Lynyrd Skynyrd boldly asks, what if some dudes from the south really liked the blues and wanted to be like The Rolling Stones? It is technically an excellent album and one hell of a debut. Fantastic guitar work, not to mention the piano which I never noticed as much in previous listens. Very well-developed sound and arrangements. And frankly, it is impossible to deny the cultural impact. However, I walked away feeling a bit uninspired. I feel like releasing a searing blues album in 1973 after a lot of more groundbreaking rock and roll came and went is already a little derivative. I suppose you could argue they contributed a lot of refinement, which they did. The mixing and engineering on this album really sparkles with clarity. It sounds great. For what it is, it is great. But I’m not sure I’m convinced by what it is.

I feel like a lot of the songs would feel appropriate in a movie soundtrack. Their story is fascinating and it is really cool that this album exists. The guitar tones remind me sometimes of Khruangbin which I would also describe as desert blues. Props to these fellas.

A lot of fun. Lots of times where I wanted the beat made me feel more like dancing rather than the cleaning and prepping I had to do. The way they chopped samples was really cool. I appreciate the artistry. Not really something I’ll throw on often but I get it.

I love David Bowie. I do not understand in what world I “must” listen to this David Bowie album. Doesn’t break any new ground for me. An old rockstar’s comeback, no matter how revered, is not really nice that impressive. McCartney could put out a single that is just farts and have people analyze it while it goes to #1, but it doesn’t mean that it’ll be good. Not that this is bad, per se, it just sounds very much like other late Bowie stuff. Which, if nothing else, is pleasant enough.

This album is like if the White Stripes were cool, actually. Very much cut from the same cloth. Lots of dirty blues rock that makes your colon rumble, but that isn’t everything it has to offer. No No No’s outro is a really cool sonic treat. Modern Romance sounds a bit like the Velvet Underground. And contrasting with all of that, their (probably?) most famous song Maps is that much cooler. The tremolo guitar throughout is nuts. The vocals being clean and soft makes your ears perk up because it is so different. The album has ups and it has downs. It is a work of art. Karen O is an amazing vocalist. I am extremely glad I got to listen to it finally.

Really difficult to contextualize an album like this. But after reading the Wikipedia blurb about it, it is exactly what he tried to do. It sounds uncannily like a soundtrack, which is amazing given that it is not a soundtrack and that it was produced in the 80s. Of course, they were capable of doing cool stuff then - but you gotta have one hell of an imagination to make this come together without a plot or the world of YouTube OSTs and movie streaming available. This isn't even mentioning all the production techniques that I'm sure are harder to achieve as one man without a big-budget movie behind you. Incredible feat. Would I listen to this regularly? Absolutely not. But great work Barry.

Unrepentant, honest, unpretentious, and funny. I can’t really say that I *love* it, but there is a certain charm about it that grew on me. Sometimes it sounds like nursery rhymes which is grating. But impossible to deny it takes a certain something to simply say things like he simply says them. Technically, that is punk as fuck. I can respect that if nothing else.

Pretty good, pretty danceable pop. Didn’t particularly touch me and I am not sure what makes it something I “must” listen to. Not unimpressed - it sounds good and recording an album in two languages is a feat worth noting. Just not that blown away. I think including it is a bit unfair to it - not every album is hugely impactful and that’s fine. And if it is in a way that I don’t see, it might still be too early to tell.

One of those “I get it” albums but not really something I’d toss on. I do feel like it deserves its place on the list - first song has had the airwaves in a chokehold for 20 years and there’s no denying the influence even though I never listened to her knowingly before. It all sounds wonderful.

I don’t really have intelligent thoughts about this one. Really neat album. I enjoyed listening to it, it felt weird and fresh in 2024 so I can’t imagine what it was like in its time. Reminds me of MGMT. It rocked. Would recommend

Very much a soundtrack to 1980s Soviet cartoon about space, or perhaps a Stephen King movie. Fun. Not really for me though!

Really awesome and fun album. Shocking that it was his first. Really ran a range of vibes, and a lot of it felt incredibly fresh. Thought this was going to be a dub/reggae album (and was happy about it) but it is much more. It’s a whole experience. Supreme I Preme was a standout. Some very cool sounds in there.

Led Zeppelin is the blueprint. What a sampling of songs. Every single member has a chance to shine. Plant and Page always have insanely iconic vocals and guitar. But the fact that this album has Moby Dick, arguably one of the most epic drum solos of all time, and The Lemon Song, which for me personally as a bassist, has colored how I approach a groove so so much, sets it apart from other LZ albums. Look. I’d never listen to an album like this in 2024. It is self-indulgent. It is corny. But in 1969, and probably only in 1969, this was needed and it set up so many extremely high bars for what rock and roll could be. If anyone said this was their favorite album of all time, I would cringe, because grow up. No one needs a minute long guitar solo. But goddammit. I would get it. It is an easy five stars.

Strong and constant vibes but not really for me. Sounds like a late fall day