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