Journey in Progress
Discovering music one album at a time
314
Albums Rated
2.63
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7
5-Star Albums
29%
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314
Written
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2.63
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2010s
Favorite Decade
Britpop
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37
1-Star Albums
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You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| ...Baby One More Time | 5 | 2.67 | +2.33 |
| The Bones Of What You Believe | 5 | 3.18 | +1.82 |
| 1989 | 5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
| Hybrid Theory | 5 | 3.39 | +1.61 |
| Jagged Little Pill | 5 | 3.72 | +1.28 |
| American Idiot | 5 | 3.76 | +1.24 |
| Hms Fable | 4 | 2.77 | +1.23 |
| A Little Deeper | 4 | 2.81 | +1.19 |
| BEYONCÉ | 4 | 2.85 | +1.15 |
| Cafe Bleu | 4 | 2.87 | +1.13 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Love Supreme | 1 | 3.63 | -2.63 |
| In The Court Of The Crimson King | 1 | 3.6 | -2.6 |
| Head Hunters | 1 | 3.56 | -2.56 |
| James Brown Live At The Apollo | 1 | 3.46 | -2.46 |
| Ellington at Newport | 1 | 3.43 | -2.43 |
| Live! | 1 | 3.43 | -2.43 |
| Music From Big Pink | 1 | 3.36 | -2.36 |
| The College Dropout | 1 | 3.32 | -2.32 |
| Homework | 1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
| The Slim Shady LP | 1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
5-Star Albums (7)
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Popular Reviews
The Everly Brothers
2/5
Do we class these guys as crooners? If they are, I don’t like it. If they aren’t, I still don’t like it
3 likes
Talking Heads
3/5
No songs on here that I recognised but they’re always an interesting band to listen to. Didn’t find this as memorable as some of their other stuff though
3 likes
Beastie Boys
3/5
Wasn't sure if I'd enjoy this since I'm not really big on this genre (as my previous reviews will confirm) but actually this had a lot to like about it. It was funky in parts, and at times sounded a bit like some hardcore bands my girlfriend is into.
2 likes
The Rolling Stones
2/5
This was longgggg. Longer than it needed to be? Possibly. Did we need the last 5 tracks? I’d argue not but maybe I was just ready for it to be over by then. I didn’t mind it too much up until that point. I think if you’d played me this without telling me who it was, I wouldn’t have guessed the Stones. Probably says more about me than it does this record! Mid but docked a point for its unnecessary length
2 likes
Beyoncé
4/5
An easy listen! Not the biggest fan but I can happily listen to her and knew quite a lot of this album thanks to my girlfriend playing it. Really wish you could give half stars cause 4 seems too much but 3 seems to low. Oh well, 4 it is!
2 likes
1-Star Albums (37)
All Ratings
Beatles
3/5
As someone who isn’t a Beatles fan and hasn’t ever listened to more than the odd song in situ, this was a pleasant surprise. Very listenable and some good songs, more rock based than I had anticipated. Some very good drum work from Ringo! A good first Beatles experience!
Harry Nilsson
2/5
Didn’t know what to expect here, so went in with a clear mind. Started off thinking it sounded like the kind of thing my Dad would probably listen to (maybe he does) but after a couple of songs I just knew it wasn’t my vibe, though he’s got a nice voice. Without You is a classic and it was nice realising that Coconut was the “put the lime in the coconut” song but I can’t say I’ll probably ever put this on again.
Doves
4/5
Just on the right side of Indie for me, and instrumentally I really liked the vibe of this album. I actually thought the title track was one of the weaker ones, but I added Sea Song to my faves playlist almost instantly because of the tone of it. Yep, a good ‘un overall.
Funkadelic
2/5
Not really my thing though it was okay for background listening whilst working. Most likely a one and done listen.
Coldplay
4/5
Not a massive fan but I like enough songs and was happy to sit through this. Was surprised how many songs had more of a similar vibe to Parachutes (a great album imo) so enjoyed this and would probably happily revisit it again.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Very pleasant to listen to, I’m quite happy to listen to country music so I enjoyed this a reasonable amount!
U2
3/5
This was average for me. I feel like I like U2 songs selectively and this album sort of confirmed that. Some tracks I was nodding along to, then others I was just zoning out and waiting for it to end. Musically it’s good, maybe I’m just not as into Bono’s voice.
The Band
1/5
Found this pretty non-descript and quite boring. Some nice piano melodies but I can’t remember much else about it.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
I had quite high hopes with this since S&G are quite iconic. I get the sense they might have better albums than this, but I thought there was some good songs on this one. Notable mentions to Old Friends, Fakin’ It and Punky’s Dilemma.
Arcade Fire
2/5
Jeez this is a bit depressing!? Finding a lot of albums quite good musically but really not enjoying the vocals. This is one of them, I just can’t get into his vocals. Kinda just wanted it to be over if I’m honest!
OutKast
2/5
I feel bad rating this low cause I know genre wise it’s probably brilliant but it’s just not the sort of thing I enjoy listening to!
Rush
3/5
Rush are another band that I feel like I hear mentioned a lot but I’ve never actually listened to them… until now. The vocals don’t bother me as much as some of the reviews I skimmed through, and I actually quite like their sound! Maybe it’s just this one off album but I enjoyed having this on. But I’ll wait for further Rush albums to emerge before making the call on actually actively listening to them
Little Richard
2/5
I mean it’s hard not to tap your feet to this sort of music! Reasonably enjoyable to have on in the background but I kinda lost the plot at Jenny, Jenny with the repetitive lyrics.
Snoop Dogg
2/5
Between this and OutKast, I’m just getting the confirmation that this genre isn’t for me! But I did enjoy this more than OutKast so that’s something!
Beyoncé
4/5
An easy listen! Not the biggest fan but I can happily listen to her and knew quite a lot of this album thanks to my girlfriend playing it. Really wish you could give half stars cause 4 seems too much but 3 seems to low. Oh well, 4 it is!
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Classic band, probably classic album if this is your kinda genre. It’s not really mine but I did enjoy it for the most part! Some of the most iconic riffs ever!
Super Furry Animals
3/5
This was a bit different to what I was expecting then to sound like but it was a pretty solid indie album! Another one I feel like my Dad would probably enjoy! Could really have done without the last 20 repetitive seconds of Bad Behaviour though.
Steely Dan
2/5
Steely Dan will always make me think of my Dad, which is nice. But I have to question his musical taste with this one. I think they probably have better albums than this? Musically it was okay but I just wasn’t really taken by it
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2/5
I know this guy is a legend but I’m really not getting what the deal is!? Definitely being more and more affirmed that this is not my genre of music. Maybe listening to it after Steely Dan didn’t help? Luna is a nice track though. Half stars would once again be welcome here
The Style Council
4/5
This was a real treat in amongst the other picks I’d been getting. Loved the whole vibe of this album, would happily listen to it again. You’re The Best Thing is a top notch song.
LL Cool J
2/5
Rap albums will generally get a sigh from me. This one wasn’t as bad as the other couple I’ve had so far (21 albums in) and maybe this is considered a good album by those into this genre but it’s just not my thing
Silver Jews
2/5
Not the best mood setter for a Monday morning when motivation is already fairly low. Musically it’s not too bad, and at times if I really tried, I could pretend it was a bit like a poor man’s Pearl Jam, but ultimately I was just struggling to get through it and was glad it was only a 10-track, 35 minute record.
Thin Lizzy
3/5
An enjoyable one - knowing who the heck the band are makes all the difference sometimes! Not always a fan of a live album but this one was one of the better ones I’ve listened to. Tapped my foot and nodded my head the whole way through
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Always nice to get a more modern pick, and despite knowing some YYYs songs, I’ve never listened to an album so this was a nice treat. Female vocalists are always a big plus and I quite like this style of music too. Again I wish I could give half stars but based on how I’ve rated everything else, this can get 4
Violent Femmes
2/5
The only knowledge I previously had about the Violent Femmes is that they were in Sabrina The Teenage Witch. I’ve now learned that they’re a pretty depressing sounding band, not really what I’m looking for to get me through the day.
Elton John
3/5
Curious to what makes everyone award 5 stars, as I’ve yet to give one yet and sadly Elton won’t be the debut recipient. He seems to have been given a fair few 5s for this album though. Never actually listened to a full album of his before but I’m not sure if this is the best full introduction? I’m a big fan of piano and strings, which this album has a lot of. Once again I seem to be a real stickler for the vocals cause Elton’s just don’t do it for me. But it’s more enjoyable than a lot of what I’ve been offered up so far on this quest, and Tiny Dancer is always a joy to listen to
The Pogues
3/5
Don’t expect Fairytale of New York. This was a fun album though, it was rousing and hard not to enjoy!
Sabu
1/5
This is probably culturally brilliant, especially for something released in 1957 but it just gave me a headache and was far too repetitive - one of my pet peeves. Kinda felt like I was listening to some street performers in the middle of town and hating every minute of it
XTC
3/5
This sounded like a lot of the music my dad likes so I felt quite comforted by that! The lyrics are a bit bizarre but musically and vocally I actually really enjoyed this, despite knowing nothing about the band or their sound.
Stevie Wonder
2/5
Never been a massive Stevie fan from the popular singles. This hasn’t converted me much, the first half was a bit bland. Second half was better - maybe I was just getting used to it? Consider this as 2.5 stars
Nas
3/5
Normally I tense up seeing I’ve got a rap album to get through but as albums go, this is probably the most enjoyable one I’ve had so far on this list. The actual music and beat behind the tracks was decent and I was even quite happy listening along to the lyrics. Still not a complete convert, but one step closer than I was!
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Jeez this album is long!? Felt like I’d been listening for at least an hour and I was only half way through!! Saying that, it was generally quite a good listen. Rockier than I had thought it would be. I think I did lose the plot about half way through though, possibly disheartened that I still had 8 tracks to go. Awarding it a 3 but it’s between a 2.5 and a 3.
The Doors
2/5
Another Dad band for me. A lot gruffer sounding than I thought they were. Not awful but can’t say I was even really paying much attention to it.
CHVRCHES
5/5
First 5 stars!! And the easiest one to give. Big fan of CHVRCHES and whilst I’d say this is probably my lower ranked of their albums, it’s still an amazing record. So many good songs on it - Lungs is one of my faves ever.
I think people either love them or hate them, or are possibly indifferent to them. For me, it’s love. They’re also one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen - if you’ve seen them at the Barras in Glasgow, you’ll know.
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
One of the more enjoyable old boy records I’ve had on this list. I liked the addition of the female vocalist, and the general vibe was toe-tapping for me. The slower tracks were a little bland but overall, a reasonable album for something I wouldn’t normally listen to
Tim Buckley
2/5
Definitely more of a Jeff fan, though I can see where he got his pipes from with this album. Despite being a fan of Jeff’s music and vocals, I really couldn’t get into Tim in the same way. I didn’t find the melodies as appealing and I had to skip the last minute of Sweet Surrender cause he was wailing for far too long. Meh, I’m just hoping for Grace to appear on this list at some point so I can give more stars to a Buckley
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
2/5
I know a lot of people really dig this style but it ain’t for me. Sorry, Buddy!
Janelle Monáe
4/5
What a wild album, in a good way! Felt like I was on a mad genre discovery trip, but one I’d happily go on again.
David Bowie
3/5
I probably like David Bowie as much as the average person who has a reasonable knowledge about music. I vaguely know his hits but I’ve not actively listened to him, despite my mum and partner being fans. I’d heard mixed reviews about this album, some saying it’s not his best and others saying it’s a great last record for him to have released. I definitely like it more than I dislike it - some really good music behind the lyrics. I think this is another artist where I’m not sure about his vocals! But overall, a decent enough listen. Middling rated.
Supertramp
2/5
Jeez, long songs are long. I don’t mind them but not full albums of them. This was one of the lesser enjoyed albums I’ve had on this list so far, 40 albums in. It does sound more modern than it is but I really wanted it to be over much quicker than it was. And it was only 8 songs!
3/5
It really is my luck that I’ve been blessed with another U2 album within the first 40-something picks. Okay, this one has more songs that I’m familiar with but it’s still the same old Bono and his same old grating voice that I can’t get down with. It probably deserves a higher rating than Achtung Baby but I can’t give it 4 so it’ll need to be 3
1/5
Don’t even know where to start with this one. No idea what to expect having never heard of them, but I mean what even was this!? Guitar riffs, okay. Random synth and noises, sure. Off beat talky singing, ehhh. All mixed together? I think this one’s for the bin for me. Too many repetitive riffs that overloaded my sensory-limited brain
Screaming Trees
4/5
Well call me pleasantly surprised! If only all the random albums I’ve never heard of were as decent as this! Loved the sound, loved the vocals, just the kinda thing I like to listen to when I’m in my rocky throwback mood. This is the reason I’m enjoying this experience so much, sometimes you find a totally unexpected gem!
Van Halen
4/5
Expected to enjoy this on the basis of ‘Jump’ but it was actually much more varied that I expected. It actually had songs I feel like I’ll want to listen to again which has been rare in this list so far! 3.5 but I’ll round to 4
Mudhoney
2/5
Ehhh this is a bit too shouty and messy for me. Every song sounds the same. It had me longing for the next album and hoping it’s even remotely better than whatever this is
Taylor Swift
5/5
Sorry, not sorry but I love Taylor. It took this album to convert me back in 2014. I couldn’t stand her and refused to believe the hype but then she dropped Blank Space and fuck me, that song hooked me like nothing else. Love her or hate her, this is a top pop album. It’s one of my most listened to albums of all time and one of her best in my opinion!
John Coltrane
1/5
Granted I am not a jazz fan in the slightest but I feel like I like music enough to appreciate good sounds and this just didn’t have good sounds for me. Some bits of nice piano but the horns just sounded like they were being tortured half the time. Maybe that’s good jazz? I don’t know. Sorry, John.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Don’t mind Springsteen, easy enough to listen to. This had more of a country feel than I expected but still had some decent tracks on it. Nothing groundbreaking but mid!
Solomon Burke
3/5
No complaints really, not my typical style to listen to but recognisable songs which made it enjoyable
Dusty Springfield
2/5
Love Dusty’s voice but not many of these songs landed with me. Maybe she’s got better albums?
Elvis Presley
3/5
Definitely only know the well known Elvis songs and even then, wouldn’t say I’m a fan as such. But listening to this, I think he’s actually better than his popular songs give him credit for. Nice easy listening to have on
Miriam Makeba
2/5
Completely new to me, a cultural education for sure! Actually enjoyed it more than I expected. Miriam’s voice is very smooth and soothing, but that had a negative in that it was almost lullaby-esque and I was almost becoming drowsy listening to it! Probably not one I’ll revisit but it wasn’t unpleasant
Drive Like Jehu
1/5
I don’t mind heavier music or screaming in songs, hell my teenage years were full of it. But sometimes it really is just noise and nothing about this album was really sticking out to me. I just wanted to get to the end of it. Really makes you wonder how some records made it on this list. But hey if you dig it, crack on!
Steely Dan
3/5
I feel like I’m always going to reasonably enjoy Steely Dan thanks to my Dad playing them throughout childhood! This was better than Aja, personally. I didn’t even have to check to see how long I had to go which is a sign that I didn’t hate it! Would give 3.5 if I could
Can
1/5
This wasn’t terrible, until it was. That 17 minute track near the end can do one. Just no.
Frank Sinatra
1/5
Felt okay about getting a Sinatra album, thinking “ahh some big band type shit will rouse me after my last few picks” but no, this is some weird easy listening record which was putting me to sleep by track 5. Sorry, Frank. Do better.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
This really was an album of two halves - the first of which I quite enjoyed, up until The Lyre of Orpheus and then it all got a bit boring for me. Enjoyed Nick’s voice though!
Daft Punk
1/5
Who knew Around the World was 7 fucking minutes long? I know Daft Punk have a real buzz about them and I’m sure it’s cause they’re good at what they do if you’re into that sort of thing. I kinda hate music that just repeats on a loop, so not off to the best start with these guys. Was considering a 2 but I think I need to deduct a point for having too many long songs that is just the same goddamn beat for 7+ minutes
The Vines
3/5
Fairly standard indie rock from my teenage years - recognised a few songs but they were never really my thing. But an easy listen so we’ll rate it mid
Big Brother & The Holding Company
2/5
Ooft turns out I’m not a fan of Janis Joplin’s voice. Blimey, I was tensing and grimacing all the way through this. Musically, it was decent enough though but it’s still a low scorer for me
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
3/5
Enjoyable jazz!?
PJ Harvey
3/5
Wasn’t sure what to expect as despite having heard the name PJ Harvey for years, I’ve never listened or been aware of hearing a single song. This was actually a pretty solid album, more rocky and almost grungy than I expected but no real complaints. Half stars would have been good for this one, consider it 3.5
Van Halen
4/5
If I get anything out of this whole experience, it’ll be discovering that Van Halen are actually a great band. Very much enjoyed both albums I’ve had of theirs so far.
Rush
2/5
I didn’t think Rush were too bad when I got one of their albums way back at the start of this journey but maybe that was just a fluke album, or maybe I was more full of optimism and hope for this list of albums. Either way, this one isn’t doing it for me, plus the vocals are even squeakier than I remember so I’m marking off a star for that
Morrissey
3/5
I mean it’s practically The Smiths, but not quite. Solo Morrissey seems to get a bad rep but I quite enjoyed this. But I also quite enjoy The Smiths so maybe that helped.
The Divine Comedy
1/5
I didn’t expect this to be more depressing than Morrissey (which was the pick I got before this one) but here we are. Tough going, life is hard enough without suffering through this.
3/5
Yes are another band I feel predisposed to like because of my Dad, and some bits of this were alright. Other bits were a bit dragged out but it wasn’t the worst things I’ve listened to out of this list so far (67 albums deep) and maybe there are better Yes albums to come?
Rage Against The Machine
3/5
Something I’m familiar with which always helps the enjoyment of listening to an album. Not totally my cup of tea but happy to have this on cause it’s definitely a solid record. Makes me feel like I’m at high school again so nostalgia points are always welcome!
Dr. Dre
3/5
I admit this is not my style of music but it’s one of the better rap albums that’s come up on this list so far. I have no idea if its decent in terms of the genre, but I didn’t hate it so that’s something!
Deee-Lite
2/5
I’m not sure I’m sold on this. Even Groove Is In The Heart grates on me a little bit. It’s easily listenable but I could happily never hear this again and be no worse off.
The Temptations
2/5
This is probably great for its genre, but I felt like I was listening to one big advert for couches, or a car, or something that can only be sold by the upbeat sound of Motown.
Killing Joke
2/5
Spent a lot of the time trying to figure out if this was mega distorted or it was just the vocals on Wardance. Was also surprised it was from 1980 so kudos for that. Musically I thought this was good, but jeez sometimes vocals really let things down.
Orange Juice
3/5
This started off pretty well, I liked the vibe of it and it seemed pretty funky. But it tailed off towards the end and I felt like it was dragging on. Probably a 2.5 stars but I’ll round to 3
Giant Sand
3/5
When faced with a band or album I’ve never even remotely heard of, I know it’s either going to be terrible or a pleasant surprise. This is verging into the latter for me - I didn’t actually mind it much at all. It’s a bit weird, sure. The vocals are almost depressing but something about it is enjoyable, comforting even.
The Go-Go's
4/5
Female vocals are always going to be an initial win for me, and this was banging! What a treat in amongst some of the terrible picks I’ve had recently! Kinda like the Bangles? Good either way!
Caetano Veloso
3/5
I was surprised that I didn’t hate this! Despite not understanding a word, it wasn’t as painful as some of the more culturally diverse albums that have appeared from this list. It’s not quite a 3 but it’s not really a 2 either
The Who
3/5
Quite enjoy concept albums and for the most part this was good. I liked the continued riff throughout. Not quite a 4 but a super high 3
Al Green
3/5
As easy listening goes, this is up there with the easiest. Not totally my thing but enjoyable enough. His voice is smoooooth!
Ms. Dynamite
4/5
Wasn’t my genre growing up but this is peak teenage years for me, so maybe the familiarity of it feels comforting but I actually enjoyed this a lot! It was much better that the singles released from it would have you believe.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
Started off being quite surprised by the sound of this, but as it went on it was really hard going, I mean it’s just a lot of distortion over and over again and my brain just couldn’t cope by the last few songs.
Massive Attack
3/5
First track made me think this was going to be a pleasant surprise album, but I didn’t really enjoy the rest of it as much. I think I just like Tracey Thorn’s voice.
Radiohead
3/5
Felt quite conflicted listening to this record because I wanted to like it and at times I did and it had promise, but other times it was really depressing (which maybe is the point) and I didn’t really feel the need to ever listen to it again. But I’m also glad I did listen to it, so there’s that.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
Given the cover of this album (I know, don’t judge blah blah) I’m very grateful this was not available on Spotify
Motörhead
2/5
It honestly all sounds the same to me and tbh if they’re not singing Triple H’s theme song, I’m probably gonna zone out.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Should probably listen to Fleetwood Mac more cause listening to this album in full made me realise that they’re actually pretty good
M.I.A.
2/5
I don’t hate this, but I’m also not really enjoying it. I think it’s probably pretty good for what it is, if that makes sense. I don’t know, the rambling of it has made my head hurt 😂
Erykah Badu
4/5
Heard the name but never the music, but I really enjoyed her voice. Super smooth, and really easy listening. My only criticism was that it was longgggg, there’s so many long albums on this list and I seem to keep getting them one after another 😩
Simple Minds
3/5
Wasn’t sure about this, kinda thought it sounded a bit like The Smiths gone wrong but it definitely peaked in the middle and then got a bit iffy again. So it’s mid, but a low 3. Very 80s and of the time
The Stooges
2/5
Sometimes I scan the reviews as I’m listening to try and support the vibe of what I’m feeling, and sometimes it’s the complete opposite of what I’m feeling and it throws me. Most comments seem to really dig this and rated it highly but I found it to be fairly mid rock and roll. Not my bag, but I’m happy so many people could rate it 5 stars 😅
Guns N' Roses
4/5
It’s wild how much of a difference it makes when you know some songs on an album! I’m not a GnR fan by any means but they’ve definitely got some good songs in their collection. Knowing a few of these songs definitely helped with my overall enjoyment of it. Yeah Axl’s voice is kind of irritating but that’s also kinda part of its charm?
The Young Gods
1/5
Jeez, this sounds like some wild Eurovision entry. Can’t decide if that’s a good thing or not… it’s not unpleasant but then the gruff French vocals kick in and I’m not sure why I ever decided this album list was a good idea.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Definitely in the minority that doesn’t think this is a masterpiece, probably makes my music taste questionable to those who have given this 5 stars. I can’t really remember the last LZ album I had on this list and how this compares so let’s say they’re on a par?!
Korn
3/5
I know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea but I don’t mind Korn. They were part of my teenage years so I get the nostalgia hit from listening to this. That being said, this isn’t their best album (imo) but I did enjoy listening to it again. Some songs are a bit of a drag so it’s a low 3
Pixies
3/5
New experience for me, a first Pixies album. Having nothing to base it on, I thought it was okay? I’d probably listen again and would happily listen to other stuff so, win?
Ice T
2/5
I tend to sigh when rap albums make their way onto my list cause I just struggle to find it enjoyable and something I can happily listen to. This wasn’t the worst but I just don’t think I can rate it beyond 2 😬
The Stone Roses
2/5
This feels like one of those hyped albums that you see and hear about so naturally assume it must be fairly decent. I found it a bit monotonous and boring if I’m honest!? Even the songs that I recognised the names of, I wasn’t really sure why they were popular!? But anyway, clearly not for me but I’m sure for some people it’s a top tier record
Stan Getz
3/5
Slowly starting to enjoy jazz more and more with this list! Smooth and enjoyable, what’s not to like?
The Black Keys
3/5
I wanted to like this and for the first half of it I thought it might be a rare, first time listen, 4-star rating. But then it all got a bit samey and there wasn’t really any variation in any of the sound or vocals. Maybe that’s their vibe, I don’t know. Anyway, it’s ended up as a mid rated album, which I’m not really fussed about ever hearing again
Green Day
5/5
Disappointed this wasn’t my 100th milestone album but nevertheless, always happy to get an easy, instant 5-star one on the list. Top notch, even with the overplayed title track
The Soft Boys
3/5
This was an interesting listen, hints of T-Rex and the Beach Boys at times. Then the odd irritating song mixed in. Enjoyable and listenable overall but fairly mid
The Everly Brothers
2/5
Do we class these guys as crooners? If they are, I don’t like it. If they aren’t, I still don’t like it
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
Always a tentative listen when it’s a samba type album but man this was actually so catchy! Worst track was when he repeated his own name a lot but other than that, pretty good!
Sade
3/5
Great voice, always been a fan of Smooth Operator but this album as a whole was a bit average for me. It didn’t really get off the ground past the opening track so a mid rating
Public Enemy
2/5
I just cannot get into rap music no matter how many albums appear on this list. Also why are they always so long!? 😩
Cocteau Twins
3/5
This is an odd one, I mean, is it French? Is it abba-esque?! I spent the whole listen being unsure about the whole thing but also sort of enjoying it.
Dire Straits
3/5
I quite like Dire Straits, purely for nostalgia. But I’m not sure I like this record. I know Mark’s vocals aren’t for everyone, and they don’t normally bother me but something about this just fell flat for me. Hoping Making Movies comes up on the list at some point so I can rate them higher
Nina Simone
2/5
Impressive and unusual voice but this was a bit depressing, not my fave.
The Fall
1/5
This was longggg and all sounded the same to me. Did not enjoy.
The Cure
4/5
I definitely think if I listened to this a few more times I would really get into it. Sometimes one listen isn’t enough for these albums and this feels like one of those records where it feels unfair to rate it after only one listen. I enjoyed this much more than a lot of the recent picks I’ve had so it’s only right I rate this higher!
Nirvana
4/5
I was waiting for this one to appear on the list. I like Nirvana selectively, enjoy their stuff and for the most part this is a solid record. But it’s not a 5 star for me, an easy 4 though as it’s a classic.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Definitely didn’t hate this! I liked the smooth guitar sound and to a point, the vocals were also enjoyable if not a tad falsetto at times.
AC/DC
3/5
A classic band, some iconic riffs. One of those records where musically I enjoyed it but it was just a bit too long to listen to the screechy vocals 😬
Roxy Music
3/5
I probably found the cover the most exciting part about this album. It was okaaaay, I don’t even mind Bryan Ferry’s voice but this was fairly mid for me
Kanye West
1/5
Honestly, I skipped this one
Tangerine Dream
1/5
Spent more time being irritated by this than enjoying it. It’s probably groundbreaking for its genre but I just don’t see this as routinely listenable?!
The Human League
2/5
Considering how huge Don’t You Want Me is, the rest of this album felt a bit repetitive and monotonous throughout. Like one big synth noise that then culminated in the aforementioned track. Meh, it screamed peak 80s
ZZ Top
3/5
Fairly standard beardy rock. I think this list is making me more difficult to please! But this was better than most albums I’ve hard recently
Television
2/5
Spent the whole time listening to this thinking they sounded like someone else but never figuring it out. Fairly forgettable for me I'm afraid
Bee Gees
2/5
Personally, this is the Bee Gees at their worst. They do disco much better.
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
This felt like a breath of fresh air after the string of fairly terrible picks I’d been given in the last week. Loved the tone of this, it felt like a warm hug!
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Second S&G spin from this list and another one that I very much enjoyed. Extra point for having a short and snappy album.
Simply Red
3/5
Sort of cringed when I saw Mick’s face appear for my pick today but I actually didn’t mind this too much. It was for the most part catchy, though sometimes as always, it was the vocals that left me feeling like I could have done without it.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
No major complaints here - Joni has a great voice and I thought this was a pleasant listen. I sense she might have better albums?
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
If this is classed as a groundbreaking rock album then it’s kinda lost on me as I found it fairly mid. I don’t think I’ll remember a single song on it, but it was fairly inoffensive so it gets a mid rating
The Flaming Lips
4/5
Had a fairly decent run of albums recently, none that have been a real drag to get through and we all know there are some draggers on this list. Never given this band the time of day but this was a pleasant surprise to hear. I can see how this would really fall low on people’s ratings but I liked the vibe of it!
Joanna Newsom
2/5
As this wasn’t available on my preferred streaming platform, I’m unable to comment or rate this (therefore will go with a 2) but sometimes I think that’s maybe a blessing in disguise?
Adam & The Ants
3/5
Expected this to be peak 80s sound but I actually think it’s aged very well and wasn’t as camp as I was expecting. Yeah, I dig the Ants!
Bob Dylan
2/5
Despite having low expectations and preconceptions about Bob, this wasn’t actually too bad… until I got to the 6-minute dream song which I had to skip halfway through. The rest was reasonable though.
Anita Baker
2/5
Despite being initially comforted by Sweet Love being on this, it all went fairly downhill after that track. All felt pretty forgettable if I’m honest!
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Was interested to see if this lived up to the hype as it’s an album you always hear about. Main takeout from listening to this was that pretty much every song has been sampled in one way or another! Also in keeping with many albums on this list, there’s some longgggg songs on it. Sometimes a 10-12 track album of songs that are 4 minutes tops is fine!! Pass it on.
Overall, this was fairly decent. Some good tunes!
Talking Heads
3/5
No songs on here that I recognised but they’re always an interesting band to listen to. Didn’t find this as memorable as some of their other stuff though
Dirty Projectors
2/5
Not sure if it was intentional but this largely sounded like they were trying to lure in whales. Reminded me of some sub-par support bands I’ve had to suffer through before the main act. Meh.
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
A weird one that was not what I expected - I was thinking Sisters Of Mercy were more heavy metal if I’m honest! But I did enjoy the vibe of this and there were some decent tracks on here! A high 3 rating
Minor Threat
2/5
My girlfriend will probably be disappointed in me for this but I just really can’t get into punk music like this. It’s all too quick and rushed for my liking. I did appreciate the short tracks though, not enough of that on this list!
Nirvana
4/5
Has there ever been a bad Unplugged record? A nice contrast to Nevermind but still brilliant
R.E.M.
4/5
I’d say R.E.M. feel like a very underrated band cause anytime I listen to them, I wonder why I don’t listen to them more. I think you can tell this is an earlier record of theirs but I had no complaints throughout this spin
Nick Drake
3/5
Thought I would hate this because of the terrible cover and the fact I hadn’t heard of it before but I was pleasantly surprised! This is not the worst thing on this list! His voice is interesting and smooth and the tone of the music was calming
Alanis Morissette
5/5
An absolute no skips album. So happy to have this appear on this list. Easiest 5 stars yet!
Led Zeppelin
3/5
I think I enjoyed this more than the last LZ album I had on this list, which I think was IV? Can’t remember what I rated that one but this one felt more like classic what I’d expect from Led Zeppelin.
Patti Smith
3/5
Didn’t think I was a fan of Patti Smith’s voice but I actually quite enjoyed this. An easy listener, and a cool sounding record for its time.
Fugazi
2/5
Another one my girlfriend would be happy to listen to but I would grudgingly sit through it. Yeah, punk just isn’t my sorta thing!
3/5
I quite enjoy the Kinks but I knew precisely zero songs on this record. I thought it sounded good for its time, but also sounded like it was an early record, not the later stuff I’m more familiar with. Anyway, it was alright and a nice break from the hardcore punk I’ve been getting thrown!
The Thrills
3/5
I really liked the singles from this record when they were released and I remember the CD doing the rounds in the family but listening to it now, I can definitely see why the singles were the singles. All the other songs are very samey and a bit bland. Still nice to have a more modern(!) record on this list.
Rod Stewart
3/5
Rod Stewart always feels like a bit of a novelty act but I thought this was fairly solid as a record, albeit not my kind of thing
The Fall
1/5
Ugh jeez, this is almost as bad as getting a rap album. Really struggled to listen to this one - just sounded toneless and boring and repetitive. Maybe that’s meant to be the appeal?
1/5
I like to consider it a blessing in disguise when albums aren’t available on Spotify, and despite the kind offer from another user to send over the tracks, I’ve opted to decline and consider myself saved from a potential ear bleed
Portishead
3/5
Quite enjoyed this - decent sound and the vocals were good too. Would happily give them a further listen!
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
2/5
Generally don’t mind a bit of country but sometimes it’s a little too old school for me and this falls into the category. I had to skip through the one about the goose and the one with the continual yodel
Joni Mitchell
4/5
This was goooood. Compared to the previous Joni record I got on this list, this one sounded much more evolved musically. Some real nice tones throughout. Kinda want to listen to it again which is always a good sign
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Maybe I’m just getting used to Led Zeppelin after they keep cropping up on this list but I thought this was the best of theirs yet. The most I’ve bopped my head along to them anyway! But by god it’s a long one 😮💨
Crosby, Stills & Nash
2/5
Meh, this was fairly inoffensive. I’m sure my dad had this record and it kinda sounded like his sort of thing but for me it’s forgettable
The Byrds
1/5
Couldn’t even make it through the whole thing, just no. Awful.
Sigur Rós
3/5
Despite the fact I couldn’t understand it and the songs were heavy long (which as per many of my reviews on this list is an annoyance of mine), I actually enjoyed this a lot. It was really chilled and lovely to have on in the background. Would like to give it 3.5 stars as it’s not quite 4 but it’s still very good
The Rolling Stones
2/5
This was longgggg. Longer than it needed to be? Possibly. Did we need the last 5 tracks? I’d argue not but maybe I was just ready for it to be over by then. I didn’t mind it too much up until that point. I think if you’d played me this without telling me who it was, I wouldn’t have guessed the Stones. Probably says more about me than it does this record! Mid but docked a point for its unnecessary length
TV On The Radio
2/5
I thought I was going to like this, despite never having heard of the band. And for some songs, I did quite like it but then there were a few random songs with weird almost rapping in it, and I lost interest. So my dilemma, do I like it enough to give it 3, or am I disinterested enough to give it 2….? Answer above ⬆️
The White Stripes
3/5
I’d argue that White Blood Cells is the better White Stripes album but admittedly, that’s the only record of theirs I’d only listened to before now so perhaps it’s not fair of me to come to that decision. That being said, this was still a fairly solid album. It still sounded distinctly White Stripes and, whilst there were a couple of tracks I’d probably skip next time round, I wouldn’t be mad if I had to listen to this again
Eminem
1/5
I tend to groan when I get a rap album on the list and this was no exception, though given I’ve at least listened to Eminem in the past, it was more of a sigh than a groan. More than anything this just makes me think of my ex, which I’d rather not do. And it also makes me wonder how the hell she ever enjoyed Eminem so much because aside from his singles, what is good about this? Lastly, it made me wonder who decided that skits should be a thing? Cause they just pissed me off more. I didn’t even make it through the whole thing.
Bonnie Raitt
2/5
This wasn’t a bad listen by any means. I liked Bonnie’s voice and a lot of the tracks had a good sound, but I felt it trailed off a bit towards the end as many albums do. Still listenable but I was bored for the second half
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
2/5
I can see why a lot of people would happily enjoy this but it just isn’t my thing. It all sort of blended into one sound and it just went on for far too long. It wasn’t terrible but I feel like I could definitely have died happily without hearing this
G. Love & Special Sauce
1/5
This is dire. This is an album I am meant to listen to before I die? Why? If anything it’s making me want to meet my demise quicker 🫠
Sam Cooke
3/5
Sam’s reputation precedes him, as despite having never actively listened to him, I knew I’d know his voice and songs. This was surprisingly good for a live album (which I normally largely avoid). His presence seems to come through effortlessly. Good pick for a Friday!
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Never been a huge fan of Neil Tennant’s vocals but at least this was vaguely familiar to listen to which is always an initial bonus on this list. I actually thought there were some decent songs on this and overall, found myself enjoying it despite the vocals. Also thought the second half of the album was much stronger than the first
Tim Buckley
2/5
Ugh I feel like I’ve just managed to forgot the terribleness of the other Tim Buckley record I got handed to me earlier on in this list. That being said, this definitely didn’t feel as grating as the previous record was (it was Greetings from LA for reference) but it was still all a bit dreary and wishy washy and I still don’t like his voice. Will continue to hope for Jeff instead 👍🏻
Beatles
2/5
Surprised it took so long for another Beatles record to appear after getting Abbey Road as my first pick back at the start of the year.
Sigh, I admit I don’t understand the hype with the Beatles. Were they groundbreaking for the time? What am I missing? I just can’t get into them. Anyway, I don’t know if it’s controversial or not but I thought Abbey Road was better. Revolver does get better at it goes on, and I did like the length and all songs being 3 minutes max. 2.5 stars
Goldie
1/5
Honestly couldn’t even get through this.
Frank Black
3/5
This was long. Not terrible, just long. Actually enjoyed the general vibe of this although it’s not normally my thing. But why was it so long??!
Thundercat
3/5
Thought I was going to hate this, especially when I saw it had 23 TRACKS ON IT. Jesus wept. But what a pleasant surprise when half those tracks were really short, and that the whole thing was actually pretty good! It was funky, had a good vibe to it and I thought the vocals were so chilled and smooth.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Forgot I’d be listening to Ozzy Osbourne here and I groaned a little when he first started wailing on but actually this was musically very good, and once I got past Changes, I stopped feeling irritated by Ozzy’s voice and generally enjoyed the whole thing
ZZ Top
2/5
Despite actually knowing some songs on this record, I actually preferred listening to Tres Hombres on this list. This was all kinda samey and a bit bland?
Grateful Dead
1/5
Definitely not what I thought Grateful Dead would sound like. Got deja vu that I’ve said that before. Anyway, this wasn’t terrrible for a live album (which I largely avoid) but it was terrible from a general music point of view. God I was bored senseless with this.
Norah Jones
2/5
I already have a preconception that I don’t like Norah Jones. Back when she was a thing, I used to hate the singles and thought she was boring as sin. Now being essentially forced to listen to this, I don’t think my opinion has really changed. It’s all vaguely nice and easy listening but nice and easy isn’t always a good thing. Happy to admit I’m wrong, pleased this isn’t one of those times
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
If this list has taught me anything, it’s that I enjoy Simon and Garfunkel a lot. I think other albums of theirs are better, but this is still very good.
Arrested Development
2/5
Not really my thing but some bits of it were funky enough to make it bearable. I’m just not a rap fan, though this was very family friendly 90s rap, so I actually made it through the whole record!
a-ha
3/5
I was looking forward to giving this a listen given the success of Take on Me but I’m just not sure I liked the whole album. It was very 80s and at times felt like I could have been listening to Duran Duran or something. No bad thing of course, but just not really my thing.
John Lennon
2/5
As someone who isn’t a Beatles fan, I wasn’t particularly enthused when this came up. It’s all just a bit bland? Maybe musically and/or lyrically it’s brilliant, just like everyone claims the Beatles are, but I just don’t get it! Sorry John, this isn’t my favourite.
The Sabres Of Paradise
1/5
Someone was taking the piss with this one, right? Firstly in making the thing cause it sounds like someone discovered a drum machine and just made a record using all the sounds it makes. And secondly for putting this album on this list. Piss being taken left, right and centre.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Apart from being longggg (as is the case with 95% of this list) this was pretty enjoyable. Silky smooth as always
Herbie Hancock
1/5
Not against instrumental albums but they better be good and this was not
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
This had a nostalgic feel to me as ‘On A Rope’ featured on a compilation CD my Dad played on repeat when I was growing up. The rest of this album had much the same vibe as that track, and whilst it’s not my favourite genre, I still enjoyed giving the full thing a listen based on having a soft spot for On A Rope. Actually surprised my girlfriend isn’t into them cause it sounds like her sort of band!
Paul Simon
4/5
I was waiting for this to appear on this list at some point! A classic, feel good album. I’m sure there’s probably some important message in amongst this that’s historically important or something like that. But I just think it’s fun to listen to, musically.
Common
2/5
Didn’t think I was going to enjoy this based on its genre, which I know is bad but I’m just not a rap/hip hop kinda gal.
However, as albums go, this was one of the more listenable ones I’ve had on this list from that genre. If it’s got a more interesting beat and some different vocals and melodies then it just passes for me.
The Who
2/5
This was weird. It was nothing like what I expected it to sound like. Why was it like a range of different genres? One minute it was like proper 60s rock and roll, the next it was like The Beatles, the next it was like gravelly blues?! Did The Who get better over time?! Yeah not sure I liked this much.
Iggy Pop
1/5
Found myself sort of making faces throughout this as I contemplated why it was so dull and what the heck Iggy was wittering on about. Also my continued gripe of more than one song being at least 7 minutes long just brought this down even more. Painful.
The Specials
3/5
For the first half of this, I wasn’t really enjoying it. It sounded like a weird novelty act. It was momentarily saved by Sock It To ‘Em J.B. which I thought was pretty good then I sort of lost interest again. Holiday Fortnight was catchy though. A weird mixed bag. 2.5 stars but call it 3
Massive Attack
3/5
I think Protection is a better album but this still had some nice tones throughout it. Nice.
Brian Eno
2/5
This was just weird noises for the most part? Not sure I really enjoyed this or got it. The songs with lyrics were okay but still a bit weird.
Happy Mondays
1/5
Bummed is exactly what I am after listening to this. What a depressing voice.
The xx
3/5
I wanted to like this, and it did sound like a few artists I listen to but I also found myself bored for the first couple of songs. In the end I landed in the middle. Not the best but certainly not the worst. Would probably spin it again
De La Soul
2/5
Already marked this down for being so goddamn long. And then some more cause it just isn't my thing.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Was mostly enjoying having this on and listening to Peter's voice, and the song with Kate Bush was nice, then Mercy Street hit and it had such a tone to it that I was so taken with it. Largely, pretty good!
David Crosby
2/5
This was largely unoffensive to have on in the background but anytime I did zone into it, it was a bit hard going and depressing.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Heard a lot about this guy but wasn't sure what he sounded like. A lot to like about this record - his voice is really smooth and lovely to listen to, some nice tones throughout and whilst there were a few bits I wasn't into, overall I enjoyed it and would probably listen again.
Black Flag
1/5
Not really into this style of punk but I can generally listen to it without hating my life too much thanks to my girlfriend being into punk. It was all just a bit too tuneless and thrashy for me.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Musically, this was alright. I quite liked the horns and almost Madness-esque vibe to it. But vocally it wasn't for me. Almost wish it was an instrumental album!
The Velvet Underground
2/5
This was okay to have on in the background but the vocals were a bit of a drag to listen to, and it isn't really my kinda thing. A shame casuse this is such an iconic album with a lot of reputation surrounding it but not one I was too fussed about
Primal Scream
3/5
Not sure what I expected Primal Scream to sound like, but I don’t think it was this?! This was a lot more instrumental and less rocky than I was thinking it would be. I'm not sure I particularly enjoyed it per se, but it wasn't the worst thing on this list. It's a 2.5 but I've kindly rounded up
Ray Charles
2/5
Not my style of music but a great voice and an easy listen to have on
The Clash
3/5
This is a classic example of how one song is not necessarily representative of an album because going into this knowing only London Calling, I felt like I was expecting a similar vibe throughout. But actually this was much more of a varied record, even sounding ska/reggae at times!? It was actually pretty good, and extra point for Lost in the Supermarket
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Everything I know of the Manics is post-this record. Who knew they were actually quite grungy in their earlier stuff? Wasn't surprised this was quite a political album, but the heavier sound was interesting. I found it really hard to figure out the lyrics at times though, and I wanted to like it more than I did
Kraftwerk
2/5
Kinda not a fan of music that is just weird noise. Some of it is nice weird noise, but I’m just not sure I’m sold on it. Neon Lights was a nice amount of plinky-plonky but it dragged on a bit. More of a 2.5 probably.
Robbie Williams
3/5
Not a massive Robbie fan but this feels like one of those iconic albums from my youth where it was a big deal that he went solo. I remember my Mum having this record on quite a lot so this was a bit of a nostalgia trip. Listening to it now, it's not awful and is probably one of his better sounding records. A middling 3
Coldplay
3/5
When I got A Rush Of Blood To The Head as my 5th pick on this list, I groaned a little because Coldplay are probably one of the most overrated bands there is (IMO). However, I ended up giving it 4 stars because it was actually pretty good and I wrote that I was surprised how much of it sounded like Parachutes (which was the only album of theirs I'd actually listened to fully). Now I'm faced with that album and I actually think 'A Rush...' might be better?! This was a bit hard-going and depressing at times, and I only really liked two songs (Shiver and High Speed). Even Yellow is wildly overrated. So yeah to my surprise, I'm only giving this 3
John Lennon
3/5
This was much better than Imagine was - a lot more melodic and less depressing (musically anyway). Lost the plot a bit when he was screeching out 'Well' a lot but it's a mid rating, one higher than I gave Imagine.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I think this was better than the last Stones record I got from this list (Exile On Main Street) which possibly suggests that they got worse over time. But for the most part this was pretty decent to listen to - though I did skip the last minute of 'woah'-ing on the first track
Moby Grape
2/5
Bizarrely, only one track plus bonus tracks were available on my preferred streaming service so I couldn't really give this one a listen.
Joan Baez
2/5
This was pleasant enough to listen to, but it was a bit dull. Found myself wanting to nod off for the most part but then every now and then Joan would screech out a note and it would bring me back around to realising that this isn't my thing.
Miles Davis
3/5
I'm not wildly into Jazz, though some of the albums that have come up on this list have surprised me. This got better as it went on - at one point it was like I was listening to the Monsters Inc soundtrack. Should probably listen to more Jazz
Ian Dury
1/5
Could honestly have lived without hearing about how horny he is first thing in the morning - really painted quite the mental image. This is just not the kinda thing I enjoy listening. I blame his voice, and his subject matter. I couldn't even get through Billericay Dickie or Clevor Trever - sweet Jesus they were awful
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
This was alright to have in the background, easy enough to listen to. Fairly mid rock and roll?
Talking Heads
4/5
I liked the overall vibe of this record, and I think I probably preferred it to the other record of theirs I've had on this list (Fear of Music). They just feel like one of the better things to come out of the late 70s. A 3.5 rounded to 4
David Bowie
3/5
Did anyone even know this existed, let alone thought to put it on this list?! It was nice to get a Bowie record, even though it may not be a classic one. I enjoyed having this on, and although I can never really decide if I like Bowie's vocals or not, they didn't really bother me too much on this record. Fairly happy with this one!
Jungle Brothers
2/5
Wow, I actually didn't mind this considering I normally dread trying to get through a rap/hihp-hop album. It's still by no means something I'll be listening to again in the future but I'm considering it a personal acheivement that I didn't hate most of this! It might even be a 2.5....
Beach House
2/5
This sounds like one of the weird indie bands that would feature on the soundtrack of The OC. Now, I very much enjoyed that show in my younger years, obsessed over it even. But that doesn't mean that the soundtracks were always good. They were largely hit and miss, much like I feel this is. The music is quite nice but the guy's voice is a bit whiny for my liking. Wanted to like this as it's something new to me but it's just not doing much for me
King Crimson
1/5
This was weird. It started off sounding like it would be quite an interesting listen but it really trailed off and it eventually just sounded like they were in demo mode and taking the piss with who could make a sound next.
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
I've listened to approximately one Sufjan Stevens song in my lifetime and only because I heard it on a TV show and liked it, so I felt fairly intrigued to how a whole album would sound. Maybe it's because I had already been predisposed to his sound, but I actually enjoyed this a lot. Some of it was a bit weird, but generally I like the sound and mix of acoustics and strings. I almost want to go back and listen again which is always a good sign. I even might listen to some other albums
Calexico
4/5
This was new and kinda fun?! Like mariachi-tinged rock which I was actually okay with! A really enjoyable listen!
Fiona Apple
3/5
Another new one for me - this was real mellow to have on in the background and I wasn't really focused on the lyrics, but I sense that if I were to listen to this more, I'd really get into it. Definitely the kinda atrist I like so a new one on the listen list
Machito
3/5
Maybe I've listened to too many jazz albums from this list but everything just sounds like a soundtrack to me now. Or maybe I'm just into jazz now, who knows. This was fairly hectic but I kinda ejnoyed it! Kudos to it being a short album
Donovan
2/5
After having a fairly decent few albums on this list, it really stood out that this one sucked. It was so boring and all whimsical, and not in a good way that made it endearing and enjoyable. Turns out I struggle to enjoy stuff from the 60s
Yes
2/5
Always want to like Yes because my Dad loves them, but something about them just leaves me very underwhelmed. It's not bad, it's just not good and I just don't really want to listen to them again after a whole record. Close To The Edge was a better record, I thought
Stan Getz
3/5
Smooth, jazzy, a nice contrast to the hell of a storm that's happening outside right now. What's not to like?
Iron Maiden
4/5
What's not to like? Classic album, which is just as good overall as the singles from it. The title track into Run to the Hills is just brilliant
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
Not sure what the chances are of me getting the Gilberto part of the Getz/Gilberto split that I got two days ago but I reckon it's possibly quite small. Anyway, this was pleasant enough but I think she's better with the jazz of Getz behind her. It's very unoffensive though so a mid-rating seems fair
Gorillaz
2/5
Meh. I was never a fan of the Gorillaz when they emerged in the early 2000s (man do I feel old). I get that they were trying to do something fairly left field in a music scene that was very much pop dominated (what a time to be alive, personally) but I just don't really like the sound they came up with. Not for me, I'd rather have Blur
X-Ray Spex
3/5
Didn't expect to like this and have been pleasantly surprised! Pleased to hear female vocals and pleased to hear a punky sound rather than the grungy drone I sort of expected. Good find!
Lenny Kravitz
2/5
I'm not sure but I think Lenny might build this garden for us? Jesus, I lost the plot by that track, which is a shame cause musically it's pretty good and I like his vocals, but it felt a bit indulgent at times
Richard Thompson
1/5
Every time I start listen to one of these albums with an open mind, it backfires and I'm left disappointed. It tends to be the albums I'm sceptical about that end up being better than I anticipate. Anyway, this falls into the former category where I was hoping to like this but it ended up being very twee and was about 3 guitar strums away from Coombiyah (sp?). Hard pass.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
I mean, this might win sexiest album ever? Smooth as a smooth thing and definitely a mood setter!
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
This felt a bit like melted Arctic Monkeys. Kinda like Alex Turner felt he needed to get all his strange urges out before he committed his best to the Monkeys. It’s not necessarily bad, it’s just a bit average? It’s more of a 2.5 stars really
Elton John
3/5
Supposedly Elton's best record, and it definitely hits better than the previous album of his I had on this list (Madman Across The Water). I'm just never convinced about the vocals. Musically though it's very good and this definitely had more bops on it. 3.5 stars
Duke Ellington
1/5
I've slowly become appreciative to jazz thanks to this list but this one just wasn't hitting the spot for me. Maybe it was the live elements, or maybe it was the sheer length of some it (I mean 15 minutes for one song, do me a favour). Much better jazz albums on this list so I could've done without this one
Madonna
2/5
Of all the Madonna albums I thought might appear on this list, I think this would have been one of the last ones I would have picked. It's okaaaay, and it's nice to have a pop pick for a change but there are much better albums out there. Only the singles are the standout tracks. Mid.
Public Enemy
1/5
I really don't like rap music. Glad this could confirm it for me.
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
This didn’t appear to be available on my chosen streaming platform so I've been fair and gone roughly down the middle with the rating cause jazz is okay
The Smashing Pumpkins
2/5
I've concurred that life is too short to listen to a 2-hour album that sounds like this. I get that the theme is sadness (that's the pun of the title, right?) but it was just too much, and too long. Did I only listen to the first half? Yes. Is that cheating where this list is concerned? Possibly.
Beastie Boys
3/5
Wasn't sure if I'd enjoy this since I'm not really big on this genre (as my previous reviews will confirm) but actually this had a lot to like about it. It was funky in parts, and at times sounded a bit like some hardcore bands my girlfriend is into.
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
Sometimes you wonder why certain records made the list. I kinda felt that way about this record, but also thought it was pretty good. Very of the times and sounded uber-80s but all in all, enjoyable!
Frank Zappa
4/5
Very much enjoyed this! Sometimes instrumental albums are underrated and this was just funky in lots of good ways!
Marty Robbins
2/5
Even if you imagined what the epitome of old school country sounds like, this would still blow it out of the water. A bit too twee for me
Shack
4/5
Thought this would be more heavy/punky based on the cover (just shows you shouldn't judge) but this was still pretty pleasant. Very 90s, almost like early Elbow?! Feel like my Dad would enjoy this
Talvin Singh
2/5
Not sure I needed to hear electonic beats and drum machines mixed with sitars and the like but here we are! Am I better off for it? Not particularly...
David Bowie
4/5
Pleased to have a reason to listen to this. Third Bowie record to appear on this list for me and the best one I've had so far (the other two were his more recent ones). I definitely like Bowie selectively but this was overall solid
Gene Clark
2/5
Another album where I quite enjoyed it musically, but the overall vibe was a bit depressing, and Gene's voice droned on a bit
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
A good pick. Definitely enjoyed this better than The Holy Bible which turned up about 45 albums ago for me. Always liked the songs I've heard from the Manics so it's nice to have the opportunity to give them a listen. Would spin this again
Linkin Park
5/5
Awwwww yeah, what a treat to have this appear on this list! This record was my gateway into heavier music (from being a total pop girly) and I played it to death in my early teens. Always makes this list saga worthwhile when you get given albums you already love.
Soundgarden
4/5
Kinda sad I only knew Black Hole Sun after listening to this cause I very much enjoyed it, and it's the sort of thing I would've really liked in my younger grungier days. One for the repeat list (which is few and far between from this list)
Oasis
3/5
I like Oasis as much as the next person and there are some good songs on this, but I'd daresay Morning Glory is superior...
3/5
Not sure I like Bob's voice from the earlier days. It's distinctive but most of the time I'm not enjoying listening to it. A shame cause I like the music behind it
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Yeah, I like Joni. Having never listened to her before this list and this now being my third of her albums, I like her. I still think I preferred Hejira as an overall record but this one had a lot of good songs on it, including River which I didn't realise was a Joni Mitchell song but is an underrated Christmas banger
Air
4/5
I was hoping this would be as good as the one Air song I know (which isn't on this album) and it really was! Such a nice chilled vibe to it, love it when tackling this list pays off!
Janet Jackson
3/5
This feels very 80s! But overall it's pretty good and catchy. It all got a bit samey after a while but it flowed nice and didn't drag on like some longer albums often do
R.E.M.
3/5
For their first proper album, I thought this was decent. Some real nice songs and a very enjoyable listen
The Flaming Lips
3/5
I liked the first album of theirs I had on this list but wasn't sure how this one would follow. Overall, I liked the chilled vibe - the second half was much better than the first!
Mudhoney
2/5
Meh, I had another Mudhoney album early on in this list and it was a bit shit. This one didn't feel as shit, so either it's a slightly better record though still drones on too much, or I'm just getting used to listening to mediocre albums on this list. Either way, it's still a 2
Santana
2/5
This was mostly okay, when it was the classic guitar parts, but then sometimes it was just a bit too much drums and bongos, which I don't mind but it just felt a bit jarring at times.
R.E.M.
3/5
Another R.E.M. album in fairly quick succession for me here and yeah I like them. They're all fairly the same? If I didn't know any songs on this one, I wouldn't really be able to differentiate it much from Murmur. Okay, this one maybe has a bit more melody and Stipe's voice is a bit more elevated at times, but it's still a 3. A high 3 though
Roxy Music
2/5
This was dullllll. I thought the Roxy Music album I got before this (Country Life) was pretty mid but this is worse.
Ramones
2/5
Not a huge fan of this old school punk sound but I appreciate that the Ramones are classic punk rock and this is an iconic album. Just not my thing!
Bob Dylan
3/5
This was the best Bob record I've had from this list so far. A lot more to like about it, and I'm probably getting used to his voice now. Upbeat Bob is much better
Bert Jansch
3/5
Vocals are a bit too crooner-y for me but the music was very enjoyable!
Ryan Adams
2/5
I like Ryan's cover of Wonderwall and this record hasn't really convinced me he's any better than that. It was much more mellow than I expected and all very samey? Also on the basis he was cancelled (not sure if he still is) I don't feel too bad about rating this low
Ute Lemper
1/5
How did this make this list? Her voice is quite nice but the overall sound and delivery is like a parody at an awards show
3/5
A reasonable listen - no major complaints except for the mega long tracks, but they didn't drag too badly so overall a decent spin
Leonard Cohen
3/5
This was..okay? Leonard's voice is pretty soothing for being so deep but it definitely sounds like it's written word with music accompanying it rather than actual songs (I get that's maybe the point)
Dr. Octagon
1/5
This is just everything that I don't enjoy listening to
R.E.M.
4/5
Had a lot of R.E.M. recently but thankfully unlike a lot of repeat artists on this list, I really enjoy listening to them, so this is welcome. Felt like this record was more of the typical R.E.M. sound I'm familiar with, more upbeat despite the morose subject matter of the lyrics.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
No major complaints - expected it to be a bit grungier than this but overall pretty good rock album! Enjoyed the acoustic elements
Moby
3/5
Had to skip through the first two songs cause the repetitiveness was a sensory nightmare for me but Porcelain was a recognisable tune so it started to redeem itself. But then I remembered how much I used to hate 'Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?' and had to skip again. But then it got brought back again with two good songs, so I started having a change of heart. Ultimately, it was a bit of a mixed album. Half of it I got irritated by and skipped, the other half was reasonable
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Meh, some of this was okay but constant repetitive beats are really not my thing. Had to skip a lot before my brain overloaded.
Adele
3/5
Never really been one for the Adele hype. Yeah her voice is impressive but for the most part I find her pretty boring. Some good songs on this but I was begging for an upbeat number after 7 slow ones in a row
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I'm always surprised when I get a Stones record on this list causethey never sound like I expect them to, even after now having listened to them three times. This was pretty good though - definitely got better as it went on, a couple of the first tracks were a bit wishy washy
Britney Spears
5/5
Holy smokes, this list has actually recognised a pop album?!?! I'm overjoyed at this occurrence, pop music deserves a chance too! Granted, this probably wouldn't be my Britney choice for this list but the title track alone makes it pretty worthy. Also 'Born To Make You Happy' might be one of the most underrated pop songs out there. On the basis that I don’t know when I’ll next see a pop record on this list, I gotta go for 5 stars. Love from, a true pop girly
Cat Stevens
4/5
No complaints here - very much enjoyed the acoustic vibe, some good songs on here
Goldfrapp
2/5
Was never really a fan of Goldfrapp and based on this record, I'm still not. It's giving Bond/film soundtrack vibes with the weird instrumental sections and her floaty vocals (which I don't mind) but the whole thing was just a bit dull
Pearl Jam
5/5
I was longing for this to appear on this list and after 274 albums here it lies before me. A masterpiece of an album that I had on repeat from the age of 13 to 15 and has been on regular rotation ever since.
New Order
4/5
Surprisingly impressed with this one, kept my interest throughout and overall was a bop of a record!
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
No issues with Bruce overall, but someone needs to teach the man how to annunciate sometimes! A very iconic album and cover though
Beck
2/5
Sometimes this was okay, sometimes it was a flashback to probably a car advert, and other times I wondered why it sounded like a low-tier Beastie Boys album. All over the place, and I'm not sure it's in a good way
Holger Czukay
2/5
4 songs, 39 minutes long. I already hate this. It was probably more listenable than I expected/it should be but it's still bizarre and on this list for god knows what reason
James Brown
1/5
I think live albums shouldn't qualify for this list. They're largely pointless and a bit of a cop out to even fill space with them here. This was short and a waste of 20 minutes
Jamiroquai
2/5
Jamiroquai seem to get a bad rep but I've never really had an issue with their sound. This was more jazzy than I expected based on the songs I know and it was okay but it dragged on a bit and once again I have to question why this list seems to favour albums with multiple songs that are at least 6 minutes in length. Get in the bin
GZA
2/5
As rap albums go, this was largely listenable but I still don't like it
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Quite like the album before this one, and I quite like Rufus' voice but this one was a lot more bland and wishy washy. Highly mid - a 2.5 which I've generously rounded up
Foo Fighters
3/5
Could take or leave the Foos, I like some stuff but I'm not really into them as such. This wasn't too bad as first albums go and it was cool to learn that Dave did this all by himself. Some decent songs but not life-changing
Hookworms
4/5
Thought I would be skipping through this one but actually quite enjoyed it! It was catchy and despite there being several 5+ minute songs on it, it didn't drag at all. Weird choice for this list but a welcome one
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
I'm 6 minutes into the first song (which is 9 minutes long) and I'm genuinely considering skipping through the whole thing. It's noisy and screechy and just not a good kind of music (for me)
Pink Floyd
2/5
Pink Floyd are one of those bands where you hear a lot of hype about them but then wonder why people actually like them. I'm curious to know what it is about this record in particular that people seem to rate it so highly. What am I missing? It was okay in parts but it dragged a lot. That said, I now wanna know if the album with the two heads on the cover is better
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
Ahh pure nostalgia here. This album was on regular rotation in my 6th year high school common room so I feel like it already has an edge over a lot of other albums on this list. Listening to it through, it's got some skippable tracks but it's still a decent record
Turbonegro
2/5
When an album has a song called 'Rock Against Ass' on it, I question its place on this list. Just a bit too thrashy and shouty in a way I don’t enjoy
Big Star
3/5
This sounds like a Dad record, as in a record my Dad would probably have liked back in the day. It had some good wee tunes on it though! Enjoyed it more than I thought I would
Michael Jackson
3/5
Surprised it took so long for a MJ album to appear on this list for me. Admittedly, I've never been a real fan, though his career and story is probably one of the most fascinating in music history. Obviously talented, and this was a decent enough album to have on. I can see why people would really love this but it's not really my thing
Terence Trent D'Arby
2/5
The biggest surprise with this was that on searching for 'Terence Trent D'Arby' I was presented with 'Sanansa Maitreya'. Found it quite bizarre that even with a name change post-album, the whole library of music had changed to represent said name change. That aside, this was okay, some recognisable songs from a recognisable voice but not an album I'd feel obliged to listen to again. His voice isn't really for me
Beastie Boys
3/5
Felt a bit more ready to listen to this after getting Ill Communication about 60 records ago and being pleasantly surprised with it. I feel like the aforementioned may edge it over this one, but I still enjoyed this more than I tend to enjoy rap albums.
David Bowie
3/5
Second half of this went a bit on the bizarre side of things but it was a reasonable record. Hunky Dory is still the best one I've had from Bowie on this list though
Dead Kennedys
3/5
Mildly frantic and messy but not necessarily in a bad way. I think I quite liked it but my head is still spinning from the mayhem. Plus Guitar Hero nostalgia for Holiday in Cambodia
Manu Chao
3/5
The cover alone gave the vibe of what this would sound like and it didn't disappoint. Despite not actively listening to this genre of music, this was easily enjoyable. Wished I was on holiday listening to it for real. Good vibes
The Saints
2/5
Meh, some bit of this was okay musically but I wasn't a fan of matey's vocals
Fela Kuti
1/5
As someone who has played drums for many years, I bizarrely found this very irritating
Fats Domino
2/5
Thought this would be better than it was but I'm not sure why. It didn't really get going depsite being quite upbeat. Maybe it's just me, but I was just a bit whelmed by it
2Pac
3/5
Didn't dislike this as much as I thought I would, not being the biggest fan of rap music. But this veered into the kind I'm quite happy to listen to, the music had more a melody and vibe to it which helps, and 2Pac's rap style is much more listenable than this genre tends to be. The additional vocals here and there were also a nice touch
Buena Vista Social Club
2/5
This was okaaaay. I quite liked it at first cause I'd had a few Latin vibe albums recently and quite enjoy them but then it went a bit lounge music with all the piano (which I have no issue with) but it just dragged on a bit and I kinda just wanted the Latin vibes back.
CHIC
2/5
Who knew that Good Times was 8 minutes long? Didn't really have any issues with this but it was also fairly bland and I kinda zoned out from listening to it to be honest. Standard album of it's genre
Wilco
2/5
Long album is long. Long album also started off fairly depressing. Long album started to get better and actually by track 11 I thought 'Oh this isn't dragging on as much as I thought it might'. Then track 11 did drag on a lot. And then I realised I should have stuck with my initial inkling that this would be long and depressing, cause it was.
Solange
3/5
This cover felt pretty recognisable, I feel like I remember it being a big deal at the time. It's a solid album and if this was the kinda music you're into then I can see it being highly rated. It's not something I'd actively listen to on repeat but it was a good listen
Prince
3/5
I liked this for the most part. The actual song parts were good, catchy, listenable. But then they all draged on with annoying looping instrumentals that I just wanted to skip (and honestly did on a couple).
Slade
2/5
After a seven-month hiatus of perservering through this joyous list, I'm faced with Slade. This was very average rock, which felt like it wanted to be T-Rex but didn't quite reach those amibitions. I also felt annoyed by the spelling of the songs so minus a point for that
Everything But The Girl
4/5
Now this is much more enjoyable. Screams childhood, feels nostalgic, and Tracey Thorn's vocals are some of the best. Barely a bad song on this
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
Thought that I would hate this but actually didn't mind it, apart from it being a bit dragged out at times
Nine Inch Nails
2/5
blimey. I admire anyone who can openly and willingly listen to NIN because this is.... Not everyday listening in my book. I also admire Trent's ambition to fuck everyone in the world but even that couldn't make me give this more then 2 stars
Barry Adamson
1/5
this was mince
Alice Cooper
3/5
Ehhh...I don't know, it was okay, kinda more bland than I thought Alice Cooper was but it was better than the last two efforts I just suffered through so it gets a middling score
Ash
3/5
Thought I might like this more now I'm older, as I always felt a little too young to get into Ash when they were a thing but this didn't really hit. It was all a bit samey and only one or two tracks stood out. Mid.
Beatles
3/5
As someone who doesn't really care for the Beatles one way or another, this was pretty good particularly for a long album. It flowed well, and I only got bored at the very end (thanks Revolution 9)
PJ Harvey
2/5
Jeez, PJ says England a lot here. This was okay? A bit whimsical and bland for me