This one completely failed at capturing my attention. I don't think it's a bad album fundamentally, it's just not for me. It's a clearly great album that overwhelmingly fails to activate the parts of my brain that makes me care and pay attention Standouts - 2/5

A few minutes in to 'Let's Start' I noticed that the drum (or is it the bass?) follows the same rhythm along the lines of "du du du du, dun dunnn" and it just never changes, and it's the same for 'Black Man's Cry' which I just couldn't ignore the repetitiveness of after 18 min of the same even if there's some nice guitar bits or trumpets on top of it sometimes I just could not focus on anything else Standouts Ye Ye De Smell "Du du du du, dun dunnn"/5 (2/5)

A pretty pleasant listen with a few super catchy synth melodies. I enjoyed my time with the album, it gets pretty dreamy at times and I for sure liked some songs more than others - which all seem to have been their break through hits from previous recordings just re-recorded for this album. Standouts Time to Pretend Electric Feel Kids 4/5

Eric goes pretty hard on the guitar solos in most songs and it becomes a bit self-indulgent. Especially "Key to the highway" is pretty much just a 10min guitar solo. The lyrics are often pretty simple, and the solos often aren't very imaginative either. As a whole the album comes across very cookie-cutter with some notable exceptions. The album gets progressively better towards the end after "Have You Ever Loved A Woman?". Layla is obviously the big draw here and is indisputably a classic Tentative 3/5

A lot more bluesy than I had initially expected when I first saw the album pop up and listened to the first few riff heavy tracks. I appreciate the piano coming through a lot. And while it's a little inconsistent I also enjoy the mix of country and blues influences on the different tracks like 'Hypocritical Kiss', 'Trash Tongue Talker' and 'I'm Shakin''. On some of the tracks like 'Freedom At 21' the vocals remind me a lot of "Mindless Self Indulgence" Standouts: Love interruption Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy High end of 3/5

Call me basic, but even if pretty overplayed 'Wonderwall' and 'Don't Look Back In Anger' are just great sing-along hits and always evokes feelings of cozy group events in me. And serve as a strong 1-2 punch at the start of the album just in case you forgot who you were dealing with. It's definitely a more commercial sound than what was probably appreciated at the time, but knowing what we know about the success of this album I think it's hard to say that Oasis didn't pretty much nail a popular sound on here. I have vivid memories of playing Gran Turismo 3 on my Playstation 2 while listening to 'Wonderwall' and Blur's 'Song 2' from the same era on repeat as a child. Guess I was bit of a Britpop fan back then even if I didn't know what Britpop was. Standouts: Don't Look Back In Anger She's Electric Champagne Supernova "Anyway here's Wonderwall"/5 (4/5)

I don't think this will ever really become my favourite kind of sound, but I don't hate it. I didn't know that there was such a thing as "Folk punk" before this album and it kinda tickles my brain in the right way a bit with the acoustic bass and the sudden inclusion of not one, but TWO xylophone solos on 'Gone Daddy Gone'. Standouts: Gone Daddy Gone Good Feeling Add It Up "Punk needs more xylophone"/5 (3/5)

Funky guitar and bass right from the first notes - here we go! 'Jesus' gets a little too gospely for me without really hitting what makes gospel cool sometimes. A pretty chill and enjoyable listen. Standouts Billy Jack Love to the People 3/5

Clearly a very experimental album that sounds way younger than it's 1977 birthdate would suggest. Listening to 'Warszawa' for me evokes feelings of celebrated modern movie ambiance/soundtracks like Inception and Interstellar. Not my favourite Bowie tracks, but I can easily see how it challenged the notions of what music should be at the time and inspired other artists. Standouts Warszawa 3/5

One of the classic Beatles albums. Remarkable in the variety of the tracks where it's both clear that the band is somewhat fractured, but also that every member seems to peak in their own respective ways. Big fan of the rough vocals on 'Oh! Darling' good call from McCartney to take it rather than let Lennon sing it Standouts Come Together Here Comes The Sun Oh! Darling "You are breaking up the band Yoko"/5 (4/5)

Reminds me quite a bit of David Bowie, but maybe with some more focus on the vocal. The acoustic guitar with the electronics makes a very distinct contrast. I find the concept of the album interesting but I don't think I'll listen to it again Standouts Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1 Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 2 All We Have Is Now 2/5

Soulful R&B even on a live album just hits in a certain way. And that the mans voice is as smooth as they come only makes that more obvious. Standouts Try Me "I wanna scream"/5 (3/5)

Earth, Wind & Fire has never been a band I've listened to much, and I don't think that's really going to change after hearing this. The album is -fine- but I have to admit that their tracks kinda meld together for me and I would be unable to identify pretty much any other number than 'September' by name. And that song isn't on this album. I like the bassline, it's funky, it's groovy. But it also becomes a bit samey. The vocal doesn't do much for me most of the time. I can't help but to think that if you are an American baptist this would hit different. But I'm neither of those things so maybe I just don't really get it Standouts Shining Star All About Love (First Impression) 3/5

When I saw the name Peter Gabriel come up it rang a bell but I couldn't think of any song I knew by him. I must just have heard a lot of people mention his name through the years. The music has a lot of the same feel as Phill Collins' solo stuff and someone else's that I can't quite place right now. With an average song length >5 min there's no sense of short-but-sweet about any of the songs, but somehow some of them still manage to feel quite short. 'In Your Eyes' at times reminds me of the Tarzan soundtrack in some parts which I guess speaks to Peter Gabriel and Phill Collins' shared roots in Genisis. Overall I find the album a bit slow and the songs tended to fade into the background for me quite a bit. 'Red Rain' has the rawest vocal of the album and it makes it stand out to me. But I feel like it overstays its welcome a bit just repeating the very simple chorus for around a one and a half minutes straight. 'In Your Eyes' feels like it has the most world music inspiration. 'Sledgehammer' has a pretty funky bassline Standouts Sledgehammer Big Time In Your Eyes "That English guy from Genisis"/5 (4/5)

The album starts with 'Welcome to the Jungle' which both became a huge hit, and kinda serves as a warning for what's to come. This album is quite frankly wild. I can never go back to the first time I heard these songs but if I could I am sure I'd love them again. Unfortunately, because of the success of this album and the songs on here the hits are very overplayed at this point. I don't think it's fair to fault the album for this though as it's basically suffering from success and staying-power. This amount of hits on a debut is just wild and I think for that alone the album deserves a pretty high rating, and for Slash's guitar and the sheer staying-power of still getting played ad nauseam almost 40 years later has to take it a bit higher. Even if *I* personally think these songs are a bit worn out I have to give credit. The last Guns N' Roses fan hasn't been born yet, and might not for many many years From a more musical perspective Guns N' Roses with this album changed what was the mainstream in rock to more hard rock away from the glam of yesteryear and ushered in the age of hard rock and arena rock while still keeping some of that hair metal influence, but almost in a mocking way Standouts Welcome to the Jungle Rocket Queen Anything Goes 5/5

Very clear and defined hip hop rhythms here, and I'm sure a lot of them would work great as backing tracks for a strong vocal. Unfortunately, I personally think a lot of them become a bit repetitive and slightly boring without a vocal to break the monotony. 'Changeling' makes itself noticed by being _only_ 7min long, but somehow making it feel like 15. Great if you feel like time is moving a bit fast and you need to slow it down. But a great listening experience it does not make. Further down the album around 'Transmission 2' the sound starts becoming more ambient which I enjoyed a lot more. The album also feels a bit like what we'd call a "shitpost" in modern meme culture with tracks like "Why Hip-Hop Sucks In '96" serving as a one-off joke jab at the genre. Seemingly 'What Does Your Soul Look Like - Pt.' 2 & 3 has dropped off the album, which I find funny for some reason. 'Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt' seems to be self-reflection, and biographical which I found kind of cool on the 2nd listen Standouts Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt Transmission 2 Mutual Slump Transmission 3 "Guess who's coming"/5 (3/5)

It's fine. I don't hear anything here that I don't like, but at the same time not much catches my ear. It's pretty chill and a bit funky and is a cohesive listen. It doesn't feel quite as dated as I'd have feared, but it's still very clearly 60's sound I'd say. Standouts World Of Pain Tales Of Brave Ulysses Mother's Lament 3/5

I've never heard of this band before and their story is very inspiring. I was somewhat excited initially because I felt like the music was competent and I was hoping to hear something that really stood out to me deeper in the album. Unfortunately I never found anything that stood out to me and before I realized I'd been through the album 3 times without really noticing any of it. I don't think it's bad, just very forgettable and same-y Standouts - 2/5

The music is pretty simple, but the songwriting it top notch and I can see how this would be both a hit on its own, but also how covers with stronger backing music and different style could hit and elevate the tracks in their own ways. An enjoyable listen all the way through. Well mixed and calm Standouts Tapestry I Feel the Earth Move 3/5

Honestly it's a bit of a mess, but it feels like that is on purpose, and as long as I don't try to fight it and just go with the chaos it's not unpleasant. Standouts Siberian Khatru 3/5

It's a nice album, and 'Highway to Hell' is pretty timeless even though I've heard it _a lot_ in my time. The rest of the album is serviceable but blends together a bit for me with very little standing out to me as specially good. That's not to say the music is bad in any way and I generally enjoyed listening to it. It just didn't make me stop and pay attention, or pull me in much other than the title track Standouts Highway to Hell 3/5

The music is pleasant and sounds nice, but it just fades in the background for me a lot and my brain didn't really latch on to any one track to really stand out. This doesn't mean that I think it's bad. It will just be one of those "Oh I've heard that before but don't remember it" kind of deals Standouts - 3/5

I've never listened much to Kate Bush. Obviously I know 'Running Up That Hill' and have heard 'Cloudbusting' before too, but the rest of her catelog is pretty much unknown to me. I didn't expect such an experimental vibe from the album but I've enjoyed it. It somehow feels very dramatic but also light at times. I think 'And Dream Of Sheep' captures what I mean with a pretty dramatic start that then flows into a more airy and light sound. 'Under Ice' then follows with a very dramatic opening that really creates tension. 'Waking The Witch' starts dramatic, then becomes light and then abruptly transitions into what I think is best described as chaos. 'Jig Of Life' is very folky, and evokes feelings of dancing, but in a slightly discordant way that makes it feel a bit ominous. Standouts Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) Cloudbusting Under Ice Jig Of Life 4/5

Honestly just kind of forgettable. I liked the start of 'Darkness, Darkness', and it is the song that stands out the most to me, but then it flows in to the same kind of sound as the rest of the album turns out to also have. Paradoxically if the music has been worse it wouldn't have been as forgettable and it may actually have gotten a higher rating Standouts Darkness, Darkness 2/5

A few minutes in to 'Let's Start' I noticed that the drum (or is it the bass?) follows the same rhythm along the lines of "du du du du, dun dunnn" and it just never changes, and it's the same for 'Black Man's Cry' which I just couldn't ignore the repetitiveness of after 18 min of the same even if there's some nice guitar bits or trumpets on top of it sometimes I just could not focus on anything else Standouts Ye Ye De Smell "Du du du du, dun dunnn"/5 (2/5)

I don't like live albums a ton. Most of the time I feel like they more so add noise to the tracks than anything else. I think I feel a bit different about this one specifically though. Sarah here very much evoke feelings of some kind of jazz-club-speakeasy-whiskey-in-hand-smokey-room-film-noir thing. Her voice is so smooth and comforting, and I think the "liveness" of the album almost makes the whole thing into more of an ambiance thing for me that almost transports me to this calm place. Something that a classic concert live album has never done for me which I find interesting. Standouts Just One Of Those Things Willow Weep For Me 3/5

Psychedelic isn't really one of my favourite genres, most of the time I don't really connect with it a lot however Portishead hits a good mix for me with the more experimental and electronic elements. I found the first part of the album pretty enjoyable and then as I progressed through the tracks became more grating which I think was on purpose. I respect that, but I did enjoy those tracks like 'Magic Doors' a lot less Standouts Nylon Smile 3/5

Album shows up, kicks in the door and throws 'American Idiot' in your face and then we are off. American Idiot is my favorite Green Day album. I also really like Dookie, but for me American Idiot just hit different. I understand that those two are switched for a lot of people, but I find that Dookie deal a lot more with the personal, where American Idiot really hits it home with the heavy overtones of critique of the system, the government and society as a whole and really voices the feelings of a generation of disillusionment in the wake of 9/11. The punk-rock/punk-pop sound that Green Day had previously developed on celebrated albums like Dookie just hits extra on the spot when used to approach this subject from this angle. And while the album did serve as a voice of a generation it is still as relevant and applicable today as it was when it was released - just for slightly different reasons Standouts American Idiot Holiday Boulevard of Broken Dreams 5/5

It's a live album and I'm not a huge fan of those. I can tell that it's competent blues, but blues just isn't in this style isn't something I listen to much aside from going "Yup that's oldschool blues alright, neat". I don't think I'll ever listen to one of these songs again purposefully, I simply won't remember that they exist past tomorrow Standouts It's My Own Fault 2/5

I think this one runs into a bit of a "worst of both worlds" kind of situation for me. It's jazzy, but I don't like jazz that much, and they seem to have discarded the best part of jazz: the solos. And it's pop-y, but mostly in a vocal that I feel wants a more defined melody, and the track length is shorter. Standouts With A Gun 2/5

Jimmi Hendrix, legendary name, very skilled on the guitar. Unfortunately I'm really not a fan of psychedelic music I just don't really connect with it. I can tell that it's skillfully played, but it doesn't draw me in and pull me along, I always feel more like an outside observer Standouts Castles Made of Sand 3/5

Generally an enjoyable listen, hip-hop isn't something I listen to a lot, and not something I know a ton about. The lyrics seem interesting and the production good and I can see how this would have inspired a lot of people in the community. I think I've heard a few of the tracks before but I'm not entirely sure Standouts Halftime Life's a Bitch 3/5

This one is a tough one... Normally I often enjoy weird music, but this ain't it. I think that the highest praise I can give the music(?) on this album is that it's very hard to ignore/tune out, and it's never boring. I wasn't even really sure how to describe the genre, because I'd never heard of art punk before. Now that I've learned what that is I do think it's a good descriptor though. And otherwise I think another review here describes it as "It sounds like the result of leaving a group of school children unsupervised in a music classroom" Standouts Over My Head 1/5

This one is not a very cohesive album and that probably has a lot to do with how it was produced basically 3 times. The music just kinda failed to hold my attention, it almost felt strangely monotonous and bored in it's delivery Standouts No Man's Land 2/5

It's pretty hard to be in a bad mood listening to this album, and they kind of insist that you shouldn't either. The whole alien concept works pretty well I find. The music is interesting (and well done) and the lyrics are fun. 'Night of the Thumpasorus Peoples' basically has fart noises and somehow that kind of works. I can easily see how this would have inspired a lot of later artists. Standouts P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up) Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker) Handcuffs "Time to get funked-up"/5 (5/5)

Wu-Tang Clan has been one of those names I've heard thrown around a lot through the years. Often in a very positive light, so I've always meant to listen to some of their stuff, but have never actually sat down and done it until now. I gotta say it's not all killer, I don't really get the point of having what's basically interviews on here, that feels like filler. But I like the flow and the beats of a lot of the stuff. I'm not huge into hip-hop, so I don't know if I'll go back and listen to this one again, but that's not because I disliked it and I'm generally left with a positive impression of Wu-Tang Clan. I can clearly see how this has inspired a lot of other hip-hop through the years even without being very into hip-hop so that just confirms to me that their legendary reputation is well earned to me Standouts Bring Da Ruckus 4/5

I don't mind it it as much as I thought I would when I heard the first 3 tracks, some of them were more interesting. Ultimately I still wasn't super impressed with most of it, but I did have a few tracks that stood out to me, and I did like elements of others like the horns on 'Time' Standouts Friday Night Thoughts of You 3/5

A lot of the tracks start with very interesting sounds and ideas, but then somewhat devolve into something that sounds similar to all the rest of the tracks when the vocal takes hold. I think that's a shame because they clearly have had other ideas. I'm thinking of tracks like 'Chest Fever', and 'This Wheel's On Fire' as examples for how it can work. I think they should lean more into that stuff Standouts Chest Fever This Wheel's On Fire 3/5

From the very first track I was hopeful that this was going to be a pretty good album, but I feel like the whole thing took a nosedive from there and never recovered. Everywhere I look it says that this one is a groundbreaking album, so it's probably important, and I'm not sure groundbreaking ever has to mean "good", but I had hoped for something different. Maybe this just isn't a good genre for me Standouts Sex Beat 2/5

I've spent all day talking about this one with the group, and I'm still not quite sure what to write here. I think I manage to get lost among the chaos, but not lost in the chaos. I'm not a participant, I'm not pulled along, I'm just there and chaos is around me. I'm not a relaxed listener, but I also don't really feel included in the experience or invited to participate. So I end up in a sort of uncomfortable limbo - a kind of deer-in-the-headlights experience. I really do want to like this, it's clearly a bunch of very talented people. I just don't get it I guess Standouts - "I just don't get it"/5 (2/5)

I'm not really sure what to say about this album. I'm not sure I really understand why it's considered _so_ good, maybe I just didn't listen intently enough. I find the vocal mildly unpleasant, but nothing that ruins anything. Standouts Carey California 3/5

I feel like I'm more and more learning that I'm just not really a jazz person. This one is fine, I don't mind listening to it, but I don't feel like it's particularly profound or engaging. It's just kind of there and it's fine. Clearly some very talented musicians, but I just don't connect Standouts - 3/5

This was an unexpected joy. It's so joyful, youthful and almost naïve in both the lyrics and the music. It kind of brings me back to a simpler time when the weight of the world was less. The guitar on 'Teenage Kicks' reminds me of something I can't place Standouts Male Model Teenage Kicks Get Over You "In a world that's cruel being kind is the most punk you can be"/5 (4/5)

Very clearly the first instance of that recognizable "R.E.M." sound which would inspire many a 90's alt-rock band in the years to come. I don't think it's R.E.M.'s best album ever, I think that title belongs to 'Automatic For The People' but it's a very enjoyable album none-the-less and has a few big tracks too. I would listen to this album again on purpose Standouts It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) Oddfellows Local 151 4/5

There's a lot of noises here, and some of them are quite grating. I have to say I was not a believer to start, but everything changed after 'Avalanche Rock'. On my second time through I didn't mind the first few tracks at all, so maybe I just needed to get used to them Standouts Flight Tonight Close To You Electricity Frontier Psychiatrist 4/5

The album starts with a string of hits and then it just kind of loses steam. If the album had ended after 'Californication' or just a few tracks later this would have been a very strong album, but as it stands it instead just fades and I ended up losing interest a bit. The funk-rock mix works for me in general though Standouts Scar Tissue Otherside Get on Top Californication 4/5

Largely very enjoyable. I've never really listened to Fatboy Slim before, but I might do so in the future. It reminds me of "The prodigy" which according to Wikipedia isn't so strange because they are also one of the defining bands of the Bigbeat genre Standouts Song for Lindy The Weekend Starts Here 4/5

This is a very interesting mix of genres. It feels like a very experimental album that's pushing genre boundaries and somewhat defies definitions. From an almost pop sound on some tracks to more rock like sound on others and with constant R&B-but-not-exactly vibes. And yet somehow it's still pretty easy listening. I see why this one is getting the praise that it is Standouts Suite II Overture Sir Greendown Tightrope Cold War 5/5

I don't feel like this is a very cohesive album, it's supposed to be a concept, but it's not clear what the concept really is to me. A lot of the tracks sound like Beatles did at this time, but extra bland. I can maybe see how this could have been the inspiration for some of the early Pink Floyd, but in a way more refined form. The singing also just isn't... good..? On top of all that I just don't really like psychedelic music Standouts - 2/5

If I had to pick a U2 album to listen to the this one isn't the worst, but I still don't like them very much. I generally just find them a bit boring a lot of the time Standouts Sunday Bloody Sunday 3/5

I wouldn't say that I particularly enjoyed this one, it was a bit weird, but in the boring way. I'm really not much for the "drug" genres, acid-house, psychedelia, stoner rock etc. This music seems to fall in multiple of those kinds of categories and I just don't enjoy that very much Standouts - 2/5

This one was weird. Somehow both psychedelic and chaotic at the same time. It flows like free-form/improvised jazz at times, but with a bunch of weird sounds. 'Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road' has polyrhythms I'm pretty sure. All in all I didn't enjoy the album much, but it did have moments of just pure confusion or just interesting things enough that I didn't turn it off Standouts Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road "No geese or seagulls were harmed in the production of this album"/5 (2/5)

This album is good. If I was more into hip-hop it might even be great. The very clear 90's hip-hop/rap hits clean. And it's very hard to argue with the political/cultural message of the album - and it certainly makes no apologies for itself. It's in your face aggressive critique of society and the system on top of a beat that sounds more welcoming than you'd expect. Uh yeah! FIGHT THE POWER!! Standouts Pollywanacraka Fight the Power 4/5

Fantastic album, the arangements are very delicate and stripped down and Cobains voice really shines through. On the covers it feels pretty clear that Cobain was trying to experiment with a new kind of sound that we unfortunately never got to hear him develop Standouts The Man Who Sold The World Come As You Are Dumb Pennyroyal tea 5/5

I don't think I've ever listened to a Rolling Stones album before today. I know that they are pretty legendary and such, but I just have never gotten around to it. I enjoy their track 'Paint it Black' but there's no track on this album that catches my attention in the same way Standouts Sympathy for the Devil No Expectations Salt of the Earth 3/5

Not really my style of hip-hop, but not terrible Standouts Hit Em wit da Hee 2/5

For me it all kind of blended together into just a 38min long track. It's not bad, but not much stood out to me Standouts Moondance 3/5

CCR is one of this bands you can instantly recognize by their sound, I don't think I know of any artist that sounds quite like them. They are also some of the most successfully productive bands I know just constantly hitting the top of the charts and releasing album after album during the short time they stayed together. And this album was kind of the real kick-off for that Standouts Tombstone Shadow Bad Moon Rising 4/5

This one is not really my style. I generally have a favorable attitude towards punk, but this one doesn't quite hit "punk" and instead is very "drug-y" on some of the tracks like 'We Will Fall' which I generally dislike. They do have really cool guitar on some of the tracks - especially on 'I Wanna Be Your Dog' so credit for that. Unfortunately half of the album is pretty much one song, and it's not one of the good ones Standouts 1969 I Wanna Be Your Dog 2/5

I'm not really a The Doors fan, I haven't listened to them much, but psychedelic music just doesn't fit me very well. Additionally I'm not a great jazz fan either, and I feel like I hear some heavy jazz influences on this album too. I have heard 'Light My Fire' before, but I think it might have been a cover by someone else, or maybe the single version which I understand to not have the big middle jazz section - I remember enjoying this song more than I feel like I did this time at least. 'Back Door Man' is also one of my standouts, but I'm told that that's not a The Doors number but rather a cover, so the fact that it's one of my standouts probably indicative of me not super enjoying their own sound Standouts Light My Fire Back Door Man The End 3/5

Some nice and enjoyable uptempo swing Louis has a nice voice for this stuff, and I particularly enjoyed the jokes in the lyrics when they occurred. 'The Lip' is both an interesting song, but also just a silly joke of a story, and that made it really enjoyable for me. Some of the other stuff was nice, but also a bit forgettable at times Standouts Just A Gigolo The Lip Jump, Jive, An' Wail 4/5

I've heard the name "Marvin Gaye" mentioned many times in my life but never really listened to any. This made me pretty interested in listening to this album, which is also supposed to be one of his biggest commercial success. However I mostly just found myself a bit bored by the music and like the lyrics were preaching to me Standouts - 3/5

3 becomes a very broad rating for me, I'm a little sad this is a 3. I probably wouldn't consciously seek it out again, but I didn't dislike it. Generally I enjoy funk so that was nice, and even the 14min heavily jazz influenced 'Sex Machine' wasn't too bad Standouts Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey 3/5

It's punk and it's pretty alright. It sounds kind of familiar, but I don't think I've heard it before. It gets a bit strange - sorry "artsy" - at times, but it's not too bad, most of it is pretty enjoyable. By no means a new favorite band or album, but I didn't mind it, and I wasn't particularly bored Standouts Psycho Killer Qu'est-ce que c'es/5 (3/5)

This one is a bit of a strange one for me. It feels pretty average, maybe a bit above average, but doesn't seem to be super special. The wiki article is very small, critical reception was on but not blown out of the park. I'm struggling to figure out what makes this so important. The music is fine, the first 5 tracks were close to a 4, but then it took a dive on the last half of the album so it lands on a solid 3 for me Standouts Shadowboxer Sullen Girl 3/5

What an album! System of a Down has always been kind of it's own thing. Yes it's nu metal, but it almost feels impossible to compare to others still. This fast, punchy, heavy, manic(?), frantic, silly sound they have going on is very special and recognizable. But other bits have a very large sound almost like a score, aaanndd then it goes back into something weird again like something that sounds like gypsy music. I love it, but I would understand if people find it a bit much and/or weird. On top of all this is some very critical lyrics that tackles big problems with society, government, or institutions - so that's also nice. Personally I would have chosen the "Toxicity" album, I feel like that had bigger cultural impact, but this is a good album too Standouts Sugar Spiders DDevil War? 5/5

This album getting 4 is carried heavily by 'Sultans Of Swing' and the generally excellent guitar-playing that's going on. I feel like the guitar on the tracks is a cut above the rest of the parts, and mostly carries some otherwise middling tracks on everything but 'Sultans Of Swing' where it all comes together more like what Dire Straits would later be known for Standouts Six Blade Knife Sultans Of Swing 4/5

I'm not exactly sure why this one was celebrated so much by critics. It feels a bit pretentious on a lot of the tracks, and I didn't feel like the music was that fantastic. I mostly preferred the tracks that were a bit orchestral/symphonic and found the rest just fine. I might remember this one more from the cool band/album name, and the cool album art than for its music in the future if I had to guess. The songs are fading from my memory today already. Standouts Intervention Black Wave/Bad Vibrations 3/5

The album was alright, the songs were enjoyable but not great or super interesting. 'Our House' stands out among the pack and is pretty well known around these parts. Unfortunately the rest of the album doesn't hit like that again. Maybe the lyrics are more interesting, but I somewhat forgot to listen to them because my attention wasn't held Standouts Rise and Fall Our House 3/5

I mostly find Beatles music to be pretty boring. This album isn't the worst offender but I still will probably never purposefully listen to it again. I understand that it has had huge cultural influence, but at the same time all that is so long before my time that I can't really relate or connect with it. I also don't really ever connect with psychedelia so that's also a bit rough Standouts Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) 3/5

The music is pretty noisy and a bit chaotic - which isn't a bad thing by default, especially not for punk. However I then usually expect something to tie it all together to make it really great and I often look to the vocal to do that. On this one I feel like the vocal doesn't do that for me, it constantly teases me by being almost there but ultimately doesn't live up to the potential I feel is there. This leaves me with a sense of unfulfilled promises and noise Standouts She's Hit Hamlet (Pow, Pow, Pow) 2/5

Slow and melancholic in an enjoyable way, but also a bit boring to the point where I forgot to really listen to a lot of the songs and therefore missed the deeper meaning Standouts Riverman Way to Blue 3/5

None of the tracks really caught my attention. The music for what it is was fine, but in no way fantastic. I feel like I hear this sound but more refined in other later bands, so in that sense it's probably an important album - just not a great one for me. I can't sing a line from a single track on here today 1 day later, and in a few days you could probably play one of the tracks for me and ask me if I know it and I'd say I'd never heard it before. Standouts - 3/5

I enjoy rap/hip-hop with at least some aggression and this strikes a good balance of being passionate and a bit angry without being just gangsta' rap. I enjoy the rhymes and some of them are reasonably intelligent. The beats are also nice and punchy. I also enjoy that the lyrics have a purpose, a meaning, other than just: fuck bitches, shoot snitches, get stacks, like some rap (that is sometimes enjoyable, but in a different way). It's not the biggest 5 I've given, but I would probably recommend this one to a friend if I knew they were into this kind of stuff Standouts Konnichiwa It Ain't Safe Man Shutdown That's Not Me 5/5

This one completely failed at capturing my attention. I don't think it's a bad album fundamentally, it's just not for me. It's a clearly great album that overwhelmingly fails to activate the parts of my brain that makes me care and pay attention Standouts - 2/5

It's fine. I'm not a big fan of jazz, and this album hasn't really done anything to change that. At the same time it also hasn't done a lot to make me dislike it Standouts Alice In Wonderland 3/5

It's jazz so it's on the back foot from the get go, but I enjoyed bits of this, especially the sax on a lot of the tracks Standouts Minawa 3/5

Beastie Boys is yet another of those bands that has a unique and instantly recognizable sound. The beats are punchy, the rap is punchier, the lyrics are wacky, and the party never stops. While portraying a parody of frat culture Beastie Boys pokes fun of any genre or style within spitting distance, and sound damn good doing it Standouts No Sleep Till Brooklyn Girls Fight For Your Right "Deliver Colonel Sanders down to Davey Jones' locker"/5 (5/5)

Bowie is very beloved, but he's also just weird and experimental and that's sometimes good and sometimes bad. This album for me is alright but doesn't really hit anything super special Standouts Young Americans Fame 3/5

Def Leppard is an institution in metal and this album is their real breakthrough and where they found the sound and lineup that worked for them Standouts Too Late For Love Foolin' Rock Of Ages Action Not Words 4/5

I find this style of music mostly boring, but not really bad - so in many ways I don't really like or enjoy listening to it, but I also don't actively dislike it and want it turned off. It's the same feeling with a lot of Beatles music too. Standouts Tin Soldier Man 3/5

It would be a shame to say I'm a psychedelia/acid fan. And the first time I heard this album I didn't connect a ton with it. But today I think I must be in a different headspace because it's better now. The mix is a bit weird though, or maybe that's just the version on Spotify, there's a lot of stuff only happening in the right channel. I still don't think I fully get entirely what the fuss is about with Jimmy Hendrix Standouts Love Or Confusion The Wind Cries Mary Third Stone From The Sun 4/5

I ended up liking this one quite a bit more than I expected to. It really caught my attention in some of the jams. Unfortunately, it also got a bit long and self-indulgent on some of the tracks (22 min wtf?)   Standouts Done Somebody Wrong 3/5

There's two kinds of songs on this album. Rough, rasp, dirty powerful ones, and sugarsweet love ballads. And one entirely instrumental track. It's clear to hear that this is a Tom Waits that's in the middle of a transition to a different style Standouts Jersey Girl On The Nickel Mr. Siegal 4/5

The production and beats on this album are immaculate. I don't think I'll ever really become a Wu-Tang fan, but this is probably the best one I've heard so far. I might return to this album again later just based on the beats Standouts The Champ R.A.G.U Clipse of Doom 4/5

This one was weird. Very apt album to get for Halloween with its horror inspired imagery and samples. I'd describe the album as something between a bad trip and a fever dream. Everything is wacky and slightly insane, and very silly and unserious, but it's delivered as if it wasn't which is an interesting split. Some of the beats had a pretty wild low end on my subwoofer and I enjoyed that Standouts No Awareness Halfsharkalligatorhalfman

A pretty pleasant listen with a few super catchy synth melodies. I enjoyed my time with the album, it gets pretty dreamy at times and I for sure liked some songs more than others - which all seem to have been their break through hits from previous recordings just re-recorded for this album. Standouts Time to Pretend Electric Feel Kids 4/5

This one was a bit of a hard listen. Not because the music was grating, but mostly just because I didn't really care about most of it and while some of the messages were commendable they were also pretty preachy sometimes, and I don't appreciate that very much Standouts Three Little Birds 2/5

I found it a bit repetitive - very rhythmically hypnotic which might be very good for a certain mood, but that was not the mood I was in and not a mood that I recognize myself being in often. Outside of that mood it just serves to almost lul me to sleep with that predictable monotony Standouts Keep on Movin' Fairplay 3/5

I'm giving this a 5 because I'd recommend it to others, but it's not the biggest 5 I've given. There's some pretty solid hits on here, but the tracks also sometimes get a bit same-y. There's not really a lot of bands that I know of who have a sound quite like Slipknot, so that's cool Standouts Sulfur Psychosocial Snuff 5/5

Initially I really liked this one but the album is pretty long and eventually I started just being a bit bored. A lot of the early tracks kept feeling familiar, like they almost reminded me of something, but never quite. I might listen to this one in the future again and give it more time to maybe better appreciate some of the other tracks. I'll give it a 4, but it's at the very low end of 4 Standouts Starlings Grounds for Divorce 4/5

I liked this one, but as the album went on it became pretty long and it lost me a bit. I can see why it was in the book, but I can also see why it isn't anymore Standouts Suburban War 3/5

Two solo albums in a OutKast trenchcoat masquerading (unsuccessfully) as a single cohesive mass. It's a very long album, but ultimately it's pretty good still Standouts Bowtie Hey Ya! Roses ?/5

It's fine. It reminds me of something on some of the tracks, but I can't quite place what it is. Maybe it's just 90's rock in general. Standouts It's Only Natural Tall Trees 3/5

This one was interesting, there's a lot of different things going on, but it was also a bit chaotic and not super cohesive due to all the different styles. I might enjoy this more if I listened to it more, but not a ton stood out to me on the first go-around so I probably won't get around to picking it up and listening to it again Standouts Rock You 3/5

When I heard 'Smooth Operator' I thought I would end up rating this one higher... Turns out that the album just starts really strong for me and then it doesn't reach that level ever again. Sade's voice is lovely, nothing wrong there, it's apparently just not the kind of stuff that catches me that much. Standouts Smooth Operator 3/5

It's hard to not respect CCR for their achievements and if nothing else their sheer productivity. This is their 5th album is just 2 years, and 6 of the 11 tracks charted in the top 5. That's unbelievably successful Standouts Ramble Tamble Travelin' Band I Heard It Through The Grapevine Who'll Stop The Rain 4/5

I've only ever really heard 'Royals' from Lorde and aside from being catchy I never heard anything else. This album was very pleasant and I can see myself returning to it at some point in the future to explore it more Standouts Green Light Sober II (Melodrama) 4/5

This was mostly just boring. I managed to go through the album almost 3 times before I noticed because nothing stood out to me Standouts Rococo Zephyr 2/4

I can't recall a single song of these I heard yesterday. I know that I listened to it and I didn't hate it Standouts - 3/5

Mostly a chill lounge album which sometimes rises to be a bit more, but never quite becomes memorable. An enjoyable listen, but it leaves no lasting impression on me. I may remember 'Destroy Rock & Roll' for its use of the sermon Standouts Valley of the Dolls Destroy Rock & Roll 3/5

This one was ok, it was chill and dreamy to listen to. But it was also a bit too dreamy and almost psychedelic and I didn't super enjoy that as much. Standouts Jigsaw Falling Into Place 3/5

I liked it. I feel like this may be one of those albums that gets better if you listen to it more. For that reason I might return to it at some point in the future Standouts Racing in the Street 4/5

Very Iron Maiden. I haven't heard a ton of their music, but they are always very recognizable on the guitar particularly. Standouts Invaders Run to the Hills Hallowed Be Thy Name 4/5

Most tracks on this one are 3 min longer than they need to be. That's not enough to make them bad, but it is enough to make them feel stretched a bit thin when all the lines of lyrics are spent in the first 2 min Standouts Get on Top Hong Kong Bar 3/5

I don't dislike the music and it has its moments. For me it often gets a bit to religious preachy, but I like the funkiness. Also this is a pretty strong quote from 'Give a Man a Fish' "Raise your fist but also raise your children So when you die the movement moves on" Standouts Give a Man a Fish 3/5

I guess this is pop, but it's so seeped in roul and R&B that it almost doesn't count. It's not for nothing that she won 5 Grammy's. This album was everywhere and feels very real Standouts Rehab You Know I'm No Good 4/5

This one seems like it's possibly a pretty deep album lyrically. However I wouldn't be able to say because the music completely failed to catch my attention so I managed to forget to listen to any of the words on the entire album. I can't mention a single thing this album is about. On the positive side I didn't hate the music, it just never made an impression Standouts - 2/5

Not super my style hip-hop wise, but it did get better about halfway through. Queen Latifah is a name I've heard before, but I did not know that it was music she was famous for Standouts Latifah's Law The Pros Ladies First 3/5

Vocal jazz is the one type of jazz that I actually seem to like most of the time. This falls into the likable category, but it also becomes a little same-y with most of side one just being love songs in the same tempo. Side 2 improves this somewhat by touching some other subjects. Standouts You've Changed I'll Be Aound You Don't Know What Love Is 3/5

I faintly remembered the name "Meat Puppets" from researching "Nirvana" when their "MTV Unplugged" album came up on the list earlier. Other than that I don't think I'd ever heard about them before. The tracks that have vocals have pretty clear punk-vocals but the music is more rock/country so that's a bit interesting. All in all I liked it and may return to explore more in the future Standouts Plateau Lake of Fire 4/5

I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected. It's a very unique kind of punk that's somehow still danceable or at least has that kind of quality that pulls you along. The lyrics are also pretty fancy for punk - I had to look up what "matinée" means Standouts Jacqueline Take Me Out The Dark Of The Matinée 4/5

What this album taught me is that I apparently dislike the Cuica. The sound grates my ears and I can't stop focusing on it to the detriment of everything else in the songs. And so often it feels like it follows its own arbitrary rhythm regardless of what else is going on Standouts Xica da Silva África Brasil (Zumbi) "Wuuv Wuuv Wuuv Weee"/5 (1/5)

Like so many of these bands from way back I mostly know them through their hits. I've always liked 'California Dreamin' but for some reason I've never listened to pretty much anything else from "The Mammas & The Papas". Now that I have it turns out that I actually like it quite a bit Standouts California Dreamin' Somebody Groovy The "In" Crowd 4/5

I listened through this one multiple times, it worked well as a sort of ambiance for me. I very much get this desolate tech dystopia vibe from it Standouts Metal Me, I Disconnect From You 4/5

I found it enjoyable. I'm not big on jazz in general, but this one was nice and smooth and I appreciated that quite a bit. I can't name a single track though as they all meld together for me quite easily when there's no lyrics Standouts - 3/5

While the music isn't a technical jazz marvel there's also something to be said about being to the point and coming together with the vocals and the vibe to create a bigger experience. When Limp Bizkit came up there really wasn't anything quite like them, there were obviously other nu metal acts, but none with the same juvenile, frustrated yet energetic sound and lyrics. To this day I'm not really sure if I "like" Limp Bizkit, but their tracks have a catchiness and an aggressive unwillingness to be ignored and accepting the state of things. It's music that feels like it wants you to do something about the things that frustrate you Standouts Hot Dog My Generation Full Nelson My Way Boiler 5/5

I feel like this reminds me of something that I can't quite place in style. I really enjoyed this one, it's calm and pleasent and dripping melancholy. Somehow it leaves me with a positive feeling still where a lot of melancholy often leaves me with a depressing one. The vocals and music work well together and it impresses me how the sound manages to both feel fragile and simple/clean and somehow also like an epic open soundscape Standouts Anyone's Ghost Afraid of Everyone Runaway 5/5