic music but this album is definitely well-made and some of the songs were very catchy. I especially enjoyed Bingo Bango.
The Smiths
5/5
Excellent album, the second half in particular is brilliant. I especially like Nowhere Fast and Well I Wonder, though the last two songs are great as well.
Small Faces
2/5
The songs aren't terrible but why on earth would they add a narrator?!? Especially one that sounds like an 18th century British officer. Almost gave one star on that basis alone.
Bad Company
4/5
Very good classic rock. An easy, enjoyable listen but did not contain enough quality to merit 5 stars.
Black Sabbath
5/5
One of the greatest albums ever made by the heavy metal masters at their peak. Has there ever been a stronger opener than the thunderous War Pigs? From the opening riff they convey the doom of war and then follow it up with the masterful title track.
Lyrically poignant and instrumentally flawless, this album truly has everything you could want from a metal band. And there is variety rarely seen in the genre.
The Velvet Underground
2/5
Sometimes good but more often pretentious garbage.
Thelonious Monk
2/5
I'm sure this is a good and acclaimed jazz album, but I just don't enjoy jazz music.
Love
4/5
Good album. Very 60's. Some brilliant songs but not quite enough to warrant 5 stars. The album starts especially strong but isn't able to maintain that quality throughout.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Classic Black Sabbath. Though not quite on par with their previous two albums, Vol 4 is still excellent. The riffs are as heavy as ever and the whole group seems exceptionally comfortable and in their element. I particularly liked Snowblind, and I also enjoyed Changes, which marks a big departure from Sabbath's normal sound.
Mj Cole
3/5
Pretty good background music. While all electronic there was some variety in the songs. The vocals were pretty good. I didn't listen to disc 2 because it was just remixes of the first one.
Buck Owens
2/5
I would probably love this album if I was born in 1940. Unfortunately for Buck Owens, this kind of music just doesn't have the same effect in the 21st century. That's not to say there are no good songs; I enjoyed a couple of them but overall it was a boring listen.
XTC
3/5
Interesting album, I enjoyed the variety but overall the quality was a bit inconsistent.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Ian Dury
4/5
A strange and eccentric record but certainly worth listening to. The music is interesting and occasionally catchy but I was more impressed with the lyrics, which are sarcastic, humorous, biting, and so very British.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
There are a couple of weak spots on the album, but the peaks are higher than almost any other record in history. Of course I am referring to Black Dog, as well as the iconic Stairway to Heaven and the titanic When the Levee Breaks. When you have three tracks of this quality, it's hard to argue against a 5 star rating.
Massive Attack
4/5
Very rhythmic. The drums were the clear standout of the album.
Linkin Park
3/5
Very catchy, I see why this was such a big hit. Still I don't consider it a great album, merely good.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
Boring, common, poorly mixed, and with weak singing.
Hüsker Dü
3/5
Solid upbeat rock record. Reminded me a little bit of Green Day.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
2/5
Thank god for the 60s for bringing music, especially rock music, out of the stone ages and into modern times. It's unbelievable how much one decade revolutionized the genre. These 50s classics just sound so old and dated, and I find them extremely difficult to enjoy from the perspective of a listener in 2024. At times I found it actively annoying.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Cyndi Lauper can definitely rock. This one was a lot of fun. I love the energy, the excitement. It's catchy as hell and I appreciate that it doesn't take itself too seriously. After all, not everything has to be profound. Sometimes it's good to just have fun.
I always find albums like these interesting where there are a couple of massive hits and then some songs are pretty much unknown. I actually enjoyed the unknown songs as much as the hits. I especially liked She Bop.
The Smiths
4/5
Classic Smiths. No new ground broken on this one but still enjoyable.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Solid punk, though it's probably not a good sign for a punk album that the best moments arrive on the slow melodic songs. I appreciate that the record lives up to it's name in the opening seconds of the first track.
Television
4/5
Very strong album. I enjoyed the progressive rock elements, nice variety between songs, some excellent guitar work. The singer's voice frequently reminded of Mick Jagger, though Jagger is more electric. My favorite songs were the last two and the sprawling 10 minute title track.
Pink Floyd
5/5
What is there to say about this one that hasn't been said a million times? Everyone and their mother knows this one, and probably owns the vinyl. Obviously it's a timeless classic, worthy of a 5 star rating.
The interesting thing for me is that if I rated this album as a collection of individual songs, it would be very good but not masterful. However, when they are all put together, the album is elevated and achieves its status as a masterpiece.
N.E.R.D
4/5
Catchy, smooth, and cool. Much better than I expected.
Duke Ellington
2/5
Live albums do not belong on this list, especially when they are 2 hours!! and half of the album consists of introductions of both songs and people. The actual music is fine but not exceptional, however it's barely relevant compared to the ridiculous length and constant interruptions.
Aerosmith
3/5
Solid classic rock. A fun and easy listen but it does not strive to achieve something more. Favorite song was definitely Janie's Got a Gun
Digital Underground
3/5
Very smooth, classic old-school rap. I enjoyed the rhythms and production, but the lyrical content got pretty repetitive.
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Interesting and enjoyable album. I had never heard of Harry Nilsson but I am definitely intrigued. The sound is a little Beatles-esque at times with some catchy melodies.
The highlight of the album is definitely the beautiful and poignant Without You, though I also enjoyed the last few songs. Coconut was bizarre but not bad.
Shuggie Otis
4/5
There's a lot to love about this album. The beats are funky, the hooks are catchy, and Shuggie can definitely sing. Overall I really enjoyed it. My favorite tracks were Strawberry Letter 23, Sweet Thang, and the 10 minute finale.
Radiohead
4/5
It's a lot of moody wailing but somehow it works. Very evocative.
R.E.M.
4/5
Very interesting album. I had of course heard of REM but never really listened to them beyond their most popular songs and had never listened to a full album by them. There's a lot to like on this one; I found their sound to be impressively sophisticated. They have a great feel for melody and the singer matches the instrumentation very well, though I haven't decided if I actually like his voice.
Highlights: Pop Song 89, Orange Crush, I Remember California, and World Leader Pretend were all excellent. If I had to pick one best song it's probably Orange Crush.
There were a couple of songs I didn't enjoy so this can't be a 5 star album. Stand in particular I found annoying. I know they have multiple albums on this list so I hope there is at least one where everything comes together to create a masterpiece, because the pieces of the puzzle are definitely there.
Tortoise
3/5
Pretty cool
Sex Pistols
3/5
Incredibly influential and iconic album, but my ratings are based on my personal enjoyment and the quality of the songs, not their effect on music history. From that perspective, this is a solid punk album. The lyrics are incendiary and provocative, and the instrumentation formed the foundation of the classic punk sound. Johnny Rotten is an effective front-man, though his voice is probably the worst of any professional singer I've ever heard.
Afrika Bambaataa
3/5
I like old-school rap but damn this is old as hell. Not as good as the stuff from the 90s but still goes pretty hard.
George Jones
3/5
Proper country music in its original form. I actually enjoy this kind of music sometimes. Of course it sounds old and dated, but there is something charming about that classic, uniquely American sound. The big problem I have with this album is the lack of variety. Has George Jones ever written a song that's not a love song? The lyrics are all the same.
The Specials
4/5
What a delightfully strange album. I don't even know what genre this is. British reggae? Ska? What even is ska? Idk but it's weird as hell from the first song and I like it.
Iron Maiden
5/5
Classic heavy metal. The guitar work is unbelievable. Absolutely beautiful tone; the guitars really seem to sing. Bass is excellent as well. I expected this album to be weaker than their later work, but I would put it only below Powerslave. The absence of Bruce Dickinson was not nearly as significant as I had expected because the other singer is excellent anyway.
As for highlights, I would have to choose Phantom of the Opera because it is simply one of the most creative metal songs I've ever heard. I also really loved Strange World. It's difficult to pick a worst song because they were all at least solid.
Rush
4/5
Way better than I expected
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Very interesting, I enjoyed this one a lot. It's always nice to find a good album from some group I've never heard of. Highlight is the first half, lowlight is the last song.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Maybe not quite the quality of Rumors but still a very good album. Highlights are Over & Over, Beautiful Child, and Tusk
Dire Straits
5/5
Walk of Life and especially Money for Nothing are all-timers. Your Latest Trick is a pretty cool song carried by the Sax. Why Worry is a solid ballad. Ride Across the River is cool and smooth as hell. The Man's Too Strong has a southwest US vibe, like something from the frontier.
Overall I love the variety and the guitar work is consistently excellent. I also appreciate the understated singing and think it's very effective when combined with the guitar. The only weaker song is the opener but it's not weak enough to bring this down to 4 stars.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
They definitely have their signature sound. Solid album, more of the same as their other stuff I've heard. Sounds good but the harmonies get a bit tiring after a while.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
Solid
Otis Redding
4/5
Damn he can sing. Classic soul.
Elvis Presley
4/5
The King of Rock and Roll for a reason, but I also enjoyed the surprisingly slow tempo on a lot of these songs. I'm also glad that this did not song like a live album, which I assumed from its name. I always associated Elvis more with his image and cult of personality, but he shows his phenomenal singing on this record as well.
The Cure
5/5
What a beautiful album
Hot Chip
3/5
The best mostly-electronic album I've gotten so far, but that's a pretty low bar. I did enjoy this one though.
Jurassic 5
4/5
Sick beats, nice flows. Really enjoyable.
Muddy Waters
3/5
Muddy Waters is great but I'm not a fan of live albums being on this list, especially when it's mostly songs I've already heard from him.
Hookworms
3/5
I'm a little confused why this super obscure album was on the list but it wasn't bad. My favorite song was definitely the last one.
Dirty Projectors
3/5
Interesting enough to make up for some of the mis-steps.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
Very different but I loved it. Great drumming, they definitely have a sense of rhythm. Singing was nice too.
The Flaming Lips
2/5
Race for the Prize is great. Everything else is shockingly mediocre.
Butthole Surfers
2/5
This was very close to being my first 1 star review, but there was just enough decent stuff on the last few songs to push it to 2 stars.
I'm not exactly sure what they were going for. The whole record is weird, but is it weird just for the sake of being weird? I get that Sweet Loaf is a parody? of Sweet Leaf by Black Sabbath. Are the rest of the songs supposed to be parodies? Wtf is going on
Burning Spear
4/5
Dope album. I don't listen to much reggae but it's always funky as hell.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
2/5
Best jazz album I've gotten so far but that is an extremely low bar. If there's one thing I've learned from this list, it's that I hate jazz.
Tori Amos
4/5
This is not really my kind of music, but it is clearly very well made. The album was a little longer than I would have liked but I still really enjoyed it. Favorite songs were the opener and closer.
Sparks
3/5
Very interesting, not even sure what to really call this. I guess operatic rock would be the best description. It definitely intrigued me, though I'm not sure how much I really enjoyed it. It's probably too weird for me to listen to regularly but I expect I'll revisit it at some point in the future. The best and most interesting song was the opening track, though I also liked a few others. I appreciate that they kept the overall sound fairly consistent without letting it get boring.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
I expected this one to be very good and it was exactly as expected.
Neneh Cherry
3/5
Overall pretty good album. It sometimes sounds a bit dated, like pretty much all rap albums from the 80s do. But more often it sounds remarkably fresh considering the time period, especially compared to its contemporaries.
Favorites: Love Ghetto
The Byrds
2/5
What a strange album. Most of it is horrendously boring. It sounds like the country records from the 1950s that this list is so fond of. Unlike in the 50s, they knew how to make proper music by the time this came out so there's no excuse.
Then towards the end of the album they realize "wait it's 1968 not 1950" and there were a few songs which sounded completely different from the previous ones. There were actually a couple of good songs at the end but too little too late.
Keith Jarrett
3/5
Beautiful but a bit repetitive
Radiohead
3/5
This is the second Radiohead album I've gotten, after Hail to the Thief, and it is quite similar. A lot of moody wailing, but they make it work quite well. I don't know if this album is worse than the previous one or if I am just getting a little bored of their sound, but I didn't enjoy it quite as much.
Fred Neil
4/5
Excellent album. Neil has a soulful voice which nicely accompanies the simple old-school guitar driven tracks. Reminds me slightly of Johnny Cash. I also loved the huge departure from the rest of the album on the last track which sounded Indian-inspired. Favorite songs were Everybody's Talkin and the finale.
Primal Scream
4/5
Very interesting
Bob Dylan
4/5
Dylan's a legend for a reason. Lovely album. When he comes in with the harmonica it really hits. I know some people don't think he's a great singer, but I find his voice perfect for his songs. My favorite song was Just Like a Woman. This is the first album I've gotten from him but I'm excited to hear more.
Steely Dan
5/5
As good as it gets for classic rock. Smooth as hell and the whole thing works together beautifully.
Talking Heads
4/5
Wonderfully weird and unique, the Talking Heads are always a pleasure. Not my favorite album by them but still very enjoyable. A rare album where the second half is superior to the first. My favorite song was either Artists Only or their excellent cover of Take Me to the River. Also random sidenote but it's a travesty that Speaking in Tongues isn't on this list.
Def Leppard
3/5
Enjoyable classic rock but to me it lacks soul. Very polished, technically excellent and well produced, but like a hollow husk. Favorite song has to be Pour Some Sugar on Me.
R.E.M.
4/5
This is the second REM album I've gotten, after Green, and I feel pretty similarly about both. Another very good album, and a rare one where the second half is significantly better than the first half. Favorite songs are The One I Love and the last track.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Very interesting and enjoyable. There was a really strong stretch in the first half of the album; the second half wasn't as good but still solid. Favorite songs were Shabby Doll, The Long Honeymoon, and Almost Blue.
Drive Like Jehu
1/5
I appreciate this list highlighting more obscure albums, but this one deserves to fade away into obscurity. Between the screeching guitars and the god-awful "singing", it's as if this album was designed to induce headaches.
It was absolutely dreadful from the first song. A punk album does not need to be this long, and punk songs definitely shouldn't regularly be clocking in at over 5 minutes. A couple of these songs were 9 minutes and they felt even longer. At one point I thought I must be mercifully close to the end but I wasn't even halfway. The silence when it ended sounded delightful.
Pink Floyd
3/5
I appreciate the ambition but it made some parts of the album not very enjoyable. The hit songs are definitely incredible though and acclaimed for a reason. The rest is a bit hit or miss and it's just so long. Favorite songs were Hey You, Another Brick pts 1-3, and Run Like Hell.
Blur
3/5
There's some interesting stuff here but it doesn't quite come together to make a great album. Some highlights were Death of a Party and the Bowie-esque Strange News from Another Star. I also enjoyed the opener Beetlebum. I was a little surprised to see Song 2 is such a massive hit; it didn't really stand out from the rest of the album.
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
As someone who grew up in Jersey it feels like blasphemy to give Springsteen two stars, but this was a boring one from the Boss.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
I found this album really fascinating, but the middle portion of it was not necessarily a great listen. Regardless, it's unlike anything I've heard before. I'm not sure exactly what genre this would even be called. The symphonic elements straddle the line between pretentious and grandiose, but I think it's effective.
Favorites: Agnus Dei, The One You Love, and Old Whore's Diet
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Good classic soul. There were a couple songs I didn't love but still very enjoyable overall.
Favorite: Billy Jack
Least Favorite: Jesus
The Doors
5/5
Classic Doors.
The Kinks
3/5
Pretty good but a bit inconsistent. Very 60s. The Beatles influence is obvious, maybe a bit too obvious.
Favorites: Sitting by the Riverside, Village Green
Least Favorite: People Take Pictures of Each Other
The Stone Roses
4/5
Lovely album. I've heard it many times before but it's always a pleasure. I Wanna Be Adored is one of my all-time favorite songs. The lengthy last two songs are also excellent.
The Go-Betweens
3/5
A nice album but ultimately pretty forgettable. Favorites: Was There Anything I Could Do?, Streets of Your Town, Dive For Your Memory
Tears For Fears
3/5
Solid but fairly forgettable apart from the two mega-hits.
Franz Ferdinand
5/5
Ridiculously catchy from start to finish, especially the guitar work. I found his understated singing style to mesh well with the music. Also Tell Her Tonight reminded me of the Talking Heads
Favorites: Take Me Out, This Fire, 40', Jacqueline
Least Favorite: Cheating On You
Everything But The Girl
4/5
This isn't normally my kind of music but what a beautiful album.
Neil Young
4/5
Lovely album. It has a sort of bittersweet nostalgia to it. Favorites: See the Sky About to Rain, Ambulance Blues
Pretenders
3/5
Cool album but does not really separate itself from the rest. I still very much enjoyed it.
Solange
3/5
Good but maybe a bit self-important.
Nirvana
3/5
Well-made but not particularly enjoyable to listen to. My favorite song by far was Heart-Shaped Box. Without it this might have been a 2 star.
Queen
3/5
Very Queen with the vocals and harmonies and all that. Not enough rock n roll. It kind of sounds like it could be the soundtrack to an adventure movie. Meh.
808 State
2/5
Boring, just like the other 90% of electronic albums on this list.
William Orbit
3/5
I actually quite enjoyed this album. It has a lot of electronic elements which isn't normally my thing but it was mixed well with ambient noise and other rhythmic elements. The main problem is that it's too long by about 20 minutes so it all starts to blend together about halfway through the album.
Favorites: Water From a Vine Leaf, Harry Flowers
Thin Lizzy
3/5
I don't think live albums belong on this list so I listened to Jailbreak by Thin Lizzy instead. It was a decent classic rock album, elevated greatly by the megahit The Boys are Back in Town.
The Cure
3/5
This is the second Cure album I've gotten so far, after the brilliant and beautiful Disintegration. This one shares some elements with Disintegration and is unmistakably the Cure, but it lacks the same beauty and cohesion.
Favorite: The Hanging Garden
Least Favorite: Pornography
Tim Buckley
4/5
Musically fun and with excellent vocals, this was a very enjoyable one to listen to.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Excellent album. I was familiar with the hits but was surprised by the quality of the lesser-known songs, particularly on the back half of the album. They really know how to make a catchy melody. Bass and singing stood out especially.
Favorite Songs: Californication, Scar Tissue, Road Trippin'
Least Favorites: Around the World, Get on Top
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
Nice but pretty forgettable
Joni Mitchell
2/5
Fine but pretty boring
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
Beautiful album. Every song is great and I appreciated his singing much more than usual.
Favorites: Pretty much all of them
The Isley Brothers
3/5
It's interesting because this album feels very rich musically with a lot going on, but it misses the mark for me. I simply didn't feel it. I also didn't enjoy the singing, though the instrumentals were better.
Favorites: That Lady, Listen to the Music, Summer Breeze
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Solid blues but not remarkable, though Jagger's voice elevates the whole album. I enjoy their original works better.
Django Django
3/5
Fun album, pretty interesting
Eminem
5/5
Dark and disturbed but also humorous, Eminem's Slim Shady alter ego is a controversial breath of fresh air and his albums are unlike any I've heard from another rapper.
His success is a miracle considering the absolutely deranged lyrics he releases. It helps that Em is a rap genius, so he can make otherwise disgusting lyrics funny and palatable. He is also capable of legitimately piercing lyricism when needed, such as on Rock Bottom. The production is consistently excellent throughout. Even the skits, which I normally hate, aren't as distracting as on other rap records. Though this album doesn't have the same high points as some of his later ones, it also boasts pretty much no weak points.
Favorites: My Name Is, Guilty Conscience, Role Model, Rock Bottom
Elastica
4/5
Awesome album. Music is ultimately entertainment and this one was fun from start to finish.
Favorite Songs: Stutter, S.O.F.T., Connections
Laibach
3/5
Weird album. I imagine this one won't be very popular but I actually enjoyed it. Rhythmic in an industrial, almost militaristic way.
Al Green
4/5
Great classic soul. What a wonderful singer.
Favorites: Let's Stay Together
Jeff Buckley
4/5
Beautiful album. It feels very personal and Buckley's voice is one of the best I've ever heard, especially on his remarkable cover of Hallelujah. It's funny getting this album after one of his dad's albums because they couldn't be more different.
Favorites: Hallelujah, Lover, You Should've Come Over, Dream Brother
The Jam
3/5
Cool fun album
The Dictators
3/5
Good fun album. From the album cover to the lyrics, The Dictators obviously don't take themselves seriously and are enjoyable to listen to.
Beatles
5/5
I've listened to this album several times before but it's enlightening hearing it again after getting a bunch of other 60's albums on this list. The Beatles influence is apparent on so many of these other records, but none of them come close to the mastery the Beatles show here. Rubber Soul is so much richer and the depth of quality is far greater than any "Beatles-esque" imitator.
Favorites: At first I wrote down half the album but I'll limit myself to just a couple: In My Life, Norwegian Wood
Least Favorites: You Won't See Me
The Electric Prunes
2/5
Pretty weak album. Very 60s. The maker of this list seems to think that the late 60s were the peak of human civilization, at least musically. I disagree.
Favorites: I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night, Sold to the Highest Bidder
Least Favorites: The Toonerville Trolley, The King Is in the Counting House. These were horrendous. So annoying.
Iggy Pop
4/5
Great album with nice variety I was also impressed with Iggy Pop as a leading man. Though not an amazingly technical singer, he brings rock n' roll energy. I also liked the last song which reminded me a lot of the Doors.
Favorites: The Passenger, Sixteen, Fall In Love With Me
Least Favorite: Turn Blue
Joni Mitchell
2/5
It sounds pleasant enough but it's just boring. Nothing egregiously wrong but also nothing of interest. I'm also not a big fan of Mitchell's singing.
Favorites: Car on a Hill, Trouble Child
GZA
5/5
Liquid Swords is easily my favorite rap album so I was thrilled when this came in the queue. GZA opens with a mission statement on the title track when he claims to "drop megaton bombs more faster than you blink", on a song full of clever similes ("I flow like the blood on a murder scene") and word play. This is a brilliant way to open the album because it distills the essence of GZA as an artist and previews the rest of what is to come. And the best part is it's not even the best song.
Favorites: Pretty much all of the songs but especially Liquid Swords, 4th Chamber, and Cold World
Least Favorite: None
Wilco
3/5
This one got off to a rough start but righted the ship and ended up being a solid album the rest of the way through. Kind of country/southern rock vibes.
Favorites: Far, Far Away, Forget the Flowers, Someday Soon, Was I In Your Dreams, Dreamer in My Dreams
Least Favorites: Misunderstood
Saint Etienne
4/5
Really enjoyable album by a group I had never heard of. Very rhythmic, I liked the fast tempos combined with the softer, usually slower singing. The skits were interesting as well.
Favorites: Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Nothing Can Stop Us
Least Favorite: Kiss and Make Up
The White Stripes
2/5
It's hard to pinpoint exactly where it went wrong but I did not enjoy this one. The album cover is also terrible.
Favorites: The Denial Twist
Least Favorites: The Nurse, Little Ghost
Lenny Kravitz
4/5
Really nice album which is consistent in both tone and quality without becoming repetitive. Kravitz's singing was very passionate and impressive.
Favorites: I Build This Garden For Us, Let Love Rule, Freedom Train
Hawkwind
3/5
Live performances shouldn't be on this list but it was solid background music.
The Band
4/5
Good album, sounds like classic American rock so I was very surprised they’re Canadian.
Favorites: The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Pavement
2/5
The first half was boring, forgettable, and uninspired. I enjoyed the second half more but overall the album was mediocre. Their description on Spotify calls Pavement the "defining American indie rock band of the 90s" which is a hilariously bold claim after such an ordinary album.
Favorites: Conduit for Sale, Zurich Is Stained, Two States
Various Artists
3/5
I'm not really sure if this belongs on this list because it's a compilation, but getting this on Christmas day was a nice touch. Obviously I've heard most of these before, but I enjoy this type of Christmas song over the more more modern Mariah Carey ones. Sleigh Ride especially is a legitimately excellent song.
Solomon Burke
3/5
Thank God for the 60s. It seems this one decade accelerated music through half a century of evolution. This album sounds like a relic of a bygone era when compared to the psychedelia of the late 60s. Still, not an unpleasant listen by any stretch.
Favorites: Cry to Me, You Can't Love 'Em All
Frank Zappa
3/5
Not as weird as I expected which was a pleasant surprise. Definitely interesting and enjoyable but for me it's a little difficult to get really invested in the album when there's no lyrics because the songs all tend to merge.
Stephen Stills
4/5
Classic American rock. They don't make music like this anymore.
Favorites: Love the One Your With, Go Back Home, Cherokee
Kanye West
5/5
I once saw Kanye's magnum opus, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, described as the first and maybe only prog rap album. It's an apt description for this perfect maximalist extravaganza. The production is lush, orchestral, and operatic. Ye has perfected using the human voice as the greatest of all instruments. 15 years after it's release, Fantasy remains so fresh it still sounds futuristic. It is now 2025, and in my view this is the best album recorded in the 21st century.
That's not to say there are no weak points. Jay Z's verse on Monster and the skit on Blame Game are glaring misses. But these miscues stick out in part because they are surrounded by a sea of brilliance.
Lyrically, Ye preaches his devotion to hedonism, and also explores the effects of his fame and notoriety. Kanye is in peak form, and delivers some of the most quotable bars ever written. He is more boastful than ever, which is saying a lot for a guy whose pride has pride. Ye also consistently manages to capture incredible work from his features. Nicki Minaj, almost everybody on So Appalled, and especially Rick Ross all arguably deliver career best verses.
Fantasy proved to be the apex of a nearly perfect stretch of records for Ye. I guess you can be this unapologetic and arrogant if you make nothing but masterpieces. This pimp truly was on Mount Olympus.
Favorites: POWER, Runaway, Devil in a New Dress
Least Favorites: Monster
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
Good, catchy, classic rock. Also I like the old style of albums which are like half an hour.
Favorites: Breakdown
The Band
4/5
I don't know who the singer is but I love his voice. So soulful. I would call this album quintessentially American but it turns out they're from Canada.
Favorites: Tears of Rage, The Weight
Orbital
3/5
Solid background electronic music but hard to really get into it.
Brian Eno
3/5
I imagine this one won't be very popular but I actually mostly enjoyed it. Very rhythmic and I particularly liked the sort of Arab or middle eastern aesthetic present on a lot of the songs. No particular favorites because the songs tended to blend together.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
With Creedence you know exactly what you're getting and you know it's gonna be good.
Favorites: Born on the Bayou, Graveyard Train
Napalm Death
2/5
I love metal but this was a tough listen. Every song sounds the same, like they entered a competition to smack drums as quickly as possible. When they actually slowed the songs down, they weren't so bad. The singing on the other hand is like an unholy mix of the cookie monster and Arnold Schwarzenegger. But while the music is terrible, they absolutely nailed the name of the album and band, as well as the album cover. I guess that shows some sort of vision.
Common
4/5
Really strong rap album. Lyrics, flow, beats: everything on point.
Favorites: Chi-City, Be, They Say
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Solid funk but missing something to be truly captivating.
Favorites: Reasons, Shining Star
The Who
3/5
I don't think live albums belong on this list but it was definitely a hell of a lot better than Tommy.
Favorites: Heaven and Hell, I Can't Explain, My Generation Medley
Least Favorites: A Quick One While He's Away
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Another beautiful album by Stevie Wonder. It doesn't quite rise to the heights of Songs in the Key of Life, but almost nothing does.
Favorites: Visions, Higher Ground, All In Love Is Fair
T. Rex
4/5
Really enjoyable album by some guy I've never heard. Smooth rock.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
2/5
This is the best jazz album so far and I definitely prefer the more chill vibe to the loud big band style of jazz, but I still mainly just find it boring.
Favorite: Take Five
Joan Armatrading
4/5
Very creative album with a nice rich tone and excellent singing.
Favorites: Down to Zero, Love and Affection, Tall in the Saddle
The Fall
4/5
A bit off-kilter and so very British, but I really enjoyed this one. Exceedingly creative.
Favorites: Barmy, L.A., Spoiled Victorian Child, Yarbles
Peter Tosh
3/5
Solid reggae
Van Halen
5/5
The first half of this album is pretty much perfect rock n roll, though I think Eruption is overrated. The second half is still solid but not on the level of the first half.
Favorites: Ain't Talkin' Bout Love, You Really Got Me, Jaime's Cryin', Little Dreamer
Least Favorite: I'm the One
The Thrills
4/5
Lovely, gentle indie album. I enjoyed the second half more than the first.
Favorites: Old Friends, New Lovers, Say It Ain't So
Buzzcocks
3/5
Picture an average British punk album. You can probably hear it pretty clearly in your head, right down to the terrible singing. That's the Buzzcocks, with the exception of a short stretch in the middle of the record which had some really good and more varied songs.
Favorites: Fiction Romance, Autonomy, Moving Away From the Pulsebeat
Radiohead
4/5
More moody wailing from Radiohead. Credit to them, they make it sound good but I don't see exactly what makes this album so incredibly acclaimed.
Favorites: No Surprises, Lucky
The Undertones
3/5
These British punk/rock albums are a dime a dozen. They all sound more or less the same. Not bad but not memorable at all.
Favorites: Wednesday Week
Shack
4/5
I definitely didn't expect to enjoy this one as much as I did. A surprisingly beautiful album.
Favorites: Pull Together, Re-Instated, Lend's Some Dough, Daniella
Dr. Dre
4/5
The genesis of G-Funk in mainstream rap, as funky and fresh in 2025 as ever. These old rap albums really need to chill with some of the skits though.
Favorites: Fuck Wit Dre Day, Nuthin' But a "G" Thang, Lil Ghetto Boy
Least Favorite: Bitches Ain't Shit
Eminem
4/5
Among all the other great tracks on this album, Stan stands out as the pinnacle of Eminem's career, and is simply one of the greatest rap songs ever written. The Real Slim Shady is another all-timer. However this album had more low points than its predecessor. The lyrics are equally as deranged as the Slim Shady LP, but they feel more malicious and even darker, which makes for an occasionally uncomfortable listen.
Favorites: Stan, The Real Slim Shady, Bitch Please II
Least Favorites: Remember Me?, Ken Kaniff Skit, Kim
The Zombies
3/5
Solid late 60s psychedelic rock. The last song was the only one I recognized and was easily the best on the album.
Favorite: Time of the Season
OutKast
4/5
Very enjoyable album, or really two albums because the two discs are completely different. The length is tricky but not too tedious because the second disc is so different than the first. I heard this album once many years ago and I didn't remember that Andre's part (The Love Below) isn't even a rap album, like at all. Speakerboxxx is a good solid rap record but I really enjoyed the variety and creativity on Love Below, and of course it has the biggest highlight in Hey Ya!
Favorites: Bowtie, Hey Ya!, Roses, Love in War
Emmylou Harris
3/5
Very pretty album. She has a lovely voice.
Favorites: J'ai fait tout
2Pac
3/5
It feels wrong to give a legend like Pac only 3 stars, but I didn't enjoy this one as much as I expected to. I think a lot of the ideas, both musical and lyrical, on Me Against the World are more deeply explored and fleshed out on All Eyez on Me. The latter just feels like a more intense and focused effort, though it's undoubtedly bloated. It also has the undeniable bangers that this album is missing (how is All Eyez on Me not on this list?!?)
The Doors
5/5
Nobody does it quite like The Doors
James Taylor
2/5
Not bad just pretty boring.
Cat Stevens
3/5
Lovely album. Very gentle and intimate but a bit inconsistent.
Favorites: Wild World, Sad Lisa, Father and Son
Least Favorites: Hard Headed Woman
The Prodigy
2/5
Not terrible but not enjoyable either. Some interesting moments here and there. At least it has one of my all time favorite album covers.
Funkadelic
4/5
Who says a funk band can't play rock? Funkadelic certainly can, and they sure as hell can play funk too.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
4/5
A supremely interesting album by a group I never heard of - exactly the reason I started this list in the first place. This one is unlike any rap album I've heard before. The beats have elements of jazz and even southern rock. Sometimes they don't even rap at all, I actually really enjoyed the slowed down songs.
Favorites: The Grave and the Constant, We Have All the Time in the World, I Can't Get With That
Koffi Olomide
3/5
Pleasant but repetitive
David Bowie
4/5
Bowie is just so creative and he so rarely makes bad or even mediocre songs. He has a level of consistency that is rare even among the greats.
Favorites: Golden Years, Word on a Wing, Wild is the Wind
Kraftwerk
3/5
We are the robots. We are the robots. We are the robots.
This was actually a really cool album and probably the most enjoyable electronic album so far.
Favorites: The Robots, The Model
John Lennon
4/5
Surprisingly personal and of course very sophisticated song writing, as expected from a master like Lennon. Obviously the title track is legendary but I also loved Oh My Love.
Favorites: Imagine, Jealous Guy, Oh My Love, How Do You Sleep
Least Favorites: Crippled Inside
5/5
Often imitated but never equaled, this was the original masterpiece of psychedelic rock. Still, not my favorite album by the Beatles so I considered giving 4 stars until A Day in the Life came on.
Favorites: With a Little Help From My Friends, Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, A Day in the Life
Least Favorite: When I'm Sixty Four
Mott The Hoople
3/5
Lauryn Hill
5/5
What an extraordinary album. The consistency was also remarkable because albums of this length tend to dip at points but this was one was incredible throughout.
Favorites: Ex-Factor, Doo Wop (That Thing), Forgive Them Father
Peter Frampton
4/5
When I think of classic rock, this is the exact kind of sound that comes to mind. It has broad commercial appeal, hence the name stadium rock, but at the same time is still musically interesting. It just plain sounds good.
Favorites: Baby, I Love Your Way, Jumping Jack Flash, Do You Feel Like We Do
Elliott Smith
3/5
Well-made and melancholy but it didn't really grab me.
Favorites: Between the Bars
Least Favorites: Speed Trials
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
Sounds great but it was a bit hard to get into it because of the extremely long songs. Also like always I don't believe live albums belong here.
Serge Gainsbourg
2/5
Way too weird and esoteric for me. Not enjoyable, especially the fact that it's spoken word rather than singing.
Johnny Cash
3/5
Very sad and introspective. Also very slow and for me a bit boring.
Favorites: Hurt, Personal Jesus
Incredible Bongo Band
4/5
When I saw the name Bongo Rock and the fact that this album is an hour and 20 minutes, I full assumed this was about to be terrible. What a surprise! The Incredible Bongo Band lived up to their name with a catchy, funky, and just plain fun record.
Favorites: In A Gagga Da Vida, Kabuchi, Sing Sing Sing
Deep Purple
3/5
Live albums don't belong on this list but at least on this one they significantly changed or extended the songs compared to their studio versions. Some of the songs they actually extended too much for my taste.
Favorites: Highway Star, Child in Time, Smoke on the Water
Least Favorites: The Mule, Strange Kind of Woman
Spiritualized
4/5
Really cool, interesting album. Lots of different ideas and they are almost all effective.
Favorites: title track, Broken Heart, I Think I'm in Love, Cool Waves
Arctic Monkeys
3/5
Very catchy, cool album. I see why they're so popular.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
This is my 3rd Jonie Mitchell album so far and I'm coming to a realization: I really don't like Joni Mitchell. She's never written a chorus in her life and her meandering style just annoys me. I'm also not a fan of her voice. I'd be happy to never hear another Jonie Mitchell song again, but it seems her albums comprise half this list so I don't think I'll be that lucky.
Common
3/5
Good rap album. Nice beats, soulful, and funky but for whatever reason just didn't really grab me.
Favorites: 6th Sense, Lights
DJ Shadow
4/5
Lot of really nasty beats here, I love the kind of haunting feel he achieves with the piano and strings. The more mellow songs are beautifully done as well.
Overall very enjoyable album, but I can't help but think about what could have been if these songs had vocals as well. Imagine Nas or Jay Z or any great rapper penning verses to these beats. It could be majestic. Same goes for a great soul or R&B singer on some of the slower tracks.
Favorites: Building Steam With a Grain of Salt, What Does Your Soul Look Like Pt 4 and Pt 1, Stem/Long Stem
Guns N' Roses
4/5
Great classic hard rock. Obviously some massive hits on this one. The rest of the songs were solid but didn't really stand out.
Favorites: Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise City, Sweet Child O' Mine
Tricky
3/5
My 3rd trip-hop album so far and I've enjoyed every single one. This one definitely doesn't rise to the heights of Dummy by Portishead but still a cool album.
Favorites: You Don't
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
Decent alt rock let down by terrible singing
Favorites: Yeah We Know, Let It Ride
Least Favorites: No Bones
4/5
I always appreciate getting Bowie albums because he always makes them interesting. Even if there are some misses, it's never boring.
Favorites: Soul Love, Starman, Ziggy Stardust
Least favorites: Five Years,
PJ Harvey
3/5
Solid album. Kind of alt-rock, I liked her singing and energy. I doubt I'll ever revisit but I enjoyed it.
Favorites: Water
Talking Heads
4/5
Classic Talking Heads. Funky, fun, and catchy as hell. Another great album by them but not my favorite, which reminds me it's such a shame that Speaking in Tongues isn't on this list.
Favorites: Cities, Life During Wartime, Heaven, I Zimbra
Least Favorite: Animals
Ramones
3/5
Here's a group with an identity. The Ramones know exactly what they do, and don't bother trying to do something else. This makes the album pretty repetitive but I appreciate the clarity of vision.
Favorites: Blitzkrieg Bop
Beastie Boys
2/5
The production is much better than on Licensed to Ill but I still disliked this album for similar reasons. The biggest reason is that I find the high-pitched guy's voice extremely grating (I think it's Mike D) to the point that it totally kills my enjoyment of the album. I also just generally don't like their back and forth style of rapping.
I really liked some of the sampling, in particular using the Beatles' the End on the Sound of Science and also the ominous heavy metal sample on Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun. The funk sample on Car Thief was also excellent.
Louis Prima
3/5
Super old rock like this isn't really my thing but this one was decent.
Björk
2/5
A very interesting album but not one I'll ever listen to again. Too avant-garde for my taste but I can see why some people might appreciate this. Also not a huge fan of her voice.
Sam Cooke
4/5
Not a fan of live albums but this one was a blast. I can only imagine how it would have been in person. Obviously Sam Cooke is a legend for a reason and this is a small sample of why.
Favorites: Chain Gang, Feel It
John Lee Hooker
4/5
The album totally shifted gears after the first song, which was a classic Santana banger. Afterwards the whole record was blues, but it sounded great throughout.
Favorites: The Healer
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
Enjoyable classic rock. Very American, a little folky.
Favorites: Mona, Who Do You Love Pt 1, Calvary
Slipknot
4/5
Good heavy metal. Groovy but also melodic. Corey is a great singer. Having like 10 people in the band helps give them a thick, layered sound.
Favorites: Psychosocial, Dead Memories, Snuff, Till We Die
R.E.M.
4/5
I think this is my 3rd REM album so far and they have been the beacon of consistency. So far none of the albums have been unbelievable but they have all been good with no drops in quality and they maintain a uniform sound without becoming repetitive,
Favorites: Laughing, Talk About the Passion, Perfect Circle, Shaking Through
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
Really interesting album. The first two songs are fairly simple, catchy, raunchy rock tunes, then The Faith Healer comes out of nowhere. From the start of the song it's a departure from what came before. Far longer and more sophisticated, it would sound more appropriate on a Led Zeppelin album than on this one.
The song Next is another one that sounds like it came from a completely different album. This one is opera rock and features strings and a totally different style of singing. It's interesting they chose to name the album after this track.
Even the final song is like two songs in one. The first half of the song is upbeat rock then it suddenly turns into a reggaefied Beach Boys track. Actually a fascinating album.
Favorites: The Faith Healer, Swampsnake
Suicide
2/5
It was decent until the 10 minute abomination that is Frankie Teardrop
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Good heavy metal album. Reminds me of Dirt because of the grunge influence. Pretty groovy.
Favorites: Disarm, Today
Minor Threat
2/5
I get what they're going for and this is probably very well respected in the punk community but it's not for me. At least it's short.
John Coltrane
2/5
Jazz just continues to be a struggle.
Paul Simon
4/5
Lovely, gentle album.
Favorites: Duncan, Peace Like a River
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Probably my least favorite of their early albums but still very good.
Favorites: Whole Lotta Love, Heartbreaker
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
African blues. Not as good as Songhoy Blues but I enjoy the style so I still I liked the album.
Miles Davis
3/5
Ray Charles
3/5
Pretty much exactly what you would expect, good old soul by the legend Ray Charles. A bit too old for me to really get into it but obviously a classic.
Favorites: It Had To Be You, Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'
Aphex Twin
2/5
Exactly what I expected from ambient electronic music: boring, repetitive, and long.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
This album follows the same pattern as a lot of their other albums. It starts with an all-time great song then devolves into solid but unspectacular blues/rock.
Favorites: Sympathy for the Devil, Stray Cat Blues
Eric Clapton
4/5
Favorites: I Shot the Sheriff, Please Be With Me
U2
5/5
Incredible album. I love Bono's style of singing on this; it feels very passionate and grandiose. The guitar work is also great. It has a particular and identifiable style but I'm not sure exactly how to describe it. I didn't delve into the lyrics but it seems like they're really trying to say something.
Favorites: Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day, Like a Song
Ravi Shankar
3/5
It's a breath of fresh air to get something on this list that didn't come from the US or Britain. This was a nice introduction to Indian music by Ravi Shankar, who is clearly a virtuoso with the sitar. I'm not used to this kind of music so it was a little hard to really get into it but I still enjoyed it.
Charles Mingus
3/5
Best jazz record so far which is a low bar but this is the first one I've enjoyed.
Michael Jackson
4/5
MJ with some more pop bangers. Production is incredible, as is his singing. I liked the disco influence.
Favorites: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Rock With You, Get on the Floor
Least Favorite: Girlfriend
Nas
5/5
Simply the greatest rap album ever made. It's nothing short of a miracle that a teenager could so perfectly encapsulate his existence and surroundings. The production is also sophisticated and the lyricism is second to none, with some of the greatest bars in rap history. The first half of the album in particular is one of the best stretches of music ever recorded.
In addition to its remarkable consistency over an airtight 40 mins, Illmatic also has some of the great moments in rap. Beginning NY State of Mind with "I don't even know how to start this shit" and then dropping one of the greatest verses ever penned sets the bar impossibly high, but Nas never falters.
Favorite songs: N.Y. State of Mind, Memory Lane, Halftime, The World is Yours
"I never sleep, because sleep is the cousin of death"
"I dropped the ancient manifesto of hip-hop right out the block"
"I want presidents to represent me. I want dead presidents to represent me."
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
When I think of reggae this is exactly what I imagine. RIP Bob Marley.
Favorites: Waiting in Vain, Three Little Birds
Michael Jackson
4/5
The King of Pop for a reason. It's actually wild how consistently he was dropping bangers. Just massive hit after massive hit and they still sound great.
Favorites: Bad, Liberian Girl, Another Part of Me, Dirty Diana, Smooth Criminal
The Who
4/5
A little more bluesy than I expected but overall very good. Short and sweet.
Favorites: I Don't Mind, My Generation
Depeche Mode
4/5
I really like the dark and moody production. I think his singing suits the music well too. Overall very good album, pretty much what I'd expect from Depeche Mode.
Favorites: Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, Nothing
Violent Femmes
4/5
Very interesting album. Kind of off-kilter but it works. Same goes for the singing. Not technically great but suits the music.
Favorites: Blister in the Sun, Confessions, Gone Daddy Gone, To the Kill
Pulp
3/5
Solid, kinda moody rock
Favorites: This Is Hardcore, Seductive Barry
Norah Jones
3/5
Apparently Norah Jones called this her moody little album. It's an apt description. In addition to being moody it's also gentle and sometimes lovely, but occasionally a little boring.
Favorites: Shoot the Moon, I've Got to See You Again
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
Slow and a bit boring but sometimes beautiful.
Favorites: Fistful of Love
Alice In Chains
4/5
Very good heavy metal album. Groovy, with heavy riffs and melodic choruses. Definite grunge influence. Overall very enjoyable.
Favorites: Dam That River, Down in a Hole, Dirt
Meat Puppets
3/5
Musically kind of interesting. Dissonant but rhythmic. The singing is horrendous though. I guess that adds to the dissonance.
Marianne Faithfull
4/5
Cool, moody, slightly off-kilter rock. Very enjoyable.
Favorites: Broken English, Guilt, Working Class Hero, Why'd Ya Do It
Motörhead
3/5
Motorhead sounds fine but once you've heard two songs you've heard the whole album.
Nina Simone
4/5
Excellent album. I really enjoyed her unique voice. The music is a bit jazzy but more rhythmic and engaging.
Favorites: Four Women, Wild is the Wind
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
Actually a really interesting album. Kind of like a precursor to hip-hop with the beats, obviously no rapping on it though. I also liked the ambient noise elements and the concept album theme. I would actually give this 4 stars if not for the terribly annoying last song.
Favorites: Obatala, Double Dutch, Merengue, Punk it Up
Least Favorite: Duck for the Oyster
The Divine Comedy
3/5
It's a bit goofy but I enjoyed the operatic pop vibe. Plus the guy can really sing. It kind of feels like a play.
Favorites: Something for the Weekend, Songs of Love
The Go-Go's
4/5
Fun, upbeat, pop-punk. Really enjoyable.
Favorites: How Much More, Tonite, This Town
The Monkees
3/5
This one is very much a product of its time. The Monkees were clearly inspired by the Beatles, but they lack their innovation and genius, so it ends up just a pale imitation. Still not bad though, but the album cover is terrible. I also liked the random 50s style rock song that showed up out of nowhere towards the end.
Favorites: No Time, Randy Scouse Git
Dolly Parton
3/5
Not my kind of music but it's well-made and short
Favorites: Travelling Man
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
It's more interesting than it is pleasant to listen to, but I guess there's some merit to that. And of course it's completely unsurprising coming from Johnny Rotten. Somehow he sounds better he than he did for the Sex Pistols.
Favorites: Fodderstompf
Fela Kuti
3/5
Still don't think live albums should be here but this one was a lot of fun except for the last track.
Fever Ray
3/5
Solid electronic pop. I liked the slowed down rhythm and ambience.
Favorites: When I Grow Up
Erykah Badu
4/5
Great soul/R&B. Very rich sound overall and of course she sounds great.
Favorites: Didn't Cha Know, In Love With You
The Black Keys
5/5
Cool, catchy, modern rock. Nothing revolutionary but really enjoyable. Some great riffs and the vocals match the music very well. For such a big album I was surprised to only recognize Howlin' For You. Also I really enjoy the start of Too Afraid to Love You. It sounds like a nasty beat for a rap track and I was half-expecting a sick verse to come in but it was just the usual singing.
Favorites: Tighten Up, Howlin' For You, Too Afraid to Love You
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
I really enjoyed the first half of the album but it started to lose steam pretty significantly about halfway through.
Favorites: Regular John, You Would Know
Least Favorite: Hispanic Impressions
Black Sabbath
4/5
One of the most influential albums of all time. Still goes hard to this day. Also why tf does Spotify have the tracks all together instead of split up properly. p.s. RIP Ozzy.
Favorites: The Wizard, N.I.B., Sleeping Village
The Vines
4/5
Cool indie album. I like that they can play soft in a kinda alt rock style, or they can ramp up the intensity and sound punk-esque. The slowed down songs have some nice melodies while the faster ones can really rock out.
Favorites: Autumn Shades, Country Yard, Factory
Fatboy Slim
2/5
Kind of pseudo-edm or like hip hop without the rap. Not really my thing.
The Beta Band
3/5
Reminds me very much of Django Django by Django Django.
Favorites: Broke
Big Black
3/5
Very interesting album, not totally sure what to make of it. I enjoyed it though. Pretty thick sound.
Parliament
4/5
Fun funk album. The 70s must have been a great time. I'm convinced there's something wrong with anyone who doesn't like funk. How can you not groove to this?
Genesis
2/5
There were some nice sections and a few good songs but the whole thing is bloated and pretentious. It just drags on forever and lacks excitement even though there is a lot going on.
Favorites: Hairless Heart, The Carpet Crawlers
Mekons
3/5
Pretty weird album. Like some sort of British rock infused with country. Started strong but fizzled out a bit.
Favorite: Chivalry, Trouble Down South
Yes
3/5
When I hear extremely progressive rock like this sometimes I think they're just doing too much. It just comes off as pretentious. Complexity is fine so long as it doesn't detract from actually being enjoyable. When they just rock out without getting too weird it actually sounds really good.
Favorites: Roundabout, Mood for a Day
Least Favorites: Five Per Cent for Nothing
The Associates
3/5
Pretty interesting. Electronic but also operatic. Very theatrical. Also too long.
Favorites: Love Hangover
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
Very pretty album. Not normally a fan of electronic but this was very tastefully done synth pop. The singing was wonderful as well and really complemented the music.
Favorites: Being Boring, To Face the Truth
Least Favorite: Nervously
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
Old school bandstand. The singing is the highlight by far as the backing band sounds very generic to me. She would occasionally adlib and make up lyrics which was fine for the most part but was extremely grating on the last song where she sang gibberish the whole time.
Favorite: September in the Rain
Least Favorite: How High the Moon
Radiohead
4/5
Moody and ambient, like every other Radiohead album. I respect their consistency even though it does make their songs blend together for me. Overall a beautiful album though.
Favorites: The Bends, High and Dry, My Iron Lung, Street Spirit
The Byrds
4/5
Much better than the first Byrds album I got which was a painful slog. This one was an excellent psychedelic folk rock album. It's very much a product of its time but it was a good time so can't complain.
Favorites: So You Want to Be a Rock N' Roll Star, Thoughts and Words, My Back Pages, It Happens Each Day
Least Favorites: Mind Garden
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
A pleasant, gentle album but not strikingly beautiful or otherwise gripping.
Favorites: Like Dylan in the Movies
Janis Joplin
3/5
Classic Janis Joplin. I liked it but didn't love it. Her voice is definitely powerful but I don't actually love how she sounds.
Favorites: Move Over
Dusty Springfield
4/5
From the start this album sounded way more modern than I expected. Damn good album and one of the biggest surprises so far on this list. Halfway through the album I stopped listing favorites because there were too many.
Favorites: Mama Said, You Don't Own Me, My Colouring Book, Twenty-Four Hours From Tulsa, Summer is Over
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
Cool chill electronic music. I like the understated vibe and how it doesn't try to do too much.
Favorite: Oxygene, Pt. 6
TV On The Radio
4/5
Cool album. Enjoyed the moody, gritty vibe and vocals. The more I listened to it the more I liked it.
Favorites: Staring at the Sun, Poppy
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
Very pretty album but a bit long and tends to blend together
Fleet Foxes
4/5
Very pretty album. Kinda folky. Lovely singing.
Favorites: Your Protector, Blue Ridge Mountains
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
3/5
Interesting quirky album with a mix of styles. That mix led to some inconsistencies in quality though.
Favorites: Cripple Creek, War in Peace
Least Favorites: It's The Best Thing for You
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
Certainly aptly named, this album consists largely of bluesy, very good but unspectacular classic rock songs. Exceptions are the beautiful cover of Little Wing (though not quite as good as Hendrix's) and the truly spectacular Layla.
Favorites: Little Wing, Layla
Alice Cooper
3/5
Decent but pretty forgettable classic rock album. Picks up after a rough start. Lyrics are cheesy as hell.
The Kinks
3/5
Solid 60s rock. Definitely Beatles inspired but not a complete rip off. Love Sunny Afternoon.
Favorites: Rosy Won't You Please Come Home, Too Much on My Mind, Sunny Afternoon
Mercury Rev
4/5
Hated the last two minutes but besides that it was a lovely, strange album by a group I've never heard of.
Holes is an absolutely beautiful opening track. It's melancholy, it has a sense of nostalgia, and the trumpet (or whatever brass) is stunning.
Favorites: Holes, Goddess on a Hiway, Funny Bird
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Excellent psychedelic rock album by the guitar virtuoso.
Favorites: Purple Rain, Hey Joe, May This Be Love
Bob Dylan
4/5
Classic folksy old-school Bob Dylan. I enjoyed it but wouldn't listen to it on my own time so it's hard to give more than 3 stars, but I really appreciate the musicianship and the interesting lyrics so I'll make an exception.
Favorites: Mr. Tambourine Man, It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Joan Baez
3/5
Nice folk album. She has a beautiful voice.
Favorites: Donna Donna
Willie Nelson
4/5
Beautiful album. I had no idea Willie Nelson had such a lovely voice.
Favorites: Blue Skies
Sister Sledge
4/5
Excellent R&B/Disco album. Personally I loved the disco tracks more than the slowed down R&B ones but both were good.
Favorites: He's the Greatest Dancer, We Are Family, Easier to Love
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
Kind of weird and moody but not bad.
Favorite: Zompf: In a Sydney Hotel
Steely Dan
4/5
Not quite as consistently excellent as Can't Buy a Thrill but still a great album with that classic Steely Dan sound.
Favorites: Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Night by Night, Pretzel Logic
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Solid Neil Young album carried pretty heavily by the incredible My My, Hey Hey.
Favorites: My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue), Sail Away