421
Albums Rated
3.38
Average Rating
39%
Complete
668 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Reggae
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
69
5-Star Albums
27
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
The Byrds
|
5 | 2.83 | +2.17 |
|
The Gilded Palace Of Sin
The Flying Burrito Brothers
|
5 | 2.93 | +2.07 |
|
The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Byrds
|
5 | 3.04 | +1.96 |
|
Pacific Ocean Blue
Dennis Wilson
|
5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
|
Time Out Of Mind
Bob Dylan
|
5 | 3.21 | +1.79 |
|
Tonight's The Night
Neil Young
|
5 | 3.23 | +1.77 |
|
Something Else By The Kinks
The Kinks
|
5 | 3.25 | +1.75 |
|
All Mod Cons
The Jam
|
5 | 3.25 | +1.75 |
|
The Beach Boys Today!
The Beach Boys
|
5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
|
Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
|
5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kid A
Radiohead
|
1 | 3.71 | -2.71 |
|
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
|
1 | 3.66 | -2.66 |
|
Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
|
1 | 3.44 | -2.44 |
|
Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
|
1 | 3.44 | -2.44 |
|
Amnesiac
Radiohead
|
1 | 3.41 | -2.41 |
|
Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
|
1 | 3.33 | -2.33 |
|
Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
|
1 | 3.32 | -2.32 |
|
The Yes Album
Yes
|
1 | 3.31 | -2.31 |
|
Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
|
1 | 3.17 | -2.17 |
|
Le Tigre
Le Tigre
|
1 | 3.13 | -2.13 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Dylan | 5 | 5 |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 3 | 5 |
| Beatles | 3 | 5 |
| R.E.M. | 3 | 5 |
| The Beach Boys | 3 | 5 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 3 | 5 |
| Johnny Cash | 3 | 5 |
| The Rolling Stones | 3 | 5 |
| David Bowie | 5 | 4.4 |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Byrds | 2 | 5 |
| Public Enemy | 2 | 5 |
| Willie Nelson | 2 | 5 |
| Neil Young | 2 | 5 |
| Queen | 2 | 5 |
| Leonard Cohen | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Radiohead | 4 | 1.25 |
| The Smiths | 3 | 1 |
| The Mothers Of Invention | 2 | 1 |
| My Bloody Valentine | 2 | 1 |
| Sepultura | 2 | 1 |
| Deep Purple | 3 | 2 |
5-Star Albums (69)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Willie Nelson
5/5
This is country music to me, not that over produced pop thing. This is near perfect, you sit down with Willie and he tells you his stories. It’s like he is sitting there with you, it’s not an album it’s a moment in time.
5 Star.
2 likes
Metallica
2/5
The second thrash metal album in 5 days, and my second or third Metallica so far. Too much metal and punk ( and I like punk), just too much, there is more music variation than this list would imply.
Thrash metal is the tedious end of the genre, it’s such a caricature of itself. I just find this so monotonous, repetitive, paint by numbers music; here’s the musical intro, song plods on, vocals drone on in that earnest way, then time change either speed up for a bit or slow down with usually a guitar/ instrumental break, then return back to plod repeating as many times as wish for minimum of 6 minutes. Nothing seems to ever go anywhere musically or vocally, and where they may be heading it’s at a glacial pace. FFS write something under 5 minutes. Long doesn’t always equate to epic, sometimes it’s just long. Think I heard they have lots of short ideas and then join them together which would explain a lot. Even when they have some variety such as the start of One they can’t stick with it and have to descend into the plod etc etc. And what’s with that simple snare sound front and centre? on every track, it’s not a great sound.
I just don’t get Metallica, either on record or live ( seen a few times at festivals from bottom of bill to near the top) they just strike me as being so, so workmanlike.
If it had been a couple of tracks would give this a higher score but the cumulative effect of long song after long song of rinse and repeat over an hour is like watching a film of someone laying road all day, some brief interest in what is happening at first but then tedious repetitive boredom afterwards. 1.5 Stars
2 likes
Van Halen
4/5
Just a fun ride. Is it deep, hell no. They can play but it serves the song and atmosphere rather than look at me. Diamond Dave is a limited vocalist but he has his thing going down. Gets slagged off because it’s pop and their look, nowt wrong with pop just Good fun rock n roll, time to party music.
1 likes
The Byrds
5/5
One of my all time favourite bands. So influential in so many genres in such a short time. Never quite got the love for this album though, then one day it just clicked and it’s one of my most listened to records since. A record made by a band in turmoil, see Johnny Rogans essential for any Byrd fans book for the whole story. But it ends up such a coherent piece of work, The whole soundscape of this.
5 Star.
1 likes
The Mothers Of Invention
1/5
Apology for missing the point, that this is satirical and experimental. But it’s just the run out groove turned into a whole album. I Get from reading the background that this is a supposed satire on what was happening at the time. But it just sounds aloof, that they think they are clever, as no one else is as aware and informed as them, but was the joke to take the piss out of anything resembling musical talent by showing none? (They may be talented but to my simple ears I can’t tell from this). Probably would have worked as a sketch on a comedy programme better, because for me as an album it’s awful and just plain shit. Can they actually write songs? Humorous?? lyrics and sound collage to the most basic of song structure that seems to have been knocked up on the spot, damn this is straining the idea of must hear music for me, I want the time back… next.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (27)
All Ratings
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Lives up to the hype
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Enjoyable listen. Obviously not my genre but def could listen to again.
Arctic Monkeys
2/5
Nothing that hasn’t,t been heard before, don,t understand the hype other than the generations own shouty boys. Highly derivative
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
I'm not from the hood and will not ever relate, and the opening tracks seem gangsta misogyn lets sign about my dicky BUT this mellows and says something and is a damn good listen. Definitely belongs on this list.
ZZ Top
4/5
This is a blast from my past. Prefer some of their less 80's sound - but good songs are good songs and they do use that production to make it shine
Keith Jarrett
3/5
Someone I had honestly never heard of and this was 75. When I started and was intently listening for the first 20 minutes it was a 4 even 5 star, But it then became background when doing something else and ..Well was just background. So if I ever decide to listen again it might be 5 if not 3
Nirvana
3/5
Nirvana vs the cult of cobin, separate the sound from the myth, this is actually good
Megadeth
1/5
Cartoon slasher crap with repetitive music, why is this in here and viewed with so much more credibility than bands that were always said to be crap like motley crue et al - drivel. Didn’t like this when it was new and it hasn’t aged. Pure shit. Repeat riff, twiddle guitar, hit drum repeat actively. Poor man’s NWOBHM - Iron Maiden did it with more class and melody maybe in just ain’t 16!
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Soo much more that the greatest hits packages. This justifies the legend, so much more nuances.
Talking Heads
4/5
Only ever heard the singles, I have been missing out for so long. It's hard to tie down so I will just except It's damn good.
Girls Against Boys
2/5
Nothing here for me that puts it onto a must have heard list. Don’t dislike it when listening but nothing that would make Me go back to it either.
Baaba Maal
3/5
The main reason that I decided to do this project is to move outside my algorithm and get things like this that I would never hear. It's pleasant and I enjoyed listening, is it the best example of It's field - I have no idea, will I actively seek it out, no probably not, though I have liked the title track, but it's been better than some of the western music I have heard on this so far.
Talking Heads
4/5
Why have I not ever gotten into this band, so much more than just the (accepted great) singles.
Silver Jews
4/5
First time hearing the band, having moved from indie in the mid 90’s. The 1st 30 seconds I thought oh no, but by the end of the track hooked. Poetic, low-fi, country tinged.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
👍
Songhoy Blues
3/5
Another interesting item this project has thrown up, great rhythms, melodies. Think because of me not being unable to speak the language I’m missing out on an important part of what when are expressing if the wiki entry is anything to go by, but still great music all the same, and will have to take a-look at the documentary.
Turbonegro
1/5
Really? If this is your thing then good for you. But personally, Is this a post modern take on what happened in the 1970’s and 1980’s with English as second language, so lyrics are just **** ( sorry they are supposedly challenging political correctness), so it makes the list? There must be, are other records that should be on the must hear 1001 albums! rather than this.
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
I had completely forgotten RFTC, used to own this and their debut Circa, now (may still do somewhere). It is what it is, was not expecting this to come up on this list. When it hits, on a rope etc. yeah it’s good garage rock/post punk with decent hooks, but again surprised it’s an essential must hear(maybe that’s my bias and I don’t give the same weight to things from my youth as “before” my time), nice to revisit all the same.
Manu Chao
3/5
Well that is just pleasant, don’t speak Spanish but it is a language that just sounds musical. On holiday today and this sounds just nice.
The Pogues
4/5
It’s the Pogues, Irish folk with punk styling, to me, what’s not to like.
The KLF
3/5
Electronic music has never been my thing, aware of the 90s scene and KLF but only in passing. But to be honest I am glad that this is on the list because I enjoyed listening for 1st time to this today, though won’t be revisiting anytime soon. Essential? Guess in that it reps a genre yeah.
The Yardbirds
3/5
Always listed as being influential, always turn up on those documentaries about the 60s. Kind of hear it, but just feel missing that killer song for me.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Great music, great sound and feel, and songs. Shame it’s less than 30 mins but it does a lot in the time.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
An important album for its influences, it's just never really hit me as much as I have tried, the bits I like make me feel it's great, the rest not so much.
The Damned
4/5
Just fun, energetic, edgy, catchy music with a sense of humour . The Damned deserve a greater reputation than they get if this is anything to go by. This is just a damn (had to do it) good punk rock album, wish had heard before.
The Modern Lovers
2/5
At the start thought I was going to struggle getting through this, but got used to the downer non vocals, and started hearing those influences on the indie bands i used to listen to.
AC/DC
3/5
The definition of classic heavy rock, you can smell the patchouli oil. Not a great deal of subtlety, think it was taken out, got drunk and given their ‘love’.
Out spinal taps, spinal tap ( where the parody only come close). From the black cover, the tight rhythm section, power chord riff on riff, helium vocals and let’s make the chorus the same line only so you get it, and the lyrics, see spinal tap book of innuendo. Big and dumb, but sometimes that is all you want or need. Does what it sets out to do which is rock ya. And the production is so on the money.
Fred Neil
4/5
On first hearing was ready to dismiss and almost turn off, but later sat and gave a more attentive listen and did an almost 180. There is a cool introspective atmosphere, sung with a great vocal that just drew me in.
SAULT
3/5
Musical, yeah it is an interesting modern R&B listen. Not sure if I think there is anything groundbreaking in the musical context. Is it socio/politically essential, don’t think I’m the intended demographic to be qualified to have an informed view on that.
Blur
2/5
All for bands/artists developing through their careers, who wants the same thing album after album, or trying to be your teen/ twenty something self when you are old enough to be that person’s dad ( or grandad in some cases). Never spent much time on Blur, so they moved on from their Brit pop sound, good for them. Obviously the album that has song 2, the sampled track heard on every sport highlight or next programme ad at the time, not sure how many times heard the whole song. It’s competent, songwriting, playing, singing and production but it just felt like a bit of a slog, hard work to get through all 50 odd minutes. Presume this means there is at least 1 other Blur album, as can’t imagine many Blur fans thinking this is their essential recording?
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
4/5
The Who
4/5
Beatles
5/5
The Beatles, not a lot to say from me. Have listened to them my whole life and that won't change.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
This is a great album, will definitely be revisiting
Deep Purple
2/5
This left me cold. No problem with virtuoso musicians exploring their sound but this just feels so emotionally sterile. Was looking forward to hearing his when it came up today, not a DP fan but interested to heard what made them so revered. Oh no… that is why I never liked them them! Guess you need to like muso twiddling to appreciate this, yes you can play but enough with the super extended versions of songs where the vocals and lyrics are a distant 5th behind everyone and everything else. It all just comes over as excessive and indulgent to me as a recording. was probably a great experience being in the crowd, but not sure that makes an essential album. I suppose it’s representative of the live album fad that appeared to have occurred in the early 70’s? live captures us at our best ideology. Every overblown cliches in the book is here; There might be good songs in there somewhere but I got bored and lost in those go on and on guitar/keyboard/ rhythm solo's, I mean 1 track within 2 minutes (guess it maybe the edit for the record) goes into an extended drum solo, then we have got to have an extended intro to at least 1 song to show our virtuoso to our friends, and the I can screech in tune thing .. wtf. Can now understand where the punk ethos rose from, as rebellion in part to all the excess of this. Would I personally ever listen it this again, not when I struggled to even listen to it once, I got through the 1st track second listen and then decided that was enough. Even the cover is just so …. No the worst I have even heard this week, but just not what all the one of the best ever live albums stuff led me to expect.
The Mothers Of Invention
1/5
Apology for missing the point, that this is satirical and experimental. But it’s just the run out groove turned into a whole album. I Get from reading the background that this is a supposed satire on what was happening at the time. But it just sounds aloof, that they think they are clever, as no one else is as aware and informed as them, but was the joke to take the piss out of anything resembling musical talent by showing none? (They may be talented but to my simple ears I can’t tell from this). Probably would have worked as a sketch on a comedy programme better, because for me as an album it’s awful and just plain shit. Can they actually write songs? Humorous?? lyrics and sound collage to the most basic of song structure that seems to have been knocked up on the spot, damn this is straining the idea of must hear music for me, I want the time back… next.
Gorillaz
3/5
I appreciate the concept, and inventiveness of the whole virtual band concept, musically took me a few listens as on the whole it kind of was passing me by with it eclectic nature, but kind of get it and I can see why someone else may be well into it.
David Holmes
3/5
I’m not very informed to discuss this, my knowledge on DJing could be written on the back of a stamp, although this sounded like one of the urban movie OST that I have from this time, even before I got to the Bond theme, so can only go off how it sounds to me, today. I don’t dislike it per se, but by its very repetitive nature it seems somewhat monotonous and lacking in vitality, being more background than anything. So yeah glad to expand my horizons and listen to a full album of whatever this is listed as, won’t be rushing to follow up though
Jungle Brothers
3/5
Enjoyable listen. Good variety and positive lyrical content.
The Cardigans
2/5
No preconceived ideas coming into this, did they have a hit once being the only thing I could recall, well 1 hit song does not make an essential album. Lot of people on here really seem to like this but I just found it insipid. The baby doll vocals are grating and made me want to punch myself in the face. It's well arranged and produced and they do have 1 good song in them, that stands out a mile, listened couple of times but couldnt be bother at that point just find it dull and irritating.
ZZ Top
4/5
The Undertones
4/5
Never outstays it’s welcome. I wasn’t a teenager in 79 when this was released, but man this makes me feel like I am. The whole feel, upbeat, the bounce to the music, the lyrics and then the highlight, Teenage kicks, a song I know well, a perfect pop punk song? Even the cover, in our media over obsessived times no one would be as non self conscious to look so real. Just an album that makes me smile and that’s never a bad thing.
Fela Kuti
4/5
Just great rhythm from start to finish
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Now this is essential. Just sheer bliss from start to finish. Pure soul. Sure they are mostly cover versions, but the you didn’t write it argument with quality interpretation like this, is a weak argument ( and anyway looking at music nowadays with lots of hits written by committee and ghost writers). What a talent Aretha is, emotion, power and control, there is a reason she is seen as 1 of the best female vocalists ever, to think if she was starting today they would probably autotune the heart and soul out of her.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Never heard this before as tended to avoid goth music due to my own preconceived opinions that were based on no actual experience. More fool me, what a good record, how to maintain a haunting atmosphere throughout but with melodic rock and pop hooks, great vocals energy and just more fun than I expected. Will definitely listen again.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Love CCR, nuff said.
My Bloody Valentine
1/5
The sounds of a dystopian future, that’s miserable, grey where all joy, fun and enjoyment are banned. Listened, in pain for 46 odd minutes for a song to breakout, only to be frustrated. Had to look at the tracks run times on several occasions because thought they were on for an eternity only to find only minutes had pasted. Guess you can listen to this, ? sound, to experience a waking coma. Not for me, I’ve heard things since I started this project I haven’t liked but have at least now experienced but this no I’m not glad that I experienced that once in my life. The silence when it eventually ended was so much better than anything while it was droning on. Their Spotify entry “redefine what noise means ….” Sorry emperors new clothes, Still shit.
Deep Purple
1/5
I like many elements that make up what this album is, hard rock and other bands that have those elements, but I just can’t stand this. This is my 2nd DP album on here so far, and I guess I just don’t like their parts or what they are as a whole. Someone else I think mentioned Spinal Tap - that was a mockumentary, and I love it, but this is/was real, and good god has every overblown excess. Guess the oh so subtle cover should bean indicator of all to be found inside, not pretentious at all, the instrumental solos everywhere that are just sonic masturbation, the scream vocals, the oh so epic song structure. Heard their live entry last time and was hoping a little more control in the studio but no. Yes they have their place in the history of popular music, yes they can play but they are a band I Just do not want to hear, can only listen to this once and 1 star.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Always been 1 of my favourite Dylan albums, having heard all. Not much to say that hasn’t been said, if you don’t like his vocals you are going to mark down I guess, but this is essential. 5 star.
Jane Weaver
2/5
Neither liked it or disliked it. It was playing and then it wasn’t, didn’t really make much difference to, or for me either way.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Always liked me a bit of Nick Cave, hadn’t heard this and when saw double was a bit daunted, but this is a fine record. Definitely adding to my collection.
MC Solaar
3/5
As other reviewers have said this grooves. Musically it’s an impressive piece. The records failing is singularly mine, and mine only in that I don’t speak French, and especially with rap that’s losing a majority of its content. Enjoyed anyway.
Portishead
4/5
Had no expectations of this album, only knew of the band cause they had the funny name of the place near Bristol which raised my attention cause I I I had been to uni at Bristol, even though they were well known in the U.K. at the time. Well am I surprised, no not surprised, immensely gratefully thankful that through this project I got to hear this. It is a must hear, it’s s warm but lonely, it’s hip hop influenced but also 60s/ 70s Bond sound track influenced and old school soul, it’s electronic but also sort of singer songwriter intimacy. Listened to it all morning with the rain and it’s just so eloquent. The arrangements are gorgeous and the vocals are so expressive. I’m still a physical medium collector and will be adding this today. These moments in this project more than counterbalance the albums that I struggle to get through..
Sepultura
1/5
Originally wrote a very long review on why I didn’t find this personally essential. Deleted it as it doesn’t deserve the words - it’s just monotonous in so many ways, Boring, drivel. Wasn’t as unlistenable as the band name, album cover and song titles suggest - but that is a very low bar, and would suggest that’s also a failing of the band in a way, if you are going to be so “oh so uncomfortable” then I as a non believer should struggle, but I only struggled with boredom.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
I’ve intermittently over the years tried to listen to Joni Mitchell, with people’s views I respect saying she’s the best at this kind of thing. But I have never been able to connect, it’s the intricacies of her melody that are exquisite but also so singular to her that when they have passed they have left me. Listening to this today, will give it another try.
Ghostface Killah
3/5
Like the music and flow, no denying his talent, the coke dealing street life, it’s not my world though and It’s akin to watching a movie, enjoyed but not likely to go back again.
k.d. lang
3/5
Really like this old style country. Not sure why an authentic 50’s album wasn’t included rather than an 80s facsimile, but the books list appears to diss earlier music (I know 50’s was the time of the single and it was basic recording and all). Know this album anyway, when she hits it’s real sweet.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Know this album well, just feel the vibe. Essential.
Fleet Foxes
3/5
I was so hoping to like this more than I do. But for me it’s so 21st century polish, a little too earnest and a little sterile and soulless Some on here have likened this to CSN(Y) and S&G, I just don’t think that they belong in the same sentence ( well later 1988 CSNY maybe) - other than pale hipster attempt at... In itself it’s ok, pleasant enough in passing and I listened a number of times, and maybe I’m just shocked and had higher expectations because of how highly this seems to be held and all the awards it seems to have garnered , for Fuck sake not even just the music, it won a best vinyl cover in 2008 for a painting that was done in the Netherlands in 1559, if I stick a picture of Michelangelo on my ceiling will I win interior decorator of the year?
Various Artists
4/5
Yep Christmas Day and this is the call. The music is great, obviously only really seasonal, and Spector spoils Silent night.
The Darkness
2/5
Revivalist, parody, homage, piss-take? I still have no idea really. Think they have their influences that they obviously honour, a genre that should always not be taken too seriously, but then try to be so tongue in cheek with the humour that it starts to grate really quickly. Which sums up their careers, they being the poster boys in Britain for a shooting star rise and abrupt fall. They are competent, the production is decades developed from the music they ape, Hawkins has the skill to do that vocal (though whether he should is another thing). Just surprised this is on the list, it’s so inessential, someone else in their review mentioned quotas for genre and decades and it just feels like that, are the acts they copy on the list, I would presume so but have a feeling they may not and this is all very post modern. Most acts, especially at the beginning show their influences, but take it on to something else. This just feels too much like a jokey parody, or worst for all involved that by 2003 if this was all, then hard rock had just run it’s course and nothing new or relevant was left in the cupboard.
Bob Dylan
5/5
A iconic album, an actual must hear. Did smile that this appears to have more 1 star reviews than the cookie cutter derivative crap I had yesterday which had nothing as sublime as the opening bars of Like a rolling stone, even before he mesmerises with his poetry. Then again our differences etc. etc.
Supergrass
3/5
After listening to this still don’t have much of an opinion to be honest. It’s alright was a bit of an anthem at the time I recall, and still bounces along. The rest is snotty pop punk with that kinks Britishness as an undertow, it’s a fair listen but not sure I needed to hear the whole album once. And yes that is one shitty cover.
Frank Black
3/5
Own a couple of Pixie albums from back when they came out, but never a big enough fan to have gone into Franks solo work. It’s what I expected, I enjoyed it as still have soft spot for 80s early 90s US indie/college rock, it possibly suffers from that cd age of being overlong which was a general thing back then. Great cover.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Dylan is just singular as an artist. Each song on here is a books worth of story in itself, a tale to become absorbed in. An album I know well but still don’t know at all and so can still explore. If it isn’t your thing that’s fine, each to their own.
Jack White
3/5
Found it quite interesting. Enjoyed enough while on, pleasantly enough variation and not 1 note. Jacks vocal style is the thing that prevents me from actively seeking out again as a personal choice but wouldn't skip if it comes on either. Most interesting of 21st century rock that's come up on this list so far.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
4/5
Always had a soft spot for OMD, even though never really liked electronic music much. Think they blend the vocals with the synth sound so well, the exploration of soundscape and what could be achieved, just a good record.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Oh what a Mess. Listened to freak scene a lot, way back when, being an anthem of sorts for that gen X/slacker vibe. Rest of the album isn’t quiet up to that mark, but highly influential all the same on bands like Nivarna and the indie and grunge scene of the early 90’s
The Smiths
1/5
This was always going to be a difficult one. I have always disliked, no hated the smiths since they came onto the world. It’s that whiney little fuck that sings for them., he makes me feel like I want to punch someone or stick sharp objects in my ears. This is the 1st time I have gotten through a whole album of this simpering, grey Manchester sky of a man, and no it wasn’t any better than I thought. - stayed away from others and sharp objects. I know it’s humour behind the act but doesn’t lessen the blow for me. I know people who actually like this, who say listen past him to the music -and if he would just turn the I’m sooo miserable schtick down for I moment but he is there front and centre being such a miserable , not that’s enough. Music should be for all emotional scope and if this is your thing good for you, I do get why they have such a cult following, but this hasn’t changed anything for me still hate them.
Tom Waits
4/5
Waits is his own man, he does his own thing and is authentic to his soul. It comes through on every moment on this album. It’s a dark album, it’s a bare album with minimal instrumentation but never feels miserable, never feels hopeless. I strangely feel it calming.
Le Tigre
1/5
Didn’t know a thing when this came up. Eeerr, meh, whatever, didn’t engage at all. The write up says feminist which is good all strength to the message, but was just watching the clock on each track to end so didn’t hear anything they actually said. The odd decent musical motif, but then was repeated constantly so lost all essence. Like punk, like power pop, like 60s female vocal bands, didn’t like this. Not bothered to listen again, No thank you.
Metallica
2/5
I have to say I liked metal as a kid but from revisiting seem to have definitely left it back then, and never got into or liked thrash metal, and all the trash albums on here haven't changed my mind. Metallica are better than the others in that I at least find it listenable, and some of the guitars are interesting and fit the song. But it's chug chug, all so darn serious, so earnest, so po-faced, so chug chug along. Yes the politics of war and mental health are important subjects and need platforms to raise awareness, but it lacks shade, lacks nuance, and just chug chugs along being baseline and I don't feel the epicness that 8 minutes a song implies, just not my thing if it's yours fine.
Doves
2/5
So indifferent, that’s what this made me feel. It is just so vanilla, so white bread. Is this really must hear, why?? Is it inventive, no it wears it’s influence front and centre (wasn’t surprised when later read had been at Hacienda in the 80s)and does nothing to deviate. Is it the best example of a genre, is bland 2000 white bread rock a genre and if so unfortunately Coldplay are the poster boys. Engage musically? Stimulate lyrically? Critical acclaim at the time, of course it did, and it’s the sort of record that people who used to have a few cds as a “collection” and for the last 20 years you see in charity shops. I don’t dislike cause it’s another British band like some seem to have labelled on them, hell reading their wiki entry turns out they are near neighbours. It’s just meh to me and I can’t imagine anyone saying their are my favourite band, but again each to their own. Don’t dislike just don’t care.
David Bowie
5/5
Always interesting. Great music.
James Brown
4/5
The picture of what a live album should be, capturing the experience.
Van Halen
4/5
Just a fun ride. Is it deep, hell no. They can play but it serves the song and atmosphere rather than look at me. Diamond Dave is a limited vocalist but he has his thing going down. Gets slagged off because it’s pop and their look, nowt wrong with pop just Good fun rock n roll, time to party music.
The Gun Club
3/5
US 80s punk/post punk, garage band feel which wear's blues and 60s influences. Liked it but not as much as the components suggest I should.
Pentangle
3/5
Wasn’t sure what to expect, maybe prog like pink Floyd. But was quiet pleasant British folk, not something I know a lot about very much. Not as twee as thought that music would be, enjoyed if felt attention drifted a little as it went on.
Common
2/5
Don’t know this smoother type of rap very well, Pleasant enough, not the target audience and didn’t connect/get into it enough to reach/know the content, which is on me which is fine.
The Pharcyde
2/5
More a comment on this whole thing, starting to wonder if there are there really 1001 (everyone) must hear. I mean that many means a lot that seem to be more subjective than essential. Must hear to me means, Something representative from every genre, innovation, stands test of time etc are must hears and seem in practice a lower number than 1001, that this list seems to work better as a book to flick through than an actual experience.I haven’t gotten to 100 yet and have had many instances where I do not feel that I have benefited from actually hearing quiet a lot of them ( while accepting my own preferences and bias) and yes to me this album falls in the that category, maybe it’s irrelevant nature would place it in a 200 rap albums you must hear, I am not informed enough to say but surely not 1001 of all popular music since 1953. Wondering how far I will get with this now, need 1 of those never heard must hear again moments tomorrow.
Burning Spear
4/5
Oh this works. This works on so many levels. The groove is sublime, it just sends you to another place, first hearing today was sitting in rush hour traffic and me and my passengers just escaped the daily grind. Then you can zone into the passionate (don't think anger is the right word) of the lyrics and their delivery. Knew of Burning Spear from the little pics they used to put on Island records but never really taken opportunity to explore, that ends today. After some (for my tastes) dross over the last few days on here that was making me consider quitting this is a palette cleanser.
Ray Charles
5/5
Like everyone I have heard of Ray, his important in the history of popular music and have heard greatest hits. But a proper album put out by the man, with his arrangements! This is as the title says. He takes any type of song and makes it Ray Charles. Don’t give me any shit about the 50s style and production, this is timeless. This is such a great listen today in 2025. My 1st 5 star of something I hadn’t heard before. This is just a joy.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
No, no, no. Sorry that's lazy, but it fits.
In my earlier, less grounded days I may have tried to convince myself I enjoyed shit like this because it was supposedly relevant. But it wasn't, I don't and it's still shit.
It tries so hard doesn't it, but is just tedious musically and lyrically, song structure is on the whole flaccid, and yeah as so many have said it's just sounds like Gaming music of the time; everything at the max, over produced and sound effects vomit.
Best thing about this was the comment that said critics likened this band to Led Zeppelin, I'm no fan of Zeppelin but that's just so off on so many levels, again trying to attach a relevance that history shows was not earned.
Guess the band meant it all to the bottom of their souls.
2 #Stars - for songs Maps and Y control , the vocals, and the album cover that advertises (all be it negatively for me) what’s contained inside.
And as a bassist, no bass - fuck off.
Laibach
1/5
More an art installation than an album. The would be movie soundtrack to the alt history dystopian industrial world if the 3rd reich or stalins USSR had been all conquering.
Glad heard it - in a sick way maybe.
Enjoyed it - hell no but then in a funny way maybe-no.
1 star for the .. for making me want to march and being rather silly
Miriam Makeba
3/5
I have a little anemoia for that late 50’s, early 60’s period, and this fits into that in a generally pleasant sounding way. She’s a good vocalist and the songs are musically pleasant enough. Not being in my language is both a downside, not understanding and if the lyrics are all like those in English also an upside, because those songs are fairly bland lyrically.
3 stars - pleasant enough 40 minute, but if a want my fake nostalgia I already have better sources.
Cat Stevens
5/5
Actually listened to this yesterday. Up to a few years ago cat was 1 of those guys from the 70s that I had heard the odd hit replayed on tv or radio, or someone covered his song. Then when the rerelease campaign came up a website gave it a listen on streaming and have been listening regularly since. Great sounding recording, playing and vocal, wonderfully written pop folk rock songs, emotional resonance,
5 star.
T. Rex
2/5
Always been underwhelmed by Bolan, I’ve know a few people who have been obsessed with him but I never liked his vocals and that somewhat languid energy that seems to permeate everything, even when he “rocks out” ( don’t get me wrong I like laid back rock, but this is just limp, no backbone maybe I need the drugs they were most likely doing at the time). Think of them as a singles act where the 3 minute limit is ok, a whole album just drags me down. Listening to this today hasn’t changed that feeling.
2 Stars - he does write some good pop rock hooks ( which I like better when others cover them)
Kate Bush
2/5
It's a cliche, because everything obviously is, but it's very much of it's time. The 80's in music especially pop is such a sound set in time and place. If in the right mind for 80's pop then let's hear it, if not turn it off now. This falls straight into that. Appreciate what she does as she does it her own way, but those 80s sounds. Her vocals sometimes feel unique and interesting, and sometimes (even at the same time) odd and enoying.
3 star - it's just in that middle ground for me, sometimes I want to hear it/ sometimes switch off. Expect on further listens today, -1 for it getting a bit shit in the middle whatever my mood. And strangly I find that *proper middle* englishness of it all a bit excluding and alienating, and I'm English since forever. 2 Stars - very disappointed.
Sepultura
1/5
I’m like a reformed smoker/drinker with metal, used to like it in my younger days but now I would rather hear anything, and I mean anything else.
I mean Shit a second album by these. Why? I mean WHY. Having listened to every album so far at least once, having already tasted this…music… didn’t make me feel too happy this morning. Over an hour of the same tedious one speed riffs and that vocals ffs. Presume it’s supposed to pervade aggression but it’s just sounds very silly. The glimpses of authentic instruments/ rhythms make it better than the last giving it it’s only change of pace and high point Itsari, but that’s faint praise.
1 star -cause they won’t let me give zero, not my thing anymore, plodding, monotonous, for all the supposed rage it’s just tiresome.
Footnote, kept train alive and made it through, but please no more let this be the last time I have to hear this. Each to their own aye.
2/5
So tediously obvious, not the music per say (though it is) but that this is favoured by the music critics that make these type of lists. And yep it was nominated for whatever critic award in its year of release. Not the worst album ever, but pretensous;, band name, song titles, lyrics and music, cover the whole thing really - ie the usual critic bait and unoriginal. The odd bit ( which echoes bands gone before) because the rest is just boring up it's own arse. Again music is individual, just this does nothing for me.
2 star - not terrible but nothing to make me ever listen to it again.
Elvis Costello
3/5
This list isn’t as varied as I thought or hoped. I like Elvis C, have a couple of his albums but I mean wiki says he has 6 spots, fucking 6, Elvis middling Costello 6 -( give him a couple of spots and use the other 4 for greater variety, don’t think these guys have actually listened to everything to make this list just their own record collections). Just was hoping for a wider range and variation of artists to increase my listening scope, rather than that, Oh well that kinda sucks. Rant over.
So to the album, it’s ok, it’s pleasant enough. He writes a good hook. He for this, like most of his career kind of took the American sounds of earlier times, writes his take on it and brings it to what at the time is contemporary, in this case the new wave movement. I had already heard it, it is an example of the new wave movement after punk, so ok I guess
3 stars - it’s ok.
John Coltrane
5/5
Not a jazz expert or even think of myself as a jazz fan, but I do own a lot of Coltrane albums, 30 plus. So yes obviously have this and have heard it many times.
Not qualified to give any in-depth analysis worth reading, there are academic books just reviewing this album for that.
Can see where if you never listen to any jazz that it may perhaps seem at 1st a little jarring, but if you give it time this is just a fabulous listen, just fall into the music, the scope, the dialogue in the moment.
5 Star.
4/5
U2 seem to be a band that polarises people, though personally don’t love them but don’t hate them either, yes they can come over as a bit pretentious with but I like the music up to this album when I listen to it.
4 star - distinct sound, know who it is within a few bars, always enjoy more than think I’m going to, could have been 5 but falls off towards the end.
The Fall
3/5
Have heard the Fall if not a full album before, so kind of knew what was getting., particularly his vocal style. What is it with Manchester bands and the “distinct” vocals, the rain? This is quite accessible, in a background music sort of way, so much so that kept it on all day where initially thought would struggle to get through once. Started to get and actually enjoy the non- singing northern old git vocal thing, the guy has his own thing going on and it’s interesting, can see why has a following and long career.
3 Star, - initially upon listening thought was going to be 2, then settled on 3 but liked it a whole lot more than I thought and kept listening, and as a grumpy old northerner if listen again might give it another, maybe
Britney Spears
1/5
No, 1 Star - and not because I at my age am not the target audience obviously, I can appreciate good pop, but this is half baked, a poor excuse of an album, that it sold shed loads is just an indictment on the power of icky school girl videos and whatever that teen cover and title is selling to "teen" audiences at the time. That wiki entry was humorous while listening, trying to match up the gushing praise with the half finished dance pop and bad teen romance ballads that sound like those direct to video sequels that Disney did with lower quality control and hack songwriters instead of the A listers that did the movies, and that is somehow ground breaking. A fine example of exploitative manifactured music practices maybe gets it on the list., nothing else.
Jerry Lee Lewis
2/5
In 2025 it's really difficult to separate the artist from the art with this guy, he just seems to have been all kinds of wrong, and I will leave it there.
Musically, he had that wild rock going, but seems to offer little else. That kind of works better in this live setting and at 20 odd minutes doesn't give much time to miss having variations.
2 Stars - not a big fan of live albums, it's very proto-punk is a plus. Difficult to remove unconscious bias regarding him as the bad smell has been around forever.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Oh that's surprising. Heavy metal has been my least favoured genre since starting this. Many of the bands I haven't liked had Maiden stated as an influence, so wasn't that thrilled when this turned up. But what a surprise, those other bands lack the melodically lyrical music that's here. Didn’t know the DiAnno albums, and his limited range does actually make this album for me, moving it away from the stereotype metal vocals Gillan, Dio, Halford et al, with his rawer delivery on running free and strange world being really effective.
4 Star, will definitely listen again, and not as a sweaty teen, and that surprised me.
Travis
2/5
There are a 1001 albums not on the list that can replace this. I like the quieter side of music but this is a beige buffet. It’s stuck in 1st gear. Again that cd that people who don’t really like music all had, and now found in every charity shop never not be heard again.
2 Star - it isn’t shit bad to be 1 star, driftwood and why does it rain being familiar having been on the radio at the time lift it to 2. And the cover and crap font definitely advertise the content.
Tangerine Dream
2/5
I have no idea. I did not find it comfortable or pleasant, it’s obviously inventive but I don’t think I want to ever hear it again, not what I want from music in any shape or form.
2 star. For the inventiveness.
R.E.M.
5/5
This is 1 of the albums that I am most personally connected to. Was already a R.E.M. fan when it came out. It came out at a time in my life where it was just so relevant and supportive and I pretty much lived and listened consistently for 8 to 10 months. Have loved it ever since and always revisit often. It’s just as vital today when put I put it on and ended listening to continuously all day.
5 star, love the music, the songs, the sound, 1 of my all time favourite records.
Billy Bragg
4/5
Always knew of Billy for his politic and social stance rather than know the actual music, seeming turning up on tv to talk about something rather than perform.
Well, I live this, obviously Dylan vibe with the English slant. Obviously not the flow that Dylan has but lyrically interesting.
Billy has no voice, but it kind of fits the poet with a guitar.
4 star, pleasantly surprised
2/5
Middling for me, don't hate it don't want to particularly hear it again anytime soon. Started in a real monotone, 1 speed but got used to or picked up down the back end of the album. Don't understand why it's so liked to be fair, but guess that's the case for everything that doesn't float my boat.
2 star for the 1st half, 3 for the later - 2.5 star overall. And I hate cd hidden tracks even for bands I like it was a shit gimmick
Bon Jovi
4/5
Easy one right, have to hate “hair metal” derogatory term in itself. Yeah it’s a dated sound, but most things do sound of their time. It will kill your cholesterol levels,but it's music for fun, and sometimes that's enough. Rather listen to this at the right time than many of the "listen to how serious I am" brigade.
4 Stars sometimes music can be just entertainment.
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
I don't really like my singer songwriter from this NY type school, too urban. This just sees to me like somekind of off Broadway show that goes on and on, and gets nowhere fast, but with the occasional spark that keeps you thinking/hoping it will kick on.
3 Star, it goes on forever, didn’t seemed longer than it's long run time.and too long to go back and find the bits I did actually enjoy again. Also this list kind of shown me I don't really like concept albums, which I had never considered before, unless they are loose concept only to frame the songs.
John Lennon
4/5
A complicated album.
Just from the comments on here 50 years on it and he still manages to be a hot topic still, with very little subjectivity it seems.
I have limited objectivity, I know all the Beatles related stuff very well.
Yes that he was a complicated asshole, and has been overanalysed fact and fiction, which comes through in the autobiographical music, and he probably out of them all the Beatles, I personally feel needed the others to round the music out. So being My least favourite out of the Beatles solo, ringo being well ringo
4 Stars, musically the highs are up there, but the self indulgence (?) can make it feel like it lags on occasion.
The Kinks
5/5
This is a great record. Ray Davis is a wonderful songwriter, catching that introverted, view of normal (British) life in the many varied ways, with the most gorgeous melodies. And the top, Waterloo sunset is just a pure delight, a timeless song, every time I hear that opening it takes me away, whatever I’m doing, however many times I have heard it.
5 Star, again such a great, eclectic record, the most British of the 60s British Invasion, and all the better for it.
Norah Jones
3/5
I have tried to listen to this album a number of times over the years, but never made it past a few tracks until today. And had to take a number of timeouts to manage a couple of times. And..
It’s alright i guess, just so middle of the road, a little soporific, a bit dull, somewhat trite, repetitive, and in the end overall feel its just underlying boring.
I don’t understand the love, the justification for millions of album sales, millions of listens on streaming. People with more experience in social and cultural trend analysis can tackle that conundrum.
It’s well made, but that’s part of the problem too, it sounds so corporate, done by committee, by the numbers ending up being so Muzak, bland, inoffensive, innocuous, insipid - perhaps some partial reason for the mass appeal.
It’s the poster child for background music, it is on but just don’t pay it too much attention. Because when I do Nothing stands out, the 1st track is ok and probably the reason I kept giving it a go, that is a nice enough sound with some nice melody, but then each song sounds like the last, nothing memorable to distinguish when it all is finished. It leans into that moody and (attempted) sultry shtick but sounds like the 20yr old she was, trying to channel her next 20 yrs of melancholy and future experiences?? Maybe she could rerecord now she has the life experience, but please don't.
3 Stars, was initially 2 but it isn’t shit and its actually not bad at what it does, but maintains the middle of the road throughout. There are much better albums of what this sort of tries to be. Many older than this list starting date, by people who brought more life and experience and moved it from that centre ground. I just want more from my music and I just don’t need or want to hear this, unless like many others have noted I'm in my corporate line awaiting my bland corporate product. Let the millions listen, I don’t and won’t be.
The White Stripes
4/5
Jack white kind of keeping blues rock alive into the 2000’s. The man takes Garage rock with what is a hell of a talent in the studio to get some great arrangements and sounds onto what is a great record.
4 Star.
The Byrds
5/5
One of my all time favourite bands. So influential in so many genres in such a short time. Never quite got the love for this album though, then one day it just clicked and it’s one of my most listened to records since. A record made by a band in turmoil, see Johnny Rogans essential for any Byrd fans book for the whole story. But it ends up such a coherent piece of work, The whole soundscape of this.
5 Star.
Lightning Bolt
2/5
Subversion of rock tropes etc, whatever. Like all art projects if you need to be told…. It’s not as bad as was expecting from the write ups. It has its place and if it’s your thing fair enough.
Personally can’t give it more than 2 Stars, when the thing is to maintain that monotone rather than exploration of the fragments of ideas in each track then I find the drone a bit too much of a grind.
Public Enemy
5/5
Public Enemy have always been my favourite rap act. This is them at the top of their game. Few have the intensity of Chuck D, and Flav offers a nice counter point. The fantastic samples, making it flow as a whole album rather than ana collection of tracks. Others can express it much better but this is just vital.
5 Star 1 of the most essential albums of the last 40 years.
The Beach Boys
5/5
One of my favourite Beach boy albums. The surf rock side and more ballad side, ignoring the goof piece that ends it. Moving from the earlier album sounds to the more evolved wannabe Spector sound on the one record. It’s fun and sad at the same time. Yeah it’s very mid sixties, sound and content, so what, revisionism can be so tiresome especially in these so enlightening times (irony).
5 Star.
Yes
1/5
I am not and have never been a fan of prog. I just don’t get it, it doesn’t just bore me, it makes me feel ill, I do get why it led to punk - if I had been around when this was the thing, 10 minutes of going nowhere, why can’t they be concise just once. Then I would have wanted to smash the system too.
Someone else uses the term noodling and I can’t better that, they do just noodle for many minutes on end and never get anywhere. Noodle noodle noodle. They aren’t shit at what they do but I hate listening to it. If you listen to what people refer to as classical music , its just not dynamic in any form, this goes nowhere slowly, yes they just noodle. It’s like reading a 400 page book to find nothing actually happens, we just have little trips down cul-de-sac’s, an acoustic guitar cul-de-sac here, a keyboard 1 here. I’m going on because I need to do something while listening, the multi track vocals, like always arrr.
Musically I should probably say 2 stars just for their actual ability, but my irrational dislike for this type of music and the reaction it actually causes me. 1 Star. Unfortunately I have the bad feeling there will be many more prog lows in this list for me. Again if it’s your thing fine.
Charles Mingus
4/5
Oh this is good, it's like riding a storm, it gives you the melodies to hold onto and then takes you out into the wilds.
William Orbit
3/5
It’s music, it occupies the background even if you try to bring it front and centre. It is quite chill and sort of pleasant. Can’t really add much more.
3 star.
Deee-Lite
4/5
1990s dance music, 1 hit wonder category, this is going to be a struggle. Well no I really enjoyed this, it’s fun and funky, and sounds as dayglo as they look. I’m no dancer but listening to this got me grooving during the day, can definitely see me listening again, so a surprised 4 Star.
Aerosmith
3/5
Always think I like Aerosmith more than I actually do, then I hear them. Rather have their 70s stuff than the band/sound they became/where in the late 80s/early 90s, seems a caricature of what they really were. This just takes it all to far for me, tries too hard. Too cock rock, too screaming sounds, too in your face, just too stereotype rock star cliché at every turn, even a song about abuse becomes a big production number. But worst, to top it off there is that big late 80s production, im sure there are good songs in here but everything is just bombastic and saturated. . Takes the dumb fun that can be had from blues heavy rock, dials everything past 10 and just ends up just being loud and dumb. Even down to the dumb cover.
Again like a lot of things im hearing on this list, being generous, it falls into that I don't dislike per say, but don't need to hear it either - 3 Star. But more likely 2.5.
T. Rex
2/5
Oh not another Marc Bolan album, there are certain vocalists, Morrissey being another that I can't get past their voice to listen to the music as a whole. And that it appears is where I'm at with Bolan with his flaccid form, oh how the critics love it and I’m sure the young girls swooned in 71. As said, Just cannot get past that languid vocals and that's the main essence of his sound. It’s the equivalent of having no backbone, everything just falls flat, he’s singing a song about dancing and it sounds like he couldn’t get up off the floor, say dance. The album title, and guitarist in front of the big amp on the cover, even the band name, who are you trying to kid. As I said on another of his albums on here much rather have his songs sung by others. So maybe there are some good songs on here but I just really, like really dislike his feel and sound. 2 star, but if I have to hear anymore it will be zero.
Teenage Fanclub
4/5
Always been partial to power pop. TfC are a little more on the indie rock side of their spectrum on this album with the muted in the mix vocals, personally prefer them when they lean into more folk rock on follow up records, but this is still a great little record that has somewhat been lost over time, 4 Stars, nice to hear it all the way through again.
The Monks
4/5
I mean like is this for real. GI’s in Germany record in ‘65 an album that’s so influential if anyone heard actually heard it, the way it was recorded allows/makes it musically isolated and unlike anything else at the time released, stopping it being diluted and allows for the time lyrics as blunt as hell, pure garage, proto punk. Wasn’t officially released in the US until ‘94. Can’t stream it in Feb 2025, let’s keep it in the hidden gem category.
4 star.
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
Lots of influences, from 70s and 80s, which are kind of spot that sounds like …. but with a lot of the life sucked out, for me at least. Just tiresome to my old ears, being a little water torture in places, think “dance” music that just repeats the same beat is a need to be there thing. just don’t see the point of this being here, oh well 2 Star. For dropping hints of prior music I actually like and for the cowbell
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
2/5
As a singer songwriter album from 1969 it just sounds like an also ran to me. There are better examples, many examples from a songwriting point of view. Without the background would this have stayed the real low seller as was initially and been forgotten except for those who collect the genre. It seems the morbid fascination of others with the albums background maybe evaluates its prestige , but then doesn’t every mumbling songwriter album have their own background and many are in their own way just as fubar as this, but also with easily arguably better songs. It’s a decent, challenging listen but nothing outstanding, 2 Star.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Yeah I have heard it. 5 Star.
The xx
3/5
Think my values are slipping, not with his album but the idea of the list. I’m likely to repeat myself here too.
Couple of listens and I am thinking my initial view is wrong and this is kind of ok. And that’s a problem because to be in 1001 etc you shouldn’t be ok, I may not like a genre (thrash) hate it even, but appreciate it did something different and so it’s on the list, but just being ok, pleasantly bland isn’t enough surely to make a must hear list, though didn’t mind hearing but I can say that about a lot of music.
This is supposedly a lauded, modern indie esteemed band and album, sorry didn’t know old sod.
Well if it is, thank you but no thank you. Just can’t imagine people saying you gotta hear the new XX album it’s so … what exactly, it’s so alright to have playing, it’s so err prosaic.
Don’t want to use the word, but someone else has done the synonyms - it’s just boring, ok but ultimately at the end of the day, boring.
The clear production is spot on, and it kind of ticks boxes, but nothing makes you stop and go, oh that’s so good. Songwriting is paper thin, just ideas done before, better. It’s not unpleasant but it’s just an empty ready meal of a sound, ok taste while eating, not your favourite to return to forever, low calorie fluff from start to end.
3 Stars, it’s not a bad listen in and of itself, maybe a bit music montage on those teen dramas my daughter watches when they don’t have the licence for real classic songs, but I just think it’s inconsequential, can’t imagine the 25th, 40th or 50th yr anniversary rerelease ( whatever that may be then) or someone years from now finding as a lost gem.
I know that I like every generation thinks what follows is mainly shit, and that’s how it should be, but this just keeps making me say, a not unpleasant watered down version of better predecessors, wrapped in the fug of the 2010s music ideals.
Yeah I have become my Dad and I feel fine.
Elliott Smith
4/5
Got to admit not aware of Elliott, other than he has the cover infront of the famous graffiti. Must have heard the songs on Goodwill hunting. It’s a delicate, sad sounding record, not really the thing for my commute to work today, but there are some nice melody there. Didn't know any background on that 1st listen, but obviously not party ground central. I like it and will listen again definitely but when more appropriate. Reading around since it now places context, good record, not 250 rolling stones all time good or whatever those muppets said - why does anyone give them any relevance, there is always the boost from the misfortune of a tragic story. 4 Star for the music outside any post hearing context
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Distorted guitar wall of sound on top of 60s Wilson/spector pop Melodies. It’s never really been my thing even back then when I had friends at school who were into it, it seems to get to be too much for me but can appreciate it and it’s Easy to trace the influence of this on a train of music over the next 10 years.
3 Stars.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
This is probably the 1 Elvis Costello album I would have on this list. He hits all those hooks, rocks that nerdy new wave punch. There is the obvious racial slur, which in context is supposedly at Irish catholics (what he is i believe) as viewed by the British, but that you have to look for context, it’s gonna be misinterpreted be troubling.
Anyway, 4 Stars for the record, though I still don’t understand why he has so many interviews on this list.
Beatles
5/5
No one else could really do this, no point in saying anything having had this as long as I can actually remember.
5 Stars
FKA twigs
1/5
Not gonna pretend I’m down with the kids! I try to be upbeat about most music going in on here, I have many more 5/4 star than 1/2 ratings. She can sing and writes songs so guess that meets the criteria - singer songwriter. But it’s Like a modernising, life draining, take on the concept. No I’m not down with it, it was a painfully shit listen, a horrid waste of my time. Minimising everything, on every song is just brutal, instrumentation and arrangement is crude sounds, with a vocal that’s spent/wasted to create the unsettling ambience, that if it’s your thing then fine, but I had to force myself not to hit the stop button, continually.
1 Star, accept that I am definitely not the target audience, but this was my listen today and after doing so I wish I had not, so I am entitled/forced to write in this box, and the only positive was it reaffirms my old sod stance that modern music is an absolute steaming pile of dog shit, don’t care how many plays this gets (while it’s still supposedly valid) , I’m just sorry I stepped in this and added my 1 play to it.
Nitin Sawhney
2/5
2 days in a row of albums built on minimalist electronic mood music. If the mood is abject boredom.
This 1 more on the contemplative side. Intermittent noodling in various genres, from Indian traditional to for fuck sake west end show Disney ballad, all subliminally saying this is all a bit musically, well d,ull so please turn me off, you really don’t need to hear me.
I’m sure he is very earnest and really means whatever he is trying to say for this degree art project of a record.
But apart from being seen as a pretentious intellectual hipster, as someone else said smart and worldly, why do I need to hear this, why?
Get integration of your influencesand backgroun, thats what everyone does, but I just can’t stand the diy minimalism of modern electronic music, with its basic beat rhythms, that’s so damn lifeless.
If it hadn’t been for the even worst example yesterday of beep single beat shit, this would have been an easy 1 Star, but compared to that it sounds listenable so 1.5 stars
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
This just fills me with an overwhelming feeling of indifference. Supposedly others find it lush, sweeping but just doesn’t move the needle for me. not bothered to say anymore- 2 Star.
The Temptations
5/5
Absolutely love the soul/funk sound from this time. The Temptations in any of their classic lineups are, well classic. Put the 2 together and you have just excellent music. If this don’t make you just feel good then I feel sorry for you.
5 Star.
Joy Division
3/5
Never enjoy this, still don’t today. Mid paced post punk that’s all gloom and doom, and guess it was all very real for Curtis and not some act. So non of the theatrics of the goth bands that followed, that “lighten” the experience.
I can appreciate and accept it has a valid place in music history, but just don’t like and would never consider playing voluntarily, just glad it’s a bright sunny weekend day today while listening, 3 Star.
Soft Cell
3/5
It’s all very silly, but not in a necessarily in a bad way. Not my thing really, synth pop, but it really is a neon sleaze electric cabaret of a twisted 80s sound. Obviously know the singles, but wasn’t expecting much so pleasantly surprised, though sex dwarf?? is that pc nowadays. 3 Star.
David Bowie
4/5
With its predecessor the essential duo of glam rock albums. Here Bowie finds stardom, lives the American dream in all its glory and grime, its highs and unsettling discord aspects mirrored in the music. Not personally the heights of the ziggy album - 4 Star
Iggy Pop
4/5
Iggy, goes to Europe ending in Berlin with friend David and Brian, in 1977 they release 4 bloody albums, taking the German urban industrial electronic sounds, Enos infuence and their rock and soul background and made glorious, inflencial music, here we are.
4.25 Stars, on the right day 5, especially with its sister Lust.
Fairport Convention
3/5
Kind of liked this. Not a big fan of that british folkiness (being English), crop circles et al, but this maintains just enough of the 60s US folk rock influences to let me listen. And more importantly got to comment on that cover, it's so gloriously naff.
3 Star.
Minor Threat
4/5
Comes in, does what it intends, snotty, angry, intelligent, tuneful and doesn’t overstay its welcome. Kind of a pure punk aesthetic, not a dull moment, wasn’t looking for hardcore punk when this came up this morning, but shit it had me grinning after the 1st play.
4 Star, a great 21 mins,
Violent Femmes
4/5
Ahead of the curve of what was a glorious alt/indie rock movement this is a great album. Mixing the organic acoustic sounds of folk rock with punk bile, a creepy lou Reed update vocals that encompasses the male teen angst experience, all mixed up in their own way to be 1 of the stars of the underground indie scene of the early 80s. Raw and basic musically, but don't sell that short theres more emotional intelligence and melody here than the look at me im so musically proficient brigade and their ego masterbation sound, give me this anyday, any year, it all ends up producing a timeless record. 4.5 Star.
George Jones
4/5
Real country music, just comforting.
4 Star
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
Not a critic of the music rather it’s inclusion, in that it’s a bit tokenistic isn’t it. We get more dreary 2000’s sub- rock British bands than we do world music. Which is sort of ok if you except this is albums from western music history, but why then throw in the very occasional lp from the outside world, you can't have explored the wider scope so don't insult it with tokenism. Musically it's fine, no I don't know if it's the best of its genre, no won't likely seek it out again as its film music, some nice music but it jumps around too much and (is it, don't know) too westernised with English lyrics etc - 3 Star.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Not much to say, know well. Love the melodies in the lyrics. 5 Star
Robbie Williams
2/5
Really?? Of all the records released since 1954. Whatever ridiculously high number that must be, this? Think the editor needs holding to account.
Must hear? Mediocrity, generic over produced pop trying too hard to be edgy rock. Lazy rhythms every line, look/book anyone, the sort a Class of 10 yr olds would come up with, cue up the cheeky bad boy shtick, try so hard to not be in a boy band. Set up the image, the producer does the heavy lifting, naff songwriting so I can be real, that is polished by someone else to make it passable.
Most definitely not the target audience for Mr Williams, I hadn’t hear this as an album before and don’t think needed to.
Side note angel doesn’t sound like it was written by the same crew, no naff rhythmic line shit, a one off lucky punt?? to save the boy band career. Fluff, 2 Stars.
Supergrass
3/5
First listen It’s not bad. I can see why someone else with slightly different tastes might really love this, but do appreciate it, and with a few more listens that appreciation is likely to rise. Rather have this than the heavyweights of Brit pop oasis and blur. It has a nice overall sound, wears its influences lighter than say oasis do, 3.5 Stars.
The Doors
3/5
The Doors, 1 of the more polarising bands of not just the 60’s. Particularly Morrison. For me they aren’t as good as the hype, but not as bad as the haters. The highs are really good, classics but the lows are very much filler. And if you don’t love Morrison and his act, he does appear to be something of a knob. Letting go of the (excessive ) pretension and just trying to listen to the music - revisited today there is a lot of filler around the big tracks, thought this was going to be a 4 or 5, but can't see higher than 3 Star
Frank Sinatra
5/5
When younger Franks very controlled style would have made me say yeah it’s ok, how wrong I was, this is timeless, this is a classic. actually just put this on randomly the other week and was blown away of how good this is. Nearly 70 yrs old, someone will always be listening to it, which has got to be a criteria for this list. 5 Star
Circle Jerks
2/5
Bit too bratty, trying too hard to be punk, no where as interesting or intelligent as the minor threat lp, heard recently. Not really much that would make me want to listen again, no longer a young teen trying to upset my parents or girls in my class, 2 Star
The Beach Boys
5/5
Another of the not a lot to say albums, of course heard many times, important, redefining etc. 5 Star
Muddy Waters
4/5
For just how influential this is it should be here, the fact that it’s as good as its reputation. 4 Star
Beach House
2/5
Dream pop hey. Just not my thing after hearing this, felt like being stuck in 2nd gear and dreary boring aimless journey. Guess it’s a mood thing but just wanted it to end and no interest in a second listen, 2 Star
The Clash
4/5
Like many say, essential punk album.
3/5
Unlike the last yes album I had on here that was all things I hate about prog rock; extended soloing self indulgence with no relationship to song structure, winding, meandering lost in the wilderness going no where slowly this is after a few listens much more listenable. Never going to be a prog fan though. Yes could still do without the keyboard solo that takes you out of the song, elongated music intro etc. but for a genre I just don’t like it was ok.
3 Star, for the album ignoring the travesty cover version of Paul Simon’s America, that did piss me off and did want to give it 1 Star
This is a classic example of prog rock, displaying all the genre brings. Please stop asking me to listen to it. If I just accept its all head music rather than heart and leave it at that. I just must be too thick.
There are nice bits of structured song then it just transitions into self indulgence listen to me play before returning to the “song” that kills it dead for me. Making it seem every second of the 18 plus minutes. The shorter songs are more structured and more to my taste.
Not as bad as the last Yes album which was all self solo and little actual song structure, but that's faint praise as that 1 made me want to hurt myself.
I would after 3 listens have given this an average 3 Star but I had the misfortune on 1st play to go into the travesty that they did on the bonus tracks of Paul Simon’s America and that just pissed me off so 2 Star.
Willie Nelson
5/5
This is country music to me, not that over produced pop thing. This is near perfect, you sit down with Willie and he tells you his stories. It’s like he is sitting there with you, it’s not an album it’s a moment in time.
5 Star.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Never quite clicked with Zeppelin. Stills 4 Star album just not beloved.
The Smiths
1/5
I sit happily in the Morrissey is a complete wanker sub-group. Some give this 5 and still say they hate him. I just can’t stand his whole thing. One of not my least favourite vocalist, he really gets under my skin with his simpering act.
This is like an endurance course that the whining little shit has too many entries in this list. The music is him and his delivery, with any other vocalist maybe a different story for me, as there is a definite (if indirect according to Marrs) link back to 1 of my all time favourites The Byrds jangle), but he is the Smiths sound, so it can fuck off, gave the last one 2 Stars but that, with this increased exposure now was being generous 1 Star, would be zero if I could,and there's more of him to come oh great.
R.E.M.
5/5
One for my favourite bands, 5 Star, no notes.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Spent the 80s trying to listen to Sonic Youth, to be honest cause thought it was cool and didn’t really like them much, to point can’t remember much at all. Had given up by time they “went and sold out” to the majors for this record and who would have thought they went and actually had learned to structure their noise into songs. It still however, at the end of 1st listen left very little impression, still art house styling rather than any real substance for me.
3 Star
Q-Tip
4/5
Another pleasant surprise. Tribe have been 1 of the best gains from doing this for me. Wasn't expecting much from this, another solo album from the 2000s, will get through it all throughout the day - but blew through it 1st time in 1 go. Always grabbing your interest always engaging. Definitely will be coming back to, 4 Stars but could rise as get to know the album.
New York Dolls
4/5
Heard many times. Influential, and a bloody good fun listen to boot. So much more so than all those prog albums from the same time this keeps making me listen to. 4 Star
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
Well that's delightful, her phrasing is fantastic and her vocal control, a master of her craft. Just a question, why with these earlier recordings are we just as likely to get a live concert? Especially as studio work was basically live in a more controlled environment. Just wondered. 4 Star.
Neil Young
5/5
Long time fan of Neil, Tonight - raw and uncommercial, fragile and Beautiful, ragged and emotional and just does play the rock n roll game, because he always does what he feels is relevant to him at the time, be it responding to friends dying of drugs in this instance. 5 Star
Thin Lizzy
4/5
Kind of had a soft spot for Thin Lizzy, but not being much of a fan of live albums never really listened to this, though from reading around not sure how live the live albums of the 70s were, this one included. But as a listen it’s a rollicking ride, it’s fun. 4 Star.
Solomon Burke
4/5
Big fan of his 2002 album Don’t give up on me, but not really visited his original period. Fantastic voice. 4 Star
The Sonics
4/5
It's fine, but we'll ok. 1st garage band album - whatever that is if it's a real thing. lot of early rock n rockabilly that predates this, that sounds well the same so not sure about that 1st moniker. So yeah I like it cause like this kind of stuff. 4 Star
The White Stripes
3/5
Like the White Stripes and Jack White so no problem with this per se. Enjoyed more acoustic tracks. And guess no point beating the wider variety of artists line over multiple choices by fewer because this list is what it is, 3 Star, but would have been higher if wasn't 3rd J White have had so far, out of only 165
Syd Barrett
1/5
Music taste is very subjective, with us all influenced by the characteristics that make us an individual. For every album on here, there will be someone who loves it and someone who hates it. Critics however seem to be in general more aligned to a collective consciousness , and certain acts are more lauded, maybe because they are good and I just don’t understand?
Know it’s almost blasphemy but I just don’t get the love in for Pink Floyd. I’ve tried, because have always been told how good they are,I really have tried from multiple angles, the big album, the 1st album the later ones and no I just don’t get it personally , just leaves me cold asking and… So I entered this with some trepidation. The solo album from the guy who left because of a mental breakdown. And I got and felt exactly what I expected. I don’t ever want or need to hear this again. I found it a real drag to get through, after 2 tracks had to turn off and came back later, and then the 3rd track made me want to switch straight off again, what whimsical bs. Just really not my thing, but ok on Wiki look at all those top lists it’s on, again I must not be intellectual enough to get it, maybe?? Do think it’s a case of the critic knowing what happened to this guy so it’s the “enlightened work” of a person with mental health issues. A very questionable view, insight into his condition yes, enlightened genius?
To me it’s like a supposedly renowned chef serving up a tin of dog food, it’s still just dog food. The lyrical content isn’t exactly exacting, and musically it’s somewhat basic without any interest, nothing wrong with simple lyrics and basic instrumentation, some of my favourite music is both, but what I consider interesting. Oh what do I know well I just don’t care. It’s finished now so can stop writing to distract myself
1 Star
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Straight up 5 Star, the songwriting, the singing, the production. Multiple songs on the 1 album that I could easily put in my all time favourites, bridge, the boxer, only living boy. Beautifully constructed, just shear joy, just makes me happy to be alive when I listen to.
Madonna
4/5
Wasn't expecting too much, some singles admittedly great and filler. Well no, that's a disservice to Mads, this is a great album, enjoyed the other tracks just as much.
Os Mutantes
3/5
This is so far up the weird shit psychedelic river I am completely lost. Being cold sober I have No idea if I like it or it’s so shit can’t even listen to it, think it helps being in Portuguese so I understand even less. But whatever it was a listen, even if they had to play every sound they could find, yeah and glad I got to hear it, so should be on the list, but still not sure if for good or bad. Gonna go with 3 star cause I really have no idea.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Just superb on multiple levels, groove, lyric content, instrumentation and arrangements. Mayfield is a poet. 4 Star
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
It’s been a lifetime since last heard this, personally think this is where Mascis et al got the balance between the noise and melody just right. A shambolic noise created by being technically able, allowing the melody to shine. Without this influence Nirvana don’t sound like they did. 4 Star
D'Angelo
2/5
Well this was tedious, yes it’s good at what it is but I just don’t enjoy that 90s RnB smooth sound with the on the nose lyrics. Don’t deny that he is multi talented but it’s just not my thing it's not just D'Angelo everythingin RnB at this time went down the same groove and i just find it so boring, 1 track on it's own is ok but whole albums just become as said tedious 2 Star.
Van Halen
4/5
Oh, well that’s a surprise it seems I actually still like Van Helen. Thing is I’d built up my own stereotype of what I remember them sounding like, which I didn’t give much credence to. But the 2 albums I have re listened to on here, are well just good rock and roll. Dave Lee who I just think of as clowning actually fits this well, went to the edge .. the musicians are always on point and serve the song at all times while being, well eddieVH. Great hard rock album, 4.5 Star
Janis Joplin
3/5
Not sure why I have never heard this album. Something about the image, the “legend” that has always steered me away, the cover shouts stay away to me. And clips on tv were always her at full scream. that she is a blues howler, be it a very good one. And listening today, I understand why people love it and her voice I really do, a couple of songs in and was thinking this is easy 4 or even 5 star, But it just got old real quick, it’s not for me, and I know I’m in the minority but always preferred Kris K. non singing own version of Me and Bobby... where im on the road with him rather than Janis, she is like an actor that chewing the scenery on a stage version of it, which is funny cause he was the better actor and she is probably singing from her soul, oh well ears hey ..3 Star
Suzanne Vega
3/5
Very wordy and doesn’t always spot the landing. When it does Marlene, the Queen it’s A1 but when it doesn’t.. or so. 3.5 Stars.
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
Like the poppier bounce with the attitude, but a little samey until it went full pop at the last 2 tracks. Not bad but think belongs in just OK. 3 Star
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
Liked the other Kendrick album I had heard on here, and had been told this was his best, so looking forward to this but Just from my own stance, found it very dense to get much or any musical point of reference on 1 listen. Was expecting something different, maybe more immediate musically, guessing the hype is more if you relate to the situation, I don’t begin to understand the black American inner city perspective, I’m not American to start, so musically or emotionally didn’t really get it, 3 Star.
Heaven 17
4/5
Synthpop isn't really my thing, but seems with the passing of time it’s much better than I remember, and this was OK, no actually better than that. Yes it's very of it's time and sounds it, but so what even in it’s basic for now electronics it’s still real, no auto this and that, no mass homogeneous crap, so sod it 4 Star.
Stereolab
2/5
Not bad in the background. Where it’s pleasant enough. Bit too repetitive for my tastes to be front and centre, to point maybe a little boring. But overall yeah I can go with it, not much more really 2 Star
Don McLean
3/5
Real strange one this, really stands or falls on your view of the first track. Because let’s be honest that is the album. It still gets played 50 odd years on because, well it’s a classic, the yearning for a past that never existed that can be everything from a quaint pseudo nostalgia warm feeling, or a quiet dangerous political rallying call. If you take it just as a piece of music then it’s good perhaps great, but don’t sell me the mystic enigma bullshit.
The rest is more of the same to lesser degrees, Vincent nice tune, but again not as enlightening as made out, suicide as a statement of artistic grace, doubt that really, was likely a very troubled and tragic man. So as a piece of music yeah it’s a good singer songwriter lp from the early 70’s, but it’s a bit mawkish. 3.5 Stars
5/5
Yes have heard this, 5 Star.
Hot Chip
2/5
It’s microwave meal music, gives you the calories and claims to be real meal but is actually beige paste.
Music that the health and safety police have gotten to and in the 21st century passed as safe with all the sharp edges safely removed. It’s dull, featureless and plain tiresome. Is this the height of music that needs to be heard in 2010s? It’s not bad it’s not good it’s straight down the middle washed out. It does nothing, new, existing or anything. Does it really need to be heard, why? I Accept I'm not a connoisseur of music from this time but is this really the best it had to represent it, What does it offer, what?, bland, unimaginative and middle of the road bedroom pop. 2 Star,
Coldplay
4/5
I really coming into this have no set view on Coldplay, I bought and heard the first album thought it was alright then the singles for presume this album just were a bit sort of anodyne to me at the time and have been even more so since and so I have never gone anywhere near them since.
I know it’s a case of everyone hates them but they also have silly number of listens on places like Spotify, which as we are sheep isn’t that big a deal. Listening to this today I can see both sides have a valid argument, daylight and green eyes have just been playing as I write this and it’s just like their media image, a bit boring really, pleasant but self indulgent music that isn’t quiet rock. But even these have a little bit of earnest catchiness seeping into them, they really are thinking about the song and it’s structure and the better songs, the singles? I really have been under a rock where Coldplay are concerned are well crafted pieces of music. Maybe that’s the issue it’s a well crafted machine with little to no risk, like driving a well made but safe car, takes the road well but gives little in the way of a thrill, that smooth ride, which is what most people want from a car, and maybe music too.
I guess it’s a good album and if was forced to listen to continuously for a while I would probably end up saying I really like it, but would I ever be exhilarated by it?
So how to rate, never going to be a fan but I don’t think it’s shit, is it meh or is it good - today I would have to say I think this is a good album 3.5 Stars, if I could. But yes can see why there is the hate, they don’t credit or deserve to be as big as the numbers suggest they are, but they wouldn’t be the 1st and definitely aren’t the last.
Garbage
3/5
Sounds like what it is, produce of producer Butch Vig. It’s that slick mid nineties rock sound. It was ok at the time and is ok now, not particularly memorable or anything special. Sold a shed load but then so did many similar sounding albums. Passed an hour while checking work emails this Monday morning, 3 Star.
Tracy Chapman
4/5
Shame that it’s as relevant some 30 years on. The voice and guitar sound make it as accessible today as then too. Fantastic sound, not a record I know but going to change that, 4 Star.
The Saints
3/5
Not too shabby, fun listen. Good energy, varied songwriting and instruments, like the acoustic guitars . Not a lot more to say3,5 Star
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Lenny sure is good at story songwriting, and Lenny sure pushes the envelope on what is singing. But I think his voice or lack of works in the context. 4 Star
Rush
2/5
Not bad for a prog album, the musical doodling has a little more direction, well a little more, lyrical content is .. well if it’s your connection good for you, 1 day think I switched from that heavy metal vocalisations being 'yeah' to downright annoying and now it's only songs that have some nostalgic connection that i can contemplate enjoyment, and thats not Rush.
I just don’t enjoy or want to listen to the excesses of prog. not really. 2 Star
Arrested Development
4/5
Listened to this a lot when it came out, just enjoyed it’s positive feel, still do on listening today, 4 Star
Motörhead
4/5
Subtle, err no. Complex, err again no. Variated, no no and no. But if you want something to make ya bang ya head and just get down with ya dumb side, then yes, yes and yes, its just rock n roll. Despite myself 4 Star.
Santana
4/5
4 star
Anthrax
1/5
Thrash metal just not my thing. Not the worst example this has thrown up, you can hear the lyrics and though it’s very repetitive song to song there isn’t the epic glacial plodding or ultra angry fly sounds of others. But a waste of 50 mins for me. 1 Star
Lambchop
3/5
Recognise the cover not the music. Lent this from a friend when came out, seems never gave it back but until today never listened to it either. Well on hearing, it’s strengths are its weaknesses, it’s chill and relaxing, the essence of smooth pop, country soul Easy-listening, but does little to and can see why people have said bland. Personal found it a Pleasant listen to be doing nothing, if not particularly anything memorable other than the chill feeling. 3 Star
The Flaming Lips
3/5
Sort of grew on me as listened, so by the end was not too bad. 3 Star
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
That was a long album, the very essence of the at the time idea of fill the cd, with very little editorial process. Less is sometimes more. Which leads to a very inconsistent listen, when he varies his lyrics it is better, but the sexual innuendo and base lust angle becomes old really quickly and just sounds bratty (at best). 3 Star for the shorter more streamlined album that’s in there.
Napalm Death
1/5
Made me smile this did. Not as bad as feel they want to be, but just well a bit shit. Shit album name literally, shit cover what are you 14 and just well shit. Sabbath distortion Riff on riff, hammer the drums and childish Cookie Monster err vocals. Didn’t find uncomfortable just piss poor, someone is actually chainsawing outside as I listen, and that has better sound, no really it does, better tone more fluidity. If you want to listen to this good for you. Kerrang! 50th best British album of all time, oh you little scamps. 1 Star cause made me smile 0 Stars for the err “music”
Def Leppard
2/5
Big, dumb and very cheesy, about the best you can say. Pop metal heading/grasping for that radio friendly mass market. As they sit on their millions guess they don’t give a damn, but originally when you claim to be influenced by Bowie, Zep etc and end up famous for this sugar crock cock pop metal?
This is the leppard album thought I could actually listen to before they fully fell into that barrel of saccharine turgid shit, and if this is here it’s follow up hysteria is gonna be and that is where Mutt Lange took it head first into said barrel to make everyone many more millions and still heard here and there today, and that’s a sound I hated from the first listen of the first single, but guess that’s another day down the line.
Pyromania is ok I thought for a bit of dumb fun but looking back it really has the same shit, there are couple of good pop songs early on, photograph and too late, then the laying on of lots of rock n roll cliches and heavy production, which are fine but too much will rot your teeth if you’re not careful, and it gets a bit much very quickly.
Started off being generous 3 Star, but it outstayed if’s welcome with the cliches and syrup by time got to the end - 2 Star.
Don’t care how popular this was, 1 album would be enough to represent this sound. This over hysteria personally. And to the top reviewer of this yes, personally would swap any Uncle Tupelo album onto the list for this shit.
Wasn’t expecting to be so damning of this but with hindsight hasn’t rock of aged well at all, falls into albums I am now embarrassed I once actually it some point owned.
Beck
3/5
Just never quiet got it with Beck, like others have said lots of interesting ideas and it stretches what is going on, but don’t feel it as a whole listen, will start to think yeah but then it just misses me. 3 Star
Orbital
2/5
Bleeps and bongs away happily in its repetitive dance beats for a long long time. Never being into Electronica or the rave scene have to say it’s not too bad in a background kind of way. Definitely not as bad as thought after the 1st track. Probably better with visual stimuli and if off your face, 2 Star
Soft Machine
1/5
Self indulgent hot trash. The more prog I listen the stronger my view point. Hard listen to get through, jazz rock, insults 2 genres at once, posh prog boys wanting to be Coltrane, and the jazz aspect is the better part of this, the vocal track, oh dear. 1 Star because can’t give zero, never want to, and won’t hear again.
Eagles
3/5
As a 36 minutes album it’s a pleasant enough easy listen, washes over you, good sound etc etc. And I don’t always subscribe to view of easy listening is a terrible thing. That they are very successful and the poster boys for greatest hits album is what it is, that some in the band appear to be not the nicest of individuals again is what it is.
that they appear to have taken what other (much better in my own view) acts we’re doing and, what questionably was a very cynical motivated move ( if Mr Fry’s story if actually fact) set out to blend it into mass appeal media friendly fare to be 1st and foremost stars. In itself not an easy skill as corporations constant try and fail to do so.
But it’s that slick, smooth, somewhat soulless sound that makes me thing “ yes and …” always expecting better, hoping for more. There is more emotion in the first 2 vocal lines of Gene Clarke original of train leaves here, than the homogenised version here that renders an interesting catchy tune into a bland 3 minutes. And that this slickness then became the template for much of corporate softer rock, with the band themselves appearing to kick out the more country authentic members. So it is what it is don’t hate this record but could never love it either,
( reading back through it made me say “is what it is” on multiple times, and in the 100 plus other reviews I have never said that once - guess that sums up what this record and the Eagles make me feel, so apathetic and middling) 3Star.
Johnny Cash
5/5
Cash at the top of his game, doesn’t get much more real than this.. 5 Star
a-ha
4/5
The second 80s pop act that I have heard recently that I had dismissed as vehicles for a few singles, all be it very good ones, and yes that video immediately came into my head. Only to be very pleasantly surprised when listening to the whole album.
Electro pop was never my thing, used to make me turn off straight away on principle perhaps, as a guitar player, but probably the one genre I didn’t listen to that I have been the most positively surprised by.
Vocals and the harmonies are a highlight, 4 Star.
Dennis Wilson
5/5
Takes his beach boys influences, but then makes a very individual record, it’s beautiful in places in its own way. I have listened to this probably more than any of the beach boys album since it became available on reissue. His voice at this point is rough, but that just adds to the texture it has so much heart and soul. 5 Stars.
Like others have pointed out the streaming version is the release extra tracks from an unreleased follow up, 1st time listen you should always just listen to the album as it was, like all albums on the list.
Radiohead
1/5
?????
This is supposedly 1 of the GOATs.
Radiohead; inventive, experimental, fearless and adventurous , richly textured modern face of rock.
Well if this is it, I am well and truly underwhelmed.
After years of hearing the above statements of greatest ever, but never actually listening to 1 of their albums ( I don’t enjoy his somewhat to my ears whinny vocals on the songs I had heard) I have always kind of held the hope that I was saving a great experience and when I actually sat and eventually listened would get to explore their great catalogue and buy physical copies, but as of today, I think that they are somewhat overrated.
Supposedly the lesser of a trilogy, guessing going to hear those, so will get more opportunity to hear this supposed greatness.
Not a lot of actual songs jumping out, seems more like the pretentious musings of the “we are great musicians and experimenters”. People say this would be a magnum opus of other bands, really? I will stick with others simpler, lesser works then, cough cough, Emperors new clothes.
On second listen didn’t get anymore enjoyable, just noodling in the studio put to tape, and fuck it went from 2 to 1 Star,
This is currently my most anticipated with least return album so far.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Fine, ok on first listen, very interesting from 2nd. As others have said she seems to be forgotten to time, which is a shame. 3 Star
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
Decent, bounces along in enjoyable fashion,, sounds clean, obviously talented musicians, though no idea what’s being said but sounds fluid, nice mixed in funk and disco. . 3.5 Star
Stereo MC's
3/5
Not really my thing, 90s electronica and wouldn’t necessarily seek out to listen to. But doing so today it was fine, not bad though not necessarily essential or required. 3 Star
DJ Shadow
2/5
It’s worth hearing as an example of sampling as a music form. It’s an ok listen to my ears, accepting this isn’t my thing. 2 Star
Crosby, Stills & Nash
5/5
Album that took time to grow on me, but can understand why was so successful at the time. It’s organic and it’s beautiful. 5 Star
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
His most commercial sounding album, and no the anthems are not what they on the surface appear, Americans sure have a strange relationship with patriotism. For all the polish and radio friendliness Bruce layered on the songs it still contains that downbeat story of hopelessness, desperation and small victories in the land of the free. Prefer how he did it on the River but still a great album. 5 Star
Maxwell
3/5
Just spent the last week chilling in the Greek islands, it’s Sunday morning and nothing needs to be happening, and this sounds ok. Can’t think of any other times it could or would. It’s so smooth it has no edges whatsoever, it offers no resistance in the physical world, and that’s impossible to manage . Think will have that 1 listen and say goodbye as it just won’t work out between us again I fear. 3 Star
Iggy Pop
4/5
2nd part of his 77 Berlin with Bowie, probably like the idiot more but that’s splitting hairs. 4 Star
Frank Zappa
3/5
Well that was better than the last Zappa related album (in it for the money) I had to sit through, though that’s not difficult as that was some of the worst shit I have heard so far. This is a solid blues jazzy rock record from the late sixties. After a few listens Could definitely listen to it again without prejudice as a piece of music, if I can try not to get bogged down in the mythos of Zappa. 3 Star.
Magazine
4/5
WTF why don't I know this, why don't I own this. Well now I do on both accounts. This is a fascinating record, so much going on and sounds so right. 4 Stars
Meat Loaf
5/5
Pretty much a love it or hate it record. So over the top, intentionally overblown, melodramatic and just downright silly. Springsteens Born to run if it went to theatre school and ended up off Broadway. And I have always loved it. Has always just made me feel good when I listen to it. 5 Star
Radiohead
1/5
Second Radiohead album now, and this isn’t helping with my absolute confusion why everyone keeps telling me they are in GOAT contention. As someone else put it, the fans of the band imply a required intellectual depth to appreciate it's supposed complexity, well let's be honest it's not exactly full orchestra is it or intricate narrative. relistening at this moment, the Sleep song is on and that's a general rock combo arrangement, no more or less than most others, which is ok, it is ok but not earth shaking either. Got to admit my own bias here, with all the critic and social hype around this band I'm expecting so much, to be fair too probably much; to be moved, or blown away. And I'm just finding it all a bit tedious, some ok rock arrangement or minimal electronic arrangement with his vocals, that are just, don't want to use the wh.. word because been said by many, but they are. I'm just not getting it at all, don't hate the band after 2 albums Guess not going to be a Radiohead fan either. 1.5 Star
The Who
3/5
Tried to listen to and like the Who, only really even got the Whos next album, otherwise feel they are not actually the sum of their parts. Bit meh. 3 Star
Bert Jansch
4/5
Solid, raw 4 Star
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Neil Young doing Neil Young, what he wants to, 4 Star
Missy Elliott
4/5
Liked it more than I thought was going to, kind of anticipated it’s inclusion on historical context, female progression in rap with rnb tones and there is that cd age run time, but as said pleasantly surprised how much enjoyed it. Not going to claim any knowledge about the album but Happily listen again 4 Star
Tim Buckley
3/5
Just never been a big fan of this psychedelic renaissance fayre thing, just about stomach it from David Crosbyand that's only cause he was in the Byrds. This is a flounce too far.. Can appreciate that Tim was probably very talented and if you do like this thing this will be a very good album, but misses for me, and when got through the title track nearly knocked off another star, don't want to hear that again anytime soon. 3 Star
The Beach Boys
5/5
As Brian passes yesterday.
This and it’s predecessor Sunflower and my 2 favourite Beach boys albums, since lived with the Feel flow release a few years ago. It’s weird as fuck, kind of low fi pop, current and environment I presume for the time, 5 Star
Patti Smith
2/5
Never understood the critical acclaim for P Smith, maybe my distance in time and space from it’s occurrence lessens its cultural and innovative weight if it's there. It’s art house punk and don’t prescribe to the idea that calling anything poetry somehow escalates it above what is there, it's very much performance art, it that it anxts/punks up what James Browne and W picket were going in RnB, but she has such a limited pallete to perform, she isn't a remotely talented singer with a very one note delivery style that looses any substance that may be present for me, other than a little agitation in the delivery, that it becomes style over (potential) substence, today there are maybe glimpses of something but it just seems a little dull. Maybe if it was 1975? 2 Star
Elliott Smith
4/5
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Gimme shelter is as essential, as there is. can't always get not far behind. But moving on from greatest hits the album, as a whole entity it's vibe., it's feel is essential rock dripping with the blues and Country, dipping into gospel and soul. The Stones as a real band not a brand, a circus. I have multiple copies, vinyl and cd, mono and stereo so yeah it's 5 Star for me.
Duran Duran
4/5
Was expecting to be binning this, it’s those postures from when I was a kid, yeah the singles are, don’t tell anyone, kinda catchy but he’s a weak ass singer and lots are 80s keyboards. Guess I have changed as this was more engaging now than some of the shit I was actually listening too back then appears to. Maybe as I have no relationship with this it lacks personal cringe factor? But hell it’s music. And yes that is 80s in a cover. 4 Star
George Harrison
5/5
If this is a first listen I kind of understand the it’s too long response, particularly as the what was a added bonus jam disc is counted straight on streaming and extra tracks appear in the middle for some reason etc. I’ll admit I only listen to Apple jam when in the mood, and when if up for it then it’s fine for what it is.
There is a lot written about this album, how the breaking of a certain band freed George to be able to record his songs, and surprise the world with the biggest, and likely best solo album. The full on of Spectors wall of sound. The spirituality of the thing. But at its heart for me it’s pretty essential, I don’t subscribe to the there is a good album in there, there is no one song from the album proper I would cut, it’s songwriting on another level, before we get to the singing, the inflections on single words that send it to another level, and the playing. Took me a while to do more than just dip into this album but nowadays wouldn’t be without it - god
was always a 5 Star.
Nirvana
4/5
It’s a fine album in and of itself, I am perhaps a little jaded by it as of today with no real desire to listen to it again, oversaturated? Overrated? Over mythologised? Tired of the mythos of Cobain rather than the music itself but I can’t listen now to the music without the former. Not the musics fault but there for me, should be a 5 star but because of this 4 Star
Oasis
4/5
Long time no hear. The 90s where did they go. The darling Gallagher bros, tabloid press darlings, and crew. Britpop and lad culture. If nostalgia has a championship in music they are right up there at the top of the league at the moment. For that reason wanted to put this back on and say well that was shit wasn’t it. But to be fair it’s not, yes still think Liams delivery is the weakest part, especially when he does that trademark drawing out of words, but that biggest cock in the room, I wanna be Lennon was his shtick. It’s good British rock n roll with it’s influences firmly front and centre, which is fine, to carry on the sport analogy, it isn’t playing in the same league but it’s the same sport. Good rock album, far from the best but still good. 4 Star
Thelonious Monk
3/5
No expertise on Jazz, no understanding of what is innovative or musically why it is what it is, have a small jazz collection of jazz very much based on what simply sounds good to me, think have Monks genius of modern music vol 1, not heard this before but yeah sounds good. 3 Star
Radiohead
2/5
3rd Radiohead album in for me on here, and it’s the big 1 and I just don’t get it, the critical overvaluation. It’s all stated for it’s complexity but it just doesn’t feel that revolutionary or coherent.
It might be innovative it maybe is all the things the fanatics (their fans really seem to be up there with the most rapid; so many mentions of masterworks, of Magnus opus this Magnus opus that) and critics say it is, and I just don’t care after listening to it, It sounds like all the self pitying, self indulgent aspects of Gen X (yes I am 1 too) rolled into a big ball, as back in ‘97 we rolled towards the millennium. So maybe it is the zeitgeist of that, and thus so beloved. But it is so very, very pretentious.
Enough said, have now heard it, this great of great albums, and after a few listens today I won’t be revisiting it ever again, life is too short, after the big opening riff and then the drop into such whining where it remains. 1.5 Stars, it’s obviously not shit but actually I think it is.
The Fall
2/5
Do we really need 2 Fall albums. Gave the last 1 a good score, and initially this was going the same way but started to loose interest and glad when it ended, he may dig repetition but afraid found the whole thing got tiresome. 2 Star
The Clash
5/5
Best punk album because it’s so much more. Lyrically and musically. The Clash can do the rebellious attitude with the best of them, but few others could do the variation, such as the gentle poignant pop soul isolation shown in Lost in the Supermarket. There’s Classic rock, rockabilly and reggae, the covers are A1, and it’s all tied together by Strummers vocal great style and the homage to the Elvis cover. There is a reason it’s remains in top lists it’s a great record, 5 Star
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Talk about over exposure, is he the editors brother in law or something. Here’s my 3rd Costello album already. It sounds like an Elvis Costello album, just like the last 2, little difference even with over 10 years between, so why do I need to hear this 1 too?? Like why? It’s a middling album at best, if being generous, it was on he was doing that bouncy melody thing, lots of lyrics, limited vocal range, not sure any of it penetrated my thick skull as it wafted along. Then it was over and nothing made me feel like returning, nothing was remembered.
So why did I need to hear it? If you are a fan then good for you, To me Mr Costello is way over represented without any reasonable justification, there’s little variety that warrants from album to album, and they sure aren’t seismic on their own to deserve a must hear. So to rate, as an album it’s ok if a little so what, but the whole situation, fed up of him the personification of meh, so 2 Star
Beyoncé
1/5
This is what passes for polular music in the new millennium, and everything I can't stand, overly manifactured product singularity to sell product.. Let’s just say it’s not my thing and leave it at that.
Started out 2 Star but got bored, this has zero integrity, music produced via focus groups, easily done today you can just use Ai, it's a hollow advert, sex sells use it, manufactured soulless synthetic rnb - 1 Star, guessing she is a good singer but with all that production what's real.
Butthole Surfers
3/5
Think I had a copy of this back when, and today I have no idea why. Thought the cover was cool? To piss off my elders? Or prove to my then girlfriend I really was a mean and moody guy, like honest? Today I have no idea why. It’s noisy, it does have a vibe but I don’t really need to hear it again but I have and it was only just over half an hour. 3 Star, it’s not the worst, in fact not the worst this week.
Sade
4/5
I have never been able to hear Sade since it came out without an almost allergic reaction, it’s just soo smooth. So when this came up thought easy 1 or 2.
But, I know should judge each on its own as objective as possible on it'sown merit, but the other day a moderner take on Ms Sade ie big selling pop female star was the pick and shit the difference let me listen to this with open ears. This is organic and obviously come from the artist, the bands songs, choices and sound opposed to the by committee , focus group lead, production heavy, faux trite that generally masquerades as modern pop. Enjoyed this enough to return to throughday and it'smy biggest score change - from this morning opening bars of smooth operator a definite i hate this to by days end 4 bloody stars. This is actually pretty ageless and probably will continue to have more shelf life than the auto tuning of today, only taken me near 40 years to see its value.
Coldplay
4/5
What a polarising act. This is the only Coldplay album ( before starting this) I had ever heard and always thought it was ok, not world changing and not unlistenable either. Every single etc. I heard subsequently I have to admit didn’t make me want to listen further and I haven’t heard this until today since the time it came out but this is ok. Its descent Melodies, they can write a good song structure. I can kind of see why people don’t like Martin, his vocals and persona but let’s get real he’s no serial bastard and generally well meaning if possibly annoying. On hearing again today, I am gonna fall into this is a god record camp, yeah it’s that middle class diner party type of thing but so what, 4 Star
Todd Rundgren
2/5
Don’t know why but when read the review was expecting to like this and well didn’t. The ‘chaotic ‘ start killed it for me stone dead. Should have paid attention to those liking it to Barrett’s Floyd whimsical nature. I can’t stand drug induced musically whimsy, shit I can’t stand non drug whimsical music shit.
think there may be a good album in here but I have no intention to listing multiple times til I get it, I don’t care to get it. 2 Star.
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
It’s alright. There’s some good catchy tunes on here. Sounds a little like heard it before vibe but so what, following a long line of British arty rock, which is no bad thing.
Arcade Fire
2/5
Another day, another 21st century indie rock band. And .. not a lot to say about this one. If I had been the right age when this was new might have been interesting at the time, but I am not and had already listened to what obviously influenced this. It’s a bit too full of itself and overblown, and in my vacuum, never heard a note by them before, seems a little soulless and an empty sounding recording, surprisingly given their name lacks any real fire, like they are a shoe gazing poetry recital without any actual emotion.
Springsteen is one of the keywords, really? That’s a wannabe stretch, if you squint real hard at a thousand yards at twilight on a moon less night.
Just meh to these ears, 2 Star
The Byrds
5/5
The Byrds 5 Stars, the end.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Don't quite understand this?
What appears to be a fair to middling, some decent tunes some filler, end of the 60s album that is just what was then mainstream mainly acoustic fare with the odd excursion into neverland. It doesn’t exactly stand out, and not surprisingly it didn’t it appear to sell well, it’s not Abbey road, let it bleed or the Band.
So why is it here. The subsequent idolising of the VU name I'm supposing. A level of mythologising personally don’t quite understand. If I hear this and didn't tell know who it was wouldn’t guess expect for his vocals.me I don’t get Reeds supposed Artistic aim to elevate rnr through darker and more experimental, apart from 1 track it could be anyone.
It’s like ok if you like the period which I do, but nothing special 3 Star.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Have all of the U.K. island released wailers and Marley albums, so a little bias. This as always been 1 of my favourites because of its more musically downbeat sound. While the rhythm is just so ... not sure how people find this boring but each to their own 5 Star
Kings of Leon
4/5
Rock actually made it into the 21st century and was able to be a success without being shit. 4 Stars
Joe Ely
4/5
Listened to a lot of Joe in the early 90s, when was a young rocker.
There sure is a lot of prejudice against anything country at the top of these reviews. Guess country is an acquired taste, but seeing as my parents would on occasion listen to some and so I got into uncle Tupelo and the No depression stuff I have always been open to it. Joe did, still does a great rock country sound and I wore out the Live at liberty lunch album. Glad this reminded me how much I like this, 4.5 Star - so against all the 1s round it up.
5 Star.
Billy Joel
5/5
Just a very very good album. 5 Star
Dead Kennedys
3/5
Always had a distant (positive) relationship with Dead Ks. Their more speed, Hardcore punk stylings. I enjoy but usually in small doses, a whole album in 1 sitting gets a little don't really know, much or samey. 3 Stars.
Is it just what I have been given to date, or is there a disproportionate amount of punk in this list, I mean I like punk but the % seems high for me at a quarter of the way through.
Grizzly Bear
2/5
If you told me this was Ai produced answer to makes some folk rock but 21st contemporary soundscape I wouldn’t be shocked. And no that isn’t a good thing. There are tantalising glimpses of B Wilson fanboy snippets and a whole lot of turgid over produced vapid sound to my ears. Some on here describe it as complex and well structured, with good harmonies but I found it lacking vocal rhythm and anything resembling exciting melody. I have no idea what he is bleating on about and it doesn’t make me want to care, some liken them to Elliott Smith but that does the latter a large disservice. I like folk rock and wanted to like these, the Fleet foxes and Lemon twigs but just I guess don’t like the contemporary sound. 2 Star.
Nirvana
4/5
It’s a nirvana album, sounds like a nirvana album, to point nowadays don’t remember which songs are on which of the last 2 albums would have sworn dumb was on nevermind - oh well that’s on me, vaguely remember at the time lot being said about how different, whatever. if you like them, if you don’t etc etc.
like the music I started listening to them when got bleach when it came out, as into all the sub pop stuff and thought they were a little Husker du like, but still continue from back in the day to have a personal issue with the obsession with them like they are ground zero for rock, or like some immaculate second coming that sprung from nowhere, yes they had deserved massive crossover hits with great songs so it sounded new n fresh from what was around on mtv, which is their superpower not being the one and only as others had done similar but not successfully, just google why nirvana and not husker du, who I will die saying were a better band did it earlier and better, but nirvana in the end had the best selling album, the tabloid wedding and dayglow suicide to cement their place in rock history.
End of the day it’s good raw rock with pop elements, 4 Star
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Probably my go to Bruce album.
The flip side of his previous album, All the youthful exuberance and romantic dreaming of born to run stomped into the dirt at twilight by the reality of the working condition, where you cling onto the spark of hope because that's all there really is. It's stone cold rock, a rallying cry to keep on. 5 Star
The Libertines
3/5
Think biggest surprise here was it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I was expecting. With Dohertys tabloid notoriety being kind of bigger than the music really have always avoided anything to do with them.
It’s low fi garage rock revival, light and kinda fluffy, ok enough when on and enough to listen a few times, but then forgotten in the instance. It’s ok when I was expecting, well more? Just don’t see anything that super special here - but suppose every generation has its “hero’s” and they/this lands on that target with its mild catchiness and the wider social Image that Mr D in particular gained. Just music wise felt disposable. 3 Star
The Smiths
1/5
It was alright for 45 seconds then he started wingding. There’s music in there I should like, jangling indie pop rock but then there’s Morrissey. Already said Morrissey is in my least favourite vocalists list top 3. I don’t want to listen to him, I can’t stand listening to him, I just don’t and this keeps making me. They must be running out of fucking albums soon. This is the worst of the 3 I have had to listen so far. It just irrationally, makes me quite angry. The smiths can just fuck off 1 Star.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
Neil and his loose ass rock with crazy horse. Not sure I’m as big a fan as was say 10 yrs ago, but still this album through to Zuma are what I would consider peak Neil. Is he the best singer, guitarist or songwriter- no on all accounts. But he sure drives his own lane, however contradictory that may be and has remained fairly relevant for 60 yrs, if headlining festivals at 79 yrs old without any autotune etc is anything to go by while still fighting against the establishment be it most recently the BBC (Glastonbury)or Spotify (Joe rogan)Was edging to 4 stars but few re listens; cinnamon girl, everybody, down-by the river, cowgirl are all low down grunge archetype classics 5 fucking stars.
Bee Gees
3/5
Well this is a strange curiosity, more like something from a music weird and strange museum than this list. It obviously sounds like a lot of what was around at the time, but with some weird ass vocal choices. That there were 8 albums before this, gee. It’s a bit batshit crazy, from the Lennon copy to the pre rock n roll schmaltz, though by the end the lush schmaltz had a strange hook.
It’s not in the so crap 1 star let’s rant, in fact after listening to it all day I have changed my score, on the up 4 times. It’s actually a quirky good album, but by no means essential listening, but to be honest a quarter of the way in now what is. It’s clear if more than 1 person of differing taste tries to do the idea of 1001 essential anything’s for everybody it is a basically stupid idea. 3.t Stars
Pantera
1/5
Just not the day for this, but then I can’t really think of a day for it. Some like this, some don’t. Some say intense, I just find it very tedious, very very tedious. Can’t be bothered wasting anymore time on this, heard it, 1 Star
The Everly Brothers
4/5
Lot of presentism going on here in this list. In this instance it seems most negative views are not about the music but the moral grandstanding on what is, accepted, a dated view point around objectification. Except that just becomes a form of cultural bias and gets illogical and ahistorical, assuming that our morals are obviously superior;when it’s not like sexism and racism or in this instance objectification have been eradicated now have they, far from it. God only knows how we will be judged in our turn by our descendants.
And as far as I am aware the Everlys weren’t found out to be a closet Hitler or such.
So viewed as what it is a piece of music from 1960, the golden age of rock n roll. Not music or a record I know but It’s classic, so highly influential (Beach boys, Beatles) with those harmonies. The music is just superb. 4 Star
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
Whereas I can appreciate where this took music and kind of like the sonic aspect, I was not when it came out or ever since been nihilistic enough in anyway to gain any real enjoyment from listening to it. It sonically expresses all the emotion it set out to successfully in my book, and has more musical scope to do so, that say the teen fanboy cartoon anger that I get from thrash metal.
So a difficult 1 to score, it is a good album but personally as said appreciate what it does musically, it has strong songwriting, great production and sound and is where hard rock developed into the 21st century but as I don’t relate to the sentiment in any way to really connect its not for me, so 3 Star, but can accept some find will see it as a 5 and some a 1.
N.E.R.D
4/5
Not what expected, didn’t really look at the cover at first and so was expecting straight hip hop, ya know 3 guys, stars n stripes etc. Should have noticed the Vulcan live long…, it’s more its pop, rock n funk influences, can hear the Prince influence, and 70s funk in there. It doesn’t sit in one place And all the better for it, will definitely listen to again, pleasant surprise 4 Star.
Paul Simon
5/5
Metallica
2/5
The second thrash metal album in 5 days, and my second or third Metallica so far. Too much metal and punk ( and I like punk), just too much, there is more music variation than this list would imply.
Thrash metal is the tedious end of the genre, it’s such a caricature of itself. I just find this so monotonous, repetitive, paint by numbers music; here’s the musical intro, song plods on, vocals drone on in that earnest way, then time change either speed up for a bit or slow down with usually a guitar/ instrumental break, then return back to plod repeating as many times as wish for minimum of 6 minutes. Nothing seems to ever go anywhere musically or vocally, and where they may be heading it’s at a glacial pace. FFS write something under 5 minutes. Long doesn’t always equate to epic, sometimes it’s just long. Think I heard they have lots of short ideas and then join them together which would explain a lot. Even when they have some variety such as the start of One they can’t stick with it and have to descend into the plod etc etc. And what’s with that simple snare sound front and centre? on every track, it’s not a great sound.
I just don’t get Metallica, either on record or live ( seen a few times at festivals from bottom of bill to near the top) they just strike me as being so, so workmanlike.
If it had been a couple of tracks would give this a higher score but the cumulative effect of long song after long song of rinse and repeat over an hour is like watching a film of someone laying road all day, some brief interest in what is happening at first but then tedious repetitive boredom afterwards. 1.5 Stars
50 Cent
3/5
It’s good songwriting, so I can enjoy on that level, but it projects a ‘real’ world that’s not one I really know in anyway, playing GTA ain’t it, so there is a great deal of disconnect for me, that limits it’s scope for me. So I liked it musically and his rapping is a bit mono at times, and can’t really get into it. 3 Star
Black Sabbath
4/5
Well as Ozzy passes this was obvious for today. Not a lot to say about this record, for the last 55 years many a band have used the template of this for their whole careers without really getting close in most cases. It’s a considered a classic for a reason.
Marty Robbins
5/5
One of my all time country records. Not like all that mainstream shit that’s peddled as the genre that gives it its deserved bad name.
The storytelling, the voice. Can and have on occasion just had this album on repeat all day, and then they went and used it in Fallout, so many more hours listening there. Did I mention the storytelling the lyricisms, it’s like watching a movie in 3 minutes, with such a voice that gives you all the emotion.
Don’t think Marty gets his props enough nowadays, as you can see his genes in a lot of music, that’s not country. Stone cold killer 5 Star
The Verve
3/5
This list sure likes its “waves”. Yet another entry from britpop. I had gotten somewhat fed up of the whole scene by the time of this. All that laddish arrogance just got boring, so I know the singles but don't remember hearing the whole album.
It's OK, some good songs, but suffers somewhat from the curse of the overlong 90s cd, where it starts to feel padded and filler, even when no one song is terrible or even not too bad but there's no real flow, which affected acts at the time that I liked to start with much more that The Verve.
There's some of that britpip attitude, all brash swagger n styling but like someone said this has the end of the party feel to it, which is it turns out it's stronger point.
On its own it's an OK 90s rock album, uses it's best by far card at the start, though have soft spot for lucky man too, if it was a tighter 45 min album would probably enjoy it a lot more and revisit(?), but it isn’t , and it does the dreaded hidden track thing too, 3 Star
The Waterboys
4/5
Nice mix of British isles folk and 80s British indies rock, like it. 3.75 sStar
Johnny Cash
5/5
Even at the time this came out it felt like Cash singing his own obituary, know that’s easy to say with hindsight but clearly remember having a conversation to that effect at the time with friend who is my joint Cash fan since we listened to his Dad’s old records.
.Yes it’s mostly covers but it’s all Cash, the American recordings with Rick Rubin were an inspirational idea, thank you Rick. By the point of IV time is catching up, but they instead of trying to hide this they lean right it and embrace it.
I am not unbiased here, I own most all of Cash’s albums ( even ropey 80s ones), but if you don’t feel the poignancy and weight here guess you look at music differently. 5 Star.
Ray Charles
4/5
Ray CHarles, what an innovative record, it says it’s country but it’s not like anything else. It’s a great listen and given time and greater understanding on my part could be 5. 4.5 Star
Pavement
4/5
Listened to this a lot when it came out and it’s been a long time since so.. revisiting today and yeah it’s still that slacker manifesto across the years, catchy but discordant, “ Ive got one holy life to live. With wider experience and exposure it’s not quiet as innovative as it seemed, but good record, influenced others and some good memories 4 Star.
The Who
3/5
Isnt music fascinating, 1 peoples great is another persons turd.
Have tried to listen to The Who,, and back when you had to buy records to listen to them owned this, but they just aren’t who I thought they were, which is on me. Townshend seems more interested in making art-pop school concept albums, which is fine if that’s what you like. Whereas I for whatever reason thought them to be more a hard driving high energy rnb band, which is in there somewhere. Don’t think it’s a coincidence though that perhaps their best/most revered album Whos next, the concept album got scrapped and its all the better for it.
Like this here album, there is the odd great song such as I can see for miles surrounded by a great deal of, well in my opinion shit, yes it's listening to radio, but the crappy jingles just detract. I found this a very hard listen with the concept getting tiresome breaking everything up.
Of the 60s bands, after listening to all the Who albums of the period I find them one of the most overrated, somehow less than the sum of their parts. The odd really good song overcompensating for an awful lot of mediocrity and poor lyrics to fit the story (more so on Tommy than here to be fair). Townshend seems to get obsessed about the concept that the song seems to becomes secondary to the act, which is fine if you are doing musical theatre/art instalation but for a 50 plus year old album not so catchy.
This is known as a great album, which seems to have been critic lead as it didn’t seem to grab the record buying publics attention so much, if others think it is great well that’s fine, I personally don’t think it deserves it’s reputation, if maybe I could just hear the songs, 3 Stars
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Not sure what to make of this, it certainly has an ephemeral gossamer atmosphere. I certainly don’t know what the hell she is saying, to be honest I am not sure what language it it, there being the occasional word I pick up. Which all adds up to something that I find equally enjoyable and annoying in equal measures. If listen too closely think it’s annoyance, if tune out more enjoyable. So in the background while working this morning it’s edging into the more enjoyed 3.75 Star ( wish it was out of 10 not 5 so had more differentiation)
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Quintessential early 80s; synth heavy, quirky and hell of a distinctive voice. New wave pop, interesting lyrically and musical. Never heard the whole album before today, was maybe expecting it to be too much Cindy L, but fun ride. 4 Star
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
It’s ok.
Bit confused by this, having never heard them before. Seemed quite pleasant but then noticed felt nothing memorable or outstanding. 90s indie rock with heavy folky vibe. Not sure what differentiates this from whole host of others though, except the british-centric lyrics. Im English and I think there's an over representation on this list, and as for Scotland a country of around 5 million, they have a lot of acts on here that are not exactly innovators, I have had 2 just this week. 3 Star its just ok, just after a few more listens that ok is quite enjoyable but still don’t know it should be on the list 3.5 stars
PJ Harvey
2/5
Stop making me listen to PJ fucking Harvey.
Concept album, countries history (and let’s be real, futures) are blood shed.
Supposedly haunting poetry, maybe if you like romantic myth cycles?? Historical naivety - maybe if you don’t contextualise ?
And that’s before the pseudo old British folk stylings and whining.
2 Stars
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
Had to get acclimatises to the whole production sound, with everything thrown at you, every effect available in the later 70s. Initially was struggling and didn’t think I was going to make it to the end, anyone mentioned that this is a long long album? Had a couple points, one being jungle that almost just quit. But to be fair by the end was into it and enjoying, that Lynn guys a bit of a Beatles fan ain’t he??
If had been listening to this since it came out may have had a long enough time to get to know and would probably love this, but I didn’t and just don’t have the time. Going to have to be 1 I missed out on 3.5 Stars
Faith No More
3/5
Thought they were alright at the time and it still is. With the rhythm section the best part.
Though this is the album that I lost interest in them, know he’s a better vocalist than chuck and this is a more coherent album, but think they went down a more mainstream route, both in the metal and the soft rock elements and ?rap here, and not that wired more individual sound and energy they previously had and when saw then in 88. 3 Star
The Black Crowes
4/5
I like this album, I own this album, not sure it should be on this list. Like the music, wears it’s influences front and centre, but not ground breaking or essential . 4 Star for the list but 5 personal taste.
Morrissey
2/5
Morrissey again. For 20 seconds it was ok but then…how can he always be so bloody miserable, though to be fair he’s seemed to have mellowed since the smiths, never going to be a fan, lots are. I listened to it all - 2 Star
The Cure
3/5
Always been aware of the Cure never listened to. They have a distinctive vibe to their sound with that dark, eerie didn’t want to use the word but Gothic sound. Can appreciate but it’s all a little bit too dark for my taste, being honest I can’t tell what he’s on about most of the time and might be saying he’s a happy little bunny but it still all sounds nihilistic. 3 Star.
TV On The Radio
3/5
I and 1/2 songs in and thought this was going to be a struggle but seemed to click and was an interesting listen. Not sure would go looking for it but definitely glad have heard. 3.5 Stars
The Prodigy
2/5
Can’t say electronica is in my wheel house. Bit repetitive and overly long, but when I viewed as soundtrack to a Bourne movie or video game it sort of bopped along. 2.5 Star
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Must say This has a lot of 5 stars, which accepting my bias maybe influencing my review.
I avoided this at the time. Remember some well produced retro modernised sound songs on the radio/tv amongst similar retro songs and a lot and I mean a lot of attention to Ms Winehouse in the general media, though I never actually knew why. Yes she had a good voice, but many do, and she was you could point to in hindsight charismatic and doomed which the media always loves.
But still not knowing any of her story to this day, what is this album to me today.
Underwhelmed, really underwhelmed. It’s like when they colourised old classic black n white films a few years ago, there is still something there but it’s uncanny valley, and pointless manufacturing nostalgia, whereas Im being told it is blending music genres to be modern, but there was a lot of that nostalgia jazz, swing, rnb thing going on for a while at the time and she wasn’t the 1st, not by 2006.
Where are all the great songs everyone keeps mentioning? Oh she swears, and talks about why shes broken, very edgy, that raw autobiographical that is, cause we know she had problems and they killed her, so edgy.
I am going to stand with the minority on this one but I don’t get the hype, it’s not a bad album. It at all, she has a nice distinction in her voice but it’s just not all that it just isn’t.
3 Star, maybe.
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
Not sure why never heard this, as have a couple of their albums. Enjoyed nuff said. 4 Star
Sonic Youth
3/5
Don’t mind SY used to listen to back when. Not sure need multiple albums by them on this list, but that’s an ongoing comment on the list as a whole, SY sound is their sound album to album is this 1 better than the last? More representative? Different?, it sounds like SY to me but whatever 3 Star
B.B. King
4/5
Class, 4 Star
The Doors
4/5
Think the top reviewer on here as of today sums this up for me perfectly, 3 types of Doors songs, 5 star absolute classics, 3 star white man average blues and absolute drug addled 1 Star shit.
And they are all here on this album, I like the Doors but all the albums suffer from the above, will mark this at a higher end for the good stuff but the dross is down there with the worst 4 Stars
Tears For Fears
4/5
The early 80s really did turn out to be a golden age for pop. Didn’t like this at the time as I was too rock, punk n indie but looking back the pop music scene was so good, this is just a very good record with a number of great songs that were singles 4 Star
Ice T
4/5
Wasn’t feeling up for this when it came up today, but actually thoroughly got into it. It’s insightful, it’s funny, Though it would be dumb gangsta lines but it’s clever, really good flow, interesting samples, will definitely check out more 4 Star
R.E.M.
5/5
Disclaimer R.E.M. are one of my favourite bands, and have been for more than 30 years. This is an accessible big label album while maintaining their own indie path, don’t think bands are allowed to develop like this anymore, which shows what a shame that is. 5 Star
Prince
5/5
Prime time Prince, pure class.
Listened to this since it came out.
It’s the journey he started and accumulation of all his ideas over the last few albums into a varied somewhat genre bending record to my ears coherently, while pushing complex themes from social issues to spirituality. While mainly being the man himself just in the studio, but then brought it live, good memories. The man sure was talented.
5 Star
On side note just saw in the reviews Prince has 3 albums in the list, while others like Elvis Costello, who I seem to have on here every other week, have it seems 600, that’s an interesting take on music through 2 careers that ran pretty much in parallel in time, one being very influential but from this list you would be misled to which one it was.
Elis Regina
3/5
I’m sure I am missing something here that’s good but. Perhaps heightened by the language barrier, I just struggled to connect. There’s obviously some interesting music going on and the vocals have a nice flow, range and what I presume is emotion, so it’s nice but feel loosing over 75% of the picture. Glad I heard it, and may return as on another day and knowing what to expect my get more of a connection
3 Star.
Stan Getz
4/5
It’s all mood. Takes you to a place ( that I’ve never been, but it still takes me there) early60s, formal wear in that southern shade from the heat. It’s chill, its mellow it’s the epitome of cool. 4 Star
Deep Purple
3/5
Early 70s rock is very much a love it or hate it thing with me, and my own personal line seems to be if I find it self indulgent.
So far from what I have heard I tend to find Purple a bit too muso. Not denying Blackmore et al are not inventive and serious about their craft but it just tends to hit me as look at what I can do at the expense of the song.
This does seem a more streamline song focused affair than In Rock which I found to be very masturbatory, with this only dipping into the excesses on occasion, as listen again and it’s pictures of home at this exact moment and serviceable track and then we have the guitar solo extended, keyboard solo, bass and here comes the drum solo and it takes me out of the song and kills it all dead for me.
To be fair like this much more that the other 2 albums (live album being the other and what do you expect from them there), it sticks more in the song structures doesn’t have extended solos on every track, and Gillan is more controlled in his vocals without constant adding his patent screaming. 3 Star
Tim Buckley
2/5
Of all the late 60s early 70s singer songwriters I didn’t expect Tim Buckley to be the first to get a repeat for me.
Especially his take on funk?
Cause well I don’t really like Tim Buckley, think he’s so overrated by critics, some kind of cult artist, that because of his vocal histrionics are taken as value over any good songwriting he gets smoke blown up his ass, did the singer bit shame about the song, and again he did the kill ya self trip to infamy that seems to be good to get yourself on this here list. The songs we get here lame white man blues funk with dodgy sexualised lyrics and if the songs here are in anyway autobiographical he was a shitty person into the bargain.
This is his usual vocal gymnastics and if you like it fine, I just find it starts to grate quickly and gets tiresome like get over yourself, want to give it 1 but it’s not quite that shitty 2 Star
Talking Heads
4/5
What an absolutely stunning sounding record. Already said on here why has it taken me so long to hear these records. Have bought in physical form the other 2 albums after hearing on here. And if had lived with them for the last 30 years they would have been 5 star when they came up. But to be fair this is a 5 Star from the off. Brian Eno is a bit of a studio wizard isn’t he. 4 Star
Elvis Presley
5/5
Elvis.
Listen to the fucking music not the get hung up on the icon shtick. Real music, Chip Moman at Memphis sound, raw, emotional fusion of rock, gospel, country and rnb. 5 Star
Massive Attack
3/5
Wasn’t expecting much, but actually wasn’t unpleasant, sometimes overlong but not unpleasant. Enjoyed the bond parody, 3 Star
The The
4/5
I know the band by name, but couldn’t place them into any context at all, so this turned out to be a pleasant surprise. That nice spot between post punk/ new wave into the more synth sounds of the 80s. Oh and I got to hear this as a new first time album today. 4 Star
The Specials
4/5
a little 2 Tone, can’t go far wrong. That very British sound of mixing everything up musically and humour wise, even when addressing some social and serious subject matter. 4 Star
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Always had a place for early 70s funk/Soul. I would have had more on my personal list. Good band, much better than they get labelled probably because they moved into a more disco sound and all that, good album 4 Star
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
4/5
Just really a good sound. Without being able to understand lyrics the dynamics and variety make this a sound listen. 4 Star.
And yeah better than listening to Radiohead.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Stones fan, this album starts what many consider their best period, not going to argue too much 5 Star
4/5
I like the Kinks, but they are the most English of English bands, for the record so am I. So when in the mood it works for me but I can’t listen to them all the time because of it either. So I own all their albums between 64 to 72 and this is a favourite but don’t list to them anywhere as much as say The Beatles or Stones from the same time, still Ray David is a fantastic songwriter and today this is 4.5 Stars
Queen
5/5
Heard Queen for as long as I can remember, so have heard this a lot. It’s overblown, excessive and Queen can get away with it. 5 Star
The Coral
2/5
It's an easy listen. It's not bad for what it is. Didn't mind it while listening. OK that's the positive.
It’s the sum total of absolutely nothing new, amalgamation of what they had in their record collection, which is how everyone starts but this does it without going anywhere different and just ends up sounding derivative. A good bar band, the new thing for the kids at the time, not essential 20 years on.
It's an OK album, it is but that it, just feels like we have to meet quota from the 2000’s to say rocks just as relavant.
Further reading indicates Mercury prize nomination and next big thing with the critics which explains a lot, and from this list so far is almost an immediate point reduction 2.5Star
The Specials
4/5
2 Specials albums in a week, not complaining as said last time this is probably favourite of the 2 and after listening to More last week I put this straight on afterwards.
The 2 tone scene brings back good memories of infant school with my mates, of having much too young taped off the radio on a cassette player, obviously not understanding the lyrics at the time, but digging the beat, the mixed sound and as got older the social context.
so close to, no it is 5 Star
Leonard Cohen
5/5
Just beautiful. Truly gorgeous. Knowing his earlier stuff, quiet well, I went into this today mildly intrigued on what he was doing near the end. What played was such an experience, a perfect piece of music, well no but a moving, almost eulogy of the darkness and light of living, past, present and future. 5 Star
Stephen Stills
4/5
Know that the early 70s LA country rock sound isn’t in vogue at the moment, probably due to the fuckin Eagles but this is a damn good record. Remember when1st heard it a few years ago and to be honest at the start thought it would be a slog to get through ( was on a hear everything associated with the Byrds vibe) but by the end of the record put it straight back on and listened while on holiday for 2 straight weeks. 4 Stars
George Michael
3/5
Didn’t give this pop music much change back in the day when was a youth, viewed as all posturing stubble and sunglasses and little else, but shows my modern music bias because it now seems to the power of 10 more real than what’s followed. Happy to listen from start to finish, still not my thing but at the least it’s listenable and not generic sound and production. 3.5 star
The Black Keys
3/5
What is the point of this? It’s a bit nondescript, I have come to the understanding that this list just, well is subjective so the why is this on here question is redundant but…
Sort of blues, mildly interesting just.
Not getting into the authenticity thing, They seem to genuinely like the music they make, if they like the blues then if they want to sing and play it not a problem with me, like what you want, do what you want as long as it doesn’t piss on anyone else.
But I personally didn’t gain much hearing this today and found it just a little, well boring, if others love it then fine but not moved one way or the other, didn’t like didn’t hate. 2.25 Star
The Cure
3/5
Never been ‘dark’ enough to listen at length to Goth music, whether the cure claim to be goth or not this album sure quacks like the proverbial duck, but that said this wasn’t half bad.
They do nail that atmosphere and find myself getting darker by the minute with an urge to find an all black wardrobe and go heavy on the eyeliner.
This is good, not my thing but a good listen and kind of get why they have a dedicated following. 3 Star
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
2/5
Again another act I must be tone deaf to, and really missing the innovative etc.etc. that is being labelled on this. I just don’t hear the "freak out" experiment that people are saying.
Band/person heard a lot about never heard. Gather this is early album and not as weird as led to believe they can be? That trout face thing always comes up.
Maybe time has dulled the impact of this or without knowing all the background noise like the early Zappa it just comes over to me as competent white blues and r&b at best, nothing innovative. Dressing it up as eccentric is just covering up the songwriting being a bit, well shit.
Well I have now heard them/him and not sure I gained anything, not revisiting 2 Star.
The Stone Roses
4/5
Big Part of the jangle pop wave of the late 80s, that had a massive influence on the Brit scene that followed. never could be bothered to list to it at the time as got fed up hearing snippets of Fools gold and that beat everywhere, which turns out to be my mistake, can’t believe how close to the 60s music that inspired this the album actually is, And there appears to be a reported rumour of the idea it was actually going to be called best of the byrds?? Not saying that this is derivative, it’s definitely a group of Mancs in 1980 with their then modern influences but it’s also not the out of nowhere in the best British albums ever that people claim either. But because of the heavy 60s influence I love it, and it’s what the smiths might have been without that T*** M*******y. 4 Star
ABBA
5/5
ABBA are just quality. They are pinnacle pop song songwriters. Theres a reason if you play any of their multiple hits the room starts to sing along. Sure it's sticky and bright sounding, but with that actual Scandinavian darkness in the lyrics.
If you hear all the songs on here and feel hate? Well the world is made up of all sorts I guess. 5 Star
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Len is so unique, he is a literally a poet, he uses his vocal limited as strengths. 4 Star.
Michael Jackson
2/5
Wasn’t looking forward to his, have avoided Jackson because of the mental gymnastics needed to be in a clean place to listen to it and be objective. There's just too much background noise for me that's unpleasant, both the allegations and even the fans he was whole innocent and was the victim stuff.
But just focusing on the music, not ever been a fan of the self proclaimed king of pop, but accept Off the wall and Thriller were good records produced by Q Jones but even back then when this came out felt it was too forced as a follow up to Thriller and falls off of a cliff, all the overt syth drums and his trade mark yelps and whatever those gimicks it is he did dialled up to 11 to be a M Jackson parody album. Smooth criminal is ok and on par with thriller songs, the rest is just trying too hard and to me feels like a heavy dose of fake. The song Bad, like the leather jacket being lame hot garage hidden under decent production. Dirty Diana the guitar song tick, like Beat it. Man in the mirror by someone melting their face off was and is just sad, see can't stay objective. Oh I give up, 2.5 for the music, 1 Star because the level of weird around him I realise today i cant be anything but subjective, and unlike thriller where the songs maybe strong enough to stand their ground, i will have to see when that album come up, this is where the songs sound already sound a trite, lame parody of a MJ record.
Linkin Park
3/5
This was ok at the time I remember, but haven’t heard in 15 plus years so. It’s the millennials anger and frustration music etc for the youth of the day, it’s also that over compressed, saturated, dense sound of loud is best which was so prevalent and of the time, even the 1st video that popped up is the visual equivalent of over saturated in a primary colour, that shouts at you.
Don’t really have much of an opinion today, its starts out ok. It then starts to become all a-bit the same, probably due to the production, In the End being the standout track. it’s shouty, perhaps a little too much for me today but poppy with it, it mixes elements into rock to be on the list, I have no idea if they were the 1st but it’s the earliest successful. 3 Star.
The Jam
5/5
Been into the Jam since heard and blown away by Going Underground on ToTP as a little one. They pulled that British 60’s sound through to the punk age, and were a soundtrack on growing up back then. Unlike their obvious influence The Who, and Townshend’s middle class art school leanings it just felt more relatable in their lyrics and feel. Own all The Jam albums, and like some have said on here this is the start of 3 great albums, and there was a reason Weller was later seen as the Modfather to Brit pop. Can kind of understand why they never were a big thing in the USA, this is very of Britain centric and the smells of the start of Thatcherism and it’s effect on our society, but being English this is to me is essential. 5 Star
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Probably what most think of as the Rolling stones album; controversy can't imagine how even back in early 70s brown sugars lyrics weren't well, whatever the hell they are. That sloppy dirty sound, though at it's most actual polished and accessible on here, Mick Taylor obviously being the best guitarist the Stones had, making for a stronger more coherent sound. Prime example of a classic rock album where it isn’t said as a slur, 5 Stars.
Love
3/5
Had heard of Love and listened to their Forever changes album which is apparently highly acclaimed, but well I don’t actually remember it but know it didn’t lead me to listen to any of their catalog, but here we are so here goes.
That was hard work, maybe I somehow need to be living in California in 1966 off my face? To get this.
Appears they predated the Doors so it isn’t a parody record, which was my first thought. It’s quite the epitome of California flower power and on a couple of listens when acclimatised it wasn’t as bad as initially thought, where to be fair I thought it was the worst record of the time I had heard. 3 Star
OutKast
4/5
Just thinking the other day this hasn't given me a rap album for a while, and here's one of the few I actually already own. Don’t know it just feels more musical than most rap albums to a non expert like myself. 4 Star.
The Mothers Of Invention
1/5
Guess i had to be there.
It’s avant garde I hear you, it’s fundamental purpose to push boundaries, challenge convention etc etc etc. yes I know the rational.
Tell me it’s groundbreaking if you want to, sure tell me Zappas innovative if you like, but I still think it’s a poor excuse,. I don’t from this have any belief that they can write a half decent song it’s just recycled 2nd rate tunes from the previous 10 years that are just vehicles to show oh how witty they are about the then current culture, as if above it when they are slap bang in the middle of it. There maybe the odd social comment but it ain't exactly high literature or challenging, more high school humour.
As said maybe I needed to be there, but 2 MOI albums and think they're just a bit shit. I just don’t need to hear this again.
1 Star ( would have been 2 but this is so well regarded that hearing it I like it even less).
3/5
Know of XTC as a band from around the early 80s, so surprised at a 1999 album.
300 plus albums in I have gotten over the subjective should this be on the list, it’s the editors list, It’s just a case of did I enjoy the record and would have listened to.
See in the keywords the Beatles, beachboys(Wilson) well there’s no getting away from that is there, should be the Kinks(Davis) too.
And I liked this quiet a bit. Drags a little by the end maybe needing a little quality editing? Which brought the score down for me. 3 Star
The Flaming Lips
3/5
There are bits I enjoyed, in an acoustic indie rock kind of thing (oh yeah just googled the album, in a Cat Steven’s kind of way, thought he opener was the strongest melody by far). But there was a wash of synth over the whole thing that kind made it a bit homogeneous for me. Not the biggest fan of the vocals either. It all in total Sees a little too hipster (why did indie become so??? becoming the mainstream it so railed against).
For 2002 better than Radiohead so that’s a star. It was generally ok, not going to seek it out anytime soon but didn’t mind hearing today. 3 stars
Pixies
5/5
Another review that’s not going to be objective, if you have any interest in alt/indie rock, whatever that actually is, then this 89 record is well essential must hear. 5 stars
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Like reggae love Bob and this is arguably his best most cohesive album, with a couple of transcend singles to boot.
Not my place to say what anyone else should or shouldn't like, it's individual taste after all, but I truely can't understand if you put this on and don't at a minimum appreciate that groove. Easy 5 Star
Lenny Kravitz
3/5
Seems to be a lot of hate at the top of the reviews here.
Not gonna hate on this, retro/revival rock and soul by someone who appears to be a wannabe Prince/sixties rock star who is just way cooler than me and probably most of the haters.
Not gonna say I’d go out of my way to hear this again to be fair, didn’t get into it, don’t find the songwriting that strong, mainly felt like background and can see the bored point of view on some of it, songs being more the feel than anything else, It’s middling for me, rather hear this than a lot of other stuff on here, but wouldn’t go looking for it either, so down the middle 3 Star
AC/DC
4/5
There can't be many acts that generate such a feeling of being a cliche, parody of, well themselves.
The opening song is no longer a song, it's a cheesy movie/TV montage that going to end in explosions. And then the next song starts and its pretty much the same, just with different lyrics, and what poetry. ACDC give you exactly what it says on the tin, they do it well as long as you aren't looking for too much variety.
But don't get me wrong, I like the album sometimes basic is what you need, if only occasionally. And I guess it's not the records fault that it's been assimilated into every action film/advert. 3.5 Star, cause sometimes it what you need.
Jethro Tull
2/5
The flute I don’t mind, quiet like the flute.
Don’t want to be negative about whole genre’s of music that others like, but prog tends to leave me cold.
Music can be an intellectual experience about complex ideas both musically and lyrical , and it can be art as an expression of emotion and culture. Sometimes it’s both but prog just for me falls into a glacial world. This really at time sounds like Black Sabbath if they had been middle class boys who think they are clever and have big ideas, removing all the grit and heart and replacing it with previous musical twaddlings.
I can appreciate this as an album, a piece of music but I can’t feel it.
2 Star
Madonna
4/5
It’s quite a pleasant surprise how much I have liked the Madonna albums on this list. Really wasn’t expecting that to be the case. Without all the image changes etc stuff up front and just listening to the music. This has a nice slightly trippy electronic feeling. 4 Star
Sonic Youth
4/5
Don’t mind Sonic youth, used to like them more back when this was new than I do now, probably down to me not being a youth no more, alas. But good to revisit and Out of the 3 albums of theirs that I have had on this list so far this is probably the one I have enjoyed going back to most, being a little more accessible if somewhat sprawling. Good balance of melody and the dissonance and highly influencial. As said Nice to revisit, would have been a 5 years ago and probablyshould for it'sinfluence, but this is my take today so. 4 Star
Paul Weller
4/5
I like Paul Weller, I like this. 4 Star
Randy Newman
4/5
Great songwriting, with witty and fun sounding melody he hits with deep irony and social consciousness as satire when you actually listen. What at face value may appear simple and straight forward tend to have hidden depths. I mean the title song is the American dream right, except it so isn't, pure genius or how Randy sings Leave hat on, is totally different to the cock sure seduction covers, which kind of totally rewrite the same words and miss the point.
I got into Randy because of Pixar so don't see that as a negative, disney songs?! of all the brilliant things pixar did at the start asking Mr Newman was up there as he added such depth, melancholy and bite with his songs. Which is what he does. Not a great vocalist but a great singer songwriter. 4 Star, bordering on 5
Big Star
4/5
Like Big Star, they are the link between my all time 2 favourite bands the Beatles and byrds and are a definite influence on a number of my favourite bands.
The definition of a Cult band, the hit band that never was, that their 3 albums were all recorded as early as 72 - 75, the go to for power pop. Though with the strings and piano lead this is less well power than the other 2 albums and more VU influenced but with a real vulnerability/ fragility to it, that I never got with Lou Reed. A great album from a great band that should be heard. 4 Star
Carole King
5/5
This is a stone cold classic album, the only possible knock on it is its familiarity to me. I've heard to so many times, and 50 years on its songs are still in mainstream culture.
But it is just so good. If she didn't record anything she is a HOF songwriter ( the negative review about covers, you did mean others doing her songs didn't you?). But this album is so near on point for everything, the songs, the emotion, the playing and arrangement, the production, the packaging. I could try to go on but I'm not literate to do justice. It’s just a classic, and when played today sound as fresh as ever, and i will happily listen to it again and again. 5 Star
The Replacements
4/5
Long time no hear, and now I am not the age this album is aimed squarely at it wasn’t quite what I remember. Which is on me. Brought back some good memories but that’s it, for the personal nostalgia value gonna score it higher than if it was a first time listen today 4 Star
Jimmy Smith
4/5
That was an excellent listen for this Sunday morning. Adore that organ playing, and the interplay is just fabulous. Not very knowledgeable about Mr Smith but very influential though turns out you may not have wanted to see him live in later years. Definitely be checking out more of his catalogue . 4 Star
Steely Dan
2/5
I hear the sophisticated arrangement , blending of genres and catchy hooks and feel nothing. It's so anodyne, calculated and inoffensive. A light salad of a record.
Have tried to listen to this a number of times, when it comes up in album of the year things, and kind of like the softer rock of the time, but this always makes me feel the same, like I'm stuck in neutral.
Which all in all is for the best as wouldn’t want to follow a band with such a limp name anyway.
It does what it does well but I get nothing, a flaccid soft rocking 2 Star and by the end it's nearer to a 1.
X-Ray Spex
3/5
Know of the band or rather Poly as they always pop up for 30 seconds in the punk documentaries though never heard a whole album before today.
Obviously part of the sex pistols scene, direct linage from garage and golden age rock and roll, that sax, with undertones of reggae influences, the I can start a band and do that my way. As if prog never happened ( smiling emoji). Yeah fun listen 4 Star
The Sugarcubes
2/5
It's Icelandic, and that slightly different feel is its strength, it's kinda interesting with a B52s feel.
Vague recollection of this and that Bjork came from them.
Glad heard it wouldn't necessarily go looking for it though. Not a fan of Bjorks vocal phrasing, and started to grate making it a long 33 minutes, so moving it down 1 point to 2 Star
Marvin Gaye
4/5
What a confusing album to review. The back story is unreal, was expecting a FU divorce album, but a self pitying and self serving recording that through it’s art becomes more a courageous self introspection. Going to be listening to this. 4 Stars on 1st day list.
The Killers
3/5
Think rating of this depends on how fresh and new it felt on first listen.I remember feeling it wasn't exactly original, very much wearing it’s predecessors front and centre, but a lot of airplay later it sits alongside said predecessors on classic rock radio today. Thought it was listenable anthemic rock in the 2000s, guess it is still that, listenable though it definitely front loaded and drops off becoming laboured towards the end, 3 Star
Jazmine Sullivan
1/5
Don’t really want to review this and be negative, as it’s just not for me. Im about as far from the target audience for this as you can get.
It gets millions of streams so guess it’s popular, if people like it good for them, so maybe it’s very relevant. It’s got a social message it appears, which is it’s 1 bright point for me, more power to you.
But social context don’t make it music for me. On a musical level find it as bland as fuck, it just sounds like all the rest of this type of shit, lifeless hyper processed vocals that are undistinguishable from everyone else, the same simple as shit beats and rhythms, each track starts and ends at the same tempo and same key and never changes in between. I mean the dialogue track Donna’s tale had the same number of variations as the other tracks, zero. Why did songwriting devolve so so much.?
As said not for me, and don’t need to hear this type of bland basic music. Well I have now heard this so won’t be wasting those 32 minutes again. 1 Star
Nick Drake
5/5
Don’t know why I have never ever heard Nick Drake before today. Always thought he was in the Syd Barrett/Floyd musto music snobbery category, inaccessible pseudo intellectual twaddle, of someone who had mental health issues and died young. And those on here of that ilk, so far have for me been circumstance that creates it’s own hype over substance.
But this, well it’s accessible.
So thank you, because I can now because of this list listen to this and the other 2 albums that as of today I have now heard ( this appears the most poppy, fuller sounding of them).
Not going into the music, others with more knowledge do that better than my first hearing but 4 Star, it’s folk with sort of Vince Guaraldi peanuts jazz feel which will likely become 5 with familiarity.
Radiohead
1/5
Very polarised views of this on here. Likely because their fans seemingly more than most like to shout just how important and inventive etc etc they are, which then puts everyone else’s back up.
Personally don’t think it’s as revolutionary as people make it out to be, ( they changed THEIR sound not THE sound of music), others were doing electronic experimental for years and mixing in with other genres, and without that label what actually is here, an ok moody rock/electro soundscape if you like that.
This list and what 4 albums so far by them, I’m just never going to like Radiohead so that’s it for me.
Would probably say 2 Star for this one, it’s that turn of the millennium mood noise, everything is so isolating blah blah. But because of the fan base and the over hype, every farting noise is pure genius line, everything is their Magnum opus?? which isn’t possible. Out of boredom by the end and shear bloody mindedness on my part 1 Star.
Moby
4/5
I like it, but do I like it. I mean you have got to accept repetition or you just can’t listen to this. The samples, the blues singers are great but…
Arranging has always been a part of music so I suppose that’s my answer. So guess I can like it.
4 Star.
Guided By Voices
4/5
Didn't know what to expect from this, left pleasantly surprised in a good way. Just the essence of good catchy songs, sure influenced by the beatles. Turns out I like lo-fi, which doesn't surprised me too much, give me 28 songs in 40 minutes if there is the multitude of ideas, as on show here. Don’t hold with the demo idea these are fully formed 2 to 3 minute escapes. 4 Star
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Kinda appreciate what she does, but she just doesn’t grab me. Dont particularly enjoy her phrasing, and unlike Dylan whose lyrics grab you, after the song by Joni I couldn’t say what a song was even about. Again that’s on me I know but it is what it is.
Know it’s kind of sacrilegious, but even though I like 70s singer songwriters I find it just a little bit boring. Know she is musically talented people with much greater grasp of musical theory tell me, but it just leaves me flat. 3 Star.
Eminem
4/5
Well that sure is offensive, which I guess is the aim. Presume the anger of his white underclass US background is real. So meant to shock the middle classes? I am not trying to justify the fact I enjoy his ability to write a good rhyme, while displaying that much supposed hate at the world. The subject matter is all part of the package and he does it well, he isn't to my imited knowledge an actual violent person so it's a form of artistic expression. Like any horror or thriller book/film. It's more a reflection of the bad than It's the cause. Guess it can be seen as both therapeutic (pro art)and dangerous (ethical) and really depends on the listener. 4 Star
Primal Scream
4/5
Mix up late 60s rock particularly classic era Stones with what was happening in early 90s rave and dance scene, sample some Coltrane and you have .. well this here record. And you will hear no complaints from me. 4 Star
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
I like the album cover.
But it obviously ain’t country or even southern rock.
It’s psychedelic guitar noodling and while it extended songs started out ok they disappeared up their own arse. And if wiki is correct this was an edited down version to fit, super noodling. But at least it stays loose and doesn’t fall into pretentiousness like the more prog noodlers do, but lacks that rhythm foundation that keeps it together of the southern rock jam bands.
And I mean guess you had to be there (and high) with the slight guitar squeak noises and clapping part.
It was ok to listen to but don’t need to hear it again, but do like the cover..2.5 star
David Bowie
4/5
Listened to Bowie quite a bit over the years but never really return to this album much.
It's interesting enough in its/his change to blue eyed soul, but the songs don't really land often enough for me, from the great the title track and fame to well bad, whatever it is he does to across the universe, and I like soul, but this is just interesting but middling for me regarding Bowie.
And it wasn't the 1st blue eyed soul so it doesn't carry that distinction. It was an important change in Bowies career and middling Bowie is better than lots, but thats not necessarily justification for this list. 3.5 Stars
Lou Reed
3/5
Im sorry but I just don’t like this as much as I probably should.
I Like those involved, like the production and glam sound of 72 and it has at least 2 all time classic songs that to be fair get it on this list no problem.
But the problem for me is the actual main component Mr Reed. When he’s at the top of his game he is absolutely A1, up there, but his drop off for me is massive, and when he drops a notch that famed wit for me starts sounding snarky and not in a good way, and musically he can get so clunky. I like this just don’t really like. 3.5 Star
Khaled
3/5
Well that’s North African music meeting western pop. And it isn’t half bad. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to it this morning. With no preconceptions it was just a fun listen. 3.5 Stars
Johnny Cash
5/5
How to make a live album, 35 minutes of pure attitude. 5 Star.
Willie Nelson
5/5
Don’t realise how much I actually like Willie until every time I hear him. His bare presentation with these songs in my mind shouldn’t work but it’s shear brilliance, it’s deceptively basic but it’s hardcore. 5 Star
John Cale
2/5
Nothing to say really, it’s a guy that used to be in critic favourite VU doing a record that wouldn’t have stood out in the year it came out. Absolutely forgettable 2 Star
The Crusaders
3/5
It’s smooth, gotta say that about it. Tasteful, easy listening type of jazz, to the point it’s more pop, soul. They can definitely play and their interaction is spot on. It’s just easy listening, not a dig and not a complement.
The 1st 4 minutes of the title track; this is going to be an ok listen but by time got to 8 minutes thinking please end the damn thing sometime soon, by 10 minutes was twitching over the skip button.
But Won’t be returning anytime soon, just can’t see any situation where I would be wanting to listen to this. It was what it was just a bit too damn saccharine, too smooth, too safe, too light, too bloody pleasant, I could keep going and nothing would make me listen more. Don’t want to diss on it, and give it too low a score because didn’t find it bad just bland. 3 Star
Kanye West
2/5
I only have the basic knowledge of this, but even I aim aware that Mr West has well issue and is a tad controversial. Musically he definitely knows what he is doing, but still his world view is kind of omnipresent in 2025.
Would honestly have probably have liked the record after my 1 listen musically, but no desire to be a Kanye fan due to said controversy so after hearing won’t be exploring, which as said musically is a shame but there it is. Musically higher score but bellend score 2 Star.
Tom Waits
4/5
Mr Waits sure is on his own track. A unfiltered one off. Always listenable, always a weird trip to somewhere not quite here. 4 Star
Kate Bush
2/5
2nd day in a row of an artist who can definitely be said to tread their own trail, and for that Ms Bush should always be commended. However unlike Mr Waits yesterday I don't enjoy this.
I like that someone else described it as a School play, in it's cringe worthy goodness and your clapping the crappyness of it, guessing that's what people call experimental. There are the odd spark that she dips into that show She is talented but most of it I just did not enjoy. There is a natural order that appeals and pushing against may be different and discordant but like a lump of coal in your drink it doesn't have a good affect. She just isn't in my wheelhouse, not gonna lie 2 Star
Emmylou Harris
4/5
I keep liking country records. Yet I would never say was a country fan. But then how in 50 yrs did we get from this to that pap pop country thing, that's supposedly country music.
Alt country, let's call it that and I can say I'm a fan. her voice seems effortlessly, beatles covers can be dodgy but this is excellent. 4 Star
5/5
Classic album, know well, nothing to add 5 Star
The xx
2/5
Thought their other album was ok but inconsequential. And that, this or both are no longer on the list? After only a few years. Inconsequential hey.
It’s sort of ok, in that ambient and low energy, lost in your own bedroom, kind of way. It never really progresses, is quiet soporific and as such remains background in my mind, all low levels; electronic sounds, minimal guitar and low key vocals.
Just reading wiki, and see it appears as background on a fair number of tv shows which kind of sums up the background feel to it.
I can’t really raise much enthusiasm, other than ok. 2 Star
The Flying Burrito Brothers
5/5
As Byrds fan this is a well known album for me. Though never really been into the Parsons cult. If you don’t like country old style you’re not gonna like this. Do find it funny that country as one of the founding fathers of rock is so disliked on here.
This remains a cult item, while followers the eagles etc became mega stars, but that’s usually the story. 5 Star
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
So the 1st ranked, there has to be 1, and a middle of the road white bread; liked but more importantly not disliked will get you that.
Accept it’s a very good album for lots of reasons, the songs are generally strong, the production and the drama/ background, the later which I think is the main reason for it’s overhype, cocaine and in house infidelity the album.
Not going to say I don’t like it because I do (or did) but I don’t love it. It’s a good 70s soft rock album, but that’s also why it’s not the best of the best, it’s just a 70s soft rock album, Too polished too middle of the road and if never heard it again it wouldn’t be too soon, ( have heard it a lot and don’t really want to listen today but here goes).
No that didn’t change anything. Maybe I’m just totally fed up and oversaturated by it but it’s not 5 star for me anymore, if it ever was. This is just so conventional middle-class music fan, so white bread it just isn’t in my idea of a GOAT album, album you should hear sure but better than everything else??? No, no and no. low 4 Star
PJ Harvey
3/5
It’s alright, very early 90s indie rock, with all the associated being a bit over earnest and committed vs melody. The angst and energy of the youthful cause. I can appreciate it like I did back then , but not going to say like it. 3 Star
Kings of Leon
3/5
Always though I should like this more than I do. Remember getting it when it came out because reviews sold me it was like bands I liked, and remember being somewhat underwhelmed, that it was missing something. And haven't heard again in 20 odd years. Noticing they became big along the way.
Well it’s still the same inoffensive mildly ok rock that harkens back to much better music. Surprised(but shouldnt be as there is a definite correlation with music in here and british music awards nominations) that this is their 2nd album on here I've heard so far, not a band I personally feel warrants the exposure.
At it's best, for me it's average guitar rock with vocals that don't really lean into their limitations, aping it's predecessors, in of itself being ok but nothing outstanding, 3 Star, being generous.
Japan
4/5
Knew of Japan but always steered well clear.
Pleasantly surprised. Was not expecting much but enjoyed. Definite fore runner for synth heavy new wave of the early 80s, annd well Duran Duran sure owe them an hell of a lot for their success, and linking and bringing the Roxy Eno 70s sounds through. I used to be unable to listen to such synth heavy music but it has grown on me now that it’s “dated” maybe I am always seeking pointless nostalgia. Whatever I like this. 4 Star
Wu-Tang Clan
4/5
Only 1 of a few hip hop albums I know and listened to from when they came out, as by no means an aficionados of the genre.
The Zutons
3/5
It’s alright, pleasant enough have a copy of it somewhere, couldn’t remember a thing before played again today. As said pleasant enough listen but now still can’t really recall anything.
Not sure it’s got that thing, any excitement to be essential listening.
Since early 50s literally millions of records, must hear top 1000?? Subjective and all but.
Straight up it’s ok rock from 2004, probably won’t be listening again for another 15 years, but it’s an ok 40 minutes if not too memorable. 3 Star
Chicago
4/5
It all just really comes down to when listening to a piece of music, does it do anything for you as an individual good or bad or somewhere in between. Everything on here is someone’s 1 star and someone’s 5 star. My view of Chicago like many is the soft rock, so this was a surprise. And a pleasant one. White boy jazz, blues, soul whatever influences are what they are, overindulgence yeah maybe but it’s mainly always got a destination, could have done without free form guitar, and mostly fits the tune ( here’s looking at you prog bands). The more the album went on the more I enjoyed, definitely looking at revisiting. High 3 on initial listen going to roundup to 4 cause wants me to listen again.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
I know it’s my own personal taste, but I would rather have near 70 year old dance music than that of the last 10 years. It’s just more organic, has more feel and emotion for me. It just screams cool. 4 Star
Paul Revere & The Raiders
3/5
A US 60s act that didn’t travel well beyond their own shores, so unlike much of the 60s music this is first time hearing, there’s a few kicking tunes and a fair amount of filler, garage rock n pop, that obviously embraced the British Invasion but unlike others seems to have remained totally eclipsed by it. from this I can kind of understand why they don’t get the press over the years, initially I was going with it but it quickly got fairly stale. It just sounds quaint and non essential compared to so many other albums from 1966, from both sides of the pond.
Couple further plays it's OK 60s, if it had come out in 63-64 maybe but this was revolver/petsounds time and it just seems like many other bands of the time, also rans. I'm not sure why it's here.
3 Star
Jeff Beck
2/5
Find this bombastic in your face rock of blues a bit too much, if listening to white mans take on the genre from around this time I will stick with the Stones sloppy sound, or the Allman’s feel.
Not denying they sound into this, know what they are at, and it’s influential but it’s just so face planting on. Rod must have something but never been a fan and this ain’t changing that either, I mean old man river as an example is so full on, so fucking committed and so lacking any kind of heart or soul.
Might have been really exciting at the time, and if this is you thing fine, it’s not bad by any means I just don’t enjoy or like 2 Star
Elton John
4/5
Wouldn’t say i am a big fan of Elton, but they are a great song writing partnership, and he is definition of star power, and these 70s albums are well good. Classic album without doubt, not sure what Jamaica is but whatever you gotta try. It’s probably should be a 5 Star but for me 4 Star
Paul McCartney and Wings
5/5
I like this. 5 star.
Aphex Twin
3/5
Guessing this is an important piece, they always seem to come up in discussion regarding electronic music. It’s quite nice when it’s on, but it sure is its title ambient, it’s just kind of around you but never penetrating my consciousness. Don’t dislike it, happy enough to have on. 3 Star
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
For all the reasons I don’t like this album 25 years on, I still like this album. 4 Star
The Who
4/5
I just feel a bit of a disconnect with the Who. There is the image, the legend of young energetic mods, and then I play the albums. The odd great track and a whole lot of pedestrian fair.
This is one of my more favourite records by them though, it has a naivety about it that endearing, and this is before we get into the art-school wannabe rock theatre/concept is all, Townshend started obsessing about.
It’s ok 65 rock but a division below the Stones and not even playing the same game as the Beatles. 4 Star
Gary Numan
4/5
This album, with its dark electronic riffs, great rhythm, machine like vocal ambience. Never been much into electronica, until doing this list funnily, but always had a soft spot for Numan and this sounds just as fresh and apt today. 4 Star
Billy Bragg
4/5
Great collaboration both Wilco and Bragg and the Woody Guthrie this is touching, so much feel and soul. And probably closest this list gets to Uncle Tupalo. . 4 Star
Ryan Adams
3/5
Yet another artist or art. Guess % of people jut have greater tendencies to be POS, and give them any form of power position….
Haven’t looked into what the story is, believe from reading today FBI didn’t charge as no evidence, but smoke n fire always leaves scars.
I have to admit haven’t listened to Ryan since all that shit came out, which listening to this today is for art sake a shame as I do like this brand of Americana. This is for me good music, but there is a but, as the sensitive singer songwriter is some kind of POS guy, guess life isn’t simple and black and white.
Musically it’s easy on the ear, it wouldn’t be my example as the best of the genre as leans too much into the pop rock side for my preference, which others do better. 3 Star ( would have been 4 but just can’t)
Arcade Fire
2/5
Well this is more highly rated on here that I expected.
I accept that I just don’t get much of the critical acclaim rock music from the period very much, have little infinity towards it, a disconnect with what was perceived as the cutting edge of rock at the time hearing a dull bland drone.
Old man shouting at sky time ( insert Grampa Simpson meme).
I didn't find this bad per say, but struggled to touch what makes it relevant?
Sees like It was on, but it didn't seem to do anything in particular, go anywhere. I just don’t hear a masterpiece that others are describing or anything close, just a fairly bland conglomerate of a series of rock tropes since the 70s, under that sheen of 21 century production.
If this is someone's greatest album ever good for them, as it likely has meaning and context in time for you, personally I had little interest found it dull, 2nd listen didn't get any better, that dull guitar sound and wall of rhythm that is so prevalent in Millennial rock, whinny vocals again a stable. Not for me 2 Stars
And as side note last artist I had on here all the top reviews were all linked bar none to allegations of misconduct, pillarising the artist, though not substantiated in that case but everyone had issue myself included - art vs artist, etc etc though similar situation here it seems when googled - but not much mentioned?? Be it unsubstantiated it is an issue/or isn't, but people seem to pick and choose their moral stand ( if they like the artist/ he isn't such a prick?).
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
Well I really enjoyed, and that’s all I kind of ask for when an album I don’t know comes on here. That it makes me want to listen again, and not because I feel it must be better with a second listen but like in this case I just damn enjoyed.
At the tale end of 2025, and if you would have asked me 30 years ago if I would have liked the Chemical bro album better than rock albums from the time or since I wouldn’t have believe it, but there you are. As some say banging (??). 4 Star
Orbital
3/5
You’re throwing up too much electronic music over the last week, this being the fourth in 8 days. I would maybe have scored this higher if that had not been the case, but comparing it to yesterday’s Chemical bro this seems a bit too background for my taste more on par with the ambient sounds of the Alphex twin earlier in the week. Well my crash course in the genre has shown me I enjoy it much more than I would have thought, though this is a bit too background, though guessing the live experience was something different all together.
Strong 3 Star, happy enough to have on ( yes in the background), and will with some playlists in the future.
Beastie Boys
4/5
It’s as if it was only yesterday. Remember my cousin holding it with a grin like the cat saying you gonna listen to this. It had the rock and attitude to let us white kids get our first taste of hip hop, and from here able to start exploring. But that’s in no way to diminish that the guys did, they weren’t tourists, they were authentic, that they benefited from racial privilege is a darker story and not at their door.
Haven’t heard this all through for years as usually put on Ill communication for some Beastie (its the sabotage prompts in movies that does it). And Yeah it’s still as kicking as remember, which is good as feared when it came up this morning it may have dated somehow, no such fears. Was grinning all the way through and put it straight back on. 4 Star blast.
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
I like 50s original rock n roll, and don’t mind when there is the occasional revival band/ movement. Quite happy listening to this, even if it just sounded, well like an awful lot of others. Seemed to happily wear its influences and generally was a decent sound doing it, less said about the horrendous Elvis impression the better. Just not sure what is essential listening, it’s rock n roll revivalist sounding, well rock n roll, what 15 years on at the time, it’s not a forerunner to anything particularly, as some are labelling because that would be the original 50s music, (original rockabilly was always a significant influence on punk both musically and spiritually, and garage rock started in the 50s, and yes these were generally 45 releases not albums). So it’s ok for what it was but not essential must hear. 3 Star
My Bloody Valentine
1/5
Music to question whether your hearing or equipment, or both are well, totally fucked.
I know everything is thought out and meant, I know under all the distorted sludge, sorry production choices there are what are notes, chords and all that stuff that are songs, and this is a guess, the vocals are in a language that people can communicate in. Communicate being a 2 way process of not only giving out but being able to receive the sodding message.
Some find it dreamy, I'm heading for a migrane.
Not into shoegazing. Not for me, and let's leave it there. 1 Star
Wilco
4/5
I like Wilco, I have liked this album since it came out, they expanded the alt- country into further places, resulting in a damn fine album. My only real issue is that they are almost but not Uncle Tupelo, and I get the reason Tweedy and Farrar couldn’t continue but the knock on this album, which isn’t a knock really is I miss the change in vocal style/songwriting change that Tupelo had with. But that’s just me. High 4 star
Neil Young
5/5
Oh I love this album. Great personal memories from the time when I first discovered this record that flood back as soon as hear those opening beats. All time classic for me.
If you don’t like NY you aren’t gonna like, if you do it’s up there. 5 Star
Erykah Badu
2/5
key words; soul, funk and jazz, so up for this.
But I just kept checking out, by track 3 thought must nearly be finished, which was not a good indicator. Found her vocals somewhat one dimensional, lacking any variety what so ever and so for me, lacking emotion which made every track drag and appear overlong and outsaying there natural existence.
It was just so much like hard work and a struggle to keep going, that isn't a good thing, probably generous - 2 Star
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
Think this goes with what you think of Joplin. A blues belter or grater.
At positive end Piece of my Heart it works, gets the Otis level of push and power and if all had been in this range would have liked the album, but at the other end Summertime , didn’t want to use the analogy because many had but yes nails, marge Simpson down blackboards.
Just not a fan of Joplins thing, think it just falls too much into grating, and that’s the main draw of the album. 3 Star
Fela Kuti
4/5
This just grooves, the sound in its self is pure funk, but with such a message. Can’t question the authenticity of the artist on this one. Definitely a keeper 4 Star
Terence Trent D'Arby
3/5
It's production definitely puts it at a time and place, which I don't necessarily see is a crime. Things being made when they are.
Initially thought it was going to be a strong listen and though don't think there was a drop off in songs, I personally got a little fatigued and started losing interest, which is just personally taste I guess.
It’s ok, of it's time. Don't mind hearing a few tracks, especially the singles but 40 plus minutes just dragged a little.
Side note, this was the guy stating he was Mozart esc. most important album since Sgt. Pepper? Nothing wrong with self confidence but it doesn't always age well. 3 Star
Queen
5/5
Another album that I have known a very long time. Been a while but like meeting old friends everything after all this time is still just just right. It contains one of my favourite non hit Queen songs, a bloody folk rock song about time dilation of all things. Know every minute of the album well and love every minute, that hasn't diminished upon revisiting today 5 Star
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
Repetitive past the point of my sanity, so get off my goddamn lawn. Strangely listenable while finding it terrible, 2 Star
The Zombies
5/5
This is Baroque 60s psychedelic pop Rock at its best. A cult classic that for a long time I dipped into and didn't quite get, then I gave it a few moments more and it became a favourite. I could literally listen to A rose for Emily all day, but that would mean missing the others, not a lesser track on here, the sound, the harmony, just a great record 5 Star
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
Actually own a Bebel album, not this one, don’t have any idea what the reason I first picked it up was, but always liked it. And like this, don’t understand much of it but it’s just a smooth sound and groove, 3 Star.
Public Enemy
5/5
Listened to this a lot, listened back when didn’t really like rap. Its driving, kinetic, chuckD voice is Essential. Flav offers the balance, playful and hard at the same time. Rap has explored many avenues, and complexities since but like a Beatles album it kinda beats out what followed and this remains My personal favourite rap album. 5 Star
The Roots
3/5
Felt like doing a chore of a subject have an interest in, there is some passing regard but in the end it was more of a task to get through than actual enjoyment. It was nice enough but really did feel more than most to be more a listen because on the list than anything else unfortunately, it’s experimental nature is probably it’s strength and it’s weakness for me as the odd track grabbed me, the odd track left me cold. So ends up averaging decent but nothing more for me.
3 Star
The Verve
2/5
I have absolutely no idea why this is here, why did I listen to this. It’s bittersweer symptom with all the good bits removed, discordant shi, i presume they therefore have 2 albums on here, subjective list or not that's a load of bollox, like this here record, 2 stars, and that generous for the odd melody
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
After the heads up and listening to the correct record, big difference. This was calming and did what it seems to intend, gives you that pastoral moment, lovely piece of work, 3 Star.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Heard S&G since I can remember, when my parents would play. Found them for myself later and regularly listen to this day. Great combination of voices and Simon is a great songwriter. This album contains probably one of my least favourite of his songs with S&G, being the Dylan parody A Simple desultory … is it enough to make it not 5 Star, no not even close
Bob Dylan
5/5
Remember when my brother bought this when it can out, I dismissed it being only Dylan up to Desire kinda guy. Then a few years older I revisited all his work and you know what this older, weary
Beastie Boys
4/5
Like the Beastie boys, like how they completely changed things up on this album, the growth is unreal, 4 Star
David Bowie
4/5
I would qualify myself as a fan of Bowie, the Berlin experience was an interesting exploration and this is a fine record, if you come in thinking an album around the lines of the single then I guess you might be a little disappointed by time you get on side 2 . 4.5 Stars
Bad Company
4/5
I have never heard this album before today, but due to radio I was already jaded a quarter of the way through the first track. But when got to lesser radio played songs it picked up for me quickly.
I have no problem with classic rock, or Dad rock if you want to be insulting, it’s still listened to for a reason, some 50 yrs on, so call it what you will. Strong, melodic, straight ahead rock from start to finish, buying into that anemoia. Do I prefer others from the time, on this hearing yes but that’s just personal preference. Not likely to return to quickly but not going to find fault either 4 Star.
Solange
2/5
She has a pleasant enough voice, I liked it more than the last soulless hard sell album on here by her sister. There is nothing here that makes me dislike it, but nothing of interest either, the music is so pedestrian I have no interest in listen if she has anything to say. It’s not my thing and leave it at that. 2 Star
Pink Floyd
3/5
It was coming, the pinnacle of what you are supposed to like.
Tried to listen to PF over the years. And well it’s never landed.
Can appreciate this but don't like it.
Maybe it's it's status that seems to leave no apparent area for objectivity, that leaves me not being objective, the reviewers remark that mirrors critics/youtubers etc about if you don't rate this your a twat, isn’t music like all art subjective?
I just find it a little dull, it meanders and the track life is the only 1 I really enjoy.
This is always what I think of if anyone mentions most overrated in music, that muso elite thing, critics/rapid fans telling you that you have to like.
Yeah it can be someones all time favourite (but let’s accept anyone on this list can be someone's favourite)
So get off telling me it's got to be one of my all time.
It just isn't, it for me, so 3 Star
John Lee Hooker
3/5
I am by no means that knowledgeable about the blues but Not sure this is how I would represent John Lee Hooker, guess it has a “modern” sound and the draw of collaboration. So works as introductory/ main stream cross over, maybe. It is good I guess, but just seems to be missing that spark. Don’t know if this is his only album on here and if so would have preferred something a bit rawer, earlier. 3 Star
Lana Del Rey
3/5
I like glimpses, but it suffered from the modern disease that songs don't do too much/enough and productionis king. I know melancholy is kind of her thing but still. I kind of like what she does and think there is talent here, but it's like there is only 1st and second gear. It's good but too much of not much, and produce the life out.
Still, Like it more than thought, could have liked more, newish album probably should have been given space to see if really should be on here. 3 Star
Donovan
2/5
This is a good example of where psychedelia and its hippie overtones took a turn into that other sub genre, absolute hippy bollox.
I can just barely tolerate the singles from Donovan when they turn up, the whole album with filler tracks, dear god, what drivel.
Listened, that’s one ticked off, 2 Star
G. Love & Special Sauce
2/5
Initially mild interest, then just started to drag. Sloppy jazzy, almost rap staple college sound. Different time and place could have been for me so much more, but today just wasn’t there. Don’t have much of an opinion either way to be honest 2 Star
Roxy Music
4/5
Always found Roxy an interesting band, if not one I tended to listen to. Not doubting their influential standing, and Enos work is always pioneering, Ferry a quite distinct vocalist/image, this album one of their more consistent, maybe slightly less quirky. I liked it today and will probably give them another try. 4 Star
Alice Cooper
4/5
Much better and varied concept album than it is probably given credit for. Guess most think of it as a vehicle for the big hit title song, and likely more of the same, whereas it goes all over the place musically, structurally. Haven’t heard it for near 30 years so it was a pleasant surprise to my older ears, and still was surprised as had forgotten it goes into West side story. Billion dollar babies had more hits, and that what is seen as Alice Cooper, but have always preferred this, 4.25 Stars
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Absolutely love his run of 5 albums from 72 Music of my mind to this album. Rightfully viewed as a classic, a masterpiece. So uplifting, a joyful soulful experience, funk heaven, what grooves that this just came from the one man, now that is someone with talent. When a double album isn’t too long, just going from great track to great track, it is Without doubt 5 Star
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Sure was an interesting listen, 4 tracks 40 plus minutes slow burn soul. Indulgent, yeah guess so, I mean 8 mins before even get close to phoenix ( that’s how to cover a song) but Pretty damn good with it. Got his singles on Stax box set and own shaft but never listened to any of his other albums, as said interesting and changing that from today, 4 Star
David Ackles
3/5
Interesting, Neil Diamond/Elton John channel their Tom Waits wannabe through the medium of amateur dramatics showtunes. Not sure it really work but yeah it nearly does, suppose it depends on your view on almost amateur dramatics. Still very Understandable why it remains obscure and only on the 2nd hand market it seems, of the early 70s singer songwriter boom it’s just a little bit off, some of it is quiet mainstream and then other parts are very very hammy, and the almost 10 minute last track almost killed it all stone dead for me, but will give it 3Star
Lauryn Hill
3/5
Liked the Fugees, and have a passing like of the genres this exists in; soul, r&b, rap and reggae (more so old school to be fair for all).
I didn’t really pick up on this when it came out after hearing it, since then it’s been lauded consistently, and now is somewhat labelled best of the best ( but to be fair to any record given that title over time, SPLHCB, petsounds, what’s going on, it’s a redundant idea that self aggrandising arse like rolling stone mag push for their own sense of self importance).
So revisiting today, it’s good, it’s got good flow, it’s a pleasant listen, if you like this kind of music it’ll probably be a 4 or 5, if you don’t it is unlikely to convert you, and you likely still wouldn’t like it after listening, it won’t sound anything groundbreaking.
To me, yes I own a physical copy but own thousands of albums, it’s nice, when it’s on. But after listening today not looking to revisit anytime soon, so it ain’t that “special”, as said for me - 3.5 Star