My 1001 Albums Journey

Album	You	Global	Diff
Scum Napalm Death	5	2.07	+2.93
Rock Bottom Robert Wyatt	5	2.39	+2.61
American Gothic David Ackles	5	2.48	+2.52
Welcome to the Afterfuture Mike Ladd	5	2.56	+2.44
Atomizer Big Black	5	2.72	+2.28
Phaedra Tangerine Dream	5	2.73	+2.27
Group Sex Circle Jerks	5	2.74	+2.26
Roots Sepultura	5	2.79	+2.21
Headquarters The Monkees	5	2.86	+2.14
Good Old Boys Randy Newman	5	2.86	+2.14

Album	You	Global	Diff
Smokers Delight Nightmares On Wax	1	2.91	-1.91
Guitar Town Steve Earle	1	2.81	-1.81
Space Ritual Hawkwind	1	2.69	-1.69
Pictures At An Exhibition Emerson, Lake & Palmer	1	2.64	-1.64
Brothers The Black Keys	2	3.57	-1.57
Electric Warrior T. Rex	2	3.54	-1.54
Surrealistic Pillow Jefferson Airplane	2	3.52	-1.52
James Brown Live At The Apollo James Brown	2	3.46	-1.46
Frank Amy Winehouse	2	3.45	-1.45
Strangeways, Here We Come The Smiths	2	3.44	-1.44

Artist	Albums	Average
R.E.M.	3	5
The Rolling Stones	3	5
David Bowie	3	4.67
Steely Dan	3	4.67
Oasis	2	5
Led Zeppelin	2	5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions	2	5
Black Sabbath	3	4.33

Artist	Ratings
The Smiths	2, 5

Jack White

4/5

I adore this album. There was a point somewhere in history where I could play every guitar part on this album because I was just obsessively listening to it. The last few songs aren't as strong as the rest of the album which is the only thing keeping this away from a 5 for me. Great album, love Jack, hope we see him again on here.

Cheap Thrills

Big Brother & The Holding Company

4/5

I have never purposefully listened to this band or Janis before, here we go. This is a very solid blues/psych rock album honestly. Not what I would go for in casual listening but I definitely see the appeal and why this is on the list. Janis definitely takes a minute to get used to but she is a phenomenal vocalist. The marge simpson comparison is apt. The piece of my heart cover is iconic if not only because of that 30 rock episode where they make fun of it. I don't know man I like this album. I just gave blunderbuss, a clearly better album a 4, but this is like the lowest four I can give.

You Want It Darker

Leonard Cohen

4/5

In the words of Jeremy Bolm, I’ll go to L. Cohen to answer my questions cause Ian Curtis was dead. Truly powerful album, just a man dying on a mic. Introspective, scary, and celebratory idk it's the ideal album to come out 17 days before you die.

Purple Rain

Prince

4/5

Alright this is wonderful but I got bored during the first half of it. Let’s go crazy rules and the when doves cry to purple rain run is phenomenal. Everything after let’s go crazy but before doves sounds like it exists solely for the accompanying movie. Great movie though.

Songs From The Big Chair

Tears For Fears

5/5

Preemptive review - I love this album and it’s getting a 5 before I even listen to it. Actual review, this might be the best full synth-pop/new wave album of all time. Unbelievable song writing, arrangements, and mixing. Im really in awe of how they got the mix to sound how it does. The first four songs are incredibly strong. I believe is the first part of this album that starts to lose interest but I can’t deny it, for I am a Virgo too. The energy is immediately picked up by broken, which is a perfect intro into head over heels, the best song on the album. Listen is a perfect soundscape anti Cold War protest song album closer if one ever did exist. Im going to call Liam’s mom to talk about this album, my mom was more into INXS.

Timeless

Goldie

2/5

This is a perfect example of something that I’m sure in the right context/setting is great but that context is not at my desk while I’m playing pokemon. Very cool to see where drum and bass originated but thank god artists have been able to make it significantly more interesting as time has gone on. State of mind was great, the sensual vip mix is a crazy track name but also pretty good. One positive is the album does a great job dropping in motifs throughout the mix and call backs to 45 droning minutes ago. Not my thing but a good history lesson.

Strangeways, Here We Come

The Smiths

2/5

This is a great reminder that The Smiths really don't do it for me. The album starts of great with A Rush but then takes a nosedive into some of the most average songs to come out of this band. It turns around with Last Night I Dreamt Someone Love Me (a song that would be better without its 2 minute intro) but is immediately followed by one of the worst lyrically written songs I've ever heard in Unhappy Birthday. "I've come to wish you an unhappy birthday because you're evil and you lie" followed by "It should be this way? I say No, I'm gonna kill my dog" The last three tracks amp back up to an enjoyable listening experience but leave me teetering between a 2 and a 3. I'm landing on a 2 because I Won't Share You reminded me that I'd much rather be listening to REM's Document that came out the same year and is infinitely better.

Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs

Derek & The Dominos

4/5

This is that kind of album that my dad puts on and goes "shit my dad loved this shut up and listen" and he is correct. Eric Clapton as a person aside, this album is so tight. Vocally, harmony-ly, guitarly, what have you all solid. Even the self indulgent guitar parts manage to be interesting almost all the way through (Key to the highway and Have You Ever Loved a Woman excluded). Solid version of Little Wing, and of course Layla rules but could be 2 minutes shorter. Not necessarily something I would seek out to listen to but a very comfortable sound.

Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs

Marty Robbins

4/5

This shit rules. Songs to listen to with my grandmother.

Bitte Orca

Dirty Projectors

4/5

This band has been highly recommended to me for years by a friend from college who was homeschooled and in private cello lessons since he was 3. The first four tracks didn’t do a lot for me on first listen but for whatever reason Two Doves was a turning point that I really enjoyed. It made me realize they’re capable of more than I was giving this album credit for. I let it run and loop back after that and really loved the first four tracks too. Maybe a real grower of an album, I will definitely be returning to it.

Let It Be

The Replacements

4/5

Perhaps not for my grandmother but this is another example of shit rules. Such a sick album to come out when it did. This is close to my brand of 80's "post-punk". I remember listening to this in high school bc Tanner made me and thinking eh but since becoming an REM fanboy this really stands out more clearly as a great album. Gary's Got a Boner is so good. I'm happy the list made me relisten to this as I will continue to relisten to this.

Hybrid Theory

Linkin Park

5/5

I can't express the how genuine the "fuck yes" that escaped my body when this album popped up after submitting yesterday's review was. Linkin Park is one of those bands that was everything to me in like 2006 but has not aged along with me; I'm guilty of immediately skipping any time one of their songs come on because I just don't need to hear In the End for the 2823rd time in my life. That being said, just a phenomenal album all the way through. Is it cringe? Is it shit rap rock? Is it everything I love to make fun of? Yes, but goddammit if these songs don't slap harder than anything else. I'm ecstatic I had to hear "FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM" today as an assignment. With You and By Myself are low points compared to the rest of the album. I think Cure for the Itch is a solid instrumental but doesn't have much replay value. The only criticism I really have is I think the track order could have been better; it's confusing to end on the only instrumental track followed by an average tier song. In closing, if you've never seen Luckybucket's RSMV (Runescape Music Video) for In the End that is required viewing to cap off the day of listening to this album. Since I can't go 4.5 I will skew up to 5 because I think it's deserving of that.

Snivilisation

Orbital

3/5

Is this an album you need to listen to before you die? No. Is it great? Kinda. It runs the same thing all 90's electronic music does where it's unnecessarily self indulgent and long, but a lot of the sound design here is great. The album feels like a long primer for Are We Here? a song that I think outlives this project as it comes up in all electronic music textbooks at this point. I really enjoyed the Alison Goldfrapp contributions and I suspect that we'll get an album or two of Goldfrapp eventually which I'm excited for. In all, a good listening experience and sound design but not something I'll return too unless I'm really in the mood for it. There's better drum and bass on here than on the goldie album. Sorry that I'm a linkin park enjoyer I will do better.

xx

The xx

3/5

I've meant to relisten to this album, I don't think I've heard it since maybe 2012. Intro is cool. VCR is cute and great. Crystalized is a really great song immediately followed by Islands which is just as strong. If it was just these four songs it would be a 4/5. The album starts to nosedive a little after Islands for me with each track progressively getting worse. The MIDI harp on Heart Skipped a Beat hurt me. Fantasy is a great idea but a bit of a snoozer, I'm sure it's stronger live. Shelter rights the ship slightly but there is only so much Direct In Reverb Guitar I can take and it never really reaches the climax it was building to. Basic space gave me false hope again that they were going to pick it up but nah. Infinity did bring an improvement finally, though those claps were infuriating. The melody is the same as Party All The Time by Eddie Murphy. Night Time is like a good attempt at making a band focussed Crystal Castles song, I liked that. Stars is another song that I want to like but the idea is so stretched out that it's difficult. I think if I listened to this album nonstop all day I would come around to like it, it definitely needs to grow on you. There is a lot to like about the songwriting on this. I often see people cite The XX as a gateway to Dreampop which I did not understand listening back to this. I don't think Cocteau Twins or Loveliescrushing is going to magically make sense to you after listening to this if it didn't before. I think the main appeal of Dreampop's lofi sound is that there is such strong intentionality and production behind those bands where this xx album feels like they just didn't know how to record and instead of learning to mix they called it lofi. I'm probably being too harsh, it can take this light 3 and we can move on.

Low

David Bowie

5/5

Our first of I assume 57 Bowie albums finally hit. As a lifelong Bowie indifferent person, this is was a great experience. God this album is so strong. The first two tracks are great, and then the Iggy Pop collab just runs away with it. I don't love Sound and Vision, Always crashing is a little sleepy but really solid, and Be my wife rules. Such a beautiful shift on A new Career where the rest of the album went almost fully ambient. It's so good. I love you, Brian Eno. Those ambient tracks are so good oh my god. I think sort of disliking one song makes this a 5, right?

The Chronic

Dr. Dre

4/5

White man review here, white man reviewing! My dad put this album on our family shared iPod when I was like 6 and that was the earliest I heard it and I listen to it maybe every couple years. I have been told by Mr Lamar that this is an excellent cultural representation of the west coast at that time, but I am not here to speak on that. I am here to say musically this album is incredible. The beats, sampling, and playing on it are mind-blowing honestly. Dr Dre as a producer, true chef's kiss moment. What I love most about Dre solo albums is he lets other people really shine. Snoop is the obvious star of this album. The fact that this album is cited as so culturally important, musically impressive, and doesn't take itself seriously at all are all very impressive. I do have to comment on how misogynistic this album is and how hard it is to get into when he's just spouting hate/violence towards women and gay people. Snoop makes an interesting argument for this that they're just rapping about what they know and that's what they knew growing up but that's the easy way out of not addressing the issues with the lyrics. I don't think anyone needs to apologize for rapping about their life experiences or what they're about within reason, but I don't need to agree with it. That aspect of this album has really aged horribly. Lyrics aside, I'm really enjoying this whole project. Also huge shout out to the dude who reviewed this album a 1 and said this album decimated the neighborhood of Salisbury, Midlothian, Va when it came out. I grew up in the neighborhood truly right next to it, just a life changing review please go seek it out.

Cupid & Psyche 85

Scritti Politti

1/5

Imagine if Wham! sucked ass. The word girl was painfully boring. I was begging for small talk to end. Absolute finally has a cool instrumental but is 20 years long. Right back to boring for a little knowledge. Don't Work That Hard at ripping Prince off, am I right? Perfect way is listenable but again, 5 minutes? Lover to Fall asleep, am I right? Wood Beez is alright but I feel like I'm truly trapped in hell at this point. Hypnotize is fine and perhaps the only song that didn't feel like it overstayed its welcome. I hope I never have to hear anything on this album ever again. Garbage.

Leftism

Leftfield

2/5

Really trying to stare another electronic album in the face and get through it right now. All I can really say is I'm sure this went hard in a club in 1995 but it's 30 years later now and we have the Macarena. Song of Life and Original were pretty good. This album is another example of the purgatory of drum loop torture that this list seems to love.

Can't Buy A Thrill

Steely Dan

5/5

#1 Steely Dan apologist right here. Bought this in a used bin freshman year of high school and never looked back. Potentially the most pretentious band of all time but I'll be damned if Do It Again doesn't slap. Do It Again unironically domino effected me studying music composition in college and led me down the demon path of AV, all thanks to the steam powered dildo. The hits on this album hit and the fodder are all fun. I won't lie and say they're all incredible, but I love this album all the way through.

Rubber Soul

Beatles

3/5

I don’t love the Beatles, I have never been a fan. I understand their impact, I understand it’s pretentious to write off the fucking Beatles, but that’s where I am. It’s good but it sounds like children’s tv show music so often. In my life is a great song. Great song writing, amazing harmonies, just really not for me. I like them more at the beginning and end of their career than this point. I’ll give a strong 3.

John Prine

5/5

I went into this ready to hate it but I am so surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Is this what they mean when they say country used to be good? Dude’s got strong one liners, great stories, and really hates the Vietnam war. Sam Stone is one of the most devastating songs I’ve ever heard. The instrumentals aren’t amazing but they’re exactly what this needs. A perfect example of an album you need to hear before you die, especially if you wouldn’t have otherwise like I wouldn’t have.

Surrealistic Pillow

Jefferson Airplane

2/5

Really solid musicians and good songs but just boring. Nothing really stood out to me as a gotta come back and listen to this. Somebody to love maybe. More a single you need to hear before you die, not an album.

Guitar Town

Steve Earle

1/5

Bruce if he was terrible. So sparse, so boring. Appreciate his outspoken socialist views, wish he was better at making music. He’s got back to back shows at tin pan in Richmond coming up, might have to add a rule that if the list subjects me to an album I have to go see the artist if they’re in town.

Chicago Transit Authority

Chicago

3/5

There are parts of this that slap and there are parts of this that are so boring I wanted to quit. Questions 67 and 68, a slap. Free Form Guitar, legitimate torture material. The skill of the group is undeniable, Terry Kath is absolutely one of the greatest guitar players to ever live, but the songs ain't really doing it for me. This is the most 3 star rating I can give.

Kala

M.I.A.

4/5

I guess I wasn’t ready for this yet when it came out. This is a densely textured nightmare of sound in a very positive way, a really cool predecessor to the sick computer music that is still coming out now. I can’t believe this was made in 2007 on Logic. It’s not all hits, there are some misses on here but the aesthetic choices are so sick that it saves it. Shout out paper planes of course.

The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady

Charles Mingus

5/5

Man, that is some jazz music. Compositional wonder, amazing playing, incredible piece of art.

Eliminator

ZZ Top

2/5

This album starts playing the moment you enter Fredericksburg. Billy Gibbons is such a solid guitar player and riff crafter, but damn if the lyrical content doesn’t suck. Almost every single song on here is about bangin women and how hot women are but they won’t let me hit sometimes so I gotta jerk. Tv Dinners is at least funny simply in that it’s not about that. Hand the instrumentals to Steve Earle and we solve everything wrong with both bands, might even have a 4 on our hands. 8 out of 11 of the songs had a fade out on a guitar solo, just play the one and end the song man. Overall really disappointed, waste of great guitar.

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme

Simon & Garfunkel

3/5

This album does a lot with only a 28 minute run time. I didn’t grow up with these boys, this is my first time purposefully listening to music of theirs other than sound of silence. Good writing, fun instrumentals, I get it. It makes full sense to me that this came out the same year as revolver and pet sounds. I don’t think I’ll come back to much if any of this album but it is deserving of the list.

Home Is Where The Music Is

Hugh Masekela

3/5

Hard for me to get into a trumpet/flugelhorn driven jazz album. Obviously, the musicianship is top tier and those chord changes are incredible. I found myself often wishing that this was a solo piano album as my boy Larry Willis was really holding down my interest in this album single handedly. Inner Crisis immediately stood out to me as sick and if you look up the writers, who wrote it? Larry Willis. Minawa also sticks out as killer with it's piano intro, maybe I just only like Jazz piano. The drums on Blues for Huey are incredible and the outro piece ties the album together while really demanding that you focus on it in the end. I do think this falls onto this list well, I just wish I was sitting with every Jazz instructor I've ever had so they can explain the nuances of it to me.

A Girl Called Dusty

Dusty Springfield

2/5

Listen, this isn’t devoid of musical value. It sounds so much like a parody of the 50s that I can’t tell if that makes it a good love letter or if it’s an insult to how easy it is to make music that sounds like this. I understand that it was common for artists to cover other artists all over the place, but there’s not a single song on here that Dusty is either the original songwriter or even performer of. For that reason alone I don’t think this deserves to be on this list. Easy listening, great vocalist, but artistically next to nothing of value. I want to slap this with a 1 but I think that’s too harsh, this 2 is a 1.5. That mockingbird cover was doodoo.

Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge

Mudhoney

3/5

My brain is tuned to love all 90s rock that sounds like this. The unfortunate truth of mudhoney is that they’re good, just not as good as every other band from Seattle at the time, and when you have Soundgarden why do you need mudhoney? It is a great grunge album. Superfuzz Bigmuff is stronger, hoping it’s on the list too.

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

Raekwon

2/5

I don’t know, I forgot I was listening to this multiple times throughout its runtime. So homophobic. Guillotine was good I guess. I sure didn’t enjoy this one. Good flows but boring.

In The Court Of The Crimson King

King Crimson

4/5

Excited to roll this, I’ve been told forever it’s the best album ever by Twitter.com. An insane debut album, so good and so influential to all the prog that came after for good reason. I really loved the arrangements on this and how unafraid it was to be sparse at times. There are a couple moments on here where it fits its reputation of "I listen to this bc I'm a music guy, i really love music man I listen to prog rock, those time changes bro???" but I feel like even if you listen to this because you want to be cool you're gonna find out quickly that it rules. Really high 4. Isn't it crazy that the Kingdom Hearts Dearly Beloved/Kayne's Stronger mashup wouldn't exist without this album?

Heartattack And Vine

Tom Waits

5/5

Really easy to rag on his voice, and I plan to, but this is one of the best examples of how you don’t have to be a “good” vocalist to make great music. I am shocked by how much I love this album. I have listened to it five times today and I’ll probably do it again tomorrow. Great songs, he’s funny, he’s got great stories, impeccable chord progressions, really got it all. If you all hybrid theory me on this one I will cry.

Deserter's Songs

Mercury Rev

4/5

I have never heard of this band or this album. Pleasantly surprised, we’re on a nice lil streak of good music. It’s like sparklehorse but every once in a while they press the random noise button and the last thing you could ever guess starts playing. Danny Elfman esque but not as purposeful. I need help immediately ass bonus track. Definitely a if I listen to this 3 more times it’ll be a 5 but we’ll leave it at a 4.

Pretzel Logic

Steely Dan

4/5

THE DAN RIDES AGAIN!!! I love the Dan. Not my favorite of the Dan. Rikki don’t lose that number is a top five Dan though. When the Dan hits, it just hits. Not as strong as can’t buy a thrill but still the Dan continues to provide jams in only the way that the Dan can, bite sized morsels of incredibly tight pop jazz.

There's A Riot Goin' On

Sly & The Family Stone

3/5

It’s alright. An enjoyable listen but monotonous at times. I’m sure lyrically and stylistically this was amazing in the 70’s but it doesn’t still stand on its own as a paragon of the genre. Especially with maggot brain coming out the same year before this.

Parallel Lines

Blondie

5/5

This was my first college roommate’s favorite album. Played it truly every day. I like him but this is listen 300 something of this album. That said, phenomenal album. Debbie Harry is such a good vocalist and an icon for good reason. The fact that she is effectively a pop, punk, and rnb singer on this album is a feat, especially because she’s a perfect fit for every style. Quick shout out to Clem Burke who died literally today, great drummer, rip.

Paranoid

Black Sabbath

5/5

I always forget how much I love Black Sabbath (the Ozzy Osbourne years), especially this album. Tony Iomi is such an incredible guitarist. They’re all amazing musicians and from a historical standpoint point this shit is so innovative to what was going on at the time, but simultaneously is an incredible album that stands on its own today. Hilarious that this was heavy back then and we have like Full of Hell now. I don’t know, I’d take this over a cream album almost any day.

OK Computer

Radiohead

5/5

Hard to say anything about this album that hasn’t been said before. It’s perfect. Whatever secret formula Radiohead tapped into they’ve sure got it. This is a top 100 album ever. I listened to this like 4 times and then spent the rest of the day listening to the entire Radiohead discography. This is definitely their shining achievement but I'm still excited for the onslaught of 4s and 5s they'll bring when we roll the others. The tourist has a part that has the same riff to we begged 2 explode, love u Jeff.

En-Tact

The Shamen

1/5

Our run of great albums had to end at some point. We really had like two weeks there of mostly 4s and 5s. The opener to this sounds like when a sitcom parodies a DARE psa hip hop group but the eighth listen of it I’m finding it enjoyable in a making fun of it way, I think. This album has the target demo of Elementary school P.E. Coaches and the band that made the Macarena. Maybe it’s because I’ve loved almost all of what we’ve been listening to recently to then get hit with HUMAN NRG put at the same “you must hear this” importance as fuckin War Pigs is insane. I’m trying to give this a 2, we’ll see how I feel when the time comes.

Club Classics Vol. One

Soul II Soul

2/5

What club is playing these classics?

Boston

4/5

I have always liked this album. The playing is phenomenal, the songs are fun and cheesy, and it’s not UK Electronic music. Some of the most iconic riffs and guitar parts of all time. Similar to hybrid theory, the hits on here are skips if they were to ever come up due to overplay fatigue but I still really like them. Rock and roll band does not stand the test of time, it’s a bad song except for one cool moment in the chorus, and the other non hits (something about you, let me take you home) are weak compared to the rest of the project. Thanks Boston for making a pretty good album that got milked to death by radio.

Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)

Bob Dylan

3/5

I think it’s lame for any live albums to be on this list. I really want to rate them a 1 by default but let’s give it a chance. Speaking on Bob - not a fan and never have been. I get the appeal but give me Tom Waits if I have to listen to a terrible vocalist with good lyrics. This starts so gratingly boring and is so grinding to my ears it was really a slog to get through. Truly 7 or 8 listening sessions throughout the day and the first time I'm finishing an album in a time crunch. I am arriving on Side B at 10pm... Thank God for the second half. Without it I would have review nuked this into the ground. I'm sure the first half is sick if you're a fan of the man, but truly did not enjoy anything until The Band (lol) started playing. Complete 180, became a great listening experience. Evolves into something you absolutely need to listen to before you die, historically and musically. Too bad that first half is torture. Not an album you need to listen to before you die, but absolutely an improperly labeled bootleg to listen to the second half of and also read the wikipedia page for context before you die.

Suicide

2/5

So cool for this to exist in 1977. I’m sure this is absurdly ahead of its time experimental, ground breaking, inspirational, and life changing to young upcoming artists who drew from this unique at the time album. Too bad it’s boring as hell. I have to note that Frankie Teardrop rules. Saves this project from a 1, especially because it’s a third of the run time.

Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim

Frank Sinatra

2/5

It’s college jazz band rep time! Frank is great but I do agree with the general consensus that it feels like he wanted to cover bossa nova music because it’s the cool thing to do at that moment. The original arrangements kick the shit out of these but we got these on the list because it’s Frank. I’m sure we’ll get more Frank that’s better than this, and in the meantime go listen to the Getz/Gilberto album that a lot of Jobim's original compositions are on. Which of the five girl from ipanema recordings on this album is YOUR favorite?

Out Of The Blue

Electric Light Orchestra

3/5

Inoffensively okay. I would rather listen to the Beatles, Queen, or Pink Floyd than all of them at the same time. Mr Blue Sky does go hard. Musicianship and arrangements are so good and the talent is obviously there but my enjoyment sadly wasn’t. Steve rating: 4.5/5

Let's Stay Together

Al Green

4/5

“Banger alert” I whisper to myself as we roll the album. Let’s stay together, a perfect song. Impossible to live up to the single but good vibes and immaculate guitar playing throughout this whole project. Short as hell too, can’t beat that run time for how tight this is. This is all before the “Personal life” section of his Wikipedia (highly recommended reading) so the multiple assault charges don’t need to be discussed yet.

Another Music In A Different Kitchen

Buzzcocks

5/5

I get why this is like the holy scripture for every punk band in the 90s. All it’s missing is stronger, more distorted vocals and this is just every Tony Hawk Pro Skater soundtrack band. The production is phenomenal for a 70s punk release, shout out Martin Rushent. I love it, I think it’s pretty perfect. The only things that would make it stronger either didn’t exist mechanically or stylistically yet. I also aced while listening to this so +1.

Songs Of Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen

4/5

He’s alive this time! This is good. Goat lyricist, instrumentals ranging from bad to sick. This album started really sleepy and boring but it really picked up for me at Stranger song. That and sisters of mercy were so good. Everything after those two held my attention. Maybe I just need to warm up to Leonard when I listen to him, idk, the first three were better on the run back than I remembered. I like the death album more but this is great. I love the random instruments he sneaks in. It’s a high 4, I might need to re rate the death album a 5 and make this a 5 too. TBD.

Dummy

Portishead

5/5

So good. So sampled on every rap record in the last 15 years. I love portishead, they will always get a 5. “We want to make spy music with hip hop beats” yeah you did it.

Sincere

Mj Cole

2/5

I like this a lot more than the usual bs electronic music albums, but it’s still bad.

Tellin’ Stories

The Charlatans

3/5

Is this what people who don’t care that much about fall out boy feel like when they hear panic at the disco? It’s the exact oasis formula over and over. This is like Dr Bob. To say, maybe if I understood oasis better I would understand this at a different level, interested to see what Liam says. Inoffensively a 3. “My melody will set you free” should get your record deal burned on the spot.

Aja

Steely Dan

5/5

Oh boy. The only worthy successor to Can’t Buy a Thrill’s throne. I don’t need to gush about the Dan again, it’s the third time we’ve gotten them in 50 days, you know how I feel.

The Healer

John Lee Hooker

2/5

I hope this was hype when it came out. It falls a little flat for me, I like it when Jack White does the same thing but maybe it’s because his is upbeat, distorted, and poppier. Good blues but just didn’t do anything for me except for no substitute.

Tigermilk

Belle & Sebastian

5/5

Pleasantly surprised by this one. I previously only knew Fox in the Snow by them, which I adore. First song is so good, really set the tone for the rest of it. It really only gets better as it goes too, weaving a lot of prominent genres of the time together while also sounding a lot like the indie rock that was yet to come at this point. My best reference point is to describe it like a better Arcade Fire way before Arcade Fire existed. This is such a strong debut album. I will be listening to this all day.

Moondance

Van Morrison

4/5

I thought this was going to be a load of garbage. It seems I wrote off Mr Morrison too early, this album is some great easy listening. There was nothing on here that I didn't like but nothing on here that blew my mind. Obviously Moondance is the stand out but every song has its own charm. This may be due to the fact that there is a very apparent songwriting formula on this album where everything is sort of interchangeable with each other but I did like the one song they created so whatever. The only complaint I really have is that Glad Tidings (1970) is truly just Brown Eyed Girl (1967) but with different lyrics, like same key same riffs same post chorus (he doesn't say Sha on the la's, I guess it is a different song). All in all I can see playing this on a 5 hour car ride and being happy it's on.

Highway to Hell

AC/DC

3/5

I really do see how this was bad ass and cool when it came out. This album was “life changing” for my dad, just doesn’t hit the same anymore. Great guitar, great attitude, great songs, just heavily out classed by like 62 other bands that came decades later. Love highway to hell and beatin round the bush. Beatin round the bush is like if Van Halen was a good band. Lots of “didn’t I already hear this one?” to the point where the autoplay at the end of the album ran 3 more songs of theirs before I realized the album was already over.

Songs Of Love And Hate

Leonard Cohen

4/5

He’s back. I think I just really like Leonard cohen. I don’t have a lot to intelligibly say about this one. Just like it.

(What's The Story) Morning Glory

Oasis

5/5

It’s time for me to admit that I’ve never listened to this album. Here we go. Not a bad track on here, but not all of them held my attention all the way through. Hard to rate this anything less than a 5 when three of the best songs ever written are on here. Meme as it is, Wonderwall rules, Champagne Supernova is a masterclass, and Don't Look Back in Anger has to be one of the best choruses of all time. I did not delve into the extra two hours of the deluxe edition but maybe I will as the day progresses. Good job, Oasis brothers. Hope the reunion tour doesn't blow up.

...And Justice For All

Metallica

3/5

Ugh. Is this the album where Lars was a giant tool and demanded his drums sound like shit and to delete the bass parts out of existence? (it is!) This is one of the worst mixed albums I have ever heard if not the worst. I don’t care how groovy, metal, in the pocket, whatever this album is, it sounds like shit. I am not a fan to begin with but this was an incredibly painful hour. Even the remastered version is ass. I don’t get it. I guess the songs are okay. The parts where they are not just three minutes into the same chord grooving and when James is not singing I like most of it. I’m sure if Josh Homme made these I’d think they’re great, but this is just not my brand of big muff distorted chugs. One stands out as a genuinely good song, shout out guitar hero three. Definitely sounds a lot like Kyuss at times, a band I enjoy, but Kyuss has well mixed albums. I’m torn between a 2 and a 3. It really isn’t so bad that it deserves a 2 and I fully understand the appeal. Just know this is the lightest three possible.

Rock Bottom

Robert Wyatt

5/5

This is really not what I was expecting to hear from a 1974 album. I almost want to refuse to do any research on this. It just sounds like a dude having the time of his life in his studio. I love this. It’s experimental, it’s engaging, and it’s good. Nothing stands outs as the hit single but I don’t think it’s supposed to. This rules. Easy 5.

Pictures At An Exhibition

Emerson, Lake & Palmer

1/5

How is a live album covering Mussorgsky a top 1001 album. This is not something you need to hear before you die. Mussorgsky’s original is barely something you need to hear before you die. This is a big “fine” for me. Musical value, 2-3. But inclusion on this list is a big 1. The nutcracker encore was absurd.

Abbey Road

Beatles

5/5

Yeah yeah it’s a 5. It’s obviously a marvel so I will take this time to poke holes as they come. Maxwell’s Silver Hammer is a great but definitely weaker compared to the rest. Octopus Garden is a par Phineas and Ferb song. She’s so heavy is a cool little riff and is exciting at first but then drags like nothing happens but I do like the end where they just do the riff forever. That’s all I got. Rest of it ranges from great to inoffensive. I think I’m a Paul girl with a crush on George. Worry B-Side clears.

The Beach Boys Today!

The Beach Boys

4/5

Any album on this list that is 12 songs and 28 minutes should be an instant 5. Something beautiful about how quick and to the point this album is. Good to my baby has got to have gotten some guy laid by him going “this is so us”. When I grow up is a blink-182 song. Do need Brian Wilson to stop singing about how hard the test was when he’s 25 at this point. Bull session was probably the best behind the scenes look into their lives the fans could get so I’ll excuse it.

Electric

The Cult

3/5

I haven’t asked him yet but I think my dad is going to say this rocks (he did, but it’s not his favorite). Great guitar shred music but the songs are bad. Also how many times does dude have to go “uuOWWW”. Fits the same niche as the AC/DC album from last week for me. A little upset that there’s probably going to be at least two more of these on the list.

Odessey And Oracle

The Zombies

3/5

I think this is okay. I loved care of cell 44 and then I feel like I blacked out in “this is fine mode” until time of the season, a top 1001 song ever. All in all feeling a high three, maybe a light 4.

Fear Of Music

Talking Heads

3/5

Zimbra is a good opener but mind is bad. Paper was an improvement but not by much. It picks up through air, which is a highlight for sure, but I’m starting to hit the same wall I hit with almost every project pre 1985: “I get why this was awesome at the time but it just doesn’t do it for me now.” This was a discouraging listen for me for the future of the list as I feel trapped in that mindset for so much of what we listen to. But I am reminded there are at least 3 more talking heads albums that are much better than this on the list. And David Byrne can do whatever he wants.

Roots

Sepultura

5/5

This is three years before slipknots first album??? Was slipknot not innovative at all? This is such a joy to roll after having my I think I need to quit moment yesterday. Slipknot is like a top 20 band for me somehow and this is like Slipknot meets Korn but none of it is cringey. It is so strange that that can exist and I love it. The only thing that this is missing from the Slipknot formula is Joey Jordison but their drummer is phenomenal as well. The Brazilian influence and representation is so sick too, this is a masterpiece. Canyon jam didn’t have to be more than 3 minutes though. 5/5/5/5/5/5.

Duck Rock

Malcolm McLaren

2/5

It was time for one of these I guess. “It introduced hip hop to England” — cool I guess something had to. Obviously, it’s not great. It’s better than a 2 hour uk electronic album. My enjoyment is still at a 2.

Green

R.E.M.

5/5

Top 10 favorite band all time 5/5 love you thank you list. I love their songwriting, I love Michael’s lyrics, I love his voice, I love the way they sound, I love their experimentation, I love how every REM song sounds different but sounds like an REM song I just adore this band. Peter Buck is a top 10 underrated guitarist of all time, Mike Mills rules as a bassist, Bill sure is there. Album specific, a lighter/brighter than usual, fantastically politically charged album. I love that this was a purposeful effort to not write REM songs and they created some of the most REM songs possible. It’s a cool departure from their usual garage rock but I can’t wait to get those albums on the list later (murmur and document are on the list, right???). Highlights are obviously the singles but world leader pretend rules and so does I remember California as a sleeper hit. I will admit it’s not their strongest album but not their strongest is still a 5. Orange Crush is a top 10 for them. I don’t know what REM albums are on the list but I want to say what I think should be if Green has made it: Murmur, Document, Green, Out of Time, Automatic, and Monster. Realistically, I will accept that whole list minus Monster. *Future Drake here they left out Out of Time, I can not believe that that is probably my favorite album of theirs*

L'Eau Rouge

The Young Gods

3/5

I don’t think I can come up with anything funnier than Trés Reznor. I liked it, I’ve never been faced with French industrial music but I found it enjoyable for the most part. I could do with some more, like, everything in every song. Very cool bones, needs the meat. High 3/5.

Let's Get It On

Marvin Gaye

3/5

He’s back. I realized I’ve never listened past the first minute of let’s get it on before. Don’t think I need more than that. I liked please don’t stay more. Whole album is just more horny jams from Mr Gaye. I don’t know that the list needs both of these albums but this one is better I think? Idk, horniest man alive, beautiful instrumentation, livin round a 3 for me.

Live!

Fela Kuti

4/5

I was coasting at a modest 3 until the drum solos came in. Ye Ye drum solo is incredible, the 13 minute one is a bit much. Still enough to push it up to a 4 for me, obviously Ginger Baker is amazing but it was proof of his ability to make drum parts that sing. Also the album cover pic of him is hard as fuck. Fela Kuti married 27 different women on the same day.

Who's Next

The Who

4/5

3 great hits surrounding some pretty forgettable songs. This was a similar case to What’s the story but I think what’s the story had much better middle than this. Therefore, 4. Honestly, won’t get fooled again didn’t do as much for me as I remember it doing.

Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite

Maxwell

3/5

I think he’s having sex in this suite.

Destroyer

KISS

3/5

I do not like Kiss, but this is probably what they should be remembered for (and Alive!). It feels like they tried to make a Queen album, but the timelines are spotty at best to support that. Beth is so hilarious and a genuine good song but so hilarious.

Fear Of A Black Planet

Public Enemy

4/5

It took a long time to accept the production for what it is. There are times where the sampling and instrumentals really take away from the album. It may be a limitation of the time but the collages feel very purposeful so idk. Otherwise, very good and I’m sure very historically important. It’s definitely as punk as any of the punk rock at the time. Fight the power rules.

Public Image: First Issue

Public Image Ltd.

2/5

Fuck Johnny Rotten. Having a lot of trouble separating this from how hypocritical/terrible he is but I’ll try. Elements of this first track are really cool and beckon to a lot of the music I love now, although 9 minutes is a bit much. The spoken word poetry was lame but I liked it better in song on the third track, but still not a great song. Annalisa is the first song on here that I could see myself relistening to but even then we're pushing it. More mediocrity until Fodderstompf, an unbearable, terrible album ender. Bonus track cowboy song is bad too I really don't get it. I think this album is a cool little experiment for 1978 but it didn't land for me at all and I'm tired of albums relying solely on historical context for their inclusion on this list.

Here, My Dear

Marvin Gaye

4/5

Okay yep more Mr. Gaye. I'm sorry his wife left him but I'm pretty indifferent to this too. Obviously it's great music, I just am not feeling it. UNTIL IS THAT ENOUGH CAME ON. What a banger. The why do I have to pay attorney's fees line is so good. I don't think he's trying to be funny but this song is hilarious and it grooves. There's also a square wave synth in the jam section. It really turned things from indifferent to more active listening. Most of these songs are too long. Still, would do it all again to hear Is That Enough again. There's something about him complaining about his divorce that is really appealing to me, mainly because it's funny. Mr Gaye can have this 4.

Beyond Skin

Nitin Sawhney

3/5

Pretty but boring. The piano instrumentals were pretty good but too long. I think it’s a good album though. Its inclusion on the list is worthy, I think, if it’s more “you should hear this” instead of “this is one of the best 1001 albums ever”

(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)

Lynyrd Skynyrd

5/5

Finally we got Tredegar. Everyone has been right forever, one of the best albums ever. 5/5.

Dusty In Memphis

Dusty Springfield

4/5

I like that she is the original performer on more of these than last time. I also like this more than the last one. Not much to say other than solid songs and solid vocals.

Hard Again

Muddy Waters

3/5

Listened to the album while shoveling chicken shit and it felt great. I didn’t love Mannish Boy, too one idea for 6 minutes for me, but the rest was some great one idea for 6 minutes. It really was that mannish boy stayed on that one riff and never went to the 4 or 5 or anything. The rest was great blues music and some of it was too long. High three.

Wild Is The Wind

Nina Simone

4/5

It’s a beautiful thing. Four women is obviously the stand out but lilac wine RULES. I would listen to anything on this album if someone else put it on with no complaints. The piano playing is beautiful, whoever that may be I don’t know because there is no personnel listing. I gotta get on my high horse of “she didn’t write anything other than four women of which from what I can tell is also the only song that isn’t a cover” but they’re so beautiful covers. It seems to be a recurring thing so maybe I need to get over it.

Sister

Sonic Youth

4/5

I love mindless noodling, but I like it a lot more when queens does it. This album was way better than I thought it was going to be when I went into it but I have a treble headache. If I played this 5 times in a row I’m sure I would love it and think it’s genius but on one listen I got a little bored and it did truly hurt my ears. It makes sense that so many bands that I love idolize them though. Schizophrenia might be my favorite but it’s hard to pick out anything else as it all kind of melts together in a sound collage. Cotton Crown was great but again felt like spikes being nailed into my head. I need the scooped highs version of this album. Master dik is vocally weak. I have no idea what to give this album. It’s like a 3.5 on the dot. I’ll go 4 but that feels too high and 3 is too low.

Marcus Garvey

Burning Spear

3/5

This is probably a great reggae album. I am a little close-minded/don't listen to any reggae so this sounds just like all the other reggae I've ever heard. Enjoyable but sort of blends into each other. Sitting at a 3 right now, I'm gonna try to listen to it again and see if I change my mind.

Foo Fighters

5/5

My day is upon us. I can’t believe this is the album they picked over Colour and The Shape, arguably a top 100 album all time. This album still rules and is the best example of sad dude alone in his garage making an album by himself. I am a big nirvana fan but this album really lays the groundwork to fix everything wrong with Nirvana while still having the same energy and stronger songwriting (further expanded on in colour and the shape!!!) This is a 10/10 (colour is a 15/10) and then the third album is like an 8 and then nose dive into oblivion except wasting light was really good. This album has sick rock, radio friendly jams, screamo elements, hardcore songs, and a couple shoegaze esque selections, I’ve got no complaints on anything here except his lyrics are a little weak at times (i heard he fixes this on the colour and the shape!!!) Great album, go listen to colour and the shape

Bringing It All Back Home

Bob Dylan

3/5

It’s good, it’s Dylan. There are some great moments on here, it’s Americana baybeeee. Way better than the first half of that live album. 115th dream rules. Definitely disingenuous to write him off but he’s absolutely not what I’m looking for most times. I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would though, but still pretty 50/50. High 3.

Headquarters

The Monkees

5/5

I fully get why they are constantly cited as like the Beatles 2. However, I really loved this album. There wasn’t a moment here where I was bored or wanted it to end. I didn’t delve too much into the lyrics but instrumentally this is incredibly tight. First album in a while that I haven’t known and then proceeded to listen to multiple times that day.

...The Dandy Warhols Come Down

The Dandy Warhols

5/5

I previously only knew this band as the writers of the theme song for Veronica Mars, a banger. Thought I was gonna hate it, had to delete my angry first comments as I listened. I love the reverb, brother. Songs, they’re good. It’s like a great middle ground of shoegaze and alt rock. I think I’m back to back 5s today. The I love you and don’t do heroin songs really sold it for me. I listened to it like 4 times today and it’s better every time go team reverb.

Brothers

The Black Keys

2/5

This is a boring album by The Black Keys. If Jack white is derivative, I’m not sure what to call this. Tighten up and howlin for you get it done. The rest, maybe I would like it more if xl102 shoved it down my throat too. Just a really boring hour of my life where nothing really stood out except the songs I was familiar with but even on those the context of the album made me wonder if those are even good. Take this 2, Dan.

Sunday At The Village Vanguard

Bill Evans Trio

5/5

Bill Evans is my favorite jazz pianist/musician/everything. I adore Bill Evans. I own the complete works of Bill Evans master collection. I am heavily biased here. Bill has such a way of melodically pulling in listeners to absurd chord changes in a way where you forget you’re listening to a virtuosic pianist who may be the best musician to ever live. My best comparison to rock music is Rush, another trio of the best players of all of their instruments making music that is technically innovative but simultaneously accesible and easy listening. Also Scott LaFaro (bass) is just an insane talent who tragically died at 25; can’t imagine the beauty they would have continued to create had he not. I beg with the list that Waltz for Debby is on here, or at least Undercurrent.

Franz Ferdinand

4/5

It's xl102 week apparently. I only know Take Me Out. I have a vague memory of Lexa telling me that this album is really good. Let's find out. First two songs were alright, take me out remains an incredible song. I see why this album fits in with people who like the strokes after Matinée but I also am not sure that I liked that song, that bridge is ripped straight of a first impressions song in a good way but the chorus is annoying. I think I am into the dancey-rock based vibe that they are curating but I can't say I love it. 4 seems too high, 3 too low, going 4 but know it's really on the fence.

Welcome to the Afterfuture

Mike Ladd

5/5

I am processing. I was not excited to see the run time and genre of this thing but I really like it. The company flow feature was particularly great (and absurd and funny). This whole project has phenomenal production, rapping, bars, everything. There are huge Gorillaz vibes throughout this thing but there's also like jpegmafia moments and he'll rap like Earl Sweatshirt or Mac Miller, it's very cool. Obviously there is a lot of MF DOOM on this too, I hope they were contemporaries and not just orbiting each other. A very nice mixture of a lot what I like now but done way before all of it. Like this predates the self titled Gorillaz album by over a year which is awesome. Mike Ladd has gained a new fan today and I am happy the list has provided.

Back To Black

Amy Winehouse

3/5

This is not great. I really thought it was gonna be a 5 upon the roll but I’m struggling to get past a 3. I don’t know it was a lot of the same, great vocalist of course but I also got bored of her as it went. Sucks cause her Valerie might be a top 250 song all time. Idk, very underwhelmed by this and I really wanted to like it.

American Gothic

David Ackles

5/5

What is this??? It’s well written but to quote another review it really is Billy Joel’s attempt at a high school theater musical. I feel bad to bring modern stats into this but very jarring seeing a 6500 monthly listener artist with an album that’s highest streamed song is sitting at 300k be on this list (that song is by far the best on here, makes sense). I laughed through the ship state song. It’s funny how “what the hell am I listening to” this album is, maybe if I listen to it 5 times I’ll love it. Billy whitecloud is a fucking insane song. This has value, I don’t hate it, I don’t think it should be on this list. I listened to it again, does this album rule? I’m so lost. I take back doesn’t deserve the list, I definitely wouldn’t have heard these cheesy musical theater tunes otherwise and now I can send this to my coworkers and make fun of it while whistling the songs to myself while I hear my old friend Jesus speak.

Space Ritual

Hawkwind

1/5

More like sucks-ass-wind.

Doggystyle

Snoop Dogg

4/5

I feel like I can copypaste my review of The Chronic. I think it's great production, vibes immaculate, don't know why they hate women so much. I like it more than the chronic but I don’t think it’s a masterpiece so it’ll land at 4 as well.

16 Lovers Lane

The Go-Betweens

3/5

This feels like the Good Charlotte or We The Kings to Fall Out Boy and Paramore, where The Go Betweens is a fine but notably worse version of the Cure or the Smiths. I think it was good, I like the line I love you so much I think I’m gonna bust, everything on here was very “yeah”. Pristine “this is fine” music.

System Of A Down

5/5

Just incredible. How did music exist before this. I hope this was considered as a milestone, or like logical conclusion to everything that was happening at the time, because it truly is. Not even their best work but it’s undeniable how talented and perfect this band can be. Another case of how is it this album and not the second album, but I’ll allow it. Toxicity is required listening though. No one is touching Serj vocally in the scene and no one is even in the same room as him lyrically. All instrumentalists are firing on all cylinders, every song is as important as the last (except sugar is the most important).

Smile

Brian Wilson

3/5

This feels incredibly rigged. Man died today, going to try to rate this objectively. I’m glad I read the Wikipedia article to learn this was an abandoned album that he finished 30 years later, explains a lot. It’s a lot of snippets and unfinished ideas and it sounds like demos for a beach boys album. It’s no pet sounds but I did fluctuate between indifference and thinking about how cool his vocal layering is. Nothing is bad, most of it is good, some of it is monotonous. I’m feeling a strong 3. RIP.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye West

2/5

Alright I knew it was coming, I’ve never listened to it, here we go. First song is pretty good, gorgeous is atrocious. Power has a good chorus, the rest of the song is so boring. All of the lights interlude is really swell, loved that, but all of the lights the real song? Another good chorus ruined by the rest of the song, what the hell is that drum throughout the whole thing? Monster continues the trend of just a horrible song. So bad. You ever had sex with a pharaoh???? Only enjoyable part of so appalled was that I realized Kendrick interpolates it on Hiiipower, a far superior song. Devil was a great instrumental but a boring song. Don’t get me started on Runaway, if I ever have to hear one of my students play an E on a piano ever again I’m quitting. Hell of a life interpolates iron man? And then what is this butchering of Avril 14???? Blame game is the worst song on here I did not need to hear one of my favorite songs of all time with Kanye talking about choking a woman and then Chris Rock talking about new parts of the pussy over it. This Bon Iver track is really good though. Who will survive in America kinda caps it off nicely. I cannot fathom why most people think this is a 10/10 masterpiece of an album. Forget Kanye being a Nazi, that’s its own shit but this album made me so angry. People have been yelling at Fantano for years over giving this album a 6/10, that’s like 2 too high. I’m glad it inspired a generation or whatever, it sounds like shit on first listen in 2025. How is this my brothers favorite album. At least a lot of the lyrics are really funny and the production is incredible (except for that drum on all of the lights) I have to agree with Mr Fantano that this album probably rules if you care about Kanye lore and have been following and heavily invested in his personal life but that is not me

Machine Head

Deep Purple

5/5

Saying this in a way where I’m not fully serious but I think it best describes how I felt, Highway Star blew my mind and really set this album up well. Richie Blackmore might be a good guitarist. Maybe I’m a Leo wasn’t as great but good little jam. Pictures of home brings it back up, keyboard player goin dumb, even their bass player gets to have fun. Then we get a solid good times bad times rip off? Very skynyrd meets zeppelin and I like it. I feel like I don’t need to write about smoke on the water. It might be because it’s a megahit but it feels out of place on this album. Still a great song. Lazy is a lot of fun and space truckin is a perfect ending. Following our boy Ye this feels like a 5 but it’s probably more realistically a high 4. Loved it, thanks deep purple.

Queens of the Stone Age

5/5

Come find me anytime I’ll gush about this album. I already listened to it today (I rolled this before midnight) and I’ll do it again. I will argue to listen to the extended version there’s some good jams on there. I cite this album specifically as breaking down the entry barrier for me being into a lot of long, drone music. A lot like Foo Fighters self titled, this is a man out from his first band success (Kyuss this time) making an album alone and making something better than anything the previous band put out (with help from Kyuss’s drummer). Let’s get into it brother. Regular John sets the tone by proving you do need to hear the same riff uninterrupted for minutes at a time. It also is the first taste you get from Josh, top 25 guitarist all time, where you go huh that’s a weird note. Not the strongest vocals but he sure can curate a vibe (he hires 3 different vocalists over the course of the band before figuring it out himself). Avon is the first time he really stretches out and shows off his little unique scale that he loves (I have a music major and I still haven’t really figured out, it’s like a mixolydian sharp 2 something or another). If only continues the drone, playing into the scale a little more. There’s a lot of songs on here that can be described as Josh vibes for a long time and then plays a fucked up scale really well, it’s sort of the whole album. If there is a criticism it’s that, but personally it’s what makes this album so unique to the like Grunge (Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters are on top of the world when this comes out) happening at the time. I’m going to abandon the track by track review but this album is so special to me, as is queens entire discography. I will be understanding if this is not the cup of tea this group will love but Josh Homme is so informative on how I play and listen to music still that this can’t have anything less than a 5 for me. If I remember correctly Liam does not like teenage hand model. Clockwork > songs for the deaf > era > rated r > this > lullabies > villains > new Roman And they’re all at least 4’s.

Music From Big Pink

The Band

4/5

Is the band a boy band? Like do they fall into that classification? I think this album is exactly what an album by The Band should sound like, the weight rules. Everything else, since I'm not familiar except maybe one listen ten years ago, is really just exactly how I thought it'd go. We Can Talk is the first stand out for me other than the weight, loved the guitar tone and it was very fun. This Wheel's on Fire also got a save, loved the keys and energy on that one. I Shall Be Released is also phenomenal, I don't see myself going back to listen to it often but I really enjoyed the emotion of it. Feeling a steady 4.

Bert Jansch

4/5

Dude is obviously a gifted songwriter and guitarist, but I wouldn’t say this is what I would normally go for. All of the instrumentals were phenomenal and most of the vocal tunes were okay. I liked the little medley at the end too. 4!

White Light

Gene Clark

4/5

Gotta love when the Wikipedia entry says this sucks. This album is way better than I was expecting it to be after reading that little blurb. Nothing mind blowing but I did enjoy just about all of it. Pretty identical to Mr Bert Jansch from yesterday for me but I like this guys melodies more. Didn’t think I was going to hear tears of rage twice in three days. Another 4.

Phaedra

Tangerine Dream

5/5

Bweep, fwip, wooooo, waaaa, weeeee, ah ah ah ah, szzzzz, zeep! Really phenomenal stuff I want to listen to this in the cube at Virginia tech I need full immersion this is so good. Definitely a correct vibe album or it’s a complete miss but playing Superliminal and listening to this was the correct one.

All Directions

The Temptations

4/5

Great album, insane that rolling stone was a third of the run time though. Everything grooved, enjoyed it all, but it was a bit of a hurdle after rollin stone until do your thing. They have a really solid and tight rhythm section including their guitar player. Feeling a hard 4.

Cypress Hill

4/5

We’re really in a trend of 4s. Sampling is great, beats are great, rapping is tight. Fully see how insane in the membrane came from this. Easy comparison but it’s like boombap Danny Brown at times. Only grew a little tired of it towards the end but overall had a good time.

Sheer Heart Attack

Queen

4/5

It’s an epic. They really are the like conceptual opera kings, queens if you will, of this era and maybe of all time. Not my favorite album from them but I had a great time when I wasn’t rolling my eyes at the lyrics (only because the like opera epic isn’t my thing, not because they’re bad). I’ll shoot them a 4 for this, looking forward to their better albums. Agree with other reviews that killer queen sticks out weirdly on this album and might be my least favorite in the context but best outside of it. Side two (stone cold on) definitely leaves the epic and dear friend sort of came out of left field. Did not like the stormtrooper song.

At Mister Kelly's

Sarah Vaughan

3/5

If I make it through this in one day then I truly can’t be defeated on this album generator. Jazz is great, she’s an amazing vocalist, I just get so tired. It’s a good Jazz live album that I had to break into like 14 different listening sessions. Very talented, recording sounds great, songs good, I don’t know that you need to hear this before you die.

Bayou Country

Creedence Clearwater Revival

3/5

I feel like I’m missing the key thing that this band thrives on which is me being 50 and my dad having been a really big fan of them when I was born. Idk, born on a bayou is the stand out obviously but nothing else really did it for me. There were a few moments I got hit with the “oh they wrote this song, cool!” (Did not know proud Mary was called that, didn’t know they wrote it, good song). I’m teetering between 3 and 4. Oh also sick album art for 1969

Black Metal

Venom

3/5

Maybe I just don’t like metal music. This is so cringey for most of it. I can really see why people love it though. If you can get over the lyrics and love galloping this is probably a 5. From a historical angle I was very excited for this album, being the album that defined the term black metal, but this really doesn’t live up to the European Black Metal that came after it for me. I was hoping that being a fan of Deafheaven would make this make sense but I think I realized I might need the mix with Shoegaze to enjoy it. This sounds like the album I would make if I was trying to make fun of Metallica, seek and destroy literally a year later clears this. But I like Mercyful Fate! But mainly because I go into it not taking it seriously? I don’t know, this is really confusing me. Raise the dead would go hard on a Tony hawk soundtrack that’s just a punk song. But then teachers pet is like the worst blues rock just soaked in feedback and reverb which is almost cool if the song wasn’t a terribly written I want to fuck my teacher song. I think I’m landing on this is bad because it’s serious in its presentation of something that should be not taken seriously at all, which is why tenacious d is being referenced so much in the other reviews. You can definitely be serious about it and be good, mayhem as an example, terrible scary people making terrifying music. This album jams, it’s fun, the lyrics are terrible, and this no doubt influenced so much good metal that I can’t be as hard on it as I am being above. 3 enjoyment, 4 historical.

Shake Your Money Maker

The Black Crowes

3/5

This scratches the blues rock itch that the 90’s is lacking, I think. Don’t think about it too much and this album is great. The mega singles are great and the rest is run of the mill blues rock but it’s all good. Cool that they could get this off the ground during the hair metal to grunge transition. Following the faces album, I have to knock this down to a 3.

In A Silent Way

Miles Davis

4/5

The first half of this didn’t do it for me but the second song, the in a silent way, so so so so good. It made me go back and listen to the first track again and I got it then. Just such good work of rhythmic layering and meter and just like mastery of technical songwriting. It’s not a 5 for me but it’s a great 4.

Daydream Nation

Sonic Youth

4/5

Alright alright I LOVE the first two tracks on here they are so phenomenal so well written the melodies slap the guitar parts are inspired. The rest of the album is great too, it’s just SO long. Like every song is about 2-3 minutes longer than it probably needs to be. The mixing is a bit confusing too, there’s really not much low end and everything is super sparse but I grew to accept it. I really did love the album though, I’ll definitely be coming back to the whole thing often, but maybe some needle drops instead of full listens. This is a very high 4 verging on 5.

Punishing Kiss

Ute Lemper

3/5

“And tiny Little fishes entered me” “If sex were an Olympic sport we’d have won gold” “I got the brain and she supplied the breast” (there are more in tango ballad but this song is GARBAGE) I like split! Title track instrumental would fit on Pretty Odd! Purple Avenue good! Meant for me? Great! I think maybe this album needed to punch me in the face multiple times to get me to understand it. I don’t love the vocal deliveries and there is some definite doodoo on here but there are some phenomenal instrumentals and really top notch vocal performances when they’re not spewing terrible lyrics or stories. I am not ruling out the possibility that I was Stockholm syndromed into liking the last half of this album. Thankfully the last track reminded me there is bad (I like the outside skin side fur side whatever nine inch nails ass part).

Either Or

Elliott Smith

4/5

I liked everything on here, no real complaints, just not something that I think I’ll return to. I feel like I missed the boat on this one, or just wasn’t a depressed teen when I first listened to it.

Guero

Beck

5/5

Strange Scientologist makes consistently good jams. I like almost everything Beck does musically, even hitless this album is phenomenal. Not quite a 5 but I have zero issues with this album. Really feel like Nick should get super into Beck after listening to this, there’s a bon iver/Beck crossover sound that needs to be explored. I had to come back. I've listened like 10 times the past week this is a 5 it's so good way to go Beck.

Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes

TV On The Radio

3/5

I think what I’m landing on for this is there are some really great ideas, and some really inspired choices and experimentation on this album, but it did not vibe fully with me on a first listen. There are a lot of moments on here that I can see a direct comparison with the band Foxing that comes a decade or so later and I love that so it is probably that I need to listen to this album two or three more times to love it. My favorite moments on this is when they’re doing super strange vocal stuff, the layering and falsettos are so cool they just both need a little more to support them. I’m a 3 for now but I think it goes up if I were to keep listening to it.

Sulk

The Associates

2/5

Nightmare trying to find the original track listing on this album. This is a truly impressive waste of talent. It really is like they looked at synth pop and took every annoying aspect of it and then focused solely on that. There is nothing on this album that I would ever recommend to someone to listen to other than to make fun of it, which I will do often. The thing saving it from a 1 is that they are obviously talented and could probably create great music, I think they’re just choosing not to. Truly I think phineas and ferb have better sounding synth pop music than this.

The Velvet Underground

3/5

Very Bob Dylan by someone else. Another album where I liked everything on it (except murder party) but nothing sticks out to come back to or listen to again. I was definitely expecting a more rockin album but I liked the vibe.

A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse

Faces

2/5

Kind of a waste of blues rock and I will not be convinced to like rod stewart. A lot of this is reminiscent (and before of course) that black crowes album that I did really enjoy so that is making me rethink how I feel about that album. I dunno, lyrics aged terribly, that one song about like hooking up at your parents house was so bad, and honestly stay with me the megahit is great if you only listen to the chorus but my dude is constantly flipping between “please sleep with Me” and “I don’t remember your name, be gone before I wake up” which is so annoying. Idk, nothing sticks out, just average blues. Might need to knock black crowes down to 3.

Rust Never Sleeps

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

5/5

This is the brand of like folksy singer songwriter that does it for me. Hey hey my my x2 best ever, but everything between goes so hard as well. Thank you Neil. It’s not his strongest album but I think two more listens and this becomes a 5, so I’m just gonna give it to him.

Fragile

Yes

3/5

Roundabout is too long but a banger. Then two random songs that I do not need again. That is the prevailing theme of this album, a great instrumental idea that’s too long followed by little snippets that don’t add much. There is a straight primus song on here that rules though. Heart of the Sunrise is great until he starts singing but then it will not end. Feeling a hard 3.

That's The Way Of The World

Earth, Wind & Fire

3/5

Obvious easy listening and soulful as hell but I can’t imagine anyone out there genuinely puts earth wind fire as their favorite band ever or this album as their favorite ever. All about love is a snoozer til that horn line comes in. See the light made me very angry in a way I can’t explain other than I thought the album was over and then it was a 7 minute okay-bad song. Way more indifferent to this album than I thought I’d be.

The Last Of The True Believers

Nanci Griffith

5/5

Alright let me set the scene for this review. It’s pouring out of nowhere and a telephone line in our neighborhood gets struck with lightning. We lose power round 9:30 and I listen to yesterdays Earth Wind and Fire album, one I was sort of disappointed by more than I thought I would be. Send off that review and my phone dies so I decide to go drive around since the rain has stopped and charge my phone so it lasts through the night. I live near where I grew up so I drove over to that neighborhood listening to this Nanci Griffith album at midnight. I love this album. She’s such a good vocalist, the lyrics are engaging and thoughtful and the stories are well told. All the instrumentals are tight and fun, there’s like only one song on here that I didn’t completely love (Goin Gone) and that was still like a 7/10 song. It might be situational but I’m feeling a strong 5 on this one for the music and for the experience I had listening to it. Right when it ended it started pouring again and I hydroplaned my way back home, it was beautiful.

Violator

Depeche Mode

4/5

This is so very good and so very impressive but it can be so very long as well. I don't know that I am complaining about song length here though. In the same way I love listening to Josh Homme play a C chord for a minute and a half straight, the repeating instrumentals on this album are hypnotic and engaging if you're in the right headspace. I was formatting a presentation on livestream data for my boss while listening to this and there was a little like hacker in the mainframe vibe going. The hits are incredible, the rest is great, Memphisto is my standout non-hit. Sounds like Hollow Bastion/the organization 13 themes in Kingdom Hearts II. I'm sitting underneath a 5 and I think it really is right there, it's close but something within me is saying nah.

American Idiot

Green Day

5/5

Oh boy. Excited to listen to this in this critical way. Before listening i feel similarly as linkin park, is this not just a 5 on cultural impact alone? Even the musical is pretty good. But we’ll see, they have become significantly cringier since my dad bought this album when I was like 7. I think it holds. The last five tracks drag for me now (sans September ends), but it’s a really solid album and if I listened to it like 5 times those last tracks would be just as crucial as the 20 hits on here. Tre cool is so underrated man he really is holding this shit down. Unbelievably simple and fun songwriting with lyrics that don’t hit quite as hard as they used to (the takes are a little stale today) but the message and feeling are still there and I’m sure a little controversial at the time. For having 42 hits that are all good, influencing like 800 bands that I love, and somehow making a palatable musical out of this thing it gets a 5 even though it maybe deserves a 4. Also so sad that they can make this and dookie and also the worst album you’ve ever heard. Also also it’s so funny listening to this and pointing at all the sum 41 songs that rip off this album (they’re still good!).

Signing Off

UB40

2/5

This album was not created for me. This was an incredibly boring listen. Burden of shame is a phenomenal song, the rest of it is very samey/forgettable. I need to find the line to get into music like this or to gain the appreciation for it because other than a unique vibe, I don’t know that I need that vibe for over an hour. There’s some great playing on here but it feels so aimless or one dimensional. The last two songs are virtually interchangeable. Someone please let me know what I need to do to gain unlock the skill set to like this, I like some ska!!! There are some good Wailers tunes!! I like red red wine for like 20 seconds! Help. Burden of shame and lyrics good, need more from the songs.

Locust Abortion Technician

Butthole Surfers

3/5

There is something cool about how anti everything this album is and how loud they’re trying to be and how punk it is but the songs are usually suffering from it. The best modern comparison I can make is 100 Gecs where they’re doing similar things attitude wise but their songs slap and are really well written instead. Feelin a 3.

Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

The Flaming Lips

4/5

I felt some things I haven’t felt since I heard Comedown Machine on here. Not that it was an overall positive but that vibe was definitely alive and well all throughout this project. I like how weird it is, I like just about everything they did, but that Mercury Rev album clears this by far. Gonna have to stick to a 4 here.

Led Zeppelin IV

Led Zeppelin

5/5

Potentially the album of all time. Every second of this album is a masterpiece, how the hell did they write any of this? And then also have like 4-5 other albums that are of the same quality or maybe even better. They’re all firing on all cylinders, obviously I am very biased to Bonham and Page but John Paul jones is incredible and Robert plant ties it all together I guess. Easy to downplay him compared to the others but I sure as hell can’t do what he does. Bonham’s ability to ride the pocket the way he does on this album while beating the shit out of the drums every bit is mind boggling. Page continues to be the most interesting songwriter of the big three (Jeff Beck is likely the best player still) but Page definitely has him beat in the riff category. How does someone come up with rock and roll in 1971? God I wish he wasn’t a weird magical probable pdf and I could just like every part of him. Sad that JPJ is the only one post zeppelin to do anything I care about but that makes him my favorite alive member. I’m rambling (on), this is the easiest 5 ever. Top 10 drum sound album ever.

The Renaissance

Q-Tip

3/5

This is an album where like I get it, but I don't like it. The rapping didn't really do it for me, the lyrics didn't really do it for me, the production is immaculate though. It sounds phenomenal. I like a lot of what Tribe does but this just didn't land for me other than yea this is a 2000's hip hop album. I think my lack of interest in R&B and most of what was happening in hip hop during this time is a detriment to my enjoyment of this album, but hey those instrumentals are great.

Good Old Boys

Randy Newman

5/5

Man I get that he’s taking on a character but I was not ready to hear the Pixar guy drop so many hard r’s. He’s a musical genius, he really has mastered the sound he’s going for, but Jesus Christ what an off putting intro. Birmingham is charming and Marie is a beautiful love song. Guilty is so good, the out of key, leading note harmonies in the woodwinds are genius. Louisiana is beautiful my god this album is good. Kingfish continues the weird tonality with that little chromatic walk and moves into a 10/10 Randy Newman little jaunt. Rest of the album continues to just be so well written and fun, I get why all the Pixar movies sound like him, it’s so good. Turning a blind eye to the slurs in the first song (and a couple more throughout), this man is a musical genius and an extremely talented orchestrator, give this man a 5. I will attempt to spend my love within her. But though I try with all my might, she will laugh at my mighty sword. She will laugh at my mighty sword. Why must everyone laugh at my mighty sword?

Urban Hymns

The Verve

2/5

Did you know they had to turn all royalties for bittersweet to The Rolling Stones up until like last year? Super interesting story, they sampled the strings from a cover of a Rolling Stones song and got that cleared but their manager claimed the chorus is too similar to a different Rolling Stones song (it’s not similar at all) so Keith and Mick got full writing credits and all royalties for that song for years and years. There’s a very good YouTube video on it highly recommend watching it and how old school music managers are villains. Anyways that’s the only thing interesting about this album.

Dig Me Out

Sleater-Kinney

5/5

This is a perfect album. Not a single dull moment, all the songs are incredible, her voice rules, they are all phenomenal players. This has definitely found a place in my top 100 albums all time. Disappointing to see dudes shitting on her voice all over the reviews and giving similar vocalists like Nirvana 5’s across the board.

Talking With the Taxman About Poetry

Billy Bragg

3/5

I came around to his voice but I really didn’t find much enjoyment here. Good melodies, good parts, I agree with what he’s singin bout, but I just don’t really vibe with the songs. Won’t be coming back to it but pretty good album. I really didn’t like the divorce song.

Reggatta De Blanc

The Police

4/5

I think this proved to me that the police are a greatest hit band. They’re great, Stewart Copeland is obviously the stand out being a top 20 drummer all time, but some of these songs are so average. Naming the album white reggae is so funny and apt. Message in a bottle is phenomenal but the rest of the album is very samey and indistinguishable, but good!

Superfuzz Bigmuff

Mudhoney

4/5

Crazy how much nirvana was lifted from this band and this album specifically. Just listening going “there’s the intro for breed” “there’s the verse for rape me” etc, not even in a complaining way just cool that this band is so proto-the biggest band of the 90s. Clear example of right place wrong time.

Black Sabbath

5/5

RIP obviously. Great debut, a lot more zeppelin adjacent than I remember it being the first time I listened to it. Black Sabbath the song is so eerie I can’t imagine hearing something like that historically for the first time. The next two tracks (or 6?) are very zeppelin blues rock. NIB is a highlight of that four song medley, so solid, the tone is so crunchy. Dare I say there’s a lot of Hendrix on the next song, wicked world. Last song is too long but Iomi is so good that it’s fine. Biased 5/5 but it’s so good.

Chelsea Girl

Nico

2/5

I think as a pretentious music major I’m supposed to be in love with this but I really can’t find it. The title track is the first one where I sort of got it, then I’ll keep it with mine is a great song. I want a strokes cover of I’ll keep it with mine. Otherwise, Lou reed and co are holding it down for some terrible terrible vocal Melodies. The production is great, instrumentals are pretty good, but this is one I can not get behind.

Coat Of Many Colors

Dolly Parton

5/5

This is my first Dolly Parton album. This is a lyrical/storytelling banger. How does her voice sound like that. Coat of many colors is a wonderful and cute opener. It highlights how effective of a storyteller you can be in this genre and she does such a good job. The harmonies on my blue tears are beautiful, so are the ones on If I lose my Mind. Mystery of the Mystery is the first one that didn't really hit for me but what's beautiful about it still is it's only 2:28, god bless. The rest is solid, nothing hits my I must save this but I like it a lot. Here I Am actually, that one stands out. This is the first country album I've ever heard where I get it, like if my Dad was into this instead of Classic Rock/Grunge growing up I can see myself being a good ole' country boy. I'm a high 4 hesitant 5 on this.

Pump

Aerosmith

2/5

They are obviously very talented musicians but they are also very obviously trying to chase and capitalize on trends and make as much money as they possibly can (some would argue good for them), but it just comes across as so disingenuous across their discography. I did not need 47 minutes (save a couple minutes) of Steven Tyler singing songs about sex in high school, how much he wants to have sex, and how much he just needs to bust. He’s a great vocalist, Janie proves he can be versatile lyrically, the rest of the album does not. Joe Perry is complicit in creating this garbage but his guitar playing is worth listening to this. It is astounding that there was a cultural moment where this was so good that they had a themed ride in a Disney park. Say what you will about grunge but thank God it nuked this sound and attitude.

The Band

4/5

I think I like the band. Cripple creek is an obvious stand out and I really loved the time signature change ups in jawbone. Everything else was pleasant and I have no complaints, it’s just not something I’m going to seek out on purpose unless I’m in a really specific mood.

Maggot Brain

Funkadelic

5/5

It’s time. The guitar work alone on this album is enough to give it a 5 but sprinkle in like 3 hits and an incredibly tight band and you have this beautiful album. I am glad I was forced to listen to this a few years back, it’s a great album that I never gave any credit to because I hadn’t been exposed to it. It’s experimental it’s fun it’s exciting it has a fart section. 10/10.

Microshift

Hookworms

5/5

What a terrible opening to a really good song. This is a very good record. I love the synths, I love the vocal melodies, the ambience between, how the tracks ebb and flow, man this rules. But also where the hell did this come from, it’s so confusing that the newest album I’ve seen on this list is a 6k a month listener band on Spotify almost assuredly just because it’s on this list. It’s very good, don’t get me wrong, I just don’t know how this album got on here. I would love a backstory from Dimery on how this band found him on the street and gave him their flash drive or something. I’m rating this absurdly high because it’s absurdly good, it’s not a slight on the band, but there are bands I’ve worked with that are hitting these same streaming numbers and they sure aren’t on a essential albums to hear before you die list.

Paul Simon

3/5

I have a student who refuses to play anything but Paul Simon when we work in the woodshop. He steals the aux and blasts Paul Simon on repeat. The same Paul Simon songs all day every day. I don’t know how to review this. It’s all good. I don’t like much of it. The instrumental songs are great. His stories can be charming. But I would never listen to this for fun. I think it's just stuck in that place where because my grandmother didn't play this all the time for my dad who then played it for me I am lacking the appreciation for Mr Simon as a whole. Hours later, a Paul Simon song came on shuffle and my wife goes on about how she LOVES Graceland and I asked her why and she said her dad used to play it all the time because her grandmother used to play it all the time. Confirmed.

Water From An Ancient Well

Abdullah Ibrahim

3/5

This falls into the "how was this found to be put on the list" list. I know spotify metrics are not everything, but a 1600 monthly listener mid 80's jazz musician making the most "alright" jazz album I've heard this month has put me in a strange mood. It's a good jazz record, but it doesn't stand out as more or less than a lot of the jazz coming out 30-50 years before this. Looking over other reviews, the main appeal of this album seems to be that it's political commentary on Apartheid in South Africa but I definitely did not glean that from the music alone. I'm wondering if his existence in South Africa at the time as a performing musician and what he was saying personally was what made these songs political, but I can't find really any information on it.

She's So Unusual

Cyndi Lauper

4/5

Banger, fun album. Time after time is an all time and girls just wanna have fun is a genre defining track. The rest of the album is super fun, produced well, and way more enjoyable than I thought it would be going in blind. I’m glad it’s more of what I like from the hits and not just two islands of good songs. I did not like all through the night though.

Highly Evolved

The Vines

4/5

Man I thought this album was SO COOL in high school. I remember going back and getting really into them because they sounded like Nirvana but they were australian and one of their songs was in a weebl's stuff cartoon (get free I think). I still do love this album, it's a lot of fun and a clear take on trying to redo Nirvana/ sound like Oasis maybe? Highly evolved, Outtathaway and Get Free rule, everything else other than Mary Jane is great. Homesick has a week start and then turns into a great song.

Horses

Patti Smith

4/5

This is a good album. It has a lot of really nice experimentation with vocals from percussive sounds, talking, and shoving a million words into a phrase that probably only typically has 10. Some of that is really good and others fall short of what I think she was trying to accomplish but that’s the price of experimentation. I want to listen to this album like 4 more times and focus on a different part of it each time, there’s really a lot going on that I need more time to soak in. I’m sitting at a strong 4 on this but it could make its way up to 5. Track 7 (long name one) is so packed with ideas and cool things but I don’t know if it all works.

A Hard Day's Night

Beatles

3/5

I can’t wait for the drug albums. It’s obviously very good, but this album does not hit what I like about the Beatles, it’s just very 50’s diner core. Theres something repulsive to me about the “baby girl I love you let’s dance at the school dance and go down to the diner in my car” songs and that seems to be the only thing people could write about then. Give me the walrus, please. There’s historical arguments of course for this to be like a songwriting playbook that set a lot of the tropes that i then grew to dislike but I don’t know. I think the argument in one of the top reviews that to compare this to something like sgt. peppers is unfair is lame. Why would I not compare one piece of art to another, especially by the same band? Isn’t that the whole point of this exercise and rating system? This is not as good as the white album. This is not as good as peppers. It doesn’t touch abbey road. Those are easy 5’s, and having those as a benchmark, this doesn’t hit the mark. To drastically compare two things, carrying stuff by hand was crazy effective and a 5, then somewhere down the line the wheel was invented. The wheel is a 5, carrying stuff by hand is no longer a 5. Rant over, the songs are still good even if I'm not vibing with it lyrically. Feeling a 3.5, not sure which way it’ll lean.

Imperial Bedroom

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

5/5

I have nothing negative to say about this. Loved every song, genuinely enjoyed every moment. His voice is easy to make fun of but it’s not distracting and it doesn’t detract from the songs. You can needle drop anywhere on this album and it sounds like a tight jazz club and with a singer who could also be fronting the stooges, it rules. I don’t think this thing has a stand out single or anything to play on repeat but the album as a whole might as well be a 50 minute single that’s phenomenal end to end.

Post Orgasmic Chill

Skunk Anansie

3/5

This band describes themselves as clit rock and that rules. Very epic, evanescence predating-overly symphonic metal opener. Hotel tv switched it up to better results for me. Great riffs. Skin is a really good vocalist. We don’t need who you think you are is not great. Still a great vocalist, just back in the what pre nu metal nonsense is this. This run of “what?” continues for the next two tracks, but if you close your eyes and really focus it sounds like P!nk is singing on Tracy’s flaw. Secretly is not a good song, but it’s the first in a while that I might listen to again. Good things feels like evanescence again. Cheap honesty is great until about halfway through where it loses me and she starts to sound like Michael Jackson. You’ll follow me down is a fine ballad. And this is nothing is easily the best song on here by a mile, it really feels like the realization of everything they’re trying to do on this album and it rocks. Then they end this thing on a terrible soft rock radio anthem where buddy hits the worst country music awards guitar solo of the year. I think this a good band with good ideas but they just keep missing the mark on everything. Needle dropping through their older discography they can definitely do it right, and the penultimate track on here proves it too. This album is just so average. I can’t imagine ever revisiting it.

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo

Devo

4/5

The most rated band of all time. I feel like everyone shouts about how they are sleeper hits but they’re just popular, I’m not sure they were ever underrated, or at least have had their rating adjusted so much at this point that it nullifies it. This has the best stones cover ever maybe? I saw and have been listening to a lot of modest Mouse this week and this hits that same “guitar being used in a sparser way than usual and strange man yelling over everything” itch that I love about them. This probably went a lot harder when it came out (or when it was rediscovered later as everyone tells me). Mongoloid sticks out as a weak entry here but the rest is all enjoyable.

Document

R.E.M.

5/5

My beloved. This is not in my top 3 REM albums but it is so good. The only skip on here for me is Fireplace and it still has a well done crime show sax solo on it so who knows. The megahits are megahits but songs like welcome to the occupation, heron house, lightning Hopkins, king of birds, and odd fellows are all such solid examples of REM being the best at what they do. Honestly the last three songs in a row might be the best representation of REMs range in a three track run. Top ten band all time, maybe top 5. Have to point out (leaving out names but the group will obviously know) how funny the one I love is to me every time I hear it because a friend from high school named her tumblr after it in a move to show how much she loved her boyfriend, never actually listening to any of the lyrics in the song I assume.

Smash

The Offspring

4/5

Three smash singles and then a collection of great tunes, what’s not to love? I don’t think this is a master piece by any means but I sure do think it’s really good. The drumming throughout the whole album is tight as hell. The highest I can legally go is 4 but it’s scratching that 5.

Ananda Shankar

3/5

Much more enjoyable than I thought it was going to be. Stones cover is not good but snow flower was and the doors cover was great. Mamata is a bit of a sleeper (negative) and metamorphosis is good but starts to get into the how much drone is too much drone conversation (I like drone a lot). Ocean starts great but it just keeps going. Should have been a 4 minute track not 12. Indra sounds like the most stereotypical Indian/desert scene in every movie song, and maybe it set that stereotype. Not a negative. Raghupati was a good closer but not that interesting. Feelin a 3.

James Brown Live At The Apollo

James Brown

2/5

Oh to be a successful artist and be able to throw up a 28 minute, 6-7 song set. Obviously a very talented performer and I like some of his studio work but this did little to nothing for me. Don’t just say ow say OWWW was hilarious.

Crocodiles

Echo And The Bunnymen

4/5

Crocodiles over Ocean Rain??????? They better both be on here. This is a great proto album but I'm not sure it needs to be on this list. I love Ocean Rain, I am a fan of Porcupine, but this album is very much the Bunnymen working towards those two albums. It's still very good, it has that darker sometimes creepy edge that I like more than a lot of their contemporaries but this one is a still a little devoid of that at times. Do It Clean is the standout and the popularity supports that, but it's hard to rate this higher than a high three or the lowest 4 when I know the gas that's coming.

Feast of Wire

Calexico

5/5

The album art really threw me off, this is not the Latin Hip-Hop I was expecting. Sunken Waltz was a good opener but Quattro slides in and is an immediate hit. Black Heart keeps it that same level. Man I've been listening to so much Modest Mouse this is just like so tangentially great to that. Pepita is SO GOOD. This is a 5 already. Love everything through to Across the Wire which slips down in quality for me. Dub latina picks it back up thank god. It rides through. I love this album this is not at all what I expected when we rolled this. The instrumental tracks alone are a 5/5 but there's some good vocals on this thing. The only song that sticks out to me as not as strong as the rest is Across the Wire and even that is a good song, I just wish they had done something more interesting with the vocals. Again, I have been exclusively listening to Modest Mouse other than this list for like a week and this fits right in. You get Isaac Brock yelling over these it's a 6/5. Great job Calexico.

Live At The Witch Trials

The Fall

3/5

This started to grow on me by track 13 so that's something. I like what they're about, I like what they're doing, it's just the same argument of there's so much going on at the same time and since that this doesn't stand as tall as I think it once may have. Still, I am glad I had to listen to it. There's some great songwriting here, some really intense performances, but I can't imagine putting this on in any situation other than this list.

MTV Unplugged In New York

Nirvana

5/5

I just watched this like 3 days ago I don’t wanna again. Very good, I like the banter, the meat puppets are cool, it feels looks and sounds like a funeral, I love nirvana, shout out the cello player, yep. That lake of fire cover is insane, that man who sold the world cover is more insane, that Jesus don’t want me for a sunbeam cover is crazy. Where did you sleep last night cover is unfathomable. Just so good at making covers their own. Originals are all tight, mixing is textbook, banter again is important. I think that what makes this for me against my normal hate of live albums is all the covers and the mixing. Great recordings that come across as originals.

Music Has The Right To Children

Boards of Canada

5/5

This is one I’ve been waiting for :) I love Boards of Canada. In college we would put this shit on when driving state to state when we would go play other colleges and it's like the best trance a little straight edge kid can get into. This one's on the list of albums you need to hear before you die and also on the list of albums I want to hear literally right before I die. Per Mack's list rules, I already have this one on vinyl. I have bias towards this as already liking it but like thank God this list includes good electronic music too. I am fully understanding that this is not everyone's jam but I implore you to just put this one on and do something mindless for the entire hour and however long. Drive, lay down and close your eyes, go on a walk, just let it soak into you. Obviously a 5/5 from me.

Dust

Screaming Trees

5/5

RIP Mark Lanegan, let’s go. I have to assume I’m not the first person in history to know mark primarily from his work with Queens, so it was a little strange to hear him sing over major chords. Much more upbeat than I thought Mark Lanegan in a band called Screaming Trees would be. This is very good. Once my perspective shifted I had a really good time with this album. Stand outs being the hits of course but also dying days, that mccready solo is so tight. This is a very high 4 for me, possibly a 5.

Vol. 4

Black Sabbath

3/5

This one really did not grip me in the way the other three did. I’m not sure why, but I’ll list some thoughts. First song fine but too long. Changes is objectively good but corny. Fx is a waste. Laguna sunrise is great but I was over it after a minute. Last song rips. I don’t know. At a loss i think it deserves a 4 but I did not 4 enjoy it.

Infected

The The

2/5

I am trying to be more gut honest about how I feel about albums. This is bad. It's a great example of a vocal performance completely destroying an album, but there are plenty of instrumental choices on here that are questionable as well. Almost the whole back half of this thing had me wondering who thought this was good, who has ever listened to this and gone yea that's the shit. There is a singer I get served on Instagram reels often and he's a Nathan Fielder type where you can't tell if he's the worst singer ever and means it or if it's a character/bit. There are so many times on this album that I thought the singer was that guy. I'm gonna try to find him again before this review goes up I want to credit him. Vocally this is like a 1.5 for me, musically a 2.5, we're averaging out to a 2.

The ArchAndroid

Janelle Monáe

5/5

Im emotional over this one. This is so good. I really can’t express how much I enjoyed this album, especially going into it expecting to dislike it. I listened to dirty computer before this and didn’t love it, but this is just simply a masterpiece. There’s not a dull moment on this thing. Every song is amazing, everything sounds so good, lyrically phenomenal, this is so so good and I’ve been so wrong for ignoring it for the past 15 years. The interpolations are so tight, her vocals are unbelievable, it’s so jazzy and rock and rnb and electronic and it’s all good. Definitely a solid listen all the way through album. 5/5/5/5

Cafe Bleu

The Style Council

3/5

Opens with a tv theme song. Whole point is cool. Ship is some more good instrumental. Paris match is fine; I'm waiting for something to drop, like why is this rated so low? It's not great, but it's not a 1 so far. Moods is another fine song. Bombs is more okay Jazz. The rapping on Gospel is not good but it's not any worse than anything else. There's plenty of rap from that time that he's obviously emulating. Strength of your nature is borderline good but way too long. You're the best thing is a good song. The rest is all fine. Yea, three feels way too high. But 2 is too low. Just know this is the absolute lowest three I can give. Like, Vol 4 is now effectively 3.99999 and this is 3.000000001.

Debut

Björk

4/5

Strange album. Starts out accessible-ish and moves into strange art and I like most of it! Crying is referenced by Josh Homme in better living through chemistry which is sick. Venus as a boy is really good. The dropouts on there’s more to life are cool I think. My first eh was one day where it sorta got boring for a moment. Aeroplane is so strange but I like it a lot. Come to me is beautiful. God this is such a strong ending. Great vocal performances over early 2000s elementary school pe class songs. I can’t decide if I like the anchor song. I like all of what’s happening but I can’t decide if it’s really good or if it doesn’t work. Whatever. Light 4’n this, excited to hear more from her as we go.

The Colour Of Spring

Talk Talk

3/5

Great album cover. Eight songs forty five minutes should be illegal. What an absolutely boring album. There’s some songwriters on here but damn this is the most forgettable album on this list in a long time. There’s stuff on here I like, like little harmonies or musical choices but none of it really comes together at all for me. Time it’s time is the closest to a banger for me, the harmonies sound like something out of tales of symphonia and I like that. Give it up is ass. The rest is fine but forgettable. Struggling between 2 and 3 cause I think I do like a lot of this, I just couldn’t tell you what from memory.

Vauxhall And I

Morrissey

3/5

This is fine. I like it musically. He’s a tool but the songs are good. Nothing amazing, not bad. I think it’s fair to say I like it more than I dislike it.

Californication

Red Hot Chili Peppers

3/5

This band infuriates me, I will try to remain unbiased. Blood sugar is their best album, first off. But damn if Anthony can’t write a catchy chorus. Around the world is catchy as hell and fun, only complaint is ding ding dong dong ding dang ding dong ding dang. Parallel universe was awful until they opened it to that noise solo at the end. Scar tissue is a top 1000 102.1 the x song ever. Great riff great use of John that isn’t too much of him just jerkin it on a guitar. I love other side. Inverse here, a very serving the song and fun flea baseline, same with chads drumming. Get on top is the making fun of rhcp formula. Californication is obviously a hit but definitely one of the ones I usually skip when it comes on at this point. I have always liked how John and flea fit together during the verses though. Easily is not great considering the standard they’ve already set on the album. Porcelain hits me as a song I would really like if I was super into this album and listening to it a lot, but on first listen is strangely out of place. Followed immediately by another come to California tourist informercial. I like I like dirt because I found it when I was like 6 and I thought it was funny. Objectively, nothing special. I had to take a break during velvet glove, I have hit peak boredom and there's no hits in sight. I honestly forgot i was listneing to Savior. The end of purple stain was alright. This is a rough back half. I recognize roadtrippin, interesting that it's as popular as around the world but not radio shove down your throaty. In that same idea, it falls into that category of I would like this if I loved the album. I'm torn here because an album with four of the most famous rock singles of the past 30 years should probably minimally be a 4 but everything that is not a hit on here is so average or boring or bad. There is an 8 track run of songs on here that I would be fine never hearing again. There's a review in here that says something along the lines that this is a tragic misuse of musical talent where three of the best musicians are locking in in creative ways just for anthony to aimlessly wander over it and that it's a shame that some of the best earworms of rock history live in this soup. I think that sums up how I feel about this album.

Brilliant Corners

Thelonious Monk

4/5

Melodic, fun, smart. Just really well done all around. Making 45 minutes of not only enjoyable and engaging jazz is hard enough but some of these parts are pretty singable earworms. Love it. Title track is the highlight but the piano work on i surrender is probably the standout.

The Man Who

Travis

2/5

TODAY IS GONNA BE THE DAY THAT THEYRE GONNA THROW IT BACK TO YOU!!@! Wait no I misread that, this is radiohead. Wait no now it's SOMEDAY YOU WILL FIND ME CAUGHT BENEATH THE LANDSLIDEEEEEE. Back to radiohead. The last song references Oasis like 5 times. oh wait a hidden track and it's awful wow. That's a horrific chorus. Final thoughts, this album is not the worst copy of what it's trying to copy but between this obviously ripping ideas from Radiohead and Oasis, some absolutely terrible lyrics, and then being pretty okay on top of that I can't give this more than a 2. Why does it always rain on me is it because I lied when I was seventeen is the worst lyric we've gotten this list. And that's their big hit!

Born In The U.S.A.

Bruce Springsteen

4/5

I felt very silly blasting BOARN INTH YOUESSAYYYY from my office today which made me wonder why I would be embarrassed for a coworker to come in and think I'm a Bruce head. I think there's a that's music for my dad aura about this that I don't want to be associated with (my dad is a staunch Boss hater, but the sentiment stands), or it's a dumbasses think that the title track is a patriotic anthem and that makes Bruce a jingoistic magnet, which turns me off from him even though that's not what he's about. Born in the USA is obviously a smash hit and smash song. I'm not sure I've ever heard anything else on this album other than the hits. Cover me is SO good. Great guitar work and the energy makes the whole thing come together in a way that I might like it more than USA. I'm sure Darlington is fun to sing with the stadium audience. I didn't love working on a highway or downbound train. I've never heard im on fire but it was alright, surprised it's a bigger hit than USA. No Surrender got it back for me, really enjoyed the energy of that. Bobby jean kept that up. Dang Glory Days is on this album? Thats a heater. I've never really been a fan of dancing in the dark but I can admit it's a good song. I'm so used to old, leather Bruce that seeing him dancing in the little spotify canvas made me realize he was hot. My hometown is a great way to tie this thing up. None of the sleeper tracks took away points from this album but I do think they disable it from being a 5 for me.

The Specials

5/5

Dimery is a rude boy??? Dude this album was incredible. Another let me paint a scene for you review, it's 5am and I'm setting up speakers for an outdoor event starting in 3 hours. It's a nice 68 degrees out with a little breeze and I'm listening to ska goddammit. So good. I have just about no complaints about this project at all, save maybe the weird voices on Nite Klub but who cares. Stand outs, too much too young is so funny and engaging. Gangsters was great even though I know it's not on the original track list. Monkey man was pretty good. Little Bitch is my favorite from this by far. Such a good song. High energy, skank for days, first album in a long time that I listened to the disc two of the anniversary release. 5/5

Exile In Guyville

Liz Phair

3/5

Listen one: I don’t get this. I want drums and dirtier mix and I think I would love it. It really is just missing something. Songwriting is good but it feels empty and is boring to me. Feeling a high two to a light three. Liam told me to try again. Listen two: it’s still not clicking. It’s better than I originally gave it credit for and I think lyrically this is phenomenal but there’s just something about it that I haven’t broken through yet. My best guess is that I want it to be louder and big bander than it is. My wife made a fair point that I would love this if it was Tom Waits and that is making me want to give it one more go. I’ll adjust the rating if it does it for me but I’m still feeling a high 3 on this.

The Slider

T. Rex

3/5

Not at all what I expected this band to sound like. For obvious reasons, before knowing either band at all, I somehow came to the conclusion that T. rex existed and then a member left and they became dinosaur jr. As a now big Dino Jr fan, I can finally confirm this is not the case. I like this when it sounds like Jack white and J Roddy and I don’t like it when it sounds like a knock off Bowie. Buick McCane and Telegram Sam rip, ballrooms and main man are boring. This is such a 50/50 album. There’s a song on here, not sure which, but he screams “ROCK!!!” Before the lamest solo ever and then it happens again in the same song. Very middle.

Dire Straits

4/5

Knopfler is so good. Sultans is one of the best guitar songs ever made, probably top 25. Such a tight band, everyone’s incredible and Knopfler is better than that. I love when he does melodic, memorable guitar. Everything he does serves the song, nothing is to show off unless it also makes the song better. That being said, this album is sort of boring. Other than sultans, nothing on here is incredible. I liked down to the waterline and six blade knife more than the others but it’s still a pretty boring endeavor. This’ll be a case of how high can an album with one of the best songs ever but nothing really else be rated, and I think in this case it’s a 4. The other two are boosting it from a three and I don’t think I could go below a 3 on this.

Crooked Rain Crooked Rain

Pavement

4/5

I want to front load this, Stephen Malkmus's vocals are anywhere from horrific to exactly what the song needs on this album. It is such an inconsistent performance. Like Newark Wilder is such a strange performance and then immediately after unfair is one of the best songs on this album. Somewhere around track 2 or 3 I realized this is so similar to Jeff Rosenstock's career output at times that it just clicked and I loved it. It's not perfect, there are some average songs, but this will be a high 4. I think I will be returning to a good amount of this record.

Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo

MC Solaar

4/5

My complete lack of knowledge of the French language is really holding me back here. Instrumentals are great, he can obviously rap, but I’m unable to be like damn that’s a bar or not so I can’t engage. I didn’t have the time this morning to see what he’s talking about but I’ll try to catch up later. I feel bad hitting this with a 3 because if I could engage with it further it would probably be a 4, especially if it's the breakthrough french rap album.

Like Water For Chocolate

Common

4/5

Alright, this took some convincing to like, thankfully it's long enough to give you that time. Common is very obviously into the wordplay, rhyme scheme, how the hell did he keep 8 rhymes going at a time over 16 bars type of rap. For every line that comes across as intellectual theres another that exists to serve the rhyme scheme and then, very often on here, randomly, a homophobic bar. As usual, I don't think it's fair to entirely excuse that as a product of the time but it is. Lame but not an outlier of the time. The soulquarians are so good on this. Truly every musical moment on here hits well. I love how bored and tight Questlove can be, J Dilla's beats are incredible (rip), and Pino holds this thing down so well. Technically, this is a 5 on his skill/dedication/etc but on enjoyment I'm hitting a 4. I'm not saying there's a direct line of influence but it's easy to see where like Kendrick and Mac Miller come from listening to this. There's high potential to listen to this 50 times and hear each bar differently or find things you didn't notice and then read the wikipedia page of the thing he's referencing and then listen to it again and then grow more appreciation for the album. I think my 4 hang up is that there's not really any singles other than the light that I would return to on this album, I would just listen to the entire album again if I wanted to return and I don't really want to do that.

Bat Out Of Hell

Meat Loaf

4/5

I really feel like I'm being pranked that this is the highest selling album of all time in Australia. It is definitely my aversion to musical theater that's hurting this for me. This is another case of musically, I get how this is impressive and dare I say a maximalist feat but I just don't get it. I had to reframe my approach to listening to this and go again in a mindset of this is silly musical theater that I shouldn't be looking at through the same lens as like To Pimp a Butterfly. Made way more sense that way. I think I'm going to rock a 4 on this but I can appreciate a fully orchestrated rock opera that isn't the worst thing you've ever heard.

The Modern Dance

Pere Ubu

2/5

Opening with that loud of feedback should be illegal. I like soundscapes. I like experimental albums. This is not great. There are a lot of little moments on this album that I really love, cool riffs, expressive sound design, really killer vocal performances, but there’s like 1 and a half songs on here that I like all the way through (life stinks, real world). I want to get this up to a three but I don’t think I can.

Djam Leelii

Baaba Maal

2/5

I’m not saying this is a net negative musically I just did not have a good time with this one. Absolutely the longest it’s taken me to get through an album on this list, Extremely too long run time and I could only do it in like 20 minute bites. This is a cool cultural experience but I felt like I was being force fed the experience rather than finding this and being interested in it. I’m going to have to hit this with a 2 but if I ever do get an interest in learning more about Senegal’s musical cultural identity I will definitely return with more excited ears.

It's Blitz!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

3/5

Gonna get on a little high horse real quick, sorry. Not a bad album at all. Well written, mostly enjoyable, will explain more. Why do we get two yeah yeah yeahs albums on this list? Fever to Tell is stronger, I get that one. But like if you are making direct comparisons, this over a second Strokes album, specifically Room on Fire but also New Abnormal? I just do not understand the ranking procedures of this list. While I'm at it, I know this is not same genre, but for the love of God give me Riot! or Black Parade or the self titled Blink album over this please. I don't get why any rock post 2000 has to be music that falls under the indie/garage rock moniker or like "the members met while studying at Juilliard/NYU/Oberlin" just give me some pop punk or like some alternative rock idk the list feels very weak in that regard. How you gonna have two arcade fire albums and not the american football record, they should be dork math music enough for Dimmery. It's impossible to please everyone but come on. Rant done. I think it's silly that the most popular song off this album is heads will roll simply because of that remix. That is a huge case of TikTok popularity before tiktok of course, but the bite sized "this song sounds great! I want to hear more, oh that was the only good part of the song." I liked soft shock and skeletons and I'm pretty "that was pretty good but whatever" to the rest of it. I can see being a huge fan of Fever to Tell prior and loving the yeah yeah yeahs and then loving this as a later follow up but I don't have that.

Now I Got Worry

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

2/5

I love loud guitar music as much as the next person but this didn’t do much for me. Absolutely admirable to create something purposefully against the art of the time and for it to be received so positively that it makes this list. Great moments but no great songs. Sound design in fuck shit up for example. Cool ideas, didn’t translate to a good song. Eyeballin might be a good song. Wavering between 2 and 3 but I have to remember that interesting does not always translate to good.

The Man Machine

Kraftwerk

3/5

Not enough flangers. I love the experimentation, thank you for progressing electronic music forward towards what we have now. Enjoyment on this as listener is a pretty solid 3 and historically this is probably a 4.

Elastica

4/5

I really like the sound and energy of this record. I loved that Sleater Kinney album and this is like a slightly weaker but maybe vocally stronger comparison to that. The drum recording on this is so DIY yucky and I love it so much. I would happily listen to anything on here any time but I don't think it's like a masterpiece amazing record. Vaseline and Stutter are my favorite ones but it's a pretty samey album that it's hard to pick out singles. Overall a very deserved 4.

Melodrama

Lorde

4/5

*my wife from the other room* “LORDE????” This is a beautiful album, really well produced and extremely well written. I don’t love every song on this thing but it’s such a strong album. I really loved pure heroine when it came out and this is like the refined version. Guess I gotta listen to the whole discography now.

They Were Wrong, So We Drowned

Liars

2/5

I will find a way to be a little positive. The concept of this album is great, there are some great instrumental risks and choices here but much like blues explosion they fall flat more than they translate to good song ideas. Killer attitude and fuck you about this album that i find appealing. There is not a single song on here that I would ever listen to again for fun. The vocal performance is just so bland and boring over these hit or miss Instrumentals. If you handed this album vocal-less to Isaac Brock this could be a heater. Not feelin this one even though I really wanted to. Album art is sick though.

Life Thru A Lens

Robbie Williams

2/5

I knew he had to appear eventually. This is a pretty huge nothing. Nothing on here stands out, nothing is memorable, it’s all just okay. I understand why he didn’t pop outside of the UK based on this album. He has some singles I like but this is the most neutral nothing I’ve felt towards an album on the list so far. What a terrible poem bonus track.

Live At The Harlem Square Club

Sam Cooke

4/5

First live album I've heard on the list where I felt like it'd be cool to be there. Sam's vocals are so gritty and sound so good, the crowd is so into it, the band is great, this was a really good time. I don't think this has me wanting to listen to any of Mr Cooke's discography but this was an enjoyable live album experience. As is era appropriate, entirely too many baby I love you baby you're my baby girl I love you songs. Not trying to start a feminist discourse either but this is the first time I've heard someone seriously say if you give me good sex I will give you a child, like it's of his choosing to give her a child very funny. All in all enjoyed it way more than I thought I would, his command of the crowd is inspiring and extremely fun to listen to.

Coles Corner

Richard Hawley

3/5

British man does singer songwriter in 2005. It’s good, it’s not what I would reach for but it’s undeniably well done. The ocean is a 10/10 song. The rest is like yeah this is tom waits done in 2005.

Grievous Angel

Gram Parsons

2/5

Yea this sure is a 70’s country album. It’s charming, it’s pretty good, but it is not my thing. I really like Emmy Lou’s vocals throughout this but I will never return to this.

A Short Album About Love

The Divine Comedy

2/5

God this isn’t devoid of value but why the hell is this on the list. So bad. Alright I wrote this a little preemptive. The last song rips.

Beggars Banquet

The Rolling Stones

5/5

Yeah man they just had music figured out here in 1968. I’m loving stones do the band. I didn’t know they ever did music that sounds like this. Street fighting man is one that sticks out that I didn’t love, felt out of place. I don’t know truly if this is a 5 but it’s been so long and I would love to own this on vinyl so I’m going to hit it with one.

Scum

Napalm Death

5/5

Okay okay okay okay. This rules but I’m trying to be rational about it. There’s something extremely admirable and that I appreciate when a band has a 30 great thirty second idea and they don’t force it into being a 2-4 minute song when it should just be that one riff and you can call it a day. This album does that like 20 times. 28 songs in 33 minutes might be my ideal track list to time ratio. Could I tell you the difference between any of these songs off the name alone? Absolutely not. But the attitude of this thing rules even if the vocals are pretty monotonous. Really the vocals are the only thing on this record that I don’t love but he does change it up every once in a while which is appreciated. Feeling a very light 5 here.

The Cars

5/5

This album is so good. Everything is a slapper. All amazing songs. Just what I needed is so solid but truly like 4 or 5 other mega hits on here just really cements it. Possibly the best album we’ve rolled so far. The riffs are so catchy!! The melodies are so fun!! This is a damn masterclass.

Tusk

Fleetwood Mac

3/5

Remember when napalm death got 28 songs in 33 minutes? This is very close to the opposite. We haven’t rolled rumors yet but I’ve obviously listened to it before, this is such an interesting follow up. Another review says something along the lines of this is what happens when you have to follow up a masterpiece and have infinite budget and run way to experiment however you want, which in this case doesn’t feel like it turned out positively. This feels like a collection of demos and ideas compared to Rumors. And twice as long. I don’t know that anything on here is bad but not much of it is particularly inspiring or jaw dropping. Sisters of the moon is maybe the only one I really enjoyed. Feeling a solid 3 but I’m sure if I was a die hard fan I would love this album as the outlying weird one that gives you a different introspective look into the band. Listing examples of bands I love that have this and to show how disconnected I am with anything that came out before 2000 anyways: the Strokes Angles, queens era vulgaris, Jeff Rosenstock 2020 dump, fall out boys folie a deux, Porter Robinsons virtual self —- all of these are commercial dumps that I would give a 5 so I guess looking at tusk through this lens makes me understand people wanting to give it a 4 or 5. Just not me!

Germfree Adolescents

X-Ray Spex

4/5

Really enjoyed this more than i expected to on rolling it. Really great punk music with really great horns is always appreciated. Didn’t love every song but for this to exist in 1978 is beautiful and I have no idea how I’ve never heard of any of this.

Pink Flag

Wire

4/5

This is better than the average English punk band from the late 70s early 80s and you know I love a 21 songs in 35 minutes effort. Title track is my favorite, fits in with any hardcore band right now. Love the energy of this, love the hootin and hollerin, really no complaints. I find myself between a high three and a low four and I think I'm gonna give it to em.

I See You

The xx

2/5

I think this just confirms this band is not for me. I would almost prefer it to just be instrumentals with zero vocals and maybe some melodic synth lines or even just like two note melodies. I have no interest in the vocals on this album. It's just well produced, boring electronic music with boring vocals.

At Folsom Prison

Johnny Cash

5/5

This is so good. A man out of one of his primes clawing back in and performing at a prison is so sick. Him playing a song that a prisoner wrote? Sick. The quality of this recording? Sick. Just a great recording of a great live performance that rightfully helped catapult Cash back to the top of the game. I think it's hard to be negative about this at all. He's funny, he's a great player, he's a great vocalist, whatever. 5.

Music for the Masses

Depeche Mode

3/5

Yeah this is a Depeche Mode album alright. A pretty forgettable entry in their great discography, comparatively. Everything on here is good though. A lot of how did they think of that moments. Pimpf rules, extremely kingdom hearts. Agent orange snoozer finish.

Bummed

Happy Mondays

2/5

There are some okay songs on here and there are some awful songs on here (what the hell is do it better). The mix on this album is atrocious it’s the thinnest mix I’ve ever heard. Really struggled through this one.

Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Wu-Tang Clan

5/5

Probably top 100 album all time, it’s just so good. I love when you can tell the musicians on an album were having the time of their lives making it. They’re all committed to it, they all give insane performances, and RZAs beats are so good. I’m glad I’ve never listened to this before, I really enjoyed it. Even the skits weren't obnoxious I really feel like they nailed the ideal rap collective album.

Harvest

Neil Young

4/5

Another Neil slapper. I think he might be incapable of making bad music. Heart of gold and old man obviously slap but everything else is so solid. I’m almost positive there’s a relatively good alt rock cover of old man that was popular and I shudder to say I think it’s puddle of mudd. There's some snoozing moments throughout this thing but nothing that really takes away from how good it is; I think I just prefer louder and heavy Neil personally.

British Steel

Judas Priest

4/5

As much as I want to make fun of this it unfortunately rips. It’s incredibly corny but I think that might be the point. The riffs are so fun that you forget this is overly theatrical at times. Breaking the law is so good. It's nice to have the line to follow from Sabbath to this to everything else it all makes a lot of sense now. I know Painkiller (the song) isn't on this album but since it's absent from the list entirely I'm lumping it in because that is a masterpiece that they need to be remembered for. I had an important conversation with my father who claims this as his first favorite album and I was trying to make fun of it in a complementary way (re: i think that might be the point) and he said no they're serious and that was what was great about it. To him, it was very mind blowing to hear dual guitar metal instead of the talking heads or dire straits at the time and I can vibe with that getting into 2007 screamo music as a response to being over the indie/alterative scene. History reshits itself.

Cloud Nine

The Temptations

3/5

Another case here of phenomenal album from a musicianship angle, I'm glad I heard it, but is it really a 1001 albums you need to hear before you die? They also sure love making a song way longer than you'd expect it to be. This is making me want to go back and give more specific numerical scores to my reviews because I want to give this a 4 but it is just not at all the same 4 that I just gave Judas Priest. After sitting on it for a while, I simply can't do it. It is undeniable that the temptations are great, but this is not their strongest album that's made it on the list.

Electric Warrior

T. Rex

2/5

Trex again already?? I thought I was gonna get this one but this first three track run is rough. Jeepster for your love is horrific. I just really don't enjoy his vocal delivery throughout this whole thing. Even bang a gong was just okay. For me this is a really talented and rhythmic guitar player who just can not string together an enjoyable vocal performance. Almost every complaint I have about this album is "alright we've been grooving on the same little blues riff for a little too long, why is Marc Bolan moaning again?" This album will continue to be the one with that one song that's in every movie trailer for me sadly.

The College Dropout

Kanye West

3/5

Dammit. Made sure to go find a version that isn't attached to him. He really has ruined his entire public image to a point where it's hard to even be excited to listen to any of this. I'll try to review it non-biased. We Don't Care - 4/5 song. Catchy chorus, it's a good message, cool. Graduation Day - 2/5 eh. All Falls Down - 5/5 banger. Can't speak to the lyrical content but this is kayne in his bag. I'll fly away - 2/5 Spaceship - 5/5 Jesus Walks - 2/5 I get it but I don't want to listen to it ever again. Never let me down - JayZ: 2/5 Kanye: 3/5 J Ivy: 2/5 Beat: 4/5 Overall: 3/5 Get em high - 5/5 beat and vocals. This is my favorite song on here. New work out plan - 2/5. Great beat but nah. slow jamz - 3/5. Another good beat but this song is not for me. Fast rap is nice. breathe in breathe out - 2/5 she grabbed my golf balls in the club school spirit - 2/5, sure this goes hard when he says your sorority but that's about it. two words - 3/5 enjoyed mos def through the wire - 3/5 I think this song is overrated just because he did it while his jaw was wired shut. I do like that you can hear it, and it's inspirational in that sense but the song isn't amazing. family business - 4/5 pretty good, I love the piano on this. Hate the it aint gay to love a man line but again, 2004. last call - 3/5 why is this 12 minutes long. a least it's enjoyable mostly It's a good story but it's so long. skits - 2/5, some funny moments but pretty bad across the board That comes out to a 3. Man, I think that the appeal of college is going down steadily, and cool on him for saying it in 2004, but a lot of the college specific stuff on this album comes across like that Jake Paul we hate teachers song. Anyways, that's my trying to be unbiased as possible listen, sorry it's so long! Popping back into to say I listened to 3 newish albums today after this. This is beating life of a show girl (2/5) but losing hard to ego death at a bachelorette party (5/5) and I love my computer (5/5)

Rid Of Me

PJ Harvey

4/5

I’m pretty sick today so I’m Gonna keep it brief. First song okay, missed is 5/5. I like this whole thing really. I get why they and queens were sold as a combo deal so often. A lot of cool time signature stuff. Tops: missed, rub til it bleeds, man sized sextet,

Rage Against The Machine

5/5

Beautiful album easy five. This is like the second or third album I ever bought with my own money. Somehow they make political rock rap that isn’t cringey at all. Some of the best riffs ever, really important messaging, just a perfect album. Top 100 album ever probably. Know your enemy is one of the best rock songs ever written.

The Velvet Underground & Nico

The Velvet Underground

4/5

I’ve avoided this album for 20 years because everyone I’ve met who loves it is extremely pretentious but it turns out they’re right. Not at all masterpiece for me yet but it could definitely get there. European sun is holding it back for me right now.

Court And Spark

Joni Mitchell

4/5

Banger alert. Fun, good vocals, great arrangements, good lyrics!!! It falls apart in some of the jazz scatty stuff for me but this is so much better than I was expecting when I rolled it. Very enjoyable.

2112

Rush

4/5

I love rush man. This is Geddy Lee at such a cool punk voice time. Can’t ignore the Ayn Rand stuff but musically this is such an achievement, as is everything they make. Title track probably didn’t need to be 20 minutes long but that’s rush. Undefeated drum and bass combo, Alex lifeson is like a 9/10 guitarist too but geddy and Neil are like 15/10. Much bigger fan of Moving Pictures but this is my father in laws favorite album so I hear this thing a lot.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

5/5

This is so good. The list is providing. Breakdown is a top top top tier song. And yea yea American girl is amazing too. Luna is the only thing on here I don’t love. But god damn do I love breakdown. Breakdown might be a top 100 songs ever written for me.

Aha Shake Heartbreak

Kings of Leon

2/5

What? How many songs do they have called —- on fire? This thing opened on a solid 3/5 but the back half was so weak, borderline terrible. Reviews are saying there used to be three kings of Leon albums on the list??? I like it when J Roddy Walston and the Business do it but even then I wouldn’t put it on the list. Soft and razz might be the worst b2b on the list so far. My wife wants me to give this a 1, but I’m hittin a 2. Day old blues? Terrible.

Lazer Guided Melodies

Spiritualized

2/5

This one was not made for me. Very long, very aimless, not sure it accomplished the grandeur that it was trying to. 1 is too harsh because there’s some great effects and ideas and soundscapes but I wouldn’t ever listen to this this on purpose ever again.

The Wildest!

Louis Prima

5/5

Can you believe this and animal I have become by three days grace we’re both released during my grandmothers lifetime? This rips. Trumpet playing is good, the drummer is insane!!!, vocals on point. I love the feel of recordings from this era too. Thanks fallout I guess. He’s super funny throughout this too. The I can’t wait til you’re dead because if I invited you over for dinner you’d probably eat all my meatballs line rules. The banana split song in full is hilarious.

Master Of Puppets

Metallica

4/5

This whole thing makes me understand why they are as big and important as they are versus listening to Justice. I can't say that I love every moment of this, I get tired of the chuggas but I do get how this birthed a whole lot of music that I loved in middle/high school. The guitar redelee reee solo work on this is great and usually doesn't fall too far into the self indulgence that it is prone to. The eight minute song lengths don't even really bother me either, other than dare I say that Master of Puppets should have been two songs and was dragged out. I'm excited for the black album, assuming that it's on here. After rolling justice I had basically written off Metallica as a greatest hits band but this has saved their image for me.

The Visitors

ABBA

5/5

Pretty inarguably one of the best bands of all time for a reason. All of this is incredible even if it's not what I'm going to reach for all the time. I'm glad to get a dive in their discography other than their greatest hits album, but of course the hits on this are just perfect. Great band, great album, easy 5.

Eagles

4/5

Incredible harmonies, great songs, and a mega hit for their first album is pretty cool. Very Crosby stills and Nash instead of the guitar heroes they become later. Couple of songs on here don’t hold the interest all the way through but overall it’s a very solid debut.

The Number Of The Beast

Iron Maiden

4/5

Another my dad favorite, this thing rips and rolls. Really nice dual guitar hair metal bs that is enjoyable all the way through, except prisoner, I thought that one was very weak compared to the rest. 33 acacia is so good. Good 4, hoping for more!

The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

Pink Floyd

3/5

Such a strange album. Very obviously inspired by the doors and Beatles and definitely not hitting the same highs as the music that inspires it. There is a looming sense of things to come from them throughout the album, but especially at the end of bike, as if to hint towards what they become. I truly didn’t know this existed, or any of the albums that come before dark side. I guess I just assumed they appeared with that but I guess they had a seven album run before it. I want to see the transition towards what is inarguably one of the best pieces of art ever but I do not have the time today. Hitting this with a 3, enjoyed the history lesson but didn’t love the songs.

Third

Portishead

4/5

I’m going to have to contradict myself. I love portishead. I think a lot of this album is musical genius. It just does not stand up to the catalogue as well for me. This one was much sleepier and harder to get through. Amazing ideas, great musicality, but just didn’t capitalize on everything that I know they can.

Appetite For Destruction

Guns N' Roses

4/5

Such a hard time with this. Such a good band, musically, creating some of the dumbest, grossest songs ever. Slash is such a good guitarist. Amazing even. Unfortunately he has to be attached to axl moaning for his entire life. So many of these songs are so good, with some god awful lyrics but that also helps them to be so good? It also suffers from overplay; in the days before Bluetooth in the car I imagine there was a 10-15 year streak of hearing something off of this album every day, and I’m sure that experience would be the same today. Their fault or not, the whole aesthetic and fanbase is ass and cringe and should have died well before this album came out. If grunge did anything right it was a great shot at this type of music. Final thoughts, if this album came out ten years earlier or 20 years later and had less “waaaghwwahhhh” vocals I’d be an easy 5, and it honestly probably deserves a 5 as is, but I cannot do it.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Beatles

4/5

I am perplexed as to how this is one of the most famous albums ever of all time ever. It’s good, the Beatles are undeniable, but this is a lot weaker than some other Beatles entries. Never really been a Lucy in the sky fan personally, doesn’t do much for me. This whole album is sort of like the bad drug stereotype of “haha so random Mr beluga is trumpeting!!!!” tripping and I don’t love it. A day in the life is a masterpiece though. Despite me not vibing fully with this it’s still a musical achievement and deserving of at least a 4.

I See A Darkness

Bonnie "Prince" Billy

5/5

This is a beautiful album. I will always love albums that sound this DIY one person hanging out making art. Very Neil young/tom waits/singer songwriter but also I can fully see a band like Foxing put this out. It’s so good. One of my favorite albums ever is As if by ghosts by Dreamend and I haven’t really ever found another album that makes me feel the same way. This really hit the same notes for me, I adore it it’s a masterpiece.

John Barleycorn Must Die

Traffic

3/5

This is not my flavor of jazz rock. Musicality is phenomenal, but eh. Dan does it better.

C'est Chic

CHIC

2/5

Musically tight lyrically shit. Every song manages to make a 30 second idea into a 6 minute song somehow. Music made specifically for Walmart commercials. 2 is probably too harsh.

Ellington at Newport

Duke Ellington

3/5

Obviously a masterful live performance and recording of one of the best to ever do it. Great composer, great band leader, why is this 2 hours long why do I need to hear the same song again 4 times.

Come Away With Me

Norah Jones

4/5

Don’t know why is probably top 100 song ever written. Rest of it is enjoyable, palatable soft jazz alternative. Really liked shoot the moon too. It gets a little samey but I will definitely add this to the list of albums I can listen to with my wife in the car that won’t anger her.

Stardust

Willie Nelson

4/5

I have never purposefully listened to Mr. Nelson before. Why do I feel nostalgic for this album? It’s so good. Love truly every moment of it. The only thing holding this back from a 5 is that it’s all covers but part of me wants to say who cares. That harmonica sound is haunting in the best way.

Juju

Siouxsie And The Banshees

3/5

I like how punky and loud this is compared to their contemporaries. There's a lot here to like, but I have a lot of trouble with the vocals. The songs are basically indistinguishable song to song, leaning on the same 3 note melodies, vocal tone, and inflection for the delivery of truly every vocal. I think there's stylistic reason for this, and I'm trying to give benefit where I can to it serving the song a la every shoegaze band ever doing the same thing but I love that. It probably comes down to the mixing and how these vocal lines are at the forefront of everything instead of basically just being another instrument in a wall of sound mix. Definitely not devoid of value, I'm teetering between a 3 and a 4.

Sound of Silver

LCD Soundsystem

2/5

This is too harsh but it’s just like they took the gorillaz and the killers and copied all the build up moments but took out all of the hype/release of those songs. A lot of aimless electronic music which can be cool but I don’t think it means to be aimless. This real life emotional teenager song threw the whole thing down a rating, terrible song.

Fear and Whiskey

Mekons

2/5

More of a last four songs you should hear before you die. First half is pretty unremarkably boring. Those last four songs I get it. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think they’re a masterpiece, but the last four make sense to the vision/hype of this album. Throwing out the first five songs entirely knocks this to a 3, I feel a 3 on the country songs.

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

OutKast

5/5

One of the few cases where the world is a worse place if this album didn’t exist. Not their best, it’s way too long, but they just wrote five mega hits surrounded by two hours of 4/5 filler. Speakerboxxx has the better filler and the love below has the better hits. Some of these Andre tracks are so sleepy on the second half. The album also never ends. Very very high four, probably going to go 5 because it is deserving.

The Sun Rises In The East

Jeru The Damaja

2/5

It’s hard to rate this objectively when there are kids today making music identical in quality if not better alone in their bedrooms. It’s great boom bap but it’s such an oversaturated market now that this wouldn’t stand out against anything coming out right now, which seemed to be the problem when this came out too. Mental stamina was the worst example of lyrical miracle ever. Da bichez is also stupid as shit, I hate when people try to validate calling women dumb whores by saying shit like “not all of em!!! Just these ones! And I really hate them!!” Such misogynistic shit. This was a full album of a man bragging about how great of a rapper he is, which he is skilled but the lyrical content seems to be focused solely on how good he is, and when he moves away from bragging it’s very forgettable or misogynistic. Feeling a light 2 overall and mainly just for the instrumentals, which are incredible.

Innervisions

Stevie Wonder

4/5

Illegal to critique Stevie but imma do it. Not his most engaging release for me. Higher ground is unmatched but the rest felt musically tight but didn’t touch me the way that songs in the key of life did. First listen was half in car half playing disc golf and second listen was half disc golf and half in car so I think I got the full spectrum. I think I just wish this album was hyper.

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

Ray Charles

4/5

I don’t have much to say here. Just so good, so many classics, so many great nonpopular tracks, bangers. It’s all songbook stuff and I’m not gonna lie and say I’d go out of my way to listen to it but this is a high four. Just good music.

The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators

The 13th Floor Elevators

2/5

Pretty boring given their contemporaries. Feels pretty half hearted. I can’t remember who but someone in my life that I played with loves this band and this album and I know way too much about this band than I want to. Still don’t love it. Teetering between two and three, nothing on here makes me want to come back but I love the little doodleloodleloddleloo sound throughout this thing, really ruins like half the songs but at least it’s funny.

Black Holes and Revelations

Muse

3/5

I thought this shit ruled as a 10 year old. Let’s see if they still got it. I agree with the general consensus that Muse is Coldplay trying to do Radiohead but I simultaneously have to give them supermassive black hole, a banger of a composition. Knights of cydonia too. All of this is so easy to make fun of but it’s really not bad. In the immortal words of Liam quoting someone else, if my friends made this shit I would be so excited for them and make sure they kept making music, so it can’t be too bad. Maybe the original imagine dragons. That starlight song is so bad from overplaying but objectively a good song. The Depeche Mode song was pretty enjoyable too. Invincible is bad. I love super massive and knights but this is Objectively a 3 album.

Back At The Chicken Shack

Jimmy Smith

3/5

Alexa, play instrumental jazz music.

Neon Bible

Arcade Fire

4/5

A good friend’s favorite album by his favorite band, let’s see how it goes. It’s just like all of them say, indie pretentiousness over church music, but it’s really good. A lot of this oddly reminds me of Springsteen in a way, if he loved organ and reverb. I don’t know that I’m a converted arcade fire fan, I do love suburbs, but this is on a level below that for me (and even suburbs drags on way too long).

Achtung Baby

U2

2/5

I have never liked U2, I have never understood it. This was a slog for me. Bono is so uninteresting, the edge may be a guitar revolutionary but that doesn't stop them from making songs that are infinitely less interesting than REM. I don't love the joshua tree but why did they need a reinvention from that sound? Even my boy Brian Eno can't save this. Mysterious ways is fine I guess. I feel like I’m being punked, so many people I know list this as a best album of all time and I truly can’t see it. It must have been a right place right time situation because I’ve never met anyone under thirty who gives a shit about this band.

Murder Ballads

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

4/5

Murder porn the album. Truly the horniest man alive taking on characters to be horny as them. I’m not sure what it says that after that description I really like this album. The storytelling is great, there are solid lines on here, and once more who cares if he’s a bad vocalist he’s great for what he’s doing.

3 + 3

The Isley Brothers

4/5

Kings of making an unnecessary 14 minute jam on a 3 minute song but keeping it fun. Who’s that lady is incredible, shout out Kendrick. The listen to the music cover rips too. Just really solid guitar driven funky soul music. No complaints.

Hearts And Bones

Paul Simon

2/5

Further proving that I don’t mess with Paul Simon. It’s fine, it’s just not that interesting! I have to assume these were bangers for their time but my family and I have missed these entirely. Also cars is terrible.

Led Zeppelin

5/5

If I have to listen to Paul Simon to get to listen to this then I will do it. Is this the greatest debut album of all time? It has to be high up there. The only other two I can think of are very biased but maybe is this it or the blue album. Crazy to come out of the gate with such strong songs and already mostly realized direction. They do only get better from here but the bar is set very high.

Step In The Arena

Gang Starr

4/5

Excited for this, they're propped up pretty high and I've never really listened to them at all. The lyrics on this are so good and so fun. So many lines where you get to go "OOOOUUUUU" when you hear it. Production is solid. The songs get a little sleepy and samey but if you're locked into the production and lyrics this thing is a treat. I'm between a high 3 and a low 4.

My Aim Is True

Elvis Costello

5/5

If the whole reason for the list was for me to eventually hear this album then it was all worth it. I am enamored by the album. It's like everything I love now but in 1977. The guitar parts are so well written and fun, the vocals are unique and aren't distracting, great lyrics, I can't stop thinking that if we had Ska a little earlier in the timeline this is just a Jeff Rosenstock album. But also there's tinges of like pop punk, alt rock, dare I say some screamo instrumentation every once in a while? It's so good. This is dethroning Dig Me Out as the best album from the list so far that I haven't heard before.

Nothing's Shocking

Jane's Addiction

3/5

Had the pleasure of seeing the 25 year anniversary tour for this one where they sucked ass and were terrible. This feels like another album that was probably ground breaking and a huge breath of fresh air for when it came out. It has been done so much better since then. A lot of this is rage against the machine with a much worse vocalist. I am a huge hater of Mr Peripheral but I do think he does some really cool things with his voice/effects. The issue is I hate him on these songs. I do like mountain song and Jane says, honestly I like most of this album minus Perry. Pigs in Zen is half turnstile half rage it’s so strange. The album cover is a load shit too. Feeling a very light three. I assume we’ll get ritual too, which I grew up with and like more but it’s still not great.

Wild Wood

Paul Weller

2/5

I knew this was British by the guitar tone in the first 5 seconds of this album. I really need the American office version of this book so we stop getting so many average albums that sort of popped off only in England. I didn’t dislike it but I can’t remember a single thing I listened to like 5 minutes removed from listening to it. I guess I liked the weaver but I couldn’t tell you how it went.

There's No Place Like America Today

Curtis Mayfield

4/5

I enjoyed my time with Mr mayfield today. I thought the narrative/lyrical content of this thing was top notch. It was groovy on top of that so what complaints can I have really? For a multitude of reasons This made me reflect on to pimp a butterfly and I think there is some comparisons to be made with era and genre in mind as a the big divides. The only thing holding this back from a 5 is I don’t know that I’m at a place where I feel like I need to buy this.

Mott

Mott The Hoople

2/5

Finally, a hymn for the dudes. This thing is pretty doodoo minus some good cheesy guitar licks. I struggled to get through this one, lot of Costco brand Bowie.

Caetano Veloso

3/5

This one’s weird. Very empty instrumentation, reminds me a lot of the doors but is obviously pulling inspiration from so many places to put this together. I really like it. I’m not going to pretend that I understood the lyrics but for a Brazilian album in 1968 this thing rips when it’s not being just the smallest bit monotonous. Three is too low, four is too high.

Sticky Fingers

The Rolling Stones

5/5

Hey this thing is really good! Didn’t know can’t you hear me knocking knocked half the run time off for the radio. The second half falls off after the hits but I can definitely see someone buying this for the hits and growing to adore the rest of the album. Wild horses is enough to give this thing a 5, perfect song.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill

4/5

Doo woo That thing top 100 vibes song all time. This album is so good and deserving of a spot in the top hip hop albums of all time. Criticisms: a little hard to distinguish songs from each other at least on first listens, some of the lyrics haven’t aged great, skits baked into the songs sucks, probably 25 minutes too long. However, this thing does stand the test of time of being an album that if anyone I knew put on any of these songs i would be happy. Doo wop is undeniable. For me, this is a very very high four. It’s very deserving of a 5, maybe I’ll come back to it and give it to her.

At Fillmore East

The Allman Brothers Band

4/5

Yeah it rules but how much blues rock can I do in one sitting, especially ending on a 14 and 22 minute song? Whipping post is amazing but really could just be a 4 minute song. I’m sure it was hype live and in the moment though. I do own this on vinyl but I’m feeling a 4.

Joan Baez

3/5

Glad to listen to a joan Baez album. Feels like Paul Simon where if I grew up on this I would totally get it. Just too sparse for me. There were a few times I thought the album had looped because I was sure I had heard this one already. It’s still pretty and she’s a great vocalist.

Is This It

The Strokes

5/5

This is definitely a top 10 album all time for me, maybe top 5. I have learned every guitar part on this album. This is just a magical record and I didn’t even listen to it until like 2012. The strokes are so locked in creatively that you can overlook the nepotism. Julian’s voice on this record is perfection, the vocal processing they do (keyboard amp mic’d with distortion added) is so sick. Albert and nicks interlocking guitar parts really changed how I approach writing in bands where there’s two guitars, they’re just so tight and similar but so distinguishable at the same time. Hell, I bought a Riviera because it’s what Nick plays, sounds damn good too. That P90 tone on a semi-hollow body matching a strat both with minimal effects is just so tasty. Also a case where the bassist, Nikolai, is really writing some unforgettable, honestly critical to the song bass lines that have such unique groove and melody. Fab can’t be overlooked either on drums even if he is considered the weakest member, he does such cool hi hat and tom work throughout that has definitely been ripped off entirely since. This is definitely my favorite debut album of all time (sorry zeppelin), I can’t fathom getting together for your first go and writing something as strong as this. There’s not a single song on here that I don’t love every second of and it feels silly to go into a play by play because I’m just going to gush over all of it. It is just a perfect album, not a single guitar solo, bass groove, snare hit, or shout is wasted on this thing. If I could vote higher than a 5 I would. I can’t imagine there’s an album on this list that I love more than this one.

Eternally Yours

The Saints

3/5

When this started I was like "yea this is a punk album". If someone was like make punk music for this movie, this is it. Really falls off as the album goes, don't love the black eyed peas moment but it was the 70's, it's not bad but it's not particularly groundbreaking.

461 Ocean Boulevard

Eric Clapton

3/5

This feels significantly less like an album you need to hear before you die and more like an album that has one really good song on it. Clapton really falls into that category where he has hits but he doesn’t have albums so we get served these pretty alright blues rock albums with one mega hit on them. One of the few cases where a greatest hits album might be a fair play for the list if it allows 3-4 other albums to make it.

The Age Of The Understatement

The Last Shadow Puppets

3/5

I like the arctic monkeys a lot more but this isn’t bad. I think the reviews are reading too much into the vibe of the album, it’s Alex Turner at his most average.

Definitely Maybe

Oasis

5/5

Definitely not as strong as morning glory but I still really loved everything here. Plenty of smaller hits, songs you’ve heard in movies or tv shows, and great guitar work. Feeling a high four but might push it to 5.

Born To Be With You

Dion

2/5

Offensively boring. I was giving it the benefit of the doubt until the whole world in his hands rolled around. One of the worst songs on the list so far what garbage.

Hunky Dory

David Bowie

5/5

What a genuine pleasure when an album has three mega hits AND the rest of the album could have been hits too. Bowie is probably the genius that everyone has always said he is. Everything on here is a banger, he even faked me out with Andy Warhol, weird start into one of if not the coolest riff on the album. Obsessed with this album, easy 5.

On The Beach

Neil Young

4/5

I don’t think he can do any wrong. That last song got a little iffy but this is a really solid album of songs that I have never heard before and will likely listen to all of them again. Great album.

Doolittle

Pixies

4/5

There is such an obvious through-line here of this to Nirvana or this to Modest Mouse it's so cool. I don't think I'm at a place where I think this is a masterpiece amazing god album but I do think it's a really sick thing to exist in 1989 and absolutely is a blueprint for a lot of the music that I do think is masterpiece amazing god music. I do think there's somewhere in Dave Grohl's autobiography where he says Nevermind was their best attempt at ripping off Doolittle. Very powerful vocal album, very powerful dynamic album. 4/5 but I can see this becoming a 5 on two or three more listens.

Shaka Zulu

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

2/5

Going to do my best here. I hate a cappella music. It's my fault for engaging with this album while in traffic on the way to work. But the vocal arrangements were so the same throughout this thing. So many of the same melodic runs and almost everything feels like it's in the same key. This is a very interesting ethnomusicology entry on the list; the influence of Paul Simon producing a traditional Zulu album and everything that happens as a result of that is very interesting, but my enjoyment of this album is pretty low. I feel like I got it on the second song and then there was 40 more minutes of the same. 2 is too harsh but it's where I am.

This Year's Model

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

5/5

Elvis Costello is my new favorite artist. Amazing all through, verbally yelled with excitement when I don’t want to go to Chelsea started. He’s so good. How did I ignore him for this long. I listened a couple times today, I think Elvis is just in rotation forever now.

At Newport 1960

Muddy Waters

3/5

That’s some 1-4-5 baby! Trying to figure out why I think 1-4-5 is cool and rad when Jimi Hendrix or Jack White does it vs this and I think it’s just electric loud guitar = dopamine for me. This is still phenomenal 1-4-5 though. Mr Waters has a phenomenal vocal performance throughout this thing, he’s having fun, the band is tight, you can’t ask for much more. I will assuredly never come back to this but I am glad I listened to it and it definitely has a place on the list.

Behaviour

Pet Shop Boys

5/5

Feelin a 5 on this. I loved the overall vibe of this thing and I know it just gets better in the future. Just really solid vocals and melodies, the synths are great (even the shitty trumpet midi), and who doesn’t love a reverbed out drum machine? Not saying I’m a good songwriter at all, don’t get it twisted, but there were a lot of things on here that sounded like little ideas I’ve written before and thrown away because I didn’t know that music could sound like this, if that makes sense. Just fun sparse ambient melodies realized successfully. Good job pet boys.

You Are The Quarry

Morrissey

4/5

Crazy mix of interesting lyrics and the largest ego of all time. Instrumentally sticks out from what I’ve come to know him for at first but it comes around. A lot of really solid songs, my favorite is the one that I can’t repeat the name of but dude this man has such an ego and is so condescending it’s insane. Still good music.

Bad

Michael Jackson

5/5

The most famous example of let’s look over that stuff and just talk about the music. I think for the exercise of the list you do need to make the artist/art separation whether you believe in it or not. Nonce or not, still one of the highest selling albums of all time, and for a reason. This isn’t even THE album and it’s this insane quality. Bad is a fine hit, but the way you make me feel, man in the mirror, goddamn smooth criminal??? 10/10, 9/10, 15/10. Even the non hits are phenomenal, although Liberian girl is not up to the rest of it. But he’s definitely using the same synth that’s in Sonic which I know he worked on Sonic 3 but he’s doing the chemical zone bass synth through so much of this and it’s so SICK. Speed demon and just good friends are basically just Sonic songs (pre Sonic one mind you). Thriller obviously clears, I’m sure we’ll return one day.

Buffalo Springfield Again

Buffalo Springfield

2/5

Started out good, became incredibly boring. I don’t have much to say about this one, just inoffensive classic rock that I won’t be returning to. Album title is hilarious.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Simon & Garfunkel

4/5

Beautiful. First one of these that has really clicked with me. Fully understand it right now, why I would put this on while doing chores and my husband is reading on the couch and yelling at our two sons. Im not at masterpiece, but I just do get this one. I like mr garfunkel.

Murmur

R.E.M.

5/5

Love. REM really can do no wrong. Michael Stipe could yell at his dog on a mic and I’d love it. Radio free Europe is one of their best songs, such a strong opener, such a good bass part. I think past that this one won’t be as popular with the class but that’s okay. It’s a little sleepy, no hits other than the opener, but it’s just so beautiful and so good. Killer debut album. Am I wrong to say this is a phenomenal bass album? Going to be hard for me to not give this a 5 but I see fully how it can be a four or even a three to someone who isn’t enamored with the band. I listened to this album no less than seven times today.

Remain In Light

Talking Heads

3/5

Don’t get me wrong this is a good album. I feel like it requires a very specific vibe and dictates the listening experience accordingly and stressed out of my mind trying to get a theater show up was likely not the vibe that Mr Byrne had in mind while putting this one together. I’ll have to give it a second listen when I’ve got nothing going on to give a real score. Instrumentally amazing, lyrically fun and interesting. It starts very same thing again and again and not changing dynamically. Once in a lifetime obviously sticks out as the hit but it’s guilty of the same thing. A lot of these songs just sit in the same dynamic for the whole 6 minute run time. I did listen to the deluxe to be fair, a lot longer and drawn out and like 4 more just the same thing for 6 minute songs. Super interesting, the deluxe has a demo of this must be the place with no lyrics and It really points out how much David Byrne brings to this thing. It’s just A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B forever but His vocals are what make it interesting. Again, the mood for this is super important. I’m at a high 3, realistically will listen again and give it a 4.

Repeater

Fugazi

5/5

Move over Elvis Costello, this is favorite album on the list so far. This is the tightest 35 minutes I’ve heard in so long, and then there’s a bonus ep! The rhythm section on this is immaculate. Such good bass, drummer tight as hell. These guitar parts are mind blowing. Just like really complex but not in a way that takes your attention away, but also serves the song so well. They really know when to groove and when to shut up. Ian MacKaye and Guy Picciotto are such enthralling vocalists and the lyrics!!! First album in a while that has stopped me lyrically and I had to read everything they said back. So important so good. Can easily see why Pearl Jam credits them as a huge influence. Truly an album that makes you want to immediately pick up an instrument and make a punk band. Separate reviews for three songs. Definitely not as strong but you can definitely hear the proto sound. If it was just this three I’d give a low 4.

Station To Station

David Bowie

4/5

Incapable of writing bad music. Not as masterpiece worthy as the other two but this thing is phenomenal. He has such a talent for vocal arrangements. Not much to say as there’s no hits or anything that I think will make a playlist but everything on here is masterclass writing. Just didn’t hit that gold mine this time.

The Stone Roses

3/5

First song might as well be a shoegaze song. Then it delves into agreeable Hershey commercial music. If it had stayed that first song the whole way would have loved this, just became very eh after that. High three low four, really really like the first song but what a fall off. Also the last two tracks making up 40 percent of the run time is rude.

Let It Bleed

The Rolling Stones

5/5

Gimme shelter best stones song ever. I am just a fan of The Rolling Stones I think. No complaints about anything on here, shelter, honk, and can’t always get what you want make it an easy 4 and the rest of it fills out to be right there at the 4/5 line. Tie breaker is if I saw this in a store I would definitely buy it, so we'll give it the 5. Midnight rambler might ramble a bit too long to be fair.

Group Sex

Circle Jerks

5/5

15 minutes!! Heaven. This is like the exact thing I would show someone to be like hey yeah this punk music. This and like the ramones self titled. Killer album. I’ve given so many 5s recently, I feel like it’s losing its value, but here goes.

Illinois

Sufjan Stevens

5/5

Does not need to be this long but there’s some great music on here and some really okay ones too. John Wayne Gacy Jr is breathtaking. The song before it is one of those really well hidden 5/4s and it’s so nice when that happens. These are worse than panic at the disco song titles. It goes into a worse arcade fire/modest mouse mode for a while after that, like not bad but definitely a worse version of the mouse. Very talented song writer for sure, casimir is another one where I’m digging it. Idk this whole thing is very much i like this I think? But it’s not what I’m looking for ever and it’s so similar to a lot of music that I don’t like and then when it’s not it’s a worse version of music that I do like? Very hard to define this thing. Instead of rambling I’m just going to give it its light 4 and move on. Actually I don’t know this thing might be a masterpiece. I can’t tell. Bon Iver clears, mouse clears, but this is an achievement.

What's Going On

Marvin Gaye

4/5

Did we not already do this? The irony of giving three 5s in a row to then not give one of the most critically acclaimed albums of all time one is not lost on me. I just don’t think I vibe with soul music. The concept of this album is incredible, the lyricism is as well, smooth as hell, I just wouldn’t reach for this to listen to it outside of the list.

Fromohio

fIREHOSE

2/5

I don’t understand this one, really not sure how it made the list. Pretty boring with some good riffs. Doesn’t even really feel before it’s time.

Strange Cargo III

William Orbit

3/5

This is definitely not what I’m going to reach for when I want to listen to music but it has some really nice instrumentation and ideas, sometimes. 2 is absolutely too harsh but this thing is way too long, too aimless, and fails at being a meditative experience and I love boards of Canada dammit. Unfortunately loved the last song, I’ll give it a three.

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

Aretha Franklin

3/5

Great great vocalist over some good songs and two or three mega hits. Hard to give this anything less than a 3. This is not my bag but I fully understand how it was many people’s bag in 67.

Smokers Delight

Nightmares On Wax

1/5

I genuinely don’t think anything really deserves a one on this list. Maybe this is the Mona Lisa of elevator music and there are people who are really into that. Criminal with this album cover and name that this isn’t reggae or ska. Just what a colossal waste of time for me musically. Nothing about this inspires creativity in me or a desire to make art. 30 minutes after listening to this and I couldn’t hum you back a single thing that happened in this album. It’s not devoid of value, it is probably the best thing in the world for someone specifically craving this, but that’s not me.

Frank

Amy Winehouse

2/5

There’s two Amy wine house albums on here?I have similar feelings on this as the last one, great vocalist singing some really boring songs. This is a lyrical mess. Just really boring and I feel like she’s just cramming so many words and thoughts into nothing. These two albums have not been a good showing for making me understand her as a musical genius, Valerie is a slapper top 100 song all time though (not on this one).

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector

Various Artists

2/5

Christmas music.

Ready To Die

The Notorious B.I.G.

3/5

We love skits!!! I get why this popped off, especially with the east west feud and subsequent deaths, shoutout Diddy right? If we’re picking sides I’m definitely more Tupac inclined but even that not really that much. The hits on this are great but everything else is borderline okay to boring. She look so good I’d suck her dad’s dick is bar of the century though. Too long, skits are unnecessary, but can fully see, understand, and respect why this was as big as it was.

Meat Is Murder

The Smiths

5/5

This is the first one I get fully. I don’t know that I’m at a 5 but it’s definitely deserving of it and would get it once I listened to it two or three more times. All the beautiful guitar work I just am not fully behind Mr Morriseys vocals yet. Shoutout Jeremy Bolm for ripping and now it’s happening in mine from this (this is a large compliment). Loved it, will continue listening to it.

Sheet Music

10cc

5/5

What a fun and engaging surprise this thing was, especially for its global ranking. Just fun all the way through, great writing, great homages, I loved it. It’s like equal parts Beatles, beach boys, queen, eagles, maybe even some dan? You can tell they love all that and are trying to emulate it. I think it’s probably really easy to write this one off because of that but I think instead you should embrace it and just enjoy this as the silly fun experience it is. Very American gothic vibes as well. Also this is the band that wrote the things we do for love???

Mothership Connection

Parliament

3/5

This first track is such a long build to nothing but a good intro I guess. Great musicianship on track two and cool to hear the interpolation from Dre. It started to hit its stride at track three but I’m still pretty indifferent. I know from playing stuff like this in high school and college that it’s infinitely more fun to play than to listen to a recording of, and hopefully the live setting of this would be the missing link for me. Give up the funk is obviously a hit but feels like a 2.5 minute song stretched to 6.

Rejoicing In The Hands

Devendra Banhart

4/5

This is not what I was expecting today. Really nice folksy sounds that is at times like alt-j going acoustic. Interesting album, I can’t sing you back anything but I really enjoyed the whole thing and it was a great way to start a 5 hour drive this morning.

Atomizer

Big Black

5/5

I was more familiar with songs about fucking before this but what an album. First and foremost, rip and shout out Steve Albini. So righteously pretentious and had so much to back it up. This album continues that solidification of he can back up his own talk, it’s so well done. Very proto nine inch nails and if someone was doing loud punk over drum machines this well before this I sure haven’t heard it yet. Really impressed with this, production writing and everything about it.

Tonight's The Night

Neil Young

4/5

Not Neil at his best :( but it’s good!!! Idk what else I can say about Neil that I haven’t already. The electric songs so good. Acoustic so comfy. Love it but this definitely isn’t up to the standard.

Sea Change

Beck

4/5

Good Chris Cornell/nick cave impression. It’s not my think but the musicianship is undeniable. 3 is too low for something as well put together as this. I love the arrangements on this thing I want to study them.

This Is Fats Domino

Fats Domino

3/5

Mr Domino holding it down. Fun classic songs where if I had to imagine the 50s it’s just this. Not going to seek it out but it’s so good; one of the blueprints for everything after.

I Against I

Bad Brains

4/5

I like the self titled more but this is a good album. Very unique take on punk/hardcore at the time in DC as one of the first and preeminent bands doing it. There’s a lot of hair metal shredding in this compared to like Fugazi but that’s definitely not a bad thing. I like what HR is doing vocally for the majority but sometimes he hits these strange melodies or growls that just don’t do it for me. Still, would recommend that anyone listens to this and hopefully this will be the first album Alfonso reviews.

1999

Prince

5/5

Im ready for the prince versus Michael Jackson discourse. MJ has bigger hits but goddamn does Prince slap consistently. My only complaint here is the run time of some of these songs. Magnificent all the way through otherwise. It’s no purple rain but that’s fine. 1999 stand out hit of course but the whole thing continues through. I can understand someone giving this a 4 but it’s tickling the 5 for me.

New York Dolls

3/5

This is really interesting. It sounds a lot like twenty or thirty albums that came after it by different, huge bands. Glam/hair metal look while playing more hard rock/punk forward songs. I just always assumed this album was the first finger tapping, guitar shredding hair metal album a la Ratt. I don't know that I love every song on this album or that I will ever listen to it again but this feels like a big your favorite bands favorite band situation. Maybe one day I'll come back to this and it'll be a masterpiece to me but I'm sitting at a high 3 light 4.

Selected Ambient Works 85-92

Aphex Twin

5/5

BANGER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Aphex Twin, I am a music technology major, I am sorry. There is perhaps no electronic music artist ever as important. This is a real popular album for me when I’m looking down a 5-6 hour car ride, similar to boards of Canada. It’s meant for you to just get lost in it while doing something that you don’t have to focus too hard on. Can’t recommend that experience enough. I just cannot come up with another ambient artist other than maybe Keith Keniff or Grouper if you can count her that has such memorable melodies and song structure in these immense, sprawling compositions that just hold your attention. Like a decade or so later to give credit where it’s due, Deadmau5 sort of got there but lost the soul/emotion that Aphex is going for in favor of dance music. I’m overanalyzing without really talking about the music, just know I love this album and it makes me sit there and contemplate why I even try to make music when something this good already exists. In the context of the list, if people give this a 1 or 2 I get it, this is an album you have to purposefully go into and listen and if that’s my only complaint it’s that I didn’t have that time today to sit for 75 minutes straight and listen to it. It’s harder to digest in segments like I had to today.

Vespertine

Björk

4/5

Setting the scene for this one, it’s 1:30am and I’m playing a rougelike puzzle game about finding a hidden room in a mansion and just listening to this. Shout out blue prince, go play it. This album was a phenomenal companion to thinking through puzzles and trying to figure out what I’m doing. Bjork is extremely talented as a songwriter and both projects so far have highlighted different aspects of her creative genius. This one in particular is very orchestral and vocal and reverberous and it’s just so good and so easy to listen to. I love it, if I saw this in a shop I’d definitely pick it up. That said I’m not sure it’s sittin at a 5 for me.

Raw Power

The Stooges

3/5

I’m not sure which mix to listen to, I went Iggy’s mix. A little more underwhelmed on this one than I was expecting. Feels like it’s wandering around a lot of good ideas but never really gets there. It’s punk as hell and that’s cool and I’m sure this is wonderful live but as far as the recording goes it started pretty high and steadily declined over the course of the record. Other albums I listened to fully today: Consolers of the lonely - the raconteurs 5/5 Maybe too long but it’s so good. Dead horse x - Touche amore 6/5 Still my favorite album ever made, had to check in ITYDELL - Prince Daddy 4/5 Their second best effort so far, self titled clears. I’m really excited for the new album, I love this dudes voice and riffs so much. I tried listening to the newest Weeknd album and it started off really good but got boring real fast so I didn’t finish it.

The Fat Of The Land

The Prodigy

3/5

CRAB IS HERE!!! Can’t believe this isn’t crab rave. This thing disappointed me today. I always hear about the prodigy being life changing edm and it was just okay edm. Some of the vocals on this thing are shaman level garbage and some of it is alright. I feel like this is what other people thing linkin park sounds like. Leaving this project with a feeling of “yeah that was alright”. There is some great production on here though.

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