1001 Albums Summary

Listening statistics & highlights

118
Albums Rated
3.39
Average Rating
11%
Complete
971 albums remaining

Rating Distribution

Rating Timeline

Taste Profile

1970
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
20
5-Star Albums
5
1-Star Albums

Breakdown

By Genre

Top Styles

By Decade

By Origin

Albums

You Love More Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
5 3.31 +1.69
...And Justice For All
Metallica
5 3.41 +1.59
Odelay
Beck
5 3.45 +1.55
1984
Van Halen
5 3.49 +1.51
Moving Pictures
Rush
5 3.56 +1.44
Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
5 3.62 +1.38
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins
5 3.68 +1.32
Triangle
The Beau Brummels
4 2.7 +1.3
Master Of Puppets
Metallica
5 3.71 +1.29
Dookie
Green Day
5 3.79 +1.21

You Love Less Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
Le Tigre
Le Tigre
1 3.15 -2.15
I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
1 3.1 -2.1
Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
1 2.84 -1.84
Is This It
The Strokes
2 3.81 -1.81
Alien Lanes
Guided By Voices
1 2.76 -1.76
The Clash
The Clash
2 3.52 -1.52
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
2 3.5 -1.5
The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
2 3.5 -1.5
Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
2 3.47 -1.47
Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
2 3.41 -1.41

Artists

Favorites

ArtistAlbumsAverage
Pink Floyd 2 5
Metallica 2 5
Beatles 2 5

Least Favorites

ArtistAlbumsAverage
Leonard Cohen 2 1.5

5-Star Albums (20)

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Popular Reviews

Bone Machine by Tom Waits

Strange dude. It's like an album recorded in a dungeon, with the skeletons keeping rhythm and Tom is in the corner growling about craziness. Percussion stuff was interesting. Quite a singular record, though not something I'll probably listen to again.

Timeless by Goldie

Never heard of this artist. I dig the drum n bass/jungle groove, and the instrumentation on top of the beat is quite varied and interesting. Some really nice piano parts scattered throughout as well. It makes good background music. There sure were a lot of seagull noises though.

A Wizard, A True Star by Todd Rundgren

Wow, he really was doing a lot of drugs when he made this. Just pure psychedelic nightmare for like half the album...then some covers of soul/r&b songs for some reason...then more insanity. Really, really strange.

Master Of Puppets by Metallica

One of the best albums of all time for sure. They were at their prime here. Every track is killer, it flows well, just amazing.

4-Star Albums (33)

1-Star Albums (5)

All Ratings (118)

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme by Simon & Garfunkel
Sep 25 2024

Some choice hippie music here. Side A has more known singles, side B is a little more out there. Lots of juxtapositions between sweet-sounding vocal harmonies and anti-war rhetoric. Good times.

Dusty In Memphis by Dusty Springfield
Sep 26 2024

It's...okay. She has a great voice, but most of the songs were just boring.

Off The Wall by Michael Jackson
Sep 27 2024

Very good album, and amazing start to his real solo career. Love the funk and disco influence. Basslines are amazing.

Born In The U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen
Sep 28 2024

I'm sure this is beloved by a large swath of Americans, but...eh. Doesn't do much for me. The title track is soooo boring and monotonous, as are most of the non-single tracks. His voice is pretty grating. I guess I'm just not the target demographic. Some sweet saxophone soloes though.

Sep 29 2024

Oh man, I used to jam this album non-stop back in the day. Very well put together, flawless production. The first half has some genuine chart-topping hits, and deservedly so. The second half is pretty difficult to listen to, lyrics-wise. He was quite an angry fellow back then.

The Cars by The Cars
Sep 30 2024

Only knew one song before this. Great album! Seems ahead of its time, I thought this was an 80s release before checking the date. Lots of great tracks, really a good listen all the way through, with serious musicianship throughout, especially guitar and keyboards.

So by Peter Gabriel
Oct 01 2024

Sledgehammer is great. All the tracks have interesting percussion, solid bass, and varied, engaging synth work. A few tracks go on a bit long and a few are just boring. But overall a fun and interesting listen.

Fear Of A Black Planet by Public Enemy
Oct 02 2024

I appreciate the level of artistry involved in this album, even though I find it difficult to enjoy. The sheer volume of layers of samples sometimes makes it sound like 'noise', even when there is a constant backbeat. And not being part of the culture that produced this album makes it hard for me to really get into. However, I can definitely see why it has such a legacy.

We Are Family by Sister Sledge
Oct 03 2024

I of course knew the singles on the album, but haven't listened to much else by this artist. I enjoyed the whole thing, only a couple tracks were a bit slow, but the rest was high energy and funky. Bass work was super groovy. Overall an enjoyable listen.

Oct 04 2024

Not a big fan of big band or country music. That said, this is a well-made set of albums, and I can see the historical significance. Ray Charles had a great voice and energy. While I get that he was trying to put his own spin on these tracks, and that's why these are all big band arrangements, few of the songs (even in their original versions) actually seem like "country" to me. Perhaps those terms just meant something different back then.

The Gershwin Songbook by Ella Fitzgerald
Oct 05 2024

Yep, this is exactly what I expected it to be. Ella has a lovely voice, all the orchestration is superb. And it's all totally boring. Nice for background music I suppose. Just not for me.

NEU! 75 by Neu!
Oct 06 2024

I like the more ambient first half, as sort of background music. The "singing" in the second half is just absurd and not pleasant. It feels ahead of its time for 1975, with all the synth work and the sort of punk-ish feel. The drums and bass were pretty repetitive and boring, even in the higher-energy second half. Songs seemed like they just went on for too long, like this was a long jam session that was recorded. Overall, I can see how later artists might have been influenced by this, but I didn't super enjoy it.

Heaven Or Las Vegas by Cocteau Twins
Oct 07 2024

Airy and ethereal, every instrument is drenched in flange, phaser, chorus, reverb, or all of the above. Lyrics are impossible to understand for me, as the vocals are just as wet. Of course, after looking them up, they don't make any freaking sense anyway. Overall, pretty pleasant to listen to, but just a bit over-layered, which makes it sound jumbled.

Odelay by Beck
Oct 08 2024

A classic album, though this is the first time I've listened all the way through in one sitting. Beck is a master at smashing together a bewildering array of samples and genres. At times noise rock, country, punk, folk, electronic, it's hard to define. The singles get stuck in my head forever, and even the lesser known tracks are never boring.

Want Two by Rufus Wainwright
Oct 09 2024

Didn't know anything about this artist before listening, only heard a couple of tracks. It's pretty interesting, I enjoy his combination of baroque classical, piano, folk, and pop. His voice is a little whiney and not something I'd typically listen to. Reminds me a bit of Thom Yorke actually. Hard to really classify what genre this is, but enjoyable

Illinois by Sufjan Stevens
Oct 10 2024

Didn't know this artist at all before this. Quite interesting musically, all kinds of different things going on from track to track. The Illinois concept is fun, although I didn't pay too much attention to the lyrics. Pretty good, not something I would typically listen to, but I'm glad I did.

The Slider by T. Rex
Oct 11 2024

Eh, not bad. Pretty standard blues-rock to my ears. Marc has a unique voice for the genre, the album is decently rocking. Just not much stands out or hooks my attention. Overall it sounds like 70s rock.

Disraeli Gears by Cream
Oct 12 2024

Not a fan of Eric Clapton as a person, but I can see how people hold his guitar playing in high regard. Sunshine of Your Love is catchy and gets super stuck in my head. The rest of the tracks are enjoyable as well. Nothing mind-blowing, but a solid blues-rock record.

Deep Purple In Rock by Deep Purple
Oct 13 2024

A foundational album for hard rock and heavy metal for sure. Over-the-top singing, crunchy Hammond organ, monster riffs, it's all there. It's a completely different sound from the usual blues-based rock that many other bands were using at the time. There's no 12-bar progression, no formula, just chunky riffs chugging along with the organ tying it all together. Ritchie Blackmore is amazing.

Songs The Lord Taught Us by The Cramps
Oct 14 2024

Ugh. Having a hard time coming up with anything redeeming about this. I guess the whole psychobilly schtick is interesting, but man is it unpleasant to listen to. Vocals are impossible to understand, the guitars sound like they were recorded over AM radio with a broken speaker. Just not for me at all.

Definitely Maybe by Oasis
Oct 15 2024

Yep, sounds like Oasis. Not as familiar with this album as their next. It's fine, all the Oasis stuff is there, just nothing pops out at me. His voice is a bit whiney. Solid, but forgettable.

I'm Your Man by Leonard Cohen
Oct 16 2024

What the fuck was that!? I'm clearly not the target market for whatever this is. Creepy weirdo talk-singing about nonsense while cheesy 80s synth-pop plays in background is not my cup of tea.

Alien Lanes by Guided By Voices
Oct 17 2024

I mean...I guess some people like listening to garage ramblings of drunken 20-year-olds. There's maybe a certain charm to it, in an outsider-music kind of way. But I feel like I could have lived my life without ever hearing this and I wouldn't have missed anything. Guitars are out of tune, drums are off beat, it just sounds like a bunch of dudes who have no idea how to put together a cohesive song.

To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
Oct 18 2024

I enjoyed the overall flow of the album, and the bass work was exquisite. That said, it's not for me. I just don't relate to it, and that's fine, I'm not the target market.

Oct 19 2024

An absolute masterpiece. Sure, I've listened to this albums hundreds of times, but every single time it just gives me chills. Gilmour's guitar work is just achingly beautiful, the lush sonic soundscapes of Wright's keyboards transport the soul to another plane. The lyrics are imminently relatable, melancholy and timeless. I could go on forever.

Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys
Oct 20 2024

Sampling is on-point here. The construction is quite coherent, varied, and interesting. The boys seem like hilarious people to hang out with, the lyrics falling dangerously close to parody. Enjoyable, but not something I'd really choose to listen to. The voices get pretty grating at times, like they're shouting at me the whole time.

Bone Machine by Tom Waits
Oct 21 2024

Strange dude. It's like an album recorded in a dungeon, with the skeletons keeping rhythm and Tom is in the corner growling about craziness. Percussion stuff was interesting. Quite a singular record, though not something I'll probably listen to again.

Dookie by Green Day
Oct 22 2024

A classic album. Listened many times in high school, but then they got "too popular" and it wasn't cool to like them anymore. Still, I can sing every word of Basket Case. A very energetic, in your face album for the most part. I particularly enjoy some of the bass lines, there's a lot more going on than you might think.

Moving Pictures by Rush
Oct 23 2024

Just a monster of an album. Crazy talent from all three musicians. I've seen most of this album performed live, and it's just unbelievable that this much sound can come from only three dudes. I find myself humming one of the tracks from this album quite frequently. Some people are going to hate on Geddy's voice, and I get it, but...it just wouldn't be Rush without it. One of the best albums of all time, period.

Stripped by Christina Aguilera
Oct 24 2024

Not too shabby. She does a lot of genre exploration on this album, tracks are all over the place. Kind of lacks coherency because of that, although it is interesting to hear her try out many different sounds. It's all _very_ produced though, clean and sparkly. I'm not particularly enamored with pop music, so this doesn't really speak to me, but it is a solid effort, and I respect her decision to maintain tighter creative control and explore.

Timeless by Goldie
Oct 25 2024

Never heard of this artist. I dig the drum n bass/jungle groove, and the instrumentation on top of the beat is quite varied and interesting. Some really nice piano parts scattered throughout as well. It makes good background music. There sure were a lot of seagull noises though.

Hounds Of Love by Kate Bush
Oct 26 2024

Pretty good all in all. Love Running Up That Hill obviously, and the rest of the album is enjoyable. Her voice reminds me a lot of Tori Amos. The Irish jig on the second half was unexpected and fun. Definitely need to listen to more of her stuff.

Le Tigre by Le Tigre
Oct 27 2024

I couldn't get through listening to this. I'm sure the political messages resonate with people, and that's great. But it was just not pleasant for me to listen to. I didn't like the vocals, I didn't like the music, I didn't like the drums. It sounded like something that a bunch of kids would put together from random instruments laying around the house.

...And Justice For All by Metallica
Oct 28 2024

One of the formative albums of my youth. I had a tshirt with this album cover on it back in junior high. And what an album it is. Front to back, just pure thrash metal goodness. Yes, it's dumb that the bass is turned so low it's practically gone. But other than that everything is stellar. The lyrics are thought-provoking, the guitars are pure metal bliss.

Songs Of Leonard Cohen by Leonard Cohen
Oct 29 2024

Eh, it's alright. Better than the last Cohen album I heard. It just doesn't resonate with me the way it seems like all the critics seem to think it should. Not a fan of his vocal technique, it just sounds like lazy half-singing. There is a bit of inspired guitar playing which I was surprised to hear. He just sort of comes across as a haughty, elitist douchbag, whose girlfriends keep leaving him and he's all "It's not me, they're all the crazy ones!"

Phaedra by Tangerine Dream
Oct 30 2024

Some nice ambient electronic soundscapes. It's hard to believe this sort of thing existed in the 70s. The Moog synth was really a game changer. I enjoyed the album as background music.

My Aim Is True by Elvis Costello
Oct 31 2024

I maybe recognized "Alison", but other than that, didn't know this artist beforehand. Pleasantly surprised. It's just a really good straight up rock n roll album, calling back to 50s era rock while infusing it with some more modern elements. His voice is energetic and ever-so-slightly over-the-top, but never grating. There's elements of rock, blues, folk, even reggae present. Will definitely be looking forward to another album by this artist.

BEYONCÉ by Beyoncé
Nov 01 2024

I enjoyed the sound design and the general feel of most of the music. Certainly a subwoofer-fest on most tracks. She has a lovely voice as well. However, nothing really stuck out to me or blew me away. Several songs felt overly long. Clearly I'm not the target demographic.

Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
Nov 02 2024

Phenomenal album. It's hard to believe it was their last one, with all the good tracks on here. I enjoy the slightly less "folk-y" approach, with drums and horns and such, it gives the tracks more presence.

Nov 04 2024

It's a difficult listen, but rewarding in some ways. The odd instrumental lineup (I think they have like 2 bassists and 3 drummers) takes some getting used to, and the fact that almost none of the tracks have any sort of normal musical arrangement is likewise strange. The 20+ min opener is more like 5-10 short semi-musical interludes connected by rhythmic noise. A few tracks have some genuinely interesting grooves in them, and I appreciate the constantly changing odd time signatures. Not something I would probably listen to again, but intriguing.

In Utero by Nirvana
Nov 05 2024

It's hard to imagine just how big of an impact Nirvana had on music in the 90s. To the point that I genuinely got tired of hearing All Apologies multiple times every day for years. That said, it's still an enduring part of the American music landscape, as is Heart-Shaped Box, and to a lesser extent, Dumb and Pennyroyal Tea. The rest of the tracks on the album are, well, not quite as memorable or as enjoyable. But on the whole, the album is as genuine an experience as you can have.

It's alright, but nothing really stands out to me. The second half of the album has some more interesting stuff (Thom Yorke collabs, some odd time signatures). But ultimately it was pretty forgettable.

Exile In Guyville by Liz Phair
Nov 07 2024

Man, this is the most early-90s sounding album I've heard in a long time. Her voice is a mixture of apathy and angst, like April Ludgate singing about how much she doesn't care about love. The guitar is almost completely clean+chorus+reverb throughout. While a nice, nostalgic time capsule, it fails to really grab my attention, and her voice gets old.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Nov 08 2024

There's a couple of good tracks, Breakdown and American Girl are classics. Most of the rest didn't do too much for me.

Nov 09 2024

Wow, what a great album. I wasn't much into Elton John when I was younger, but the more I listen to his 60s-70s albums, the more I understand what a musical genius he is. So many great tracks on here, from the singles that everybody knows, to some of the longer, more instrumental pieces. And a couple of just flat out goofy ones. The whole thing is enjoyable front to back.

Sunshine Superman by Donovan
Nov 10 2024

I did actually know a couple tracks on this album, although I'd never heard of this artist before. It's pretty good, kinda psychedelic, more sitar sprinkled throughout than I would have thought.

Car Wheels On A Gravel Road by Lucinda Williams
Nov 11 2024

It started off pop and veered into country pretty fast. Eh, doesn't do much for me. Her voice is kind of grating and drunk sounding. I do enjoy some of the guitar work.

1984 by Van Halen
Nov 12 2024

Man, Eddie Van Halen is a monster. There are guitar sounds on this album that I still have no idea how he made. And all the other musicians are great as well, just a very cohesive, fun album. Truly a seismic shift for rock music.

Nov 13 2024

Really interesting. I wasn't expecting so much orchestration from a rock band, but it was really well done. There were moments when the whole song would dissolve into a cacophony of noise only to resolve back into a coherent song again. It has a psychedelic vibe to it, but markedly different from the earlier 60s-70s era. Good times.

Billion Dollar Babies by Alice Cooper
Nov 14 2024

Not too shabby. It's funny, if I didn't already know Alice Cooper's schtick, I wouldn't have picked up on it from this album, except for maybe a couple of tracks. It just sounds like a good 70s rock album. I enjoyed it, but probably wouldn't add it to my playlist.

In Our Heads by Hot Chip
Nov 15 2024

Wow, this was pretty good. I really dig the combination of electronic and acoustic instruments, and several of the songs were very catchy. Will definitely be checking out other stuff from this artist.

Let's Stay Together by Al Green
Nov 16 2024

Classic album. Just such a nice groovy background music. The bass and rhythm work is great, and Al's voice is pure honey.

Giant Steps by The Boo Radleys
Nov 17 2024

A lot of different genres all shoehorned in here, but it works. We've got rock, reggae, country, a bit of psychedelic freakout, all swirled around together. I dig it.

Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock
Nov 19 2024

Wow, that was a trip. It's jazz through and through, with all the various instruments weaving their melodies together in a chaotic swirl of sounds. You can definitely hear the funk influence in the bass and punchy drum parts. If you like jazz-fusion, this should be right up your alley. Personally, while I found it interesting, I probably wouldn't seek it out to listen again, though the musicianship is undeniable.

The Stranger by Billy Joel
Nov 20 2024

Not a bad song on this whole album, and almost every one is a complete classic. Billy Joel is an incredibly talented songwriter, every track is just beautiful. And of course his piano playing is amazing, just effortlessly cool. The band he put together is great as well. All in all, highly recommended.

The Köln Concert by Keith Jarrett
Nov 21 2024

Eh...he's a very talented piano player and accomplished improvisor. I just...don't want to listen to two hours of piano wankery.

Ten by Pearl Jam
Nov 22 2024

I know every bit of this album by heart. Crazy that this was their debut, it absolutely rocks from front to back. Eddie Vedder's vocal stylings might not be for everyone, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Surfer Rosa by Pixies
Nov 23 2024

Well that was a strange one. I had only heard Where Is My Mind? before today, which is pretty weird by itself. The rest of the album is even weirder. I can definitely hear the roots of Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins, even maybe a little Toadies. The fact that this came out in 1988 is crazy, definitely feels ahead of its time. The grindy guitars and batshit vocal delivery give it a manic feel, like the whole thing was created during a particularly goofy psychotic break. All in all, very interesting, although I doubt I'd listen again.

It's A Shame About Ray by The Lemonheads
Nov 24 2024

I had heard the cover of Mrs. Robinson before, but none of the rest. It's fine, nothing crazy, not much that was memorable. Just generic, acoustic guitar-based 90s rock.

Blue by Joni Mitchell
Nov 25 2024

Beautiful album. Joni's voice is just wonderful, the guitar and piano work is amazing, it's just a nice rainy day album.

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
Nov 26 2024

So many great songs on here. I'll admit a little bias for Stevie Nicks, I generally like her songs better than the other band members' compositions. However even the other tracks are very good, it's just a wonderful 70s rock album.

Pacific Ocean Blue by Dennis Wilson
Nov 27 2024

Decent classic rock, with the addition of horns here and there. His voice is nice, and the instrumentation is interesting. Nothing grabbed my attention though.

Buffalo Springfield Again by Buffalo Springfield
Nov 28 2024

A pretty decent classic folk rock album. Nothing super memorable, but enjoyable to listen to.

Is This It by The Strokes
Nov 29 2024

Sigh...I wanted to like this, since they seem like such a renowned and influential band. The production is well done, with an old-timey garage rock feel. But like...I just don't care about it at all. The drums are boring, the guitars seem to do nothing but straight 16th strumming the whole time, the vocals are all passed through a narrow band filter that makes them sit behind the mix. It just doesn't excite me at all. And it doesn't sound authentic to me, it sounds like "we spent a whole bunch of money and polish to make this sound like a garage record" with no soul at all.

Court And Spark by Joni Mitchell
Nov 30 2024

Pretty good. Nothing super standout to me, but I enjoyed it as a sort of pleasant background music. Her voice is always very distinctive, and I appreciate that her lyrics are often quite personal and reflective.

En-Tact by The Shamen
Dec 01 2024

Mostly this sounds like the club music you would hear in a movie set in the 80s-early-90s. It's interesting, but nothing too revolutionary. The MC on some of the tracks is...eh.

Now I Got Worry by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Dec 02 2024

Loud and abrasive. It's got some real soul to it for sure, and they all sound like they're having a lot of fun. Just...not particularly pleasant to listen to for me.

The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
Dec 03 2024

Not familiar with this band at all. Pretty unique feel, no real distortion on the guitars, pretty groovy basslines, and the singer's voice is pretty nice. Slapback delay on all vocals gets old. Kinda new-wavy, but without any electronics. Overall pleasant, but nothing standout.

Reign In Blood by Slayer
Dec 04 2024

Never really cared for Slayer in the past, but I figured I'd give this an honest shot. While the guitar work is definitely top-notch, and I love metal in all it's various types, this just isn't doing it for me. I _hate_ the vocals so much. It just sounds like the band wrote a bunch of songs, and the singer came in and yelled a bunch of silly poetry on top, not even on the beat half the time. And I'd love it if the drums did anything other than blast beats 90% of the time. So...not for me.

Paranoid by Black Sabbath
Dec 05 2024

Oh man, such a great album. Every single track is killer. Truly a foundational album for any metal fan. The sludgy guitar, the funky bass, the driving beats, and Ozzy's singular voice, all come together to form a monster.

Dec 06 2024

The singles are good and catchy (though they've definitely been played to death). The rest of the tracks are interesting from a technical standpoint, just oodles of samples cut and manipulated expertly. However, most of them seem twice as long as they need to be, and the vocal samples quickly get tiresome.

Dec 07 2024

So many great songs on this album. I appreciate how the whole thing flows continually as well. There's a some silliness here and there, but mostly its a solid theatrical classic rock album.

Celebrity Skin by Hole
Dec 08 2024

Better than I thought it would be. Kinda grungy, kinda poppy, very well produced. Enjoyed the singing as well.

The Wall by Pink Floyd
Dec 09 2024

One of my top favorite albums of all time. It's a bit more meandering than, say, Dark Side of the Moon, but the story it tells is top notch. So many great individual songs, and yet it flows as an album so well.

Elephant by The White Stripes
Dec 10 2024

Pretty fun. I enjoyed Jack's unorthodox guitar work. His over-the-top singing style with the slapback echo started to get a bit annoying, but overall a good album.

Triangle by The Beau Brummels
Dec 11 2024

Surprisingly nice. It had a kind of whimsical, fantastical feel to it, a bit more interesting than a lot of folk rock. I would definitely check out more by this artist.

One World by John Martyn
Dec 12 2024

Pretty nice background music. The guitar work was pleasant and it all had a kind of island-getaway feel to it. Nothing stand out, but not too shabby.

Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin
Dec 13 2024

Really enjoyed it. I didn't realize her music could be so funky. The basslines in particular were quite groovy, and of course her voice is just amazing.

Crime Of The Century by Supertramp
Dec 14 2024

A lot more progressive than I thought it would be, with a solid pop rock base. I enjoyed a lot of the more extended jams.

Water From An Ancient Well by Abdullah Ibrahim
Dec 15 2024

Sigh. I want to like jazz more than I do. From my musician standpoint, there's a lot of really interesting stuff going on with all the instruments, especially the bass. I like the several different saxophones. But man, it's just so boring to listen to for an entire album.

Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
Dec 16 2024

Every track on this album is a banger. Side 1 starts off strong, veers into some really nice acoustic work, then smacks you with Stairway. Side 2 builds and builds then finishes strong with Levee. One of Led Zep's absolute best works.

Punishing Kiss by Ute Lemper
Dec 19 2024

This was pretty bizarre, but interesting. She has a very dramatic voice, fitting for her musical theater background. And each track has a very distinct feel for each collaborator. Not something I'd seek out, but intriguing and weird.

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins
Dec 20 2024

I knew a bunch of songs from this album, but hadn't ever really listened to the whole thing at once. There's a lot to digest here, quite a range of sounds and volumes and noises, all with Corgan's screechy voice doing it's thing on top. Some really beautiful quieter songs, and some really rocking anthems. It was maybe a bit long, but overall an amazing album

Urban Hymns by The Verve
Dec 21 2024

Obviously I had heard Bittersweet Symphony a million times, but nothing else by this artist. The rest of the album sounds like a kind of fever-dream of the 90s. Everything sound vaguely familiar, but not exactly memorable.

Protection by Massive Attack
Dec 22 2024

It's...fine. I dig the slightly dub rhythms on many of the tracks. Nothing really grabbed me though, unlike some of Massive Attack's other work. It's pleasant background music.

Fear and Whiskey by Mekons
Dec 23 2024

Well...that was pretty weird. Sounded like some rowdy English blokes that have a cursory knowledge of country music getting plastered and trying it out for the first time without tuning anything. Certainly unique, not something I can take at all seriously.

Madman Across The Water by Elton John
Dec 24 2024

Really good album, though not perhaps my favorite by him. There's some beautiful piano playing throughout, Elton's singing is always entertaining, though sometimes it can be difficult to understand what he's saying.

Graceland by Paul Simon
Dec 25 2024

Pretty good, lots of different musical styles incorporated. Some of it works really well, some of it...is a bit over the top. The musicianship is top-notch, especially the bass work which is phenomenal. Overall a quite interesting listen.

Dec 26 2024

Classic Christmas album. These are all great versions of these songs, and the classic Spector production is in full swing. Definitely in rotation every year.

Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf
Dec 28 2024

Ooookaaay. I did not realize this was going to be basically musical theater music. I mean, it's well put together for what it is, and he has an impressive singing voice, but I can't take it seriously at all. Some of the spoken word parts were uncomfortable.

Face to Face by The Kinks
Dec 29 2024

Pretty stock 60s rock to my ears. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't too memorable.

Truth And Soul by Fishbone
Jan 01 2025

Really interesting. Such a wide range of genres: funk, rock, ska, blues, you name it. Musicianship was top notch, from the groovy bass lines to the syncopated beats to the blistering guitar solos. And the lyrics tackle some pretty deep issues despite the music sounding so upbeat and lively.

A Wizard, A True Star by Todd Rundgren
Jan 03 2025

Wow, he really was doing a lot of drugs when he made this. Just pure psychedelic nightmare for like half the album...then some covers of soul/r&b songs for some reason...then more insanity. Really, really strange.

Document by R.E.M.
Jan 04 2025

Sounds just like an R.E.M. album! Shocking, I know. In all seriousness, there's a couple of great tracks, and most of the rest are good but not particularly memorable. Unless you love R.E.M., then this'll be just what you were looking for.

Locust Abortion Technician by Butthole Surfers
Jan 05 2025

Yeesh, this may be the worst thing I've ever heard. There's just nothing redeeming. Half the tracks are literally just noise, the other half are noise with a beat.

Ingenue by k.d. lang
Jan 06 2025

Really interesting. I enjoyed her voice quite a bit, and the sort of loungy, cabaret feel was not what I was expecting. There's a lot of Latin-sounding rhythms which were also not expected, but with more country acoustic guitars and fiddle. Oh, and some Italian-esque accordian stuff. Quite an intriguing mix of stuff going on.

If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears by The Mamas & The Papas
Jan 07 2025

Pretty damn good for a first album. Several singles on here are their most popular and well-known songs. All the harmonies are really interesting, and the chord progressions can be surprising. All in all a solid effort.

Songs For Swingin' Lovers! by Frank Sinatra
Jan 08 2025

Yep, sounds like Sinatra. Upbeat big band orchestration with his signature smooth vocals, it's exactly what you think of when you think of his music. Not something I particularly want to listen to often, but this is a very nice collection of songs when you're in the mood.

First Band On The Moon by The Cardigans
Jan 12 2025

Surprisingly great! I only knew that one song, but really the whole album was pretty fun. Her voice is pleasant, the instrumentation is interesting (multiple flute solos?!), beats and bass are on point. And an off the wall cover of a Black Sabbath song? What? Good times.

Sheet Music by 10cc
Jan 17 2025

First time hearing this band. It's pretty good, they definitely have a sense of humor about themselves, but it doesn't veer quite into parody territory. Musically this was mildly progressive 70s rock, all good, nothing too crazy. I dig it, would definitely check out more by them.

All Things Must Pass by George Harrison
Jan 18 2025

Really good. There were a few standout tracks, My Sweet Lord is a classic for sure, but even the more mundane tracks were so well produced and nice to listen to. The extended jam on the bonus disc is just great example of wonderful musicians doing what they do best. The album doesn't really have a typical narrative or anything, but is held together by a cohesive sense of Harrison-ness that is quite welcome.

Hejira by Joni Mitchell
Jan 19 2025

A very pleasant experience. Of course the bass work by Jaco is just phenomenal, and is the reason I bought this album in the first place. Joni's usual penchant for singing long flows of words with no thought to any rhyming scheme is evident here as usual. Just a straight up storyteller that happens to sing instead of speaking. It's hard to really pin down what genre any of this is, some sort of folk/pop/jazz amalgamation.

Idlewild by Everything But The Girl
Jan 20 2025

Fine for background music. Just kinda low-key and unengaging. I enjoy some of their later work more, when they went a little more electronic. This is just kinda...meh.

Highway to Hell by AC/DC
Jan 24 2025

I will admit a bit of bias, as I love AC/DC to death. I fully appreciate that 90% of their songs sound exactly the same to most people. That said, this album is pretty good, but not their best. The title track is a genuine classic, there's a couple of other bangers, the rest are just ok. It was the last album with their original lead singer, so it gets a bit of a bump for that.

The Clash by The Clash
Jan 25 2025

I appreciate the historical significance of this band, but I don't really enjoy listening to it. The music is well done, if simple. The vocals just don't do it for me. If you like punk a whole lot you might enjoy this more than me.

Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette
Jan 28 2025

It's amazing how many radio hits this one album has on it. Production is tight and clean, very well crafted. And having member of RHCP playing on tracks definitely helps. Overall very good.

Jan 30 2025

The first three tracks are great. After that it just descends into monotony. The Edge's delay-based guitar grooves, straight ahead drum and bass, and Bono's ridiculous crooning, over and over. Meh.

The Next Day by David Bowie
Jan 31 2025

Eh, it was pretty enjoyable. I think I might have vaguely recognized a couple of the tracks. Nothing super standout, but a solid Bowie album.

Odessey And Oracle by The Zombies
Feb 01 2025

Pretty good 60s rock, nothing too standout.

Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
Feb 02 2025

Pretty good. I adore the vocal harmonies from a musical standpoint, and there are a few standout tracks on here for sure. The non-single tracks are still good, but don't get stuck in my head the way the more well-known tracks do. Nice to hear them branching out a bit from straight surf rock.

Revolver by Beatles
Feb 03 2025

Man, I know and love every track on this album. While not quite as concept-y as later albums, this and Rubber Soul were really a turning point for the band. Their earlier work, while still great, had more of an old-timey feel for me. This feels so ahead of its time that it's hard to believe it came out in 66.

Rubber Soul by Beatles
Feb 10 2025

I just love the Beatles. This is another where I know every single track, and they're all great. Norwegian Wood is one of my favorite songs to play on guitar, it's just fun. You can see a lot of their future musical work presaged in this album.

Cheap Thrills by Big Brother & The Holding Company
Feb 11 2025

Interesting hearing Joplin with a whole band. That said, it was a little tough to get through. Not a huge fan of her voice.

Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand
Feb 23 2025

Yep, that sounded about like I figured it would. I knew Take Me Out before this, that's it. This is a slice of indie rock from the 00s that is pretty typical of the genre. Lots of disco beats, chugging, barely overdriven guitars, quirky filtered vocals, it's got it all. It's fine, just not a sound I particularly care about.

Maggot Brain by Funkadelic
Mar 04 2025

That was quite an experience. I was not expecting a 10 minute guitar solo as an opening track. Lots of rock elements as well, not just straight up funk. Very talented musicians.

Master Of Puppets by Metallica
Mar 15 2025

One of the best albums of all time for sure. They were at their prime here. Every track is killer, it flows well, just amazing.

Wordsmith

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