189
Albums Rated
3.25
Average Rating
17%
Complete
900 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
How you rate albums
Rating Timeline
Average rating over time
Ratings by Decade
Which era do you prefer?
Activity by Day
When do you listen?
Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Funk
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
31
5-Star Albums
8
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
Genre Preferences
Ratings by genre
Origin Preferences
Ratings by country
Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Happy Trails | 5 | 2.8 | +2.2 |
| Will The Circle Be Unbroken | 5 | 2.99 | +2.01 |
| Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables | 5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
| A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector | 5 | 3.28 | +1.72 |
| Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus | 5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
| Sound of Silver | 5 | 3.42 | +1.58 |
| Tusk | 5 | 3.46 | +1.54 |
| Zombie | 5 | 3.47 | +1.53 |
| Surrealistic Pillow | 5 | 3.53 | +1.47 |
| Madman Across The Water | 5 | 3.59 | +1.41 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cars | 1 | 3.67 | -2.67 |
| Beautiful Freak | 1 | 3.28 | -2.28 |
| evermore | 1 | 3.04 | -2.04 |
| Back In Black | 2 | 3.86 | -1.86 |
| Getz/Gilberto | 2 | 3.65 | -1.65 |
| After The Gold Rush | 2 | 3.64 | -1.64 |
| Chore of Enchantment | 1 | 2.64 | -1.64 |
| Moving Pictures | 2 | 3.59 | -1.59 |
| Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere | 2 | 3.55 | -1.55 |
| Raising Hell | 2 | 3.51 | -1.51 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Fleetwood Mac | 2 | 5 |
| Stevie Wonder | 2 | 5 |
| Prince | 2 | 5 |
| Michael Jackson | 2 | 5 |
5-Star Albums (31)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Brian Eno
3/5
I don’t feel as though I can give this album a fair rating at this time. I did not immediately dislike it, didn’t love it either. But I found it really interesting, and some parts were definitely enjoyable. There was so much going on within this album that I feel compelled to revisit it soon. Either to see what I may have missed, or to see if anything really sticks the second time around.
5 likes
Taylor Swift
1/5
I read a review of this album that said “this is the musical equivalent of beige” and that is a perfect comparison in my opinion. This is very bland music, lyrically, vocally, and musically. Almost nothing for me to sink my teeth into. This is my first time really listening to Taylor Swift and I did not enjoy it. This is like AI generated pop music, easy to sell, easy to consume.
2 likes
Neil Young
2/5
Not a lot to take away from this album for me. Reminded me why I don’t really listen to Neil too much. 2 stars because I know he was trying.
1 likes
Mylo
4/5
I don’t know if I just got this album on the right day or what, but I loved giving this a listen. I wouldn’t say it’s incredible, but I think Mylo did a great job with this album. I love the old school samples used throughout the album, it helped to create a very chill atmosphere. First half of the album was probably better than the second half, but the ending in excellent.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (8)
All Ratings
Metallica
5/5
I have a hard time giving this album less than 5 stars. Excellent album front to back. Orion has been my favorite Metallica song for a long time. Almost gave 4/5 stars because of Lars’ lack of creativity but I just couldn’t do it.
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
Jerry Lee Lewis playing all the hits in under 23 minutes. Enjoyable listen, nothing amazing, but nothing to hate.
Neil Young
2/5
Not a lot to take away from this album for me. Reminded me why I don’t really listen to Neil too much. 2 stars because I know he was trying.
Rush
2/5
I get that Rush is/was incredibly talented but I just don’t enjoy their music or the vocals.
Ray Charles
3/5
Gotta love Ray. Great album. Not my favorite album of his, but I was happy to give it a full listen. It’s close to 4 stars, but not quite there.
4/5
To be honest, I enjoyed this album way more than I than I thought I would. Solid 90s alt rock with plenty of catchy hooks, hits throughout the record. Morning Glory was probably my favorite track. Downside is it does start to kind of run together after a while, but sometimes that’s okay.
David Gray
3/5
Basically forgot this guy existed. 1st track was probably my favorite. The recording of the vocals from Silver Lining sounds grating, I don’t know if this was just Spotify being a bitch but I had to turn that song wayyy down to deal with it. It’s a good album, but not great. Might revisit a couple tracks but doubtful I’d give the whole album a spin.
Richard Thompson
3/5
Unique songs that still managed to flow well together. Really interesting guitar work throughout the album. Really enjoyed the title track. Interesting combination of English folk and modern (for the time) singer/song writer. Another album I likely won’t revisit, but I didn’t necessarily hate the experience. It was fine.
Jethro Tull
3/5
I never really gave this album a chance in the past. Now that I’ve listened to it, there is a small part of me that feels like I was missing out, just a small part though. The album rocks. There’s amazing sabbath-like riffs through the tracks (My God is a great example), the flute is incredible throughout, and the whole thing flows really well. Not meant to be a concept album from what I understand, but it’s close. I don’t love the vocal stylings, Ian Anderson’s vocals are a bit too exaggerated for my liking, but it does fit the music. I’ve heard it called Hobbit rock many times and I think that’s a fair assessment. Will likely revisit some tracks, but doubtful I’ll listen to the full album much.
Dead Kennedys
5/5
I love this it, front to back. DK’s debut is a quintessential punk album. Sarcastic yet thoughtful lyrics driven by surf-punk guitars and upbeat drums. You won’t find any simple 3-chord songs on this album. Instead you’ll find a band that knew what the fuck they were doing, and decided to do it with a hard edge. Their later releases always had better quality in the recording, but Fresh Fruit will always be their best release.
The Dictators
2/5
Two punk albums in a row, what am I in 10th grade again?? Widely regarded as a precursor to American Punk Rock, this album goes fast, hard, and pokes fun at the seriousness of heavy metal at the time. This was a fun listen, but that’s about the only thing I had to take away from the album. Won’t revisit, but I respect its impact on the growth of the punk culture.
Steely Dan
3/5
This was my first time listening to a full Steely Dan album, and I guess I shouldn’t have waited so long. Familiarity with the opening tracks helped me settle in, and I really enjoyed the entire ride. Kings was probably my favorite track, the backing vocals were on point during that tune. Only a Fool Would Say That was also great, felt like Do It Agin Pt2, not sure if that was the intention. I’ll likely revisit this album in the near future.
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
This is a pretty solid classic rock album. I wasn’t ans into the tracks that leaned more blues. Eric Clapton’s talent was on full display, but I never really loved the tone of his guitar. This album reminded me of that pretty often. I don’t particularly love Eric Clapton’s vocals either. I’m just not a Clapton guy. Bobby Whitlock’s backing vocals were excellent, apparently he was going for a Sam and Dave style and I think he did great. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad, Anyday and Keep On Going were standout tracks.
Dizzee Rascal
2/5
This wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great either. I wasn’t a huge fan of the music itself, but I could tell there were some real heart felt lyrics within the album. Sadly, I didn’t look up lyrics as I listened, so I did miss a lot of what was being said. I’m somewhat familiar with grime, so it was cool to hear the album that helped move grime towards the mainstream. But overall it’s not my thing.
CHVRCHES
4/5
This album was fantastic. Synth-oriented EDM/pop with excellent vocals and lyrics. Really enjoyed this, already listened to it a second time. Can’t choose any stand out tracks because they were all great.
Bob Dylan
4/5
I love Dylan. Not my favorite album featuring a backing band (The Band, the Hawks, whatever), but it’s up there. One Of Us Must Know was a standout track, it’s been a long time since I heard that and I really loved it. Listening to this album is like walking into a saloon, it just feels older than his early solo work. The band is on point and Dylan doesn’t disappoint with his trademark, sometimes over the top, descriptive lyrics. Great album.
The Undertones
2/5
Late 70s pop punk that gets in and out of the way in under 35 minutes. Nothing really noteworthy in my opinion. True confessions was my favorite track, then I realized the version on Spotify is the “keyboard version”, not the version from the original release. So the best song isn’t really even from the album.
k.d. lang
3/5
I was surprised by this album. K.d. Lang’s voice was absolutely incredible, she really blew me away at points during the album. Musically, it does not disappoint. Violin and pedal steel swells help to add emotional highs and lows to the songs of love and heart break. Sometimes it’s western-swing/pop, sometimes it wasn’t. Not sure I’d revisit often, but I could see revisiting the album.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Easy 5 stars. Classic album, front to back. They were so damn good.
Magazine
2/5
Interesting listen primarily because the singer from the Buzzcocks left and went onto for this band. So you’re getting a godfather of pop-punk moving on to be a godfather of post-punk/ new wave. There were moments of genuine creativity surrounded by stretches of basic punk songs that makes the listener think “this sounds familiar”, but not necessarily in a good way. Not a big fan.
Parliament
4/5
This albums is super funky and super weird and I love it. Excellent musicianship throughout, and I don’t know if it’s considered a concept album or not, but it’s damn close. Classic funk album.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
2/5
This album bored me to tears. Musically, it was bland. Vocally, it was depressing. I appreciate the religious themes that were used throughout the record, but, overall, I just didn’t get it. Not my thing.
Run-D.M.C.
2/5
I was pretty excited when I saw this was my album of the day. After having listened to the album, I’d say I was pretty disappointed. I hate to say it, but by today’s standards, Run DMC is pretty boring. The flow of the lyrics, and the lyricism itself, is rudimentary at best. The drum machine of that era is annoying as well. I get that they helped pave the way for hip hop and rap to come, but man was I bored outta my skull.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
1/5
This album was awful. I read that Alexander Spence wrote most, or all, of this while in the hospital, and it sounds like the pain of a hospitalized man. Also read that it was only meant to be a demo. It should have stayed a demo. Alexander Spence plays all of the instruments and he play none of them well. At times it sounded like he was just winging it in the studio. Strongly disliked.
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
I didn’t think this album would be bad. But I did not think this album would be this great, wow.
Sam Cooke
4/5
Sam Cooke’s talent is absolutely undeniable. The only downside to the album is that it was recorded when live recordings (live in front of an audience) didn’t have the best quality. Other than that, Sam controls every bit of the show and leaves you wanting more.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
This was better than I anticipated. I spent years listening to punk rock and never bothered to explore any Siouxsie. At this point, it’s probably too late for me to get into anything new from this genre, but I do expect it. This was a much more creative effort than other post-punk albums I’ve heard. She’s also go a very powerful voice, I was pretty shocked. Not bad.
Coldplay
2/5
Coldplay is diet-Radiohead. It’s easy to consume and rarely challenges the listener in anyway. I don’t really understand why this album was so successful. It’s fine. This is what I hear when I’m getting my teeth cleaned.
Lauryn Hill
5/5
What an amazing album. Lauryn blends hip-hop and neo-soul with touches of reggae, and does it all perfectly. Her voice is absolutely incredible, the lyrics are deep and thought provoking, and the music production is top tier. This albums deserves all the praise that it has received over the years.
Adele
5/5
Love this album, front to back. Adele’s voice is so damn incredible, it blows me away every time. I love the vintage aesthetic of the music, it compliments her voice so well. One of the best pop-centric albums to come out in my lifetime, in my opinion. Grand slam of an album. Go Phillies!
Death In Vegas
2/5
Very dark and gritty feel to this album. Felt like a soundtrack to a fast paced action thriller where the lights are always flickering. Not a terrible album, but overall it didn’t do too much for me. Another head-scratcher of an addition to this list.
Nine Inch Nails
2/5
Wow, this was a tough listen for me. Incredibly angry, dark and abrasive. Just a culmination of self-loathing and self-destruction. There’s so much distortion it made me feel like my headphones were broken. Really disliked the drum machines used throughout the album, it’s a dated sound at this point. I’ll give points for creativity, as it’s a very experimental piece of art, but I’d be shocked if I ever gave this another spin.
Fugees
5/5
What a great hip-hop album. These songs were everywhere when I was a kid and they still hold up to this day. So many great samples are used throughout the album, I especially loved the Dove sample in The Score. Wyclef’s cover of No Woman No Cry is an all time favorite. Excellent production, excellent lyricism, excellent execution.
Suzanne Vega
4/5
I really enjoyed this album. Full of interesting musical compositions. I was thrown off by the first track with the spoken-word/singing style, but I settled in after that, and once the album started from the top I felt like I understood the opener more. Marlene on the Wall was a great tune, loved the drums during the refrain, bit of a Steve Gadd feel. Some Journey builds to an incredible musical climax of strings and synth. Undertow and Neighborhood girls were also standout tracks. Overall this album was great. It sounds ahead of its time, like it could be the building blocks of modern indie, as vague as that may be.
Taylor Swift
1/5
I read a review of this album that said “this is the musical equivalent of beige” and that is a perfect comparison in my opinion. This is very bland music, lyrically, vocally, and musically. Almost nothing for me to sink my teeth into. This is my first time really listening to Taylor Swift and I did not enjoy it. This is like AI generated pop music, easy to sell, easy to consume.
Beastie Boys
3/5
I was excited to listen to this, but I enjoyed it less than I thought I would. It’s still a fun listen, but a full album was enough for me. The sound of that era is dated at this point, and nostalgia only takes me so far. Not great, but not bad either.
Jefferson Airplane
5/5
Man I love this album. My father had me listen to this at as a teenager and I remember him saying “that’s the one with Embryonic Journey, you gotta check that out”. That song, in particular, has remained a personal favorite of mine ever since. The album, as a whole, is a bit raw. The recording isn’t great by any means, but I blame that on the era. 3/5 of a Mile in Ten Seconds, Plastic Fantastic Lover, Somebody to Love, this album has everything. My Best Friend is another personal favorite; it’s very rare that you hear the swing/groove of a song change within a song like that. Not sure this is really a 5 star but I cannot give it 4.
Eels
1/5
I don’t know what to think about this album. Not sure if it was me, but it just didn’t hold my attention very well. I didn’t enjoy the singer’s voice at all, and the music never carried the songs well enough that I could look past the vocals. It was like a sub-par version of Spiritualized or something.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
I don’t know where to start with this album. As much as I LOVE music, I still feel incapable having a full understanding of why this is a genius piece of art, but I know that it is. Musically, there is very little, or maybe nothing, in the hip hop world, that comes anywhere close to this. It’s like the album is equal parts rap / funk / jazz. Lyrically, Kendrick takes you on a trip through the corners of his mind with themes ranging from self love to systemic racism to the current climate of today’s hip hop culture. This is not just a collection of songs, this is a work of art. I’m not sure people have realized the true genius of this piece of art yet, me included.
The Strokes
5/5
One of the few quintessential rock albums to come out in my lifetime. This album is rock and roll to its core. Raw and dirty, fun and catchy. Every song is a banger. They may not have been incredibly talented, but they do what they do perfectly.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
So this is where Will Smith and Coolio got there samples from??? My god this album never ceases to amaze me. 10 out of 5 stars
Raekwon
3/5
I enjoyed this listen, but I wouldn’t say it’s amazing. You get a number of songs that, in my opinion, start to sound similar. And every song sounds as though it could be off a Wu album. Not that that’s a bad thing, but I guess I was hoping for some more individuality with a solo release, even though it heavily featured other members of Wu Tang. Still good though.
Johnny Cash
5/5
Iconic is the best word I have to describe this album. This is such an awesome performance. The songs are great, the lineup featuring the Carter Family, Carl Perkins etc is fantastic. It’s obvious that Johnny Cash has a lot of empathy for the men stuck within the walls of San Quentin, and it’s on full display during this recording. Second best prison concert after The Lone Rangers.
The Cure
3/5
Not a bad album. Never really explored The Cure, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. And to be honest, I think I set the bar low when preparing for the listen. Not a happy listen, which I anticipated, but I enjoyed the music for a large portion of the album. Plenty of textures throughout the music with the use of keys, synths and guitar effects. Robert Smith’s vocals are not my favorite, but it’s not the worst. Fascination Street was added to my liked list, so that’s something.
Napalm Death
1/5
Holy hell that was an intense album. Very aggressive, very abrasive. It’s just not my thing. If it were 20 years ago I might have enjoyed this more, but it’s too much for me at my age (37). I honestly thought a lot of these songs were reprises or something, I found myself continuously checking to see if songs were repeating because they honestly blended together for me. Can’t give it a second star.
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
Excellent album. Green Onions helped to form the sound of the era. This is just flat out cool music, nothing crazy, nothing dull, just cool through and through. I do wish there were more originals, but I think that is also a product of the time, as covers were plentiful back then.
The Cars
1/5
The Cars are one of the most overrated bands out there in my opinion. They are the Weezer of their time, and I don’t mean that in a good way. This music is very bland to me. It lacks depth, it lacks soul, it doesn’t challenge me. I’ll never understand why this album is so popular and I’m fine with that. I’ll will award points for being mixed and mastered VERY well but those points don’t result in more stars, sorry.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
5/5
Jokes on you Album Generator, I love bluegrass! Over two hours of pickin and I loved every bit of it. The album can be viewed as a history lesson in bluegrass music. It’s loaded with a lot of the essential songs, and it features many of the prominent artists that helped to form the country and bluegrass genres.
Waylon Jennings
3/5
Definitely an enjoyable album. Country without being too country. Meaningful lyrics, tight musicianship. Overall not my favorite, but one of the better country albums I’ve heard. Last track is excellent.
GZA
4/5
Awesome hip hop album. The flow is great from start to finish, GZA was definitely the best lyricist out of Wu Tang. RZA worked as the producer, so yet again there are strange samples throughout the album that somehow blend perfectly. Just a really strong effort too to bottom.
Elliott Smith
2/5
First note is that there were some really interesting musical compositions within this album. Some nice guitar and piano work, some nice strings. There were a couple tracks that stood out for me, like Happiness and Stupidity Tries, that I’ll likely revisit. For the most part, I didn’t enjoy his voice and found the majority of tracks to be skip worthy. May revisit at some point but kinda doubtful.
Ananda Shankar
4/5
Very enjoyable album. The covers weren’t my favorite, not that they were terrible, but it felt a bit forced. Sitar + Moog synth makes for one hell of a trippy sound. I’ll likely revisit the full album for sure.
2/5
There is a lot of creativity on this album, it’s apparent that Devo was not trying to be another punk group. They helped form the New Wave genre, so I’ll give them points for that, but at the end of the day it’s hard to take this band seriously. And I don’t think they took themselves seriously, nor did they want to be taken seriously. It’s just meant to be fun, and it is. Just not fun enough to revisit for me.
Prince
5/5
I read a lot of reviews complaining that these songs last too long. I’m here to tell you every song could be another 5 minutes longer and I’d still love it. Killer album, raunchy as hell, don’t listen if you have kids around.
Beck
3/5
Tough album for me to rate. I wasn’t familiar with this album prior to the listen, so, like others, I was thrown off by the lack of breakbeats and samples. The obvious theme and feel of the album is melancholy. It’s a sad one to sit through, but it is a shockingly beautiful album at the same time. In some ways, I think it may be better than anything I’d heard from him in the past. There’s so much emotion, and the songs have so much tension, especially with the layering strings. But, I just don’t know how much I’ll revisit this album, as I usually prefer more upbeat music. I’m at like a 3.5
Silver Jews
3/5
I just had Elliot Smith’s Figure 8 five albums ago and Beck’s Sea Change’s yesterday. So much sadness. Bright Flight wasn’t bad overall, but I found it hard tough to get past the vocals. The singer’s semi-monotone delivery seemed to be at the forefront of the songs, rather than seeming to blend with the music. The lyrics, however, were great, and I enjoyed the music as well.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Dark UK alt rock with a lot of edge. Unique enough to stand out from other alt rock groups of the time. I enjoyed the majority of the music but another album where I didn’t enjoy the vocals much. Lyrics are great but it’s just not my thing. Can I have a happy album today please?
N.W.A.
4/5
I hadn’t heard this full album for at least a decade, maybe 15+ years, and I really didn’t think it was going to hold up. But man was I wrong. I was spinning this in my late teens/early twenties and I really don’t think I appreciated what they were doing. The album is loaded with so many excellent samples, it blew me away. The lyrics aren’t bad, many still ring true to this day, and the flow isn’t as rudimentary as I expected. This album must have really spoke to people around the time of its release. I think MC Ren is my favorite now, and EZ might be my least favorite. His voice doesn’t do it for me anymore.
The Kinks
2/5
The Kinks just don’t do much for me, never really have. This sounds like your standard 60’s Brit psychedelia. Maybe I’m missing something but at first list I was just kinda bored.
Tangerine Dream
2/5
It’s a very long Stranger Things intro. I enjoy hearing the pioneers of the electronica genre, but I can’t see myself revisiting something like this. Unless maybe I’m under the influence of something…
The Verve
4/5
Not a bad album! This was a lot more “out there” than I expected, and I really enjoyed it. Thought provoking lyrics, some catchy hooks, some wild spacey guitar. In some ways it felt like the bridge between Oasis and Radiohead. I’m between a 3 and a 4 but I’m leaning 4 on this one. Will definitely revisit.
The Roots
4/5
Love this effort from The Roots. Influences are pulled from almost every genre within this album, and the Roots show off their ability to genre-bend with the best of them. I think Black Thought may be one of the best rappers to ever pick up a mic, he brings the energy, the lyricism and the flow every time without fail. Water, of course, is just weird.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Thoroughly enjoyed this album. Brought me back to my grandma’s house as a kid. Very slow and melancholy, but beautiful nonetheless. His voice does it for me every time.
Cornershop
3/5
Interesting listen for sure. I just had Ananda Shankar not long ago, so it was fun to continue down the path of eastern-meets-western music. There were some great songs on this album, really loved Good Sh*t in particular, but there were some songs that did almost nothing for me.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
The Boss! Very familiar with this one. Darkness, in my opinion, is Bruce’s last GREAT album. The three preceding albums seem to concentrate more on musical composition, and this is the last album to do so. I feel that, after this album, Springsteen fell into a comfortable groove musically. Lyrically, he moves away from the Jersey shore themes but continues to paint detailed portraits of troubled characters striving for something better. Love this album.
Big Star
2/5
This album didn’t leave much of an impression on me. Up until this point, I was only familiar with their song used for That 70s Show. As the album progressed, I thought wow I think maybe I like some of this slower stuff more. And by the end I couldn’t wait to get through the slower stuff. It wasn’t terrible but I’m not sure I really liked any of it.
Neil Young
2/5
I used to really enjoy this album years ago. At this time in my life, I find even a half-hour block of Neil to be exhausting. I still think it’s one of his more cohesive albums, and there are some songs that resonate with me to this day, but I wouldn’t have put this on if the list didn’t do it for me.
Prince
5/5
I need help, I can’t seem to find the 6-star button.
Guided By Voices
2/5
This album just didn’t move me in anyway. I wasn’t a huge fan of their sound, and each time I started to get into a song it was already over. I heard some lyricism that seemed interesting and thought provoking, so that’s worth mentioning.
fIREHOSE
3/5
As I started listening to this album I thought “wow this sound seems familiar”, then I read that it was members of the Minutemen that formed this band after D Boon’s death, and that explained a lot. I enjoyed this listen, but I’m not sure any songs really stood out from the rest. I just appreciate the bands ability to play almost anything they want, and they don’t sound half bad doing it.
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
Love this album. It’s loaded with excellent musicianship. I don’t know the language, and didn’t look into the lyrics, but it sounds great either way. Takes me away to a little Havana bar with a drink and a cigar. I think there’s something to be said for an album that can seemingly transport you to another place and/or time.
The Smiths
2/5
I pretty much ignored the Smiths for years. I was never exposed to them and never went out of my way to explore them. I will say, I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Maybe I just anticipated something worse? I know there’s a lot more Smiths / Morrissey on this list, so I’ll be exposed to more and maybe I’ll enjoy that even more. But as of now I’m still kind of ignoring them.
Scissor Sisters
2/5
There was a certain level of cheesiness to this album that kept me from really enjoying it. There were some catchy hooks and a couple of standout songs, but I would skip over most of this if I were to revisit. Return to Oz is worth adding to my list.
3/5
Loretta Lynn’s vocals are an absolute classic, I’m always pleased to hear her voice. The music is well-produced and the entire album sounds spotless. At a certain point, I desire more of a raw sound when it comes to country, so this album doesn’t do a ton for me. But enjoyable nonetheless.
3/5
I don’t enjoy this album as much of some of Bowie’s later releases. Just never did much for me, maybe it’s too glam for my tastes. It’s good, don’t get me wrong, just not top-tier for me.
Missy Elliott
4/5
Very entertaining record. Missy shines in her debut album, but Timbaland kind of steals the show for me. The production is absolutely wild. Worth hearing for the L/R panning alone.
Michael Jackson
5/5
This is a legitimate contender for greatest album of all time. Love love love this, all the way through. QJ and MJ forever
Brian Eno
3/5
I don’t feel as though I can give this album a fair rating at this time. I did not immediately dislike it, didn’t love it either. But I found it really interesting, and some parts were definitely enjoyable. There was so much going on within this album that I feel compelled to revisit it soon. Either to see what I may have missed, or to see if anything really sticks the second time around.
Miles Davis
4/5
Cool indeed. First time hearing this album. This seems to be pretty accessible during the first listen, but it’s full of complexities that I’m looking forward to exploring during future spins. Amazing instrumentation and orchestration throughout.
The Streets
2/5
Looking back on yesterday’s listen and this album didn’t leave much of an impression on me at all. Not terrible, but I couldn’t relate to much of the subject matter and remember thinking this is kinda lame…
Doves
4/5
Very reminiscent of Coldplay in many ways, but much more creative in my opinion, like Coldplay on psychedelics. I thought this album was awesome, I was very impressed. They wrote songs that were more than accessible, but they took chances with their production and it paid off in my opinion. It may also be the reason I hadn’t heard of them until now.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
What do you rate an album that you think is excellent, but when you also think that it’s unlikely that you’ll revisit? This kind of album just isn’t for me, but I do recognize that it is a beautifully written and recorded album. The lyricism, the voice, it’s all there. Except for drums. I crave drums.
Solid classic rock offering from Faces. At times it seems a little unorganized, a little raw, but I think that’s part of the appeal as well. Nothing really extraordinary here, but it gets the job done.
Elton John
4/5
Someone just said “I just don’t get rock and roll piano” and I’m dumbfounded. Piano rocks and this album rocks as well. I thoroughly enjoy this album, but I do think that, if it were condensed and made into one album, that it would have been even better. With that having been said, it’s still amazing. Catchy hooks, the album flows well, high energy songs to get you moving, some slower songs to keep it evened out, excellent production, top tier musicianship. It’s like a 4.5, so close to 5.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Quite the journey this album takes you on. Wild soundscapes throughout. Lots of weird noises and interesting compositions. I enjoyed listening to it a lot, but I’m not sure if I necessarily love it. This is one of those albums I wish I could revisit and potentially change my rating, but for now it’s a solid 3.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Wow Peter Gabriel two days in a row? This has got to be the most Peter Gabriel that I’ve listened to in a short period of time. Definitely enjoyed it. Still feel as though, upon further listens, I could end up really developing a love for his music. As of now, another solid 3.
Elvis Presley
3/5
This is cool, Elvis being Elvis, doing his Elvis thing. 12 quick tracks in under 30 minutes. Plenty of reverb to go around. Entertaining the whole way through. Anything spectacular? No, not really. But it’s Elvis so it’s cool.
Steve Earle
2/5
With a name like Guitar Town I really expected some more impressive guitar-based material. This is false advertising. It’s just not my style of country. I don’t love his voice, and the backing band does little more than exist. It sounds excellent, very well-produced, but at a certain point it becomes too polished.
The Doors
3/5
I used to really like The Doors. Or at least I used to say I really liked them. I’m not sure I ever really did. Psychedelic rock with a strong emphasis the organ, which starts to sound like circus music to me. It’s definitely their best body of work, but it’s just okay in my book.
Baaba Maal
4/5
This is what I wish there was more of on the list. Unfortunately, I don’t have any knowledge of the cultural significance of this album/ artist. But even without that, I found this very enjoyable. It is another world music album that suffers from leaning too much into western culture, and seems to lose authenticity in doing so. But it’s still very good.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
This was great. I love the swagger, the attitude, and the energy Elvis Costello had in his early years. The album, musically, is not very complex. But it is very well-written and performed. Each song is very unique from one another, and they still manage to capture a punk sound while being melodic and catchy. 4 stars to help even out low ratings from a friend haha
Manu Chao
3/5
I almost really loved this album, but I found it hard to get past Manu Chao’s vocals. Musically, I found it very interesting. A lot of genre hopping, combinations of different styles and cultures. If it were a different singer or all instrumentals it’d likely get a higher rating. Still enjoyable nonetheless.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
Outstanding album. I was really into this the whole way through. Incredible musicianship and orchestration. Flight of the Foo Birds was exceptional. Banger Jazz album.
Elton John
5/5
Love this album. The production is incredible, it’s such a full sound. Some may say too over produced but I’m okay with it. Amazing songs, even the lesser known titles. It’s a very emotional album, pretty dark at times. Exceptional song writing and execution.
KISS
2/5
I didn’t find much to sink my teeth into with this album. Couple familiar hits on the album, and then a bunch of songs that I’d find skip worthy any other time. Some songs suffer from trying too hard. Others suffer from sounding like another generic KISS song. Pretty meh.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Not my favorite of the Zeppelin albums but it’s still a 5 star in my book.
Fairport Convention
4/5
Not too shabby! It may initially sound like just another folk album, but this seems to have so much going on beneath the surface, lots of different instrumentation to listen for. Some of the songs drag a bit, but not terribly, and it doesn’t seem to last long. From Wikipedia, referring to the fiddle player: “having no electric pick-ups, the band improvised by smashing open a telephone and attaching the microphone to the instrument with an elastic band.” I love hearing stories like that.. Overall, this is really good. I’ll definitely be checking this out again in the near future.
Stereo MC's
2/5
This album had potential to be so much better. I wouldn’t say the songs are bad, but each of them lack depth and creativity. Some are catchy at best. The lyricism tries so hard at times it made me roll my eyes. This is just barely a 2 star rating.
Giant Sand
1/5
Tough one to get through. The vocals ruined it all for me, I just don’t enjoy the singers voice or delivery. The music wasn’t half bad at times, there are some interesting surprises throughout, but the time between surprises really drags. Not my thing.
ZZ Top
3/5
This album rocks, exactly what you’d expect. Nothing over the top, nothing necessarily amazing, but nothing bad either. Solid classic rock.
Grateful Dead
4/5
One of my favorite Grateful Dead albums. Truckin, Ripple, Friend of the Devil. So many good tracks. I prefer this style of Dead over the more psychedelic rock records, might be an unpopular opinion but that’s just me. Love this album.
Lorde
4/5
Wow, this is an excellent album! I was not expecting to become a Lorde fan today, but it’s official. Top tier production, great lyrics and vocals, very creative from start to finish. This is a 4.5 with potential to be a 5.
Funkadelic
4/5
I love this album, but I always wished it was longer. Can You Get To That is an all-time favorite song. Maggot Brain and Wars of Armageddon are both great songs, but since they are more like jams or solo-driven songs, they just don’t carry the same weight as the other songs, they aren’t songs I would typically put on alone. Take away those two tracks and you’re left with five remaining, just too short. Still love it though!
Bad Brains
4/5
Always fun to revisit Bad Brains. Used to love this band when I was younger and I still really enjoy them to this day. They seem to be one of the more talented bands to come out of the hardcore punk genre. The album is produced very well and sounds excellent even by today’s standards, I was kinda shocked by how good it still sounds. Awesome album.
The Adverts
2/5
Not my thing, maybe when I was younger, but not now. It doesn’t sound completely awful, the production is halfway decent. But musically, it doesn’t do much for me.
Turbonegro
3/5
Apocalypse Dudes is a pretty badass title, and this album lives up to that expectation. The opener rocks and it just takes off from there. Typically I try to listen to each album on the home stereo, but this one got blasted in the car and it turned out to be an excellent album for highway driving. I will say, by the end, I was thankful. I couldn’t keep doing that style/sound for much longer, it would’ve gotten stale. But it’s a fantastic rock/punk album, these guys were a lot more talented than I anticipated. 3 stars, almost 4.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
This was the perfect album to start the day with. Maybe not everyday, but yesterday, it just hit right. Lots of Marley songs that I hadn’t heard before, and everyone was enjoyable. Awesome vibes, loved it.
Elis Regina
4/5
What a journey this album takes you on. This album is all over the place, but in a good way. Maybe best described as samba music with lots of different western influences? It’s a pretty wild ride, excited to revisit this one.
Funkadelic
4/5
Another banger from Funkadelic. So weird, so funky, so fun. With the inability to stream this album, I forgot how amazing Who Says a Funk Band is, absolutely love that tune. Funkadelic again proving why they were such an undeniable force in the funk genre.
Cat Stevens
5/5
Cats rule, dogs drool. Love this album
TV On The Radio
3/5
I thought I was vaguely familiar with TV on the Radio, but now I’m not so sure. This isn’t what I was expecting. But I can dig it. Very unique and experimental indie, I was into it. I’ll check this out again for sure.
Various Artists
5/5
I love Christmas and I loved having an excuse to blast this entire album on Christmas Day. Phil Spector showing why he was the best in town during that era.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
5/5
I’m pretty familiar with this album, and I enjoyed revisiting, as I hadn’t heard it for probably a decade. Jam oriented psychedelic rock, reminiscent of the Dead in many ways. There isn’t anything particularly spectacular about this album, but it helps capture the zeitgeist of the late 1960s. Live music with plenty of jams, such an integral part of that era. Rating a 5 to level out so many negative reviews.
Wilco
4/5
I remember listening to this in the past and I didn’t like it much at the time, but this time around was different. There were a couple songs where I kind of lost interest, but I found most of them very enjoyable. Creative indie with good lyricism and catchy hooks. War on War and Heavy Metal Drummer both stood out. I will definitely revisit soon.
Kid Rock
1/5
Yeah, no, this is trash.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
CCR rocks. This album has some great songs, but it’s probably not their best work. It kind of amazes me that they are not a novelty act, considering the fake persona that Fogerty and the band takes on. I’m not judging them for that, just find it interesting.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Johnny Cash does it again. Another excellent performance with an excellent set in another shitty prison. San Quentin had more involvement with the audience, which I really enjoyed, but it doesn’t take point away from this album. Cash is the original badass.
4/5
Black Holes and Revelations was my final album of 2024 and it was more suitable than I thought. From Wiki: “it features political and dystopian themes, with lyrics covering topics such as political corruption, alien invasion, revolution and New World Order conspiracies, as well as more conventional love songs..” so yeah, 2024. Muse has a pretty epic sound. Hard-hitting, yet melodic. Often compared to Queen and Radiohead, it’s like the perfect mix of the two bands. Very enjoyable album, I gotta put more time into this band.
Mylo
4/5
I don’t know if I just got this album on the right day or what, but I loved giving this a listen. I wouldn’t say it’s incredible, but I think Mylo did a great job with this album. I love the old school samples used throughout the album, it helped to create a very chill atmosphere. First half of the album was probably better than the second half, but the ending in excellent.
The Pretty Things
2/5
This is a tough one to rate because I found it very interesting in a lot of ways, and borderline obnoxious in many other ways. I strongly disliked the production value of this album, and disliked most of the vocals as well. But there were some wildly creative ideas coming to life within these songs, and it’s hard not to appreciate that. It’s like a 2.5, not quite a 3.
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
Love this band, love this album. It’s such an entertaining listen from front to back, but I will say the final track has always been my least favorite. There’s so much to listen for on this album, so many fun noises, so much slowly-morphing synth. It’s easy to just get lost in this album. 5 stars all day.
Black Flag
2/5
I never got into Black Flag when I was younger and exploring punk/hardcore, and they still don’t appeal to me at this point in my life. It’s just a half hour that I wanted to hurry up and get through.
Rod Stewart
3/5
Although I don’t find it to be anything extraordinary, I do find Rod Stewart, and Faces, to be way more enjoyable than I had anticipated. It’s a fun combination of rock/folk/honky tonk, and they pull it off well. Excellent background music for a relaxing Sunday night.
Radiohead
5/5
In Rainbows is such an awesome album. I’ve typically turned to OK Computer and Kid A when craving Radiohead, but I think this has to enter the rotation at this point. Another masterpiece.
The Who
3/5
I thought I liked The Who more. But now, after having listened to what is likely their best album, I think I’m changing my tune. It may be an unpopular opinion, but I am not a fan of Keith Moon’s drumming style. He completely lacked any subtlety, and instead of just hanging back and playing in the pocket, the listener gets treated to what seems like one long drum fill (exaggerated of course). I still think some of the songs are great, but I now know that this is a band I prefer in smaller doses. John Entwistle carried this band (maybe another unpopular opinion).
James Taylor
3/5
Very relaxing, very mellow. Classic James Taylor. You get a nice mix of folk, country, blues and even a little funk on this album. I love James’ voice, he could sing the yellow pages and I’d listen. But I will say that at the end of the day I am not really amazed by this album, and I don’t know that I’d revisit it often, but I’ll keep it in the back pocket for when some easy listening is required.
Fela Kuti
5/5
The album that made the Nigerian government so mad that the Nigerian army invaded and destroyed Fela’s commune and murdered his mother?!? Whatttttt????
Nirvana
3/5
I’ve gone back and forth with this band over years. LOVED them when I was younger, disliked them in my late teens and 20s, and now I’m just indifferent. They just don’t do a whole lot for me. It’s a pretty good album, but very sad at the same time considering the circumstances. All Apologies hits hard as a closer too. Richard Cheese does a better version of Rape Me.
Barry Adamson
3/5
What a unique album. It’s described as a soundtrack to a non-existent crime thriller, and that’s exactly what it sounds like, goal achieved. Very dark atmospheres at times, sometimes very upbeat almost to reflect a chase of some kind. Some of it is actually very good, and at other times I was scratching my head. Never heard anything like this before, still unsure of how I feel. 3 stars it is.
Mj Cole
2/5
Not my thing. Starts off okay but it wasn’t long until the album felt repetitive and boring. Onto the next one!
Amy Winehouse
2/5
I had high expectations for this album and I was disappointed after giving it a listen. I enjoy Amy’s voice to an extent, but her vocal style often times seems forced, more like an imitation of her influences. The music really didn’t do much for me either, just felt bored. I hear her follow up is better, so we shall see.
Bee Gees
3/5
This was a surprise for me, considering my past exposure to The Bee Gees was always the disco era Bee Gees. It really wasn’t bad, I think I enjoyed at least half of it. It’s a very full sound, accompanied by an orchestra that helps produce a very large and dramatic atmosphere. There are some songs that I’d skip over during future listens, and some where the vocals were too much. But, overall, pleasantly surprised.
Dire Straits
4/5
I’ve been aware of Mark Knopfler’s immense talent for some time, but for some reason I’ve still slept on Dire Straits. And shame on me for doing so. This album was excellent. They have a very stripped-down sound, while still giving the listener plenty to listen to. I enjoyed each song and didn’t really find any fat that I would cut out. I’m just amazed by Mark Knopfler’s ability.
Steve Winwood
2/5
Arc Of A Driver seems to start on a high note, and then kind of settles down afterwards. It’s very heavy on the synth, which at times is fun, and other times it gets pretty cheesy. Regardless of cheese, there’s definitely a lot of talent on display. Overall, it was okay, but I wasn’t feeling it much. Maybe it deserves another visit.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
This was my first time (I think) listening to this group, and I thought it was great. Very ethereal, very melodic. It’s full of different guitar effects to help add to the trippy atmosphere. And apparently they pioneered the subgenre of dream pop in the 80s, which I never knew existed. Couldn’t understand a lot of the lyrics but that doesn’t bother me. The melodies were excellent. This one may enter the regular rotation.
Sonic Youth
2/5
I just don’t get the appeal of Sonic Youth. It becomes a lot of droning distorted noise to me. I can, however, see how this may have been appealing to the youth of the time. And I can also hear the influence that they had on bands to come. But overall I don’t enjoy it and wouldn’t revisit.
Destiny's Child
3/5
Solid 90s pop/r&b that reminds me of my sisters. Not bad overall, but afterwards I understood why Beyoncé went solo.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Wow, what a follow up to Rumours. This album has everything, some hits, some laid back melodic tunes, and some songs that are just a wild peak into the mind of Lindsey Buckingham. I really enjoyed it, but it doesn’t quite compare to Rumours, which is like Fleetwood Mac’s Abbey Road. This is more like their White Album, especially considering the band was on the verge of breaking up at this point. And like the White Album, or other notable double LPs like The Wall, I feel like they could’ve condensed this into one incredible album, rather than a great double disc. If I rate based on Rumours comparison then it’s a 4, but I’ll rate as though Romours never happened, and this is a 5 for me.
Crowded House
2/5
Not a fan of this one. Woodface is very well produced and recorded, but by the end it feels too clean and formulaic. This band did not seem to like taking chances, and they didn’t have any soul or emotion either. It’s a shame, because the songs a performed very well, but it just lacks a certain rawness that I desire in rock music. This ends up being more pop than rock.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
4/5
Okay, I laughed pretty hard when I pulled this album. Kinda like “this is on the list??” But after listening to it once, and listening to it a second time, I’m here to tell you that this is a really fun listen. This album is packed with so much creativity, and it’s got such a huge, over the top sound. Excellent musician ship throughout the album, awesome production, and some excellent covers as well. One of the most surprising picks yet.
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
Another Must Hear Before I Die head scratcher here.. I don’t see the significance of this one. The album isn’t necessarily bad, but I don’t think it’s good either, and I know it’s not my thing. Moving on.
Nina Simone
5/5
This was so damn good. Powerful is a frequently used term to describe this album for a reason. I got chills over and over while listening. Nina rules
The Modern Lovers
2/5
I typically look up the track listing of each album, and make my judgement based on the original track listing. If it’s good, I might continue onto the bonus tracks, alternative takes, demos, etc. I knew by about the 3rd song I would not be exploring beyond the original 9 tracks.
Serge Gainsbourg
2/5
I’m not sure I understood this one. I’m not even sure if knowing French would’ve helped me understand it much more. Musically it was decent, but spoken word French vocals didn’t leave much for me to work with.
Iron Maiden
2/5
This isn’t my cup of tea. It’s not terrible, but I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it, and it’s highly doubtful I’d revisit this one. Chances are if I don’t already have nostalgic ties, I probably won’t get into heavier/metal bands at this point. Call me close-minded, I’m fine with it.
Norah Jones
2/5
This is a very well-made, well-performed album. Norah has a lovely voice, very soothing and relaxing. But at the end of the day, the album as a whole is very bland. I appreciate her talent, but the comparisons to Starbucks soundtracks do feel accurate.
Madness
3/5
Interesting album. I’m not very familiar with this group, but it sounds like they put out a very experimental effort, which I appreciate. It’s about a 3 for me. Deduct a star for the racism sprinkled throughout, but add a star for the banger that is Our House. So 3 stars it remains.
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
Damn these vocals suck. The music, at times, was okay, but for the most part it was too noisy and didn’t seem cohesive. Not a big fan of this. Did I mention the vocal suck?
Ray Charles
4/5
Fantastic album. Just goes to show you how closely related these genres are. Ray did it way before Beyonce.
John Martyn
2/5
One World seemed to lack direction very often throughout the album, but it was loaded with enough creativity that I wasn’t terribly bored by it. The last song, however, was just unnecessary. Didn’t fit the vibe of the previous 7 tracks, and felt more like filler to complete a full length album. It was a real turn off. It’s a 2.5, not quite a 3.
Arcade Fire
4/5
I was very impressed by this album. My Body Is A Cage had been on my Liked List for some time, but for some reason I never bothered to explore more of Arcade Fire’s work. I definitely should have checked this album out sooner. Indie with a HUGE sound, and a surprising amount of similarities to Bruce Springsteen. I was into it.
Stan Getz
4/5
Loved this album, although I will say the songs start to blend together a bit. I’ll chalk this up to me not having a ton of familiarity with the genre. Excellent nonetheless.
M.I.A.
3/5
This album was a pretty fun listen, but wow, it seemed like so much was happening. I’m not sure I would say it was too busy, but it felt very “in your face”. I wouldn’t say it was a bad thing, but maybe the album could have benefited from bringing it down a notch at times, as to help highlight the high points. Enjoyable nonetheless.
The Clash
5/5
London Calling is one of my favorite albums of all time. 10 albums to have on a deserted island? This definitely makes the cut for me. Love this album front to back, there’s no sense in listing my favorite tracks because it would be more than have of the track listing.
Antony and the Johnsons
4/5
This was a pretty emotional ride. That voice was just captivating. The music wasn’t bad either, but the vocals definitely steal the show. There were a couple points where I started to get a bit bored, but overall this is a high 3 that I’ll round up to 4. Fistful of Love was an excellent tune.
Ozomatli
4/5
Not bad at all. Latin grooves with heavy influence from funk and hip hop. Very well produced, plenty to keep the ears occupied. I’ll be revisiting this one for sure. Saturday Night was a notable standout.
Paul Simon
4/5
This is a great album, front to back. It’s not my favorite solo release from Paul Simon, but it’s still worth the listen every time. Excellent lyricism, great musical accompaniment. No complaints it’s just not Graceland.
Stan Getz
2/5
This album is fine but at the end of the day I find this style to be pretty boring. It’s produced well enough, and it’s executed well, but it’s not really my bag baby.
Laibach
1/5
lol I don’t know what to do with this one.
Louis Prima
4/5
I imagine the list of artists that match or surpass Louis Prima’s enthusiasm and excitement has got to be pretty short. This album is just a party, no downtime, every song keeps you moving. By today’s standards, maybe it’s not too wild, but for the time the title “The Wildest!” was probably appropriate. This isn’t what I typically seek out, but I still love the sound of this time. What a fun album!
The Darkness
3/5
Didn’t think I’d enjoy this one so much. Fun glam metal that somehow ruled the airways when I was in high school. Solid musicianship with a fair amount of talent on display. Not too shabby
Haircut 100
4/5
Another fun album. I would, and plan to, revisit this album. Musically it was very reminiscent of Talking Heads, just add horns and you’re good.
The La's
2/5
I wasn’t really moved by this album. It had some sparks of creativity, didn’t sound awful, but for the most part it seemed relatively basic. I.O.U might have been the best track, I don’t think I’d really revisit this one.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Very enjoyable listen. Little bit of Jr. Walker or Booker T. vibes, but leaning more towards jazz. The backing music isn’t necessarily amazing, but it’s more than solid and creates a perfect background for the excellent solos throughout the album. I’ll definitely check this one out again in the near future.
Ryan Adams
2/5
This album starts on a really high note, then drops off and plateaus for a while. Lots of slow, melancholy music that just barely holds my interest. It’s really well done for the most part, the production is there. But again with the harmonica? yeesh…
Fred Neil
3/5
I’ll give it a 3. I enjoyed the album, it was nice and relaxing, and Fred Neil’s voice grew on me as the album progressed, but there’s not a whole lot to write home about. Strange ending though, almost like they were trying to fill the remaining wax.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
This album is so close to being “all killer, no filler”. Mississippi Kid is okay, but if they left that one out, the album would be damn near perfect. Almost every track is a hit, and rightfully so. Excellent album.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
Wow, this was a lot to get through. Ella was insanely talented. And her band kicks. But I have a hard time listening to any single artist/group for 3+ hours. I’m really trying not to take run time into consideration when rating, but it’s hard to look past the chore that was sitting through all of this. It’s excellent background music, but it’s just not something I’d put on in my spare time.
Massive Attack
3/5
I did not enjoy the beginning of this album very much. It felt flat and empty. As the album went on, some of the tracks started to spark my interest, namely Be Thankful For What You’ve Got and Unfinished Symphony. Hymn of the Big Wheel was a great closer. But at the end of the day I’m not a huge fan of hip hop from England, and it hurt the overall score.
Björk
2/5
Growing up, Björk was one of those names I’d hear all the time, but never really heard her actual music. I was always under the impression that she was for people that really understood music, people who really get it. Well, I don’t think I get it. The album just didn’t do much for me, and I found it difficult to look past her annoying vocals. Musically, there were parts that I’d find interesting, but nothing that really grabbed me. Idk, it’s not for me.
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
I found this album to be really interesting. The artist manages to genre-hop while still creating an album that feels like one cohesive piece of art. I wouldn’t say there was anything that was spectacular, nothing ground breaking, but I’m okay with that. It’s a solid, beautifully written album that I will definitely revisit. Once Around the Block and Disillusion were both added to my liked list. It’s a high 3, not quite a 4.
ZZ Top
3/5
Another rocker from ZZ Top. A solid album that unfortunately becomes formulaic and repetitive by the end. The guys were great at what they did, but by the end I was glad to move on. Gimme All Your Loving rocks, reminds me of The Santa Clause every time.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
I was raised on this album, it’s very near and dear to me. Personal bias aside, I really do think this is one of the greatest albums ever made. Not a bad track on the album. The harmonies are top tier. I’ve always felt that Greg Reeves and Dallas Taylor do an amazing job backing CSNY on this album. It’s just so damn good.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Isaac Hayes rules.
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
Want Two is a decent album, beautifully written and well produced. But it feels so pretentious. Like this was the culmination of all music that came before, and all music that would come after. There were a couple tracks that I enjoyed more, Gay Messiah and Waiting for a Dream were worth adding to my list. But odds are unlikely that I’ll revisit this one.
AC/DC
2/5
AC/DC is one of those band that I just don’t need to hear anymore. So overplayed. So formulaic. Songs would start and I’d be convinced that it was a completely different song because they all sound so similar. This is music for beginner drummers.
The Cure
2/5
Tough one to get through. Not a happy listen, and although there were some musical high notes (emphasis on some), this wasn’t a very enjoyable listen for me at all. Pretty much waited for the end, which is also what The Cure sounded like they were doing during this album.
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
So many years later and this album still rules, it’s amazing. This is a culturally significant album in many ways, and rightfully so. Top tier lyricism, excellent samples, excellent execution. Wu Tang Forever
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Another genius album from Stevie’s golden era of releases. His SIXTEENTH studio album and he absolutely crushes it. So funky, so soulful, so beautiful. He truly could do no wrong at this time in his career.
Michael Jackson
5/5
Wow. Such a good album. So damn good. I’ve come to the realization that I enjoy this album more than Thriller. And I LOVE Thriller. I never really sat and thought about it, but as I’m listening to one absolute banger after another throughout “Bad”, I realized this is my favorite Michael Jackson album. Fight me, I don’t care.
The Byrds
2/5
I wasn’t really into this album at all. The Byrds do a decent job of crossing over into the country genre, but I’m not really a country guy, so this didn’t speak to me much. I’d only been exposed to the albums Turn Turn Turn and Mr Tambourine Man when I was younger, and I never liked them enough to dive deeper into their discography. I got this album and thought it would be more of that kind of generic 60’s vibe, and instead it was worse. It was country. And Crosby was already gone at that point. Not my thing.
50 Cent
2/5
50 Cent is not for me. It’s okay if it’s on in the background at a party or a bar, but that’s about all the tolerance I have for it. It’s mostly cliche subject matter that doesn’t resonate with me. Familiarity may have saved this album- somehow there were like a dozen singles off this album, so it kept the songs from completely running together for me.
Queen
3/5
I was surprised to have not known any of these songs going into the album. Figured with all the hits Queen has, I was bound to know something. Nope, totally new to me. It’s not bad at all, but it’s not as good as their later releases that I’m more familiar with. This album is definitely heavier, which didn’t bother me, but it’s also not the best recording, and it seems to lack direction at times. The harmonies are on point and in my opinion Brian May steals the show with his unique guitar tone and technique. I’ll definitely check this out again sometime soon.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Great album. It had such a lasting impact on the music and culture of the time, it’s amazing. I just watched the Dylan movie the other day, and I never realized how badly the folk community despised his transition into electric Bob. But it doesn’t bother me a bit.
Talking Heads
4/5
Not my favorite Talking Heads album, but it’s still excellent. Such a unique, creative band. Life During Wartime makes me want to do the David Byrne dance.
k.d. lang
2/5
I enjoy her voice but I found this album to be kind of boring. This felt very similar to the last album I had from k.d. lang, except she was new to me last time and I found it more interesting. Maybe I wasn’t in the mood. Overall I don’t think it’s really my thing anyway, so a 2 it is.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
This album blew me away. I heard a bit of Nick Cave in the past and I disliked him for some reason, and ignored him ever since. I’m really glad I was able to look past that preconceived notion with this listen. Musically, this album was full of surprises. I didn’t know what style was coming next, and it never seemed to disappoint. The backing vocals really stood out for me; they helped take these songs to the next level, and I’m not sure the songs would be as good without them. Nick Cave’s vocal stylings were very interesting. Not a good singer necessarily, but a great vocalist and frontman. He’s a David Byrne of sorts - The Talking Heads wasn’t only Byrne, but it was definitely The David Byrne Show. This feels similar. A rare five star rating for an album that is completely new to me.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
Neil Young just doesn’t do it for me.