334
Albums Rated
3.21
Average Rating
31%
Complete
755 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
1950s
Favorite Decade
Jazz
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
30
5-Star Albums
4
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penance Soiree | 5 | 2.5 | +2.5 |
| Kenza | 5 | 2.58 | +2.42 |
| Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury | 5 | 2.88 | +2.12 |
| Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes | 5 | 2.94 | +2.06 |
| Fire Of Love | 5 | 2.99 | +2.01 |
| Talk Talk Talk | 5 | 3.03 | +1.97 |
| The Trinity Session | 5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
| Elastica | 5 | 3.21 | +1.79 |
| Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman | 4 | 2.23 | +1.77 |
| The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady | 5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Fat Of The Land | 1 | 3.41 | -2.41 |
| Shaft | 1 | 3.24 | -2.24 |
| Led Zeppelin | 2 | 4.1 | -2.1 |
| Purple Rain | 2 | 4.02 | -2.02 |
| At San Quentin | 2 | 3.8 | -1.8 |
| Abraxas | 2 | 3.72 | -1.72 |
| 1999 | 2 | 3.6 | -1.6 |
| Morrison Hotel | 2 | 3.59 | -1.59 |
| Here's Little Richard | 2 | 3.57 | -1.57 |
| Bookends | 2 | 3.56 | -1.56 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 2 | 5 |
| Bob Dylan | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Isaac Hayes | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (30)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Cowboy Junkies
5/5
This was an awesome companion while taking a long walk on the first hit, sunny day of the spring in North Dakota. Super laid back, with beautiful vocals and an excellent band. I will return to this album for a relaxing setting, and put some songs on a relaxing playlist.
1 likes
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
This was pretty boring. This type of music is pretty popular now as background noise on playlists with names like 'Deep Focus' or 'Music to Study To'. Maybe this was interesting in 1995, and I will say it's a step above and more thoughtful than a lot of what you'll find on those playlists, but I still don't know if there is anything exceptional about it. unless these are the first people to ever make music to study to?
1 likes
The Icarus Line
5/5
I am loving this album. It’s noisy but precise. It reminds me of a lot of early 2000s rock such as The Stroke and QOTSA, but it’s consistently better throughout than the albums I’ve heard from those bands. Crazy these guys only have 1,700 monthly listeners o ln Spotify at this point (many of them people from this project no doubt), but considering they don’t exist anymore there’s no reason for any promotion.
1 likes
Otis Redding
5/5
I love this. My favorite type of music to come from the 60s and Redding is so good.
1 likes
Tom Waits
3/5
It was good. Different but not unpleasant. I was entertained.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (4)
All Ratings
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Some good songs. More of a range than I thought. I don’t love the sound of the recording, very compressed vocals. But I like it more than I thought. Never Going Back Again is super corny and out of place. The Chain is a surprise as a good song. I’m sure I’ve heard it before.
Arctic Monkeys
3/5
Pretty standard sounding early 2000 British rock. Aggressive, a lot of minor songs, a lot of drinking and girls. A lot of songs sound the same. Riot Van sounds like an heavy influence for the band Easy Life. Not my favorite although I do like a number of later songs by this band.
The Prodigy
1/5
First impression… this is not for me. Mix of hip-hop and industrial EDM. Sounds incredibly dated to me. I can see people who were into this kind of industrial music loving it in the same way I love Youngblood Brass Band because I like brass bands. Serial Thrilla sounds more like Beastie Boys but not good. Narayan sounds like it could be acceptable in the closing credits of a gross and unsatisfying horror movie. Mood: crabby. However this is a mix of almost every genre and sound I don’t like.
Meat Loaf
4/5
Bat Out of Hell is a very fun song. Love the spoken word part. I can see where Creeper gets their influence…. Same tone of voice and everything. Heaven Can Wait is not that strong. Paradise is awesome. Overall, a fun listening experience and a cool rock opera.
Boston
5/5
I really like this album. Peace of Mind is one of my favorite choruses of any song for some reason. This album makes me feel like I’m in a bar and I love it. They have such good little harmonic moments. This album might actually make it into my rotation.
Nirvana
3/5
I’ve heard these songs so many times. Don’t think I’ve ever listened to the full album but it’s really hard to focus on them as I’m so used to them being background music. Ok I haven’t heard a lot of these songs but I don’t like them that much. On A Plain is pretty cool.
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
Industrial rock but not nearly as sucky as The Prodigy. Not sure why this is better. I still don’t like it very much. Hurt is great. Why are they looping screaming crowds? Not cool. Not for me. Hopefully I get out of the 90s soon.
Burning Spear
3/5
First track is cool. Not something I’d listen to or even come across if not for this. Tradition sounds like they had fun performing. Good, laid back sound. Nothing standing out as a track I might go back to, outside of the title track, Marcus Garvey.
Doves
4/5
Really like this sound. Sounds like a lot of bands I like mixed together - Coldplay, Cinematic Orchestra, Foo Fighters, Badly Drawn Boy. It has all the early 2000 sounds and I’m surprised I’ve never heard of them before.
Massive Attack
2/5
I’ve never heard melancholy record scratches before. Not an album I enjoyed but I also listened on a Monday morning, which is probably not a good time to expose myself to unfamiliar things. The Big Wheel might be something I’d go back to.
4/5
Na Neblina is cool. I like the combo of Latin rhythm and electronica. Not a lot of notes about individual songs, but I love the energy and overall sound.
The Police
2/5
Getting weird with new wave. It’s not a pleasant listen. Synchronicity II is good but the bridge is a bit droney. I thought I would be bored by Every Breath You Take because of how many times I’ve heard it, but I’m really liking it. Not sure if it’s because it’s that great or if it’s like an oasis amongst the rest of the tracks.
Motörhead
3/5
I don’t hate it. I like the energy. It seems like something that would be better experienced in person packed with others compared to listening whilst drinking coffee and checking emails early in the morning. No Class is catchy. I ended up liking this more than I thought I would. Great energy and a decent recording even if sound quality wasn’t high.
Sly & The Family Stone
2/5
I lack historical and musical awareness to appreciate this. I’ve heard Everyday People and it just doesn’t resonate with me. Sex Machine is making me laugh.
Gene Clark
4/5
I like it a lot. I’ve never heard of this guy and it sounds a lot like something I would enjoy if a modern day bluegrass-influenced musician would release. The first two tracks are really good. May return to this one.
Steve Winwood
3/5
Track 1 is really good. Synth sounds sound like something that would come on a very inexpensive toy keyboard. Some decent moments. Not a favorite. 2.5 rounded up because of track 1
Nick Drake
3/5
Pink Moon sounds like a Laura Marling song and it’s good. He seems like a thoughtful guy. A guy with a guitar is likely not going to be fascinating upon first listen. The lyrics seem good when I catch them.
The Jam
2/5
There are some albums that I’m sure were “ahead of their time”, but now that we’re after their time, they sound unimpressive. I think I lack the context for this one because it sounds like forgettable Brit-rock.
Johnny Cash
2/5
Johnny Cash has never appealed to me. San Quentin is cool to hear when he’s singing it to the inmates.
Björk
3/5
I like the sound of this. It’s Not Up To You is a good song. It’s a difficult listen on first try but not unpleasant.
3/5
The most 60s British album I’ve ever heard, and I like it? They’re not all winners.. Drivin just came on. Nothing really stood out. Victoria is catchy, but probably nothing I’ll return to.
Thundercat
4/5
This is starting out delightfully strange. This is my jam. Loving the electro bebop.
The Pretty Things
3/5
I’m trying to think what it is that bothers me about 60s psychedelic music. I think I’m too far removed from that culture to understand it. Also, growing up in the 80s and 90s, this is the sound we were rebelling against. Also the sitar and pan flutes… not pleasant in any generation of pop music. However, this album is slightly better than most I’ve heard on this journey. Still incredibly British, and to me that is derogatory when it comes to 60s music.
Derek & The Dominos
2/5
Didn’t get through it. Wasn’t feeling it.
Kid Rock
1/5
Just no.
Al Green
3/5
Sweet horns. I sort of like it. Nothing that jumped out to me that I really want to go back to.
Baaba Maal
3/5
It was pretty interesting. Would not have listened to it. It reminded me that this guy recorded with Mumford & Sons and I like that song. I don’t know, hard to have an opinion for something other than “yeah I listened” Didn’t hate it though.
R.E.M.
3/5
Liking it more than I thought I would. I’ve never loved this band but I know all the songs are decent. To me the sound is a little to stiff and plodding. Nightswimming is great.
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
These guys are badasses. Such a cool sound. Listened while I was biking and it was a perfect companion for that. Interesting and energetic.
Wilco
2/5
Wilco always bores the pants off me for some reason. I have never been able to get into them. I’ve seen them in concert twice and nothing. I thought this would be a good chance to give them another shot.just doesn’t connect with me. Too mellow.
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
First time I’ve heard any of these songs except Band on the Run. That song is ok. Nothing else really stuck out to me but it was hard to give it my all today. 2.5 ⭐️ rounded up for Beatles.
3/5
First three songs are great. Haven’t heard much of the rest before now. Red Hill Mining Town is decent. Overall, I retain my original feeling of U2. I really like some of their songs, but not a band I would spend time getting to know the entire catalogue.
The War On Drugs
4/5
Definitely a slow burn, but a pleasant one. The songs go on and on, and then you realize you’re kind of into it. An Ocean In Between the Waves has a very slow build up and rocks for the last few minutes. I’m enjoying it as an album, but so far there are no singles I would stick on a playlist. Songs are more introspective and long. 3.5 ⭐️
The Pogues
4/5
They do good work. It’s fun and he has the best punk voice. Probably not anything I’ll be adding to any daily playlists, but it was enjoyable.
5/5
I’m familiar with the singles on this, and love them all. I’m excited to listen to the rest of the album. So far Hello and Roll With It are great. Don’t Look Back in Anger is one of my favorite songs of all-time. All of these songs are good. Great album.
David Crosby
2/5
Not heard any of these before. Music is Love is very easy listening. He thought he was onto something with Cowboy Movie? 7 minutes of a 37 min album. Liking it more than I thought I would. Song With No Words is putting me to sleep. Three decent songs early and the rest were pretty tame and uninteresting to me.
Love
3/5
Pretty straightforward. I liked the horn sound on a couple tracks. The lyrics struck me as pretty corny a number of times. Just from a different time.
The Stone Roses
3/5
I like the sound. It has aspects that remind me of every decade from the 60s through the 90s. I think if it listened to this a few times I would really like it.
The Damned
2/5
There’s something about early British punk that just doesn’t click with me. A few of the songs have a good sound. These Hands is terrible. Anti—Pope is solid. There are a handful of different sounds on this album. Smash it Up Pt 1 is good. 2.5 ⭐️
Everything But The Girl
3/5
The lyrics are pretty good. The music is… there are a lot of sounds and stuff. Not my favorite thing. Starting to think it would be embarrassing if you were British and released an album between 1967-1995 and it wasn’t on this list. Wrong is a decent song. Don’t think I’ll be returning to this one.
The Libertines
2/5
It’s pretty ragged sounding. Sometimes this can be endearing. This is right on the edge and alternates between “unrefined but energetic” and “these guys are just bad at singing and playing instruments”. The Man Who Would be King is decent. Road to Ruin is ok. I just don’t enjoy any of their musical ideas. This is not for me. 2 ⭐️
The Black Crowes
4/5
Good album. I like their sound.
The Strokes
3/5
I liked it... I'm familiar with a couple of songs but haven't listened in a long time. I love their angular guitar and bouncy bass sound. Not as strong as later albums, but enjoyable.
Lauryn Hill
4/5
I loved the latin-influenced beats on this album. Lauryn's voice is also super good, and the harmonies are so cool. It was a little long but I was never bored. Liked this way more than I thought I would.
Michael Jackson
4/5
This is a classic. One of my most listened to records from my youth. Human Nature is the standout on this album to me.
Isaac Hayes
1/5
I've listened to a third of this about three times and I just can't listen to more at any one time. There's no way I've listened to this whole album and this is the first time I'm not finishing one. I just can't.
D'Angelo
2/5
Some cool sounds. The term in the Wikipedia entry of “producer-driven R&B” describes both the sound and why it doesn’t appeal to me very well. I don’t know the history of the song Cruisin’, but I do know I dislike it in every iteration I’ve ever heard it. The songs with a walking bass and piano are kinda decent.
Simple Minds
2/5
Pretty forgettable. Nothing grabbed me, but again I’m half listening at also digesting the terrible news we are bombarded with each day, so it has been difficult to be in a mindset to be open to new old music.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Some pretty parts, some slow parts. His songs have always sounded a bit plodding and rigid to me. It is definitely an identifiable sound.
James Brown
5/5
This is very awesome. The band has such good energy and the sound is great. It captures the energy of the crowd as well.
Tom Tom Club
3/5
On, On, On, On… is a cool song. The lyrics seem like the strong point. I’m not able to place myself in the time where the sounds of this album are anything except silly. Some of the lyrics indicate that is intentional.
The Zombies
3/5
Mixed feelings on this one. Time of the Season is a great song, but totally different than the rest of the album. This is my least favorite genre of British music. Despite that, many of the songs were catchy even with the random chunky chordal progressions that I typically dislike.
Abdullah Ibrahim
4/5
There are some really beautiful melodies on this album. I love the ensemble that was put together. I had never heard of this before now but I am glad I’ve listened to it.
Simon & Garfunkel
2/5
Watching the Blue Jean Committee episode of Documentary Now has ruined 60s folk for me. This is just too corny for me.
King Crimson
3/5
I don’t hate it. Some cool ideas and sounds. Some horrific sounds and tedious parts as well. Overall I liked it more than I expected after the opening 3 minutes.
Black Sabbath
4/5
I’ve never listened to this and was lukewarm on Black Sabbath coming in, but this is pretty sweet. My favorite British album to date from this journey.
Deep Purple
3/5
Exuberant, if not super interesting. The last 3 tracks really stand out on this album. I understand this is early metal. I recently had Black Sabbath, and this band is not at their level, but still enjoyable
David Bowie
3/5
Not a Bowie fan, not a Bowie hater. This was entertaining at the very least. I definitely thought it sounded more 'American' than other songs I've heard by him, and after reading the Wikipedia article, that is the intent. Decent album. Didn't love any single song.
King Crimson
3/5
Unlucky that I just had their other album 4 days ago. It seems that the parts where they’re playing “traditional” rock are much better and tighter. Their progressive digressions seem to have become more indulgent and boringer.
Bob Dylan
5/5
I’ve never sat down and listened to a Dylan album. Tangled Up In Blue is a great opener. The whole album is pretty good. He had a great melodic sense, good lyrics, and a great accompanying band. Simple but effective. Shelter From the Storm is another highlight. Pretty good album.
Morrissey
3/5
I really don’t like the sound of this album. It’s a little muddy and hard to hear anything that is going on. There are a few songs where I can’t tell if he’s being ironic or just a huge jerk. Probably would have been more obvious in the context of the time and knowing more about him. A couple songs are nice. This might grow on me with a couple more listens, but I likely won’t do that.
Butthole Surfers
3/5
I’ve never listened to much by this band. It’s pretty fun and playful which I appreciate. The O-Men is enjoyable. I like the fever-dream aspect of it. 22 Going On 23 is pretty haunting.
Otis Redding
5/5
I love this. My favorite type of music to come from the 60s and Redding is so good.
Sonic Youth
3/5
It is interesting but not necessarily enjoyable. Mote is decent.
Neil Young
4/5
This is the third Neil Young album I've listened to. I now expect that his albums are instantly accessible and well-made. This one sounds more jam-bandy than previous ones, but I like it. He's just good.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Liking this. I’d never heard of her, but some nice funky and bluesy guitars, some good melodies. I’m surprised this is British.
The Icarus Line
5/5
I am loving this album. It’s noisy but precise. It reminds me of a lot of early 2000s rock such as The Stroke and QOTSA, but it’s consistently better throughout than the albums I’ve heard from those bands. Crazy these guys only have 1,700 monthly listeners o ln Spotify at this point (many of them people from this project no doubt), but considering they don’t exist anymore there’s no reason for any promotion.
Liz Phair
4/5
I like this sound and feel. Great mid-90s throwback that I haven’t listened to before. Good lyrics. Some nice melodies as well.
U2
3/5
A lot of how we experience music is based on things we cant always control, like our stress levels, sleep levels, open-mindedness at the time. Whatever it is for me today, this one is feeling like a chore.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
I’ve never sat down and listened to an entire Joni Mitchell album, and this was a great experience. Very beautiful both lyrically and musically.
Marianne Faithfull
3/5
No real thoughts on this. It was decent. Nothing jumped out as super interesting.
TV On The Radio
4/5
I like this. They incorporate sounds from a lot of genres, and most songs are pretty interesting. Pleasant surprise.
Linkin Park
4/5
Wow, I did not expect to like that! I kind of rolled my eyes when this came up, but the songs are so darn energetic and catchy. I wouldn’t mind if some of these start showing up on my Spotify playlists.
Lenny Kravitz
2/5
Half star for sax solo on Let Love Rule. I’ve never been a fan of Kravitz. Coming in, I’ve always thought his brand of rock was very bland and although I’m trying to approach all albums with an open mind, this album has not changed that opinion.
Einstürzende Neubauten
2/5
Going to force myself to sit through this and try to keep my mind open even though it is currently screaming at me to cover my ears.
It’s atmospheric. It sounds like I’m in a horror movie. I will never choose to listen to this again, but at least it’s different.
Björk
3/5
I want to like this more than I do. It’s very well-produced and there are some nice sounds. Definitely whimsical. Ooh, saxes on Aeroplane. That was the highlight track. Probably nothing I will return to. Violently Happy reminded me of Suba, who I’ve only heard from this. Ok Anchor Song brings back the sax trio and is good.
Coldplay
4/5
I was familiar with a lot of the songs on this album. There were a couple I really liked that I hadn’t heard much before. Politik and Amsterdam were my favorites. Overall I really liked this album.
The White Stripes
4/5
Some total bangers on this album. These guys rock pretty hard and I enjoy most of the songs.
Bad Company
4/5
I was not expecting to like this so much. I recognized a lot of songs, and the singers voice is so great. I just love this basic sound.
Kraftwerk
3/5
This is better than I thought it would be after the opening track. These guys seem like total weirdos but I like it.
The Yardbirds
2/5
This is like two different albums… the blues songs are decent. The other songs are incredibly corny. They seem like decent musicians, but I am definitely experiencing 60s British psychedelic rock fatigue. I can acknowledge that they’re good but also that I don’t enjoy listening to it.
Janis Joplin
4/5
Really fun album. She has such an expressive voice, and the band was energetic.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Another great soul album from the 60s. I always love them.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
I like this album far more than her first album. I love the Motown sound, and this version of it really grew on me by the end. I'm sure this album would grow on me if I gave it more listens. I found myself severely rocking out (nodding my head at my computer) to He Can Only Hold Her.
Slipknot
4/5
This was unexpected and exhilarating! For some reason I've really been liking heavier music lately, and this was great. Such precise rhythms and arrangements. Really well-produced because despite the wall of sound, you can clearly hear every part, including understanding the words of the vocals. It's angry music and maybe... everything going on.. is making this appeal to me more lately. Anyway, loved it.
Tom Waits
3/5
It was good. Different but not unpleasant. I was entertained.
Iron Maiden
3/5
I've really been into guitar rock/metal lately so I thought I would probably like this album. I didn't like it, and I think the reason is that it sounds way too perfectly-produced and tame. It's not raw or energetic, which is what I enjoyed about a lot of the classic metal I've heard on this list so far. Still not terrible.
Fiona Apple
3/5
There are some really good songs on this album, and I’m positive if I listened more, I would grow to like them more. This style just isn’t in my current listening tastes.
Hugh Masekela
3/5
Solid album.
Donovan
2/5
First song (title track) is a blast from the past. Track 2 is not good. Ok every song has many tropes of 60s British music I don’t like - sitar, bingos, harpsichord, tangerine eyes.
The Band
3/5
Likes: laid back. Sounds like a bunch of friends jamming. Decent harmonies.
Like less: instead of sounding like a mash up of genres, it sounds like they don’t know what they want to sound like. Some of the instrumental breaks aren’t very interesting. Some sentimental songs that were cloying.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Instrumental parts are decent. The lyrics are corny. Good background music. I’m not a fan of this type of funk. It was better than Shaft though.
Cream
3/5
I liked it. This is the first 60s British album I’ve heard from this that had enjoyable instrumental parts. Clearly because of Clapton.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
These guys are better than most of the music I’ve listened to from this era. Some of these songs are great.
Bee Gees
2/5
Some of the musical ideas are good. The lyrics are not my thing. If I ignore the lyrics (which I am), it’s a pleasant listen. Further listening is revealing some truly terrible songs (Seven Seas Symphony, With All Nations… seriously what were they doing?).
Todd Rundgren
2/5
Not enjoying this. My favorite song is Slut because it’s fun and kinda rocks. There was a LOT of filler on this album.
Beyoncé
3/5
Some of the singles are good. Not a type of music that I have a lot of experience listening to so I don’t have any opinions.
Queen
3/5
I’m only familiar with Queens hits and have never listened to an album by them. I love their hits. These aren’t hits. The Loser in the End is good but doesn’t sound like Queen. Ogre Battle is fun. Ok the songs are getting better and better as the album goes on. A lot of the Queen flourishes are present.
Paul Simon
3/5
I enjoyed it. Kept me company while I was cleaning and was the perfect type of music… well-written and performed, pleasant, light rock. Liked it more than I thought I would.
Elastica
5/5
First time listening to them and I really liked this album. I loved the guitar tone and the vocals. They have an easy intensity where the band sounds completely locked in and relaxed, but at the same time it rocks pretty hard. Good discovery for me.
Little Richard
2/5
I know it was revolutionary at the time. He is energetic. Not that interesting to me now.
Can
2/5
Definitely not my cup of tea. I should be better about figuring out what I can like about this sort of music instead of trying to put into words what I don’t like about it. But I just don’t like it enough to do that. Anyway, it’s always good to expand horizons even if it kinda sucks at the time. I’m sure I’ll tuck this away somewhere and it will add context to something else or at least come in handy at trivia. Aumgn is the most interesting one on the album so far.
Yes
2/5
Second 70s prog rock album in a row. This genre will just never be for me. I appreciate being exposed to it. Everything is helping me contextualize a lot of music throughout eras. I will probably never listen to this again.
The Cardigans
3/5
Pretty solid.
Neil Young
5/5
This was awesome. I’ve heard a few of the songs, but never consciously listened. So many good songs!
808 State
4/5
Never heard of these guys before this. I didn’t like the first song, but the sound settled in for me and I ended up liking it. Kind of hypnotic. I don’t think I’ll listen to it much after this but it was enjoyable.
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
Incredibly competent and tasteful musicians. Never setting a foot wrong. Some nice jams in here.
Eminem
3/5
A lot of the humor is at the level of a gross 13 year old, but some of it is clever despite that. I enjoyed a handful of tracks on this, but cringed at a lot as well.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
I liked this better than the earlier album by him.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
This was really good. I wasn't sure after the first song, but I loved the wall of fuzzy guitars and the feel of the sound. I'm definitely going to listen to more of this band.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
3/5
Fun mix of a ton of different styles. I enjoyed it.
Solomon Burke
4/5
Liked this a lot. Not too frantic, not all blues, good voice, good backup singers.
G. Love & Special Sauce
3/5
Thought I would like it more. I love their groove and I love all of the songs that I already knew by them. Just not in the mood at time of listening.
Le Tigre
3/5
That was a fun album. I really liked the energy and vibe. I wasn't able to lock into the lyrics that much.
MGMT
4/5
This is the first album I’ve gotten that I had already listened to because I liked it when it came out. I haven’t listened in years, and it’s still really good. Kids is a great song, and there are a lot of other strong ones. I forgot how much I like Pieces of What.
Queen
3/5
‘39 is one of the better songs I’ve heard by them that Freddie isn’t the main singer on. Some of these songs are not my thing. The Prophets Song is overly indulgent and uninteresting. Nothing great outside of Bohemian Rhapsody.
The Beta Band
2/5
This is not resonating with me at all. I’m not a fan of the vocal style and everything feels so bland.
Belle & Sebastian
2/5
I’m not a fan of the lazy enunciation and low-energy vocals. Makes it sound like the singer is bored and uninterested. The band arrangements are pretty decent. Some of them are even catchy. They are trying a lot of different sounds.
Isaac Hayes
2/5
I’ve never been a fan of this type of music, and this did not change my mind. To me it is more concerned with the vibe, which is cool, but this vibe doesn’t resonate with me.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
3/5
Never listened to these guys before. I like it. It’s kind of unhinged and energetic.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
I liked this quite a bit. I like mid-tempo electronic music, and this had some good beats and some good melodies. I'm interested to listen to their earlier stuff to see why people were so excited about this comeback album.
Gorillaz
4/5
I really like this. Good beats, lots of different styles, laid back but interesting
Randy Newman
3/5
Not terrible. I like it musically. I like songs based on characters.
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
Music is like language… we’re well-versed in our native language and might have varying levels of awareness of others. This is an interesting mash up of blues music, of which I’m familiar, and West African music, which I know nothing about. I’ve enjoyed this, and sometimes the blues is incredibly front and center, and sometimes it’s barely there and I’m not sure what’s going on. But that makes it a unique experience
Haircut 100
4/5
This is actually good! 80s British pop that’s pretty far to the right on the funk spectrum. And it’s good funk! Super surprising. Strong instrumentals.
Joy Division
3/5
I liked the band… instrumental was good. Didn’t like the singer and not the most melodic, but pretty good for a British band from the 70s.
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
First time listening to her and I liked it for the most part. The upbeat songs had a nice sound and reminded me of The Thermals. Very thoughtful lyrics. I liked Three Babies and The Emperor's New Clothes.
Cowboy Junkies
5/5
This was an awesome companion while taking a long walk on the first hit, sunny day of the spring in North Dakota. Super laid back, with beautiful vocals and an excellent band. I will return to this album for a relaxing setting, and put some songs on a relaxing playlist.
Radiohead
3/5
I’ve never listened to this album but have heard enough praise for it to know there is something there. I do think there’s a lot of meat on these bones that would be rewarded by multiple listens. I’ve heard a lot of Radiohead songs that I like, but I’ve never gotten hooked enough to really dive in. Glad I listened to this.
Kraftwerk
2/5
Sort of cool. I would never choose to listen to it casually. Interesting to read the history of the album and how influential it has been. If I want to sit completely still, unblinking and pondering the point of existence, I might throw this on.
Madonna
4/5
Like a Prayer is such a great song. Some other great songs on this album as well. Madonna is one of my favorites from the 80s.
Cypress Hill
3/5
Very cool beats. I’ve always liked G-Love and the Special Sauce, who I now realize is very heavily influenced by this. This is one of the reasons I’m enjoying this journey. Just a fun group.
Elvis Costello
2/5
This sounds like something I would like if I were my current age in 1977. To current current age me, it’s sounds like a multi-layered throwback… 50s music from the 70s. I like music from both decades, but this seems to combine the types I don’t like from each… 50s white guys in suits rockabilly with flat 70s new wave production. The Wikipedia article describes exactly what this reminds me of… a data entry clerk writing rock music.
UB40
3/5
Enjoyable reggae album. Good grooves. Didn’t listen too closely to the lyrics. Some of the harpsichordy synth glisses were unpleasant.
Taylor Swift
4/5
I liked this album. I've not listened to an entire album by Swift before. I like almost all of her radio singles. The non-radio singles were mostly strong, but by the end, the last three felt like just a bunch of 'Taylor Swift-isms' thrown together and they weren't as strong as the rest of the album.
Cyndi Lauper
5/5
Hadn't listened to a lot of these songs, but they're mostly great! For some reason, Time After Time is one of my favorite songs ever. I also really liked Money Changes Nothing, She Bop, All Through the Night, and I'll Kiss You. She's a really energetic singer and the songs are 80's pop perfection.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
I have mixed feelings on this one. I just don’t know the guys intent enough. If it is earnest, then it’s really not good. If it’s tongue-in-cheek, then it’s slightly better. The instrumental arrangements are mostly basic and don’t add much, his voice is not good, and the lyrics are corny. As a satire of a crooner from the 50s, it’s not bad. As an earnest work of art, it’s somewhat endearing but kind of a mess.
Aerosmith
2/5
Aerosmith are just so generic. There are a handful of songs by them that I’ve enjoyed, none on this album.
Johnny Cash
3/5
This is pretty mixed. Some hauntingly beautiful arrangements, some incredibly awkward. Cash singing earnest love songs just doesn’t work. Imight be me projecting, but songs like Bridge Over Troubled Water and In My Life sound about as convincing as an average karaoke performance.
Beck
4/5
I've never listened to Beck. I've heard a lot of his music and have always placed it in my 'not interested' bucket. This is the first full album I've listened to, and I really liked it. I didn't associate this sound with him, and I know this might be a rare sound for him, but it was a pleasant surprise. I might return to this one.
Van Morrison
4/5
This was pretty awesome. Great voice, great band, great songs. The Way Young Lovers Do was my favorite on first listen, but I will likely go back to this one.
4/5
Super interesting album. Energetic and chaotic. I really liked it, and I know I would have loved it if I had known any of the Ornette Coleman charts they were riffing on. I just love saxophones and these guys are virtuosos. Had to listen on YouTube and got some jump scares from the commercials.
The Clash
3/5
I can see liking this as a young person from Britain. It's totally fine punk, which is more about the message than the music. The message of this isn't relevant to my time or place. I have my own punk albums from my youth that I will always love.
The Smiths
2/5
The guitars are more jangly than I thought they would be. I really dislike this guys singing style and melodic lines. The lyrics are decent but this was a huge slog, and getting lectured at because this guy doesn't think meat is tasty is a bad closing track.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Not my jam, but I didn’t hate it.
Jimmy Smith
3/5
Very solid. Pretty cool. Definitely a master of the genre. These early albums always sound pretty straightforward but there is beauty in their simplicity. It's not actually simple at all but it sounds effortless.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
The Rolling Stones are a band everyone has heard of. I've always had them categorized as 'ok but not my thing' so it's hard to see past that. I thought the straight up blues rock songs were all filler. There were a handful of songs that I liked a lot despite not wanting to like them. Mick Jagger is just such a friggin weirdo. But there is some good stuff here even if I'll probably not go back to it much.
The Beach Boys
4/5
I don't think I had ever heard any of these songs, but there are some real gems on here. Interesting reading the context of this album (at least as explained by Wikipedia). This direction definitely seemed to be a marketing direction, and it's impressive how well they pulled it off.
Michael Jackson
3/5
I was a little disappointed by this. The first two songs are great, but the rest of the album never reaches those heights. Still, he's a great singer and they are decent songs, but I was looking forward to discovering that all of his songs were hidden gems, and that wasn't the case.
Amy Winehouse
2/5
She has a great voice. The music is half jazz and half R&B, and to me it's not an enjoyable version of either of those styles.
David Bowie
4/5
This is my second Bowie album. The first was Aladdin Sane... this is so much better. Changes and Life on Mars are obviously classics and the rest of the songs are good as well. Strong album.
Marvin Gaye
2/5
I know that a lot of people use music and art as therapy. But I feel like a therapist listening to this. I am imagining the recording engineers giving each other concerned glances as Gaye is stream-of-consciousness mourning the end of his marriage. I'm sure he earned this given his success and that this is his 15th album or something. Not enjoying it.
Sade
2/5
This never grabbed my attention. I think it might be the high point of a very specific 80's sound... at least I have it pigeonholed in my head. It's like they had a very specific idea of what 'cool' sounds like, and they bought into it and performed it over and over.
Metallica
4/5
This album was ok. A lot of the songs sounded similar, but it is such an energetic and driving sound that it was always interesting. This would be 3 stars, but Orion is worth a star by itself. What a great instrumental.
Dire Straits
4/5
This was a pleasant surprise. I've heard Sultans of Swing but I wouldn't have known who had performed it. The guitar playing on this album is great. I'm a sucker for good guitar work, and I enjoyed the guitars on pretty much every song on this album. The songs are simple and the arrangements are clean. Just excellent guitar playing. Very easy to listen to and enjoy.
George Michael
2/5
I had only heard one song from this album, Freedom!'90, and it's catchy but over 6 minutes long. After listening to this and reading about it on Wikipedia, it's interesting. It sounds like Michael was trying to take a turn as a more serious artist and didn't want to promote or tour for this album, and then was mad that his label wasn't promoting it enough? Judging by the music, it just doesn't sound like there is anything that would have been a hit, and overall it's kind of somber and self-serious. I don't hate it, but there's nothing that I would go back to.
The Band
3/5
This is the second album I've gotten by The Band. I thought the other one was a little more varied. This one has a more defined sound, but many of the songs sound the same. The Weight is obviously a hit, and none of the other songs raise to that level IMO. However, it's a solid album. I Shall Be Released kind of stands out as the one howler.
Eric Clapton
2/5
This is pretty uninspiring stuff. One of the weaker albums I've heard on this journey. The vocals are not convincing, and Clapton's guitar is super understated.
Grateful Dead
3/5
My first time ever listening to a Grateful Dead album. It was better than I had expected. This is my kind of music. Good harmonies, good instrumentals. I don't think sitting in an office at a computer is the ideal place to listen to this, but I still enjoyed it. I'm not going to dive into their catalogue or start watching live performances, but I understand slightly better why some people love this band.
Hanoi Rocks
4/5
This was pretty good! I had never heard of these guys but really enjoyed it.
Prince
2/5
Add me to the segment of listeners who just doesn't get Prince. I've seen recordings of live performances, and he is electrifying. Truly a great showman and guitar player. I can't say that I enjoy any of his studio singles. I had never listened to a whole album before this, and this did not change my mind.
Big Black
4/5
I really liked this. Raw, energetic, crunchy. Good guitar sounds.
Sister Sledge
3/5
This was a little better than I was expecting. I'm not a fan of this funk/soul, but this was catchier and less repetitive than most so far. Not bad!
Marty Robbins
4/5
Wow, very pleasantly surprised. Great harmonies, great lead voice, catchy melodies. I was worried it was going to be all old-timey.
De La Soul
3/5
This was a fun album. Upbeat vibes, mostly lighthearted songs. Good samples and beats. Enjoyable, would definitely throw it in the mix for an outdoor gathering playlist (if I did stuff like that, which I don't).
Death In Vegas
4/5
I really liked this and I don't know why. Good groves, like a mix between EDM and guitar rock, which I really enjoyed.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Obviously a great album. Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows are two of my favorites.
The Specials
3/5
I ended up liking it more than I thought I would after the first couple of songs. Some great bass lines. I like ska, but really know nothing about it's history so I was surprised to hear a 70's British ska-revival band. Enjoyable listen.
The Smiths
3/5
I ended up liking this despite not being excited about it once it started. It won me over... yeah the guy is mopey and sometimes it's not fun to hear someone whining about stuff when you're in bad mood, but the music is pretty good.
Khaled
5/5
This was awesome! The music was so good. There were so many influences from all over the world, and it was all really well done. A few songs that I added to my playlists. I very pleasant surprise.
N.W.A.
3/5
It is energetic and youthful. It was never intended to be appreciated by a 40-something white guy from the Midwest. Glad I listened to it.
k.d. lang
4/5
What a pleasant surprise. This is a very mature-sounding and tasteful album. She has a great voice, and the grooves seemed pretty Latin-inspired to me. I'm positive if I listened to this a couple of times, I would completely love it.
Funkadelic
5/5
Holy moly. This was awesome. I have not enjoyed any of the 70's funk that I had listened to through this list, so my expectations were low. Track 1 was amazing! This sounds like a mash-up of funk and rock. So good and a great surprise.
Herbie Hancock
4/5
Chameleon and Watermelon Man are great. The other two are probably great as well, I'm just not as familiar with them.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
I drifted in and out of this. Sometimes I got really into it, and sometimes it was more background and didn’t grab me.
Metallica
3/5
I respect them. Good sound and I was surprised how many songs I was familiar with from this album.
TV On The Radio
5/5
This is the second album I've heard from them on this list, and I like it even more than I liked the first one. Really interesting and creative, good harmonies, good lyrics, each song is unique. I just really like the sound of these guys.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Some fun songs early in the album. Started to fade near the end. The beat-boxing was just uncomfortable. But, overall, the hits make this album.
Rush
4/5
A lot of gems on this album that I was already familiar with but hadn't listened to in a long time. These guys have the impressive ability to write a catchy tune and also perform it with virtuosic technical skills without it seeming like they are only showing off how good they are.
Giant Sand
4/5
Very nice surprise. I loved the lo-fi sound, the understated vocals, and the tinny guitar sounds. Sounded like the guy was barely singing but still had some good melodies and a flexible voice. Definitely a hidden gem I would never have found without this project. They add up!
Erykah Badu
2/5
I didn't really like this. I didn't like the vocal effects, and the beats didn't resonate with me. This falls on the side of soul/r&b that I don't enjoy but it's hard to say exactly why. I think it's because the beats are '"jazz-inspired" but not all that interesting or complex.
Talking Heads
2/5
Not into this. I haven't read anything about it and probably don't understand the context. As a listening experience there is nothing I particularly enjoy about it.
The Psychedelic Furs
5/5
This was great! Heard of the band, and probably have heard Pretty in Pink, but I really liked most of the songs. I can totally hear their influence on a lot of more current bands that I like. It Goes On is an instant playlist add and a total banger.
Chicago
2/5
I thought I would like this more than I did. I like the hits of Chicago. This was long and kind of bland, with nothing that stuck out as catchy as any of their hits.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Great album. The band is so good, and each song is interesting musically and lyrically.
Kate Bush
3/5
I liked it... different and pretty creative. Theatric arrangements. I started listening to it on the day it was first assigned to me, and I knew it was good but I was super tired and knew I wouldn't be open to it, so I saved it for when I knew I would be more receptive. Glad I did that.
Silver Jews
3/5
Pretty enjoyable listen. They sound like pavement with less distortion. Some of the lyrics made me laugh a little. I like the sound, the guys voice has the perfect detached irony that fits the time/style.
Ice Cube
2/5
Some of the messages age incredibly poorly (misogyny) and some are just as relevant as ever (racism, abuse of power). Energetic, some cool beats. Nothing I'm likely to come back to.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Solid all the way through. Didn’t hit me like the last Neil Young album did, but still a lot of good songs. All good, but nothing jumped out
George Jones
4/5
I liked it. Simple songs performed well. This is the sound that a lot of country artists I enjoy base their sound on. Very few capture the effortless bouncy twang. Just needs a single kind of clever phrase, and that’s the base for a nice two minute song.
Mercury Rev
3/5
Nice discovery. There were moments where I was completely transfixed, and moments where I was bored or annoyed (Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp). Some really good instrumentation and moments throughout the album. Probably 3.5.
The Killers
5/5
I love this album. Every single is great. I haven't listened much to some of the songs, but they're all good Killers songs. Mr. Brightside and Smile Like You Mean It are two of my all-time favorites.
Britney Spears
3/5
There are a couple of really good songs, a couple that are kind of catchy, and a handful that are pretty generic. Not a bad album. I remember thinking I was too old for it when it came out and I was 20.
Metallica
3/5
I didn't like this as much as Master of Puppets. One is a good song, but the rest of them sounded repetitive and are more aggressive than I like. This is my third Metallica album out of 200 which seems like a lot.
David Bowie
3/5
My third Bowie album and the least interesting of them. Nothing grabbed me on this one.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
My first exposure to Nick Cave. I really liked it for a first listen. There were a few songs that grabbed my attention instantly - 'There She Goes, My Beautiful World' and 'Supernaturally'. It was a long album and they didn't all grab me, but I think if I listened more, they would grow on me.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
A few moments that I thought were cool, but not a lot. I’m also tired. 2.5
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
4/5
I enjoyed this and listened to the entire album. I love this kind of music, and I liked hearing the musicians making small-talk between recording. A pleasant way to pass a couple of hours.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Not really my thing. I liked their debut album a lot more than I liked this one. Compared to the Metallica album I just listened to, there is a lot more musicality and variance which I like, but nothing grabbed me.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
This was actually quite good. I've never been a fan of the Rolling Stones but this album sounded more like a southern blues rock album. Good harmonies and guitar work. Pretty sweet.
AC/DC
3/5
My first time listening to an entire AC/DC album. Yep, it sounded like AC/DC. They have a sound and they stuck with it. It's fun and energetic and definitely has its place.
Joy Division
2/5
This is one of the most sullen and depressing albums I've heard. The synths are kinda cool but the singer sounds like a priest stumbling his way through some invocation. Not my thing.
M.I.A.
3/5
Very cool beats. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. I wish there were half star ratings because 3 is pretty much the catchall for everything that I don't love or hate. This is a 3.5.
Bob Dylan
4/5
My second Dylan album and I liked it almost as much as the first. Definitely some great songs on here. Some misses as well, but they were all worth listening to. I don't know anything about Dylans timeline, but this was 1963, and my previous album from him (Blood on the Tracks) was from 1975 which is a lot of time for a musician to be writing and releasing great music. The latter was clearly more polished and had a band.
The Cure
4/5
I love the soundscape these guys create. The only other full album I've listened to by The Cure was their new (2024) release and I really liked that one, but I assumed it was a change in direction after mainly knowing their singles. After listening to this all the way through it makes me realize they've always had that sound. Contemplative and interesting throughout.
The Verve
2/5
This is an incredibly non-descript mid-90s guitar rock album. I love 90's guitar rock and this sounds like the band that would open for whichever band I wanted to see. There were maybe two moments where I was kind of engaged, but overall it's just SO bland and unenergetic.
Beatles
5/5
It's the Beatles and it's great. Not a huge number of hits like many others, but still a handful of all-time great songs.
The Offspring
4/5
This is my comfort music. I don't listen to this a lot these days, but I love these guys. One of the best 90's rock/punk bands that existed. Every song is a banger. I haven't sat down and listened to an album of these guys in a LONG time and my only thing is it's a lot of relentless sound! But it's good noise.
Prince
2/5
This album has the only two Prince songs that I sort of like - Purple Rain and When Doves Cry. He's a great guitarist and charismatic performer, but his studio albums don't do it for me. The songs are so frantic.
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
This was pretty boring. This type of music is pretty popular now as background noise on playlists with names like 'Deep Focus' or 'Music to Study To'. Maybe this was interesting in 1995, and I will say it's a step above and more thoughtful than a lot of what you'll find on those playlists, but I still don't know if there is anything exceptional about it. unless these are the first people to ever make music to study to?
Pixies
5/5
Such a great album. I love the unhinged energy of the singing. Every song on this album is good, and it’s the first time I’ve listened to it all the way though.
Charles Mingus
5/5
Great album. First time listening to it, but I love the Mingus big band albums. So creative and raw. The arrangements are so interesting and varied. A lot of ideas going on at any given time... some built upon and some just passing thoughts.
Coldplay
4/5
This is a really good album. Melancholy, with cool guitar parts and good vocal melodies. So many good songs on the album.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
A handful of decent songs. I thought I would like it more than I did.
Pearl Jam
3/5
I don't hate all of these songs, I've just never 'loved' them. Out of all of the 90's bands that still exist in one form or another, I've never been able to figure out why this is the one that people go crazy for and spend $500 to see them in huge arenas. I just don't get it.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
This is my second Springsteen album in three days. This is far better than Born in the USA. A lot of genuinely good songs on this one.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
3/5
Some very beautiful songs on this album. If I listened to this a few times I'm sure I would grow to love them.
John Lennon
2/5
This was pretty terrible. I feel like at this point he was so far out of touch with a normal human experience that none of his songs make sense. They're also not good musically.
Traffic
3/5
Not terrible, not great. Seemed like a middle of the road jam band.
Portishead
3/5
I liked this quite a bit. Very cohesive sound throughout the album. Atmospheric, contemplative, and sophisticated. Probably won't add anything to a playlist, but it is great working music that seems to have a good amount of depth were one wanting to dive into it.
SZA
3/5
I'm too old and too white for these lyrics to resonate with me, but I thought the beats and music were quite good. Mostly chill and pleasant-sounding.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Catchy, energetic, poppy rock music. It's a fun album, and the last two tracks, Hysteric, and Little Shadow, show some range to perform songs that are quieter but still engaging.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I sort of liked it. You Can't Always Get What You Want is a really good song. Sticky Fingers was my first full Stones album, and I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did that one.
The National
4/5
This band creates a really cool sound. Atmospheric, lush, thoughtful. If I listened to it a few times I would love it.
Thin Lizzy
4/5
I liked this a lot. I've just been loving guitar rock lately and these guys are really good at it.
The Stooges
2/5
This is not my thing, and I like guitar rock. I enjoy a raw-sounding band, but this was that but to me lacked energy as well. For me, that combination comes off as sloppy, and the songs didn't resonate with me.
The Saints
3/5
I'd never heard of this band before listening to this album. Pretty solid, but no songs stuck out as something I will return to. A very tight punk band, cool that there are horns on some tracks.
The Undertones
3/5
Another band I've not heard of before. They're fun and quirky, with some really catchy melodies. Kind of new-wave/punk mix, on the very light end of punk. Pleasant listen. I liked The Way Girls Talk a lot, and a few others caught my ear.
Radiohead
4/5
This is my favorite Radiohead album to date, and the only one that I really like. I love the arrangements, and the cool synth sounds. There's even trombones in one of the tracks?! Anyway, this is the first time that I kind of get why people like this band. I may even listen to it again.
The Residents
2/5
It's weird, it's annoying, but it's not terrible. There is definitely some skill in the arrangements and sound. I can't say that it makes me enjoy it any more. It was kind of obnoxious.
Mudhoney
3/5
Pretty good album. Very early grunge and it's closer to 80's metal in some parts which is interesting to hear. I liked it as a time-capsule but likely won't listen to much more.
Johnny Cash
3/5
This is the second 'Live at a prison' recording by Johnny Cash from this list. The first one was cool, but for the same reason this one is. It's really fascinating to hear prisoners react to Johnny Cash, and he's good at playing the crowd. It's definitely a gimmick. Cash is a good performer and charismatic speaker, and it's a unique setting. Outside of that, the music is good although I feel Johnny Cash is over-represented on this list.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Good album. I liked it. I like the guys voice. Cool sounding band.
Suicide
2/5
It's like a weird parody of 70's rock using synths instead of guitars. It wasn't too bad and I would have given it 3 stars, but taking one off due to Frankie Teardrop.
Happy Mondays
3/5
I really liked the music on this. I was going to go four stars on this, but some of the lyrics were... off-putting. I'm not a prude, but come on, don't be weird.
Moby
4/5
I really liked this album. It sounded very polished and thoughtful. Good grooves, good songs. I had only heard South Side, which I thought was ok, and after listening to the entire album I think that was one of the weakest songs on the album. Nice find.
Emmylou Harris
4/5
All beautiful songs with a good band and good harmonies. Classic country.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
5/5
Wow, listening to this was both cathartic and eye-opening. First, the beats are great. Second, these guys are speaking truth so clearly. It's very refreshing to hear someone point out the inequities and absurdities of our culture. It's also a bit saddening to know that the exact same issues that were prevalent in the early '90s have not gotten any better, and in fact have taken a turn for the MUCH worse in the past decade. What a crap show. Anyway, great album, just as relevant today as the day it was released.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
My second Fleetwood Mac album on this. The first one was Rumours and it was fantastic. This one was not that. It had some songs that sounded a bit like other Fleetwood Mac songs, but less focused and more frantic. There are a number of songs that were good, but when I compare it to their own work, it pales.
The Monks
3/5
This was an interesting one. . I read a little bit about it for context, and some people think they're complete amateurs who managed to create a masterpiece, and some think they're a normal garage band that have an interesting backstory and that explains most of the critical acclaim. I think a fall more towards the latter. It's a fun album with some catchy hooks and a unique sound. I agree that this album is unique in that it would have been polished had it been recorded by a larger label in the US, and much of the charm may have been lost. To me it's a talented garage band having fun and recording their true sound, and I'm glad I listened to it.
Elvis Presley
2/5
I've never found the music of Elvis all that interesting. This did not change my mind. He has a nice voice but the music is so boring.
The Birthday Party
2/5
The performances and song-writing are impressive. It's noisy and chaotic. I didn't enjoy it.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Always like a good Bob Dylan album. This one starts off incredibly strong; with a trombone. I forgot about that song but it's such a fun one. The rest of the album is really good. I drifted in and out of listening to the lyrics, but when I was tuned in I got a sense of why he's considered one of the best song-writers of all-time. This deserves multiple listens.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Some nice songs on the album. Making fun of Bob Dylan seems like a very snobby thing to do which makes me like this less. A little too self-satisfying and safe for me.
Grizzly Bear
3/5
I really liked a few songs on the album. It deserves a closer listen than I gave it because I didn't even take note of the songs that I really liked. However, the fact that there were moments that grabbed me from my work and sounded awesome was cool.
Deep Purple
3/5
During the first song I thought it was going to be a classic-rock drag, but I ended up really liking it. It rocked pretty hard. Good rhythm section, and the organ was just out there enough to make things interesting. This was a pleasant surprise.
Ozomatli
3/5
Decent album. It's pretty fun at times. I like the energy and the mix of genres. Kind of bland at times though. Also I'm tired so that impacts my experience.
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
The band says that they are 'Widely considered to be one of the most innovative bands of all time.' in their Spotify profile. I mean I know it's PR and maybe being over the top is their thing? I don't know. The music is not interesting. I'm far removed from the context in which it was released but I'm fairly certain I would not like this at any age at any time.
Throwing Muses
3/5
This is firmly in my wheelhouse and I enjoyed it for the most part. I should listen to it again but there are so many darn albums to listen to. Anyway, a good punk-ish sound and a great lead singer.
Steely Dan
2/5
This music does nothing for me. It's jazzy, but none of the jazz is satisfying... more like 'jazz-ish'. The recording and musicians are great but it's so polished and unchallenging that it truly does sound like easy-listening background music to me.
Beth Orton
4/5
I really liked this a lot. Great voice, great instrumentation, my favorite type of vibe. Everything was thoughtfully done and good. I'll definitely listen to this more.
Stephen Stills
4/5
I liked this. A lot of genres, and all of them done well.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Ok, I get it now. I had never listened to this all the way through, but it is excellent. It grabs your entire attention and holds onto it. It's just such a lush and expansive sound. I think I'm going to listen to this one a lot.
PJ Harvey
2/5
I'd heard the name and thought PJ Harvery was a Black man so this was surprising. The music did not resonate with me... the subject matter felt incredibly heavy, and the music was not particularly pleasing to me so it was not an enjoyable listen.
LTJ Bukem
1/5
I've listened to about 30 min and this is going to be the first album in nearly 250 that I DNF. It has cool sounds, I'm sure someone into this type of production would have a lot of good things to say about it. It's just not a language I understand.
OutKast
3/5
The second disc is more memorable than the first one for me. Both are probably pretty good. I didn't particularly enjoy either one. Hey Ya is still a great song. There's a thin line between 'playful' and 'silly', and the mood of the person judging it (me) probably has a lot to do with how it is viewed on any given day. Today most of this seemed silly but I could see it as playful in other mindsets.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
They have a cool sound. I get why people like them. This one didn't happen to strike me today but I'm sure it would other days.
The Byrds
4/5
This was unexpected after recognizing the top songs on their Spotify page. I really liked the sound of it. These guys wouldn't be out of place touring with some of the bands that I like to see.
Napalm Death
2/5
It is noisy and hard to understand the lyrics. From what I could tell from checking the lyrics, I'm on board with what this band is selling. The music is energetic and would probably be really fun to see in person. I honestly couldn't say what makes this a good example of this type of music because I know nothing about other bands. Not bad, not going to return to it.
Kanye West
5/5
This is my first time listening to this outside of hearing some of the singles on the radio. It is awesome. Blew my expectations out of the water. Good music, good production, good rapping, cool concept that feels cohesive throughout the album.
3/5
There were a few catchy songs on here. The album art and the weird poetry threw me off a bit. I definitely wouldn't have listened to this outside of this list so that's something.
Peter Tosh
3/5
It's a pleasant listen. It's a good reggae album for sure. A few songs that I really liked, most of all Till Your Well Runs Dry.
The Kinks
2/5
I didn't like this at all. A lot of the songs sounded like they were written about someone the band hated and it came off as cynical. I don't know enough about 60's culture to know if they were trying to make a statement about society or what. The music sounded like every other British band from the 60's who wanted to sound like the Beatles.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
That was really cool. I loved the musical arrangements, and the lyrics are haunting and thoughtful. Just a great vibe. For some reason it's Sept 29th and it's 90 degrees in North Dakota and I can imagine this being even nicer on a cold, rainy fall day.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
2/5
Ok, after reading about this album and this artist, it's 100% included here because one of the creators of the list managed to find a copy of this album when they were 17 and everyone thought he was the coolest person they knew because of it. Now that the internet and streaming can shine a light on some of these collector-gem cult-classics, it's apparent that scarcity did them a LOT of good.
Van Morrison
3/5
Nothing on this stuck out. Being not familiar with him, I couldn't tell one song from another. It's probably a good recording if you like Van Morrison, however, for me it was a bit of a slog.
Frank Sinatra
5/5
It's so nice to listen to a great singer with a great big band playing great arrangements singing about love.
Orbital
3/5
Right down the middle on this one. Didn't like or dislike it. It was not terrible and I don't remember anything about it.
Jacques Brel
3/5
It sounded like he was a good story-teller. I don't speak French so this obviously I only understood the musical parts. It sounded French. Whatever that accordion does is the most quintessential French sound. Anyway, it was an interesting listen.
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
This one never took off for me. I liked The Art Teacher. The rest of it was arduous and plodding to me. I also dislike when a final song of an album that isn't working for you is nearly 9 minutes long.
The Police
3/5
I liked this a lot more than I liked Synchronicity. Message in a Bottle is a great song. My favorite song was On Any Other Day, which they introduced by hedging that it was knowingly corny... kind of a cop out for writing a fun song but being embarrassed about it. The second half of the album was great.
Snoop Dogg
2/5
Early 90's rap is not my thing and never has been, so I don't know how this may have taken what came before it and influenced what came after. All I can say is that I didn't enjoy this.
Mariah Carey
3/5
There were some nice songs here. She has a great voice but sometimes it seems unfocused. Pretty good example of late 90's radio R&B.
Elvis Presley
3/5
This is more of a cultural artifact than a good piece of art. The studio band sounds like it didn't even think about getting out of second gear. Elvis doesn't have that good of a voice. I understand the cultural significance, but I would not willingly listen to this. I do appreciate the 12-song, 28 minute runtime.
The Charlatans
3/5
This sound made me feel slightly nostalgic even though I don't remember ever having heard of this band. It sounds like the soundtrack to every high school or college movie released in the late 90's and early 2000's. Nothing super interesting about it, but it was decent enough.
The Byrds
3/5
60's psychedelic rock is just not my thing. This sounded like non-descript 60's rock, but with some weird noises thrown in. I didn't completely hate it and I liked My Back Pages.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
This was very up and down for me. It started out with a slog of a song. I really liked I Don't Remember and Family Snapshot, and then the rest felt forgettable. I don't love the 80's new-wave sound overall so that plays into it.
Arcade Fire
3/5
Arcade Fire has always fallen flat for me and I'm not sure why. Their songs, while energetic, never feel exciting. This may be a testament to how influential they are, but almost every song sounds like it could easily be in the background of a commercial for Home Depot or some fabric softener. There were a couple of cool moments.
Led Zeppelin
2/5
There are some near-universally acclaimed bands that I’ve never listened to and this list is my first real exposure to them. This is one of them. It may have been revelatory when it was released but to me it sounds like a competent blues album with a couple of hard rock tunes.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Atlantic City is a great song. Not too much interesting outside of that. It's interesting to read about the album... is it truly that the studio thought it was good, or was it that they wanted to get something out fast? The album definitely has a coherent feel. It would probably grow on me if I listened more.
The Temptations
4/5
I liked this a lot. Fun music, heartfelt performance, and entertaining. I liked the motown stuff more than the funk, but even the funk was good.
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
I thought I was going to love this after the first track. I liked the rhythms, but to me it was a little too caught up in American funk, which is my least favorite genre. The last track was also awesome. From my reading, this was the first album he leaned into the funk so I think I would like almost any album by this guy more than I liked this one, and may explore those.
Tim Buckley
3/5
He does have a captivating voice. These songs have a lot of depth and would certainly grow on me with multiple listens. They aren't instantly memorable, but a cool album.
Van Halen
3/5
I liked the songs I've heard before, and didn't really like the ones I haven't. They got the singles right.
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
Somebody to Love is a very good song. The rest is not that compelling to me.
Brian Eno
2/5
I don't know anything about Brian Eno. This album did not engage me at all. The soundscape is sort of interesting.
Ice Cube
4/5
I really liked this. Ice Cube has a great voice, the beats are good. Some of the spoken tracks engage in thoughtful ways with the criticism that this kind of rap often receives, and this is the first album I've heard do that. Today Was a Good Day is excellent, and I found myself liking most of the tracks.
David Bowie
2/5
This sounded clunky to me. The arrangements are plodding and none of the songs stuck out to me. I've only listened to Bowie through this list, and I think this is my fourth. It's by far the weakest.
Calexico
3/5
I liked it but wasn't blown away. I thought I was going to like it a lot more than I did after a very strong opening. I liked the Latin-sounding ones... the rest weren't as engaging.
Bobby Womack
3/5
I like this guys voice. Sounds like a lot of soul music I've heard from the 70's. Nothing stuck out as something I need to go back to. I was nodding my head a lot, which is good.
Billie Holiday
4/5
I liked this a lot. Great arrangements, great voice. Trombone solo in the first track was amazing.
Beatles
5/5
I love early Beatles. I don't know how these songs sound similar to other bands (both who tried to copy them and were also their contemporaries), but they're somehow so much better. Both lyrically and musically. So good.
Santana
2/5
Santana has never worked for me. I usually love Latin music, but this mix of Latin beats with rock washes all of the energy and passion out of the beats for me. The Samba song was ok.
Scott Walker
2/5
I found it difficult to connect to this at all. At no point did I know what he was talking about, other than the song about PTSD. The last two songs were the most musically interesting to me, which means maybe I was coming around to his sound, but this wasn't for me.
Muddy Waters
5/5
The blues is all about how much swagger you have, and these guys have a TON. Such a fun listen.
Randy Newman
3/5
He certainly has a sound. I liked a few of the songs here... they are evocative. Liked this more than the other album I've heard that was on this list. The music is a little cloying for the subjects of some of the songs but perhaps that was an intentional dissonance.
Solange
3/5
I enjoyed this. The vocals are reminiscent of some late 90's R&B like Lauryn Hill, with some more modern and electric beats accompanying them. Good vocal arrangements and thoughtful lyrics.
The Young Gods
3/5
I thought I was going to hate this for the first couple of minutes. It definitely grew on me, and it’s the first industrial metal album I’ve liked on this list. Interesting mix of carnival-like sounds, industrial, and traditional metal.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
I liked this a lot. The beats were really cool, good lyrics. Jazzy samples.
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
This has been a complicated one, but interesting. Musically, it's a 5/5. One complication is that I have no idea how to attribute what I like musically. I know I love the Caribbean and African tracks that are prominently on display here. I have no idea what anyone involved in the making of this album contributed to this. This is the first I'm hearing of McLaren and he seems a polarizing figure. I don't have time (or interest really) to educate myself about his career and contributions to culture and how he either used or exploited musicians, but I'm not liking the little I've read related to this album. Anyway, he has great taste in the music he chose for this, and that music was great.
k.d. lang
4/5
This grew on me and I ended up liking it quite a bit. She really does have a great voice and the songs capture early country with a touch of cabaret, which at first threw me off, but eventually won me over.
Radiohead
5/5
I've listened to a few Radiohead albums and this was the first time I've 'gotten' it. I loved this album. I don't even know why. It sounds cool and it is musically interesting. There were no songs that I wasn't interested in. I'll have to give this a few listens.
B.B. King
3/5
Thought I would like this more than I did. The guitar solos were awesome. The drummer was awesome. I felt like the horns got in the way of this (which is astounding considering I am a horn player.)
Tricky
3/5
Started out interesting. Lost a lot of steam. Got weird when the guy got involved. Not a sound that I love. Kind of a mix of hip-hop and industrial, with a couple of poppy songs in there.
Morrissey
2/5
This is the 4th album for me that involves Morrissey (2 solo, 2 Smiths), and I've come to the conclusion that this guy can't write an interesting melody. For that reason, none of his albums have appealed to me.
The Doors
2/5
This is a band I haven't listened to a lot, but that I came into not liking based on what I have heard over the years. This album did nothing to change my mind. I don't like their muddy sound and heavy-sounding instrumentation. The first track was a mediocre blues, and the final was a decent minor blues. Outside of those two, I thought it was a slog.
Primal Scream
3/5
They threw a lot at the wall and some of it stuck. This music wasn't written to be listened to sitting at a desk and sipping coffee at 8 in the morning. I doubt I'll ever be in the state of mind that this was written for. Not terrible but not anything I will listen to again.
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
I'm definitely in a critical mood today. I immediately identified this is new-wave and kind of made a decision about it right away... new-wave isn't my thing. It's clear that it's trying to be darker, and reading the Wikipedia and Spotify artist profiles introduced me to the term 'darkwave', which is a cool term. However, this band, that before today I had never heard of, does NOT represent that term, which before today I had also never heard of but now I have a picture of what I want it to be. This sounds like a new-wave band that went to Spirit Halloween for their darkness. It's ok but just new wave in a minor key, and doesn't sound authentically dark to me.
Blur
3/5
This was more interesting than I was expecting. I'd only heard Song No. 2, which is still a great song. The rest of the album was more varied and energetic than I was expecting.
Ella Fitzgerald
5/5
I listened to the entire thing and loved it. I had a super relaxing and pleasant day of work. The music is so good and the love songs are so sweet. Not sure why there is a disc of only instrumental tracks but I'll always gladly devote a few minutes to listening to the Gershwin Preludes.
The Smiths
3/5
I think I've finally lowered my expectations for The Smiths enough that I didn't hate this as much as I thought I would. I thought that this was the best album from them musically. I didn't even think Morrissey was completely terrible and had some decent melodies. His voice still bothers me, but there were some songs that I found catchy.
Black Flag
3/5
This was entertaining. I'd love to have seen these guys live in their heyday.
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
These guys are so frickin cool. Great arrangements, good songs, great wind section. It was fun to listen to songs by them that I've not heard before.
Iggy Pop
3/5
This was different from what I expected. More like The Doors. I didn't love it.
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
This album felt like a hodge-podge. There were numerous times I had to check because I thought the album was over and Spotify was moving to a random song. Nothing here was terrible.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
This was far better than I had been expecting. I'm familiar with most of their singles and have heard them so many times that I've become bored with them. However, I was surprised at how good this album is throughout. The last three tracks are a little weak, but I also had an interruption between those and the rest of the album so maybe I was taken out of the moment. Overall, a very pleasant surprise.
Hawkwind
3/5
This was quite the journey. I can't say I was paying attention the entire time, but I didn't hate any of it. Some of it was pretty interesting. The spoken sections were awesomely nerdy. There were a few songs that I really got into, but I didn't notice or wouldn't remember the names of them. Fun journey that I'm not sure I'll take again but I'm glad I did it.
The Clash
4/5
I like this SO much more than their first album. They show a lot of versatility and seem pretty musically curious and proficient. This was a pleasant surprise. I really liked the ska/reggae tracks. If there was a spectrum where punk was on the left and new-wave on the right, this would be like at notch 3 (out of 10) on the left, which I like. Much further to the right and it wouldn't be as good IMO.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
The sentiment behind this album and Gaye's voice are beautiful. Musically I'm not into it, so while I can appreciate the album, I didn't really enjoy it. I just don't like this genre of soul/motown. The two hit songs are not much different than the rest of the album, which speaks to the cohesiveness of the concept.
Ramones
3/5
I know this is prototypical punk, and they embody punk, and I do like punk, but I don't like these guys. It's important in that they laid down the most basic possible punk and is a starting point for more interesting (to me) bands.
The Stooges
3/5
I thought I would like this more than I did. The first track is good, the rest never grabbed me, but I was also very tired so it didn't get a fair shake.
Public Enemy
3/5
I liked the beats and the feel of this album more than most similar albums from the time.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
I had their newest album and I liked it much more than I liked this one. This felt more functional... as in the purpose of this is to dance. Which I'm sure it's great at, but I'm not currently dancing, and it's not a hobby that I have (maybe I should). But, I didn't love it as an album of music to listen to.
The Byrds
3/5
This is my third The Byrds album in the past 70. They've sort of grown on me, and I can see they had a pretty wide range. This had more of a jam-bandy feel that I didn't hate.
The Who
4/5
I liked this a lot more than I thought. I knew Behind Blue Eyes and Baba O'Riley and those are great songs, but the rest are also so good. Really good musicians playing simple music in an interesting way.
The Gun Club
5/5
This was awesome! I'd not heard of these guys, other than knowing For the Love of Ivy from Japandroids (one of my favorite albums). This is some of my favorite kind of music and I would have loved to see this band live. I can hear a lot of influences in it, but moreso, I hear this sound echoed in a lot of my favorite bands from the 90's and 00's. Great discovery for me!
Jurassic 5
2/5
I was looking forward to this, since I've had quite a few enjoyable hip-hop albums recently, and while I didn't know about these guys, one of my friends was a big fan. I was very underwhelmed. There are a few songs with good beats, but the lyrics are pretty tame and the bests are mostly forgettable. The first song says something about not being a corny collective, but that's exactly what I thought they were at a number of times while listening.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
5/5
Love Basie and his big band albums. I hadn't listened to this one. The Hefti arrangements are more punchy and energetic than the Nestico arrangements I'm more familiar with and still have a lot of nice melodies. The Kid from Red Bank, Flight of the Foo Birds, and Splanky are all great.
TLC
4/5
That was a very good album, and the best from start to finish from that genre of R&B girl bands. Waterfalls is one of my favorite songs, but there were really no weak songs on this album.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
There aren't very many people with a voice that can make you feel the ways Franklin's does. So bright and expressive. A lot of good songs on this album.
LL Cool J
4/5
It took a few tracks to get into this. I think the first track is weak, and I'm not a fan of the R&B tracks, but the rest of it is great! A lot of variety and creativity in the beats and lyrics. I'm finally starting to appreciate early 90's hip-hop thanks to this project, and this was a great album!
Wu-Tang Clan
3/5
I liked it. There are some really interesting samples and beats, and the guys are all great rappers. I didn't enjoy it as much as a lot of early 90's hip-hop and I'm not exactly sure why. I think it was a little darker and gritty than I like.
Teenage Fanclub
4/5
I liked it quite a bit. It reminded me of dream-pop Foo Fighters. Given I was a teen in the 90's I'm pretty familiar with the 90's sound, but hadn't heard much of this band. This sounded familiar but fresh. I loved Is This Music?.
Yes
3/5
This was ok. I'm not huge into this type of meandering, ever-changing rock songs. They do tend to grow on you if you listen more, but on first listen there were only a couple of segments that were cool. One sign that I"m not into them is that Spotify auto-played a Rush song after the last track on this album and I thought "Now we're getting somewhere!" before realizing it was no longer Yes.