602
Albums Rated
3.27
Average Rating
55%
Complete
487 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010s
Favorite Decade
Soul
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Curator
Rater Style ?
76
5-Star Albums
16
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yeezus | 5 | 2.77 | +2.23 |
| Only Built 4 Cuban Linx | 5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
| Brown Sugar | 5 | 2.92 | +2.08 |
| Ctrl | 5 | 2.92 | +2.08 |
| Meat Puppets II | 5 | 3.02 | +1.98 |
| The Hissing Of Summer Lawns | 5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
| Drunk | 5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
| Loveless | 5 | 3.17 | +1.83 |
| Close To The Edge | 5 | 3.19 | +1.81 |
| The Blueprint | 5 | 3.22 | +1.78 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myths Of The Near Future | 1 | 3.06 | -2.06 |
| Tom Tom Club | 1 | 3.03 | -2.03 |
| Southern Rock Opera | 1 | 2.82 | -1.82 |
| What's That Noise? | 1 | 2.78 | -1.78 |
| Logical Progression | 1 | 2.52 | -1.52 |
| Now I Got Worry | 1 | 2.52 | -1.52 |
| Shleep | 1 | 2.5 | -1.5 |
| Violent Femmes | 2 | 3.5 | -1.5 |
| Penance Soiree | 1 | 2.5 | -1.5 |
| The Modern Dance | 1 | 2.48 | -1.48 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Radiohead | 4 | 4.75 |
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 4.4 |
| Beatles | 4 | 4.5 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.67 |
| Metallica | 3 | 4.67 |
| Yes | 3 | 4.67 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 2 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | 5 |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | 3 | 4.33 |
| Joni Mitchell | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Public Image Ltd. | 2 | 1.5 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Bob Dylan | 2, 4, 3, 5, 5 |
5-Star Albums (76)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
The Dictators
2/5
this feels like it goes on for an eternity, and the album is only 34 minutes
3 likes
The Hives
3/5
they are not my new favorite band, but they aren’t my new least favorite band so they’ve at least got that going for them
1 likes
4-Star Albums (149)
1-Star Albums (16)
All Ratings
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Very good soul/funk album. First Sly album I’ve listened to the whole way through
Radiohead
4/5
Probably one of my favorite Radiohead albums.
Favorite songs: Planet Telex, High and Dry, (Nice Dream), Just, Bullet Proof… I Wish I Was, Black Star, Sulk
Al Green
4/5
Probably one of the best soul albums i’ve ever heard. not a single bad track
Public Enemy
4/5
the production on this is chaotic, overwhelming, and unrelenting. this is a memorable listen, every track has a distinct feel. love the sample heavy feel
you can really feel the groups anger and indignation through each and every song. fight the power is such an incredible closer, really sums the album up well.
Calexico
3/5
not sure what genre this would even fall under, there’s such a great blend of everything.
a very solid album, but not a lot stood out to me individually.
Jorge Ben Jor
2/5
A very well produced album, wish I understood Portuguese.
Giving this 2. While I did enjoy the project and liked a few songs, I don’t see myself coming back to this often, if at all.
Lou Reed
3/5
new york telephone conversation may just be the worst song i’ve ever heard.
decent album. not a huge fan of reed’s flat vocal delivery on some of these tracks. definitely some gems on here tho
Raekwon
5/5
Easily the best solo Wu-Tang project.
Rae and Ghost are such a great duo, love hearing them over this type of production.
Only weak song on this is Spot Rusherz imo.
Drive-By Truckers
1/5
southern rock just isn’t my cup of tea. this album runs for far too long imo. interesting concept tho
The Cure
4/5
first time listening to a cure album. v good stuff. consistently good songs, and the project doesn’t overstay its welcome.
The Shamen
1/5
just not my cup of tea
The Jam
3/5
cool album. punk meets british rock meets new wave meets the 80s. some good tracks, but a couple songs i just didn’t care for
Buzzcocks
3/5
the back half of this album was much stronger than the front.
favorite song: fiction romance, autonomy, i need
The Who
3/5
Radiohead
5/5
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
cool album. never been a huge fan of early rock and roll, but i can see why buddy holly was such a big deal.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Holger Czukay
3/5
Tom Tom Club
1/5
i just don’t think new wave is for me
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Bill Callahan
2/5
i enjoyed the instrumentals, just didn’t care for the singer
Janet Jackson
2/5
this album is far too long and overproduced. some gems for sure, but i wish she would’ve picked going full social commentary or full pop. the back and forth is unfulfilling.
The Doors
4/5
i can see why this album is so highly acclaimed. love the organ sections that are all over this.
Donovan
3/5
decent listen. very medieval (?) feel to it
Queen
4/5
beautiful album, one of queen’s best
Randy Newman
2/5
i just can’t get over the toy story connection 😭 it’s a decent listen, but this type of country is not my cup of tea
Paul Simon
4/5
all the tracks are beautifully composed. great body of work
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
an undisputed classic in my eyes. brilliantly executed concept album about kendrick’s life up until that point in time, i’ll never get tired of this album.
Neneh Cherry
3/5
cool late 80s album.
Coldplay
4/5
as someone who absolutely loathes hearing coldplay on the radio, i was pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed this album
2/5
not horrendous, but a bit too samey for my liking. that last track was awful
Bob Dylan
2/5
i don’t care for dylan’s voice on this. a few good songs, but i don’t see myself returning to this project anytime soon
Wild Beasts
2/5
not a huge fan of the vocals. it’s bearable for a track or two, but wears out its welcome when you hear it on an entire album. good instrumentation tho
Daft Punk
2/5
Not bad for a debut, but I just haven’t enjoyed any of the electronic albums I’ve heard so far.
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
maybe i just don’t care for british punk 😔
The Slits
2/5
read abt this albums influence, not a big enough fan of the genre to know if that holds true or not. it’s cool, but not my personal cup of tea. few good songs tho
Kate Bush
3/5
never heard a song of hers before stranger things (and i don’t even watch stranger things). very cool post-prog project
The Pogues
3/5
first time listening to irish folk. cool little album
Rod Stewart
5/5
one of my favorite rod stewart albums.
Cat Stevens
3/5
inoffensive. a bit stale for my liking, but nothing i wouldn’t listen to if it came on my shuffle.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
fantastic debut, one of my favorite bands
Rage Against The Machine
4/5
nice blend of rock/rap. aged pretty well too
Hüsker Dü
3/5
whoever said this sounds like a knockoff REM album was not kidding
Meat Loaf
4/5
surprised at how much i enjoyed this. over the top/operatic at times, but i can see why this made the list
White Denim
4/5
really enjoyed this, never heard of this group before. will have to dive into their catalogue more.
Ozomatli
2/5
not my cup of tea
Alanis Morissette
3/5
didn’t realize how many of these songs i’ve heard in passing. good album overall.
Pearl Jam
4/5
v good album
Motörhead
3/5
super repetitive and samey
jailbait damn near ruins the album
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Decent listen, but it’s not Sinatra’s best album imo
Iron Maiden
3/5
not my favorite megadeath album, but a solid listen. consistently good, no real dips in quality
Isaac Hayes
4/5
i cannot stop thinking about chef from south park singing this.
all seriousness though, this is a phenomenal album. i was a bit wary at first, 4 songs, 40+ minutes is not an easy sell. having “walk on by” as the opener was such a great decision. i think i still prefer dionne warwicks over this, but i’ll be damned if this isn’t a phenomenal cover. feels like a totally different song. my only “gripe” with this is the long monologue on “by the time i get to phoenix” i understand its place in the song, but it does hamper the replay value for me personally.
Stephen Stills
3/5
an interesting concept that’s well executed at times, but misses the mark overall. not a bad listen, but a bit too lengthy for my liking.
Klaxons
1/5
yeah this is a fat no for me
4/5
great album, one of my favorites from bowie
Beck
5/5
never heard a beck album before this, only knew that he was highly acclaimed.
didn’t expect so much rap to be present, nor for it to be as good as it was (relatively speaking)
Black Sabbath
5/5
war pigs has to be one of the greatest intros of all time. my favorite sabbath album.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
one of my favorite double albums. couple tracks i don’t revisit, but an overall great body of work. shame we didn’t get more jimi.
Tortoise
4/5
cool post-rock/jazz album. really enjoyed this
JAY Z
5/5
Phenomenal album, one of Jay’s best albums and a well deserved spot on this list.
The Band
2/5
the band by the band. generic sounding name, fits the album as well. not terrible, not great. probably won’t revisit.
Van Halen
4/5
2nd straight day of listening to a self titled album. this was much more enjoyable. tight 35 minutes, no bad songs. great debut
Robert Wyatt
1/5
all i can say is the album title is extremely fitting
The Jam
4/5
enjoyed this a lot more than “sound affects”. would definitely pick this up on vinyl
Nick Drake
4/5
sparse instruments and vocals, has a very intimate feel. really enjoyed this
Joni Mitchell
5/5
incredible album. can’t believe i’ve never listened to joni mitchell before today
Joni Mitchell
4/5
The first half of this was fantastic. The 2nd half stumbles a bit imo, but still a great album.
Primal Scream
2/5
baffled at how little i enjoyed this. really like screamadelica. this was far more abrasive than any of their other stuff i’ve heard, and not for the better.
The Black Crowes
3/5
decent romp, not my cup of tea but in the right mood i could revisit.
Johnny Cash
3/5
Decent romp, never been a huge fan of live albums but Cash sounds great on this.
Prince
3/5
i understand why prince is considered a legend, but his music has just never truly clicked for me. decent album, but far from my favorite of his
Big Brother & The Holding Company
2/5
not my cup of tea
Mike Ladd
2/5
2 stars bc the production is interesting
Crowded House
4/5
enjoyed this a lot. really solid album with no real low points
Christine and the Queens
2/5
way too long, didn’t care enough to hear the french versions of the songs
The Stone Roses
3/5
decent album
Kid Rock
1/5
it’s like rage against the machine but infinitely worse
Moby Grape
4/5
very good album, definitely gonna pick it up on vinyl
Steely Dan
4/5
a good album, but not steely dan’s best
Spacemen 3
2/5
not a fan of ambient music in general, this was no exception
Dolly Parton
4/5
a genuinely charming album. dolly oozes sincerity throughout
Manu Chao
3/5
Pixies
3/5
never been a huge pixies fan. decent album though
Jimmy Smith
4/5
cool jazz album
Pink Floyd
5/5
355 records in my collection and i still haven’t bought the one that damn near everyone owns.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
can’t believe i’ve never heard this. phenomenal body of work
Kings of Leon
3/5
few songs i really enjoyed, but i overall didn’t care for the vocals on this
Justice
3/5
first electronic album i actually somewhat enjoyed
Sonic Youth
3/5
really enjoyed a couple of songs on this. but there was a good chunk i was just “okay” on. overall enjoyed the experimental/alt sound
Metallica
4/5
first half was better than the second.
not their best work, but a really good one. this is where their discography starts to jump around in terms of quality.
Beastie Boys
3/5
some of my favorite beastie boys songs are on this album, and i can see why it’s a regarded as a seminal piece of rap history.
that said it does show its age at times, and not always in an endearing manner.
The Specials
2/5
this did not change my opinion on ska
The Police
3/5
Never been a huge fan of the police outside of their hits, who knew they had so many quirky songs? Still a fun listen overall
3/5
like the beatles, but more proggy and not quite as good
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
there’s just something specific about this flavor of 60s pop that i find endlessly endearing. great album with little fluff
The Who
4/5
probably my favorite album from the who. the song is over is easily one of my favorites from their discography
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
this has the makings of a 4 but i feel a 3 is most appropriate. some good songs on here, but just as much filler imo
Queen
4/5
very very good album. still enjoyed a night at the opera slightly more than this one
Meat Puppets
5/5
damn good album
Peter Gabriel
5/5
probably my favorite peter gabriel album tbh
The Flying Burrito Brothers
3/5
nothing special, cool little country album
Serge Gainsbourg
2/5
the concept behind this album is a little strange ngl. the instrumentation is fantastic, but i don’t care for the frenchman whispering in my ear
Coldcut
1/5
didn’t finish this. started out okay but good god it went downhill fast
Elton John
4/5
starts out really strong, but fades in the back half. still a good project and worth the listen
Tim Buckley
3/5
much like the donovan album, i don’t care for the “renaissance faire” sound that this has. a wholly inoffensive yet unremarkable album, middle of the road for me.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
a really really strong debut, heaven and las vegas clears for me personally but this is a strong offering
Talking Heads
3/5
a perfectly fine album, but nothing i’d revisit in full
Elbow
3/5
pretty decent
Björk
4/5
loved all the different harmonies/sounds she used.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4/5
enjoyed this a lot more than i was expecting, really cool acapella album
Beatles
5/5
This takes me back to the Beatles phase I went through in high school.
The one fun fact I feel obligated to share is that “Why Don’t We Do It In the Road?” was written by Paul during the band’s trip to India. He wrote the song after seeing two monkeys having sex in the middle of the street
This album was made when tensions in the group were at an all time high, and it shows in how scattered the songs feel. Some of their best work is on this album, as well as their worst. But somehow, they manage to make it work.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
i enjoyed this more than the other new wave albums i’ve listened to, so i guess that’s something. nothing really stood out to me though
Leftfield
2/5
if there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s that i really don’t like electronic music
Funkadelic
4/5
really enjoyed this. need to get it on vinyl since streaming services don’t have it for whatever reason
Can
2/5
no thanks
Johnny Cash
4/5
one of my favorite johnny cash albums.
Richard Hawley
3/5
nothing special, but a relaxing listen
Elvis Presley
3/5
eh
Morrissey
3/5
am i crazy or are some of these songs at the beginning anti-immigrant ??
overall, pretty decent. never been a huge fan of morrissey’s bland vocals, but the music itself is very good
Blondie
3/5
never been the biggest fan of blondie, but this is a decent album. some of their best songs on here, but overall it felt middle of the road
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
2 stars for maps and the cover art being kinda cool
The Sonics
2/5
even for the standard of 1965 the mixing is terrible
Taylor Swift
2/5
i can see why these weren’t put on folklore lmao
damn near a 1 star bc i can’t stand that willow song after working in retail
The Rolling Stones
3/5
never been a big stones guy, this album did little to change that
Talking Heads
3/5
enjoyed this one a bit more than the others i’ve heard so far, still not my favorite
Violent Femmes
2/5
started pretty strong but overall i found it a bit grating
TV On The Radio
2/5
not my cup of tea
N.W.A.
4/5
definitely a dated album in terms of production and lyrical content, but it’s impact on the genre cannot be understated.
Shack
3/5
a pretty decent album. nothing mind blowing though, not sure how this made the list
Beastie Boys
4/5
found myself enjoying this album much more than license to ill. the eclectic production really pulled me in, didn’t expect so many instrumental songs but i can’t say i was mad about it. damn good album
Public Enemy
5/5
sample heavy, to an overwhelming degree at times. the bomb squad really loves that tea kettle sound effect.
but everything just works, a phenomenal album.
The Killers
3/5
confession time: i think mr brightside is just ok
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
a very solid early 00s pop rock album. doesn’t overstay its welcome and is pretty consistent throughout
Aretha Franklin
4/5
easily one of the greatest singers of all time. this is a great album
Pulp
3/5
another meh british rock album
Sisters Of Mercy
2/5
very boring
Genesis
3/5
i really enjoyed quite a few songs on this, but a 3 feels appropriate as i don’t see myself returning to this album in full anytime soon
The Who
4/5
a sprawling rock opera that tells a cool story. was a little hard to follow at times though, but a very good album overall
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
really enjoyed this
Fela Kuti
3/5
cool album. liked the jazzy feel, definitely have to be in the right mood to listen to this
Peter Tosh
3/5
solid reggae album
David Bowie
4/5
really good bowie album, some of my favorites are on this project
Carpenters
4/5
im a sucker for sappy 70s music what can i say
Frank Ocean
5/5
such a great debut, a modern classic
Iron Butterfly
4/5
forgot how much i enjoyed this album. the title track obviously steals the show, but the A side has a few catchy tunes on it as well
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
not my favorite marley album, but a solid listen
The Hives
3/5
they are not my new favorite band, but they aren’t my new least favorite band so they’ve at least got that going for them
Nas
5/5
a quintessential rap album. one of the best debut albums ive ever heard, solid from front to back with no fluff
Nina Simone
5/5
one of the greatest jazz singers to ever do it. loved the sparse production on this. just nina simone and her piano. no filler, an incredibly solid body of work
Simple Minds
2/5
great music to fall asleep to (derogatory)
Jane's Addiction
3/5
it’s decent. i thought id enjoy it a bit more
Public Enemy
3/5
It’s a decent album, I vastly prefer Fear of a Black Planet and It Takes a Nation of Millions
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
nice woodsy folksy type album. some of the songs run a little long, but it’s a solid body of work
Thundercat
5/5
a great album, the jazz/funk influence is apparent throughout. doesn’t take itself too seriously either. one of my personal favorites
Kacey Musgraves
4/5
nice blend of pop and country, one of the few modern country albums/artists i enjoy listening to
Linkin Park
3/5
nothing special. very coworker core, but there’s a few good songs on here
Coldplay
3/5
i enjoyed a rush of blood to the head a lot more than this. very bland, but nothing i would turn off if it came on again
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
though i’m usually partial to prog, i found this album to be very middle of the road. not bad, but nothing special
Sheryl Crow
3/5
it’s decent, but ultimately nothing i’ll return to
Bob Dylan
4/5
Enjoyed this a lot more than the other Bob Dylan album I've listened to so far. What he lacks in vocals he more than makes up for in songwriting ability
Tangerine Dream
2/5
i could see myself enjoying this in limited bursts, but ambient/electronic will never be my cup of tea
Jazmine Sullivan
4/5
can be a little sultry at times, but this has some depth to it. simple concept that’s executed quite well. a worthy addition to this list
Yes
4/5
Roundabout is a phenomenal intro. Cool prog album, really enjoyed this one
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
the trend of me mostly disliking new wave continues
The Magnetic Fields
2/5
it insists upon itself
i’ll give it a 2 bc the music itself isn’t half bad, but i will never listen to this album in full again
The Icarus Line
1/5
3 hours of 69 love songs was more enjoyable than this
Black Sabbath
5/5
not as good as paranoid, but still a phenomenal album in its own right.
Wilco
4/5
this is why i do the list. to find great albums ive never heard of. really good indie rock
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
after blood sugar sex magick, i thought i wasn’t a fan of RHCP. turns out i just didn’t gel with that album, really loved this
Soundgarden
4/5
really good 90s grunge. the latter half drags a little bit for me, but this is super solid overall.
William Orbit
3/5
not half bad for an electronic/ambient album. nothing i’d listen to on shuffle, but i might revisit eventually
George Harrison
4/5
this had the makings of a 5 star, but i found it to be a bit bloated so -1. still a great body of work
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
i don’t think there’s a single bad song on this album. not as good as exodus imo, but still a great reggae album
Deep Purple
4/5
great heavy metal (or pre-heavy metal idk)
Beach House
4/5
fantastic dream pop record
Queen Latifah
4/5
really solid late 80s rap
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Easily the group's best album. Every song is phenomenal, Hendrix has ample space to showcase his incredible guitar playing and his songwriting abilities.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
this sounds like something you’d heard in the matrix movies.
Dr. John
3/5
Dr John makes Bob Dylan sound like Pavarotti.
Cool New Orleans sound to it, just not something I see myself revisiting often
Fugees
5/5
The production, the rhymes, the variation in styles between each group member; one of the greatest hip-hop albums I've ever heard. Idk how I went this long without actually giving this a proper listen.
Neil Young
4/5
A really well rounded album. Sad, yet hopeful. Peak country/folk rock.
Elvis Costello
3/5
Not my personal cup of tea at all. Found his voice to be extremely grating
Frank Black
4/5
The beginning is the strongest portion of this album, and aside from slightly tapering off in the midsection, this is a great LP. Never heard of this guy before he came up on the generator, now I kinda wanna dig into his discography.
Cocteau Twins
5/5
A beautifully rich album. IDK wtf they're saying half the time and it somehow doesn't matter in the slightest.
Guided By Voices
3/5
Pretty decent, didn't overstay its welcome.
Barry Adamson
4/5
Really cool acid jazz album.
T. Rex
4/5
Sounds incredibly modern, you'd never guess this was from 1971
Janis Joplin
4/5
didn’t like Big Brother and the Holding Company at all so I went into this album thinking I just wasn’t a fan of Janis Joplin as a singer. Could not have been more wrong, she’s got an incredible voice. Production kicks ass too
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
pretty decent, liked the singers voice
Peter Frampton
3/5
It's pretty good as far as live albums go. Feels like a fucking eternity to play through though
Alice In Chains
5/5
would? is an incredible outro. great album from start to finish with only 2 filler songs imo
The Rolling Stones
3/5
One thing the 1001 albums generator has taught me so far is that I'm not too keen on The Rolling Stones
Black Sabbath
4/5
A strong debut. Not a fan of how Ozzy sounds on most of these songs tho
Hole
4/5
definitely feels like an extension of nirvana, but does enough to stand on its own as a great grunge/riot grrrl album
Sade
5/5
When I was in 6th/7th grade, I played trumpet in the school concert band. I really enjoyed it, so I also joined the after school jazz band. I had never heard of Sade until our band director picked “Smooth Operator” as our piece for the Spring Concert. Many years passed without me thinking of Sade or Smooth Operator. One afternoon I was out shopping for records and I found Smooth Operator on a 12 inch single. Immediately took it home and gave it a spin; the song just was just good as I remembered. So naturally I listened to the full album and the rest is history.
I say all of that to say that this album is a smooth-soul/jazz classic and a phenomenal debut album that will always have a special place in my heart.
Gary Numan
2/5
not for me
Bad Company
4/5
Jerry Lee Lewis
2/5
the guy who married his underage cousin opens his live album with a song named "high school confidential" can't make this shit up
for the love of god ENOUGH with the live albums
Frank Sinatra
3/5
an overall enjoyable album, but nothing i feel strongly compelled to revisit
The White Stripes
3/5
decent garage rock album (with some blues sprinkled throughout) but ultimately nothing compelling
Throwing Muses
2/5
for as hard as i had to work to find a copy of this to download, it was not worth the listen
Elvis Costello
3/5
not the biggest costello fan. it’s listenable, but nothing special
Joni Mitchell
4/5
another great joni mitchell album
Venom
2/5
i just can't take satan oriented death metal seriously. reeks of "i'm 14 and this is edgy"
The Kinks
3/5
The front half of this album is really good, wish I could say the same for the latter half
The Vines
4/5
really good early 2000s rock. never heard of this band or album
Jurassic 5
3/5
cool rap album, never heard of this group before
Beatles
5/5
i couldn’t say anything that hasn’t already been said. their finest album
Thelonious Monk
4/5
great jazz record, must listen
Nico
4/5
Beautifully uneasy, not many artists could make an album like this
Traffic
3/5
a decent listen, but nothing super memorable
Tears For Fears
5/5
Quite simply one of the finest pop albums ever made
Deep Purple
3/5
it’s a good live album, just a bit long winded at times
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
it’s a decent listen, though nothing i feel compelled to revisit in full. the art teacher is a beautiful track, easily my favorite.
Christina Aguilera
2/5
she has an incredible voice, that i can’t deny. but outside of that, i really didn’t care for this. production hasn’t aged well and the album goes on for far too long.
Oasis
3/5
it’s a good album, but i’ll never understand the rave reviews
John Martyn
3/5
the nick drake influence is all over this, nice album that doesn’t overstay its welcome
Adele
4/5
fucking gorgeous, among the best contemporary pop has to offer
Fela Kuti
3/5
love all the different genre fusions going on, really good stuff
Stan Getz
4/5
a delightful listen
Love
3/5
a decent listen but nothing super memorable overall
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
2/5
cool blend of genres but it just didn’t click for me (outside of I’m Glad)
David Bowie
3/5
it’s an alright album but i feel like im taking crazy pills, how is this album so highly lauded?
Paul Revere & The Raiders
3/5
last track walked so bob ross could run
Paul Simon
3/5
a decent listen, but pretty forgettable as far as paul simon goes
Beatles
3/5
never been the biggest fan of early beatles albums. it’s solid, but far from their best
Teenage Fanclub
3/5
Cool rock album, consistently good and doesn't overstay its welcome
Ride
4/5
been meaning to check out more shoegaze, i’ve always liked the little bit i’ve heard in passing.
loved this album, bonus points for the cover being hard as hell
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
this was a slog to get through. neil young at his worst
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Nice jazz album to relax to. Great horn and piano sections throughout. Inner Crisis being a personal favorite.
Portishead
5/5
i can’t believe i’d never heard this album until now. incredibly unique, never heard anything quite like this. the production is moody and atmospheric; elements of hip hop and jazz scattered throughout. Beth Gibbons’ vocals are beautifully depressing, the perfect pairing for this kind of production. will be revisiting this a ton
Muddy Waters
3/5
solid blues album. anything that ends with “live from newport” is top notch
Miles Davis
5/5
If there’s one jazz album you should listen to, it’s Kind of Blue. This was one of the first jazz records I ever listened to in full and it will always be one of my favorites.
As many others have said, it’s an album that works in so many contexts. For a close listen, there’s so many little things to pick up on (one obvious one and my personal favorite is how the opening of Flamenco Sketches loosely resembles the opening of So What?, providing a sense of familiarity and completeness to the record.) The record also serves as excellent background noise, effortlessly setting the mood in almost any situation.
I’ve played this record more times than I can count and I’ll never tire of it, truly one of the greatest pieces of music ever composed.
Dr. Dre
5/5
a classic rap album. the birth of g-funk and Snoop Dogg’s rap career (Deep Cover is technically his debut but I weight this more since he wrote on a good chunk of this album)
The Go-Betweens
3/5
good jangle pop
The United States Of America
2/5
hard pass on this
Garbage
5/5
really good alt rock
Sebadoh
2/5
all over the place sonically and consistency-wise. some good songs on here, but none of them are long enough to leave any lasting impression on me.
Pere Ubu
1/5
this guy sounds like his balls are being squeeze in a vise. there are some good riffs/musical moments on here, but they are few and far between. hard pass on ever listening to this again
R.E.M.
4/5
i have a love hate relationship with the lead singers vocals, damn good album though
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
really enjoyed this. moody and atmospheric
3/5
good live album. i like bob dylan as much as the next folk enthusiast, but i don’t want to listen to him for 90 minutes straight
Butthole Surfers
2/5
i kinda get it? like it isn't the worst thing I've ever heard, but i also don't see myself revisiting it
Dire Straits
3/5
nice twangy album, definitely see myself coming back to this if the mood is right
Destiny's Child
3/5
shows it’s age production wise, but it’s a well made album. was not expecting the edge of seventeen sample on Bootylicious
The Pharcyde
4/5
what is the instrument you hear on 90s rap albums ? a synth? a keyboard of some sort? whatever it is, need it injected into my veins.
the pharcyde is a group i knew of (mostly their biggest hit, Runnin’) but never dove into for reasons still unknown to me. glad my introduction was through their debut. it’s a solid effort. lively production with verses to match. love how animated these guys sound. i wish some of the interludes were their own full songs (especially Pack the Pipe)
definitely something i’ll be revisiting.
The Smiths
4/5
solid album
Goldie
2/5
an electronic album that’s unbearably long. name a more iconic duo
Various Artists
4/5
cant argue with a good christmas album on christmas
Metallica
5/5
their best album, second only to …And Justice for All
Crosby, Stills & Nash
5/5
always been a sucker for this type of folk rock
Jane Weaver
3/5
started out really strong, but kind of tapered off in the second half. cool production, feels like modern 80s synthpop
The Only Ones
2/5
not a fan of the vocals
OutKast
5/5
every outkast album stands on its own when it comes to the production side. nothing feels rehashed, everything has a freshness.
these guys wear their influences on their sleeves, all while putting their own spin/flavor on it. i’m especially fond of the funk influence that permeates the entire album.
dre and big boi deliver another classic
first time ever listening to a u2 album the whole way through. always been lukewarm on the radio singles, and i feel the same with this album. the intro is great, no doubt about that, but nothing really left a lasting impression on me outside of that
Leonard Cohen
2/5
the singing is quite dry, but everything else is pretty cool. perfect music to sleep to (derogatory)
The Darkness
3/5
I Believe in a Thing Called Love was the only song I was familiar with, and truth be told I never knew what album it was off of, much less the band who made it, until today. Solid early 2000s hard rock, nothing I’d actively seek out but something I’d listen to in passing.
The Prodigy
3/5
surprisingly decent electronic album. a bit repetitive at times, but i suppose that’s par for the course when it comes to this genre
M.I.A.
2/5
sonically rich and dense, but it’s also repetitive as hell. paper planes is great tho
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
decent as far as new waves goes
Elvis Presley
2/5
I understand Elvis's inclusion on the 1001 list. Even as a self-professed Elvis-hater, I can at least see the merit in his inclusion. But why this album? Surely there were other musicians doing far more interesting projects in 1969 no?
As for this album, it's bland and inoffensive; the best I can really say for Elvis. Not something I would ever revisit in full. Gentle On My Mind is the only song I honestly enjoyed.
Common
5/5
This album has one of the strongest intro/outro combos imo. I’m particularly fond of It’s Your World, feels like a summation of the album in its entirety
Aerosmith
3/5
Never been the biggest Aerosmith fan but I thoroughly enjoyed this album
Fugazi
3/5
Cool hardcore rock album. Has the perfect level of 90s angst.
Sigur Rós
4/5
beautiful album, some of the best post-rock i’ve had the pleasure of listening to
The Mars Volta
4/5
not my usual style of rock, but it’s really good
Os Mutantes
2/5
they should’ve let the woman sing more, i would’ve enjoyed the album more
Depeche Mode
4/5
I am an absolute sucker for those 80s synths that sound like melodic droning (idk how else to describe it).
Germs
2/5
genuinely what is he saying?
musically it's alright, but that last track killed any good will i had for this album
The Temptations
3/5
great opener and a decent cover of heard it through the grapevine. not much else to say about this album though, feels pretty run of the mill for its time
Soft Cell
3/5
tainted love is great, the rest of this album fails to meet that high
David Bowie
4/5
david bowie does blue eyed soul. count me in
Fairport Convention
4/5
delightful folk rock album
Liz Phair
3/5
not something i’d revisit in full, but it’s a interesting body of work. pulled me in and kept my interest throughout
Norah Jones
3/5
fine as far as vocals go. dreadfully boring as far as the backing tracks are concerned
Metallica
5/5
My favorite Metallica album
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
it really feels like i’m sitting at the bar where this was recorded
Peter Gabriel
4/5
i had heard this once before and didn’t think much of it, not sure what the hell was wrong w me then. phenomenal album.
Fats Domino
3/5
nice compilation album
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
Feels like a less refined Public Enemy
Brian Eno
4/5
Back half of this album absolutely carries
The Offspring
2/5
not my cup of tea
Billy Bragg
2/5
i can’t stand british guys that sing like that
Deep Purple
5/5
an all time classic. dad rock that actually sounds good
3/5
pretty good 80s pop
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
enjoyable, but nothing i feel compelled to revisit in full
Tricky
3/5
This heavy industrial sound kinda reminds me of Portishead's debut. Solid album
Funkadelic
5/5
It was a cool late summer/early autumn night. I was a freshman in college. As usual, I was stoned out of my gourd and listening to music. I'm not sure how I stumbled across Maggot Brain, as I was pretty unfamiliar with George Clinton's music at that point. Regardless, I was mind blown. That title track is an all timer, it's an added bonus that the rest of the album matches the high expectations set by the intro. A must listen
Eminem
4/5
a sick and demented album that has an undeniable charm to it. showcases eminem’s talents well
D'Angelo
5/5
warm and inviting r&b. need to dive into dangelo’s catalog more
New Order
2/5
not my cup of tea
The Charlatans
3/5
inoffensive britpop
Louis Prima
3/5
Louis Prima has a great voice, easily the best part of this album. Musically it’s good, but a bit samey
Kraftwerk
3/5
okay electronic album, just not something that draws me in
Barry Adamson
3/5
atmospheric as hell. definitely a bit difficult to enjoy at times, but adamson nails the vibe he’s shooting for.
Cream
3/5
enjoyable late 60s psych rock album. that last track is terrible though
Adele
4/5
this album was inescapable when it came out, and for good reason. the radio hits are showstoppers, and the album cuts are really, really good
Aretha Franklin
5/5
fantastic, ain’t no way is an all time closer
The Stooges
4/5
idk if I’m a fan of the “Iggy Mix” feels really flat. it’s a great album otherwise
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
i will never understand the springsteen hype
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3/5
idk i just find this style of rock to be unremarkable
Laura Nyro
4/5
idk how i’ve never heard of laura nyro before. starts a lot stronger than it finishes, but it’s a beautiful blend of genres throughout.
Little Richard
3/5
Little Richard is an obvious legend and hugely influential when it comes to rock and roll. that being said, i don’t see myself coming back to this outside of enjoying the novelty factor
Stan Getz
4/5
soothing bossa nova, top notch stuff
The Dictators
2/5
this feels like it goes on for an eternity, and the album is only 34 minutes
The Sabres Of Paradise
1/5
another shitty electronic album that goes on for far too long
Johnny Cash
4/5
another prison album, can’t complain
Morrissey
3/5
It's cool, solid Morrissey solo effort
Laibach
1/5
Music for dudes who are a little too into learning about Nazis
Fiona Apple
4/5
really enjoyed this. great songwriting, and Apple has a beautiful voice
Arcade Fire
3/5
it’s decent. lead singer sounds like a precursor to early 2010s stomp clamp music
The La's
3/5
decent. nothing i’ll revisit
The Cure
4/5
god i love the cure
Beatles
5/5
I had a Beatles phase in my late teens so I am a tad biased
This is the first album where the Beatles really showed what they were capable of (imo), and they went on an absolute heater from then on out as far as albums go. The songwriting feels so much fresher, the music more dynamic: it's really the whole package. Even as a 16/17 year old kid, I was mind blown by Tomorrow Never Knows and how crazy it was that something made in 1966 could sound like that. Pair that with the Sitar that George was into at the time, and I thought I had the coolest music taste in the world when I discovered this
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
i'm normally all for just noodling around on a synthesizer but i found this to be a chore to get through. yet another live album that did not need including
Hot Chip
3/5
Enjoyed this a good deal, some songs go on for a bit longer than I’d like but it’s otherwise an enjoyable listen.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
A classic Jazz album, can’t go wrong with this
Nirvana
5/5
probably the best live album ever made
Turbonegro
2/5
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater music
John Lee Hooker
3/5
This guy kinda sounds like Jimi Hendrix
Cool blues album. Nothing I’d revisit in full probably, but it’s well made
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
This is the site’s highest rated album (as of writing) for good reason. Throw this on shuffle and you’d probably land on a megahit. Even the “deep cuts” have the aura of hit singles. It’s pure perfection in song
Scritti Politti
3/5
If Michael Jackson and Prince had an illegitimate son, he would sound like this.
Björk
4/5
Solid solo debut. Has Björks usual quirkiness/interesting production that i’ve come to love
Willie Nelson
3/5
Never listened to a Willie Nelson album before this. It’s decent country, but nothing that stands out to me
Jack White
3/5
Has a bluesy sound that reminds me of the Stones at times. It’s decent, just not something I’d seek out
Iggy Pop
3/5
Eh. It's decent, just nothing I haven't heard before.
The Divine Comedy
2/5
It’s a no for me, didn’t care for the vocals
3/5
its a fun listen, i’d definitely return to it
Ray Charles
3/5
good album 👍
Slint
3/5
liked the instrumentation, not sure how i feel about the vocals. will need to give it another spin
Radiohead
5/5
beautiful. no notes
Tom Waits
3/5
definitely unique sounding, not sure if i’m a fan tho
Talk Talk
4/5
really really liked this
Led Zeppelin
5/5
another classic from zeppelin. album cuts on this are great, four sticks is a personal favorite
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Probably my least favorite of the first 4 Zeppelin albums. it’s not bad by any stretch, just pales in comparison to it’s predecessors/successors
The Byrds
3/5
Solid 60s rock. Could see myself revisiting this on occasion.
Röyksopp
3/5
cool electronic album.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Still not a big Springsteen fan, but this is so much better than Born in the USA
The Go-Go's
2/5
the 2 singles are genuinely good and catchy. unfortunately, that’s where the positives end for this album. just wasn’t a fan of the album cuts
George Michael
4/5
Really enjoyed this
Bonnie Raitt
2/5
this shit put me to sleep (derogatory)
Bob Dylan
5/5
Dylans best album by a country mile
Santana
5/5
Incredible blend of latin music, rock, blues, jazz
GZA
5/5
2nd favorite solo wu tang project behind cuban linx. GZA and RZA were on another level
David Bowie
4/5
Side 1 is stronger than side 2, but a good album nonetheless
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
starts and finishes strong, mid section is a bit weaker but overall a good album
Big Star
3/5
inoffensive yet unremarkable for me
The Birthday Party
1/5
Interesting album cover but it’s otherwise a dreadful listening experience
The xx
3/5
it’s okay. nothing i’d turn off if it came on, but very bland
Paul McCartney and Wings
5/5
The first solo Beatle album I listened to way back in my high school Beatles phase. I specifcally remember hearing Band on the Run on the radio and saying "Gee that sounds just like Paul McCartney" and my mom going "...That's because it is". Went out to buy a copy on vinyl and the rest is history. Was blown away then, and still am to this day. Perfect intro/outro combo.
Picasso's Last Words is my sleeper pick for best on the album. I'm a sucker for a good medley (as is McCartney). Probably his best work post-Beatles
Terence Trent D'Arby
3/5
Wishing Well is an undeniable hit. Could go without the rest of the album tho
The Isley Brothers
4/5
classic r&b/soul
John Lennon
3/5
Some really good songs mixed with some really meh tracks
Bob Dylan
5/5
masterpiece
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
Last 2 tracks are all time classics. Rest of the album is a bit dated, but i’ll let it slide since it’s a foundational hip hop album
Frank Zappa
5/5
The first time I ever heard this album was when my dad took me to see Dweezil Zappa on tour, phenomenal album
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Don't think I've ever really understood the appeal to The Velvet Underground. Definitely cool and experimental for the time, but idk, just doesn't grab me
Aerosmith
3/5
Solid album
Joy Division
3/5
It’s alright. Don’t really understand the appeal if i’m being honest
LTJ Bukem
1/5
The guy who put this in the book deserves a swirlie. No, I will not listen to 3 1/2 hours of beep boop music
Pulp
4/5
Really enjoyed this
Sonic Youth
3/5
Starts out a lot stronger than it finishes. Enjoyed it more than Sister
Arctic Monkeys
3/5
i do not understand the arctic monkey hype
Aphex Twin
3/5
i know this album is lauded by critics and fans alike, but i can’t say i fully understand the hype. it’s well made, and i don’t find it annoying, but i just don’t fully get it ig
The Clash
4/5
good as far as british rock goes
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Way more stripped down than the other Velvet Underground albums I’ve listened to thus far, really like it
Soul II Soul
3/5
eh. it’s alright. the acapella version of “back to life” is superior imo
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
4/5
Soft ass singer/songwriter alt country. I liked it
Sister Sledge
3/5
solid soul album
Pink Floyd
5/5
Even though I didn't love every track, as a concept album I found it easy to follow and a compelling listen
Billy Joel
4/5
This album opens with banger after banger after banger. second half tapers off a bit, but an overall great body of work
Van Morrison
4/5
solid early 70s rock album
DJ Shadow
4/5
Nice Sampledelia album, back half is better than the first
Napalm Death
1/5
I hate the singing.
None of the songs last long enough for me to remember anything about them (which in hindsight is a good thing, considering how dreadful this was)
Paul Simon
3/5
to this day i’m still not sure what you can call me al is about
Alice Cooper
3/5
dad rock, but it stays pretty interesting throughout. finishes stronger than it starts
King Crimson
5/5
god i love prog albums. 5 songs, 45 minutes, 0 filler
Can
2/5
no thank you
Brian Eno
3/5
Im not sure how I felt about this one tbh. A fine listen all things considered, but nothing really grabbed me
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
i’ve always loved this album. the best wu-tang album hands down, something that could only exist at that moment in time.
k.d. lang
3/5
First couple songs are really good, kind of meh on the rest. Good songs, but nothing super memorable.
Madness
3/5
It’s decent, Our House is a banger tho
Elton John
5/5
Can’t name many double albums better than this
The Smiths
4/5
Probably my favorite of all the smiths albums i’ve listened to so far
George Jones
3/5
Starts out solid but loses its footing along the way. Overall decent as far as country goes.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
I really didn’t like fever to tell, but i found this to be pretty okay overall. Started out super strong
Yes
5/5
Another great Yes album
Sonic Youth
3/5
It’s decent, just don’t think Sonic Youth is for me
Weather Report
4/5
far from groundbreaking as far as jazz goes, but it’s an enjoyable listen
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Eh. Outside of American Girl and Breakdown I didn’t find this to be anything to write home about
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Probably wouldn’t go out of my way to listen to it again, but it’s an inoffensive album, I wouldn’t turn it off either
Michael Jackson
4/5
Slight step down from Thriller, but a damn good album
2/5
An assault on the senses in the worst way possible, and I say this as a jazz guy
Beastie Boys
4/5
Often considered their magnum opus, and I can see why now that I've finally listened to it. Love how many samples they used, loved the energy they bring to every record. I think I'd put Ill Communication a hair above this, but I can't argue with anybody saying that this is their best.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
2/5
Does every damn song really need an intro explanation. “This is a song about when you need to go to work but would rather stay in bed… Ohhhh I need to get to work, but I’d rather stay in bed” ass music
Super Furry Animals
2/5
Eh. British rock just doesn’t seem to resonate with me
The Verve
4/5
Only knew Bittersweet Symphony before giving this a listen. Rest of the album is really good, might be a new favorite for me
The White Stripes
2/5
Really did not care for the instrumentals on here.
SZA
5/5
The best R&B album of the 2010s, next to Blonde
Digital Underground
3/5
Humpty Dance carries. Production is actually decent throughout. Rhyme schemes are a bit simple by today’s standards, but there’s fun to be had with this. Last few songs drag tho
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
Cool listen, not sure if i’d return tho
5/5
Fantastic. no notes
The Avalanches
5/5
I initially stumbled across this album when a video about the samples popped up on my YouTube feed. Absolutely fell in love with this.
This is one of those albums that you truly have to listen to before you die. An absolute masterpiece, particularly the beginning section. The back half is a bit hit or miss for me personally, but it never lessens my enjoyment of the album
The Coral
3/5
Definitely has a unique sound to it, just not sure if it’s for me
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
Big singles are good, not a big fan of everything else tbh
Amy Winehouse
4/5
gorgeous voice, love the jazzy vibe
Led Zeppelin
4/5
good album, just a little long winded
Machito
4/5
hard to have a bad time listening to this
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Liked this a lot more than their debut. Come On Eileen is an all timer as far as closers go
G. Love & Special Sauce
2/5
Not a fan of the singing, but there’s a few good tracks on here
The Monks
3/5
not too terrible for punk
Green Day
3/5
Starts out really strong but loses its footing in the latter half (outside of Wake Me Up When September Ends)
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
a delightfully strange album
George Michael
4/5
some finely crafted pop music. hell of a start with Faith and Father Figure back to back
Talking Heads
4/5
I’ve really warmed up to Talking Heads since starting this list. Very fun album, Once In a Lifetime is an undeniable masterpiece
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
2/5
Just not my cup of tea.
Wire
3/5
Pretty solid Punk
The Beach Boys
5/5
Brian Wilson just died and this album pops up, how fitting. A phenomenal listen and a landmark album for pop music
The Triffids
2/5
Found the songwriting to be weak, and the music itself wasn’t particularly compelling
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Remember when DVDs included previews before the main menu? This sounds like something you’d hear for a mid budget 2000s action movie.
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
Really beautiful instrumentals. Vocals are a bit hit or miss for me but they definitely hit more than they miss
The Louvin Brothers
2/5
Twangy country just isn’t my thing
Ice Cube
4/5
a solid album
Ice Cube
4/5
I think the highs on here are better than AmeriKKKa's most, but it isn't as consistent (particularly in the latter half of the album)
Culture Club
3/5
This may be controversial, but I’ve never been the biggest fan of Karma Chameleon
Jungle Brothers
3/5
Cool album. Always been a fan of the Native Toungues collective, just never the biggest Jungle Brothers fan
Tom Waits
3/5
It's a really cool concept, sounds nice as well. But I don't see myself revisiting this all that often
AC/DC
3/5
Hells Bells is an all time intro, still can’t stand AC/DC
Motörhead
2/5
I understand listing 1001 albums is a daunting task, but including live albums that are half comprised of songs that are already on other albums from the list feels lazy as hell. Especially fucking Motörhead of all bands
Otis Redding
4/5
Classic Soul
The Waterboys
3/5
Finely crafted folk no doubt, just didn’t find anything particularly special about it.
Madonna
4/5
Really enjoyed this, feels like a white woman version of Love Deluxe
The Gun Club
3/5
Punk has never been my favorite genre, but this was fairly enjoyable
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
2/5
Idk. It’s just not for me
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Great album from the midst of Stevie’s peak
Pentangle
3/5
Not quite sure what to make of this. Apple Music had this labeled as “traditional folk” and this is 100% what i’d imagine it to sound like
Mj Cole
2/5
this commits a cardinal sin: it’s boring as fuck
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
very dusty/airy mixing on here. a respectable debut
Erykah Badu
5/5
fantastic instrumentals, incredible follow up to her debut
Kings of Leon
2/5
another boring ass kings of leon album
Femi Kuti
3/5
Not sure how often I’d revisit in full, but it’s a fun afrobeat/funk album.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Cool album, not a huge fan of the last 2 songs
Ramones
3/5
Hugely influential, though a bit samey
Grizzly Bear
4/5
The epitome of early 2010s era hipster music
Elliott Smith
4/5
Beautifully composed
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Middle of the road, don't understand how Neil Young has so many damn albums on here
Morrissey
3/5
I don’t like or dislike Morrissey as a solo act.
New York Dolls
3/5
Nothing really stuck with me, but I wouldn’t say it was unenjoyable.
Duke Ellington
4/5
Really good jazz, Ellington is a legend for good reason
Janelle Monáe
3/5
It can be a lot at times but when it all comes together it’s something to behold.
Derek & The Dominos
2/5
Don’t understand the Clapton hype. this goes on for way too long
Radiohead
5/5
First time I listened to this I didn't understand all the acclaim, finally clicked for me
The Stooges
3/5
I just don't think Iggy/The Stooges are my cup of tea. Either that or I need to revisit this at some point.
Sex Pistols
3/5
This type of punk/rock just isn’t my favorite thing in the world, still a solid album.
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Still don’t like Springsteen
Beth Orton
4/5
Beautiful Singer-Songwriter/Folk
4/5
Didn’t understand the Oasis hype after listening to Definitely Maybe. I understand it now.
Aimee Mann
3/5
Eh. Not bad but nothing memorable
Miriam Makeba
3/5
Hard to have a bad time with this.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
I do not care for Dexy’s Midnight Runners. There is no fucking way they deserve 3 !!!! spots on this list
Dagmar Krause
2/5
No thanks
U2
3/5
Think I enjoyed this more than All That You Can’t Leave Behind
Orbital
2/5
Techno albums not being dreadfully long and boring challenge (IMPOSSIBLE)
The Strokes
5/5
One of the best debuts of all time hands down.
Scott Walker
3/5
Haven’t heard anything that sounds quite like this. Not sure if it’s something i’ll revisit, but I had a good time with this
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
1/5
Unbearable listen
Burning Spear
3/5
Cool reggae album
Blood, Sweat & Tears
4/5
Really fun blend of rock & jazz
Happy Mondays
3/5
it’s alright, though nothing i feel compelled to revisit
PJ Harvey
3/5
It’s decent, liked a few songs but a majority just didn’t click w me
Rush
4/5
When I was a kid I thought Tom Sawyer sounded like the coolest song in the world. I still feel that way at 25
The Bees
3/5
Pretty cool pop album, enjoyed this.
Kings of Leon
2/5
There is 0 fucking chance that this band needed 3 goddamn albums on the list. This is the best one of the three but god do I loathe this band.
The Style Council
3/5
This was all over the place. Really liked some songs, others were crap
Arcade Fire
3/5
I listened to this a while back and thought it was just okay. Upon revisiting, I’d put it a hair above that, but just isn’t something I could see myself revisiting
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Reasons is one of Earth Wind and Fire's best songs, easily the best on this album. Undeniably funky soul.
Beyoncé
4/5
Really well produced. Majid Jordan, Pharrell, Caroline Polacheck, Timbaland etc. contributing some good ass songs on here. Also enjoyed Beyonces performance on here. Forgot how much I enjoyed the song with Drake
Fishbone
3/5
Im not sure what I think about this tbh. Cool for some parts, absolutely out there for others
Stevie Wonder
5/5
You really never see people talking about this album the same way they do Innervisions, Songs In the Key of Life etc. Stevie was on a different level at this stage of his career, top tier stuff.
Heaven 17
2/5
i really don’t care for this particular brand of 80s pop
Dwight Yoakam
2/5
Just not a country fan
Fever Ray
2/5
Hard no for me
The Byrds
4/5
Didn’t really click w the first Byrds album I listened to, really enjoyed this one.
The B-52's
3/5
Rock Lobster is fun
The Pogues
3/5
Not a big Pogues guy but this was alright
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
It's a cool album, but nothing really stuck with me. Par for the course for most of these 60s rock albums.
Michael Jackson
5/5
It’s Thriller, what else needs to be said?
Ice T
3/5
Production was pretty good. It’s a bit dated in quite a few aspects, but more or less holds up
Pantera
2/5
chudmetal
3/5
Started out pretty well but tapered off by the end. Not something I’d revisit but definitely an interesting listen.
The Cramps
3/5
Good lord this list just loves to give you some random British band
KISS
3/5
very cheesy pop rock, saved by Shout It Out Loud
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Peak Sinatra right here
2Pac
5/5
All Eyez On Me has the better hits, but I think this album takes the cake in terms of his best all around album
Sonic Youth
3/5
Enjoyed this more than other Sonic Youth albums, still don’t know if they’re for me
Nitin Sawhney
2/5
interesting listen, though not my cup of tea
ZZ Top
3/5
A decent listen, just a bit repetitive for my liking
Def Leppard
3/5
It's alright, never been too keen on 80s hair-metal
Joan Armatrading
3/5
A fine listen, just not something I see myself revisiting in full
The Beta Band
3/5
Cool album, though nothing really stood out aside from the first few tracks
Van Morrison
4/5
Hard to have a bad time with Van Morrison
Marianne Faithfull
2/5
Not a fan of the nasally vocals
Black Flag
3/5
Not a big punk guy, but enjoyed this for what it was and for the influence it had on the genre
The Beach Boys
3/5
Nice 60s pop
Jean-Michel Jarre
4/5
Never thought I’d see the day where I enjoyed an ambient album
Robbie Williams
2/5
Monkey guy
Blur
3/5
Eh. Some good songs on here no doubt, just didn’t love this in its entirety.
Shuggie Otis
3/5
Cool album. Enjoyed the instrumental portion a bit more than the beginning bit
Talvin Singh
2/5
Not a big fan of Drum & Bass, this did nothing to change that.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
This is what I think when I hear “Classic Rock”
John Cale
4/5
Title track may just be one of the best songs I've ever heard.
Cypress Hill
3/5
Fun 90s rap album
Ryan Adams
3/5
Inoffensive singer-songwriter
The Stooges
3/5
First 2 songs had me thinking I was finally gonna be sold on The Stooges, unfortunately the rest of the album was pretty hit or miss for me. If We Will Fall wasn't on here, I'd probably put this as my favorite in their discography.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Still not an Elvis Costello guy
Emmylou Harris
2/5
Eh. Not my cup of tea
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Really enjoyed this
Dire Straits
3/5
Cool album, beautifully mixed.
Roxy Music
2/5
Title track is cool, rest is just alright
The Notorious B.I.G.
5/5
If not for the sex skits, this would be a perfect album
Sparks
3/5
Interesting listen, just not something I think I’d revisit
Alice Cooper
4/5
Really enjoyed this. Title track is the best, but rest of the album matches up to it quite well
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
Cool album, nice guitar playing
ABBA
3/5
First ABBA album i’ve listened to in full. nice feel good 70s pop, just not something i feel compelled to visit in full. dancing queen is the clear highlight.
Arrested Development
3/5
Found myself enjoying this quite a bit, but not sure how much I see myself revisiting this in full
Kanye West
5/5
complete 180 from the refinement of MBDTF, yeezus is dark and scattered. loved a few songs back when it released, have come to love the whole album (except send it up).
Bee Gees
3/5
The good songs are excellent, but there’s just a few too many forgettable tracks on here for me to really hold this album in high regard.
Pixies
3/5
Enjoyed this for what it was, just not the biggest Pixies guy
The Incredible String Band
2/5
Renaissance Faire music
The Beta Band
2/5
*checks where the Beta Band is from*
*sees that they’re from the UK*
ah, now i see how they got 2 placements on this list
Nick Drake
4/5
One of the nice things this list has given me is a newfound appreciation for Nick Drake
Dr. Octagon
3/5
A Visit to the Gynecologist is one of the worst songs I’ve ever heard, rest of the album pretty cool tho.
808 State
2/5
Didn’t care for this all too much
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
Frankie says the first few songs are pretty good, the rest is a mixed bag
Herbie Hancock
5/5
My favorite Herbie Hancock album
My Bloody Valentine
5/5
Genuinely fantastic album, enjoyed it much more than their debut
Mekons
2/5
Another mid british band.
OutKast
3/5
A good album that kinda buckles under the weight of such a long track list
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
Interesting listen. Feels like an early precursor to sampledelia
Faust
2/5
Not a Krautrock fan
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Not bad, just didn’t find this all too interesting
MC Solaar
3/5
Cool album, really enjoyed the production.
Eric Clapton
4/5
Great blues rock
Q-Tip
4/5
Big ATCQ fan, somehow never listened to a solo Q-Tip album. Fun listen
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Eh. Not a big Springsteen guy and this didn’t change that
T. Rex
2/5
Enjoyed Electric Warrior quite a bit, this felt like a major step down
Ray Charles
4/5
Phenomenal. Nobody does it like Ray
The National
3/5
Eh. Technically fine, just found it a bit boring
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Pretty good, just overstays its welcome a bit
The Fall
2/5
Just not a punk guy unfortunately
Neil Young
3/5
Enjoyed it, solid Neil Young
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Springsteen goes acoustic. Not bad, but not all that interesting to me personally.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
This is like the 4th Elvis Costello album I’ve been given, firmly in the “it’s not bad, but I don’t find it interesting camp.
Bad Brains
2/5
Just not my thing
Grateful Dead
2/5
I’m a jazz guy, so dudes noodling around for extended periods is not a dealbreaker. But this bored me to tears, absolutely nothing going on here
John Grant
4/5
Really enjoyed this
Brian Wilson
3/5
The story behind this is pretty cool, same for the album itself.
Deee-Lite
3/5
Cool, funky album
Baaba Maal
3/5
Cool album, just not something I think I'd revisit.
Stephen Stills
4/5
Nice, inoffensive folk rock
Mott The Hoople
2/5
Just not a big glam rock guy
Randy Newman
3/5
Actually enjoyed this for what it was, the better Randy Newman album from this list
Thin Lizzy
3/5
Pretty good as far as live albums go
Sam Cooke
4/5
Back to back live albums. Great performance from Sam Cooke
David Holmes
2/5
God what is it with electronic albums from the 90s being hour long slogs to get through?
The xx
3/5
More interesting than their debut, starts better than it finishes
James Taylor
3/5
Solid singer/songwriter
The Yardbirds
2/5
Eh. Nothing too memorable about this
The Streets
2/5
Hard pass for me. British rap just isn’t my thing, and this guys delivery is especially terrible
Sugar
3/5
Cool 90s rock album
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
I’ve come to loathe Public Image Ltd.
Steely Dan
5/5
Fantastic debut
Van Morrison
3/5
Long as hell, but stayed interesting throughout. This list has me becoming a big Van Morrison fan.
Eagles
3/5
It's like white bread; good, but not something I'd ever call my favorite.
Gotan Project
3/5
Cool album that blends a few genres together to make a memorable soundscape
Justin Timberlake
3/5
The hits carry this album.
Traffic
3/5
Eh. Inoffensive and bland
Drive Like Jehu
3/5
Pretty lively and interesting throughout
Tina Turner
3/5
Knew the big hits, enjoyed the album cuts too
Supergrass
3/5
I honestly thought that Alright song was from the early 2010s. Pretty fun listen
Japan
3/5
Not wholly uninteresting, just not something I see myself revisiting
Killing Joke
3/5
Really liked the first song, the rest of the album just didn’t click with me though. Nice thing about punk albums is the short runtimes
The Who
3/5
Far from their best album, solid debut
Wilco
3/5
Enjoyed it for what it was, not my favorite from Wilco
Eurythmics
2/5
Title track is the only thing worth mentioning imo
Method Man
3/5
It’s a solid album, just doesn’t stack up compared to the other solo wu tang projects on the list (Cuban Linx & Liquid Swords)
The Beau Brummels
2/5
Another 60s rock album that doesn’t bring a whole lot to the table
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
These electronic albums are such a slog
Ian Dury
2/5
Enough with the fucking british albums
The Electric Prunes
2/5
I liked a song or two on here, but on the whole it’s just kinda underwhelming.
Animal Collective
3/5
Enjoyed a few songs on here, still isn’t my favorite sound by any stretch
The Byrds
3/5
I enjoy The Byrds don’t get me wrong, but I don’t think they needed 3 spots on this list
The The
3/5
Enjoyed this quite a bit
David Gray
4/5
Enjoyed this quite a bit
Talking Heads
3/5
Couldn’t stop thinking about that singing fish from the Sopranos
The Stranglers
2/5
No for me
Little Simz
3/5
Not my favorite from Little Simz, but a solid album that doesn’t overstay its welcome
The Pretty Things
2/5
Not a big fan of some of these 60s rock albums, this one being no exception
David Bowie
4/5
A fitting conclusion to a legendary career
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Just as good as her debut, if not a little better
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Another solid Rufus album. Liked this a bit more than Want 2