Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersGood, catchy, classic rock. Also I like the old style of albums which are like half an hour. Favorites: Breakdown
Good, catchy, classic rock. Also I like the old style of albums which are like half an hour. Favorites: Breakdown
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
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.
A quintessential classic rock album. I'm really not sure what more you can ask for from this genre.
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.
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 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.
Very enjoyable album. Both the production and the vocals were excellent.
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.
Solid but unremarkable album. I don't expect I'll be revisiting.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Decent album, pretentious name.
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.
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.
Decent but not very memorable. I doubt I'll ever come back to this one.
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.
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.
Not offensively bad but just kind of boring and I dislike the singer's voice. I don't see much to recommend here.
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.
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.
Eerie, dark, and exceptional. Only reason it's not 5 stars is because it can a bit repetitive.
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.
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.
This album does not belong on this list.
A soothing and pleasant listen, but I doubt I'll ever listen to it again.
In my view live albums don't belong on this list, but this one was excellent. Lots of enjoyable songs, especially in the beginning.
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?
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.
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.
Musically it's actually kind of interesting but the singing is truly awful.
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.
Incredible album, probably my favorite by Led Zeppelin. Straight bangers which is rare for a double album. Favorites are Kashmir and Trampled Under Foot.
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.
Definitely has some bangers but there is not enough consistent excellence to merit 5 stars.
This is not at all my kind of music but I have to acknowledge that it is undoubtedly an excellent album.
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.
Decent pop album. Nothing remarkable.
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.
Not my kind of music but it's certainly well-made.
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.
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.
Very enjoyable punk album by a group I'd never heard of.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Very good classic rock. An easy, enjoyable listen but did not contain enough quality to merit 5 stars.
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.
Sometimes good but more often pretentious garbage.
I'm sure this is a good and acclaimed jazz album, but I just don't enjoy jazz music.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Interesting album, I enjoyed the variety but overall the quality was a bit inconsistent.
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.
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.
Very rhythmic. The drums were the clear standout of the album.
Very catchy, I see why this was such a big hit. Still I don't consider it a great album, merely good.
Boring, common, poorly mixed, and with weak singing.
Solid upbeat rock record. Reminded me a little bit of Green Day.
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.
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.
Classic Smiths. No new ground broken on this one but still enjoyable.
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.
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.
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.
Catchy, smooth, and cool. Much better than I expected.
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.
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
Very smooth, classic old-school rap. I enjoyed the rhythms and production, but the lyrical content got pretty repetitive.
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.
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.
It's a lot of moody wailing but somehow it works. Very evocative.
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.
Pretty cool
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Way better than I expected
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.
Maybe not quite the quality of Rumors but still a very good album. Highlights are Over & Over, Beautiful Child, and Tusk
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.
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.
Solid
Damn he can sing. Classic soul.
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.
What a beautiful album
The best mostly-electronic album I've gotten so far, but that's a pretty low bar. I did enjoy this one though.
Sick beats, nice flows. Really enjoyable.
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.
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.
Interesting enough to make up for some of the mis-steps.
Very different but I loved it. Great drumming, they definitely have a sense of rhythm. Singing was nice too.
Race for the Prize is great. Everything else is shockingly mediocre.
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
Dope album. I don't listen to much reggae but it's always funky as hell.
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.
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.
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.
I expected this one to be very good and it was exactly as expected.
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
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.
Beautiful but a bit repetitive
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.
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.
Very interesting
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.
As good as it gets for classic rock. Smooth as hell and the whole thing works together beautifully.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Good classic soul. There were a couple songs I didn't love but still very enjoyable overall. Favorite: Billy Jack Least Favorite: Jesus
Classic Doors.
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
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.
A nice album but ultimately pretty forgettable. Favorites: Was There Anything I Could Do?, Streets of Your Town, Dive For Your Memory
Solid but fairly forgettable apart from the two mega-hits.
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
This isn't normally my kind of music but what a beautiful album.
Lovely album. It has a sort of bittersweet nostalgia to it. Favorites: See the Sky About to Rain, Ambulance Blues
Cool album but does not really separate itself from the rest. I still very much enjoyed it.
Good but maybe a bit self-important.
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.
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.
Boring, just like the other 90% of electronic albums on this list.
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
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.
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
Musically fun and with excellent vocals, this was a very enjoyable one to listen to.
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
Nice but pretty forgettable
Fine but pretty boring
Beautiful album. Every song is great and I appreciated his singing much more than usual. Favorites: Pretty much all of them
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
Solid blues but not remarkable, though Jagger's voice elevates the whole album. I enjoy their original works better.
Fun album, pretty interesting
Awesome album. Music is ultimately entertainment and this one was fun from start to finish. Favorite Songs: Stutter, S.O.F.T., Connections
Weird album. I imagine this one won't be very popular but I actually enjoyed it. Rhythmic in an industrial, almost militaristic way.
Great classic soul. What a wonderful singer. Favorites: Let's Stay Together
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
Cool fun album
Good fun album. From the album cover to the lyrics, The Dictators obviously don't take themselves seriously and are enjoyable to listen to.
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Live performances shouldn't be on this list but it was solid background music.
Good album, sounds like classic American rock so I was very surprised they’re Canadian. Favorites: The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
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
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.
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
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.
Classic American rock. They don't make music like this anymore. Favorites: Love the One Your With, Go Back Home, Cherokee
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
Good, catchy, classic rock. Also I like the old style of albums which are like half an hour. Favorites: Breakdown
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
Solid background electronic music but hard to really get into it.
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.
With Creedence you know exactly what you're getting and you know it's gonna be good. Favorites: Born on the Bayou, Graveyard Train
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.
Really strong rap album. Lyrics, flow, beats: everything on point. Favorites: Chi-City, Be, They Say
Solid funk but missing something to be truly captivating. Favorites: Reasons, Shining Star
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
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
Really enjoyable album by some guy I've never heard. Smooth rock.
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
Very creative album with a nice rich tone and excellent singing. Favorites: Down to Zero, Love and Affection, Tall in the Saddle
A bit off-kilter and so very British, but I really enjoyed this one. Exceedingly creative. Favorites: Barmy, L.A., Spoiled Victorian Child, Yarbles
Solid reggae
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
Lovely, gentle indie album. I enjoyed the second half more than the first. Favorites: Old Friends, New Lovers, Say It Ain't So
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
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
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
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
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
Very pretty album. She has a lovely voice. Favorites: J'ai fait tout
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?!?)
Not bad just pretty boring.
Lovely album. Very gentle and intimate but a bit inconsistent. Favorites: Wild World, Sad Lisa, Father and Son Least Favorites: Hard Headed Woman
Not terrible but not enjoyable either. Some interesting moments here and there. At least it has one of my all time favorite album covers.