455
Albums Rated
2.81
Average Rating
42%
Complete
634 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950
Favorite Decade
Funk
Favorite Genre
other
Top Origin
Critic
Rater Style ?
52
5-Star Albums
83
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Woodface
Crowded House
|
5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
|
Honky Tonk Heroes
Waylon Jennings
|
5 | 3.14 | +1.86 |
|
All Mod Cons
The Jam
|
5 | 3.25 | +1.75 |
|
This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
|
5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
|
Beauty And The Beat
The Go-Go's
|
5 | 3.39 | +1.61 |
|
Either Or
Elliott Smith
|
5 | 3.39 | +1.61 |
|
Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
|
5 | 3.4 | +1.6 |
|
Murmur
R.E.M.
|
5 | 3.41 | +1.59 |
|
Synchronicity
The Police
|
5 | 3.41 | +1.59 |
|
Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
|
5 | 3.44 | +1.56 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Boston
Boston
|
1 | 3.71 | -2.71 |
|
Moon Safari
Air
|
1 | 3.57 | -2.57 |
|
Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
|
1 | 3.51 | -2.51 |
|
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
|
1 | 3.48 | -2.48 |
|
Aja
Steely Dan
|
1 | 3.47 | -2.47 |
|
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
|
1 | 3.47 | -2.47 |
|
Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
|
1 | 3.4 | -2.4 |
|
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
|
1 | 3.39 | -2.39 |
|
Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
|
1 | 3.37 | -2.37 |
|
xx
The xx
|
1 | 3.36 | -2.36 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 6 | 4.67 |
| Bob Dylan | 4 | 4.5 |
| The Smiths | 3 | 4.67 |
| Led Zeppelin | 3 | 4.67 |
| Pixies | 3 | 4.67 |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | 5 |
| Michael Jackson | 2 | 5 |
| Johnny Cash | 2 | 5 |
| David Bowie | 4 | 4.25 |
| The Who | 4 | 4.25 |
| Radiohead | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| The xx | 2 | 1 |
| Everything But The Girl | 2 | 1 |
| Eminem | 2 | 1 |
| Kings of Leon | 2 | 1 |
| Steely Dan | 2 | 1 |
| Deep Purple | 3 | 1.67 |
| Brian Eno | 2 | 1.5 |
| The Verve | 2 | 1.5 |
| Massive Attack | 2 | 1.5 |
| Paul Simon | 2 | 1.5 |
| The Jesus And Mary Chain | 2 | 1.5 |
| Fatboy Slim | 2 | 1.5 |
| Todd Rundgren | 2 | 1.5 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Elvis Costello & The Attractions | 2, 5 |
5-Star Albums (52)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Patti Smith · 19 likes
3/5
This is one of those albums that you're SUPPOSED to love, but I don't. It's just not enjoyable to listen to. I appreciate Patti Smith and her lyrics and voice and that she was groundbreaking in the punk scene, so I feel like I must give it a 3, but all I really want to hear from her is Because the Night and Dancing Barefoot.
The Go-Go's · 7 likes
5/5
Probably the best all girl band ever. They are highly underrated. Two absolute bangers here but every song is good. Great musicians, great vocals. They are synonymous with summer for me...partly maybe because I saw them play in July of 1984 (INXS opened...great show!)
KISS · 2 likes
2/5
Well, they certainly were popular, but if they hadn't had the makeup gimmick I'm sure no one would know who they are. Really bad music. The best song is Beth...which is saying a lot.
David Bowie · 2 likes
5/5
I question the sanity of anyone who doesn't give this album a five. It's perfection.
Moby · 1 likes
2/5
I think we used to have this cd but I have no idea why. It's dreadful. Really boring. And ambient music was around before Moby so I'm not sure why it would be considered influential.
1-Star Albums (83)
All Ratings
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Classic rock album. I do enjoy John Fogerty's voice, and it's hard not to tap your toe along to the music. While not an album I would pick out to play on my own, I'm never sorry to hear their hits played. There's not a whole lot of variation from song to song, but they do have a distinct sound.
The Clash
2/5
I know it's a culturally relevant album, but I could never get into it. It was difficult for me to sit and listen to it in its entirety. Joe Strummer's voice is awful...he just yells with no variation in tone through every song. All the songs sound the same to me. If you want to listen to the Clash, Combat Rock is the way to go...much more evolved in style and vocals.
The Stooges
2/5
Search and Destroy is the only really good song on this album. It has that cool glam-punk vibe. The rest are meh and very rough. And honestly, Iggy is a terrible vocalist.
John Coltrane
5/5
It's torture for me to listen to any kind of free form or bebop jazz. However, I know objectively that this is a masterpiece of the genre...so it gets a 5.
The Smashing Pumpkins
2/5
I thought I'd be giving this a solid three, but an album with 28 songs should have more than 4 bangers. Most of it is pleasant but not memorable. I saw this tour and they only played 16 songs for the show including the encores. That should have been the max number for the album as well.
MGMT
4/5
Toyed with giving this a 5 because I do think it's one of the top ten albums of the aughts...but 3 of the songs on the second side are forgettable, so 4 it is. Still a favorite of mine though.
Madonna
2/5
Very bland. I love The Power of Goodbye, but one good song cannot save this snoozefest.
Patti Smith
3/5
This is one of those albums that you're SUPPOSED to love, but I don't. It's just not enjoyable to listen to. I appreciate Patti Smith and her lyrics and voice and that she was groundbreaking in the punk scene, so I feel like I must give it a 3, but all I really want to hear from her is Because the Night and Dancing Barefoot.
The Pogues
3/5
He's a great songwriter/storyteller, and the emotion in his voice makes up for it's roughness. I normally don't listen to this much Pogues at once except on St. Patrick's Day but Rainy Night in Soho is a sentimental personal favorite of mine.
Queen
4/5
I'm a bit torn on this one. I love Queen, I love their sound and Freddie's voice. Brian May is one of the greatest guitarist's of all time. But honestly, when I listen to Queen it's almost always the greatest hits. A lot of the songs on this album are downright silly. I would like to give it a 3.5 but I can't so I guess I'll have to bump it to a 4 because it's so progressive and well...Bohemian Rhapsody.
White Denim
1/5
I seriously question how this band got on this list. I've never heard of them...maybe they're only knowni in Texas? Dreadful jamming. They don't know if they want to be psychedic or a jam band a la The Dead. Really boring anyway.
The Monks
1/5
What the Hell.
No.
The xx
1/5
Eek. Okay...3rd on the list that I've never heard of and that shouldn't be here. 1001 is really not that many albums when you think about how much great music has been produced in the last 70 years...and this is not among those.
Boring, monotonous, amateur vocals and instrumentation.
Dolly Parton
4/5
These ladies are icons. Amazing harmonies...their voices are all quite different but mesh together so well.
Instrumentation is masterful.
Some of the song choices are a little to hokey. I'd love to hear what they could have done with a few more modern pieces.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
It's Simon & Garfunkel so you can't really go wrong. Not their best album, but still great stuff. My favorite on this one is The Boxer. Not really a Bridge fan.
The Yardbirds
2/5
Meh.
Wants to be psychedelic but there's too much jamming. Wants to be rock but there's too much jazz drumming.
Wants to be blues but it's too folky.
It's all over the place...pick a damn lane.
Kanye West
1/5
Jesus...that was awful.
Worse than I anticipated.
It gave me an anxiety attack.
I try to be objective with the genres I dislike...but I just Do. Not. Get. It.
Haircut 100
1/5
I question why this would have made the 1001 cut. There's no way this is an important album. I'm about the biggest 80s music fan around and this is just really awful, bland, boring. They never even had a single hit here.
Hookworms
1/5
Again, questioning the validity of this being on a list of "must hear" albums. Really? It's just overly synth-heavy bland techno pop, and it's too new to be an influence on much of anything. The freneticism of most of the tracks is also anxiety inducing.
The Doors
4/5
High drama, unique sound, powerful vocals, dark and moody, sexy psychedelic rock. It's kind of cliche now but when I was young it was a staple of every party. Light My Fire and This is the End should have both been whittled down to three minutes though.
The Jam
5/5
I'd never heard this album before and I loved it! I was familiar with the band's name but I hadn't really heard anything by them...I don't think they were very popular around here. I'm amazed though...this is great stuff. I think they're considered punk, but this is not punk. I would say Post-punk. Great melodies and songwriting. I can definitely hear their influence on lots of other later 80s music.
G. Love & Special Sauce
1/5
Hate it. I think he only half raps because he has a shitty voice. Again, I question this as an "influential" album. I know this list is put together but music critics...and I don't think much of the title "critic".
Sabu
1/5
It's just drums. Hmm. I don't know how anyone can just sit and listen to that. I always thought being in a drum circle was the worst kind of torture.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
This album is a real letdown after so many greater earlier albums. Not much variation in sound from song to song. Boring.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Unless you just really don't like Pink Floyd, this album is universally loved. Fantastic.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
2/5
I never liked it in the 80s...mostly just loud synthy club music. Still don't care for it. But props for the openness in sexuality.
The White Stripes
2/5
They're one of those bands that you think you SHOULD like because they're cool....but whenever I try to listen to them I'm bored. It's a sloppy album, and they are not strong vocalists. I can hear other artists' influence on THEM but I fail to hear their influence on others.
Blur
4/5
I really like Blur but honestly hadn't heard this album all the way through before...now I like them even more. I hear Damon is kind of a jerk, but I think he's musically brilliant. Really enjoyable catchy tunes.
Mercury Rev
4/5
I'd never even heard of this band but I quite like this album...lovely, romantic, melancholy. I haven't heard anything quite like it, although there are hints of Polyphonic Spree, who arrived a couple of years later.
Pere Ubu
1/5
A lot of really unpleasant noise there. They get a one for sure just for Track 3...so dissonant that it physically hurt my eardrums.
The Cure
5/5
It's a whole dreamy atmosphere to float in.
Everything But The Girl
1/5
Horrible. Boring. No substance.
Julian Cope
2/5
Meh.
Started out kind of catchy but I got very bored.
WAY too long.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Charlie Brown style. Not offensive but not enjoyable. The freneticism of jazz gives me anxiety. My ex was a jazz musician, upright bass, usually playing this style...and while I appreciate the musicianship, I've never enjoyed it, which probably in large part lead to our relationship's demise.
Merle Haggard
2/5
Old school country. Talented guitar picking. Mundane lyrics....not written for the intellectually minded.
Very twangy.
Ryan Adams
3/5
Influential? Hmmm. I don't know about that.
Country with a little indie singer/songwriter.
A little more palatable than some country, but not terribly interesting.
The The
2/5
I never found them to be very interesting. They've only got the one hit. I find the music pretty forgettable. I love the post-punk genre but this is not the best of it. It's catchy but it doesn't stay with me.
Frank Zappa
3/5
Masterful musicians and I know it was important for the fusion of rock, jazz, blues, etc. But it's a lot of just jamming. I don't want to ever listen to it again.
Crowded House
5/5
This album is a particular favorite of mine. I love Neil and Tim Finn...you cannot go wrong with anything by them. Love their voices. Love their writing. Two of these songs are on several playlists of mine...Weather with You and Fall at Your Feet. Love all of it. I think they're highly UNDERrated here in the U.S.
Charles Mingus
4/5
I don't get the freeform parts, but I recognize the artistry of the musicians. There is quite a lot of variation between these four pieces which made it more enjoyable than a lot of jazz records.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Classic Old School Metal. Pretty cool. Great guitars. And his vocals are really enjoyable. I wish I'd been posting my favorite track from each album all along...I think I'll start doing that from here on out.
Favorite track: Strange World
X-Ray Spex
4/5
Highly underrated.
I think this might be my favorite punk album.
Also, it could be released today and still sound equally relevant.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Oddly, I was never a huge fan. I think they're just too frenetic for me...gives me an agitated feeling, and I don't love her voice...it's too harsh. But definitely an influential album in the post punk and goth rock world.
Favorite track: Into the Light
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
I read that this is their most "accessible" album. Eek.
Just being weird is not enough. And bad vocals.
Oh, and the name makes me fill ill.
The Smiths
5/5
Sublime. Best Smiths album and one of the best albums of the 80s with two of my all-time favorite songs...There is a Light that Never Goes Out & Bigmouth Strikes again. Lyrics, vocals, instrumentation...all brilliant.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
I love Tom Petty. This is not is best work overall, but Breakdown IS one of his best songs...so for that, American Girl, and the fact that he's so dang pretty, I'll still give it a 3.
Eminem
1/5
Listened to parts of every "song" but had to skip through them. Offensively trashy. Nothing with such poor grammar is going to get more than a one from me. Just can't.
The Go-Go's
5/5
Probably the best all girl band ever. They are highly underrated. Two absolute bangers here but every song is good. Great musicians, great vocals. They are synonymous with summer for me...partly maybe because I saw them play in July of 1984 (INXS opened...great show!)
Youssou N'Dour
3/5
I don't know enough about African music to rate it properly, but it was interesting to listen to. Varied and complicated instrumentation.
Mudhoney
3/5
I only knew this band by name...actually thought they were from the 70s, so I had no idea what I was in for. Pretty satisfying loud grungy rock with some sick guitars and drumming.
The Fall
3/5
I was digging the sound of many of the tunes, but it's too bad they're so repetitive. You can definitely hear their influence on many alternative bands. I just wish the songs went somewhere instead of repeating the same handful of notes over and over and over.
Beatles
5/5
Arguably the most important Beatles album IMO. More mature, more experimental, a lot of variation in style between songs. Just great songwriting. A personal favorite of mine.
Beatles
5/5
Not just an album...an art event. Seems like it might be too long...but if you tried to eliminate anything, it wouldn't be the same. Just amazing songwriting.
The xx
1/5
My heart sank when I saw another album from this lame band on the list. Just awful. Singing and playing both sound amateur. No life to the music. They're quite recent to...what have they influenced??? I cannot for the life of me figure out why they are on the list at all, and certainly not twice.
N.W.A.
1/5
I cannot listen to any more gangsta rap albums.
There's no way I can rate them objectively because I hate them so much.
Jacques Brel
2/5
Hard to rate because I don't even know what you would call this. I'm sure it's supposed to be good for what it is, but I didn't care for it and wouldn't ever listen to it again.
Sepultura
1/5
The same guitar sound in every track (notice I didn't call them songs). That and bellowing.
Made me wish we'd gotten a rap album today...which is saying a lot.
Just awful.
Parliament
4/5
The standard for funk.
Hugh Masekela
3/5
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Queen
John Lee Hooker
3/5
Cat Stevens
5/5
Unparalelled songwriting and one of the purest voices to ever grace the world. I always forget how much I love Cat Stevens in between listenings.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
1/5
Really full of themselves and must have smoked WAY too much weed.
Björk
2/5
I would call this experimental sound art.
I like a lot of music by Bjork...but not this.
Kind of interesting, but also largely unpleasant.
Experimental and weird, but not sure about influential.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
This album disappointed me. I've liked the song Hysteric for a long time and was happy to see the album show up on the list, but I was bored by most of it. A couple of memorable songs. The rest is pleasant enough background noise.
The Smashing Pumpkins
2/5
I love Today and Disarm, but other than that the songs all sound the same.
Good live band, bad listening band.
a-ha
3/5
Funny, I never really loved Take on Me in the 80s, although the video is iconic. BUT if you listen to the acoustic version recorded in 2017 you will see just how beautiful a song it is and also what a great voice he has....still. From this album though, my favorite is The Sun Always Shines on TV. Overall, the other songs are mostly forgettable. One thing to note however is that I've never seen a song on Spotify have over a billion views before....but Take on Me has 2,240,938,654....as of this viewing!
Coldcut
1/5
Title kind of says it all.
It's a bunch of samples.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
I could almost give any album with Jimmy Page playing on it a 5.
And I could almost give this one a 5 just for Kashmir.
But it really should NOT have been a double album.
Too much filler with songs that hadn't made the cut from previous albums.
Astor Piazzolla
2/5
I usually like tango music.
And it's usually quite sexy and sensual.
This had WAY too much xylophone...and the xylophone took all the sexiness away.
The KLF
2/5
Feels just like background music to me...nothing that stands out. Very homogenous.
I'd never heard of them...and I guess you might not have if you weren't into raves.
They don't have the original on Spotify but I'm guessing it wouldn't matter to much to me.
The Adverts
4/5
I'd never heard of them...which is a shame because I would have LOVED them back in the day. More interesting than any other punk band I can think of...much more variation in sound. Some definite shades of Adam Ant...who's one of my favorites. I'll be adding this to my permanent playlist and looking for it on vinyl.
Cocteau Twins
5/5
One of my favorites.
Best of dream pop and pioneer of shoegaze.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
I would put this in the top five albums ever made.
We need more than five stars for this one.
I can't even pick a favorite song because there are too many. It's a tie betweeen Never Going Back Again, The Chain, and I Don't Want to Know.
Moby Grape
3/5
Kind of an average hippie band, but not bad.
CHIC
4/5
Le Freak is, of course, on every disco playlist. The album is pretty solid, although Savoir Faire makes me feel like I'm shopping for gloves at Porteous. Nile Rodgers went on to write huge hit songs for David Bowie, Duran Duran, Madonna, INXS, Diana Ross...just to name a few. I actually saw them in concert about 18 months ago when they opened for Duran Duran in Boston and they played a whole list of famous songs they'd written for other people, which blew my mind. And they sounded fantastic. I wouldn't have known how vast their influence was if not for that show...so I'm going to bump this up to a four.
The Killers
5/5
This is one of my top five albums from the aughts. Five of the songs are in my regular rotation on a couple of different playlists. I'd never heard anything but Mr. Brightside back in the day though...so didn't fall in love with it until more than 15 years after it was released.
Favorite track: Change Your Mind
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
I've heard other Indian music in film that I've enjoyed much more than this, which seemed incredibly hokey. I started to say it sounded like an Indian James Bond soundtrack...but really it's more like an Indian Austin Powers soundtrack. But from what I read, this composer is legendary and very influential in the genre so I guess I'll have to give it a 3.
Fishbone
2/5
They just sound like a mess to me...too much going on and anxiety inducing,.
Amy Winehouse
2/5
I was actually going to hit did-not-listen even though I DID listen, but I don't see the option now. Must have waited to long? Anyway. Against popular opinion I loathe and have always loathed her music. Apart from the fact that I hate this style of music, I find her voice nasally and grating. But I feel I have to give her at least a 2 just because she's so popular.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
I love the Pet Shop Boys but this is not their best album. It's pleasant to listen to but not terribly interesting. Their newer albums are their best.
Sugar
4/5
I had never heard this album before, vaguely remembered one song but not the name of the band. I had to read up on them to know it was Bob Mould. Great album...I wish I had heard it back in the day, but at least it will go on my play list now!
The Strokes
3/5
The Strokes is one of those bands that I always think I should like more but for some reason I don't. They're fine. I enjoyed the album. But nothing stays with me. Nothing makes me want to listen over and over again. There's nothing particularly special. I think they're overrated.
Peter Frampton
2/5
This album should not be here.
Dude got an inexplicable amount of mileage off those two songs. They're catchy, but the rest is fluff.
Madonna
4/5
I'm rather reluctantly giving it a 4, and mostly because I do love Like a Prayer, and because it is her best overall album. I honestly think she's a weak vocalist but she's worked her flamboyance well.
R.E.M.
5/5
This is pretty much the beginning of the entire college band/indie rock scene...and the influence on every indie rock band since. Also the soundtrack of my late high school and early college years.
Favorite track: We Walk
Moby
2/5
I think we used to have this cd but I have no idea why. It's dreadful. Really boring. And ambient music was around before Moby so I'm not sure why it would be considered influential.
Slipknot
1/5
Tried to be objective, but this is just really bad.
Again, I fail to see how it's influential when they weren't doing anything new.
SAULT
4/5
Not my thing musically, but important to the social justice movement, and therefore more important today than ever.
Beastie Boys
4/5
King Crimson
4/5
I have a great fondness for this album because I used to listen to it with my college boyfriend while properly tripping. It's not quite the same without hallucinogens, but I can still conjure up the delight of hearing it for the first time while watching the birds from his tapestry dance across the wall. They are the Kings of prog rock for sure.
Bob Dylan
5/5
One of my favorite albums. I find it flawless and Dylan's best. I once went as Shelter from the Storm to one of our friend group's infamous theme parties...this was come as a Bob Dylan song.
Aphex Twin
1/5
Mind-numbingly boring.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
I'm sure I'll never listen to this again because it's too slow and depressing, but as always, Leonard Cohen is a great poet and songwriter.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
2/5
Hmm. I mean they're fine? But boring. Kind of run of the mill generic 80s music (and I say that as a huge fan of 80s music). I had never heard of them, and I question them being influential. This album came out in 84 and what they were doing was nothing new at that point.
Chicago
1/5
I hate Chicago and this is a bloated pretentious album.
The Notorious B.I.G.
1/5
Just NO
The Pretty Things
3/5
Never heard of them before, but it's pretty decent psychedelic rock. Evidently they invented the rock opera...which I'm not sure the world needed.
David Bowie
4/5
I'm a huge Bowie fan but this is not his best. Some critics say "transitional". I think I'd agree with others that it was coke-fueled aimlessness.
But it does have Golden Years and TVC15, which are fun.
Favorite track: Wild is the Wind...and I know it's probably a travesty to say, but I much prefer this version to Nina Simone's.
Still pretty impressive that you could make this album when on so much coke that you don't remember what city you recorded it in.
I would give it a 3.5 if that were an option.
Kings of Leon
1/5
Abysmal.
Guy has the worst singing voice I've ever heard.
Elvis Costello
4/5
I've never been a big fan but I recognize the talent. I had an old boyfriend that listened to him too much and it put me off it forever. But this is an iconic album. Favorite track: Watching the Detectives
Linkin Park
1/5
I do think the guy has a nice voice when he's straight up singing instead of yelling...but other than that, nope. I always try to read up on why someone thinks these bands are influential...and for this one it said because they combined rock, metal, hiphop and electronica. To that I say...Pick a Lane.
Pantera
1/5
It's all yelling.
Snoop Dogg
1/5
Nope
Bert Jansch
3/5
Fantastic guitarist although I found the vocal parts and lyrics a bit bland. Definitely looks like he influenced many many other artists.
Wire
4/5
Wish I'd heard of this one when I was in my teens and 20s!
Sam Cooke
4/5
I didn't need to hear it live, but I do love his music.
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
Fun and recognizable but as an album it's very monotonous.
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
I'm very fond of them...they remind me of a specific set of people at a specific time in my history that I'm most nostalgic about. I hadn't listened to this album straight through before...I'm more familiar with Bug....but I loved it. Favorite tracks: Little Fury Things, Raisans, and their cover of Just Like Heaven, which I already had on a couple of playlists.
Beatles
5/5
Revolver and Rubber Soul were always my two favorite Beatles albums. So many great songs.
Favorite tracks: He Said She Said and Here, There and Everywhere
Public Enemy
2/5
Serge Gainsbourg
2/5
I quite enjoyed some of the instrumentation....but I don't like talking over music. Either sing or just leave it as instrumental music.
5/5
Sooo many great songs...and A Day in the Life is my all-time favorite Beatles song.
Nirvana
3/5
Not nearly as good as Nevermind. If I didn't know it was released later I'd think it was an earlier album. It's kind of a mess except for a couple of songs.
Supertramp
1/5
Nope. Never liked them.
Cee Lo Green
1/5
I'm not buying that this, in 2004, was influential.
Frank Ocean
1/5
Bores me to tears.
John Lennon
4/5
John was a deeply flawed man, but a great songwriter, and I love the sincerity and honesty in his music. I think Imagine has become too familiar and is easily written off as trite, but I personally can't ever hear it without tearing up. It's a vision for a better world that could be if everyone cared.
FKA twigs
2/5
A bit of a snoozefest. I don't like the breathy weak vocals. She might have a great voice but it's hard to tell since it's all autotuned and synthesized to death.
The Crusaders
2/5
Elevator music from my childhood....one thing I'm not nostalgic about.
Blur
4/5
I was latecomer to Blur's music, except for the big hits, but then really got into them over the last few years. Now they're one of my favorites. If I were to hear one of their albums without knowing the release date, I would have a hard time figuring out what decade they were from...which is one of the best things about them. Favorite tracks: You're So Great, Beetlebum, Song 2
Pixies
5/5
One of my top ten favorite albums of all time, from one of my top 5 favorite bands. I fell in love with the Pixies the moment I heard them....and this album, for me, is perfection. Fave tracks: Where Is My Mind? (one of my theme songs), Cactus, and Tony's Theme (because it always reminds me of my friend Tony who's one of my favorite people on the planet)
Radiohead
5/5
Makes me sad that I haven't managed to see them in concert...
Os Mutantes
3/5
I had no idea Brazilian psychedelia was a thing, and I had never heard of the Tropicalia movement. Very interesting...and I admire any artists working under a fascist regime.
David Bowie
3/5
Probably my least favorite Bowie album.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
No doubt she has a great voice, although I don't care for this older pop music. A lot of hits here....covers, but she made them her own.
Brian Eno
1/5
I know I've heard it before...but I can see why I'd forgotten it. Wow that was boring.
OutKast
2/5
I'd never listened to the whole of either of them....and didn't like either of them equally.
I'm sending Hey Ya a special 5 all on its own because it's one of my all time favorite songs...but the rest gets a 2.
Air
1/5
I think it's safe to say that ambient electronic music has no place in my record collection.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
I hadn't heard this album of theirs before and liked it so much I listened to it three times! Definitely paved the way to Loveless (and a lot of other music) and I actually liked some of it better.
The Soft Boys
4/5
Robyn Hitchcock is a brilliant songwriter and storyteller. There's no one like him and he's unapologetically himself. I like his later stuff, solo and with the Egyptians better, but that may be because I heard it first and loved it before I heard The Soft Boys...but this is obviously the basis for that and indie psychedelia.
The War On Drugs
2/5
Boring. Not offensive, but very bland.
And this is one of those albums on the list that I don't agree is influential because there's nothing new in it.
Carpenters
4/5
Corny but classic, and they really were incredibly talented. I'd like to think that if she'd lived and been well that she would have become better known for her drumming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVBtjaHxR7Y&ab_channel=OloapsVL
The Black Crowes
2/5
I like Hard to Handle...but I don't go out of my way to listen to it, and the rest is kind of forgettable generic "American" rock. I don't see how it's influential at all since they didn't invent anything and are clearly the ones influenced by others.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
I'll still give it a 3 for the lyricism but I don't like this album. Don't like the weird jazz, which I don't think meshes with her style. It detracts from it. I'll stick with her pre-1975 albums.
Nirvana
5/5
I still love this album. Solid straight through. And there's no denying its influence in pushing grunge into mainstream popularity.
Lenny Kravitz
4/5
Although it's not my favorite Lenny album, it was an impressive debut and cemented his style...seamless blend of rock, funk, soul. And that voice.....
P.S. Just have to add that he's even hotter now than he was then, which is a feat unto itself.
Grateful Dead
4/5
Let me start by saying that I cannot stand the Dead, that whole scene, and all their hippy dippy jamming (shudder). However, it's impossible to deny the influence of this album, as inexplicable as it is to me. I'm objectively giving them a 4 for that reason.
I will add that even though I loathe pretty much every other song by them, I have a strange fondness for Friend of the Devil.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
I don't enjoy it at all...but again, being objective because I see that it's important in its focusing attention on racial injustice and systemic racism, as well as blending genres.
The Human League
3/5
It's mostly pretty fluff. Of course Don't You Want Me, is still one of my favorite fun 80s songs. But I'd forgotten how much I love Seconds, which was the B side on the 45 single of Don't You Want Me that I bought at K-Mart in 1981. Excuse me now while I listen to it for the rest of the day.
OutKast
3/5
Grizzly Bear
2/5
Snoozefest. And another that I question as truly influential. So many of these albums I think are chosen just because some hipster wants to look cool by picking something obscure.
Pixies
5/5
Also in my personal top ten, along with Surfer Rosa.
A perfect album, and certainly one of the most influential indie bands.
I could gush about it all day.
Top tracks: No. 13 Baby and Gouge Away
Jeru The Damaja
1/5
Michael Jackson
5/5
I don't see how any album that has Thriller, Beat It, AND Billie Jean can't be given a 5. Even with the four dud songs, it still is undeniably one of the most influential albums of all time both on the music and video scene.
The Band
3/5
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
I really like the Pet Shop Boys, but I wasn't familiar with this album and found it very bland compared to others.
The Mars Volta
2/5
It's like if Borderline Personality Disorder was an album.
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
Likeable but I wouldn't say influential.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Not my thing but I can't deny the talent or influence.
Klaxons
2/5
1/5
Nope
2/5
I have tried to like her a few times over the years...but I don't. Maybe you like either PJ or Liz Phair? I'm definitley in the Liz Phair camp. Harvey's music is boring and well...just boring.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
I like the Stones, but not this. This is just a lot of copying.
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
Jimmy Smith
3/5
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Release and Burning the Heather are their best albums. So far the two on this list have been blander ones.
Sheryl Crow
3/5
Meh. Average white girl 90s music.
Pretty boring.
I have always liked Strong Enough though.
Beatles
5/5
Not my personal favorite but definitely a great one
Def Leppard
4/5
Pop hair metal is not my genre, however I've had a fondness for Def Leppard since Bringin' On the Heartbreak from High n' Dry. Then I saw them in 1983 after the release of Pyromania (opening for Billy Squier...hilarious). Hysteria only has maybe four songs that I listen to, but one of them is an all time favorite for pure fun....Pour Some Sugar On Me. So for that song alone I'd have to give this album a 4.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
The Beach Boys
2/5
I feel like I should be grading on a curve just because it's the Beach Boys and because of Brian Wilson's death...but I really did not like this at all. Weird.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Sebadoh
3/5
This is exactly the kind of thing I was listening to in the early 90s. Wondering why I've never heard of them! i really liked most of it and will be listening again.
The Verve
2/5
I've always hated this album...especially Bittersweet Symphony. Annoying AF.
Green Day
4/5
They get an extra point from me for continuousy calling out the fascist regime at their shows. That's punk.
I do like them though.
Sonic Youth
3/5
I saw Sonic Youth in a small club in Boston in 1990 and have long enjoyed Daydream Nation and Goo when I'm in the right mood for it, but I'd never listened to Sister before. Some good stuff.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
I liked the first song and I was hoping it was all going to be in that style, but it wasn't. I like his voice but there's nothing grabbing me enough to listen again.
Prince
5/5
Fantastic album.
Little Red Corvette is just plain sexy, and the song that first got me listening to Prince.
I have a special fondness for International Lover because it cracks me up.
Steely Dan
1/5
Steely Dan is in my category of "bands that make you immediately change the radio station if they come on"....along with Bob Seger and The Doobie Brothers.
Worst Dad Yacht Soft Rock.
Ick.
Stereo MC's
1/5
Meh.
Not buying it as "influential".
Duke Ellington
4/5
I'm sure generally he deserves a 5 but I had to take off a point for it being a live album that was way too long with all the extra talking and stuff.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
It's honestly not really my thing but no denying the talent or influence. My favorite song of his is not on this album...Crosstown Traffic.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
That is some fine guitar playing and beautiful vocals. I'll definitely listen again.
Tina Turner
2/5
Meh.
Never was a fan and it's extremely dated.
UB40
1/5
Nope.
Stan Getz
4/5
I really enjoy this...in fact we have some of these tracks on a cocktail lounge mix cd from the 90s.
I feel like to thoroughly enjoy it though, you need to be sipping a cocktail in a dark corner with your lover.
Cypress Hill
1/5
Nope.
Mylo
1/5
Good grief.
It's like musak from a mall clothing store.
Of course I assumed from the title that I would hate it.
Fiona Apple
3/5
I think she has a great voice but her music is too sleepy for me.
Super Furry Animals
2/5
Never heard of them before.
It was okay.
Not sure I'm buying the "influential" part.
The Divine Comedy
2/5
Oddly, I know this band, because ONE of their songs is a favorite of mine, on several of my playlists.
But it's not on this album, and the album it is on doesn't have any other tracks that I like very much.
The name of it is Songs of Love, from the album Casanova, which came out a year before this one.
Most of his stuff is just, frankly, weird. I thought they were a one hit wonder and only now am learning they (really mainly one guy though) made 12 albums, the most recent just this year!
Duran Duran
5/5
Automatic 5.
One of the best.
Hard to even pick a favorite track....Hungry Like the Wolf, Hold Back the Rain, Save a Prayer, The Chauffeur.
Saw them twice....1984 and 2023. They may have been even better the second time.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
3 for cultural relevance but overall quite bland.
Tom Waits
2/5
I love Tom Waits as an actor and human. I do really love a few of his songs. But none of them are on this album.
He has a really lovely voice when he's not trying NOT to. My favorite songs by him are old ones like Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You, In Between Love, and I Want You.
Tori Amos
4/5
A favorite when it came out, and it was definitely her best. I hadn't listened to it in years...still loved it. Great voice, great writing, and no doubt influenced countless female singer songwriters.
The Pogues
4/5
Fairytale of New York is one of my all time favorites.
Love them.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Very good...although not as good as The Velvet Underground & Nico.
I am particularly fond of After Hours.
Pere Ubu
3/5
I can see how much it influenced a lot of bands I love, although I find it painful to listen to. I read one read one review that referred to it as "assaultive" and I'd have to agree, but it also said they had the vision to push boundaries, which I also agree with. I don't want to hear it again but I appreciate that it paved the way for others.
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
Monotonous
Eminem
1/5
No.
Rod Stewart
4/5
I was a big Rod fan in high school. I saw the Tonight I'm Yours tour....it was one of my first concerts when I was a freshman. Great musicianship on this album. I prefer his later 70s stuff although I always like Maggie May.
The Doors
2/5
Other than Roadhouse Blues, I find this album quite tiresome. But I burned out on the Doors many decade ago.
The Temptations
3/5
Joanna Newsom
3/5
I'd never heard of her but found it quite good...unique with hints of Bjork. Some tracks better than others but I'll be listening again.
Gorillaz
2/5
Boring
Nanci Griffith
3/5
She's very talented, although I don't like this album and her voice is a bit too Twee for me.
Solomon Burke
2/5
Meh
Madonna
2/5
Autotuned to death. Most of her music bores me and I prefer the 80s stuff.
I liked I Deserve It and Gone best, and they're among the lowest rated songs on the album...but I think her slow thoughtful stuff is better than the dancy stuff.
Deep Purple
1/5
Songs are WAY too long and I don't really care for live recordings anyway.
The White Stripes
2/5
When I hear the White Stripes I always think "this is pretty good stuff"...but then I never go back for more.
I don't dislike it but it just doesn't draw me in. I couldn't tell you a single song by them except for Seven Nation Army because everyone knows that one.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Black Sabbath
4/5
The Cure
4/5
I don't listen to this album nearly enough. I forgot how good it is.
U2
4/5
In my opinion, U2 is highly overrated. This is, however, an album that I used to enjoy, and their last good one, although I liked a couple of songs off All That You Can't Leave Behind.
I really like One, Mysterious Ways, and Love is Blindness.
The Cure
3/5
Well, it's the Cure, so it's good, but definitely not my favorite.
Janet Jackson
2/5
I find it very bland.
Little Richard
4/5
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
1/5
Another one that I'm not buying as influential.
And it will put you into a coma.
Beatles
3/5
Soul II Soul
2/5
Dr. Dre
1/5
Alice Cooper
3/5
Not bad, although chances are I'll never listen to it again. It's funny that he's considered this heavy metal "godfather of shock rock" because it all sounds pretty tame!
Kid Rock
1/5
He gets an automatic 1 for being a all around horrible excuse for a human. I would give him a zero if that were an option. No listening.
The Smiths
5/5
It's been awhile since I rated something a 5...this is a definite 5 for me. It's the first Smiths album I owned. I love every song.
Favorite tracks: Unhappy Birthday, Girlfriend in a Coma (and yes, I think this was the first song I ever heard by the Smiths and I was immediately in love).
Aerosmith
4/5
I'm a big Aerosmith fan...I've had a crush on Steven Tyler for decades...and while I don't love every song on this particular album, any album containing both Sweet Emotion and Walk This Way has got to earn it a 4. They're two of the most iconic rock songs of all time, which I honestly never get tired of hearing!
Can
2/5
I found this extremely agitating and repetitive.
The Electric Prunes
2/5
It's hard to imagine that anyone thought putting the word "prunes" in a band name would sound cool.
Kind of generic psychedelic light.
It feels like music that would be written for a mockumentary...like the Thamesmen backstory in Spinal Tap.
Miles Davis
2/5
Marty Robbins
3/5
Morrissey
2/5
Common
2/5
Genesis
2/5
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
Eek...they should have stopped in the 90s. I love Loveless but this is just boring.
Pixies
4/5
Another favorite. Maybe not peak PIxies but I love it, and it has a couple of my favorite Pixies songs...Is She Weird and Veloria.. It's all Solid.
Perhaps it's my sentimentality towards the glorious early 90s...but who cares.
In light of the state of the world, I'm just going to go immerse myself in Pixies and pretend that it's 1991 and that the only things I have to worry about this weekend are what I'll be drinking, what I'll be wearing, and who I'll be sleeping with. Best times.
B.B. King
3/5
The Who
4/5
I really like the Who although this one's a bit early for me, and a bit silly. You can hear the foundations of their later style though and the influence on concept albums and rock operas. I can imagine how new and fresh it was at the time. For influence I'll have to give it a 4.
Traffic
2/5
Deep Purple
1/5
Nope
ABBA
3/5
I love ABBA but I didn't know this album at all until they used One of Us and Slipping Through My Fingers in Mama Mia. The rest is okay but not my favorite.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
The Jam
4/5
Iron Maiden
3/5
Devendra Banhart
1/5
Soft Cell
3/5
Overall a really boring album, although Tainted Love is still one of my top favorite 80s songs....and I also love their cover of Where Did Our Love Go.
They earn a 3 for Tainted Love alone.
5/5
I question the sanity of anyone who doesn't give this album a five. It's perfection.
Willie Nelson
3/5
I love Willie but the covers fell a bit flat and hokey for me. Still, his voice is beautiful.
Massive Attack
1/5
massive attack of boredom and drowsiness
4/5
I'm not a big fan of live albums but I love Bob and this was a pivotal moment/tour. Hard to believe so many silly people made such a fuss over the addition of electric guitars....that is definitely the better half of the concert, with the exception of Just Like a Woman and Mr. Tambourine Man
Thelonious Monk
3/5
Not a fan of most jazz.
I audibly groaned when I saw the album choice for today.
It grates on my every nerve, even after living with a jazz musician for a few years and trying very hard to learn to like it. Still didn't take, and ultimately neither did the relationship.
But I know objectively that they're brilliant musicians so I'm just going to give it a safe 3.
Dr. Octagon
1/5
I'm sorry...what?
Dude's got issues.
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
Pretty in Pink is still a favorite and the album is okay but a bit monotonous overall.
Deep Purple
3/5
The Beach Boys
3/5
Public Enemy
3/5
Massive Attack
2/5
I had no idea what genre this band was in until we got Protection a couple of weeks ago. I didn't like it at all. This one is only marginally better. But, as I do with bands I'm not familiar with or are questioning why they're here, I did some research on them and found that I do like some of their later stuff...the collabs with Sinead, Liz Fraser, Damon Albarn, etc. Hopefully we'll get to those albums because they're miles better.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
4/5
Most excellent pickin'
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
The Modern Lovers
3/5
I was not familiar with the album or the band. Gave it a listen without looking up any info about it first. I immediately thought it sounded too much like a Velvet Underground knockoff with a little Doors thrown in here and there. After listening I looked them up. I was familiar with Jonathan Richman by name but not not by music. And yes indeed, it did say the album was produced by John Cale of the Velvet Underground and that Richman was viewed as a Lou Reed successor of sorts.
It was okay. I didn't love it. Maybe if I'd heard it back in the day I would appreciate it more.
Steve Winwood
1/5
Old dad yacht rock. This should not be on the list.
The Dictators
2/5
The Prodigy
2/5
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
Not my thing and I find live recording sounds distracting, but she has a flawless voice.
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
I love his music, although I had not heard this album before, and indeed, never listen to any of his albums in their entirety. This is a strange one. I love his voice, as always. I read that he said he originally intended to do a concept album for each of all the 50 states...which would be an impressive feat, although I'm guessing it's not going to happen. He's a unique voice. He takes the mundane and turns it into the ethereal. It's a lot to listen to the whole thing in one go, but I'm fascinated by how his mind works.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
She manages to be completely unique but still pop at the same time, and an icon to the eccentric. I didn't realize that only 3 of the songs were originals...but three of the best. My favorite track is her cover of Prince's When You Were Mine...and she does it so much better than he did. She's still one of the coolest chicks around.
Orange Juice
2/5
They're blending genres but I don't find them original for the time, and the album is a snooze.
Minor Threat
3/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Foo Fighters
3/5
They're not my favorite band but I like them...especially a certain handful of songs that are not present here. This isn't my favorite album by them but it's solid classic 90s rock. I enjoyed hearing it again.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Joe Ely
3/5
ABBA
4/5
Gang Of Four
3/5
The Fall
2/5
Black Flag
3/5
Gives me a headache. But people sure do seem to rave about it.
Talking Heads
5/5
I don't think it's their best, but what a debut! And certainly original and influential.
Tom Waits
3/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Most of the album is just okay. But it gets a 3 anyway because The Killing Moon is one of my all time favorite 80s songs.
Cream
4/5
Strange Brew is one of my favorite classic 70s rock tunes. Groovy. And of course outstanding musicianship.
T. Rex
4/5
The Specials
2/5
Sonic Youth
4/5
Saw them at the Paradise in Boston in March of 1990, and it kind of gives me anxiety to remember that trip because I was with a group of ne'er-do-wells that I had no business hanging out with, but somehow got invited and said yes. Great album though.
Fela Kuti
3/5
Aerosmith
4/5
I would say 3.5.
I love Aerosmith, but I like Toys in the Attic better, and also their later stuff.
Wilco
2/5
I really don't get the popularity of this band. Snooze.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Not as good as Rumours, and it could use some editing...it's a little too long and a couple of these songs could easily be deleted to make a much better album. But it's still a great one.
Paul Simon
2/5
I didn't listen to this album when it first came out, but the people in my circle in the mid 90s were obsessed with it and WAY overlistened to it. And it was never my thing. So I low-key hate it due to overexposure to something I didn't really want to hear in the first place. Besides that I find it to be really monotonous.
2/5
I saw the 18 minute song and rolled my eyes.
Then I listened to it and rolled my eyes harder.
No thanks.
Suede
2/5
Supergrass
3/5
The Blue Nile
1/5
WHY is this here???
It's obviously not anything original or influential for its time. Just painfully boring.
Soft Machine
1/5
Nope
Fats Domino
3/5
Ella Fitzgerald
4/5
Rage Against The Machine
3/5
Radiohead
3/5
Miles Davis
2/5
Hate it. So anxiety inducing.
I'm tired of having jazz foisted upon me.
I'm only giving it a 2 because I know the musicians are talented.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
2/5
Iggy Pop
3/5
Meh. I'll give it a 3 because it's a classic, but I think that's very generous. I find his stuff pretty bland.
David Bowie
5/5
I hadn't listened to this album in its entirety in years...I forgot how fantastic it was. I'd probably give it a 4.5 but since we can't do half stars then I'm going to give it a full 5.
Carole King
5/5
I mean, it's Carole King!
And just hit after hit after hit.
George Michael
3/5
I find it mostly pretty bland. I do like Heal the Pain though....probably because I know it from a movie that I love called Last Christmas.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
1/5
Rush
3/5
Bauhaus
3/5
Run-D.M.C.
2/5
Peter Gabriel
5/5
One of those albums that's an automatic 5 for me...no question. And one of the rare albums that I enjoy listening to all the way through. Red Rain gives me chills every time.
Alice Cooper
3/5
The Velvet Underground
2/5
Not their best...
CHVRCHES
2/5
Some of it was okay. But mostly the beats are anxiety inducing. And is it really influential??? I'd more influenced by someone else than influential.
Ray Charles
2/5
The Waterboys
3/5
I bought this when it came out and I have quite a large Irish music collection, but to be honest I think it's a pretty boring album and not anywhere close to the best of the genre. The only really great song is When Will We Be Married...LOVE that one. I would probably only give it a 2.5 overall.
Billie Holiday
2/5
Not really a fan to start with and these songs are awful. They all sound the same.
Wilco
4/5
Every once in awhile I hear a Wilco song and think "oh, I think I like them"....and then I listen a little longer and realize why I keep changing my mind about that.
Overall I find them hokey, and they make me sleepy. But this is definitely their best, and I guess I need to give it a 4 because of Jesus and Heavy Metal Drummer.
The Who
5/5
Absolute 5. Classic.
Little Simz
2/5
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
1/5
Nope
Joy Division
3/5
Fatboy Slim
1/5
Does anyone really listen to this voluntarily? Also...I'm not buying that it's influential.
Everything But The Girl
1/5
What even is this.
Just awful.
The Clash
4/5
Eels
2/5
It's pleasant enough but not very interesting. And again, I question whether it's "important" or "influential".
Gang Starr
3/5
Not my thing at all but I'll give it a 3
John Grant
2/5
Never heard of this guy...and it's pretty obvious why. I can think of better ways to be put to sleep.
It also sounds very 70s and I think it was more "influenced by" than "influential".
The Cars
5/5
A 5 isn't good enough for this album. The Cars were my favorite rock band when I was a teen. Still one of my faves and this is in my top 10 best albums of all time. Just What I Needed is a song I never tire of hearing. I will forever regret missing them at the Cumberland County Civic Center in 1987.
Michael Jackson
5/5
Gotta give this one a 5. It established him as a serious solo artist who had broad appeal with listeners across genres. I don't think Thriller would have popped off so hard if this hadn't come first. It has a couple of duds but the rest surely makes up for it.
Throbbing Gristle
1/5
WTF was I just subjected to.
No.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
1/5
I used to like a few songs on this album but Anthony Kiedis is a dick and the Chili Peppers are really overrated, so they get a 1.
The Youngbloods
2/5
James Brown
3/5
Waylon Jennings
5/5
Not my genre but this is the real deal.
Sigur Rós
4/5
I like them, but I can't really listen to them. It's too sleepy. Good for background mellow music.
Best track: Staralfur
Heaven 17
2/5
Not the best of 80s synth pop.
The Go-Betweens
3/5
I'd never heard of this one. I did enjoy it although the chances are slim that I'll ever hear it again.
Van Morrison
3/5
Not much of a fan...it's a bit dorky for me...but he does have a distinctive sound, even if it is repetitive.
Beach House
2/5
It's not unpleasant but it's really boring.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
I have no basis for judging this genre so I guess 3 is safe.
Steely Dan
1/5
I absolutely loathe this band. So awful.
Johnny Cash
5/5
Wow...I really hate the new interface on this platform. It sucks. BUT this album is a 5 for Hurt alone. I love to sing it but I can hardly get through it without tearing up, every damn time.
KISS
2/5
Well, they certainly were popular, but if they hadn't had the makeup gimmick I'm sure no one would know who they are. Really bad music. The best song is Beth...which is saying a lot.
Oasis
2/5
Live Forever is one of my favorites and on many of my playlists. That said, I think this is a boring album, mediocre at best. I don't care if I ever hear any other song off it again.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
The Who
4/5
I adore See Me, Feel Me...and I forgot it was part of the last track rather than a stand alone. Ambitious and the quintessential rock opera.
Derek & The Dominos
2/5
Not my thing, and although I always liked Bell Bottom Blues, Clapton is a bit difficult to listen to now.
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
Never heard of them and I'd be happy if it stayed that way.
Queen
4/5
Although this isn't my personal favorite Queen album, and not one I would normally sit and listen through, it's still brilliant.
The Charlatans
2/5
Well, they were definitely influential on Oasis...so that's something?
Lou Reed
3/5
R.E.M.
3/5
Half of the songs I love. The other half are not very interesting but still really pleasant to listen to. Not my favorite REM album but I still enjoy it.
Finley Quaye
1/5
No,
4/5
It's not an album that I would normally want to sit and listen to. I like Devo, but one song at a time is enough for me. I find it agitating to listen to the whole thing at once. That said, there's not denying their pioneering sound and influence!
The Stooges
2/5
No thanks
The Stone Roses
2/5
Likeable but too homogenous to be very memorable. I remember trying to listen to them back in the day and being bored by them.
Tim Buckley
1/5
Boston
1/5
Seriously???
The Smiths
4/5
Not my favorite Smiths album but still really good. And my son would be very disappointed in me if I didn't give it at least a 4 because it's one of his favorites.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
I really like Nick Cave, and I appreciate his music and lyrics. However, I don't find it to be listenable. It's very monotonous and sleepy.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Gil Scott-Heron
3/5
King Crimson
3/5
I thought I liked this more....but that was when I was much younger, dating someone who was really into King Crimson, and doing the occasional hallucinogens. They don't really speak to me now, but still the top of the list in prog rock.
The Who
4/5
I prefer the studio versions. Not a fan of recorded live music.
Elvis Costello
2/5
It's fine but I don't see why it's here because it's not anything new for him. I'm questioning why it would be considered influential.
Santana
3/5
Various Artists
2/5
I guess this was a very popular album at the time? But these are definitely not the best versions of these songs...none of them make the cut for my Christmas playlists.
Fatboy Slim
2/5
Meh
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
I find this so horribly monotonous. It gives me anxiety. But I'll give it a three because google says they pioneered jazz/rap...which would explain why I find it so irritating.
Metallica
2/5
Meh
3/5
I love the Kinks, but this is not their best.
Doves
2/5
AC/DC
5/5
You Shook Me All Night Long is one of my all time favorite rock songs. Just for that I might give it a 5 but honestly it's a really good album and there's no denying its ifluence.
Bon Jovi
4/5
I was never much of a fan, but they're fun (honestly, who doesn't like to rock out to Living on a Prayer???) and they definitely popularized pop hair metal, so they get a solid 4 for influence.
Electric Light Orchestra
5/5
Automatic 5! One of my all-time favorites!
Blue Cheer
1/5
nope
Scissor Sisters
2/5
Why not just listen to original disco, which was better? And as a Pink Floyd fan, I found the cover of Comfortably Numb to be an abomination.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
5/5
ZZ Top
2/5
Did I have this album in highschool? Sadly, yes. Did I listen to anything on it but Sharp Dressed Man? No. All their songs pretty much sound the same.
Neil Young
3/5
Meh. I like Neil Young but I honestly hadn't listened to this one before and probably wouldn't again. Great musicians though and reading up about it I can better understand its appreciation for the emotional aspect.
The Band
3/5
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
Hawkwind
1/5
Hell, No
Small Faces
1/5
That's another "hell, no" from me.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Well, it's no Blood on the Tracks, but definitely a great one. I Want You has always been one of my favorites.
TV On The Radio
3/5
First few tracks did not do anything for me. But some of it grew on me and I ended up saving tracks 4 and 6 to my general playlist. Kind of an interesting fusion of sounds and styles.
Iron Butterfly
1/5
Eurythmics
2/5
Honestly I was expecting to give this a higher rating, but upon listening....it's really not good. Annie's vocals are outstanding as always, but the music is terrible and boring. Really only the one good song.
Radiohead
5/5
Fela Kuti
4/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
I always have this problem with Nick Cave. I really like him as a person, and his music and lyrics can be hauntingly beautiful, but I also find it impossible to listen to except in very small doses. It's too subdued and slow and I feel like I might fall into a coma. It's also quite a lot of the same sound over and over again.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
To be honest, I've never been a fan. Too hippy dippy for me. Certainly they're are great musicians and great at harmonizing, but I find them irritating. I can't deny their influence though.
The Damned
3/5
Stephen Stills
2/5
Too much hippy. Too much country.
Jeff Beck
2/5
Bob Dylan
5/5
Dizzee Rascal
1/5
I fully admit I am no fan of hip hop but this is particularly cacophonous. No hyperbole, I would lose my mind of I was locked in a room with this.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
A masterpiece
Nas
2/5
Erykah Badu
1/5
The Last Shadow Puppets
2/5
It's not offensive but it's certainly not very interesting. Are they really trying to sell this as "influential" though? It's not anything original for the time. Sometimes I have to wonder about the people that pick out these albums.
Bruce Springsteen
1/5
Once again I call bullshit on an album being "influential". Just because you wrote songs about 9/11 is not enough to make it influential! Boring.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Anita Baker
2/5
Buck Owens
2/5
Harry Nilsson
4/5
I don't know who else remembers this, but there was a movie that came out in 1974 called Son of Dracula. It was produced by Ringo Starr and starred Starr, Harry Nilsson, Peter Frampton, John Bonham, Keith Moon, etc. It was a campy mess about how the son of Dracula, who's father was assassined, wants to give up immortality to marry a mortal girl he's fallen in love with, rather than take over the throne over the Netherworld in his father's place. My dad had the soundtrack album and I LOVED it...even though I was only 7 when it came out. Four of the songs from this album were on it...Without You, Moonbeam, Down, and Jump Into the Fire. The album cover opened out into vampire wings. See, I leaned goth even at age 7! Anyway...just for the memories of the soundtrack crossover I have to give it a solid 4.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Todd Rundgren
1/5
That was just an awful mess. Made my brain hurt.
Kings of Leon
1/5
The first couple of songs I thought were okay but it went downhill from there...and how is this "influential"? There isn't anything original about it.
Johnny Cash
5/5
Koffi Olomide
3/5
It was pleasant enough for the first couple of songs but then got way too repetitive. And the songs are really long. I don't know how to rate this genre though so I'll give it a safe 3.
Ash
4/5
I had never heard of this band or album before. I knew the song Girl from Mars (the least interesting song on the album) but only from the last couple of years, and I thought it was much more recent. I LOVED this whole album...fantastic! Can't believe I didn't know it from the 90s. It's been added to my library. Looks like they have a ton of other albums which I'm looking forward to checking out. 4.5
Barry Adamson
1/5
WTF. Pioneered the "imaginary soundtrack"??? Does anyone just sit around their house listening to this? When I imagine a sountrack to my life, it certainly doesn't sound like this. Anxiety inducing.
GZA
1/5
Neneh Cherry
3/5
Blondie
5/5
No question that this gets a 5
The Incredible String Band
1/5
Okay, I'm gonna need whoever is on the committee that picked these albums to tell me exactly why this is on the list and who they thought it influenced, besides Ren Faire minstrels. I'm calling bullshit.
Solange
3/5
Led Zeppelin
5/5
My two favorite Zep songs are on this album...Tangerine and Immigrant Song. One of the great rock albums.
Kelela
2/5
If qualudes were an album
Beck
3/5
Just meh. Beck has many better albums than this.
Depeche Mode
4/5
Soundgarden
4/5
I saw Soundgarden play here in Portland, ME on Halloween night 1989, at the Tree Cafe...but no one knew who they were yet at that time. I was there to see my friend's band, Lars Vegas, who was opening for them. Crazy.
Superunknown is a great album...I used to listen to it quite a lot when it came out, and of course Chris Cornell had an amazing voice.
Elliott Smith
5/5
Just beautiful...and personally meaningful.
Faith No More
2/5
Epic was the only half decent song they ever made...but it's not enough to save them.
Hot Chip
2/5
Killing Joke
2/5
The Verve
1/5
I really hate this band. Whiny voice. Boring. At least we didn't have to suffer through Bittersweet Symphony on this album, but that's not going to save it.
Paul Simon
1/5
Never heard of this album. Not a big Paul Simon fan anyway but this certainly should not be on this list.
Tom Waits
3/5
I think Tom Waits is cool, but there are only a handful of songs that I actually enjoy listening to...and none of them are here. Still getting a 3 just because it's Tom Waits.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
5/5
Suede
2/5
Just a rehashing of glam. What's new here?
Fun Lovin' Criminals
3/5
Napalm Death
1/5
Yeah, NO
Laibach
1/5
Seriously???
Burning Spear
3/5
Meat Puppets
3/5
I actually didn't know that Plateau was originally by Meat Puppets!
Ryan Adams
1/5
No way should this be on this list.
The Mothers Of Invention
1/5
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
LTJ Bukem
1/5
Nope
Sonic Youth
4/5
Jurassic 5
3/5
Malcolm McLaren
1/5
WHY
Keith Jarrett
2/5
I hated this so much. Incessant pounding in the first three pieces. Enough to drive one one insane. I'm sure he's a very accomplished musician but I'm not a fan of piano music and I really don't get why anyone would want to listen to this.
The Byrds
4/5
Love
3/5
Brian Eno
2/5
Taylor Swift
3/5
Not as good as Folklore, but pleasant. She doesn't have much range though.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
Simply Red
2/5
Was never a fan. Boring.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Frank Sinatra
2/5
I remember in the 90s when it was cool to like the old crooners. Must have been the same time everyone was into swing dancing. Over it.
William Orbit
1/5
Nope
Guns N' Roses
4/5
You're in the Jungle, Baaaby!
Daft Punk
1/5
Rocket From The Crypt
2/5
The Police
5/5
No question it's a 5.
The Monkees
3/5
Though they were engineered to be an American Beatle knockoff, I do think they are underrated musically. Some of their stuff is pretty interesting. Some not so much. Some is just weird. But...I was a devoted fan when I was a child and Davy Jones was my first serious crush...and probably why I've got a thing for short guys. Two songs I loved from this album when I was young...Shades of Gray and A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You. So in honor of that I think this album deserves at least a 3. I would probably give a 3.5 if that were an option.
The Replacements
2/5
I find the Replacements really overrated. I've tried to listen to them many times over the years, from the 80s till now, and I'm always bored. The only song I really love by them is Alex Chilton, which is not on this album.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
1/5
Never liked them. It's like an overdose of quaaludes in band form.
Drive Like Jehu
1/5
Todd Rundgren
2/5
Wow that album is really long.