223
Albums Rated
3.42
Average Rating
20%
Complete
866 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1990
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
31
5-Star Albums
3
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Apocalypse Dudes
Turbonegro
|
5 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
|
Superfuzz Bigmuff
Mudhoney
|
5 | 2.93 | +2.07 |
|
New York Dolls
New York Dolls
|
5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
|
Rattus Norvegicus
The Stranglers
|
5 | 3.15 | +1.85 |
|
John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
|
5 | 3.17 | +1.83 |
|
Ritual De Lo Habitual
Jane's Addiction
|
5 | 3.19 | +1.81 |
|
The Age Of The Understatement
The Last Shadow Puppets
|
5 | 3.25 | +1.75 |
|
Entertainment
Gang Of Four
|
5 | 3.26 | +1.74 |
|
S&M
Metallica
|
5 | 3.26 | +1.74 |
|
Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
|
5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
|
1 | 3.31 | -2.31 |
|
Trio
Dolly Parton
|
1 | 3.12 | -2.12 |
|
I Am a Bird Now
Antony and the Johnsons
|
1 | 2.84 | -1.84 |
|
Time Out
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
|
2 | 3.83 | -1.83 |
|
The Joshua Tree
U2
|
2 | 3.67 | -1.67 |
|
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
|
2 | 3.61 | -1.61 |
|
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
|
2 | 3.43 | -1.43 |
|
Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
|
2 | 3.42 | -1.42 |
|
Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
|
2 | 3.42 | -1.42 |
|
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
|
2 | 3.37 | -1.37 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| The Rolling Stones | 4 | 4.5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 2 | 5 |
| Blur | 2 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | 5 |
| The Smiths | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Dolly Parton | 2 | 1.5 |
| Tom Waits | 3 | 2 |
5-Star Albums (31)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Fugees · 4 likes
4/5
Solid, enjoyed more than I thought I would. Bit samey in places.
Turbonegro · 4 likes
5/5
A barrage of Norwegian punk rock, banger after banger with no let-up. Loved it.
The Icarus Line · 2 likes
4/5
Good noise rock with some awesome guitar work, and solid vocals. I would probably prefer some more melody in places, but enjoyed nonetheless.
Tom Waits · 2 likes
2/5
Don't get the hype, generally unenjoyable with a few OK bits. His voice is grating and the songs sound like a circus. Goes on for too long too.
CHIC · 1 likes
4/5
Smooth, groovy and love the guitar solos. At Last I Am Free is far too long and gets boring.
1-Star Albums (3)
All Ratings
Fugees
4/5
Solid, enjoyed more than I thought I would. Bit samey in places.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Pretty good. Wish more of the songs were like Brown Sugar.
EDIT: Ok I underrated this. It's a banger album.
The Prodigy
4/5
Loud for the sake of being loud, repetitive beats, too long. Some tracks and parts of tracks I enjoyed, like Mindfields and Climbatize.
EDIT:- I think this album actually deserves a 4. I have to be in the right mood but when I am, I do enjoy this. Also great to run to.
The Notorious B.I.G.
3/5
Classic 90s hip-hop. Not bad. The constant lyrics about drugs, guns and sex get annoying after a few tracks. Giving this one a 3/5.
CHIC
4/5
Smooth, groovy and love the guitar solos. At Last I Am Free is far too long and gets boring.
Syd Barrett
3/5
First half better than second half. No Good Trying was my favourite track. Overall was just okay, not really a fan.
Dire Straits
4/5
Really enjoyed this one overall. The guitar playing is incredible and Mark Knopfler’s voice works really well. Close to a 5/5.
Soundgarden
5/5
Wow, really enjoyed this one. Heavy but still tuneful. Interesting time signatures and arrangements yet still catchy. Need to listen a few more times!
2/5
Wanted to like this one. I just didn’t like it. All the songs sounded soft with rounded edges (apart from Bullet the Blue Sky and Exit). A boring album with poor, muddy mixing. I don’t get the hype.
Bon Jovi
4/5
Cheesy 80s rock. Wanted to hate it, but actually quite enjoyed it. Feel-good tunes with good production.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
This was fine, preferred the more upbeat funky numbers to the slower R&B ballads. Probably won’t listen again.
Ray Charles
3/5
Undoubtedly a great voice, love the warm production that makes me feel like I'm sitting by a fire at Christmas. Unfortunately the songs mostly sound the same to me and the style of music isn't really my thing.
Cowboy Junkies
2/5
Very slow. Margo’s voice starts to grate after 3 songs as she sounds the same in all of them. While not objectively bad, I really did not enjoy this. Bonus star for the Church acoustics.
Madonna
4/5
Good album, enjoyed most of this. Great production with deep bass, and lots of interesting electronic sounds.
Van Morrison
3/5
Sounds like he’s doing his best American soul/jazz singer impression but not as good. Preferred the rockier songs over the jazzy ones. Not bad but not good.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
Some interesting songs on here and the vocal harmonies are nice. Not much of a fan of the slower ballad type tracks. Wooden Ships is the highlight.
John Martyn
2/5
Didn’t really enjoy this. I think I just don’t like this style of folk. Couple of parts of songs like the end of Don’t Want to Know were ok. Didn’t like his voice either and the way he mumbled.
a-ha
4/5
Some classic 80s pop. Enjoyed this, a few songs sounded a bit similar but maybe I need another listen. Good album.
B.B. King
4/5
Thought I was going to dislike it just because of its age. Ended up enjoying this, love blues music and it wasn’t too long, which some live albums are.
The Stranglers
5/5
Really enjoyed this having never listened to The Stranglers before apart from Golden Brown (which I hate). This album will be in my rotation for sure.
Steely Dan
3/5
One of those annoying albums where I like some songs but dislike others. Can’t stand the jazzy lift-music types like Razor Boy and Your Gold Teeth, but The Boston Rag and My Old School are great.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
4/5
Fun and silly rap rock. Enjoyed this quite a lot and it’s something you don’t often hear.
Fleet Foxes
2/5
Not my thing at all. Really didn’t like this. Bit slow and boring - didn’t make me feel anything.
The Everly Brothers
3/5
Nice harmonies and guitar sounds in places. Short pop songs. This was ok, probably won’t listen again.
Jane's Addiction
5/5
Really enjoyed this. Good combo of upbeat hard rock tracks and slower proggier tracks. Great bass lines and guitar work, will reward multiple listens.
Michael Jackson
4/5
What do you need to say about this? A classic album with 3 of MJ’s absolute classic songs. Shame I’m not quite as into the ballads.
Donovan
2/5
Really hated the majority of this. Couple of ok tracks save it from being a 1/5. Just. Season of the Witch and Celeste are the best tracks. Most of it sounds horrible.
Various Artists
3/5
It’s Christmas music, but as it goes, it’s some of the less annoying Christmas music. Would I listen to it again? Probably not.
Lou Reed
4/5
Really enjoyed this. Love Lou’s deadpan delivery and the songs are interesting and well written. Couple of tracks I’m not keen on make this not quite a 5/5 for me. Will definitely listen again.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
Great album overall, slightly let down by Things Goin’ On and Mississippi Kid. One of those that is nearly a 5. 4 minute guitar solo in Free Bird? Yes please!
Caetano Veloso
2/5
Old jazzy Brazilian music with poor recording quality. Culturally relevant, but I did not enjoy this.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Quality mix of hard rock, prog and stripped down songs. Probably a bit long but the variety and pacing of the album keep you interested.
Elliott Smith
3/5
What a mixed bag. Some absolutely great stuff on here but also a lot of dull uninteresting stuff. Album also kinda runs out of steam.
Queen
5/5
Masterpiece of an album, loved it. Interesting yet accessible, varied yet cohesive. One of my favourites so far.
Maxwell
3/5
Not bad music at all, but just doesn’t get me excited. After 3 or 4 songs they all start sounding the same to me. However, great recording quality especially the bass and drums.
Turbonegro
5/5
A barrage of Norwegian punk rock, banger after banger with no let-up. Loved it.
Van Halen
4/5
Pretty solid hard rock/glam metal album. Not the most interesting or different, but enjoyed this overall. Highlight being 'Little Dreamer'. Few minus points for including cover tracks.
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Most of this is just okay, not very memorable. Although WTF is ‘Coconut’? Possibly the worst song I’ve heard yet on this project. Overall probably won’t listen again.
Antony and the Johnsons
1/5
Absolutely cannot stand Antony’s voice, it’s so grating and annoying that it ruins the entire album. Frustratingly, some of the songs are quite pretty when you try and isolate the music from the voice. Unfortunately this is not enough to save it, I hate this overall.
Depeche Mode
4/5
Dark 80s synth music, not as catchy as I expected but quite atmospheric. Overall an enjoyable listen, possibly one that rewards repeat listening.
Franz Ferdinand
5/5
A noughties indie rock classic, banger after banger. Alex’s voice is underrated too.
The Black Crowes
5/5
Really enjoyed this. Not the most interesting or different, but that doesn’t matter when the music makes you feel great. Great Southern bluesy rock n roll sound. ‘Jealous Again’ is brilliant.
Peter Tosh
3/5
Exactly what you’d expect, but a bit better. This album would be pure vibes on a sunny day with a beer.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
This is an album you have to sit down and listen to. When you do, the rewards are epic. Jimi’s playing is awesome. There are a handful of songs I am not so keen on which, removed, would reduce the lengthy run time.
EDIT:- Okay upon repeat listening, this album is a 5. While I still stand by my view that some of the songs on their own would be 3s and 4s, the album taken as a piece of art and listened to in one sitting is brilliant.
Beck
3/5
This is an interesting mix of genres. Unfortunately interesting doesn’t necessarily equate to enjoyable. This is just a bit too weird for me. Still, some good bits.
The Smiths
5/5
Love the jangly guitars and the funny lyrics. Some absolute bangers on this - Cemetry Gates being my favourite.
Stan Getz
3/5
Soft, mellow jazzy background music. Not inherently bad, but just boring. All the tracks sound the same. Would be good for creating atmosphere in a bar.
Grateful Dead
3/5
I like the more roots rock sounding tracks but overall this is just a bit too Country for me. I wanted to like it due to their similarities in many ways with Gizz, but it just wasn’t my thing. Also first few tracks plus Truckin’ are the best.
Bert Jansch
2/5
Man and a guitar, simple folk music. While Bert is clearly good on the guitar, I do not enjoy his voice and the album is just not interesting or exciting. In fact it’s quite grating. I prefer the instrumentals.
Alice In Chains
5/5
Awesome grungy sound, reminds me of the Soundgarden album I had earlier, but dirtier and raspier. Not quite as good but still just about a 5.
Radiohead
5/5
Some classic Thom Yorke vocals, with a huge variety of music. Fusion of electronic and guitar sounds, with some slower, more acoustic stuff too. I loved some of this but some of it didn't quite hit as much.
EDIT: Upon repeat listening, the less immediate tracks have wormed their way in, and I now love them.
Happy Mondays
3/5
Upbeat and dancey, but a fairly guitar driven sound most of the time, with almost punk vocals. I quite like this.
Beck
3/5
Break-up music. The music itself isn’t bad, lovely strings and some more interesting production choices, I just can’t see myself listening to this again apart from in very specific situations. Sad and melancholic.
5/5
Brilliant album, great concept and great music. I'm a sucker for a concept album, especially ones about British culture so this is right up my street. Love it.
The Birthday Party
2/5
Noisy, nothing melodic, horrible screaming. In general, sounds like listening to a factory full of saws and hammers for nearly an hour. Some good basslines and guitar work save this from being a 1. Just.
The Cure
5/5
An epic album, one to be properly listened to as a whole cohesive album. More variety than expected and not just all slow and depressing!
Tom Waits
2/5
Don't get the hype, generally unenjoyable with a few OK bits. His voice is grating and the songs sound like a circus. Goes on for too long too.
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
Generally not keen on this style of rap, but some of the tracks I did enjoy (particularly the ones with a more 90s hip-hop beat). Kendrick’s voice is very annoying, would probably give an extra star if it was good. However, the concept and story of the album is interesting and well done.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
This is just OK to me. It’s not bad but it feels like music I’ve heard a million times and there’s nothing interesting or exciting. Meh.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Some classic songs on this, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I like them. I can’t stand “Cecilia” for some reason, but “Keep the Customer Satisfied” is great. Such a mixed bag that on the whole this is a 3.
Otis Redding
3/5
With this kind of album, the rating very much depends on whether you like the style of music or not, as most of the tracks are very similar. For me, I don’t mind it, but it does start to get annoying after a little while of the same vocal techniques song after song. It would be good as background music at a dinner party.
Tom Waits
2/5
Very similar to Rain Dogs, if not slightly better. Still didn’t enjoy it, too weird and just not fun.
Johnny Cash
3/5
Really enjoy his voice here, but the country style isn't my thing. Shame that most of the songs are covers too. Overall not bad.
Public Enemy
3/5
Quite enjoy this, but it is very samey. At almost an hour long, I do get kinda bored of the formula. Channel Zero best track.
Moby
4/5
Atmospheric electronic music, very sample heavy but enjoyable stuff. I know a lot of the tracks already.
The White Stripes
3/5
I expected more from this given the White Stripes hits and the latest Jack White album. It’s a mixed bag of songs, most of which are just fine. Prefer the more garage rock sound.
Christina Aguilera
2/5
One for the girls.
Songhoy Blues
3/5
Better than I expected, some decent tunes on this. A bit front loaded though.
Eurythmics
3/5
Middle of the road 80s pop for me. Not a huge fan of the vocals but some of the tracks are catchy.
Laibach
4/5
It appears it's a controversial opinion but I actually like this. Very industrial sound, lots of marching beats, but it sounds epic to me and could be the soundtrack to a film. Definitely interesting.
Finley Quaye
3/5
Jamaican sounding vocals with some nice deep bassy music. Shame that it's mostly fairly dull. Some of the early songs had promise.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Classic Stones. I'm close to loving this album, but there are a couple of tracks mid-album which I’m just not as keen on.
EDIT: Second best Stones album so far, behind Sticky Fingers. This too has grown on me. Banger album.
Christina Aguilera
2/5
First half is much better on the whole, but still one for the girls. Way too long as well.
Elton John
4/5
Very good album, Elton is a master on the piano. Bit too long and a handful of tracks that could have been left off, but on the whole I like the sound and the melodies.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
The most acoustic of the Stones albums I’ve had so far. Took me a bit by surprise on first listen, however after a couple more listens I do enjoy this, and there are some great songs on it.
Emmylou Harris
2/5
Not for me this. It’s ‘mum music’ in my opinion. Not keen on her voice and it’s just generally not very interesting to me. Not a fan of this kind of country music in the first place.
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
Very jazzy, smooth vocals. This is good background music for me. The length of the album is ridiculous and the songs do all blur into one. Not inherently bad music, just gets boring quickly.
Suede
4/5
Solid Britpop guitar-driven sound, not completely sold on the vocals but enjoyable on the whole.
Eagles
3/5
Quite average country rock, not a huge fan in general although I do like a couple of songs.
Kid Rock
2/5
American country rap-rock. Sounds like a parody. Not my jam.
Fiona Apple
3/5
Mellow jazzy pop, enjoyed more than expected. A high 3.
Sex Pistols
4/5
Enjoyed this. Spiky and angular punk rock. The vocals get slightly grating after a while but not enough to spoil the music.
George Michael
2/5
Boring, thin production, not enjoyable. Very bare and stripped back pop songs with so much reverb. Not good.
Happy Mondays
4/5
Better than the other Happy Mondays album I’ve had on this list, enjoyable guitar-driven indie-rock. Reminds me of the Stone Roses.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Quite like this on the whole, great guitar tones but a bit too country for me.
Norah Jones
3/5
Falls firmly in the 'nice background music' category. Mellow and warm sound, would be good in a fancy restaurant or lounge bar.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Brilliant rock and blues record, the guitar and drums are amazing and soaring vocals to match.
The Young Gods
3/5
Strange one this. Very industrial with metal vocals. Might need a repeat listen but while I enjoy some aspects of the sound, it takes some getting used to.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Probably the weakest Stones album I’ve had yet, but still enjoyed it. “Going Home” is a bit too long.
Bob Dylan
2/5
Not a fan of this kind of music anyway, and Dylan’s voice is grating.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Soulful but rocky in places too. Enjoyed this.
G. Love & Special Sauce
3/5
Rap-rock but not done as well as the Fun Lovin’ Criminals album I had earlier. It was ok.
Tracy Chapman
3/5
Liked this more than expected. Obviously Fast Car is a great song, but the rest is mostly just OK to me.
Blur
5/5
Loved this. There was a lull mid-album where I thought it might be just running out of steam. But no! It came back with a bang which makes me think this flow is deliberate. Will need repeat listens for sure.
Gang Of Four
5/5
Quality this!! Love the guitars and vocals, repetitive but catchy. Really good.
ZZ Top
5/5
Love this album, like earlier ZZ Top but dancier and more upbeat. Love the riffs and the rocky blues sound.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
4/5
Pretty good jangle pop, nice warm sound, pretty melodies. Never heard of this before but I enjoyed it.
Mylo
3/5
Not bad electronic & sample based music. Didn’t grab me but didn’t mind it. Just alright.
David Bowie
4/5
Life On Mars? is clearly the highlight here. A classic song with a handful of other decent tracks and some I don’t care for. Overall good album.
Beatles
3/5
Overrated. This isn't bad, and there are some great songs on this (USSR, Guitar Gently Weeps, Helter Skelter), but the majority of it just feels like filler. So many songs that I can't even remember, and the album drags.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Wow. Never heard this album before and it was brilliant! So many great riffs and guitar solos, right up my street.
Waylon Jennings
2/5
Old-school country music. Sounds like Johnny Cash with a less unique voice. Not my thing.
Prince
3/5
Purple Rain is a mega song, and When Doves Cry is also good. The rest I could very much take or leave. Probably won’t listen again.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Not a fan of this style of rock (if that’s even the right genre). Can’t really put a finger on why. Title track is good, as is the music on Jungleland, but overall find it slightly cringe.
Primal Scream
4/5
Not what I was expecting, I was expecting some kind of shouty metal - but this was much more melodic, psychedelic and enjoyable that I thought it would be.
The Libertines
4/5
Classic noughties indie rock, very solid if not slightly derivative. Enjoyed this.
Frank Ocean
2/5
Really not keen on this style of R&B, with over-the-top, drawly vocals. Reminds me of Drake, but not as bad.
Bill Evans Trio
1/5
Sounds like three different people all doing their own thing. Not sure what I’m missing here but it genuinely sounds like kids playing random notes at the same time. Horrible.
Eels
4/5
Quite enjoyed this, quite a soft, lo-fi sound with restrained vocals, which works for this somehow. Not bad. High 3 low 4 - leaning towards 4.
Radiohead
4/5
Enjoyed this, more atmospheric and experimental than HTTT with fewer 'bangers', but very effective.
The Doors
4/5
Good 60s pop-rock. Liked the use of the organ? I think… Need a repeat listen.
Beatles
4/5
Pretty good pop rock from the Beatles. I liked this but I didn't love it. Feel like I'm missing something from the Beatles fanboys. Some classic songs, yes, and maybe it was groundbreaking at the time, but it's just pretty good now.
Derek & The Dominos
5/5
Awesome bluesy rock from the 70s. The album gets better and better and I actually prefer the second half. High 4 Low 5 but leaning towards 5. Great stuff.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
90s sample-based dance music. Not bad and some classics on here, but I can’t see myself listening to the album again.
The Adverts
4/5
This was good, reminded me of the Sex Pistols and Gang of Four albums I’ve had before, but not quite as unique. Will listen again.
Mudhoney
5/5
Right up my street. Grungy, noisy riffy rock. Very good.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Nothing needs to be said.
Tom Waits
2/5
Arguably the best (possibly?) Tom Waits album I’ve had so far, but still bloody bad. Annoying voice, annoying little chuckles here and there, and background jazz. Not for me.
The Vines
4/5
This was good, solid rock music. A bit grungy and a bit different in places, enjoyed it.
TLC
2/5
One for the girls.
Neil Young
3/5
This was ok - some catchy melodies but the country/folk style isn't really my thing. Having said that, it's one of the better albums in that style that I've had. Not bad.
Hot Chip
4/5
Enjoyed this, good indie dance/electronic music with some 80s influence but not in a cheesy way. Good album.
The Icarus Line
4/5
Good noise rock with some awesome guitar work, and solid vocals. I would probably prefer some more melody in places, but enjoyed nonetheless.
Iggy Pop
4/5
Enjoyed this, when I read that Bowie was heavily involved it all made sense. There’s almost a Lou Reed vibe in some of the songs and more punky notes elsewhere.
Dr. Octagon
3/5
Not sure about this one. Varies from being good to just downright too weird for me. Not sure about all the sexual/porn references, but having read up about the concept I can appreciate it more.
Deerhunter
4/5
Overall pretty enjoyable, mix of indie/psychedelic and more ambient music. Quite varied.
Green Day
4/5
Classic Green Day. While not my absolute favourite style, the punk rock here is very good and pretty much every track is at least solid. Cool concept too.
Meat Loaf
2/5
This sounds like a musical, and I hate musicals. Vocals far too far forward in the mix, muddy music, poorly recorded and/or mixed. Some decent guitar parts.
James Taylor
2/5
Just not a fan of this style of country/folk. My favourite track was Steamroller - the only blues rock style song. The rest I didn’t enjoy.
Skepta
3/5
As rap goes, I don’t mind a bit of grime. Some good beats here and rich production, but I can’t help but find the lyrics so cliche and cringe (the standard sex, drugs, money, fame) that it puts me off somewhat. Hard one to rate so going down the middle.
The Smiths
4/5
Sounds like The Smiths, but just not quite as many bangers as the previous album I had of theirs.
Jeff Beck
4/5
Enjoyed this mix of blues/hard rock and the more mellow moments. Did not know Rod Stewart started out as a rock singer. Decent.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Classic PF.
Adam & The Ants
3/5
Some really good bits in this and also some dross. Some of the guitar parts and drums are good, however the dated vocals and repetitive songs aren’t great.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
One of the better folk rock albums so far. I can appreciate the storytelling and harmonies, however it’s just not my cup of tea. Won’t listen again.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Pleasant enough without being memorable. Not enough guitar work!
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
What a wild ride this was. Incredibly varied and bombastic. Some bits better than others.
The Zombies
3/5
Enjoyed this on the whole, but some tracks were pretty meh. Sounds a bit like the Beatles. 60s psychedelia.
Sebadoh
4/5
Pretty good this, enjoyed it more and more as it went on. Lo-fi but rocky too. Quite noisy but in a good way.
David Crosby
3/5
I didn’t have an opinion on most of this. It was kinda just there. Enjoyed Cowboy Movie the most, but the rest was not my thing. *Just* a 3.
Jurassic 5
3/5
Actually quite liked this. Good bass and classic rap. Liked the shared vocals. Was a bit samey and went on for too long however.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Tricky one to rate this. Some of the lead guitar parts I absolutely love, but then there’s the song “Round & Round” which I’d give a 2. Also not keen on Young’s voice.
Heaven 17
3/5
Classic 80s pop, some good catchy melodies but it’s just too dated and cliché for me. That classic 80s vocal on show, synths, drum machines. It’s ok.
Dolly Parton
1/5
Really don’t like this at all. Don’t enjoy any of the singers’ voices and the songs are basic country - one of my least favourite genres. One of the worst on the list so far.
3/5
Yet again I truly do not understand the hype around this band. What a mixed bag of an album, some tunes I can get on board with but others which are just weird or just not fun to listen to.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Enjoyed this much more than I expected. I had heard a couple of the tracks numerous times before but never really listened properly. Good instrumentals, production and vocals. Good album.
MGMT
4/5
Enjoyable album, the songs I’ve heard before/the singles are generally the best ones, but some other good stuff on there.
Grizzly Bear
3/5
Difficult one to rate, some enjoyable stuff and some of the most bland music I’ve heard. Very airy sound, decent dinner party background music.
Aretha Franklin
3/5
Soulful vocals but quite shouty. The kind of music that I find just ok. Plus the best tracks are covers. Not bad.
Jamiroquai
3/5
Didn’t know what to expect, started off quite enjoying it, groovy and funky, but did get a bit samey and started to grate a little. There’s no need for some of the tracks to be so long.
CHIC
3/5
More of the same as the last Chic album, but for some reason didn’t grab me as much, maybe not quite as catchy and funky. Not bad at all.
Beatles
3/5
Yet another weird album from the Beatles, with some great melodies and guitar parts, but also some strange, and straight-up unenjoyable bits. Yellow Submarine is shit. Overall won’t listen again.
Spiritualized
3/5
Very atmospheric, ethereal music. Sounds like a soundtrack to drifting up to heaven. Quite meditative and mellow but at times still dramatic. An experience but won’t listen again. Quite long and meandering.
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
I shouldn’t like this. It’s quite soft, quite folky, and a bit pretentious. However, I like the concept, the album art is cool, and the songs are well crafted with plenty of layers, some lovely strings, and catchy melodies. I’d need to be in the mood for it, but on the day I listened, I was.
Ravi Shankar
2/5
Did I enjoy this? No. Was it an interesting exploration into the music of another culture? Yes. Whilst I can appreciate the talent, I really found this a slog to get through. Maybe I need to listen to more to fully appreciate it. Either way, not a fun listen, but plus one for the educational parts.
The Doors
4/5
Really good mix of blues rock and other darker sounds here, with interesting vocals that remind me of Josh Homme in places. First two tracks and Queen Of The Highway were particular highlights. Add the cool album art and you've got a solid record.
John Lennon
4/5
Liked far more than expected. Imagine is a good song but impossible to hear with fresh ears so hard to judge. However, I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Mama and How Do You Sleep? were great. A few more decent tracks thrown in as well as a couple of duds (Crippled Inside), make this a solid album and probably the best of the Beatles-related ones I've had so far.
The Pogues
2/5
Sounds like a group of pirates singing traditional Irish folk songs. Rubbish. The storytelling the only saving grace.
R.E.M.
3/5
I found this mostly forgettable, not a fan of Michael Stipe's voice. The second half was more enjoyable than the first, with Man on the Moon the highlight.
Simply Red
3/5
This is mostly ok, I prefer the more upbeat funky tracks, with some of the ballads being a bit slow and uninteresting to me. Wouldn’t put back on again but in the background it’s fine. Not bad.
The Flaming Lips
4/5
Interesting and enjoyable. I wish the whole album continued the concept of Yoshimi and the Robots, and by the end the tracks are slightly samey, some more variety with higher tempos etc might work well. But I liked this quite a lot.
Al Green
3/5
Warm and smooth, pleasant enough vocals. Some of the strings and drums are enjoyable here, but it’s a weirdly bad recording for something from the 70s. Maybe that’s a deliberate choice to sound more old-school. It’s alright but won’t be coming back to it.
Baaba Maal
3/5
Hard to rate given I don’t speak Pulaar, but the music itself is quite nice, inoffensive and different to anything else on this list. Would never choose it but not bad.
Dolly Parton
2/5
I really don’t like Dolly Parton’s voice whatsoever, and Country as a genre is one of my least favourite. However, this is much better than Trio. Somewhat rocky in places, ‘Here I Am’ being the best track. If only it was being sung by someone else.
Miriam Makeba
2/5
Very pure vocals, excellent clear recording for 1960! However the music itself is not for me. Much like the Ravi Shankar album, I can appreciate the talent and introduction to another country’s music, but I don’t like it. One More Dance is particularly horrible.
Brian Eno
4/5
Very experimental and weird, but it works! I kinda dig this album. It’s interesting, hypnotic, and has some great groove as well as slower, more dreamlike sounds.
Traffic
5/5
Wow, I expected this to be some folky rubbish due to the title and the album art, but no, this was fantastic! The drums, flutes, organ working together in harmony and Steve Winwood’s voice is great. Loved this.
Jack White
4/5
An interesting album and not as straightforward as I expected it to be. Quite an eclectic mix of styles going on here, and I like the use of piano. There are a couple of tracks later in the album that don't do it for me, but overall still a strong 4.
Joy Division
4/5
Dark, gloomy, industrial. I liked this, but it didn’t blow me away. I think it might be the production (e.g. reverby echoey drums). A very atmospheric listen and would listen again, probably in a dark room.
Can
3/5
One of the strangest entries on this list so far… extremely hard to rate as it’s definitely not bad, in fact it’s good. However, I’d never listen to it again. More of an immersive one-off experience than a music album. Long, drawn-out, spacey, atmospheric soundscapes. Probably giving it a high 3, not quite a 4-level of enjoyment.
James Brown
3/5
I like how this captured the energy of the room, but to me the music is just okay. I find most old-school soul to be inoffensive and smooth, but also largely uninteresting. This is no exception.
Jeru The Damaja
4/5
Ah yes, the classic 90s hip-hop sound. Some really good beats here, and in general I quite like this. Some of the lyrics are quite cringe, but that goes hand in hand with the genre. High 3 or a low 4 for me… I’ll edge just towards 4.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Very dark and sombre blues tracks - the vocals get grating after a while and I’m not sure when I’d ever be in the mood for this, but I didn’t hate it.
Parliament
3/5
So incredibly funky, and started off really enjoying this album, but it really is 38 minutes of the same. The kind of music I really like in short bursts, but is just too much as an entire album.
Pretenders
4/5
Don’t know what I expected here but for some reason the album art and the fact it’s from the 80s initially put me off. I was completely wrong however. This is an interesting and fun album with plenty of crunchy riffs but also softer tunes. To attach a genre to it would be hard, but it was overall very good. A touch long and minus points for a cover.
Japan
3/5
It sounds like classic 80s pop albeit released in '79. The 'classic 80s voice' on show, but at least there is some variety in the tracklist. The basslines stand out. Decent enough but probably won't put it on again.
5/5
Wall-to-wall huge hitters. This has got so many of the classic Oasis bangers on it, and although I prefer Definitely Maybe, this is still awesome. Yeah Wonderwall is a bit of a meme now but still a great song.
Prince
3/5
I think I simply don’t get the hype with Prince. This album was fine, pretty funky and danceable, but the lyrics are very cringey, it goes on far too long, and it’s just nothing to get that excited about. It’s also very dated to my ears.
R.E.M.
3/5
If this had a different vocalist it would be a definite 4. Great songs, great guitars, great production. What a shame about Michael Stipe’s voice. Still, much better than Automatic for the People.
ABBA
4/5
Was fully expecting this to be terrible apart from the obvious hits, which are great in group settings but I had never properly listened to them. Turns out, this album is actually good. The instrumentation, which gets lost when you hear at parties etc., is much better and more layered than I had realised. The bass and drums are particularly enjoyable. Shame a lot of it has been overplayed.
Incubus
4/5
Musically, I loved this. Great production, loud, crunchy guitars, some more experimental sounds in there too. Some really nice catchy choruses too. The vocals are not really my thing and it’s a shame because it lowers my overall enjoyment a bit. Still, a very solid, high 4.
Queen
4/5
Enjoyed parts of this greatly, however it was let down by a few tracks I wasn’t really into and Bohemian Rhapsody, which is massively overplayed and actually a bit over the top anyway.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
As is typical I’m finding from this genre, this was pleasant enough, smooth, easy listening, but simply nothing more than that. Quite bland, didn’t leave a lasting impression, but completely inoffensive. Alright.
Air
3/5
Slow, electronic, chilled music. The kind of thing that is perfectly pleasant but lacks anything to really cling onto. Some tracks with the female vocals remind me of Madonna. Overall could be a soundtrack to a film, not bad but wouldn't choose to listen again.
John Martyn
2/5
Not my thing at all. Annoying vocals, slow, ponderous music with very little of note. The last track in particular drags on far too long. Big Muff (lol) was alright, as well as some of the more experimental sounding stuff.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Classic reggae. Chilled out, repetitive reggae beats with some lovely bass. Would I choose to listen to this? No. But for what it is, it’s not bad.
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
Of all the non-English-speaking albums so far, I’ve probably enjoyed this one the most. It did transport me to Latin America, and probably because it was a sunny day, it was pretty uplifting. Still, not something I’ll listen to again, mind. Bit long and samey.
New York Dolls
5/5
Good old rock n roll. Still the best genre, very hard to go wrong. This reminds me a bit of the Stones, but with a bit more of a punk edge.
Khaled
3/5
Great recording/production value, and some of the music is decent, but not sure I enjoy the style of singing. Prefer the French songs. Why do we need a cover of Imagine? Overall it’s alright.
Alanis Morissette
3/5
Musically alright to good, vocals - bad. Very 90s almost pop-punk, reminds me of Avril Lavigne. The songs are fine, sometimes I think they would be good, but her voice is grating. I’m thinking a low 3.
2Pac
3/5
More classic 90s hip-hop. Not bad but this wasn’t my favourite of the genre. It’s a bit long too, and the lyrics about being a gangster etc etc. do get a bit grating after a while.
Marty Robbins
2/5
Every song is about outlaws, fair maidens, and guns. Don’t like this kind of country music at all. Sounds extremely dated, and I would turn this off if it came on the radio. I’ll give it a 2 just because of the cool album cover and the storytelling (albeit repetitive).
Frank Sinatra
3/5
This was fine, obviously very dated and not something I’d put on to enjoy, but one of the better background albums I’ve had. Very smooth and chill.
Steely Dan
4/5
Enjoyed this! Better than Countdown to Ecstasy, although it got me listening to that again and I might have to adjust my score for that… Very interesting songs, enjoyable vocals, not too long. Good stuff.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
2/5
I don’t like jazz. Therefore, I don’t like this. It’s passable as background music in a nice cafe or bar, but trying to actually listen to it is infuriating. The brushed drums and the seemingly random notes get on my tits. The chirpy brass is annoying too. It’s not a 1 because I can appreciate the skill and the intricacy, but I don’t enjoy it at all.
Aphex Twin
3/5
I started off quite enjoying this, but the longer it went on, the more I grew tired of the thumping beats and the unrelenting nature of the album. Electronic music of this style isn’t usually my thing, but this was definitely amongst the best I’ve heard.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Enjoyed the more rocky songs more than the folkier ones, but on the whole a good album! Some lovely guitar and vocal harmonies.
Elbow
3/5
One or two bangers but the rest is some of the most bland, boring music I’ve heard. It’s not offensive, it just exists. Meh.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Don’t get the hype around this album, but it is good. I knew most of the songs already, and Go Your Own Way and The Chain are bangers. The rest is okay, if anything a bit bland, but decently enjoyable.
Jimmy Smith
3/5
More background jazz.
Mekons
4/5
Mekons have successfully made Country enjoyable! This was a very interesting listen, doesn’t sound like anything else, and I do enjoy a concept album.
Metallica
5/5
Came into this thinking it wouldn't be my thing, but WOW this album is spectacular. The fusion of metal and symphony works so well, and even though it is very long (I'll allow it as it's a live album), I never got bored.
Tortoise
3/5
While this isn't bad, it's the wrong side of weird, experimental and ponderous for me. Interesting to listen to once, but no real replay value.
Elvis Presley
2/5
Early rock n roll. Don’t particularly like Elvis, and this is extremely dated. The bluesier numbers are alright. At least it’s short.
Goldfrapp
3/5
Dark, moody, quite relaxing in places. Not all that memorable, and despite being quite pretty in places, did very little to excite me. Weird Harry Potter theme tune near the end. Utopia the best track.
Kanye West
2/5
While Kanye West does have some bangers (Power, All of the Lights), I found this album to be pretty grating. Constant lyrics about what he'll do to women, bragging, and swearing. Black Skinhead is really the only track I like.
Blur
5/5
Really enjoyed this, but I feel like there are so many layers to it that I need a few more listens to really understand it. A varied album with a mix of styles, and I think it took me a bit by surprise. It's all over the place but in a good way!
Living Colour
4/5
Mix of hard rock, funk and soul. I dig this mostly, with the exception of the 80s production which is a bit cheesy/dated. Some great riffs though!
Daft Punk
4/5
Electronic dance music. Normally with this kind of thing, a whole album of it ends up being samey. You can’t accuse Daft Punk of that. Yes it’s a bit long, and it doesn’t suit every occasion, but today I enjoyed it out on a sunny walk.
The Temptations
3/5
This started off very promisingly even despite my pet peeve of a cover song. Track 3 was good. However, it trailed off into derivative soul/motown. One of the better of this style I’ve had though.
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
Live blues rock. I was always going to like this. Probably slightly too long and jammy in places, and some of the tracks are covers, but good stuff nonetheless.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
The 'classic 80s voice' on steroids, the vocals on this are really annoying. It's a shame, because the songs themselves aren't bad at all, and I quite like the brassy sound on top of what are essentially pop songs.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
First three tracks honestly really good, easily the best soul music I’ve had so far. Probably high 4, low 5. The last track is good, but it’s just Isaac Hayes telling a story for most of it, so not much replay value. Overall, enjoyed this way way more than expected!
Blondie
4/5
Good album this! It’s sort of rock but also sort of pop. Minus one for a couple of covers, but at least they do them well. Cool album art too.
Sleater-Kinney
4/5
Short, sharp, angular punk rock songs with huge guitars and vocals that are probably divisive, but I really like with this style of music. Play it loud and have fun for 37 minutes.
The Last Shadow Puppets
5/5
Love this album. While not quite as good as EYCTE, it's still great. I just love the mix of rock guitars, lush string arrangements and obviously Alex and Miles' voices. It's got a great, consistent atmosphere as well. Brilliant.
The Cure
4/5
Exactly what I expected from The Cure before I started this project. Dark, gloomy songs from front to back, but with some great rhythm and guitar work. I also do enjoy Smith’s vocals. Not as good as Disintegration.
The Smiths
4/5
I like The Smiths, so I like this album. Prefer the first half, and this isn’t top tier Smiths but still good. Better than Meat is Murder.
Bee Gees
3/5
This was mainly slow sad songs about a break-up, fairly dull and average. I did really like Somebody Stop the Music. Had Wish You Were Here vibes.
David Bowie
3/5
I like Bowie generally, but this album isn’t great. Couple of good tracks and the best one is a Beatles cover. Preferred Hunky Dory, although, like the Beatles, I’m finding Bowie a bit overrated so far. Good but not great.
Hugh Masekela
3/5
More background jazz. This time of the South African variety.
The Sabres Of Paradise
4/5
Enjoyed this a decent amount, and electronic music isn’t really my thing. This was interesting, not as repetitive as some of the electronic albums I’ve had, and I like the concept.
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
This just sounds like generic 80s indie rock to me. It's fine, nothing more.