One of my favorite albums of recent memory. Brings back rock post kid a bit keeps the soundscape energy. Masterful. 9.5/10
7.5/8 some great tracks and decent cohesion of the album, but not quite a 5 for me
7/10
Very enjoyable. Merging the sounds of metal and eventually 80s stadium rock to create a nice palatable product that also appeals to metal fans. This genre has its place and is a fun listen when in the mood but I don’t feel anything revolutionary is happening here. Very good at what it’s trying to be and definitely will take a song or two from this album into future playlists.
Fav song: living after midnight
6/10
This was fine, I liked it less than the previous Judas Priest album. Not my bag but I get how it is other people’s thing.
Favorite Song: number of the beast
8/10
Quintessential acid/psychedelic rock. Really wish janis wasn’t a member of the 27 club. This album shows her blues origins and merges them with the distorted and electric sound of her band to create something really electric. What could have been…
Favorite Song: Piece of my Heart
8/10
Very classic Brit singer/songwriter from this time period. I like it a lot and definitely an album I would’ve never encountered without this challenge. Feels akin to folk recordings from the 60s and 70s with the Brit rock twist.
Favorite song: Charlotte Street
2/10
This is one of the albums of all time that’s for sure. Not my bag at all but prog rock is cool sometimes so I guess there’s a space for this.
Favorite Song: Blues Variation
8/10
Wish there were more albums that experimented with the backing vocals and layering like this album does. Shoutout Kate Bush for this banger.
Favorite Song: Night of the Swallow
10/10
Maybe my favorite opening track on an album ever? God bless Merry Clayton for laying down the craziest backing vocals of all time. Having this album bookended by two of the biggest songs of all time obscures the quality of the other tracks which is a shame because top to bottom this album bangs. Overall, this is one of my favorite albums because it blends folks, soul, blues, and that 60s/70s British sound in a compact and cohesive package.
Favorite Song: You Can’t Always Get What You Want
8.5/10
Great front to back album. Probably would be higher but the fact that this album has so many covers takes away from its genius for me. I know that’s the way of the 60s but it still didn’t hit the same as completely original works.
Harmonies and the California sound really make this one for me and I love the incessant work that went into arranging this one.
Favorite Song: California Dreamin’
9/10
I liked this a lot. Felt like an inventive soundscape album blending rock, alt, electronic, jazz, and several other genres throughout.
Definitely not something I’d ever come across before and enjoyed getting to check it out.
Favorite Song: Cool Waves
8/10
This group is super important to R&B in Europe especially the UK. Learning about them and their influence on the culture as a collective was so interesting. For a group to set the tone in music, fashion, culture, and create a community around this culture is insane.
The music is sick and inventive and pulling from African beats and the Caribbean while putting its own spin on it. With the UK being an island of immigrants it feels appropriate that this album pulls from that and sets the stage for the jungle/drum and bass/grime/drill music we see in the culture today.
Favorite Song: back to life Acapella
10/10
Often imitated never replicated. Joni’s songwriting, composition, and storytelling vocals are in full force here. The peak of singer songwriter work here on the levels of Carole King’s tapestry but in its own unique way.
Joni could make like a rolling stone but Bob Dylan could never make Same Situation.
Favorite Song: Same Situation
8.5/10
I actually had just recently deep dove this album so felt pretty fresh. I really like what they do here and contextually at this time in music this was an inventive look at what rock could be moving forward.
Sultans of swing maybe top 50 rocks songs ever?
favorite song: sultans of swing
10/10
Masterwork. These cats are cooking
I recognize the inventiveness here. However, not really my bag. But I recognize she’s cooking a bit here.
7.5/10
Favorite Song: It’s Not Up to You
8.5/10 kinda my first foray into this type of hardcore and I fw with it. Not my favorite genre by any means but I respect the inventive and collaborative nature of this style of music. And I would’ve killed to have been in a dim moldy basement watching these guys shred.
Favorite song: Lexicon Devil
5/10
Like I get this was important at the time. But it’s just the gentrification of blues and rockabilly without the appeal of other artists. Buddy Holly has always kinda been my least fav of this era and this record feels kinda empty because of that.
The Dead did pick a couple covers from this one that were staples but they actually added the blues and some soul to them in a way not seen here.
Favorite Song: Not Fade Away
Bob Dylan
6/10
I know this will be one of many Dylan albums. I don’t really like this one but I recognize the turning point it was for folk music. Other Dylan hits better for me but not much Dylan works for me the way it does for the Dylan followers.
Favorite Song: Don’t think twice it’s alright
7.5/10
I really liked this, would’ve been a little higher if it was more cohesive but a fun goofy record that had some real bright spots for me.
Favorite Song: Mansize Rooster
10/10
Maybe a 10 maybe not idk how much of this is my nostalgia for listening to this album in my freshman dorm room or that it is really that good. Aside from anything there this album has echoed through music and is such a unique piece of music, art, and history.
“I’ll be your mirror
Reflect what you are, in case you don’t know
I’ll be the wind, the rain and the sunset
The light on your door to show that you’re home”
Favorite Song: Sunday Morning
6/10
Not really my bag but enjoy a live album almost always. What really threw me off was I kept expecting them to sing Triple H’s walk out song at any moment but the moment never came.
Favorite Song: Ace of Spades
8.5/10
A terrific album. Norah is one of the greats of this genre. I teetered between 8.5/9 but ultimately didn’t have enough of a cohesive feel to get me to a 9.
Favorite Song: don’t know why
8/10
Idk if there’s ever been a more 8/10 album ever. Really good not great. Happy that Kirk had to listen to Morrissey.
Favorite Song: There is a Light that Never Goes Out
9.5/10
God he’s good. I still enjoy purple rain better but Jesus he’s in the lab on this one.
Favorite Song: adore
7.5/10
I like this. I can’t quite explain why or what it exactly is doing for me but it feels very genuine and real and it speaks to me. I like her voice and her writing but at best she’s doing a Joni impression. So idk maybe it’s not THAT great.
Favorite song: small blue things
6/10
Not really my bag, feels derivative and not super inventive but I know these guys can play so props to them.
8/10
First foray into these cats and they were cooking on this one. A bit long but really great stuff here and I’ll definitely be coming back.
Favorite song: bullet with butterfly wings
8.5/10
Good stuff from Bowie I tend to skew not as great as people think on this one. But still a great album.
Favorite song: black star
8.5/10
Feel like I’m not super qualified here, however it spoke to me and I enjoyed it. These cats were cooking.
Favorite Song: Samba Dees Days
9/10
These dudes are doing city pop. City pop bangs. This album bangs.
Favorite song: Kingsize
4.5/10
It was perfectly fine. Just didn’t really feel like much was happening here.
Favorite Song: Spring
3/10
I like an instrumental but this just does nothing for me.
Favorite Song: Tubular Bells pt. W
9.5/10
Generational album. One of the first albums I was told I needed to sit and listen in one sitting. I like how it all weaves together and thinking about how life changing this album has been for so many over the years it’s such a cool piece.
It isn’t my favorite Floyd album but always enjoy spinning it for a bit.
Favorite Song: Time
9/10
One of if not my favorite Bowie album. Him being weird and being good at it. I loved this listen through. Only thing keeping it from 10 is the lack of cohesion and the dip in the back 3rd. Still love this one though.
Favorite Song: Changes
2/10
What are we doing here. Pass.
5/10
Interesting ideas and good sound. Not my favorite but intriguing nonetheless.
9/10
Neil I was unfamiliar with your game. He’s got the goods. Great songwriting and musicality, knowing the lore also adds so much to this album. Looking forward to more Neil in my future.
9/10
One of if not my fav led album. They’re one of one and have inspired countless iterations of similar artists ever since. Loved returning to this one.
Favorite Song: Going to California
8/10
I love CCR. This is not their best but I still love it. It’s cool listening to this and knowing how they’ll expand on the good parts of this to make masterpieces down the line. I also enjoyed their heavier focus on blues on this one. How did tbese Berkeley boys figure out how to be good southern folk?
Favorite Song: Proud Mary
10/10
One of the best albums of the last few years. I remember listening to this when it came out and it being my first foray into this style of music. Really opened a lot of music for me. Big fan.
Favorite Song: Fetch the Bolt Cutters
7/10
Good album by a good band. Not my favorites but I enjoyed this album and will likely return.
7/10
Good album by a great artist. One of her better albums but probably not in my top 3 from her. It’s very good when it’s good but there’s a lot of fat that could be trimmed on this one.
10/10
Willie is so important to American music. I really enjoy that he took the opportunity to sing songs that meant something to him and give it his signature flair. Is he the best singer to ever sing these songs? Never. But the feeling he gives these songs give them a different feeling only he could provide. Furthermore, I think he benefits from picking some of the best songs ever written. This all star cast of songs features tracks from hoagy Carmichael, Louis Armstrong, not to mention the countless legends to cover these songs first.
Along with this the production of Booker T. Jones can be felt throughout. Getting a booker T and the MGs take on a Willie album comprised of some of the best songs in the American songbook is really a perfect overlapping of my interests in a way that’s hard to explain.
Favorite Song: All of Me
7/10
I like the stones. Love them even. But this album was more top hits but less cohesion.
Still a hood record but probs middle of the road for me among the stoned records.
Favorite song: Brown Sugar
7/10
I like the stones. Love them even. But this album was more top hits but less cohesion.
Still a hood record but probs middle of the road for me among the stoned records.
Favorite song: Brown Sugar
5/10
This was fine. I can’t say I’ll return but it was alright. Enjoyable listen but didn’t feel much here
7.5/10
This was my intro to the flaming lips. I can tell this is very well done of course. But I just don’t know if it’s for me. Some songs I enjoyed others less so. I found it enjoyable over all but to me they’re just doing a worse version of their predecessors.
Favorite song: Are you a hypnotist
8/10
One of the most important funk albums ever. From the penultimate funk band around. My favorite fun fact about this band is that they’re the largest band in the RnR hall of fame, boasting 16 members.
This album is very good to me but not great. It inspired later generations to take heed of the art form and make it their own.
Favorite Song: Give Up the Funk
8/10
I love John. He is electric. This album is great and picks up where folsom lets off. However, Folsom whoops this one into submission imo. So an 8 feels more appropriate.
Favorite Song: San Quentin
9/10
Tim Buckley, I was woefully unfamiliar with your game. I forgive you for abandoning Jeff Buckley as a child now. This album rips.
It has so much influence from the powerful rock artists of the time but also feels like it combines big band with that same late 60s/early 70s sound. Gives me some CCR energy but with more edge. Will be coming back to this again.
Favorite Song: Nighthawkin’
6/10
This was fine. I don’t know if I’ll return to this but it was perfectly fine. I couldn’t decide if I liked his voice or if it grated on me. But I liked the instrumentation a lot.
Favorite Song: Duchess
9.5/10
Idk if it’s because I am in Kentucky or if this album is really that good, but this hit all the right spots today. Obviously skynyrd has had appeal across genres, generations, and cultures but this album really synthesized what they did best.
Favorite song: Tuesday’s Gone/Free Bird
7/10
It is pretty good. Not generational or life changing. Nevertheless, a good album from a good band.
Favorite song: Havalina
8/10
Forgot how enjoyable de la soul is and hadn’t listened all the way through an album of theirs in far too long.
Favorite Song: The Magic Number
9/10
Elliott, my guy. Having been introduced to him properly earlier this year, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning more about him and his artistry. This is one of 3 9+ albums from me. He’s a generational writer and I love when artists prove concept then just go get after it with big money from a studio. Great work here.
Favorite Song: Son of Sam
7/10
I have been on a big singer-songwriter kick lately so maybe I am just a bit harsh here. Simon is better with Garfunkel. He needs the foil I think. This was fine and had a great song or two but it isn't Jim Croce, James Taylor, and definitely not Carole King.
Favorite song: Julio
8/10
Hell yeah sting. Nice morning album for the day. Sting should never have left but so it goes.
Favorite Song: Every Breath You Take
5/10
Motörhead is Motörhead. It’s good just not for me.
Favorite song: ace of spades
8/10
Nike Rogers in his bag.
Favorite song: Le Freak
8/10
Jack white is that guy.
Favorite song: Seven Nation Army
6/10
As I have said previously. Not really my bag but I get why people like it.
8/10
Was not familiar with her game. But I really enjoyed this piece and will be returning again.
10/10
Neil is goated. This album was a beautiful piece of art showing his songwriting, composition, and vocal skills in a tour de force in my opinion.
Favorite Song: Old Man (maybe top 20 all time song)
10/10
Generational album. Joni is so fucking goated on this album that she put a Christmas song on there just because. She’s got the sauce.
Favorite Song: California
6/10
It’s a solid album. I like AC/DC alright never been too too into them. This is a fine album with obviously a generational banger. Not much beyond that for me though
5/10
Look, they got bangers. But way more fluff than they should have. TLC would never.
9/10
Ok so I get this isn’t necessarily Green Day’s best. I’m aware it may not even be a 9/10. However, when I hear it I’m transported back in time. Each song on here has a certain point of inflection with me over the years and it’s a great great album.
Favorite song: Jesus of Suburbia
10/10
I have always been a fugues fan. Lauryn hill is one of, if not the best, woman MCs. She also can sing like a mfer. Put that with the dancehall influence from wyclef and pras the teamwork to make this album what it is made it an all timer then and now.
I know they had more to give and having this be the end of their run is interesting because it feels so full and since they never tried another album it allows the group to go out on the highest of highs.
Favorite Song: Ready or Not
10/10
Perfection. Soundscape masterclass by a band operating at a level few if any ever replicate.
