1001 Albums Summary

Passenger and Tonight were good but the rest kind of boring

I mean, they don’t call her the queen of soul for nothin’.

I don’t totally love this, but it’s Prince.

Solidly good songwriting, but her voice! Very sweet. Will listen to more of her stuff. Mother, Slow Burn, Velvet Elvis, and Rainbow were faves.

Great. Forgot how sexy Kurt Cobain‘s growl was.

What can I say, I just don’t like the cure. The guy’s voice has always annoyed me, even when I was a teenager and they were huge. Which is weird, because other whiny Brits’ voices don’t annoy me.

Kinda cheesy. Waterfall is a great song; gotta love Red Light for its frank request for eating out. Can I get a Witness is cringe.

In general kind of boring, “till the cops come knocking” really has not aged well on a couple of fronts. A song about locking a woman up? This seems like it was questionable even in the mid 90s.

There’s no law that says I have to like Radiohead.

Kind of boring

Not my thing, but I can appreciate what they’re doing. Don’t like the screaming, but the jangly guitar hits right.

Passable sexy girl pop. I feel like Lorde could’ve done more interesting things with her voice.

my first five star. What can you say? It’s incredible! I can only imagine what it must’ve been like when it was first released.

Cute funny not very relevant to me riot grrl stuff.

It was nice

Undeniably skilled and clever, but misogyny is a deal breaker.

Apparently they just simply do it the best.

Beautiful

Another interesting, pleasing album and the anti-robot sentiment is hitting just right these days

Not in the mood

Her voice has a great timbre. Not crazy about the songs with the exception of the hits. There is of course the strange aspect of taking American black girl groups and covering their songs well, but not as good as the originals. Kind of strange.

So. Incredibly. Dated.

Ug. It’s the Cure.

Interesting. I don’t know that I will be seeking them out, but I would listen to them some more.

Nice mellow style. Lead has beautiful voice

Great album. Love this band.

What can you say? Absolutely packed with great songs.

Can’t do the voice

Not my jam, but I suppose they served a purpose.

Tight and cute

This is not the best new wave, but I have to give it four stars because of the awesomeness of we are the robots and the accents in models. This is good stuff.

Love me some Beastie Boys

Good not great. But Paper Planes is a jam.

Good not great. But Paper Planes is a jam.

I don’t super love Pearl Jam or even this album, but Eddie Vedder does have a great voice.

Very of its time but otherwise unremarkable.

Some songs are a little silly, but God the hits were important to me.

I can see how this must have been liberating at the time. Now it’s kind of boring.

One of my husband’s favorite albums. His Mom painted the back of a denim jacket with the cover image. For that I’m giving it a four. Some of the songs haven’t aged well. Moonchild sort of unlistenable. Also, reminds me disconcertingly of Spinal Tap.

American girl is about the only song I got excited about, but Jesus he has an iconic voice.

They’re great. Love the mixture of funk, guitar rock, and rap.

Fun and accessible

Kind of boring, and I just really need more music in my music. Too much Lou Reed-esque talking for me.

Great voice in her way.

I like the distinctive sound and judicious use of samples.

Packed with hits, otherwise interesting, and come on —in your eyes is on this.

I was surprised at how many songs I knew. Still, it’s the dead and I only really enjoyed them that one time I heard them live.

Fantastic Voice. Looking forward to learning more.

Obviously important, but I don’t love it.

Fine

Packed with classics and fantastic voices.

Woman lead. Catchy tunes. Great album cover.

Noisy

Eh. Electronic.

A little dated but good

Maybe I don’t like early David Bowie?

Beautiful. I appreciate the jazziness without it being in penetrable.

Unqualified triumph. Every song.

Meh

Too rocky for me today. Good lyrics, a little dated.

Ah, junior high. What good memories! Def Leppard is fine, but it is tough to get through the ubiquitous “whoosh “sound of the overproduction.

Pretty good: good lyrics and I’m liking it better than Neon Bible.

Planet Rock will always be one of my all time favorite jams. Renegade is interesting. Of course everything is of its time, but this is a solid album. Just came across the lyric “what the heck” in They Made A Mistake. It was a more innocent time.

I mean, it’s of its time. Pretty good, though. One song was cringe, but You Don’t Know (How young you are) was pretty good.

White guy makes album co-opting other people’s music, with singers from different cultures? Sure. Who am I to judge? One of my favorite albums is Graceland.

Wild horses and moonlight mile are just plain beautiful. Brown sugar, though canceled, is an undeniable classic. Finally, though I’ve known it for years, upon close listening it has been gratifying to see what a complete rock ‘n’ roll jam can’t you hear me knocking is.

C’mon

Fun!

My first trip hop album? Kinda like! Moody.

Don’t totally love this, but of course son of a preacher man is great. Nice frank treatment of a girl’s sexuality without being lascivious. And windmills of your mind is surprisingly interesting.

I love run DMC with all my heart but to me there are no standout tracks on this album. I understand that it made them crossover stars, but it is not my favorite.

I don’t think this holds together quite as well as bridge over troubled Waters, but still of course giving it a four.

Even today sounds like a fresh voice. I would listen to this again.

In my top 10. If not top 5.

I have to admit this is pretty solid. I still don’t love his voice, but this holds together well.

Very moving. Surprisingly, the gravelly voice works for me. I will listen to more.

This must’ve been thrilling at the time. A very fun listen.

Some interesting songs here: drums, droning melodies, lyrics.

Never listened to more than a song before. Great, straight ahead blues.

Interesting, don’t love.

Interesting and at times good, but I also tired of the dude vibe loudness sometimes

Interesting and at times good, but I also tired of the dude vibe loudness sometimes

No stand out songs here, but vocalist Ian McCulloch has long been one of my favorite new wave singers. Plaintive without being whiny.

Of course genius of love is one of the all-time jams, but most of the other songs struck me as kind of silly.

What the hell is wrong with me? Why didn’t I listen to Björk from the beginning? This is great! Different, engaging, interesting. Plus her otherworldly voice and interesting (ESL?) take on lyrics. She pronounces ghetto blaster Jetto blaster. 😂

Not my kind of music, but of course interesting.

This is incredible. The energy, the tightness, the rhythms are fantastic. Will definitely listen to more from this band.

With the strong British accents and the liberal quoting of the Beatles’ calliope and horns, I would’ve loved this in my 20s. Now I think it’s just OK but I’m happy I listened to it.

Great rhythms, hot horns.

I’m sure it’s very clever but I just did not have the patience for the theatricality today.

Not as good as Megadeth and Sepultura, but likable enough. Won’t pursue any further, though.

Fine. Not my thing.

I’m sure important, but not my thing.

Not only is this album obviously hugely influential and important, it is beautiful, and best of all the first track is “an introduction to Indian music.” What a fabulously practical and illuminating addition to the album.

I don’t love the beach boys as much as I could, but there is something very beautiful and almost chilling about the contrast between Brian Wilson’s Faceto and his brothers deeper tenor. I didn’t love this album, but they do have a few very beautiful songs

Didn’t love. Except title track, of course

I’m sure interesting in its time, but now just mostly annoying.

The songs with lyrics were kind of dreamy. I could take or leave the others.

I don’t know when, but I actually have listened to this album quite a few times. B.B. King is not my favorite, but this is undeniably a magnificent album.

Smooth, not that exciting.

One of the soundtracks of my youth. Not my favorite, but very pleasing and introduced me to a new genre.

What a fabulous album. people must’ve gone crazy for this. I’m not a huge Led Zeppelin fan, but they really do have a fantastic sound. I am nerdy enough that my first real introduction to Robert Plant’s voice was sea of love in 1986 or so. Really great to hear him in a Real rock ‘n’ roll setting. And yes yes, I know the cultural appropriation implications of Led Zeppelin singing the blues, but damn they did a good job.

Very fun. Also, interesting learning about the close ties between New Orleans Italian Americans and African-Americans early in the century.

Ultimately, I just don’t think Beck is that exciting I guess.

This is a solid four because of all the hits, but I have to give it a five because of girls just wanna have fun. That is a generational tune.

Very fond memories of listening to this album with my college housemate.

I can see that it’s probably interesting, but I don’t really like it. Lead singer’s voice is not endearing. But the album cover is fantastic. God, I love those buildings.

Listened to this and his first two albums today. In general I like and respect him but don’t love him. But it’s nice to get his to know his music better

Listened to this and his first two albums today. In general I like and respect him but don’t love him. But it’s nice to get his to know his music better

Not my style so much, but I like the pop punk vibe. And the guy has a really good voice.

Of course fantastic. I was unaware of this series. I will check out the other albums.

Engaging and clever, I might listen some more as background music.

Really boring. Does not belong on this list. Giving it my first one.

Boring

Good not great.

This strikes me as high school and college stadium rock. I see the appeal, but don’t need to pursue further.

Less hard than I thought it would be. Interesting. I can see how the harder subgenres flowed out of this.

Nope

Solid

Fun, fresh, accessible

Wikipedia says he’s the fourth best soul singer, though they don’t mention Sam Cooke. Still – I’m surprised I’ve never heard of him. He has a fantastic range, and a good voice when he goes more bluesy. I can do without the Nat King Cole adjacent songs. But the other stuff is really good.

My God, this is packed with hits for a first album. Five!

I guess I must’ve had this album because I knew every song. It is a winner. Beautiful voice, great lyrics. Nick of Time has got to be the best song of all time about early middle age.

Nice to the post Beatles vibe from a different perspective. My sweet Lord is such a great song

First time I ever thought of downgrading an album because of the hit. I’ve never really liked the girl from Ipanema, but this album is a vibe.

There is a lot of interesting stuff here, and a lot of good snippets. It definitely has the prominent base and jammin percussion of the Talking Heads, but I found myself mostly wishing that I were listening to the funkier and more danceable Talking Heads. Additionally, I’m not so sure about three songs sampling Black preachers. Doesn’t work super great coming from two white guys post 2020 etc.

I couldn’t get the content on this album on Spotify. I listened to their first album. The singers voice is definitely beautiful and the instrumentation is nice straightahead rock ‘n’ roll. But for music on the artier side I need to be able to hear the lyrics and I can’t with her enunciation.

This is exactly why I’m doing this project: to listen to stuff I should have been all along. Guitar, voice, lyrics. Got it ALL! This music makes me happy to be alive.

I mean, it’s Bob Marley.

Fun to listen to the whole album. Had no idea all of those hits came from just one record.

She’s got a great voice. I will seek her out again.

I like music but vocals too yelly

What a voice

Whatever. It’s EDM. Boring.

Can’t do the voice. Cannot do the voice

On balance, annoying.

So tight. Incredible drums.

The band! The hits!

One great song, the rest serviceable.

Liking it so far

Proud I got all the way through. Didn’t entirely feel like taking my vitamins. I would listen to this again in the background.

I guess I didn’t listen to this back when I loved Ska so much because I couldn’t afford it. Say what you want about Spotify, it sure beats working three hours to buy one album.

Dated

I’m not a huge fan, but this is obviously a solid album. Plus, shine on you crazy diamond is one of the best titles in rock ‘n’ roll history.

Don’t see what’s so special

Such a great album. Really took me back. Definitely one of the soundtracks to my sophomore year of college. 😊

One good song, the rest kind of annoying

I see how it might be foundational, but with today’s ears it sounds a lot like harder Rolling Stones stuff. Not that exciting I guess.

Uh oh. David Bowie isn’t doing it for me. Plus, way too many instrumentals.

Not my favorite, but of course so incredibly solid. Living for the city and higher ground are just classics.

I almost gave this a five just based on under my thumb. Then I realized I gave Stevie Wonder’s innervision a four, and that just didn’t seem right. But a word on under my thumb: I think that is one of the best rock ‘n’ roll songs of all time. Top five. I see how these days it would read as sexist, and certainly that scans. However, I see it as a celebration of sexual power that could work either way. I have always loved it and I still do.

I thought I was going to blow it off but it was weirdly fun. The vocals are such a strange direct quote from the beach boys, but I like them.

There are some wildly obvious quotations of Sergeant Pepper’s here, but I see that he was doing his own thing also. I don’t love his style and the big hit has always struck me as wimpy, but I can respect what he was doing for his time. Plus, great freaking album title!

Weirdly, “clean” is the word that comes to mind here. They are so tight and bright. Songs a bit same same, but a great album.

I mean, she’s got a great voice: soulful, wonderful timber. But do you get a lot of credit for essentially being a mimic of previous styles? I don’t know.

Boy! I wish I hadn’t written these guys off as “Stoner music“ in the seventh grade. Of course, they rock so hard! And Eddie Van Halen‘s guitar work, while now strangely sounding like a parody of itself, at the time must’ve just blown people‘s minds. they are incredibly skilled and very fun to listen to.

Am I prejudiced against singing in French? Yes. Do I dislike industrial? Yes. This is a hard pass.

Only a four cause I have to save some fives for some of their other albums

I like their sound, but the lyrics are insipid

What an album! At least five great songs and the whole thing is solid. One of my favorites by him. And the lyrics!

I don’t think I’ve ever actually listened to this all the way through as an album. It is really gratifying to hear the transition between bubblegum pop and their edgier, artier stuff. Plus, so many amazing songs. In my life, and Norwegian wood. I have fond memories of starting to figure out the intricacies and complications of adult sex and romance in that song.

Respect, but not my thing.

I thought I would know at least some of the songs given how many times I have seen stickers etc. for this band. Didn’t know anything, and weirdly didn’t really like anything either. Just sort of generic sounding new wave to me

I don’t know. Kinda boring. If I were an 18 y o boy I’d really like this. If I didn’t know about punk already.

I mean, it’s Morrissey, so I don’t like it much. I actually liked the music quite a bit but the lyrics and his voice are not my thing.

I am surprised at how much I like this album. I’ve known the hits since they came out, but there is something about the economy of the music and the immediacy of the vocals that is really pleasing. It sounds like you are in a small room with the band. And the singers nasally high voice somehow absolutely works.

Not my thing, but not annoying either.

I was going to give this a two out of spite because I think it is so completely not a great album, when I saw how influential it was. So it gets a three, but this is a big nothing burger to me.

Too arty for me. More like modern classical than what I would think of as tango. Do people dance to this? Do you have to be able to dance to a tango?

Great album as a whole, but Peg, oh my god: the forward motion, Michael Macdonald as backup singer! Fantastic!

This has all the crucial disco tropes: bad synthesized strings, funk guitar, insipid lyrics. Pretty great!

Not terribly interesting lyrics, not terribly interesting beats.

What a waste of a talented human being. I mean his death, not the album, but I’m not crazy about the album.

This is solid. In the earlier songs his voice sounds like an appealingly unstrangled Morissey. It is rich and smooth. The later more country songs are great, and I usually reject Brit’s singling country. Will def listen again.

I couldn’t get past the beginning of the third song. The lyrics are so cheesy, the quoting of the Beatles is so shameless and low quality. I would give this a one but I didn’t listen to it all the way through.

Very talented, and obviously I appreciate his impact on the industry. However, I just can’t relate to the lyrics and many of them are distasteful.

Spotify doesn’t have this. Giving it a four for his poetry.

Hot take: they are boring

Man, she can sing. No standout songs on this album to me, though.

How did I skip this? Kurt cobain is sexy as hell. The music is great. And I’m sorry he got sick of it, but SLTS is one of the best rock songs in history.

Beautiful voice and music but some of the lyrics are a little silly. Would like to hear other stuff from him.

Spotify doesn’t have it. I’m not sad.

Some smoking guitars, and some solidly good songs, but ultimately a lot of same same. Although sharp dressed man is a classic

There’s the one timeless classic, but a surprising number of songs are pretty annoying.

Amazingly, I am giving this album four. I have always hated the who, and I just really cannot stand Roger Daltry‘s voice for whatever reason. But the reality is that this is a great album and I can acknowledge that.

Work a day white boy blues

I kind of don’t get it. I like the stripped down aspect but don’t love it.

This gets a four because of all the classics. The Ronettes absolutely kill sleigh ride. Fantastic!

Fantastic guitar

I have made a playlist of all four of the American albums. I just listened to one and it was fantastic. I am giving this a 4 in anticipation.

Not gonna lie, I like this album. Not her best, but solid.

This seems like neither good angry grunge nor catchy pop. Neither fish nor foul, kind of boring.

Good not great?

I know from my husband that this was important at the time, but for now I have to say that it sounds awfully tinkly toonkly.

To me the songs are good not great, but he’s got a beautiful baritone and I’m giving him a four for helping welcome Bob Dylan into the folk scene. I will seek out more from him.

Great baritone voice, clever lyrics. I’m about a third of the way through but will listen to this a few times. Fun!

I love his voice but all in all there were too many strings and corny backup singers for me on this.

I can see how teenage boys in the 70s ate this up. Now it just seems kind of cheesy.

No songs knock my socks off, but she just has the sweetest voice in pop music.

Interesting. I find it fascinating how so many big British groups in the 60s and 70s did odes to England. They obviously had a lot of post war stuff to work through.

This one did not pass the three songs smell test. Annoying production, screamy vocals.

Um, they totally rock.

She has a tremendous voice, but I just don’t really love this style of music. I also get tired of the enslutification of former child stars. I think it’s bad for young girls.

Someone I respected said that this was the best folk album of all time. I will give it another listen. I tried to think it was amazing but mostly I just liked it.

I mean, it’s an album. Kind of fake country.

I like the other songs, but with American pie and Vincent this is a shoe in for a four.

Surprisingly fresh sounding. Interesting how avoiding overly time-specific instrument instruments (Hammond organs, saxophones, etc.) can keep rock ‘n’ roll more timeless.

Great vocals (lyrics not so much); great funk guitar; great (fake?) horns. But overall not great album.

Great voice

This does not pass the wimpyness smell test.

Reading the notes on this album I was really interested to listen to it, and I thought the music was good. But the screechy lead singer’s voice is a no.

This gets a two because it has what has got to be the most boring first song on an album by a great artist.

Of course this is a great album. It is impossible to listen to it with the ears of 1976 but I can definitely imagine that it was world changing.

Interesting take on a character

Will listen to more by her.

I like this. Good female vocalist. I’ll listen again.

At times is interesting, at times boring

Great voice, solid album.

Moody. I like it!

Total sucker for English folk music and they both have good voices. I will be listening to this again.

Was going to give it a four because it’s not a desert island album for me, but my God even the lesser songs are good. And of course the better songs are classics.

Good music, interesting, hangs together very well as an album.

Pretty

Some lyrics are flat out abhorrent, but for pure rock n roll and some catchy tunes it’s a four. Slash and Axl Tose individually kick ass.

A solidly great album; this has it all: interesting instrumentation, good lyrics, beautiful melodies. One of my favorites back in the day and it has aged well. Personal note: New Year’s Day, along with heard it through the grapevine, is one of the songs that I was willing to damage my hearing for. I’m glad I did not actually damage my hearing too badly, but it almost would have been worth it.

They are who they are. Very of their time, but what an iconic sound. Interesting to hear another song so focused on money, “rent”. What have I done to deserve this is just pure bubble pop jam. And “it’s a sin” is an incredible alchemy of sexiness and poignancy. I can’t think of another song that does that at all, let alone as well.

He had such a beautiful voice (when not in falsetto). This is a pretty solid album with a few good songs.

I can respect it, but it’s not for me. Too hard.

First two are jams, rest of album is clever music w sort of asanine lyrics. I was pleasantly reminded of all of the horns in the 80s and the use of funk guitar in some new wave. Very nice.

Past their prime?

I’m afraid ultimately the music is too kooky for me.

Fun

It seems like I should like this more than I do, given my proclivities, but to me it comes across as a cheap ABC

Hot take: they rock hard

Eh

Giving a 4 cause women.

Ambitious, but not my thing. Also kind of weirdly 70s derivative?

Had pretty much forgotten, but I guess I had this album because I knew every song. Very solid. And ground breaking for its time.

Jazz isn’t my thing, but this is very nice. I will be listening to more of him. Yes, my introduction to him was Rockit in 1984. What can I say?

I don’t love the album, but the hits make this a solid four. Everybody wants to rule the world it’s just a fantastic song, and for me it will always be washing dishes in the back of my first job at an ice cream shop the early summer after 10th grade.

It is totally fine, but his voice doesn’t do it for me.

This is a keeper, good music, good voice.

Solid old favorite.

Great songwriting, ok voice- now associated w famous movie soundtracks.

I might like this a lot. I’m going to listen to it at least two times through

I want to give it a four because the hits are so awesome, but the rest are too cheesy. Still, you give love a bad name!

Solid

Excellent rock and roll. The real deal with a purity and a heartfelt soul to it. Props.

Solid

Can music be mumblecore? I don’t know what it is, but for the life of me I can barely understand the lyrics. The music is fine, but I find this annoying and in some songs maddening.

No hits?

Like it!

Dated but respectable

Dated and cheesy even for the time

Unlistenable

More theatrical than I realized. Don’t need to listen again, but very respectable!