323
Albums Rated
3.43
Average Rating
30%
Complete
766 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1960
Favorite Decade
Folk
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
46
5-Star Albums
10
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Leftism
Leftfield
|
5 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
|
Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches
Happy Mondays
|
5 | 2.98 | +2.02 |
|
Maxinquaye
Tricky
|
5 | 3.04 | +1.96 |
|
Your Arsenal
Morrissey
|
5 | 3.05 | +1.95 |
|
Screamadelica
Primal Scream
|
5 | 3.17 | +1.83 |
|
No Other
Gene Clark
|
5 | 3.18 | +1.82 |
|
Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
|
5 | 3.26 | +1.74 |
|
Beautiful Freak
Eels
|
5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
|
Low-Life
New Order
|
5 | 3.29 | +1.71 |
|
The Chronic
Dr. Dre
|
5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
|
1 | 3.56 | -2.56 |
|
Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
|
2 | 4.35 | -2.35 |
|
Rust In Peace
Megadeth
|
1 | 3.24 | -2.24 |
|
Vivid
Living Colour
|
1 | 3.2 | -2.2 |
|
Reign In Blood
Slayer
|
1 | 2.96 | -1.96 |
|
Ten
Pearl Jam
|
2 | 3.91 | -1.91 |
|
New Wave
The Auteurs
|
1 | 2.86 | -1.86 |
|
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
|
2 | 3.82 | -1.82 |
|
Vulnicura
Björk
|
1 | 2.79 | -1.79 |
|
Boston
Boston
|
2 | 3.71 | -1.71 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Radiohead | 3 | 4.67 |
| Nirvana | 2 | 5 |
| Van Morrison | 2 | 5 |
| Beatles | 5 | 4.2 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Björk | 1, 4 |
5-Star Albums (46)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Tricky · 3 likes
5/5
What an enjoyable trip back in time to when I was younger, cooler, and taking significantly more “health supplements” than I do nowadays.
Black steel has to be my all time favourite cover version for how Tricky too a raw hip hop staple and turned it into something truly different.
Solid throughput, innovative and an album which captured the essence of the trip hop scene in all its 90’s glory.
Living Colour · 2 likes
1/5
I can’t lie I’m rather confused about this album.
Firstly, I can’t understand why it’s on this list. Unless of course the rumour that if you complete the list you get to add an album is true and someone out there has a wicked sense of humour.
Secondly, I don’t understand how a band who clearly have an element of skill when it comes to creating and playing music have an absolute lack of talent for lyricism.
“What’s your favourite color (sic) baby? WTAF?
I’m still unsure of whether he is or isn’t a glamour boy (wooooo!) as I couldn’t quite make out what he was singing.
The audacity to open an album with a line as bad as “look in my eyes, what do you see? The cult of personality” has to be admired.
TLDR This is utter 80s tripe of the worst kind.
I did like the bass lines in parts and the prince Paul remix was at least quite fun, but as that wasn’t on the original album, I sure as hell wasn’t gonna continue listening to this nonsense only to extend my time unecessarily in musical purgatory
Sonic Youth · 2 likes
3/5
I’d never really listened to Sonic Youth, just a band I was vaguely familiar with from my youth.
It started strong. I could hear the creativity, I could hear the artistry, what I couldn’t hear as the album progressed was enough music to keep me interested.
This is where the 5* rating system falls down.
It’s better than a 3 but nowhere near good enough for me to be a 4.
It’s knocking on the door of 3.5 or a 65% ish score, but I’m going to have to be tight and mark it 3 stars
The Birthday Party · 1 likes
1/5
Crikey this was a challenging listen.
Why anyone would consider this anything other than utter garbage is beyond me.
It’s better parts sound like a poor man’s Joy Division, and I don’t enjoy listening to Joy Division.
Noise not music.
Talking Heads · 1 likes
4/5
Fabulous find. I really enjoyed this throughout.
Finished on a real high with The Big Country and its slide geetar.
I need to explore more TH
1-Star Albums (10)
All Ratings
Nas
4/5
Louis Prima
4/5
Chill. If I owned a cafe this would be on repeat!
Bob Dylan
3/5
Prince
3/5
David Bowie
4/5
Intriguing potential grower. Signs off with a banger!
Leonard Cohen
5/5
Love a bit of Leonard!
Tina Turner
4/5
Surprised how enjoyable this was. Very of its time in terms of production, but accessible and not overly cringe
Fela Kuti
5/5
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
A solid afternoon playlist addition at the mythical “Cafe Kelvinos”
Beatles
5/5
Seminal work. One of my favourite Beatles albums.
Iron Butterfly
2/5
Would not be in any way worried if I never heard this album or any track off it ever again.
Harry Nilsson
4/5
More eclectic than I was expecting. Solid 4 for me although a couple of fillers pull it down half a mark, though they are forgiven and offset by the timeless enchantment of the Badfinger cover which is quite simply one of the most beautiful ballads ever written, and a candidate for best song from Swansea 😎
Alice Cooper
4/5
Was very skeptical about this album, glad I gave it a go though as it really grew on me, proved to be surprisingly eclectic, and displays some interesting production. I hear Jagger/Richards, Townsend/Daltrey, and a bit of late Beatles/early solo McCartney in various places. Yeah, there’s some cheesy stuff there but an inspired pick for US election week!
Lorde
3/5
Nothing wrong with it, just a difficult album for me to listen to as it’s not my genre. no tune really grabbed me musically aside from liability which was a lovely song.
Lyrically nice and angsty in places too.
Can safely say I will never listen to this again and it can be filed alongside Taylor Swift in the “not me” category.
R.E.M.
5/5
Solid 4.5 from me. Forgotten how consistent this album was and I knew most of the words to most of the songs.
Playful in parts, brooding in parts. A fine rediscovery of young adulthood!
Deep Purple
3/5
If someone wanted an archetype example of a hard rock album from the 70s then look no further.
I mean there’s even a drum solo!
Not my bag at all, but clearly delivers for a certain listener.
The Allman Brothers Band
5/5
What a grower! What a find!
In memory of Elizabeth Reed? Wow!
This is a sure fire playlister at the Café Kelvinos’ afternoon Espresso sessions.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Like many 70’s double albums, it’s a bit fat.
Starts blandly, finishes weakly, but there is a banging full length album in the middle starting with the timeless Kashmir which offers lots of musical variation
Its a hesitant 4 from me which only marginally scrapes above 3 due to the volume of filler tracks
Pixies
3/5
Pixies. The band I always should have liked, but never did.
Still don’t get the love for them.
Where is my mind aside, this for me is mediocre as anything.
ZZ Top
3/5
Started strong. Relentless rhythm section and some fine synths.
It became samey samey towards the end by which time I was, frankly, bored.
David Bowie
3/5
That’s a 3.5 if ever there was one.
Strong creative work for a sexagenarian, but lacking killer tracks.
Eagles
4/5
A marginal 4. I thought 3 was a bit mean.
Why only integers?
Some classic tracks on there but it gets a bit soft and uninspiring in parts.
Defo heard some guitars towards the end which sounded like Bernard Butler was playing
Megadeth
1/5
I made it though 3 songs before deciding I had better things to do with my life.
Not enjoyable in any measurable way.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Dated AF sound, but some seminal tracks on there.
Enjoyed listening to this
Jack White
5/5
Loved this! Not sure how it’s passed me by for over a decade.
Radiohead
5/5
One of those perfect moments where musical craftsmanship and melody meet.
Don’t tell me Kid A is a better album, it’s simply not, and anyone who says so is trying too hard to be cool.
This is hands down their most consistent and listenable work, and one of my all time favourite albums.
6 stars!
Pixies
5/5
Finally! A Pixies album I really like.
I was not looking forward to it after struggling previously with TLM and surfer Rosa so this came as a pleasant surprise.
Dr. Dre
5/5
What a groove!
I’m already back playing GTA San Andreas 😂
Arcade Fire
3/5
Like many a double concept album from the 1970’s, this 2010 version of the format doesn’t quite hit the mark.
3 stars is harsh as there are some really high moments on this album, and there’s a definite 4* potential 5* in there for a shorter edit, but I can’t help but think that when sitting through 1h 4m of their songs, many of them start to sound indistinct from each other.
Black Sabbath
4/5
More accessible than I had anticipated.
Sounds dated, but clearly a good example of its genre.
Love Ozzy’s vocal!
TV On The Radio
3/5
Never heard of this band. Don’t feel I’ve missed out on any way.
Some interesting production but generally a bit bland and poppy for my taste.
David Bowie
4/5
Contextually incredible, musically strong.
Not as amazing as some make out IMHO, but certainly an album worth listening to, if not one I’d have on repeat
R.E.M.
3/5
Saved from the 2* whimsical mire of Stipes incessant whine by the beautiful uplifting everybody hurts.
Otherwise this served as a reminder to why I detested REM as a young man.
Musically I find it uninteresting, vocally I find it jarring.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
One of my all time favourite albums. Timeless classic!
Ray Charles
3/5
Didn’t really excite me in any way.
Not sure it even gets played at Cafe Kelvinos
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Dated but fun!
1/5
Not available on Spotify but fro lm what I heard on YouTube this is god awful experimental shite
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Really strong album. Made me want to drop a pill and chill TF out 😂
5/5
One of my all time faves.
If we had 5 years left to listen to music, this would play a significant role
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Despite ranking “Move on up” as one of my favourite tracks, I’ve always struggled with Mayfield’s broader oeuvre.
It just doesn’t resonate with me and lacks the tempo I need in soul-funk tunes
The Pogues
4/5
Drifted into mediocrity in places but still edges a 4 from me.
Always loved a bit of the pogues, though a “best of” serves me perfectly well
Björk
1/5
Ain’t gonna lie, I was skeptical going into this album. Then the opening refrains took me by surprise and whacked me with those beautiful strings.
My excitement didn’t last, as 3 mins later the song had descended into an infinite loop of melancholy.
From then on, it was 58 mins of Björk performing unintelligible spoken word poetry above an experimental electronic, and at times cacaphoric soundscape.
This was a truly tough listen and is only the second album in this challenge so far that I’ve failed to give ear to in its entirety without skipping to the end of tracks.
Not for me.
File under esoteric guff.
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
Seminal debut. Captures the spirit of British working class youth like few albums have ever achieved.
2 or 3 fillers, but when it’s on form it soars with energy and observation.
Air
4/5
Enjoyed this chilled blast from the past. Very mellow.
Led Zeppelin
2/5
Still struggling to get the love for Led Zepp.
This is a very average album which only pulls above mediocrity for a few tracks and feels very disjointed throughout.
Thought about 3 stars, but concluded it fails to even get there.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
Patti Smith
3/5
Still love the opener, plenty of intriguing tracks but never been an album Inreturn to regularly
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
It’s a going out album if ever there was one
4/5
Listened to this in the car on a long journey last week!
Always loved the first 3/4s but feel it badly trails off at the end. A classic if its era.
Pere Ubu
2/5
Way too underground for my taste.
A couple of tracks I could see fitting into a John Peel show but most of them I found tuneless and drab to the ear
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
I was surprised how much I was almost enjoying this, but as I’m finding throughout this exercise albums of an hour or more generally lose me after the halfway mark.
Solid enough, but reiterated why I never really went for grunge generally
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
I’m just too old and boring for avant garde stuff these days, that said, there was a nugget of something decent in here which lifted it above the experimental, and I particularly liked the incorporation of the Swan theme
Funkadelic
3/5
More R&B and less funk than I was expecting.
Never really got into Funkadelic. File with The Pixies under bands I should have liked but never did.
Metallica
3/5
My frequently sung dog walk anthem. That alone saves this from being 2 stars.
“Buster! Buster! Obey your master, Buster! Master of Puppies, I’m pulling the strings”
With Metallica, I feel there’s a good band in there somewhere who default to basic thrash rhythms and dumb lyrics.
Is it wrong to like them most when they sound like Marillion? 😬
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
The Slits
3/5
Very much of its moment. Some interesting reggae dub beats but the dissonant vocals wear thin quickly and lots of the tunes are rather rudimentary.
Interesting Germanic influence though
Gene Clark
5/5
Really happy to see this album feature.
Firstly because it’s brilliant, and secondly because I’ve not heard it in years after my ex-wife insisted I get rid of my separate system as it was too big and my visual cues of albums to play went with it.
I remember being blown away when introduced to No Other in the late 90s.
The album is on another level from anything else that emerged from the west coast country:folk:rock genre and has hints of Clarke’s early Byrds psychedelia along with gospel and whole host of other fused sounds.
Beautiful melodies, layered, complex arrangements, deep heartfelt words and those backing vocals are to die for!
Simply one of the greatest albums ever made and I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise.
I also love the fact that it received no marketing budget and so flopped as Gene Clark had blown so much on the production.
Otis Redding
4/5
Very solid, feels like a “best of”. Cafe Kelvinos Tuesday Cappucino sessions.
Common
3/5
An easy enough listen but I couldnt quite find reason to give 4 stars.
Thought it could have been a Jay-Z produced album to begin with but clearly heard Kanye’s influence later in the album.
Loved the last track.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Opening hours at cafe Kelvinos
Sam Cooke
5/5
Such an uplifting and energetic live album!
Not sure how I feel about live albums on this exercise, but hey ho, I really enjoyed it.
Love
3/5
I’d not heard this album before despite owning Forever Changes and Four Sail on CD.
Not the strongest of work, quite inconsistent and psychedelia has never really been my thing, especially now I’m a sensible mature adult with different intoxicant consumption habits
The White Stripes
3/5
A solid but not stand out rock album. Don’t see myself revisiting this.
The Who
2/5
Firstly, really surprised this was a 60’s album. Thought it was early/mid 70’s.
Started quite brightly and could see the idea behind it, but soon descended into self indulgent mediocrity.
Didn’t make it past the end of disc2. It was that much of an uninspiring grind.
Ryan Adams
3/5
Plenty of hints of Springsteen and particularly Dylan sprinkled throughout, but not really my cup of chai TBH
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Very srong in places, lyrically enchanting in parts, though I’m realising that 20 minutes of Leonard is probably enough for me in any one sitting and the more mediocre stuff drags.
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
Easy enough as background music but not one for me to actively listen to.
Boston
2/5
Painfully tedious listening. Some nice keyboards but god, this is the definition of soft rock in its most vanilla form.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Great opening salvo of tracks, gets a bit stale in the back half.
Lyrically, up there with “The Skeletons”, a band I was in aged 11.
Steely Dan
3/5
Mid 70’s mediocrity.
Opening track is the strongest and is the one everyone knows. Had promise but just turned into a sea of “meh”
Nirvana
5/5
It took me years to appreciate this album as I was very anti-grunge during its height of popularity.
A solid 5 from me even if on a plain and smells like teen spirit are basically the same song dressed in different clothes.
Kings of Leon
3/5
Despite being a fan of their early work, I’d never actually heard this album before.
Truly peak KoL in terms of the commercial hits, but more polished and produced than I like, and I kept getting mid/late U2 vibes.
Some accessible bangers on there, but happy to hear them down the pub rather than as a body of work at home.
Foo Fighters
3/5
Too soon after Nevermind. Put the album quality in context and allowed my to justify my long held view that the Foo Fighters simply aren’t that good.
Was torn between a two and a three but felt it deserved the extra star for the opening track.
Radiohead
5/5
I always used to like this album but I came into this a little bit sceptical. As to whether it would’ve stood up over the course of time especially in light on the fan love for their later body of work.
it did.
The Bends is a very consistent album all the way through, relatively accessible, with some fabulous high points.
It would be remiss if me if I weren’t to give it five stars
System Of A Down
3/5
Was more eclectic than I’d expected.
Hugely raw and punky in the main, but with a degree of subtlety and I warmed to the vaudevillian juxtapositioning of some tracks.
Would I listen to it again, no.
I would probably have enjoyed the energy more 35 years ago though so for that I give it a generous 3 stars
The Hives
2/5
Ah right, so the Hives were the band behind that banging opener I’ve head on sports shows and adverts for the last 20 years!
Such a shame then that every single track between that and the closing instrumental were formulaic, one dimensional post punk bore fests.
Thank the Swedish lord this was a meagre 28 mins in length as no way could even a rawer teenage version of me have lasted through 40+ minutes of this torrid guff.
Very, very forgettable.
Beck
4/5
This is a 7.5 from 10. It’s better than a 7 but it’s not an 8, I’m rounding up.
Loved the wild eclectic nature and though I never find Beck a chore to listen too, neither do I have him on repeat.
The Black Crowes
2/5
I really struggled to put my finger on quite why I found this album so “vanilla”.
The bluesy stuff is nice enough but never exciting, and let’s be honest, the stones were doing it better, with way more swagger twenty years earlier.
Was it the vocalist? He sure was as bland as a low calorie chicken korma.
The overly American sound? Possibly. Competent musicians who I’m sure would do a great job as a Vegas house band.
Something about this hints at if AC/DC had a love child whilst touring the deep south and the offspring grew up listening to blues rock.
It’s hard to dislike, but it’s also really really dull. For that reason it’s a reluctant 2 stars just failing a 3.
Nirvana
5/5
I was determined not to listen to this as I don’t like the idea of live and compilation albums on this list, but then succumbed to it in the knowledge that I’ve always really liked this set.
It’s a classic of the genre.
FKA twigs
2/5
Really didn’t know what to expect of this. Far less pop and more creatively experimental than anticipated.
From the opening track I thought, “Intersting, this could be a great find” but then it became ever more tedious, lacking in variation of tempo, and frankly by half way in I was really bored.
Tricky
5/5
What an enjoyable trip back in time to when I was younger, cooler, and taking significantly more “health supplements” than I do nowadays.
Black steel has to be my all time favourite cover version for how Tricky too a raw hip hop staple and turned it into something truly different.
Solid throughput, innovative and an album which captured the essence of the trip hop scene in all its 90’s glory.
Frank Ocean
4/5
Well that was a surprise!
Not sure how this guy had completely passed me by, but it’s just what I hoped to get from this exercise when I embarked upon it.
Here is an artist I’ve never listened to (never heard of him TBH) likely would otherwise never listen to due to my hatred of everything R&B from the 90’s and noughties, yet with enough of an eclectic mix of tunes and influences to lift it way above the mediocrity of that genre.
I heard a funky Stevie Wonder base and keys, a little Prince, some jazz influence, and it was no surprise that the OutKast sound offered up Andre 3000 as supporting cast.
I really liked this.
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
Of it’s time, nice enough to listen too if a bit samey-samey.
No need to listen to much beyond green onions as you’ll get the vibe of the entire album.
Fun keys in many places and in summary this is decent early shift music at the legendary Café Kelvinos
4/5
Great discovery!
An enjoyable fusion of Brazilian beats, traditional instrumentation and dance infused electronica.
I don’t listen to many “chill out” albums these days, but if I did I would definitely consider this.
A solid contender for inclusion on a Sunday morning set list at Cafe Kelvinos .
The Police
3/5
Ah, The Police. Who doesn’t like a “best of” collection from this band?
Unfortunately, whenever I’ve listened to their studio albums I’m consistently of the opinion that they are not much cop. If you’ll excuse the weak pun.
This album draws a line in the sand on their rawer, more 70’s influenced sound with its post-punk, ska-infused leanings, and is decidedly less polished than Zenyatta Mondatta (first album I ever bought) which audibly leapt into the next decade, yet proved equally as flawed and inconsistent.
I desperately wanted to love this album after not listening to it in years, but as ever felt let down at the end of an police album.
Throbbing Gristle
1/5
Can I give this zero stars? This is not music.
Janelle Monáe
3/5
What was this album?
A veritable mish mash of multiple influences and styles which kind of interested and intrigued me yet left me less than fully engaged during some tracks.
It’s well made, well produced, interesting, yet the album didn’t really grip me in the way it might have and, of course, at 68 minutes is way to long.
Trim the fat down and give me 45-50 minutes of more solid work and I’d be landing on 4 stars but the inconsistency and overt popness of a few tracks leaves me reluctant to score or that high. It’s a 3.5!
Maybe just too far from what I enjoy?
Bob Dylan
3/5
Ok, so firstly the caveat that I appreciate how influential this album was, how it helped define a generations social movement etc.
I also know that without Freewheelin’ there’d be none of the later seminal works.
That said, the full on folk sound of this album doesn’t appeal to me in the way that Dylan’s more eclectic later works do.
I prefer his more bluesy, more rock-infused, less vocally whiny output, and despite there being some fine tracks on this album, it’s not one I ever found myself frequently revisiting.
Good, but not great.
Sex Pistols
5/5
Damn, I love this album in all its raw, naive bombast.
Still sounds great nearly 50 years after release.
Genesis
2/5
Oh if only we’d been served “never mind the bollocks” the day after instead of the day before this.
If an album could encompass everything that was so painfully unexciting about the pre-punk rock era, and perfectly frame why the energy of a new movement was so desperately needed, then this is it.
This was dull, really dull. A tedious listen of such epic length that to listen beyond the first disc is an act of self abuse.
A concept album. A double album. Prog rock.
Everything I’m not looking for and more in a pretentiously “meh” package.
Tiresome.
The Triffids
3/5
There are a lot of bang average tracks in this album and I’m struggling to understand quite why it was included on this list as my life doesn’t feel particularly richer having listened to it.
In the main, the vocals are very non-descript, the tunes mediocre, and generally the album lacks a sense of depth.
It also has too many 80’s pop influences like drum machines for me to take it seriously.
However, I quite liked the tracks with the Hammond organs, whilst for me the standout tracks were Blinder by t!he hour and Jerdacuttup man.
Still not better than OK ish overall
Ella Fitzgerald
4/5
I can’t dedicate to an album 3.5 hours duration.
I quite like Ella doing Gershwin as a bit of cafe Kelvinos background music.
So… it’s a 4 with caveats based on “best of” tunes
R.E.M.
3/5
Defines the reason I always considered REM to be a boy “meh”.
No stand out tracks, no absolute duffers. Very twee and uninteresting.
Middle of the road as it gets.
Björk
4/5
Ain’t gonna lie, I was worried going into this after the bowl of shite served up with the last Bjork album we received on this list.
Turns out this is a masterclass in experimentation.
Bjorks sound doesn’t really appeal to me so it’s a max 4 stars, but I’m totally appreciating the creativity and production that underpins this album.
A fine body of work.
Radiohead
4/5
I like this album. It’s a fine album.
Is it an all-time great album in a way that the hype justifies? I’m yet to be convinced despite multiple listens.
It’s a grower, for sure, it’s sonically creative and clearly represents a bold and challenging departure from what the band had previously laid down, but IMO that shouldn’t impact a review, and the music should be taken in isolation.
Some of my favourite Radiohead tracks are to be found on this album, the opener (which I’d never noticed actually mentions “Kid A” before this listen) had become a staple whilst both “how to disappear completely” and “motion picture soundtrack” are standouts for me.
There are a few tracks I find less appealing ( the second is relatively weak) and the gong yoga sound of treefingers is interesting but is not something I’m drawn to.
Again, I like it. It’s a fine album, but it’s not the greatest album ever made.
The Byrds
4/5
This album was the undoubtedly my gateway drug to folk rock in my student years and holds fond memories for me.
McGuinn’s “jingle-jangle” guitar lays down a distinctive sound throughout and despite there being a hefty number of cover versions, The Byrds manage to place their own stamp on them.
Still, there are plenty of hints of Gene Clark’s songwriting craftsmanship, and I’m id argue that “I knew I’d want you” stands up well against The Beatles’ early output, being one of my favourite songs of that era.
A treat to revisit this after many years.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Sinatra at his finest. Nailed on Cafe Kelvinos material
Depeche Mode
4/5
Nice discovery for me, recognised the singles but I’d never heard the album.
Very different from what was around at the time, if sounding a little dated with its synth heavy leaning.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Damn, the first half of this album is like a “best of” collection which delivers banging tune after banging tune.
Energetic rock at its most digestible.
It fades badly in the latter stages with only road trippin’ bringing up the rear and saving it from mediocrity.
All the same, I’d always be happy to listen to this on a 20 minute car journey and forget the second half existed.
Heaven 17
2/5
The two highlights of this album were “Temptation” and a song by Blancmange which both autoplayed before I realised the album had finished.
Enough said.
Very of its time and won’t be getting another listen from me.
The Byrds
3/5
A not particularly cohesive mish-mash of styles and influences makes me question why this album features on a “must hear” list.
Despite being released only 3 months before Sgt Peppers, this largely sounds like it’s from an earlier era with a few tracks such as “Everyone’s been burned” aside.
Despite having liked The Byrds for decades, I’m struggling to justify giving this 3 stars as it’s just not a body of work I can ever see myself returning to.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
A chunky slice of Deep South. A bonus point for Free Bird
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Can’t fault a bit of Dusty. So many recognisable cuts on this album.
Classic Cafe Kelvinos material.
Morrissey
5/5
A new world of Mozza solo work has opened up before my eyes.
Absolutely loved this.
Elton John
2/5
Elton John, the consummate “best of” artist.
The highs are high (tbh that’s only Tiny Dancer) but this album generally swims in an ocean of 70’s mediocrity which not even his obvious talent and fine arrangements/production can salvage.
The best part for me was discovering it wasn’t yet another tedious double album from the era.
Blondie
5/5
This album is just so listenable and is one I can never see myself not returning to.
Yes, there are a few fillers on here, but it captures the post punk moment perfectly and is such a fun, fun, fun listen
Rush
2/5
The most exciting thing about this album was discovering it was only 38 minutes long.
Listening to it before dying has not made my life any richer in any discernible way.
There are so many mediocre 70s rock albums on this list that bring little to the process and this one sits anonymously amongst them l.
Yes
3/5
Sonically more interesting than most of the tedious prog rock drivel this list serves up, but still decidedly mid.
At least I can say I don’t feel this album was a waste of time as there were points of interest throughout.
Happy Mondays
5/5
I was a little skeptical going into this listen that after 35 years this album may have lost some of its charm. I need not have feared, it’s as uniquely brilliant now as it was upon its 1990 release.
Sean Ryder is in his prime here, dropping fun, blithe, self-deprecating lyrics which are layered upon an endless and eclectic groove.
The Mondays are referential throughout with blatant nods to a wide range of musical influences - Hot chocolate, James Brown, Labelle, The New Seekers - all jump out at me
I can’t help thinking that the upbeat nature of this album may have played a part in why I failed to get along with grunge at the time as it’s so contrasting to that scene’s narrative.
It’s a brilliant album. It really is.
Klaxons
3/5
My overriding thought after hearing this album in its entirety comprised “Is Golden Skans included on a FIFA release? It sounds like a FIFA song”, beyond that I’ve got little opinion.
I like the cover of ”it’s not over yet” and didn’t realise that was the Klaxons.
Aside from that, some nice but often overly soft production, and a tendency to dangerously flirt with the type of dire pop rock that could be from McFly.
I have no reason to ever listen to this again before I die.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
I didn’t really get along with this album. Not my cup of chai TBH.
Some interesting songs in there but I found myself drifting away from them too often.
Not great, not awful, not one I’d revisit.
Cream
4/5
Was unsure of what to make of this on the first listen, especially Ginger Bakers “vocals” on a couple of the tracks.
Grew on me with a second listen and though very much a late 60’s sounding album with its guitar riffs and psychedelic influence, I feel it’s aged well.
Worthy of a place on this list.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
I know that Marley can be like Marmite for some folk, and aficionados will go deep into the roots of reggae and dub for their inspiration, but that should not detract from what a musically solid album this is.
I’m definitely in the “love” camp as far as Bob is concerned and most definitely when it comes to Exodus.
If I were curating 50 albums to listen to before you die to give an alien a wide taste of the best of modern human music, this would make my cut.
It’s fun, it grooves, it’s politically and socially aware. It’s simply a great listen and one I never shy away from returning to.
Funkadelic
4/5
There’s only so much George Clinton I can do before he loses me, luckily this was quite a short album and the opening, titular track is a stand alone song very different from what I’d anticipate from p-funk.
Clearly lots of substances being consumed during the making of this record, loved the jam on the final track.
This was generally a 3.5 for me, but Maggot Brain is an exceptional song. Wild guitar licks, emotive, powerful and unexpected, and for that alone it edges up to a 4.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
I was surprised to see this on the list ahead of the earlier and better known Love and Hate.
More experimental but lacking the big songs of the former, this is still a fine outing.
DJ Shadow
5/5
Entroducing is one of those albums which I used to love, but subsequently disappeared out of consciousness when the ex-wife insisted we make space and go digital as opposed to keeping my separate system which had served me well for many years. No visual cues, no DJ Shadow.
So excited to see this pop up, and man has it aged well. It’s still as engaging as it was upon release. Genre defining and experimental in its sampling.
Probably not one an album I will return to as often as I once did, as I don’t have enough “chill sessions” to do that these days.
Still a great album. 5 stars all the way!
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
I was uninspired when I saw that I needed to listen to yet more 70s white man guitar music. This list is far too heavy with it.
That said, I have to be honest, this album deserved its place on the list.
Why? The bookending is amazing.
The juxtapositioning of the musical styles, the forewarnings of an ageing star being replaced and of the ephemeral nature of rock n roll stardom lift the album to “must hear” status.
I can understand where the referenced grunge influences emanate from, especially on the paired back Pocahontas and the more screechy guitar tracks of Sedan delivery and Hey Hey, my my.
Significantly better and more interesting than expected.
Beatles
4/5
A very solid album overall which charts the Beatles transition from a primary reliance on covers to singer-songwriter output.
You really get a sense of the sound and pace which powered Beatlemania on this album.
It’s not as experimental nor creative as later outings, but is a nice snapshot of the era which heralds the oncoming rush of the British invasion of American pop.
A solid 4 stars in that context.
Spacemen 3
4/5
Played this album whilst soaking my aching legs in the bath following a hard 3-set Padel match defeat where we’d thrown away match point at 5-2 in the 3rd set.
It was perfect timing. Just lie back, chill and absorb as the endorphins wash over me. I probably wouldn’t have given this the focused time it needs otherwise.
Spacemen 3 passed me by in my formative years, so this release offered up a whirlwind of interesting experimental soundscapes, with Revolution and Suicide being with standout tracks for me. In places, the latter sounded as though I was patiently loading a 1980s home computer game via cassette tape during its monumental 11 minutes of screeching yet somehow non-cacophonic feedback and squelching.
Very happy to have discovered this album, especially as I used to really like some spiritualised back in the day. Will revisit some time for sure, maybe next time I take a bath .
Suede
3/5
What is the true purpose of this list? If it’s to showcase the best 1001 albums of all, then this release has no place on it IMHO.
If however it’s to showcase musical evolution and highlight interesting points along that journey, then Dog Man Star serves as a fantastic example of a bands failure to match soaring ambition with suitable execution.
This is a warts and all exposé of a band in turmoil, consuming a shed load of drugs, and simply not working well together.
The outcome is a divided group struggling to match the expectation that came with quick success and openly tearing themselves up as they lay down the tracks.
If was not a huge fan upon release. I’m not a huge fan now.
Bernard Butlers signature guitars inevitably stand out on the rockier tracks he plays on, but ultimately he was right, the production is god damn awful.
The album has enough good tracks to lift it above mediocrity, but it’s messy, it’s not at all cohesive, and that production, eugh.
Mekons
3/5
A huge relief that Mekons were not the bang average 90s British rock band I was fearing they’d be. The name fits. There’s way too many of those on this list.
Instead what I got was a strange post-punk country fusion which worked well in places but also failed badly in places.
I really disliked the opening track but it improved from there and on a personals level, the Swansea Valley miners strike references were welcomed later in the album.
Some Clash, some Pogues, some Dexy’s. The latter who were arguably laying down similar vibes on too-rye-aye a few years earlier (and somewhat surprisingly have 3 albums in this list, though I will die on the hill that Searching for the young soul rebels is a fantastic album which is massively under appreciated due to widespread negativity towards their more well known too-rye-aye era sound and in particular Come on Eileen - just saying!)
I liked the tracks with the spoken narratives, yet was confused whether this was a concept album or not. It seems a half baked effort.
Overall, glad I’ve heard it. It’s not a great album.
3 and a half stars.
The Who
3/5
Sticking to my rule of only listening to the original format songs is proving a wise move with these meandering 70s reissues.
9 songs. I can do that, even if the album is largely a mediocre borefest, which this is.
Quite liked the synths and a few slower tracks (Behind blue eyes is one of my fave Who songs), but I’m concluding that I just don’t like The Who after the single “My Generation”.
That’s said, it’s better than a lot of the tripe they released so it scrapes a 3 stars, but I will never play this again as it’s just too self indulgent and dull like much of their “prime era” back catalogue
Peter Gabriel
3/5
I enjoyed this slightly more than I’d anticipated.
Very mid 80’s, synthtastic sound which isn’t really my thing, but there are some great tracks on this album, especially the hit singles.
There are also enough meh songs to pull it down.
Sledgehammer is rammed full of innuendo (see what I did there?), don’t give up is a beautiful gospel infused ballad which I’ve overlooked for far too many years.
Glad I revisited this for the first time since my teenage years, but not likely to revisit ever again.
Don McLean
4/5
Well that was pleasant.
I think that’s the word for it. Just nice. Consistently nice.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
Well, that was “interesting”.
I can only assume that copious amounts of acid were consumed during the writing of this album.
In parts the album seems to be pastiche, decades ahead of Flight of the Conchords but laying down a path for them. In other places, it has a focus on playful experimentation with sounds and production.
The last track was wild. I was definitely hearing huge amounts of inspiration for Trevor Horns production on Welcome to the Pleasuredome (which I immediately listened to for reference) with its animal noises and the frequent “ooh ah” utterance.
The ensemble stands up well, displays fine musical understanding and is really creative especially when taken in context of the era, but it’s not my kind of thing in all honesty.
Very much deserving of its place on this list, but not what I’d term a particularly enjoyable listen
Massive Attack
5/5
A definitive album in shaping my mid 90s taste and leading me into the trp hop genre.
Still sounds great.
It’s a nailed on 5 stars from me.
The Zombies
3/5
Nicely psychedelic with lovely beach boys esque harmonies.
If I didn’t know better and was not familiar with their local history (blue plaque outside the Blacksmith Arms, St Albans) and references to local landmarks (beechwood park). I’d have guessed this was a west coast band every day of the week.
A bit inconsistent, with a classic of a last track.
Will give a more focused listen sometime.
Paul Simon
4/5
Good discovery. Would have bypassed if not for 1001
The Rolling Stones
5/5
So, so good.
Listened to it 3 times during a flight and it kept revealing more nuances.
Becoming my favourite Stones album.
Slipknot
2/5
Really not my thing. Far too angsty and aggressive, though I can see its appeal to confused teenagers and young men with excess testosterone.
Better than I anticipated TBF, but it all sounded much the same half way in, not even the decent production which had me paying attention early in the album could save it.
Happy to report I made it through the original release in its entirety, but I won’t be rushing back to Slipknot.
Supergrass
4/5
High paced, energetic, frantic and fun.
I loved this album when it came out and I was a regular at live gigs of this ilk, though 30 years later I feared I was going to get quickly weary of the pace and power o remembered I should coco delivering.
Thankfully I’d overlooked the musicianship which raised it above the post punk crowd. Clear Blur and Suede influences are underpinned by nods to the stones on the laconic “Time” and a fine psychedelic jam on “Sofa of my lethargy” which counterbalance the energetic attack of the early tracks.
It’s a fab album, fun and fearless which made me smile, and which brought back floods of memories of a time when life was simpler and more reflective than it is these days.
The War On Drugs
4/5
I liked this, though it did seem rather one paced.
Very moody and atmospheric. Enjoyed it as weekend background music
Alice In Chains
2/5
I have zero idea why this album is on this list aside from being a good example of how a massively overhyped genre and scene (grunge/Seattle) enabled plentiful mediocrity to receive a higher profile than it deserved.
This is largely just bland and uninteresting heavy rock. The vocal is whiny, far from engaging, and monotonous.
It’s just not a particularly good album in any discernible way and certainly proved a tedious listen for me. In fact, thinking about it, my sentiment towards it is strangely similar to the bland Foo fighters album this list threw up.
File in a dark draw never to be played again.
Peter Frampton
3/5
I recognised a bunch of the early songs (had no idea “baby, I love your way” was his) and was somewhat enjoying it, but it dragged on into the inevitable mid-70s borefest the album cover hinted at, although the final track was a high point and a saving grace to be fair, as it delivered a small faces vibe from the driving bassline
If this is essentially a “best of” Frampton’s work up to that point, then I dare not think how dull I’d have found his studio albums to be.
It’s not bad, it’s not great, but far too much half decent to mediocre 70s rock like this makes this list and frankly I’m finding it all a bit boring.
2.5 rounded up
Leftfield
5/5
Genre defining progressive house.
I was expecting something more chilled but I’d forgotten that it starts with some uptempo bangers.
Consistent and varied throughout with intersting use of guest vocalists to add flavour.
Anduperb album which I was glad to rehear after a good few years.
Rage Against The Machine
4/5
Got to admit, I entered this full of bias, but by the end of the first track I was engaged.
A number of tracks too heavy for me, yet overall, and in the context of its era this is a fine album.
James Brown
3/5
Aside for the fact I don’t think live albums should be on this list, I’ve never understood the love for this release.
Yes, the live essence comes through, but the songs are not all that and it’s an easy pass for me in exchange for Brown’s studio work.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Shorter, sharper and more varied than The Suburbs.
A strong album
.
Underworld
3/5
Solid, yet underwhelming and not offering a huge amount of variety.
Sounds exactly like I’d expect an underworld album to sound.
The last two tracks broke the pattern but were not strong.
This badly needs Born Slippy to justify its place on the list
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
An intriguing attempt at an electronic interpretation of a classical work. Earns a star for its inventiveness, but if I’m honest, I far preferred listening to the classical Ravel arrangement.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
The final track on this album “autumn‘s child” encapsulates my entire experience with this release.
At times I was left thinking WTF is this? At other times I’m thinking OMG this is amazing!
The album itself often wanders too deeply into psychedelia for my tastes, but is rescued by some fantastic rhythm and blues based tracks, and the 60’s beauty of “I’m glad”.
I much prefer this release to the only other album of his that I’ve heard which was trout mask replica.
The Band
3/5
Decent enough but not exciting and didn’t give me much beyond the two songs I was familiar with.
Early Americana just isnt my thing.
My highlight of the album was learning that it was in fact Fanny and not Annie (as I’d assumed for many years) who he was offering to take the load off
Johnny Cash
3/5
Likely an unpopular opinion, but whilst appreciating the beautiful arrangements, the depth and timbre of Cash’s voice, plus the emotion behind the work, this is still at heart an album of cover versions for which it loses half a star.
I like it, it’s an easy listen, but it’s not standout aside from the fact we get to hear an artist, reflective, at a late stage of life. Same as his other lesser known late work.
IMHO the album is held in higher regard and finds its popularly and place on this list due to the video for Hurt rather than for its musical originality.
It’s an enjoyable listen though it does tail off significantly at the end.
The Stooges
4/5
Raw and aggressive, lays down a path for punk in the following decade.
Some baggers on there but a little consistent in places. A generous 4.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
From the first bars I knew this was going to be right on my wheelhouse.
Funtime tunes for sunny days.
I had no idea about Taj Mahal. What a treat!
Ice Cube
4/5
Wow, that was really good. Laconic in parts, varied enough. unexpected and a real treat for me.
Fats Domino
3/5
Of its time, and good to have heard it, but not interesting enough to draw me back in
Pink Floyd
5/5
Straight up one of my favourite albums of all time.
No questions about how many stars.
The Charlatans
3/5
I always said that the charlatans were a band that consistently produced good albums but never a great album, so I was somewhat surprised when the list served up this release.
Having not heard this album in over two decades I felt it was a chance to relisten to it with a fresh take.
The first track starts by confirming what I used to think, Tim Burgess’s vocals are weak, worse still, it sounds like the generic gash that an out of form Oasis routinely produced.
As with many of the songs, it failed to reach any pinnacle or crescendo, and the production (as throughout the album) is at best kindly described as “a bit flat”.
How high was the highlight track for me, but overall the album is not cohesive and lacks any justification for being considered for this list. I never understood the popularist love for North Country Boy either, it’s such a nothing track.
Too often I got a sense of the prevalent lame midness of that mid/late 90s British guitar band sound (I’m looking at you Ocean Colour Scene and Travis) and no sense of why this should be considered stand out.
I tried to like it, I really did, but as ever, it’s just “good”, solid and a little too safe to be lauded in any way.
It’s scraping a 3 as I’m in a good mood.
Neil Young
3/5
I used to rather enjoy a bit of early Neil but perversely as I age and mellow I’m liking it less and less.
This is a good album but I far prefer the overall feel of Harvest and for me that would have been enough for this list.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Fantastic to see this included on the list.
Undoubtedly influential in laying the path for a zillion Indy shoe-gazing bands with its soporific, leaden sound and use of feedback.
It’s just not my thing and I find it pretty dull, the classic opening track aside. I could listen to that on repeat for an hour, which is around 40 minutes more than I’d care to listen to the remainder of the album for.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Started out fine and had my attention, but I’d become bored by the end.
Ok songs, but just not my thing.
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
This really isn’t my thing, far too industrial and I’m not a fan of any of the shouty, screaming American acts of this era.
That said, there is a merit to the darkness and I’m sure some will really relate to its narrative so far that I’ll upgrade from a 2 to a 3 star review
4/5
A tough one to review as it’s so culturally embedded amongst Brits of my era that it’s difficult to separate the moment from the songs.
There are sing along bangers on here, there are some lovely melodies, but also a fair amount of fillers.
The production isn’t great, but I think they are trying to replicate the live energy of the band.
The lyrics are at times schoolyard awful, and
many parts of the album are overly derivative.
That said I still kinda like it and it retains a place in my heart for when oasis meant something to my generation, during those moments before they became a pale, repetitive imitation of their former self, and a rock n roll parody
The Temptations
4/5
Well that was fun. Had no idea that this era of their work was so funky. Almost Clintonesque in parts
Van Morrison
5/5
God I love this album. Firmly entrenched in my top 10.
It never was as accessible as say, Moondance was, and takes some patience to fully appreciate with its dreamy and psychedelic celtic backdrop, yet Mr Morrisson is still able to deliver some top tunes in his unique vocal way.
There is so much going on here I never get bored of it.
The upbeat drive and horn section of “the way young lovers do” is 100% my thing and comes perfectly juxtapositioned between the beauty of Cypress Avenue and the delicate, timeless storytelling of his masterpiece composition of Madame George. I love how the line “hey love, you forgot your glove” delivers such a simple, down to earth, yet poignant line within the context of the song. It’s one if my all-time faves!
Brilliant, utterly brilliant. I will never tire of this album.
Stan Getz
1/5
Not sure why I need to listen to this cheese, when If I wanted to be bored by such awful music, I could just call a utility company and be placed on hold for 30 minutes.
Sade
3/5
If my son asked “Daddy what was a Yuppie?”
I’d reply “Son, it was someone who listened to Sade in the mid 80’s”
Extremely smooth, nice, but ultimately not my thing and too uninspiring.
I’m making it 3 stars because it really does define a certain sound of the era
Sonic Youth
2/5
I wanted to like this album, I really did.
I had high hopes for it, but like a bottle of wine that you’ve kept well stored for a special occasion that ultimately falls flat of expectations, I ended up underwhelmed and disappointed.
If this was a wine review there’d be new world notes of The Velvet Underground and Iggy Pop, but also classic old world structure akin to The Fall or The Wedding Present.
It’s not a bad vintage, but the field blend of songs don’t hang together for me and the structure is off.
I see no reason to revisit this.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Admit it, the highlight of this was seeing the animated ladies with the big boobies and fiery hair seated on a double rocking chair on Spotify.
Anyone who says anything else is a big fat liar.
Lots of the kind of shouty American alt-rock I generally have no time for and I particularly disliked the vocals.
But….I rather enjoyed a few of the more laid back and experimental tracks (summertime rolls being the best of the bunch) and I’m always partial to a brass section so it was thumbs up for the energetic idiots rule.
It’s an intersting enough album, it’s alright of a listen, it’s just not my thing.
Glad I’ve heard it, but won’t be exploring further.
Thundercat
2/5
When I first read Thundercat, I excitedly assumed Lion-O and Tygra l’s crew had dropped a late 80’s album which had passed me by despite being a fan of the TV show. A bit disappointing to discover that’s not what I was getting TBH.
I’d never heard of Thundercat, and dont feel my life was any more emptier for it. I really struggled to get through this album.
Frankky, it sounds like something that might be played as background music in a US poolside bar. I’ve probably heard it before but never paid any attention.
I guess this is perfectly ok to zone out from over a cocktail, but it’s not something I’d ever actively choose to listen to.
I mean it’s creative enough and throws down some interesting noises, plus I guess the Wiz Khalifa track was half decent, which just about edges an additional star.
Otherwise it’s just a thoroughly dull listen, devoid of melodies, and driven by that nu-soul sound which has zero appeal to me.
I can’t see why anyone would ever say “ooh, I’d like to listen to that again” when there are far better things to do with one’s time.
File under “Avoid”.
Linkin Park
3/5
Slightly more interesting than I was anticipating but still particularly mid.
This genre of American shouty rock just doesn’t appeal
Pearl Jam
2/5
I don’t get why Pearl Jam were so popular. I find their music so bland.
Struggling to both listen to the entire album and find reasons to give it more than 2 stars.
I’m almost OD’ing on this run of shouty American Rick received lately
3/5
Not available on Spotify so marking as three stars
Tom Waits
3/5
I hadnt listened to Tom Waits for what seemed like an age. Undoubtedly too long for sure, so I was pleased to see him making an appearance on this list
However, I was surprised to receive this album as I don’t consider it to be up there as one of his must owns.
Lyrically, it’s as poetic as ever, with Waits painting picture portraits of his troubled characters in a way that few other lyricists can even get close to..
What challenged me with this album is that it’s a touch inconsistent musically, and if anything left me disengaged in places.
As the album progressed it definitely built atmosphere and depth which drew me in, but I still don’t think it’s up there as one of the best works in his pantheon.
It’s a solid 3 but just falls short of a 4.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Served on the day Brian Wilson died, which seems a common theme and which I think is a terrible idea given it opens up the potential for positive bias through sentimentality.
This is likely to lead to less objective reviews than would otherwise be expected resulting in a higher average rating.
We didn’t get a Sly Stone album this week, why not? He also died and has albums on the list.
Anyway rant over.
I like Pet Sounds but have always considered it one of the most overrated albums of all time.
For context, I’m not a beach boys hater, I consider good vibrations to be one of my favourite songs of all time, appreciating its creativity and musical layering which is also present throughout Pet Sounds. It pre-dates peppers FFS, it’s a landmark album no doubt.
My issue is that as collection of songs, it’s just not that strong. Theres a lot of filler tracks on the album that drag and go nowhere in particular. I mean two of the opening three tracks are just “meh” and there’s plenty of mediocrity throughout, admittedly interspersed with some absolute gems.
The originality and thought raise it above the norm and its historical importance give it weight.
Does it deserve a place on this list. Absolutely! 5/5
Is it one of the greatest albums of all time? No, far from it.
If it wasn’t for Wilson’s death I may have given it a harsh 3. As it is, I’m feeling sentimental, so it gets a 4.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
A decent album.
Far less punky and aggressive than I was anticipating. Still not one of my prefers genres but I kind of liked it and glad I’ve heard it as I’d never given the band a look in previously.
Prince
3/5
As a friend once wrote about Purple Rain, not really my thing but can't deny the quality, variety and talent.
It’s way too long to keep me engaged though.
I still don’t get why people love Prince so much, there are funkier artists out there with better hooks.
Admittedly the bulk of his songs are solid to good, but they are not particularly interesting to me and this listen hasn’t persuaded me otherwise.
I liked the grove on Lady Cab Driver. There’s probably a porn channel with the same name.
The Human League
4/5
I really enjoyed this, despite not being a big fan of synth driven music.
The album contains a surprising number of accessible chart hits that I was already familiar with (“don’t you want me” was my first 12” purchase!) but even those tracks I didn’t know were of a high standard and offered enough variety to keep me interested.
It’s a great album, and maybe I like synth pop more than I realised.
Eels
5/5
I’d forgotten what an exceptionally good album this was!
This is another classic example of albums that disappeared in to the recesses of my mind after my ex-wife threw out my separated system and I no longer had access to any functional product that could play my CD collection.
Happy to rediscover it.
The Sonics
3/5
Interesting for its relatively raw, hard sound for the era, but far too many middling covers to be of true note.
A 2 would be harsh. Strychnine and the song of the advert were both good tracks.
A generous 3, but a good inclusion in the list.
Garbage
3/5
Some good songs, some meh songs, some really good production, but Garbage are not really my thing. Too much pop influence for rock band.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Very enjoyable listen.
Must confess I was not aware of the artist before this was served up so a good example of why this exercise is a useful process.
Not exactly in my wheelhouse, but I’m fully able to appreciate the artistry behind it and there’s some very nice ballads including on the album.
New Order
5/5
You know the meme where Joe Rogan grabs the shoulder of his UFC co-commentator and screams “Woooah!” whilst witnessing a blistering knockout performance in a championship fight?
Well that’s kind of how I felt upon discovering this album.
Except this wasn’t so much of a one-punch KO, this was more of a five round, 25 minute beat down of monumental proportions.
Once it starts, there’s no letting up from start to finish.
A technically skillful warrior who better restrains and directs the raw power the up and coming fighter known as Joy Division once brought to the ring, we witness a relentless ability to sustain a high championship standard tempo, but it never strays too far from the elegant.
It’s a stand out performance, it really is. I’ll 💯 be going on YouTube to watch some other early fights.
Side note : I was fully expecting Robert Smith to deliver the vocal on sunrise. It sounded so much like The Cure! To my ear
Tortoise
2/5
Some interesting sounds being exported, but really not a lot going on here for my taste.
Like a modern version of 70’s prog rock, I found it incredibly boring and really have no desire to ever listen to any of their work again.
Iron Maiden
4/5
During my youth I’d always perceived Maiden as being this really hard sounding, edgy band that were into devil worshipping and all things evil who all the naughty smokers were into.
Upon listening to this album for the first time since I’ve grown pubes, I realised that they come across more similar to Alice Cooper than I had ever imagined they would, and they sound way softer than any of the Nu metal bands that I generally dislike as a rule.
This was a fun listen! I might have to go get me an Eddie sleeveless shirt 😂
Dusty Springfield
5/5
A timeless classic.
Chilled AF in parts. Fun and uplifting in parts.
I’ve never tired of this album, and likely never will.
David Bowie
4/5
Starts strong, finishes strong. Loses its way a little in the middle.
Not convinced this is a “must listen”, it’s a 3.5 for me, generously a 4 as I love the opener.
David Gray
4/5
I’m going to be generous again here as it’s easy to overlook that this album and artist was the forerunner of the hugely popular male singer-songwriter “heart on my sleeve & vulnerable” trope, reviving genre which had been largely dormant in popular terms since the mid 70’s
The album has some lovely ballads, a few fillers, it sounds a bit dated, but also plays out with one of my favourite cover versions which cleverly interweaves Van Morrisons “Madame George” into the proceedings.
An uncomfortable four from me 🫣
PJ Harvey
2/5
This must’ve been about the fourth time I’ve tried listening to PJ Harvey. Each time I walk away from it thinking I just don’t get the hype .
This was a challenging listen for me.
She strikes me as the kind of artist I can listen to for one or two songs on a late night, Jules Holland TV show, but an entire album of hers is way beyond my tolerance capacity.
The most positive thing I can say about this album is that it sounds unmistakably like PJ Harvey, the worst thing I can say about this album is also that it sounds like PJ Harvey.
Brian Eno
2/5
This album sounds like it’s been recorded by one of the greatest producers in the history of popular music. Oh hang on….
Shame he didn’t stick to production, as a song writer and singer he is not.
This is a collection of disparate ideas barely masquerading as songs.
Really good production though.
Guns N' Roses
3/5
2 generally. 3 because of sweet child of mine and those licks
Pink Floyd
3/5
Well, the highlight for me was realising more than 30 years after first hearing this album, that the start and finish of this drawn out affair dovetail into an endless möbius loop.
Aside from that, The Wall was pretty much how I remember it. A collection of songs clinging to a weak narrative and a massive dip in form.
Some tracks are good, some excellent, many are mediocre, a few are god awful.
It tails off badly on the second disc, nobody home and comfortably numb being two standouts amongst a sea of pretentious poorly connected shite.
I’m once again being generous and rounding up to 3 as there’s a very good one disc album on there trying to get out, but make no mistake this marks a steep decline from the previous triumvirate of Floyd releases and is in large parts a rambling mess.
The Pretty Things
4/5
I thought I’d heard this before. I was wrong.
I liked it. Slightly too psychedelic for my tastes these days but it was a nice discovery
5/5
Landmark.
I’m still trying to learn to play “A day in the life” after weeks of practice, so until I crack that its a full set of stars from me
Steve Winwood
2/5
“Alexa, define vanilla”
Like a poor man’s Peter Gabriel.
This would struggle make my 10.001 albums list, and I cannot unearth a reason for its inclusion as it is so ridiculously mediocre without a single stand out tune.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Fantastic in parts, less amazing in others. Wasn’t quite sure where to land with this so doing my usual rounding up to 4
Queen
5/5
For Nick
Randy Newman
4/5
Me
“These songs sound like they are out of Toy Story”
Me five minutes later
“Oh”
The was something decidedly bland but ridiculously enchanting about this album, and I kinda like it!
Bee Gees
2/5
The first thing I notice upon opening this in Spotify was that it was lacking any songs I recognised.
An interesting selection? A genius left field addition?
Well no. Actually, it turns out that it’s all just a bit rubbish so its no wonder there’s no hits on it.
Some weak country music, some nondescript easy listening, “I laugh in your face” even sounds like they could be a Dylan parody band. It’s an album without a definitive sound.
It also gives an indication of being a concept album seeking a concept and in doing so it breaks the golden rule of being over an hour long.
Stick to the best of the Bee Gees, get your disco flares and metallic lamé out and have yourself a good time rather than force yourself through this forgettable tosh.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
I really wanted to like this more than I did.
Very of it’s time with quite a few filler tracks.
Good, but not memorable.
Beatles
3/5
I was really happy to revisit this album as of all the Beatles later works, this is the one I listen to the least.
I always found it to be a bit too inconsistent for my liking, with too many weak McCartney songs and a few playful non-entities and fillers thrown into the mix which really don’t deserve to be anywhere near an album at this point in their career .
I gave it two listens over the weekend, but really wasn’t persuaded away from my opinion prior to giving it play.
It starts out strong, then we hit ob-la-di ob-la-da. This is the stand out weak point of the opening disc along with don’t pass me by and why don’t we do it in the road. I remember singing this in junior school with Mr Richards accompanying on piano. That’s about the level it’s pitching at.
The second disc is more experimental, more messy, and the opening couple of tracks leave me scratching my head and asking “why?”
It’s not a great album. It’s good. It’s very inconsistent l and could have been trimmmed to an excellent hour long album.
Open goal missed.
Beck
4/5
Massive fan, still sounds great, not quite a 5 but it’s damn good album
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3/5
I like the blues in small doses, I really do. I appreciate the fact that informs much of the music that I really love.
However, an entire album of this is a little bit too much for me.
Clapton is on fire here I can appreciate that, and again, in small doses I really enjoy it, but I am u able to sustain interest for an entire album and I can’t stretch to 44 minutes.
Black Sabbath
2/5
Right, before I get into the review, please, please, please whoever is generating these lists would you stop serving albums from artists who have died the day before as this clearly leads to the potential for bias in reviews.
It’s not a good idea.
Anyway, rant over, again.
I was pretty disappointed in this album overall I really enjoyed the last Black Sabbath album that we got served but it didn’t really cut the mustard for me.
Appreciating that this allegedly is the first heavy metal album ever. I guess it’s paving the way for things that followed, but that doesn’t make it necessarily that good.
I’d usually be generous enough to round it up to a three, but because I feel obliged to counteract the inevitable positive bias from other reviews, I’m gonna rate it a two star album.
David Bowie
4/5
Definitely one of my favourite Bowie albums. An incredibly strong opening admittedly tails off a little bit in the second half, but that’s not to say there’s any duffers on here.
It falls a little bit short of a five stars for me but it’s a really, really good album.
The Doors
5/5
This is something special.
As soon as you hear it, you know exactly who’s behind it as it’s so distinguishable from everything else
This informed a lot of what I was listening to 30 years ago such as the charlatans and the prisoners (who incidentally are criminally underrated - see what I did there?)
More bluesy than I was anticipating, but I guess for the time that makes sense.
Anyway, it’s a great listen and the passage of time has not dulled it in anyway.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
This is one sexy album.
The thing is, I don’t need an entire album of sexiness, and even though it’s only 31 minutes end-to-end, it’s still way too long for my performance requirements.
I like the opening track and to be perfectly honest the 4 minutes and 50 seconds it offers is pretty much sure to fulfill any of my bedroom needs.
Musically, I find it a little bit one paced and it doesn’t engage me in the way that “what’s going on?” does. It’s almost a precursor to much of the more modern takes on soul music which I thoroughly detest.
I’m a bit “Meh” with Marvin here.
The Shamen
2/5
This is a tough one to review because it sounds so incredibly dated yet in a way also so much of its era. It really encapsulates the backend of the acid house movement, but very much like the underpinning of any of those songs it is admittedly rather repetitive.
I really struggled to get through a full album with this, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad album.
I was never a Shamen fan. I always found them to be more of a singles band, and given this album drifts over the hour mark, it causes me to market down a bit because I just lose my interest.
Worthy of a place in this list, not worthy of another listen ever again.
Talk Talk
4/5
Now here’s a band who had fallen off my radar more than I’d have liked.
I was always a bigger fan of the enchanting Spirit of Eden, and there’s a hint here of what’s to come on tracks such as Chameleon Day.
Really solid album, and I’m going to return to this again.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
I don’t mind Hendrix. I just struggle to get excited by Hendrix.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
I’d never heard Tusk before. I now understand why. Let’s be honest, it’s no Rumours.
I can hear the nuggets of not fully formed creative ideas throughout, but there’s very little that resonates with me on this album, and despite its length, its self-indulgent tone doesn’t help solve this for me.
It’s bloated and a touch incoherent in a White Album way, but unlike the Beatles’ release which for me can be edited down to a much more palatable, shorter, 5 star album, this doesn’t offer anything like enough high points to get an edited version high score.
The best I can say is that it’s inoffensive, the worst that it’s not memorable and I’ll likely never listen to it again.
Duke Ellington
4/5
Oof this doesn’t just break my golden rules, it smashes through them with wild abandon.
Double album. Live album. Not only is it 1 hour but the version I’m directed to is over 2 hours.
I was absolutely going to serve and take a day off 1001 for such a poor selection before my one of my group pointed out the original 1959 release was only 39 minutes long.
It’s still live which is a “no no” for me, but I can do 39 minutes.
So here we are. Jazz. Clearly nice jazz, clearly talented jazz musicians.
I’ve got nothing more to say except it could get a run out at the mythical Cafe Kelvinos. Probably the mid morning slot.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
I’d never heard this before. I’m gradually discovering I overlooked an entire genre in my younger years that I now seem to rather like.
Yes, it’s heavy on the misogyny which is unfortunate, and really dates it, but musically the album is varied and it’s great fun for most of its length.
Go Swan-Sea City!
The Birthday Party
1/5
Crikey this was a challenging listen.
Why anyone would consider this anything other than utter garbage is beyond me.
It’s better parts sound like a poor man’s Joy Division, and I don’t enjoy listening to Joy Division.
Noise not music.
Talking Heads
4/5
Fabulous find. I really enjoyed this throughout.
Finished on a real high with The Big Country and its slide geetar.
I need to explore more TH
Bob Dylan
4/5
I’m not a fan of folk Dylan. Too much vocal whining for me, which grates after a few songs.
Highway on the other hand sets a high post controversy “electric” bar which distracts from the vocal and delivers at a level he’s rarely matched since IMHO.
The opener sets down a marker, and it continues to deliver an eclectic mix of tunes.
I have revisited 61 numerous times over the years and likely still will.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Great musicianship, solid tunes, as usual though, I’m never over excited by Zepp and fail to get the hype.
They are good, they albums never strike me as great.
Mj Cole
3/5
If anyone ever said to me “I think I need to listen to some Garage music”, I would happily point them in the direction of this album
For that reason alone, I think it’s deserving of its place on this list, that said the Spotify version checks in over two hours long, which is way beyond my attention span.
Musically, it’s really well produced, and takes me back to an era when I was living in London and was exposed to this kind of sound on a regular basis. it was never really my thing but I can however appreciate it for what it is.
Of all the garage out there, this is definitely one artist that I feel I could give time of day. It is surprisingly consistent and offers variety, but is way too long and starts to lose me towards the end of disc 1.
Bottom line - It’s never getting more than 3 stars because of its torturous length but is well worth a listen as a stand out example of its genre.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
“Alexa, define mid”.
This album is OK It’s not good, it’s not bad. It’s just OK. It doesnt bore, it doesn’t excite. It’s not basic, it’s not complex. At no point did it make me sit up and pay attention.
It’s better than 2 stars, it’s nowhere near 4 stars.
Oh, and the vocal quickly grates.
I’ll never listen to this again, and don’t feel I’d have been any worse off if I’d not listened to it this week.
Cocteau Twins
2/5
I was always vaguely aware of the existence of the Cocteau Twins, if this album is their high point it explains why their music never made it into my conscious thought.
It’s dreamy and overproduced like a less interesting Enya with hints of a poor man’s prototype Garbage.
Hard to think why anyone would chose to listen to this when there’s a world of other music out there
CHIC
4/5
Well, that wa ls a fun start to the week after a run of bland British 80s albums which deserved no place on the list.
The album remains petty consistent throughout, is largely uptempo with some banging, recognisable singles popping up here and there, but also slows things down at times to keep things interesting.
It was an enjoyable first time listen.
The White Stripes
4/5
Loved this. Strong throughout, and plenty of variety on there.
Sonic Youth
3/5
I’d never really listened to Sonic Youth, just a band I was vaguely familiar with from my youth.
It started strong. I could hear the creativity, I could hear the artistry, what I couldn’t hear as the album progressed was enough music to keep me interested.
This is where the 5* rating system falls down.
It’s better than a 3 but nowhere near good enough for me to be a 4.
It’s knocking on the door of 3.5 or a 65% ish score, but I’m going to have to be tight and mark it 3 stars
Mylo
3/5
I mean it’s good at what it is, whether you like it or not is a different matter.
Sounds like a 100 poolside and overpriced late night bars I’ve visited on expenses
Amy Winehouse
5/5
I didn’t listen. I didn’t need to.
The Fall
3/5
Starts with incredible energy and originality, loved the opening triumvirate! It loses its way in the middle but peaks again towards the end of the album.
I’ve been listening to quite a bit of Big Special and could really hear influence in some of this album, especially “crap rap 2 like to blow”.
I almost really liked this, but lacked consistency for me.
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
I’m sure it was influential, but all I hear is the soundtrack to me saying “I’ll have a chicken jalfrezi please, and we are going to share a rice and a peshwari naan…. Yeah, and a pint of cobra”.
Van Morrison
5/5
“Ooh that sounds like a white 24 year old from
Belfast” Said no one ever upon first hearing this album.
Whilst not delivering the ethereal sound of the earlier Astral weeks, Moondance a soaring achievement nonetheless,
More accessible and eclectic, fusing as it does elements of motown, blues, and jazz into a consistently listenable and enjoyably uplifting whole, this is an album I’ll never tire of.
Another 5 for Van the Man, that’s a rare double from me.
Al Green
3/5
Not really my kind of soul. Too nice, too vanilla, little in the way of stand out tracks beyond the opener.
There were way more exciting things happening in 1972.
Fleet Foxes
3/5
Meh, I guess it’s good at what it does.
I just don’t particularly like what it does.
I enjoyed the more Brian Wilson sounding parts, less so the overly whimsical and folksy bits.
Two would be harsh. Four a distant stretch.
Hüsker Dü
2/5
I quickly realised I was going to struggle to get through 68 minutes of a poor man’s REM even if I’d possibly have lapped it up in 1989.
I managed 7 songs then bailed. That was enough.
Some decent tracks on here, consistent enough, but didn’t really grab me beyond the songs I already knew
Blur
4/5
1001
This album is as iconic a Britpop moment as you can get. It’s the sound of an evolving band, balancing commercial popularity, art, and fun
It’s definitely a bit too playful in places, with VERY British references and humour which many outside this sceptered isle would inevitably miss.
The mod influence on Blur at this time wee both visual and audible. I can frequently hear the album leaning into the Ray Daviesesque social commentary which dominated their previous release. I was a massive fan of the mod sound and scene at this time and was all in on retro trackie tops, cordouroy trousers as well as being the proud owner of a pair of second-hand Adidas SL72 trainers which were like gold dust in Camden but I’d found for £5 in Neath market 😂
The album is fun enough, yet a trifle inconsistent, although Damon Albarn also delivers some of the quality slower work he later went on to master
A fab weekend listen. Sentimentally it’s a 5, but rationally evaluated it’s a flawed but still hugely enjoyable listen.
Miles Davis
4/5
Confession. I listened to two songs, but that was equivalent to a normal album length. In no world am I spending 1h 46m to review one album.
This is clearly good jazz, it has a distinctly progressive feel to it compared to say “a love supreme” which remains my favourite of the handful of jazz albums I’m familiar with.
Bottom line though, jazz just ain’t my jive.
For enjoyment this is a 3, for execution I’m happy to give a 5 based on my limited. knowledge.
I’ll meet Miles in the middle.
The Electric Prunes
3/5
Enjoyed the first track the most, could hear where Alex Turner got some ideas from. Delivered a sea of mid in general. WTF was that last track?
The Clash
4/5
Hadn’t listened to this for many a year!
Sounds a bit dated in places, and sometimes what it delivers is simplistically punk, but there’s enough on here to hint at the differential between the clash and many of their peers.
I enjoyed.
Crowded House
3/5
Some of the hits are great. Wonderful melodies, and I’d forgotten how good the Beatlesesque harmonies on “it’s only natural” were.
There is also a fair bit of middle of the road pleasantry on here too though which it was a challenge not to skip over.
Glad I rediscovered some of the hits. Not one I’ll be digging into from start to finish again.
3/5
Loved the opening salvo, and was wondering how I’d never paid attention in to Muse before.
Halfway through the album I realise why as it was starting to sound a bit like a Radiohead tribute act, more Thom Yorke than Tom Yorke who is already a divisive lead vocalist.
Kind of grating in the end. Disappointing.
Iron Maiden
2/5
Yeah, okay, maiden minus Dickinson is definitely not worth listening to
Blue Cheer
3/5
Didn’t do much for me, just heard it mainly in the background whilst driving. Very of it’s time.
Sister Sledge
4/5
A disco classic.
Like a greatest hits package almost squeezed into a single side of an album.
I was less keen on the slow stuff but this is Nile Rodgers doing what he does best
Cornershop
3/5
It’s been a long time since I last heard this. Totally forgot how slow the album version of BoA was.
Enjoyed it. It was different, eclectic, and a pleasing trip down memory lane, but not enough to make me come back for another listen.
Miles Davis
4/5
Struggled to make sense of this.
In some parts it sounds like what I’d imagine experimental hold music for a discount golf store would sound like.
Then I start questioning whether I’m kind of down for a bit of experimental hold music for a discount golf store.
I’ve concluded it may just be my jam.
Norah Jones
4/5
I’ve heard this album plenty of times. I’ve never actually listened to it though.
The album would be a shoe-in for the Sunday sessions at the mythical café Kelvinos if, firstly, it wasn’t such a clichéd choice, and secondly, if said mythical establishment didn’t pride itself on its exceptional taste and broader base of musical knowledge.
It’s very, very listenable. It’s great at what it is, and I can understand why it was such a popular choice at other, less well curated, mythical purveyors of caffeinated beverages.
Like a poorly described red wine with too much residual sugar content and oak which delivers a degree of popular appeal I’m sure plenty of people describe it as “smooth”.
Skunk Anansie
3/5
I was initially enjoying this but was a bit bored roads the end.
Better than anticipated. Admittedly I’d only ever heard some singles before.
It’s a solid 3 but not a 4.
The United States Of America
3/5
Never heard of this band, uniquely interesting, and more listenable than most psychedelia of the era.
Not that I’d be racing to listen to it again, but a decent discovery all the same
Donovan
4/5
One of my favourite albums of the 60s. A masterclass in sounding like you are from the west Coast of the USA, when actually you are a leading light in the St Albans folk scene.
It’s fun, it’s playful, it’s tuneful. I was toying with a 5 star review but there are a few more folksy tracks which hold it back.
Still, it’s a fantastic piece of music and one which encapsulated the era.
The Verve
3/5
A few incredible songs which one might wish to argue belong on a “1001 singles to hear before you die” compilation, but beyond those and a few decent tunes, we are sailing a sea of unremarkable pleasantness with a light breeze and no sign of it changing anytime soon
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Not my favourite of Stevie’s early/mid 70s work as it’s a little too twee in places, but it a solid album I’ve listened to many times over the years.
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
I hadn’t listened to this album for a good number of years, and I was sceptical to say the least. I remember it being the weakest and least approachable of their three early releases.
As a self-confessed northern soul fanboy, I’m admittedly smitten with SFTYSR, but always thought DSMD was too self-indulgent.
It can be hard to access this album. I can totally understand why people might find Rowland’s “vocals” grating, and the rambling dialogue is it best a strange concept, but upon reflection, I think it works well, for example, in building up the revelation of what she is actually like.
Long story short, I really enjoyed this revisit. There’s some fine tunes underpinning the album and if not a masterpiece, then it certainly deserves my recognition and a second look.
Dexy’s for the win. Again!
The The
3/5
An interesting listen, more dancey than I was anticipating.
Not really my thing though, and wouldn’t revisit.
Coldplay
4/5
As much as I along with main people love to hate on Coldplay and what they’ve become, this is a really good album.
Solidly crafted tunes, if slightly one dimensional, but very listenable throughout.
Took me back to an era when Coldplay were, if not cool, then perfectly acceptable.
Talking Heads
4/5
Where have taking heads been all my life? Second cracking album from this list I’ve discovered.
Soundgarden
3/5
Ok, so black hole sun is a great song.
Beyond that, and the track towards the end that sounds like it’s from a modern Bollywood cop movie where the protagonist is about to break out into a choreographed dance move with a bunch of honeys, this could be a dozen other grunge albums of the era.
Yes this list has too many Britpop inclusions, but I’ve also discovered that I also really don’t have to listen to many Seattle influenced albums before I die.
The best of the rest? Possibly. Mediocre all the same.
Sepultura
2/5
I’m sure some people like it. I’m not one of them, although I did warm to the favela time ruhmawattmumma or something.
Just too aggressive for me.
The Pharcyde
4/5
Loved it. Gutted this passed me by until now.
Started out thinking it reminded me of the kind of groove from the Brand New Heavies collabs of the era, then halfway through “Boom!” There it was.
100% going to explore more of their work. Exactly why I do this exercise and suffer the rough with the smooth.
Tracy Chapman
5/5
Once in a while an album pops into popular consciousness and ticks all the boxes of being artistic whilst still generating mainstream success. This was one of those albums.
I’d forgotten how good it was. Amongst the synth fuelled soft rock of the era, most young white male teens in the UK weren’t listening to black American singer songwriters on acoustic guitar. Then in 88 we surprisingly were.
Sung in such a distinct and warm voice yet emotion laden voice, much of the subject matter still holds up well in 2025. A few overly saccharine sweet yet well crafted 80’s love songs perhaps, but this has stood the test of time well.
An album you should listen to before you die for sure.
Metallica
2/5
Lacking in redeeming features. A hint of bad led zeppelin amped to the max and 20 years too late.
Not an enjoyable listen.
Beck
3/5
I mean, it’s Beck doing Nick Drake, but not doing it as well as Nick Drake does Nick Drake.
It’s introspective and a little boring at times. Not one of his more appealing works for me.
Fairport Convention
4/5
Fairport Convention are a band that I’ve heard of, yet admittedly couldn’t name a song that they had sung let alone an album that they created.
I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but it delivered on some folky charm which I rather enjoyed.
Some beautiful vocals on this which reminded me of Joan Baez.
I remain unsure of how they passed me by during my exploratory folk music period
Weather Report
3/5
I had no idea what this might sound like, turns out it was what I’d describe as jazz for people who aren’t really into jazz ✅
So yeah, I quite enjoyed it.
I recognised part of the opening track, maybe from an old TV show? Though the overall feel is a soundtrack to a show where a suburban US cop with a liking for whiskey investigates alien phenomena.
I’ll not be exploring more, but an interesting addition to the list all the same.
Kacey Musgraves
2/5
Oh please. Nobody has to hear this paint by numbers country pop before they die, unless you happen to be a teenage girl with terminal cancer.
Some songs are well written (probably with major input from established songwriters) but it’s just bang average pop fayre.
Neil Young
5/5
It’s a shoe in for me. Not just my favourite Neil Young album, but probably one of my top 10.
It helps that Alabama is also one my all time favourite songs
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Opens with a fantastic performance of a Burt & Hal classic, but the slower tracks aren’t really my thing. I
’m just not sexy enough of an loverman for it to float my boat.
The Auteurs
1/5
I usually reserve one star reviews for extremely experimental albums which to my mind constitute “noise”, but once every few months something pops up on this list which leaves me dumbfounded as to why it would ever be considered for inclusion.
This is one of those albums.
At least Throbbing Gristle were trying to do something different. The Auters on the other hand seem to have produced an album of third rate b-sides and fillers without creating any sense of excitement whatsoever. It’s just so damn dull, so damn “meh”.
I was down to the last few tracks before I found anything remotely of interest and then it was only interesting in an “ooh that’s a little better than bang average” kind of way.
The vocals are awful, the production is awful.
The only justification for this being on the list is as an example of the perfect execution of a collection of nothing songs in a hard to like way.
A waste of my time.
Gene Clark
3/5
I like the Byrds, I like Gene Clark, I love “No other”
This is not “No other”, there little in the way of cosmic country rock to be unveiled here. To me ear, it’s a collection of broadly accomplished songs which don’t really demand that much attention.
Easily skippable TBH
David Bowie
3/5
This is one of the few Bowie albums that have passed me by and that I’dnever listened to previously.
I was surprised to discover how early it was released as I’ve always assumed this was an early to mid 80s album, maybe the sax on the title track corrupted my thinking!
As ever, the album shows how accomplished a songwriter and musician Bowie is. I particularly adore the backing vocals on this album.
As usual it’s a pretty eclectic affair, but it doesn’t reach the soaring heights of some of his other work.
3 stars feels, harsh, 4 feels overly generous. It’s one of those albums where the rating system feels too restrictive.
N.W.A.
4/5
I enjoyed this, it does sound a bit dated in places, and the misogynistic themes throughout become a bit tiring, overall it’s a really good album, but of course an important social commentary of its times.
Pulp
5/5
The apex of Britpop?
Tune after tune of great British social commentary from Cocker (who else would write about skilfully avoiding dog turds outside the corner shop?), beautiful cheers of pace, and still sounding great.
Queen
3/5
I was erring towards a 2 star rating as it sounds like a myriad of other pretentious mid 70s rock albums, but tight at the death seven seas of rhye edged it into mediocre territory
4/5
Totally oblivious to this band going into this, so not sure if what was to come.
Turns out that if I knew what a wheelhouse was this would be squarely in it.
Funky, chilled, unexpectedly fun grooves.
Only 6 tracks and a perfect album length.
It’s a thumbs up from me!
Billie Holiday
3/5
First up, might I just note that I love Halliday’s voice and its croacking vulnerability.
Collectively these songs bring me to a warm winter room, cosy evenings indoors, the scent of Christmas spices, sparks rising from a crackling log fire, a warm mulled wine in hand. It’s all going so well, but then after 20 minutes, it begins to sound pretty much the same. I just don’t have the legs for this.
So in conclusion, this would make a pleasant, background soundtrack, seasonal selection at the mythical Cafe Kelvinos, though I think the proprietor would be inclined to play a “best of” collection.
I’ll try her again in 6 weeks time once I’ve got my cinnamon cloves and star anise on a rolling boil with some sugar, fruit, and red wine.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Well there’s immigrant song, and I kind of liked tangerine, but as usual I find Zepp just fair to middling.
The blues tracks are done better elsewhere and I’ve never been a fan of the vocals.
Not worthy of making this list IMHO
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Not my favourite Boss album but one that I’ve played many times and always delivers on fun.
Can be overly bombastic on times and doesn’t deliver on the more considered introspection he creates on work like The River or Nebraska, but I enjoyed it.
Daft Punk
2/5
Can’t say I’ve ever listened to a daft punk album before this.
Not in a rush to again.
Overly long, surprisingly heavy with filler tracks and sounding quite dated.
A far harder pass than I was anticipating.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Being of the knowledge that there are multiple Elvis Costello albums on this list and that it is seen as a pretty divisive and unjustified selection, I was a little bit skeptical diving into this as I’m not that familiar with his work.
I had no need to be, it’s a banger of an album, I’d be happy to listen to it again, and again.
Slayer
1/5
“Unyielding kings of agony
Test your body chemistry
Pulmonary overthrow
Possession of your inner throne
Infections quickly override
Malicious, domineering strike
Floods your veins, commit slow death
Deteriorate, your maker's met”
I think we can conclude from this verse alone that the lyricist is no Percy Shelley, and that this is music for people who don’t really like music.
In fairness however, Slayer pose a profound question when they ask the listener “do you want to die?”
To which the answer upon being forced this thrash trash was an unequivocal “yes” from me.
It may be genre defining, but I get little enjoyment from its oeuvre. A good addition to the list, if only to reinforce my opinion that thrash metal/death metal is pile of steaming poo.
Eminem
4/5
Behind the OTT violence and questionably immature/mature content, there was always a fun album waiting to break out here.
When it’s good it’s great. It goes places where no artist had gone before, like it or not. Te wordplay and rhyme scheme is top drawer.
Loved the Dre influence on this album, they made a great team.
Maybe not a seminal album, but definitely a statement piece of it’s time, and one I was happy to revisit.
Wilco
4/5
Never really listened to Wilco before beyond a few collab songs with Billy Bragg, so this was a pleasant introduction to their work.
Plenty of originality and variation but not enough standout tracks to soar. It’s a a high 3, low 4 but I’m feeling generous.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
I was enjoying the opening part of this album, especially as it harked back to the kind of 60s female folk vocals that I enjoy.
Halfway through the album, I felt it was becoming more Americana in its sound and frankly it was getting a bit boring and tedious.
From initially thinking this could be a 4 star, it left me with doubts of even giving it a 3.
Mariah Carey
1/5
I tried. I really did.
Let me summarise the first half of this album to save you listening to it.
“Honey sugar baby, oh you drive me crazy, I’m going to fly away.
Mmmm, ooooooh, aaaah.
My heart is breaking, from the love we aren’t making tonigighighighiiight
Aaah oooh, yeah.
Place your lips to mine tonigighighighiiight on the Fourth of July.
Mmmmmm ooooooh
I’m losing my mind, gotta get control, laa-ahah dah”
This isn’t a 1 star. It isnt a zero. It’s less than zero.
I hate this genre of music and I especially detest Carey’s warbling vocal flourishes. It offers me nothing as a listener.
Why is this even included on the list?
I mean at least “Fantasy” is a chooon! But that’s not even on this album.
Awful.
5/5
Peak Ray Davies. Many would argue village green deserves those accolades, but for me Arthur encapsulated everything that was great about The Kinks.
This album provides us with a wonderfully preserved snapshot of post-war Britain with its despairs, its imposed class structure, its regimented uniformity for the masses, and its dreams of escape to something better.
One of the few concept albums which stand up as individual songs, it delivers an endless onslaught of wonderfully varied tracks, balancing the rock with the vaudevillian in a way that many others found difficult to achieve.
For over 30 years it’s been firmly established as a go-to listen of mine. It’s never aged in that time.
Fun, fun, fun. FFS, they even manage to effectively use a kazoo on “a hat like”!
I could understand how a listener unfamiliar with the historical British references and social constructs of the age would find this album less accessible, and in that context the more experimental tracks might become grating, but as someone who “gets it”, this album scores an unquestionable maximum from me!
Thank you Ray, you’ve given me so much lasting pleasure from this work of brilliance.
Elliott Smith
3/5
The album was pleasant enough in places, but given that I listened to it on Friday, and I’m reviewing it on Monday, I’m struggling to remember anything about it aside from the fact that I remember the vocals being overproduced, soft, and uninspiring. Nothing really stood out.
Sounds like 1001 other American artists of its era, and as such, it’s not something I’d rush back to you.
I feel a two star review is harsh, but this is only scraping a three for me.
Solomon Burke
4/5
Loved this. Straight onto the Sunday sessions playlist at the mythical Café Kelvinos (which incidentally has recently been granted a mythical liquor license and will henceforth be opening on Wed/The/Fri evenings for dedicated evening sessions)
Despite being self confessed soul boy, I wasn’t familiar with the work of Solomon Burke. I am now, what a great find!
I ended up spending an evening listening to old school soul, Sam, Otis etc
An absolutely solid 4 stars.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Lovely storytelling, I just found the songs a bit “meh” in places. Preferred the more uptempo numbers.
A solid, even upper end 3.
Q-Tip
3/5
A peculiar offering. I like Q Tip’s lyrics and flow, though it does sound a little dated in places for the year of release.
I found the opening four tracks to be underwhelming, but then in the middle it soars with four bangers, before tailing off once more in the home stretch third.
ManwomanBoogie the absolute highlight for me - what a chooooon! One I will listen to many times again I’m sure.
I wanted to give it four stars but couldn’t quite justify it.
Definitely preferred the ATCQ album on the list as it was more consistent.
Neneh Cherry
3/5
Raw, like a slice of well produced 80’s pop.
This is good at what it does. it probably sounds like a better version of Paula Abdul, but I really don’t want to find out. Not my cup of chai, but delivers some fun tunes esp the big hits.
I was tempted to mark this down a star because of her incorrect use of sushi. The pedant in me needs to point out that sushi isn’t raw, the rice is cooked. She’s thinking of sashimi.
Anyway, I’ll never listen to it again.
Duran Duran
3/5
I’m a best of Duran Duran kind of guy. Strong singles, love the bass, nothing much more to comment on.
Made me want to watch Barbarella again, which is always a good thing.
Queen
3/5
This was a real mixed bag. Killer Queen is classic Queen, In the lap of the gods was a strong outro, but then you also have misfire which is a strong contender for worst lyrics of any song on this list
Don’t you know honey that love’s a game?
It’s always hit or miss so take your aim,
Gotta hold on tight
Shoot me outta sight
That is A-class awful stuff.
Better than Queen II, with nice harmonies in places, but not something I’d ever feel the urge to listen to again.
I’m so over the number of “progressive” 70s rock albums on this list. I’m done with meandering guitar solos. I can see why punk needed to happen.
B.B. King
3/5
Live albums don’t count.
Otherwise it was perfectly listenable but didn’t set a fire under my virtual turntable.
As ever, find an entire album of the blues to be a challenge.
Nightmares On Wax
3/5
A different era a different me
Fatboy Slim
4/5
Not sure I’ve actively listened to this before. It’s very good.
Beatles
4/5
Is there a definitive “Beatles sound”? I’m not sure, but if there was, AHDN would be a strong candidate for delivering it.
Is it their best album? Probably not. Is it their most creative? No.
It is however a bridge between the more raw and simplistic covers era, and what was to come a few years later and it puts up a strong argument for being the most consistent of all their albums.
It’s definitely one I enjoy in full, and that’s good enough for me.
The Who
4/5
Banging. Consistent. Much prefer this to later who.
TV On The Radio
3/5
I was loving this to start, and got well into the opener. It sounded very different from anything else and had bags of potential. Thought I’d discovered my favourite new band.
Sadly it faded badly as it progressed and left me looking for more by the end of it.
Carole King
5/5
I’d fallen behind on my listening this week, but having only discovered tapestry last month, I know where my head is at so I’m saving a day.
It’s an amazing piece of work.
Living Colour
1/5
I can’t lie I’m rather confused about this album.
Firstly, I can’t understand why it’s on this list. Unless of course the rumour that if you complete the list you get to add an album is true and someone out there has a wicked sense of humour.
Secondly, I don’t understand how a band who clearly have an element of skill when it comes to creating and playing music have an absolute lack of talent for lyricism.
“What’s your favourite color (sic) baby? WTAF?
I’m still unsure of whether he is or isn’t a glamour boy (wooooo!) as I couldn’t quite make out what he was singing.
The audacity to open an album with a line as bad as “look in my eyes, what do you see? The cult of personality” has to be admired.
TLDR This is utter 80s tripe of the worst kind.
I did like the bass lines in parts and the prince Paul remix was at least quite fun, but as that wasn’t on the original album, I sure as hell wasn’t gonna continue listening to this nonsense only to extend my time unecessarily in musical purgatory
The Kinks
4/5
Never been my go to kinks album. Lays down a marker for where Arthur perfected the genre. The story telling can sound a bit twee almost 60 years after it was written .
Still a unique piece of work for its time and one I was glad to revisit
Elvis Presley
3/5
Obviously a landmarks release, consistent but too many covers (understandable for the era).
A high 3 borderline 4 - might get occasional play at Café Kelvinos
Hookworms
4/5
One of the more interesting British groups of modern times on this list, although admittedly I was unaware of their existence before listening.
Plenty of creativity on show here, heavily influenced by Arcade Fire in places, but I also heard a bit of new order in there too.
It was a rewarding listen, even if it didn’t soar to any great heights in any single place.
A good find.
The Crusaders
2/5
4 for the opener a solid 1 for the rest of the album.
It was painful in a “how long have I been on hold?” Kind of way.
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
Enjoyed that. Particularly liked the song names.
They are night zombies!! They are neighbors!! They have come back from the dead probably my favourite track.
The Beach Boys
3/5
The Black Keys
4/5
I’ve always liked this album, but it’s 25 minutes too long. Strong 3 / weak 4. I’m going high
Beach House
4/5
That was quite an unexpected treat.
I have to be honest I’m very sceptical of music I’ve not heard of from this era, but to be fair, this is one I could revisit
Eclectic and interesting throughout.
It’s making a. Strong call
For a guest appearance on the playlist of the mythical café Kelvinos
Tom Waits
3/5
Not my favourite Tom Waits album, not enough in the way of music on there for my liking. That said, it was definitely interesting but I just don’t see a situation where I’m going back to it and listening to it on a regular basis.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
2/5
Maybe I was expecting a seminal album here, and was set up forcefully disappointment , but this was one of the most underwhelming listens I’ve had in this entire experience so far.
The rap sounds very dated, which I can excuse, but the Stevie Wonder style so B-sides are on the whole goddamn awful.
Poor.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
Ridiculously good if overused harmonies throughout.
I love the vocals on Guinevere, but Wooden Ships probably my favourite. I’m sure John Squires listened to this as well as Zeppelin before writing TSC.
Gets a bit insipid in places, too nice, too hippy for my taste. I probably need to smoke more weed, turn vegetarian and explore environmental issues to get the full effect.
A very strong 3. Not quite a 4.
OutKast
3/5
Look, I’m never going to dedicate my time to an album(s) this long. I owned it back in the day. It’s vastly overrated and could do with some serious editing even to make it two separate and digestible release.
There’s a 50 minute work of brilliance in there somewhere, but I can’t be arsed to find it.
John Lennon
3/5
I wanted to give this four stars but couldn’t quite justify it. It’s dark and introspective in places, with a tormented bookend. Still, one of the better post Beatles releases
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Not as appealing as my first forays into EC. Not enough highlights to lift it above the “pretty decent” category.
Pidgin English was the highlight for me.
Portishead
5/5
Oh yes! This is delicate, haunting, timeless.
The best thing is that it sounds as fresh today as it did upon release.
Such an original sound with beautiful vocals underpinned by evocative instrumentation and sampling.
An absolute triumph of an album.
Dire Straits
3/5
Ah yes, the early days of CD.
“Have you heard Brothers in Arms? It’s a DDD recording. Incredible sound quality”
40 years later, nobody really gives a hoot, and what’s at heart a mediocre album can’t hide behind the plaudits of mid 80’s audiophiles.
God, I hate walk of life. Always have, always will.
Scrapes a 3 because I still have a soft spot for the title track all these years later.
Kanye West
4/5
Largely a solid 4, chipmunk vocals and skits aside which made me consider a 3. Not his best work, but way superior to his recent output too.
Mott The Hoople
2/5
If AI created a Bowie tribute band which dabbled in Dylanesque tracks, this would be the album it created.
Adam & The Ants
3/5
This sure was fun in parts, and I really enjoyed revisiting it, however it was also clear why a nine-year-old me found it so intriguing a release.
The Native American “Indian” schtick wore thin after a while, and I can’t for the life of me figure out just where Jolly Roger fits in to this album.
That said, the the singles are really strong I’m 100% confident. I will be able to table drum the rhythm section to the song Kings of the wild frontier until I’m at deaths door 😎
Moby
4/5
I enjoyed listening to this following a hiatus of around two decades.
It was the singles that were most imprinted in my mind, but I also found myself more enamoured with the slower sometimes acoustic driven tracks, though these did somewhat drag towards the end of the album and left me questioning whether I wanted to give it a three or a four.
I’m feeling generous as I’m reviewing this on a Friday.
Fugees
4/5
It’s touch tooong but when it’s good it’s very very good.
I probably didn’t realise that killing me softly was a cover when this was released, but I’m decideldly in the camp of preferring the Roberta Flack original these days.
I did like the NWNC cover more now than upon release, and thoroughly enjoyed Cowboys amongst other high points.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Not my favourite of the 326 Neil Young albums in the list.
Doesn’t really go anywhere until the final track, which is a stone groove.
Magazine
4/5
I was vaguely aware of Magazine without having consciously ever listened to them before. I was admittedly a bit thrown with the 2007 release date on Spotify, as I was thinking it’s a really good nod to the early 80s postpunk scene.
Turns out that it was a ‘79 release, a classic of its genre, and a big influence on the movement.
I can see why. It’s a really good album which kept me engaged throughout. Well until the last song that is which I felt was a bit of a let down and a weak sign off.
Easy 4.
The Cure
3/5
Struggled with this. I found it very monotone and one paced.
It’s not a bad album, it’s just not in any way interesting to me. I guess I’m an “Best of The Cure” kind of guy.
Primal Scream
5/5
One of my most listened to albums of the 90s.
A seminal UK release, showcasing a fusion of dance and Indy, which surprisingly hasnt aged at all badly.
It’s still a wonderful and varied listen. Five stars all the way.
Cat Stevens
5/5
One of my favourite folksy albums of the era. Some timeless tracks on here like father to son, with a strong supporting cast throughout.
A delightful listen.
Gorillaz
3/5
An album which never really grabbed me upon release, and doesn’t really grab me now. I owned it, but never remember getting through the entire album TBH.
The album successfully demonstrates Damon Albans eclectic range of styles and was an evolving departure from his previous work with Blur, especially with a heavy dub influence in places.
It’s interesting, but it’s not remarkable in any way.
Aerosmith
2/5
I came into this album vaguely hoping for an Alice Cooper shaped surprise.
It didn’t deliver.
What I got instead with a predictable album of jock rock interspersed with some half decent, bluesy and stonesesque filler tracks.
What really interested me more than anything else was that the lyrics in places seem to point to a nonce-hiding in plain sight.
Ultimately, this solidified the fact that I never really needed to listen to an Aerosmith album, and most certainly never will again.
ZZ Top
3/5
I owned this on CD, wasn’t a fan back in the day.
I’ve grown into blues rock over the years, but not enough for this to quite squeeze a 4 star.
The grange was my highlight
Randy Newman
3/5
Some nice tunes, some fun tunes, some plodding mediocrity amongst some nice storytelling.
The final track, God’s song was the standout.
This one didn’t really float my boat.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
A frustrating album, moments of pure brilliance such as Heroin and Sunday Morning, laced with the psychedelia of Venus in furs etc scream give me 5 stars, but then you also have to suffer through the vocals of Nico which feel totally out of place on a few tracks (I like her on femme fatale but the production leaves me angsty).
Nice banana.
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
This is a difficult one for me because it is at heart a compilation album and as such I don’t think it deserves a place on this list.
That said it was a landmark album for me, introducing me to a broader range of music than I was listening to at the time of its release, encouraging me to learn Spanish, and was partially responsible for inspiring me to visit Cuba a few years later.
I still enjoy revisiting some of the tracks on occasion, although it does meander and fall flat in parts.
Enjoyable nonetheless, primarily in bite-size chunks.
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
How much bongo is too much bongo?
This much bongo.
It’s fun, for a while. Then you reflect on it and realise that underpinning the bongos is a cheesefest of the highest order.
I can’t lie though, I kinda like it!
The Temptations
3/5
Ok so over half the album is taken up by cover versions, of which 11+ minutes is the standout hit track.
The rest is nice enough in a soppy, soulful way, but it’s not what I seek out.
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
I do like a bit of Dexys. They are far more than “Come on Eileen” and deserve more recognition than they receive.
I will die on that hill.
That said, I prefer the out and out soul influence which provides a framework for SFTYSR, and though it’s still showcased here the Celtic strings take it in a new and different direction.
A banging opener demonstrates this very well before the soul horns dominate on the second track, then we get a slower waltz on the third.
It’s definitely not formulaic!
Bonus point for anyone who can even sing “wear beaten down eyes, sunk in smoke dried faces, they’re so resigned to what their fate is” anywhere near in time to the song!