Understandably influential on the more moodier side of what would become indie with the likes of Radiohead.
I can't see myself coming back to this often but for what it is and what it eventually influenced, its worth checking out.
Great country singer, loved songs like El Paso, Strawberry Roan and Running Gun. A few others sounded like filler but as a fan of Johnny Cash, I enjoyed the outlaw vibe.
Whilst this is a trendsetter for what was to come in the dance genre during the 2000s, as a whole i found the album falls into the trap where whilst a lot of the songs sound great individually, listening to the entire package drags by the end.
Fantastic mixture of funk, soul and at times almost psychedelic.
The production and instrumentation is a highlight on all tracks, particularly on the extendes covers of Walk on By and By the Time I Get to Phoenix. The song lengths might seem off-putting but they flow by seamlessly.
First time hearing of this group. I enjoyed the laidback feel of the songs, however I felt the album went a bit too long.
I can see a lot of these tunes growing on me.
Just couldn't get into this one ☹️
A very standard Bowie album IMO. Nothing on here to the caliber of his classics but still some good songs.
A preview of greater things to come.
Between this album and Hounds of Love, Kate Bush was on another level in her prime.
Feels like a teaser of greater things to come. Ironically it'll come in the same year.
A very grandiose listen in terms of scale, several classics here. The album I found dipped in quality around the midway point but picked up during the last quarter.
Honestly, songs are not bad but I can't find anything that hooks me in.
I had put this one off for a while. Not because I didn't have the patience or a lack of interest, but more the idea of listening to the same artist for nearly 3 hours.
For me, this is not an album that I can sit down and fully integrate with, however as something playing in the background, its a decent time.
The aforementioned 69 love songs are exactly that, there's no need to break down the content thankfully.
The main standout is Merritt's voice, I don't think I've heard a register as low as his, but it somehow works, its unbelievable. It's also good that other vocalists take the lead throughout so Merritt's bass tones don't outlive their welcome.
I can't see myself coming back to this often cause of the length but certainly great songs, a unique delivery and yeah give it a try.
Other than her 2 big hits (behave!), this is the first time I've listened to Dolly. Unfortunately country music rarely translated into the UK market, but following from this I fully understand why she earned the moniker Queen of Country, a voice you could just listen to and just enjoy without skipping a track.
Kinda drifted with this one, instrumentally there were some nice moments but not too big a fan of the voice
Its the quintessential Metallica album. One of the greatest metal records of all time. Not much else to say that hasn't been said already.
Such a unique sound its difficult to categorise but not one skippable track on here.
Good mix of psychedelic and early proto-punk.
I debated whether to give 4 or 5 stars to this album. Whilst it is the best-selling record of all time, I don't think its perfect, The Girl is Mine is the weaker of the two songs Michael did with McCartney and The Lady in my Life is kind of a weak closer.
Having said that though, there's a reason why this is highly regarded. The hooks on here are phenomenal even in the weaker tracks. Michael was on top form here with hit after hit after hit.
Its genuinely an essential pop album.
A love letter to the sounds of British institutions like The Who that somehow managed to also be a precursor to what would become known as Britpop.
There She Goes may be their most popular song they ever released but don't sleep on the rest of this!
This is where David Bowie truly started to come into his own as a songwriter.
One of my favourite trios of all time. So many classics here!
A cornerstone in the world of heavy metal. Whilst "metalheads" will and have debated about British Steel being a heavy metal record, there is no denying that these 9 tracks rock!
Ahhh the early 00's where nearly every indie band started with The. Honestly, apart from Valerie (which is on the follow-up) I have not heard the singles from this debut since then.
Honestly listening to this, its not a bad little album, but apart from the singles, there's not much else that sticks with me.
As incredible a singer Adele is, there is not much on her 3rd outing that hooks me in like its predecessor. It peaks on the first song and after that its all run of the mill.
I just couldn't get into it sorry.
Tiny Dancer will forever remain the highlight, but there are plenty of gems aside here to enjoy.
Jay-Z may have released The Blueprint but this is THE BLUEPRINT for what would become hip hop. Essential listening.
One of the better live albums I've heard recently. A lot of them tend to be fixed in studio, this here by Sam Cooke is so raw you could imagine being there.
I strangely heard Wild Flag before Sleater-Kinney. I think its pretty average, nothing horrible but then nothing amazing either.
One of my favourites of all time.
Took a while to get the layout of the story being told bur overall a nice album.
There is no denying just how important this album was in the birth of punk. Now having said that, I think The Stooges hit their stride on the follow-up.
1969, I Wanna Be Your Dog and No Fun are absolute classics but then We Will Fall will always remain a dredge to get through.
So, how does an artist follow the biggest selling album of all time? By releasing a Bad one of course.
Joking aside, Bad is a fantastic pop album much like Thriller, its 1A and 1B in terms of his best work.
If Thriller earned Jackson his King of Pop title, Bad let him continue to sit on his throne.
It is their greatest triumph. A double album that goes through genre after genre yet neither drops in quality nor outlives its welcome. Essential.
This is probably where Elvis was at his peak from a vocal perspective. From the get-go, he is front and centre stage belting it out.
I didn't actually know any songs from this record apart from In the Ghetto, but every one just runs so smoothly with hints of soul, country, gospel and blues.
First time hearing this album. I've always loved new wave and synth-pop, so to me this is up there with the likes of Duran Duran's Rio or Depeche Mode's Violator.
Wow! I remember when this album came out, just how (no pun intended) massive this album was in the UK, especially around this period when rock music was not popular in the charts.
To this day, Blackholes and Revelations is Muse at their peak. Its sad how quickly they fell into irrelevance following this but it proves just how fantastic this album is.
Great beats, some absolutely dreamy vocals scattered throughout, honestly I'm not a massive Jungle listener but I have to respect Goldie on this.
The first album in collaboration with Quincy Jones sees Michael boldly move from his motown roots of his early career and onto a fusion of Disco, R&B and Pop.
Simply put this album put Jackson on the trajectory to being a global superstar.
Probably the most accessible album of its kind that I've heard so far on this project. Its unlikely I would listen to this again but its not from a perspective of disdain.
I feel like I'm cruising through Vice City listening to this. As a whole its not on the level of Rio but the singles are classic 80s pop and the deep cuts are enjoyable.
It's a telltale sign when your biggest claim to fame as a performer is that you wrote songs that others had better success with. Still its not all bad, it helped with my sleep apnea so there's a positive.
I've listened to more Steely Dan this year than I have in my entire life!
I think this is their most consistent album out of the 3 I've heard so far.
Much like The Eagles and Hotel California, I can't see myself coming back to this album regularly as its not a genre I tend to consume but definitely one of the best of its kind.
Honestly, I was not surprised that this album would make an appearance at some point on this list.
Whilst this album is not necessarily a concept, it is more beneficial to listen from start to finish on the first listen with the monologue that weaves between the songs expanding as it gets further until the conclusion which to this day is cleverly put together.
Of course it would be a chore to sit through an hour plus unravelling a monologue if the songs weren't up to scratch in general and thankfully I can't find a negative against any of them.
I was quite surprised seeing how late this album was in the career of Muddy Waters. The fact he only had a couple more releases before passing away is kinda shocking too.
As far as the genre of Blues, I don't think there's anything more accessible than the Chicago iteration. Just in terms of how it pulled from an established style (Delta Blues) to being a catalyst for an upcoming genre (Rock n Roll).
But Hard Again ironically comes nearly 25 years give or take after the likes of Chuck Berry evolved that sound, yet it doesn't sound like Muddy is trying to keep up with trends.
Instead here you have 9 tracks that sound so raw and makes me wonder if a lot of them were done in one take. Lyrically, its the blues, there's not much to say but instrumentally from a solid rhythm section to this harmonica that flows throughout and of course some nice guitar leads too.