Not a huge Blues guy, but you can tell that Muddy Waters (and this album) were a huge hit due to his electric and eccentric take on Blues, something that would lay the foundation for Rock and Roll. For that, I have to give him the highest credit, but at the same time none of the songs from the album truly jump out at me and demand to saved, sung along to, or replayed, save maybe "Got my Mojo Working".

Wasn't familiar with Sade before. Hearing this as a debate album is astonishing, as she/they already have a sophisticated, established sound which I have learned to be instrumental in shaping the jazz/pop that defined a good chunk of the 80s. A great album, but the songs begin to sound repetitive about halfway through, with Smooth Operator being the clear standout.

This album was an interesting trip between "wow this sounds pretty good" to "what am I listening to?". Sometimes this would happen between songs, sometimes in would happen over the course of a singular song. However, that's the spirit of prog rock I suppose, with this album being instrumental to the rise of prog rock, and to my shock, an influence on even Kanye West.

Hard to say it held my attention all the way through, but it's success lies in its melancholy, poetic songwriting, something I may have glossed over. It would also seem that the album hits harder had you already been familiar with the bands previous sound, seeing as this piano-based album was a departure from prior albums. Nevertheless, this was my first introduction to the band and they are now on my radar.

Listenable all the way through, and demonstrates Aretha's vocal prowess, something that I imagine was a big breakthrough in soul/gospel/r&b or whatever you want to call this genre mashup at the time. Might rate it higher if there was more variety in lyrical theme and more original songs.

The tracklist, the guitar, the movie, the legend that is Prince. An incredible album that starts so energetically with Let's Go Crazy and finishes so powerfully with Purple Rain. This album certainly not only defined Prince's legacy but clearly helped shaped the 80s and the music industry altogether. Even in songs that don't matchup up to the album's biggest hits, catchy choruses and fierce guitar play makes every song a joy.

Always a joy discovering someone new from the 60s/70s, and one who had me thinking of both Joni Mitchell and Tracy Chapman. A couple of decent songs, but otherwise the album came across as forgettable.

Man, seeing the reviews, it seems people either LOVED or HATED the album. Hate seems pretty undue, as it is a spectacular album. Although the vocals are essentially just a pop-ish Bob Dylan impression, which isn't everyone's cup of tea, throughout the album the guitar work CRUSHES it. Money for Nothing, lyrically, is terrible, and yet the iconic guitar and drums makes it a smash hit. Then you have songs like Brothers in Arms, where it lyrically shines, musically conquers, and Knopfler's somber, raspy, singing actually ties it altogether. Then of course you just have to give credit where credit is due when it comes to cultural importance, with the rise of CDs, MTV, and Dire Straits's impact on the game. Bravo.

I want to give it higher, out of respect for the musician/singer that Ray Charles is and his impact on Soul music. However, its not really an album worth running it back for a second listen (which of course I still did). The big band performances are impressive, as well as the piano ballads, and as a sing, Ray is one of a kind. Collectively, I give Ray his flowers, but I only truly walked away with "Just for a Thrill".

Yesterday may have been one of the only days I could resonate with the album, as I lay in the darkness, too sick and too sensitive to light to do anything besides that, and insert some headphones and listen to the album. The melancholic tracks stream over me, sometimes evoking senses of early Pink Floyd, and even a softer, Piano-heavy Coldplay...Icelandic versions of course. The songs are peaceful and intriguing, but is it an album you have to hear before you die? That's debatable. However, if I take it for what it is, an Icelandic post-rock album, perhaps it is a groundbreaking album. For that, I give it 3 stars

Oh, to live in early 90s England, where this type of music is all the rave in the Dance clubs...so glad I I didn't. I get what this band is trying to do, and in some ways they're like an early version of Chainsmokers, but it's just a lot of samples, covers, experiments, and slow jams. I'll have to check out some of their newest stuff to see how they've evolved, but even their hit song from the album doesn't do much for me.

I maintain that this is not real music, and moreover, this is not a real album. It's just a collection of similar sounding songs that are not meant to be listened to front to back. I don't know if it's meant to be "listened to" at all, but rather heard. Instead it's a 70 min headache of listening to loops and samples that just feel like they're background music to some movie montage or a game of Lazer Tag. Don't even see the dance appeal in these songs either. Will have to give it another try while on acid I suppose. At least Saint Etienne had vocals.

Huge Indie Rock fan, and also love Arcade Fire, so I was stoked to see this after 3 straight "sonic experiment" albums. However, I wasn't awestruck by this album. I much prefer the "Everything Now" sound out of them, and on this one nothing truly stood out to me even after listening a couple times. I hate to give it the same rating as the mellow post-rock album I just listened to, but perhaps I need to give it a third, more intensive listen?

I hate to give this a 4, because it's not as a good as Brothers in Arms (one of my other 4s) but it was more enjoyable than some of my most recent 3s. I've never heard of Siouxsie before, but I actually was digging this album, and from what I've read, was instrumental in ushering in post-punk. Sometimes they had groovy rhythms, with a ton of bass and drums, other times it felt like Siouxsie was just screaming like a member of the Runaways...of course, it is "The Scream" after all. I wound up listening to their songs "Cities and Dust" from their 1986 album Tinderbox, and actually enjoyed that sound of there's a lot more. So credit to this as their debut album, I'm curious to hear more of their discography from the 80s. A fun pick-up for me though.

This is the alternative 80s/90s rock that I love! Guitar was absolutely shredding throughout, sometimes to a fault, overshadowing the vocals. But not to point where any song wasn't fun to listen to. Was not familiar with Dinosaur Jr. before, although I have come to realize "Feel the Pain" was on Rock Band 2! Funny this album is not a favorite of theirs, I'm curious to see how their sound changes.

While I felt this was more thorough and comprehensive listening experience than Fatboy Slime's "Better Living...", and seemed closer to EDM as I know it today (despite its '95 timestamp), I still maintain that these are not albums that must be listened to before you die. Do these songs come on in the club and people go "OMG I love Leftfield!" or "OMG I love this album!". I have a hard time believing it, but then again I'm just an EDM hater. Yet I've already gotten 3 EDM albums on this list and it's my goal to take with me at least one song from every album, so perhaps I will be a changed man by the end of it.

4.5 rounded up, because it deserves more credit than my last couple 4 stars, which were low+key 3.5s rounded up. That being said, this album still kicks ass. Changes, Pretty Things, and Life on Mars, all within the first 4 songs?!? David Bowie began to define his legacy on this album, as early as 1971, and he never looked back. Strange giving this 5 stars bc obviously he would go on to SMASH it out of the park, but my man David Bowie would take over the music industry with albums as unassuming as this. Before you know it he has cornered the game singing about space and extraterrestrial life forms and experiences. Bring it back to Earth, however, his humble piano ballads make this album very digestable before he goes on to be larger than life.

Wonderful album, with a range of different styles and stories that felt like there was a ton of heart behind each song. Felt like the second half starts to fall off a bit, with my personal favorites ringing in early on with La Cienega and Rescue Blues. That doesn't take away from the fact that it's an enjoyable listen all the way through and a worthy addition to this list. I like Ryan Adams so I'm glad to have been opened up to more of his discography.

A great album, some would even consider monumental for the genre of hip-hop. Several catchy, fun to listen to songs. It's amazing reading about how the collab between Aerosmith and DMC would elevate hip-hop to a much larger audience. It's a shame, however, what the genre would eventually become today as artists don't make music like this anymore (although the same can be said with most classic rock bands). I was close to giving it a 5, given it's enjoyability and landmark influence, but upon its conclusion I didn't find myself dieing to run it back again or replay any song in particular.

Wow, this was a DEBUT album!?! Van Halen could have been one-and-done with this album and they still would have cemented themselves as one of the greatest rock acts, with one of the most talented guitarists. But we're fortunate enough that they weren't. It's a no-skip album, where Eddie holds nothing back, track after track. What's most surprising to me, is that "I'm the One" is hardly talked about, but it has since become one of my favorites on the album. When they recorded themselves doing a little do-wop skat, followed by an electrifying guitar solo, they had to have looked at each other and went "Yeah, we're about to be the baddest thing in Rock."

Probably a 4.5 rounded up. A superb album and, at risk of overstating the obvious, a tragedy we lost her so soon. I had not realized she died BEFORE she even released her second album. What's more, it puzzles me to acknowledge she was only 27 when she did not look or sound it (I guess heroin will do that to person). Janis Joplin, and her album pearl, seem to be right at the intersection of soul, blues, and rock. And I had not realized how much her backing band actually kinda shreds (most notably on My Baby). Gosh, to hear this record for the first time, knowing Janis had left this world had to have been chilling. RIP.

I'm sorry, but I have to give this a low rating. It just didn't do anything for me, and even for a time when I cleared my mind to be open to soft, slow, singer/songwriter Americana vibes. But the album low-key sucked. It was slow and forgetful and kinda doesn't deserve to be on this list in my humble opinion. Maybe one or two songs were chill and listenable, but as a whole album I hate to say that it sucks.

Nice, easy listening to this jazz album. Not typically cup of tea, and it's mostly just background music, but it was nevertheless a more pleasant experience than some of the electronica albums on here. Ought to give this album another more concentrated listen one day.

Never heard of this band before, but they had a fun, distinct sound that was a mix of garage band and pop band that made the album an enjoyable listening experience.

I love Joni Mitchell's soft but sweet voice and introspective lyrics that have a way about making you feel something. The album itself, however, falls short of powerful, particularly in the face of high expectations that were placed on it going on. Don't know how to explain it, but the songs collectively enjoyable to listen to, but no necessarily individually memorable. A great album, just not a 5

Bob Dylan hit a home run on this album. Elite singer-songwriter folk music. I can get why he's not everyone's cup of tea, seeing how nasally he can sound, perhaps particularly on this album, but if you don't care for Bob Dylan then you probably don't care for true folk music anyways.

This is maybe a 4.5 rounded up, but it was an excellent album full of wonderful folk songs front to back. I thoroughly enjoyed it more than Joni Mitchell's "Blue" which I gave a 4/5, so here we are.

I like the Cars, and several hits on this album that certainly make it noteworthy enough for a 4/5. However, the Cars do get old kinda quick. Couldn't real stand to listen to another playthrough. The album could've benefited from another song that's closer to "Drive" to change it up a bit.

It finally happened, I found something worth 1 Star. Thank GOD this was only 33 minutes, and yet somehow it felt like it lasted forever. I will not entertain the concept of "music is a form of expressive art" to justify this album's existence. This genre only exists because drugs and child abuse do, and it's fanbase needs to seek therapy. I thought this would at least be listenable at the gym, instead I contemplated letting the barbell crush me to death so I wouldn't have to finish the album. There were times where the drums/guitar could've been redeemed with some coherent vocals, but instead we got a dog in a man's body who ruined every track with their inaudible barking. I would've rather listened to a clip of my parents fucking. At no point in your incoherent rambling were you even close to anything that could be considered a decent album. Everyone in this generator is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you 1 Star and may God have mercy on your soul.

It was a solid listen, just didn't really stand out all that much, even after two playthroughs. Maybe a 3.5 rounded down. Certainly was a massive upgrade from listening to Napalm Death.

There are some fun songs/sounds here, but ultimately I don't know what purpose Space Rock serves.

They sound like talented musicians... it's a shame they are wasting those talents on producing whatever this is. This album does not warrant 2 Discs spanning almost 2 hours, that's for sure.

Rolling Stones being Rolling Stones. Although this one is obviously special, because there's so much soul going on in this album, with a certain Blues twang they didn't often replicate. Lots of variety going on here too, with speaker blasting tunes like Rocks Off and more emotion driven tracks like Shine a Light. One of my all time favorite songs that I used to be obsessed with in HS, Tumbling Dice, just never gets old.

Surprisingly amazing. Seamless listened through 2.5 times, and continuously added most of the album to my personal library. Wasn't sure what to expect, but the album was full of great folk songs each with their own kick.

Surprisingly really nice to listen to. Very emotional, powerful performances that resonate across language barriers. Perhaps it would be 5 stars if I spoke French and understood the lyrics.

Possibly a 4, but my love for Everybody Wants to Rule the World pushes it over. An underappreciated aspect of the album is the smooth transitions between the songs. Didn't know TFF rocked like that. I knew the big 3 of Rule the World, Shout, and Head over Heals, but Working Hour is very underrated. People who hate cliche 80s will tune out, but TFF and this album are great in my humble opinion.

Outside of Let's Stay Together and Mend a Broken Heart, the album was a bit flat, I'm afraid to stay. Maybe it hits harder if you're easy on Soul, but for me it either needs to be emotionally strong, like the two aforementioned tracks, or a bit more vocally and lyrically powerful.

Considered giving it a 4, because I did find myself jamming out to several songs that had some funky beats, but then the album just dragged on with a lot of the same. I'm not a huge rap/hip-hop guy, so consuming a whole album is probably going to lose my interest along the way anyways, especially if it's 56 minutes long.

Man, I just couldn't really find anything redeemable about this album to warrant a 2. I barely finished it, but fervently wanted it to end the entire time. No situation really calls for this type of music, unless you're like some magical swamp creature.

Elton's voice, lyrics, and piano playing is truly something to marvel at.