Not for me. Didn’t mind some of the songs in a ‘dad rock’ kind of way, like Hard to Handle was pretty cool. But I wouldn’t listen to this again.

Zoe, was it your mum who recently told you something like “I’ve just started listening to this cool band The Killers! Have you heard of them?” I think that was your story anyway and I kept thinking of it listening to this because I feel like it sounds like ‘parent music’ even though it’s not actually of that generation, like some of it is actually very fun and cool, but a lot of it comes across as quite daggy or dorky now somehow. Like it’s a bit… try-hard? But also it’s pretty good? Like it’s both kind of outdated and also some of it slaps. Also really catapults me back to playing Rock Band (or maybe Guitar Hero or SingStar? I can’t remember which game it was actually on but it was definitely one of them) on the PlayStation 2 with my sisters and belting out ‘SOMEBODY TOLD ME’. Now that song still hits like a freight train! As does Mr Brightside obviously even though it’s been so memefied over the years. Some other parts made me think of Franz Ferdinand and Walk the Moon and other bands of that ilk. Mixed bag overall, but enjoyable! (3.5 stars)

Really debated not listening to this (an album I loved over 10 years ago but have rarely revisited) but ultimately too many artists on this list have done terrible, despicable things and I want to approach this as objectively about the actual music as possible so in the interest of completionism I listened. And I have to be honest, it’s still a 5 star album for me. So powerful and original, with such interesting production and some of my all-time favourite collaborations, with Nicki Minaj and Bon Iver. It really is the most definitive and creatively engaging collection in every way. What an awful shame.

Was only aware of Marianne via Nick Cave, and don’t think I’d ever heard any of her own music before. This is a very interesting album - I feel like I’m using that word way too much in these reviews but I truly mean it here in terms of there’s a lot to be interested in. It’s quite unusual, from her voice (with its interesting rasp, lisp and cracks) to the structure of the songs and some of the sonic effects. I’m not sure how I feel overall, but Witches’ Song and Guilt were my favourite tracks.

As much as I love Nick Cave to death, I’ve always kind of wrestled with and never been able to reconcile how to feel about the violence (and sometimes misogynistic or homophobic violence) in his (earlier) music. I think there has to be a place for storytelling of all types (including the vulgar, aggressive, uncomfortable, etc.) in art and media, but also acknowledging some of it is pretty awful to listen to and not to be celebrated or excused. As I said, I don’t really know and probably never will, but interesting to consider. Anyway, Straight to You is always gorgeous, a perfect song. (3.5 stars)

Catapults me back to when I was 17 and living in Brooklyn and used to listen to this all the time on my old iPod, alongside Florence & the Machine and MGMT’s early albums. Very floaty, vibey, chill. Somehow makes me feel a bit cold temperature-wise. I like his voice better than hers, but they do work well together.

3. First hearing. Listened to a fair whack of jazz like this with my Dad over Christmas. I’m developing a real taste for it in many ways but also still tend to prefer lyrics-driven music over instrumental at this stage I think. Enjoy the little trills and flourishes, makes me want to laze around on a boat.

Familiar with half a dozen Jefferson Airplane songs but had never listened through an album before. Fun, funky. Sometimes almost childlike (in a good way). I like the narrative/literary nature of many of the tracks (like Alice in Wonderland). Go To Her probably slaps the hardest.

First time listen. Only marginally familiar with Yes. Great vibes, episodic and journeyish, from some bluegrass-like guitar noodling to harder more psychedelicky sections. Put me in mind of Grateful Dead, The Who, Pink Floyd, The Doors, America. Favourite track was Your Move.

Effortlessly cool and jammy, influential on so much of what was to come. There are some sounds on it I don’t particularly enjoy (like production-wise) but obviously you can’t help but groove along. Made me want to rewatch the documentary ‘Summer of Soul’.

Sorry but I’m not going to listen to this one. I don’t do Taylor Swift. I did used to quite like this album when it came out because we used to dance to Shake It Off at the Zumba class my friend ran. I can’t deny there’s some super catchy pop tunes here. But I don’t want to pay it a revisit in the slightest.

First time listen. Loved this! Cool, fun, quintessentially 90s, interesting lyrical content (especially spiritually). My favourite track was definitely Children Play With Earth. “Dig your hands in the dirt” indeed! Words to live by.

Not for me. Didn’t mind some of the songs in a ‘dad rock’ kind of way, like Hard to Handle was pretty cool. But I wouldn’t listen to this again.

I’m sure I remember listening to this back in my uni days as study focus music. I might crack it out again for the new course I’m starting because I seriously enjoyed the vibes. Pulsewidth was my favourite.

HELL YEAH. Makes me want to fight everybody but also love everybody. Insanely powerful, classic for a reason.

Crazy how avant garde some of this still sounds 40 years on. Unusual, creative, unsettling. At times genuinely offputting, at others enticing and enchanting, even comforting. He truly has one of the world’s most unique voices. I think because I love Nick Cave so much and there’s quite a lot of similarity, it’s almost surprising I haven’t been more into Tom Waits before, I’ve only ever dipped my toes, so I think I’m going to get into him properly now.

Otis became one of my all time favourite artists last year, when I happened to buy a vinyl at the record store near my house and couldn’t get it off repeat. The definition of soul! Such a timeless voice, such rhythm and swing and heart. Always devastated the world lost him at just 26 years old.

Goes hard. Interesting how much heavy punk today still sounds like this. Like I could even throw on a bunch of different local bands from 4ZZZ or wherever and their songs could almost be Black Flag and vice versa (I mean that in a positive way, like the genre is strong). Dug the track TV Party the most, it’ll be going in my playlists.

Drum and bass isn’t for me. Makes me think of Letterkenny and the skids. I started listening to this driving down Mt Tamborine late last night but it was putting me into too much of a trance, making me feel like I was in Mario Kart or something, and I got worried I was gonna crash, so I had to stop and take it back up this morning in a safer environment! Also makes me want to do drugs? Anyway, I like the tracks with more vocals better, like Heroes and Share the Fall. But overall not something I’d ever listen to again.

Like most of the world, I’ve always been super familiar with Shout, Head Over Heels, and most importantly the classic Everybody Wants to Rule the World (for which my sister and I have a high score on the old karaoke video game SingStar, by the way) and loved those songs, but I’d never heard the rest and must say they definitely weren’t as good. Cool vibes throughout but also some of the sounds are a bit grating. I wish there were half stars because this is definitely not as low as a 3 but I can’t really give it a 4 overall, so consider this a 3.5 and I will be revisiting this album.

This, dare I say it, kind of sucks. And not in a sexy way. It’s a far cry from the big hits like Good Vibrations, Kokomo, etc. The song about feet? Garbage. The song about Disney? Tripe. Pretty much the only track I didn’t mind was Day in the Life of a Tree, and even that feels kitschy and crap (but put me a little in mind of Sufjan Stevens, who I love). Actually, Till I Die is decent too, mostly for the harmonies (and I could hear a tiny bit of Fleet Foxes in that one). But overall, a disappointment from a band I thought I liked but apparently don’t actually know that well. (1.5 stars)

Was only aware of Marianne via Nick Cave, and don’t think I’d ever heard any of her own music before. This is a very interesting album - I feel like I’m using that word way too much in these reviews but I truly mean it here in terms of there’s a lot to be interested in. It’s quite unusual, from her voice (with its interesting rasp, lisp and cracks) to the structure of the songs and some of the sonic effects. I’m not sure how I feel overall, but Witches’ Song and Guilt were my favourite tracks.

This seems an odd choice to me, the score to a film I will never watch (because I read the Wikipedia synopsis after seeing Coppola’s Marie Antoinette and Priscilla and decided it would traumatise me too much). I found it all a bit samey, a bit droney and dull, but I can certainly see how it would work well in a film and a few moments reminded me of Tame Impala or something like that. I didn’t mind The Word Hurricane or Dead Bodies, but overall I just think I’ve heard many better scores and as a standalone album it really didn’t give me anything. (1.5 stars)

Funky and smooth. Can’t think of much more to say! Favourite track was Never Found a Girl, although as a massive fan of the Bee Gees, the cover of Mend a Broken Heart was extremely welcome and appreciated too. (3.5 stars)

Not bad but not much stands out. Really liked West of the Fields a lot, but didn’t find any others particularly memorable. At best, made me think of The Tragically Hip or even Crowded House and then I just kind of wanted to listen to them instead. (2.5 stars)

I’ve never really liked RHCP and I still don’t. I’ve tried to get into them before, largely because one of my friends is a fan, but ultimately I don’t enjoy the sound of his voice nor the structure, cadence, rhythmic patterns, whatever you want to call it, of the songs. And there’s only so many times you can hear the word California! Scar Tissue is good though, and I didn’t mind Purple Stain or Right on Time either. (1.5 stars)

Loved this! Dreamy, floaty, floral, relaxing. Had always intended to check out Cocteau Twins but never got around to it before, so I’m glad this finally forced my hand and I’ll be seeking out their other albums immediately. Made me think of Kate Bush, Kate Miller-Heidke, even Magdalena Bay. Also this is a strange reference but I Wear Your Ring reminded me of a piece from the Donkey Kong Country soundtrack called Aquatic Ambience which I listen to probably too often. So many great tracks, I can only understand like 2% of the lyrics (and frequently wondered what language I was even hearing) but it’s all so melodic, maybe how mermaids would sound.

Firstly, since this was not available on Spotify I had to listen on YouTube and having to listen to ads in-between every track really interrupted the flow. That aside, this is very early-00s rock, a bit like The Strokes or White Stripes in places but much more noise-y. Some great guitar work but not something I’d revisit. Spike Island was my preferred track. (1.5 stars)

Very middle of the road. I’m starting to feel there’s too many 80s/90s rock albums on this list already. That’s not to say I didn’t like this, it’s easy enough to listen to and the songs about rain were fitting as I was driving through rain, it’s just mid, as the kids would say. Very forgettable. Top tracks were Happy When It Rains (more for agreeing with the title’s sentiment than anything) and April Skies.

It’s impossible for me to be objective/unbiased when it comes to Nick Cave because he’s easily in my top 10 artists of all time and I’ve been a bit obsessed with him for many many years. It’s also impossible for me to separate this from its context (the tragic death of his 15-year-old son) and therefore it’s an album I very rarely play as it’s totally devastating. It’s almost more spoken word in parts too, but hauntingly beautiful. Sparse, stark, slow, spiritual and so so sad. I put on its successor (last year’s Wild God) straight after in order to kind of progress the story, move on to a sliver of healing and joy again, as Nick has begun to do.

I’ve never been a Lennon girlie, I’m pretty much ride-or-die for Paul, so I don’t particularly enjoy John’s solo work. Some songs do slap, like unfortunately the infamous Paul diss-track How Do You Sleep is the coolest song on this album, while most of the rest kind of rubs me the wrong way. Still, even if I don’t really like it, you certainly can’t deny the enduring reach of Imagine. (2.5 stars)

A jaunty, enjoyable jazz outing. The opening track Mandela was my favourite, I’ve already caught myself whistling the refrain. And I mean this in a complimentary way, most of this sounds like it could be the score to a children’s cartoon, like a kind-vibe 90s-00s PBS show along the lines of Curious George or Martha Speaks. (3.5 stars)

As much as I love Nick Cave to death, I’ve always kind of wrestled with and never been able to reconcile how to feel about the violence (and sometimes misogynistic or homophobic violence) in his (earlier) music. I think there has to be a place for storytelling of all types (including the vulgar, aggressive, uncomfortable, etc.) in art and media, but also acknowledging some of it is pretty awful to listen to and not to be celebrated or excused. As I said, I don’t really know and probably never will, but interesting to consider. Anyway, Straight to You is always gorgeous, a perfect song. (3.5 stars)

I’ve always enjoyed this sort of stuff. Classic, simple, super singalongable even if you’ve never heard it before. Reminds me of Burl Ives who I listen to a lot with my sister as well as others of that era and ilk. Makes me want to pick up the guitar again. (3.5 stars)

I adore the Bee Gees, they are a massive lifelong favourite that I grew up on and still listen to constantly (their greatest hits triple LP might be my most played vinyl) and my crush on young Barry Gibb will never subside, but taking this album honestly at face value, it’s not one of their better outings at all and I’m pretty surprised it’s on this list. Like there are several I’d give five stars but this is far from one of them. How Can You Mend and Don’t Wanna Live Inside Myself are excellent, and great examples of their songwriting prowess, but on the other hand you’ve got the total drivel that is Remembering which sounds like it’s from the Middle Ages or something, and a few others made me want to hit skip too. Interestingly, some of it also sounds quite Beatlesy, like It’s Just the Way. Look, I don’t really have any specific complaints except I guess that a lot of this sounds outdated in a not-fun way, whereas I could listen to their disco days forever. (2.5 stars)

Not to make the obvious joke, but for me it really is in the name: garbage. To quote a song on the album, “this is not my idea of a good time”. Truly did not enjoy this at all and in fact at one point genuinely yelled, out loud alone in my car, “I f*cking hate this!” I’ve committed to no skips so I stuck it out but it wasn’t worth it. Everything about it just annoyed me, the vocals, but I think especially the production and mix. The only track I found tolerable was Fix Me Now.

Very cool! A band I’m surprised I’ve never gotten into before because they align so closely with a lot of those I love so I’ll be checking out more of their albums now for sure. Favourite tracks were Overground, Carcass and the extra fun little Hong Kong Garden. (3.5 stars)

Truly having to seperate the art from the artist here. I’m gonna let that go without saying from now on. This album is so good. So funky, so smooth, so cool. Just an effortless listen. Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough is one of the greatest songs of all time and it keeps rolling on from there, with the only semi-low-point being She’s Out of My Life. (4.5 stars)

Unbelievably cool vibes from the cover alone! The outfit, the dog, the garden and of course the titular chicken. And gladly the music matches, just so chill and easy to listen to, like especially while making dinner.

This kind of music always reminds me of working in aged care, the oldies absolutely love songs like this and I don’t blame them. There’s a timeless sound here, although I do tend to get a little tired after several tracks. Favourites were 24th Hour and If She Could See Me Now.

Another one that reminds me of my aged care job, these are ‘golden oldies’ and I respect that, even if I don’t find them particularly riveting. Simple but sweet subject matter (love) set to simple but sweet melodies (two or three chords). Also, silly thing to say perhaps but I like that a lot of these older albums are under half an hour. I’m a big advocate for the 90-minute movie and now I’m gonna do the same for the 30-minute album. This is not one I’ll revisit though.

Glad I found this on YouTube because it is so unlike almost anything I’ve heard before. It reminded me at times of the Sparks musical Annette, of Eurovision, of circus/carnival adjacent films like Dr Parnassus and Nightmare Alley, and even a little of Kate Bush and Marianne Faithful. Obviously deeply political, with heavy hitting lines like “now you know how things can become, don’t you ever forget how it began” that sadly feel as relevant now as ever, I was captivated throughout. I don’t think I’d ever listen to it again but I’m really glad I did today because it was surprising and confusing in a thought-provoking way, like pondering a complicated painting or watching a multifaceted documentary.

Very smooth but I did wish I was listening to Smooth feat. Rob Thomas (1999) because Smooth feat. Rob Thomas (1999) is one of the smoothest songs of all time and when I hear Smooth feat. Rob Thomas (1999) life just feels so smooth.

There should be more educational albums like this! I would love to hear them from all different cultures around the world, gently explaining the rhythms and patterns to listen out for, building appreciation. I’ve always casually enjoyed traditional Indian music and can definitely see why the Beatles and so forth fell into it deeply, even if it’s not something I listen to often. Also cool to read that Norah Jones is his daughter!

Blood, sugar, sex, magic? Where did the Red Hot Chili Peppers find my shopping list! Bad jokes aside, I still don’t really like this band. There’s some moments of cool instrumentation and every now and then I’ll slip into a bit of a groove, but overall they just kind of bother me. It’s like teenage boy vibes somehow, plus all the songs start to sound the same.

Obviously shades of the Stones and others of that era/style with some moments of Elvis and Cash. My top tracks were Have You Seen My Baby and Whiskey Woman. Overall good though didn’t find it anything particularly memorable or special. (2.5 stars)

Fine and cute but nothing too special. I understand that cover versions were extremely significant particularly in this era for spreading songs and inter-promoting artists etc. but honestly I’d just rather listen to the originals most of the time. Favourite was I’ll Feel a Whole Better, which is an enjoyable original.

Really dug this funky album. Just so cool. Favourite tracks were Cloud Nine, Why Did She Have to Leave Me and I Gotta Find a Way. This genre/era is fast becoming a favourite.

Couldn’t really get a handle on this one. At times I was very on board and could hear shades of Custard, Ben Folds, even The Monkees. Quite whimsical and jaunty. At other times I was like “what even is this” and felt it was way too kitsch. I think I’d need to listen a bunch more to make up my mind but honestly wasn’t motivated enough to do that. Favourite songs were Grass and Mermaid Smiled. (2.5 stars)

Really debated not listening to this (an album I loved over 10 years ago but have rarely revisited) but ultimately too many artists on this list have done terrible, despicable things and I want to approach this as objectively about the actual music as possible so in the interest of completionism I listened. And I have to be honest, it’s still a 5 star album for me. So powerful and original, with such interesting production and some of my all-time favourite collaborations, with Nicki Minaj and Bon Iver. It really is the most definitive and creatively engaging collection in every way. What an awful shame.

Quite the oddity! I mean that positively, and more in the way that I don’t know anything much about the world of New Orleans it comes from. Really enjoyed Danse Kalimba Ba Doom and Mama Roux, not enthralled by the rest. Fun to experience something new to me though.

Very much enjoyed this. Some of it sounds a bit dated but it’s cool and rocky and easy to just casually jam along. (3.5 stars)

Loved the a cappella opening as it reminded me of Fleet Foxes. Have always loved (the original version of) Heroes & Villains, mostly because it’s on the Fantastic Mr Fox soundtrack which is one of my all-time favourite movies. Good Vibrations obviously another huge classic. The animal sounds on Barnyard are so kitschy it’s kind of insane but also I can’t be too mad about it because it’s pretty funny. Most of the album is just very ‘eh’ however and the whirring and jingling sound effects etc. get a bit grating. Also one of the worst album covers I’ve ever seen, Microsoft Word Art looking-ass.

Bit of a blast from the past (as I don’t think Hot Chip have once crossed my mind in a decade) and bit of a mixed bag for me but overall pretty banging and a good time! Really dug the first half of the album, especially Motion Sickness slaps. I think that half is more kind of electro and dancey which is fun, compared to the latter tracks which I didn’t really enjoy such as Now There is Nothing and Always Been Your Love. Anyway, chill vibes. (3.5 stars)

Radiohead make me very emotional and I’ve never quite been sure why. There’s just something in their sound that gets me so melancholy and existential. I really like it but I can’t do too much at once or I start kind of internally drowning. Also I think I’m gonna start getting a bit abstract with my reviews on here so this album is like navy blue and pepper and the nice way some men smell that’s like sort of musky and herbal.

Found on YouTube. Pretty fun, shades of the Stones and the Doors, but overall not something I’ll particularly remember or revisit.

What are the chances we got all these Nick albums so close together?! I’m still not a fan of the violence (I’ve never liked true crime or murder movies etc. and even his poetic stories on the subject don’t prove an exception) but I do very much enjoy the flow and pacing and delivery. I’ll never forget seeing Stagger Lee performed live, for instance, he’s like a man possessed when he performs that song, and performs is the right word for most of these tracks too, as he’s playing these wild characters, erratic and angry and ugly. But still with some beauty in the music and vocals to be found. (3.5 stars)

First time listening to these guys (beside Alright, which I’m sure everybody knows and is a huge banger) and I loved it! A super fun album and I’ll definitely be checking out more of their work. Reminded me of Tame Impala on Hollow Little Reign, Last Shadow Puppets on You Can See Me, MGMT on Sometimes I Make You Sad, and Mother Mother on Late in the Day. (4.5 stars)

Truly great. Enjoyed everything about it. Scrappy, fun, silly, tough. Just cool. Plus very significant in terms of so many bands I love today being influenced in some way by their sound (like Midnight Oil and Private Function, for instance). Favourite tracks are I’m So Bored with the USA (how relevant 48 years later!) and Career Opportunities.

An unusual ride! Like everyone on earth, I knew Come On Eileen extremely well but hadn’t heard the rest. What an odd mix, like Celtic and ska and pop and a Van Morrison cover all got thrown in a blender at the circus. Pretty fun all round! But also somehow off-putting at times.

I think it’s been a long time coming for me to become a D’Angelo fan but particularly recently he has kept popping up, like even at the Jordan Rakei concert last week Jordan talked about how much D’Angelo has shaped his music and I was like ‘I really have to get on that’ and then today it was delivered right into my hands and yep, I’m in love! So smooth, soulful, sweet, sexy. Like drifting through a sunset sky on a really nicely scented cloud. Favourite tracks were Alright, Me and Those Dreamin Eyes, and When We Get By, but I think that would change each listen.

Hesitated to give another 5 stars so soon but I have to be honest and follow my heart! This is always going to be a 5 star album for me, along with several of the great Mr Young’s others. I just love it. It’s so comforting and warm to me. It makes me think of my mum and of Canada and of the beginning of summertime and of tall wheat and juicy corn and campfires and swimming and newspapers and birds. Favourite tracks are Tell Me Why, Southern Man and Cripple Creek Ferry.

Really good fun! That classic style which can seem a little clichéd now but still has impact and flair. Makes me want to force a friend to walk around doing the alternating words/lines thing with me! Rock Box was my top pick, closely followed by Wake Up. Cool cover too.

Just not for me. I can definitely appreciate the artistry of certain moments and some of it’s pretty vibey, but overall I found it dull and ended up fast-forwarding through a number of tracks. (1.5 stars)

Not one of Radiohead’s better albums in my opinion, it just doesn’t strike me much, but I do really like the songs Go to Sleep, There There and A Wolf at the Door. (2.5 stars)

Solid songs straight from the soul. Of course I knew Fast Car very well but not so familiar with the others so I was quite moved by how political this album was, and saddened at how little has changed in 37 years. Fantastic voice, interesting tunes, some nice country/western influences etc. Very good all round. (4.5 stars)

Liked some elements of this much more than others, like the big-band funk-jazz stuff hits a lot harder than the guitar interludes etc. I think overall it’s the kind of music I’d enjoy seeing live a lot better than recorded.

Funky, fun and still topical, delivered in an instantly recognisable style. Favourites were Come Into My House, Ladies First and Inside Out. I really disliked the baby voice on Mama Gave Birth unfortunately and wasn’t a big fan of The Pros either. But overall it’s cool and a great example of that hip hop era. (3.5 stars)

Some cool moments and iconic style but also I had a headache and that high-pitched sound that’s repeated throughout the record did not help!

Pretty cool! Kind of reminiscent of the Eagles and the Grateful Dead. Baby I Love Your Way is one of those tunes I’ve sung around the house for years but I didn’t know any of the others, second favourite was Show Me the Way.

Loved this, top shelf dad rock. Certain shades of Queen, even Sparks and Talking Heads. Of course Just What I Needed is a stone cold classic but I also loved You’re All I’ve Got Tonight and Moving in Stereo. Just a solid solid 35 minutes of rock goodness. (4.5 stars)

Nice but mid. Nothing really stood out to me, besides what I assume is theremin on We’re Not Right. Nightblindness was probably the track I liked most. But I think I’ve forgotten this entire album already.

Not sure about this one! Some of it was great and I had a great time and thought of the Beatles and occasionally even my beloved Jonathan Richman (like Big Sky and the album title track). Other songs really made me scratch my head going what the hell is this (like Phenomenal Cat and Wicked Annabella). It’s quite an unusual mix in some ways. I’m sure I’ll revisit and rethink so for now I’ll go 3 but that seems unfair.

First few songs of my first listen I was like ‘euh no I don’t like this’ and then I hit Andalucia which I have always looooved the Andrew Bird version and didn’t know that was actually a cover! So then I was locked in. And next comes Macbeth which is wild, and Paris 1919 which is beautiful, and probably my favourite on the album ended up being Half Past France which straight up sounds like Johnny Flynn to me, who is one of my biggggest favourites! A real mix on this album overall, it’s interesting and unusual, very pretty in places and kind of grating at others but grew on me more and more as I listened! Also Cale kind of looks like comedian Paul Foot on the cover of this.

Goes hard, good fun. Favourites were actually probably the slower tracks like Changes and Snowblind. (3.5 stars)

Wow! I feel quite ashamed I didn’t know Solomon Burke and interestingly I read online he has been described as ‘soul’s most unfairly overlooked singer’. Well I’m glad I know him now because this was awesome. Obviously akin to many of my favourites like Redding and Brown. Fun and passionate, my top tracks were probably Cry to Me and Goodbye Baby.

Might make good study music or a video game soundtrack. Just as its own thing though, I wasn’t particularly captivated. Some of the more Latin feel moments are fun.

Interesting! Reminded me of so many different bands I haven’t bothered to write them down. Favourite tracks were The Cutter and Ripeness. Keen to check out some more of their work. (3.5 stars)

Fun stuff! Thought of Sparks and Bee Gees and Beatles and Elton John. Favourite tracks were Sweet Talkin Woman, Across the Border, Night in the City and of course the classic Mr Blue Sky. Also one of the sickest album covers out there.

Another five for Neil. How could I not! Listened on the original vinyl copy I’ve borrowed (permanently) from my mum. Just a masterclass in songwriting. Also Heart of Gold is the only song I can play (badly) on harmonica and guitar.

Firstly, I don’t understand why this was included. Maybe the artist is a blind spot for me but I just felt it was nothing special, considering it only came out in 2010 and therefore hasn’t even stood the test of time like most of the entries. Secondly, I was kind of hating it until ‘Sigourney Weaver’ when I was like “ohh some of it’s meant to be funny?” and then it grew on me. Moments reminded me of Josh Pyke in terms of the cadence and voice, with others like Jonathan Colton or Custard in subject matter and style, that sort of thing where it’s kind of ironic humour but not laugh-out-loud funny. So overall, not bad but still kind of dull and odd.

I can’t bear to write a single thing about Kanye but yes, unfortunately still a great album.

Funky, groovy, smooth. Not many huge standouts but an easy ride throughout. (3.5 stars)

Really enjoyed this, effortlessly cool and classic.

Perhaps the most aptly named band yet, this is indeed funkadelic! Really cool and went harder/heavier than I expected. Don’t love some of the sound effects in the latter part of the album but most of it was jammy.

For a group with such an exciting name, this album sure was a disappointment to me. Some of it’s fine but mostly it felt overly schmaltzy and not-aged-well. (1.5 stars)

Really dug this! Made me think of some of my more modern favourites like Canadian band Mother Mother and sadly defunct Australian band Yves Klein Blue. Favourite tracks were probably Debaser and Monkey Gone to Heaven. Will be checking out more! (4.5 stars)

Interesting instrumentals I probably don’t know enough about to properly appreciate. Definitely some funky moments but nothing jumped out overall. (2.5 stars)

So cool and still fresh sounding in some ways despite it now being 50! Thought of Kate Bush and Nick Cave. Will be digging deep into Patti’s catalogue soon I think. (4.5 stars)

Fine, average, doesn’t stand out over any other early-00s indie kind of stuff to me and I have no real knowledge of the band so don’t really know why it was included. The opening track is pretty cool, the rest sort of blended for me. (1.5 stars)

Another ‘sure, fine’ entry I’ve already forgotten, to be honest. At its best moments, it kind of reminded me of U2. Just nothing notable to me. (1.5 stars)

36 perfect minutes. Gets in, has a blast, gets out. Effortlessly enjoyable. Perfect Day an exceptionally perfect song (please see also the Wim Wenders film). Then you throw in Wild Side and Satellite? Just an all-round all-timer.

Not a real stand-out to me but certainly some solid smoothness and interesting spoken word moments. (2.5 stars)

Fascinating throughout and still sounds fresh after 13 years. Heralded for a reason and a banner of what other greatness was to come from Kendrick. (4.5 stars)

Very cool! Kind of reminded me of this reggae album my dad used to play a lot and I loved when I was a kid (Six Boys from Skaville) and of a recent favourite WITCH (the Zambian rock group). Great vibes.

I mean it’s a total classic, isn’t it! (Again fully separating art from artist.) Just full of bangers, with Wanna Be Startin Something or PYT perhaps my favourite. (4.5 stars)

I’ve sort of skirted around Steely Dan for a couple years without properly listening until now and this wasn’t really what I expected. Favourite tracks were Deacon Blues and Home At Last, but generally a bit underwhelmed.

So cool, classic timeless funk and soul and sunshine.

An undeniably beautiful voice and some nice witchy vibes. The best bits reminded me of Kate Bush but ultimately a lot of it just kind of bored me. (2.5 stars)

I love Bowie so much but this is definitely not my favourite of his records. I find quite a bit of it drones on and while interesting doesn’t particularly work for me. Still certainly well worth listening to though! (3.5 stars)

Fine and some fun moments, with my favourite tracks being No Dancing and I’m Not Angry, but overall forgettable.

Really didn’t understand the inclusion of this, it was just… nothing to me. I was excited for a German band I hadn’t heard of before but then… meh. What am I missing?! (1.5 stars)

Honestly pretty fire. The dads get it. Best tracks are Uncle Salty, Walk This Way and Round & Round. The cringiest is Big 10 Inch Record. Overall heaps of fun and goes hard.

All just kind of sounds like ‘YoU WOuLdN’t STeAL a CAr’ to me.

While I really like and support its political and cultural nature, I don’t think I’d probably revisit this because it doesn’t really stand out over any other hip hop of the era etc.

Funny timing that just a few days ago I had Poison Arrow stuck in my head but realised I didn’t actually know who the artist was so looked it up and went ‘huh I don’t recognise ABC but cool’. Now this is indeed a cool album! I just had a great time with it. Favourite tracks beside Poison Arrow were Valentine’s Day and Look of Love. (4.5 stars)

I just… don’t think I like Steely Dan. I’m not sure why because I like stuff like The Eagles and Grateful Dead which they sort of remind me of. But I just don’t find them interesting or memorable at all. At least not so far.

Fine, forgettable. See No Evil was my favourite track.

Slapssssssss. So punk and so funny. Big fan, can’t stop walking around imitating their voices. (4.5 stars)

I mean, fine. Another one that just didn’t really hit for me, but there’s nothing wrong with it. Some cool moments that made me think of Elton John or something, but probably not a band I’ll revisit. Asylum was my favourite track.

Firstly, I was like ‘what, this album is only 2 years old?’ before I realised actually no, 2018 was 7 years ago now. I’m still not convinced that’s enough time to merit inclusion and also I just found it rather dull. She has a pretty voice and I’ve heard she’s a cool person but to me it was all a bit generic. The song Butterflies had a cool sound though. (2.5 stars)

Sounds totally 2009 and still different from 2009 at the same time. I last dipped my toes in their music a few years back (because frontman Dave Longstreth’s brother Jake co-hosts the digital radio show Time Crisis with Ezra Koenig and I was having an extremely strong Vampire Weekend phase) but still not entirely sure what I think of it. The bits I like best do remind me a lot of Vampire Weekend but there’s definitely a real uniqueness to their sound too. Not something I find myself particularly excited by though but again I’m not sure why. Favourite tracks are The Bride and No Intention. (3.5 stars)

Sorry but this is godawful. I think it was supposed to be funny and I tried really hard to get into it but I just thought it sounded weird and crap and it couldn’t finish fast enough.

Fantastic stuff, just so easy to listen to. Some huge hits including Feel the Earth Move and Natural Woman. Not much to say really because it’s lovely. (4.5 stars)

Some cool moments but ultimately forgettable. Favourite track was Malibu Beach Nightmare.

So fun! So cool! Favourites were Secrets and Stand Up but every track was great and I listened through a couple times. I wasn’t going to give it a five but then I was like actually what’s not to like, what would be my specific criticism to bring it down? And couldn’t think of one so went with it.

Lovely and reminds me of my mum somehow. What a voice and what a way to convey sorrow etc. through just her tone!

I grew up on U2 thanks to my Dad and I still love them very much even though I know that’s not like cool now and I still really want to see them live one day. Sunday Bloody Sunday is one of the world’s great songs to me and there’s heaps more on this album to admire. I always hesitate to give a 5 for some reason but I’m just gonna go for it again here because at the end of the day I just love this and if that’s tinged by nostalgia so be it.

Cool (and sick cover art) but ultimately I don’t think I’ll remember it.

Liked this a lot more than I expected to. Goes hard! Quite a bit vocally made me think of Jack Black to be honest. Breaking the Law was probably my top track. Will be checking out more of their stuff.

Some absolute stone cold bangers (Knowing Me, Money, Dancing Queen obviously) and some absolute steaming tripe (Kissed the Teacher, Dum Diddle). But overall, undeniable.

Relaxing and comforting like a campfire but also not much that really stands out to me, just pretty and chill. (3.5 stars)

One of those ones that’s just so middle-of-the-road to me I can’t even understand why it’s been included. Forgotten it already. (1.5 stars)

Obviously not the Beatles best work being so early in their careers but still a heap of fun to be had, especially All My Loving and You Really Got a Hold. Just love these four boys form Liverpool eh!

That classic sound, good for driving or camping, but not particularly memorable in the long run for me.

I only recently came across GSH actually through the unlikely source of Australian footballer and St Pauli captain Jackson Irvine, who hosts a wonderful monthly digital radio show and played The Bottle. I find it remarkable and frustrating how the messages in this music are still so relevant today.

Not for me. I wanted to like it because I often like avant-garde-ish stuff but this has no redeeming qualities to me.

Classic for a reason. So many brilliant tracks. Just beloved.

Fine, nice enough but nothing I will remember. I think the best track was the titular White Light. But again I’ve forgotten it already. But I think that’s okay too. (2.5 stars)

Eh. Fine but nothing particularly special or interesting to me. (1.5 stars)

I think maybe overall as albums I don’t love most Bowie albums. I love individual songs a hell of a lot and the man himself of course. Fame is an all-timer and I also dug the Across the Universe cover I somehow don’t think I’d heard before. Many cool moments but yeah as a collective I just don’t really think the album does a whole lot for my tastes.

Again not sure why I always hesitate to give five stars but this was an album where I just can’t fault it, it’s just like ‘what’s not to love’ so five stars it is!

Some interesting moments for sure. I’m not sure that overall I totally enjoyed it though. And Through the Wire was probably my favourite, followed by Biko. I think I will be checking out more of his work though. (3.5 stars)

Cool stuff. I can’t say any particular track really jumped out but I enjoyed it overall, a good classic rock sound. (3.5 stars)

Really cool classic sick stuff. Extra fan of Peace Frog and Waiting for the Sun. Have always enjoyed this band. (4.5 stars)

Interesting, rich, and still fresh sounding in many ways.

I love CCR and always have. It’s like the very definition of ‘dad’. Just rocks and rolls the right way. Also ‘choogling’ is an objectively funny word.

At best, reminded me of Jonathan Richman or Sufjan Stevens or The National. At worst, and at such length (although I respect the commitment to the concept) it drags on and feels dull and repetitive. (2.5 stars)

Once again, kicks ass. Also still makes me think of Jack Black at moments. Just cool and hard hitting. (4.5 stars)

I can’t be unbiased about Arctic Monkeys, I was obsessed with them all through my early-20s (like Alex Turner posters on my wall and everything, fully wanted to be Alexa Chung and/or Miles Kane) and now in my 30s I know it’s ‘uncool’ but I don’t care and I still honestly get around every song, including their much maligned new 70s space age spy soundtrack lounge vibe records. This album is banger after banger, IBYLGOTD is particularly generation-defining stuff of course, with Mardy Bum and WTSGD my main favourites.

A genuine favourite (alongside Blond). I am truly in the ‘Frank is a genius’ camp and can’t wait for more music from him one day at long long last, but if he never makes another song then I’m ok with that too because the ones he’s done are perfect and nothing can take that away. Started listing favourite tracks but there’s too many. Pyramids and Lost are particular all timers though. All round effortlessly cool and smooth and funky and easy to listen to.

Must admit I fast forwarded and skipped my way through this. Some cool moments but mostly all blended together to me. (1.5 stars)

I’ve always loved VM. My mum played him a lot growing up and there’s just something so endlessly warm and nostalgic and enjoyable about his music.

So interesting! Human Behaviour is a remarkable song and there are moments in many others that struck me a lot too. I can’t say I particularly love the overall effect but she is certainly very creative and unique and I will be listening to a lot more, as I have always intended to (being a fan of often compared artists like Kate Bush and Aurora). (3.5 stars)

Brilliant. Johnny just never lets me down! Can’t help but sing along and laugh along to his live chat here as well as consider how kind of revolutionary his prison visits etc. were and still feel today.

Classic tunes done in a classic style. Makes me feel both old and young.

Dug this a lot! Favourite tracks were The Corner, Real People and They Say. Just cool stuff!

Slaps. The older I get the more I like metal.

Reminds me of working in the aged care home (positive). Look, I totally understand the importance of this era of music and some of the songs are obviously still sweet and singable, plus the more 12-bar-bluesy stuff is cooler, but overall it’s too whiny and patheticky for my taste (negative). And puts me to sleep.

Can’t remember what album I said this about last time but “YoU WouLDn’T DowNLoaD a CAr” vibes. Just not for me although I can imagine it’d go alright for studying. (1.5 stars)

Cool and punchy. Sick cover art lol. And not too long! More albums should be under 40 minutes. (I’ve long thought 90 minutes is the perfect movie length and am starting to think maybe 45 is the perfect album length.) Phantom of the Opera was my favourite track. (3.5 stars)

Not really my style (kind of vaguely grates me in a way I can’t quite pinpoint) but I can appreciate the jazzy vocals. Sounds like she was a very cool person though (bisexual vegetarian etc.) and I’m surprised I’d never heard of her before. How tragic that both she and her mother died at 49 of ovarian cancer.

Skipped my way through this (I know that’s not really fair but I just had to) because like I said the other day (on The Chemical Brothers) I really don’t like this kind of music. It’s just irritating to me and the only way I can ever see myself listening to it even a little is for studying wall-of-sound. It makes my heartbeat feel irregular.

Lovely, lovely stuff. I’ve floated around Nick Drake for years and enjoyed several of his songs but never dove deep, that’s definitely going to change now because I enjoyed this so much. Especially Hazey Jane I & II. Can hear the influence on some of my favourite current artists like Jose Gonzalez, Nick Mulvey and Roo Panes. A very comforting sound. So terribly sad he died so terribly young. (4.5 stars)

I usually like jazz and I think I would probably like this more if I saw it live, like if I was actually in the room where this kind of thing was being played, experiencing it properly firsthand, but recorded like this and trying to listen to it in the car instead of an immersive environment, I struggled and fast forwarded my way through a fair bit. There are also some sounds that I didn’t enjoy, the kind of deliberately dissonant stuff just isn’t for me. I do appreciate the mastery however and the cover art is cool.

Pretty cool, really liked Zealots and The Beast but I don’t enjoy the sketches at the end of many of the songs. Love the alternating voices though, Lauryn is an all timer for sure. (3.5 stars)

Mostly kind of reminded me of RHCP who I famously don’t enjoy. Other parts were almost Lin Manuel Miranda rap-ish (not really a good thing here either). I didn’t hate it overall. But just not my vibe. (1.5 stars)

I’ve long skirted around PJ due to her former relationship with Nick Cave who I love but rarely actually listened to her properly. I definitely like some tracks more than others. Overall it’s not my favourite sound, some of it rocks but a lot is also not terribly interesting to me. This Is Love probably my top track. Not an album I’ll come back to likely.

I believe I gave the last Supergrass album on here a 4.5 and I have to do that again! It’s just really fun stuff. Like solid pop. Which reminds me a bit of bands like OK Go, The Strokes etc. Just poppy and cruisy. Alright is a hugely famous banger but there are heaps of great ones to enjoy here, especially I’d Like to Know and Mansize Rooster.

Admittedly fast forwarded a little through this one but I did find the fusion of like the electronica elements and the Indian elements very interesting! Like a lot of albums lately it just kind of strikes me as music I would only ever throw on in the background of studying if I needed a wall of sound background kind of thing, like I would never consciously play this. But it is a step above the usual electronica stuff for me in terms of that cultural sonic mix. (2.5 stars)

Another one I fast forwarded through. I’ve never liked Eminem. I don’t like the tone or timbre of his voice (like the way he actually sounds, it’s so like whiny and nasally) and I like his lyrics even less (obviously). I understand his influence but there’s just so much better rap out there. Like, basically all of it. (1.5 stars)

Maybe not in the right mood to appreciate this today but also this was so entirely forgettable to me I don’t see why it was included. Hopefully this isn’t a silly blind spot but I’d never even heard of them. They didn’t stand out to me. Like the songs were all fine. But it sounds so early-00s and blenderish. (2.5 stars)

All a bit samey-samey. It’s definitely not bad, like in general I don’t mind the sound, but it’s pretty generic and drones on after a while. It’s got a kind of genre-typical mixing/production I don’t really like either where everything is sort of at the same level. The middle section of the album (Here and Now, Nowhere, Unfamiliar) was better than the rest but again just pretty ‘nothing’ to me in the grand scheme of things. (2.5 stars)

Cool. Extended rock jams. You have to be in the right mood I think. And again I would prefer to actually see it live than recorded. Funny how every kid learned the opening bit of Smoke on the Water on guitar in school music class. (3.5 stars)

Utterly dull. Sorry, don’t really know what else to say. (1.5 stars)

I’ve never really been a Nirvana fan. It’s a bit too ‘herm yarl’ as they used to say on the Time Crisis podcast (that 90s kind of growly/nasally vocal sound that acts like Pearl Jam and Nickelback have). I don’t mind the hits (basically just Heart Shaped Box on this album) like I can admit some of it goes pretty hard but also I just find a lot of it quite grating.

This gets borderline ‘you wouldn’t steal a car’ (I like that in my head that anti-piracy ad is its own genre now lol) at times while at other points it’s almost vaguely Radioheadish or even U2ish or something. I really can’t make heads or tails of it overall to be honest. It certainly doesn’t sound at all like I expected from the name Primal Scream, there’s nothing primal nor scream about it. I don’t know. Star was a cool track though.

Shoulda called this album Good because it’s not bad at all. How many people have made that joke since 1987?! Let me be the billionth. But for real, banger city. (4.5 stars)

Zoe, was it your mum who recently told you something like “I’ve just started listening to this cool band The Killers! Have you heard of them?” I think that was your story anyway and I kept thinking of it listening to this because I feel like it sounds like ‘parent music’ even though it’s not actually of that generation, like some of it is actually very fun and cool, but a lot of it comes across as quite daggy or dorky now somehow. Like it’s a bit… try-hard? But also it’s pretty good? Like it’s both kind of outdated and also some of it slaps. Also really catapults me back to playing Rock Band (or maybe Guitar Hero or SingStar? I can’t remember which game it was actually on but it was definitely one of them) on the PlayStation 2 with my sisters and belting out ‘SOMEBODY TOLD ME’. Now that song still hits like a freight train! As does Mr Brightside obviously even though it’s been so memefied over the years. Some other parts made me think of Franz Ferdinand and Walk the Moon and other bands of that ilk. Mixed bag overall, but enjoyable! (3.5 stars)

Not really what I expected based on what I thought I knew of Alice Cooper from pop culture. A lot of it is very theatrical and even silly (like the meowing cats). I think Public Animal #9 was my top track besides the titular one. And just a shade over 30 minutes which is always nice.

What an odd little odyssey. It all has a serious touch of that ‘70s medieval’ vibe. Meanders and mixes styles often, even frequently jumping around within the same track (a la Bohemian Rhapsody kind of thing) which certainly keeps you on your toes although I’m not sure if I actually like it. Very strange stuff! I have always enjoyed Phil Collin’s voice though. Really hard to rate something like this so I think I’m just gonna have to go in the middle for lack of another idea.

Cool stuff! Into the Light and Head Cut were my favourite tracks. Just generally enjoyed the sound, although not sure I’ll ultimately remember any of it. (3.5 stars)

Pretty kickass. Not my favourite sonically speaking but a bit does remind me of current girl rock bands that you hear like on 4ZZZ today, and some tracks like particularly She Walks On Me made me think of Amyl and the Sniffers. Asking For It could also be a modern song (unfortunately with that message always relevant).

I just don’t like drum & bass/electronic. I can handle it for a while but then, as the title of track seven helpfully puts it, it gives me ‘A Sense of Rage’. Like I think the sound of the genre at large literally makes me feel anxious. I didn’t mind the tracks with vocals/lyrics as much. But just never gonna be for me. And it feels like it never ends.

This bluesy rock really hit the spot today. Effortless to listen to, chugs along in classic fashion. Feels kind of dirty, in the literal mud/grit/hard work sense of the word, and I appreciate that.

A buffet of rather unusual flavours but one I found myself very much enjoying! That was a surprise to me as they’re a band I had never listened to before (at least not that I can ever recall) and I’m not sure that I will in future again, but I had a great time with this album and listened through a couple times. Infected, Heartland and The Mercy Beat are bangers. Again, it’s all a bit odd and does have some grating moments but overall it’s funky and rocky in that swinging 80s way that’s a little contagious the more time you spend with it. (4.5 stars)

I think I probably mostly like Slayer (and Pantera and similar bands) these days because they remind me of getting drunk with my beloved mate Jordan but they really do slap. Not something I put on often but whenever something like this pops up I’m pretty stoked to head bang and howl along.

Eh. It’s fine. It’s dated. I’ve forgotten it already. She has a nice voice though. (1.5 stars)

I love the Stones. And actually every time I listen, which is pretty often nowadays, I love them more. Sympathy for the Devil and Street Fighting Man have long been two of my biggest favourites. Rest of the album is chill and easygoing, much less ‘rock’ than some of the work they’re perhaps more famous for, almost more folky at moments. Great stuff all round, if again maybe not their most standout selection.

Are you kidding me? What are the chances of two of their albums being only a day apart! Still not into it. Fine and smooth but generally just dull and uninteresting to me. Feels like something that would be playing in a cliche coffee shop in an old television show. Better than the previous one though, more kind of tropical-ish or aquarium-ish.

Absolutely one of the most perfect albums of all time. I just about know every second of it by heart. Listen Zoe, I know you’re not a fellow Beatles girlie, I know you hardly know your George from your Ringo, I know their films aren’t your ‘comfort watches’ that you basically put on any time you’re sick, I know you haven’t read a billion biographies about each member (and even more deeply researched speculative articles about who was in love with each other when), you’ve never had pictures of them on your walls, or cried seeing Paul live or anything, but by god I hope you can recognise how good this is! So much variety is at play, letting each Beatle shine on his own songs as well as together, through silly moments (for example, the lore is that everyone bloody hated Maxwell’s Silver Hammer but Paul was obsessed with it and insisted on including it anyway) and serious (I mean, Something alone has gotta be some of the most beautiful music ever recorded). That end run of Golden Slumbers into Carry That Weight into The End is an unbelievable masterpiece to me, I could listen to the way it flows forever! Delicious. And even the previous run from Sun King to She Came In too! I love the linkages and the little bits of story that kind of get reprised here and there. Like I said, I just think this is a perfect album and I never get sick of it.

Did not enjoy this. It’s the same ‘herm yarl’ things I generally don’t like about Niravana, Nickelback etc. Just doth not please mine ear.

Janelle is one of the most creative and beautiful voices going today. I have a huge crush on her. I don’t like this as much as her more recent albums but it’s a seriously strong concept and shows great variety.

Ahh fine. Not really for me. I think I’m just getting a bit tired of 80s rock? Like it’s still fun but I’m just kind of over it in general lately. The artwork is creepy too!

Soothing storybook soundscapes.

Prime stuff. Funky and unusual and silly and cool and narrative. Such an inimitable voice. (4.5 stars)

I consider myself a Bee Gees stan, it’s well documented that young Barry Gibb is one of my biggest crushes in the world, and I will always throw their greatest hits on for a road trip, but I had never heard this one. And probably for good reason. Look, I’m never one to deny ambitious swings and unusual creativity but it sounds like this split the band for good reason. There’s orchestral instrumentals, there’s country music, there’s songs about Edison and Opera. Maybe the fact one is called I Laugh in Your Face actually says it best. But despite the mismatched nature of it all, despite how annoying some moments are, overall I couldn’t help but kind of enjoy the ride. (3.5 stars? I really have no idea)

Had a great time with this! I didn’t realise how many of these songs I knew, mostly from Guitar Hero and the soundtrack to Daddy Day Care. Surrender is probably my favourite but they’re all kind of bangers and you gotta respect a band with deliberate opening and closing (Hello There and Goodnight) songs. I still don’t love a live album but otherwise I find this hard to fault, at least in my current good mood. (4.5 stars)

A perfect album, as far as I’m concerned. I don’t care how cliche people think they are now, I will always love his lyrics, and his stupid little voice. Irresistible stuff. Hard to pick a favourite track from so many greats but I think Don’t Think Twice is definitely one of my all-timers.

Like a lot of the rap and hip hop on this list, I really appreciate the power of its messages, still relevant so many years later, and the talent of all those involved but do still feel the overall sound or production is a bit dated. Favourite tracks were probably Burn Hollywood Burn and Fight the Power. Like I said, still so meaningful in today’s world (unfortunately).