What a phenomenal album! What's even more impressive is the fact that this is a double album, but still it manages to deliver great quality throughout. There are so many hits, singles, quality songs and songs which were sampled and made into hits by other artists on here that it's mindboggling. Even the extra EP is great. How do you create a ~20 song album of this quality? Insane. The album has a slight lean towards soul and ballads compared to Innervisions, but this works in it's favor, even though Innervisions was great as well. Sonically everything is really well done. Stevies voice is the best it has ever been, the color, articulation and precision is astonishing, it's a real pleasure listening to such a skilled and soulful artist. Likewise, the keys are perfect and create a single, indivisible, unit together with the vocals. There are many great melodies in the album, somehow they are able to produce a hit after hit. The rhythm section also shines, it continues the great work done on Innervisions and builds upon it. There is not a single moment when drums and bass aren't active and engaged. The album is full of fills, interesting bridges and rhythm changes, but these still manage to stay in the background and to not be intrusive to the main stars of the show, just add to them. I now know why this is considered one of the best albums of all time. Another one from Stevie going into the favorites.

A fun album, sounds like you are on a cruise ship in the caribbean. But sadly, as is the case with most world albums on this list, it's probably not worthy of a spot on it. The musicianship is fine, the melodies are fun and uplifting. Songs are easy going and breezy, perfect for a relaxing day on the beach or a yacht. The vocal go well with the music, nothing stands out. Having said that, the album isn't really special in any way, it feels average and doesn't offer much quality to the listener. One more average world album, hope they get better later on.

Didn't like this one as much as the previous 3 releases from the band. They stayed true to their style, blending hip-hop with differemt genres such as rock, jazz, electronic, metal, punk. The albim sounds similar to RATM a lot of the times. But it seemd more experimental and progressive than the other albums they did. Songs don't progress linearly and there are a lot of unexpected twists and turns with instruments and arrangements. Still, there are some cool songs on here and the music is not bad, it's the crown of their style.

Didn't think I would give any album on this list a 1 star, but this is by far the worst album I heard so far, maybe even ever. This album get's it wrong on so many levels for me. For starters, musically it's really boring. Most of the songs sound exactly the same, with a drum beat and simple melodies in the background. Like something you would make in 2 minutes in your bedroom. Second, and this is a big one, the lyrics and themes are so bad it's unbelievable that other people who worked on this album didn't try and put a stop on this being released. I am not familiar with the work of the Smiths or Morrissey in general, so I am not sure if all of the albums are like this, or did he slowly descend into some sort of madness. The album is pretty much a pretentious rant all the way through. Whatever and whoever he doesn't like, he makes fun of, but in a really immature way, like a teenager entering puberty who starts hating the whole world. He tells America to fuck of with the hamburger, sure dude, that'll tell them. The only "good" song for me was First of the Gang to Die, with a catchy chorus.

One of the best grunge albums, full of emotions and big riffs. Chris Cornell is as impressive as ever, showing of his vocal abilities. The riffs are grand and range from punk/rock to doom/sludge. Lyrical themes are powerful, dark and perfectly convey the emotions of the 90s.

A classic album, maybe a bit monotonous, but still a classic.

Not something I would usually listen to, but a good album, especially modern considering when it came out.

The concept of the album is fine, but the execution lacked in my opinion. The vocals are buried in the mix and the instrumentals are too simple at times.

Haven't heard of this band before, but their style is pretty interesting. I especially liked the two guitars and their lean towards jazz, instead of blues, which is unusual.

Very laid back and chill album, with nice lyrical themes.

Modern blend of jazz and soul, intertwined with cool guitar riffs. Would give it 3.5 if I could.

Cool album, oozing with sensuality and great musicianship.

Ok album. The execution was a bit lacking from my perspective, but it had some good parts and ideas.

Ok country album, a bit bland at times.

Not something I would usually listen to, but I liked the album for it's simple licks, nice chord progressions and lyrics with modern themes. It's not perfect by any means, but it resonates. Would give it 3.5 if I could.

Now this is a fine example of great musicianship. Well executed and produced album, with nice themes. Easy to listen to, both casually and with close attention.

This band was a pleasant discovery for me. Very good album, a blend of punk, classic rock riffs and psychedelic elements. All packaged in with a heavy dose of british sexappeal.

Didn't really like it that much. Lacked strength and energy in my opinion.

Just ok for me, not bad, but not too special either.

Seems more like a group of songs than an album. Some are great, some are just ok. Still, solid musicianship. Would give it 2.5 if I could.

Fine album, don't really like the Stones that much, but it was a fine listen. More bluesy than I expected.

Enjoyed it more than I anticipated. Had some sonically interesting songs.

Nice album, very musical. Blend of country and blues.

Never listened to Radiohead that much, they always seemd kind of dull and boring. I listened to this album a couple of times today and I think this band definitely deserves a deeper dive in the future, considering their cult status. For now, this was not bad, but also not too good for me. I get the songwriting, but it's a bit bland sonically at times.

Expected a bit more. I usually enjoy funk/psychedelic music, but this was a bit more mellow and less energetic than I presumed. Still, it was a nice listen, especially considering when it came out.

Enjoyed it more than Exile On Main Street. The songs are more detailed and musical. There are some nice balads on here as well. Would give it 3.5 if I could.

Nice album with good energy and guitar work. I was surprised at the amount of enjoyable bluesy/punk riffs.

Didn't listen to much gothic rock before this, but the album grew on me. I listened to it for 4 times during the day, and also got into the genre as a whole because of it. The albums has a great atmosphere, regardless if you like that style of music or not. It has a gloomy, dark, moonlight vibe, with the 80s guitars, drums and effects. Fully manages to transform you to a different emotion. Every song would be perfect for a movie/tv show soundtrack.

As with the previous album by this group in the list, this wasn't bad, but sonically it just didn't appeal to me. The music and lyrics didn't manage to awaken an emotion or to make some sort of a connection with me.

Seemd weaker than OK computer. The atmosphere and the lyrics didn't resonate with me as much. Sonically it was interesting, but not that complex or inovative. All in all, the album seems a bit too simplified.

Well, this was interesting to say the least. I enjoyed the album, it has unusual lyrics and instrument combinations, pretty much anything you hear is unexpected. But, even considering this, and this is one ohe things that I enjoyed most about the album, it still manages to convey an atmosphere and emotion it intends too. Also, this is pretty impressive considering when it came out.

Not sure why this is on the list. The only reason would be that the remainder contains folk/traditional music from all over the world and that this is just the start. Nothing wrong with the album, it's just that the folk music is more about the culture and the customs of the groups which made it, rather than about musical virtuosity and the art of making music itself. The music is monotonous and repetitive, but does reflext the culture and the emotions of the people who made it.

A classic, so many good songs and riffs are on here. It's a shame that such talented musicians didn't pursue a more complex and interesting style of music. But that was their choice and they made a mark all the same, perhaps reaching greater mainstream popularity as is. The riffs and the tone are out of this world. Eddie really transformed what people thought was possible to do on a guitar. The drums are also pretty tight on this. The lyrics and themes are lacking a bit, they are close to the classic 80s vibe.

Didn't listen to this artist before, but I was impressed by the clear guitar melodies, vocals and the emotion the album radiates with. It's dark and melancholic, like sadness expressed in a great manner. Not sure if I would listen to this kind of music often, but it shed some light on a different perspective.

Not a bad experience, but sort of meshes together about quarter of the way through, so it's hard to differentiate where one song ends, and another one begins. Classic brit pop/shoegaze album sonically. Lyrical themes lacked a bit in my opinion. Would give it 2.5 if I could.

The album might not be the peak of musicianship, but it's damn fun to listen to. I've listened to it on repeat for the whole day, it's also cool for work, and doing stuff around the house, due to it's easy-going grooves. Nice beats, nice rhymes, having a good time, reminds me of old school hip-hop in my country. Definitely something I will listen to again.

A classic, this album is so well done and produced that your ears feel like they are in heaven while listening to it. There are a couple of well known hits on here, along with some nice ballads. Sonically perfect, the songs flow nicely and the atmosphere is consistent throughout.

Not a bad album, but nothing really stood out to me. It's a light listen, songs sound mostly the same. The production is nice, the vocals and acoustic guitar sound rich and prominent. Would give it 2.5 if I could.

A fine soul album, nothing too special caught my attention. Sonically it's good, with nice mixing and separation. Vocals are pretty good, but the melodies are a bit plain and not inspiring. Classic soul themes regarding the lyrics. All in all, don't think I would listen to it again.

Didn't listen to this for a long long time, forgot how violent the album is. Technically the rapping is great, it's fast and well articulated. There is no doubt about the theme of this, it's fuck everybody, I don't care about anything. Dr. Dre did his part regardign beats, the album is pretty tight in that regard, perhaps just a bit repetitive. There are some great songs on this, and there are also some really bad ones. Makes you wonder what could have been if the themes on the album were just a bit less aggressive and hostile towards pretty much everybody (women, homosexuals, other musicians etc.). But then again, maybe that's the reason the album got so famous in the first place. Having said all that, the album is still a classic and for sure worth checking out, both for the music and the context in which it came to be.

This is one heck of an album. The beginnings of Sade, with some of the greatest hits on here. The music is so sensual and smooth it unbelievable. I think this group was one of the first to combine jazz, r&b and ophisticated pop. All of the tracks bring out Sades voice, as well as the nice and laid back instrument section, which provides a musical background, without being boring. Including nice bass lines and drum fills. I'm assuming other albums of the group are also on the list, so I resisted to listen further.

Listened to it 3-4 times during the day. Nice, easy going album, with a perfect title. While listening to this, you feel as if you were crusing through space, exploring the surroundings. The album takes you on a journey into the future. There are nice lead lines and riffs throughout the album. The atmosphere is created by nice arrangements and background noise. Being an electronica album, this is really not that repetitive and keeps the listener engaged. Would give it 3.5 if I could.

Didn't hear of this rapper before, but considering the time when this came out, it's no wonder, since there were a lot bigger fish in the sea back then. The album is pretty interesting, with strong and unusual beats, classic boom rap style. The technique is also pretty good, not as good as some of the other rappers of the time in my opinion. This explains the lack in popularity I assume. All in all, a good album to listen to, even more importantly, something new but well executed in the hip-hop sphere, where I tend to listen to the classics a lot, and not much else. So this was a nice breath of fresh air. Would give it 3.5 if I could.

Good pop album with some of the bands biggest hits on it. The album is fun, dynamic, easy to listen to, and there is not a single bad song on here. The songs are a bit similar at times, but this is not uncommon for pop. Was between 3 and 4, but I think the vocal centered mix prevailed in it being a 3, since it's not as balanced as it should be on a great album, in my opinion. Which is a bit of a shame really, since the melodies and riffs are quite good and deserve a bigger place on the album.

What a great album! All of the song are great, with most of the bands hits on here. It really takes you on a journey down south. Thematically this is a great example of classic rock, with southern/country influences. Every song has a great atmosphere and perfectly conveys the message it intends to. Sonically all of the instruments come through well. Drum, bass, guitar and keyboards are all represented well in the mix, and are full of great licks and fills. Tuesdays gone and Free bird are one of the best classic rock ballads and songs of all time. Would give it 4.5 if I could, very little wrong with this album.

Interesting album, it doesn't contain any of the many hits the band have produced, but it's still a strong outing. The album is filled with fast guitar riffs, interesting bass lines and non-linear lyrics, typical of the New wave style. It's dynamic and fun to listen to, with plenty of substance. Was between a 3 and a 4, I know the band has even better albums, so I'm giving this a 3.

Quite an interesting album, a mix of psychedelic, progressive, folk and hard rock, with a little flute sprinkled in for good measure. It's like being in a medieval tavern with electric guitars. Guitar work on this is excellent, the riffs are big and powerful, yet simple and rhythmic. In my opinion the flute blends in pretty well and has a tone which fits rock music. Didn't expect so much acoustic guitar, but it really helps create the midieval atmosphere and goes well with the vocals. There are 3-4 really good songs on here, and also no bad ones. The album doesn't have a singular theme, although the religious aspect is prominent throughout the second part.

I'm generally a fan of glam metal because of it's riff focused music, big sound and high vocals. Having said this, I was never a fan of this album, it just wasn't as fun as some of the other ones I liked. It doesn't have that much riffs or great solos and the vocals are somewhat washed. The album sounds like an over produced, over commercialized version of glam metal, which was already heavy it that regard. Now for some positives, there are 3-4 really catchy songs on this, the songs are easy to listen to and get in your head quickly, perfect for a party. The production is a bit too much, but at the same time the album sounds huge, everything is made bigger, drums, guitar, vocals. Giving this 3 stars, no idea why. I guess because of the cult status and big sales numbers.

Nice britpop album with a lot of great songs on it. The song structures are pretty good, with different melodies and motifs in all of the songs. The Beatles influence is evident, which can never be a bad thing. This is a more modern take on the 60s-70s pop, and the band did a great job developing the sounds further. The songs are both catchy and memorable, as well as musically well made.

Didn't think I would give any album on this list a 1 star, but this is by far the worst album I heard so far, maybe even ever. This album get's it wrong on so many levels for me. For starters, musically it's really boring. Most of the songs sound exactly the same, with a drum beat and simple melodies in the background. Like something you would make in 2 minutes in your bedroom. Second, and this is a big one, the lyrics and themes are so bad it's unbelievable that other people who worked on this album didn't try and put a stop on this being released. I am not familiar with the work of the Smiths or Morrissey in general, so I am not sure if all of the albums are like this, or did he slowly descend into some sort of madness. The album is pretty much a pretentious rant all the way through. Whatever and whoever he doesn't like, he makes fun of, but in a really immature way, like a teenager entering puberty who starts hating the whole world. He tells America to fuck of with the hamburger, sure dude, that'll tell them. The only "good" song for me was First of the Gang to Die, with a catchy chorus.

A great reggae album, easy to listen to and sing along. You feel included in the music from the very start. Musically it's often simplistic, with similar rhythms across most of the songs. Which breaks up ever so often on some of the better songs which have more character. Lyrical themes are where the album most shines. They tell a story of love, fighting for freedom and enduring tough times, which is inspirational and conveys an emotional atmosphere throughout.

Cool album, not phenomenal, not terrible. A blend of pop with folk and classical themes with flutes and strings. Arrangements are nice, clean and low key. The vocals are strong with good actuation, but they sometimes don't quite fit in with the background melodies, as if they were parts of different songs. This is the main reason the album doesn't feel too great to me.

A good blues album, but not much more than that, featuring Jeff Beck on guitar and Rod Stewart on vocals. Expected a bit more from the album, considering the line-up, which includes Ronnie Wood as well. The songs are mostly covers, the style is a slightly harder version of pure blues. Beck doesn't show that much on guitar, with only a couple of good solos. The brightest light for me was Rod Stewart which fit into this album pretty well and sang with nice passion and intensity. The album seems like a proto/demo Led Zeppelin album, but is not as well done as LZ albums were.

Didn't like this one as much as the previous 3 releases from the band. They stayed true to their style, blending hip-hop with differemt genres such as rock, jazz, electronic, metal, punk. The albim sounds similar to RATM a lot of the times. But it seemd more experimental and progressive than the other albums they did. Songs don't progress linearly and there are a lot of unexpected twists and turns with instruments and arrangements. Still, there are some cool songs on here and the music is not bad, it's the crown of their style.

I've been a long time Metallica fan, although I haven't listened to the band as much in the last years. If we look at the album in the context of their previous releases, then this is for sure a step down and a simplification of their music. On the other hand, if we look at the album on it own, without any other context, this is a damn good album with a bunch of really great songs on it. The genre can be categorized as thrash 'n' roll and heavy metal, more than the thrash/progressive metal Metallica is known for. The songs aren't than complex for their standards, but are very much so speaking in general terms. They still stay true to their style of detailed song structures, massive riffs and nice solos are all over the place. There are no bad songs on here, some stand out as really good, but the lesser known song aren't bad by any means. Some bands are happy with 1 or 2 hits on a single album, there are at least 5-6 on here. Considering what I've heard so far, I can't but give this album 4 stars. This is an objectively great piece of music, no matter what you listen to. Considering the aim of the album was to commercialize and mainstream their sound, I think they accomplished just that, without sacrificing too much.

Wasn't that familiar with Grime before hearing this, can't say I enjoy the genre a lot, but this album was pretty ok to me. The album gives away an impression of a fairly well produced piece of music, so it can be considered a step up from the original Grime, but the lyrics and the flow still match what the style is about. The point of art is to make you feel certain emotions when you hear/see it. This album captures the UK gheto atmosphere well, you feel british, you feel angry, you feel like a gangster. The beats hit hard and the flow and the vocals match them pretty well. All in all an ok piece of music which captures the atmosphere of the place it is coming from. Probably not a general listen, but can be included when you need to hype up for some training sessions for example. The skits are a bit longer and get in the way of the music.

Well, this was an out of body experience. Didn't listen to ambient techno before, but I know that it's a favorite amongst audiphiles, and for good reason. This album somehow managed to both - sound like it's from the future, and be one of the earliest albums of it's kind. It captures an atmosphere and emotion really well, you feel like you are drifting through space, having a party and chilling with aliens. The beats aren't crazy complicated, but they are so well blended together that it doesn't even sound like somebody made them out of different sounds. They are just one unit of sound which draws you in and dips you into a pool of intraterrestrial sludge, where you float around and just let go.

Liked this more than I anticipated, the songs are well made and the piano and arrangements match Eltons voice perfectly. The album falls somewhere between pop and rock, with more rock than I expected. There are some really good ballads on here as well. Recognized Indian Sunset from the Ghetto Gospel collaboration Elton had with 2Pac. I liked that piano part of the song a lot for quite some time, but didn't know Elton was behind it, which made me like the album even more.

Another prog masterpiece from these guys, what a band. You have everything you might possibly want on this album - roaring guitars, soft violins, crazy bass and drum fills, windchimes and infinite rhythm changes. There's very little wrong with the album, but there are still better ones out there, even from King Crimson themselves.

What an album, a complete jazz masterclass. It's hard to decide which instrument is more impressive, drums, keyboard or the saxophone. The album is short and doesn't mess around, not even for a second. It's half an hour of action, all the way through. Is there a higher form of music than this? Highly unlikely. These people push the boundaries of music theory, virtuosity and improvisation to the very limits. Our role is just to witness what can be perceived audibly, to learn and to admire.

Solid album, one of the pioneers of the genre. There are some great beats and sounds on here, everything is nicely produced. The album is an easy listen, you can put it on it the background and chill. Having said that, there's nothing too special or stand-out for me on this.

One of the best grunge albums, full of emotions and big riffs. Chris Cornell is as impressive as ever, showing of his vocal abilities. The riffs are grand and range from punk/rock to doom/sludge. Lyrical themes are powerful, dark and perfectly convey the emotions of the 90s.

Solid punk album, the only notable one from the band. The album is a jolly old British kick in the bollocks, it oozes aggression, rebellion and anti establishment themes. It's a middle finger to authority and a thumbs up to anarchy. Music is straight forward, with only a few songs standing out as a bit more creative than the rest. The vocals were the best part for me, with clear articulation, great accent and color. The album doesn't impress too much musically, hence a 3 star rating.

Another solid pop rock outing by the band, not quite full of hits as some of the other release though. Oasis introduced their style on this debut, which is light and airy British pop, with nice song structures and positive lyrical themes. Nothing is too good on this album, but there is also nothing bad, it's a light listen.

Great album, as usual from Jimi. It's way ahead of it's time, both musically and lyrically. Jimi had a way of expressing himself clearly and simply, but at the same time virtuously. The riffs are out of this world and the lyrics are profound, they speak of a buddhist like view of life. Where everything flows, is one and love is the answer. This is also evident on the album cover. Not Jimi's best, but still a phenomenal album with a lot of great songs, which speaks volumes about his artistic body of work.

A pretty good album, expected a different sound, but what I got was a nice blend of alt-country and indie. I'm not a huge fan of indie music in general, but I am of some quality country. So this one leaned more towards the country side for me. The album is pretty light on the sonic side. There are clean and precise drum, piano and guitar sounds, with similar stuff happening on the vocal side. The vocals are well articulated and easy going. The country style and feel is well represented on this album. Everything is there, the nice easy melodies, clear vocals, down to earth struggles and real life lyrical themes. Reminded me of Johnny Cash on more than one occasion, which says a lot. I was between 3 and 4, will give it a 4 since it was a really fun and light listen.

Solid rock/blues rock album, there are a couple of the bands big hits on here. Wasn't aware that this album was so old, always thought of Aerosmith as a more of a pop/glam rock band. But when I listened to the album now, it does fit into the mid 70s style, which I like. The songs are solid, there are a lot of interesting riffs, melodies are solid and the vocals are strong, high and fit into the arrangements very well. Aerosmith for me always had sort of a Rolling Stones vibe of intertwined instruments which blend in together and you are never quite sure who is playing what and what exactly is played. I was between a 3 and a 4, giving it a 3 in the end because there wasn't enough to wow me.

Brutal and raw OG album. This is one of the first true modern hip-hop albums, paving the for what hip-hop was going to become. You have everything you might want from an album of this kind. The beats are raw, heavy and hit hard. The technique and delivery are spot on, the lyrics are clear and the flow is great. The themes are mostly political and deal with the oppression of black people in America, and criticizing the American society in general. You could say it's an act of fighting back against those who mistreated you. One final thing I have to add, the guys even sampled Slayer's Angel of Death on She Watch Channel Zero, what more can you say.

Never listened to much Bob Dylan, always knew he made some great songs, but something about him just didn't click with me, or so I thought, and boy was I wrong. You can hardly find a purest form of music than this, a guy with a guitar and harmonica, singing about real world problems, spreading love and joy, instead of war and miss fortune. The lyrics and themes are excellent, they sometimes have a humorous note to them, but they are always down to earth and talk about the problems and struggles we are facing as a society. The album is infinitely fun to listen to and is really easy going. This album was a nice breath of fresh air, looking forward to more of Bob Dylan.

What an album, got pleasantly surprised by this one. Sonically, this is one of the best album I have heard, in general. This is so well mixed and mastered that you are literally taken on a journey through sound. You just have to sit back, get a good pair of headphones, and let the album happen to you. I guess you can call this prog soul, since this is taking the genre to a whole different level musically. The vocals are great, they are deep and mellow most of the time, and high and strong when needed. The melodies are smooth as butter, but also really powerful and loud when the song is taken in that direction. The only downside of the album, from my perspective, is the intro of the last song, which is 8 minutes long and gets a little boring after a few minutes. But putting that aside, this is a phenomenal album, which I will for sure listen to many more times.

Can't say much about the album, it didn't impress me in any particular way. Sonically, the mix was strange, vocals are getting lost a bit, and the rhythm section and the melodies are way too close to each other. Also, the dynamics just aren't there, the songs seems to be at pretty similar volume throughout. The songs sound similar and nothing stands out about any of them. I feel like the album could have been a lot better, at least for me personally, had the sound engineering side been improved.

Had a tought time deciding how to rate this one. On one hand I don't like U2 very much, they always seemed bland and boring, with unimaginative melodies and this "wall of sound" that they create with effects. This kind of ruins the musical experience because of several reasons. One being it removes sound stage and imaging out of the equation, which makes the songs really boring to listen to, because there is no feeling of space and coexistance of frequencies and different instruments which are supposed to create the song together. On the other hand there are some famous songs on this album, the band have achieved significant mainstream success, and the songs aren't bad per se, there is just not that much positive I can say about them. During listening to the album, I figured out that all of their hits are actually just songs which have a melodic chorus, where the vocals create the actual melody, and not the instruments. So people just remember those few words of the chorus, which are honestly, sometimes pretty good. Was between a 2 and a 3, giving it a 2 in the end.

Solid and quality folk album, nothing stood out to me as very special, but also there is nothing wrong. The melodies are nice and clear, some songs feature great guitar riffs, which I enjoyed. Everything is well made, mixed and mastered, all of the instruments, and the vocals, sound clear and there is a good separation between them. The lyrical themes are easy going and typical of folk music. The album is a nice and easy listen, you can put it on, relax and enjoy the good times.

Pretty average album in my opinion, nothing special or even solid about it. The beats are raw and loud, but in this case this isn't a good thing, they seem a bit unpolished and basic, often way to repetitive. The melodies are weak and not memorable. The vocals aren't blended in the usual way for techno music, but rather jump in unexpectedly, when I think about it, the album sounds like mixing the song structures of pop music into electronic music. The whole album seems like it needs more work in the studio, mixing and mastering, finding a better balance and maybe adding elements here and there. Having said that, there are also some fun songs and melodies on here, just not that many. Not sure why this made the list to be honest, the album isn't even that popular to begin with.

Great folk album, it wakes just the right emotions inside of you. The vocals are the star of the show, with great color, articulation and emotion. The melodies are great and easy going and they accompany the vocals really well. They aren't usually the star of folk albums, but they do their job perfectly on this album, with great dynamics and being loud and quiet when needed. They feature guitars, bass, piano, and even some brass instruments. All in all, I was really impressed sonically, with both music and vocals. The production could be better, but it really doesn't do much harm to the album, which is top notch either way. Showing once again that either you convey an emotion with your art, or you don't, other things don't matter as much. Some of Vans biggest hits are on here, but other songs don't sag far behind, this is a quality album through and through, and I will listen to it again for sure.

Interesting and unusual album, it was fun to listen to, reminded me of new wave albums from my country. Generally, the album is a mix of punk and new wave, it also contains some Shadows-like instrumentals, which sound quite nice. What pleasantly surprised me about the album is the fact that there are some guitar riffs on here which are borderline hard rock/metal, which for me, being a fan of these genres, was great to hear and they also fit in quite well with the music. Honestly, the album isn't anything too special, but it's a fun listen and isn't boring at any point.

Turns out that the majority of the songs from this album have been removed from streaming services, so I am not able to review it in it's entirety. Considering this, I will give the album the middle, 3 stars. Out of the songs I managed to listen to, the album fits in with the sonicscape of the late 60s, but doesn't quite have the quality of some of it's contemporaries. There are some nice guitar solos and melodies on here, as was the style of that time, which I liked. What I didn't like as much is that none of the songs were memorable, there are no hits or singles which stood out to me.

Another one from Radiohead, I really have to set aside time and deep dive into this band. This is the second album and the last one before they hit insane levels of popularity with some of their next releases. This fits more into the mold of UK pop-rock bands of that time and for me personally it's a bit more engaging than the other releases, where they moved to a more abstract sound and feel. Arguably though, this album doesn't transport you to a different world like the later ones do, it just doesn't have that emotion and style. From this album it's definitely evident that they began to develop their sound, which is half way between UK pop-rock and "classic" Radiohead. There are some signs of their future work on here, but they are also mostly using the usual song structures and big choruses. Sonically it's pretty straightforward most of the time, with guitars and the rhythm section. I liked the guitar work on 3-4 songs, where they played some nice, complicated, riffs. Lyrically it's also in line with Radioheads usual sad, depressing and slow style. All in all a solid album from my perspective.

What a great album, there's so much energy and emotion on here. Stylistically, this is a blend of classic rock, blues and country, all with a southern twist. While researching the album I saw it described as swamp rock/blues, which is as good as description as any. Listening to this is like sitting in a saloon, drinking whiskey, and telling stories with your friends. You are completely transported to a different time and place. The album is crawling with great guitar riffs, rhythms and lyrics, pretty much every song is great, you would struggle to find a subpar song on here. This, combined with the somewhat typical album length for that time period of just under 30 minutes, provides a quality album through and through. There are also some really nice blues solos. The vocals of John Fogerty have such a great color and raspiness to them, they fit into the music and themes absolutely perfectly. This one is definitely going into the favorites as an occasional listen.

This one is a favorite of mine for years, it just has that west coast vibe, with nice mellow bits and smooth flow. Most of the songs on the album are great, the intensity mostly stays at a high throughout. The beats are killer, pure 90s old school hip-hop, this is what it's all about. Lyrically the themes are typical west coast rap, drugs, women, gangs and chilling with your homies. Snoops flow is also really good, there are some more advanced rhyming techniques, nothing brilliant, but still a nice addition to the vanilla stuff. This creates a style which flows smoothly and is perfectly in line with the music. This is one of the classics in my book, a pure quality old school album.

Well, this was a hell of an experience. Thematically, this is quite the unusual and strange combination, I mean, just the description alone is insane - homicidal, extraterrestrial, time-traveling gynecologist and surgeon, wtf. The beats are raw, minimal, trip hop, funky, space sci-fi, and at times horror oriented. There are also a lot of quite graphic porn and disease references, some of the skits are also just samples of porn scenes. One of the most impressive things about the album is the vocabulary. You have heard hundreds of albums which rap about women, drugs and violence. But have you heard an album which raps about space travel, surgical procedures and aliens? I don't think so. The flow and the delivery are top notch, they convey the message and fit in perfectly with the beats. Rapping is erratic, asynchronous and kind of progressive sounding, taking the technique to a new level. There are multiple patterns used, so you can never guess what's coming next. The major downside of the album for me are the overly graphical scenes of sex and different kinds of diseases. I get that this is the main theme of the album, and would go on to be the main theme for Kool Keith, but for me it's just too much and I don't think these over the top elements gave the album anything positive. I think most people would appreciate the art and the good parts of the album way more, have the profanities been toned down or removed all together, while still keeping the same themes. The guy can still be a doctor, just not a gynecologist surgeon. One of the things I didn't like as much are the choruses, which felt bland and repetitive. On almost all of the songs they are just 2-3 word phrases, followed by another word, and then repeated over and over 4-5 times, with no special rhythm or purpose. But this does have it's purpose, considering the album can be classified as abstract hip-hop as well, breaking the mold. All in all, I am happy that I listened to this album. Even though it has it's flaws, it's still a technically great album and has a lot going for it. Also, you are quite unlikely to find sci-fi hip-hop lyrics at this level. Would give it 3.5 stars if I could.

Another great album by the band, the culmination of the "thrash era" and rightfully so. Setting aside the obvious drawback of the bad mix, which features no bass, this is a solid album throughout. Highlights of the album are, as usual for the band, the riff galore, great lyrical themes, technical precision and advanced song structures. The band lean more towards the thrash side on this album, there are still prog elements, but they are not as prominent as on Master of Puppets. It would be a shame not to mention One, which is one of the best metal songs of all time, gives me the chills every time. To anyone who loved the song I recommend the movie Johnny Got His Gun from 1971, which talks about the soldier who was the inspiration for the song One, that is some dark and disturbing stuff. It's a real shame the internal quarrels got in the way of the music and Jason's bass was removed as a result, because of primadona Lars. There are versions online which add the bass back and the album, of course, feels more alive and natural, and less hollow and artificial. Although, I have to admit, the lack of bass gives the album this robot-like feel and precision. Considered to drop this to a 3 star because of the bass/mastering issues, but leaving it at a 4.

Strange album, I was kind of expecting more with this one, but it didn't leave a strong impression on me. None of the songs were that memorable, they all look alike and are somewhat similar. Not sure how I would classify this one, perhaps as psych-pop. One of the things I liked most are the psychedelic guitar and synth solos. Don't think the genre resonates with me, I will have to do more research to understand the topic.

Not sure this album deserves to be on the list, especially as it was released a couple of years ago. The album is somewhat monotonous, all of the songs sound similar since they hardly feature any melodies, chord progressions or rhythm. The whole album feels like the same simple ballad. The vocals themselves also aren't that impressive to me, since they are heavily produced and feature several effects. Having said this, the album is not terrible, some songs are fun to listen to and feature more music than the others.

A solid country album, the twang is there, but for me personally, it's not up to par with the genres grates, it's just doesn't have that emotion. Having said that, this is still a fun album to listen to, the guitars and piano feature some really great melodies and sound pretty good. Lyrical themes are in line with the genre. I saw the guys switched direction from more of a psychedelic rock to country. Their biggest hits came in the former, and the switch might have caused a loss in popularity, but this album is still a pretty solid country album. One more thing I have to mention is the decent production, everything come off well, clear and balanced.

What a great, quality, album. This is a mix of funk and soul, with some jazz elements here and there. Stevie's vocals are great, full of emotion and feel, and so are the lyrical messages. Every song sets an emotion and takes you on a ride, a smooth funky story about love, life, personal growth and struggles. The album is just so pleasant, down to earth, but yet so profound and with strong messages of love and peace. The music found just the right balance of being complex enough to be noticed and appreciated, but also not so complex to take the songs over completely. The focus mainly stays on Stevie and the lyrics. The piano is one of the stars, the chord progressions are full and interesting. The percussions and the rhythm section feel like they are one more step back, like being perfectly executed by great session musicians. All of this makes the album sound really polished, smooth and professional. This one goes to the list of favorites, looking forward to more from Stevie and the crew.

Not sure why this made the list, the album isn't bad, but just as with some other albums from different cultures, my stance is that you either put at least one album from every culture in the world, or just don't include any if they aren't musically relevant. This sounds similar to folk music from my country, interesting little melodies, predictable song structure and chord progressions, and emotional lyrics talking about the struggles of the common man, sung with much vibrato. Songs sound pretty similar and nothing stands out of the mold, except Imagine perhaps. All in all, I'm still glad I listened to the album, it's something new and I appreciate new experiences, but just not sure if it's worth a spot on the list. But then again, it's a matter of do you want diversity or pure quality on the list, which is a subjective decision in the end.

Never knew Madonna was one of the first artists to incorporate more electronic music in pop. This sounds way before it's time, rave/dance version of Madonna. Also, the album was kind of a surprise for me, since I related Madonna to a different kind of sound and vibe. Never listened to her that much, but I have heard the popular songs. Turns out once I read the album summary that this was a departure from her previous work, and a one for the better it seems. One of the highlights of the album is definitely the production. Everything is crystal clear, the beats come of nice and round, the mix is quite loud and there is a lot of stuff going on most of the time, but the sound is still balanced. Madonna's vocals take a bit of a step back in this kind of genre as opposed to being the absolute center in her previous work, but this is handled without issues. She blends in with the grooves really well, singing in a lower register than usual I think. The album also gets dark at times, with oriental and eastern melodies, hard grooves, and straight to the point lyrics. Having said that, the songs do sound similar and the album gets a bit monotonous. All in all, a pleasant surprise, a well produced album, .

One hell of an album, pure raw energy. This one is on the favorites list for quite some time, so I listen to it occasionally. The album just works, everything is working towards a common goal of expressing ones anger and rebellion towards authority. It's hard to pick something that stands out, everything is great. The guitar work of Tom Morello is phenomenal, the riffs are heavy, interesting and diverse. The rhythm section does a great job, there are nice drum fills and hi hat work. The bass is also great, with nice solo riffs here and there. The vocals and the lyrics are a single unit, they fit in perfectly. The themes can pretty much be summed up as "fuck the system". The album is loud and fast most of the time, but isn't afraid to get slow and quiet when needed, with powerful lyrics taking the front seat. The band has two more solid albums, but this one stands out as the special one, one of the best from it's era for sure.

The first album of one of the best known virtual bands ever. There are some pretty good songs and hits on here, but ultimately the album feels mid. Not bad, not that special, but damn fun to listen to most of the time. Clint Eastwood is phenomenal though. I listened to this album when I was younger and I didn't know back then that the guest rapper on Clint, and Rock the House, is Del The Funkee Homosapien. The guy has a pretty nice flow and vocal color, the two songs which feature him are my two favorites from the album. If the band somehow managed to create at least 3-4 more songs of the same caliber, the album would be better. They did, I believe, manage to do this on the next album. Sonically this is a mix of several genres, the grooves and the melodies are nice, but not refined. The vocals and the lyrical themes are usually simple, with a few exceptions. Solid album and a start for the guys, some songs definitely stand out compared to the rest.

Quite an unusual album, it's really creative and finds a way to be different, but still musical and interesting. The album is a blend of different styles and a transitional one for the band, since they started moving from a more traditional punkish new-wave, to funk/art/talking heads type of sound. One of the things I liked about this album, as with their previous release, is the unusual guitar rhythms and melodies, you are never sure what's coming next, which is true for other instruments as well. The bass lines are also quite interesting throughout the album. The songs are fun to listen to, and the themes are engaging, but they just weren't that special to me. The bands trademark sound is here, but for me there is a lack of bigger singles/hits, although, most of the songs are memorable and have nice themes and sounds. Was between a 3 and a 4. Giving it a 3 in the end because the album just wasn't that special for me.

Another lesser known album from a different background, this one was more fun to listen to, but it still doesn't feel up to par for this list. Sonically the album fits into Latin funk rock, with some hip-hop mixed in. This description itself creates a fun and upbeat image in ones head, and in reality this album sounds exactly like that. There are fun Latin rhythms with different percussion elements, smooth guitar and piano melodies. The best parts of the album for me were the songs which featured hip-hop vocals, the blend worked really well in my opinion. Now for the not so good parts, the album doesn't bring anything new, it just goes through the same, well treaded, paths. The music, mix and vocals aren't well done or refined, they are just average. All in all a fun album, but nothing special.

Quite a mix of genres on this one, the whole 70s are contained on a single album apparently. There are pop, prog, rock and art elements on here. Not sure I if listened to something like this before. Despite the interesting and changing song structures, this album can't be categorized as pure prog rock, at least in my opinion. There are way more elements of pop on here. Maybe progressive pop? Nevertheless, this is a really fun album to listen to, you never know what's coming next. There are great melodies throughtout, on piano, guitar, but also on winds for example. The album features two different singers, which makes the songs even more unexpected and different. This is a quality album, it's really well done, the production is good, nothing is overly aggressive. Everything is polished, from the music itself, to the mix. I just have to mention that harmonica into, it's one of the best album intros I've heard. A pretty cool album. Wasn't sure if I wanted to give it a 3 or 4. This could be one of the best pop albums I ever heard, just for the sheer musicianship and craftsmanship. Giving it a 4 for that.

What a cool and sensual album, I enjoyed listening to every song. I don't listen to much Pop and R&B, but this album feels so smooth and polished. The beats and the mix are like butter, the vocals are soulful and nicely blended in. I also liked the hip-hop elements which are also mixed in well and the crossover between vocal styles is seamless. The album also feels so 90s, the vibe is 100% there, which is a good thing in my opinion. There is nothing exaggerated on here, the album is sexy, but not overly so. The vocals are tamed and there are no crazy highs or falsetto. for example. Solid album, an easy listen on any day.

Quite the unusual album, based on the cover I expected psychedelic electronic music, in the genres I saw indie and britpop and expected that, but in the end the album was something different for me altogether. One of the favorite things on the album for me was that it dabbles in prog, I think I would prefer it much more if it had more of these elements across the board. I liked all of the unexpected elements, death metal was mentioned, didn't think I would actually hear it after 4-5 pop songs, but it did come for a brief moment on vocals. There are also some blues/country elements, every now and again there is a nice guitar riff. Another genre which found it's way into the album is techno. Somehow, all of this works and nothing feels out of place on this album. I think the album had great potential, it manifested a whole lot, but not the whole thing, at least in my opinion. This could have been even more insane and wacky. Glad I listened to the album, one of the biggest surprises on the list so far.

What a fun and hit filled album. Never listened to Billy Joel, but then while doing research I realized I actually know, and love, a lot of his songs. The album is easy going, with nice, upbeat, melodies, strong and clear vocals, and good and not overly complicated production. What I found interesting is that all of the songs somehow have a positive note. Even when performing ballads, the album manages to sound fun and happy. The music is not complicated, and could even be characterized as simple, but in this case this is perfect, it creates a perfect mood for the vocals. It also goes into the direction of jazz from time to time, which works really well. There are no bad songs on here, the album is a coherent unit and it's not too long. Great album, I listened it for 3-4 times in a row, definitely goes on the favorites list.

After Innervisions, I was expecting a similar quality album, I was wrong. The album isn't bad, but the quality just isn't there on most of the songs. There are a lot of simple, filler, songs on here. Stevie's vocals are still great on every track, but it's not enough for me to enjoy the songs if the music and melodies are simple, repetitive and unimaginative. Superstition stands out massively. You would think that the rest of the album is made in a similar style at least, they don't all have to be hits, but no. The rest of the album is just simple, filler, love songs. If they included one or two of these then it would be fine in my opinion, to take a break with a simple, yet emotional song, but not the whole album. I kept catching myself expecting something to happen in the empty parts of songs, a guitar/piano riff, bass/drum fill, anything, and they would fit in great, but that is just not what the album is about. Again, not a bad album, but I was expecting more, everything I loved on Innervisions, the great musicianship, a wide range of instruments, tasteful and complex melodies, interesting rhythm sections and great production which fits everything in, just isn't found here.

What the hell did I just listen to. This album is the epitome of "there's a fine line between genius and madness". The album can be categorized as art/avangard classical pop, don't think I ever listened to something like this. Most of the songs are classical pieces, with various other instruments dissonantly coming in and breaking the balance. This gives the album a unique, progressive and uneasy feeling. What it manages to do perfectly though, is set the mood. This does feel like cafe music, but just not for a cafe on this planet. You are completely transported to a different reality, like in a dream. The dream being somewhere between blissful, most of the time, and a nightmare which comes from intermittent dissonant passages. The cover is genius, somehow, it manages to explain the album perfectly. It's a nice, casual, day, and a naked man with a penguin head is talking to a penguin, not weird at all. Really interesting album, one of the reasons all of us started listening to a list like this. You don't just bump into stuff like this. Wasn't sure whether to rate it a 3 or a 4, giving it a 3 in the end because I'm unlikely to listen to this again, I can't imagine a situation when this will come to mind.

Quite an interesting and unusual album, Jefferson Airplane meets the Doors. Avangard, art, jazz, experimental rock. The music fits into the mould of a band from the late 60s, psychedelic, ahead of it's time, unique and inovative. This band being one the most unique ones of the bunch, and with the most experimental and complex music. They only released this one album and it's a shame they didn't go on in the same fashion as some of their contemporaries. The opening track is straight out of a horror movie, the lyrics and themes would be a great base for a movie. The female vocals are great, very Jefferson Airplane like. If drugs made noise, they would sound like that. Glad I listened to the album, not sure if I will listen to it again, so giving it a 3.

The album felt kind of bland, this being the first one of the Smiths for me, and a second one from Morrissey. The first Morrissey record I rated the lowest in the first ~90 albums, and this has some similar traits, but thankfully, not all of them. This time the weird, ranting, lyrical themes aren't there, and this was a breath of freah air. What did stay the same though, are the simple, uninspiring and monotonous melodies. Only ever once in a while a song would sound different and unique from the rest, but most of the time they are just simple and straightforward, with not much excitement to break the flow. Maybe I just don't like this jangle/indie pop sound, but this album seems a bit too simple. Now that I think about it, the problem might be Morrisseys vocal color and articulation. Having said that, the album is not terrible, some of the songs are more melodic, easy going and fun to listen to. The mix has a bit of a forward treble/upper mids, which makes it more "fun and engaging", but isn't my personal preference. A fine album, nothing special.

What a phenomenal album! What's even more impressive is the fact that this is a double album, but still it manages to deliver great quality throughout. There are so many hits, singles, quality songs and songs which were sampled and made into hits by other artists on here that it's mindboggling. Even the extra EP is great. How do you create a ~20 song album of this quality? Insane. The album has a slight lean towards soul and ballads compared to Innervisions, but this works in it's favor, even though Innervisions was great as well. Sonically everything is really well done. Stevies voice is the best it has ever been, the color, articulation and precision is astonishing, it's a real pleasure listening to such a skilled and soulful artist. Likewise, the keys are perfect and create a single, indivisible, unit together with the vocals. There are many great melodies in the album, somehow they are able to produce a hit after hit. The rhythm section also shines, it continues the great work done on Innervisions and builds upon it. There is not a single moment when drums and bass aren't active and engaged. The album is full of fills, interesting bridges and rhythm changes, but these still manage to stay in the background and to not be intrusive to the main stars of the show, just add to them. I now know why this is considered one of the best albums of all time. Another one from Stevie going into the favorites.

Smooth and slick album, is it great, not really, is it fun to listen to, absolutely. The beats are fun and easy going, with a nice, thick, bass. The vocals are smooth and blend in perfectly. The songs are usually somewhat simple, but every now and again, there is an interesting electric guitar riff or solo, which is right up my alley. The band seem to blend hip-hop and rock in a similar way to other artists in the 90s (RATM, Beastie Boys, etc.), but with less success and originality, creating monotonous and commercial music for the most part. The album also has a certain Latin vibe to it. Was between 2 and 3, since I would listen to it again as it's an easy listen for work/chilling, I give it a 3.

Solid album, a blend of new wave, punk and pop, with a British feel and themes. This features the typical new wave jittery melodies, erratic bass lines and up beat drums. The vocals are clear and pop-ish. The themes are classic - love, british life, queen and country. There are also a couple of nice ballads, which do fit into the record, even though they are not typical for this style. A couple of songa stand out, namely "English Rose" and "Down in the Tube Station at Midnigh". The rose is a great ballad, and tube station is the best song on the album in my opinion, it's raw, melodic and has a great story. Nothing felt too stand-out about the album, it's fun to listen to, giving it a 3.

I just realized this is the first blues album I got on this list, and it's album 99. Almost forgot the genre existed, even though it's a one that I enjoy. This is a live album, which can sometimes be a great thing, there is a number of famously great live album, but most of the time this doesn't deliver in my opinion. This album for example didn't have anything too special to offer for me, I think I would enjoy a studio album more. It's a solid album, fun to listen to, pure Chicago blues, it also influenced a lot of artists of all sorts of genres. You can put this on and forget about it, the songs are smooth, guitar and piano melodies are nice and impactful, the vocals are strong and emotional, nothing is overdone. Muddy is a legend, an easy listen, would give it 3.5 if I could.

What a great album, so energetic, so funky, and so good. I heard about Fela Kuti, but never listened to his music, boy am I glad I discovered him now. I also just learned that this mix of traditional African music and rhythms, with funk and jazz is it's own genre, called Afrobeat. Didn't consider this interesting combination before, but it works together like magic, these are made for each other. There is not a single boring moment on the album, it just goes full speed all the way. There are 5 long songs, more like jam sessions, on here. Each one tells it's own story and doesn't feel overwhelming because of it's length. It just flows naturally and manages to stay coherent. The melodies and lines are phenomenal, rhythm section is nice and lively, Ginger Baker brings a new dimension on the songs where he makes an appearance. The vocals feature both an English and African lines. The African lyrics and chants convey a kind of down to earth, primal and basic human emotions. Emotions of love, freedom and happiness. What more do we need. Easy 4 stars, funky, soulful and jazzy, African rhythms.

Humble beginnings for one of the best bands of all time. First Beatles album on the list, about time. The Beatles philosophy was similar to some other artists of that time - they were recording and releasing albums at a crazy fast pace, especially for todays standards. The sheer amount of songs made and recorded meant that they had a lot of practical experience with creating music. This paid dividends on their later releases, where they achieved legendary status and made some of the best known songs ever. Back to this particular album, nothing is too special here. This is a good, classic Beatles sounding, album. The songs sound poppy and cheerful, the chord progressions are nice, clean and straightforward, the vocal harmonies are phenomenal, as always. Most of the lyrical themes are about love. They manage to sound emotional, exciting and memorable. Solid album, not their best by a long shot. I'm ready for more, giving this one a 3.

This album leaves a similar impression as the Muddy Waters At Newport one, it's a good album, but it's a shame it's a live one. It starts off rather slowly, but picks up the pace after a couple of tunes. The winded instruments shine the most in my opinion, the sax, trumpet and the clarinet. The rhythm section is not that well mic'd up, so it doesn't come of as loud as it should and is kind of underwhelming. While on the other hand, brass instruments come of as too strong at times. The piano provides a nice background to the wind soloists. The album is a nice, relaxing listen, especially because of the aspect of it being live. It sounds more laid back, natural and "next to you", even though the quality suffers because of this. Still, this is a great example of a big band jazz orchestra doing everything from big monumental intros to intricate solo pieces and improvisations. Solid album, but it's not amongst the best I heard in the genre, mostly because of it's lack of fidelity. Wasn't sure whether I should give it 3 or 4. Giving it a 4 just because of the musicianship and talent on display.

A cool and smooth funk/soul album. There is a lot to like about this album. The songs are easy going and soulful. The rhythm section is just butter, especially the bass, which is basically all fills throughout the album. The vocals come of great, clear and powerful. The lyrical themes are ones of love, faith and peace, they have almost a gospel like, preaching, feel to them. One thing I didn't like about the album is the mix, not sure if it's just the version I listened to, but the mix is quite harsh and too bright at times. Even the bass is strong, giving this a slight V, which is never good if you are after a neutral, revealing and clear sound. I was between a 3 and a 4, giving it a 3 in the end, because, even though I enjoy the genre, I am not sure I will listen to the album again.

Pretty straightforward album, without much surprises. This is as generic as it gets, pure radio rock. There is not much of interest on the album, the chord progressions are simple, the lyrical themes are fine, nothing new, there are no solos or fills of any kind. Only every now and again there is a semi interesting song, but they also tend to repeat the same ideas and the simple song structure throughout. The whole album was written and recorded by Grohl, which is impressive before you listen to the album, since it does genuinely sound like it was written by a single person. There are no interesting parts on any of the instruments, they just do the same thing throughout the song, there is no special musicianship skills which every individual artist which is a master of their instruments brings to the table. Having in mind, this is not the only "one man" album out there, and there are some great ones, some work from Price for one, so this is no excuse. Was between a 2 and a 3, some of the songs are not complete filler, and the fact that the whole album was performed by Grohl himself, weren't enough to pull me to a 3.

Cool modern country/folk album, an easy listen. The album is a bit monotonous, it has a sort of a Lynch/Tarantino, reverb washed, dream like hallucinations, vibe. In this regard, it accomplishes it's purpose perfectly. Every song is a dream like ballad, they are all quite similar in both vocal and musical aspect. What would make it more enjoyable for me, would be an inclusion of some faster songs and more complicated melodic and rhythm lines. But then, the purpose might be lost, and the album would fit into a different style. The lyrical themes are typical for the genre and fit the music perfectly, hard life, lost love and dreams of a better tomorrow. A solid album, could be better, but the atmosphere is there for sure.

Average album, the guys seemed to be going for the Radiohead sound which was made popular a few years back, but they just didn't bring the quality. The chord progressions are basic and uninventive. The vocals are pretty bland and uninteresting. Every now and again there comes a bit of a more interesting passage, but it usually proves to be short and the song just drags on with the same theme, over and over again. The lyrics are also pretty average and don't bring anything cool to the table. I don't think this kind of music is my preference. All in all, would not feel compeled to listen to it again.

US, and a bit punkier, version of the Rolling Stones, not as good, but pretty fun. The songs are fun, slick, easy going and bluesy, great for casual listening and chilling. This is a blend of rock, blues, some sprinkled in punk, there's also a bit of a country/southern influence, which fits in great. One improvement over the Stones I see here are the vocals, which are much more prominent and powerful, sounding similar to Elvis in some songs, and raspy punkish in others. They don't have the songwriting skills, showmanship and the charisma of the Stones though. A solid fun album, would listen to it casually again.

I'm not a huge fan of reggae, always felt it was somewhat monotonous, but this one I liked, eventhough I had to listen to it a couple of times to get a feel for it. Besides the classic reggae vibe and songs, which were expected, what surprised me the most were elements from other genres. There were some nice, emotional, ballads, some great guitar solos and interesting melodies. Overall, the album offers a bit more instrumentally and stylistically than a standard reggae album, and that was the highlight for me. This mix of reggae and blues/rock was quite nice. Solid album, would listen to it again.

Solid album, but there's nothing too special about it for me personally. This is somewhere between rock, country and folk. For me it lacked the energy or more interesting musicianship, both in ballads and in more upbeat songs. The songs seem kind of bland and simple at times, with simple progressions and melodies. Having said that, the album is still fun to listen to and has some interesting songs. One of the high points for me are the guitar solos and the easy going nature of the album, making it perfect to listen to on a lot of occasions. Would give it 3.5 if I could.

Pretty powerful record, with some of Ice Cubes biggest hits, but in the end it's not one of the best of the era for me. The beats come of as too strong and bassy most of the time, in my opinion. The rapping style is pretty solid and the voice has a nice, strong color. The flow is somewhat basic, but still manages to deliver fun and engaging songs, with some tricks here and there. Lyrical themes deal with the struggle of black people in America and in that regard the album manages to deliver the message pretty well and clear. It's filled with raw energy, violence, gang life, police, drugs, sex and everything that goes with that. Ironically, probably the best song on the album, It Was A Good Day, stands out in both style and themes. It's more positive than negative, has an easy going funk beat and doesn't talk about violence, racism and every day struggles, at least not most of the time and not in an intense way. Didn't know Check Yo Self was on this, this is another standout song for me. Would give it 3.5 if I could.

Don't really associate the British with genres like reggae, but this is I guess a modern take on the genre, blending it with electonic music, which has it's positives and negatives. Haven't heard of this band before, don't think they are that famous outside of Britain. Didn't think I would enjoy the album that much once I started listening to it. But the more and more I got into it, the more I liked the easy going, laid back atmosphere it has to offer. This might be considered modern and minimalist reggae and it takes some of the best aspects of the genre, like atmosphere and feel, and blends it with more modern jazzy and electronic sounds. The production is well done, everything sounds well recorded and separated, especially liked the drums. I also liked the addition of some instruments not usually found in reggae, like brass winds and synths. On the other hand, the vocals are somewhat weird to me, they come of as too clean and high. Also, the album doesn't provide anything too special or stand-out in my opinion. All in all, a solid casual record.

What an energy bomb, such a positive and uplifting album. Sam manages to engage the whole audience, together with us, into a hell of an experience. Sam mixes a great, powerful voice, which dominates the sonic scape, with a great deal of showmanship and positive energy. Right from the first seconds we are drawn in. Not one seconds goes by without energy and happiness, as Sam calls out to the audience. This energy doesn't fade for the whole duration of the album, no matter if the songs are slow ballads, or more uplifting twisters. The lyrics talk about love, feeling good and being happy, living with a soul. This album is the essence of the genre in that regard. The saxophone solos are another standout feature of the album. When Sam gives the queue to go for the solo, the sax takes the front stage perfectly and screams like it's nobody's business, with clear and melodic phrasing. Literally every solo on the album is phenomenal. Even though this is a live album, it really doesn't lack in the mixing department, which is a great sight. Live albums can often come of as weak and unbalanced, but here this is definitely not the case. Even the audience sounds are great, they are heard somewhere in the background, but they don't get in the way of the music. Great album, I haven't heard of Sam Cooke before, but I see why they call him the king of soul.

Fine album, quite basic at times, but still enjoyable to listen to. The highlight of the album are the vocals for sure. They are front and center on all of the songs and are powerfull and clear, commanding the album with ease. The background music is somewhat simple, with easy going rhythm section, african and jazz melodies. Even though it's simple, it acompanies the vocals well and creates a pleasant atmosphere. With that being said, the album comes of as a bit monotonous and simplistic, with not much excitement.

Cool album, kind of a minimal, modern take on funk and soul, didn't think I would enjoy it this much. The songs mostly consist of a prominent beat or melody, which takes up most of the sonicscape, and strong and loud vocals, which tell the story in a sort of protest/chanting fashion. This provides a unique sound and atmosphere, I haven't heard anything like it before. The music is minimal, but still powerfull and engaging. The lyrical themes talk about the struggle of black people. The album manages to deliver the message, just not too strongly in my opinion. Would give it 3.5 if I could.

Good psychedelic rock/blues album, came out around the same time as some Hendrix records, with a similar style, but not as virtuous. This album has two distinct halves in my opinion. The first one comes of as bland, I think mostly due to uninteresting and dragging vocals, which give it a lazy tone. Compared to Hendrix, it sounds like it was made on this planet. The riffs aren't as nearly as powerful and innovative, the energy and emotion aren't there by a long shot. While there are great moments, such as Sunshine Of Your Love and some riffs here and there, I felt it was lacking something in order for me to enjoy it fully. The second half is a different story though, there is a lot more energy, interesting riffs and melodies are all over the place, and the songs were a lot more enjoyable for me. Even the lyrical themes were better. I was between a 3 and 4, but listening to it for the second time swerved me towards a 4. I enjoyed the second half.

Strange album, a mesh of different styles, but didn't grab my attention fully. There's prog, psychedelic, rock, country and a bit of jazz and probably something more on here. Some songs have more structure, but most of them don't follow a straight line. You can never guess what will come next. But the album lacked some virtuosity or energy for me. Twin guitar setup, I'm guessing that's what it is, sounded kind of strange, because they were both playing melodies in the same frequency range. So they sort of blend together and it sounds a bit dissonant, like you are listening to something which wasn't planned.

What the fuck was that, a whole new genre. What people don't seem to get with art is that it's goal isn't for you to like it, it's made to inspire thought and to cause emotion. This album certainly manages to do that. Haven't heard something like this before. Researching the album I found out that there are genres like "dark jazz", "crime jazz" and several film related genres. The album is mostly instrumentals with rare voice clips taken mostly from movies, or made to sound like that. It's intense, right from the first track you start to get a feeling of what you're getting into. Most of the tracks are crime/mystery inspired, nervous and designed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Every now and again, there's a lighter track. It's a concept album, so it's meant to tell a whole story, and it really does manage to sound like a story, a soundtrack to a story to be more precise, since it manages to convey the emotion it intends too with ease. While it's certainly one of the best from the list, it is one of the more interesting and unusual ones.

A fun album, sounds like you are on a cruise ship in the caribbean. But sadly, as is the case with most world albums on this list, it's probably not worthy of a spot on it. The musicianship is fine, the melodies are fun and uplifting. Songs are easy going and breezy, perfect for a relaxing day on the beach or a yacht. The vocal go well with the music, nothing stands out. Having said that, the album isn't really special in any way, it feels average and doesn't offer much quality to the listener. One more average world album, hope they get better later on.

Didn't listen to African rock before, especially desert rock/blues. The album is a breath of fresh air compared to most of the non-western albums, but is still pretty basic in my opinion. Most of the songs are simple, with basic chord progressions, melodies and vocals. The same motifs repeat throughout the same song, which make them a bit repetitive and boring sounding. There's a reason why most of music uses even the most basic song structures, they just makes it sound more interesting to the listener. "Nick" was a standout track for me, but even on that the same sections repeat over and over. The blues is a genre which has so much to offer and it's so easy to create different licks and passages and to make the song sound interesting and different. What I enjoyed the most were the blues oriented songs and melodies, the rock aspect wasn't that interesting to me, and I think the blues fits more into the vibe of the music for me. Was between a 2 and a 3.

Fine album, not something I would usually listen to, but on the second listen I enjoyed it. What I liked the most about the album are the synth melodies and drum beats. They are interesting, powerfull and rhythmic. They set a great tone for the album. The vocals set a sort of melancholic and robotic atmosphere. In this sense, the album feels pretty modern, with a lot of introspective, and generally complex, lyrical ideas. The album sounds kind of like floating in space and going to a concert of machines which became self aware. Would give it 3.5 if I could.

Sounded pretty average to me, not sure why this is considered a classic. The songs sound similar and are forgettable most of the time. The album seems sloppy and all over the place. The mix is weird and it makes listening to the album not enjoyable. The instruments don't have room, they are overlapping with eachother and vocals are straight up bad at times. Considering this was released in '78, there is no excuse for this. The band gave themselves liberty to talk about Jesus, the Holocaust, women rights and so on, but they didn't do a good job of it in my opinion. It just comes of as pretentious and wanting to add something just to sound more important and complex than you actually are. I also listened to the first album of the band, and it's much better in my opinion. The music and the energy are way better. People like the 3rd because it's "the sound of a band falling apart", not sure how this is appealing, but then again, it might just be me. Was between a 2 and a 3.

This was a pleasant surprise, such a sexy album. Didn't listen to much neo-soul before, I do enjoy soul and the related genres, so this was a nice continuation of that. This guy feels like the logical and spiritual successor of Stevie Wonder. Is he that good, no, is he good is general, heck yes. Regardless of what the listeners think, art has to evolve, it's been like that since the beginning of time. New and progressive styles have to emerge from, and as an answer to, the existing ones. This is one such example, just about every aspect of soul is evolved. The music is more minimal and incorporates electronic instruments, but still has that distinct cool soul vibe, with nice rhythms, bass fills and melodies. The lyrics are more direct instead of subtle, even though this was true for some of the older albums as well. Everything just sounds so smooth, polished and slick. The vocals are a highlight for sure, with nice color, range and feel. Great album, I'm converging more and more towards funk and soul as the list goes on.

Didn't expect so many hits were made by Moby, and on a single album. This album is a fusion of blues, gospel and other genres with electronica. The music isn't complex or profound, but the is guy good at creating catchy melodies and grooves. Basic chord progressions, harmony, rhythms and scales are his bread and butter, but he just does it so well at times. He's also pretty good at arranging songs, creating dynamics and switching a lot of different instruments around. The vocal parts are also interesting on pretty much every song. Having said that, the songs are still basic most of the time and don't provide anything special to the listener except the same good old ideas. Would give it 3.5 if I could.

A typical example of nu metal, with all of the distinctive attributes of the genre. Is nu metal the peak of musicality and metal as a whole? Objectively, no. Is it one of the steps in it inevitable evolution? Yes. This album leans more towards commercial genres and isn't really that heavy or extreme. You can find better examples of the genre, some bands do the angry teen routine better than others. The album tries to be aggressive, but doesn't accomplish that fully, instead coming of as badly produced and sloppy at times. Lyrics are typical of the genre - angry, juvenile and about hating everybody. The highlights for me are the drums for sure, alongside occasional great riffs. Would give it 2.5 if I could.

What a pleasant surprise, and I thought I heard about all the good hip-hop artists. Haven't heard of this group before, but boy did they leave a good impression right from the get go. This might not be the best rap you ever heard, but it's sort of well made old school rap, like sophisticated 90s rap. The beats are just so smooth, clear, well made and produced. They create a perfect easy going atmosphere for the vocals. The rapping style is in line with the beats, it's just so smooth, all of the guys blend well together and changes are really well done. What's also interesting is that the album has a really positive note most of the time, which is not typical of the genre. One negative thing I can mention is that this isn't the best rapping you've ever heard, nor are these the best beats, but the album just has such a nice flow and vibe that it is up there in terms of enjoyment. Great and fun album, it's going to the favorites.