Jan 10 2025
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Revolver
Beatles
A tricky album because it is neither my favorite Beatles album, nor is it the one I consider to be their "best" (however arbitrarily that would be decided) yet I do believe it to be a masterpiece in its own right.
This album is stylistically diverse, including new Indian inspired influences, but still has a twinge of early Beatles flavors. Rubber Soul and Revolver are simultaneously transitionary LPs but also some of the best material the band pulled together front to back over the course of their catalogue.
"Here, There, Everywhere", "Good Day Sunshine", "Eleanor Rigby", "Taxman" "And Your Bird Can Sing" are some of my favorites
4
Jan 13 2025
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The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
This is by no means gods gift to music in the way some people who wear a dark side of the moon t shirt think it is, but I must admit: Sometimes there is a reason the classics are the classics.
The album is bold, almost brooding, and even feels a little avant garde after all of these years. Of course, Pink Floyd’s style of psychedelic rock has stood the test of time, and these tracks rock while also being layered, ethereal and introspective. Essentially the best of both worlds.
5
Jan 14 2025
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Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
Hauntingly Intimate. Lyrical poetry & and a beautiful voice, coupled with strong guitar.
This album is so tonally specific and it transports me: I feel like I'm sitting in a cottage in the woods in the fall, at dawn, sipping some coffee and burning a candle.
4
Jan 15 2025
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Smash
The Offspring
Not sure I think this album is a 2 straight up, but in the context of 1001 albums you must hear before you die, it feels appropriate to identify it as the lower end. I respect the significance of what this album + Dookie (which is the better project by a country mile, IMO) did for punk pop in the mid 90's but nothing is all that impressive on this LP.
Middle school me enjoyed this type of album heavily- and to its credit, the raw, youthful, spit in your face energy is probably far and away its best quality. BUT, rather than being nostalgic, I think I just find myself glad to have outgrown the Green Day/Offspring phase.
2
Jan 16 2025
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Brothers
The Black Keys
Another album that middle school me loved. I still have the CD, even. I do like some of the music here, but the lyrics are kind of weaksauce across the board.
Definitely not a bad album. Feels like whitewashed blues pop rock music. I'd liken The Black Keys to being the Target or H&M of Blues Pop Rock, broadly appealing, not much breadth or depth past the surface.
3
Jan 17 2025
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After The Gold Rush
Neil Young
Wow. This kinda blew me away. As a Neil Young rookie, I've heard some of his greatest hits in passing, but haven't been an active listener thus far. After a couple listens to the LP today, I'm really struck by this album as an body of work.
It's clear that the 60/70's had some all timers. Neil's voice is raw and almost fragile, but so well accompanied by the piano, guitars and other instruments that show up here. "Birds" is a song I might need to be played at my funeral... Lots of emotion on this one.
4
Jan 18 2025
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Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
Late 2000's indie folk goodness. Fleet Foxes is comfortable on this debut. I really like the harmonies and it is sonically pleasing.
A couple songs (Ragged Wood, White Winter Hymnal, Blue Ridge Mountains) really stand out, and then the vast majority of the tracklist is just good not great.
4
Jan 19 2025
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Djam Leelii
Baaba Maal
Definitely a new artist/project to me. A little long winded, but I began to appreciate the sounds and things I’m hearing here the more I listened. When I’m typically inundated by US and UK artists, it’s refreshing to try new things out even if it isn’t my favorite
3
Jan 20 2025
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Vulnicura
Björk
Bjork’s music is easily identified as avant garde and cinematic, but is admittedly still a little over my head.
Definitely enjoyed some moments on this one, but found it a bit challenging to really dig in and get a full listen front to back. Pretty sick break up album, though.
3
Jan 21 2025
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Exile On Main Street
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones seem to find a consistent groove on this LP as they play their way through blues, rock, and country inspired cuts. It’s a solid project that has some toe tappers, but I really didn’t feel deeply connected to much of what I listened to here. A little disappointing considering the group itself is so heralded.
3
Jan 22 2025
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School's Out
Alice Cooper
Unexpectedly liked this one a lot.
4
Jan 23 2025
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Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
Unique, layered , and worth revisiting
3
Jan 24 2025
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Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
quintessential jazz for someone who enjoys the genre but has very little knowledge of the intricacies
4
Jan 25 2025
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The Wall
Pink Floyd
I get why this album gets the praise it does. It is a wee bit bloated but as a front to back experience it’s pretty magnificent
4
Jan 26 2025
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Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
His voice is not THAT annoying. Just a classic brit (but Anna and I have also been rewatching the Harry Potter series recently so maybe that contributes.)
This is just some classic, political, salt of the earth folk. Really enjoyed this and was unfamiliar with Braggs work prior.
4
Jan 27 2025
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The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Dare I say folk Dylan at his best. High highs on this joint, with some of his best guitar and voice only songs- girl from the north country, don’t think twice it’s alright, a hard rains a’ gonna fall, masters of war, blowin in the wind: just there that’s about half the album!
Sure, some fo the other cuts on this LP lack the same strength/staying power, but as a front to back listen they slot in more than fine. The covers at the end are solid, too.
5
Jan 28 2025
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At Newport 1960
Muddy Waters
Now this is some no frills Blues. Gotta respect Muddy playing “got my mojo working” a second time. Energy really amps up on this album as it goes. Safe to say Muddy Waters has found himself a new fan
4
Jan 29 2025
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Emergency On Planet Earth
Jamiroquai
first impressions were: this was groovy, White Stevie Wonder!? But ultimately not nearly as great as Stevie himself, and the Jamiroquai frontman kinda seems like a POS after a quick google search.
3
Jan 30 2025
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Scream, Dracula, Scream
Rocket From The Crypt
Not really for me. Shouty but somehow didn't really feel the energy that typically accompanies this type of music. Probably the first album on this list that was truly a slog to get through. Largely forgettable post punk with a couple of decent tracks ("Come See, Come Saw," for example)
1
Jan 31 2025
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Kimono My House
Sparks
Glam. Rock. Vocally pretty interesting, kind of freddie mercury esque vibes with such an unwavering falsetto. I got more into this one as it went on.
3
Feb 01 2025
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Eagles
Eagles
Enjoyable debut from the Eagles. Sees the Country rock group in its infancy, it’s an easy (ironic, given two of the best songs on the album have "easy" in the title), appealing listen on the whole.
The best songs on this album are the hits, keeping things safest cuts: "take it easy," "Peaceful easy feeling"
But I found myself enjoying songs like "Take the Devil" and "Most of Us are Sad" which were a bit different sonically than what I typically associate with the band.
3
Feb 02 2025
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Let It Be
The Replacements
The Replacements show up with some range here. “Androgynous” is not a song I expected and this album but was pleasantly surprised. “Unsatisfied” and “I Will Dare” are solid rock staples. Even the goofy songs ‘Gary’s got a boner’ and ‘Tommy gets his tonsils out’ aren’t bad or lacking.
3
Feb 03 2025
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Atomizer
Big Black
The Beats are creative, but as soon as the singing comes in it loses me. Respect what is going on here but not really for me personally
2
Feb 04 2025
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The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
Ziggy Stardust is a tour de force. Anything Bowie is going to be unique, yet at only 40 minutes, it's digestible and fairly accessible to the uninitiated. The opener, the closer, front to back this is a gem. Without question, a legendary album that just plain rocks.
5
Feb 05 2025
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Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman
John Zorn
Nah man. Just nah
1
Feb 06 2025
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Permission to Land
The Darkness
Without context, this album sounds like it came straight from the 70/80s. Then I see it was released in 2003! It is very faithful to the genre and takes the best parts of its predecessors. This is a fun, cheeky record. Would be grasping at straws to find a lot of deeper meaning but the album rocks and its an easy and fun listen.
3
Feb 07 2025
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Selling England By The Pound
Genesis
Weird, prog, expansive, grand, self indulgent. I enjoyed it. Definitely not for everyone, but I found it to be refreshing and unique. So many sounds and wacky choices on this record but that feels like the point
4
Feb 08 2025
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Doolittle
Pixies
Unfamiliar with this one going in, a massive fan coming out. This album rocks. Insanely hard to decide whether I love the vocals or the guitar work more. Feels really original and earnest. The various sounds they are experimenting with work in tandem to create an masterful final product.
5
Feb 09 2025
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Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
Lupe Fiasco
Love the youthful energy on this one. Beats are interesting, features add nice choruses/accents to the wordplay Lupe is laying down. Nothing wrong here, but missing that x factor to make it a 5 star
4
Feb 10 2025
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Heroes to Zeros
The Beta Band
nothing wrong here, but nothing that moves the needle for me. Bland semi decent Brit rock.
3
Feb 11 2025
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The Clash
The Clash
You can feel the energy boiling over in each song. Raucous stuff right here. Can you imagine listening to this as an angsty teenager? Here I am at my corporate desk job in the USA toe tapping like a buffoon, I certainly wasn't who the Clash were making this for.
4
Feb 12 2025
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The Last Broadcast
Doves
This wasn't bad but I have a really hard time believing this is one of the 1001 albums you must hear before you die...
To me this is album is the epitome of a CD you had in your car in the 2000s where it would autoplay on your commute and you were like "oh this is solid!" but you never gave it any thought past that. Driving background fodder. Coldplay vibes too
3
Feb 13 2025
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Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
I enjoy the atmosphere/sonic choices that were introduced by recording in a church. The usage of ann organ winds up being a really unique piece and creates a hollow and distinct sound across several of the songs.
This album is 2000’s indie to the core, and while it is a worthy effort, I think its aged a little poorly and at moments feels fairly mediocre compared to other early Arcade Fire projects.
3
Feb 14 2025
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Strange Cargo III
William Orbit
Nothing really to say, not bad, not memorable. With a couple exceptions, ambient music is more about the connection you create with it in my eyes
2
Feb 15 2025
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Time Out
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
jazz at its finest (in my humble opinion) accessible but also just a solid as hell outing. Definitely in the jazz album pantheon and deservedly so
5
Feb 16 2025
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Risque
CHIC
had fun with this one, pleasantly surprising. too often people label a genres like disco as outdated. While disco certainly is centralized to a time period, the music itself stands up isolated from the context with which is was born.
3
Feb 17 2025
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Odelay
Beck
So much I like about this album right alongside so much that doesn't really work for me. Definitely experimental, but pretty longwinded and onerous in spots. I want to LOVE this album, but it's just a like for now
3
Feb 18 2025
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All Directions
The Temptations
Sometimes you stumble on to something that ticks all the boxes. "All Directions" is that kind of album for me. Has funky ass instrumental sections, the vocals are raw and powerful, slower jams, uptempo cuts, and I'm a sucker for doo-wop, no matter the naysayers! This album is a new favorite!
5
Feb 19 2025
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Hms Fable
Shack
This is so mid. And truly the definition of the word. not bad, not good. just okay. I half expect these songs to play in an episode of Scrubs or something. 2000s sitcom written allll over them. Moody, sad, right before the voiceover kicks in.
2
Feb 20 2025
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Rock Bottom
Robert Wyatt
Moments that resonated with me on this one, where Wyatt is crafting soundscapes that are genuinely unique and a pleasure to listen to. Unfortunately most of these moments are then met with odd choices that derail my overall enjoyment
2
Feb 21 2025
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Protection
Massive Attack
3
Feb 22 2025
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A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
great voice, but it’s a covers album. Knowing that takes away some of the enjoyment
2
Feb 23 2025
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Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
Megadeth
Trying to shed my preconceived notions of "Metal" to just enter and enjoy. They are shredding ALLLL over this album. It wound up rocking, and while I am not necessarily converted, I can appreciate much of what is happening on this LP.
3
Feb 24 2025
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Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Got me crying in the cubicle on a Monday morning! Not many can do it like Tracy!
5
Feb 25 2025
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Either Or
Elliott Smith
Devastating. Heart wrenching. Beautiful.
4
Feb 26 2025
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To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
Such an easy 5, a true magnum opus. TPAB attempts to say so much and do so much in and most all of it works for me. The poetry, the eclectic sounds, the atmosphere and musicality of it all. There's even hits here, which is the criticism I see most unfairly leveled at Kendrick. I also saw reviews saying Kendrick is not a strong lyricist/rapper. Are we joking?? I find myself lost in the story, the experience that gets created, and this dude can absolutely RAP. A prime example of why the album format is so important, even in a streaming age.
5
Feb 27 2025
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Live!
Fela Kuti
Groovy! This was something i was truly unfamiliar with so it was a nice treat to get a chance to listen. Very enjoyable and the energy is electric!
4
Feb 28 2025
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Madman Across The Water
Elton John
This album is definitely Elton John. I feel like I LOVE some of his work and then the rest is solid, but doesn't always wow me. Perhaps the glam rock presents an uphill battle since everything is pretty grand and stylized. On the whole a good album and liked the shorter runtime. Really liked "rotten peaches" and "Levon" and "all the nasties" and of course "Tiny Dancer" is a classic. Overall good, falls short of Greatness for me, though
4
Mar 01 2025
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Arrival
ABBA
Is this the music you’re going to catch me listening to week in and week out? Probably not, but it’s hard to deny that iconic nature of Abba. I’m not afraid to say I can get down to most of these tracks and there’s something charming and silly about ABBA in the best ways. Lotta Bops on this one. Fernando FTW
5
Mar 02 2025
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Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz
I’m a sucker for bossa and this is a perfect entry into the genre
5
Mar 03 2025
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If You're Feeling Sinister
Belle & Sebastian
enjoyable but was missing a wow factor
3
Mar 04 2025
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Blackstar
David Bowie
Unique in a different sense from some of the Bowie I have come to know and love. You can hear his age here, and the sounds he's playing with are super interesting, but not necessarily something I enjoy 100 percent of the time. Context helps this albums legacy, and even without it, its still a fine piece of work. Just not my favorite Bowie album
4
Mar 05 2025
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Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
I shamelessly enjoy this. It was easy to get lost in and had me head nodding from beginning to end.
4
Mar 06 2025
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Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
I can respect what is going on here. Hell, there were moments I found mystifying and worth appreciating! However, I can confidently say I would never be scrolling through my music collection and pick this out for a casual listen. That's a personal preference thing at the end of the day though, and as an album I can see how it paved the way for a genre of music that has become popular, so I will settle with a 3/5 here to split the difference
3
Mar 07 2025
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Screamadelica
Primal Scream
eclectic as hell, moments i liked but it lost me here and there
3
Mar 08 2025
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This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
absolutely slaps. can’t be a 5 bc it’s greatest hits, but damn it were they great!!
4
Mar 09 2025
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Halcyon Digest
Deerhunter
I think other Deerhunter albums deserve a spot on 1001 over this one. it’s not bad but it feels pretty mild overall tonally. I like indie rock as much as the next guy, but nothing is majorly moving the needle here.
3
Mar 10 2025
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Teen Dream
Beach House
Nostalgia in full force here. 2nd favorite beach house album, but front to back this is a wonderful, mesmerizing experience from the duo and I can always rely on it. Songs work well alone, even better in the context of the LP. An all time favorite 🤩
5
Mar 11 2025
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Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
personifies the 90’s and 2000’s kids teenage and college years. Evokes those feelings and memories of youth and uncertainty in the most vulnerable ways
5
Mar 12 2025
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Siamese Dream
The Smashing Pumpkins
Not really a grunge guy by trade but i enjoyed the music here. Very consistent vibe/tone wise but I think it works to the album's strengths.
3
Mar 13 2025
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Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Spiritualized
3
Mar 14 2025
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Alien Lanes
Guided By Voices
lot of little ideas here, fairly enjoyable but feels demo-ish
3
Mar 15 2025
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Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
I don't think this reinvented the wheel in any big way (and it doesn't need to), because PJ Harvey is in her bag on this LP. The tried and true rock influences, the Thom York feature, the weirdness of PJ all work well together.
4
Mar 16 2025
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Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
Unique. Had trouble with the vocals at times. So spoken wordy and while it didn't necessarily take away from the music, I think it made it more eerie then it may have intended to be. Instrumentals were cool though and I appreciate that this sounds like nothing else I've heard so far on 1001
3
Mar 17 2025
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Remedy
Basement Jaxx
I just can't really envision a place and space for this other than where it is played: the club, being out.
I guess in that sense it's not bad, but I'm not throwing this on during my day or around the house
2
Mar 18 2025
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Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
Frank Sinatra
I could listen to Frank for days. The crooning and easy way that Frank glides over these delightful accompaniments is calming. It's a 5 for me for nostalgia and the feeling it evokes, but I wouldn't argue that it's diverse or pushing the envelope so I expect others will have it lower.
Not everything needs to be groundbreaking though, and having a vocal giant like Sinatra sing a bevy of love songs is a match made in heaven. It's timeless and effortless. The greats are the greats for a reason.
5
Mar 19 2025
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The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
I became a rap fan towards the end of middle school (circa early 2010's.) As a Midwestern privileged white kid, you would think Eminem and I would be a match made in heaven- which was the case for many of my peers.
Truthfully, I really never gave Eminem a shot. Heard him on the radio, but avoided him in pretty much every other respect. To me, he was the fox wearing, monster drinking, type of rapper, and my preppy adjacent sensibilities couldn't jive with it.
However, listening to this- I have a much greater appreciation for Eminem. Can't say I love the super aggression, and the slurs/horror core rap is sometimes pretty intense. Topically this is pretty foreign, but I suppose I could say that for a majority of albums I do enjoy in the rap genre. Where this project shines is in the melodies, rap flows, and the instrumentals. The hooks are catchy, the content is original as hell, and Eminem is not afraid to be himself and piss of the masses. Wouldn't say I am a fan of Eminem, but I can say that I definitely have missed out not listening to this album prior to today.
4
Mar 20 2025
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The Gilded Palace Of Sin
The Flying Burrito Brothers
Charming, alt country psychedelic. I enjoyed this one and it was pretty unexpected
4
Mar 21 2025
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All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
I do love stepping into the mind of George Harrison. And having had this LP on Vinyl, it was beautifully crafted/sectioned for that format. This double album is a holy grail of beatles solo material and deserves its recognition as such
5
Mar 22 2025
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You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
So I think this is one of those projects that has great ideas, and I can see why people would enjoy it. For me, though, it's just not engaging enough. I don't mind repetition, but some of the ideas here just don't get the fully baked treatment that others do. It's not super consistent as a whole.
3
Mar 23 2025
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Aja
Steely Dan
My office lobby plays steely dan a lot, specifically Peg- and I do have this album on my iPod so i'm pretty familiar with the group. I think I might like Pretzel logic more as an album, but there is something weirdly comforting about Steely Dan's music. It's kinda samey but in a way I enjoy. Perhaps it is more background music for me than a show stopping group, but I am hard pressed to produce something I don't like about the album/group
4
Mar 24 2025
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Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
The energy is electric on this one. Its a succinct 22 minutes that had me locked in from front to back.
On the other hand, this dude is an ALL TIME fuckbag. Pedo, racist, you name it. So...
The 22 minutes I just engaged with the music were good though, so I'll give the scumbag that.
4
Mar 25 2025
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I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
Classic. Aretha is a star in every sense. Commanding vocals and timeless arrangements
5
Mar 26 2025
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Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)
Bob Dylan
I like many of the songs on this album, and I am a fan of Bob Dylan. But my guess is that this album belongs here more as a cultural/historical impact. Listening through here, I don't feel that this stands apart from his typical studio albums in terms of musical prowess or execution. It's a good live album listen, but with bootlegs kind of being a thing of the past in the easily sharable/searchable digital music age, I don't see why this would deserve to be on the list over other full length studio projects of Dylan's.
3
Mar 27 2025
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Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
Frank Sinatra
I love Sinatra, and I love Bossa. Yet for some reason this didn't blow me away n the way I might expect it to. I think Bossa just doesn't totally suit Sinatra's style: honestly
3
Mar 28 2025
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Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
can appreciate it for what it is. definitely can see and respect how it sewed the seeds, but in 2025- i’m not necessarily getting down to this
2
Mar 29 2025
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Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
Throughly enjoyed this one. Hard to believe these were country songs. Ray charles is so soulful in his singing, breathing fresh new life into the songs. Slightly long/repetitive over the two discs but a near 5.
4
Mar 30 2025
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Pearl
Janis Joplin
2
Mar 31 2025
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Green
R.E.M.
I remember I had out of time by R.E.M on CD in middle school. This doesn't really sound like I remember them sounding. This was good though and I though the front half was especially strong
4
Apr 01 2025
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The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
2
Apr 02 2025
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McCartney
Paul McCartney
Paul did some good work on this one. Not earth shattering or meeting the highest highs of beatles, but its clear his songwriting chops have never been a fluke
4
Apr 03 2025
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Cupid & Psyche 85
Scritti Politti
Holy Cliche! This album feels super one note and is oozing with pop. Not bad but not something I can see myself revisiting. It's like synth Armageddon!
2