239
Albums Rated
3.45
Average Rating
22%
Complete
850 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
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1950s
Favorite Decade
World
Favorite Genre
other
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
27
5-Star Albums
3
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
|
5 | 3.43 | +1.57 |
|
Live!
Fela Kuti
|
5 | 3.44 | +1.56 |
|
Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
|
5 | 3.45 | +1.55 |
|
Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
|
5 | 3.55 | +1.45 |
|
Illmatic
Nas
|
5 | 3.6 | +1.4 |
|
A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
|
5 | 3.63 | +1.37 |
|
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
|
5 | 3.64 | +1.36 |
|
Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
|
5 | 3.74 | +1.26 |
|
(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
|
5 | 3.75 | +1.25 |
|
Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
|
5 | 3.87 | +1.13 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Yeezus
Kanye West
|
1 | 2.77 | -1.77 |
|
Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
|
2 | 3.47 | -1.47 |
|
From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
|
2 | 3.36 | -1.36 |
|
You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
|
2 | 3.35 | -1.35 |
|
A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
|
2 | 3.33 | -1.33 |
|
Celebrity Skin
Hole
|
2 | 3.29 | -1.29 |
|
Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
|
1 | 2.28 | -1.28 |
|
Only By The Night
Kings of Leon
|
2 | 3.23 | -1.23 |
|
Mermaid Avenue
Billy Bragg
|
2 | 3.17 | -1.17 |
|
The Sensual World
Kate Bush
|
2 | 3.17 | -1.17 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 4 | 4.75 |
| Radiohead | 3 | 5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 3 | 4.67 |
| Miles Davis | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Rolling Stones | 5 | 4 |
5-Star Albums (27)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Kanye West
1/5
A few of the songs have pretty good beats but this is quintessential egotistical Kanye. The themes for several songs and the lyrics for most songs are frankly ridiculous and flat out bad. Pair that with Kanye's horrendous public persona and it's really hard for me to get into this album.
Also, he's a black Nazi somehow? Excuse my French but fuck that and fuck Nazis.
0/5
1 likes
Dennis Wilson
3/5
Enjoyable and surprisingly experimental album. I love when the horns randomly hit and bump up the song, a bit.
1 likes
Pink Floyd
5/5
Absolute classic. Easy 5/5. Nothing more to say than that, really.
1 likes
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Great opening song along with classic Jimi Hendrix shredding. The stereo effect on "May This Be Love" is incredible.
Unfortunately, I've just never been able to get into Hendrix as much as I probably should so this doesn't rate super high for me. I can appreciate the raw talent and his contribution to music, though.
1 likes
Mj Cole
2/5
This is pretty generic early 2000s dance music but not that exciting, overall. It's fine.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (3)
All Ratings
Steely Dan
4/5
Halfway through, I haven't stopped nodding my head for a minute. Very groovy.
Great harmonies throughout.
Solid album from start to finish. 3/5.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Great opening song along with classic Jimi Hendrix shredding. The stereo effect on "May This Be Love" is incredible.
Unfortunately, I've just never been able to get into Hendrix as much as I probably should so this doesn't rate super high for me. I can appreciate the raw talent and his contribution to music, though.
Yes
4/5
I can hear the beginnings of what we now know as Prog Rock/Prog Metal in this album and it's super entertaining. I've never listened to Yes before and I'm now unsure why that is.
It was too short, in my opinion, but solid from start to finish.
Dusty Springfield
2/5
She's obviously a talented singer but this is pretty generic and boring, overall. It was quite a drag and difficult for me to get through.
Son a Preacher Man is a classic but the rest is pretty unremarkable, in my opinion.
Talking Heads
4/5
This album has the classic Talking Heads feel.
The opening to the The Good Thing immediately catches you. David Byrne's vocals somehow fall into the background of the driving groove.
Take Me to the River is, of course, super familiar and a great song.
The Big Country was unexpected but a solid song.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
The Rolling Stones are so incredibly versatile. I've heard this album before but they still had me guessing with each song. This is solid from start to finish and it's not hard to see why it's often regarded as their best album and one of the best rock and roll albums of all time.
Miles Davis
4/5
Electric jazz fusion from Miles Davis.
I've couple of his albums that were more traditional jazz ("Kind of Blue", "Sketches of Spain") but also had listened to "Bitches Brew" (released after "In a Silent Way" and also jazz fusion) so this was definitely an interesting listen. His talent as a trumpeter and as a band leader shines in what is his first true electric jazz fusion album after a hard turn in genres, according to Wikipedia.
I'm a big jazz fan and this album was no exception.
Thin Lizzy
3/5
"Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed" was unexpectedly funky. "Boys Are Back in Town" is super catchy and plays on classic rock hit stations all the time. The drum solo on "Sha-La-La" is legit and you can tell the crowd is really digging it.
Overall, a pretty solid live album.
R.E.M.
4/5
The Wikipedia page states that REM experimented on this album but, honestly, to my ear, it sounds very similar to any other REM that I've heard. Perhaps some new instruments were used but it's still definitely REM. That's not a bad thing, as I generally like REM.
It's an easy album to listen to. Not ground-breaking but not boring or offensive, either.
Sabu
3/5
This is totally different than anything I listen to on a regular basis. The Cuban rhythm on the congas is entrancing at times and so groovy at others. It's a surprising break from the typical rock and roll/jazz/blues that I've been recommended thus far and is super interesting.
Some people complain about this album and say that they just don't "get" it, which is fine. This album didn't have that effect on me.
Television
4/5
I'm a big fan of the guitars on the titular song. Torn Curtain has a hauntingly beautiful vibe, which is incredibly fitting for the phrase "holding back the tears" phrase that's repeated multiple times throughout.
It's always interesting to hear the stark differences between these early alternative/punk bands and the more traditional 70s rock & roll/hard rock of the time. It's also easy to hear the influences bands such as Television have had on later music. Some parts have a punk sound, some songs have a new wave sound, some sound like they're straight from a 2010 indie recording studio. I thoroughly enjoyed this album.
This album wouldn't sound too out of place today, which really shows how revolutionary it was.
Radiohead
5/5
Radiohead is one of my absolute favorite bands. I've been listening to them and this album for decades at this point so I'm perhaps a little biased.
Thom Yorke stated that the album was a statement on the "the general sense of ignorance and intolerance and panic and stupidity" following the election of George Bush in 2000 and used many Orwellian references throughout. "Hail to the Thief" was a common phrase in reference to that election and is a play on the phrase "Hail to the Chief", the presidential anthem.
This is one of those albums that takes a few sittings to truly begin to appreciate, especially for someone that's overall unfamiliar with Radiohead so I understand the low ratings from people who are probably hearing this for the first time with zero context.
So many haunting songs on this album, which fits the overall theme and purpose of the album.
The Clash
3/5
This album is very different than what people generally think of when they think 70s music. It's not really my taste, though, and was honestly fairly boring to me. Very rough around the edges. I appreciate the contributions to later music, though.
Einstürzende Neubauten
2/5
Very strange and incredibly unexpected. I can see the creativity involved in making the album but I fail to understand how this is being included in a list of "must listen" albums. It's honestly hard to get through, considering I listen to these albums while trying to get work done. Still better than Kid Rock and Limp Bizkit, though, because they at least tried to be creative. The creativity and the fact that they at least tried something different bumps it from a 1 to a 2 for me.
George Michael
3/5
This is so 80s but not quite in a cool, Michael Jackson way. The first couple of songs are quite good but "I Want Your Sex" is very cringy for lack of a better word and, honestly, seems like a song that an awkward pre-teen would make to be funny. Michael Jackson's "I Want to Rock with You" says basically the same thing in a much more mature (and better) way and is all around a better song/groove, as well.
Some of the other songs have a decent grooves. It's not the worst album in this list but it's also not the best.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Joni Mitchell has a distinct sound. Really well done album with some good songs.
Nirvana
5/5
Classic album that I've listened to dozens of times. The video version is worth a watch, as well.
Nirvana is obviously known for grunge and heavy guitar riffs but this version, as with all "MTV Unplugged" versions of albums, peels all of that back so that you can appreciate the brilliance of the song writing without all of the distortion and volume (though I'm a fan of those things, as well).
Easy 5/5.
Sigur Rós
3/5
This is so ethereal, as if I'm entering a trance.
It's unfortunate that I don't understand Icelandic because I'm sure their lyrics are good, too.
The Who
3/5
I was already familiar with The Who, of course, but hadn't ever listened to this album in full. I enjoyed how the album flows together. It started to get a little too long for me towards the end.
It has some impressive 100% instrumental songs mixed in, though, which I wasn't expecting.
Fairport Convention
4/5
The Cajun French on "Si Tu Dois Partir" was unexpected. "A Sailor's Life" has some fantastic instrumentation. The harmonizing on "Percy's Song" makes it sound authentically British-folky.
This has a good folk sound and good vibe throughout. Great music to work to.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
It's not bad but it's also doesn't blow me away. Overall, it's easy to listen to but that's really because it's super generic and not too exciting.
I had never heard of Lloyd Cole and The Commotions so at least this list is exposing me to new stuff.
David Bowie
4/5
Bowie was such a talent and this album is no different. It isn't as grandiose (in a positive way) as some of his other albums but his talent still shines through.
Adele
3/5
"Hello" is a powerful song that serves as an excellent start to this album.
Adele has such a huge voice and this album perfectly showcases it and allows her to use it to communicate the emotions that she's feeling in each of the songs.
My only issue with the album is that it's kinda the same idea over and over. Yes, she's talented and she's really good at it but some variety would make this a better album in my book.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
After reading the background of this album, I could definitely feel the emotion in the songs and in his voice. I get that it was super personal for him but for outsiders to the situation, it's one note and incredible depressing.
Fishbone
3/5
This was a fun album that had notes ska, punk, as well as straight up rock. I don't understand the relatively low rating because it was overall an enjoyable album.
The Temptations
4/5
I haven't had a ton of exposure to Motown and I honestly don't understand why that is because this album is so good. I know who The Temptations are, of course, but have only listened to a couple of their biggest hits.
The main ding for this album is that it's too short. Just as I was really getting into a groove, it was suddenly over.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Absolute classic. Easy 5/5. Nothing more to say than that, really.
The Police
4/5
A solid album with a couple of familiar songs. Overall, I like The Police though they aren't super exciting.
The Stooges
3/5
This is so guitar-driven and raw. Pretty interesting album and it's easy to understand how it has influenced other guitar-heavy bands.
Oasis
4/5
In classic Oasis fashion, this isn't super exciting but it is easy to listen to. Overall, an enjoyable album even if it isn't super technical or advanced.
Dead Kennedys
3/5
This is so rough and punk. The lyrics hit hard and the rawness really ramps up the emotion. Classic punk album from a classic punk band that has influenced so many other huge bands that have come after.
Paul Simon
4/5
I have always been a fan of Paul Simon and this album is no different. I don't think it's his best album but it's solid, overall, and has a few excellent songs and big hits.
Coldplay
4/5
I get that Coldplay is often thought of as overplayed or overproduced or whatever but their early albums are legitimately good. Parachutes is no exception to this. It's the album that kicked off their career and catapulted them into the limelight.
Frank Black
3/5
Miriam Makeba
4/5
This is a truly beautiful album. Her voice is incredible and it's always super interesting to hear music that I have been exposed to very little in my life.
Mbube was totally unexpected, as Lion King fan. Her version of this song is stunning.
Overall, a really fantastic album. I think it's definitely underrated on here (3.18 as of this review).
Billy Bragg
2/5
I understand what they were trying to do and the concept is definitely interesting but this album had trouble holding my attention. I would find myself zoning out during the middle of songs to the point that I had to restart a couple.
It's not a bad album but it just isn't interesting to me. It's a shame that Woody Guthrie didn't write songs to accompany these lyrics because he probably would have done a better job with them, in my opinion.
This is the issue that I've had with Wilco, overall. Their music isn't bad. It's clear that they're actually quite good at what they do. It's just boring to me and I'm generally a fan of folk, indie, and alternative.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Solid Johnny Cash album. It's honestly a little surreal listening to him sing about murders and drugs to murderers. As another reviewer put it, it's super metal.
I'm not the biggest fan of all of the songs that he chose to perform but the performance, itself, was impactful and will probably never be replicated.
Muddy Waters
3/5
Good blues. I've never really gotten into the genre so I don't listen to it too much but this is decent.
Kate Bush
2/5
This was honestly really boring to me. I don't know what it was about it but it seemed to be more or less the same song over and over again.
Nirvana
4/5
I personally prefer Nevermind but this album is fantastic in its own right.
It's so raw compared to Nevermind and the emotion comes through strongly. Heart-Shaped Box, Rape Me, Dumb, All Apologies are all great songs.
The Verve
3/5
I don't understand much of the criticism that this album is getting from many of the reviewers here. While I don't find it groundbreaking in any way, I don't find it any more offensive than Coldplay or U2 but albums from those bands are consistently more highly-rated, for some reason.
[Reprise] is an excellent send off to the album.
Isaac Hayes
5/5
It's honestly hard to believe that this was released in 1969 because it could honestly be released today and sound completely relevant and modern. The beats, the instrumentation, the vocals, and everything in between are all solid.
The strings and horns on One Woman are incredible.
Radiohead
5/5
Radiohead is one of my favorite bands and I have listened to this album probably >100 times so I'm obviously biased but it's hard to not give this album 5/5.
Part of it is nostalgia, as I remember listening to this dozens of times with friends in high school, and part of it is a genuine love of Radiohead. This is one of my all time top albums from one of my top bands.
Beastie Boys
3/5
I can appreciate the Beastie Boys and their contribution to the world of hip hop but their music isn't really for me. Something about it just doesn't capture my interest or keep me all that engaged. I also don't like their whiney/shouty vocal style. Some nuance would be appreciated and, I think, would add to many of their songs.
That said, many of the samplings on this album were super interesting. The use of The Beatles on "The Sounds of Science" caught me totally by suprise.
Hole
2/5
Meh. I had never heard of Hole but this didn't interest me much and I'm usually a fan of 90s alt-rock.
The Icarus Line
2/5
It's pretty generic mid-2000s alt rock. You can tell this band came around the same time as bands like The Killers or The White Stripes but they're aren't quite as exciting for me as those bands. It's mostly just noise, tbh.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
I'm a Fleetwood Mac fan but had somehow never listened to this album all the way through. It doesn't compare to Rumors, obviously, as that's a masterpiece but this album absolutely holds up to many other great rock albums of the time. Stevie Nicks' voice and passion comes through in "Beautiful Child" and "Sara" is one of their classics.
Kraftwerk
4/5
Ah, the first electronic album to be recommended to me. This is exciting.
I love this era of electronic music because it truly was the wild west. "EDM" didn't exist in the same sense that it does today and artists were experimenting with different sounds, rhythms, and instruments. This was very interesting.
Kings of Leon
2/5
It's pretty generic "alt-rock" and nothing really stands out. It's hard to believe that it received a nomination for best album and that "Use Somebody" actually won best song. It's just so incredibly boring yet still somehow gets regular airtime on the radio to this day. "Sex is on Fire" is a better song and actually has a decent groove, in my opinion.
It's not a terrible album but there were much better albums in this genre from this time period.
Bill Callahan
4/5
This album has an interesting, old school kinda quality to it that I really dig.
I definitely don't feel that this is a country album, as it's categorized. This is more just singer/songwriter or folk.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
Classic Kendrick and a hell of an album from start to finish. Excellent storytelling that means that it's one of those albums that may take a listen or two to catch everything that's said. The instrumentation/beats is also great. It's a really well-produced album.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
The Rolling Stones are one of those bands that I seem to enjoy any time that I listen to them but, for some reason, I don't listen to them all that much. This album was quintessential mid-60s British rock and is overall enjoyable.
Soundgarden
4/5
Chris Cornell and grunge. What a combo.
Lambchop
2/5
I went from Soundgarden to this..... To say that was a disappointment is an understatement.
This isn't bad, per se....it's just boring. There's nothing there. It's the kind of music that plays in the background at the grocery store to fill the silence.
I looked at Lambchop's page on Wikipedia and they apparently had 20 different musicians that contributed to the album. 13 of those were actually in Lambchop, officially. I would have expected more complexity.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
This was written and recorded shortly after Nick Cave lost his son, Arthur, in 2015. I can hear the emotion in his voice as he paints a picture of what he's feeling and what he's going through.
Much of the album teetered between ethereal and melancholy and was incredibly interesting to me. It's super heavy even if the underlying music is light.
Amy Winehouse
5/5
I know of Amy Winehouse, of course, but have never gotten around to listening to her, for some reason. I don't know what I was expecting but this definitely wasn't it.
While every song is generally soul or R&B, they're all so incredibly different. She was incredible talented and versatile.
"Rehab" is a sad song, considering how she supposedly died but well-written and well-sung, nonetheless.
"Just Friends" has almost a reggae groove with the drums/horns/bass.
"Back to Black" is a throwback to the 1960s girl groups that clearly influenced Winehouse.
"Love Is a Losing Game" is beautiful.
"Tears Dry On Their Own" allows her to show off the accuracy of her voice in a faster pace and just straight grooves the whole time. This song feels like it was ripped straight from the 60s, which makes sense considering the sample of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".
I will for sure be listening to this album and other Amy Winehouse more. This is incredible.
R.I.P.
Dolly Parton
4/5
I had only ever listened to titular song from this album. I have always liked the sound of country music from this time period and this is no exception. Dolly kills it on this album.
Jack White
3/5
Jack White is undoubtedly talented but he's just never been able to capture much of my attention outside of The White Stripes, unfortunately.
This album is fine but I probably won't listen to it again.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Quintessential 90s brit pop. Inoffensive, as some reviewers have put it, but I think that's actually a positive for this album. It's catchy and entertaining but maybe I'm just a fan of this genre--idk.
Not award-worthy but not terrible.
Lauryn Hill
5/5
How has Lauryn Hill only ever released a single album? I get that she has been featured on a bunch of songs but she definitely deserved to have more albums because this one is incredible.
She is insanely talented and I can't believe I'm just now finding this album. I will listen to this many more times.
I had heard several of the songs from the album ("Ex-Factor", "Doo Wop (That Thing)") before so it wasn't totally a virgin listen but, man, so many other songs deserve more playtime. I was also familiar with "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" but had never heard her cover.
I can definitely hear how she influenced so many artists in the 00s and 10s.
Ray Charles
4/5
Ah, Ray Charles. What is there to say about him?
I've listened to so much of his music but never this album all the way through. It's a pretty classic Ray Charles album and an enjoyable listen.
Depeche Mode
4/5
I've long been a fan of New Wave music. I don't like much pop music from the 80s but this is one popular genre that's always hit me just right.
This is a really good album from a really good band.
The Saints
2/5
Either it's something to do with the albums included in this list or I'm just never enamored by early punk records. This album is honestly just boring to me.
Minutemen
3/5
This album definitely wasn't what I expected after reading that Wikipedia classified it as "hardcore punk, post-punk, post-hardcore". It has some punk but it is also funky on some songs and very singer-songwriter on others. It's quite an interesting album, especially considering it came out in 1984. It sounds like something that would fit in on alternative airwaves today.
The bass on "It's Expected When I'm Gone" is so funky. I'm digging the groove on this one.
Mj Cole
2/5
This is pretty generic early 2000s dance music but not that exciting, overall. It's fine.
Queen
3/5
Miles Davis
5/5
Widely considered one of the greatest jazz albums of all time and one of the albums that all new jazz listeners should experience asap.
This album is so well put together with all of the instruments seemingly have conversations with each other as the songs move from one to another. I believe this album can be listened to by anyone in any setting.
I've easily listened to it >50 times in my life and recommend it to anyone looking to listen to jazz.
Easy 5/5.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
The musicians on this album played their hearts out and it shows. What an introduction to big band for someone that hasn't really listened to it all that much.
Lil Darlin is a beautiful song and is incredibly romantic.
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
I'm a big fan of indie and alternative but, for some reason, Dinosaur Jr. just never really kept my attention. It's fine but generally pretty generic.
Mudhoney
3/5
This is grunge before grunge was cool. I can hear the precursors to the bigger bands like Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden but it still has a rough, punk-like quality in many of the songs that isn't heard in those larger, more polished bands. It's pretty interesting stuff.
Carole King
5/5
How the hell have I never heard this album before? I've heard of the name Carole King but have somehow never once had this album recommended for me. That's a shame because this is incredible. It's so smooth.
The War On Drugs
4/5
I love this era of indie music and while I haven't heard this particular album before, I'm familiar with The War on Drugs. This is a solid album and one that I'll probably listen to again.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Aretha Franklin is a national treasure and is so incredibly talented. It's a joy to listen to her music.
This album was really good and is one of the best from the genre.
Ray Price
3/5
This is a solid album of enjoyable music. I don't think it's life-changing in the context of this 1001 album list but I did enjoy it, nonetheless.
Elton John
3/5
This was a solid album and is a good album for this list, considering Elton John's influence on pop music, as a whole.
Elton John isn't exactly *my* style of music but I can appreciate the talent.
Arcade Fire
4/5
The Doors
3/5
Classic 70s classic rock sound from The Doors in this album. Really good to groove to.
Slipknot
2/5
Oh boy--as expected Slipknot is......controversial with the reviewers of this list. Metal/hard rock of this type is a "love it or hate it" kind of thing and I'm usually in the "love it" side.
That said, Slipknot tries too hard sometimes and it shows.
Psychosocial is legit good, though. The guitar riff, while very simple, carries the song. The clean vocals are quite good, too.
The Undertones
3/5
I like the raw feel of this album. It really captures that early punk feel without being in your face all the time. Solid listen, overall.
Kanye West
1/5
A few of the songs have pretty good beats but this is quintessential egotistical Kanye. The themes for several songs and the lyrics for most songs are frankly ridiculous and flat out bad. Pair that with Kanye's horrendous public persona and it's really hard for me to get into this album.
Also, he's a black Nazi somehow? Excuse my French but fuck that and fuck Nazis.
0/5
Funkadelic
4/5
Hearing the guitar riff on "Can You Get to That" was a fantastic surprise because I'm super familiar with "Rill Rill" by Sleigh Bells.
This album is definitely funky and so smooth, overall.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Really good album with a couple of incredible, next-level songs:
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
Superstition
It's unbelievable that he was only 22 when he released this album. It wasn't his first album but it was probably the first one that really put him on the map.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
I've never listened to Run-D.M.C. besides "Walk This Way" but had obviously heard of them. This was surprisingly enjoyable even though I'm not usually the biggest fan of 80s hip hop.
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
Easy listening, which came during an overall stressful week for me. Thanks!
Overall, I enjoyed it but it's probably not something I'll repeat.
Dusty Springfield
2/5
This album has a very 50s feel even though it came out in 1964. It's also an album of just covers so I don't understand how this is considered so life changing as to include it in a list of albums to hear before I die. It's not bad - just fairly bland.
The Black Keys
4/5
Solid alternative album that has quite a few songs that have hung around on the radio.
Nina Simone
4/5
Nina Simone can sing. Her countralto vocals are so powerful and wonderful. She's an incredible singer.
This album was very enjoyable to me.
Roni Size
2/5
It's pretty generic drum and bass so I'm unsure how this is an essential album to listen to before I die.
Meh.
Pantera
2/5
It's loud and in your face but that's about where it ends for me. Not that exciting to me, overall.
I'm just not much of a thrash metal person, though.
Foo Fighters
4/5
Excellent debut, self-titled album. It was always going to be tough for Dave Grohl to follow up on his Nirvana success but he didn't seem to have a problem doing so and Foo Fighters is still a household name and selling out stadiums to this day, 30 years later.
Solid album from a solid band, led by a great guy.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
This was a great album with an incredible amount of talent on display. A really enjoyable listen.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Solid late 60s rock and roll album from a legendary band.
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
I really like the chill vibes of this album. It honestly sounds super ahead of its time to the point where it really could come have come out in the past few years and fit in with any other singer/songwriter album being released.
Bonnie Raitt
2/5
I definitely wasn't expecting this music when I saw Bonnie Raitt come up. I honestly always thought that she was just another 80s pop star but I was wrong. That said, it's not really my cup of tea and it's kinda generic.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Bob Marley is always good listening. Very chill for a Tuesday.
Judas Priest
3/5
Pretty standard 70s/80s British metal album. Judas Priest is listed as an influence by so many bands that have come after that it's hard to quantify their influence.
This is a good album but not one of my favorites, overall. Pretty middle of the road for me.
Deerhunter
4/5
I'm personally a big fan of the indie sound that Deerhunter has. Some of the songs are so ethereal and some are pretty acoustic so it has a great blend of sounds to keep me interested. Really solid album, overall.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Stevie Wonder is legendary and this album is no exception. His voice is incredible, his tone is one of a kind, and the way that he blends genres perfectly is basically unmatched. Incredible album from an incredible artist.
Eels
3/5
Not a terrible album but not one that really pulled me in all that much. Just okay.
The Cars
4/5
I had obviously heard the first three songs - "Good Times Roll", "My Best Friend's Girl", and "Just What I Needed" - but had not made the connection that they were all from the same band. I definitely had no idea that they were all from the same album. I wasn't familiar with The Cars, otherwise. I do tend to like New Wave quite a bit and this album was no exception.
5/5
5/5
I could just leave it there, tbh, because Sgt. Pepper's is legendary but I'm going to expand. This album has been one of my top 5 favorite albums ever since the first time that I head it nearly 20 years ago. I can't explain how important the album has been to me and my musical journey and ratings can't fully illustrate how meaningful it is to me. Easily going to be one of the best albums on this list, in my opinion.
Miles Davis
4/5
This album is definitely cool, as expected from Miles Davis. Really cool, chill vibes throughout.
Portishead
2/5
This is such a boring album. Holy moly.
The Beach Boys
4/5
The Beach Boys, like The Beatles, were always more than just a mop-top 60s boy band playing music about surfing or holding hands. Really solid album. Brian Wilson is an excellent songwriter and producer.
The Smiths
4/5
The Smiths are one of those bands that I had run across a couple of times before this list but had never devoted time for listening. I enjoy their sound and, while they aren't new wave, they have many similar characteristics that give them that quintessential 80s sound without being too pop-y.
Snoop Dogg
3/5
It's a pretty good album. Some of the themes and language haven't really stood up to the test of time but the beats are good and Snoop's voice and flow is basically unmatched.
The Band
3/5
Classic 60s jam band sound from The Band. Overall, a good album to relax to on a dreary day.
The Weight is the only song that I was familiar with before this listen.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Two songs in and this hasn't really captured my attention. Elvis Costello has been recommended for me a few times but I've just never been able to get into his music. I don't know but something about it just doesn't interest me.
Tokyo Storm Warning is so repetitive.
This is so boring and his voice is so grating.
Talking Heads
4/5
Talking Heads are a solid new wave band that I always enjoy. Solid album.
Ray Charles
4/5
The way that he basically reinvents these songs into a style that's so effortlessly his own is incredible. Some of these songs are classics in their own genre and he's taken them and remade them into basically new songs while still keeping the underlying feeling and idea of the songs in tact.
"Hey Good Lookin'" is unbelievable.
"You Are My Sunshine"...whoa.....
"Your Cheatin' Heart" works surprisingly well in this style.
Excellent album and a really enjoyable listen.
Blondie
4/5
This was a cool album. I knew of "One Way or Another" and "Heart of Glass" but was unfamiliar with the rest of the songs on the album. Overall, an enjoyable listen that had my head bobbing and/or foot tapping the whole way.
Robert Wyatt
2/5
Maybe I just don't vibe with this kind of music but, to me, this is horrible noise that I simply wish would end. I'm a fan of free jazz but I don't know what this was.
His voice is incredibly grating and whiney.
The White Stripes
4/5
I generally like The White Stripes but have never ventured too far into their discography. This album was a shock after having listened to just their big singles. It was so diverse in sound and feel and has me wanting to explore more from The White Stripes.
Jack White is a talent, of course. Meg White is an underrated drummer in that she has an unmistakable sound that drives many of their songs.
Fred Neil
3/5
This album was pretty ok. I guess I can understand how influential he was as a songwriter but I don't understand why this, along with many other albums in this list, are being included as "must-listen" albums.
Nas
5/5
It's been a while since I last listened to this album. Nas's flow and storytelling is basically unmatched and the feel of album really captures his feelings and where he grew up in NYC.
This has to be one of the best hip hop albums of all time.
John Coltrane
5/5
Easy 5/5.
Absolutely legendary jazz album from an absolute jazz legend. This is truly one of the greatest albums ever made, from start to finish.
Cee Lo Green
2/5
It's a fairly mediocre 2000s soul/hip hop album. Nothing super appealing about it to me.
Tears For Fears
5/5
This album has such an atmospheric/ethereal sound while still being fairly firmly pop. It could honestly come out today and still receive overwhelmingly positive reviews and fit in with current music. I have listened to this album many times and come back to it every now and then because it's so easy to enjoy.
Also, the Broken -> Head Over Heels transition is one of the best in all of pop music.
It has their biggest songs, too, which adds to the overall quality and appeal.
Napalm Death
1/5
Honestly, this is just noise to me. Not a fan.
Van Halen
4/5
This was a really cool album and I greatly enjoyed it the whole way through. I was familiar with most of the songs but a couple of them were new to me. Overall, one of the best that I've been suggested on this list thus far.
Thelonious Monk
4/5
Solid jazz album.
Hot Chip
3/5
It's not groundbreaking and, like many other albums on this list, I don't understand why it should be included on a bucket list playlist but I'm not mad that I listened to it, overall.
The Velvet Underground
2/5
ABBA
4/5
ABBA is one of those groups that I always seem to thoroughly enjoy but never consistently listen to. Maybe I should change that.
Solid album and their talent comes through in every song.
The Go-Go's
4/5
This had some classics and some songs that probably deserved to be classics. Honestly, this surprised me because I have never considered listening to The Go-Go's. These are the types of albums that I'm hoping to find more of in the 1001 list.
The Beach Boys
5/5
Absolutely legendary.
This album is The Beach Boys' Sgt. Peppers and was incredibly influential in the rock and roll world.
I have listened to this album so many times and it will continue to be on my rotation forever.
G. Love & Special Sauce
2/5
Why was this included? It's really boring and definitely not a must listen.
Aimee Mann
3/5
It definitely has the singer/songwriter album vibe. Not bad.
Dennis Wilson
3/5
Enjoyable and surprisingly experimental album. I love when the horns randomly hit and bump up the song, a bit.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Every time I listen to a Rolling Stones album, I tell myself that I should listen to them more. I am again saying that but will this finally be the time that I follow through? Solid album and, as always, some surprises compared to how I usually envision the Stones.
The Smiths
4/5
I'm a fan of the sound of The Smiths. Good album with good messaging.
Taylor Swift
4/5
One of the better Taylor Swift albums, in my opinion, since I prefer the singer/songwriter vibes over the more pop vibes of some of her other albums. This was a nice surprise right in the height of COVID, imo.
Black Sabbath
4/5
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
One of the best rock and roll albums of all time and everyone here seems to agree. One of the easiest 5/5 that I'll give.
Every song is absolutely amazing from start to finish and it's really incredible that they were able to write something so incredible considering the turbulence that the band was experiencing with all of their personal relationships.
Dreams is one of the best songs in the past 50 years so that, alone, probably earns it 5* in my book.
Herbie Hancock
5/5
So much funk the whole way through. What a ride.
Headhunters is a classic jazz/funk album that all fans of the genre should listen to. I recommend it to fans of rock and funk as a way to ease into jazz, as well.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
What is there to say about Led Zeppelin that hasn't been said?
They have been one of my top 3 bands for what feels like forever and it's probably the same for many rock and roll fans. The amount of influence they have had on rock/hard rock/metal is basically unmatched outside of maybe The Beatles. I know when I was in middle/high school, all of my rock instrument playing friends listed Led Zeppelin as their favorite band and main influence and I'm not a boomer so Zep wasn't brand new and trendy by that time. It was firmly "Classic Rock" and still being blasted in the school parking lot.
That said, Physical Graffiti isn't my favorite album of theirs. That's not to say it isn't incredible-because it is-but I just prefer some of their other albums, personally. "Led Zepplin", "Led Zepplin IV", and "Houses of the Holy" are my personal favorites and are all easily 5/5. This one probably gets a very high 4/5, though "Houses of the Holy" (song) and "Kashmir" are obvious standout songs to me.
Gene Clark
2/5
Inoffensive album but not super exciting. Not terrible but probably not something I would listen to again.
It doesn't stand out much from other folk albums of the time.
Lightning Bolt
1/5
What I've learned is that I don't particularly care for noise rock.
I made it through 3 songs....
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
Being from Alabama, I obviously know about Lynyrd Skynyrd since one song in particular is definitely past the point of overplayed there.
That said, I've never given their discography a shot beyond the hits. They definitely came out with a bang with this album and released some all time hits right from the get-go. Ending your debut album with "Freebird", of all song, is legendary. Throw in "Tuesday's Gone", "Gimme Three Steps", and "Simple Man" and you have a really solid album.
This turned out to be an excellent album with some songs that I hadn't heard before and I think including it in this list was a good decision. They basically ARE southern rock.
The Doors
4/5
I feel like The Doors embody the psychedelic rock movement of the late 60s. They had such an iconic, recognizable sound. Solid album with some killer songs on it.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
I hadn't ever heard of Sly & The Family Stone before this but was pleasantly surprised. Solid album.
The Band
4/5
Beatles
4/5
I'm definitely a Beatles fan and, while I enjoy this album, I recognize that it is far from their best and not deserving of 5*. There's definitely a reason that I don't listen to it a ton and much prefer most of their other albums.
Favorite songs: All I've Got to Do, Till There Was You, Please Mister Postman, Devil In Her Heart
Blur
3/5
This is a very different album from something that I would generally listen to. It's very British and pretty fun. It isn't my favorite on this list but it was fairly enjoyable for the most part.
The Killers
4/5
The first 7 songs, or so, are incredible, with Mr. Brightside and Somebody Told Me basically turning into anthems. The rest of the album is mostly throwaway songs, though, which brings down the album as a whole.
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
Jacques Brel
2/5
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Fats Domino
4/5
I'm a fan of jazz and had some exposure to Fats Domino but had never listened to an album in full. He had so much talent.
Solid album through and through.
Kanye West
3/5
Man, this album is so hard to rate because on one hand, it used to be one of my favorite albums that got very regular playtime but on the other hand, Kanye is a racist Nazi now and I generally boycott music from Nazis. It's been years since I've listened to this album at this point and while I enjoyed hearing some of my old favorites from prime, non-Nazi Kanye, it doesn't have the same charm as it used to no knowing what Kanye turns into years later.
3/5. Easy 5 if he wasn't a Nazi, straight up 0/1 if it wasn't such a good album, objectively, so I'll split the difference.
Brian Wilson
3/5
Brian Wilson is incredibly creative and it was interesting to hear some new songs and envision what the original album would have sounded like if the younger Beach Boys had released it in the 60s. Overall, it was enjoyable but not as Earth shattering as some of the Beach Boys work, in my opinion.
The Beta Band
2/5
Kinda boring, if I'm being honest.
Brian Eno
3/5
Definitely experimental and pretty interesting. It probably isn't something that I'll listen to again but I can see what they were trying to do. My understanding is the heavy use of sampling like in this album was pretty revolutionary and influential.
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
Sold classic rock album with some serious talent.
Kate Bush
4/5
This album sounds like it could come out today and fit in with any of the most popular albums that are being released. I'm not sure if that's a testament to the staying power of this album or if that speaks to the cyclical nature of popular music. I can definitely hear how Kate Bush influenced some of the more popular female pop stars today -- most notably Chappell Roan.
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
Very generic white girl music. Not terrible but not exactly exciting.
Billy Bragg
3/5
I can see why this album and, specifically, Billy Bragg's voice would annoy some people but it didn't have that effect on me. I enjoyed it, overall, but probably won't spend too much time listening to it going forward.
PJ Harvey
3/5
I thought this was a pretty solid early 90s alternative/punk/grunge album.
Fatboy Slim
2/5
Some catchy grooves that, unfortunately, draaaaaaaagggggg oooooooonnnnnnn.
Way too repetitive.
Fela Kuti
5/5
This is an incredible album and had me moving and grooving to the beat the whole time. You can feel the jazz influence in this album because it is sort of an organized chaos at points before Fela Kuti reigns it back in.
This will definitely be added to my rotation.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
I generally enjoy LCD Soundsystem but I don't understand why this album was included in the list. I don't think they're good enough to include 2 albums so one of their other albums would have been better to include.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
Crosby, Stills, & Nash is a classic late-60s/early-70s band that has had some serious staying power and for good reason. Their music is incredible chill and, especially with their more political songs, still very relevant to today's world. In my opinion, only when they added Young and become CSNY did they truly eclipse what they were able to do as CSN.
The Police
4/5
The Police have such a distinctive sound. Overall, it was a pretty enjoyable album.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
This definitely wasn't the blues like I was expecting based on the band name. I didn't really care for it.
The Stranglers
4/5
This was a pretty cool album. It sounds almost like a precursor to New Wave.
Alice Cooper
3/5
Pretty good classic rock album. The titular track is the most well-known, of course, and is probably still played thousands of times in May/June as kids leave school for their summer break.
ZZ Top
4/5
ZZ Top always surprises me because I always think of them as this hardcore hardrock/blues rock band that's all about the **rock and roll** persona. This is true to an extent but this album shows that they have some range beyond just the single "Sharp Dressed Man" and other songs like that.
It has a really cool sound, which I think definitely matches their persona, but it's much more well-rounded than I would have expected.
That said, it's still a rock and roll album and not earth-shattering in any way.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Excellent album with some incredible songs.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Yep, that's a Dylan album. It has some classics on it but it doesn't differentiate itself much from most of the rest of his discography. His story telling is still unmatched, though, so that gets him some points.
The Pharcyde
3/5
Wow, this was unexpectedly good. It had me grooving for a good bit of it.
Metallica
4/5
Classic Metallica album with the classic Metallica sound. While I had heard several of the songs, independently, I hadn't ever listened to the album, as a whole. Overall, this was enjoyable and will get more listens in the future.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Classic Rolling Stones album. I love the bluesy elements of it. It's easy to see why Stones and rock and roll fans hold it in such high regard.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
"Who really cares to save a world in despair?"
This was unexpectedly political but very enjoyable. Most of what he's talking about in this album is still, sadly, very relevant today.
Sonic Youth
2/5
Pretty generic alternative rock/post-punk from the era. Nothing too exciting.
M.I.A.
3/5
I guess I generally like M.I.A., though none of the songs on this album compare to Paper Planes and the nostalgia that comes with that song for me.
Björk
2/5
This album didn't do much for me. I get that she's unique and is extremely creative but this just isn't my style, unfortunately.
Beatles
5/5
I mean, what's there to say about The Beatles. Other albums like Sgt. Pepper's, Revolver, Magical Mystery Tour, and Rubber Soul are cohesive stories or ideas from start to finish but this one is different. They clearly set out to make an album where each song is a new and different idea from the last, which makes it so incredibly interesting to listen to. Even as someone that has listened to it dozens of times, I still find myself on edge as it goes from one song to the next-one theme to the next.
It doesn't get as much listen time from me as those others that I mentioned earlier but that's not because it's bad. Far from it.
Nick Drake
4/5
Very chill and enjoyable.
Madonna
2/5
This is terrible early 2000s pop. Awful.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
Interesting concept for an album but this just didn't vibe with me too much, unfortunately.
The Slits
3/5
This is a pretty cool post-punk/almost reggae album.
De La Soul
4/5
I'm not typically a fan of this era of hip hop for some reason. This album is definitely an exception to that and I'm confused as to why I haven't heard of them before.
Reading through some of the other reviews, it looks like it's because they weren't available on some streaming services before so I'm glad they are now (at least on my streaming service of choice).
This will go into my rotation.
Beatles
5/5
I find it incredibly hard to impartially review my favorite Beatles album and, quite possibly, my favorite of all time. I'm a millennial but my wife and I had our first dance after our wedding to "In My Life".
It's the album that solidified my Beatles fandom and opened my eyes that they weren't just a boomer's equivalent of a boy band. It's their first album in their move away from the early "I Want to Hold Your Hand" style songs to something more experimental and revolutionary. It was also their first album that I feel that went together as a cohesive unit rather than a bunch of singles.
The US version of this album (which had a slightly different track list) ultimately inspired Brian Wilson to write Pet Sounds for The Beach Boys. The morning after hearing Rubber Soul, Wilson wrote "God Only Knows" with Tony Asher.
My favorites:
- Norwegian Wood
- Nowhere Man
- Michelle
- Girl
- I'm Looking Through You
- In My Life (favorite Beatles song)
- If I Needed Someone
Yes, I understand that's half the album but making even that list was tough because I genuinely love it from start to finish. I have listened to it dozens, if not hundreds, of times and will continue to cherish it for the rest of my life.
Paul Simon
3/5
It's fine but definitely not Paul Simon's best.
Sade
3/5
Not bad--just not my cup of tea.
The Stooges
4/5
The Temptations
3/5
The Temptations are definitely a group that I hadn't ever listened to before going through this list but I've enjoyed both of the albums I've encountered so far. "Cloud Nine" is better, imo, but this is still pretty good.
Little Richard
4/5
I had always read that The Beatles listed Little Richard as one of their early influences but I guess I never fully understood it until I listened to this album. So many legendary artists have songs or entire albums that are so similar to this sound but Little Richard was doing it in the 50s!
D'Angelo
2/5
The instrumentals were better than the lyrics.
Neil Young
4/5
Neil Young is an excellent artist and this is a great album.
Nitin Sawhney
3/5
I thought this was an interesting blend of European electronic and SE Asian sounds/themes. Overall, it was fairly enjoyable but not exactly what I would call exciting.
Dire Straits
4/5
Pretty solid. I've truly never listened to Dire Straits aside from the radio hits so I didn't know what to expect. This was a pleasant surprise.
Gene Clark
3/5
My favorites:
"Some Misunderstanding"
"The True One"
Overall, a pretty solid 60s-70s singer/songwriter album but nothing revolutionary.
Tom Waits
3/5
I have no experience with Tom Waits.
Straight out of the gate, he sounds like the guy that stands up for karaoke after he's had a few too many beers and cigarettes. "In Shades" makes me immediately question the drunkenness, of course (even with the obvious sounds of a bar in the background of the track).
The guitar is legit, as is some of the other instrumentation. His voice is incredibly grating, though.
Underworld
3/5
So repetitive.
Your thin paper wings
Your thin paper wings
Your thin paper wings
Your thin paper wings
Your thin paper wings
Your thin paper wings
Your thin paper wings
Your thin paper wings
That said, it had me grooving a few times. Not as bad as I expected after that first track.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Bob Dylan has always been a love him or hate him kind of artist for everyone. I am on the "love him" side of the spectrum and this album is no exception. It's one of his best, absolutely, and has some excellent songs on it.
Otis Redding
4/5
It was so interesting to hear Otis's version of some songs that I've heard many times. Very entertaining album.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
It's honestly very difficult to name a better debut album from any band, ever.
Good Times Bad Times
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
You Shook Me
Dazed and Confused
Your Time Is Gonna Comes
Black Mountain Side
Communication Breakdown
I Can't Quit You Baby
How Many More Times?
Absolutely mind-blowing track list from a band that was totally unknown of before the album. They basically came out of nowhere and changed rock and roll forever.
Gorillaz
3/5
Clint Eastwood is still a banger but the rest of the album just simply doesn't live up to the hype, imo.
Morrissey
3/5
Familiar voice from The Smiths but the music is fairly different. Decent.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Solid rock album with some songs that I hadn't heard before. Overall, I enjoyed it.
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
I've come to realize that I quite enjoy Earth, Wind, & Fire's sound. I've listened to a couple of their albums recently and have enjoyed all of them. I'll have to make more of an effort to dig into their discography.
Good album with some excellent songs.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
This was fine. I never felt fully invested in it, though.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
David Gray
3/5
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Led Zeppelin had a really difficult task of following up on their debut album and they accomplished that easily with this album. There really isn't a song on this album that isn't at least a 4/5 and most of them are easily 5/5.
Favorites:
Whole Lotta Love (duh)
What Is And What Should Never Be
The Lemon Song
Ramble On (classic Zep LOTR references)
Radiohead
5/5
Man, this list stacked up two of my 5/5 albums back-to-back--Led Zeppelin II into OK Computer.
This album deserves all the praise and hype that it receives and is (sadly) just as relevant today as it was when it was released back in 1997. It talks about rampant consumerism, capitalism, social alienation, and political malaise.
The only Radiohead album that surpasses this one in my book is "In Rainbows" and I think that's just because it came out when I was in high school and I remember downloading it (which was still pretty revolutionary at the time) and listening to it on repeat the day/week that it came out. Nostalgia is a hell of a thing.
Personal favorite tracks:
- Paranoid Android
- Subterranean Homesick Alien
- Karma Police
- No Surprises
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Iron Maiden
4/5
This is a really solid early 80s metal album. Much better than some of the "metal" that was starting to come out at that time.
Youssou N'Dour
4/5
This is the kind of music I'm looking for in a list like this -- music that most in the audience likely wouldn't experience otherwise.
This was rather entertaining and I was sad when it finished in just under 35 minutes.
Elvis Presley
2/5
I have truly never understood Elvis's appeal. I even lived in Memphis for a few years and still just didn't get it. I get that he had a unique delivery and voice but all of his songs sound the same to me as a result of that. He has a few hits but nothing all that exciting to me.
Cat Stevens
4/5
White Denim
4/5
Wow, this was unexpectedly good, considering I was very much into this genre at that time and hadn't heard of this band. Some bangers on this album.
2/5
This just didn't quite draw me in like many other psychedelic rock albums that I've listened to in the past. It wasn't bad--just apparently not my cup of tea.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
I've always thought Simon & Garfunkel worked well together. None of their music is super exciting but I don't think that's what they were going for. Overall, this was an enjoyable album.
Lou Reed
4/5
Van Halen
3/5
Pretty solid, though I prefer their debut "Van Halen" album.
Rocket From The Crypt
2/5
Lucinda Williams
3/5
The La's
3/5
This was an interesting album because you really can tell that this was the start of a the Britpop movement in the US. It's similar but better than much of the other music, though. "There She Goes" is obviously a timeless classic of the genre/era but I liked a few of the other songs, as well.
Ministry
3/5
With "Just One Fix", you can tell that Ministry and Rammstein are sometimes in the same genre. It has a very driving beat like many Rammstein songs and is quite good.
"Jesus Built My Hotrod" is a weird mix of metal and almost rockabilly. It's strange and I wasn't a fan. It was honestly just annoying to me. I guess this was supposed to almost be satire?
"Psalm 69" opens with the dark chorus sounds and random Christian chants, which makes it the first song that was truly heretical or critical of Christianity on the album, which was surprising considering the album title and artwork. The guitar riff in the last 1/4 of the song is reminiscent of Metallica. It's alright.
This album had its moments of brilliance but overall wasn't super cohesive, in my opinion, which held it back.
Rammstein does it better.
Astor Piazzolla
4/5
Jazz really comes alive when it's played and listened to live. Don't get me wrong; I listen to a lot of jazz albums recorded in recording studios in a clean environment and almost always enjoy it but there's something about hearing it in a live environment. The musicians have more freedom to play around with the music and work off of each other in a way that isn't always possible in a recording studio.
I could hear that in this album and it was very enjoyable.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Classic album from a classic 90s alternative band. Very enjoyable and easily repeatable.
The Smashing Pumpkins really stood out considering the time that they released this album and what other alt-rock/grunge bands were making and, honestly, their music still stands out as unique today.
Coldplay
4/5
Overall, this is a solid album in my opinion. It's pretty generic and easy to listen to but that's Coldplay's whole thing, right? They're *supposed to be* easily approachable.
I enjoyed it.
Sister Sledge
3/5
Very groovy.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Goldfrapp
3/5
The Pogues
3/5
Pixies
4/5
The Rolling Stones
3/5
This wasn't the best Stones album, imo. They just don't pull off the fake honky tonk that they were going for in a couple of the songs. Far from the worst album in this list, though.
Gimme Shelter and Let It Bleed are great, though.
4/5
Some of my friends back in high school were really into Oasis but I somehow just never got into them. Listening to this album for the first time in nearly a couple of decades and I feel like I appreciate it more. Maybe I've mellowed out more or my musical tastes have just expanded but, regardless, I enjoyed the album, overall, and will listen again.
Bad Brains
3/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
The Offspring
4/5
Wilco
3/5
Randy Newman
2/5
Various Artists
4/5