150
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3.64
Average Rating
14%
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2010s
Favorite Decade
Hard-rock
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UK
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Wordsmith
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41
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8
1-Star Albums
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You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roots | 5 | 2.78 | +2.22 |
| Destroyer | 5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
| Dog Man Star | 5 | 3 | +2 |
| Too Rye Ay | 5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
| Selling England By The Pound | 5 | 3.18 | +1.82 |
| Django Django | 5 | 3.21 | +1.79 |
| This Year's Model | 5 | 3.33 | +1.67 |
| Neon Bible | 5 | 3.35 | +1.65 |
| It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back | 5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
| Parklife | 5 | 3.38 | +1.62 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melody A.M. | 1 | 3.21 | -2.21 |
| Eli And The Thirteenth Confession | 1 | 2.94 | -1.94 |
| Fred Neil | 1 | 2.92 | -1.92 |
| Fly Or Die | 1 | 2.86 | -1.86 |
| Colour By Numbers | 1 | 2.84 | -1.84 |
| Happy Trails | 1 | 2.8 | -1.8 |
| Shalimar | 1 | 2.66 | -1.66 |
| Idlewild | 1 | 2.57 | -1.57 |
| Jazz Samba | 2 | 3.56 | -1.56 |
| Stardust | 2 | 3.4 | -1.4 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| David Bowie | 3 | 5 |
| Nick Drake | 2 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | 5 |
| Arcade Fire | 2 | 5 |
| The Rolling Stones | 2 | 5 |
5-Star Albums (41)
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Popular Reviews
KISS
5/5
I was late to the party with Kiss but I do love them they are just rock with lyrics you don't have to think about.
Detroit Rock City is my favourite Kiss track, God Of Thunder, Shout It Out Loud, Great Expectations & Beth are all great songs.
3 likes
Elliott Smith
4/5
I first heard of Elliott Smith through the movie Good Will Hunting which featured a few of his songs including songs from this album.
I went out and bought this record and enjoyed it some of his best work is on this album with Between the Bars, Ballad of Big Nothing, Angeles, Speed Trials and Say Yes all excellent and Pictures of Me my personal favourite.
A great album that would reinvigorate the singer songwriter genre and inspire a lot of people to pick up guitars and song introspective lyrics, maybe too many.
2 likes
1-Star Albums (8)
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Beck
3/5
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
One of Springsteen's Biggest and arguably his best this album is jammed full of some of his biggest songs, Thunder Road, Born To Run, Backstreets, Tenth Avenue Freeze Out are all fantastic and classic Bruce Springsteen Greatest Hits.
But it's Jungleland that stands out for me the closing track is pure Springsteen story telling at its best but it's "The Big Man" Clarence Clemmons that steals the show with that beautiful Sax solo.
Little Richard
4/5
Pretty much a greatest hits album as most of the big ones are here.
Pure 50's Rock & Roll at its best. Elvis may have been the king but Little Richard was the Prince even Elvis covered Tutti Frutti for his debut.
Air
3/5
Beautiful ambient chilled beats with breathy whispered vocals by this French duo. This Album was pretty big back in the late 90s with Sexy Boy & Kelly Watch The Stars the big hits and best tracks on this release. It's good and brought back some good teenage memories for me but the album is a bit repetitive.
Alice In Chains
4/5
One of the biggest band's and albums of the grunge era. AIC were heavier than Nirvana, Pearl Jam and others from that time.
There are some real bangers on this album :- Them Bones, Dam The River, Down In A Hole, Angry Chair, Rooster & Would are so classics and make this album a grunge essential but there the rest of the album varies and can become a bit depressing with the sludgy music and lyrics about drugs.
Billy Joel
5/5
Possibly my favourite Billy Joel album. I was brought up listening to all of his music but this record is a personal favourite. Movin Out & Only The Good Die Young are highlights and Just The Way You Are & She's Always A Woman are beautiful but nothing comes close to Scenes From An Italian Restaurant it is 7 and a half minutes of pure heaven.
Bill Evans Trio
2/5
I'm fairly new to jazz being honest and haven't listened to much outside Miles Davis. This Album has some lovely piano melodies but my God that bass just drive me mad to the extent that I had to stop listening to the album a couple of times, maybe it's just not my thing.
Keith Jarrett
3/5
Not normally my sort of thing but I suppose that is what the book is all about opening up new music to listen too.
Anyway some beautiful piano on this album and if you read the story behind the album it makes everything more impressive, not sure how often I would listen to this maybe never again but I'm glad I heard it.
David Bowie
5/5
Bowie's last ever album released 2 days before he died, Never had a death in the music world but me so hard since Freddie Mercury.
For me David Bowie was a genius and this is the work of a genius and I love this album.
It skews more towards Bowie's electronic music which dominated his later years but it also has call backs to his whole catalogue and all the different kind of genres that he covered.
As for the songs the title track, Lazarus & I Can't Give You Everything are highlights but all the tracks are great as Bowie sings about life and as only a few people at the time new his impending death. Its beautiful and it's heartbreaking and must be one of the 1001 Albums you must here before you die.
Hole
3/5
I always avoided this band as I just thought they were famous for being Kurt Cobain's wife's band and for the stuff Courtney Love did outside music that the music itself.
However on listening I enjoyed the album more than I thought, Doll Parts being a particular highlight.
Does it deserve to be in the book, In my.opinion no as I Feel L7 and The Breeders were both better female led bands from the same era and both have albums that could be in the book ahead of this one.
Willie Nelson
2/5
Growing up I was never a country music fan but as I've got older ive began to enjoy the country legends and Willie Nelson is certainly a legend.
Known for outlaw country music he went against that with this album recording well known cover songs. Some of these work and some don't, the ones that work are beautiful though but I think I prefer his outlaw country work better.
a-ha
3/5
Eighties Scandinavian synth pop from the Norwegian Trio. Opening track Take On Me was a monster hit as was its iconic video and while the other singles especially the title track & The Sun Always Shines In TV are great songs everything else kind of feels like filler ok filler but nothing special.
It feels like the album is in the book on the back of Take On Me so I do question if it deserves to be there over other big eighties albums and bands (Inxs Kick for example).
It's worth a listen but nothing to special.
Kanye West
4/5
Before he was the Kanye that everybody knows today he was a pretty good rapper.
Kanye it seems is not a very good human being but I tried to put that to one side when listening to this album.
I haven't heard this album in years I bought it just after I had bought his 2nd album and it is a really good album his lyrics focus on his life growing up, his love for his mother and having his jaw wired shut (something a lot of people which he had done now).
I prefer the 2nd album but this one still has some great tunes on in with Jesus Walks and Through The Wire being the highlights as well as the hits.
Whatever has happened since back in the mid 2000s Kanye made some good music.
Genesis
5/5
I am a late to the party with Genesis I knew the 80's hits and loved No Son Of Mine from 1991 but hadn't really delved into the bands albums other than Nursery Cryme which my dad had on vinyl (he was a Peter Gabriel can and hated when Phil Collins took over)
A few years back I did a deep dive into 80's Genesis and worked my way back to the 70's prog stuff.
So this album I listened to quite early in my listening to 70's era as I liked the song I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)
This is a great album although not my favourite it's strong and the first three songs are excellent with Firth Of Fifth being a highlight. Great Album.
Thelonious Monk
2/5
In not big on jazz outside Miles Davis but I'm learning more doing this project.
As for this album I'm admire the musicianship and I liked some parts of it but unfortunately it wasn't really my thing. I found parts of it boring which I do with a lot of jazz but i understand this albums and Monk's importance not just in jazz but in music and why it should be in the book.
I do think Jazz as a genre will grow in me and the more I listen the more I get it, but for now this is a miss for me.
5/5
I don't even need to listen to this album to rate of but I will because it is awesome.
My favourite Muse album nearly every song is a banger and the ones that aren't are pretty close.
Starlight, Supermassive Black Hole, Invincible, Assassin and Knights Of Cydonia are all personal highlights.
CHIC
3/5
Funk & Disco is not really my kind of thing but I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would.
Le Freak is a great track and the rest are ok as well and Nile Rogers is someone who's talent I have a lotof respect for. My main criticism is that all the tracks felt too long.
Jeff Buckley
5/5
I absolutely love this album and have since the ninties when i first got it, I remember being in shock when he died it was such a promising career cut short.
It's hard to pick out highlights on the album as everything a great but for me Last Goodbye with its catchy chorus, rocket Eternal Life and the heartbreaking renditions of Lilac Wine & Hallelujah are personal highlights.
The Bees
3/5
Didn't know i had heard The Bees before but it turns out I knew chicken payback from the follow up to this Free The Bees which is better than this.
This is a decent album but suffers a lot for me with the production although it was recorded in a shed. The Os Mutantes cover was good but not as good as the original, not sure why it's in the book as The Bees were never a big act but if they had to be in the book Free The Bees would have been a better choice.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Now this is my kind of Willie Nelson album, I enjoyed Stardust well enough but this is the county singer at his best.
His voice is great and surpassed only buy the sorytelling.
Grizzly Bear
3/5
I knew of Grizzly Bear through Two Weeks which for me is still the highlight of this album.
It is a solid, nice little Indie-Folk style album but for me it does nothing to stand out from the 20-50 other nice Indie-Folk bands from the same era.
Don't get me wrong I like this album but it's not essential and I'm not sure why it belongs in the book.
Buffalo Springfield
4/5
This is a bit for me as I am a huge Neil Young fan and Stephen Stills is pretty great too.
Was interested to see this one rather than the debut in the book as that album has their biggest hit For What It's Worth on it, but I'm glad they included this album because it is just as good if not slightly better in my opinion.
Mr Soul and Expecting to Fly both by Young are highlights.
Nick Drake
5/5
This is my least favourite of Nick Drake's 3 albums but I still absolutely love it .
It is 28 minutes of sparse acoustic arrangements with Drake's quiet soft voice but it takes you to another place. It is a beautiful record that lingers on the memory long after those 28 minutes have passed.
Rahul Dev Burman
1/5
I had never heard this before, I admire the musicianship but unfortunately it's really not my thing.
Sepultura
5/5
Heavy Heavy Brazilian Thrash Metal and I love it.
Roots Bloody Roots is one of my favourite metal songs of all times.
Everything about this album is great and if you haven't heard it especially if your a metal fan get it listened to.
Radiohead
5/5
How do you follow up the grungey alternative rock of The Bends you go in the other direction with Ok Computer.
Proggy, bombastic and about as far away from any levels of Britpop anyone could think of putting on them.
The epic Paranoid Android is joined by crackers like Subterranean Homesick Alien, Exit Music & Karma Police. Let Down, No Suprises, Lucky & The Tourist stir up emotions in even the hardest hearts & Electioneering still shows that they can rock when they need too.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Most of my Velvets listening comes from the 2 that came before this but I have given this one a few spins before.
It's more accessible than its predecessors & as close to a straight up rock record as you will get from them, John Cale had already left the band and been replaced by Doug Yule.
The first side is by far the superior side with gems like Candy Says, Pale Blue Eyes & What Goes On. Well worth a listen but if you want the weird stuff go for the previous 2 which are also in the book.
The Cult
4/5
Late Eighties glam metal you gotta love it.
I have enjoyed The Cult since first hearing them as Southern Death Cult but really got in to them when they changed to the more radio friendly songs that adorn their back catalogue now this was the follow up to 85's Love which has the massive hit She Sells Sanctuary.
This Album is widely regarded as their best and it m The rest of the album ay be but if you like this I would recommend checking out the predecessor Love and the follow up Sonic Temple both are great, as for this it's great but not perfect while Love Removal Machine, Wild Flower & Lil Devil are all bangers their cover of Born To Be Wild is terrible. The rest of the album is good with Billy Duffys excellent guitar work and Ian Astburys Jim Morrison like howling its worth a listen.
Does it belong in the book possibly but I would have thought Inxs - Kick would be more deserving.
The Youngbloods
3/5
First time listen for me, I enjoyed it but it didn't grab me as much as some of the other albums from that era.
Jimmy Smith
3/5
Well this one surprised me went in not expecting much (I had it on in the background while doing housework) but I enjoyed it.
The musicianship is fantastic as it slips between genres really well.
Paul McCartney and Wings
5/5
My Favourite post-Beatles Paul McCartney album and definitely his strongest with Wings.
The title track, Jet, Let Me Roll It and Nineteen Eighty Five are highlights & my 11 year old son says Mrs Vandebilt is so catchy it's a total earworm.
Sepultura
3/5
My second Sepultura album on the list I enjoyed this one but definitely preferred Roots and also the follow up to this Chaos A.D. Which is not on the list.
Good album but better out there.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
In a late comer to Emerson, Lake & Palmer but did know a few of the tunes. I enjoyed this album but it wouldn't be something I would have on constant replay.
Steely Dan
4/5
Had heard both Do It Again & Reelin In The years before but for years I wouldnt listen to Steely Dan as they were dad music but now I'm in my 40s I can justify listening to them.
This is a great album as most of their albums are it's non offensive rock with nice music and catchy tunes.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Love it so glad to see this in the list and not just Mellon Collie.
There are so many great songs on this album Rocket, Soma, Mayonnaise, Silverfuck, Luna and Cherub Rock are outstanding but the two big hits are the stand outs for me Today is catchy with a guitar lick that kills and Disarm is stunningly beautiful and haunting.
Buzzcocks
4/5
Although their biggest hit didn't come until the next album this is still pure power pop punk from the buzzcocks and I love it.
I don't mind is probably the most well known song on the album but if you listen to bonus editions you get what do I get? and orgasm addict as well so you can't go wrong with that.
All good stuff
David Bowie
5/5
It's Bowie so in my book it's great and this album is pretty close to a masterpiece.
There are 6 songs on this album all are great and 4 are absolute bangers,
The title track, TVC15, Wild is the Wind are amazing and Golden Years is perfection.
I an biased towards Bowie but this is one of his most amazing.
Soft Machine
2/5
A double album with only four songs 1 per side makes this album drag a little bit as each song is nearly 20 minutes long.
I like prog im still not sure about jazzy prog I liked it but I feel like everything was too long and I found myself thinking of other things.
Out-Bloody-Rageous was pretty great and a good closer.
Dr. John
4/5
I first heard of Dr John through Paul Wellers cover of I Walk On Guilded Splinters which i have live so I dug a bit deeper into Dr John to find I loved his version.
This Album is spooky, atmospheric, Jazzy Bluesy & funky all in one of might take a bit of getting used to buy in the end it is well worth it.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
I had never heard this album before but had heard the follow up Back to Black like the rest of the world.
This one is a lot more jazzy and you can tell right away the talent that she had just waiting to burst through.
Metallica
4/5
Classic Thrash from the giants of the genre.
This Album is great but not without fault, some of the songs feel too long and Jason Newsteads bass is barely suitable most of the time.
It does have killer tracks on it Harvester Of Sorrow, Blackened and the title track are excellent but it's One that stands out it was Metallicas first big hit and it is a banger.
Jean-Michel Jarre
2/5
Very futuristic sounding electronica from the 70s.
I didn't mind it but did start to lose interest halfway through although I may enjoy it with more listens but for now I prefer Eno
The Cramps
3/5
The only Cramps song I had heard before this album was Goo Goo Muck on the Wednesday TV show. So this is new to me.
I liked this album it was fun with funny lyrics from a band that don't take themselves too serious
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
I'm a big fan of this band and although I really like this album it's not my favourite CCR album.
This one is most known for Proud Mary but Born On The Bayou & Bootleg are also well known, but this is pure southern rock straight out of California.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
I hadn't heard this particular Joni Mitchell album but I had heard a lot about how good it was I wasn't disappointed.
I do however prefer some of her previous albums but she was in a purple patch in the 70s as far as her music and songwriting.
If you like Joni Mitchell or the 60's & 70's introspective acoustic singer songwriter genre this is an album you will enjoy.
Boston
5/5
I first heard this in my Dads vinyl collection when I was young and fell in love with it instantly, the first two tracks More Than A Feeling and Piece Of Mind stand out for me but everything on this album is solid gold.
Considered one of the greatest debut albums of all time and it lived up to it.
Madonna
4/5
Madonna's big come back album after a few years break, more dance beats and 90s influence but it definitely launched her to legend status.
This is one of her best and works well when paired with follow up album Music, still not my favourite album of hers that is Like A Prayer but this has some bangers on it in the form of the title track, Substitute For Love & Frozen.
5/5
It's Bloody Sgt Pepper what more do you want you don't need anyone to tell you to listen to it just do it.
It's one of the most influential albums of all time by one of the most influential bands of all time, free from touring they could create and play about in the studio and in doing so influenced generations to come. Is it their best album? To some yes to me no but I'm not going to argue how great this album is.
The title track and it's reprise are exceptional as are Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, Getting Better, She's Leaving Home & Lovely Rita but the closing track A Day In The Life is mind blowing.
Dexys Midnight Runners
5/5
This album is most known for Come On Eileen but it's so much more than just one song.
It's a trip through Celtic soul and pop from the morning track until the end other highlights include Celtic Soul Brothers, Old, Plan B, Liars A To E, Until I Believe In My Soul, the excellent cover of Jackie Wilson Said & of course Come On Eileen is an absolute banger.
Röyksopp
1/5
Lots of beeps and boops, like Eno but not as good, thought I would like it more as I remember it getting good reviews back when it came out.
Not for me, nothing much else to add.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Great alt rock tunes from Karen O and her band, more synth that previous albums but just as good and Heads Will Roll is catchy as fuck.
Steve Earle
3/5
First time listen but I had heard a snippet of the title track before as well as other Steve Earle songs.
I liked this album enjoying pretty much all of the songs on it with the title track and someday being personal favourites.
An enjoyable 35 minutes and will be occasionally listened to in the future.
The Pharcyde
2/5
I like old-school hip hop but never really listened to The Pharcyde.
Musically I enjoyed it but found it immature lyrically and not a patch on you counterparts like NWA, Beastie Boys and others.
Little Simz
3/5
I heard of Little Simz through my son who is a huge fan of this album.
It took a while but it grew on me through repeated listening and since then I've grown to quite like it not love it but quite like it.
Blur
5/5
I was 15 when this came out and Britpop was huge in the UK at this time and me and my friends dived into as many bands as we could.
Blur were always one of my favourite Britpop acts (I actually preferred them to Oasis, but didn't tell my friends that as they were all huge Oasis fans)
I love there ability to adapt and change musical styles.
This Album is fantastic and relistening to it reminds his good.
The hits are great Girls & Boys, Parklife, End of the Century and To The End are all great, Tracy Jacks, Bank Holiday, London Loves and Magic America are catchy as hell but stand out This is a Low is swirling melodic and beautiful.
Elliott Smith
4/5
I first heard of Elliott Smith through the movie Good Will Hunting which featured a few of his songs including songs from this album.
I went out and bought this record and enjoyed it some of his best work is on this album with Between the Bars, Ballad of Big Nothing, Angeles, Speed Trials and Say Yes all excellent and Pictures of Me my personal favourite.
A great album that would reinvigorate the singer songwriter genre and inspire a lot of people to pick up guitars and song introspective lyrics, maybe too many.
Heaven 17
2/5
With the exception of Duran Duran in not a huge 80s Synthpop fan as I always feel the songs were a bit weak and flimsy and for the most part don't age well.
There is a couple of ok tunes but nothing to write home about.
Miles Davis
3/5
Ok as far as jazz goes i try, sometimes I like it most of the time I dont.
As far as Miles Davis goes I love Kind Of Blue so looking forward to this but with Miles you don't know what your going to get.
This fell more towards the Kind Of Blue side of things and was rather enjoyable.
Skunk Anansie
3/5
I remember Skunk Anansie from the 90's but more so for their first two albums rather than this one which has my wondering why this is in the book when the first two were a lot more important and I think their appeal has worn off a bit by the time this came out.
As for the album itself it's good but again I prefer previous albums the music is rocking and Singer Skin's voice is excellent ask she can go from tender whispering to shrieking in seconds.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
1/5
First time listen is my only time listening to it overly long version of Who Do You Love (there are better versions out there) and the second side is self indulgent wank.
The Cars
5/5
Oh hell yeah!
One of the greatest debut albums of all time of not the greatest, not a bad track not even a mediocre one. An album full of bangers although Just What I Needed stands above all of it.
Get this, listen to it, enjoy it, feel happy after it I know I do
The Avalanches
4/5
The title track was a huge hit on the UK back in 2000 but then nothing else was really heard from the Avalanches after that so I had never heard anything else on the album.
I was pleasantly surprised with this I enjoyed it for the most part though only interest started to wain by the end and the title track is head and shoulders above everything else on the album.
Everything But The Girl
1/5
I first heard of Everything But The Girl in the mid 90's with Missing You which was a huge hit in the UK and I didn't like it as I thought it was boring.
The music on this album might be slightly different from later EBTG albums but unfortunately they are just as boring.
Tangerine Dream
4/5
The start of German electronic music and one of the best albums to come out of the genre. This would go on to inspire Kraftwerk and more in that era and even more in the future.
This is just a beautiful album.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Growing up I was never the biggest Elvis fan as I thought he was overrated.
These days I still think he was overrated but he was bloody good at what he did .
Elvis is a fantastic cover artists who has the charisma to pull of everything from tutti frutti & blue suede shoes to blue moon.
Just a good Rock N' Roll record
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
This is my 2nd Dexys album on this list and it's a cracker although I still prefer Too-Rye-Ay this is a close second. Geno was the big hit and still is a banger but I personally am a fan of Burn it Down & I Couldnt Help if I Tried.
Mike Ladd
2/5
Different from any other hip hop albums on the list more electronica and even some jazz influences on the music though the flow is not great in places.
Not a bad album but then again not that great interesting to hear but would never listen to it again and wouldnt miss it if I never heard it.
Marty Robbins
4/5
Never thought I would like this but I love it and have played it on repeat 3 times since first hearing it, it's so good.
Big Iron and El Paso are major highlights but the whole album is worth A listen
The Beach Boys
5/5
Magnificent Masterpiece don't know what else can be said about how good this album is, superb music and gorgeous harmony vocals and God Only Knows is one of the the most beautiful and perfect songs of all time.
Joy Division
4/5
I knew of Joy Division through the single Love Will Tear Us Apart which is a banger, So I bought this album thinking it would be more of the same and it wasn't when I first heard it as a teenager I didn't like it but over the years occasional listening has made this album grow on me which has made me enjoy it more.
I prefer this to Unknown Pleasures, it's really good and Isolation is a great track.
Mott The Hoople
3/5
Decent album by a decent band, no more no less. All the way to Memphis is probably the highlight of the album.
Not sure if Mott even deserve to be on the list and if they do I'm suprised it was this album as they are mostly remembered for the David Bowie written All The Young Dudes which is on a different album.
Michael Jackson
5/5
Growing up Michael Jackson was along with The Beatles was the first music I got into.
No matter what you think of him as a person or what he supposedly did it didn't do there is no mistaking he was a music legend.
Onto this album it's the follow up to the biggest selling album of all time and in my opinion i prefer it to Thriller don't get me wrong both are great but I've always preferred Bad. So many great track with the title track & The way you make me feel among them but Man in the Mirror and Smooth Criminal are highlights along with my personal favourite Dirty Diana
The The
2/5
This was to date the first and only album by The The that I have listened to.
I didn't mind it but did find it a little bit repetitive and kind of lost interest in it half way through although I do admire the talent and work that Matt Johnson puts into his music.
Culture Club
1/5
This is an easy one for me to review.
Karma Chameleon is catchy as hell really didn't like the rest.
Hole
3/5
The second Hole album on the list, not sure why there has to be two but there you go there is.
Celebrity Skin is a lot more polished than previous releases and was by far their biggest album. The title track is a great song and was the band's biggest hit and other singles Malibu and Awful are both great songs the rest of the album is solid post grunge alt-rock and is worth a listen but won't blow you away.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Yes I fucking love Iron Maiden, I listened to mainly top 40 pop until me day at 9 years old I discovered Iron Maiden and it opened up a new world for me and my friends.
This is the band's debut with original singer Paul Di'Anno and it has a slightly punkier sound than later stuff with Bruce Dickinson would sound it's still great as was follow up Killers also with Di'Anno.
Highlights are Prowler, Remember Tomorrow, Phantom Of The Opera (my personal highlight) and the Title Track which still gets played live to this day.
What a great album.
Alice Cooper
4/5
Alice Cooper's best stuff came as the Alice Cooper band in the early to mid seventies except the 1st two albums which aren't great.
This album has 1 huge song in the title track and a the rest is ok to decent filler type songs, it's an enjoyable album but is really on the list due to the title track personally I would have gone for Love It To Death of Killer.
Jerry Lee Lewis
4/5
He may not of been a decent person but he could bang out a tune on a piano.
This book is about music not the person so I'm going to talk about the music from this album, it's rockabilly and rock & roll played at 100 miles an hour by a coked up Jerry Lee while the rest of the band just about keeps up, this is a tour de force as they belt through the songs barely stopping for breath. It's an excellent live album with all his hits and little Richard covers can't go wrong.
David Bowie
5/5
The first of Bowie's Berlin Trilogy and like most Bowie albums it's amazing.
It's experimental on both sides with rock and avant garde on side 1 and ambient mostly instrumental in side 2.
Speed of Life, Breaking Glass, Sound & Vision, Always Crashing in the Same Car, Be My Wife & Art Decade are all highlights but all tracks are first rate.
Tori Amos
3/5
I've always been aware of Tori Amos work but never really listened to her stuff other than a few radio hits but this album was an enjoyable listen.
I say enjoyable but the subject of the lyrics for most part was not but her lyrics are great as is her voice and piano playing, an album that is worth repeat listening and an artist worth exploring more and that's what I'm going to do.
Can
3/5
Never thought I would enjoy Can or their albums but I really enjoyed this one and I'm looking forward to more Can on the list I hope.
Mushroom & Halleluhwah were particular highlights.
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
I like the Allman Brothers studio albums that I have heard but I'm not as much into their live work.
Don't get me wrong the band are tight and the songs are good for the most part but the meandering jamming makes me lose interest after a while.
Again nothing bad but unless you're into jam bands then it's not essential.
4/5
Good to see this book gives some love to The Kinks who are one of the most underrated bands of the British invasion known more for their antics than there music.
Their music is fantastic I've been a fan since my dad introduced me then via greatest hits they write perfectly crafted pop songs and all though this is not my favourite album of theirs it is still great full of fantastic tunes and one absolutely banger in Victoria
Nick Drake
5/5
My 2nd of the 3 Nick Drake albums on the list and this is my favourite slightly more than the other two.
This Album is amazing with added strings it was more than just Drake and his guitar which a also great. Nothing wrong here all good tunes from such an underrated artist.
The National
4/5
My period for indie falls in the 90s but I do like the indie bands that came afterwards although the hardest thing to do is not to compare them but it's hard not to.
This is a good album of I don't compare it to 90s stuff I've heard better but this is pretty good as Bloodbuzz Ohio is a banger.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Hadn't listened to this album but I have listened to a couple of Fiona Apple albums before ( When The Pawn & Fetch the Bolt Cuters) both of which are great, but this album is by far for me better than both.
Despite coming across very angry these are well crafted songs every track is great with Shadowboxer & Crimnal being my highlights.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
4/5
I remember seeing Michael Franti with Spearhead supporting R.E.M in 1995 and enjoying them but this is next level.
More harder hitting and political than Spearhead that just let loose with the hate which can sometimes make the album a bit too much and a hard listening, it is also a bit bloated in places but altogether a triumph in hip-hop.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
4/5
Whenever I've heard salsa music in a film or tv I've enjoyed it for 30-40 seconds it's on but the thought of 40+ minutes of it did not get me excited.
Boy was I wrong this album is excellent the musicianship, the beats, the rhythms it almost makes me want to dance but thankfully for those who listened with me I didnt, but god I felt happy after listening to this.
N.E.R.D
1/5
I was looking forward to this as I had heard good things about N.E.R.D and there first album In Search Of ...
This one was ok it jumps about a bit encompassing hip hop, pop, jazz & rock at various different places and honestly none of it is that great, so yeah that's about it nothing really more to say on it.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Masterpiece, need I say more.
Every song is fantastic Shine On You Crazy Diamond book ends the album beautifully, Have A Cigar & Welcome To The Machine take dogs at the music industry and the title track is one of the bands greatest songs (and my 11 year olds favourite Floyd song).
What a run they went on Dark Side, Wish You Were Here, Animals, The Wall & The Final Cut (My personal favourite) before it all imploded but by his what a band they were.
Klaxons
3/5
I got this album when it came out based on the song Golden Skans which is great as is It's Not Over Yet which is a banger.
The rest of the album is ok nothing too bad but nothing spectacular although they were very good live.
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
I heard about this guy and album a lot in the mid 00's as the critics loved him but I never really gave him a try until now.
It was ok but nothing I haven't heard a million times before that's not to say I didn't enjoy it I might even listen to it again but it never blew me away just sounded like a million. Other guys with a guitar coming out of America at that time
The Black Keys
4/5
I got this album when it came out as I was and still an a fan of the song Tighten Up and I loved it back in the day.
Haven't listened to it for a long time so it was nice to go back at revisit it and ideas surprised to find I still really enjoyed it, Tighten Up is still a cracker but Everlasting Light & Howlin' For You are both great too.
Suede
5/5
This is by far my favourite Suede album it's darker than everything that follows and better that the debut (only just).
Highlights include We Are The Pigs, Introducing The Band, Still Life, Heroine and New Generation, but special mentions have got to go to the beautiful The Wild Ones and the sprawling epic that is The Asphalt World with the way it just builds and builds its stunning.
Also if you listen to deluxe version you get the full version of Stay Together as a bonus track arguably in of the band's best songs.
The Kinks
4/5
In on a pretty good run of albums lately as here is another one I really like.
This is a bit more chilled and more towards what they would become when compared to earlier more garage sounding work.
This is a great album filled with catchy tunes capped of with an all time classic in Waterloo Sunset.
Radiohead
4/5
Another great album, I'm on a run at the moment.
I'm a huge Radiohead fan although I will admit I prefer their early stuff but I don't think they have ever made a bad album.
Bodysnatchers, Nude, All I Need & Jigsaw Falling Into Place are all highlights but the whole album is worth a listen.
Otis Redding
4/5
Beautiful album, Otis Redding had such a beautiful voice and shows it on this album.
His versions of My Girl, Satisfaction & A Change is Gonna Come are fantastic his version of Respect is great but not as good as Aretha's but I've Been Loving You To Long is tender and beautiful and personal highlight on a great album.
Pink Floyd
5/5
I was introduced to this album at a very young album by my Dad, Pink Floyd were one of his fsvourites and this was his favourite Floyd album.
This Album is a masterpiece and what a run the band were on at the time, it's a sprawling double album with great tunes.
Another Brick In The Wall (all parts), Mother, Young Lust, One of my turns, Hey You & Run Like Hell are all stand outs but Comfortably Numb is the highlight for me, those guitar solos are pure beauty. What an album, man they were so good between 73 & 79 before they fell out.
Arcade Fire
5/5
Great Album bought this the day it came out after getting into them through their previous album Funeral, even saw them play in Dublin on the Neon Bible your they were excellent.
This Album is probably my favourite Arcade Fire album packed full of great tunes:- Keep The Car Running, Intervention, No Cars Go, My Body Is A Cage, Black Mirror and Ocean Of Noise but (Antichrist Television Blues) is my personal favourite.
Rush
5/5
Just amazing!!
Possibly the greatest rock trio of all time and this album really helped launched them.
Musically the three members of the band are just about as good as it gets, vocally Geddy Lee can take a bit of getting used to for some people but i personally love his voice and they have the tunes.
The first song is a sprawling 20 minute epic that is just fantastic and the rest of the songs that follow it great as well the whole album is a masterpiece and well worth inclusion.
Lenny Kravitz
3/5
Enjoyed this album but prefer his next few albums.
It's not bad but nothing to blow you away he always reminded me off a Prince clone just a little bit more rockier and not as good.
Let Love of & Mr Cab Driver are highlights of a decent album.
R.E.M.
5/5
The album that moved R.E.M. from arenas to stadiums.
This album at the hits from it were massive and the album is fantastic for a band that had been going for a long time and always released good albums they deserved the break this album and predessor Out Of Time have them.
The album is full of pop, rock and folky gems the hits Drive, Man On the Moon, Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite & Find The River are great Everybody Hurts & Nightswimming are beautiful and the album tracks more than hold their own beside the many hits. Monty Got A Raw Deal, Ignoreland & Star Me Kitten are great and my personal favourite Try Not To Breathe is stunning.
What an album
The Prodigy
4/5
In the 90s I hated dance music I listened to rock/metal then Grunge then indie/Britpop and always dismissed dance music then The Prodigy came along with this album and live show and I loved it.
This is probably my favourite Prodigy album all tracks are good but the hits Voodoo People, Poison, Their Law & (No Good) Start The Dance are the highlights.
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
Good little instrumental album this band were some seriously talented musicians and Booker T was a real talent at such a young age.
The title track is an all time banger and the rest of the album is good but no where to the standard of the title track but the musicianship in each track is spot on and makes this album worth listening to.
Paul Simon
5/5
Another album I love and probably Paul Simon's best work since Bridge Over Troubled Water.
I got into this album after noticing how my son when he was a toddler was dancing to You Can Call Me Al on the radio so I bought the album & found out it was fantastic.
A beautiful mix of pop, folk and African music blended together to make an all time classic album Boy In The Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, Diamonds On The Doors Of Her Feet, Homeless & Under African Skies are stunning but my personal highlight is Graceland what a song.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Bruce at his most political written in the wake of 9/11 this proved to be Springsteen's comeback album after a slightly lacklustre 90's (save for a few excellent singles).
I've always loved Bruce Springsteen since I was a kid my dad was a fan and had everything from Greetings through to Human Touch.
This is a really good album with the title track as the highlight but Waitin' on a Sunny Day, My City of Ruins & Lonesome Day are great as well.
Queen
5/5
Queen were my first favourite band and will always have a special place in my life.
So into this album it's a fantastic blend of genres and themes.
Death in Two Legs, Love Of My Life, 39, I'm In Love with My Car, Youre My Best Friend & of course Bohemian Rhapsody are only some of the highlights
Come for Bohemian Rhapsody stay for the rest.
Brian Eno
3/5
Eno's last rock album before his complete move to ambient and production.
This was actually the first Brian Eno album I ever heard bandits good but doesn't blow me away like some of his other work, the songś are good and the album is probably worth a listen but there's a few Eno albums that are better already on the list so it's not essential.
3/5
Wow this surprised me a bit didn't really know what to expect as I had heard of them but never heard them.
This is a great album packed with solid to excellent tunes or maybe I'm just a sucker for late 60's early 70's rock.
Stan Getz
2/5
Not much to say, it was ok, nothing wrong with Bossanova but for me it just feels like background music.
Radiohead
3/5
When this first came out I liked it a lot more than Kid A which I hated at the time but years of listening and perspective have changed my mind on Kid A and left me to thinking on relisten that this is just an ok Radiohead album which is still quite good but they have a lot better albums before and after.
Pyramid Song, Knives Out, Morning Bell & I Might Be Wrong are all great tracks, the album is worth a listen but probably doesn't need to be on the list.
Public Enemy
5/5
I was never a fan of hip hop growing up then about 5 years ago I heard this album for the first time and it blew my mind, from the beats to the lyrics this album is fire. I can't choose a highlight as it's all great.
The Who
5/5
Absolute Classic..
I grew up with this record as my dad loved it every track is a banger.
Bargain, Behind Blue Eyes, Going Mobile , Song Is Over & Love Ain't For keeping are all gems, Getting On Tune is the weakest track but still great, My Wife is a hidden John Entwistle cracker and the highlights are the two songs that bookend the album Baba O'Riley is my favourite Who song closely followed by Won't Get Fooled Again both classics.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Absolute Classic bookended by to absolute bangers and the stuff in the middle isn't bad either, this is probably my favourite of the Stones prime era although Sticky Fingers runs it close. Midnight Rambler is great, Monkey Mam, You Got The Silver, Love In Vain & The title track are all fantastic. You Can't Always Get What You Want is epic stones but Gimme Shelter stands head and shoulders above the rest.
Anthrax
4/5
One of the big 4 thrash bands and probably the most underrated and overlooked but Anthrax have some great tunes and can rock as hard as the rest.
Caught In A Mosh, Indians, NFL, I Am The Law & the title track are some of the best thrash tracks ever, great album
Laura Nyro
1/5
I like a lot of the stuff that this album inspired but unfortunately I didn't like this album. It was like listening to a Glee cast album.
Not for me
ABBA
3/5
I always pretended I didn't like ABBA but let's face it everyone likes ABBA it's almost impossible not to.
I hadn't heard this one before but had heard some of the songs of it and it may not have as many well known songs as other albums it's still pretty good all the songs are solid sometimes the lyrics are cheesy but the music is always good but I do prefer the other album on the list (Arrival) more.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Hadn't listened to this album before although I've liked the Leonard Cohen stuff that I've heard.
This album was no different recorded at home as he was ill and bearing the end of his life and the songs reflect that.
This album is dark and emotional but beautiful.
American Music Club
2/5
Hadn't heard this before and it's decent, not available on Spotify at time of writing this and not easy to find for a decent price in uk, so I doubt I will be listening to it anytime soon.
Paul Simon
4/5
Paul Simon's first album since his split from Art Garfunkel and it's good, not quite as good as the last couple of Simon & Garfunkel albums but you could tell where the talent in the duo came from.
Mother & Child Runion and Me & Julio Down By The Schoolyard are my personal highlights.
Iggy Pop
5/5
2nd of Iggy's albums released in 1977 and my favourite of the 2 and probably my favourite Iggy Pop album.
Packed full of excellent tunes with so absolute bangers, Lust For Life is an iconic track but for me The Passenger is the highlight with that catchy guitar.
Let's face it Bowie & Iggy made a great team and anything Bowie did near this time was solid gold so why would this be any different as he produces and has a hand in writing 7 of the 9 tracks.
Rocket From The Crypt
2/5
I remember this band back in the 90s but never really thought of them as a big deal they weren't big in the UK, were they a big deal in America.
This album was ok nothing special, nothing terrible enjoyable but wouldn't hurry to listen again. On A Rope is catchy but everything else is ok.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
One of the greatest of not the greatest Hip-Hop albums of all time.
Nothing more to say.
Fred Neil
1/5
One of the 60's folk singers that was around the time of Bob Dylan, Harry Nilsson & Donovan but never really made the impact they did.
This album is not that interesting compared to others around that time,
He did write Everybody's Talkin' which is a cracker but there are better versions out there and The Dolphins is pretty good too but everything else is bland.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
5/5
I love Elvis Costello and this is probably my favourite album full of gems.
Pump It Up is a banger.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
I heard Joni Mitchell's Blue album when I was younger but never really dived into her catalogue other than maybe the greatest hits. Wow have I been missing out this is every bit as good as Blue if not better, it's more musically expansive packed full of great songs.
KISS
5/5
I was late to the party with Kiss but I do love them they are just rock with lyrics you don't have to think about.
Detroit Rock City is my favourite Kiss track, God Of Thunder, Shout It Out Loud, Great Expectations & Beth are all great songs.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Another classic and the last of the Stones classic run.
I didn't like this album when I heard it years ago but over time it grew on me and now I love it, southern rock, blues and country, even a bit of gospel this album is soaked in the southern states.
Tumblin' Dice, Happy, Sweet Virginia, Torn & Frayed, All Down The Line & Shine A Light are all highlights but if you listen to deluxe version there is a song called Following The River that is a real hidden gem.
Joan Baez
2/5
Not a bad album, not a good album just a bit bland and boring.
Joan Baez is a great musician and very talented but nothing really holds my attention on this album.
Beck
4/5
I hadn't heard this particular Beck album before but this is probably my favourite.
It's similar to Beck's other stuff but also slightly different,a bit more sad and introspective than his other stuff.
John Cale
3/5
This was nice and not at all what I thought it was going to be, John Cale's Welsh accent makes everything sound lovely, worth a listen.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Classic no more needs to be said!!!
Dr. Dre
3/5
I loved the N.W.A. album and my enjoyment of hip hop has grown per the years and I like this album but there are better hip hop albums out there.
Worth a listen but nothing mind blowing.
Al Green
4/5
Beautiful soul album, So Green has one of the best voices in soul and this album is probably his best known as the title track is a soul classic but for me his cover of he Bee Gees How Can You Mend A Broken Heart is stunning.
The Flaming Lips
4/5
I became a fan of The Flaming Lips with their last album but this one is a cracker too, All the tracks are great but Do You Realize is head in shoulders above everything else.
Grateful Dead
2/5
I found out something listening to this album, I like The Grateful Dead's studio albums but I find their live stuff enjoyable for the first couple of minutes and then I get bored.
Their is probably nothing wrong with this album, musically it's great but just for me it's meandering and boring
Baaba Maal
3/5
Something completely new for me having never heard this before.
Although it's not my normal Kind Of music I enjoyed it though it did get slightly repetitive at times.
Will I listen to it again yes i think I probably would but not on a regular basis.
Django Django
5/5
This was always one of those meant to listen to buy never got round to it albums for me.
So I guess I'm finally getting round to it and it's wonderful, a modern classic in only pissed i waited so long to listen to it.
Yes
3/5
This is proggy goodness and probably their first good album but I thought Rick Wakeman was holding back on the keyboards a bit, then I found out it wasn't Rick Wakeman on keyboards.
It's good Starship Trooper is good, I've Seen Good People is great but I prefer my Yes with Rick Wakeman.
Ian Dury
4/5
I love this album, not sure if anyone outside the UK would get the very British references and humor.
The lyrics are a bit tongue in cheek at times but Ian Duty delivered them in that cheeky chappy cockney accent that he gets away with it, but it's just great stories set to great music what more do you need.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Great album, Stevie Wonder was in a roll in the 70's with his music and this is my favourite.
You are the sunshine of my life is beautiful but the highlight is Superstition it's so Funky and catchy you can't help but groove along.
Moby
4/5
This album was on constant replay back in 1999/2000 on my stereo but I hadn't listened to it n years so would it still hold up?
Oh yes it does, I still loved it as much as back then for me it's a modern classic.
Tim Buckley
3/5
I'm a huge Jeff Buckley fan but never have his father much of a listen before.
I definitely prefer Jeff although this is not without its charm it's a nice psychedelic folk album but at times a bit boring, it may grow I me with future listens.
The Cardigans
4/5
Glad this album is on the list and not the follow up Gran Turismo which has My Favourite Game as not much else, but this is full of bright sparkly indie pop tunes that could put a smile on even the grumpiest of faces.
Nina Persson's house is soothing & sweet and let's face it Lovefool is so good.
Arcade Fire
5/5
From the first time I heard Wake Up I was hooked on Arcade Fire, I love this album everything about it is great.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
I grew up listening to Dusty as my mum was a huge fan so I am probably biased.
I knew every song on this album and even though they are all covers Dusty's voice is just so amazing she carried them all off flawlessly.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
The grungefather arrived with the album and I love it, Neil's voice can be grating sometimes and you either love it or hate it, I personally love it.
I enjoy every song on this album but my favourite is Fuckin Up which I first heard through Pearl Jam.
Snoop Dogg
2/5
I struggled with this one a bit, musically it was good but lyrically it was dated and I got bored with it half way through.
Not bad but nothing spectacular, though Snoop Dogg would b e a coo! person to hang out with.
Talking Heads
4/5
In a huge Talking Heads fan so I'm probably a wee bit biased towards this.
I had forgot about this album being on the list as there are a good few of their albums on the list.
This album is great from the opening Thank You For Sending Me An Angel to the closer The Big Country. Highlights include Found A Job and the excellent cover of Take Me To The River.
Although it's great does this album need to be on the list along with the others probably not but it's a damn good listen.
Mudhoney
2/5
Grunge and Alt Rock hit when I was a teenager so I loved it but I have to say wasn't big into Mudhoney and on listening again I'm still not for me it just doesn't hold up well against some of the others from that time period.
It just sounds like noise, I dunno maybe I'm just getting old.