Not sure I've ever heard the album before, but I know the "hits". This album seemed like a pretty big deal when it came out, U2 returning to form with some big hits. But listening to it now, the hits don't seem that great and the rest of the album is really bad. The quality of their songwriting on this album is really low compared to their early years. And so many cringey lyrics. "Grace, it's a name for a girl It's also a thought that changed the world"

Never heard the album before. Not something I'd listen to everyday but there is a lot of interesting stuff here. It's both edgy and hooky at the same time. "Yo soy playero pero no hay playa"

I might have listened to this a long time ago, but I don't recall. Never been a huge fan of Morissey's voice or the stream-of-consciousness lyrics. But the music is pretty good. In the end it adds up to a below-average listening experience. "She said, " 'Ey, I know you, and you cannot sing' "

Haven't heard this before but very impressed. "My mother gave birth but she really never had me."

istened to this album many times. Great songwriting by great musicians. How does Mother make it on this album with Murder by Numbers only a bonus track? "Many miles away, there's a shadow on the door..."

I might have listened to this once or twice. Beautiful, wistful music which is at times depressing. "I could have been One of these things first"

Never listened to this album, but have heard many of the songs of course. Hard to have perspective on something like this that is so foundational. A number of true classics. But if I judge it as I listen to it today, I can only give it a (strong) 4. "Until then I'll cry instead"

Never heard this before. I am really blown away by it. Unique and beautiful. I like the closing song Avalon, but discovered they purposely slowed it waaaay down. It sounds beautiful at a more proper speed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmOdTrfiBmc "Ég gerði skip tilbúið og fór með litla bæn"

Everybody knows I used to be a poet Everybody knows I have a gift for words Everybody knows my songs are inconsistent Ah, that some of them will be turds Everybody knows I've got no choice Everybody knows I've got limited range So I sing real low Everybody knows. Everybody knows I'm from North of the border Everybody knows I've got backup singers Everybody knows I'm a real bummer Ah, the haunting chords still linger Everybody knows there's a hit here somewhere If I can just decide where it goes Everybody knows.

Have listened to the album before; in fact, I just revisited it a couple of weeks ago. Solid album with great Dave Stewart arrangements that showcase Annie Lennox' vocals. Lots of good songs which are elevated by the classic Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) which remains fresh, distinctive, and breathtaking. Strong 3 stars. "It's savage and it's cruel and it shines like destruction"

Never heard this album before. I like Lovefool well enough, so I expected to like this album. Where to start? Lovefool was clearly a high-water mark for this band. Listening to the album gave me a migraine. The singer's voice is consistently annoying and the music is insipid. By the time Lovefool rolled around, I didn't care. It didn't stop the annoyance. PLEASE MAKE IT STOP. "You know, the ABBA makes more money each year than the Volvo corporation" - Not a lyric, just a quote from a Swedish friend while we were in high school. That odd brag still makes me laugh to this day. Famous Swedish Bands: ABBA The Cardigans Europe Hmmm...I guess I'll take ABBA?

Never heard the album before. Great rock and blues album, a good amount of experimentation and stylistic variety but never sounds disjointed or out of place. I'm really impressed. "I won't let love disrupt, corrupt or interrupt me"

Have heard the album before, but not for a while. Rock and Roll distilled to its core, proving that four chords is all you need. This album is the Beatles of New York (if not America) debut, and it still sounds as brash and provocative today. The album is of course incredibly influential. Listening now, almost all of it works. A few songs feel repetitive, but considering the similar beat, similar chords, and similar singing, it's interesting to hear how there can still be a subtle diversity of songs. "That girl could still be mine But I'm tired of the hurt"

2112, the song which takes up side 1, is representative of the best of Spın̈al Tap's early work. Despite 2-3 solid songs, closer to 2 than to 4 for me.

Never heard this album. I wasn't prepared for lyrics written by 2nd graders or music created by AI. Wait, this crap was created by grown-ass adults? With 8 previous albums under their belt? Also, no more mentioning Superman in a song. That should have been outlawed in about 1990. But here we are, songwriters can't help themselves. "I stood up and I said, yeah".

Never heard before. Fine I guess, but nothing stood out to me. I probably won't listen to it again. Closer to 2 stars than 4 stars. "The zoftig chick is mine"

I've heard the album before. I love Jack White's guitar playing and vocals. There is a lot of diverse things going on than might appear at first glance. They achieve a pretty amazing sound with just a guitar and drums. "All they got inside is vacancy"

Good album, but I was expecting something better

Listened to before, but not for a while. Fuzzier than I remember. These are classic Led Zeppelin songs, but not my favorites. But you can't deny the quality performances. Definitely a harbinger for things to come. "Got me a girl, and I kissed her and then and then Whoops, oh no, yeah, well, I did it again"

Never heard this before. Simple catchy songs played with energy. Odd that they included a compilation album on this list. I found the first half of the songs pretty unlikable. But the second half, which are taken from the Barely Legal album, are a lot better. I was prepared to rate 2 stars but going to give it 3 stars. "Outsmarted, I'm selling you for scrap"

Never heard before. Sounds good, not something I feel knowledgeable to review though. "Mi chiquita quiere bembe"

I thought I'd listened to it before, but it didn't sound familiar. Interesting experiment with the second half being ambient music. Nothing stands out on this album. I enjoyed the second half more than the first. I wouldn't think it needed inclusion on this list but I guess it respresents a major pivot in Bowie's career.

Listened to many times. Fundamental 80's album that still sounds great. A lot of the "sounds" going on at the time were wrapped in a polished pop package. Strong 4, but not enough classics for it to be a 5 star. "(This town) It is so glamorous Bet you'd live here if you could"

Never heard this before. Enjoyed the music and the flow more than the rapping. "Few understand the union of woman and man And sex and a tingle is where they assume that it land"

I don't think I've listened to this before. It's a really fun album, and Johnny seems like he's really relating to everyone around him. It makes for a great listen. Great songs, as well. And loved June Carter's performance on Jackson. Strong 3 stars. "These men have receptions: Matlock 850632 and Batshelter 839879"

Never heard this. Not my kind of music. I appreciate aspects of this but I didn't care for it. "You're younger than I am broken"

Listened to many times. One of the great rock albums. Page's guitar playing is extraordinary, but his overall songwriting and use of odd time signatures has never been duplicated (although many have tried). And despite the oversaturation of "Stairway to Heaven" it remains the pinnacle of rock epics. "The dark Lord rides in force tonight"

Never listened to this album before, I'd only heard "Help Me. Just not a Joni Mitchell fan. Her vocal acrobatics, while interesting, often take me out of the moment. She is a good lyricist and tells stories from some unexpected perspectives. I did like Raised on Robbery, which I hadn't heard before. But I won't be listening to this album again anytime soon. "First he bought a '57 Biscayne, he put it in a ditch"

Never listened to the album, had only heard "Perfect Skin". Distinctive vocals. I'm normally a fan of jangly guitars, but this album doesn't add up to much. Not memorable.

Never heard this album before. It gives New Age music a bad name. Utterly pointless. So glad when it was over.

Never heard this before. It's an album of The Byrds doing country music. I think I'd rather hear the Byrds do jangly folk rock, and rather her country music from actual country music artists. Not horrible, but not something I'll be listening to again.

Listened to many times, including recently after reading Testimony, Robbie Robertson's autobiography (highly recommended). There are two classics on this album, and I like the variety amongst the rest of the songs. But as much as I respect Robertson's ability to handle just about all of the songwriting duties and dole the songs out to the three different lead vocalists in the band, I just don't enjoy the album as much as I'd like to. Going to give it 4 stars for the classic songs which are amongst my favorites of all-time. "Virgil Caine is the name and I served on the Danville train 'Til Stoneman's cavalry came and tore up the tracks again"

Never listened to it. Enjoyed it but I might not be qualified to appreciate it.

Listened to very often. Crazy that this came out in 1978...pre 1980s. Great album, excellent songwriting, talented musicians. All time classic. "With your eyes of porcelain and of blue They shock me into sense" "Hi Brad. You know how cute I always thought you were."

I've listened before, but not for a long time. A few classics here but more than half of this album doesn't really resonate or feel that memorable to me. "My heart is beating louder than a big bass drum, alright"

Never heard this before. Wow. I guess this is fine for those who enjoy it? I guess it's interesting because they rip off, I mean, are inpired by, classical music? Maybe because they paved the way for Trans-Siberian Orchestra?

I've heard it before. The guitar and bass performances are great. I don't think Bonham was as good here as on the 1st or 4th albums. But Robert Plant's vocals just don't match a lot of the musical style here. Only a couple of good songs, otherwise a mediocre effort.

Heard this before, but not for a while. Like a Rolling Stone is one of the great rock songs. Listening to it today I was surprised to hear the nice piano and guitar fills. Intersting to think what it might sound like if the "wall of sound" was turned down a touch and had a more balanced mix. I liked the rest of this more than I expected. Dylan sounds like he's having a lot of fun on this album, despite the cynical lyrics. "Aw, you never turned around to see the frowns On the jugglers and the clowns when they all did tricks for you"

Never heard this before. Wasn't sure what to expect, but I really like this. I like the spare production and the varied sound. "We're risin', surprisin', and often hypnotizin' "

Not sure I've ever heard the album before, but I know the "hits". This album seemed like a pretty big deal when it came out, U2 returning to form with some big hits. But listening to it now, the hits don't seem that great and the rest of the album is really bad. The quality of their songwriting on this album is really low compared to their early years. And so many cringey lyrics. "Grace, it's a name for a girl It's also a thought that changed the world"

Never heard this before. Didn't care much for the really slow songs, the rest of it was fine but not really noteworthy in my mind. I waver between giving it 2 or 3 stars, but feeling generous so i'll give it 3.

Never heard before. Not exactly what I was expecting. Okay, but I probably won't listen again. "The nicer the nice, the higher the price"

Have heard this before. Solid album with some good songs but a little inconsistent. Clean has a nice callback to "One of These Days" by Pink Floyd.

Never heard this before. I like the variety of influences and styles, but ultimately doesn't resonate with me. Part of the issue is Alburn's voice. Sometimes he sounds like he's searching for the note. I think this might be a stylistic choice as opposed to just being a bad singer, but it generally doesn't work for me. The music and the arrangements are solid. "And the country didn't look the same that day"

Haven't heard the album before. I enjoyed listening to this album. lang's voice is pretty amazing. Great pitch, tone, and range. The songs are a little hit and miss, but the album is enjoyable. "You just keep knocking And waking my heart"

Never heard this album before. I'll start by saying this isn't my type of music, and not something I will probably listen to in the future. Having said that, I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, and I appreciate the variety on this album.

Never heard the album before. I think Jethro Tull is high risk / high reward. There distinctive sound due to the vocals, flute, and rock/folk arrangements has created some all-time classic songs. But when it doesn't work it seems a bit pointless. This album has a couple of classics, but the rest of it I didn't need to hear before I die. "Salvation a la mode and a cup of tea"

Never listened to this album before. Pump It Up and Radio, Radio are the singles, and the rest of the album is generally just annoying. Though since tracks seen to have inspired later, better, acts. Go To Chelsea in particular is a precursor to Mirror in the Bathroom, which was released 2 years later. The lyrics are better of being ignored as Elvis comes of sounding like an Incel. Barely giving it a 3.

I've heard the album before. It's a good listen. Great piano work. Strong 3. 3 stars

Never heard this before. Initially I didn't think I'd like it, but I liked it a lot. I actually listened to it twice "just to be sure". It's funny that "Time of the Season" is thrown on at the end. Apparently not all the band liked it, and it wasn't released as one of the first two singles. The band had broken up by the time it became a hit. The piano parts are better than in many similar 60's bands. The lyrics are often pretty depressing. There is more variety here than at first glance. Glad it's on the list as I wouldn't have listened to it otherwise. "She watches her flowers grow While lovers come and go To give each other roses from her tree But not a rose for Emily"

Never heard this album before. This album covers a variety of musical styles, but much of it reminds me of the guitar-driven funky grooves from Dylan's late 70s / early 80s period when he had Mark Knopfler on guitar. A lot of this album sounds reminiscent of early Dire Straits. The relatively straightforward lyrics match well with the music, and the production creates some nice atmosphere. Make You Feel My Love is one of the most disarming songs Dylan ever wrote, and I really like this arrangement, which focuses on his vocals. The album is accessible (except maybe the 16+ minute Highlands), emotional, and even a little playful (he seems to be sending up his own nasally vocals at multiple points in the album). This might be the best Dylan album I've ever heard. 5 stars.

I think I've heard this album before. Two great songs, the rest are pretty so-so.

Never heard the album before. Not something I'd listen to everyday but there is a lot of interesting stuff here. It's both edgy and hooky at the same time. "Yo soy playero pero no hay playa"

Get used to this album. It's the music they play in hell. 24/7.

I used to own this album. Interesting album of lost Woody Guthrie lyrics. Great work by Wilco and Bragg to put then to contemporary music.

Never heard this before. An example of why this just is great. Might have otherwise never heard this great album. Some of it sounds like Bowie Plays the Velvet Underground, but there is so much other variety in other songs it's hard to summarize. Rarely do albums strike the balance between inventive/dissonant and hooky so well.

Never heard it. I generally don't like modern art or modern jazz I'm not qualified to judge this.

Heard the album before. A couple of great songs but overall The Doors don't hold up as well as some other classic rock bands. Soft 3

I own this album. I haven't listened to this album in a while and I wasn't sure it would hold up, but the raw emotions still shine through and her voice sounds as unique and impactful as ever. All of the upbeat songs work as do most of the ballads. "Everyone can see what's going on They laugh 'cause they know they're untouchable Not because what I said was wrong Whatever it may bring I will live by my own policies I will sleep with a clear conscience I will sleep in peace"

Never heard this before. This is proper pop-punk. I really enjoyed this. So much better, than, say, Green Day's Dookie for example.

I've heard some of the songs, but don't recall listening to the album. Knowing Haircut 100 just from their popular songs, I always thought they were interesting and a little off-beat. Wasn't sure what to expect from the album, but there is a lot to like. The rhythms are not typical for an 80's band.

Great album of pop songs it's only one dud \"Everybody Has a Dream\" and many classics. While not the most adventurous album, there are subtle divergences from typical pop fair that helps it to not grow stale.

Have heard the album a few times. Beautiful voice. Nice arrangements. Can't figure out why I don't like it more. Maybe it needs just a little more edge, or verve, or something. A soft 3 stars. "Does it seem like I'm looking for an answer"

Never heard this before. I know that I'm not the target audience but this album is mind-numbingly bad. Insulting lyrics. The attempts at political statements through the interludes aren't bad on their own, although they aren't particularly revelatory or insightful. Their inclusion seems disingenuous alongside lyrics like "I tried to drink it away, I tried to put one in the air, I tried to dance it away, I tried to change it with my hair"

Never heard this album before. The first song is a great instrumental which sounds ahead of its time. Pretty much everything on this album works. I bet they were amazing to see live. Strong 3 stars. "Power to the pussy"

Never heard the album before. I appreciate the variety of muscial styles and the performances of the musicians. The songs don't resonate with me. Part of the issue is Costello's voice. It's not just the nasally "I'm not going to try to sing" vocals. It's that he is regularly off key and looking for the note. I would probably rate this album 4 stars if the songs were instrumentals and 5 stars if sung by a proper vocalist.

Never listened to the album before. Had high hopes given the quality of their second album, but this one didn't impress me nearly as much. It's a good, but not great, album.

Never heard this before. Kraftwerk was certainly way ahead of its time. This is a great early electronica album that's still a lot of fun to listen to. The album seems very subversive. Bears similarities to Jean-Michele Jarre's early albums which came out around the same time. "Я твой слуга Я твой работник"

Never heard of this band before. Very accessible with music with ethereal echoes of Kate Bush.

I own this album. Haven't listened to this in a while, but it just gets better over time. So much more melodic and well-performed than other punk albums. "Move up Starsky...Suck on Kojak"

Listened to this album for the first time recently. It's an interesting thing to attempt to tie national politics with the politics of relationships, but in the end I don't think he did justice to either. Too crafty for it's own good. A couple of good songs. Rated as a 2 without (WSF'B) PL&U and a 3 with it.

I've heard the album before. Interesting mix of styles, all punctuated by his instantly identifiable vocals. Very listenable and lively. A few classics here, and Moondance is still a wonder; doesn't seem like there is anything like it on another rock album. A classic album -- strong 4 stars.

Had never heard this album before but had heard a couple of the songs. Wow, wasn't prepared for this shockingly mediocre effort. A lot of cover songs, and these versions are better forgotten. Amongst the originals, it's pretty telling when the Ringo Starr song might be the best on the album. Unless the goal is to tarnish the reputation of The Beatles, this album should not be on this list. 2 stars.

Never heard this before. In theory I should be all over a hooky band with jangly guitars and Alex Chilton copycat syndrome, but this seems "just okay". It all seems quite derivative, which isn't bad if they were great songwriters. "And say, there's a black cat on the floor. Big deal."

Heard the songs but not sure if I've heard the album before. The presentation is illuminating to hear Nirvana songs in this setting. It highlights Cobain's talent as a songwriter. It's still a bit inconsistent and choosing to perform 3 Meat Puppets covers is...interesting. They probably should have just stopped after inserting "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" and "The Man Who Sold The World".

Never heard this album before. Ferry's voice isn't always in tune...he sounds a lot better on later albums. Some nice moments ("Editions of You" is a standout), but overall doesn't add up to a particularly memorable album.

I've heard the album before. Sympathy For The Devil is one of the all time great rock tracks. Street Fighting Man is also solid, but the rest of the album feels like filler.

Never heard this before. I enjoyed the Maggot Brain album a lot more than this one. Interesting that the song Maggot Brain shows up here. I don't think I needed to hear more than 1 Funkadelic album before I died.

I thought I'd heard this album before but it's been a long time. I really like this album. Great song writing, hooky with some nice harmonies and a little fuzziness. Reminds a bit of Jesus and Mary Chain's mellower stuff. Just when the album sounds like it's winding down, it hits you with "This is the One", another great song, and finishes with the fun jam song I Am the Ressurection.

Never heard this album before. I liked the arrangements but not that memorable otherwise.

Never heard this before. Pretty good album. Might "stick" a little more on future listens...

Never listened to the album before, but know many of the songs. Pretty interesting to step back in time to 1970 when this came out. Listening to this you can hear them stepping away from the typical rock blues of the time into something new and different...heavy metal. Also didn't expect this to remind me so much of an early Zeppelin album.

I haven't heard this album before. Good album. Not something I'd listen to often.

Never heard this before. Pretty unlistenable. fluctuating between a 1-star and 2-star rating.

Never heard this before. I was hoping for something much better. I'm not a fan of the production choices. I've got issues with the mix throughout, and the arrangements don't maximize the impact of the songs. In particular, Dolly's voice doesn't sound that great. She just doesn't sound up to the level of the great female C&W singers that came before her like Loretta Lynn. There's a lot of better traditional country albums out there. Not sure why this one was included in this list.

Never heard this before. No gems here, but likeable songs with likable singing and likable arrangements. Not sure a double album was necessary. Would probably rate higher if the best songs were on a double album.

Never heard any of this before. Really enjoyed it, especially the final song. A little too inconsistent for a 4 rating, but close.

Never heard the album before. It takes a little while to get going, but the second half has many great songs.

Never listened to the album before. Note: Desperado n/a on YouTube Music so I had to go to Spotify for that song. You select some of the great songs written in country and rock, add one of the great distinctive voices in music, and an all-star cast of performers...so why do less than half of these versions work? I think it's a combination of Johnny's failing health and Rick Rubin losing his golden touch by the 4th album in this series. But there are a lot of songs that work, and this version of Hurt is an all-time classic. "And I looked and behold, a pale horse. And it's name that sat on him, was Death. And Hell followed with him."

Never heard this before. I like it more than I expected to. Inventive, unique and hooky. Great debut. " 'Cause Bingo, now I'm hittin' a 6"

Never heard the album. A few classic songs but the other songs were just okay. The "dylanish" song is better off forgotten. Other songs sounded like rip-offs of the music of the time (Procol Harum, 10cc, etc.). 7 O'clock news is an interesting moment in time. "But all my words come back to me In shades of mediocrity"

Never heard the album before. White Rabbit is still a pretty amazing song with a unique structure. Somebody to Love is pretty meh now. The rest of it... Just sounds like the 60s, and not the "good" 60s. And why did so many 60s and 70s bands put traditional blues style songs on their albums? I won't listen to this album again, but I'm giving it 3 starts just for White Rabbit. "Remember what the dormouse said"

I've heard this album before, but not for a long time. I like a few Peppers songs but generally have always thought they are overrated. This album hasn't gotten better with age. Just sounds like a band ripping off other acts. And Kiedes really can't find a note to save his life. I do like the guitar work on Under the Bridge.

Never heard this before. By having an album of piano instrumentals on this list it really opens it up to a lot more choices. It seems strange to me that this type of album would be on the list. Researching I did find that this is the second best selling album in jazz history, which is shocking to me. The music is just fine but it probably won't replace the various instrumental albums already in my playlists.

I've heard this before. Interesting listen. I recognize Soundgarden for the technical talent, and Cornell does have a great rock and roll voice. But I've just never enjoyed Soundgarden as much as others do. Rating it a 4 star for its impact and quality but I probably won't listen to this again anytime soon.

Never heard this before. There are some nice moments on the album. The lead vocals from the various band members are sometimes great and sometimes just okay. THe bass lines are generally pretty great throughout. They variety of styles on display is interesting. Although a couple of Mason's songs have a goofy-60s-did-Ringo-write-this vibe. But evaluated years later, this album just settles into the "good, not great" category. Feelin' Alright? is noteworthy, but Joe Cocker's later version blows it out of the water. This seems to be an example of the parts being greater than the sum on this album.

I've heard this many times before. First, Tiny Dancer. The opening moments of that incredible piano music can still induce chills. Might be my favorite piano accompaniment of any rock song. Add Taupin's amazing lyrics that are both grounded and soaring, the layers of arrangements, the subtle little guitar parts...what a masterpiece. Levon is also great, and Madman across the Water is great, but the rest of the album is just good.

Never heard this album before. Really enjoyable. So much to like about this album, but the overall production is particularly noteworthy. No mishits on the album. Confidence to provide humorous lyrics alongside some social statements. The entire album exudes confidence without trying to hard. Effortless music making.

I've heard this album multiple times. Classic rock-and-roll album. Like a lot of CSN&Y (especially with the Y) it's a Frankenstein that shifts pretty dramatically depending on the songwriter. The Graham Nash contributions (Teach Your Children, Our House) don't age that well. They are well written songs but seem pretty cheesy 50 years on. Crosby's contributions are just okay. Young's Helpless is great, but Country Girl is forgettable. Carry On (Stills) still soars and the CSNY version is the best of Joni Mitchell's Woodstock. Comes up just short of 5 stars for me.

Listened to the album many times since I bought my first copy on 8-track. One of the top handful of albums ever made. The diversity of sights, sounds and smells on this album are breathtaking. Brian May's diverse guitar work sparkles throughout. Death on Two Legs alone displays a variety of guitar styles that no other rock guitarist uses. Freddie's voice was coming into it's own, but the use of harmonies with Brian and Roger are unique and underrated. This album more than any other is what this list is made for. Everyone should hear this album before they die.

John Lydon is a talentless fuck and a waste of my time.

I've heard this album before. Such a unique sound, great album with a couple of classics and amazing musicianship throughout.

Never heard the album but have heard many of the songs. On the best of these songs, Sinatra's smooth effortless singing goes counterplay with the orchestra and creates some classics. I expected an album full of those moments but some songs feel uninspired. In particular the classic Anything Goes sounds tepid here.

I've never heard this before. This is okay, but doesn't really resonate with me. A soft 3 stars.

Never heard this before. Want sure what to expect, but really enjoyed this varied and interesting performance. Perfect example of why I enjoy this list.

Never heard this before. Another meh 60s album. Another 60s band doing country songs (poorly) and blues songs (even worse). Flower Power!

Never heard this album before, but have heard all the songs. It's a little hard to listen to the first song, High School Confidential, while realizing he was at this point on his third marriage, this time to his 13-year-old cousin who wasn't yet in high school when they married... Also, he only just died in 2022? Given the stories of his crazy lifestyle I'm surprised he made it that far... What this is also teaching me is what crap Youtube Music can be. Only 8 of the 13 songs on this album are included there, and they give no indication something is missing! But focusing on the music, Lewis is a great entertainer, and his energy is infectious. I'm not often a fan of live albums, but this is a really good one. "She got ruby lips, she got shapely hips, Boy she makes Jerry flip"

Landmark album. Might not be something I listen to much, but still sounds fresh and relevant.

It's like they are trying to make annoying insipid music intentionally. It's like the bad Hemingway competition for rock music.

Never heard this before. Good example of the value of this list. I really like this album and this band has never been on my radar. I feel like this album has "classic" status hidden somewhere in it. Unfortunately, the arrangements often overwhelm the songs, and the lead vocals, while strong, don't always work in the various styles of the album. But at its best (Trick of the Light) it's great 80s pop music with good lyrics.

Never heard it before and if I'm lucky won't hear it again. How on earth does Elvis Costello have six albums on this list? What a chore to listen to all 15 tracks (no I didn't bother with the additional tracks added for the remaster/cash grab version). There's nothing relevant here. Just a guy who likes chord changes noodling away in his studio making boring music.

I don't think I've ever heard this before. I'm not normally a fan of 60s British bands with lots of "affected" songs. But this album was a lot better than I expected it to be. Ray Davies definitely approaches songwriting from a very different direction, and the results can be very odd at times. But he somehow knows how to put together the odd pieces to make interesting and memorable songs. The production of this album is sneaky good...it is a real pleasure to listen to it on headphones. The subtleties really come out when you are really paying attention. I also found it interesting that the entire direction of The Kinks during this period, to focus on traditional English musical styles and topics, were a result of the band being blackballed from touring in America for 5+ years. While not something I'll probably re-listen to a lot, credit is due to Davies for making an early example of a concept album with thoughtful lyrics. Just memorable enough for me to give it 4 stars.

I've heard this album before. Nice melodic arrangements, but Morrisey's vocals detract and result in an album that never resonates or seems to match the passion of the lyrics.

I've heard this before. Among the various "lead singers who can't sing" I put Jonathan Richman near the top. But this album is a bit inconsistent. I think the Modern Lovers come into their own a little later on. But this is the only album from the "classic" Modern Lovers lineup, and it turns out to have been pretty influential. I can only give it 3 stars...just too inconsistent to rank higher. Soft 3 stars.

I've never heard this before. Interesting. Not something I'd listen to probably, but not bad. Vocals remind me a lot of Steven Pearcy from Ratt, which was also a San Diego / SoCal metal band. Ratt preceded Megadeth by a few years, so I wonder if Pearcy had any influence on his vocals.

I've heard this album many times. Apparently Mutt Lange who produced this wanted to make a "hard rock version of Thriller." The resulting seems very formulaic and designed to be hits. The production pulls out all the stops to use every studio trick available in the late 1980s. It certainly sounds much more pop than metal. No doubting how hooky so many of these songs are and it's easy to understand how they are still listened to today. But boy the lyrics are insipid. But I guess that's not why we listen to hair metal / hair pop, is it? There's also some really questionable "rhymes" Hysterical -> Hysteria Armageddon it -> Are you gettin it? And I want, and I need, and I lust -> Animal I'm giving it 4 stars for all the hits, but I still prefer Pyromania and think that album is a lot more interesting. I guess this makes this list because it's considered a pinnacle of hair metal albums. I would have chosen Pyromania for this list instead.

Never heard the full album before, but have heard some of the songs. I've never been a fan of the band. Morello's guitar work is good, but I'm not a fan of the vocal style. And in general I feel like they're overrated. I also think it's a bs move putting a famous Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of the self-immolation of a true political martyr.

Prince at his most confident, with his songwriting skills, his band, and his eccentricities all working together. Classic album from start to finish.

Never heard this album before. The album is a little inconsistent, but the highlights are great. In particular, "For Today I Am a Boy", "Fistful of Love" and "You Are My Sister". Lead singer Anohni has a unique voice that lifts these songs. Glad to have been introduced to this unique artist.

Never heard the album, just some of the songs. A couple of classics here, in particular Reelin' in the Years still sounds great (and what amazing guitar work). Noteworthy for being Steely Dan's debut album, but not consistent enough to be considered "great". "Dirty Work" doesn't hold up, and still sticks out as the Steely Dan hit that doesn't fit with the rest of their most popular songs. "You been tellin' me you're a genius Since you were seventeen In all the time I've known you I still don't know what you mean"

Never heard the album before. Frusciante is great, the band sucks.