502
Albums Rated
3.38
Average Rating
46%
Complete
587 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1960s
Favorite Decade
Folk
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Generous
Rater Style ?
78
5-Star Albums
12
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Third/Sister Lovers
Big Star
|
5 | 2.79 | +2.21 |
|
The Gilded Palace Of Sin
The Flying Burrito Brothers
|
5 | 2.93 | +2.07 |
|
Heartbreaker
Ryan Adams
|
5 | 3.02 | +1.98 |
|
Pieces Of The Sky
Emmylou Harris
|
5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
|
Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)
Bob Dylan
|
5 | 3.15 | +1.85 |
|
#1 Record
Big Star
|
5 | 3.26 | +1.74 |
|
Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
|
5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
|
Homework
Daft Punk
|
5 | 3.29 | +1.71 |
|
Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
|
5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
|
Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
|
5 | 3.33 | +1.67 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
George Michael
|
1 | 3.16 | -2.16 |
|
Picture Book
Simply Red
|
1 | 2.88 | -1.88 |
|
Colour By Numbers
Culture Club
|
1 | 2.84 | -1.84 |
|
Roots
Sepultura
|
1 | 2.79 | -1.79 |
|
Master Of Puppets
Metallica
|
2 | 3.73 | -1.73 |
|
Medúlla
Björk
|
1 | 2.72 | -1.72 |
|
All Hope Is Gone
Slipknot
|
1 | 2.7 | -1.7 |
|
Van Halen
Van Halen
|
2 | 3.63 | -1.63 |
|
The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
|
2 | 3.59 | -1.59 |
|
Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
|
2 | 3.59 | -1.59 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Dylan | 4 | 4.75 |
| Radiohead | 4 | 4.5 |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Rolling Stones | 3 | 4.67 |
| Pixies | 3 | 4.67 |
| Beatles | 3 | 4.67 |
| Neil Young | 3 | 4.67 |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 3 | 4.67 |
| Paul Simon | 2 | 5 |
| Oasis | 2 | 5 |
| Marvin Gaye | 2 | 5 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 2 | 5 |
| Big Star | 2 | 5 |
| David Bowie | 7 | 4 |
| The Velvet Underground | 3 | 4.33 |
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Wyatt | 2 | 1.5 |
| Sepultura | 2 | 1.5 |
| George Michael | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (78)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
The Cramps
3/5
Good album. I found the psychobilly sound really interesting. There's a horror campiness to the album with excellent guitar licks and some psychedelic influence. ***
3 likes
1-Star Albums (12)
All Ratings
Fela Kuti
3/5
Chill, vibey live album. Good easy listening on commute or doing some work. ***
Prince
3/5
OK album with some solid and interesting songs/arrangements. I've never been a huge Prince fan, but I do respect his talent/musicianship. This album is not my particular cup of tea, and I am somewhat confused on the hype (maybe you had to be there). I would be more interested to check out other albums in his catalog that fall closer to my musical sensibilities. **
Fugazi
3/5
This is a solid album. I had heard of Fugazi, but I'm not sure I head ever heard an actual song before. Tight, aggressive songs with great guitar punchy rhythm section and can clearly hear the link to "grunge." Some standout tracks were "Blueprint," "Repeater," "Turnover," and "Shut the Door" (I liked the softer sound with some intense/powerful moments). I'll dig more into the catalog.
Metallica
2/5
Heavy/Thrash Metal is another genre of which I never really felt the appeal. I have heard Metallica and other metal songs, but now is as good a time as any to dive in with a more open mind. While its still not really for me (outside of playing a one-off hit when apropos), there's some deeper cuts on the album I enjoyed more than the more popular songs (e.g. "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" and "Orion"). At any rate, the riffs/solos are pretty sick, and the album is pretty tight and technical, which makes for an interesting listen. The lyricism is not so strong in my opinion. While I was surprised that I enjoyed parts more than I expected, I probably will not spend a ton of time re-listening or diving deeper into Metallica. Perhaps there are other metal acts that I'll find more interesting. **
Television
5/5
Amazing album. Loved the guitar interplay. Lyrics and compositions were outstanding. I had known this album and heard “Marquee Moon,” but I was blown away. Standout tracks for me included “See No Evil,” “Venus,” and the title track—honestly, though, there were no skips. **** (nearly 5 and probably will grow on me even more)
The Cure
5/5
Great album. There is some bloat on the track lengths, but the lush arrangements have a deep transportative effect. There's something transfixing in the gloomy, dark, dreamy atmosphere (and I didn't mind hanging out there even for some of the longer songs). The whole is better than the sum of the individual tracks (but those are mostly good too). I've been familiar with The Cure--mostly individual tracks (and the poppier ones at that)--but I really enjoyed this album. I'm excited to hear some more. Standout tracks were "Plainsong" (stellar opener to set the tone), "Pictures of You," "Lovesong," "The Same Deep Water As You," and "Untitled." ****
Goldfrapp
3/5
Solid album. I had never heard of Goldfrapp and was not sure what to expect. It's got some Bond-esque vibes (could be an entire soundtrack to a modern Cold War spy thriller). Feels old and new at the same time. An enjoyable listen with some dark, eerie, seductive tones. Jazzy and ethereal at times--brings you into a sort of dream world. ***
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
Mediocre album. This one is strange. It's prog-y and pretentious in many ways and just generally kind of goofy (and not in a good way in my opinion). It's got some nice moments, and the band is clearly "sophisticated" musically, but it's just not for me. Only the 20-minute long (1) title suite is really very good at all. Back half of the album is forgettable. I think I'm in-or-out on most prog stuff. I'm definitely out on this. **
Peter Tosh
3/5
Solid album. I generally like reggae. It’s easy listening. I didn’t know a lot of specific Peter Tosh music. The title track is popular, but I think it’s a bit of a throwaway stoner anthem. Standout tracks included “Burial,” “No Sympathy,” “Ketchy Shuby,” and “Till Your Well Runs Dry.” ***
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
Mediocre album. I was excited to dive into this one as I had known several Yeah Yeah Yeahs songs that I enjoyed and knew this to be a well-regarded album. I was disappointed. I found Karen O's vocals to be grating most of the time and some of the constant repetition of lyrics off-putting. The sound is what I expected and it isn't terrible. "Maps" and "Y Control" are very good tracks. **
Boards of Canada
4/5
Great album. I did not think I would like this from the start, but I was immersed in the electronic nostalgia of it. It's not something you're going to put on to do anything except concentrate and/or fall into thought. ****
Duran Duran
3/5
OK album. This is just 80s synth-pop. Its kind of fun and catchy and nostalgic for a time I never experienced. It's got energy, pop, and pizzaz, but, at the end of the day, it's just bad lyrically and offers no depth. Fun to dance to in a car as a teenager in the 80s I guess. I checked out the original review for fun--all mixed or negative pretty much. The contemporary re-appraisals say it's actually a great album apparently. I think there's much more interesting 80s synth-pop, and a lot of these retrospectives are a bit disingenuous with the rave for albums that were commercially popular or may have been mentioned as "inspiring" for future artists. This album is what it is: fun, silly 80s pop. ***
Cat Stevens
4/5
Good album. I've been a long-time Cat Stevens fan with plenty of fond memories listening to "Wild World" and others off of a Greatest Hits CD on family road trips. I don't think I've ever actually sat and listened to Tea for the Tillerman as an album, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. "Father & Son" is one of the all-time great songs; it's simply beautiful. Overall, this didn't move my opinion one way or another. I'm a Cat Stevens fan and will listen to any album of his and enjoy it. ****
The Dictators
3/5
Good album. This one was a fun listen with some punk, surf, and rock vibes with some hilarious songs. This was a great listen and interesting to read and hear the influence on the punk rock movement. There were some solid songs on here. ***
The Who
4/5
Great album. I enjoyed the concept here and was fascinated diving down the rabbit hole of pirate radio and the mod subculture on Wikipedia while listening. The songs were all wonderful and it was an enjoyable journey through the tracks and goofy fake ads. I need to get deeper into The Who (outside of "Baba O'Riley" and the other hits) and this was a great start. ****
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
OK album. This isn't quite a great album for me as it's entirely synth-pop, electronica dance music. It has both 80s/90s vibe and would be something anthemic at a dance hall in the UK in the early 90s. It's got good energy and the synths are grooving. The lyrics aren't bad, but the vocals kind of drone on song-to-song and the tracks all start to sound the same. I'm curious to hear some more 80s Pet Shop Boys. ***
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Great album. I had heard "Pale Blue Eyes" from this album before, but I had not listened to a full album from The Velvet Underground outside their first album and Loaded. I really, really enjoyed this one. It's got great sentimentality and is just really well-done folk-rock. "The Murder Mystery" is weird 60s shit, but the rest of the album is phenomenal. ****
Björk
1/5
Bad album. I'm not sure if I'm a Bjork fan generally, but this album is firmly bad in my opinion. It's weird guttural a cappella singing that I find irritating. I'm not sure I get the critical acclaim here (though I'm not surprised with the pretension from critics or groupthink around this being a really brave, interesting, and/or groundbreaking album). To each their own. Maybe I'm too middlebrow to understand. *
Hole
3/5
Solid album. I obviously knew Courtney Love, but I had really never heard much Hole. I liked this album for the most part. It's pretty solid 90s alt rock. There are probably 5 good-to-great songs and mostly some other filler that is OK, but I enjoyed listening. It's just a good, solid 3-star album. I wouldn't be mad if someone had the CD in their car on a road trip. ***
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Great album. This album just rocks and has a really satisfying blues/psychedlic rock vibe. The musicianship is at such a high level across the album. The playing is creative and raw throughout. I'm sure there are better versed fans who could point out all the influences this album had on contemporary and future artists/bands, but this was just a damn good listen. ****
The Replacements
4/5
Great album. This is an album I own and have listened to several times. Some of the punkier and "dumb" tracks like "Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out" and "Gary's Got a Boner" are a little lacking, but this album also has bonafide great sentimental songs like "I Will Dare," "Androgynous," and "Unsatisfied." ****
Can
3/5
Good album. I actually really liked these weird experimental prog-y sound textures. The title track is the best. It was a fun listen, but nothing that moved me beyond a solid 3 stars. ***
The Specials
3/5
Good album. Ska is cool. I liked the general concept and vibe. This is an easy album to listen to, but not earth shattering. I didn’t have a ton of time to listen properly, so I will reevaluate on the next The Specials album or another ska album. ***
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Great album. “No Woman No Cry” is a certified great song. I enjoyed the album and respond well to reggae. I’ll dig in some more on this one as a re-listen. ****
The Stooges
4/5
Great album. I really enjoyed the raw energy of this album. I had never really listened intently to The Stooges and this was an excellent entry point. The music has some punk, psychedelic, and jazz elements (some great sax). Iggy Pop’s vocals are raw and supercharged. I thoroughly enjoyed this. ****
Megadeth
2/5
OK album. I liked this a whole lot better than Metallica. It's got a better, indiosyncratic sound and stronger vocals/lyrics with all the typical metal stylings and technicality. I'm still not a huge metal fan. **
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
Good album. I've never been able to "understand" RHCP, but I've, of course, heard their music constantly growing up. I liked this one enough, but it felt long and there is a certain quality of the band that is off-putting to me and I cannot articulate why. The arrangements are cool and I enjoy the more ballad-y songs ("I Could Have Lied" and "Under the Bridge"), but I get a little irritated by the funk, SoCal alternative rock-rap stuff. The album is good overall (if not a bit bloated), but I'm unable to kick my bias. This could've been much better if 10-12 songs and 40-ish minutes. ***
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
3/5
Good album. I'm really torn on this one. This has a beautiful simplicity with some haunting tones and lyrics. However, I couldn't fully embrace the album for some reason. It's got some Songs: Ohia/Jason Molina aspects, but it feels like it never fully resolves. I think this is one that needs to occupy a certain time/space to really resonate, and I will certainly try to revisit to see if it has a deeper impact. ***
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
2/5
Mediocre album. This was some 90s, world music with English twist. It was a fun listen to about 45 minutes of upbeat background music, but I won't be revisiting any of these songs or the album. **
Guided By Voices
4/5
Great album. I've been a GBV fan from afar but never dove into the albums too seriously. Although it take a second to get used to the shorter songs, it generally all comes together conceptually. Standout tracks were "A Salty Salute," "As We Go Up, We Go Down," "Game of Pricks," and "Motor Away." ****
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Great album. This album has excellent songwriting and storytelling dealing with the typical personal themes (e.g., love, desire, anger, etc.) but with a maturity and tactfulness only a 30-something poet-turned-musician could do. The music itself won't necessarily knock you out, but the arrangements are crisp and understated in a way that both serves and complements the themes/lyricism. There's an enjoyable, mellow, trance-like quality that allows you to follow the stories and lyrics. This challenge will activate my deep dive into Leonard Cohen, whose music, up to this point, I have had minimal interaction with. ****
3/5
Ok album. This one was kind of cool. Lyrics were a little too cutesy, but some good songs and arrangements—clearly studio rats. ***
Country Joe & The Fish
4/5
Good album. This is a cool early psychedelic album. Arrangements are really interesting. ****
Elton John
4/5
Good album. This has some really solid piano/pop ballads and is just a fun listen. I'm not a deep Elton John fan, but he has a lot of songs that I think are phenomenal. ****
Van Morrison
5/5
All-time album. This is one of my favorite albums of all time. It's a perfected folk rock brilliantly infused with jazz-y and blues-y elements. Vocals are powerful and balanced with great, impressionistic and evocative lyrics. The songs come together in a sort of song cycle of spring (for me at least). This is a rainy day in May. *****
Mott The Hoople
4/5
Excellent album. I didn't know what to expect and was unfamiliar. I just love the sound and vocals--both really resonated song-to-song, and the album started strong, lulled a bit, and then got better. I listened to this one twice and loved it on the second listen. This is a tweener album for 4/5. ****
Dwight Yoakam
3/5
Solid album. I liked this one generally. The ballads were good, but some of the more upbeat honkey tonk tunes had that 80s drum sound and vocal style that I find hard to like. ***
Adele
2/5
Mediocre album. Adele undeniably has a great voice and the songs are pretty good. I just don't think I'm a huge Adele fan and found the album boring. I think I succumbed to the overexposure of the songs from 21. Nothing here I really dislike, but I couldn't get really into it. **
Sonic Youth
4/5
Good album. I've listened to Daydream Nation a couple of times, but I haven't dug into Sonic Youth too much. I liked this one (especially the first half) and generally got into the noise rock vibe. There's good energy throughout. This does have a good amount of Gen X, 90s pretentiousness, but I liked the music for the most part. ****
Roxy Music
3/5
Solid album. I actually liked a lot of the arrangements and general vibe of the album. Some of the songs were a slight turn off as Bryan Ferry's vocals are a little odd and reminscent of the Dracula musical in Forgetting Sara Marshall. There's really solid songs here, but I think I would need more time with this one to appreciate its critical acclaim. I'm definitely interested in hearing some of the post-Eno Roxy Music stuff as well as the first album. ***
David Bowie
5/5
Excellent album. Regrettably, I never gave this album (or Bowie in general) a focused, attentive listen. This is a really imaginative album that meanders across genres but asserts and maintains a uniqueness that has both emotional depth and pop accessibility. I'm excited to dive deep on more Bowie. *****
Terence Trent D'Arby
2/5
Mediocre album. Reading about this album was a bit wild as D'Arby said it was the most important album since SPLHCB. He's talented, but this is just 80s funk-pop, which I don't really care for. He's doing a bit of a Prince/MJ/etc. thing. **
Soft Machine
3/5
Solid album. This is a nice, interesting prog-jazz-rock album that sounds a bit like a soundtrack in a late-60s thriller (a la Bullitt). It's a fun leisure listen or while working on something else. ***
Orbital
3/5
Good album. This is cool 90s IDM that I found very interesting. It's got a good ambient quality that I enjoyed with techno and house influences. I generally like this older electronic music that is a little lower on the BPM. ***
4/5
Good album. I enjoyed this. There were a couple duds but mostly good songs. Guitars were good and arrangements interesting. Solid alternative/indie record. ****
The Cars
3/5
Solid album. Pretty good new wave, pop with some familiar songs. I enjoyed the listen. ***
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Solid album. Through the first 50 or so albums, I seem to be on the 90s, English electronica algorithm. I don't hate it. This one is solid backbeat, which I enjoyed--just not as much as the others in this genre thus far. ***
Moby
3/5
Solid album. I need a break from electronica. This one is very good though. I liked the samples and eclectic array of genre influences. I just don’t really see a venue (other than a party) where I’d listen to it. ***
Billie Holiday
3/5
OK album. Billie Holiday has an all-time great and distinct voice, but I didn't think these are the best songs of hers. It was a nice listen overall, but I thought this version of "You Don't Know What Love Is" was lackluster and could have been much better. I would have also preferred jazz arrangement rather than orchestral. ***
MC Solaar
3/5
Solid album. I wish I could understand what MC was saying, but it sounded good. Solid 90s hip hop. ***
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Good album. This is my 2nd Cohen album on the 1001. The lyrics, as expected, are great, and the songs are solid for the most part. Musically, it starts to feel a little one-note with the arrangements. ***
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Good album. Solid Frank. Not his big hits, but I always like a little Sinatra.
Fiona Apple
3/5
OK album. I liked this one just fine, but I didn’t have connect too much overall. ***
The Associates
2/5
Mediocre album. I didn’t give this one too close a listen. It’s standard 80s pop, but maybe I’m missing something. **
Radiohead
5/5
Excellent album. I've always been a huge fan of The Bends since my first listen. It's the most straightforward and approachable of Radiohead's great albums with no truly weak tracks. *****
AC/DC
3/5
Solid album. I'm not sure how to feel about this one. The songs are iconic and the sound/guitars are excellent. I'm a little weary of Brian Johnson's vocals, and this also suffers from overexposure in terms of commercialized music. It's also all just arena rock. ***
Little Richard
5/5
Amazing album. The influence alone puts this at 5 stars. Little Richard dazzles with his vocals and just good old Rock & Roll. *****
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Good album. This is solid blues rock from early Stones. I can't rate it too high given mostly covers, but it's got really solid sound. ****
Rush
3/5
OK album. I’ll never be a huge Rush fan and don’t really connect with them. This album is still fun and interesting. “Limelight” is the standout song for me. ***
Pulp
3/5
OK album. I didn't really connect to this and, admittedly, didn't have a ton of time to listen properly. Solid music, but I didn't respond strongly one way or another. ***
The Cure
3/5
OK album. This has the dark, moodiness of The Cure but with less of the poppy-ness. I'm not a diehard fan (but I loved Disintegration), so this album does not resonate as much with me. The music is always interesting nonetheless. ***
David Bowie
3/5
Interesting album. There's some cool arrangements here between Brian Eno and Robert Fripp, and there is a whole ambient side of the album that's kind of far out. There are some solid songs, but I didn't particularly dig the lack of structure on the vocal side and across the album. It's an amusing album, but I also feel there is this deeper Bowie mythology around his career and eras that is overrated (unless, of course, you are a huge fan). ***
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
Good album. This is just a really good hip hop album with a lot of great textures from jazz, soul, R&B, etc. It's a good vibe album and the kind of hip hop/rap that I enjoy. ****
Alice Cooper
3/5
Solid album. I've never really dug into Alice Cooper and mostly assumed they wouldn't be for me. This album is a pretty solid mix of good songs and shitty hard rock 70s songs. The title track is iconic and only really in a good way due to Dazed & Confused. I enjoyed the more restrained songs where Cooper's vocals are quite nice and the guitars/arrangement are somewhat interesting. It's a bit of a concept album that gives it a little more pizazz. I overall enjoyed. ***
Tears For Fears
4/5
Good album. This album is a more sophisticated and restrained than the typical synth-pop, 80s hits. The production is very dialed, lending to a nice atmosphere throughout the album. There are two big classic hits here with "Shout" and "Everybody Wants To Rule The World." I like this one, and it is probably at the apex of where 80s synth-pop can reach for me. ****
Tracy Chapman
3/5
Solid album. Chapman has a really excellent voice and the songs are all pretty good. ***
Robert Wyatt
1/5
Bad album. This is some serious weird, prog stuff from Robert Wyatt. It's pretty far out and generally not very good. There's some interesting stuff, but it's not really an album I'll ever listen to again. I'll shleep well. *
Bob Dylan
4/5
Good album. This is a really solid late-Dylan album with a lot of feeling and introspection within a gritty, bluesy, old-time country atmosphere. There are some really exceptional songs here and the songwriting is superb. ****
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Great album. Stevie's vocals are excellent. There was a really nice mix of upbeat funk tracks and soul ballads. Music/arrangements were interesting and ecclectic. ****
Deep Purple
3/5
Good album. This album shreds pretty hard. The guitar work and riffs are top-notch with just some really nice soloing and extended instrumentals. My main issue with this album is it's a bit rock formulaic and the songs themselves are relatively poor lyrically. ***
Gang Starr
3/5
Solid album. This is good 90s underground jazz rap. It's got a nice sound and smooth flow. The lyrics are of the era and a little lacking. ***
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
Great album. As someone who isn’t a huge hip hop fan and hasn’t listened to closely to KL, I wish I had heard this album before TPAB. Both are phenomenal, but gkmc is more traditional and accessible and a good taking off point. It didn’t have the same interesting and ecclectic musical texture, but it’s no worse off. ****
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
Good album. I didn't hate roughly 3 hours of classic Gershwin songbook music. It's relatively easy listening, and Ella Fitzgerald is dynamite. It has it's time and place. ***
Paul Simon
5/5
Brilliant album. Simon’s vocals are so crisp, and the album is so nicely arranged. The tracks flow with nice balance. The varied influences are fun and interesting, and the lyrics are some of his best. *****
The Flying Burrito Brothers
5/5
Awesome album. This is one I’ve loved for a while now. I grew up hearing a lot of Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers, so I definitely have a soft spot and early education. This is bedrock for country rock. Parsons vocals are unique and emotive. The songs are classics. The Nudie suits are classic. *****
Green Day
4/5
Great album. This is a really nice, tight punk album that really influenced an entire wave of pop-punk through the 90s/00s. Lots of great tracks and just an exciting and interesting set of songs. ****
Steely Dan
4/5
Good album. This has a nice groove and all the slick production for which Steely Dan is known. It was a tight album with some cool jazziness. ****
Liz Phair
3/5
Good album. The guitar and sound of this one clearly inspired a lot of the 00s indie rock girls. Concept/lyrics are pretty solid, but the vocals aren’t great. It was a nice listen overall. ***
Basement Jaxx
2/5
Mediocre album. This is just some late 90s house/electronica for dancing/partying. There is really nothing more to it, and, for me, it doesn't really have any value other than something that might play at a club I would go to very rarely. **
Pixies
4/5
Good album. There are a lot of great elements to this album. The tracks are pretty tight, which works well for the whole. There are some fun influences and guitar work/arrangements (e.g., surf rock). Vocals are a little indistinguishable on some songs. I like it. ****
The White Stripes
3/5
Solid album. It's typical White Stripes with punchy guitar and drums with some blues vibes. It isn't too groundbreaking and drags a little bit, but It's still solid music. ***
Ice Cube
3/5
Good album. Ice Cube's flow is aggressive and clean. There are some solid lyrical themes, but it's borderline rage and probably doesn't play so well in modern times. The beats/production by the Bomb Squad is really solid and blends the West Coast g-funk with that NY sound. ***
Jack White
3/5
Solid album. There seemed to be a lot of hype for this album back in 2012, but I've never really been a major White Stripes or Jack White fan. Upon more close listen, I like a lot of the vibes here and it's a bit more nuanced with some softer/acoustic tracks. Jack White's voice is just a touch irritating though. ***
Cream
4/5
Great album. Really nice guitar work here on a classic psychedelic and blues rock album. Clapton is god. ****
Bad Company
3/5
Nice album. This is just classic hard rock. Great vocals, nice guitars, and punchy vibe. ***
Circle Jerks
2/5
Meh album. I can't complain given the runtime is only 15 minutes. It's not terrible, but it just kind of sounds like a local hardcore punk show playing at the dive bar. There's some catchy little riffs. It's just nothing special. **
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
Excellent album. I guess I should've dug into FF earlier. I knew "Take Me Out," but honestly didn't even know who the artist was. This is peak indie rock, and the album is so clean and crisp with great tracks and energy. It doesn't feel 20 years old. ****
Ute Lemper
2/5
Meh album. Here's one where I'm confounded by its inclusion in this list. Is this some terrible, weird, experimental album that was groundbreaking to some subculture? No. But, I would at least understand that as an inclusion on the list. This is easy listening cabaret music from a musical actress. I'm guessing it is included because Nick Cave was involved, and this list is Dimery's love letter to Nick Cave (which I'm OK with as a 1001 album list will likely include the entire catalogue of the author's beloved artists). This isn't bad, but it doesn't seem to offer anything notable. I'm sure there's many better and more influential albums in the genre. **
Garbage
3/5
Good album. It feels very 90s post-grunge with some really cool arrangements and good pop sensibility from the vocals, etc. It's got some techno-ish stuff, which feels very of that time. There's many really solid songs, but, as a whole, it doesn't feel or sound exceptional to me. ***
Pearl Jam
5/5
Excellent album. This has such a nostalgia factor for me as my sister had this CD in her car when I was in middle school. A lot of great, classic songs on this album with a few lesser tracks. This is "grunge" but really just a great rock album and an awesome debut. *****
Os Mutantes
3/5
Interesting album. I kind of liked the weird, 60s psychedelia of this one—even though it was all in Portuguese. There’s some nice songs here. ***
Slayer
2/5
OK album. These thrash metal albums go pretty hard, but there's something a bit cringey about them. I've had 3 of the 4 big thrash metal acts with only Anthraxx left. Rankings are Megadeth, Slayer, Metallica thus far. **
Suede
3/5
Solid album. I liked this one--it has some 90s alternative/britpop vibes but is more akin to 80s stuff like The Smiths, etc. There were some nice tunes here. ***
Miles Davis
4/5
Good album. A couple nice long, meandering jazz tracks. I always like some nice jazz. ****
Sepultura
2/5
Tough album. This metal stuff is intense. I don't care for it. It's fun for a second though. **
Rage Against The Machine
3/5
Good-ish album. I'm not sure what to say about this one. It's obviously a very popular and well-received album, but I can't help but find RATM kind of a dorky band. It's like edgy teenager stuff, but it does have a cool, interesting sound. Vocals/flow are excellent as well. It's not that great though. ***
Nas
5/5
Awesome album. This is just a stellar album that I first listened to in college. "Halftime" is one of the best rap song of all time. Nas has incredible flow and lyricism, and the jazzy, East Coast production is perfect. *****
Crowded House
3/5
OK album. This is very 90s-era alternative rock from an 80s pop artist and it's not terrible, but I just didn't respond to it on any emotional level. ***
Missy Elliott
4/5
Great album. Like any American growing up in the late 90s/early 00s, Missy Elliott was a big name with a lot of hit songs. I have never dug into early discography or any deep tracks outside of the radio play or MTV. This album clearly influenced a lot of the popular hip hop of that ten-year period with Timbaland's smooth and eclectic production. Missy's rapping and singing is solid and varied, which makes for an interesting listen. The tone of this album feels fresh with a lot of space for the songs, and the vibes/content are not one-note like a lot of the rap before and after this. ****
3/5
OK album. This is solid funk/soul, but it's not something I was really digging or would listen to again and again. ***
U2
4/5
Good album. I was stuck in a late 90s/early 00s U2 perspective where songs like "Vertigo" and others, as well as the widespread use in commercials, muddied my opinion of the band. I really liked this one--great vocals, solid songwriting, and really nice arrangements/production. ****
The KLF
3/5
Solid album. I dig the 90s British acid house, but it's not something I'm gonna listen to a whole lot. ***
Quicksilver Messenger Service
4/5
Cool album. I will always enjoy psychedelic, blues rock from this era. First half of the album is a cool long-form live version of "Who Do You Love." It's just generally some solid music to vibe to with interesting arragements. ****
The Killers
5/5
Awesome album. The first 5 songs on this album are phenomenal. There's a bit of drag in the deep cuts comparably, but the whole album is strong start to finish. It has some nostalgia factor, but that's what music is about. *****
Adam & The Ants
3/5
Interesting album. This is punk, new wave and has a nice poppy feel. It’s a little goofy, but I enjoyed the listen. ***
Emmylou Harris
5/5
Awesome album. I listened to this on many a family road trip as a kid. Great covers from an incredible vocalist throughout. “Boulder to Birmingham” is one of the most beautiful, tender songs ever conceived. *****
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
Great album. This is quintessential psychedelic rock and a classic of the San Francisco hippie movement and The Summer of Love. ****
The xx
4/5
Great album. This is such an influential album for the late-00s/early-10s and encapsulates that indie era for me. The duets are interesting as it's not the traditional back-and-forth conversation and more two people experiencing the same feelings independently. There's a lot of mood and emotion here. ****
Culture Club
1/5
Janet Jackson
2/5
Meh album. There's so much late-80s sound here and it's overwhelming. I'm not a fan. **
Talking Heads
5/5
Excellent album. Talking Heads put together an incredibly interesting pop/new wave album that somehow sounds like everything else and nothing else. It's artsy as expected but also accessible and familiar. *****
The Adverts
3/5
Good album. Really nice punk album and great debut from a band I didn't know. It drags a little for the hour runtime, but it's got a nice punchy punky groove throughout. ***
Jane's Addiction
2/5
Meh album. Bad 80s rock in my opinion. There's a couple nice songs, but I found it exhausting listening to this. **
The Cramps
3/5
Good album. I found the psychobilly sound really interesting. There's a horror campiness to the album with excellent guitar licks and some psychedelic influence. ***
Nine Inch Nails
2/5
Meh album. I wasn't really into this as a whole. It's a little abrasive. There's some cool aspects and nice moments on certain songs, but I just don't vibe with it. **
SZA
2/5
Meh album. This just sounds like everything else. It's not really difficult to listen to, but it doesn't have anything that moves me. Lyrically, it's not great. **
The Sonics
3/5
Interesting album. I liked this one as it's just good garage rock and a clear progenitor of punk. It's got most of the sensibilities of good early 60s rock, but it's loud and raw. Interestingly enough, "Sytrchnine" was also covered on the earlier The Cramps album I had a few days prior. ***
Talking Heads
4/5
Good album. It's a good Talking Heads album. Nice texture and always interesting. ****
Green Day
3/5
OK album. The album isn't really cohesive, but it has some really good songs. This brings me back to Junior High. ***
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Phenomenal album. The influence notwithstanding, this album gets better every listen. It's haunting, powerful, interesting--a seminal album. *****
Fleet Foxes
5/5
Beautiful album. This holds a special place in my heart. I must've listened to this album hundreds of times, but I haven't revisited recently. It's not just a pretty folk album, the arrangements are interesting and counter-intuitive. It sounds old and mysterious--as if it was discovered after being lost for hundreds of years. *****
Bob Dylan
5/5
Incredible album. This propelled Dylan to the forefront of the folk movement and influenced countless artists then and for decades after. The album includes some of the best songwriting in the history of Western music. Lesser people can rag on his voice or the simplicity, but it's undeniably smart, provocative, and beautiful. *****
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
Meh album. This is total prog excess in the form of a live recording of classical music. It's not that it's bad, but it's definitely not good and is completely unnecessary. **
Randy Newman
3/5
Solid album. Once you reset from the initial Toy Story/film score/etc. familiarity, this is a nice album. Newman is a good songwriter. Sometimes a simple piano and some good lyrics are all you need. ***
Arcade Fire
4/5
Oasis
5/5
The Roots
3/5
Blur
3/5
The Police
3/5
Khaled
1/5
Beatles
5/5
Iron Maiden
2/5
Drive Like Jehu
2/5
2/5
Dennis Wilson
3/5
Willie Nelson
4/5
The Icarus Line
3/5
Dizzee Rascal
2/5
Big Brother & The Holding Company
4/5
Def Leppard
2/5
Wild Beasts
3/5
Supergrass
4/5
Yes
3/5
Pixies
5/5
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
The Saints
4/5
Bee Gees
2/5
Sigur Rós
4/5
R.E.M.
4/5
Iggy Pop
4/5
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
Peter Frampton
3/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Tom Waits
3/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
The Beach Boys
5/5
Doves
3/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
Lucinda Williams
4/5
Weather Report
3/5
Booker T. & The MG's
5/5
Simply Red
1/5
Sex Pistols
4/5
Neil Young
5/5
Supergrass
3/5
Traffic
3/5
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
John Coltrane
5/5
The Zombies
5/5
The Triffids
1/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Mike Ladd
3/5
David Bowie
4/5
Muddy Waters
4/5
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Sepultura
1/5
Air
5/5
The Young Gods
2/5
ZZ Top
4/5
Jane Weaver
3/5
Thelonious Monk
5/5
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
5/5
Funkadelic
3/5
Fun Lovin' Criminals
3/5
Bob Dylan
5/5
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
The Verve
3/5
Cocteau Twins
4/5
Jimmy Smith
5/5
Shuggie Otis
3/5
Deerhunter
4/5
Gary Numan
3/5
The Temptations
4/5
Tortoise
3/5
Red Snapper
2/5
Johnny Cash
4/5
Elis Regina
2/5
Genesis
3/5
Fela Kuti
4/5
Eminem
4/5
Lenny Kravitz
2/5
David Bowie
4/5
Willie Nelson
4/5
The Slits
2/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
R.E.M.
4/5
King Crimson
4/5
Todd Rundgren
2/5
Queen
2/5
Michael Jackson
3/5
Saint Etienne
3/5
Emmylou Harris
4/5
Stereo MC's
3/5
Pixies
5/5
Fugees
4/5
The Thrills
3/5
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
D'Angelo
3/5
The Crusaders
3/5
Adele
3/5
Black Sabbath
3/5
The Who
4/5
Wire
4/5
Charles Mingus
4/5
Ghostface Killah
3/5
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Koffi Olomide
2/5
Meat Loaf
2/5
Daft Punk
5/5
Foo Fighters
2/5
Solomon Burke
4/5
Radiohead
3/5
The Go-Betweens
3/5
Throwing Muses
3/5
Muddy Waters
4/5
George Michael
1/5
B.B. King
5/5
Janelle Monáe
5/5
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
Various Artists
4/5
Sebadoh
3/5
2/5
Minutemen
3/5
Morrissey
2/5
U2
3/5
Shack
2/5
Elvis Presley
4/5
Alanis Morissette
5/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Grant Lee Buffalo
4/5
5/5
Public Enemy
4/5
The Stooges
4/5
Fats Domino
4/5
Milton Nascimento
2/5
The Kinks
3/5
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Thundercat
3/5
AC/DC
3/5
Small Faces
3/5
Brian Eno
3/5
David Bowie
3/5
5/5
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
Deep Purple
3/5
Queen
3/5
Iron Butterfly
3/5
Soft Cell
3/5
The Clash
5/5
Ray Charles
5/5
Mj Cole
2/5
Venom
2/5
Johnny Cash
5/5
Joy Division
5/5
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Prince
2/5
N.W.A.
4/5
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
George Jones
3/5
Neil Young
5/5
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Korn
2/5
Portishead
4/5
The Who
3/5
k.d. lang
3/5
Linkin Park
3/5
Nirvana
5/5
Orbital
3/5
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
Erykah Badu
3/5
Eminem
4/5
David Ackles
3/5
Dire Straits
4/5
The Isley Brothers
3/5
The Damned
4/5
Minor Threat
3/5
The Birthday Party
2/5
The Prodigy
2/5
ZZ Top
3/5
Big Black
2/5
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Tori Amos
3/5
Little Simz
2/5
Ray Charles
4/5
The Vines
3/5
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
2/5
Al Green
5/5
Simple Minds
2/5
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
Scott Walker
3/5
Beatles
4/5
Bonnie Raitt
2/5
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
2/5
Paul Simon
5/5
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Ian Dury
2/5
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Nirvana
4/5
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
The La's
4/5
MGMT
5/5
Can
2/5
Billy Bragg
4/5
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
3/5
Van Halen
2/5
a-ha
3/5
Blur
3/5
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
Hole
3/5
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Bill Callahan
3/5
Pink Floyd
5/5
The Monks
4/5
The Cult
2/5
Kate Bush
3/5
The Blue Nile
3/5
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
4/5
Neil Young
4/5
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
The Byrds
4/5
Jamiroquai
3/5
Ramones
4/5
Lana Del Rey
3/5
David Holmes
4/5
The Specials
4/5
Van Halen
2/5
Gene Clark
4/5
George Michael
2/5
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
The Clash
4/5
Stan Getz
5/5
5/5
Steely Dan
4/5
The Stooges
4/5
Nico
3/5
Travis
4/5
Justice
4/5
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Dirty Projectors
3/5
Ice T
3/5
Soundgarden
3/5
Robert Wyatt
2/5
Method Man
3/5
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Slade
3/5
Frank Zappa
3/5
David Bowie
4/5
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Elton John
4/5
The Pogues
4/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
TLC
2/5
Sonic Youth
4/5
Parliament
4/5
The Byrds
4/5
Manu Chao
2/5
Waylon Jennings
4/5
Beastie Boys
3/5
Norah Jones
4/5
OutKast
5/5
Supertramp
2/5
Morrissey
3/5
Slipknot
1/5
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
Soul II Soul
2/5
Jazmine Sullivan
2/5
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Napalm Death
1/5
Madonna
2/5
George Harrison
5/5
Radiohead
5/5
Buzzcocks
4/5
Marty Robbins
5/5
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Paul McCartney
3/5
The Police
3/5
Lauryn Hill
4/5
The Human League
3/5
The Libertines
4/5
2Pac
3/5
Miles Davis
4/5
Baaba Maal
2/5
De La Soul
4/5
Brian Wilson
4/5
Robbie Williams
2/5
Radiohead
5/5
Blood, Sweat & Tears
4/5
Talk Talk
2/5
Mylo
3/5
Donald Fagen
3/5
Scissor Sisters
3/5
Tricky
4/5
Taylor Swift
3/5
Cee Lo Green
2/5
Ryan Adams
5/5
Jungle Brothers
3/5
The Black Keys
4/5
Machito
4/5
The Smiths
4/5
The Gun Club
4/5
Megadeth
2/5
Elliott Smith
3/5
Iron Maiden
3/5
Scott Walker
3/5
Nick Drake
4/5
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
Love
3/5
Big Star
5/5
Wilco
4/5
The Electric Prunes
3/5
Portishead
4/5
Kraftwerk
3/5
Donovan
3/5
Aerosmith
3/5
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Caetano Veloso
2/5
The Zutons
3/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Arcade Fire
4/5
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
2/5
System Of A Down
2/5
Black Sabbath
4/5
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
Laibach
1/5
Ravi Shankar
2/5
The Byrds
4/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
Girls Against Boys
2/5
Raekwon
4/5
Big Star
5/5
Common
3/5
Madness
2/5
Sabu
3/5
Barry Adamson
2/5
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
Hawkwind
3/5
Goldfrapp
3/5
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Flamin' Groovies
4/5
Justin Timberlake
2/5
Kings of Leon
4/5
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
Beck
3/5
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Germs
2/5
William Orbit
2/5
Thin Lizzy
4/5
Genesis
3/5
Scritti Politti
1/5
Dusty Springfield
5/5
James Brown
4/5
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Laura Nyro
3/5
Ray Price
4/5
Django Django
3/5
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
Guns N' Roses
3/5
Mekons
3/5
Paul Revere & The Raiders
4/5
Tom Waits
2/5
Gil Scott-Heron
3/5
Elliott Smith
5/5
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
The Band
5/5
The Soft Boys
4/5
Peter Gabriel
4/5
The Jam
3/5