425
Albums Rated
3.74
Average Rating
39%
Complete
664 albums remaining
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1960
Favorite Decade
Funk
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Cheerleader
Rater Style ?
122
5-Star Albums
14
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sex Packets
Digital Underground
|
5 | 2.66 | +2.34 |
|
Peggy Suicide
Julian Cope
|
5 | 2.77 | +2.23 |
|
Planet Rock: The Album
Afrika Bambaataa
|
5 | 2.79 | +2.21 |
|
Brown Sugar
D'Angelo
|
5 | 2.93 | +2.07 |
|
Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
TV On The Radio
|
5 | 2.94 | +2.06 |
|
Ghosteen
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
|
5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
|
Done By The Forces Of Nature
Jungle Brothers
|
5 | 3.04 | +1.96 |
|
Smile
Brian Wilson
|
5 | 3.05 | +1.95 |
|
Real Life
Magazine
|
5 | 3.06 | +1.94 |
|
Make Yourself
Incubus
|
5 | 3.08 | +1.92 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Diamond Life
Sade
|
1 | 3.45 | -2.45 |
|
Eagles
Eagles
|
1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
|
Pyromania
Def Leppard
|
1 | 3.13 | -2.13 |
|
The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell
|
1 | 3.12 | -2.12 |
|
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
|
1 | 3.03 | -2.03 |
|
The Contino Sessions
Death In Vegas
|
1 | 2.9 | -1.9 |
|
Stripped
Christina Aguilera
|
1 | 2.87 | -1.87 |
|
Destroyer
KISS
|
1 | 2.85 | -1.85 |
|
Oedipus Schmoedipus
Barry Adamson
|
1 | 2.78 | -1.78 |
|
Take Me Apart
Kelela
|
1 | 2.75 | -1.75 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Radiohead | 4 | 4.75 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 5 |
| The Rolling Stones | 3 | 5 |
| R.E.M. | 4 | 4.5 |
| Pixies | 3 | 4.67 |
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Beach Boys | 3 | 4.67 |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 3 | 4.67 |
| Prince | 2 | 5 |
| Coldplay | 2 | 5 |
| The Band | 2 | 5 |
| Funkadelic | 2 | 5 |
| U2 | 2 | 5 |
| Beatles | 2 | 5 |
| Paul Simon | 2 | 5 |
| Elliott Smith | 2 | 5 |
| Miles Davis | 2 | 5 |
| Beastie Boys | 2 | 5 |
| TV On The Radio | 2 | 5 |
| The White Stripes | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Doors | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Eagles | 2 | 1.5 |
| Joni Mitchell | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (122)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
G. Love & Special Sauce · 5 likes
1/5
This is the worst kind of white boy college music.
Jimi Hendrix · 3 likes
3/5
This is strange collection of so songs. Little Miss Strange could have been a Beatles show by. Burning of the Midnight Lamp pulls out some mid 60s British invasion psychedelia. There's jazz, there's blues rock. And there are the stone cold classics everyone loves. Hendrix as a guitarist and vocalist is amazing. Especially in his most focused moments. But a lot of this feels unfocused. What the fuck is 1983? For as long as the track is, almost nothing happens until the very end. This is a tough one. That final three song run is really good. And All Along the Watchtower still stands as one of the greatest songs of all time. But the album as a whole is kind of a mess with glimpses of genius.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs · 2 likes
3/5
I'm really not that familiar with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs besides their singles. This album is fine. Heads Will Roll is obviously a standout. And Shame and Fortune had a pretty good riff. I like Karen O.s voice. But this probably isn't something I'd return to.
Janelle Monáe · 1 likes
4/5
This album is wild. I'm all in for the high concept sci-fi part of it. Musically it's all over the place. Hip hop, pop, funk, rock, samba, circus, punk. Seriously not what I expected. It's very theatrical. I dig it.
Talking Heads · 1 likes
5/5
One of the weirdest TH releases is also one of their best. Byrne and crew are on in this one. Not my favorite TH album but certainly one of their best.
1-Star Albums (14)
All Ratings
David Bowie
2/5
I didn't like this album when it came out, I don't like it now. Bowie was inspired by To Pimp a Butterfly and Death Grips while recording this, which is intriguing. But it doesn't make me like it anymore. I love the jazz group he hired to play the music. They are super dialed in. The drummer is especially tight. I'd give this a higher rating if it was just instrumental. The last track is the most Bowie sounding, and it hits harder because it was the last song to be released before he died.
Eagles
2/5
Listening to Hotel California is my Hotel California. I feel trapped and unable to leave. They are undoubtedly good musicians. But this is cheesy and the music is overplayed. If I never heard the song Hotel California again in my life I could die happy.
Pixies
5/5
The Zombies
4/5
B.B. King
5/5
That they could sound this good and tight without in ear monitors or auto tune is a testament to how good these musicians were. What I wouldn't give to sit in on this show. This album gave me stank face the whole listen through.
Adam & The Ants
2/5
My uncle has an Adam and the Ants record that I remember spending a lot of time staring at when I was a kid. But this is the first time I've listened to them. It's fine. There's some interesting stuff. 'Don't Be Square Be There' is ultra catchy and the baseline is incredible. I liked the sample on 'Killer in the Home.' but most of this just runs together. And what the fuck is Jolly Roger? New Wave pirate music sucks.
Lightning Bolt
2/5
I believe there is an audience for noise rock. I'm not that audience.
I do dig Dracula Mountain and Two Towers though.
The Cars
3/5
I wore this tape out in high school working out in my basement. It's so singable. The three track run at the beginning is unbeatable. This is peak new wave. Which may not be everyone's cup of tea. I love the synths, the hand claps, the at times country sounding guitar, and the unique sound of Ocasek's voice. Of all the skippable songs played on classic rock radio, I'm never turning off Thee Cars.
Joni Mitchell
1/5
Ho boy, I am not a fan of Joni Mitchell. I just can't do the rambling run-on stream-ot-consciousness poetry.
Sade
1/5
Welcome to elevator hell. Hope you like the music.
The White Stripes
5/5
It's hard for me to be objective in reviewing this album. It was the soundtrack to my junior and senior year of high school. But 22 years later I can say with confidence, this is not a 'you had to be there' album. It's an all time rock and roll classic regardless of age and era.
Time Travel with me back to 2003 when garage rock and The The bands were all the rage. The White Stripes, The Strokes, The Vines, The Hives, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, etc. These bands and music videos were all over MTV. Who was going to rise to the top?
Enter Seven Nation Army. Before the song was ubiquitous, and before it had been co-opted by high school bands and sports teams, it electrified the nation, reminding us how good simple rock and roll could be. That's a hook to remember. And Elephant could have easily ridden that single to the heights it got even if the rest of the album was mediocre. But this is not a single only album.
From the other hard rock songs like Black Math and There's No Home For You Here to the softer tracks like You've Got Her In Your Pocket and even the Meg song In The Cold Cold Night, the album covers a lot of ground and does it really, really well.
For my money, Ball and Biscuit is the best White Stripes song and can stand alongside the best rock songs of all time.
I'm listening to this on earbuds while getting my kids ready for school and having the same visceral reaction to it as I did when I was a 17 year old. That should say something because there's a lot of music I listened to then that no longer hits. The White Stripes rule. Long live Jack White, rock guitar's weird uncle who continues to keep the genre alive decades on.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
4/5
Quintessential 60s garage, blues-tinged psychedelia. The guitar tones are so crisp and buttery at the same time. Janis is at the top of her screechy, wailing game, which may or may not be a selling point depending on how you feel about her. At times the songs feel unfocused. And there are a few clunky transitions between tracks. But this is a classic in the genre for a reason. It's wild that Rolling Stone originally panned this record.
Badly Drawn Boy
4/5
Really solid brit pop/rock. Sprawling, experimental at times. I'm always surprised by the number of instrumental interludes.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
If you don't listen to closely, it sounds like somewhat standard 60s British invasion, with psych elements. Occasionally they interject a 50s Doo-Wop and song. But then the kazoo kicks in which perks up the ears. Then pay attention to the words, and rlyou realize this is a weird fucking band. Which makes sense because it's a Zappa project. This is a lot more tolerable to me than Captain Beefheart (which I'm sure we will have to listen to at some point). I love this era of music and am a big fan of psych rock. But I don't love Zappa's weirdness for the sake of being weird.
I do 💯 agree with the sentiment "I'm not black but there's a whole lot of times I wish I could say I'm not white."
Moby
2/5
This album sounds like 1999. I don't love dance music, so I had no problem listening to a minute of a track and then skipping. I do appreciate his use of old blues and gospel samples. Southside was a banger when it was on TRL. It still slaps now. Honey, Natural Blues, Bodyrock, and Run On are still great tracks. I didn't like Porcelain when it came out, and I still don't enjoy it.
Thundercat
4/5
Sexy music made by nerds for nerds.
I loved this when it came out; I love it now. It's so funky and smooth. Thundercat is a phenomenal bass player. The combination of jazz, r and b, and hip-hop just hits a sweet spot for me. He's undoubtedly a weird dude, but it feels like more of a genuine weirdness. This is who he is, living his best life. This is as opposed to Zappa, who used weirdness to provoke in a way that felt disingenuous.
Also, Michael McDonald? That's a killer guest spot.
Gang Starr
3/5
The production is so crisp. There's a reason Premier is one of the best and most sought after producers in the game. This is just top notch jazzy boom nap. Guru is also a great rapper. He manages to carry the album's vocals by himself and drops fire bars after bars. The 91-93 run in hip hop history has some of my absolute favorites.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
I have never listened to anything by DMR except Come on Eileen. I probably never would have. But this was pretty good. There were a couple throwaway songs (including the one that sampled Werewolves of London) but most of it was really solid. I love Rowlands voice. Reminds me of Orville Peck. I will be returning to this.
The Doors
4/5
If you close your eyes and take out Jay Moe's vocals, Peace Frog would make a great Cake song.
This album is weird and all over the place, just like the Doors. The song transitions are crazy, from super high to super mellow (roadhouse blues-waiting for the sun, Peace Frog-Blue Sunday), but I think it works. The back half slows down after Land Ho, but the songs themselves are still very good.
There's just some stone cold classics on here: roadhouse blues, peace frog, land ho! But it's also good as an entire album. The mix of acid rock and blues is perfect, and it never drags, like some other Doors music
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
1/5
For such a legendary lineup, this is unfortunately boring standard brit rock. The only influence I hear here is from Damon Albarn. The rest of the band might as well be studio musicians.
Metallica
4/5
This album makes me want to grow out a mullet and buy a jean jacket. It's not their best record, but it's quintessential Metallica. And it's the on that list the Grammy to Jethro Tull. The Grammys still can't get this category right. Hatfield is the king of thrash rhythm. And Hammett is a soloing monster. Everyone is tight through all the time signature changes thanks to Ulrichs direction.
Essential Tracks: One, Harvester of Sorrows
Skip:To Live Is To Die
Taylor Swift
3/5
I would never have listened to this album except that Ryan Adams released an entire cover album of it when it came out. I'm glad he did because I would have missed out on some really masterfully written pop songs. This is not the kind of music I would normally listen to. But I can't deny it's good. The pedigree of producers is top notch. The synthy 80s style maximalist pop and vocals are really fun. And it's catchy as hell. I'm not a Swiftie by any stretch of the imagination, but I will defend this album.
KISS
1/5
It's impossible for me to take Kiss seriously. I really liked them in high school. I skipped a soccer practice to see them and Aerosmith (and saliva weirdly enough) which came with a stiff 30 lap penalty the next day. Totally worth it. This sounds like music a high schooler would like. As a discerning adult, it's just cheese. That this got conservative Christian's panties in such a bunch is hilarious. There are multiple ballads in this beast that undermine any heavy persona they are trying to portray.
Detroit Rock City still rips though. Bonus star for that song. But then Great Expectations rips that star away.
So many of these tracks sound like Styx songs. Flaming Youth and Sweet Pain would fit right in on The Grand Illusion
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Making Whoopee, a great song about fuckin' and it's consequences (spoiler alert, the consequence is children).
It's Frank Sinatra, it's kind of hard to criticize. It's perfectly pleasant music from a different era. All the tracks glide one into another, which is probably intentional. Not my jam, but totally inoffensive.
Pennies from Heaven is a stone cold classics. And Anything Goes is in Temple of Doom, so that song also gets a bump from me.
Abdullah Ibrahim
4/5
Really interesting record. Starts with some big band era swing, moves through golden era Blue Note bebop and ends with my favorite track, the post-bop 'Sameeda.' It's blowing my mind that this came out in 1986. It sounds like something from the mid 60s. The trumpet and saxophone are what make this project sing. But the group as a while is very tight.
Queen
3/5
Pretty ballsy to start the album with a long noodly guitar solo that at times seems to go nowhere.
Guitar Hero has embedded Killer Queen permanently into my brain. But it's such a good song, I can still listen to it
Lily of the Valley rips so does Now I'm here. Great combo of tracks.
Bring back that Leroy Brown is...a weird choice. It's weird even for Queen, who are the queens of weird.
Prince
5/5
Don't worry, I won't hurt you. I only want you to have some fun.
What a hell of a way to open an album .
This album is pure party, pure sex, pure funk. Prince can really do everything. I wish he shredded more, since he definitely can. That's what makes him so good, he's shows a ridiculous amount of restraint, even while being bombastic. This album is all vibes that just build throughout the tracks. The funk bass, synth, and drum combo just move. It's wild this came out in 82. So much from that time and onward owes a debt to this record. There are no duds here.
Ali Farka Touré
2/5
I don't know how to rate world music. I don't have enough experience to know if something is 'good' or 'mid' or 'bad'. All I can ask is do I like it? Does it vibe? This vibes. But it also gets repetitive. And I'm not really sure what Cooder adds to the mix.
Nick Drake
4/5
To me this sounds like early 2000s indie folk, thanks to it's connection with needle drops from movies I was watching at the time. It's hard to place it in it's actual setting, 1972. But understandable that amongst his British counterparts at the time, he wouldn't stand out. Which is too bad. This is beautiful music. Quiet, intimate, understated. He does a lot with a little. His wispy voice definitely sets the melancholic tone. I'd have to be in the mood for this. But looking outside, cold and wet, it appears that the mood is now.
Did some digging. Man, his life was really, really sad.
White Denim
4/5
Ooh, this is the kind of psych rock I can get behind. This album rules. The polyrhythms are off the charts. Every track feels like a journey. The horns! The hook on Is and Is and Is goes so hard.
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
I was pretty skeptical because all the connections to the white musician enlightenment thing. But there were some genuinely exciting passages. The guitar was pretty good. There are parts that just sound beautiful. The musicianship is there. And unlike the previous world music album, it's not repetitive. I started the day super skeptical, but now I'm on board
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
Wu Tang again? Yes, again and again!
Depending on the day, this is my number one (or number 2) hip hop album of all time. The beats are so grimy and dusty and dialed in. The samples are so perfect. Kung Fu and hip hop? Yes Please. RZA's production on this will never be matched. The rhymes are insane. These guys just got in the booth for hours and looked for ways to one up each other. The skits are actually worth listening to. We get some of the most memorable hooks in all of hip hop. And just some of the best rappers who ever played the game. GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man! Are you kidding me?! We're introduced to ODB, raps insane dirty uncle who lays down some of the funniest bars. I have listened to this album countless times, and I still hear new things. 10/10. It's a perfect album
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Oooh baby! This is peak -era Stevie Wonder. It's funky, it's jazzy, it's soulful, it's even a little weird at times. It doesn't have the heavy hitter singles of some of his other records around this time, but the songs are no less good. for my money, They Won't Go When I Go might be his most moving song. Speaking of moving, the backing band here is incredible. So tight. And that bass tone just sends me. Absolutely interstellar. It's a little down tempo at times and there are a couple tracks that drag. But this is still top tier Stevie.
Eagles
1/5
Most of us are sad 🤮🤮.
Sonic Youth
2/5
So much noise and parts that go nowhere. Sonic Youth is pretty high up for me on bands I want to like but don't. I've listened to this album a number of times before, and it's just never caught on for me.
Radiohead
5/5
The one where the band exits 90s alternative and starts getting weird. Admittedly I'm a basic bitch and like The Bends more. But this album continues to grow on me with each successive listen. It's really densely layered, I know I'm missing some things. As much as I like sing a longs, there is something really satisfying about a record that rewards multiple close listens.
*That Exit Music for a Film was written for Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet might be one of the most 90s things of all time.
Common
4/5
I'm an unabashed Soulquarian fanboy. Questlove and J Dilla in the same space? So much genius and skill there. And the music on this doesn't disappoint. The beats are so tight and complex. Everything is carefully constructed and dialed in. There isn't a single note out of place or extraneous part. That attention to detail they have here is inspiring.
Now, Common on the other hand is not my favorite rapper. He's pretty middle of the pack, and his career is spotty. But man, they do manage to elevate him here. The blatant homophobia and misogyny is really, really unfortunate. It distracts from everything else that is so good.
Cold-Blooded and The Light are just phenomenal songs.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
I'm pretty burned out on most "classic rock" bands due to oversaturation, and Led Zeppelin is no exception. However...
Immigration Song, Celebration Song, Since I've Been Living You and Out on the Tiles.. are just incredible rock and roll songs.
Tangerine and That's the Way are beautiful, especially back to back.
And then the album ends with two acoustic blues songs that are also really good, if not out of left field.
The only skip for me is Friends, which isn't a bad song either
It's hard to argue against Jimmy Page's talent. And Robert Plant's voice is about as recognizable as Brian Johnson's. There are many imitators. But only one RP (unless you count his female counterpart Janis Joplin).
I honestly didn't expect to like this album as much as I do. The sequencing is a little weird, but that's a pretty small complaint.
Michael Jackson
4/5
It's disco Mike! Disco, Funk's popper, fancier cousin. It's hard to argue with the catchiness of these tracks. The horns and wiki-wiki guitars are a sexy combination. Michael has amazing breath control. I mean, there's a reason he is the king of pop. It's not something I'd put in regular rotation, but it is full of bangers. Besides the singles other tracks like Workin' Day and Night are pretty stellar.
Green Day
4/5
Green Day's 'sellout' album. I mean, the singles on this defined punk in the 90s. Basket Case still hits as hard as the first time I heard it. Mike Dirnt is just annihilating his kit. Tre Cool is in the background shredding the bass. Billie Joe is about as intelligible as Eddie Vedder but you still want to sing along. You've got the whole MTV generation singing about masturbating. Non-single She is probably my favorite Green Day song. This is the definitive pre American Idiot Green Day album . What more do you want?
Holy shit, I forgot about All By Myself. Hilarious and creepy.
Steely Dan
3/5
Yacht rock fueled by kick ass musicianship and guitar wizardry.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Despite never having lived in NYC or used heroin, I really like The Velvet Underground. The band and the album. Pale Blue Eyes is one of the best love songs of all time.
Cat Stevens
2/5
Father and Son and Wild World are undeniable classics. Cat Stevens is a style, not my personal favorite, but not bad by any stretch
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Upbeat Brit-rock, catchy enough and fairly pleasant to listen to. Some of this feels like 'you had to be there' music. I'm just wondering now if I don't really like 90s British music all that much, outside of Oasis and some odd singles (Blur, etc).
Tears For Fears
4/5
The live tag at the end of Head Over Heels is wild. This whole album feels like quintessential 80s synth pop, but it also feels better than that label
Coldplay
5/5
Man, this album rules. Coldplay have been around for so long, I sometimes forget they began here. And finally, some really interesting brit rock. Complex, poppy, and full of heart. Chris Martin has an amazing voice and great breath control. He knows when to hold back and when to go for it. I started to list all the great songs on here, and I realized I was just typing out the tracklist. I didn't realize how much I liked this album. Yellow is still an incredibly beautiful song 25 years later.
The Temptations
4/5
So funky, so soulful. The Temps were some of the best who ever did it. A vocal group where each guy had a special voice and new exactly where they fit in. And this is that special album where they're trying to tackle current issues. Which still hits even if we aren't in that same space. Dennis Edwards replaces David Ruffin, which is just such a sad situation. Ruffin was the voice for a time, but Edwards also brings a lot to the table. A little gruffer but all soul still. And the backing band totally crushes here. Hits all the right notes.
Queen
3/5
Progressive heavy metal Queen is really different. Brian May is just going for it. Everything is over the top. Which isn't necessarily bad. Fantasy themed lyrics feel strange coming from Mercury. And the whole thing feels ahead of its time. I need to give this another listen, but I like what I heard.
Germs
3/5
Fuck yeah, I love hardcore punk! Not as complex as Black Flag or as boundary pushing as Bad Brains. But for a first, it's good. Germs were never known for their musical prowess. And it's cool they actually got Darby Crash on tape, since he was notorious for doing everything but singing into the mic. His story is sad too, like Nick Drake. Some of the songs feel a little long. There's a reason hxc is known for one or two minutes tracks. If you don't like it, it will be over soon. But the attitude here is is undeniable.
Pixies
4/5
Still in the classic Pixies era, with some unquestionable classic songs like Velouria, Alison, Dig for Fire, and Havalina. Is She Weird is one of my favorite tracks on the album. Not everything follows the quiet-loud-quiet Pixies formula, like Ana. But it's still there, if not slightly muted. They also dialed down the weirdness found in Surfer
Rosa and Doolittle, which may be appealing to some (though I like the quirkiness). Despite not having their biggest hits, Bossanova is still a really straightforward, solid, and easily digestible Pixies album.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
This is strange collection of so songs. Little Miss Strange could have been a Beatles show by. Burning of the Midnight Lamp pulls out some mid 60s British invasion psychedelia. There's jazz, there's blues rock. And there are the stone cold classics everyone loves. Hendrix as a guitarist and vocalist is amazing. Especially in his most focused moments. But a lot of this feels unfocused. What the fuck is 1983? For as long as the track is, almost nothing happens until the very end. This is a tough one. That final three song run is really good. And All Along the Watchtower still stands as one of the greatest songs of all time. But the album as a whole is kind of a mess with glimpses of genius.
Eminem
2/5
Slim Shady self reflecting on his persona, toxic fandom, and the unintentional effects his lyrics have on people who don't understand that it's not meant to be taken seriously. And also, it's still incredibly violent, misogynistic, and homophobic. Eminem has undeniable talent. His use of different rhyme schemes is impressive. And he drops so many memorable bars. Dre's production here is great. It screams 2000, but it's still very solid.
All that being said, the content is ROUGH. I didn't really like it when it came out, and it's still hard to listen to now.
3/5
Ooh wee that guitar tone! Just shredding back there behind Loretta. Young Alex would have laughed at this. But the older I get the more I appreciate this version of country. The moral of this album is don't fuck with Loretta Lynn.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Minimalist dance rock. I missed this when it first came out. But really dig it. The songs are all about a minute too long. But still enjoyable.
M.I.A.
3/5
It's fine. I like what she's trying to do, I just don't love the product.
Maxwell
2/5
Sex: The Album. If 'Dick in a Box' were a real song it would be on here. It's a little smoother than I like, but the funky notes are pretty good
Nirvana
5/5
Prologue, I was obsessed with Nirvana in high school. I thought Kurt Cobain was the greatest songwriter of all time. I had regular internal debates about whether Nevermind or In Utero was their best album. I watched the documentaries available, read the books, bought every scrap of available recorded music. And then I got super over it. I haven't listened through this album in probably 20 years.
So, Nevermind with fresh ears. Out the gate, SLTS is a raw, rawkus punk rock anthem. There's no wonder this took the world by storm. Honestly, no bad track on this album. Everything is so hard, so raw, so angsty, so anti corporate. Which is crazy that it has become what it is. I often wonder what Kurt would think of it all now if he was still around. I imagine he'd be pissed that Wal Mart sells branded Nirvana shirts to kids who think it's a clothing company. But maybe he'd have grown up to and would just laugh at the absurdity. This doesn't hold the same place for me it once did. But it's still undeniable. Anyways, 10/10, all-time classic.
Depeche Mode
3/5
Other than the singles, totally unfamiliar with this. I only knew Personal Jesus because of Johnny Cash. I like the gloomy industrial vibes here. More propulsive than The Cure. I definitely hear this as a prototype to NIN. I'm glad to add this to my rotation when I'm in the mood for this type of music
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Funky, soulful, iconic, a slice of history that should be paid attention to (because it seems we're entering that kind of time again). What's going on? What's happening brother? What's happening my man? Who the fuck even knows? And who's going to do anything about it? I appreciate these kind of messages and these albums. But they can get preachy. It's a fine line to walk. A whole album of this isn't necessarily something I'd want to return to much.
I like the song segues. It makes the whole project seem like a complete movement. This is the definition of an album-composed and thought out
Bangers-What's Going On, What's Happening Brother, God is Love, Mercy Mercy Me, Inner City Blues
Skip-Right On, Wholly Holy
Janelle Monáe
4/5
This album is wild. I'm all in for the high concept sci-fi part of it. Musically it's all over the place. Hip hop, pop, funk, rock, samba, circus, punk. Seriously not what I expected. It's very theatrical. I dig it.
Pearl Jam
5/5
10/10, it's about absolute masterpiece. Adult Alex would choose this over Nevermind, teenage Alex would go the other way.
The Kinks
3/5
Sounds like a bunch of mid tier Beatles tracks I like the Kinks, but there's not much here I'd remember after it was over.
Miriam Makeba
4/5
Extreme pleasant listen. Her voice is beautiful and the melodies are captivating. My daughter really liked it too. The House of the Rising Sun cover was killer.
Blondie
5/5
I would never have listened to this on my own. I forgot how good One Way or Another is outside of movie needle drops. Debbie Harry has such a strong and commanding voice. Holy shit, that first minute of Fade Away and Radiate hits so good. Then you get the proggy I Know But I Don't Know. This album covers a lot of territory in the best way. I was all in by the time Heart of Glass hit, which sounded so good in the context of the whole album experience. 💯 Did not expect to dig this album so much
Supergrass
4/5
The only thing I knew about Supergrass was the music video for Pumping On Your Stereo. Right away, this album feels big. The songs are grandiose and undeniably rock and roll. Which is different from the more subdued 90s Brit-rock we've heard so far. This album is rollicking. It moves. And each song has it's own unique flavor. I could actually tell you the difference between them. Sidenote, the verse music on Cheapskates sounds like The Ghostbusters theme song.
Def Leppard
1/5
Hey did you know the drummer only has one arm?.....man this sucked.
Big ups for the cowbell on 'Foolin' though.
Gram Parsons
3/5
Emmylou Harris is a national treasure! $1000 Wedding is really touching. The medley is fantastic. And that version of Love Hurts is amazing. I'm all in when the slide guitar is allowed to just jam. Overall, I'm half and half on this one.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Take me to church Aretha! What a voice! So much soul. And that backing band is on fire. The absolute definition of musical goodness. This is music that moves you. She's an undeniable force. This record is perfect top to bottom
Sarah Vaughan
2/5
So, just voting on whether it's my taste or not. Sarah is clearly a talented jazz singer and her backing group is solid. This is just not the kind of jazz I enjoy.
Okay, Sarah not knowing the words on the last song and going completely off script is fucking hilarious.
Pretenders
3/5
Nirvana
5/5
This is the definitive unplugged album. Even stripped down, this is an incredibly heavy album. Just listen to "Where did You Sleep Last Night." They took the covers and made them their own, sometimes elevating them beyond the source material (ie The Man Who Sold The World). I am thankful this introduced me to the Meat Puppets. It takes a lot for an unplugged album to become an essential part of a band's discography. But here we are.
WHERE DO BAD FOLKS GO WHEN THEY DIE?!
10/10
The Stooges
4/5
Proto-punk legend Iggy Pop and his Stooges really turn up the rock on this one. I don't know what else to say, this rules.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
I can see how this is the blueprint for late 90s early 2000s indie rock. I've never listened to b &s before. It's nice, upbeat, pretty light, a little pretentious.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
This album feels like a collection of experiments at trying to find their sound. The songs are very good, the overall product isn't necessarily cohesive. It feels a little more interesting than If You're Feeling Sinister, though I did really like the trumpet on that one. Again, sets the blueprint for the kind of indie that I grew up on.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Classic album with classic songs. Tangled Up In Blue, Simple Twist of Fate, and Shelter From the Storm are just incredible. It's hard to believe he had so many albums before this. Prolific. But, if you don't like Bob Dylan, this won't change your mind. It's got all the stereotypes. Ooohhhhhh plus harmonica plus ten verses. They're all great, I love them. But it's prototypical BD.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
I've never listened to this the whole way through. Just paid attention to the singles, which are definitive 90s alternative. This is a really great album, even aside from Today and Disarm and Cherub Rock. What a wild juxtaposition to the grunge explosion happening at the time. Soma is a great blueprint for post-rock today. And Geek USA just rocks.
The Kinks
3/5
A bunch of pleasant weirdness, not as good as what the Beatles were putting out but still enjoyable. Waterloo Sunset is an obvious classic
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
This is the quintessential "American Rock Record" by the definition of an American Rock Band.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
I love Bob Marley. This is a great album. He manages to take some really heavy themes and make them inspiring and uplifting.
Justin Timberlake
3/5
The production here is really great. But it's not at the heights of FutureSex, which to me is a 5/5 album. There's a couple really strong songs here, Cry Me A River, Rock Your Body, but it's mostly a mid pop album. Which makes sense since it's his first solo outing.
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
This is pretty over-the-top. It's not bad, but I doubt I'll return to it.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
The La's
4/5
I had no idea Sixpence None The Richer on 'There She Goes' was a cover. I really enjoyed this odd collection of songs. That this influenced Oasis is no surprise at all. Will definitely return to this one
The Beach Boys
4/5
Pet Sounds is one of the greatest albums ever recorded. And Smile (and even Smiley Smile) are up ther for me too. But admittedly, I haven't gone too deep on them beyond those and their earlier radio hits. Reading the background of this one, I'm curious how much Brian Wilson was involved (since accounts vary).
For this record, I had to do a double take on the cover and title. Surfs Up? With that artwork? What is this?! The songs have a different feel to them. Psychedelic, darker in tone. Orchestrated but missing the BW high notes in places. Gives other members voices a chance to shine. After listening to the whole thing, my assessment is (not that I'm an expert) but BW has much less input than was publicized. Til I Die and Surfs Up sound like a classic BW songs. But the rest are missing his presence. Which isn't to say they aren't good. If anything, it shows the rest of the band can do weirdness pretty well.
This isn't on the same tier as the best BW led Beach Boys projects, but it's still really good. I will be definitely returning to it.
The Offspring
3/5
I listened to this album a lot last year because I had the opportunity to see Offspring play through the whole thing at a festival. But after spending so much time with it, I decided I'd rather see a different band. I popped in for the big songs but then stepped back out. Because to me, this album is so basic. The music is pretty generic punk, the lyrics are... fine. I can appreciate what it did for punk in the 90s along with Green Day, but there are much better bands doing better versions of this at the time. Nitro, Bad Habit, Gotta Get Away, and Self Esteem are all great songs, but everything else just kind of blends in together. It's still wild to me that Dexter has a PhD in molecular biology and churns out the mediocre and sometimes clingy lyrics he does.
Also, white dreads.
2.5/5
Joy Division
4/5
Dark, brooding, captivating. I love Peter Hook's bass playing and Sumner's crunchy guitar riffs. Ian Curtis sounds gloomy and to me is the least interesting part of the band (I'm more of a New Order fan). But I enjoy this brand of JD much more than the "Love Will Tear Us Apart" version. Obviously this was immensely interesting influential on so much music to come. And rightfully so. Songs like 'Shadowplay' just command a lot of attention.
Hole
4/5
I was always under the impression that Courtney Love was a toxic human being. So I avoided her music. I was prepared to hate this. I'm shocked to find I'm actually really enjoying it. A lot actually. This is some great 90s alternative.
Dr. John
3/5
What a weird fucking album. I have no idea what voodoo rituals I just participated in. I have to admit, I do like the vibe. And the longer I listened, the more I jammed out with the ambience. It's great background music.
The Police
4/5
White. Reggae
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
I love the Boss. But I'm less aware of his later output than his earlier. I knew this was his 9/11 comeback album. And listening to it now, I can understand why it made such a mark. Just beautiful, soulful rock and roll. So much hope. Into the Fire is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in a long time. I appreciate that where other artists took an opportunity to get vengeful after 9/11, Springsteen sought unity and hope.
2/5
I get what this did for punk rock. I get this is live, so the production is going to be understandably rough. And the band is rough anyways, they're playing is all over the place, the vocals are sometimes spotty. I get their was some interesting controversy over Kick Out The Jams motherfucker. But raw aggression can only cover so many things for me. I want to love this album. As it is though, it's just okay in my opinion.
Nina Simone
5/5
Man, what a voice. FOUR WOMEN absolutely rules. Nina Simone is a stone cold badass
Kanye West
4/5
Kanye is a massive piece of shit. He is a product of unchecked ego and unchecked mental illness. He has too much money and too much influence. And somehow along the way he became anti-Semitic (what?). He hasn't put out a good album since 2016. I wish people would stop paying attention to him so he would stop getting the spotlight.
But once upon a time, he was a really good producer and rapper. And he put out a series of albums that will always be discussed in the the greatest of all time conversation. This is the album that kicked all that off. It's amazing to me that this is his debut, but obviously a lot had been cooking under the surface for a while. I've listened to Jesus Walks more times than I can count. But I'm not overly familiar with this album as a whole. Man, it pisses me off to say but it's really good. He can rap. He can make a beat. He's got some amazing guest spots. And despite the length, I wasn't tired of it by the end. It's just got banger after banger. It's a hip-hop classic.
Someday, after everything with Kanye is over, someone will write a really interesting book on how he went from this to where he is today.
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
Angry, Caustic, iconoclastic, boundary breaking. This is an album I was afraid of as a kid. And there's a lot to be afraid of. Violence, sexuality, abuse, death of God, suicide. But also, moving past that, there's total brilliance here. Pretty Hate Machine is a great album. But this is where Trent really made his mark. Not my favourite NIN record, but an undeniable force. Perfect album. 10/10.
The Darkness
4/5
I mean, it's fun. Ridiculous. But fun.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
In my mental game called "What's the best Hip-hop album of all time?" I go back and forth between this, Enter the 36 Chambers, and 3 Feet High and Rising. Which is to say, this is a classic of the genre. Jazz influenced conscious rap? Yes please. It also transcends time and genre. This is an album I refer people to who say they don't like hip-hop. It's just that good. From the production to the rhymes, 100/100, perfect album hands down.
The Band
5/5
Sloppy awesomeness. Pure, jamming, fucking gold. The Weight is one of the greatest rock songs of all time. On top of that, you've got Tears of Rage, Long Black Veil, and I Shall Be Released. This album was made for drunken sing-a-longs. It's imperfect, which is what makes it so damn good.
The Adverts
3/5
I'd never heard of this band before today. They're fine. It's inoffensive and pretty forgettable.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Thelonious Monk
4/5
Holy smokes, no wonder it took so many takes to get that first track. There's so much going on, and those rhythm changes are wild. You've got some incredible personnel on this besides monk. Rollins is a monster on the sax. And I love Maximum Roach's drumming. He's right up there with Blakey and Rich for me. I've never heard this album before, but it's definitely going to enter my rotation. It's easy listening but also has some progressive elements found in later 60s post bop than what was typical of 50s jazz. I could play this at home without and get my jazz fix without getting too many raised eyebrows.
Barry Adamson
1/5
Not for me.
Pixies
5/5
HEY, BEEN TRYING TO MEET YOU. In my top albums of all time. Absolute masterpiece.
Pulp
4/5
This is super duper British. But I like it.
Brian Wilson
5/5
The backstory to this one is insane. We are truly blessed this came to be. The true spiritual sequel to Pet Sounds. And Brian Wilson proves that even so many years later he is a genius.
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
This is the soundtrack to a Bourne movie. This is every action scene in the 90s. it's fine in those contexts, but I'm not a techno guy so I don't enjoy this on it's own. I like ranch dressing, I don't eat it by the spoonful.
The Smiths
3/5
Morrissey is a prick. And Meat is Murder the song is especially cringy in light of him as a person. The music is good enough. Johnny Marr on guitar is pretty memorabe. And I like Morrissey's voice. Overall, the album is fine. For some reason 'How Soon is Now' is not included on the Spotify version (I know it's only on certain versions of the album). This is clearly the most famous Smiths song and really the only thing on this album that stands out to me.
Steely Dan
4/5
Talking Heads
5/5
One of the weirdest TH releases is also one of their best. Byrne and crew are on in this one. Not my favorite TH album but certainly one of their best.
Carole King
4/5
Whoah, I didn't realize how many Carole King songs I knew
Fleet Foxes
5/5
Without Pet Sounds there would be no Fleet Foxes. I love this album.
G. Love & Special Sauce
1/5
This is the worst kind of white boy college music.
Julian Cope
5/5
I was prepared not to like this. I thought, ok, another British artist from the 90s. But man, this is great. Each song is brings something new to the table. The lyrics are powerful and vulnerable. I actually want to relisten to this. I've never heard of this artist or album, but I'm really glad to have done so now.
The White Stripes
4/5
The Cardigans
2/5
So, the Iron man cover was cool. Otherwise, not sure why this is on the list.
Tricky
2/5
Not for me.
Drive-By Truckers
4/5
Funkadelic
5/5
I'm way more familiar with Parliament, but this Funkadelic album rules. It just oozes psychedelic sexiness. George Clinton forever!
Cornershop
3/5
Starts off strong, but then peters out with too much filler. There's probably a tight 45 minutes somewhere in here.
Neil Young
3/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Christina Aguilera
1/5
There is no way there aren't 1001 other albums to listen to before you die ahead of this one. It pisses me off that this even made this list. Also, very few albums in any genre earn a 77 minute run time.
The White Stripes
4/5
Little Simz
3/5
The Beach Boys
5/5
Untouchable pop music, Wilson was an absolute genius on this one. Contender for best album of all time l.
Elvis Costello
3/5
Slade
3/5
Pure cock rock, Britain's answer to ACDC. It's fun. The bass on Move Over is fucking awesome. Gudbuy Gudbuy has a pretty sweet riff.
The War On Drugs
5/5
Kelela
1/5
Man, this all sounds like one long song. And it's a song I would not willingly choose to listen to. She's a good vocalist. The production is good enough. But this has been one long slog to get through.
Donovan
4/5
Sunshine Superman and Season of the Witch take me back to car rides with my parents, listening to the Columbus oldies station. I still love this kind of music. The pop psychedelia of the time is so much fun. That this came out right around the time of Pet Sounds and Revolver makes a lot of sense. It doesn't have as many classic songs as those, but I'd stack Season of the Witch right alongside Good Vibrations and Good Day Sunshine.
Bob Dylan
5/5
5/5
Tim Buckley
3/5
The Coral
4/5
I knew one song from this, which I liked before. This was surprisingly really fun and interesting. In a time when bands were leaning into the garage rock of the 60s, they chose the weird psychedelic folk and pop rock route.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Tom Waits
3/5
I like Tom Waits in small doses, but it's hard to take his weird-ass circus hobo music seriously.
Aphex Twin
2/5
I like some ambient music (Brian Eno, GSYBE, Explosions in the Sky). This is fine, but not my jam.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
I'm really not that familiar with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs besides their singles. This album is fine. Heads Will Roll is obviously a standout. And Shame and Fortune had a pretty good riff. I like Karen O.s voice. But this probably isn't something I'd return to.
Beatles
5/5
What can you say? I prefer later Beatles, like most everyone else. But these songs are pop rock perfection.
The Vines
3/5
Prince
5/5
What's not to like about this? It's funky, soulful, rocking, danceable, sexy, and super horny. For a double album, I never got bored or antsy. Some standout tracks: Housequake, The Ballad of Dorothy Parker, Starfish and Coffee, Slow Love, It, U Got The Look, I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (Prince just jamming on the guitar at the end takes it), The Cross (holy shit what a late album banger, amazing)
Supertramp
4/5
The Police
3/5
Weird
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
1/5
What an absolute pile of garbage this was.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
The Smiths
4/5
Much better than Meat is Murder.
Elvis Presley
5/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
I've never 'got' Nick Cave, but always felt like I should. This album got me. I love the chaotic urgency in the music. I love Nick Cave's showmanship here. He isn't hiding behind anything. And I really, really love the storytelling. I'm reading the lyrics as I listen, and they're just so wild and poetic and interesting. I did not expect to like this at all. And I ended up loving it.
Ramones
5/5
WWII, horror movies, leather, 60s garage and surf rock aping, the Ramones took some really disparate ideas and started a whole new genre and movement. It's easy, breezy, fast, and fun. It's form over substance. It's a classic.
JAY Z
3/5
The production on this is fantastic. Eminem's guest spot is awesome. Jay-Z is fine. I don't love his voice or content.. it's just not that interesting. I've tried, and there are a couple of his tracks I really like. But generally not a fan.
Astor Piazzolla
3/5
It's all very good. Pretty engaging and exciting. Lots of dramatic moments. I for sure would not have listened to this on my own. But I also probably won't listen to it again
ZZ Top
2/5
Lou Reed
5/5
Eric Clapton
2/5
There's obviously some great guitar playing here. Let It Grow is a real stinker. I get that he stole from black musicians. And is a racist. And a dumbass anti-vaxxer. I think when we hit the 70s we're going to find a lot of musicians we problematic. All that being said, not really music Id choose to listen to.
The Residents
2/5
What the shit is this? I can't believe anyone would listen to this seriously for fun. There are moments I like, such as Rock is Dead. And I 💯 hear how they influenced Les Claypools vocals in Primus. I hate it. I'm intrigued by it. I never want to listen to it again. But maybe just that one song, one more time. 1/5 or 5/5, I don't know.
4/5
My favorite Kinks album we've listened to so far. I love that it's a concept album for a TV show that never got made. The Kinks are some weird fucks and do whatever they want, to varying results. I definitely would not have listened to them this in depth without this album generator. The extended jam on Australia fucking rips.
Rocket From The Crypt
4/5
This fucking rocks! I've heard of the band before but never listened. It's high octane punk rock, with the occasional touch of horns (not ska, but ska adjacent which I'm all for). There's not much to say of tempo change throughout the record, which I'm really fine with. It's just balls to the wall. I am surprised I haven't heard this before. I love 90s pink. On a Rope is an anthem. I'll definitely be relistening to this one.
Paul Simon
5/5
The Beach Boys
5/5
I've never listened to this album before. What can I say, it's amazing. Help Me Rhonda is so, so good. The cover of Do You Wanna Dance is amazing. It might be bias from BWs death, but I really enjoyed this. There was so much skill in putting this together. A great bridge album into Pet Sounds.
Jurassic 5
4/5
J5 worships at the church of boom nap and hop hop's golden age. This was a big deal in the era of Diddy and flash. What's Golden is the thesis statement of this album. I loved it when it came out, I love it now, even though it wasn't doing anything new. It's still a refreshing, comfortable listen.
Iron Maiden
3/5
It's the start of something amazing. Not the same catchiness of some later songs. And I prefer Bruce Dickinson. But you hear the dueling guitars and the morbid storytelling. Charlotte the Harlot is a head banger. The production is good for an early album.
DJ Shadow
5/5
The Rolling Stones
5/5
5/5
Imagine the balls it takes to take one of rocks quintessential cool songs and cover it in the most uncool way. And I'm doing so, make it incredibly cool in a completely different way. Devo is all punk in style. Damn expectations, damn coolness. Let's be angular. Let's make weird sounds. Let's sing the Burger King motto. Their declarative Jocko Homo stretches out like Bohemian Rhapsody, changing rhythms and tones, doing odd time signatures and riff counts, all to the backdrop of the call and response "Are we not men? We are Devo!" Uncontrollable Urge is a top tier punk track and a hell of a way to start off an album. These guys are the most confident dorks I've ever heard. And they paved a way for future dork bands like Weezer and Pavement. Every second of this was weirdo gold.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Emmylou Harris
3/5
I love Emmylou. She has one of the best voices in country. I don't love the production here. It feels overproduced and inorganic. I get they were trying new styles, it just wasn't my favorite.
T. Rex
3/5
Bang a Gong might be the greatest song about fucking ever written and recorded. The rest of the album is just okay.
Joy Division
3/5
Tom Waits
3/5
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
It's Buddy Holly! Even for early rock and roll you can tell this is something special. And this has some all timers on it. Oh Boy, that'll be the day, and my personal favorite, Not Fade Away. Despite being nearly 70 years old it still hits today.
Fatboy Slim
2/5
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Fugees
5/5
R.E.M.
4/5
Sister Sledge
3/5
Prefab Sprout
2/5
So, four tracks in with this on in the background and I have spaced out the whole time. I'm not going back, this is some vanilla ass 80s music.
Al Green
4/5
Koffi Olomide
3/5
The Lemonheads
3/5
The Pogues
5/5
Man I love The Pogues. Marrying punk attitude and aesthetic with traditional Irish music and lyrics that speak to the soul. Dirty Old Town is just so good. McGowan really had such a captivating voice.
Blur
4/5
Soft Machine
4/5
This is my kind of weird shit
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
Keith Jarrett
2/5
I know this is listed by Penguin as a core jazz album. And I get the story behind it is very dramatic and interesting. But the music to me just isn't all that interesting. It's fine. But it doesn't inspire me or challenge me like I want jazz to do. I think it's telling of broader musical tastes that this is the best selling solo jazz album of all time. It's so middle of the road that it can appeal to everyone I guess. I've listened to this a few times now and each time leave wondering why? Why is this so acclaimed and popular? If you didn't know the story behind the record,.would it be as interesting? I can't imagine why. Whatever, this is my jazz snobbery coming out. I'd give this a 2.5 as possible. It's just so vanilla.
The Notorious B.I.G.
5/5
Incubus
5/5
So, I know this is part nostalgia review. But also this album captures a perfect moment in time. MTV era alternative rock, not quite nu metal but in with that crowd. The guitar work is *stellar* and Boyds voice is moving towards melodic that he would better capture later. 10/10 no notes.
The Dictators
3/5
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
This was one of the first jazz records that really hooked me, alongside Kind of Blue. I still return to it from time to time and each time I still get so much pleasure from it. Dave Brubeck is just so effortlessly cool. And yet despite the broad appeal of the album, it is also has a lot of range and complexity.
Motörhead
4/5
Fiona Apple
2/5
Sam Cooke
5/5
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Gene Clark
3/5
Elliott Smith
5/5
Elton John
4/5
Pentangle
3/5
Soundgarden
5/5
Willie Nelson
2/5
I just wasn't in the mood for this. It's too sickly sweet. I don't dislike cover albums, but my general feeling is unless you can do something interesting with the original then don't bother. I don't particularly enjoy the originals of many of these songs, so that doesn't help. This feels like a filler album. It's not hateful, but it's not great either.
Massive Attack
2/5
Black Sabbath
5/5
This album still rocks so hard. Absolutely massive riffs, solid rock hard drumming with impeccable fills, funky bass lines, and the Prince of Darkness himself on vocals. I can't even begin to count how many times I played this album in high school. And I'm starting to introduce some of this to my son. We wouldn't have modern metal and hard rock without this album or without Ozzy for that matter. Rest in Peace, this was a good listen today.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
OutKast
5/5
Public Enemy
5/5
Holy shit, this album jumps off. If I was a white person in 1990 I would have been terrified. Chuck D and even Flava have such great presence on this. But I give all credit to The Bomb Squad and Terminator X for the hardest of hard production. This never slows down, never falters, slams out the gate and keeps on hitting. 911 is a Joke and Welcome to the Terrordome, Burn Hollywood Burn and I Can't Do Nuthin for You Man, this album has no shortage of bangers.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
Oh man, am I a Nick Cave fan now?
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Deerhunter
3/5
This is fine. There's nothing here that's really standing out to me. Each song blends into the next, but mostly in a way that blurs/obscures the whole project. I have no previous connection to this album so this isn't hitting for me.
The Louvin Brothers
4/5
What a classic mix of country, bluegrass, and Appalachian music. A great time capsule.
Van Halen
3/5
I have some nostalgia attachments to this, and they are undeniably talented, but this isn't music I'd listen to very often.
Massive Attack
3/5
Ha, I accidentally listened to this when it was another MA album day. So I'm skipping today. Because this album sucked.
Flamin' Groovies
4/5
Whoa, never listened to this band before. This fucking rules. Rolling Stones plus Iggy Pop.
Hookworms
4/5
This was awesome. Never heard of this band..will definitely listen again.
Electric Light Orchestra
3/5
This is too much. There were no bad ideas in the studio. They threw everything at the wall and everything stuck. I love maximalist pop. Pet Sounds is my favorite album of all time. But ELO needed an editor. Or someone to say no.
Spiritualized
3/5
This could have been trimmed down by taking out the noise sections and I would have considered a higher rating. I did enjoy it though.
Goldie
1/5
Oh my gawd, this was terrible. No reason to be on this list. An hour and fifty three minutes of garbage
AC/DC
3/5
Classic rock radio ruined ACDC for me. It's rudimentary, boring rock and roll. They created a blueprint that a lot of other bands expanded on. And they definitely have their place in rock history. But I almost never intentionally listen to ACDC anymore. I don't listen to this just like I don't eat vanilla ice cream on purpose. Why do that when there are so many good flavors and toppings out there? I mean, I'd rather vanilla over nothing. Just like I'm not going to hate ACDC. But it's basically my last choice.
The Cure
5/5
The Crusaders
4/5
Jeff Beck
4/5
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
The Go-Go's
4/5
The Flaming Lips
5/5
Tito Puente
3/5
Tracy Chapman
5/5
Buck Owens
3/5
Merle Haggard
3/5
Patti Smith
4/5
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Can
3/5
Paul McCartney
3/5
Maybe I'm Amazed is an all timer, but the rest of this is a mess.
The Doors
4/5
Jungle Brothers
5/5
Baaba Maal
2/5
I understand the significance, but not for me. Too repetitive to the point of being grating and way too long.
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Guns N' Roses
4/5
David Bowie
3/5
Deep Purple
4/5
Van Morrison
3/5
This is a tough album to rate for me. Into the Mystic is an all timer for me, it is a song that speaks right to my soul. And Moondance just plain sucks, from the terrible lyrics, to the rock flute, to his pitchiness. There are some really good songs on here and some absolute cheese balls. So I have to split the difference with the star rating.
Beth Orton
3/5
CHVRCHES
4/5
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Ghostface Killah
4/5
Tina Turner
3/5
Metallica
5/5
George Harrison
5/5
Sonic Youth
2/5
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
Pere Ubu
4/5
Jane's Addiction
5/5
Janet Jackson
3/5
Elton John
5/5
Joni Mitchell
2/5
The Young Gods
3/5
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Paul Simon
5/5
David Bowie
4/5
Hole
4/5
R.E.M.
4/5
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Jane Weaver
3/5
The Clash
5/5
One of the best. Such and interesting blend of genres and sounds. Still very much holds up today.
Orange Juice
3/5
Miles Davis
5/5
This the THE jazz album, for jazz lovers and for regulars. The lineup is comprised of musicians at the top of their game. And Davis managed to grab Coltrane before his soon to be meteoric rise. It's tunes are unforgettable. And though it's not my personal favorite jazz record, if someone were to ask me what jazz they should check out if they've never listened to jazz before, I'd point them to this.
Cee Lo Green
3/5
It was fine, but did not deserve to be on this list.
Funkadelic
5/5
I love this weird ass shit. FEET DONT FAIL ME NOW.
Portishead
3/5
Muddy Waters
3/5
Rush
4/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
5/5
I unapologetically love Muse. The run of albums starting with Absolution all the way through The Second Law is one for the ages. BHAR is one of the best of the bunch. It's epic in scope from start to finish. The soundscapes, the guitars, the vocals and lyrics all hit me now as much as they did 19 years ago. I know Muse took what Radiohead was doing and allowed it to evolve in a more rock-opera direction. I don't see that as a bad thing
Deep Purple
3/5
Billy Joel
5/5
John Lennon
4/5
Meat Loaf
5/5
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
PJ Harvey
4/5
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
2/5
Crowded House
3/5
Beastie Boys
5/5
The Dust Brothers make this record, and unfortunately because of copywrite laws there will never be another one like it.
The B-52's
4/5
Wilco
4/5
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Rod Stewart
3/5
The Smiths
2/5
Cowboy Junkies
3/5
Violent Femmes
5/5
One of the best, endlessly quotable. It's such a fun, weird little record. They proved you can be punk without distortion.
TV On The Radio
5/5
Todd Rundgren
2/5
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
New York Dolls
3/5
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
The Yardbirds
4/5
Beck
5/5
Calexico
5/5
Faust
4/5
Linkin Park
4/5
The Modern Lovers
4/5
Jazmine Sullivan
4/5
The Black Crowes
5/5
Parliament
5/5
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
Underwhelming hair metal. I don't think anyone would be talking about them if their drummer didn't die tragically.
MC Solaar
3/5
Alice In Chains
4/5
4/5
Radiohead
5/5
Coldcut
4/5
Coldplay
5/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Gary Numan
4/5
Neil Young
3/5
The Undertones
4/5
Pulp
4/5
The Gun Club
4/5
The Temptations
4/5
2/5
Emmylou Harris
4/5
Iggy Pop
4/5
Q-Tip
5/5
TV On The Radio
5/5
The Pretty Things
2/5
Lauryn Hill
5/5
Lauryn Hill created a perfect album here. Which is so sad because of her mental instability we'll never get anything like this from her again. The Fugees are pretty high up on my bucket list artists. But with Pras in prison and her inability to get it together enough to do shows, we just have to live in The Score and Miseducation. Which again, perfect albums that serve as a sad reminder of what could have been.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
The Auteurs
3/5
We have Blur at home.
Beastie Boys
5/5
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
The Waterboys
5/5
Red Snapper
1/5
Musically is a 2. But no reason to be on this list. So I give it a one for wasting my time.
Björk
3/5
Nirvana
5/5
This would be a five star album based on All Apologies alone. Thankfully, it's got a few other good tunes in there as well.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Bill Evans Trio
5/5
Death In Vegas
1/5
Incredible Bongo Band
5/5
The The
3/5
David Bowie
4/5
R.E.M.
5/5
D'Angelo
5/5
ZZ Top
2/5
TV Dinners took this down a star.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
3/5
There were parts I really liked and others not so much.
Arcade Fire
5/5
Van Morrison
2/5
This is some meandering ass shit. I have yet to hear a distinguishable verse chorus verse structure. I like Van Morrison sometimes. But he can be butt puckeringly cheesy or overly unfocused at times. And this feels like the latter. I challenge anyone to try to distinguish songs from each other after one listen.
The Strokes
4/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
Loved it, give me more murder songs with big ole erections.
Dusty Springfield
5/5
So much of this is my childhood listening to oldies radio. Mama Said and Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow bring me back to sitting in the backseat of my parents car while running errands. Not something I'd put on regularly but it has a definite place in music history. Dusty had an incredible voice
Foo Fighters
4/5
I continue to be in awe that Grohl wrote and recorded all instruments on this album on a week's time. I don't think anyone could have guess how insanely talented the drummer for Nirvana was. It's not their best album, but what a helluva debut.
808 State
3/5
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
5/5
This is good old fashioned meat and potatoes rock and roll. Petty has never been terribly complex, but he doesn't have to be with songs this good. It rides on the strength of the singles, but I wouldn't call the other songs fillers either. This is as solid of a debut as anyone could ask for. And American Girl is one of the all time great rock songs.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
What an album! I absolutely love Bob Marley and this is probably his best album. It just makes me feel things. So many good tracks, and to top it off Three Little Birds is one of my all-time favorite songs. I can't say enough good things about Exodus.
David Bowie
3/5
Heroes the song isn't just my favorite Bowie song, it's an all timer for me. I knew there were a dozen Bowie albums on this list. This was the one I was looking forward to the most. Man, what a disappointment. I didn't know about the German trilogy before this album generator. I guess for historical reference one of them could have been on here. But I don't vibe with any of them. Heroes was the standout. The opener was pretty good. But the esoteric weirdo instrumentals on the back half just weren't fun at all. Fuck Moss Garden. I appreciate Bowie as an artist, but this challenge has taught me that I'm really just a singles guy with him. (Without Heroes, this album would be a 2, I'll bump it up one star but even on the strength of the song I can't give it more than that ).
Aerosmith
4/5
70s Aerosmith was so cool. This undoubtedly Rocks.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
Green Day
4/5
Whether or not you like it, it's impossible to quantity the impact this album had on popular perception of punk rock. It for sure launched Green Day into the stratosphere and made way for pop punk bands to be touring stadiums and headlining festivals, which had not happened before this. Green Day had already topped out with Good Riddance and were on the downward slide when they totally reinvented themselves for this.
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Various Artists
5/5
So many definitive versions of Christmas Songs. Five stars for Baby Please Come Home alone. Darlene Love is so underrated.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
R.E.M.
5/5
Because of its ubiquity in pop culture, you forget how good Everybody Hurts actually is, and how crazy it is to jump into that track off of the power of The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite. This is a mature album that I could not have appreciated as a teenager or maybe even as a young adult. It's wild to think this came out in 1992 and everything else going on in the musical landscape at the time. IF YOU BELIEVE, THEY PUT A MAN ON A MOON!
Faith No More
4/5
The Doors
5/5
The album and songs that sold me on the Doors. Not as drunk and unhinged as later releases, a tight group of tracks with maybe the best album opener and closer ever.
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
Grizzly Bear
4/5
Orbital
2/5
Ugh. There is far too much British techno on this list. Bonus star for Halcyon + On + On which I immediately recognized from the Mortal Kombat movie
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Miles Davis
5/5
The best. This is not Kind of Blue Davis. Boundary expansion all of the place.
The Bees
3/5
Adele
3/5
Joan Armatrading
4/5
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Nanci Griffith
4/5
Frank Zappa
4/5
Psychedelic goodness, the first Zappa I've really liked.
Ray Charles
5/5
Baaba Maal
3/5
Fats Domino
3/5
Rush
3/5
Richard Hawley
3/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Elliott Smith
5/5
The Teardrop Explodes
4/5
Beatles
5/5
Steely Dan
5/5
I was on the Steely Dan hate train for a long time because I perceived how cheesy they were (without really listening). But after being forced by a friend to give this a closer listen, I realized how goddamn wrong I was. This is undoubtedly in the yacht rock camp, but it's so much more. The jazzy licks, the rollicking bass, the crisp drums, the impeccable musicianship and absolutely pristine engineering, it's got everything. There are so many modern artists that have got to be influenced by this band (Thundercat I'm looking at you). Haters are gonna hate, and surface level this is an easy target. But I'm a happy convert to Steely Dan and especially Aja.
Genesis
4/5
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Digital Underground
5/5
ABBA
4/5
Queen Latifah
4/5
k.d. lang
2/5
Yes
3/5
Boards of Canada
4/5
The Damned
5/5
Missy Elliott
4/5
The Band
5/5
Radiohead
5/5
Jimmy Smith
5/5
Louis Prima
4/5
Living Colour
4/5
Gang Of Four
5/5
Steely Dan
4/5
Santana
4/5
Radiohead
4/5
Kanye West
4/5
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
Morrissey
3/5
U2
5/5
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
N.W.A.
5/5
3/5
Maximum 80s, no holding back.
Dr. Dre
4/5
Magazine
5/5
The Dandy Warhols
5/5
Love
4/5
Devendra Banhart
3/5
Peter Gabriel
4/5
James Taylor
5/5
Genesis
3/5
Counting Out Time sounds like it was written by a man who had only learned about sex from his Great Aunt who never married. If this album didn't have Peter Gabriel I'd really be struggling. This is some weird ass prog rock written by white nerds for white nerds.
Scott Walker
3/5
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Afrika Bambaataa
5/5
Renegades is an all time classic. The whole album is full of bangers. This is pure fun, and obviously a staple in the hip hop canon. Bambaataa is a piece of shit though which unfortunately sullies their legacy.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Queen
5/5
David Gray
3/5
Sparks
4/5
Iggy Pop
3/5
Frank Black
4/5
Brian Eno
5/5
Kings of Leon
4/5
Stereolab
4/5