1001 Albums Summary

Very much a 'late night' album. Lo-fi beats, flowing raps and some killer samples laid over a concept around a sleazy doctor. Noice.

Missy showing she was one of the finest rappers of the era. Some great collaborations too, including Meth, TLC, and Beyonce. Good times.

Featuring The Song With a Life of Its Own, and of course Vincent, this is quite a nice collection of songs, some haunting, beautiful and poetic, and some slightly less memorable. But I liked it overall.

My favourite live album ever. Every track is superbly done, The Man Who Sold the World and Pennyroyal Tea are particular highlights. I do love this one!

An interesting album. I've seen it described as a concept album, and I wouldn't argue with that. The interludes are there for a reason - sometimes interludes are to be endured, this is the artist having a bit of a giggle - but here they not only tie the album together, they provide a platform for the next song to jump from. Standout: Price Tags (with a certain Anderson .Paak in full flow)

Started off all right, jazzy, funky, laid-back tunes, so laid-back they were almost horizontal. But more of the same and more of the same just got wearing after a while and I was glad to get to the end. Just kidding, I didn't get to the end.

Confident album with some excellent collaborations. I liked.

I like XTC. I don't like this album. Sure there are a couple of decent tracks, but it's not enough for me, and it just has me hankering for their earlier, more punky stuff.

Nice bit of grunge this, but you can kind of see why they didn't make it as big as Nirvana or Soundgarden...

Sounded more like a collection of B-sides, demos and outtakes to me. Not the best start to his solo career.

An eclectic album from Mr Wyatt. I wasn't quite prepared for the sonic output from this album, but if you're aware of his style you should have a nice time with this.

Jane's Addiction's debut album and a fine introduction to their alt-rock stylings. Stand out is of course Jane Says, but listen out for Summertime Rolls too.

Grunge before there was grunge. Vocals, sometimes drawling, sometimes wailing; guitar fuzz turned up to 11; themes of love, loss and darkness abound. I rather liked it.

Cracking debut from the lads. Four number one singles, some classic pop tunes. Excellent!

Superb. Spawned a couple of huge hits, and the rest of the album holds up well too. Excellent stuff!

Classic 60s album, all the elements are in place, jangly guitars, easy drumming, slightly unhinged singer. But it's good fun and I recommend it thoroughly.

A solid effort from one of the doyens of the country scene. Familiar themes of love and loss and the American Way are all present and correct.

Deep, dark, pit of your soul, end of the world, offering from Marilyn Manson. And it's effective too: you have to remind yourself, "it's just a song", sometimes. Try it, but, er, put the sharp objects away first.

Cracking album, with some big tunes, as rock music started making its comeback in a difficult decade dominated by pop, electro, and the end of disco. A good listen.

Nice this one. Early REM is good REM. Mind you, late REM isn't too shabby either.

World Music in its truest sense, as Talvin covers the globe to record its beauty in sonic form. Music for the soul - if you've had a bad day, put it on; if you've had a good day, put it on.

Yeah, well...

Lovely stuff, what you'd expect from a Bell & Sebastian release. Instantly catchy and heart-warming,

Every day, we stray further from God's light. Kid Rock, of course, is an alternative name for Epstein's Island.

It's Dennis Wilson, but it's definitely not The Beach Boys' sound. Sometimes dreamy, sometimes trippy, always interesting. Not bad at all.

We should be grateful that Scott beamed down to this planet to give us his combined oeuvre, of which this is one charming fragment. Beautiful ballads, tender and touching torch songs, mellifluous melodies. Really quite excellent. Now to check out the rest...

Synth pop with an ethereal yet earthy quality. Contains their four biggest hit (love a bit of Wood Beez, me) and the rest ain't bad either.

One of their better albums, yet I still found myself yearning for some OK Computer. Maybe I just can't let go...

Don't do drugs, kids. Psychedelic folk, and not in a good way either. There are some good songs trying to break out here, possibly, but the sub-Bob Dylan mumbling (and that's saying something) and the seemingly random strumming of guitars and odd placing of the instruments pretty much knackers their chances. No likey.

Elvis continued his comeback with this effort, not long after his TV special, which we can probably file under Southern Bluesy Rock, or similar. In the Ghetto and Suspicious Minds are the biggest tracks on this, but the rest of the album holds up well too.

The never knowingly understated Rufus Wainwright here with the first half of his two-parter, and it's jolly good too. Each of these tunes could easily find their way into a musical. Recommended!

Starting off with the title track, this is alternately raw and in-your-face and melodic, and is a fine introduction to the stylings of Mr Cooper. A most welcome entry into the rock canon.

Prog rock for the win! Where would we be without King Crimson and, around the same time, Can?

Yes. This is a cracker. Full of memorable songs that will get you up and dancing, or nodding in a reflective mood, as the mood befits. She's not a bad actress either you know...

Think Tool. Think Nine Inch Nails. Think (of course) At the Drive In. Think Tool again. Yeah you're pretty darn close. Some standouts but it's not quite my scene.

Brazil, 60s, tropicalia, psychedelia; mix it up and what do you get? Something a lot like this: dreamier and trippier than a night on the acid, with unexpected treats appearing here, there and everywhere. Occasionally discordant as their creativity exceeds their execution, but always charming, beguiling and enticing. You might need a little, er, chemical help to get fully into it, but it will reward you. It gets a 3 from me, but only because my stash is nearly empty.

EBTG is always a welcome listening experience. Tracey really does have the most delightful voice, and the songs are beautifully rendered ballads. All in all, worthy of a thumbs up, and something I may return to at some point.

Smooth raps, thumping beats (courtesy of one DJ Premier); this came out in 1994 but still stands up well today. A fine head-nodder to add to the collection.

With the exception of the truly godawful Yellow Submarine, every track here is a belter. Eleanor Rigby is probably my favourite Beatles song of all time. And then you've got Here There and Everywhere, Tomorrow Never Knows, Taxman, Got to Get You Into My Life... All superb. 5 stars all the way!

Everyone's favourite Grumpy Old Bastard, heard here as a younger, more fresh-faced, curmudgeon. This is a very pleasant and listenable album, filled with jaunty and upbeat tunes about love and not having love and all that sort of malarkey. The title track is my standout. That used to be my and my ex's song... sigh... I'm over it, I'm over it, I'm fine

The title track got me through most of my first year at Uni. The rest of the album though, is largely forgettable if I'm honest. It's a shame really, but there you go. Two stars normally, but an extra one for 'Connected'. I see through you, I see through you...

Most excellent. Afrobeat at its finest. Adding Ginger Baker on top is tremendous!

When the reviews mention the amount of distortion as a positive, you could be forgiven for thinking you're in for a tough listen, especially if you like your rock a little less on the fuzzy side. You were never going to get a "classic" set of tunes, following strictures like being in tune and discernable chord progressions, let's be honest. Come on, this is early VU. But if you like wailing guitars, loads of feedback, poetry recitals, and occasional interjections from Mr Reed and his attempts to... 'sing', are we calling it? Then this will be right up your strasse. And at least it's not Metal Machine Music.

Dexy's in their Northern Soul original incarnation, featuring of course, the stomper that is "Geno", bangier than a box of firecrackers. Of course, they would go on to discover violins and dungarees and give us the timeless classic "Come on Eileen", but let's enjoy them as they were...

Some nice songs, but not quite my scene. All fine though.

I did have to check that I hadn't put on Fleet Foxes instead; it's got that same sort of dreamy, ethereal feel to it. A nice listen though.

Morrissey is a twat. I'm boycotting this album, because Morrissey is a twat. Now don't get me wrong, I like the Smiths, they had some belters, I've got a lot of time for them, but Morrissey was a twat then too. He had a couple of big hits off this effort, which are fine and do a good job, but at the end of the day, when all is said and done, Morrissey is a twat. I would give it three stars, but I'm knocking two of them off because, well, you know, Morrissey is a twat. #MorrisseyIsATwat

Excellent stuff! Britpop's slightly fuzzier offspring, with some rocking tunes and great guitar work and vocals. Recommended!

Kings of the murder ballad here, with songs darker than dark energy, dark matter and Vantablack (that's very dark indeed) put together. If you're feeling in a mood, this won't help at all.

Sublime, a joy from start to finish. The next album is going to do well not to be a disappointment compared to this.

Nope. Not for me. Too dark, too deep, too abstract to get into.

Nowt I haven't heard before, and done better. Some nice riffs going on, but those airy vocals can leave on the next train out of town. It's a "meh" from me

A true Rock 'n' Roll Classic. The opening track is one you'll have heard many, many times, but that hasn't dulled its power. Strong riffs, powerful vocals that you know you've tried to emulate before realising too late that it's *just* a little high, this is top-drawer "play loud with the roof down" stuff.

Elvis Costello was, is, and shall be one of Britain's finest songwriters. Focusing on themes of love and loss (a well much travelled to and from down the years), he and his band wrest some fine tunes and make this an engaging part of their oeuvre. I'm docking myself a star for the use of the word 'oeuvre'. This one gets a 3 from me.

As debut albums go, this is right up there. Each track is like a two-footed tackle... to the back of the head. Bombtrack and Killing in the Name have to be one of the best pairs of opening tracks to any album, punching you in the chest at every turn. Put it on and rock out like a mother.

Some excellent tracks here, but a lot of the time the album lives up to its name.

Wonderful. Dusty Springfield is one of the finest musical talents Britain (via Ireland) has ever produced. Every song here, even the most straightforward and mundane, is a showstopper with her voice added to it. Anyone else with these songs, it would be 3 stars, maybe 4, tops. I can't hear Son of a Preacher Man without thinking of Cypress Hill's Hits From the Bong though :-)

1001 albums? Add a couple more zeroes between the ones and you might be getting close. Did NOT like this. Next.

A lot of people love Pink Floyd. With a couple of exceptions, I don't get it. And I didn't get this either, odd spaced-out lyrics and... unconventional chord progressions. I lost interest after about the third or fourth track.

Scott's epic voice and some lush production (heavy with the violins is this) elevate this album. It's not his best solo album (that's Scott 4), but this is still very much worth a listen.

Cracking. London Calling, Guns of Brixton, Brand New Cadillac are the standouts - this stands the test of time as not only one of the finest albums of the punk era, but of the 1970s, and - to be honest - of any period and genre since.

An enjoyable jaunt this, you could almost call this one of the presagers of yacht rock, if you were pretentious enough to use the word 'presagers'

Too weird for me

Eh, it's fine. I think you'd have to be in a... er, certain, relaxed, frame of mind of appreciate it.

Absolutely banging. Like a sledgehammer to the base of the spine.

It's a good album - lots of classic tunes (With a Little Help From My Friends, When I'm 64, A Day in the Life) - but it doesn't deserve the mythical status conferred upon it by so many. There are better Beatles albums out there - the ones immediately before and after, for example.

It's... what you would have expected from a Syd Barrett album, completely out there. But somehow it works.

Singer needs lessons. I'll happily provide

Bangin'

Lovely. A warm bath of an album. Brought back many memories.

Just didn't grab me. Must have been that weird falsetto in the opening track Ramblin' Rose that put me off

Weird, but wonderful. And also very weird. I was torn between 3 and 4 stars, but I eventually settled for the higher.

Jimi Hendrix was, is, and always shall be, the man.

A belter. The new Michael Jackson - very different from Off the Wall and Thriller, which were more R&B-ish. This is more pop, it works, and it works very well!

What's not to love. The Man gives us his take on some noble classics and other well-known songs. It works superbly

Should I be worried about the sort of gift Phil Spector would be bearing...?

Fantastic, for me the greatest guitarist that ever lived

Absolutely cracking. Rocks out without a care in the world, check it out.

Monsieur Bowie, we do like.

More spaced out than a journey to the next galaxy. Three discs was probably too much for me though

SAHB drive a coach and horses through the rock and roll rule book, insisting on doing it their way, and insisting that you will like it. And I do. I enjoyed the opener, and was hooked from the second. Chances are you will be too. A highly enjoyable romp.

Don't be fooled by the 3 rating, I rather liked it. Some of the tracks had a tendency to meander a bit; 57 minutes running time could easily have come down to 40-45

They had John Peel's approval. Pretty much all you need to know really.

Stomping

Good, with nice smooth beats and a jazzy feel to it, but darn it's just too long

You really can't go far wrong with the Stranglers

Not. One. Bad. Song. On. This. Album.

Standout is of course Bad Moon Rising, but there are some fine tunes on this one.

Ehhh, not for me. Love "Paper Planes" though, that bangs like a hairstyle also known as a fringe

Nice slice of 60s pop. Well-loved album, which makes a lot of good moves in the right places. Plus! Sir Stanley Unwin! How can you not love it...?

Such a refreshing change from the rubbish that was his post-Beatles debut effort. Some fine tunage going on, you'll sing along to Jet's chorus or your money back.

Ugh. The closest thing to anti-music I've heard in this experiment so far. Halfway through Fuck Shit Up, someone says "this sucks". No-one has ever been more right about anything in the entire history of the world, than they were about that. If I had only this to listen to for the rest of my life, I really would have to worry. I have to rate it, so it gets a 1, but really that 1 should follow a decimal point and a near-infinite series of zeroes.

Good head-nodding shit

One of the better Beatles albums this one, with the lads still in their moptop era. The title track makes for a cracking start, which then leads to a succession of balllads which are all highly listenable. Can't Buy Me Love gets back to the pop-rock side, before we get back to the ballads, Things We Said Today standing out there. Those loveable cheeky scallies are hitting their songwriting stride here and it can only presage good things... (massive foreshadowing; look to camera)

Ahhh, the joy of chord progressions... zzzz

Wonderful. This is The Verve at the peak of their powers, there is not a single weak track here - many bands would kill to have a opening fourfold as good as Bitter Sweet Symphony, Sonnet, The Rolling People and The Drugs Don't Work. And they don't rest on their laurels, Catching the Butterfly, Space and Time, Lucky Man... I could go on. Just put it on and be transported.

I love a bit of Stevie Wonder. Actually, that's a lie. I love a LOT of Stevie Wonder. The lad is a bona fide genius. I will stay clear of I Just Called To Say I Love You until the sun goes cold, but that's another story. This one features the mighty Superstition, which they should use as a pulse test in hospitals, cos if you're not shaking to this one, then I have bad news for your next of kin. The rest of the album is stamped with the touch of class that elevates it above not only so many of his peers, but so many others who are frankly also-rans in comparison. Loving Tuesday Heartbreak, You've Got It Bad Girl, Blame It On The Sun in particular. Ah go on, give it a listen.

Not sure how this managed to make it into the list, but I will admit it did sound fresh and different in 2003. I Luv U, Fix Up Look Sharp, and Jus a Rascal are excellent, yes they are, and there are others that would rate above average too. But a Top 1001 album? I doubt it.

Wonderful. That's all I have to say.

Excellent. Less rocky than their earlier stuff, but it showcases a band at the top of their game. Sure, everyone remembers Everybody Hurts and Man on the Moon, but Drive, Sweetness Follows, and Nightswimming, among others, deserve more recognition. Do yourself a favour and check it out.

Drop the Pressure is the stand-out of course, but there are a few other good 'uns that make this a good listening experience.

My word this is brilliant. For me, it's Elbow's best by some distance. 'Epic' barely begins to cover it, it's magnificent from start to finish. One of my all-time favourites. Thanks, 1001 Albums Generator, for letting me live this again.

Banger after banger! Top tunes all the way through!

Heard this as a kid and I'm sure it changed my life even then. JMJ isn't the father of electronic music (the synthesiser and theremin predate him by decades), but he's at least an uncle once removed. Superb stuff!

Some smooth jazz for you. Nice.

The album that launched Ladysmith Black Mambazo onto the wider world. "Eclectic" somewhat fails to cover it, to be honest. I first heard this as a 15-year-old and I couldn't get into it at first, but it won me over and I ended up playing it and playing until the tape broke. The most famous track is of course You Can Call Me Al, though my favourite is the opener, The Boy in the Bubble. The collaborations are a joy: Homeless, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, Under African Skies, and That Was Your Mother are all excellent. In short: I love it. If you haven't heard it, try it out and see if it has the same effect on you.

Not even one of the best 1001 albums released that year

A doom-laden 3

Cracking! Tremendous beats throughout and a couple of excellent collaborations. Recommended!

Superb. Michael was a superstar already of course, but this just elevated him to a whole new level. You know you're onto something good when you can release seven singles off an album and they all thunder into the top end of the charts without breaking sweat. Top, top album; here's five stars!

Alternative rock that really is alternative, it's out there but in a good way.

If there's one thing worse than a bad album, it's a boring one. Never Let Me Down Again is a good opener, but then after that my interest levels dipped gradually, then sharply once I realised help wasn't forthcoming. Such a waste, but then wasted is how you could easily describe Depeche Mode for most of the 1980s. I'm severely tempted to give this a 1, a rating I usually reserve for fulminating hate and utter contempt. Time to open up a new frontier...

We're still with the early Beatles here, so there are a few covers (Please Mr Postman, Roll Over Beethoven, Money (That's What I Want), and others), but they're done very well, very well indeed. They do manage to avoid Difficult Second Album Syndrome on their own compositions - All My Loving went on to be a classic in their stable, and the others can hold their heads high. All in all, if you're a fan you'll know it, if not give it a try, you won't go far wrong.

Rather liked this one. The original version of Walk This Way sounds SOOOO different.

Wonderful. What a talent we lost when Jeff passed away. Most famous for Hallelujah of course, but the rest of the album is heartfelt, evocative, ethereal, atmospheric, and just plain beautiful. Worth several listens, because this is one of those albums that gives back a little more with each repeated playback.

Are you going to Scarborough Fair? Can you give me a lift?

Now this I like. David Gray burst onto the wider scene with this debut effort, showcasing a very talented singer-songwriter. Most famous for Babylon, Please Forgive Me and This Year's Love, it's My Oh My that has stayed in my brain with the most effect, if I were to choose a word for it, I would say haunting. Excellent effort all round from the lad, recommended!

One word: bangin'. It's incredible (and harrowing) to think that this debut effort is now thirty years old; it sounds just as fresh as it did in the mid-90s. Every track has something to offer, and if you don't start grooving (yeah I'm that old) then honestly you should check for a pulse. It's a 5 from me!

Like your metal in the classic, riff-driven, power-drumming, Satan-invoking style? Look no further

Dusty's debut sparkles and crackles and showcases the voice that would enrapture and entrance over the next few decades. OK so there's little original here, it's mostly covers of other artists, but she imbues the tunes with a passion rarely felt in or by others. Can we talk about how much better her version of Anyone Who Had a Heart is than Cilla "Voice Like a Fire in a Pet Shop" Black? As is Dionne Warwick's for that matter. Put it on, sit back, relax and enjoy.

Top stuff, and a most excellent follow-up to In Search Of... Key track for me (and I suspect for many) will be She Wants to Move; it is impossible to sit still and listen to this, you will be grooving or your money back (lawyer's note: no refunds will actually be given). If I could give half-stars it would be a 3.5 from me, but 3.5 rounds up to 4, so 4 it is :-)

If not the most-cited, then certainly up there, source of the statement, I Didn't Know They Wrote That. Widely praised, and rightly so. A very pleasant listen that will stand up to repeated plays.

I'll still never be able to work out how he did it. No two songs he ever did sounded the same. Remarkable. The world went to shit when he died, it's true...

Rather enjoyable, another 7/10 album but this one I'm going to round up to 4/5.

Mad as a March hare

Two belting songs I practically grew up with, and the rest isn't too shabby either. Watch out for these lads...

Dafuqevenizdis? Shite. Dazwat. Next.

Criminally underrated band, they deserved to be bigger. Some excellent tunes on here, my faves included Pounding, Caught by the River, and There Goes the Fear. Do it.

Good ole honest country

It's a bold move to open with an instrumental (Firesuite), but it sets the scene perfectly for these happy-go-lucky knockabout japesters to give us this sumptuous slice of indie rock as their debut effort. There's much to like here: Here it Comes, Sea Song, Catch the Sun (not the darts tune, that's Chase the Sun) in particular, but there is very little in the way of filler, it all adds to the story. Well worth a listen, maybe several.

Certainly would be right there in the 1001 if the category were Quirky As Fuck. If you were a fan, then you're strange but that's fine by me. Enjoy. I didn't...

RIP David Ball. I have to admit, though, that beyond the hits, I didn't really care much for this. Oh go on I'll give it a 3

Second coming of Nirvana my arse. It's all right, though, a few standouts (Highly Evolved, Outathaway, Factory). The rest will do. Have a middle-of-the-road 3 stars

Possibly a bigger load of bollocks than McCartney's post-Beatles debut, and that was a veritable crock of shite. Did I say possibly? I meant definitely. The lad is so overrated it's not even funny. And enough of the screaming as well. War Is Over (not on this album, but I include it here for the purposes of the next sentence)? I'll fucking start one if I have to listen to this again.

Effortlessly smooth, groovy and funky, the sounds easing their way into your mind and soul from Premier, the words coming out of Guru's mouth like honey. Lovely. Damn he's missed.

Enjoy the Silence, Personal Jesus, World in My Eyes, all fine tunes to these ears, and a not-bad supporting cast. If this is the sort of thing you like, then you'll like this sort of thing.

The album that launched Alanis onto the world. Ironic and You Oughta Know are of course the highlighted tracks, but the rest are excellent too. An assured debut.

Get down, get funky. Funkadelic at their imperious best

House of Fun, Our House, Driving in My Car, Mr Speaker, Tomorrow's Just Another Day - all present and very correct on here. Plus a decent supporting cast; what's not to love?

It always surprises and disappoints me when people write off the Monkees as just some manufactured boyband. For a start, they got together before the TV show. They're far more musical than most similar bands could hope to be. This has a fine selection of tunes - not a fan of putting together mono and stereo versions to pad out the track listing though, plus the odd demo lobbed in as well.

An assured debut from these Scottish alt-rockers. Take Me Out is the standout of course, but it's ably supported: This Fire, Michael, The Dark of the Matinee, and Tell Her Tonight are excellent too

RIP Sly...

Magnificent. Some absolute classics on this record, and even the less well-known ones are better than many an act's entire output. I am a fan of Stevie Wonder, and it's hard not to be when he had this quality of material to his name. Do yourself a favour and check it out.

Really rather enjoyable, from a time when KISS weren't known as 'hoary old rockers'. Just good, proper rock'n' roll

Wonderful. Sam Cooke was a talent taken from us far too young. Here he wows an initially reluctant crowd with a mixture of his hits and other classics. His crowd work is second to none as well. Definitely one for the collection.

The least likely-looking rock 'n' roll star ever, ah what might have been... standouts are Oh Boy, Maybe Baby, It's Too Late, and That'll Be The Day. Good times.

Simply sublime. The opening track, the title track, sung by Tracey Thorn, is one of my favourite songs of all time, the most dreamily beautiful song, with a languid beat and gorgeous vocals. Karmacoma, Eurochild, Sly, Better Things - all superb, Massive Attack at their imperious best. We didn't deserve this album, but we're sure glad it's here. I cannot believe it's over 30 years old now.

Nile Rodgers (Himself) said that "pound for pound, I think We Are Family is our best album hands down". And you would be a fool to argue otherwise. Four hit songs came from this, and though they came from the late 70s disco era, they still have the power to make you get up and move. Excellent all the way through, with the following proviso: (There are extra mixes of We are Family and Lost in Music (two each) on the version on Spotify, the 1995 remaster, which detract a little from the experience for me, so it's going to have to be a 4.)

Bit dull, if I'm honest. Each song felt interminable, even though the average length was about five minutes.

Brilliant stuff from this new kid. Watch out for him, he'll go far

I quite liked this. Enough to give it a 4? I'm not sure. Would definitely be a 7/10.

Good Lord. A Neil Young album I sat through all the way through, will miracles never cease? You're here for Needle and the Damage Done, aren't you, yes you are, but you'll have to be patient (it's the second last track). But don't despair, Heart of Gold is there in all its glory too, and there are some other fine tunes to hold your auditory system's attention before you get there.

A definite 80s turn on Soul and R&B from our Bobby. Sure, the funk is there, but there's a fair amount of squelchy keyboard and it kind of gets in the way rather. Stand out track for me was If You Think You're Lonely Now, much more classic Womack. Overall a reasonable listen but I doubt I'll return to it anytime soon.

Psychedelic is definitely the word. It sounded exactly like what you'd expect a 60s band that's into experimenting with soundscapes and genres would sound like. Don't be put off by the lengthy track list (27), a number of them are different versions of certain songs. All in all, I found it interesting enough to keep my attention, but it's another one I won't be going back to quickly

Otherwise known as the one with Sex on Fire and Use Somebody. The rest of it is a dashed good listen too though. For me it's close between this and Aha Shake Heartbreak for their best one.

The refrain for Conduit for Sale! goes, "I'm tryin, I'm tryin, I'm tryin, I'm tryin, I'm tryin, I'm tryin, I'm tryin and I'll try!" Fucking... try harder if you want to retain my interest. Get off. This is so close to a 1, but I reserve those for the most hopeless of cases, and it's not quite that bad

With a title like that, you'd probably be expecting songs in the vein of California Girls and, yes, Surfin' USA. But you'd be wrong. These are deeper, more introspective ballads rather than cheery bubblegum pop. It's an interesting diversion.

It's the 60s. It's jangly guitars. It's top vocals and harmonies. It's a hippyish vibe. It's all good.

Some good songs, but lost among the dross and the 'adverts'. It's also overlong; got to love 'alternative versions'

You'll know the title track and All I Really Want To Do the most, but they're well supported here. Nice album.

Are rock operas overblown? Admittedly it's a small sample size, but they were all the rage in the late 60s, along with the concept album and the growth of prog rock. And the answer is yes; they're supposed to be overblown, pompous, and ridiculous. Why else would you even try to make one? This one is one of the better ones, you'll find much to like here.

Nothing here quite as good as She's Not There (that's a belter that is), but still a good slab of 60s pop. Well worth a listen

You can't beat a bit of the Boss sometimes. Here he is on fine form with some top tunes - oh you remember, the title track, Cover Me, I'm on Fire, Glory Days and that one with Courteney Cox in the video. Break out the air guitar!

RIP Ozzy.

Normally I like a bit of prog rock. But this... this doesn't work for me. Next.

Some beautifully delivered ballads (Mirrorball is especially lovely), I'm not entirely sure the breakbeats are the right backing on a couple of tracks though. Still, another winner from EBTG.

I do love A Tribe Called Quest, they're up there with the absolute finest in the genre. Every track here is a delight, my particular favourites are the first (Excursions) and the last (Scenario). There are some great collabs too, with Brand Nubian and Leaders of the New School standing out. In short, if you're looking for hip-hop that's smooth, you'll find it here. Want a bit of a harder edge? You'll find it here too. Effortlessly brilliant.

Although they were around at the same time as Britpop, it would be almost disrepectful to call them a Britpop band, they had so much more to them than that. Atmospheric, orchestral at times, dark, doom-laden songs with a deep need to connect with something, anything, someone, anyone running through them.

Radiohead's music-as-art-project career continued here with alt-rock more angular than an icosahedron. Will take a couple of listens to get used to the different techniques on display; again don't expect strict adherence to 4-4 time or try and second-guess where a chord progression will head. It's dark, it's moody, it's expressive, and it's rather good. It's no OK Computer, but it's worth a go.

RIP Ozzy.

Really quite lovely

I'm going to flle this under 'Interesting Curio'. Certainly diferent to anything he'd put out before. Some of it works well, some of it... doesn't. Still, good to hear Buffalo Gals and Double Dutch again; it's been years.

Tuneless bollocks. Okay that was a bit harsh, there are a couple of tunes in there, but I wouldn't advise listening too hard to find them. Guitars are just a wall (and a wail) of noise, vocals are everywhere except on the beat. Would have got one star anyway, but I'm knocking a point off for the lower case spelling. So in my mind, zero stars, but officially it's a no from me and one single, solitary star. Edit: it wasn't harsh at all. This Isn't Anything like what I'd want to listen to again on this side of the mortal plane.

The 60s were a very different time...

God DAMN! Like a nuclear explosion in your face.

I didn't really know what to expect from this, I'd never heard of Bill Callahan before this album appeared in my feed. Country and the like aren't really my thing (but there's enough about it for me to include it in my likes here), but this is actually very listenable and warm and rewarding. Very nice.

When you title an album Colour by Numbers you invite the usual accusations of being unoriginal, formulaic and trite. And guess what? Beyond the hits (Victims, Church of the Poison Mind, It's a Miracle and of course, Karma Chameleon) you might as well use this as lift music or as background filler in a restaurant.

Not quite sure how this ended up in my playlist... Still, could've been worse

Whatever happened to nu-rave? I think it was best it was allowed to gently curl up and die in its corner - this was the first major release of the genre, and no-one else could get near it, not even these guys with their follow-up, Surfing the Void. I rather like this - some seriously odd lyrics abound but it's very well-read. You know Golden Skans. Of course you do, it was the sound of 2007. A rather good cover of Not Over Yet as well. Do you know what, I'm going 4 stars. It's bizarre but worth it.

There are some as says that this is the greatest live album of all time. Others choose Nirvana's Unplugged in New York. Still others plump for Frampton Comes Live! You're all wrong of course: the greatest live album of all time is Chas & Dave - Not Just Anuvver Beano: Live at Hammersmith from 2016. Banger after banger after banger, how can you not? So, tough luck boys, but this really is a tremendous effort. All four of the lads are on top form and the songs feel alive from start to finish. Obviously the hits stand out (I Can't Explain, Substitute and My Generation - in medley form- all sound just as good as they do on the records) but every track crackles. Top stuff. Obviously I have to deduct a point for Roger's support of Brexit...

Tossing a coin to determine whether this should be a 2 or a 3... fine, it's a 3

You know, I've come to dread albums with a long running time (this one is 74 minutes), especially if they're 'prog rock classics' like this one is supposed to be. I must have made a mistake when signing up to the list - can I change my mind? This list is very much like the Oscars - never mind the entertainment factor, have a look at the technical artistry on display, see how they make the greatest use of their craft. Look, it's fine, but please don't make me sit through this again...

The Man is on top form here

Pfffffft... the last track is called Is This Music? Don't tempt me with titles like that, sonny Jim

Love a bit of Ian Dury - mad as a box of frogs but brilliant with it. This is a thoroughly enjoyable listen, some of his finest work is on show here. If you're of a certain age you'll be singing/nodding/bouncing along with this all the through.

Like a roundhouse kick to the face, Wu-Tang come crashing in and will not let up till they want to. Brilliant stuff, five stars all the way

At the forefront of the drum 'n' bass that took over in the mid-90s came Roni Size and Reprazent. Thumping beats a-plenty, you'll be a-toe-tappin' in no time (copyright Alan Freeman)

One of the more notable features of the pop culture landscape of the last five or so years was Kanye outing himself as a Black Nazi Fuck. It's difficult separating the art from the artist at the best of times, and it proves so here because he does present a banging collection of beats, rhymes, flows and collabs that would stand up to anything you want to throw at it. Jesus Walks is iconic, as are All Falls Down, Spaceship, Get Em High, Breathe In Breathe Out, and others you can care to mention. If he wasn't a Black Nazi Fuck it would be a 5. Never mind separating the art from the artist, like most Nazis he'd be more interested in separating your head from your shoulders if he had the chance. So... fuck him. (By the way, a black guy wrote this, so away with your thoughts of casual racism)

Honestly this site should be called A Load of Solid 3s, Nothing Special, Barely Moving the Needle, with the Occasional Banger Triggering Happy Memories and Pile of Steaming Shite Just Triggering, You Know, to Keep You Interested. This wasn't one of those Solid 3s...

Ahhhh Radiohead. Innovative soundscapers or moody middle-class music makers? The answer of course is somewhere in between. Which is where I found myself listening to this. There are many high points: Just is an all-time classic, hits the spot every time, Street Spirit has more atmosphere than Venus (look it up), My Iron Lung and Black Star are excellent. The rest just didn't grab me. Never mind, those ones are good to be getting on with on their own. Eh it is what it is...

The wrong Clinton became US President: it shoulda bin George, not Bill. Imagine the possibilities... Listen to this as often as you can. Your life will thank you for it.

Coming between Experience and Fat of the Land, and it does mark an exact midpoint between the two. You still have the squelchy ravey beats from the first album, allied to the industrial sounds of the third. But it's far from an ugly hybrid or chimera, this stands well in its own right. There's enough to dance to, and enough for the chin-stroking head nodders as well. Excellent.

Most famous for The Message, which sticks out like a sore thumb on this album, most of it a mix of slow jamz and electro 80s breakdancing tunes. They don't really work, I found myself eagerly awaiting the main song (it's Track 7, lemme save you the trouble). The second half picks up a little, but there's an Everest-like peak to this effort

I liked this. Almost lost a point for being in all caps, but was reassured by Wikipedia that it's a frequent styling and not their official going-by name.

Eh it's OK, assured beats, biting rhymes, bit of social commentary, there's not just enough here to command my attention.

It's rare to have an album that is no-skip, wall-to-wall bangers, and the Beatles didn't manage it on any of theirs either. On the plus side: Come Together, Something, Here Comes the Sun - all excellent, the latter showcasing why George was the best Beatle; I will not be taking questions on that. In the debit column: Maxwell's Silver Hammer and Octopus's Garden - fuck me. They're SO bad, they would sink many long players and take a lot of goodwill with them. Others of note: I rather liked Carry That Weight, it's what You Never Give Me Your Money should have been. Oh! Darling is just the right side of overwrought. I Want You (She's So Heavy) - should be called I Want You (To Hurry Up and Get to the End of the Song), seven minutes is about four too long. The rest get a shrug from me. I will veer towards a 3 because of what's in the plus column.

The title rather summed up my feelings while listening to it. No track comes out of this mess with any credit. It's been said before, and I'll say it again: don't do drugs, kids.

If you were going through a messy divorce, and one of the requirements of the settlement was that you had to release an album and give your ex the royalties, you'd probably want to demonstrate your hurt and pain and release material cursing them and the rest of the world out. Marvin chose a slightly different path. He's hurt all right, he's angry, he's vocal, he's wounded and raw, but he channels it supremely well into a series of groovy, soulful tunes, but which leave you thinking, oh man how much did she hurt him? Maybe there was something on both sides? Judging by this, maybe, but we know squarely where Marvin thinks the blame lies. Very listenable, not too uncomfortable if you choose to focus on the lyrics - he rants at times, but it's well disguised by the melody. I'd give it a go again for sure (this record, not divorce).

Nice country album, k.d. has a most excellent voice, a good listen (and yes, I did dock a point for the lower-case name; it was originally 3.5 but I rounded it up to 4 before knocking off a star)

Most pleasing. The three biggies are of course present and very correct, but the rest is a dashed good listen as well. I liked

Meh, there must be something I'm missing about Sonic Youth. Folks (usually around my age) rave about them, bands cite them as influences, but they just leave me cold. Maybe I'm in the wrong: I suck

Pretty decent effort from Mr Zee. High production values, and some smooth raps, bu give me some Dre, Cube or 'Nem any day.

Lost interest halfway through to be honest, but hung on for the best track, Utopia

Coming in like they were the long-awaited successors to the Undertones, these lads blasted onto the scene in the middle of the Britpop phase. But don't call them a Britpop band; they were much better than that. This is a tremendous debut: Lose Control's ascending opening riff will hook you in, Goldfinger and Girl from Mars will have you reminiscing; and from then on, you are their puppet. The pace doesn't let up (apart from Oh Yeah, but even that one is less dreamy than it first appears) and they deserved every plaudit that came their way. I cannot believe this is 30 years old this year. It's not fair. Take me back to the 90s so I can live this like the first time...

Quite delightful

Take the first two tracks out of the equation and there was little there to maintain my interest. It gets a 2 because I've always liked Wordy Rappinghood and Genius of Love

Honestly whoever wrote these songs ought to have been shot. Partially redeemed by the title track and How Do You Sleep, a song which takes the biscuit more than an opportunistic thief at a McVitie's factory.

Ray Charles and a big band is a winning combination.

Wilfully different, but then they always were. Got on my nerves by the end to be honest.

There should be half stars in the ratings, or double it to a score out of 10. This is a 2.5 / 5 if ever there was one. I'll round it up this time, but I won't be so generous next time, the next album has been warned

Standing out like a beacon in a veritable sea of mediocrity is this joint by the glam-rock kings T.Rex. The mighty Get It On, Jeepster and Hot Love adorn this album, but there is plenty to enjoy here, I loved Hot Love and Cosmic Dancer, and the others are very, very listenable. Break out those platform boots!

Right up there with the best Rolling Stones albums. It opens with my favourite Stones song, Gimme Shelter, closes with You Can't Always Get What You Want, and in between lie some classic RS schtick, bit of blues, bit of rock, lot of fun. Go on have a go!

Effortless groovy and funky. Love it

No difficult second album syndrome here. Is it better than Definitely Maybe? Maybe. The first album was bright, brash, and arguably had more tunes. This is more grown up, considered, but still rocks like a cradle in a strong breeze. And has a lot of tunes. Take your five stars, gents.

Soul as it should be done. Superb all the way through.

Decent effort from the lad. He's very missed you know...

And he does. And it's not bad either.

Bored

Quirky band who never quite managed to hit the heights they deserved to because of a certain phenomenon called Britpop. Some lovely slices of pop tunery here, including Hometown Unicorn and If You Don't Want Me to Destroy You, all bundled up in one lovely package. Well worth your time (I know this probably reads like a 4, but it's just shy of that for me, somewhere in the 70-75% range)

Track 5 on this, Mas Cojones, translates as More Bollocks. And it doesn't get much more bollocks than this disjointed, discordant jam session. Someone likes a bass guitar... My teeth were already on edge when I saw how the band name was written; such pretentious wankery cannot go unpunished by these hands - automatic 1-star deduction (Pvris, Chvrches, k.d. lang - I'm coming for you too). The best thing I can say for this album is it's mercifully short, about 31 minutes. One star. Less the mandatory deduction, should give zero, but alas I have to give it one. You jammy gets.

You know what's going to happen here. I'm going to call Morrissey a twat, likely more than once, because no more appropriate label applies. Then I'm going to find the tunes half-decent, which they are. Then I'm going to dock the album two starts for the Morrissey Twat Factor. Which will leave a one-star rating. So... The tunes are quite decent as it goes. It's not the same without Johnny Marr of course, what would be? The man is a legend and a saint for putting up with him for so long. The singer has a good voice, he always has, but he is, and let's not beat around the bush here, a twat. For so, so, SO many reasons. Three stars for the songs, minus the Morrissey Twat Factor, which we've established is a minimum two stars. Which leaves... yes, one star. Morrissey, you're a twat. You always have been and you always will be. If I ever met you, I'd make sure to have a burger in my hand. Morrissey. Putting the You Arse into Your Arsenal. #MorrisseyIsATwat

Lovely stuff. Oh, Amy...

Possibly the best KOL album, this rocks along like a good 'un. Plenty of highlights to choose from (Slow Night, So Long, Taper Jean Girl, Pistol of Fire, The Bucket, Four Kicks, and Velvet Snow, to name but six - and that's practically half the album right there), Great stuff.

A reluctant three here. It starts with the well-known and most excellent title track, but then there's a mix of originals and covers which will have you hankering for the originals of those, and wondering just how much Hammond organ a person can stand.

A 3, but a highly enjoyable 3

If y'all like country, this is a fine slice. If you don't, this won't convert you

We all love a bit of Kate Bush. Never mind that I can't hear "Hounds of Love" without hearing the Futureheads cover (Oh-oh-oh-ohhhh-oh), it's still a fine album in her usual quirky, unique style. No two songs sound the same, and you'll likely want to go back to it because there will be bits that sneaked past you on first and even second listen. Check it out.

Man this is a tough listen, knowing what we know now. Part cry for help (the video for Heart-Shaped Box was and still is unsettling), part primal scream therapy (and I've already ripped John Lennon for that), part rock showcase, but put it all together and it works - it's no Nevermind though.

Hip-hip pioneers produce a record so 80s, you can see the neon leggings. But in a good way.

I know it'd be sacrilege in some quarters not to give this a 5, and it is full of cracking rock tunes from start to finish, but I... actually do you know what? Five stars!

Breaking: racist old cunt get 2 stars

It's a shame this is only 22 minutes long, because it's an absolutely tremendous slice of rock 'n' roll history from one of its biggest names. That piano takes a fearful beating from JLL; you can practically feel the sweat flying off him. The band is into it, the crowd are loving it. Superb.

Nice bluesy-rock outing from the band that gave us Rod Stewart (all right, and Ronnie Lane). I did rather like this, very listenable and worthy of repeated plays. Good stuff

Storming. Absolutely brilliant. One of the best rap albums of all time. Enjoy!

Simply sublime from start to finish. French electro pop for the win!

Bored

The tricky second album... here the follow-up to Original Pirate Material. Well-received and well-deserved; some smart rhymes even though they're delivered in Mike's usual doggerel style. Stand out is Fit But You Know It - we all know someone like that, man or woman. The whole thing's worth a listen for sure.

It's hard to describe Afrika Bambaataa without using the word 'seminal'. More artists than you can shake a stick at cite him as an influence or the reason they got into hip-hop and rap in the first place, and he's one of the most sampled artists in the genre. This album takes you back to practically when it all started, with more rap collabs, horns, electro, beats and funk than you can picture. But it never feels *too* much; AB lets it flow like a mighty river. Check it out.

Much fun was had listening to this. Unabashed mid-60s rock and roll that wouldn't have sounded out of place in its heyday in the late 50s. The highlight for me was Psycho, which is appropriate really because the singer is crayyyyzeeee!

It's no Technique...

The album is called Junkyard, and they were half right with that name. A junkyard can be defined as a repository for any old rubbish, and here they are 100% right. God awful. Avoid like the next pandemic.

It's no Angine de Poitrines, I'll give them that.

*long, weary sigh*

Those lovable, cheeky, not-Cockneys here with their third album, which gave us Girls & Boys, To the End, This is a Low and of course the mighty title track (Phil Daniels was, is, and always will be a proper lej). Jaunty and fun

15 songs, 35 minutes - Black Flag didn't mess around. A bit of angry punk never hurt anyone

Still my favourite Radiohead album after all these yearrs. Paranoid Android, Karma Police, No Surprises and The Tourist are all in my RH Top 10, and the whole thing is a really enjoyable listen. Yes, they're moody and the feeling of alienation and disconnect is all-encompassing, but really, what do you expect? Happy Talky Talky, Happy Talk?

Released in 2001 to mark the accession of one, erm, non-intellectual President, this still hits hard today, if not harder, thanks to the presence of an, erm, actually not erm, let's be brutally honest here, utter fuckhead in the White House. Five stars all the way.

Featuring three of their biggest hits (Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf, Save a Prayer), if you're an 80s kid, you'll warm to this. The rest offer good support to the main acts.

Hoary old rockers they might be now, but they were far from that in 1976, I can tell you. This is a rollicking good album; no major hits came from it, but that isn't a hindrance - some fine riffage is on show here. You know the drill: turn it on, turn it up, and ROCK OUT!

A banger of a debut album. Few bands appear to be on top of their game on their first release, but Oasis made more than a record, they made a statement. You know the songs. You loved the songs back in the day. You still love them now. A five-star album if ever there was one.

Many people haw and hum over whether certain albums belong in this collection. One reviewer's 5 is another reviewer's 1 and all that. "Is it a 3 or is it worthy of a 4?" Questions that we can endlessly travel back and forth between. I think however that EVERYBODY can agree though that this discordant load of old bollocks has absolutely no place in the top 1001 albums of all time. Bottom 1001 albums would be closer. Utter shite with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Don't waste what precious time you have left on this planet listening to this. That poor duck died for nothing...

Not bad. Singer needs a sinus operation

Brazilian beats! Yes! Late-night version of Brazilian beats! ...Yes! Worth checking out if you like to groove after dark. Or just nod your head in time, that works just as well.

This well-regarded follow-up to A Day at the Races certainly does have songs that wouldn't be out of place in an opera (Love of My Life, Death on Two Legs, some back-of-the-album filler track called Bohemian Rhapsody) and some that would be at home in the music hall (I'm in Love with My Car, Seaside Rendezvous, You're My Best Friend). It all makes for a very enjoyable experience, Queen doing what they do best.

Thoroughly enjoyable outing from the Chilis, these guys know their way round a riff for sure. Under the Bridge has always been my favourite RHCP song, I'll always sing along to that, but there is so much to enjoy here. Flea has never been better, laying down some seriously funky basslines. Yep, add this to the collection. I still haven't fully forgiven them for their 'set' at Reading in 2007 though...

Boom! (but not Tick Tick Boom) Some Swedish party rock for you guys now, this hits like a train and keeps on rolling. Excellent stuff, my only complaint is it's only 28 minutes long. Who are you, the Ramones??

(Long sigh of relief)

Rather enjoyable. Enough to give it 4 stars? Do you know what, yes, I think repeated listening would be welcome and rewarding. Lovely.

Left me cold

It's The Weeknd! It's Parliament! It's a spaced-out mix of the two! Quirky as anything, will take time to get used to it, but it will reward you.

There aren't many debuts that come at you with a flick knife and demand your wallet, but this is one such, and to be honest, you weren't all that attached to that wallet anyway...