450
Albums Rated
3.87
Average Rating
41%
Complete
639 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Enthusiast
Rater Style ?
170
5-Star Albums
14
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sincere
Mj Cole
|
5 | 2.38 | +2.62 |
|
Public Image: First Issue
Public Image Ltd.
|
5 | 2.42 | +2.58 |
|
Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water
Limp Bizkit
|
5 | 2.47 | +2.53 |
|
Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room
Dwight Yoakam
|
5 | 2.6 | +2.4 |
|
Rising Above Bedlam
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
|
5 | 2.61 | +2.39 |
|
...Baby One More Time
Britney Spears
|
5 | 2.67 | +2.33 |
|
Music
Madonna
|
5 | 2.68 | +2.32 |
|
Heaux Tales
Jazmine Sullivan
|
5 | 2.68 | +2.32 |
|
Raw Like Sushi
Neneh Cherry
|
5 | 2.7 | +2.3 |
|
Group Sex
Circle Jerks
|
5 | 2.74 | +2.26 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
|
1 | 3.35 | -2.35 |
|
Liquid Swords
GZA
|
1 | 3.28 | -2.28 |
|
The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
|
1 | 3.11 | -2.11 |
|
E.V.O.L.
Sonic Youth
|
1 | 2.89 | -1.89 |
|
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise
|
1 | 2.87 | -1.87 |
|
Roots
Sepultura
|
1 | 2.78 | -1.78 |
|
Doolittle
Pixies
|
2 | 3.75 | -1.75 |
|
G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love & Special Sauce
|
1 | 2.74 | -1.74 |
|
Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
|
1 | 2.69 | -1.69 |
|
Casanova
The Divine Comedy
|
1 | 2.67 | -1.67 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Led Zeppelin | 4 | 5 |
| Bob Dylan | 3 | 5 |
| U2 | 3 | 5 |
| Johnny Cash | 3 | 5 |
| Rush | 2 | 5 |
| The xx | 2 | 5 |
| Prince | 2 | 5 |
| The Byrds | 2 | 5 |
| Metallica | 2 | 5 |
| Michael Jackson | 2 | 5 |
| Madonna | 2 | 5 |
| Funkadelic | 2 | 5 |
| Black Sabbath | 2 | 5 |
| Fairport Convention | 2 | 5 |
| AC/DC | 2 | 5 |
| Fatboy Slim | 2 | 5 |
| The White Stripes | 2 | 5 |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | 2 | 5 |
| The Rolling Stones | 2 | 5 |
| Curtis Mayfield | 2 | 5 |
| Coldplay | 2 | 5 |
| The Who | 3 | 4.33 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Pink Floyd | 5, 1 |
| Sonic Youth | 2, 4, 4, 1 |
| Björk | 5, 4, 2 |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 5, 2, 3 |
5-Star Albums (170)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Simply Red
5/5
Love it... And don't know what all the hate is about. My criteria for rating albums in this project is very simple... 1) Did I enjoy listening to it? If no, one star, if yes, two stars. Would I mind if I had to listen to it again? If no, another star. Would I actively seek to listen to it again? If yes, another star. Do I want it in my library/collection? If yes, another star.
This album got them all, so, five stars. Thank you!
16 likes
5/5
Bloody brilliant... Surprised me totally. Five stars and it's going in my Tidal library.
6 likes
The Icarus Line
4/5
OK, there is a lot of noise on this album, but flashes of brilliance too. If it was consistently brilliant I would have given it five stars, but although I was in no hurry for the music to come to an end, there were some tracks that just weren't melodic enough for my liking - so four stars it is.
2 likes
Lauryn Hill
5/5
I think this is the first album in the 70-odd that I've been presented with on this project that I feel everyone should listen to at least once in their lives. It is very clear that Ms Hill poured her heart and soul into every recording on the album, and the result is quite beautiful. I would give this album 10 stars if I could and it's definitely going into my Tidal library.
2 likes
1-Star Albums (14)
All Ratings
Radiohead
3/5
Not bad. A little maudlin and melancholy. Definitely not everyday listening for me.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Just awesome. Added to my Tidal Collections, so it must be good!
MGMT
2/5
Apart from the hit tracks, I found this album notable only for being jarring and messy. Silence was definitely golden at the end of the 40 minutes or so that i spent listening to it.
Blondie
3/5
I liked the second half better than the first half. Highlights? Sunday Girl and Heart of Glass, naturally. Still, all in all, just an OK album for me. I think I could have died happy without having heard it, to be honest.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
There is something about Neil Young's singing voice that leaves me a little unenthused, but if I set that prejudice aside, I think this is a hell of a good album. The lyrics, especially on Thrashers, intrigued me sufficiently to do some online research to understand what they represent, and I enjoyed all the tracks enough to give the album a second play, just to make sure I actually did like it. It might not make it into my Tidal collection, so I will rate it a four star album, but I certainly wouldn't mind listening to it again sometime.
Rush
5/5
It took several attempts to listen to this album, as I kept trying when I was tired and the sound of the water on the Overture lulled me to sleep. Having finally heard it all the way through though, I'm very impressed. It's going in my tidal collection. Five stars from me.
The Police
4/5
Just great music from Sting and the boys. It's going into my collection. Five stars.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
On the first listen, I figured three stars would be generous for this album. But just to be sure, I spent the weekend with it in my headphones, and surprise to say, it did grow on me, so despite not being a big Fleetwood Mac fan, I'm going to give it four.
New Order
3/5
Bland and forgettable, that's the best I can say about this album. Three stars is generous, but I'll give them up because there was nothing that offended my sense of musical taste.
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
I liked this much better than I thought I would. It won't go in my Tidal collection, as I'm no big fan of rap music, and I probably won't ever listen to it again, but my journey through the tracks was pleasant enough to warrant three stars, rather than the one or two I expected to give up before I listened to it.
Rahul Dev Burman
2/5
Meh! I like some Indian music. But this? Nah!
The Incredible String Band
1/5
The moment I dreaded in this project has finally come - the point when I receive an album that I really don't like, but dogged as I am, will hear it through to the bitter end. This was a painful listen.
I appreciate that the \"artists\" were probably off their faces on Acid, but surely there must have come a point when their sensibilities returned and they realised what a godawful cacophony they had created, although, apparently not.
My first one-star album. There you go!
The Smiths
4/5
I'm shocked, because I really wanted to hate this album, and groaned inwardly when presented with it, since I have ever considered music by the Smiths to be whiny, maudlin junk. But I didn't hate it. In fact, I gave it a second listen, and now I'm even more shocked because I'm going to give it four stars.
Ray Charles
4/5
Pure genius for sure. An easy four stars. Why not five? Only because this is not a music genre I typically engage with, I am unlikely to listen to it again, and I won't be adding it to my Tidal collection. But nobody can deny the magic of Mr. Charles' voice and genius on the ivories.
The Flaming Lips
4/5
Nice, mellow, inoffensive sounds with a cool electronic vibe. Definitely an easy listen, and I might give it another go later. This will be a four-star album for me.
The Gun Club
2/5
I didn't feel much fire. What rhymes with fire? Dire! Yes, that's what I thought of this album. It takes elements of some of my favourite music genres and turns them into a pile of shite.
Inclusion of the slide guitar is just enough to persuade me to give this two stars instead of just one. Just terrible!
Leonard Cohen
4/5
WARNING! Do not listen to this if you are contemplating suicide. My god! But this is a maudlin album, but my god! did I enjoy listening to it. Perhaps that says something about my current state of mind. I may reach out for it again one day, but I won't add it to my Tidal library. Another album that I expected to hate, but that will get four stars from me, at least today.
Silver Jews
2/5
The tracks Tennessee and Friday Night Fever just about elevate this to a two-star album for me. The singing in general is dreadful, and I feel that this album would best be on a list called 1001 albums to listen to that will make you want to die.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
It's not in me to give this album any less than the five stars it deserves. Adding it to my Tidal library.
Suicide
3/5
Oh God!! What to do with this package of weirdness. I didn't like it, but I didn't hate it either. Sure, I'll never listen to it again, at least not intentionally, and some of the "music" was laughingly bad, especially the screaming bits. You know what I'm gonna do? Give it three stars, that's what!
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Of course it's five stars. It's Led Zep!!
Hole
3/5
Almost squeezed a fourth star out of me, because I liked the second half of the album more than the first. But... nah! It's three stars from me. Not bad.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
Unmemorable, bland, and only the last two or three tracks save it from being a two-star album for me, so I'll grudgingly give it a three.
Wilco
2/5
Oh Dear! On the first track it sounds like someone's trying to sabotage the track by randomly banging on a tin cup, and the rest of the album is not much better. Dreary, dull, and weird, but not in a good way. I didn't like it much, but I suppose I can manage two stars.
Dion
3/5
It was just alright for me, The co-packaged Streetheart was the better album, I think.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
Gave it two listens and it's still just alright for me. Nice music, but just not my cup of tea I guess. Will give it three stars as there's nothing really wrong with it. I'm just not fussed.
Minutemen
2/5
This album was an exercise in endurance for me. I think I would have enjoyed it a bit more if I heard most of the songs with the vocals removed. Indeed, it is only some decent musicianship that keeps me from giving a single star. Instead, it just about deserves two, in my view.
Talking Heads
4/5
Yeah!! I liked this. It gets four stars.
George Michael
4/5
Liked it a lot. Four stars.
The xx
5/5
Played this with the expectation of trashing it in review and moving on (like many others have), and ended up playing it over and over. Beautiful, ethereal, mesmerising, it's probably been the most surprising album of this project so far for me. It's getting five stars and going in my tidal library.
The Verve
4/5
I enjoyed listening to this album. I'll give it four stars.
Incubus
5/5
Excellent album. It's going into my Tidal library and getting five stars.
The Blue Nile
3/5
Rather discordant in the main, I did enjoy a few moments of this album, so for that I'll give it three stars. But really I see it as a 2.5.
Le Tigre
5/5
I so wanted to hate this, but I love it. It's getting five stars and going into my Tidal library.
Run-D.M.C.
5/5
If you'd told me at the time of this album's release, that one day I would add a rap album to my music collection, I'd have called you sick in the head... But the day has come. This one's going in, and getting five stars. I loved listening to it.
Gil Scott-Heron
5/5
Just beautiful. Another album from a genre that I've paid little attention to. That may change now, and this album, for sure, is going into my collection. Five stars from me.
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
Hmmm!...nice voice and everything, but this type of music just bores me and leaves me cold. Not my cup of tea and I was glad when the album came to a close. I'll give it three stars because she's a top-notch singer, but that's all.
The Black Keys
3/5
The second half of this album was better than the first half. Still, three stars is the most I'm prepared to offer.
The Cramps
4/5
This was a fun album to listen to. Noisy, brash, and with crazy lyrics. I won't be adding it to my collection but I liked it a lot. Four stars.
Gang Of Four
3/5
Good musicianship. Not sure I liked the political commentary, and it just didn't do much for me. Three stars.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Not the kind of melancholia that resonates with me. It's OK to listen to once, but I don't think I'd want two listen any more.
Queen
4/5
I like Queen, but to my mind, this album has a mix of strong and weak tunes. I think I will add it to my Tidal library, but it's not quite a five-star winner for me.
Simply Red
5/5
Love it... And don't know what all the hate is about. My criteria for rating albums in this project is very simple... 1) Did I enjoy listening to it? If no, one star, if yes, two stars. Would I mind if I had to listen to it again? If no, another star. Would I actively seek to listen to it again? If yes, another star. Do I want it in my library/collection? If yes, another star.
This album got them all, so, five stars. Thank you!
Sepultura
1/5
Nope!...Just nope!!
Radiohead
3/5
It's a high three-star album, because I liked it more than Amnesiac, which is a low-three star, but it's a three-star nonetheless. I'd listen to it again, but wouldn't actually seek to do so.
The Zutons
4/5
Definitely a Forrest Gump box of chocolates of an album. If I was more enamoured of McCabe's vocals I might have given this five stars. There was some hard candy, some soft centres, and some of those ones that everyone leaves in the box until last. Worth a four, I think.
Mike Ladd
1/5
I'm sure one of the tracks featured fart noises, which is very appropriate as the entire album is shit. One star!
Beyoncé
4/5
I like Beyonce as a vocalist, so going in, I thought it would be an easy decision to rate this as a five-star album, but in the event I could not. Some of the tracks are very good, but others didn't move me much at all. I think I like the album enough to add it to my Tidal library and give it some more air time, but a four-star rating is the best I can do, I feel.
Bob Dylan
5/5
This project is certainly full of surprises for me. I have always had an aversion to Bob Dylan due to the association of his music with a dark period in my younger days. But in keeping with the spirit of this project, I broke my vow never to listen to his music when this album showed up as my daily offering.
And, surprise, surprise, I really enjoyed it. It could even be said to have been a cathartic experience. In fact, I liked this album so much, I'm going to give it five stars and add it to my Tidal library.
Happy Mondays
4/5
I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. Four stars from me.
The B-52's
2/5
One play was enough. This album did nothing for me. Two stars is the best I can afford.
The Beach Boys
3/5
To me, this album seems kind of soulless and just, meh! I'll give it three stars in recognition of the fact that the beachboys were a big deal back in the day, but I won't seek this album out again.
Pentangle
4/5
Not really my cup of tea, but there's no denying the talent at work on this album, so I'm going to give it four stars.
DJ Shadow
5/5
Another one that I expected to write off, but which will now get five stars from me. I liked it a lot.
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
During my initial playthrough of this album, I was frequently interrupted, so had to listen to it a bit at a time over the course of several hours. Initially I didn't like it very much, but about three tracks in, I started to enjoy it. I even saw it as a potential five-star pick.
Later in the evening, I was able to give it a full, uninterrupted playthrough, after which I realised that I didn't like it so much after all. In the end, I feel that three stars is appropriate.
Perhaps the experience highlights how one's mood and situation affects the appreciation of music, just as much as how music can change one's mood. Interesting!
Prince
5/5
Good tunes and some good laughs along the way. I enjoyed this album immensely. I'm giving it five stars and adding it to my Tidal library.
Giant Sand
3/5
The interminable droning of the vocalist handicaps the talented musicianship on this album, ensuring that three stars is the most it will get from me.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Very good. Nice voice, great music, just not my favored genre. But I'll give it four stars.
Television
4/5
Great guitar work, which to my mind, warrants four stars on that basis alone. Not so fussed on the vocal work though.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
I guess Leonard Cohen is going to appear in my stats as one of those controversial artists, since I enjoyed You Want it Darker so much, and disliked this album immensely.
After listening to the aforementioned (Darker), I was really looking forward to listening to more of Cohen's work, but I was to be disappointed, I was glad when this one came to an end.
The Beach Boys
4/5
I like this more than Pet Sounds, which I gave three stars. So I'll give this one four.
Guided By Voices
2/5
Don't like the crappy production and don't like many of the songs either. Two stars from me.
U2
5/5
As excellent as I expected it to be. Five stars and it's going in my Tidal library.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
4/5
I like latino pop music, but salsa not so much. Nevertheless, there is no denying the talent employed by this outfit, so I'll give it four stars.
5/5
Bloody brilliant... Surprised me totally. Five stars and it's going in my Tidal library.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
I'll add it to my tidal library and give it a few more listens at some point, but for now it's getting four stars.
David Gray
5/5
I like this album. I think David Gray has a very soulful voice. five stars and it's going into my Tidal library.
The Byrds
5/5
Jingly jangly excellence. I love it. Five stars and an addition to my Tidal library.
Cocteau Twins
2/5
I don't find the music on this album particularly ethereal, as some have described it. And I really don't get the nonsensical lyrics thing. If this is treasure, I think it would be better to stay buried. Two stars is all I'm prepared to bestow on this one.
David Bowie
4/5
I'm not really a fan of Bowie's voice, but the music on this album is great, and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Four stars from me, then.
Hugh Masekela
5/5
Since embarking upon this project, I've come across too many albums that once played, I couldn't wait for them to end. This is the first album I have listened to that I DIDN'T WANT to end.
Just blissful to listen to, and I always thought I hated jazz. May have to reevaluate that assumption. This one is going in my tidal library and getting five stars!
Bob Dylan
5/5
Seems I've become a Dylan fan. This one's getting five stars, proving that my enjoyment of Highway 61 Revisited was not a fluke.
Pixies
4/5
Better than I thought it would be. Not my bag, but I have to admit some of the tracks are very good. I'll give it four stars.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
Not so sensational, just kind of meh! Forgettable glam rock with a touch of weirdness that couldn't move me in any way. I'll reluctantly give it three stars, simply because I could listen to it again, although I wouldn't seek to do so.
Lauryn Hill
5/5
I think this is the first album in the 70-odd that I've been presented with on this project that I feel everyone should listen to at least once in their lives. It is very clear that Ms Hill poured her heart and soul into every recording on the album, and the result is quite beautiful. I would give this album 10 stars if I could and it's definitely going into my Tidal library.
Depeche Mode
3/5
It's an OK album. A bit too clean and clinical for my liking. I'm glad I gave it a listen, but I won't care if I don't hear it again, so three stars is the best I can do.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
Some excellent guitar moments ensure that I could not give this album less than three starts. But unfortunately, Janis Joplin's voice is a taste I have not acquired, and ensures that any more than three stars is an impossibility.
Mj Cole
5/5
I like this. Great music to play when you're doing stuff and don't want to invest too much attention to your tunes. Very easy listening. Five stars and an addition to my Tidal library.
Spiritualized
2/5
The Killers
5/5
The Killers - killing it. Love this album! Five stars and an addition to my Tidal library.
The Velvet Underground
2/5
What to say about this album? It's importance is not lost on me, and there's no mistaking it's influence on later music across several genres. But that doesn't make it any more enjoyable to listen to from my perspective. I don't like Nico's voice, so the only tracks that I enjoyed at all were the ones with Reed on vocals. At least a couple of the tracks are potential belters, but my enthusiasm for them soon waned when the screeching feedback kicked in. For me, this album is not quite a three star effort, so two is all it gets.
Metallica
5/5
I was expecting more from this album than I got during the experience of listening to it. Sure, It's Metallica, one of my favourite bands, and it's awesome, but somehow not as awesome as I anticipated. Nevertheless, I'll give it five stars and add it to my Tidal library, but I think I prefer my Metallica fix without the orchestral accoutrement.
Hawkwind
4/5
I'm not familiar with Hawkwind's music, and while I'm not sure I'd particularly want to listen to this album again, and I certainly won't add it to my Tidal library, it is good enough to make me want to explore more of this band's material. I like the music, but the album just seems a bit corny these days, what with the over-dramatic spoken-word interludes and seventies "space noises".
The Smiths
3/5
I preferred listening to The Queen is Dead, and that one got four stars, so I have to give this one three.
Roxy Music
2/5
I was quite happy when this one came to an end. Just couldn't get into it. Mostly came across as discordant, jarring noise with barely discernable lyrics. One extra star for the totty on the cover, bringing it to two stars.
Beastie Boys
4/5
This album is a lot of fun to listen to, and some of the tracks definitely had me rocking out. I'm not going to add it to my Tidal library, but I would happily listen to it again... Therefore, four stars.
Fela Kuti
3/5
I found nothing to dislike about this album, and I thought the vocals were the best parts. It's just not my kind of music.
Motörhead
5/5
So amazingly flawed, rough, ready, and honest. Rock and roll at its best. RIP Lemmy. Long live Motorhead.
Slayer
4/5
After enduring a Sepultura album a few weeks ago, I was not looking forward to listening to even a half-hour of Slayer. However, I was surprised, in a good way, as I quite enjoyed this offering from a metal genre that I usually avoid like the plague. I won't be adding it to my Tidal library any time soon, but I wouldn't mind listening to it again sometime.
Thundercat
2/5
I found this album sooo boring to listen to. So much so that it actually di di di di did my head in.
T. Rex
4/5
I thought the first couple of tracks on this album were awful, but it improved after that. I don't feel compelled to add it to my Tidal library, but I enjoyed it enough to listen again in the future. Four stars.
Isaac Hayes
5/5
Isaac Hayes just got a new fan. Five stars and it's going in my Tidal library.
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
This album doesn't really get off the ground for me until track 6 and onwards, after which I found it really quite good. I won't add it to my collection, but I will give it four stars and wouldn't mind listening to it again.
Michael Jackson
5/5
I'm rating the music, not the man, and for me, this is a five-star album.
Jacques Brel
4/5
In my view, there are some genres of non-English vocal music that can be enjoyed to the full without any comprehension of the lyrics. This album does not fall into that spectrum. I really enjoyed listening to it, but can't help feeling that to appreciate it fully, it's necessary to understand the lyrics. Unfortunately, my French is not up to the job, and, while it seems a little unfair, for that reason I will go four stars rather than five. In reality, though, it's my loss, and I know I would love this album even more if I knew enough French to understand the lyrics.
Various Artists
3/5
It's alright. I'm not a big fan of themed Xmas albums, but there's nothing wrong with this, and it's good to play it on Xmas day, as I did.
Madonna
5/5
The whole album is pretty awesome apart from the last track (Act of Contrition), which I didn't like. Nevertheless, it's getting five stars and going into my Tidal library.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
Another album that I enjoyed much more than I thought I would - Not quite enough for it to be an addition to my library, but enough for four stars, I think.
Van Morrison
5/5
Wow!...just...Wow! Nearly 100 albums in and this project has just handed me the best new discovery yet. Having instilled in me an appreciation of Bob Dylan, an artist whom I once despised, and who I can now listen to and enjoy, it has now revealed to me what kind of an album Dylan could deliver if he could actually sing.
Van Morrison's voice is soulful, distinctive, and a delight to listen to. I don't typically enjoy songs with overly abstract or cryptic lyrics, but I was enthralled by every track on this album, to the point where I kept stopping what I was doing just to take the music in.
I've not had a great experience with the 60's albums received over the weeks I've been participating in this project, but this one breaks the mold. If I didn't know better, and was told that this was first released in 2024, I think I would believe it without question. It's timeless, and simply awesome - definitely an addition to my Tidal library, and definitely getting five stars from me.
Air
5/5
Another new addition to my Tidal library. While I don't love all of the tracks on this album, most of them are great, and it's definitely a five-star offering, in my book.
Santana
5/5
Awesome album. 'Nuff said.
Louis Prima
4/5
Oh! What fun album... I really enjoyed it, and I think it has aged extremely well. As others have noted, it sounds like everyone involved was truly enjoying the party. It's not going in my Tidal library, but I feel that it's a strong four-star album.
Air
3/5
Despite my enjoyment of the Moon Safari album, which I recently listened to, I couldn't get very excited about this offering. Sure, it's OK as movie scores go, but not something I'd want to listen to on a frequent basis.
Solomon Burke
3/5
Even as I type, I'm listening to this album for a second time, because it is puzzling me. I like soul music, or at least, I thought I did, but this album is showing me something, and I'm not sure if it's A) That I just don't really like the timbre of this guy's voice, B) That there are various forms of soul music, and this particular style is not my cup of tea, or C) That I don't actually like soul music after all.
I still can't fathom which of the above applies, so perhaps I will learn more about my soul preferences as I get more albums in that vein during this project. The album is nice and everything, but I just can't get into it. I certainly won't be seeking it out again, but it's my problem to live with. I'll give it three stars anyway.
OutKast
2/5
With the exception of Ms Jackson and B.O.B., I found this album boring and laborious to listen to. It's weird because years ago I bought the speakerboxxx album, but haven't listened to it in an age. I wonder if it's just a much better album, or whether my taste has changed so much that I would find that album as full as this one today. I believe it may show up on this project, so I'll wait and then listen to find out.
Beatles
4/5
I'm not a Beatles fan, but there's no denying that this is a good album, in my view at least. Very clean, too vanilla, but good, tight musicianship. To give it less than four stars would be an insult to the talent of the Fab Four, even though I can never love their music.
Funkadelic
5/5
A funk album, full of funk music all about funk (and a few other things)...Funking awesome. A great new discovery and it's going in my funking Tidal collection.
Jack White
4/5
Another album that I would gladly award five stars if I liked the sound of the singer's voice. As it is, it only gets four.
Femi Kuti
5/5
Based on the albums I've listened to so far, I like this guy's music more than his father's.... WAY more!
I loved every second of this album, and was enjoying a wild private party in my headphones while listening to it. Great sax playing and the playful tunes perfectly offset the seriousness of some of the political messages in the songs. I'm adding this to my Tidal library and giving it five stars.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
Nice album, but I don't plan on adding it to my Tidal library. Hence, four stars.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
2/5
Okay, so, before they were let loose in a recording studio, I think that someone should have told these guys that an assortment of random sounds made with musical instruments does not necessarily constitute "music".
Furthermore, when such random cacophonies interrupt those few moments where the musicians artistry actually shines through, it makes for an album that's notable only for its weirdness.
Needless to say, if I feel like going out for a few drinks and to listen to some cool music, the Penguin Cafe is a venue that I'll surely avoid, especially if I have to strip and wear a penguin's head to gain entry.
Beck
2/5
In my view, there is such a thing as "too eclectic" in an album. In my view, this album is a prime example of that. Two stars because apart from a couple of tracks, I didn't really like it.. and all the random noises didn't help.
Deee-Lite
3/5
So it was OK. But I like my dance music a bit more modern. Three stars is the best I can do.
The Beta Band
5/5
What a shame this band didn't enjoy greater longevity. Another new discovery to add to my Tidal library courtesy of this project. What I really like about this album is the neat fusion of traditional and electronic instrumentation. It's getting five stars from me.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
A good, solid, soulful album, but I didn't like it as much as the Shaft Soundtrack. I won't be adding this one to my Tidal library, but I will give it four stars.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
4/5
I'd never heard of this band before, and being typical 60's fare as they are, I wasn't expecting too much. However, the album is better than I expected. I wouldn't want to put it in my library, but I might give it a listen again sometime. Hence it gets four stars.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Plenty of musical talent on display. Not my cup of tea, but worth four stars nonetheless.
Small Faces
4/5
There are some great tracks on this album, several of which, in my view, place it ahead of its time. Unfortunately the Leywin Unstan nonfasticle storyloring ruined it for me, otherwise it may well have been a five-stardangly additional in my libricle Tidalyprick.
Guns N' Roses
5/5
I don't need listening notes for this, since it has been a favourite album of mine since it was first released.
PJ Harvey
3/5
I like the grungy music on this album, although the screechy violins seem rather unnecessary. At the end of the day, though, the artist's vocal style doesn't really resonate for me, so three stars is the best I can do for this one.
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
Very pleasant music, especially for background. It actually compelled me to sit back on the terrace and enjoy some late afternoon winter sunshine. I like the more bluesy numbers the most thought. It's definitely a four-star effort from two talented guitarists.
Muddy Waters
4/5
solid blues from a true master. Four stars.
The Verve
5/5
I typically find that drug-fueled albums highlight why I believe artists should abstain during writing and recording... Regardless of the hype and fan-mania that many works borne from narcotics abuse seem to attract, I usually find one listen enough to convince me that I'd need to partake of some illicit substances myself to enjoy them. A Northern Soul, then, surprised me immensely and has earned its place as a new personal favourite.
I gave four stars to Urban Hymns, and as that album seems generally considered to be The Verve's magnum opus, I was expecting to deliver a lower rating for A Northern Soul, but how wrong I was.
It's definitely one album that I am glad I took time to listen to. I love the energy of it along with the musicianship in general.
The only track I didn't really like was "Drive You Home"... It's a bit whiney, goes on too long, and just seems to be at odds with the rest of the album. Still, it doesn't detract enough to lower my appreciation of the album as a whole. I will certainly be adding this one to my Tidal library, and giving it five stars.
While The Verve are famous for their proclamation that "The Drugs Don't Work", I think that in the creation of A Northern Soul, the drugs worked very well indeed. In fact, the album probably makes a very good job of promoting the mind-altering benefits of Ecstasy. If I was a few years younger, it might even have inspired me to give it a try.
The Cult
4/5
I'm a hard rock fan, but I can't help feeling that there is something missing from this album. It seems too... sterile? Unusually for an album in this genre, I feel no compulsion to add Electric to my music collection, and no desire to listen to it again, at least, not on a frequent basis. It's good enough for four stars though.
Talking Heads
3/5
I preferred their first album. This one doesn't hold as much appeal for me, although it's not bad. I gave their first album four stars, so this one gets three.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Like the other Springsteen album I rated, I'll give this four stars and add it to my library for some more scrutiny at a later stage.
The 13th Floor Elevators
4/5
I enjoyed this album and found it much better than most of the 60s fare that this project has delivered to me. I must admit though, the electric jug does seem rather unnecessary, and all of the tracks, I think, would have sounded just as good without it.
The Cure
4/5
I spent extra time with this one, giving it several listens to see how much I really liked it. Well, I really liked it, but decided that it won't be an addition to my Tidal library. However, if it was possible to give fractions of stars, this would be a 4.95 star album for me. Shame I can only give it four.
Radiohead
4/5
I seem to be dishing out four stars to a lot of albums lately in this project. I don't know why. Perhaps it is because I'm learning to appreciate a wider range of music? Or perhaps I just can't be bothered to ruminate fully about how I feel about a given album.
Anyway, I'm going to give four stars to this album, because I like it more than Amnesia or OK Computer, and I gave three stars to both of those. Therefore, this has to be a four.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
1/5
Just when I was beginning to think myself incapable of giving any album less than four stars, this album came along to rid me of my worries. It's just dire... An example of an album that you only want to hear once before you die. I certainly won't be revisiting it any time soon - in fact, not ever!
I don't have many albums on my "worst albums" list, but now there is one more to add. I'll give it one star only because zero is not an option.
Public Enemy
3/5
I'm not a big hip hop or rap fan, but this album is Okay. I'll give it three stars.
Sonic Youth
2/5
This album was a chore to listen to, to be honest. Not good at all.
The Cars
3/5
Nothing wrong with this album, but I found most of the tracks to be a bit bland and boring. I like their hit, Drive, but the sound of that track is world's apart from the fare on this, The Car's debut album.
Sade
5/5
Smooth and sultry, like cool drinks on a tropical evening. I love this album, but then, I always was a Sade fan. Five stars and it gets a place in my Tidal Library.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
I quite like this. It almost, but not quite, earned fifth star and a place in my Tidal library, but one or two of the tracks let the overall effort down. So four stars it is.
Arcade Fire
2/5
The auditory equivalent of watching paint dry. This is possibly the most boring album I've ever listened to. A lone star wouldn't be fair, because I don't think there is anything bad about the music. It's just incredibly dull, so two stars all I'm willing to give.
Nightmares On Wax
3/5
How disappointing! I was hoping to like this album a lot more than I did, because it is of a genre that I enjoy. But I found it merely average.
Syd Barrett
3/5
To be honest, I didn't mind this album. Sure, the lyrics are pretty weird, but I like Barrett's voice and the musicianship was good. Not bad for a guy who was apparently mentally incapacitated.
Soft Machine
2/5
Track 4 just about saved this album from falling into my one-star bin. I'm proud of my tenacity for listening through the whole gamut of weird noises interspersed with a few melodic interludes.
Black Sabbath
5/5
This is not just an album! It is an event captured for eternity, like an insect trapped in amber. It's the preserved moment when blues rock mutated into something so immaculately grotesque that the world couldn't fail to sit up and notice. It's the moment when metal was born....and I love it!
it
Beatles
4/5
Very good, even though the Beatles are not my bag.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
5/5
This album is a lot of fun, so I'm giving it five stars and adding it to my Tidal library.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
This album is already long-time favourite of mine, so of course it's getting five stars.
The Band
5/5
An absolute classic, and very soulful. Five stars and an addition to my Tidal library.
The Who
3/5
I don't think this is The Who's best work... Far from it. None of the tracks on this album did anything for me really. I'll give it three stars for effort though.
Fairport Convention
5/5
Top marks for an album that could have been made just yesterday, while keeping traditional British music alive. And it's going in my Tidal library.
Bob Dylan
5/5
As much as I don't want to love this album, I do.
The Damned
3/5
Some cracking guitar work on some of the tracks scrapes this album into the three-star category for me, but in general, it's not my cup of tea.
AC/DC
5/5
No notes necessary. I've been diggin' this for decades.
Sigur Rós
4/5
Apart from the rather discordant endings to some of the tracks, I liked this album a lot. Not one for my collection, but I will give it four stars.
Primal Scream
5/5
On the first play, I knew this was going to be a favorite of mine, but wasn't sure if it was a keeper. Second time around, despite there being a couple of tracks I'm not that keen on, I was sold. So it's getting five stars and going in my Tidal library.
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
For the first few tracks, I was thinking this would be a three-star album at best, but it started getting good after track six, so I think it's worth a fourth one.
The National
4/5
This album would be lousy without the last four tracks, all of which are pretty awesome, and enough to make it worth four stars to me. If those tracks were not there, I think I would be hard pressed to give it even three stars.
U2
5/5
Great album as far as I'm concerned. Definitely one for my collection, so I'm giving it five stars.
Queen
4/5
Just like Sheer Heart Attack, I can't quite bring myself to give this album five stars. I think it's because of the vaudeville-style tracks scattered among the rock bangers. Four stars is all, but I am going to add it to my Tidal library.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
5/5
Funky, rocky, fucked-up fun. What's not to love? Five stars and it's going in my Tidal library
Keith Jarrett
4/5
Of course, the story behind this album is incredible, as is the talent of the artist. Who could believe that this is a musical stream of consciousness and not a carefully composed suite, sweated over for weeks on end?
I think the greatest moment for me was when the audience began the rhythmic clapping, in appreciation of music by a true master.
The only reason I will not give this album five stars is because I would not actively seek to listen to it again, just because I'm more of a strings than piano person, and, anyway, I don't think the artist intended for the music to be heard more than once. All in all, it is awesome, and I did spend much of the listening time in a reverie, alternating between sheer appreciation of what Jarrett was doing, and a musing on the circumstances under which he produced such a masterpiece.
5/5
Of the three U2 albums presented to me so far by this project, this one is my favourite.
Nanci Griffith
5/5
A beautiful collection of poignant, hopeful, uplifting, and emotion-invoking songs. I embraced country music many years ago under the influence of my parents and their friends, but later let it go to explore and appreciate other genres. This album may just have been the catalyst for a reconciliation. I will certainly add it to my Tidal library, and give it the full five stars.
Britney Spears
5/5
Absolutely nothing wrong with this album, unless I wanted to explore any insecurities I might have about being known to like music performed by a teen who had everything handed to her on a plate, and had only to apply her honeyed voice to the lyrics.
Happily, I either possess no such insecurities, or do not wish to explore them, so I'm giving this five stars and adding it to my Tidal library.
Fiona Apple
3/5
It's a nice enough album. The artist has a nice enough voice. But there are not many songs on here that I would ever seek out to listen to again. The album also tends to wander too much across different styles, which might be a plus for some, but is not so for me.
Funkadelic
5/5
I really don't like the cover artwork, but since that has nothing to do with the auditory experience, which was awesome, I can overlook it and happily add this album to my Tidal library. It's great fun and it rocks!
Cream
3/5
I dunno! Yeah, the first two tracks are brilliant classics, and there are one or two others that I liked, basically the bluesy ones. The rest left me cold, so I'll give this effort three stars.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
The project has done it to me again! I hate jazz, so why am I giving this album five stars and adding it to my Tidal library?
Perhaps it was the setting in which I listened to it, on the patio with a drink on the first balmy afternoon of a Mediterranean spring. Or maybe it was just that it caught me in the right mood at the right time.
In any case, I'm not saying that this album has inured me to the pleasure of jazz, but I can certainly see myself hitting play on Time Out again and again in the future.
The Divine Comedy
1/5
If this album is supposed to appeal through comedic value, it fails, because it is just so unfunny. If not, it still fails, because I just can't take it seriously. Indeed, it is a conundrum, but one that lacks any stimulus to unravel, so I won't even try. Possibly the most perfect example of a one-star album that I have come across so far.
Public Image Ltd.
5/5
Another surprise. Didn't think I would like this, but I do... a lot. I'm adding it to my Tidal library and giving it five stars, 'cos it's loads of fun to listen to.
1/5
Here's a reality check... A banana taped to a drywall is not art, and neither is the noise on this album. It sounds like a bunch of random people who had never played an instrument or sung in their lives were let loose in the studio to try and record an album.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
My favourite Led Zeppelin album.
Neneh Cherry
5/5
What's not to love. Of course it's dated, but I'm not participating in this project to discover only the latest sounds. That would be a waste of time, wouldn't it?
Fatboy Slim
5/5
Sure, it's not the most sophisticated, or the most imaginative example of EDM music, but it won't be out of place in my Tidal library.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
I enjoyed this album a lot more than The Velvet Underground & Nico. It's not quite a four-star offering, so I'll give it three.
Bad Company
5/5
No notes necessary, as this album has been in my collection for a long time and is an old favourite of mine. However, I will say that I believe the album is worth five stars for Paul Rodger's brilliant vocals alone, never mind all the other things I love about Bad Company.
5/5
This album, for me, is kind of like an inside-out shit sandwich. The first and last numbers are the shit, and the "bread" is on the inside. I think bread is a good description too, because all those middle tunes comprise no-frills, staple rock and roll fodder that satisfies completely, even if the taste is nothing special. At least, they satisfied me enough to forgive the shit on the outside and give this album five stars, and to add it to my Tidal library.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Stripped-down and solid country music typical of Willie Nelson. I haven't listened to him for years, so it was nice to revisit his artistry.
De La Soul
2/5
Aah! De La Soul! I didn't like their stuff back in the day, and I still don't like it now. This album bored the tits off me, with the exception of a couple of tracks. I'll give it a couple of stars, but that's all.
Prince
5/5
This one was interesting. The 1999 album grabbed me pretty much straight away, but it was not so with Purple Rain. After the first listen I figured maybe three stars, but I'm using the deluxe expanded edition, and carried on to listen to all 30-plus tracks.
I liked all the extra material a lot more than many of the songs on the main album, so I decided to give it another play, and still wasn't keen on several of the songs. However, after a third play they had all mostly grown on me, and I now feel that a full five-stars is justified. It just goes to show how many factors there are in one's appreciation of an album.
Ryan Adams
5/5
Another album that I had to spend some time over. Ultimately I determined that although there are a few tracks on it that I don't like too much, the overall experience is such that it deserves a place in my Tidal library, and an award of five gold stars.
Supergrass
4/5
A mix of high-energy fun and some more sedate and mellow numbers. I like this album a lot.
Fairport Convention
5/5
I loved Liege and Lief, and I Love this album too. Lot's of variety, beautiful vocals, and masterful musicianship.
Sonic Youth
4/5
This album misses admission to my Tidal library by a whisker, which is quite a compliment given that I detested Sonic Youth's earlier album Sister. This album is infinitely more listenable, and I can understand why critics have said it is the group's best work.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
This album isn't as terrible as I expected after reading some of the reviews here. In fact, I quite enjoyed listening to several of the tracks. While I wouldn't seek to listen to it again, I would not object to hearing it if someone twisted my arm.
Alice In Chains
5/5
A lovely bit of angst-ridden grunge. It's going in my Tidal library.
3/5
I'm beginning to think I have a problem with eclectic albums. I think I actually prefer an album to follow a consistent style from start to finish.
Why do I say that?
Because as much as I respect the Beatle's talent and the huge impact they had on the development of rock and pop music, I found the mix of different styles on this album disconcerting. Of all the Beatles albums presented by this project so far, I like this one the least, even if its release was an epic milestone in music's evolution.
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
I'll give this album two stars purely on the basis of some interesting and skillful guitar work on some of the tracks. If not for that it would be one star, especially given the descent into mindless screaming on track 9.
ZZ Top
5/5
Already in my collection. No notes necessary.
N.E.R.D
3/5
It's an OK album, but pretty forgettable.
Christina Aguilera
5/5
I've always found Christina Aguilera's voice spellbinding, and I've had the Stripped album for many years, but never owned any of her other albums. I knew a couple of the songs on this one, but that's all.
I don't know if it was a good thing, or a bad thing that the project presented me with this album yesterday, but I was going through something at the time, so maybe the impact of listening to it was amplified by that. Needless to say on some of the numbers (not the raunchier tracks obviously :) ) listening nearly brought me to tears, and certainly put a lump in my throat (the raunchier numbers stimulated a swelling elsewhere, but that's another story).
All jesting aside though, Back to Basics had quite a profound effect on my mental state, and triggered a range of good, and not so good, emotions. - ensuring that it would stay in my memory much longer than many of the albums I've listened to as part of this project.
Even if it wasn't so memorable, perhaps because of the circumstances, I know I will experience the sound of this double album for a long time to come, since I'm giving it five stars and adding it to my Tidal library.
Any negatives? Well, I will say that I would prefer that some of the tracks were not laden with effects meant to make them sound vintage, but with a voice as good as Christina's, I can forgive anything.
The White Stripes
5/5
Of course, this album kicks off with the classic Seven Nation Army, but for me, the next two or three tracks proved underwhelming, mainly because I didn't like the vocals so much.
But surprise, surprise, by the end of the album I was sold. Brilliant guitar work and some nice variety across the piece. It's another addition to my Tidal library and gets five shiny stars.
David Bowie
3/5
I've never been a fan of David Bowie's music, and while I enjoyed Station to Station when I heard it a few months back, this album mostly left me cold. There was a couple of tracks that I quite enjoyed, so I'll give it three stars rather than two.
Jefferson Airplane
5/5
Ahh! Grace Slick... What a voice. This album contains music that's ahead of its time.
ABBA
3/5
ABBA! I have sung to them, and danced to them, many times, but always when their music has "happened" to me, like when it was played in a bar or club or something.
But would I ever choose to cue up an ABBA album and play it? Only for this project, and this album has done nothing to change that sentiment. I always think of theirs as music for everyone, but with no special appeal for anyone. Of course I know that's a deeply flawed assumption, but it works for me.
I really enjoyed two tracks on this album... I Let the Music Speak, and The Day Before You Came (which is, in any case, a bonus track on the album version that I listened to). The rest just kind of washed over me in the way that ABBA's music typically does.
I'm giving it three stars in recognition of the talent that made this group a household name for many years, to give it less would be conceited, but equally, I cannot give it more than that.
After all, I have given most of the Beatles albums from this project four stars, and I don't like the Beatles very much, but I would still rather listen to a Beatles album than an ABBA one.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
No notes necessary, as this album has been in my collection a long time, and is one of my favourites.
Queen Latifah
2/5
This album just about scrapes into the two-star category for me. I find it repetitive and monotonous, with lyrics bordering on the annoying.
Otis Redding
5/5
As others have said, easily a five-star opus. Everything just works and Redding's voice is amazing.
Wu-Tang Clan
2/5
I fuckin'... fuckin' found this fuckin' album notable only fir bein a fuckin' swearfest on a fuckin' epic fuckin' scale. I'm gonna fuckin'... fuckin' fuck it wit fuckin' two fuckin' stars.
Steely Dan
3/5
There a couple of tracks on this album that I really like, but most of it is a bit too vanilla for me. I don't think I would seek the album out again, but certainly wouldn't mind if somebody twisted my arm to give it another listen.
Barry Adamson
3/5
I found some good moments on this album, but, with a few notable exceptions, I find movie soundtracks are best listened to as part of the movie-viewing experience. This is not one of the exceptions, so sans movie, it's just unremarkable background music.
The Who
5/5
I can but imagine the shock value this album must have delivered to the older generations back in the mid-sixties. It's the sound of a band struggling to break free of the shackles of convention... and succeeding!
Prior to this project, my familiarity with The Who was limited to their "greatest hits" all of which I liked. Then the project presented me with The Who Sell Out, which proved to be a bitter disappointment.
In complete contrast, this, their debut offering, has reconfirmed my affinity with at least some of The Who's music, and in a big way. As far as I'm concerned, on this album, they outbeatle the Beatles, outstone the Stones, and outbob the Dylan (A Legal Matter), while also lording it over other so-called rockers and shockers of the mid-sixties era.
Who knows what I'll find as other Who albums come my way, but, for now, I am a reaffirmed fan.
Neil Young
4/5
I like it... Not enough that I would buy it, but enough for four stars, since I'd happily play it through again at some time in the future.
Frank Black
2/5
I quite like the music, but not fussed on the vocals. Wouldn't particularly want to listen to it again.
Björk
5/5
Beautiful songs, and so what if they are weird and unconventional. I've never listened to anything from this artist apart from her hits. I think I will listen to a lot more now.
Meat Puppets
4/5
I would probably have given this album five stars if the band had a singer who could sing. There is a lot of musical talent on display, but the vocals really hold it back in my opinion. Definitely a four-star album though, in my book.
Van Morrison
4/5
This album didn't move me in the way that Astral Weeks did. Still rather good though, although it tails off a bit after the first couple of tracks.
The Crusaders
5/5
A great album to chill out with. Sure, it's not that exciting (although Street Life is something else), but sometimes a little staid and smooth music (or even muzak, if that's what it is). I love it, and it's getting five stars.
The Doors
4/5
This album is a bit better than I expected. I especially liked the more bluesy numbers, but in the main, Morrison's singing basically wrecks the experience on many of the tunes. I'll still give it four stars though, because I might fancy listening to it again sometime to see if it will grow on me.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Yep!
Pixies
2/5
One or two good tunes on this album, but otherwise I didn't like it much. I though Bossanova was a better effort.
5/5
Yeah! So the lyrics are inane and crude. The album title is an abomination, and the artwork makes me want to yak. But listening is such GOOOD FUN! And sometimes I just want my music to be fun - so this is getting five stars and a place in my Tidal library.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
I'm surprised that I didn't hate this album, because I remember that, back in the day, I did not like Lloyd Cole's music at all. I won't exactly say that listening to this was a pleasant surprise, but it didn't annoy me and I wouldn't mind if I had to listen to it again. That said, I can certainly live without it too. It's a three-star album for me... Harmless, but rather dull.
John Coltrane
4/5
Am I getting turned on to jazz? I don't know, but I enjoyed listening to this album so much that I played it twice, back-to-back... well, almost, because when TIdal kept on playing related tunes after the album ended the first time, I didn't even realise it had finished.
When I awoke from my jazz inspired revery, I did play the album through a second time, and enjoyed it as much as the first.
Now, was this because of the situation? I played it while pulling up weeds in my garden on the first truly balmy day of spring. Would I have enjoyed it as much if I'd laid back on the couch and focused on nothing else but the music? Again, I don't know... But I did like it.
It's not exactly everday listening for me, but given that I have always thought I hated jazz, A Love Supreme has definitely got me questioning that particular assertion.
The Soft Boys
4/5
I don't know about the Byrds or the Beatles, but I'm sure I detected influences of Dylan and Dire Straits on this album, which is a weird one to be sure.
It's clear that this band were very serious about their music, and some of the guitar work is excellent. The lyrics are crazy to the point of being amusing, and I could never describe this album as being forgettable, as many have done.
On a different day I might have smacked the album with a lower rating, but somehow it was just what I needed to hear last night, and all things considered, I think it's worth four stars just for its novelty.
Ute Lemper
3/5
It's almost four-stars from me. Based on some of the other listener's notes, I thought it might trigger me into a diatribe of vitriol. But that didn't happen, and I didn't find it over-theatrical. I quite like her voice and appreciate the power of some of the songs.
Since I really don't like The Divine Comedy, I'm surprised to find that I quite enjoyed the journey through this album. I certainly can't give it less than three stars.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Yeah! I like it well enought. Not enough to want it in my collection, but there's no denying the artist's talent for vocal excellence.
Madness
4/5
Good music on this album, but I would be happy enough just to listen to their greatest hits.
Rod Stewart
5/5
Rock-solid gold. I love it.
Sonic Youth
4/5
If I was able to appreciate the vocal structure of many of the tracks on this album a bit more, it would be a five-star winner for me. As it is, though, I've no hesitation in giving four stars - the riffing alone is worth that.
Michael Jackson
5/5
Bad was good, but this is better!
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
It's not often that I'm stingy with the stars for a rock album, but this one doesn't do much for me. So I'm only giving it three.
Cat Stevens
4/5
A lovely acoustic album that's easy to listen to, and of course Wild World is a stonker.
Tracy Chapman
3/5
Profound lyrics and beautiful melodies, but I just don't like listening to Tracy Chapman's voice. I will give three stars in recognition of her talent as a songwriter, though.
Parliament
3/5
I much prefer Funkadelic. This one's just alright for me.
Ray Price
5/5
I was carried away with the honky tonk angels, all the way to lonely street, where in the twenty-fourth hour, I decided this album is worth five fat stars.
Morrissey
3/5
As the first couple of tracks played in my ears, I started to think this would be a four or even five-star album. But from the third track onward it descended into mediocrity, so I'll give it a high three (or I would if that was possible).
Iggy Pop
4/5
A pretty good album. Of course, Lust for Life and Passenger are the highlights... The rest I can kind of take or leave.
Solange
5/5
Some beautiful, soulful songs on this album. I want it in my collection.
Tito Puente
4/5
Nice latin sounds.
Björk
4/5
This album meanders just a touch too much for me. Still very good, but I enjoyed Vespertine more.
Gang Starr
2/5
I found this album pretty dull, although a couple of the tracks, like Lovesick, served to brighten things up a bit.
Eric Clapton
4/5
Not bad at all, and I like the sound of the dobro.
The Adverts
3/5
Is there such a genre as "smooth punk"? If there is, then this album would fit right in. It's a little too smooth for my liking. I like a bit more anger and angst in my punk music.
AC/DC
5/5
This album was already in my collection, but at least I had a good excuse to play it again. Sheer Rockin' brilliance from AC/DC!
The Only Ones
3/5
This band is very tight musically, but I don't like the singer's voice much. For that reason it's not an album I would be likely to seek out in the future.
The Icarus Line
4/5
OK, there is a lot of noise on this album, but flashes of brilliance too. If it was consistently brilliant I would have given it five stars, but although I was in no hurry for the music to come to an end, there were some tracks that just weren't melodic enough for my liking - so four stars it is.
The White Stripes
5/5
Raw, rough around the edges, bawdy and bold - and a grreat fit for my Tidal library.
Sabu
4/5
Great rhythms and I mostly liked the chanting.
k.d. lang
4/5
Very nice, but the only track I really get into on this album is Constant Craving. Still, there is no doubting the quality of this artist's voice, so the album is getting four stars from me.
Love
3/5
Some real bangers on here... Some real duds too. The album left me conflicted, so I'm giving it three stars.
Earth, Wind & Fire
5/5
Super-smooth grooves... So smooth that this album just about slides its way to a five-star rating, even though there are a couple of tracks I'm not so keen on.
Def Leppard
5/5
A long-time favourite of mine, so no notes necessary.
Johnny Cash
5/5
It's been a very long time since I listened to a Johnny Cash album, so playing this one brought back a lot of memories. Anyway, I like it a lot so I'm going to add it to my Tidal library.
Nine Inch Nails
1/5
I guess the reason I had to listen to this is so as to understand just how much musical tastes can vary... An interesting lesson. I know this album has a generally high rating and many glowing reviews, but I can't find a single positive thing to say about it. OK, the singer's voice is not bad, but totally wasted on this dire excuse for a record.
Jamiroquai
5/5
After a couple of listens, I've decided that this will join my two other Jamiroquai albums in my Tidal library. Good funky vibes that I will definitely want to listen to again.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
3/5
This album really left no impression on me at all. I can't find any real fault with it, but nothing stands out either.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
After reading some reviews of this album, I was expecting to experience a hideous noisefest, the end of which couldn't come soon enough. The actual experience then, was quite a surprise, because I enjoyed it quite a lot. I'm not a fan of the kind of flat, emotionless vocalisation, so it was that which bothered me more than the reverb and feedback, and which keeps me from ever wanting the album in my collection. But would I listen to it again? Willingly, yes!
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Nice jazz grooves with a hint of soul. I enjoyed it even though I'm still not a jazz fan (but I might be soon).
Tom Waits
4/5
This album gave me an interesting experience. For some reason, after listening to it once and deciding it was a definite one-star effort, I decided to give it another chance, and played it through again.
At that point I had realised that at least a couple of the tracks had merit, so I listened again. This time I found myself smiling and chuckling at "I don't wanna grow up" and appreciating the lyrics on tracks such as "whistle down the wind". I knew that I couldn't justify less than three stars now - so I played it through once more for good measure - and guess what? Yep, it's getting four stars from me!
OK, the guy's voice is an acquired taste, and if I could, I would rename the album "Diamonds and Duds", because it has plenty of the former and a few of the latter... But overall, I really came to appreciate what it was all about.
Ananda Shankar
3/5
This album subjected me to two fundamental revelations. The first was just what can be achieved by a talented sitar player, which, as I haven't listened to that much sitar music, made for an interesting step in the development of my musical appreciation.
The second revelation was that I can only enjoy sitar music in small doses, and this album represented a bit of an overdose. Nothing wrong with it, just too much sitar in one sitting. Thank you!
Supertramp
3/5
I couldn't get too excited about this album, but I can't really put my finger on why that is. It was just OK.
The Cure
4/5
This is so close to being a five-star album for me. The musical arrangement and atmosphere on most of the tracks is superb. However, while Smith's vocal style is a natural component that makes this band what it is, I just don't like it enough to want to listen regularly. I WANT to like it enough, I really do, but I can't - It's like a 4.999 stars for me.
Madonna
5/5
I like this album of Madonna Electronica, although some of the arrangements are a bit strange. A couple of times I thought my headphones were playing up. But that merely knocks it down from a hypothetical seven stars to a real five stars.
Traffic
5/5
A short album with a bit of everything on it. I like it a lot, and Steve Winwood's vocals are superb.
The Allman Brothers Band
5/5
What an awesome jamfest that must have been. Great to have it captured for posterity.
Scritti Politti
3/5
Well produced but rather twee. Definitely too deep in the bubblegum genre for me, but worth three stars.
Fiona Apple
3/5
It's not bad, but a bit weird... Some very good songs, and some bad ones.
Nick Drake
3/5
I don't mind listening to a solo singer with only a guitar as accompaniment, but preferably in a live setting at an intimate venue with a few drinks. It's certainly not my ideal choice when I want to engage with recorded media. As talented as Nick Drake may have been, I don't find this form of recorded music anything to get excited about.
Faust
2/5
If this album is typical of the krautrock genre, I guess I'm not likely to become a fan.
Björk
2/5
I gave high ratings to Vespertine and Debut, but even after playing it through a couple of times, I could not engage with this album in the same way. It's a two-star effort from my perspective.
Tortoise
1/5
Possibly the most boring album I've ever listened to.
Blur
2/5
Blur should have stuck to playing Britpop. This is not an album that I would want to listen to again. The two hit tracks are the highlight, and I'm sure I'll hear those again plenty of times... So that will be enough, thank you.
The Specials
5/5
Back when this type of music was at the forefront of Britain's pop scene, I hated The Specials and other bands of their ilk. Listening to this album has highlighted for me how much more open-minded I have become, because I really enjoyed it, and will add it to my Tidal library. That's something I could never have imagined back in my high-school years.
KISS
5/5
OK, so it's all pretty mindless stuff, but sometimes that's all I need, especially within my favourite genres.
Jeff Buckley
4/5
A very good album. Nice mix of styles and tempo. It gets better from Hallelujah onward.
fIREHOSE
3/5
One or two really good tracks, but the rest of the album is pretty mediocre, I think. Not something I would seek out to listen to again.
Megadeth
5/5
This album was released when I was a youthful and dedicated metalhead, but I don't remember whether I genuinely did not like Megadeth, or whether I just never listened to them on the assumption that I wouldn't like them. But I sure like this album now. Of course, Megadeth are not, and never were, a patch on Metallica, but this album is definitely worth five stars from me.
The Beach Boys
3/5
I really just don't like the Beach Boys' sound, but as their talent cannot be denied, I will give the album three stars.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
I don't think this is the Stones' best album, but I'm giving it the five stars it deserves. It's just that unlike their other albums presented so far by this project, I feel Exile on Main Street justifies only five stars, where the other albums would receive more stars from me if it was possible.
Underworld
4/5
I gave this a couple of listens before deciding that while it's a pretty good example of electronica, I don't like it enough to want it in my collection. Best enjoyed as background music I guess.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Not bad. The two hits are, of course, the highlights. Some of the other tracks are worthy of repeat listening, but I don't feel the need to add this album to my collection.
Nina Simone
3/5
Most of this album was a bit too sombre to me, not to mention the fact that I don't really like the sound of Nina Simone's voice. Of course, her talent I duly recognise which is why I am giving the album three stars.
Portishead
3/5
I can't say that this album moved me very much, except to add an extra sense of foreboding to my digestion of last night's news about the Israel/Iran conflict. It's certainly not something I would seek out again, as much as I like electronic music.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
1/5
My experience with this album started off bad and only got worse as the "music" wore on. I pride myself on the ability to persevere and give every album a full listen, no matter how much I dislike it. This album severely tested that ability.
G. Love & Special Sauce
1/5
Definitely one to listen to one time only.
The Doors
4/5
There are a few duds on here for sure, but on balance, I like it a little better than L.A. Woman.
Dolly Parton
4/5
I agree with at least one other project participant who mentioned that Dolly's voice predominated this album a little too much. For my part, I do like her voice, but more so when she is singing upbeat numbers, on an album like this, I would have preferred to listen to Emmylou or Linda as the leads. Indeed, wherever the three voices were in harmony on this album, the result was spectacularly good. All in all, I'm sure I will return to this album from time to time, as in general, I like it a lot.
Ravi Shankar
4/5
How weird that after listening to a previous sitar album presented by this project, I declared in my notes that a whole album of sitar music was just too much.
Now that I'm on the second playing of this album by Ravi Shankar, I have to retract that earlier statement, as I'm enjoying this one too much. So I guess it depends on who is playing the sitar and what they are playing. This one I could certainly listen to again and again.
Ravi Shankar must be a true master of Indian music, making it understandable how he so successfully popularised the sitar's sound among a western audience.
Neil Young
5/5
In the course of this project, I have gone from being someone who didn't think much of Neil Young, to a listener able to appreciate his music, and with this album, his appeal has grown even further. While I liked Rust Never Sleeps quite a lot, and Harvest slightly less, this is the first of his albums that I really enjoy throughout. I just love the way it chugs along, making it ideal for afternoons on my terrace. I'm giving it five stars and adding it to my Tidal library.
3/5
During the first track, I began to think this album would be a surprise hit with me, as I'd never heard of Spirit before, and the guitar work sounded great. Unfortunately, apart from the great guitar work present on most of the tracks, the overall experience didn't hold up. The weirdness just didn't resonate, so three stars is the most I can manage for this one.
Kings of Leon
5/5
I just about like it enough to give five stars, although the album does seem to lose it's way a bit after the first four tracks.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
4/5
A nice eclectic mix of country and bluegrass tunes. I wasn't fussed on all the dialogue between tracks, and for that reason I'm not going to give it five stars, but anything less than four would be unfair, given the high standard of artistry on display.
Herbie Hancock
2/5
I guess I just don't get this kind of "all over the place" jazz.
Bert Jansch
3/5
As I've mentioned in the notes for a previous album in a similar vein to this one, I don't mind listening to one man and an acoustic guitar in a live setting, if the time and place is right, but as recorded music, it's seldom the type of thing that captures my attention, and this album is no exception to that.
The Avalanches
3/5
I like electronic music, but this album is too repetitive and has too many sound effects for my liking.
Ray Charles
5/5
I'm not really a fan of the big band or the choral accompaniment, but this album deserves a place in my Tidal library and merits five stars on the basis of Ray's voice alone.
The Youngbloods
4/5
A very interesting album, containing flashes of brilliance interspersed with more middling material. I liked it, not enough to want to own it, but enough to want to listen to some of the tracks again and again.
Fever Ray
4/5
If it wasn't for the lyrics, some of which were truly inane, I might have given this album five stars. It does sound rather like a Bjork album with more conventionally structured melodies, but I just couldn't listen to those lyrics on a frequent basis.
Boards of Canada
5/5
Terrific ambient sounds to chill out to. Love it.
Curtis Mayfield
5/5
A classic album that belongs in my Tidal library. Five stars.
Orange Juice
3/5
Two or three nice tracks on this album, but the rest are of a standard that makes them a one-time listening experience for me.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
For the first fifteen minutes of this album, I was thinking "Watery psychedelic rock with lyrics in a language I don't understand - no thank you". Then Soy Loco Por Ti America came on and I thought "this is better". From there the last three tracks piqued my interest enough to give the whole album a second listen, and that elevated it to a high three-star status. So, three high stars it is.
Beatles
5/5
Well, I never thought I'd say it, but I've actually found a Beatles album that I consider worthy of entry into my collection. I don't know whether I have become conditioned to actually like the Beatles as a result of listening to several of their albums presented by this project, or whether this album is an outlier. I guess time will tell. I guess I just like the fact that Rubber Soul seems more mature than their earlier releases, but less weird than some of those that come later on in their career. In any case, I'm giving it five stars and adding it to my Tidal library.
Dirty Projectors
1/5
Well, that was painful to listen to!
It reminds me of when I lived in the Philippines and we used to go to this kind of outdoor food and beer court, served by several small bars/stalls. Each one would be playing a different kind of music at max volume, and some would have people singing karaoke.
The discordance of the various competing sounds used to give me a worse headache than the bad beer I was drinking. The experience of this album had much the same effect.
American Music Club
3/5
Two or three pretty good tracks on this album, but I found the rest all quite mediocre.
X-Ray Spex
5/5
One of the best punk albums I've heard, and the sax makes it very fresh and unique. I loved it to be honest. This was another of the great discoveries that this project has afforded me.
The Temptations
5/5
It took me a couple of listens to convince me that it belongs in my library, but it does. Their version of "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" is best enjoyed if one tries to disassociate it with versions by other artists, I think.
The Offspring
5/5
Liked it a lot. Five stars.
Dwight Yoakam
5/5
I loved every track on this album. Brilliant singing, brilliant tunes, and brilliant storytelling, regardless of the nature of the story.
Green Day
5/5
I already liked the hit tracks from this album, and now I know that I like it in its entirety. Thank you, project.
Frank Sinatra
5/5
This is definitely music to be sad to. Of course, we all have reason to be sad sometimes, and who better to accompany you when such a time arises than the great crooner himself?
PJ Harvey
3/5
See my notes for her "Dry" album. My comments to this one are similar, although it is more P J Harvey's screechy voice, rather than screechy violins which turned me off from this, the second of her albums which this project has presented to me.
That said, there were some screechy violins on one track, and a couple of other tracks were just awful, in my opinion. So, again, despite some really great hard rock and grunge guitar work, I feel three stars is the best I can do.
Serge Gainsbourg
4/5
Love the musical arrangements on this album. Not so fussed on the vocals. It's not one I'd want in my collection, but I'd certainly seek it out for further listening in the future.
Nick Drake
5/5
I didn't particularly like Pink Moon, and I gave it a middling three stars. However, this album actually managed to make me sit up and pay attention to Nick Drake. I really like it, and for those times when I just want to chill, or feel like something mellow and sombre, Five Leaves Left deserves a place in my Tidal library.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
I think I like Exodus a little more, but this, nevertheless, is awesome and I can't imagine that any Bob Marley album will receive fewer than five stars from me
Brian Eno
5/5
This album was a great surprise. I am generally not that much into the groups and musicians typically associated with Eno, and I've never really listened to his own music.
However, I really enjoyed this album, from the more rock-oriented tracks on the first part, to the ambient melodies that came later. I liked pretty much everything about it, and will be adding it my Tidal library.
Violent Femmes
2/5
After re-reading the Wikipedia page for this album after listening to it, and noting that most of the songs were written by an 18-year old high school student, I realised why "schoolboyish" was the word that kept popping into my head while the album played.
For me, "schoolboyish" is a negative when it comes to music, and apart from that issue, I just found the whole album vaguely irritating, despite some good guitar riffing in places.
However, even the riffing wasn't enough to elevate the album above a two-star rating for me.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
I had not heard many songs by this artist/group before listening to this album, and those I did hear I did not like at all. So it's another project-induced shock to find that I really enjoyed this album. Yes, it's sombre, and most suits a sombre mood, but I would listen again any time.
I'm guessing that I won't like other albums by Nick Cave and the bad seeds, and that this will become one of those controversial artists in the summary. Still, it's about time I had one of those to accompany Bjork, who's been languishing there all on her own up to now.
Black Sabbath
5/5
One of my favourite albums, so no notes necessary - Although it is poignant that the project presented me with this album on the day after Ozzy Osbourne passed away.
Donald Fagen
5/5
So this is Yacht Rock? If so, I like it. I just can't figure out why I enjoyed this so much when I really didn't like the Steely Dan album that I got from the project a few months ago.
Eminem
5/5
An excellent album, as long as you don't take the lyrics too seriously.
T. Rex
4/5
There are some real bright moments on this album, and I prefer it to Electric Warrior. It's not an album I'd want in my collection, because I just can't get into that kind of super-glammy rock, and I'm not really a fan of Bolan's voice. However, it's definitely worth four stars, perhaps on the merit of Telegram Sam and Buick Mackane alone.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
Well, I was right! Nick Cave is going to be a controversial artist for me, because, while I liked "The Boatman's Call" a lot, this one was a chore to listen to. Just too much drama and shouting in the vocals.
Dolly Parton
4/5
some nice tunes on this album, for sure. I'm just not a big fan of dolly's voice, so I think it's a four-star album for me.
Johnny Cash
5/5
An incredibly entertaining album, from a great entertainer in an unusual and entertaining setting.
Culture Club
4/5
Mostly I enjoyed the hit tracks on this album, and while several of the lesser known songs were pretty good, there were others, that I felt were pretty weak efforts. Also, I'm not sure about the rather bold backing vocals which didn't always seem to gel with the rest of the arrangements. But still a good album overall from my perspective.
Tears For Fears
5/5
Awesome album from the 80's. I didn't appreciate it at the time - but I do now!
5/5
There are not many albums that can have me singing along loudly to every track, but this is one of them. A loud, proud, festival of fun from start to finish.
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
If it wasn't for several dud tunes and the rubbish lyrics, I would be giving this album five stars, because, in the main, I love the guitar work. but due to the aforementioned shortcomings, four stars is the best I can do.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Now I'm no prude or snowflake, and I don't mind at all about all the f-bombs liberally scattered throughout the music of the 2020s, but it is really refreshing to listen to rap artists who feel no need to swear their way to stardom.
That said, I don't think this album is as good as "Raising Hell", but, of course, this is their debut effort, so perhaps excellence should not be expected. It's definitely good enough for four stars though.
Buena Vista Social Club
5/5
Smooth latin grooves for a sunny afternoon on the terrace. Love it.
The Jam
4/5
This album by The Jam is pretty sound. The punk influence is clear on many of the tracks, an easy four stars, but it didn't quite entertain me enough to add to my Tidal library.
The Libertines
3/5
Not a bad album, but there was nothing on there that I will really remember.
Emmylou Harris
5/5
Yeah! Beautiful songs, from a beautiful woman, with a beautiful country voice. What's not to llove?
N.W.A.
5/5
It's out there, and brutal, but it's one of probably just a few hip-hop/rap albums that I like enough to add to my library.
Lambchop
3/5
Very good production, but the singer's forays into breathy falsetto vocals really don't do it for me.
Little Richard
5/5
Lots of great songs from the little guy with the big, and unique, voice.
Amy Winehouse
5/5
Debut or not, I think Ms. Winehouse sounds amazing on this album, and as somebody who had only really listened to (and enjoyed) her best-known songs, I'm glad to have discovered more of her music, and look forward to listening to Back to Black, if the project should so suggest - or even if not.
The Prodigy
3/5
I wanted to like this more than I actually did. The tracks are mostly too repetitive to be as long as they are, and the whole album is too one-dimensional to be as long as it is.
My only real knowledge of The Prodigy is through their well-known hits, which I like a lot, although I seem to have a foggy memory of seeing them at a festival one time many years ago. So if the project presents me with any more of their albums, I will hope to be more enthused about their music at that point.
Blue Cheer
5/5
I had never heard of this band before, so it was interesting to discover their heavy style. I wasn't sure that I liked it at first, but after a couple of playthroughs, I've decided that while they are no Black Sabbath, their music moves me enough to nudge into five-star territory.
a-ha
5/5
I guess I have shaken off the musical biases of my youth, because A-ha was once an object of ridicule for me. All these years later I'm shocked to find that I enjoyed this album of theirs so much that I'm going to add it to my Tidal library.
Pink Floyd
5/5
A masterpiece from a band I would, at one time, never have entertained, or rather, would never have allowed to entertain me. I appreciated the album all the more for studying the story it tells, and the story behind it.
Todd Rundgren
4/5
Some great tracks on this album, and some that are not even good. All in all, an excellent showcase for Todd Rundgren's talent, but it contains a little too much carnival for my liking, hence four stars only.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Not quite five-star material, but definitely way better than I was expecting.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Beautifully produced, middle-of-the-road rock music that I can't really fault in any way. For some reason it just doesn't appeal enough to want it in my collection though.
David Bowie
5/5
Well, I never thought it would happen, but here's a Bowie album that's going into my Tidal library. I really like the mix of instrumental ambience and somewhat more conventional vocal numbers. This is, for me, the best David Bowie album I've heard so far.
Elton John
5/5
This album delivers everything I expect from the Maestro, and more besides. I love it.
Sebadoh
4/5
First playthrough, first thoughts.... "uggh!, what is this garbage. The first two tracks are OK, but most of the others are abysmal."
First playthrough, towards the end... "OK some of these numbers have merit, and there are definitely flashes of brilliance amongst the dross."
Second playthrough... "Why am I actually liking this? It's not going in my collection any time soon, but hell, I'm quite enjoying it"
Final verdict... "A band with great potential who seem to enjoy deliberately playing badly, and then surprising listeners with brief displays of true talent. I look forward to hearing some of their later material, which might be a bit more polished, and could even blow me away".
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
I'm not a fan of this music genre, so an album has to have something really special for me to appreciate it. While this album is obviously very well produced and executed, it didn't have anything that made me want to seek it out again.
Billy Bragg
5/5
I've never been that keen on Billy Bragg, and the last Wilco album I received from the project got two stars, so I wasn't expecting much from this offering. Fortunately I got a nice surprise, because I really enjoyed listening to it, and will be adding it to my Tidal library.
The Byrds
5/5
Great music that was ahead of its time.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
I can't put my finger on it, but there is a whole vibe around the music on this album that unsettles me somehow. It could be something to do with the appearance of Sparky the talking wah-wah on several of the tracks, or something else... I don't know.
In any case, I can't see me revisiting the album anytime soon, and even the massive "Everyday People" leaves me feeling a little strange.
The Stranglers
5/5
My god, but this is a fun album to listen to. The Stranglers is another band that I never had much time for back in the day. Now I'm wondering what the hell was wrong with me.
I would give this five stars solely on the basis of the incredibly tight playing by the whole band, even if I didn't like the sound. Fortunately I do, but unfortunately five stars is the most I can give.
Joy Division
2/5
I listened to the deluxe version of this album, and, to be honest, I enjoyed the live set much more than the studio-recorded material. However, in every case, live or studio, as gifted as he may have been as a lyricist, Ian Curtis was no singer.
I found the music on this album quite engaging, but just couldn't get past curtis' flat, off-key vocals, so I would struggle to assign it even three stars. Therefore, I guess it will have to be just two.
The Pharcyde
5/5
I have seen commentators on this project call this album an attempt to emulate the Beastie Boys. To my mind it is vastly superior to anything I have heard from the Beastie Boys.
For one thing, these guys don't have to shout to get their points across, and, for another, the standard of rapping is much higher than that of their caucasian counterparts.
Yes, these guys can actually do it, and the're funny and entertaining along with it, in a far more natural way than the Beasties could ever manage. This is one of the few hip hop albums so far that I enjoyed enough to want in my collection.
OutKast
4/5
I have had this album in my collection since it's release, but hadn't listened to it in more than a decade. It was fun to revisit, and I really like "Speakerboxx"... "The Love Below" not so much, so overall, I think I will give the album four stars overall.
Deerhunter
2/5
This album bored me to tears. One playthrough is definitely enough and I have no plans to suffer through it again.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Were she a lesser singer, I might have a problem with the meandering nature of her chorus-absent songs. But as it is, I enjoyed listening to this album immensely. I didn't think Joni Mitchell would be a singer whose music I could get into. How wrong I was, it appears.
The Who
5/5
Easily the best album by The Who that I have heard so far. I can understand why it is often considered their most accomplished work. It blows "The Who Sell Out" into the weeds, for sure.
5/5
A big sound with lots of hair-raising riffs. I've heard better, but this is good enough for five stars and a place in my Tidal library.
James Taylor
5/5
Sickly, saccharin sweet? Yes indeed. But I like the smooth, calming qualities of James Taylor's voice, and the musical arrangements on this album, which are understated in the main, but never too spare.
In short, I need this album in my Tidal library for those times when I just need to find some serenity, and since I like almost all the songs, I'm giving it five stars.
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
Hmmmm!... Great arrangements and production, and I find the artist's voice pleasant enough. However, this is just not my kind of music, and I did find it pretty bland, boring, and over-long.
Jethro Tull
5/5
I've had this album in my collection for a long time, and I love it, so no notes are necessary.
Bonnie Raitt
4/5
To my mind, this is a solid four-star album, and I will probably revisit at some point. But I don't find anything special enough to make me want it in my collection.
Ryan Adams
4/5
Not a bad album by any means, but I much preferred "Gold".
Beastie Boys
3/5
I much preferred "Licensed to Ill". I just couldn't get into this album in the same way.
Taylor Swift
5/5
Every one of the tracks on this album is a gem. To those who feel that it is in no way ground-breaking or has done nothing to reshape its genre, I disagree. Swift's songwriting is on a level that is rare in this day and age, and for that reason alone, I believe the album stands head and shoulders above what some would consider to simply be urbane pop music.
Stephen Stills
5/5
Fucking Hell! Stephen Stills... What a talent, and a big surprise for me.
I was not looking forward to listening to this album, to the point where I even put the task off some. I'm not keen on the CSN ensemble, or even CSNY, so I honestly thought I would hate a solo effort by Stills.
How wrong can you be? The album has blown me away, and bulldozed its way into my Tidal album library.
The Roots
4/5
I'm not a big fan of rap and hip hop music, but I found this to be one of the more agreeable albums in the genre. Some of the tracks are really good, and there are others that I would not wish to listen to again. It's certainly full of variety, and the level of talent on display deserves four stars, I think.
Dire Straits
5/5
This album is full of guitar greats and has an atmosphere all of its own. I love it.
Thelonious Monk
5/5
I don't like all jazz, but I like some, and this is one that I like a lot.
Circle Jerks
5/5
This is punk done right.... brief, brash, ballsy and blue. Five stars!
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Stevie Wonder has a voice like silk, with a handful of gravel ready to throw in at any time. I like all his hit songs, but had little experience of his album material. I was ready to like this one a lot, but instead, I like it a little.
There's a bit too much "God" stuff in there for my liking, and several of the tracks seemed rather mediocre to me. It's still worth four stars, but I don't want to add it to my collection, and, as a result, I can't justify making it five.
Metallica
5/5
One of my absolute favourite albums. It's been in my collection since its release, and I still love it.
Manic Street Preachers
5/5
Manics at their classic best. Another top album delivered by the project.
5/5
I love this fusion of electronica and latin rhythms. It's going in my Tidal library.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Kudos to the late Mr. Cohen for his lyrical prowess, but I just don't really like the music. On all but a couple of the tracks, I find the arrangements too sparse to distract me from the dull timbre of his voice. I would happily listen to the album again if my arm was twisted, but I wouldn't be likely to deliberately seek it out.
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
"California Dreamin'" is the only number that stands out on this album for me. The rest I can very much take or leave.
It's a bit of a limp lettuce of an album, and as nice as the artist's voices are, I wouldn't rush to play it again, although, of course, it's very easy to listen to.
The Sugarcubes
5/5
Another happy surprise from the project, thank you!
I had never heard of this group, and was intrigued to learn that it was Bjork's launch pad into stardom. However, I wasn't expecting much from the album based on many of the reviews I read.
By the end of the first track though, I knew this one was going to be a keeper. Yes, it's a little weird to hear all those icelandic accents, but it's great to hear what Bjork can do as part of a group.
I think her vocals are amazing on this album, and as for comparison with the B52s, I rate this album far more favourably than anything I have heard from them.
Adele
5/5
This is the first time I have listened to anything by Adele other than her hit songs, and I'm very, very impressed. Every track on this album should have been a hit, in my view.
Kanye West
5/5
From what I know about Kanye West, I don't think much of him, but he sure knows how to produce a top-flight album. I really enjoyed most of the tracks, and some of his lyrics just had me laughing out loud. I'm ready to give this five stars, and add it to my Tidal library for my future entertainment.
John Prine
4/5
Brilliant songwriting, and I think this guy's voice is suited to the genre. I should give this album five stars, but somehow, despite some of the songs being intelligently comedic, listening to the album leaves me with a profound sadness that I can't explain, and I don't like that feeling, so I'm downgrading to four stars on that basis... Because while I would listen to it again, it's not an album I would want in my collection.
Janet Jackson
4/5
A few of the tracks on this album are true greats, but as a whole, it doesn't move me enough to want it in my collection. It's all a bit too perfect and mainstream for me, I guess, but well worth four stars.
Depeche Mode
4/5
I like this better than Violator, which I gave three stars. So this one is a four!
Doves
4/5
I would probably listen to this again... In fact, I will probably have to, because while the music on this album is very good, it's not very memorable. Indeed, if the music wasn't so good, I would only give three stars, but I enjoyed it enough to stretch to four.
Tim Buckley
4/5
For the first three tracks I thought this was going to be a new addition to my collection, but my enjoyment of the album began to fall away as it got closer to the end.
Nevertheless, it's a solid set of tunes from an artist I had never listened to before, and it's getting four stars from me.
4/5
This album would get five stars from me if it wasn't so "glammy" because I did love several of the tracks on it, of course including the fantastic "Starman".
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
Another surprise for me. I never thought a CSN album would make it into my music collection. For example, I didn't like their debut album very much at all. This one is a different kettle of fish however, and I really liked their versions of Woodstock and Our House, which I had never heard before.
In short, I loved all but a couple of tracks on the album, and I feel it deserves five stars and a place in my Tidal library.
Stan Getz
4/5
The only thing I don't like about this album is the male vocals, but that alone drops it down to four stars for me. Fortunately, I love the saxophone and the voice of Astrid Gilberto, along with the smooth, easy-listening nature of the tunes. making it a very solid four-star album indeed.
The Stooges
5/5
Another surprise, since I was not that impressed by Iggy Pop's solo work... But this?... This is spot on. Great guitar work and a totally wild vibe going on. OK, so the final track is just a bit too crazy, but the rest of the album is solid.
Jurassic 5
5/5
An album full of accomplished, mature hip hop vibes that's light on the swearing and heavy on the bass. Oh yes! I like this a lot.
I'd never heard of Jurassic 5 before, but I'm glad I was introduced. It's not often that a hiphop album makes it into my Tidal library, but this one definitely will.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
I know I am in the minority as somebody who doesn't get the art worked by this duo, but there it is. Apart from the obvious classic, I found nothing on this album to excite or move me. Of course it's easy listening... And maybe it's just too easy for me.
The Pogues
4/5
I used to enjoy listening to celtic music, but I haven't done so for a long time. I thought I might enjoy this album more. I enjoyed a few of the numbers, but others failed to move me.
I don't know if that means I've lost my taste for traditional Scottish and Irish music, or if it's just the Pogues' style that misses the mark for me.
I wanted to like it, but MacGowan's vocals are perhaps an acquired taste, and I haven't really acquired it. It's still a four-star album, but I wish I could have made it a five.
Rush
5/5
Very tight, very technical, very intelligent, and very bloody good. Love the drum work.
Jazmine Sullivan
5/5
It seems I might be in the minority of people who have listened to this album via the project, because I really like it.
I like everything about it, from the premise to the execution, and even if I didn't need to listen to it before I die, I'm glad I did.
Sure, there are a couple of tracks on here that could do with some polish, and much of the spoken interlude material is arguably unecessary, but that didn't put me off enough to bar the album from my Tidal library.
Ghostface Killah
5/5
What's happening to me? I just really enjoyed yet another rap album enough to want it in my collection. Mr Killah and his friends had me listening raptly, and even chuckling occasionally, while also marvelling at the excellent, if very coarse, rhyming, and impeccable production of his Fishscale tales.
Coldplay
5/5
Personally, I like Coldplay much better than I like Radiohead, and this particular album has grown over time to become, if not a favourite, then at least one that I can happily play on a regular basis.
Fela Kuti
5/5
I rated "Zombie" at three stars, and I was expecting a similar result for this live album. In the end, though, I just couldn't stop moving to the tunes, and I thought the drum duel with Ginger Baker was absolutely stellar, so it's getting five stars and going in my Tidal library for future enjoyment.
Tim Buckley
4/5
I was so close to giving this five stars, but the vibraphone, which I'm really not keen on, and some of the wilder vocal antics, just keep it to a solid four.
Red Snapper
5/5
It's a good mix of electronic and acoutis, but is it good enough for five stars? Just about, I think.
Nas
4/5
This is not an album I'd particularly want in my collection, but it's not crap rap either, so I'm giving it four stars.
Scissor Sisters
5/5
This album is a lot of fun, and much more enjoyable than I expected. It deserves all the five stars that I am happy to award. I even enjoyed the cover of "Comfortably Numb" but was disappointed to discover that there are no tits on the radio.
Elvis Costello
4/5
There's no denying Elvis Costello's talent as a lyricist, and the music on this album is tight and well-produced, yet, somehow, I just can't seem to connect with the artist's musical style. If I could, it would have been a five-star album for me. As it is, just four.
Goldfrapp
5/5
Laid back electro-acoustic music with a nice ethereal quality. I'm not crazy about the singer's voice, but was moved by several of the tracks on the album, so it just about makes it into my Tidal library and gains five stars from me.
The Stone Roses
3/5
I listened to the version with "Fools Gold" on it, which is a track that I love. However, as it is an outlier and does not feature on the UK release, I choose to exclude it from my assessment of the album as a whole.
With the exception of "I am the Resurrection" and "I wanna be Adored" all the music on this album is just a bit too jangly for me. I wouldn't mind listening to the entire album again, but I don't think I would specifically choose to do so.
Bauhaus
2/5
Bauhaus is obviously a group of talented musicians, and despite the dark vibes running through this album, I get the sense that they had a lot of fun recording it. Flashes of brilliance ignite throughout the tracks, but unfortunately, I just don't like their output.
It's been some time since I've rated any album lower than a three, but as I'd be happy not to listen to it again at any point in the future, two is all I'm going to give.
Shuggie Otis
5/5
A genre-defying album that's very easy to listen to, but with lots of variety to hold the interest. I like it a lot and will add it to my Tidal library.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
No notes necessary. This album has been in my collection for a long time, and I love it.
Dagmar Krause
2/5
Even though I don't understand German, I think I preferred the numbers that the artist sung in her native tongue to those performed in English.
Some interesting story-telling on this album, but the music is definitely not my bag, and I'd be unlikely to listen to it again.
ABBA
3/5
Much of my same thoughts apply to this album as to "The Visitors", although "Dum Dum Diddle" almost got the whole thing downgraded to two stars. The only tracks I really enjoyed were "Money Money Money" and "Knowing me Knowing You".
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
Hmmm!... Not quite country, not quite pop, and the result is rather bland. I imagine this is what an album created and performed by AI might sound like.
In fact, I don't have to imagine, because the other day my friend generated a song using AI, and the style was very much like the songs on this album. All very nice, but instantly forgettable.
I certainly don't understand the significance of this album that makes it a must-listen, but I'll give it three stars because I would have no problem listening to it again... and forgetting it all over again.
Michael Kiwanuka
3/5
Two tracks on this album stood out for me - "Piano Joint" and "Solid Ground" - The rest I could take or leave. All in all, it is an album that I would listen to again quite happily, but I probably won't intentionally revisit it.
Waylon Jennings
4/5
Soulful country music that's way better than most. I like this album a lot.
Coldplay
5/5
I think I like "Parachutes" a little better than this album, but I stll believe it deserves a place in my Tidal library.
The Replacements
2/5
When the "music" on this album wasn't annoying me, it was boring me to tears. I can manage two stars because some of the guitar and drum work was OK.
Fishbone
5/5
Hey! I discovered another band I never knew about before. This album is great fun to listen to, and very eclectic. That's not always a plus for me, but in this case, it definitely is. I look forward to listening to more of Fishbone's material.
The xx
5/5
The XX are definitely the best discovery to which this project has led me. I really like their debut album, and I have enjoyed this one just as much. It's going in my Tidal library and I know i'll listen to it often.
Morrissey
2/5
I didn't think that much of "Your Arsenal" but I did think it was worth three stars. That in itself surprised me because I've always found Morrisey's solo efforts to be as dull as dishwater.
This album didn't offer any surprise at all, and I was pretty happy when the final track played out, just so I could go and listen to more interesting music.
Miles Davis
3/5
This is the first time I have listened to this form of music with the knowledge that it falls within the cool jazz subgenre. So I can confirm that it's Okay, but doesn't exactly enthrall me. OK as background I suppose, but I wouldn't go searching for it.
Aimee Mann
3/5
If you asked me to highlight an album that precisely defines middle-of-the-road pop-rock, this is the one I would point to.
I've seen the artist mentioned alongside the likes of Sheryl Crow and Meredith Brooks, but to my mind, both of those singers have an exciting quality to their voices that this artist cannot match.
The album is inoffensive and pleasant enough to listen to, but the title really sums up my feelings toward all the numbers it contains.
Killing Joke
4/5
I'm so close to giving this album five stars, because there are two or three amazing tracks on it. But it is all just a bit too repetitive, so I can't quite justify the five. So four stars it is.
Curtis Mayfield
5/5
While I didn't enjoy this album quite as much as "Superfly", it's pretty awesome, so I'm awarding it five stars.
Pantera
5/5
I didn't think I'd be giving this album five stars, because I'm not a fan of excruciatingly rough vocals. But, damn! the music is so good that I just can't help myself. The best tracks are definitely the ones with the sparcest vocals, but I can forgive the worst of the tortured screaming just to revel in the riffs.
Iron Butterfly
3/5
Well, they're not Iron Maiden, are they? All pretty forgettable, although I can see how the album might have been considered groundbreaking in its day.
Baaba Maal
3/5
Lots of talent caught for posterity on this album, and I can enjoy this form of African music in small doses, but a full album is perhaps a little much for me.
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
Overall, I think it's just an OK album, but there are three or four really good tracks that I could happily play on a regular basis.
The Teardrop Explodes
2/5
I have an actual aversion to Julian Cope's music, so, needless to say, this album was never going to impress me. Indeed, the only track I remotely enjoyed was "Reward". The rest just merged into one continuous and monotonous dirge.
Stereolab
5/5
A gem in the rough of 90s electronica. Hypnotic and easy to listen to, making it the perfect accompaniment to household chores and other sundry activities. I like it a lot.
Buzzcocks
5/5
The first couple of tracks didn't move me much, but from "Love Battery" onwards, I think it's pretty awesome. Definitely good enough for five stars.
Drive Like Jehu
2/5
I think this album is pretty awful. I'll stretch to two stars only because I think the drummer is pretty good.
SZA
5/5
This is great music for sex, and that alone makes it a five-star album. Got to try it out this weekend with wifey.
Fatboy Slim
5/5
We've all come a long way since this album was released, but it still sounds just as good to me today as it did back then. In fact, I can appreciate it far more these days.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
5/5
I love this fusion of western pop and exotic world music. The blend of electronic and acoustic instrumentation works so well, and while I'm not sure about the male vocalists rather flat delivery, the female vocals more than make up for it. I'm sold!
Einstürzende Neubauten
2/5
Surprisingly enough, I didn't find this to be the worst album I've heard while participating in this project. Okay, I certainly wouldn't wish to listen to it again, but some of the tracks do have a strangely hypnotic quality that isn't entirely unpleasant. Because of that, I won't include this in my growing list of one-star albums, but two is definitely appropriate.
Carole King
5/5
it seems a bit pointless to critique this woman's abilities, or this album's qualities. It's tapestry, and she's Carole King. It's a five from me.
Pink Floyd
1/5
My relationship with Pink Floyd's music seems to get more interesting by the day. Back in the day when "Another Brick in the Wall" hit the charts, I found it to be a very weird and rather scary song, probably because of the video with the marching hammers.
Today, the song is a favourite of mine, as is the entire album on which it belongs, and I have come to really like much of Floyd's music, after eschewing it for many years... But, I had never listened to their debut album until today.
My verdict on this one? Truly awful, and while I imagine most of their albums will be in the four and five-star range in my ratings, this one is getting just one lonely star. I honestly think that Syd Barrett's departure is the best thing that could have happened to Pink Floyd.
GZA
1/5
See my notes for "Enter the Wu Tang" or whatever it's called. This is the same, but worse. Thank god it's over!
Barry Adamson
2/5
See my notes for "Moss Side Story". I found this album to be a similar experience, but with a more meandering feel, making it less convincing to me even as an imaginary movie soundtrack.
B.B. King
5/5
Definitely one I want in my collection.
50 Cent
3/5
I liked the hit tracks quite a lot, especially PIMP, and those on which eminem performs. However, on the whole, I found it mostly rather ridiculous... profanity for profanity's sake and all that. But the aforementioned tracks and the high-quality production earn it three stars.
Sonic Youth
1/5
So apparently I have previously awarded four stars to two of Sonic Youth's albums. I'll have to revisit them sometime to remind myself why. Another one got two stars, but hell, with the band only just carrying a tune on the best track, "Bubblegum" I can't justify anything more than a single, solitary star... and of course, I have no plans to revisit this one.
Miles Davis
5/5
Well, on the first play I figured this album for a four. Then I played it again and realised it's, of course, a surefire five-star masterpiece.
Johnny Cash
5/5
Some beautiful versions of other artist's songs on this album, all delivered in Cash's gruff, gravelly, and spare style. While I don't necessarily love all the tracks, the album overall surely belongs in my collection, and deserves five stars.
3/5
I've heard better albums from the eighties, but some of the tracks (really just the hits) are not bad.
Hot Chip
2/5
Well, that was a bland and boring experience. I wonder why the author chose to include this album in the 1001. It's certainly hard to see why I really needed to listen to it, but since I did, I know enough to limit the number of stars to just two.
Happy Mondays
4/5
This album is quirky lurky (see what I did there?), and sometimes I like a quirky album.
David Bowie
3/5
Not my favourite Bowie album, I must admit. It was mostly a bit too weird and "out there". "Life on Mars" and "Changes" are the only two tracks that I really quite enjoyed... Oh! and the song for Bob Dylan is pretty good too.
Girls Against Boys
3/5
A few nice riffs are liberally scattered through the tracks on this album, but other than that, I found it to be instantly forgettable. I wouldn't mind listening to it again if somebody persuaded me, but I certainly wouldn't seek it out.
The Streets
4/5
OK, so musically, this album is pretty abysmal, and I guess as rapping goes, that's pretty bad too. But, boy, do I love the way the story unfolds. Yes, it's mudane, everyday stuff, but stuff that for me, and probably many other British males who were young in the 80s 90s and noughties, is very relateable. So in summary, I enjoyed the album a lot, even though it is in a genre that I'm not that keen on, and it is probably not a very good example of "music" in that genre.
David Bowie
4/5
I don't think David Bowie had the right kind of voice for soul music... Or else I just don't like his voice very much. In any case, I think this is a good album, but I didn't enjoy the vocals enough to give it five stars, or to want it in my collection.
Justin Timberlake
4/5
I've had this album since shortly after its release, but I've cooled a bit towards it over the years. I still think it deserves four stars though.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Nothing on this album that I could get enthused about. I wouldn't mind hearing some of the tracks again, but others I would rather pass me by.
John Martyn
4/5
Like so many albums I've listened to through this project, I really like the musical style of this one, but am not especially keen on the sound of the vocalist. If it was possible to give 3.5 stars for this album, I would. However, in line with what the project summary describes as my generous rating style, I will round up to four.
Miriam Makeba
4/5
This artist had an amazing voice and I would like to hear more of her material. Plus it's always nice to discover, and find that I like, an artist I never heard before. I don't think I will add this album to my collection, but I may well listen to it again sometime.
Method Man
3/5
Of all the Wutang-related albums I've heard, I probably enjoyed this the most, which means I kind of liked some parts of it, and will give it three stars. This kind of rap is still not really my thing.
John Lee Hooker
4/5
Some great blues music from a legend of the genre. I enjoyed this album and look forward to listening to more JLH if the project sends it my way.
Lou Reed
5/5
I didn't really like the Velvet Underground albums presented to me by this project, but I have always enjoyed listening to Lou Reed's more well-known solo songs. Perhaps it's no surprise then, that I really like this album and will be adding it to my collection, crying children and all.
The Birthday Party
2/5
I did feel a kind of perverse pleasure listening to one or two of the tracks on this album. That aside, though, it's not one I'd wish to revisit. Sometimes I wonder if the joke is on the listener when it comes to artists like Nick Cave. He's capable of some really good, creative music, but too often he throws together albums like this, with "songs" that probably take mere minutes to write, and is laughing all the way to the bank.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
5/5
This album is soooo five-star. I guess I just love White-man blues then, and separating art from artist is no problem for me.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
Of course, the two hits are masterpieces, and the rest of the tracks are of variable interest to me. It's a four-star album for me.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
I am still trying to ascertain whether or not I really like Sinatra and others of his ilk. I do like many of his more well-known songs, but am not so familiar with the full range of his repertoire. This album is very nice, and I'm sure I will listen to it again at some point, but it's not something I would want in my collection.
Harry Nilsson
4/5
A few of the tracks on this album stood out for me, with "Without You" naturally being one of them, and "The Coconut" is a novel track that made me smile. I'm not sure I could really count myself as a convert though, in terms of Harry Nilsson fandom.
The Young Rascals
3/5
It's an OK album with a few good songs, but I found nothing to get excited about.