1001 Albums Summary

It's unfortunate that subsequent albums didn't stick to this playbook, but to have had a single album this good, who am I to complain?

I'd have a hard time doing a complete playthrough of Play these days, but if you include the B sides (they're like an entire second album), between the two you could make a decent album. It was something for '99, but the DJs that grew from this are making better stuff

Inoffensive to have on in the background while making dinner, but given the choice (on what feels similar) give me 3 Feet High and Rising

As someone who's always had a soft spot in their heart for Come On Eileen and has listened to some of DMRs other stuff and thought it was fair, this is the first one that's really got me questioning the top 1001. Lightning Bolt and Adam & The Ants were dogshit but I could see them in certain circles or to widen perspectives, but the basis for the stuff on this DMR album can be heard so much better elsewhere. It's fine and I don't mind it, but this could be the top 10001 and wouldn't deserve an appearance. I'll give it a 2 because again, it's not awful or even not to my taste, it's just not good.

It's nice to have on - you hit play and kind of forget that it's on. Maybe you had to be involved in this scene at the time to really appreciate it, but 39 years later it doesn't feel particularly groundbreaking or interesting.

Funky, liked it more than I expected.

Not my typical fare, but while there's a lot of noise there generally seems to be a point to it. I'm on board.

I've hit most of the Steely Dan catalog but hadn't done a playthrough of this whole album for some reason previously - better than I expected. Always been a My Old School fan, but a good album all around

It's really an excellent 42 minutes of music. I don't blame Coldplay for wanting to conquer the world, but for my taste this album makes me wonder what they could've been if they'd been fulfilled making great simple music. I guess look at the Kings of Convenience as an alternate timeline for Coldplay following Parachutes. But it's a pretty timeless album for me.

It's a fine soul album. I wouldn't consider it a classic and won't hurry to put it back on the stereo. I don't think it's one of their best. The first song listed on the album cover is I Heard It Through the Grapevine and I was hopeful to hear something that I hadn't before, but compared to Marvin or Gladys (whose versions both preceded this one) I don't know why they bothered.

Some decent stuff here - not an everyday listen, but I hadn't visited this in years. Can definitely recognize some of the groundwork for what became New Order.