257
Albums Rated
3.23
Average Rating
24%
Complete
832 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Singer-songwriter
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
25
5-Star Albums
14
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Casanova
The Divine Comedy
|
5 | 2.67 | +2.33 |
|
Apple Venus Volume 1
XTC
|
5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
|
All That You Can't Leave Behind
U2
|
5 | 2.98 | +2.02 |
|
Everything Must Go
Manic Street Preachers
|
5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
|
Beautiful Freak
Eels
|
5 | 3.28 | +1.72 |
|
Figure 8
Elliott Smith
|
5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
|
Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
|
5 | 3.33 | +1.67 |
|
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Bruce Springsteen
|
5 | 3.42 | +1.58 |
|
A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
|
5 | 3.44 | +1.56 |
|
Reggatta De Blanc
The Police
|
5 | 3.45 | +1.55 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ramones
Ramones
|
1 | 3.58 | -2.58 |
|
Surfer Rosa
Pixies
|
1 | 3.5 | -2.5 |
|
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
|
1 | 3.47 | -2.47 |
|
...And Justice For All
Metallica
|
1 | 3.43 | -2.43 |
|
Bossanova
Pixies
|
1 | 3.38 | -2.38 |
|
Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth
|
1 | 3.3 | -2.3 |
|
Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
|
1 | 3.23 | -2.23 |
|
Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
|
1 | 3.16 | -2.16 |
|
Music For The Jilted Generation
The Prodigy
|
1 | 3.07 | -2.07 |
|
Black Monk Time
The Monks
|
1 | 2.94 | -1.94 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 5 | 4.8 |
| R.E.M. | 2 | 5 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Pixies | 2 | 1 |
5-Star Albums (25)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Van Halen
4/5
Now that's more like my kind of record. Powerful music, catchy songs, a unique, instantly recognizable sound, amazing talent on guitar (Eddie) and drums (Alex van Halen) make for a great record. Van Halen's debut has been with me since its release, and while the songs are a bit uneven, I like to return to it to this day.
1 likes
Manic Street Preachers
5/5
Preacher's heyday. So powerful and energetic. Love it.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (14)
All Ratings
4/5
Good, great arrangements and singing, but dusty sound. Particularly the drums sound strange, somewhat muffled. Hardly surprising fifty years after its release, but still. ****
Beach House
3/5
Nice and mellow, but bland
This record was my seconds recommendation from the „One Album a Day“-Website, offering one record each from the 1001 you must hear before you die book.
I thought it was disappointing, and this wasn't owing to my expectations. The music doesn't hurt, but it doesn't do much for me either. It's all nice and mellow, but at the same time a bit boring and bland, as there's a lack of dynamics and expression. It's all pretty samey, midtempo and plenty of keyboards, not a lot of varation on offer.
Beach House certainly have a unique sound one easily recognizes, but that doesn't make for a great record. In other words, I wonder why „Teen Dream“ is part of the 1001-albums-collection. Maybe I wasn't listening close enough to the lyrics? ;-) However, any record on this list should be worthwhile in musical, not necessarily lyrical terms. With „Teen Dream“, I don't get it.
Prince
4/5
The double set „Sign of the Times“ has an impressive cover design and met a massive media coverage upon release. I can tell, as I was witness.
Its music, however, is a mixed bag, I find. The record contains a bunch of excellent tracks, such as the title song, „I could never take the place of Your Man“, „Starfish & Coffee“ as well as „The Cross“, and it also represents Prince's signature sound, making it instantly recognizable. Unfortunately, it also contains a bunch of lenghty stomping and highly repetitive funk-disco-tracks, that I could certainly have done without.
A single LP would have been a better artistic choice and a much more satisfactory listening experience.
Elvis Presley
3/5
No doubt, that „it“ started all with Elvis. Like no Beatles or Dylan without him. The music on his debut though is only partly what it promises. Sure, there are classics like „Blue Suede Shoes“, but there's also cheesy stuff and some rockabilly. Oh, well . . . it was the beginning of a great career and a tragic life, but it wasn't much fun to listen to. The songs sound really dated and the music dusty, like watching a silent black and white movie.
David Bowie
2/5
„Heroes“ is totally enigmatic to me. When Brian Eno and David Bowie teamed up in the early seventies, they certainly set out to create something new. After all, this was the pre-computer and -digital era, and all those sound collages had to be done on analogue tape and keyboards on eight track tape (I guess). This I will acknowledge, and I guess, that's why this record was influential.
The result, however, is hard to listen to these days (2025): The album features spheric sounds on instrumentals like „Moss Garden“, instantly forgettable midtempo rock tracks such as „Joe the Lion“ and only one standout track, „Heroes“. To put it provocatively: I wonder why people adore drug related pieces of art so much?
Van Halen
4/5
Now that's more like my kind of record. Powerful music, catchy songs, a unique, instantly recognizable sound, amazing talent on guitar (Eddie) and drums (Alex van Halen) make for a great record. Van Halen's debut has been with me since its release, and while the songs are a bit uneven, I like to return to it to this day.
John Prine
2/5
Musically a very traditional record. Country, folk, stuff like that, you name it. I guess, it must be all in the lyrics. Sarcastic detector off. Prine's voice wasn't particularly appealing, a bit throaty. Was it something special at the time of release in 1971? Possibly. Honestly: If so, I don't get it. One thing's for sure: I'm never going to listen to this record again. But hey – I tried. The good old American way: I'll try anything once.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
Lovely, emotional, liked the Sax.
Beck
2/5
Listening to this today reminded me of the reasons why I gave Odelay away years ago. I don’t like the fizzy guitar sound, neither the way Beck sings nor the occasional noise. I had bought the record based on the hype at the time, and I still don’t get what everyone’s raving about. At times I realize that fusing rock and hip hop maybe appealing, but that’s an abstract thought; I’m just not feeling anything when playing Odelay except a slight resistance and annoyance. I tried again and felt confirmed in my rejection.
Roxy Music
2/5
I own a vinyl copy which I never listen to. Checking in as part of the challenge reminded me why: This record is truely awful. The strand is okay, but then matters quickly worsen: The way guitar, keyboard and saxophone are playing against each other rather than together just annoys me. It’s probably meant to be experimental and ground breaking at the time, but today it’s a true torture. The only thing I like about this is the artwork - the cover is hot to this day.
Pixies
1/5
This record is downright awful from beginning to end, the only exception being „Where's my mind?“. Whats the point about out of tune singing and playing? I don't like producer Steve Albini's sound design anyway - the dry guitar sound in particular. It's good to be remembered why I sold this many years ago. The real question is: Why is this piece of trash part of the book? I strongly feel some editing is required.
Adele
4/5
After the last few records put my patience to a severe test, Adele's 25 is more up my alley. However, I would have picked 21, as I think the material is stronger, while 25 sounds like a continuing variation of its predecessor. Highlights include Hello, When We Were Young and Sweetest Devotion.
Charles Mingus
2/5
This wasn't as bad as expected. Behind the tender dissonances some melodies were to be detected. Surely innovative at the time of making. However, nothing I'm going to return to.
Alice Cooper
3/5
It is ironic and strange to listen to a song like School's Out as a full grow adult. Obviously, I'm not exatly the target group anymore. I can relate, not exactly to the (simple) lyrics, but the energy of the music - there's a powerful riff underlying. Besides, one would have to admit that this is the only outstanding song on the record. If I remember correctly, it was also the major single success for Alice Cooper. The remaining tracks are nowhere close. In particular the sound is dusty, but this is hardly a surprise as the record was released 50 years ago, and recording technology has much improved since. I quite like the arrangement of the last track feat. brass, I guess owing to producer Bob Ezrin, who used similar sounding arrangements with other artists. So once again, I guess the recording was influential and groundbreaking at the time of release, but today it sounds dated and forgettable. I'm not going to listen to this again.
Massive Attack
3/5
Pleasant, but not a fave. The openers are both standouts: „Unfinished Sympathy“ is key track on side 2, „Safe from Harm“ also good, opening side 1, while some of the other stuff is instantly forgettable. Massive Attack produce a unique sound, but there's too much MCing going on. I prefer singing. „Mezzanine“ is a much better album.
Yes
3/5
A pleasant surprise, not as proggy as I thought it was going to be. Quite accessible, not overly complex, it did have a flow. Many solos, excellent guitar work. I liked the warm sound, but was puzzled by the mix, feat. some wild stereo effects. But I guess that's the way things were done in the early seventies, when this was released. Overall not a fave, but okay.
3/5
Blend of metal and hip hop, different and innovative at the time, not my cup of tea. I like the flow, the energy, groove and riffing, however, not the singing, which often turns into angry shouting. Overall, the record is too long. Fewer songs would have been more and better. Only one stand out track, „Take a Look Around“, using the motive of „Mission Impossible“ - or was it the other way round?
Marty Robbins
2/5
Very traditional. Certainly well sung and performed, but not my cup of tea.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
1/5
Noodeling, noodeling, more noodeling - I guess you have to be high to enjoy this live recording. As if you get to listen to the same song over and over again. Yawn - incredibly monotonous, tiring and boring.
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
Good material, well written and arranged, nice and mellow, I'm just not too crazy about her voice. Been listening to this before, and couldn't make up my mind to buy it. Love the artwork, the contrast between the blue sky and the red fan.
T. Rex
3/5
Glamrock, produced by Toni Visconti. Mildly entertaining. Instantly recognizable. Brings back early childhood memories. Ok, but it sounds old and dated.
Ramones
1/5
I like bands than can play. The Ramones cannot, like most Punk bands. Their music sounds like the same song played over and over again. Simple, raw, but clumsy. It's hard to imagine that this record was considered hot and trendy at some point in time.
Maxwell
3/5
Quite cool, loungy and elegant. Reminds me of Jamiroquai. Somewhat artificial and polished. Nothing I care much about, but well done.
Ray Charles
4/5
The record sounded somewhat old and dated, but how can it not, as it was released 1959, more than 60 years ago. I do like the Big Band sound though, that Ray Charles provides, and his singing and playing. So despite the age issue, this record was quite enjoyable.
Depeche Mode
4/5
Not too crazy about their sound, but some of the songs are great.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
This has been a classic since I was 16 and it's part of my Top100 list. Bursting with energy. Not a single weak track. More structured and focused than it's predecessor „Born to Run“. Love it.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Great voice and I love their original material, not the covers so much (Before you accuse me). Grapevine should have been edited, it is way too long (11:00). Overall the record seems a bit confused and unfinished. I prefer the collection „Chronicles“.
Nas
3/5
With a few exceptions, rap records pretty much sound the same to me, which would also include this one. I can't deny the high ratings, so there must be something about it, but I just don't get it. Some of the samples were good in terms of interesting or original.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Interesting mix of hip hop and rock. Better than expected.
Genesis
3/5
Two great songs: I Know What I Like and The Cinema Show. Not enough to make for a great rating.
David Bowie
3/5
Another record that sounds really dated. I'm sure it was out there at the time. 2 good songs: The title track and Jean Genie. The rest is left in right out.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
Basic, solid rock stuff. Breakdown and American Girl are higlights. Tom grew enormously later on.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Cool Cover. The music is a bit uneven, at times wild. Maybe this needs a few spins to get into it. Not a big fan of producer Nick Launay's sound design in general, but this one's okay.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
High expectations, but the music didn't reach me. It was kind of elusive, some soloing, not a lot of structure to be noticed. With my headphones on, it sounded as if they played in front of 30 people. Knowing nothing about Evans, I thought it should been packed.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
Certainly unique or different in its musical approach, but nothing I care much about.
Public Enemy
2/5
Once again, certainly unique or different in its musical approach, but not my cup of tea. Too much aggressive shouting and too many political issues.
Pixies
1/5
Once again, what is it about the Pixies? Mostly midtempo songs, basslines in eight notes, the melody sticking to the chord progression, the singing turning into aggressive shouting. Predictable and boring. Truely dreadful.
The Zutons
3/5
Better than expected, pop-rock, a tight band, accessible, if not catchy music, and ironic humor.
Funkadelic
3/5
Funk. Not too bad. Sounds like this was a major source of inspiration for Prince.
Jimmy Smith
3/5
Jazz organ, some sax, not too bad, a bit too much noodeling.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
This was pretty cool, great singing, great songs incl. the lyrics, and most of all a great orchestra performance.
Mott The Hoople
3/5
a bit dusty.
Beatles
5/5
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
Rock'n'Roll, but well done. Better than expected.
Garbage
4/5
A classic in my collection. Love it.
Sade
4/5
A timeless classic.
Eels
5/5
An all-time fave since its release.
Radiohead
3/5
Not my favorite Radiohead album
Sam Cooke
3/5
Wild, very intense atmosphere, however, it sounds like it’s the same song tenfold.
The Cardigans
3/5
Didn‘t impress me much, wonder why it‘s on the list. Quite mediocre indie pop rock.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Oh, well, too bluesy, too few great songs. Also sounds old.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
Nice, accessible, flattering, harmonious.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
This is different, I could feel the energy, but also felt I came about 30 years too late to discover this intense record.
The Who
5/5
One of the and their best - monumental.
The Cars
4/5
Some great songs, not consistently convincing, though. I was wondering about the Queen-like backing vocals, until I noticed the records had been produced by Roy Thomas Baker, who had worked with Queen before. :-)
The Young Gods
1/5
Noise is not for me.
Tim Buckley
3/5
Not the typical Tim Buckley, yet. I hardly recognized him initially and like later records better.
The Cure
3/5
Hahaha, I never understood why and what so many people like in this stack of songs dealing with teenage depression.
KISS
4/5
This is my teenage soundtrack. I like the live albums better, but this is probably their best studio effort. I didn't know at the time Bob Ezrin produced it and co-wrote the songs - but you can tell. His contribution improved the quality of this record.
Ali Farka Touré
2/5
Oh, well, this didn't do much for me. a bit repetetive in its musical motifs, even if they were cute.
Pretenders
3/5
I like other Pretenders' albums better. They were more elaborted, less raw.
Norah Jones
4/5
This is very pretty, and it sounds great on my stereo system. A discovery of late, I didn't like it so much when it was released.
Fiona Apple
4/5
She's intense and sometimes annoying, but also interesting and knows how to write a good tune.
Nick Drake
4/5
This is lovely, but I wouldn't rate it as high as most people apparantly do. The songs are not catchy enough, I hear the music more in an atmospheric way. Lovely artwork, though.
Miles Davis
4/5
Who wouldn't know this record? One of a kind, though not a personal favorite.
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
This sounds actually and once again old. Some catchy tunes, but nothing I'm going to return to.
Jamiroquai
3/5
Plenty of Funk and Soul, and yet, it doesn't really speak to me.
MGMT
4/5
Better than I had memorized it.
Duran Duran
4/5
very catchy, cool basslines. Lovely artwork, too. missed it at the time, glad to encounter it now.
David Bowie
3/5
Al Green
4/5
beautiful, loved it, the brass, the singing, the songs, the signature sound.
3/5
ok, some good stuff, great title, lovely artwork, but the best was yet to come.
Killing Joke
2/5
I feel the energy, but the music is not my cup of tea, too aggressive, raw and rough, too straight and simple.
John Lennon
4/5
A favourite of my youth. I used to love it, these days, I can spot its weaknesses, namely the incredible naivity of Imagine or Soldier.
Paul McCartney
2/5
This is not great, as much as I love McCartney. It sounds like an array of sketches in demo quality, with the only great track being Maybe I'm Amazed. I have no idea why it's rated so high. He sounds like a fool in love.
Sly & The Family Stone
2/5
A disappointing experience. Plenty of rhythm, noodeling and repetition. Not what I hoped for considering the cast, neither what I like.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Really good, even after all these years.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
I can't stand the banana record, but this one is much better.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Like many double sets this is way too long. As a single record, this would have been much better. Plenty of fillers, some good tracks.
The Stooges
2/5
I guess this was provocative at the time (titles like „I wanna be your dog“), maybe even rebellious, but from today's pov it seems so desperate to divert and laughable in its failure to do so. John Cale produced it - no wonder I don't like it.
Air
4/5
this is cool and different.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Tom Waits
3/5
It is quirky, and not exactly enjoyable, but unique and interesting at the same time. Overall a win.
Oasis
3/5
Quite noisy, the following record has much better songs. i like the photo though.
4/5
This is her best record. Still like it to this day (after 25 years)
Simple Minds
3/5
I like later works better.
Coldplay
5/5
This is awesome and part of my Top100.
Johnny Cash
3/5
This I never cared much about. I realize it was a social gesture, but I dont enjoy the music a lot.
Patti Smith
3/5
I used to like this better in my 20s.
Elliott Smith
5/5
Bob Dylan
4/5
This is okay. I don't like everything, but there's great stuff on it.
Pink Floyd
5/5
This is awesome. I like The Wall even better, but this is great as well.
The Pogues
3/5
Never liked them drunk shanties' shouting much.
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
okay, why not, I guess a bit lengthy.
The Killers
3/5
liro
Fishbone
3/5
okay, why not.
Brian Wilson
2/5
that one I sold. didn't like it much.
Metallica
1/5
I am not a Metallica fan, can't stand their guitar sound. only have the black album, and that takes cares of that.
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
this is nice
Aretha Franklin
3/5
This is okay. I should care more for her, but I don't.
The Replacements
2/5
oh well, ive tried the replacements. a bit too raw.
Eagles
3/5
N.W.A.
4/5
quite cool.
Suede
3/5
Didnt like it much at the time, very glam rock seventies like.
4/5
quite cool. I liked.
Nick Drake
4/5
good, but not great.
The Black Keys
3/5
okay, I like El Camino, the one after better.
Nina Simone
3/5
a bit over the top, but okay.
Beatles
4/5
even I as one their biggest fan would have to admit - they've got better ones.
Rush
5/5
This is my all time no. 1 - close to perfection.
Neil Young
3/5
oh, well, I think he's done much better on other albums, such as the live record rust never sleeps.
Mekons
2/5
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
2/5
David Bowie
2/5
Another Bowie, probably the fourth within the first 100. Strange. And I’m not even enjoying him so much. Incl. this record.
Guns N' Roses
4/5
AC/DC
5/5
Great.
The Strokes
2/5
Didn't like it much at the time, and prefer „The new Abnormal“ by far.
The Beach Boys
4/5
another classic, that never really clicked with me. They do have a unique sound, but I much prefer the Beatles.
5/5
Beautiful, where Bach meets the Beatles.
The Monks
1/5
awful.
The Kinks
3/5
oh, well - one great track, really: Sunny Afternoon. The rest is a a mixed bag. They've done better after, and they are no comparison to the Beatles.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
another record, that I find most mediocre - despite its fame.
The Lemonheads
3/5
Great title track, the rest is too druggy. Gave it away many years ago.
Herbie Hancock
2/5
This was probably cool and daring in the 70s, but these days I find it repetetive, partly annoying in its sounds, boring, and the rating heavily intellectualized.
Frank Black
3/5
Another pixies/Frank Black record! This must be one of the most popular artists in the book - next to Bowie. Gave the record away years ago. Better than his Pixies stuff, but still not great.
The Specials
3/5
Its hard to catch up with acts like this decades after their debut was released. I see its uniqueness, but I can't admit to like it much, as it sounds dated. And even the fact Elvis Costello produced it (whom I like), doesn't change that.
The Prodigy
1/5
Hated this from day one.
Thelonious Monk
4/5
This was new to me - and pretty cool.
The Mars Volta
2/5
Too crazy and wild - I gave it away.
The Streets
4/5
Not exactly my cup of tea, but pretty cool and certainly different.
Muddy Waters
2/5
Unfortunately I'm not much of a blues person.
Cheap Trick
4/5
Hahaha, a long time fave, actually since I was a kid. it is fun to listen to, and I love „Surrender“.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Love it, ever since. Great riffs, also beautiful acoustic guitar pieces.
Elvis Costello
3/5
I love Elvis Costello, and yet, this one is not for me. He has done much better imho, and I sold this years ago.
Rage Against The Machine
4/5
quite intense, nothing to listen to every day, but I get it.
Guided By Voices
1/5
Reminded me what I don't like about slacker rock.
CHIC
4/5
The tracks tend to be a bit lengthy, but the sound is cool and unique.
The Divine Comedy
4/5
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
3/5
PJ Harvey
2/5
not her best one, too raw, too furios, I like later works much better.
Morrissey
3/5
I just don't like his voice so much.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
That one I gave away years ago, as I couldn't get into it. Not much of a fan, too much noodeling, too few songs. only kept a greatest hits.
Bobby Womack
3/5
Beatles
5/5
An all time fave ever since I was 15 or 16.
Richard Thompson
2/5
A bit too folky for my taste. Decided to give it away. I really only like the first two tracks.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Truely touching.
The Kinks
3/5
A few good songs (waterloo sunset), the rest is mediocre.
Manic Street Preachers
5/5
Preacher's heyday. So powerful and energetic. Love it.
R.E.M.
5/5
Excellent. Top 100.
The Who
3/5
This should have been a single record rather than a double set. The ambition is larger than the result. Exceeding borders doesn't necessarily to great music.
Astor Piazzolla
4/5
interesting.
Beatles
5/5
an all time face since childhood days.
The Verve
3/5
Way too long, at times noisy. The opening feat. Symphony and Sonnet are beautiful.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I know this is famous, but I feel he has better records.
Sister Sledge
4/5
Great analogue sound, and some hits, even if overall the songs have a tendency to sound samey.
The Sonics
1/5
Dreadful. Amateurish.
Moby Grape
2/5
This old 60s psychedelic stuff doesn’t do it for me.
Blur
3/5
Blur published great records, but I'm afraid this one is NOT one of them - despite its high ratings. The opener „Beetlebum“ is brillant, catchy and yet rough, but the rest of the records contains plenty of noisy crap and medieocre tracks, that are instantly forgettable. Which is why I decided to give this record away many years ago and give Parklife and/or The Great Escape an additional spin instead.
Common
4/5
Steve Winwood
3/5
Oh well - one of the many records in this book that don't mean much to me.
The Sugarcubes
3/5
The band is alright, but I don't like Björks voice very much.
5/5
Top 100 and a fave since I was 15 or something.
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
Ok-Jazz, nothing I will return to.
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
He has a tempting voice, but the arrangements are too pompous.
Hawkwind
1/5
This was downright awful. Spacerock (whatever this term includes) seems not for me.
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
Oh well. It's okay, but a bit too stiff rhythmically.
Wilco
4/5
better than i remembered it. but not great. The band's a bit too sloppy, and the noisy parts annoy me.
The Police
5/5
A classic. Loved it from Day 1. The Sparse arrangements, the songs, the vocals, the unique drumming and the energy.
4/5
Really good.
Lou Reed
4/5
Good, thanks to Bob Ezrin.
Led Zeppelin
2/5
Way too long, never liked this much.
CHVRCHES
2/5
The Smiths
3/5
Oh, well, yet another record whose importance I don’t get. Sure, the lyrics are not run of the mill, but in music music matters. The songs, their rendition and in particular the singing are not particularly good.
Scissor Sisters
1/5
Hated it at the time and didn't feel like listening to it again. I mean, come on, a cove of Pink Floyd's Comfortably numb in a Eurodance arrangement? Wtf.
The Thrills
3/5
Catchy, but nothing stayed with me. No change to when checking it out the first time upon release.
Queen
5/5
a Classic, Top100
Supergrass
4/5
a bit uneven, but worth checking out. Love the artwork, too. I am regularly coming back to this.
Fever Ray
2/5
Not my cup of tea. I neither get the popularity nor the high ratings.
Faith No More
4/5
Better than I remembered it. A pleasant surprise to listen to it again.
Neil Young
5/5
A classic, even way back in school, when I was a kid.
Beth Orton
4/5
Lovely. I am not totally fan of her voice, but I do like the songs and the arrangements.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Lovely. Great lyrics (obviously)
U2
3/5
Still a bit uneven. I prefer later works.
Christine and the Queens
3/5
Ok, but a bit too synth-driven.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
I may be unfair but for my taste there are too few memorable songs on here.
A stack of great tunes, their best work among their later albums.
The Stooges
3/5
oh well - i can feel the raw power, but that does't mean I like the sound nor the rendering.
Morrissey
4/5
Really nice, one of his records I thoroughly enjoy.
Talking Heads
3/5
I like the later records better.
Sonic Youth
1/5
This is dissonant dilettant crap - truely awful. I don't understand the fuzz about it at all.
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
okay, but not great. Liked the brass in selected tracks.
Steely Dan
3/5
okay, but not great. A bit too cool for me.
R.E.M.
5/5
Classic, love it. Top 100
Calexico
4/5
A Nice one, but exactly up my alley.
Metallica
3/5
Another oh well record. Contains the big hit, but also plenty of left in right out tracks.
Janis Joplin
4/5
Some great tunes, she tends to overdo it, though.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
This is considered a classic, however, for me there are too few great songs.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
2/5
how spectacularly uninteresting, dont like his voice. Souds dated, with songs unstructured and confusing.
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
nice artwork, Layla is excellent, but also plenty of blues fillers.
Santana
3/5
Oh well, plenty of noodeling. Samba Pa Ti of course being a great tune.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
The brass and the singing are nice, however, overall the album sounds dated.
T. Rex
3/5
Yeah, it's okay. Good energy, a bit dated. Well, after all, it is 50 years old.
N.E.R.D
2/5
This is instantly forgettable. Why is it included in the book, I wonder.
Elvis Presley
4/5
This is alright.
The Triffids
2/5
I already didn't like „Sandy Devotional“ very much, so I couldn't be bothered by this one. I felt taken for a ride, cause the music is actually pretty dilettant. I hate it when I have the funny feeling appreciation of an artist isn't because of his music, but because he was a. gay and harrassed b. died of alcohol or drug abuse c. killed himself (b applies here).
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Anita Baker
3/5
This was okay. She’s a great singer, the music sounded a bit artificial. Well, it’s the 80s.
Tracy Chapman
5/5
This is a classic.
Arcade Fire
4/5
New York Dolls
3/5
this is a loud rock'n'roll album, and that's that. I don't understand the fuzz. I guess at the time the visuals were pretty daring.
Radiohead
4/5
one of their best ones.
Deep Purple
5/5
another classic, even though of course it sounds a bit dated today
Soundgarden
3/5
I love Chris Cornell's voice and some of the tracks, but overall the record should have been edited.
Christina Aguilera
4/5
This was pretty good. Missed it at the time, great singing.
The Damned
3/5
Not my kind of sound. A few good tracks, but I like different kinds of music.
Destiny's Child
4/5
Why not. missed it at the time. better than expected. Great singing, interesting arrangements.
David Bowie
4/5
one of his better ones.
Foo Fighters
3/5
As it turned out later, Dave Grohl was the artist making the most impact after Nirvana. However, this wasn't on display on this recording yet. Pretty uneven, very few good tunes, pretty hard rocking, it sounds as if he's still finding his way.
Mudhoney
2/5
NC - noisy crap, energetic, anger driven music of white boys - totally uninteresting to me these days.
Beck
3/5
better than expected.
Giant Sand
3/5
Arcade Fire
3/5
Robert Wyatt
2/5
Iggy Pop
2/5
Linkin Park
4/5
Madness
4/5
Grateful Dead
3/5
oh well, very much your typical SF sound.
Beastie Boys
1/5
Downright awful. WTF.
Black Sabbath
4/5
not their best album, but I like it.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Billy Bragg
2/5
I do like some Wilco, but this one I gave away - much to John Green's disapproval.
Nightmares On Wax
4/5
nice flow, like it.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
nice one, like it, very much Curtis Mayfield like.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
oh well, I don't get the high ratings.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Neil Young
4/5
Slade
4/5
Love it, Great singalomg tunes.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
a pleasant surprise
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
oh well.
Madonna
3/5
Decent pop.
JAY Z
4/5
Cool. Great samples and collabos.
Johnny Cash
2/5
Oh, my; it certainly was a fine move to perform in a prison, but I can't relate to the music - and that's what matters to me after all.
Steely Dan
3/5
Great line-up, ambition and artistry, certainly well done, but the music doesn't speak to me.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
a couple of great tunes, but also plenty of country and blues stuff, that I don't particularly fancy.
The Cult
3/5
not my kind of music anymore, but well done.
The Doors
2/5
I can't help it, the Doors are not for me. It's the band's sound, in particular the organ, it's the songs, and overall, I just don't get it.
The Divine Comedy
5/5
One of my all time faves.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
4/5
A most relaxed record, clearly weed induced.
Fugees
2/5
Everybody loves them, but they don’t really have a lot to offer on this record.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
Leonard Cohen
4/5
good. a bit borign musically, but lovely songs.
The Beta Band
3/5
Meat Loaf
5/5
all time fave, Top 100, love it.
David Bowie
2/5
another bowie record among the 1001 albums. Don't like it much. I think it's so higly rated as this is the last before he died.
The Kinks
4/5
Towards the end of the decade the Kinks were getting better as a band. Still no comparison to what the Beatles achieved at the same time.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Another record where I don't get it. Northern soul - wtf. Where's the great tunes. Adding brass alone won't do it.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
He has better ones, but still good.