344
Albums Rated
3.29
Average Rating
32%
Complete
745 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
How you rate albums
Rating Timeline
Average rating over time
Ratings by Decade
Which era do you prefer?
Activity by Day
When do you listen?
Taste Profile
1970s
Favorite Decade
Punk
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
30
5-Star Albums
13
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
Genre Preferences
Ratings by genre
Origin Preferences
Ratings by country
Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Sex | 5 | 2.74 | +2.26 |
| Entertainment | 5 | 3.25 | +1.75 |
| Channel Orange | 5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
| Neon Bible | 5 | 3.35 | +1.65 |
| Music for the Masses | 5 | 3.38 | +1.62 |
| Blunderbuss | 5 | 3.4 | +1.6 |
| Metal Box | 4 | 2.41 | +1.59 |
| One Nation Under A Groove | 5 | 3.42 | +1.58 |
| Strangeways, Here We Come | 5 | 3.44 | +1.56 |
| Guero | 5 | 3.46 | +1.54 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dirt | 1 | 3.47 | -2.47 |
| A Rush Of Blood To The Head | 1 | 3.44 | -2.44 |
| Dig Your Own Hole | 1 | 3.12 | -2.12 |
| OK Computer | 2 | 4.1 | -2.1 |
| Murder Ballads | 1 | 3.08 | -2.08 |
| Ghosteen | 1 | 2.97 | -1.97 |
| Music Has The Right To Children | 1 | 2.91 | -1.91 |
| Roots | 1 | 2.78 | -1.78 |
| Kid A | 2 | 3.71 | -1.71 |
| Slipknot | 1 | 2.68 | -1.68 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 3 | 4.67 |
| Green Day | 2 | 5 |
| Arcade Fire | 2 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | 5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 4 | 4.25 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 2 | 1 |
| The Chemical Brothers | 2 | 1.5 |
| Sepultura | 2 | 1.5 |
| Radiohead | 3 | 2 |
5-Star Albums (30)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
3/5
I can’t fully take Muse seriously because of how inextricably linked they are in my mind to the Twilight movie. Big stadium sound, almost a rock opera. Giving rock music for theatre kids.
1 likes
Antony and the Johnsons
2/5
Not my jam. I liked the music during Fistful of Love, but overall the vibrato/warbliness did not do it for me.
1 likes
Various Artists
4/5
Is it going to be on regular rotation throughout the year? No.
Is it an excellent Christmas album I will throw on 11 months from now? Definitely.
Festive 🎄
1 likes
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
I like psychedelic rock as a whole and I really like Grace Slick’s voice. Some exceptional tracks and a few meh ones.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (13)
All Ratings
Various Artists
4/5
Is it going to be on regular rotation throughout the year? No.
Is it an excellent Christmas album I will throw on 11 months from now? Definitely.
Festive 🎄
Al Green
4/5
A classic. Soulful. Listened on a rainy drive and the vibes were perfect.
Highlights: Let’s Stay Together (obviously), How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, It Ain’t No Fun to Me
The Kinks
3/5
If there were half stars, this would be a 3.5 for me. Loved the title track. Like the kinks but this album didn’t resonate as much for me.
If I’m going to listen to a 60s concept album, it has to be Sgt. Pepper’s. This doesn’t have the re-playability for me.
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
I’m glad this came up on a day I wasn’t busy because I was not expecting a 3 hour listen.
Her voice is phenomenal but it didn’t feel like one “album” or original work of art, since it’s covering other songs. Don’t love all the source material.
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
Glad this popped up after yesterday’s behemoth. Fun and quick.
Funkadelic
5/5
Was surprised to have to listen to this on YouTube? Not available on Spotify or Apple Music. Fun and groovu
Jack White
5/5
Excellent. Love the white stripes. Love jack white
Electric Light Orchestra
3/5
This would be a 3 1/2 if half stars were here. I didn’t dislike it, but too many tracks for not enough wow factor.
The Who
4/5
Enjoyed this a lot.
Frank Ocean
5/5
This album played at least daily in our college apartment. Still love it as much as I did then. Very nostalgic and I think it’s the best frank ocean album still.
Soul II Soul
2/5
It’s called “club classics” but I would be sad if a club was playing this.
The Who
4/5
Enjoyed it overall. Faster listen than Who’s Next, even if maybe not as many great songs
Elvis Presley
3/5
It’s Elvis. It’s fine. The upbeat songs are a lot more enjoyable than the croon-y ones.
Morrissey
4/5
I love the smiths. I like some depressing Morrissey.
Deep Purple
2/5
I liked playing smoke on the water on guitar hero in 2008.
But dang. This was a lot of guitar solos. A lot of drum solos. I don’t particularly love a ton of 11 minute tracks
Grateful Dead
4/5
I’ve honestly never actively listened to the Grateful Dead. I really liked this album.
Television
4/5
I like 80s alternative and this had that sound. Good album overall
The Byrds
3/5
Sounds kinda like early Beatles. Not bad but nothing really is a stand out track
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I’d never listened to this album through but knew many of the songs already. It’s got some bangers
Nas
3/5
Enjoyed it even if it’s a little one note. Not a ton of track variety. 3 1/2 star feel for me. First hip hop album that’s come up here which was nice for variety
Green Day
5/5
While being very of the time, it still feels fresh. A nostalgic and solid concept album
Elton John
4/5
I think every Elton John song I know is from this album. Fun and a good listen.
Radiohead
2/5
I’ve never been into Radiohead. This did not get me to like Radiohead.
Droning vocals and robot noises over repetitive lo fi music.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
I don’t like bridge over troubled waters but I like all other tracks: Simon and Garfunkel are a solid 4 for me
Miles Davis
4/5
All instrumental. Big band-y upbeat jazz. Each track was really short. A fast and enjoyable listen.
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
Tonight, Tonight, Bullet with Butterfly Wings, and 1979 are songs that are nostalgic just from being someone who has listened to alternative radio for a long time. But I’m learning I really am not into 2 hour albums.
More is not better, just more. I feel very neutrally about this.
Prince
4/5
Very 80s, very dance-y. A fun album.
The only track I didn’t love is All The Critics Love U in New York. That one dragged on a bit. But 1999 is a great song and it was a cohesive album
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Bluesy rock and roll. A very Americana sound for a British band. Not what I think of when I think about the Stones but enjoyed it a lot
Steve Earle
2/5
I didn’t know this artist. Did not know what to expect and then heard the first 30 seconds and thought “oh this is very country.” Country’s not my thing, but it wasn’t too bad. Some tracks I would rate 2, some 3s. Averages out to an overall 2 for me.
Public Image Ltd.
4/5
Sounds kinda new-wave/goth. A little weird and discordant, but in a way that was interesting rather than off putting.
Stan Getz
4/5
Nice instrumental album. Would enjoy listening in a nice restaurant.
N.E.R.D
2/5
The music is okay but the longer I listened the more dumb the lyrics felt. I get the concept of merging rock and hip hop but this did not work like the Linkin Park/ Jay Z album.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Really enjoyed this album. I liked the variety between the tracks. Starts out strong with immigrant song then had some nice more acoustic tracks.
Van Halen
4/5
Aggressively 80s. Exceeded my expectations however. It was fun.
Antony and the Johnsons
2/5
Not my jam. I liked the music during Fistful of Love, but overall the vibrato/warbliness did not do it for me.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
I’m not the hugest fan of 50s rock, but Buddy Holly falls under the better group of this genre.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Kinda indifferent towards this. Not bad but a little more country than my taste
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Enjoyed this. Funky and soulful.
Parliament
4/5
Been liking the funk albums. Didn’t blow me away, but solid and enjoyable. Made doing my taxes today much more bearable
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Had never heard a Dexys Midnight Runners song before other than Come on Eileen. 80s alt vocals over a lot of horns. It’s pretty good
Snoop Dogg
4/5
I love the career trajectory of this man. We listen to Doggyland affirmation song in TK each week.
This album induces nostalgia for summers in college. He performed our freshman year on campus and it was a big deal.
Supergrass
4/5
Had never heard of this band although I immediately knew the song Alright. Fits neatly into my mental category of 90s/00s British alt rock. Felt similar to Kaiser Chiefs or Franz Ferdinand. I have a soft spot for this genre.
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
I like psychedelic rock as a whole and I really like Grace Slick’s voice. Some exceptional tracks and a few meh ones.
Muddy Waters
5/5
Great voice. Bluesy and every song is catchy.
Moby
4/5
An album I listened to many times as a kid and still holds up well
Arcade Fire
5/5
I love this album. Probably my favorite Arcade Fire album. It has such a full sound and no skip tracks for me.
Blur
3/5
This was ok. Pop-rock. Pretty good listen but none of the tracks really stood out to me.
David Bowie
4/5
I liked the acoustic tracks. Good variety of songs and it showcased Bowie’s voice well.
Bee Gees
2/5
Panic at the (lack of) disco. This is not The Bee Gees I want to listen to.
Keith Jarrett
3/5
A nice piano concert. Did not enthrall me, but pleasant.
Kelela
3/5
R&b is not my go to genre. A lot of it blends together for me. She has a nice voice though. It was perfectly nice but I probably will not revisit this.
The Temptations
4/5
A good pairing for Valentine’s Day. Love songs that aren’t cheesy. Heartfelt and soulful. I like the temptations a lot.
Neil Young
3/5
Bluesy country-tinged rock. Could have done without the last two tracks on the album.
Aerosmith
2/5
The music itself is alright. But the lack of lyrical structure gets to me.
Rather than having bridges and a real chorus most of songs have one refrain that is repeated over and over.
It’s exactly what I expected from an Aerosmith album. It’s ok but not my thing
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Exceeded my expectations. Expected more mellow/ all folk and it was more dynamic than I anticipated. Some catchy tracks and good songwriting
Destiny's Child
3/5
It’s objectively funny to start a commercial album with the theme song from a movie. First three songs are absolute bangers then it starts to get repetitive. Overall a *pretty good* listen.
Lucinda Williams
2/5
Very country. Her voice is pretty nice. The first few tracks were not catching my interest. Can’t let go and I Lost It were more my speed. I appreciate this for what it is, but not my genre
Gene Clark
2/5
🤷♀️. This was a big shrug. Acoustic singer-songwriter stuff that seemed rather one note. Didn’t hate it but after listening I remember none of it other than one cover.
3/5
I can’t fully take Muse seriously because of how inextricably linked they are in my mind to the Twilight movie. Big stadium sound, almost a rock opera. Giving rock music for theatre kids.
The Zombies
3/5
Time of the Season is far and away the stand out track of the album. I didn’t mind it as a whole. Quick listen, very 60s.
John Prine
2/5
Pretty twangy. Very country. He literally sings about peaches and Jesus in the second track. Not my genre, but the songwriting isn’t bad on tracks like Paradise and Your Flag Decal Won’t get you into Heaven Anymore.
The Who
3/5
I can appreciate this album as the work of
art it is, even through I think this is my least fav of The Who albums I’ve listened to so far. The Acid Queen and Pinball Wizard are the standout tracks.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Not my all time favorite Marvin Gaye songs, but I really have no complaints. His voice is great and it was a solidly “good” album.
Dennis Wilson
3/5
Another album that was not bad, but did not need to be so long. There were some uptempo songs cushioned by ballads and instrumental pieces. Not objectionable, but not thrilling.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
I always like CCR. Some classic tracks on this album. Solid album.
The Doors
4/5
I love the doors. Solid album. L’america was weird but the rest were great.
Black Sabbath
3/5
It was fine. I like Changes. The album exceeded my expectations (which were not
high), but it wasn’t just the hard rock I anticipated. More to the lyrics than i expected.
3/5
Antropofagos was a fun dancey track, as was abraço. My brain gets rather confused listening to Portuguese because I’m trying so hard to understand what is being said. A pretty good world music album
Carole King
4/5
Did not realize going into this album that there were soooo many of the tracks I already knew. I could probably do half the tracks at karaoke. Very 70s folky pop. I like her voice.
Little Richard
4/5
Not the hugest fan of 50s rock, but this is far better than Elvis. I actually like everything except Tutti Frutti.
The Everly Brothers
2/5
Early 60s pop is very.. ugh. Schmaltzy. Not my jam. Thankfully a very short album.
Grizzly Bear
4/5
2000s indie rock will always hit the spot for me. Two Weeks is the most nostalgic song and the whole album is pretty solid.
Jethro Tull
4/5
Aqualung is iconic. I love the flute on Mother Goose and Up to Me. Feels very ren faire.
The Smiths
5/5
I love the smiths. Several big tracks on this album.
PJ Harvey
2/5
Did I want a Fiona apple-y album about England? Not really. Kinda warbly and not my cup of tea.
Yes
3/5
A perfectly fine classic rock album plagued by a little too many guitar and drum solos. The sound is good, but I just cannot with the 8-10 minute tracks.
The Beta Band
4/5
A pleasant surprise. Didn’t know the band by name but starting listening and went “oh, this song!” Broke was my favorite track.
T. Rex
4/5
I liked the bluesy songs. A pretty good album. Mambo Sun, Jeepster, and Lean Woman Blues were standout tracks.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
A solid early hip hop album. It’s Tricky will always be one of my karaoke favs. I like how the tracks transition into each other like how a dj would mix live.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Kinda vibey but could not understand a single lyric in the album. Is “dream pop” shoegaze? It kinda fell into the background and none of the tracks stood out or were memorable once the album was done.
Tangerine Dream
2/5
It’s.. interesting. I dunno if I like it but it’s certainly different from the albums I’ve been getting on here. Synthy. Almost new age-y.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
For as old as this is, it hold up pretty well. You could play it at a wedding and nobody would complain. Many of the well known Sinatra songs
Radiohead
2/5
I don’t get Radiohead. I do not like Radiohead. This is the second album of theirs on this album generator (and we still haven’t gotten any Beatles??). No tracks stood out to me.
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
I love this one. We listened to this on our friend Puerto Rico trip. It’s a comfort album.
The Flaming Lips
4/5
The Flaming Lips make fun and interesting music. I’m less familiar with this album than Yoshimi but it’s a solid listen. The Gash is a standout track.
Miles Davis
3/5
It was nice. A couple of long tracks (8-11 means each). Did not annoy me the way that super long rock tracks do. I’m probably not going to relished to this album, but I enjoyed it once through.
Depeche Mode
5/5
New wave-y in the best way. A gothy, very 80s alt rock album. I will relisten to this one.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Raised on Robbery and Twisted were the two tracks that stood out as different from the rest. Folky, singer-songwriter stuff. Not bad but a lot of it kind of ran together.
Eminem
2/5
Stan and The Real Slim Shady are excellent. Don’t *love* all the gay slurs on Marshall Mathers or the skit in the middle. It’s very of the time it was produced. Really hated the track Kim.
Idk how I feel about this as a whole
The Temptations
4/5
Some slower, mellow Temptations songs. Pleasant and enjoyable.
Nick Drake
3/5
Nice, pleasant. Sounds like music they would play in a coffee shop so you can study and get work done. Inoffensive and kind of fades into the background
The United States Of America
4/5
Had never heard of the band, and upon googling discovered they only had this album. Explains it.
Similar sound to The Doors or post-India Beatles. Synthy progressive rock
4/5
Another good Bowie album. Mostly upbeat tracks and a fun short listen
Dusty Springfield
2/5
The early 60s ballad-y stuff does not hit the spot for me. I kept looking at the track list and thinking “there’s still this much left?” Each track was mercifully short (like 2-3 min)…but they just kept coming
3/5
Listened to it, definitely not minding it. But later I could not recall what it sounded like. At all. I guess a fine but non memorable experience
Tito Puente
3/5
Perfectly nice. The tracks were kind of similar to each other, but fun and danceable
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
This gives summer at the lake music. Would listen to on a boat. Classic rock.
Neneh Cherry
2/5
The very 90s backing beat grated on me after 20 minutes.
Sounded like shopping in an Old Navy circa 1999.
Everything But The Girl
2/5
A very un-fun 80s album. Had kind of an elevator music/ easy listening sound that did not do it for me
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
The Rising was the standout track on this album.
Rock with undertones of blues and country. It’s got a good sound, but the lyrics felt a little lacking on the album? Fine, but didn’t wow me
De La Soul
4/5
Can U Keep a Secret made me chuckle aloud. Eye Know and Me Myself and I were really good.
A fun early hip hop album
Green Day
5/5
Iconic. This is the Green Day I grew up on. It’s got Longview, welcome to paradise, she, basket case, and when I come around. I’m so excited to see them at Coachella.
LL Cool J
2/5
I can’t take a man seriously who has a self
appointed nickname. Milky Cereal is the worst song I’ve heard in a while.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Has so many of his big tracks. I would love to sit at the beach with a mojito and listen to this on repeat. Excellent start to finish
Lou Reed
4/5
I thought it was funny this came up today because I listened to a podcast yesterday with a guy who wrote a Lou Reed biography. I like the Velvet Underground as well as his solo stuff. This was a melancholy album and good listen
The Go-Go's
4/5
Extremely 80s. Fun female fronted pop. They’re playing Coachella and honestly pretty excited to see their set.
Lupe Fiasco
3/5
Can’t put my finger on it exactly but I’ve never been super into Lupe Fiasco. The album exceeded my expectations but did not wow me. I knew Kick Push and Dreaming.
Dreaming is great but I’m going to attribute that to Jill Scott.
Eh 🤷♀️
Santana
4/5
Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va are exceptional. The other tracks are good. A solid 4 overall
Gang Of Four
5/5
Ooh I love this one. Was trying to categorize the sound and Wikipedia used the term “dance punk.” That’s it.
I like the stripped down sound and focus on lyrics and a heavy rhythm. It’s what I like about bands like the white stripes.
Good start to finish.
Taylor Swift
2/5
Never been a Swiftie and this did not convert me. It’s the most generic pop music.
The Cars
5/5
I love this album. When I got to borrow dad’s Infinity in high school, this and The Long Run by the Eagles were the two albums I listened to on repeat. Great start to finish.
The Specials
2/5
This sounds like if a ska band had a baby with the Defiant Jazz episode of Severance. Confusing sonically. Weird and not in a fun way
Madness
3/5
Why did we get two ska bands in a row? Seems statistically unlikely. Our House is great, the song after (Tiptoe I think ) was good. Had to listen on YouTube so it was hard to tell what track was what.
This was a big shrug 🤷♀️
The Damned
4/5
I’m a sucker for a good punk album. This one is fun. And actually has a vocalist that can sing, which cannot be said for all bands in the genre.
Van Halen
4/5
Big 80s rock. I don’t think I can name a Van Halen song that did not appear on this album. This is what I think of.
Love
4/5
A very quick little 60s rock album. I liked Seven and Seven is and The Castle. Good drumming.
Ghostface Killah
3/5
Have you ever thought “damn I really want a dozen skits in the album I’m about to listen to?” If so, this is for you. Unfortunately I’m not that person.
Some of the in between songs were good, but I never feel as if the skits add to an album
Blur
4/5
I’d never listened to anything other than Song 2 but I was impressed. Grungy 90s rock but a decent amount of range and variety between the tracks.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
People always talk about Bob Dylan’s voice being polarizing but I think the discussion should really be about Leonard Cohen. I feel like I’m being sung to by a vampire.
UB40
3/5
I liked some of the tracks a lot, but the purely instrumental songs became kind of
repetitive/monotonous.
Started feeling like a 4 but dropped to a 3 since only a few stand out tracks for me (I Think it’s Going to Rain Today and Food for
thought).
Kings of Leon
4/5
Never listened to this as a whole album, but many of these permeated my consciousness. Very of the time. I saw them in concert in 2012.
Nostalgic and good
David Bowie
4/5
I like Bowie. Cannot dislike any of his stuff, however the 7 minute space music of Subterrarreans at the end was kind of funny. Makes me feel like I’m in a planetarium.
The Go-Betweens
3/5
Kind of a generic 80s pop album. Did not mind but not going on a regular rotation. Feels like movie soundtrack music: perfectly enjoyable but would distract from what is going on otherwise.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
It’s ok, but do not love nearly as much as Raising Hell. You can kind of tell that it’s an earlier album. The beats on each track feel the same. Not the variety and dynamism of later albums.
Portishead
3/5
Idk if I loved it, but I did not mind it. Kind of ethereal and interesting, but no tracks stood out. I think it was worth listening to as a whole
Rush
3/5
It’s okay. The first track was weird: space noises followed by intense drumming. The slower tracks like Tears were pretty good. On the faster tracks I feel like I’m being yelled at rather than sung to.
A once through I probably will not revisit.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
I enjoyed it. It’s got Free Bird, which is essential. I listened to an extended version with 5 demo tracks at the end, and the demos were honestly my favorite part. Good stripped down versions of the songs on the regular disk.
Mj Cole
2/5
Early (90s/00s) electronic music does not hit the spot for me. The techno/garage-y sound is very repetitive and non interesting.
Rush
3/5
Fine. A musical shrug. Not anything I found particularly interesting nor bad. I have no strong opinions either way
Joanna Newsom
3/5
I don’t love her voice, but I think there’s some good songwriting and harping going on. It’s interesting, would not say great. But I can appreciate this as a work or art.
Anthrax
2/5
I think someone who likes metal would like this, however I do not like metal. I can appreciate this is a good representation of the genre.
Beatles
5/5
Have been waiting for this one. It’s so good. The perfect mix of really lovely songs (Something, Oh Darling) and the really weird (Maxwell’s Silver Hammer, Octopus’s Garden). It starts with Come Together which is in my top 3 fav Beatles songs.
D'Angelo
3/5
Not my go to genre with the neo-soul/r&b but I liked more than I expected. I don’t really have strong feelings about this album (no stand out live or hate tracks) but moderately positive towards it
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Do some of the middle tracks sounds extremely similar? Kind of. Do I mind? Not particularly. I like bluesy rock. And it starts and ends on extremely strong tracks.
Khaled
3/5
Unfortunately do not understand Arabic but there was range shown in the music on the different tracks and this guy seems pretty talented.
Won’t re-listen, but was a good once through and was definitely different than anything I have had yet
Marvin Gaye
5/5
I love everything Marvin Gaye does. First album in a while that finished and I thought “oh done already?”
So good. No notes
White Denim
4/5
Had never heard of this and had no idea what I would be getting into. It was good. Short but interesting. Would probably put on again
Miles Davis
3/5
7 tracks coming in at a 1 hour 45 min run time is diabolical. At least the music is pretty good but damn it was a long listen
B.B. King
4/5
I don’t always love a live album but this was worth it. He’s very talented and his voice translates well to the live recording. All songs were good.
Pentangle
3/5
I liked Cold Mountain and I Saw an Angel because they were more bluegrassy but the first several went for a very medieval sound. The end of the album increased my overall rating.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Not a perfect album, but a thoroughly enjoyable one. The middle tracks blended together a little, but the start and end of the album were very strong. Good variety in sound
Travis
2/5
Pouty sad boy generic music. The songwriting was not interesting and no tracks stood out.
Beck
4/5
Beck has such a distinctive sound. Beck and Cake just make me really nostalgic for the alt rock stations I used to listen to. Some REALLY good tracks but all were decent.
Wilco
4/5
I remember checking this CD out from the public library back when I did that to rip albums for my iPod. This one was not one of my most frequented, but very in line with my taste at the time. Feels like the musical lovechild of The Postal Service and the New Pornographers.
Ray Charles
4/5
I prefer the uptempo jazzy tracks more than the ballad-y ones but it’s overall a great album
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Funky, fun, danceable. Didn’t love All About Love (First Impression) in the middle of the album but the rest is banging.
Iron Maiden
3/5
I’m not a metal person at all.
Was expecting to dislike this and it was actually not bad. I’m not going to listen to this on the regular but as a one off was fine.
Love
3/5
The acoustic guitar is kinda nice. There weren’t any big stand out tracks for me. I listened while eating lunch and it was pretty good but did not wow me.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
This is my first album I’ve given a 1 to. I really don’t like this. It started like someone was storytelling or preaching in the sound bath tent at a music festival. And then became a very long funeral dirge. He talks rather than sings on most of the tracks which I don’t like. All the tracks bleed into each other and I feel like the rhymes are weird and awkward on Hollywood. Not a fan of this.
Elvis Costello
4/5
Got a bunch of the big tracks (Allison, The Angels Want to Wear my Red Shoes) and is mostly fun and danceable.
Motörhead
2/5
Was I in the mood for a 2 hour metal live album? No.
I like my dog way more than I like his namesake.
Not terrible, but def not my jam.
Bill Callahan
2/5
I don’t really know what I think about this one. I felt like his voice was knock off Lou Reed at times.
The lyrics didn’t really do much for me and his voice didn’t have a wow factor
Lorde
4/5
I moderately like this one. I think Solar Power is the superior Lorde album but I enjoyed this as an overall listen. I liked Sober and Supercut
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I like the more bluesy stones stuff. This sound works well for them and I thought it was a good listen
Meat Loaf
2/5
If it’s not Rocky Horror, I don’t want anything to do with Meat Loaf. It’s a lot and not in a way that I enjoy.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
I’m someone who normally likes 80s music, but this didn’t do it for me. The music felt really repetitive and the tracks all blended together
Ray Charles
3/5
I have no idea what country and western have to do with any of this. Was perfectly fine but not groundbreaking
Simply Red
3/5
This was another shrug album for me. I listened while working on report cards. I do not recall what it sounds like later in the day. Fine but not memorable
The Pharcyde
2/5
I hated the first half and liked the second. I think it averages out to a 2.
Oh Shit and it’s jigaboo time are very skippable.
Passing Me By is the standout track for me.
Frank Zappa
4/5
Kinda weird. In a good way. I like the bluesyness on some of the tracks but I would prefer more shorter tracks rather than so few 9 min tracks.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
Sorta dancey. Not groundbreaking for me but feels like 90s Gap/ Old Navy Music. Not bad background music while I cleaned up after graduation
Hole
4/5
We love to see some female fronted rock on here. It’s a good album
Marianne Faithfull
3/5
A bit melodramatic. Her voice is interesting and different. Not going to be a relisten album for me, but was something a little fresh
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
Highlights: Youthful Expression,Mr. Mohammed, Bonita Applebum, and Can I Kick It.
I could listen to Can I Kick It on repeat for 24 hours. Great album. Dancey, good samples. I love an early hip hop album with no skits.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
A very classic sounding jazz album. I like the bass. The piano is nice. Would enjoy listening to this in a cocktail bar.
Alice In Chains
1/5
Perfectly combines two genres I don’t like: grunge and metal. I can see how this is something people like, but I sure don’t. The longer I listened, the harder this became for me. A slog
Pixies
5/5
Ugh this one is so good. Debaser, Here Comes Your Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven, and Hey are my favs but the whole album is fantastic
CHIC
3/5
Not a big disco gal but this was okay. I wouldn’t dance to this in a club, but it was fine to clean out my classroom to 🤷♀️
Michael Jackson
4/5
This is a big separating the artist from the art album. Several bops (PYT, Thriller, Billie Jean, Beat It) and is overall a good album despite everything
The Beach Boys
3/5
I’ve heard a lot about this being such a good album but it doesn’t quite do it for me. It’s fine. The Beach Boys just come across as the most normie 60s band. Still on the love song kick and never quite did the drugs to get to the weird interesting place their contemporaries did
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
I love CCR and this has so many of the tracks I know on it. Good the whole way through
Napalm Death
1/5
I give so many of these albums 3-4 stars that it’s almost refreshing to get something like this that reminds me that there are albums I really dislike.
Felt like a very long 33 minutes. No decipherable lyrics and a lot of Cookie Monster screams.
The Who
4/5
Not my favorite of the Who albums we’ve been thrown so far, but still a solid listen.
Solomon Burke
4/5
This was soulful and really good for an oldies album. Listened right after the Mariah Carey one and was pleased with the more variety showcased here than on the previous
Mariah Carey
2/5
She’s got an incredible voice for sure, but I found it a very boring album. A ballad heavy one toned piece. Listened while running and it was not the right vibe at all.
Butthole Surfers
3/5
This was fine, a little odd. Experimental alt rock and the most offensive thing was the album art. Human Cannonball was the best track
Spiritualized
3/5
N.W.A.
4/5
A good older hip hop album. Ice Cube, eazy e and Dr Dre together is iconic
Germs
4/5
A fun classic punk album. Fast, guitar heavy and a quick listen.
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
It’s ok. Not as interesting and dynamic as a Beatles album and it’s impossible not to compare this side project with his original band
David Bowie
4/5
It’s not my *favorite* Bowie album, but that being said it’s still really good. No complaints and an enjoyable listen, even if it’s trumped by The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust
Solange
2/5
Same thing for me here as the Mariah album, she’s got a great voice but I didn’t love the songs as much.
Exceptional album cover though.
Haircut 100
2/5
Not as fun as want an 80s album to be. Some of the music lent too easy listening and the lyrics felt a little uninspired
Hookworms
4/5
I liked this. Had never heard of them and had no expectations going in, but was an enjoyable alt rock album. Surprisingly unbothered by the 7 min tracks
Beck
3/5
It’s not my *favorite* Bowie album, but that being said it’s still really good. No complaints and an enjoyable listen, even if it’s trumped by
Black Sabbath
3/5
Did not love the intro track, really liked the second. Kept going back and forth between songs that were extremely melodramatic and ones that I liked better. Overall a 3 for me. Don’t hate it, don’t love it
The Style Council
2/5
This was an album with a genre identity crisis. Instead of making them sound versatile, it felt very disjointed. Old school hip hop to break up easy-listening-leaning instrumental jazz is weird
Queen
4/5
A relatively short album with a lot of musical variety. Creative lyrics. Killer Queen and In the Lap of The Gods are the standout tracks. Would relisten
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
Very odd. Interesting and a solid live album, but only one stand out track for me. Nut rocker was extremely fun, whereas the rest was just kinda interesting and different.
Q-Tip
3/5
Really liked the beginning and end of the album. The middle kinda was a dip. Won’t Trade was the standout track for me. Overall like a 3.5 if I could do half stars
4/5
A jaunty Brit pop album. I really like the kinks and this was a fun one. Victoria, Mr. Churchill Says, and Arthur were the highlights.
Arcade Fire
5/5
Arcade Fire always hits the spot. It’s nostalgic and feels like late night driving music. Neighborhood #1, Haiti, Wake Up, and Rebellions are all exceptional tracks.
The Lemonheads
3/5
Musically I like this, the lyrics were a little uninspired. On the faster tracks it was less noticeable but once it got to the demo versions of the songs and it was more stripped back, I noticed it more and felt like the songwriting wasn’t that great
U2
4/5
A solid early 90 alt rock album. One, Who’s Going to Ride Your Wild Horses, and Ultra Violet were the stand out tracks for me.
The Stooges
4/5
Quick listen. Liked it overall, but it did seem to switch vibes between tracks from being more punk and more of just a classic rock sound (almost AC/DC like at times).
Boards of Canada
1/5
This felt like spa music crossed with one of those YouTube lofi study beats playlists. I really struggled to get through it.
Supertramp
3/5
The only song I knew on this album was Dreamer. And the only other Supertramp song I can think of is Breakfast in America. I don’t think of this group much but I actually liked this listen. Dramatic 70s rock but fun and showcased some musical variety.
Much better than yesterdays ambient stuff
Iron Butterfly
3/5
This felt like knockoff The Doors doing love songs. It was okay musically, with a lot of organ but damn that last track went on forever and ever
Coldplay
1/5
I’ve always been a pretty big Coldplay hater. This confirmed it. Putting them on my do not play list at my wedding.
I feel like Chris Martin wants to be Ben Gibbard and make meaningful sad music but he lacks the lyricism. The songs are boring and the rhymes feel juvenile. I really dislike Coldplay.
Ananda Shankar
3/5
This was perfectly alright. Sitar heavy and largely instrumental.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
This list throws out a lot of Led Zeppelin albums. Rightfully so. Several standout tracks: Black Dog, Rock and Roll, Stairway to Heaven and When the Levee Breaks
Harry Nilsson
2/5
This was largely forgettable for me (except for Coconut, which became stuck in my head and I wish I could forget it). Very meh 70s pop
Deep Purple
2/5
It was a fine album for a genre I’m not in to. I can see how people like this if they enjoy a hard rock sound.
Richard Hawley
3/5
A melancholy singer songwriter-y album. Did not mind despite the raspy voice (which I dislike in Leonard cohen situation). The lyrics made up
The B-52's
4/5
A little weird, extremely fun. They have such a distinctive sound on a fun dancey album
Dr. Dre
3/5
Not a bad album for my long run today. A steady beat throughout (which ended up dragging in the middle tracks). Some great tracks (Let me Ride, Nothing But a G Thing). I like the Dre/snoop tracks basically and the rest are alright.
Franz Ferdinand
5/5
SO GOOD. I’m a sucker for 2000s Brit pop alt crap.
Very of the ara of arctic monkeys/kaiser chiefs/ etc. dance-y, nostalgic, and very fun (without feeling dumb)
Blood, Sweat & Tears
2/5
This was musical whiplash. Chaotic changing of genre with almost every track.
This did not feel like a cohesive album to me. It’s not *bad* but it’s certainly bizarre
Beastie Boys
4/5
A lot of albums lull in the middle after a strong start, but this one builds up to increasingly great tracks. It’s got all the songs I think of with the Beastie Boys (No Sleep Til Brooklyn, Girls, Brass Monkey, Fight For Your Right). It’s fun and has great sampling
The Afghan Whigs
2/5
It’s grungy. I love 80s/ early alternative, I love 2000s-10s alt. I don’t love 90s alternative the same way.
This was whiny angry-sadboy music. I didn’t *hate* it, but found it forgettable and not up my alley
Black Sabbath
3/5
Not my type of music, but did not mind. I’m not going to routinely listen to Black Sabbath, but I do feel like after 2 albums I could identify songs of theirs based on sound. They are very distinctive and pretty talented
Bob Dylan
4/5
Sure, his voice is a bit of an acquired taste but damn is he a good songwriter. Sometimes all you need is a guitar, harmonica, and a well written song.
Blowing in the Wind, Oxford Town, and We Shall be Free were my favorites, but honestly liked the whole of it.
Pretenders
4/5
Controversial opinion, but is this pop punk? I feel like it is. Clearly at least punk influenced pop-rock. It’s fun. Catchy and good songwriting
SAULT
4/5
When I haven’t heard of an artist I read the wiki segment and skim reviews to see what to kind of expect. Some of the people on these reviews really tell on themselves here. Y’all are the reason protest albums are being made.
I think it mixed defiance and hope well. Sure it’s long but I think it was an important listen
Fairport Convention
3/5
This was fine. Pleasant. Evoked no big emotions from me. The songs kind of blended into each other. Folky
Pink Floyd
5/5
The production on this album is exceptional. The audio samples and mixing are so good. I typically am a hater of an excessively long album (big fan of a 40 minute album) but I have zero complaints here.
A full sound, huge variety and never gets boring. Still manages to have stand out tracks during a very long album (Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2, Mother, and Comfortably Numb are my most favorite).
This took up a majority of my morning and was well worth it
The Stranglers
3/5
This was alright. Maybe I wanted to like this more than I did? I like punk, I like the 60s/70s weird organ sound (a la The Doors). This tried to be both and was okay but maybe not memorable
Tina Turner
4/5
I had a vague appreciation for Tina Turner before this and quite enjoyed this album. Some great tracks (What’s Love Got to do With It, Private Dancer, I Can’t Stand the Rain, and Let’s Stay Together). Her voice is great and some of the harmonizing really just scratches that itch in my brain. It’s very of the time, but is a solid listen
Iggy Pop
4/5
I like the little Iggy Pop I have heard, and I love Bowie. I enjoyed this collab, particularly for the goth sound. I haven’t gotten a goth-y album from the generator yet and I think was fun
Thin Lizzy
3/5
This was fine but I really don’t know why it’s on the list. A short track-list live album feels sort of random. Knew the songs and the guitar was pretty good. Idk 🤷♀️
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
This was cacophonous and bizarre. I did not appreciate nor enjoy this. I fairly open minded with music but this felt like listening to 4 separate albums through one set of headphones. This felt Lind a anxiety attack
The Specials
2/5
I have a hard time getting down with ska. The tracks felt reparative and it’s a lot of horns. Someone who likes ska would enjoy this a lot, but it didn’t really warm me up to the genre
The Smiths
4/5
Not my favorite Smiths album, but it’s still a smiths album so I don’t dislike it. The title track is my favorite
Tom Waits
2/5
This felt like sitting through a long inside joke that you don’t understand. It’s weird enough to be off putting, and not quite so bad that it’s good.
I really don’t get this
Traffic
3/5
This was a shrug album.
Not bad but rather forgettable. Medicated Goo was the one standout track for me.
Also definitely not a fan of naming your SECOND album after your band? I get the self-titled debut in a pinch, but this just screams a lack of creativity
Louis Prima
3/5
This one got a lot of rave reviews when I skimmed through the reviews. Upon listening I was rather underwhelmed considering how many 5 stars it got. Big band-y with a lot of scatting and trumpet. It was alright
Blondie
5/5
An exceptionally fun album. Lots of standout tracks (heart of glass, one way or another, Sunday girl, I’m gonna love you too). Very engaging throughout. No skip album
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
An exceptionally fun album. Lots of standout tracks (heart of glass, one way or another, Sunday girl, I’m gonna love you too). Very engaging throughout. No skip album
Radiohead
2/5
I don’t get Radiohead hype. I can barely understand what Thom Yorke sings, it’s whiny and warbly and the music is simultaneous boring and trying too hard.
Let Down was the one song I enjoyed here.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
I’m not a big folk/singer-somgwriter listener, but this is a vary nice album. It’s definitely very chill but she’s a great lyricist and it’s quite pleasant
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
I like Belle and Sebastian as a band (but I do feel like their lyrics got weirder and more fun in later albums). A solid debut album that’s a perfect little indie pop moment. Expectations and She’s Losing It were the standout tracks for me
TV On The Radio
4/5
Tv on the radio is one of those peripheral bands for me. I know *of* them and have heard songs on playlists, but never sat through full albums. I like it a lot. 2000s alternative is one of my fav genres.
Moody and catchy. Staring At the Sun and Ambulance were my favorite tracks off this.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Did I mostly enjoy this? Yes. Will I put this on again? Probably not. It’s artsy and weird. I enjoy this as a work of art. The music is varied enough to make up for apple’s tendency to repeat one short stanza over and over rather than have more of a bridge to chorus structure
Prince
4/5
Very very 80s. The second half is really strong, with When Doves Cry, I Would Die 4 U and Purple Rain almost all in a row.
It was fun
Sepultura
2/5
Another metal album that did not convert me to liking metal. There were snippets of instrumental stuff that I didn’t mind, but then the scream-singing would come back. I had to listen to this in two parts. I couldn’t do a straight through listen
Sepultura
1/5
Oh god. How did I get two Sepultura albums in a row? I like this less than the album before as this is even more aggressive and scream-y. I cannot decipher the lyrics at all. It sounds like this emoji: 👹
The album art is great. That’s my favorite part of this.
Talking Heads
3/5
This felt like more of a deep cuts Talking Heads album. They have a very distinctive sound, but I recognized none of these songs. It’s. 3 1/2 for me if half strs worked here. I moderately like it but there weren’t a ton of standouts tracks
Kate Bush
4/5
I like this for the same reasons I enjoy Florence and the Machine. The same dramatic, earthy, witchy whatever.
Hounds of Love and Under Ice are my big standout tracks
GZA
4/5
Old school hip hop is hit or miss for me, but I like this just because it’s so distinct. A hip hop concept album is fun and a bit out of the norm. It’s weird but a good listen
The Chemical Brothers
1/5
I dislike The Chemical Brothers. 2nd album of theirs I’ve gotten on this list and the longer I listen the less I enjoy it. The beats are extremely repetitive.
I will be so happy to not listen to this again.
Elliott Smith
3/5
More range and variety than I expected from someone known for general sad boy vibes. Moderately liked it, even if later i forget what it sounded like for the most part.
A 3.5 for me- perfectly nice, did not make a major impact
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
I’ve seen a graph online that puts music on a spectrum from “Dracula music” to “circus music”. Nick Cave is the most Dracula music. And not in a fun or campy way. I didn’t want him singing an hour of murder songs. Ugh.
Shuggie Otis
3/5
This is if funk, jazz, and elevator music all had a baby. It’s fun at parts and sometimes leans more towards background music. Middle of the road for me.
Queen
4/5
A little eccentric and showcases wide range. Some truly great songs (Best Friend, bohemian rhapsody) and a few that were more skippable. ‘39 was my pleasant surprise track
Culture Club
3/5
Very very 80s. Kind of generic pop. I didn’t dislike it, but not particularly memorable for me other than the obvious hit.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
3/5
There were no standout tracks to me, but I didn’t mind as I listened. If I forget the whole album later, I feel like it has to be a 3. Not memorable for me in either direction
The Electric Prunes
3/5
Highest Bidder and Toonerville Trolley were annoying. Some of the tracks were good. This is another middling album. Redeeming qualities but not amazing.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
Didn’t know what to expect going in but this surprised me. Really liked this album, especially the first track. Lively throughout
Astor Piazzolla
2/5
It’s well performed but not my vibe. First 20 minutes were like a xylophone solo. It felt like a bit a chore to get through the extremely long tracks.
Teenage Fanclub
3/5
Not bad. The music is good even when the lyrics aren’t particularly deep or interesting. I kind of got weezer vibes. Very early 90s alt rock
Bob Dylan
4/5
I really like Bob Dylan. Like a lot more than I realized before doing this endeavor. His voice is an acquired taste, but his songwriting is so good that I don’t even care. I only knew Tangled up in Blue previously, but I enjoyed this whole album.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Idk about this one. A lot of people seemed to love or hate this, but I didn’t feel strongly either way. The music was pretty good but I definitely had a hard time deciphering the lyrics on many of the songs. Revol and P.C.P. were the standout tracks I really enjoyed.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
A pretty enjoyable selection of (mostly love) songs. You are the sunshine of my life and superstition were the obvious standouts. Great voice
Coldcut
2/5
This is not the album I would recommend to someone who is trying to stave off a migraine (as I was today). It was very… noisy.
Air
2/5
This was very mediocre. Vaguely French,
Lightly electronic. Not particularly interesting nor memorable
Leonard Cohen
3/5
I came in with low expectations as I disliked the last Leonard cohen album. This exceeded my expectations and was perfectly alright. Will not listen again, but was fine with a once through
Beatles
4/5
Not my favorite Beatles album, but not my least favorite either. It’s right at the point where they get more interesting musically as opposed to the early 60s love song stuff.
Highlight: Norwegian Wood
Lowlight: Run for Your Life (possibly my least fav of their songs?)
Wu-Tang Clan
4/5
A pretty stellar debut album. I didn’t like the intro/skit part of Method man, but an otherwise enjoyable album. It’s got Wu Tang Clan Ain’t Nothing to F With and CREAM on their first (!!) and those songs are so deeply ingrained in my brain.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
There are a couple of filler songs, but largely an excellent RHCP album. It’s got Around the World, Scar Tissue, Otherside, Road Tripping, and the title track (obv).
I really love this band
LTJ Bukem
2/5
This felt like a homework assignment. I got through it and that’s the best I can say about it. Rather monotonous and overly long.
Robbie Williams
3/5
A rather generic Brit pop album. It was fine, inoffensive, not particularly memorable but not bad.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Excellent. No notes. It remains engaging throughout and I like how the songs blend into each other rather than cutting off between tracks
Roxy Music
3/5
This was okay. Didn’t love or hate it. I didn’t recognize any of the songs and his voice is a little odd, but overall sounded alright musically
Circle Jerks
5/5
This is a tight album. Extremely short. I would always rather a brief album that leaves you wanting slightly more than one than drags out unnecessarily.
A punk album where they can play their instruments. Love it
The Strokes
5/5
This was such an instrumental album in me developing my taste in music as an adolescent. I love it so much. As far as debut albums go, it’s up there with Vampire Weekend self titled as far as number of bangers go. It’s got Last Nite, Soma, Barely Legal, Someday, Hard to Explain.. it’s stacked.
The strokes are incredible live and this is an album that holds up very well over two decades (!!) later
G. Love & Special Sauce
2/5
All the songs sound more or less the same. Try-hard-white-guy-who-thinks-he’s-cooler-than-he-is vibes.
My high school boyfriend really like g love and special sauce. He didn’t have the best taste in music.
Bonnie Raitt
3/5
This felt like if Shania Twain was way more 80s. I didn’t hate it. Pop/rock/country that’s not entirely memorable but she’s got a good voice
Barry Adamson
2/5
I really feel like I did not *get* this. It was ok, but if it’s supposed to be a soundtrack for a movie (that doesn’t exist, which is rather pretentious), I could not make any mental image of this film. It didn’t deliver in the regards for me
The Doors
4/5
This was like if an Americana/blues album was mixed with a psychedelic rock album. It worked pretty well. I have a soft spot for the doors. We listened to them a lot in high school theatre.
Janelle Monáe
4/5
Dirty Computer is the best Janelle Monáe album so I’m really hoping it is in this list. This one is pretty damn good too. I love how her music is simultaneously futuristic and old school
Gil Scott-Heron
3/5
I like his voice and the songwriting more than the music behind it. The drum kit repetitiveness of the second track almost broke me.
Johnny Cash
4/5
I like Johnny cash. As far as a live album goes, this was a pretty good one. They’re always hit or miss for me. This was most of the big hits and overall enjoyable
Beck
5/5
*This* is the Beck I know and love. One of his other albums was previously generated, but this mid aughts is what hits the spot. I listened to a lot of Beck when I was first getting into alternative as a genre in middle school. E-pro, Girl, Scarecrow, Black Tambourine, and Go it Alone are all absolute bangers.
k.d. lang
2/5
This one didn’t quite resonate for me. The songs all sounded kind of the same and it felt like country easy listening. Not what I go for and it never hooked me. Ehhh 🤷♀️
Devendra Banhart
3/5
It was just okay. I didn’t mind the light folky indie music but it definitely lent into the cursive singing/indie songwriter sound that gets old after a while. It was fine for a once through but I will not revisit.
Metallica
2/5
Objectively, they are good at what they do. I just really don’t like it. Metal does not do it for me. 2 stars for talent, but I’m not going to listen again
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
A perfectly listenable indie album by some British band I have never ever heard of. Idk if this counts as something influential or
Important enough to be on this list, but it’s completely alright
Django Django
3/5
Skies over Cairo and Default are the standout tracks.
Not bad, but kind of feels like a watered down Animal Collective. It could commit to be being a little weirder and more fun. Very listenable but a lot blends together
David Bowie
3/5
Is this my least favorite Bowie album so far? Yes. Is it bad? No.
Still very listenable but does not have the *star quality* of the others
Beastie Boys
4/5
I love the Beastie Boys. It’s fun, good lyrics, and the beats have some good variety. Standout tracks are Sure Shot (what an opener!) and Sabotage. I like that although there are many tracks, it was tight and just under and hour
Ray Price
2/5
This did not catch my attention. The music is alright but the twangy old-country singing ruins the vibe for me. The songs blended together and it didn’t hit the spot
New Order
3/5
A moderately good album that exists in between pop, new wave, and synthy 80s genre less stuff. The middle of the album was better than the first two tracks, but it was in the in between space between good and blah
5/5
I’ve listened to this one many times through and will listen again. It’s a concept album that actually works. It has all the things the Beatles do (the ballads, the fun upbeat ones, the India-inspired, and the plain weird ones). The only song I dislike is Being for the Benefit of Mr. kite, but it can still get 5 stars
Peter Gabriel
4/5
He’s got a good voice and it’s generally soothing and pleasant with a few standout bangers. Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes are excellent
Pulp
3/5
Distinctly British and pretty listenable, although only Common People was memorable by the evening after listening to it hours prior. It’s like a c+ album for me, good not great
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Good songwriting and a hell of a voice. Thoroughly enjoyable. No notes
The Soft Boys
3/5
A perfectly fine album that I didn’t find particularly noteworthy. The abundance of extra tracks added nothing.
The National
4/5
This very specific era and genre is nostalgic and I can’t help but to like it. This, like The Airborne Toxic Event’s self titled and Give Up by the Postal Service are those melancholy indie albums that would be great to cry to on a rainy winter day.
Björk
3/5
I appreciate this for being interesting, avant-garde and very different from other albums on this list. I don’t know if I like it, but I can acknowledge her artistry
OutKast
4/5
A teeny overlong. Could cut out the skits and interludes without affecting the overall album. But some truly great tracks here. Ms. Jackson, So Fresh and so Clean, BOB, and Call Before I Come are all fantastic. Andre 3000 is such a talented and interesting musician
Wire
4/5
I like how punk albums never overstay their welcome. Quick and punchy. Couldn’t understand the lyrics particularly well but it was pretty good
The Cardigans
3/5
I like having a female fronted alt album, just wish it did a little more. Only Lovefool remained in my memory after listening, and I just don’t love that single. Meh
Led Zeppelin
4/5
I don’t think this is my favorite Led Zeppelin album I’ve encountered so far, but it’s still extremely well done. No standout song as they all kind of flowed into each other, but enjoyed throughout
3/5
If you told me this was what was spit out when you asked chat gpt to make a generic 80s album, I would believe. Incredibly generic sounding music.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
It’s chill and nice. A pleasant country-songwriter-y album. It didn’t stand out to me, but Emmylou has a nice voice
Fats Domino
2/5
Some old albums feel timeless but this just felt kind of old. 50s music is not a preferred genre for me. The lyrics are kinda simplistic and boring
Iggy Pop
3/5
Lust for Life and Success are the standout tracks. They are coincidentally the two upbeat tracks. The rest is ok, but kind of one-note
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
An inoffensive instrumental jazz album. Nice to listen to while I walked, but did not find it particularly memorable
Stereolab
2/5
This was weird. And not fun weird, just not up my alley at all. I don’t like 90s electronic music with the repetitive beats, and I couldn’t understand the French lyrics. As far as French electronic goes, I think I’ll stick to just daft punk.
ZZ Top
4/5
Did I learn today that I like ZZ Top? Yep. Never would have thought to listen to them, but this is a solid classic rock album.
Aphex Twin
3/5
This was ok ambient soundscape-y stuff. I liked this more than I was expecting, but will not revisit in the future. It’s moderately interesting
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
This is not my most favorite RHCP album, but it does have my favorite song of theirs.
Under the Bridge never gets old. A solid listen
Frank Sinatra
2/5
It’s pretty one note and I didn’t like it that much. I can appreciate its musical significance, but it feels very much like old movie-soundtrack music, and 50s crooning does not do it for me. Too much easy-listening or lounge music feels grating at a point. The songs all sound pretty much the same.
The Black Keys
5/5
I loved this album back when it came out and I still love it. The bluesy rock is great and there are so many tracks that stand out.
Talking Heads
4/5
The talking heads are good-weird. There are albums that are just odd, but this is fun odd. This made my housecleaning considerably more enjoyable
Stan Getz
4/5
This exceeded my expectations and I actually really liked this. I think I generally prefer music with lyrics.
Would like to listen to this at a beach bar.
Michael Kiwanuka
3/5
I loved the first two tracks, then became a little ambivalent as the album went on. Not bad, but it kind of faded into background music as I cleaned up my classroom at the end of the day
John Martyn
3/5
Totally fine to listen though, but it made no lasting impression. A day later I could not identify any of those songs as familiar
The Modern Lovers
3/5
This was okay. Upbeat, relatively British rock. There weren’t any standout tracks but I enjoyed a once through
David Bowie
4/5
A short and sweet Bowie album.
Loved the second track. Good overall
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
It’s a Bob Marley album. His songs all vaguely sound the same, but in a relaxing way rather than an annoying way. I know what I’m getting into and zone out. Idk it’s good
Slipknot
1/5
Yet another instance of listening to something I am not into on my run while traveling. It’s extremely more runnable than say the Mariah Carey album, but I like it even less.
I’m grateful that I will probably never have to listen to this again.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
This is no Rumors. This a perfectly fine (if maybe slightly bland) Fleetwood Mac album. Not as much feeling as I would expect.
The Cure
3/5
If half stars were possible, this would be a solid 3.5 for me. It’s moody and good, but doesn’t quite have a wow factor. Enjoyable once through, but no really stand-out tracks
Doves
3/5
An ok album that I do not remember much of the day after. Background music for my email reading after work yesterday. 🤷♀️
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
I don’t get it. The music feels like what you would get it you let kids play with the things they find in a Home Depot. With German sung/spoken over it.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Kinda groovy. Easy to listen to. All the songs sounded vaguely familiar but not sure if I actually knew any of them. A good listen
Sister Sledge
3/5
This is a relatively good album for a genre I’m not into. I don’t love the long disco tracks but it’s not *bad*
The Saints
4/5
I’m a sucker for a good punk album. And this is. Short punchy tracks and they can play their instruments and sing. All I want
Talk Talk
3/5
Eh it’s not bad but not particularly memorable. Kind of poppy for new wave. No standout tracks that I either loved or disliked.
R.E.M.
4/5
R.E.M. have such a distinctive sound. I don’t know *that* many of their songs names, but you could put on anything from their discography and I could identify it as an REM song.
This has seeped into my subconscious because of growing up with my dad’s music playing. It’s pretty darn good
Big Brother & The Holding Company
4/5
I put this on without looking at any info about it. On the second track I thought huh this sounds like Janis Joplin. Third track I knew it was.
I learned today that she was in a band before going solo.
Some good songs. Bluesy and psychedelic. Some tracks drag on in a way that would be fun live but not as great recorded
1/5
Is this the worst album I’ve heard on this list yet? No.
Would I ever listen to it again? Also no.
I was going to be generous with 2 stars until the absolutely insanely long outro that brought it back down
Dwight Yoakam
1/5
I don’t love twangy old country. I don’t like this guys voice. Combined with the not great songwriting and the multiple songs about killing his ex, I am very happy to be done with this and not revisit
4/5
An enjoyable indie rock/ songwriter-y album. No tracks that I disliked.
Heaven 17
2/5
I generally like 80s music, but this felt veryyyy produced and synthy. I felt like I got the point by the 3rd song and it just kept going and going
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
It’s exactly what it sells itself as. A whole lot of bongos. Not what I would ever choose to throw on for casual listening, but it’s well done 🤷♀️
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
I love this album so much. Kendrick’s been showing since the beginning that he is a real artist. He is a great lyricist and has range. This album has all the party songs we listened to in college (Swimming Pools, Bitch Don’t Kill my Vibe, Backseat Freestyle, and Money Trees) but also gets vulnerable with Poetic Justice and my underrated fav The Art of Peer Pressure. I love Kendrick Lamar. This is a great album
Robert Wyatt
2/5
I don’t think I *get* this one. I could not understand a lot of the lyrics except for something about spiders understanding arachnophobic people.
It’s definitely artistic, sounds different than many of the 60s/70s rock albums that we get so many of. I’m just not sure I’m the target audience for this.
Goldfrapp
3/5
I see the vision here, but I don’t think it’s quite for me. Felt very ghost-cabaret.
It succeeded at being kind of weird and vibey, but will not be entering regular rotation for me.
Kings of Leon
4/5
I like early Kings of Leon before their sound became a little more poppy and produced. Red Morning Light and Molly’s Chambers are excellent
Herbie Hancock
3/5
Funky and very jazzy. Did not mind it, but didn’t love it. I really prefer to listen to music with lyrics. If that makes me uncultured, so be it.
Spiritualized
2/5
Just kind of ambient music? I liked this more than the other Spiritualized album that I listened to from this list but it managed to evoke almost no feelings from me.
KISS
3/5
My hot take: these guys would not be widely famous without the makeup. They seem like a very average rock band. Not bad, but definitely not too special 🤷♀️
Iron Maiden
3/5
It’s very dramatic. The guitar is good, and I like a metal album where the lyrics are decipherable. I’m not going to casually put this on, but it’s almost campy so I don’t mind it
Minor Threat
4/5
Yet again, another brash short punk album. I’m a huge fan of an album that leaves you wanting more as opposed to drawing it out.
Not my favorite punk album, but it’s very easy to listen to to
Sonic Youth
4/5
I love a danceable alt album. This is like listening to the best garage band that could perform in someone’s basement. Would pair well with crappy beer in a red solo cup. I like how it switches between the male and female vocalists. Mary-Christ was my standout track
Eurythmics
4/5
I liked this a lot more than I was expecting. The titular track was the one I previously knew, but most of the others I like more. Some varied instruments and it’s the kind of fun 80s I enjoy
Sex Pistols
4/5
I love the existence of a band that can’t really play instruments. Truly nothing more punk.
I was listening to a podcast about Sid and Nancy the other day and it feels like the universe rewarded me with putting this on two days later. It’s great,
Eagles
4/5
It borders on almost easy-listening, but it has some solid songs that make up for the very gentle country-rock. Take it Easy and Peaceful Easy Feeling are obvious hits and I really loved Nightingale
The Police
2/5
I really do not know what I think about this one. Synchronicity 1 I really disliked- almost no lyrics and really repetitive. Walking in Your Footsteps was weird with the dinosaur stuff. Didn’t like Mother.
King of Pain and Synchronicity II are good.
Idk we can average this out to a 2.
Elton John
3/5
Elton John always feels like background music to me. It’s chill, just a guy with his piano. His voice is good and the songwriting is pretty good. I would really give this a 3.5 but since there weren’t stand out songs, this will be a 3 for me
The Divine Comedy
2/5
This was a sentimental and not particularly well written album. Short but felt like it overstayed its welcome.
Liz Phair
3/5
Perfectly listenable but didn’t wow me. Since it was on the riot grrl playlist I was expecting more alt-rock, rather than the singer-songwriter vibe. Not bad