306
Albums Rated
3.14
Average Rating
28%
Complete
783 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950
Favorite Decade
Blues
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
19
5-Star Albums
7
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
|
5 | 2.98 | +2.02 |
|
Roger the Engineer
The Yardbirds
|
5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
|
Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
|
5 | 3.33 | +1.67 |
|
Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
|
5 | 3.43 | +1.57 |
|
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
|
5 | 3.49 | +1.51 |
|
Hotel California
Eagles
|
5 | 3.6 | +1.4 |
|
Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
|
5 | 3.63 | +1.37 |
|
Band On The Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
|
5 | 3.66 | +1.34 |
|
Boston
Boston
|
5 | 3.71 | +1.29 |
|
Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
|
5 | 3.77 | +1.23 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
|
1 | 3.99 | -2.99 |
|
good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
|
1 | 3.62 | -2.62 |
|
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
|
1 | 3.37 | -2.37 |
|
Le Tigre
Le Tigre
|
1 | 3.14 | -2.14 |
|
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Raekwon
|
1 | 2.85 | -1.85 |
|
In Rainbows
Radiohead
|
2 | 3.84 | -1.84 |
|
In Utero
Nirvana
|
2 | 3.83 | -1.83 |
|
Roots
Sepultura
|
1 | 2.79 | -1.79 |
|
The Score
Fugees
|
2 | 3.69 | -1.69 |
|
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
|
2 | 3.64 | -1.64 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 6 | 4.5 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 2 | 5 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Pere Ubu | 2 | 1.5 |
| Public Enemy | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (19)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Boston · 2 likes
5/5
Here’s another one of those albums that we were required to have when it was released, back in the day. Being in college at the time, I suppose college kids talk amongst themselves and let everyone know which music is necessary to have in your collection. Listening to it now I forgot how good it is. There are eight tracks and seven of them were big hits. Few albums have that percentage of success.
Les Rythmes Digitales · 1 likes
3/5
Despite the French name, this guy/group is British. This is an album full of dance/elctronica music from the 90s. The tracks on the app differed from those on Wiki (I used the app). While listening to it I felt like I was hanging at the club. Overall the music exceeded my low expectations; it would serve as great background music while you are doing something else. 7 out of 10.
Joni Mitchell · 1 likes
3/5
If you are not paying too much attention to the lyrics (as I tend to do) this was enjoyable listening. If you’re trying to hear and understand all the lyrics, then this album would be lots of effort (for me anyway). Classic Joni Mitchell stuff.
Arcade Fire · 1 likes
3/5
This seems like a pretty recent addition to the list of albums (2007). I’ve heard of this group but have been unfamiliar with their music until now. The album title and the organ throughout give it a religious feel. I like a few of these tracks but not quite enough for me to give it 4 stars.
Pere Ubu · 1 likes
1/5
I give the group credit for charting their own musical path. However, most of the album is trash; many of these entries are just a collection of noises. The singer is difficult to understand. Reminds me of the Talking Heads, but much worse. They should have released a single with Dub Housing/Dance party, and scrapped the rest.
1-Star Albums (7)
All Ratings
Gorillaz
3/5
I listened to the standard edition of this album. At times it was too repetitive, but overall it was ok. Clint Eastwood was a big radio hit.
Funkadelic
4/5
At the height of disco, this album was released. I detect a bit of disco here, but overall excellent funk music.
Beatles
5/5
A double album, with a diversre set of songs. Excellent.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
Several tunes that are often heard on oldies radio. Overall a good album.
The Sabres Of Paradise
2/5
British group doing electronic music. Enjoyed tow truck and bubble part 2. Many of these ran too long.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
An album I never knew existed, and with no songs I ever heard before, despite the fact that Hendrix was/is quite popular.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Sounds like all the other jazz combos that I’ve heard.
Sheryl Crow
3/5
This is a nice album with many songs that had heavy radio play at the time. However, to me it doesn’t stand out from hundreds of others.
Talking Heads
4/5
This was one of my favorite bands from the 1970s-80s. I heard once that they never used more than three chords in any of their songs. One negative - I thought the end was a bit slow. Heavy on electronica.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
A pleasant listening experience. Two songs were radio hits at the time. This slightly exceeded my expectations, but not enough to rate it as 4.
John Lennon
3/5
This is an album I never heard, I suppose because it never was commercially successful. Sounds like classic John Lennon with a very basic sound.
The Smiths
3/5
Another British group I never heard of, although apparently they were quite influential. Their sound is typical 1980s. If the ratings allowed I’d give them a 3.5, a bit above average.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Mostly recorded at her home, for me this was very creative and well done.
Kendrick Lamar
1/5
I listen to albums for the music, so rap is not my bag, baby. Most of the album is people talking or reciting poetry. The lyrics may reflect the artist’s background, and there’s a lot of violence. What music there is is very basic and repetitive.
ZZ Top
4/5
The version I listened to had three live bonus songs at the end. These were nice but I preferred the sound quality of the ten studio recorded songs. Classic rock from the 70s.
Kraftwerk
2/5
Somehow I missed how the sideshow dummies learned how to walk and dance. Other than Franz Schubert, the rest of the album seemed one dimensional to me, with lots of train-like sounds.
Steely Dan
4/5
Very good album. The East St. Louis Toodle-oo is a cover of a Duke Ellington tune.
Alice In Chains
3/5
The farther into the album I listened, the more I enjoyed this one.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Only seven songs on this album, overall sounds good. I might be tempted to give it 3.5 stars if that were allowed.
Paul Simon
4/5
Very popular album when it was released. I enjoyed it.
Wilco
3/5
Wilco is a band I haven’t heard about for many years, and I never listened to any of their albums. This one is a double album, a collection of blues, country, rock, ballads, and hard rock. Overall it was good. It did seem to drag slightly in the middle.
Missy Elliott
2/5
The parental advisory on this album certainly is well-deserved. This may be a very good rap/hip hop album, except rap is not my style. It’s pretty easy to listen to. I would give it a 5 out of 10, but for the constraints of the rating system.
Queen
5/5
Outstanding album, with many different styles and complex harmonies. Had this on an eight-track tape back in the 70’s until it was stolen out of my car in 1978. Haven’t listened to the whole album since.
Coldplay
3/5
A couple songs I enjoyed, the rest were pleasant but not memorable.
Meat Loaf
4/5
Five of the seven songs on this album were popular radio hits when it was released, although I never heard the album iin its entirety. Overall very good in my opinion, but not quite five stars.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
A mix of blues, jazz, soul, and folk songs in my opinion. Well done and easy listening
Various Artists
3/5
This album has a few popular (on the radio) songs, and overall I’d rate it three stars. I am unfamiliar with Bob B Soxx. Seems like he was thrown in there just for variety.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Old Leonard doesn’t sing as well as younger Leonard, but it’s the same style and good poetry. I enjoyed the songs with backing vocalists more. A solid three out of five stars.
Wilco
3/5
We heard another Wilco album last week, so this one was more of the same but not as interesting to me. The first half of the album seemed slow and boring. The second half was better in my opinion.
The Strokes
3/5
The garage band from New York exceeded my low expectations. Some catchy tunes, and overall their album gets three stars.
The Lemonheads
3/5
Seems pleasant enough I suppose. Nothing memorable for me though. Based on the the internet I expected a hard rock band.
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
The album cover is Halloween-y looking. Sounds like a solid southern rock band. i thought disc one was better than disc two. They seem obsessed with Alabama even though they are from Georgia.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Generally acoustic music on this album. Several big hits and some that I never heard. Hearing the 7 pm news makes me think not much has changed in sixty years. A very good album.
Alanis Morissette
4/5
It’s hard to believe this album is 30 years old. Hearing the entire album for the first time, I appreciate it more than when it was released. Unusual for an album to have so many hit singles. I would rate it 9/10.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Negatives: too much record scratching, lack of music (just two guys talking to a beat). Positives: lots of energy, reasonably creative lyrics for hip hop. I give it three stars since it was an influential album.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
I would categorize this as folk music with complex lyrics. Enjoyable to hear what Leonard has to say in each of his compositions.
Pere Ubu
1/5
I give the group credit for charting their own musical path. However, most of the album is trash; many of these entries are just a collection of noises. The singer is difficult to understand. Reminds me of the Talking Heads, but much worse. They should have released a single with Dub Housing/Dance party, and scrapped the rest.
Ray Charles
5/5
I listened to the 2009 version, which is a double album with 24 songs. These all are covers of country-western songs done in mellow Ray Charles style. I was too young to know the significance of this record, but apparently it was influential for black artists then.
Beatles
4/5
Some early Beatles, pre-Capitol Records era. Lots of covers here with a few originals. Hard to believe after all this time there was one song I never heard before (Hold me Tight). This album seems very standard now, but in 1963-1964 this music was all the rage.
Tracy Chapman
3/5
If not for “Fast Car”, which was played on radio, I probably never would have known about Tracy Chapman. Anyhow, this is a good album for a debut. I give it three stars.
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
I listened to the original album, not the 25th anniversary with extra tracks. The lead poet kept the beat well and was reasonably easy to understand. The short clips of older songs made me wonder: should the tribe get credit for being creative or lose credit for not being able to come up with their own music. For a hip hop album it was ok - 3 stars.
Spiritualized
2/5
Spiritualized - that’s a good name for a group. Space rock - that’s an interesting genre. This British group is another one I never heard of. My feedback: eliminate all the songs with random noise, and cut the length of some songs (too repetitive). There are a few good ones, however not enough for me. Two stars.
Beth Orton
3/5
Another British artist with whom I am unfamiliar. She has a good voice but after about eight songs I began to find it slightly annoying. Overall it was not memorable, although there were a few good tunes. If the ratings were 0-10 this album would get 5. I’ll round up to 3/5.
Nick Drake
3/5
This album was an interesting blend of jazz, folk, and nightclub music from another British guy I never heard of. Very easy listening but nothing too memorable. Seems like the kind of music you could play in the background.
Jimmy Smith
2/5
I listened to the original release (four tracks), not the re-release. Jimmy was master of the Hammond organ and he influenced many later artists. The sax player is also very good here. Maybe I’ve heard too many jazz combos, as there was nothing memorable for me.
Kate Bush
2/5
Kate Bush was the musical guest on SNL in 1978, and I remember that she was not memorable. She always has been popular in the UK and Australia but never was a big hit here. Most of the songs on this album feature her teenage girl voice, although she was more rock and roll on “Rocket Tail”. Her message on “Deeper Understanding” certainly is relatable, and back then it was just tv and computers.
The Police
3/5
The Police was one of those groups who gained greater success when MTV started. This album had two tunes played a lot on radio, and the rest of the album (which I haven’t heard till now) seems very representative of their music.
The Undertones
4/5
Here’s another UK group I never heard of. This album was a pleasant surprise for me. The lyrics are pretty basic, but I thought the variety of music was good. Under the Boardwalk is a cover of the Drifters song.
3/5
At least one of the tracks on this album was a radio hit when it was released, and maybe more. I viewed Oasis as a good band which made a big splash because of their lifestyle and clever marketing. Overall a good album but nothing that stands out to me. Three stars.
Frank Ocean
3/5
This guy is from Long Beach, which seems unusual for an R&B artist. I never heard of him, which isn’t surprising since I don’t know many 21st century artists. Anyway, this album is pretty easy listening. Nothing remarkable but decent.
Fugees
2/5
This album was too long and should have been split into two albums of standard length. There was too much repetition here, e.g. all those Fug-ee La mixes. My usual comment with rap music applies here - too much talking. I liked that the group incorporated clips of older music throughout.
Gene Clark
3/5
This artist was with the Byrds, and I can hear their music in this album. I listened to the original album release, not the later release with bonus tracks. Overall very smooth and easy listening, my only criticism is with the frequent annoying bean bag percussion throughout.
The Beta Band
3/5
This is another group from the UK. Most groups have a specific genre, but these guys seem to be electronica, rock, and very etherial. Sometimes they remind me of Pink Floyd, sometimes Depeche Mode. I applaud them for their diverse music, although nothing stood out to me as outstanding.
Beatles
4/5
This is my first time hearing the entire album, although many of these songs were/are popular. Many critics feel this is the best Beatles album, and even the best album ever. Apparently many innovative audio techniques were employed here. For me this was very good but not quite five stars.
Rush
3/5
It’s nice to see that Rush was included on this list, although there are better Rush albums than this one. Perhaps they will appear later. Not that this was horrible, I thought it was standard Rush.
Adele
3/5
For those who like Adele I can see why they think this is a great album. I’m not one of those; for some reason I never liked Adele. Of the songs on this album, the ones that were radio hits are not as good as some of the others in my opinion. Anyway, it was ok. Three stars.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
This is a double album. I listened to the original release, not the later releases with extra tracks. Certainly a popular album when it was released, with a few hit singles. Very smooth listening, with a nice variety of songs. Stevie Wonder is one of those artists that has some very good tunes, and a lot of songs that I don’t like (although not horrible).
The Only Ones
3/5
Here is another British band I never heard of. This album starts smooth and mellow then transitions to rock. The singer has a sort of droopy voice (reminds me of Lou Reed). Overall this was better than I expected, but nothing memorable. Three stars.
Beastie Boys
2/5
The group gets high marks for their clever and sometimes funny lyrics. Almost every track contains a sample of older music; I recognized Curtis Mayfield, the Beatles, and the Isley brothers in here. Otherwise, this is just more hip hop in my opinion.
The Cure
2/5
Some early music from the Cure. They have a distinctive style even in this early album. However, this was quite mundane and unexciting for me. Not something I’d listen to over and over.
Ice Cube
3/5
Listening to Ice Cube caused me to ponder whether I should change my approach to rating albums on this 1001 album list. Up to now I’ve assumed that the list included just “music”, not comedy albums, etc. But this album seemed to be making a commentary or political statement. Musically I would rate it like other rap albums so far (two stars). Factoring in its emotional/social impact it gets a better rating.
Beatles
4/5
This is one album we have, so I listened to it rather than on Spotify, which by the way is a remastered version and much different regarding number of tracks and sequencing. Anyhow, this album highlights the Beatles as they begin to change direction. There are some vintage Beatles tracks along with some more creative ones. Many of these were big radio hits. Very good overall but not quite five stars.
John Prine
4/5
A guy from Chicago who made it with country/folk music. I recall seeing him on SNL long ago (maybe even season 1), but I don’t recall what he sang on the show. This album exceeded my expectations, and it makes me wonder whether the guy who compiled this 1001 albums list included country western artists. Maybe he doesn’t consider this one country western?
Aretha Franklin
3/5
I listened to the original album (11 tracks), not the later release with more tracks. This album has Aretha’s biggest hit, so I must rate it higher than the average album. However, I never cared for Aretha’s church choir solo singing style, even though she’s a good singer.
Paul Simon
4/5
The last three tracks on the album in spotify are demos and I’m unsure whether they are part of the original release. Generally I don’t like hearing demos/duplicates/live versions along with the original tracks as they ruin the vibe of the original song for me. Overall I enjoyed this album, which has a good variety of stuff. Hobo Blues sounds like it could have been written in 1910.
Astor Piazzolla
3/5
Knowing nothing about this guy, naturally I had to do some research while I listened to the album. Turns out Astor was the most influential new tango guy in Argentina, which is pretty important there. Anyhow, these are obviously very talented musicians. Seems like they should be making movie music - that’s what I was thinking as the album played on. It’s nice to hear some nuevo tango, although I suspect soon it will fade from my memory.
Gram Parsons
3/5
I suspect there was little country rock music when this album was created, although it is commonplace today. So this may have sounded new and different in 1974. This artist never made it commercially; perhaps if he didn't OD he eventually would have been successful. He certainly had lots of assistance from top songwriters snd singers. I liked some if the songs on this album, and would give it 3.5 stars if possible.
Megadeth
2/5
I listened to the original album (eight tracks), not the re-releases with live versions. The album cover is good. The lead singer doesn’t have a great singing voice, but perhaps that’s not necessary for a heavy metal band. The songs have excellent guitar playing, but for me this too much heavy metal.
Songhoy Blues
3/5
These guys are from Mali, and I appreciate the opportunity to hear some music from Africa. Unfortunately I don’t understand the language; perhaps it would be more enjoyable if I did. The music was good, but not memorable.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
If you eliminate the two very short bookend themes and voices of old people, you’re left with nine songs and a really short album. However, of the nine songs four were played all the time on the radio. So I guess that means this was a good album, but it’s not my favorite Simon & Garfunkel album. It would rate 7 on a 0-10 scale, but alas only 3 stars here.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
According to the wiki page, this was released as a double album, however the app has it as a single album with only six tracks. So I listened to the six tracks on the app. For me the first few tracks were great but by the end it got less interesting.
American Music Club
2/5
Another one of those obscure bands I never heard of. This is a mix of country and rock songs, which apparently were a hit in the UK. However they were not a big hit with me. Totally forgettable.
Elton John
4/5
In 1973 Dad bought a new car ($3000) for me to drive, but with no audio system. He took the AM radio out of his 1961 Oldsmobile, and I installed it into my new car along with two speakers I bought. Soon after that I became bored with AM radio and bought an 8 track player and replaced the AM radio with it. Madman Across the Water was one of the first 8 tracks I purchased, and it reminded me of those old timey days listening to 8 tracks in the car.
This isn’t my favorite Elton John album, but it has some good tracks. I’ve always been impressed by how much American history British people know (Indian Sunset).
R.E.M.
3/5
I never have been a big fan of REM so naturally my rating will be lowered. But after listening to the entire album I must admit it is well done, so that improves its rating. My favorites are Everybody Hurts and Find the River. Bottom line = three stars.
Arcade Fire
3/5
This seems like a pretty recent addition to the list of albums (2007). I’ve heard of this group but have been unfamiliar with their music until now. The album title and the organ throughout give it a religious feel. I like a few of these tracks but not quite enough for me to give it 4 stars.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
2/5
I listened to the original release (nine tracks), not the later release with three extra tracks. Siouxsie has a good singing voice for this genre. The songs are ok, although none of the tracks seemed memorable for me. When this album was released in 1981, punk rock was just becoming popular here, so if you were reviewing the album at that time it may have been fresh and different. But it is 2025 and to me it is dated and mundane.
Linkin Park
3/5
My initial reaction is: How does this singer not have a sore throat? I remember hearing “In the End” on the radio a lot back when this album was released, but not the other songs on the album. Although this is not my favorite genre, it is well done. It’s clever how they incorporated some rap in with their heavy metal.
Cornershop
3/5
Another one of those British groups I never heard of. The Indian influence is readily apparent on this album. There were a few good songs here, many average songs, and a few that were garbage. Overall it was better than I expected. Three stars.
The Killers
3/5
This is the first album from the Killers, and it is very good for a debut. There are at least a couple of radio hits on this album (Mr. Brightside, Somebody Told Me) and maybe more (I don’t know). I enjoyed “All These Things That I’ve Done” and the two singles but the remaining tracks were just ok for me.
Soundgarden
3/5
This grunge/metal band was big in the 90s and 00s, especially with their big hit “Black Hole Sun”. That’s a good song but there wasn’t anything else on the album that I thought was above average, so I give it three stars instead of two since it was a top selling album.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Whoever made this list certainly must like Simon/Simon & Garfunkel. This was the last studio album from S/G, and it includes “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, which as I recall was the #1 song of 1970 and one of the top songs of the 1970s. Cecilia was a big radio hit, but it isn’t in my list of top S/G songs. The Boxer grew in popularity as the years passed. The rest of the record is good but not five stars.
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
Here’s another UK band that I never heard of, although I like their band name. Apparently they are still together. Every track on this album sounds similar to me, and not at all memorable.
Buffalo Springfield
4/5
The album cover is very interesting, definitely from the 1960s. I’m unsure whether its meaning is religious, nature, a dream, or something else. It’s certainly evident how CSNY emerged from Buffalo Springfield. Even David Crosby provided vocals on one of the tracks. This is an album with some of the best singers from that era, and they all contributed. Bluebird, Mr. Soul, and Rock & Roll Woman are all songs often heard on classic rock stations. Overall a diverse collection of songs.
Pixies
3/5
Some good guitar playing on this album. Not very memorable for me, but the music is ok and reasonably creative. Apparently the Pixies influenced a lot of later artists.
4/5
I never have been a huge fan of U2, however I agree that this is one of those albums you must hear before you die. It does include three singles that we heard frequently on radio. Until seeing it online I didn’t know this album’s theme was America, which makes sense now. Should I give in to internet peer pressure and rate it five stars? No, but how about four stars?
Serge Gainsbourg
3/5
I listened to the original release (7 tracks), not the later expanded release. Thanks to Wikipedia for explaining the plot of the album, which is in French. I like the concept of a story being told throughout the album, but for me there was too much talking.
GZA
2/5
The app version of this album has an extra (13th) track, which I did not review. The internet taught me that GZA is Gary Grice, who was in the Wu Tang Clan. The album follows the movie Shogun Assassin and includes movie clips throughout. It occurs to me that if there were no guns or drugs, the artists of this genre would have very little material. Cold World had actual singing, but the rest of the album was talking and poetry reading.
Les Rythmes Digitales
3/5
Despite the French name, this guy/group is British. This is an album full of dance/elctronica music from the 90s. The tracks on the app differed from those on Wiki (I used the app). While listening to it I felt like I was hanging at the club. Overall the music exceeded my low expectations; it would serve as great background music while you are doing something else. 7 out of 10.
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
This was a much better album than the previous album by this artist. The music was better and more creative, however there still was a lot of talking..
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
This is a double album with twenty tracks. Maybe it is long because the group had three songwriters and they all wanted to get their songs on the album. I enjoyed listening to the album but this is not their best album. Fleetwood Mac and Rumours are better in my opinion. Three stars.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
5/5
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (and later Dirt Band) had only one or two hit songs, and none were on this album. Instead, they tracked down legends of country and bluegrass music from the 1920s-1950s who were still living and put together this long compilation. Certain singers (e.g., Roy Acuff) were obviously old and not as good as in their younger days, but still ok. Based on the historical significance of this album it gets the highest rating.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
This album is post-Genesis and pre-Sledgehammer Peter Gabriel. Regarded more as a critical success than a commercial success, it is political at times. “Games Without Frontiers” is the one track which was popular on FM radio at the time. Occasionally I would pick up a similarity to the Talking Heads. Phil Collins and Kate Bush contributed. Overall good but not worth a high rating in my opinion.
Elliott Smith
2/5
The internet claims that this artist’s songs were selected for a few movie soundtracks. That makes sense to me since the music is quiet and would be good as background. There is nothing on this album that stands out as above average. Very forgettable.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Back in the day I was fortunate enough to see Muddy Waters in concert, as opening act for Eric Clapton. This album is classic blues music from one of the legends of blues.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
This album was described by Wikipedia as “rap rock”, which seems right on target, although I never listened to an entire RHCP album previously. There are a few good songs here, but somehow the album seems old and dated.
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
This is regarded as one of the best live albums ever. There are several Allman Brothers songs that I like, but none are on this album. I’m glad I had an opportunity to hear it, these guys like to jam.
Jane Weaver
3/5
Jane Weaver, obscure (to me anyhow) British singer…this album seems to be mellow new age/electronica. This was pleasant listening with lots of talk of butterflies. Nothing that stood out as fabulous, but ok.
Pink Floyd
4/5
This was Pink Floyd’s first album, released at the height of the psychedelic era (1967). The music certainly fits the era, and the beginnings of other Pink Floyd concepts are evident here, like long tracks, use of weird noises and sounds, and echoes and reverb. It’s pretty creative for 1967, so I give it four stars.
Michael Jackson
3/5
This album was released at the pinnacle of disco, which is apparent to the listener. A few of these tracks were hit singles at that time. Overall lots of solid dance tunes. I never was a huge fan of Michael Jackson, but this album is decent.
The Police
3/5
This album made a huge splash when it was released back in 1983. There were four singles from it which were played frequently on the radio. Synchronicity Ii is my favorite song on the album, although I never was a big fan of the Police. Overall the album is ok, even though it sounds dated to me now.
Faith No More
2/5
Our local hard rock radio station used to play Faith No More, and perhaps they still do, but I haven’t listened to it much. This is standard heavy metal/hard rock, with a bit of rap thrown in. Nothing here that stands out as above par in my opinion.
Steely Dan
4/5
This is Steely Dan’s first album, which seems very polished for a debut. Steely Dan is one of those groups that sounds much better on headphones because of their sound mixing. Anyhow, I always enjoyed Steely Dan, although their later albums were better in my opinion. Still this was pretty good, good enough to bump to four stars.
R.E.M.
2/5
I never cared for R.E.M., and listening to this album confirms my point of view. The album is full of boring songs, perhaps useful for background music while you’re doing something useful.
Janis Joplin
4/5
Although this is my first listen to this album (actually that’s the case for 95% of these albums), I am familiar with many of the tracks. Very good album overall, nothing fancy - just classic rock.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
This was the most successful album from Scottish group Cocteau Twins (actually three members). The music is etherial/new age with vocals which are hard to comprehend at times. Overall very pleasant listening.
Santana
4/5
Santana is one of my favorite bands from olden times, and this was one their most popular albums. It’s just good enough to bump it from 3.5 up to 4 stars. If it had been a greatest hits album then five stars for sure. Seems like this list of 1001 is excluding all greatest hits albums though.
The Adverts
3/5
I listened to the original album (11 tracks) not the later releases with more tracks. This is punk/rock from one of those obscure British groups. This isn’t my genre and the songs are not memorable, but there is something about the album which I enjoyed.
The Kinks
3/5
There are a lot of popular Kinks songs which I know, but somehow none of them appear on this album. This is a perky fast moving album from the 60s, and on a 1-10 it would rate 7 out of 10. But I think I will round it down to a 3.
Prince
3/5
This a double album from Prince, and there is but one song here that I’ve heard previously. Overall it’s a good album with a variety of rock/funk/soul/jazz. Nothing here that I’m looking forward to hearing again though.
Beck
3/5
This is an album full of mellow, melancholy songs recorded just after 9/11/2001. For me the record started out great but lost steam after that. Still, it was decent enough for a three star rating.
Brian Eno
3/5
This guy has been around for a long time, and was with Roxy music before they rose to famousness. This album is very early electronica along with some mellow rock tunes. Some of these sound like they would be perfect for museums or airports. Overall pleasant and cutting edge for 1975.
Public Enemy
1/5
That was 57 minutes I’ll never get back…just another record with guys talking or yelling, and in the background lots of sirens and squeaky noises. I couldn’t be bothered to listen to the lyrics; perhaps it requires me to be in a particular mood to appreciate this…no probably not.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
If you are not paying too much attention to the lyrics (as I tend to do) this was enjoyable listening. If you’re trying to hear and understand all the lyrics, then this album would be lots of effort (for me anyway). Classic Joni Mitchell stuff.
Pixies
3/5
This band out of Boston has been around a long time, yet I don’t think I know them. Maybe because they are alternative rock. This album started out annoying but improved as it progressed. There are a few good songs here which boosted the rating from two to three stars.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Every song on this album (except one) I know. Probably because CCR is one of my favorite bands. So essentially this is a greatest hits album. In researching the album I did learn that John and Tom Fogerty’s brother took the photo for the album cover (very obscure trivia). Top notch music.
The Doors
3/5
This album has a blues feel to it. Roadhouse Blues is the only song I’ve heard off this album, even though the Doors always have been played a lot on the radio. Pleasant overall but nothing that allows me to rate it highly.
Sigur Rós
3/5
The band that put together this album is from Iceland. I think this is the first Iceland group so far. The music is a fusion of outer space and rock, with a bit of classical. The record started great but got weaker as it progressed. Nevertheless, it was different from most albums and reasonably nice to listen to.
Alice Cooper
3/5
Although we’ve heard “School’s Out” (the song) millions of times, this is the first time hearing all the other tracks on the album. None of them are as good as the title track, but there are a few good songs on the record. i enjoyed “public animal #9”.
3/5
This album is from alternative English band Muse; I listened to the original release. I thought the first half of the album was above average (four stars), but there are a few duds in there. Sometimes they sound like Queen, sometimes there’s a little classical music in there, and a bit of Telstar from the Tornadoes (homage to singer’s father). Overall I give it 3.5 stars, not quite good enough for four stars.
Iron Maiden
3/5
Heavy metal is not my favorite musical genre, although I appreciate that this record is well done for heavy metal. My expectations were low before hearing the record, but they were exceeded. Maybe I was in the proper mood.
Stereo MC's
3/5
This is classic early 1990’s music. Stereo MC is categorized as electronic and hip hop on line, although to me there is some smooth jazz/rock here also. Overall all the tracks have the same feel, but they are easy to listen to.
Eagles
5/5
This album was released when I was a college student. The Eagles were pretty big at the time and this album propelled them to a super duper top band. Just about everyone had the album then (not me, strangely). I know every song on the album except the Joe Walsh track. The Eagles promoted the album with a tour in early 1977, with Jimmy Buffett as the opening act. Jimmy was just getting popular back then. I saw that show at the Richfield Coliseum (which no longer exists). I think having seen the band in concert requires me to give the album a high rating.
David Bowie
3/5
David Bowie had a lot of songs, some of which I liked and some which were so-so. This album follows that format in my opinion. TVC15 and Golden Years are good tracks, and the title track is pretty good. The remaining songs are so-so. The album is only 38 minutes long, so it goes pretty quickly. If this were a ten point scale I’d give it 7 out of 10, but alas it doesn’t quite have enough for me to round up to four stars.
Lorde
3/5
The sound quality on this album is very crisp and clear. The music is good. I find Lorde’s singing slightly annoying on some of these songs. Perhaps this is done purposely to differentiate her from other female singers of the same era.
Yes
3/5
This album goes way back to my high school days. Roundabout was ubiquitous on the radio back then, and is still played occasionally now. Long Distance Runaround is another track heard frequently now on the classic rock channels. Some of the music on this album is very good, while some is forgettable.
Rod Stewart
3/5
This is very early Rod Stewart, before I knew who he was. Gasoline Alley is an appropriate album title, as most of the tracks are country rock themed. I listened to the original release (nine songs). So many UK artists sing about American culture and history, whereas I can’t think of any US artists who sing about British history. Well that’s neither here nor there. Overall this was acceptable and pretty good for a relatively new artist.
Le Tigre
1/5
Where to begin on this one…
This album is from the punk/riotgrrl group le Tigre from New York. First, it annoys me that Yr is used in song titles instead of Your. Next, there are too many sound effects and lyrics that seem to be random words or phrases. Amazing that there’s a record company out there that would publish this [collection]. Sounds like a group of middle school kids who own a keyboard and guitar.
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
I enjoyed reading online how the group decided upon their name. This was their debut album, and it’s really good for a debut. There’s a little bit of Talking Heads in there too. All the tracks are of the same genre, but they are different in style. Good listening.
Radiohead
2/5
This English band has been together for quite awhile (since 1985), and this is their seventh album. It seems to me that Radiohead always has had a sort of cult following, although I never recall hearing their tunes on the top 40 radio. For me this album had a couple of decent tracks, but mostly forgettable. Sorry for you, Radiohead.
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
This is a double album, the only album from Derek & the Dominoes. It was released in 1970 but was considered a flop at the time. But a year or so later Layla was being played on the radio constantly (despite being 7:00 in length), and now this is considered to be a great blues rock record. For those who are into guitar this is a good showcase of Clapton and Allman’s guitar playing. I enjoyed listening to almost all the tracks.
Kate Bush
2/5
This is the fifth album from English singer Kate Bush, who does very well in the UK but no so much here. The record tends to be eclectic, but it definitely is not my taste. Seems like the music here would fit well in movie soundtracks.
Cheap Trick
3/5
This album was all the rage when it came out. After that it seemed like every band did a concert at Budokan. Listening to the album now, it’s a solid live rock album but doesn’t seem to rise to the level of four or five stars.
Sam Cooke
4/5
This live album was recorded in 1963 but was not released until 1985, because the record label felt it would be bad for Cooke’s image. Fortunately someone found the tape and it was released after 22 years. Naturally the sound quality in 1963 was inferior to today’s standards, but the album gives the feel of being there. Since Sam Cooke was shot in 1964 there’s not much of his live music available. This gets a high rating for its historical significance.
Beatles
5/5
This is an early Beatles album, with most of the tracks written and sung by John. I’ve heard every track on this album 100 times, so for me this is a greatest hits record.
Hugh Masekela
3/5
This is a double album, primarily an excursion into jazz with a bit of African beat included, which seems perfectly logical given that the artist is from South Africa. Most of these tracks would be good music for a movie soundtrack. Some of these jazz tracks run too long for me, but that’s jazz for you.
The Prodigy
2/5
This is third album from the British band Prodigy, who primarily do electronic music. Other than “Firestarter” I have been unfamiliar with their music until now. For the most part I found this album forgettable, just not my style. I (at least) give them credit for their energy.
John Martyn
3/5
The third album from English singer/guitarist John Martyn, many of these tracks sound like something you’d hear at the local nightclub. Sort of a mixture of jazz and soft rock. Overall it’s pleasant listening. Occasionally it was hard to understand the lyrics.
Big Black
2/5
Big Black is a punk/rock group out of the Chicago area (never heard of them until now). I thought the beats were fine, but the lyrics were very basic and/or repetitive. If I ask myself “Would I like to listen to this album a second time?’ The answer would be no. Interesting album cover.
Nick Drake
4/5
This is the debut album from English singer Nick Drake. The style is similar to some other English singers of the 1960s. I thought the arrangements and instrumentation were very good, and overall a good album for a debut. Better than the earlier Nick Drake album on the list.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
This is a double album released in 1975. And this is Led Zeppelin’s first appearance on this 1001 album list (undoubtedly there will be more). As radio transitioned from AM pop stations to album-oriented radio during the 1970s, Led Zeppelin benefitted from this transition. There are a few good tracks here but for me there are better Zeppelin albums.
The Beau Brummels
3/5
This album highlights the San Francisco sound of the Beau Brummels. It’s a blend of folk and rock which was popular in the 1960s. The album is well done with nice tunes, however nothing outstanding.
SZA
2/5
This a debut album, and it is well done for a debut. The songs are sufficiently different from each other, which is good. The singing is ok. Unfortunately this is not my favorite musical genre so it gets 2.5 stars, rounding to 2.
Erykah Badu
4/5
This was a lengthy album (almost 1.5 hours) and I expected to get bored by the end of it. However, this was not the case. My only criticism was the talking which was heard on a few occasions (apparently it was the artist’s mother doing the talking).
Talking Heads
4/5
I listened to the original release which has eleven tracks. This is a debut album, and is very solid in my opinion. Psycho Killer was the only song which made it to radio play, but the rest of the tracks are almost as good.
The Beach Boys
3/5
I listened to the original release, which included fourteen songs. A few of these were big hits, and still can be heard often on the oldies stations. Brian Wilson gets credit for his sometimes complex harmonies and arrangements. For me, the songs generally seem old and tired.
Black Sabbath
5/5
This album is considered by many to be the first heavy metal album. In 1970 there was no music like this. Three of the tracks from the album are still played today on radio. The album is not overly long. Because of the historical significance this album gets a high rating.
Queen Latifah
2/5
I listened to the original release, without the CD bonus tracks. This is a rap album which features other artists on some of the tracks. It differs from most rap albums (which focus on drugs, gangs, guns, and shootings). This is more of a PG-rated album. On the positive side of the ledger, the album has a lot of energy. On the negative side, every track mentions Latifah at least three times, which becomes annoying.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Side one of this album includes the faster (radio friendly) tracks, while side two includes the slower tunes, plus a track with the band talking. I liked this album better than Pet Sounds, which we just heard.
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
This album is from Brazilian singer Jorge Ben, and is characterized as samba-funk. Since I don’t speak Portuguese, I did not understand the lyrics. The music is pretty good, though. On a 0-10 scale I would rate it at 7.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Well, it was just a matter of time until the Rolling Stones popped up on the list. This is the only Stones album I own, so it must be good. There are some great tracks on this album, along with a couple of duds (for example moonlight mile). Since the Stones have been around forever they have a bunch of albums, and I’d rate this one among their top three.
The Smiths
3/5
This is the final album from this British band. The Smiths were quite popular outside of the US. There are some nice tunes here but overall very forgettable. There was a darker vibe here as several songs were about death.
Shuggie Otis
3/5
I never heard of Shuggie until now, so looking into him it turns out he is Johnny Otis’ son. Also he wrote Strawberry Letter 23. I listened to the original release which is just 31 minutes. I would describe this music as mellow funk. Nothing offensive here, kind of like good background music.
Black Sabbath
3/5
There are several versions of this album; I listened to the 2009 remastered version. There was no music like this in 1970 - this may be the very first heavy metal album. Apparently the band recorded the whole album in one day, which is almost never done. Overall it’s pretty well done for a heavy metal record. I give it three stars.
Otis Redding
3/5
This short album includes mostly covers done by soul singer Otis Redding, i never liked Otis that much, although there are a couple of songs that are good. The Memphis-based backup band was top notch at that time. Aretha Franklin covered “Respect” later and made it a hit. Overall enjoyable listening.
Sly & The Family Stone
5/5
This is Sly & the Family Stone’s best album in my opinion. Several big hits and lots of funky tunes.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
This is another excellent CCR album, which has a touch of rock-a-billy and country flavor. I know and like every tune except “Sinister Purpose”, which I never heard.
Venom
3/5
This is from the British band Venom. Apparently this is the album that started the death metal genre. The band did a good job with their lyrics, album cover, etc. Although I don’t like death metal, this one gets an extra star for its historical significance.
Sepultura
1/5
As noted earlier, this heavy metal is not my genre, even if it is from Brazil. I listened to the original release, not the later editions. Besides the last track, there was 72 minutes of a guy screaming. The percussion/drums were very good, but otherwise there was nothing of value to me.
Miles Davis
3/5
Doing some internet browsing on this album, and apparently in 1969 jazz critics were upset that electric guitars were used on this record. The horror! Well to me this album sounds like regular jazz, very ethereal at times. Might be good for museum music.
Adele
3/5
Although Adele is far from my favorite artist, this album was acceptable and fairly easy listening. Nothing offensive, but nothing memorable either.
Traffic
3/5
I listened to the original release (10 tracks). This is one of those albums that exceeded my expectations. Traffic is one of those bands that I always rated as average, but this album was a bit better than average. Seven out of ten on a different scale, three out of five on this one.
5/5
I suppose that in general any album I own (such as this one) automatically gets a five-star rating. There may be some exceptions, but after listening to this record, the policy applies. Lots of familiar tunes.
Lauryn Hill
2/5
This is well-done for a debut album, so a ratings bump for that. The album is too long for me, and after awhile I became less pleased with Hill’s singing style. There are sections which sound like the Fugees, even though I read that the artist was trying to avoid that. A bit too much rap also.
Coldplay
3/5
This is the debut album for Coldplay and is well done for a debut. I recall hearing “Yellow” often on the radio when this album was popular. All the songs are ok although not very memorable. I think that a better singer would have been an improvement.
Miles Davis
4/5
This album goes way back to the 1950s, and was/is considered revolutionary for its new approach to jazz. Listening to it now, 66 years after it was released, it does not seem outdated. Most jazz combos sound pretty much the same to me, but this one seems a notch above the rest.
Sebadoh
2/5
I listened to the original release (17 songs). The album title and song titles were good, and the lyrics were ok. The band seems to have tried to make each track different. Some of the songs were fun, but overall the music did not interest me very much.
The Who
4/5
I listened to the original album, not any of the later, very long releases. Surprisingly I knew seven of the nine tracks, because all 7 of them are standards on classic rock stations. Even though the Who are not among my favorites, this is a good album and gets four stars.
The Verve
3/5
The Verve have a good singer, with good quality songs on this album. For me the album started great but lost steam as it went on. Most of the tracks ran on too long; I think they could have been shortened without losing anything.
Dire Straits
4/5
‘I want my MTV!”. This album takes me back to the days when MTV was king. Money for Nothing was on MTV all the time. But there are many other tracks on the album which are good. The first three songs are the best in my opinion.
Ray Charles
3/5
This 1959 album feels as though it could have been recorded in the 1940s (at least side one) with all those big band arrangements. Also, the sound quality was not as good as today’s recordings. Ray’s singing and piano playing are good as he covers some of the classics. For me there are better Ray Charles albums though.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
This guy from Australia has a good singing voice, and the album is very melancholy. For me it was too much of the same type of song.
Elis Regina
3/5
It seems that this album is a 1997 reissue of an earlier album from the same singer. Since most of her albums have the same title, it makes things difficult to differentiate between the albums. Anyhow, she has a good singing voice and this album is modern Brazilian pop music. Also, the lyrics are Portuguese so I have no idea what she is singing about. Pleasant listening.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
2/5
There seems to be some discrepancy on Spotify, as the app shows this album having twelve tracks, whereas only nine tracks appear. After listening to the nine tracks, I think I’ve got the sense of what the other tracks would sound like. This Pakistani guy does a lot of scatting on the album, which is lengthy. I appreciate getting the opportunity to hear this type of music, but it’s not my favorite genre.
OutKast
3/5
This is a double album where each of the two Outkast members contributes approximately half of the tracks, which is a novel concept. It would have been better for me if several of these songs were eliminated. Just because as album has 40 tracks doesn’t necessarily make it great. There was slightly too much rap here for my liking.
The Who
3/5
This is the Who’s first album, which is pretty good for a debut. There are a couple singles from it that still are played regularly on the radio. The guitar parts are heavy for that period, and apparently set the stage for hard rock and heavy metal which emerged later.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Except for a few tracks, this album is a more mellow Led Zeppelin, which according to the internet was by design. Other than Immigrant Song, I don’t recall hearing the other songs before. Somewhat blues-y and better than expected.
Black Sabbath
3/5
This album is not as good as Black Sabbath’s earlier albums. I suppose if you’re a big fan you would enjoy this one, but I thought it was mostly standard Sabbath. Not horrible.
Beck
3/5
This is the second Beck album on the list so far, so only twelve remaining Beck albums. This is the first time I’ve heard the lyric “Burger King crown” in any song, so that’s a plus for Mr. Beck. Otherwise I like that he tries to make each track different from the others. Unfortunately, all the songs seemed forgettable.
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
I’m pleasantly surprised to see this one appear on the list of 1001. This is the debut album for Booker T. & the MGs, and it is an all-instrumental album. Instrumentals were a big part of popular music in the 1950’s and 1960s. Almost all the tracks are covers of other songs from that era. Booker T. (Hammond organ) and Steve Cropper (lead guitar) are still alive and kicking, so maybe they’ll have a reunion.
Air
4/5
This is a debut album from these two French guys - several electronica instrumentals along with some vocals. Once again I opine that this is pretty good stuff for a debut. A lot of the tracks here would make a good movie soundtrack. Regarding a rating for the album, I waffled between three and four stars but settled on four stars, partly because it’s a debut.
Heaven 17
3/5
Here’s another debut album, this one is from the British trio Heaven 17. Two of the three band members were with Human League previously, and the similarity is apparent. This album came out in 1981, at the tail end of the disco era, and there’s some disco vibe here too. A few of the tracks went on too long with too much repetition in my opinion. The record is a fusion of techno pop, disco, and 80s music.
Van Halen
4/5
Another debut album, this time from Van Halen. There are a few Van Halen songs that I like, but those sings are not on their debut album. When this album was released there was no music like this - rock with slightly more of an edge. Because of that and Eddie Van Halen’s guitar playing, I need to rate this album higher than average.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
3/5
Jah Wobble (real name John Wardle) is a pretty good stage name for this British guy. His album is a bit offbeat, and has an international flavor. Sinead O’Connor provides backing vocals on some of the tracks. I enjoyed most of the album and considered rating it four stars but there were a few songs that were duds, so it settles in at 3.5 stars.
Van Morrison
4/5
Several songs on this album are about nature and outdoors. I’ve always enjoyed Van Morrison’s tunes, and most of the tracks on this record were good. It was difficult to assign a rating to this record, as I waffled between three and four stars. So I listened to the album a second time (fortunately it’s just 38 minutes) before deciding.
Stan Getz
4/5
Stan Getz was a sax player, and on this album you can hear his fuzzy sax sound. This album was made during his bossa nova period, and includes some Brazilian musicians. I can imagine walking into a bar on a large cruise ship and hearing this music. It’s a jazz combo with vocals, but the album sounds very cool in my opinion.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
This is another debut album. Even though this is a hip hop album, I was impressed by the lyrics. Typically hip hop lyrics are all about guns, drugs, killing cops, etc., but this album was clean with interesting upbeat lyrics. There is very little music in the background, but somehow it works well. I think this is the best hip hop album we’ve heard so far.
Donald Fagen
4/5
This is technically a debut album, but it’s really a continuation of Steely Dan minus Walter Becker (sorry Walt). Apparently this album was an early example of digital recording, but that doesn’t affect my listening other than I noted that the sound quality is clear and crisp. The tracks are generally jazzy and upbeat.
Jacques Brel
2/5
This is the first Jacques Brel music I’ve listened to, possibly because everything is in French. He gets credit for being passionate about his singing, and he might earn a higher rating if I understood the lyrics. The music is ok, but too theatrical for my taste.
The Doors
3/5
This is the last Doors album with Jim Morrison, and in my opinion there is no Doors without Morrison. The two longest tracks on this record are the best (L.A. Woman and Riders on the Storm). Love Her Madly also was a single. The rest of the songs are heavy into the blues. Overall a good album but not quite four stars.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
I listened to the original release (10 tracks). Most of these songs are familiar to me, since they often are played on the radio. Classic CSN (before they added Neil Young). Above average.
Herbie Hancock
3/5
Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones are two of those musicians that seem to have been around forever (i.e., my entire lifetime). Watermelon Man was a song which we played in high school (without all the traditional African musical instruments), so it reminds me of those days. The album has just four tracks, all jazz/synthesizer based. It’s a bit different from the normal jazz combo, but not unusual enough for four stars.
Rod Stewart
4/5
This was a popular album when it released because of the single “Maggie May”, which was on the radio constantly (and still is). There are four covers on this album, and they are well done and varied in style from the originals. Some may be annoyed by Stewart’s raspy singing, but it doesn’t really bother me. Overall an above average record.
The Mars Volta
2/5
The Mars Volta - that’s a good name for this type of group; and the album cover also fits the image. However, the album title strikes me as one which the band came up with in an effort to be different. The drumming on the album was very good, but overall the music was not memorable. There were several sections with random noises which did not improve the album.
Johnny Cash
3/5
If you are compiling a list of 1001 albums that should be heard, then this album needs to be included, if for no other reason than the uniqueness of recording it in a prison with prisoners as the audience. Apparently this also was filmed for TV, which is another story. The music itself is average, although the interaction between Cash and the audience was interesting and something you rarely hear on other live albums.
T. Rex
3/5
I listened to the original release (11 tracks). This is an album I’ve always wanted to hear (well, that’s done!). T Rex was more popular in the UK than they were here, although they were big for a couple years (around 1971-73). By the time Bolan died their popularity here had faded, but the radio continues to play Bang A Gong quite often. There are a few good tracks on this album but not enough good stuff to warrant four stars.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3/5
I listened to the original release (12 tracks). Here’s another example of British guys covering old American blues records. This record was released in 1966, so some of those blues songs they covered weren’t very old. Maybe this album should be titled Eric Clapton plays the blues, since his guitar playing is front and center throughout. Clapton was still playing the blues when I saw him in concert with Muddy Waters in 1979.
Yes
3/5
I listened to the original 1971 release (six tracks). Because Yes typically recorded lengthy songs, we never heard them on the radio in those days (except for Roundabout, a nine minute song which was edited down to three minutes for radio). Once AOR radio became mainstream we started hearing a lot more Yes. This is a good album with some familiar tunes, however not quite to a four-star level.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
The internet notes that Pet Shop Boys are a synth-pop group, and all this time I thought they were a rock and roll band. I guess there is a need to categorize everything. This album was enjoyable listening, and I thought it got better as it went along. But there were too many average songs to boost its rating to four stars.
Marty Robbins
5/5
I listened to the original release (12 tracks). Considering this record is from 1959 the sound quality is very good. I suppose it was remastered somewhere along the line. If some artist were asked to put together an album of cowboy/gunslinger songs, it would not be as good as this one. Marty Robbins songs always tell a good story, which is evident here.
Elvis Presley
3/5
I believe this is the first Elvis album on the list - how many more will there be? The original release of this album had twelve tracks, all songs written by other singers/songwriters. By that time (1969) Elvis had gone through his rock and roll phase and his movie phase, and this seems to be his country western phase. Unfortunately most of the songs here sounded better as done by the original or other artists (e.g., Only The Strong Survive by Jerry Butler, Any Day Now by Chuck Jackson, Gentle on My Mind by Glen Campbell). Elvis sounds ok, but just because it’s an Elvis album doesn’t necessarily translate to a five star rating. In the Ghetto is the best song on the original release, but the re-release has three tracks that are better than the ones on the original release (Mama/Roses, Suspicious, Kentucky).
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
This album from Count Basie is all instrumental, which is slightly unusual for big band music. That is good from my point of view, because many times vocals detract from the instrumental stuff. Since these arrangements were done by Neil Hefti, naturally they have a jazzy feel to them. Even so, this album could have come from the 1940s. Good music, but not quite up to a five-star level.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
This was the second Joni Mitchell album on the list, and this one was better than the first album. Her singing sometimes is annoying to me, but she is a master of interesting lyrics. This album seems to be about her personal relationships.
Public Enemy
2/5
This album could have been slightly shorter, as it seemed to become repetitive towards the end. The group deserves credit for all the work they did to put together the overall sound on the record, which was dense. Hip hop is not my cup of tea, so this one gets 2.5 stars.
Pretenders
3/5
This one is part of Heidi’s record collection, so I listened to her album. It’s a debut album, mostly rock with a bit of punk rock flavor. The last track is the best in my opinion, although Brass in Pocket was the biggest radio hit. Overall it’s solid for a debut album but there are not enough good tunes for a high rating.
The Temptations
3/5
It’s nice that the Temptations made it onto this list. I have seen them perform twice back in the early 1980s, so naturally they are one of my favorite groups. There are two covers on this record (Hey Girl, Heard it Through the Grapevine), which are the weakest tracks on the album in my opinion. Cloud Nine is the best song, and the remaining tracks are ok but nothing spectacular.
The Yardbirds
5/5
Normally when the daily album appears on this list, I immediately have an opinion of the artist even before listening to the record. I do, however, listen with an open mind. In this case, my expectations were that this would be standard British 60s stuff from the Yardbirds. But, this album was a very pleasant surprise. Each track was different, and the album cover was goofy (although that has no effect on the rating),
Dolly Parton
3/5
This album title was deceptive to me, as I envisioned all three singers to have equal contributions. But it really is a Dolly Parton album, with the others doing backing vocals and occasionally lead vocals. This is a mainstream country record, with nice songs and tight harmonies. A good collaboration but nothing spectacular.
CHIC
3/5
This album is primarily disco, and was released at the height of the disco era. There are a few slower tracks which are forgettable. I wonder how many times I’ve heard “Le Freak” in the last 47 years, probably thousands. Also I wonder how this album made it onto the list - maybe selected just to represent disco music.
Boston
5/5
Here’s another one of those albums that we were required to have when it was released, back in the day. Being in college at the time, I suppose college kids talk amongst themselves and let everyone know which music is necessary to have in your collection. Listening to it now I forgot how good it is. There are eight tracks and seven of them were big hits. Few albums have that percentage of success.
Deep Purple
2/5
This is an album from the English band Deep Purple, and as far as I know they were not popular in the USA until ‘Smoke on the Water’ was released. All tracks on this album I would classify as hard rock, none of which I am familiar. Hard rock was novel when this album came out, but now it seems mundane. Good guitar work on some of the tracks.
Beastie Boys
2/5
Another hip-hop album, therefore automatically it can’t be rated very highly. The first four tracks were pretty much the same and boring. The next few tracks were better, then things went back to boring. The last track was mostly clips from old tv shows on top of percussion. The group seems to be obsessed with White Castle, as I heard it mentioned in at least three tracks. 2.5 stars.
The Style Council
3/5
Here’s another one of those English bands that I never heard of until now. This is their debut album, and there is a wide spectrum of music on it, including, pop, smooth jazz, rock, and rap. It appears that they were trying to prove that they could handle all these genres. Overall it’s pretty good for a debut.
The Kinks
3/5
I listened to the original release, which had fourteen tracks. The album cover is very colorful and very 1960s. Not sure who that guy is on the cover. The Kinks have a lot of good songs but there are not enough of them on this record for a high rating. ‘Dandy’ is a good song but Herman’s Hermits did a better version of it. Sunday Afternoon is the one song that is frequently played on oldies stations.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
This is Marvin Gaye with his usual soulful singing, but this album is a change from the previous Motown produced music. This record has more complex recording than the older Motown songs. Overall it’s relaxing listening, with a few good tunes, but for me it doesn’t rate as high as the critics have rated it.
Cream
3/5
Cream was a popular band both in the UK and US in the late 1960s. I never was a huge fan, although I didn’t hate them either - someplace in the middle of the pack. Two hits came from this album (Strange Brew is the better one in my opinion vs. Sunshine). I liked the blues number (Outside Woman Blues), but the rest of the record dragged for me.
Calexico
2/5
This band out of California is another one I’ve never heard of until now. The first half of the album seemed sluggish and forgettable, and could be used as a movie soundtrack. The energy picked up as the album got into the last half, but unfortunately reverted to being sluggish and forgettable towards the end. I did enjoy the mariachi style of “Across the Wire’.
Killing Joke
2/5
I was unfamiliar with this English hard rock/punk rock band until today. I listened to the original release (eight tracks) of this debut album. Most of the songs were unenjoyable, but for those into this genre I can appreciate that they may find it fabulous. It doesn’t quite have enough going for it to rate it three stars. Sorry Killing Joke.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
There are a few Springsteen songs which I like, but none of them are from this album. Apparently The Boss decided to put out an album that was a departure from his previous records. This one was mellower, with darker lyrics. Springsteen was the only musician on the record, which was recorded in his house. This would rate two stars from me, but it gets three stars because of the good storytelling and unusual lo-fi sound.
John Coltrane
2/5
When this was released I suppose it was groundbreaking, since modal jazz apparently was the greatest new thing in jazz. However, as I listened to this album it I’m unable to comprehend its magnificence. To me it is long rambling sax playing with no beginning, end, or melody.
The Beach Boys
3/5
For some reason I was unaware of this record; maybe I should have been paying more attention back in 1971. This is a departure from the typical surf/car music the group was famous for in the 1960s. Lots of social commentary here. Overall it’s pleasant listening, but nothing outstanding.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
This is one of those albums that probably deserves a second or third listen, which may affect the rating. Unfortunately we must move on to the next album. The music here has some classical flavor to it in some of the tracks. Lots of piano too. Easy to listen to, with interesting lyrics. 7 out of 10.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Everyone knows the two singles from this album (Shining Star and That’s the Way of the World), but the last two tracks are the best on this record in my opinion. ‘Africano’ sounds like a theme song and/or background music from a 1970s action TV show. Overall it’s pleasant listening and rates three stars.
Deep Purple
3/5
I listened to the original release (seven tracks) of this live album from 1971-72. Apparently Deep Purple was very popular in Japan, before the USA jumped aboard the Deep Purple popularity wagon. The album shows the band had a lot of energy and performed a food live show. It’s a good live album although not fabulous.
Funkadelic
3/5
This album exhibits a lot of diverse music. “Can You Get to That” sounds like classic Funkadelic and is a good track. The title track basically is a lengthy guitar solo. “Super Stupid” sounds exactly like a Jimi Hendrix song to me. The final track is packed with sound effects and doesn’t have much else going for it. Overall it’s a good album but not quite four stars.
Stan Getz
3/5
Stan Getz is back playing his fuzzy sax - we had him on August 6th with a later album. This time he collaborated with guitar player Charlie Byrd, who just returned from Brazil and brought bossa nova to the USA. This album was nominated for record of the year. Movies and TV shows in the sixties were filled with bossa nova music, maybe because of this album. Overall very easy listening.
U2
2/5
It’s nice that U2 put together an album which includes statements of anti-war and other social issues. The two singles from the album (‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ and ‘New Year’s Day’) are the best tracks. However I never have been a huge fan of U2, so the remainder of the album is totally forgettable.
Raekwon
1/5
I listened to the original release, which is 17 tracks. If all the offensive words were removed from this album, then the album would only be 30 minutes. Seems like there haven’t been any hip hop albums on the list recently, so this one is a dramatic shift from the recent music we’ve heard. I just couldn’t be bothered to listen closely enough to follow the lyrics. Sorry Mr. Raekwon. The best part was the female singer, and even that was too repetitive, knowImsayin?
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
The best track on this album is Prince’s ‘Nothing Compares 2U’, which also was the single from this album. All the other tracks were fine and well done but not memorable.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Here’s another one of those albums that were a required purchase when it was released. Listening to it now is like meeting an old friend that you haven’t seen in years. Back then we didn’t know about all the dysfunction within the band - that came to light later. Anyhow, this gets a top rating despite two of the tracks (“Don’t Stop” and “Go Your Own Way”) which have been seriously overplayed.
4/5
I forgot about this album, which was much discussed when it was released. War had moved into a different type of music as they went into the 1970s. I never heard the entire album, only ‘Cisco Kid’ and the title track. I really enjoyed it listening to it now, except for “Four Cornered Room”.
3/5
I’m wondering how this album got selected - maybe the selector(s) figured they should include something by Loretta Lynn since she had at least 50 albums, and this one stands out somehow. I think these tunes are mostly covers, but they are unfamiliar to me. The album is easy listening, standard country music. Also, this might be the shortest album on the list (28 minutes). I did like Floyd Cramer’s distinctive piano.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
This album is classic Bob Marley reggae music. I listened to the original release (ten tracks). Other than “One Love”, all the other songs were new to me. All of them were well done and easy to listen to, nothing that stood out as outstanding.
ZZ Top
4/5
This is the best album by “that little band from Texas” in my opinion. Five of the eleven tracks were singles or at least had lots of radio play. ZZ Top was smart (or lucky) enough to take advantage of MTV at its prime, with their shiny old car and spinning guitars in their videos. Not quite a five star rating, but pretty close.
Dolly Parton
3/5
I always considered Dolly Parton as a country singer and never gave her credit for being songwriter as well. Many of the tunes on this album were written by her. Some of the tracks tell little stories, which were enjoyable. Overall this short album was pleasant listening standard country music.
Johnny Cash
3/5
I listened to the original LP release (17 tracks). Just like the Leonard Cohen albums we heard earlier, young Johnny Cash sings much better than old Johnny Cash. Johnny had lots of health issues when he recorded this, so I’ll give him a break on his voice. My biggest problem is that although Johnny selected very good songs to cover, the original versions were better. But I’ll give him credit for the concept.
Pere Ubu
2/5
This is second Pere Ubu album on the list, and this one is better than the previous one (Dub Housing), although the bar is rather low. Or maybe I’m just in a better mood. I still get some Talking Heads vibe on some of the tracks. The noises are still here, but less annoying than the earlier album. I thought there were a few good tracks, but not quite enough for three stars.
Bob Dylan
3/5
I’ve heard a lot of Bob Dylan tunes but all these songs are new to me. His lyrics are occasionally funny. The music is fine.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
I’ve listened to this album before, although it is not in our collection at the moment. Maybe it was on a cassette from earlier days (those are gone). Listening to these songs when they were released I never stopped to classify the genre, but apparently they are synth-pop or new wave. This is a debut album for the artist, and to have six singles from a debut album is very rare. Lauper’s popularity was enhanced by her music videos, which ran in MTV’s prime. I see that even the album cover won an award. This one rates 9/10.
Carole King
4/5
One thing I found interesting about this album was that some of the tracks were written by Carole King but were covered by other groups years earlier (is that a thing?). She apparently considered herself a writer and not a singer until the 70s. Many of these songs were big hits, and the album was on the charts forever. Even though some of these tracks are boring, the album is well done.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
This is one we have on CD, and I used to listen to it while driving (back when cars had CD players). There are a couple tracks that are boring to me but overall it’s very good. This was rather hard rock for its time, though hearing it now it doesn’t seem that way. Widely considered the best Led Zeppelin album. An album with no title -rather unusual.
Roni Size
2/5
This is one that has different tracks depending upon the release. I listened to the cassette release -all of disc one (15 tracks) and two tracks on disc 2. My guess is that the remaining tracks are similar in style. This is new age music plus one rap track. I would have preferred that this group selected one or two tracks for extended length and kept the rest to three minutes or so, because all tracks were too long in my opinion.
The Byrds
3/5
I listened to the original release (11 tracks). There are two hits off this album, and the rest I haven’t heard previously. I never was a huge fan if the Byrds, they were sort of middle of the pack. Overall easy listening.
Arcade Fire
3/5
This is a debut album from one of the few post-2000 era groups I’ve heard of (because they have been on SNL a few times). The album started unremarkable but gained steam as it progressed. It is good for a debut effort but not quite to the four-star level.
Iggy Pop
3/5
Iggy Pop’s second album was put together with the help of David Bowie, and I think I heard David doing some background vocals. This was categorized as punk in those days (1977), although it sounds like rock to me. The album was better than expected - solid 3.5 out of 5 stars.
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
All of these songs are new to me, as I’m a mostly non-alternative rock listener. Some of the tracks are pretty good, but there is too much overdubbing, fuzzy guitar and squeaky guitar on some songs.
Carpenters
3/5
This was the breakthrough LP for the Carpenters, including mostly covers (some written by Burt Bacharach). Carpenters have lost much of their relevancy over the years, although they still can be heard occasionally on oldies radio. The Beatles version of “Help” is much better than the Carpenters version. I felt the Dionne Warwick and Carpenters versions of “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” are comparable. The last track was less easy listening and more rock. Overall not quite up to four stars.
I did enjoy the Wiki anecdote about the Carpenters being fired from Disneyland for playing modern music instead of old time music.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
This is the second album from this Irish band. The music is decent, although not memorable. This band is another one of those bands using the ‘wall of sound’ concept. There’s a bit of ethereal sound here, too. The biggest negative is that the lyrics, for the most part, are unintelligible.
The Coral
4/5
This is a debut album from the British rock band The Coral. The album was released in 2002, but most of it (except for “Skeleton Key” which was more of a 2000s sound) seems like it could have been from the 1960s-70s. Overall the album exceeded my expectations so it gets four stars.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
A good variety of music on this album from Stevie, including three singles which were popular at the time. This one was not quite as good as “songs in rhe Key of Life”, which we heard earlier, but still a solid 3.5 stars.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Six of the ten tracks from this album are familiar to me and are still played frequently on radio. I thought side one was the better side, though all the songs are decent. Overall a solid four stars.
Fever Ray
2/5
I listened to the original release (10 tracks). This is a debut album from Sweden - not very many of those on the list so far. The music is electronica, plus there is a bit of Kate Bush vibe on some of the tracks. Overall this is OK to listen to, but most of it I did not find interesting. Rating = somewhere between two and three stars.
Suicide
2/5
For a record that was released in 1977 this is quite unusual, perhaps ahead if its time. However, unusual does not necessarily mean good. The first part of the album is decent, but “Frankie Teardrop” is a guy telling a story, which I do not consider music.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
This is the debut album from this UK band, and is the second album we’ve had on the list. It definitely has a 1980’s sound. As with the earlier album, many of the lyrics are unintelligible. There are two or three good tracks here but not enough for a good rating.
The War On Drugs
3/5
This album is from 2014, but it sounds like it could be from just about any decade from the 1970s onward. I notice a bit of Bruce Springsteen vibe in here also. Overall, it’s clean, easy to listen to music. Additional listenings might result in a higher rating, but alas we’re moving on.
Prince
3/5
Any album that had four singles from it must be a good album; on the other hand this list is supposed to include only good albums, right?
This certainly was one of the most popular albums of its day, and had the extra benefit of a movie to go with it. I never was a huge Prince fan, and for me there was a bit too much screaming here.
KISS
3/5
The best track on the record is “Beth”, while “Shout it Out Loud” and “Detroit Rock City” were minor hits on AOR. I haven’t heard those two for quite awhile. The remaining tracks are forgettable. Overall this is pretty standard 70’s rock.
Cat Stevens
3/5
Apparently Cat designed his own album covers, according to Wikipedia. ‘Wild World” was the big hit off this album, while there were a few minor hits including “Where Do the Children Play”, “Father and Son”, and “Longboats”. Overall the album was pleasant listening and rates a solid three stars. Teaser and the Firecat is a slightly better record, maybe that one will come later.
The White Stripes
3/5
For 2005 music, this is reasonably decent. It’s mostly alternative rock, plus a touch of blues and bluegrass. I don’t know any if these songs, but the album is easy to listen to. Nothing stands out as unforgettable, however.
King Crimson
3/5
I listened to the original release (five tracks). Some of this music seems like a blend of the Beatles, Moody Blues, and Jethro Tull. The first track is somewhat heavy metal-ish, and the rest is experimental rock. I could do without the section with random noises in “Moonchild”. Overall this is groundbreaking for 1969, not quite good enough for four stars.
The B-52's
4/5
This is the debut album from the B-52s. Looking at the album cover - wow! They all look so young I barely recognize them. I always enjoyed their goofy music. Lots of energy from them as usual. Seems as though all the recent entries have been three stars, so methinks it’s time for a four.
Barry Adamson
3/5
I believe that this album is different from all the others we’ve heard so far. Maybe that’s the reason it was included on the list. There isn’t much singing here, although there is a fair amount of talking and storytelling. The music is quite good, but sometimes is obscured by the talk/noises. The music feels like something you’d hear in a nightclub or from a movie soundtrack.
The Verve
2/5
There is just one single by the British group Verve that I know (Bittersweet Symphony), and it’s not on this album. For some reason Spotify included just ten tracks for this album, where there should be twelve. ‘Life’s an Ocean” and “A New Decade” were missing, so I did not hear those two. Just as well I suppose, as the rest of the tracks were all quite similar in my opinion, and some ran too long. Very forgettable.
Talk Talk
3/5
There is just one single by the British group Talk Talk (It’s My Life), and it’s not on this album. Overall the music is ok, however nothing stood out as above average.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Standard Bob Marley music. Much easier to listen to than some other non-Marley albums, but not good enough to rise to a four star level. Three and a half stars for me.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
This is the final album from this British artist, as she died at 27. The music is very 1960s, while the lyrics are very 21st century. The singing is good. I wonder whether “Me & Mr. Jones” is somehow connected to “Me & Mrs. Jones” from 1972. The beginning and end of the album were better than the middle, but overall above average,
The Jam
2/5
Thankfully we have the internet to inform us that “All Mod Cons” is short for All Modern Conveniences, commonly used in British real estate ads. This group has many tracks on the album about people (Billy Hunt, David Watts, Mr. Clean). The music is ok, but unfortunately all these tracks are totally forgettable. At least “Down in the Tube Station at Midnight” tells a good story. 2.5 stars for the Jam.
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
I listened to the original release (11 tracks). It’s interesting that the two big hits off the album are songs by Grace Slick, who joined the band just before the album was recorded. Meanwhile, Marty Balin, the founder of the band, didn’t have a big hit until years later even though his tunes here are pretty good. Because of the historical significance of the album (maybe the first psychedelic rock record) this one gets a four star rating.
Nick Drake
3/5
This is the third Nick Drake album we’ve had on the list so far, if I counted correctly. The list maker seems to have an obsession here. The internet states the artist had three albums, so we will have heard the entire Nick Drake collection. It makes me wonder if any other artist/group has all their albums on this list. The acoustic guitar playing is crisp, clear, and mostly pleasant. The lyrics are occasionally hard to pick out. Overall very mellow.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
How did this one get onto the list? It is older than me! Nelson Riddle provides the orchestration and all the big band sounds of the 1940s and 1950s. Sinatra does his usual top notch singing, although after several tracks they all seemed to blend together.
R.E.M.
2/5
R.E.M. always has interesting lyrics, but i never liked them very much. This album had two hits (“Orange Crush” and “Stand”) that I know of. Lots of mandolin on this album, which helps a bit.
Ice Cube
2/5
I listened to the original release (16 tracks). This seems good for a hip hop album, and has a lot of energy. It’s difficult for me to relate to the messages here and the 90’s urban black lifestyle, however (lots of violence).
Marvin Gaye
4/5
This album is a departure from Marvin’s earlier Motown pop music, as he moved into singing about social and climate issues with this album. One track leads into the next, so it seems the album is connected by the music and the stories he is telling. Good music.
David Bowie
3/5
I agree with one of the music reviewers on Wiki: “strong songwriting amid non-innovative but enjoyable music.” Other reviewers noted there were too many tracks, making the album too long. However, in this era of streaming music, length is up to the listener. There are flashes of Bowie brilliance here, but otherwise nothing outstanding in my opinion.
Moby
4/5
I agree with Moby’s own assessment of the album: “It starts off energetic and by the end dissolves into a opiated haze.” [Of course that was intentional on his part.] The music is unique in that it takes gospel, southern, and folk music and overlays it with electronica. Almost all the tracks are enjoyable. This CD is in our collection.
Thin Lizzy
3/5
Based on my limited knowledge of this Irish band (i.e., two songs: “The Boys are Back in Town” and “Jailbreak”), my expectations were pretty low. But the sound quality for a live double album was good, and the music was better than expected. Generally hard rock. The lead singer has a distinctive voice, too bad he died at a young age.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3/5
This album is from a South African men’s a cappella group, who became popular here after Paul Simon featured them on his Graceland album. A few of the tracks are done in English. The music has a gospel vibe to it, and is easy to listen to.
Oasis
3/5
This is the debut album from these British guys. Almost all the tracks are hard rock in my opinion. It’s fine for a debut album, although nothing here is memorable. I recall the band members getting into a lot of fights back then, but I suppose that’s not uncommon for rock bands.
Paul Weller
2/5
This is the second album from British singer Paul Weller, who sometimes sounds like Eric Clapton. The music here could have been from any era from the 1960s to date. Instrumental (Pt. 1) and Pt.2 were good but much too short. Instrumental Two was a waste of 50 seconds. There were a few other decent tunes (Moon on your Pyjamas) while the rest of the tracks were boring and/or forgettable.
The Band
4/5
I always enjoyed music by the Band, and this album has a few of their best songs. Apparently this album is considered their best. As mentioned before, I’m always impressed by foreign artists who have a good knowledge of US history and write sings about it - in this case Robbie Robertson. Also, few (if any) bands are the subject of a Martin Scorcese film.
Talking Heads
4/5
I listened to the original release (eleven tracks). Two of these tracks are familiar to me. The songs are peppy and the music is good. Thinking about recent album ratings, this one seems like it is four stars. Hopefully this is not the beginnings of album ratings creep.
Wu-Tang Clan
2/5
Apparently this album was responsible for the renaissance of East Coast rap music and has been designated as historically significant. Esteemed music critics viewed as one of the best albums of all time. For me it was just another hip hop record. I did enjoy some of the lyrics, however.
Nirvana
2/5
This is the final album from Nirvana, a band that I never liked. Tracks 2, 8, and 11 consisted primarily of (if not all) screaming. The last track was ok, but ran on a bit too long. Everything else was forgettable or too repetitive.
U2
3/5
Two tracks from this album (“One” and “Mysterious Ways”) are tunes that have had radio play, so those are familiar to me and the best songs on the album. The rest of the tracks all are well done with excellent sound quality. It’s just that U2 is one of those bands that I never really got enthused about.
4/5
Seeing this album takes me back to when each Friday the local newspaper published the top 40 singles and top ten albums of the week. Ziggy Stardust was the top album for many weeks, and yet there were no singles from it in the top 40 - very unusual. Of course three of these tracks are frequently played on classic rock radio nowadays. This one is one of Bowie’s best albums in my opinion.
Bob Dylan
4/5
At this point we are familiar with Dylan’s interesting but kooky lyrics, but at the time this was released these tracks were something rock and roll had not seen before. Sort of a cross between folk and rock. Some of these songs are still often heard.
Merle Haggard
3/5
None of these songs are familiar to me, since I never intentionally listen to country music. At least I know who Merle Haggard is. He has a good clear singing voice, and all the tracks are pleasant country music. Perhaps this was a seminal country music release. I noticed that all the tracks were short, typical for the 1960s.
Ozomatli
3/5
This is an album from a group out of LA that I don’t know anything about. It’s a mix of hip hop, jazz, Spanish, and Latin music. It’s unlike anything else on the list so far. Overall it’s good, but not quite good enough for a four-star rating.
Arcade Fire
3/5
This is the second Arcade Fire album we’ve heard (so far). Both of them were pretty decent, with a few good tracks and others that were forgettable. If you took the best tracks from the two albums and made that an album, it would rate four stars.
Rage Against The Machine
1/5
I appreciate this band’s passion for conveying their messages; lots of energy here. Unfortunately, there is too much screaming and repetition throughout the album. No singing here, only screaming and talking. I guess that is expected from a heavy metal group. One and a half stars for this one.
Elliott Smith
3/5
This was the final release from the artist. The music on the album is good, while the songs are generally melancholy. The lyrics are a bit abstract for my taste, but no major complaints here. I suppose this would go in the indie rock category.
Eric Clapton
4/5
Although we heard from Cream and Derek & the Dominoes, this is the first entry so far from Eric Clapton. This album features mostly covers, including ones from blues legend Robert Johnson, Johnny Otis, Willie Dixon, and Bob Marley. Yvonne Elliman, a successful singer in her own right, provided backing vocals on several tracks. The album moves along at a good pace, and is just good enough to get four stars.
Supertramp
3/5
This is standard 1970s Supertramp, Including the hits “Bloody Well Right” and “Dreamer”. Those are good tracks which we all heard on the radio, while the remainder of the album was decent but not memorable. Let’s give it a solid three stars.
Burning Spear
3/5
Marcus Garvey, the album title, was unknown to me. Now I know he was a Jamaican political activist in the early 1900s. Also, lots of references to Marcus Garvey on the album. This was an early reggae record - now it seems rather standard. Just barely good enough for three stars.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Album #2 so far from the Rolling Stones (we already heard Sticky Fingers)…how many more will there be? Well, this is one of their best. This one includes “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”, “Gimme Shelter”, “Honky Tonk Woman’’s precursor, and the title track. This is the first time I’ve heard the entire record, and I’m realizing that there’s a lot of blues and country influence on this album. 4.5 out of 5.
Paul McCartney and Wings
5/5
Here’s an album that is part of our collection, so we dusted it off and played it for the first time in about fifty years. Other than the title track, which I hear a lot, there are several other good songs here. Much more creative than most of the stuff I hear nowadays.
Britney Spears
3/5
This one is a surprise. It must have made the list because of its huge record sales, and its release coincided with the emergence of several teen girl singers. I listened to the original release. There are a few catchy tunes on the album. The music is overly-processed (reminds me of the boy bands of that era), but otherwise no major complaints.
Todd Rundgren
4/5
This is a double album, with each of the four sides having a different theme. Side four includes songs all recorded live. One of these (Hello It’s Me) was a big hit. Overall I enjoyed this one more than I expected, even though there are a few duds here.
Iggy Pop
3/5
This is the debut album for Iggy, with major input from friend David Bowie. Bowie’s influence is obvious, although his saxophone playing on “Tiny Girl” is not something you hear often. I agree with one of the record reviewers, who commented that Iggy sounds like Jim Morrison sometimes and Lou Reed other times. This is the original version of “China Doll”, although Bowie’s cover is better. Overall a good devut album.
George Harrison
4/5
I listened to the original release, except for the sequencing of the last section (commonly called Apple Jam). This is a triple album, the first ever triple album from a single artist. Also, this was the first album released by a former Beatle. I recall this record making a big splash when it came out, partly because it was from a former Beatle, but also because some of the tracks provided an insight into the dysfunction happening within the Beatles. There are some good songs here, but in my opinion the Apple Jam should have been a separate release.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
This is a double album, and is considered by many to be the best Rolling Stones LP. Two hits (Tumbling Dice and Happy) come from this album. There are a lot of rock & roll tracks here, yet still a lot of songs with blues, gospel, and country rock influence. I would rank this album below Sticky Fingers and Let it Bleed.
Richard Hawley
4/5
This one is from a British artist I never heard of until now. The music is mellow, and the tracks range from new age to country to pop. The album could almost have been made in the 1950s. The singing is clear and crisp. My only complaint is with the track “The Ocean”, which mentions the ocean countless times and became annoying.
The Hives
2/5
This album is from a Swedish garage rock band. The list makers seem to exclude greatest hits albums, but they made a minor exception in this case, as this album is a compilation of tracks from three previously released records. I’m impressed with the band’s English (all tracks are in English), but their music is average. I thought the last track was the best. The album title is Your New Favorite Band, but alas, tis not.
Suzanne Vega
3/5
This is the debut album from Suzanne Vega, so it’s good as a debut. The lyrics are fine and the music is basic but acceptable. I would describe this album as a musical poetry reading.
Joy Division
3/5
Take a little Jim Morrison, a little Talking Heads, a little Depeche Mode, mix together and add some synthesizer, and you’ve got yourself the sound of Joy Division. (This band predates Depeche Mode). Overall the sound is good, although the tracks are not too memorable. I give them 3.5 stars.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
This was the breakthrough album from “The Boss”, and we have it in our collection. It’s another one of those records that was a required purchase at the time. Everything that the artist has released after Born To Run (which is a lot) has been of lesser quality in my opinion. I’ll need to adhere to my policy of high ratings for albums in our collection.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
This one started very well, then tailed off substantially in the middle, before rebounding somewhat towards the end. The internet describes Pet Shop Boys as synth-pop. Somehow they managed to get 1960s superstar Dusty Springfield to do one track on the album. Overall the music is clear and acceptable.