1001 Albums Summary

Listening statistics & highlights

390
Albums Rated
3.08
Average Rating
36%
Complete
699 albums remaining

Rating Distribution

Rating Timeline

Taste Profile

2010
Favorite Decade
Latin
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
50
5-Star Albums
32
1-Star Albums

Breakdown

By Genre

Top Styles

By Decade

By Origin

Albums

You Love More Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
Want Two
Rufus Wainwright
5 2.83 +2.17
Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches
Happy Mondays
5 2.98 +2.02
The Bones Of What You Believe
CHVRCHES
5 3.16 +1.84
Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
5 3.19 +1.81
The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
5 3.31 +1.69
You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
5 3.32 +1.68
Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
5 3.37 +1.63
Stardust
Willie Nelson
5 3.38 +1.62
Parklife
Blur
5 3.39 +1.61
The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
5 3.4 +1.6

You Love Less Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
Metallica
Metallica
1 3.77 -2.77
So
Peter Gabriel
1 3.53 -2.53
Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
1 3.42 -2.42
Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
1 3.4 -2.4
Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
1 3.36 -2.36
Horses
Patti Smith
1 3.31 -2.31
S&M
Metallica
1 3.26 -2.26
Winter In America
Gil Scott-Heron
1 3.25 -2.25
Me Against The World
2Pac
1 3.25 -2.25
Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
1 3.16 -2.16

Artists

Favorites

ArtistAlbumsAverage
Beatles 5 5
Radiohead 4 5
David Bowie 6 4.33
Nick Drake 2 5
Oasis 2 5
The Smiths 3 4.33

Least Favorites

ArtistAlbumsAverage
Tom Waits 2 1
Metallica 2 1
Tim Buckley 2 1.5
Brian Eno 2 1.5

Controversial

ArtistRatings
Adele 2, 5

5-Star Albums (50)

View Album Wall

Popular Reviews

We Are Family by Sister Sledge

I absolutely love this. Impossible not to tap your foot or nod your head. Nile Rodgers is excellent, had no idea he was on this album but his guitar sound is instantly recognisable. Love the strings and the tight beats, such a groove. Just makes you feel good. He’s The Greatest Dancer, Lost in Music and Thinking of You are incredible. Played this album 4 times on Friday and had a good old boogie in the kitchen. 🕺🕺🕺🪩🪩🪩

This Year's Model by Elvis Costello & The Attractions

I can definitely hear the influences on later indie rock and britpop. Hard to believe this came out in the 70s, it sounds much more modern. Some good tracks scattered around but on the whole it’s not interesting enough to make me want to listen to again and again. Lipstick Vogue is brilliant though.

Vincebus Eruptum by Blue Cheer

Cool to listen to some early heavy metal but I can’t see myself coming back to this.

Tago Mago by Can

Paperhouse - Good track. Elements of Red Hot Chili Peppers & Foals, can see how this inspired bands Mushroom - Mushroom head mushroom head Oh Yeah - Sounds like it belongs on OK Computer. Good drum beats Halleluwah - Groovy baby Augmn - What the hell You should win a t-shirt if you make it through all 17 minutes of this Peking O - Sounds like year 7 music when you and your mates mess about on the keyboards Bring Me Coffee or Tea - Thank god it’s over

1-Star Albums (32)

All Ratings (390)

Stand! by Sly & The Family Stone
Apr 30 2024

Funky soul, can’t go wrong. Favourite track - I Want To Take You Higher

In Utero by Nirvana
May 01 2024

Perfect album to block out the bullshit on a busy Tuesday morning in the office. Will definitely be coming back to this album in the future. Favourite track: Very Ape, because it’s a good track and Arctic Monkeys completely ripped it off with ‘Potion Approaching’ on Humbug!

Fear Of A Black Planet by Public Enemy
May 02 2024

Quintessential 90s hip-hop. I wish I liked this more than I do, but it doesn’t really do it for me. Definitely a good energy but I found some of the samples repetitive and the lyrics, while important for their time, were a bit heavy for me. I understand this is a product of the golden age of hip-hop. Just not really my thing.

Natty Dread by Bob Marley & The Wailers
May 03 2024

Bob Marley on our fourth day, what a treat! Enjoyable listen the whole way through. Not as catchy as some of his other albums though, and the slower live version of ‘No Woman No Cry’ is far better than studio in my opinion. Jah forgive me.

We Are Family by Sister Sledge
May 06 2024

I absolutely love this. Impossible not to tap your foot or nod your head. Nile Rodgers is excellent, had no idea he was on this album but his guitar sound is instantly recognisable. Love the strings and the tight beats, such a groove. Just makes you feel good. He’s The Greatest Dancer, Lost in Music and Thinking of You are incredible. Played this album 4 times on Friday and had a good old boogie in the kitchen. 🕺🕺🕺🪩🪩🪩

Madman Across The Water by Elton John
May 07 2024

Nothing wrong with this, I just found it very boring. Every song sounded the same. Won’t be in a rush to listen again.

Atomizer by Big Black
May 08 2024

Noisy and frantic. A bit like Pixies on speed. Good album and a much needed energy boost after Elton John yesterday. Shame it’s not on Spotify, the compression hindered the audio quality a bit on Soundcloud. Think they took their material off Spotify in protests as a few artists did a couple years back. Would sound great live. Favourite song: Big Money

May 09 2024

Made for good background music but I didn’t find it particularly interesting. Enjoyable enough but I wouldn’t go out of my way to listen again. I do admit my opinion may be slightly affected by the fact that we’ve have 3 funky-ish albums already. One can only funk so much!

Winter In America by Gil Scott-Heron
May 10 2024

What is bro yapping about? Half of this didn’t even feel like music, lots of talking with indiscriminate jazz in the background. The tracks without drums were very boring which felt like most of them. I wasn’t keen on the flute sprinkled throughout either. I feel like if I read about what he’s talking about I’d ‘get’ it more, but I don’t want to have to research to enjoy an album the first time. For some reason I predict dad will like this though 🔮

Aftermath by The Rolling Stones
May 13 2024

A solid album. I like a few tracks by the Rolling Stones but for some reason I can’t get that into them, so this was probably the first album of theirs I’ve listened to the whole way through. Paint It, Black is obviously a classic and rightly so. I’d like it if more of the album was this dark - a few tracks were more generic rock and roll which were ok but not that memorable. Under My Thumb and Lady Jane are very good. The closing track was too long and trailed off into a jam with some sleazy ad libs from Jagger that I didn’t care much for. A good listen all in all, and a nice way to close week 2! Favourite track: Paint It, Black

3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul
May 14 2024

Great album. I love the fun, upbeat sound - complete contrast with the darker Public Enemy album we had previously. At an hour long I was worried the album would feel bloated but it didn’t at all. The skits throughout were fun and I read this album was the first to do it which is cool. Apart from De La Orgee - what was that! I liked the fact that it was loosely a concept album with the game show theme. The flow and wordplay were top notch throughout and the samples were brilliantly woven in. Can’t pick one favourite track but Tread Water, Jenifa Tought Me, Ghetto Thang and The Magic Number all stood out to me. Will be coming back to this for sure.

Fifth Dimension by The Byrds
May 15 2024

Enjoyable album. Early psychedelic rock. Sonically perhaps could’ve been more varied. Eight Miles High and Hey Joe are standout tracks, the latter of which reminded me of Led Zeppelin.

For Your Pleasure by Roxy Music
May 16 2024

Oscillates between awesome and awful - often within the same song.

Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz
May 17 2024

Safe and inoffensive. If this was a restuarant, it would be Nandos.

25 by Adele
May 20 2024

Adele is undoubtedly a fantastic singer. Hello is an incredible opener, powerful and striking. Million Years Ago was an unexpected delight. Unfortunately a lot of the other tracks blended into each other. Soulful ballads get boring quick.

War by U2
May 21 2024

Before this I’d only listened to The Joshua Tree and their big hits. This album has a grittier sound which I didn’t know U2 had in their discography. Bono’s voice is brilliant. Lyrics are good, obviously quite political - I would’ve preferred the topic to mix up a bit but the music was great so it didn’t matter. ‘War’ didn’t have a bad track. Each song felt varied enough while still feeling cohesive as an album. Closing track “40” sounded a lot like their mellower later stuff - foreshadowing perhaps? Great album overall, and didn’t overstay its welcome at 42 minutes long. Favourite track: New Year’s Day

G. Love And Special Sauce by G. Love & Special Sauce
May 23 2024

Cool, laid-back album. Consistently decent but nothing that blew me away. I liked the blues/hip hop influence and the drums and bass lines were nice. Dragged a bit towards the end - could’ve done with the last 4/5 songs being cut. Favourite track: This Ain’t Living

May 24 2024

This is good music. A bit Radiohead, a bit Weezer, a bit Eels. Never heard of Wilco but glad I have now. Favourite track: War on War

Moon Safari by Air
May 28 2024

A bit boring. I enjoyed ‘Remember’ but otherwise nothing much stood out to me.

Live And Dangerous by Thin Lizzy
May 29 2024

Live albums aren’t something I listen to often. I prefer studio albums - if I want to watch a live show I’ll go to one! Or watch old shows on YouTube so you can actually see it. What’s more, this isn’t even a true live album - it’s snippets from several live shows with studio recordings and crowd noise overdubbed. It’s neither a live album nor a studio album. So what’s the point? 3 stars because the songs are solid but the format means I probably won’t come back to this, and a double album at 1h 16mins is too long.

Odelay by Beck
May 30 2024

Mixed bag. Cool mostly, weird in places and not necessarily in an enjoyable way. I like his voice. Favourite track: Jack-Ass

1977 by Ash
May 31 2024

Delightful synthesis of grunge and britpop. Sounds a mix of Oasis, Nirvana and Green Day. Opening with the sound of a Tie fighter is worth the rating alone!

1999 by Prince
Jun 03 2024

Big funky sexy purple album. Some great tracks here and others that lost me a bit. Favourites were 1999, D.M.S.R, Lady Cab Driver. 3.5/5, rounding down.

Getz/Gilberto by Stan Getz
Jun 04 2024

There is a time and place where I would love this album. Perhaps in the early evening on holiday, somewhere hot - going for a stroll or having a glass of wine on the balcony before dinner. Or sipping coffee in some French cafe on Sunday. A hectic Monday at work in overcast England sadly did not match the vibe. While it didn’t click with me immediately, I can appreciate this is a beautifully constructed album with excellent production. Relaxing and carefree. Right now this album isn’t for me. But one day, I know it will be.

Being There by Wilco
Jun 05 2024

I liked Yankee Hotel Foxtrot but this was significantly worse. The songs aren’t as strong and it sticks around long enough to become boring. Last track sounds like I Saw Her Standing There except it tails off into nonsense for 3 minutes after the song’s natural conclusion. Watered down snooze-fest 🥱

Marcus Garvey by Burning Spear
Jun 06 2024

Top tier. Every track is good, great instrumentation, and what a voice! I can’t think of a flaw so has to be 5. Immaculate vibes. Favourite track: Live Good

The Wall by Pink Floyd
Jun 07 2024

An incredible sonic experience, as Pink Floyd albums typically are. A little bloated but the quality throughout is irrefutable.

Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits
Jun 10 2024

Tracks 1-3 - 10000/10 Tracks 4-7 - 6/10 Tracks 8-9 - 8/10 Starts unbelievably strong. Money For Nothing has possibly the best guitar riff of all time. Walk Of Life is also brilliant, always thought it sounded very Bruce Springsteen. A few of the later tracks are more forgettable. Great album but it does lose steam a tad which prevents it from being 5 stars.

This Year's Model by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Jun 11 2024

I can definitely hear the influences on later indie rock and britpop. Hard to believe this came out in the 70s, it sounds much more modern. Some good tracks scattered around but on the whole it’s not interesting enough to make me want to listen to again and again. Lipstick Vogue is brilliant though.

The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
Jun 12 2024

Brilliant album. Captures that same nostalgic feeling I get from a packet of pom-bears or ‘1979’ by the Smashing Pumpkins. It’s just really good music. I listen to all the Arcade Fire studio albums semi-regularly and there isn’t a bad one (yet to listen to We). The Suburbs and Funeral are the best of the lot.

Homework by Daft Punk
Jun 13 2024

Big fan of Random Access Memories and various singles but never listened to Homework the whole way through. I was pleasantly surprised by how house this album is. It’s quite barebones compared to a lot of modern house but that doesn’t stop it being an absolute groove. Can see how this is so influential for the house & electronic genres. Majority of tracks are excellent as standalone songs. A couple of tracks felt as though they were designed to be woven into a DJ mix and not listened to necessarily the whole way through or as part of an album… I’m very torn about marking them down for that. It’s music engineered for the dance floor - the ‘album’ is secondary. In this project I am judging each record as an album. As a collection of influential house tracks to get the party bouncing, this is 5 stars. As a cohesive album, this is 4 stars. Favourite tracks: Daftendirekt, Revolution 909, Da Funk, Phoenix, Indo Silver Club, Alive

Like A Prayer by Madonna
Jun 14 2024

Decent 80s pop. Not much to say about it positive or negative. Doubt I’ll be coming back to listen again. Distinctly average. 2.5/5, rounding down because it’s a bit preachy.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Jun 17 2024

Something about his face on the album cover is unbelievably irritating. He was sat there smirking at me the whole time I was listening, judging me intensely with those beady eyes. It was very distracting. Not cool Tom. As for the music, it was alright

Ellington at Newport by Duke Ellington
Jun 18 2024

I might have rated this higher if it wasn’t: A. A live album B. 2 hours long C. Incredibly boring

Bone Machine by Tom Waits
Jun 19 2024

Please god make it stop I can see some decent songs buried somewhere here. But they’re made obsolete by some questionable mixing/producing and his strange voice. Clear your throat man!

Dirty by Sonic Youth
Jun 20 2024

Sounds like a bad Pixies cover band

The Clash by The Clash
Jun 21 2024

It’s alright. Decent early punk but nothing blew me away, I think their later stuff is better.

The Man Machine by Kraftwerk
Jun 24 2024

Big fan of this album since Mum helped me identify The Model after the melody popped into my head one day about 10 years ago. I was looking forward to Kraftwerk coming up on this list. Wayyyy ahead of its time, still sounds like the future now. They basically created the electronic & techno genres. Brilliant the whole way through. I listened to this on my flight home from Croatia. Had this incredible moment when Neon Lights was playing as the plane was lifting in the night air, lights flashing on the plane and the runway, then seeing the lights of Split from above. The plane lights even seemed to be in time with the music. Hell of a song/moment combo. Very cool album, have enjoyed before and will enjoy again!

Stardust by Willie Nelson
Jun 25 2024

Never listened Willie Nelson before but I loved this! The songs are kinda simple but that’s part of what makes them so good. Smooth voice and sweet lyrics without straying into corny town. It’s all very nice and I enjoyed it a lot.

Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg
Jun 26 2024

This is to rap music what Fast & Furious is to action movies. Completely over the top, but undoubtedly pretty fun. Lyrics are best taken tongue in cheek, but the beats and bass lines are solid.

Queens of the Stone Age by Queens Of The Stone Age
Jun 28 2024

Great sound. Makes you want to ride through the desert on a Harley Davidson. Songs For The Deaf is my favourite album of theirs but this is still very good. Favourite track: Mexicola

All Things Must Pass by George Harrison
Jul 01 2024

❤️ Masterpiece. Radiates warmth and sunshine. We’re lucky the world gave us George Harrison. This album is heavenly.

Abbey Road by Beatles
Jul 02 2024

I like Maxwell’s Silver Hammer ok, shoot me

Jul 03 2024

Too serious for me. I prefer more laid back, playful rap. For most of this Tupac was talking about his life and struggles he’s been through, but I don’t know or care enough about him to be engaged by it. Musically it all sounded the same. Can’t see myself listening again.

Tago Mago by Can
Jul 04 2024

Paperhouse - Good track. Elements of Red Hot Chili Peppers & Foals, can see how this inspired bands Mushroom - Mushroom head mushroom head Oh Yeah - Sounds like it belongs on OK Computer. Good drum beats Halleluwah - Groovy baby Augmn - What the hell You should win a t-shirt if you make it through all 17 minutes of this Peking O - Sounds like year 7 music when you and your mates mess about on the keyboards Bring Me Coffee or Tea - Thank god it’s over

Jul 05 2024

Lively album but mostly just noise. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Initially had the original version on which sounded very flat - the 2022 mix sounds much better.

Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake
Jul 08 2024

Edit: Had to update this review after I first wrote it. Wow. I am blown away. My life feels richer for having Nick Drake’s music in it. He was remarkable. — How beautiful are the lyrics. Each song is a perfectly sculpted story. Lyrically the best album we’ve had on this list so far - I was reading along while I listened and it’s pure poetry. Intricate acoustic guitar and nice supporting instrumentation. Quite a lovely sounding album, and one that I’ve heard a lot over the years thanks to mum! Very much a ‘Sunday’ album for me, will always remind me of dinner lunch :) I went on a bit of a Nick Drake binge and listened to each of his albums on repeat over the weekend. Each one is brilliant. Incredibly tragic that he passed away at 26 without knowing how many people his work would touch one day. Fruit Tree manages to predict his fate and legacy with eerie accuracy. Truly the Van Gogh of music. Favourite tracks: Fruit Tree, The Thoughts Of Mary Jane, Time Has Told Me

So by Peter Gabriel
Jul 09 2024

Only love can make looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove

Face to Face by The Kinks
Jul 10 2024

The Kinks are fine. I just can’t shake the feeling that The Beatles did everything they did but with far better production, lyrics, vocals, instrumentation, creativity, and with greater variety & experimentation in sound and genres. For that reason, I don’t find myself listening to them much. I like the racy, distorted sound of The Kinks on some of their debut album, but this was smoother and less abrasive - to its detriment. I don’t hear much that sets them apart from other British bands at the time, besides the singer’s distinctive voice - always sounds like he’s got a blocked nose! Considering this album came out within the same couple of months as Revolver, this is far, far behind. Sunny Afternoon is brilliant but otherwise a forgettable album. Sorry Dad.

Devotional Songs by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Jul 11 2024

90 minutes of wailing. Yoko Ono must be a fan.

Bad by Michael Jackson
Jul 12 2024

Shamone! Some bangers in here and some filler. Thought the drums and guitar work was solid, particularly on the faster tracks. I don’t have very strong feelings about this album, it’s just ‘good’.

Ramones by Ramones
Jul 15 2024

3 stars seems to be about the ceiling for my enjoyment of punk albums. This one reaches that ceiling.

Parachutes by Coldplay
Jul 16 2024

“People like Coldplay and voted for the nazis. You can’t trust people, Jeremy.” — In all seriousness, the first two Coldplay albums are some of my favourite albums of all time. Their music has been on a steady decline ever since, and frustration with their more commercial recent stuff is completely justified when you know the calibre of music they CAN produce but choose not to. But that doesn’t take away from those first two albums. Parachutes and A Rush of Blood to the Head are exceptional. Parachutes is melancholy, dream-like, with an almost aching beauty. Timeless, too - and feels like it is aging very well. I love this album. Favourite track: Trouble

Infected by The The
Jul 17 2024

Thought the first half of this album was very good but it tailed off a bit. Still an enjoyable album from a band I’ve never listened to before. Good stuff!

Hypnotised by The Undertones
Jul 18 2024

Annoying voice, boring music. Not outright terrible but just didn’t have anything that made me want to listen again.

Dire Straits by Dire Straits
Jul 22 2024

Fire straits 🔥🔥🔥

Dummy by Portishead
Jul 23 2024

This album sounds how sleep deprivation feels. Soundtrack of doomers. It’s one of those albums where I really haven’t listened to anything like it before. I had to keep retyping my review as my opinion kept changing. Initially I hated it but it grew on me as the album progressed, and more again with a second listen. Really loved Roads so that earns it a star alone. I was reminded of Gorillaz in places. Very bleak and atmospheric. If I was feeling depressed and wanted to feel more depressed I would put this album on. It’s like the antonym of Getz/Gilberto. I’m not sure how often I’ll be in the mood to listen to this, but without a doubt it has expanded my musical horizons. Will revisit.

Jul 25 2024

Pretty good. Feels like they were still finding their sound a bit with this album. Talking Heads are at their best when they’re groovy and there was a fair bit of that here. Strong 3 but didn’t wow me enough for a 4.

1989 by Taylor Swift
Jul 29 2024

Certified hood classic. Taylor Swift is an absolute chart hit machine - there are so many huge songs in this album and you can see why. Banger after banger. The only problem is that her music is incredibly one-dimensional. After a few tracks I was ready to score this album very highly, but by the end, the lack of development or nuance had me getting a bit bored. Nonetheless, this is a top quality pop record that still sounds fresh a decade on. So many great singalong songs. Lyrically it’s okay but she’s cracked the code of writing songs that a VAST number of people can relate to, and she writes all her own stuff. Taylor Swift does one thing and she does it well. A bit like AC/DC… bet that’s a comparison you didn’t expect to read today! Well earned 4 stars. Haters gonna hate.

The Gershwin Songbook by Ella Fitzgerald
Jul 30 2024

I was ready to go in guns blazing about the 3 hour runtime but this album is very pleasant indeed. Great voice, fun lyrics, smooth and relaxing music. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be ‘charming’. Definitely far too long, but I listened to the whole 3 hours while I was working on a warm sunny day and it made for a very peaceful Monday. Favourite songs: They All Laughed, Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off

Here, My Dear by Marvin Gaye
Aug 02 2024

Good music, if a little boring. Sexy music done well. Tim Buckley, take note…

You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
Aug 05 2024

Wow. This is really good. Dark, but with a real warmth. Some brilliant lyrics, sparse but effective production with excellent bits dropped in like the strings on Travelling Light, and the guitar on If I Didn’t Have Your Love. Bass lines were great the whole way through. I like the slow but not sluggish pace. The whole album feels like I’m in a small dimly lit bar sipping whiskey and smoking cigarettes. I love his voice. As a fan of The Streets I’m not adverse to a bit of talking over music as long as they’re saying something worth listening to. And Leonard Cohen definitely is here. Some real poetry, made even more visceral by the fact he wrote and released this just weeks before dying. Immediately the parallel with Bowie’s Blackstar was apparent. It takes a true artist to create something so introspective and beautiful in the knowledge that their time is almost over. Bravo Leonard Cohen. Favourite track: If I Didn’t Have Your Love

Thriller by Michael Jackson
Aug 06 2024

Great album but definitely not the GOAT like a lot of people say, not even close. The good tracks are very good but there are a couple of duds - including the Paul McCartney one, surprisingly. You can see why it’s a classic though. Thriller / Beat It / Billie Jean as a three track run is just ridiculous. This album has been overplayed in my lifetime from 1999 onwards - I can only imagine the craze this caused in the 1980s.

The Sensual World by Kate Bush
Aug 07 2024

Didn’t really enjoy this. Production was too over-the-top-80s. She’s a good singer but I found her wailing style a bit tiring after a few songs. Not my thing.

Throwing Muses by Throwing Muses
Aug 08 2024

Guitar was decent in places but the lyrics and vocal style didn’t do it for me.

Tuesday Night Music Club by Sheryl Crow
Aug 09 2024

Could tell exactly what this was going to sound like just from the album cover.

Aug 12 2024

This was great. Some brilliant songs and some brilliant covers. Johnny Cash has an excellent way of telling sad stories through his music.

Bayou Country by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Aug 13 2024

I don’t know what Chooglin’ means and at this point I’m too afraid to ask. If there’s one thing I gained from this album it’s that I must keep on chooglin’, so choogle I shall. I like Creedence Clearwater Revival. To me they sound like Led Zeppelin’s chilled out stoner cousin. Overall it’s good but nothing earth-shattering.

Aug 14 2024

This album is amazing! Science/Visions blew my mind! Don’t know why I haven’t listened to CHVRCHES before. I knew a couple of songs that were on FIFA but that was all. They’re a bit like The 1975, a bit like La Roux, but more sophisticated than both. The singer has a great voice and I love the synths. Such a beautiful colourful soundscape, made me feel all tingly.

...Baby One More Time by Britney Spears
Aug 15 2024

Lots of albums on this list feel like they are expanding my mind. With this one I actually felt my braincells withering away. E-mail my heart 😂

Hms Fable by Shack
Aug 16 2024

This is good. Sounds a bit like Ash and The Coral, and a few tracks were very Stone Roses. Definitely starts stronger than it finishes but still lots of good tracks throughout.

Lust For Life by Iggy Pop
Aug 19 2024

Pretty good but didn’t have the wow factor. I like the Bowie influence, didn’t realise he was so involved. Sixteen was creepy.

The Chronic by Dr. Dre
Aug 20 2024

Good music, good delivery, good features.

Pretzel Logic by Steely Dan
Aug 21 2024

A great sounding album and an interesting mix of different sounds. Only half an hour long but I never knew what the next track was going to sound like. All very well produced and mastered. — Rikki Don’t Lose That Number - sounds like Bowie Night By Night - Funky. Sounds like In The Gallery by Dire Straits. Sweet guitar solo. Barrytown - Reminded me of The Beatles - ‘Tell Me What You See’ on Help! East St Louis - reminded me of Raindrop Prelude by Chopin at the start, with a jazzy west side story Pixar movie type thing. Big wah Pretzel Logic - think I’ve heard this one. Sounds very bluesy Monkey in your soul - also sounds quite Bowie

Axis: Bold As Love by Jimi Hendrix
Aug 22 2024

I feel like I should like this more than I do. It’s good but nothing really gripped me. Somehow it wasn’t psychedelic enough

Happy Trails by Quicksilver Messenger Service
Aug 23 2024

Rubbish. More of a jam than an album. It’s like they hadn’t actually written anything before they sat down and pressed record.

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins
Aug 26 2024

This was great. Quite a long album but I put it in the background when I was gaming with the boys after a busy day (attempting the Der Eisendrache EE on BO3 Zombies) and it made for a fitting soundtrack. I already knew a few of the bigger singles but the tracks in between were good too. Favourite track: 1979

Aug 27 2024

Besides the first few songs this was quite forgettable. It’s Queen so it’s still good but not many of their best songs were on here.

Get Behind Me Satan by The White Stripes
Aug 28 2024

Another album I thought I would enjoy more than I did. Quite a disjointed album, wasn’t particularly rocky and never felt like it got going. I like a few White Stripes singles so was expecting a little more.

Tank Battles by Dagmar Krause
Aug 29 2024

I’m actually glad this isn’t on Spotify. Any barrier preventing me from listening to this again is a good thing.

Brown Sugar by D'Angelo
Aug 30 2024

I liked this. Had a classic RNB feel and good vocals. Not the deepest music in the world but nice relaxing background music. Reminded me a bit of Craig David.

Tracy Chapman by Tracy Chapman
Sep 02 2024

These are good songs. Didn’t set my world on fire but was still enjoyable and I can see why she’s popular.

Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan
Sep 03 2024

The first thing I’ll say is I can really hear how he influenced The Beatles. Much of this record sounds like it was pulled straight from the Let It Be album. Unfortunately, this didn’t really move me. I like some of his more folky acoustic stuff like on Freewheelin’, so I’m looking forward to that coming up on this generator. His singing style on this one was a bit more… shouty? It’s his distinctive style but it’s like he’s exclaiming each line rather than singing it, I’m not really a fan. It’s pretty good music, and endlessly influential, but not one of my favourites. And tune your guitar man! Desolation Row was by far my favourite song, if more of the album sounded like that would’ve scored it higher.

Wild Is The Wind by Nina Simone
Sep 04 2024

I listened to this with Jess on the drive back from Northampton and we enjoyed this. Good songs and a great voice. Did get a bit tedious towards the end of the album, but still solid.

Vincebus Eruptum by Blue Cheer
Oct 02 2024

Cool to listen to some early heavy metal but I can’t see myself coming back to this.

I don’t like live albums. Harmonica was ear-piercing and too much of it. Annoying singing. Rudimentary, uninspiring guitar. Lyrics are good but not good enough to carry this ‘album’ for 90 minutes. A few songs are solid, like Desolation Row and I Don’t Believe You. But those were not written for this album specifically, and so this album doesn’t deserve credit for them. Which begs the question - what does this album in isolation offer? The answer is simple - very little. I’m aware I’m harsh on live albums but I see nothing wrong with that. I’ve loved Oasis’s entire discography for years but how many times have I actually sat down and listened to Knebworth 1966 (Live)? Maaaaaybe once? Studio albums are where it’s at, for this list anyway. My criticism isn’t purely because it’s a live album though. That slow, wailing rendition of Like a Rolling Stone at the end was frankly annoying to listen to. Bleh. Sorry Bob, this doesn’t do it for me.

Oct 04 2024

Just makes you feel good! He has a great voice, really soulful. I think Paulo Nutini must have been a fan, this reminded me of him. Strong 3 but didn’t quite grab me enough to warrant a 4, it’s just nice relaxing music.

Can't Buy A Thrill by Steely Dan
Oct 07 2024

Solid, easy listening dad rock. No weak points but also no big highs, just a good album the whole way through. I preferred Pretzel Logic - that one felt more varied and interesting to listen to. Still, another strong 3 - I’m giving out a lot of 3s at the minute!

Back To Black by Amy Winehouse
Oct 08 2024

I was already familiar with Amy Winehouse and this album, as I think most people who grew up in Britain in the early 2000s are. She really was incredible. What I picked up from properly listening to this album on headphones is just how beautifully it was produced. Each sound and instrument was perfectly selected to create a wonderful mood and to support Amy’s fantastic vocals and lyrics. Goosebumps, multiple times, even on the tracks I’ve heard hundreds of times before. Rest in peace Amy Winehouse. She was a star.

Back to Basics by Christina Aguilera
Oct 09 2024

Piss poor. ‘Thank You’ was the most self-absorbed piece of music I’ve ever heard

Van Halen by Van Halen
Oct 11 2024

This sounds great up loud. Everything about it is BIG. I love the heavy, crunchy guitar sound, and some of the lead guitar is very technically impressive. I can imagine Van Halen would’ve been amazing to watch live. A reliable personal barometer by which I gauge my enjoyment of music is how it makes me feel physically. When I’m enjoying a piece of music I get this electric shivering sensation down my arms and legs, and I got it with this album. I watched Wayne’s World 2 this week, and this is exactly the sort of thing they would like. Party on, Garth!

Buena Vista Social Club by Buena Vista Social Club
Oct 14 2024

This was cool! Listened to this with Jess on the drive to Liverpool and the word she used to describe it is ‘vibey’ which is pretty accurate. Talented group of players and good to listen to something I would never think to put on otherwise.

Oct 15 2024

I could go on and on about how great this album is, but I don’t need to. The music and its legacy speaks for itself. Mega. Roll (with it) on Heaton Park 2025!

Heroes by David Bowie
Oct 16 2024

This was an interesting one. I like David Bowie a lot. Some of his stuff can be a little difficult to digest at first, including this album, but that adds depth and intrigue. This album felt rewarding to listen to multiple times. After listening 3 or 4 times I’m still not sure how to rate this. Initially it felt too experimental, but I grew to really like the first half of the record - particularly Heroes and Sons of the Silent Age. I’m not really sure about the ambient tracks. 3.5/5, rounding up, but I reckon with more time it could easily become a strong 4.

Horses by Patti Smith
Oct 17 2024

It’s not completely unlistenable but I honestly couldn’t name a single thing I liked about this album.

Inspiration Information by Shuggie Otis
Oct 18 2024

Relaxing, funky, easy listening, some nice guitar in places. Goes on for a bit too long, would benefit from having some of the noodley tracks in the middle of the album cut. Strawberry Letter 23 was the standout track for me, liked that a lot. Great name too 🍓✉️ 2️⃣3️⃣

Remain In Light by Talking Heads
Oct 22 2024

Top notch. Really unique sound, so many layers and intriguing sounds going on. I love the fast, frantic pace of the first half of the album. It’s almost like house and dance music, pulls you into a trance.

The Next Day by David Bowie
Oct 23 2024

If this album was a box of chocolates it would be Celebrations. Because it’s better than Heroes

The Doors by The Doors
Oct 24 2024

If you take some mediocre Rolling Stones album tracks and slap in some organ, you have The Doors. The organ sound is distinctive but sounds incredibly dated. 3 stars because I like the psychedelic lyrics, and it’s undeniable that The Doors create a unique mood.

Queen II by Queen
Oct 25 2024

I know it’s Queen but I didn’t really enjoy this. It seemed kind of directionless. Forgettable album

Innervisions by Stevie Wonder
Oct 28 2024

Boring. Intriguingly dissonant at the start, then moderately funky, then tapers off into sleepy ballads and ditties.

Blur by Blur
Oct 29 2024

I like Blur a lot, saw them at Wembley in their comeback tour last year which was amazing, but I’d be lying if I gave this anything above 3. Beetlebum and Song 2 are brilliant, but the tracks that follow don’t live up to them at all. Modern Life Is Rubbish, Parklife, The Great Escape, and their 2023 album The Ballad Of Darren are all better than this.

Parklife by Blur
Oct 30 2024

Peak Britpop. Lighthearted, fun, with great lyrics and stories throughout, and unmistakably British. Girls & Boys, Tracy Jacks, End of a Century, Parklife, Badhead, To the End. This is Blur firing on all cylinders.

OK Computer by Radiohead
Oct 31 2024

OK Computer is one of those albums that makes you go, fuck me, how did humans create that. Absolutely extraordinary. There isn’t a single moment that isn’t brilliant. Musically it’s very sophisticated. I love how Radiohead aren’t afraid to play with time signature, such as the switch from 4/4 to 7/8 in Paranoid Android, to the drifting 6/8 in Subterranean Homesick Alien, to the delicious polyrhythms in Let Down. Production is brilliant, with beautiful layers of sound washing over you, and some excellent riffs and guitar work from Jonny Greenwood. There’s something extraterrestrial about it all - as if OK Computer fell off the spaceship of a particularly cynical martian. To say the lyrics are poignant is an understatement. It really speaks to the side of me that loves to take an Orwellian, dystopian view on the world - all delivered with Thom’s delicate but striking vocals. I’m running out of adjectives. If I could rate this a hundred stars I would.

Ys by Joanna Newsom
Nov 01 2024

Björk meets Tones and I? Ys is an intriguing and conflicting album. The strings arrangements are quite lovely. It’s trying to sound much older than it is, which it sort of achieves, but suffers from her irritating goo-goo baby voice. She’s like a millennial bard. Artistically there’s something there, and the lyrics are quite ambitious and vivid in imagery, but I can’t get on board with it. After a few minutes I was annoyed. I’d like this a lot more if it was an instrumental.

Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
Nov 04 2024

This is pretty great. I know they’re acclaimed but hadn’t really listened to them much before. They’re a bit like a more wistful Fleetwood Mac. Quite folky which I like. I saw a video of them performing Scarborough Fair the other day which was really good too (despite their American mispronunciation of ‘Scarborough’). I like these guys. I’m getting more into folk thanks to a certain Nick Drake, and Simon & Garfunkel scratch a similar itch. Will listen again.

Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan
Nov 05 2024

The best Bob Dylan album we’ve had on this list so far. More acoustic focused which is where he shines, and the tracks that have electric guitar use it tastefully like ‘Meet Me In The Morning’. His vocals are significantly better and less annoying than in Highway 61 Revisited. He actually sings well in this one. Still not convinced he’s the genius people claim he is but this gets the thumbs up from me. Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts is the standout track - what a story!

Group Sex by Circle Jerks
Nov 06 2024

Well at least it was only 15 minutes

Songs For Swingin' Lovers! by Frank Sinatra
Nov 07 2024

Nice album. Romantic crooner songs have their place, and Frank Sinatra delivers them well in his buttery smooth voice. Each song sounded the same to the point where it was hard to distinguish them from one another, but it didn’t stop it from being a pleasant listen.

Ill Communication by Beastie Boys
Nov 11 2024

Enjoyed the 90s hiphop sound and the instrumental ‘filler’ tracks were pretty good too.

Ágætis Byrjun by Sigur Rós
Nov 12 2024

Ágætis byrjun ebbs and flows with exquisite beauty. It might be one of the most beautiful albums I’ve ever heard. Each song drifts gently into the next, rising to astonishing crescendos (such as Viðrar vel til loftárása), then fading away until the next one. A gorgeous Icelandic mountain range for the ears. I have no idea what the lyrics mean but that doesn’t matter. This album is as much sonic art as it is music, transcending language and genres. It’s almost like classical music but with the addition of modern instruments and production techniques. A couple of the more guitar-let tracks reminded me of Radiohead and felt like fitting resting points before continuing the hike to the next peak, to continue the mountain analogy. I love everything about this. Somehow it captures the essence of beauty in life; I can’t imagine any day in which you listen to this with your full attention being a bad one. Hoppípola is not on this album but deserves praise too. I’ve liked that song for years but never probed further, but I’m glad I have now. Thanks Sigur Rós.

Zombie by Fela Kuti
Nov 13 2024

Can hear the influence on Talking Heads here, particularly in the first track. Really strong start to the album but unfortunately it gets a bit boring towards the end.

Lady In Satin by Billie Holiday
Nov 14 2024

Not unpleasant to listen to but sooo booooooooooring. I wasn’t keen on her voice either.

Slanted And Enchanted by Pavement
Nov 15 2024

Mostly throwaway trashy vaguely grungey 90s rock, but it had its moments. Zürich Is Stained and Loretta’s Scars were really good. Sort of like Pixies or Smashing Pumpkins but with less oomph and madness.

Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Nov 18 2024

I was going to give this four stars, but fuck it, Take Five! This was excellent. Our best jazz album on the generator so far, up there with Getz/Gilberto. Listened to it twice in a row. I’d heard Take Five before and it’s such a good track, love it. The whole album is so well recorded and produced, it’s from 1959 but sounds like it released yesterday. And I love the percussion and unusual time signatures. Relaxing but interesting to listen to. Great stuff. I’m not usually a jazz listener but I can’t find a flaw with this. I visited the famous Village Vanguard jazz club in Downtown New York recently and this album makes me want to go back.

Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones
Nov 19 2024

Not bad music but it didn’t do much for me.

There's A Riot Goin' On by Sly & The Family Stone
Nov 20 2024

At its best, it’s fairly boring funk. At its worst, it’s a directionless jam with some weird musical choices like yodelling? Not sure about this. Luv N’ Haight & Runnin’ Away were the only tracks I enjoyed really.

Out of Step by Minor Threat
Feb 04 2025

This delivered a much needed speedball energy hit at 9:30 on a Monday morning in the office. Power chords baby!

Electric Music For The Mind And Body by Country Joe & The Fish
Feb 05 2025

Bland, generic 60s psychedelic rock. I was close to giving this 1 star to be honest but the first half of the album was okay.

The Fat Of The Land by The Prodigy
Feb 14 2025

Peak 90s rave. I imagine seeing The Prodigy in a big warehouse in the 90s is probably one of the greatest experiences you can have as a human being.

Sea Change by Beck
Feb 17 2025

A wonderful album that took me by surprise. I didn’t love Odelay but Sea Change is very good. Beck is a distinguished songwriter and guitarist, and this album is both relaxing and moving. I was trying to work out its influences, of which I’m sure there are many, but the most obvious to me was Nick Drake. Round the Bend is very reminiscent of River Man. The album also sounds quite similar to Radiohead and Eels in places, but that’s not to say it doesn’t stand on its own two feet.

Imagine by John Lennon
Feb 18 2025

Good album but if I was to rank post-Beatle albums it would be below All Things Must Pass and Band On The Run. Still very good - Jealous Guy is heavenly, one of my favourite songs ever.

Feb 20 2025

I got massively into this album in my second year of uni - a time when I was listening to a lot of Britpop and Madchester music, as well as discovering my love for dance music - house, drum & bass, bassline and techno. It was one of the most significant years in defining who I am as a person, and this album will always remind me of those times. Pills ‘N’ Thrills And Bellyaches doesn’t want you to take it seriously, and doing so kinda spoils the fun. Because that’s the main thing this album is - fun. Bob’s Yer Uncle is the only track I’ve never been keen on, but there are so many great tracks - Kinky Afro, God’s Cop, Dennis and Lois, Step On. Musically and lyrically, there are far more adept albums on this list. But this has a laid back indie/dance funk that I always find myself coming back to.

Vol. 4 by Black Sabbath
Feb 21 2025

Raw, good guitar sound and great vocals from Ozzy, but didn’t have many standout moments for me.

Pink Moon by Nick Drake
Feb 24 2025

Pink Moon is so good that I can’t even begin to write a review that does it justice. After Five Leaves Left came up on the generator last year, Nick Drake rapidly became one of my favourite artists. I’d heard his music before from Mum and Dad, but when sitting down and giving his music my full attention, I was struck by his poetic lyrics, unique folk guitar style, and incredible songwriting despite his troubled life and short music career. Pink Moon is perhaps Nick’s magnum opus - his final album, written and recorded at a time when he’d all but given up. It’s very barebones; gone are the drums from Bryter Layer or the strings from Five Leaves Left. Just Nick and his guitar. It’s moving, warm, delicate, and melancholy. Learning Nick’s songs on the guitar only grew my appreciation of them. From the intricate finger picking patterns in Parasite, to the unconventional tuning throughout the album, reconstructing his songs myself continues to be a rewarding challenge. He plays his own way, unlike anyone else. And he does all that whilst singing some of the most beautiful and profound lyrics ever written? Nick Drake was a genius.

Gorillaz by Gorillaz
Feb 25 2025

Banger of an album and a very successful musical experiment by Damon and co. Too many good tracks - Tomorrow Comes Today, Clint Eastwood, Rock the House, 5/4, etc. And all the album tracks in between are brilliant and set the mood perfectly. Having now listened to Portishead thanks to the generator, I can now see the connection and influence between them, particularly with the trip-hop elements in tracks like New Genius (Brother). Enjoyed listening to this again, I’ve got it on repeat now!

I Am a Bird Now by Antony and the Johnsons
Feb 28 2025

One of them where it’s not my usual thing but I can tell it’s really good and deserves praise. Very talented singer with a unique voice, and the musical arrangements are done very well. Emotive. I was already familiar with this album as it was played a lot by mum & dad when I was younger. Was a nice surprise when I pressed play and recognised it immediately!

Ready To Die by The Notorious B.I.G.
Mar 03 2025

I don’t think I’ve ever related to music less.

My Aim Is True by Elvis Costello
Mar 04 2025

Pretty good. Not much more to say

Rip It Up by Orange Juice
Mar 05 2025

Holy moly, this is great. A very tight, dance type groove that reminds of Talking Heads in the faster songs. This sounds really ahead of its time - it could easily be an indie rock album released this year. Hard to believe it came out in the early 80s. It almost starts off too strong. The first four tracks are brilliant, then it tails off a bit with Breakfast Time. It picks up a bit again towards the end with Hokoyo.

Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi
Mar 06 2025

This album serves as a vehicle for the delivery of Livin’ On A Prayer & You Give Love A Bad Name. It’s the sugar coating on a tablet allowing the medicine to pass directly into your bloodstream. But I wouldn’t eat paracetamol for the capsule. And I wouldn’t listen to this album for the tracks that aren’t the two huge singles. The rest of the album is a big hairball of glam rock fluff. Sorry mum!

If we made contact with aliens and wanted to share a record with them that best represents music created by humans in the last 60 years, you’d struggle to find a better one than this. This album is simply great. It’s everything really. Timeless, progressive, funny, poignant, vibrant, and catchy. No weak tracks. Doesn’t overstay its welcome at 38 minutes, yet so much is packed in. Faultless. On top of that, my family loves Bowie and our amazing cat was named Ziggy, so it ticks the sentimental box too. Wham bam thank ya mam!

Mar 10 2025

I liked a lot of the flow, delivery and rhythm, but while I’m sure there’s a lot of truth in the struggles they describe, a lot of the lyrics and themes didn’t really resonate with me. It also went on for a bit too long, and some of the sample based tracks simply aren’t as good as the originals.

Play by Moby
Mar 11 2025

Moby is pretty great. Porcelain is beautiful, always gives me goosebumps. Lots of other really good tracks throughout too. I also really enjoyed the techno tracks like Machete - I would’ve liked a bit more of this. Guess I need to check out more of Moby’s earlier techno stuff. Marking it down a star because it’s not the most cohesive album, and particularly towards the end it just seems like a few experimental tracks thrown together a bit. And I didn’t care much for the ambient sound collage type tracks like 7 and down slow. Still a great album - reminds me of when I studied Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad in GCSE music

Toys In The Attic by Aerosmith
Mar 13 2025

From my limited view of Aerosmith, I was expecting this album to be a lot more glam rock / hair metal than it was. I was pleasantly surprised - it’s sophisticated, grounded, well produced. Guitars sound great, as do the lead vocals. Adam’s Apple was my favourite song - immediately followed by Walk This Way which I was less keen on, but probably because I’ve heard it a thousand times before (both this and the Run-DMC version). Quite a varied album too.

Kala by M.I.A.
Mar 14 2025

Interesting mixture of sounds track to track. Paper Planes is the only track I knew before and one that I like a lot. Jimmy was an absolute banger. Can’t say I loved the rest of the album, but I appreciate there are a variety of worldwide sounds and influences incorporated.

Garbage by Garbage
Mar 17 2025

Samey and overly 90s. Didn’t really enjoy this.

Cheap Thrills by Big Brother & The Holding Company
Mar 18 2025

Gotta be Marge Simpson’s finest work

Country Life by Roxy Music
May 06 2025

Not as annoying as the last Roxy Music album we had - this felt a bit more mellow. Decent, and a pretty varied mixture of songs, but nothing massively standout.

Night Life by Ray Price
May 07 2025

Nice relaxing honky tonk album and great vocals. Bit samey.

Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys
May 08 2025

I really like this era of hip hop. Great samples, fun beats, it’s just a good time. Reminded me of 3 Feet High and Rising, which I later learned came out the same year. I’ve never really listened to Beastie Boys before despite them being a huge name, but now I want to hear more.

Pyromania by Def Leppard
May 09 2025

Fairly standard hair metal, not a bad listen.

Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
May 12 2025

Mostly sensational but just begins to lose my interest in a couple of places.

Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf
May 13 2025

1 - epic opener 2 - good song, catchy, intro sounds christmassy 3 - boring ballad 4 - Good song, great vocals 5 - boring 80s ballad After these tracks I listened to the rest of the album in the car and couldn’t remember which track was which. Pretty good album though, pretty mixed. Never listened to Meat Loaf before, only know him from Fight Club. He had a great voice.

Blood, Sweat & Tears by Blood, Sweat & Tears
May 14 2025

Didn’t know what to expect with this but it was great. Jazzy in the right way, great drumming, great singing. Enjoyed listening.

Ten by Pearl Jam
May 16 2025

Immediately recognisable as early 90s. Pretty good but somehow not grungey enough for a grunge album.

The College Dropout by Kanye West
May 19 2025

I’m very conflicted. Kanye is a horrendous person. But this album is undeniably great. Wordplay, production, beats, everything is top notch. Marking it down a star for obvious reasons and because it goes on slightly too long.

Live At The Regal by B.B. King
May 20 2025

I’m sure BB King is great but I found this a little boring, plus it’s a live album

The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter by The Incredible String Band
May 21 2025

The biggest compliment I can give this album is that it came from the same era as the Beatles, who produced some groundbreaking psychedelic music. This is not it. Really quite terrible. Few redeeming qualities besides being amusingly whimsical, and credit for experimenting with lots of different instruments and sounds - even if most of them don’t work in the slightest. Albert Hoffman should be named in the credits.

Steve McQueen by Prefab Sprout
May 23 2025

Pretty good. Recognised a few tracks from Dad playing them over the years (Bonny and Appetite specifically). Nice alternative 80s sound.

Out Of The Blue by Electric Light Orchestra
May 26 2025

A dazzling 70s party

The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
May 27 2025

A genre-defining indie rock album that I didn’t want to end. Beautiful riffs from Johnny Marr, paired with excellent vocals and songwriting from Morrissey. In true Smiths fashion the lyrics are very ‘tortured romantic’, delivered in a cohesive and authentic package that you can’t help but be drawn into. Despite it not being the longest album there’s a decent amount of variety - from the wallowing, forlorn ‘I Know It’s Over’, to the rollicking ‘Vicar in a Tutu’ with a beat and tempo that reminded me of Folsom Prison Blues, to the jangly and bright ‘Cemetry Gates’ (though the lyrics tell another story). I haven’t even mentioned Bigmouth and There Is a Light… do I need to? Funnily enough, the weakest tracks in my opinion are the opener and the closer. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others has some rubbish lyrics, but it’s such an outlier that maybe that’s the point? It doesn’t matter anyway because Johnny Marr’s guitar work is superb as ever. My only other criticism is that the production is very 80s sounding. I’d be interested to hear what this would sound like if it was recorded, produced and mastered today - though that will never happen with Marr and Morrissey’s relationship (or lack of). Overall a very good album. My dad absolutely loves The Smiths, and I can see why!

Psychocandy by The Jesus And Mary Chain
May 28 2025

This sounds somewhere between Joy Division and The Stone Roses, without the good bits of either. Not a fan of the screechy fuzzy static noise present on most tracks either. The songs would be a lot better without it.

In A Silent Way by Miles Davis
May 29 2025

Track one set a great mood and felt like it was building well, but ultimately didn’t really go anywhere. I was begging for it to burst into a big crescendo, but it never really did. Track two set a very different mood with some repeating piano phrases toying with dissonance to create a slightly nervy timbre. This track develops more than the first, moving into an elevated funky section, then regressing. Interesting album, and I enjoyed listening to it in a critical environment. I wouldn’t rank it among my top jazz albums, but I liked the underlying feeling of mystery and intrigue.

Led Zeppelin III by Led Zeppelin
Jun 02 2025

Pretty good but far from their best album. Big fan of Immigrant Song, Tangerine and Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, but the tracks in between were just okay.

Cosmo's Factory by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Jun 03 2025

Am I a Creedence fan?

Synchronicity by The Police
Jun 04 2025

Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Not overly memorable besides Every Breath You Take.

#1 Record by Big Star
Jun 05 2025

Good sound, quite Beatles esque, specifically George. Liked the first few tracks, tailed off towards the end.

Your Arsenal by Morrissey
Jun 06 2025

Some good tracks here. Reminded me of other early 90s bands like Suede and The Stone Roses. Overall not quite as compelling as the earlier Smiths work though. There’s a big Johnny Marr shaped hole.

All Directions by The Temptations
Jun 09 2025

Made pretty good background music for a Saturday night dinner but I wouldn’t bother listening again.

Jun 10 2025

One of those albums that I find impossible to do justice in a written review. One of the best albums of all time by the greatest band of all time, but everyone knows that. So instead I’ll focus on what this album means to me. Despite being born in 1999, I grew up with The Beatles. They were always played around the house from as early as I remember, and I’ve continued to listen to them for 26 years - now more than ever. This culminated in watching Paul McCartney perform with Ringo Starr at the O2 last year with my brother - probably the greatest experience of my life. The Beatles’ music to me is emotional, awe-inspiring, beautiful, comforting, nostalgic, funny, catchy, timeless, perfect. It’s nice to know that in my life (wahey), no matter what age I am (even when I’m sixty four), through good times and bad, I’ll always have The Beatles. I could continue pouring my heart into this review but it would go on forever. This album is everything to me. I’ll end with the difficult task of ranking it besides the other Beatles albums. I can’t separate Sgt Pepper’s, Abbey Road and Rubber Soul, but my favourite is always Revolver.

Alien Lanes by Guided By Voices
Jun 11 2025

It’s a bit Beatles, it’s a bit proto-Strokes; some nice ideas here and there but it sounds unfinished, like a demo album. Could’ve done with more time in the oven. The more I listened the more I disliked it. 41 minutes that never seemed to end. Rubbish singing, rubbish lyrics, rubbish recording, rubbish songs. Some of it is impressively bad - ‘Ex-Supermodel’ has this horrible sample the whole way through of what I can only imagine is someone snoring? Who likes listening to that?

Pretenders by Pretenders
Jun 12 2025

Wasn’t convinced by this. Didn’t enjoy it

Surf's Up by The Beach Boys
Jun 13 2025

Hit and miss. I don’t really see the big fuss about The Beach Boys. I can tell they branched out a bit with this album which is good, some interesting 70s sounds.

Jazz Samba by Stan Getz
Jun 16 2025

Lovely. Really enjoyed Getz/Gilberto so it was a pleasure to listen to more

Deja Vu by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Jun 17 2025

Boring

Jun 18 2025

First two tracks really good. Last two tracks really good. Stuff in the middle meh.

Hounds Of Love by Kate Bush
Jun 19 2025

When it’s good, it’s very good. Running Up That Hill, Hounds Of Love, The Big Sky, and Cloudbursting are great. A couple of weaker tracks in the second half but you can’t fault the artistic vision and uniqueness of Kate Bush’s sound.

Locust Abortion Technician by Butthole Surfers
Jun 20 2025

Impressively bad. Has to be a joke? Wonder what it’s doing on this list - pioneering in the post-enjoyment genre, perhaps

A Girl Called Dusty by Dusty Springfield
Jun 23 2025

A pleasant listen. Nice voice, warm instrumentation, and generally inoffensive in a good way.

good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar
Jun 24 2025

An album that fully deserves its ‘classic’ status. Not sure how I haven’t listened to this before really, though most of the tracks I’ve heard individually. Kendrick is great. As always the lyrics, wordplay, and productions are on point. This album felt a bit more playful than his later stuff, kinda reminded me of Kanye in places.

New York Dolls by New York Dolls
Jul 23 2025

It was alright. A bit like thin lizzy? Not majorly interesting but not bad either.

Paranoid by Black Sabbath
Jul 24 2025

RIP Ozzy 😢🖤 Quite fitting that this came up the day after his passing. As an album, it’s a classic for a reason. Dark, heavy, barebones. Great riffs, solos, drums, atmosphere, and of course vocals from Ozzy. Just cool. I can imagine this must have caused quite a stir when it came out in 1970 - after a psychedelic, hippie 60s, this is the antithesis. Cathartic.

Off The Wall by Michael Jackson
Jul 25 2025

Another 5 stars from me. It’s a tremendous album from the King of Pop. Groovy, funky, catchy, brilliant vocals and backing instrumentation. I prefer this to Thriller.

Songs In The Key Of Life by Stevie Wonder
Jul 28 2025

Masterful. Pulls you into a world of groove. It’s amazing how many songs have sampled and nicked bits of this - this feels like tapping into the source. For its length there doesn’t feel like much filler, but it is too long even without the bonus EP. For that reason it loses a star, but a very strong four. Stand out tracks: Contusion, Sir Duke, Isn’t She Lovely

A Hard Day's Night by Beatles
Jul 29 2025

Simply makes you happy. The fact that this is far from their best album and still easily 5 stars speaks volumes about the quality of The Beatles. Best band ever.

Signing Off by UB40
Jul 30 2025

A good reggae album but suffers from being a bit samey. I don’t know much about UB40 but I feel like maybe their debut isn’t their strongest? Props to them from being from 0121

The New Tango by Astor Piazzolla
Jul 31 2025

Very well recorded for a live album but this isn’t really my thing. I thought tango was more upbeat, danceable? This was just slightly pretentious jazz. Didn’t do much for me

Liege And Lief by Fairport Convention
Aug 01 2025

Hit and miss. The second song had me wishing it was over, but Matty Groves is an absolute banger. Evens out to being just alright.

Mothership Connection by Parliament
Aug 04 2025

They talk the funky talk, but do they walk the funky walk? Somewhat.

3 + 3 by The Isley Brothers
Aug 05 2025

Another good funky album. Never heard of these guys but recognised a few songs. Skipped the different mixes and interviews as I presume they weren’t on the original album

Kimono My House by Sparks
Aug 06 2025

Bizarre, but I kinda fuck with it. First few tracks are strong and sound ahead of their time. Lost me a little after that. “Gonna hang myself from the family tree” is an absolutely wild lyric

Low by David Bowie
Aug 07 2025

The good tracks are some of Bowie’s best. As with Heroes, I’m not too fussed about the ambient tracks towards the end. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust is still the greatest David Bowie album.

Shaka Zulu by Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Aug 08 2025

Liked the vocal harmonies. Good to listen to something I never normally would have before. The a capella style was cool but some instrumentation would’ve elevated it.

Aug 11 2025

Fairly boring until the last 3 songs which are really good. A bit samey and uninspiring on the whole.

Rock 'N Soul by Solomon Burke
Aug 12 2025

Really good classic soul sound. Great vocals. Will revisit this

Take Me Apart by Kelela
Aug 13 2025

Interesting album. I guess you could call this contemporary R&B? A touch of avant garde about it. Production was pretty excellent, interesting mixture of sounds which were great on headphones. I actually think it would be the basis for a great dance music album - it’s got that sort of ethereal feeling at times that you get some Bicep or some liquid dnb. Ultimately though it doesn’t really go anywhere and I found myself getting bored towards the end.

Shalimar by Rahul Dev Burman
Aug 14 2025

As a film soundtrack it’s fine, but not something I’d really choose to go and listen to itself.

The Undertones by The Undertones
Aug 15 2025

Fun album, sounds ahead of its time, a lot like some indie rock albums twenty years later. Was a bit like The Strokes at the start. The singer’s voice has always annoyed me though!

Meat Is Murder by The Smiths
Aug 18 2025

Solid album, doesn’t quite reach the heights of The Queen Is Dead, but still very good

L.A. Woman by The Doors
Aug 19 2025

Dull and uninspiring. Not a fan of The Doors, but can’t like everything I suppose

The White Album by Beatles
Aug 20 2025

How can you rate an album with Back In The U.S.S.R, Blackbird, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, I Will, Julia, and Helter Skelter anything less than 5 stars? The White Album is a long stream of consciousness of an album that has everything from epic rock power, to delicate folk tunes, to silly ditties, to abstract sound collages. It doesn’t really have a flowing theme, but it contains some of the most creative work from the greatest band of all time. I even like Rocky Racoon!

Suede by Suede
Aug 21 2025

A very solid 3 stars. Suede will always have sentimental value to me as they were the first band I ever saw live with my family, I must have been 11 or 12. I might have given this 4 stars if not for Brett Anderson’s sharply descending vocal inflictions on almost every word. It gets irritating - he didn’t do it when we saw them live, and they sounded much better for it. In places it sounds quite Bowie-esque, wrapped up in a britpop package. Also sounds similar to Blur, who in my opinion were much better. I’m 26 and am fortunate enough to have seen Suede, Blur, Oasis, Richard Ashcroft, and Supergrass. And I’m seeing Radiohead soon, to put an end to my own britpop era!

White Light by Gene Clark
Aug 22 2025

Combines the best parts of Neil Young, Willie Nelson, and Bob Dylan. Also reminded me of Sea Change by Beck. Great guitar, nice vocals, steady pace. A nice relaxing listen. Audio and production sounds great on headphones - hard to believe this is from 1971, it could’ve come out yesterday.

Aja by Steely Dan
Aug 25 2025

Blimey, there’s a lot of Steely Dan in this list. This album was more jazz inspired than the others, and I recognised Peg from De La Soul’s sample. Besides that not too much to note. Made a nice enough soundtrack while I made huevos con chorizo for lunch.

Moving Pictures by Rush
Aug 26 2025

I enjoyed the more prog rock tracks. YXZ was pretty nuts in a good way. I liked some of the unconventional time signatures, and the drumming throughout was pretty epic. Not so much a fan of the singing or lyrics though, it would be better as an instrumental album.

Hot Shots II by The Beta Band
Aug 27 2025

An odd and directionless album. Not unlistenable but not good either. The lyrics in the closing track are comically bad.

Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath
Aug 28 2025

The first heavy metal an album, and what an album it is. So ahead of its time in 1969. Dark, minimal, great riffs. What’s not to love.

Goodbye And Hello by Tim Buckley
Aug 29 2025

Pretty bad. I like folk and this was trying to be too folky for me. A lot of the songs were simply annoying. The only exception was ‘Once I Was’, which was lovely.

Sep 22 2025

Not as consistent as The Queen Is Dead, but still a great Smiths album with a wonderful jangly guitar sound and solid vocals. Highlights are Girlfriend in a Coma, Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me, and Paint a Vulgar Picture.

Hail To the Thief by Radiohead
Sep 23 2025

Dark, moody, brooding, and that’s just Jonny Greenwood’s haircut. Hail To the Thief is an album that I never paid much attention to as a Radiohead fan until recently, and despite my ignorance, I’m actually glad for this album to be so fresh to me. It’s bloody brilliant. There’s a definite theme, and many tracks follow a similar format - starting slow and wistful, before growing and finally exploding into a burst of pained energy. It’s a winning formula. This album feels like a perfect mid point between the slightly more conventionally rock-sounding In Rainbows, and the experimental, electronic Kid A. As an appreciator of all forms of Radiohead, this is a great balance to have. It is also the album that to me sounds most like Muse (or rather, Muse sound like IT). Many tracks feel straight out of Origin of Symmetry or Showbiz. A top tier album that has recently become one of my favourites by Radiohead.

Sep 24 2025

I’m very torn by this one. Some of the tracks are 5 stars, no doubt. But I don’t get on with the live album format, generally. Kurt’s voice is amazing and the band sound great. But this isn’t the origin of those songs. That’s what the albums and singles are for. I’m sure this would’ve been great seeing it live, but as a recording, it doesn’t compare to their studio albums for me. That’s where the real creativity and genius lies.

British Steel by Judas Priest
Sep 25 2025

We have Black Sabbath at home Black Sabbath at home:

Nevermind by Nirvana
Sep 29 2025

This is THE grunge album. Can’t say I listen to loads of the genre but Nirvana had something special.

Rio by Duran Duran
Sep 30 2025

Absolute banger of an album. Duran Duran encapsulate everything great about 80s pop bands. Catchy, tight, with punchy production. Perfect balance of guitars and synths, and vocals are on point. It’s simply cool to listen to. Highlights: Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf, Hold Back the Rain, Save a Prayer, The Chauffeur.

Will The Circle Be Unbroken by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Oct 01 2025

Made me feel like I was in Red Dead Redemption 2. I rather enjoyed this. It’s a style of country that sounds like it could be much older than 1972. As a Brit I found their accents endearing, and while this was very long at 2 hours 9 minutes, I quite enjoyed the gaps of chatting between songs. I felt like I was getting to know the cast of a Western film, and the length meant it all had sufficient time to breathe and set the scene. It was like listening to a session of a band recording an album, rather than the album itself. Which would only work if you’re invested in the band, and despite me having never heard of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band before, I enjoyed their humorous quips and monologues. A bit like the ‘Get Back’ Beatles documentary, but honky tonk. I haven’t even mentioned yet the fact that these are incredibly talented musicians. It was clearly all recorded live, with lots of improvisation. The guitars, strings and vocals are all excellent throughout. A very enjoyable listen. Yee haw!

Oct 02 2025

The magnum opus of a brilliant band. Muse at their absolute best. No weak songs. How can an album with Knights of Cydonia on it be anything less than 5 stars? It still gives me goosebumps now, and I’ve been listening to Muse for almost 20 years. Worth mentioning that on top of having an excellent discography, Muse are one of the very best live bands. I’ve been fortunate enough to have seen them 3 times, and each time they were incredible. My brother and I made it onto the official Simulation Theory film/DVD (see me singing at the camera during Starlight). I even saw them bring out Brian Johnson and play Back In Black which was pretty special. They’re one of those bands that you could see anywhere at any time and know with certainty that they will put on a top tier show. They’ve got the whole live performance thing down to a tee. We can only hope that future Muse albums come close to reaching the heights of Black Holes and Revelations. Luckily The Resistance, Drones, Absolution, and Origin of Symmetry are also great.

Let's Get Killed by David Holmes
Oct 03 2025

Interesting 90s electronic album. I enjoyed the more jungle influenced bits - would’ve liked more of that. Not so sure about the James Bond song or some of the samples.

Brothers by The Black Keys
Oct 06 2025

El Camino >>>>>

Blonde On Blonde by Bob Dylan
Oct 07 2025

Another Bob Dylan album that I feel like I should really enjoy but just don’t much. It’s fine. I like folky guitar led music, but it doesn’t stand out to me. I found his vocals and harmonica a little grating. Sure, he’s a good songwriter, and perhaps if I didn’t listen to this while working I’d be digging deeper into the lyricism and wordplay. But musically, it falls a bit flat. Not bad as such, but not great.

Talking Heads 77 by Talking Heads
Oct 08 2025

Didn’t love this, nowhere near as good as Remain In Light. Lyrics and singing weren’t great - not very serious, but not in a good way. However, I LOVED the last track - it was brilliant! The whole album sounds more 80s than 70s too, so I guess it’s pretty ahead of its time.

Oct 09 2025

Trying to do too much, to the extent that this is mostly nonsense. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Superfluous.

Superunknown by Soundgarden
Oct 10 2025

Like Foo Fighters if you took away anything that made them good.

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme by Simon & Garfunkel
Oct 13 2025

Excellent folk album. Love the rendition of Scarborough Fair (besides the American mispronunciation of ‘Scarborough’) and the Silent Night closing track with the gradually rising news was quite powerful. Some really excellent tracks throughout the album too - Cloudy, Homeward Bound, Feelin’ Groovy. Love that the album didn’t overstay its welcome - short and sweet. I’m a fan of Simon & Garfunkel thanks to this generator. Will revisit.

Are You Experienced by Jimi Hendrix
Oct 14 2025

I have no doubt that Jimi Hendrix was an incredible musician. But for whatever reason, even as a guitarist myself, his music doesn’t do an awful lot for me. I think I would enjoy this more if I was tripping balls in the 60s, but alas, I am not.

Make Yourself by Incubus
Oct 15 2025

Sounded a bit like Red Hot Chili Peppers at times and also a bit like Foo Fighters, but not as good as either. Enjoyed a few songs but the lyrics were terrible, knocking this down from 3 starts to 2.

Crime Of The Century by Supertramp
Oct 16 2025

It’s not often I have nothing positive to say about an album, yet here we are. A weird disjointed theatrical 70s mess. Not a fan!

Coles Corner by Richard Hawley
Oct 17 2025

Grateful for my dad playing this a lot when I was growing up in the early 2000s. Richard Hawley is very underrated and has an excellent voice. Loads of great songs on this album but my favourites are Just Like the Rain and Born Under A Bad Sign.

Kid A by Radiohead
Oct 20 2025

A stunning album and possibly Radiohead’s best. From the very first five notes of Everything In Its Right Place, the mood and tone is set. It locks you into the atmospheric, ambient, emotional experience that is Kid A. This isn’t an album for a sunny day. It evokes feelings of despair, confusion and hopelessness in a measured package of electronic experimentation. A departure from Radiohead’s previous sound, sure - but one that allowed the band to explore their more artistic side like never before. I’ve always said the title track, Kid A, makes me feel a very specific way. Like I’m an alien that’s just woken up on Earth. It’s got that kind of early morning grogginess, but on an existential level. Fascinating. The National Anthem is a Radiohead classic with an awesome repeating bass line. How To Disappear Completely makes you want to float around the room while crying. Treefingers, Motion Picture Soundtrack, and Untitled paint wonderful ambient soundscapes. Optimistic and Morning Bell are brilliant too - the former of which being the only track that really sounds like it could fit on OK Computer or any records the band put out before this. Top tier album. Sometimes I have an itch that only Kid A will scratch. Radiohead London 2025, see you there!

Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
Oct 21 2025

Hella overrated. While I think Wouldn’t It Be Nice is a great song with some heavenly vocal harmonies, the rest of the album didn’t really have any standouts and was kind of samey. A lot of people call this one of the best albums of all time, and it’s definitely very influential, but when I think of other albums that fall into that category like Rumours and Abbey Road, this falls short. An enjoyable listen - no more, no less.

Oct 22 2025

A good album and some powerful commentary on the state of the world, but ultimately not as good as some of the other post-Beatles albums like Imagine, Band On The Run, and All Things Must Pass. I love Hold On, though. Lovely song.

The Colour Of Spring by Talk Talk
Oct 23 2025

The music was decent and atmospheric but on the whole I found this boring. It might have gotten 3 stars if not for the singer’s voice which I found rather annoying. Not for me - sorry Dad!

Space Ritual by Hawkwind
Oct 24 2025

2h15 of psychedelic grunge trash. Almost so bad it’s good, but not quite. Only rating two stars because the feverish madness of it paired quite well with a comically busy and chaotic day in the office.

Music for the Masses by Depeche Mode
Oct 28 2025

Thought I would enjoy this more than I did. Started off pretty good but quickly got dull. Trying to be too grand and synthy for its own good.

Hearts And Bones by Paul Simon
Oct 29 2025

My first time voluntarily listening to Paul Simon on his own and not as part of Simon & Garfunkel. I really enjoyed it! The songs are kinda nerdy, singing about numbers, the moon, and the brain, and I dig it. It’s a nice change of pace, fun to listen to. Singing is great and the instrumentation is too, with some great guitar that sounds like a Stratocaster on one of the middle pickup configurations. An enjoyable listen, have saved this album for the future.

Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones
Oct 30 2025

As a piece of music it’s alright to listen to. Nothing crazy. I like Mick’s voice but his fake American accent is annoying, especially when he’s quite an eloquent bloke when he’s talking.

Next by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Oct 31 2025

In a way this is sensational, but in another way, it isn’t.

The Band by The Band
Nov 04 2025

Decent album. Nothing really stood out as being particularly good or bad. 2.5 rounding down.

Smokers Delight by Nightmares On Wax
Nov 05 2025

Started off really enjoying this, enough for 4 or 5 stars even, but it went on for too long and got progressively more boring. Can imagine it would sound good in a dark, quiet room on some good headphones.

Time Out Of Mind by Bob Dylan
Nov 06 2025

There wasn’t really a time when I wasn’t enjoying this album. I really like Dylan’s more aged voice and prefer it to his younger voice. An enjoyable listen. Was tempted to give four stars, but knocking down to three because it sounds the same the whole way through.

Risque by CHIC
Nov 07 2025

Vibey. Unfortunately not as vibey as Sister Sledge. Good Times was amazing to see live at Glasto. If the whole album was that danceable, it would be 5 stars.

Station To Station by David Bowie
Nov 10 2025

Pure Bowie excellence. A more mature sound than his work just a few years before. Wild Is the Wind is incredible and cemented the 5 star rating.

Guero by Beck
Nov 11 2025

Enjoyed this. First three tracks had me thinking I was going to give this 5 stars, but it failed to reach those heights again. Still a good listen.

Hunky Dory by David Bowie
Nov 12 2025

I may regret only giving this four stars. My mum's favourite Bowie album, and it is of course brilliant. No weak tracks - just on the whole it doesn't carry the same weight as The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, Station to Station, or some of his later stuff. This album is a little lighter and more whimsical in the lyrics, which I do like a lot. I enjoy every song, but at no point did I really go WOW, like I do with a lot of his other work. I think part of it may be due to the fact that most songs are sort of ballads. Who knows. Very good, but not his best.

Want Two by Rufus Wainwright
Nov 13 2025

I’ve never listened to Rufus Wainwright before but wow, this is brilliant. One of those albums that from the first track you are thinking, fuck, what is this? About halfway through it clicked that I recognised his voice from a feature on an Anthony & the Johnsons song, and enjoyed the reverse feature on this album too. And what a voice Rufus has. On the whole it sounds to me like a more theatrical Radiohead. Very creative and unpredictable, as great art often is. Going to listen to more Rufus Wainwright albums now. Sort

Skylarking by XTC
Nov 14 2025

Patchy. Quite a silly album at times. Reminded me of Orange Juice. Moments of real creativity but a fair bit of nonsense too.

The Yes Album by Yes
Jan 08 2026

Strange album. First song sounded like it belonged on a Mario Kart soundtrack. Second track was a virtuoso level live acoustic guitar performance. The rest of the album was over-psychedelic mush. I actually knew Perpetual Change, not sure where from. Didn’t love it.

Time (The Revelator) by Gillian Welch
Jan 09 2026

Pretty nice country/folk album. Started strong but lost me a bit at the Elvis song. Wouldn’t say it’s one of the best albums of all time but a decent listen.

Arrival by ABBA
Jan 13 2026

If you don’t like ABBA, what are you doing. Dancing Queen, Money, Fernando and Happy Hawaii are great songs and enough to make this worthy of 4 stars. Production and live instruments were also good.

Rust In Peace by Megadeth
Jan 14 2026

Pretty good noisy album. I liked the percussion. Bit samey though, it’s all one big noise.

Logical Progression by LTJ Bukem
Jan 15 2026

Top tier atmospheric drum and bass / jungle record. So much better than modern dnb. I would’ve given it 5 if it was on Spotify or a higher quality stream was available - the YouTube version was pretty low quality which was a shame.

Red Dirt Girl by Emmylou Harris
Jan 16 2026

A decent listen. Nothing mind blowing but she had a nice voice.

Songs From The Big Chair by Tears For Fears
Jan 19 2026

A very solid 3 but I didn’t love it enough for more. Everybody Wants To Rule The World is a great song and the production throughout was good, albeit very 80s.

Raising Hell by Run-D.M.C.
Jan 20 2026

An album of high highs and low lows. Peter Piper, It’s Tricky, and Walk This Way are brilliant, but some of the tracks at the back end of the album are filler at best and plain bad at worst (Dumb Girl)… Evens out at a solid 3, wasn’t consistent enough to give a 4.

Vespertine by Björk
Jan 22 2026

Like Kid A but horny It’s Not Up To You is a great song

Suicide by Suicide
Jan 23 2026

Suicide is a fitting name because it’s exactly what I wanted to commit after listening to this steaming pile of horse shit

Music From Big Pink by The Band
Jan 26 2026

Made ok background music but nothing more than that.

Morrison Hotel by The Doors
Jan 27 2026

Enjoyed this a lot more than expected. First half of the album was very song. Second half not so much. I realised Muse nicked tor riff in Roadhouse Blues for their track Psycho.

Metallica by Metallica
Feb 03 2026

I was surprised at just how much I disliked this. It tries so hard to be big and epic but ends up sounding like a whole load of nothing. No feeling, no emotion, nothing that invokes any sort of reaction at all. It all sounds the same and it all sounds like nothing.

Leftism by Leftfield
Feb 04 2026

Cool progressive house, a rare find on this list

Mask by Bauhaus
Feb 06 2026

Struggled to get through this

Illinois by Sufjan Stevens
Feb 09 2026

Nice album. Never heard of this before. Sounds somewhere between Wilco and Sigur Ros.

Hysteria by Def Leppard
Feb 11 2026

Maybe hair metal was a mistake

The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses
Feb 16 2026

I got into The Stone Roses in a formative period of time during my first year of uni. I would often put on an album after spending some time with my cannabis-inclined friends (as every student in Birmingham seemed to be) and lay in bed listening to it. For that situation, The Stone Roses was the perfect match. I don't know why I picked them that one night - the name was floating around in my head but I'd never listening to them before. I was already obsessed with Oasis, so The Stone Roses must have been floating around in my subconscious mind. Maybe it was from a Spotify playlist or a recommendation from my dad. Needless to say, this album blew me away. From the opening bass line of I Wanna Be Adored, I knew I would love the album. And I was right. For 48 minutes I swimming in a euphoria of jangly guitars and psychedelic indie rock. It combined everything I loved about Oasis with everything I was beginning to love about dance music (which I was also getting into at the time), wrapped in a 60s-esque package reminiscent of The Beatles. From that night, I was hooked. I remember being sat on my bed in my uni dorm, 18 years old, with the overwhelming feeling that this is who I am as a person. I already loved indie rock but Madchester, Britpop, dance music, The Stone Roses, Oasis, Happy Mondays... this was me. It was a great feeling, knowing as a teenager that the music I would listen to would define me as a person. I had a whole 90s Madchester era of my own, bucket hats and all. I started wearing Fred Perry, Lyle & Scott, and took an interest in 80s Casuals fashion. And it's not like I had friends who were inspiring this - my friends from home were more interested in heavier rock and my university friends would scoff at anything that wasn't drum and bass or hip hop. No, this was truly my own. Of course, I'm not in my first year of uni anymore. I'm 26 now, and my taste in music and outlook on life has expanded in ways I couldn't have comprehended as a teenager. I listen to music from countless other genres and eras, thanks in part to this album generator. But I'll always have that part of me. Despite being born in 1999 I've been fortunate enough to see almost all of the most prominent British rock bands from the late 80s and 90s (Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Radiohead, Suede, Supergrass, Richard Ashcroft of The Verve). Maybe someday I'll see The Stone Roses too. RIP Mani

White Blood Cells by The White Stripes
Feb 17 2026

My favourite White Stripes album I’ve listened to so far. Enjoyed it the whole way through and loved Jack White’s voice. I had this crazy moment of nostalgia when hearing Hotel Yorba, haven’t heard that song in probably 20 years.

Here Are the Sonics by The Sonics
Feb 18 2026

Didn’t enjoy this. Rubbish singing and the songs all sounded the same

Vento De Maio by Elis Regina
Feb 20 2026

Some great funky jazz fusion. Wasn’t even sure what language it was but it didn’t matter. Very close to 5 stars if not for a couple of the slower tracks.

Fear Of Music by Talking Heads
Feb 23 2026

Solid but not as good as Remain in Light

Odessey And Oracle by The Zombies
Feb 24 2026

Time of the season is a good song but otherwise this was forgettable.

Djam Leelii by Baaba Maal
Feb 25 2026

Nice listen. Some nice guitar at times that almost reminded me of RCHP or the Stone Roses despite being a completely different genre. Too long though.

Copper Blue by Sugar
Feb 26 2026

I enjoyed this. Reminded me of Pixies and Nirvana

Harvest by Neil Young
Mar 02 2026

Never been a huge fan of Neil Young but this is a good album. Lots of great songs and few weak points. A nice relaxing listen

Deep Purple In Rock by Deep Purple
Mar 03 2026

Like Led Zeppelin but worse in every way. Drumming was pretty good though.

The Cars by The Cars
Mar 04 2026

Decent background music

Mar 05 2026

Sinatra and Bossa Nova is a great combo. Even though a lot of these tracks are covers, Frank gets a pass. My biggest regret on this generator was not giving Getz & Gilberto 5 stars.

Talking Book by Stevie Wonder
Mar 09 2026

Strong 3, but not as good as songs in the key of life

Either Or by Elliott Smith
Mar 10 2026

Elliot Smith is one of them I feel I should love but I just like. His music has the tenderness and vulnerability of Nick Drake but is more… grungey? His voice doesn’t immediately click with me. There are songs of his I love but my favourites aren’t on this album. Was going to rate 3 stars but the final track made me push it up to 4. There’s potential I could revisit and love this.

S&M by Metallica
Mar 11 2026

Mehtallica

American Pie by Don McLean
Mar 12 2026

Really enjoyed this. American Pie is a great song but there is so much more to this album that I had no idea about before. Vincent is a beautiful tribute to Van Gogh, and the whole album was filled with excellent songwriting paired with great singing and guitars. Thumbs up from me.

Blue Lines by Massive Attack
Mar 13 2026

Reminded me a lot of Portishead. Really like Unfinished Sympathy. The rest was mixed but overall a good album.

Live! by Fela Kuti
Mar 16 2026

Cool album, cool gig

Mar 17 2026

This is really good. Already liked a lot of their singles but it’s very good as an album too. What’s even more impressive is that this was written as a parody of pop, but ends up being actually great music. Best songs are Time to Pretend, The Youth, Electro Feel, Kids, and The Handshake.

Dusty In Memphis by Dusty Springfield
Mar 18 2026

Nice listen. Soulful and a bit jazzy. Great voice. Can imagine this would be a good album to spin on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Electric Warrior by T. Rex
Mar 19 2026

Good not great. Definitely sounds ahead of its time though, could be from the 90s or 00s easily. Few good tracks, few weaker ones. Oasis nicked and improved Get It On

The Bends by Radiohead
Mar 23 2026

One of my favourite albums from one of my favourite bands. Even without my biases this is a great album and super influential. 5 black stars

Appetite For Destruction by Guns N' Roses
Mar 24 2026

I spent most of this waiting for the big singles but boy did they deliver. Guns N’ Roses will always remind me of my mate who passed away last year. He was a huge fan and saw them with his dad 10ish years ago. RIP Milan x

Slayed? by Slade
Mar 25 2026

Boring, a bit like George Harrison’s solo work if it was bad. Should’ve stuck to Christmas songs

The Trinity Session by Cowboy Junkies
Mar 26 2026

Nice relaxing listen. Nothing more, nothing less.

Fever To Tell by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Mar 27 2026

Pretty good noisy album

Surfer Rosa by Pixies
Mar 30 2026

Where is my mind - 100000 stars Otherwise not much stood out. Doolittle >

Africa Brasil by Jorge Ben Jor
Mar 31 2026

I listened to this while ripping through the nurburgring in an R34 Nissan GTR on a racing sim. The two didn’t match at all but it was a great experience. Also Rod Stewart fully stole the chorus from Taj Mahal

Armed Forces by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Apr 01 2026

Elvis Costello dropping a hard R was unexpected Enjoyable album overall though and sounds ahead of its time

Juju by Siouxsie And The Banshees
Apr 03 2026

Decent overall but forgettable. Last track was rubbish. Wouldn’t listen again

Hotel California by Eagles
Apr 06 2026

I thought the album wouldn’t live up to Hotel California. I was right.

The Score by Fugees
Apr 07 2026

Solid 90s hip hop album. Knew a few of the big tracks.

Beyond Skin by Nitin Sawhney
Apr 08 2026

Absolutely bizarre.

Highway to Hell by AC/DC
Apr 09 2026

I LOVED Back In Black but this didn’t do it for me. Lacks the power, grandeur and catchy hooks, and I prefer Brian Johnson.

If You're Feeling Sinister by Belle & Sebastian
Apr 10 2026

A perfectly inoffensive acoustic album. Like Beck but without anything interesting going on.

21 by Adele
Apr 13 2026

Ok, I’ll admit it, Adele is really fucking good

Violent Femmes by Violent Femmes
Apr 14 2026

I’m all for a bit of unserious music but this got tiresome

Apr 15 2026

Title track is overrated. Wrap It Up had some hilariously on-the-nose, vulgar lyrics. Last few tracks before the remixes start are actually very cool.

What's That Noise? by Coldcut
Apr 17 2026

Decent old school rave type album. Reminded me of Happy Mondays.

Reggatta De Blanc by The Police
Apr 20 2026

Enjoyed this. It’s the first time The Police have really clicked with me. Walking On The Moon specifically is a very good track, love the reggae feel to it.

Born In The U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen
Apr 21 2026

Solid but too American for me (even though the title track is not as patriotic as it sounds). I prefer a couple of the derivatives of this in Sam Fender and The Killers. Dancing In the Dark is an all timer though.

Eagles by Eagles
Apr 23 2026

Comfortable relaxing country mediocrity. These guys did Hotel California?

More Specials by The Specials
Apr 24 2026

Decent album but I’ve heard better from The Specials

Heaven Or Las Vegas by Cocteau Twins
Apr 27 2026

My first time listening to the Cocteau Twins and I am impressed, this is brilliant. Love the dreamy guitar sound and the echoes of the 80s style production balanced with a fresher 90s sound. I could immediately hear their influence on later bands like Cigarettes After Sex and Mac DeMarco. Feels great to hear an album for the first time that clicks immediately. I’m already listening to this for a second time, and can tell I’ll be listening to it many times more in years to come. This is what the 1001 albums generator is all about!

Tommy by The Who
Apr 28 2026

Pinball Wizard is cool but otherwise this was uneventful and plagued with ditties. As someone that considers themselves a bit of a mod, it hurts me to say that I don’t think The Who have aged all that well. I’m willing to give them another chance if another album of theirs comes up, but this one wasn’t for me.

The Healer by John Lee Hooker
May 06 2026

Pretty nice background music and sounds much older than it is but the more it went on the more boring it got.

May 07 2026

Didn’t enjoy this at all. Some songs had the basics of good tracks but were ruined by weird lyrics or odd layers of syncopated drums. Couldn’t get into it

Duck Rock by Malcolm McLaren
May 08 2026

A bit of this and a bit of that type album. A weird and interesting mix of hip hop, world music, and god knows what else which is apparently British. Jive My Baby is brilliant!

Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley
May 11 2026

Not his best but still great to listen to a classic from the king, his influence on everything is so apparent

Revolver by Beatles
May 12 2026

Revolver is, in my opinion, the best Beatles album and in my top 3 albums of all time. It contains so many incredible songs that it’s not even worth listing them because they’re all so good. Even the B sides of this era like Rain are top class. Those guitars, man. Infectious. There isn’t an album with a guitar sound I like more than Revolver. The perfect tone and level of distortion to produce an ecstasy of timeless psychedelic fuzz. So many bands I love have been inspired by this that it’s impossible to list them but Oasis and Tame Impala come to mind. What’s more is this album has the perfect amount of variety and balance. It contains some of the best non-guitar Beatles songs in Eleanor Rigby and For No One, punchy pop tracks in Taxman and And Your Bird Can Sing, the absolute heaven that is Here There and Everywhere and I’m Only Sleeping (my favourite Paul & John songs respectively), classic singalongs in Yellow Submarine, and the pioneering Tomorrow Never Knows which invented a huge genre of its own. I could go on and on about this album and it really is that good. I haven’t even mentioned unbelievable lyrics and songwriting. I’m running out of superlatives! 1000000 stars.

Walking Wounded by Everything But The Girl
May 13 2026

Like Portishead but 50% more dance music influenced and 60% more shit

May 14 2026

Very boring. Like a bad folly Steely Dan. Bonus point because they’re from Birmingham where I went to uni.

The Hissing Of Summer Lawns by Joni Mitchell
May 15 2026

Nothing extraordinary but pretty nice listen. Harry’s House / Centerpiece was the best song. Fitting name.

Foo Fighters by Foo Fighters
May 18 2026

It’s not their best album and not the one I would put on this list but still very solid. My only complaint is the mastering is a bit flat, maybe there’s a better sounding remaster out there. Foo Fighters are one of the very best bands I’ve seen in my time, proper rock band that puts on a top quality and memorable show. The best drum solo I’ve ever seen live was in their headline set at Reading 2019. RIP Taylor Hawkins

Licensed To Ill by Beastie Boys
May 19 2026

This is a weird one in that I could’ve sworn I’ve had this album already on the album generator. Nonetheless, I liked a few tracks and the energy but struggled to get properly into it.

The Boatman's Call by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
May 21 2026

I think Nick Cave is very cool and I have a lot of respect for him but I struggle to rate this higher than 3 stars. I really love a few tracks like Into My Arms and Where Do We Go But Nowhere, but others are just bad. I remember hearing Black Hair a couple years ago and being wound up by how many bloody times he says black hair! Most songs are slow ballads which have their place but I get a little tired of eventually. I appreciate the dark, gothic elements - I can imagine when you’re feeling down this album would really speak to you. I also like how while he’s a good singer, he’s ever so slightly sharp or flat in places. These imperfections make it feel more raw - no post production or filters getting between you and Nick’s words (that I can detect anyway). Overall it’s a good album that deserves its place on the list, and one that I can see myself coming back to and enjoying more in the future.

The Velvet Underground by The Velvet Underground
May 22 2026

I typed a whole long review for this but sadly it didn’t save. Here’s a shortened version. I’ve loved a number of Velvet Underground songs for years but never sat down and listened to a full album so was pleased to see this come up. TVU do gentle guitar songs better than anyone. They capture a delicate mix of warmth and melancholy that few bands can. As a huge Strokes fan it’s clear how much they were inspired by them - Julian Casablancas is almost an auditory doppelgänger for Lou Reed. A top notch album that I loved listening to. Favourite tracks were Candy Says, Pale Blue Eyes, Jesus, and After Hours.

Debut by Björk
May 25 2026

I liked this. A lot of dance music influence which I enjoyed. Experimental without being too avant garde. Björk has a good voice and a unique singing style.

Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane
May 26 2026

Pretty good this. Good vocals and guitar. Reminded me of Simon & Garfunkel a few times. Somebody to Love is a track I recognised.

Femi Kuti by Femi Kuti
May 27 2026

Nice album to listen to. I enjoyed Fela Kuti and this sounded somewhat similar. I can’t shake the feeling that this is sort of faux-Africa though, it’s like it’s trying too hard to appeal to a Western audience.

Apocalypse Dudes by Turbonegro
May 28 2026

I mostly did not enjoy this but the Suffragette City cover was pretty good.

Slipknot by Slipknot
May 29 2026

Tough listen

Seventeen Seconds by The Cure
Jun 01 2026

Much more dark and experimental than I was expecting. It’s good but from a first listen I prefer their later stuff.

Tusk by Fleetwood Mac
Jun 02 2026

Fleetwood Mac are fucking excellent. I’ve only listened to Rumours before and this wasn’t far off in terms of quality, and I liked how there was more electric guitar this time around. Excellent guitar, drums, vocals, and vibes throughout. Marking down a star fairly harshly because it’s a tad too long - if a few songs were chopped off the end, the album would be better for it.

Graceland by Paul Simon
Jun 03 2026

A pleasant listen but probably my least favourite Paul Simon / Simon & Garfunkel album I’ve had come up on the generator so far. I liked the African influence though.

Jun 04 2026

I think I’m a Simple Minds fan now. This was great. Very 80s in a good way, and a strong mix of different instruments and synth sounds. My dad likes them too. He’s right on this one.

Jun 09 2026

Normally I’m not keen on live albums but I really enjoyed this. Great music, an amazing voice from the singer, and a top atmosphere. It must have been great to be there.

Come Away With Me by Norah Jones
Jun 10 2026

Most relaxing album I’ve heard in a long time. Almost sent me to sleep in the office.

Drunk by Thundercat
Jun 11 2026

A labyrinth of chord changes and pop weirdness. Reminded me a lot of Bill Wurtz, the guy who did the ‘history of Japan’ video on YouTube. Knew a couple of the big songs. I respect the originality and complexity but by the time the album finished I was ready for something else. Also good to see an album on the list from the last decade.

Jun 12 2026

Lots of great songs. Huge album. I can’t bring myself to give U2 a five though, they’re just not a 5 star band for me and the album tails off in the final third.

Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand
Jun 16 2026

Franz Ferdinand are great. Of all the great indie rock bands that came out of the UK in the noughties these are up there with the very best. Dancy, catchy, energetic, great guitar sound. What more do you need. I seem to be saying this a lot in my reviews but I saw this band at Glastonbury and they were brilliant. One of the best bands I saw that weekend and the crowd was absolutely bouncing.

Among The Living by Anthrax
Jun 17 2026

I think this is pretty bad but liked it, if that makes sense?

1984 by Van Halen
Jun 18 2026

I had no idea Van Halen did Jump Overall this was much weaker and more pop than their other stuff I’ve heard, wasn’t a fan

Chelsea Girl by Nico
Jun 19 2026

After some great albums recently, this was refreshingly shit

The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest
Jun 22 2026

Very good. I like this type of boom bap and jazz influenced rap. Only marking down a star as it was a tad samey but still great

Moondance by Van Morrison
Jun 24 2026

An album I know well as it was played a lot round the house as I was growing up. A Sunday ‘dinner lunch’ album. It’s warm and familiar and I like it. Putting on my analyst hat, this seems to blend an interesting mixture of jazz, folk, soul, and country - at least that’s what my ears detect. I wouldn’t listen to it everyday but it’s pleasant.

California by American Music Club
Jun 25 2026

Kinda trashy nothingness

Elastica by Elastica
Jun 26 2026

I enjoyed this. Sounded a lot like Blur but a bit heavier and faster at times.

Document by R.E.M.
Jun 29 2026

It’s alright but nothing special, found it a bit boring

Dookie by Green Day
Jun 30 2026

My love for Green Day predates me properly finding music as a passion and a key part of my life. I often think of getting into the Arctic Monkeys when I was 13 or 14 as the gateway drug to the rest of my music taste, and they were definitely the first band I was properly hooked on and felt resonated with me. But before that, I was listening to Green Day and Led Zeppelin. I remember having their albums on iTunes back in the day. Dookie is an absolutely brilliant album. Fast, punchy, catchy, energetic pop punk. It holds up so well. I haven’t listened to it back to front for many years but I’m glad I have again.

Lam Toro by Baaba Maal
Jul 01 2026

Pretty cool and I’m glad it was included but it didn’t do much for me.

Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock
Jul 02 2026

Cool album and cooler album cover, captured my attention before I even pressed play.

Porcupine by Echo And The Bunnymen
Jul 03 2026

Only knew killing moon before this and I recognised the first song. Overall it was ok, reminded me of Heroes by David Bowie at times, especially the vocals

Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips
Jul 06 2026

Radiohead but glorpy Funky basslines, gorgeous layers of sound, great lyrics, and an overall sense of spacey psychedelia that never feels forced or over the top.

Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek & The Dominos
Jul 07 2026

Eric Clapton is a piece of shit and he didn’t even write the riff to his best song It gets 3 because I really like Bell Bottom Blues

Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen
Jul 29 2026

Painfully boring

The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Jul 30 2026

Pretty cool, nothing more, nothing less

Jul 31 2026

After listening to this I finally understand what the fuss is about with Elton John. Really solid piano pop ballads with excellent production and songwriting. A lot like Bowie, if a bit more one dimensional. Just really good music

Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens
Aug 03 2026

A very solid 3. It doesn’t really do any anything better than any other albums I’ve listened to, but it’s consistently a nice enjoyable listen.

At San Quentin by Johnny Cash
Aug 04 2026

I’m usually not one for live albums but this gets a pass. Captivating performance by Johnny Cash. Coolest guy ever? Whole show is smooth like butter, the crowd interactions are great and very witty but not overdone. Brilliant songs and stories - I’m particularly fond of A Boy Named Sue. I never thought I’d give a live album 5 stars but I am happy to be proven wrong.

Pearl by Janis Joplin
Aug 05 2026

Couldn’t get into this really, I appreciate her voice is good but it was a bit grating for me at times

Heroes to Zeros by The Beta Band
Aug 06 2026

Not sure this is one of the 1001 best albums ever

Electric Prunes by The Electric Prunes
Aug 07 2026

Wow, I hated this. Weird and not at all in a good way. Just terrible

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
Aug 10 2026

So many brilliant songs it’s kind of ridiculous. Every single one could be a single. No weak tracks. Easiest 5 stars I’ll ever give.

Elephant by The White Stripes
Aug 11 2026

Great album with so many top tracks. Seven Nation Army deserves to be as popular as it is. I’m still not sure whether the two White Stripes members are siblings or married

Wordsmith

Reviews written for 100% of albums. Average review length: 230 characters.

Other

Album origins are grouped into three buckets: US, UK, and everything else. “Other” means the artists you rate highest are from outside the US and UK.