Journey in Progress
Discovering music one album at a time
347
Albums Rated
3.75
Avg Rating
66
5-Star Albums
32%
Complete
742 albums remaining
Rating Speed
6.3
Per Week
388
Days Active
Reviews
344
Written
99%
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vs Global
0.44
Avg Diff
3.75
Avg Rating
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Which era do you prefer?
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Taste Profile
2010s
Favorite Decade
Soul
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Generous
Rater Style
7
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
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Ratings by genre
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Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medúlla | 5 | 2.72 | +2.28 |
| Phaedra | 5 | 2.73 | +2.27 |
| Merriweather Post Pavilion | 5 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
| In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida | 5 | 2.94 | +2.06 |
| Swordfishtrombones | 5 | 2.95 | +2.05 |
| Dog Man Star | 5 | 3 | +2 |
| Maxinquaye | 5 | 3.04 | +1.96 |
| Your Arsenal | 5 | 3.05 | +1.95 |
| I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight | 5 | 3.05 | +1.95 |
| Welcome To The Pleasuredome | 5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live At The Regal | 1 | 3.68 | -2.68 |
| Unknown Pleasures | 1 | 3.47 | -2.47 |
| John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band | 1 | 3.24 | -2.24 |
| Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo | 1 | 3.09 | -2.09 |
| Ten | 2 | 3.92 | -1.92 |
| Vol. 4 | 2 | 3.75 | -1.75 |
| A Grand Don't Come For Free | 1 | 2.67 | -1.67 |
| Bubble And Scrape | 1 | 2.65 | -1.65 |
| Birth Of The Cool | 2 | 3.65 | -1.65 |
| A Love Supreme | 2 | 3.63 | -1.63 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and high weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Beatles | 4 | 4.5 | 3.86 |
| Radiohead | 4 | 4.5 | 3.86 |
| David Bowie | 3 | 4.67 | 3.83 |
| Joni Mitchell | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Metallica | 4 | 4.25 | 3.71 |
| Johnny Cash | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| Kate Bush | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and low weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joy Division | 2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
5-Star Albums (66)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
The Streets
1/5
The "harmonies" on this album are monotonous, the music without melody. I know it's rap, but it is as dull as a room painted black with black furniture. Not for me. 1.5/5
4 likes
Ananda Shankar
4/5
This is the album that fully blended classical Indian and modern Western styles of music. Sometimes it is kinda elevator music, but it is very influential and has some amazing tracks. 4/5
2 likes
Turbonegro
4/5
Perfect post-punk. Not like Green Day, which sapped out all true punk energy from most of their popular work. Powerful, varied. Just what I need to bang my head. 4/5
1 likes
Tangerine Dream
5/5
Just the kind of Echos-like fever dream I love. I should have been listening to this for decades already. 4.5/5
1 likes
Metallica
5/5
The best, most enduring, of metal albums. Back in the day, we called this \"thrash metal\" while Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden did everyday \"metal\". Now a days, Metalica doesn't sound as edgy, especially in comparison with other kinds of metal. Still, I love these songs, I love this level of rock perfection, I love how this album works, embodying the best of metal rhythm and of rock melody. 4.5/5
1 likes
1-Star Albums (7)
All Ratings
The Isley Brothers
5/5
A fantastic soul/funk album of the 70s. The covers are just brilliant. Innovative keyboard, satisfying guitar work. 4.5/5
Rush
5/5
2112– Rush– I had always heard that early Rush is the poor person’s Led Zepplin. While I can hear some licks and some vocals that are reminiscent of LZ, this album is more like what Rush would become. This album has a more dramatic presentation than later Rush, but that quality of musicals suits them. This will probably be my favorite album by Rush. 4.5/5
Willie Nelson
4/5
Willie’s greatest inspiration was Frank Sinatra. Here, he shows that he can wield the power of American pop standards just as powerfully as Frankie ever did. 4.5/5
Keith Jarrett
3/5
Pleasant, but not compelling
Dire Straits
3/5
I heard the first three songs too often in the 80s, so I'm bored of them. However, the rest of the album reminds me of the smooth, jazzy vibe of Dire Straits and how I love them. I'll need to make a playlist, but this album isn't exceptional. 3.5/5
New Order
3/5
Like Depeche Mode dance music. I always preferred the Depeche Mode depression-inducing music. It's good stuff, but not something I would listen to. New Wave/Disco. 3.5/5
Morrissey
5/5
An excellent post-Smiths solo album. More musically interesting than any other album I've heard Morissey do. Powerful guitars, provocative effects, rockabilly, hard rock. Right up my alley. 4.5/5
Van Halen
3/5
I never did like this version of Van Halen. I love the drums and DLR's vocals are always good. Shameful secret: I never cared for Eddy Van Halen's guitar work. He's in such a hurry to get moving on. He rarely repeats a riff, and he doesn't lengthen them out. And, while I love synth rock, it didn't improve VH's style-- for me. Obviously, I am outvoted here. I love Hot for Teacher and Top Jimmy-- the more bluesy tracks. But this will never be a favorite of mine. Given how many people love it, I feel like I'm missing out. 3/5
MGMT
4/5
What a wonderful mix of music! They put so much in such a tight 40 minute package, but I felt that I was exploring my pop-rock loves from the 70s to the 00s. For a proper rating, I will have to listen to it again. And I will. 4.5/5
Paul Simon
3/5
Thoughtful, adorable, mellow songs about love. As usual for Simon, the shining jewel are the lyrics that make unexpected turns. What a shame he kicked Garfunkel off the album, that might have made it great. Still, it is pleasant enough. 3.5/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
I love the mellow but powerful statement "catch a fire" for slavers, firmly telling them to "go to hell". A statement of Marley's utopia-- a new land without oppression, and liberation to have awesome sex. The music is familiar, the Marley reggae groove, perfect for a nightcap. And, of course, such great influence throughout the world. 4/5
Prince
4/5
Does an album all about sex count as a concept album? Only appropriate for a nice JW boy. Great dance music, and the long rhythms are just perfect, remind me of the stuff I listened to in my disco days. Some of these are excellent songs, ("Free", "Delirious") but I doubt I'll listen to this album as a whole again. 4/5
Richard Hawley
4/5
Wait, this was created in THIS millenium? Not in the 1950s? Gorgeous and overpowered, expansive over many genres. Richard's voice doesn't quite match the power of the music. We need Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash or Elvis. Still, it works and it is lovely. 4/5
Johnny Cash
5/5
One of the rare live albums that I can 100 percent imagine being in that place, listening. And the concert is perfect entertainment. Moving from one familiar song to the next, throwing in some completely unknown ones. And June Carter coming in for a few songs to add richness to the text. Best of all, it is a concept album. The songs were collected to be identifiable to the prisoners, so Johnny chose songs about people askance of the law, whether guilty or innocent. Both upbeat and dark, collectively powerful. 4.5/5
Supergrass
4/5
Energy Rock! Like an Aerosmith album dropping almost all the dull bits. Each song is unique, a sound to itself. I love almost every song... except "We're Not Supposed To" which is simply irritating.
BTW, I love the cover. 4/5
The Smiths
3/5
Generally solid music, but Morissey can sometimes be too Whitney or trying too hard. I wished he grooved with the music more. A couple of these songs I love, eg “Bigmouth Strikes Again” but I can’t recommend the album as a whole.
3/5
4/5
Very punk, for 1969. In some ways, harder and more radical than Jimi. I will need to listen to it a few times to get a hang of the music, but this 60s acid rock is delicious, so I'll enjoy it some more. 4/5
Cat Stevens
5/5
I've listened to this album for the last 55 years, and it is a key to my musical appreciation. Yusuf's voice is gentle and lyrical, his playing is magnificent. This album plus Paul Simon,James Taylor and Carole King are the foundation of the singer-songwriter movement in the 70s. One of the best albums ever. 5/5
Germs
4/5
If you want a punk album, this is it. Rough, shouty vocals, short songs, musical errors, discordant, not really polished in any way. We get a full punk aesthetic, almost 40 minutes of tension and inspiration to mosh. This isn't pre punk, or post punk, this is the real thing. The lyrics are political, rebellious and powerful. Overall, not my personal style, but if we are music completionists, we have to experience punk. And I am growing to it as I finish the album. Powerful and addictive. We will Bleed begins to allow us to hear the music, and we get that more through the magnificent bass in Shut Down. I appreciate Joan Jet's work here, and I appreciate the influence this movement had on later music. Thanks, yall. 4/5
The Streets
1/5
The "harmonies" on this album are monotonous, the music without melody. I know it's rap, but it is as dull as a room painted black with black furniture. Not for me. 1.5/5
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
I've been listening to this album since it came out. In the 70s all of us and our cousins had this album. After all these years, it is still a masterclass in song writing, mood and saying more with less. This is one of the best. 5/5
The Flaming Lips
4/5
A great sci fi album. Whether it is fully conceptual or not, it is fun. My favorite track is Do you Realize? but it is all a good time. 4/4
Björk
4/5
Wonderful alternative pop. Ambient mixed with unique beats. Quite fine, but uneven. Some of these tracks are the best in her class, tho.
The Police
4/5
I believe that an album can truly change in one's listening by having some of the songs be overplayed on the radio. The first half of this album is so good, fresh innovative. The second half is mostly made up of songs that were overplayed in the 80s, and I am still not ready to listen to some of them (Specifically "Every Breath"). I wish I had got this album in the 80s because I would have loved it without a previous listen. 3.5/5
Boston
5/5
Dennis Wilson
4/5
So Dennis Wilson is a Beach Boy. But this album isn't full of the tired harmonies and the bright melodies. This album is occasionally dark and filled with the vocals of a man who has lived a hard life. Classic 70s music. I think this might become one of my favorites. 4.5/5
Lana Del Rey
4/5
A mellow drive through the country, meeting your family and gazing over the farms and woods. A plesant drive, but it doesn't really grab me. However, the similarity to Lorde's Solar Power is wonderful for me.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
What a fantastic set of rock songs, perfectly crafted, perfectly curated. If only the vocals didn't smear a sharpie all over it. I hate that whiney voice. 3.5/5
Depeche Mode
4/5
Sleepytime Depeche Mode. Still excellent, but I prefer Black Celebration, Construction Time Again, and Music for the Masses.
Talvin Singh
4/5
This is world music I can get into. When Ravi Shankar and George Harrison started mixing Indian and Western Music, this is the nirvana they would have liked to achieve. 4.5/5
Portishead
4/5
Sleepytime Depeche Mode. Still excellent, but I prefer Black Celebration, Construction Time Again, and Music for the Masses. But listening to DM, it’s all good.
Iron Maiden
3/5
This is the metal that I grew up with. Kinda boring, actually. Its all the same, or so it seems to me. 2.5/5
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Just brilliant. A huge variety of music, all well produced and edited. I think the section of elders voices was too long, and it ruined the flow. Still, I wish I had heard this as a whole album years ago instead of just bits and pieces.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Everyone says Dylan is a genius. Although he has one other album before this one, this is where his genius begins. His weird humor, his anti-war lyrics, his deceptively simple tunes. Sure, he has a reedy voice and his harmonica is palatable at best, but these are still some of the best songs ever written, and skillfully delivered. 5/5
Iron Maiden
4/5
Iron Maiden's reputation is of their life of metal. I've heard it. But this album from the early 80's might have been called metal then, but now it would be a version of classic rock. I like classic rock. I like this album. It's more like early Black Sabbath than the early albums of Metallica. And that suits me fine.
Shack
4/5
At first I'm like, "Meh, I like Toad the Wet Sprocket better." Then I keep exploring the layers and variety of this music. I am stunned by Streets of Kenny and Beautiful. Okay, this is a great album, worthy of many more listens. 4.5/5
John Coltrane
2/5
Someone more skilled in music than I can surely hear the beauty in the complexity. However, I just hear chaos. for many, this is a 5/5. For my ears and my untrained brain, this is a 2/5
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
5/5
I can't believe I've never heard a bit of this album before. It is BIG and powerful and broad. So amazing. It contains so much and gives me new ideas and visions. 5.5
David Bowie
4/5
Bowies glam rock phase is my favorite. I'm not as much a fan of the experimental title song, but the combination of this album and Ziggy Stardust is a one-two punch on ho-hum rock that has never been forgotten. 4.5/5
Ananda Shankar
4/5
This is the album that fully blended classical Indian and modern Western styles of music. Sometimes it is kinda elevator music, but it is very influential and has some amazing tracks. 4/5
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Some great dance tunes on here, but would it hurt to use more than a single phrase repeated through the whole song? I love the punk/alternative/dance mix. It's cool. 4/5
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Going between gorgeous folk and upbeat hippie, the album is a pick me up and full of the most gorgeous lyrics. Until the final song, which is a deadly, almost frightening, recognition of reality.
4.5/5
Public Enemy
5/5
Non stop black power. I can understand why white kids back in the day knew every lyric, sang it loudly, and just didn't get it because they never lived it. Powerful album, a musical representation of all the great black preachers, and yet goes a different direction. It will be hard for me to listen as often as I should, I need to get used to the sonic energy of the band. 4.5/5
The Doors
4/5
A fine psychadelic blues album. So much better than their first album, as much as I love it. Just solid blues rock I could listen to over and over. 4/4
Bad Company
4/5
I love listening to the radio, always have. The problem with that is less the songs they play you don't like but the songs you do like and they overplay. 2/3rds of this album was massively overplayed. The songs are great but I just don't want to hear them again. As for my preference, I'd give it a 3.5/5. For the world, it's a 4.5 because it certainly should be heard by evryone.
Van Halen
4/5
My favorite version of Van Halen. David Lee Roth vocally swaggers and Eddie VH speeds his guitar. Right on the edge of heavy metal, but because David's voice stays in the blusy range, instead of the high pitched screaming, they stay in the rock range. Full of energy and not a hint of boring. 4/5
Black Sabbath
2/5
Frankly, just not that interesting. I'd rather go back and listen to their second album. 2/5
The Monks
3/5
The Monks– Black Monk Time
60s rock with lots of chanting. Melody is ignored, mostly, but it has a lot of energy. Lyrical work, not so much. Sounds like they had a good time making it, though. 3/5
The xx
3/5
Somewhere between EDM and Chill. Great background music. 3.5/5
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
As far as I'm concerned, the heart of the Boss is Born in the USA album. Many Boss fans disagree, but I'll admit that I'm not as serious a fan as many. Generally, I don't have patience to listen to his album from. beginning to end. Except Born. Same with this album. I know this album was made a few years before Born, but if a song is too much like a track on Born, then it is lesser. If a song on this track is innovative and catchy in a way the ones on Born aren't then I want to add it to my playlist. But as a whole I think this album is quite good, but not as good as Born 4/5
Various Artists
4/5
Taking classic Christmas songs and making them "cool" with his "wall of sound" at the time must have sounded like the worst idea ever. I'm still shocked at how well it worked. Only one song-- Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)-- really worked, and this was also the only original song for the album. It doesn't all work, but the concept and much of the execution really works. We know because some 60 years later we are still listening. 4/5
MC Solaar
1/5
Certainly skilled. But it's not my style. I'm impatient to stop focusing on it. 1.5/5
Metallica
5/5
The best, most enduring, of metal albums. Back in the day, we called this \"thrash metal\" while Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden did everyday \"metal\". Now a days, Metalica doesn't sound as edgy, especially in comparison with other kinds of metal. Still, I love these songs, I love this level of rock perfection, I love how this album works, embodying the best of metal rhythm and of rock melody. 4.5/5
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Play that funky music, white boys! Powerful dance, stirring up the club. I wish the lyrics had more variety. I wish there was more than just the boom, boom, boom. Great stuff, but it feels like there should be more. And kinda loud. I guess I'm not meant for the club scene. 3/5
The Gun Club
3/5
Solid post punk album with great blues and country riffs in a couple songs. I'm glad I listened to it, but probably won't listen to it often
3.5/5
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
This album is phenomenal. A life story, not unlike The Wall, with a variety of voices. I was not prepared for the blowjob scene, and I should have been prepared for the "n****" and mfs but that really turned me off. I will say that it's personally unfortunate, because I can't ever really enjoy the album although there is so much to appreciate. 3/5 AND 5/5
Kate Bush
4/5
If I had heard this album when it was released, it certainly would have been among my favorites beside Depeche Mode, Peter Gabriel and Sam Phillips. Unique, and out-of-your-mind bonkers. It will require much more examination. 4.5/5
Primal Scream
4/5
Most of this album is some cosmic pre-Radiohead wonderfuless. The last coulple songs sound like a weak version of U2. The album as a whole doesn't get me, but the first part certainly is wonderful. 3.5/5
Suede
5/5
Stunning. A lot of Bowie, but also so much unique, spacey vibe. I love it. 4.5/5
4/5
British psychedelia tended to look back, toward childhood, or, like here, someone else's childhood. The guitar work is fantastic, but I'm not a fan of the brass. Still, I can see how the Kinks might be considered "the foremost band" as one of my friends claimed. Still, Beatles and Stones and Floyd before this. But they desperately deserve to have a landmark place in the history of rock. "Austailia" and "Shangri-la" are two of the greatest songs of the 60s.
Venom
3/5
Pretty standard metal, which I usually find pretty dull. A couple of the songs have something extra, such as Teacher's Pet, but generally they stick to the fast-guitar-shouty-vocals shtick. 2.5/5
The Roots
4/5
What a unique mix, tied together by hip hop. A little bit of everything. The longer songs are the better ones for me-- Water and Breaking It Off were great. 4/5
The Pogues
4/5
What a jubilant party with celtic rock! 4/5
Van Morrison
4/5
What a wonderful, but familiar mix Morrison has. Blues, jazz, folk,and something that one can't put a finger on. That is more true of his album Astral Weeks, but this album, although having familiar radio tunes, has a deeper meaning together than separate. 4/5
Paul McCartney
5/5
I'm a Beatles fanatic. I have always loved the Beatles since I can remember. And this man, is one of the main reasons why. I can hear this album being an extension of the White Album, along with Harrison's first solo. Certainly one of the greatest albums. 4.5/5
XTC
4/5
I hadn't really noticed that most of the albums I consider "great" are also pretty depressing. They might be ironic or heartfelt, but rarely just happy. I was surprised listening to this album how upbeat many of these songs are. And how much I enjoyed them. They remind me of Paul MacCartney's "granny" songs, which I also really enjoy.
4/5
Joni Mitchell
5/5
I've always loved Joni's songs. On this album, I really appreciate the music, the texture of the guitars, especially. There is a warm depth of the music that I really love. 4.5/5
Common
3/5
It does sound like "common" rap. Or perhaps it's truly innovative. I don't have much of a baseline for rap to know. I have to hold it lightly until I listen a couple more times. 3/3
Michael Kiwanuka
5/5
Full of the soul I love, all mixed in a pot with a funky groove. I love it already. 4.5/5
Tom Waits
5/5
The only Tom Waits song I've heard before this listen is his version of Heigh Ho, which felt very industrial and his rough voice felt perfect. What surprised me in this album is how much the same his style is and how much variety there is from song to song. It is all powerfully rhythmic and wonderfully sung with reduced melodic impact, but each song is clearly reaching for a different genre, while all of it, in the end, is simply Tom Waits. Perfect. 4.5/5
King Crimson
4/5
One of the initiators of progressive rock, of course I like this album. It feels less like symphonic rock, and more of a musical based on a dystopia novel. Very dramatic and intense but not the kind of music I'm looking for in progressive rock. Perhaps that label is misplaced for me. Still, it is full of inspiring and innovative rock. 4/5 for personal preference. 4.5 for influence on future rock.
5/5
I don't know how many times it takes to listen to this album to be somewhat bored of it. This is some of the earliest music I remember hearing. After all the radio plays, the covers, and wearing the grooves out of my vinyl, I did get bored of much of it. But not Within You Without You. And especially not the transition from the SPLHCB reprise to A Day in the Life. After almost 60 years, this album has some excitement left for me. 5/5
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
Kings of the catchy hook and southern rock anthems. Makes me feel good all day long. 4/5
Merle Haggard
4/5
Pretty standard country, but wonderful, mellow tunes that make me comfy in bed. 3.5/5
Madonna
4/5
I am surprised how many genres Madonna had on this album. I expected the pop/disco, but not the beautiful ballads, the tech/world beat, nor the latin influenced conclusion. Truly a great album, even if it wouldn't make my personal top 50.
David Bowie
5/5
Bowie's rejected soundtrack to "The Man who Fell to Earth" is a masterwork, full of German influence and striking uniqueness, as is Bowie's wont. I cannot resist my love for this album. 4.5/5
Mercury Rev
4/5
A strange mix of low quality 90s alternative rock and progressive. I love it. 4/5
Led Zeppelin
4/5
It feels less polished than later work, rougher, like a live recording. It is far from a perfect album. An overlong drum solo, the production sounds fuzzy. But some of these songs are what I think of when LZ comes up. some of these songs are favorites, and some could be. Not a great album, but very good.
4/5
Astrud Gilberto
4/5
Smooth Bossa Nova. Like a 60's Norah Jones. Easy to listen to and mellow out. 3.5/5
Radiohead
4/5
A good follow up to Kid A. Lesser than Kid A, but still worth a listen.
Iggy Pop
5/5
A powerful album in the style of Bowie and drum-focused rock n roll. 4.5/5
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
First couple tracks, I was thinking, "I like the guitar vibe, but i wish the drums were hard and dark." in the third track the drums kicked in. Great sound. Still wish it was a bit more powerful. 4/5
Fever Ray
4/5
Honestly, this is what I wish Bjork always sounded like. I love the dark, electronic music. 4.5/5
Turbonegro
4/5
Perfect post-punk. Not like Green Day, which sapped out all true punk energy from most of their popular work. Powerful, varied. Just what I need to bang my head. 4/5
Björk
3/5
Bjork has such a unique sound... but her albums sound much the same. What I'd like is to listen to a number of her albums and make a choice at which one I most like. This would probably not be the one. All I can hear is, "yep that's Bjork" without noting much difference between this and other albums of hers. I really love her work on Dancer in the Dark. 3.5/5
The Temptations
5/5
Full of epic songs, the Temptations finally arrived to be first class, even though they hovered around that level throughout their existence. 4.5/5
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
I've listened to this album for many decades. It still shows me new twists, and the nostalgia is just as poignant. One of the best ever. 5/5
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Certainly innovative, by the end. I still wish it was produced better and that Nico had more opportunity to sing. The influence cannot be dismissed. But it will never be a favorite of mine. 4/5
Simple Minds
3/5
The 80s just like I remember them. Kinda dull. 3/5
Aphex Twin
2/5
Certainly ambient. Didn't even notice when it ended. Perhaps a bit too dull for my tastes. 2.5/5
Lorde
4/5
Lorde is one of my favorite artists, and of her first three albums, this is my least favorite. Her first and third albums seem so fresh, so unique. This one has got some excellent tracks, but seems pretty run of the mill pop. 4/5
Miles Davis
4/5
Smooth. Cool. Always changing. Great for background
Brian Eno
4/5
It reeks with innovation and the influences are pretty wide-ranging. This is the first 80s album. Or another prog album? I'm not sure. I like it, tho. 4/5
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Less an album and more a collection of songs. Some excellent songs, some mediocre. I enjoyed it, mostly. 3.5/5
Sade
4/5
Gorgeous, smooth voice. Sade is the true smooth operator. The music is classic 80s soul. Great listen.
4/5
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
4.5
Beatles
5/5
Everyone debates what the greatest Beatles album is. Certainly this one is high on the list. This album is where the group moves from their old pop approaches and begins to experiment and move into new directions. Brilliant all the way through. Sure, Dr Roberts is pretty weak. And I'm tired of Yellow Submarine. But there is so much power here, I will never get tired of this album. 5/5
Maxwell
4/5
A cool mix of 70's soul released in 96. A generous helping of jazzy, soft sax. Yeah, just my style.
OutKast
4/5
Just amazing. A shuffle of music from soul to hip hop. Powerful. 4/5
The Divine Comedy
2/5
I love the orchestral pieces, and the lyrics are pretty good (especially If...). But generally, it seems kind poorly rendered, for instance the vocals waver between great and lousy. 2/5
Django Django
5/5
What a genius mix of Moody Blues, funk and 90s folk/rock. It just warmed my soul listening to it. Gotta go for it again. 4.5/5
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Aretha showing us in every track why she alone is crowned the Queen of Soul. 4.5/5
Nick Drake
3/5
Mellow British funk, but in my head, I kept comparing him to Cat Stevens who released his major works around the same time, and there's just no comparison. 3/5
Quicksilver Messenger Service
4/5
A happy blend of psychedelia, straight from the 60s. Just the way I like it, long, rambling, but filled with talent. 4.5/5
Slint
2/5
Too many of the songs have the same notes being played repetitively. A couple of the songs have variety, but I keep thinking about a guy on a stage playing the same note over and over and over. Not my kind of thing. The first song was good, though.
Snoop Dogg
3/5
I love the music and the humor. He's got style, this Dogg. But the use of b**** frequently really jars me. Can't deal with that.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Not the best Muddy Waters performance. Seems he's in too much of a hurry and so loses some of the emotion of his songs. Still, it's a good listen. 3.5/5
Bob Dylan
5/5
I forgot just how much energy and power Dylan had in these early albums. This is my favorite of his folks albums, and no wonder, it is full of great tunes and greater lyrics. 4.5/5
DJ Shadow
4/5
Hip hop instrumentals with powerful, interesting drums. I don't care for the talking over some of the wonderful music, but there's still plenty here to enjoy. I can't rate this among the top of my albums, but some of the tracks I just love. 3.5/5
Jeff Buckley
4/5
The first half of this album is genius, still innovative more than thirty years later. The second half is dull in comparison, worth hearing, but not giving one's full attention to.
3.5/5
Sebadoh
1/5
The only album so far on this list that I felt relieved that the YouTube commercials gave me a break from. I'm sure it's all on purpose and brilliant, but the sour notes and occasionally bad vocals... so often I had to skip the end of songs because I couldn't bear it anymore. What was Dimrey thinking, putting this horrible album in the book? The opening is dull, like the worst Contemporary Christian music. The ending of No Way Out is interesting, even if the main song is just awful.
Miles Davis
2/5
I'm sure it's genius and I'm just too unrefined to get it. 2/5
Eagles
3/5
They really are good musicians and the album has a lot of good work, good melodies. 3.5/5
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Beautiful, pre-indie. Soft and often sweet, and, in turns, brilliant. Still, there would only be a handful of tracks I'd like to listen to frequently. I admit I can see the powerful influence on later music, but I can't put it in the category of my list of all time greats. 3.5/5
Solange
4/5
Beautiful and gentle. Seducing us into her love and people. Sometimes a little dull, and rarely compelling. But if I give it more of a chance, I'm pretty sure I will be hooked. 4/5
Animal Collective
5/5
I had no idea what I was missing. The chanting, the mix of ambient noise and synth and guitar... it strikes me like a comforting blend of pain and pleasure. Yeah, this is what I'm missing from my life. 4.5/5
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Stevie Wonder, one of the greatest recording artists of all time, realeasing an amazing album in one of the greatest series of albums of all time. 4.5 of 5. Only reason it didn't get a five is because Songs in the Key is just a few years away.
Einstürzende Neubauten
3/5
Fascinating and somewhat entertaining. Great to hear some of the history of industrial rock, which I have long been a fan of. Not such a fan that I feel I need to hear the album again. 3/5
Kings of Leon
4/5
I'm not sure how this is a 'greatest' but I love it. I'm going to come back for this one. 4/6
Supergrass
4/5
inventive, solid rock. I love it. Kinda Beatlesesque.
4.5/5
Arcade Fire
4/5
Kind of a 50s/Springsteen vibe. Which means it is very cool in my book. Wonderfully dramatic, almost Wagnerian. It may not be on the top of my listening list now, but I predict it will be. 4/5
Pantera
4/5
I appreciate them bringing thrash metal to the fore after Metallica' Black Album. It's needed. I personally am not a fan of speed metal. But racism is absolutely not needed. Hallow, however, is a great mix of genres. 3.5/5
Bill Callahan
4/5
I've never heard of Bill or Smog, but wow. what a voice! What a feeling that strikes me. Just great. Can't wait to listen to it again. 4.5/5
Nina Simone
5/5
Such variety and such wonderful righteous drama! Such power, creativity and impact! 5/5
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Excellent development of the soul sound in the 70s. 3.5/5
1/5
Hardcore jazz just isn't my thing. And I'm too old to learn to appreciate it. I just get a headache. I'm sorry I couldn't finish the album.
4/5
So much fun. Punkified rock n roll. Or punk with a lot of rock n roll in it. My kind of music. I'd prefered a little better produced, but it feels garagey, so that's okay. 4/5
James Brown
4/5
Pure energy, and the interaction between Brown and the audience... *chef's kiss*. 4/5
Kate Bush
4/5
Exceptional 80s rock. I had no idea I''ve been listen to Kate bush for years on Peter Gabriel albums. I'm catching up now. 4/5
Goldfrapp
3/5
Kinda dull at first, like a pale imitation of soft 70s balads. Then I could hear the electonic keyboards blending with the vocal and I saw that there was a depth I didn't notice at first. Good. 3.5/5
Beastie Boys
2/5
The musical version of morning djs on the radio. Not for me.
Norah Jones
4/5
Beautiful sleepy crooner jazz. This is the perfect album when I just need to relax and not do anything productive. 4/5
T. Rex
3/5
Good, but not great, proto-glamor rock. Clearly this sound influenced Bowie, who took it to new heights. But I could easily get bored of this. Still I appreciate the influence. 3/5
Brian Eno
4/5
A work of genius. So much music, of so many different styles. A wonderful version of prog rock. 4.5/5
ZZ Top
3/5
I remember the hits of this album being played in the 80s. And they are still being played by classic rock radio. This is the heart of 80s guitar rock, and very influential. But I'm bored of it now. Not their earlier stuff, but this particular sound. 3.5/5
Donald Fagen
4/5
Almost a seamless continuation from Steely Dan. 4/5
The White Stripes
4/5
Fun rock. Hard, but doesn't take itself that seriously. I really enjoyed it. 4/5
Radiohead
4/5
I fell in love with OK Computer and then I struggled with this album. The hard jazz songs, after all these years, I still struggle with. But it is brilliant, even if not always to my taste. 4/5
Joy Division
2/5
For all the excitement over this band and singer, I found it pretty dull. 2/5
Björk
3/5
I really have tried to enjoy Bjork. And I do enjoy and appreciate many of her songs. But her albums as a whole exhaust me. Brilliant, innovative, but I can't keep them playing. 4.5 for originality. 2.5 for my enjoyment.
Roxy Music
4/5
Fantastic rock with a good helping of 70s pop. A couple of the tracks I could have skipped, but generally a good time. 4.5/5
Peter Gabriel
5/5
One of the most innovative, impactful albums ever made. 5/5
Tangerine Dream
5/5
Just the kind of Echos-like fever dream I love. I should have been listening to this for decades already. 4.5/5
Iron Butterfly
5/5
I've heard the title song for years, and it just seems too long and repetative. Progressive rock, it is not. But the song fits perfectly in the album which is well arranged and contains an excellent selection of 60s rock/pop. This is a great album. 4.5/5
Richard Thompson
5/5
I can hear Gillian Welsh being influenced by them. What love for music and talent for Americana. This is a keeper. 4.5/5
Motörhead
3/5
That's some pretty firm rock there. Be a foundation for something great, someday. 3/5
Harry Nilsson
5/5
Very influenced by the Beatles with an even lighter touch. Not genius, just plain entertaining on the highest level. 4.5/5
Buzzcocks
4/5
Pretty rough at first, but once the beat takes over, it's all good. 3.5/5
Beatles
5/5
I remember sining many of these songs when I was a young child. And I am still singing them. The album is almost perfect. 5/5
Blur
2/5
Not for me. I did sit up and pay attention to This is a Low, but apart from that it is mediocre. 2.5/5
Radiohead
5/5
I don't think I've heard this whole album before, just parts of it. I think it's my second favorite by Radiohead now. 4.5/5
3/5
The solo half was kind of dull, the rockin' half was pretty good, but I prefer almost any studio album of his over the live performances. 3/5
Foo Fighters
4/5
Top notch rock, the whole album. 4.5/5
Elliott Smith
3/5
Nice. But of this modern acoustic folk style, I prefer Iron and Wine, Damian Rice, or a host of others. It's fine and pleasant, but not great. 3/5
The Fall
3/5
Mixed for me. I really didn't care for the lead singer. But this album isn't about singing, but music, which is often excellent. I love Paranoid Man and League of Bald Headed Men. The rest is somewhere between acceptable and irritating. 3/5
Minor Threat
4/5
9 songs, 22 minutes: Now that's punk. And it's good punk, too. Well produced, but still edgy, a fair amount of variety. Top of the line 80s punk. 3.5/5
Big Brother & The Holding Company
4/5
One of the greatest blues album by a white band. Janis is spot on. And BBatHC is magnificent. A classic. 4/5
The Jam
2/5
Fine. Nothing stirs me from the album to be enthused in any way. 2/5
Hüsker Dü
4/5
Generally good, but it isn't striking right away. Except for the last track, which is a symphony of guitar, both gorgeous and powerful. I can see really appreciating this album, but thats a lot of album to take on at once. 4/5
Burning Spear
4/5
A gentle, soothing revolution. Grooving me into a shut down of oppresion. Lovely background music. 4/5
Stephen Stills
4/5
How marvelous listening to this familiar voice sing a variety of country and rock songs. Nothing too complex or deep, just enjoyable and wonderful. 4.5/5
Metallica
4/5
The first three songs, as a unit, is one of the most brilliant fusions of rock and orchestra ever made. The rest of it is good, sometime captivating, but it all is diminishing returns after a magnificent beginning. Still, it is all worth listening to and appreciating.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Classic Americana. Wonderful guitar work. 3.5/5
John Lennon
1/5
No. I can't deal with this. The screaming is just an irritant, one that could cause madness. I can hear her influence on future rock. Pink Floyd certainly moved in this vein before Dark Side. But they didn't irritate me. This is likely to be my least favorite on the list. 1/5
Amy Winehouse
5/5
One of the best albums of the 2000s and possibly the best jazz/rock fusion since Steely Dan. Frankly, it's better than Steely Dan because of the rich helping of Stax soul. We were all lucky to have Amy, if only for a short time.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Some great guitar work. Otherwise, not great, but okay. 3/5
Björk
5/5
I generally don't care much for Bjork. I love her few songs in the movie Dancer in the Dark, but her albums never kept my attention. Until this one. The voicework is brilliant and innovative, the melodies can be followed while remaining complex. The influence from some of the best choral work is clear. Love it. 4.5/5
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
3/5
Great club jazz. Not sure why this one made the list and not the hundreds of others of equal quality. 3/5
The Who
3/5
What makes an exemplary live album? I'd say that good production is key, such as Stop Making Sense. And a unique selection of songs, presented in a unique way, such as Third Day's Offerings. Sometimes a setting provides an additional layer of meaning and theme, such as Johnny Cash's Prison albums. In light of some of the greatest live albums Live at leeds is a rockin' set, but distinctly middle of the road. I generally would prefer to listen to studio recordings of the same songs. 3.5/5
Metallica
5/5
Is it metal? Is it Metallica selling out? Is it Metallica's best album? Doesn't matter, it's simply a great listen. 4.5/5
The Libertines
3/5
It's fine young rock/pop. 3/5
Jacques Brel
2/5
Very French. They sound like Tom Leher, a bit, except that I can't understand the jokes. 1.5/5
Charles Mingus
2/5
Hardcore jazz is powerful music, but not for me. 2/5
Elvis Costello
4/5
One of the albums that opened up the revival of the 50s sound on the pop chart. This led to some of my favorite albums like Born in the USA and An Innocent Man. I think this is okay. But if I listened to it more, it would be one of my favorites. 4/5
Red Snapper
2/5
Background music that is in parts dull and irritating. 2/5
Lightning Bolt
2/5
Blasts of sound. Perhaps like a heavy metal group trying to imitate a marching band practicing one line of music over and over and then switching to another line of a different song. Not my cup of java. 2/5
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
A Dylanesque album of brilliant folk lyrics and soft presentation. This is no Born in the USA, it is Neil Young with a better voice. 4/5
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Some of Cohen's songs are brilliant. He just needs better musical artists to perform them. 2/3
Brian Wilson
3/5
This album is difficult for me to judge. The music and unique harmonies are undeniable. The themes are childish and just not my style. I believe that this fully represents Brian Wilson's art, which is great, but just not to my taste. I probably won't listen to this much.
3.5/5
ZZ Top
4/5
Pure electronic Texas blues. Great stuff, always top notch whenever I listen. 3.5/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Similar sound to one of my favorite albums of all time, U2's War. I need to add this to my playlist to really get proper enjoyment out of it. 4/5
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Cool music, and innovative. It steps in the path between energetic and soothing, so it isn't really either. 3/5
The Beach Boys
5/5
It took years for me to listen to this album. I heard great things about it, but never listened to it except for the two monster songs-- God only Knows and Sloop John B. This album was really different. Melancholy, introspective. It hit me right where it hurt. The only song I skip is the title song, the "Revolution #9" of the Beach Boys. 4.5/5
The Black Keys
5/5
Amazing. They've tapped into the best of 60s and 70s rock to create a rhythm that fits my heart. 4.5/5
Gorillaz
3/5
What a curious sound. Urban, but simple, sometimes sounding like kid's music. 3/5
Johnny Cash
4/5
Top notch old guy energy. Some of the songs I think are beyond his reach and the strain hurts me a little. But the powerful emotion in each track impacts every time I hear this album. 4/5
The White Stripes
3/5
Not nearly as good as their first album. The drums need to be remixed. 2.5/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
This is post-punk I can fully support. Karen O is magnificent, and her band is great. This will be one of my favorites. 4.5/5
Shuggie Otis
4/5
I love 70s soul. I am sorry not to have heard Shuggie before. What a joyful creation. 4/5
Neneh Cherry
4/5
Tons of energy. Overwhelming joy. I mean, really overwhelming. Stuffed full of great melodies and rhythm and power. I honestly wish we had a couple ballads to take it down a notch. 3.5/5
Jethro Tull
5/5
Mj Cole
3/5
If I were younger, i might enjoy the never ending dance beat over the same phrases repeated again and again. I loved it back in the day when disco did the same thing in their dance clubs. Now I can appreciate the innovation and the drive to make something new, but I don't have the patience to listen to two hours of dance music with a driving beat. 3/5
Michael Jackson
3/5
I graduated from highschool in the 80s. And even at the time, I didn't care too much for the pop superstars, like MJ and Madonna. This album has some fantastic tracks, like Smooth Criminal, but overall, it leaves me with a meh feeling. 3.5/5
Pearl Jam
2/5
Sure, they rock. But they are also pretty dull, to my ears. Not much in the way of variety. They have the occasional catchy line or two, but generally I could sleep through the whole thing. 2/5
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
True "roots" blues. This expert guitarist blends African American blues back with its Malian origins. And it rocks. I simply love this. 4/5
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Souxsie's singing takes a bit to get used to. But after the first few songs, I realize that she works quite well with the guitar strums. How was I supposed to know that I have always loved punk? 4/5
Morrissey
2/5
I am generally a fan of Morrissey's lyrics and I don't mind his singing. His politics is so inane and the lyrics in this album is just dumb. There is one good line: "You just want to be friendly, which means you don't know me at all". That's classic. Not the rest of it.
Deep Purple
4/5
A fantastic proto-metal album. Ian Gillian has never sounded better. The rock is spot on, sharing the stage with some funk and some classical. This is my cup of whiskey. 4/5
Stevie Wonder
5/5
One of the most magnificent albums ever created. The artist was in the midst of a creative streak throughout most of the 70s and this is the pinnacle of his achievement. Two full length albums and a single packed with meaningful, melodic masterpieces. 5/5
Stephen Stills
4/5
This is a lot. So much country, the occasional Mason Profitt harmonies, always excellent guitar work. The great thing is that the album builds to The Treasure, which should not be missed. Good listen. 3.5/5
Meat Loaf
4/5
A powerful addition to what I call, "Hyperdramatic songs" or music that overstates the significnce of the events described. Jim Steadman is the king of this music, and he has many songs to be included. Meatloaf has a perfect voice, and sometimes this album shows exactly what overdramatic means. 4/5
Prince
4/5
Some great songs. But what ruined it for me is watching the concert film first. Sheila E's drumming is so much more powerful than the weak drum machine on the studio. Studio album-- 3.5/5. Concert film-- 4.5/5
The Temptations
4/5
So smooth and gracious. Great Motown sounds.
4/5
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Solid rock, but I'd have to listen to it more to really rate it properly.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
A cohen album that I can fully support. He doesn't try to sing, but he keeps the rhythm, and he expresses the power of his words beautifully. 4/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
There was a time when CCR could do no wrong. This is one of those albums. Simple perfection.
3/5
Nice background music. Nothing to capture my attention. 3/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
The vocals are much less whiny than Mellon Collie. But the music is much less dramatic and powerful. I wish there could be some combo. 3.5/5
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
Solid Paul McCartney, but the best songs I heard a thousand times on 70s radio. The changes between melodies aren't as interesting anymore. Still I get fuzzy feelings listening to it. 4/5
Joy Division
1/5
I can hear how innovative this music would be in the disco/classic rock era. But Ian's vocals hold no joy for me. 1.5/5
Slipknot
2/5
This was a tough one. I can hear the musical benefit of this extreme thrash metal, but I won't be listening to it again. 2/5
Wilco
4/5
Quiet but deep. I'm not sure how fascinated by it, but it will take a few listens to decide. 4/5
Beck
4/5
He covers a lot of genre in here. He's always best in the rock guitar. I appreciate him working so hard. But I really only want to hear half the songs. 3.5/5
Pavement
3/5
A band I would love to listen to in a backyard in a small party. Not an album I would revisit. 3/5
Ravi Shankar
3/5
I do not have the minimum requirement to listen to sitar music and judge it. Personally, I think it is pleasant and wonderful to listen to as background. But I don't have enough knowledge to analyze it further. 3.5/5
Queen
4/5
I love Brian May, really I do. He is an amazing guitarist. But Side White (songs written by May) is clearly inferior to Side Black (songs written by Mercury). Freddy's operatic instincts win the day. Just side black is one of the greatest albums ever made. 4/5
Fleet Foxes
4/5
The perfect blend of folk and rock. 4.5/5
Terence Trent D'Arby
4/5
All throughout the 80s I only heard one of these songs, and I feel that I was missing a treasure, as if it were hidden from me. Not that every song is a masterpiece, but perhaps half of them are worthy to have heard my whole life instead of stumbling upon them when I'm almost 60. Glad I found this album now. 4/5
Hole
4/5
Powerful rock with punk influences. First time really listening to Courtney Love. Not my last. 4/5
Black Sabbath
5/5
A truly great rock album. All guitar, all rhythm, all power. It seems to lose steam as the album continues, but it never loses its rock value. No list of rock greats can miss the work here. 4.5/5
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
I have long heard and enjoyed the title track. Most of this album isn't as classy or enteretaining. A couple tracks are great, and the musicians are top notch, of course. 2.5/5
Black Sabbath
3/5
Great guitar work. The lyrics are much more poor and distracting than Paranoia. Still good. 3.5/5
Madonna
3/5
80s pop, with some exceptions, kinda bores me. This is especially true for the 80s output of the two biggest pop musicians-- Madonna and Michael Jackson. Not that they're bad. They're are expertly written, sung and produced. But there's not much interesting in there. 3/5
Louis Prima
4/5
Soooo much energy! And excitement! What a great pre-rock artist. 4/5
OutKast
4/5
What a fantastic mix of music. Hard rap presented gently, with a solid helping of 70s soul. I am not comfortable with the gangsta rap lyrics, but I can't say no to this music. 4/5
Supertramp
5/5
Musically, the best Supertramp album (not my favorite one). Amazing to listen to, quite different from the other prog rock. Wonderful. 4.5/5
The Doors
4/5
I don't think there is any better introduction to a band (first album, first song) as break on through. It is their philosophy of song and music all in one piece. In reality the album is mostly about sex, but the musical philosophy stands strong. 4.5/5
k.d. lang
4/5
Beautiful voice. Classy honky tonk. Wonderful guitar. Perfect accompaniment. What is there not to love? 4.5/5
Travis
3/5
For a Scottish band, they sound pretty American. I'm not complaining. They sound a lot like the band PFR, which is more creative, but being this is Travis' first album, it's pretty good. Pleasant vocals, pleasant music. But nothing earth shattering. BTW, it is such an irritating choice in the 90s and 00s to have a "surprise song" on the album, which is usually not released digitally separate from the previous single. Hate that. Nice to have a solid rock song at the end of the album, tho. 3/5
Fela Kuti
4/5
Cool african jazz. 4/5
Count Basie & His Orchestra
2/5
Count Basie is a legend. And a power. I know he's powerful because this music sounds like every other big band music Ive heard. Bombastic and unpleasant. I need someone to give me a better Basie album. 2/5
Massive Attack
3/5
Wait... Massive Attack doesn't just do TV themes? Huh.
Nothing really stuck me, except for the final song, Hymn of the Big Wheel. Really cool and thoughtful.
3/5
The The
4/5
Inspired 80s rock. I did like Mind Bomb better. But a lot of powerful drama here. 4/5
David Bowie
5/5
David Bowie left us with another masterpiece, barely finished in his last days. Musically, it is amazing, but it isn't easy. It is dark and haunted by a moaning spirit. It might take a few listens to appreciate. But it is completely worth it. 5/5
Tracy Chapman
5/5
I've been listening to this since the 80s. What a powerful, personal, political, perfect folk album. I hope to listen to it a hundred times again.
The Smiths
3/5
Another Smiths LP. Pretty good. But it all gets boring after a bit, not matter which album. 3.5/5
Pixies
4/5
Punk guitar visits the B52s. I love it.
4/5
Johnny Cash
4/5
A great live set with a great crowd. I especially loved the medley at the end with all the country stars. Not as original or fresh as the Folsom Prison album, but still a great listen. I am unsure why the listmakers determined they needed two Johnny Cash live albums on the list. 4/5
The Cult
2/5
Kinda dull 80s metal. A couple good songs, but the rest is disposable.
2/5
Led Zeppelin
5/5
What gorgeous blues/rock! This is a keeper for sure. 4.5/5
Pink Floyd
5/5
The greatest rock musical ever made (along with Tommy and JCS). The album i've listened to more than any other. Every song gives me joy and strength. Yep, still great. 5/5
Rocket From The Crypt
4/5
For a punk album, this is strangely and pleasantly nostalgic. I don't think I would listen to the album as a whole again, but there are many cuts I'd love to put on a playlist. 3.5/5
Sepultura
4/5
The metal is just metal, I suppose. Well done. But the blending of traditional instruments and rhythms into the metal, that is brilliance. Only a couple songs of that, so I won't judge the album as a whole too high. But I love the work. 3.5/5
Dire Straits
4/5
Mark Knofler's smooth guitar is among my favorite sounds, and this album gives the best of it. 4/5
Steely Dan
4/5
This sound is deeply attached to my years in middle school, when the album came out. Not happy times for me, but the music is deep in my soul. I can't judge it fairly, but I have to give it a positive review. 4/5
David Holmes
4/5
A unique, mostly instrumental mix of hip hop and mild club beats. I especially liked "Don't Die Yet". I am shocked to find that this was created by an Irish DJ. Quite good. 4/5
The Flying Burrito Brothers
2/5
Pretty excessive twang, in my opinion. Not my cup of communion juice. 2/4
Talking Heads
5/5
One of those albums I regret not hearing much earlier. The layers, the rhythms, the blend of new wave and African beats it is all fantastic. A keeper. 5/5
The La's
4/5
A great listen of indie 90's with a 60's groove. I likes it.
4/5
Radiohead
5/5
One of the great bands releasing a fantastic mix of music. 4.5/5
CHIC
3/5
Good Times is one of the most important songs of the disco/rap era. The album is mostly a snooze fest. 2.5/5
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
A solid rock album. I'm not a fan of all the songs, but it is a worthy listen and has some songs that push the boundaries of rock to the next stage. A little. 4/5
Steely Dan
4/5
Possibly the best Steely Dan album I've heard. wonderful jazz, mixed with 70s adult rock. Yeah, this is a good one. 4.5/5
Deerhunter
4/5
Lovely ambient rock, kind of like a vanilla Radiohead. 4/5
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Another double album filled with great songs and mediocre songs that are Stones' blues cliches . I would appreciate a trimmed album, myself. 3/5
Wilco
4/5
Depressing but musically astute album. I found it enjoyable. The opening was incredible. 3.5/5
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
4/5
Somewhat reminiscent of the Kinks, a very creative project with the title song moving to an exhilarating climax. 4/5
The Doors
4/5
A greater focus on blues than their earlier albums. Some great tracks, but the tendency to go a bit too long. Quite good.
4/5
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
Solid pop album. They really tried to mix up the harmonies to keep it interesting, but couldn't always do it. Still, one of the great accomplishments of the 60s. 4/5
Antony and the Johnsons
4/5
What a lovely voice and brilliant arrangements. This is a keeper.
4.5/5
The Beach Boys
3/5
A lot of psa on this album, which, in addition to the harmonies that always seemed very light hearted, makes the album seem almost silly. 3/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Nick Cave has always irritated me a little. His voice is just... off. And his songs a bit too long. And not enough melody. A couple of these songs (e.g. Lyre of Orpheus) I love. But not the album as a whole. 2.5/5
Bob Dylan
3/5
Some great songs, but the album as a whole is kind of repettive and the harmonica tends to be skreechy. The Band is on point, but I still can't give this high marks. 3/5
Paul Revere & The Raiders
2/5
The first song is still fresh, but the rest of the album, not so much. 2/5
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
An excellent 80s rock album. It doesn't cross any conceptual lines, it doesn't make new music, it doesn't expand my brain. It's just makes me happy. And that's more than enough. 4/5
The Band
5/5
A perfect album, every song a banger. Wonderful Americana and compelling. It's a keeper. 5/5
Oasis
4/5
Much better than their first album. The sound is so full and such solid rock. Kind of like a British Boston, in the sense that, like Boston, they are constantly filling each second with more and more sound, creating a symphony in every minute. Solid. 4.5/5
Dolly Parton
4/5
Really good country/bluegrass. Vocally, of course, it's fantastic. The musical support is light to focus on the singers, which is a shame, I think. Still, it's worth hearing. 4/5
Finley Quaye
4/5
Marvelous bass throughout-- next time I listen to this album, it will be for the bass. A lot of reggae, but this is more than just reggae, so much soul and some jazz adds so much to this album. Great stuff. 4/5
Fairport Convention
4/5
This mix of rock and folk is right up my ally. Traditional British folk accented with 60s electric guitar. Quite beautiful. 4/5
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
4/5
Wow, what a discovery. Folk, blues, country and psychedelic on an album I've never heard of. The quality of the production and performance is mixed, but this is still an album not to be missed. 4/5
B.B. King
1/5
BB King is one of the best blues players around, and it is always a joy to listen to him. This is possibly one of the worst productions of a live performance I've ever heard. Songs cut, the same song posted twice (although different versions), a jolly keyboard in the penultimate spot. Just a mess. BB always gets a 4/5, this album gets a 1.
The Black Crowes
4/5
Simple, straightforward classic rock. Good. A couple of the songs are great-- She talks with Angels and the concluding song. The rest is a good listen but nothing to make one sit up and notice. 3.5/5
Pink Floyd
5/5
I first delved into the Roger Waters deep end of the Pink Floyd pool, and then the late Floyd Gilmour years. I came to Syd late, and his music was most difficult for me to accept after the more lyrical Floyd. But this Floyd was the most psychedelic and this album the most perfect British-style psychedelic album existing. American-style tries to imitate the drug experience, while Brits psychedelia, at least in this early stage, re-create one's childhood memories. It took much longer for me to love, but love it I do and it might be the most innovative of Floyd albums. 5/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Great keyboard work. Great vocals. Good songs. Solid dance album. I'll come back to this one, for certain. 4/5
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Growing up, my grandmother loved Frank Sinatra and this is one of the albums she plays on her couch-sized phonograph. I rejected Frankie, because he was so "old" by which I meant, pre-rock. Now I love his voice, but much of the overbearing big band backups I never cared for. This is just right, the horns accompanying, not overpowering Frankie's voice. It's a keeper. 4/5
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
The vocals remind me of the Kinks. The horns remind me of Burt Bacharach songs. The soft acoustic guitar makes me sleepy. Zzzzzzz.... 2.5/5
Sonic Youth
4/5
This week is my Sonic Youth week-- three albums in four days! Well, I appreciate them all. This work has More standard songs than before with just a touch of the experimentation in them. Not as exciting as their earlier work, but still worth listening to. 3.5/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Another great album by CCR. The longer songs are duller than many of the other longish CCR songs, but still good, with lots of energy. If one is a CCR fan, there is little new to hear here, but Good Golly Miss Molly is an excellent cover. 3.5/5
Talking Heads
4/5
The first half of this album is "The Talking Heads... Dance!" Great stuff. This is the Talking Heads album I wish I had heard to introduce the band to me. Still, David Byrnes style is interesting, but difficult to hear for a full album. It gets dull after a while. I think I'll stick to my Talking Heads playlist of my personal favorites. 4/5
R.E.M.
2/5
I've never listened to much REM. Just radio hits, mostly. If this is any indication, I'll stick with those.
2/5
Soft Cell
4/5
Tainted Love is always a banger. But the song before it and after it were meh. But as the album continued, it got better, still very 80s synth. Good job, folks. 3.5/5
Nitin Sawhney
4/5
Amazing album. Soul and East Indian together. So great 4.5/5
Calexico
3/5
I like the multiple instrumental tracks, especially. It feels like really soft pop, enjoyable but hard to pay attention to. A nice mix of genres. 3/5
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
Very reminiscent for me of Iron and Wine-- gentle voice, folksy guitar, story songs. I like it. But I love Iron and Wine. I wonder what makes the difference? 4/5
Thelonious Monk
3/5
Masters of jazz like Mr. Monk have enriched all of the music we listen to. But as I've said before, I am not a skilled listener of high level jazz. I enjoyed some of this album but I am certain I was supposed to enjoy it more. Because of the xylophone work on Pannonica, it reminds me of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, probably not what the artists had in mind. I am sure the work is genius, but I can only measure my appreciation, which is middling, I fear. 3/5
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
Weak lyrics, but it really rocks. Kind of a pop-punk. So nice to hear some of the Cricket's songs that haven't been overplayed. I'll come back here for certain. 4/5
New Order
2/5
Not great. Depeche Mode was releasing similar music at this time with stronger vocals and better keyboard based music. New Order has never really been for me. 2/5
George Harrison
5/5
The best solo album by a Beatle. One of the best albums ever. It's all George, but there's a fair amount of variety and every tune is thoughtful and gorgeous. 5/5
3/5
A very cool experimental album. Very innovative and necessary for the ongoing progression of music. But, like John Cage, it is rarely enjoyable. In the spectrum of experimental to enjoyable, this album leans on the experimental too often. I find that early Pink Floyd leans the other way.
2.5/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Pleasant, but not compelling. 2.5/5
The Cure
3/5
I really enjoy the moody, dark music The Cure creates. I just really dislike the whiney voice of the lead vocal. I never could listen to them for very long, although their music is right up my alley. Now I discovered that they have a number of instrumental tracks, which I really enjoy. But I don't want to listen to their whole albums. 3/5
Elbow
5/5
I was turned off by the first couple songs-- too shocking and then too dull-- but the rest of the album is some of the best music I've heard of the millennium. What a great find! 4.5/5 (except for the first couple songs)
Fatboy Slim
2/5
Good music, but my poor head can't handle club music. I need more variety in my songs. 2.5/5
Depeche Mode
5/5
A brilliant sound with some of my favorite songs. 4.5/5
The Charlatans
3/5
Most of the album bore no improvement over any Oasis track. The final three songs, however were quite good and I'd love to listen to them again. 3.5/5
Circle Jerks
2/5
It's classic punk. It's loud. It's serious. It's silly. I'm glad it's short.
Rush
4/5
A fantastic album, where most of the songs already played on classic rock stations. The only song I'm disappointed with is Camera's Eye, because it sounds too close to part of Red Barchetta, my favorite Rush song. Still, it's always good to listen to. 4/5
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
The smoothest of smooth soul. So good, but hard for me to pay attention to. 4/5
The Police
4/5
This is my favorite version of The Police-- more punk, quicker rhythm. My favorite of this style is Do do do, but these songs are also fantastic, fun, like they were still enjoying playing. The later albums were overplayed and overhyped, but this is what I prefer. 4/5
I really thought that the album would be full of Rod as lead singer and lots of jamming. It's way more cool than that. Quite a variety of playing and harmonies and not a bad song in the bunch. 4.5/5
Air
3/5
Peaceful. It's... fine.
Beatles
3/5
If this were as far as the Beatles developed, I'd not really care. There are a couple great songs-- All My Lovin'; Money; but they haven't acheived their "sound" yet. So glad the fab four and their team kept at it. 3/5
Funkadelic
4/5
The title song was perfect for me-- Pink Floyd prog rock with soul mixed in. The rest was solid soul. All great until the chaotic Back in our minds at the end. Still, generally good. 4/5
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
An album of Clapton's muscle blues with a great backing band. This album includes my favorite single of all time, "Layla". The rest is some great white skinned blues of the time, but not transcendent. Highlights also include Bell Bottom Blues and Anyday. 4/5
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
She's so 80s... but in a good way. Frankly, I'm tired of most 80s music-- I had to hear it everyday in the 80s. But Cyndi is still fresh and innovative. I'll always have a place in my. heart for this album. 4/5
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Casanova, it seems, really wants to be a crooner with magnificent orchestral backup. Sometimes it works, espcially when it has a Sgt Pepper's feel. Sometimes it doesn't like the last couple ending songs. It's a pleasant listen, but it was done better in the 60s.
Scott Walker
3/5
Excellent crooning. Each track sounds like a piece from a musical with orchestration providing the drama. Doesn't seem to have a high view of women, which sucks. 3/5
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
This is a weak FM album, make weaker because it was the follow up to one of the greatest albums, Rumors. I love the title song, but honestly, I think it would have been better if the Christie McVie and Stevie Nicks songs were given their own album. 3/5
The Zombies
4/5
A collection of some of the best of 60s rock-- folk, harpsichord, all manner of harmonies. And it ends on their darkest sounding song with organ, kind of Doors-ish. Just a great album. 4/5
John Cale
4/5
Very innovative for 1973, like a precursor for ELO. But not much on this is news in 2025. I liked a couple of the tracks on the outtakes, like the drone version of Hanky Panky Nohow. 3.5/5
Fiona Apple
4/5
An excellent addition to the woman confessional album. Great tunes. 4/5
Television
4/5
Excellent guitar work and a 70's punk aesthetic I really appreciate. I need to listen to this more. 4/5
Ray Price
4/5
I am shocked how much I love this album. It is part country, part crooner, part Fred Sinatra jazz with the occasional rock thrown in. And it's all good. Really a pleasure to listen to. 4.5/5
Pretenders
3/5
Wonderful post punk/new wave. But I wish it were a bit more varied with so many songs. 3.5/5
Al Green
4/5
The smoothest vocal of the 70s. Great soul. 4/5
Cowboy Junkies
4/5
Smooth, jazzy blues with a strong bass. I could listen to them all night, every night. 4.5/5
Van Morrison
5/5
Love this album. It is the ambiance version of folk-rock. The lyrics aren't much, but the vocals are perfect with the music to relax and grant peace to the world. The lengthy ends also encourages meditation. Shanti. 5/5
2Pac
3/5
I really enjoyed the soul notes behind his excellent rap. Just solid music. 3.5/5
Kanye West
4/5
Musically amazing. Confessional and innovative. I'd pick and choose what of the album I'd listen to, but there is just so much enjoy.
The Who
3/5
For the time it was released, this is powerful rock. But compared to later Who, it's kinda week. Some great singles, some good blues, but it doesn't capture me as a whole. 3/5
Arcade Fire
3/5
Nice. Not nearly as good as Funeral. 3/5
Kate Bush
5/5
A series of haunting dreams and nightmares. Completely drowned in 80s art-rock, but refreshing. I wish I had heard her albums back in the day, they are so wonderful. 4.5/5
Beth Orton
4/5
Singer songwriter in the tradition of Joni Mitchell and Natalie Merchant. My favorite kind. 4/5
The Sabres Of Paradise
2/5
Minimalist rhythmic electronica. pretty dull 1.5/5
Jurassic 5
3/5
Pleasant alternative hip hop. I can get into it. Eventually. 3/5
Ice Cube
4/5
A powerful and engaging message with a strong hip hop beat. I love Ice's voice here, even if the vocabulary isn't to my liking. Still, Ice tells it like it is. 4/5
Fishbone
4/5
Well, that's a lot. A lot of genre, a lot of power, and some acustic rock. I'd say that I love a lot of the parts of this album but it doesn't really hold together that well. Should be divided into playlists. 4/5
The Who
4/5
This album has the feel of a "Best of The Who" because so many of these tracks were played (overplayed) on Classic Rock radio. There is no denying that these are among their greatest songs. But the Overplay is a strong negative factor. Hard to make a determination. 4/5
Justin Timberlake
3/5
vocally, he's between Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. But his music just doesn't have their groove, so it just feels watered down. 3/5
Stevie Wonder
5/5
A couple of Stevie's greatest singles wrapped with a top notch album. So close to perfection that it makes no difference. 4.5/5
Traffic
4/5
Just the kind of 60's rock I like with a lot of folks and blues. I really love about half the songs. 4/5
Joni Mitchell
5/5
The mother and heart of the confessional folk song movement. I can't listen to it enough. 4.5/5
Khaled
4/5
Enjoyable Algerian rock. A lot of energy. 3.5/5
Tricky
5/5
Possibly my favorite hip hop album. Smooth singing, soft grooves. Yeah, they finally did a modern soul album for me. 4.5/5
Metallica
3/5
my first Metallica album. Not nearly as good as Master or Metallica. Rhythmically, it's pretty basic. 3/5
Super Furry Animals
4/5
An enjoyable and often psychedelic romp of pop and prog. 4/5
Butthole Surfers
4/5
Experimental music with some fantastic guitar and production work. Kind of a Sgt Peppers of metal. I need to hear more of these guys, although I'd prefer longer, more developed versions of these songs. 4/5
The Everly Brothers
3/5
I love their harmony and their guitar, but their overall approach is so dull unless they pick up a song with some soul like Lucille. 3/5
Pink Floyd
5/5
One of the greatest easy-listening albums ever made. Oh, and Have a Cigar. 5/5
The Who
4/5
Some great Who music interrupted by commercials. I get the point, but can we just stick to the music? 4/5
Neil Young
3/5
Not my favorite work of Neil Young. It takes a lot of talent to overcome his whiney voice. 2.5/5
Adele
5/5
Two British women revitalized vocal soul in the 21st century: Amy Winehouse and Adele. I appreciate their work of 'blue eyed' soul so much, following Aretha and Dusty. I can listen to this over and over. 5/5
Mylo
2/5
I see what they mean by "destroy". When it's not irritating, it's dull. I'll give it a star for the update to Betty Davis' Eyes. 2/5
Electric Light Orchestra
5/5
The best produced, most consistent ELO album. This is a keeper. 4.5
Tom Waits
3/5
I dont thinks it's as captivating as the Swordfish album. Still Tom Waits, just less umph for me. 2.5/5