1001 Albums Summary

Listening statistics & highlights

80
Albums Rated
2.88
Average Rating
7%
Complete
1009 albums remaining

Rating Distribution

Rating Timeline

Taste Profile

2010
Favorite Decade
Jazz
Favorite Genre
Other
Top Origin ?
Critic
Rater Style ?
9
5-Star Albums
12
1-Star Albums

Breakdown

By Genre

Top Styles

By Decade

By Origin

Albums

You Love More Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
5 3.32 +1.68
Fear Of A Black Planet
Public Enemy
5 3.34 +1.66
Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
5 3.35 +1.65
The ArchAndroid
Janelle Monáe
5 3.45 +1.55
Blackstar
David Bowie
5 3.48 +1.52
Pearl
Janis Joplin
5 3.71 +1.29
The Only Ones
The Only Ones
4 2.9 +1.1

You Love Less Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
Van Halen
Van Halen
1 3.62 -2.62
Reggatta De Blanc
The Police
1 3.44 -2.44
Synchronicity
The Police
1 3.4 -2.4
Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
1 3.33 -2.33
Clandestino
Manu Chao
1 3.22 -2.22
Unhalfbricking
Fairport Convention
1 3.14 -2.14
Liege And Lief
Fairport Convention
1 3.09 -2.09
Arc Of A Diver
Steve Winwood
1 2.87 -1.87
BEYONCÉ
Beyoncé
1 2.86 -1.86
Southern Rock Opera
Drive-By Truckers
1 2.82 -1.82

Artists

Favorites

ArtistAlbumsAverage
David Bowie 2 5

Least Favorites

ArtistAlbumsAverage
The Police 2 1
Fairport Convention 2 1
Arcade Fire 2 1.5

5-Star Albums (9)

View Album Wall

Popular Reviews

I quite liked Absolution when it came out, but that was the only Muse album that I'd listened to. In hindsight Absolution has the same issue Black Holes and Revelations does - it's fun enough, but at the end of the day (much like Coldplay) it's just Radiohead with more radio-friendly polish and less depth and talent.

BEYONCÉ by Beyoncé

This is a hard listen. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t to be bored. For such a sexually explicit album lyrically, it’s somehow lacks any sense of joy.

1-Star Albums (12)

All Ratings (80)

Bayou Country by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Jan 05 2024

I’ve never really listened to CCR - they fall in that gap between what my parents listened to and what I listened to. This was … pretty good!

Tracy Chapman by Tracy Chapman
Jan 08 2024

Fast Car is such an incredibly perfect song. The rest of the album is quite good too, though it’s not something I can see putting on often.

Endtroducing..... by DJ Shadow
Jan 09 2024

Fast Car is such an incredibly perfect song. The rest of the album is quite good too, though it’s not something I can see putting on often.

A Hard Day's Night by Beatles
Jan 11 2024

I have a lot of nostalgia here, from playing my parents' Beatles 45s as a kid. This isn't my favourite era of their career, but it's still a ton of fun. I'm still not sure that anyone does pop rock better.

Rock 'N Soul by Solomon Burke
Jan 12 2024

I can see why this made the list, and Burke has an incredible voice, but overall I found the album pretty flat and engaging.

The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
Jan 15 2024

My first time listening to The Smiths. I really quite enjoyed it. Might even listen to it again…

Songs From A Room by Leonard Cohen
Jan 16 2024

I love Leonard Cohen. He's one of my favourite songwriters. But if I'm honest, at lot of his albums drag on a bit, or aren't particularly well-structured as albums. This one's no different. It still gets a 4 for Bird on a Wire, The Partisan, Lady Midnight, and a bunch of other good stuff.

The Atomic Mr Basie by Count Basie & His Orchestra
Jan 17 2024

I know next to nothing about swing or big band, but this is a fun, up-beat thing to listen to.

The Coral by The Coral
Jan 18 2024

Never heard of these guys. Are they culturally significant or talented enough to make a “must listen” list? I guess it’s better than another album from The Police.

Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys
Jan 19 2024

I'm sure if this had been part of my youth I'd have loved it. But coming to it now, it's so shouty and grating that I have trouble uncovering the genius. I can see why it's on the list, but it's a skip for me.

Dire Straits by Dire Straits
Jan 22 2024

Sometimes some smooth, laid back, guitar-driven rock that's incredibly cleanly recorded is just what the doctor ordered. In those cases, you could do a lot worse than this.

Jan 23 2024

In solidarity with Min from Slow Horses, I want The Scientist to be played at my funeral. No one will get the joke, which will make it all the better. As an album, this I suppose, is a fine execution of early 2000s post-grunge "alt rock". I have somewhat of a soft spot for melancholic, guitar-driven music, but it's all a bit too clean for the melancholy to stick, you know? It's like everyone heard Radiohead and thought "we can do that!" .. but they couldn't. Anyway. It's not as bad people make it out to be, and it probably belongs on this list. But I'm not gonna listen to it again. (Except for The Scientist, when I'm dead).

The Only Ones by The Only Ones
Jan 24 2024

I'd never heard of The Only Ones before. Really enjoyed this. Feels a bit like the Violent Femmes, although it predates them. Will listen again.

Pretenders by Pretenders
Jan 25 2024

Another first listen for me, though I knew Brass In Pocket. Chrissie Hynde has a fantastic voice (IMO) but jeez it is forward in the mix. Almost painfully so with headphones. This was a solid, enjoyable album. I've seen it called one of the best debut album of all time, which seems a bit over the top. I think you can hear the influence it had on later rock music though, so for that alone it deserves to be on the list.

The Yes Album by Yes
Jan 26 2024

Although I quite enjoy proggier metal, I don't think I've put much time into prog rock (apart from DSOTM). This is pretty good, although so very 70s (especially the vocals). Probably won't listen to it again, but glad I did.

Home Is Where The Music Is by Hugh Masekela
Jan 29 2024

How often do you listen to a 76 minute album, from an artist you've never heard before, get to the end and wished it kept going? This is just fantastic.

Odelay by Beck
Jan 30 2024

It turns out that 54 minutes is a lot of minutes to listen to Beck. I've always thought that I'd love Beck if I put in some effort, but I've always bounced off his music. Here I am, bouncing off it again. Yeah, it should be on this list, but I won't listen to it again.

Bug by Dinosaur Jr.
Jan 31 2024

I guess Dinosaur Jr are in the same bucket as Sonic Youth for me - hugely influential on the bands that had a major impact on me. So I can listen and enjoy it, but it doesn't quite make a connection.

Deserter's Songs by Mercury Rev
Feb 01 2024

Pretty decent for late 90s/early 2k post-grunge alt rock. A bit quirky and fun, but I probably won't play it again.

Odessey And Oracle by The Zombies
Feb 02 2024

Kinda interesting late-Beatles-ish psych pop.

Court And Spark by Joni Mitchell
Feb 05 2024

Hadn't listened to Joni Mitchell before, but I like this quite a lot!

Highway to Hell by AC/DC
Feb 06 2024

I have anti-nostalgia for AC/DC. It was the music of the people I didn't like, and didn't want to grow up like. That aside, this is really solid album, albeit one that's not to my taste.

Clandestino by Manu Chao
Feb 07 2024

This is a long way from my taste. If it were on in the background while I was sitting in the sun drinking beer, I wouldn't get up to turn it off. But I'm not in the sun drinking beer, and I don't have to get up to turn it off. So....

Feb 08 2024

Didn’t hate this, but also didn’t think I’d ever get to the end of it.

Feb 09 2024

I’m not deeply into rap, but you have to respect this album. Yeah, it can be a touch repetitive, and the yeah bois year a bit thin. But it’s still awesome.

BEYONCÉ by Beyoncé
Feb 13 2024

This is a hard listen. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t to be bored. For such a sexually explicit album lyrically, it’s somehow lacks any sense of joy.

A Short Album About Love by The Divine Comedy
Feb 14 2024

It’s like a homage to Nick Cave, without his wit or talent.

Feb 15 2024

Really struggling with the vocals on this one. Musically it's fine.

Document by R.E.M.
Feb 16 2024

I haven’t listened to this before, but I have a soft spot for Automatic For The People and Monster. This was great.

Fear Of A Black Planet by Public Enemy
Feb 19 2024

I gave "It Takes A Nation..." 4 stars, and this is better across the board, so it's gotta be a 5.

Opus Dei by Laibach
Feb 20 2024

This kinda grew on me as I listened to it. It's definitely its own thing, so gets points for that. Mostly it felt like a joke that I wasn't in on.

Kenya by Machito
Feb 22 2024

This is great fun. Makes me feel like in a Bond movie (in a good way)

Blackstar by David Bowie
Feb 23 2024

It has been a while since I listened to this, but I still think that it's brilliant. Perhaps if it wasn't Bowie's parting gift I'd see it in a different light. But it was, so I can't.

Funeral by Arcade Fire
Feb 26 2024

Not really doing much for me, which is weird, because they remind me a bit of Cloud Cult, who I adore.

Butterfly by Mariah Carey
Feb 27 2024

Look, I tried. I'm 3 songs in and I think that'll do. For someone with such an amazing voice, she somehow manages to convey no emotion. Weird.

The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses
Feb 28 2024

I only have a passing knowledge of The Stone Roses' existence, though I did recognize Fools Gold (which IMO's the stand-out track). The albums was fine, but nothing more than that.

Tres Hombres by ZZ Top
Feb 29 2024

I've never intentionally listened to ZZ Top. This is some pretty solid bluesy rock. Fun listen.

All Directions by The Temptations
Mar 01 2024

Pretty funky fun, but the back half lost me a bit.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Mar 04 2024

A bit hit and miss, and a bit too Springsteen-y in places. Not terrible but probably not worth a re-visit.

Sunshine Superman by Donovan
Mar 05 2024

I have trouble connecting with the folkier songs. Unlike, say, Simon and Garfunkel, I don't have history with Donovan and the time/genre gap is too hard to bridge. They just kinda bounce off me. On the rockier stuff though, you can either feel Jimmy Page's contribution, or hear the influence Donovan had on Led Zep (it's hard to untangle which tracks Page played on). Season of the Witch is, and the kids say, a banger. Overall - I think with a bit less sitar and a bit more guitar, this would have aged a lot better.

Unhalfbricking by Fairport Convention
Mar 07 2024

Got through 2.5 tracks. This one's a skip for me.

Synchronicity by The Police
Mar 08 2024

Say 'synchronicity' again. Say 'synchronicity' again, I dare you, I double dare you motherfucker, say ‘synchronicity’ one more Goddamn time! Not gonna lie: I like Every Breath You Take. It’s like Sting decided he could actually sing for one song, or at least it’s a song that leans into his vocal abilities. Hopefully this is the last album on this list from The Police.

Master Of Puppets by Metallica
Mar 11 2024

I really want to give this 5 stars, but Disposable Heroes and Leper Messiah are overly-long fillers, particularly by comparison to some of the other pure brilliance on here.

Shake Your Money Maker by The Black Crowes
Mar 12 2024

A competent but pretty forgettable straight rock album. The Otis Redding cover was decent. Dunno why this album is considered a "must-listen".

You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
Mar 13 2024

Getting this and Bowie's Blackstar in the same year was both incredibly special and (obviously) incredibly sad. I adore this album. No filler (unlike some of his other albums). Hey, that's the way to say goodbye.

Goo by Sonic Youth
Mar 14 2024

Like I said for Dinosaur Jr - I can listen to an enjoy Sonic Youth, but it never fully gels. This is pretty good tho, particularly Kool Thing.

Aja by Steely Dan
Mar 15 2024

Fine as a background music, but it's not really my thing.

Deja Vu by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Mar 18 2024
Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth
Mar 19 2024

I liked this more than Goo, and knew a handful of tracks. Like every Sonic Youth album I've listened to though, it does seem to drag on.

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
Mar 20 2024

If you'd asked me an hour ago to name a single Fleetwood Mac song, I'd have struggled. I'd heard of them, but that was it. The first track didn't really inspire much confidence and I thought the album was going to be a real slog. But, to my surprise a) I know a bunch of the songs and b) it's a completely killer album. I'm listening to it a second time through right now. It makes me happy.

Dance Mania by Tito Puente
Mar 21 2024

This is a really fun album, but I'll be honest, there's only so much of this level fun I can listen to in one hit.

Moondance by Van Morrison
Mar 25 2024

Lots of people seem to be rating this based on now-80yo Morrison's political views, which I find a bit strange. The album itself is .. fine? The recording/production isn't great, but otherwise it's listenable.

Mar 26 2024

I think I have to sit down and listen to this more carefully. When I'm paying attention, I like it, but I tuning out, and next thing I know 5 tracks have gone by. So, I guess I'll give it 3 stars. I feel like it'll end up being a 4 after a few more listens, though.

Pearl by Janis Joplin
Oct 24 2024

When Joplin (supposedly) said to Leonard Cohen "we are ugly but we have the music", I'm not sure she was right about the former, but she definitely was about the latter. This is my first time hearing her at all, and holy shit she's incredible. This is the first album I'm gonna give 5 stars to on my first listen.

Channel Orange by Frank Ocean
Oct 25 2024

It's a bit too slow and smooth to really hold my interest for 55min. Didn't hate it.

Are You Experienced by Jimi Hendrix
Oct 28 2024

This is probably a 4 for pure enjoyment, but its significance and influence (and being a debut!) give it at least 1 bonus star.

Disraeli Gears by Cream
Oct 29 2024

67 was a pretty solid year, it seems. This is pretty close to 5 stars for me, but I can't help but feel that the last few songs pull it down overall.

Van Halen by Van Halen
Oct 30 2024

The opening riff from Ain’t Talking About Love amazing. The rest of the album is trash.

Come Away With Me by Norah Jones
Nov 01 2024

This is an old favourite of mine, from back when I first started trying to branch out from my teenage grunge/metal tastes. I still find it really easy, chill album to listen to, without it getting boring. Love Norah's voice.

Innervisions by Stevie Wonder
Nov 04 2024

Better than I expected, and although it's not really in my lane, I've added to my list of albums to revisit.

Cosmo's Factory by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Nov 05 2024

You know, I'm not sure I'd ever think "hey I want to listen to CCR!", but this album is a ton of fun to listen to. Better than Bayou Country, which came up in the list earlier. 4 stars - will listen again.

Nov 06 2024

I quite liked Absolution when it came out, but that was the only Muse album that I'd listened to. In hindsight Absolution has the same issue Black Holes and Revelations does - it's fun enough, but at the end of the day (much like Coldplay) it's just Radiohead with more radio-friendly polish and less depth and talent.

Southern Rock Opera by Drive-By Truckers
Nov 07 2024

I got through the first 6 songs. Not convinced that another 14 songs are going to change my opinion. Musically I don't hate it (and don't love it, either), but vocally and lyrically it's really not my thing.

The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monáe
Nov 08 2024

I went into this album completely cold and was delightfully surprised. It's eclectic, weird and expansive, but still very musical and enjoyable (despite mostly falling into genres I don't listen to much). Songs that I'm sure I'd never heard before felt quite familiar, which was bizarre but wonderful. I think I'll re-listen to this a lot.

Parallel Lines by Blondie
Nov 11 2024

Well, this was a lot of unexpected fun. I knew the singles, but nothing else. It has aged really well.

Live At The Regal by B.B. King
Nov 12 2024

I'm not hugely into blues, but this was great (if a touch repetitive). Will listen again.

Songs For Swingin' Lovers! by Frank Sinatra
Nov 13 2024

I went through a Sinatra period, but TBH these days it only really works as background music for me.

Kilimanjaro by The Teardrop Explodes
Nov 15 2024

Lots of reviews saying this was dull and repetitive, but I thought it was pretty decent fun. I don't think I need to listen to it again, but it wasn't terrible.

Out Of The Blue by Electric Light Orchestra
Nov 18 2024

This was pretty fun, though long! It also has a lot of Beatles to it, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but 74 minutes is a lot.

Neon Bible by Arcade Fire
Nov 19 2024

"Arcade Fire - I liked their album that came up earlier. I wonder why I'm finding this one kinda boring and annoying...". {checks review of Funeral} "Oh. Never mind".

Arc Of A Diver by Steve Winwood
Nov 20 2024

I’m trying to get my 1001albums mojo back, but this 80s soft rock is really not helping. The list of things I’d prefer to listen to is almost infinitely long. Well, infinity minus however many albums The Police released.

Coat Of Many Colors by Dolly Parton
Nov 21 2024

I was not looking forward to this when it came up, despite having a soft spot and some nostalgia for Dolly. While I don't hate country outright, it's not my usual go-to. This was pretty great, though.

Shaft by Isaac Hayes
Nov 22 2024

Honestly enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Pretty fun background music for a slow afternoon at work.

Critic

Average rating: 2.88 (0.50 below global average).

Other

Album origins are grouped into three buckets: US, UK, and everything else. “Other” means the artists you rate highest are from outside the US and UK.