324
Albums Rated
3.49
Average Rating
30%
Complete
765 albums remaining
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2000s
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Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
35
5-Star Albums
13
1-Star Albums
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You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medúlla | 5 | 2.72 | +2.28 |
| Ghosteen | 5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
| Vespertine | 5 | 3.16 | +1.84 |
| Feast of Wire | 5 | 3.29 | +1.71 |
| Bitches Brew | 5 | 3.3 | +1.7 |
| Fear Of A Black Planet | 5 | 3.34 | +1.66 |
| Music From Big Pink | 5 | 3.36 | +1.64 |
| Heaven Or Las Vegas | 5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
| Either Or | 5 | 3.38 | +1.62 |
| Crime Of The Century | 5 | 3.41 | +1.59 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Halen | 1 | 3.63 | -2.63 |
| Blood Sugar Sex Magik | 1 | 3.51 | -2.51 |
| Shake Your Money Maker | 1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
| Slippery When Wet | 1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
| Live At The Star Club, Hamburg | 1 | 3.28 | -2.28 |
| Toys In The Attic | 1 | 3.26 | -2.26 |
| Pump | 1 | 3.11 | -2.11 |
| Copper Blue | 1 | 2.96 | -1.96 |
| Californication | 2 | 3.71 | -1.71 |
| KE*A*H** (Psalm 69) | 1 | 2.69 | -1.69 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 3 | 5 |
| Miles Davis | 3 | 4.67 |
| Radiohead | 3 | 4.67 |
| Beck | 2 | 5 |
| Björk | 2 | 5 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Aerosmith | 2 | 1 |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (35)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Gil Scott-Heron
4/5
I really like the contrast between the chill vibes of the music and some of the heavier lyrics. And always good to know that the problems we have today have been persistent for decades. Not depressing at all
Felt the mixing could have been better. Vocals seemed to really overpower the music, though that could easily be a problem of the YouTube version I listened to.
2 likes
Supertramp
5/5
I am admittedly ignorant to the intricacies of music production. But man, why don't more albums sound this good? The mixing is fantastic.
1 likes
The Rolling Stones
4/5
The Stones are a quintessential Greatest Hits band for me. You could compile a lengthy and killer album with their greatest hits. But any individual album is a bit lacking. This is a 3.5. The one-two punch of Wild Horses and Can't Hear Me Knocking rules enough to bump it to 4 though.
1 likes
4/5
Really starts off with a trio of bangers. The influence this album has is readily apparent. Sometimes it can be hard to view a work of art separate from the art it has influenced. It is hard to view a work alone and not think of the many pieces it has gone on to influence. Sometimes a work of art might not stand the test of time on its own but rather as a piece of all it helped create. I think this album is not that. I think it does stand on its own. I might like some of the music is inspired more, but I liked this quite a bit.
1 likes
System Of A Down
4/5
No idea why they didn't choose Toxicity for this list.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (13)
All Ratings
4/5
Really starts off with a trio of bangers. The influence this album has is readily apparent. Sometimes it can be hard to view a work of art separate from the art it has influenced. It is hard to view a work alone and not think of the many pieces it has gone on to influence. Sometimes a work of art might not stand the test of time on its own but rather as a piece of all it helped create. I think this album is not that. I think it does stand on its own. I might like some of the music is inspired more, but I liked this quite a bit.
Miles Davis
5/5
It's Miles Davis. I mean... cmon.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Jethro Tull
4/5
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Nothing wrong with it, just not very interesting.
Kacey Musgraves
4/5
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
1/5
The instrumental song "R.L Got Soul" is quite good
Lorde
3/5
The short instrumental section in "Hard Feelings" is the best part of the album.
Overall, not a big fan of Lorde's singing voice.
The Gun Club
4/5
Nice blend of punk and bluesy country. A bit long for what it is, but I dig it.
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
This rules. Probably my favorite album up to this point.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Could I listen to most of this album while playing Skyrim and it not break the immersion? Yes.
4 star album
Tim Buckley
3/5
Dire Straits
4/5
I can't think of any other band that incorporates the guitar the way Dire Straits do. It isn't just a guitar solo or two per song. Used almost like punctuation during vocal sections.
And the guitar sound is so clean. Really stands out during an era that was progressing to heavier distortion.
The Band
5/5
The Weight is already one of the top songs of all time. The rest of the track list could be nothing but white noise and this would be a 5 star album.
Luckily, the rest of the songs are good too
Morrissey
2/5
Singers in bands tend to get all of the attention and credit. So when singers go off to do solo work, it offers the chance to recognize the unnoticed impact of the other band members.
This is readily apparent for Morrissey. His solo work here isn't awful by any means but clearly Johnny Marrs's songwriting and instrumentation was a key aspect to The Smiths's success.
The song complaining about Indian immigrants knocks this down a star though. There is something nefarious about hearing Morrisseys' sad wistful voice - so commonly heared mourning some lost love - complaining about non white people in the subway station. Yuck.
X-Ray Spex
4/5
Dat sax tho
John Lennon
4/5
Soft Cell
3/5
A trio of good songs (Tainted Love, Where Did Our Love Go?, and Say Hello, Have Goodbye) surrounded by meh.
The Lemonheads
4/5
George Harrison
5/5
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Red Hot Chili Peppers
1/5
I do not like Red Hot Chili Peppers. They are the music equivalent to licking an ashtray. That said, I liked the song Breaking the Girl decently enough. And Under the Bridge is good
Erykah Badu
4/5
Smooth as silk
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Classic for sure. Not necessarily something I'd think to put on, but I won't complain when I hear it.
Miles Davis
5/5
Probably my favorite Miles Davis. Not as accessible as Kind of Blue
Wilco
4/5
SZA
3/5
Forgettable.
Queen
3/5
I went in not expecting to really like this because I'm honestly not a big queen fan. But I ended up liking it a decent amount. There is a noticeable drop when you get to a song that doesn't feature Freddie on vocals. But those songs do serve as a good pallete cleanser from the bombast of the Freddie songs.
A 3.5 for sure but this site doesn't allow half stars for some god awful reason.
Adam & The Ants
3/5
It might be due to very low expectations given the terrible album cover, but I didn't find this too bad. Some enjoyment to be had.
I'm glad british people aren't real though.
Doves
4/5
Talking Heads
4/5
Really wishing I had that half star increments...
4.5 album. Very good. Talking Heads rule
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Stephen Stills
3/5
Good instrumentation. Worth another listen but didn't really draw me in
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
Electronics is tricky because it does not lend itself to just listening. It works better in context to something else. Be that dancing or as the soundtrack to a movie (for this album, The Matrix comes to mind). Without that context it risks becoming stale and repetitive.
That said, I found this album to be pretty well paced. As soon as a song was nearing that repetitive state where my ears tune out, it added something new to the track to grab my attention.
It would be a killer score for The Matrix.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Badly Drawn Boy
4/5
You open an album with a French horn interlude and you've sold me
U2
3/5
3.5. Some good songs here.
4/5
Elliott Smith
4/5
The Byrds
3/5
Ah, yes. A classic album from "The Misspelled Animal Names"
I don't really want to be so reductive in only drawing comparisons to another band with a misspelled animal name. I think that is unfair to what this album offers that is unique.
There are some neat production tricks. I think this is an album that would grow on me with subsequent listens.
k.d. lang
3/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
The Beta Band
2/5
Quite dull.
Pavement
4/5
Elliott Smith
5/5
Jerry Lee Lewis
1/5
A live album is certainly a choice. Not a good one, mind you. But a choice for sure.
I'm not against live albums in general. There are some great ones (looking at you Stop Making Sense) but I'd never put that over a full Talking Heads album.
And this isn't even a good live album. It is short though.
Cream
4/5
Kraftwerk
4/5
A lot of fun. Very nice melodies. Quite revolutionary for 1978
Supergrass
4/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
The Byrds
3/5
Blur
4/5
Sonic Youth
2/5
PJ Harvey
4/5
3.5
Ozomatli
4/5
Green Day
5/5
4.5
I am biased because this was a big deal to 10 year old me. But I think it holds up. Probably the definitive anti-Bush era album.
Jesus of Suburbia is still a top tier medly
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
Let's give this album one song to be anti-cop, but you know who really needs to be taken down a peg? Those damn hippies. So the rest of the album will be making fun of hippies. This is good satire.
Norah Jones
2/5
Didn't feel much listening to this. It isn't bad or offensive in anyway. Just doesn't do anything for me.
Eagles
3/5
The Eagles is one of those bands thst have a great song you discover on Guitar Hero and think "man, I should listen to more of these guys", only to discover that Guitar Hero chose their one good song and everything else pales in comparison.
Hotel California is a great song. Unfortunately, nothing else on the album is as interesting sonically, lyrically, or thematically.
Great album cover though.
Madness
4/5
Bummed this wasn't on spotify for some reason. The youtube audio quality wasn't as good.
But I was surprised by this album. Wish I could listen to it more easily.
Blue Cheer
3/5
Beatles
5/5
Chock full of great songs. The only misstep is Revolution 9. But as this is a double album, one song is not enough to drag it down.
The War On Drugs
4/5
3.5
The Bees
3/5
The Charlatans
2/5
It is not that it's bad per se, but in the context on 1001 albums I must listen to before I die? I'm questioning that level of praise. Quite generic.
The Black Crowes
1/5
No
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Fatboy Slim
3/5
A decent portion of songs felt like they went on just a bit too long. Started to feel monotonous. But that is the nature of this kind of music and it is less suited for casual listening.
Regardless, a lot of it was quite catchy
3.5
Paul Simon
3/5
DJ Shadow
4/5
Anything with a Twin Peaks sample gets at minimum 4 stars.
Fever Ray
4/5
Aerosmith
1/5
The only good thing to come from Aerosmith is Liv Tyler
U2
4/5
Louis Prima
3/5
3.5
I got to listen to this in NYC. But this album doesn't feature the song from Elf. So what's the point of anything anymore?
TV On The Radio
4/5
Lots of different styles. Quite engaging
Ministry
1/5
This is the kind of metal that people who hate metal think all metal sounds like. Just incoherent noise. The only way this album works is if it is meant to be satire of this era of terrible metal.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Love the dark fantasy gothic vibes. Not the biggest fan of Ozzy's vocals but they aren't enough to detract from the music.
The Temptations
3/5
3.5
Good sound but it all kinda blurred together.
Gil Scott-Heron
4/5
I really like the contrast between the chill vibes of the music and some of the heavier lyrics. And always good to know that the problems we have today have been persistent for decades. Not depressing at all
Felt the mixing could have been better. Vocals seemed to really overpower the music, though that could easily be a problem of the YouTube version I listened to.
Lauryn Hill
4/5
I've had several listens to this album before; because of its acclaim. This is the first listen that really clicked with me. Sometimes an albums prestige sets unfair expectations, and I think this is a prime example.
Sometimes too, and album requires more than one listen to really sink in. Which can be an issue when ranking the albums on this list.
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
Barry Adamson
3/5
Torn thoughts on this one.
On the one hand, if they wanted an album with this vibe on the list, why not go with Angelo Badalamenti's score for Fire Walk With Me. Arguably the best film noir soundtrack on existence.
On the other hand, as I listened, it did begin to grow on me. I started to see scenes from a movie that does not exist play out in my mind. It does a great job of playing with tropes and expectations to create visuals from nothing but music. And that's pretty neat.
So I can see why it would be on the list from an experimental point of view. Doubt I will go back to listen again but I did have fun with it.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Those drums tho
Beck
5/5
I liked this a lot. Decent variety. Sounds great. Will go back to listen again
The Pretty Things
3/5
Paul Weller
2/5
Pretty bland
Snoop Dogg
4/5
Neil Young
3/5
I like Neil Young's voice. This may not be his best offering but it is decent.
3.5
The Everly Brothers
3/5
Undoubtedly influential to the sound of thr early to mid 60s (looking at you early Beach Boys and Beatles albums).
However, it just doesn't really offer anyrhing all that exciting or interesting in retrospect. It is very short though so it never out stays it's welcome.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Willie Nelson
4/5
Ultimate chill. Makes the days worries slip away and reminds you that, in the end, everything will be all right
T. Rex
4/5
I've gotten to the point I dread seeing yet another 60s-70s psych rock album. A genre I enjoy but is over represented on this list.
So a good test of an album of this genre is that even though I groaned seeing this album pop up (I've not listened to it before) I really enjoyed it.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Michael Jackson
4/5
I've always had a blind spot for MJ. This is likely due to the fact that I grew up hearing all of the many many controversies and scandals and South Park jokes. Honestly, up until the day he died, I kinda thought MJ was always a joke. No one ever really liked him or his music. And I just never really went and listened to test that thought.
So I enjoyed this album quite a bit. Always happy to have a push to listen to things that I for some reason never bothered to before.
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Liked the instrumentation. The vocals were okay
Elvis Presley
3/5
Im not a big Elvis fan. This album didn't change that. But it wasn't as bad as I expected
Frank Sinatra
3/5
3.5
Otis Redding
4/5
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Surprise Kate Bush!
System Of A Down
4/5
No idea why they didn't choose Toxicity for this list.
Elton John
4/5
Missy Elliott
3/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
Love the atmosphere. The way songs build layer upon layer. Would take more listens to fully digest the lyrics but I'm sure they're depressing. But I plan to listen again.
Alright, I wrote the above text right after my first listen then shortly after listened again. Can confirm: very depressing. But also not hopelessly so. A very beautiful album both sonically and lyrically. One of the best I've discovered from this list so far.
David Crosby
3/5
Supertramp
5/5
I am admittedly ignorant to the intricacies of music production. But man, why don't more albums sound this good? The mixing is fantastic.
Van Halen
1/5
Van Halen is great example of a group that is technically proficient, but so so boring.
It is montage music. On its own it offers nothing. Put it as the backing track to a cool work out montage? Then it'll be pretty neat.
Scissor Sisters
4/5
Santana
4/5
Big Star
3/5
3.5
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Chill vibes; good times
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
Bright as a summers day with lyrics that bring take all the cheer away. Good stuff
Beatles
5/5
There isn't a thing I, or anyone on this site, could say that hasn't been said hundreds of times before. It's like trying to write about Citizen Kane. It may not have been their final release, but it was their final recorded and they went out with the biggest bang possible. The 2nd side medley is one of the best things recorded in popular music history.
Kelela
3/5
Liked the sound for the most part. Nothing too stand out. I could see it growing on my after more listens but for now I'd go 3.5
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Kate Bush
5/5
Very theatrical and vibrant but also moody. Very good
Iggy Pop
4/5
Metallica
4/5
Sugar
1/5
Look, 1001 albums is a lot of albums. And I am sympathetic to the fact that after a while it may get tiring or boring coming up with that many albums that really deserve to be listened to. So maybe you decide to break up the tedium and add in a few troll albums. That is the only explanation I can accept for why this album is on this list. There are so many grunge adjacent 90s rock albums that could take its place. Hell, put Nevermind on here twice for all I care.
Beyond being exceptionally generic, it doesn't even sound good. The mix is very muddy. Like I am listening to it on speakers lying submerged in a pool filled with the tears of the many musicians who deserved a place on this list over this album.
The Cure
4/5
Undeniable in its impact on what would become the sound of most alt indie rock for the next few decades. More interested in creating a mood with its music than catchy melodies, it is easy to see how the "emo" artists of decades to come wouldn't have been without albums like this.
It is hard to judge the album on its own apart from this influence. In ways it holds its own, and in others it feels lacking. Probably a 3.5
Sonic Youth
3/5
I respect this more than I like it. Maybe with further listens I could eventually like it.
Elis Regina
4/5
R.E.M.
4/5
The Byrds
4/5
Liked more than I would have expected
The Prodigy
4/5
Context is important in music. Some things do not lend to casual listening as well as others. And electronica is a prime example. Often too repetitive for just listening, it benefits heavily from hearing it in the right context. Namely, when dancing.
This album surprised me though by offering a bit more. At times quite cinematic.
1/5
One of the worst hours of my life. However, I understand why it is on the list. To fully appreciate the beauty of life, you must glimpse the deepest depths of despair.
The Smiths
5/5
Green Day
4/5
4.5. Trying to not have too many 5 stars but this could easily be one.
The Monkees
3/5
The Clash
5/5
I wish British people were still this cool
Jungle Brothers
4/5
Smooth listening for a nice sunny day
Don McLean
2/5
Kinda boring. Never been a big fan of American Pie and it was by far the highlight of the album.
The Vines
3/5
The pinnacle of okay
The Zombies
4/5
Dennis Wilson
4/5
Van Morrison
4/5
Arcade Fire
4/5
The Rolling Stones
4/5
The Stones are a quintessential Greatest Hits band for me. You could compile a lengthy and killer album with their greatest hits. But any individual album is a bit lacking. This is a 3.5. The one-two punch of Wild Horses and Can't Hear Me Knocking rules enough to bump it to 4 though.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Deerhunter
4/5
I like the balance between the up beat higher energy tracks and the slower contemplative ones.
Some of these songs are prime staring -out-a-rain-soaked-bus-window or listlessly-swinging-in-a-park-on-a-foggy-summer-night tracks.
Beck
5/5
Ravi Shankar
4/5
More albums should have the artist explaining the mechanics of their songs. In some ways, I enjoyed those explanations more than the music itself.
Isaac Hayes
5/5
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
John Martyn
2/5
This album just did nothing for me. It isn't bad per se, but very forgettable.
Brian Wilson
4/5
Janis Joplin
4/5
Paul McCartney
4/5
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
2/5
I think I'd be more accepting if this was intended as a Led Zeppelin parody.
Metallica
4/5
3/5
As the soundtrack to an experimental disaster or war film, this would be 4 stars.
Having two drum sets played in sync (a move I highly respect) creates this wall of sound that the saxophones, while always ahead of it, are constantly on the run from it. It creates a highly chaotic sound that is very much its own thing.
And then having the audacity to make the
The Band
4/5
Ian Dury
2/5
Great instrumentation.
Look, I am by no means a prude. I am not 17 and scared of Sabrina Carpenter. But this genre of 70s era dudes talking about how their dicks are gifts to the world is neither exotic, sexy, or sensual. It is just annoying and gross.
MGMT
4/5
Britney Spears
3/5
Not really my thing. But I 100% understand it's placement on the list. Monumental in modern pop history.
Big Black
3/5
This happens with a lot of heavy punk and metal bands. I love the instrumentation but the vocals leave a lot to be desired. Not that I want the vocals to be super clean or anything. Just more on par with the quality of the instrumentals.
Beatles
5/5
Within the first 4 songs, there is more variety and experimentation that many artists have across multiple albums.
Insane to think what this would have been like to experience upon release.
Radiohead
5/5
I can understand some of the negative reviews if this was the first time they had listened to this album. I believe this is my third time listening and the first time it really clicked. Partly that is due to listening with more rapt attention instead of casually listening at work. But I believe having some familiarity with the album allowed me to better digest it as a whole.
That is an inherent flaw in listening to a new album everyday. Some albums require time and multiple listens for them to fully make sense.
Ash
3/5
I want to like this more than I do. It has so many elements that should add up to an album I really enjoy. But something in the production really saps all the energy that should be present. It comes off sounding really flat.
That this made it on the list and Weezer's Blue Album didn't is maybe a war crime?
SAULT
4/5
Fleet Foxes
4/5
Dr. John
3/5
Maybe I shouldn't read reviews on her before listening. Because so many reviews on here reference to this album being spooky. This really got my hopes up. A New Orleans style spooky album? Sign me up.
I have no idea where any of those reviews are coming from. Nothing spooky about this. It is decent though.
Moby Grape
3/5
Cocteau Twins
5/5
The Shamen
3/5
When I saw this was an hour and six minute electronica album, a bit of dread came over me. It was not alleviated by reading the numerous 1 and 2 star reviews.
So maybe going in with so low of expectations helped, but I did not dislike this as much as I feared I would. I didn't super love it or anything, but it was enjoyable enough of a listen. No where near the worst this lost has offered so far.
Basement Jaxx
2/5
Didn't really dislike it but it all blended together after a while.
Queen
4/5
The transition from the "I Love my Car" song to the "You're my Best Friend" song is hilarious
Joy Division
4/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
The runtime can be a bit intimidating. But there is enough variety that it ends up working quite well. You could split this into one very good art pop album and one very good grunge album. But I think, when added together, the contrast between them makes for an excellent mega album.
Everything But The Girl
4/5
Oasis
3/5
Probably a victim of over hype. Oasis is so popular that this album feels like a let down. In a vacuum, it would probably be 4 stars. But I was expecting more from it. Is it unfair to rate it lower for that reason? Maybe.
Peter Tosh
3/5
I like reggae well enough. I don't seek it out on my own, but I don't dislike listening to it. Steel drums are cool. I like the almost lethargic groove.
But a full album of reggae is too much reggae for me. It loses its appeal by the halfway mark.
Little Richard
3/5
A 5/5 for its influence, no doubt. But rather one note on its own.
Boards of Canada
2/5
There are some good vibes here. But not enough to sustain its long runtime.
In the right mindset and atmosphere, I could see myself enjoying this more. If I was listening to this while going on a drive or a walk on a rainy fall day, it might be a 4 star album.
John Coltrane
5/5
I played tenor sax in high school jazz band. Coltrane is THE guy.
ABBA
4/5
Aerosmith
1/5
I really really hate Aerosmith. At what age does someone writing a song called "Young Lust" go from pretty creepy to borderline pedophilic to just straight pedophilia? Cause Steven Tyler was 41 when this was recorded. Gotta figure out where on that spectrum this places him
Soundgarden
4/5
Waylon Jennings
4/5
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
In years past, big band was my go to for jazz. In recent years, I have become more fond of the smaller ensembles a la Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, etc. But this was nice to go back to. It might not be my favorite form of jazz, but it is still a lot of fun.
Björk
5/5
Sounds like church music you'd hear on a planet from the Dune universe. It rules. Bjork rules
I respect her unwillingness to stay in one lane for too long. Post (my favorite album of hers) is an all time banger and was critically and commercially very successful. She could have stuck to that sound and released numerous albums that would have sold well and - let's be real - been all timer albums. But she clearly thinks very deeply about music itself, not as simply a vessel to deliver a message or a catchy melody. She creates sounds that are unique and captivating. Love it or hate it, there is no denying that the sound of this album is uniquely this album. If you were to hear it in a vacuum years down the line, you will not mistake it for anything else. And she doesn't sacrifice catchy melodies either. I don't really buy into the idea that this album is some avant-garde inaccessible art piece (despite the myriad of 1 star reviews that seem to think so). It isn't random noise; there is melody. It isn't in some discordant key that makes the ear cringe. I do not know why people are so unaccepting of any time art goes out of the norm (be it film, music, painting), but I am glad artists like Bjork do not let it stop them.
The Temptations
3/5
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I Am Waiting saves this album from a 2 star. And part of my love of that song is it's use in the movie Rushmore. I listened to the UK release which didn't have Paint it Black. That would have bumped it to a 3.5, but still a 3 on this site.
Saint Etienne
3/5
Cat Stevens
4/5
I really like Cat Stevens's voice. Wild World and Father & Son alone makes this at minimum a 4 star album. I'd give it 4.5 if I could.
Underworld
2/5
A bit of a nightmare scenario for techno/electronic. Repetitive and long. The sounds and beats are good, they just go on far too long with little change.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Joan Armatrading
4/5
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Tito Puente
3/5
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
Far too many 60s psychedelic rock albums on this list
Queen
4/5
Lenny Kravitz
4/5
Dolly Parton
4/5
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Feels a bit lacking, but then you realize it came out the same year as Ghostbusters. Worth listening to just to see how far the genre has come and in such a relatively short amount of time.
Thelonious Monk
4/5
Jean-Michel Jarre
2/5
At times, a worse Blade Runner score. At others, a worse Mega Man score. That my comparisons all came out a decade after, speaks to its innovation. But innovation only counts for so much.
Kanye West
3/5
A hard one to review. Partly because he sucks so much in real-life but also because any negative reviews will probably be looked at as reviews of Kanye as a person (again, he sucks).
But I can say that I have listened to this album several times before he went fully off the deep end and I have never understood the hype. And after this listen, I still don't.
It isn't bad and there are things I enjoyed. But it is too long and feels lacking because of how hyped it is.
Funkadelic
5/5
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
I am dubious about the validity of listening to and rating a standard 40 minute album after one day. A 3 hour box set stands no chance of being fairly appreciated in that amount of time.
I also find the idea of putting a compliation album like this on the list in the first place. Feels like a cop out to me. Would be like putting the 2009 Beatles box set on as a single entry.
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
Not at all what I was expecting from the band name, or the album title, or the album cover. In some ways, that made this album more palatable. But at best it is passable GTA loading screen music.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
In some ways, having a ridiculous number of 60s psychedelic rock on this list does offer a good contrast to how different this album was from similar artists of the time.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
3.5. Not a big Jimi Hendrix fan.
Stephen Stills
3/5
It is fine. It sounds good but it is nothing special. Doesn't do much for me.
Judas Priest
3/5
Surprised by how lacking the instrumental is. On first glance it has everything you would expect from an early metal album. Heavy trudging guitar riffs. Occasional frantic solos. But everything feels so slow. Like the sound is caught in a layer of molasses or something. The end result is an album that sounds no heavier than Helter Skelter, and would be easily toppled by Metallica a few years later.
Heaven 17
3/5
While I do agree that we do not need this fascist groove thing (now more than ever), that song might not be the most convincing approach.
However, the rest of the album was quite good. Some great grooves.
Manu Chao
4/5
This was a fun listen. Probably wouldn't go back to it often, but very easy and enjoyable listening.
Public Enemy
5/5
Growing up seeing Flavor of Love on VH1, I would never have expected Flava Flav to have songs like this.
I'd give it a 4.5, so I struggled between a 4 and 5. But hearing Burn Hollywood Burn right before seeing Spike Lee's Highest 2 Lowest cemented it as a 5.
Gorillaz
4/5
Should absolutely be Demon Days or Plastic Beach. I get the idea of paying respect to albums that started it all (and this album is still very good), and I would be more accepting of this album on the list if just one of the other albums I mention were also on here. But this is not the best representation of Gorillaz, but nor is it the most culturally significant. Everyone and their dog knows Feel Good Inc, after all.
Gorillaz deserves a 5 star album on this list, but I do not think their debut is 5 start unfortunately. Still very good though.
Black Flag
2/5
Just not my thing
The Clash
4/5
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
That one od the top reviews on this site is a 1 star reviews that claims this album is directly responsible for later mass murders and is an affront to god and nature is really funny to me. So I must give it 4 stars.
Sonic Youth
4/5
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Not too bad but nothing remarkable either. Kinda David Bowie lite.
Fiona Apple
5/5
I have a hard time putting to words what I love about Fiona Apples' music. There is something ineffable about it. But I am happy to just sit back and enjoy it.
Calexico
5/5
Liked this a lot. Lots of variety. One of my favorite discoveries from this list.
Prince
4/5
Pulp
4/5
Liked this a lot. Could easily be a 5 star with further listens
Haircut 100
3/5
The Fall
2/5
Really liked the drums
The instrumentals were good too
And the vocals were... there.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Bob Dylan
4/5
Tangerine Dream
4/5
I have seen Thief so I know their stuff works great as a soundtrack. But I really enjoyed the atmosphere even without a film to accompany it.
The Who
3/5
Compared to later rock operas, it is lacking in both narrative and musical complexity.
And because it is trying to tell a cohesive story, it is musically lacking compared to other albums from The Who.
Major respect for being one of the first rock operas and there are still good moments.
R.E.M.
4/5
The Cardigans
4/5
Tom Waits
4/5
The United States Of America
2/5
My least favorite area in Disneyland is the Alice in Wonderland teacups. Not because of how nausea inducing they are, but because of my deep seated hatred of the calliope. So when this album started with a cacophony of discordant calliope, I felt I had landed myself in the deepest layer of Hell. Which is quite fitting when you consider the current state of the bands namesake.
I was happy that they used it sparingly after. But a side effect of this list having so many god damn lates 60s psychedelic rock albums is that I can't appreciate them anymore. So the rest of the album was fine. It is probably better if you haven't been burned out by this authors weird obsession with the genre.
Lou Reed
4/5
Korn
2/5
The most interesting thing about this album is the reviews on this website. Mostly because they have the same tone I would imagine parents had when this album came out. Idk why we need to jump to, "this album is evil and will corrupt the mind" when it is just try hard edgy metal.
Some of the sounds I like. A general creepy atmosphere that is pretty unique. But it all sounds samey by the end and the aforementioned try hard edgy lyrics are cringe. But it is not corrupting or the end of the world.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Youssou N'Dour
4/5
I am fascinated by the hatred people have for U2. Does it all stem from them forcing their album onto Iphones? They just are not interesting enough for me to understand the hate they get.
This album does feel like a major fluke for this list though. At least the other U2 albums had some level of influence on the future of music. This album doesn't even seem that interesting in the history of the band, let alone to the music scene as a whole.
Which isn't to say I dislike it. Again, it is too uninteresting for me to even dislike it. It was fine. I enjoyed some moments. But there is nothing that I will remember.
Radiohead
5/5
Immediately listened again after it ended.
If the wikipedia section for theme analysis is longer than most other albums's entire page, then you know it is a good album.
Michael Jackson
3/5
Just never been a big MJ fan. This album didn't really change that. Some good songs though.
The Teardrop Explodes
2/5
Next to this list's propensity for late 60s psychedelic rock is its love for any and all New Wave Brit Pop Rock. Which is lame because, depending on what order one might get some of these albums generated, they might be completely over one of these micro genres by the time they receive an actual good album in said genre.
This is a quintessential example of one of those albums that pollute the waters. There is nothing about this that I haven't heard done much better in many other albums. By this time next week I imagine I will have forgotten all about it.
4/5
10 years ago this would have been an easy 5. In recent years I have soured a bit on Muse. It isn't so much that I dislike them. I still enjoyed this album. It just felt more lacking than it once did.
Violent Femmes
4/5
Lucinda Williams
3/5
Started pretty strong and kind of fizzled out by the end.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Muddy Waters
3/5
Classic 12 bar blues. Which after 40 straight minutes does get a bit repetitive. Any one of these songs in isolation is great. But one after the other lessens the experience.
Nirvana
5/5
Some albums are ubiquitous by their cover alone. Abbey Road andDark Side of the Moon come to mind. Even if you haven't listened to one of these albums, you know the cover. Nevermind is another one of these albums. And like the other two, it fully lives up to its status as an album thst deserves to be known.
Brian Eno
4/5
Brian Eno working on a trilogy of David Bowie albums and then collaborating with David Byrne only 2 years later? Man was collecting Davids like they're infinity stones
Lana Del Rey
3/5
I do like the vibes of Lana Del Rey albums. I don't seek her out very often, but if I ever want to feel like I am forlornly looking out a car window remembering the better times in life, then this (or any album from her) is a good choice.
Fela Kuti
4/5
This hits like a damn freight train.
Miles Davis
4/5
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3/5
Keith Jarrett
4/5
Fugees
4/5
The Flying Burrito Brothers
2/5
Bon Jovi
1/5
If you like Bon Jovi, this might be an all timer. His three biggest songs in one album. Pretty insane.
I do not like Bon Jovi. So I did not like this at all.
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
808 State
3/5
This is the music that plays in the club John Wick is fighting through.
Pearl Jam
3/5
I like the instrumentation, but I am not a fan of Eddie Vedder's vocals at all.
King Crimson
5/5
Unlike the majority of this style of rock album that is the penchant for this list, this album benefits from being put next to its peers. Like putting Usain Bolt next to some high school track stars. Are they all athletes? Sure. But one of them is obviously bounds ahead.
Contrasting this to the similar albums of the time really highlights how insanely good this album is.and some of the best drum sounds you'll hear
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Beach House
4/5
Hypnotic and dreamlike. You listen to this with nice headphones, in a dark room, with your eyes closed, and you will be chill in ways you didn't know possible. Plus, an entire song based on a Twin Peaks reference? Sign me up.
Do not understand the reviews saying this lacks energy or substance. Not everything needs to be a four part rock band.
Parliament
4/5
Nas
5/5
2/5
The Streets
4/5
Imagine if British people were real.
Metallica
2/5
At first I was surprised how negative reviews were on here. The opening was very strong. It was also an instrumental. Once Master of Puppets started, I began to understand.
I respect the idea but the execution is poor. For one, this would work much better as a studio album. The mixing of the symphony with the band would be better. And we could eliminate all of the awful crowd interaction. It is one thing to experience a crowd singing parts of a song when you are in the crowd, but on an album it is insufferable.
I think it would also work better with new material and not covering old songs.
David Bowie
4/5
Red Snapper
3/5
Did a triple take at a certain song's lyrics.
The xx
3/5
Air
4/5
Tom Waits
4/5
Living Colour
4/5
10cc
2/5
Rather boring
Radiohead
4/5
Jane Weaver
3/5
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Nick Drake
5/5
Sparse but oh so warm. One of the more personal albums I've heard. And not personal in the "this guy is baring his soul to me" way but more in a, "it sounds like he is playing in the room with me" kind of way. Very inviting.
The Young Gods
3/5
This is the soundtrack for the Amelie sequel: "Amelie Goes 2 Hell".
Arrested Development
4/5
Khaled
4/5
CHIC
4/5
Talking Heads
4/5
Could probably become a 5 star with more listens.
Laibach
2/5
Ich liebe das nicht
Depeche Mode
4/5
Super Furry Animals
3/5
The Crusaders
3/5
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Carole King
4/5
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
I was feeling a solid 2 stars - it isn't really my thing but I can expect what it did for the time, even if some of the lyrics are edgy cringe - then I got to the last song. And it was so grating that I have no choice but to one star it.
Stereo MC's
3/5
Harry Nilsson
4/5
Tom Tom Club
4/5
Bad Brains
2/5
Instrumental was great. Could have used just about any other vocals
PJ Harvey
3/5
A few hits and a few misses. Definitely a mixed bag. But overall closer to positive than negative.
Common
4/5
Nick Drake
4/5
Björk
5/5
Perfection. As the name implies, this album is best listened to at night (or at least in the dark). Get a nice pair of headphones, no distractions, and let the sound envelop you.
Neil Young
4/5
A few lackluster songs but overall very good.
Girls Against Boys
1/5
Really puts the noise in noise rock. I could barely tell when vocals started on any given song. And the instrumentals were not interesting enough to justify that. Eventually it became impossible to distinguish any particular sound from another; it devolved into a thick sludge of sound. I did not find anything positive about this.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
Without a doubt better than their previous album. Far less grating and there are a few decent songs. Still not good though. Great album cover
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Fatboy Slim
3/5
The Adverts
2/5
Just kind of uninteresting
Grizzly Bear
4/5
I knew maybe two songs from Grizzly Bear. One being Two Weeks from this album. And I liked both songs but for some reason I never decided to check out more of their stuff. And I should have, because this was very enjoyable. Will definitely listen again.
Side note: why are so many reviews on here acting like this is some kind of stomp clamp, Mumford and Sons-esque album? Multiple reviews mention banjo and mandolin; instruments that are never once used in this album. Do people even listen to the albums before they write their reviews?
Steely Dan
4/5
For some reason I thought the song "Slowride" was by Steely Dan. I really do not like the song "Slowride". So I was not looking forward to this album. Then I started listening and thought, "this sounds nothing like Slowride! How could this be the same band?!". Steely Dan did not make "Slowride". I have been living in ignorance all these years. This album was very good.
Gang Of Four
2/5
De La Soul
5/5
One of my favorite hip hop albums. Very fun laid back energy. Love all of the sampling.
Tricky
2/5
Deep Purple
2/5
Genesis
4/5
Talvin Singh
2/5
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
George Michael
3/5
The Flaming Lips
5/5
5 stars for "Do You Realize??". The rest is also very good too
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
I read the artist as Bruce Springsteen. So I was really confused at first.
The Specials
3/5
Some good moments but overall not my favorite
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
3/5
Much simpler than the folk that would become common place in the following decade (a la Bob Dylan). There are no 10 minute storytelling epics. No social or political commentey. Just simple songs about simple topics. The kind of thing you would hear by a campfire. It is cozy.
The Stooges
3/5
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
Serge Gainsbourg
3/5
I enjoyed this pretty well. I enjoyed the music. I could tell there was a story line -I love an album with a story- but I don't speak French. So when I read the album story summary on Wikipedia, I had a bit of a, "what the fuck" moment.
But then I thought about how art can depict bad things and it doesn't mean said art is in support of the bad thing. In this case, Lolita is a perfect example in the case of literature. And maybe the language barrier prevents me from fully grasping if this is more on the Lolita side of things.
But then I saw that this guy recorded a song called "Lemon Incest" that he recorded with his daughter. When she was 13. So I am starting to think this guy might have been a bit of a creep? I still mostly enjoyed the album though. But it would probably feel a bit icky to listen to again in hindsight.
Missy Elliott
4/5
The line about Bill Gates and Donald Trumo not fighting didn't age well.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Baffling that conservatives thing Born in the USA is a positive song.
The Cars
4/5
Solomon Burke
3/5