Mar 12 2025
View Album
The Bends
Radiohead
Added to Library: TRUE
This album slaps. It was probably my second introduction to the band after hearing In Rainbows and it's something I keep going back to.
The intro to The Bends where you can hear some TV nonsense in the background is for some reason enjoyable to try to catch.
I also like the album cover. Its like... robotic or cyborg-ish, with feelings of elation or bliss, given the entity's expression.
4
Mar 13 2025
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A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
Seems very much so a product of its time.
Dusty really knows how to belt out those songs. Loud, prominent pipes coming from her. Proper singing.
I wouldn't have known this on my own, but apparently a bunch of the songs she sang are covers.
I am not particularly a fan. This is not something I'd listen to... ever, had I not been participating in the 1001 albums experience, but I cannot say the music is bad or undeserving of recognition.
3
Mar 14 2025
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Parachutes
Coldplay
"Trouble" is the stand-out track for me. The piano is hauntingly beautiful. The song is excellent for reasons that I am not able to fully articulate. Yellow is also great, but its hardly new or exciting for me. It has over 2B listens on Youtube Music alone. You'd have to have been living under a rock for the past 20+ years to have not heard it. Spies also started to grow on me over the course of the day and multiple listens.
Overall the album is quite excellent for a debut/freshman album from the band. The songs flow together really well. My one critique is that there's really no songs that bump up the tempo or ever really get more aggressive in their approach to music making. What I mean is that there's nothing to punctuate the slow, mellow songs; there's never any sense of building and building and building until release, and so while the music is quite enjoyable, I could see the replay value decreasing over time due to the lack of variety in the songs. My comparison would be to that of Radiohead, where they punctuate their slow mellow songs with aggressive upbeat shredding songs to improve the variety of the music.
I never got all of the hate for Coldplay. Probably just being overplayed? Or maybe it just fun to hate on them in the same way it's fun to hate on Nickelback?
4
Mar 15 2025
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The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The music is pretty stripped down. The expected rock instruments are all there, but they are subtle and not always pronounced.The lyrics are mostly simple and not as subversive and I was led to believe they might be based on the description of the band on YouTube Music.
The Murder Mystery stands out to me because WTF IS GOING ON on this track. Two different sets of lyrics happening on the same track, one in each ear. Wild.
3
Mar 16 2025
View Album
Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
I've listened to this album dozens of times even before participating in the 1001 albums...
Added to Library: TRUE
The range of different styles and variety of sounds Meg and Jack can make is, quite frankly, astounding.
Blue Orchid opens the album so aggressively; every time I hear those first few seconds I get so hyped up, and then the next song, The Nurse shifts gears and is using a marimba or some other type of xylophon, and feels... Tropical almost.
I think my favorite song(s) though are Passive Manipulation and Take Take Take. Especially TTT, where you have this escalating scenario of Jack's "needs" and expectations when he meets Rita Hayworth. He can't get enough and boils down the entire experience to one word.TAKE.
4
Mar 17 2025
View Album
The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
Added To Library: TRUE
This is probably the only Prodigy album I've listened to.
It's mandatory listening for someone who's into early electronica or experiencing electronica's roots.
Diesel Power features Kool Keith which is pretty sweet.
My favorite song used to be Smack My Bitch Up until a coworker said something dreadful to me: that the entire song only consists of two sentences. "Smack my bitch up. Change my pitch up." Something about that dawning on me ruined the song for a while. It's still really damn good though. The whole album is.
3.5
4
Mar 18 2025
View Album
James Brown Live At The Apollo
James Brown
James Brown sure knows how to whip up the crowd. Honestly, the crowd sort of makes the album for me, in the same way that most people listen to live Grateful Dead rather than their studio albums. It add a whole new dimension to the experience.
As for the music. Seems perfectly fine. I have virtually no experience with the Soul or Funk genres (yet) and so as far as first experiences go, the experience was not amazing, but it wasn't awful either. I listened to the album several times, since it was so short. I also opted to listen to the extended/expanded edition, with about 10 more minutes of music. The stand out songs for me are Lose Someone > Medley: Please Please Please, but that's really only because the entire audience is going absolutely wild.
3
Mar 19 2025
View Album
The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
Longggggg album. Could realistically only listen once throughout the day.
Loved what I heard. Couldn't speak to any specific song, though I'm pretty sure I heard some tunes that have since been used in rap/hip hop beats. That wouldn't surprise me at all.
It's weird. I know that this is largely "Jazz" music, but it's not what I have in my mind (for at least some of the music) when I think of jazz. Something faster with a lot more brass, bass and rhythm. nonetheless, the music is remarkable.
3
Mar 20 2025
View Album
Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
A solid entry. I'm glad I listened. 2.5 listens. Stand out track for me is A Place Called Home. The tunes with Thom Yorke in the are also quite good. Specifically the vocal layering in The Mess We're In is an interesting decision. I definitely hear some Patti Smith in there but I also don't have a ton of experience with any of Patti's music.
3
Mar 21 2025
View Album
Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Added To Library: TRUE
I've never actually listened to Exodus in album format before, but I've heard a number of the songs.
The music is largely chill. Something to put on while lounging or relaxing.Exodus, Three Little Birds and Jammin are timeless classics now.
It also seems like some of the songs appear on Legends so they are otherwise familiar that way too.
4
Mar 22 2025
View Album
Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Stand out tracks: Duncan, Hobo Blues and Paranoia Blues (both versions)
Listens: at least 4
I really enjoy the wind instruments in Duncan.
Similarly, the string instruments in Hobo Blues. It's a short and sweet little ditty. The best ones are.
3
Mar 23 2025
View Album
Oar
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
Standout tracks: none.
Listens: 2
No particularly noteworthy songs, but on the second listen-through, the music did click a bit more than the first time. I can understand why the album is on the 1001 albums list. Some of the tracks get pretty psychedelic.
I do always appreciate when the listener gets those "behind-the-scenes" bits of dialog or noise or chatter before, during or after the song has concluded; they bring the process to life. It's a person recording these songs, talking with the sound engineer. Talking with their bandmates, figuring out what song to play next -- that they've run out of tape, etc.
The "why" behind the album and the context leading up to the album being recorded were interesting, to say the least. There is a certain melancholy-ness to the music, and an exhausted nature to the artist. There's nothing upbeat about any of the tracks.
3
Mar 24 2025
View Album
You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
Tedious, repetitive. There are maybe a few tracks that are okay. It's the kind of music that I might put on if the purpose isn't to listen to music, but rather while I'm doing something else; Playing a game (that doesn't have a good soundtrack). Cleaning the house. Doing laundry. Whatever...
2
Mar 25 2025
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Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
3
Mar 26 2025
View Album
Hysteria
Def Leppard
Listens: 2
Stand out tracks: Gods Of War, Pour Some Sugar On Me
Not a fan of 80 classic rock hair bands. I can't really discern qualities between most tracks. It's all heavy guitar and strong drums.
Pour Some Sugar On Me has transcended time to be one of their (or at least to me) recognizable tracks. I can't deny it as a piece of music; even one that I enjoy, despite categorically loathing most of the 80s rock, electric guitar-heavy genre.
2
Mar 27 2025
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Seventh Tree
Goldfrapp
Listens: 3
Stand out tracks: Happiness, Road to Somewhere.
Happiness sounds suspiciously like a Beatles song, but I couldn't find a track with that title. Some comments on YTM suggested that Paul McCartney would be jealous or ... Whatever. Regardless, the song is enjoyable.
Road to Somewhere on the other hand sounds like it could be a wound down version or cover version of an Audioslave track. Also great.
3
Mar 28 2025
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
Listens: 3
Stand out tracks: El Condor Pasa (If I Could), Cecilia
3
Mar 29 2025
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KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
Listens: 3
Standout tracks: You ain't the Problem, Rolling, Final Days
Added To Library: TRUE
Fantastic. Wow. I'm not sure how I've never heard of Michael Kiwanuka before.
5
Mar 30 2025
View Album
A Hard Day's Night
Beatles
Listens: 2
Stand Out tracks: And I love Her, Can't Buy Me Love
Possibly controversial, but early Beatles just aren't as good as their genre shift to psychedelic rock in the latter half of the decade.
Some of the tracks are timeless, but most of if not all of the tracks seem to be dealing with some love affair/interest or affection towards a woman or women and the dynamics of relationships with those women. There's virtually no controversial opinions or political views expressed. The lyrics are simple and often repetitive.
3
Mar 31 2025
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Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
3
Apr 01 2025
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Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
3
Apr 02 2025
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Dust
Screaming Trees
Listens: 1
Stand out tracks:
Vaguely Christian or at least religious. Mention of halos, angels, the lord, miracles, gospel and other religious influences. Not particularly interested in Christian or pseudo-Christian rock.
The psychedelic influences however, are interesting. They elevate the quality of the music, distinguishing the band from otherwise being another typical grunge rock band of the 90s. The use of... I'm not sure if there's an organ, harpsichord or a sitar involved, as well as hand cymbals evoke other influences like the Beatles later work or the early Dead.
2
Apr 03 2025
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Blur
Blur
Listens: 1
The album felt pretty bland, monotonous from a music perspective. I didn't really focus on the lyrics too much. Has that one song that's been used in car commercials for the past 2 decades. I don't know how I feel about the fact that Damon Albarn went on to form the Gorillaz after this. The Gorillaz are generally fantastic. Maybe I need to give the album another more detailed listen.
2
Apr 04 2025
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Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
Listens: 2
Stand out tracks: The Haunting Idle
80s vibes. A few tracks has vocals that sounded like Bob Dylan. I enjoyed the transition from The Haunting Idle to Burning. Atmospheric, moody qualities.
3
Apr 05 2025
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Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
Listens: 2
Stand out tracks: Raising Hell, Proud To Be Black
This album has so many famous tracks. The "Walk This Way" collab with Aerosmith was, I think, unprecedented at the time. Lots of guitar riffs paired with rap lyrics are also unique.
3
Apr 08 2025
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Actually
Pet Shop Boys
Listens: 1
Stand out tracks: Rent (though not in a good way)
Not a fan at all.
1
Apr 09 2025
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#1 Record
Big Star
2
Apr 10 2025
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Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
George Michael
Listens: 3
Stand out tracks: Praying for Time, Freedom! '90
Good variety of music styles in the tracks.
This is not something I'd go out of my way to listen to, but I enjoyed the opportunity to hear it and was impressed by the music and lyrics.
3
Apr 11 2025
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The Grand Tour
George Jones
Listens: 2
Standout tracks: Our Private Lives
Very twangy. Some of the tracks almost had a pseudo-Hawaiian quality to them, like as if they are something you'd hear in a spoof/stereotypical Hawaiian scene in a movie, or cartoon.
Not for me.
2
Apr 12 2025
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The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
3
Apr 13 2025
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Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
Listens: 2.5
Stand out tracks: Living for the City, Higher Ground
Chef's Kiss.
3.5
3
Apr 14 2025
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The Stooges
The Stooges
Listens: 1
Stand out tracks: We Will Fall.
Ram Jai, Jai Ram! We Will Fall is pretty weird. I don't understand the lyrics or the chant itself, but there's some pretty wild guitar playing on the over 10 minute long track. Cursory research at least partially suggests that it's filler content, considering the album would be only ~25 minutes otherwise. I don't know if the track fits on the album or not. This is the first time I've ever heard a Stooges song, let alone an entire album, but I dig it.
I also enjoy the vocalist (frontman?) screaming his voice into nothingness at the end of 1969.
3
Apr 15 2025
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Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
Listens: 1 (and countless others outside of this review)
Standout tracks: From the Ritz to The Rubble.
Added To Library: TRUE
I love this album.
5
Apr 16 2025
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Close To The Edge
Yes
Listens: 4 and an increasing amount since hearing it.
Added to Library: TRUE
First, I didn't have an opportunity to give a proper review of the album when I first listened to it.
Second, the album has really grown on me. I've listened to it a handful of times since I first heard it and I find myself coming back to it now with somewhat regularly.
I fucking love the organs (I think they are organs) in Close To The Edge part III: I Get Up I Get Down. I love how the music shifts seamlessly between each part of the 18+ minute song.
Majorly upgraded to 5. Easily my favorite newly-discovered album since starting this.
5
Apr 17 2025
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1989
Taylor Swift
Listens: 1
I do not much care for or understand the popularity of Taylor Swift, but I do recognize that she is both a cultural phenomenon and wildly popular. The subject matter of the songs on this album is not something I am interested in. The music is largely synthetic, which, while I do not inherently have any issues with (being an enjoyer of all manner of the electronica genre), I imagine she did not solely create. This may be a disingenuous criticism though, because I imagine Lorde or Lana Del Ray also fall into this category of working with producers to create melodies, and I enjoy some of their music. I may just need to listen to the album a few more times before really casting any further judgement.
2
Apr 18 2025
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Scream, Dracula, Scream
Rocket From The Crypt
Listens: 3
Standout tracks: Burnt Alive
This seems like pretty standard affair for a Punk album. I have not much to compare it to. I have never heard of Rocket From The Crypt before and I suppose I won't hear from them again unless they have another album in the 1001 albums list.
If I were to speculate, I would say that the music itself pulls in influence from the grunge scene, which was occurring in the 90s, as there are a mix of traditional "Punk-y" songs mixed in with some actual singing. It's not excessively thrasher music.
3
Apr 19 2025
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Synchronicity
The Police
Listens: 2
Standout Tracks: Mother
Mother is pretty uh, interesting. I wonder what the thought process is to come up with a song like that.
3
Apr 20 2025
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Who Killed...... The Zutons?
The Zutons
Listens: 1.5
Standout tracks: Zuton Fever
Musically, this album is all over the place. Sometimes it sounds like the Strokes or Arctic Monkeys, sometimes it sounds slightly country. The trumpets or.horn instruments remind me of Cake.
After listening to Zuton Fever I was kind of excited that the rest of the album would have that same level of energy but it doesn't quite land for some of the songs.
The album is ok. I might listen to it again in the future.
3
Apr 21 2025
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Machine Gun Etiquette
The Damned
Listens: 3
Standout tracks: Smash It Up
Machine Gun Etiquette is a dope album name, regardless of how I feel about the music.
3
Apr 22 2025
View Album
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Listens: Dozens
Standout tracks: Under The Bridge, Apache Rose Peacock, I Could Have Lied, others.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers were one of the first bands I really recall experiencing on my own volition. Before that, it would be listening to classic rock and pop on the radio with my parents. Granted I started out with By The Way in the 2000s; I then quickly moved on to Californication and then eventually Blood Sugar Sex Magik (and beyond).
This album has the right amount bass, funky beats, good lyrics, explicit content and highly memorable songs and melodies on it. It's not a 5, but it's still excellent.
It actually is a 5 for me on the scale of Hate it to Love it. I am revamping my scale. I can't be so stingy when it comes to rating music I actually thoroughly enjoy.
5
Apr 23 2025
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The Dreaming
Kate Bush
Listens: 3 or 4
Standout tracks: Suspended in Gaffa
Added To Library: TRUE
Early impressions are that this album or Kate Bush in general could be an influence for someone like Grimes or the genre that someone like Grimes falls into. I'm getting major baby/angel pop vibes from a few songs. There's a lot of vocal layering, high pitched shrill, growling-like and other voice manipulation involved. There's also plenty of traditional rock elements, and musical elements found in 80s British rock. It's not clear if the lower, deeper backing vocals are another person or just more vocal layering.
There a weird clacking sound in Suspended in Gaffa that keeps faking me out. Did a double take when I heard it the first couple of times. Sounded like there was someone knocking on the wall.
This album is the right amount of weird and I am onboard with it.
5
Apr 24 2025
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New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)
Simple Minds
Listens: 2
Stand out tracks: none
Largely unremarkable. Not particularly good, but not offensive to the ears.
2.5
2
Apr 25 2025
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A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
Listens: 4 or 5
Standout tracks: In My Place, The Scientist, A Rush Of Blood To The Head.
Added to Library: TRUE
And let's be honest, even with all the hate for the band, Clocks is also wildly catchy.
...
A second Cold Play album on the 1001 albums list eh? And hearing them both within a month or so of each other... Ok.
Anyways, not as good as Parachutes, but still some good tracks. It's crazy how many of the songs I have absorbed through osmosis over the past 20 plus years, despite never once seeking out and listening to the band on my own accord. Quite the feat.
I seem to have a thing for adult alternative rock music.
4
Apr 26 2025
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Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
Listens: 2
Standout tracks: none
It is refreshing to listen to an entirely instrumental while churning through the 1001 albums list. I think this is one of the only instrumental albums I've heard so far. There is a bit of scatting on one of the tracks towards the end, but otherwise, no singing.
The music itself is fine. I don't think its something I am going to listen to long term, but its still enjoyable.
3
Apr 27 2025
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Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz
Listens: 3
Standout tracks: The Girl From Ipanema
Reminds me of Bitter:Sweet and Thievery Corporation, with a big emphasis brass instrument and R&B.
3
Apr 28 2025
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Achtung Baby
U2
Listens: 1
Stand out tracks: Love is Blindness, Mysterious Way
Besides their iPod collaboration, a super cut of George W Bush "singing" Sunday Bloody Sunday and South Park making fun of Bono, I honestly forgot U2 existed.
The album is cromulent. It isn't offensive. It's not mind-blowingly good. It's boring and normal rock music. Unlike the description of the album, I'm not hearing any of the genre qualities being described: industrial, electronic dance. Alternative, sure, I guess.
A few of the songs are catchy.
3
Apr 29 2025
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Garbage
Garbage
Listens: 4 or 5
Standout tracks: Queer, Only Happy When It Rains, Milk
Added to Library: TRUE
Honestly, a lot better than I thought it was going to be. It's not Smashing Pumpkins good, but its been a lot better than a lot of the other grunge that's come my way as part of the 1001 albums list.
3.5 stars.
3
Apr 30 2025
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Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
Listens: 1
Standout tracks: Tutti-Frutti (obviously), Ready Teddy
Proper rock and roll. It's too bad I think virtually all of the songs sound the same. There's obviously a little nuance, but it's pretty consistently the same material. Also, crazy short album; not ever 30 minutes of material.
I'm also pretty sure my father took me to see Little Richard in the summer of 1998, and the only thing I distinctly remember is him telling the crowd to "Shut up"... That's his schick, apparently.
3.5
3
May 01 2025
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Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
Listens: 2-3
Standout Tracks: Behind the Wheel
I have conflicting opinions about this album/band. On the one hand uggggh 80s New Wave is blah; it seems so stereotypical of the era, but on the other hand, the album is growing on me; I am finding myself enjoying it, and I am not sure why. Perhaps its like an accident on the highway. You can't look away.
This music is not where my brain goes when I think about or want to listen to Electronic music.
3
3
May 02 2025
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Sincere
Mj Cole
Listens: 2
Standout tracks: Slum King
The first few tracks have good break beat vibes. Break beat, as a genre, is not something I encounter very often. Good beats.
The composition of the album is familiar. MJ Cole producing the tracks with loads of different guest artists providing vocals, samples and skits, though there's not loads of different guests on this album. Feels like proto-dubstep in a way, specifically Rusko or Caspa.
The deluxe version is the only available version in YouTube Music, and so I probably listened to variations of some of the songs multiple times. The experience started off good, but it eventually got incredibly repetitive.
3
May 03 2025
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Surfer Rosa
Pixies
Listens: 3
Standout tracks: Where is my mind?, Oh My Golly!, Bone Machine
Added to Library: TRUE
I've tried to listen to this album for a long time, but its never clicked over the disparate times over the years. Finally forcing myself to listen to it, holy shit is it clicking now. I hear Modest Mouse, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, all bleeding through this album.
I will also never get tired of Where Is my mind? Fight Club ending! The renditions of it in The Leftovers. Damn.
4
May 04 2025
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Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
Listens: 3
Standout Tracks: Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?, Little Wing, Layla
There are some real bangers on this album.
4
May 05 2025
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Third/Sister Lovers
Big Star
Listens: 1
Standout Tracks: Holocaust, Big Black Car
This is my second Big Star album. The music is significantly darker, more moody and atmospheric. It starts off innocuous enough, but by Big Black Car, the music starts to slow down and become a bit more prodding and emotional. Holocaust is especially dark, both the lyrics and the music.
I gave "#1 Record" 3 stars and unfortunately didn't elaborate on why at all. I don't think this album is 4 stars despite being better than their debut album, so I am going to have to bring "#1 Record" down to 2, and put this to 3.
3
May 06 2025
View Album
Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
Listens: 5
Standout Tracks: Irganda, Wayei, Petit Metier
Added To Library: TRUE
So far, I can't understand anything they're saying (and I don't imagine that's going to change much), and YTM isn't showing any lyrics, but the beats can't be denied! They're hoppin'. Major "Irish jig" qualities to the music. Some of the songs remind me of the Dropkick Murphys.
Wow, the album is excellent.
4
4
May 07 2025
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Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Stereolab
Listens: 3
Standout Tracks: Metronomic Underground
I love the track names; bizarre and totally out there.
The music is good, the lyrics less so. For several tracks, there's not so much singing as there is stating the same few phrases over and over again. Its inherently repetitive. The music is keeping the album afloat though. Its a good fusion of electronica, guitar rock, jazz, funk and some other stuff that I can't quantify.
3.5
3
May 08 2025
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The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Genesis
Listens: 1.5
Standout tracks: None
Nothing particularly exciting for me.
2
May 09 2025
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Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Listens: 3-4
Standout tracks: Hey Hey, My My and My My Hey Hey
Added to Library: TRUE
The premise of "rust never sleeps" is an insightful one; something we should all keep in mind. You gotta keep moving lest we become complacent in the things we do.
4
May 10 2025
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One Nation Under A Groove
Funkadelic
Listens: 1.5
Standout Tracks: Not sure. Something about poop. Couldnt view the track list as I was listening.
Could not listen to this on YouTube Music. Not available for some reason. Sounds like a recurring theme based on other reviews/comments. Had to use YouTube. No ads though since I have YTM. Anyways...
I enjoyed this album, though I am having trouble rating it. As I continue to rate albums I am torn on what it means for an album to be a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. Obviously, 1 and 5 are the ends of the spectrum; either hate it or love it, but in between?? What is the litmus test for a 4? "like it"? Do I expect to listen to an 4-rated album beyond the day I am assigned the album? Do I add a 4 to my rotation? Do I add it to my library? No one knows.
I enjoyed the baselines. I enjoyed the lyrics for some of the songs. I enjoyed the artwork for he album (and the art work in general looks great too). I don't think there was anything I actually disliked about the music.
4
4
May 11 2025
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Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
Listens: 2
Standout Tracks: Since I've Been Loving You, Immigrant Song, Gallows Pole
Since I've Been Loving You has a great blusey feel to it. It's probably the pinnacle of the album for me. I've heard Immigrant Song before, and so it helped that it was the first song on the album for me - to get into mindset of 70s hard rock, but it feels... overplayed somehow? I've heard it (or renditions of it) in at least two movies: Thor Ragnarok and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
3
May 12 2025
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Superfuzz Bigmuff
Mudhoney
Listens: 3
Standout Tracks: If I Think, Halloween
It took me a few listens - actually actively listening helped too - to warm up to Mudhoney. Their sound is raw and bordering on scream-o music which I am not super keen on, but the songs that have actual singing and melodies and good guitar riffs were decent. Halloween was a great track - a good way to close out the album.
This is now my 3rd or 4th Grunge album. There are miles between this album and for example, Garbage's self-titled album. Its interesting how both can be classified as Grunge.
3
May 13 2025
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Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Listens: 4
Standout tracks: Graveyard Train, Proud Mary
Nice, quick and easy listening album. 7 songs. 34 minutes. :ChefsKiss:
I don't, and haven't listened to CCR before, besides whatever gets played on the radio, and while I probably won't put this into my rotation, I enjoy most of the songs and am inclined to rate this higher than I otherwise might have.
3.75
4
May 14 2025
View Album
Cut
The Slits
Listens: 3
Standout Tracks: I Heard It Through The Grapevine.
Album is RAW. Raw in the same way that Wu Tang Clan's first album is raw. Stripped down; minimal, rough around the edges. Definitely not bad. Some of the tracks are pure punk, but some of them are more like punk-disco or punk-ska or punk-dub/reggae. It's interesting; there is a lot of variety here, but with the scream-o, punk undercurrent throughout.
3.5 (rounded down)
3
May 15 2025
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When I Was Born For The 7th Time
Cornershop
Listens: 2
Standout tracks: Sleep on the Left Side, Candyman
The music is all over the place. I initially misread the album date and thought this came out in 1987, to which I would be quite impressed. I would have said it was way before it's time, likening the music to a combination of electronica with soft trap elements. In 1997 this is so much less impressive. It's repetitive and not in a good way.
It's funny, I definitely enjoy some definition of "electronic" music, but whenever an album comes up here, I usually rate it really poorly. :(
Candyman features someone rapping, which is a nice change of pace, and Norwegian Wood being a cover (albeit in Hindi?) was also pleasant to listen to. I appreciate the spin they put on the track.
I don't think these two positives qualities save it though. 2.5
2
May 16 2025
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A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
Listens: 3
Standout Tracks: Zen Archer, Just Another Onionhead / Da Dad Dali, Dogfight Giggle
Added To Library: TRUE
Awesome album. I hear influences from the late Beatles and other psychedelic works. I was also going to say I hear Pink Floyd (Dark Side of the Moon specifically) influences, but that album came out literally one day before this did, so that's probably just a coincidence. I think it was the saxophone in Zen Archer.
I enjoy how all of the tracks flow together and even though it can sound disjointed at times, that was described as partially on purpose according to the description of the album - ... supposed to start out chaotic and end with soulful songs ...
I know that there was purposefully no singles, but Zen Archer would have made a damn good single.
Dogfight Giggle is just plain weird and that makes me like it even more.
4
May 17 2025
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Purple Rain
Prince
Listens: 3
Standout Tracks: Darling Nikki, Purple Rain, Computer Blue
This album was... fine? Is that a controversial opinion? I was kind of expecting something much more groundbreaking, powerful, culturally prominent. This is Prince's _Purple Rain_ after all! Maybe it was groundbreaking in 1984, but today, listening to it now, it hasn't moved me much. The only track I found to be particularly eyebrow raising (and part of the reason I liked it) was Darling Nikki. I can see that track being exceptionally questionable and "transgressive" in 1984.
3
May 18 2025
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G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love & Special Sauce
Listens: 2 (with more on the way.)
Standout tracks: Blues Music, probably others
Added to Library: TRUE
I have never heard of this band before, though maybe I have heard at least one of their tracks on the radio before (without ever having known who I was listening to), but I digress... Anyways, judging a book by its (album) cover (and the artist name too), I thought I was in for a seriously awful Saturday music listening session. You could hear my eyes rolling into the back of my skull. Visceral-like reaction to a band named G. Love & Special Sauce. I thought I was going to be hearing some electronica music even worse than Fat Boy Slim or J Cole.
So imagine my surprise when not only are these guys palatable, but I actually seriously enjoy what they're putting out for a debut album!
I hear Beck. I hear Sublime, I hear proto-Cage The Elephant. I hear good bass lines, good drums, good lyrics and good rhyming.
I am exceptionally happy I had the opportunity to discover these guys.
4
May 19 2025
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Legalize It
Peter Tosh
Listens: 3
Standout Tracks: Legalize It, Brand New Second Hand
What's not to love about this album?
4
May 20 2025
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Kid A
Radiohead
Listens: 3 (and probably more in the past)
Standout Tracks: Everything In It's Right Place, How to Disappear Completely, Idioteque, The National Anthem.
Kid A is a good album. No; it's a great album, but by no means is it my favorite, second favorite or even third, fourth or fifth favorite. In no particular order, In Rainbows, OK Computer, Hail To The Thief, A Moon Shaped Pool and The Bends and are better.
The jazz and violin elements in The National Anthem and How To Disappear Completely are fantastic.
4
May 21 2025
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New Boots And Panties
Ian Dury
Listens: 2
Standout tracks: My Old Man
Wasn't available on YouTube Music, had to listen to it on straight YouTube.
It's... Interesting. I'm not loving it, but I'm not hating it either. I couldn't help but look at the reviews before writing this (mostly to see others' experience with finding the album online). The general sentiment seems to be ugh god why. I don't have a visceral reaction to this, either positively or negatively. Some of the songs are amusing. The multitude of sexual references and scenarios in particular; to hear this guy talk about sexual encounters and scenarios is hilarious. Honestly the It's that Essex accent that probably puts a lot of people off. Woof. I probably won't listen to this ever again, partly because it's not easily accessible on YTM. I won't fret much about that.
3
May 22 2025
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A Date With The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
Listens: 2
Standout tracks: None
Yea no. Sorry, not interested. Not even remotely. Its not a 1; I don't hate it, its not offensive, but I definitely do not want to listen to it every again.
2
May 23 2025
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Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
3
May 24 2025
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Can't Buy A Thrill
Steely Dan
Listens: 2
Standout Tracks: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Reelin' In The Years
Great debut album. Enjoyed it.
3.5
3
May 25 2025
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The New Tango
Astor Piazzolla
Listens: 1
Standout tracks: Vibraphonissimo
I really struggle with the rating system for this platform.
At first I was much more conservative with my ratings, but realized about 45 albums in that even some albums that I've highly enjoyed and would even describe as "loved" weren't breaking into 5, and I had only rated a single album a 1. Then I revaluated both my approach and the albums I had listened to, adjusting if necessary, and came up with a Hate/Dislike/Indifferent/Like/Love scale, which has been working so far... I guess.
So where does this fall? Is it musically impressive? Yes. Is it enjoyable? So far, for the most part. Do I love or hate it? No and no. Will I add this to my rotation or listen to it beyond today? Probably not. So then what's the rating? Middle of the pack 3? Am I just playing it safe and not really forming an honest opinion? I'm not sure. Sometimes I wish the rating scale was 1 through 10.
Some of the tracks so far are wildly inventive and highly creative. One of the tracks gave me the impression of the world coming crashing down around me. Frantic and aggressive, which I would not have come to expect from the genre of Tango. Other tracks are prodding, serious, sombre and thought provoking.
I would consider putting something like this on if I were just trying to mellow out after a day at work.
I am inclined to say I more enjoy it than not, so.... 4
4
May 26 2025
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Rip It Up
Orange Juice
Listens: 2
Standout tracks: I Can't Help Myself, Mud In Your Eye
I don't know what I was expecting of this music, when i read the description of the band being "post-punk", but it wasn't this. I don't really understand what post punk is as a genre. Ive also usually despised New Wave music based on some of the other bands I've had to listen to in the 1001 albums framework, but I don't strongly dislike this either. There were some genuinely good tracks on this album. Great saxophone and violins on at least two tracks.
3
3
May 27 2025
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Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
Listens: 1
Standout tracks: No Sleep Till Brooklyn, Girls, Fight For Your Right
I want to like the Beastie Boys more than I do. This album is important for a number of reasons: the foundation they laid for other rap and hip-hop bands, the amount they get sampled, their music's popularity in other entertainment mediums and pop culture, in popularizing the rap-rock genre along with Run DMC. It's crazy how influential they are. And yet, I need to be in a really particular mood to listen to them. There's a lot of shouting and yelling. Everything is amped up to. 11. It's high fucking energy. Energy I want to have, but don't.
Also, Girls is really sexist. It's comical how much this wouldn't fly nowadays.
This album gets a 4, despite the fact that I don't listen to often at all and probably won't be adding it to my library and rotation. It's such an important piece of work in the genre.
4
May 28 2025
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Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club
Listens: 3
Standout tracks: Genius of Love, Wordy Rappinghood, Under The Boardwalk
My gut reaction to this was "Oh look. More New Wave...." but there's something different going on here. This is not Depache Mode or Simple Minds or some of the other music I've elected to listen to. This is more like proto-Nightmare on Wax. I get major Nightmare on Wax vibes from this album: African Pirates, Man Tha Journey, Deep Down etc. If I had just heard this album without vocals, Nightmare on Wax would have been a guess.
So, all that being said, I was much more impressed with the album than I expected to be. The beat on Genius of Love is... genius (and entirely funky). The pseudo-rapping on Wordy Rappinghood is intriguing. I like how they sneak some French in there. Their cover of Under The Boardwalk is also great.
Notably, the Deluxe Edition was not available on YTM, so I only listened to the regular album, plus 3 remix/long version tracks tacked on. And it was plenty.
3.5
3
May 29 2025
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World Clique
Deee-Lite
Listens: 1
Standout tracks: meh
This will be my second 1 in 75+ albums. I cannot understand how something like this made the list. Why? What does this album contribute musically to the zeitgeist? Does anyone actually go out of their way to listen to this outside of a dance club or other such setting in which people are dancing and raving to electronica music? Needless to say, I was not a fan.
1
May 30 2025
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Woodface
Crowded House
Listens: 1
Standout tracks: Four Seasons In One Day, There Goes God, Chocolate Cake
Nothing particularly remarkable about this album. I like the album cover. Halloween pumpkin vibes (even though it's a Woodman... Whatever the relevance of that is...) I don't like or dislike it after a full listen. Maybe subsequent listens will evoke something.
3
May 31 2025
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Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
Listens: 2
Standout Tracks: Sympathy For The Devil
Sympathy For The Devil is awesome, but other than that, I was kind of expecting the album to be a bit more classic rock, high-energy, like Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd. This felt more like an acoustic, bluesy album; More mellow and plodding.
Definitely not bad, just not what I was expecting.
3