335
Albums Rated
2.93
Average Rating
31%
Complete
754 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010s
Favorite Decade
Hard-rock
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Perfectionist
Rater Style ?
12
5-Star Albums
14
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
|
5 | 3.38 | +1.62 |
|
2112
Rush
|
5 | 3.39 | +1.61 |
|
She's So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper
|
5 | 3.48 | +1.52 |
|
The Modern Dance
Pere Ubu
|
4 | 2.48 | +1.52 |
|
Moving Pictures
Rush
|
5 | 3.59 | +1.41 |
|
To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
|
5 | 3.61 | +1.39 |
|
good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
|
5 | 3.61 | +1.39 |
|
Live At The Witch Trials
The Fall
|
4 | 2.64 | +1.36 |
|
Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
|
5 | 3.66 | +1.34 |
|
Transformer
Lou Reed
|
5 | 3.67 | +1.33 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
|
1 | 3.53 | -2.53 |
|
James Brown Live At The Apollo
James Brown
|
1 | 3.46 | -2.46 |
|
All Directions
The Temptations
|
1 | 3.46 | -2.46 |
|
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
|
1 | 3.39 | -2.39 |
|
Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
|
1 | 3.37 | -2.37 |
|
Blur
Blur
|
1 | 3.33 | -2.33 |
|
Mama's Gun
Erykah Badu
|
1 | 3.25 | -2.25 |
|
Step In The Arena
Gang Starr
|
1 | 3.17 | -2.17 |
|
Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
|
2 | 4.06 | -2.06 |
|
Water From An Ancient Well
Abdullah Ibrahim
|
1 | 3.04 | -2.04 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Kendrick Lamar | 2 | 5 |
| Rush | 2 | 5 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| The Temptations | 2 | 1.5 |
| Blur | 2 | 1.5 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Leonard Cohen | 5, 2 |
5-Star Albums (12)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
The Who
3/5
Can definitely tell that it was once part of a concept album, or rock opera as there is a lot of story structure in the songs. I was also glad to know that making meta-commentary in music was popular in the early 70s as well. I will say that Keith Moon is one hell of a drummer.
1 likes
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
God Neil Young is so boring. I've heard this album more times than I'd like to count, and I still don't like it.
1 likes
Randy Newman
2/5
It definitely sounded like your drunk uncle performing on open-mic night with a bunch of songs he's "workshopping" as well as some tunes he seems to make up as he goes. Also, your uncle is finding his spirituality right now, so he's got faith and god in his heart and he just needs to share it with you. Sorry Unc. Didn't love it.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (14)
All Ratings
Foo Fighters
4/5
This was a great intro album for a band, and considering it only consisted of 1 person doing everything it's pretty damned amazing.
Lou Reed
5/5
I enjoyed this album a lot. A real bop as the kids today might say. I can also hear his influence on a ton of the music I listen to today. No surprise it also reminded me a lot of "Adventureland" which is a great movie.
Duke Ellington
2/5
I gave it the weekend to think about how I felt about this record. I didn't like jazz when I was in the high school jazz band, I didn't like jazz when all my friends got into, and some in fact now run a jazz bar, and you know what? I still don't like jazz.
I didn't hate this album, if someone put it on I wouldn't ask them to take it off, but I'd also feel the whole time like I was on a really long elevator ride.
Giving it 2 stars anyway, because I understand the influence it's had on music.
Metallica
3/5
I enjoy some Metallica songs, and I was fairly excited to listen to this album, as I realized if I have listened to it in it's entirety, it was more than 25 years ago.
That being said, I didn't love it. I felt it was too long. I don't mind a long album, I listen to a lot of Doom and Stoner metal, but I just didn't jive with the fast guitars playing the same riff for multiple minutes.
I'll graciously give is 3/5 stars, because I did find myself enjoying it at times, and even though I was ready to turn it off before it ended, I didn't. There's songs on it I'd listen to again.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
This is definitely not the first time, nor the last time I'll listen to this album. Led Zeppelin is a great band, and this is a great album, but I won't give it 5/5 because it's not my favorite album by them.
Malcolm McLaren
1/5
Definitely never listed to anything on this album before. It was also definitely not what I expected based on Malcolm McLaren and his influence on late 70s punk music. This is the 80iest of 80s. Definitely the source of a lot of samples. I'm not sure what's with the "live radio DJ" stuff, but it's definitely a time and place. I also hate how they use "female" as a term.
I think this will fall heavily into albums I've listened to, but won't ever listen to again. Not sure that I'll ever spin any of the individual songs either. Though the first half did make me feel like I was at a party on the ocean shore, the album really starts to drag on it's second half. Legba is terrible, and it doesn't much improve from there. By World Famous I was just waiting for the album to end, and...suddenly square dancing? What?? Ok. This is stupid. 1/5
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
2/5
Exactly what I expected based on cover art, and band name. Not sure I love his vocals, but the music is killer. I love me some blues inspired 70s rock. Definitely heavy on the sex part of the sex, drugs and rock and roll. I was surprised to find out this band was Scottish, and not based out of the southern US. That is, if I hadn't listened to Next. All told, a solid 2/5 effort. Don't get me wrong, I love this genre, but I don't love this album.
John Lennon
2/5
Disjointed, so much so that at first I thought it was some kind of compilation album. That would require this album to have more than a couple of good songs, which I didn't really feel it did. Several tonal, and genre changes throughout the album. A song about how he's different, followed not long after a diss track, then a love song to his current wife. He may love Yoko Ono, but I don't love this album.
5/5
David Bowie has been a pretty regular part of my whole life, enough so I was able to listen to this from our personal collection instead of digitally. My mom was a big David Bowie fan, and I remember as a kid loving this album, and also Diamond Dogs. The cover of which will always haunt me. I enjoy most of the music Bowie created, and I love Labryinth. Is this a perfect album? No. Am I still giving it 5/5? Yes.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
This isn't a CCR album I currently own, but listening to it made me think it's definitely one I should own. Graveyard Train's bassline is amazing. Not a perfect album, felt the last song dragged a bit, but otherwise a great album I'll come back to again and again.
Erykah Badu
1/5
Digging the music, much more than the vocals. She has something to say, for sure, but I don't love her voice. Sounds a little bit like a cartoon character. It's really just the tone, I like her vocal flow. Definitely got bored of this album long before it got done. Booty was a particular low point, but Kiss Me On My Neck wasn't a whole lot better. Time was a wasting, while I was listening to Time is Wasting. I hate the fake record pops throughout Green Eyes. I was glad when this album was over. I'll likely never listen to any of it again.
Sam Cooke
4/5
I was expecting Jazz for sure, based on the cover, but it's definitely more a blues album. I enjoyed the hell out of it. Found myself tapping along most of the album, and it kept pulling my focus, regardless of what else I was trying to do. My dad was big into the blues, so it felt a little bit like riding around in the car with him, which was a nice bit of nostalgia for a Thursday morning. Not the type of music I'd normally listen to, but definitely felt like if it was 1963, I'd be having a great time in that club. Quite the backstory to Sam as well, who knows what else we may have got if he hadn't died so young. I would definitely listen to it again, but I don't think it'll be an album I come back to often, as it's really not the usual genre I listen to.
Stevie Wonder
2/5
Definitely glad I'm listening to this with my headphones, because I would definitely miss the layered stereo sound without them. The instrumentation is amazing, and probably way ahead of it's time. It's a little too much for me though, a little too many sounds, and wubwub synth is a bit overdone.
Wasn't digging the first two songs, then Living for the City came on, and found myself starting to enjoy it, until the skit in the middle pulled me right back out. Golden Lady was a little repetitive.
Higher Ground is definitely a step up from the rest of the album so far. Followed by what I think is the low point of the album in Jesus Children of America. Though All in Love is Fair is also a bit on the bland side.
Another skit, this time to start Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing, which I think would be much stronger without it. My favourite part of this song was definitely the bridge. This song would have also been stronger, if it were about a minute shorter, and removed some of the repetition from the end.
Final track, and comes with a much different sound. Gone is the heavy synth, and replaced with what sounds a fairly standard piano, and drum machines. I wonder if I'm missing a reference with the Misstra vs Mister. I was about to write the song off entirely, then about 3 minutes in we get some hard hitting vocals, and it pulled me in to the finale. It should have ended a minute earlier, and not just did that slow fade out, though.
I understand the influence this album has had, but I wonder if it was chosen based on the strength of Higher Ground which stands out against the rest of the album as the strongest song, and definitely the one we've all heard the most.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
What a great start to a great career full of great music.
The Kinks
3/5
How could I hate any album that starts with God Save Donald Duck.
I felt the album started a little slow, by Johnny Thunder I thought I might tap out, but I really started to get pulled in by mid album.
Songs dedicated to cats?
A bit random, but overall an enjoyable listening experience. I can see myself exploring more of the Kinks music.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
First stong has a Sex Pistols sample. Horns! Named after party drugs! Always interesting when an album that doesn't contain the bands biggest single is selected. There really isn't enough trombone in rock-based music. I really enjoyed a lot of the album.
Geno is clearly the most popular song on this album, based on listens in Spotify, and I get it. Total Wall of Sound.
Keep It feels like it was added to the album to pad for time, thematically and tonally it doesn't really fit the rest of the album. It also reminds me a lot of Everclears - I Will Buy You A New Life.
A poem? Yuck.
On full listen, if the album had ended on the song before Keep it, I'd have rated it a 3, the last 3 songs pull it down to a 2.
The Smashing Pumpkins
2/5
Long. Way too long. The bangers were bangers, but a lot of it just felt like filler.
Could have been 2 albums one succesful, and one not.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Oh man, from the first heavy riff, to the last, this album is a banger. Long been one of my favourite albums, it doesn't fail to delight. Deep, heavy riffs, amazingly hard hitting drums, and vocals and lyrics that have inspired generations of metal performers. I don't think this is a perfect album. The "Electric Funeral" background vocals don't hit right. Rat Salad as a series of solos, feels a little dated. However, this was my favourite album for a time, and still definitely ranks up there in my top 10.
Anthrax
2/5
It was alright. Perhaps because of the age, it didn't feel groundbreaking. Time changes were all over the place. Vocals were lacking. It felt like I was listening to Generic Metal Album #22342. I'd have given it 1 star, but songs about Stephen Kings, "The Stand" and "Apt Pupil" as well as a song about Judge Dredd pushed it up to a 2 for me.
Funkadelic
3/5
It was definitely a very funk heavy album. I enjoyed the first half a lot more then the second, but overall it was an enjoyable listen. I'm not sure I'd purposely revisit it, but I'd definitely not object to it being put on. Giving it a 3, because I'm rouding up the 2.5
Michael Jackson
4/5
Great album, full of great songs. Another one that I wouldn't put on by myself, but wouldn't object if someone else did.
Elton John
4/5
Leonard Cohen
5/5
I'm a big fan of folk music, it comes in the blood I think. My mom and her brother were a folk duo when they were younger, and my uncle continued to play bars until he passed. It's one of my favourite genre's in fact. Most of what I regularly listen to is at the very least folk inspired. I only wish I had listened to this album when I had the time to truly enjoy it, so I think I'll be likely to revisit one evening when I have the time to sit and enjoy. I loved this album. Everything about it. Leonard's voice hits the right spots. The minimalist guitar. An album of story-telling and poetry, often combined within the same song
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Always seen rap as the flip side of the coin of punk. Street music, street politics, rage against the system. This album was solid all the way through, with quite a few bangers I'm sure I'll listen to again: King Kunta, Alright, The Blacker the Berry (which is probably my favourite track on the album) though I also love Mortal Man, and the confessional/conversational nature at the end. I don't think I have a single complaint about this album, and I can see why you both own it,
Primal Scream
2/5
Definitely a headphone album. Not sure what I expected from a band called Primal Scream, but it was neither primal, nor full of screams. In fact it really felt like an album of soundscapes, versus a cohesive album. In fact Medication was the first song that had a more formal structure. Motorhead didn't sound like a Motorhead cover as I had hoped. The wierd soundscapes continue, but it alsmost feels like a different band. Trainspotting seems to be a return to the first part of this album. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. It was a nice way to pass some time, but definitely not feeling the need to dig into Primal Screams discography to get more. 2 stars.
The Fall
4/5
Listening via headset on my work laptop, but I wish I had a mixer so I could boost the bass in the first song, because that riff is great. The bassist definitely sounds like they're the only one with previous music experience. I didn't know this was going to be a punk album, but Rebellious Jukebox is definitely a punk song. Quote from the singers Wikipedia sums it up pretty good, "rock & roll isn't even music really. It's a mistreating of instruments to get feelings over." What a great album.
Derek & The Dominos
1/5
What happens when you make blues and soul music, when you don't actually have any soul yourself? You get this album. Technically perfect in almost every way. It hits all the exact right notes. The vocals are just the right level of whiskey soaked. What it lacks, is any feeling at all. Probably I'm partly biased due to my dislike of Eric Clapton, but this album is just plain boring. It's also way too long. Layla would have been better if it ended before the piano started up about mid-song. The second half is just more "look how good we are at our instruments" and adds nothing to the song at all. Up until that point, it had been the only song I had enjoyed so far. I was glad for it to be over.
King Crimson
3/5
It was ok. It definitely had some fun moments, and maybe if it was 1970s, and I was sitting on a beanbag chair and listening to it on vinyl with friends, and mild hallucinegics, I would enjoy it more.
Peter Gabriel
2/5
First, I didn't realize that Solsbury Hill was a Peter Gabriel song even though I've heard it probably more times than I can count. Second, I wouldn't be surprised if this album was chosen on the strength of that one song alone.
I didn't like this album, more than once I found myself saying you aren't David Bowie. I also don't think he knows how to end songs, and I'm pretty sure the radio edit of Solsbury Hill ends about a minute earlier than the album track. The end of several songs is just odd. The album itself didn't feel very well put together. Rock songs, jazz songs, a song that felt very much like I was listening to the B-Sharps.
I do want to take an extra bit to talk about how freaking weird the second last song on this album is. If I've ever hard a song with more tonal shifts than this one, I don't remember it. It like the rest of the album is all over the place.
You're not David Bowie, and this songs mix feels a bit dated. Vocals feel like they're lost in the wall of sound. I've heard Solsbury Hill more times than I can count, and this is the first time I realized it was Peter Gabriel. I think most radio edits cut off around the 3:45 mark, because boy this song ended wierdly. Now we have the B-Sharps coming in on Track 4. Is this ironic? Slide whistle and tuba. Humdrum's title sums it up well enough. Slowburn made me want to say you're not David Bowie again. Another song with a bizarre ending too. Nor are you Elton John. Waiting for the Big One feels like it belongs on a blues album. Does he just not know how to end a song? Down the Dolce Vita, has the strangest transitions I've heard. It is completely all over the place. I hate it.
The Pretty Things
3/5
It was a solid album, and when a remaster is available I would love to listen to it as I found my biggest issue with this album was that it was mixed so odd vs current mixing standards. I can see why the Wiki article mentioned ripping off The Who because I can see it's fingerprints all over Tommy. Overall, definitely glad I listened to it, will listen to it again with a future remaster.
Favorite Song: Balloon Burning
Calexico
3/5
I don't know where I sit with this album. I liked a lot of it, and I do feel like I'm likely to listen to more Calexico going forward (I'd never heard of them before today) but I think the album would be a lot stronger with a different vocalist. The melodies hit the right spot for me, and sometimes the vocals did as well, but more often than not I felt that the vocals detracted from the song
U2
2/5
I just don't like U2, you know? I can appreciate the album for what it is, but I can't say that I enjoyed it. I'm sure I'll hear a bunch of these songs again, and I'm sure I'll tell whoever put it on that I don't like U2, but will I actually care? Probably not. That's why I'll give this album a 2.
The Strokes
3/5
If I had to judge an album by it's cover, the first thing I thought of was Spinal Taps, "Smell the Glove"
That being said, the album itself was pretty good. The vocalist definitely feels like the weakest link, but it does work great on certain songs. (Last Nite) for example.
I don't know that I will return to the album, but I definitely wouldn't mind if someone else put it on, so I think that leaves me with a 3
Baaba Maal
3/5
If it wasn't for this 'challenge' I would likely never have listened to this album. Though, I'm not sure that listening to it changed my life in any noticeable way, I did enjoy the hour I had with it. Single Serving Friend, as Tyler Durden may have said. It wasn't by any stretch the imagination a bad album, and I did enjoy it, but I also found it very hard to listen to an hour of vocals in a language I didn't know. so I'm going to give it a 2.5, and round it up to 3.
Genesis
3/5
This was not the Genesis I was expecting. Over the top prog rock. Album started off pretty good but I found myself getting bored toward the end. Another one I think a bean bag chair, some headphones, and it still being the 1970s would have helped immensely. It was alright. I don't have a strong opinion either way.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
I dug this album a lot. Blues and 70s inspired rock is always great. Not something I'd necessarily sit and listen to as a whole, but if random songs were added to my mixes I wouldn't complain.
Metallica
3/5
The hits were good, the extras were definitely extra. I get now why everyone says this isn't a great album. It's not, but it does have a few bangers.
Dire Straits
4/5
What a great album. Comes out swinging with 3 of their greatest hits, and just keeps rocking from there. Enjoyed it from start to end, and would enjoy it again, and will enjoy it again. How can you not love an album that features Sting?
Meat Loaf
4/5
This was a great album! Could very much tell it was based on a musical, but Meat Loaf's clean vocal stylings are perfect for it. I can definitely feel the influence of Elton John, and other Glam musicians of the time all over this album. I'd 100% listen to it again (I think this was actually the first time I've listened to it as a whole)
Kings of Leon
1/5
This was a great album! Could very much tell it was based on a musical, but Meat Loaf's clean vocal stylings are perfect for it. I can definitely feel the influence of Elton John, and other Glam musicians of the time all over this album. I'd 100% listen to it again (I think this was actually the first time I've listened to it as a whole)
The Doors
4/5
Solid album front to back
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
I hadn't listened to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs before this album, and that was a definite L for me. This album was great, and I can definitely see this and other albums by them getting added to my playlists.
Cyndi Lauper
5/5
Geez, I love this album so much. I've loved it since my Dad got it when it came out in 1983, and I love it now. I was also a big wrestling fan as a kid, and the Cyndi Lauper/Capt Lou team-up was all a kid could ask for. Is it perfect? No, I find the last 3 songs on the album are definitely the weakest. However, I'm still giving it 5 stars, one for each hit on this album, +1 for the wrestling connection. :star::star::star::star::star:
Iggy Pop
4/5
I totally understand However, because Bowie largely created it, fans do not generally consider the album as being representative of Pop's output because this is definitely a Bowie album through and through. It's got his hands all over it, and even includes a song he'll later release as a single himself. Iggy's voice over Bowie's music creates a very interesting sound, and can definitely hear the Kraftwerk influence on Mass Production. I enjoyed listening to this quite a bit.
Incubus
3/5
I myself had never really sat down and listened to any of their albums, and had only heard their radio hits. After listening to the album, I can see why they've always been lumped into nu-metal. They Sugar Ray'd me! Overall, the bass grooves were great, the songs were overall pretty mid, and the record scratching was fun.
Haircut 100
3/5
I enjoyed this. If definitely felt very 80s club scene. I don't think I could listen to this album again in full, it definitely isn't enough to my taste for that, but if I was in the 80s, and dancing in a club there's a few songs I'd definitely enjoy hearing.
Marty Robbins
4/5
Made me want to be a gunfighter. Tons of fun.
OutKast
3/5
Lots of great beats. Great flow. Unfortunately it came out in the time of between track skits, and they always pull me out of the groove.
JAY Z
4/5
What an enjoyable album, Hip Hop probably isn't my top genre, but this album hit all the right notes anyway. The beats were great, the drum lines solid. I love the electronic drum feel throughout the album. The guest rappers are all great as well.
Django Django
3/5
It's definitely not something I would have found on my own without this 'challenge'. I did, however, enjoy my time with it. Some very cool soundscapes, and great ambiance. It's not my thing, but I'm glad I tried it.
The White Stripes
4/5
I love the White Stripes, and this album was no different. It's funny you said you hated how The Nurse ended cause I felt the same way about most of the songs on the album, that they just seemed to stop, and didn't have a satisfying conclusion.
The Black Crowes
3/5
Felt like fairly generic blues rock. Nothing at all ground-breaking to be found here. The best song on the album is a cover of a blues song. I enjoyed my time with it, but I wasn't blown away.
Public Enemy
3/5
I imagine back in 1990, this was a very good record. Nowadays, I'm not too sure.
Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate any part of the album, I just think it's a bit dated as hiphop has progressed a lot in production since then.
Bob Dylan
4/5
I found myself tapping my foot through every minute of this album, and when it ended I continued to listen to Dylan for a time after, so I think this hit me exactly right
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
This album suffers from me not speaking Portuguese, as I definitely connected better with the English language songs. Bossa Nova is definitely a fun genre, and I definitely found myself tapping my foot quite often through it
Animal Collective
3/5
This was definitely one of the albums of all times. The musical soundscape was fun, definitely feel the experimental part of the pop. That being said, this was not for me. Great headphone listen I think, if you're trying to zone out, but not something to actively listen to
4/5
This album somehow still sounds so futuristic, which is crazy given it's 18 years old. It is cohesive, and flows well. All the songs are great (and I was excited to listen to Knights of Cydonia).
James Brown
1/5
I didn't much care for this album, but I'm not sure if it was because I actually didn't like the music (which is definitely part of it) or if my perception of him as a garbage person played a part (likely). Either way, it's over, and no more James Brown for me, thanks.
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
This was definitely an interesting album. I loved the groove. I don't know that it's something I would actively listen to, but as background music while I work it was perfect. The vocals fit well with the instruments, and though I didn't understand them, they worked their way into the melody perfectly
Deee-Lite
3/5
Groove Is in the Heart is definitely a banger. How do you make a slide whistle sound cool? I don't know, but they did it. Having Bootsy Collins play bass for you sure doesn't hurt either. The rest of the album doesn't really compare to it to be honest. I didn't not enjoy it, but I think I would enjoy it more as a live piece. It doesn't feel much like an album you should be sitting down to while listening. Definitely recommend a headset for this one as well, as there is a lot of play in the sound. Overall I think Groove brings the album up to 3 stars. Without it, it would be 2.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
Not sure why this was released as a double album and not two single albums, as they don't sound connected at all. Nick's voice is something, and for the most part it works for the songs, though at times he does remind me a little of Peter Steele which I guess isn't a terrible thing. Each of the two discs as a solo album would probably end up as a 3 for me, but together, with the length it pulled it down to a 2. It was just too much Nick Cave for one morning.
Violent Femmes
4/5
Are they good instrumentalists? No. Can Gordon sing? Not really. Does that hurt this album at all? I don't think so. So many great tunes on this album. We were talking the other day in my friend group about our favourite opening tracks, and I amended my answer to include Blister in the Sun, because I forgot it was the opener. I'm listening to a few of the tracks again, Kiss Off, Add it Up, Gone Daddy Gone. It isn't a perfect album, some of their songs drag a little bit, but overall I loved it.
Curtis Mayfield
2/5
I am definitely not the target audience for this album. Felt a lot like a gospel album, or that I was at a church service. I've never been a big fan of falsetto vocalising, and it's in abundence throughout. The bass is funky, but that's about the best thing I can say about this album, other than maybe that it was only 30ish minutes long. I understand it's place in music history, so I'll not rate it a 1.
New Order
3/5
I was right in that I've never heard any song on this album before even if I was familiar with the bands name. I'm also not sure I've ever heard sheep bleats mixed into a song, but here we are. Some solid foot-tappers and chair dancers mixed in there. Some really fun baselines, and drum tracks. Dream Attack feels like the music from a space shooter arcade machine. Overall it was definitely a fun listen.
Sly & The Family Stone
2/5
Not for me. There were some bits that had a fun groove. I like Sly's voice. Overall though nothing at all in this album grabbed me for more than a few moments
Abdullah Ibrahim
1/5
I felt like I was a buffet, or a funeral home. I completely did not like this album. Only one word came to mind: boring.
Fleet Foxes
2/5
I think I need to give this album another spin to give a good review of it. I like folk music, but I found this album a little slow and artsy. First review is a :star::star:, but I suspect that a few listens may be required to fully enjoy this.
George Harrison
3/5
Spector Wall of Sound indeed. The only problem is (and I'm not sure if it's just with the remastered) is that the vocals are almostly completely lost in the mix. Maybe he wasn't a confident vocalist? This could easily be a Beatles album, which I guess isn't a surprise either. The jam band stuff at the end definitely wasn't to my taste.
Air
4/5
I honestly expected to hate this. French electro pop, and a movie soundtrack to boot? This is why I'm glad for this 1001 album challenge, because I really never would have listened to this album otherwise, and I really enjoyed it. The first track was probably my least favourite, and the last track my favourite. I loved the ambience, and could definitely see myself listening to this one again.
k.d. lang
2/5
The problem I had with this album is that Miss Chatelaine and Constant Craving were so overplayed at one point, that I still dislike them. I likely will have Constant Craving stuck in my head for awhile. I think k.d. is a great singer, I think she had some great musicians on board. I still didn't enjoy it though, but I do recognize that's on me and my tastes, and not that it's objectively not a good listen.
The Libertines
3/5
Pete Doherty sounded exactly like I expected him to. All told this felt like generic rock album featuring snotty punk vocalist #301321. I didn't her anything ground-breaking here at all
Rush
5/5
Slap da bass.
I love Rush, and though this is not my favourite album by them (2112 or Caress of Steel) it's definitely a great album. Geddy is an incredible multi-instrumentalist, and Alex and Neil are both some of the best at what they do. Kicks off strong with Tom Sawyer, probably one of their most well known songs, and continues on strong. YYZ is a great instrumental piece. I don't think there's a song on this album I don't at least have a strong like for, if not full out love.
Tracy Chapman
3/5
Lyrically great, but not necessarily my style of music.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Great!
The Rolling Stones
3/5
it took me a bit to get over the lyrics of Brown Sugar, definitely a little on the problematic side. Yesterday I also learned that Wild Horses is a Rolling Stones song, I thought it was CSNY for some reason. I enjoyed Dead Flowers a lot, definitely felt the influence it had over Social Distortions work. Overall, I enjoyed it, but felt that there were too many solos that insisted upon themselves.
The Teardrop Explodes
4/5
I was definitely worried about listening to this album. A band I've never heard of, a whole album of tracks I've never heard. I shouldn't have been. I think the only problem with listening to Acid Rock is that I wasn't on acid during my listen, but I enjoyed it all the same. It reminds me a lot of later sludge and doom metal. It took me a couple of tracks to get into the groove, but by the time Kilmanjaro started I was fully invested. I've actually listened to Kilmanjaro a few times now. My only regret is that I didn't listen to it on Dec 22nd, so that I could feel that live experience on the last track that much more.
Wilco
2/5
It was ok, I guess.
David Bowie
3/5
This isn't an album I've sat down and listened to from start to end before. I've definitely heard songs from it, but it was great to hear them all in context. Not my favourite Bowie album, for sure
Hawkwind
4/5
It was great that it was selected on December 24th, given that today would have been Lemmy's birthday. My only complaint about this album is that I found that often the vocals were lost in the mix, but I'm guessing that since it's a remaster, it's probably a purposeful choice. I'll also admit I was in the right state of mind to enjoy this album, given the holidays, and our current laws around intoxicants. I loved it.
Various Artists
2/5
Of all the Christmas albums I've ever listened to, this is definitely one of them. I spent far too many years working full-time in retail to ever really enjoy Christmas music, but I also don't hate it. This would be a great album to put on in the background while you open gifts on Xmas morning, but I can't imagine bopping to it mid-summer
Elvis Costello
2/5
I'm definitely not an Elvis Costello fan. I haven't heard a lot of his stuff, and after listening to this album I can now say that I'm not a fan. I was bored throughout, and it all sounded so samey to me
Leonard Cohen
2/5
A dying man has found god, and looking back on his life, he wishes he had found the peace that brought him sooner. It was definitely a lot of god for a Friday morning listen. It's hard to review this album. The opening bass line was great, some of the songs are definitely quite haunting. Leonard's voice is the same gravelly tone through-out, but then it's essentially poetry set to music. :star::star: Maybe I'll feel different when I'm in my 80s and know that I'll die soon
2/5
I guess if you front load your 3 biggest hits onto an album you get to be on the list of greatest albums of all time, even if the rest of the album is mediocre at best. There are songs that are recorded so quietly, I found myself having to relisten to them so I could actually hear the full album. It's terrible. I hate it. I hate U2. I know there's more U2 albums on this list, and I'm sure I'll hate them too
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
When I hear Tuesdays Gone I don't think of Happy Gilmore but of Dazed and Confused, and the party wrapping up at the end of the night. Definitely some good tunes on this album.
The Temptations
1/5
It was missing the funk. Too much treble, not enough bass in the mix for a funk album. Felt like it went on forever.
Nico
1/5
Maybe the worst album I've listened to.
A Tribe Called Quest
2/5
Maybe it was ground breaking in 1990 but the 4/4 rap on beat sounds so generic now. Lyrically it was ok. Definitely felt very long as a full album.
The Stone Roses
4/5
It's definitely a time warp back to the late 80s. That said, it doesn't sound dated, like a lot of older music can, definitely has a timelessness about it. You can hear their influences, and can hear the influence they've had on other bands. My favourite track felt like it belonged on a different album, but I won't complain. Overall a very enjoyable listen, and one I wouldn't mind listening to again.
The Clash
3/5
Alright, so maybe teenage me loved this album, but 40s me can see that it's got some really really solid songs, and a few middling songs on it. London Calling would probably be on my list for top 10 opening songs on an album. The Guns of Brixton would fall in my top 50 list. Death or Glory was in my head while I was falling asleep last night. Still a great listen, but not a perfect listen.
AC/DC
3/5
“I’m sick to death of people saying we’ve made 11 albums that sound exactly the same. In fact, we’ve made 12 albums that sound exactly the same.”
― Angus Young, AC/DC
The nice thing about AC/DC is you know exactly what you're going to get from an AC/DC album. Shrill vocals, driving guitars and bass, and a heavy drum beat. It delivers in that case. Pure rock and roll. I'll definitely sing along to most of these songs again the next time I hear them.
Gang Starr
1/5
The lyrics at times were thought provoking, and I thought the beats were well done, but the 4/4 rap on beat thing just sounds soo damned dated now. You can tell this album is an early 90s hip hop album, and I think that 30+ years later that style just doesn't resonate with me.
The xx
4/5
I'd never heard of this band before today, and that's one of the reasons I'm thankful I've been doing this listening party. If I hadn't, I've had missed a real gem of an album. I love male/female vocal duets. I loved the electro-pop. It's not something that I'd normally put on for myself, but it's something I'd definitely listen to again
Paul McCartney and Wings
2/5
I disliked this album. Band on the Run was the only song that I even slightly enjoyed, and I didn't enjoy it a lot. Overall, I just am not a fan of Mr, McCartney's work.
The Icarus Line
2/5
Definitely a few songs on this album that were great, but definitely also a lot of forgettable stuff
Traffic
3/5
That album was a jam. I wasn't sure what to expect at first, and after the first song I almost expected an instrumental album. Definitely enjoyed my time with it
Metallica
2/5
I'll start with the fact that I've never been a huge fan of live albums.
Parts of this are Metallica at their best. Fast, well played guitar. Great song writing and composition. The orchestra was often a great add-on to them musically, and I've always felt a lot of modern metal is similar to classical music in the technical requirements of the piece.
It's also Metallica at their worst. This album proves that Lars is just not a good enough drummer to play with the SF Symphony Orchestra. James' voice is not great. Too many of their songs are just too long, and 2 hours of Metallica is more than anyone should be forced to listen to in a go.
Sex Pistols
4/5
Iconic punk album. The legacy of which you can see across a ton of different bands today. Not bad for a one studio album band.
The Isley Brothers
3/5
Great way to start a day and a week. I was surprised to find that I actually knew multiple songs from this album. It was funky. Some of the solos were incredible. The synths were way head of their time, and also incredible. This may not be my usual jam, but I definitely enjoyed my time with it.
The Fall
3/5
This album is a goddamn mess. It's all over the place. The instrumentals are sub par. The vocals are exactly what you'd expect from a punk band though. Is there some songs on this album I'd listen to again? Sure. Does that make them good? Not really...If I were a critic I'd probably come in at 1/5 or maybe at best 2/5. I'm not a critic though, I'm just a middle aged dude who loves punk rock music, and from that perspective I give it
The Boo Radleys
3/5
That bassline on Upon 9th and Fairchild is a real groove. Very 3rd wave ska. Not sure I like the vocal effects...Also Digging Barney and Me. I wish we still had physical soundcards, so I could have listened to the end of Spun Around backwards and figured out what they were saying. Too many take your times at the end of take your time. Then we head right into a Clash-esque instrumentation in Lazarus. F yeah, throw some noisecore in. Why not? This was a fun album, and a fun band. I wouldn't mind listening to them, or this particular album again. :star: :star: :star:
Miles Davis
3/5
Sometimes an album is able to invoke a time and a place, and this one surely does. I felt like I was in a Jazz Lounge with a martini, with smoke filled air. It was cool, It was fun. Also interesting that the compositions were limited by the format they were produced in, so all the songs end up being about the same length.
Sister Sledge
3/5
This album was a lot of fun. The most interesting thing for me was that my tastes seem to line up exactly with the tastes of the crowd on this one. My favourite songs had the most listens, and my least favourite the least listens. I listened to it while doing the Friday evening cleaning, and just wanted to dance throughout.
The Stooges
2/5
Alright, first off. I did listen to both the Bowie and Iggy mixes, and I preferred the Bowie one. The Iggy one felt like he muddied up the instrumentals and made his voice the focus, which I'm sure is good for Iggy Pop, but it wasn't good as a listener, as he's definitely the weakest link in the band.
Instrumentally, it was better than I expected. There were definitely some real jams here, but for the most part I think this will just fade back into the background as an album I've listened to but don't have a ton of interest listening to again
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
Read a comment on YouTube as I was listening saying that Careering had the best bassline ever, and it made me wonder if they had ever listened to any other song. The bass is the saving grace of the album, but he's definitely not a great technical bassist. The guitar is terrible throughout. The drummer is at least mostly on beat? Let's not even get into the vocals. Though, I suppose without Mr. Rotten we've had never heard this album. Perhaps it would be better if I hadn't. What a trash album. I think I would rather put the Nico album back on, then listen to this again. Half-way through the first song I was done with it. It didn't get any better. It definitely didn't need instrumental tracks. I breathed a sigh of relief when this ended.
Travis
3/5
This is what I would call "Bob" music, after my friend Bob who likes this exact type of music. 90s British Alt. This is the 90iest Brit-alt of all 90s brit alt. Also, I imagined guys from Glasgow would have stronger accents when they sing, but they don't. There's some good tunes in here though. I didn't dislike the album, but overall it was pretty mid. The series of references to other songs in Slide Show was fun though.
The Go-Betweens
2/5
I enjoyed the first 2 or so minutes of the first song, and I was sure I was headed for a 4 star rating, and then after that it went downhill and pretty much stayed that way. There were moments throughout that I thought, "Maybe I could dig this" but then I didn't. It was definitely a whatever album.
Common
4/5
That was a great album. I liked the call-back in the last track to the first song, and to the album title. It's a shame about Kanye, cause he's a great producer, and rapper himself.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I don't have any strong feelings about this album either way. I enjoyed it while I was listening to it, but once it was over, I couldn't really remember anything that stood out. It didn't sound like a 52 year old record, and the fact that the Stones are still an entity today is impressive.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Wow, what an incredible vocal talent she was. I love the stripped down music allowing her voice to shine through.
The Beta Band
2/5
At least twice I thought I was going to like a song then it kept playing and I fell back out. It's not a terrible album, but for me there's no replay value
Culture Club
2/5
Why the repetition? You could pick any song, listen to the first 10 seconds, then set that song on repeat for 3-5 minutes, and you've got this album. I counted "black money" repeated 34 times in a 5 minute song. For a ratio of 1 black money every 9.3 seconds. Extrapolate that across the whole album, cause every song seems to end with just the repetition of a short phrase. My favourite part of Boy George is Alexis Arquette in The Wedding Singer.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
After the first song the album sort of falls flat. It may also be because I'm still scarred from Culture Club yesterday, but the whoo whoo's at the end of Sympathy did start to wear thin
Boston
3/5
It was exactly what I expected, and I've no complaints. A solid 70s rock album with a hit or two on it. I did find though that the first half was way stronger than the 2nd, but given this was in the time of vinyl, it definitely makes sense to stack the front half.
Bill Callahan
2/5
Sounds like the love child of Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen. I listened to it, and I've been sitting on this review for awhile now cause I'm really not sure what to say about it other than it was "interesting".
Ray Charles
2/5
If this was 1962 and the fusion of jazz/big band with other genre's was still new, it definitely would have hit better than it did. I thought the arrangements were well done, I enjoyed listening to new versions (to me) of old songs. All told though I don't think I'd put it back on, and at times I was tempted to DNF the album.
The Who
3/5
Can definitely tell that it was once part of a concept album, or rock opera as there is a lot of story structure in the songs. I was also glad to know that making meta-commentary in music was popular in the early 70s as well. I will say that Keith Moon is one hell of a drummer.
Michael Jackson
3/5
Disco fever. I was actually surprised a couple of times by being familiar enough with the song to know the lyrics, but had never thought before about who it was by. It was fun, but a whole album of falsetto vocals definitely starts to wear after a while. I much prefer his "real" singing voice.
Radiohead
4/5
I really enjoyed this album. I'm always shocked how much the radio had effected my musical upbringing. I recognized High and Dry, well enough I could sing along, but had never clocked it as Radiohead song.
Adele
3/5
I'm glad that Adele got over her stalker stage, Lovely, powerful voice over toned down instrumentals was great. I liked this album more than I expected I would.
Norah Jones
3/5
Another album featuring a very strong vocalist with subdued music supporting their vocals. I've heard a few of these songs before, but hearing the full album was definitely enjoyable. She's definitely got a strong voice, but I felt that the album lost steam as it neared the end, and I felt it could have likely had a few songs cut to make it a much better overall package.
Soft Cell
2/5
Definitely the case where the album made the list on the strength of one song. A cover song at that. Sex Dwarf was definitely a song I've heard, but it's not one I'll forget, but like, not in a good way. By the time I got to Secret Life was ready for the album to be over, only to find out I was halfway through. The second half was not at all memorable. I will give this album :star::star: though cause it had at least one really solid song on it, even if it was a cover.
Jurassic 5
3/5
I listened to this album on a Sunday morning, and I liked it. The beats were solid. It had good flow. There was definitely some repetitiveness though. After a whole album, I was definitely done with it.
Rage Against The Machine
4/5
What a great way to start a week. Woke up feeling tired and drained, now I'm feeling like joining a protest and setting something on fire. What a fantastic album. People are always talking about how great Tom is, and don't get me wrong he's amazing. I'm not even sure how you make a guitar sound like he does, but he can definitely makes his sing. People seem to sleep on the bass though. It's funky, it's heavy, and the drums fit perfectly. You know it's a great album when the album ends and you listen to other songs by the band.
The Go-Go's
3/5
Not sure what I was expecting from this album, but this was definitely not it. It's much more of a punk album than it is a pop album. I'm old enough to recognize the singles, but not old enough to have ever listened to the album in full. Overall it was a fairly enjoyable listening experience.
Love
3/5
This album was a good choice to listen to this morning. It was calming and peaceful. I'm a big fan of this style of music, so it was definitely up my alley, but to say it was one of the greatest albums of all times definitely seems out of place. Overall a good listen.
The Undertones
4/5
Late 70s UK Punk. It was definitely an enjoyable listen. Songs nice and short. Good beat. I enjoyed this album a lot, and I'm glad I've been introduced to The Undertones.
Pixies
4/5
Wow, definitely hit different places for us. I was thinking to myself, it's not often I listen to an album on this list, and think to myself, I don't listen to enough of this band. That's how I felt about Bossanova, and Pixies. I was definitely a strong 5 through the first half, but the second half didn't quite live up to the first album, Definitely an A side/B side album.
Beastie Boys
4/5
I've always enjoyed Beastie Boys singles, but had never really sat down and listened to a whole album. I didn't expect I'd enjoy it, given that it's 80s hip hop and as a rule I tend to find it boring. I didn't find this album boring though, in fact I listened through all the extra 20th anniversary material as well. Great beats, fun vocal flows, music that's sort of all over the place.
Tom Waits
2/5
Well, this album was definitely something. The first thing I thought was Bone Machine was a fitting title, as the first track sounded like someone rattling bones around. At times it really felt like I was listening to some post-ironic version where someone was mocking the way that Tom puts together music. I was certain this was going to be a 1-star album, and then the middle of the album hit, and it seemed to find it's way. It fell down though again near the end, and once more sounded like some crazed version of teenagers angst being thrown up. I did really like "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" and after listening to it, then the Ramones cover, I can safely say I prefer Tom's version.
Ravi Shankar
2/5
What if that guy you know who is always playing obnoxious guitar solos instead played a Sitar? I think you would get this album. I didn't necessarily dislike it, but I would have liked it more if every song was cut in half.
Dire Straits
3/5
It had that plunk plunk sound I really associate with Dire Straits. It was okay. A couple of solid songs
The War On Drugs
2/5
Sean Tanos
Monday at 10:22 AM
I was listening to this music in the car with my wife while we were driving to Minden on our break. I think I mentioned Bob music before, which is just music my friend Bob likes. My wife looked at me after the 2nd song, and asked if Bob had ever heard this band because she thought he'd love it. Definitely Bob music.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Definitely not my favourite Black Sabbath album, but then they can't all be perfect. Changes is a great song. Snowblind is definitely my favourite song about cocaine. The rest of the album didn't live up to either of these tracks.
Faith No More
2/5
I really thought it was much more a pre-cursor to grunge at least through the first few tracks, but there is definitely a lot of rap metal here. It's interesting you'd say the vocals are soulless when I think Mike Patton has always been the biggest selling point for Faith No More. All that being said, Epic was a good song, and the cover of War Pigs was pretty much right on the money. The rest of the album I could have done without.
Janet Jackson
2/5
How does an album begin with an Interlude? In fact by track count, this album is 40% interlude. Guess needed to get that track count up? The interludes get sparser on the back-half, at least, but it's overkill. The production is overkill as well. There is way too much going on in each song. How many vocal tracks does a song with a single vocalist need? I feel the Jackson connection is shoved in your face too. A lot of Michael style 'wooh's' and 'ahs' sampled in the mix. The hits hit ok, but the rest of the album is weak sauce. OK ending on an interlude is an even more ridiculous choice than starting on one. This wasn't as bad as albums I've given 1 star though, even if the 2nd last track was utterly dreadful.
DJ Shadow
4/5
I'll admit I read your review before I listened to the album, and I was sure we were going to have another album where we completely disagreed, but instead I think I completely agree with you. My only exposure to DJ Shadow before this album was his collab with RTJ. There are definitely some bops, not all of it was my thing, but overall it was a great listen.
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
Take Me Out does indeed slap. It's definitely the best song on this album by a wide margin. The rest ranged from forgettable to somewhat fun. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
God Neil Young is so boring. I've heard this album more times than I'd like to count, and I still don't like it.
a-ha
2/5
I guess? I dunno. The first track is obviously a banger, or it wouldn't have the cultural footprint it still does. The rest of the album? Completely forgettable. Like, I can't even remember any of the songs 30 minutes after finishing the album. Definitely not a good sign. I'm not sure how to rate this one, so I'm going with :star::star: cause it wasn't as bad as the Nico album.
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
Definitely enjoyed the guitar based songs more than I enjoyed the piano based one. That said this album was a real joy to listen to. Felt like I was in Cuba on a nice sunny morning, drinking in the sun and the heat. The sound of music. Nice for a bit of a grey morning
Killing Joke
4/5
I definitely did enjoy this album. A lot. A great cross between doom metal and punk. I found myself listening to it all night. Would definitely add to my regular rotation.
Johnny Cash
3/5
The songs that hit, hit hard. The songs that missed, missed almost as hard. It was a solid album, and a much better goodbye then the Leonard Cohen goodbye album. Tough call, but I'll settle on 3 stars.
Bob Dylan
4/5
I'm a fan of folk, and a fan of Bob Dylan so this was a pretty easy listen. I wasn't sure during the album if I was going to rate it a 3 or a 4, but when the album ended and I found myself still listening to Bob Dylan, figured I better go with 4
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
It was ok. Nothing really called out to me, but nothing really to dislike either. It would be fine to put on again, but I wouldn't put it on again on purpose.
Death In Vegas
4/5
Definitely just found another album where we have completely different opinions. The album was far from perfect, but I enjoyed it a lot. Dirge was an absolute banger. In fact I felt most of their purely instrumental songs were bangers, and the songs where they attempted lyrics were my least favourite.
Super Furry Animals
2/5
I DNF'd the album when I put it on last night. This morning I listened to it in it's entirety. It's alright. Generic Brit Rock circa mid 90s. Bland, and unremarkable.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Sean Tanos
Today at 11:13 AM
This is a tough one for me. Is Aretha a wonderful vocalist? Yes. Does this album contain big hits? Yes. Could it stand on its own now 60 years later? Yes to that too. It meets the criteria for a 5 star album, but I didn't enjoy it. I actively dislike the opening track on the album (Chain of Fools), and Natural Woman is so overplayed and corporatized that I can't enjoy it either. I can see the lasting legacy of the album though, and appreciate that it's my own biases bringing this album down.
Frank Zappa
3/5
I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Upon seeing that it was basically instrumental and some of the tracks ran close to or over 10 minutes I'm not sure what I expected. Definitely some weird sounds in there. Overall though, it was a good listen.
2/5
I knew what to expect from Blur. I was at the time this released pretty up-to-date on my Britpop/rock care of Bob. He was into Blur, and Oasis, and the rivalry between them.
That said, I definitely am not a fan myself. I got into Pulp a bit around this time, but never found the love for Blur, even if I like some of the later stuff Damon did (Gorillaz)>
This just felt like generic Britrock. There was nothing at all that stood out about this album, and having listened to it yesterday, I don't really have any of the songs still bouncing around in my head.
Nick Drake
3/5
I wasn't familiar with Nick Drake before this, and didn't find it boring. I quite liked it, and I think it's the kind of album that would grow on me, and I would enjoy more with each listen.
Steely Dan
3/5
I enjoyed it as a snapshot of the time it came out. I thought it was interesting, and I could definitely find myself enjoying a Steely Dan song again in the future.
Patti Smith
2/5
I also didn't enjoy this album. That being said, I can hear the influence of this album throughout. We got some ska, we got some poppier bits. Overall it was a decent listen, but not one I'm like to return to.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Yup, definitely a rolling stones album. Some great songs, and a bunch of filler. It was exactly as expected, a decent listen that I wouldn't request on my own.
The Crusaders
4/5
I definitely found the groove in this album delightful. The vocal tracks were the weakest part, and if this had been a fully instrumental album I've enjoyed it more. I could see myself listening to this in the right spirit.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
3/5
Definitely an interesting listen, and definitely a big change from a lot of what we've listened to lately. Glad it wasn't another Rolling Stones record.
I wasn't sure what to expect, especially as we started the first track with an introduction, but it almost felt like a live show because of it. Was that actually Woodie Guthrie or just Jack doing a voice? Google AI says Woodie wasn't there, the only review of this album I found says yes he was.
The album is definitely dated. There's something about that old folk/blues guitaring that sounds so samey now. I don't think it would be that hard though to update the sound.
Overall, a good listen, but I don't think it's a record I'm going to go out and buy.
David Bowie
3/5
Felt it was funny we got some of The Rolling Stones again, even if it was a cover. All told it was a solid album. I enjoyed it, but didn't really feel like any particular song stood out for me. All told, good album, not my favourite Bowie album.
Miles Davis
2/5
An album of Jazz legends, who are all at the top of their game. Great technical musicians, and have the skills to great improvisationalists. Yet they still can't make me care about jazz.
I felt the first songs title was right on the money, it's like 9 minutes of boo BOO boo BOO, though I do like the drum beat behind it. The second song is just riffing on the reverse chord of the first. After that they blended into each other.
Blur
1/5
I poked around, and I think the NAM version of Blur is Pavement. This album played long after my enjoyment for it ended. The only song I didn't hate on this album was Song 2, and I didn't love it.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
2/5
A piece of rock and roll history that I'm glad I listened to, but also glad it's over. It's clear the influence the Buddy Holly had, and who knows how much more he could have accomplished if he didn't die at 22. That being said, this album was booooring. 1950s rock just doesn't do it for me.
David Bowie
3/5
Not my favourite Bowie album. It lacked that certain Bowieness of his previous albums. You can definitely hear the vocal struggle, but for a man in around 60 it's still pretty great.
Ozomatli
3/5
What a weird album, Latin at times, full on hip-hop at others. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and it was a good album for a trip through the country. I wouldn't shy away from listening to it again.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
It was ok. I've heard Thunder Road and Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out like a million times, and Jungleland is way too long. The Soprano's Silvio Dante plays on this album, which is a fun fact.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
Around the World, Scar Tissue, Otherside, and Californication are all absolute bangers. Parallel Universe was ok. Get on Top wasn't, but if it ended after Californication, it would have been a 4 star album. The problem is it didn't, and everything after Californication was middling to terrible
ABBA
4/5
Not my cup of tea, but still a lot of fun. Abba nailed music that makes you want to dance.
Aimee Mann
2/5
Things I didn't know about Aimee Man. She sang "Voices Carry". she features on a Rush Song. I also hadn't heard this album before, and it didn't make me a fan. It was okay, but I was definitely glad when it ended.
The Pogues
4/5
Sober: 4 stars
With some drinks at the bar: 5 stars
The Police
4/5
I've always really liked The Police, so though I'm not sure any of this album is groundbreaking, I can tell you I enjoyed quite a bit of it. King of Pain and Wrapped Around Your Finger are absolute bangers. No one stalks people like Sting either "Every Breath You Take" but geez Mother threw me for a loop. I was sure for a second that Spotify was serving me an entirely different band/album.
Beck
2/5
This is definitely not "two turn-tables and a microphone " Beck. There is definitely a lot of singer-songwriter vibes, and the SFX are there for sure. I found it boring though. I had to stop half way through to do something, and debated not finishing, but pushed through.
Skunk Anansie
3/5
There were parts of this album I really enjoyed. It started off feeling a bit like a crappier version of NIN, found itself, but then it seemed to linger on a bit too long. My 2 biggest complaints from this album: her vocals are too buried in the mix, and they don't know how to end a song. Tracy's Flaw will definitely end up a song I regularly return to. I felt they were a better hard rock band then they are a ballad band.
Rush
5/5
Was this album perfect? Yes.
Bee Gees
2/5
This was not the Bee Gees I was expecting. Folk Music, who knew? I could feel some of the disco stuff they put out later on this album. It was ok. I wouldn't walk away if it was put on again
Arcade Fire
2/5
The title track is 2 minutes, and when it got to the 1 minute mark I wanted to skip it. Pretty much how I felt about the whole album.
Supertramp
2/5
I'm a fan of prog rock, some of my favourite bands are prog rock bands. However, I found this album slow and boring.
The Young Rascals
3/5
Only album by the band on Spotify. The original recording mixed Mono. Tell me the band has issues with each other, without telling me the band has issues with each other. Not to mention a hit song called out on the cover that isn't the most popular song on the record. (Which I always find interesting). Groovin was indeed Groovin. It was a fun album. The mono mix leaves a lot to be desired, as you can tell the album would be better (as all would) in stereo.
The Doors
3/5
I liked when they were doing blues rock much more than when they were doing anything else. I didn't realize before listening to this album as a whole that Roadhouse Blues was a Doors song.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
I liked the musical arrangements, and the vocals at times, but at times I felt he was reaching a bit to hit the notes, or just flat out missing. As for the lyrical content? Definitely the shoe-gaze emo content I expected. I'd listen to this album again.
Guns N' Roses
4/5
Definitely some solid hits, I was surprised though that Sweet Child of Mine had almost as many plays as Welcome to the Jungle and Paradise City combined. There were definitely some low points on the album, but over all definitely an album I'll listen to again.
Dolly Parton
3/5
Found out last night while listening to this album that it's my FIL's favourite Dolly Parton album. I liked the first song. The bass in the second song was a groove, but the rest of the album sort of all blended together. The shortness definitely helped this album, as it's not something I would put on myself.
Alice Cooper
2/5
Honestly? I didn't love it. Schools Out is of course a classic hard rock song that's been played to death, and that's fine cause it's a pretty good song, but the rest of the album is kind of lacking. Blue Turk had far too much trombone on it for a rock record.
k.d. lang
2/5
Amazing vocalist. Great range, good power, really nice tone. I unfortunately find the style of music outside of my interests. My mom was a big fan of this style of country music, and a big fan of k.d. too, so I've listened to it a lot, and I can just never get into it.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
One of the more interesting albums I've listened to during this venture. I can see why they call it dream-pop. The instrumentation is very ethereal, and often the vocalist isn't using any real language when singing. It's something I think I'll have to return to, as I don't think this is a listen to once album
Songhoy Blues
4/5
I was not ready for that guitar! Reading up about them they cite the Beatles, and other early rock bands for why they use electric guitar, though unmentioned I also hear a lot of Led Zeppelin in there as well. Funky, toe tapping all the way through, My only regret is that it's in a language I don't speak.
Nina Simone
2/5
It's not my thing, but wow is Four Women a powerful song. I didn't hate it. I didn't love it. My feelings for it were pretty mid, but I can definitely understand why it's included, and why Nina Simone is so beloved.
Ray Price
2/5
I dunno. It was definitely a product of it's time. The intro on the album. The music itself. I read that he brought a new tempo to country, and if that's so, then I can definitely see why this album was considered, and why it's revolutionary. It can stay in 1963 though. I won't play it again.
Elton John
3/5
It was ok. I think in small doses it would have been good, but an hour and twenty minutes of Elton John is a voyage. I didn't dislike the album, it was just A LOT. He and Bernie are definitely great songwriters, but I don't think they're great album writers, if that make sense? I bet he was fantastic live in his hey day.
Beatles
4/5
I didn't think I liked The Beatles, but I guess I was mistaken. This was actually the first album I felt needed a second listen right away. Not all of it was my taste, but there was enough on here to hook me.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
The last track was a little much but some great grooves before hand made up for it.
Adele
3/5
Started and ended with a bang, but sort of lost it's way in the middle. She's a wonderful vocalist, but I think she spent too much time on this album showing that off, and not enough time picking the right songs for her. It was sort of all over the place. I'm still not a huge fan of Adele, but there's definitely some songs on this album that have relisten value.
Talking Heads
2/5
Definitely not my favourite album. In fact a day later the only song that has any resonance is Psycho Killer.
Gillian Welch
3/5
Definitely at times veered too country for me. The lyricism was great, the vocals solid, acoustic guitar is always great, and even some solid guitar solos in there. Overall, there's definitely a few tunes I could see listening to again, but as an album? I'd rather not.
Morrissey
1/5
Bengali in Platforms is about where the whole album lost the plot for me. I've always heard allegations about Morrissey, and I guess I see why. What do you even say about this album? If you ignore the lyricism, I guess the vocals are fine, but the tempo and music are so slow paced the whole album just drags. It made me think of the review for Spinal Taps Shark Sandwich.
Beatles
3/5
Definitely a lot to like on this one. I'll start with saying that Disc 1 was the far superior album. It was nice to hear an Offspring song as well. Did Revolution 9 bring this from :star::star::star::star: to :star::star::star:? Yes it did.
The Cure
2/5
I'd already completely forgotten about this album by this morning. There was nothing for me here.
John Prine
4/5
Surprisingly this was the first time I've ever listened to John Prine album or song, but I loved it. The music was ok, and his vocals a little nasally and rough, but he had a lot to say. I ended up listening to John Prine stuff after this album ended for the a couple of hours.
Serge Gainsbourg
3/5
The music was delightful, and you can see it's influence on so much. Interesting to have your 26 year old gf pretend to be a 15 year old girl who you love, though. That's some complicated family dynamics. I wish I could have understood the lyrics, because maybe it was like Lolita, where you are supposed to see how terrible Humbert is. I doubt it though, given the time period. I really can't give it more than :star::star::star: either.
Randy Newman
2/5
It definitely sounded like your drunk uncle performing on open-mic night with a bunch of songs he's "workshopping" as well as some tunes he seems to make up as he goes. Also, your uncle is finding his spirituality right now, so he's got faith and god in his heart and he just needs to share it with you. Sorry Unc. Didn't love it.
Iron Maiden
3/5
The guitar work is definitely great, and the bass and drums not far behind, but I definitely prefer Bruce Dickenson over Paul Di'anno. No disrespect to Paul, he's a pretty decent vocalist, but Bruce really brought something to the party that this album was missing.
R.E.M.
3/5
I will probably have Orange Crush stuck in my head for the next few days. Otherwise, the rest of the album was just sort of there for me. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. It was ok.
Bad Brains
2/5
H.R. has an interesting voice, but the album was kind of all over the place. The songs themselves were okay, but the tonal shift between could be a bit strange at times. It was nice to listen to something a bit different on this list though.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Great album, but definitely don't feel it really hits it stride until the 2nd last song on side A (Lookin' Out My Back Door). After that it's almost all bangers though.
Brian Wilson
2/5
Boring.
Pink Floyd
3/5
It was okay. I'm not going out to buy it, but if someone put it on I'd listen. I think the biggest problem was that the songs felt like they lacked structure. It just felt like some really good musicians noodling around on their instruments.
Aretha Franklin
3/5
Starts with a bang, sort of goes limp, comes back with the same song and falls down again. I'm definitely not the target audience for late 60's soul music, but I didn't hate it.
Pantera
2/5
I liked this album quite a bit, and I think it's a shame. Dimebag is a great guitarist. Vinnie is a solid drummer. I didn't mind Phil's vocals. I haven't heard his voice lately, but he definitely wasn't doing growls/screams properly so if he continued the same away I imagine his voice sounds pretty rough. If I were rating this just as an album: 3/5
If I were rating this based on the band members:0/5
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Pet Shop Boys are one of my guilty pleasures. I love Go West. The album did sort of blend together, but I didn't have any feelings of wanting it to end. It could keep going, and I could keep listening.
Everything But The Girl
2/5
Inoffensive office radio music. It's there, it's music, but I don't care enough to pay attention.
Beatles
4/5
I enjoyed this album a lot more than I expected, and I think I'm now a fan of the Beatles as well. Great musicians. Great songwriters. Great album.
Blondie
4/5
Solid album with a bunch of great tunes. All killer no filler.
Pere Ubu
4/5
Still not sure what to think of this album 24 hours later. It was so weird. The cheering during Chinese Radiation was an interesting choice. Actually almost everything was an interesting choice. Vocals that are just kind of there? Is he singing? Does he understand musical structure at all? It was weird. I'm glad I listened to it, and maybe next time I feel like being a real hipster I can throw this on at a party.
Kanye West
4/5
This album is definitely polarizing.
Some nights I listen to the album of the day on the balcony with my wife enjoying some beer and THC.
Last night was one of those nights. I figured she's always been a fan of rap, so she'd probably enjoy this one. She did not.
I, however, did. I enjoyed it quite a lot. The verses are stupid a lot of the time. Childish a lot of the time as well, but they're done with such earnestness that it still hits hard.
The beats are great when they're great, but sometimes the songs have very strange arrangement choices.
I don't know that I'd listen to this album again, I definitely wouldn't want to support Kanye any more than I have to, that said, I really enjoyed my time with this album.
Hot Chip
3/5
I felt the longer I listened the more pretentious the album got. Overall, it was suitable for a date night in the park people watching, but I probably won't spin it again.
B.B. King
3/5
Listening to B.B. King always reminds me of car rides with my Dad. He had a thing for the Blues, and always had B.B. Kings Sirius XM channel on in his car. Everywhere we went together came with the sound of blues and B.B. Nostalgia trip for sure.
T. Rex
3/5
70s Glam Rock is definitely a mood. I did recognize one song on this album, and it's the only song that really stuck out for me. Overall it was a middle of the road album for me.
Elvis Presley
2/5
My mom always told me that you were either an Elvis person or a Beatles person. Turns out I'm a Beatles person I guess. I liked Fever, but that's not an original to Elvis, and arguably done better by Peggy Lee. Hunka hunka boring album.
The Killers
4/5
This was definitely a fire album. The hits are huge, and great. Comes out big, stays big, but eventually it sort of levels off.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Sean Tanos
:spiral_calendar_pad: Just now
As a side note, for some reason every time I listen to a Nick Cave album I think I'm either going to get Nick Drake or Tom Waits.
I liked this album a lot. It was chaotic, and noisy. The lyrics were dark and gloomy. The vocals on point. :star::star::star::star: . Would listen again.
Radiohead
2/5
I really don't like Radiohead it seems. I did like some of their hits, but this album left me bored. There were a couple of times I found my headbobbing to the music, but I have no want to return to it. In fact I remember listening to this album when it first came out during the pay what you want days, and I was glad I hadn't paid anything for it.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Bob Marley and the Wailers are a mood, and one that they can get you into just by listening. Some really really great songs on this album surrounded by some good songs. Listened to this before, will listen to this again in the future.
Ice Cube
4/5
Man, 90s Gangsta Rap goes hard. Partly, I'm amused. If you were to go back to the 90's and tell people that Ice Cube would be doing family friendly movies, and Ice T would be playing a cop on TV you'd get the biggest stares. No one would believe you. How could these angry young men become those people? I'm not sure how they did it either, I'm guessing going from life being an everyday struggle to being financially secure probably does good things to the mind. Anyway, I'm not a huge fan of "skits" between songs, which this album is definitely guilty of to some extent, but it's really the only negative I would share. I hope today will be a Good Day. Though, research has shown his good day was likely January 20, 1992.
2/5
I don't get it. Like, even a bit. I can tell they are all amazing instrumentalists, but it doesn't sound like they were making music together. It sounds like everyone recorded some music in a studio to some beat (seemingly not always the same beat) and then put it altogether into 1 package.
Stephen Stills
3/5
This album was exactly what I expected. 70s acoustic guitar rock. I liked it for what it was, but I'm not feeling the need to revisit it
Amy Winehouse
4/5
This album was solid. It's really a shame she joined the 27 club. Her voice was just so good. Clearly she struggled with addiction, and it definitely comes out in her music. All told there's nothing on this album I didn't love.
Iggy Pop
3/5
I enjoyed this album quite a bit, even if Iggy looks like Ellen on the cover. The Passenger is definitely a solid track, but I think I'd have to go with Lust for Life as my favourite track, even if it's a little cliche.
Santana
3/5
Santana plays a mean guitar. I could listen to Santana instrumental tracks all day.
Janelle Monáe
3/5
This album could easily have been 2 complete albums, and I think it might have been better for it. Suite II Overture -> Mushrooms & Roses was really good. Suite III Overture -> BaBopByeYa was not as solid, but that could have just been listening fatigue.
That said I really like the concept of the concept album. Cyberpunk r&b/hiphop is definitely not what I was expecting.
Slint
3/5
I'd never heard of this band, nor this album before. It was surprisingly good. I think the mix could have been a bit better, especially the vocal mix, but overall it was a good listen.
The Clash
3/5
The Only Band That Matters. It was okay. I definitely prefer Combat Rock or London Calling to this album, but it wasn't unlistenable.
The Specials
4/5
Never any complaints when I listen to ska. Got some early morning skanking in this morning before work started. Can hear their influence all over 3rd wave ska.
James Taylor
2/5
A lot of talk about Jesus. Was he so Vain? The album was alright, just not my thing.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Great album! One of my all time favourites.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
In another world I may have liked Neil Young and this album. It's a bit weak in the middle, but overall it's a pretty solid piece of music. One that I listened to everyday for years, as it was the tape in my buddies car, and he either didn't want to change it or couldn't so everywhere we went it was to the soundtrack of this album.
Pretenders
4/5
The bass lines on this album were spectacular. This was the first time I've actually listened to this album as a hole, and not just the singles. Chrissie doesn't like when you cry. She makes that very clear through the whole album. No tears from me here. What a great album.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
I think this album is a great example of an album that is on the list purely based on a single song on the album. I don't think anyone is going to deny that Superstition is a groove, and maybe one of Stevie Wonders best songs. The rest of the album though? I found it dreadfully boring. He's a good singer, and his gospel influences definitely shine through. Solid musically, just really, really boring. If Superstition wasn't on this album, I'm sure it would be a forgotten relic, but with Superstition, it'll survive.
Prefab Sprout
2/5
It definitely felt like 1985 listening to this. Easy to identify the hit on this album "When Love Breaks Down" that said, about 2 songs later Kyria (my wife) tapped out and DNF. I did finish it, but I didn't love it. It wasn't an awful album, but it was a boring one.
Lenny Kravitz
3/5
Was I expecting a treatise on racism, and how Lenny viewed the world as a Black man. I was not. A lot more political than I expected from a Lenny Kravitz album, and a bit Jesus-y as well. Though to be fair, this is the first I've really listened to him beyond American Woman. I liked the album, some funky grooves throughout.
Hookworms
2/5
I don't know that I would call this a rock album. I'm not sure what to call it, besides very strange. Felt a little like being at a rave at times. Great album art though.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Didn't know we had this on vinyl because it's one of my wifes favourite albums, but now I know! I actually liked it a lot myself. It's amazing that as a duo they broke up over 50 years ago, and people still care about their relationship.
Harry Nilsson
3/5
What a fun album! You put the lime in the coconut and you drink it all up! Surprised it wasn't the most popular song on the album, but there ya go. The drum and bass solo that wrap up Jump Into The Fire are great, and would have made a better ending to the album then "I'll Never Leave You" which felt comparatively weak.
Willie Nelson
2/5
Really don't understand how an album of covers of the "Great American Songbook" makes it onto a "must listen" list. I've heard all these songs before of course, often by other musicians, and often done better. I just found the whole thing dull. I paused it about halfway through to get something, and almost didn't turn it back on. I'm not sure it falls to the level of 1 bad, but it was definitely not something I'd spin again.
Pavement
3/5
I didn't hate this album. A few months back I called Pavement the American Blur, and now I feel bad because I liked this a whole lot more than I liked Blur. Proto-grunge.
2/5
I listen to a good chunk of these albums with my wife while we enjoy some fresh air in the evenings on the balcony. I'd normally share my review, but I thought some of what she said was dead on, so I'm going to incorporate it.
She isn't doing anything new that the female vocalists of the 70s haven't already done.
I think you'd need to be on heroin to enjoy this properly.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Very jazzy. Not sure it would be something I would put on, but if I was at a fancy club drinking fancy cocktails, I would expect to hear something similar.
Dr. Dre
4/5
Was this a Dre album or a Snoop album? It felt at times much more like a Snoop album, given the amount of verses he has through the album.
Things I liked: That weird synth sound that NWA and this album share.
G-funk is definitely a time and a place, and it's kind of funny to look back at all these hardcore gangsta rappers and see where they are now, looking at you Ice Cube.
Fun, solid beat, a bit dated lyrically.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
I think I'm too old to enjoy noise rock. I just couldn't get into this album, at all.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Felt a bit like a book that needed editing. Were there really good parts of this album? Sure was. Could each song have been cut down to 3-3.5 minutes? Sure could. They all start to feel so repetitive at the end.
Miriam Makeba
3/5
I enjoyed this album as much as one can enjoy a 65 year old album sung mostly in another language. The Click Song was fun, The Naughty Little Flea was probably my favourite track on the album. I could have done without the weird dude laughing throughout One More Dance though. Definitely a weird choice.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
It wasn't awful, but I definitely found it boring. I'd maybe listen to one song on this album again: "Shame and Fortune".
Pixies
3/5
Great album. Definitely a very raw sound.
Joy Division
2/5
This was decidedly not my thing. I didn't enjoy the music. I didn't enjoy the vocals. I didn't enjoy the lyrical content. I can see however the influence it likely had on later music.
The Band
3/5
It's hard with a 60 year old album to be objective. It sounded like every other album of this genre, which is likely a testament to the influence it had. "The Weight" is definitely a classic tune. I do prefer the original version of Long Black Veil to this one, though. Heck, I prefer the other 3 versions I've heard over it.
Joan Armatrading
2/5
Would have been easy enough even without the wikipedia piece above to pick out "Love and Affection" and "Tall in the Saddle" as the "best" songs on the album, as they definitely stood out against the rest. This just wasn't for me though.
Elliott Smith
2/5
It just didn't click for me. Found it fairly boring tbh.
The Cars
4/5
I heard someone jokingly refer to this album as The Cars Greatest Hits album, and they aren't wrong. Almost every great The Cars song is on this album. Definitely some real bangers.
Sebadoh
3/5
It was definitely a Sub Pop band circa the early 90s. It felt like (and I believe there were) two different song writers for this album, and I definitely preferred one over the other. Overall an ok album, that just didn't do it for me.
Adam & The Ants
3/5
it did sort of sound like what you'd expect stereotypical dnd playing kids in the 80s to be listening to. It was fun, and I can definitely see the legacy it created.
Kacey Musgraves
2/5
Pop country is definitely not in my wheelhouse. I didn't hate this album, as much as I found it kind of boring. She's arguably a great vocalist, but I just don't like the style.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Playing a song about how much a prison sucks while you're doing a live show at that prison is definitely a flex.
Cocteau Twins
1/5
This album was not for me. I just couldn't connect with it.
Radiohead
2/5
For someone really only familiar with Radiohead via their radio played singles, this album came as a surprise. It's a lot more electronic than I would have expected, and ends on a nice jazzy note. That said, I found it a bit too slow paced.
The Vines
3/5
Shades of Nirvana mixed with garage rock. It was pretty good.
Teenage Fanclub
3/5
This was a pretty good time capsule into the early 90s change of music scene. Poppy but raw at times. I knew from the first few notes I'd enjoy this album, and I did.
Thelonious Monk
3/5
I'm not huge into Jazz but this was a good vibe album for a Sunday morning tea on the balcony.
Thin Lizzy
4/5
Not usually a fan of a live albums, but in this case, I'm not sure how live this album actually is. Definitely fairly heavily overdubbed. The solos sound raw though, and there were some great ones through out. Some great tunes too.
Elis Regina
3/5
It was definitely a vibe.
The Black Keys
4/5
It says that Tighten Up was their most successful single to date, and though I enjoy it, I enjoy Howling for You more. Good example of garage rock, and you don't even miss the bass player.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
It was alright. Nothing really stood out on this album for me one way or the other. Didn't love it, didn't hate it. Mostly ambivalent.
Beck
4/5
Beck definitely makes some interesting music. Every Beck album I've ever listened to has been completely the different, but has enough underlying Beckness you can tell that it's a Beck album. This one was definitely sample heavy, but like the songs, the samples were pretty varied in genre and type. I enjoyed my time with this album.
3/5
It was a fun and funky album. Elements of jazz. An enjoyable listen.
Fats Domino
3/5
This is a man who loved his nickname, and named almost every album after it which made this album even harder to find. To try to be fair to a 70 year old album, it definitely had a foot-tapping beat to it. He argued that he was only playing the same blues he always had, and that he wasn't playing rock and roll, and I guess I kind of agree with him? I'm not sure where the separation is, but to me this wasn't a rock and roll album. Easy enough to listen to, not something I'd really go out of my way to listen to again.
Cee Lo Green
2/5
This was a tough one. Hip hop album where you hate the sound of the artists voice. I just don't like it. Some of the beats were great, some of the guests were great, (LUDA) but overall I just couldn't get past Cee-Lo's voice. Also he's a terrible person.
Guided By Voices
2/5
Weird way to start a day. 28 songs and 41 minutes. Definitely some strange choices made. Snoring in a song? Strumming your lips like Bugs Bunny? Anyway, at least each song was short and before you could get tired of it a new song was on. My biggest complaint is that this really didn't feel like an album. there was no construct or flow. Just a bunch of weird songs.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
Just not for me. I'm generally a fan of acoustic heavy 70s music, but this one missed the boat for me. Part of it I think is the mix. The drums in Help Me sound..off. I also don't like her singing voice in Twisted, though I did like the rhythm of the song.
Yes
4/5
Album was definitely interesting went from straight up prog-rock at times with all the synthesisers in the world, to acoustic jams. Definitely a group of solid musicians, and though I prefer my vocals a little less high pitched, I won't hold that against them.
The Stooges
3/5
What an interesting album. One third of it is dedicated to a song that is completely different than everything else on the album. Some sort of stoner/sludge sitar like song, where the rest are pretty typical of proto-punk and that late 60's early 70s garage scene. Definitely a fun listen, and it's easy to see the influence it has had on music.
Machito
4/5
What great percussion on this album. The drums are on point, and the music keeps your feet bopping. I think the fact it's an instrumental album creates a timelessness to it, that probably wouldn't exist if there were vocal. Definitely a solid album, that I wouldn't mind listening to again.
Faust
3/5
I preferred the instrumental heavy tracks to the vocal forward tracks. Overall it was an interesting album, good grooves, lots of synth.
Pink Floyd
4/5
Listened to it on the balcony this morning while I enjoyed my tea. Felt like I needed to review it while it was still fresh. I've never really sat down and listened to Pink Floyd. My dad owned "Wish You Were Here" on vinyl and as a kid I loved the cover art. Listened to it occasionally, but I guess not often enough that it stuck. I wish it had, because though I'm glad I got to listen to The Dark Side of the Moon for the first time, I kind of wish I had listened to it more, because I thought it was great. I've heard a few of the singles before, but as a whole album it had a great flow.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
3/5
Great background music. Definitely jazzy. Not sure how I feel about all the weird time signatures, but I'm not deep enough into music theory.
Bauhaus
3/5
I'm really not sure what to say about this album. There were songs I liked, and songs I disliked, but I'm glad to know that Bauhaus wasn't just "Bela Lugosi is dead" cause I was never a fan of that song.
ZZ Top
3/5
Guitar heavy 70s blues rock? Sure! Though La Grange is clearly a stand-out song, there's definitely more to this album than the one song. Good listen
Ella Fitzgerald
1/5
I tapped out slightly past disc 1 of 6. I can't with that in mind give it anymore than a single star. This album was definitely a choice for this kind of list.
Steely Dan
3/5
Some solid tunes on this one. Feels at times like there's two different bands competing to make an album. Some real tonal shifts between songs.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Wow. A full album called Pet Sounds and not a single woof, meow, or tweet. Though in all seriousness this wasn't what I expected of the Beach Boys. The first song sure, but as the album went on it definitely lost it's "beach pop" sound and moved into something much more complex. Actually until today I thought God Only Knows was a Beatles track.
The Who
2/5
It felt a little longer than the 75 minutes it was. I followed along with the story as best as I could, but the overall vibe of the album wasn't necessarily for me. Keith Moon is a hell of a good drummer though. The only real standout song was Pinball Wizard
Tim Buckley
2/5
This dude just did not know how to end a song. Long and drawn out for no particular reason. The lyrics were...interesting. It didn't feel ground breaking though.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Not my favourite Iron Maiden album, but definitely has some of their best tracks on it. The pair of guitarists work great together. It took Bruce a bit to get his bearings, and some of the songs feel like he's trying to keep up as he sings, but the Bruce Dickenson era is definitely the best era of Iron Maiden.
Fleetwood Mac
2/5
Honestly found it pretty boring, and was glad when it ended
Ramones
3/5
Is Blitzkreig Bop a bop? Yes it is. Do the Ramones have an overly large place in music history? Also Yes. Does every song sound pretty much the same? Yes.
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
I thought the drum beats were fun, but otherwise nothing really struck me on this album. It's definitely one of the albums I've listened to.
Scott Walker
3/5
It's definitely a mood. He's got a great voice. The bass player hits some real grooves. It's not necessarily something I'd play often, but I could find myself listening to some of these tunes again.
Minor Threat
3/5
Minor Threat has never been my favourite band. It's probably the ideology, being not straight edge myself. It won't be the first or last time I listen to this album though.
Pixies
3/5
It was a good listen. Nothing ground breaking, but Black Francis has a great voice, as does Kim Deel. Would listen again.
Moby
3/5
A few things:
1. I didn't realize how many tracks of Moby's I knew from other places
2. South Side is WAY better with Gwen Stefani doing backing vocals vs the album version
3. I apparently don't hate Moby
Not necessarily what I'd listen to on a regular basis, it is definitely a solid choice for some background music. Very mellow, no bombastic pop songs.
2/5
It just didn't catch me. I didn't hate dislike it, but I did find that my attention kept wandering away from it.
Fairport Convention
3/5
Exactly what you'd expect from an album called Liege and Lief. Folk heavy music set to a rock beat, with some fairly solid vocals over top.
The La's
2/5
This is definitely the case of an album being on the list because of one strong song. I'm sure you've never heard of The La's but I'm also sure you know the lyrics to their most popular song by heart. It's an ok song, but the rest of the album doesn't even hold up to ok. In a word, boring.
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
This is probably my favourite album by NIN. Lyrics can be a little edge-lordy at times, but the samples and music elevates it to something solid for me. The piano in Closer :chef-kiss: . I'm willing to admit it could be a time and place thing, as I was just the right age for this when it came out.
Lorde
4/5
This genre isn't my usual cup of tea, but Lorde does create some good music, and has an incredible voice. There wasn't a song on this album that felt superfluous. Was a solid listen, and could definitely see myself spinning it again.
The Sonics
4/5
Old school rock and roll. The recording is terrible. Done with 2 mics, with only 1 mic for the drums on a two track mixer. Music is definitely super heavy for the period, and the vocalist loves his rock scream, but then so do I. Fun listen. If it were still the 60s I could imagine myself being a fan of The Sonics.
Radiohead
3/5
I'm not sure how I feel about this album. It's a little too electronic for me, and Thom's voice is really weird and jarring at times. That said some of the riffs were really solid. I'm not sure I'd put it on myself, but I wouldn't complain if someone else did. I'm not sure how I feel about this album. It's a little too electronic for me, and Thom's voice is really weird and jarring at times. That said some of the riffs were really solid. I'm not sure I'd put it on myself, but I wouldn't complain if someone else did.
The Everly Brothers
2/5
In a single word: Boring.
Beatles
2/5
For years I thought I didn't like the Beatles and then I listened to Revolver, Abbey Road, The White Album, and I thought I was wrong. Turns out I has just been listening to early Beatles. Saccharine love pop songs. Well executed, and I can see why they got popular, but definitely not my thing.
Supergrass
3/5
This album was Alright, pun intended. It really is by far the best song on this album. That said the rest of the album was definitely listenable.
The B-52's
3/5
I mean honestly who doesn't love yelling "rock lobster" along to the song. It was fun, it was whimsical. I enjoyed it a lot.
Frank Ocean
4/5
I will say before I listened to this album that I'd heard the name Frank Ocean before, but that's as far as my knowledge went.
I'm a lyrics guy, I can deal with vocals I don't love when the lyrics hit right. In Frank's case, I don't love his falsetto, but his regular voice is just fine. Also, Andre 3000 nails his verse. John Mayer guitar solos. Album really has everything. It surprised me. I thought after the falsetto in Thinking Bout You that I might hate this album, On second listen though the falsetto doesn't bother me at all. I will absolutely listen to this again. It grabbed me.
New York Dolls
3/5
I enjoyed this album a lot more than I thought I was going to. I remember David more for his Buster Poindexter character than for his NY Dolls days. (great actor btw). Bowie inspired punk? I'm not sure how else to describe it. It wasn't technical, his vocal range is limited, but they put together some solid songs.
Wu-Tang Clan
3/5
Hip hop definitely isn't my usual wheelhouse. That said I did thoroughly enjoy this album. It skipped the worst part of 80s and 90s hip hop, the stupid skits between songs. There's a reason that this album blew up.
Keith Jarrett
4/5
Do you like listening to a world class pianist vibe on a piano? Then this album is for you. All piano, all the time. He's good at it. Good background music for a fancy dinner party.
Ute Lemper
3/5
Something that probably would have never crossed my radar if it wasn't for this list. It was solid. She's a great vocalist, I don't hate show-tunes. The last song was too long, but that's really my only complaint.
Finley Quaye
2/5
Electronica and Reggae are an interesting combination. That said, that's about the only thing I found interesting or enticing about this album. It just faded into the background, never once really grabbing me.
Scott Walker
2/5
I'm not sure what to say about this album. It's show tuney, without being an album of show tune covers. He's got a nice voice.
Beatles
3/5
It's a pretty solid pop album. A couple of great tracks, mostly ho-hum. I suppose if I wanted to dance with or kiss the Beatles I'd enjoy this more. Also, Little Child? Weird. Very weird John.
Red Snapper
3/5
Another album I'd have never heard if it wasn't for this list. Neither this band nor this album were on my radar at all. I'm glad I listened to it, but I probably wouldn't listen to it again. It's got a good groove, but it's not my genre of choice.
Beck
3/5
The last song is a little weak but the rest of the album was a lot of fun. Beck (and the Dust Brothers) know how to put together a beat. Foot tapping, head bobbing. Fun times.
Stan Getz
3/5
Definitely an album for a warmer time and place. The Girl From Ipanema is obviously a classic, and the rest of the album is as good. I love the breathy sax sound that Getz is able to produce. Great listen.
Ray Charles
2/5
I'm not a huge fan of this genre of music, and I get that at the time you had to put out several albums a year at this time point to stay relevant, but unfortunately it means that the album has a ton of filler.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
I definitely don't listen to enough Bruce Springsteen. What a depressing album, but I guess New Jersey was a pretty depressing place back then. Great lyrics, great vocals, great guitar work. What more could ask for.
Julian Cope
2/5
Definitely had it's moments. The problem is with the length of the album, and song count, there's also a lot of non-moments. Ended on a high note though.
Ananda Shankar
3/5
Interesting concept, rock music played with a Sitar. It's definitely a fun album, but I'm not sure that it's much more than a novelty. I don't think there's enough here to put it back on my to be played list.
Jamiroquai
2/5
It was okay, some real foot tappers, but the long songs definitely felt long. Did Revolution 1993 need to be 10 minutes? I don't think so. Also, I didn't expect a didgeridoo to make an appearance.
Neil Young
3/5
I won't deny that Neil Young is a great lyricist. Nor will I deny that he has an exceptional ability to craft great music. It was an okay album for me. Heart of Gold and Old Man are stand-outs, but without Alabama, we don't get Sweet Home Alabama
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Jimi was an amazing guitarist, there's no doubt there. However, there's only so much noodling around on a guitar I can take before I need to listen to something else, and the 13 minutes of 1983...(A Merman I Should Turn to Be) went way past my ability to pay attention. Thankfully the album wrapped up with a couple of of Jimi's best songs (one a cover) which saved the album for me.
Frank Sinatra
2/5
Mobsters with nice voices. Sure.
Little Simz
4/5
Wow. I keep saying I'm not a big fan of rap, and then I listen to an album and I'm blown away. Great beats, great flow. Would listen again.
Eels
2/5
I did not enjoy this album at all. I found it a bit boring, tbh. I did finish it, but it definitely faded into the background the longer it went on
Depeche Mode
3/5
I always thought Personal Jesus was my favourite Depeche Mode song, but it turns out that "Enjoy the Silence" is a Depeche Mode song, so I guess my new favourite is Enjoy The Silence. This was a solid album, but I feel a little let down by the last couple of tracks.
Queen
3/5
It was interesting if not exactly my style. Freddie had an amazing ability as a vocalist
Ice Cube
4/5
Ice Cube was a great rapper. Solid beats, good flow, good lyrical content. Most importantly a 90s rap album without skits
The Beta Band
2/5
Literally put me to sleep. I did not enjoy this at all. It wasn't terrible, just boring.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
2/5
Apparently Frankie Goes To Hollywood are really just their one big song Relax. I know they had a few other hits in the UK off this album, but outside of the covers it was the only song I really enjoyed.
The White Stripes
5/5
My introduction to the White Stripes. Tons of killer tunes on this one.
Michael Jackson
3/5
I mean the middle of this album Thriller->Billie Jean is amazing. The rest of the album doesn't live up to those 3 tracks.
Coldplay
3/5
I expected Sparks to be a lot better based on it's stream count, but it was far too emo for me. Yellow is undeniably a great tune, but for my money the best song on the album is Trouble. Overall a little to dour for me.
Boards of Canada
4/5
Not necessarily my thing, but I thought it made great ambient music for working this morning. Just enough variation in tunes to keep you paying attention, but not enough to distract you. I get why this is referenced all the time.
The Temptations
2/5
Meh.