Don’t fear this art rock masterpiece! 😱🤘 As Talking Heads rank among my all-time favorite bands and Fear of Music being my most enjoyed album of their discography, I wanted to avoid any personal bias with re-listening to the album from a purely subjective vantage point….which only reaffirmed the place it holds for me as a truly remarkable artistic feat. David Byrne and co. continued to ascend the musical landscape of the late 70’s post-punk and emerging new wave scene as true pioneers, uniquely crafting a sound all their own with genre defying releases that this one further eclipsed following their terrific first efforts respectively in each of the two years prior. For those keeping score, a record a year pace that would carry through to their landmark creative output on Remain in Light (as foreshadowed on the opener here I Zimbra). Artfully reinventing groovy disco funk with elements of world music influences (afro beat), punk and experimental rock with a jarring energy that steers clear of any commercial sensibility, yielding a heightened confidence and self assured maturity in these eclectic batch of songs. 🎧 Classic Track: Life During Wartime 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Animals 🎧 Personal Favorite: Mind The central theme of fear is the focal point of the album’s tone, conveying a nervous anxiety through Byrne’s neurotic songwriting and vocal delivery, exploring the emotional complexity of life experiences in topics such as drugs, war, the environment, animals, cities, mindfulness, death and well….music. Not a single skippable track in the bunch, each one as entertaining and memorable as the last, coming in at a breezy 40 minutes that leaves an indelible mark. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Top tier 💿 A must own for your vinyl collection! Special mention must also be had for what producer Brian Eno brought to this record, a mainstay with the band throughout their career and for good reason. The chemistry between these musicians would have them breakthrough the mainstream with their 80’s output, however by that time stylistically were becoming a bit too toned down. Fear of Music are Talking Heads at their edgiest, weirdest, coolest, quirkiest, funkiest finest hour. **I recommend having a read of the Fear of Music book (Jonathan Lethem) in the 33 1/3 series, which is a great companion piece to the album 📗** Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

This one really challenged me with the experimental soundscapes that are a bit beyond my musical comfort zone, which is what I absolutely love about the 1001 album listening journey! BJÖRK is an artist I’ve been somewhat familiar with beyond her early career with The Sugarcubes and understood to have significant accolades for her unique and inventive song structures, however I’ve always been reluctant to dedicate the time required to fully absorb her music. Primarily, my listening experience to her output has been with the more mainstream tracks from the 90’s records Debut and Post, as I tend to overlook the more pure electronic and ambient genres, however I have appreciated elements of these styles that bands such as Radiohead and to a greater extent Portishead have brilliantly incorporated into their discographies. The recording here includes an array of instrumentation that transcends a fixed category, as BJÖRK fuses electro-beats with strings and even music boxes! Having listened to this album in its entirety, as a full body of work, is what makes me appreciate what the artform of a record can be as a true sensory experience. Dreamy, melodic, ethereal and wintery are feelings this album emotes, adding that it also appears to be deeply personal and intimate through the evocative vulnerability in her lyrics. 🎧 Classic Track- Hidden Place 🎧 Hidden Gem- Harm of Will 🎧 Personal Favourite- Pagan Poetry Now BJÖRK’s voice can be an acquired taste and at times distracts from the lush sensuality of the album’s production. It will demand repeated listens to fully grasp the broad scope of intricate details and meaning, however my initial reaction was a definitive 4 rating! 🖼️ Album Artwork: Glorious 💿 Add to your vinyl collection! Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

Having never listened to an entire Zeppelin album from start to finish, I was struck by the heavy dose of blues throughout this record! Wow what have I been missing all these years…There is much more to enjoy here than I would have thought, going in with a preconceived expectation of simply hearing a pure ‘classic rock’ sound. 🎧 Classic Track: Good Times Bad Times 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Black Mountain Side 🎧 Personal Favorite: Dazed and Confused Sure there is much sampling, however isn’t that what most great artists do in some form or another? Their specific take on those specific songs was rocking to my ears and my foot was tapping all the way through. I’m looking forward to experiencing further deep cuts and hopefully a few more surprises by this legendary (indeed classic rock) band! 🖼️ Album Artwork: Iconic 💿 Worthy of adding to your vinyl collection! Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

Although a pioneering showcase of the new wave sound and influential with blending elements of several pop genres, this album was not as enjoyable a listen as I remember it to be. It is not a bad record, there are some really great songs, I would say quite overrated for what is presented overall based on the legacy it has. Costello’s voice was a challenge to endure at times, especially on “Lip Service”. 🎧 Classic Track- Pump it Up 🎧 Hidden Gem Track- Lipstick Vogue 🚫 Skip Track- Lip Service I appreciate the lyrical themes of Costello’s songwriting and the musicianship of what The Attractions brought to the recording! 🖼️ Album Artwork: Loved 💿 Worthy of including in your vinyl collection! Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

Groundbreaking essential listening! Pixies helped pave the way for what would become mainstream alt-rock of the 90’s. To those that don’t seem to ‘get’ Pixies music or the critical legacy they have garnered, particularly with their first 3 releases, you have to remember the time in which these albums were released; an era in which 80’s synth pop and hair metal bands were dominating the charts. Pixies were simply WAYYYY ahead of their time! There is a famous quote that sums this up best- ‘in 1987 Pixies sounded like no other band. By 1992 every band sounded like Pixies with loud…quiet…loud song dynamics’. I may be a bit biased here as Pixies are among my all-time favorite bands, however without them many of those others would simply not exist within the same realm. 🎧 Classic Track- Where is My Mind? 🎧 Hidden Gem- Vamos 🎧 Personal Favorite- River Euphrates The vocal delivery of Frank Black Francis’ howling aggressive shrieks against Kim Deal’s mellifluous melodic harmonies, blended with Joey Santiago’s uniquely creative guitar whaling and David Lovering’s masterful drum beats continue to be unmatched by any other band to this day (including the current incarnation of Pixies). Mr. Albini can also thank Pixies for the record production and engineering career notoriety he would receive with capturing such raw sounds with helping many other bands achieve (namely The Breeders, PJ Harvey, Nirvana & Low, in addition to his own bands Big Black & Shellac). 🖼️ Album Artwork: Classic! 💿 Absolutely hold a place for it in your vinyl collection! **Although their 1990 album Bossanova is also included in the 1001 list, for my money their 1991 release Trompe Le Monde is even better and serves as a great appetizer to Frank Black’s extraordinary solo discography. **I also HIGHLY recommend listening to Kim Deal’s band The Breeders first release Pod (1990), which was also produced by Steve Albini. That recording contains a very similar raw sounding and punchy drum aesthetic. Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

Having never listened to an entire Zeppelin album from start to finish, I was struck by the heavy dose of blues throughout this record! Wow what have I been missing all these years…There is much more to enjoy here than I would have thought, going in with a preconceived expectation of simply hearing a pure ‘classic rock’ sound. 🎧 Classic Track: Good Times Bad Times 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Black Mountain Side 🎧 Personal Favorite: Dazed and Confused Sure there is much sampling, however isn’t that what most great artists do in some form or another? Their specific take on those specific songs was rocking to my ears and my foot was tapping all the way through. I’m looking forward to experiencing further deep cuts and hopefully a few more surprises by this legendary (indeed classic rock) band! 🖼️ Album Artwork: Iconic 💿 Worthy of adding to your vinyl collection! Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

Although a pioneering showcase of the new wave sound and influential with blending elements of several pop genres, this album was not as enjoyable a listen as I remember it to be. It is not a bad record, there are some really great songs, I would say quite overrated for what is presented overall based on the legacy it has. Costello’s voice was a challenge to endure at times, especially on “Lip Service”. 🎧 Classic Track- Pump it Up 🎧 Hidden Gem Track- Lipstick Vogue 🚫 Skip Track- Lip Service I appreciate the lyrical themes of Costello’s songwriting and the musicianship of what The Attractions brought to the recording! 🖼️ Album Artwork: Loved 💿 Worthy of including in your vinyl collection! Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

How was this created by the same brain child as the kid that provided backing keyboards to Slam Bamboo? Trent must have stumbled across some Skinny Puppy…and thank God he did for us to be gifted this astounding musical achievement! 🎧 Classic Track- Closer 🎧 Hidden Gem- A Warm Place 🎧 Personal Favorite- Hurt For a non metal head, this album was much more accessible than anticipated to keep my full attention throughout the layers complex arrangements of emotional depth in Trent’s lyrical overarching conceptual theme. However dark and unsettling the subject matter is, the messages resonate strongly. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Top marks! 💿 Definitely add to your vinyl collection! Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

Groundbreaking essential listening! Pixies helped pave the way for what would become mainstream alt-rock of the 90’s. To those that don’t seem to ‘get’ Pixies music or the critical legacy they have garnered, particularly with their first 3 releases, you have to remember the time in which these albums were released; an era in which 80’s synth pop and hair metal bands were dominating the charts. Pixies were simply WAYYYY ahead of their time! There is a famous quote that sums this up best- ‘in 1987 Pixies sounded like no other band. By 1992 every band sounded like Pixies with loud…quiet…loud song dynamics’. I may be a bit biased here as Pixies are among my all-time favorite bands, however without them many of those others would simply not exist within the same realm. 🎧 Classic Track- Where is My Mind? 🎧 Hidden Gem- Vamos 🎧 Personal Favorite- River Euphrates The vocal delivery of Frank Black Francis’ howling aggressive shrieks against Kim Deal’s mellifluous melodic harmonies, blended with Joey Santiago’s uniquely creative guitar whaling and David Lovering’s masterful drum beats continue to be unmatched by any other band to this day (including the current incarnation of Pixies). Mr. Albini can also thank Pixies for the record production and engineering career notoriety he would receive with capturing such raw sounds with helping many other bands achieve (namely The Breeders, PJ Harvey, Nirvana & Low, in addition to his own bands Big Black & Shellac). 🖼️ Album Artwork: Classic! 💿 Absolutely hold a place for it in your vinyl collection! **Although their 1990 album Bossanova is also included in the 1001 list, for my money their 1991 release Trompe Le Monde is even better and serves as a great appetizer to Frank Black’s extraordinary solo discography. **I also HIGHLY recommend listening to Kim Deal’s band The Breeders first release Pod (1990), which was also produced by Steve Albini. That recording contains a very similar raw sounding and punchy drum aesthetic. Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

Nothing revolutionary here and although pretty straightforward and uninspired easy listening soft rock, this collection of songs is executed quite nicely. I do prefer albums with MUCH greater creative ambition, those offering real emotional depth to challenge my listening ears with embracing something edgy and far less mainstream (the comments on this being textbook elevator music are spot on!). Having said that, I do respect the musicianship on display with this recording and Mr. Piano Man can clearly carry a note as a singer. 🎧 Classic Track- Just The Way You Are 🎧 Hidden Gem- Vienna 🎧 Guilty Pleasure- Movin’ Out (‘ack ‘ack ‘ack ‘ack ‘ack) 🚫 Skip Track- Get It Right The First Time While this genre of musack is not quite my cup of tea, there is nothing offensively bad with the record and produced some notable big hits. Cheesy sure, but it’s fine :) 🖼️ Album Artwork: ❌- not impressed Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

It feels all too formulaic to be considered among the best recorded albums of all-time, so you’ll have to forgive my confusion for it being included on this list. There are some moments of intriguing creativity that are admittedly catchy with Lorde’s songwriting being introspective and self-aware, albeit clichéd. 🎧 Classic Track- Green Light 🎧 Hidden Gem- The Louvre 🎧 Guilty Pleasure- Homemade Dynamite 🚫 Skip Track- liability (reprise) Unfortunately, Lorde’s unique vocal delivery and the glossy production are unable to influence my greater interest with these collection of songs. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Loved Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

2PAC Against My Ears! I have never been a fan of pure rap music, especially of the gangsta variety, and this album only exemplifies my distaste for it. Overtly self-indulgent, misogynistic obscene songwriting littered with profanity which is supposed to be taken as ‘poetry’? Musically there are digestible grooves here, however the vibe is completely offset by such offensive lyrics and tripe subject matter. It is laughable that Mr. PAC seemed to think that the world owed him something for the many perils he directly caused for himself. I mean wasn’t he incarcerated at the time this was released? 2PAC’s attempt to brand himself as a martyr right at the onset of the ‘Intro’ track was immediately a turn off and nothing that I heard throughout the rest of the recording redeemed itself for me. 🎧 Classic Track- ?? 🎧 Hidden Gem- Old School (if not for the vulgarity) 🎧 Least Objectionable- Dear Mama 🚫 Skip Track- nearly all as I lost count of how many N* & F* bombs were delivered to my ears. Fu** The World was particularly egregious! I’m hopeful that other rap & hip hop records on this list can help redeem the genre for me. This garbage was certainly not it. 🖼️ Album Artwork: ❌- Hideous Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

This one really challenged me with the experimental soundscapes that are a bit beyond my musical comfort zone, which is what I absolutely love about the 1001 album listening journey! BJÖRK is an artist I’ve been somewhat familiar with beyond her early career with The Sugarcubes and understood to have significant accolades for her unique and inventive song structures, however I’ve always been reluctant to dedicate the time required to fully absorb her music. Primarily, my listening experience to her output has been with the more mainstream tracks from the 90’s records Debut and Post, as I tend to overlook the more pure electronic and ambient genres, however I have appreciated elements of these styles that bands such as Radiohead and to a greater extent Portishead have brilliantly incorporated into their discographies. The recording here includes an array of instrumentation that transcends a fixed category, as BJÖRK fuses electro-beats with strings and even music boxes! Having listened to this album in its entirety, as a full body of work, is what makes me appreciate what the artform of a record can be as a true sensory experience. Dreamy, melodic, ethereal and wintery are feelings this album emotes, adding that it also appears to be deeply personal and intimate through the evocative vulnerability in her lyrics. 🎧 Classic Track- Hidden Place 🎧 Hidden Gem- Harm of Will 🎧 Personal Favourite- Pagan Poetry Now BJÖRK’s voice can be an acquired taste and at times distracts from the lush sensuality of the album’s production. It will demand repeated listens to fully grasp the broad scope of intricate details and meaning, however my initial reaction was a definitive 4 rating! 🖼️ Album Artwork: Glorious 💿 Add to your vinyl collection! Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

Another high note listening experience courtesy of the 1001 album list :) This one has been on my radar to immerse myself in for quite sometime but somehow fell through the cracks, so I was delighted when it came through the generator today as my album to review. I was already familiar with the two opening tracks as well as the reputation this release has for sounding very Dylan-Springsteen-Americana-esque, which it very much dose, however not to the degree that it compromises from its own distinct identity. This is a very cohesive album, each song flowing nicely into the next, contemplative in feel that is pleasantly airy and dreamlike. I put this on while I was driving along rural backgrounds and the scenery complimented these tracks beautifully. 🎧 Classic Track- Under The Pressure 🎧 Hidden Gem- Suffering 🚫 Skip Track- In Reverse The slow burn instrumentals are exquisite albeit extends the runtime of the album overall a tad too long, coming in just over an hour averaging 6 minutes per track. A wonderfully produced indie rock gem that I look forward to revisiting! 🖼️ Album Artwork: ❌- nothing special Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

Wow what an album! Combining Dylan’s trademark folk acoustic sound with the first introduction of electric instrumentation in his music that would help reshape the then emerging rock scene to what it would become for generations to come. Now I’m no Dylan super fan and this was my first listening experience with this particular album, courtesy of the 1001 album project…which really makes me wonder how I missed this for so long, as my relationship with his music had been HWY 61 onward. Essential listening that absolutely deserves its place on this list among the others! A classic, dare I say best Dylan offering? Time will tell (I’m only 10 albums into this journey), however I’m confident in rating this as my first 5 Star ***** :) 🎧 Classic Track- Mr. Tambourine Man 🎧 Hidden Gem- Outlaw Blues 🎧 Personal Favourite- It’s Alright ma (I’m Only Bleeding) The album artwork further solidifies my rating as the visual symbolism compliments his personal lyricism perfectly. Before Highway 61…Blonde on Blonde…Blood on the Tracks...There was this daring musical innovation for its time, that boldly challenged its contemporaries in the face of divisive criticism. I will now be on the lookout for a clean original vinyl pressing of this record to add to my collection! 🖼️ Album Artwork: Loved 💿 Add to your vinyl collection! Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

Avant garde krautrock that will thrust your music listening experience well beyond the boundaries of conventional sounds and song structures, however dedicated patience will reward your ears! This one gave me classic Residents vibes, a band that purposefully would make it difficult to endure their inharmonious songs, similarly found here beneath the uncomfortable surface textures is wondrous cerebral discovery. This will not be for everyone, as the songs can run long with unpredictable time signatures and random mixes of disparate instrumentation, which remarkably can work together in most songs resulting in a creatively unique and profoundly influential style. Progressive, atmospheric, psychedelic, punky and at times folk like, in arrangements that are made all their own. 🎧 Classic Track- Krautrock 🎧 Hidden Gem- The Sad Skinhead 🎧 Personal Favorite- Jennifer The opening track itself apparently coined the entire krautrock genre, to which I am now much more open to delving into after having listened to this surprising offering. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Mysteriously intriguing 💿 Add to your vinyl collection! Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

Ah Dinosaur Jr. the brainchild of J. Mascis, as one of the key pioneering forces of the 1980’s underground SST indie punk & emerging alt-rock movement. I highly recommend checking out the book “This Band Could Be Your Life” as Dinosaur Jr. are one of the bands profiled and linking the tremendous influence they had on crafting the sound more household names Pixies & Nirvana would become legendary for. This album hits all the right notes, a welcomed mix of aggressive guitar, melodic and shoegazy pop textures with Lo-fi production. If this is ‘slacker rock’ then call me a slacker McFly! 🎧 Classic Track- Freak Scene 🎧 Hidden Gem- Yeah We Know 🎧 Personal Favourite- Let it Ride 🚫 Skip Track- Don’t (Mascis screaming vocals are a bit over the top here!) It is difficult to pinpoint which Dinosaur Jr. album rises above all others, especially given they’ve had three distinct eras across their career. Bug is a worthy addition to this list nonetheless! 🖼️ Album Artwork: Perfect fit 💿 Add to vinyl collection! Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

Much more post-punk sounding then I was expecting, not that it’s in the same vein (or quality) as Joy Division or PIL, as the very 80’s mainstream aesthetic is on full display that could be no more evident then the peppered in saxophones. This was further showcased through lead singer Richard butler's drawling British accented vocals. Pretty in Pink is the obvious big hit here, however there are some other good songs to be discovered across the ten tracks making up the album. Having said that, it also contains definite filler. 🎧 Classic Track- Pretty in Pink 🎧 Hidden Gem- Mr. Jones 🎧 Personal Favorite- Dumb Waiters 🚫 Skipped Track- She is Mine This one interested me to garner repeated listens, however not memorable enough to move the needle from good to great. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Uninspiring Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

It might be off the wall…but it’s on funky fire !🕺🔥 The one and only Michael Jackson coming into his own as an emerging sensational talent on this record, musically leaps and bounds beyond all output he released proceeding it. The first in a trifecta of albums (Thriller & Bad were on the horizon) composing brilliant R & B danceable beats with funky disco pop and strong ballads with soul vibe. Track 7 is the outlier here, however the lyricism and emotional performance delivered reserves its place. Layer in Michael’s signature vocals and Quincy Jones’ smooth production and you have quite the remarkable sound mix that created a lasting legacy for who would become known as The King of Pop! 🎧 Classic Track Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough 🎧 Hidden Gem: She’s Out Of My Life 🎧 Personal Favourite: Get On The Floor I was nowhere near expecting to be as impressed with this album as I was, especially after repeated listens that convinced me how great it really is. Although overshadowed by the behemoth that Thriller became, Off The Wall was clearly the catalyst to the masterful duo of Jackson & Jones as together they were on the precipice of superstardom! 🖼️ Album Artwork: Jackson is clearly uncomfortable in his own skin, look at that forced smile😬 💿 Add to your vinyl collection! Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

Turn the key and enter these great songs into your life! Wow…there was so much to unpack from an initial listen to this mammoth double…nay…TRIPLE album, one that is worth every ounce of the accolades it has received with the lasting legacy it laid for the incredible artistry of Mr. Stevie Wonder! Now I won’t sugarcoat the fact that the album’s runtime is quite lengthy at just shy of two hours, however it is jam packed with entertaining grooves and heartfelt soul that will hardly test your patience to enjoy the set list in its entirety the whole way through. What I value most about this 1001 generator listening project beyond discovering such incredible music that I would otherwise have never dedicated the proper time to fully immerse myself with, is learning just how original and influential much of these albums were. I had no idea that ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ was actually interpolated from the Stevie Wonder song Pastime Paradise found in these collection of songs. My mind was blown! 🎧 Classic Track: Isn’t She Lovely 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Ngiculela - Es una historia - I am Singing 🎧 Personal Favourite: Village Ghetto Land Although a genre of music that is not typically in my regular rotation and a release well before my time, there is no doubt that it’s a classic must listen! 🖼️ Album Artwork: Iconic 💿 A must own for your vinyl collection! Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

Who's Next...is exactly what I was looking forward to while listening to this grossly overrated album. I have never been a Who guy, nothing about their music ever really hit me or seemed to warrant the high esteem they are placed in alongside other genuinely legendary rock bands of their time. This is not to say that I don't think that as individuals they are truly gifted musicians and that on paper they have an incredible line up of talent, however to me they do not equal the sum of their parts. This album is a perfect example of this, while certainly containing a few great songs (yes two that are iconic), I fail to hear what is so special about the body of work as a whole. What am I missing here?? Understanding the track list was made up of salvaged songs from the abandoned Lifehouse project that was meant to be a rock opera follow up to Tommy, the songs don't flow well together and feel like a mashup of scattered ideas. Additionally the production is uninspiring with echoed vocals from Daltrey. 🎧 Classic Track: Baba O’Riley 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Getting In Tune 🚫 Toss Away: The Song Is Over 🖼️ Album Cover: The boys pissing on it says all you need to know! Not a bad album overall, however nowhere near top tier. Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

It may have been making the money, but where was the Shake? 🤑 The Bland Crowes... 🐦‍⬛😐 Undeniably there are catchy tracks on this album, difficult not to be very familiar with the ones that were mainstay staples on commercial rock radio stations throughout the 90's and beyond...which is the biggest problem with its sound, way too pleasing to the ear that lacks any ounce of hard edge. 'Hey little thing let me ajfhdmksocfkowopwqnnriqwjcnj oh my mess around?’ What a vocal delivery! Perhaps at the time their revivalist take on old school blues was ahead of the 90's curve, as the decade would surface countless bands adopting this style of generic southern bar rock n' roll baby. 🎧 Classic Track: Hard to Handle 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Thick N’ Thin 🚫 Skip Track: Could I’ve Been So Blind? 🖼️ Album Cover: ❌ 💿 Add to your vinyl collection? 👎 I’ve heard The Black Crowes be referred to as blend of The Rolling Stones & Faces, which they certainly mirror in style…and take your pick of the legions of other bands that formed from this ilk playing it safe as a more palatable alternative to the alternative rock scene that shaped this era…Matchbox Twenty, Tonic, Hootie & The Blowfish, Lifehouse, The Wallflowers, Fastball, Eve 6, Barenaked Ladies and even those other ‘Crows’ of the Counting variety. While the production works for the resulting sound, creatively for me it’s just too uninteresting. Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

Don’t fear this art rock masterpiece! 😱🤘 As Talking Heads rank among my all-time favorite bands and Fear of Music being my most enjoyed album of their discography, I wanted to avoid any personal bias with re-listening to the album from a purely subjective vantage point….which only reaffirmed the place it holds for me as a truly remarkable artistic feat. David Byrne and co. continued to ascend the musical landscape of the late 70’s post-punk and emerging new wave scene as true pioneers, uniquely crafting a sound all their own with genre defying releases that this one further eclipsed following their terrific first efforts respectively in each of the two years prior. For those keeping score, a record a year pace that would carry through to their landmark creative output on Remain in Light (as foreshadowed on the opener here I Zimbra). Artfully reinventing groovy disco funk with elements of world music influences (afro beat), punk and experimental rock with a jarring energy that steers clear of any commercial sensibility, yielding a heightened confidence and self assured maturity in these eclectic batch of songs. 🎧 Classic Track: Life During Wartime 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Animals 🎧 Personal Favorite: Mind The central theme of fear is the focal point of the album’s tone, conveying a nervous anxiety through Byrne’s neurotic songwriting and vocal delivery, exploring the emotional complexity of life experiences in topics such as drugs, war, the environment, animals, cities, mindfulness, death and well….music. Not a single skippable track in the bunch, each one as entertaining and memorable as the last, coming in at a breezy 40 minutes that leaves an indelible mark. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Top tier 💿 A must own for your vinyl collection! Special mention must also be had for what producer Brian Eno brought to this record, a mainstay with the band throughout their career and for good reason. The chemistry between these musicians would have them breakthrough the mainstream with their 80’s output, however by that time stylistically were becoming a bit too toned down. Fear of Music are Talking Heads at their edgiest, weirdest, coolest, quirkiest, funkiest finest hour. **I recommend having a read of the Fear of Music book (Jonathan Lethem) in the 33 1/3 series, which is a great companion piece to the album 📗** Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

You won’t regret tasting this dark candy! 🍬😵‍💫 Another stunner of a surprise with this album, as my only familiarity with The Jesus & Mary Chain had been the Pixies cover of Head On (off their 1989 release, Automatic) and that the opening track on this one (Just Like Honey) was played during the end scene of the movie Lost in Translation. For some reason I was assuming this band would be sounding something akin to The Psychedelic Furs…boy was I wrong! Distorted guitars over bubblegum pop…think beach boys meets the velvet underground for a match made in abrasive heaven. What a truly gorgeous record. Aptly titled as these otherwise simplistic pure pop songs are shrouded in vitriolic guitar noise rock edge, resulting in far more interesting darker sound textures. Obvious core influence to the wave of 90’s Shoegaze and dream dream pop, with the likes of My Bloody Valentine being heavily indebted to the layered soundscapes that were masterfully created across these 14 tracks. It is astounding what young fearless musicians have the ability to create by not catering to the artistic norms of the time, which we continue to see shape and mold how musical genres evolve. 🎧 Classic Track: Just Like Honey 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: My Little Underground 🎧 Personal Favorite: The Hardest Walk The record also doesn’t overstay its welcome across the lengthy track list, timing in under 40 minutes! 🖼️ Album Artwork: ❌ would’ve been more effective minus images of the band members 💿 Absolutely worthy of holding a place in your vinyl collection! Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

Three Men Dad Rock! 🤘 🎸 Ahh good ol’ boogie woogie ZZ Top, a band that will be forever synonymous with memories of my late Father, who passed away just two months ago. A few of these songs have been seared into my brain since childhood, as they were staples on my Father’s favorite classic rock radio station, however until now I’ve never listened to a full ZZ album. The singles were as enjoyable as I remember, as was the overall package as a complete album. 🎧 Classic Track: La Grange 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Jesus Just Left Chicago 🎧 Personal Favorite: Precious and Grace 🚫 Skip Track: Move Me On Down The Line While I appreciate there were some unexpected creative left turns away from the hard rock blues the record is grounded in, namely the ballad ‘Hot, Blue, Righteous’ and the power pop inspired ‘Move Me On Down The Line’, these feel to disrupt the otherwise tighter cohesive blend of the core song mix. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Tres Bien! 💿 A fun add to your vinyl collection The three men with beards don’t take themselves too seriously playing up the Texas boogie rock, with Tres Hombres serving as the perfect companion to fixing your car in the garage or cruisin’ down the road on your hog! 🏍️🤘🏍️ Click the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 21 Dis-Connected! 🤷‍♂️ The inclusion of this album within the 1001 book publications is another blatant example of the personal bias Mr. Dimery seems to hold for artists with esteem to his local UK. How else would one explain countless subpar entries on a list of the best music records ever created, without representing those that left a similar mark in North America? (Pod by The Breeders, The Blue Album by Weezer, The Glow Pt. 2 by The Microphones, Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt, Aeroplane Over The Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel…perhaps the slight here is to indie music in general). I think everyone on God’s green earth is familiar with the song ‘Connected’ and sure there are a couple of other memorable tracks built around it, but these alone cannot warrant the album as a whole to stand among the best of all-time. Additionally, these songs are some of the most 90’s DJ dance party themed repetitive mixes imaginable (complete with the trademark female backing vocals!), which frankly have aged terribly. Perhaps this landed before the floodgates opened during an era of hip hop euro dance, but today it sounds very unoriginal. 🎧 Classic Track: Connected 🚫 Skip Track: Pressure- Is it just me or is this not a shameless rip off of ‘Unbelievable’ by EMF that was released a year earlier?!? 🖼️ Album Artwork: ❌- what in the world were they thinking with the cover art?!? 🤣 In my research of the album I also found out that it was shortlisted for a Mercury Prize…nearly chocked on my coffee with that little tidbit, as this is nowhere in the same realm with the brilliance of PJ Harvey’s Rid of Me which it was nominated alongside that year. Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 22 You won’t be ‘Dummy’ for falling in love with this sensually brooding masterpiece! The debut release from Portishead is an astounding listening experience that feels hauntingly cool and enchantingly moody, with slow beat blues cinematically adjacent to a James Bond score or a film noir soundtrack. Beth Gibbons’ vulnerable mellifluous vocals to the lush ominous backing arrangements of rhythmic hazy jazz beats, subtle drum cymbals and turntable looping distortion with meticulous placement of instrumentation around echoing bass textures, offer a captivating yet disorienting emotional soundscape. The innovative production technique to record actual vinyl needle crackling (sampling their very own music!) adds a warmth to the atmospheric dissonance, however no less mysteriously chilling as Gibbons’ lyrical themes of loneliness and despair double down on. 🎧 Classic Track: Glory Box 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: It’s A Fire 🎧 Personal Favorite: Mysterons A creative landmark of the 90’s Trip Hop movement and one that earned the group a very well deserved Mercury Prize award in ‘95 against some very stiff competition! This album was my gateway to becoming a big fan of Portishead (although their even darker follow-up second release might actually be my favorite) and by extension Beth Gibbons brilliant solo release ‘Lives Outgrown’. It also helped warm me to more eclectic sub genres (experimental jazz, electronic, hip hop, ambient) broadening my appreciation for these musical styles. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Sultry inviting 💿 A must add to your vinyl collection! Spin this seductive record on a stormy evening with candles lit and let the desolate ethereal textures encompass your soul. What a stunner 🔥⚡️ Click the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 23 Lowest Common Denominator Soundsystem! My judging didn't even have 'Sound of Silver' making the podium with a Bronze! I went in with an open mind on this one as LCD Soundsystem has never captivated my interest (beyond Daft Punk is Playing at My House), sadly what I heard here did very little to convert me. Beyond the endless repetition of the dance beats, which I could look past in this genre of music if produced tastefully, however there was just nothing in this tripe songwriting that was remotely interesting. Unimaginative compositions, disposable lyrics, imitative of far more creatively talented groups (Can, Daft Punk, Delta 5, Gang of Four, Liquid Liquid, Talking Heads and even Franz Ferdinand ) with piss poor vocal delivery. Now I'm not a hater, only call it like I hear it…sorry James Murphy, legions of hipster followers can be very wrong. 🎧 Only Redeemable Track: New York I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down 🖼️ Album Artwork: Nailed the silver theme 🤣 Researching this ‘band’ only grew my disdain for Mr. Murphy, a wannabe musician who once proclaimed “the world doesn’t need anymore music” and who also faked the group’s break-up in order to generate buzz for concert ticket sales. Why oh why is this on the 1001 list??? The even bigger question is how are there two LCD albums on it 😐 Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 24 Moss Side Story by BOSS MAN BARRY! Former bassist of Magazine and Bad Seeds performer Barry Adamson creates quite an intriguing gritty conceptual dark crime drama soundtrack to a film that doesn't even exist...what a brilliantly inventive approach to craft this impressive work of art. I really had no idea what to expect going into this album blindly, having never heard of it or knowing much about the talented musician behind its songwriting and what I heard was beyond refreshing! Going completely against the grain without any core subject matter to compose from, Adamson delivers the perfect imaginary soundtrack that is just screaming to be adapted. How has this work of such rich cinematic texture gone so overlooked? Well not entirely without recognition of course, otherwise it would not have been included on a list of must hear albums. This is by far the best surprise listen I have enjoyed so far and what I truly love about experiencing new or unknown music, a reminder of just how original true art can be. Foreboding, cunningly melodic, ambient, jazzy, industrial and tense in its story, all without any lyrical element as being distinctly instrumental. 100% deserving to be on this 1001 list (regardless of all the naysayers), do yourself a favor and listen to this phenomenal gem from start to finish, which you will likely enjoy more than most actual movies these days. Click the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 Albums- # 25 Darker is always better 🌃🖤 The Legendary Leonard Cohen delivers us a swan song, a mere 17 days before his untimely death. At 82 years of age and staring directly in the face of mortality, Cohen opines eloquently about life…death…love…God…as the truly remarkable poet he has always been, gifting us with a beautifully written sign off. 🎧 Classic Track: You Want It Darker 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Traveling Light 🎧 Personal Favorite: Leaving The Table Majestic yet agonizing as you feel the profoundness of his introspection, emoting a warm frailty with the raspiness of his vocals. R.I.P. Mr. Cohen and thank you for sharing your immense talent with the world. Click the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 26 I can only see why this record shouldn't be on the list! Yet another egregious inclusion from a UK band further cementing Mr. Dimrey’s blatant bias for these artists, regardless of musical quality. The XX are not a bad act, but please make the case for how this mediocre offering deserves to be here, let alone their much better self-titled debut? The introduction of more catchy dubstep sounds mixed with their defined romantic bedroom dream pop is palatable, however nothing that moves the needle in any dramatically interesting way forward. 🎧 Classic Track: On Hold 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Brave For You 🚫 Skip Track: Performance 🖼️ Album Artwork: To sum all things up here very simply, MEH. Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 27 Sounds To Love! 💗 I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this one as I hadn’t been directly familiar with the source material on it, other than the endearing adoration critics have showered Kate Bush with. Upon a first full listen I can certainly understand these accolades along with the influence she paved for aspiring female musicians in the generations to come. This album is really broken out into very distinct thematic sounds on each respective side; the first being traditional more mainstream song structures, while the second are conceptual and experimental in nature, which could play as different albums completely. A very unique approach especially for its time, however the accessible 80’s synth pop textures are very much peppered throughout both sides. 🎧 Classic Track: Running Up That Hill (Deal with God) 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Jig of Life 🎧 Personal Favorite: Under Ice There are a myriad of creative musical sounds mixes incorporated across these two track listings, all grounded in pop sensibility, however the most beautiful to my ears is the inclusion of the strings, which really capture an ethereal mounting tension with Kate’s lovely lyrical songwriting. A one woman show on display here as she brilliantly conceived this work of art entirely on her own. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Not a fan of the clichéd female glamour shot, especially for music that was this inventive I will absolutely be revisiting this captivating release, as there is a great deal of appreciation for the boundaries being pushed that clearly helped shape the way forward, which is what great artists are able to successfully accomplish! Unafraid to go against the grain, on her own terms in dedication to true original art. Press the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 28 Merri-what now?!? I’m not sure what in the world I just experienced listening to this ear torture, however it absolutely was not an album to hear BEFORE you die. I can’t pretend to even imagine any meaning behind what is going on in these excessively sloppy tracks, perhaps layered way down deep beneath the onslaught of the instrumental noise parade there lies something beautiful…I just struggled immensely to decipher it. 🎧 Classic Track: My Girls 🚫 Skip track: They all sound the same! One long endless loop of an erratic tonal maze, which seems to be what this band was going for. 🖼️ Album Art: Better than the muzak! Seems as though all the millennial hipster critics out here are being offended by the honest feedback about this record being a pretentious attempt at recreating psychedelic rock…and while I can certainly give these guys props for the electronica creativity, the resulting soundscapes are just too unpalatable for my ears. But hey, maybe I just don’t ’get it’. Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 29 Destroy This Mix! A one off ‘Album’ of pure DJ sampling makes the 1001 cut?? Oh wait he’s from the UK, now it makes perfect sense 🤣. While I do appreciate surprises in this project and not just the expected classics, I’m confounded by the inclusion of a record that is so unoriginal, so uninspired and so tedious that it genuinely just fills space as background white noise. Created by a non-musician, something literally anyone could mesh together using modern technology, however those more accomplished with the house-dance original songwriting have executed it brilliantly in contrast to what’s here (Fatboy Slim, Daft Punk, Chemical Brothers, Air). However these tunes are lifeless, the album art is hideous and the title is just plain offensive to any self-respecting music fan. I am sorry to say Mylo but you are a talentless hack, or at least play up the DJ stereotype ad nauseam. ‘Destroy Rock & Roll’ puuuuuuuuhlease 🙄 What did I do to deserve getting this to listen to right after an Animal Collective release?? My electronica patience has run out… Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my hot take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 30 ‘Bud-o-kan’ this really be one of the best live albums ever recorded… The power pop genre has never really grabbed my interest, most of it feels rather childish and a little too accessible to really hook my analytical brain, preferring much more complex and layered arrangements. Having said that, it is hard to deny the straightforward catchiness of this feel good music, especially when well produced and executed. For a live album this lands rather well, however I do struggle with the notion of it being considered among the very best of its kind. Cheap Trick was really a one trick pony (as is the case with most power pop groups), truly unfathomable to me that this is the recording that brought them into the stratosphere of mainstream success, quite the intriguing story behind it with their Beatle-Mania esque reception in Japan that initiated this rise to fame following three studio records that fell flat commercially in the U.S. This album does capture the roar of that crowd, which the band clearly benefited from with the energy behind their performance delivery of the songs. There are some clear highlights here that would become mainstays in their catalogue, they are just not enough for me personally to want to revisit with any heightened interest. 🎧 Classic Track: I Want You to Want Me 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Need Your Love 🚫 Skip Track: Clock Strikes Ten The tricks are cheap, but hey if this is your thing you'll likely have great fun with it. Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my hot take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS - # 31 My (oh) My Generation! Now we’re rockin’! A much more impressive sounding Who album than the highly overrated ‘Who’s Next’ that I first received from the band as part of this 1001 project. A stripped down pure garage rock track list, perhaps none too original for its time, however nevertheless very enjoyable with great tunes beyond the obvious standout. 🎧 Classic Track: My Generation 🎧 Hidden Gem: La-La-La Lies 🎧 Personal Favorite: A Legal Matter 🚫 Skip Track: I’m A Man Although a fairly solid debut album and one that I prefer over the band’s more acclaimed releases, it is stunted creatively with the multiple blues covers. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Prototypical band shot For a non-fan of The Who, this one is tolerable more so than most of their full catalogue. Perhaps they’ll grow on me as I understand there are a handful of their albums on this list to get through :s Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 32 The Who…again?!? No joke here, receiving back to back Who albums from this generator and already the third since I started the project and I’m only 32 albums in LOL What is with all The Who love anyway? A band that I could care less for combined with this being a live album, which rarely sound half decent to me, how could it miss the mark?? Well my assumptive assertions proved affirmative, as this is yet another overblown “best live album of all-time” claim, following the laughable suggestions that surrounded Cheap Trick’s At Budokan that I had to previously endure on this list. Sure the band sounds good when they are sticking to playing their actual set, however the exhaustive drawn out banter from Daltrey between songs is very trying. 🎧 Classic Track: Magic Bus 🚫 Skip Track: My Generation- a 15 minute rendition of this classic track?!? WE GET IT! 🖼️ Album Artwork: At least it is not another lame photo of the band! Leave it to The Who that with only 6 tracks they still fail to stick the landing on a complete album. This one also contains renditions of other musicians songwriting, aforementioned bloated cuts and distracting stage antics. If the band would have stuck to focusing on their own original compositions and musicianship, then perhaps this would be worthy of the praise it receives. Possibly the best live album of its time, however nowhere close to being the best ever recorded. Those that insist should listen to the myriad of deluxe editions that have been put out and thank the sound editors for scaling this way way down. Hit the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my hot take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 33 Tempting me on Cloud Nine! Well this was quite an enjoyable introduction to a complete album by The Temptations, having only been familiar with their big hits (My Girl, Get Ready, Ain’t Too Proud To Beg) and I can say I wasn’t expecting the potent fusion between funk and Motown soul. Apparently this record marked a significant change in sound direction for the group (psychedelic soul), along with a new line-up, earning them their first Grammy after 8 previous releases. To my ears it is a very good album, however I would hesitate to say great, not that it was undeserving of its accolades for the time given what came after it in the 70’s funk scene. 🎧 Classic Track: Cloud Nine 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Hey Girl 🚫 Skip Track: I Heard It Through The Grapevine Their rendition of ‘Grapevine is quite underwhelming and if you’ve read any of my other reviews you know how I feel about covers in general… This was a pleasant change of pace from the string of electronic and rock albums I have received from the list as of late, which had my fingers snapping and head noddin’ along to the excellent vocal harmonies. Hit the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 34 Miss Emmylou woooo…who knew country music could sound this divine? 🎤🤩 Listening to these lovely tracks I was simply in awe of Harris’ serene vocal delivery and spirited performances. There is no mistaking the traditional toe-tapping southern bluegrass sound textures and although the album contains mostly covers of original songs by country stars of the day (ie. Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard) and even a Beatles track, Emmylou’s renditions really shine and are more than welcomed here. 🎧 Classic Track: Bluebird Wine 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Before Believing 🎧 Personal Favorite: Boulder to Birmingham She may have been a singer-songwriter without the actual songwriting to her credit on this release, however the sole track she did pen (Boulder to Birmingham) highlights what the future would hold and is the emotional standout. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Subtly stunning Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 35 We are family…We are family…We are family… Essentially this entire album echoes the disco beat of that single song. Yes a great groovin’ tune, however the novelty fun wore thin before I could make it through to the end. 🎧 Classic Track: We Are Family (duh) 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: One More Time 🚫 Skip Track: Somebody Loves Me The vocal performances from the sisters are right on point for this disco funk, however creatively they were merely the showpieces as the songs were written and produced from members of another band of the era (Chic). It’s entertaining without being especially intriguing or memorable (unless you are of an age where these beats backed countless wedding receptions!) Click the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 36 Disintegrate your assumptions on the post-punk genre, as The Cure achieved something quite special with this late 80’s standout gem. Having never been particularly intrigued by Robert Smith’s goth rock persona and sombre vocals, afrer listening to this album for the first time in its entirety I must say I stand corrected! Yes- the sound textures are melancholic and desperate, however the instrumentation ties perfectly to the lyricism that is romantic, passionate and highly introspective. You can also hear a matured post-punk sensibility that pushes well beyond that of which the likes of Joy Division and PIL had pioneered a decade earlier. 🎧 Classic Track: Love Song 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Prayers for Rain 🎧 Personal Favorite: Plainsong The singles here are timeless classics and the full breadth of the album will require multiple listens to really grab you, unless it was one associated with your coming of age as many others have cited (I was only 7 years old when it was released). Upon reflection it undoubtedly helped pave the way for the 90’s alt rock boom, following a string of albums that embedded The Cure as an aforementioned goth band. 🖼️ Album Artwork: The essence of visual introspection It’s a classic, just not quite tipping the scales all the way to a top rating. Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 37 Bert Jansch the minimalist man! A self-titled easy listening little ditty of an album, from an understated musician poetically strumming acoustic folksy with his heart indelibly on his sleeve. I had never heard of Mr. Jansch, rather surprisingly as there are clear echoes of Dylan and Drake, quite a delightful discovery that I really enjoyed listening through this evening. No production tricks here, just a simplistic analogue recording of an artist conveying his authentic thoughts and feelings vulnerably through his guitar. 🎧 Classic Track: Needle of Death 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Running From Home 🎧 personal Favorite: Strolling Down The Highway This album would make for a wonderful companion piece to sitting by a campfire, driving through the countryside on a crisp autumn day or just unwinding at the end of the week with your beverage if choice. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Perfectly suits the aesthetic of these tunes 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Bonus marks for Bert hailing from Scotland, however it is his subtle vocals that really allow the songwriting to shine. It is rather curious that he is not more well known, especially with a prolific catalogue of 26 albums! Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 38 In Rainbows 🌈 could not be a more fitting title for how this music makes you feel, when taking the time to truly experience it…on vinyl, with great headphones, undistracted and immersed in its alluring warmth. For those that understand Radiohead well and respect their artistic musicianship (I’m quite surprised by how many don’t seem to out here) Thom Yorke and co. are always exploring innovative means to evolve their unparalleled sound regardless of how accomplished it becomes and this album is another solid example of that dedicated process. Having already released 3 landmark albums (The Bends, Ok Computer & Kid A) expanding the horizons of alt-rock with each new release (for all the shit Pablo Honey gets it really is no slouch for a debut and Hail To The Thief’s uniquely cohesive in its own right), In Rainbows was the record that nearly broke them. A new Radiohead album is a celebrated event, with it comes otherworldly expectations based on a superior discography that most groups would crumble under the pressure of. However this is no ordinary outfit. Crafting these songs of relaxed intensity and developing the album’s core intimate art rock sound texture was an arduous task for the band that took nearly three years to complete, resulting in what could be the best release in their catalogue, certainly within the genre and one of the greatest of all-time. It truly is a masterpiece of creative instrumentation, apt sensual production and mellifluous songwriting brilliance. 🎧 Classic Track: Jigsaw Falling Into Place 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Reckoner 🎧 Personal Favorite Weird Fishes / Arpeggi 🎧 Bonus Track Highlight: Last Flowers The tracklist flows eloquently with lush heady chords, a well manicured blend of seductive guitar hooks, groovy bass lines, electronic ambiance and beautiful piano notes that are presented to your ears in a cozy-like manner. The songs are striking yet subtle, unmistakably Radiohead without sounding too familiar to previous output. Was this the band at the height of their powers, achieving another unfathomable feat of surpassing the legacy of albums that proceeded it? One could argue this is the case, however when your line-up includes not one but two genius rock composers and chemistry across the full band unrivalled by few others, there could just be another rung for them to reach beyond what has come since- King of Limbs & A Moon Shaped Pool both serving as worthy contenders, along with Yorke & Greenwood’s side project output with The Smile. The bonus companion Disk 2 also offers some excellent tracks, which sweetens the deal of this studio collection (check out the From The Basement sessions on YouTube for a real special treat from the band performing these live). 🖼️ Album Artwork: Stanley Donwood delivers as Radiohead’s greatest visual collaborator. This one is a personal top 10 of all-time and on my desert island list. The fact this incredible album was released independently with a ‘pay what you want model’ as a big 🖕to the music industry is just the icing on the cake! Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 39 Snooooooop Dooooooogy….Sloppy Style. Where do I even begin to assess ‘music’ with lyrical content which include the lines “got a pocket full of rubbers and my homeboys do too', 'Guess who back in the motherf**in house with a fat d**k for your motherf**in mouth” 🍆🤣 Seriously though on musical merit alone this album definitely grooves, however it seems to focus too much on being a parody of itself ala Weird Al the rap version, striving to fit in as many N words and ‘biatch’ nouns as humanly possible. 🎧 Classic Track: Who Am I (What’s My Name)? 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Lodi Dodi 🚫 Skip Track: …For All My N**az & Bi***es There are some real LOL moments on this thing, clearly having aged horribly, however somehow is held in quite high esteem. Admittedly I’m no rap connoisseur, but you would think this whole shnizzle my dizzle schtick would’ve worn thin to justify spreading is across 19 tracks…and yet he continues up with this persona still to this day 30 years later?!? 🖼️ Album Artwork: As juvenile as the lyrical content 🐶 Being this lyrically offensive aside, there is just enough catchy beats to avoid a complete dumpster score. 🗑️🐕 Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my hot take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 40 How do I take you seriously Kelela with an album title and cover such as this… That is the problem I have with the image, style and presentation of music under the R & B category, it is all show for the artist over the actual art. This record production was supposedly quite groundbreaking for modern times, however pardon my ignorance for understanding how and why? They say not to judge a book by its cover, however when it comes to albums, the cover art (especially by staged performers) is often quite telling for how the music will sound. Perhaps I just prefer musicians who actual put the work in to write and perform their own material with physical instruments beyond solely utilizing a natural God given gift of singing, which in itself is often overshadowed by provocative images of said artist, Kelela being no exception. I really made an honest attempt to be open minded going into this one, however as others have stated, this ‘Alt R & B’ moniker does little to justify the tepid sound textures across each track. 🎧 Classic Track: LMK 🚫 Skip Track: Altadena Trademark sound effects- check ✔️ Backing echoing vocals- check ✔️ Sounds of snapping along to the beats- double check! ✔️✔️ 🖼️ Album Artwork: Scandulous Not offensive to listen to and the production is on point, however nothing worth returning to for me. Although given it’s ‘futuristic’ descriptors, perhaps just ahead of my time 🤣 Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my hot take of the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 41 Truth and Soul that 90’s alt-ska acts Sublime, Mighty Mighty Bosstones & No Doubt would soften the ‘bone edges of to push into the mainstream. Quite frankly after hearing this pioneering heavier raw punk blend, it’s a shame FISHBONE never got their just due. 🐟🦴 I’m not sure how this band has escaped me, perhaps overshadowed by the other similar sounding band ‘Phish’, who I never quite had time for. In any event there is a whole ‘lota fun to enjoy here right from the opening track. Combining elements of punk-ska-blues-funk-metal….wow! 🎧 Classic Track: Ma and Pa 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Ghetto Soundwave 🎧 Personal Favorite: One Day Some may argue that the album is directionless in its mashup of sounds, however to my ears the varied and unpredictable musical styles across the tracklist kept me actively entertained by how well it all worked together. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Love a classic band logo cover image! You’re in for an intriguing ride with this one, which many bands that followed seemed to take note of with nods to. Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 42 Yeeeeeeeee-haw BUCK- aroos! Bakersfield honky-tonkin' country classic, in that old time flare that would be covered and reshaped many times over, however these originals regardless of the poor production quality, really do deserve proper credit. I am quite inexperienced with the country genre as a whole thanks to the 'new country' movement of the 90's that has just soured my appetite for it, with that said I have found that the pioneering artists that incepted and carved out this niche sound were not only creatively talented but also entertaining. 🎧 Classic Track: I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Wham Bam 🎧 Personal Favorite: We’re Gonna Let The Good Times Roll What can I say, thank you Buck for hooking me in with your southern unpretentious charm! A very unexpected pleasant listen. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Very 60’s! Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 43 ELEPHANT sized whomp! What an album. Pure early 2000’s nostalgia jam packed with garage rock-revival anthems that became radio mainstays of the era, kicked-off by the epic Seven Nation Army which catapulted the duo into superstardom. Following a string of stripped down instant rock albums that had the pair slowly coming into their own as modern analogue purists of the garage-blues variety, and off the heels of their breakthrough release White Blood Cells, this is the record that blew the doors wide open as the culmination of their unique chemistry and vintage recording process. The Stripes were incepted as an outlet for Jack White’s insanely talented guitar shredding, with each new record his confidence growing as a musician, with a heightened maturity coming through the songwriting across this tracklist. However I would be remiss to suggest this is solely a one man show, as Meg’s steady backing drums really were the backbone to their trademark sound. Avoiding any digital components and stylized with muffled production to capture that rough around the edges punch, Elephant turned the volume up to max power, while avoiding to venture too over the top with moments of focused restraint , acoustic strumming and melodic balladry. 🎧 Classic Tack: Seven Nation Army 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: In The Cold, Cold, Night 🎧 Personal Favourite: The Hardest Button to Button The defining record of classic White Stripes before they would experiment with broader instrumental arrangements, every single track here is worthy of high praise musically, lyrically and performatively. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Can you spot the hidden image of an elephant on the cover? Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album 🐘

1001 ALBUMS- # 44 Sentimental Suburbs 🏡 Indie suburban sprawl, the final chapter of a remarkable opening 3 album run to Arcade Fire’s discography that would leave them destined to veer off course in the wake up mammoth critical acclaim, however it has been quite a fall from grace since. The record is a blue chip release that capped the ascent of indie rock during this time, highlighted by a surprise Grammy win for album of the year. It is grandiose in its thematic ambition, a conceptual emotional journey that certainly will test your patience, however will also reward it. The singles do not adequately reflect the true essence of what the band has to offer here, which requires dedicated listening the entire way through to fully absorb. 🎧 Classic Track: Ready to Start 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Deep Blue 🎧 Personal Favorite: Rococo * why all the hate out there for this song?!? Conjuring conflicting feelings of nostalgia surrounding the respective suburban neighborhoods that each of us come of age within; yearning to escape it when we are young, only to find ourselves returning to the comfort of its surroundings as adult parents. We love the places we grew up, but also hate them at the same time. The album captures the jarring contrast of this discord amazing well. 🖼️ Album Artwork: As beautifully evocative as the music I would concur that the overall runtime of the tracklist could be trimmed down, making for a much more palatable and focused listening experience. These include hints at where the band would venture to expand their core sound next, with the (part II’s) of Half Light & Sprawl offering an electronic beat driven style that defined the alt-dance character texture of their future releases. Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album 🏘️

1001 ALBUMS- # 45 Real Life fusion of Television & Joy Division for a unique album offering upon the early days of the post-punk sub genre. This one required multiple listens to resonate with me, which is likely why it’s overlooked among the classics. No immediate standout tracks and the pop hooks are layered beneath a medley of rapid instrumentation. 🎧 Classic Track: Shot by Both Sides 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Recoil 🎧 Personal Favorite: The Light Pours Out of Me It was rather interesting to learn that this album came out right at the onset of the post-punk movement as it’s not nearly as well known with PIL and Joy Division receiving the lions share of the accolades. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Scarily curious Shout out to Barry Adamson on the bass who would later transcend this sound with an extremely unique solo release 10 years late (Moss Side Story which actually eclipses this record!) Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 46 Bookends…loose ends 📚 The acclaimed duo of Simon & Garfunkel deliver an intriguing concept album of sorts, albeit mashed up with previously unfinished material. These guys were well before my time and although I consider them as overrated as most fawned over acts of this era, I try to put into perspective the cultural impact and influence they had on the aspiring songwriters that followed. From the albums opening theme I settled in relaxingly for what I assumed was going to be a nice comforting acoustic experience, and then WHAM! Enter ‘Save The Life of My Child’…such a jarring unexpected powerful surprise of a song, if only the rest of the album lived up to its promise. The subsequent tracks return to favor of S & G’s far less interesting trademark sound, well performed, just feels very let down afrer being teased with such a banger of a start. 🎧 Classic Track: Mrs. Robinson 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Overs 🎧 Personal Favorite: Save The Life of My Child 🚫 Skip Track: Voices of Old People I really don’t understand how this record could be considered anywhere near as accomplished as Bridge Over Troubled Water, save for the clear standout here which should’ve been confined to The Graduate soundtrack. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Double take, is that David Schwimmer & Will Ferrell?!? Certainly not worthy of 5 singles (as I stated Mrs. Robinson should’ve even be present here), although the talented chemistry between these musicians along with the artful ambition (at least on the A dude) and beautiful melodies salvages it’s respect. Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

1001 ALBUMS- # 47 An absolute revelation that a big black hole is where this album belongs 🕳️ I always thought Muse was an apt name for a band that blatantly (and poorly) ripped off their fellow UK counterparts- how very disappointed Radiohead must be that this if the influence they have had on such lesser bands… The production on this album is so sanitized that you can literally hear that squeaky clean shine ✨ There is very little intrigue behind these songs and I find Matt Bellamy’s vocals to be as palatable as nails on a chalkboard with his over the top attempt to mimic Thom Yorke (‘Invincible’ is particularly egregious). 🎧 Classic Track: Starlight 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Assassin 🚫 Skip Track: Hoodoo How in the hell did this overwrought record produce 5 singles?!? Unoriginal, saturated in gloss, aimless, superficial, pretentious and overstays it’s welcome…well, perhaps a perfect fit for those mainstream kids! 🖼️ Album Artwork: Contemporary art fail Muse never gave me a reason to dig deeper into what they were doing and this release confirmed why. ‘Starlight’ is a banger, inspire of Bellamy’s Bono-esque delivery. Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my hot take 🔥

1001 Albums- #48 🎸I play my guiiiiiii’tar on the MTV 🎸 Dire Straits takes a pop turn on this catchy rock album, the pinnacle of Mark knopfler’s savage guitar playing and from the band that ushered in the 80’s MTV generation thanks to a very memorable ‘Money For Nothin’ music video 🎵🎥 Brothers in Arms is defined by its immaculate guitar work, smooth arrangements, and crisp production. Knopfler’s fingerpicked guitar tone is both distinctive and emotionally resonant, ranging from iconic riffs to haunting melodies. The album skillfully moves between rock, blues, jazz, and country influences, all polished with a clean, modern sheen courtesy of digital recording—a novelty at the time. Lyrically, the album tackles weighty subjects: war, consumerism, class divide, and existential reflection. Knopfler’s understated vocal delivery complements the album’s often somber tone, adding gravitas without melodrama. There are the infamous ‘fa##ot’ lines on the weighty second track that Knopfler would substitute out for the word ‘queenie’ during live performances, so this hasn’t aged very tastefully. 🎧 Classic Track: Money For Nothing 🎧 Deep Cut Classic: Ride Across The River 🎧 Personal Favorite: Brothers In Arms Although the record was both a critical and commercial juggernaut (winning two Grammy Awards and selling over 30 million copies worldwide) the slick production and overrun CD version doesn’t hold up as well as their earlier work. For better or worse, the release did help push the compact disc format into the mainstream and remains one of the best-selling albums of all time. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Floating guitars to heaven 🪽 Beyond the astronomical sales, it’s a record that captures a unique blend of technical innovation and heartfelt artistry. These tracks (especially the opening 3) hold tremendous personal sentimental value as anthems from my childhood thanks to my late Father 🏍️❤️.

1001 ALBUMS- # 49 3 + 3 equals FUNKAY! When The Isley Brothers dropped 3 + 3, they didn’t just add new member, they levelled up completely. This is the album where they brought in younger family members (including guitar wizard Ernie Isley) and totally refreshed their sound. The result? A record that still sounds cool, confident, and fresh over 50 years later. The opener, “That Lady,” hits hard right out the gate. It’s funky, catchy, and that guitar solo? Unreal. If you’ve ever wondered what soul and rock sound like when they’re perfectly blended, this is it. Then they switch gears and give you smooth, romantic jams like “Highways of My Life” and “What It Comes Down To.” Ronald Isley’s voice is pure silk—one of those voices that just floats over the music and makes everything feel deeper. 🎧 Classic Track: Summer Breeze 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Sunshine (Go Away Today) 🎧 Personal Favorite: What It Comes Down To Their version of “Summer Breeze” is a real standout. They take a soft rock song and turn it into a soulful masterpiece, with Ernie’s guitar soaring in the background like it’s telling its own story. The whole album has this perfect mix of old-school soul and new-school funk/rock energy. You can feel the chemistry between the generations of Isleys—it’s like you’re listening to a family jam session where everyone is insanely talented. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Look at those fellas just oozing cool! 3 + 3 is the kind of album you throw on when you want to feel good, chill out, or even get into your feelings a little. It’s timeless, full of groove, and just straight-up cool. Whether you’re new to The Isley Brothers or already a fan, this album is worthy listening.