268
Albums Rated
3.44
Average Rating
25%
Complete
821 albums remaining
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Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1960s
Favorite Decade
Psychedelic-rock
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
37
5-Star Albums
12
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot
Slipknot
|
5 | 2.67 | +2.33 |
|
Vincebus Eruptum
Blue Cheer
|
5 | 2.8 | +2.2 |
|
Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
50 Cent
|
5 | 3.04 | +1.96 |
|
Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield
|
5 | 3.1 | +1.9 |
|
Drunk
Thundercat
|
5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
|
American Beauty
Grateful Dead
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
Homework
Daft Punk
|
5 | 3.29 | +1.71 |
|
The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
|
5 | 3.35 | +1.65 |
|
Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
|
5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
|
Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
|
5 | 3.4 | +1.6 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Crazysexycool
TLC
|
1 | 3.07 | -2.07 |
|
Skylarking
XTC
|
1 | 3.03 | -2.03 |
|
Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
|
1 | 3.02 | -2.02 |
|
Disintegration
The Cure
|
2 | 3.85 | -1.85 |
|
Cut
The Slits
|
1 | 2.71 | -1.71 |
|
Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
|
2 | 3.66 | -1.66 |
|
Born To Be With You
Dion
|
1 | 2.62 | -1.62 |
|
Idlewild
Everything But The Girl
|
1 | 2.58 | -1.58 |
|
Moon Safari
Air
|
2 | 3.58 | -1.58 |
|
Calenture
The Triffids
|
1 | 2.55 | -1.55 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| David Bowie | 5 | 4.4 |
| Beatles | 3 | 4.67 |
| Beastie Boys | 2 | 5 |
| Kendrick Lamar | 2 | 5 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Public Image Ltd. | 2 | 1 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Curtis Mayfield | 5, 2 |
5-Star Albums (37)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
AC/DC
5/5
Now THAT'S how you fill the Australia quotient.
Bon Scott whips so much ass.
The Triffids can kick rocks.
2 likes
TLC
1/5
This album bugged me
16 tracks - 5 of which (31%) are interludes....what the shit?
Why is Puff Daddy all over this thing? it's a LaFace record
A bland/uninspired Prince cover into a toilet humor skit? gimme a fucking break.
Busta Rhymes talking for 3 minutes? what is happening?
At least Phife Dawg and Andre 3000 made decent appearances
Honestly, the Andre 3000 verse, the radio hits for nostalgia's sake, and maybe that 'Mr. Big Stuff' sample on 'Switch' are the only things worth a listen.....hated it.
2 likes
Mike Oldfield
5/5
This album is fucking rad. Seeing the cover, I was afraid it was gonna be some British techno shit that I'd have to slog through for 79 minutes. This 47 minutes went by way too fast.
Holy buckets...this dude recorded this at age 19 and played: grand piano, glockenspiel, Farfisa organ, bass guitar, electric guitar (including "speed guitar", "fuzz guitar", "mandolin-like guitar" and "guitars sounding like bagpipes"), taped motor drive amplifier organ chord, assorted percussion, acoustic guitar, flageolet, honky tonk piano, Lowrey organ, tubular bells, concert tympani, Hammond organ, Spanish guitar, vocals ("Piltdown Man" and "Moribund chorus")
Quite impressive.
2 likes
Slipknot
5/5
I called 'Hybrid Theory' the peak of nu-metal the other day, but this album shows me that I was mistaken.
A debut album so good, I have no recollection of their follow-up album. Sophomore slump was a given.
Great headphones album - so much going on - loud and aggressive, but still melodic and pleasing. When it was over, I was ready to play it again. Not always a given for me on the heavier stuff.
1 likes
Roni Size
1/5
Maybe I'm just spoiled by Daft Punk or LCD Soundsystem-type stuff...or maybe I just don't know enough about Drum and Bass, but why does it feel like it never goes anywhere?
'Brown Paper Bag' didn't have to be nine minutes....I got the gist of it in the first three. Repeat this logic for the other tracks and you don't have a 100-minute slog.
I'm writing this review whilst listening to track eight. If the next 14 tracks knock my socks off, I'll gladly contact admin so I can edit my review.
1.5 stars...rounding down because it's ever so long.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (12)
All Ratings
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Shining Star is an absolute banger...helluva way to open an album.
Wish there was more funk and less ballads. This is a 3.49 ⭐️, so it rounds down to 3.
The Cure
2/5
72 minutes is an audacious run time for this genre. They could have chopped off 3 songs and made it 60 minutes.
A lot of it sounds the same. I dig a lot of the bass. Love Song is a classic and Pictures of You was good.
If the previous EWF album was a 3, this can't be a 3. Giving it a 2. Maybe setting the bar high too soon, but we got a long way to go.
Frank Ocean
4/5
I love a lot of this album.
"Thinkin Bout You" is a flawless song. Vocals/lyrics/instrumentation are incredible.
"Pyramids" - I could listen to this ten minute r&b/pop/dance suite(?) ten times in a row and not get tired of it.
"Lost" - fun little catchy beat on this one
Andre 3000 and Earl Sweatshirt both drop a verse
A few too many weak points (Forrest Gump, Monks, Pilot Jones, Sierra Leone) to be five stars....but this does have great replay-ability.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Very solid album as a whole, but a bit surprised that 4 of the 9 tracks are covers.
I love the takes on "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" and "Summer Breeze", but prefer the original "Listen to the Music"
I don't think I know the "Sunshine (Go Away Today)" original - Wikipedia says it's a country/folk song so no way the original gets down as hard as this jam
That lead guitar on "Summer Breeze" is killer
Really enjoyed it...gonna give it a 4.5 since almost half of it is covers.
Thin Lizzy
3/5
A lot of good rock here...that 8-minute "Still In Love With You" might be my favorite.
"Cowboy Song" into "The Boys Are Back in Town" was a fantastic transition.
Drums at the end of "Sha La La" were a highlight for me.
Fun fact if you didn't catch the introductions: "Baby Drives Me Crazy" has Huey Lewis on the harmonica.
All of it sounds good....a little too good. Started skimming the Wikipedia page and it appears that A LOT of it was overdubbed in the studio. Sounds like there are conflicting reports on how much was live vs. studio-boosted, but I gotta give it 3 based off of that.
New York Dolls
3/5
I love the 70's glam sound, but nothing totally grabbed me. I liked "Personality Crisis" and "Trash" the most.
Was wondering if it influenced Bowie, but of course Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane came out before this one.
Solomon Burke
4/5
I can confidently say I've never heard this album....and maybe even never heard of Solomon Burke
Not really finding a bad track here...I especially enjoy the ones with the female backing vocals.
Surprise Surprise: Jerry Wexler produced this album
I like this a lot. The 60's soul/r&b sound is totally in my wheelhouse, but I think I'm going to call this a 4.5 star album. I would definitely spin this again outside of this project, but nothing is telling me "I HAVE to hear it again."
Blur
2/5
Didn't care much for this. I know they are pretty big across the pond but I'd rather listen to Oasis...or Gorillaz.
Tracks that stood out to me: "Clover Over Dover", "Badhead", "London Loves"
Wouldn't actively seek out listening to this full album again.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
5 stars off of "Down by the River" and "Cowgirl in the Sand" by themselves. Throw in the title track and "Cinnamon Girl" and we're in business.
7 tracks, 40 minutes in and out, no filler....classic album
Various Artists
3/5
The best thing that this album has going for it, besides Phil Spector, is that the songs aren't religious. Never been a huge on Christmas music, but greatly prefer these types of songs over the praise baby Jesus songs.
Kind of wish it was all Darlene Love and The Ronettes...."Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" is probably the best non-traditional Christmas song ever.
Since it's Christmas tunes, it can't be a four....but it's definitely not a two. I liked quite a few renditions of the songs.
Oasis
4/5
Never dug much into Oasis, outside of the radio songs and the song from the Snatch Soundtrack, but I really liked this one.
"Live Forever" still slaps.
Other favorites: "Slide Away", "Supersonic", "Cigarettes & Alcohol"
I don't know if it's because it's more electric, more melodic, or just more consistent, but I prefer this to Parklife. These reviews should probably be in a vacuum, but since the 1,001 albums gods decided to bless up with both 1994 Britpop classics this week, I feel the need to draw the comparison.
This album makes me want to dig into more Oasis....and watch Snatch again.
Sade
3/5
This is nothing I'd every seek out personally. "Smooth Operator" is the only song I really knew by Sade, which I could really take or leave, so was wondering if it would all be like that.
I liked it a lot more than I expected I would...It ended up being a pretty decent listen for a cloudy Friday morning.
Glad to hear a few upbeat tracks: "Hang On to Your Love", "When Am I Going to Make a Living", "Cherry Pie" have some fun grooves.
3.49 stars.
OutKast
5/5
Ray Charles
4/5
Eagles
4/5
I'll never forgive The Big Lebowski for making me think I shouldn't like this band. I have grown to appreciate their country rock and their harmonies are solid fucking gold. "Train Leaves Here" is a perfect example of those harmonies in action.
Love the banjo on "Earlybird" but were the sound effects really necessary?
Too many weak points to be five stars - "Chug All Night" does nothing for me. "Witchy Woman" really doesn't fit in.
Bob Dylan
4/5
So many classics here....my favorites would be "Don't Think Twice It's Alright", "Girl from the North Country", "Masters of War."
I've never been critical of his singing because the lyrics and overall vibe of his music overpower them....I just don't really care for the songs where he talk-sings.
Every song on the track list on Wikipedia has a blue link, so I guess they are all pretty important.
I really enjoyed this listen, but wouldn't take it upon myself to spin the whole thing again a week, or even a month from now. 4.5 stars.
Queen
5/5
Quite an eclectic, entertaining mix here.
I actually really liked the songs where Freddie Mercury wasn't singing: "39" and "I'm in Love With My Car", specifically.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" is still a banger, and would be without Wayne's World.
When it was over, I was ready to hit play again.
The Who
4/5
Pleasantly surprised with this one. Nice mix of pop/blues/rock/garage.
The only time I was really bored was "My Generation" since I've heard it so much.
"The Ox" was a helluva way to end the album.
4.5 stars.
The Prodigy
3/5
Great music for spreadsheet navigation. I liked the second half more than the first....not sure if the second half is better, or if the coffee had just kicked in by then.
"No Good (Start the Dance)" is such a banger.
"Poison" was one of the songs I really liked but that "Yeaaaaaah!" kept making me think of Howard Dean.
They really used EVERY inch of the 80-minute compact disc capacity....so much so, that it really does get monotonous after a while. I liked most of this more than the radio songs I remember: "Firestarter" and "Breathe."
The length and repetitiveness though, make me not really want to spin this any time in the future. 2.5 stars, rounding up.
Charles Mingus
2/5
Call me a dolt if you must, but I just don't really get it.
The Monkees
2/5
How did this get on the list? No "Last Train to Clarksville"...no "I'm a Believer."
Boring and bland album. It reminds me of all the worst Beatles songs. The only time it really picks up is the final track....why not throw that in somewhere in the middle?
Led Zeppelin
4/5
As they're not all classic rock radio staples, I don't really know many of these. Still an entertaining listen. I like the folkiness in some/mos(?) of the songs, specifically "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp."
"Since I've Been Loving You" is probably the top track....it's gonna be hard for me to rate any Led Zep less than four.
Radiohead
4/5
Whenever I hear Radiohead, I think to myself "Self, you should listen to more Radiohead." In Rainbows is the only album I REALLY know, and that one is incredible.
These are good tunes. When it was over, I could have spun it again. I probably could have listened to it all day, but no tracks really grabbed me.
Didn't really get the allegory of the US election or whatever, but maybe I could unpack that on more listens.
Richard Thompson
3/5
Love the mandolin on the opening track.
Title track and "End of the Rainbow" are probably my favorite tracks.
Some of the songs are a little TOO folky....like you would hear them in the Shire or some shit. 2.5 stars, rounding up.
Ghostface Killah
3/5
Starting this album with "Shakey Dog" and "Kilo" is diabolical. The lyrics are incredible and the beats are outrageous. Throw in "The Champ" as the third song, and it's off and running.
Unfortunately, these three set the tone for the album and it can't really keep the pace or recover. I lost interest pretty quickly.
I hate hate hate the early aughts pattern of rappers throwing in unfunny skits in between songs...just give me the music.
As much as I love Ghostface - probably in my top 2 or 3 of Wu-Tang, I'm a little unimpressed with this album as a whole. If the tracklist was moved around and the skits were dropped, it'd be a 4.....as it stands, 3.5 rounding down.
Footnote: "Kilo" might have one of the greatest samples ever: https://youtu.be/XMOp7YXYqvc?si=9AYPQfdINDPYaO5W
Dolly Parton
3/5
Decent songs...great harmonies.
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
Catchy tunes...fantastic harmonies. Great folk rock.
The Beach Boys
5/5
Everything But The Girl
1/5
This album felt like being on hold with the cable company for 45 minutes...I really don't want to experience either situation ever again.
5/5
'Five Years' is an incredible song to start the album and set the tone of the story/theme.
'Moonage Daydream' absolutely shreds.
'Starman', 'Ziggy Stardust' still hold up.
'Hang On To Yourself' and 'Suffragette City' are bops.
Classic album.
Neneh Cherry
2/5
Track one and two gave me high expectations for this album. I feel like 'Buffalo Stance' was in heavy rotation on the radio when I was a wee one. That hook bangs, for sure. The rapping on track two is actually decent for someone from Europe in the 80's.
...then the album quickly goes downhill. The rapping and subject matter are REALLY 80's. Typical late 80's/early 90's new jack swing...nothing too memorable, in my opinion.
(Only listened to the 10 tracks from the original vinyl release)
Big Brother & The Holding Company
4/5
Pretty killer blues/psychedelic rock.
I'm never a big fan of people covering 'Summertime', but Goddamn this rendition shreds.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Call me Judas if you must, but I prefer this to The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.
4.6 stars...rounding down.
Curtis Mayfield
5/5
This whole album is fire....'Pusherman', 'Freddie's Dead', and 'Superfly' makes it 5 stars by itself.
I noticed 'Think' is used in the beat for 'Nobody's Perfect' by Missy Elliot and J. Cole. Always fun to track one of those down in the wild.
The Slits
1/5
Not a fan of the vocals...not a fan of the instrumentation.
The only good thing was the provocative album cover, and I could only see a 1" by 1" version of it on Spotify.
Seems like anything classified as post-punk just means "Yea, the music IS shit....but they paved the way for all these other bands."
Would prefer to never hear this again.
Air
2/5
Decent enough for spreadsheet navigation - luckily I was already awake so I wasn't too bored with it.
Nothing I would ever really seek out...or listen to again. And that last track was straight up bizarre.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Johnny Cash rules. This album is a great album. I like the banter in between songs. It actually gives you the feel of being there.
It's strange to me that they would include both takes of "San Quentin", even making them track one and two of Side B. "Folsom Prison Blues" unfortunately cuts off....did the warden shut the concert down?
I'm surprised this was the final release. Looking at the reissue and legacy edition, it seems like they had a lot more material they could include.
This is pretty minor nitpicking, but something about this just won't let me give it 5.
Herbie Hancock
4/5
Hell yes. This is the kind of funky groovy jazz I can vibe with.
'Watermelon Man' is such a cool song.
Unfortunately another album that suffers by the track order. 'Vein Melter' is such a letdown to close out the album after the first 3 tracks. Looking at the track times, it looks like it could ONLY be track 3 or 4. Would have loved it to be the first track - damn outdated technology.
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
White guy blues done right.
Double LP is a lofty aspiration...but I don't see enough to chop off to make it a single LP.
Favorite tracks are covers: "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" and "Little Wing"
"Layla" still rips after hearing it time after time after time on classic rock radio.
Curtis Mayfield
2/5
Super Fly it ain't. This was, dare I say, a bit boring.
'Jesus' and 'Blue Monday People' just don't do it for me.
I need more funk in my life....we all need more funk in our lives.
Snoop Dogg
5/5
I can't believe
■ this album came out 32 years ago
■ how vulgar/raunchy it is
■ that I was bumping this nonstop in 5th grade
■ that I still know the vast majority of the lyrics
Classic rap album for sure. Being 32 years old, it still holds up. The beats don't sound outdated (G Funk is timeless) and the lyrics, although misogynistic here and there, seem like they'd fit in today's rap game.
🎶 everybody's got to hear the shit, on WBALLZ WBALLZ WBALLZ 🎶
Black Sabbath
5/5
A classic for sure. Side A is perfect. 'War Pigs', 'Paranoid', AND 'Iron Man'?!?! What else needs to be said?
Black Sabbath must have blown people's minds in the 70's.
Linkin Park
4/5
This was the peak of rap rock (nu-metal?). Sounds dated, but still kind of holds up.
Taylor Swift
4/5
I....actually...really...liked this one.
Maybe because Aaron Dessner is all over this album as writer/producer. Vibes of The National all over this thing. Throw in Jack Antonoff and Justin Vernon and baby, you got a stew going.
'No Body No Crime' doesn't fit in at all....sounds like a 'Before He Cheat's knockoff and ruins the flow of the album....Otherwise, quite a pleasant surprise.
Spiritualized
2/5
The album title AND cover gave me false hopes. Thought we were in store for something weird.
Decent shoegaze/dream pop....nice enough background music for spreadsheet navigation, but nothing I'd really seek out or play again.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
What a voice. I skimmed through her wikipedia while listening and got pretty bummed out. Gone too soon!
U2
2/5
U2 is a solid "meh" from me every time I hear them. I think "meh" translates to 2.5.
Rounding down because the only song I really like is 'One.' That shit still holds up.
Beatles
5/5
5 stars. What really needs to be said?
I always thought Sgt. Pepper's was my favorite Beatles album, but every time I spin this one, it gets better and better.
Everything is great but 'Love You To' and 'Tomorrow Never Knows' would probably be the top tracks for me.
Slipknot
5/5
I called 'Hybrid Theory' the peak of nu-metal the other day, but this album shows me that I was mistaken.
A debut album so good, I have no recollection of their follow-up album. Sophomore slump was a given.
Great headphones album - so much going on - loud and aggressive, but still melodic and pleasing. When it was over, I was ready to play it again. Not always a given for me on the heavier stuff.
Deep Purple
4/5
Surprisingly heavy and listenable. Didn't know much beyond 'Smoke on the Water' going in.
'Highway Star' is a helluva opener......made me want to hop in my car and start doing burnouts.
The Young Gods
2/5
Some of it is giving Tom Waits meets Nine Inch Nails on holiday in Paris.
The orchestral industrial idea is interesting, but that's about as far as it goes for me. Wouldn't seek out- wouldn't want to replay.
Depeche Mode
4/5
This album has 'Personal Jesus', 'Enjoy the Silence', AND 'Policy of Truth'??? Holy buckets.
Love the synths, love the drums....a few of the slower songs seem to be building but never hit a big payoff.....maybe I'm just spoiled because I listened to some LCD Soundsystem the other day.
Solid 4.5...would definitely throw this in the rotation.
Duke Ellington
3/5
Is it blasphemy to say a Duke Ellington release is middle of the road?
Nothing special to me....but at least it's melodic and has a little pep. 2.5, rounding up.
Metallica
2/5
113 minutes....I listened to this straight through. May have benefited from a set break, but who knows?
It all just really feels unnecessary. The orchestra is doing their thing, but I don't see it adding a whole lot of value.
People ARE singing along on the call and response thing, so I'm guessing this wasn't a totally hoity toity affair. But how many Metallica heads HAD to have this?
The Velvet Underground
4/5
'Heroin', 'Waiting for the Man', 'Sunday Morning', 'There She Goes Again' - absolute jams.
Never have and really don't understand the appeal of Nico though, 😕
5 stars if Nico isn't there......but then it wouldn't be "The Velvet Underground & Nico." Quite the conundrum - luckily she only leads 3 songs. This is for sure a classic, though.
The Cure
2/5
2.5....rounding down because it seemed more depressing than Disintegration
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3/5
A bit more pep than Ellington at Newport....if these are comparable, I'm not even sure. Just not really my style of music.
Helluva an album cover though!
Leonard Cohen
4/5
I really liked this. The sparse arrangements really give his voice that much more impact.
A lot of the lyrics seem a bit cryptic - I'd like to spin it again and listen more intently.....but didn't have the desire to replay immediately. 4.5 stars.
Scritti Politti
1/5
This shit is so goddamn 80's. Transports me into the drive-in restaurant scene of Footloose immediately.
It all sounds the same....doesn't feel like any emotion - just going through a formulaic process. Wouldn't seek out, wouldn't listen again.
Also what the hell is a Scritti Politti?
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Let's be honest: the rapping isn't great. Not really flowing - more talking (yelling?).
But the beats are 🔥🔥🔥 and this is hella influential.
Muddy Waters
5/5
What is there to say about Muddy Waters that hasn't been said already? The version of 'Mannish Boy' rocks and the rest of the album follows suit. Great listen.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
"When you're in a band you don't get with your bandmate's girlfriend - past or present....you get a love triangle ya know? Fleetwood Mac situation....Well there was four of them, so more of a love square....mind you, they did make some of their best music back then."
"Rumours"
"No, that's all true."
I'm not sure I've ever actually listened to this full album. Full of bangers....always impressive when every song on a Wikipedia track listing has its own article.
No skips...five stars...was ready to spin it again as soon as it ended.
The Who
4/5
The first rock opera? The story is kind of out there but the songs tell the story well.....and the songs are good. I enjoyed this one and would gladly spin it again.
Weather Report
3/5
Another example of an album cover giving very different expectations than the music.
Decent music, not bad for an early morning coffee....groovy enough but almost too "smooth jazzy" for me. The bass player is a beast though. Gimme more of him!
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Seems like a middling Boss album that is only lauded because of 9/11?
Tracks 3 and 4: 'Waiting on a Sunny Day' and 'Nothing Man' gave me some hope that there might be some classic throwback sound here....but the rest is just meh.
2.5 stars - rounding down because I don't think it had to be 72 minutes.
Bill Callahan
1/5
Country version of Leonard Cohen? This is boring as shit. Can't believe it came out in 2009. Sounds 20 or 30 years older.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Great listen. Helluva one-two punch with the first two tracks.
Classic album, but I felt like I didn't need to play it again any time in the near future. 4.5, rounding down.
Television
4/5
post-punk? early new wave? post-glam?
not sure what it is but i like a lot of it
Slint
3/5
The music is cool but the talking thing is kind of weird.
3.5....If I listened more intently there's probably some poetic shit in there, and it might round up to 4, but rounding down for now.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
I don't really get it. Wikipedia calls it punk blues, which I should like....but it's just not hitting.
2.5 - rounding down because I really have no desire to run this one back.
The Pogues
4/5
Need more Celtic Punk in my life....it's like folk meets rock meets bluegrass meets drinking.
4.5 stars.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
A lot of classics on here.....the clapping on 'Bye Bye Love' is obnoxious.
4.5 stars.
Garbage
3/5
Better than I thought it would be, but the only real standouts to me are the radio hits. 3.5, rounding down.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Classics for sure - but I like the louder stuff like the 'Hard Again' album a lot more.
Definitely legendary but not a lot of replay value for me: 4.5 stars
Coldcut
4/5
Can't believe a computer programmer and ex-art teacher from England made some shit like this in the 80's. The beats and samples are so good. The rapping sounds dated, but what do you expect from 1989.
This is a great hidden gem - 4.5 stars
Tortoise
2/5
I like my beer cold, my TV loud, and my post-rock SPRAWLING.
Kind of a snooze fest, if I'm being honest.
I saw these dudes live once - I think it was kind of a big deal. The show was decent...better than this album.
Beastie Boys
5/5
What needs to be said about this one? Still holds up. Beats/samples are still amazing/groundbreaking. Classic singles and non-singles. I'll be playing this again and again for years.
4/5
Lowrider, it ain't....and that's totally fine with me. Love these extended jams, especially 'City, Country, City.' 4.5 stars.
Roni Size
1/5
Maybe I'm just spoiled by Daft Punk or LCD Soundsystem-type stuff...or maybe I just don't know enough about Drum and Bass, but why does it feel like it never goes anywhere?
'Brown Paper Bag' didn't have to be nine minutes....I got the gist of it in the first three. Repeat this logic for the other tracks and you don't have a 100-minute slog.
I'm writing this review whilst listening to track eight. If the next 14 tracks knock my socks off, I'll gladly contact admin so I can edit my review.
1.5 stars...rounding down because it's ever so long.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
I liked this one more than I thought I would. Wikipedia has it listed as post-punk before gothic rock, but I'm getting more gothic rock here. Reminds me of those albums we did by The Cure - just a bit more listenable.
Dion
1/5
I don't know why this is on the list....really meh to me.
1.5 for the Phil Spector production, but rounding down because I was just bored.
ZZ Top
3/5
It's not bad....just a little repetitive over the length of an album. Radio songs still hold up though.
"I got the 6, gimme your 9" would be a great bumper sticker.
3.5, rounding down.
Booker T. & The MG's
5/5
Classic sound, classic tunes. Songs are short enough that they don't get boring.
Could've listened to this thing on repeat all day.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
There's some cool stuff in here. I liked some of it, but some of it was a bit too out there or a bit too plain.
A little too disjointed for 4 stars - but not a terrible listen.
Beatles
5/5
Nothing more to say than "classic."
Favorite song: 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)'
Side B is perfect.
Mike Oldfield
5/5
This album is fucking rad. Seeing the cover, I was afraid it was gonna be some British techno shit that I'd have to slog through for 79 minutes. This 47 minutes went by way too fast.
Holy buckets...this dude recorded this at age 19 and played: grand piano, glockenspiel, Farfisa organ, bass guitar, electric guitar (including "speed guitar", "fuzz guitar", "mandolin-like guitar" and "guitars sounding like bagpipes"), taped motor drive amplifier organ chord, assorted percussion, acoustic guitar, flageolet, honky tonk piano, Lowrey organ, tubular bells, concert tympani, Hammond organ, Spanish guitar, vocals ("Piltdown Man" and "Moribund chorus")
Quite impressive.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
Sounds a little dated and a little cheesy, but shit it's rock 'n roll from the 50s.
3.5 stars...rounding up for the history/influence.
Sister Sledge
2/5
It is what it is....disco with a few classic hits. Not really my cup of tea, but Nile Rodgers is THAT DUDE.
Blue Cheer
5/5
These dudes fucking rock. I don't know how I've never heard of them. That 'Summertime Blues' is heavy AF. Love this psychedelic/metal combination.
Kings of Leon
3/5
Hard to believe this is the same band that made Only By the Night and Come Around Sundown and whatever the hell else they're on these days.
Love the rough garage sound and most of it...but nothing super memorable besides 'Molly's Chambers.' 3.5 rounding down.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
I liked the upbeat stuff more than the slower stuff. Some of it reminded me of Flight of the Conchords though. Being my introduction to Pet Shop Boys, not a terrible listen. 3.5 stars.
Norah Jones
2/5
Why does this album feel so long? I didn't notice what time I started this album, so when every song ended, I was like "ok, it's finally over"
She has a great voice and I get the vibe.....just a bit of a snoozer to me.
2.5 stars - rounding down because I listened on a warm, sunny Friday. If it was a rainy Wednesday, I'd probably round up.
Billy Joel
4/5
A classic for sure - gotta love 'Scenes From an Italian Restaurant', 'Movin' Out', and 'Only The Good Die Young.'
Great album, just not a lot of replay-ability in my eyes. 4.5 stars.
TLC
1/5
This album bugged me
16 tracks - 5 of which (31%) are interludes....what the shit?
Why is Puff Daddy all over this thing? it's a LaFace record
A bland/uninspired Prince cover into a toilet humor skit? gimme a fucking break.
Busta Rhymes talking for 3 minutes? what is happening?
At least Phife Dawg and Andre 3000 made decent appearances
Honestly, the Andre 3000 verse, the radio hits for nostalgia's sake, and maybe that 'Mr. Big Stuff' sample on 'Switch' are the only things worth a listen.....hated it.
Gillian Welch
3/5
Country version of Norah Jones? A bit of a snoozer for a sunny Thursday afternoon but I really enjoy the instrumentation.
Parliament
4/5
This shit jams....but it just needs a little something more - a little more zing.
Side A is pretty tame, but Side B is incredible. How can you not get down to "Give Up The Funk"?
If Side A was a little more funky this would be a 5 for sure....alas, I can only give it 4.5.
Buena Vista Social Club
2/5
I mean, it's alright....not really my jam and I have no clue what they're singing about. Instrumentation DOES seem on point though.
But I would rather listen to this than Roni Size, The Slits, or Scritti Politti. And for those reasons, I give this a 2.
Jethro Tull
4/5
Daft Punk
5/5
I remember hearing "Da Funk" for the first time on our local "alternative" station and my mind was blown. You can make electronic music like that?! The only electronic I remember hearing on the radio before that was probably Underworld or The Prodigy.....or Chicago freestyle on our R&B (i.e. urban) station.
I love how all of the tracks slowly build towards something. Sure some of it can sound repetitive, but as they add layers it makes the tracks incredible. 'Around the World' is 8 minutes long, with 3 lyrics, and never gets boring because SO MUCH is going on.
These dudes are the masters and it's unbelievable that this is their first album. I could listen to this shit all day. If you dig this, check out their "Alive 2007" album - a live set they recorded with mash-ups, blends, and other easter eggs.
The Go-Betweens
3/5
This is the definition of "middle of the road" for me. 2.5 stars. Rounding up since I wouldn't totally mind spinning it again.
Neil Young
4/5
It's pretty good. 'Heart of Gold' and 'Old Man' are timeless bangers. Just didn't seem that cohesive. The inclusion of the symphony on a couple of tracks seemed unnecessary.
I think we got spoiled with 'Everybody Know This is Nowhere" first. Had higher expectations for this one.
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
Fun listen...a lot of groovy songs. Feel like ELO is slightly underrated because they weren't totally prevelant on the classic rock stations growing up.
4.5 stars, only because I didn't totally want to hit play again when it was over.
Beck
4/5
My type of Beck album: not too weird, not too slow, eclectic mix of genres.
Cowboy Junkies
4/5
Nice music for a gloomy day. Her voice is killer and the instrumentation is spot on. Love the 'Sweet Jane' and 'Blue Moon' covers.
Thundercat
5/5
What a pleasant surprise to see this on the list. So re-playable, so eclectic, so much fun. The bass is extraordinary but the other instruments are no slouch.
'Them Changes', 'Lava Lamp', 'Friend Zone', 'Uh Uh' are my favorites, but love pretty much all of this.
If you enjoyed this at all, hop on YouTube and look for Thundercat's NPR Tiny Desk Concert. It's a fun listen/watch.
The Hives
4/5
This shit rocks.....Love the 'garage punk' sound.
Trying to think why I never got into these dudes - probably listening to a lot more rap in the early aughts - and The Strokes were my go-to 'garage rock revival' guys. Will probably check out more of The Hives now. Thanks generator! 4.5 stars
Stan Getz
3/5
Makes me want to go hang out on the beach with a pina colada, but I'm stuck in the midwest. At least the sun was out today to give some atmosphere.
The Stone Roses
3/5
3.5....rounding down because didn't' feel like it had a whole lot of replay-ability.
Röyksopp
4/5
Good music to chill out to....or navigate spreadsheets to. I guess 'downtempo' is a musical genre I like and need to explore more.
4/5
The only Muse I really knew was 'Knights of Cydonia' from my Guitar Hero days. This album was better than I expected. Chalk up another interesting Wikipedia music genre "Space Rock."
Machito
4/5
This was a fun listen.
That bongo player is getting after it!
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
32 years later and this all still holds up. The radio songs are still worth a listen, and so is the rest.
Depeche Mode
3/5
Not a bad listen...not nearly as good as Violator though. Only really remember "Strangelove" from the radio or MTV.
3.5 stars...rounding down because of that song with the weird breathing.
Missy Elliott
3/5
I liked the rap songs. "Work It" and "Gossip Folks" still hold up for sure. Didn't care much for the slower R&B stuff or the talking intros/outros.
3.5 rounding down.
The Byrds
4/5
Psychedelic folk? This is a cool listen. That last track is pretty out there, especially for 1968.
Wilco
4/5
Fantastic album, just slightly bloated. 4.5 stars because I didn't totally want to hit play again right after it wrapped.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Dire Straits
4/5
Always forget these dudes are British...more bluesy than I expected, but in a good way. 'Sultans of Swing' is an all-timer - didn't realize it came off their first album.
Neil Young
4/5
This list really loves Neil Young....and rightly so.
Judas Priest
4/5
The radio hits are still good....but I greatly prefer the faster stuff on this album.
Not a fan of "United." What is this arena rock sing-a-long bullshit?
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Not great...but not bad. Truly middle of the road for me.
2.5 rounding up because I would listen again.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Modern classic - easily a top 5 rap/hip-hop album on my list.
You hear "hip-hop concept album" and your eyes might roll immediately...mine would too. But this tells such a great story with solid lyrics and beats, that you can experience the environment and feelings of a young adult's life in areas like this.
Everything (less the Drake feature 🙃) still holds up. When it was over I was ready to rewind it like the VHS tape and play it again. Will never forgive the RIAA for giving the grammy to Macklemore over this!
Neil Young
4/5
An album called "On the Beach" with no tracks akin to "Who Let The Dogs Out?", "The Thong Song", or "Kokomo."
An album called "On the Beach" where 38% of the song titles have the word "Blues" in them.....and are really not that bluesy.
An album called "On the Beach" by a folk rock legend from Canada...
Is still a great album. No weak points at all, nothing really stood out, but I'd still spin this again and again. Starting to think all Neil Young albums are 4+ stars.
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
Interesting mix of (approachable) world music and hip hop. Caught a couple-two-tree modern day rap samples in there. I like the idea of it sounding like a radio show, with callers and everything. Seems like a revolutionary idea for a 1983 LP. 3.5 stars
Fatboy Slim
3/5
It's fine. It's no Daft Punk...but it's no Roni Size.
Middle of the road electronic music for me.
R.E.M.
3/5
3.5 stars.
Not bad - can definitely see this as "alternative" when you look at the landscape of 1983's music.
Cat Stevens
3/5
3.5 stars....extra star is because "Wild World" is here. Rounding down.
The Offspring
4/5
Man, this thing still holds up surprisingly well. Radio hits are still good IMO, and most of it is pretty damn listenable.
Wikipedia lists it as punk, but I'd call it crossover punk. 4.5 stars on this one. Makes me want to dig back through The Offspring's catalogue.
Jamiroquai
2/5
Didn't know Jamiroquai was acid jazz....or whatever this is.
2.5 stars - rounding down because it doesn't have "Virtual Insanity".
Aerosmith
3/5
"Sweet Emotion" is STILL such a banger...without that and the (RUN DMC-less) "Walk This Way" it's a two.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Really didn't know any of these songs, really didn't know The Beach Boys ever got this political. I still liked it and would spin it again.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Helluva debut and a classic for sure...just feel like it doesn't have the replay-ability of their following albums. Still 4.5 stars.
Frank Zappa
4/5
When I saw Zappa I was afraid we were in for some avant garde bullshit that I wouldn't get....but this album rips.
Psychedelic bluesy jazz fusion is everything I didn't know I needed. 4.5 stars.
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
Middle of the road for me - 2.5 stars, rounding up because I wouldn't mind hearing it again.
Pere Ubu
2/5
I don't even know, man.....I'm not giving it a 1 because I kind of want to listen to it again to figure it out.
Some of the music and effects are cool - I like when I hear some organ in this kind of music....but the vocalist is something else. Most of the time I'm not totally sure what he (they?) is blathering about.
Track 9 - I thought my nine year-old daughter was crying in the other room and had to take the earbuds out a couple of times....If that's not a perfect summation of this album, I'm not sure what is.
Massive Attack
2/5
I thought I really liked Massive Attack. I enjoy the albums "Blue Lines" and "Mezzanine", but this one was just meh.
Kinda boring - nothing really stands out. The only memorable thing is that awful cover of "Light My Fire" at the end.
Eminem
5/5
Still holds up to me. Before Eminem got too crazy with his rhyme schemes and was super listenable.
Kanye West
5/5
A 98% flawless album. Take off the Chris Rock skit and it's perfect.
The production is incredible, see: 'All of the Lights', 'Power', 'Runaway', etc.
So many fantastic features: Pusha T, Raekwon, Rick Ross, Justin Vernon(!!!), et al
This was peak (and most re-playable) Kanye and it's a shame how far his artistry has fallen over the years.
ZZ Top
4/5
Actually sounds soulful and not just cookie cutter Texas blues riffs and cheesy double entendres.
Surprisingly good.
Yes
4/5
Dwight Yoakam
4/5
Dwight Yoakam? The actor from Sling Blade?
Pleasantly surprised with this one. I always lumped him in with Travis Tritt and Brooks & Dunn and Alan Jackson - all that early 90s country that my grandma loved, but I absolutely hated.
This is legit country though. Definitely gonna dig into more of his catalog. Thanks random generator. 4.5 stars.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
So crazy that C S and N would make their (fantastic) self-titled album AND add Y, AND make such a killer sophomore(?) release.
I don't know what's better: the instrumentation or the harmonies. Everything is so good on this album. Side A is perfect. Jerry Garcia plays pedal steel on "Teach Your Children"!!!
Bonus points for this album (and Crosby and Stills) encouraging the Grateful Dead to work more with vocal harmonies. Kinda funny that they inspired Jerry & Co. to utilize layered tracks/harmonies and Rolling Stone named 'Workingman's Dead' the best album of 1970.....RIGHT before this one. No good deed goes unpunished.
Songhoy Blues
3/5
Had no idea what to expect off of this album cover. Started off strong - really enjoyed that blues-rock sound, but then it slowly loses steam for me.
Not a bad listen, but nothing I'd ever really seek out again, nor dig into the discography. 2.5, rounding up because the music beat the album cover expectations.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
3/5
Not bad for a band from ***checks notes*** Boise, Idaho.
3.5 stars
David Bowie
5/5
This is my favorite Bowie album....narrowly edges out TRaFoZSatSfM. Side A is perfect. Album cover is iconic. Some of the shit gets a little out there, see breakdowns on "Aladdin Sane" and "Time", but they get reined in.
Bauhaus
2/5
I always thought I liked post-punk before this 1001 album foray. 🤷♂️
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
"God is dead and no one cares....if there is a hell, I'll see ya there".....ok, take it easy, bub.
Seriously though, folks...This is an awesome listen. Pretty sure of the 150 or so albums I've done so far, this is the one I have listened to the loudest.
Not a genre I'm well-versed in, but this is the paragon of industrial, right? Love how some tracks are so fucking heavy and harsh but others are so soft and melodic.
Nothing fucks with "Hurt", not even Johnny Cash's cover. I'll die on that hill.
"March of the Pigs" will be forever a banger. Standout tracks on this listen: "Ruiner", "I Do Not Want This", "A Warm Place"
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Classic R&B/soul for sure.....just not a lot of replay-ability for me. 4.5
Buck Owens
3/5
Love the Bakersfield sound.....don't really love the novelty (cheekiness?) of a lot of these songs though. 3.5 stars.
Steely Dan
4/5
Helluva debut album....4.5 stars.
Underworld
3/5
Second Toughest in the Infants? What does that even mean?
First track comes out swinging and I fucking loved it. Wish the whole thing was that uptempo/creative - love the upbeat stuff, but the lulls are too low for me. 3.5 stars
David Bowie
4/5
Yea it's pretty fucking weird....but quite normal for a Bowie album.
"Heroes" (the track) is an all-timer, for sure. Love the last 3 ambient songs with Brian Eno's fingerprints on them, but feel like they don't totally fit?
Still about a 3.5 or 3.75 in my book.
Coldplay
3/5
Most of it is meh to me....but the singles still hold up: "Clocks" and "The Scientist", especially.
1/5
Some albums I just don't understand, but see why folks might like it.....some I get mad at after the final track finishes. This is the latter - and yes, I listened to the ENTIRE thing.
I called the self-titled Slipknot album as the peak of nu-metal...this has to be the nadir.
From Wikipedia: "The band initially hired Rick Rubin to produce the record, though creative differences culminated in him abandoning the project after less than a week,..." Jeez, I wonder why. 🙄
Two versions of "Rollin'"....a 10 minute outro....a Mission Impossible theme interpolation (I think?)....a Life in the Fast Lane drop....47 f-bombs in that fucked up song - I really hope Trent Reznor got royalties for this garbage selling millions and millions of albums. The only saving grace is the features by the rappers, especially DMX.
If this piece of shit is on this list, but Significant Other isn't....I'm just gonna lose it.
Astor Piazzolla
2/5
Not bad if you think of the tango scene(s) in True Lies, Gomez and Morticia Addams cutting a rug, or the episode of Saved By the Bell (Malibu Sands) where they threw the girl's Sweet 16 party......but really not for me.
The crowd LOVES the xylophone player (Gary Burton?) though, I'll tell you that much.
It's an okay listen for spreadsheet navigation, or maybe reading a book, but nothing I'd really seek out. Would still play this before Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water. (Yea I'm still mad about that one 24 hours later)
Carpenters
2/5
Fun fact: a 1975 Playboy readers poll voted Karen Carpenter the best drummer....over John Bonham.
"Reason to Believe" is probably my favorite here.
It's fine - nothing I'd ever spin, but see why this thing could sell 4 million copies in 1970.
Janis Joplin
4/5
N.W.A.
4/5
Obviously this is a trailblazing album - not sure my favorite rappers (and producers) would be around without this. Most of it still holds up - especially the classic hits.
It just seems overly long to me. 60 minutes for 13 rap songs (no skits) made it feel like a slog. When it was over, I didn't feel like hitting play again.
This is, and will always be, in the rotation - but the lack of instant replay-ability for me makes it a 4.5.
Elton John
4/5
Not bad for a double LP - doesn't really seem to drag. All of the classic hits are still classics.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Really good but not up to par with the first three albums.
Still rocked out to it and would listen again and again. 4.5
Grateful Dead
5/5
Arguably the best studio album (this and 'Workingman's Dead' are neck and neck) by the unarguably best American rock band. It's ridiculous that this and 'Workingman's Dead' were released in the SAME year.
What needs to be said? "Box of Rain", "Brokedown Palace", and "Ripple" are probably in my personal Top 10 Dead tracks. "Sugar Magnolia", "Friend of the Devil", and "Truckin'" are all classics.
Nice mix of Jerry and Bobby on lead vocals, but you also got a Phil Lesh lead, a Pigpen lead, and some killer harmonies on Side B.
A little bit of rock, a little bit of folk and country, and a little bit of psychedelia. Perfect mix - perfect album.
John Lennon
4/5
The xx
3/5
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
If Section.80 and Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City didn't make you realize Kendrick was one of the greats, this album better have.
Experimental Hip Hop? Jazz Rap? Conscious Hip Hop? Gangsta Rap? R&B? It's all here and it's all great.
It's rare to find a 79-minute rap album that is this re-playable. I might skip the 2pac 'interview' at the end, but was ready to spin this thing all day.
James Brown
3/5
It's alright I guess.....I think I expected a little more from the hardest working man in show business.
Jungle Brothers
3/5
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Can't believe there were chompers all the way back in 1961. Everyone tells me it's a post-COVID thing!
Not a bad listen for a Friday morning. I could groove to this whist in a coffee shop or reading on the front porch.
Cocteau Twins
2/5
Middle of the road stuff for me. One listen is enough.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Feel kinda bad for this dude....he sounds pretty bummed. I hope his life picked up after this one.
Fred Neil
4/5
Dig the country/folk sounds. The last song was surprising, but a cool jam.
I wonder if Orville Peck was inspired by this guy. Similar vibes.
50 Cent
5/5
22 years later and this shit still bangs. So many classics on here. Gotta love those Dr. Dre (Dr. Dre-inspired) early aughts beats.
The only weak points IMO are '21 Questions' and 'P.I.M.P.' but still nothing to sneeze at.....dude had to get radio play and those beats are still 🔥.
The Temptations
3/5
IMO, nothing too special here outside of "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"
Foo Fighters
4/5
30 years later and it all still holds up. 4.5
Public Enemy
4/5
35 years later and the songs still bang, and the messages are still relevant.
Chuck D is fierce and you can't not love Flava Flav. Like 'Straight Outta Compton' though, this just seems a bit longer than needed and loses replay-ability value. Trimmed down to 45-50 minutes, it would be 5 stars for sure.
Heaven 17
3/5
I never heard of Heaven 17. This is pretty middle of the road for me.
The Band
4/5
Obviously prefer the self titled album over this one, but still classic Americana
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Fantastic mix of r&b, soul, jazz, even some progressive rock(?)
Quite an impressive album. Didn't feel like 103 minutes and would gladly spin again and again.
Adele
3/5
Nothing I'd ever seek out but better than I thought it would be. 3.25 or 3.5 stars.
Love
4/5
Folk with a little bit of rock/psychedelia, and some orchestra? I'm in. 4.5
Primal Scream
3/5
I didn't go in with high hopes - the title of this album gave me douche chills.
But I actually kind of dug it. There is some cool grooves here and even some sounds like prototypical-LCD Soundsystem. Sadly, the slower stuff is a little too tame, and the album drags on a bit too long.
2.5 stars, rounding up because of the pleasant surprise.
Barry Adamson
2/5
This shit is out there....some weird ass some stuff, but some killer grooves too.
Would probably listen again but I'm in no real hurry.
Deep Purple
4/5
The Cure
3/5
Gotta think there's a little bit too much of The Cure on this list, if we're being honest.
It's not bad...prefer this to "Disintegration" or "Pornography" - only reason I'm rounding this 2.5 up.
2/5
I dont know, man. Why's it gotta be 61 minutes?
Some cool grooves in here, but monotonous after a while.
The Triffids
1/5
Thoughts while listening: I'm about to leave work early to drive to my storage unit and find my boxes of books and dust this book off to read the fucking write-up on this one.
LOL at Wikipedia calling this "Rock." Was this just added to fill the Australia quotient? This list better have some AC/DC.
This has no redeeming qualities. Would not listen again.
The United States Of America
4/5
Never heard of these folks....love the psychedelia of it.
Miles Davis
4/5
This is the kind of jazz I can work with.
Funkadelic
5/5
This shit shreds.
Haircut 100
3/5
Decent new wave (jangle pop?)
3 stars....mainly because it reminds me of Talking Heads.
Madonna
2/5
The title track is stil a banger. 'Express Yourself' and 'Cherish are still decent, but that's about the extent of my enjoyment here.
Pretenders
3/5
3.5 - not bad but didn't totally grab me.
'Brass in Pocket' still holds up....favorite song was probably 'Stop Your Sobbing' - was kind of surprised to see it was a Kinks original.
Portishead
5/5
The quintessential trip-hop album?
Goddamn these beats mixed with the vocals...this thing fucks.
Talking Heads
4/5
Pretty approachable Talking Heads album, IMO.
Dagmar Krause
2/5
1.5....there's something about it that's not letting me give it 1. Perhaps my German heritage.
I don't really want or need to hear it again, but there was never a time where I thought "what's the point of all this?" - I'm looking your direction Roni Size and The Triffids.
The Smiths
3/5
This seems weaker than the other albums by The Smiths that I know. At least it has "Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before."
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Didn't wow me, didn't bore me....middle of the road in my book.
R.E.M.
4/5
Love the singles on this one, but a good album all around.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
It is a classic for sure. I didn't want to replay it as soon as it was over, and a little bit too much Jesus for me. 4.5 stars.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Comes out swinging with 'Block Rockin' Beats' but loses steam quickly and gets monotonous after a while.
Finley Quaye
3/5
This is decent. I never heard of Finley Quaye, so when I saw it was a Scottish musician, I was afraid it was gonna be some more bullshit like The Triffids.
The first song was a nice surprise - probably my favorite of the album - but the album gets a little cumbersome after a while. 2.5 rounding up.
Queen
4/5
Not as good as 'A Night at the Opera' but still solid.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Have always been more of a Beatles guy than a Stones guy but this shit is pretty rock and roll. A bit long as a double LP, but not sure there would be enough to cut for a single.
Elliott Smith
3/5
You call this random, yet you give me Elliott Smith on a gloomy, rainy, Midwest day - that also happens to be the first day of autumn.
It's decent. Nothing mind blowing, in my opinion. I'd spin it again but am in no rush to do so.
Massive Attack
4/5
So much trip hop on this list....but this is well deserved.
'Daydreaming', 'One Love', 'Be Thankful For What You've Got' are the favorites here. 4.5 stars, just because it doesn't have immediate replay-ability for me.
Coldplay
3/5
Helluva debut album....might say I prefer this to 'A Rush of Blood to the Head.'
3.5 stars
David Bowie
4/5
Side A is so good.....but goddamn Side B is so fucking weird.
(5 stars + 3 stars) / 2 sides = 4 stars
Al Green
4/5
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Pretty sweet grooves. Could listen to this type of stuff all day, but didn't totally want to repeat it when it was over.
Fairport Convention
4/5
Surprisingly good mix of folk and rock. Love that 11-minute jam out on "A Sailor's Life"
Beach House
3/5
Solid dream pop. Nice sounding, but nothing mind-blowing. I'd spin it again, but not in any rush to do so.
Miles Davis
3/5
It's alright I guess. I liked the other Miles album - "Kind of Blue" a lot more than this one.
Ramones
4/5
Groundbreaking album for sure - awesome listen, just not a lot of replayability for me.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Half the songs are all-time bangers...the other half are meh, IMO. Still a classic album.
Hot Chip
2/5
Started out new and fresh but got tiresome after a while.
AC/DC
5/5
Now THAT'S how you fill the Australia quotient.
Bon Scott whips so much ass.
The Triffids can kick rocks.
Air
2/5
Did we really need the 1st AND 2nd Air album on this list???
Snoozefest shit here....an iota better than The Virgin Suicides, but I still don't see the appeal.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Elvis Presley
3/5
Can't really see myself giving Elvis two stars.
Funny side note: Wikipedia's first genre listed for this album is "rock." Other "rock" albums released in 1969: "Led Zeppelin", "Kick Out the Jams", "Tommy", "The Stooges", "Abbey Road", "In the Court of the Crimson King", "Led Zeppelin II", "Let it Bleed", and "The Allman Brothers Band".
LTJ Bukem
2/5
Felt a lot more listenable than Roni Size, my only real reference to this type of music.
No desire to really spin this again, but it wasn't bad.
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
Love the dirty garage sound of this one.
Supertramp
4/5
I really didn't know Supertramp had THIS much progressive rock in 'em. Pleasant surprise. 4.5 stars.
Fats Domino
3/5
It is what it is. Kinda like Elvis: nothing I'd be super jazzed to spin again and again, but I definitely see the value and influence in it.
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
Some great stuff here: amazing songwriting ("John Wayne Gacy, Jr.") and fantastic arrangements ("Chicago"). It just goes on a little too long. Trimming 15 minutes or so would have helped a bunch.
Trimming it would also help Sufjan fulfill his 'promise' of an album for every state. I'd love to hear songs about the Standard Oil Explosion, Major Taylor, or Herb Baumeister. Rounding down half a star for that loss of potential alone.
The Mothers Of Invention
4/5
Didn't think I was going to like this. I remember hating "We're Only in it for the Money" and just didn't get it - figured this would more of the same.
I enjoyed this listen though. Interesting psychedelia/experimental stuff going on here. The last two tracks are a LITTLE out there, but I could see people Freak Out! over them.
Beatles
4/5
This is on the lower end of the spectrum for my personal Beatles album list....too many weak points to give it a 5.
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
This project has taught me that I don't really care for post punk. The bass is kinda cool on most of these songs, but not digging much of anything here. Would be fine never hearing this one again.
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
It's cool....I don't know what he's singing about but the music has some grooves.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Much prefer the early Boss over the later stuff like "The Rising."
3.5, but rounding up since there are a few bangers here.
Saint Etienne
2/5
Some cool grooves and samples in here, but pretty boring to me.
Megadeth
4/5
Solid thrash for sure.
Sinead O'Connor
2/5
It's okay. Not really my jam, but she definitely had talent.
Without 'Nothing Compares 2 U' this might be a 1 from me.
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
Elizabeth Reed must've been SOME broad....holy smokes.
But seriously folks, this thing is on fire. Can't believe they were melting faces like this back in 1971.
4.5 stars
The Smiths
4/5
A little better than the 'Strangeways Here We Come", IMO.
Was hovering around 3.5, but giving it a bump since this one has "Cemetry Gates" and "There is a Light That Never Goes Out".
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
I liked 'Metal Box' or 'Second Edition' much more than this....and still gave that a low rating. The last song on this album pushed this from a 1.5 down to a 1.
Radiohead
4/5
Les Rythmes Digitales
3/5
Based off the artist, album, and album art, I liked it more than I'd expect.
Groovy for most of the time - doesn't feel too monotonous.
The Doors
4/5
Did the conglomerate "Twenty-First Century Fox" get their name by trying to one-up The Doors?
Was never huge on The Doors, but was never really huge on psychedelia. That has changed in recent years so this was a worthwhile listen. Even the two singles still slap.
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
Not really my jam, but gotta say that all of the singles STILL hold up.
Gotan Project
3/5
Middle of the road for me. Didn't hate it, would play it again. Rounding up from 2.5 to 3.
The Yardbirds
4/5
Nice mix of white guy blues and psychedelia.
3.5, rounding up mainly for their influence.
Marilyn Manson
3/5
Enjoy the industrial metal, respect the shock value, hate the length.
Could've chopped off like 20 minutes and it might have been a 4.
Otis Redding
5/5
Otis Redding (mainly) covering classics. How can you go wrong?
Sigur Rós
4/5
Beautiful, pretty, whatever the most masculine way to say it, songs. Even having no idea what they are saying, you can get lost in the music.
Anybody else want to re-watch Vanilla Sky?
Robert Wyatt
2/5
Started out promising but got a little too strange...and then stayed a little too strange for me.
Liz Phair
2/5
I understand it's probably pretty important in the grand scheme of things: a female solo indie rock artist in the early 90s.....but it really did nothing for me.
Janet Jackson
4/5
Not totally my type of music but this thing is full of bangers and all of the eight(!!!!) singles still hold up. 4.5 stars.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Better than "From Dusty in Memphis", IMO. Some classics here, for sure.
Aretha Franklin
3/5
I understand it's a classic but nothing grabbed me outside of 'Respect' and 'A Change is Gonna Come.'
Turbonegro
3/5
It's decent. Reading on Wikipedia that the genre was "glam punk" got my hopes up, so I was a little disappointed. Still might spin this again or check out more of these dudes' stuff.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
2/5
Another one of those that makes me think the list should be 750 albums, or 501 albums. Not bad, but nothing i would ever seek out again.
David Bowie
4/5
Pretty damn approachable Bowie album. 4.5 stars because it seems to drag at a few points.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
It's damn good. Hits still hold up. Harmonies are incredible. Just a few weak points that keep it at 4.5 for me.
Pink Floyd
5/5
What can I say that hasn't been said already?
Can't get over how much of a masterpiece "Time" is.....the rest of it is pretty dang good too.
Scott Walker
3/5
It's not bad...dude has a good voice, and I like the orchestra (orchestration?).
Also you can listen to the track "The Seventh Seal" for a pretty good summary of the flick. Go that route and save yourself 96 boob-less minutes.
Beastie Boys
5/5
So wild how they went from Licensed To Ill to this. Production/samples are bananas, but the rapping is also on point.
Def Leppard
4/5
The seven (!!!) singles still hold up....but the rest seems like filler. Chop off 15 minutes and this would probably be five stars.
Dolly Parton
3/5
Beck
3/5
It's fine I guess. I greatly prefer party Beck to introspective Beck.
Maxwell
2/5
I think the author of the 1,001 albums book lost his virginity to this album....that's the only reason it's included.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Haven't listened to this one in a few years. Did NOT expect to give it a 5, but goddamn it still holds up.
Jeff Beck
4/5
Decent enough white-guy blues.
Lorde
3/5
I have nothing good or bad to say about this.
The Band
4/5
4.5
I really don't like U2, but have to admit that 'Beautiful Day' still rips. Fantastic opening song, but sadly goes down from there and never recovers.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
Really didn't care for the jazzy soft rock with poetry going on here....call me a dolt if you must.
XTC
1/5
This shit is so boring and so lame it made me legitimately angry. Never again.
New Order
4/5
I liked it...I don't know the timeline of these English bands but it sounds like a less goth-y Cure and reminds me of the Smiths. These blokes had a good sound back then.
De La Soul
3/5
The beats are cool, for sure....but this is some 1989-ass rapping if I ever heard it.
It sounds like they are reading each line off cue cards, and I just can't get into it.