My 1001 Albums Journey

Album	You	Global	Diff
Metal Box Public Image Ltd.	5	2.42	+2.58
Atomizer Big Black	5	2.72	+2.28
A Short Album About Love The Divine Comedy	5	2.77	+2.23
Freak Out! The Mothers Of Invention	5	2.83	+2.17
Suzanne Vega Suzanne Vega	5	3.02	+1.98
Hearts And Bones Paul Simon	5	3.02	+1.98
Skylarking XTC	5	3.04	+1.96
Double Nickels On The Dime Minutemen	5	3.12	+1.88
Tank Battles Dagmar Krause	4	2.13	+1.87
It's A Shame About Ray The Lemonheads	5	3.13	+1.87

Album	You	Global	Diff
Cosmo's Factory Creedence Clearwater Revival	1	3.91	-2.91
Superunknown Soundgarden	1	3.66	-2.66
Bayou Country Creedence Clearwater Revival	1	3.65	-2.65
Live At The Star Club, Hamburg Jerry Lee Lewis	1	3.28	-2.28
Every Picture Tells A Story Rod Stewart	1	3.24	-2.24
Led Zeppelin II Led Zeppelin	2	4.11	-2.11
Superfuzz Bigmuff Mudhoney	1	2.93	-1.93
Leftism Leftfield	1	2.9	-1.9
G. Love And Special Sauce G. Love & Special Sauce	1	2.73	-1.73
Dire Straits Dire Straits	2	3.72	-1.72

Artist	Albums	Average
Kanye West	2	5
Beatles	2	5
The Smiths	2	5
Paul Simon	2	5
Bruce Springsteen	5	4.2

Artist	Albums	Average
Creedence Clearwater Revival	2	1

Artist	Ratings
Led Zeppelin	5, 2, 3

Derek & The Dominos

2/5

I just don't really care for music like this. Layla definitely feels like the standout track; the others felt a bit meandering and self-indulgent.

Stand!

Sly & The Family Stone

4/5

So much energy and talent here. Everyday People is just one of the best songs ever. Soul Clappin' II is a new favorite now too.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Simon & Garfunkel

3/5

Really liked about half the songs on here (and moderately liked the others, though some were too slow for my tastes). Probably 3 1/2 stars? Paul Simon's solo material speaks to me a bit more.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

4/5

New favorite: "The Wild One, Forever" What a good musician. Loved this. 4 1/2 stars.

Moondance

Van Morrison

2/5

I liked Caravan and Come Running. Most of the songs felt a little too long, maybe a little samey. But overall I enjoyed it more than I expected. 2 1/2 stars.

Master Of Puppets

Metallica

3/5

Y'know, I've never really liked or gotten into Metallica, but this one was alright. Some corny lyrics, but I respect that they were talented and went pretty hard. Solid 3 stars.

Tommy

The Who

3/5

Overall I think this is a really cool project. Musically, it's not necessarily something I'd reach for, but I'm not sure that was the intent? 3 stars.

Kala

M.I.A.

2/5

I usually like music like this, but I found I preferred the samples to the interpolations. Verses felt a little too long. Paper Planes was the only one I really wanted to hit "repeat" on. 2.5 stars?

Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

5/5

<Gordon Ramsay voice> Finally, some good fucking music. Nick Cave is cool as hell, and regrettably I only know random songs here and there, so listening to this full album was a treat. I love music that has this kind of energy to it. Moody but assertive. I found this a very captivating record both musically and lyrically. The songs felt distinct, exploring different genres and tempos and themes, yet it made sense that they were grouped together into an album. Again, I just love stuff like this. I already knew (and love) "There She Goes, My Beautiful World," but man that song ripsssss. Other favorites: Get Ready for Love, Nature Boy, Abattoir Blues, The Lyre of Orpheus, and Breathless.

Let's Get Killed

David Holmes

3/5

I hadn't heard of David Holmes, which is neat, because I've been wanting to get into this genre and was expecting this list to basically be 1,001 classic rock albums. I got really into Fred again... last year (or the year before?) when his Boiler Room set got big, and I loved Porter Robinson's latest album. Are those reasonable comparisons? I'm an electronic newbie! Anyway, I like this and will be adding it to my collection. It does feel very ~of its time~, but I also love the 90s NYC aesthetic so that's not a problem for me! 3 stars.

Grace

Jeff Buckley

4/5

Revoke my cred - this is my first time listening to Jeff Buckley!! And I gotta say, this rocked way harder than I expected. I always had the impression that this was slow, folky music. But Buckley has a phenomenal, transcendent rock voice, which elevates and sells every song. I've never loved his version of Hallelujah, but within the context of this album, I feel like I get it now. It feels almost jarringly blunt after several jazzy, wailing kinda tunes. I feel like I'm just saying a lot of adjectives now, so I'll close by saying I'm excited to continue listening to this one, because I think there's a lot more to unravel. 4 stars.

Sign 'O' The Times

Prince

4/5

I mean... it's Prince. One of the best to ever do it. Favorite track: I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man. But I really dig most of these. What I especially love about this is that a lot of the songs feel fairly normal at surface level, but there's always something crazy going on with the instrumentation or lyrics or Prince's delivery that really takes everything to the next level. Even the horny songs (and there are a lot of horny songs) are just, like, so good. I want to throw a party just to play this. Doesn't it feel like perfect party music? Hell yeah, Prince. 4 1/2 stars.

Country Life

Roxy Music

3/5

Favorites: All I Want Is You, Bitter Sweet, Casanova This was released in 1974?! Feels pretty dang innovative. I've heard a lot about Roxy Music but hadn't listened until now. I see the influence, I see the creativity. I think this is a good album, but not as many songs stood out as I had hoped. Going to stick with 3 stars here. Kudos to the album art, though, for making me act all dodgy while listening at work. 🙃

Freak Out!

The Mothers Of Invention

5/5

Favorite tracks: Hungry Freaks, Daddy; Go Cry On Someone Else's Shoulder; Motherly Love; Wowie Zowie; Trouble Every Day; Help, I'm A Rock; It Can't Happen Here. I really needed this energy today, the day after Election Day. I've never listened to Frank Zappa before; he did a bit with Mike Nesmith/The Monkees once, so I had a positive impression going into this. I thought it'd be a lot harder to get into, but I found the songs juuust complex/weird enough while still maintaining their artistry. Idk, I think I have a fairly high tolerance for this specific kind of noodling! I'm glad this exists, and I'm glad I listened to it. I'll enjoy adding it to my collection. 4 1/2 stars. (Edit, 8/18/25: After listening to Zappa's Hot Rats, I decided to bump this up to a 5. What can I say, it really stuck with me!)

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

Aretha Franklin

3/5

Favorite tracks: Respect, I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You), Dr. Feelgood, Save Me. Aretha's voice is so good, so engaging. The songs sort of blended together for me, but I did enjoy listening to this. I wish more songs captured the magic and energy of Respect. 3 stars.

Green

R.E.M.

4/5

Favorite tracks: Pop Song 89, You Are The Everything, Stand, The Wrong Child, Hairshirt, Untitled. Lyrically stunning, musically right up my alley. Michael Stipe's voice just does something to me. 4 1/2 stars.

Appetite For Destruction

Guns N' Roses

3/5

Favorites: Welcome to the Jungle, Out ta Get Me, Sweet Child O' Mine, My Michelle, You're Crazy Kinda liked this as a change of pace. Not sure I'd reach for it on my own. Axl Rose's vocalizations are a hoot; he really goes all out! I mean, it's an energetic album, you gotta give it that. The songs I liked best were the ones that made me laugh a lil bit (except for Sweet Child O' Mine, which I've always had a soft spot for). 3 stars.

Time (The Revelator)

Gillian Welch

3/5

This was a perfect fit for a cool November day. Love the lyrics, her voice, and the overall vibe. I'll have to take more time with this; the tracks that stood out the most were the first and last ones. Oh, and Elvis Presley Blues. 3 1/2 stars.

Blue

Joni Mitchell

4/5

Favorite tracks: All I Want, Carey, California, This Flight Tonight I just haven't quite heard anything else like this. There's so much personality in the way she sings. I think this album has a reputation for being a downer, but some of the songs are genuinely fun. Life is sad AND fun, y'know? 4 stars.

Triangle

The Beau Brummels

2/5

I have a high tolerance for stuff like this, but it was just so corny. Wanted more razzle dazzle. I didn't find it offensive, and I really loved Nine Pound Hammer, but I won't be picking the album up again. 2.5 stars.

Born In The U.S.A.

Bruce Springsteen

5/5

Favorite tracks: Cover Me, I'm On Fire, I'm Goin' Down, Glory Days. I haven't listened to Bruce, aside from the hits. I liked this wayyy more than I expected to, and I liked it even more on repeat listens. The only song I didn't like was Darlington County. This sound is really making a comeback (like, idk, Nathaniel Rateliff or Bleachers), so this album felt surprisingly modern for '84. Dare I say timeless? Ultimately, I think he's an icon for a reason. There's a nuance and complexity to his music that's hard to appreciate when he's, y'know, a superstar with massive hits. (See also: every right-winger misinterpreting Born in the USA.) Originally thought 4 stars, but bumping up to 5. Happy to have enjoyed it as much as I did. (Also, I'm sorry to bring my review down to this level, but this era of Springsteen is just... phewww. The rolled sleeves? The unbuttoned shirt? The fluffy hair??? Come ON.)

I Should Coco

Supergrass

4/5

Favorite tracks: Mansize Rooster, Alright, Lenny, Sitting Up Straight, She's So Loose. Whooo the energy in this! Good stuff. Lyrically it isn't, like, groundbreaking, but the music is so fun. Took me a few listens to really get into it, but now I'm sold. 4 stars. Side note, Clueless had such a good soundtrack. Agin' like wine.

Searching For The Young Soul Rebels

Dexys Midnight Runners

4/5

Y'know, I liked this! I expected the vocal style to grate on me, but I ended up liking it. Loved the horns, too. I think I'd be delighted if a song from this album came up on shuffle. 4 stars - will be adding this to my collection.

Dust

Screaming Trees

4/5

Favorite tracks: Halo of Ashes, Look At You, Make My Mind, Gospel Plow. I like music like this. It doesn't necessarily stand out among similar albums of the era, but it's clear to me that this was a talented group. If I heard one of these songs on the radio, I'd make a note of it, y'know? 4 stars. (On a streak of 4 stars lately!)

To Pimp A Butterfly

Kendrick Lamar

2/5

Favorite tracks: u, Alright, For Sale?, Momma, i, Mortal Man. I like how the tracks connect and flow into each other, and I respect the chaos of the different styles, instrumentation, etc. I really liked the "conversation" with Tupac at the end of Mortal Man. But overall, I'd say this isn't really for me (nor was it ever meant for me). It felt too long, but this seems like an album where the tracks shouldn't be separated or skipped. I also think maybe I don't like Kendrick's vocals? Ah idk. Going with 2.5 stars on this one, noting again that I am not the audience for this.

Live At The Regal

B.B. King

3/5

Favorite tracks: Every Day I Have The Blues; Worry, Worry Per Wikipedia, the album was recorded on Nov. 21, 1964 (60 years, almost exactly!). The Regal Theatre closed down four years later, and was ultimately demolished in 1973. That's wild, right? I really enjoyed the crowd feedback on this one. It feels so lively, even still. I know nothing about blues music, but maybe I oughta learn. 3 1/2 stars.

Stardust

Willie Nelson

3/5

I love Willie Nelson, and this was a lovely album, but it also felt like a slightly odd choice for this list. To me, it's best suited to the right mood and environment - I'm thinking winter, cozy, gentle snow outside - but I'm not sure how to rate it for everyday listening. Three stars, I think?

Deserter's Songs

Mercury Rev

3/5

Favorite tracks: Opus 40, Hudson Line, Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp This feels pretty different from the other albums I've gotten so far. It also feels like it'd fit best in a specific environment - as atmospheric background music when friends come by, say. Someone left a review describing this as soundtrack-esque, which I agree with. I zoned in and out while listening to it, which I think is fine. 3 stars.

In The Wee Small Hours

Frank Sinatra

5/5

Well, I loved this. I don't really have any notes to share. I loved every song, loved the emotion, loved the instrumentation. A true treat.

Groovin'

The Young Rascals

4/5

So, like, I listened to this while stress-cooking for Thanksgiving, but even still, I recognized this as a good type of This Music (which is already music I like). I honestly expected to be bored of it, but I wasn't; the songs felt distinct and fun. Looking forward to listening more. 4 stars.

Tusk

Fleetwood Mac

4/5

Favorite tracks: Save Me A Place, Sara, What Makes You Think You're The One, Storms, Not That Funny, Angel, Tusk, Never Forget I love the risks they took on this, especially the Buckingham songs, which feel very wild and innovative and rockin'. (My toxic thought while listening to this: "Oh, okay, I can see why Stevie loved him.") I debated five stars, but ultimately I think there are a few songs that are just "good" instead of "great." So, 4.5 stars.

Live And Dangerous

Thin Lizzy

3/5

Thin Lizzy is cool, and there's certainly some shredding here, but I can't really understand why this is on the list instead of a studio album. 3 stars, I guess?

Beggars Banquet

The Rolling Stones

3/5

Sympathy for the Devil, Jigsaw Puzzle, Street Fighting Man, Salt of the Earth I'll admit I'm often unimpressed by the Stones, and this album wasn't really an exception. Sympathy for the Devil is energetic and fun, and there were a couple tracks (noted above) that stood out to me, but for the most part, I'd just rather listen to something else. 3 stars.

At Budokan

Cheap Trick

4/5

Cheap Trick is from my hometown, so I feel an affinity for them. Surrender is one of my all-time faves. I think their brand of rock is distinctly authentic and fun and good-natured. A surprising number of live albums have come up on the list lately (this is the third in two weeks), but this one was so fun! All bangers, no bummers. I'm sure there's bias creeping in here, but because this is the only Cheap Trick album on the list, I'm giving it a 4. I genuinely think I will listen to this again.

Tea for the Tillerman

Cat Stevens

3/5

Favorite tracks: Sad Lisa, But I Might Die Tonight, Father and Son This took me a few listens to get into, but once I did, it felt very warm and nice and peaceful and introspective - all things I like! I'm feeling a 3 for this.

Hail To the Thief

Radiohead

3/5

I'm pretty new to Radiohead, so I hadn't heard this one before. I like both their rock era and electronic era, so I dig the sound of this one. That said, fewer tracks stood out to me than I expected. ("Where I End and You Begin," "There, There," and "Myxomatosis" were the highlights for me.) I think if I wanted to listen to Radiohead, I'd probably just pick a different album. 3 stars.

Superunknown

Soundgarden

1/5

I feel bad giving this such a low score, but it genuinely put me in a bad mood. 1.5 stars?

White Ladder

David Gray

3/5

I was sick with a stomach bug while listening to this, so everything feels a bit hazy. That said, I like this kind of music, and the closer was beautiful. 3.5 stars.

The Rising

Bruce Springsteen

4/5

Favorite tracks: Let's Be Friends, The Fuse, You're Missing I thought this was really pretty! And weirder than I expected (in a good way). 3.5 stars, bumping up to 4.

Psychocandy

The Jesus And Mary Chain

4/5

I really, really like music like this.

Lady Soul

Aretha Franklin

3/5

I liked this better than the other Aretha album we've had so far (I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You). Feels like the Aretha I've come to expect - vibrant, powerful. I think the star tracks (Chain of Fools and A Natural Woman) are the clear standouts. 3.5/5 stars.

Queen II

Queen

4/5

The experience of listening to this album was thoroughly enjoyable and really got me pumped up for a Monday. Dramatic, lush, and honestly just very cool. 4 stars.

Is This It

The Strokes

4/5

I kinda feel like this album took a bit to get started, but once it did, whewww! Some 5/5 tracks, but not all - therefore, 4 stars.

D

White Denim

3/5

I've never heard of this band! Braced myself but was pleasantly surprised. Good music I'm sure I'd love seeing live. Really enjoyed the unique instrumentation. This isn't usually my preferred brand of indie rock, but this was a strong album. 3.5 stars.

Definitely Maybe

Oasis

4/5

Hell yes Oasis!!!!! Easy four stars, if only for the way Liam pronounces every line on Cigarettes and Alcohol (my fave track).

Eliminator

ZZ Top

2/5

This just has no personality, in my opinion. The vocals lack energy. This would be more enjoyable if they were just an instrumental band, and if they took, like, any risks. 2 stars for being bland but inoffensive.

Brothers In Arms

Dire Straits

3/5

This was pretty cool, good energy, but got a little samey for me in the latter half. 3 stars.

Foxbase Alpha

Saint Etienne

4/5

Favorite tracks: She's The One, London Belongs To Me This is probably a 3.5, but I'm bumping it to 4 stars because I vibed so well with it today - Christmas Eve, chilling out, drinking coffee and working on a jigsaw puzzle. Heck yeah.

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector

Various Artists

3/5

Christmas!

Public Image: First Issue

Public Image Ltd.

3/5

I kinda like how confrontational this is (I think I've mentioned in a previous review that I have a high tolerance for nonsense). I can't quite give it higher than a 3 because, well, it's not really fun to listen to. But good on ya, John, you made my house-cleaning day feel cooler.

25

Adele

3/5

I really enjoy listening to Adele! This album was a bit somber and samey for me, but the songs that hit really hit. Overall, I'll go with 3.5 stars.

Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)

The Kinks

4/5

I'm a sucker for The Kinks, and I loved listening to this. Interesting songs with distinctive lyrics. Solid 4 stars.

Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water

Limp Bizkit

3/5

This was like "Appetite For Destruction" by Guns N' Roses, but, like, for millennials. Fred Durst just goes for it, man! Feels extremely representative of the era, for better or worse... well, okay, worse. The turn of the millennium was a bad time!! We deserved this; we thirsted for it!! Anyways I'm giving this 3 stars, no I will not be taking any questions.

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

David Bowie

4/5

Excellent album - creative, catchy, and energetic. I think I prefer Bowie's less space-y stuff, so I'll go with 4 stars here.

G. Love And Special Sauce

G. Love & Special Sauce

1/5

"This makes me feel better about giving Limp Bizkit three stars." - Me to L. Yeah this sucked.

The Yes Album

Yes

4/5

I was surprised by how much I liked this! I usually zone out during prog rock, but this album demanded more attention from me, in a good way. Each song was creative and distinctive, while still being catchy. I could see myself really sinking into this on repeat listens. I think my creative writing teacher in high school (who I adored) really liked Yes. I have a vague memory of him playing a song for us in class once. Maybe it was one of these? I'll choose to believe it was, and that this is a neat little full-circle moment. 4 stars.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye West

5/5

I'm gonna echo this person's five-star review from Feb. 2021: "Classic. Sadly, he's crazy now" I think this is a perfect album. Kanye's expressiveness is captivating, and his ability to weave in samples, features, and styles is unmatched. There are so many magical moments: the "so exciting/suicide" part in Power, Nicki's verse on Monster, the piano in Runaway... No skips, five stars.

Licensed To Ill

Beastie Boys

2/5

I didn't like it, but it was mostly inoffensive to me. The samples are neat, and I guess the energy is fun. I like "Girls" the best; the others kind of sounded the same to me. 2.5 stars.

In Our Heads

Hot Chip

4/5

Favorite tracks: Motion Sickness, Don't Deny Your Heart, Now There Is Nothing, Let Me Be Him, Always Been Your Love Very cool vibes. I like Hot Chip but am only really familiar with the album before this, One Night Stand. Some songs on this album I really liked, others didn't do a ton for me. But I think this will be great spring-to-summer music, so I'll go with 4 stars!

Bayou Country

Creedence Clearwater Revival

1/5

So fun fact, I can't stand Creedence's music and have been dreading their appearance on this list! It's like this weird aversion that's beyond my control. Sorry!!!! Gave it a shot, but his voice grates on me. PROUD MARY KEEP ON BOYNIN'. Also, chooglin'? What are we doing here?? I fully acknowledge this is a Me Problem, but I will be true to myself and give this one star.

Off The Wall

Michael Jackson

3/5

I enjoyed this while listening to it, then kinda forgot about it immediately after. I imagine this would have hit very hard in '79. But knowing, as we do, the stronger music that was yet to come... this does feel a little forgettable. 3 stars from me.

Bossanova

Pixies

5/5

Favorite tracks: Velouria, Is She Weird, All Over The World, Dig For Fire, Down To The Well, The Happening Aah this is just so fun to listen to! I don't know how to describe how this music makes me feel... it matches an aesthetic that resonates with me. A little silly, a little grungy. I want to live in its world. Does that make sense? I'm surely biased because I already love the Pixies, though I'm less familiar with this album. Who cares! 5 stars, I love this.

John Prine

2/5

Hmm, I felt some whiplash listening to this. Some songs are goofy novelties, others are like "god is dead and all my friends died in the war." I liked a few songs, but as an album, I find this confusing. 2 stars?

Boy In Da Corner

Dizzee Rascal

3/5

I liked the middle portion of this but thought the beginning and end dragged a bit. Interesting samples and cool energy, but not sure I'd return to the whole album. 3 stars.

Superfuzz Bigmuff

Mudhoney

1/5

I really didn't like this. I suspect if I knew about production or playing instruments it might have meant something to me. I gravitate toward lyrics and vocals, though, and I found both kinda gross on this album. 1.5 stars.

Songs From The Big Chair

Tears For Fears

4/5

Favorite tracks: Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Mothers Talk, I Believe, Head Over Heels. I expected to like this, then I really, *really* liked it. I love the hits, but this listen-through made me appreciate how weird they are. It can be easy to dismiss radio-friendly bands, but man, this is a cool album. Even somewhat challenging at parts - horns, applause, motifs. Cool! The top review here says something like "I'm on the verge of giving this a five. Fuck it." I'm wrestling with it, too, but I think I'd need more time with it to decide. Going to stick with 4 stars, but this was really a treasure.

Disraeli Gears

Cream

3/5

Being a non-Clapton fan (obviously his politics are terrible, but I also don't like his music), I let out a big ol' "ugh" when I saw this was my album of the day. But it offended me less than I anticipated. I didn't like the last three songs, but the others were more or less fine. Going to give this 3 stars because I liked it more than the Derek & The Dominos album, which I rated 2 stars. And because this is, mercifully, much shorter.

The Who Sell Out

The Who

4/5

Favorite tracks: Armenia City In The Sky, Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand, I Can See For Miles, I Can't Reach You, Glittering Girl, Early Morning Cold Taxi. Everyone on this site seems to hate this, but I loved it. To reference my Zappa review, I like this kind of nonsense. (See also: The Monkees are one of my favorite bands.) I thought the jingles were fun and the "real" songs were lovely. So, haha, idk, 4 (maybe 4.5!) stars from me.

Like A Prayer

Madonna

3/5

I like Madonna's music, and I really like Express Yourself, Love Song, and Dear Jessie from this album. I think there are stronger Madonna albums, though, so I'll stick with a solid 3.

California

American Music Club

3/5

The first listen didn't stick with me, but I enjoyed the second go-around quite a bit. Feels nice and vibey, like driving through a desert at sunset. 3 stars.

Hard Again

Muddy Waters

4/5

Y'know, this is good stuff.

Fleet Foxes

4/5

Man, I wasn't familiar with this album when it came out, but listening to it now still evoked a lot of nostalgia for me. I guess it does a great job of representing the indie music of the era. Those were some good times, truly. I'm glad this is on here; it's too bad I missed it back in the day. Great album.

The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter

The Incredible String Band

4/5

I totally understand why this is insufferable to some people, but I thought it was innovative and interesting. It didn't make my pretentious detector go off; it felt authentically weird to me. Just a bunch of hippies trying to express something. I love that. Highlights for me: Minotaur's Song, A Very Cellular Song, Mercy I Cry City, Swift As The Wind

Here Come The Warm Jets

Brian Eno

3/5

After the first song, I was like "Ohoho I'm going to love this." But ultimately, I think I just *liked* it - some neat pop music with weird flourishes, but not quite as many bangers as I hoped.

Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus

Spirit

4/5

It's been a rough week, and I hadn't heard of this, and I was ready to brush it off. But then it stood out to me! It showcases a simultaneous mellowness and passion that I needed right now. I thought all the songs were distinctive, with simple but effective messages. What a hidden gem. 4 stars. Favorite tracks: Nature's Way, Mr. Skin, Street Worm, Soldier, Red Light Rolls On

The Dark Side Of The Moon

Pink Floyd

3/5

This was alright, but I guess the hype had me expecting something mindblowing. I'd probably prefer another Pink Floyd album.

Blood On The Tracks

Bob Dylan

4/5

Really loved this. Great lyrics, obviously, but his delivery is also so engaging. It still feels impressive. I don't have a strong knowledge of Dylan, but there's something about this that feels more intimate than I expected. I think this could be 5 stars if I had more time with it.

Hunting High And Low

a-ha

3/5

Y'know, I think if I was in a more optimistic mood I'd like this more. As it is, it was nice, but didn't necessarily stick with me. 3 stars.

Warehouse: Songs And Stories

Hüsker Dü

4/5

Favorite tracks: Back From Somewhere; Could You Be The One?; Friend, You've Got To Fall; Turn It Around; She's A Woman (And Now He Is A Man); Up In The Air. I just really love music like this! It's a bit long, and not all of the songs stand out, but it's definitely something to add to my collection.

Darkness on the Edge of Town

Bruce Springsteen

4/5

Favorite tracks: Badlands, Streets of Fire, Prove It All Night, Darkness on the Edge of Town. This is the third Springsteen album I've gotten so far, and to be honest I might be inflating this rating because I think I under-rated the previous two. I enjoy most of the songs here, but the ones I like, I *really* like. Guys, I think I like The Boss. 4 stars.

Exile On Main Street

The Rolling Stones

3/5

I liked this more than the other Stones record I've encountered on this list, but overall it felt too long; there's only so much Rolling Stones I wanna listen to in a sitting. Tumbling Dice and Torn And Frayed stood out to me, and most of the rest was fine. 3 stars.

At Fillmore East

The Allman Brothers Band

3/5

Favorite tracks: In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed, Mountain Jam I was bracing myself for this because 1) blues rock is not my cup of tea, and 2) the length. But once it got going, I actually quite liked the instrumental/jamming parts. Clearly very skilled people, clearly having a great time. Not something I'd add to regular rotation, but I'd put it in the background if I had guests. 3 stars.

Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs

Marty Robbins

3/5

I'm not sure how to rate this! I liked it and thought it was good at what it was going for. So, 3 stars?

Pieces Of The Sky

Emmylou Harris

4/5

Favorite tracks: If I Could Only Win Your Love, Before Believing, For No One. This was so easy to listen to. Really enjoyed it. Good choice of covers, too. 4 stars.

Music for the Masses

Depeche Mode

4/5

Depeche Mode is cool! The songs didn't pack as much of a punch for me as the ones from Violator, but man this band makes great music. 4 stars.

Abraxas

Santana

4/5

Great vibes. I only listened to this once, but honestly Oye Come Va is good enough for the whole album to be a 4.

Led Zeppelin IV

Led Zeppelin

5/5

Goddamnit. I'm so, so sick of the '70s rock on this list, and I have no background or interest in Zep, but this still wowed me. Maybe it's because I've already heard so many of these songs before, so I'm warmed up to them? Or because this wasn't as long or self-indulgent as I had expected? Sigh. Whatever, it's clearly a masterpiece and I'm mad about it!

Clandestino

Manu Chao

3/5

Y'know, I dug the vibe, but there weren't really any specific songs that stood out to me. I liked the way various elements came together - felt patchwork (in a good way) at times.

Bluesbreakers

John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers

2/5

I'm in a bad mood and I can't stand Eric Clapton and his wimpy little voice.

Fred Neil

3/5

Perfectly enjoyable. Maybe not something I'd add to my rotation, but I wouldn't turn it off if I heard it in the wild.

Chirping Crickets

Buddy Holly & The Crickets

4/5

Good stuff! Hard not to enjoy this.

Gorillaz

5/5

Favorite tracks: Re-Hash, 5/4, Clint Eastwood, Rock The House, 19-2000, Slow Country, M1 A1 I loved this album when it came out. 20+ years later and in this context, I feel like I'm listening for the first time again. In 2001, I was still in the throes of pop fandom (Backstreet Boys, Britney, etc.), but juuust starting to discover other music. My tastes had a lot to do with my (parasocial) relationship to the artists. So it was extremely cool that I didn't know who made this. I mean, now it seems obvious, but at the time? Impenetrable to me. That is SO COOL, right?! How often does that happen? Plus, I loved the characters, I loved the lore, I loved the aesthetic. I was so excited when a video was released for 19-2000, because that was my favorite song on the album and music videos meant a lot to me. Honestly it might still be my favorite track. So weird, so catchy. HERE YOU GO! Looking back, it's clear this album had a stronger-than-I-realized influence on how my musical tastes evolved. So, yeah, there's nostalgia at play here, but honestly this album is still excellent: innovative then, and remains innovative now. Perfect blend of genres that hits all the right notes for me. Every time I finish listening to it, I immediately restart it. 5 stars.

461 Ocean Boulevard

Eric Clapton

2/5

Thank god, this is the final Eric Clapton album on my list. And I somehow got two of them in the past week. And I really don't like Eric Clapton. And everything is bad! Anyway! Amazingly, I liked this more than the other three, but overall I just don't care for his voice. My favorite tracks were Motherless Children, Get Ready, and Mainline Florida. Everything else I could leave. So this'll be another two stars for Clapton, but a high two stars, like 2.5.

Trio

Dolly Parton

3/5

Beautiful harmonies from three very talented musicians. The album as a whole is nice, though none of the songs especially stood out.

Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)

Eurythmics

3/5

Favorite tracks: Love Is A Stranger, Jennifer, This Is The House Such a cool band, and distinctive for its time. I wish more of the tracks had stood out to me, though.

Electric Ladyland

Jimi Hendrix

3/5

Some great songs, but too long overall, imo. I wasn't quite up for it.

Achtung Baby

U2

5/5

Favorite tracks: Zoo Station, So Cruel, Mysterious Ways, Ultra Violet Knew the hits but never listened to the album before. I liked it on the first listen, loved it on the second. This is so up my alley. Unique, passionate, genre-merging. I think I take for granted how distinctive U2's sound is. Also, Mysterious Ways is such, SUCH a good song. God, the energy!!!

Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space

Spiritualized

3/5

Good vibes, and I liked the songs that built into something rocking. I'd give it another listen, but it didn't especially stand out to me in this first go.

Astral Weeks

Van Morrison

3/5

I liked this, but found myself wanting a little more variety. Really enjoyed Astral Weeks, Sweet Thing, and The Way Young Lovers Do. Probably need to give it another listen.

Illmatic

Nas

4/5

Today was a lousy day, yet I didn't mind listening to this. The songs fit together. I found it strangely comforting. Will add it to my collection and revisit.

Play

Moby

5/5

Okay, get this. I had a truly terrible day on Thursday. But in the car I heard Natural Blues on the local alt station and it brightened my mood a little. Then at 10 p.m. I submitted my rating for the day and saw that THIS was going to be the next album. Out of the 1,089 albums on this list... Are you kidding me!? The universe has a sense of humor, I tell ya. This felt deeply healing to me. I understand this might be a love-it-or-hate-it thing, but I'm firmly in the "love it" camp.

xx

The xx

3/5

I like this kind of music - strange and emotional and vibey. But it did feel a little dated, imo. Islands was the standout for me; the others blurred together a bit.

Devil Without A Cause

Kid Rock

1/5

(Extremely smug voice) My 3 stars for Limp Bizkit doesn't look so bad now, does it? Ohohoho! I still think Bawitdaba is kinda funny and catchy, but each song on this is worse than the preceding one. Why is this album soooo long? It's like he had three ideas and he kept repeating them with diminishing results each time.

Cut

The Slits

4/5

This was fun! A nice change of pace from some of the other albums. It was bouncy and weird and put me in a good mood. Favorite tracks were Ping Pong Affair and I Heard It Through The Grapevine.

Fun House

The Stooges

4/5

Angry and energetic, more interesting (imo) than a lot of the 70s rock on this list. One of those albums that makes total sense being here.

Five Leaves Left

Nick Drake

4/5

I recommend doing something twee while listening to this - I wound wool yarn that I plan to knit into a sweater. Chill, positive vibes.

The Chronic

Dr. Dre

3/5

I'm a little torn on this one - a lot of the lyrics are gross and silly, but overall I really enjoy the sound. And Snoop is great. I think the parts I liked outnumber the parts I didn't, so I'll go with a 3 here.

Miriam Makeba

4/5

Really enjoyable listen - took me to another place for a bit, a better one. And it was such a breath of fresh air on this list. A high 4 for me.

Paul's Boutique

Beastie Boys

3/5

I liked this quite a bit more than License To Ill - felt less juvenile, and the samples were more fun (imo). Still not sure Beastie Boys are my cup o' tea, but this was probably like a 3.5 for me.

One Nation Under A Groove

Funkadelic

4/5

🎶 Gettin' down just for the funk of it 🎶 Gotta say, this really put a smile on my face!

Moving Pictures

Rush

4/5

Some songs I really liked, others were just pleasant background music. This project has taught me that I kinda like prog rock! This is probably like a 3.75 from me, so I'll bump it up to 4 stars.

Head Hunters

Herbie Hancock

5/5

Well sheesh, this was incredible.

I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail

Buck Owens

3/5

This was fun, but I didn't really want to listen to it a second time.

Double Nickels On The Dime

Minutemen

5/5

Hahah I loved this. Felt weird and angry and nihilistic and fun. I did a double-take when I saw there were 43 tracks (!), but it didn't really drag for me. This right here is a gem.

The Good, The Bad & The Queen

4/5

Good stuff. I liked some songs better than others (favorites were Herculean and the title track), but on the whole, this kinda thing is just right up my alley.

Unknown Pleasures

Joy Division

4/5

It's Joy Division! I appreciate the chance to really listen to this album. I could listen to Disorder on repeat forever. This deserves a 5 because of how striking and impressive and influential it is, but for my personal rating, a 4 feels more fitting.

Aftermath

The Rolling Stones

4/5

Half of this I loved, half of it I forgot about. But I gotta say, this is my favorite Rolling Stones album so far - by a decent margin.

Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Wu-Tang Clan

4/5

Honestly sounds like they were having a fun time. I liked the sound, liked the flow, even liked the skits. Cool stuff!

What's That Noise?

Coldcut

4/5

Really like this style of music. Listened to the U.S. version as uploaded by a kind soul on YouTube. My favorite track was "Smoke Dis One" (hell yeah Queen Latifah!), but honestly the whole thing put me in a pretty good mood!

Beyond Skin

Nitin Sawhney

4/5

I thought the middle section was the strongest (Tides, Nadia, and Immigrant were my favorite tracks), but I quite liked all of it! Loved the variety of the genres and the complexity of the lyrics. I'm guessing there's a lot more to discover with repeat listens.

Illinois

Sufjan Stevens

5/5

"Chicago" is one of my favorite songs, but I actually never got around to listening to this whole album until now. People give a lot of side-eye to 00s indie nowadays, and I get it - I lived through it, it was a goofy-ass time. But man, if this came out today I think people would still love it. I love the music and lyrics, I love the theme, and I love that it feels like there's so much more to discover on repeat listens. So though this is very midwestern millennial of me, I'm giving it a 5. :)

Revolver

Beatles

5/5

Possibly the easiest 5 I've given so far. Has several of my favorite Beatles songs (especially She Said, She Said; And Your Bird Can Sing; and Got To Get You Into My Life). What can I say? It's very good and I love it!

Nebraska

Bruce Springsteen

4/5

I love sad stuff. And, as I've learned through this project, I love The Boss. I imagine this one will age well with repeat listens.

Orbital 2

Orbital

3/5

Favorite tracks: REMIND, HALCYON + ON + ON. Nice stuff, vibey, hypnotic. I like that it opens with a Worf quote.

Ragged Glory

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

3/5

This was a lot more rocking and listenable than I expected! Perfectly fine, lively rock.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill

3/5

I wanted to like this a little more than I did. Some songs I loved, others kind of dragged for me. I think it balances out to a three.

1999

Prince

4/5

This should probably be three stars. It's long, and weird, and it probably wouldn't be my go-to Prince album. I liked Sign O' The Times more, and I rated that four (well, 4.5) stars. But I'm bumping this up because: 1) The song 1999 is soooo good, and 2) Come on, who else was doing stuff like this? We didn't deserve Prince!

James Brown Live At The Apollo

James Brown

4/5

Experience-wise, this is probably a 5. Soo fun to hear the crowd hyped up. Music-wise, I'll go with a 4 - this is an album about the energy more than the songs.

Let It Bleed

The Rolling Stones

4/5

A high four for me, and definitely my favorite of the Stones albums I've heard so far. Gimme Shelter and You Can't Always Get What You Want are such perfect songs - problem is, I just want to keep replaying them. Though I did enjoy the rest of the album too!

Live At The Harlem Square Club

Sam Cooke

3/5

It's unfair that I also got James Brown's live album this week and overall preferred it. This is certainly good - great energy and great songs from a great musician. But the production wasn't very good, which I found distracting.

In Utero

Nirvana

4/5

Angry and energetic. The hit songs are my favorites - if it wasn't for them, this score would likely be a 3.

Coat Of Many Colors

Dolly Parton

3/5

I love Dolly, and I love the song Coat of Many Colors. I appreciate that this was a short album, but I wanted a little more "oomph" in it. Not sure it's something I could really lose myself in.

Kimono My House

Sparks

4/5

Sparks is so clever and funky and cool - it blows my mind that this is from 1974!! A very creative album, and I had a lot of fun listening to it.

Suzanne Vega

5/5

Gosh, I just loved this. I listened to this a few times today and grew increasingly attached to the songs and storytelling. She's got a lovely voice, too, really engaging.

Tres Hombres

ZZ Top

2/5

I liked this better than the other ZZ Top album on this list (Eliminator), but I listened to it twice through and none of it stuck with me. 2.5 stars?

Sticky Fingers

The Rolling Stones

3/5

Kind of a slower album; I think I prefer their more rockin'/lively music. I do love Wild Horses, though, and Can't You Hear Me Knocking.

The Village Green Preservation Society

The Kinks

5/5

Listen, I really like this kind of music, and I love The Kinks. Picture Book is such a good song oh my GOD. If this was a first-time listen, it might be a four, but I've spent some time with this album and know it puts me in a good mood, so... :)

Fuzzy Logic

Super Furry Animals

4/5

Favorite tracks: Frisbee, Hometown Unicorn, For Now And Ever I found this really energetic and exciting! I love how it merged the mellowness of psychedelic rock with the kookiness of '90s alternative. It's like it was crafted exactly for my musical tastes.

A Northern Soul

The Verve

3/5

Favorite tracks: On Your Own, Drive You Home, Stormy Clouds I like the moodiness of this, but most of the songs blended together. I love The Verve and will add this to my collection, but more to include in shuffle rotation than to listen to in its entirety.

It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back

Public Enemy

4/5

Wow, I really liked this! Angry but fun. Ngl, Flav's "yeahhh boyyy" hyped me every time. High four stars.

At Folsom Prison

Johnny Cash

4/5

Gosh, he has a lot of personality throughout this album. The songs are lovely, too. I do think this album is more about the lore than the music - but the lore is very, very cool.

Bryter Layter

Nick Drake

3/5

Favorite tracks: One Of These Things First, Poor Boy I liked the noodling and I liked the brass! This was really good driving music, but it didn't hit me as hard when I listened at home.

Aladdin Sane

David Bowie

4/5

Weirdly did not recognize the songs on this despite being very familiar with the album cover! Is that common? Anyway, great era of Bowie here - funky, rocking, screechy. I dug it.

Southern Rock Opera

Drive-By Truckers

3/5

As someone with no familiarity with Skynyrd, I liked this. Musically, it reminded me of the albums I enjoy from, say, Cracker or Fastball. But there were some twists of weirdness throughout, too, that I felt elevated what could otherwise have been a somewhat generic Southern rock album. I loved the last track. I only had time to listen through once, but I'd definitely revisit this album someday.

Black Sabbath

3/5

Loved, LOVED the first song, and enjoyed all the rest. Would definitely like to give this a closer listen. I'm not normally into metal or blues, but the performances really sell this. 3.5 stars.

Hot Buttered Soul

Isaac Hayes

3/5

Man, I loved the first half of this album! Especially Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic, which knocked my socks off. Unfortunately it fizzled for me after that - the second half is alright, but didn't quite capture the same magic for me.

Led Zeppelin II

Led Zeppelin

2/5

Man, I loved IV so much, but this one didn't do anything for me. I liked Whole Lotta Love and Ramble On, but I hated The Lemon Song... I just don't wanna listen to this one again. Ergo, two stars.

Pyromania

Def Leppard

3/5

Fun album - great hooks, great melodies. And Photograph is a fantastic song. Glad this is on the list.

Oedipus Schmoedipus

Barry Adamson

3/5

This is an odd one! Some songs are pleasant, some are abrasive. I think I'm rating this more for the ideas (which I really like) rather than the music (which I find just okay). It's likely a 2/2.5 for me... but I just remembered Jarvis Cocker makes sex noises on the first track so I'll bump it up to a three. 👀

KIWANUKA

Michael Kiwanuka

3/5

A pleasant listen, though nothing stood out in particular. It has a timelessness about it, so I love that this is one of the newer items on the list.

Channel Orange

Frank Ocean

3/5

Been meaning to listen to this for a long time. Really loved some tracks ("Monks" especially stood out), but others kind of blended together. I'd like to spend more time with it to better absorb the lyrics.

This Year's Model

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

5/5

This is an album I already know and love, so I really tried to handle this listen with fresh ears. But the thing is, I still remember the first time I heard This Year's Model, back in my early 20s, because it blew me away. I went through like two years where I only listened to Elvis Costello as a result of this album and Get Happy!! (which is inexplicably not one of the six Costello albums on this list). It's like his music is perfectly tuned to my tastes. I didn't know music from this era could be so fun and fresh and distinctive. I love his voice, his lyrics, his melodies. Yeah, first listen or 500th, this one is an easy 5.

Cosmo's Factory

Creedence Clearwater Revival

1/5

I feel like I'm being pranked.

OK Computer

Radiohead

5/5

I went back and forth on this one. It's probably, like, a 4.75, which I'll round off to 5 stars. Excuse my musings below - I want to capture some thoughts. It's angry, earnest, and unsubtle, with lyrics I'd put into my AIM profile and use as a guide in my teenage life. That is to say: I really like music like this! Case in point: when I got to Fitter Happier, I searched up the lyrics and found a post on the Radiohead subreddit from a 19-year-old who was deeply unsettled by the song and seeking comfort about the adulthood that awaited them. There are only a few comments, but they're semi-helpful - "Yeah, the song is kind of accurate, but you'll manage" kind of thing. Honestly a rare glimpse into completely unpretentious Radiohead fandom. The post was from 9 years ago, and it looks like OP hasn't posted on Reddit since. Wonder how they're faring. If you just presented this album to me without context, I'd be extremely into it. But when you tell me it's Radiohead, I think, "Hm, but this isn't the best they can do, is it?" That's silly. I really vibed with this. 5 stars.

I See A Darkness

Bonnie "Prince" Billy

3/5

If I'm in the mood for slow, sad music, this is as good an option as any. Simple and gloomy.

Dusty In Memphis

Dusty Springfield

4/5

Sometimes I rate albums based on how well they put me in a good mood, and this one put me in a good mood. It also made me feel strangely inspired. I want to be Dusty Springfield, effortlessly cool and perpetually in love.

Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

3/5

Rockin', enjoyable. I've had kind of a hard time getting into Neil Young, but this felt approachable. I liked the noodling.

Electric

The Cult

2/5

This was disappointing and samey, but a 1 feels too harsh...

Tidal

Fiona Apple

4/5

Cool music that makes me feel cool. I love her voice and inflections.

At San Quentin

Johnny Cash

4/5

I thought it was silly that there were two Johnny Cash prison albums on here, but I actually think I preferred this one over At Folsom Prison. Funny banter, energetic songs, short enough to listen a couple times and let it grow on you.

Axis: Bold As Love

Jimi Hendrix

4/5

This was a pleasant surprise to me - not because I don't like Hendrix, but because I didn't expect the songs so be so approachable and catchy. I dig it!

Pornography

The Cure

4/5

Moody, vibey, emotional music. If this was the only music The Cure ever made, I don't know if this would be as enjoyable, but knowing it's part of a rich and diverse discography (and being able to identify elements of this in their future work), it's a real treat.

Scum

Napalm Death

2/5

I'm a fairly angry person, so I appreciate this album being on this list. Sometimes you just need music that's PHYSICAL. I didn't really enjoy it, and I don't want to listen to it again, but hell, I'll give it a 2 - if for no other reason than to bump it higher than Kid Rock in my ratings.

Modern Life Is Rubbish

Blur

4/5

Mm, you know what, I submitted this as 3 stars initially, but I flipped through the songs again and think I will give it a four. I'd say 80% of this really works for me. I think I like future-Blur a bit more, but this is still right up my alley, and who am I to deny that?

Songs From A Room

Leonard Cohen

3/5

I like Leonard Cohen's lyrics a lot, but sometimes the songs don't stand out to me musically. This is well-made stuff; I just gotta be in the right mood for it.

The Slim Shady LP

Eminem

3/5

The themes and lyrics get repetitive, but I still found this captivating to listen to. Eminem is very good at what he does! Yes, it's angry, and yes, it's self-pitying, but music also seems like a somewhat healthy outlet for these emotions? I don't know, maybe I'm making excuses because I feel guilty - I found plenty of the subject matter disgusting, but still kinda dug it overall.

Born To Run

Bruce Springsteen

4/5

Sometimes you wanna hear a guy leave it all on the table - just step into a recording booth and unleash his soul. This album really showcases how much people have (lovingly) ripped off his sound in the decades since this came out; very cool to hear the blueprint for some of my favorite music. Plus: the instruments! Love the sax and piano, which create some really interesting melodies behind Bruce's explosive vocals. Honestly, before I started this project, I didn't think I liked Springsteen. This is the last of his albums on this list for me, and I'm a total convert. I'm afraid The Boss rules.

All Hope Is Gone

Slipknot

3/5

Yeah, this is pretty much what 2008 was like! I probably would've liked this if I had listened to it then. Now I think the appeal is largely nostalgia - though I'll admit it was better than I expected, given this isn't my scene. My favorite track was Butcher's Hook. Feel a little trapped here because I gave Napalm Death 2 stars, and I like this more than that. Let's consider it a 2.5 rounded up, shall we?

If I Could Only Remember My Name

David Crosby

3/5

This was more pleasant than I expected, but still a little corny for my taste. I like hippie shit, but even I've got my limits.

Surf's Up

The Beach Boys

2/5

This surprised me! I guess my perception of The Beach Boys is, y'know, oldies stuff. This was pretty weird! I liked the first two tracks a lot, but then it kind of lost steam. What was going on with Student Demonstration Time? I guess I appreciate the ambition in the album, but it didn't seem particularly skillfully or artfully done - more idea than execution.

Debut

Björk

3/5

Favorite track: Big Time Sensuality Good groove, and I like the weirdness, but not much stuck with me.

Different Class

Pulp

4/5

But still you'll never get it right 'Cause when you're laid in bed at night Watching roaches climb the walls If you called your dad he could stop it all *** Okay, I'm biased because Common People is one of my favorite songs - both this original version and William Shatner's excellent cover. What a SONG! Jarvis's vocals on the whole album are so captivating; it's like he's right next to you, convincing you of every word. And boy does it work for me. A lustful album, sure, but I think the storytelling justifies it, keeps it from being too salacious. I dig it.

Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury

The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy

3/5

Good groove and good lyrics, but it felt a little long as it went on. Nevertheless, this was a cool thing to find on this list - I had never heard of it.

The Suburbs

Arcade Fire

4/5

A classic of the indie era. A solid, cohesive experience, and I really love some of the songs on here. Maybe a smidge too long? But when you're vibin', you're vibin'.

Crime Of The Century

Supertramp

4/5

There are too many albums of this genre and decade on this list. But I'm glad this album is one of em. What a neat discovery for me! Each of the tracks stood out, and I liked them all. By the second listen I was singing along.

Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols

Sex Pistols

4/5

How cool is this? Bold, angry, energetic. The kind of album that makes me sad that we're so desensitized to shock nowadays. Is edginess dead?

Young Americans

David Bowie

3/5

This took a few listens to stick, so I'm going to go against my assumptions and bring this down to a 3. Loved Young Americans, Right, and (of course) Fame.

1/5

This was very icky. Musically I didn't mind it - I even kind of liked Next and The Last of the Teenage Idols. But lyrically? Woof. Idk man, I think dudes in the 70s were straight-up predators.

The Velvet Underground & Nico

The Velvet Underground

4/5

Cool, edgy, unique. Loved it. Feels like a five-star album, but the topics are difficult for everyday listening, so I'll go with a high 4.

Shalimar

Rahul Dev Burman

3/5

This was fun music to work to! Not sure it stuck with me too much beyond that, though.

Lust For Life

Iggy Pop

4/5

Loved this! Love Iggy Pop's voice. Favorite tracks were The Passenger (obviously), Success, and Fall In Love With Me. High 4 stars, almost gave it a 5 because of that album cover.

The Downward Spiral

Nine Inch Nails

4/5

Do I need to explore why I liked this so much? Can I just say I liked it and move on?

Dub Housing

Pere Ubu

3/5

I liked the drunken sailor song a lot! I don't know why this is so disliked. It's kinda fun. Prob a 2.5 for me but I'll bump it to a 3 to boost the average.

Picture Book

Simply Red

2/5

Mmm I really disliked this, and the cover of Heaven is a crime, but my 1-star albums have a real "gross guy you avoid at the bar" vibe and Ol' Red here seems mostly harmless.

Bringing It All Back Home

Bob Dylan

4/5

Such an excellent album. Subterranean Homesick Blues is soooo perfect, but then it has a bunch of other great songs. Also, a supremely cool era of Dylan.

Blunderbuss

Jack White

4/5

I just like Jack White! He's the only person I trust to make music that sounds like this. This is my first time listening to this album. It feels like it'd be a good listen anytime, and sublime in the right environment.

Diamond Life

Sade

4/5

Probably a 3.5 that I'll bump up to a 4. What a voice, what a vibe! I couldn't really pick out which songs stood out to me, but listening to this a couple of times was a lovely way to start my morning. This made me want to listen to other albums from Sade, which is usually a good sign.

Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)

Loretta Lynn

3/5

Enjoyable, but I prefer Dolly!

Metal Box

Public Image Ltd.

5/5

This sounds like how I feel all the time - but in a good way! Weird, wry, goofy, with a great groovy bassline throughout. I liked the energy of the other PiL album on this list; I liked both the energy and sound of this one.

The Hour Of Bewilderbeast

Badly Drawn Boy

4/5

Really enjoyed this. Surely isn't for everyone, but it's a nice slice of 00s indie that I'm a total sucker for.

C'est Chic

CHIC

3/5

Expected to like this more than I did, but it got a little samey. The groove is great, though.

Nevermind

Nirvana

5/5

One of those albums where I turn up the volume, then the next song comes on and I turn it up more, and more, and more, for every song. Drain You is so good aaaaaaaa. That song gets me GOIN'!

Rattus Norvegicus

The Stranglers

3/5

I liked the first couple of tracks a lot, but it lost my interest after that. The instrumentation was cool, and I like the album cover. It does what it does just fine, but it doesn't sound too different from other 70s rock to me.

Broken English

Marianne Faithfull

4/5

I saw the phrase "raw emotion" come up a lot when researching this album, and that seems like a fair descriptor. Went in with no knowledge of this album or of Faithfull, and found it a pretty captivating listen. Hovering between 3 and 4, but I'll go with 4. A very cool, very human album. If this came up on shuffle, I'd be delighted.

Ingenue

k.d. lang

4/5

Holy cow, k.d. lang has a gorgeous voice. Really enjoyed listening to this.

Automatic For The People

R.E.M.

5/5

5 stars for Nightswimming (and also for the other songs).

Pink Moon

Nick Drake

5/5

Favorite tracks: Horn, Parasite Listened to this while driving through the Driftless Area, which was perfect. I see why this is the album everyone likes. It's the third (and I think last) Nick Drake album I've gotten on this list, and it's definitely my favorite of the three. I don't know the background of the recording, but it sounds like he really discovered and leaned into his strengths here. Quite enjoyable! Edit 9/5/2025: I'll be honest, I keep thinking about this album! I've found myself revisiting it a few times. I'm changing my rating from a 4 to a 5. This one really is special.

Buffalo Springfield Again

Buffalo Springfield

4/5

Favorite tracks: Bluebird, Broken Arrow "For What It's Worth" (one of my all-time favorite songs) was on the radio a couple days ago, and I was like "Ooh, I wonder if Buffalo Springfield is on the 1001 Albums list?" So, I was quite delighted to have this appear! And, I mean, file this under The Kind Of Shit I Really Like. This is a high four stars for me. It was fun, rockin', catchy, creative. It showcased a good variety of styles. I'll admit I was inclined to like this, but I was surprised to like it despite how different it feels from For What It's Worth.

Vol. 4

Black Sabbath

4/5

Aww Ozzy. 💔

Trafalgar

Bee Gees

2/5

Man, I love The Bee Gees and really wanted to love this, but it just wasn't as strong as their later work. I did really like Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself.

You Want It Darker

Leonard Cohen

3/5

I'm not sure how to rate this! If I was in the right mood, it'd be transcendent. But I don't want to think about how dark life can be right now. Also, this gave me the distinct feeling of voyeurism, of hearing private things I wasn't meant to hear. I think that's maybe the point, but it's definitely not an "everyday" kind of album. Sticking with a 3, with the caveat that I intend to listen again when I want to wallow.

Ten

Pearl Jam

4/5

Man, I love Eddie Vedder's delivery. He really tells a story with his stops and starts, his weird syncopation, the way some lyrics trail off. The music itself is great - gets me revved up, takes me to a different place. Very cool album. Love Pearl Jam.

Slippery When Wet

Bon Jovi

3/5

The hits were largely the highlights for me, but this album is clearly a force. These dudes know how to write a melody. Plus, Jon Bon Jovi is a cutie.

Tank Battles

Dagmar Krause

4/5

How interesting is this!! I like the music and I like its confrontational presence on this list. I was hovering between a 3 and 4 (it's certainly not an everyday album, but it was a delight today). It's bonkers that this has such a low average rating on this site, so 4 it is. (And for all y'all griping about this album not being on Spotify: 1, cancel Spotify, 2, it's on the Internet Archive for free.)

In It For The Money

Supergrass

4/5

Expected to like this, didn't expect to love it! Really catchy stuff, and I like the unique instrumentation. "Cheapskate" was a standout to me.

Foo Fighters

4/5

The Foo Fighters are exactly what I picture when I think of "rock music." Not necessarily the best at it, not the worst, but a straightforward, paint-by-numbers version of what rock music is. This album still sounds very Foo Fighters-y to me, but with a Nirvana-y hardness that I didn't expect. It's a 3/3.5 for the music, bumped up to a 4 with the context of it serving as a therapy album for Grohl.

Joan Armatrading

4/5

I'm only a little aware of Joan Armatrading's music, and the stuff I'm aware of doesn't sound like this, but I still really loved this. "Love and Affection" and "Somebody Who Loves You" knocked me out! Going to be playing those on repeat for a while.

Born To Be With You

Dion

2/5

Pretty boring. Sorry, Dion. I didn't hate the New York song.

Architecture And Morality

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

4/5

Favorite tracks: Joan of Arc, The Beginning and the End Overall, I really liked this. Strange and atmospheric, with some really catchy tunes. Some songs didn't stick with me, possibly because I didn't have the time to sit with this album through multiple listens. But the songs I liked felt like a breath of fresh air.

I See You

The xx

3/5

I like the vibe of this as I was listening, but ultimately it didn't have enough substance to stick with me.

All Things Must Pass

George Harrison

5/5

Some of the best songs ever are on here. It's not an album I'd listen to every day, which is usually my criteria for a five-star album, but this one is so skillfully done... Let's give it a five without Apple Jam, eh?

Guero

Beck

4/5

I like Beck, and this album has a lot of good tunes. Just a very enjoyable listen for me.

Faith

George Michael

5/5

Made me smile from start to finish. Kicks off with possibly the strongest three tracks of any album on this list. Crazy influential record for the kind of music I like. Also, lest we forget, dude was not out yet! He made this crazy, sexy, bold album just because the music moved him. Worth a 5 if only for the "HUHHH!" he does during I Want Your Sex. Man, George Michael was good!

Peter Gabriel 3

Peter Gabriel

4/5

Absolutely loved Family Snapshot and Games Without Frontiers. A few songs felt weirdly, like, normal for what I expect from Peter Gabriel. But all around, a solid album.

Savane

Ali Farka Touré

3/5

I'm glad this is on the list! Not sure I'd revisit this particular album, but it was an interesting and energetic listen.

Africa Brasil

Jorge Ben Jor

4/5

Funky, cool, a 41-minute dance party. Has all my favorite qualities of 70s music.

Hot Rats

Frank Zappa

4/5

Listened through once, thought it was fine. Switched over to Freak Out (the other Zappa I've gotten so far), then back to this - and on the second listen it went down a lot smoother. It felt like something I could sink into. The solos go on a bit too long, I think, but the variety of instruments makes up for it. Honestly, though, listening to this made me go back and bump my rating for Freak Out from a 4 to a 5. That shit... that is the shit I do like. Wish this had more of the weird lyrics and confrontational arrangements tbh! Felt tame in comparison.

Leftism

Leftfield

1/5

Man, I usually like electronic music, but this did nothing for me. There's a lot more interesting music in the genre. Wouldn't revisit this one. Probably need drugs to enjoy. I was initially going to give this two stars, then I saw I was only halfway through the album. Yikes!

Rhythm Nation 1814

Janet Jackson

4/5

This is definitely a bit heavy-handed overall, but to be honest, I love Janet, and I'm rating this a 4 because Love Will Never Do Without You and Escapade are suuuuch baaangers.

Opus Dei

Laibach

1/5

The "are they or aren't they?" debate about this band is enough to turn me off of them - there's just too much other music out there for me to bother. Truthfully, the album wasn't as brutal or unlistenable as I expected, but it gets pretty samey pretty quickly, and I don't intend to revisit it. I guess I appreciate that the list-makers included something of this ilk. Why'd it have to be maybe-fascists, though?

Ill Communication

Beastie Boys

3/5

I like the Beastie Boys in theory, but don't really want to listen to their music. Does that make any sense? This album was more enjoyable than the earlier Beastie Boys albums I've heard on this list - but I still think it's better in small doses.

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme

Simon & Garfunkel

4/5

A very high 4 for me. Short and sweet, great lyrics, great instrumentation. I've always loved Feelin' Groovy - just pure blissed-out happiness. But I really loved the other tracks, too. Honestly the only thing keeping me from a 5 is knowing Paul Simon's solo stuff is on this list, and how much more I like that overall.

Cypress Hill

2/5

Kind of unpleasant and boring, but somehow grew on me a little bit by the second listen.

Songs In The Key Of Life

Stevie Wonder

4/5

Stevie's a king. So many classics here - and this is his EIGHTEEENTH (!!) album. Yeah, it's too long for me to listen to all the time, but I'm definitely gonna add it to my collection anyway. Coincidentally, someone I follow online posted a live breakdown of "Uptight (Everything's Alright)", which Stevie apparently recorded when he was 15 years old (!!!!). Between that and this album, I definitely have a new appreciation. Ludicrously gifted musician, dang.

The Madcap Laughs

Syd Barrett

4/5

Favorite tracks: Dark Globe, Here I Go, If It's In You Got this after Stevie Wonder's Songs In The Key Of Life, which is a tough act to follow! At first I wasn't sure what to make of this. Then after a few songs I clocked how weird it is, and I really warmed to it. Strange and sad and confusing, but with a strong thread of talent and artistry throughout. Right up my alley, really.

Heaven Or Las Vegas

Cocteau Twins

4/5

All vibes. A warm bath of an album. Each song sounds like something I almost remember. Cool stuff for the right mood.

Disintegration

The Cure

4/5

This whole album is an experience, something to really sink into and drift through. But even so, there are so many strong, standout tracks for me. Pictures of You - come onnn, what a perfect song.

La Revancha Del Tango

Gotan Project

3/5

Good mood kinda stuff. Would like to listen to on a road trip.

Violator

Depeche Mode

5/5

I mean, god DAMN.

Future Days

Can

3/5

An interesting and enjoyable listen, though I found myself drifting in and out of it. Probably not something I'd revisit, but it wasn't unpleasant.

The Marshall Mathers LP

Eminem

3/5

I'm a total hypocrite. Normally disgusting lyrics are a non-starter for me. But the thing is, the first like eight songs here are complete bangers. And I also like Eminem, like, as a person and an artist. A lot of the lyrics are definitely rough, but the rhythms are good, the melodies are good, and it's a perfect time capsule of the millennium. A high 3, if I'm being completely honest.

Parachutes

Coldplay

4/5

Some really excellent songs here. Sparks gets me every time.

The College Dropout

Kanye West

5/5

Deep fucking sigh. I miss the old Kanye.

GI

Germs

2/5

I get why this is on the list, but it didn't really do anything for me. I like this kind of music, but this sounded a little samey to me, even with a relatively short runtime.

Swordfishtrombones

Tom Waits

4/5

Ooh, this is tough to review! I really like Tom Waits, and I really like how interesting this album is. It's certainly not an everyday listen, but it was an exciting listen today, and one of those albums that completely should be on this list. I think I'd rate it a 3.5, but I'm going to bump it up to a 4 because it's just so dang cool.

Hot Fuss

The Killers

5/5

Man, this album is great. Just banger after banger. What a debut!

Harvest

Neil Young

4/5

It's funny, whenever Neil Young comes up on this list, I brace myself, but then I end up really liking the album. This was my favorite one we've gotten yet. Simply enjoyable to listen to, with lyrics that could keep you thinking for a while. Good stuff.

The Soft Bulletin

The Flaming Lips

4/5

What can I say? I like music like this. Catchy, lil weird, some spacy stuff going on.

Truth And Soul

Fishbone

3/5

Fun, energetic. This is my first experience with Fishbone, and I'd be interested in checking out more of their stuff.

After The Gold Rush

Neil Young

3/5

I got Harvest earlier this week, which is kind of a bummer because I can't help but compare the two! I liked this, found it an easy and enjoyable listen, but the songs on Harvest resonated with me more. I'd say this is a 3.5 for me, but to keep a distinction between the two, I'll keep this at a 3 (and Harvest at a 4).

Tracy Chapman

4/5

I love the storytelling here - not just the lyrics, but Chapman's delivery. I could really listen to her sing anything. A very strong debut from an artist that, in my opinion, deserves the flowers she gets.

Strangeways, Here We Come

The Smiths

5/5

I'm tempted to leave a keyboard smash as a review. That's how this album makes me feel. Like I'm melting into goo, and my goo is pulsing to the beat of the music. Too much? Okay!! I love The Smiths! I love Morrissey as a singer even if I despise him as a person! The other members of the band are not bad people and deserve praise! Also this was my first time hearing Death of a Disco Dancer and holy shit did I love it.

Straight Outta Compton

N.W.A.

4/5

Angry energy with a heavy dose of fun. The flow was great throughout, as were the samples. Good variety between the songs, too. Just a really solid album.

Destroy Rock & Roll

Mylo

3/5

Kind of a slow start and finish for me, but I loved the run of Drop The Pressure/In My Arms/Guilty Of Love. The samples are nothing groundbreaking, but I like them. Fun album, bit too long.

Veckatimest

Grizzly Bear

3/5

This is something I probably would've loved if I heard it when it first came out. It's a good version of This Type Of Music, but my tastes have shifted in the past 15 years; I enjoyed my first listen but didn't especially want to listen again.

Red Headed Stranger

Willie Nelson

3/5

Willie's great. This was a nice listen - though I'll admit it didn't stand out enough for me to want to listen on repeat. Would enjoy it perfectly well if it came up in the wild!

Surrealistic Pillow

Jefferson Airplane

4/5

White Rabbit is one of the coolest songs of all time. Turns out this album has a bunch of other cool songs too. Man, what a cool band.

A Short Album About Love

The Divine Comedy

5/5

I was really trying to find a possibility in which I didn't absolutely love this, but it just doesn't exist. Winking, cheeky, outsider, but with that chamber pop sound I love. Some songs reminded me of Monkees outtakes, which are some of my favorite tunes. Yeah, idk, this was kinda made for me!

The Gershwin Songbook

Ella Fitzgerald

2/5

I get it, Ella Fitzgerald has great voice. She really does! But why is this album on the list? I know the songs are very old, but they just feel corny to me. I feel bad that this is how she's using her talent. And the length... it's like the listmakers didn't want to actually research and include jazz music, so they were like "Ah just put the long one on there, that'll cover us." I was really geared up to like this, but nah, wouldn't revisit.

Here's Little Richard

Little Richard

4/5

What a force! Tutti Frutti is a blast. Some of the other songs are, predictably, a bit silly, but man can Little Richard make them sound good. Oooo!

The World is a Ghetto

War

3/5

Great vibes, great skills. It genuinely sounds like they were having fun making music together. Some songs dragged on a bit too long for me, but I think in the right environment this would really draw me in. As it is, 3.5 stars.

Elephant

The White Stripes

5/5

This album just rocks. Opening with Seven Nation Army sets the tone right away. Has sooo many of my favorite White Stripes songs. I think I said this when I reviewed Blunderbuss, but they're the only people I trust to make music like this. Love em both.

The Undertones

4/5

Really fun album, right up my alley. Quick and energetic and easy to listen to.

Teen Dream

Beach House

4/5

This is the kind of music I liked quite a bit back in the day. Not sure I see why it's on the list, but it'll be a nice addition to my collection.

I Am a Bird Now

Antony and the Johnsons

3/5

Favorite tracks: Hope There's Someone, Spiraling The reviews made me nervous about this, but I enjoyed it overall. Emotional and interesting, and just the right amount of drama. There's a cynical part of me that felt some songs veered into "awards fodder" territory, but most didn't strike me that way. The vibrato didn't bother me at all; again, I liked it. The guest spots are impressive and work really well with the music.

Frank

Amy Winehouse

2/5

I expected to like this a lot more than I did, sadly! I enjoyed the second half more than the first half, but overall I was still left underwhelmed. I wasn't crazy about the instrumentation, and some of the lyrics rubbed me the wrong way. Probably a 2.5.

Synchronicity

The Police

3/5

Weirder than I expected it to be! Like Mother is verrry out there - kinda loved it though. Synchronicity II and Wrapped Around Your Finger were other highlights. The rest of it was nice but didn't necessarily stand out. Maybe 3.5 stars.

The Blueprint

JAY Z

4/5

Really liked listening to this. Great energy, great flow, some cool moments that break it up well. Found myself nodding along throughout.

Heavy Weather

Weather Report

3/5

This reminded me of the music in Wave Race 64. Which isn't a bad thing! I like the music in Wave Race 64!

Heroes

David Bowie

3/5

Man, I just couldn't figure out how to approach this one. It's strange, but it didn't stick with me. Heroes (the song) is an absolute masterpiece, but nothing else on the album lived up to it. Bowie sounds great throughout, though.

Live At Leeds

The Who

3/5

Y'know, at first I was like "Why on earth is this live album on here." But then as they were playing, I sort of forgot it was a live album. The band sounds really sharp. And the songs are good. So, like... okay!

Zombie

Fela Kuti

4/5

Fantastic music, and insane background. This was totally new to me and I really enjoyed it. But dang. What a life.

...The Dandy Warhols Come Down

The Dandy Warhols

3/5

Favorite tracks: Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth, Hard On For Jesus. Another album that makes me wish this site did half stars! A solid 3.5 for me - the kind of mellow alt music I tend to like, vibey and a little sleazy. Overall the album is maybe a bit longer than I'd prefer, but there's plenty here that makes me bop along.

Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

Dead Kennedys

4/5

Gahhh yes so angry and energetic. Love this shit. This one got me goin' today, and I'm eager to return to it when I need another kick in the ass.

Vincebus Eruptum

Blue Cheer

2/5

I respect this for its influence, but it's not something I'd ever return to, and I didn't especially want to listen to it while it was playing. I don't mind self-indulgence in rock music, but this wasn't my flavor of it, y'know?

Remain In Light

Talking Heads

4/5

Funky, weird, fun. Once In A Lifetime is a masterpiece. Man I love this band.

Hunky Dory

David Bowie

5/5

Edit: Nah, y'all are right, this is a 5. Original review: This is a strong 4.5/5 for me, but will keep it at 4. Man, what a great selection of tracks. I haven't loved the other Bowie we've had on the list so far and it was starting to stress me out. Glad there's an era a Bowie I do, in fact, love! Also Kooks is beautiful and made me cry. 🙃

Penance Soiree

The Icarus Line

2/5

I liked the energy and grunginess, but as it went on it became more forgettable. Wouldn't revisit.

The Modern Lovers

4/5

Favorite tracks: Roadrunner, Pablo Picasso, Hospital Pretty much exactly the kind of music I like. A lot of the songs sound like they're making it up as they go - which I love!

Skylarking

XTC

5/5

I know some XTC songs but hadn't heard this album before - and yet, as soon as it started, it felt familiar. It has that boppy, poppy, weird flair that I really love. Sounds newer than it is. Happy to have discovered it; this is an instant classic for me.

The Queen Is Dead

The Smiths

5/5

Guhhh. Gotta love an album that makes me laugh and cry and live in its world for a while.

Funeral

Arcade Fire

4/5

This is a solid album throughout, but man, "Rebellion (Lies)" DOES SOMETHING TO ME. Indie fugue state. Millennial madness. Every time I hear it, I'm like, "Is this my favorite song of all time???" I'm thumping and hooting and hollering. EVERY TIME YOU CLOSE YOUR EYEEEEEES!

Dummy

Portishead

4/5

Vibessss. Makes me wanna be a cool 90s gal. Really enjoyed this.

Talking Heads 77

Talking Heads

4/5

So many great tracks. Funky and fun and a little cynical.

Infected

The The

3/5

Favorite tracks: Heartland, Angels of Deception I wanted to like this more than I did! I like their style (This Is The Day is one of my all-time faves). I love the singer's voice and just how theatrical and dramatic the songs were. But overall it did sound a liiiittle too dated for me to revisit.

Highway to Hell

AC/DC

3/5

Honestly pure fun. C'mon, it ends with "shazbot, nanu nanu." Such a cool album cover, too. A solid, enjoyable listen.

Come Away With Me

Norah Jones

4/5

Really enjoyed listening to this. Nice, mellow, well-written songs.

Band On The Run

Paul McCartney and Wings

4/5

Man, I love Paul McCartney. Really solid album, leading off with two absolutely amazing songs. JET!!!!

evermore

Taylor Swift

3/5

Favorite tracks: Tis The Damn Season, Ivy, Long Story Short, Closure. First, to get it off my chest: I think Taylor Swift is a bad lyricist but great with melodies. Overall a mediocre artist with a powerful PR machine. This ~era~ included. Regardless, she's a significant presence in music history, so I get why something from her needs to be on the list, and this is as good a pick as any. My actual review of evermore: I liked some songs, didn't like others. Pretty much how it goes for me and TS! The music was strong, but I found the lyrics to be hit or miss - too winking for something that's trying so hard to be elevated and artistic. A 3 feels right to me. Not terrible, not unpleasant, but I think there are other albums that do this better and don't contribute to a billionaire's ego.

Figure 8

Elliott Smith

4/5

Ohh, so this is why my high school friends were obsessed with Elliott Smith! Really likable indie music. Sad and catchy. Wanted to keep it on repeat all day. 4.5 stars; I could see this becoming a 5 if I spent more time with it.

The Clash

4/5

Energetic and smart. I'm a Clash newbie but excited to add this to my collection - right up my alley. 4.5 stars!

21

Adele

4/5

I got this album when it came out! Still really, really good - her voice feels so lived-in and full of hurt. It's insane that she was just 21. Love Rolling In The Deep, Rumor Has It, and Someone Like You.

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

Raekwon

3/5

Loooved the samples, loved the overall vibe. Would need more time with it to absorb the lyrics. Probably a 3.5 - no half-stars strikes again!

Physical Graffiti

Led Zeppelin

3/5

Favorite tracks: The Rover, In The Light, Bron-Yr-Aur. Mannn, this is tough. I really liked about two-thirds of this. Didn't care for side four. It's so dang long. But it's mostly really good! If I had more time to sit with it, it'd probably be a 4. But I just had jammin' on my headphones at work, so it's a 3.5. Sorry, Zep.

Every Picture Tells A Story

Rod Stewart

1/5

Whew! Haven't had a real stinker of an album in a while. Thanks, Rod. The songs all feel formulaic. Like he wrote one line for each song and then repeated it until time was up. And then on top of that, you gotta listen to Rod Stewart's voice. Also: Listening to the whole album made me like Maggie May (which is a good song!) less. :(

Rust Never Sleeps

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

3/5

I enjoyed this! Not my favorite Neil Young from the list, but there were some great tunes. 3.5 stars.

Moon Safari

Air

3/5

Nice and vibey, an enjoyable listen. I really liked You Make It Easy. Not sure I'd revisit, but it was chill for a Monday.

Atomizer

Big Black

5/5

Man, I just really like angry music like this. And I like it even more because I already trust Albini musically; he's not some rando making songs about the darkest corners of America, where you're like "Are you for or against this?" The songs are brutal while also still being catchy (imo!). The energy feels good, even if the lyrics feel bad. Especially loved Passing Complexion.

Palo Congo

Sabu

2/5

Really didn't do anything for me! But probably serves some purpose, so 2 instead of 1?

Teenager Of The Year

Frank Black

4/5

Favorite tracks: Headache, I Could Stay Here Forever, Superabound. Love Frank Black, loved this. Might have gone on a little too long for a weekday listen, but man I dig his style. Headache ripsssss.

Superfly

Curtis Mayfield

4/5

Very, very cool sound, with lyrics that pack a punch. His voice is extremely easy to listen to.

Nilsson Schmilsson

Harry Nilsson

5/5

Soo many bangers, and still so much variety. This could be twice as long and made up of just Jump Into The Fire and Coconut and it'd still be five stars for me - maybe even an easier five stars tbh.

Hearts And Bones

Paul Simon

5/5

Paul Simon makes such unbelievably beautiful music. "Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War" gets me every time - what a masterpiece of a song. I probably still prefer Graceland as an album, but there are too many highlights here to rate it anything other than a 5.

I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight

Richard Thompson

3/5

A solid 3.5 for me! Really liked the first half, but found myself zoning out in the second half. I think I'm just in the mood for something livelier, but I'll revisit this when I'm in the mood for slow and sad.

Fromohio

fIREHOSE

4/5

Favorite tracks: In My Mind, Time With You, If'n, Some Things, Understanding Liked this on first listen, liked it even more on repeat listens. Really just the kind of vibe I like. Fun, interesting, catchy alt music.

Elvis Presley

4/5

It's hard not to like this! Classic tunes sung by a very charismatic performer. These aren't really my favorite versions of most of these songs, but as a collection, it's an enjoyable listen.

Murmur

R.E.M.

3/5

Y'know, I love REM, and I loved a few of the tracks on here. The lyrics are fantastic, as is always the case for this band. That said, on the whole this wasn't sticking with me today, even after a couple of listens. Probably a 3.5.

Like Water For Chocolate

Common

3/5

Honestly liked this more than I expected. The beats and samples were really good - jazzy, engaging. Too long overall, probably, but didn't mind vibing with it today. Was torn between a 3 and a 4 - let's say 3.5, eh?

Chelsea Girl

Nico

2/5

I liked the beginning of this but lost interest as it went on. Enjoyed These Days and I'll Keep It With Mine. Otherwise, wouldn't revisit.

All Mod Cons

The Jam

4/5

Oh look, it's Exactly The Kind Of Music I Like. The Jam is one of those bands I've always meant to look into but never have. So, thanks 1001 Albums - this kicked ass!

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

OutKast

5/5

This was so good??? A masterpiece??? I normally have no patience for long albums, but this one was so fun and interesting. Honestly kinda blown away. A new favorite, instantly added to my collection. Also - and this is a belief I've had for years - Hey Ya might be the best song ever recorded. Absolutely love that the whole album rips.

Dire Straits

2/5

This seems like a harsh review... if we had half stars, this would be 2.5. This was fine, but nothing stuck with me. The songs kind of sounded the same. Do I give it a 3 because of vibes? It doesn't offend me, but it's not something I'd seek out. I respect it, but don't need it in my collection, y'know?

Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle

Bill Callahan

4/5

Liked this more than I expected to! I really dig his voice. And there was a thread of silliness throughout that balanced the melancholy. Favorite track was My Friend.

It's A Shame About Ray

The Lemonheads

5/5

If you like this kind of music, man is this a great example of it. And I really, really like this kind of music. I've had a lousy week, and I swear a fog lifted when this started playing. I was transported to a better world for a little bit. And that's pretty much all I want from music.

Ramones

4/5

Totally iconic, a perfect Ramones album. I'll admit the songs all sound the same, but hey (ho), it's a good song.

Neon Bible

Arcade Fire

4/5

A solid album with a not-insignificant amount of nostalgia for me. Doesn't hit the highs of Funeral (my favorite/most nostalgic Arcade Fire album), but certainly has some great tunes.

Rock 'N Soul

Solomon Burke

3/5

Honestly I always rate these kinds of albums too high, because they're just nice to listen to. Parts of this made me sleepy, but not in a bad way. It's like I was lulled. Probably a 3.5.

Rumours

Fleetwood Mac

5/5

Not every song on this is 5/5, imo, but most are, and the album as a whole is really excellent. The band sounds great, and the length is just right. C'mon. It's Rumours!

You Are The Quarry

Morrissey

4/5

Man, I dunno, I really like music like this. This was almost a 5 tbh. I get that he's a knob, but the songs are good.

Crosby, Stills & Nash

4/5

Honestly, I was dreading this, but it was actually really chill and pleasant. Would listen again.

American IV: The Man Comes Around

Johnny Cash

3/5

A solid 3.5 for me. No other track quite reaches the heights of Hurt, in my opinion, though I found Bridge Over Troubled Water and Danny Boy very beautiful. A great album, and I'm glad it's on the list.

Graceland

Paul Simon

5/5

Good god, this album. So many flawless songs. Simon's lyrics and delivery are stunning throughout. And the music is so warm and alive and FUN. I see this as an album mostly about self-pity and shame but trying again anyway. Something that resonates more every year. This is a top-ten album for me, and it's a true delight to have an excuse to listen to it on repeat today.

Caetano Veloso

3/5

Didn't want to like this because he sounds like a creep, but I have to admit this was a chill vibe. Solid 3.5.

Time Out Of Mind

Bob Dylan

2/5

Ahh Bob, I'm sorry, I don't think I was in the right headspace for this. Some songs I enjoyed - nice vibe, melancholy - but others really dragged for me. I think I prefer Dylan when he's a bit more energetic.

Ambient 1/Music For Airports

Brian Eno

3/5

This is a tough one to rate. It's probably not something I'd seek out again, but I enjoyed the effect of it. Meditative, mood-altering. It'd be the soundtrack to a movie I enjoy.

It's Blitz!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

4/5

This is a really, really good album with a bunch of excellent songs. There's another review on this site that says it sags a bit in the middle, and I think that's probably true. But, god, Zero is my jam, and Hysteric is a new favorite. 4.5 stars. Karen O is a legend.

L.A. Woman

The Doors

2/5

I thought I liked The Doors, but this was a bit of a chore to get through. Riders On The Storm is excellent and a clear highlight. A couple of other songs were alright. I like the style more than the substance, I guess.

Back At The Chicken Shack

Jimmy Smith

4/5

Fun, funky, good-mood kinda music.

Run-D.M.C.

2/5

I expected this to be more fun! I like Run-DMC, and I dig their chemistry. But the album didn't really do much for me. Run-DMC the artists get a 4; Run-DMC the album gets a 2.

Our Aim Is To Satisfy

Red Snapper

2/5

I hate the term "nothingburger," but I can't think of another way to describe this album. Not a bad sound overall, but at this point in the list I've had several albums like this, and this a pretty boring example of the genre. Shellback was my favorite track. The Rough and the Quick was gross. Nothing else stood out.

Low-Life

New Order

4/5

Man, what a great band. Love Vigilantes and Face Up were my favorite tracks, but really this whole album put me in a good mood.

White Blood Cells

The White Stripes

3/5

A great sound, but I found fewer songs stuck with me than on Elephant. Solid 3.5.

Hounds Of Love

Kate Bush

4/5

Honestly I wasn't suuuper in the mood for this today, but it's still a beautiful listen, and Cloudbusting is one of my all-time favorites. It's Kate Bush. It's a great album.

Permission to Land

The Darkness

4/5

Favorite tracks: Get Your Hands Off My Woman, Growing On Me, I Believe In A Thing Called Love, Love Is Only A Feeling, Friday Night Well, that was a surprise! I figured I'd like this; like any good millennial, I was obsessed with I Believe In A Thing Called Love back when it came out. I didn't expect the rest of the album to be sooo up my alley. Great melodies, fun energy. Wish I had checked this out all those years ago!

Pearl

Janis Joplin

4/5

I have no background with Janis, but I gotta admit, she was extremely charismatic. The album overflows with it. Couldn't help but smile while listening.

The Cars

5/5

All the hits. Great band, great album. What's not to love?

Abbey Road

Beatles

5/5

This site should have an "Abbey Road" rating option, because how are the other albums supposed to compare to this? Perfect song after perfect song. Come on. Six stars.

Fulfillingness' First Finale

Stevie Wonder

4/5

Another album of impeccable vibes from Stevie. Quite fun to bop along to.

Crooked Rain Crooked Rain

Pavement

5/5

Oh look, it's the exact kind of music I like! I can't speak to whether this is a 5-star album in ~music history~ or whatever, but it's an easy 5 stars for me. God it just feels good to listen to. Really can't overstate how much Cut Your Hair is my jam. DID YOU SEE THE DRUMMER'S HAIR?!

Live At The Star Club, Hamburg

Jerry Lee Lewis

1/5

Haha wow what a piece of shit this guy was! And even judging this musically, I got tired of his voice after a while. The energy is cool, especially for the time, but if you're always dialed up to 11, it just loses its impact. I was going to give this two stars, but I felt so relieved when it was over, I've gotta give it a one instead.

Music From Big Pink

The Band

2/5

The first half of this didn't do anything for me! I've never really loved The Weight, so I guess it's not surprising. After The Weight, though, I enjoyed it a bit more. Still, 2.5 stars.

The Velvet Underground

4/5

Kind of sleepy music for a Monday, but I enjoyed it. Some songs felt oddly spontaneous (in a good way); didn't feel quite like your typical late-60s rock album. This is somewhere between a 3.5 and a 4, but close enough to a 4 that I'll bump it up.

Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)

Bob Dylan

4/5

I liked the first half but was getting a bit bored of it, then BAM second half! Dylan goes electric! Fun and rocking - and, well, iconic.

Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water

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