#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
Probably a good album, but too much Machester Rock makes this list a very dull listen.
3/5
While I've known of Bob Dylan, it wasn't till starting this project that I actually listened to Bob Dylan. And he's right up my alley, I can hear how his music inspires a lot of the music I enjoy from today. Thoroughly enjoyed this album, and some of the songs made it to my personal playlists.
4/5
Did the people who write this list just stop listening to music post the 80s? I can't with all this Brit Pop.
The album itself isn't bad, and if not for the overdose of britpop I'm suffering from going through these albums, I might have said I liked this album. Probably deserves higher than this rating but I simply can't with this list.
3/5
Album started off strong and was right up my alley, but ended up sounding very samey as the album went on.
3/5
While I had heard of Thelonious Monk, I'd never actually listened to his music till this project. Boy have I been missing out. If anyone says Jazz sounds bad, send them this album.
5/5
this was an amazing album to work to, had me grooving in my seat. That said, not the most perfect album, as I did skip a couple of songs when they started to sound samey gave me listening fatigue.
4/5
Wait. The Roots? The funny band on Jimmy Fallon's talk show? They make serious music?
That was my initial reaction to seeing the name Questlove and the Roots in the album description on Apple Music. I did enjoy the album, but considering my only experience with the Roots is thanks to Jimmy Fallon, rap was not in the least bit what I was expecting.
This absolutely goes hard from the get go. That being said....its too much.
3/5
It was alright. A bit samey after a bit.
3/5
It's Prince, at his most 1999. I enjoyed it but not my favourite Prince album.
4/5
Interesting album, the cross cultural ethno-infused beats and melodies definitely make this a "world" album. That said, not something I'd actively search out and listen to. Was it worth a listen? Yeah I think so. Is it worth listening to more than once? Nah, at least not for me. If I had to sum it up in 3 words? Inoffensive cultural appropriation.
2/5 stars
The perfect album to start the week with! smooth funk at its best, and random trivia tidbit that the OST album outperformed the movie it was from. Definitely worth a listen, and even a few more.
4/5
Ah yet another UK group from the 80s, really showing the bias of the makers of this list. That said, this was actually a welcome album to listen to, one of the best to come out of the Fueled by Cocaine era. Songs like Rio and Hungry like the Wolf, while not songs I've actively listened to before, have appeared in numerous classic rock / 80s playlists, and have found their way into my subconcious.
Other standouts include My Own Way and Save a Prayer.
Solid 4/5 Album for me
Incubus is definitely one of my guilty pleasures, and IMO has no business being on this list? I don't think they did anything revolutionary, or special, or different, from any of the other nu-metal bands at the turn of the millennium. Fun album though.
3/5
And yet another 80's brit post punk band. God they all sound the same, I gave up after the 4th samey track. Honestly, if not for the overload of this type of music in the list I'd probably give it a higher rating, but right now in the moment...
2/5 - this score is honestly more about the list than the album and band
I'd never heard of Elliott Smith before, and it turns out this is right up my alley. Finally the list comes out with an album that I both haven't heard before, as well as one I want to listen to again. Sure, it's sad singer/songwriter stuff that will likely end up feeling old after a few too many listens, but for a first listen, fucking fantastic. I can't wait to listen to the rest of the late Elliott Smith's works.
5/5
The King of Pop deserved that moniker, especially when even a relatively mid album such as this is mostly great to listen to, from the funky fast numbers to the more melancholic slow songs.
A solid 4/5
This was very pleasing to me. Like actually good elevator music. And finally something actually interesting that I hadn't listened to before, and not more 80s brit punk rock pop.
3/5
For a debut studio album, IMO The Killers absolutely knocked it out of the park. Unfortunately though, they might have knocked one of the songs too far out of he park. The clip of that 1 hit ended up overshadowing the entire game. Which is what happened here with Mr. Brightside, a song which such staying power that I don't know if there'll ever be a time when people stop listening to it.
For me, this is a 5/5
This Album is 31 years old this year? What? It could have been released yesterday. I've always NIN in my periphery, but never actually listened to them till now, I've been missing out. Its dissonant, yet melodic, growly yet smooth. I really like this. I didn't like the entire thing, some songs did grate on me, but in general, I enjoyed the album very much.
4/5
What a strange project. This made for fantastic background...sounds, and I actually managed to lock in and get a bunch of work done for the duration of the album. While strange, and not necessarily something I would go back to on another day, I think this is exactly the type of album that needs to be on this list. + points for not being yet another brit pop debut.
3/5
Gosh this dude was a magician with a guitar, and I feel like I finally understand what people mean when they say the music was like colours. The list recently for me has been the gift that keeps on giving.
5/5
An album full of extremely short songs that blended together so well I didn't even realise I'd breezed through the entire album. That said nothing really jumped out at me, though the entire sound was so similar to stuff I've heard in the years since.
3/5
Willie Nelson is just great to begin with, and to hear him do intimate versions of some of the biggest songs, and put his own spin on them, was such a treat. Almost the entire album went into my cover's playlist.
5/5
I should have just skipped this when I saw the name "Throbbing Gristle". That said, perfect name for this band, the noise in this album turned my ears into throbbing gristle. Never again. Never should have even been in the first place. Yikes. I'd give this 0/5 if I could.
1/5
Fun pop-ish album from an artiste I haven't heard. Maybe it's recency bias but I do feel like it's kinda weird that an album from 2020 deserves a spot on this list, I don't think it's had nearly enough time to have a proper impact. That said I did enjoy it, and am thankfule to have been introduced to Fiona Apple
4/5
I could only listen to half of this before it started to grate on me. I've heard some Metallica before, which I actually did enjoy, I suppose that's what fans would say isn't the real metallica, or metallica selling out or whatever. Nah, it was Metallica actually making good music, on the evidence of this album. I only enjoyed One.
2/5
This is what Phil Collins wishes he could do. Which tracks I guess. Fantastic prog pop album.
4/5
What seems like actual country, and not stadium country. If his fingernails are anything to go buy, Joe Ely is not writing about tractors and farms while on a private jet or wearing boots that cost 3 grand. I don't like much country, but this was pretty enjoyable.
4/5
Really enjoyed this. It felt like if Florence + The Machines had gone on a more synth route.
4/5
This was a...fine album I guess? None of the songs really jumped out at me, even the famous ones like Gimme all your lovin'. I generally like classic rock but I dunno, this didn't really catch me. Not to say it was bad, and considering the influence ZZ Top has for many of my favourite artists, this album deserves to be on the list.
The guitars were cool though.
3/5
This was a super interesting album, just 3 (loooong) songs, and really seemed like one where the band was given free reign over everything. As a result you end up with a great easy listening rock experiment. Good album to have, not one I will revisit, but I enjoyed the time I had with it.
4/5
and this album is why I dislike country. Girl your man is a giant red flag, leave him. I guess it's ok to listen to if you turn off your brain and don't really listen to the lyrics.
1/5
Setting aside that Kanye West is just a terrible human being with mental health issues and needs serious help, this album is just so bad. Good thing I just pirated it. I feel like I should be paid for being assaulted by this noise. I'd give it a negative score if I could. My other 1/5s are at least somewhat listenable.
1/5
Fun little album to listen
3/5
Setting aside that Kanye West is just a terrible human being with mental health issues and needs serious help, this album is just so bad. Good thing I just pirated it. I feel like I should be paid for being assaulted by this noise. I'd give it a negative score if I could. My other 1/5s are at least somewhat listenable.
1/5
This is one of the best rap and hip hop albums I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. Most of the album immediately went on my personal playlists. Once again, the list is proving it's worth. Absolute gem of an album.
5/5
This album holds a special place in my heart, because way back in the day when some friends and I got together to form a band in high school, the first song we played on stage was Californication. It was also the song that introduced me to RHCP, and this album, and started my love affair with them. So naturally, I love this album.
5/5
Kelela who? Yet another album that leaves me scratching my head. Is it a good album? I suppose, it wasn't offensive or anything. Should it be on this list of albums you must to hear before you die? I don't think so? My life would be patently the same if I had never listened to this before.
2/5 I guess.
As a brown person, I was so happy to see some Bollywood on this list. That being said, it does feel like a token admission. There's a lot of world music, particularly Bollywood soundtracks, that are better than this album by far, and yet this is the one that makes it to the list. After seemingly endless manchester angry rock and brit stuff? Was this the only Bollywood album the list writers had ever listened to?
3/5
This is from 1978? Wow this was clearly lightyears ahead of it's time. I personally also do enjoy a bit of punk, and this album scratches the itch in all the right places. Again, its from 1978. Fantastic.
4/5
Ah Oasis, I hate the Gallaghers but you can't deny the importance of some of the songs on this album. I did enjoy it, but other than the usual songs, this isn't an album I'd go back to regularly.
3/5
Anyway, here's Wonderwall.
Stevie Wonder is just an absolute treasure isn't he. Enjoyed the whole album, though perhaps its the cynic in me, at a certain point the album did seem a bit sickly sweet to me. Best song of the album is Superstition by far, a classic with an insanely funky beat.
4/5
This was rough. Not in the sense it was difficult to listen to, but in the sense that the entire album just seems rough around the edges, like it's 80% there but it was released before that final 20% of work was done. An enjoyable listen, but not what I would immediately jump to if I wanted a Fleetwood Mac listening session.
3/5
Fantastic singer/songwriter album, but maybe it's me, I found it great as just background music. Would listen again though.
4/5
Absolutely the album to listen to when introducing someone to the Grunge Era, and in hindsight made all the more special due to well...ya know. Love this start to finish. Going into my heavy rotation for sure.
5/5
Man the 70s were sexed up eh. Song after song that will inevitably end up on some poor sod's romance playlist for that first night with someone. Bangers though, all of them, in more ways than 1.
4/5
This was a defining album for me, it's release in 2004 happened to coincide with me entering a coed school for the first time at 13, and crushing on the alt girl in my class who introduced me to Green Day, and while that crush was just puppy love, my adoration for Green Day continues to this day. Doesn't matter what it is, hearing Billy Joel brings me right back to the heady days of teenage angst.
5/5
It was great listening till I hit the weird electronica. Brought it down for me. Still, some of the tracks are bangers.
3/5
This was a super interesting album. It started off with a very Beach Boys vibe (which, well...duh), and then morphed into something very Sting-like, while still retaining hints of the Beach Boys vibe. Overall a really cosy album to listen to.
4/5
A true classic, and one of if not the greatest rock album of all time. Listened to the entire thing through, and then did it again cos I didn't want it to end. Easiest 5 stars i've given.
5/5
Never heard of Rufus Wainwright before. Album cover is interesting, kinda like the poster for a rejected YA fantasy movie adaptation. The tracks themselves though....they were just kinda meh? Every track sounded like it was meant to be in a movie but got rejected, and I swear I heard threads of much more famous movie sountracks woven throughout the album. Not one I'll be coming back to.
2/5
Enjoyed this album, thought the Eagles can sound pretty samey after a while. Won't beat Hotel California, but it was alright.
3/5
Not a bad album, but like it's name, not a memorable one. Some interesting things were going on, but nothing that really piqued my interest beyond going "huh, cool". Not enough for me to add to any of my playlists.
3/5
This was such a meh album that I don't even remember listening to it. Why is he such a big deal? I dunno. Guess he has a pretty recognisable voice, but I can't for the life of me name a single track he's produced.
2/5
A pretty good album, a good introduction to The Who, but not their best work, nor is it something that everyone needs to listen to (unless your only knowledge of The Who is the theme songs of the CSI series of shows, they're capable of more than just Won't Get Fooled Again and Teenage Wasteland)
Solid 3/5
I was excited since I expected the dude from Gnarls Barkley showing why he's the "soul machine". What I got was just hip hop and rap. Not that I don't enjoy that, I love both, but it just wasn't what I was expecting. As for the album, when the extended silence after Evening News played, I thought the album was over, and I felt relief....only for Scrap Metal to start. Imma stick with Gnarls Barkley I think. And Cee-Lo should probably stick to Fuck You. That was at least fun.
2/5
I listened to this album, and then I suddenly found myself wearing a kilt and drinking a Guiness. That is to say I have discovered I love Irish folk rock, and the list has finally after a plethora of nonsense, delivered an actual album that you must listen to before you die.
5/5
There's only so much I can listen to a band tell me they've listened to Lynrd Skynrd or Tom Petty before I call it quits. We get it. That said, the songs aren't bad, and worked fine as background music while I worked.
2/5
Enjoyed this one, and of course Song#2 is a classic, and the standout track in this album. Solid 3/5 for me.
What in the world is this. I could have gone my entire life without listening to this and I would be better for it. This added absolutely nothing of value to my life. In fact, instead it took away. Never again.
1/5
It took me until the 3rd track to realise what this was. It's satire. Satire of the state of music in the 60s, but also of the state of music before the 60s, and the state of music in the future. Ridiculously hilarious lyrics, funny instrument choices (Kazoos wtf), strange singing and harmonies. I can understand disliking it, its not for everyone, and I even considered giving this a 1, but I can't cos I appreciate what The Mothers of Invention were trying to do. As a result, solid
3/5
So I might really like jazz. This was such a joy to listen to, and one of those albums that I actually couldn't just put in the background while I worked, cos every jazzy thing that was done drew me back into the album. This is definitely going into my rotation.
5/5
Wow is this what you call fate? This album was recommended the same day that Ozzy Osbourne passed, so that definitely had an impact on my listening experience.
That being said what can I say, it's Black Sabbath at it's blackest and most sabbath-est. I was gonna give this 5 before, and if I could give it a 6, I would.
5/5
Had never heard of this band before today, and I think I know why. This is a solidly meh album. It's very listenable, especially for fans of the genre, but nothing really jumps out as being genre defining or defying. My life would not have been any different if I'd never listened to this album before my death.
3/5
I've loved the Black Keys since I first listened to El Camino back in 2011, while sitting in an APC driving across the Australian outback. The problem with listening to them for too long is that they end up sounding a bit one note. I enjoyed this album purely as background music, though I'm not sure why this specific album is on this list. El Camino? Sure. Not this.
3/5
