I remember getting this album when it came out. I had heard “Stillness is the Move” at an Urban Outfitters probably. I remember getting it and being incredibly disappointed at the presence of this dude. It gave me the impression of an annoying perv and his two teenage wives starting a band. There are some good parts, but you don’t get to enjoy them for very long before it totally changes on you. I found it annoying by the end of the listen and it was mostly that guys fault. And ugh that awful jangly guitar! No. To put them in the context of the time it felt like they were trying to do a Captain Beefheart spin on Grizzly Bear’s music. NO Anyway I listened to it for the first time since then today and I feel basically the same. I did forget that I liked Two Doves, very Nico and that guy sat that one out too which was a nice reprieve.

I was pretty bummed when this one popped up. I remember these guys coming up while I was in middle school and I thought they made boring music for boring people. Although I would watch The Scientist music video whenever it was on because I couldn’t figure out how it was in reverse but his singing remained forward?? But I figured it might be good to see if they were more interesting in these earlier albums before being put through the machine (although I would have preferred to do that with the debut album Parachutes). I will say Politik was a solid opener that gave me some hope for this album. Unfortunately the hope was misplaced and the album would not end up getting any better for me. Dunking on Coldplay is easy— and Green eyes was a nice change up no matter how slight— but this album was a big nothing. The definition of dull. No edge and evokes no emotion from me whatsoever. How anyone gets anything out of this album is a total mystery to me. I decided to give Parachutes a listen for the first time and while still not my thing, it at least had more diversity of sound and didn’t make me feel like I had chugged a keg of robitussin beforehand. They clearly lost any sort of genuine ambition and creativity by the time they made AROBTTH. But I’m giving it a 2 instead of 1 because Chris Martin sang that shit in reverse in The Scientist video.

I did not enjoy my stay at the Pleasuredome. If you like synths and cocaine, or this reminds you of a time when you did like synths and cocaine, then this album might be for you. I really want to be sparse with my 1s and I hate giving one so early in my journey but this was an awful experience and I would have happily gone to the grave having never heard it. It ruined my Sunday and I work hard all week. I’m a nice lady and I didn’t deserve this.

This is a great album. I was verging on like 3.5 until I realized I had saved over half the songs to listen to again later. I’ve never been a huge fan of his voice but the songs I end up liking I really like. I don’t know how often I’ll sit and re-listen in its entirety but it’s clearly a very well done album. Special shout out to When You Dance I Can Really Love. I had never heard it before and I’m so happy I finally have.

I don’t know why I can’t get into jazz. It’s easy listening and usually done by very talented performers. It reminds me of nice things like Charlie Brown cartoons and Christmas time! But for some reason I just haven’t been able to find my way in, so I was excited to see a jazz album appear for today’s album. That it’s a live album is such a cool thing. You get to know Sarah as a performer and also get a peak into her personality (see: How High the Moon). But no songs particularly stuck out to me and I was mostly bored. Some of the albums on this list became annoying when they got boring, but At Mister Kelly’s remained pleasantly boring for the most part. It’s clearly a well done album by a very talented woman, it just isn’t for me. But I’ll continue to leave my heart and ears open for future jazz albums just in case there is one for me out there!

Honestly it’s a solid 3.5. This was super fun and I gravitated to quite a few of the songs (Change in Speak, Say No Go, Plug Tunin’, just to name a few). Me Myself and I speaks to me as a kid who was raised on Nickelodeon. It is an album made by kids having a good time and I probably would have done a full four stars back in high school

I know Radiohead has done better than this. Probably won’t return to. There, There was good once it started going though

A great fun album that would be nice to throw on for background music. Great covers and really enjoyed hearing more than Green Onions— Comin’ Home Baby was great! Overall it’s a good album, it did feel repetitive at a point and like there wasn’t much difference from the previous song.

This was such a great album. It was fun and interesting the whole way through. No notes. I’ll absolutely have this in rotation (but I might skip the title track moving forward)

Idk man. I should like these guys more than I do. All my favorite bands site them as influences. Hell one of my favorite bands growing up was Interpol whose singer took Curtis’ whole style. But it does nothing for me. I missed the window in my youth to find a way in and the few songs I do like were all from Unknown Pleasures. I think this means more to people who know Ian’s story and where he was at this point in his life with this record and were invested enough to figure out what he’s saying through the awful mix. To me it’s just incredibly repetitive and Ian sings like he’s sedated. The only songs that stood out were

I don’t think I can give this an objective rating because of the nostalgia factor. I loved this album growing up and I don’t think I’ve actually listened to it in its entirety since then. But today I can confirm it still very much holds up. There’s not a stinker in the bunch. I will say with hindsight that I don’t think I realized how much of the screamo/hardcore scene of the mid to late aughts sounded so much like “Endless, Nameless”. More influential than I realized! A classic album that I 100% agree should be heard before you die.

A terrible vocalist and not a single hook to be found. I don’t feel it needs to be taking up a spot on this list at all. I found the last song somewhat catchy but then I realized it’s because he stole the bass line from “Louie Louie”. Was going to give this a 2 until I got to the drum part of “Giant”, a 10 minute song. Now you get a 1, jerk.

I was listening and thought “Jesus this guy sounds like rod stewart” and now I’m seeing it was actually rod stewart. Ugh. Jeff Beck is clearly talented but not a single song stood out to me and I can say for certain I won’t return to this one again.

I was not expecting to like this album this much. It’s bluesy without being self indulgent, and every song has something special. Gosh and I forgot how much I liked Moonlight Mile! What a great album I’m glad I heard it in its entirety before I died.

If you like “Killing in the Name” then you’re in luck! This album has that song and nine other slight variations of the same song. Luckily I do like that song so this was enjoyable. Always relevant but also pretty repetitive. But yeah there wasn’t much variation from one track to the next.

Loved it! Will be a great album to just throw on. Before this I only knew Cars (obviously) and M.E. and I’m glad I finally listened to the whole thing. Maybe a little dated/corny but he’s doing some great stuff here.

It’s late 50s/early 60s Elvis, it’s exactly how you think it would be. It’s fine and easy listening but not something I would reach for I don’t think

I don’t know. Another case of “clearly talented but not for me”. Also where the hell have I heard Take Five before?? It’s driving me nuts

I only liked Band on the Run and I already knew that one. Nothing special here to me.

I wrote a whole thing and it got deleted. Missing narration for this to make any sense. Long and meandering.

Man, his lyrics are mostly dumb and some songs go on too long but holy shit this fucks. Giving it a five because I feel that it is very likely that I sit and listen to this in its entirety again. So much fun, the Mothers are awesome.

I had a few of their songs in rotation in high school, “Maps” is of course a classic for my generation. But to my surprise upon re-listen this just feels like some Scott Pilgrim-ass music that was prevalent in the aughts that does nothing but annoy me in my older age. Karen O is talented at what she does but I don’t think it’s for me— or at least not anymore.

One review said this sounds like rejected songs from Tony Hawk Pro Skater and it’s very apt. These guys sound like the opener you have to get through before the band you came to see performs. I don’t know what the person who insisted this album be on the list was trying to prove with this one. I won’t give it a 1 because I’m sure this was really something in ‘91 but it just doesn’t stand the test of time. Not a single song stood out to me and within a year I will likely forget ever hearing it.

Moz sucks, we know it. It will be his legacy. But The Smiths… The Smiths are very good. This one would probably get 3.5 but I’m rounding up because this was a big one for me in high school.

It’s real good but it gets a 3 because I know the pixies are capable of much more than this.

I remember getting this album when it came out. I had heard “Stillness is the Move” at an Urban Outfitters probably. I remember getting it and being incredibly disappointed at the presence of this dude. It gave me the impression of an annoying perv and his two teenage wives starting a band. There are some good parts, but you don’t get to enjoy them for very long before it totally changes on you. I found it annoying by the end of the listen and it was mostly that guys fault. And ugh that awful jangly guitar! No. To put them in the context of the time it felt like they were trying to do a Captain Beefheart spin on Grizzly Bear’s music. NO Anyway I listened to it for the first time since then today and I feel basically the same. I did forget that I liked Two Doves, very Nico and that guy sat that one out too which was a nice reprieve.

I’ve never personally been a huge fan of the underground. This album I felt was always about a grimy New York life that didn’t resonate with me in the slightest. This was the first time I’ve actually listened to this album in its entirety. While this may not be one I would find myself in the mood to revisit many times again, this is clearly a huge influential album. It really does feel like it transports you to NY in the 60s. The differing energies you find with each song a different facet of life at that time with Reed’s ability to speak to it plainly. I’m not sure what special power Nico has to sing that badly and have it be this enjoyable but she was an excellent addition here. I like Venus in Furs, Femme Fatale, All Tomorrows Parties. Heroin really takes you through that journey. The slowed down mellow with the anxiety-inducing speed up of the music really lets the listener in on the experience. The drums really feel like they’re mimicking different heart rates. Alternatively, Black Angels of Death and European Son are clear examples of why I think overall this band is just not for me. These are the kind of songs I think of when I think of VU and Lou Reed. It’s what has made me avoid them for most my life. I wrestled with giving it a 3 or a 4 because I was trying to make sure I was listening to my personal feelings about it and not being swayed by its legacy. But I know in my heart it’s not a 4 star album for me.

A psychedelic album about Americana and humor really only appeals to that generation who had access to less tainted drugs, could own homes with ease, and every job they fell ass first into had a pension waiting for them. I like The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson is clearly talented. But I’m not smiling.

I had high hopes for this one but it was just ok? No stand out tracks that I would revisit and I’m not sure I would want to listen to this in its entirety again. Very talented though and I do like how ambitious of a debut album this is. It just isn’t for me.

SZA is good, Ctrl is good.

This was fun. Great beats, great features. Love love J Dilla “Donuts” should be on this list if it isn’t. Its a 3 for me because as a whole it was long and the songs that didn’t hook me were hard to get through. I also am just not a fan of skits/long intros of talking

The generator gave me the wrong album on the wrong day. I am feeling under the weather and have zero patience for this level of dreary ambient nothing.

This was fine I guess! I won’t listen to it again but I wasn’t mad about it.