Magical mystical fonky weirdness. I am entirely approving and enjoyed it. God it's nice to hear some people try and do something that sounds like nothing else I can pin down. :)

Sonic youth innit

Loved it, it felt like hearing someone wield their voice like a guitar and solo with it - that and just very pleasant listening with a great energy. Will happily listen again! :)

Rainy day music. This album is very, very special to me. I can pinpoint when first heard it, and times it's kept me company. :) the music is so complicated at times, but dressed up so it's never too much. I love this album and I'm sleepy.

It gets an extra star for winning me over. Would listen again, really good music as much as I was biased against it! Hooray for broadening my musical horizons :)

As someone who supposedly doesn't care for Oasis... I enjoyed this a great deal more than I could have expected! :) I appreciate them more as a group now I've heard more than the singles. :)

Aw man I already listened to this lol. But it is good, so I shall revisit!

Very bland 80s stuff, throwing in some questionable 80s glam lyrics... I would give 1.5 if I could, but Dead or Alive is a great song so I feel okay with giving it a 2. Definitely not without merit, but not a great album in my mind.

Utterly tremendous - it had that "live" feel of people having fun and being ruddy great at their instruments. Any criticism I might have about it being 4 songs over the best part of an hour are offset by the fun I had listening to it. It's zany, out there, and this is the third time I'll say it, fun! :) This one goes firmly up at the top for me so far, because it sounds like they really nailed what they were going for, and it managed to surprise me in a few spots, which was really cool! :)

Really, really enjoyed this! Brilliant musicianship, awesome songs, themes... just top notch for me. I love that they put 2 of the huge singles halfway in, just the sheer confidence in the rest of the album is brilliant.

Excellent! It would have been 4.5 I wish it was less darn long, but it was so good! Musicianship was great, and it made me happy to listen to such a happy bunch of songs. I liked how the drums sounded too.

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW YES

I have been spoiled by CSNY and Buffalo Springfield

Not my favourite Tom Waits album, but damn do I love Tom Waits! :)

Oh my god the musicianship! :) It feels ungodly to listen to. Probably my favourite Smith album.

Fudge yeah!

Utterly great. Really enjoyed the unique sounds and songwriting.

Oh boy, this was hard going. It was sad, and painted pictures in my brain. I love Johnny Cash, and these songs reminded me why. Also holy covers! :)

Very good! :) Really good vibe :)

Mellow and comfy...too comfy...

A very fine punk album! surprised I've not dived in before, and fully will do now!

Erm.... Were we meant to listen to all 3 hours? I got to 2 hours, and thought I'd extracted everything I could. Very nice voice, well crafted comfy songs... could not do three hours. If reviewed as a brief album, I'd probably say "yeah brilliant!" but it outstayed its welcome by the second "disc"... Tricky to rate, as that was kind of the point of a box set, and it's a great archive of american songbook stuff too, amazing voice etc... something historical more than something to enjoy for me. Nutritional.

Really brilliant musicianship - I'll average it out as 5* because it is really impressive. I think I preferred meat is murder, but that's a taste thing. Also There is a Light That Never Goes Out is worth a star by itself lol.

Surprised this is in here - a more obscure Sonic Youth pick than say Daydream Nation, Goo, Sister, or Dirty, but I can see that it is a great snapshot of all the elements that make them so special. EVOL is such a nice intersection between noisy and songsy, and has a lot of things I love on it. I'm a massively biased lover of Sonic Youth.

Really good bass and all in all a solid album!

Very enjoyable and a great voice. Glad I've finally heard it.

Not my favourite stooges album (funhouse), but a really solid album!

Really enjoyed this!

Honesty is important. I wasn't blown away by this. His voice grated on me, and I wound up trying to like it because the lyrics were at times really interesting. It felt quite tame?

I rather enjoyed this! I will say at points, it felt like it would be better at a venue hearing it, as the repetition got a bit much at times, but good stuff! Would listen again.

Complicated feelings - it was one of the better r&b albums I've heard in terms of having something to say and a unique sound. That said I wasn't entirely gripped by it. Despite being adamant it had a message, it sure was vague about what it was. I will go 3* as there's merit, but I didn't think "wow I'll listen again" and it didn't feel 1001-worthy

Didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did! When the album ended I started it again reflexively! :)

when I was a young fellow, I remember fondly listening to a tape cassette called "Beatles Ballads". I was always going to add a star purely for Till there was you, great song with nice memories attached. This feels like it's essential listening as the "before" photo for the band, and as a good example of the sound of bands around this era. I love what they did later on, but lots here felt ...unessential? It was good, but not great. :)

Oh I did love this! Not heard this album specifically until now, and really enjoyed it! Musically brilliant, pointed in themes and... everything I loved Toxicity and Steal This Album for. :)

I am going to say it, for me on a personal level this was less enjoyable than Bon Jovi very long, overly complicated songs (in a way that I can hear my music lecturers going "oh but it's great they do 6/4 then 12/8 and the harmony modulates into a fancy mode scale"), which is neat... but it wasn't saying anything from that other than "ooh aren't we clever" - I like prog, but when I am bored at surface level and have to exercise my brain and explore the meta of music making to enjoy it... I start to think I could just listen to something else. - It felt like a very confused pop/punk emo group, and not in a "ooh fun experimental prog-rock crossover" - The crossing between songs works better if all the songs don't end up sounding the same, otherwise it feels like a slog. Please don't hurt me! I was really looking forward to this album because I'd heard so many good things about it. The musicianship is impeccable!

Must... Seperate the art from the artist...

I remember my brother having this on, and liking it, but not loving it... It turns out I do in fact love it!

Really enjoyable, fun album! I'd listen again merrily. :)

Often excellent, but definitely not my favourite of his in terms of songwriting, but brilliant for textures and sounds. I loved the sounds and synths, but I enjoyed Heroes more.

Jeez... that bass though! :)

First album I tapped out and didn't finish. I don't think it's aged very well.

Rainy day music. This album is very, very special to me. I can pinpoint when first heard it, and times it's kept me company. :) the music is so complicated at times, but dressed up so it's never too much. I love this album and I'm sleepy.

Very cool and fun music. Not something I'm itching to return to, but I appreciate the craft! :)

dubs

Glad to have fixed the fact I only heard Paranoid and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. This was brilliant! It had range, and was a really fun listen.

Amaaaaazing!

I flicked between 5 and 2, so am averaging out at a 3 - to me, it feels very smug and like it's too busy trying to be clever that it forgot what it was trying to say. It does have a vibe, but it's one that rubs me the wrong way.

Never heard this before, and want to re-listen!

Never heard this before, and want to re-listen!

Vastly more enjoyable than expected! :)

Great

One of my favourite albums, sludgy petty noises.

It was very good, if a little... well samey if I'm honest

It was fine - I have no burning desire to re-listen, but I liked the instrumental side of things, and can see why it would be seen as someone's favourite :)

Enjoyed this waaay more than I expected!

I thought I'd like this - I didn't expect to love it! Will definitely be re-listening!

I kept being told to listen to Nick Cave! I see why! I mega-enjoyed this and will be back to hear more!

Now this one was great!

Totally unexpected and fantastic! Really fun and creative :) made me miss making this kind of music

I was really taken aback by his guitar playing! Really good stuff, though I couldn't pinpoint one song from another, it was all things I'd go back to. :)

Utterly excellent! Not a 5/5 goosebump inducing thing, but very fun and I enjoyed waaaay more than expected!

Oh yes oh yes! Ooh a talking heads cover oh my this is good. Oh it's over. This album made day go faster by being really fun! I will return for this album! I fully like this album a lot!

Good rocky stuffs!

Yes

Really enjoyable, Rocking Chair stood out in terms of goosebumpery! Great musicianship, I'd go 4.5 if I could just because it felt a bit bloated

Insultingly bland

Another one that's really good, very musically solid (bass and guitar especially!) - might not be a life changing experience, but very good

Glorious. 10/10 top quality wackiness. I will be returning to this zany madness again voluntarily and merrily. It started and I was a little miffed it sounded conventional... then... it got weird and I was happy.

All over the place in the best way!

Oh my word this was great! Almost sad or uncomfortable at points, yet always felt brilliant and deliberate :)

Love this album :)

beautiful and sad

It was... fine... it seemed like a bit of a random pick instead of a must-listen. Of all the albums, it was definitely one of them.

I made it to the end of this album. Couldn't tell you anything about it other than "insipid waitrose music". Not 1* on an objective basis, but a personal one definitely.

It was sad man songs but good!

It was sad man songs but good!

Fonky

Very very enjoyable vibesy music! Really enjoyed this one

I really enjoyed this, it was more adventurous than I expected

That was legitimately painful.

Might have been 5 if not for me failing to separate art from artist - fun music

I did rather like this! :) Musicianship was top-notch, and I think I preferred it to the other album - this felt a bit more "focused" and it didn't feel quite so sprawling.

One of my favourites

Loved it, it felt like hearing someone wield their voice like a guitar and solo with it - that and just very pleasant listening with a great energy. Will happily listen again! :)

A fantastical flurry of energy. Minus one star for creepy train man song.

It was one of the albums! Inoffensive, comfortable, sleepy...

Nah. This isn't it for me. I like hip-hop and rap, but I made the mistake of listening to the words and realising it was just not it. A lot of "if you're offended by me saying this you're a moron who doesn't get it"... I think the issue was I understood it, but it just didn't have a lot more to say beyond "ooh aren't a scary tough homophobe". Production was good, but it genuinely bothered me enough that it's the second album I've tapped out of, should be a 1 if this wasn't so subjective.

Solid.

Smooth but unpredictable in the nice ways that make my brain smile. Made me happy and didn't outstay its welcome. Also the history of his music is cool.

Utterly brilliant and made me happy.

Really don't rate this - repetitive, vain and dated

17 stars if I could - utterly chaotic fun magic

Was fully not expecting to love this! Thought it wouldn't be such a fun album to listen to, and am really happy to be wrong.

Musically interesting and creative! :)

Alright it were! Felt a bit same ish, but that's also consistent? Hmm It was interesting, not sure I'd seek it out again, but glad I've heard it! :)

I could not wait for this to be over. Musicianship in buckets, but also the worst parts of pop and it felt barely like jazz. Bland, predictable, dry, and ultimately pointless to my ears.

Didn't expect to enjoy this, it was good!

Absolutely wonderful crafted chaos of magic and justice. I will accept no less than 5 stars. The goal is weird, and they crushed it.

The great outweigh the meh!

often brilliant... not sure it's life changing for me, but I enjoyed it a great deal!

Ah so this is what the fuss was about! :)

I really did not rate this. Some of the last few songs were interesting, but...wow I did not feel like it was a good use of my ears. Tight band, but... not for me, samey.

I love this album, but I can't say it's 5* :) Very interesting enjoyable and vibey, but not the bestest Pulp album and a bit patchy

Magic :) I know it's a little mid-road 60s, but I enjoyed the vibe and learning about the band! :) enjoyed this more than I expected to!

Immigrant Song and then the other stuff

Pleasant

It annoyed me. It also had some interesting music.

Interesting and fonky and fun

It was good, but... same ish?

I can't think of anything I'd change and I enjoyed it despite going in with a mindset of "let's get this 80s bank manager music out the way". It won me over, I'll go back for more even, got to be a 5

Loved it in places

Very nice, very 60s, comfy musics!

Bahbahbahdeebeh song tiiiitleeee

Really pleasant and nice

A nice vibe, but it dragged towards the middle/end and didn't go anywhere

A very very easy listen! Good flowing and nice sound.

Obnoxious buzzsaw blasting

Top notch

I listened twice, couldn't pin down my thoughts fully but it got my attention and I enjoyed it! :)

Aaaaw yes! Excellent!

This was more interesting than expected, but... I probably won't listen to it again.

Nick Drake, this was a good day.

This was rather brilliant! I'm pleased it exists

I now like him for more than his incredible model train set

Uncomfortable, felt like christmas at gunpoint.

It was good, but didn't get me like I was hoping it would. I've heard so much about this album being amazing - maybe a re-listen is needed?

It gets an extra star for winning me over. Would listen again, really good music as much as I was biased against it! Hooray for broadening my musical horizons :)

Magical mystical fonky weirdness. I am entirely approving and enjoyed it. God it's nice to hear some people try and do something that sounds like nothing else I can pin down. :)

It was really good, but likely I won't come back to it - loved a lot of it, but was checking to see how long some songs had left, and it was just quite long? I also felt like it ran out of things to say in a way I hadn't felt hearing Dead Prez, Death Grips, or Gang Starr? 3 is a good score in my head though, not bad at all :)

Good, cosy, nice. Didn't change my life but was utterly good!

The best so far

Took a second listen and really liked it! Wasn't blown away the first time, glad I went back. :)

It referenced random NWA wrestlers, no notes, top marks excellent work. Also the bass was good.

It was an album. I liked the field recordings and it was fine

Interesting, great in places, good in others. I think 4 is a fair number for my enjoyment, as I prefer Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, but this was good too! :)

Some good songs, and dare I say interesting things (tape loops etc) - for a coldplay album... not bad. I'll give it 3.5, rounded up to 4

It was pretty nice! I don't know I'd go back to it with urgency, but a very pleasant listen :)

utterly brilliant! Fun but not lazy, really enjoyable music! I have a newfound appreciation for fonksy grooves - honestly kicking myself for not hearing this before!

Very technically good, but bored me into thinking about music theory. It felt like it had nothing to say besides ooh aren't we clever ooooooh, and when I have to sit and analyse your music to extract something good from it... nah I'm bored at that point. I studied "take five" at uni, I appreciate it on a technical and compositional level, but would not be hurt if I never listened to it again. I'm giving it 3 stars for being well composed and how talented the performers are... but it's an on-paper 3.5* and an emotional "steely dan"/1 out of 5

One of my favourite albums ever, didn't click on the first listen, then boy did it click after watching "Stop Making Sense" - which made it.... make... sense... Amazing album :)

Weird and fun and yeah I liked it! Not a wowee goosebumps good, but good!

Good, I think I preferred "My Aim Is True", but I really enjoyed this :)

Is this album really well put together and fun? Absolutely. Am I tinted by nostalgia? Absolutely. Is the fact I played this on stage a fair bit stroking an ego I didn't know I even had? Probably. 5* it made me learn something about myself.

Not a lot I can really offer... rangey, feelsy, comfy but also not... just really good music.♥️

I liked this a lot - it had a good sound and a lot to say. :) Maybe a bit long, but a good album!

This... didn't hit the spot for me - nice background music, but very un-memorable and samey. Husband definitely shouldn't be an alcoholic though... that sounds problematic.

3.5 rounded up - I like the vibe and all but it did blur into itself a bit

Pleasant if a little meandering :)

Utterly top notch, forgot that it was a live album at times!

I would give this 4.5 - really great, and then the next ones are even better!

As the youth say, this was a bit of a banger.

That was a quick 45 minutes of great music! :)

I like neil young, and this didn't do it for me. I can't pin why?

I can't put into words how bad this was.

This was a fun experience! Fun music

Actually acceptable and not as bad as Aja which made me want to not have ears.

Didn't expect this to hit the way it did

Solid!

I am utterly surprised at this, but... honestly didn't care for this. It felt sad - I know his other music is better and it sounded too much like someone not in a good place. :/ Kind of saddened my brain a little. Nice chords and pretty songwriting at times though

Very fun and I'm so happy to have heard it! :)

I thought I'd like the who... that's a surprise. It didn't appeal at all.

Brilliant - a little samesy, but plenty to say and plenty going on! :)

So much going on under the top layer, like a trifle of magic.

Really good music, but bloated - waaay too much of the same stuff, even if it was good stuff?

Very enjoyable, ridiculously fun guitar :) It was different, and a nice listen. :) I'm teetering on 4 and 5 stars, I'll go 4, but this is really good music and a 5 for someone else I bet :)

A nice way to blow off the cobwebs on a monday morning :) It was exactly what I was hoping, and sounded more modern than I expected too? I wouldn't say life changingly must-listen, but good!

I was not expecting to love this album, it gets an extra star! :)

I preferred gasoline alley, but this had its moments! :) Adding a star because he has a brilliant train set and this is good.

Listened to this two bonus times this weekend, I love it! Keep picking out things each listen :)

It starts with oooh variety and ends with... I'm kind of bored, we get it, you're good at musicking

It was a nice slow and relaxing merry-go-round

This did not seem to be all that life-changing to a me. It felt like Ash with all the edges sanded off, and then put in a blender with Oasis...

I think this might be the first and only time I give an album a 5* rating halfway through! :) It has been foretold. Utterly brilliant, I forgot just how much I love this first album and how great it sounds. Thank you 1001 :)

I love five leaves left and pink moon... I think this is good, but ruined a bit by pointless trumpet and attempts to popify his music

Fun! A bit long and blurred into a blob, but... kind of the point? :)

It was rather long, but it definitely grew on me as it went on - it started off a bit "yes we get it you're great musicians are you going to do anything meaningful though?", but got more interesting as it branched out and that. Also poop song was a highlight musically and definitely lyrically.

Sonic youth innit

I can't say they didn't utterly crush their aims. Very good music and heck yeah!

I liked this a lot! I am surprised by this development :) usually country that isn't Johnny Cash is like pulling teeth :) I liked the instruments used, and the songs having something going on lyrically

Honestly a 4.5 rounded up for how out there and brilliant parts of it are, offset by it sagging a bit by the end John Lydon being a MAGA geek. Nonetheless, if listened to through the eyes of 14 year old Adam... it's incredible and Keith Levene made me pick up a guitar in new ways... 5 it is :)

I'm two for two this week on music styles I usually dislike but actually enjoyed an album of! :)

Brilliant, I'm not sure consistently brilliant but oh wow :) the bits that connected really did

Really good!

Utterly brilliant, I always feel a bit guilty listening to his music as it hits close to home and... knowing he didn't make it... great music

Honestly... meh. I wanted to be happily surprised and I appreciate the guitar and production, but it feels... hollow and like someone trying so hard to be cool

Weee!

So much better than I remembered! :) Nice, really creative musically, catchy and exactly what it says on the tin. :) I know it's not "real punk" or whatever, but I don't remember them saying it was :) I like it, and 14 year old me is pleased by this development. :)

Aw I'm so torn between 4 and 5, as I'd give Colour Shape a solid 5, and this isn't quite the same level to me? But then it's one human pouring lots into a short record and I'm a sucker for that sort of activity. Fiiiiiiine 5* life is too short to think too much on this! :)

The fine blend of a wordsmith and xbox live's voice chat. Skill definitely... but... ooh wowee look another edgy thing well done who's a good boy oh wow look another crime to rap about for the bingo chart oh wowee another group of people to pick on great job... It got old rapidly. I get the idea, I just think it's aged like milk and is repetitive. That said, some bits were interesting underneath the surface level of edgyboi. I don't think I'll listen again but get why it's on the list.

A nice comfy 70s jacket to sleep in - not unpleasant at all - 3.5, rounded to 4 as although it didn't set my mind on fire, it made me happy! :)

One of my favourite albums! :)

I'm going to rant a bit because I'm unable to sleep and for some reason feel compelled to. This album is way better than it looked - and honestly... songwriting is fine, but what jumped out was ebow, delay tomfoolery, stuff that is out there by slick pop standards. It's safe music at surface level, but it got my attention - it felt like it got better towards the end and sounded more like a band. :) Happy to say this site gave music I wrote off a second try! :)

Utterly out of left-field! Loved it! :)

Holy moley I didn't expect to love this! Star added for being unexpectedly brilliant

I like radiohead, but this felt like the dregs of Kid A - fine for background listening :)

Sorry Mark, this buttered no parsnips. It didn't click for me, and didn't vary much at all. Definitely serviceable, and it's the Rolling Stones, so... 2.5 rounded to 3. Not bad at all, but I'd not make a point to go back to it. :) Also my friend Mark went to see the Rolling Stones on the 6th of July in Hyde Park

Utterly utterly wonderfully fun, groovy, punky... just everything I ever didn't know I wanted to hear! :) Top notch!

I really enjoyed the last few songs, but it dragged getting there. Some good songs and happy to have tried this album. :)

Unexpected and so good! I feel country wouldn't be what I'd fit it under, but I'm not sure what it would be! :) loved it

Some flickers of interesting stuff, and solid musically. Glad I've heard it, but probably not one I'll go back to

A few standout great songs - I forgot I love all down the line! :) It just felt very unfocused and bloated?

Really unique album :)

This was chaotic and fun! it got a bit repetitive, but I enjoyed it :)

Wowee! :)

Fun! I loved how it felt like a jam session at times!

I quite liked this - it might be something I come back to and get obsessed with. Listening 50 odd years on, I feel that the music holds up, and some songs had a lot to say. :)

It was okay!

I think 4 is fair - even Bowie doing things I'm not crazily into is still interesting! :) Not sure it was "vital" like Blackstar, Heroes, Ziggy Stardust etc, but I can see why someone might disagree (I liked it)! :)

Okay, this was a great surprise - I heard the initial drums and went "oh good another 80s album"... and by the end said to myself holy cow that was actually really really good! :) I know some people are really die-hard fans and I can get why, really good songwriting and a heck of a voice too! :) Happy times to be a me. :)

Utterly unexpected, had no idea that this was who it is, and love it to bits! Thank you 1001 :)

Definitely one of the albums of all time. It's by far the most recent I've heard, and of all the albums, it's definitely one of them. (It did not do anything for me I'm afraid lol)

Honestly not sure if I like this one more than the Parsley Sage album, both were great! Oh no I might have to listen to them both again... what a shame that would be! :)

I think this might be the first funk album I feel I've clicked with! :) Political, interesting, not overproduced... yep I like this a lot!

I know in my heart some of these songs aren't essential to hear, but damn it, 5* it is! :) It's Johnny Cash, an important gig and he crushes it, I can't give it 4! :)

Very pretty and syrupy - I got quite bored and was politely waiting for it to end. Very competent musically, arranged well, lyrics were good. Just didn't do it for me, I don't know if I'd like the same music more with less overproduction, but It wasn't for me. I'll give it a two, as three stars usually is "I get why it's here, it didn't tickle me, might come back to it", and this veers a little south of that into "actively avoid in future"

I like trains.

Ruddy excellent! :)

Nice and cosy trumpet things - I like the sounds and the feeling of the music and it made me happy so it gets five.

It took a lot of lifting to get past the mechanical 80s sheen, but there was some good music in here once we got past the colour-by-numbers love songs :) Wouldn't willingly listen again, but it was fine!

Rather nice music indeed :) I do like this one

Me biased, me love Nirvana. Five star foregone conclusion.

long, indulgent... but really good!

It wasn't kid rock, but I hurt my jaw gritting my teeth getting through this. I understand it sold well, but wow it felt tailor-made to be annoying.

It was fine... not bad, not life changing, but fine :)

I liked this! :) Definitely will go back to it! :)

Wow

Great start to the week! :)