What a revelation! I don't think I'd ever heard FC before (maybe vaguely familiar?) and certainly wasn't too excited when I saw the album cover. Ah... now I see the band photo bombing in the background. But man! What a lush, hauntingly beautiful album. I've listened to it 4 times straight through while working today. A perfect example of why I wanted to take this 1001 albums challenge on. Of course I had to go down the rabbit hole of the history of the band, which is rather tragic to say the least. Anyway, a great change of pace from my usual diet of metal and punk. 4.5/5 rounded up to 5. Album 8/1001

If you were a child in the early 80s, this album is part of your DNA. I probably haven't listened to it all the way through in 40 years though. Well-crafted pop. It's fun. I can't deny it. 4.5/5 Album 13/1001

Well how about that for my first pick! This is an album I've heard hundreds of times being a huge metalhead as a teenager in the 80s. I absolutely loved this album as a kid and still really like it. I saw them live on this tour which was a highlight of my youth. But as many listeners have noted over the years, the production is terrible with compressed buzzy guitars, clicky drums, scooped mids, and zero bass guitar. Tons of amazing riffs, but honestly the album is a rather bloated affair. Some of the songs really overstay their welcome, especially the title track. End the damn song already! Nevertheless, this album is fun and will always have a soft spot in my heart. I'm not sure I would have included this one in the book though. Ride the Lightning is much better, but sounds too close to MoP sonically I guess. And really, maybe an album by a decent metal band would be more deserving. Voivod? Death? Celtic Frost? 4/5. Album 1/1001

Ray Charles is a legendary figure in modern popular music for a reason. S familiar as I am with him and his music in general, I think this is the first time I've ever listened to an entire album of his from start to finish. It's certainly out of my usual wheelhouse, but it made for a relaxing drive to work this morning. With so little context for this type of music, it's hard to rate it fairly. I find no faults with it honestly. But it's not anything I would revisit regularly. I certainly appreciate Ray's legendary status. I'd probably give it 7.5/10 if the system would allow. But I'll give it a 4 for this format. Album 2/1001

On vacation, so keeping this short. But this is a great album. The Stones in their prime. Loose and rockin. 4.5/5 but I'll round up to 5 on the start chart I guess.

Short review due to being on vacation. CCR are legendary for a reason. I find it difficult to fairly rate albums that are older than me sometimes due to lack of context. I probably wouldn't revisit this album regularly (even though I have a vinyl copy in my collection), but it is certainly not a bad record by any means.

Easy and relaxing. Willie is a national Album 5/1001

I was a 16 year old metalhead when this came out. So I was not jamming on this type of thing back in the day. Aside from the odd music video or two, she pretty much flew under my radar as a musical artist. While this is not my usual cup of tea, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. But it's definitely a relic of late 80s hip hop/house music where high top fades and Africa necklaces ruled the scene. Album 6/1001

I'm vaguely familiar with the Byrds earliest output but didn't know as much about the Gram Parsons country era of the band. I guess a lot of the folk leaning rock bands of the day went through a country phase. Anyway, it was an interesting listen. Album 7/10

What a revelation! I don't think I'd ever heard FC before (maybe vaguely familiar?) and certainly wasn't too excited when I saw the album cover. Ah... now I see the band photo bombing in the background. But man! What a lush, hauntingly beautiful album. I've listened to it 4 times straight through while working today. A perfect example of why I wanted to take this 1001 albums challenge on. Of course I had to go down the rabbit hole of the history of the band, which is rather tragic to say the least. Anyway, a great change of pace from my usual diet of metal and punk. 4.5/5 rounded up to 5. Album 8/1001

Funky stuff. My dad loved the Isley Bros when I was a kid, so this was definitely nostalgic. 4/5 Album 9/1001

Not my usual. But it's quirky and interesting. Album 10/1001

Finally landed on one of my all-time favorite bands and albums. The first 4 Sabbath albums are unbeatable. Really the first 6 all could have arguably made this list. Heavy, sludge, yet melodic and catchy. Bill Ward is the unsung hero on this record. His powerful yet playful jazzy drumming adds a fun counterpoint to Tony and Geezer's plodding and doomy riffs. Just listen to his tasty fills and high hat work on Snowblind. 4.5/5 Album 12/1001

If electro-pop is your thing, I suppose you could do worse. I would readily admit that Madonna has an album or two worthy of this list. I just wouldn't have thought this latter day effort would be one of them. 2.5/5 (a generous rounded up 3 star rating for the app) Album 12/1001

If you were a child in the early 80s, this album is part of your DNA. I probably haven't listened to it all the way through in 40 years though. Well-crafted pop. It's fun. I can't deny it. 4.5/5 Album 13/1001

Possibly the greatest rebound from tragedy album ever in rock n roll history. It's a timeless hard rock classic. 4/5 Album 14/1001

Funny. I thought I had heard everything by Jimi Hendrix at this point in my life. Apparently I had never heard this album in its entirety, just the hits like Little Wing. Anyway, fantastic as always. Jimi was a master. There are a couple filler type songs, but overall great. 4/5 Album 15/1001

Punk rock at its heart. Irish at its soul. I can't think of any better music to get drunk to! RIP Shane MacGowan. 4.5/5 Album 16/1001

Well, I can't say this one did much for me. Nothing objectionable. Just uninspiring in general. 2/5 Album 16/1001

I'm a Talking Heads fan, but I think they got much more interesting as their career progressed. It's a fun debut though. 3.5/5 Album 17/1001

The album cover seems to suggest something like... From the ashes of grunge's demise rises this Phoenix of mediocrity. The dude's expression on the right side of the photo accurately sums up the band's lack of enthusiasm when making this lame record. They as he might, Billy Corgan just couldn't save this album. And I'm not just some boomer hater. I'm gen X all the way and even saw Hole in concert once in 95. Hell, I even own a Courtney Love signature model guitar. But there is no just reason for this album to be on this list. Blind Melon's 'Soup' was robbed! 1.5/5 Album 17/1001

All the negative reviews for this album are somewhat surprising. There's a bit of filler on here, but it's still pretty fantastic. JSBE laid the groundwork for a lot of the stripped down white boy punk/blues that followed, most notably The White Stripes. JSBE put on one of the most incredible live performances I ever witnessed at The Ogden in Denver in 1996. This isn't my favorite JSBE album (that would be Extra Width), but this is a damn good one. 4/5 Album 20/1001

Someone had a lot of fun on a laptop making this. No actual musical instruments were harmed in the making of this album. Nevertheless, it's fairly interesting at times. Lots of layers, dreamy soundscapes, and breathy vocals. But I suddenly feel the urge to listen a day's worth of death metal now. 2/5 Album 21/2001

Felt like I was on an elevator for 33 minutes. Seriously, it wasn't bad. I just have very little context for jazz or samba. It was warm, pleasant, and organic. 3/5 Album 22/1001

I own this album and I saw PS in concert many years ago. However, this record has not held up well for me in hindsight. I respect Patti as an artist, but I don't find her overwrought vocal style particularly interesting anymore. I'll respectfully give this one a 3. 3/5 Album 22/1001

And Stevie knows that nobody's gonna bring me down 'Cause me and Stevie, see, we're gonna be sailing on the funky funky sound 4/5

Thin Lizzy was a great rock n roll band, but a live album is a curious choice for this list. But the late 70s/early 80s was the golden era of the live album. So maybe it makes sense. I would have much preferred one of their studio albums to have been in this book though. 3/5 Album 25/1001

Another band I saw live once (Lollapalooza 95) but had almost forgotten. I remember their hit song (Connection) and the controversy surrounding their supposed ripping the riff from a Wire song. But I don't think I had ever heard this album before. It's not bad at all. Certainly sounds like the 90s indie rock of the day. As far as female fronted 90s indie rock goes, there were much better options. I can't believe the Breeders don't have one in this book. Decent album. Just not sure it's worthy of this honor. 3/5 Album 25/1001

90s Mehcore. I could not wait for this to be over. Bring on that Napalm Death album! 1/5 Album 27/1001

I've had 90s Brit pop for 3 of my last 4 selections. Mostly forgettable stuff. No thank you. 2/5 Album 28/1001

Great stuff!

This is the first album by an artist that I was 100% unfamiliar with. Never even heard of the guy. I'm not the biggest hip hop fan in the world, but I don't hate it either. But this album grew on me as it went. Not sure if it should be in the book necessarily, but certainly worth a listen. 3/5 Album 30/1001

Oh wow! This is one of my all-time favorite albums by one of my all-time favorite bands. You don't have to twist my arm to get me to listen to the Minutemen. This is their masterpiece. 5/5 Album 31/1001

Beautiful. Soothing but melancholy. A little unfocused at times, but thoroughly enjoyable. 4/5 Album 32/1001

I dunno. Between Kurt Cobain's name drop and being featured heavily in Oliver Stone's 'Natural Born Killers,' there seemed to be a big push by many to make Leonard Cohen a household name. But he always came across as super cheesy to me. I would give this a 1, but I'll go with 2 to be fair I guess. Maybe I'm just not sophisticated enough to grasp the genius in his work. 2/5 Album 33/1001

This album had its way with my ear holes. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. 3/5 Album 34/1001

Extraordinarily forgettable. 2/5 Album 35/1001

Fantastic album. Stevie Wonder in his prime was a force to be reckoned with. This one was worth a second listen. 5/5 Album 36/1001

I enjoyed it more than I expected to. Rap and hip hop are not my usual, but I've learned to appreciate it more over the years. This is definitely worth another listen. 3.5/5 Album 36/1001

Oh no! Why 1001 albums? Why? 0.5 /5 Album 38/1001

A classic! Punk gained a lot of respect with this record. 4.5/5 Album 39/1001

Not bad at all. I just find a double live album a difficult way to jump into an artist's legacy. I'm certainly familiar with Van Morrison, but I don't think I have ever heard anything beyond his hits. 3/5 Album 40/1001

This album came out my freshman year of college. The underground music scene had been bubbling up to the surface for several years earlier with bands like Jane's Addiction, Pixies, The Cure, etc. But Nirvana kicked the whole damn door down and paved the way for the alternative music wave that swept the world in the 90s. People like to piss on Nirvana's music and legacy a lot these days it seems. But this album was huge and Nirvana was very important. Still is. 4.5/5 Album 41/1001