May 30 2024
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Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
Chill, funky jazz album. Enjoyed this more than I expected, a pleasant start to my 1001 albums journey. I'm not a jazz fan but if I was then this might just be the first thing I listen to!
3
May 31 2024
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Electric Warrior
T. Rex
Excellent guitar instrumentals but the album is a bit slow for my taste.
"Get it On" stood out to me and I recognised the riff from Oasis’ "Cigarettes and Alcohol".
3
Jun 01 2024
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C'est Chic
CHIC
Really enjoyed the familiarity of "le freak" after hearing a sample from it in bbno$'s new single "lil' freak". Another standout was “I want your love” which was pretty cool. Other than that, it did get a bit repetitive so I have capped it at 3 stars.
3
Jun 02 2024
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Everything Must Go
Manic Street Preachers
As someone who is normally a fan of britpop/alternative rock, this one was rather disappointing. There wasn’t a single song that really stood out to me, and the album’s mediocrity makes me feel like it is undeserving of being an essential album to hear before you die. For that reason, I can’t give it more than 2 stars. Maybe I should give it another chance at a later date.
2
Jun 03 2024
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The Bends
Radiohead
With this being my first Radiohead album, I am pleased to say that this one lived up to the hype. I particularly enjoyed "Just", which I have added to my playlist. Aside from that, the albums flows really well throughout, with some epic guitar parts. I'm not 100% keen on the vocals but they are nice enough and the album is good enough to warrant a 4/5.
4
Jun 04 2024
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Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
A fun little rock and roll album that surpassed my expectations. Not completely my style but it was worth the 25 minute runtime, and I admire its influence on the genre and rock music as a whole.
3
Jun 05 2024
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American Gothic
David Ackles
A decent album with some catchy tunes and interesting narratives. Not to everyone’s taste but it was a pleasant experience that somewhat resembles the sort of music you would hear at a musical.
3
Jun 06 2024
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Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
I tried to keep an open mind playing this after reading the negative reviews, but I really couldn’t get a lot out of this one. It was just, well… noisy. And not at all worthy of being on the list imo.
2
Jun 07 2024
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Sincere
Mj Cole
I don’t really listen to much electronic music but this just sounded like "drum and bass but bad", with some jazzy bits and funky vocals. Aside from that, the 2 hour runtime felt like an insult. Overall, it was listenable as background music but nothing really stood out.
2
Jun 08 2024
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The Joshua Tree
U2
The first 3 tracks are really iconic, and the rest of the album was solid. It held up a fun vibe throughout and I was particularly impressed by the closing tracks.
4
Jun 11 2024
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Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
This one was a fun listen and had a couple of solid tracks (Asylum, Dreamer). Other than that, there were a few songs that were a bit forgettable, but overall it was a decent album.
3
Jun 12 2024
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Fire Of Love
The Gun Club
I am partial to punk rock so this was refreshing to hear and felt like a bit of a gem. I particularly liked the opening track as well as "She's Like Heroin to Me". I also really enjoyed the bluesy vibe throughout the album. I don't have anything really negative to say about it so it gets a 4.
4
Jun 13 2024
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Phrenology
The Roots
This was my first hip-hop album from the list and it didn't disappoint. It had some really fun beats and I loved the variety of instrumentals. Some of the tracks were a bit noisy but I found them enjoyable nonetheless. It felt like a really complete hip-hop album.
4
Jun 14 2024
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Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
This album has some really nice guitar parts and I especially enjoyed "Layla". However, it did go on for longer than I would have liked and thus became a bit repetitive.
3
Jun 15 2024
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Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
This is a very solid rock album IMO. It held a nice upbeat tone throughout, while still having a decent amount of variety. The opening track was pretty great, but the star of the show has to be “Mr Blue Sky”, absolute classic!
4
Jun 16 2024
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Stripped
Christina Aguilera
I have quite a bit to say about this one.
First of all, I'm not a huge fan of pop music, but, as well as some other genres on this site, I think that it falls victim to negative bias. In this album, Christiana demonstrates an undeniably great singing voice. "Can’t Hold Us Down", "Fighter" and "Dirrty" are really good songs, among others.
The album incorporates a great mix of influences from different genres and the songs tackle some interesting themes in a meaningful way.
I think the only thing holding it back from being a 5 star album is its runtime, which could be shorter.
4
Jun 17 2024
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Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
There is some great talent here. The hits on this album deserve their respect but I can’t say the same about all the other tracks. Overall, I would say that this is impressive for its time but I wouldn’t go back to it.
3
Jun 18 2024
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Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
This was a fun one, good vibes with lots of memorable tracks and I was really impressed with how they pulled off the mix of genres in a unique way. “Fight For Your Right” stood out for me but they were all really good to be honest.
4
Jun 19 2024
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Moby Grape
Moby Grape
Fun little country-rock album. Nothing in particular stands out but it was a pleasant listen for sure.
3
Jun 20 2024
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Band On The Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
First two tracks are absolute hits, and "Jets" is quite special to me because I found it on a playlist on an MP3 player that I made when I was very young. There are also some really nice guitar parts and other instrumentals, so it was a fun listen overall.
4
Jun 21 2024
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Bright Flight
Silver Jews
Nice chill rock album with some witty songwriting. Nothing too exciting but it didn’t waste my time so 3 stars seems appropriate.
3
Jun 22 2024
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That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
Nice soul album with some funky instrumentals and entertaining vocals. I have to admit that at times I struggled to get into the groove with this one, but I can still admire it for what it is.
3
Jun 23 2024
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Ys
Joanna Newsom
Newsom has a really unique voice which at first I found quite irritating, but after I while I got into it and it become rather pleasant. Lyrically, it is ambitious and impressive; she definitely pulled it off. The unique style made it very memorable so I'm glad I gave it a chance. Then again, it could have been quite a bit shorter so overall it's definitely not something I can see myself listening to again.
3
Jun 24 2024
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In Our Heads
Hot Chip
This one had a strong start that honestly took me by surprise, and the album was really listenable as a whole. This allowed me to have some fun with a genre that I wouldn't otherwise spend any time with. More importantly, it got me through some schoolwork that I had been procrastinating for weeks, and for that I am most grateful.
4
Jun 25 2024
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Debut
Björk
Out of all the electropop albums on this list, this one is really solid. The first track is pretty epic and the ones that follow are solid as well. Björk has a really strong singing voice and shows it off really well here. Also the album is a reasonable length which I appreciate. I can't imagine going back to it, but it was a fun experience nonetheless.
3
Jun 26 2024
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A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
This one was quite engaging, even for a non-jazz listener like myself. I loved the drum, sax and bass combos throughout the album. It finished very strongly and made me recognise the appeal of jazz music. I can definitely understand its significance and influence in the genre.
4
Jun 27 2024
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Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
This is a flavour of rock and roll that I never thought I needed. The harmonica was jarring at first but it actually paired quite nicely with the rest of the musical components. When I first saw the 1 hour runtime I was a little apprehensive, but it managed to keep my attention for the majority of its length. I would say that this is a very high quality and timeless album that deserves its place on the list.
4
Jun 28 2024
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All Mod Cons
The Jam
This was an enjoyable punk album that didn’t waste any of my time. I listened on YouTube where the tracks are in the wrong order, but it was a fun listen nonetheless.
3
Jun 29 2024
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London Calling
The Clash
Although I have never heard this album before, it had me interested from the first track, and I can definitely understand its acclaim. There were some great vocals and lyrics, as well as fantastic instrumentals. It managed to hold my attention throughout its 1 hour runtime, which I find impressive, even if I am slightly biased towards punk rock.
4
Jun 30 2024
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Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
Pavement
This was a really solid take on alternative rock. Even though it might not be the best in its genre, I still had a good time with it and it's very listenable and has a nice range of sounds.
3
Jul 01 2024
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Bandwagonesque
Teenage Fanclub
This was actually quite high-quality production-wise, I really rate the guitar parts and it generally sounded like my kind of thing. Although nothing stood out in particular, I imagine that it would be enhanced by a second listen.
3
Jul 02 2024
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Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
Great guitar playing but some of the songwriting doesn’t age well by my standards. With that being said it does stick to a nice distinctive style throughout, which was actually quite nice.
3
Jul 03 2024
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Either Or
Elliott Smith
I found this one quite relaxing and enjoyable, some tracks were a little slow but I found “Pictures of Me” to actually be quite exciting. Very nice instrumentals and clever lyrics.
3
Jul 04 2024
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Fear and Whiskey
Mekons
It took me a while to get into the alternative country vibe that this album was going for, but I appreciate the novelty of this concept. It’s not the kind of punk that I would associate with but nothing offensive about it either.
3
Jul 05 2024
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Permission to Land
The Darkness
This is a fun take on hard rock with that doesn't seem to take itself too seriously despite its intense tone. I'm not a fan of high singing voices but this one just about gets away with it. It's very AC/DC-esque so if you're a fan then you'll probably enjoy this a lot. "Love Is Only A Feeling" stood out as a banger and I had to rewind the solo at the end just to fully take it in.
3
Jul 06 2024
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The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
This was an enjoyable listen with some interesting messages about urban sprawl. The opening track was *fire* and so was "Sprawl II". Maybe it could have been a little shorter but other than that I don't have any complaints.
3
Jul 07 2024
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Among The Living
Anthrax
As someone fairly new to the metal genre, I found this to be quite accessible. The tracks were all unique (if a bit long) and it was pretty engaging and interesting overall.
3
Jul 08 2024
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Slayed?
Slade
This was fun listen with a nice classic rock sound. It might be one of the better glam rock albums on this list, while clearly taking inspiration from some of its predecessors.
3
Jul 09 2024
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Figure 8
Elliott Smith
I enjoyed this one a bit more than his “Either Or” album that came up for me recently. It has a really nice indie rock sound that somewhat resembles the work of Simon and Garfunkel.
4
Jul 10 2024
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Private Dancer
Tina Turner
That was a good dose of 80s pop with some very iconic instrumentals and singing. It was mainly easy listening, but by the end it felt longer than 44 minutes.
3
Jul 11 2024
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Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
I have mixed feelings about this album but I am willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. On one hand, I am beginning to feel resentful about the amount of albums on here that were released before even my parents were born, and I really struggle to identify with them. However, I was quite impressed with the hits on this album, and have no doubt that it was impressive for its time. I can appreciate the songwriting and vocal performance, even if I had lost interest by the end of the 59 minute runtime.
3
Jul 12 2024
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Garbage
Garbage
This album had a nice blend of different sounds and styles. It combines the quirkiness of alt rock with the catchiness of pop (and other genres) which gave it a decent amount of bangers.
3
Jul 13 2024
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Superfly
Curtis Mayfield
I have to admit that I zoned out of this one for longer than I would have liked but I still found it really relaxing. It had a distinctive soul sound and the tracks were all pretty unique. Would totally recommend to any soul or funk enjoyer.
3
Jul 14 2024
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Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
This was a quirky electronic pop album which was generally quite enjoyable. The style sort of reminded me of Massive Attack, and while there were a few filler sections that felt a bit long-winded, the album was worth my time overall.
3
Jul 15 2024
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Ghosteen
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
This was quite a peaceful album for an evening on the beach, but I can’t see myself listening to it casually. The lyrics were pretty powerful, especially given the context, but it didn’t justify the long runtime for me.
3
Jul 16 2024
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Nevermind
Nirvana
Aside from the legendary opening trilogy, this album demonstrates a truly original concept with excellent execution through its entire duration. The drumming is captivating; the production is polished while retaining the raw and gritty sound; and the vocals manage to communicate so much emotion despite often being nonsensical, thanks to Cobain’s distinct delivery. Even the tracks that were new to me fit in really well with the rest of the album while still having something new to offer. I am so grateful that this record found mainstream success, even if I wasn’t alive to witness it at the time.
5
Jul 17 2024
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Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
Although this lacked the funkiness of Herbie Hancock’s “Headhunters” or the vocals of John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme”, the musical talent is on full display. It was a short and sweet experience, but not enough to get me fully immersed in the genre.
3
Jul 18 2024
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Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
I was happy to see another hip hop album appear on this site for me, and I wasn't disappointed. It has a distinctive sound with some fun lyrics, but it's far from being among the best hip hop albums in this list.
3
Jul 19 2024
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On The Beach
Neil Young
I listened to this one on the seaside which was quite fitting, and it was a nice experience. Some of the songs were a little slow and maybe went on for a bit too long, but I still like his style.
3
Jul 20 2024
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The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
I’m not normally a huge fan of electronic music but this album seems to harness the best of it while dabbling in some other genres. The first track is an absolute bop, and so are all the other hits on this album. I can definitely see the appeal.
4
Jul 21 2024
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Frank
Amy Winehouse
Although I hadn't heard this album before, I could still recognise the vocal and lyrical talent that is built upon in "Back to Black". I've seen some people on here complain about the lyrics but I actually appreciate how she discusses the issues she was facing at the time, even if it comes off as "Frank".
4
Jul 22 2024
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Parklife
Blur
I'm more of an Oasis fan myself, but this was very listenable. Although my ears are probably tuned in favour of britpop, I know there is a lot of shit britpop on this list. "Parklife" is not that.
I was already familiar with "Girls and Boys" and "Parklife" but the other singles are also really great, so it deserves 4 stars in my opinion.
4
Jul 23 2024
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Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
Now I'm certain that this deserves its exceptionally high place on the list. It's not just the pumping bass on "The Chain" or the epic guitar on "Go Your Own Way" or even the mesmerising chorus on "Dreams". It's the fact that the combination of an intense breakup and a relentless cocaine addiction brought one of the most timeless rock albums of all time.
5
Jul 24 2024
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Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
This was the first reggae album to appear on here for me and I can never say no to some good reggae. It was very listenable, well-produced and respectful of my time. It also carried some important and heartfelt messages which I appreciate. I can see why some people may find it repetitive or samey, but honestly its <40 minutes so I'd say its worthy of one's time.
3
Jul 25 2024
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Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
I was quite impressed the lyrics and vocals of this album, which were successful of delivering a variety of different messages and themes. The melodies were really enjoyable to listen to, complemented by the fun instrumentals. I definitely enjoyed this more than I expected.
4
Jul 26 2024
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Paul Simon
Paul Simon
There is some great songwriting here and there is no denying that Simon's solo career stands on its own. The first track of the album stands out in particular to me. However, I can't help but prefer his work with Garfunkel, and anticipate that I will rate it higher.
3
Jul 27 2024
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Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
I can definitely see why this was a successful album: some of the tracks felt like they were well ahead of their time. I feel like it gets a bit less exciting on the second half of the album, but it was still a good listen.
3
Jul 28 2024
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Guitar Town
Steve Earle
This was pretty inoffensive if a little basic. The production is solid but it failed to really make me feel anything. Would be happy to give country music another chance, but maybe not this album.
3
Jul 29 2024
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Moss Side Story
Barry Adamson
I get the idea of a soundtrack for a movie that doesn’t exist, but this one just doesn’t hit. I would be much more excited about it if it was like a Despicable Me or Shrek soundtrack, but this doesn’t interest me if, and it wouldn’t even if it were included in an actual movie. Besides, I don’t see how it is supposed to hold any narrative if it doesn’t even have any lyrics.
While I’m sure there’s a place for this kind of album, this list is not that. I think it was a disservice to both the artist and the listener for this album to be included.
2
Jul 30 2024
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Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
I like how every track on here was quite unique, and the the album as a whole was short and sweet. Nice guitar work but not something I would regularly listen to.
3
Jul 31 2024
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Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz
This was a fun and interesting listen. Just the right amount of jazz for me to enjoy, with some nice vocals.
3
Aug 01 2024
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Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
I’ve seen this album being described as background music and I couldn’t agree more. There’s no doubt that this is a classic - the cover is as iconic as the grooves. As I played this walking along the hills, what stood out to me was how it put me deep in thought. I also enjoyed it more than “Birth of Cool” which came up for me not long ago. And while jazz is not a genre that I would go out of my way to listen to, I can clearly see the influence that this record has on the genre.
4
Aug 02 2024
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Calenture
The Triffids
I think the criticism of this album is justified. While it originally seems inoffensive and listenable, it proves the be repetitive, predictable and overproduced after a few songs. This made for an experience that felt like far more than 46 minutes, and definitely not an album worthy of being on this list.
2
Aug 03 2024
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The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
I can definitely see how influential this album is, especially given the time it came out. It has a surprisingly unique sound, and was generally quite comforting to listen to, bar a couple of tracks such as “Heroin”, which proves that the album is definitely of its time, despite its influence.
4