May 17 2024
View Album
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
My first album on the 1001 Album journey, and what a lovely album to start this adventure with.
Though I had never listened to this album start to finish, most of the songs were familiar to me as this album contains, easily, 4 all-time classic songs from the '70s.
One thing I am certain of is that, once I ask my children to listen to the album and rate it, they will most likely give it between 2 or 3 starts, as the sounds on this album are probably not apt to the "modern" ear.
4
May 18 2024
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Grace
Jeff Buckley
Top5 Album all time!
What a joy to listen to, and what a disappointment to see that Hallelujah doesn't even come close to top 100 most played songs on Spotify.
5
May 19 2024
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Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
Top5 album, not a single song on this album I don't like.
5
May 20 2024
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A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
Had never listened to thus album before, and enjoyed the experience--found it very relaxing by the third time listening to it.
4
May 21 2024
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It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
I can understand that the album is included, however, for my taste, listening to the album once every decade or so will be more than plenty.
I did notice that the sampling done was very subtle and one can see how PE set the tone for many rap/hip-hop artist which followed.
3
May 22 2024
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Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
Though I was able to enjoy some of this album, I still don't understand why there are so many people who see Zappa as God...
Having said that, I did appreciate the music.
3
May 23 2024
View Album
Different Class
Pulp
Thoroughly enjoyable listening experience, but then again, I found this album about 2 years ago and started listening to it with some regularity.
Will give it 4 stars... but Common People is being added to my favorite play-list on Spotify!!!
4
May 24 2024
View Album
This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Upbeat, great music.
Maybe 1 or 2 songs that are epic, however, the rest of the album allows for more than enjoyable listening... 4 stars for sure!
4
May 25 2024
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Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
Though the title song is probably one if the most emblematic songs in the world, I was less impressed with the rest of the album.
I will give it a couple more spins to see if it catches on, but for now 3 stars.
3
May 26 2024
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Gold
Ryan Adams
First song is stellar, the remainder if the album is easy to listen to.
Giving it 4 stars, but not an album I would play frequently.
4
May 27 2024
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The Colour Of Spring
Talk Talk
Great album, great band, great single.
But I am a bigger fan of the previous album from them, so 4 stars
4
May 28 2024
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American Idiot
Green Day
Greenday was greated with cheers when they published Dookie,,, 10 years later.... I skipped through most of the songs on this album, as song A sounds like song B sounds like song C...
How has this band managed to captivate so many people for so long?
This is the first album that I am giving 1 star...
1
May 29 2024
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Technique
New Order
Nice.
Like watching an 80s movie, with only sound...
4
May 30 2024
View Album
When I Was Born For The 7th Time
Cornershop
Very interesting listen, familiar with a couple of the songs and will listen to the album again.
3
May 31 2024
View Album
Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts
The Adverts
I crossed the sea and was grateful to get to the other side...
2
Jun 01 2024
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Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Though familiar with many songs on this album, and considering the frequency that White Rabbit and Somebody To Love have been used in movies, the album more than personifies a period in Western culture.
4
Jun 02 2024
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This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
This is a must listen for all who wonder what influence New Orleans has had on music
5
Jun 03 2024
View Album
Make Yourself
Incubus
Never really listened to this band before, and now that I did, most of the time I felt like I was listening to a Faith No More-, Soundgarden- or System of a Down- cover band.
Not a big fan as I can't get over the feeling that they are trying too hard to be good or different.
2
Jun 04 2024
View Album
Hunky Dory
David Bowie
I guess things are Hunky Dory after all!
Though not the biggest Bowie fan, a great listen and definitely an album one needs to have heard front to back in one's lifetime.
Also, when will they answer the question if there's life on Mars??!??!!!!??
4
Jun 05 2024
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Emergency On Planet Earth
Jamiroquai
Any album that starts off with some didgeridoo sounds is worth listening to.
All in all not bad, but neither great.
3
Jun 06 2024
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Like Water For Chocolate
Common
Actually, an enjoyable listen.
However, not much on the album that instantly drew me in.
3
Jun 07 2024
View Album
You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
I wish the way was still being taken, so we didn't have to listen to the album... wasn't my taste in the '90s, isn't my taste today
1
Jun 08 2024
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good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
I can understand that, if you are into Hip Hop and rap, this album might be pleasing to you.
What I am trying to understand is why I should find it pleasing to listen to?
Though, to be fare, if the choice would be between listening to this or EDM, then give me this any day...
2
Jun 09 2024
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Entertainment
Gang Of Four
I feel bad about the fact that I never heard about this band, then again, late '70s I was still young and listening to an eclectic mix of Brian Ferry, Stevie Wonder, Queen, ABBA and Chicago... oh, and the Bee Gees.
I can recall the Boomtown Rats though. But only 1 tune.
I've listened 2 times to the record, which is part of my 1001 album journey, and I know I will be listening to it several times more.
I hear punk, I hear rock, I hear funk, I hear SKA, and I'm sure if I keep listening I will hear more, and that is the sign of a great album.
Great bass. Great guitar. Great lyrics.
Favorite song, at the moment, Anthrax
4
Jun 10 2024
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Dirt
Alice In Chains
Nice.
As my first grunge album on my 1001 album journey, not unhappy that this was the one that popped up.
Several "classic" songs of the era, and blasting the album is enough to get one back into the '90s angst mode! I busted out my flannel shirt, and slammed a couple of cold ones back...
4
Jun 11 2024
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Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
I was obviously well aware, when I decided to start my 1001 Album journey that I would get exposed to music(ians) I had never listened to before...
Hugh, for my untrained ears, is another jazz musician. I would not be able to do what he was able to do, however, upon reading a little about him, I have to scratch my head on why this album was placed on the list?
Favorite tune is almost a straight-forward blues tune, where the piano has center-stage, which means it hardly has anything to do with Hugh...
I can see this being good music during some off-time when you are preparing a meal and need some background music...
3
Jun 12 2024
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No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
Motörhead
What is there to say... except "can't believe I hadn't listened to this album before.
AMAZING ENERGY, that's what you get from this album, if several of the songs are almost carbon-copies of The Ace of Spades!
4
Jun 13 2024
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The World is a Ghetto
War
A little too much of this, and a little too less of that... and a 13 minute song I did not like.
2
Jun 14 2024
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Bright Flight
Silver Jews
Though I created the rule that I will listen twice to all albums that I am presented with, I fear that this is the second album where I will only stick to that rule if I am allowed to MUTE THE VOLUME.
This isn't music, don't know what to call this... A person might be a great songwriter, doesn't mean they should be allowed to record these songs!
But, I will add 1 song to my 1001 album playlist, and that will be Death of an Heir of Sorrow, not because it is the least shitty of the songs, but because it is the shortest.
1
Jun 15 2024
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Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
Listening to this album is like expecting a serial killer to perform their craft...
Enjoyable listen, more for way way background music.
3
Jun 16 2024
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Africa Brasil
Jorge Ben Jor
Had never heard of Jorge Ben Jor, glad he showed up though.
My musical journey certainly enjoyed this bit of funk, so much more than I thought I would!
4
Jun 17 2024
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Synchronicity
The Police
Though not all numbers on the album are excellent, there are too many that excel way above par.
Great listen, classic album, top 100 of all time for certain, though only 4 stars for me... but I am weird!
4
Jun 18 2024
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Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
One needs to have loads of confidence to start an album off with a 2-minute lasting, simple chord progression that a 1-year band member could write, while jumping around on a pogo stick, eating a snickers bar.
Then off we go on our Cure journey, with it's ups and downs, yet undeniable sound that, like it or not, if you were awake in the '80s, makes you wish you were back in that era acknowledging how special the band is--or should we say, how special Robert Smith is?
Though I only give this album 4 stars, the song "A Forrest" is a top10 all-time favorite song for me!
4
Jun 19 2024
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Ys
Joanna Newsom
Though I am grateful that I had to listen to this album, I don't believe that I will be listening to it too many more times in the future.
While I was listening to it, my daughter asked me if I was listening to Chinese Opera, which I thought was actually not too far off when you think about it.
Did not get a chance to read the lyrics, though I understand that this is part of the magic of this album.
Again, grateful it showed up on the list.... oh, and the first album that was not available to listen to on Spotify for me!
3
Jun 20 2024
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Like A Prayer
Madonna
It is Madonna. It is '90s pop, even if critics say this was the album with which Madonna showed to the world she was a real artist.
One can't deny that the album is well produced, and that there are several songs that are easily added to a top-something list, however, I was no fan of Madonna in the '80s, nor in the '90s, and neither am I today.
3
Jun 21 2024
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Berlin
Lou Reed
Lou Reed.
Icon for many.
Revered by some as even more.
I still don't get it.
Though some of them there diddies weren't bad...
2
Jun 22 2024
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Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
It is Jazz... I listened to it... I will give myself 5*
As background music it isn't too bad, but if you have to actually sit-down and listen to it, then you might as well start cleaning the attic while you're at it.
3
Jun 23 2024
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The Chronic
Dr. Dre
1 hour long listening to the following words creatively being used: bitches, ho, dick/nuts, N'&&@$, Longbeach, motherfuk@, and let's not forget the references to themselves and the record label.
All in all an album that will not be listened to again.
1
Jun 24 2024
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Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
Is this a redefinition of what noise should sound like?
I don't know...
I do know that it is tiresome to listen to...
And I gave it a second try, just to see if, somehow, I would all of a sudden see the light, like so many people suggest one will.
Consider me blind still...
2
Jun 25 2024
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(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Pronounced Owe-Sum
Though not 5 stars... but a solid 4.8 stars!!!
4
Jun 26 2024
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Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
First time I listened to this album.
Didn't know that "love the one you're with" was penned by the Stills... then again, I don't know much about the Stills.
Enjoyed the album, but I don't believe that I will be listening to it with great frequency.
2
Jun 27 2024
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Buffalo Springfield Again
Buffalo Springfield
Third day in a row that I am listening to the same type of music, from the same era... and how fortunate I am to have spent my teenage years in the '80s
Of all his work, there is only 1 song by Neill Young that I can stomach hearing with frequency, and listening to this album I am scratching my head as to why he was in so many influential bands... To think that many of my heroes from the Grunge era view him as the grandfather of Grunge.
I will go ahead and give this album 2 stars as I reserve the 1 star to absolute works of trash, and this album does have its merit musically, just not my cup of tea.
2
Jun 28 2024
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Jack Takes the Floor
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Let's find out if I check all the boxes to be a Ramblin' Jack Elliot fan?
Like Country music? No
Like troubadour music? No
Big fan of flatpickers? Not really
How about cowboy hats? Never owned one.... but that doesn't mean I don't like that...
2 stars, to be polite?
2
Jun 29 2024
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Odelay
Beck
I was not a fan of Beck when he burst onto the scene in the '90s.
But there were several bands that I was not a fan of back then...
Listening to it today, I really found myself having a very enjoyable time, and paying more close attention to the influences which shaped Beck's sound: the funk, the rock, the sampling, the groove, the multi-culturist aspect.
Am I a Beck fan today? No. But, I know I will listen to this album with a lot more frequency than I've listened to it before... Odaley, cabron!
4
Jun 30 2024
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The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
The oddest thing about listening to this album is that it makes you reflect on what your period reflection is for specific music-styles.
Thus, The Atomic Mr Basie, for all intent and purpose, belongs to the '30s, not the late '50s.
However, does this mean that your favorite band, when growing up, is never allowed to release more music 2 decades later? This would have killed the Stones, Pink Floyd, and on and on and on.
So, consider me happy with some Big Band music, and the Count brightening up my day! And should this app throw another "old persons" music my way, I will be happy to give it a listen.
4
Jul 01 2024
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Deserter's Songs
Mercury Rev
What's there to rate?
If anything, this sounds like a musical written by a high school student who is not on the honor roll, using some simple open-source software, some duct tape, and maybe a well-trained hamster as a cheerleader.
Best record of the year for 1998? Then again, not much good came out of 1998, if you ask me.
Is the cause due to the limitations of what human beings can do with 7 chords?
2 stars, because I didn't hate it.
2
Jul 02 2024
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The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
Nostalgia can be a bitch!
How I recall listening to this, when it was my brother's turn to pick the music to listen to in the car...
What a great album! What great memories! What great simplicity!
4 1/2 stars, only because the album isn't perfect.
4
Jul 03 2024
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Elephant Mountain
The Youngbloods
The Youngbloods; maybe they should have chosen a different name for themselves?
In movies, the "youngblood" is always the little upstart who ends up doing great things. This band did not... why?
Of all the albums I've listened to on this list, this is the first one where I was able to play the album back-to-back 3 times in a row, and almost a 4th.
What an absolute gem, for me. Oddly enough, I am not able to whistle or hum a tune of the album by heart, so only for this I am limiting the rating to 4-stars, but it really should be 5!!!
5
Jul 04 2024
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Moon Safari
Air
If there is such a thing as "cup of tea", this was not mine...
Having listened to the Jean Michelle's of the '80s, I could have been spared the Air of the '90s
Having said all that, it is worth 2 stars as it isn't total crap.
2
Jul 05 2024
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Lam Toro
Baaba Maal
Nothing against our good buddy Lam, but, seeing as I don't know what he's singing about, I am having a hard time getting into the groove!
One thing I don't understand is the complaining people have done regarding the "simple" production, bad synth sounds et al... I say; what-ev's!
3 Stars just to bat par!
3
Jul 06 2024
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Diamond Life
Sade
Sade, the woman who marked an entire generation, because not everyone might have admitted they liked her music, everyone kept listening when one of her songs was being played on the radio.
Should be 5 🌟 but to be fair to other artist, I will give her 4 1/2 instead.
But what a joy to listen to this week.
4
Jul 07 2024
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C'est Chic
CHIC
Undeniable is the fact that, for most of the songs on this album, one gets a Party vibe... freak out!
Undeniable is the fact that the groove is Tight!
Undeniable is the fact that, from a musician standpoint, they knew what they were doing!
Undeniable is the fact that ALL songs last TOO long... which is a shame!
2
Jul 08 2024
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The Real Thing
Faith No More
Floppy fish! I guess that's how many of us will always remember FNM... that, or their nod to the Commodores!
Rating this album isn't as easy though.
I guess there's a love-hate thing going on, and it's something that I've been noticing on one too many albums since starting this journey, and that is that there are too many songs that last just 30 seconds too long... even Epic
So, 3 stars... but I enjoyed the listen... but 3 stars...
Also, as a last thought, I was reading how many people seem to compare FNM to RHCP... and I don't get it. They have in common that both bands were around at the same time, and that neither bands was making the kind of music popular at that moment. RHCP, in the end, were more commercially successful, but I'd say that this has to do with better publicist most likely. John Frusciante is an amazing guitarist, but brother Martin sounds better, at least on this album, and in my humblest of opinions...
3
Jul 09 2024
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Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
Yeah, nah.
2
Jul 10 2024
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Frampton Comes Alive
Peter Frampton
Before autotune we had "Talk Box" technology!
What a gem of an album! What a treat to pretend that you are somewhere in the audience, throwing back a beer, hitting the bong, or just passing along the beach ball, and being lucky to have had good sound engineers tape this show!
Sure, not all songs are 5 stars, but taken as a whole, if you like electric guitar driven music, this is a must listen!
5
Jul 11 2024
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Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
I actually enjoyed this much more than I thought I was going to.
Though frequently at a loss as to what the gentlemen are trying to tell me, the flow of the rhymes, the beats, and the way that Kung Fu movies are intermixed, make the entire thing soooooo much better than similar innercity rap albums.
... and I learned how to properly pronounce GZA and RZA... Fo-SHZA!
3
Jul 12 2024
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Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
BRNG
In their defense, I don't believe I heard a lot of their stuff back in the '00s
Then again, very little good stuff was coming out in the '00s
So, yeah, not for me. Amazed at how many listens their songs get, 1 tune at 425 million, another at 768 million, and a third showing off at 807 million
If only Mink DeVille would get that kind of attention... but no, because that is not what makes the young kids happy...
1
Jul 13 2024
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Wild Is The Wind
Nina Simone
Wow,
What's not to like?
And to think that, for all these years, I wasn't aware that one of my favorite Jeff Buckley songs happens to be a Nina Simone cover: Lilac Wine.
Saw a documentary on Netflix about Nina her life, and now listening to this album, I feel her pain, her anger, her sadness, her love.
And then there's the cover art! 5*****
5
Jul 14 2024
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Clandestino
Manu Chao
Depending on one's state-of-mind while listening to this album, one might wish to light up a joint, nurse the hangover, or bang year head against a wall till you stop hearing anything but your heart-thumping in your ear.
Somewhere, they will use this album as torture techniques to get the hardest bastards to start talking.
And in any hostal, or backpacker inn, all across the world, this album is staple of the daily playlist...
2 ** because I will respect the effort... but Jezus H Christ, this gets old fast.
2
Jul 15 2024
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One Nation Under A Groove
Funkadelic
The link to the album on Spotify showed me that which frustrates me about that platform at times, which is that, in the case of for this specific album, most of the songs were greyed out.
However, searching for the song "Into You" took me to an album called "Under a Groove CD1"...
What is there to say about the album? Some of the stuff is excellent, other stuff even more so, and then some more less... However, why why why do these funk albums all have to have tracks that go on for ever and ever and ever?
For me, it is impossible to pick a favorite song from the album, however, the most memorable one, and probably my pick for my "1001 Album play list" will be "P.E. Squad" as I could have sworn that I was listening to the soundtrack of almost any '70s porn flick!
2
Jul 16 2024
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Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
Never heard of this band before, at least, not that I can recall hearing of them before... and that kind of settles that.
Not that the album is bad, it has it's merits, and I'm sure that there are plenty of people who will place this album in their top 10 all time, but those persons probably were born after 1999...
There's no point in dragging most of these songs out for so damn long.
And the singer has nothing to do with Dylan.
And stop comparing this with '80s music, the only '80s relation is the sound of the snare drum, and at times a slight The Waterboys vibe, however, just by mentioning this, I feel like I've blasphemed as The Waterboys are sooooooooooo much better than this.
2 ** for the effort
2
Jul 17 2024
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2112
Rush
I am a huge fan of Pink Floyd, but no fan of Genesis.
I really like Marillion, but hardly know Yes's repertoire...
Back in the middle '90s I tagged along to a Rush concert, and when I say tagged, I mean we first killed a case of beer amongst 5 of us, then we hit a tailgate, then a couple more pints... and the entire concert was a rush to many, but a total blur to me. If only I could go back in time...
Obviously, I am familiar with "Tom Sawyer", mean, mean pride teh-de-deh-de-deh-de, and now I am familiar with 2112, and I must admit that I will be playing this album a couple more times the coming weeks.
That and I fear that I have just added a 20-minute-long song to my 1001 play list
:-0
4
Jul 18 2024
View Album
Wild Gift
X
The Good: the musicians know what they are doing
The Bad: only 6 songs last less than 2 minutes...
The Ugly: the singing
Honestly, why is this album on the list? It influenced west coast bands in the '80s? The female singer tries to sing like Blondie, and fails miserably.
Maybe they were a wonderful to see live? Maybe...
2** because musically it would be unfair to dish out only 1... but I am writing this upon my first listening, which means I can still change my mind.
You guessed it... changed my nind
1
Jul 19 2024
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Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
Shall I be the skipping record and repeat all that others have said before me?
Dylan might be an auteur, and technically speaking a chansonnier, but his delivery shouldn't be something applauded...
And then, while I am typing this, "Just Like a Woman" plays, and you forget about the fact that Dylan doesn't have a pretty voice, and you lose yourself in the magic that can be music.
So, 3 1/2 ***
3
Jul 20 2024
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The Wildest!
Louis Prima
Top-20 album, in my opinion.
What's not to love about a little swing every now and again? And, only today realized that "Night Train" is the song being played in Back to the Future right before Marty digs into "Johnny B Good"!
Buona sera, good night!
5
Jul 21 2024
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Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
Fuck Da Police...
How about Fuck This Shit?
1
Jul 22 2024
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Play
Moby
First time I heard of Moby, probably 1995, it was not my thing.
By the time Play came out, I guess my musical taste had evolved to one accepting more modern music.
I bought the CD, I played the CD, I loved the CD.
Giving this 4**** as I was unable to fully enjoy the album--there are a couple of tunes skip-worthy for sure.
4
Jul 23 2024
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Morrison Hotel
The Doors
Starts of dyno-mite!
Not the biggest Doors fan in the world, and though the album is better than several others ones' I've had the displeasure of having to listen to, I know 100s that are better...
But that's my opinion...
3
Jul 24 2024
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The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
What's there to say? It's EDM... from 1978...
People were trying to be like John Travolta when this came out, in their white leasure suit, pointing fingers in the air, which makes it amazing.
Also, anytime you can hear a thick German accent, it's worth a listen... Metropolis!
4
Jul 25 2024
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Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
Never heard of them... was dreading to have to sit through an EDM or techno album, and my first listen was anything but joyful.
Then I gave the album a second "spin"... and I find it infectiously fun!
Though I wouldn't go so far as to call this Rock, or whatever, but I can see why there are so many people more than happy to see this album on the list, and to think I was convinced that nothing noteworthy has been created since the '90s ;-)
4****
4
Jul 26 2024
View Album
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise
WTF?
I don't even know where to start... what the hell is Post-Rock? And, if that is a musical genre, what kind of genre is it? Google has only managed to confuse me more...
Does "being experimental" mean that you are included in this musical journey? I thought the idea of having something that is good to listen to would be the main criteria...
So, for now, having to sit through a 20+-minute intro song, which goes so far as making me wonder if my sound-system is broken around minute 14:04, really makes me dislike Tortoise.
Maybe my second listening of the album will make me change my mind...
Okay, second listening, and my thought has now shifted to "okay, so it's several styles of music being created by instruments that aren't standard for those styles.
Still not liking it.
1
Jul 27 2024
View Album
Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
I can understand why there are so many people raving about this album, or about the group. However, I can't share the sentiment...
Not a fan. 1*
1
Jul 28 2024
View Album
The New Tango
Astor Piazzolla
At times I was really enjoying this modern, jazzy version of tango...
At the end of the day, I'd rather listen to the authentic tango than this.
But worth the listen.
3
Jul 29 2024
View Album
Fire Of Love
The Gun Club
The good: tight production, real craftmanship when it comes to instruments, nice lyrics, and an overall sense of "why was The Gun Club never featured in Quinten T movie?
The bad: JLP's vocals... they do get under your skin after a while, then again...
The ugly: instant skip if you don't like rock-a-billy!
3
Jul 30 2024
View Album
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Bruce Springsteen
Sometimes I just wish that Bruce would not try to sing, and what's with the crappy guitar solo on "Prove It All Night"?
Though the album isn't bad, it isn't something I find sufficiently pleasing to my tender ears for repeat consumption... 2 1/2 stars ***
3
Jul 31 2024
View Album
Can't Buy A Thrill
Steely Dan
So, my younger brother, back in the '90s, started listening to these guys, and I recall the "rock" stations playing The Dan with high frequency... and I didn't like it a bit. I'd even go so far to say that I hated it.
I was dreading the day that The Dan would pop up, and I would have to "force" myself to sit through an entire album...
Damnit... 4*
Would have been 5*, however, one needs to make distinction
4
Aug 01 2024
View Album
Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
Wow.
Though it does not reach the level of FM's Opus, this album sure was a treat to listen to several times today!
And I will play it several more times in the coming weeks.
A solid 4**** bordering on 5...
4
Aug 02 2024
View Album
I Am a Bird Now
Antony and the Johnsons
Don't know what to think...
One side of me says "this is contrived"
The other side of me says "this is forced"
That leaves me in the middle saying to both my sides "that's the same, you idiots"
Hearing Lou's voice for a second was nice, and it even gave me hope for a second that I would find a killer song on this album, and then there was no more Lou.
There are some songs that are pretty good, however, the voice... If you would get a crooner to sing these songs, you'd probably have a solid 4* album, but this voice...
2**
2
Aug 03 2024
View Album
Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
What a year, '77, checking the releases in that year makes one wonder what was in the water.
From disco, to punk, to pop, to funk, to r'n'r, to new wave, to glam
There are 2 albums released that year which are TOP10 all time for me, and this one isn't one of them. However, excellent album and oh so close to being a 5*!
4
Aug 04 2024
View Album
Tommy
The Who
When I saw that the album-du-jour was Tommy, I was all excited, as I'd never really listened to that album, but am well aware of the Rock Opera...
I could have skipped this album without a doubt as it didn't meet my expectations one bit. Yes, Pinball Wizard is an excellent song, but the rest of album was... annoying.
There are better "concept" albums out there in my humblest of opinion...
2*
2
Aug 05 2024
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Talk Talk Talk
The Psychedelic Furs
Though I've complained about monotonous music before, I should be fair and do that here as well...
Yet the Zeitgeist got me sooooo hard!
Pretty In Pink 5*
5
Aug 06 2024
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Electric Warrior
T. Rex
You can bang the gong all you like, it still won't make me dig the rest of the album....
2
Aug 07 2024
View Album
Who's Next
The Who
Second The Who album in 3 days, and what a whopper!
Though I barely could sit through "Tommy", I had a blast listening to this gem!
So close to being a 5*
4
Aug 08 2024
View Album
Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
Totally unfamiliar with Burning Spear, and actually pretty unfamiliar when it comes to reggae in the first place--except for the world hits by Bob and Peter.
Which basically made this an interesting surprise.
Don't consider me a reggae convert; O won't start smoking the ganja, dreadlocks in the hair, convert to rastafarianism, or become a huge fan of the colors red, green and yellow.
But I'll play this album again, and sway side to side, and maybe start reading a little more about the political messages hidden within.
4
Aug 09 2024
View Album
Beautiful Freak
Eels
Though one can find some enjoyable tunes on the record, I would argue that better albums were released and/or recorded in this period.
Not worth more than second listen, I m giving this 2 stars
2
Aug 10 2024
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Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
When I was listening to track #3, I had to wonder what the fuzz is all about... the first 3 songs fit perfectly on the soundtrack of a '70s porn flick.
Then Exodus starts playing, and the rest was just a lovely blur!
4
Aug 11 2024
View Album
Hms Fable
Shack
Though the second listening was kore enjoyable than the first one, each day I am trying to understand better what the criteria is to have an album listed as one of the 1001 you need to listen to?
This album isn't bad, but what makes this album better than countless other bands I have not found on this list?
The potpourri of styles, ranging from '60s folk through '80s alternative is okay, but nothing special... then again, I was never a fan of modern music coming from Liverpool, and seeing as this is constantly mentioned about the artist involved I say whatev's
3
Aug 12 2024
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American Pie
Don McLean
I wouldn't be able to recall all the times that Bye Bye Mrs American Pie was belted out in favorite college bar back in the day, and truth be told I never noticed that the song was that long... guess that is what happens when you are having some drinks with good friends; time flies!
And then we add Starry Starry night to the mix, and smiles appear.
Misfortunate for the rating that several of the songs seem to be carbon-copies of others though... 4****
4
Aug 13 2024
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Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
What a nice and relaxing joy this album is to listen to... and what great musicians.
When it comes down to jazz, I've always had a slight soft spot for the "Brazilian" influenced versions, so this album was a lovely surprise!
4
Aug 14 2024
View Album
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
Fun for a bit, always better than Gangsta Rap, but it becomes pretty darn boring after a while...
2** as I don't want to offend
2
Aug 15 2024
View Album
Low-Life
New Order
I think that I've played the record about 5 times in the last 2 days, and that is normally the sign of a 5***** album, but that's not how it ends.
Call me crazy, but several times I was expecting The Cure to start belting out the tunes... so, nice album, but 4****
4
Aug 16 2024
View Album
Tonight's The Night
Neil Young
For many he's close to god-like, to me, he's annoying.
This album has no merit at all.
1
Aug 17 2024
View Album
...And Justice For All
Metallica
Finally, I thought, when I saw Metallica show up...
This is the band that I've seen live more than any other mayor act, and always had a great time!
Albums... that is not where their strength lies... I adore the song "One" as it is just raw as shit, and bangs you from left to right to up to down.
Rest of the album I could have easily skipped... but that is my opinion.
3*** just because of One
3
Aug 22 2024
View Album
Phaedra
Tangerine Dream
Yes... I mean... No...
Though I can agree with the viewpoints of many; stating this is the birth of EDM, that for the period when this was conceived it was groundbreaking, or that the group has created such a massive catalogue of music that it is impossible to overlook them. And yet, after listening... nay, after subjecting myself to this modern version of water-torture, I can but say that I am not a fan.
2** stars, as I'd rather listen to this for the rest of my life than several of the abject crap that I have labelled 1*
2
Aug 23 2024
View Album
Live At Leeds
The Who
Though I am trying to keep an open mind regarding my journey... this is the 3rd The Who album within the first 100 albums I am listening to, and truth be told, I am getting a little bored with The Who.
Thus, considering that the link to Spotify made me listen to an expanded version, I'd rather have listened to the original 5-6 odd tracks on the album.
And while we are on it, why is this album considered one of the best live albums ever? From a production standpoint, I will agree that it was very well recorded, so good job there. But I'd rather listen to Jimmy Hendrix live, or Clapton, or Queen, or something else...
Here's me waiting for the 1001 journey to start amazing me again...
2
Aug 24 2024
View Album
Either Or
Elliott Smith
Not a fan.
Not a single song that I was thinking "yeah, let's hear that again"
Reading his bio on Wiki, I can but only get the impression that he's heralded as a great influence because it gives us a reason to put a spotlight on mental-health...
Removing those artists who either took their own lives intentionally, or accidentally, there are plenty of great artists out there who don't feel the need to shoot up, drink up, or stab themselves in the stomach because they don't agree with the girlfriend hiding in the bathroom and taking a shower...
1*
1
Aug 25 2024
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School's Out
Alice Cooper
This has been an eye opener, what a lovely surprise after a couple of disappointing albums.
I wish we could score with half stars as this is a 4 1/2 * album all the way through, but not 5...
4
Aug 26 2024
View Album
Myths Of The Near Future
Klaxons
As this is the first time listening to this band, at least, to my knowledge, I do my best to keep an open mind....
So here's what that mind has to say:
Can we NOT sing with this faux falsetto voice?
Big fans of The Prodigy and/or Frans F are we?
Stop trying to be, just be!
I like the beat, I like the chords, I like the overall feeling of this album, but I can't get over the voices and my urge to just punch them in the face.
3* for the effort.
3
Aug 27 2024
View Album
OK Computer
Radiohead
Bought this album in early 2000s, hoping that it would be like Pablo Honey, containing another Creep...
This is what I got...
Karma Police in my head all day!
With time, my appreciation for the album sure has increased, but it would be nice if we'd be a little more "chipper" or "up-beat" every now and again... even a Blues album gives you something to smile about.
4*
4
Aug 28 2024
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I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail
Buck Owens
Not a CW fan, but did enjoy the listen, and will enjoy the listen again I am sure.
3 1/2*
3
Aug 29 2024
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Crazysexycool
TLC
Being an old fart, I know how HUGE this album was back in the day.
Not just with the sales generated, but the cross-over effect it had. Period.
Waterfall, top 200 song all time no problem.
And anyone who covers a Prince-song gets an additional point.
3*
3
Aug 30 2024
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Behaviour
Pet Shop Boys
Really?
I recall PSB having a couple of hits, none belonging to this album...
Snooze
2
Aug 31 2024
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Cheap Thrills
Big Brother & The Holding Company
The late great JJ... must be a drag to know that, as a band, she was the one made you and then just went off to do her own thing.
Lovely listen, but not something to write home about, so right down the middle we go....
3
Sep 01 2024
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The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators
I don't know if this is coincidence, however, yesterday's album was Big Brother & The Holding Company, and today we get this...
Giving this 2* because it didn't make me happy, nor did it piss me off like some of the real garbage albums I am being presented with on my journey.
Also, electric jug; really?
2
Sep 02 2024
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KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
As I was not familiar with the artist, I read comments from others and got all excited about listening to the album...
The good, his voice! How refreshing to listen to someone just sing and not try and be a million things in one!
The bad, repetitive... for me. After a couple of songs I was ready for the album to be over with...
However, to stay positive, probably the best album produced in the past 5 years I've had the pleasure of listening to.
3
Sep 03 2024
View Album
Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
Nice, and great throwback to the '90s
Sabotage is a classic to rival all classic songs.
The rest, is okay.
3
Sep 04 2024
View Album
Sulk
The Associates
Caveat: I was a teenager during the '80s
During the period when The Associates were creating their music, I was in the midst of a musical transition from Stevie Wonder (Songs in the Key of Life) to Prince (Purple Rain), and most of what we called New Wave was overlooked by me until the end of that decade...
I've listened to the album 3 times in the past 18 hours, and I will listen to it at least 1 more time, not because it is worth 5*, but because this old man is enjoying the momories of highschool parties, weird hair cuts, and monochromatic clothes that abounded those lovely years!
4
Sep 11 2024
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Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
One can not deny that this music is for the lethargic ones amongst us, as you are pumped with energy, or rage, the moment the album starts doing its thing.
And that is where the problem lies: its thing.
Angsty suburban rapper with almost the same cadence throughout the album, followed by our screamer screaming stuff... in the end, it doesn't really matter...
A solid 1 1/2* as I don't want to piss off the fanboys, and girls, out there.
2
Sep 12 2024
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The La's
The La's
The Good: this album does contain a classic song in There She Goes
The Bad: after she is gone, there really isn't a reason to stay around
The Ugly: why do people keep expecting Liverpool to be the bedrock of good music???
2
Sep 13 2024
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Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
Eurythmics
The Good: Annie Lennox's vocals and lyrics! Superb
The Bad: aside from These Dreams, the songs are too "experimental" in the sense of "look how high falutin we are using ambient sounds" without really drawing the listener in
The Ugly: one too many tracks should have been cut down to under 3 minutes
Still, it is an all-in-all '80s classic, and it merits 3* for production value alone
3
Sep 14 2024
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Blue
Joni Mitchell
The Good: though at first I was not enjoying this album at all, by the third spin it has started to grow on me a lot more.
The Bad: if Joni is to be considered one of the best female performers out there, then how many other ones belong to the ranking of "the best"?
The Ugly: that darn falsetto...
I am struggling on what score to give this album, seeing as it is starting to grow on me... maybe if I had started listening to Joni Mitchell earlier in my life I would give this album a 4 1/2*, for now a solid 3*
3
Sep 15 2024
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For Your Pleasure
Roxy Music
The Good: 2 Bryans.
The Bad: different spellings of the name, resulting in different styles.
The Ugly: different styles are preventing the listener to get into a flow.
Though the above seems negative, I find the album pretty enjoyable to listen to over and over. But it remains difficult to shake off the feeling that, instead of embracing the Glam they eventually would, here they are trying to be too many things at the same time... Do The Strand is classic RM, In Every Dream Home A Heartache is classic LZ IMHO...
Would give it 4*...
3
Sep 16 2024
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Mothership Connection
Parliament
The Good: FUNK
The Bad: FUNK
The Ugly: FUNK
As Flea from the RHCP stated that when you combine fucking with fun you get FUNK... well, after 1 1/2 songs I was done fucking.
Yes, the album has great merit, and the groove is tighter than a virgins clam... but damnit, it's soooooooo repetitive that you just want to start hitting the skip button after 2 minutes instead of sitting out another 6-minute ode to the funk.
3* as I am note stupid
3
Sep 17 2024
View Album
The White Album
Beatles
The Good: The BEATLES
The Bad: no revolution 2 through 8
The Ugly: too much of this, not enough of that
Yes, "the white album" is viewed by critics as one of, if not THE best album ever recorded. I am not a critic, I just enjoying listening to music and finding out if my head will sway left and right... more importantly, whether or not I will find myself yearning to listen to the album again for the coming days.
For the moment, I have not found myself yearning too much. Though I have to say that Revolution 9 is an AWESOME recording, and will most likely be the tune I pick as selection for my 1001 album playlist.
Though initially I thought I would choose While My Guitar Gently Weeps, I have to say that I was disappointed in the terrible guitar playing--Prince just raised the bar too much with his solo in this version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SFNW5F8K9Y
Anyway, yes, great songwriting, and the fab4 are/were great musicians, but this is not my favorite Beatles album.
4* stars due to the classic tunes on here, but it should be 3*
4
Sep 18 2024
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All That You Can't Leave Behind
U2
The Good: U2 explains to us that you can't leave things behind.
The Bad: If you can't leave things behind, you don't look back.
The Ugly: As U2 doesn't know how to look back, they forgot how to make great RnR and just morphed their efforts into adult-contemporary blandness.
Then again, I am old, thus an adult, and taking the cue from U2, I don't leave things behind, and so I will just continue removing lint from my bellybutton while enjoying the soothing sounds of grown-up U2
3*
3
Sep 19 2024
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Woodface
Crowded House
The Good: the artwork on the album cover
The Bad: that I had to refer to the cover of the album as something good
The Ugly: a catalogue of music which has been abused in series/movies
To be fair, the production is solid, the album contains 5 hits which puts it on a different level than many other, mediocre, productions.
But the hits are too bland, and when this album came out I was not excited... and neither am I now.
3* because of the 5 hits.
3
Sep 20 2024
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Toys In The Attic
Aerosmith
The Good: Rock 'n Roll
The Bad: only 37 odd minutes
The Ugly: album cover...
I remember buying this album in the early '90s, because I owned the album Pump and wanted to listen to some more Aerosmith, and recalled how, in the '80s Run DMC had introduced a whole new crowd to this band thanks to Walk This Way.
I remember listening to the album, well, technically speaking it was a cassette as back then most cars did not have CD players yet and nobody ever had a record player in their car.... I digress... listening to this album and it was NOT what I had hoped for, as this is more raw, and Pump is polished, and modern Rock, and this is old man rock....
Yet, I fist pumped the air today when I saw that I had this album to listen to as just the other day I watched Dazed and Confused and still had Sweet Emotions running through my head.
So do I like the album today? Hell yes. 4*
As for the haters who can't stop calling Tyler a pedophile... and therefore not appreciate this album: your loss.
4
Sep 21 2024
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Surfer Rosa
Pixies
The Good: we've got boobs on the album cover
The Bad: it was the only thing that got my attention
The Ugly: noise
I know that The Pixies are revered by one-a-many persons. Heralded as the founders of Grunge (though I thought that dubious title fell on Mr. Young) and adored at festivals, they never caught my attention as I find this music to be nothing but noise and some this and that.
Sure, there are tunes that resemble good music, but the overall gist of this album for me is to look at the cover and ponder all that could have been...
2
Sep 22 2024
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The Clash
The Clash
The Good: Solid Punk!
The Bad: It's Punk!
The Ugly: Punk is meant to be ugly...
The Clash are iconic, which is a good thing. Meant to be heard live, which is a shame as that will not be possible until they invent a time-travel-machine.
I am [underscore][bod]NOT[/underscore][/bold] a punk fan in general, but I really enjoyed listening to a bunch of friends getting together to just express their sentiments. If you compare this to "modern" punk, the American Idiots, then this far outshines the other unmentionable album.
So, I am conflicted on what score to give this... kind of want to give it a 4*, but I will shoot middle of the road instead.
3
Sep 23 2024
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To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
The Good: There were actually several songs where I thoroughly enjoyed the beat.
The Bad: Please tell me all about social (in)justice.
The Ugly: Forced.
I don't have any issues with people wanting to express their viewpoints on this that and the other thing... but I am sick and tired of having to listen to the same (c)rap since the '80s pointing fingers to all but the own damn community--sorry, this is supposed to be about music, not about politics, but this, for me, is a political album and I am tired of politics.
Would have been 3*
2
Sep 24 2024
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White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
The Good: the medical reference to the album
The Bad: the white blood cells are incapable of doing their job.
The Ugly: again I need to wonder why certain albums are included in this list....
A wasn't a huge fan of the White Stripes when they emerged on the scene, and after listening to this album I can understand why I am still NOT a fan.
So many indie bands that are million times better.
Don't get me wrong, you can have this album playing in the background and you'd not notice... which is good and bad. Still, not to my liking.
2*
2
Sep 25 2024
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The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
The Good: MnM knows how to weave language
The Bad: just weaving won't make a great suit
The Ugly: out-dated on certain songs
Still, MnM is able to start telling a story and keep you listening, and in the case of a song like "Stan" can keep you coming back for more and more...
Of all the hip-hop, till now, my favorite album.
3*
3
Sep 26 2024
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Hounds Of Love
Kate Bush
The Good: The Queen of odd!
The Bad: sometimes odd is meant to be good.
The Ugly: it took "Stranger Things" to bring this to the masses...
During my college days a good buddy of mine handed me a mixed-tape, cause that is what one did back in the days when we still used tapes...
Anyway, the song Cloudbusting was on it, and I recall really appreciating the tune, however, as one would need to purchase an album for 1 song, I never did. So, this was a great trip down memory lane for me, and more interestingly was that I really enjoyed the LP.
4*
4
Sep 27 2024
View Album
Highly Evolved
The Vines
The Good: actual fun rock to listen to.
The Bad: too much forced usage of feedback.
The Ugly: at times too poppy.
Really enjoyed the album, but could not shake the feeling that they are trying harder instead of actually being... You know what I mean?
3 1/2* which will translate to 4
4
Sep 28 2024
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Stardust
Willie Nelson
The Good: awesome cover album.
The Bad: Willie could have mixed it up a little more.
The Ugly: not enough outlaw on this here record.
Loved it. Period.
4
Sep 29 2024
View Album
Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
The Good: something different for a change.
The Bad: tunes tend to last a little too long for my taste.
The Ugly: I felt like having a drink and a cigar...
I purchased this album when it came out as a birthday gift to my best friend, and she just looked puzzled at me at the time. Due to this I never listened to this album, which I now regret as it is more than lovely.
It is smooth, and raw, and exciting, and boring all at the same time.
Thoroughly enjoyed the ride, and have already listened to it 3 times today.
Solid 4*
4
Sep 30 2024
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The Undertones
The Undertones
The Good: songs are short.
The Bad: early Feargal Sharkey.
The Ugly: Feargal Sharkey.
So yeah, short songs are good, and pop punk just isn't.
But I did enjoy it once I realized I was listening to good ol' Feargal, whom most people only know for that '80s smash A Good Heart.
Gonna give this 2 1/2*
2
Oct 01 2024
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Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
The Good: The Best Live Double Album according to the experts at NME
The Bad: It isn’t all live…
The Ugly: I’m not a massive Thin Lizzy fan…
Boy oh boy, this one I had to sit through… and hope for time to go flying by.
Undeniable that there are some toe tappers on the album, so it wasn’t all wasted time.
Still, I could have done with a “normal” live album, instead of two...
2
Oct 04 2024
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Dog Man Star
Suede
The Good: non-grunge in the ´90s era.
The Bad: it isn´t grunge in the ´90s era.
The Ugly: trying to figure out if Dog Man Star is a reference to the album cover, and if so…
Don´t really know what to think about this album. I like certain numbers, then just kind of wonder what the hell they were thinking with other ones. Personally I believe this should have been released years earlier for it to be viewed as avant-garde… now it´s neither avant, and obviously there was no garde as you can see by the album cover.
3*
3
Oct 05 2024
View Album
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco
The Good:Recorded in the Windy City.
The Bad: It has nothing to do with the Windy City.
The Ugly: An album that lasts about 40 minutes too long…
Wilco… wasn´t into them when they were current, and currently couldn´t be bothered.
Annoying vocals, instrumentations okay, overall an album that can be skipped…
2* because I´m nice like that...
2
Oct 06 2024
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Pelican West
Haircut 100
The Good: All the lads did get a haircut before the album cover was shot.
The Bad: The autumn leaves probably screwed with their karma.
The Ugly: 2 members are either really cold, or 4 members are really hot…
There´s the ´80s we all love, and then there´s the ´80s that only a few people recall. I belong to the first group, and that group couldn´t be bothered by a inventive bandname, nor an un-explainable album name.
However, I did enjoy the jazzy aspect of this here new-wave which was copied by several bands afterwards to much greater success.
Thus, 3* even if they only deserve 2
3
Oct 07 2024
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In The Wee Small Hours
Frank Sinatra
The Good: my first ´ol blue eyes album on this list.
The Bad: it isn´t what I would call a good one.
The Ugly: it made me feel ´ol myself…
Seriously, I was all excited that my Sunday was being blessed by an album of one of the greatest singers in modern music… and after a couple of songs, as well as several images of a Scorcese movie flashing through my mind, I was done thinking about how to clip the next wiseguy…
Tedious after a while. Yet, if you add any of these songs to a random playlist you would be more than happy to be listening to it… now that´s what I call irony.
3* which should be 4 1/2
3
Oct 08 2024
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Pretenders
Pretenders
The Good: They aren't pretending anything!
The Bad: They have bad taste in clothes…
The Ugly: only 47 minutes and 2 seconds long…
What an absolute joy to listen to.
I believe that I was familiar with 2 Pretenders songs, gratefully now I am familiar with more!
Off to give them there well deserved 4*… oh so close to 5*
4
Oct 09 2024
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Back In Black
AC/DC
The Good: AC/DC
The Bad: finding neighbor's who don't mind me blasting this album at full volume!
The Ugly: The look on my neighbor’s face when the police scolded him for complaining about AC/DC!!!
5*
5
Oct 10 2024
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Live At The Regal
B.B. King
The Good: King of the Blues live!
The Bad: live albums can be a little too exciting than reality showed it to be.
The Ugly: this album will make you blue...
I love me some BB, and thankfully the album isn't too long.
Probably the best live version of How Blue Can You Get?
3* because of the above
3
Oct 11 2024
View Album
I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
The Good: the Queen of Soul
The Bad: the album I was directed to on Spotify had the first 3 songs of the album repeated at the end of the album
The Ugly: it was only 3 songs, should have been all songs...
Killer album of killer songs sung by a killer voice.
5*
5
Oct 12 2024
View Album
At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
The Good: great classic rock!
The Bad: too many jam songs.
The Ugly: no weed no joy...
Of I were interested in listening to a jam band, I'd go and see them live...
3* just because, but I don't believe I will be listening to this album again soon, and I love rock, and blues...
3
Oct 13 2024
View Album
Sail Away
Randy Newman
The Good: it seems we are going on a sailing trip…
The Bad: nobody clearly explained to us where the trip is heading…
The Ugly: once we reached our destination we realized we are all screwed…
WOW. I’ve listened to this album many times over the years, but since starting this 1001 journey, at least for with several albums, I’ve started paying attention closer to what the lyrics actually mean, and this album is a gut-wrencher.
I always appreciated Randy’s songs, the ones that I was very familiar with, but today I shed a tear during the ¨Old Man¨ song, what a harsh story he is telling there.
And most of the songs on this album are just that, in your face, harsh stories, but told with such simple charm that you need to really make an effort to find out what’s really going on. And by that time, you can but only applaud the genius of Randy.
5*
5
Oct 14 2024
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The Stooges
The Stooges
The Good: Iggy
The Bad: Iggy in 1969
The Ugly: supposed punk…
I don’t much care for punk music in general, and can not understand why I’ve had to listen to this album seeing as there is much better product to listen to from that era.
So shoot me for giving this album a 1* for the simple reason that I felt like skipping each song after listening to it for more than 15 seconds...
1
Oct 15 2024
View Album
The Band
The Band
The Good: The Band
The Bad: The Band
The Ugly: The Band
Maybe it is due to me playing catch-up on my listening, but I am finding it difficult to listen to this album today.
I also need to take into consideration that this is the 4th album in a row from late ‘60s era, and I am getting a little sick and tired of the late ‘60s era trying to figure out what era it is.
In order not to screw up the ratings too much, I will give this album a 3* due to the fact that I recognize the importance of The Band when it comes to modern music, but I would really want to give this album 2*
3
Oct 16 2024
View Album
Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
The Good: RnR
The Bad: one too many WOAWWWW
The Ugly: listening to this might cause confusion…
I am trying to figure out what punk has to do with this? Most of the songs sounded like a bad impression of what Little Richard would do with a song. Guess that means that Little Richard is the grandfather of punk??!!?!??!??!!
Reserving my stars for other albums…
2* because, though annoying, the album does not make you want to skip songs and at times even gives energy.
2
Oct 17 2024
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Hard Again
Muddy Waters
The Good: Muddy Waters
The Bad: third time Mannish Boy was recorded by him
The Ugly: there wasn’t a fifth time!
I believe that I was put in a trance while listening to this album… so I decided to play it a second time, and again I believe I was put in a trance, so I decided to play it a third time, and…
Reading what the actual meaning of the song Mannish Boy really is, made me appreciate the song even more, and to think it is in 1 key… brilliant.
4* because that’s how I roll
4
Oct 18 2024
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The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
The Good: jazzy hip-hop
The Bad: doesn’t age well
The Ugly: annoying drum-machine
I really wanted to like this, but the damn drum machine is getting on my nerves so badly, that I fear there’s a 1* rating heading towards the Tribe
This has NOT aged well at all.
Give me Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) and I will give it a 4*, but this…
1*
1
Oct 19 2024
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Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder
The Good: a bunch of songs in the same key!
The Bad: only a double album.
The Ugly: it isn’t his best album…
I had a massive smile on my face when this album popped up, and I’ve listened to it 3 times since, as this album is a the soundtrack of 3 formative years of my life.
Favorite song has always been Ebony Eyes, and yet on playlists, most people will opt for As, Isn’t She Lovely, Sir Duke, I Wish, Black Man, or any of the other MASSIVE songs on this album… and then most people react to the fact that “hey, Coolio actually covered one of his songs”… makes me sad as it means all those persons had never heard about this album prior.
This is a must hear album that should be mandatory listening in school!
10000000000*
5
Oct 20 2024
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NEU! 75
Neu!
The Good: Minimalist album cover!
The Bad: Minimalist music…
The Ugly: the mislabeling of this album being “Krautrock” which this isn’t at all.
Never heard of this group before, and have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Sound-wise, one could argue that they are ahead of their time, like contemporary artists such as Kraftwerk et al
Will dish out 3* as I don’t believe this album will become part of frequent listens, however, worth a spin once a year...
3
Oct 21 2024
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Colour By Numbers
Culture Club
The Good: Who doesn’t like it when it is evident which color to apply?
The Bad: However, what if I don’t agree with the indicated color?
The Ugly: That the British keep pestering us with the word Colour…
Loved it!
Brought me back to my youth, and also made me realize that, though a massive Pop band, they knew how to play their instruments, and Boy George has some more than impressive pipes on him.
It would be 5, but it isn’t perfect...
4
Oct 22 2024
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Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
The Good: S to the N to OOP and the D O G
The Bad: It’s rap music...
The Ugly: G-Funk rap music…
Oddly enough, in comparison with The Chronic, which I hated, Snoop does have something enjoyable to listen to. Guess there is a little less bravado in his rhyming, and more of a “I’ll shank ya if ya don’t like it!” kind of thing.
Going to go against my gut, and dish out a 3*...
3
Oct 23 2024
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Done By The Forces Of Nature
Jungle Brothers
The Good: There are lions in the jungle…
The Bad: The lion hasn’t been able to eat anything for a while, and it’s getting hungry…
The Ugly: I guess the mess the lion will leave behind once he’s able to kill something…
Yes, as you can tell, there isn’t much positive I can say about this album. I have had to sit through 4 hip-hop albums this week, and thought this one isn’t the worst of them all, my level of irritation is.
So please, if you happen to belong to the fan club of Jungle Brothers, don’t cry about my low score… cry about the poor family of whomever it was that the lion ate!
1*
1
Oct 24 2024
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Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
The Good: Golden Hour is the best time to take pretty pictures!
The Bad: The cover shot on the album was NOT taken during Golden Hour.
The Ugly: even if they would have shot the picture during Golden Hour, it would not have made the experience prettier…
If this is supposed to be country, what do cowboys listen to now-a-days?
If mrs Mulgrave would have done her versions of ‘80s classic songs, which is what this album begs for, maybe I would have had a better time… Imagine her version of “The Reflex” or “Wildboys”, and I don’t know why I am using Duran Duran tunes as example…
Sure, the album has production quality, however, seeing as this is the modern Nashville sound, it better. And yet, all this album does is make me want to skip track after track.
1* as I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS PART OF THE LIST
1
Oct 25 2024
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Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
The Good: The Boss
The Bad: Having to look at his ass on the cover…
The Ugly: The tucked red baseball cap in the right pocket, which we all know is code for…
To think that I never listened to the album when it came out… at least, I can’t recall sitting down and listening to it. I did have a friend in high school who was totally into the Boss and tried to get me to start listening to him, instead, I spend my hard saved cents on Van Halen’s ¨1984¨as well as the glorious ¨Purple Rain¨…
Thus, decades later, I sit here and wonder why my supposed intelligence did not tell me ¨go ahead, take a listen to the Boss, as there has to be a reason they call him such…¨
In the best of faith I am not allowed to give this album 5*, though it sure gets close to that ranking. Instead, I will give this a more than solid 4 1/2* as hours later I am still whistling ¨my home town¨ and analyzing the piano portion of ¨born in the USA¨
Awesome album, and greatful to have finally ¨forced myself¨ to listen to it!!!
4 8/10*
4
Oct 26 2024
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Funeral
Arcade Fire
The Good: Who doesn’t like an Arcade?
The Bad: Except when it’s on fire…
The Ugly: Who goes to a funeral for fun?
Why is it so difficult for these modern bands to just understand that rock and roll is about having fun?
Stop trying to reinvent the wheel, chug 3 chords, and just be a band, instead of a close knit group of friends who are all showing off that they are multi-instrumentalist and therefor will include sounds just to be different.
I am a big fan of Indie music, but not this contrived crap…
1*
1
Oct 27 2024
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All Mod Cons
The Jam
The Good: In your face, without getting intrusive!
The Bad: needs more cowbell…
The Ugly: that cover picture of the album does NOT invite a loving glance…
In comparison to confreres of theirs in the musical stratosphere of bands from the ‘70s that start with “The” and adhere to a 1-2-1-2-3-4-bang principle, this was actually very enjoyable experience.
I can hear a little Elvis Costello, I hear a little later New-Wave, there’s much appreciate sense of rhythm and musicality that goes past 3 chords…
Overall The Jam have won an extra star for making me enjoy a psuedo punk album! Hurray!!!
4*
4
Oct 28 2024
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Tical
Method Man
The Good: We’ve got Kung Fu sounds again!
The Bad: ‘70s sound effects where great on 36 Chambers…
The Ugly: The grill… I mean, who came up with that concept???
Of all the rap from the ‘90s I have had the (dis)pleasure of listening to on this list, I find that anything WuTang related is the only palpable stuff (except for Snoop and M&M) I can set myself to listen to, and actually enjoy.
So, here’s to the Method Man making me enjoy rap a little bit more!
3*
3
Oct 29 2024
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Band On The Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
The Good: McCartney was drinking Red Bull before it even existed, and that is how he got his wings…
The Bad: Too much Red Bull is not good for you…
The Ugly: I don’t see the band running in the picture, which means we’ve been lied to!!!
You’ve got to hand it to Sir Paul, he sure knew how to write catchy tunes, ensuring more attention, adoration, or hatred, for his music.
Me, listening to this album, I was brought back to a part of my childhood, where things were all simple and wonderful, as the world was starting to present itself to me, via adventures, bumps and scraps, and glasses of lemonade.
Though for my taste the record only deserves 3*, I’ve got to add the additional one to show respect to the genius that Sir Paul is… that, and I’ve had to listen to 5 crap records in a row, so that might have clouded my judgement….
4
Oct 30 2024
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Ramones
Ramones
The Good: THE RAMONES!!!
The Bad: their kind of repetitive…
The Ugly: Did I mention that they are kind of repetitive???
Hey, ho, let’s go! What a wonderful way to start your morning. No fist-pump, just an angry stare, and ready to go!
Just don’t pay attention to the recording quality… or the way Joey likes to “Bop” which sounds like he’s taking the piss out of all of us, instead of out of the world… or that the rest of the album really sounds more like what a lollypop band from the ‘50s would sound like, if they were man in drag…
I got tired of the record pretty darn fast, mostly as I was not able to understand if The Ramones were trying to fight the world, or give it an apple and become it’s favorite student.
Not for me…2* out of respect for the legacy
2
Oct 31 2024
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The Sensual World
Kate Bush
The Good: Kate Bush tells us about a sensual world!!
The Bad: just whispering does not make something sensual…
The Ugly: too much whispering going on…
I recall the first time I heard “This Woman’s Work”, it was, as should be, during that dramatic moment in the He Said / She Said flick, and it always stuck to me as a song that belonged on a soundtrack.
So, decades later, I learn that a whole album was tied neatly around this tune, and that made me wonder what ever happened to the original soundtrack to the movie, as I am sure that it will be more enjoyable to listen to… for me.
I am going to have to dish out 3* to this album, not because it pains me, but because it saddens me...
3
Nov 01 2024
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Teenager Of The Year
Frank Black
The Good: ‘90s indie rock!
The Bad: that I did not, for whatever reason, listen to this during the ‘90s
The Ugly: the album cover as Frank Black looks a lot like Frans Bauer…
This album substantiates my rule that all albums need to be listened to at least twice before I can rate them, as I did not like it at all during first spin.
However, by the end of the second spin I was already Bogart in Casablanca… Play it again Sam.
I am no big fan of the Pixies, something that many friends of mine don’t understand due to my massive appreciation of ‘90s college radio music, so maybe I need to listen to several Pixies albums after I am done listening to Teenager Of The Year for the 5th time in 24 hours…
4* well deserved!
4
Nov 02 2024
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The Yes Album
Yes
The Good: a band that is confident enough to name the record in third person reference to themselves...
The Bad: it is a misnomer, even in third person, as it should have been The No...
The Ugly: the bad prog...
Oddly enough, I was always under the impression "Good People" was a The Who song... I should apologize to them...
1 1/2 * because they do know how to play their instruments, just not in a pleasant
2
Nov 03 2024
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Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
The Good: We’ve been informed that Graffiti can be Physical…
The Bad: We can’t figure out which song really explains this concept to us…
The Ugly: This leaves us wondering if LZ is just trying to pull one over us…
When I saw the cover of the album this morning, I fist pumped the air, then played the record, and again, and again… and it dawned on me what a tremendous drummer JB is. I mean, holy crap good.
There’s a reason LZ is considered one of the best rock bands ever, and this album highlights all that is great about them!
5*
5
Nov 04 2024
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In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
The Good: an Iron Butterfly, as we know it can spread its wings and not have to worry about damaging them
The Bad: Iron is a heavy metal, thus causing the butterfly to not be able to fly… like, at all…
The Ugly: watching such a butterfly try and flop its wings to get airlift…
This is a tough one, as my album yesterday was Led Zeppelin IV, thus making any album of that epoch sound like crap… still, that title song did place me smack-daddy-in-the-middle of as The Garden of Eden… and the solo… I know we all are trying to air-drum ourselves out of this one!
3* for effort...
3
Nov 05 2024
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Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
The Good: we learned something new today, and that is that Rust Never Sleeps…
The Bad: if rust never sleeps, it means it just keeps expanding…
The Ugly: the whole world covered in rust, and no sleep… nightmare!
Let it be reiterated: I really don’t like Neil Young.
Let is be noted: I actually enjoyed album, maybe because it is technically speaking a live album, and there is a real good groove going on, I don’t know… but I feel conflicted.
The guitar work is awesome, the production work even better as you hardly notice it is live, and the harmonica work is eerily perfect.
So what do I give this album? Should I deduct points for Neil being Neil?
Needle is at the 3*, will give it one more listen, and see if the needle adds a point…
3
Nov 06 2024
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Kimono My House
Sparks
The Good: Amazing cover art!
The Bad: Not a huge fan of the female lead singer…
The Ugly: Turns out the lead singer is a he with massive falsetto…
So, I tried liking the album. Listened to it twice, while doing some simple work so that I could focus on the music, the artistry, the all… and then I realized that I never liked glam rock to begin with, so why change now?
This is just not my cup of tea… maybe tomorrow I might change my mind, but I doubt it…
Hi, this is me tomorrow, and while I am giving the album a third spin the thoughts that pop into my head are: at times this sounds like ABBA, I can also understand why people are heralding this album as being fun, as it does have “spark”… But still no fan...
3* to play safe!
3
Nov 07 2024
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All Directions
The Temptations
The Good: The Temptations!
The Bad: It takes them too long to explain that their father was a rolling stone..
The Ugly: Expected soul, got funk I did not like.
Imagine that the Foo Fighters release a new album which are all about covers of ‘70s evergreen songs… that’s how I felt with this album.
Yes, Papa Was A Rolling Stone is a classic, but the damn thing just takes too long to start rolling, and once it does, it seems the hill it is rolling off is never ending and not that steep…
2* because I did NOT enjoy listening to this album.
2
Nov 08 2024
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Fun House
The Stooges
The Good: I’ve played this album 4 times today!
The Bad: Not a single song stood out…
The Ugly: I feel like I’ve wasted 2+ hours…
That sax…
That mood…
That je n'est-ce pas…
Gonna give them Stooges a solid 4*!
4
Nov 09 2024
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Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
The Good: A self-titled album is always nice!
The Bad: you got to be into folky singer-songwriter music…
The Ugly: I don’t belong to the group that is into this kind of music…
Yes, she is important for music… but that doesn’t mean that she is important enough for me to care.
The listening experience was non-memorable, and that should say enough…
2* because I’m not evil
2
Nov 10 2024
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Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
The Good: Dylan applying Tesla
The Bad: Too much AC, not enough DC
The Ugly: The irony between Harmony and Harmonica…
So, yeah, another Dylan album… and sadly, again I have to give a much higher score than I would like to.
Does the man have a nice voice? No
Should the man use his voice? Up for debate.
Will the man surprise you with his craft? Absolutely!
Solid 4* which is bordering on 5* if it weren't for the length of the last track...
4
Nov 11 2024
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Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
The Good: People say EC = God
The Bad: Some people say the earth is flat…
The Ugly: Other people say a 1 + 1 = 3
TLDR is almost applicable to this album, as after a while you wonder what the hell the producers were thinking when they said “sure, go on for a bit more lads!”
Little Wings was terrible, several of the tunes were just WAY too long and the artist trying too hard being Blue is way too evident… guess drugs are bad after all!
Yet, one can not deny that, overall, the album is what it is, from a period that was what it was…
so, 3 1/2 * that translate to 3, as we will downgrade due to excessive trying...
3
Nov 12 2024
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Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
The Good: Rolling Stones sharp as knives
The Bad: Knives can cut, and it seems we need to Let It Bleed…
The Ugly: That we are celebrating this bleeding with a cake and a record…
What is there to say, that hasn’t been said before?
One of the greatest Rock n Roll bands ever… yet, on this album, on one too many songs, they are trying to be a straight from the Mississippi Delta, and that just hasn’t aged well.
Gimme Shelter and You Can’t Always Get What You Want are on most people’s Top 50 Greatest tunes ever, which means 4*
It would be 5* if there was more cohesion and less trying to be something they are not...
4
Nov 13 2024
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Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
The Good: Witnessing a birth is magical!
The Bad: Sometimes birthing comes with complications…
The Ugly: There were no scissors to cut umbilical chord…
Jazz. It’s its own thing. It has its own rhythms. It has its own chords. It has its own crowd.
I am still scratching my head as to what, exactly, cool jazz is all about. To me, it sounds like the jazz that is used when people like to point out how different jazz is. It is quick, it is syncopated, it is jazz…
3* because Miles deserves respect
3
Nov 14 2024
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Arrival
ABBA
The Good: Any band where you can read the name backwards as well as forwards, deserves respect!
The Bad: In the picture, the band members are NOT sitting in the ABBA format…
The Ugly: This means that for this album they are BAAB, which is the short country version for Robbert…
Love ‘em, hate ‘em, you have to respect them!
4 HUGE hits on this album… not hits, nay, HUGE hits.
And thus, per HUGE hit, I will give a * while hummin’ to myself “knowing me, knowing you…”
So close to 5*….
4
Nov 15 2024
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The Score
Fugees
The Good: The Score had an interesting cast of Bobby DeNiro, Ed Norton, Angela Basset and the great Marlon Brando!
The Bad: Even with such a stellar cast, the movie didn’t meet expectations.
The Ugly: This album is the same…
I am no fan of hip-hop, and I try to do my best to keep an open mind when listening to any hip-hop album that appears on the list.
So, The Score shows and my thoughts are “NOOOOOOOOOOO……”
When this album originally came out, the mid-90s were going through some serious identity crisis. We had the OJ trial which divided society in half, and just like you have today, it seems that if you weren’t on the “OJ is innocent” side, well then you must be a racist pig. If you couldn’t appreciate the effort The Fugees put into the album, and how great they are, then dito, you must be a racist pig.
And that is my problem with this album. It is too political, too polarizing, too much trying to be something instead of being something.
But the album was successful across the board, even if 2 of the 3 hits were pretty much cover songs, and that is something that was impressive enough.
So, 3* as this little pig doesn’t like to squeal!
3
Nov 16 2024
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War
U2
The Good: Who doesn’t appreciate an acronym for a band’s name?
The Bad: Such a negative album title… or was “conflict” already taken?
The Ugly: the obvious child-abuse as the poor kid had to get a bloody lip in order to be immortalized on this album cover…
When this album came out, I was into totally different music, as were most of my friends, so aside from the usual suspects on this album, it was a pleasure listening to this album with virgin ears.
Though U2 eventually turned into a carnival act, not of the good kind, this was prime stuff! Really enjoyed the album, and will play it several more times before the year is through.
A solid 4*!!!
4
Nov 17 2024
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Risque
CHIC
The Good: We start our listening experience off by being told we will have a “Good Time”…
The Bad: The Good Time, so it seems never ends…
The Ugly: Maybe we are being fooled; it is not about my good time, but about other people’s good, and be damned my good time!
Undeniable that Good Time is a classic disco song…
Undeniable that CHIC knows how to stick to a beat / rhythm / concept
Undeniable that, as with the other damn album by CHIC on the 1001 list, I got bored, nay, BORED real fast.
While I gave the other album 2* as I was acknowledging the musicianship on the album, this time around I am going to dish out a solid 1*
Thank goodness disco died a quick death!
1
Nov 18 2024
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Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
The Good: Nice album art
The Bad: It’s Techno…
The Ugly: TLDL
Seriously, I have to sit through 75 minutes of bim-bam-bim-bam repeat if necessary?
I like a nice short techno tune like the next person, but an entire album, which might as well be called a double album, with tunes lasting 15 damn minutes…
I have encountered my second Waterloo on this list.
1*
1
Nov 19 2024
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Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
The Good: Those shoes…
The Bad: That drab purple…
The Ugly: Me still not understanding what Bryter Layter really means…
I believe that I’ve heard a couple of his songs on auto-generated playlists, or maybe even while listening to a classic rock station, but never did I sit through an entire album by Mr. Drake.
Color me interested.
3 1/2* which I am bumping into the 4 stratosphere!
4
Nov 20 2024
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Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
The Good: Horses enjoying a delightful afternoon munching on grass
The Bad: The fact that I don’t have any grass…
The Ugly: The state of my ears after having gauged them with pencils thanks to Mr. Gallahan’s “singing”
I believe that this is album 176 for me, and I am really struggling to understand what the point of the 1001 list is…
Though I am not keeping track, this is, yet again, another album where someone who should not be allowed to record his voice, is allowed to do so, and on top of that has made me waste 50 minutes of my day.
Also: country? Really? Soon DeLaSoul will be listed as Jazz I guess.
To all of you who are fans of Bill, I feel sorry for your loved ones who have to endure listening to this too.
1* because that’s the minimum I can give, if not it would be 0*
1
Nov 21 2024
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The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
The Good: Nine Inch Nails
The Bad: Being stuck on a downward spiral
The Ugly: Trying to get out of the spiral without any of the nails puncturing you and causing pain, and blood, and anguish, and mayhem, and…
Like the music, don’t like the music, impossible to ignore the impact that this album had on putting Industrial music in the spotlight, or the soundtrack of the cult classic Se7en!
The album has put me in a slight trance all day, my wife hating the music coming from my speakers, while I just kept on keeping on with whatever I was doing. And to think that during the ‘90s I did not listen to this album ever…
A solid 4* for certain!
4
Nov 22 2024
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Wild Wood
Paul Weller
The Good: The many ways one could misinterpret the title of the album
The Bad: Considering the possibilities of misinterpretation of the title, now start misinterpreting the image on the album cover…
The Ugly: all your dirty minds!
What?
So, Paul Weller, ex The Jam, ex Style Council, raconteur of this here album that I had never heard of before. And I am liking it.
Setting aside the bithcin’ and moanin’ of plenty of people stating that this is drab, I think that this album is a clear reminder that it is time the music industry allows well produced albums to come out again, by people who actually know something about music.
I am uncertain what ranking I should give this album; 3 or 4*?
4
Nov 23 2024
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Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
The Good: We learn that Paul, so it seems, has a boutique!
The Bad: We never really find out why we are informed about his boutique…
The Ugly: I guess that means that I am not allowed into the secret club…
I am no fan of drum machines.
I am no fan of sampling.
I am no fan of rap music.
For me 1989 was a transition year, so I was listening to “old” records and not spending too much time listening to new product being released… for now, it seems like I did not miss out on anything.
2* because I didn’t hate it entirely
2