1001 Albums Summary

Best: Levon Worst: All the nasties Liked songs: 100% Elton the goat but def not the goat at choosing album covers

Best: Ruiner Worst: I do not want this Liked songs: 86% Front half is somewhat decent but not amazing imo, back half is really good + the concept is really good + the album cover rocks. Elite study music

Best: Roadhouse Blues Worst: n/a Liked songs: 55% High 3 Love the blues rock sound, especially on roadhouse blues. Difference between first and second half isn't as stark as people say, but first half still better. Also the filler tracks all sound kinda alike, but not necessarily bad.

Best: A Better Place to Live Worst: not gonna do that to dolly Liked songs: 60%, 6/10 Strong 3 I honestly wasn't expecting too much because I've never been a massive country fan, but this is a real solid album. The A-sides were decent but got me worried for the B-sides because they're always the worst on the album, but the B-sides on this album (and especially the last two songs) are the best thing about the album. Gotta love dolly too, didn't read too many of the lyrics but they seem to pretty cool (much like dolly). Almost considered giving it a 4 but there are some definite filler songs that drag it down to just below the 4 threshold.

Best: I Gotta Find A Way (To Get You Back) Worst: I Need Your Lovin' Liked songs: 90%, 9/10 Low 4, 80/100 The definition of just a funky, fun album. The pacing is phenomenonal and the album never drags at all. There's really not a whole lot to say about it for me other than just how fun of a listen it is, which is really the best compliment I think you can give a funk record. Can't give it any higher than low to mid 80s just because there's not a song that particularly grabs me. Still a really fun record.

Best: Pinball wizard or Overture Worst: Eyesight to the blind (the hawker) Liked songs: 84%, 16/19 (no songs under a minute) High 4, 90/100 I'm a known sucker for a good concept album/rock opera, and if there ever was one, Tommy is it. I don't always like criticizing concept albums for their length but Tommy does definitely drag at times, and I think a lot of it could've been cut to make it a single album without compromising the story too much. For example, really don't think you need cousin Kevin and uncle ernie in two separate songs; definitely could've combined them. Other than those ocassional drags, the music is really solid. Songs like we're not gonna take it, Pinball wizard, and Overture truly show the highlights of the music, and there aren't really too many lowlights. The story is also fantastic, and really is very detailed and very unique. The concept is also relatively tight, and no song is really wasted (unless you count the repition of some ideas). Overall, love the album, though it falls just below a 5/5 for me because of the length and the dragging of some songs.

Best: NIB Worst: Liked songs: 100%, 6/6 Strong 4 Love the sound, especially the guitar. I thought i didn't like ozzy's voice before because I really hadn't heard much black sabbath, and I still don't love it, but it's growing on me. Crazy that the album came out in 1970, does NOT feel like it. I don't think it's long enough to warrant a 5/5, especially since it's sub half hour. Two or three more solid tracks and i think it could get there. Still a really good record.

Best: Now my heart is full Worst: I am hated for loving Liked songs: 7/11, 64% Mid 3, 70/100 Love morrissey's voice and the overall sound of the album (i might be depressed). Gets a little crooney at times, especially like on songs like I am Hated for Loving, which just screams misunderstood angsty high schooler. Overall, nothing special, but decently enjoyable listen.

Best: You're Still On My Mind Worst: The Christian Life Liked songs: 6/11, 55% High 2, 45/100 I really don't have a ton to say about this album, other than it's passable country. There's really not any bright spot in the album, but there aren't a whole lot of dark spots either. I can appreciate that it is actually good country, but it's just really not my type of music. Some decent songs, but a record I'll probably never think about again.

Best: where the streets gave no name Worst: n/a Liked songs: 100% High 5 U2 haters can stfu Joshua tree is a damn masterpiece

Best: Transylvania Blues Worst: Tennessee Liked songs: 50% Mid to high 2 Shocker, but the more indie rock it gets the more I like it and the more country it gets i don't. Given the very limited country I've listened to though, it's some of the best.

Best: the mercy beat, infected Worst: twilight of a champion Liked songs: 75%, 6/8 Mid 4 Fun erasure-adjacent new wave, but less weird vocal and more instrumentals which is always good. Saxophone is especially good in the instrumentals, and would've loved a song of just pure instrumental. Last minute of the songs really do be clutching. Also very hype album cover

Best: Check the Rhime Worst: What? Liked songs: 13/14, 93% Low 4, 80/100 A perfect representation of 90s hip hop. You can definitely tell how dated it is just by nature of the rapid growth of the genre, but once you get used to the sound, the album really comes alive. The flows are really smooth and the jazz elements are just fantastic, and are in my opinion the main driver of the album. The lyrics are solid, but not as spectacular as everyone says in my opinion, though maybe that's my lack of experience in hip hop showing. Either way, still a really amazing album and one I'll be coming back to pretty regularly.

Best: Californication Worst: I like dirt Liked songs: 60%, 9/15 Mid to strong 2 The real theme of the album here is the guitar clutches up while the vocals drag it down cuz the guitar riffs are for the most part really good but when I like a song I feel like it's usually in spite of the vocals. Definitely dated, can very much tell the era it's from (though tbf i thought i would've placed it before 99 that seems hella late). Also the peppers are assholes so that's gotta drag it down a bit. Ok and I just realized what Cali"fornication" means which reminded me that the lyrics are fucking weird why is everyone so horny for either people or california bro it was not clever enough to make it the title of the damn album the signs of the peppers being assholes were all here man.

Best: Oh Boy! Worst: n/a Liked songs: 58%, 7/12 Light 3 Perfect example of "its just a vibe." Its hard to rate something so old, especially in comparison to albums released when music had had time to develop. With that said, its still a pretty fun listen, though it does take a while to get used to the sound. Also pretty hard to ignore the influence Holly, and by extension this album had on the music scene as a whole. Pretty solid album all around.

Best: Ugly or Confessions (can't decide) Worst: Liked songs: 25%, 3/12 Light 2 I can definitely appreciate the influence the album had on the alt rock/punk scene, more so with the lyrics than the sound, because really the sound just isn't for me. I was really interested in the folk/punk label, but just didn't love it. The influence on my favorite genre of music and the lyrics are enough to bump it up to a 2 though.

Best: The Next Big Thing Worst: I got you babe Liked songs: 56%, 5/9 Strong 2 As is becoming pretty common with most proto punk albums, the only reason that I like any of the songs is simply the guitar. The lyrics are pretty dookie and the vocals are lowkey pretty annoying after a while, but its hard to ignore how fire that guitar is. That said, I can't really give an album with songs called "master race rock" and "i live for cars and girls" a score much higher than a strong 2. Hard to believe this is an album you need to listen to before you die tbh.

Best: Its the End of the World as We Know it (and i feel fine) Worst: lightnin' Hopkins Liked songs: 100%, 11/11 Low 5, 93/100 LE NARD BERN STEIN. To be honest, I kinda irrationally hated R.E.M before this. Probably had something to do with Michael Stipes' voice taking some getting used to, or the fact that I always mixed them up with REO Speedwagon (who are also pretty great), but I just sorta hated them. Now that I've listened to a full album though, they're fantastic. The songwriting is slightly above average, but very much above average for the 80s, especially on songs like exhuming McCarthy and King of Birds, and the other political songs like the opener. Tracks 1-8 are all certified bangers, and are easily some of the best alt rock ever produced. The album fades a little bit in the last 3 songs, but not enough to lower the albums overall standing very much, since they are all great, just not A-side great. Something about the album cover is also really cool to me too even though i literally have no idea what's going on. Fantastic album, and a pretty easy 5/5.

Best: Tombstone Blues Worst: Just like Tom Thumb's blues Liked songs: 9/9, 100% High 5 An album that bites harder than my corgi to every single geriatric person we see for some reason. Never before has an album connected so much with the modern age, yet has also had the ability to take me back in time to dare I say a simpler age. This album is lyrically beautiful, with themes like American culture, disillusionment and rebellion, confrontation with alienation, the despair of simply living, and the desire to escape from it all; the last of which serving as the backbone for the entire album. It's an album full of sorrow, wrath, and hopelessness, but also hope and just general fun. I sincerely doubt this album will ever be lyrically irrelevant, but it's hard to ignore just how relevant it is today. A perfect album, and one of the few where I genuinely am clueless as to how people can not adore. Simply pure art.

Best: I only said Worst: to here knows when Liked songs: 91%, 10/11 Low 5 When I saw the all lowercase band name + song titles and the album cover i was fully ready for a full on thats that me depresso album, and i was half right. I wasn't a massive fan of the first few songs the first time I listened to it, especially the lead vocalist, and really the guitar was all that was keeping me going. As you get deeper into the album though, the dreampop really takes hold and you're just fully immersed into the album and it almost feels like a film score. Definitely not the most approachable album and the shoegaze did definitely break my pop-rock-need-a-strong-chorus-or-die brain a few times, but definitely in the good way. Also the basically torture concerts for music critics are just straight hilarious. Totally understand how the album simultaneously essentially started the shoegaze genre and killed it with its pure greatness. Spectacular record.

Best: Fight Test Worst: Yoshimi part 2 Liked songs: 10/11, 91% Low 5, 93/100 Every once in a while, there's an album that reminds you why you listen to music in albums, and why you're doing the 1001 album challenge at all. This is one of them. Goofy at times, philosophical at others, and occasionally both simultaneously, its just the definition of a fun listen. Incredibly hard to not smile the entire time, and overall incredibly enjoyable. A pretty easy 5.

Best: Messy Bessie Worst: n/a Liked songs: 100%, 5/5 Mid to strong 3 For my first full jazz record I'm certainly not upset, but I'm pretty sure now that organ jazz just isn't my style of jazz. I feel like in order to step into 4 or 5 territory with a jazz record you're gonna need some epic solos, which the record doesn't really have. Don't get me wrong, it's a great record but there's not a lot of distinguishment between the songs; I definitely couldn't tell you what song you were playing if you just chose a random one off the album. That being said, it's still pretty enjoyable, though I'm not really sure I'll be coming back to it that much. Decent record.

Paris 1919 - John Cale Best: Macbeth Worst: Hanky Panky Nohow Liked songs: 33%, 3/9 Mid 2 If there ever existed a boomer album this is it because I can so imagine my grandpa just jamming out to this while he watches wheel of fortune and the house actively burns down but his hearing aids aren't charged. If you want to know what it sounds like, the album cover is pretty representative of the album sound. It's nothing special but tolerable all around (besides the damn hanky panky song that one sucks). A weird phenomenon with it is that a lot of the songs, and especially the B-sides creep up so close to that arbitrary liked song requirement but just fall short. I also appreciate the loose concept about the treaty of Paris and ww1, but it's just that: loose. Overall, definitely not bad enough to be a 1, but not good enough to creep into the 3/net positive territory. It's whatever.

Rattus Norvegicus- The Stranglers Best: Go Buddy Go Worst: Peasants in the Big Shitty (certainly the best name tho) Liked songs: 83%, 10/12 Mid to Strong 4 The main driver of the album is definitely the guitar and keyboard work, because both of those elements are truly exceptional. The story telling element of the lyrics are also definitely of note and really help it. I did find it interesting how the lyrics opt more for the sort of taboo sexual side rather than the anti-establishment nature that most of the lyrics of the era had, but they definitely work. Nothing about the album is bad, but I feel like it's just short of the truly great caliber to reach a 5. Overall though, a very fun British punk record with a pretty unique spin on the era.

Best: Down Worst: Early in the morning Liked songs: 5/9, 56% Light 3 Fun album but nothing that really grabs me or makes me want to listen to any song let alone the whole album again. Just a little slowly paced and overall uninteresting, still a good one time listen though.

Best: If... Worst: Everybody knows Liked songs: 7/7, 100% Light 4 If Engelbert Humperdink had access to more modern music tools and was obsessed with horses for some reason and im here for it. Obviously not the most revolutionary album in terms of lyrics, but they're fun and I think the arrangements are overall really good. Fun album, though I can see how its polarizing.

Best: Good Times Worst: Can't stand to love you Liked songs: 6/7, 86% Light 3 This is the first time I've listened to disco critically, so theres a chance most of my points apply to the whole genre but idk. Overall a fun album that dragged on a little too long and had far too much repition within songs. Not one I see myself returning to, but a fun listen all the same

Best: Tradition Worst: Give Me Liked songs: 8/10, 80% Solid 4 So chill it's hard to believe you're listening to a revolution call. My first experience with roots reggae and reggae in general, and it certainly did not disappoint. Everything from the album cover to the lyrics to the title begs you to learn more about the world around you, something I very much enjoy doing. The concept is structurally very well thought out, and the music, while often repetitive (sometimes to a fault), is interesting and fun. A very enjoyable and thought provoking listen.

If there's one thing that's always been true of the greats, it's that they refuse to stop innovating. Blackstar is the ultimate testament to that true artist's spirit. Sonically like nothing that has ever been seen before, or ever will be seen again. Lyrically heartbreaking, yet with a twinge of hope. It's an album that is fiercely unique, completely unapproachable in terms of music, and yet totally approachable in terms of being a work of pure humanity. Though I haven't always been the biggest Bowie fan, his artistry, passion, and dedication to his craft is something that deserves to be studied, envied, and imitated with futility, because there can never, and will never be another Starman. Best: Blackstar Worst: Girl loves me Liked songs: 7/7, 100% Moderate 5

Musically complex? No. Lyrically complex? Not unless you're a 13 year old who just discovered jerking off. Fun listen? Absolutely. As someone raised on classic rock, this is the quintessential 80s rock album: calling it complex in any way would be an a horrific mistake, but you can't help banging your head with a massive grin during most of the album. The simplicity does wear thin, especially towards the last 3 tracks, but by and large, it's a perfect album for what it's trying to do, though, admittedly, those aspirations for itself are frighteningly low. A fun listen that I see myself coming back to a few times a year. Best: Young Lust Worst: Hoodoo/Voodoo Medicine Man Liked songs: 7/10, 70% High 3

Best: It's not up to you Worst: lowkey too many to count Liked songs: 4/12, 33% High 1 I'm missing something. That's the only real explanation I can think of for my first ever 1/5 review on this site being the album that aoty considers the 8th greatest album of all time. This album to me is if someone tried way too hard for their music to be called "unique" or "beautiful," because there's certainly times the album reaches those points, but it's usually after a LOT of failed attempts to reach those points. Because of that, it's really one of only a couple of albums I've ever listened to where I felt genuine relief when it finished. I'm sure I'll listen to it again and be transformed in body and soul like the other reviews, but until then, it's gotta be a one.

Best: Life on Mars? Worst: Fill your heart Liked songs: 11/11, 100% Mid 4 After listening to Blackstar a few times this week, its really interesting to juxtapose it with the album Bowie became Bowie. Of course his sound and lyricism developed quite a bit in the 4 and a half decades separating the album, but it's clear that Bowie has always been an artist unafraid to blaze his own trail and remain fearlessly unique. It's just a fun album all around, with pretty solid lyrics and a really unique but infectious sound. Its one of those albums where I actually think the B-sides carry, and really make me appreciate the album, though of course the two singles everyone knows are amazing. A very fitting album to essentially start perhaps the greatest artist to ever have lived's career.