1001 Albums Summary

Talk To The Wind is lovely.

Psyche fuckin delic

Brilliant. 10/10.

Good. Very good. A bit jaunty/twee for my taste.

You know what? This is really good. Definitely bedwetters, but really good

It's fine. Very good in parts. It's very white.

Long, aimless solos. Some nice patches but its not for me.

Not my thing. It's obviously beautifully crafted, but the sentiment and melodies are cloying. I enjoy one or two songs at a time, no more. Great cover.

Goes on a bit. High fretted solos. Nah.

Surprising. A brave move. Varied throughout. Jazz, hip hop. I really like this.

I had forgotten about/dismissed these guys. This is pretty good. Big singles and weird shit.

I feel like I already know 70% of this album, without having listened before. Lots of fun. Great cover art.

Not bad. A little cheesy, but not as cheesy as I feared. 80s production not helping. Some nice playing. Some over playing. Ultimately, too much American pizzazz for my subtle English tastes.

It's obviously good. Brilliant even, sometimes. But. It doesn't hold my attention. I wish it did so that I could know it's dark wonder, but I don't find it compelling.

Very good. Melodic, raw. It's grown on me over time. Almost glam rock in places. Songs are kinda sad. Thirteen is beautiful.

This is deep. Deserves close listening. Obviously, heavy subject matter. Way better production than his previous few albums. All the cheese gone. An album to keep coming back to. A dying man singing his final songs.

Title track is a stop what you're doing moment. Every time. The rest is mad, psychedelic, weird shit. A proper classic

Old school. They don't make them like this anymore. I love the production - close mic'd. Quality songs, superbly performed and arranged. Never heard this before. A pleasant surprise. Blue Skies is sublime. Great cover art.

It's good. Definitely just me, but when I listen to the specials I can see ashtrays, drizzle, violence, brown and orange clothes. It's so 70s British. It is good. Just not for me.

Modern pop that I don't completely disdain. Some nice melodies. Production bang up to date. Songwriting reminds me of Taylor Swift. I'm a 41 year old man, this is not aimed at me. I can appreciate it, but I can't love it.

Pretty badass. Lots of cool, cool stuff. Such a great band. Not their absolute best, but still.... I'd been listening to the US version for years. Not sure which one is better. Toss a coin.

Wow, Queen Jane is very out of tune. This album is a very good album. The title track is a highlight. I don't think this is Dylan's best. I prefer his later, older stuff. It's still an indisputable classic.

I have never listened to this album before. I know The Who. Who's Next is nearly perfect. This is young and raw. I didn't expect the R&B covers, not sure what I expected. It's a lot of fun. I can hear hints of sophistication in their songwriting, but they're not the finished article yet.

Okay. I have a head full of a cold, not slept well. It's possible I'm just not in the mood for this. I can't see myself returning to it. It's slightly irritating, but is obviously performed well. I'm not a fan of the vocals - too showy.

Never heard this before. Proper weird shit. Definitely helps to be in the right mood and place for this. Luckily, I am today. Really love the strangeness. Great title, great cover art. An odd surprise.

I should not like this. Nearly cheesy. A bit showbiz musical. But damn it's good. First song is so cool. Aged like a fine wine. One Of Us is undeniable. Everything is so well crafted and performed. Brilliant. Nice cover art as well.

Not my go-to Dylan, but very good. There was better to come. She Belongs To Me is a top 20 Dylan song, for me. Very good album, I just prefer the later stuff.

Very melancholy and pleasant. Think this is Kurt Cobain's Leonard Cohen afterworld. Sighing eternally. Sometimes, Suzanne is my favourite song. One long vibe. Brilliant.

Obviously this is very good. Whole lotta soul. I could put it on whenever and it would sound fine. It doesn't quite hit my personal sweetest of sweet spots, but this will do just fine.

One of my all-time favourites. The guitars are so chunky. The ballads are graceful and elegant. This might be my favourite Bowie album. Lady Grinning Soul is too good.

Really fond of this. Doesn't seem like much, but the more you listen, the more it gives. Goes well with relaxing, running, dancing, thinking, working. Bloody lovely.

Nice. Excellent playing and arrangements. I like the laid back feeling. Sultans of Swing is the obvious hit, but the rest is very consistent in tone and quality.

A good one. I didn't use to enjoy the clean production. Now, I think it gives the music a heft and weight. No filler on this, just loads of good songs. Her best album? I think so.

Not as fast and energetic as I had assumed. A little more raw than what came later. If I'm in the right mood and place this could be very good.

Very slow in parts. It's fine if boring in parts. This is my second Willie Nelson album. I preferred Stardust. This is nowhere near terrible, but I doubt I will come back to it.

I've heard these songs so many times. Still takes me by surprise that is an album, not a compilation. It must have truly blown minds in 1967. The playing is off the scale. I'm listening to the UK version. May This Be Love stands out on this listen. Truly excellent.

One of the best albums ever. Each song is better than the previous song. It's almost embarrassing how good this album gets. Golden Lady, Higher Ground, He's Misstra Know It All. It's 5 stars every day.

Some pleasant parts. My issue is that, though the harmonies are nice, there are vocal harmonies on absolutely everything. It's all very tasteful. Maybe a bit dated? The more I listen, the more I think of Andy Bernard from The Office. Constantly searching for a vocal harmony.

Really enjoyed this. Quite a trip. I like the use of instrumental layers on unexpected sounds that build on each other. This Is The Day is obviously great. Just heard it at the end of The Outrun as well. Good lyrics on here, although I would prefer the vocals to be mixed a little higher. I keep listening to the whole album. There's so much interesting stuff going on. Great cover art.

This is not my thing. Too overwrought. I will not return to it.

Love it. Mad genius. Great cover art.

Full of energy. Great performances. Incredible voice. This must have been world changingly exciting, for young people, in 1956.

I like how it flows. The rhythms, the horns, the groove. Lovely stuff. I imagine it was brilliant to watch live.

Beck is not for me. It's all too professional. Not enough HEART in the music. It just does not capture my imagination. I don't dislike it, it's fine, it just leaves me cold.

Some good, jammy bits. Nice textures. Beatle melodies. I expected it to be punkier, but that's my fault. Some duller parts, but on the whole a pleasant experience.

This surprised me. I assumed it would be uncool. It is a bit uncool, but it's got heart. He seems like a gentle guy singing gentle, melodic songs. A pleasant surprise.

Decent. Spirited performances. Better than I expected. I'm not the biggest fan of Janis Joplin. It's the blues.

The production is too shiny for my taste. The songs too poppy, too earnest. BUT. This has heart and spirit. It has ambition. Will I listen to the whole thing again? No. Do I respect it for its heart, spirit and ambition. Yes.

Fast. Furious. I can smell the tobacco and beer. Would've been great to be there.

Moody. Love her voice. Love the arrangements. Love the mood.

This had my foot tapping. The second song has no low-end. This put me off. Apart from that, I enjoyed this dark, lively album

Struggled with this one. Found it boring. Didn't like the vocals. Some of the instrumentation was interesting/pleasant, but that's not enough.

Incredible. Has grown on me over the years. I take it with me, wherever I go now. The guitar playing is sublime.

I ignored this album for too long. Absolutely fantastic. Wonderful melodies, arrangements and playing. Gently psychedelic. This one is a keeper.

I think this is the best Elvis Costello album. It rocks, it's weird, it's got good tunes. Truly, this is 4 and a half stars, its brilliant but I'm not always in the mood for Elvis Costello. Do I round up or down?

Pretty good. Seems almost quaint how keen it is to shock. It's just distorted glam rock. I do like it, just wouldn't pick it out and put it on.

I have tried. Really tried. Steely Dan remain an irritant to me. The best bit on here was used and improved by De La Soul. Life is too short for this.

Another surprise. I had assumed I wouldn't enjoy this album. Thought it would be Girls Just Wanna Have Fun plus filler. How wrong I was. The opener is great. The sound is 80s but not completely cheesed out. I am impressed.

Not my usual. I recognise a couple of MF DOOM samples. I won't return to this, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would

This might be one of the best albums ever. It's so delightful. I predict I'll be listening to this for many, many years.

Always a welcome listen. Laid back, well produced. Not absolutely top-tier hip hop, but still bloody lovely.

I can't do anything else while listening to this. So much going on. Almost avant garde in places. Once I'm locked in, the music becomes mighty impressive, righteous and powerful.

Dull. Staid. Brown. The Weight is a good song but this bores the tits off me.

Definitely a mood on this. I've always really liked it. Very British and glum.

Rocking. Love everything about it. Drums, guitar, bass, vocals. All rocking. Not even my favourite Nirvana album (Unplugged just pips it) but still a rock solid 5 star classic.

Still good. Basically Creedence for the naughties. Loads of good songs on here. Some tasty bass lines, particularly Slow Night, So Long. After this they were never the same again. Lost all their lovely grit.

Fantastic. The balls to hold one chord on an organ for 10 minutes and just talk over it. And it's still brilliant. This version Walk On By is THE version. They don't make em like this anymore.

At first I wasn't enjoying this. A bit twee, dated. Not my thing. But the version of Will You Love Me Tomorrow saves it from total disgrace. Great version of a great song.

Definitely a vibe going on here. Didn't enjoy this quite as much as other Leonard Cohen albums. Not sure why. Maybe the songs aren't quite as strong. Having said that, The Partisan is great and the whole thing sounds soothing as fuck late at night.

My first Beatles album on here, my first Beatles album as a teenager. Fundamental to my enjoyment of music. The sound of the best band ever at the peak (debatable) of their powers. Too many highlights to mention, but Eleanor Rigby goes above and beyond what a pop song is supposed to be. Great cover art as well.

Never really listened to this all the way through. I can see why it sold a gazillion copies. I like it. Downcast, melodic, simple songs.

Absolutely fine. Just doesn't interest me.

Very good 60s, psychedelic music. Some massive songs on here.

So, so bleak. Incredible sounds - every instrument sounds ice cold. Absolutely love all of it, especially the 2nd side. Great cover art.

Probably a top ten album of all time. Probably Dylan's best album. So much good stuff. Idiot Wind is savage, regretful and sad. You're a Big Girl Now, Simple Twist of Fate, Shelter From the Storm. These are towering achievements of song. So much truth here.

Love this. Sophisticated music. Flows beautifully as an album. Title track is classic. Macbeth rocks harder than I imagined.

Very 80s. I struggle with that. The dated production. Lots of great songs to sweeten the deal. It's not as good as Thriller (not a lot is). But then Jackson's charisma is off the scale throughout. It's giving me mixed emotions.

Entertaining. Silly.

Never heard this before. Instant classic. Punk rock Rolling Stones.

Only works at one time of year. Some magnificent performances on here, particularly the singing and drumming. Baby Please Come Home has an unexpected emotional power in the voice. Slightly overrated?

Pretty good. Not really my thing but I can't deny the quality of playing and songwriting. Excellent cover of For No One by The Beatles.

Hm. Not as good as I remembered. A couple of good, psychedelic slow songs in the middle. The rest feels dated and mediocre. 15 songs is too long as well. Shame.

Very entertaining. Often hilarious. Front loaded with massive hits. The hits are poppier than I remembered. Some of the cultural references have dated and the violence is off the scale but this is a very well written and produced album. Eminem's personality carries it.

Absolutely fine. A bit too much guitar noodling, for my taste. A good band playing rock songs with a Latin feel.

Floaty. Synthy. Ambient. Pleasant.

I can't condone large sections of the lyrical content, but this is weird and creative. Much stranger than I expected. I think it might be quite addictive.

One of the best of all time. First half is cool ass reggae. Second half is just incredible. What a run of songs! Its almost a Best of Reggae mini album. Waiting In Vain is in my personal top ten (maybe 5) songs of all time. 5 stars, an absolute pleasure to listen to this.

Very nice indeed. Very sad also. I know this reasonably well, but it's never a chore to listen to well written, melodic, melancholy songs.

If it was summertime this might be getting 5 stars. However, it's January in Manchester. The snow has turned to grey slush. Summer Breeze? Not right now. Great album though.

Very good. Inventive with the creative choice of samples. Fun album.

I was happy to see this pop up. Been looking forward to this. It is good, but I'm slightly underwhelmed. It's not grabbing me instantly. Can't put my finger on the reason why not. Great cover art.

Yes. Might be in my top ten albums of all time. Best punk album ever. Yes it is. Big chunky guitars, incredible songs and that voice.

Absolutely fine. Too old fashioned for me, but yeah, fine.

Not great. Slightly irritating. A poor person's Bowie.

Always a pleasant listen. Really nice acoustic performances. I like the longer, rambling songs

Real nice. Surprisingly dark psychedelic music. Feel like I'm getting high from listening to it. Groovy.

Something about this album goes over my head. I find myself playing it over and over (cos it's really good), but not much sticks. I think this is my fault.

Some of the greatest funky shit of all time on here. The switch up in Stand! is pure magic. Instant head bobbing. However, I'm going to be harsh here. There is 13 minute jam that doesn't do much for me. Without that, this would be 5 stars.

Yep. Absolutely top quality rock music. IMO the only great album The Who made. No filler.

I want to like it. I'm not sure about the falsetto and the general tweeness of the music. Not terrible.

Easy 5. So good. Good for intense listening. Good for chilling. Good for working. Good anytime. Classic. Great cover art.

Impressive. I like the previous few albums, but this was a big step up. It's probably 2 or 3 songs too long for me to consider it a masterpiece, but nevertheless it rules.

Charming, funny and always reliable.

I don't know how they did it. I wasn't even in the mood for a Beatles album. Within 3 seconds of pressing play, I was experiencing the joy of youth and the hope of possibility. It's just so innocent and brilliantly played and performed. Magic. Great cover art.

Yeah, all cool here. Delightful. Soft as cotton.

I found this to be a bit too much. I don't like singing in this style. It's too grandiose and dramatic. I was relieved when it finished.

Pretty good. Interesting production and a smooth voice. A couple of catchy songs. I don't find myself compelled to return to it, however. Maybe it's slightly bland?

Whole lotta chooglin goin on here. Really good. Lots of fun. Properly rocking. Probably a 4.5. Can't quite give it a big fat 5 stars, though.

Terrible. A shopping mall of an album. Of course it's capably written and smoothly produced, but life is too short for this over sweet shite.

White rock n roll in its rawest form. And damn fine it is too.

Unique? A mix of styles for sure. I like it, it's very good music. Marc Ribot's guitar is great throughout.

Real nice. Some memorable moments and songs. The drum break in Take Five features possibly the greatest sounding drum kit of all time. Sounds like it's playing next to me. I'm adding an extra star for that piece of audio magic.

Not bad, but not as good as I was hoping. It's all a bit samey. I'm not keen on the guitar tone. I like Billy Corgan's vocals. It's all fine, just never gonna be one of my favourites.

I have never enjoyed listening to The Pogues before. I thought they were tuneless, drunken, sloppy musicians. I sighed when this album showed up. But it has surprised me. The musicianship is top notch. The songs are excellent and performances full of energy. I think I 'get' The Pogues now!

Nowhere near as cheesy as I was dreading. Still too 80s for my taste. It's fine, just not for me.

Not bad. Some solid indie guitar/synth bangers. It doesn't all bang though.

Does Springsteen get the royalties? This passes me by in an audio soup of delay, reverb and plodding tempos. I find it dull and samey.

Pleasant, charming, easy. Nice experience to listen to. Wild World and Father & Son are, obviously, timeless classics.

It was an interesting idea to mix soul music and Celtic instrumentation. Sometimes it works, but a whole album of it is a little tiring. Good performances, especially the bass, but I would've preferred a little more variety of sound.

A nice surprise. Some creativity on display here. Lots of interesting sounds - a capella loops, fuzz bass, distortion. I'll be revisiting this one.

Lovely. Delightful music. Vaguely new-agey. And I mean that as a compliment. This type of album is pretty much why I'm doing this 1001 album thing. I've never heard of it and would never have tried it. Now, I like Call of the Valley. Great cover art.

Some of the best music made by human beings. It's got a magic quality that keeps it eternally fresh. Each time I listen to Kind of Blue it takes me somewhere calm and melancholic. I'm not a jazz musician, I have no idea what the instruments are 'doing' in relation to each other, but Flamenco Sketches is heavenly.

Boring, bland.

It is good. It leans very heavily into 80s cheese. So heavily, that it almost ceases to matter. Some of these songs are excellent, the lyrics are, as usual, hilarious and insightful. In truth, it's 3.5 stars.

Pretty good. Nice darkness to the sound. Nothing too memorable on here though.

Funny. Silly. Entertaining. Is it supposed to be funny? I can't take it seriously, but it has raised a smile. Can't see me listening to it again, but it was a fun listen.

Ugh. Prog rock with classical influences. Not my thing. Some of it is fine, most of it is not.

Rocking. Great fun.

Pretty good. South American music with electronic touches. Not sure that this is essential listening, but it passes the time pleasantly enough.

I often feel like I've got the world up my ass. Proper punk, proper fun.

Very shit. Pedestrian rhythms. Dull songwriting. Unimaginative overall.

Oh yeah. Pure rock n roll. Everything nice and loud. Acoustic guitars and glockenspiels (?) give the sound depth and texture. The attitude is bad-ass throughout. Great cover art.

Cool shit. Been listening to this for years. It's definitely stood the test of time. The guitar playing is masterful. Slightly underrated I think. One of the best debut albums ever?

Snarly punk attitude. Some sax. Grimy feel. Great energy. They took inspiration from punk and made a very good rock n roll album.

Some music is made with the heart, some with the head. Music from the heart is often superior as it is made from feelings. Music from the head is not necessarily bad, but it is made from thoughts. Head music struggles to make the soul sing or yearn as heart music can. This is head music.

Some well crafted songs. I don't consider this essential, but I have no beef with The Zutons.

Listened to the whole thing while painting our hallway. It is very long. Some top tier music on here. Some filler. So much creativity on display that it remains undeniable.

I was happy when this popped up. I've always like the idea of The Flaming Lips - psychedelic weirdos playing eccentric songs about robots and scientists. The reality is frustrating. Yes, Do You Realize has brilliant, devastating lyrics but the song is too sweet. Does it need the key change? No. Most of the rest of the album either passes me by or irritates me with twee, childlike (childish?) ideas.

Pretty. A bit lounge jazzy in places (some of the vocals). Generally a smooth, eclectic listen. Nice to listen to a multilingual album.

I wasn't excited to see this one. I thought it'd be bland and white. It is a little bland and quite white, but it has an enjoyable, laidback chillness. The Beatles cover is decent too.

Not heard this for maybe a decade. When it came out, I was 23 and in a band. I heard this and my first thought was "Shit, my band sounds old-fashioned." I (and everybody) did not realise Arctic Monkeys would be the 'last' great British guitar band. It still sounds exciting. I can still picture mid-noughties Britain when i listen to this. The drinking and undertones of aggression. It's brilliant lyrically, really funny and insightful. The band rips as well. Modern classic.

Perfect. I played it over and over, all day. Such a comforting sound. The Beach Boys captured something magic with Pet Sounds.

Brilliant. I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I played it twice in a row, to make sure. So groovy. A great find.

Some really good bits, some brave decisions. The 2nd half is stronger than the 1st. It's not as good as any Smiths album, but not much is. The sound effects and clarinet are pleasant surprises.

Very good. Surprisingly psychedelic, if only mildly so. Low-key electronica with a slight undertone of strangeness.

Pretty disappointing. I was excited to finally hear Freebird, but it didn't do much for me. The rest of the album has decent, passionate playing but is let down by average songwriting and clichéd lyrics.

Not my favourite of his classic run. It's all a bit slow and the songs aren't as good as Fullfillingness or Music of my Mind. Obviously, Superstition more than makes up for it.

British classic. Moody, questioning, psychedelic (less so than their previous two albums) and melodic. Massive singles surrounded by a set of songs with a cohesive mood and feel. Brilliant.

Sophisticated music for sophisticated people. I always enjoy hearing this. Couldn't hum a single second of it, but I can't deny it's obvious quality.

Hmmm. I really like Grass and Dear God. Some of the rest are slightly irritating. I find this with XTC, some good shit, some annoying shit.

Fine. Nothing wrong with this, apart from how under-produced it is. I don't dislike it, but I won't return.

Aged like a fine wine. The hits are still fresh. Loads of variety. Some timeless beats. It all holds together beautifully. A classic. Great cover art.

It's good. It's not my thing. I can appreciate the layers and the poly-rhythms. It's really good, it just leaves me a little cold.

Better than the last C, S & N album. Some decent songs here. Still a bit hippyish for me.

Intense. Lyrical. Engaging. Have to be in the mood for it, but it has personality.

Hmmm. Parts of this are brilliant. I believe many people have this as his best album. I can understand that. I prefer To Pimp, Mr Morale and GNX. This does not mean I don't like Good Kid. I do. It does start to drag towards the end though. It's a 3.5 really.

Absolutely fine. The band and audience are having a great time. It's too old-fashioned for my taste though.

Starts off on fire. Loads of bangers. Slows down. Not so many bangers. She's Out Of My Life is sentimental shit. The last track rescues it slightly. Basically, the fast songs are great, the slow songs are not.

When I was a roadie, I took down the stage after a Madness gig. When the show ended, Madness walked passed us roadies waiting backstage. Chas gave us a wave and a thumbs up. He was the only musician who ever acknowledged the crew. Nice one, Chas. Mr Speaker is a jam. Some really good songs on here. Very British, very London.

Good old fashioned country, although this seems a bit staid considering what else was happening in 1967. Better than new fashioned country.

A couple of decent grooves at the start, but the falsetto vocals and aimless jams bored and irritated me by the end.

So many great songs and moments. I think Stevie ran out of steam after this. It's as if he gave everything he could to one album. He'd already done enough to guarantee his greatness, this just raised him up towards the heavens. Love's in Need.... is my favourite album opener of all time. Sir Duke is the best wedding song. Ordinary Pain, Pastime Paradise, Talk With God...... the songs keep coming one after another. An astonishing album.

The old boy could sing. I shouldn't like this but I have just been entertained for over 40 minutes.

Doesn't do much for me, sorry Dusty. Too squeaky clean. I prefer a little grit in my oyster.

Possibly a grower. Decent psychedelic rock. Not as good as Forever Changes, obviously.

Very very interesting. A hell of a noise. I'll need more time with this, but I love the clanging guitars.

Does nothing for me. I don't like the silly, American rawk voice.

I really enjoyed this. Very consistent. Lots of great songs. Production is real nice. A pleasant surprise.

Sad, sad, sad.

No problem with this. Country music. All fine. I wouldn't seek it out.

I love the rise in Sooner Or Later, the melody in I Want You, the one note harmonica in Pledging My Time, the waltz in Fourth Time Around. Everybody must get stoned.

I really like this. Catchy songs. Drums are brilliant, obviously. Guitars turned up to 11. Might've been nice to have a little more variety, but sometimes you just want to rock.

All the hallmarks of great music yet I just don't care for the music of Van Morrison. Maybe it's the voice, cos some of these songs are great. The musicians are excellent. And yet...........

Fine. Do I need 2 Yeah Yeah Yeahs albums in this list? No. I don't dislike it, but it's not filling me with anything.

Lots of fun. Enjoyed the glam rock influences. Unorthodox lyrics appreciated too. Very 90s, but then so am I. Great band.

Not completely bad. Decent rhythms but the voice irritates me.

Talking Heads will never be my favourite band. Too self-consciously cool. But this might be my favourite album of theirs. Cities and Life During Wartime are both jams.

Tricky one. The first half is as good as indie rock gets. It's undeniable. The second half is very forgettable. If the songs were spread evenly, would it improve the ranking? Impossible to know.

A personal classic. My first CD (alongside John Lennon's Imagine). I know every note. I love every note. So much energy. Severely underrated. Great cover art.

Baaba Maal, we meet again. And so soon. Better than the other album, but I still cannot enjoy his nasal voice.

Didn't enjoy this as much as Synchronicity. Don't think the songs are as strong. Nothing wrong (although Sting's voice can become annoying), just not grabbing me.

Lots of brilliance. But so many skits. So many.

Lovely and serious. Some eternal classics on here. I still prefer later Dylan.

Not bad at all. Spirited songs with twanging guitars. Little bit of blues and a lot of heart

I didn't dislike it. Much better than I was dreading. I sometimes struggle with New York bands, not always. Too much self conscious 'cool'. But this was absolutely fine. Quite good in parts

Love it. Always a great listen. Love the lazy, hazy atmosphere. Never lets me down with it's whacked out weirdness. Great Cover Art.

Lots of very good songs. A couple of crazy vocals. Loses a star for the 80s production. Sorry Prince.

Some good bits. Nothing great, nothing terrible.

Funky jazz. Pretty good all the way through. Rewards closer listening. Some far-out parts.

Classic. Didn't get to listen to the whole thing, but I'm very familiar with it. Love pretty much all of it. The guitars are wonderful, but I have to mention the bass playing. So slinky and groovy.

I used to enjoy this album. I like the texture of it and many of the guitar tones make me feel like I'm floating on a metallic cloud. But I'm not sure there are many songs here, just ideas that float by a little aimlessly.

It's very good. Slightly old-fashioned now, but still got a little fire in the belly. Classy arrangements, great vocals.

Some decent parts, some weaker parts. Probably need to listen to it more to offer an informed opinion.

I want it on the record that Killing Joke rule.

Let the record also show that Motorhead rule.

This is a beautiful album. Wonderful melodies, sad songs. It's a 4.5 because not everything is memorable, but it's fucking brilliant.

Couldn't find this exact album, so I listened to a Fats Domino best of. Once it had finished, the CD started playing again from the start. Instinctively I moved to press stop, but the music was so good that I listened through again.

Tough day for Queen. I'm quite ill with a stomach bug. A day off work. I half listen to Queen II. Some of it is well crafted, some of it seems quite silly.

Not good. Should music be irritating?

Scratchy with grooves. A great noise with longevity.

Listening to this the day after Brian Wilson has died. I can only be honest. I don't like it. It seems that every 30 seconds a new song has started or a new melody or a return to Heroes and Villains. It's too much.

Phenomenal. The mutant stomp of the title track, Stay's frantic, furious funk and the vocal on Wild is the Wind are all highlights amongst highlights. Maybe his best album.

Not really my thing. A bit old fashioned and razzle dazzle. But there's nothing wrong with this.

I used to own Stoosh on tape. A forgotten band. Not listened to these guys for years..... It's not dissimilar to QOTSA in some of the guitars. Some rocking stuff on here. Half the ballads are good, especially Lately, half are not as good . If they'd gone all out rock with Lately in the middle I reckon this'd be remembered more fondly.

It's the day of my friend's funeral. A very apt album. Taken as a whole, there's an awful lot here. The subject matter is heavy, deservedly. There's obviously a lot to sing about. I can't give it 5 stars because it's not often I want to actively listen to so much grief. It is brilliant though. Great cover art.

Some bits are entertaining, some bits are silly.

So raw. Like cocaine straight from Bolivia. Maybe the best hip-hop album ever, although Illmatic and Aquemini would like a word. A true classic.

Fine. Sixteen Saltines goes hard, but some of the rest is reasonably average. Not much sticks. Not terrible, not great. A shame, cos I loved The White Stripes.

Not my thing. Never will be my thing.

I like the fuzz. I don't like the feedback.

Aged like a fine wine. Lovely drum programming and soothing vocals. It's not 5 stars as some of the lyrics are a bit direct for my taste. 4.5 if I could. Bloody lovely in headphones.

Yep. 5 stars.

Still fresh today. Kinda sunny, kinda dark.

Nope. I do not like the music of Beck. Dull.

A nice enough sound. Quite corny. I prefer my hip-hop RAW.

Not sure about this. It's the kind of thing I should like - it's all well played and kind of groovy, but I don't think it's dated very well. Also, I can't remember any of it.

It's good. It's not really my thing though. I can tell it's probably brilliant, but my heart doesn't want to know.

Classy. I won't return to it, but it's decent.

Perfectly fine. Nothing stands out, but it's well produced. Didn't get much time to give it a proper listen.

Good stuff. Not their best (3 EPs is a top ten/twenty album for me), but it's got lots of great vibes and strong songs. Trouble is lovely.

Seemed decent. Kinda busy, so didn't hear it all. Actually sounded like what I hoped a Michael Jackson album would sound like.

Gains a point for the 11 minute Papa Was a Rolling Stone, loses a point for First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. I have not heard a version of that song that I like.

Bleeps and bloops. My preference is for Trans Europe Express, but this is perfectly fine.

Tina Turner had personality. Personality goes a long way. These are great versions of often great songs. It's slightly cheesy, in an 80s way, but this was a fun listen.

Horse shit. They toured with U2 and thought 'we could make lots of money.' This is not music made with creativity or connection in mind. It is concerned with making money. The worst thing about it, is that it worked. People bought this shit in their millions. Cheers, people.

Goes hard. Very hard. I like it's oddness. The vocals set it apart. A pleasant surprise.

Sacrilege, but I don't think this is as good as it is influential.

Hmm. I remember really, really liking this maybe 5 years ago. This time, it didn't really gel with me. Some great playing from the band. Not sure about some of the songs. A bit dreary?

Absolutely fine. Not what I expected. I expected synths, and I don't know why. Maybe the cover art. It was fun for a bit, but ultimately I won't be returning to this. Looks like I struggle with some albums from this era. Something to do with the thin production.

Turns out I don't like Black Sabbath as much as their legend suggests I should. Some big, fat riffs but I'm left a little cold.

Struggled with this. Didn't like the expressive singing. Not too bad when singing softly but sometimes it was tough going.

Good. Nearly very good. I've heard their first 3 albums. Each is a 5 star classic in my eyes. I feel they traded some fury for something more palatable for this one. It still rocks and I can't deny the quality of most of the songs, but I miss the furious speed of previous albums.

Promising. I'm on holiday so didn't have time to listen to the whole thing. I've listened in the past and dismissed it as 'not my thing'. But I think this will grow on me. There's clearly something going on here.... I'll listen more when I have the time. 4 stars, for now.....

No. Not as bad as I was fearing, but the voice is hard to listen to.

Too poppy. Too arch. It's a Sin was very good though. I'd probably like a singles collection, but an album was just too much for me.

The 2 big singles are good. There are also a couple of interesting/unexpected instrumental choices. Other than that, I was slightly uninspired.

I can find no faults with this. Black Math goes hard. Great mix of rockers, slow ones and weird ones. One of the last great albums of the Rock era.

One of the best albums ever. Gloriously melancholic. Great, great songs, great singing, great production. An example of greatness.

Professional. Warmly produced. Reminds me of REM's Reveal. Slightly past their best but still capable of making cosy albums.

I don't think there's much else like this. Spooky, groovy weirdness. Sometimes it sounds like everyone is playing a different song - in a good way. A hell of a trip.

Shoulder shrug.

Undeniable. Every song rocks just as hard as all the others. Maybe Orion is my highlight. The first time I heard it and realised what was happening was a moment of "woah".

A few too many sappy ballads, but when they're cooking it's pretty good.

Decent in parts. The singles stand out, but other sections are not quite fully formed.

I don't care if someone is a nasty gal. Good singles saves it.

Pretty cool. Tasty baselines. Groovy grooves. Krauty, psychedelic vibes.

Cool. Reminds me of Pixies and Minutemen. I like the use of acoustic guitars in a punky way. It's got personality and a unique, unorthodox approach with good songs.

Excellent. No filler. If I'm nit-picking, and I am nit-picking, I would say I've overplayed it. That's my fault. I also prefer Surfer Rosa and Come On Pilgrim. It's still great, and Gouge Away rules.

A great idea. Actually sounds like a car journey for large parts. I like the flute and guitar mixing with the synthesizers. Does it hold my attention for the duration? No.

All of Nick Drake's albums will be getting 5 stars from me. Love the melancholy feeling. This would probably be my third favourite of his, but it's still flawless.

What I like about Tommy is the sound. The Who sound great, of course they do. What I don't like about Tommy is that it never settles. Overture, underture, minute long ditties trying to tell a story that I can't follow. Tommy needs more songs, more focus.

I struggled with this. I don't enjoy the abrasive, industrial sound and nihilistic lyrics. I like hard rock, I like some nihilistic lyrics, just not an entire album of it.

Essential? Not really, when Radiohead have plenty of superior albums already on the list. This one is a little under-produced and lacking focus. Nevertheless, it has plenty of variety and the performances are stellar as usual with Radiohead.

I rolled my eyes a couple of times at the most preposterous bits. It's all a bit silly and doesn't really rock like it thinks it does. Some decent pop melodies I suppose, but this is nowhere near as good as their first two, brilliant, albums.

Bangs. A nice surprise. Every song is masterly played by every musician. It got my actual foot actually tapping. There is nothing out of place here.

I feel bad about my ratings for female musicians. There aren't many on here, but each time they get a 2, maybe a 3. Destiny's Child, Joan Baez and now TLC. I know that men aren't 'better' at music, but this list is not helping. I did not enjoy this modern R&B album. Waterfalls was good, but the rest was very uninteresting.

It's a lot. Big drama. Really good production. I can't take it seriously, so I won't be returning to it.

Excellent. The band is razor sharp. Mr Brown's charisma is off the scale and the crowd are totally into it.

They overcooked this. Many songs don't work and overall it's way too long. But but but, it has some brilliant music. Bombs over Baghdad, Ms Jackson, So Fresh So Clean. It's a glorious mess.

3 Morrissey solo albums! This list does not need 3 of these, and I'm a fan. It's absolutely fine, quite good even. But with all the music in the world to choose from I'm unlikely to choose a Morrissey solo album.

Dark and psychedelic. About as good as it gets. The Doors are an awesome band.

I don't care for Depeche Mode. I find their melodies, and synth pop in general, irritating.

Solid. I don't always feel this American but I can't deny it's quality.

Oh yeah. I like this. Righteous lyrics and groovy baselines. Underrated early 90s hip hop.

Full of spirit, I'll give it that. Not the most memorable songs and too 80s for me but it's got a little pep in its step.

Brilliant. Dark and decadent. Loads of great songs. Very Bowie. A British classic

Cool and weird with great songs and loads of creativity. Oh, and it rocks. What more do you want?

Classy as fuck. If I had to choose a side I'd pick The Lyre of Orpheus. Some proper stately shit on that side.

Surprised that I enjoyed it. It's reputation proceeded it. Yes, it is a little silly in parts. But it's beautifully played throughout and has a pleasantly wistful feel. I would happily drink tea, while it rains outside, and listen to Tarkus. Great cover art.

Incredible. This is why we're here. It's Electric Warrior by T Rex. An absolute classic rock n roll album. Each song is boiled down to it's essence. Great cover art.

I love the raw production. The guitar tone is sensational. Adam Raised A Cain might be my favourite Springsteen song. Some of it is a little too passionate, though that seems harsh. This is a very, very good album.

I've never given Wilco a go. Not sure why. I was certain that I'd like them but something held me back. This album has not convinced me. The songs aren't memorable. The performances are all decent, but it doesn't speak to me. I don't like the noisy ending to a few songs - it doesn't have the effect it thinks it does.

Always thought this the lesser of Jimi Hendrix's albums. It's not, is it? It's fucking brilliant. It's got Little Wing, Castles Made of Sand, If 6 Was 9, Wait Until Tomorrow. The Experience are the greatest rock trio of all time and Jimi's playing is cosmic. Jimi Hendrix released 5 star albums exclusively. Great Cover Art.

Absolutely fine. I can hear the Dylan influence. I wouldn't complain if someone put it on.

I think it probably does what it does very well. What it does do is something that I don't need doing.

So much classic stuff. What is And What Should Never Be is so cool with the panned guitars. Lemon Song and Heartbreaker both have great riffs and baselines. The album starts with Whole Lotta Love, ffs!

Love me some Doors. This is an excellent Doors album. Riders On The Storm is a delicious groove. I'm going to be harsh and mark it down half a star cos Morrison's vocals are a little rough. Cool album though.

I think its just me. It's almost definitely just me. But Rumours doesn't do much for me. I appreciate it, it's good, but I can't feel anything for it. I prefer Fleetwood Mac as a blues band with Peter Green. Give me The Green Manalishi over this, any day.

I wanted to like this more than I did. It's got loads of personality but parts of it are irritating. The vocals mostly.

Pretty good. Loads of memorable songs. The whole album is very cohesive in style. I probably wouldn't seek it out.

Very interesting and pleasant. Love how distinctive it is. I feel like I recognise a few melodies. A lovely album. I'll listen to this again.

Bunch of weirdos absolutely rockin out. So good to listen to the sound of a four piece band just fucking nailing it. Some massive songs on here and some properly strange shit. A classic.

It's just too old and schmaltzy for me. I'm sure it sounds beautiful on a cold winter's night. It's all very well played but it's not for me.

Too smooth and cheesy for me.

Some good, psychedelic soul. Brilliant singing, obviously. Just doesn't capture my imagination as much as I'd hoped it would.

Fun, funny, funky. I can hear G Funk and Outkast. This is brilliant. Great Cover Art.

Fine. California Dreamin is great. Not my favourite 60s album.

Lovely sadness.

Some nice bits. Nothing terrible. Feels a bit dated, maybe. This won the Mercury Prize. Probably says more about that prize than this album. In truth, this is a 2.5 star album. I'll decide whether I round up or down in the morning.

It's rock n roll baby. Doesn't get much better than this.

This album (or part of it) came on the radio during a family stay in a Cumbrian cottage. It was late night and the rain was whipping through the valley. The music found it's place. This morning, I let this album continue playing in my classroom while the children came in. One child asked, "What's that strange sound?" Again, this music had found it's place. The reviews on here are mostly negative, but I feel that exposes people's inherently conservative, unadventurous nature. This is very good, weird ass music designed for late nights and early mornings. Get with it.

Easily one of the best albums ever. Gloria is a hell of an opener. I don't know what the fuck Patti is singing about for most of the album but she makes it sound cool. The band is great. Slinky and quiet and rockin. A classic. Great Cover Art.

A Hard Day's Night has, for some reason, never been my favourite Beatles album. Maybe the lack of a Ringo song for balance. I even considered not giving it five stars. But how can I not? It's the only full Lennon/McCartney album in the world. The whole first side is masterful, it's only a couple of very slightly dodgy Lennon tunes (I'll Cry Instead, When I Get Home) that stop it from being perfect. And I mean perfect. That's why I don't consider it to be a great Beatles album. It's so close to perfection. I have to give George Harrison a mention here. His guitar playing is perfectly measured throughout the album. Most tasteful lead guitarist of all time? He's in the conversation. Great Cover Art.

Good fun. I wrongly judged them back in the 00s. Thought they were shallow and bubblegummy. Maybe I was a homophobe. We all deserve a second chance. This is a good album with good songs.

It's got attitude, but it lacks tunes.

Decent. I might like it more if I'd discovered it as a youngster.

Some great covers on here. It was a moment of genius to arrange these songs in this way.

As good as alternative/indie music can get. All killer, no filler. The rhythm section is deadly.

I like this. Music with an odd quality. A good old-fashioned English eccentric.

It's decent rock n roll. A tad too dramatic for my taste, but I can see the appeal.

Too predictable. Only one gear, which is not necessarily a problem but is here. Yes, it's rocking, but it doesn't do anything else. Some of the vocals are weak and I don't think they're a brilliant band in terms of ability.

Some of this is the best music Bowie ever made (Changes, Life On Mars), some of it is a teensy bit forgettable. Still a brilliant album, just not his absolute best.

I like the surf music and aliens vibe. Love the raw vocals and the band is rocking. It's maybe a bit light on tunes to stop it being an absolute classic but this is good shit.

Funky shit. The beats had my head nodding for sure. The lyrics aren't telling me anything too deep or meaningful but they're probably not trying to. With modern ears, the attitude to women here is a problem. I can't deny the power and quality of the music but it has dated badly

One of the greatest albums of all time. No question. So many great moments. The second half is pure, communal genius. They made this album while they were breaking up just to show the world that they could still make great albums. Great Cover Art.

I'd like to give this 5 stars for Disco 2000 and Something Changed, but parts of the album are not as incredible as those two songs. It's still a brilliant album.

White music. I started off thinking "This sounds pleasant." But then the tweeness and cutesy cutesy horns and strings kept coming. The vocals are wet. This isn't the worst music ever made. Far from it. But I can't handle this amount of soppiness. Get a grip of yourself, Sufjan!

Stately. Majestic in parts. Every song has something to say. John and Paul should not have been rejecting these beauties. Nevermind, George got his moment in the light. A magnificent album.

Really enjoyed this. Like a British Talking Heads with actual songs. I knew Rip It Up but the rest was nice and groovy with afrobeat influences and some sweeeet saxamaphone playing. I want to listen to this more.

I've always had a soft spot for The Stranglers. Mum had a tape of their Best Of in our car when we were kids. Great singles band. I'd never heard a Stranglers album until now. All the trademarks are there: Doors' keyboards, sexist lyrics and a fucking incredible bass tone. This is a very solid pink-adjacent album. It won't replace the Best Of in my heart, but I enjoyed listening to this album today.

This could be good, but it's too concerned with being 'funny'. It is not funny. As soon as something starts cooking a sound effect or a stupid lyric stops everything in its tracks. I've always struggled with Frank Zappa. I don't he's clever or subversive or funny. He's not even weird, he tries too hard for that. Weirdness comes naturally, this is forced and I can smell a rat.

It's as good as it's reputation. Maybe even better. At the time it was a staggering achievement. Now, it's a fucking brilliant album. The tracklisting is perfect, it sounds like summer and it has the best George Harrison song.

The singles on here are as good as it gets. There is a warmth and heart to this album that counts for a lot. Unfortunately, it is a little too long with some songs not lingering long in the memory banks.

Absolutely brilliant. My head was nodding. It's way too long, but I don't care.

This is not my flavour of metal. The music doesn't do much for me - its played very well though. My main issue is the vocals. Too damn showy. Too much wailing. It's like a musical stage show. I can't get into it at all.

Played this is in my Year 4 class as the children came in in the morning. They were doing their maths, bopping their heads. They asked if we could have it on all day. So we did. Bongo Rock all day long and we didn't get bored of it at all. I even played it again while washing dishes that night. Still fresh.

Not convinced this deserves a place in the list. White Blood Cells and Elephant, yeah sure. This is a lesser White Stripes album. No bad thing, it's got some good stuff on here, but it's a little inconsistent and is not, in my opinion, essential.

So fresh. The lyrics, the songs, the performances. Shout out to Jungleland for being awesome.

Fuck this whiney shit. A slog to get through.

This didn't do it for me. Turns out I don't like my steak too raw.

A really fun, inventive album. Loads of variety. I'm always happy to listen to it.

Loads of variety, loads of fun.

Absolutely brilliant. Groovy as shit. Sexist as hell, but the groove is too strong.

Tuneful, slightly weird and a bit lo-fi. The Concept is a brilliant opener.

Really like Protection. The title track is lovely and groovy and cool. Some parts of the album are a bit too tasteful to give 5 stars but I love it's relaxed atmosphere.

Really fucking good. I've never listened to the whole album, just a couple of tracks. Love the raw guitar. Love the fact that it's loads of short songs. I'll be coming back to this.

Had a bit of a turn round with this. I've never really clicked with New Order, apart from some mega singles. On first listen, I struggled with Sumner's singing voice. He's not a natural singer and some of the lyrics aren't great. BUT. The sound of New Order is unique. The first song seems to be a letter home from a soldier - I didn't expect this. This disarmed me. I dropped me preconceptions and realised that New Order are a great band. I might not revisit this album much, but I'm looking forward to Power, Corruption and Lies at some point in the near-ish future.

Cosy or terribly bland. You decide. It's too bland for me, but I can't say I dislike it.

I think they're playing dress up. It's not terrible, but it lacks soul.

Good, clean fun. Put a smile on my face.

Listened on headphones. Bass in the left ear, piano in the right. Very unnatural. I couldn't focus properly.

Loved it. Even better than the other prison album. Personality for days and great performances of great songs. Love how rowdy the prisoners get. "Aww, you don't really mean that....." Great Cover Art.

Really influential album. So many bands have taken something from this - creeping build ups, throbbing basslines and Bono's pleading wail. It's heavily front loaded with THE HITS. I don't have any issue with that, but the rest is clearly not as strong or interesting as the first 3 or 4 songs, even though it had it's moments for sure.

Righteous and groovy. Love the Rhodes vibes. Late night feel.

Fuck yeah. This is messed up but it's messed up good. Sometimes we all need a palate cleanser to scrape away everything else. I get why people don't like this, but I think it's brilliant. Great cover art.

Didn't get much time to listen, but I like what I heard.

This is one of my favourite albums ever. Reminds me of my dad's house when I was in my teens. I love pretty much every song on this. Oh My Love and How? are beautiful, tender songs.

This felt a little tamer than I was hoping. Not bad at all, but not as bad ass as I wanted.

Good spirit. Slight lack of tunes.

The problem is, I have to actually listen to it.

So nearly a masterpiece. The production is slightly ramshackle, to my ears. A couple of the songs aren't quite as good as the others. But when it's good, this album is really good. I love Long Promised Road.

All good fun. Tbh, I didn't get much time to listen properly, but it's obviously very good.

Goes really well with drizzle and a nice cup of tea. Brilliant album. A proper story and satire.

Brilliant. Nice and strange. Like an accessible British krautrock album. I thought this would be a good un, but it was even better than I hoped.

Fun but front loaded. The first 3 are the best 3, and very good they are too. I once danced naked to them with two other guys. Fun times. After that, they run out of steam. The band AND the naked dancing men.

Lovely to know this exists. Can't say that I'll ever seek it out. That's my fault, not the music's.

I went into this open minded and optimistic. The band are not terrible, quite solid actually. They have some very pretty, Beatles-esque melodies as well. However, this album falls off a cliff after about 5 songs. The singles are memorable and tuneful. A lot of the second half of this album is quite hard to listen to due to irritating vocals and aimless jamming from the band.

Lovely. A balm for the soul. Took my daughter to school in -6C. On a bike. Her school was closed for teacher training. Took her to 2 different friends' houses while I went to my first day back at work after Christmas. At home, this album came through for me with it's generous, uplifting spirit. Great cover art.

I think I respect this more than love it. It's got great attitude but lacks stand out tunes. The cover of I Heard it Through the Grapevine is excellent, however.

I was wary about it, but I really enjoyed it. Yes, some of the lyrics aren't great. They seem to be fixated on penises, but nevertheless the music rules.

I've tried a number of times with this album. It's never truly clicked. I can hear that the songs are there, but something holds them back. Can't put my finger on it. I listened on Spotify, which has the demos after the album. I love the demos. The songs shine. They should have kept the songs smaller and cosier, like the demos.

It's all well played and written. It's just not my thing. I love a lot of Elton's singles and the world could do with more Elton Johns but I don't click with this. Maybe the songs are too dramatic and grand.

Oh yes. Legendary album. I nearly played it to death after my daughter was born. Listening to it while pushing her around in her buggy. So many individual highlights and the whole still adds up to more than it's parts. The variety of music on here and the scale of ambition (fully, fully realised) puts this easily in the realm of genius.

I really like Randy Newman. I feel like I would enjoy spending time in his company. His music makes me smile and feel all kind of nostalgic.

I couldn't get with this. Maybe it was the plummy English voice (and I have a plummy English voice, myself!), maybe it was the guitar tones, maybe it was the lack of tunes, maybe it was the slightly underwhelming production. It does sound better when played really loud, but it's still not enough. I do love the cover art though.

Bit boring and unmemorable. A shame, cos their other album on here was decent.I won't return to this.

Really cool sound. Very British move to take American influences (hip hop, DJ scratching) and turn it into something moody and introspective. I don't always want to listen to this, but it's good to know it's out there.

Classy. It'll never be one of my favourites. It's just too old fashioned for me. It still a pleasurable listen though cos its got class.

I should like this. The krautrock influence, the production is clear and detailed, and it's generally my kinda thing. I find it all a little fussy. A bit precious. I don't mind it and I can see the appeal, but some of these ideas are not exactly original.

I've always struggled with The Band. I should like this. I love Dylan, I love George Harrison, I love weird old American music. But The Band have never interested me. I think it's a combination of the singing voices and the earnest songwriting.

A very pleasant surprise. My heart sinks when prog rock turns up on here. I often find it too silly. This has got a lovely vibe going on though. A kind of English wistfulness. I'll be returning to this.

Passionate. Steve Lilywhite did a great job on the production. Everything's crystal clear and punchy as fuck.

The 80s in album form. I knew the big hits, of course. I was dreading it, but also intrigued. Could it be as bad as my teenage self had imagined? No. It wasn't that bad. It didn't speak to me in any meaningful way but it was absolutely fine.

Really enjoyed this. The sound of Marvin Gaye's erection.

This is relentless. I haven't had a chance to fully engage with this but I like what I heard. Shame there's no bass guitar here BUT that decision does make it a compelling listen. It gives the album its character. Metallica's first 4 albums are as good as any other band's.

A Frank Zappa album that I quite like. The zaniness hadn't taken over yet.

Tough one to rate for me. Lots of (good) memories attached to this album. Me and my partner probably over listened to it on various car journeys in 2009/2010. It takes me back to the early days of our relationship - which is sweet. But I never want to actually listen to it anymore. The album is probably not as good as it was once.

One of my all time favourites. Made of Stone is hairs on the back of the neck time. The whole album sounds like Manchester. Manchester sounds like this album. As close to a perfect album as you'll find. Great Cover Art.