1001 Albums Summary

Starts amazingly, doesn't finish off as strong. Extremely influential, but there are better albums in the genre and even in the band's discography. Best: Planet Caravan, Hand of Doom, War Pigs; Worst: Rat Salad, Fairies Wear Boots 4.3/5

Absolute banger of an A-side with some of the greatest songs of the decade, very disappointing B-side with a lot of generic 80s pop that feels disjointed. Best: Money Changes Everything, Time After Time, She Bop; Worst: Witness, I'll Kiss You, 3.2/5

A soulful voice and wonderful basslines (seriously, the bass is what bumps the album just above the average for me) are the things that make this album for me, however what breaks it for me is that it gets very same-ish after a while with only a few songs that even seem a bit interesting. Even at the time, I think, this album wasn't even near the best, but it's not a bad album. To me, at times, these songs sound more like Tom Jones than Elvis. It's OK, but I won't be revisiting it. Best: Only the Strong Survive, Gentle On My Mind, In the Ghetto; Worst: that's the whole problem with this album, nothing really sticks out, maybe Power of My Love 2.7/5

Christ Almighty where has this been all my life. This thing is almost perfect from start to finish (looking at you Changes), the production is unbelievable, the songwriting is excellent. This is my first surprise on this journey 100% and I didn't want to give a 5 this early, but I really cannot ask for more from this, I just loved it. Best: all of 'em except Changes; Worst: Changes 4.7/5

I don't even know what to say about this. I get the idea, I get the purpose, she has a wonderful voice and the sound is easy on the ears, but as a whole it amounts to... not much. The amount of copycats this album has spawned also may have taken a toll on me through the years... It's inoffensive, forgettable, songs are hard to differentiate. It's supposed to be relaxing, but it only wears me out. It's just not for me and I don't get why this might be a "must listen", it did sell quite well so there's that I guess. Nightingale is a chill song if I must choose one. 1.8/5 Edit: this thing actually haunts me, I remember it every so often and get angry, if that’s not a one I don’t know what is… 1/5

This album is a one trick pony, but that one trick is just so good that it doesn't even matter that it's a one trick pony. It's just so catchy and fun, it has the riffs, it has the synths, the drumbeats are simple and danceable, I know I'll be coming back to a lot of songs from this thing, it just makes me feel happy. It's not the "perfect album" (for whatever that means) in my book only because it's not really anything mindblowing + when it strays away from its "one trick" it kinda doesn't work. Best: My Best Friend's Girl, Just What I Needed, Bye Bye Love; Worst: I'm In Touch With Your World, Moving In Stereo 4.1/5

Never heard of this band, never heard of this album, really gave it a chance because I love psychedelia... this one's not it. If I were to only listen to the A-side I would say it's decent, but the B-side just strangles all of the momentum the album had built up to that point. The album just decides to have a concept halfway and the concept is presented poorly; the spoken word parts made me cringe pretty hard and the music, while solid, is definitely not good enough for me to forgive them. This album tries to be way too quirky for its own good. Best: Afterglow (Of Your Love), Song Of A Baker, Lazy Sunday; Worst: B-side 2/5

What could've been... there's a wonderful album under all the nonsense, but the nonsense is still there and the albums are rated as a whole. Speaking of wholes, there is nothing whole about this album, this sounds more like a compilation experiment of sorts with all of the bandmates contributing, but none of them communicating. Lindsey absolutely shits the bed with his whiny coked up toddler anthems, but makes it up at the end of the album with a couple of great songs. Stevie and Christine contribute to this album with a lot of powerful and emotional tracks, but also with a couple of songs that don't really go anywhere. This thing is also pretty damn long for an album with absolutely no concept whatsoever, but it didn't really lose me on the account of being so unpredictable. I wouldn't listen to this whole thing again though, to be completely honest. Best: Sara, Storms, Sisters Of The Moon, Walk A Thin Line, Tusk; Worst: The Ledge, Not That Funny, That's Enough For Me 3/5

This one was actually pretty great, definitely something new for me, sometimes though it feels a little bit watered down for my western musical brain to digest which is disappointing and feels like pandering. I did like even some of those songs though. She has a killer voice, gave me goosebumps a couple of times, would definitely recommend this, it's a great and novel experience for sure. Will I be listening to this thing again... eh, maybe...not really. Best: Lakutshn, llanga, Mbube, Where Does It Lead Worst: One More Dance (I can not overstate how awful this thing is, like my God I want to hit that guy with a shovel) 3.3/5

There is not a single doubt in my mind that Springsteen's heart was in the right place when he was making this record, the lyricism definitely reflects that. The historical context makes that aspect of the album even stronger. However, the music feels very tired and overdone, full of cliches, repetitions, and unsubtleties. Sometimes I felt like I was listening to Creed or Bryan Adams or a new U2 album which bored me to death. Factor in that this album is over and hour long and that results in an overall bad time for me. I can't even remember how a single song sounded minutes after listening to it except Paradise, which is a definite album highlight. Best: Nothing Man, Empty Sky, Paradise Worst: Waitin' On A Sunny Day, Let's Be Friends (Skin To Skin), Mary's Place 2.2/5

This is probably the most important record in this entire collection, if not the most important it's at least in the top 5. Without this there's no Beatles, there's no Stones and definitely no Elvis (lol). However, as with every proto-record, it's not as good as what will come after it. The 12 songs are not even "basically" the same, they're exactly the same so I do appreciate that it's not an hour long record. The energy is amazing, Little Richard is still one of a kind and his vocals are absolutely bonkers, this one is definitely a must listen for every rock aficionado. It didn't really speak to my 20-something year old self, but I can still appreciate it for what it is. No best/worst song for this one because they really are identical in every single possible way. 3.4/5

I was really excited when I saw that Beck was my today's album, I never really went deep into his discography, but I know what his general deal is. Upon hearing this album I was surprised, it was very melancholic, downtempo and pleasant sounding. At the start I loved it, but song after song after song there was not a single up or downturn, just a flat line. It's not bad at all and some songs from this really impressed me, but as a whole this album was not that impressive. When sad boy hours come, this will not dominate my playlist. Best: Paper Tiger, Lonesome Tears, Round The Bend Worst: End Of The Day 3/5

There’s just something about The Doors man, for me it’s just unexplainable. When my dad used to play them on our CD player as a kid I absolutely despised them, found them boring, grating at times. I’ve heard their self-titled album for the first time in its entirety about a year or two ago and fell in love. They have their very own brand of lyrics, their unique sound and one of the best rock vocalists of all time. You just know when something sounds “Doorsy”. This album is excellent from front to back, gets a bit weaker at the start of the B-side, but picks up again with “Queen Of The Highway”. They just do their thing and they do it oh so well. I just imagine that I’m on that trippy shit they had back in the 60s and that I’m just lying on my back in some middle-of-nowhere west American desert as the sun sets. It’s a vibe. I loved this. 4.5/5 Best: Waiting for the Sun, Peace Frog, Blue Sunday, Queen of the Highway Worst: The Spy

This record doesn’t match the absolute greatness Bowie is capable of. I would be lying if I said it was shit or that I didn’t enjoy it, but the whole time it felt like something was missing, I really didn’t feel Bowie’s character in these tracks at all. The call-and-response Bowie does with the back vocals is hilarious at times, and sometimes it does work… when it’s not awkwardly placed. However the quality is still there and the album does have its moments, if you take it just for what it is you get a very good, very enjoyable soul record, but, for me at least, not a very good Bowie record. Best: Young Americans, Fame, Fascination Worst: Win 3/5

One of the best albums of all time from one of my all time favourite bands. I’ve heard this record in its entirety so many times and it still holds up and it always will. The songwriting is ridiculously good, it has the catchy hooks, a dark and alluring atmosphere, the radio hits and the deep cuts that are equally as great. The album just throws a banger after banger at you and it also flows so well… I still love it. Best: all of ‘em, personal favourite is Halo Worst: lol 5/5