162
Albums Rated
3.37
Average Rating
15%
Complete
927 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010s
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
19
5-Star Albums
6
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Good Old Boys
Randy Newman
|
5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
|
Let It Be
The Replacements
|
5 | 3.25 | +1.75 |
|
System Of A Down
System Of A Down
|
5 | 3.26 | +1.74 |
|
Either Or
Elliott Smith
|
5 | 3.38 | +1.62 |
|
Rock Bottom
Robert Wyatt
|
4 | 2.39 | +1.61 |
|
Locust Abortion Technician
Butthole Surfers
|
4 | 2.39 | +1.61 |
|
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
|
5 | 3.41 | +1.59 |
|
American Gothic
David Ackles
|
4 | 2.48 | +1.52 |
|
Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
|
5 | 3.52 | +1.48 |
|
Low
David Bowie
|
5 | 3.55 | +1.45 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Urban Hymns
The Verve
|
1 | 3.36 | -2.36 |
|
In A Silent Way
Miles Davis
|
2 | 3.61 | -1.61 |
|
Timeless
Goldie
|
1 | 2.53 | -1.53 |
|
Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
|
2 | 3.52 | -1.52 |
|
En-Tact
The Shamen
|
1 | 2.43 | -1.43 |
|
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
|
2 | 3.39 | -1.39 |
|
Cupid & Psyche 85
Scritti Politti
|
1 | 2.39 | -1.39 |
|
Sincere
Mj Cole
|
1 | 2.38 | -1.38 |
|
At Mister Kelly's
Sarah Vaughan
|
2 | 3.38 | -1.38 |
|
Sulk
The Associates
|
1 | 2.36 | -1.36 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Black Sabbath | 2 | 5 |
5-Star Albums (19)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
The Associates
1/5
Literally don’t have anything positive to say about this album. It sucked ass. I had to watch a two hour movie in the middle of the album to break it up. This was a mistake because it felt like I actually had to listen to two albums by these jackasses because they had to make this album so fucking long. If you like every bad stereotype of 80s new wave synth pop, this album is perfect. As I read in another review, “I love you David Bowie, but you inspired some truly terrible music”
Easiest 1 in the 123 albums reviewed so far
8D <-micropenis rating
1 likes
1-Star Albums (6)
All Ratings
Jack White
4/5
-Obviously has a number of his major hits on this record
-Prefer his rock/blues songs over softer material on this record; his voice feels like a better fit for this style
-Guitar solos absolutely shred
-"Freedom at 21" was surprisingly one of my favorites on the album; great solo
-Super loose
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
Fun listen as I haven't done a deep dive on either Big Brother and the Holding Company nor Janis Joplin. Although her vocals are clearly super powerful, raw, and good for blues, it is slightly too rough for my personal preference on some of the songs. It does make sense why she decided to proceed with a solo career. She clearly was the star in this group.
I really enjoy the blues riffs and the uses of the electric guitar effects (phaser, flanger, delay, distortion). The solos are super grainy, treble-y and, I would consider, classic, fun, and energetic 60s guitar riffs that make me naturally play the air guitar. Very loud and in your face.
The album is dynamic in a way where it takes on multiple "volumes" of the blues and classic rock n roll. A good combo of high energy and low energy songs with fun tempo changes. Very loose.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
First song caught me off when his vocals came in. Vocals are more speaking than melodic, but there are backing vocals that fill a necessary gap. His vocals remind me of Johnny Cash's late music but somehow even more gravely. The songs are pretty stripped down and leave a lot of room for the listener to focus on Leonard's vocals.
Knowing nothing about Leonard Cohen, I can tell the story of Jesus was an inspiration to his music, regardless on whether you classify this as Christian music or not.
I think the songs are well generally composed and produced well. There are some very beautiful moments in the album; however, I didn't feel like this album showcases Leonard in the way that he is likely known for to unfamiliar listeners. This wouldn't be something that I would listen to frequently, but I'm glad to become slightly more familiar with his work.
Prince
4/5
80s are not usually what I gravitate towards, but I did think that this is a great 80s albums relative to other 80s albums I'm familiar with. I found myself enjoying the the beat swaps in the middle of a lot of the songs. I appreciated the differing tempos across the album. I don't think that his vocals really stand out to me besides the screams and shrieks. I felt that the album got progressively stronger starting at Computer Blue. Most of the songs were fun to listen to and had many layers and textures in the beat. Prince obviously shreds on the guitar and Purple Rain rain is a classic for a reason; however, the song almost doesn't belong on the same record just by how different it is.
Tears For Fears
4/5
I really enjoyed this album and I was excited to get it. Although some of the songs were long, I didn't find myself getting uninterested on many occasions. Shout was probably one of my least favorite songs on the album, and Everybody Wants to Rule the World can be argued as one of the best songs ever written. The groove is so unique and fun on its own, and I've heard so many great covers of this song. On some of the unfamiliar songs, there was always something that made it interesting to listen to.
The album is HEAVY 80s, which is more susceptible to the "cheese factor", but it still slapped and definitely deserves to be in the 1001 albums everyone should listen to before they die.
Goldie
1/5
This album definitely felt timeless. Didn’t see an end in sight. Although I do like Drum and Bass, I can only take it in small doses. I think this would probably be considered a “Musicians album” rather than an album that everyone needs to listen to. I think this much drum and bass only appeals to a small niche of the music community and to people who pretend to like it. I do appreciate the production of the drums, but that’s about it. I think I picked up some parts of the album that have been sampled in more recent tracks. I don’t think that this album should be considered an album that everyone needs to listen to. You need to be on an uppers for this album.
The Smiths
4/5
Enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. Lyrics are super entertaining and the composition is fun. Enjoyed the opening track and Girlfriend in a Coma. Each song paints a very vivid and unique story/scenario. Will definitely be listening to this album again even though most of their hits aren't off this record. Because the music doesn't seem to match the storyline of what is sung, it makes it even more entertaining and hilarious.
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
Favorite song on this album was Anyday, followed by Nobody Knows When You are Down and Out, Bell Bottom Blues, and then the Little Wing cover and Layla. This album probably slapped at a live show back in the 70s mixed with some mid weed, but, weed has gotten better, and it's now 55 years later. I've never really been a huge fan of Eric Clapton, but I understand his cultural significance. The only reason why Layla is so popular is because of the super recognizable guitar riff. Other than that, not a big fan of that song. I'm struggling between a 2 and a 3, but I think I'm landing on a soft 3 because it meets my criteria for making it on this list but doesn't go much beyond that.
Marty Robbins
4/5
I was very excited to get an old western/country album. It's a breath of fresh air from the garbage country music that Nashville has been pumping into my ears (Gavin Adcock). I can't relate to anything that Marty is singing about, but it feels like I can. Storytelling is great, music is great given the time period. Healthy 4/5
Dirty Projectors
2/5
Never heard of them. Was too experimental for me. Felt like a combo of the worst parts of Kevin Parker and Bon Iver tasked to make something weird. This was unfortunate because I really liked the tones of the instruments and production. It just wasn't done in the best way.
I liked the harmonies and the vocalists is definitely talented, but the tempo changes were too frequent for my taste.
Useful Chamber was my favorite song followd by Two Doves.
Strong 2. Only a strong 2 because of the ties to Rusko with Amber Coffman. That dude makes great wubs. Could make an argument questioning the existence of this album on the list. Definitely couldn't listen with Drake's grandmother.
The Replacements
5/5
Gary's not the only one with a boner around here. This album rocked. It checked all of the boxes of what a great album needs. The album flows really well with a great variety of tones, volumes, and genres. The lyrics and topics across the album are a perfect blend of being hilarious and serious. Listened to this album three times and had the same amount of enjoyment.
The only downside to this album is that I think it started off too slow with the first two songs. They didn't hit as hard as the remainder of the album.
Great songs: Black Diamond, Unsatisfied, Sixteen Blue, Gary's Got a Boner, We're Coming Out, Answering Machine (honestly can list almost all of them)
This album was clearly pushing boundaries at the time, and I'm sure angered a lot of boomers, making it even more entertaining. Soft 5/5
Linkin Park
2/5
One of the most overrated bands of all time. A band that highly benefited from the Kurt Cobain effect. The most meme-y band in the most meme-y genre of music. In all fairness, this isn’t the worst album so far, but it’s still bad and unlistenable. Vocals are like nails on a chalkboard, and the lyrics are terrible. Unfortunately this album only deserves to be on the 1001 list just by how inflated they got. Only pro is the production on the guitar is good at some points and there are some half decent breakdowns. Won’t ever intentionally listen to this band. Weak 2/5.
Orbital
2/5
Yeah idk about this. Decent boops and beeps. Much more listenable than the Timeless album, but not my usual electronic music preference. I'm sure these guys have had a strong influence on others, but it didn't really grab me too much. Definitely something to put you in a trance though. Production was good and interesting at times. I'm giving it a strong 2, just because it's not something I will be listening to in the future.
Favorite song was definitely Kein Trink Wasser. It reminded me of All My Friends by LCD Soundsystem.
The xx
3/5
When I saw this album on the list, I was like, yeah, sure. But having two XX albums on here is pretty crazy. I know this album was huge in the late 2000s and early 2010s, but it hasn't aged with me too well. This album definitely hit for me back then, but the lack of diversity across the project makes it kind of boring. The sound of this album is as if The Edge took his guitar effects and applied it across the entire band. Not saying that it's bad in that sense, just super reverb-y, delay-y, and monotone. Definitely an album that hits hard for depressed people.
I think I'm giving this a strong 3, but this is a hard one for me to rate.
PSA: probably giving the other XX album a 2 just because I don't think this band is deserving of two spots on the list.
David Bowie
5/5
Oh I think I'm starting to get this David Bowie thing. This album was so good. The composition, production, and the use of many different instruments and styles was so impressive.
In the first half of the record, he was able to get me hooked on the song in such a short amount of time that it didn't feel like the songs were as short as they were. The second half took a major switch towards mostly instrumentals. This was something that I wasn't expecting, but was surprised by how beautiful and interesting they got.
This guy's songwriting on this album is so good, and his use of synths and vocal layering is so cool.
Breaking Glass has a super farty and fat bass.
Sound and Vision is a great song all the way through. I wish this song was another minute longer.
Be My Wife: another great song
Warszawa is beautiful
I think this might be another 5 from me. Hopefully his other albums on this list stack up.
Dr. Dre
4/5
Beats are dummy fat and the synths are iconic. I made sure that my glock was loaded before listening to this album. I will say that the album felt too long, and there were more speaking/theatrical parts of the album that I didn't feel added to the album too much. The Intro sets the tone really well for the album. Two songs that jumped out at me were High Powered and Stranded on Death Row. I think I'm giving this a weak 4.
Scritti Politti
1/5
The first song got me somewhat excited for a Sublime-like album. It then flipped into garbage 80s "pop", and it went downhill from there. After first listen, I was planning on giving this a 2 after a second listen; however, I can't find myself to do that, so I'm dropping it to a strong 1. Nothing stood out. I tried listening to the vocals, but had to stop because they were so bad. 10/10 do not recommend.
Leftfield
3/5
Out of the electronic albums that we've had so far, I think this one was the best; however, I question why it is on the list. To be fair, I probably enjoyed it more because it is closer to my EDM preferences, but I still wasn't blown away. I somewhat passively listened to it, but did find myself being more engaged than the others. I think this album deserves a 2, but I'm bumping it to a 3 just because it aligns more with my preferences.
Steely Dan
4/5
This album ruuuuuuuuuuules. This album is love making music. Even though the solos throughout the album are generally longer that most songs, they fit the vibe so well. I've listened to this album a number of times, so nothing was really surprising. Just a great 70s album. Struggling between a 4 and 5, but I think I'm landing on a strong 4.
Besides the obvious great songs (Do it Again, Reelin in the Years, and Dirty Work), I really enjoyed Turn That Heartbeat Over Again and Kings.
Thank God we didn't get another electronic album.
Beatles
3/5
Was excited to get a Beatles album, but this didn’t wow me as much as some of their other stuff does. I enjoyed In My Life, Nowhere Man, and If I Needed Someone, but wasn't super impressed by everything else. Definitely not a bad album, but not my preference.
The panning that they did on this album was wild. Listening on headphones is really unusual just by how extreme it is. Listening to this album on speakers is a much more enjoyable experience.
Strong 3
John Prine
4/5
Songwriting and storytelling was really entertaining on this album, and I thought the production was really good. I can only take John Prine in batches, so I started to get a little tired of his voice and the similar song structures throughout the album. Still had a good time listening to the stories, though.
He isn't known for his vocal melodies, but there were some pretty guitar picking and chord progressions. I'm thinking on a soft 4.
Favorite songs: Illegal Smile, Hello in There, Pretty Good, and Six O'Clock News, Sam Stone
Jefferson Airplane
2/5
This album was boring for me. Felt like just another hippie jam band. I don't even love their hits that much. I'm sure white people loved this shit back then. I can imagine listeners of this music clapping on the 1 and 3 of the beat.
The album would randomly switch to weird gypsy music that felt off. I won't be actively listening to this album again.
I'm giving this a 2
Steve Earle
2/5
Is this the origin of all shitty pop country of the last 30 years? I can't tell, but I have a feeling that the formula was close to being defined.
Was this album incredibly easy to listen to? Yes. Too easy? Yes.
It was interesting to notice the blend of country and 80s beats at some points; however, there really wasn't much else interesting to this album. Vocals aren't impressive, production is pretty bland, there isn't much musicianship at any point. The storytelling is the only thing that you can probably speak to, but it's not unique in any way.
It feels like an album that is designed to target people that pretend to be country in their suburban homes. Sorry!
Favorite song: Down the Road
I'm feeling a 2 on this.
Chicago
3/5
This album slowly got much better for me. I thought it started kinda slow and unoriginal, but then it really picked up with heavy guitar tones and the songs got much more interesting. I wasn't super excited to listen to this because of how long it is, but I actually think the length of the album is appropriate. Bass is phat, guitar is muffy, drums are loose, horns are tight.
My first impressions were: this sounds like every other wedding band
My lasting impressions are: this band can jam
Also, Free Form Guitar must have slipped through the cracks of the rest of the band. That shit was hilarious to me.
Favorite songs: Beginnings, Poem 58, South California Purples, Liberation
Healthy 3
M.I.A.
2/5
Yeah I just didn’t like this album. Paper planes is the only redeeming song on this album, bumping it to a 2.
Charles Mingus
4/5
Great jazz. Super well composed and the musicianship is phenomenal. It really takes you on a journey. I don’t really have much else to say but I’m glad I found time in my schedule to pencil Mr. Mingus in.
ZZ Top
4/5
Really enjoyed this album. Although Billy Gibbons’ guitar playing sounds simple and straightforward, it’s crazy how tight it is. His riffs are also are legendary and his tone is so unique. This is what makes ZZ Top stand out from the rest.
ZZ Top does a great job of blending genres in this album. I once listened to an interview about how they focused on bridging the gap between the redneck and hippie cultures. I thought that this was an interesting and accurate take.
I previously didn’t recognize the use of synths on this album, but I appreciated the subtlety and thought it fit appropriately.
I’m unfortunately missing them in concert next week due to travel, but I definitely think this album deserves to be on the 1001 albums list. The one unfavorable quality of this album is that I think there is a slight lack of diversity. The album feels like a collection of similar songs as opposed to a 45 minute journey.
4/5
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
This album was alright for me. I think the vocals can be very pretty at times, but not my musical preference. Wish we got one of their other albums.
I thought I heard a guitar lick that America ripped for Ventura Highway, but I only gave this album 1 pass through.
3
Hugh Masekela
3/5
Minawa is a beautiful song. Inner Crisis is pretty fun. Overall wasn’t the best jazz I’ve heard, but I’m definitely not an expert. 3 from me.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Good collection of songs. Each song sounded familiar, likely because this is movie score music. I enjoyed the album, but don't think I'll be listening regularly besides having it on as background music. The composition is good and I like how the songs are shorter. I'm giving this an average 3.
Mudhoney
3/5
I'm glad we got a change of pace in this exercise, but there are way more bands that do grunge and alt rock better. I know this band inspired many others, but this one just doesn't hit much for me. I'm sure their concerts were great though.
Good songs:
Don't Fave IV
Something so Clear
Into the Drink
Pokin Around
Raekwon
4/5
This album was awesome. Although it was long, the journey and length of the album felt appropriate. Beats were great. Lyrics and rhythm were spot on. I don't know why I didn't know about this wu-tang offshoot work.
Best songs: Incarcerated Scarfaces, Ice Cream, Heaven & Hell, Ice Water
Strong 4
King Crimson
5/5
I looooooooved this album. I’ve heard so much about King Crimson, but I’ve never gotten around to listening to them. Just after the first song, I could see all of the influence that this band has had on modern bands that I enjoy today. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Primus, Pink Floyd, and Tool are the obvious ones that stood out to me prior to Wikipedia-ing the others.
The composition is so unique and interesting, and, even though most songs are lengthy, nothing ever felt like wasted space. The production of this album is so good. I could easily be fooled if someone told me that this album was released this year. Also, who tf is the drummer. My God, what an absolute beast.
Moonchild is a weird one, but for some reason, the 10 minutes of spacious instrument playing randomness feels right. Usually that type of shit pisses me off. Schizoid man reminds me of my favorite parts of King Kizzard. I Talk to the Wind has a Beatles-on-acid feeling which is fun. Epitaph might be my favorite on the album tied with the Court of the Crimson King.
I’m listening to their whole discography for sure.
It’s a 5 for me.
Tom Waits
4/5
Someone needs to get the frog out of this man's throat. He reminds me of the singer of AnnenMayKantereit, specifically the Tom's Diner cover. He also gives off a Bruce Springsteen vibe.
I enjoyed a number of the songs on this record. The lyrics were pretty cool, but I think his voice gave me the heebie jeebies at times. This guy definitely had a history with prostitutes.
I really enjoyed the musical aspects of the album. Every instrument had a perfectly assigned role, and there wasn't a single time where I felt that the songs were overcrowded.
Favorite songs: Heartattack and Vine, Downtown, Mr. Siegal
Least Favorite Song: Jersey Girl. Way to many Sha la la la las. Too cheesy for me
I'm struggling between a super strong 3 or a weak 4, but I think I'm leaning a weak 4. It's definitely a unique album, so I'm giving an extra boost for that.
Mercury Rev
3/5
There were parts of this album that depressed Charlie liked. They sound like a combination for The Flaming Lips, Death Cab for Cutie, and Youth Lagoon.
I thought the first song was a really strong opener, but the album started to fade on me for the next few songs. It then got slightly better with Opus 40, but the better songs were staggered throughout the rest of the album. Goddess On A Hiway was pretty good, Pick Up If You're There was alright, but the ending to Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp was so fucking stupid. How do you end an album like that?
The album felt like it lacked confidence. The vocals definitely play a part in it by how weak and whiny they are, but, like I said in the beginning, depressed Charlie would've probably like this for a period of time. Fortunately for me, I am no longer a sad boi, but unfortunately for them, it means that I no longer dig this genre.
Weak 3/5
Steely Dan
4/5
Another great Steely Dan album. Rikki don't lose that number is a fantastic song. The way the chorus develops halfway through is so good. Forgot all about this one.
Night by Night is also a fun song. Very groovy. Barrytown is great once you get to the chorus. Pretzel Logic has a great blues vibe to it with great guitar. The composition in Charlie Freak is super unique with the arpeggiating piano lead. I don't know if this album is better than Can't Buy A Thrill, but these white bois certainly know how to catch a vibe.
Strong 4/5
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Nothing really stood out for me on this album. It was an easy listen, but it's hard for me to give this anything above a 3. It felt like a normal funky, jazzy, jam band. I think the absence of lyrics in most songs probably impacted how I feel about it, but it definitely wasn't bad by any means, just underwhelming. Good background music though.
My favorite songs were Runnin' Away and Thank you for Talkin to Me, Africa.
Mid 3. There are better bands that do this better.
Blondie
4/5
Blondie definitely pushed the boundaries, especially for the 70s, as the pioneered a new genre of music, which I respect. Although this album won't be on a regular listening rotation for me (it might), I definitely appreciate the impact of this band. Listening to Blondie reminds me of simpler times playing video games with my brother. I'm pretty sure every song on this album was on Tony Hawk's American Wasteland or GTA (they weren't). But it feels like it (again, they weren't).
Like many others, Glass Half Full is my favorite song. I also enjoyed Sunday Girl, Hanging on the Telephone, and One Way or Another.
I'm giving this a 4.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Black Sabbath rocks. This album rocks. One of the pioneers of metal. Literally everyone in the world has heard almost half of this album at least. This holds three of the most important and recognizable and badass songs of all time. Ozzy is one of the coolest mfs out there. Everybody loves him. Everybody loves Black Sabbath. I can't find a reason to not give this album a 5.
5
Radiohead
5/5
Ok. This album is great. And Radiohead is definitely a great band. But I don't understand how this album ends up on the top charts of best albums of all time (top 10 specifically). It's a great album, and I do love a lot of songs on it, but it is definitely hyped tf up.
I also realized that Yorke sounds very similar to the Muse frontman. Idk why that stood out to me now rather than the 123409812509 other times I've listened to Radiohead.
This album is spooky, beautiful, serious, and has a bunch of hits. I also enjoy the melodies and chord progressions that define the band. This band also falls into my musical preferences, so I'm slightly biased.
This is a terrible review, but I'm struggling between a 4 and a 5. That decision will be decided on tomorrow.
Yeah after another full relisten, I'm giving this a soft 5
The Shamen
1/5
Jesus. After the first song, and the most popular song on the record, I knew the rest of this album was going to be hot garbage (currently on song 2). Not only does this album sound dated today, but in 1990, it must've sounded dated then. There is no doubt in my mind that I could make this on garageband in middle school. In less than 24 hours, I'm going to forget that this album ever existed. It would take me longer to write out the songs that I don't like on this album, but just assume it's almost all of them.
The sounds and tones are uninteresting besides a couple beeps and boops here and there. Lyrics are bad at best, and nonexistent in most songs.
I'm leaving 1 or 2 but will make that call tomorrow.
Soul II Soul
2/5
Not a huge fan of this. I think it has moments where you kinda get lost in a trance, but I think it's primarily because it's boring. There were some shining moments throughout the album, but not anything you couldn't find better somewhere else. I would skip the GTA radio station if one of these songs came on unless I was in an interesting mood.
I liked Happiness and Jazzie's Groove
2/5
Boston
5/5
One of the best first 18-20 minutes of an album ever. The first 3 songs set the tone for this band and for good reason: they slaaaaaap. This album was one of the most defining albums of the 70s, and these songs still stand the test of time. I don't usually listen to this type of rock, but it is clearly an amazing album. The last half of the album is still pretty good, so I think this is deserving of another 5.
2/5
FLAG ON THE PLAY. Is this album allowed on this list for it being a live version? I think the only reason why this "album" is on here is because of the cultural impact that Bob Dylan had when he transitioned out of folk music and into electric music (music with electric instruments). I don't think this is fair, but I'll give it a review nonetheless, but will be deducting points.
The folky half of the album is good minus the occasional piercing harmonica. I enjoy the composition of it, but because it's a live production in the 60s, the quality isn't where it could be. My main takeaway is "these are a good collection of folky songs".
The second half of the album is cool too, but it comprised of a number of songs on his prerecorded albums. Again, I like the songwriting, and I can tolerate his voice, but I'm deducting points for the Bob Dylan glazing that's obviously occurring.
Suicide
2/5
This album made me feel things I've never felt before. All negative. But still new, nonetheless.
Woah, I'm on Frankie's Teardrop right now and I think I'm entering into a K hole. This must be what it feels like.
I'm towards the end of the song now, and I'm sure this is a K hole experience for me.
mom? Mom? MOM? MOM!!!!! MOMMMYYYYY HEEEEEELPPPPPP!!!!!!
I think the singer was gooning when recording this album. I'll need to fact check that though.
This is weird. The bad weird. But +1 for creativity? It was a trip for sure.
Score predictions:
catsmeow: 1
ekard: 3
lexa: 2
corbobb: 1
macksproject: 5
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Going from Suicide to Frank Sinatra is harshest 180 that you can experience. It's honestly what makes this exercise so fun.
I don't usually seek out Frank Sinatra music, but whenever I hear it, I feel like I'm being hugged by my grandma. He has a way to make me forget about all the stressors of life. This album is incredibly romantic and beautiful. I enjoy the composition of it. The music does a fantastic job of supporting Frank's vocals softly. It's not overwhelming, but there are some really cool compositional elements that stick out if you seek them.
I don't really know Jobin, but it feels like he probably added the bossa nova feel to many of the songs.
Feeling a soft 4
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
Great album. Don’t have time for a full review. Would recommend. Cool.
4/5
Al Green
3/5
Good hits off of this album. Makes me romantic. Does not make my girlfriend romantic :( not my favorite but not bad at all
Buzzcocks
2/5
Decent punk rock. There are better bands out there. Strong 2
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Good songwriting. Very pretty. It was nice to hear his older albums when he doesn't sound like he is on the verge of dying. I appreciate this album, but it doesn't move me like some of the other albums we have had.
Portishead
4/5
I liked this album. The production was really cool and tight. Favorite songs were Roads and Wandering Star. Many songs on here could’ve been James Bond songs. The vocals weren’t very interesting or impressive. Some of the aspects of this album reminded me of the Gorrillaz.
Mj Cole
1/5
No.
Strong 1 just because it wasn't as ass as the other 1s.
The Charlatans
3/5
This album got better as it went along. I originally impression was that they are Oasis lite, but they have some cool stuff throughout the album.
Strong 3
Steely Dan
4/5
It's a Dan album so of course it is great. I think I might like the others a tad bit better, but that might just be because we've had 3 Steely Dan pulls very close together.
John Lee Hooker
4/5
This album hit when I listened to it. I haven't listened to much true Blues, but this was definitely enjoyable. The rawness and looseness of the album was refreshing and comforting. I can imagine each instrument only having 1 take to get the track down before settling on it. This includes the vocals. For a genre of music that is much better to listen to live, I felt like this album was able to mimic that experience well. Decent 4
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
Composition was really good on this album. very dynamic and kept me engaged the whole time. I sometimes get a little bored of this tone of vocals, but it isn't a huge thing for me. I'm giving this a very strong 3. I'll probably be returning to some of the songs on this album.
Van Morrison
4/5
Great album. I grew up listening to Van Morrison because my mom always played him. Super good composition and songwriting. Very easy to listen to in a good way. Feel good music for me. Strong 4
AC/DC
3/5
This album reaffirmed my thoughts on AC/DC. Not good. I guess I can understand how they would have been hype back in the day, but they are just super boring to me. I've never really been excited when any of their songs comes on. The ONLY time I was excited to hear AC/DC was when Thunderstruck would come on in college and it gave me an excuse to guzzle alcohol faster than I was already doing. That song isn't even on this album. I'm giving this a weak 3 just because of their influence and popularity.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Very good album. Best Leonard Cohen album from a compositional perspective yet. I really liked his use of backing vocals in subtle ways. I've noticed it on his other albums, and it is a really cool quality of his work. Healthy 4/5
5/5
ah Oasis. The two biggest wankers of all time somehow made great music. This album in particular has some of the most recognizable songs in the history of music. Wonderwall is the first song that almost every guitar player learns. Don't Look Back in Anger has a perfect chorus. The worst 6 songs on the album are still very strong, but it's essentially 4 or 5 songs that make this album a 5. I have full confidence that the Gallaghers will end their 30 year bickering match
Metallica
3/5
This album could've had a much better listening experience if they actually tried to produce it well. It sounded sooooo flat. I'm not a huge Metallica fan, but I guess I understand the attraction a little bit. They played in Nashville this weekend, but I didn't regret not going to see them. I only regret not seeing Limp Bitzkit and Pantera as the openers. I'm giving this a weak 3. I don't even really like One.
Robert Wyatt
4/5
This album was surprisingly good. Very interesting and different, but I really enjoyed it all the way through and idk why. It's not something for every occasion, but it definitely has its place. I'm shocked that this was recorded in the 70s. The production was really interesting, especially when he reversed beats and added unusual effects onto the other instruments.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
I'm a prog rock sucker, so there were many elements in this "album" that were cool to me. They definitely have insane talent, and I'm interested to listen to more of their work. That being said, I think this listening experience should be on an "interesting music things to check out maybe before you die but maybe not idk" list instead of the 1001 albums you should listen to before you die. With this being a live cover album, I'm dropping it to a strong 2.
Beatles
5/5
Yeah I mean this is probably one of the easiest 5s on this list. The album highlights how versatile the band was, and how creative they can be with blending many different genres with the instruments they used. I don't remember the last time I listened to this album all the way through, but I really enjoyed it. There were a couple of songs that I was unfamiliar with, but each one had something cool and unique to it.
The Beach Boys
4/5
I'm a Beach Boys sucker. They truly make me believe that the 60s were the best decade. I'm envious of the lifestyle they portray and they make me dream about simpler problems in a simpler world.
There were a couple instances in this album that felt a little creepy talking about underage relationships, but, eh? Although I love the Beach Boys, I definitely pick a choose my favorite songs across their discography rather than loving specific albums. Pet Sounds is kinda the outlier.
Still I think this is a good 4.
Favorite Songs: Please Let me Wonder, I'm So Young (eh?), Do you Wanna Dance?
The Cult
3/5
Not my favorite, not the worst. This kinda falls into the "butt rock lite" category for me. I do like a lot of the guitar composition, but not a huge fan of the vocals. There were moments throughout the album that I liked, but probably won't listen to this frequently.
The Zombies
4/5
Fuck I finally got caught up to the current album...
There were elements of this album that were really strong. Time of the Season is a fantastic song. I wouldn't say I love The Zombies, but they definitely have their place as a strong band against the other British pop bands at that time. It's tough rating this album after listening to Abbey Road yesterday, but I'm still giving this a healthy 4.
Talking Heads
4/5
Talking Heads rule. Although this isn't my favorite album by them, I still really like it. They are so interesting and cool. Composition is so unique, and the bass is phat. All of their songs have little ear candys throughout. David Byrne's vocals are amazing. The Talking Heads balance creativity and catchiness really well. This album definitely highlights that.
I'm finding it challenging to write these reviews. I'm finding that I'm reusing the same descriptors for many of the albums that I'm enjoying. Oh well.
This is a decent 4.
Sepultura
4/5
Good heavy album. I was honestly surprised by some of the tones that this album had considering it was from the 90s. I decided to play disc golf while listening to this album. On brand. I really enjoyed this as a passive listening experience. I'm giving this a soft 4.
Malcolm McLaren
2/5
Didn't really love listening to this album. It had its moments, but it kinda just felt like a collection of songs that you would skip on a GTA radio.
I ended up accidentally listening to some of his other music, and I actually enjoyed it a lot more than what was on this album.
2/5
R.E.M.
3/5
Although I really like REMs hit songs, I found this album to just be pretty decent. Other than Orange Crush (one of the first songs I learned on my guitar), not many other songs really stood out for me. The entire time I was listening to this album, I was thinking that The Smiths do everything better. That being said, healthy 3
The Young Gods
2/5
Interesting. But not something I'm gonna listen to again. Some cool production instances, but it's a weird mashup of genres that I already don't really like.
Also, what type of mumbo jumbo language is this fella singing in? Learn English. English ain't that hard!
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Alright. One of the reasons why I'm so behind on this list is because I've been listening to this album more than any other album on the list. I don't know why it has stuck on me so much, but I have really been loving the whole piece. Obviously the first song is a major hit, but I think the rest of the songs are just as, if not, better than Let's Get it On. This album is really jammy and sexual, which usually wouldn't get a high rating from me; however, it has landed with me.
Gonna give this a 5 just by how much I've listened to it over others. Is it the most complex? No. Is it the most interesting? No. Is it filling a void for me? Yes.
Fela Kuti
3/5
It was fun to get some more international music in this list. I wouldn't have listened to this otherwise. Fun listen, but don't think I'll find myself revisiting much. Solid 3 for good, unique composition.
The Who
4/5
Besides the 3 major bangers on this album, I just thought it was pretty decent. Those 3 songs definitely bump it up to a 4 though. I was expecting this album to have more depth than it did.
Maxwell
4/5
I actually really liked this album. The bass in this album makes me nut. Great tone. Makes me make the stinky bass face. The album flows really well and is an easy listen (in a good way). I don't usually listen to RnB, but I really enjoyed this one.
4/5
KISS
2/5
eh. not my favorite band in my least favorite genre/decade. I recognize that some people love KISS, but they just seem so watered down to me. They have a couple decent songs, but I found nothing that engaged me.
2/5
Public Enemy
4/5
I'm glad to have received some Public Enemy material as I really haven't spent enough time digging into them.
The sampling is great. Beats are phat. Synths are synthy. Lyrics and storytelling were harmonized. I really got into many of the songs on this record.
The two things that I didn't love about this album were:
1. These 90s hip hop records are always entirely too long.
2. Although I do love when musicians add "conversational" parts to songs/albums, but I think this record was too full of them.
4/5
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
This guy is definitely NOT going to heaven. Does he seriously expect that he cannot disrespect Jesus Christ and still be saved? uh I HOPE Not!
This album was a little too weird for me. I think the production was interesting and there were some compositional elements that I liked, but overall wasn't a huge fan.
Something was telling me that this guy might want to die.
2/5
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Super Gaye. This album is so good, but not quite as good as a listening experience as Let's Get It On for me. Production is really clean. I'm really struggling between a 4 and 5, so I think I'll pick the strongest 4 you can imagine.
Nitin Sawhney
2/5
It was hard to find an identity for this album. The production was clean and clearly intentional; however, I couldn't find myself getting absorbed in the album. Definitely a lot of pretty parts, but not really for me as a whole.
Nadia is a good DnB song.
Strong 2
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
After being burned out on skynyrd from high school days, I totally forgot how fucking awesome this album is. Great shredding, great grooving, legendary songwriting. As much as Free Bird seems like it would be an obvious pick for "most overplayed/overrated song of all time", it most definitely properly rated and played just enough. The songs slaps (and so does most of them on the record).
This album is definitely a 5
Dusty Springfield
3/5
I love Dusty's voice. My mom used to play some of her songs back in the day. Great background music album, but not the most engaging/interesting album. Kinda curious as to how she has two albums on this list... I think this is a decent 3.
Son of a Preacher Man takes me back
Muddy Waters
3/5
Liked listening to this album, but it felt pretty 1 dimensional. Obviously blues will be blues, but it felt that Muddy found something that works, and stretched it out across the album. Mannish Boy was a trip.
Weak 3/5
Nina Simone
4/5
Enjoyed this album. Nina can have such a soft but powerful voice. She has insane vocal control. Very impressive. Very beautiful. Much wow. Good 4
Sonic Youth
3/5
Decent album. Many elements that I enjoyed. Definitely a lot of random noise (which I don't necessarily hate). Wanted to like this more than I did, but still not bad. Decent 3.
Burning Spear
4/5
Raggae always lands with me. For it being such a simple genre, I just absolutely love it. Fat bass and tight b hole drums gets me going. I was unfamiliar with Burning Spear's game. Glad I got introduced. Burning Spear sounds like something Dan Bilzerian has caught at some point in his life.
Marcus Garvey, Tradition, and Jordan River are great songs
Decent 4
Foo Fighters
4/5
Definitely a Food Fighters album. I liked this more than I thought I would. They certainly have a sound. There are some bangers on here, some good ones, and some that I'm not a fan of. Overall a much stronger album than I anticipated. Besides the obvious hits, Weenie Beenie is a fun one for me. I also really like Exhausted. Good 4
Bob Dylan
4/5
I think this is my favorite Bob Dylan album that I know about so far (still have 100 more to go). A very digestible album for most listeners and it's well composed (obviously). When I think of Bob Dylan, many of the songs that come to mind are from this album (Subterranean Homesick Blues, She Belongs to Me, Mr. Tambourine Man, It's All Over Now, Baby Blue). Almost a 5.
The Monkees
3/5
I fucked up and listened to all 36 "tracks" that spotify has on this album. It made this listening experience drag on forevvvveeeerrrrr. I was excited to get the Monkees, but it didn't really live up to my hype. Definitely not bad, but I think you can get better versions in many other areas (Beatles).
The Dandy Warhols
2/5
This album kinda bored me. The first song got me excited for the rest of the album, but it just dragged on and didn't provide an interesting listening experience. There were some cool elements, but it was very long. I usually like this genre of music, but this didn't land with me. 2
The Black Keys
3/5
Not bad but definitely wasn't as good as I remembered this album being. Feels pretty one dimensional and felt kinda boring at times. I still think the black keys are cool ass white dudes, but I'm leaning a weak 3 on this.
Never Going to Give You Up and These Days were two songs that I enjoyed more than others
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Nothing I can critique here. Everything sounds good to me, but it's not something that I would put on unless it happens to come through on a Christmas spotify playlist for me. It was definitely relaxing and interesting to listen to. Had a pretty good time. Cool solos and good vibes. 3
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
Definitely could've subbed at least three other strokes albums in here. Was actually pretty excited to give this album a listen because of take me out, but nothing really stood out for me. A number of the songs sound exactly like the strokes but worse. This is more poppy/dancy than the strokes. idk. Im thinking a soft 3 for this. Wasn't super impressive but I do generally like the genre.
Mike Ladd
2/5
yeah this wasn't that good. There were some cool and interesting production parts to it at times, but overall not great. I think this is a really weak 2.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Sue me, but I think Amy Winehouse is a little overrated. This album is pretty decent, but this is her best work. I think a lot of her popularity came from the kurt cobain effect. Definitely not a bad album, but probably only a strong 3 from me
David Ackles
4/5
Definitely didn't expect to give an album like this such a high score, but David knows wtf he's doing. Great composition, production, songwriting, and overall musical talent. The experience definitely has a Disney movie/theme park vibe to it, but it's really good. Really good feel good album. 4/5
Hawkwind
2/5
damn this shit was long af and mostly pretty boring. Some cool physc stuff scattered, but it would almost be impossible not to at least have something interesting over 2 hours of music. I mean maybe this would have been hype to see live, but definitely not sitting in front of my desk. Very weak 2
Snoop Dogg
4/5
Good album, but not as great as I thought it would be. Beats obviously stand out and are phat, but I don't get into Snoop Dogg like I do with other rappers during that period (Frederick Durst).
For All My N**** and B**** was one of my favorite songs on this album. 4/5
The Go-Betweens
4/5
Had a good time with this album. Felt like the Australian Smiths. Over these past 100 albums, I have found myself really enjoying this style of 80s music. Many songs on this album reminded me of some of the indie/alt sad boy music that I have on my playlists. Great car ride music. Healthy 4/5 from me
System Of A Down
5/5
Listening to System of a Down’s first album feels like getting yelled at by a conspiracy theorist in the best mosh pit of your life. It’s loud, weird, brilliant, and somehow makes complete nonsense sound like the truth. Serj’s voice goes from opera singer to possessed goblin in seconds, and the riffs slap so hard they might owe you an apology. It’s chaos with a PhD—political, hilarious, and heavy as hell. 10/10 would scream “Sugar!” in public again.
^chatgpt review
This album fucks. I love how Serj is constantly fighting with the band to make them sound less metal with weird lyrics, but somehow makes them one of the heaviest bands of all time.
easy 5/5
Brian Wilson
2/5
Alright gents I’m back rating albums after a ~3ish month break. Time to catch up.
Is it too late for an RIP Brian Wilson? Ironically I just finished with my semiannual Beach Boys music listening bender. Fun fact, none of these songs made the cut. Not that these songs are like really bad. It just feels like what it is, an old guy attempting to copy the musical formula that crushed 40 years earlier. Idk why I feel hateful right now, I do really love Brian Wilson’s songwriting. This album just isn’t what I will ever know him by. There are interesting and cute moments in this album, I just don’t know if this album should make the cut to be on this list. Strong 2/Weak 3.
Kanye West
5/5
I don’t find myself looking to listen to Kanye, but every time I do, I’m always entertained. Mostly by the production. This album in particular has so many hits and was so impactful. I think it’s hard not to agree that this isn’t a top 1001 album. Pretty decent 5 from me, but I probably still won’t go searching to listen to songs off of it.
Deep Purple
4/5
Never really listened to much of Deep Purple besides my limited exposure on guitar hero/rockband with highway star (10/10 song). This album shreds. Heavy riffs, great tone, great solos. Song is pretty diversified with fast paced and sludgy slower/heavy songs. Had a great listen. Some songs felt kinda long, but a strong 4 is in order.
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
Queens of the stone age has kinda lived on the perimeter of my music periphery for a long time. I can usually only enjoy them for a little bit of time before it gets a little too muddy for me; however, this album is still very good. I do think that album is too long though. Regular John is a fantastic opener. Weak 4
The Band
4/5
Obviously super strong album. Feel good and throw back music. Great composition. I wouldn't say that I'm the biggest The Band fan, but this album is a classic. 4 from me.
Bert Jansch
3/5
Super clean and impressive guitar work. I previously listened to this album months ago and didn't write my review. Had to skip through it again to refamiliarize myself with it. I think that that's pretty telling. Decent 3
Gene Clark
3/5
I feel like I can find this same music from many other bands. I don't think it's terrible by any means, just not very interesting. There are some catchy moments, but nothing that blows my nips off. Weak 3
Tangerine Dream
2/5
Not the worst beeps and boops i've listened to, but it's still beeps and boops. I have nothing to quantify this with, but these beeps and boops sound of quality. Strong 2
The Temptations
4/5
Great all the way through. Drummer is so tight. Harmonies are tastefully scattered throughout the album. Just to be picky, the lead vocalist sounded flat on some of the slower songs, but that's about it. Strong 4
Cypress Hill
3/5
It really felt like I was listening to an ICP record. I think the beats and production are stronger than ICP, but for reasons unknown, I think I prefer ICP more. I think it's because I like goofy ahh beats coupled with even more goofy ahh lyrics and messaging. I like this album and think it has it's place, but I can only take it in small batches. decent 3
Queen
4/5
Very good but not a huge Queen fan. I can really enjoy 1-2 songs consecutively, but it starts to fade. Over all, this is a very strong album, but I think other Queen records are stronger. Biased weak 4
Sarah Vaughan
2/5
It was fine. Music would have been cool to listen to in a club filled with cigarette smoke, but oh well. I definitely thought the sound/music quality was really strong given the age of this live performance. I think I'm landing on a strong 2.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
When a song's lyrics includes "rockn' n' rollin'", I instantly think it's cheesy. For as much hype as this band gets, I thought it would be a little bit more interesting. There are a couple of classics on here, but other than that, it's pretty mid and boring. Classic white boomer music. Weak 3 is generous
Venom
3/5
I don't like this music for its musicality, but it can be entertaining to listen to. I know this is lame, but I was having a good time comparing King Giz songs to some of this. This album is hella cheesy, but I did find myself getting into at times. Definitely not something that I would put on on my own time, but I appreciated the listen although it went on too long for me. Eh 3
The Black Crowes
3/5
Foot-stomping, pelvic-thrusting, 4-on-the-floor rock with ballads sprinkled in. A perfect mix of memorable lyrics and easy chord progressions makes a banger record! I don't think my mom listens to the Black Crowes, but I wouldn't be surprised if I saw her getting jiggy with it at a CCV party with a 10 piece band playing. Nothing insulting about the Black Crowes, just not my thing. Hard to Handle is obviously great. There were a couple of other songs that popped out a little bit, but I don't feel like making the three mouse clicks to figure out which ones they were. 3/5 i guess idk
^i wrote this review on the third song of the album. such a predictable album. I nailed it
Miles Davis
2/5
Self medicated beforehand which I think led to a little bit more enjoyment from my end. First song was challenging to follow along due to the lack of structure. Couldn't really find any particular element that really took the lead anywhere. It felt like a composition that didn't really have a backbone. Second song got better halfway through with more structure until it kinda faded away. Didn't hate, definitely didn't love. Definitely won't listen again. Decent 2/5
Sonic Youth
4/5
Listening now. Bro, Cross the Breeze is an unreal song.
Anyways, this album is very good. It's definitely at least 20 minutes too long. I don't think that the songs should've been cut shorter, but I think some songs could've been removed. The first half of the album was stronger than the second. Really liked the guitar work and tone. This is another band that I haven't pursued, but very glad I got this listen. Healthy 4
Ute Lemper
2/5
Yawn. This was boring af. Couple not bad moments but just not my thing at all. Felt like I was watching a kids movie. Definitely musical talent here, but just wasted in my opinion. Weak 2
Elliott Smith
5/5
Awesome album. Right in the 35 minute sweet spot. Really hit the anxious Charlie g-spot. Well balanced mix and cool vocal double ups. Very soft, but didn't feel weak at any times. Definitely going to learn some of these songs on my guitar. I think this might be the first album in a while that gets a 5 from me. Will definitely be doing a deep dive on this fella. Haven't given him the listening that he deserves.
The conspiracy theories around his gf stabbing him also add to ambiance of this album. idk why
Beck
4/5
Enjoyed the differing styles on this album. It really through me for a loop when the second track started, but in a good way. Cool sampling throughout the track and overall great production. I probably won't listen to this much on my own time, but this definitely has my respect. solid 4
TV On The Radio
3/5
I actually kinda vibed to this album. There were elements that didn't seem super flushed out or felt like the potential of the song wasn't fully met. the drone-y songs were the best out of the album. Staring at the sun and Don't Love You are the ones that stick out the most. Interesting vocals across the album.
Strong 3 because I don't think this crosses the 4 threshold
The Associates
1/5
Literally don’t have anything positive to say about this album. It sucked ass. I had to watch a two hour movie in the middle of the album to break it up. This was a mistake because it felt like I actually had to listen to two albums by these jackasses because they had to make this album so fucking long. If you like every bad stereotype of 80s new wave synth pop, this album is perfect. As I read in another review, “I love you David Bowie, but you inspired some truly terrible music”
Easiest 1 in the 123 albums reviewed so far
8D <-micropenis rating
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Alright I’m a total music noob and have listened to approximately 0 velvet underground songs. This was not what I was expecting at all. It didn’t knock my socks off, but there were definitely some shining moments for me. Candy Says, Pale Blue Eyes, and After Hours were all great. The murder song was pretty whack, but I think this album is deserving of soft to decent 4.
Alright I don’t really love this genre of boomer music, but I did think it was slightly above average. I thought the guitar work was pretty clean and had some cool tones. I’m thinking like a low to average 3.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
Great album all the way through. Don't have any complaints. Great songs with cool messages. Interesting song dynamics across the album. Weak 5 just because due to his voice (not as harsh as Dylan's though)
Yes
4/5
I thought this was a really fun album. First song is a Tik tok song, but it was cool to listen to it all the way through. Bass is soooooo phat. There were moments that I thought were weaker than others, but I was engaged throughout the entirety of the album. It could've been a little shorter, but those are my only critiques. weak to decent 4.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Was excited for this album, but it was kinda mid. Shining Star is a song that I grew up on. My mom loved playing it, but I didn't think there were many other strengths to this album besides that. It was easy to get funky to it because there were some nice grooves, but nothing super special. 3
Nanci Griffith
3/5
Idk this was pretty boring. Not bad not good. It was just fine. Did we get another album by her earlier? Can’t remember… eh 3 I guess
Depeche Mode
3/5
Idk I didn't have the same listening experience as you all. Besides the nostalgia around Personal Jesus being a GTA radio classic, I thought this album was fine. There were definitely songs and instances that I thought were pretty good, but nothing super awesome stuck out. I'm giving a 3 just for the GTA mems. 3
Green Day
5/5
Yeah this album rules. Even though it's easy to dump on Green Day now, this album was monstrous for the scene. Album consisted of mostly hit singles with the rest still being great songs. I can't believe this album came out 21 years ago. Nothing bad about this album. Only great things. Easy 5
UB40
3/5
This white boi loves reggae, but this album wasn’t as strong as others in this genre in my opinion. Idk much about UB40, but maybe they pioneered some of the elements that other groups flushed out? Still an easy listen and I always enjoy reggae. I love the bass lines, but it was way too muddy to listen to on car speakers. Strong 3 for me
Butthole Surfers
4/5
Similar feelings as Liam. I kinda like it and there’s a good chance that I revisit this album. It’s certainly entertaining and dark, but there is definitely a lack of seriousness to it. I’m struggling between a 3 and 4, but will probably land at a soft 4.
The Flaming Lips
5/5
I’ve been very excited to listen to this album. I’ve had a few songs off this record saved, but never listened to it fully. I didn’t know how I was gonna like the entirety of the album based off of when I saw them open for Weezer (weird lineup), but I thought this album was great all the way through. Their live performance was so weird and depressing. The frontman was yelling at the crowd to get energized and loud for all of their songs, which was a total miss. Their music doesn’t call for that energy at all. I’m thinking a decent 5 on this. Definitely will continue listening to them and more of their discography.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Yeah easy 5. One of the best albums of all time. When the levee breaks is the best zeppelin songs. Fight me. I always feel like I’ll get tired of these songs, but I never do. Even when Stairway starts, I get so invested halfway through. Same experience as to when Free Bird starts. I will say Plant can get a little tiring at some points, but that’s about it. Rock on!
Q-Tip
4/5
This was surprisingly good for a guy that goes by Q-Tip. There weren't any really weaknesses. I thought the production and sampling were good, the rapping was good, and the album dynamics were good. This probably won't fall into a regular rotation, but I was impressed. Decent 4
Randy Newman
5/5
----"According to a widely cited analysis on Reddit, 'Rednecks' uses the n-word eight times - plus one use of the milder "Negro""---- chatgpt
Crazy intro to the the album. It honestly took my entire focus off of the song.
Anyways, this album is fucking awesome. I'll never laugh at your mighty sword, Randy.
The Verve
1/5
Holy shit bitter sweet symphony is 6 fucking minutes long???
Jesus this album felt so long that I forgot that they did bitter sweet. This album sucks almost all of the way through. The lyrics were so shallow and cringy that I almost had to stop playing it. I was comparing this album to the Linkin Park album, and I can safely say that this one is way worse and deserving of a 1.
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
Idk this isn't what I gravitate towards musically and I'm not sure if this album swung me in any direction. Cool female vocalists, but it did start just sounding like a form of yodeling. Good energy, but I'm thinking a very low 3.
Billy Bragg
3/5
eh this was fine. I kinda liked his voice, but the album was too long. There were some nice sounding parts, but I definitely won't be returning. Fine 3
The Police
4/5
Classic, timeless, periodt! I enjoyed some of the other non-hit songs as well even though they sounded similar. Good album relative to the rest in this list, but definitely not approaching 5 territory. 4
Mudhoney
4/5
This shit is sludgy af. I love how loosey goosey and heavy this is; however, I don't really see myself coming back frequently. Surprised that this came out of the late 80s. It feels like it should've come out a decade later. I'm really struggling between a 3 and 4. Gimme a minute.
Alright I'm giving this the weakest 4 you can possibly give just because Halloween was a total vibe and "Superfuzz Bigmuff" is a hilarious album name.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Must've been literal devil music for most people when it came out in 1970 (one year after 1969 which is insane). It also means that most people that were probably exposed to this were born in the 40s and 50s. Crazy.
Anyway, this album is packed with great guitar tone, drum licks, breakdowns, and creepy Ozzy lyrics. Perfect debut to launch the heavy metal scene.
Also, the solo drum kit fading out on Behind the Wall of Sleep to end the song is so cool.
Wicked World is also an amazing track that I wasn't familiar with. Easy 5
Nico
4/5
I actually quite liked this album. These Days is a great song, and the rest of the album is good too. I'll definitely be coming back especially as we are bound to pull the other velvet underground record.
I think the flute is overused, and I can't tell if I like the production or not. I feel like this album could've been better stripped down a little more. Idk though. My curiosity will bring me back another time once I get off my 1001 album catchup bender. I'm feeling a light 4 for now
Dolly Parton
4/5
Tennessee represent! woot woot. Fun album all the way through. Great storytelling and a great voice. Just an overall strong album. High 4
Aerosmith
3/5
Parts of me hate this. Parts of me think it's decent. So cheesy and shallow, but mostly in a bad way. Sometimes it's pretty funny, but it is hard to distinguish the intention. Idk this is not my genre at all, but I'm feeling generous and will give it a 3.
The Band
4/5
Great album, but, like Drake, the band hits the hardest for me when I'm in a specific mood. This is a great album, though. Great jams.
Jawbone is actually one of my favorite songs on this album, even though it is the least popular. That makes me cool, right?
Cripple Creek and Dixie Down are obvious classics, but this album isn't really packed with smashing singles that can stand on their own. I'm feeling a very strong 4
Funkadelic
4/5
I've previously been pretty unexposed to Funkadelic, but damn this album was entertaining. Shredding guitars with super funky parts. Very fun vocal melodies and harmonies. The bass is grooooooooovin. The lack of formal "structure" on this album makes it stand apart from others I would consider in similar genres.
They also put some crazy filters on the drums that were interesting at parts, specifically You and Your Folks.
I loved the fart section. Some of those sounded itchy... Mid to low 4
Hookworms
4/5
This album started off so strong, but then kinda came in and out of "eh" and "this is good". The "eh" parts of this album sounded like the bad parts of Passion Pit. This band feels like a mashup of Death Cab for Cutie, Muse, a touch of Bon Iver, and Passion Pit (mentioned above). There are also many other familiar sounds that I can't quite tie them to yet.
Is this the newest album on this list? Maybe so. It am confused as to why this album was picked.
Negative Space and The Soft Season were the two highlights for me, but most of the rest of the album was good. Decent 4 from me
Paul Simon
4/5
I feel like I still don't fully appreciate Paul's work as much as it deserves yet. Maybe it's because I've been listening to so much music idk.
Wait I just listened through it again and enjoyed it a lot more. Ignore my original statement. I still need to spend more time with it though.
Anyways, there are a number of songs that jump out at me that I do love. Besides Julio, I really enjoyed Run that Body Down, Duncan, and Peace Like a River (crazy harmonies). Really strong songwriting and really impressive playing. I'm feeling a 4 for now.
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
I may be totally missing this because it's hard for me to distinguish good from bad jazz, but this wasn't as good to me. I can't clarify or quantify it in any way, so I'll just leave it at that. It's giving 2
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
This was kind of a mix. The obvious two big hits are great, but the rest of the album is scattered with decent and bad songs. Some of them were really shallow and almost unlistenable. I don't mind Cyndi's voice, but I still think this is getting an average 3
The Vines
4/5
There were some real highlights in this album even though they really sounded similar to many of the other bands during this time. I thought I was listening to Oasis at points. I will say this band had more versatility across the record than other bands during this time. They can go from screamy, shrieky heavy rock to more melodic softer acoustic/synthy songs really well. Homesick was a highlight of the album for me. The opening track was also a really strong starter. Least favorite song might've been Get Free. I'm giving this a light 4
Patti Smith
2/5
This album didn't do it for me at all. It was way to experimental and weird for me. I really couldn't find myself enjoying most of this album. Her voice really annoyed me. Redondo Beach and the Horses song were the least band, but definitely won't be relistening. Weak to decent 2
Beatles
3/5
I actually don't think I was really familiar with any of the songs on this album. I think it just shows how deep the Beatles discography is. I am always impressed by how the Beatles are able to pack so much quality into their 2-3 minute songs. The melodies and harmonies are great, and the composition is always good. I will say, I was getting pretty tired of the love theme across the album. There are several albums better than this one, so I'm going to give it a 3.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
This album really started for my at Shabby Doll and it picked up through the rest of the album. This was a really fun listen. Well-composed songs that interesting instruments and elements for every song. His voice reminds me of a cross-over of Bob Dylan and Charley Crockett. Kinda nasal-y and whiny but has a great texture. I don't think I'll be returning to this album too much unless I'm in a particular mood, but definitely enjoyed it.
Skunk Anansie
3/5
Enjoyed this album a lot more than I thought that I would (had very low hopes). Post Orgasmic Chill is a hilarious album title. I enjoyed the heavier stuff on this album than the more melodic songs. Probably won't listen to again, but definitely would listen to this over Linkin Park. On My Hotel TV and Cheap Honesty are good songs. 3
3/5
eh I thought I was going to enjoy this more than I did. There were definitely cool songwriting elements throughout the album, but there is only room for one band with this type of singing for me: The Talking Heads. My favorite song on this album was Come Back Jonee. I'm thinking a strong 3 on this
R.E.M.
4/5
Strong album all the way through. Even though the hits are in the middle of the album, I didn't feel a big up or down swing in quality around those songs. That being said, I'm not the biggest REM fan, but can definitely find myself enjoying them when they are on. Fireplace is definitely the worst song on here, but I enjoyed most of everything else. Decent 4
The Offspring
4/5
After seeing most of my favorite Offspring songs on here, I was pretty pumped (not usually a fan). This album was really well crafted and the energy was contagious. Offspring reminds me of the fun times playing Tony Hawk games and others early 2000s video games with classic soundtracks. Had a fun time here. 4
Ananda Shankar
3/5
Does this album deserve to be on this list? It doesn't feel like it, but I didn't hate it. I was definitely tired of the sitar by the end of it, but I did enjoy the diversity with it being included in this list. Idk I'm landing between a strong 2 or weak 3. Felt like I was crossing the desert for 40 mins
James Brown
3/5
Great energy, but this is hard to rate. Top 1001 ALBUMS you must listen to? Idk about that. There are better James Brown album experiences that you could have. The magic of this music would've certainly been in person more than the other live albums that we have received. Feeling the weakest 3 you could possibly give