600
Albums Rated
3.35
Average Rating
55%
Complete
489 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1960s
Favorite Decade
Reggae
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
135
5-Star Albums
40
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third | 5 | 2.43 | +2.57 |
| New Forms | 5 | 2.53 | +2.47 |
| Welcome to the Afterfuture | 5 | 2.56 | +2.44 |
| Alien Lanes | 5 | 2.75 | +2.25 |
| Peggy Suicide | 5 | 2.77 | +2.23 |
| The Sounds Of India | 5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
| Destroy Rock & Roll | 5 | 2.89 | +2.11 |
| Apocalypse Dudes | 5 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
| Heroes to Zeros | 5 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
| Kick Out The Jams (Live) | 5 | 2.91 | +2.09 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thriller | 1 | 4.22 | -3.22 |
| 1999 | 1 | 3.6 | -2.6 |
| Queen II | 1 | 3.49 | -2.49 |
| Rumours | 2 | 4.46 | -2.46 |
| Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus | 1 | 3.32 | -2.32 |
| Slippery When Wet | 1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
| 1989 | 1 | 3.27 | -2.27 |
| The Boatman's Call | 1 | 3.2 | -2.2 |
| The Real Thing | 1 | 3.2 | -2.2 |
| The Bones Of What You Believe | 1 | 3.18 | -2.18 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 4.8 |
| Beatles | 5 | 4.8 |
| The Who | 4 | 4.75 |
| Bob Dylan | 3 | 5 |
| Steely Dan | 3 | 5 |
| Pixies | 3 | 5 |
| Blur | 3 | 5 |
| Radiohead | 4 | 4.5 |
| Beastie Boys | 3 | 4.67 |
| Nirvana | 2 | 5 |
| Fela Kuti | 2 | 5 |
| Belle & Sebastian | 2 | 5 |
| The Police | 2 | 5 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 2 | 5 |
| The Chemical Brothers | 2 | 5 |
| A Tribe Called Quest | 2 | 5 |
| Neil Young | 2 | 5 |
| The Verve | 2 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 4.33 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Smiths | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Rolling Stones | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 3 | 1 |
| M.I.A. | 2 | 1 |
| Randy Newman | 2 | 1.5 |
| Michael Jackson | 2 | 1.5 |
| Prince | 2 | 1.5 |
| Everything But The Girl | 2 | 1.5 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 4 | 2 |
| Leonard Cohen | 4 | 2 |
| R.E.M. | 3 | 2 |
5-Star Albums (135)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Bill Callahan
1/5
Sorry I can't handle this guy's mumble-talking-singing.
6 likes
5/5
So, I'm guessing these guys inspired KISS, but without the makeup? I've never heard of them before, but I like them!
This sounds way ahead of its time.
MC5 totally rocks.
Liked songs added:
- Kick Out The Jams
- Rocket Reducer No. 62 - Talk
- Motor City Is Burning
- I Want You Right Now
5 likes
Simply Red
1/5
There is some music that I would consider timeless or ahead of its time. Not this.
Picture Book should be locked in a vault labelled "80s music. Do not open under any circumstances."
3 likes
The Gun Club
2/5
Mediocre American punk. Am I missing the reason why this is on the 1001 list???
3 likes
Queen
1/5
I can't stand Queen.
This over dramatic album confirms why.
The Loser in the End was listenable.
2 likes
4-Star Albums (143)
1-Star Albums (40)
All Ratings
Talking Heads
2/5
Other than the two singles (Once in a Lifetime and Crosseyed and Painless) there are only so many one-chord songs that I can handle.
Janis Joplin
4/5
Wow, what a solid album. That voice! Every song is good and that backing band is awesome. I would not normally listen to this, but I enjoyed the album.
R.E.M.
2/5
I'm not a fan of REM.
This album is in line with my level of interest. Other than the singles "It's the End of the World as we Know it..." and "The One I Love," I find it very boring. I know there's a drummer in there, but the "feel" is very drum machine.
Fugazi
4/5
Good first impression, as I haven't theard Fugazi before. I like the active drums, which are very good, as is the general musicianship is general.
On top of this, I like how the album's produced. You can hear each instrument clearly, which is not easy with all that's going on in each song.
Brendan #1's a great instrumental.
Liked songs added:
- Merchandise
- Shut the Door
T. Rex
5/5
When you look at the cover of Electric Warrior, you see a statement being made. It's an iconic image that seems to say "You're about to get rocked!"
When you listen to Electric Warrior, you can hear so many albums and artists that came after it. It sounds so ahead of it's time. I think it's still totally relevant today (2024).
The line from Life's a Gas, "Ah Life's a gas/I hope it's gonna last." is especially poignant, since it sadly didn't last much longer for Marc Bolan, who died in a car crash in 1977.
Liked songs added:
- Cosmic Dancer
- Bang a Gong (Get it On)
Queen
1/5
I can't stand Queen.
This over dramatic album confirms why.
The Loser in the End was listenable.
Beck
5/5
This album is so consistent. Every song is good!
I've always liked Beck, and I've heard many albums, but never got to this "popular" one. It was a great experience, hearing the album in full.
Liked songs added:
- Devil's Haircut
- New Polution
- Where It's At
- Minus
- Sissyneck
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
I'm not the biggest Springsteen fan, but I was open to give it a try. This album was so popular when it came out, so naturally I avoided it...until now!
I really respect Springsteen as an artist and songwriter - he did write Blinded By The Light - but I found this to be mostly boring anthemic pop. I've always liked Glory Days and I'm On Fire, but there were no Liked Songs added here.
In retrospect, I wonder what hardcore Boss fans think of this album. I would guess it would be considered weaker than his earlier work, but I don't have that perspective.
50 Cent
3/5
I know who 50 Cent is, but didnt know much about his music.
I found most of Get Rich or Die Tryin' had nice double-tracked vocals in the chorus, which I hadn't heard in hip hop before. Unfortunately, many of the backing tracks were dull with very basic drum machine beats.
Standout tracks include In Da Club, P.I.M.P. (love the steel drums!), 21 Questions, Don't Push Me and Wankster.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
This is a masterpiece. Every song is good. The musicians are outstanding, including Tony Levin's mainly Stick playing!
I'm happy this was picked for me, as I haven't heard it completely since it was released.
Judas Priest
3/5
I was never one of those people, a fan of Judas Priest. Having said that, I thought I'd give this a try over 40 years later with fresh ears.
One thing I'll say is that lead guitarist absolutely SHREDS! His leads are consistently impressive (assuming it's one guy).
Living After Midnight still holds up as a solid (pop) rock song, solid from the very first beat. Steeler is definitely a head banger!
I think 3-stars is well deserved from someone who couldn't stand this band. You can tell that this album is well produced. From a sonic perspective, it still holds up.
Having said all of this, I'm still not a fan!
Louis Prima
4/5
So much fun!
So upbeat.
The trombone on Body and Soul is outstanding!
Liked songs added:
- Just a Gigilo/I Ain't Got Nobody -Medley
- Jump, Jive an' Wail
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Classic mix of rock and blues.
What a debut album!
This is great music performed by great musicians.
Beatles
5/5
Iconic album with an iconic cover.
My first Beatles album here.
That bass line in Taxman is one of the best in pop.
I haven't heard this in a while. The songs are so diverse in many ways: style, singer, mood and composer. Somehow it works. It works as they were experimenting the whole time with tape loops and backward guitar riffs and more.
Was tomorrow Never Knows the birth of psychedelic rock? I'm not sure, but that drum beat is unbelievable.
As I'm listening, I'm getting the impression that the Beatles have turned the corner and are heading in a new direction...one that will lead to something big on the next album. Ha, easy to say now!
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
Good music performed by good musicians. I'm guessing he was influenced by Fela Kuti with the call and response by a chorus of female singers.
Unfortunately, I'm not into it. I think the album needs more talking drum!
N.W.A.
5/5
A classic!
Hard rhymes and great samples.
My friend Bubba got this album when we were in high school, and when he played it for me, my mind was blown. So much "language," but at the same time, I knew we were listening to something special.
Joanna Newsom
3/5
This was not on Spotify or Bandcamp. 8( (I did find it on YouTube.)
Well it's certainly different than NWA (my last album)!
It's been years since I've heard good harp playing.
I appreciate the originality, unique voice and musicianship, but I'm just not into it.
Nirvana
5/5
I'm so happy to get this album. Every song is good.
One criticism. Maybe it's just me, but the drums sound muffled. I prefer Butch Vig's production on Nevermind. Grohl's drums sound so in your face on that album. Here, they sound like they're stuffed with 20 blankets. It's a minor criticism.
Overall, it's a classic.
TV On The Radio
3/5
I don't love or hate this music. It's there and it's creative.
DLZ is the one standout to me.
Liked songs added:
- DLZ
Fela Kuti
5/5
This is soooooooo good!
I love the structure of Fela Kuti songs. Get into a funky groove for about 7 minutes, with lots of improvised solos backed by lots of percussion, then add some meaningful call and response lyrics. Some might think it's repetitive, but I think it works!
I hadn't heard Zombie before, but I've heard other Fela albums before. I'm now a fan of this one too.
Liked songs added:
- Mr. Follow Follow
- Mistake
John Lennon
3/5
Going into this album, I knew two songs: Imagine and Jealous Guy. It turns out that, for me, they are the only standout tracks. I was expecting a lot more.
The Byrds
3/5
This is in the top 1001???
Eight Miles High is a great song, but you can't lean on one song to make a classic album. A positive is that I do love David Crosby's backing vocals throughout.
Hey Joe, more like Hey No! Leave the heavy lifting to Jimi. I Know My Rider (I Know You Rider) is better left for Dead.
In one word, mediocre.
Justice
3/5
I thought that this was OK.
Liked songs added:
- Waters of Nazareth
- One Minute To Midnight
Killing Joke
3/5
I have a feeling I'm underrating this album. I'm guessing that if I listened to it five times I would get it more. I did listen to Requiem more than once.
I know Killing Joke from the one song Love Like Blood, which I like a lot, but it's not here.
It was interesting hearing the early work of Flood on bass. I know many albums that he's produced.
Liked songs added:
- Requiem
Radiohead
5/5
I know many like OK Computer more, but I think The Bends is Radiohead's best album. It's certainly my favourite.
The album features Jonny Greenwood at his peak.
How do you describe the perfect album? I'm not sure, but The Bends is pretty close.
Liked songs added:
- High and Dry
- (Nice Dream)
- Just
- Black Star
- Sulk
Simply Red
1/5
There is some music that I would consider timeless or ahead of its time. Not this.
Picture Book should be locked in a vault labelled "80s music. Do not open under any circumstances."
Ute Lemper
3/5
This is definitely not my scene, but I appreciate the musicianship on this album. It's a little too torch for me. Lemper has a good voice, and she seems to have no problem singing in 5/4 time or a swung waltz along with many others.
Buena Vista Social Club
5/5
This is so mellow and so good. I hadn't heard it before.
Liked songs added:
- De Camino a La Varedo
- Pueblo Nuevo
Gene Clark
3/5
There's great musicianship and songwriting on this album, but it's not what I'm into. There's some solid bass playing throughout. (Ha, I just looked it up and Leland Sklar played bass on this album, so that makes sense!)
The Dandy Warhols
4/5
I really like this album. Going in, I didn't really know the Dandy Warhols that much.
I was debating between a 4 and 5, but those last two instrumentals were useless to me, so 4 it is.
Liked songs added:
- Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth
- Good Morning
- Cool As Kim Deal
Amy Winehouse
3/5
I was a little disappointed with this album. Winehouse had such a great voice, but other than Rehab, there wasn't much there for me. I did like the deluxe version, which included·lots of covers like Valerie - one of my favourites by her.
Anyway, it's a case of love the voice, don't love the songs.
Liked songs added:
- Rehab
Funkadelic
5/5
This is such a great mix of rock and funk. In a word, eclectic!
Liked songs added:
- Can You Get To That
- Hit It And Quit It
- Super Stupid
- Back In Our Minds
- Wars Of Armageddon
Duran Duran
3/5
Iconic album by a band I don't really like. Having said that, there are a lot of decent singles. It wasn't really my thing then, and it certainly isn't now.
Interesting story...I once won the Duran Duran catalogue - at that time five albums - from a local radio station, by identifying that the lyrics "In touch with the ground/I'm on the hunt I'm after you." came from Hungry Like The Wolf and being the 4th caller or something. It turns out that Rio was the best of the bunch, and it's still only worth 3 stars!
Paul Simon
3/5
It's a good, but inconsistent, album.
Simon is a brilliant songwriter.
His songs are deceptively complicated, yet they sound simple. I think he's also an underrated guitar player.
Liked songs added:
- Hearts and Bones
- Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War
- The Late Great Johnny Ace.
Pink Floyd
5/5
It's been many years since I've last listened to The Wall.
Going in, I thought I would give it 4 stars, but after listening to it with fresh ears, it's easily a 5. It has certainly aged well.
Liz Phair
2/5
After all the hype and reviews I read, I thought this would've been much better. To me this music is like a watered-down version of Juliana Hatfield. Are any of her albums on the list???
In the end, it was just ok for me.
Patti Smith
2/5
It's not really my thing, but I appreciate the musicality and historical importance of Horses. Having said that, it's really not my thing.
The Stranglers
4/5
Walking on the beaches looking at the Peaches! Classic.
I've heard the song for years (and a few others not on this album), but never heard the the whole thing before. I feel like I've missed something, so I'll have to dive deeper.
Curtis Mayfield
5/5
Pure soulful funk. Curtis Mayfield had a way of taking a dark subject and some making joyful music out of it.
Liked songs added:
- Pusherman (added before)
- Freddie's Dead (Theme from 'Superfly')
American Music Club
2/5
Wow, this is such mediocre country influenced pop/rock. I wouldn't be so critical, but it is on the 1001 list. I'd really like to know why. I've heard acts in my home town that are much better than this.
Mediocre.
Fiona Apple
4/5
This exceeded my expectations. I remember when it came out, but it was great to give this another try all these years later. Tidal has excellent piano-led songs that are beautifully produced and Apple's songwriting is great. I think this album has some of the best and timely mellotron I've heard. OK, I just looked it up and there's no mellotron on the album. It's actually a Chamberlin (a precursor to the mellotron...who knew!).
Black Sabbath
4/5
So good. So dark. It's such a consistent album. Each member brings it.
Nightmares On Wax
1/5
I had to stop 30 minutes in. I feel like I could create this (today), if you could lock me in a room and give me a couple of days with Garage Band.
This music reminds me of that Friends episode when Ross rediscovers that he can play keyboard. At the end of each sound effect laden song, he would hold up a finger as if to say, "Wait for it..." and then the song would end with an explosion sound effect. In fact, one song on this album actually ended with an explosion! Yikes.
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
I like The 13th Floor Elevators, but I don't love them! You're Gonna Miss Me is a classic, but it's the one standout on the album. It's not a classic album, but again that's a classic song.
Liked songs added:
- You're Gonna Miss Me
Stevie Wonder
3/5
I was really hoping I'd like this, but I didn't. Great songwriting and musicianship, but I just couldn't get into it.
Liked songs added:
- Boogie On Reggae Woman
Meat Loaf
2/5
Bat Out of Hell is
Epic, dramatic music.
Not really my thing.
Coldplay
2/5
Two words: boring music.
Turbonegro
5/5
This rocks!
I've never heard of Turbonegro before, but I like them. They seem to be having a lot of fun, musically and definitely lyrically.
"I got a headache in my pants." That's original!
Liked songs added:
- The Age of Pamparius
- Selfdestructo Bust
- Prince of The Rodeo
Talking Heads
2/5
Ugh. How many Talking Heads albums are on the list? This is my 2nd and it's two too many IMO. At least these songs have more than 1 chord (unlike Remain in Light).
Their version of Take Me To The River is a classic.
Liked songs added:
- Take Me To The River
Bon Jovi
1/5
Wait a minute. I think this is supposed to be on the list of 1001 albums that you should listen to, to make you die.
Charles Mingus
4/5
This is wild. It's organized chaos. I'm guessing that Miles Davis was influenced by this when he created Bitches Brew.
I know Mingus' music, but didnt know this album. It was an interesting listen. These days it's rare to hear orchestrated jazz like this. I kept thinking "How did he write and arrange this?" as I was listening. I'm sure that the next time I hear this I'll appreciate it a lot more.
Belle & Sebastian
5/5
I love Belle and Sebastian. Even though it's not my favourite B & S album, it's still a classic. They have a way of taking a bright pop sounding song and giving it a dark lyrical twist.
Liked songs added:
- The State I Am In
- She's Losing It
- We Rule The School
- My Wandering Days Are Over
- I Don't Love Anyone
Sam Cooke
4/5
That smooth voice. I hear lots of joy in it. Lots of classic tracks here including Chain Gang and Twisting The Night Away.
Jeff Beck
5/5
Why haven't I heard this album before? Great musicians playing here along with Beck.
I loved it and i want more!
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
5/5
Another surprise! I loved this album even though I hadn't heard it before. The percussion is unbelievable as are Colon's trombone solos.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Muddy Waters is the Blues. Lots of classics here. That harp player is serious!
Liked songs added:
- I Feel So Good
Sisters Of Mercy
1/5
Not good.
This is why people hate 80s music.
Shuggie Otis
4/5
This is an interesting album. It's often funky, sometimes like soft jazz.
Sometimes, it sounds like someone was playing around with an old Lorwry organ.
I liked hearing the original veesionĥStrawberry Letter 22.
Liked songs added:
- Inspiration Information
- Sparkle City
- Sweet Thang
Nina Simone
4/5
Nina Simone's voice is incredible! She used it like it was its own musical instrument. So unique. She was an innovator.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Lots of classics here. Dylan's the songwriter's songwriter.
Liked songs added:
- Subterranean Homesick Blues
- She Belongs to Me
- Maggie's Farm
- Bob Dylan's 115th Dream
- Mr. Tambourine Man
- It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
- It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
I love Elvis...Costello...not the other one!
I Hope You're Happy Now sounds like a lost Beatles track. That's a McCartney-worthy bass line.
Tokyo Storm Warning reminds me of Billy Joel's You May Be Right, especially the verses.
Liked songs added:
- I Hope You're Happy Now
- Next Time Round
5/5
So, I'm guessing these guys inspired KISS, but without the makeup? I've never heard of them before, but I like them!
This sounds way ahead of its time.
MC5 totally rocks.
Liked songs added:
- Kick Out The Jams
- Rocket Reducer No. 62 - Talk
- Motor City Is Burning
- I Want You Right Now
Supertramp
3/5
I remember how big Supertramp used to be. I also remember why I don't listen to them.
I like how the singers compliment each other with totally different styles.
That rhythm section is not strong. Don't get me started on bands that have a sax player who plays a useless bit every 3 songs.
After School, Bloody Well Right, Hide In Your Shell and Dreamer are decent.
The rest is filler to me.
LTJ Bukem
4/5
This is not my kind of music at all, but I like it!
At times this sounded like Mario Kart soundtrack music, at other times I felt my body moving along to the gast beats.
Clocking in at 3.5 hours, it's a little indulgent.
Bottom line: if music makes you move involuntarily, it must be good.
The Thrills
2/5
So much for interesting music.
It's OK, but it didn’t move me.
Napalm Death
3/5
This is not what I usually listen to, but there's some interesting musicianship here.
You Suffer is a great song!
I like how they can pack so much into a 45-second song.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
What a great album that's totally out of my wheelhouse. There were a few songs that had chord progressions that reminded me of Steely Dan. Sure enough, once the album was done, Spotify played Midnight Cruiser from the first Dan album. Another coincidence was that Larry Carlton has played guitar for both Joni Mitchell and Steely Dan.
Liked songs added:
- Help Me
- Down To You
- Raised On Roberry
- Twisted
The Who
4/5
This is an interesting concept album.
It was a nice glimpse into the advertising world of the UK in the late 60s. Some of the jingles are actually catchy.
It certainly foreshadows future Who albums musically and stylistically...especially Tommy!
Liked songs added:
- Mary-Anne With The Shaky Hands
- Our Love Was
- Rael Pt. 1 & 2
Mylo
5/5
I was surprised that I liked this so much. I found myself moving to the beats, so it must be good.
Liked songs added:
- Valley Of The Dolls
- Sunworshipper
- Drop The Pressure
- Guilty Of Love - '05 Version
Led Zeppelin
5/5
This is what I love about this list - listening to albums I've known of, but never listened to in full before.
It's a shame I missed this one all these years. You can hear the Indian and Blues influences throughout.
It's certainly a lot more than "the one with Kashmir!" Having said that...
Duh-Na-Na
Duh-Na-Na
Duh-Na-Na
Duh-Na-Na
Duh-Na-Na
Duh-Na-Na
Duh-Na-Na
Duh-Na-Na
Na-Na-Na!
Liked songs added:
- Houses Of The Holy
- Kashmir
- In The Light
- Ten Years Gone
Barry Adamson
1/5
Unlistenable.
Carpenters
1/5
Cheese.
Listen to this if you want to hear the worst cover of a Beatles song (Help), in recorded history.
I don't understand a lot of the production decisions.
Overall, it's not good.
The Kinks
5/5
Wow, I didn't really know this album...only the two big hits.
At times it sounded like the Stones, at times the Beatles, or maybe those two bands sound like the Kinks!
Ray Davies is one of the great songwriters of our time.
Somehow they make that harpsichord work in many songs!
I can't wait to give this a few more listens.
Liked songs added:
- A House In The Country
- Sunny Afternoon
- Dead End Street
Van Morrison
5/5
Great album, starting with five solid songs, four for the ages. I like the varying styles and excellent musicianship with Van's great voice leading the way.
Liked songs added:
- Moondance
- Crazy Love
- Caravan
- Into The Mystic
Frank Sinatra
5/5
Jobim wrote such rich songs with beautiful melodies, bossanova rhythms and melancholy lyrics, about being that shy guy in the corner of the room (or quiet part of the beach) being overlooked by that beautiful girl.
The messages and music are universal and timeless. Sinatra's smooth delivery adds a sense of cool to the proceedings.
I hadn't heard this version of The Girl From Ipanema, but it's just as good as the Gilberto/Getz version (missing Getz's classic sax solo, of course).
Liked songs added:
- The Girl From Ipanema
- I Concentrate On You
Weather Report
5/5
One word: Jaco
Liked songs added:
- Birdland
- Teen Town
- Havona
Beatles
5/5
This album is always a bittersweet listen for me, but in a beautiful way. The music is outstanding, but you get the sense that this is a bookend - that it will never happen again, the Beatles recording as a unit.
"And in the end / The love you take / Is equal to the love you make."
Bittersweet. Beautiful.
David Bowie
2/5
I like Bowie and I understand the circumstances around this album's release, but it just didn't register with me.
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
I like McCartney, but this is not something I'd go back to a lot. The two big hits are great, as is Let Me Roll It, but nothing appealed to me enough to add to my Liked Songs.
Arcade Fire
4/5
This album was a lot better than I expected. It's song quality is very consistent.
Liked songs added:
- The Suburbs
- Rococo
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Flea.
That is all.
Liked songs added:
- Around the World
- Scar Tissue
- Otherside
T. Rex
3/5
This was very disappointing after hearing Electric Warrior. Telegram Sam is the one standout to me.
Liked songs added:
- Telegram Sam
- Ballrooms of Mars
Wilco
5/5
I'm so happy Wilco's on this list. Jeff Tweedy's a quintessential songwriter, whose work everyone should hear!
Having said that, this isn't my favourite Wilco album. Sorry, I'm a Nels Cline fan, and I hope Sky Blue Sky is also on the list!
Having said that, it's still an amazing album, released at a dark time in American history - perhaps a dark time in Wilco history too.
The music is moody and at times unmelodic, but it's also beautiful. Some songs are heavily produced, while others are just raw and seemingly random.
Kamera sounds so well produced compared to I Am Trying To Break Your Heart. I like the high-low octaves in the chorus, a technique I first heard used by Squeeze.
Pot Kettle Black's guitar in the verses sound a lot like the Cure's In Between Days. Maybe it's just me, but it's still a great song.
Liked songs added:
- Kamera
- War On War
- Jesus Etc.
- Heavy Metal Drummer
- I'm The Man Who Loves You
- Pot Kettle Black
- Reservations
Ramones
4/5
This album's a lot of fun. It's great music for thrashing around the room when you're having a frustrating day! A lot of the songs do sound the same.
Liked songs added:
- Blitzkrieg Bop
- Listen To My Heart
The Blue Nile
1/5
"Do I love you? Yes I love you. But it's easy come, easy go." That about sums up the quality of the lyrics here.
Decent bass player and keyboard player, stuck with a drum machine and a talker/singer stuck in the 80s. That's what I experienced.
Ride
3/5
The first song basically has a Taxman bass line.
At times it felt like the drummer was having trouble keeping up.
You can tell these guys listened to a lot of the Cure.
Overall it's just OK for me. I thought I liked Shoegaze, but this didn't do it for me.
Liked songs added:
- Here And Now
- Sennen
Tricky
3/5
30 second review: It's moody.
Liked songs added:
- Black Steel
Depeche Mode
4/5
Great right from the start.
I haven't heard this in years, but it still holds up.
The first side is a little weaker, but the second side is packed with consistently solid songs.
Liked songs added:
- World In My Eyes
- Enjoy The Silence
- Policy Of Truth
- Blue Dress
David Bowie
3/5
It's OK.
Fishbone
5/5
Legendary album with a legendary cover of Freddie's Dead.
The musicianship is excellent. John Norwood Fisher's bass playing is inspirational. "FUNKY BASS!"
One of my all-time favourites.
Liked songs added:
- Freddie's Dead
- Ma And Pa
- Question Of Life
- Mighty Long Way
- Bonin' In The Boneyard
- One Day
- Subliminal Fascism
- Slow Bus Moving (Howard Beach Party)
- Ghetto Soundwave
- Change
Red Hot Chili Peppers
5/5
The best Chili Peppers album.
Period.
Liked songs added:
- The Power Of The Equality
- Suck My Kiss
- I Could Have Lied
- Mellowship Slinky In B Major
- Give It Away Now
- Under The Bridge
- Naked In The Rain
The Velvet Underground
2/5
It's very experimental 60s stuff, often unlistenable.
This is a study on how to not improvise.
Pro tip: Find the original version, and you'll only have ti listen to 49 minutes of WL/WH, and that's more than enough!
Derek & The Dominos
2/5
Derek & The Dominos has not aged well.
These guys make rock/blues boring.
I'll take authentic OG blues, thank you.
Miles Davis
4/5
It's amazing what they can do with one chord for over 18 minutes on Shhh/Peaceful. Shorter's soloing is particularly good here, as is Davis'.
In A Silent Way is a lot more melodic.
Overall, a very interesting listen.
Nirvana
5/5
I remember the MTV Unplugged series and this was probably the best broadcast. It was a real songwriting test. Would the songs and band still sound good stripped down to the bare bones of the songs and performances? In this case, it's a definite yes!
It's interesting to see.Cobain so humble and vulnerable. The songs and performances still hold up.
Small Faces
3/5
The drumming of Kenney Jones stands out throughout.
I usually like psychedelic music, but this was a little too psychedelic for me.
Honourable mention for Song Of A Baker, one of the greatest rock songs ever...especially about baking!
Liked songs added:
- Song Of A Baker
Baaba Maal
4/5
This album has such a happy and joyous vibe. I found myself dancing to many of the songs here.
The music is great and has such a strong rhythm section. I like the bass playing on it. Baaba Maal's voice is beautiful.
Likes songs added:
- Ndelorel
Songhoy Blues
5/5
This is what I love about the 1001 list/app: finding a great album that I've never listened to or heard of. Music in Exhile is a great example of this.
I love the guitar playing on this. It's like a highlife guitarist was dropped into a blues band.
Highly recommended!
Liked songs added:
- Soubour
- Sekou Oumarou
- Nick
Kid Rock
1/5
No.
Norah Jones
4/5
This is not the style of music I usually listen to, but it's very well produced - much more sparse and subtle than I'm used to, but it works. Jones' voice is beautiful, and very different in a good way.
Liked songs added:
- Don't Know Why
- Nightingale
Common
5/5
I like the mix of jazz and hip hop. It sounds very innovative for its time. This is my first time hearing Common and it certainly won't be the last. I love it!
Liked songs added:
- Time Travellin' (A Tribute To Fela)
- Heat
- Funky For You
- The 6th Sense
- A Song For Assata
Sade
3/5
The hits are better than expected, but the rest kind of dragged.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Mayfield's so funky and cool!
Liked songs added:
- Billy Jack
- Hard Times
Stereolab
5/5
Groove filled chill out music.
It's repetitive, but I like it...which is weird for me, so something's working here.
Liked songs added:
- Metronomic Underground
- Percolator
- Spark Plug
- The Noise Of Carpet
Al Green
3/5
Another album that's on this list based on the strength of one or two good songs, not the whole album. This is too bad, as I like Al Green, but not this album.
Liked songs added:
- Let's Stay Together
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
I was looking forward to hearing this, as I've only heard their singles in the 90s.
Unfortunately, listening to it now, it sounds tired and derivative. I'm disappointed.
Kate Bush
3/5
I appreciate the musicianship here, but it's a little too dramatic for me.
I do like the way how Bush sometimes uses her voice as additional instrument.
Throwing Muses
4/5
Wow, another hidden gem.
Great songwriting that still holds up.
I like how some songs change mid-song - speeding up or slowing down, or just change mood.
(Hint: search for the full album on YouTube.)
Arcade Fire
4/5
That's a very fancy pen on the album cover.
It's quite ambitious for a debut album. I'm guessing they worked on this for a few years.
It's interesting that to me, Arcade Fire sounds like nothing else, and this is a good thing. The song structures and instrumentation are so different, along with Win Butler's vocal stylings.
Liked songs added:
- Wake Up
- In The Backseat
Kate Bush
3/5
This isn't funny. Two Kate Bush albums in three days.
This is a lot more enjoyable than The Dreaming. I love the fretless bass on Mother Stands For Comfort and The Morning Fog.
3.5 for this one. Since I gave The Dreaming a 3-star rating and it's really a 2.5, this one averages out at 3 stars!
Love
4/5
There is some killer acoustic guitar playing in this psychedelic trip! The songwriting is very strong here.
I don't know Love's music, but I think I like it.
Liked songs added:
- The Daily Planet
Steely Dan
5/5
Steely Dan's the perfect mix of rock and jazz. Are there any better produced albums than SD albums? I don't think so.
With Pretzel Logic, you can see a preview of future Steely Dan music for the next decade.
Liked songs added:
- Rikki Don't Lose That Number
- Any Major Dude Will Tell You
- Pretzel Logic
Living Colour
3/5
Such a powerful opening track.
I vaguely remember owning this album back in the day.
Vernon Reid shreds on guitar, but he does it in a way that's somehow melodic, and not just a bunch of fast noodling notes, which is unlike many lead players of the time.
Props to the solid rhythm section too.
Having said all this, other than the songs listed below, I don't see myself revisiting this. The musicians and messages are great. It just doesn't move me.
Liked songs added:
- Cult Of Personality
- Funny Vibe - Funky Vibe Mix
Röyksopp
3/5
It was fine.
The Sonics
2/5
I'm not sure how an album with only four original songs can be on the 1001 list. One extra star for the singer and jangly guitar player(s).
The Black Keys
2/5
Great music for selling beer and cars. Minus one star for that.
Liked songs added:
- Tighten Up
- Sinister Kid
Aretha Franklin
4/5
There's a reason why Aretha's called the queen of soul.
This music is so well performed, and that voice! She's timeless!
Liked songs added:
- Respect
- I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Loved You)
- Do Right Woman, Do Right Man
The White Stripes
5/5
I love the raw emotion of this album. They do a lot with mostly two instruments.
I actually like the way Meg White plays drums. I think she adds lots of emotion in her playing. Jack's a master!
Liked songs added:
- Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground
- Hotel Yorba
- Fell In Love With A Girl
- We're Going To Be Friends
The Police
5/5
A truly classic and original album. Every song is good here.
Liked songs added:
- Message In A Bottle
- It's Alright For You
- Deathwish
- Walking On The Moon
- On Any Other Day
- Contact
- Does Everyone Stare
AC/DC
3/5
It's solid, but it's just not my thing. The highlights are Bon Scott's passionate singing (which I didn't really like before) and Angus Young's leads.
Liked Songs Added:
- Highway To Hell
Basement Jaxx
4/5
Remedy is a very upbeat and uptempo album. I usually wouldn't enjoy this type of music, but I like this!
I like the Selecter sample on Same Old Show.
I'm convinced that the bass, on Always Be There, is sampled, and modified, from King Crimson's Sheltering Sky, even though I don't see this documented anywhere. The "bass" sound is actually produced by Tony Levin's Chapman Stick (a 10- or 12- stringed instrument).
Liked Songs Added:
- Rendez-Vu
M.I.A.
1/5
Each song is repetitive and unlistenable. I guess you'd have to be in a dance club and on a lot of drugs to like this music.
One positive is that each song is unique...but I can't handle this.
Paper Planes is ok, but if you like this, listen to the original, Straight To Hell by The Clash. It's so much better.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
At times this album is brilliant with excellent funky musicianship all around. At other times it's cheezy romantic 70s shlock.
Liked songs added:
- Shining Star
- Africano
Tori Amos
2/5
The songwriting and musicianship is good, but I'm just not into piano-based singer-songwriters. Sorry Tori.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Growing up, I perceived Zeppelin IV to be the over-rated one with Stairway To Heaven on it. I couldn't have been more wrong.
Every song is excellent and diverse in style and feel.
I started imagining what each song would be like without Bonzo, or Page, or Plant or Jones and I couldn't. Each member adds something valuable throughout.
Liked songs added:
- When The Levee Breaks
Otis Redding
5/5
That voice!
There's nothing more soulful than when Otis sings.
The backing band was also legendary including Cropper, Booker T., Isaac Hayes and Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass.
This album will be on heavy rotation on my player.
Liked Songs Added:
- Respect
- Wonderful World
- (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
The Who
5/5
YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Classic doesn't begin to describe this album.
I would highly recommended listening with headphones. I never noticed how much acoustic guitar is actually on Who's Next.
Keith Moon's drumming is from another planet. So entertaining. Entwistle's bass playing isn't too shabby either, especially on Getting In Tune.
Won't Get Fooled Again is epic anthemic rock.
Liked Songs Added:
- Baba O'Riley
- Bargain
- The Song Is Over
- Getting In Tune
- Going Mobile
- Behind Blue Eyes
- Won't Get Fooled Again
The Pogues
4/5
This music is joyous.
It's very different than most of the albums I've heard so far, but different in a good way. I like the instrumentation including acoustic instruments like banjoes, accordions and fiddles.
Liked Songs Added:
- Dirty Old Town
Deep Purple
4/5
Such a classic live album.
I knew most of the album versions of these songs, but live on Made In Japan kicks it up a notch.
Without researching it, I'm guessing that this was the blueprint for many live albums/performances to follow - with lengthy screeching guitar/keyboard (organ) solos along with an epic Ian Paice drum solo.
-1 star for the overindulgent version of Space Truckin' live!
Liked Songs Added:
- Highway Star
- Strange Kind Of Woman
The Killers
3/5
This was a lot better than I thought it would be. The musicians are good and this pop rock music is unique. Having said all of this, I'm not really into it.
Guided By Voices
5/5
Thank you 1001 list for including this low-fi classic! I've been wanting to listen to GBV for a while now. This album delivers.
Listening to Alien Lanes is like listening to a songwriting course. Some pieces are complete, and some aren't, but that's OK.
Liked Songs Added:
- Watch Me Jumpstart
- As We Go Up, We Go Down
- Game Of Pricks
- A Good Flying Bird
- Pimple Zoo
- Closer You Are
- Motor Away
Laura Nyro
3/5
My first impression is that the bass playing is pretty good. Checking the roster, Chuck Rainey played on this album, so this makes sense!
This is not my kind of music, but the strength of the songwriting hooks you in. There are some interesting tempo changes throughout. Nyro's voice was so powerful.
Having said all of that, it's not my thing.
AC/DC
3/5
For those about to listen to Back In Black, I salute you.
Sorry, just like Highway To Hell, it's not my thing.
CHIC
2/5
Disco sucks, man.
Having said that, I love Nile Rogers' guitar playing and Bernard Edward's bass playing. Plus 1-star for the music and production quality!
Even this can save this sucky disco album.
Jazmine Sullivan
2/5
Sorry, I'm not into this. It has an interesting and innovative structure at least.
The Icarus Line
2/5
Meh.
Lots of snarl from the singer, and this is not a good thing.
Parliament
5/5
Five seconds in, I knew I was about to get my funk on...and I did.
Listening to this album makes you feel like you're at an amazingly fun party.
Liked Songs Added:
- P-Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)
- Unfunny UFO
- Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication
- Handcuffs
- Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)
David Ackles
1/5
This sounds like an uncool guy trying really hard to be cool, and not being successful.
I guess he (or Bernie) spent some time travelling around the US, to the point where he even namechecks Buffalo!
This is wrongly classified as country music, as American Gothic gives country a bad name.
Traffic
4/5
I really liked this. There's lots of variety on this album.
Feelin' Allright? is a classic!
Liked songs added:
- Pearly Queen
- Who Knows What Tomorrow Will Bring
- Feelin' Allright?
- Cryin' To Be Heard
- Medicated Goo
- Shanghai Noodle Factory
Deep Purple
4/5
Solid rock album, with mostly songs I didn't know.
Liked Songs Added:
- Bloodsucker
- Child In Time
Sarah Vaughan
5/5
When I hear Sarah Vaughan's voice, I hear joy.
This live recording is so raw. Flaws are left in, but they give this recoding a more human feel. Having said that, the recording quality is excellent for it's time.
Liked Songs Added::
- Willow Weep For Me
- Just A Gigolo
- How High The Moon
Deep Purple
4/5
Classic rock done by a band at it's peak with five strong musicians.
I think that Ian Paice is an underrated beast!
Liked Songs Added:
- Highway Star
- Maybe I'm A Leo
- Lazy
- Space Truckin'
Ice Cube
3/5
I thought it would be better, but the songs seemed too much alike for me.
Interesting combination pairing Ice Cube with Public Enemy.
The Smiths
5/5
Solid album.
In my experience, you have to listen to a Smiths album at least five times to get it, and then it's great. I remember when it came out, so I know this one well...and it is great.
For the guitar players who don't like The Smiths, I would suggest focusing on the guitar playing. Johnny Marr plays like nobody else. If you don't believe me, try playing along with him. It's not easy, and it will make you appreciate what he's actually doing.
"I crashed down on the crossbar and the pain was enough to make a shy bald Buddhist reflect." That's a solid lyric.
Liked Songs Added:
- Death Of A Disco Dancer
- Girlfriend In A Coma
- Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before
- Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
- Unhappy Birthday
- Paint A Vulger Picture
- I Won't Share You
Bill Evans Trio
5/5
This was such an unbelievable recording. At times, the trio sounded sparse and at others like a lot more than three were playing.
Knowing a bit about the bass, I was shocked that I had never heard Scott LaFaro's playing before.
On many tracks he soloed with only the drums accompanying him. This is very rare. LaFaro's bass playing is so melodic and innovative for the time. It's so sad we couldn't hear much more of him.
Liked Songs Added:
- Gloria's Step - Take 2
- Solar
- Jade Visions - Take 1
Django Django
2/5
Django Django? Sorry, I found this boring boring.
U2
3/5
I like U2, but this album is thin. The three singles are great, but to me, the rest is filler.
Liked Songs Added:
- Sunday Bloody Sunday
- New Year's Day
- Two Hearts Beat As One
Scott Walker
2/5
There is great (sometimes cheesy) production here, but this is not the kind of music I dig.
The Bees
2/5
This is probably good enough for the top 10,000 albums of all time. I found it very bland.
Fleet Foxes
5/5
This is such an uplifting album. The production is lush and the harmonies are beautiful. I think there's a lot of depth to this album that I'll discover on subsequent listens.
Liked Songs Added:
- White Winter Hymnal
- Ragged Wood
- Blue Ridge Mountains
Beastie Boys
5/5
I love the Beastie Boys, but never heard this whole album before.
It's awesome!
I like the variety of styles and live instruments being used, especially the double bass.
Liked Songs Added:
- B-Boys Makin' With The Freak Freak
- Root Down
- Sabotage
- Sabrosa
- Alright Hear This
- Ricky's Theme
- Heart Attack Man
- The Scoop
The Fall
3/5
This album had its moments. I really wanted to like it, as I really like Mark E. Smith's delivery, but I found the effort inconsistent.
Liked Songs Added:
- What You Need
- L.A.
- Cruiser's Creek
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
5/5
Listening to this album was a joyful experience. I'm not sure how you could listen to this and not smile.
The depth of sounds that these guys can produce with only their voices, is amazing.
Liked Songs Added:
- Unomathemba
- Hello My Baby
- How Long
- Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain
Common
3/5
This album was a disappointment. It started strong, but the quality faded fast for me.
I needed more Common and less Kanye here.
Liked Songs Added:
- Be (Intro)
- The Corner
Khaled
3/5
I'm not into this music, but it was interesting to hear Algerian pop and the different influences present.
I got emotional listening to Khaled's version of Imagine. What I'm guessing that many have missed is that the first verse is sung by Israeli artist Noa in Hebrew, then the second verse sung by Khaled in Arabic, then the two of them singing together in English "Imagine all the people/Living life in peace." So nice!
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
I don't get it. I know Cave is well regarded, but I don't get it. Bad Seeds indeed.
Q-Tip
4/5
I've always liked Q-Tip. His performances always seem smooth and effortless.
I liked this album, but I was hoping for a bit more.
Liked Songs Added:
- Official
- You
- Life Is Better
- Believe
Marvin Gaye
4/5
How many babies were made to this album???
It's good soulful music, but Keep Gettin' It On sounded like a reworked version of Let's Get It On and Distint Lover's chord progression sounded very similar to What's Going On to me.
Even with this, it's a really good album.
Liked Songs Added:
- Let's Get It On
X-Ray Spex
2/5
Low-fi, but not in a good way.
I'm sorry, I did not like the lead singer's voice, the music was mediocre and I have to take away a star for the absolutely terrible and often out of tune sax playing which was just mind grating.
10cc
4/5
I don't think that there's a weak song here, yet nothing stands out as a hit song. Sheet Music's just a solid album that I would listen to again. In the end, this surprised me.
Thin Lizzy
4/5
Solid hard rock libe album. The harmonized lead guitars were nice.
Thin Lizzy definitely had their own style. I'm not really a fan, but I do like the singles which are done well here.
Liked Songs Added:
- Jailbreak
- The Boys Are Back In Town
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Quintessential Stevie!
I think that this album is simply about love. That's what I hear when I listen to it. Love permeates most songs.
Liked Songs Added:
- Love's In Need Of Love Today
- Contusion
- Sir Duke
- I Wish
- Pastime Paradise
- Summer Soft
- Isn't She Lovely
- As
Super Furry Animals
5/5
This is a beautifully produced album. It's been years since I've listened and I don't know why i took so long.
Lots of fun!
Liked Songs Added:
- Sidewalk Seefer Girl
- It's Not The End Of The World?
- Receptacle Forr The Respectable
- No Sympathy
- Juxtaposed With U
Steely Dan
5/5
From the start of that much sampled iconic conga part in Do It Again, Can't Buy A Thrill is a special album.
I've heard this my whole life, starting on my older brothers' turntables, and it still sounds fresh.
Steely Dan are known for their production. Every time I hear this album, I hear something new (like the arpeggiod rhythm guitar in the Dirty Work introduction on the right side of the mix!).
Liked Songs Added:
- Do It Again
- Dirty Work
- Kings
- Midnite Cruiser
- Reelin' In The Years
- Fire In The Hole
Radiohead
3/5
I like Radiohead, but i think that this is an inconsistent effort.
It's certainly nice to hear more guitars on this one, but I struggled to listen all the way through.
I guess I'm more of a Bends person.
Liked Songs Added:
- 2 + 2 = 5
- Where I End And You Begin
- There, There
Slayer
3/5
There's certainly good musicianship here, but the lyrics are a little dark for me.
If anything, it's great music to thrash around the room to.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
I love this album.
It's one of my go to jazz albums.
I have distinct memories of my high school music teacher Mr. Leach playing bits of this album on his piano when he was waiting for us to get ready. Mr. Leach was the best!!!
I'm usually good at figuring out time signatures, but Blue Rondo À La Turk still messes me up!
Liked Songs Added:
Blue Rondo À La Turk
Take Five
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
I remember when this came out. There was so much excitement around the Arctic Monkeys, but the album ended up being a big disappointment after hearing the raw earlier tapes.
Songs like Mardy Bum and especially Riot Van are so over produced here. I can't listen to this sleepy version of Riot Van here. The original featured Alex Turner singing and playing solo guitar, which was so much better.
Having said all of that, it's still a good album!
Liked Songs Added:
I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
Fake Tales Of San Francisco
You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me
From The Ritz To The Rubble
A Certain Romance
Tina Turner
2/5
I like Tina Turner the person. This album - and pop is not my thing - reeks of 80s cheesy production.
Jeff Buckley
5/5
When I listen to this album I think of one word: beauty. This is a beautiful album - that voice, the production, the compositions. His guitar playing is often understated, yet surprisingly complex
I feel like the world missed out on Buckley's future output due to his premature death. At least we have Grace.
Liked Songs Added:
Last Goodbye
Hallelujah
Eternal Life
Sonic Youth
4/5
So much noise...I love it!
Liked Songs Added:
100%
Shoot
Youth Against Fascism
Chapel Hill
Nine Inch Nails
2/5
I thought this would be better than it was.
In the end it was a lot of noise.
Liked Songs Added:
March Of The Pigs
Television
3/5
The guitar layering really adds to Television's sound.
It's interesting music, but I'm not into it. Having said that, I definitely see how Television influenced those who came after them.
KISS
2/5
Unlike a fine wine, this has not aged well.
I really tried to listen without bias, but the Gene Simmons songs are clearly the worst on the album.
The three hit singles are the best songs on the album, so well done A & R people, but that can't save this mediocre album.
4/5
Don't Look Back In Anger is Pachelbel's Canon. Just sayin'.
Now that that's out of the way, the album still holds up. I still like Definitely Maybe better.
Liked Songs Added:
Wonderwall
Some Might Say
Cast No Shadow
She's Electric
Champagne Supernova
Bert Jansch
3/5
This is really good. He does a lot with only his voice and an acoustic guitar.
It's not my favourite music and songwriting, but I certainly respect it.
4/5
I love Ray Davies as a composer and this album confirms this feeling. I had only heard Victoria before, so it's nice for me to a hear a new Kinks album.
I'll probably have to listen a few more times to actually get it, but I do like the concept here.
Liked Songs Added:
Victoria
3/5
There are some great and different and weird (in a good way) moments on this album.
The (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction cover is one of the best cover songs in history.
Liked Songs Added:
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Jocko Homo
Too Much Patanoias
Gut Feeling/(Slap Your Mammy)
Pixies
5/5
It doesn't get much better than this.
Listening with fresh ears, besides the overall songwriting, I find Joey Santiago's lead guitar stands out. It's such a different approach to lead guitar playing as he rarely takes a break to play rhythm, focusing mostly on some catchy, loud lick.
What an amazing and unique debut album.
Liked Songs Added:
Something Against You
Gigantic
Where Is My Mind?
Tony's Theme
Vamos (Surfer Rosa)
The National
2/5
So boring.
Why is this repetitive music lead by a singer who sounds like he'd rather be somewhere else, on this list???
The Rolling Stones
5/5
There's a lot of great Stonesefied Blues on this album. There's a lot more here than Sympathy For The Devil.
Liked Songs Added:
Sympathy For The Devil
No Expectations
Street Fighting Man
Iron Maiden
3/5
This was better than I expected. I'm not into metal, but these guys can play. Steve Harris is a "beast" on bass, even on this early album.
1/5
I like jazz, but I'd rather listen to a room filled with 100 cats collectively scraping their claws on a chalkboard than this.
The Louvin Brothers
3/5
I'm not into Country, but this wasn't too bad.
I did a tremendous double take when I read the Knoxville Girl lyrics. Man, that's a really dark song that hasn't aged well. I say it's a dark song, but you certainly wouldn't know it listening to the yearning slow waltz-time music with those sweet harmonies...but these guys would be cancelled so fast if that song was released today.
2/5
This genre is not my favourite, but it was OK.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
Great sounds, and that voice is like no one else.
John Grant
1/5
This is everything I don't like in music. It sounds like it was made in the 70s and not in a good way. Unlistenable.
Thundercat
5/5
This is so weird, humourous, frenetic and, most of all, FUNKY!
I love Thundercat's bass playing.
I'll definitely be checking out more of his work.
Liked Songs Added:
Uh Uh
Bus In These Streets
A Fan's Mail (Tron Song Suite II)
Show You The Way
Friend Zone
Them Changes
The Smiths
3/5
It's not my favourite Smiths album, but it's still pretty good. Andy Rourke shines on this one.
The first two songs are epic.
Liked Songs Added:
The Headmaster Ritual
Rushholme Ruffians
Dusty Springfield
2/5
She had a great voice, but this is a little too MOR for me. In a word, saccharine.
Billy Joel
5/5
The first album I ever bought and it still holds up.
Classic tunes well played and very well produced.
Liked Songs Added:
I'm Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
Just The Way You Are
Only The Good Die Young
She's Always A Woman
Steely Dan
5/5
Steve Gadd drumming in thar Aja break and at the end of the song. It doesn't get better than this!
Oh wait, there's also the classic example of Bernie Perdie's Perdie Shuffle on Home At Last. If you're a drummer and you haven't heard this album, you're in for something special here.
The sax solo on Deacon Blues is one of the best!
Liked Songs Added:
Aja
Deacon Blues
Peg
Home At Last
Josie
The Who
5/5
What a great debut! I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would.
The My Generation bass solo is so good.
Liked Songs Added:
Out In The Street
The Good's Gone
Much Too Much
My Generation
The Kids Are Allright
Please Please Please
A Legal Matter
Foo Fighters
5/5
Right from the first note of This Is A Call, Dave Grohl is making a statement that it's time to move on from the sadness of Kurt Cobain's death - time to rock!
I'm still amazed that Grohl essentally did all of the music and vocals on this album.
Liked Songs Added:
This Is A Call
I'll Stick Around
Big Me
Alone + Easy Target
Floaty
Exhausted
k.d. lang
3/5
I am not into k.d. lang at all, but she does have a beautiful voice. This album was a bit of a surprise back then after hearing her earlier country-punk tunes from time to time.
The production on this album is stunning. It was a bonus to learn that Ben Mink was involved. I remember him well as he took over for Nash the Slash in the band FM. Sorry, it's a Canadian thing, but the guy is a legend!
Yes
5/5
Classic prog rock album!
Liked Songs Added:
Yours Is No Disgrace
Starship Trooper
I've Seen All Good People
Perpetual Change
Snoop Dogg
3/5
I like Snoop and I like Dr. Dre, but this album didn't move me. I found it just OK.
The Zombies
4/5
This is so psychedelic and I love it, man!
Liked Songs Added:
Care Of Cell 44
This Will Be Our Year
Time Of The Season
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
Music to listen to while making dinner - specifically, dinner for one after a nasty breakup.
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
I loved Siamese Dream, but didn't like singles from this one, so I never had the opportunity to listen to it until now.
Wow it's long, but there is a lot of good music in here, just not as good as Siamese Dream in my opinion.
As others have said, Jimmy Chamberlin's drumming stands out.
Liked Songs Added:
Muzzle
Where Boys Fear To Tread
Bodies
Waylon Jennings
4/5
I am not a country fan, but I really liked this.
The songwriting is strong. Each song tells a story. The musicianship is really good too.
My only complaint is that it seemed like a lot of the songs were unfinished. Just as they were getting good, or into a solid groove or solo, they would suddenly fade out prematurely.
Liked Songs Added:
Honkey Tonk Heroes
Low Down Freedom
Black Rose
Violent Femmes
5/5
Classic album!
You get the "good feeling" that this is what happens when you spend too much time busking on the streets of Milwaukee! (This is a total guess, but without looking it up, I think the Femmes did get their start by busking.)
Love this high energy folk-punk weirdness. Every song is good here.
Liked Songs Added:
Blister In The Sun
Please Do Not Go
Add It Up
Prove My Love
Gone Daddy Gone
Good Feeling
Gimme The Car
Frank Ocean
3/5
Eclectic to say the least. Ocean's sound is definitely original, but I'm not so into it.
Liked Songs Added:
Sweet Life
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
1/5
Wow, I had no idea that Trevor Horn produced this and Steve Howe plays on one song. It's practically a Yes album...if Yes was a sucky cheesy 80s synth-pop band.
By the way, which one's Frankie?
CHVRCHES
1/5
Listening to Chvrches was not a religious experience.
The Youngbloods
4/5
Wow, solid music fusing a variety of styles, sometimes within the same song.
You've got to love an album that has at least three bass solos!
I hadn't heard any of these songs before and overall, I really enjoyed Elephant Mountain.
Liked Songs Added:
On Sir Francis Drake
Beautiful
Trillium
Sham
The Velvet Underground
3/5
There are some highlights and lowlights on this album.
Lou Reed in general is a highlight - his composing, guitar playing, singing and songwriting is original and solid.
Nico's singing is definitely a lowlight. I'm so happy I heard Japan's version of All Tomorrow's Parties first!
Liked Songs Added:
Sunday Morning
Hole
4/5
When this came out I ignored it. I'm not into hype and there was a lot around Love. Having finally listened to it, I can honestly say that it's pretty solid snarl alt rock, hype or not.
Liked Songs Added:
Celebrity Skin
Malibu
Use Once & Destroy
Ravi Shankar
5/5
I love how Shankar is not only a musician on this album, he's also a teacher. His insightful introductions really helped a listener like me.
The music is mind-expnading. It's mellow at times and frenetic at others. I loved the pairing and minimalism of the sitar with the tabla.
This was so sonically enjoyable.
Randy Newman
1/5
I was never a Newman fan. Some of his Pixar soundtrack work is listenable, but this isn't!
Michael Jackson
1/5
Sorry, I'm not a fan, and this hasn't aged well.
Even the Paul McCartney appearance couldn't save this.
The Gun Club
2/5
Mediocre American punk. Am I missing the reason why this is on the 1001 list???
4/5
What a pleasant surprise this album was! I like XTC and know a couple of albums (Skylarking is outstanding), but hadn't heard of this before.
Usually "YouTube" albums are bad here, but not this one. I definitely want to hear it again.
Pink Floyd
3/5
Psychedelic rock/pop that's just ok.
Liked Songs Added:
Astronomy Domine
The Smiths
5/5
"So I broke into the palace, with a sponge and a rusty spanner. She said 'I know you and you cannot sing.' I said 'That's nothing you should hear me play piano!'"
Say what you want about Morrissey, but he can laugh at himself while penning a great lyric.
This is the strongest Smiths album in my opinion. It's also great if you're having a bad day. Listen to this and whatever your troubles are will seem like nothing compared to Morrissey. Feeling down? Hearing "Oh Mother I can feel the soil falling over my head!" will make you feel better. "I know it's over, and it never really began, but in my heart it was so real." sounds worse than most relationships I've seen.
Liked Songs Added:
The Queen Is Dead
I Know It's Over
Cemetry Gates
Bigmouth Strike Again
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Talking Heads
3/5
I don't like Talking Heads, but '77 was actually listenable and very consistent. Psycho Killer is a great song (but not great enough for my liked list).
Having said all of this, I don't like Talking Heads.
Buffalo Springfield
4/5
You can definitely hear three solitudes here, with by three different songwriters. Some might say it makes for an unfocused album, but I think it provides great variety.
Looking at my liked songs below you can see I'm more into the Neil Young songs, which are just classics.
Liked Songs Added:
Mr. Soul
Expecting To Fly
Bluebird
Broken Arrow
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
I just can't with Nick Cave & The Bad Music.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
This was listenable and there were some good songwriting moments, but it didn't rrally move me.
Bill Callahan
1/5
Sorry I can't handle this guy's mumble-talking-singing.
PJ Harvey
4/5
This is a really interesting album. I like the odd time signatures. It's not pretty music, but it's really thought provoking.
I don't think I'll really get Rid Of Me until I listen to it again.
Liked Songs Added:
Man-Size
Dry
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Boring. I don't mind Springsteen's voice or his songwriting, but overall this does nothing for me. Boring.
Ray Charles
4/5
You can hear the smile on Ray Charles' face as he sings. This album is mislabelled, as I didn't hear much county here. It's basically Ray Charles with a big band and it's really good! I didn't like the strings and Ray Coniff-like backing singers. Other than that, it was very enjoyable.
Liked Songs Added:
It Makes No Difference Now
You Are My Sunshine
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
This is a classic. RZA is the genius here. If you think that sampling isn't original, listen to this. RZA provides a masterclass on laying down backing tracks. Overall, it's an incredible debut album.
Liked Songs Added:
Bring Da Ruckus
Can't It All Be So Simple
Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit
C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me)
Method Man
Protect Ya Neck
Air
5/5
I usually don't like electronic music, but Moon Safari is an electronic album with a lot of soul. The bass lines are solid and funky. This is good chill out music.
Liked Songs Added:
La Femme D'Argent
Sexy Boy
Kelly Watch The Stars
Fats Domino
4/5
So much fun!
Liked Songs Added:
Blueberry Hill
Mekons
2/5
This is one of 1000s of bands that was influenced by the Clash, but poorly. That violin screeching was unbearable. This "groundbreaking" album would be much better at breaking glass than ground.
Fred Neil
2/5
There's a song on this album called "Sweet Cocaine." That sums this up pretty well.
Liked Songs Added:
That's The Bag I'm In
Everybody's Talkin'
Led Zeppelin
5/5
A perfect example of what happens when you mix blues and rock. This sounds way ahead of its time.
Liked Songs Added:
Whole Lotta Love
The Lemon Song
Heartbreaker
Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)
Ramble On
Moby Dick
Bring It On Home
Cypress Hill
3/5
Where's Insane In The Membrane???
I was hoping I'd like this more, but it was mediocre to me. It hasn't aged well.
John Lennon
3/5
This was better than I thought it would be, as I'm usually not a fan of John's solo work, along with Yoko's "wind" credit. There's truly some great, stripped down songwriting here.
Liked Songs Added:
Working Class Hero
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
I've heard a lot of Jimi Hendrix my whole life, but I've heard maybe 5% of this album. Thank you 1001 album generator!
It's a psychedelic explosion of blues-based rock, and it's so good!
All Along The Watchtower has to be the greatest Dylan cover in history.
Liked Songs Added:
Crosstown Traffic
Voodoo Chile
Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)
Still Raining, Still Dreaming
All Along The Watchtower
Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
Oxygène lies somewhere between Tangerine Dream's atmospherics and Karftwerk's danceable electronics.
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
It was ok.
Lewis was certainly an energetic performer live. I'm not sure what was going on with the Little Richard impressions.
Unfortunately the guitar was lost in the mix. Sometimes you couldn't hear a solo, but this was recorded in the 60s.
Tom Tom Club
2/5
This is almost as good as the Talking Heads. <Insert Face-Palm emoji here!>
Liked Songs Added:
Genius of Love
Taylor Swift
1/5
1989 ends with the song Clean. I know another album that ends with a song called Clean, Depeche Mode's Violator (also on this list). Guess when Violator was released? You guessed it, 1989. Coincidence???
I know this was popular, but I don't think I've ever heard an album so devoid of any soul. Somebody tell Swift that basslines can consist of more than 8th note roots. Oy.
Cat Stevens
4/5
A classic folk-rock album packed with beautiful songwriting, life lessons and minimal production that doesn't get in the way of the music and the message.
It's too bad I kept getting distracted, thinking of other media as I was listening, remembering scenes from Guardians Of Tne Galaxy 2 or the Extras outro!
Liked Songs Added:
Wild World
Father And Son
Sonic Youth
4/5
It's interesting that Nirvana influenced this. Perhaps this influenced Nevermind???
There's so much noise here that's so good. Kool Thing is such a standout track.
Liked Songs Added:
Dirty Boots
Kool Thing
Jack White
4/5
Solid solid album.
I tend prefer White's guitar-based songs over the piano-based songs here, but it's all good. The I'm Shakin' cover is awesome.
White's presented a lot of tasty guitar hooks on this album.
Liked Songs Added:
Missing Pieces
Trash Tongue Talker
I'm Shakin'
Take Me With You When You Go
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Paul Simon's guitar playing (and songwriting) really shines here.
Liked Songs Added:
Scarborough Fair/Canticle
Homeward Bound
The 59th Street Bridge Song
For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her
Les Rythmes Digitales
3/5
I was surprised that I could actually listen to this. Some of the beats were basic, but the album kind of grew on me.
U2
3/5
That's a strong opening five songs.
I seem to remember it being better than it actually was, "even better than the real thing". I guess it hasn't aged well for me.
Beastie Boys
5/5
This album is so much fun. I love the Beastie Boys, but I never got around to listening to this one. It's too bad, as I missed all of this good stuff for so long.
Liked Songs Added:
Shake Your Rump
Johnny Ryall
Egg Man
High Plains Drifter
Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun
Car Theif
What Comes Around
Shadrach
Fiona Apple
3/5
This is interesting stream of consciousness lyrics matched with avant garde music. It's certainly not pretty music and lyrics, but Fetch The Bolt Cutters is interesting and intensely personal. It's not my favourite, but it is compelling.
Saint Etienne
3/5
Foxbase Alpha is very chill and this is a good thing.
Liked Songs Added:
Spring
Nothing Can Stop Us
The Go-Go's
2/5
The classic Our Lips Our Sealed can't save this mediocre bubble gum pop.
Personally, I like the Fun Boy Three version of Our Lips Are Sealed better. It's interesting that the song was co-written by Jane Wiedlin and Terry Hall of The Specials (and FB3).
The Vines
3/5
In The Jungle? More like Enter Sandman! It's a little derivative, but they're certainly decent songwriters and musicians.
This is the kind of music I would normally be into, but there's some element of The Vines (or this album) that's missing for me.
Various Artists
2/5
I'm not into Christmas music at all, but this is a lot of fun! The cheesy introductory message from Spector cracked me up.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Lots of blues with lots of covers. I like it! It's a fun album.
Sufjan Stevens
2/5
So boring. Chicago was ok.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Very solid Elvis album! It's so consistently good and the Attractions really shine here along with the songwriting.
Liked Songs Added:
Pump It Up
Lipstick Vogue
Radio, Radio
Leonard Cohen
1/5
I know that Leonard Cohen is a Canadian treasure...but for poetry.
I find this so difficult to listen to. The music, mostly electronic, is absolutely terrible. That voice. Let's just say Cohen's talk-singing baritone is not my favourite.
First We Take Manhattan is a great song...as long as Cohen isn't singing it. Same goes for Everybody Knows.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
It's interesting how this is listed as a "metal" album. Page plays a lot of (brilliant) acoustic here, which is the opposite of metal. No mention of Blues?
That is a truly psychedelic cover, complete with what looks like a bagel spread with cream cheese on it!
There are some great riffs on III.
I like this album, but it's not consistent enough for me to give it a 5. It's still pretty darn good.
Liked Songs Added:
Immigrant Song
Since I've Been Loving You
Out On The Tiles
That's The Way
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Emmylou Harris
3/5
I've heard of Harris, but not heard her music. The songwriting and musicianship is so strong and beautiful.
This is certainly more of a folk or folk-rock album than country. It was a surprisingly good listen!
Liked Songs Added:
The Pearl
Beach House
3/5
Wow, the more that I listened to this the more I liked it, and it's not the type of music I usually listen to.
The Chemical Brothers
5/5
This is intense. I'm amazed at how many songs I know on Dig Your Own Hole. Great beats and samples.
Liked Songs Added:
Block Rockin' Beats
Setting Sun
Lost In The K Hole
The Private Psychedelic Reel
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
This might be the perfect mix of jazz and hip hop. Q-Tip rhymes so smooth "like butter," as he says on a future album!
This is so much fun - easily makes you move and smile while you're doing it.
Liked Songs Added:
Luck Of Lucien
Footprints
I Left My Wallet In El Segundo
Bonita Applebaum
Ham 'N' Eggs
The xx
2/5
In a word, yawn.
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
To start, I like jazz. I found this album to be very sloppy.
The mix was jarring and unbalanced. I felt tense listening to this, and listening to jazz should be a relaxing and perhaps inspiring experience.
The saxes sounded unconfident, which made the listening experience unpleasant.
I feel bad for anyone that has this as a first jazz album, as it's not a good introduction to the genre.
Alice In Chains
3/5
There are some great uses of alternative time signatures on this album. There's great musicianship on Dirt too. Jerry Cantrell stands out on guitar (and the drummer's good too).
Although I do appreciate this Alice In Chains album, I'm just not into it.
Pulp
5/5
"Oh is this the way they say the future's meant to feel? Or just 20,000 people standing in a field?"
"Check your lucky numbers. How much money could drag you under. Oh what's the point in being rich? If you can't think what to do with it. 'Cause you're so bleeding thick!" Great comment on how poor people are exploited by the false hope of potential lottery winnings provided by governments, and the materialism that ensues with a potential win. (Ironically, Pulp won the pop lottery with this album!)
I love this album, yet I don't like much else by Pulp.
Liked Songs Added:
Common People
Disco 2000
Live Bed Show
Something Changed
Sorted For E's & Whizz
Underwear
Ananda Shankar
4/5
This is really interesting and eclectic! Matching a sitar, a Moog and traditional rock instrumentation shouldn't work, but somehow it does here.
Liked Songs Added:
Jumpin' Jack Flash
Light My Fire
Metamorphosis
R.E.M.
2/5
Popular isn't necessarily good. One exception: Everybody Hurts. Now that's a fine tune.
Nick Drake
4/5
I was surprised that I really like this and I feel like I need to listen more than once. There's some strong songwriting here.
Liked Songs Added:
Hazey Jane II
Sparks
2/5
This is not all bad, but there's not a lot that's good here.
They can write songs and play them, but over-dramatic 70s fare is not my idea of a good way to spend 43 minutes and 11 seconds.
Elton John
2/5
I'm sorry I'm not an Elton John fan, as I tend to dislike piano-driven music, but there are at least four classic songs on this album. I'm just not into it.
Liked Song Added:
Bennie And The Jets
MGMT
5/5
"Control yourself. Take only what you need from it."
Great album that still holds up. I love the Specials' Ghost Town drum beat that makes at least two appearances here.
Liked Songs Added:
Time To Pretend
Electric Feel
Kids
Pieces Of What
Drive-By Truckers
1/5
This album reminds me of an old Saturday Night Live sketch. Every song seems to be about Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alabama, Neil Young or a combination of the three.
I'm not into Southern rock like this that borders on country, especially 1.5 hours of it.
Pixies
5/5
Until I saw the Pixies live, I didn't appreciate what Joey Santiago brings to the band. His leads are so different than any other guitar player, especially on Doolittle.
Anyway, this album is very consistent and raw and sometimes minimal. It brings me right back to the early 90s.
Liked Songs Added:
Debaser
Wave Of Mutilation
I Bleed
Here Comes Your Man
Monkey Gone To Heaven
La La Love You
No 13 Baby
Hey
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Daaaaaaaamn right!
Liked Songs Added:
Theme From Shaft
Neil Young
5/5
Solid Neil Young effort. When you listen to his songs, you've got to get past his singing. The key is the songwriting backed by solid players and this album consistently delivers this.
For The Turnstiles, though understated, is one of my favourite Neil Young songs.
Liked Songs Added:
Walk On
See The Sky About To Rain
For The Turnstiles
Vampire Blues
Eagles
3/5
Mediocre album with some decent singles. Did the Eagles ever make a good album???
Liked Songs Added:
Take It Easy
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
This is a solid reggae album, that I feel I will appreciate more on subsequent listens.
No Woman No Cry is a classic, but this sped up drum machine based version was much improved with the more commonly heard live version.
Liked Songs Added:
Lively Up Yourself
Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)
The Police
5/5
This brought back a lot of memories. I want to dislike this album, since it was so popular, but it's not easy. How do I know so many Synchonicity lyrics???
Btw, Mother is, by far, the best song on this album.
Liked Songs Added:
Mother
Miss Gradenko
Synchronicity Ii
Murder By Numbers
Milton Nascimento
3/5
Some of the music is interesting. I especially liked when some of the songs were in different time signatures, like 5/4. Overall it didn't move me much, but it definitely sounded ahead of its time.
Fun fact: According to Google Translate, Trem De Doido is Crazy Train in Portuguese!
Liked Songs Added:
Lilia
Trem De Doido
Tangerine Dream
4/5
The drumming is the best part!
Seriously, this was groundbreaking for its time. We now take for granted the sounds that took days to record in 1974.
I remember seeing them in concert a few decades ago. At one point the sound suddenly stopped and the lights went off. Power failure. After a 20-30 minute delay Froese (I think) apologized and said that in all their years of performing, this had never happened before.
Bobby Womack
2/5
Who knew funk could be so cheesy?
Linkin Park
3/5
The songwriting is pretty good and it seems like this is something I should like, but nothing really grabs me here. I think it's the mediocre bass. Insert a decent bass player, insert more stars.
Megadeth
4/5
Wow, this is tight! Great production and musicianship. I'm not really into metal/thrash, but this Megadeath album is impressive.
The leads are so clean and melodic.
I like the speed transitions in many tunes.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Decent country music, and I'm not a country fan. Tip: listen to this at night. I listened in the morning and it's just not a morning album.
David Bowie
2/5
There are two things I like about this album: Heroes, which is a great song, and Robert Fripp's leads.
Sorry, no matter how many Bowie albums the generator throws at me (there's 8???), I'm not a fan. I do like the odd song, but that's it.
Fripp and Eno couldn't save the mostly instrumental side 2, which sounds like a soundteack to a film that doesn't exist.
Liked Songs Added:
Heroes
The Monks
3/5
What I could find of this album I liked. It's goofy, fun music.
Deee-Lite
2/5
Groove is in the Heart saved this from being a one-star album.
George Harrison
5/5
Wow, I feel like just found the missing Beatles album!
Liked Songs Added:
My Sweet Lord
What Is Life
Elvis Costello
4/5
This was a solid first effort for Elvis.
Liked Songs Added:
Blame It On Cain
Alison
(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
Watching The Detectives
4/5
If you're a middle-aged woman going through a break-up or divorce, this is a perfect 5-star album.
Liked Songs Added:
Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)
The Triffids
1/5
This might be the most mediocre album on the list.
Kanye West
2/5
I don't think I've ever heard the P-word on an album as much as I have on this one. The production sounded good, but I'm not into this.
5/5
My favourite Blur album!
There's such a huge difference between this and the first album. The songwriting is at another level and quite varied.
Each musician contributes something meaningful to each song. In particular, Graham Coxon's guitar work is on point.
It's frustrating that Spotify doesn't have the original version of Chemical World, even though there are two versions on the special edition of the album. These versions are over-produced and inferior.
Liked Songs Added:
Star Shaped
Blue Jeans
Chemical World
Miss America
Popscene
I'm Fine
Peach
When The Cows Come Home
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
This is soooooo good. As far as I'm concerned, the more psychedelic Jimi is, the better!
Liked Songs Added:
Spanish Castle Music
Little Wing
Castles Made Of Sand
One Rainy Wish
Little Miss Lover
Bold As Love
Os Mutantes
4/5
This is pretty wild and sounds quite innovative for its time.
Liked Songs Added:
A Minha Menina
Bat Macumba
Ave Gengis Khan
Blur
5/5
I really like the direction Blur took on this album. It's an odd mix of lo-fi with Street's slick production.
The album's packed with great songs. I love You're So Great, but I've never been a fan of Beetlebum. (Sorry I prefer Coxon over Albarn!)
Liked Songs Added:
Song 2
Country Sad Ballad Man
M.O.R.
On Your Own
You're So Great
Look Inside America
Bob Dylan
5/5
This is a masterclass in songwriting. Some songs were familiar to me, some were new. No one writes lyrics like Bob Dylan.
Liked Songs Added:
Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35
Visions of Johanna
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
Just Like A Woman
Can
4/5
This has aged very well. It has a great rhythm section. Czukay's bass on Bel Air is mind expanding.
Liked Songs Added:
Spray
Bel Air
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
Love the harmonies. There's northing like Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.
Liked Songs Added:
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
Wooden Ships
Helplessly Hoping
Long Time Gone
DJ Shadow
2/5
Well at least some songs had a good beat. A lot was not listenable.
Mudhoney
5/5
This is loud, angry, distorted, raw and ugly...and I love it. I guess it was grunge before there was grunge.
Liked Songs Added:
Touch Me I'm Sick
Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More
Need
In And Out Of Grace
808 State
3/5
I usually don't like electronic music so much, but this was very upbeat and seemed to have electronic soul, if that makes sense.
Prince
2/5
I gave this a listen, but it confirmed that I'm not a Prince fan. I do think that he was a very good guitar player.
Malcolm McLaren
2/5
This was a poor imitation of Paul Simon's Graceland, but at least Simon gave his contributing musicians credit.
One positive was that it was nice to hear the origins of The Art Of Noise.
Like the cover, this was a jumbled mess.
Funkadelic
4/5
This is quite the trip, and it was an incredible journey, where people have the fear of being eaten by a sandwich and where fried ice cream is a reality!
Liked Songs Added:
Groovalegiance
Sex Pistols
5/5
Classic punk aggression.
Despite their rag tag background - 4 guys with little to no musical experience - the songs are actually good. Steve Jones' guitar playing is really good, especially considering he hadn't been playing that long.
Liked Songs Added:
G-d Save The Queen
Anarchy In The UK
Pretty Vacant
The Style Council
2/5
And now presenting the more mellow and jazzier Modfather.
Even though You're The Best Thing is such a classic song, this was such an inconsistent effort. It's amazing how in this case, 44 minutes felt like an hour and 44.
Liked Songs Added:
You're The Best Thing
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
I knew the singles, so it was nice to hear the whole album. I liked it, but my favourite Echo album is the self-titled Echo & The Bunnymen.
Liked Songs Added:
Silver
The Killing Moon
Seven Seas
Elvis Presley
2/5
Not a fan of Elvis for many reasons, but that rhythm section cooked.
David Bowie
3/5
Finally, a Bowie album I can listen to!
I'm not a Bowie fan, and i know he's a legend, but I question some of the choices. I'm guessing the author of the list is a big fan.
Liked Songs Added:
Golden Years
TVC15
The Who
5/5
Hands down, the greatest live album of all time.
(Search for my Spotify playlist with the original 6-song version.)
Liked Songs Added:
Fortune Teller*
Young Man Blues
Substitute
Summertime Blues
Shakin' All Over
My Generation/Medley
Magic Bus
*Extended Version
Motörhead
3/5
No one sings like Lemmy (RIP).
This is a lot of hard rockin' fun. Ace Of Spades (the song) is legendary.
Liked Songs Added:
Ace Of Spades
The Pogues
3/5
This is so upbeat and different from what I usually listen to. I like it.
Liked Songs Added:
The Broad Majestic Shannon
M.I.A.
1/5
Apparently she likes bananas.
Hüsker Dü
3/5
This was so disappointing. Mould's guitar and vocals are great, but the drums and especially the bass are really weak. At times it felt like listening to your local high school band that's OK, but something's not quite right.
The Sabres Of Paradise
2/5
My first impression was that this was going to be terribly unlistenable, but there were actually some decent tracks here. It was a little long.
3/5
This is a really interesting album. Lots of the songs had a 4+2 rhythm/feel (as opposed to 3/4), which I like.
I probably have to listen to it a few more times to fully get it. The Thom Yorke collaborations were nice.
Liked Songs Added:
The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore
Eminem
3/5
Eminem is an amazing storyteller. Via rap, he paints a vivid picture of a particular scene happening in the song, which is often a profanity laced scene that is sometimes quite shocking and disturbing. Whether you're shocked, offended or not, you have to acknowledge the artistry here.
Paul McCartney
3/5
This sounds more like a demo than a finished album, filled with song ideas rather than finished pieces.
Maybe I'm Amazed is a classic (finished!) and great song.
Liked Songs Added:
Maybe I'm Amazed
David Bowie
3/5
This must've been nice for Bowie fans at the time - not expecting any music, then suddenly an album appears out of nowhere. I think I vaguely remember that time.
I'm not a Bowie fan, despite this list trying to convince me otherwise, with its 20 Bowie albums [sarcasm alert]. This album is incredibly consistent. Nothing stands out to me either way, but as a non-fan I found it very listenable.
Randy Newman
2/5
Oh great, another Randy Newman album.
The first song called "Rednecks" uses the N-word...a lot. That didn't age well
The Charlatans
4/5
I enjoyed this very consistent album, which must've been tough to make after the loss of bandmate Rob Collins, whose organ playing was very a distinctive part of The Charlatans" sound.
Liked Songs Added:
North Country Boy
One To Another
Only Teethin'
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
This album is consistently good with standout singles. You can see Elvis growing as a songwriter here.
Liked Songs Added:
Accidents Will Happen
Oliver's Army
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding
ZZ Top
2/5
I like older, bluesier ZZ Top, but this was just horrible. It's like someone ripped the soul right out of them. At least they made a bunch of money, but it's tough to get past the "poetry" of "I've got the six, gimme' your nine." Yikes.
Liked Songs Added:
TV Dinners
Faith No More
1/5
I don't get all the good ratings here. This guy's whiney voice is worse than nails on a chalkboard. Just to clarify, I'd literally rather listen to long fingernails scraping a chalkboard than this.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
In a word, this is weird!
It's weird, but I like it. There's a few parodies (including the obvious - the album cover!) and some "interesting" spoken word.
There's some interesting messages that act as themes throughout, focused on superficiality (beauty, general thought). It's anti-hippie, which I'm guessing is the opposite of popular at the time.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
When hip hop was getting popular I was waiting for an album like this - one that has someone rapping over live instruments. This one features the legendary Ron Carter on bass and the groove is delivered so solidly.
Q-Tip is the smoothest!
Liked Songs Added:
Excursions
Butter
Infamous Date Rate
Jazz (We've Got)
The Byrds
3/5
It's ok.
McGuinn's Rickenbacker 12-string is a signature sound, so there's that.
Liked Songs Added:
Mr. Tambourine Man
All I Really Want To Do
Happy Mondays
5/5
Bez must've been dancing his face off in the studio, because this album is packed with one awesome groove after another.
After listening to this I feel that my mellon's been sufficiently twisted, man!
Liked Songs Added:
Step On
Dirty Projectors
4/5
Very different and odd. I liked it. I especially liked the use of voices as an additional instrument.
Liked Songs Added:
Cannibal Resource
Santana
5/5
What a pleasant surprise! I went into this thinking it would be a 2-star album, but Abraxas is a consistent album with great leads from Santana (of course) and excellent percussion throughout.
I'm usually not a fan if Santana's playing or songs, I'll happily listen to this again!
Liked Songs Added:
Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen
Oye Como Va
Se A Cabo
Mother's Daughter
Hope You're Feeling Better
Air
3/5
This had really good moments, but it was inconsistent.
Liked Songs added:
Playground Love
Dirty Trip
Bauhaus
2/5
I was expecting a lot more. No Bella on this one.
It's too bad, as I like Peter Murphy's solo work and I like Love & Rockets (the band of the other 3 guys).
Liked Songs Added:
The Passion Of Lovers
2/5
Good musicianship, led by a guy who can sing, but It's not my thing. It's like they're trying too hard to be anthemic.
The Streets
4/5
I was surprised at how good this was. The cockney rapping and humourous choruses were so entertaining. Even with the predicable ending, the story was told so well using rhymes.
Liked Songs Added:
Not Addicted
Fit But You Know It
Hole
2/5
Why are there two Hole albums on the list? Pick one...but not this one.
Liked Songs Added:
Doll Parts
Depeche Mode
2/5
This is a very weak Depeche Mode album. I like DM, but after the first song it this album's not that exciting.
Liked Songs Added:
Never Let Me Down Again
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
To me this would sound so much better if they had a bass player and a different singer. I'm not a fan.
The Mars Volta
5/5
This is a sonic bombardment, and I mean this in a very very good way.
In a word, it's Intense.
Liked Songs Added:
Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)
Cicatriz Esp
Little Richard
3/5
I know this is hugely influential on the music made over the next decade, but it's not my favourite. I do like Little Richard's energy.
Solomon Burke
4/5
This is a great album that's so much fun to listen to. It's so soulful.
Liked Songs Added:
Cry To Me
Hard, Ain't It Hard
Afrika Bambaataa
2/5
It was interesting to hear Kraftwerk reworked, but for the most part this didn't hold my attention enough.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
4/5
It'sLikeAJungleSometimesItMakesMeWonderHowIKeepFromGoingUnder
Great lyrics in this groundbreaking album.
Liked Songs Added:
The Message
Serge Gainsbourg
2/5
Non.
Prince
1/5
Cheesy 80s drum machine and keyboard music. It sounds like Prince is snarling as he sings here. This was not enjoyable.
Eels
5/5
This is a beautifully written, performed and produced album.
E paints ugly/beautiful pictures of underdogs like the Beautiful Freak in the title track, Spunky (who doesn't like her uniform) and a beloved monster. All of this accompanied by tight, simple and sometimes funky instrumentation.
Not bad for a debut.
Liked Songs Added:
Novocaine For The Soul
Rags To Rags
Not Ready Yet
My Beloved Monster
Guest List
Your Lucky Day In Hell
Tom Waits
4/5
Great songwriting with lots of variety here. There is so much emotion in Waits' voice.
I remember an older brother listening to Tom Waits when I was a kid and thinking "Why is he listening to this drunk guy???" I guess like wine, he gets better with age.
The song Heartattack And Vine is an absolute classic.
Liked Songs Added:
Heartattack And Vine
Van Halen
4/5
Ahh, this brings back memories of sitting in my friend Bubba's rec. room spinning side 1 of this album and being blown away by Eddie Van Halen's scorching and original-sounding guitar sounds along with David Lee Roth's howling/screeching vocals!
That's got to be one of the top 4 opening tracks of all time, including the innovative You Really Got Me cover. What a "We have arrived" statement this is.
The Isley Brothers
2/5
I don't get it. I find this so mediocre.
The trio of cheesy covers - Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Listen To The Music and Summer Breeze - are terrible.
That Lady Pts. 1 & 2 earned this album an extra star.
Elton John
2/5
It seemed like listening to a whole album of Tiny Dancer-like songs. Not a fan.
Incubus
3/5
This was kind of interesting, but not my thing. I appreciate the musicianship at least, and that guy could scratch!
Isaac Hayes
3/5
This was ok, but that 10 minutes of spoken word was a bit much.
Liked Songs Added:
Walk On By
Cowboy Junkies
4/5
I've known about this album for years, especially Sweet Jane, but never heard the whole thing. (Thank you 1001 list!)
It felt like I was quietly sitting in the corner of a room, listening in on a group's (very organized and intimate) jam session.
Margot Timmins voice is as comforting as a warm blanket on a cool rainy night, and the accompanying Junkies warm your soul as if you were sitting by a fire on that same night.
Liked Songs Added:
Misguided Angel
Sweet Jane
Suede
2/5
This was disappointing.
I know Suede and like pefer Coming Up or Sci-Fi Lullabies to this. Dare I say that in my opinion they're better post-Bernard Butler.
Harry Nilsson
4/5
This is a solid album, with a few classic songs.
Liked Songs Added:
Coconut
Leonard Cohen
2/5
I can't believe in saying this, but this album was actually listenable. I usually can't stand Cohen's voice, but I guess I'm used to the older Leonard Cohen.
Liked Songs Added:
Diamonds In The Mine
Jamiroquai
5/5
Such Funky Fun along with some wicked didgeridoo playing!
Music Of The Mind is the same as/very close to Level 42's Love Meeting Love.
Liked Songs Added:
Hooked Up
If I Like It, I Do It
Music Of The Mind
Emergency On Planet Eath
Lambchop
1/5
This might be the most boring album I've attempted to listen to.
Fatboy Slim
5/5
Great beats, great energy. This is what electronic music should be.
After all these years, I still can't believe that that's Norman Cook from the Housemartins!
Liked Songs Added:
The Rockafeller Skank
Soul Surfing
Praise You
Love Island
Acid 8000
The Roots
3/5
I love it when hip hop is performed with live music backing it and I really like Questlove, but I wasn't into this so much. I guess I didn't connect with it.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
It's one of those albums I didn't love or hate.
I think Neil Hannon was born in the wrong decade, as he's quite the crooner. He also has a decent, self-deprecating sense of humour. It's an interesting album to listen to.
Beck
4/5
I think this one should've been called Mellow Gold!
Liked Songs Added:
The Golden Age
Guess I'm Doing Fine
It's All In Your Mind
Lorde
2/5
There's some composing ability here, but I'm not into this over-produced pop.
Daft Punk
3/5
Parts of this album were classic, worth 5-stars. Other parts were unlistenable, worth 1-star. Let's meet in the middle with a 3-star rating!
Liked Songs Added:
Da Funk
Around The World
Incredible Bongo Band
4/5
I want to live in Bongolia!
Liked Songs Added:
Apache
In A Gadda Da Vida
David Bowie
4/5
How many more Bowie albums are there? It's enough already!
The above my my initial reaction. This is actually a very funky, listenable album that I enjoyed a lot!
I love David Sanborn's little signature exclamation points of sax on the end of Bowie's sentences.
Liked Songs Added:
Young Americans
Fame
Talking Heads
3/5
A better TH album IMO. Some if Harrison's guitar work reminds me of Adrian Belew, which is interesting as the were touring together in 2024.
Eminem
3/5
Eminem is an immensely talented rapper, but I'm just not into it.
The Strokes
5/5
I love the minimalism of this album. This is low-fi at its best. The two guitar players work so well off of each other. It still seems fresh and raw after all of these years.
Liked Songs Added:
Is This It
Barely Legal
Someday
Last Nite
Take It Or Leave It
The Undertones
4/5
This is a fun new wave album. (I don't view this as punk.) I know some of Feargal Sharkey's solo work, but I didn't know this. He has such a distinct voice.
Culture Club
1/5
I'm guessing that the reason this album is on the list is that it's an example of music with absolutely no redeeming qualities. Unlistenable.
Elliott Smith
4/5
Smith was a great songwriter with a great voice. I enjoyed this, but I bet it would've been better listening to this in a quiet room late at night!
Liked Songs Added:
Easy Way Out
Beastie Boys
4/5
I seem to remember this being a lot better than it actually was. Having said that, there are some classic tunes here.
I love the odd mash-up of hard rock and hip hop - and the mash-up of When The Levee Breaks' drums and Sweet Leaf's guitar on Rhymin & Stealin!
Liked Songs Added:
Rhymin & Stealin
Fight For Your Right
No Sleep Till Brooklyn
MC Solaar
5/5
This is awesome! A smoothe hip hop artist rapping over live music, and funky jazz at that. Who cares what language he's using!
The Inner City Blues sample on Armand Est Mort is sublime.
Liked Songs Added:
Qui Sème Le Vent Récolte Le Tempo
Victime De La Mode
Armand Est Mort
À Temps Partiel
La Musique Adoucit Les Mœurs
Dolly Parton
3/5
I'm not into Country, but those three voices together are special.
Liked Songs Added:
Hobo's Meditation
Michael Jackson
2/5
I really tried to listen to this, but other than the funky bass, there wasn't much here for me.
Madonna
2/5
The first half was typical Madonna bubble gum pop, with a little sex thrown in. Then I heard Oh Father, which was actually pretty good. The second half seemed a bit better.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
I really liked this album. I hadn't heard it before other than the three singles. It had lots of variety - even a bossanova!
Liked Songs Added:
Beyond Belief
Man Out Of Time
Almost Blue
The Beta Band
5/5
Apparent the Milky Way results from the crowding of extremely faded stars!
There is great musicianship here. I used to borrow this CD from my local library. I'm guessing that I was initially attracted to the cover! It's been years since I've heard it and it still holds up.
Liked Songs Added:
Space
Wonderful
Troubles
Simple
The White Stripes
3/5
I didn't love it, but I liked it. No one song stood out to me.
Billy Bragg
4/5
I love Bragg's songwriting and musical minimalism.
Liked Songs Added:
Greetings To The New Brunette
Levi Stubbs Tears
The Tracks Of My Tears
The The
4/5
This album has a summer vibe to me. I like the minimalism and slow build up of the songs, along with Matt Johnson's emotional vocals.
Perfect would've been a liked song too, but didn't appear on my version of the album.
That Jools Holland solo on Uncertain Smile is epic!
Liked Songs Added:
This Is The Day
Uncertain Smile
Black Sabbath
5/5
Three of the first four songs are absolute classics. You can't listen to this without a little head banging!
Liked Songs Added:
War Pigs/Luke's Wall
Paranoid
Iron Man
Jack The Stripper/Fairies Wear Boots
Prefab Sprout
3/5
This is a pretty solid album. I like how it's produced in that all of the instruments sound crisp and clean (except the cheesy 80s keyboards!). Paddy's voice is so smooth.
Liked Songs Added:
Appetite
When Love Breaks Down
Queen
3/5
Not bad...for a Queen album.
Yes, driving home today I was headbanging to that part in Bohemian Rhapsody, like I was in the back of Garth's car in Wayne's World.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Classic old school hip hop.
I love the My Sharona sample on It's Tricky.
Liked Songs Added:
It's Tricky
Walk This Way
You Be Illin'
Proud To Be Black
Ray Charles
4/5
Whenever I hear Ray Charles' voice it makes me smile.
I haven't heard this before and it's so Jazz/Big Band influenced. The only thing I didn't like was the occasional cheesy strings and backing vocals.
Liked Songs Added:
Two Yeaes Of Torture
Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'
The Verve
5/5
This is one of my personal favourites from the 90s, maybe all time.
The songwriting is solid and the production is slick.
It's wild that at one point, Oasis opened for The Verve. I wish I could've seen that tour. It's too bad they didn't last, but at least we have Urban Hymns.
Liked Songs Added:
Bittersweet Symphony
The Rolling People
The Drugs Don't Work
Catching The Butterfly
Space and Time
Lucky Man
Come On
Everything But The Girl
1/5
So cheesy dreadful. More like Everything But The Music.
I'd be happy to never hear this soulless mess again.
Miles Davis
5/5
The quintessential modal jazz album. I don't think that there is a wasted moment on this album.
Liked Songs Added:
So What
Freddie Freeloader
Blue In Green
All Blues
The Verve
5/5
Right from the first track, Richard Ashcroft declares "This is music!" and this statement is to be taken seriously for the next 60 or so minutes.
Great musicians in the groove and a singer singing deeply about life from his perspective. It should be noted that Salisbury's drumming is much different than the average rock drummer. His beats are original, unpredictable and add a lot to the song being played. McCabe's intense guitar playing stands out too.
Liked Songs Added:
This Is Music
On Your Own
History
No Knock On My Door
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
I like LCD Soundsystem, but I don't think I've heard a consistent album from them yet. Having said that, I do like a lot of their individual songs.
Liked Songs Added:
North American Scum
Someone Great
New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down
Sepultura
4/5
I usually don't listen to this kind of music, but this in your face album rocked. I look forward to thrashing around the room on my next listen.
Igor Cavalera is a wicked and versatile drummer.
Jurassic 5
5/5
This is a great album and a fun surprise, as I haven't really heard Jurassic 5 before. I love the funky beats and how some songs border on jazz. These guys can spit rhymes too!
Liked Songs Added:
Freedom
Break
A Day At The Races
What's Golden
Thin Line
Sum Of US
Hey
I Am Somebody
Beatles
5/5
This album is eclectic. It's like you threw the Beatles in a lab and said go play and this is the result.
I think it doesn't actually work as an album. It's more a collection of individual songs, but I guess they're so disconnected it actually works as a cohesive incohesive work. Does that make sense???
Liked Songs Added:
The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
I'm So Tired
Blackbird
Why Don't We Do It In The Road?
I Will
Yer Blues
Mother Nature's Son
Radiohead
5/5
Solid solid album. I really enjoyed hearing it again, as it's been a while.
Liked Songs Added:
Bodysnatchers
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
All I Need
Beatles
4/5
This album was fun with so many hits, but many of the covers disrupted the momentum. Having said that, their version of Money (That's What I Want) is the best, for my money.
Aerosmith
3/5
This album was actually a lot better than I expected.
Walk This Way is a classic, but the Run DMC version is such a giant step up from the original. I found myself yelling "She told me to..." in between lines in the chorus.
Liked Songs Added:
Sweet Emotion
John Prine
4/5
This is a songwriting clinic! The music seems simple, but it has lots of unexpected twists.
Prine is an amazing storyteller, and some of his lyrics are quite provocative for the time. I thought that bit about "there's a hole in my arm where all my money goes." was written decades later by Spiritualized' Jason Pierce!
Liked Songs Added:
Illegal Smile
Angel From Montgomery
Ash
4/5
This is a solid album that lies somewhere on between rock, pop and garage. I liked it.
Liked Songs Added:
Lose Control
Oh Yeah
Let It Flow
Innocent Smile
ZZ Top
3/5
This album is inconsistent to me. It's has some real highlights and some forgettable songs too.
The extra live tracks are an added bonus.
Liked Songs Added:
Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
La Grange
Donovan
3/5
There are some amazing moments on this album, but I found the mix of psychedelic, pop, folk, jazz, medieval and Indian music more a mess than a melange.
Liked Songs Added:
Sunshine Superman
Season Of The Witch
TLC
2/5
Sorry I'm not into this. There are great moments (eg. Waterfalls), but I find it mostly over-produced with decent rhythms wrecked by the over-use of drum machines.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Willie's great, but this is not exactly my style of music. I do like his interpretation of many of these classics.
Assuming it is Willie, I love the sound of his leads, which were simple yet very effective. He gets a great sound out of his guitar.
Nitin Sawhney
1/5
Beyond listenable.
It sounds like the generic sample music that comes with digital recording software.
SAULT
4/5
This is a consistent album with solid beats and powerful messages.
Liked Songs Added:
Bow
Black Flag
4/5
Wow, Henry Rollins before he was "Henry Rollins!"
I've always wanted to listen to a Back Flag album and now I have. Thanks 1001 list!
Liked Songs Added:
Spray Paint
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
This was actually not bad, even without Come On Eileen! I really liked the horn section.
Liked Songs Added:
Geno
Seven Days Too Long
Pavement
5/5
You have to love the anger and aggression in Stephen Malkmus' voice here (but not on Here!).
I love the lo-fi rawness of it all, along with the odd anti-song at the end of some songs.
Liked Songs Added:
Summer Babe - Winter Version
In the Mouth Of A Dessert
Loretta's Scars
Here
Perfume-V
Fame Throwa
Jackals, False Grails: The Lonesome Era
Our Singer
Roxy Music
2/5
This is a little too over-dramatic 70s music for me, but there were highlights including the bass playing.
Liked Songs Added:
Out Of The Blue
Soft Cell
2/5
After listening to this album I have determined that there is a clear deliniation point marking the time in my life before I heard Sex Dwarf, and after.
Liked Songs Added:
Tainted Love
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
The Soft Boys
3/5
Solid rock/pop album with well crafted songs. I'm just not sure it's something I'll return to, other than the track listed below.
Liked Songs Added:
I've Got The Hots For You
Pearl Jam
4/5
Classic album. I wish it was more consistent.
Liked Songs Added:
Evenflow
Alive
Black
Deep
The Yardbirds
4/5
Solid album that mixes psychedelic rock and blues well. The tone of Jeff Beck's guitar is sublime.
Liked Songs Added:
Over, Under, Sideways, Down
The Nazz Are Blue
Missy Elliott
4/5
I like Missy Elliott's rhyming. She adds a lot of humour to her funky beats. This is a pretty consistently entertaining album. Lyric of the album: "Pussy don't fail me now!"
Liked Songs Added:
Slide
UB40
2/5
I liked UB40, but this has to be the worst mixed album I've ever heard. The drums and bass were right up front, but everything else was a muffled mess, including the vocals (using headphones). The bass and drums are outstanding here.
Liked Songs Added:
Food For Thought
Signing Off
The Doors
4/5
Who knew The Doors could be so bluesy? This is a consistently good album and I enjoyed it a lot, even though I'm not really a Doors fan.
Liked Songs Added:
The Changeling
Love Her Madly
L.A. Woman
Crawling King Snake
Riders On The Storm
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
3/5
This is very interesting. A guy and his guitar and his stories. That's it.
The Saints
3/5
This was a solid album. None of the songs made it to my favourites playlist, but I didn't hate any of the songs either.
Elliott Smith
4/5
I was familiar with a few of the songs here. I like Smith's great, minimal, songwriting.
Liked Songs Added:
Ballad Of Big Nothing
Between The Bars
2:45 a.m.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Interesting album on an interesting day, the day after Brian Wilson died.
I didn't know any of the songs and I'm not a big fan of the Beach Boys, but this was a consistent effort. 'Till I Die was especially poignant today.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
Good ol' Southern Rock album. This is another situation where I'm not a fan, but I respect the craft.
Liked Songs Added:
Poison Whiskey
Free Bird
Aerosmith
2/5
Other than the single (Back In The Saddle), there's not much here that's interesting.
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
It was ok, not great, not terrible, just ok.
Can
4/5
I really liked this, but after an hour-plus of Can, I came to the realization that they would be much better without the singer.
In other words, can the singer!
Liked Songs Added:
Mushroom
Gillian Welch
4/5
This album usually features only two acoustic guitars and vocals, and I was captivated for most of the album. It's a testament to the beautiful songwriting here. The leads are very tasty as well.
Liked Songs Added:
Revelator
Everything Is Free
Fleetwood Mac
2/5
I don't get it.
This is in the top 10 (or 2 now!) of all albums of all time.
The four singles are great, along with The Chain - not my thing, but great.
This incarceration of Fleetwood Mac has the worst rhythm section of all time. I guess Fleetwood can keep a beat, but McVie's bass playing is beyond pedestrian. He'll take a decent song and just do the bare minimum. Lindsey Buckingham, who's brilliant guitar playing and solid singing shines throughout, must've been so mad at McVie for crapping all over his songs.
Three stars, minus one for McVie's totally crap bass playing.
Radiohead
5/5
There are some serious life lessons in this album. "A patient, safer driver." After many years, this is now me!!!
Even though I prefer The Bends, this is still such a great album on so many levels. In a word, evergreen.
Liked Songs Added:
Airbag
Paranoid Android
Karma Police
No Surprises
Lucky
The Teardrop Explodes
2/5
This was very 80s British New Wave. I know Julian Cope's solo work, so this was a disappointment, certainly not 1001 list worthy.
Tim Buckley
2/5
Sorry, not a fan.
Kate Bush
3/5
This was better than expected. It helped having Mick Karn playing bass on one track. It's hard to believe that This Woman's Work was a single, but it is a beautiful song.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
I don't understand bands that don't have a bass player. What's Up with that?
Wild Beasts
1/5
Ouch, that singer's attempted falsetto hurt my ears.
k.d. lang
1/5
k.d. has a great voice, but it's too cheesy/torchy for me.
Brian Eno
3/5
This is music, I guess.
Peter Frampton
3/5
Like, this would be amazing if, like, I was a 14 year old girl in 1976. Solid live rock album, but not my thing.
Ryan Adams
2/5
Some ok pop songwriting that's well produced. If Gold was a colour it would be beige. I'm not into it and it seemed to go on for 6 hours.
Metallica
3/5
It's too bad I don't know Metallica's music so much, as I'm sure I'd appreciate this album much more.
I do appreciate the arrangements and playing, by both the band and orchestra. It's quite the collaboration.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
I really wanted to like this and Shoegaze in general, but it always seems to fall just short of my expectations. It's like let's get an electric guitar and go crazy with effects, but unsuccessfully.
Talk Talk
2/5
Other than the one song, it's very forgettable.
Liked Songs Added:
Life's What You Make It
The Cardigans
5/5
Wow, that was so much better than i remembered.
The Iron Man cover has got to be one of the best in history!
Nina Persson has such a pleasant way of singing about choking to death!!!
Liked Songs Added:
Been It
Lovefool
Iron Man
Choke
a-ha
2/5
This album's mostly harmless Norwegian Pop.
Rush
5/5
ATTENTION ALL PLANETS OF THE SOLAR FEDERATION.
ATTENTION ALL PLANETS OF THE SOLAR FEDERATION.
WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL.
WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL.
WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL.
Liked Songs Added:
2112
A Passage To Bankok
Something For Nothing
Alanis Morissette
3/5
Isn't it ironic that all of those situations in the song Ironic aren't ironic? (They're just unfortunate coincidences.) Maybe that's the point!
I had low expectations going in, but they were exceeded. Morissette is great at bending words into whatever melody is required at the moment. She definitely has an original voice.
Minus 1 star for the totally unnecessary inhale-exhale harmonica playing.
Blur
5/5
Peak classic Blur.
In a word this album is FUN!
Liked Songs Added:
Girls & Boys
Tracy Jacks
End Of A Century
Parklife
Far Out
To The End
Trouble In The Message Centre
Magic America
This Is a Low
Iron Butterfly
4/5
Wow, it's like a total psychedelic trip, man!
The title track, along with that drum solo, is so epic. I'm glad I got the opportunity to hear this album. Thanks 1001 list!
Liked Songs Added:
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
The Flaming Lips
4/5
I liked this album, but I feel like I need to listen to it a few more times to appreciate it more.
Liked Songs Added:
Race For The Prize
Buggin'
Waitin' For A Superman
Feeling Yourself Disintegrate
Paul Simon
5/5
By far Paul Simon's best album.
His depth of songwriting is highlighted here, both musically and lyrically. "...Every generation throws a hero up the pop charts."
There is so much variety of musical styles and musician groupings. It had a huge impact on the world, exposing (not exploiting) a few African styles of music. Somehow with all of this variety it works.
Liked Songs Added:
The Boy In The Bubble
Diamonds On The Soles of Her Shoes
You Can Call Me Al
Homeless
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
I remember this being really big in the UK at the time. I'm not sure I get it. I find the orchestrations to be a bit much.
Pink Floyd
5/5
A headphones-only listen.
I can't add anything else to the discussion.
Femi Kuti
5/5
This is very reminiscent of his father's work, perhaps with more lyrics per song.
I loved it!
Liked Songs Added:
Wonder Wonder
Frustrations
Nawa
Plenty Nonsense
Stubbor Problems
No Shame
Live For Today
The Specials
5/5
British Ska/2 Tone classic!
The Specials is one of my favourite albums of all time. I didn't really know or understand 2 Tone/"2nd Wave" Ska until I heard this, and now I love it.
Even without Gangsters - which was included in my version of the album - this is awesome. So much fun, and with a message too (and not just to Rudy!).
Liked Songs Added:
A Message To You Rudy
Do The Dog
Nite Klub
Concrete Jungle
Monkey Man
Stupid Marriage
Too Much Too Young
You're Wondering Now
*Gangsters
Boston
5/5
I know Boston, but never heard the whole album before.
This is classic rock defined. Solid songs featuring great guitar effects played very well, especially during the iconic solos. That voice is like none other. The harmonies added a lot too.
Does any other album have three songs that open an album better than this???
Liked Songs Added:
More Than A Feeling
Peace Of Mind
Foreplay/Long Time
Rock & Roll Band
Klaxons
2/5
I didn't hate this, but I didn't like it either. It's not list worthy.
Morrissey
3/5
This is overly earnest, even for Morrissey.
Mercury Rev
4/5
Why have I never heard this before?
There's some excellent theremin playing here!
Seriously, there's some very strong songwriting here. I find it reminiscent of the Flaming Lips, so it makes sense that one of them was in the band.
Liked Songs Added:
Holes
Goddess On A Hiway
The Funny Bird
Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp
Soft Machine
5/5
Wow, i hadn't heard this before, but it's certainly mind expanding music.
It does get experimental at times, but i like that! The musicians are top notch. That bass player was fantastic!
Liked Songs Added:
Slightly All The Time
Out-Bloody-Rageous
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
I'm sorry, did I stumble upon the list of 1001 MEDIOCRE albums to listen to before you die?
Metallica
2/5
With this and the live album, I've listened to over three hours of Metallica on this project. That's enough.
Carole King
4/5
I never thought that there was a remote chance that I would like this album, but Tapestry is a songwriting clinic!
Maxwell
2/5
It's ok, but I don't understand funky music with a potential groove that makes the mistake of using a drum machine. It sucks the soul right out of it. -1 star for all the drum machine usage.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Ozzy's voice is so pure on this album.
It's great to hear this album on this day (the day after Ozzy's death), considering I know Black Sabbath, but don't know this album.
Liked Songs Added:
Changes
Snowblind
Cornucopia
Steve Earle
2/5
Personally I prefer Steve Earl's acting over his music. Having said that, it's not bad for a debut album especially.
Classic lineup, as the Faces are basically a supergroup here. It's classic rock and roll with a heavy emphasis on American blues. The two Ronnies - Lane on bass and particularly Wood's slide guitar work - are standouts here.
I'm used to Rod Stewart's solo work, which I usually find cheesy, but here he is a charismatic and commanding front man.
Liked Songs Added:
Miss Judy's Farm
Stay With Me
Debris
That's All You Need
Adam & The Ants
2/5
A positive: this is certainly an original sound.
A negative: unfortunately, it's a sound I don't like at all.
R.E.M.
2/5
Yawn. I know that lots of people love REM, but i don't get it.
Brian Eno
4/5
I can see the influence this had on artists to follow (and contemporaries) like Peter Gabriel, post-70s King Crimson, Talking Heads, etc. Eno and Adrien Belew sound identical to me.
Overall, Before And After Science is very approachable and interesting music. I liked it!
Liked Songs Added:
King's Lead Hat
Billy Bragg
4/5
Great concept that I didn't know existed - a great tribute to Woody Guthrie.
I think i liked the Wilco songs more than the Bragg songs, but overall this was an enjoyable experience!
Liked Songs Added:
California Stars
Hoodoo Voodoo
At My Window Sad And Lonely
One By One
Hesitating Beauty
B.B. King
5/5
BB is legendary! His playing is sublime. He could really make Lucille sing!
This live recording amazingly captures artist and audience totally together. I love the shouted "Ya" and "Yes" responses from the audience.
Liked Songs Added:
Everyday I Have The Blues
Sweet Little Angel
Please Love Me
Worry, Worry
You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now
Christine and the Queens
1/5
For an album form 2018 to be included on this list it should be very special.
This is not.
Belle & Sebastian
5/5
I love Belle and Sebastian.
Their songs sound so sweet and earnest, but there is often a really dark, sometimes anti-organized religion, twist in their songs. I love the subversiveness of it. Maybe in a word, it's "sinister!"
Liked Songs Added:
The Stars Of Track And Field
Like Dylan In The Movies
Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying
Mayfly
The Boy Done Wrong Again
Judy And The Dream Of Horses
The Flaming Lips
5/5
This one's a classic.
To me it sounded futuristic years ago, and I think it still does.
Great drumming at times - especially on Are You A Hypnotist?? - for a band with no permanent drummer at the time.
Do You Realize is such a beautiful song.
Liked Songs Added:
Flight Test
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pt. 1
Ego Tripping At The Gates Of Hell
Are You A Hypnotist??
Do You Realize??
Metallica
3/5
Hour four of a band I don't really like. This is challenging.
The musicianship is really good. I like the time changes. It's more thrash than pop metal, which is a good thing. I actually like this album better than the other two (black and double live album).
The Only Ones
3/5
Really good 70s Brirish garage rock.
Lou Reed
3/5
"Men of good fortune, often cause empires to fall." Did Lou Reed predict what's happening in the US now (2025)???
A dark and interesting listen.
The Chemical Brothers
5/5
I generally do not like electronic music, but I love the Chemical Brothers. Great beats and generally interesting music.
Liked Songs Added:
Leave Home
In Dust We Trust
One Too Many Mornings
Life Is Sweet
Alive Alone
Fela Kuti
5/5
Outstanding! There's at least two legends here doing their thing (Fela & Ginger).
Liked Songs Added:
Let's Start
Black Man's Cry
Ye Ye De Smell
King Crimson
3/5
I'm a King Crimson fan, but never got around to this one, so thank you list.
Other than Part II of the title track, I was disappointed. I'm generally not a fan of violins used in a jazz-like setting (excluding Jean-Luc Ponty), so I wasn't into a lot of this.
Liked Songs Added:
Larks' Tongues In Aspic (Part II)
Stephen Stills
3/5
This was interesting. Stills is a strong songwriter, singer and guitarist. There's a lot of country influence here, which isn't a bad thing.
Liked Songs Added:
Song Of Love
Anyway
The Fall
4/5
I love Mark E. Smith's snarl-singing. I know it's not for everyone, but I really like how raw this album is. Personally, I think it would've been better without the keys, but that's me.
Liked Songs Added:
Frightened
Mother - Sister!
Two Steps Back
Frank Zappa
5/5
Great fusion! Ignore my review three albums ago. Jazz and the violin - especially electric - work well together here.
Additional note: I just looked at the credits and Jean-Luc Ponty plays on this album. (I mentioned before that I don’t like jazz with violins, unless it's Jean-Luc Ponty.) When I wrote the above paragraph, I had no idea that Ponty played on this album!
Liked Songs Added:
Willie The Pimp
Gumbo Variations
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
An absolute classic!
Listen to the first few songs and you see the depth of Paul Simon's songwriting. Angelic is the word I would use to describe Art Garfunkel's voice.
Liked Songs Added:
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Cecilia
The Boxer
Song For The Asking
Elvis Costello
4/5
Another Elvis album, but I hadn't heard this one before. I quite like it!
Liked Songs Added:
Kinder Murder
13 Steps Lead Down
20% Amnesia
Roni Size
5/5
Another artist I've heard of, but never really heard...except for Heroes.
It's not my genre, but I love the use of the double bass to the breakneck drumbeats!
Make sure you listen to this with headphones/earbuds.
Liked Songs Added:
Railing
Brown Paper Bag
Mad Cat
Heroes
Share The Fall (Full Vocal Mix)
Orbital
2/5
So repetitive.
If I was in a dance club and on a lot of drugs, this might be more appealing.
I think we all know why it's called the "Brown Album!"
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Catchy synth pop, I guess, but I'm not into it.
It's A Sin is basically a synthed-up version of Wild World, right???
Tom Waits
5/5
Don't be fooled by what sounds like the gravelly ramblings of a drunk streetwalker. This is poetry of those streets, backed by amazing blues/jazz players.
Waits is a storyteller who paints a beautiful picture of not-so-beautiful scenes from the streets.
Liked Songs Added
Emotional Weather Report
Eggs And Sausage (In A Cadillac With Susan Michelson)
Putnam County
Beyoncé
1/5
Sorry, I'm not into this.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
To me Tusk is like the morning after Rumours. It's a solid collection of listenable songs that I'm not into. Oh, and it sounds like John McVie took some bass lessons, as his playing is much improved (if it is actually him on bass!).
2/5
I really wanted to like this, but I found it mediocre.
Megadeth
3/5
It's not my genre, but I do appreciate the skilled musicianship.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
This album is wonderfully weird. Experimental is an understatement here!
Marvin Gaye
2/5
This was kind of sad, but it didn't move me.
It was very well produced.
The Cure
4/5
I like the murky sounding production. It really added a lot to the tone of the album, especially with its dark dark lyrics.
I know lots of Cure music, but hadn't heard this before, so it was nice hearing this earlier one.
Liked Songs Added
The Hanging Garden
Siamese Twins
A Strange Day
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
It's interesting that I got this album right after the Cure's Pornography, both made around the same time.
It's a very unique sound. I'm surprised how much I liked it, based on previous singles I've heard.
It's amazing that four people produced such sounds that sometimes sounded like eight! Special shout out to John McGeoch, whose intricate and mind expanding guitar work, made this album extra special.
Liked Songs Added:
Into The Light
Monitor
Night Shift
Neil Young
5/5
Coincidentally, I just drove by Neil Young's "town in north Ontario" Omemee, literally a day before receiving this incredible album.
This songwriting clinic is so good! It was nice to hear all these classic songs again.
Liked Songs Added:
Tell Me Why
After The Gold Rush
Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Southern Man
Don't Let It Bring You Down
I Believe In You
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
I wanted to like this, but I found the song structures too simple - usually one repeated pattern. I wish there was more bass in this album too.
Liked Songs Added:
Soya
John Coltrane
5/5
I know this album and along with Kind of Blue (on which Coltrane also appears), this is quintessential modal jazz.
Liked Songs Added:
A Love Supreme, Pt. I - Acknowledgement
A Love Supreme, Pt. III - Pursuance
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
I think I know why this album is on the list. It must be one of those "It's so bad, it's good" situations
I found this kind of unforgettable except for two songs in particular.
Beating Gets Faster and Ice Cream Summer are two of the worst songs I've heard, lyrically. With lines like
"All there is left is a photograph
You smile and the ice cream's melting down your pants...
Just like our summer, I thought it would last forever
But as the autumn came, you had gone away"
And... "If I'm down in a hole, or out in the streets
Nothing else matters baby, if it's you and me baby. "
Honourable mention should go to "Well, it's a wham bam gangbang every night there" from the title track.
Yikes.
The Mothers Of Invention
4/5
I don't think you can truly appreciate this album without a sense of humour!
Without knowing much about this album beforehand, I'm guessing that a lot of it is satire, and it's done really well.
It was a psychedelic trip and a really fun one, man!
Liked Songs Added
Hungry Freaks, Daddy
Wowee Zowee
Trouble Everyday
Roxy Music
3/5
This is 70s glam, played and composed well, but a little too 70s for me. You can definitely see the influence on Punk here.
Liked Songs Added
Beauty Queen
The Flying Burrito Brothers
3/5
This was solid, with nice bass playing and harmonies, but I wasn't so into it.
Liked Songs Added:
Do Right Woman
Björk
3/5
This is a really interesting listen. For the most part is arhythmic. The voices and strings are very dissonant.
Then there's Bjork's vocals. She is adept at manipulating whatever words she's written into whatever melody she's dreamed up. I rrally like how she sings.
Overall, this is not an easy album to listen to, but I appreciate the originality of it.
Stan Getz
5/5
I love the sound of Getz's tenor sax. It's so smoothe and his playing seems effortless.
I'm usually not a fan of jazz guitar, but Byrd's playing is so interesting and paired well with Getz.
I'm looking forward to hearing this again.
Liked Songs Added:
Desafinado
Samba De Uma Nota So
Bahia
Ice T
3/5
Ice-T might be the original hard core hip hop artist. I liked it when he used rock music to back up his powerful lyrics.
It's a solid album. There's lots of variety, and the beats still hold up today.
5/5
This is an historically significant album. In this tour, folk went electric, whether the fans liked it or not.
Those Canadian boys in The "Band" were absolutely cookin' on the electric disc (Disc 2).
Liked Songs Added:
Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
Like A Rolling Stone
Jane's Addiction
4/5
I remember that I used to go to my university's library and borrow this CD. It was great to study to (for me!).
Anyway listening many years later, it's better than I remember. I like the diversity of styles and moods in this album. There's a lot more to this than the two big singles, which are still great.
Liked Songs Added:
Stop!
Been Caught Stealing
Then She Did...
Joni Mitchell
4/5
This is such a beautiful album. I didn't know one song before this listen.
It was such a treat listening to Jaco Pastorius' bass playing. I love his work, so it's like discovering a hidden treasure for me. Larry Carlton's playing is great too, but a lot more subtle than Jaco's.
Joni's voice is like it's own instrument and her songwriting is so interesting on so many levels.
Liked Songs Added:
Coyote
Hejira
Song For Sharon
Refuge Of The Roads
Grateful Dead
3/5
I like the Dead, but this seemed to go nowhere. To me it lacked cohesion. I love a good improv, but a decent part of improv is listening and reacting to everyone around you. This sounded like a bunch of individuals playing on their own, even though there are others around.
Liked Songs Added:
St. Stephen
Morrissey
3/5
Other than the two standout tracks, it was just meh.
Liked Songs Added:
Everyday Is Like Sunday
Suedehead
Shack
2/5
There are at least 10 albums from Canada, Mali, Australia or any other country that are more important than this one. Come on!
Liked Songs Added:
Natalie's Party
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
Wow, this was a diverse and interesting listen. I'm glad I had the opportunity, as I've heard about this album for years, so thank you 1001 Generator!
I dont mind experimental music, so I found that it was fine.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
The 70s was a "sensational" time. There were songs published with lyrics like...
"Ain't nothing like a gangbang
To blow the blues away."
Good times.
Genesis
4/5
This album used to freak me out as a kid! My brother played it non-stop for a while. I think the concept scared me along with the strange voices. My brother incessantly singing it to me didn't help either!
It's interesting to now hear this album that I've been avoiding most of my life! I certainly have a different set of eyes.
The songs have a lot of thought behind them and are well played. Gabriel's lyrics/concept are/is so good. Banks, Collins and Hacket are strong throughout.
It's interesting to see NYC (in the 70s), from a British perspective.
Liked Songs Added:
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Counting Out Time
The Carpet Crawlers
Sonic Youth
2/5
Another Sonic Youth album. This one's very mediocre.
Eagles
2/5
Not much there other than the three big songs.
Liked Songs Added:
Life In The Fast Lane
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
This is such an historic album. Lots of classic tunes that influenced others that followed.
Liked Songs Added:
Oh Boy!
Maybe Baby
That'll Be The Day
Rod Stewart
2/5
This was very beige - not that interesting. Yawn.
Somebody needed to give Rod a losenge before he stepped up to the microphone.
Madness
2/5
What a disappointment. First of all, this is not a Ska album. There's a slight influence on some songs, but it's basically a British pop album. I'm guessing early Madness fans were not happy with this effort.
Liked Songs Added:
Our House
Dizzee Rascal
1/5
I like Hip Hop, but I don't like this. The beats have no soul and I don't like his clipped style of rapping.
The Beach Boys
5/5
It's funny, I don't like The Beach Boys, but I really like this.
I like that Brian Wilson sings more leads and not Mike Love. Also the songwriting, production and use of the Wrecking Crew helps.
I also like the lack of surfing references here!
Liked Songs Added:
Wouldn't It Be Nice
Sloop John B
G-d Only Knows
Hang On To Your Ego
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
Morrissey
2/5
It was ok. Nothing too memorable.
Can we all agree that one Morrissey album on the 1001 list is plenty???
The Jam
4/5
This is a high energy and very consistent, album.
That's Entertainment is such a good song.
Liked Songs Added:
Start!
That's Entertainment
Leonard Cohen
3/5
I'm not a Leonard Cohen fan, but isn't that bad. It's very contemplative and introspective, performed by a man nearing the end of his life.
There is a huge difference in the quality of the music, compared to other Cohen albums I've heard, as he used real musicians. There's a lot of soul in/on this album.
The Modern Lovers
5/5
I don't know this music, but I love it.
This seems very ahead of its time - evergreen.
Liked Songs Added:
Roadrunner
Astral Plane
Pablo Picasso
She Cracked
Modern World
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
Having heard other Dinosaur Jr. music and liking a lot of noise, I had high expectations for this album, but it just didn't deliver for me.
Elvis Presley
2/5
Not a fan.
This album made me sad as I was thinking about some of the original artists who did much better versions of their songs, but didn't get the credit that Elvis did.
David Bowie
3/5
To me this is one of the better Bowie albums on the list. It's very 70s rock, and very consistent.
Liked Songs Added:
Panic In Detroit
The Jean Genie
Terence Trent D'Arby
2/5
I have mixed feelings about this one. Wishing Well is a great song and Sign Your Name is ok, but the rest is a bit bland for me. I hear too much 80s electronic drums/drum machine and synth bass to be taken too seriously.
Liked Songs Added
Wishing Well
The Residents
3/5
This may be too alternative for people who like alternative music. I found it interesting. It's certainly not pretty music. I like how many of the songs don't follow traditional structures.
Before reading the Wikipedia entry, I was thinking that The Residents probably inspired Primus, only to read that Primus covered some of their tunes!
4/5
I love how funky this is.
I've heard a lot of War, but other than The Cisco Kid, I haven't heard this album. It's so bass driven and it's so good. The percussion is amazing throughout.
Liked Songs Added:
The Cisco Kid
The World Is A Ghetto
Eric Clapton
1/5
This album is devoid of any hint of soul.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
What a great opening track that really sets the tone for the rest of the album's swampy blues done well.
Overall, this was very enjoyable.
Liked Songs Added
Born On The Bayou
Penthouse Pauper
Proud Mary
Donald Fagen
4/5
It's odd to me. It's Donald Fagen trying to do pop and it sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. In the end, I do like it.
The vocal harmonies are really nice. Also, I enjoyed the bass throughout the album. Of course the production is stellar.
Liked Songs Added
I.G.Y.
New Frontier
Mike Ladd
5/5
This is like the blending of hip hop and spacy sci-fi sounds - a totally original and different listening experience, and I enjoyed it a lot.
The drumbeats are so groovy (real drums, I believe) and the bass lines have great hooks. Many of the tunes feature "spacy" sound effects that actually enhance the experience.
This is a memorable listen, and I have to thank the list for this one, as I had never heard of Mike Ladd before. I'm looking forward to checking out more!
Feb. 4/'99 - if you don't know the date (like me), look it up.
Liked Songs Added
5000 Miles West Of The Future
I Feel Like $100
The Animist
Red Eye To Jupiter (Starship N***a)
David Gray
2/5
I'm not a fan of the cheesy electronic beats. It's like he recorded these songs acoustically, which would've been fine, but then some weak producer added in the electronic bits afterward, and ruined it for me.
It's very MOR.
The Say Hello, Wave Goodbye cover is a pretty good take...at least until the end of the first chorus when the drum machine kicks in.
The La's
2/5
Pretty catchy pop, but there's not much beyond the stellar single There She Goes.
Liked Songs Added
Timeless Melody
There She Goes
Steve Winwood
2/5
So mediocre.
I lost all respect for him when his singles became North American beer ad soundtracks.
Liked Songs Added
While You See A Chance
George Michael
2/5
Ironically it's tough to listen to this (or any other album here) without prejudice when there are all these ratings and reviews posted, especially if you're like me and you take a peek at a few ratings before listening to an album!
It's certainly not my favourite, but that bass player is awesome!
Goldfrapp
3/5
This is an original sound.
I don't like her voice so much - it's a little too throaty/whispery for me.
On the positive side, the songwriting and production are beautiful.
Brian Eno
3/5
It was fine.
Liked Songs Added:
I'll Come Running
Pixies
5/5
This is such a classic album!
Pixies at their peak.
Liked Songs Added:
Velouria
Alison
Ana
All Over The World
Dig For Fire
Stormy Weather
Havalina
Pere Ubu
2/5
A mix of punk and art. Lots of noise here.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
This is very innovative hip hop. I like the funk, soul and jazz influences I hear on this album. Powerful lyrics too.
I'm not sure what's going on, but when I hear Kendrick Lamar, I keep visualizing that it's actually Kevin Hart rapping. Is it just me???
Liked Songs Added:
Complexion (A Zulu Love)
i
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Solid melodic pre-punk that gets a little experimental at times.
Liked Songs Added:
What Goes On
Pale Blue Eyes
The KLF
1/5
How many times can you use the same beat on one album?
The answer is 10.
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
A little disappointing. I was hoping to discover more than the two hits, but I wasn't into much else.
Grace Slick shines when she's featured.
Liked Songs Added:
Somebody To Love
White Rabbit
Kelela
3/5
I guess it was ok, as I didn't skip any songs.
Kelela is a good songwriter and singer. It's just not my kind of music, but I appreciate her talent.
This was ok. Consistent, but maybe a little too consistent as more variety would've been nice. Having said that, it's not a classic list-worthy album, but it is a solid album.
Liked Songs Added:
Beautiful Day
Nick Drake
5/5
This is just a beautiful album overall.
As I was listening to Pink Moon, I found that most of the songs ended too early for me. (When I'm listening to a new album, I usually want the opposite!) This is a credit to Nick Drake's solid song writing.
Liked Songs Added;
Pink Moon
Things Behind The Sun
From The Morning
Adele
2/5
You can't deny that Adele has a great voice. I'm just not into her music.
The Last Shadow Puppets
2/5
I guess Dimery is a big Alex Turner fan, but this is far from the Arctic Monkeys and certainly not list worthy.
I remember this being a big disappointment in 2008. It still is.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
This is solid electronic pop with a few minimal and experimental flourishes, complete with two standout tracks.
Liked Songs Added:
Souvenir
Joan Of Arc
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Not my favourite.
Moby
2/5
I didn't get this when it came out and I don't get it now. I have no idea why so many people like this.
Talvin Singh
2/5
Traditional instruments from different parts of the world mixed with electronic beats here. I like the concept, but the execution leaves something to be desired - you might say something less than OK.
Green Day
4/5
Great mix of punk and pop, or maybe just melodic punk. I ignored this the first time around, but it's grown on me.
Liked Songs Added:
Longview
Basketcase
When I Come Around
Keith Jarrett
4/5
I'm not sure if I would call this Jazz, but it's still an interesting album. I was expecting more dissonance and tension for some reason, but it was still good.
I know a lot of people don't like it, but I love Jarrett's vocalizations as he really gets into his improvising.
Liked Songs Added:
Köln, January 24, 1975, Part II b
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Classic reggae.
I could listen to the Barrett brothers play rhythm all day!
Liked Songs Added
Concrete Jungle
Stop That Train
Baby We've Got A Date (Rock It Baby)
Stir It Up
No More Trouble
All Day All Night - Jamacian Version
Gary Numan
4/5
I knew Gary Newman from when I was a kid and I know of this album, but never listened to it, just the single.
I'm guessing that he was influenced by Kraftwerk and that he was a huge influence on electronic music of the 80s, if not pop in general.
Overall, I found The Pleasure Principle a pleasure!
Liked Songs Added
Lauryn Hill
4/5
There are moments of joy and many lessons learned on this album, to the background of incredibly soulful funk and hip hop. In a word, beautiful.
Liked Songs Added:
Do Wop (That Thing)
Forgive Them Father
Everything Is Everything
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
Solid rock which is ok by me. I wish it was more consistent, as this album had some great moments, with a few great hooks. I'll have to listen again.
Liked Songs Added:
Walking On The Sidewalks
Mexicola
You Can't Quit Me Baby
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
There's some all-time classic songs on this album, including the best one-chord song ever written (IMO), I Want To Take You Higher.
Every track has such enthusiastic and positive energy, along with a great groove
Wow Joe Walsh's Rocky Mountain Way sounds a lot like Sex Machine, and the drum beat is exactly the same.
Liked Songs Added:
I Want To Take You Higher
Sing A Simple Song
Everyday People
Love
2/5
This is just a psychedelic mess.
I didn't "love" it.
Missy Elliott
2/5
The list would've been good with one Missy Elliott album...and not this one.
Haircut 100
2/5
This is Yacht Rock done very poorly. Ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-yah indeed.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Classic Stones with three standout tracks.
Liked Songs Added:
Gimme Shelter
Let It Bleed
You Can't Always Get What You Want
Julian Cope
5/5
It's interesting how this whole album is consistently good, but I can't listen to any of Cope's other music.
Listening on Spotify, I miss the four phases of the album that Cope originally set up. It really sets the tone of the different parts of the album.
Having said this, Peggy Suicide, criminally underrated here, is a classic.
Liked Songs Added:
East Easy Rider
If You Loved Me At All
Drive, She Said
Soldier Blue
Not Raving But Drowning
Beautiful Love
American Lite
Las Vegas Basement
Garbage
3/5
Solid album, but not really my thing. Butch Vig is a legend (great production).
Liked Songs Added:
Vow
Red Snapper
2/5
Why is this on the list? I appreciate the real instruments, but this music does nothing for me.
The Young Rascals
3/5
This is nice, mostly harmless 60s pop.
I had no idea they wrote You Better Run! It's so edgy and Pat Benetar did such a great version of it.
Liked Songs Added:
Groovin'
You Better Run
The Band
4/5
I love The Band, but I guess I'm more into the singles.
Rick Danko's bass playing was legendary. He had an approach to the bass that made it sound more like a tuba than an electric bass, which added so much depth to The Band's music.
Liked Songs Added:
The Weight
Chest Fever
I Shall Be Released
Motörhead
3/5
I can't believe there's more than one Motörhead album here... then again I can belive it!
The high energy British metal/hard rock doesn't let up live either. Lemmy's gravelly lead vocals are legendary.
One criticism is that one song blends into another without much variation, but they do it well.
James Taylor
5/5
James Taylor has such a sweet voice and his guitar playing and compositions are like butter.
How can you not like this?!?
Liked Songs Added:
Sweet Baby James
Sunny Skies
Country Road
Fire And Rain
Joy Division
3/5
I like the minimalism, but I was hoping for more Peter Hook. It's kind of a bleak album.
I prefer New Order, but it had to come from somewhere.
2Pac
3/5
I appreciate the live instrumental backing tracks and the beats, and I can appreciate 2Pac's skills, but I'm just not into this.
Liked Songs Added:
Can U Get Away
John Cale
2/5
I found this album to be very bland.
Primal Scream
4/5
What a weird mix of songs...but I like it! There's a lot of soul on this album and some great songwriting with nod inducing beats.
Liked Songs Added:
Movin' On Up
Come Together
Loaded
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
The beats and music on this album are so good and the lyrics are so raw. Kendrick Lamar definitely has a sense of humour. The spoken bits at the end of songs are so funny, especially the father and his Dominos!
With all of this, I'm not fully into it. I usually don't mind explicit language, but this is a lot for me.
Liked Songs Added:
Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst
Johnny Cash
4/5
I want to thank Johnny Cash and Rick Rubin for making this album. I feel that my life is a lot richer after hearing this.
Liked Songs Added:
Hurt
Personal Jesus
Sam Hall
We'll Meet Again
John Martyn
4/5
This was a nice surprise. I like the interesting mix of folk with jazz and a little psychedelia. It's very unique and well executed.
Liked Songs Added:
Over The Hill
The Easy Blues
Björk
4/5
I haven't heard this in years. What a fun album! It's Bjork spreading her wings post-Sugar Cubes. There is a lot of variety and a fresh injection of electronic music - much different than her former band, and I like it.
Liked Songs Added:
Human Behaviour
Venus As A Boy
Like Someone In Love
Big Time Sensuality
Beatles
5/5
This is such a consistent and fun album. There's actually a lot of variety here.
This album has great harmonies and it's really fun to song along with.
Liked Songs Added
A Hard Day's Night
I Should've Known Better
If I Fell
And I Love Her
Can't Buy Me Love
I'll Cry Instead
Things We Said Today
You Can't Do That
I'll Be Back
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
I know lots of people like this, but I found it mediocre at best.
Marianne Faithfull
2/5
Well produced and well written music, but I'm not really into it.
Dire Straits
4/5
I'm not really a Dire Straits fan, but this is actually quite good. Knopfler's playing is other worldly.
Liked Songs Added:
So Far Away
Your Latest Trick
The Man's Too Strong
Spiritualized
3/5
This was very noisy, but I don't mind that. I have heard a better Spiritualized album.
Liked Songs Added:
Shine A Light
The Darkness
2/5
That singer hits high notes that no human or dog should hear.
I definitely hear the Rush influence here...but not in a good way.
Billie Holiday
3/5
There's no doubt that Billie Holiday's voice is one for the ages. I loved those trombone solos too. When I saw that J.J. Johnson was on this album I knew that this would be special. His tone was like none other.
With all this, I didn't like the arrangements. All of those violins are from a bygone era.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Myv4th Leonard Cohen album. That's enough.
I don't know how people enjoy that voice.
Elbow
3/5
This is interesting and very eclectic music.
I can hear the Peter Gabriel influence as the singer often sounds exactly like Peter Gabriel.
Liked Songs Added:
Mirrorball
Shivkumar Sharma
4/5
It took me a while to get into this, but Call Of The Valley really grew on me. I love the call and response between the three musicians. They really told a story with each song/raga. While I was listening I could see landscapes.
(Thanks to previous reviewers for the YouTube tip!)
The Doors
4/5
Great music played by solid musicians led by the ultimate front man. Manzarik's organ playing is legendary. It always bothered me that they didn't have a full time bass player.
Liked Songs Added:
Break On Through (To The Other Side)
Light My Fire
Slipknot
2/5
I'm sensing a lot of anger here.
The drummer was pretty good.
Meat Puppets
4/5
The quality of the music is not that good. This sounds like some guys who are really trying, but are aiming too high for their playing ability.
Having said that, somehow I like it. It works and I think it's the strength of the Meat Puppets' songwriting.
Liked Songs Added:
Plateau
Oh, Me
Lake Of Fire
What To Do
The Pretty Things
4/5
This is a fantastic psychedelic trip.
Liked Songs Added:
She Says Good Morning
Balloon Burning
Baron Saturday
Walking Through My Dreams
The Shamen
1/5
My finger is sore from hitting the 'next' button so much.
The Allman Brothers Band
5/5
Live jammy, bluesy rock at its finest. I was not expecting this album to be this good!
Liked Songs Added:
Statesboro Blues
Stormy Monday
Whipping Post
George Jones
2/5
Songs about loving women and loving another man's woman to the point where roses are blooming in the
Supergrass
4/5
Well this was a lot of fun.
I once saw them at a general admission venue. We ended up in the 2nd row. The Coral opened for Supergtass and my cousin and I both thought that they blew Supergrass away! Whatever happened to the Coral?
Liked Songs Added:
Ri hard III
Tonight
Late In The Day
Going Out
Sun Hits The Sky
Cocteau Twins
2/5
This was disappointing. I really wanted to like it, but I found that it lacked soul without a real drummer.
Fraser's voice is one for the ages.
Everything But The Girl
2/5
Music for really bored housewives who have given up.
Gil Scott-Heron
4/5
This album really grew on me. At first I found the vocals a little too earnest, but the messages from 1974 are unfortunately still relatable in 2025.
It's an interesting mix of jazz, blues and soul with great piano/B3/Rhodes playing.
Liked Songs Added:
Rivers Of My Fathers
H2O Gate Blues
Beck
3/5
This is a typical Beck album, complete with a few standout tracks and then a bunch of mediocrity.
I've always believed that the best Beck album would be a compilation of the 2-3 good songs on each album. I guess I should make a playlist.
Liked Songs Added:
E-Pro
Girl
Hell Yes