Apr 02 2024
View Album
White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
I missed this one at the time - I was well into my seventies music phase. Even the singles didn't really appeal to my musical sensibilities, so I had no interest in the album. I was hoping to have my mind changed this time around, but (after admittedly only one full listen) I don't have any desire to go back and revisit the White Stripes. I still think they're mostly about a 'sound' and a look, which is fine but the songs aren't there in my opinion.
3
Apr 03 2024
View Album
Paranoid
Black Sabbath
I can only imagine how mind blowing this would have been in its day. But now it's pretty average metal to my ears. My favourite track isn't even metal (the caravan one). My rating is for current day enjoyment, not historic impact, so it's a 3.
3
Apr 04 2024
View Album
La Revancha Del Tango
Gotan Project
I like it. I don't love it. It's good for what it is, and I did like a fair bit of this genre back in the day. But it seems like if you've heard one of these albums you've heard them all. If you like the sound, that's great, but there's not much of interest going on musically, and lyrically, well it's in French. Probably an excellent example of the style, but this would be background music for me, and even then I probably wouldn't bother.
3
Apr 05 2024
View Album
Out of Step
Minor Threat
Unlistenable. Sorry, early punk is just not enjoyable unless maybe you were there.
1
Apr 06 2024
View Album
Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
Yes, this is my jam. What they did here was awesome, and it's only not so mind blowing to me now because of all the copycats since then. This is the one of the best headphone albums of the early 21st century.
4
Apr 08 2024
View Album
Rings Around The World
Super Furry Animals
Pretty genius stuff. I think I'd only heard one or two of their songs before, so this is a pleasant surprise from the early noughties. Very creative with just enough catchiness to keep me interested.
4
Apr 09 2024
View Album
1999
Prince
Probably one of the best party albums of the 80s. Not really where I'm at now, and fails to connect, but amazingly produced and pinnacle of the style.
4
Apr 10 2024
View Album
GREY Area
Little Simz
Not my scene, but I kinda get it. The production and the sounds are great, but to me the rhymes just don't sound good, there's very little art to them. Sure, the lyrics may be very meaningful, but meh. To me they sound like something scribbled on a napkin with no thought. Stream of consciousness isn't always genius. It's like modern art.
2
Apr 11 2024
View Album
En-Tact
The Shamen
This might have been important as one of the influences on the huge dance/electronic acts of the 90's, but now it's sounding quite basic and anemic in comparison. I doubt this album deserves to be in the top 1001.
2
Apr 12 2024
View Album
The Pleasure Principle
Gary Numan
A classic of its style. I don't think anyone's done it quite the same as Numan. I still can't rate it really high though, because to my ear at this stage it's a bit too clinical to connect, and not something I'd listen to often.
3
Apr 14 2024
View Album
Cross
Justice
Really great rocking dance tunes on this one.
4
Apr 15 2024
View Album
Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts
The Adverts
2
Apr 16 2024
View Album
A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
I love the sound, love the idea, but cannot get into free jazz except as something completely background. It frustrates me that I can't hear a distinctive melody or progression. I get why free jazz freaks would love this though.
3
Apr 17 2024
View Album
Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
Not for me. I'm sure it's a great example of it's style though.
3
Apr 18 2024
View Album
The Undertones
The Undertones
Another seventies punk album. Maybe my ears aren't attuned to it, and I suspect they never will be.
2
Apr 19 2024
View Album
Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
oh. I can't believe it but this might be my first time listening through this album of perfect pop rock. I've heard all of the songs before, but I'm still shocked at how great this is - it really doesn't get much better. It goes through so many different changes of mood, but it all fits. If you love the sound of the seventies, this is it. I wish I had more time to gush, but sadly must move on to the next album.
5
Apr 20 2024
View Album
Eagles
Eagles
The Eagles. Another album I'm surprised I haven't listened to all the way through. Unfortunately, aside from the over-worn singles (still great songs) most of the tracks are pretty humdrum. 'Chug all night' is just terrible. 'Train leaves here in the morning' and 'Most of us are sad' are some nice easy listening standouts from the remainder. Great album for the time but not much to make me want to go back at this stage.
3
Apr 23 2024
View Album
The Stranger
Billy Joel
This is going to be one of the most biased reviews I've done. I've been listening to this album for 25 years and it's still amazing. Song craft, smooth seventies sounds, seductiveness, and swagger are all here in spades. Although the magic has worn off with over listening, that's my fault, not Billy's. It can't not be 5 stars.
5
Apr 24 2024
View Album
Nevermind
Nirvana
I know this is a great grunge album, and I can hear why, but I don't enjoy this sound any more. It's a dark place, and I don't want to go back. I'm rating it for enjoyment at this point in my life right now, and it's a 3.
3
Apr 28 2024
View Album
Exit Planet Dust
The Chemical Brothers
Great party album, one of the first of it's kind. Doesn't sound too bad, even now, considering how many groups have come and done the same thing. Not as interesting or exciting as it was though. 3/5 for me.
3
Apr 29 2024
View Album
Want One
Rufus Wainwright
I've never heard any of Rufus' material, and this wasn't love at first listen, but really grew on me after a couple. Very interesting and diverse album. His voice unfortunately reminds me a bit of Travis (not a huge fan), and the songs often lack memorable melodies or hooks, but they're quirky and intriguing. 'Go of go ahead' is the obvious single, and I was surprised I didn't know it at all, but it's a great pop song. Give that one a listen, at least!
4
Apr 30 2024
View Album
Aladdin Sane
David Bowie
Legendary album, full of great songs, perfect intro to his seventies material.
4
May 04 2024
View Album
Pearl
Janis Joplin
Not bad. I've never given Janis much of a chance, but this album didn't change my mind. Great rock voice, album has a nice sound, but the songs are just too generic rock/blues to interest me personally. Doubt I'll re-listen.
3
May 06 2024
View Album
Transformer
Lou Reed
Worth it for 'perfect day' alone, but it's an interesting album from start to finish. Still, not something I'll probably go back to much - musically it's just not hugely interesting to me.
3
May 07 2024
View Album
Odessey And Oracle
The Zombies
Yeah, there's a few great songs on here. Unfortunately for me, 60's albums just sound too old in general for me to thoroughly enjoy. There's not enough going on 'sonically'. 3.5 stars for me, but if I was born in the 50's this would undoubtedly have been higher.
3
May 08 2024
View Album
Bad
Michael Jackson
An obvious classic - this album just ticks all the right 80's funky pop boxes. Although not something I'd listen to regularly these days, the genius is undeniable and the songs unbelievably catchy.
5
May 09 2024
View Album
Gentlemen
The Afghan Whigs
Good stuff. Pretty raw and seedy rock. I prefer the later albums with twilight singers, I think he perfected his style on those albums.
3
May 11 2024
View Album
Rio
Duran Duran
Great, fun stuff. Surely one of the best party albums of the 80's. Never really gave it much of a chance, as it lacks depth for me (I'm more of a Tears for Fears guy) but I can definitely see the attraction at that time.
3
May 12 2024
View Album
More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
I fully don't feel like I've had time to appreciate this album - there's a lot going on. It's a great, fun quirky adventure. 3 1/2 stars for me, will round up to 4 in this case.
4
May 15 2024
View Album
All Hope Is Gone
Slipknot
Ermm, I've actively avoided this and bands like this for the last 20 years. I gave it a listen, but this is music to smash things - it doesn't do anything good for my mood. I'm sure for it's genre it's great, but I can only give it a 2.
2
May 16 2024
View Album
Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Intriguing stuff. I've never given him much of a shot but will re-listen!
4
May 20 2024
View Album
Selling England By The Pound
Genesis
An absolute classic of it's genre. If the idea of progressive, beautiful, folk rock doesn't make you feel sick, please give this a listen. The music and lyrics are amazingly imaginative with loads of unexpected turns.
5
May 22 2024
View Album
Sound Affects
The Jam
Fun jams. Like punk, but with actual melodies and and discernable instruments.
3
May 24 2024
View Album
The White Album
Beatles
This is the album I've probably re-listened to the most since starting this. There's a lot going on here! As a cohesive album of tunes, it's pretty bad - it feels more like a collection of B-sides with a few A-sides thrown in but the A-sides are so good it's worth the wait, and the B-sides are all very diverse and interesting. There's some they should probably have left off however, so it's hard to give it a 5, but it's a solid 4.
4