Gah, the first album I get on this whole list is Kendrick Lamar??? Ugh. I feel like I’m kind of broken here because man, do people ever love Kendrick Lamar, but I just can’t seem to. Also, I fully recognize that my main reasons (I don’t like his voice or his flow) are pretty dumb. I guess I sort of get why so many people love this album so much, but for me there are just too many things about it that feel like needles under my skin, sonically. I can’t even focus on the lyrics or the story because I’m so distracted by his voice and various sounds and I haaaaaate feeling like I’m listening to a movie without being able to watch it and the whole thing is just making me feel anxious. I…have issues, right? But I did like “Compton” (probably because it’s Dre heavy). My conclusion here? I don’t like it, but I definitely believe that it’s not Kendrick, it’s me. 2/5
I didn’t realize how many songs on this album I was familiar with, or how strongly I would associate Simon and Garfunkel with Wes Anderson movies. I found this a pretty uneven album though. I enjoyed just about every other song, and found the ones inbetween pretty dull (including the title track). “Baby Driver” was my fave, and one that I don’t recall ever hearing before. Over all, this album was fairly enjoyable, but I probably will never go back to it other than for a couple individual songs. 3/5
Wow, this one was hard to find! Once I finally found a way to listen to it (YouTube), I started out enjoying it, but got bored fairly quickly. The songs are so long! I liked them, but was ready for them to be over a long time before they actually ended. Could be somewhat enjoyable as background music, I guess? Nothing really stood out to me though. 3/5
Hey, one I’ve heard before! This is probably one of my least favorite Elliott Smith albums, but it’s not one I’ve actually listened to much, and maybe I should spend some more time with it? I think I just tend more toward his earlier stuff. Still, even with it being one of my least faves, I still liked every song. So that’s saying something! 4/5
Kay, why on earth have I never listened to Public Enemy until now??? They’ve been in my general awareness since like, middle school? But somehow I had never heard this before and it is SO good! Unreserved 5/5!
This…has not aged as well for me as I would have liked. That said, there are still four or five really great songs that don’t just make me say, “ugh, boring old grunge” in my head. That doesn’t really sound very complimentary, but Alice In Chains is pretty much the only grunge band I’ve ever been able to listen to at all, so that’s saying…something, right? 3/5
1. NO. Longest song ever.
2. Eh.
3. …….it lost me. Prog rock is not my jam. I can’t exactly say it’s bad, but…it’s bad for ME.
I didn’t love this, but I think a big part of it was that feeling of listening to the soundtrack to a musical or movie that I haven’t seen, which tends to really frustrate me because I’m constantly wondering, “what’s happening in this part? What are they doing?” I get that this was a really cool thing when it came out in 1969, but it does not work for me. If I ever actually see it performed I might have a better appreciation for it? But for now, it’s a no thank you.
I didn’t love this, but I think a big part of it was that feeling of listening to the soundtrack to a musical or movie that I haven’t seen, which tends to really frustrate me because I’m constantly wondering, “what’s happening in this part? What are they doing?” I get that this was a really cool thing when it came out in 1969, but it does not work for me. If I ever actually see it performed I might have a better appreciation for it? But for now, it’s a no thank you.
This was gonna be 3 stars until the last song. Now it’s a solid 2. That said, the last half of the last song is fine? But not worth dealing with the first half. I might enjoy other albums of his though? 2/5
Enjoyable, but it definitely did not make me think, “boy, I really need to listen to more Gorillaz!” You know? There are two or three songs on this album that I really like, buuuuuut most of them I just feel kind of eh about. Still, I didn’t actively dislike anything, soooo… 3/5
This is one of those albums where I can recognize why people like it, but…I don’t. I guess it’s just not my style? There are some elements that I enjoy, but maybe there’s just something about her voice that doesn’t work for me? Still pondering this one, but for now? 2/5
This has grown on me *some* over the last 24 years (since I married a Pavement fan), but I would say I still only actively like a few songs on this album, and the rest I just feel kind of meh about. But the songs I do like I like quite a bit, so I’m still gonna rate it 3/5.
This will suuuuper surprise my husband, who knows this is one of my most hated bands, but…listening to this was actually okay? I think it helped that I played it on the way to skateboard lessons, so it felt appropriate somehow. Also, maybe listening to all the songs in a row desensitized me to Brian Johnson’s voice? Anyway, I didn’t hate it like I thought I would. I’m still only giving it two stars, but that’s a lot better than the kneejerk one star I wanted to give it this morning!
I like some songs on this album quite a bit, but there are some I’m really not into. I’m gonna go with a three on this one. 3/5
I’m not a fan of Dylan’s voice, but I sort enjoyed the first few minutes of the first song…only then it kept going and going! It’s only like five minutes long, but felt like so much longer somehow. I know people really love Bob Dylan, but I’ve just never quite understood it.
Uh. Is this supposed to be good? I looked up Ute Lemper and apparently she is widely considered to be amazing, but man. It was physically painful for me to listen to this. I guess I can see it working if I was actually watching her perform in a musical or something, but this? Nope. Not at all.
I…just kind of nothing-ed this. I didn’t love his voice, but it wasn’t terrible. I felt like the songs were okay. I dunno. Just not my jam? 2/5
This was fine, I guess. I’ve never been a huge CCR fan, but I can appreciate how different they were at the time and why people liked them so much.
I loved this when it first came out and listened the heck out of it! But…now it feels kind of juvenile? I was a teenager at the time. I guess I’ve just kind of outgrown it. I’m still giving it three stars though.
I liked a couple of these songs, but was not really into others for some reason.
This is interesting! I was really into Ministry and Skinny Puppy back in the day, but never listened to this band. Can definitely see how powerfully they influenced a lot of the industrial music I liked as a teenager. I don’t really want to revisit those days, but this was a fun journey.
I was actually really excited to see this one—I’ve been meaning to listen to Steve Earle for years, ever since I read his book not knowing anything about it or him. Anyway…I liked this? There were a couple of songs I liked a lot, and the rest were fine. I’m gonna rate this a 3/5.
Had somehow never actually listened to a whole Beyoncé album other than the country one, which I thought was kind of meh. This one…I really liked a few songs. But I wouldn’t listen to the whole album again. Felt like too much of a mixed bag to me.
I didn’t like Nirvana when they came out in high school, and I still don’t like them now. I know, I don’t know what’s wrong with me either, but I hated listening to this. I’m not gonna go as far as to say it’s BAD, but man. I just don’t get it.
I had somehow never listened to a whole Bob Marley album before, though I have heard a few songs before. I enjoyed this one more than I have most of the other stuff on this list so far! I could definitely see myself revisiting.
I have never really gotten into PJ Harvey; it’s yet again a voice thing, I think. I get why people like this, but it was not all that enjoyable for me to listen to, although I did like certain elements.
Super 80s! Um…this wasn’t terrible? But also just not amazing either. There were some songs that I sort of liked okay? But I will very most likely never listen to this album again.
I’ve been aware of Doves for a long time, but had never gotten around to actually checking them out. I liked them! I most likely won’t be running out to listen to other stuff of theirs, but I definitely enjoyed this more than most of the other selections I’ve gotten so far!
I enjoyed this…somewhat. Most of the songs are great, but I tend to really dislike albums with a lot of talking bits inbetween, you know? So if I’m rating the album as a whole, I’m gonna have to go lower than I would if I was just rating the songs themselves. 3/5
All I can think of when I listen to this album is that commercial from the 80s to the tune of “Iron Man” about Santa: “Leave him cookies and beer. He’ll come to your house first next year.” Anyway, I mainly know this album because of my husband, but it still hasn’t really sunk in. 3/5?
More skater music! Okay, so…I don’t love this (sorry Chuck in my high school bio class who told me I would), but I don’t really hate it either. It’s fine, I guess. Just not my style. 3/5
This one…was weird. I sort of liked aspects of it, but am not a fan over all. I found a lot of the songs overly long and generally uninteresting and could not quite bring myself to enjoy it, including the title track. This was the second album in this list I’ve encountered that made me think, “…is this supposed to be good?” It may be that it’s very much a product of its time that just does not translate well today. At least not to me.
This was fine. I don’t really love Metallica, but I don’t dislike them either. I don’t really have anything else to say about them.
This was almost five stars for me, but I got a little bogged down toward the end. I really enjoyed getting to hear Cash talk through, and hear the San Quentin inmates’ incredibly enthusiastic response. I wish it wasn’t censored. 4/5
I mean…I have loved Jimi since the first time I ever heard him.
This is the first album I’ve gotten where I just…could not understand why people like it. I tried! But I felt like the songs were uninteresting, and I did not enjoy the way Faithful sings either. I’m sorry, Marianne Faithful fans, but…what am I missing? 1/5
I’ve heard the first song before, but never really gotten into it. Everything else was new. I don’t know. I didn’t really think anything about it. Nothing really stood out to me, good or bad. But I liked it more than I disliked it, I guess, so…3/5?
Couldn’t really find a whole lot of this one, but I liked what I heard! The second song especially was great. But I’m not really sure how to rate it, not having been able to listen to the whole thing, so I guess I’m just gonna go with 3/5? It’s definitely not something I’d listen to often, but fun every now and then? Sooo…
Little Richard is fun. I don’t listen to him much, but I did enjoy this for the most part—especially the few piano bits!
I like Radiohead, but have never quite connected with this album. I love Kid A and Amnesiac and sort of feel like every other Radiohead album is superfluous, but that’s definitely just me.
Uhhhh…yeah. I’m just not big on Elton John. It’s the voice thing again. I feel like an idiot about it though!
Okay, I like an ocasional S&G song, but…not really on this album. I didn’t hate it though?
One of my favorite R.E.M. albums! There are a few songs I feel kind of meh about, so I don’t feel like I can give it 5 stars, but it was close!
Really enjoyed this one!
No. Not my thing at all.
I have never heard of this band. I dunno. I guess it’s okay? But nothing really stands out to me—I don’t really find it interesting or enjoyable at all. Am I missing something here? Seems like pretty generic 90s alternative stuff to me.
I’m sorry, I’ve just never been a fan of Garbage. Just very not my style, I guess.
