I did have Play on CD so felt very nostalgic, had no idea what trip-hop was at the time. Quite enjoyed it but I think it'll only be a 2 as I can't see myself going back to it again and the second half dragged a bit, bumping it down a star. I didn't know at the time but If Things Were Perfect sounds like a massive rip-off of The Overload by Talking Heads.
Still my least favourite Smiths album, but Barbarism Begins At Home is a banger, and the guitar on That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore is beautiful
I often heard a Best Of growing up as my mum likes him, but this is my first time actually listening to an album. A few massive tunes but not impressed overall, feels like there's a lot of filler
I hadn't heard any albums apart from Brothers in Arms before but it was decent. Down to the Waterline, Southbound Again, Sultans and Wild West End are great, getting a 3 because how can you beat this incredible lyric about being in Chinatown: 'duck inside the doorway, duck to eat'
V good, I had only heard the Nico album before. I liked the gentle hazy vibe, Candy Says and I'm Set Free are gorgeous, The Murder Mystery is incredible. I let it play a second time so a solid 4
I've tried to get into grunge before as it feels like something I should like, but it never clicked for me. However, I enjoyed this once I got into the vocals. Three stars as it could lose 3-4 songs and I'm not sure I'll go back to it, but it has definitely made me rethink my position on grunge - I'm looking forward to hearing Soundgarden and Pearl Jam who are inevitably on this list somewhere
I was hoping this would be all weird glitchy stuff like the first 5 mins (because I like that kind of bollocks) but it's just jazz jams after that for two pissing hours. A bit like Heavy Weather, I feel like there's something here that you could get into, but I'm not so it's a 1
I wasn't expecting an Aldous Huxley reference in first song. All I Wanna Do is obviously a banger, What Can I Do For You is really interesting, enjoyed Run, Baby, Run. A fun listen but not sure I'll be back
Thought I'd enjoy this more but it's not doing much for me, Mother and Child Reunion and Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard are still decent though. Can't be giving it more than 2 sadly
I have such a low opinion of them so I was surprised that this isn't completely dreadful but... I'm not fussed by it at all so it still gets a 1
I've been looking forward to this since I saw it was on the list, getting a well-deserved 5, love it
Knew the name and that they were Scottish but never heard them before. This was bizarre, really enjoyed the vocals, I'm going to give them more of a listen so it's a 4
Nice enough but didn't grab me
This just isn't for me at all so I'm giving it a 1, but it wasn't actively dreadful to have on, there were some fun wee bits in it
This has some really lovely songs on it, perfect for a sunny day. I thought I would hate it as the lyrics to the first track are spectacularly inane but got into it, Oh, What A World, High Horse and Golden Hour are my favs
3 stars, liked it more than P*rnography. A Forest obviously a banger, enjoyed At Night which sounds like it's straight off Movement by New Order
This is alright, tickled me to hear Americans singing about Merthyr and Newport
This is... interesting, but three stars interesting I reckon. I might go back to it though, not sure how to feel about it yet
BORING. Also Eric Clapton is a dickhead
Long been on my list of 'bands I'll probably like when I get around to them'. I like the janky vibe, a few huge tunes on there too, might give do a full discography listen sometime
It's alright innit, definitely has a stronger start than end
I've only heard Raising Hell before but enjoying this so far, always love the old-school shonky electro-y production where you can see the seams. 30 Days is a banger, production is really good and it changes it up from the rest of the album. A solid 3
I thought this was bobbins, it's a 1 from me. Just not a fan of the slower ballad-y songs, disappointed it didn't go harder
Decent enough but nothing grabs me for a relisten
Still a top album and it's bonkers that it was created as the final project for their course at college
I have no interest in this, dull as fuck, there's an 11 minute song in the middle and Paint It Black isn't even on this version
I hadn't actually heard any Prince albums in full before this, 5 stars easy. The second half is so comically good that it makes up for the few songs in the first half I'm not as keen on (Darling Nikki is just too horny for me). Baby I'm a Star goes so fucking hard, I've listened to it ten times this morning
I'm not a big jazzhead but I quite liked this, feels like there are enough interesting bits that I could get really into it if I wanted. I also really love that fretless bass sound from hearing it in prog/jazz-influenced metal so that helped a bit
I did quite like some songs (Muudo Hormo, Djam Leelii, Kettodee) but can't rate it highly as I was just waiting for it to end in the second half. Giving it a 2 as I didn't completely hate it but I won't be going back to it
Couldn't be arsed with this, especially not an 11 minute version of Papa Was A Rolling Stone
Lovely stuff, especially liked Day is Done, Cello Song and Fruit Tree
I liked this, not as dark as I thought it would be, Tracey's vocals are great. I wasn't expecting an anti-war song about nuclear submarines in Scotland (The Night I Heard Caruso Sing), beautiful stuff. It gets a bonus point for making me cry, so a 3 from me
Good this. I knew Shot From Both Sides before which sounds dead similar to Lipstick by the Buzzcocks - looking it up, apparently they shared the riff and both writers are credited on both songs which is cool.
Enjoyed the surprise sax in My Tulpa, Recoil sounds like early Fall, Motorcade and The Light Pours Out of Me are v good, it's a 4
It was fine and enjoyed a few bits but mostly didn't do much for me sadly. Green Light massive tune obviously, enjoyed all of the weird noisy bits on Loveless
Never heard a full S&G album before, but really enjoyed this, especially everything after Bookends Reprise. The unexpected synth bit in track 2 made me double check what I was listening to
I had high hopes for this but I did not like it at all. Some of the music was okay but I found the vocals so irritating, the guy's accent + singing style really grates for me at points (esp in Grass, Dying and Sacrificial Bonfire). 1 star given grudgingly
Entertainingly naff at points, Scenes From An Italian Restaurant and Get It Right First Time were standouts for me. I liked it more than expected, just edging into a 3
Decent
This must be one of the albums I've listened to most in my life but I haven't heard it for 10+ years now. It's a weird feeling going back to something after that long and realising you still know all the lyrics, feeling very emotional and nostalgic just now. I saw them at my first festival (TITP) when this had only just come out but everyone knew all of words, even to the album tracks, it was lovely being part of that crowd.
It's not as full of bangers but I do really love the second half (although I'm convinced Change My Mind wasn't on any version I had and therefore it's bobbins). Andy, You're A Star is my favourite now, not something I thought 20 years ago. I think I'd be kidding myself if I gave it anything apart from a 5, the nostalgia is too strong
Richard III, Sun Hits The Sky, Going Out are big tunes, but can't give it more than a 2 as it's only alright (haha)
This is way more fun than my memory of it, feels like it's quite witty somehow. Enjoyed finding new stuff like the dub influence on Piggy which I had no idea about before.
I'm split on whether Hurt is still powerful or if it's quite cringey now - saying that, the 'if I could start again' line did hit me hard. Heresy is certainly laughable Marilyn Manson-esque, anti-Christian rubbish which I thought was cutting-edge social commentary when I was 14/15.
Special shout-out to March of the Pigs which I happened to see (and tape!) on MTV2 before I knew who NIN were - it was fast to the point where it felt like it was going to fall apart, had guitars but also loads of electronics, a gentle piano bit in the middle of all the chaos, I loved it. Felt more 'extreme' than the thrash metal I was mainlining at the time, set me up for more interesting stuff and it was probably why I bought this album in the first place.
Not idea why their other stuff doesn't do it for me, might give them another go sometime
I only know the singles so it was interesting to hear properly gloomy Cure stuff. I kind of liked it but it all seemed to merge into one song. I imagine it probably benefits from relistens, but it's a 2 for now
Beautiful, one of those albums that's exactly in tune with my brain
Didn't grab me on the first listen, but loved in on the second
Decent
It's alright but not super motivated by it and not likely to go back to it
Not listened to it for years so happy that it still absolutely slaps, production is insane, an easy 5
Didn't really click for me. I didn't know Fascination though, warra tune
It's a 2 from me, it was edging a 3 but it's never a good sign when I'm hoping the album will end soon. First track was a standout for me, felt weirdly profound somehow
The highs (only about half of the songs) are so high that it's a 4
Absolute bobbins, deserves zero stars
Never listened to any Jam albums in full before. Set the House Ablaze and Scrape Away were the standouts for me, That's Entertainment didn't hit as hard as I remember
3 as it's a solid listen but not inclined to go back, Electricity is a banger
Springsteen just leaves me cold, I'm not keen on his voice and I don't get caught up in the music, it feels flat to me. I know he's got a good rep live and I could imagine enjoying these songs more with some extra energy in them.
The only bit that I got some feeling from was the sax in the middle of Jungleland, Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out and Meeting Across The River were alright too. I didn't absolutely hate it, so it's a 2
This is probably the most nailed on 5 on this list for me (after Stop Making Sense obviously), still blows my mind
Realising now that I haven't heard their first three albums at all, only Elephant onwards. Giving this a 2 as I'm not super keen on it, feels a bit aimless/loose compared to later stuff
Not really a big jazz head but this was alright (Take Five doing some heavy lifting there)
I've Got To Give It Up and award 2 stars only. I know it's seminal, etc and will reward repeat listens but not doing loads for me tbh
Giving it a 2, it's cool to hear and enjoy something totally unknown and always like anything dub-adjacent. The first half is much stronger than the second though, feels like it drags on a bit
An easy 5, could Satellite of Love be the best song ever written? It's possible
Some really beautiful songs but I don't think I'll go back to it, so it's a 3
Apart from Sabotage, this isn't very good at all, way too long
I always feel a bit uncomfortable giving low ratings to stuff that is just not for me but I think it's a 1 realistically - I didn't dislike it and it was fine to have on but equally, got nothing from it and was looking forward to it being done so I could listen to something else
A 3 from me, definitely got my ear in for country now. Too Far Gone was my fav and enjoyed hearing Boulder to Birmingham again
Love this, 5 stars, makes this and Purple Rain are the only albums I've never heard in full before that I've given 5 stars to so far. I especially love the bass - the bass tone and playing on Rio really reminds to Barbarism Begins At Home by The Smiths, of all songs
I expected this to be bobbins beyond the first song but it is tons of fun. I stopped noting down the tracks I especially liked as it's all of them bar about two
This was decent but not quite managing a 3
Not keen
Still a cracking album, the highs are extremely high
It's fine but not really fussed by it
Fuck me, this is dire, how did he go from There Is a Light That Never Goes Out to 'lol Americans are fat'. First of the Gang to Die is decent but the rest is incredibly petty and unimaginative (and let's not forget that he's a far-right dickhead too)
I preferred this Springsteen album to Both to Run but I am still very much not a fan, so giving it a 2. Adam Raised A Cain was the best track of the lot
This didn't click with me as much as it did when I was 20 but it's still quality. Might go back to it sometime as I had forgotten all about him
This gets a 5 on account of being a stonking album. Being Boring always makes me cry, brutal for a first track. So Hard goes, well, you know
Not feeling this at all, have a 2 you Scientologist weirdo
So this made me cry, which I was not expecting. Some really beautiful songs on here, Can I Sleep In Your Arms set me off. Also there's a song early on where his girlfriend leaves him for someone else and he's like 'fair dos, hope you're happy and he's a lucky guy', I respect it Big Willie
This album seemed to go on for months, realised I didn't have it when I was younger so not even any points for nostalgia. I feel like I have a pretty high tolerance for 'silly' music but so much of it just sounds so stupid (derogatory) to me now, and some of the lyrics are dead iffy. I think the best songs are the 'serious' ones like Under the Bridge and Breaking the Girl, I guess they leaned into that more later on
Never listened to the Style Council before - no idea what's going on but I like it, nice to hear from Comrade Weller
An easy 5 stars, what an album
It's another easy five stars but when they come up, imagine I'm giving New Order fifty as I like them disproportionately more
Similar to Purple Rain for me - I knew the big songs but hadn't listened through it before, it also has one half that's absurdly strong and pushes it to a 5
A few really fun songs (Bongo Bong and Mentira) but didn't click with me as an album
Nice to have a decent blues album after Bluesbreaker. It's a fun listen, Piece of My Heart is the obvious highlight
Don't bother with much thrash now but this must still be one of my most listened-to albums ever. It's super fun, bouncy and catchy, very cartoony, two songs based on Stephen King stories and another about Judge Dredd. A proper classic for me, they don't deserve the shit they get
A leftfield choice but one of my favourite Fall albums. I love how weird and lo-fi it is, somehow jaunty and creepy at the same time. Also I love the classic MES weird pronunciation of the 'scene' as 'sken-eh' in Music Scene
Incredibly strong start with the bonkers intro song and some bangers in there, but also a lot of filler. Cuckoo is bananas though, sounds exactly like Sparks
Gets a 5 for having the first ever metal song on it alone and starting this ridiculous genre
A classic that actually holds up, although it flags a wee bit towards the end
I used to love this but found it very boring 15 years later
Absolutely fucking dreadful, how do I give this negative stars? Shit album topped off with a racist cherry right at the end
It was alright, better than expected for music for parents in 1998 who didn't really like music, which it was always been in my head
This was the first album I ever bought! My mum was not happy that it had a song called 'Fucking in Heaven' on it but I was so innocent that I didn't know why it was bad beyond having a swear word in it.
It was a nostalgic listen and interesting hearing it again now I can parse how it was constructed after decades of listening to music since I first heard it, BUT (and it's a big but) it's pretty dull overall tbh
Alright but didn't grab me
Never heard it before, some huge bangers and also some bizarre stuff (what the hell is Lady Cab Driver). Let's Pretend We're Married was my fav, sounds like New Traditionalists-era Devo with better vocals
Another punk classic that still holds up
Not really my thing but it was nice enough
Still good but didn't like it quite as much as I remember. Forgot about that weird fake German techno song and hated the Rocky Horror-esque one
This was beautiful, never listened to him before but saved it for later
Not fussed about this, Mrs Vandebilt was my fav track but not arsed beyond that, it gets a 2 as I need to save the 1s for truly dreadful stuff like Kid Rock
'DO YOU THINK YOUR WU-TANG SWORD CAN DEFEAT ME?'
How do we give something 100 stars?
Bobbins
I really wanted to enjoy this more as they're very much on the 'bands I'll probably like' list. A strong start but feel like it dropped off
This is very good with loads of huge tunes but it's only getting a 3 because I'm not listening to it again, I have better things to do than get really into Radiohead
Dull as fuck, is that how they got so big?
Actually better than I expected but, crucially, still shite
It's very good, needs more time with my lyric-listening head on
Somehow never heard it before and thought it was one of his ambient ones. Second half is much stronger - On Some Faraway Beach is absolutely beautiful and Dead Finks Don't Talk is brilliant, love the drums on it
This is batshit, some klezmer, Ennio Morricone and KC and the Sunshine Band in there. Recognised a few things that have been sampled in there too, although the only one I know for certain was the very start of Mera Pyar Shalimar is sampled at the start of a Go! Team song. A fun listen overall
Fine but a bit aimless as an album and I was desperate for it to end
