Mar 03 2025
Hot Fuss
The Killers
Sounds like over produced radio friendly frat boy rock. It belongs to the parts of culture I despise the most, and thatβs all I can hear in it. I do like their one song βDonβt Shoot Me Santa Clausβ as a guilty pleasure, but that track isnβt here.
1
Mar 04 2025
Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
The more austere tracks on this album re as beautiful as her best work- and while Iβm not a big fan of hers, I do appreciate her. The full band stuff sounds like 70s AOR and I do not care for it- they arenβt bad songs, but the production kills them for me. And sheβd do jazz better once she hooked up with Charles Mingus.
3
Mar 05 2025
Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
So far better than I remember it. Much better for me, more austere than Bryter Later. A little bit too soft and dreamy- I still like his demos and Pink Moon the best, but this is a good representation of his work. A nice listen.
4
Mar 06 2025
Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
An important album for the band, establishing them as less hardcore punks and more rappers... and their style of trading lines and being not altogether serious is here. but the music is so-so, and the lyrics are juevenile. I liked this album when I was a kid, but Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head just crush this thing. I'm not going to listen to it again.
2
Mar 07 2025
Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
green onions song is lightning in a bottle/ more onions is the afterglow. the rest of the album is so-so. if you like soul music or organ music, it probably does a lot for you- it's all very well played by a super-tight band. it's just not my thing. I dig it a bit more when the blues brothers stand in front of them....
3
Mar 09 2025
Master Of Puppets
Metallica
I am not fond of heavy metal in general, but I grew up in the 80s, so I have some nostalgia. I did listen to Metallica from Master of Puppets through the Black Album and liked them then- they're still in my iTunes library. Going back to Master of Puppets now- it sounds sort of monochromatic and dry- and like every song is at least two minutes longer than it has to be. there are some good moments thorughout, but it is a real chore to listen to. I'm afraid to go back to And Justice for All now... it was my favorite back in the day...
3
Mar 10 2025
D
White Denim
I don't love all psych flourishes here, but this is an obviously restlessly creative band, and it's an entertaining record- if you don't like one song, wait a minute things are about to change. Lots of looping sounds here, kind of minimalist in parts- but mostly a pretty solid rock 'n roll album.
4
Mar 11 2025
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
Nope. I hate this fucker. I know it's his best album. I don't care. I've heard plenty from this record, clearly his one of his most introspective albums, but still full of that shock-for-shock's sake shit he deals in. I know he's influential- but I'd aver it's mostly for the worse in the culture that he ever had any career at all.
Burn it.
1
Mar 12 2025
Cupid & Psyche 85
Scritti Politti
Horror show 80s production; white kid funk and island music out through a blender of super-80s synth. Unlistenable.
1
Mar 13 2025
System Of A Down
System Of A Down
System's first album; Sugar is a great tune of course, but the work here is immature and not a lot of fun to listen to at album length. This was never the most lyrically nimble band, but it's embarrasingly bad here.
The next album would be a masterpiece, and the albums after that a step downwards from which they would almost never record again. an extremely high potential, highly frustrating band.
3
Mar 14 2025
Murmur
R.E.M.
not the most sonically varied album is this R.E.M debut; they'd broaden their palette in the 90s- but it's got plenty of youthful energy and a couple of indelible songs (radio free europe being the standout). And there's not a bad track on it really, quite pleasant to listen to. the only downfall is the saminess of the track list. it's an auspicious beginning for a major band, and I'm glad to have finally heard it all.
4
Mar 15 2025
Live At The Regal
B.B. King
I like the acoustic blues plenty- recorded in the 30s and 60s- all favorites. the Mississippi juke joint stuff recorded in the 90s is fire too.
but this boogie-woogie Chicago style blues rock like here--- can't stand the stuff. just like sandpaper in my ears. there's no blues emotion here- just whisps of the form- it's overworked and underformed.
hate it. though I don't disdain BB King himself- so it can have one extra star out of respect.
2
Mar 16 2025
At Newport 1960
Muddy Waters
Much better than the BB King disc. Iβd prefer a more stripped down version- but Muddy Waters in any context is good blues.
4
Mar 17 2025
Germfree Adolescents
X-Ray Spex
Loved it. A bad idea boyfriend heard of but never heard. Poly Styrene must have been Corrin Tuckerβs favoriteβ¦
5
Mar 18 2025
Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
Read the lyrics to Born in the USA for the first time- so itβs about the mistreatment of the middle class, and in particular Vietnam Vets upon their return. More progressive than US Fascists seem to think. Two issues: musically itβs extremely obnoxious- just a terrible fucking song. AND itβs viewpoint is parochial- focused on the poor vets- but while they are victims- haw about the millions of Vietnamese lives disrupted and ended in the βkill anything that movesβ doctrine that war was waged by. Fuck the USA.
Also- this albumβs production is 80s in the bad way, and Bruce is always singing anthemically- itβs wearying. He chills out on βIβm on Fireβ probably the best track on the record. I didnβt know βDancing in the Darkβ was on this record- obviously the biggest hit (504 million views!). Itβs catchy and were it arranged and performed in the 1950s Iβd probably love it. As is itβs the most synth and sax laden but of 80s schlock imaginable.
Put this goddamn album in the discount bin or burn it. My enjoyment- one star. For its earnestness, Iβll give it one more.
2
Mar 19 2025
Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
Vocals are too low in the mix most of the time- indistinct and flat; shitty 80s synthesizers are poured all over every song. Really unpleasant to listen to. the title track and closing track are tunes strong enough to stand out to me despite the production- so maybe if the whole thing was re-recorded by an actually decent band, even more songs would reveal themselves.
but yeah, I profoundly dislike this.
2
Mar 20 2025
Gentlemen
The Afghan Whigs
A good one; strong songwriting, decent singing, powerful emotional core.
4
Mar 21 2025
Come Find Yourself
Fun Lovin' Criminals
A decent sound that surpassed what I expect when I hear the genre is rap-rock. Still, itβs lyrically super shallow and I got about six songs in and had to wave the white flag.
2
Mar 22 2025
Hard Again
Muddy Waters
Boogie woogie blues that George Thorogood got his shtick from. I donβt like him, and I donβt like this. Jimmie some Mississippi John Hurt or Skip James or Taj Mahal or RL Burnside. Keep this shit to yourselves ye drunken vapid party people.
2
Mar 23 2025
Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
I listened to more than half of every song (except pyramids, only β
of that monster), waiting to hear anything that would make it clear to me why this guy is so acclaimed, and why people so fervently wait for his mercurial ass to just release a fourth album already. BUT- no. All I hear is competent pop r&b. Nothing I would normally listen to, or am I interested in starting. Kinda crap actually; itβs ok with me if he canβt get himself to produce any more music.
if someone perused my reviews thus far they'd think I hate almost everything... it ain't true. I have a music library 6000+ albums and growing- all of which I like quite a lot. but I haven't liked much pop music since the early 60s. the music seems tainted by market expectations. Not Frank Ocean so much- he's an earnest singer influenced by other capitalist pap. so he does a better job of making it, but it can't help but be what it is.... i'm sure i'm missing something- but i gave it a real good chance....
1
Mar 24 2025
Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
A strong psychadelic folk/rock album. of course I was very familiar with the White Rabitt and Don't You Want Somebody to Love, but I was unfamiliar with the whole ouevre of Jefferson Airplane's mach 1 run of the late 60s early 70s.
Turns out that this is a very tuneful and well-written record. I'll be keeping it in rotation in the future to get to know it more deeply.
4
Mar 25 2025
21
Adele
ok. i'll listen to it- but for christ's sake, why is ithis shit in the book? why do you make me suffer?
OK- i've skimmed it- and that's all I can take.
Positives: she has an amazing voice and great phrasing. some of the songs, especially the closer are very well structured pop songs. Finally- all real instrumentation- no synths or overproduction.
BUT- the songs are all hallmark-movie level love songs filled with non-specific lyrics that could apply to anyone at anytime- which is I guess how it gets billions of streams. She sings them with gusto, but they all seem hollow.... and man, well structured or not- if I can't buy your heart is in it- you just annoy the hell out of me. which this record does. it was calculated for mass appeal down the second.
hundreds of millions of people seem to love this record. everyone has terrible taste.
2
Mar 26 2025
A Hard Day's Night
Beatles
Probably the first great Beatles album; the first two are fine, but just collections of pop songs. This one is too, but these songs were written in a compressed time period and they sound like they belong together. It's also nice that this and Beatles for Sale both have tolerable stero mixes.
I'm not going to write a review here- if someone likes the early Beatles, which I do, then there's not a bum track on this record- it's 30 minutes of sonic joy. I'm only withholding a fifth star b/c there are better Beatles albums to come....
4
Mar 27 2025
Haunted Dancehall
The Sabres Of Paradise
Itβs techno; nice samples provide an olden times vibe in spots. Wish it was more hauntedβ¦. Still it was good to work to.
3
Mar 28 2025
Slayed?
Slade
some decent songwriting here- in the vein of rock n' roll stompers. vocals are often a bit higher pitched than I like; they're kind of like a dollar-store led zepplin with really stupid lyrics. anyway. nice to experience the band whose song dominated a year of my youth via quiet riot.
but i'll never listen to it again.
2
Mar 29 2025
Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan
well geez. I know this record back and forth. One of my top 3 for Dylan- "It's all Right, Ma" and "Gates of Eden" and "It's all Over Now Baby Blue" are probably the best closing triad of any album ever.
Even the lesser known cuts are gems- Love Minus Zero/No Limit is one of his more beautiful love songs; his 115th dream his liveliest farce.
i'm not qualified to talk about how good this record is. 5 stars goddamnit
5
Mar 30 2025
Skylarking
XTC
Theyβre an ok band. I skimmed all their early records; for me thereβs too much keyboard and too many mid-tempo tunes. I donβt care for it, but Iβm glad to have heard it.
3
Mar 31 2025
Headquarters
The Monkees
it's ok. I like the 60s production: the jangly guitars and the harmonizing they do. but the songs are slight in concept and super literal in lyrical meaning. it really is bagain bin 60s pop, which means I like it better than most anything in the last twenty years of pop music, but I'd never choose to listen to it again.
2
Apr 01 2025
Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
an album that highlights how absolutely tragic this man's early death was; he's not just a brilliant guitarist but also a brilliant songwriter. Little Wing is one of my favorite songs of all time (first heard the instrumental by Stevie Ray Vaughn); But there's classics abounding on this thing. Even the less famous songs, even the song that Noel Redding leads go down easy because the band is so effortlessly muscular. Again, that we only got three records and he died before fully transitioning into what would come next- the mind boggles at what could have been.
If I were to lob one criticism at it- several songs are only 2-3 minutes long, and I really think they could have been doubled in length because Jimi can stretch any tune out and make it even more brilliant.
5
Apr 02 2025
The Last Broadcast
Doves
I listened to about half of it. Itβs fine. Nicely played UK pop rock. Boring mostly, it made little or no impression on me. I listened to a bit of their 2025 record after this where they sound more grizzled and tempered by the woes of the world- and itβs an improvement.
3
Apr 03 2025
Your New Favourite Band
The Hives
Solid high energy punky rock βn roll. A bit one-note, but if youβre in the mood for what they do, they absolutely deliver. Very enjoyable.
4
Apr 04 2025
Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
I am not a fan of Bruce Springsteen at all; he just seems to lack the kind of insight into human nature, the ability to make a song embody a situation rather than just describe it. I'm sympathetic to the blue collar concerns in his lyrics- he just seems like a second-tier songwriter who somehow hit it big.
That said, this album is as close as I've heard to him getting it right. If his career had devloped from this point, instead of this point being a deviation, then I might be a fan. it's still a bit too slow, and the lyrics a bit too literal, but I can feel the pain and anger in them. and the two songs about cops were amazing.
so all in all a decent record from Bruce. I know it stands tall in his discography, and the critics will give it 5 outta 5. but this is just my opinion.
3
Apr 05 2025
Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson is a hard NO. Disco is an even harder NO. Michael Jacksonβs disco album is a FUCK NO. I managed to skim it for a minute. That was a minute Iβll never get back.
1
Apr 06 2025
Fear Of Music
Talking Heads
What can I say? This is an interesting eclectic band- that is all brains and no heart. Bowie did things like this in the 70s- and much better. I think there's something here, but other than the one big one, "Once in a Lifetime", I'm just not into this music.
I personally find David Byrne annoying and the songwriting underbaked- it just does nothing for me.
2
Apr 07 2025
Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
I first heard a Smiths' song when Radiohead covered the Headmaster's Ritual- and so this is the first album I looked for, and it remains my favorite of the four Smiths albums (though some of the singles might eclipse any of the material here). It's a great record- Barbarism begins at home is a bit overlong, and from the first 8 tracks that's the only bad thing I can muster. Most of the album is so great in fact that the lumbering, preachy, joyless, maudlin album closing vegan dirge that somehow became the stupid title of the record- not even that colossal piece of shit can stain the rest of the record. it does take a star off though.
I mean, fuck industrial capitilist farming for it's cruelty to animals and it's degridation of all our food quality as well. but vegans can bite it too; nature is cruel, I don't care for it myself, but all of natural slection is red in tooth and claw. Have as many cries about it as you like, the universe is stubbornly indifferent.
4
Apr 08 2025
Blue Lines
Massive Attack
I listened to two songs fully, then skimmed the rest of the record. Yep. I hate everything about this. I don't like synthetic pop music as a rule, but add vapid technical show-off lyrics, and drench it all in 1990s mainstreem cool....
ick
ick
ick.
0 stars or one if I must.
1
Apr 09 2025
Aja
Steely Dan
My dad liked this album a lot. My first boss loved it too. The lyrics are clever, and somewhat thoughtful.
Ok, that's the end of the compliments. The music is light jazz/light funk/yacht rock shit for yuppies.
Fuck this band right to hell; they are literally everything I hate in music all in one package- and what's even more irritating is that b/c of all the old people in my life digging this record, I've heard it a lot, so I know all these songs back and forth and my brain gets a little hit of dopamine when I hear them. It reacts like listening to this garbage is pleasant.
UGH.
1
Apr 10 2025
This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
What can I say? 50% I like this; nice, no-nonsense rock βn roll with a bit of punk energy. And the songs are pretty well written too.
But I donβt like the sound of it at all. Not Costelloβs voice/persona and not the rinky-dink keyboard that pervades the whole record.
Not for me.
2
Apr 11 2025
The Madcap Laughs
Syd Barrett
For what it is, the last writings of a mentally ill man in the throes of addiction, itβs necessarily of variable quality, but when it hits it hits. Surreal psychedelic folk- it goes down nice. Pink Floyd was a lesser ban without him.
4
Apr 12 2025
Live At Leeds
The Who
A lumbering drunken ox of a rock n roll band. Donβt like them at all. Two stars for being not shitty prog or rap metal.
2
Apr 13 2025
Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
it's not for me. I know Bill Callahan from the Smog Days and his quarantine collab with Will Oldham. I like him OK, but something about his voice/persona and the songwritng, while it is so so close to so many other artists I enjoy, it constantly sits just to the left of something I would ever actually want to listen to.
ah well. close but no cigar.
3
Apr 14 2025
Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
I am not a huge Beach boys fan, but this album is solid throuought. Sloop John B, I just wasnβt made for these times, Caroline noβ¦. All stone cold classics and a remarkable turnaround from their early days. Too bad that they never reached this height again
5
Apr 15 2025
Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
decent vocals and sometimes even decent songwriting. arrangements are poppy trash tho'. could only make it halfway through. i'd give it 2.5, but if I can only give whole stars, it gets rounded down.
2
Apr 16 2025
Dirty
Sonic Youth
Nope. I like the sound of Sonic Youth, even as they restrain themselves and try out more conventional rock songs, they tune their instruments differently, they let feedback fill all the empty spaces in songs⦠decent noise rock sounds.
But the songs arenβt that good, and the lyrics are embarrassingly bad, sing-songy literalist and full of forced rhymes. The songsβ concerns are not interesting, and the music doesnβt make up for it. And any time Kim Gordon βsingsβ it pains the ear.
Sonic Youth is best when they shut up- gummies the SYR series over this any day.
2
Apr 17 2025
The Visitors
ABBA
really having a loser of a week aren't we.
this may be the most annoying album I've ever heard. sing-songy children's choir faux adult pop music.
do people actually listen to this shit? FUCKING AWFUL.
if the next few albums are anywhere near this level, i'm done with this project. I wish I could give negative stars.
1
Apr 18 2025
Midnight Ride
Paul Revere & The Raiders
it's sixties pop rock. unremarkable, but not awful. kind of boring is the biggest problem- also the rinky-dink organ that pollutes the songs isn't helping.
there's a nice variety of styles here, but they're all aimed in the same direction. I guess if I were twenty years older than I am, and I heard this as a kid, I'd be nostalgic for it, it is redolant of that era- but it's far from the best the era offered.
3 stars (2.5, rounded up)
2
Apr 19 2025
Surfer Rosa
Pixies
The first decent album recommended by the site in a week. Good experimental rock 'n' roll. Of course I've heard of the Pixies and I know some of their songs, but I never listened to a whole album before.
I'm not real fond of Black Francis' high pitched singing voice- Kim Deal fares much better here, but it's not a deal breaker. This is a good album that I'll listen to again.
4 stars.
4
Apr 20 2025
Entertainment
Gang Of Four
5
Apr 21 2025
Guitar Town
Steve Earle
Steve Earle goes on to do albums I like a lot more, this one is just a bit too mainstream country in arrangements and production. It speaks to how good he is that I could listen to the whole thing anyway (I usually wouldn't get more than thirty seconds into an album that sounds like this).
on the deluxe edition he does a killer version of State Trooper too.
anyway, everybody starts somewhere. I like Steve Earle a lot- this record, not so much.
3
Apr 22 2025
Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
I knew a couple of these songs as covered by others. This album could do with a bit more stylistc diversity, but the one mode most of it is in is amazing- moody, mealnacholic, classical sounding guitar picking. and cohen sounding so young with his voice in a higher register than I'm used to.
anyway. I loved it.
5
Apr 23 2025
Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman
John Zorn
I haven't listened to this record in decades; It was nice to come back to it. It is definitely lacking in tonal variation, but if one is in the mood for a blend of free jazz mixed with hardcore- this is the album to go to. Zorn's mid 80s to late 90s output is mostly stellar, and this is not exception.
An exhilarating and enjoyable ride. i'd give it 94/100, but 4 stars is our closest approximation.
4
Apr 24 2025
Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
Frank Sinatra
I like some Sinatra albums; yes, he's a great singer. no, these upbeat orchestral pop tunes nothing for me. his more melancholy stuff hits harder. this is OK.
2
Apr 25 2025
Kenya
Machito
Ok, for reference- I like jazz. I don't understand it on an academic level, but it just sounds good to me- I've got more jazz albums in my iTunes library than any other genre (1500 or so). So I get this right away. Mid 50s hard-bop and bebop with Latin rhythms. It's not bad, but Latin Jazz has never done anything for me- that beat isn't awful, but it is like putting a straitjacket on the rhythm section.
again, not terrible- just nothing I'd usually willingly listen to.
3
Apr 26 2025
My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
more Elvis Costello. Dammit.
I don't care if it's his best album (if it is)- I do not like the guy. at all.
I'll try it- briefly. If it isn't as dominated by low-grade keyboards as the last one maybe it'll be tolerable....
Ok, I listened to the first five tracks. It sounds decent this time, but I DO NOT like his vocals or inflection or phrasing or something. This music is not for me. Itβs for the classic rock loving drunken thick necks that I grew up around.
2
Apr 27 2025
Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk
Austere, boring as shit, thin sounding German techno. Music for AIs to relax to after theyβre done harvesting all the worldβs data. From both musical and cultural perspective, I couldnβt hate it more than I do.
1
Apr 28 2025
Music
Madonna
Oh, fuck off. Are you sure the book this site derived its list from wasnβt titled β1001 albums to avoid like the plague if you want to retain even a shred of optimism about human potential or the value of existence over nothingness.β? Ray of Light is the only half decent Madonna album. Throw this and the rest on the metaphorical fire.
1
Apr 29 2025
She's So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper
The songwriting is pretty decent, and Cyndi is a powerful and authentic vocalist. I like this album, but goddamn the 1980s electronic drums get monotonous. The arrangements are mediocre at best. Still within the constraints of 80s production the songs still shine through. Even the non-single cuts are high quality- unlike a lot of 80s albums, I was able to listen all the way through. Even the B-side is quite good- a fast paced almost rocker. (remixes on the 30th anniversary edition were dreck; the demos superfluous- but this doesn't count against the original album)
4
Apr 30 2025
Nowhere
Ride
Pretty decent shoegaze influenced rock music; vocals are a bit thin when they should be soaring, but most of the time more than suffice. I've only listened to it once, so my opinion won't get more specific.
Nothing in it grabbed me and demanded that I listen to it again, but it's more than serviceable and sounds like the kind of music that will be someone's favorite somewhere.
4
May 01 2025
Our Aim Is To Satisfy
Red Snapper
boring techno with occasional unmemorable vocals.
wouldn't bother me if it were in playing in a movie (though it would probably cast doubt on the quality of the movie)
nothing I would usually opt to listen to, nor will I start now.
blech.
1
May 02 2025
Tank Battles
Dagmar Krause
Ok, this is from left field, and that should be a good thing, but I have a limited tolerance for German theatre, even though I know it's an influence on guys like Zorn and Waits, whom I love.
This however, can't get into the vocals, and have no mood to hear her plow through 26 very theatrical war time drama songs. three tunes was enough to render the verdict.
I'm starting to think that the author of the 1001 albums book has taken his desire to be ecumenical to a sinful extreme
1
May 03 2025
The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
the sound of a self-pitying junkie mistaking his self-hate for profundity and encoding it into heavily compressed techno metal to serve as a bible for all the other self-pitying junkies of the world to validate their addictions as a path to faux-profundity.
musically and lyrically this is mediocre at best. The fact that it was so influential is a mark against the culture. People are shitty, and this album is their soundtrack.
and he did really build it to be so lyrically abstract- all adjectives, no referents... that anyone could insert the details of their garbage lives and think that he's referring to them. God I hate this fucking record.
1
May 04 2025
Sound Affects
The Jam
A bit punk, a bit of funk, and a scoop of pop-Beatles mixed in (I swear a couple of rhythm passages are directly lifted from the Beatles- and the deluxe edition has a cover of And Your Bird Can Sing)
Anyway, after the last few horror show records this was perfect- a band I know of but never listened to, that turned out to be quite good actually.
4
May 05 2025
Remedy
Basement Jaxx
Not awful, just bland dance music that I canβt imagine ever wanting to listen too. The sort of music that when AI produces it nobody will notice the missing human element as thereβs almost none there to begin with.
Whoever wrote the list couldβve had a bit more bias towards actual music over vapid electro jingles, despite feeling the need to be all things to all people, and ending up with a list that is equal parts brilliant diamonds and polished turds.
1
May 06 2025
Van Halen
Van Halen
oh har har. the joke's on me. I get it. I bitched on the Basement Jaxx review that I wanted real music and not electronic jingles- and you said, "I know what technically fits the bill! here's every drunken frat boy in the 1980s favorite album to dream of glory to."
this music is awful. shrieky vocals, empty lyrics, ostentatioius guitar solos devoid of purpose or soul and plodding lifeless drums. stupid cock-rock for stadiums full of stupid people. the boys are all technically competent, and you can, in moments, hear the better band that they could have been- there's a bit of punk energy that eeks out in a few moments that if the album wasn't overproduced to hell and the boys weren't set on chasing mainstream glory, could have made a better album. they certainly are capapble of writing catchy songs- if only they hadn't used their talents to evil ends.
bring back the robots I guess; there's no hope for humanity.
1
May 07 2025
The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
torn between a 3 and 4 star review here- this is obviously a great record- and I love the mood of the music- the jazz samples are great, I like that there are no catch r&b choruses, no skits or nonsense, just beats and lyrics.
I just wish they had more to say topically, most of the album is about personal stuff and the rap game itself. it's not bad, just not great. still, if I had to pick a rap album to listen to- this would be a good choice.
4
May 08 2025
Chris
Christine and the Queens
the book doesn't go to 2018. it barely goes past 2000, so what in the fresh hell is this absolute dogshit record? is this website taking the piss?
is this the recommendation of someone who finished the list? if so, curse them for foisting this trash upon my consciousness. the world is awful enough as it is.
1
May 09 2025
Pearl
Janis Joplin
Pretty decent bluesy sixties rock that would be wholly unremarkable but for that Janis has and amazingly supple and powerful voice. Her early death is right up there with Joni Hendrix or Buddy Holly in how much it robbed the world- how much more sheβd have done were she not taken in the first phase of her career.
4
May 10 2025
Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
No sir , I donβt like it.
1
May 11 2025
The Sounds Of India
Ravi Shankar
These are some Indian ragas alright. I like Ravi Shankar (I like his daughters a bit better), and this is an interesting album and historical artifact. Not sure I'd pull it out to listen to often, but I like how he tries to explain to the western audience what the hell they're about to hear.
4
May 12 2025
Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
Stevie wonder is too pop in the 60s- and just turns into total schlock in the 70s. His classic period is utterly repulsive to me. Iβm sure this is a minority opinion, but the songwriting, the textures, the vocals- none of it does a thing for me. Compares well to modern pop music perhaps, but thatβs not saying much.
1
May 13 2025
At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash might have had a dip in the quality of his records in the 1980s, but Cash in any other era is always 4-5 star material.
And this record, with the added interaction with the prisoners- it's brilliant.
5
May 14 2025
Rust In Peace
Megadeth
Metallica is a mediocre metal band, and Megadeth is their even worse spin off. Mustaine's voice is irritating, but not half as irritating as his arch righ-wing politics.
I'll give it two stars for the decent riffing.
2
May 15 2025
The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
the songs seem like they're malformed, like maybe I'd like them better if I was on LSD. Other than Animals and a couple songs of Wish You Were Here there isn't any era of Pink Floyd that I enjoy. I had hopes that the Syd-Barret album would be different (I think his solo album is pretty OK), but this is tedious as all get out.
2
May 16 2025
90
808 State
Iβm beginning to think the person who wrote the book is a sadist, why else would he imply that all should listen to this excrement if not to make people suffer.
No further review, bargain bin trash like this does not deserve consideration.
1
May 17 2025
Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
I like Norah Jonesβ sensibilities and her voice, but this album is a bit too slick for me to really enjoy. Some of her later stuff I like a lot better.
3
May 18 2025
Elephant
The White Stripes
4
May 19 2025
Heaux Tales
Jazmine Sullivan
4
May 20 2025
Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
I like their politics; I hate rap rock 99% of the time and Zachβs voice in particular is grating. This just isnβt for me. Again, Iβm as anti-authoritarian as they come. Defund the police, abolish ICE, launch the billionaires on a one-way trip to Mars, Iβm down with it. Just not with this music.
2
May 21 2025
Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
Lupe Fiasco
No.
Sampled it. Good production, very busy sounding, lyrically empty- lots of bragging. Not interested.
1
May 22 2025
Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
I'm obviously not the biggest fan of rap music here (don't hate it, it just doesn't resonate with me like other music does). But the beats on this album do it form me and so do the no-nonsense raps. I'd go five stars if it wasn't for all the wasted time on skits and music-free yapping.
4
May 23 2025
Are You Experienced
Jimi Hendrix
yeah. it's good. All of Hendrix's recorded output is at least good. I like the second album a bit better, but this one has the indelible tunes on it.
this man's early death is the greatest tragedy in rock n' roll history. President of the 27 club.
5
May 24 2025
Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
A pleasant album with decent if slightly dated arrangements. It's kind of slight, and if not for the austere final record and tragic early death, I think it would remain lost to time.
which would be a shame because it is definitely worth hearing. four stars just because Pink Moon is five.
4
May 25 2025
Hunky Dory
David Bowie
Itβs 3 Β½ stars really. Bowieβs not a strong enough lyricist to pull off the strummy singer-songwriter tunes. They make for a pretty weak midsection and boring finale.
But the opening salvo is three indelible eternal hits, and the biographical tunes in the last third are quite good too.
Bowie has a lot better coming, this period in his career seems like a long slow gestation period, and this is near the end of it.
4
May 26 2025
Psychocandy
The Jesus And Mary Chain
I love the feedback laden into the pop songs, but the drums are so low in the mix that it sounds like they were recorded from another room, and the vocals take near the same approach in every song. The pace never seems to change- even faster songs sound like theyβre stuck in more.
I scanned a couple of their later albums- they get better. Thereβs something here, but Iβd never want to listen to this album again.
2
May 27 2025
The Yes Album
Yes
the 70s blues/rock guitars are cool; the acoustic instrumental an obvious demonstration of skill.
but the bloated, overtheatrical, cringe-inducing harmonies are all present in embryonic form here. the whole prog flavor of yes- rush- genesis- gentle giant is thoroughly offputting to me. the organs and vocals are enough to ruin this for me.
no no no no no.
2
May 28 2025
If I Could Only Remember My Name
David Crosby
A nice, austere, moody record. Not at all what I expected from David Crosby. I suppose that's why it got such poor reviews in the beginning, but those critics had some whack standards. This is acutally good.
It's nice to get a positive surprise from this 1001 list finally.
4
May 29 2025
Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3
May 30 2025
Achtung Baby
U2
Probably my very favorite album by this band. Soon after this theyβd be swapped by their size, creative stagnation and Bonoβs grandstanding neoliberal bullshit that betrayed the social conscience they evidenced in the 80s. But here they are in the throes of a creative ecstasy, where all possibilities seemed open- this and Zooropa are the last 2 albums anyone needs to hear by these guys.
4
May 31 2025
Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
Very decent seventies country-rock tinged singer songwriter record. Joanβs voice is very strong, phrasing is great, emotional conveyance assured.
4
Jun 01 2025
Group Sex
Circle Jerks
it's hardcore punk, alright. I suppose it's on the list because it's a foundational document- and it's not bad at all- could be recorded a lot better, but I like the relatively lower intensity compared to what would come later.
4
Jun 02 2025
Dig Your Own Hole
The Chemical Brothers
I'm not a big fan of techno- but where I in the mood for this to be the soundtrack to biking or reading, it's quite serviceable- if working out-even more so. And it really steeps me in the 90s, so the nostalgia factor is strong.
3
Jun 03 2025
The Joshua Tree
U2
it has it's moments, and since I've known it since it came out it's nostalgic, but this is just about where they get too heart-on-sleeve performatively sensitive and sincere. it's still a very good album, but in retrospect the reinvention that would come next was due.
4
Jun 04 2025
Throwing Muses
Throwing Muses
great 90s indie rock progenitor- I was a fan of Belly in the mid 90s, but never gave Throwing Muses a go. my loss.
4
Jun 05 2025
Follow The Leader
Korn
find every copy of this album and burn it. erase it from the internet. go back in time to when the members of this band were babies and pay for their families to move to the opposite sides of the globe so that they never meet.
all of this would be doing too little to destroy this wretched album.
1
Jun 06 2025
Songs Of Love And Hate
Leonard Cohen
4
Jun 07 2025
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The songs are ok. I loved it when I was 15. It hasnβt aged well. And Anthony Kedis is an arrogant prick with an annoying thin voice.
1
Jun 08 2025
The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
I love Ella Fitzgerald's voice, and she aquits herself well here; I do NOT appreciate Gershwin's too-cutesy showtunes in general, and three hours of this is ENTIRELY too much. I could probably whittle it down to a 50 minute disc of songs I kind of enjoy, but as it is, I will never be able to down this monstrosity.
3
Jun 09 2025
The Cars
The Cars
vapid ditzy pop songs with semi-clever lyrics, dated synths and anemic guitars. It all comes together in a genuinely interesting way on Moving in Stereo, but that seems like more of a happy accident, as the other 8 songs on the record are a bore, even though I recognize some of the choruses, meaning they must have been hits since I've never owned or sought out this record before.
2
Jun 10 2025
Fear Of A Black Planet
Public Enemy
4
Jun 11 2025
Youth And Young Manhood
Kings of Leon
bland southern pop-rock. not awful, not remarkable- just lacking the spark that takes mediocre rock into the realm of something special. they'd be a good get for a bar, a shitty concert to attend.
2
Jun 12 2025
A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
4
Jun 13 2025
The Beach Boys Today!
The Beach Boys
I just canβt listen to this. The vocals on The Beach Boys albums hit my ears wrong- grating and intolerable. I like some songs on Pet Sounds, and the instrumentals on the Smile reconstruction are good- and thatβs it. This band just sucks. And I stand by that while acknowledging that Brian Wilson was a genius, and that he had a way rougher life than he deserved. RIP.
2
Jun 14 2025
The Chronic
Dr. Dre
1
Jun 15 2025
LP1
FKA twigs
3
Jun 16 2025
Armed Forces
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
I just hate this band. Twee and annoyingly keyboard heavy- and Costello has a grating, thin voice. some of the songwriting is smart- if a whole different band arranged and performed it maybe, but I'm not going to listen to any Costello going forward.
1
Jun 17 2025
(Pronounced 'Leh-'NΓ©rd 'Skin-'NΓ©rd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
It is unusual for so short a single album to house so many iconic songs, I'll give it that. the songwriting is fairly strong, even if the lyrics are generally vapid. That said, Southern rock is generally a turn off for me- as soutehrn pride is generally just veiled backwardsness and racism. I don't strongly detect that here, but I just don't vibe with it.
2 things: Freebird is somehow not nearly as annoying as it should be given its ubiquity. Also, though kind of dunderheaded, Simple Man has a decent core message and is clearly the best tune on the record.
It's not bad, but it's not for me.
2
Jun 18 2025
Copper Blue
Sugar
very rote, unmemorable 90s rock. like if nirvana had no personality and the world's blandest lead singer.
this is awful- the mix, the mastering, the songwriting the performances- nothing is doing the music any favors.
how the ever-loving-fuck is this piece of hardened bird shite a part of this list?
1
Jun 19 2025
Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
4
Jun 20 2025
Tommy
The Who
3
Jun 21 2025
Sea Change
Beck
The better of the dour Beck acoustic albums- this one has some great songs on it (even the japan bonus track is pretty good) but it's a bit monotonous in it's sustained mood. It's the beginning of the last leg for Beck's career- by 2010 he'd run out of steam, so it's to be savored.
4
Jun 22 2025
G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love & Special Sauce
3
Jun 23 2025
So Much For The City
The Thrills
Inoffensive, unremarkable jangly pop. If I heard it in a Starbucks Iβd neither be offended nor would I take notice. I assume a user added this record, as thereβs no universe in which this is a must-hear.
2
Jun 24 2025
Funeral
Arcade Fire
wheezy thin vocals, cramped mix, milquetoast instrumentation- dictionary definition indie-rock. a lot of people connect to it on a real emotional level- but it's not reaching me at all. there's a couple of songs near the end (after the excrable neighborhood suite) that sond like if a different band covered them would be decent- so it can have an extra star...
2
Jun 25 2025
American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
4
Jun 26 2025
Locust Abortion Technician
Butthole Surfers
an album that is actually about 2 songs and 8 b-sides. mostly fucking about in the studio- yeilding inconsistent results- Gabby doesn't sing a clear vocal until the sixth track, and barely pops his head up again after that.
Even with the loose standards for inclusion, they could only get 31 minutes together?
Anyway- band has a decent sound here, no 1980s fuckery to be found, but they aren't doing much with it on this EP of an LP.
2
Jun 27 2025
Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
3
Jun 28 2025
The College Dropout
Kanye West
Fuck this nazi. I donβt care if the music this hateful solipsist made when young gives full body orgasms- I wonβt listen to a fucking note of it. Wish I could give it -10000 stars.
1
Jun 29 2025
Boy In Da Corner
Dizzee Rascal
I appreciate the sincerity- this is idiosyncratic stuff- and the stuttering beats aim in the general direction of what I like- but the vocal delivery is grating, and I just get the feeling that this was not made for the likes of me.
2
Jun 30 2025
Gris Gris
Dr. John
a short album at 7 songs over 33 minutes, but really there are only 2-3 songs in slightly different configurations. the Dr. John the Gris Gris man schtick would have been good for a single song perhaps, but not enough to wrap a whole album around. nothing I would ever want to listen to again, though it wasn't torture to make it through.
3
Jul 01 2025
Imagine
John Lennon
some indelible songs here. Imagine has become fairly trite,and it's not so good a piece of music even if I agree philosophically with the direction of the sentiment. Gimmie Some Truth is the killer cut here, with its vitriol being still appropriate 50 years on.
the rest of the album is nothing awful, nothing special. it's better than a lot of his 70s solo stuff that would follow, not as good as the beatles or even the plastic ono band that preceeded it.
3
Jul 02 2025
Amnesiac
Radiohead
a B- collection of Kid-A b-sides by a band I won't listen to any more.
Thom and Jonny are Zionists and get all mealy-mouthed and both-sides bad faithers when it comes to the mass murder of civillians. Starving babies, headless babies, screaming parents and wailing children by the many thousands moves them not.
Once they were progressive- now they serve the empire.
fuck this band.
Also, Kid A is leagues better than this, and so is In Rainbows. Why is this album on the list?
1
Jul 03 2025
Tidal
Fiona Apple
the most commercially impactful of her career maybe, but the least of her records for sure. Her voice is on fire here, her perspective surprisingly mature, but the music is informed by its producers and being polished and shined for radio play.
it's too bad that as she has gotten more interesting and idiosyncratic she also gets more reclusive; we'll be lucky if we get even one more album from her...
If it were her last couple of records- they'd be five stars. albums 2 and 3 from her, 4 stars. so this one gets 3.
3
Jul 04 2025
Connected
Stereo MC's
really shitty dance music. i've never even heard of this one, so I can't imagine it's that influential either... why's it here?
anyway. I listened to three whole tunes before I could no longer supress the feeling of my time being painfully burned away in needless suffering.
wretched shit for awful people to dance to.
1
Jul 05 2025
The Wall
Pink Floyd
3
Jul 06 2025
Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Lucinda Williams
Very nice vocals and good songwriting for a pretty mainstream singer-songwriter/country record. Not my favorite style, but Iβd never be upset if it was playing in a room Iβm in.
4
Jul 07 2025
Chore of Enchantment
Giant Sand
I like Calexico when they're being Calexico, but I've always ignored Giant Sand. Howe Gelb is an engaging enough singer- and it's got that southwest vibe- good stuff.
4
Jul 08 2025
Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
4
Jul 09 2025
Heroes to Zeros
The Beta Band
Decent early 2000s rock. Sounds a bit like flaming lips of that era- some songs better than others, the opener was maybe the best.
4
Jul 10 2025
Rings Around The World
Super Furry Animals
3
Jul 11 2025
Quiet Life
Japan
4
Jul 12 2025
Arrival
ABBA
1
Jul 13 2025
This Is Hardcore
Pulp
3
Jul 14 2025
Music From The Penguin Cafe
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Avant garde easy listening? What even the hell is this? Itβs not offensive to the ears exactly, but itβs doing nothing for me.
2
Jul 15 2025
Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding
5
Jul 16 2025
Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Tooooo much vibrato- voice non stop wavering. I know it was the style of sixties folk, and I know her place in it- but I donβt love the hyper-restrictive folk scene of that era- and this wears thin after just a few songs.
3
Jul 17 2025
Blackstar
David Bowie
5
Jul 18 2025
Transformer
Lou Reed
One or two forgettable tunes amidst a sea of stone cold classics. An influential album that plays just as well today- if you can get down with his speak-singing.
5
Jul 19 2025
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
5
Jul 20 2025
Arc Of A Diver
Steve Winwood
Winwood has a voice , but itβs over processed, and gods is this record soaked in 80s synths. Boring songs too.
1
Jul 21 2025
Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
Nope. I do not like this guyβs reedy voice nor his xtian nonsense. Just not for me.
1
Jul 22 2025
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
Solid poppy rock album, great production considering itβs 1989- nary a shitty synth in sight. Decent vocals, strong songwriting.
4
Jul 23 2025
Hunting High And Low
a-ha
Good vocals, decent songwriting. Godawful full-bath 80s synths. Not a sound for me
2
Jul 24 2025
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
4
Jul 25 2025
Tragic Songs of Life
The Louvin Brothers
Old timey and formulaic. Modern western music I like; Iβll go as far back as Sun-era Cash, but thatβs it. This is irritating.
2