Journey in Progress
Discovering music one album at a time
374
Albums Rated
3.75
Avg Rating
69
5-Star Albums
34%
Complete
715 albums remaining
Rating Speed
4.7
Per Week
553
Days Active
Reviews
368
Written
98%
Review Rate
vs Global
0.4
Avg Diff
3.75
Avg Rating
Rating Distribution
How you rate albums
Rating Timeline
Average rating over time
Ratings by Decade
Which era do you prefer?
Activity by Day
When do you listen?
Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Jazz
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Generous
Rater Style
8
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
Genre Preferences
Ratings by genre
Origin Preferences
Ratings by country
Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timeless | 5 | 2.53 | +2.47 |
| Only Built 4 Cuban Linx | 5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
| Music From The Penguin Cafe | 5 | 3 | +2 |
| Heartattack And Vine | 5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
| Berlin | 5 | 3.1 | +1.9 |
| Honky Tonk Heroes | 5 | 3.14 | +1.86 |
| Sunday At The Village Vanguard | 5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
| The Downward Spiral | 5 | 3.34 | +1.66 |
| Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs | 5 | 3.34 | +1.66 |
| Sound of Silver | 5 | 3.42 | +1.58 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heartbreaker | 1 | 3.03 | -2.03 |
| Gentlemen | 1 | 2.9 | -1.9 |
| 69 Love Songs | 1 | 2.85 | -1.85 |
| Cut | 1 | 2.71 | -1.71 |
| Antichrist Superstar | 1 | 2.48 | -1.48 |
| Seventeen Seconds | 2 | 3.38 | -1.38 |
| Dub Housing | 1 | 2.36 | -1.36 |
| Made In Japan | 2 | 3.29 | -1.29 |
| The Soft Bulletin | 2 | 3.28 | -1.28 |
| At Budokan | 2 | 3.11 | -1.11 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and high weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 4.6 | 4 |
| Stevie Wonder | 4 | 4.75 | 4 |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Miles Davis | 3 | 4.67 | 3.83 |
| Johnny Cash | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Black Sabbath | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Bob Dylan | 4 | 4.25 | 3.71 |
| Beatles | 6 | 4 | 3.67 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| Metallica | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| Radiohead | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| David Bowie | 5 | 4 | 3.63 |
5-Star Albums (69)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Pearl Jam
5/5
I know for a lot of people, Eddie Vedder's voice can be a sticking point. But when I hear the passion, the emotion and the energy in his voice, it's hard for me to not love this. No skips.
3 likes
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
If you ain't angry, then you haven't been listening.
2 likes
Paul Simon
5/5
Paul Simon is one of my absolute favorite songwriters so of course this is gonna get a 5. The man's a poet.
1 likes
Nick Drake
5/5
I'm beginning to really like this guy. These albums have such chill coffee house vibes and have been great at putting me at ease. The backing instrumentals add so much to this without feeling over-produced.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (8)
All Ratings
The White Stripes
3/5
Pretty good. Not amazing, but pretty good.
Rush
5/5
I get the hype. No skips on this one.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Fantastic. Maybe my favorite Pink Floyd album.
Iggy Pop
3/5
Iron Maiden
4/5
Metal Mondays let's go.
Air
4/5
If I had a nickel for every time I was amazed by a French electronica duo, I'd have two nickels. That's not a lot, but it's still weird that it happened twice.
Beatles
3/5
Pretty good. Obviously doesn't get near their best, but Til There Was You is a sweet little song.
Baaba Maal
3/5
Despite the language barrier, this is definitely a vibe.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
Guys don't form game-changing musical groups with 7 of their best buds anymore.
Napalm Death
1/5
You know, based on the album cover, I probably would agree with what they're singing about if I could just understand what they were saying.
Fishbone
4/5
Great album! It's always neat seeing the important social and political commentary through upbeat and catchy ska tunes. This is more experimental than I find a lot of ska tends to be, so I can see how this inspired a lot of similar groups in the 90's/2000's.
Taylor Swift
3/5
Honestly better than I thought it would be. I can definitely see why so many people enjoy her music. Great singing voice and some solid production. Not every song hits for me, but some do.
Neil Young
4/5
Some very great hits on this one.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Nirvana
4/5
Something about the unplugged performance really puts an emphasis on Kurt Cobain's voice in a great way.
Ray Charles
5/5
I was pretty sad today, and even his sad songs made me feel better about it.
Antony and the Johnsons
4/5
Definitely the saddest album I've heard in a long time. But sad in such a beautiful way.
Daft Punk
4/5
Very fun. It's no Discovery, but come on, what is.
Al Green
4/5
Very enjoyable.
John Martyn
4/5
Very chill. A little jazzy and a little bluesy. Good for a Tuesday morning.
Incredible Bongo Band
4/5
With a name like "The Incredible Bongo Band", they do not disappoint.
3/5
It's alright, but that's such a funny name for an album.
The War On Drugs
4/5
This was nice. Kind of gave me an old school New Wave vibe.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
A classic. Naturally.
Queen
4/5
Queen's older albums are great because I'm always finding new favorites. Flick of the Wrist is a standout.
Metallica
5/5
Classic. Another No Skips Wednesday.
Tracy Chapman
5/5
An emotional powerhouse. Come for Fast Car, stay for everything else on this album.
The Who
4/5
Classics. I always liked The Who more than The Rolling Stones.
Kanye West
4/5
Listening to this now, it's a bittersweet feeling. He was crazy talented, but it sucks that his brain broke like that.
Bob Dylan
4/5
The Crusaders
4/5
Nice relaxing smooth jazz to make the afternoon easier.
The Go-Betweens
2/5
It was alright. There wasn't really one song that was a big hit for me, but I didn't think it was bad.
Yes
4/5
Is it great? Yes.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Throbbing Gristle
1/5
Experimental British Industrial music isn't for everyone, and apparently I'm in that "everyone" category.
The Everly Brothers
3/5
As someone who listened to a lot of older music, I was surprised at how many of these songs were new to me. Very interesting hearing the original version of Love Hurts though.
The Jam
4/5
This was a fun surprise. Their style was an interesting mix of something more classic with something more ahead of its time. I can definitely see their influence on bands in the 90's and late 2000's. Set The House Ablaze is a standout for me.
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
Nine Inch Nails deserves 5 stars for this for the herculean task of making industrial metal into something catchy and memorable.
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
I guess I knew more songs from this group than I previously thought. Good tunes.
808 State
4/5
Groovy beats. Nothin wrong with that.
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
Groovy, spooky, overall not bad.
The Blue Nile
3/5
Pretty chill. Ambient and moody.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
The thing about listening to any Led Zeppelin album is that it makes me want to listen to even more Led Zeppelin albums.
Neil Young
4/5
I wasn't always a big Neil Young fan, but there are some surprising tracks on this one. There Is A World really stands out.
Queen
4/5
Total classic. Freddie Mercury rules.
Leftfield
3/5
I just noticed I've been getting a lot of UK electronic music lately. Luckily it's all been pretty alright so far.
Sonic Youth
4/5
One of those bands I've heard of but can't think of a song I've heard from them. This was a pleasant surprise and I'm interested to find more from them.
4/5
This is a great album. Starts and ends really strong.
Beck
4/5
Mellow and moody. This feels like a different kind of Beck than what I was first introduced to in the 90's. Much more of an introspective turn. The production is fantastic.
Barry Adamson
4/5
I always like weird concepts like this. A soundtrack to an intense crime movie that doesn't exist is such a fun idea to me.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
5/5
Experimental, but in a way I enjoy a lot more than some others. Funky or calm one minute, and eerie the next. The Sound Of Someone You Love Who's Going Away And It Doesn't Matter is a perfect song name.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Alright, but I liked the previous two Neil Young albums I rated more.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
I liked the Stevie Nicks-led songs the most. Her voice is both ethereal and soulful.
Soundgarden
5/5
Banger. No skips. Everything is on point. Cornell's wails are transcendent.
Ian Dury
2/5
Musically there's not much wrong here, but I'm not big on the songwriting.
Elis Regina
4/5
Some vibes transcend language. Loved the production on this, and Elis has a beautiful voice.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Not a ton of hits for me, but the hits do hit well. Sympathy for the Devil is one of the best rock songs of all time.
Deep Purple
4/5
What can I say, I'm a sucker for keyboard solos.
Beck
4/5
Groovy. Beck never disappoints.
Solange
3/5
I didn't even know Beyonce had a sister.
Janis Joplin
4/5
Classic. There's so much authenticity and personality in her voice.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
It's the Rolling Stones. Cool, but not the best ever.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Having seen the film, it's hard not to picture the imagery that comes with every track on this album. However, the writing and production is so strong with this album, I get the feeling I would have understood what Roger Waters was going for even without that imagery.
4/5
I can see the Beatles influence and why people would say they were going to be the "Next Beatles", but they don't quite reach that level. Good album though.
The United States Of America
3/5
Trippy. I like the use of violin and cello in place of electric guitar. It definitely makes them stand out.
Marianne Faithfull
4/5
I had never heard Marianne Faithfull before, but I really dig her vibe. Her voice is so unique and her songwriting's very good too.
Brian Eno
4/5
Experimental, but funky in a way that keeps it enjoyable for me. The various vocal samples in this worked to great effect, and some of the rhythms were so good I'm honestly surprised they haven't been sampled for beats before.
Nirvana
5/5
The energy from this album is contagious. If I wasn't working a desk job at this time, I'd be singing along with just about every track.
Beatles
5/5
The last few tracks are maybe the best ending stretch of songs on any album. Golden Slumbers still makes me emotional.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
For this I was bouncing back and forth between really good and just alright. Joni's cadence and songwriting are so unique for this time, you can see how she's become as influential as she is.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Banger after banger after banger. One of my favorites.
Morrissey
4/5
I enjoyed this more than I was expecting. I didn't realize We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful was from him.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Emotionally resonant and complex. Between the freeform jazz production and Kendrick's impactful lyrics, it's hard not to rate it this high.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Pretty good. Her voice worked great alongside the saxophone in Love and Affection.
Fleet Foxes
4/5
Good harmonies, chill vibes.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
Some real classics here, along with some I've never heard that I quite enjoyed.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Some pretty neat tunes. No Sympathy stands out to me.
Calexico
3/5
This was nice. My mind was a little distracted with other things at the time, but this wasn't bad.
Elton John
5/5
Elton John and Bernie Taupin are one of the greatest singer/songwriter duos in history, and this album is one of the reasons why.
Tim Buckley
4/5
The use of xylophone gives every song an almost Cal Tjader vibe. Very chill
The Monkees
3/5
Honestly, I didn't even know the Monkees were gonna be on this list.
The Police
3/5
Some cool vibes, some hits and some misses.
Talking Heads
3/5
Not a huge Talking Heads guy. This was alright though.
5/5
How have I not heard this whole album before? Banger after banger on this one. Each of the songs I haven't heard before surprised me in new ways.
David Crosby
3/5
I have a soft spot for soft rock, and this felt alright. Nothing about it particularly grabbed me, but it was nice.
Genesis
4/5
As someone who's only familiar with their pop music eras, it's kinda crazy to hear Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins doing prog rock. Gabriel plays the hell out of that flute though.
Common
3/5
Pretty alright. The lead-up to the pimp song was unexpected and pretty hilarious.
David Bowie
4/5
Short, sweet and elegant. Nothing wrong with that.
The Black Crowes
3/5
The Black Crowes were always one of those bands that were just alright to me. Nothing mindblowing. She Talks to Angels is great though.
FKA twigs
4/5
Smooth, sexy and sad all at once. Pretty good!
4/5
What if The Beatles but ska? Honestly, I feel like the more robust horn section adds something good here. Brainwashed and Australia both kick ass.
Arrested Development
3/5
Funky but not a lot really stuck to me. It was fine though.
Solomon Burke
4/5
Great voice and some memorable songs. Cry To Me is a standout for sure.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
She really sings her heart out in this one.
Underworld
3/5
Pretty neat, I like the break-beats but I could have done without the vocals.
Fela Kuti
4/5
Jazzy, conscious and cool. It's interesting to hear an album that you can tell was written from a place of anger, but still sounds so catchy.
Manu Chao
3/5
This was some neat vibes. I wasn't expecting French out of nowhere.
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
Bluesy rock that's pretty alright. Not much else to say past that.
Eminem
3/5
Certainly a time capsule for humor in the early 2000's. I feel like the thing that ages worse than the edginess is all the topical references. Still, there's some fun tracks here. Also Sticky Fingaz and Xzibit crushed their features.
R.E.M.
4/5
Some great songs and anti-capitalist vibe on this one. After hearing Fireplace, I wished every other track on this had a saxophone part.
Living Colour
4/5
Cult of Personality still one of the greatest bangers of all time. The other songs are pretty great too.
Pink Floyd
5/5
A classic. No skips. Second favorite Floyd album.
The Temptations
4/5
It's the Temptations, so the singing being on point is a given. The production in this is also great. Very funky and soulful.
Blur
4/5
This album feels like it spans several genres, but all unifies together under the vibe of being incredibly British. Girls & Boys and To The End are both great.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
The album's alright, but I spent most of the time thinking about how Holly died so young and wondering what his career would have looked like in the 60's. He obviously had talent, but it would have been so interesting to see him let loose more.
Rahul Dev Burman
4/5
Great soundtrack with some real style to it. At times it sounded almost like Ennio Morricone, which is certainly a compliment.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
3/5
Crusty, chaotic, but never boring.
Muddy Waters
4/5
When I think of The Blues, this is exactly the music I think about.
Public Enemy
4/5
Bombastic and rightfully angry. It sucks the world hasn't improved much since.
Kanye West
4/5
I liked this slightly more than College Dropout. There's a lot of strength in the features and production on this one.
The Fall
2/5
Just kind of meandering, but not in a good way.
The Darkness
4/5
Melodramatic, explosive and charmingly cheesy. I just can't be a hater.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Musically very strong vibes. I won't pretend I fully understood every song, but I dug how most of them sounded.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
I don't think there's ever a bad time to listen to this one.
David Bowie
4/5
Haunting and ethereal. You can tell he knew this album would be the last thing he ever did.
Pixies
3/5
Chaotic and melodic. There were some hits I recognized, but not much stuck with me past those.
Q-Tip
4/5
Classic production on this made for a very funky album. Something of an old-school style with tight rhymes.
John Lennon
3/5
Personally, I think every Beatle should have written a diss track about one of the other Beatles. I want to hear Ringo's diss.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Stevie Wonder was always a favorite artist of mine, and he always seems to kill it.
The Cars
4/5
The Cars is one of those bands I always thought were just alright, but I gotta say, this is a shocking amount of hits on a debut album. Moving In Stereo and All Mixed Up are certified bangers, even if some of the others don't quite scratch that itch.
Badly Drawn Boy
4/5
Honestly pretty good. I was not sure what to expect but this turned out nice.
Laura Nyro
4/5
It was very interesting hearing such a classic 60's sound with more complex feelings and lyrics. A very interesting artist.
Johnny Cash
5/5
This feels far more than just a cover album. Johnny knew this was his last chance to share himself with the world, and each song was chosen to represent that. The guilt, the joy, the anger, the faith, the pain, and the love.
Nick Drake
4/5
I don't think I've heard this artist before, but something about the gentle, quiet singing and acoustic guitar feels completely out of time. If I didn't know this from looking up the album, I wouldn't have guessed this is from the 70's.
Norah Jones
4/5
I feel like this is really what I needed to hear today. I briefly considered giving this a 5.
Prince
4/5
Theatrical, sexual and never compromising. That's Prince, baby.
Wild Beasts
3/5
The instrumentals are great and the vocals were pretty good for both singers, but the lyrics seem to be really inconsistent. Thorpe's lyrics in particular get a little bit too silly sometimes for my taste. Overall not bad though.
Paul Simon
5/5
Paul Simon is one of my absolute favorite songwriters so of course this is gonna get a 5. The man's a poet.
David Bowie
4/5
Turns out David Bowie and Brian Eno are a beast collab. Who would have thought?
Afrika Bambaataa
3/5
It's interesting seeing just how much this album influenced hip-hop. I didn't realize Renegades of Funk was a cover.
SAULT
3/5
An interesting album, especially for the time that it came out.
The Stone Roses
4/5
A surprising hit! Quite a few good tracks, especially the last two, I Am The Resurrection and Fool's Gold.
Moby
3/5
Half of Moby's songs feel like PS2 menu music and I mean that in a good way.
Elton John
4/5
Elton John albums feel like they gotta be a 4 at minimum. Two of his all time best on this one.
Brian Wilson
3/5
It was pretty neat, but not really my jam. I'm glad he was able to make this on his own terms though.
Nick Drake
5/5
I'm beginning to really like this guy. These albums have such chill coffee house vibes and have been great at putting me at ease. The backing instrumentals add so much to this without feeling over-produced.
Shack
3/5
Kinda bubblegum poppy for the most part. Nothing bad, but nothing really stuck for me either.
The Prodigy
4/5
Just sick. Lots of fun with this one.
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
Some great rhythms and some techno vibes here and there. The vocals were also pretty good, they didn't bother me as much as vocals on similar albums. All My Friends and Get Innocuous are both bangers.
The Byrds
3/5
Not bad, but just kinda forgettable. A classic country western-style album with some surprising credits on it.
Jeff Beck
4/5
Incredible guitar, which is a given, and Rod Stewart's vocals work so well for the more bluesy tracks. Beck's Bolero is a major highlight.
Raekwon
5/5
An album featuring mostly my two favorite Wu Tang members? Yeah this is another banger.
The Offspring
4/5
This brings me back to days playing Crazy Taxi in the arcades. But for real, this is a really solid album. Good shit.
Foo Fighters
3/5
Not bad, but not nearly their best. Kinda forgettable honestly. They get better though.
Green Day
5/5
Green Day really proved they hadn't lost a step when this came out. Sometimes anger and depression can make great art.
Steely Dan
3/5
For every song I really liked, I felt like there were 2 or 3 that didn't do it for me.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
I was never a huge Peter Gabriel guy, but wow. This is a strong album. Don't Give Up would have been enough to give this a favorable rating, but there's a lot to love here. The production on just about every track is fantastic.
Brian Eno
4/5
Quite relaxing and meditative. I could see myself coming back to this while I'm working on something in the office.
Coldcut
4/5
Maybe my brain's broken, but this sometimes reminds me of the Pizza Tower soundtrack and that's a good thing.
Hüsker Dü
2/5
I had a good streak going for a while, but I just wasn't feeling this one.
Lauryn Hill
4/5
Soulful, genuine and really cool.
Ramones
3/5
Some really catchy stuff, as expected. It all kinda blends together and everything sounds the same though. As expected.
Goldfrapp
4/5
I liked this one. It's probably an odd choice to use words like floaty or shiny to describe music, but both seem to fit this in my mind.
Finley Quaye
3/5
This was some fun, chill reggae.
Mudhoney
3/5
Grimy, rough around the edges and it kinda works.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Every time I listen to some Led Zeppelin, I need to listen to more Led Zeppelin.
Alanis Morissette
5/5
Incredibly solid album. I feel like I forgot how good of a singer and songwriter Morissette is. Every bit of anger, sadness, hope and humor pours out in these tracks, and it's hard not to bob your head and sing along.
The Flaming Lips
2/5
I went into this not being a very big fan of The Flaming Lips and I'm still not. The production's pretty good, but I'm just not nuts about the vocals. I hear they're much better live.
Buck Owens
3/5
A charming album that's over before you know it. I didn't realize this is where the phrase "Wham bam, thank you ma'am" came from.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
More proof Paul Simon is one of the greatest American songwriters and Art Garfunkel's voice adds a lot as well. The ending with Silent Night/7 O'clock News gave me chills.
Gorillaz
4/5
Pretty fun. Del The Funky Homosapien really crushed it with Clint Eastwood. Can't wait for Demon Days to pop up on here.
Aimee Mann
3/5
Pretty nice. I think Way Back When is pretty playful and I've Had It has some good production behind it. Also my brain is broken because I associated the cover with her doing the Sonic Adventure pose.
The Last Shadow Puppets
4/5
Alex Turner's voice works really well for this 60's style production. Very glad to have learned about this album.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Some fun songs, The Waltz was very nice. Felt like there might have been a little too much spoken word parts for my taste.
The Cure
2/5
Didn't really hit for me. Wasn't necessarily bad, but it was a little repetitive and samey. Not for me.
The Verve
4/5
Honestly pretty good. Bittersweet Symphony is a classic, obviously, but other songs I enjoyed were some of their trippier sounds like Catch The Butterfly and Neon Wilderness.
Aphex Twin
4/5
There's two kinds of people in this world, people who like ambient techno and miserable bastards. I'm both.
Iron Maiden
3/5
Lou Reed
5/5
Unbelievably sad, but Lou Reed has a way of turning that sadness into beauty.
Nirvana
4/5
Really good album. Heart Shaped Box and Dumb are two excellent songs
Electric Light Orchestra
5/5
Out Of The Blue is a good title for this because while I'm familiar with the hits, there's some unexpected favorites on this that blew me away. Steppin Out, Standing in the Rain and Big Wheels is an incredible stretch of songs.
Pearl Jam
5/5
I know for a lot of people, Eddie Vedder's voice can be a sticking point. But when I hear the passion, the emotion and the energy in his voice, it's hard for me to not love this. No skips.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Some really great hits on this one, though not everything ages that well. Looking forward to more Beasties showing up on here.
The Specials
4/5
Groovy, bouncy, and off the wall. Just fun music.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
If you ain't angry, then you haven't been listening.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Some really great music in the first half, but the second half starts to overstay it's welcome a bit after 1979. There are some lyrics that can look a little cringe in hindsight, but the instrumentals really sell you on them in the moment.
Primal Scream
3/5
A little hit or miss. The chill funky vibes in tracks like If They Move, Kill Em and Trainspotting were highlights for me, but not a lot from this is going to stick.
Joy Division
3/5
Some of the tracks hit for me and others didn't. I can see the appeal, but it's otherwise just alright. Day of the Lords and Interzone stand out for me.
Neil Young
4/5
Who knew there were so many types of blues?
The White Stripes
5/5
If you hear Ball and a Biscuit and don't go "Hell yeah" then I just don't trust you on a personal level.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Feels weird to say, but I'm kinda iffy on this one. The tracks I liked, I really liked. Heroin in particular was a highlight. But there were other parts that didn't quite hook me the same way.
Pere Ubu
1/5
Funny thing about this site is that when you have an open mind, it reveals so many great albums you would normally not go out of your way to listen to, leading to discovering new tastes you weren't expecting. It also reminds you that there's some things you just don't get. And that's okay.
The Smiths
4/5
I liked the second half a little more than the first half, but overall I enjoyed this more than I was expecting. Favorite track was probably Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me. Haunting and bittersweet.
R.E.M.
4/5
Nightswimming is probably my favorite REM song and whoever chose to add oboe to it should get some flowers.
Orange Juice
3/5
Some hits and misses. I quite liked A Million Pleading Faces and I Can't Help Myself. Always happy to hear a saxophone solo, too.
Jane Weaver
4/5
Enjoyed more than I was expecting. It was dreamlike and trippy, but still felt like something I could bob my head to.
Scott Walker
3/5
Very theatrical and melodramatic, but with some surprising detail at parts. Not too bad.
John Coltrane
5/5
Short, but oh so sweet. My only problem with this album is having the drum solo from Pursuance only in my right ear.
Jack White
4/5
Very solid. Especially like Sixteen Saltines, Love Interruption and his cover of I'm Shakin'.
Tom Waits
5/5
Man, this was great. Waits is a poet who can show you so much beauty in a world so full of grit and grime.
When you really listen to what he's singing about, you realize there's no better voice for it.
Sex Pistols
3/5
It's nothing too grating, but it's not amazing either. Anarchy in the UK holds a place in my heart, though.
Elliott Smith
3/5
I was expecting this to be a lot sadder, but I was surprised by some of his catchier songs. LA, In the Lost And Found, and Wouldn't Mama Be Proud stand out to me. A lot of the others didn't really stick, though that ending is a little haunting.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Another good album. Marley knows how to get people into a groove and motivate.
Miles Davis
5/5
For as long as I live, I'll never understand why some people just don't like jazz.
MC Solaar
4/5
Sick flow transcends language.
Jamiroquai
4/5
Some of the lyrics are solid while others are a little shallow. That said, it's pretty damn funky. Revolution 1993 is a great example.
The Doors
3/5
The Doors is one of those groups that bounces back and forth between cool and lame to me. Riders On The Storm will always be a 10/10 banger for me though.
Miles Davis
5/5
Miles should stop being so modest. This is very blue.
Funkadelic
4/5
In my highest of highs I never would have been able to come up with something like Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad. These cats are from another plane of existence. Maggot Brain also continues to be one of the greatest instrumental works of that decade.
David Holmes
3/5
It's alright. I liked the little interstitials and the beats were fun. Wasn't something I'd be thinking about for long after though.
Metallica
4/5
Imagine how good this would be if you could hear the bass!
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
Not the genre I was expecting based on the title, but it was alright. Vocals could have been a little better.
Beatles
4/5
It takes a pretty complicated guy to write a song as beautiful as In My Life and then also Run For Your Life.
5/5
An all timer. Even their goofier songs are still fun to listen to. Within You Without You is further proof that George is the best one.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
All bangers, no skips. A lot of people don't care much for Four Sticks, but that driving beat is so fun to me.
The National
3/5
This wasn't too bad, but I felt like it needed more something. The basslines and drums were great most of the time, but I wish some of the tracks had more energy.
De La Soul
4/5
Fun and funny. There's some great use of choice samples as well. Eye Know and Say No Go are highlights.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
4/5
Joplin's vocals and the lo-fi bluesy jams are just a winning combination.
Sam Cooke
5/5
I'm not big into live albums, but man this was on fire. You could tell Sam Cooke was having the time of his life on that stage, and that fun is so contagious. Instantly lifted my spirits, no skips.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Pretty solid, despite the somber mood throughout the whole album. There were some really beautiful tracks like Highway Patrolman and Used Cars that stuck with me. I still feel like Bruce is at his best when there's a big band with him. That said, if you don't like country music, you're probably not gonna like this.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
Doesn't hit me quite as hard as To Pimp A Butterfly, but there are some great tracks here. Sing About Me, Dying of Thirst hit my heart in ways I wasn't expecting.
The Slits
1/5
Just not really for me. There were times when the tracks would get catchy, but I'm just not into this vocal style.
MGMT
4/5
There's a chance Electric Feel may be the catchiest song of all time. Still working on the science to back that up.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Springsteen is at his best with the E Street Band. Some solid tracks here, specifically Racing In The Street and Promised Land.
Goldie
5/5
Nothing says "lock in" like some good ol' drum and bass.
Earth, Wind & Fire
5/5
Short, sweet, funky, soulful, romantic, inspiring and cheerful.
The Strokes
4/5
Great album! They always come off to me as a good mixture of catchy and almost needlessly cool.
Arcade Fire
4/5
This was a neat album. I never dug into Arcade Fire that much before, but maybe I should.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
I knew there were going to be some great songs, but Inner City Blues really ended this album perfectly.
Mylo
4/5
When he said "Weird Al Yankovich, Cyndi Looper," I felt that.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
One of my absolute favorite albums which leads with one of my absolute favorite songs. Paul Simon is one of the greatest living songwriters. 5/5, 10/10, 100/100
Einstürzende Neubauten
2/5
Not really my thing, but mad respect to a band that is willing to go as far as to create their own instruments for their art.
Green Day
4/5
Some great hits and high points, even if the rest kinda blends together a bit.
The Zombies
5/5
Time of the Season is definitely the star of this album, but Care of Cell 44, Butcher's Tale, Brief Candles and This Will Be Our Year are also great tracks. Some impeccable keyboards too. I'm feeling generous today.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Real talented lady with a great sense of vocal control and heartfelt songwriting. Just a lovely album.
Elliott Smith
4/5
Sad and haunting. But you know, in a good way.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Not bad. I don't think it will stick with me much, but I can appreciate it for the time.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Man, John Bonham really was a beast. Everything else was great too, but really listening to the drums this time around just solidifies it for me.
Metallica
4/5
This album always has a soft spot in my heart, even if half the songs sound like Bowser boss music.
Hanoi Rocks
3/5
This was fun. Not amazing, but they were having a good time and I could bop along to it.
James Brown
4/5
One thing is very clear, Brown knew how to take command of both the stage and the audience to great effect. He's one of those artists that has better live recordings than studio recordings.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
Some pretty great jams. Been Caught Stealing is a classic that's hard to not smile to. And Three Days is an absolute banger.
David Bowie
4/5
I didn't like it as much as Blackstar, but it had some pretty good tracks. The Next Day, The Stars (Are Out Tonight), and (You Will) Set The World On Fire are all solid.
Public Enemy
4/5
Terminator X is a dope ass DJ name.
The Who
5/5
Absolute banger. Joe Pera was right about how damn good Baba O'Riley is.
Morrissey
3/5
Sounds like this guy's a piece of shit, but at least he hates Thatcher.
John Grant
4/5
I thought Grant's voice and the arrangements were great, and the lyrics had a They Might Be Giants kind of quality to them in a lot of cases. I feel like using several different slurs in a song is definitely a risk, and the point was pretty much well made before that line in the song, so it seemed a little needless. That said, I enjoyed the rest of this album a lot more than I was expecting. Grant really nails down the feelings of anxiety and low self esteem that come from shitty parenting in the midwest, and he makes those feelings very listenable in a charming way.
U2
3/5
Eh, I'm not a huge U2 fan, but I didn't mind it as much as a lot of you guys did apparently.
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
One of the coolest feeling instrumentals ever made. The rest of the album doesn't quite reach that peak, but it's still a groovy time.
William Orbit
4/5
I don't know if it's because I like video game soundtracks or just because I work in an office where the music helps me focus, but Electronica is a genre that's really grown on me. This had some lulls, but was pretty good.
AC/DC
3/5
I used to love AC/DC when I was a kid, but I feel like that's definitely faded in time. Still, there was something nostalgic about these riffs and Bon Scott's scratchy wails.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
I wasn't fully sure how to feel about this one. I liked the arrangements and he had a good voice. Some of the lyrics had me tilting my head a little bit, and only a couple songs really grabbed me. Songs of Love and Through a Long And Sleepless Night.
Janelle Monáe
5/5
A powerhouse. So many varying styles and genres, but all working together with such powerful energy. Banger.
Nas
5/5
I've heard NY State of Mind quite a bit in the past, but I never checked out the rest of the album before. It holds up really well. Nas might have one of the most influential flows in the genre.
Depeche Mode
4/5
Not everything hit for me, but what did hit was very good. Driving drums and synth arrangements, haunting baritone, this has it all. Clean was the one that gave me goosebumps.
Beatles
4/5
Definitely some bangers and some other songs I'm less excited about. This probably could have just been two separate albums, but it's still quite memorable. The ones that hit really do stick to you. And I'm glad it ended with a Ringo song.
Ryan Adams
3/5
A little overlong, but there were things I liked. Particularly When The Stars Go Blue. That's a pretty song.
Blondie
4/5
Debbie Harry is just so damn cool. Great album.
R.E.M.
4/5
R.E.M. is one of those super consistent bands that I often enjoy, but don't think about all the time. The Wrong Child, Orange Crush, Pop Song 89, and Untitled all hit strong.
Kings of Leon
3/5
Turns out I have heard more than one Kings of Leon song before. They're alright, but I feel like this album could have used some fine-tuning.
Beach House
3/5
Pretty dreamy and ethereal, but nothing that feels particularly unique. Not bad though.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
One hell of a singer. Few ladies could belt out like she could.
Beatles
3/5
A couple head-boppers, but we all know the best stuff comes later.
Little Richard
3/5
Woooooooooooooooooooo!
Funkadelic
5/5
I'm definitely not alone in thinking this, but the title track alone is worth 5 stars. I can never get tired of it. Other tracks like Hit It And Quit It or You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks are all groovy and catchy as hell too. I don't even care that it all ends with farts. They earned it.
Big Star
2/5
Felt really inconsistent instrumentally and the lyrics didn't grab me.
Rush
4/5
The funniest thing about this album is the fact that Ayn Rand would have absolutely hated it.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Honestly this was pretty lovely. I wasn't expecting to be that impressed with Willie's version of I Can See Clearly Now, but he really made it his own.
The Killers
4/5
Dang, really frontloaded with hits, huh? Despite the repetition, All These Things That I've Done is probably my favorite Killers song. Jenny Was A Friend of Mine and Midnight Show were also both pretty good.
Korn
3/5
This was a 2 until I heard Earache My Eye.
The Bees
3/5
Chill and a little foggy. Not memorable, but fine for getting work done.
3/5
Mostly good. Loved Kick Out the Jams and Motor City is Burning. Good intensity and solid riffs. Didn't care for Starship though. Started checking the time every minute about halfway through.
Frank Ocean
4/5
This was a nice chill listen. Sweet Life, Thinkin About You, and Pyramids all stood out to me, along with a couple great features. Would be interested to hear more.
Black Sabbath
5/5
War Pigs is probably the greatest metal song of all time and the rest of the album is pretty great too.
Pixies
4/5
Offbeat and enjoyable. Not every track hit for me, but more did than I was expecting. Cactus and Broken Face are both standouts.
The Who
3/5
This is still early for them, so they haven't quite hit their stride yet, but you can see it start with My Generation and The Ox. The Who are at their best when Keith Moon was let loose and drumming like Animal from The Muppets.
Judas Priest
4/5
Pretty fun. The drums on Rapid Fire hit like crazy. Good shit.
3/5
Never been a big U2 guy. Album's alright, the hits are pretty good.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
Just some good time tunes. Praise you is an all timer.
The Lemonheads
3/5
Some thoughtful songs with some decent instrumentals and okay singing. I liked Confetti and their cover of Mrs. Robinson didn't make me upset, so I'd say that's a win.
Radiohead
5/5
Thom Yorke is a bit of a cock, but this is a banger album here.
Radiohead definitely isn't going to be everybody's vibe, but it's weird when the top review says all the songs sound the same when that album contains very different songs like 15 Step and Nude. At least be accurate about what makes the album suck for you.
Stan Getz
5/5
Both energetic and relaxing at the same time. I tend to give 5 ratings to albums that I pretty much replay after they're done. What can I say? I like jazz.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
Groovy and cool surpasses language barriers.
Emmylou Harris
4/5
Sweet little country album. Emmylou's voice is so soothing and she does a lot of these covers justice. I would like to hear more songs that she wrote though, because Boulder to Birmingham was very nice.
The Stranglers
4/5
Surprisingly good! Great basslines, gritty lyrics and even some elaborate keyboard made this a sleeper hit for me.
Depeche Mode
4/5
Yo I think this album's haunted, these songs are spooky as hell. Ending with Castlevania boss music was a hell of a good choice tho.
The Go-Go's
3/5
Pretty good. Even their slower songs are very upbeat and catchy.
4/5
Is it weird I liked the second half more? Is that kinda Judas of me?
The Band
3/5
Not every song hit, but it did have a decent mix of country, gospel and even a little blues. Particularly liked The Weight, We Can Talk, and Chest Fever.
Robert Wyatt
2/5
Probably not the best to listen to an album about sleep after only getting 4 hours of it, but I was determined. I dug some of the instrumentals and how they were a little discordant and off beat. But man, I don't care for Wyatt's voice. Just felt like it was a wrench in the whole thing for me.
Santana
5/5
My day kinda sucked, but when this album was playing, it ruled.
Violent Femmes
5/5
This album has a xylophone solo that's so good it makes me wonder why don't more albums have more xylophone solos. Blister In The Sun is great, but Add It Up and Good Feeling are also bangers.
Brian Eno
4/5
I loved the back half a lot more than the front, but instrumentally this whole album is a treat. Eno is one of those artists that makes you want to use words like "soundscape". Favorite tracks: Julie With, Spider and I.
The Cure
4/5
Better than the last Cure album I reviewed. Plainsong, Lovesong and Fascination Street all have really good instrumentals. Still not a big The Cure guy, but I can get why people like them.
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
Short, sweet, and primarily chill. Soft music for a relaxing get together or a stressful workday. Most of the songs were pretty good, but the Parade song stuck out like a sore thumb. You Didn't Have To Be So Nice was a cute song and I'm happy she got to sing with her kid, but it did interrupt the flow of the album a little. Still, I wasn't annoyed or even bored.
B.B. King
4/5
The live atmosphere, the guitar, the horns, the wailing. They all work together really well. Help the poor.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Damn, I was going into this expecting to be critical, but this is a 5. Subterranean Homesick Blues and It's Alright, Ma are the biggest standouts, but everything else hits too.
Gotan Project
3/5
Vibes were nice, but nothing really stood out to me.
Gang Starr
3/5
It was pretty fun, and I can see how they'd be quite influential, but nothing really excited me too much in this album.
Bert Jansch
4/5
Hadn't heard Bert Jansch before, but his guitar-playing is instantly classic to me. I like the idea of having a couple songs just be quick little acoustic ditties rather than making songs twelve minutes long to fit in all the noodling. Needle of Death is a really good track too.
Adele
4/5
Pretty great. Adele has a great voice, and most of these songs hit for me. I knew this list skewed more to the UK but man, the reviews I read on this make it seem pretty obvious, lol.
Coldplay
3/5
It was pretty good. Clocks and the title track both stand out for me, but it's not something I'll think about too much otherwise.
Pavement
4/5
I kinda went back and forth on this album, but I ultimately liked it. Range Life, Fillmore Jive and 5-4=Unity were all standouts for me.
Black Sabbath
5/5
I kinda love the direction this went in. Sort of less heavy, but more stoner metal. Changes is a treasure, but Under The Sun, Supernaut and Snowblind also kick ass.
Fred Neil
4/5
Some pretty cool vibes with this one. I really dug That's The Bag I'm In and Everybody's Talkin. Not the most memorable otherwise, but I enjoyed my time more than a 3 out of 5.
Miles Davis
4/5
Delightful. Out of the three Miles Davis albums I've gone through on this list, I'd probably say I'd rank this lower, but it's still a nice listen. Liked Venus De Milo and Moon Dreams the most.
T. Rex
3/5
Had some moments, there's a hit or two here, but didn't stick with me. Banging a gong sounds fun though.
Cornershop
3/5
The back half really saved this one, but not by that much. Candyman and the Norwegian Wood cover are both solid.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Liked this more than I was expecting. Silver and Killer Moon are both great. Something about their sound makes them stand out a little more from other 80's UK New Wave, but it's hard to put my finger on why.
Missy Elliott
3/5
It's a really funny bit to have a lyric "I'm such a good rapper" in your rap album. First half was fine, the second half kinda dragged for me.
Deep Purple
4/5
Pretty fun. Smoke on the Water always felt overplayed to me, but the rest have some good magic. I'm a fan of keyboard noodling so this works for me.
Radiohead
4/5
To this day, Karma Police just makes me think of that Derrick Comedy sketch with Donald Glover screaming. Really solid album. I particularly liked Exit Music, Let Down, Electioneering and The Tourist. Overall great, but I didn't enjoy it as much as In Rainbows. Thom Yorke is still a bit of a cock.
Traffic
4/5
Not the biggest Steve Winwood guy, but this was pretty good. Sways between jazzy and folksy, but never feels out of place either way. I also tend to enjoy keyboard and sax noodling more than most.
50 Cent
4/5
Definitely brings me back. Even if the whole album is just 50 talking his shit, he's earned that. Craziest line was Eminem implying that the terrorists on 9/11 were going after them but missed.
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
Great vibes. Both the singing and the instrumentals are top notch. Kinda makes me wish I learned Spanish. Maybe it's not too late.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
I had a headache all morning, so I was relieved this album was nice and gentle. Though the headache also probably made it so I wasn't fully listening to the lyrics most of the time. I wanted to like it more, and maybe in other circumstances I would.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Jazz always puts in a better mood, and this was no exception.
The Afghan Whigs
1/5
Ugh. First time in a while I've felt like telling the singer to just get over it.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
Was okay. There were a lot of good points being made, but some of the flow was lacking. Probably not one I'll listen to again, but nothing I disliked.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
5/5
Bombastic and bold. Puts the Big in Big Band music.
The Beach Boys
3/5
It was kinda out there, but not always in a way that I liked. The latter half was definitely better, but didn't really amaze me that much.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Stevie Wonder is definitely one of the top 10 artists of all time. At times I wondered if this album might be too long, but I would have no idea what could possibly be cut.
Cheap Trick
2/5
Never been a big fan of Cheap Trick, and the fact their live songs were the ones that got radio play were a part of that. The appeal of a live recording is to hear the band play off of the energy of the crowd and really go all out, and it didn't really hit that way with me this time. Surrender is still pretty neat though.
Carole King
4/5
Loved this. Though it's a relatively soft album, there's some songs with great energy that keep it from slowing down too much. Some beautiful songs, some of which I thought were much older as well.
The Stooges
3/5
There wasn't a lot that really stuck with me here. I Wanna Be Your Dog was kinda neat though.
Sigur Rós
4/5
Pretty magical vibes. Even with the language barrier you could feel a strong emotional current throughout.
AC/DC
3/5
I used to be one of those middle school kids that listened to AC/DC in like the early 2000's, so I do look back on this album fondly, even if I'm a little embarrassed about that. It's not something I would put on anymore, but this did have a lot of their best hits.
The Magnetic Fields
1/5
I'm sure all the good songs come later, but I tapped out at about 12.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
Not bad. I love DnB and there were some good beats here. The singing was nice, but some of the lyrics left a little to be desired. I wish I could give it a 3 and a half, but I'm not feeling a 4.
Joy Division
3/5
On second thought, maybe I don't have depression. This sounds like real depression.
The White Stripes
4/5
Good album, though not their best. Love Blue Orchid, The Denial Twist, Instinct Blues, and Take Take Take. Good variety of sounds too.
The Pogues
4/5
Energetic, folksy, crass and somewhat beautiful. I've always enjoyed Irish folk, and this album does the genre a great service. Not every song is one I'd probably go back to, but most of them had my foot tapping.
Jethro Tull
5/5
The flute is rad as hell. Between Aqualung, Up To Me, My God, Hymn 43 and Locomotive Breath, this album is full of bangers.
Ryan Adams
1/5
This dude kinda sucks and his music isn't good enough to justify it.
Hole
4/5
Pretty solid. I didn't care much for Hole or Courtney Love when I was a kid back in the 90's, but giving a fair shake today as an adult, I do see the appeal and the artistry she had.
Adele
4/5
Some really good bangers out of this one. Rolling In The Deep, Fire To the Rain, Someone Like You are all widely popular singles for a good reason. There's something about Someone Like You that really hits for me in particular. Few songs go for a feeling of indignant weakness, but it's just as valid a human emotion as any other.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Superstition is an all timer. Few can bring it quite like Stevie can.
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
The songs where Grace Slick leads really make you wish she took lead vocal the whole time, but that's not to say the others are bad. Today and Comin' Back To Me are both solid tracks in their own right.
Screaming Trees
3/5
Pretty good. I liked the instrumentals a little bit more than the singing, but it wasn't bad. Dying Days is a pretty solid track and the one I'll be remembering the most.
Marilyn Manson
1/5
Fun fact: I didn't realize this before, but everyone in Manson's band has their pseudonym following the same theme. Daisy Berkowitz, Twiggy Ramirez, Madonna Wayne Gacy. It's such funny dumb edgelord shit.
Elvis Presley
3/5
It's Elvis. I always preferred younger Elvis, but it's still just fine. Not a lot of standouts, but Power Of My Love has a good feel to it, and it's hard not to feel something when listening to In The Ghetto.
Duke Ellington
5/5
Another really solid big band jazz performance. Loved it. I also must have gotten a much shorter version than everyone else. Which is fine, I'm counting it anyway.
Deep Purple
2/5
Like a lot of classic rock bands, they get a lot more noodle-y in live performances. Most people consider that a bad thing, but I tend to like noodling from time to time. Sometimes the noodling worked in their favor, other times it just made me bored. Not a bad album, but it feels odd to have this here when there's others missing. Also Space Truckin did not need to be 20 minutes fuck off with that shit.
The Cramps
4/5
Cheeky and fun. I'm a lover of surf rock, so a spooky goofball version of it is always welcome.
Lupe Fiasco
3/5
There were some pretty good moments, but the rest was a little forgettable. Kick Push and Pressure were both solid, but I kinda dipped out of the outro like 3 minutes in.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
Man, these guys really like California for some reason. The song I Like Dirt is pretty catchy.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
Solid 60's hippy tracks. Suite Judy Blue Eyes and Wooden Ships are two particular favorites. Crazy how these guys all ended up hating each other.
Donovan
3/5
A mixture of pretty fun tunes and kinda lame folk ballads. Season of the Witch is a jam. The Trip, Sunshine Superman and Bert's Blues are also fun.
Bill Evans Trio
5/5
This album helps you realize and appreciate just how much beauty you can make with just 3 instruments. No brass, no woodwinds, just piano, bass and drums. And it provides every bit of an intricate and emotional experience.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
2/5
Started strong with some Sinead O'Connor vocals, but got a little spotty after that. Not big on Jah's singing, or his name. The rest was only okay, but not like, a 3 okay.
Radiohead
4/5
Another solid album. Definitely fits the mid-90's alt rock feeling more than what they apparently grow into, though I like their later vibes more. I'm starting to think I missed a lot by not getting into Radiohead earlier. Planet Telex, The Bends, Fake Plastic Trees, Nice Dream, Black Star and Street Spirit are all bangers. Once again, Thom Yorke is a cock.
Talking Heads
3/5
Still not a big Talking Heads guy. Psycho Killer is definitely my favorite song of theirs though. Uh Oh, Love Comes to Town and Pulled Up are also alright. The rest kinda give me a headache.
Bauhaus
3/5
I was expecting worse, but there were occasionally some jams here.
Bee Gees
2/5
This wasn't horrible, but man, thank god for disco.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
When I think of soundtracks from the 70's, this is always the one that comes to mind. And for good reason.
Bob Dylan
4/5
I just need to accept that I like Bob Dylan. I don't think his early stuff is his best, but there's some great stuff on this album alone. Blowin In the Wind, Masters Of War, Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall, Oxford Town, Talkin' WWIII Blues and I Shall Be Free are all great.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Beautiful voice, some catchy tunes, but Son Of A Preacher Man and Windmills In Your Mind are the only ones that are gonna stick around in my memory.
The Roots
4/5
The Roots is one of those groups I kinda slept on. I was familiar with their name, but couldn't tell you any singles. Pretty solid. Rock You, Thought @ Work, and even Something In The Way Of Things were all interesting, and I like the sudden unexpected genre shifts.
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
Sick stoner rock. I hope this isn't the only QotSA album on here.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Love the Beasties. Nobody else would put samples from both Psycho and Jaws on a track about eggs. B-Boy Bouillabaisse is such a fun trip, too.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
One of Springsteen's best. Songs by the working man for the working man, without ever feeling like they're lowest common denominator. No skips.
Harry Nilsson
5/5
It turns out, I've always liked Harry Nilsson, even if I'm just now realizing it. Jump Into The Fire is a banger, and other tracks like The Moonbeam Song, Early In the Morning, and Down all hit well too. Five Schmive
TLC
4/5
Not that crazy, but did hit the sexy and cool. RIP Left Eye.
Waylon Jennings
5/5
Just real good, soulful, honest country music. When it's good, it's great.
Neil Young
3/5
There's some highs, but boy are there some lows. I know Neil's someone whose voice is controversial on its own, but he really highlights how rough that voice can get with Mellow My Mind. Other songs like Speakin Out and Borrowed Tune are quite nice though.
Marty Robbins
5/5
You know, even when you throw away all the memes, this is a very solid album. It might feel a little one-note after a while, but I could enjoy every song on this album individually and would be happy to revisit each of them. That's a 5 in my book.
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
Some of the in-between moments could have been left out, but there's a lot of bangers. Biggie had a way with words that few other rappers could match. Pretty good production too.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
2/5
I didn't really care for this one. I don't mind a lot of psychedelic hippy stuff, but this just rambling. Weighted Down is pretty solid in comparison though.
Tom Tom Club
3/5
After the first track, I was expecting to dislike this more than I did. Wordy Rappinghood? Corny. Like, real corny. However, Genius of Love, L'elephant, Lorelei and On, On, On.. were all pretty solid. Still not exactly my bag, but it could have been worse.
The Vines
3/5
I was expecting to like the whole thing more. Get Free, Outtatheway and 1969 were all solid, but the rest didn't do much for me. Hopefully this means The Hives got in.
Television
4/5
Really good jams. See No Evil, Friction, Marquee Moon and Prove It are surprising bangers. Loved the production a little more than the vocals, but the vocals didn't annoy me either.
Boston
5/5
The quintessential dad-rock, and I mean that mainly because this is one of the only non-country albums my dad would listen to constantly. This is a personal rating, (well, all of them are) and there's no skips for me. Brad Delp's insane vocal range, the crazy noodling on both guitar and organ, I love all that shit. Call me a basic bitch, I don't even care.
Wilco
4/5
Went into this not knowing what to expect, and there were some things I really liked about this album. I feel like the sadder songs hit way better for me and were quite haunting in a good way. Radio Cure, Poor Places and Reservations are all excellent. Not everything hit for me out the gate, but the longer it went on, the more I got it.
Incubus
3/5
I don't think it deserves tons of hate, but it's also not like, the best album ever. Drive, The Warmth and a few others were pretty enjoyable songs. I feel like a solid 3.
Gary Numan
3/5
Synths are fun. That's just true. Felt like there could have been something more.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Pretty nice. Stevie never puts out mediocre music, that's for sure.
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
This just rips. One of those bands where I can't find a weak link. I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor and Vampires are all timers.
Sade
4/5
Smooth, but there's more emotion to this album than just being cool. Love the sax. Very nice.
Erykah Badu
3/5
Very funky, but a lot didn't really stick for me past Penitentiary Philosophy. It was a great start that the rest of the album didn't really live up to for me.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Fun, sleazy and honest in its cynicism. Yet her rendition of There Is No Greater Love is so beautiful, you feel there may have still been a romantic somewhere underneath.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
When I saw Siouxsie spelled that way I was fully prepared to hate this. But goddamn if they didn't turn me around almost immediately. Most of this album hits hard and doesn't relent until it gets closer to the end. That said, Voodoo Dolly is a strong finish to a pretty good album.
Johnny Cash
5/5
What I love about this performance is Johnny's interaction with the crowd. To get to see a show like this was more than just entertainment for them. They got to feel like human beings again, not just jailbirds. Even when they started playing San Quentin for the second time, it made me smile because I knew they were loving it so much.
The Adverts
2/5
The album I rated before this one was a 5, so it kinda came in with a debuff. Still, most of this kinda went in one ear and out the other for me. Great British Mistake is alright though.