My 1001 Albums Journey

Album	You	Global	Diff
Playing With Fire Spacemen 3	5	2.55	+2.45
Our Aim Is To Satisfy Red Snapper	5	2.74	+2.26
Yeezus Kanye West	5	2.76	+2.24
Merriweather Post Pavilion Animal Collective	5	2.91	+2.09
Talking With the Taxman About Poetry Billy Bragg	5	2.96	+2.04
Time (The Revelator) Gillian Welch	5	3.05	+1.95
Shaka Zulu Ladysmith Black Mambazo	5	3.08	+1.92
Trio Dolly Parton	5	3.13	+1.87
Django Django Django Django	5	3.21	+1.79
Chirping Crickets Buddy Holly & The Crickets	5	3.29	+1.71

Album	You	Global	Diff
High Violet The National	1	3.24	-2.24
Harvest Neil Young	2	3.81	-1.81
Moving Pictures Rush	2	3.57	-1.57
Figure 8 Elliott Smith	2	3.33	-1.33
Homework Daft Punk	2	3.29	-1.29
The Soft Bulletin The Flaming Lips	2	3.28	-1.28
It's A Shame About Ray The Lemonheads	2	3.13	-1.13
Drunk Thundercat	2	3.11	-1.11

Artist	Albums	Average
Bruce Springsteen	2	5
Led Zeppelin	2	5
David Bowie	3	4.33

Wu-Tang Clan

4/5

Not even fair to get 36 chambers as my first album. A classic. While I appreciate 90’s hip hop, more recent hip hop tends to resonate with me more. That said, you’ve gotta appreciate one of the main albums that defined that 90’s sound. This was probably only my 3rd or 4th listen straight through this album and I tend to like the hits more than the album as a whole (which is rare for me). Some of the shock tracks fall a little flat for me. Overall, it was nice to revisit this one and I appreciate it for what it is and what it did, but it’s not one I’ll go back and listen straight through too often. Still a great album. Highlights: Bring Da Ruckus 7th Chamber Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta F’ Wit C.R.E.A.M

Stand!

Sly & The Family Stone

4/5

Groovy. I knew a couple of these tracks (I Want to Take You Higher, Everyday People) and had seen their Woodstock set but don’t think I’d ever listened to this album straight through. The groove is infectious. I’ve been dancing around all morning making my breakfast. Love those horns. This feels like funk perfected. There’s definitely some misses for me though (Somebody’s Watching You). And sure there’s some social commentary here, but let’s be honest, it’s not the album to seek out for lyrical content (“scooby dooby dooby” is literally a lyric), but the vibes are on point. If not for the few misses, it would be a 5 for sure. 4/5 Highlights: Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey I Want to Take You Higher Sing a Simple Song Sex Machine - one of the hardest grooves I’ve ever heard

The Slim Shady LP

Eminem

3/5

Oh Eminem. Settle in dear reader; I’ve got some things to say on this one. I’ve often struggled with how to feel about Eminem (particularly his early work). But I guess that’s kind of the point. On the one hand, all the criticisms of his music are valid. Shocking and Unsettling? Sure. Violent? Yep. Sophomoric, homophobic, and misogynistic? That and more. Best kept out of the headphones of impressionable youth? Probably. But to stop there is to do his artistry (and music as an art form) a disservice. Because all the praises of his work are valid as well. Lyrical genius? Undeniably. Razor sharp wit and hilarious, often self deprecating, sense of humor? No doubt. Unmatched flow? Self-evident. Crafter of layered and nuanced rhythms and rhymes meticulously pieced together throughout the album to create a challenging but satisfying final product? Well you just listened to the album, didn’t you? So what do we do when we’re left with an artist that’s equal parts brash and brilliant? Shocking and sublime? Well…as far as I’m concerned, we appreciate the art of course. Sure that might require dissection and analysis and coming to terms with some of the rougher edges. But art in all its forms has a long history of requiring work on the part of the appreciator. All that said, to just leave it at, “it’s art - it’s supposed to be challenging.” is letting Em off the hook a little here. Particularly when it comes to this album which has more than a few tracks that are uninspired, to say the least. The thing is, Em never set out to teach a lesson. He never set out to create a towering piece of art with some kernel of eternal wisdom at its core. He never even set out to make a perfect record. He was just a skinny white kid with a gift and A LOT to say. And when Dre gave him a chance with this record, he took that chance and fired both barrels. What came out could be described as a proper mess, but EVERYONE was listening. To those who didn’t live through this time, it’ll be hard to explain and impossible to overstate how much of a cultural phenomenon Eminem became following the release of this album. He was inescapable. And not just for the shock factor and public enemy number 1 persona. It was also that his music was really really good…in an undeniable (and often infuriating) way. No, the Slim Shady LP wasn’t perfect, but it gave the world glimpses of the Em that would come. The one who would make the hip hop masterpiece that is TMMLP. But with SSLP, Em announced himself to the world and made it clear you could love him or hate him, but the one thing he wouldn’t let you do was ignore him. So how do we come to terms with Eminem? What do we do with this angry kid from Detroit? Can we look past the homophobia and misogyny and violent rhetoric? Especially in today’s hyper-aware socially conscious landscape? I wouldn’t fault others who can’t, but I can because I choose to listen within the context that the tracks were written. I recently saw an interview where, when asked about the album and the controversy around it, Eminem stated, “The kids take it for what it’s worth - see it for what it’s worth.” When the interviewer followed up and asked, “What is it worth?”, Em laughed and responded, “Nothing.” That’s the thing… it’s all a big joke. And if you let yourself in on the joke, there’s a whole lot to enjoy. So pick your descriptor: Brilliant. Shocking. Game changing. Unsettling. Masterful. Problematic. Enigmatic. Yep, that’s…Eminem. Highlights: My Name Is Guilty Conscience Role Model Just Don’t Give a Fuck Still Don’t Give a Fuck

Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs

Marty Robbins

4/5

I love this era of country and western music and most of these songs are familiar favorites for me. So much so that when I happened to stop in El Paso on a work trip, I couldn’t help but make my way to Rosa’s Cantina to watch Felina whirl. I’ve always enjoyed the story telling that was a staple of this era. And the themes are as old as time itself: love, death, rebellion, redemption, regret. I know this type of music isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I’ve always felt like everyone’s got a little cowboy in them, and if you let them, these songs just might speak to that part of you. 4/5

Ellington at Newport

Duke Ellington

4/5

We get it…you can hit high notes on the trumpet. I understand that it’s technically impressive, but I don’t find it especially enjoyable to listen to (particularly when it’s not the right note which seemed to be the case a few times). But honestly, that’s one of my few criticisms of this album. Other than that, I found it thoroughly enjoyable, especially after reading up on the context of the show and how it basically saved Duke’s career (and big band jazz in the process). I don’t consider myself qualified enough to really judge this on a theory level, so I’ll just give it a 4/5 based almost entirely on the vibes. Stay jazzy.

Purple Rain

Prince

5/5

Sure, I’ve heard the hits, but I’ve never really sat down to dig into any of Prince’s music. And I knew it was long overdue. I figured I’d love it and I did. Not a bad track on here. 5/5 Highlights: Let’s Go Crazy Darling Nikki Purple Rain

Sticky Fingers

The Rolling Stones

5/5

This album is already on my personal list of top 20 or so albums, so no surprises here. But always good to go back and revisit a familiar favorite. Moonlight Mile is one of my all-time favorite songs. 🎶”I got silence on my radio. Let the air waves flow. Let the air waves flow.”🎶 5/5 Highlights: Can’t You Hear Me Knocking You Gotta Move I Got The Blues

Pretzel Logic

Steely Dan

3/5

Saw someone else say this is the soundtrack of suburban dads in socks and sandals, and they’re not wrong. They rated it 1/5, but I think there’s a little more to appreciate here than they’re giving it credit for. Some tracks are funky and fun. Some cool vocal harmonies, melodies, and guitar solos. It was on in the background and I was never once bothered by it but also rarely had any reason to listen closer. I’m sure this is someone’s favorite album, but I’m having a hard time seeing it as anything other than benign yacht rock. 3/5 Highlights: Night by Night Pretzel Logic Monkey in Your Soul

Hounds Of Love

Kate Bush

5/5

Stranger Things up in here. This album is wonderfully weird, and I thoroughly dig it. Truly not a bad song on here. One of my new favorite albums. Highlights: Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) Hounds of Love The Big Sky Waking the Witch Watching You Without Me Jig Of Life

Fisherman's Blues

The Waterboys

3/5

I feel like if early Goo Goo Dolls were super Irish, it’d end up sounding something kinda like this. I don’t hate it, and it was enjoyable enough to have on in the background, but I can’t see myself coming back to this one with the exception of a few songs. 3/5 Highlights: Sweet Thing When Will We Be Married - 1987 Recording

Debut

Björk

3/5

Idk this one kinda missed the mark for me. I felt about it the same way I’ve felt about other Bjork songs I’ve heard in the past. They’re weird and sometimes it works but sometimes it doesn’t. Some of the tracks here came off as though she was trying a little too hard to be weird. It wasn’t unenjoyable, but I just found it ok. I probably listened through this album 4 or 5 times seeing if maybe it would start to pay off, but it left me feeling about the same each time. Just meh. 3/5

Are You Experienced

Jimi Hendrix

5/5

Pretty much every song on this album is so iconic that’s it’s easy to forget this was a debut album (!!!) and not a greatest hits compilation. Jimi was the king and was gone far too soon. Damn near perfect album. What else is there to say? 5/5

All That You Can't Leave Behind

U2

3/5

I used to think I really liked U2, but I’m starting to think it’s more that I just liked the documentary “It Might Get Loud”. These days, I find U2 pretty boring. I’ll still give this album a 3 because I didn’t actively dislike it, but it was kinda lame and definitely cheesy at times. A couple good tracks, though. 3/5 Highlights: Beautiful Day Elevation

Darkness on the Edge of Town

Bruce Springsteen

5/5

I used to not care for Bruce much. All I’d heard were the big hits and it always felt like it was too repetitive and droning, but two things changed my mind. First, I saw his Western Skies documentary and realized he was a thoughtful dude with a lot of soul and not the mindless patriotic wanker I thought he was. Second, I heard the song Racing in the Street from this album, which might be one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. From then on, I’ve been appreciating Bruce more and more. And I’m loving everything about this album. The guitar solos, the keys, the harmonica, the saxophone, and especially the lyrics. These are lyrics I don’t think I would’ve appreciated much when I was younger, but as life goes on, those themes of love, loss, redemption, and regret start to hit a little differently. Like on Something in the Night - there’s just something about the idea of getting in a car and running the road out, chasing something in the night, that has a little more depth the older you get. I think this is the kind of album you need to listen to twice. Once on some big speakers so you can just rock out and enjoy what’s going at the musical level. Then again on a good pair of headphones so you can really catch the lyrics and appreciate the intimacy of some of the quieter and more poignant moments. Not a perfect album (there are some misses), but definitely 5 stars. 5/5 Highlights: Adam Raised a Cain Something in the Night Racing in the Street The Promised Land Darkness on the Edge of Town

Made In Japan

Deep Purple

3/5

This album comes out rocking and rarely slows down. I enjoyed it for the most part, but there were elements I could have done without like the extended drum solos, vocal screeches (between songs), and some of the more experimental synth effects. Maybe I’m just getting old, but I think it would be a stronger album without that stuff. This is partially why I usually don’t get too into live albums. There’s a degree of excess and carrying on that works well at a live performance, but doesn’t always translate to the recording. Overall, there were a lot of fun grooves and some songs I’ll revisit. Good but not great record is how I’ll classify this one. 3/5 Highlights: Highway Star Child in Time Lazy

Moving Pictures

Rush

2/5

I’ve always struggled with these 70’s/80’s prog bands. As big of a music fan as I am, I’ve just never “gotten it”. That said, Rush is one of those bands that are beloved by a lot of people I respect - musician’s musicians, they say. So I resigned myself to give this album a really honest effort. And I tried, guys. I really did. But I just can’t convince myself that I like this. Idk if it’s Lee’s voice or something else, but this is the first album in this project that I actively dislike. Up until now, there have been albums that I thought were just ok, but this is the first album that I will rate below a 3. Maybe just chalk it up to me not being enough of an real musician to appreciate what they’re doing, but I’m sorry…this was just unpleasant to listen to. Also, hearing YYZ gave me PTSD remembering the countless hours spent in my teens trying to beat that song on Expert on Guitar Hero (I eventually got it). 2/5 Highlights: Tom Sawyer (I guess?)

Timeless

Goldie

4/5

I think my productivity at work was 14% higher while listening to this album. Can’t say I’d go seek this one out again to put on, but it was cool for what it was. 4/5

Moby Grape

4/5

No complaints with this one. Easy listening, fun, and groovy. 4/5 Highlights: Hey Grandma Come in the Morning Omaha Ain’t No Use

Unknown Pleasures

Joy Division

4/5

After reading about Ian Curtis’s tragic life and death, it’s hard to listen to this album without hearing it as something between a half-hearted cry for help and a long-form suicide note of sorts. Clearly the lyrics of someone tortured by powerful demons. But that’s the way it goes sometimes - art and depression going hand in hand, the one influencing the other for better and for worse. But there’s a lot to love here. And the sad story behind the band’s frontman adds depth and significance to the album. I read a description of Joy Division on their Spotify bio that I think sums it up perfectly, “a quiet storm of musical restraint and emotive power.” 4/5 Highlights: Disorder Day of the Lords Shadowplay Interzone

Dear Science

TV On The Radio

4/5

I’ve always liked TVOTR’s vibe, but I’ve given up trying to find any meaning in their lyrics. Maybe some can decipher them, but it’s damn near gibberish to me. That said, it’s impossible not to “feel” this music. It’s energetic, weird, funky, groovy, unique, and dance-y. Although I can’t say this is a particularly memorable album, its bright spots and notable lack of any true misses warrants a 4. 4/5 Highlights: Halfway Home Crying Shout Me Out DLZ

Coat Of Many Colors

Dolly Parton

4/5

Lovely change of pace. Dolly’s a treasure and this album was delightful. A little too one-note to be 5 stars, but it’s definitely a high 4. Not a bad track on here. 4/5 Highlights: Coat of Many Colors Traveling Man She Never Met a Man (She Didn’t Like) Early Morning Breeze Here I Am

Violator

Depeche Mode

4/5

I think this is the first time I’ve ever knowingly listened to Depeche Mode. It’s not what I expected. I expected more industrial noises and metallic clanks (I suspect other DM albums might deliver on that or maybe my notions of DM are just off). I’m pleasantly surprised. It’s very subdued without being boring. I really dig it. Will definitely be revisiting this one. 4/5 Highlights: Sweetest Perfection Waiting for the Night Policy of Truth

Close To The Edge

Yes

4/5

This one really grew on me. I started out with unpleasant memories of suffering through Rush and was thinking “oh great…it’s another self-indulgent prog rock circle jerk.” But I have to say Yes won me over with this album and may have just restored my faith in prog rock in the process. As the album started, I was starting to wonder if maybe I just don’t like prog rock. And I’ll admit, there’s still an element of self-importance that I find a bit off-putting. But each time I wanted to write it off, there was some groove or tonal shift or vocal run that kept me engaged. Finally, I decided to just lean in and ignore the part of me that wanted to dislike this, and when I did, I found myself starting to bob my head, then tap my foot, and before I knew it, I was full on air drumming. And as the album progressed (and certainly upon repeated listens), there was a very pure enjoyment to be found. I wouldn’t count this among my favorite records, but I’d gladly admit I’m a fan. Close to the Edge plays almost like a symphony and I find that quite interesting. And I think the band really nails the more intimate movements like “I Get Up I Get Down” and especially “And You and I” (which reminds me a lot of LZ’s “That’s the Way”). Overall, I’d definitely revisit this one, and I look forward to other Yes installments. 4/5 Highlights: I Get Up I Get Down And You and I

In It For The Money

Supergrass

4/5

Well this was fun. Every once in a while, you just need some fast tempos, distorted guitars, and mindless lyrics. Late 90’s in a bottle. Not quite interesting enough for a 5, but definitely enjoyable enough for a 4. 4/5 Highlights: In it for the Money Tonight Sun Hits the Sky Going Out

Sound of Silver

LCD Soundsystem

4/5

This is the kind of album I need to be in the right frame of mind to enjoy, and I’d probably rate it differently from one day to another. I’d put it at either a 3 or a 4, but it just so happens it’s finding me on the right day. “I wouldn’t trade one stupid decision for another 5 years of life.” Love that line. 4/5 Highlights: All My Friends New York, I Love You but You’re Bringing Me Down

Blur

3/5

“Blur” is how I’d describe this album. A long, boring, uninspired, and ultimately forgettable blur. Not bad per se, but I’m struggling to understand why I should care about this album. I finished it and immediately forgot everything I’d just heard. Even attempts to do something somewhat interesting like (rather blatantly) channeling Bowie on Look Inside America and Strange News from Another Star fall mostly flat. But some credit given for trying. A couple cool tracks, but ultimately this album is a low 3 for me and one I don’t plan to revisit. 3/5 Highlights: Beetlebum Song 2 Look Inside America Strange News from Another Star Essex Dogs

Our Aim Is To Satisfy

Red Snapper

5/5

I think all the people rating this lowly are overthinking it. Don’t take yourself or your music so seriously. This isn’t an album to think about. It’s an album to feel and groove to. 5/5 Highlights: Some Kind of Kink The Rough and The Quick They’re Hanging Me Tonight

3 + 3

The Isley Brothers

3/5

This album was fine. Just fine. A couple fun tracks but not particularly memorable. Also, I kinda hate the song Summer Breeze. It’s just so boring and brainless. And the fact that it’s not even an original song for the Isley Brothers bothers me even more. In the equation of my rating of this album, 3+3 = 3. 3/5 Highlights: That Lady (Pt 2) Sunshine (Go Away Today)

Meat Puppets II

Meat Puppets

3/5

This was enjoyable enough, but wasn’t particularly interesting. Maybe I’ll come back and give it a little more attention at some point. 3/5 Highlights: Split Myself in Two I’m a Mindless Idiot

Want Two

Rufus Wainwright

4/5

Now this is something interesting. A particularly stark contrast having just finished listening to the mostly brainless disco yacht rock bore that was the Isley Brothers’ 3+3. This album, on the other hand, commands a listen. The opening track is particularly grabbing. At times, this was a bit too meandering and morose for my tastes, but I was interested the whole time and kept looking forward to what might come next. Wonderfully weird with plenty of unexpected but delightful twists and turns. Reminds me a lot of Radiohead, which is never a bad thing in my book. 4/5 Highlights: Agnus Dei Memphis Skyline Waiting for a Dream Old Whore’s Diet

The Band

5/5

I’ve always been partial to singer-drummers and Levon is on my Mount Rushmore in that category. While Rock of Ages remains my favorite album by The Band (which is unusual for me as I typically don’t care much for live albums), this album (The Band) is still The Band at their best. Groovy, unique, heartfelt, nostalgic. This is it. 5/5 Highlights: Up on Cripple Creek Rockin’ Chair King Harvest (Has Surely Come)

A Girl Called Dusty

Dusty Springfield

5/5

White girl’s got soul. You can’t not like this. 5/5 Highlights: Mama Said You Don’t Own Me My Colouring Book Every Day I Have to Cry Can I Get a Witness Summer Is Over

Shaka Zulu

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

5/5

FYI: the 1001 generator page points to a version of this album where most songs are unavailable. The 30th anniversary version has all songs available: https://open.spotify.com/album/5GoqzAwIz3px7nSHXDOb3X Such a pleasant change of pace. I don’t know what they’re saying, but I find it comforting and hopeful. So much beauty in these voices, harmonies, and tones. I need more of this in my life. Easy 5 stars. 5/5 Highlights: Unomathemba Hello My Baby King of Kings Lomhlaba Kawunoni Ikhaya Lamaqhawe This Little Light of Mine

Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)

Eurythmics

4/5

Makes me wanna dance. Some tracks are just so-so and I don’t think this really warrants any deep analysis, but on the whole, quite enjoyable. 4/5 Highlights: Love is a Stranger I Could Give You (A Mirror) Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) Jennifer This Is the House

Songs In The Key Of Life

Stevie Wonder

4/5

I was excited to get this album because I know it’s a highly respected and beloved album, but I’m just not loving it as much as I expected. I don’t dislike it by any means, but I thought it would be an instant favorite for me and I’m not finding that to be the case. Perhaps my high expectations are causing me to be a bit more critical than I would otherwise be. I found myself enjoying the hits (which are powerhouses, no doubt) but mostly being underwhelmed by the other tracks. If I’m being honest with myself, I don’t love it enough to give it a 5. Interestingly, I found the second LP to be much stronger than the first (which I don’t often find to be the case for double albums). Overall, an enjoyable musical journey, but it’s a low 4 for me. Another Star is a straight banger though. 4/5 Highlights: Sir Duke Pastime Paradise Isn’t she lovely Black Man If It’s Magic As Another Star

Astral Weeks

Van Morrison

3/5

If this were to catch me on a different day, I might appreciate it a little more. Didn’t really catch my attention, but I didn’t give it as much attention/thought as I tropically do, to be fair. 3/5

Franz Ferdinand

4/5

Fun and catchy. Did I really need to hear it before I died? Probably not, but I’m not mad about it. I enjoyed this era of music when riff-driven pop rock made a comeback. Some of these hooks are so catchy, but ultimately, the tracks start to sound a little same-y. The only one that really stands out is the hit Take Me Out, and that’s mostly because it was played to absolute death during its heyday (it has 17x more Spotify plays than the next highest track on the album). Aside: I have memories of my old Pandora stations getting seemingly fixated on a song and playing it ALL THE TIME. It always had the effect of making me kinda hate the song. Take Me Out was one of those tracks. So was Wild Horses, for whatever reason. Anyway, this album’s enjoyable enough for a low 4, but nowhere near interesting enough for anything higher. 4/5 Highlights: Take Me Out (god help me) Come On Home 40’

Whatever

Aimee Mann

3/5

I think Aimee is at her best here during the more subdued moments (4th of July, I Know There’s a Word, I’ve Had It). The more upbeat tracks didn’t do too much for me, but I suppose without some more lively songs, this album would be quite a somber affair. Anyway, this was pleasant enough, but I felt no burning desire to play it again (as I usually do) or to rate it any higher than a 3 (as I seem more inclined than many to do). Whatever, indeed. 3/5 Highlights: 4th of July Mr. Harris I Know There’s a Word I’ve Had It

Electric Warrior

T. Rex

5/5

This is the shit, right here. 5/5 Highlights: Cosmic Dancer Monolith Lean Woman Blues Get It On The King of the Mountain Cometh - B Side

Inspiration Information

Shuggie Otis

4/5

I don’t know what rock I’ve been living under, but I’ve never heard of this guy. The latter half of this album is absolutely killer. If not for the first half being a bit of a bore, this would be 5 stars. 4/5 Highlights: Strawberry Letter 23 Sweet Thang Freedom Flight

Station To Station

David Bowie

4/5

When I read that Bowie was so high while making this album that he barely remembers it, I expected some coked-out nonsense. But this was super enjoyable. Interesting and weird while still keeping the reins on. 4/5 Highlights: Stay

The Bends

Radiohead

5/5

This has always been my favorite Radiohead album (I know I know, sue me) and makes my top 5 of all time list. This is one of those albums that is/was so ever-present that it’s sometimes met with more eye rolls than accolades. But if you can just put all that aside and approach it like it’s your first listen, I contend it’s damn near impossible *not* to dig this. The guitars, the vocals, the track list effortlessly bouncing between light and shade. It’s weird, ambitious, occasionally creepy, occasionally beautiful, occasionally rocking tf out. Perfect album, IMO. 5/5 Highlights: Fake Plastic Trees Bones (Nice Dream) My Iron Lung Bullet Proof…I Wish I Was Black Star Street Spirit (Fade Out)

Myths Of The Near Future

Klaxons

4/5

I pride myself on keeping a really open mind when it comes to music, and I try to just appreciate what I’m hearing without getting hung up on whether it’s culturally significant or derivative. But I’m starting to think this 1001 list is going to beat that out of me when it comes to indie brit pop/rock bands from the early 2000’s. It was an era comprised mostly of enjoyable-enough tunes to have in your headphones while you went about your day…not albums I need to hear before I die. These albums served their purpose…20 years ago. Am I really supposed to pretend there’s some staying power here? That said, enjoyable-enough album. Not even moderately interesting, but enjoyable. 4/5 Highlights: Gravity’s Rainbow Forgotten Works

Led Zeppelin II

Led Zeppelin

5/5

I’m a huge Led Zeppelin fan. In some ways, I think I experienced them the way many early fans did, so they’ve always had a special place in my heart. To explain what I mean, settle in for a little story time: Growing up in a very religious household, and having a pretty sheltered existence until high school, music like Led Zeppelin was out of the question. It’s not even that it wasn’t allowed. It was just so far from my realm of awareness that it didn’t even need to be disallowed. But once I got to high school (a public school for the first time in my life…how scandalous), I started to be exposed to “secular” music. I learned that music wasn’t just what the Christian music industry was pumping out at that point: adult contemporary snooze fests, brainless Christian rock bands peddling soulless and blatant stylistic rip offs of whatever was “cool” in the secular industry, and, god save us all, Christian rap. But now, for the first time in my life, I realized that music could be something else. It could crack the world open. It could mean everything. It *was* everything. I had my friends burn me endless CDs and I just couldn’t get enough. There was so much out there to explore. And it didn’t always have the cheery “god is great” undertones. Sometimes it was vulgar. Sometimes it was sad and depressing. Sometimes it was dark and disturbing. And I loved it all. Throughout high school, my music tastes expanded, but I mostly found myself digging into the emo and pop punk genres that were so popular in the mid 2000’s. So it wasn’t until I got to college that I started making my way around to classic rock. And of course, once you dip your toe into the classic rock waters, sooner or later, you’re gonna get knocked over with a big wave of Led Zeppelin. And that’s exactly what happened. I became obsessed. Not so much in the “I’ve got the shirt and the poster” and “I’m cool and retro because I like LZ” poser kind of way (I don’t like to gatekeep, but you know the type). It was about the music, man. For months, it was almost exclusively a rotation of Zeppelin albums coming over my speakers. It was fast. It was loud. It was mystical and mysterious. It was sexy. It could be experimental. It could be bluesy. It was edgy. In short, it fucking rocked. And that’s where I think I can relate to early fans of the band. I remember reading one of the biographies of the band and they highlighted how much of a change of tone Led Zeppelin was in the late 60’s. Sure, there were other bands doing some similar stuff around this time, but LZ helped usher in a new era of rock (dare I even call it metal?) that was a notable departure from the relatively tame and reserved artists of the early 60’s and certainly 50’s. Led Zeppelin was rock n roll. They were the devil’s music. They sang about sex. They partied hard and took over towns. They were seductive. For god’s sake, Robert’s dick was practically a fifth member of the band. But above all, they played LOUD. And they were a nightmare for all the conservative parents out there (like my own) who couldn’t stand that the kids were digging these long haired sinners from England. If you were to ask me what my favorite Led Zeppelin album is, it’ll probably change by the day, but the one I’ll probably say more often than any other is II. It just rocks so hard. It’s probably the best embodiment of all those things I described that drew me into the band in the first place. It’s fast, loud, groovy, bluesy, sexy, and in-your-face. All these years later, I still never get tired of it. 5/5 Highlights: Whole Lotta Love The Lemon Song Ramble On Moby Dick Bring it On Home

Your Arsenal

Morrissey

4/5

I’ve always been aware of Morrissey but never actually listened. I really enjoyed this introduction to his catalog. Thoroughly enjoyable. Moody and morose without ever becoming insufferable. I look forward to hearing more from him. 4/5 Highlights: You’re Gonna Need Someone On Your Side Glamorous Glue

Aja

Steely Dan

4/5

Yacht rock, for sure. But I kinda fuck with it. 4/5 Highlights: Aja I Got the News

Penthouse And Pavement

Heaven 17

4/5

Spotify is missing several tracks from this album; was able to find it on YouTube. Funky bass. Had me moving and grooving. 4/5 Highlights: Penthouse & Pavement

Calenture

The Triffids

4/5

Wow. This was a totally unexpected, but welcome, surprise. Has a little bit of a 80’s country twang that feels very nostalgic for me, but with that 80’s pop/alternative quality. There’s a few misses (Open For You, Holy Water) which detract a little, but overall a great album. 4/5 Highlights: Bury Me Deep in Love A Trick of the Light Hometown Farewell Kiss Unmade Love Vagabond Holes

Live At The Regal

B.B. King

5/5

God, I love the blues. I don’t know of any other type of music, other than maybe jazz, than can so instantly hit you right in the soul. But unlike jazz, with the blues, you always know exactly where it’s going, but you never know how it’s going to get there. And that’s what makes it instantly accessible and familiar but eternally fresh. And B.B. King live at the regal is about as good as it gets. And as good as he is, the band might even be better. The best of the best at their best. 5/5 Highlights: It’s My Own Fault How Blue Can You Get? Worry, Worry

Traffic

3/5

Pleasant enough background music. Didn’t really catch my attention too often. 3/5 Highlights: Crying’ To Be Heard Medicated Goo

Safe As Milk

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band

4/5

This was pretty cool. A little goofy at times, but groovy enough to hold it together. Quite reminiscent of The Who. 4/5 Highlights: Zig Zag Wanderer Electricity

Mama's Gun

Erykah Badu

4/5

R&B is probably one of my least explored genres, but after living in Dallas where Erykah Badu is a local icon, I was looking forward to this album. Love her vocals. Songs are a little same-y to me but I still love the mellow grooves. 4/5 Highlights: Booty Orange Moon In Love With You Bag Lady - Cheeba Sac Radio Edit

Let's Stay Together

Al Green

4/5

On a different day, this may not have done as much for me. But today, on a lazy and cozy Saturday morning with the fall weather turning crisp outside, this was hitting just right. Just right, indeed. 4/5 Highlights: Let’s Stay Together So You’re Leaving Old Time Lovin’ I’ve Never Found a Girl How Can YouI Mend a Broken Heart

The Yes Album

Yes

4/5

I was excited to get another Yes album after being so pleasantly surprised by Close to the Edge, and I ended up liking this one even more. Not a perfect album (there’s a random live track in the middle of it - not sure I’ve ever seen that), but I really enjoyed this. So dynamic and full of unexpected twists and turns. The acoustic guitar in the quieter moments of I’ve Seen All Good People sounds amazing. The production is so ambitious and occasionally goofy (in an endearing, early 70’s way). Proud to admit I’m a full on Yes fan at this point. 4/5 Highlights: Yours Is No Disgrace Starship Trooper I’ve Seen All Good People

We Are Family

Sister Sledge

4/5

It’s hard for me to take disco too seriously, but that’s ok. Not all music needs to be taken seriously. Sometimes you just need to turn your brain off and enjoy the groove. “He’s the greatest dancerrrrrr”🕺 4/5 Highlights: Thinking of You

Fromohio

fIREHOSE

4/5

I’m probably being a little more generous to this album than it deserves, because I’ve been dying for anything even remotely resembling punk on this list. This isn’t quite it, but it’ll do for today. 4/5 Highlights: Riddle of the Eighties Vastopol The Softest Hammer

Californication

Red Hot Chili Peppers

4/5

“Have you ever paid money to hear music performed by California funk-rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers?” “Yo, the Chilis? I saw them in concert like 50 times. I once got arrested trying to steal Flea’s bass guitar.” Hate all you want, but these dudes know how to make a hit. First half of the album is much stronger than the latter half. It definitely goes on longer than it should and the lyrics are occasionally (if not often) painfully braindead, but its tent pole tracks salvage it. 4/5 Highlights: Around the World Parallel Universe Scar Tissue Otherside

Life Thru A Lens

Robbie Williams

3/5

The highs on this album are fun but the lows are pretty low (Old Before I Die is almost single-handedly responsible for knocking off a full star - what a stupid song). Not mad I listened, but not in a rush to revisit. 3/5 Highlights: Ego Agogo South of the Border Let Me Entertain You

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme

Simon & Garfunkel

4/5

I guess I’m getting old cause S&G is finally starting to hit just right. Beautiful harmonies. Complex and thoughtful lyrics. Sublime acoustic arrangements. 4/5 Highlights: Scarborough Fair / Canticle Patterns A Simple Desultory Philippic A Poem on the Underground Wall

The Good, The Bad & The Queen

3/5

So you’re telling me this wasn’t the same song 12 times in a row? There being a founding member of the Clash in this group is probably the only thing keeping me from being even more critical about it. Ultimately, there are a couple catchy tunes, but I have a feeling the band had more fun making this record than I had listening to it. 3/5 Highlights: 80’s Life Three Changes Green Fields

Led Zeppelin III

Led Zeppelin

5/5

Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, but if you don’t like this album, your opinion is wrong. 5/5 Highlights: Immigrant Song Since I’ve Been Loving You Gallows Pole Tangerine That’s the Way

Every Picture Tells A Story

Rod Stewart

4/5

I’m usually not one to clutch my pearls over song lyrics, especially ones from decades ago, but the first track has a couple lines that make me wince. We’ll just chalk it up to a different era. In general, the lyrics on this album are lacking and occasionally problematic, but the instrumentation makes up for it. 4/5 Highlights: That’s All Right Tomorrow Is A Long Time (I Know) I’m Losing You

Selected Ambient Works 85-92

Aphex Twin

3/5

I like these instrumental albums. Always a nice change of pace and I think my productivity at work increases by 14%. Although I’ll admit, on the 3rd listen through the album, it started getting annoying. 3/5

Seventeen Seconds

The Cure

3/5

Entirely underwhelming. I absolutely love Disintegration but had never listened to much else from The Cure, so I was excited to get this album. But this is just so boring. And then it just ends… I really thought I’d love this but instead I found myself looking for any reason not to give it my second ever 2/5 rating. 3/5 Highlights: A Forest

4/5

This might be the polar opposite of the album I got yesterday, Seventeen Seconds by The Cure. While Seventeen Seconds was whisper-quiet, one-note, and pretentious, Next is loud, ambitious, and entirely unserious. Ironic that the album blurb on the 1001 site has a quote from Robert Smith about this album. Next is all over the place, but I’m here for it. I feel like I’m getting a glimpse into the frenetic mind of Alex Harvey, and I like what I see. Notes of Hendrix, The Stones, Sabbath, Zeppelin, and…show tunes? Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but I applaud the effort. Love the drums and guitar on Vambo Marble Eye. Also, wtf is going on with the stereo mix on Last of the Teenage Idols? Proper mess of a musical journey, but in a good way, ya know? High 4. 4/5 Highlights: Swampsnake Next Vambo Marble Eye The Last of the Teenage Idols

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

Ray Charles

5/5

Damn, this is just so smooth. Easiest 5 star I’ve given out yet. I could see some listeners being turned off by the choir as it’s certainly a sound of a time gone by that’s fallen out of fashion, but as a fan of classic country and western music, I’m desensitized to it at this point. The horns are to die for, especially on Half As Much. And that’s the best version of Your Cheating’ Heart I’ve ever heard. 5/5 Highlights: You Don’t Know Me Half As Much I Love You So Much It Hurts Worried Mind I Can’t Stop Loving You Your Cheatin’ Heart

Ramones

3/5

I know I’m *supposed* to like the Ramones, and I do respect them for essentially birthing punk, but this album didn’t do it for me. Every track sounds EXACTLY the same, and its 29 minute runtime somehow ends up feeling 3 times longer than that. Tbh, this is barely clinging to a 3/5 from me. Punk got a lot better. I said what I said. 3/5 Highlights: Blitzkrieg Bop

Parachutes

Coldplay

4/5

Coldplay is one of those bands that got a lot of what I always thought was unwarranted hate from music snobs. Sure, they’re a little boring, but they make pleasant, and occasionally great, music. 4/5 Highlights: Shiver Yellow Everything’s Not Lost

Hot Fuss

The Killers

4/5

Oh give me a break. Coldplay yesterday. The Killers today. The author of this book clearly made no effort to account for recency bias when making this list. It’s almost hard to judge this album objectively because many of these songs were inescapable when the album was popular (some of them are still inescapable). Still, there’s some really catchy songs on here. I don’t even particularly care for Mr. Brightside, but it gets an honorary “Highlights” nod as one of the anthems of the Millennial generation (2.4 billion streams don’t lie). I guess this album was/is so popular that it’s justified being on the list, but I can’t help but feel like there’s not enough staying power here to call this album “important”. I just find popular music from this era so boring and uninteresting. Catchy enough, nonetheless. Take my 4 and be gone, Soul Soldier. 4/5 Highlights: Mr. Brightside All These Things That I’ve Done

Master Of Puppets

Metallica

3/5

I expected to like this album more, given the band’s incredibly loyal following, but it’s hard for me to take it seriously. It’s not that I can’t handle harder music/metal - it’s just that this feels so sterile. Everything feels too tight. Where’s the soul? This is about as interesting as a concrete business park from the 80’s. I feel like I gave this a really honest effort over the course of multiple listens, but came up empty each time. Maybe I’ll enjoy other Metallica albums more. I almost gave this a 2, but I’ve given out 3’s to other albums that are even less interesting (and certainly less impactful to an entire genre), so a 3 feels only fair here. 3/5 Highlights: Master of Puppets Damage, Inc.

Black Sabbath

4/5

The only Black Sabbath album I’ve ever listened to was Paranoid, and I thoroughly loved it, so I was excited to get this one. And it did not disappoint. I had Metallica Master of Puppets yesterday, but Black Sabbath album has exactly what I was looking for, but missing, on Master of Puppets - some damn heart and soul. Make it messy. Make it dark. Make it sexy. Ozzy gets it. MoP was so uptight - honestly not sure why people like it. But this is a Black Sabbath review, so enough about that. I read this album was almost entirely recorded in a single day and released on Friday the 13th. Everything about this album is perfectly suited to be the starting point for Black Sabbath and all associated lore. Really enjoyed it. 4/5 Highlights: Black Sabbath The Wizard

The Stranger

Billy Joel

5/5

I’ve always loved this album. It’s the one I recommend to people who are aware of Billy Joel only as “the Piano Man” guy. Such a solid record. Not a bad track on here. Few songs are more perfect than Vienna. A career-defining masterpiece, in my opinion. “I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints. The sinners are much more fun. You know that only the good die young.” ✌️ 5/5 Highlights: Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song) Vienna Only the Good Die Young

Yeezus

Kanye West

5/5

Everyone trashing Kanye because they can’t get past him as a person or just generally don’t like hip hop are depriving themselves of so much inspired and influential art. There is SO MUCH to appreciate if you let yourself dig into his catalog. Also, with this album in particular, many are missing the fact that this album was supposed to be harsh and abrasive - that was literally his goal. I’ll admit it’s not exactly ear-candy, but it’s worth considering the context of the album: Two albums prior to Yeezus, Kanye was on the verge of being permanently cancelled for disrespecting Taylor Swift, America’s sweetheart. He went into seclusion while the critics (and even some fans) relished in the certain demise of his career. But Ye emerged from his hiding to release the masterpiece that is My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - arguably a top 5 of all time hip hop album. The record received near unanimous praise. Career saved. Back in the limelight and the good graces of the music industry and public at large. So what does an artist like Ye do? Well, he told us: “Soon as they like you, make them unlike you.” Instead of riding the high of MBDTF and enjoying his renewed image, Ye recoiled at the thought of being the music industry’s reformed black darling, after they had spurned him and left him for dead. He proved he *could* still do it, but had no interest in doing it again. Instead, he put out Yeezus which leaves the soaring melodies and choruses of MBDTF behind - way behind. It’s an intentionally harsh and abrasive album. One without any discernible single. It delivered a frantic, stuttering, and unflinching glance into the abyss that is Ye’s deepest, darkest, most depressed, aggressive, manic, and troubled psyche. Many didn’t “get it”, but for those that did, it was brilliant. This has never been my favorite Kanye album, and if you were to ask me prior to this listen what my rating will be, I wouldn’t have said 5. But listening again, with new ears and an open mind, it won me over. The brashness. The industrial quality. The beats. It all just works. 5/5 Highlights: Black Skinheah Hold My Liquor Blood On The Leaves

Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

Dead Kennedys

4/5

I liked this more the more I listened to it. Nice to see some punk representation on the list. Better than the Ramones. Fight me. 4/5 Highlights: Let’s Lynch The Landlord Chemical Warfare Viva Las Vegas

Morrison Hotel

The Doors

4/5

I’ve always liked The Doors, but I have to admit I’ve never taken them as seriously as some of their contemporaries. I’ve always thought of them sort of like the Smashmouth of their time. Catchy songs and fun to listen to, but no one’s really taking them seriously, right? Well I can’t say this album completely changed my mind, but it started chipping away at that perception. There’s some really solid stuff here. Roadhouse Blues is as fun of blues groove as you’ll find, and it made me wish harmonica would make a comeback in modern music. Peace Frog is a really great track. And the subdued elegance of Indian Summer really caught me off guard. 4/5 Highlights: Roadhouse Blues Peace Frog Indian Summer

Teenage Head

Flamin' Groovies

4/5

Of all the blues rock bands coming out of San Francisco around this time, a few good ones were bound to slip through the cracks. I feel like that's what happened with Flamin' Groovies. Not nearly as popular as some other acts from around this time, but they could easily go toe-to-toe with the best of them. This album goes on about 3 or 4 songs too long, but it's enjoyable enough that I'm not going to complain too much about that. 4/5 Highlights: Shakin' All Over Louie Louie

Music

Madonna

4/5

I know a lot of music fans (snobs) look down on pop, but I’ve never been that way. There’s no trophies for writing off an entire genre of music that’s scientifically designed to be catchy and pleasing to the ear. This album was solid. Just enjoy the damn music! 🎶“Music makes the people come together.” 🎶 — 4/5 Highlights: I Deserve It Don’t Tell Me Paradise (Not For Me)

There's No Place Like America Today

Curtis Mayfield

5/5

Wow, this is good. I don’t think I'd heard a single song on this record prior to this, but there's not a miss on here. 35 minutes long, but I could (and did) listen to this for hours. 5/5 Highlights: Billy Jack So In Love

So

Peter Gabriel

4/5

This is my second favorite Phil Collins album. 4/5 Highlights: Big Time In Your Eyes

Scott 4

Scott Walker

4/5

This is reminiscent of Orville Peck (or the other way around, I guess). Right up my alley. — 4/5 Highlights: The Old Man’s Back Again Get Behind Me

Ocean Rain

Echo And The Bunnymen

3/5

I listened to this a lot, trying to decide what my thoughts on it were. Ultimately, I think the fact that I'm on my 5th or 6th listen and still don't know is probably my answer. It's not bad, but I'm having a hard time really caring about it. 3/5 Highlights: Thorn of Crowns

Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs

Derek & The Dominos

5/5

This album is just good. It’s one I listened to a lot when I was first really discovering and falling in love with music, and the blues in particular. So, many of these songs are very nostalgic to me, but it’s been quite some time since I’ve listened to this album straight through. It feels like coming home. Some albums with a runtime over an hour suffer because of it, but that’s not the case here. There’s so much to enjoy but it never feels like it drags. — 5/5 Highlights: Bell Bottom Blues Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out Key To The Highway Layla

Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black

Public Enemy

4/5

“These days, you can’t see who’s in cahoots Cause now the KKK wears three-piece suits.” — 4/5 Highlights: Lost At Birth By The Time I Get To Arizona Shut ‘Em Down Bring Tha Noize

It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back

Public Enemy

4/5

My second Public Enemy album in as many days. I’m a fan, although I liked Apocalypse 91 more. — 4/5 Highlights: Terminator X To The Edge Of Panic Caught, Can We Get A Witness She Watch Channel Zero?!

Odessey And Oracle

The Zombies

4/5

I’m slightly triggered by this album because of the song Rose For Emily. It was in the closing credits of one of the seasons of Serial, and while it’s not a bad song, I just always felt like it was so out of place that it bothered me to the point that just hearing the song bothers me (it’s a “me” problem, I know). Questionable podcast credit music aside, not a bad album. There were a few recognizable tracks that I didn’t know were by The Zombies (This Will Be Our Year, Time of the Season), so it was cool to place those. Overall, enjoyable listen. — 4/5 Highlights: Changes This Will Be Our Year Time of the Season

Two Dancers

Wild Beasts

3/5

Idk this didn’t do much for me. Kinda like a poor man’s Alt-J, and I don’t hold Alt-J in particularly high esteem, so…yeah. — 3/5 Highlights: All The King’s Men

You Want It Darker

Leonard Cohen

5/5

I haven’t looked at the reviews yet, but I already know there’s going to be more than a few who trash this album. Cohen has always been polarizing like that. I can’t remember where I heard it, but I remember a conversation about Leonard Cohen where someone was basically saying that Leonard Cohen was one of those artists that they never “got” when they were young. Then, at some point, they were finally at a point in their life where they were ready to receive and appreciate what he was doing, and it just “clicked”. That was the case for me. And it was this album, probably surprisingly for some, that made it click for me. I had always been aware of Leonard Cohen as “that guy with the deep voice that makes weird music. You know…the Hallelujah guy.” But I never really thought much of him until I heard this album. I was going through kind of a dark time in my life (as was the country) when this album came out, and these songs just rocked me. I was so touched by the delicate display of emotion throughout, while still maintaining a strong masculinity. The tongue-in-cheek (but maybe not completely tongue-in-cheek) biblical and religious references also really resonated with me as someone who was raised staunchly religious but has since turned away from that (with all the deep-seeded trauma and guilt that comes with a decision like that). I still count (the song) You Want it Darker as one of my all time favorites. Hearing Leonard come to terms with his life, and the fact that it was quickly coming to an end, is such an intimate and haunting thing for him to have shared with us. And I’m so grateful for it. It might be one of the most brutal and powerful expressions of surrender I’ve ever heard recorded in a song. It still gives me chills. “Hineni, Hineni. I’m ready, my lord.” What an artistic powerhouse we lost just weeks after this album was released. Wherever Leonard is now, I hope he’s found his peace. ❤️ — 5/5 Highlights: You Want It Darker Treaty On the Level Leaving the Table String Reprise / Treaty

Boy In Da Corner

Dizzee Rascal

3/5

British rap from 2003? I expected this to be shit, and it kinda was. But I can still dig it. A couple catchy tracks, but ultimately I finished my first listen with no desire/intention to give it another, which is rare for me. On the positive side, I learned what Grime is. 3/5 Highlights: I Luv U Brand New Day Jus’ a Rascal

1984

Van Halen

4/5

This is the first time I’ve ever sat down and intentionally listened to Van Halen. I have a completely open mind and I’m a little drunk on a Friday night, which I feel is probably ideal for this album. Let’s see how this goes. 1984: ok this is some quintessential 80’s synth album intro wankery. This album was made in 1984, I’d expect nothing less. No complaints. Jump: Oh shit, this song? This is a fucking bop. Legitimately had no clue this was VH. Damn that synth absolutely rips. Panama: I think I know this one too. Oh shit, yeah I’ve heard this one. Wait, they’re saying “Panama”?!? Cross my heart, I always thought they were saying “Cannonball” 😂 Top Jimmy: The intro and interludes are the shit. Love the harmonics. Rest of the song is kinda shite. Solo shreds, though. Drop Dead Legs: God damn, I feel like I would’ve done just fine if I was in my 20’s in the 80’s. Seems like there were no worries. No wars to speak of. Economy was booming. Sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll, man. 🤘 Hot For Teacher: I have such a love-hate relationship with Guitar Hero. It introduced me to all these old iconic songs, but seared them in my memory as some sort of kitschy gamified nonsense. I can’t even be objective about this track because all I can think of are 5 multi colored buttons, an endless incoming stream of notes, and hammering the whammy bar to get my star power. But fuck it, gimme that high score and 5 stars. The crowd loves me. They really love me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ll Wait: I’ll wait… for this track to be less of a let down after the frenzied perfection of Hot For Teacher. But wait a minute now. Synth is trying to save the day here. Ahh but now we’re onto a half-hearted guitar solo. Yeah nah. I’ll wait…for this track to be over. Girl Gone Bad: I feel like Eddie said, “Hey just put one track on there where I can shred for 4 minutes.” And the rest of the band was like, “Yeah, ok but it has to be the second-to-last track.” House of Pain: This sounds rather Black Sabbath-ish. Ok ok. I like that breakdown. That’s a fun groove. Saved the track, for me. But a fade-out to close the album? Really??? Overview If this album didn’t fall apart over the course of the last 3 tracks, it would’ve been 5 stars. But I had a lot of fun and it’s a solid 4. 4/5 Highlights: Jump Drop Dead Legs Hot For Teacher

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

David Bowie

5/5

As far as I’m concerned, this is THE Bowie album. 5/5 Highlights: Moonage Daydream Starman Suffragette City

Sex Packets

Digital Underground

3/5

This was fun in a goofy way, but went on way way too long. 3/5 Highlights: The Humpty Dance The Way We Swing Underwater Rimes

The Downward Spiral

Nine Inch Nails

5/5

Yes. So much yes. 5/5 Highlights: Heresy Ruiner The Becoming A Warm Place Eraser Reptile Hurt

Treasure

Cocteau Twins

4/5

I don’t know what these chicks are saying, but it’s dreamy and I like it. 4/5 Highlights: Pandora (For Cindy) Aloysius Domino

Harvest

Neil Young

2/5

Wow, this sucked. I know I’m in the minority, but I’ve always disliked Neil Young. In spite of that, I did my very best to go into this album with an open mind. I think I’m just generally sensitive to the sound and quality of vocals. If those bother me, I have a hard time getting past it (Rush is a good example). This makes sense since I rarely focus on the lyrics and instead just hear the whole production, with the vocals essentially serving as an instrument. So if I find the vocals grating, that’s a big part of the mix that I dislike. And I absolutely hate Neil Young’s voice. It’s hard for me to hear anything else. I’m not sure how he became so popular with those shaky, weak-ass vocals. If not for some solid instrumentation on a couple tracks (slide guitar on Are You Ready for the Country, finger picking on Old Man, guitar solos on Words), this would be 1/5. I really disliked this album. It’s like John Denver without any of the heart and Dylan without any of the soul. Old Man is a solid track, though. 2/5 Highlights: Old Man

Tago Mago

Can

3/5

I have no problem with some experimental sonic wankery, but Aumgn and Peking O are a bit indulgent by any standard. Overall, an enjoyable enough A-side of this album saves me from being more critical of its somewhat... challenging B-side. 3/5 Highlights: Paperhouse

More Songs About Buildings And Food

Talking Heads

3/5

This was pleasant and inoffensive, though a bit benign. I listened to it probably 5 or 6 times waiting for some kind of opinion to form, but it never really happened. Ultimately, this will go in the bin of 3’s that didn’t necessarily leave a bad impression, but probably won’t ever be revisited. 3/5 Highlights: I’m Not in Love

Lady In Satin

Billie Holiday

3/5

I know this is heresy, but Billie’s voice has always grated on me if I listen for longer than a song or two. Nice enough album, but it’s too much Billie in one dose for me. 3/5 Highlights: I’m a Fool to Want You Glad to Be Unhappy The End of a Love Affair

Peter Gabriel 3

Peter Gabriel

3/5

This didn’t do too much for me. I liked “So” better. 3/5 Highlights: Biko

The World is a Ghetto

War

4/5

Groovy and funky. No complaints here. 4/5 Highlights: Four Cornered Room

Technique

New Order

4/5

You want to make me biased against you before I even listen? Describe your band as “one of the most influential and acclaimed bands of all time” on your Spotify bio. 😒 That said, I really liked this album. The 80’s are really growing on me. 4/5 Highlights: All the Way

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Wilco

3/5

This sounds like an album that probably felt important in 2003. 20+ years later? Eh, it’s alright. 3/5 Highlights: Ashes of American Flags

São Paulo Confessions

Suba

4/5

On a different day, I’d probably have more to say about this. But today I’ll just say I really enjoyed it. 4/5 Highlights: Pecados Da Madrugada

Blackstar

David Bowie

4/5

I count myself as a mild to moderate Bowie fan, but I’d never listened to Blackstar. It’s predictably great. 4/5 Highlights: Blackstar

Since I Left You

The Avalanches

4/5

This is like proto lofi. I like it. 4/5 Highlights: Frontier Psychiatrist

Want One

Rufus Wainwright

4/5

This didn't grab me quite as much as Want Two, but I still enjoyed it. I really appreciate the theatrical embellishments. They elevate what would otherwise be a relatively standard pop record to something more entertaining and certainly more interesting. 4/5 Highlights: Oh What a World Go or Go Ahead

The Visitors

ABBA

4/5

Mamma Mia! 4/5 Highlights: The Visitors Head Over Heels Slipping Through My Fingers

Figure 8

Elliott Smith

2/5

Jfc this was so boring. Couldn’t even make it through a second listen without wanting to lose my mind. 2/5 Highlights: Son of Sam

The Modern Lovers

3/5

Started out pretty cool, but at some point it started to drone on too long. RIP Anthony Bourdain tho. 3/5 Highlights: Roadrunner Astral Plane

Yank Crime

Drive Like Jehu

3/5

Not terrible but way too same-y. Do something...anything different. Sinews showed some promise as being a departure from the rest of the album, but even that fell back into the same pattern as the rest of the album. Overall, pretty underwhelming. No plans to revisit this one despite being a big fan of other artists in this genre. 3/5 Highlights: Sinews

Talking Book

Stevie Wonder

4/5

Gets a minimum of a 4 just for being the album that gave us Superstition. What a banger. 4/5 Highlights: Superstition

The Gershwin Songbook

Ella Fitzgerald

5/5

Absolutely lovely. It does seem a bit out of sync with the rest of the project to include a 6 disk, 3 hour compilation, but I won't hold that against Ella. Took me a few days to get through, but those days were filled with beautiful songs from an all-time great. No complaints. 5/5 Highlights: Let's Call the Whole Thing Off Nice Work If You Can Get It The Half Of It Dearie Blues

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector

Various Artists

5/5

So many classics in one album. 5/5 Highlights: Sleigh Ride Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Pretenders

3/5

Didn't blow my hair back or anything, but enjoyable enough. 3/5 Highlights: Private Life Brass in Pocket

Moon Safari

Air

5/5

Really nice surprise. I expected some early 2000’s euro pop bullshit, but this slapped. 5/5 Highlights: La femme d’argent

I See A Darkness

Bonnie "Prince" Billy

4/5

Didn't care much about this one way or the other. But a couple catchy tracks. 4/5 Highlights: A Minor Place Madeleine-Mary

Peace Sells...But Who's Buying

Megadeth

3/5

The early half of this album didn't do much for me, but the last 2 tracks saved it. 3/5 Highlights: I Ain't Superstitious My Last Words

Natty Dread

Bob Marley & The Wailers

4/5

Pretty chill. 4/5 Highlights: No Woman No Cry

Shake Your Money Maker

The Black Crowes

4/5

Give me some whiskey, a bonfire, good friends, and throw this album on. That’s living. 4/5 Highlights: Twice As Hard Hard to Handle Struttin’ Blues

Pornography

The Cure

4/5

I think I’d only ever listened to Disintegration before, so this was my first exploration of the rest of The Cure catalog. I like it. Not quite as much as Disintegration, but the rhythm is infectious throughout, especially on tracks like The Hanging Garden. A little morose, but it’s The Cure so I knew what I was getting into. 4/5 Highlights: The Hanging Garden Pornography

Be

Common

4/5

Surprised to see Common on here. Tbh, I know him more as a part of the cultural zeitgeist than a music artist. I didn’t expect so many Kanye features, but that’s cool. Overall, I like it. 4/5 Highlights: The Corner Chi-City

Virgin Suicides

Air

4/5

This is my second Air album this week. I gave the other a 5, so we’ll see how this one fares. Conclusion: I really liked it. More gloomy than Moon Safari, but that makes sense given the movie it was made for. Turns out I’m an Air fan. Some of the tracks are very reminiscent of the Oxenfree game soundtrack. 4/5 Highlights: Ghost Song

The ArchAndroid

Janelle Monáe

5/5

Well that was freaking amazing. No notes. 5/5 Highlights: Cold War Oh, Maker Mushrooms & Roses Say You’ll Go

People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

A Tribe Called Quest

3/5

I’ve been stuck on this album forever. Partially because I’ve been busy with life, but I think partially because I didn’t really know how to think about it. I know there’s something of a tension between new and old hip hop, and it’s many consider the older stuff to be superior. But I’m starting to realize I don’t quite agree with that. I’m not hating at all - there’s still tracks and albums I thoroughly enjoy and would gladly give 5 stars, but there’s something about older hip hop that can just feel a little one-note to me. I know Tribe is widely respected and beloved, and that’s cool, but this album just didn’t do much for me. I’m surprised by it, but I have to be honest with myself. So to finally unblock myself and move onto a new album, I’m just going to give this a 3 and move on. I would call it a 4 but there’s just not enough tracks on here that I really loved (even the ones I liked the sound of were often just nonsense…looking at you Left my Wallet in El Segundo, Bonita Applebaum, Ham ‘N’ Eggs). I’m looking forward to getting other Tribe albums to see if they resonate more. 3/5 Highlights: I Left My Wallet in El Segundo Can I Kick It

3 Feet High and Rising

De La Soul

4/5

This was a fun one. I almost gave it a 5, but there’s just a few too many misses for me. 4/5 Highlights: The Magic Number Eye Know Me Myself and I

Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches

Happy Mondays

4/5

This was far from life-changing, but enjoyable enough. Highlights: Kinky Afro Step On Harmony

Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts

The Adverts

3/5

I like this album for a bit, but it starts to get reallyyyy repetitive. Basically impossible for me to pick any highlights because every track could be the same song for all I can tell. Highlights: Newboys New Day Dawns

Rage Against The Machine

5/5

I was starting to think I was in a headspace where I wasn't able to appreciate new music. Turns out I've just been getting shit albums. This one finally snapped me out of it. Goes hard af. Highlights: Killing in the Name Wake Up Fistful of Steel Township Rebellion

Ragged Glory

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

4/5

I'm a well-documented Neil Young hater, but I can't lie…this kinda slapped. His voice still sounds like a dying animal, but the band (especially guitar) helped me tolerate it on this album. Damn you, Neil Young, for making me give you a 4. Highlights: Country Home Mother Earth (Natural Anthem)

Car Wheels On A Gravel Road

Lucinda Williams

4/5

The first half of this album was kind of meh, but the latter half was really good. The last 3 tracks were straight fire back-to-back-to-back. 4/5 Highlights: Can't Let Go Still I Long For Your Kiss Joy Jackson

Countdown To Ecstasy

Steely Dan

3/5

Totally inoffensive. But that's kind of the problem. 3/5 Highlights: Your Gold Teeth My Old School

Fragile

Yes

3/5

My least favorite Yes album so far. Not bad but not interesting enough for a 4. 3/5 Highlights: Roundabout We Have Heaven America

Trans Europe Express

Kraftwerk

4/5

“Ve beliefe in nosthing, Lewbowski.” 4/5 Highlights: Europe Endless Franz Schubert Endless Endless

The Velvet Underground & Nico

The Velvet Underground

5/5

A rare case of an album actually living up to the hype. 5/5 Highlights: I’m Waiting For The Man Venus In Furs Heroin

Pearl

Janis Joplin

4/5

“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been 133 albums since my last confession.” “What would you like to confess today?” “I’m embarrassed to admit it. I fear I am beyond forgiveness.” “Do not be afraid, my child. God is always ready to forgive.” “Okay… I confess… that I don’t like Janis Joplin as much as I’m supposed to.” “…It is not a sin to dislike Janis Joplin.” “Oh no, I don’t dislike her. It’s just… she’s one of those artists you’re supposed to love. Like, rock legend, voice of a generation, tragic icon. But I only kinda dig it. Like…she’s good, but sometimes her voice is a little grating, ya know? “…This is not quite what the sacrament of confession is for.” “I mean, Piece of My Heart? Slaps. Me and Bobby McGee? Classic. But like…am I really going to sit down and choose to throw on her album over any of the other millions of albums to choose from? “…did you actually have any *sins* to confess today?” “Also, the album cover was kinda freaking me out. She was sitting there on the couch just kind of judging me…like ‘Really? You like Amy Winehouse more than me?’” “…my child, do you understand what…oh never mind… do you have anything else to confess today?” “Yeah, I don’t like Rush either.” “Very well…Three Hail Marys. And listen to Cheap Thrills with better headphones. Now go in peace.” 4/5 Highlights: Cry Baby Half Moon Me and Bobby McGee Mercedes Benz

Nilsson Schmilsson

Harry Nilsson

4/5

This was all over the place, but I dig it. A little ELO. A little Doobies. A little Beatles/Wings. A little Rufus Wainwright. A whole lotta Nilsson Schmilsson. 4/5 Highlights: Gotta Get Up Early in the Morning Down Without You Jump into the Fire

Fuzzy

Grant Lee Buffalo

4/5

I've been stuck on this album forever trying to decide if I actually like it or if I think it's lame. I've finally decided I like it. It's not the most memorable album, but it's solid. 4/5 Highlights: Fuzzy The Hook America Snoring Grace

Highway 61 Revisited

Bob Dylan

4/5

Did I enjoy this? Yes. Do I think Bob Dylan is overrated? Yes. Do I know what the fuck he’s talking about? Hell no. 4/5 Highlights: Like a Rolling Stone Desolation Row

Tres Hombres

ZZ Top

4/5

Didn't blow my hair back or anything, but a solid southern blues rock entry. 4/5 Highlights: Jesus Just Left Chicago La Grange

Time (The Revelator)

Gillian Welch

5/5

God damn, this was incredible. 5/5 Highlights: Dear Someone Red Clay Halo I Dream a Highway

Floodland

Sisters Of Mercy

3/5

Wanted to give this a 4, but it just kinda droned on for too long. Not a bad listen, though. 3/5 Highlights: Dominion / Mother Russia Lucretia My Reflection Never Land - A Fragment

Kilimanjaro

The Teardrop Explodes

3/5

I liked the bonus tracks on this album more than the original release, but I won't count those in my rating (with an exception for Reward which seems to get an honorary inclusion in what people consider the official version of this album). Overall, pretty forgettable. 3/5 Highlights: When I Dream Reward

In A Silent Way

Miles Davis

5/5

Proof that essential jazz doesn't have to be inaccessible. 5/5 Highlights: Shhh/Peaceful

Surf's Up

The Beach Boys

3/5

Getting this album the day after Brian Wilson's passing, and I'm a little disappointed to get a Beach Boys offering that has such minimal influence from Brian. And it shows. Particularly the first half of the album, which is mostly forgettable and uninspired. The second half is really in a different league, but it's not enough to save this rating for me. Especially after reading about how the record was basically part of a PR campaign to rehab the Beach Boys image. Hard to get stoked about something that's mostly disingenuous. Still…RIP Brian. 3/5 Highlights: Student Demonstration Time Feel Flows Looking At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)

War

U2

3/5

The more I listen to U2, the more I find myself mostly unimpressed. Not bad, just kind of…meh. 3/5 Highlights: Sunday Bloody Sunday The Refugee “40”

Trio

Dolly Parton

5/5

Wildflowers has always been one of my favorite songs. Nice to hear the full album. I'm a huge country music fan, so this is right up my alley. Loved it. 5/5 Highlights: To Know Him Is to Love Him Wildflowers Those Memories of You Farther Along

The Köln Concert

Keith Jarrett

3/5

Maybe I'm just a philistine, but this did basically nothing for me. I didn't dislike it, but this is one of the very few albums in this project I've had basically no desire to give a repeat listen. 3/5 Highlights: Part II c

Grace

Jeff Buckley

3/5

I’ve never really understood why Jeff Buckley gets so much love. I’m a known cover-hater. And Leonard Cohen is one of my favorite artists. So Buckley was already starting out on my shit list for being most famous for a Cohen cover. That said… it is a beautiful cover. But I thought the original was beautiful too…and in a haunting way that I think is more fitting for the song. So we’ll call it a wash, I guess. With all that out of the way, I didn’t hate this. But it didn’t blow me away either. Best I can do is a 3. 3/5 Highlights: Lilac Wine Hallelujah Dream Brother

Shleep

Robert Wyatt

4/5

Weird, in a good way. I dig it. 4/5 Highlights: Heaps of Sheeps Maryan A Sunday in Madrid

Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)

Loretta Lynn

4/5

I absolutely adore this era of country music. They were still figuring out the genre and you get all kinds of cool cross-pollination from other early American music forms (gospel, western swing, early pop). It's just so dreamy and nostalgic (if you can be nostalgic for a period of time that predates you by nearly half a century). I can't quite put my finger on why, but I've just always loved it. Loretta did have some …questionable… political views toward the end of her life, but I'm inclined to give a little slack to someone in their late 80's who grew up in the hills of Kentucky as a literal coal miner's daughter. I'm glad she got to live to a grand old age, and I hope she's resting in peace. 4/5 Highlights: I Really Don't Want To Know I'm Living In Two Worlds I Got Caught

Happy Sad

Tim Buckley

4/5

Did not realize Tim was Jeff’s father, but makes sense. Tragic deaths for both of them. Can’t help but wonder what each of them would have gone on to do with more time. ❤️ 4/5 Highlights: Buzzing’ Fly Gypsy Woman

Ill Communication

Beastie Boys

5/5

Shit, if it’s gonna be that kind of party, I’m gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes. 5/5 Highlights: B-Boys Makin’ With The Freak Freak Bobo On The Corner Root Down Sabotage The Update Futterman’s Rule Eugene’s Lament The Scoop

Teen Dream

Beach House

3/5

I liked parts of this a lot, but it started to just drone on by the end. It doesn't help that my piece of shit ex-wife loved this band. I certainly don't think I needed to hear this before I died. 3/5 Highlights: Zebra Walk In The Park

The Soft Bulletin

The Flaming Lips

2/5

Oh my gawwwd. Your music is so quirky and weird. That must mean you're like…really smart… and deep, right? Right??? I used to really dig this era of off-beat indie. But looking back, I'm coming to the opinion that it lacks staying power. Especially this brand of it. It's just a bunch of banal vocals churning out nonsensical lyrics over catchy beats with spacey soundscapes and some sci-fi sound effects layered in. I cared at the time because that's what was popular, but I find it really hard to give a shit about it now. It's too self-important. Too convinced that I, the listener, should care about what they're putting out simply because it's what they're putting out. I know this is a hot take, but there's nothing here that Bowie didn't already do - and do better - decades prior… or that other acts (like Animal Collective or Tame Impala) wouldn't go on to do - and do better - over the next two decades. You're the middle children of psych/art rock musical history, and I'm left wondering why I should care? Maybe I'm just in a bad mood, but the more I listen to this trying to decide what rating to give it, the more I kind of hate it. I think I'm going to have to give out my 3rd ever 2-star rating. 2/5 Highlights: Race for the Prize - Remix

All Directions

The Temptations

4/5

Did The Temptations just say the N word? 4/5 Highlights: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone Do Your Thing

Elephant

The White Stripes

4/5

I understand why some people could be turned off by The White Stripes, but I give them a lot of credit for being one of the few bands around this time actually being ambitious and putting out something truly unique and fresh. Even as a fan, it doesn’t always land for me, but I appreciate the hell out of the effort. 4/5 Highlights: Seven Nation Army There’s No Home For You Here Ball and Biscuit

Honky Tonk Masquerade

Joe Ely

4/5

I’d never heard of Joe Ely before. He’s a honky tonkin’ good time. 4/5 Highlights: Cornbread Moon I’ll Be Your Fool Honky Tonkin’

Home Is Where The Music Is

Hugh Masekela

4/5

This really grew on me the more I listened to it. Some of the tracks that lean more toward free jazz really miss me on this album, but the tracks that keep it on the rails are damn good. Certainly good enough to get a solid rating out of me. 4/5 Highlights: Minawa Maseru Inner Crisis Nomali

At Newport 1960

Muddy Waters

4/5

What's not to like? 4/5 Highlights: I Got My Brand On You Soon Forgotten

Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby

Terence Trent D'Arby

4/5

No disrespect, but I'm having a really hard time hearing this as anything other than the Michael Jackson we have at home. That said, it's still really good. 4/5 Highlights: If You All Get to Heaven Wishing Well Dance Little Sister Seven More Days Who's Loving You

D

White Denim

4/5

I was a little worried when I saw 2011 since so many of the albums I’ve been getting from that era have been aggressively average, but this was actually pretty good. It’s like some weird love child of Paul Simon and Animal Collective. I dig. 4/5 Highlights: Back at the Farm Anvil Everything

Dry

PJ Harvey

3/5

Meh. This didn't do too much for me. 3/5 Highlights: Dress

Golden Hour

Kacey Musgraves

3/5

Nothing against Kacey Musgraves; I've always liked her, but there'd better be a lot of other female country artists yet to come on this list. Because there are some serious powerhouses I'd add long before I added anything by Kacey Musgraves. Overall, this album was fine. The word that kept coming to mind was "quaint". Not "memorable" or "important" or "unique" or "ambitious" or even "interesting"… just … "quaint". 3/5 Highlights: Slow Burn Rainbow

Oracular Spectacular

MGMT

5/5

Oh boy… it’s going to be reallyyy hard for me to be objective about this one. This album was EVERYWHERE during my first few years of college. It’s so indelibly linked to those carefree days of living fast, partying, and not caring about tomorrow. So, forget trying to be objective, I’m just going to appreciate the nostalgia and soak it all in. ✌️🤑🪬🪐🍻 5/5 Highlights: Time to Pretend Weekend Wars Electric Feel Kids

Odelay

Beck

5/5

Show me someone who doesn’t like Odelay, and I’ll show you someone who can’t be trusted. 5/5 Highlights: Devil’s Haircut New Pollution Where It’s At High 5 (Rock The Catskills) Ramshackle

Highway to Hell

AC/DC

4/5

This is another one of those late 70’s / early 80’s bands that remains part of the cultural zeitgeist, but that I never really gave much thought or attention. For me, this period of Rock always fell a little flat. It missed the ambition and experimentation of the 60’s and early 70’s, but didn’t fully lean into the absurdist party vibe of the mid to late 80’s. It feels like a middle child of Rock that didn’t do anything particularly unique or memorable. That said, there’s nothing wrong with this album, and my rating reflects that. Throw it on at a party and no one’s mad, but it just leaves me wanting something more. 4/5 Highlights: Highway to Hell Touch Too Much Beating Around the Bush If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)

Chore of Enchantment

Giant Sand

3/5

The chore was getting through this album… At least it’s unique, which always gets bonus points from me. Otherwise this was headed quickly for a 2. 3/5 Highlights: Temptation of Egg Shiver Satellite

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

4/5

Make it last all night (make it last all night) 4/5 Highlights: Fooled Again (I Don't Like It) Mystery Man American Girl

BEYONCÉ

Beyoncé

4/5

This was probably my first real memory of Beyonce as a solo artist. Unsurprisingly, it's very good. If not for a few tracks that I'd consider duds, this would've been 5 stars. And I'm a JAY-Z fan but damn he basically ruined Drunk in Love. Just stfu and let her cook, dude. 4/5 Highlights: Pretty Hurts Drunk in Love Partition Jealous Rocket XO

Close To You

Carpenters

3/5

Boring and unoriginal. Best track is a Beatles cover… 3/5 Highlights: Help Mr. Guder Another Song

Kind Of Blue

Miles Davis

4/5

I’m just starting to learn music theory and the piano and to appreciate jazz on a deeper level, so I’m sure I’m only scratching the surface of what they’re doing here. As such, I have a feeling this is an album I’m going to grow to appreciate more over time, but for today I’m just going with my gut response and that says 4/5. 4/5 Highlights: Freddie Freeloader Flamenco Sketches

James Brown Live At The Apollo

James Brown

4/5

“Somebody screeeeam!” 4/5 Highlights: I’ll Go Crazy Try Me Medley: Please Please Please/You’ve Got The Power/I Found Someone

Punishing Kiss

Ute Lemper

2/5

I struggled with this one. It somehow manages to accomplish the impressive feat of being equal parts unpleasant and uninteresting. One of the few albums where I didn’t bother with a second listen. 2/5 Highlights: Purple Avenue

From Elvis In Memphis

Elvis Presley

4/5

“In the ghettooo” 🕺 4/5 Highlights: I’ll Hold You In My Heart (Till I Can Hold You In My Arms) Power of My Love In the Ghetto Suspicious Minds Kentucky Rain

Merriweather Post Pavilion

Animal Collective

5/5

God damn, I love this album. One of those rare cases where an album is hyped to the max but actually lives up to the hype. 5/5 Highlights: My Girls Daily Routine Brother Sport

Younger Than Yesterday

The Byrds

4/5

This was a pleasant surprise. I expected it to be The Beatles we have at home, and it was a little of that. But as a whole, I think this album stands on its own. Sorry Byrds, I was not familiar with your game. 4/5 Highlights: Renaissance Fair Mind Gardens Lady Friend Old John Robertson

Daydream Nation

Sonic Youth

4/5

I’ve obviously heard of Sonic Youth, but I don’t think I’ve ever actually listened to them (at least not knowingly). Short story short: I dig. It was heading for 5 stars, but I feel like it kind of fell apart a little in the middle. But it finished strong. 4/5 Highlights: Teen Age Riot The Sprawl ‘Cross the Breeze B) Hyperstation

Boston

4/5

Opens with 3 absolute powerhouses, but the rest of the album leaves me wanting just a little bit more. 4/5 Highlights: More Than a Feeling Peace of Mind Foreplay / Long Time

Garbage

3/5

Far from life changing, but a good listen. 3/5 Highlights: As Heaven Is Wide A Stroke of Luck

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

Iron Butterfly

3/5

Somewhat saved by its sprawling final track, but the rest of the album was fine…just fine. The Doors you are not, but I still mostly enjoyed the ride. 3/5 Highlights: Are You Happy In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

Chirping Crickets

Buddy Holly & The Crickets

5/5

I suddenly feel like I ought to slick my hair back, grab my letterman jacket, and take my best gal down to the sock hop. Maybe first we swing by the Five and Dime to split a cherry Coke and bag of penny candy before cuttin’ a righteous rug under the gymnasium lights. Lay it on me, daddy-o! 5/5 Highlights: Oh Boy! That’ll Be The Day I’m Lookin’ For Someone To Love Send Me Some Lovin’ Rock Me My Baby

Make Yourself

Incubus

4/5

Incubus was certainly in the Zeitgeist as I was entering my teenage years around the turn of the millennium, but I’d never actually listened. It just wasn’t really my vibe, wasn’t really my crowd. So I entered this with a preconceived idea of what it was going to be, and I was somehow right and wrong. The essence of it was what I expected. But somehow the execution was far beyond anything I anticipated, and it left me realizing I was depriving myself of some really great stuff by writing off this entire brand of music. There were several times as I listened where I found myself asking, “Wait wtf? How is this so good?” I didn’t expect it to be so funky. Almost felt like ska without the horns at times. And while the turntable scratching feels very of-a-time and works better on some tracks than others, I have very little I could even think of to criticize this album. I can’t believe it, but this was almost a 5 for me. If not for one too many forgettable tracks, it would’ve been. But thoroughly enjoyed this one. Happy for the new discovery. 4/5 Highlights: Privilege The Warmth Make Yourself Drive Battlestar Scralatchtica

Heaux Tales

Jazmine Sullivan

4/5

Surprised to see such a recent album on here. I know I’m decidedly not the target audience for this album, but I’m glad I was able to listen in. The songs are great (despite some lyrics that leave more than a little to be desired), but I think overall, the “message” of the album becomes a little one-note and ultimately detracts from the high-level artistry and talent obviously on display. I feel like this could’ve been great, but came off as just ok. 4/5 Highlights: Bodies - Intro Pick Up Your Feelings Put It Down Last One Girl Like Me

A Rush Of Blood To The Head

Coldplay

4/5

This album and its tracks were absolutely inescapable in my younger years. And I didn’t dislike Coldplay, but in my mind, they were always more of a bloated Brit pop mega band that made music for the masses. I was more discerning in my tastes (or at least that’s what teenage me told myself). Coming back to this now, though, I feel conflicted. On one hand, the music is objectively good. It’s catchy, well-crafted, and you can hear exactly why millions of people connected with it. Tracks like Politik and The Scientist still hold up and still live up to the hype. And there’s a beauty in that “let’s all pack into an arena, hold hands, and sing along to these soaring tracks.” Like a shared catharsis. Church for the non religious masses. But flip the coin, and it’s harder to appreciate the art. Clocks will forever sound like the background music of a T Mobile commercial to me. Warning Sign is so bland and inoffensive that I forgot I was listening to anything at all. It starts to feel less like I’m appreciating Coldplay the band and more like I’m being spoon fed Coldplay the brand. Safe, polished, built to sell out arenas without offending anyone. It really is a coin-flip kind of album. Sometimes I hear the brilliance, sometimes I hear the muzak. The blurry line between art and product is baked right into the record. And while I don’t think I’ll ever love Coldplay the way some people do, I can’t deny the craftsmanship on display here. 4/5 Highlights: Politik The Scientist Clocks Green Eyes Amsterdam

Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

The Flaming Lips

4/5

The Flaming Lips will forever be seared into my mind as the band that did a song-for-song cover of Sgt. Pepper. Like… the whole freaking album. And for someone who almost universally hates covers and considers Sgt Pepper to be one of the top 10 albums of all time, this act was a damn near irredeemable offense. That said, I pride myself on keeping an open mind, so I need to stand by that. I’d listened to this album (Yoshimi) before, and it’s about as I remembered. It skews too often into “self indulgent circle jerk” territory, but there are some good tracks. I don’t think this album (or this band) is nearly as clever as it thinks it is, but overall it could’ve been much worse. Take your 4 and be gone. 4/5 Highlights: Flight Test Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 2 Do You Realize??

Scott 2

Scott Walker

4/5

Had Scott 4 before. Getting Scott 2 now. Liked that. Like this. I’m a Scott Walker fan, I guess 🤷🏻‍♂️ 4/5 Highlights: Jackie Best Of Both Worlds Next The Girls And The Dogs

Imagine

John Lennon

4/5

Seems like the “cool” thing to do in the music community is to hate on John Lennon, but I’ve never been one to give into that. Sure, he’s the biggest wanker of the four Bugs, but he knows how to make music. When he gets out of his own way, like he largely did with this album (petty diss tracks aside), he’s as great as they come. 4/5 Highlights: Imagine It’s So Hard I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama How Do You Sleep?

Live At The Harlem Square Club

Sam Cooke

5/5

What a legend. Hard to overstate how much I love this. Hits so much harder than his more polished, radio friendly stuff…as good as that is. 5/5 Highlights: Feel It (Don’t Fight It) Chain Gang Cupid Medley: It’s All Right / For Sentimental Reasons Twistin’ The Night Away Somebody Have Mercy Bring It On Home to Me Nothing Can Change This Love

Nebraska

Bruce Springsteen

5/5

Geez, this whole album is a gut punch. From the opening seconds. So dark. So sparse. I heard it described as an American Gothic and I think that’s a perfect description. The Boss has range. 5/5 Highlights: Atlantic City Johnny 99 State Trooper Reason to Believe

Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)

Bob Dylan

4/5

Whenever I hear Bob Dylan, I’m certain that at some point, nearly every person on earth got together and decided to play a big joke on me. I can only imagine it went something like this: “Hey let’s pick some pretentious nasally wanker who ‘sings’ completely unintelligible nonsense at unpredictable, uneven, and illogical volumes/tempos. We’ll all pretend to really love and revere that guy just to fuck with the few people that aren’t in on the joke,” Alright, good joke everyone. You got me. You really got me good. Now can we all drop the charade? Please???? They say Levon quit this tour because he couldn’t take the nightly booing, but I wonder if he just couldn’t stomach sitting through Dylan’s prickish navel-gazing one more night. That said…. THAT SAID…. even I must admit it’s not all bad. Sure, I think his lyrics are a constant stream of verbal diarrhea with no actual meaning, and his “voice” has GOT to be a joke, but there’s still some good stuff here. The electric half of this album rips. But the grump in me can’t help but ponder if that’s mostly in spite of Dylan, not because of him. 4/5 Highlights: Fourth Time Around Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat Ballad of a Thin Man Like a Rolling Stone

Cupid & Psyche 85

Scritti Politti

3/5

I’ve always felt the gap between the highest highs and lowest lows is larger in the 80’s than in any other decade. And this album feels like an embodiment of that. Tracks like Perfect Way are the 80’s at their best, but the album forces you to wade through too much mediocrity to save it from being anything other than just ok. 3/5 Highlights: Absolute Perfect Way

Superfly

Curtis Mayfield

4/5

Groovy. 4/5 Highlights: Pusherman Freddie's Dead No Thing on Me (Cocaine Song) Superfly

Homework

Daft Punk

2/5

I'm sure fans of the genre could educate me about why this is an important and worthwhile album. But as an outsider, I can't hear anything but background music during a club scene in a bad movie. It may be good (or it may not be… I don't really know how I'd tell the difference), but I don't particularly enjoy listening to it. Not gonna lie, I found myself wanting it to be over about half way through. 2/5 Highlights: Da Funk Rock'n Roll

Playing With Fire

Spacemen 3

5/5

“Taking drugs to make music to take drugs to.” This was a new discovery for me. Absolutely love it… everything about it. 5/5 Highlights: - Honey - How Does It Feel - Revolution - Lord Can You Hear Me

Fear Of A Black Planet

Public Enemy

3/5

Good enough for a while, but it gets pretty tiresome at some point… and then it goes on for another 30 minutes… 3/5 Highlights: Brothers Gonna Work It Out Power To The People Fight The Power

The Predator

Ice Cube

4/5

I was underwhelmed by Fear Of A Black Planet yesterday, and I gotta admit, I’m not in the mood for another hour long early 90’s hip hop album, but I’ll try to give it an honest effort. And…same takeaway as Public Enemy. Definitely some good stuff, and my rating reflects that, but it just drags on way too long. I think it would be a much stronger record with 3 or 4 tracks cut out. 4/5 Highlights: When Will They Shoot? Now I Gotta Wet ‘Cha It Was A Good Day Check Yo Self Say Hi To The Bad Guy

Come Away With Me

Norah Jones

5/5

Going from Ice Cube’s Predator to this is some kind of whiplash. 5/5 Highlights: Don’t Know Why Seven Years Come Away With Me Turn Me On Nightingale

Mr. Tambourine Man

The Byrds

4/5

Perfectly enjoyable and (but?) entirely inoffensive. 4/5 Highlights: Mr. Tambourine Man I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better All I Really Want to Do It’s No Use

Cloud Nine

The Temptations

3/5

A 9 minute song as the third track is wild. A full 6 minutes longer than any other track on the album. It seems like they did the same thing on each of their albums. Interesting. Luckily, that song ended up being my favorite on the album (I remember thinking the same thing for Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone on All Directions). The rest of the album, however, didn’t do much for me. 3/5 Highlights: Runaway Child, Running Wild

Deep Purple In Rock

Deep Purple

5/5

Holy shit. I didn’t know Deep Purple rocked like that. I went into this album expecting an inane prog rock wank fest, but this was badass. 5/5 Highlights: Speed King Bloodsucker Child In Time

Cosmo's Factory

Creedence Clearwater Revival

5/5

No notes. 5/5 Highlights: Travelin’ Band Lookin’ Out My Back Door Run Through The Jungle Up Around The Bend I Heard It Through The Grapevine

Urban Hymns

The Verve

3/5

I have a really hard time giving a shit about anything Brit pop. I’m sure if you were college aged in the UK around the time it was popular, it probably feels super important. But with a little geographic and temporal separation, I think we can see it for what it really is: just ok at best, unremarkable and boring at baseline, and kinda shit far too often. 3/5 Highlights: Bitter Sweet Symphony Catching The Butterfly One Day Velvet Morning Come On / Deep Freeze

High Violet

The National

1/5

Good god this was so boring. A lot of this kind of music from this era rubs me the wrong way. It’s so morose and self-important, but worst of all, it’s SOOOOOO BORING. And in my opinion, that’s the most unforgivable thing that music can be. I had this on all morning while I was doing some chores around the house, listening straight through probably 4 times, and not a single track stands out. Forget standing out, I could barely tell one track from another. 200 something albums in and this is going to get my first ever one star rating. And that’s not because it was so bad, per se, but because it committed the cardinal sin (in my opinion) of being irredeemably lifeless and boring. The National…fuck off. 1/5 Highlights: None

Violent Femmes

4/5

I’ve been getting so many painfully boring albums lately; this was a welcome change of pace. 4/5 Highlights: Blister In The Sun Kiss Off Confessions

The Cars

4/5

A few too many forgettable tracks, but the hits are strong enough for a solid rating. 4/5 Highlights: Good Times Roll Just What I Needed

Joan Armatrading

4/5

I’d never heard of Joan. This was great. 4/5 Highlights: Down To Zero Help Yourself Water With The Wine Love And Affection Join The Boys Tall In The Saddle

Disintegration

The Cure

5/5

This album first found me (quite fittingly) as I was navigating the ugly collapse of a very serious relationship. It’s not surprising I connected with it so strongly. There’s a part of me that’s always been a dreamy romantic, and though Disintegration is certainly a record about heartbreak and loss, what I’ve always loved is that it doesn’t just wallow in the despair. It still believes in love. Still has hope. Still imagines that something beautiful could emerge from the wreckage. And re-listening nearly a decade later, in a situation infinitely better than the one that ended, that hopefulness doesn’t feel corny or unreasonable or even misguided. It feels just about right. Actually, it feels perfect. 5/5 Highlights: Plainsong Pictures of You Closedown Fascination Street Prayers for Rain Untitled

Rubber Soul

Beatles

4/5

Listening to this record, I’m realizing I’ve never fully come to terms with The Beatles. Their early hits are catchy and classic. The White Album is obviously an important and immovable entry in music history. In My Life is one of my favorite songs. And I’ve long considered Sgt. Pepper’s one of the best albums ever made. But if I’m being honest with myself, I’ve never really taken a step back and considered the band as a whole. And I’ve never done an honest-to-goodness deep-dive into their catalog. I’ve never really taken the time to decide how I feel about them. Part of that is my annoying habit of being an insufferable contrarian. The fact that they’re so widely considered to be one of the “best” bands ever is probably precisely the reason I’ve always kept them at arm’s length. But here, with Rubber Soul, I’m going to start my deeper analysis of the band. And my deep analysis of this album is…it’s pretty good (deep, I know). I’ll keep this one in the back of my mind as I listen to the rest of the catalog so I can evaluate it in context of the band’s progression. 4/5 Highlights: Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) Girl I’m Looking Through You In My Life

Go Girl Crazy

The Dictators

4/5

“I don’t have to be here, you know. I don’t have to show up here. With my vast financial holdings, I could’ve been basking in the sun in Florida. This is just a hobby for me! Nothing, ya hear! A hobby!” 4/5 Highlights: The Next Big Thing I Got You Babe (I Live For) Cars and Girls

Eagles

4/5

Don’t use a Big Lebowski quote. Don’t use a Big Lebowski quote. Don’t use a … Gahhh! “Man, c’mon. I had a rough night, and I hate the fucking Eagles, man.” 4/5 Highlights: Chug All Night Nightingale Earlybird

Rattus Norvegicus

The Stranglers

4/5

Pretty forgettable, but enjoyable enough. 4/5 Highlights: London Lady Princess of the Streets Peaches Down in the Sewer (Medley)

The Real Thing

Faith No More

4/5

This was kinda shit, but also it kinda ripped. 4/5 Highlights: Woodpecker From Mars War Pigs

Tidal

Fiona Apple

3/5

Background music. 3/5 Highlights: Criminal Carrion

The Madcap Laughs

Syd Barrett

4/5

This was interesting. I consider myself a Pink Floyd fan, but I’d never listened to any of Barrett’s solo stuff. Cool to get a peek into his mind. Some really interesting stuff here. Some of it well ahead of its time. But guilty of a pet peeve of mine… finish your damn album, man. 4/5 Highlights: No Good Trying No Man’s Land If It’s in You

Paul Simon

4/5

Very cool. I like the international influences. 4/5 Highlights: Mother and Child Reunion Duncan Paranoia Blues

A Night At The Opera

Queen

4/5

I’ve always thought of Queen as one of those bands with absolute bangers but not really any notable albums. But this one proved me wrong. There’s the mega hits, for sure, but the overall album is equally effective. Not quite a 5, but a strong 4. The Prophet’s Song should not have made the final cut, though. Save that for the deluxe edition. 4/5 Highlights: Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon ‘39 Love Of My Life Bohemian Rhapsody God Save The Queen

Foxbase Alpha

Saint Etienne

4/5

There’s some great tracks on here, and overall it’s enjoyable enough background music, but it goes on way too long and I’m having a hard time believing I needed to hear it before I die. 4/5 Highlights: Only Love Can Break Your Heart People Get Real Nothing Can Stop Us Kiss and Make Up

It's A Shame About Ray

The Lemonheads

2/5

Aggressively mid. 2/5 Highlights: My Drug Buddy Frank Mills

Music for the Masses

Depeche Mode

4/5

Good stuff. 4/5 Highlights: The Things You Said Strangelove Pimpf

Five Leaves Left

Nick Drake

5/5

Shocked to see this is from 1969. Sounds like it could be from the early/mid 2010’s. I really enjoyed this. Very chill. I initially rated this a 4/5, but after reading about Nick and his tragic story, and dwelling with the album more, I’m bumping it up to a 5/5. RIP dude. 5/5 Highlights: Time Has Told Me Three Hours Day Is Done Thoughts Of Mary Jane Fruit Tree

Deja Vu

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

3/5

Nice but forgettable. 3/5 Highlights: Carry On Teach Your Children Our House

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

Raekwon

3/5

Oh my god, this went on forever. I like old school hip hop, for a couple tracks. Then it starts to get so repetitive. I'm sure people love this, but I was already checking how many tracks I had to go about halfway through. I want to give this a 2, but I'm sure there's more merit to it than I'm giving credit. But I have a long backlog of albums to get through and I don't have the fortitude to dig into this with repeated listens. So I'll just call it a 3. 3/5 Highlights: Criminology Guillotine (Swordz)

Time Out

The Dave Brubeck Quartet

4/5

Really lovely. Perfect music to have in the background while I focus on starting the new year strong. 4/5 Highlights: Take Five Three to Get Ready Pick up Sticks

We're Only In It For The Money

The Mothers Of Invention

2/5

I guess I can see why this might be an album I should listen to before I die, but c'mon. I'm a cynical person, but this level of cynicism is hard for even me to stomach. It's a lot easier to parody and make fun of people than it is to have original ideas. Feels lazy and a little mean-spirited. I'll never get this 40 minutes of my life back, and I wish I could. 2/5 Highlights: Bow Tie Daddy What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body? Lonely Little Girl Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance

Screamadelica

Primal Scream

3/5

This was like Nine Inch Nails without the balls. But still decent. 3/5 Highlights: Movin' On Up Loaded

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

Aretha Franklin

5/5

So good. I'm usually not a fan of covers, but damn that version of A Change Is Gonne Come was almost better than the original. 5/5 Highlights: Respect Drown in My Own Tears A Change Is Gonna Come

Low-Life

New Order

4/5

Glad I gave this one a fair chance. It didn’t grab me on the first listen, but after a few spins, I grew to really like it. 4/5 Highlights: Love Vigilantes Elegia

If I Could Only Remember My Name

David Crosby

4/5

I’d never heard this, but it’s right up my alley. Guitar and harmonies are out of this world. 4/5 Highlights: Music Is Love Cowboy Movie Tamalpais High (At About 3)

The Village Green Preservation Society

The Kinks

3/5

This was fine, but I had a hard time caring. 3/5 Highlights: Last of the Steam-Powered Trains Big Sky All of My Friends Were There

The Specials

4/5

Fun listen. Extra credit for being unique. 4/5 Highlights: A Message to You Rudy Doesn't Make It Alright (Dawning of A) New Era Little Bitch

3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of...

Arrested Development

3/5

As usual with old school hip hop, I find it fun for like…a song or two… then it starts getting really repetitive and uninteresting to me. 3/5 Highlights: Mr. Wendal U Dawn Of The Dreads

Django Django

5/5

This was unexpectedly awesome. 5/5 Highlights: Introduction/Hail Bop Zumm Zumm Wor Life's a Beach Skies Over Cairo

Talking With the Taxman About Poetry

Billy Bragg

5/5

I don't know why it took me this long to find Billy Bragg, but I'm glad I finally did. 5/5 Highlights: The Marriage There Is Power in a Union The Passion The Warmest Room

Paranoid

Black Sabbath

5/5

It always blows my mind that the guys in Black Sabbath were like 20 when they made this debut record. Lightning in a bottle kind of stuff. I've always felt it sort of a shame that many of a certain age (myself included for a long time) knew/know Ozzy as more of a pop culture icon than what he really was - one of the towering figures of rock and roll history, deserving of just as much praise as anyone else in that conversation. Thankfully, following his death, there seemed to be a rightful emphasis placed on Ozzy the musician and not just Ozzy the reality show personality. 5/5 Highlights: War Pigs Paranoid Iron Man Electric Funeral Fairies Wear Boots

Autobahn

Kraftwerk

4/5

"Fair?! Who's the fucking nihilist around here?!" 4/5 Highlights: Autobahn

Second Toughest In The Infants

Underworld

4/5

I don't know what Electronica god I angered to get Kraftwerk then this back-to-back. But honesty, I don't mind it. The next album better be something different, though. 4/5 Highlights: Banstyle/Sappy's Curry

In The Court Of The Crimson King

King Crimson

4/5

I'm a known prog rock hater, but this was actually pretty good. Cool to hear the original track that Kanye sampled on Power. Moonchild was still a bridge too far for me, but who knows…maybe I'm coming around to Prog. 4/5 Highlights: 21st Century Schizoid Man

Drunk

Thundercat

2/5

Man, I kinda hate shit like this. That noodling bass just pisses me off. And it's like they're intentionally trying to sound discordant. Idk how to describe it, but it feels overly performative. Like "Listen to me. I intentionally make it sound off. Isn't my music so deep? Aren't I pretty?" And it's so fkn long! 23 songs? Fuck off. Some may love it, but I find it grating. Even Michael McDonald and Kendrick were not enough to save this one for me. 2/5 Highlights: Jethro Where I'm Going Drink Dat

Paranoid

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