230
Albums Rated
3.51
Average Rating
21%
Complete
859 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
32
5-Star Albums
3
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus
Spirit
|
5 | 3.04 | +1.96 |
|
No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
Motörhead
|
5 | 3.06 | +1.94 |
|
Nothing's Shocking
Jane's Addiction
|
5 | 3.18 | +1.82 |
|
Close To The Edge
Yes
|
5 | 3.19 | +1.81 |
|
D
White Denim
|
5 | 3.21 | +1.79 |
|
Fragile
Yes
|
5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
|
Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
|
5 | 3.33 | +1.67 |
|
The Band
The Band
|
5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
|
Zombie
Fela Kuti
|
5 | 3.47 | +1.53 |
|
Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
|
5 | 3.47 | +1.53 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
|
1 | 3.51 | -2.51 |
|
Grace
Jeff Buckley
|
2 | 3.72 | -1.72 |
|
Dummy
Portishead
|
2 | 3.71 | -1.71 |
|
Orbital 2
Orbital
|
1 | 2.7 | -1.7 |
|
Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
|
2 | 3.46 | -1.46 |
|
Beauty And The Beat
The Go-Go's
|
2 | 3.39 | -1.39 |
|
Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
|
2 | 3.37 | -1.37 |
|
A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
|
2 | 3.33 | -1.33 |
|
Sea Change
Beck
|
2 | 3.33 | -1.33 |
|
american dream
LCD Soundsystem
|
2 | 3.18 | -1.18 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 3 | 4.67 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.67 |
| Led Zeppelin | 2 | 5 |
| Yes | 2 | 5 |
| Nirvana | 2 | 5 |
| Miles Davis | 3 | 4.33 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Paul Simon | 2, 3, 5 |
5-Star Albums (32)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
OutKast
3/5
Look I got through like nearly 2 hours of this in 4/5 car journeys and I just can’t I’m afraid. I just don’t understand how it never ends.
Speakerboxxx was very solid and probably scrapes a 4 on its own. Love below had some real highs but it just wouldn’t end.
Overall I can’t give this a fair crack in one day but a good 3. It’s a shame because I wanted to finish it but by the end I was ready for everything to end. Would return in future maybe on a transatlantic flight to finish it
1 likes
3/5
Another album I wanted to like more than I did. Long jamming but little pay off. Listenable but not that inspiring
1 likes
5/5
Only knew Spirit because their estate sued Led Zep for Stairway to Heaven. The band name is crap, the album name is crap, the cover is crap but the music was amazing. Got to the end and had to relisten, this is why we do this list
1 likes
1-Star Albums (3)
All Ratings
Elton John
5/5
Huge hits, surprised me how good it was. Definitely inspired to dive further into his catalogue
Depeche Mode
4/5
Deserves more listens, stripped back, dark - 3.75/5
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
So ahead of its time it’s ridiculous, 1957! NFA one of the greatest rick songs of all time. That said the album has clearly aged and became samey in parts. Still iconic 4/5
Boston
5/5
An absolute classic in classic rock. Hits from start to finish, Tom Scholz carved out a sound of his own. Doesn’t get much better than this 4.75/5
Prince
3/5
Starts with two massive hits and has some excellent songs throughout, it just wasn’t really consistently captivating enough for me. 3.5/5
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Joni and jazz is a great combination. I imagine this will become a 5 star album with future listens.
Painting your own album cover is so bad ass as well.
4.5/5
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Knew about half the album already, great listen. 4.25/5
Holger Czukay
3/5
This was very very weird but I actually quit enjoyed it 3/5
Cheap Trick
3/5
Heard better live albums but tight and good songs, Need Your Love the highlight. 2.75/5
Muddy Waters
3/5
The sound is incredible and it’s clearly a very important piece of music history. In terms of actual listening it was a good set of songs with a good backing band, but there are better blues albums out there 3.5/5
King Crimson
4/5
Probably overhyped but still great. Basically sounded like the Beatles writing a 40 minute long Bond theme on LSD
21st Century Schizoid Man is such a good song
4.25/5
Milton Nascimento
3/5
I really enjoyed this album, despite not having a clue what was being said. Very cool, light psychedelia and jazz. A lot to like. This may become 4 stars with future listens
3.5/5
Jeff Buckley
2/5
I didn’t hate it, and was quite surprised by the first few songs, it’s just a bit wishy washy. Hallelujah is overplayed and overhyped (although very emotional in Shrek and OC Season 1 finale).
2.5/5
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Incredibly 80s. It’s remarkable how Gabriel and Phil Collins sound so similar, but there’s something about Gabriel’s gruffness that is irresistible.
Sledgehammer and Don’t give up are radio classics. Strange that the last song originally was not the last song, given that song order is so important in albums.
Overall SO good 4/5
3/5
I just have never got Muse, it sounds grand but there’s no actual substance behind it, no soul.
That said Knights of Cydonia is so so good, and that saves the album from a 2.
Too many black holes not enough revelations 2.75/5
Guns N' Roses
4/5
Four of the songs are just all time rock classics - Paradise City being the best of them all. However much of the other cuts are just so mediocre. The drums on Its So Easy sound like two shoe boxes and a pair of keys.
That said the highlights are sublime. 4/5
Beastie Boys
4/5
I’m sorry Beastie Boys, I was not familiar with your game. I thought it was all shouting and some random beats but there’s some very cool sampling going on here.
I apologise for everything
4/5
The Who
3/5
I love the Who, I think they’ve put out 2 of the greatest albums of all time. This isn’t one of them. There’s a lot of stuff here that’s recognisable for the fact it will turn into Tommy in the future, especially in Rael. There’s just not much actually fun music here. Maybe it’s the cultural significance of the album that’s the reason it’s on here, but I don’t listen to music for that reason.
However, it’s always good to hear Entwistle and Moon, probably the greatest rock bassist and drummer ever and that staves off a 2
The Who will start to take off when they release Tommy but they’re not there yet.
3/5
Steely Dan
4/5
I’ve listened to this album before and wanted to like it more than I did. This time round I actually enjoyed it more knowing what to expect. It’s kind of lift music but that’s ok, lifts deserve good music.
I still don’t understand the hype but I did enjoy the listen so it scrapes a 4 star
3.75/5
Beck
3/5
This was a hard one to review, actually want to come back to it and can see it getting more enjoyment on future listens. Probably needed another day with it.
E-pro is a banger
3.5/5
John Lee Hooker
3/5
I don’t know JLH at all but I imagine this album isnt representative of the man. Most of the album is collaborations and I can’t really hear any bluesy musings which defeats the point a bit.
That said it was an enjoyable album, just seems a strange choice for this list
3/5
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
Incredible sound quality for a live album in 1957. Buttery smooth throughout 3/5
Laura Nyro
2/5
Couldn’t get through this. Sounded like that woman on YouTube who improvs songs and has a catchy laugh. Probably influential but quite irritating I’m afraid 2/5
Marty Robbins
5/5
To me this is proper music. Stories well told set to great melodies.
El Paso is a song so good the Dead played it over 400 times and Breaking Bad based their entire final episode on it.
To top it all off Marty Robbins became a NASCAR driver. What a life.
Hard to fault 4.75/5
Beatles
5/5
To me this is the best album ever recorded. The Beatles at their full power. 34 minutes and 14 songs, nothing overstays its welcome.
Harrison with 3 songs all completely different yet equally important as we get the first taste of the Indian/Hindu influence he would go on to develop for the rest of his life.
The influence of the album is matched by the actual songs. Some songs are better than other, but they’re all top tier. Seamlessly transitioning from in your face heavy guitars to gentle sitars, brass bands and string quartets.
The crazy thing is the lack of hits with only Eleanor Rigby and Yellow Submarine as household names.
Tomorrow Never Knows is for me up there with the greatest album closers of all time. I always wondered when I was a kid where the managed to get those seagull sounds from. Imagine hearing this for the first time 60 years ago, even now it sounds out of this world.
Best: She Said, Got to get you into my life, Love you to, Tomorrow never knows
Abbey Road is filled with nostalgia as the last recorded Beatles album, but this is more important.
5/5 - GOAT status
Green Day
4/5
First half is top notch, after basket case gets a bit filler-y.
Welcome to Paradise is such a tune.
3.75/5
Beck
3/5
Similar thoughts to the previous Beck album, probably needs a few more listens to appreciate. Generally it was very noisy. Devils Haircut is huge
3.5/5
Bee Gees
2/5
On another day I may have found things to appreciate but this was a very odd choice to make this list 2/5
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
I really enjoyed this, the orchestra backing most of the songs was perfect. The song names were incredibly long but I particularly liked Jacksonville. A surprise to be sure 4.25/5
Marvin Gaye
3/5
It’s just very easy listening, maybe too easy. I did enjoy he’d not got his point across enough on the first song so had to double back a few songs later to highlight how much he wanted to have sex. 3.5/5
The Prodigy
2/5
After the sound of glass breaking hit my ear drums for the 50th time I realised this was not for me 2/5
Bonnie Raitt
3/5
This really disappointed me. Love Letter and the final song were good songs, everything else was generic 80s plodders. Nowhere near enough slide guitar which is what Raitt is actually known for, how did this win album of the year at the Grammys 2.75/5
Orbital
1/5
This gave me vertigo 1/5
Aphex Twin
3/5
This was a weird one to review. It sounded exactly how I remember the 90s being, but ambient. This may have been seminal and amazing at the time, but it’s just kind of nice background noise. Drugs probably enhance this 3/5
Moby
3/5
It’s a great bum of advert songs and background noise 3/5
Metallica
4/5
A great album, just a couple of generic thrash songs stops this being 5 stars. The highlights are the title track, Battery and the incredible Orion instrumental. Always liked Sanatarium as well. It’s between this and the Black album for their best 4.5/5
Rage Against The Machine
4/5
Enjoyed this, bit samey but solid set of tracks. Average score on here is 4 so I’m going to have to be a conformer unfortunately
4/5
Van Halen
4/5
Fun listen, starts strong and tails off a bit but some classics on here. Scrapes a 4. 3.75/5
Foo Fighters
4/5
A solid album that just about manages to find a way out of Nirvana’s shadow. 3.75/5
Jane's Addiction
5/5
This sounded really really good. Lead singers voice was quite irritating but shit slapped. I don’t know any music that sounded like this in the late 80s. Maybe I’ll regret this but I just want to keep listening over and over again 4.51/5
Ramones
3/5
I see the merit in the Ramones but it all blurs into one. A very important album but not something I choose to listen to very often 3.25/5
Miles Davis
5/5
A cracking album, very spacey and psychedelic. There were parts I wanted for be a bit more explosive but in general an exceptional listen 4.75/5
Deep Purple
4/5
Mixed bag here - some exceptional guitaring from Ritchie Blackmore, lovely fuzzy organs but the lyrics are god awful in places. Scrapes a 4 due to Blackmore. Smoke on the Water is amazing and I won’t take marks off for it being played to death
3.75/5
Iron Maiden
4/5
A good album all round, reminded me of the Dio years of Sabbath, although didn’t interest me quite as much.
Powerslave is the only album of theirs I’m familiar with. Definitely a good start for Iron Maiden, keen to go further into their back catalogue.
4/5
4/5
Clearly well reviewed and loved. It’s a great concept album and has some excellent songs (suffragette city, star man, ziggy stardust). I’ve just never been gripped by it, feels too paint by numbers. But maybe if I’d heard this in 1972 I’d feel different.
4/5
Van Morrison
4/5
Some crackers on this album- Moondance, Into the Mystic, Caravan, the rest is fairly decent.
3.75/5
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Some all time classics on here Carry on and Joni Mitchell’s Woodstock are stand outs.
4.25/5
Kings of Leon
3/5
Tale of two sides - A side was great Bucket and Rodeo are highlights. B side they tried to be the Strokes and it fizzled out a bit. Very much enjoyed the first half 3.25/5
Mercury Rev
3/5
Album of weirdly dark lullabies in that kind of ambient music that they liked in the 90s. Probably needs more listens but it’s getting one 3/5
Minor Threat
3/5
Some good punk. The album cover and album title are a bit on the nose 3/5
Black Sabbath
4/5
Probably their 4th/5th best album but some classics on here. Snowblind is the best track on here, Supernaut and Wheels of Confusion are also top tier Sabbath. Changes is a great song but its position in the album is very strange
4.25/5
R.E.M.
3/5
A pretty decent album - Orange Crush and Stand get a lot of radio play, Inside Out is a GTA IV classic. Nice folk stuff but also some snoozers. All round enjoyable 3.5/5
Frank Zappa
4/5
1969 was such a good year for music. I don’t know why I haven’t listened to Zappa much, I thought he was more influential than good to listen to. First two songs especially were seriously fun. Definitely room for more Zappa in my life 4.5/5
The Velvet Underground
4/5
If ever an album is overrated it’s this one. That said not many bands were doing this in 1967. Venus in Furs is a sprawling baroque psych fest, European Son is insane. Nico’s voice is still annoying tho. Maybe this album’s been ruined for me by every cool teenager but I can still enjoy it 4.25/5
The xx
4/5
A good album for night shifts - Intro and Islands are classics. Does get quite boring towards the end, Infinity especially just gets louder without much else going on. Overall good 3.75/5
Marvin Gaye
4/5
A decent soul album, bit one note. Vocals excellent, song writing is fine 3.75/5
Coldplay
4/5
There’s not really a bad song on this album: Yellow, Trouble and Don’t Panic are highlights. Everything’s Not Lost has always been my favourite song on here. That said, it is slower than I remember and several songs could do with being a minute shorter. They could really write good stuff back in the day 4.25/5
Beatles
4/5
In the pecking order of Beatles albums it’s probably in the bottom third but it’s still a Beatles album and therefore amazing. A bit Lennon heavy for my liking, Harrison has one song he didn’t even write, but no covers on here.
Hard Days Night and Can’t Buy Me Love are top tier Beatles, special mention to If I Fell and And I Love Her. Not quite 5 stars but it’s a high 4. The film is a good way to listen to these songs, a lot of silliness
4.5/5
Simply Red
3/5
Desperately 80s, I quite enjoyed parts of this. I was shocked to find Heaven, which I thought was abysmal, was a Talking Heads cover.
Nothing new going on but easy listening, good vocals.
3.25/5
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
This grew and grew on me. The title song absolutely slaps, Pusherman is a classic, but couldn’t say where I’d heard it before (probably everywhere). I feel cooler for listening to this album. This could make 5 stars with further listens, and further listens it will get
4/5
Eagles
4/5
The A side is seriously good - Hotel California has one of the great guitar solos and Life in the Fast Lane has one of my favourite riffs.
They feel like a middle class version of Lynyrd Skynyrd, not quite got the bite I’d want but still enjoyable. B side gets a bit tedious but gets 4 because of the first few songs
3.75/5
Meat Puppets
4/5
Country, punk, psychedelia - what a ridiculous combo, in 1984! Generally loved this, especially when it leaned less into the punk side of things.
You can hear the influence on Nirvana and Kurt Vile especially in my mind. Highlights Plateau, Aurora Borealis, I’m a Mindless Idiot - maybe I am, but this is good music 4.25/5
50 Cent
3/5
Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to. Heat in particular is an unexpected banger. Guns, girls and ganj - G unit 3.25/5
Jamiroquai
3/5
Funky, jazzy, lyrics generally nonsense. Definitely best when played loud 3.25/5
Wilco
4/5
Love this album, love Wilco. Can be a bit slow in parts but the country/alternative fusion is fun. Highlights: Jesus etc. Heavy Metal drummer and Man Who Loves You.
4.5/5
Public Enemy
4/5
Never listened to this before, by all accounts seems like a seminal monument in hip hop. Generally enjoyed it, but do think it was probably more impressive when it was released 3.75/5
The Fall
2/5
Sounds way ahead of its time but I didn’t enjoy listening to it. Guitars need tuning 2.5/5
Deerhunter
3/5
Parts of this were great (Desire Lines is monumental) others were very boring. But quite enjoyed it in general, needs more listens. This could have got any score but I’ll go down the middle 3.25/5
The Cure
4/5
Not the best Cure album, but still great. A Forest is sublime, up there with their best songs. A couple of the short instrumentals were a bit unnecessary, I’d rather have listened to some more crafted stuff. In short, really enjoyable, but in a sad and scary way 4.25/5
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Proper nostalgia trip, possibly the first album I bought myself - the first 7 songs (excepting Get on Top) are flawless. Second half is hit and miss. Road Trippin and Savior are great, Purple Stain is pretty hideous. Good times 4.25/5
Paul Simon
2/5
The backing vocals and instruments were actually enjoyable, I would have liked this more without the vocals and lyrics. Allergies, Cars are cars and Rene and Georgette Magritte with their dog after the war are mental track names. At times it felt like he was farting out thoughts he’d doodled in a diary. Train in the distance and the dog song were good 2.5/5
Rush
3/5
Underwhelming truth be told, 2112 wanted to be Close to the Edge but didn’t come close. Some good moments 3/5
Iggy Pop
3/5
Enjoyed it but didn’t love it. Passenger and Lust for Life obviously huge, rest of it blurred into one a bit. Album cover is great 3.25/5
Talking Heads
4/5
Listened to this a few times last year, it’s very good but dare I say overhyped. Can be a tad monotonous and some songs go on too long. Speaking in Tongues for me is the more enjoyable album. That said it’s still a cracking listen 4.25/5
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
A lot of questions on this one: why was the drummer in such a hurry? On nothing is was the record stuck on a 6 minute loop? What’s the target audience for this?
Confused 2/5
Dizzee Rascal
2/5
Not for me, didn’t enjoy at the time, still don’t. Not an awful listen 2.25/5
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Gorgeous vocals and some good lyrics played over synthy dross. Another victim of the 80s. I’m keen to hear his earlier work, but this didn’t do it 2.25/5
The Stone Roses
5/5
Incredible album start to finish - no skips on here for me. I am the resurrection is an amazing album closer. Not sure what else to say, just a great album 4.75/5
Nas
3/5
Obviously considered one of, if not the greatest hip hop album ever recorded. Which makes me realise it’s just not really for me as a genre, which is ok. World is Yours and It ain’t hard to tell are very good, and there’s no missteps on here, just not my bag 3/5
ZZ Top
3/5
I like ZZ Top, just don’t think they’re an album band. Bet they were awesome live. La Grange is a great song, the rest was was good quality classic rock, but in a list of some stunning music it didn’t stand out much 3/5
Green Day
3/5
Wasn’t hugely impressed by this, largely blended into one. However, Holiday / BoBD is still stunning, what a transition. For that reason it’s a 3/5
Big Star
3/5
I listened to this album as a teenager and didn’t really get into it. Don’t lie to me is very catchy and was in my rotation for years. Thirteen is a classic. Ballad of el Goodo is considered a great song of theirs, I actually find it really irritating. Cult status maybe but was fairly meh 3/5
Pink Floyd
5/5
Never been my favourite album but 5 star for Money alone 4.75/5
Black Sabbath
5/5
Masterpiece start to finish, the number of iconic hooks and riffs is incredible. Can’t pick out a favourite song but I’d forgotten how good Hand of Doom is 5/5
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
I enjoyed this more than a thought, simple, good production easy to hear the lyrics which is often my hip hop gripe. I’ll come back to this 3.75/5
Grizzly Bear
2/5
Understand why people would enjoy this but was just very unmemorable. 2.5/5
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
I value my time too much to listen to every song on this album. Design for Life is a fantastic song, otherwise it was largely dull and irritating 2/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Not sure my ear is able to discern between different reggae: pleasant nut all sounds the same to me. Easy listening 3/5
Paul Simon
3/5
Better than the previous Simon album, pleasant listening 3.25/5
Christina Aguilera
3/5
I didn’t listen to the whole thing just some chosen highlights because it’s so long but Christina deserves a 3/5
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Really good, with a few fillers stopping it from being a 5. Can you hear me knocking had 4/5 plays over the weekend. So close to a 5 but not quite 4.5/5
The Isley Brothers
3/5
3+3 on 3/3 - it’s. 3
3/5
John Grant
2/5
I just couldn’t bring myself to finish this. It’s not inherently bad I just didn’t enjoy it, its cardinal sin was that it was plain boring. I don’t want to get to song 3 or 4 for anything to happen 2.5/5
Sonic Youth
3/5
Wanted to like this more than I did, last two songs were highlights (but last is a bonus song so doesn’t really count to me) 3.25/5
Metallica
4/5
Not as good as I remember, the first side up to One is bloody good, after that it’s nothing special. Still gets 4 stars for the first side and general consistency 3.75/5
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
Two of the greatest songs on the 60s on here. Grace Slick’s voice is superb. Great album 4.25/5
The Police
3/5
Pleasantly surprised. Message in a bottle one of my all time favourite songs but rest of the album was interesting and varied. Really straddles the line but didn’t quite do enough for 4. 3.5/5
Pink Floyd
3/5
Tried to like it, too experimental with little pay off. 3/5
The Clash
4/5
Man this was one of the hardest decisions so far. So many good songs - London Calling, Train in Vain, Guns of Brixton, Clampdown, Rudie Can’t Fail. I know it’s a double album, it just loses my attention at the end. So for that it’s a 4 by the barest of margins 4.5/5
The Cure
5/5
I never realised how good the Cure were until this album. Atmospheric, dark, long intros with minimal outros. Close to flawless 4.75/5
Miles Davis
4/5
Don’t know much about jazz but was expecting more given its status. Maybe it’s groundbreaking but sounded like a good jazz album. Excellent stuff but not quite as good as In A Silent Way 4.5:5
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
Shit music’s playing in my house, my house 2/5
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
A pleasant listening experience. Good job Green Onions is a good song because half the album seemed to be based around it 3/5
4/5
This surprised me, really good album. The production was notably strong, just a good mix to my untrained ears. Can’t put my finger on why I enjoyed it but I did. Thanks PJ 4/5
Portishead
2/5
Desperately dull, 2nd time giving it a chance and somehow worse than I remembered. I’m clearly missing something here. Yawn 2/5
David Bowie
4/5
I think I wrote off Bowie because Ziggy didn’t do it for me but this was a fun ambient experience. Listened twice back to back. Think I need to change my scoring system as a result.
Alice Cooper
3/5
Enjoyed this the longer it went on, solid album
Bebel Gilberto
2/5
One of the most inoffensive albums ive listened to in the life. Could have gone without listening to this but I also feel like I’ve heard it 1000 times over in every bar in the Canary Islands 2/5
OutKast
3/5
Look I got through like nearly 2 hours of this in 4/5 car journeys and I just can’t I’m afraid. I just don’t understand how it never ends.
Speakerboxxx was very solid and probably scrapes a 4 on its own. Love below had some real highs but it just wouldn’t end.
Overall I can’t give this a fair crack in one day but a good 3. It’s a shame because I wanted to finish it but by the end I was ready for everything to end. Would return in future maybe on a transatlantic flight to finish it
Van Halen
4/5
Eruption alone could give this a 4 but Van Halen before the synth was a hell of a beast.
Run-D.M.C.
1/5
Couldn’t get past the first two songs, too much wikky wikky woo for me
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
Pretty fun album, vocals are unique if a little annoying sometimes.
Cover 4/5
Basement Jaxx
3/5
Pretty uninspired garbage but very very listenable, couple of big hits
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Listened to this relatively recently. Absolutely worthy of the 1001 title. Just packed full of excellent songs
Gorillaz
3/5
Possibly the first CD I bought myself, some real highs with Clint Eastwood, Rock the house, 19-2000 (the remix is the real MVP), Rehash.
That said they dropped the ball not including Demon Days instead of this, which is far better.
Paul Weller
3/5
Very solid album, bit slow towards the end
Van Morrison
4/5
Lives up to the hype, no real stand out tracks just a really interesting and enjoyable journey
Aerosmith
3/5
First half good, second half quite boring. I do love Aerosmith but again wonder why it was this album chosen for the list when there are at least 3 better. Janie and Love in an elevator highlights
DJ Shadow
4/5
Never heard of this album, despite its critical acclaim. Reminded me of J Dilla’s Donuts. Flowed perfectly start to finish, clearly a labour of love. Always odd knowing this was effectively a work of hundreds of musicians stitched together but worked well. Nearly a 5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
I don’t hate it, it’s just not my thing. It’s so dark and grim, what a voice and what lyrics, but just not enjoyable. That said it gets a 3 for being objectively well made. Sorry Leo
Stan Getz
4/5
This was beautiful stuff, I thought bossa nova was all boring lounge music but this was really nice. No stand out tracks just well played jazz
Don McLean
3/5
One of the greatest songs ever recorded with some slow boring country. Should have just written some more verses in the title track
Love
3/5
Biased cos I love psych rock - the 19 minute jam at the end was fun, just felt like it wasn’t that technically well played. That said I did enjoy it
Muddy Waters
3/5
This is a strange album to rate - it’s great blues and I really enjoyed it. I understand it’s some rerecordings and new tracks. My gripe is that for 1977 it’s not innovative or new; and I couldn’t hear the guitar. He’s a guitar player right? So why was it buried so low in the mix? You’d have thought Muddy played harmonica.
That said from an enjoyment perspective it makes up for it as a very solid blues album
Pink Floyd
4/5
First half is excellent and then it peters out a bit, should have finished at comfortably numb.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
I enjoyed this, made me feel good and for that it gets a 4
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Pretty exceptional being able to release such a personal and stripped back album and then make it listenable. It’s not an album I’ll go back to often as it’s a bit raw for me but I’ve got to give it its dues that it’s an essential listen
Michael Jackson
5/5
Best run of three songs in pop music? Probably. Best selling album for a reason
The Magnetic Fields
3/5
I rolled my eyes at the concept and the name of the album. However, I managed to get through the first two volumes and actually quite enjoyed it, the lyrics were humourous and there was good variety. Didn’t finish it so can’t be a 4 but I quite liked what I heard
Cream
4/5
One of my go to psych rock albums, from one of the first supergroups. Starts with probably my favourite Cream song, a sunshine of love your is obviously a classic. It’s not perfect, some of the lyrics are a bit lacking. That said the highs are great (shoutout to SWLABR and Ulysses).
Always worth mentioning that Clapton is not a good person
R.E.M.
4/5
Considered their best album and earns the title - three or four of their biggest hits interspersed with some gems. The instrumental was a bit odds and didn’t add much
Gary Numan
3/5
On the fence about this one - essentially it was just variations on Cars which in fairness is a massive song. I actually really started to enjoy it more once the instrumentals hit, but apparently they’re on the deluxe edition so not counting that. Would have been a 4 with them. Solid 3
Aretha Franklin
4/5
What a voice
Steely Dan
4/5
Only listened to Aja before, felt this was more enjoyable, interesting chords progressions and quite bluesy/rocky. Didn’t all stick the landing but the bits that did were immense. Title track the highlight
Stevie Wonder
4/5
This was a nailed on 5 in the first half, Higher Ground is so so good. Too High and Living for the city if not listened to before, also highlights. Just felt the last few songs were a bit uninteresting, but still a mega album
David Bowie
4/5
Definitely needs more listens, felt like it petered out towards the end but starts well. Golden Years one of my favourite Bowies
The Black Keys
3/5
Middle of the road rock for the most part - Howlin go you and Tighten up are obviously classics. Another reviewer said it’s just a FIFA soundtrack and it’s hard to disagree. El Camino is all round a more exciting album. Good but not great
Slade
2/5
I didn’t dislike it but thought it was nothing special and I’m going tougher with rankings now, sorry Noddy
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
Take Five probably the most recognisable jazz song ever. Lovely listen
Cocteau Twins
2/5
Didn’t need to listen to this - mixing was weird, couldn’t understand the lyrics. Sounded like europop. Neither heaven nor Las Vegas
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Finally Zeppelin! Listened to this quite recently but always worth a revisit. III is the odd one out amongst the first 4 with the more acoustic driven sound and doesn’t have as many big hits but it’s got more atmosphere than any of their other records.
Immigrant Song is such an unusual way to start the album because it doesn’t reflect the rest of it at all. But it’s a banger. Then it really picks up at since I’ve been loving you.
Gallows Pole is one of my favourite Zeppelin songs, manic and tragic at the same time. Tangerine and That’s the way also star.
Maybe not all Zeppelin albums will get 5 stars, but this will
3/5
Another album I wanted to like more than I did. Long jamming but little pay off. Listenable but not that inspiring
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Probably needs more listens, but the gift was unlistenable with headphones. Sister Ray still excellent. Very solid 3
The Boo Radleys
3/5
This was a knife edge by the end, the second last song I thought was the best on the album. Unfortunately they finished off the album with a 5 minute song that was 4 minutes too long. I enjoyed it, but would it have a relisten? Probably not
R.E.M.
4/5
A very tardy listen - I just thought it flowed nicely, lovely jangles and Stipes vocals always hit. Couple of huge singles, rest was generally enjoyable, especially the first 3/4 songs
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
The end of a cracking run of albums from CCR. Think I still prefer green river and bayou country but just a personal preference.
Eminem
3/5
It’s a 1/5 if you take it at face value. As a personal and social commentary it’s pretty good. But how can you differentiate…Stan is one of the best rap songs ever recorded. Gonna go down the middle
Fairport Convention
4/5
A great olde album, my liege
Nick Drake
4/5
Really enjoyed the strawberry moon tribute. Up there with my dad’s favourite albums, never really understood why but maybe starting to understand.
Possibly the worst running album of the 1001.
For Sadie
Meat Loaf
3/5
Title song rocks so fucking hard it’s ridiculous, like completely unnecessarily over the top. Absolutely stunning.
Couple of other radio friendly hits. Wouldn’t listen again except the title track which is a 5 star song.
Neil Young
5/5
Maybe I’m getting soppy with age but this was flawless. Some of the best songs ever written with Old Man, damage done and heart of gold. Stunning
Deep Purple
3/5
Good live album, felt different from the recent album because the shredding and elongated songs. Not the best live album ever but enjoyable
Talking Heads
3/5
Whilst being fairly iconic it’s nowhere near the standard of the next 4 albums. Again how this is on here over speaking in tongues is confusing.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Always been my go to stones album, bookended with two of the greatest rock songs ever. A rare Keith Richards vocal thrown in as well. Drags in parts but very solid
The Go-Go's
2/5
Just didn’t do it for me
Kid Rock
1/5
This surprised me by being bad in ways I never expected. Uninspired beats, derivative sound. Just awful
The Kinks
3/5
All round good listen, I just don’t really get the Kinks, they just feel like a less interesting version of the Beatles.
Suzanne Vega
4/5
I actually really enjoyed this, went back to relisten. Can’t put my finger on why and probably wouldn’t want another album of hers on here but I liked it
Paul Simon
5/5
Such a contrast to the other albums we’ve had from him. I love this record, feel good start to finish, some all time classics with call me Al and diamonds on the soles of her shoes. The titular song is my personal favourite. An all time great
The Smiths
5/5
The best way to listen to the Smiths is the best of the Smiths, the second best way is this album. Morriseys lyrics are funny and Marr is doing Marr things. No skips, highlights are title track, bigmouth and there is a light
Motörhead
5/5
The opening song is probably the best opener I’ve ever heard from a live album, just smacks you in the face with raw power. I actually can’t fault this, start to finish raw energy, doesn’t reinvent the wheel but I’m going to come back to this. What a man Lemmy was
5/5
This is the probably the greatest prog rock album. Only 3 songs, but it’s just musically perfect. So many good riffs and melodies. An album for any mood
Country Joe & The Fish
3/5
Sounds like most San Francisco music in 1967. Enjoyable but nothing hugely exciting
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
He’s a legend but I think I prefer his singles to an entire album. The lyrics are generally grim (not faulting that) and paint great stories. On another day it could be a 4 but no shame in a 3
Miles Davis
4/5
Another excellent Miles Davis album
The Jam
4/5
Some all time classics on here with Start and That’s Entertainment. One of the better Jam albums for sure
Metallica
4/5
The last really excellent Metallica album. Definitely more commercial but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Less thrash metal and more elements of grunge and sludge imo.
Enter Sandman and Unforgiven are classics. Nothing else matters is so un-Metallica but just a stunning song. The last 4 songs peter out but still very few skips on here
Coldplay
4/5
Probably the best Coldplay album. Politik through to daylight is an insane run of songs. Second half definitely has a step down in quality but Whisper and Warning sign are great songs.
Don’t let the cool kids tell you Coldplay suck.
Love
3/5
Mid as you like - nothing offensive and very listenable but absolutely nothing to get excited about. Preferred their other albums. Definitely not Love more Ambivalence
Robbie Williams
3/5
Big nostalgia trip - not a huge amount of filler. Angels and Let me entertain you were soundtracks to my childhood and britpop classics. In all a solid 3
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Solid
Dusty Springfield
2/5
It’s not a bad album but was just uninteresting collection of songs, sorry Dusty
Sebadoh
3/5
Middle of the road, would probably come back to given more time with it
Black Sabbath
5/5
Perfect album to celebrate the Prince of Darkness. One of the most important albums ever released and holds up very well. Even some harmonicas thrown in there. I don’t think it’s as perfect as Paranoid but still a classic
Television
4/5
Weirdly was listening to this over the weekend for the first time. I really enjoyed the front half, lost interest a bit after the amazing title track. Clearly hugely influential. Will come back to this.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
Hasn’t listened to this for years, there’s some very weird/bad filler but Message and Nasty are classics. Good averages out the bad
Yes
5/5
One of my favourite album covers and one of my favourite albums. Roundabout easily the best song on here, and ultimately up there in their whole discography. Every band members shines, and I like the effectively solo songs they each contribute to break up the album. A cracker
White Denim
5/5
In my mid 20s this was in my top 5 albums ever. I’ve listened too many times to be objective. I love the trilogy of songs to start and I just don’t think there’s a skip in here (other than the last song). Drug, Bess St, Is and Is are all great. So glad this has made the list because these guys don’t get nearly enough credit.
Alice In Chains
4/5
Our first grunge album, and the only one of the 4 big Seattle grunge bands I’d not really listened to. Lyrically it’s very depressing and heroin fuelled but god I love early grunge. Wouldn’t put it as high as Ten or Superunknown but probably becomes a 5 with future listens. Them Bones is such a good opener
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Hard to rate this fairly because he’s been copied so much and he’s so highly rated. Whilst such a good guitarist, his songwriting isn’t quite as good. That said Castles Made of Sand was stunning. 4 is fair
Donovan
3/5
A psychedelic staple of the 60s. Didn’t need to listen to an entire album of Donovan but Season of the Witch is one of the best songs ever written. Definitely deserves to be on the list but I don’t need to listen to it
Roxy Music
3/5
Never been able to abide much Roxy music in one go. Remake/remodel is admittedly a huge opener, Virginia plain wasn’t actually on the original album press so not sure if that counts.
I didn’t dislike it, but it was very apparent no one in the band was there saying ‘maybe let’s not add any squealing saxophone on this one’ and the castanets just irritate me when they appear out of nowhere, no song has been made better by the addition of castanets.
Gets an extra point for being ahead of its time but 3 is generous
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
The greatest album of all time according to RYM.com. For me it’s not. But it’s still one of the best hip hop albums I’ve heard. Blacker the Berry is as good as any song on this list. The ending 5 minutes I have very mixed feelings as well.
Absolutely worthy of its place on the list.
The Smiths
4/5
A divisive album for me with some of their best ever songs in Barbarism, Headmaster ritual, what she said and that joke isn’t funny. The final song is horrendous in every way.
Couldn’t be the five that the Queen is Dead gets, but the highlights are exceptional
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Probably the greatest rock album ever. Black dog is the perfect opener, when the levee breaks is possibly my favourite led zep song and then you’ve got Stiarway to heaven in the middle. Just because it’s overplayed doesn’t mean it isn’t one of the best songs ever written.
Battle of Evernore is a real grower with 1001 albums favourite folk singer Sandy Denny providing vocals and some nice LOTR references.
The flow of the whole album is just amazing, even the ever so slightly weaker songs fit in perfectly. As close to a perfect rock album as there is
Billy Joel
4/5
I hope there isn’t another Billy Joel album on this list because this was essentially his greatest hits. Not the biggest Billy Joel fan but undeniable classics sounding like they’re being performed by a Paul McCartney/Elton John hybrid. Very enjoyable
Bauhaus
3/5
Not really had much like this on the list. Only knew the epic Bela Lugosis Dead before, which doesn’t appear on this album. As the album went on I found myself enjoying it more, a bit more upbeat that I expected from gothic punk. That said nothing really to right home about, of its time, deserves the be here but nothing more
Magazine
2/5
Close between 2/3 - didn’t dislike it but was a struggle to keep going. Probably deserves more listens but that’s the nature of this game
Beck
2/5
Honestly I couldn’t deal with yet another Beck album, didn’t get much attention what I heard was boring. Please no more
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Had this earlier this year on my other album club and gave it a 4, see no reason to change that decision
Ray Charles
3/5
Some nice stuff on here, timeless but can’t get too excited about it personally
Suede
2/5
I really gave this a good go but it just didn’t click, kind of like echo and the Bunnymen but years too late
Willie Nelson
3/5
Doesn’t set my world alight but very listenable
Bob Dylan
4/5
Lost my previous review so cba - this was great start to finish but I’ll save my 5 stars for some others of his albums
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
This was great, the drums are so moody throughout. Saw them 10 years ago and I’d done some prep before hand so remember some of these. Rescue is the highlight of the album, Do It Clean could have be made by the Monkees if they did post punk but I like that. Looking forward to more
The War On Drugs
3/5
I need to be in a specific mood to really enjoy this, that said Red Eyes alone gives this a 3, the best non Christmas Christmas sounding song
The Band
5/5
Influenced most of my favourite bands - only bone I can pick is would like a few guitar solos, but got the Dead for that. Never listened to the Band properly only knew some of their big songs (the weight, night they drive Dixie, look out Cleveland). This is proper Americana (ironically Canadian). Flawless
Doves
2/5
Just couldn’t get into this. Interestingly the one song I recognised was from a Mitchell and Webb sketch called fishmonger out of water monger. So that was a nice throwback
5/5
Only knew Spirit because their estate sued Led Zep for Stairway to Heaven. The band name is crap, the album name is crap, the cover is crap but the music was amazing. Got to the end and had to relisten, this is why we do this list
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Enough to like on here but it’s kind of a worse Bowie to me. Love some of his songs but whole album is meh
Fela Kuti
4/5
A cracking recommendation, alongside a legend in Ginger Baker so there were always gonna be drums (but maybe too many). Seems like an interesting fella…great listen
Kraftwerk
3/5
One of the most influential bands ever, from a listening point of view it was fine, not for me
Beatles
5/5
Another album that doesn’t really need a review. Personally prefer Revolver, which I feel is more influential and interesting. That sad there is not a bad song on here, with some genuinely perfect songs (Something and Here Comes the Sun in particular).
The first side is just filled with huge songs and the medley is amazing. Some of the songs are like 60-90 seconds yet feel like fully fledged songs.
All of the Fab Four contribute and the culmination of the guitar solos from George, Paul and John with a Ringo drum solo in the End is masterful.
Overhyped? I think so but it’s still one of the greatest albums ever made.
Common
3/5
Produced by Kanye and J Dilla, was never going to be bad. Enjoyable listen
Pearl Jam
5/5
2nd best grunge album, stacked from start to finish. Difficult to top an album with Even flow, Jeremy, Black and Alive on. Perfection
Queen
4/5
No real standout songs aside from the obvious. Always a joy to listen to Freddie Mercury sing, scrapes a 4
Fela Kuti
5/5
Sensational album, no flaws. His 27 wives provide great backing vocals. The story behind the aftermath of this album is slightly horrifying but yeah. This is going into the permanent rotation
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Generally great, but didn’t need to be 2 hours. Main issue was only knowing 1979 was that every song sounded like 1979. That’s said I will come back to it.
B.B. King
4/5
Who knew BB had such a good voice? Nothing he plays is that complex but somehow sounds perfect. As will most blues around this time setlist fatigue is a problem, most of the songs blur into one, but enjoyed the flowing nature of the set. Good stuff
Cowboy Junkies
2/5
I just found this boring unfortunately. Great voice, just wasn’t in the mood
The Temptations
3/5
Papa was a rolling stone is one of the best songs ever written, the rest just didn’t hit the same heights. A good listen in general tho
U2
3/5
Pretty underwhelming - several of my favourite U2 songs in mysterious ways and real thing but a lot of mediocrity. No where near their height in War
The B-52's
3/5
Definitely one of the of the weirdest things I’ve ever listened to. If no drugs were consumed in the recording of this then I’m staggered. The Dee Reynolds sound effects in Rock Lobster were bizarre. But why did I quite enjoy it? It’s like mental asylum Talking Heads. Love Shack would have bumped this to a 4
George Harrison
4/5
You can see why George wanted out of the Beatles by this point. Such a large amount of material to work with. That said there is filler despite how consistent the album is. The first 5/6 songs are perfect and then there’s some amazing songs scattered throughout some good work. Maybe it will reach a 5 one day but I still done fully get it. That said it’s iconic and definitely up there with the best post-Beatles work
The Stooges
3/5
The first two songs are sensational - I wanna be your dog is one of the most ahead of its time songs we’ve had so far. Rest didn’t do it as much as Raw Power
The Zombies
4/5
Really grew on me, thought it was 2 bound after the first two songs and when I stopped comparing it to the Beatles. Might be generous but really enjoyed by the end
The Stooges
4/5
Raw power indeed
Sex Pistols
2/5
I just can’t really listen to this, does very little for me. +1 for being iconic
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
Mixed bag but generally very enjoyable. Really close to being too noisy but finds a sweet spot
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Rumours? Nah it’s all true
Bob Dylan
4/5
But samey even for Dylan, and not top top tier but so many classics
Animal Collective
2/5
Wanted to like, just felt boring. Like Tame Impala with none of the hooks
Nirvana
5/5
Always think this albums overrated but it’s not. Probably the best first three song we’ve had
The Jam
4/5
Do like this one - some of their biggest hits on here and not really a dud. In the crowd always surprises me
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
Id listen again truth be told, but there’s definitely better in the genre
Joy Division
5/5
Masterpiece start to finish
The Beta Band
3/5
Quite enjoyed most of this, I’d definitely listen again. But probably not enough to give it a 4
Slint
4/5
I love a bit of post rock, and have listened to this a few times in the last 6 months. It’s overrated to me, Talk Talk did it better, but it’s still a vibe
John Lennon
3/5
Post John Lennon just doesn’t interest me much, most of it could have ended up on Let It Be. That said enough to keep you interested
Nirvana
5/5
So well known and well thought of. Love the 3 songs with the meat puppets, incredibly odd collab. Sometimes the story behind something and the aftermath just add to the legacy so it’s a 5