1001 Albums Summary

Sympathy with the Devil and Street Fighting Man are classics. I can generally take or leave the rest - it tends towards the bluesier, countrified sound of the Stones which was never my favourite side.

Lovely, whimsical. Think it needs repeat listens to fully appreciate but I like it a lot.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. I remember returning the CD back in 2004/5! Definitely front-loaded, but it holds up well and is just a fun listen all around.

Enjoyed this one. Great singing and arrangements, lots of fun. You don't really get a sense of the historical/racial significance while it plays, it goes down easily.

A tremendous album from start to finish. I love everything about it.

This is just a perfect album, fantastic highs but the whole thing is cohesive and varied. Amazing guitar playing throughout.

Want to listen again but this is great - heavier and more rocky than I'd expected. Title track is obviously phenomenal. Quite a unique structure of starting and ending with long tracks and having short punchy ones in between.

This has some great moments - I already loved Yeah Oh Yeah and the Book of Love especially - some of it washes over me. Some of it is almost purposefully annoying/kitsch, like Zebra or the boudoir/medieval track towards the end. I think it needs repeat listens for more songs to reveal themselves to me. All My Little Words, Promises of Eternity, Papa Was a Rodeo all have promise in this regard. But it's so long!

This is very much my thing - probably shouldn't be 5 stars because of 'Sentimental Journey', but I really really liked this one.

A beautiful record. I need to give this some more listens, but it's fantastic.

I can only imagine how mindblowing this record must have been at the time. Still a fun listen, though I don't think it has my favourite stuff of his.

Don't Think Twice is an absolute stunner, best song here. Hard Rain and Masters of War are great too, not sure if that's just familiarity speaking but they're heads and shoulders above everything else. Blowin in the Wind is great but overplayed so hard to hear it afresh. Harmonica and talking blues is definitely not for me on the whole.

I detested this. Self-indulgent, most songs are cheesy and boring to start with, then go about 2-3 minutes longer than they should.

I liked it, would listen again. The first track was great. Need to see that doc.

Brilliant. Their best. Know it well and remember buying it back in 2004! Maybe a bit underrated these days. They should have put the single version of This Fire on here instead though.

Very nostalgic, will always have strong memories associated with this one. Makes me think of friends and times gone by. Good.

This is incredible, what a record.

This is OK in parts. She has a good voice. But it's just really not my thing.

Great guitar playing throughout. Fewer great 'songs' than his best, but still a pleasure to listen to.

This is very good - benefits from me having heard it before as I think it could be a bit impenetrable otherwise. Sound and Vision is one of the best songs ever. Drums sound amazing throughout.

Loads of fun, great.

For some reason I wasn't that excited to get this one and am getting around to it about a month late. But I was a fool, it's very good and at least 4.5 stars. I'm rounding up.

Butt rock. Strutter is a banger but it's not on this one.

Heavier than I was expecting. Didn't stand out on a first listen.

Quite nice. Alegria Alegria stands out as a single. Was a bit hungover on first listen, so I should probably revisit.

This is very good - it's really well mixed, hits really hard and clearly.

I already know it's a 5, one of the GOATs. Listened to disk 2 which is also very good, though slight.

Listened to this the day after Odelay as I catch up. I much prefer the former, though I think this could be a grower.

I like it, it doesn't have my favourite/better known tracks by him, but it's very good recognisable within his style, if that makes any sense. I'm sure this will be a grower.

I put this one off for a long while but it was a very pleasant surprise. Starts off strong and strident, first two tracks are my faves. It's got a folky style I usually don't like but I appreciated this.

I love R.E.M., but I've never actually listened to this one in full and was a little disappointed on the whole. The production is a step down from the IRS records. But it still has to be at least 4 stars, as Orange Crush is on here.

Love this. Sounds immense. The singles are so good but the whole thing is unified and very enjoyable.

It's another 5 - can take them for granted but listening to the records they're just the best rock band going.

Could maybe be a 5. Sounds great production wise. Vocals obnoxious at times. Feels like a grower and know it's a classic, but a 4 for now.

Didn't hate this as much as I expected. I suppose as they're not as ubiquitous as they were when this came out. Made me ostalgic for 2008, first going to uni and them suddenly becoming massive. Still perhaps the shittiest set I've ever seen when touring this album though.

A bit like lift music.

I'm surprising myself by giving this a 5, but it's undeniable. Dad rock in its purest form.

Very good. Does sound a bit dated now, sound wise and also in some of the attitudes, but an enjoyable listen. The singles are massive high points.

It's country music.

The first song (Yours Is No Disgrace) is pretty great. Definitely wears out it's welcome and actually becomes quite annoying by the end.

Odelay, but not as good. Had that Brazilian sounding track in my head for days

A perfect album. It's so varied and well executed. Obviously I'm a Prince megafan, but I finally get 'Adore', what a song. There are just absurdly good songs on here, and runs of songs.

This is a special record, amazing throughout. So influential. Great guitar playing, long and meanandering but also tight and without a wasted moment at the same time??

Thought this was on track for a 5 but it wavers at points. Extended version has way too many versions of Fu Gee La, why not remix something else? But I'm being unfair, it's very very good

Definitely can't take this all in one listen. Doesn't seem to have many songs and becomes a bit like a musical at points (The Trial). ABitW and Comfortably Numb are forever bangers. Maybe 3 will end up being harsh.

I need to give this repeat listens, but I can tell it's great. Feel like I could finally really 'get' Dylan. One of those records where you can just tell someone is at the top of their game and supremely confident.

Sounds amazing, great lyrics, super smooth. I knew I loved soul music but it's been the revelation of this project so far, so much great stuff I wasn't so familiar with but now really enjoy.

Yeah this is pretty awful. Freak on a Leash is OK.

Second group after Shack that I've never heard of. This is pretty bad. No fun whatsoever.

Really frontloaded, as in the first four tracks are the singles or memorable tracks. Fades a lot as it goes on but a great start

Started this and wasn't feeling it all. Then cranked it loud and had a good time. Phantom of the Opera is the best song here. Transylvania is an enjoyable instrumental. They went on to be better but this is fun.

This is brilliant. Few noodly bits and a couple of slightly lesser tracks, but on the whole it's a great listen. Disavowed me of the idea that Earth, Wind & Fire were just a singles band. You can hear bits and certain intonations that must have been an influence on Prince.

The Exorcist and Blue Peter bits are good. Quite a weird album really, eg the weird noises that one guy makes for about 5 minutes towards the end. Not sure how this sold so many copies.

Has to be a 5. Quite unlike anything else. Heavy yet comforting.

Loved this. They're just a great guitar band. No one else has the sound they do.

Yeah this is nice, good harmonies and interesting touches and lyrics. Doesn't stray too deep into country for my tastes.

Sounds great. Some of the words are a bit silly but overall an enjoyable listen. Nate Dogg is great.

Never listening to this again. It's alright for what it is and I recognise quite a few of the songs, that's as much as I can say.

Pleasant and tasteful. I could work to this and let it sink in more. Recognised a couple of tracks but a 3 feels right on a first listen.

Enjoyed this lots more than I expected, it's great.

Big and dumb. Jump is decent, that's about it.

A decent listen, can't get massively enthusiastic about it.

A bit like old school computer game music. You hear bits of Daft Punk and LCD Soundsystem and so many others in this. Dad Modell is a great single. Listened to the German version of course.

Absolute classic. Remember being repulsed and kind of scared by Venus in Furs as a 14-15 year old, the dissonance was really offputting. But now it's my fave on here, but I love all of it. Lots is said about this record but the variety isn't commended enough.

Liked this. Borderline 3 but listened to it twice and it grew on me. 80s US punk and hardcore is a bit of a blind spot for me.

Little Wing is one of the best ever. Spanish Castle Magic is also excellent. I want to listen to this more, it's mellower on the whole than I remember.

The Big Boi disc is much much better. The two singles on Andre's are the best songs here and absolute classics, but outside of those his half is pretty patchy and overlong. Big Boi 4.5 Andre 3.

I'm glad Slipknot exist. I'm weirdly proud of them. I'm sure they'd hate this sentiment. Some of their stuff is good workout music. Better than Korn

Very good, just slightly below At Folsom Prison. Setlist is slightly worse and the stage banter-songs ratio is too unbalanced in the former's favour.

Realising I love sprawling double albums. Kashmir, Wanton Song, Trampled Underfoot are brilliant, the first of those in particular is an astonishing song.

Maybe Elvis should have been a 3 - I enjoyed this lots more. Great energy, you really get a sense of his charisma through the record. A good birthday listen.

One of the first albums I bought when I really started getting into music at 13. Wake Up was my favourite then. This is really good, probably the peak of the genre.

Undeniable

Finally listened to this one in full, and yep it's very good. Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes is particularly good.

Really liked this. The songs are timeless and he sings them very well. There's something about his voice and the atmosphere of his recordings that's very soothing. A surprise 5.

A decent listen. Opening track is good and it has two separate drum solo tracks, but on the whole won't last long in the memory.

A perfect band. So odd and lopsided but also simple and childlike all at once. Where Is My Mind however much I hear it remains a perfect song.

Really enjoyable, very 90s. Quite 'heavy' in a sense of the word. I like the piano playing and the overall atmosphere. Glad to have discovered this.

Dictionary definition difficult second album. Not as immediate as Funeral, not as good either but it's an interesting listen and has some great songs.

Bring on the Night is fantastic. The singles are great and overall an enjoyable listen. They were a tight band with a good sound.

Very enjoyable, killer rhythm section

First song is OK, good harmonies. But overall this doesn't belong on the list.

Didn't really like this

Crazy that this happened. Perfectly executed for what it's going for, more fun than I was expecting. For some reason I imagine sharing songs off this with my unborn son.

It's fine, quite annoying in places. Let me Roll It is good. Jet is better done by Alan Partridge. Always found it odd how the title track is different ideas just grafted together.

Like the ballads lots more than the big band stuff. A good singer.

Very good

Lovely, definitely feels like a grower. A night time album.

Feels slightly harsh, but very frontloaded and gets a bit samey by the end. But good driving music and the guitar tones are sumptuous.

This is proper, authentic stuff. Obviously a big influence on all the blues rock of the 60s onwards. Remember watching musicians in a bar in Lisbon play Got My Mojo Working, good to learn the origins.

I don’t think it's actually my favourite, maybe because it's the first I bought and I've heard it so many times. But of course it's a classic, some of the GOAT songs ever on this.

Not my thing.

This is laugh out loud hilarious. I had lots of fun with this one.

Quite a bit of filler, the highs are very good though. Obviously went with the UK version so no Paint It Black, might have had to be a 5 if that was here for that alone.

I shouldn't like this, and maybe it's a high 4, but whatever. Do It Again and Reelin in the Years are GOAT tracks, Only a Fool Would Say That is a new one to me as not far behind those. Not what I typically go for but this is really good.

Was going for a 1 but I liked the Gran Turismo menu music one. This chillout kind of music doesn't seem to exist anymore.

Enjoyed this quite a bit. Could do with trimming.

Interesting in places and I like the sample heavy sound. I always wished I liked the Beasties more but the voices can be grating. Would like to love this.

Are you going to give this a four?

Liked it, more Bowie than I'd anticipated which is no bad thing. Want to revisit this.

Pretty good, unique sound. Suite Pee and Cubert are great. Remember Louisa burning this for me and highlighting those tracks. Wasn't really in the mood for this one though.

I don't actively dislike this like other 2s, but I can't give it any higher on first listen. Pleasant and not memorable whatsoever.

Was really hot when I listened to this one, so it tested my patience a little and didn't enjoy as much as I'd hoped. Got better towards the end, bit more jammy and rhythm section came to the fore, but a bit disappointing.

Was erring on the side of a 3, but some bangers just carried it through. But there's definitely quite a bit of filler here, like Speed Demon. Some of the Bad 25 outtakes should've been swapped in - Don't Be Messing Round is comfortably one of the best songs on the album if it makes the cut.

Singles are great, the title track is one of my favourite songs. Quite a bit of filler stops it from being a 5, but it's close.

Once again a record I put off for ages and turned out to be qualla. Maybe one of the best RNB records? Could do without the track where she has a big shit though, especially with Paedodiddy in the background.

Borderline 3-4 as it goes on a bit but feeling generous. Lots of fun for the most part. They're better at the catchy snappy tracks than the long drony ones.

Fine. Didn't hate it but pretty unexciting. Good singer to be fair.

Maybe this could grow on me but not after one listen. Not massively compelled to revisit.

Probably the best album I've had so far. Even the 'lesser' songs are incredible, and it has about four the best songs ever written (Girl, Norwegian Wood, Michelle, In My Life imo).

Not what I expected Tim Buckley to sound like. Fairly explicit lyrics too! Could grow on me but the vocal style and instrumentation isn't my fav. It did lead me to Song for the Siren though, now that's a great song.

Great. Remembered more of this than I'd realised. Saw them touring this at Reading.

It's the Beach Boys, they're always great. Harmonies are one of my favourite things in music. You can sense the musical growth here from their earliest stuff.

Could grow on me, but faded into the background a bit.

Really enjoyable, dancey and fun, but political and heavy too.

Rise Above and TV Party are amazing, exciting tracks. The rest, not so much on the whole.

Right up my street. Austere and foreboding but catchy and fun in spots too? Great rhythm section, melodies, atmos. They'd do better but this is great.

This was a reveleatorion hahaha a No but seriously it's a very good country music album. The opening track is incredible.

Smooth, great singer. Shouldn’t have waited so long to listen to this one.

By far my favourite jazz record so far, probably because it's just as much funk. Could be a gateway album.

It's like a greatest hits album. Along with Definitely Maybe it's their peak.

I feel like this starts and ends incredibly strongly - Singapore, Clap Hands and especially Anywhere I Lay My Head are special songs. The rest is good and it's a consistent vision, but those ones tower above.

Love it. Great production, immersive and unique. Unfinished Sympathy is one of the best ever.

Another undeniable album. I didn't like it the first time I listened to it full as a teenager: it was too mellow, too dull, with too many 'weird' bits between the songs. It was annoying to skip through on CD and the amount of praise they got in online music circles seemed way too much. But yeah, I was wrong. It's incredible and it really feels like an 'experience' album.

Good live band aren't they, songs not so compelling on the whole though.

Beautiful in lots of places, could grow to a 5. Already love Svefn in particular after three listens.

Instant 5. Very much my thing.

Didn't like it. Some OK woozy RNB production on some of the early tracks, but strikingly boring and beige compared to say CrazySexyCool.

Yeah this is good, bit of filler but the highs are high.

They’d go on to better things but this is still great. Remembered more of this than I expected to and lots of fun to play along to. Some of the non-album singles and bonus tracks could easily have been included and probably should have been!

Witchy Woman is a good track. I didn't really care for the rest but can hear they're a decent rock band.

Boring, quite well crafted I suppose, on the whole probably not for me.

The sort of thing I like, a bit non distinct though.

It probably is the best of the wave of 00s UK indie I grew up with. Really good, sharp songwriting, tight playing, a great rhythm section, fun, funny, smart.

Should be 5 stars but taking off at least a star for the title track. Yes Morrissey is a helmet but they're still one of the great bands.

The goats. Sometimes think this could be their best.

Though I'm included to say the 70s is the best decade for music based on my experience with this project so far, it also offers stuff like this. The soft, edgeless rock sound of this record that was prevalent in this period is just fundamentally intolerable to me.

First song is lovely, but didn’t take to this as I’d hoped.

Just astounding start to finish. Great playing, some of the best rock songs ever.

Got this two days before Ozzy's passing and listening to it one day after. RIP but even putting that to one side, this is fantastic. Sounds amazing, heavy af and some of the best riffs ever. Love it.

I didn’t expect to rate this so highly, but it was better than I remembered. It's not distinctive or original, but it's a series of tight, well-played, exciting songs.

Title track is great and hugely important. Did this the same day as Vol 4 on Ozzy's death, not quite as good as that one to me but it's up there. Just meanders a bit.

Love Bowie but def a notch below the albums he did before.

It's qualla. The production is what really elevates it.

Got to be a 5 but almost too familiar on this listen? Not as replayable as IR or the Bends. Maybe I'm a guitar man at heart

Lovely and smooth once again from your man. A grower. First track is excellent.

Undeniable.

A clear step above the Yes Album. I can see why people really go in for prog based off this. I would need to listen to it more but I had a good time. Very uncool but that doesn't matter.

Immense. So quotable. Spans lots of moods and feelings, but fundamentally just great songs and interesting, exciting production.

Rollicking. Not my thing but I like him and I like that this album was made and was so successful.

Frontloaded with the three best songs. War Pigs cover slaps, as the kids would say.

Good playing, but washes over without much of an impression. Like clothes shop music.

Not folky as I was expecting. Borderline 2, a bit showtuney and grating at points, but there's something unique here.

I've not listened to this in years. Yes it's overwrought. It's also exceptional.

Not as good as Layla, which I got the same day. Last track is odd and to be honest, I could do without it. Again, there's a big track (Sunshine of Your Love) which towers over the rest.

Excellent

An absolute ordeal.

Got a jolt of excitement when one of the Singles Going Steady tracks kicked in. Not as consistently good as that but still an enjoyable listen.

Needs more listens as it's very long and I know it's very well loved. Will say she's probably the best singer & rapper in one that I can think of.

Great singer, great band, great songs.

Title song is an absolute banger and Tony Hawk classic. Jailbait is an iffy one, ignoring that it's a good time.

OK in parts. Docking a point for Black Queen, an affront to the senses.

Really enjoyed this, flew by despite a considerable length.

Fantastic, a great nostalgic listen. 2008 was a good year.

Love it, this is him at his best. Beautiful craft to these songs.

They're good lads. Does sound very dated now and the 'melody' gets very repetitive, but I like it and appreciate it's importance.

Good singer, of course. Band tears into solos at points. I don’t like Another Piece of my Heart, never have.

Good, classic songwriting.

Not my thing but good for what it is and she seems like a very good egg.

Expected to hate this but it's a very good blues rock album. Listened to it straight after Disraeli Gears and it's the better album. Layla is of course excellent. Little Wing is a perfect song but not in this version.

Definitely a grower I think. Liked it though.

Title song is a classic, I don't care what anyone says. Whole thing is very good.

I like this.

Real good. Listened to the UK version then the US tracks as bonuses.

A lovely listen while sorting through holiday photos of the one you love most.

Beautiful, brisk, really enjoyable. Will return to this.

A lovely listen

Decent. Production isn't stand out and is a bit dated in places, but could be a grower. Will say I had the title track from Straight Out of the Jungle right after on shuffle, that was really good and better than anything here.

Like this. They obviously love Bowie. Icey.

What a singer.

Love this. Chain of Fools may be her best single?

A brilliant, beautiful songwriter. The jams are something I can take or leave but they're just bonus tracks.

One of the best albums ever. Haunting, harrowing. Harmonies are excellent throughout.

Dancing Queen is one of the great pop choruses. You know about half of these songs by heart, and the other half you potentially could too. Very good for what it is.

Started OK - I like the production more than Dwight Yoakam. He doesn't have the whiny quality to his voice. But the songs just aren't that good or memorable.

Like this, nostalgic sound of radio from my youth.

Quite dark in tone, but always love Method and Wu-Tang in general. Not as good as Liquid Swords but few albums are.

Very good - heard those singles so so many times but they're all bangers. Enjoyed the rest a lot too.

Standard pub/dad rock. Rod Stewart is a great rock singer of course. Not sure why they let that other dude have a go.

Definitely a grower, but still excellent on a first(!) full listen.

Recognised quite a few tunes from this one. Very very good.

Good singer, some good tunes - but folk has never been my thing. Respect it though.

Quite boring and also jarring in places. Hoped to like this more.

Didn't think I'd ever heard of this guy, although I did recognise Ascension. Anyway this was excellent and a surprise package. Borderline 5.

Enjoyed this lots more than I expected, even though it's a bit silly. 4.5

Astoundingly good, just doesn't let up. Great lyrics, amazing rhythm section and guitar playing, so influential and starkly original.

Big dumb fun

Undeniable

Nice background listening (sorry this sounds a bit dismissive). Could get into this actually.

First song was OK. On the whole, nothing as good as All My Exes Live in Texas, let's be honest.

Good, easy jazz. Feels like a gateway record, accessible and deep.

Very good. Love Burning of the Midnight Lamp and the big tracks. Meanders a bit, but very good.

Really didn't like this 😭

Love the first two tracks and thought this could be an all timer. It fades a lot but still great- love those .

Cheesy af. Might have loved this as a teenager but not now. Don't hate it by any means though.

Angry record, funny too. It Was a Good Day will always be one of the best songs ever.

Has nice moments and very catchy bits, a bit patchy.

He's great

Sings about other people's wives more than I'd like, but still excellent.

I've seen this lot live. It's not great, willfully abrasive throughout and I was glad it finished.

Doesn’t consistently hit and Morrissey is a bell but they are still great.

Lovely production. Never heard it in full before - it's rockier than I'd imagined and Where Are We Now is definitely an outlier. That opening track is great.

Liked this a lot, was new to me. Just a very good rock band here.

Very talented, bit long. Couldn't quite connect with this though, not sure why. Felt very polished and a bit distant? But it's good, so I'm being silly.

A bit overwrought, a bit annoying in places, but it's alright. Great bass, no surprise it was a lad out of the Cure.

Good to get this just 2-3 days after The Next Day. That was great, but this, even divorced from its context, feels like a more complete and fully realised record. And obviously with the context it's an amazing achievement.

Bit hippy dippy. Could grow on me though, with many many listens.

That opening track is excellent, drops down to a 4 for some annoying lyrics on Faithful and Go. But overall very nice production and pre mentalist Kanye is a good mix.

Pretty average.

Didn't enjoy as much as Concrete Jungle, but thought it was very good.

A snoozefest.

Always found them a bit overrated. Great in parts - Kinky Afro is amazing, Loose Fit is not far behind - but he really cannot sing whatsoever.

Lost me a bit at points, but breezy and nice in others.

He's just the best. Has about five perfect songs that are all amazing in entirely different ways.

Maybe it's a grower, but I didn't enjoy myself :(

Fairly boring and inoffensive, first track is nice though.

Instrumentation is dull, a gigantic step down from the Smiths. He comes across here as a deeply sour and unpleasant person.

Different to what I expected. High highs and some forgettable bits, but overall very good.

Just not something I needed to hear before death. Fine.

I think it's underrated how funny they were.

Tremendous. Can't believe I've never listened to it before. Think I prefer it to Rain Dogs.

This is actually quite bad. A 3 because the Message is one of the best songs ever.

Not my usual thing, but really enjoyed this. Hard hitting, rocky techno in the Daft Punk vein.

Beautiful vocals. California Dreaming one of the great 60s tracks, the rest a tier or two below.

I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about this for whatever reason but a very pleasant surprise, it's great on the whole.

This sucks shit

Good solid rock band doing good solid rock songs.

Just a perfect record - massively influential, but just some of the best heavy rock/metal songs ever written. It has serious range too, Planet Caravan is a spacey track, a special song.

A great singer and a pretty good songwriter too.

History is one of the best songs of the 90s. Could grow to love this with time, but it did get a bit samey.

Very pleasant, good singer obviously.maybe I don't dislike this type of music as much as I thought.

Rikki and Any Major Dude are excellent. The rest could grow on me - it took a few listens to those two in the past. A bit naff in places.

Historically significant perhaps, but really not enjoyable in any way.

Like it more than Hejira on a first listen. Has the Prince song. Could grow on me.

This is really nice

This is excellent, haven't explored this era of the Fall as much but it's some good stuff. Service is a very unique song and sound in their catalogue.

Might be the best album ever made.

Beautiful People is good, otherwise nothing to recommend this. Also insanely long.

Really boring and a clear step below his other records from this era. A disappointment. The singles still slap and bang.

This has to be a grower, I was disappointed with this one on a first listen but I should love it.

This is just class, great musicianship, banger after banger.

Important and influential, but also brilliant. Those guitar sounds and ways of playing are so good

In the main, I did not really enjoy this. Scarecrow is a really good track though, bumps this up a point.

Not my thing at all.

Feels like it should be better than it is, somehow less than the sum of its parts.

Just stunningly brilliant.

Quite liked this at the beginning. Then the drugs kick in too much and they take the piss out of the listener.

He's a good singer, recognised more songs than I expected to. Sign Your Name is v good. Gets a bit too 80s at times.

First track is a classic and sounds great here. Gets a bit samey eventually.

Really nice discovery, I like this loads.

A great heavy rock band playing faster heavier versions of their fast and heavy songs. Love it.

One of those undeniable records.

Excellent

Quite piratey sounding, I like it. Obviously has the big song which doesn't sound like anything else on here.

Cheesy af one hit wonders. They seem like good dudes though.

Maybe it's not a 5 as it's not as good as their best albums. But it's still better than just about anybody else.

Just brilliant, a breath of fresh air.

One of my (last) teenage albums. It's excellent, great songs, beautifully played. So well crafted. They should have been bigger.

Smooth af. I like this, could be a 5, definitely a grower.

Not my thing generally but this was surprisingly good. Tracks 2 & 3 has some really interesting house production.

The Clash are one of the revelations of this project for me - knew I liked them but realising how truly special they are.

Dreaded this, but it was actually OK. Probably not notable enough to make the list really.

A yawnfest.

Could grow to a 4, but a bit too samey and doesn't have their best song.

Didn't expect it to be a 5, but it's a 5.

Close to a 5, really close.

I'm certain this one will be a grower, it's pretty obtuse. Love Poptones and Radio 4 which I'd heard before.

He can't sing and it's cheesy af. First track is quite nice but it goes downhill as it goes on. Hoping for much better from Metal Box which I coincidentally generated the day before this one.

Got this on Xmas day but listened to it in the run up for the first time so counting it here. Obviously a classic, you've heard of all of these countless times.

Undeniable

Perfect start to finish.

Very 60s. Washed over me a bit but could have something to it.

A very good singer, sad. Pretty good.

Up my street - could grow to 5. Cybele's Reverie is an amazing track.

So much better then 1984. Ain't Talkin Bout Love in particular is an excellent song.

Used to love them, they can be quite annoying now. Design for Life still excellent, No Surface is very good. Australia is bad. Borderline 3-4

It's perfect. Great interesting setlist, Where Did You Sleep Last Night has got to be pretty high in my all time list.

Amazing, dark techno. This is what other people hear when they listen to Björk.

Production has aged notably compared to the Predator. Still good but that holds this back.

Beige af

Could grow on me. Loses points for the highly annoying whispering bits. An interesting band.

Lovely. Yeah it's a lot like the Flaming Lips. Could be a 5.

I really dislike this man

Solid, unremarkable but fine.

Think I might still prefer In Utero, but it remains perfect.

Sprawling. Nothing I like as much as the Pixies but could absolutely be a grower.

Blue Orchid is great. Otherwise has some good moments, some slight, annoying ones.

I respect it, it's interesting, it's funny (probably not intentionally), it's annoying in parts. I'm glad it exists.

What a singer.

One of the goats. Love everything here.

Joyful bangers throughout. Think Catch a Fire remains my favourite, but this is still excellent.

Love harmonies, good band with good simple songs. Awful band name but good discovery.

This is great, flew by.

They forgot to put any tunes on this one :(

I'm not American enough for this. Abysmal.

A couple of the tracks here are taking the piss, you know which ones. Still like it though.

I really enjoyed this a lot, having found the first track hideously discordant on a previous attempt. Could grow to 5 with time. Am I going to become a jazz man after all?

Always loved this.

First track great, Grapevine cover great. Rest not on the same level but this kind of post-punk is very much my bag.

Fantastic, one of the best live albums I've heard.

That first track is great. Some very good songs on this, cut about 5 and it's a potential 5 star record.

Really nice, proper songwriter album. Could be a 5 with time.

Bog standard pub rock

A breath of fresh air after listening to the Mothers of Invention beforehand - actual tunes! Actual playing! Actual fun! This is undeniable regardless of context.

Remember this well, though not listened in many years. You can really see how this became a musical.

It's perfect.

A couple songs get a bit too countrified for my tastes, but this is special enough in other places that I can overlook my natural ag. This has that melancholy sound I like.

Could be a 5 eventually. Really good.

This might be the best record I've heard from this so far. Top 5 for sure. Outstandingly good.

This is special. Could be a 5. Lopsided genius. They really can't sing but it doesn't matter.

Exactly my thing.

Good classic songwriting and 70s production. I can see why it's held up s a classic.

Doesn't quite hit the heights he can hit, but it's still a brilliant album.

Holds the listener in contempt, Zappa is a tool.

Boring as sin

Like this a lot, he's unique. Would cut that last song, way too long.

Abhorrent

Interesting, wears a bit thin over the course of an album it has to be said. Borderline 2.

Not quite peak, a bit more knotty and chordal than some of his 70s stuff. But it's still amazing.

My heart sank when this came up but it's actually pretty good. Almost a 4

Better then expected. Very dated production in places.

Some dodgy songs on this, some ubiquitous ones. Overall good, seem like a singles band really.

Yeah this is great, liked all the beats and the rapping is strong throughout.

So much bolder and more brash than Murmur. Some great songs here and I do love them, but it's a cut below that one.

Doing this the day after You Want It Darker means two death albums. This is mainly good, sometimes bad, too long, but it's an interesting and worthwhile record.

Way too long. The second track was nice.

I didn't come to be indier than thou, but it is annoying and also very boring.

Runs out of steam a bit but I really like the production and uniqueness of this. Someone else k had never heard of in my life too.

I think they're more of a singles band. Started weakly but improved as it went on. A bit too long.

Less accessible than they'd be before and after, but no less excellent.

Absolute kings

Fuck this is good. I left this a long time listen to and wasn't enthusiastic at all, but it's brilliant. Sounds incredible, the guitar and rhythm section is so influential on lots of other great music too.

Opens with the four recognisable ones, also comfortably the four best songs here. But yeah it's good and pretty undeniable.

Patchy, as I find all of their stuff. But yeah the fly, wild horses, zoo station, mysterious ways all very good.

Very good, slightly slow start from high expectations but grew on me as it progressed. Could be a 5, but it's a 4 today.

Title track and the Bee Gees cover are insanely good. Didn't hit those heights elsewhere, but a very smooth enjoyable listen.

80s hip hop is not my thing.

Very samey over a full album. Like them though.

I think I like Bruce, but this is not an interesting album.

It's a classic. Needs repeated listens and jazz isn't quite my thing, but I can tell why it's so revered. Didn't gel with me as much as Mingus surprisingly.

Opening and closing tracks actively awful. The rest is OK.

Not my favourite of theirs. Mr Kite, Within You and especially When I'm 64 is a rough stretch. But it's still got to be a 5 for A Day in the Life, one of the all timers.

Some nice production choices. Lyrics fairly interesting. But modern pop not really for me.

Not for me.

Birthday listen. An easy 5 stars.

I got very little out of this. Doesn't have their one good song.

Quite brilliant in quite a different way to the other self-titled record. Loved this.

He looks like Jimmy Carter. I am not a country person and would rather not hear this again.

Gets a bit too French at points, but very good and makes me want to listen to more of his stuff and more in this vein.

The other big 20-6 'I'm dying soon' record. The title track is really special. The rest is good but not as monumental. Very good on the whole.

Shit. Glad he grew up a bit.

Want to dive deeper.

He's a good singer. Pleasant enough but washes over you.

Still good but they got much much better later.

Could be a grower.

A great singer, liked this more than I expected.

Sultans is obviously great, Down by the Waterline not far off in the same vein. The rest not so great.

Beautiful songs on this one.

Could grow to a 5. Really good, very big sound.

Maybe it caught me in a bad moment but I found this actively irritating.

Surprised myself by how much I liked this.

Right up my street, probably the sort of music I'd try and write if I had a band.

I could get into this. Enjoyed it more than I was expecting, a little more rocky than I had anticipated.

Dad rock in its purest form? I like it, which would have appalled the 19 year old indie snob I once was. But I'm a 36 year old married man now and Knopfler is a king to me.

This is amazing, a fantastic discovery.

Still not certain they're not a joke. Really bad at some points, then occasionally moments of brilliance?

Solid. Probably a 3 really but I like their style so bumping it.

Love this. Life During Wartime, I Zimbra and Heaven are perfect songs. Lots of other good ones too.

Started better than I was expecting, then outstayed it's welcome, then the singles were good - and head and shoulders above everything else.

The Buzzcocks but less memorable tunes. Could be a grower though.

Perfect.