166
Albums Rated
3.02
Average Rating
15%
Complete
923 albums remaining
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Rating Timeline
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1950s
Favorite Decade
Jazz
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
11
5-Star Albums
11
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Metal Box
Public Image Ltd.
|
5 | 2.41 | +2.59 |
|
Ys
Joanna Newsom
|
5 | 2.8 | +2.2 |
|
Searching For The Young Soul Rebels
Dexys Midnight Runners
|
5 | 3 | +2 |
|
Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Lucinda Williams
|
5 | 3 | +2 |
|
The Köln Concert
Keith Jarrett
|
5 | 3.39 | +1.61 |
|
Blunderbuss
Jack White
|
5 | 3.4 | +1.6 |
|
Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
|
5 | 3.65 | +1.35 |
|
Live At The Regal
B.B. King
|
5 | 3.68 | +1.32 |
|
Let's Stay Together
Al Green
|
5 | 3.76 | +1.24 |
|
Basket of Light
Pentangle
|
4 | 2.76 | +1.24 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
|
1 | 3.94 | -2.94 |
|
1999
Prince
|
1 | 3.6 | -2.6 |
|
Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
|
1 | 3.44 | -2.44 |
|
2112
Rush
|
1 | 3.39 | -2.39 |
|
Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
|
1 | 3.37 | -2.37 |
|
I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
|
1 | 3.1 | -2.1 |
|
No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
Motörhead
|
1 | 3.06 | -2.06 |
|
Hunky Dory
David Bowie
|
2 | 4 | -2 |
|
A Date With The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
|
1 | 2.96 | -1.96 |
|
More Specials
The Specials
|
1 | 2.96 | -1.96 |
5-Star Albums (11)
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Popular Reviews
Moby
4/5
Incredibly nostalgic album. I remember Dad playing this as a kid. It’s dynamic and varied, with tunes for every emotion. Not a lot of thematic through-lines here, as far as I can tell.
2 likes
1-Star Albums (11)
All Ratings
Various Artists
2/5
This is a whimsical Christmas record featuring mostly standard & inoffensive covers. However, Sleigh Ride wormed its way into my brain as a high schooler in band and this classic version of it sparks very little joy at this point.
The last track features a corny spiel by Phil Spector that destroys Silent Night and is something I hate.
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) is a standout.
Al Green
5/5
As smooth as it is infectious as it is energetic. This record is unbelievably good!
The Kinks
2/5
Sarcastic & musically dynamic. I wasn’t expecting this record to be as annoying as it becomes though, but at least it’s whimsical about it.
Standout track is: “Last of the Steam-Powered Trains”.
Ella Fitzgerald
4/5
I listened to a lot of this but not the entirety. It’s almost impossible to rank as an album. Ella doesn’t miss though, so it deserves a four.
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
Funky fresh is the only way to describe it. Reminds me of A’s games. Middle of the record wears a little thin.
Funkadelic
4/5
Found this one on YouTube. When it hits, it hits hard! Bells, synths, and funky bass lines. This was my second Funkadelic album after Maggot Brain, and I enjoyed it more. I can think of a million r&b cuts that owe their life to this album, at least spiritually.
Jack White
5/5
Electric Light Orchestra
2/5
This was an extremely frustrating album to listen to. The songwriting at times is so infectious as to be unbelievable, only for the song to transition wildly into something incoherent, and then again to a third thing. I don’t pick up on the through line here.
Stand out track is Mr. Blue Sky, obviously.
The Who
3/5
Solid & sonically consistent. Pretty hard for 1971. The novelty doesn’t land for me though because of how influential the who are. I dont love Daltrey’s voice, which knocks it down a peg.
Frank Ocean
4/5
Sweet, sensual & melodic. Unlike my father I appreciate Frank’s falsetto. A very nostalgic album for me.
Soul II Soul
3/5
The Who
2/5
Lots of Beatles & Pschedelic influence. The problem is the Who just…don’t do it as well. This album is a bit disjointed and far less epic than Who’s Next.
Standout track is “Odorono”.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Groundbreaking album art over a strong group of only somewhat derivative songs. Elvis’ voice sounds perfect on the more country-twinged rockabilly stuff. He should have always gone the Country route.
Standout tracks are “Trying to Get to You” and “I’m Counting on You”.
Morrissey
4/5
Beautiful guitar work and some nice strings. Solid Morrissey vocals. This album has a dark tone and isn’t something I’d often return to because it makes my heart hurt.
Stand out tracks are “Late Night, Maudlin Street” and “Everyday is like Sunday”.
Deep Purple
2/5
I moderately disliked this. The bass work is nice obviously, and the band is tight, but the vocals are grating to me like in a lot of classic rock, and it evoked literally no emotion in me.
Grateful Dead
4/5
Dreamy, smooth AND chunky. I love pretty much everything ever played by a jam band and this is no exception.
Standout track is “Ripple”.
Television
4/5
Diverse, catchy, and jazzy. I appreciate the fuzzy vocals, tight drumming, and long guitar solos.
Standout song is “Marquee moon”. This song rips. Also “prove it”
The Byrds
3/5
American “British Invasion” rock mixed with some classic American folk sensibilities. I think it’s a nice, but doesn’t evoke much in me.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Classic Rock of the type I don’t typically love, but there were some surprises here and it’s a decent album. The little bits of sax in “Brown Sugar” are nice and the lengthy guitar solos throughout are appreciated. Mick Jagger is seriously a bad singer and is absolutely brutal on “Dead Flowers”.
Standout track is “Wild Horses”.
Nas
3/5
Obviously an influential record, but one I find relatively boring. Pretty dynamic beats but pretty standard flows (to modern ears uneducated in hip hop at least).
Green Day
4/5
Perfect encapsulation of early aughts atomization & disillusionment. Somewhat translatable to the current political environment. Ended Neoconservatism.
Stand Out attacks are “Holiday” and “Give Me Novacaine”.
Elton John
4/5
This album is far more epic than I thought. The vocals are impeccable, the piano is notable throughout and the whole thing is very campy and musical theatrical.
The standout tracks are “I’ve Seen That Movie Too” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”.
Radiohead
2/5
No thank you! I despise Radiohead. Thom Yorke’s voice is weak, metallic, formless, and grating and ruins whatever interesting musical flourishes or polyrhythms there are. Nice bass playing throughout though.
The standout track is “Optimistic”, I guess.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
This is a sweet album. Good, but not perfect. Beautiful & impeccable Paul Simon vocals. Standard folk instrumentation. I’m thrown off by the insertion of a live track in the midst of all the other studio versions.
Stand out tracks are “The Boxer” and “The Only Living Biy in New York”.
Miles Davis
5/5
Warm, fuzzy, and oh so jazzy. Great sax & trumpet licks throughout. Gasser made us listen to this one back in the day.
Almost perfect or actually perfect.
The Smashing Pumpkins
2/5
This album is almost operatic in a certain way. I like the vibe and the story tellling where it exists, but Billy Corgan’s voice literally ruins the entire thing for me though. It’s metallic and whiny.
Standout tracks are “1979” and “Zero”.
Prince
1/5
I’m not convinced that this album isn’t a prank. It really sounds like prince just went wild over bop-it samples. I’m sure this was innovative in its day, but I can’t take it seriously.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Confirms my suspicion that the Stones are actually at their best when not playing rock music. I like the bluesy and country vibes on this album.
Standout track is “Sweet Virginia”
Steve Earle
4/5
This hits hard. I’ve never really listened to Steve Earle but I love his classic voice and the modern country instrumentation.
Public Image Ltd.
5/5
WOW. It was hard to find this album, but YouTube came in clutch. I absolutely love it. An hour of rage, driving bass, and hard hitting percussion. Took years off my life in a good way.
Stan Getz
4/5
Stan Getz is my all-around favorite saxophonist and this album is superb, though I actually prefer his earlier non-bossy nova work. This is vivacious and danceable.
N.E.R.D
2/5
Very creative & energetic, but feels disjointed. I don’t love the musical palette.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Bright & Well-textured. Great guitar solos and Robert Plant vocals, as always.
Standout tracks are “Since I’ve Been Loving You and “Hats off To (Roy) Harper”
Van Halen
2/5
Doesn’t feel inspired to me. Evoked nothing. It’s the type of classic rock I dislike amped up.
Antony and the Johnsons
2/5
Respectable considering how much I dislike pano ballads in general. Very tender & emotional lyricism. Don’t love the vibratto in the vocals.
Standout track is: “My Lady Story”
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
Pretty lovely. Buddy Holly’s voice is very boyish and somehow holds up seventy years later. Had only ever listened to That’ll Be The Day but there are better tracks on here.
Standout tracks are: “Maybe Baby” and “Last Night”.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
This was quite surprising! Having not listened to much Springsteen, this was far more introspective and sensitive than the machismo I expected. Strangely lots of law enforcement content. I appreciate the blue-sky harmonica and stripped down guitar.
Standout track is: “State Troooper”
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Both funky & silky smooth. I particularly love the piano ballads like “They Won’t Go When I Go” and “Too Shy to Say”. I could see Elton singing these. I didnt really know Stevie Wonder had this side to him.
Parliament
3/5
I like the otherworldly aesthetics and it certainly sounds like it too. Great fat bass tone & soulful vocals.
Standout track is: “Handcuffs”
Dexys Midnight Runners
5/5
Wow. This album is pure joy. I’d never listened to Dexy’s apart from Come on Eileen. They call it pop rock, but it really is just the perfect ska record. Melodic & upbeat with some unexpected vocal samples and spoken word.
Will be on repeat forever.
Snoop Dogg
1/5
I abhors Snoop’s voice and no sick beat can overcome it. Absolutely terrible.
Supergrass
3/5
Noisy Brit pop. Occasionally nice, but occasionally harshes my mellow. I don’t find the melodies particularly catchy here & I dislike the palette overall.
Standout track is: “Time”
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
Great “Age of Aquarius” vibes from this record. Haunting vocals and cool guitar work. Could use a bit more sitar.
Standout track are: “Somebody to Love” and “3/5 of a mile in Ten Seconds”.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Amazing live album! I normally don’t love live performances because of the awkward breaks and crowd noise, but this is a tasteful recording. Great set of classic blues tunes. No real complaints.
Standout track is “I’ve Got my Mojo Working”.
Moby
4/5
Incredibly nostalgic album. I remember Dad playing this as a kid. It’s dynamic and varied, with tunes for every emotion. Not a lot of thematic through-lines here, as far as I can tell.
Arcade Fire
3/5
Too melodramatic and overwrought, ultimately. There are good songs here, but the palette wears on me in totality.
Standout track is: “(Antichrist Television Blues)” which could honestly be a Springsteen track. It’s wild.
Blur
4/5
This album is iconic. Catchy & danceable. Obviously eternally inspirational to Britpop.
Standout tracks are “London Loves” and “”Girls & Boys”.
David Bowie
2/5
Didn’t love it though I appreciate the lyricism. I find Bowie’s voice to be inhuman ,in a bad way. He’s obviously a genius but I can’t get on board.
Standout tracks are “Changes” and “Song for Bob Dylan”.
Bee Gees
1/5
Sleepy & tiresome. The part of the palette of the 1970s that I despise.
Keith Jarrett
5/5
Listened to this twice while driving back from LA. Astounding live performance (maybe the best I’ve ever heard. Unbelievably dynamic & vivacious. No critiques from me. Couldn’t even fathom one.
Kelela
3/5
Expected a straight forward r&b album but I was surprised by the electronic components. Her voice is sweet and this was pretty nice overall.
Standout track is: “Jupiter”
The Temptations
4/5
Contains all my favorite Temptations tracks, so it has to be my favorite of theirs. The definition of soulful. Dennis Edward’s voice rocks.
Standout track is: “Don’t Let Him Take Your Loge From Me”
Neil Young
3/5
I think Neil’s voice is a little hard to listen to, but I appreciate the dynamism here. Good mix of sentiments here, with great near-ballads and decent bluesy rock tunes.
Stand out track is: “New Mama”
Aerosmith
2/5
Sounds like it belongs in a high school gymnasium to me. Slightly screechy. Decent guitar work though.
Standout track is: “My Girl”
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Truly heavenly harmonies. I do wish I could easily differentiate their vocals (besides those of Young).
One of the better folk albums I’ve heard from this time period.
Standout track is: “Woodstock”
Destiny's Child
2/5
Glitzy, glamorous, and relatively boring to me. I don’t like early aughts R&B too much with the exception of D’Angelo.
Standout track is: “Gospel Melody”
Lucinda Williams
5/5
All time classic. I’m a sucker for country/folk with female vocals, and this checks all the boxes. Amazing singing. Guitar playing that borders on late-90s Midwest emo.
Every song is a stand out.
Gene Clark
3/5
Gene’s voice is so sweet and this album is a lozenge for a sore throat. Though it gets a bit sleepy in the middle, it ends as strongly as it begins.
Standout tracks are: “With Tomorrow” and “Ship of the Lord”
2/5
I can’t abide by that which is clearly inspired by Radiohead. Weak, wavering vocals, anxiety-inducing instrumentation, and an overall terrible time.
The Zombies
2/5
This album sounds like it’s the product of a covert CIA operation to drug the water supply. I don’t understand it. Had to be there, I guess. It’s very unstructured & loose and not that great.
Standout track is “This Will Be Our Year”
John Prine
3/5
An objectively hilarious record. Down home vibes and standard country instrumentation. It’s okay.
The Who
4/5
Enjoyed this much more than “Who’s Next”, despite being less refined. Cool vocal harmonization and a more psychedelic experience. I was blown away by “1921” and is the standout track here by far.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Chill and laid back, with some plunky bass and tasteful sax. Pleasant all the way through.
Standout track is “A Funky Space Reincarnation”
Dennis Wilson
4/5
This record is thoroughly cool & impressive. I appreciate the murkier, bluesier surf rock sound with a little sprinkling of Charles Manson. Very re-listenable.
Standout tracks are “Dreamer”, the title track, and “You and I”
Standout
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
This was a fun mix of the tasteful palette of the 1970s and some old school rock and roll from twenty years prior. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Standout track are: “Run Through the Jungle” and “Grapevine”
The Doors
3/5
Bluesy and fairly catchy. Some excellent guitar solos. Jim Morrison sounds like a pirate which is funny if nothing else.
Standout track is: “Been Down So Long” and “Hyacinth House”
Black Sabbath
3/5
I’m mixed on this one. It’s energetic and impactful, but I find the vocals to be generally too shrill. There is some sweet shredding as well. I laughed when the third track turned out to essentially be an Elton John song.
Standout tracks are: “Laguna Sunrise” and “Wheels of Confusion”
3/5
Can’t believe this amount of soul came from a Slav. It’s quite nice and very danceable, even if Latin and acid jazz aren’t my favorite sub genres.
Carole King
3/5
Hell of a set of pipes. I just don’t enjoy a lot of the textures/instrumentation. Everything is so stripped down.
Standout track is: “I Feel the Earth Move”
Little Richard
3/5
Anything prior to the Sixties on this list is pretty much up my alley. This one too. I can just barely imagine it sounding fresh. Great vocal performances on every song, even if other aspects of the songwriting seem super contrived. I’m sure that’s the Seinfeld effect.
The Everly Brothers
1/5
Ok, this is so melodramatic it’s hilarious. I can’t take this seriously. Maybe I could have if I were a tween girl, but even then…
Grizzly Bear
2/5
For as good as “Two Weeks” is, this album is shockingly incoherent. Mumbly nonsense.
Jethro Tull
4/5
Well here’s an album I’ve played (at least partly). My first show in marching band was Jethro Tull themed. This album is fantastic, nostalgic, and entirely un-skippable. No one else plays flute like Ian Anderson.
The Smiths
4/5
I actually believe Morrissey feels everything he says he does on this album. This ranges quite beautifully from operatic stuff to jangle pop, though some of the Morrissey-isms are quite cringy.
Standout tracks are: “A Rush and a Push”, “Death of a Disco Dance”, and Paint a Vulgar Picture”.
PJ Harvey
4/5
This album isn’t at all what I expected, evocative, and very difficult to describe. I love it though. She channels the spirit of Joanna Newsom.
Standard tracks are: “The Last Living Rose” and “On Battleship Hill”.
Yes
3/5
There was some interesting, forward-thinking material on this record. I love the sampling/looping on “We Have Heaven”, the classical excerpt, the vocal performances, and the groovy bass.
The Beta Band
2/5
This record is a little dark and opaque. I can’t quite put my finger on anything and none of the tracks have really stuck with me after the fact.
T. Rex
3/5
Interesting listening experience, and I think I’ll return to it. I absolutely love the guitar solo on “Monolith”. Expressive and fun vocals.
Standout tracks are: “Monolith” and “Lean Woman Blues”.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
I was bouncing around to this one. Very fun record with consistently great percussion. I also really love rap over guitars.
Standout tracks are: “Raising Hell” and “My Adidas”.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
The title track is quite stunning and the album at large is a bit warm, muddled and blurry. It’s a bit like listening to a cassette tape on a washing machine. I do like it.
Tangerine Dream
2/5
Atmospheric & extraterrestrial vibes. Made for an interesting commute. Not much in the way of interesting melodies or rhythms. Ultimately unmemorable.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
I found this to be a little underwhelming. I guess I'm neither swingin’ nor a lover. It’s all very nice, his voice is smooth, and the band is great, but nothing really captures me and the melodies are so meandering.
standout track is: “Love Is Here to Stay”
Radiohead
1/5
Like petting a hedgehog backwards. Thom Yorke, I hate your contribution to music.
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
Interesting listen. I’d never heard of this group, but somehow I’ve heard many songs from this record. I don’t know how to square this circle. I wonder if they play BVSC on Mexican radio stations. Regardless, I like it quite a bit. Danceable and creates perfect Cuban restaurant vibes. Excellent trumpet and percussion throughout.
Standout track is: “El Cuarto de Tula”
The Flaming Lips
2/5
Rich & effervescent in some places and weak and kind of schizophrenic in others. Wayne’s voice is a bit rough as always, but it works quite well in some contexts. I like the instrumental track “The Observer” and “Race for the Prize”.
Miles Davis
4/5
Miles doing Miles things, plus Evans and Coltrane! What a treat. This is an excellent record that simply doesn’t miss, which is particularly impressive given its Freeform modality.
Depeche Mode
4/5
Much of the record is so much more epic than it has any right to be. Dark, chunky, and cinematic. This is great anti-hero music. “I Want You Now” makes for a thoroughly uncomfortable listening experience.
Standout tracks are “Don’t Let Me Down Again” and “Nothing”. The latter is truly amazing.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Joni Mitchell’s voice has a similar effect on me as Van Morrison’s. Overall, this album is deeply soothing but in an energetic and occasionally frantic way (?)
Decent guitar and horns too.
Standout tracks are: “Court and Spark” and “Car on a Hill”.
Eminem
3/5
As depraved as possible and for that it succeeds. No one really rhymes like Eminem, in both a good and terrible way.
Standout track is “Stan”, a song that eternally defines the relationship between art and consumer. I wish the album had more Dido.
The Temptations
3/5
This short set of tracks is decent but not quite as boogie-able as other temptations records. Love Woke Me Up This morning is truly gorgeous and is the standout by far.
Nick Drake
4/5
Angelic vocals and a strong aversion to choruses or melodic hooks. This is organic & peaceful. Cello Song is literally a perfect piece of music.
The United States Of America
1/5
Literally clown music. It’s truly one of my most hated thus far. Every 60’s psychedelic record this list gives me is worse than the previous.
3/5
Despite my general Bowie-skepticism, this is pretty nice. Soul Love and Moonage Dream create a nice spacey atmosphere. The record kind of falls off in the second half for me, and the Ziggy storyline/concept doesn’t really connect with me.
Dusty Springfield
2/5
A disconcerting album. For some reason I was fully expecting country western, but got some strange girl boss doo wop instead.
It’s pretty dated with poor instrumentation, and certainly not as catchy as a lot of its contemporary stuff. Would not return to it.
3/5
It’s okay, but pretty forgettable. Nice guitar solos & keys, plunky bass, and inoffensive vocals.
Standout track is: Mr. Skin.
Tito Puente
4/5
Awesome. I’m loving the Cuban influence on this list. This record is aptly titled, and the trumpets are piercing and impeccable.
As Whit Stillman says, “The Cha Cha is no more ridiculous than life itself”.
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
Fun, dynamic, and ahead of its time. Cool slide guitar. I shouldn’t expect anything less from Eric Clapton.
Standout track is: “Layla”
Neneh Cherry
2/5
Buffalo Stance is super catchy, but the album in full just reminds me of Prince, random instrumental samples and all. Not super satisfying.
Everything But The Girl
2/5
The definition of elevator music. Totally forgettable. There is some nice acoustic guitar work though.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Intimate, sentimental, and occasionally quite beautiful! This is only the second Bruce Springsteen album I’ve listened to all the way through. The standout tracks are: “Nothing Man” and “Worlds Apart”. Bruce needs to do more vague, mystical, Sting-esque world music.
De La Soul
3/5
Unique record with amazing lyrical chemistry and some cool samples. However, as always, I hate skits on albums.
Standout tracks are: “The Magic Number” and “Eye Know”.
Green Day
5/5
The definition of nostalgia. I remember listening to this with Jeff circa 2001, and it may be the first record I ever listened to all the way through, with the possible exception of the Shrek soundtrack. Incredibly catchy. Best thing ever recorded in Berkeley. Standout tracks are: “Longview” and “When I Come Around”.
LL Cool J
2/5
Some excellent instrumental samples and pretty sick beats. This was definitely forward thinking for 1990, but there are a significant number of skips for me.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
1/5
I can’t stand Rasta culture or its music. Marley included. Weed isn’t a sacrament. Haile Selassie isn’t God. Get outta here.
Lou Reed
3/5
Dynamic. Mindful, emotional, and energetic. I can hear the doo-wop influence. Very impressed, actually, which I can’t say for most Velvet Underground stuff.
The Go-Go's
2/5
The vocal performances are a little all over the place, but it does make me want to take an aerobics class. Mission accomplished I suppose.
Standout track is: “Tonite”
Lupe Fiasco
2/5
I hate Lupe’s voice & intonation, so a few cool bars don’t compensate for it.
Standout track is: “Pressure”
Santana
4/5
This is lively and timeless. I love the sparse vocals, the organ, the guitar work, and the congas. I just think it’s strange that Carlos won’t tell us what the incident at Neshabur was 🤨
Standout track is: “Oye Como Va”
Gang Of Four
3/5
Gang of Four - very cool! This album pumped me up quite a bit and kept me awake on the plane. I like the Crunchy riffs and mosh-able vibes.
Standout tracks are: “Natural’s Not in It” and “Contract”
Taylor Swift
2/5
This was actually harder to get through than I thought. I’ve heard most of these songs in isolation, but in one big lump their repetitive and over-produced nature really wore on me. I like her more recent folksy stuff far more.
Standout track is: “Style”
The Cars
4/5
I didn’t know it until today, but this is one of my favorite album covers of all time. The record itself is extremely tight & cohesive, and seems to have really presaged a lot of 80s rock. It’s kind of unbelievable just how pervasive a lot of these tracks are today. This is going to be in the rotation a lot more.
Standout tracks are: “Let the Good Times Roll”, “Bye Bye Love” and “Moving in Stereo”. The synth in “Moving in Stereo” is one of the most euphoric things ever.
The Specials
1/5
I really am at a loss. I’m not sure what this is.
I was glad to hear some trombone in the mix and was moderately horrified at the rest! It’s like a bad reggae group decided to listen to a bunch of Jonathan Richman and then take some dissociatives.
The Damned
2/5
This record is often noisy in the way I dislike, but there were a few diamonds in the rough. I appreciate the keys on “I Just Can’t Be Happy Today”, the production, and the tight percussion throughout.
Standout tracks are: “Smash It Up” and “I Just Can’t Be Happy Today”
Van Halen
2/5
It’s silly and not something I would typically listen to because I don’t often find myself at the Hard Rock Cafe. I can respect the deranged energy and the lively guitar riffs, however.
Standout tracks are: “You Really Got Me” and “Jamie’s Cryin”
Love
2/5
It’s very earnest, but unfortunately it’s too “Summer of Love” for me - a bit too disjointed and esoteric. I don’t love it.
Standout track is: “Revelation”
Ghostface Killah
4/5
I love Ghostface. My favorite rapper Action Bronson essentially modeled his flows on old Wutang/Ghostface material.
His voice is so cutting and New York-coded. This makes me want to run through a wall. I can forgive the skits.
Blur
2/5
A slightly incoherent album that oscillates between catchy radio-friendly tracks and downright unlistenable/unapproachable ones. This pales in comparison to the last Blur record on here.
Standout track is: “On Your Own”
Leonard Cohen
1/5
I hated every second of this record’s truly sinister vibes. It’s intimate to the point where it makes my skin crawl. Step away from the mic, Leonard.
UB40
2/5
It’s reggae and I can’t say much more, though I do appreciate the inclusion of a little tenor, and the interpolation of moondance is interesting.
Kings of Leon
2/5
What a poor stretch of albums this has been. I can’t stand the vocals on this - shrill, affected & overwrought. Decent instrumentation and production, though.
David Bowie
3/5
This is the best I’ve ever heard Bowie, who I of course don’t typically like. This record has a certain vitality and is quite compact. I adore the instrumental opener and the comparatively less theatrical nature of the whole thing.
Standout tracks are “Speed of Life” and “Be my Wife”
The Go-Betweens
3/5
Fairly generic, but becomes more interesting as it goes along. I appreciate the catchy melodies and jangly guitar riffs.
Standout track is: “Streets Of Your Town”
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Fun but simple rhyming schemes and big boom bap beats. It’s fun but not as fun as their later record we listened to already.
Standout track is: “It’s Like That”
Portishead
3/5
I love the captivating vocal performance here, even if I don’t always love the production or song-writing. At times vibey, cathartic, and unsettling.
Standout tracks are: “Strangers” or “It’s a Fire”
Rush
1/5
Incredibly underwhelming. This record features some interesting instrumental ideas behind an unlimited amount of shrill yelling.
Standout track is: “Tears”
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
This is a very impressive and polished debut record, even if it doesn’t scratch all my itches. I’d prefer if they went full country at the time, because they definitely have the vocals and the storytelling ability.
Standout tracks are: “Simple Man” and “Things Goin’ On”.
Mj Cole
2/5
The disjointed and syncopated aspects of this record are incredibly annoying and disconcerting. I guess UK Garage isn’t my cup of tea. It’s strange given that I generally like House.
Standout track is: “Free my Mind”
Rush
3/5
This is far better than 2112. The palette of the 80’s, with its synths and heavier bass lines suits Rush’s sound much better. That being said, I still don’t love the vocals. YYZ, however, is an absolute masterpiece, and works extremely well in a Marching Band performance, as evidenced by the FHS marching band show circa 2007. It’s highly nostalgic to me.
Joanna Newsom
5/5
So sublime I can’t possibly do it justice in a single review or a collection of tomes. Ys is exquisite epic poetry for our day and the greatest musical contribution of any Californian, living or dead. These tunes flowed throughout the Sierra Nevada for millennia before Joanna captured them in her harp.
No songwriter has ever captured familial love, memory, independence, partnership, and awe with such tenderness or reverence.
I’m still “dumbstruck with the sweetness of being” ten years after hearing this for the first time on Nic’s audiotechnica. It is a flawless album, and my favorite record of all time.
Anthrax
2/5
Certainly mosh-able, but I find the vocals to be weak. 50 minutes of thrash metal is too much for any mortal man.
Standout track is: “Caught in A Mosh”
Beatles
4/5
Iconic and underwhelming. This is a case of generational genius hidden amongst Paul’s “Granny Music”. As high as some of the individual highs are (Something, Come Together, I Want You), they’re inevitably brought down by the lowest lows (Maxwell, Octopus’ Garden, Mr. Mustard). It’s the most schizophrenic great album of all time.
D'Angelo
4/5
This was a staple among the Jazz choir crowd in high school, and Gaesser actually recommended it to me. I still love it.
Smooth and catchy, with impeccable vocals.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Ramble On is such a good song it makes me rank the whole thing highly. It’s good throughout, through. Rockstars have really stopped making LOTR references.
Khaled
3/5
I love the variation on this record in terms of content, tone, and language. The Arabic stuff still hits the hardest. Did not care for his John Lennon cover.
I’ll come back to it. Rai is a cool genre I wasn’t aware of beforehand.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Good but underwhelming. I like the strings, background sax, flute, and the atmospheric vibes. The vocals are strong. Nothing particularly piques my interest though.
White Denim
4/5
Richly textured and easily digestible. I love the prog/blues combination, and need to listen to the rest of their discography.
Standout track is: “Back at the Farm”.
Miles Davis
3/5
Forward thinking, but it’s no “Kind of Blue”. I do like the electronic components, but it’s a little frenetic and unsettling at points.
Standout track is “Sanctuary”
B.B. King
5/5
This is a heater. The vocals are wild and expressive, and the tenors are sweet.
Sweet Little Angel is an unbelievably strong and performance. His guitar and vocal solos on Worry Worry are disgusting in a good way.
Pentangle
4/5
This one is just pretty exquisite. It’s very imaginative and dynamic and sounds a bit like someone introduced psychedelics to a medieval minstrel troup. I love the inclusion of the sitar and some of the jazzy riffs. It’s very re-listenable too as I’ve found.
Standout tracks are: Once I Had a Sweetheart and Sally Go Round the Roses.
Jimi Hendrix
2/5
Yeah, truly not my stuff. Forward thinking, revolutionary, yada yada yada. I dislike this one because there’s nothing I can really grab onto. Everything feels either a little washed out or a bit amorphous.
Standout track is: Come On (Let the Good Times Roll)
Travis
3/5
I’m a fan. This is pretty twee and tightly produced. It reminds me so much of Belle and Sebastian, who came on the scene just five years prior in Glasgow. Couple earworms on this one.
Standout Tracks are: Writing to Reach You and Why does it Always Rain On Me?
Beck
2/5
I find Beck’s vocal delivery to be generally very unpleasant, and the mixing and textures on this are a little busy and frantic. The instrumentation itself is pretty decent, with some classic guitar work.
Standout tracks is: The New Pollution
Wilco
4/5
ALL TIMER. This is so great. I haven’t listened to Wilco much since college, but they are the musical distillation of Americana. It is so sticky and wonderfully textured.
Standout Tracks are: “Jesus, etc.” and
“Poor Places”.
Ray Charles
3/5
This is so cinematic. Soul over big band instrumentation is elite.
Standout Tracks are: “When Your Lover Has Gone” and “Come Rain or Come Shine”
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Like all their work it’s pretty great. Shining Star was one of my favorites from my Middle School ipod nano tracklist and is fun to re-visit. Most of this album is very danceable and belongs on a wedding dance floor. The rest of the slower funk doesn’t hit quite as hard.
Standout Tracks are: “Shining Star” and “Africano”
Iron Maiden
2/5
Grimy, and not in a great way. I don’t generally love the aesthetics, the vocals, or the song writing, but the production is amazing for 1980 and the musicianship is apparent.
Standout track is “Phantom of the Opera”
Love
2/5
I actually don’t hate the palette here, though I’m normally not one for the Summer of Love psychedelic era. I find the vocals a little weak.
Standout track is: “A House is Not a Motel”
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Very well made record. It’s just too sad for me and I’ve never really resonated with Nick Cave’s music.
Elvis Costello
3/5
It’s pretty fun and his guitar playing is nice, actually. I can’t help but feel he’s playing a character but it mostly works. I like the rockabilly influences. Diet Van Morrison.
Standout tracks are: “Blame it on Cain” and “The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes”
Motörhead
1/5
Spotify’s description of Motorhead as “Overwhelmingly loud and fast” is dead on and exactly why I can’t stand this.
Bill Callahan
4/5
I loved it. I can see why Joanna collaborates with him. His voice is dynamic and whimsical in an unexpected way. His songwriting is extraordinary!
Standout Track: “The Wind and the Dove”
Lorde
3/5
I think she’s a strong songwriter and I enjoy the vocals on this one, but I also have a problem with the overworked production.
Standout track is: Homemade Dynamite
The Rolling Stones
3/5
As much as I adore the simplistic elegance of the album art, I think this record is a bit underwhelming. There’s some really great musicianship in parts. Factory Girl features some particularly lovely strings.
Meat Loaf
2/5
I think it’s fun and theatrical, but perhaps a little hard to listen to unironically. He’s definitely got the it factor for the stage
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Pretty fun, danceable record. I love me some synth pop, mate. Simple as.
Standout tracks are: “Hit Music” and “It’s a Sin”.
Ray Charles
3/5
This was nice enough, though I really would have preferred listening to these country standards in country form as opposed to R&B form. I do like the big band though. Quite tasteful.
Simply Red
3/5
Sing it, white boy. I think his vocals are exquisite and the song-writing is tight. This album kind of reminds me of a Jamiroquai project performed by someone with more musical talent.
The Pharcyde
2/5
Decent bars and instrumentals. Annoying skits. I’m beyond glad hip-hop has evolved since ‘92.
Standout track is: “Pass Me By”
Frank Zappa
2/5
This album is fascinating, and I’m not sure what to make of it. His jazz sensibilities are excellent, though I hate the other accoutrements and psychedelic components.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
I’m not a huge fan of trip hop, and thus not a huge fan of this, though it does feature some cool samples and nice vocals, though. I guess I don’t want to hear the XX in the club.
Standout track is: “Flipside”
Hole
4/5
I positively enjoyed this. The instrumentation and vocal harmonies are strong and overall it’s quite earwormy.
Standout Tracks are: “Awful” and “Malibu”
Marianne Faithfull
2/5
I enjoy the backstory to this record but feel like it lacks direction, and the early New Wave aesthetics along with her voice are a tad unsettling
The title track rips though.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Awesome record. Laid back, jazzy, and intimate. I love a calm hip hop record.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
One of the all-time greatest palettes for a jazz album. Simultaneously chaotic & restorative.
Standout track is: “Take Five” and “Kathy’s Waltz”
Alice In Chains
2/5
This sucks. It’s Proto-Butt Rock. I can’t imagine what scenario I would ever play this in.
Pixies
3/5
Generally a great album, with a fair amount of strange quirks, sound effects, and vocal performances that make me question my sanity.
Standout tracks are: “Debaser” and “La La Love You”