1001 Albums Summary

THIS IS NOT MUSIC! this is foul-mouthed pretentious self-indulgence with no musical content, innovation or inspiration..

one of those albums that has to be taken in its cultural context. As another reviewer noted (although not made much of at the time) the Sex Pistols were really a punk boy band manufactured to fill a niche and with all the hype their PR could make. Even given that they still sound full of energy and with a couple of great tracks although the whole is a bit repetitive.

Ages well. Great concept album I've never heard but it has strong songwriting and typical Kinks playing. Pity about 'Australia' being so long, half the time would have been fine. Will listen again.

brilliant live album, what a sound from just the four of them. Best bass/drums combination in the business.

ok but nothing special. preferred the second half of the album to the first.Nothing to get me excited about in this album but pleasant enough to listen again.

what I call bedroom music - sounds like something you would make up in your bedroom. Lacking anything interesting either musically or lyricly. Taking into account the year it might have some interest; track 3 has possivilities but they are never pursued, just more of the same! Iggy Pop doesn't do much and the guitar is just big chords.

Good voice, pleasant enough to listen to again but with no 'sparkl' that makes it special for me. Can't put my finger on what is lacking, perhaps its just that the amalgamation of different styles and backing confuses rather than interests me.

terrible! All the tracks the same; an intro that sounds promising and then just the same rhythmic guitar chords with that awful voice. 'under siege' and 'orgathron' have possibilities of turning into something interesting but all the rest was the same head-banging boredom.

Southern boogie rock with a touch of blues, what more could you ask for! They swing and the album has a variety of styles that precludes boredom. good voices, some wicked playing although a bit lead guitar heavy sometimes, but then this was the era of the lead guitar and it never becomes indulgent. Great album and I will listen again.

Enjoyable album even though i'm not a great fan of this genre. Good voice and varied style with really competent playing.It's real and Christine projects this well and sincerely.

what a beautiful combination of the two voices. OK its dated but the backing instrumentation is still varied. excellent album.

wow ... didn't expect this! I liked it ... don't know why though. Great album, even with all the long tracks although 'all my friends' did attack me with that bloody repetitive piano :( Kept me engaged from first track to last with its organic repitition, even that (rather thin) voice seemes to fit, funnily enough I thought the first and last tracks especially good and idiomatic.

great sound and variety. Liked it a lot but hip-hop has never been my scene although I appreciate its quality. Some really good tracks and varied enough to keep my attention.

boring ... drums play the same rhythm through each song (although different for each), could be a drum machine. Voice characterless and instrumentation boring. Nothing to bring me back here.

she has a nice voice when she isn't doing all that "breathy" stuff. Tracks all seem to have the same slow tempo and structure, gets a bit boring after a while, could do with a few more upbeat tracks. As a singer/songwriter she is ok at telling little stories but she hasn't got any 'hooks' in her songs that make them memorable. I get a sense of disappointment that it could be so much more. Favourite tracks were 'Dark but just a game' and 'Breaking up slowly'. with 'For free' also standing out but this latter is a Joni Mitchell song and she did it better in 1970, in fact this last track only leads you to compare with Joni and I'm afraid the latter wins, even after 50 years - listen to 'Ladies of the Canyon'. All-in-all a nice album but too "samey" and fairs poorly in comparison with Joni Mitchell.

Don't know what it is with these older productions but they do seem to have more stereo separation than the more recent albums. The Rolling Stones were not appreciated at this time for their innovation, quality or insight but this album illustrates all these properties although it is overwhelmingly a blues-feel album before they got "harder". 'Sympathy for the Devil' is one of my favourite tracks by any group; inventive, energetic, great instrumentation and vocals with totally relevant guitar from Keith; timeless. 'no expectations' shows them in their best bluesy style with great vocals and guitar work; notice not a drum in sight, rhythm provided by backing guitar and piano (Nicky Hopkins); precursor to their 'Wild Horses' track. 'Dear Doctor' is their attempt at some kind of country blues style but I don't think it works and find this the weakest track on the album. 'Street Fighting Man' is just the "Stones"in all their glory, except it lacks a raging lead guitar solo! 'Factory Girl' is a strange one, feels like their aiming for a "folksy" Incredible String Band kind of style - I like it! Sometimes I wonder what Jagger is doing with his voice, it doesn't come across as natural at all on some tracks. Not their best album but its still great and a precursor to what is to come.

What's with female singers and the breathy/throaty voices they put on! Ok as an example of the genre but nothing special; its well produced and she has a nice voice but its so generic in the tempo, style and structure. Some production electronics and arrangements seem to me more for effect than adding to or supporting the song and generally no variety in either the songs or subjects, overly self-centred. Did quite like 'Liability' though! Ok and listenable but it doesn't make me want to rush out and get anything else by her.

Typical heavy metal riffs but some interesting interludes that hint to a more interesting sound. Unfortunately we always come back to the relatively uninteresting metal guitar chords that do nothing for me.

Still resonates after all this time. Nice production keeps the voice and guitar up front but with some interesting arrangements. You can tell that he was originally a poet, lyrics are amazing and full of allegory and metaphor (whichever is which) about personal love, religion and philosophy that keeps your head spinning. He has a fair handle on melody and musical phrasing even though he is primarily a wordsmith. An absolute classic! One of the great artists of all time.

I'm tired of groups where you can't make out the lyrics! Derivitive of its era, each track depends on the clashing guitar chords with little musical input although 'Complications', 'so36' and 'changes' have possibilities with more production work and song structure. All in all an album I will not bother returning to.

Its got a groove, its fun and I like it! Some tracks may be a bit over-long but overall its not boring and has some style. Even though its not my favourite genre I appreciate the groove it evokes and the sounds it makes.

Not my scene, just background musak. nothing here to get me interested.

Not my culture, cannot relate and not interesting musically enough to make it other than repetitive. This has just enough small musical interludes not to dismiss it entirely. but please no more rap albums!

A great alvum with flair and energy. Liked all his covers and the variety. The constant use of the horn section to just blow some notes got a bit predictable, could have let them have at least one solo! Not my favourite style of singing but there is enough blues-style and variety to keep me engaged. A good album.

well ... why did anyone record this rubbish! No musical content, no vocals other than animal grunts, no variety ... in fact no content at all. Perhaps the worst album I've ever heard, every track sounds the same ... and they are all rubbish. Thats time I'll never get back again.

The BeachBoys moving on and reinventing themselves but without losing their early legacy. Brian Wilson's production, the songs and their performance make this an innovative album for its time and it ages well. 'Sloop John B' and 'God Only Knows' are the stand out tracks to me, particularly the latter.

well this is different ... I'm not concerned about missing anything while I type my responses! Is it anything else but background music? Interesting but nothing to sit down and listen carefully to, almost an intellectual exercise in trying to figure out where the subtle changes come in but ultimately the music never goes anywhere but on ... and on ... and on. The best you can say about this is its pleasant enough to have playing in the background as you get on with your life. Nothing musically interesting or challenging, typically 90's music or is that just letting my prejudices show!

I was wrong, there was music in the 90's! Disregarding all the personal stuff, the music is grand. The little musical riffs that quote T Rex et al in the 70's are intriguing and appropriate giving us old fogeys something to chew over. I like this album with its variety although his voice sometimes is "too nice and polite" for some of the tracks. I'll listen to more of him.

not again !!! Another vocalist who can't sing and I can only make out occasional words. Every track the same - some production mix then that noise, can't even tell if anyone can actually play their instrument except the drums and they could be a drum machine. No more, please lets have some albums that can at least be classed as music.

Pretty good start with 'debaser' and I also like 'maze of mutilation'. A band that plays actual songs even though they are all a kind of dark, but different. They are not afraid to refer back to the 60s/70s with songs like 'here comes a man', I like it. 'mr. grives' is another track I like; in fact I enjoyed the whole album!. This album shows an evolution from what went previously, rather than a reaction to it; perhaps that is why I like it. I also appreciate the honest production. A group I would listen to again, if I had the time.

A bit too many production gimmicks for my liking, although these are needed because there is not much to the songs without them. A few tracks like 'I See' work as complete songs but most come over as production and remix exercises, pleasant as they may be. A good enough album but doesn't hold my attention; will work well as background music with the head coming up occasionally to listen for something of interest

I like this one! At least the alvum contains songs that make sense. Vocalist is so so; his voice is ok for some tracks but others would benefit from a change, he is not the most solid and has limited range of expression. Like the guitar riffs and general sound. All in all a pretty good album.

I'm sure I've heard better from her; a very bare group and she shares the spotlight with the piano. Her voice appears harsh at times and the track listing is pretty samey. Nice but nothing spectacular.

From the first chords of 'War Pigs' you know what you are going to get! I haven't listened to this album for years and had forgotten how good it is; that Iommi guitar with Ozzies vocals just fit perfectly; just like they do in in 'Paranoid'. ... but then they can also do distracting stuff like 'Planet Caravan' which is almost an America west coast sound, brilliant. Then there is 'Iron Man' with that amazing riff that says it all. Butler and Ward create a solid backing for tony and Ozzie. Every track on this album is different and great, from 'War Pigs' through 'planet Caravan' and 'Hand of Doom' to 'Iron man' and 'Electric Hero' finishing off with the ubiquitous (for that time) instrumental/drum solo of 'Rat Salad' and the almost bluesy 'Fairies Wear Boots'. We were so spoiled in the early 70's with the four greatest rock/metal groups of all time - Black Sabbath, The Who,Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin.

Another new group to me and another one to add to my favourites; how did I miss this one! Tracks are varied in style so no boredom and they have great arrangements and production. One of the vocalist sounds at times like Brian Ferry from Roxy Music so that can't be bad! The instrumentalists sound good too. I like this kind of music genre and this album is an excellent example of it.

They come over as trying to be a US version of early Pink Floyd. Sounds like 60/70's psychedelia in places. Generally I like it although some tracks are just too long and repetitive. Somehow they are missing "it" although I'm not sure what "it" is; perhaps a decent hook or riff that makes a track memorable. All-in-all good and listenable but not great. It was surprising to me that this was 1997, sounds much earlier.

Great album facing a really dark subject but with compassion; see 'Freddies dead'. Love the arrangements perhaps over-orchestrated but the percussion is great and the voice suits this style. I like the first two tracks, especially 'Pusherman'. Not usually a fan of soul but this early example really works for me. The last 2 tracks are also great; where does the 'think' instrumental come from? - love it but its certainly out of the context of the album as a whole. I don't know what came first -the album or the film (which I've never seen) but this certainly comes over as cinematic and I can hear it would be perfect for a film.

Gabriel has a great, distinctive voice and it works well on this album. Definitely a solo and not a group album as there is no "feel" for the whole and it seems at times it is oberly production-driven. I knew there was something missing and it wasn't until I read-up a little that I realised it was the "design decision" by Gabriel to ban the use of cymbals! A blanket ban on anything is counter-productive and I think you find that here, where some of the tracks could benefit. Overall an interesting and absorbing album with my favourite tracks being 'Family Photograph', 'Games without Frontiers' (a classic of all time), 'Not One of Us' and 'Biko'.

Just isn't my kind of music - too "noisy".

Two tracks down and what a great album so far! I had heard of Iron Maiden but had thought of them as just a wall of guitars heavy metal band but I have never listened to them and I am mightily impressed (after 2 tracks anyway!). The comparison that immediately comes to mind is of Deep purple. Playing is of high quality, arrangements are relevant to the track and a great voice with good clear and distinct production (on the remaster at least). 'Invaders' really does carry the meaning of the song without any over-the-top sound effects (noise). What we have here is authentic heavy rock, not heavy metal, except for the frantic pace. 'Children of the Damned' is great with at least 4 different styles merging seamlessly into a wonderfully atmospheric track, reminds me in some ways of 'Stairway to Heaven'! I don't know if you've seen the TV series 'The Prisoner' that this track is supposed to derive from but it is old and good, worth a watch - just like this track is worth a listen. The rest of the album is great too although more traditionally "heavy". Band playing is tremendous at times and I love some of those guitar riffs ... and that voice is just perfect for this type of music. Definetly an album to revisit.

nice enough album with some excellent playing but I think Ry Cooder is a bit superfluous in that he just plays his own style and doesn't really engage with the album style. Cannot really engage with me since the style is in a totally different culture and most of the tracks are songs in an unknown language so with no meaning to me. In fact I often moved on to the next track after the first verse since there was little if any change in the musical accompaniment, the story is told by the lyrics that I don't understand. Some nice music though.

brilliant - this and foxtrot are their two best albums. Every track is different and every track is an event, with no gratuitous instrumental solos, everything is in the service of the track, only 'The Cinema Show' is a bit self-indulgent and goes on a wee bit long. I had always thought the first track was 'Selling England by the Pound', only paying a bit more attention now I see it is 'Walking in Moonlight' - it is still as brilliant as it ever was though! One of my best ever albums.

i like this one; lots of intresting tracks and full of energy. Good musicianship at times trying to hide under the "punk" banner. The vocalist does annoy me sometimes when it feels like he is trying to put a voice on. Overall a really interesting and good album

Why do modern vocalists never hold the tune, they always seem to feel they need "twiddly bits" in their voice and I don't like it. Only track I liked was 'Close My Eyes', all the rest were either too hip-hop for me, had too many production tweaks, had too much voice twiddles, or bits of all 3! No doubt she has a fine voice but let it reflect the music and stop all this showing off.

I enjoyed this one and have even added it to my favourites on Tidal. Tracks are varied enough to retain interest and Tosh's vocal is clear so that you're not trying to figure out what he is singing as you have to do in many albums. Like the style, the voice, the songs and the playing.

Lou Reed escapes from some of the eccentricities of the Warhol factory and gets to grips with his music in this enjoyable album. The first track ('Candy Says'0 sets out his agenda and it appears to be actual songs and music that mean something to him, is it autobiographical? The tracks don't disappoint and the vocals are always clear with no over-produced arrangements, these support the lyrics and are well-played; although I couldn't make sense of 'the Murder Mystery' which does go on a bit. I hear a sardonic wit at work here and the seeds of his "Transformer" album (which I love).

Of course I've heard of Bjork but I've never heard Bjork before! Is the first track in English or Icelandic? couldn't make out the words although I'm sure I heard a couple of English words; the overly predominant strings didn't help. Unfortunately this is the whole album. I'll give you that it is different with long tracks that have interesting (sometimes) arrangements but the voice is neither strong enough nor varied enough to carry these. Also the tracks in general have the same tempo and are, in a word, boring. Skipped to the next track often during my listening. I Believe there is an instrumental string version of this album and, if I could be bothered, this might make a more pleasurable experience. Not a fan; heard of Bjork, heard Bjork and now I can ignore Bjork!

What an enjoyable listen, always sounds like they are having fun; right from the first track ... oh my gosh ... from folk fiddles to a horn section in the second track - love it. I must admit the second half of the album doesn't match up to the initial thrill of the first half though. Well-produced with varied, relevant and enjoyable arrangements. The vocals suit the style really well and they always sound as if they are having fun, often the production makes it almost live. ... and we have a new anthem in 'Old'!

I really enjoy this late 60's west coast style, they seem very free but are still melodic and tuneful. Love were a great group and these tracks do them justice, I think; they even have a nod to the UK pop style of the time in 'The Daily Planet' and 'The red telephone'. In fact, listening to them I get quite a strong UK groove through all the tracks, except for the horns that are very American in the way they are used on some tracks, reminds me of The Kinks or The Incredible String Band. Overall a very entertaining album with some good tracks; may not be earth-shattering but well-voiced and well-played.

Never even heard of them before now but they are one of the more accomplished punk bands I've heard. Although every track (as usual) descends into the common guitar wall and tempo there is enough variety here to keep you engaged. I'm left wondering what happened to them, they have glimpses of what could be!

I listened to a remaster and was not impressed; voices in the right channel and instruments in the left channel, not exactly revolutionary! Early Beatles are not that impressive, like a boy band but they can all play and the harmonic vocals are the highlight. All the tracks on this album are about girls (except for 'Roll Over Beethoven' and 'Money') which rather limits its variety but the songs do work well individually, even without the production that enriches later work. Given its era, it is really good but it is what comes later that raises this up as a group that can grow and grow.

I like this southern rock genre and this group do it well. One of those groups I had heard of at the time but lack of money meant they were not on my priority list and so I'd never listened to them. Love the style and the typical guitar riffs and the voice is great for the style. Would listen to more of them.

another group I had heard of but never listened to. Great start but after a few tracks I was disturbed ... but why? After a bit more of a listen I realised that there was potential here but the vocals were letting it down. Male voice is weak and female voices seem fine on backing but when it takes the lead it seems to lose any musicality. I like the arrangements and many tracks have potential but end up in the same kind of tempo and groove. Disappointing given what it could be.

Not a great fan of this genre of music but at least this albm has some interesting arrangements sometimes. Generally ift is just the same old collection of love-oriented rambles; I wish they would get rid of the high voice and have more of the bass one. Does not inspire and very much a product of its era.

This is not music its just sound! Has nothing to commend it

Yet another punk album, and they are all the same; shouting lyrics, fast tempo and wall of guitars! Not a lot here that is different but the song intros do allow for some hope ... but no ... they just go back to the standard genre. I did quite like 'TV Story' though. Nothing particularly noteworthy otherwise.

One of the greats - innovative and brilliantly played, the start of folk-rock. The mix I am listening to has the drums too far forward in 'Come All Ye' and it makes the song seem rather repetitive unless you listen to the soaring, almost jazz-like, instrumentation. Sandy Denny is just coming in to her own in this album and the vocals fly; what a shame she died so young. Ok it may not be everyone's taste (I am no great lover of long traditional ballads either) but the arrangements keep you engaged and the lyrics are so beautifully sung and clear that they allow you to follow the story. This is a real break for Fairport from their previous 2 albums and Dave Swarbircks fiddle must be a central instigator; it really does come to the fore here and, along with Thompsons guitar and Dennys vocals makes a real statement. Almost prog rock in places - listen to the last track! All-in-all, brilliant.

I like the songs and general feel of the album but the vocals just don't do it for me. I feel sorry for Morrissey in that there is nothing wrong with his voice, it is actually quite pleasant, but there is nothing there; no passion, no feeling, no emotion, nothing but words. Comes over as a pleasant listen but nothing more yet it could be so much more.

Really nice Californian style with great harmonies and arrangements. This was their first album and they had not quite realised what they had with Mama Cass so it is focused on the male voice with mainly female backing harmonies except for a couple of tracks. The harmonies aren't really "backing" since they are so much part of the songs. Some nice and some bad instrumentation choices but generally a really nice album.

Worthy of a good listen, the tracks are varied enough to keep one's interest although still have difficulty in making out the vocals. Songwriting, playing and production are good and the general feel of post-punk with musicality works well enough although still too much of the punk in places. Like the variety of the songs and arrangements, would listen again.

This comes from a time in my life when I was not buying or listening to many albums so it passed me by. What a disaster, this is a great album and doesn't just preview what was to come but brings it now. Every track is great, all different but coming together as a whole. You can hear the typical Queen components of voice, guitar, production, multi-track voices and general "Queensness" here. I liked every track, all different with a touch of prog rock, folk rock and pop all melded in a superb package. This is deserving of one of the best albums ever.

Not sure why I find this album kinda boring ... it has the style I like and the tracks seem varied enough ... perhaps its just the singer! So a nice enough album but nothing special to recommend it.

Live blues/jazz at its best. Ok the recording/production could be better but the strength and feel of the groove is still felt all the way through; weren't they ever so polite in those days! Just good old-fashioned blues played and sang well.

Pleasant enough but electronics are oh so sterile and lacking in any feeling. Background music with little to commend it except that the vocals are very clear and the arrangements sometimes, but not very often, are interesting.

Cannot say I am over-impressed; yes it does go cross-genre sometimes but it comes over more as decorative rather than intrinsic to the music. Otherwise the tracks mostly go back to the same old style of rocking guitars and shouted vocals (although I will say they are clear). Nothing here that makes them stand out to me.

I like it although with only 4 tracks it does sometimes feel a little self-indulgent in the solo licks. I would have preferred a real rather than electric piano but I hear how this fits in with the other sounds. Some really cool sax playing and, while being self-indulgent in places, it never gets boring with a organic development of the arrangements and playing. Lacks a little "sparkle" for me.

You knoe country by the instruments used and playing style but this is more than that. I can hear blues, jazz and rock influences that keep the interest and variety up. Along with a great voice this makes this an excellent album that I thoroughly enjoyed. I will listen to more of her.

Don't usually like electronic music but this has rhythmic and vocal interest that keeps you engaged. As with all electronica I've listened to, it does lack feeling in general and tends to the repetitive but somehow it keeps me engaged. Worth a listen and I might even listen again ... proper head-banging music!

Not my favourite Bowie album, too much self-indulgence in those long, long tracks. Some interesting bits but overall didn't do it for me.

Great album; It has real songs and fine vocals from Kurt. One of the few noteworthy albums in the 1990s. It has great energy but doesn't let this compromise the flow and clarity of the songs although 'Scentless Apprentice' gets close to losing it! ... but then 'Heart Shaped Box' brings it back to a more disciplined and melodic state (just because its loud dosn't mean it isn't disciplined). Too many of the songs have a very similar structure/tempo for my liking though.

A pleasant enough album but doesn't do it for me. There is no coherence or direction, sounds like they add things they've just thought of. None of the songs hits home particularly and I can't say I am a fan of the singer. Overall it comes over as a trifle pretentious.

Hip-hop again, not my scene!

interesting album, I think I like it! Varied and well-played but personally I would have liked the voice a bit more forward in the mix. I will listen to more of this group.

Great album by a fine band. The use of other styles of music on a basically country framework really works, especially with the harmonic voices. Not quite the same drive as I've heard for the same songs on a live album but still up there, groundbreaking and interesting. Very enjoyable.

Just swing jazz played with a smile and no pretentions! The vocals and harmonies are great and that gravelly voice just works for prima (you might think he is copying Armstrong if he wasn't working at the same time), you can see why he was used as the king of the swingers in The Jungle Book. Trumpet playing is pretty good too with some awesome interactions with the rest of the horns. A fun album with some serious music-playing.

Must keep my Scottish bias in check! Good but not exceptional album. Has some interesting moments and I like the vocals but nothing that makes me go wow!

A 50/50 album with the first two tracks really impressing and the last two tracks what was expected. a soul album with only 4 tracks! I began impressed with the 1st 2 tracks being really large performances and I could hear all sorts of influences in there. Almost reminded me of some prog rock! Really engaging, interesting and enjoyable. The 3rd track is just what one would expect of a soul song and the last track is just a long soul story with no great moments to recommend it, except for its length! A pity the album could not continue in the same vein as the opening tracks.