#1: This is a call - classic foo fighters opener. Loud, in your face, repetitive. 29 years ago Dave Grohl decided on an identity, and that's what he's stuck with (and brought in people to fill out the roster who support it) #2: I'll Stick Around - samey. I dunno if its nostalgia or what but I enjoy this. #3: Big Me - I never knew this is what this song was called. Its classic. I love it. It really does bring me back to when I was 13/14 and crushing on the alt girl in class. #4: Alone + Easy Target - A miss for me, nothing particularly noteworthy about this song #5: Good Grief - Another miss, very samey, and perhaps 30 seconds too long #6: Floaty - something extremely comforting about this song. It started playing and I just started vibing, definitely one of my favourite songs thus far, perhaps only beaten out by Big Me. Sidenote - something that's been bugging me is that it seems like the songs have...something more to give? Like Dave is holding back his voice (or is reaching the limits of his vocal prowess), and as a result, the songs just sound...incomplete somehow. #7: Weenie Beenie - oooh a sign of what FF could have been. I kinda like it, its different. Perhaps not something I'd wanna listen to often, but nice to kinda pull out every now and again. #8: Oh, George - Another classic FF song. God damn he knew what the band's identity was going to be from the start #9: For All the Cows - Fun number that ends up being the appetiser to the main dish. #10: X-static - yep this is it. Helluva guitar riff going on, those drums, chef's kiss. #11: Wattershed - is aiight #12: Exhausted - Perfect name for the last song, epitome of what I'm feeling. Thankfully though, this is a great palate cleanser to end this album off with. Chill vibes that bring you down from the highs the prior songs have brought you to. Overall thoughts: As an album, probably not my favourite FF one. That being said, its so classically FF that I can't hate it, it being the prototype to what we now know and love about the FooFighters. Some highs, some low lows, but overall, above average. I'd give it 3/5, but I'll bump it up to 3.5/5 cos I love Dave Grohl, and FF are one of the best concerts I've ever been to in my life.

Album #2 Full disclosure, I’ve never actually listened to much David Bowie before, glam rock was never really on my radar. This is not the best representation of Bowie, but let’s see what his take on funk and soul is like. Always interesting for a non-American to be singing about Americans. [Young Americans] is kinda fun ngl, and a good start to the album. It’s a vibe. [Win] starts and what strikes me is just how good the musicality is (impressive session artistes here). And then Bowie’s semi talking semi warbling come on….perhaps it’s just me, I don’t get Bowie’s voice. Perhaps this album isn’t the right representation, I’ll have to go listen to his older stuff. Ah, this was his US crossover effort that explains the album title. The [Fascination] with the funk sound is very intriguing. Speaking of, the bass line in this is fantastic. I enjoy funk, but this seems….insincere? Also every time Bowie’s voice comes on I feel like it’s someone doing a jokey karaoke rendition. [Right] brings in a funk staple, the trumpet/saxophone. Really like this number. Has Prince vibes. Bass line is sublime. Considering his career, Bowie’s absolutely right in saying that [Somebody Up There Likes Me]. Another strong saxophone based intro, that I wish would go longer. Actually scratch that, somewhere along the chorus the vocals became….good? Ironically, the cover of the Beatles’ [Across the Universe] sounds most like the Bowie I’m familiar with. I’ll need to pay a listen to the original, but in a vacuum this is definitely one of the songs in this album. No, I didn’t miss a word there. I cannot stress enough how enjoyable the musicality of this album is, with [Can You Hear Me] starting with an almost ethereal drum, before going into a very RnB style ballad (though it sounds like it’s sung but a punk rock bands lead singer. Or Weird Al. It’s almost caricature, perhaps satire. Another song that reminds me very VERY strongly of Prince, the riff of [Fame] is very familiar. Probably the best song in this album, so Bowie clearly saved the best for last. I understand the importance of this album in helping to build the Bowie mythos, so that probably makes it deserve at least 1 listen. Would I reach for this record again? Very honestly no. If I want to listen Bowie, it means I want to listen to Bowie, and not Bowie trying to channel his inner Prince. There are better funk albums out there if I want my funk fix. 2/5

Stevie Wonder is the reason people think losing your sight results in your other senses being heightened, cos that has to be the biggest reason why his albums including this one sound so damn good! Every single number was a banger, and the album is going straight into my favourites playlist. 5/5

Ah Blur, one of the defining acts of Brit Pop. I can sometimes enjoy Brit pop, when it isn’t just a lad from Manchester talking loudly into a mic while his 4 best mates play instruments. Which is why the only song I’d see myself listening to again off this album is Parklife, and perhaps This is a Low.

Never really liked country music, especially what counts as country music today, but I’ll never skip on a Johnny Cash listen. The additional acts in the 31 song album do add a ton of character to an already exhilarating live recording. I love that there were recorded at prisons, and probably gave the inmates some much needed relief from their prison lives. You can hear as much in the recording. Adore the concept. Listened through all 31 tracks and the mid concert bits in 1 sitting without skipping so much as a second. 4/5 for me! Side note, does June Carter sound like Sofía Vergara? Or is that just me?

Björks always a tough one. Definitely avant garde, so it won’t be everyone’s (or anyone’s) cup of tea. That said, I enjoy her music. Or experiments. You never really know what. 3/5 for how out there and creative this album is. Would I listen to it again? Yeah at some point.

If I had to describe this album in 1 word, it would be beige. Never heard of Beth Orton before, but actually enjoyed having this playing over my sound system while driving. Not necessarily an album I would sought out to listen to again, but one that I won’t skip on rotation. One criticism though is how every song just blends into the next, so much so that I didn’t even realise when I completed the album and Apple Music repeated it from the top till I was halfway through a 2nd listen. 3/5

Man I love Prince. Not my favourite album of his but still. 4/5

Ah one of the staples of 80s classic rock (and a song that probably gets all it's modern plays from strip clubs). I'm a big rock fan, and I do enjoy classic rock, but something about this era of glam / hair rock just hasn't aged that well. Perhaps its the overuse of synth? The somehow sickeningly saccharine melody and vocals? Also almost all the big rock bands of this era had eerily similar vocals, that somewhat strained, throat/head voice. As a singer myself (choir mostly), just listening to it gives me a vocal strain. After a while a lot of it just blends. One thing this era did well though are brilliant guitar solos peppered throughout their songs. So enjoyable, and really does seem to be a lost art. It almost seemed like the lead guitarist was singing their own verse in the song. Overall, I actually enjoyed this listen, but barring a few songs (yes, Pour Some Sugar on Me is one of em), I won't be putting most of these tracks on my rock playlist for a re-listen. 2.5/5 (.5 thanks to the strip club anthem that is Pour Some Sugar on Me)

It's like the proto Daft Punk. Actually quite enjoyed having this play in the background while I was working. There were some deliciously familiar melodies that I was picking up, which I would say shows just how influential this album was. I did think that the album didn't really flow well, it just seemed like a collection of singles that were haphazardly thrown together without any real care. Individual songs ranged from fine to great. Overall I would give this album a 3/5.

Never heard of these guys before, but what a hidden gem. The entire live album is a joy to listen to, and this album is definitely going into my re-listen when feeling down pile. 4/5 stars for me

I’ve been listening to the albums with my newborn, and she’s been a great listening partner thus far. She absolutely loved this album. And so did I. Paul McCartney out of the Beatles was given a chance to do his own thing and boy did he. That being said it’s nothing really mind blowing, buts it’s also not middling. Definitely worth re-listening to, 4/5 for me

The albums just fine, but how did this make the cut to this list. It just…was. 2/5 stars

Quite enjoyed this one, but not something I would wanna listen to again. 3/5

This was an absolutely slog to get through, never listening to it again. My infant hated it too

This album calmed my infant right down and for that alone, 4/5 stars. Actually a nice album to listen to. Definitely putting this in my replay list

My infant enjoyed the beats, but then the lyrics started and she showed her displeasure by yelling over the lyrics. 2/5 just for the beats

You know I never really got the beastie boys. Then I listened to this album and I get them now. Great album, my infant enjoyed it. 4/5 stars

Apparently my infant loves REM. I do too. She did bawl at some parts of a few of the songs but overall, 4/5

It put my crying infant to sleep with no fuss, for that it gets 5 star

Continuing my journey listening to these with my infant. She liked the parts with non-screamy vocals, and in general liked the instrumental portion of everything. That being said too much screamy. 1/5

Today was a particularly trying day with the infant. Mum and grandma were both out, leaving me alone with her. Unfortunately I don’t have tits so couldn’t nurse her, and the bottle was just not cutting it. Enter Mr. Johnny Cash, for this album brought me 52 mins of calmness. 5/5

My infant quite enjoyed this one. She grooved along to it. That said though not every song drew the same acclaim. 3/5

It started out alright but then go so samey, that my infant hated it. 2/5

IMO this was a weird one. Very artsy, which is why my infant didn’t get it. She didn’t seem too bothered by it though, so 3/5

While this was ahead of its time, in my infants opinion this album doesn’t hold up in the current era. That said you can definitely hear Costello’s influence in modern day pop rock. 3/5

After only ever listening to 7 nation army, this album really opened my eyes to the White Stripes and their repertoire. My infant loved everything. Easiest 5/5 I’ve ever given

Yeah, this ain’t for infants. I kinda vibed with it for a bit though. 2/5

Didn’t realise these guys did Loser. Actually more like didn’t realise these guy did anything other than that. Was a fine album, infant was nonchalant. 3/5

Had to use YouTube to listen to this album. It was….ok, I guess? 2/5

Hair rock of the 80s was great tbh, and some of the songs really do hold up well. Infant like the classics of course, and for an 8 week old managed to fist pump to the beat of living on a prayer, that’s pretty good eh? 4/5

A not terrible rap album with some sick beats and great flows….for the time. Unfortunately this was a bookend for a previous generation of rap that was immediately overshadowed by releases from the GOATs in the same year that changed the game immediately, so this would have fallen under the radar for most. It immediately put my infant to sleep, so not all bad. 3/5

I hated this so much. Muzak at its finest, I wish I could get back the time spent listening to this absolute rubbish. Album you must listen to? Yeah nah this album could disappear off the face of the earth and nothing of value would be lost

The only reason I'm giving this album 2 stars is because There She Goes is a certified banger. The rest of the album is simply boring.

Great background music for focus purposes. 3/4

The list continues its parade of English musical acts. At least I wasn’t completely disappointed by this one. Solid, cohesive album, turns out goth rock is pretty fun. A solid 4/5 from me

I'm told this is psychedelic rock. It absolutely is, and it's wonderful. I hadn't heard of Jefferson Airplane prior to this, but I had certainly heard the 2 singles that came off this album, Somebody to Love and White Rabbit. The Album could potentially have been pushed to a 5/5 if the female vocalist had taken the lead in more of the songs but it is what it is. My infant also really enjoyed this, she was legitimately dancing along to the music! 4/5

5/5 album for me, what an impact this had on music, especial Icelandic music and for Bjork in particular. My infant also absolutely adored it.

Who? What? Yeah nah, this album has no business being on this list.

Unfortunately couldn’t play this for my infant. This album meant a tonne to rap…at the time. Unfortunately it simply hasn’t aged very well. Still, its style and importance cannot be ignored. 4/5

Finally a modern album that deserves to be in the list. I love it, my infant loved it. It’s like Bjork but hip hop/rnb/soul. 4/5

I want to like Boston, but personally I find I can only take them in small doses. Usually 1-2 songs and I’m done. That being said, my stubborn infant finally decided to drink her milk while listening to Boston, so that deserves at least a 3/5. What the hell, I’ll bump it up cos More than a Feeling is such a banger. 4/5

Speakerboxxx > The Love Below. One of the first albums I listened to when I started getting into hip hop, but the double album nature can make this a slog to get through, especially after finishing Speakerboxxx. The Love Below just doesn’t catch me as much. 5/5 for Speakerboxxx 3/5 for The Love Below 4/5 total

Another of the bands that defined Icelandic music. I loved it, my infant loved it. Hugely important album for a whole country. 5/5

I guess this is how I discover I don’t hate U2? Would be a 4/5

Finally an actually interesting album in the list. Also I found out today that both me and my infant quite enjoy this time of music. 4/5 stars

Just fucking timeless

Absolutely amazing artiste, and a fantastic album. 5/5

Noise. no. Just. No.

Absolutely fantastic swamp rock album

Supergroups is a misnomer. Ok-groups maybe? Or Just-fine-groups. The songs aren’t bad, but they’re not…special either. They’re….just fine. 3/5 I guess.

Soulful funk

Meh

It Elton, what’s not to love. In all seriousness not one of his stronger albums, but still enjoyable 4/5

Every track sounds the same as the other. Derivative.

I actually adore RHCP for their instrumentals, the bass, guitar and drum work is sublime on most songs. Unfortunately the lyricism falls way short, and just comes across as “I’m 14 and this is deep”. Which probably explains why 14 year old me loved them. 33 year old me though….meh. 3/5 — Would be lower but salvaged by the instruments

Probably the most bland and boring metal album I’ve ever heard. 2/5

The nickelback of a new generation.

Great easy listening metal album. So not really metal?

It’s the Police, sting has a great voice, album is blah. 3/5

Boring background rock album, album of the year 1991 when Nevermind came out? What? 2/5

I thought I was starting to understand metal. I was wrong. I don’t get it at all. I’m Su’s it’s some sorta technical masterpiece but it’s all moot when it’s just noise. 1/5

I like Bowie

Generic mall background electronica from the 90s. meh.

Absolutely fantastic!

I actually really enjoyed this. Like all the older albums this list throws out

Some great songs, some meh songs, 3/5 overall

To quote Gordon Ramsay, finally, some good fucking music! Masterpiece of an album, something that truly deserves the moniker of an album that you absolutely must listen to before you die. I can assure you I’ll be listening to this a lot more before I die 5/5

Fantastic. Just. Fantastic

Some experiments shouldn’t see the light of day. This was one of them.

Fun comfy album listening 4/5

What a fantastic album. 5/5

This just faded into background noise. Definitely not an album anyone really needs to listen to before they die. 2/5

Finally an album that actually deserves to be listened to before you die. That being said while Sinatra can do no wrong, this album was so….melancholy, that I came out of it mildly depressed. For that reason, I can’t give it a 5. 4/5

It’s always nice to hear Queen stuff that isn’t from their greatest hits, and definitely an album to listen to before you die just for the education. The singles did stand out for me, but while nothing was particularly bad, nothing was particularly great either. Just a solid good album. 4/5

This was an incredible listen from start to finish, and you can hear the influence this left on blues and rock artists for generations after. A very very solid 4/5 for me

Another album where you can hear how it influenced future hits. Every song was a banger, but generally not something I would go out of my way to listen to again. 4/5

Legitimately one of the best albums I’ve heard in my entire life. Massive Attack are absolute units 5/5

I’ve heard better from Neil, but this isn’t the worst thing I’ve listened to on this list. Solid 3/5

I took me listening to this album start to finish to realise how much I actually hate Mariah Carey as an artiste, and how basically every song sounds the same. Probably because she treats every song as a way to flex her vocal range by just doing needless runs and whistling notes. Gave me a migraine. 2/5