My 1001 Albums Journey

156

Albums Rated

3.42

Average Rating

14%

Complete

933 albums remaining

Rating Distribution

Rating Timeline

Taste Profile

1960

Favorite Decade

Blues

Favorite Genre

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5-Star Albums

1-Star Albums

Breakdown

By Genre

Top Styles

By Decade

By Origin

Albums

You Love More Than Most

Album	You	Global	Diff
I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight Richard Thompson	5	3.05	+1.95
Ambient 1/Music For Airports Brian Eno	5	3.07	+1.93
No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live) Motörhead	5	3.07	+1.93
Autobahn Kraftwerk	5	3.09	+1.91
Trans Europe Express Kraftwerk	5	3.15	+1.85
Truth Jeff Beck	5	3.16	+1.84
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 George Michael	5	3.17	+1.83
Lady In Satin Billie Holiday	5	3.23	+1.77
Blue Lines Massive Attack	5	3.38	+1.62
Back At The Chicken Shack Jimmy Smith	5	3.39	+1.61

You Love Less Than Most

Album	You	Global	Diff
good kid, m.A.A.d city Kendrick Lamar	1	3.62	-2.62
Bat Out Of Hell Meat Loaf	1	3.43	-2.43
Doggystyle Snoop Dogg	1	3.37	-2.37
Channel Orange Frank Ocean	1	3.32	-2.32
The Chronic Dr. Dre	1	3.32	-2.32
Deloused in the Comatorium The Mars Volta	1	3.19	-2.19
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde The Pharcyde	1	3.13	-2.13
Fishscale Ghostface Killah	1	3.05	-2.05
O.G. Original Gangster Ice T	1	2.97	-1.97
Smokers Delight Nightmares On Wax	1	2.91	-1.91

Artists

Favorites

Artist	Albums	Average
R.E.M.	3	4.67
Kraftwerk	2	5
Radiohead	2	5

5-Star Albums (25)

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Popular Reviews

good kid, m.A.A.d city

Kendrick Lamar · 2 likes

1/5

Nope.

1-Star Albums (15)

All Ratings

In Utero

Nirvana

4/5

Don’t think this is quite in the same league as Nevermind. All Apologies, Pennyroyal Tea, Milk It and Heart Shaped Box were my favourites but the other tracks left me a bit cold.

All Things Must Pass

George Harrison

5/5

Great album but perhaps a bit thin for a triple album. I felt there was one legendary album or a great double in there but triple seemed to stretch things.

The Clash

5/5

Sounds as raw and energetic as on release. The seeds of London’s Calling and Sandinista are all in here. The cover of Police and Thieves is still probably my favourite track with Londons Burning and Garageland following behind.

Black Holes and Revelations

Muse

3/5

Not really a fan of Muse so not a band I’ve listened to much. This album only reinforced that for me. Not bad-bad but for me seemed an unconvincing mash up of early Queen heaviness (but with synths) and Radiohead wannabe quirkiness with a bit of Keane (‘Starlight’ I’m pointing at you) thrown in.

The Velvet Underground & Nico

The Velvet Underground

4/5

The album and band that didn’t ever sell well originally but allegedly everyone who bought them back then went and off and formed a band. The music is a strange mix of gauche, almost whimsical, psychedelic pop (Sunday Morning, Femme Fatale, I’ll Be Your Mirror) and rough rock and roll (I’m Waiting For The Man, Run, Run, Run) and dark claustrophobic experimental (All Tomorrows Parties, Heroin, Venus In Furs, Black Angel’s Death Song, European Son). Where it works it works really well - on some of the darker songs; but some of it hasn’t aged well like Run, Run, Run. Favourite songs Venus In Furs, All Tomorrows Parties, Waiting For The Man, Sunday Morning.

Who's Next

The Who

4/5

In my view Who’s Next is the most consistently strong track wise of The Who’s albums. Tommy is still my overall favourite album of theirs with this following close. Behind Blue Eyes is my favourite track.

O.G. Original Gangster

Ice T

1/5

I’m not really a fan of rap or hip hop. Some of it works for me but most either (a) just leaves me cold; or (b) turns me off completely due to its lyrical content. The beats and music are often fine. Ice-T’s Original Gangster sadly fell into both my dislike categories. I could barely get through any track without hitting skip apart from The Tower which seemed ok mainly because of its interpolation of the theme from Halloween. This is going to be a 1 star.

2112

Rush

3/5

Slightly bombastic prog rock. Almost good until Geddy Lee starts hitting the falsetto notes and then it all falls apart for me. The 2112 suite is lyrically dull if not dubious with its heavy Ayn Rand references. The second side shorter tracks are much better. My favourite track is Tears as Geddy tames the high shriekiness and the melody is great.

Close To You

Carpenters

2/5

Bland pop really. Leavened by Karen Carpenter’s pure vocals. The hit singles were overplayed throughout the seventies

Dusty In Memphis

Dusty Springfield

5/5

Epic, emotive, vocals coupled with great arrangements. Puzzling that it undersold and was poorly reviewed on release. Glad that it achieved its place on many ‘best of’ lists.

Odelay

Beck

2/5

Never resonated with me on its original release and still doesn’t.

Autobahn

Kraftwerk

5/5

Undoubtedly Kraftwerk didn’t deliberately set out to be the blueprint of all electronic pop to come when they made this album but blueprint and influence it became. Kometenmelodie 2 has clear echoes forwards into much of UK synth pop of the late seventies/ early eighties, while I can envision Bowie and Eno absorbing Mitternacht and coming up with sides 2 of Low and Heroes. And that’s without citing the 22 minutes of glorious Autobahn itself. What’s incredible is that on this re-listen it all still sounds fresh and modern. It has a deserved place on this 1001 list as it does on many others.

Melodrama

Lorde

2/5

Bland, samey all the way through, sterile production. Not sure what qualities merited this album’s inclusion on this list.

Band On The Run

Paul McCartney and Wings

4/5

The best Wings album at least in terms of studio albums.

Pink Flag

Wire

3/5

I prefer the Chairs Missing and Map Reference albums but this pointed the way to those combining high energy punk thrash with proto post punk touches (like on Pink Flag track). Not sure why this album qualifies for the list compared to what they did following on IMO.

Countdown To Ecstasy

Steely Dan

3/5

To my ears this is sophisticated yacht-rock with jazz tinges. Nothing outstanding but neither nothing terrible; just smooth. I think they do better later with Aja, Pretzel Logic etc.

Automatic For The People

R.E.M.

5/5

I pretty much love all of REM’s albums since first hearing their Document album (and then working back) but Automatic For The People is the pinnacle of their output in my opinion. Drive, Man on the Moon and Nightswimmimg are particular favourites, but Ignoreland is up there too.

American Beauty

Grateful Dead

4/5

American Beauty with Workingman’s Dead marked the move of the band from psychedelic roots rock to a more folk/country approach. I find they almost have to be listened to together and both are as strong as each other. American Beauty has great pedal steel and vocal harmonies.

Music for the Masses

Depeche Mode

4/5

This album continued the maturing of Depeche Mode’s writing toward darker themes and a maturing of their synth driven sounds compared to Speak and Spell. Good record.

Deloused in the Comatorium

The Mars Volta

1/5

Rubber Soul

Beatles

5/5

Aftermath

The Rolling Stones

4/5

Jagger/Richards maturing as songwriters continued with Aftermath and I think this album is the first with all their own songs and no covers. Highlights are Lady Jane, Under My Thumb.

Dummy

Portishead

5/5

Atmospheric, noir-ish soundscapes and tortured vocals accompanied by what became characterised as trip-hop beats. For me who loves music and sound design as textures this was a great album.

Marquee Moon

Television

3/5

A keystone album during the first punk period but not really a punk album in my opinion. Has great moments on it.

Two Dancers

Wild Beasts

2/5

Hounds Of Love

Kate Bush

4/5

I like lots of this but then I tire a bit of Kate’s vocals. Instrument and arrangements though are excellent.

Lost Souls

Doves

4/5

First album for these guys as Doves although they’d released some earlier stuff under a different name. Soaring arrangements and soulful vocals. Excellent as is the second album.

Jazz Samba

Stan Getz

4/5

This is delightfully quiet yet dancy jazz. Easy on the ear but swings.

Faust IV

Faust

3/5

Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

The Flaming Lips

2/5

Axis: Bold As Love

Jimi Hendrix

4/5

If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears

The Mamas & The Papas

4/5

Club Classics Vol. One

Soul II Soul

3/5

Arc Of A Diver

Steve Winwood

4/5

Highway 61 Revisited

Bob Dylan

4/5

Abraxas

Santana

3/5

Bat Out Of Hell

Meat Loaf

1/5

Never liked this. Over produced, overwrought, just too … Another one which I feel shouldn’t be on lists like this.

Dire Straits

4/5

Great debut album from a band who seemed to appear from nowhere fully formed sonically. Sultans is obviously the most well known but other tracks on the album are equally as good.

Pacific Ocean Blue

Dennis Wilson

2/5

Ok but felt a bit derivative of all he’d ever done with the Beach Boys.

Back At The Chicken Shack

Jimmy Smith

5/5

Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1

George Michael

5/5

Sign 'O' The Times

Prince

4/5

Peak Prince. Mostly awesome.

Antichrist Superstar

Marilyn Manson

1/5

Nope. Industrial wannabe stuff which Reznor’s Nine Inch Nails does so much better.

Highway to Hell

AC/DC

3/5

Ok. Great title track single, rest of it I can take or leave as I can with most of their output.

good kid, m.A.A.d city

Kendrick Lamar

1/5

Nope.

KE*A*H** (Psalm 69)

Ministry

1/5

Nope.

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

The Smashing Pumpkins

4/5

Another album that is perhaps not really great across its whole double album length but it’s high moments are very good.

Killing Joke

3/5

Good post punk.

We Are Family

Sister Sledge

4/5

First rate soul and disco.

Peter Gabriel

4/5

Gabriel embraces his commercial side (which was always lurking) but still enough of his trademark sonic sensibilities to keep things interesting. Consistently good with some outstanding tracks and ace vocal collaborations with Kate Bush and Laurie Anderson. Is the production too Eighties? Can agree a bit in hindsight but would argue that So in part defined the sound of mid- to late Eighties records which makes it hard to criticise in that way. BTW it’s only 4 stars for me since it’s not as good as Peter Gabriel 3.

Queen Of Denmark

John Grant

2/5

OK in places but really miserablist lyrics and pseudo-folk-americana-country soundscapes.

Different Class

Pulp

4/5

The Good, The Bad & The Queen

3/5

Take Me Apart

Kelela

2/5

Joan Armatrading

4/5

Green

R.E.M.

4/5

Tellin’ Stories

The Charlatans

4/5

Truth

Jeff Beck

5/5

Hard Again

Muddy Waters

5/5

Ambient 1/Music For Airports

Brian Eno

5/5

It's Blitz!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

3/5

Harvest

Neil Young

4/5

The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady

Charles Mingus

3/5

A bit too chaotic for me. I like a lot of jazz but tend more towards the melodic.

Hunky Dory

David Bowie

5/5

Tidal

Fiona Apple

3/5

London Calling

The Clash

4/5

The Next Day

David Bowie

3/5

Another Music In A Different Kitchen

Buzzcocks

4/5

Fragile

Yes

3/5

Physical Graffiti

Led Zeppelin

4/5

Raising Hell

Run-D.M.C.

3/5

Trans Europe Express

Kraftwerk

5/5

Surf's Up

The Beach Boys

3/5

Talking Book

Stevie Wonder

5/5

Led Zeppelin

4/5

Smokers Delight

Nightmares On Wax

1/5

She's So Unusual

Cyndi Lauper

3/5

All Hail the Queen

Queen Latifah

3/5

Back In Black

AC/DC

3/5

No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)

Motörhead

5/5

Slipknot

1/5

Chirping Crickets

Buddy Holly & The Crickets

4/5

I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight

Richard Thompson

5/5

Mermaid Avenue

Billy Bragg

4/5

Goodbye And Hello

Tim Buckley

4/5

The Dark Side Of The Moon

Pink Floyd

4/5

Central Reservation

Beth Orton

4/5

Blonde On Blonde

Bob Dylan

4/5

Are You Experienced

Jimi Hendrix

4/5

Kid A

Radiohead

5/5

Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman

John Zorn

2/5

Roxy Music

4/5

Moon Safari

Air

4/5

Sex Packets

Digital Underground

1/5

Fishscale

Ghostface Killah

1/5

Channel Orange

Frank Ocean

1/5

The Band

4/5

Hysteria

Def Leppard

3/5

São Paulo Confessions

Suba

3/5

Bringing It All Back Home

Bob Dylan

4/5

Chore of Enchantment

Giant Sand

2/5

Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle

Bill Callahan

2/5

Fear Of Music

Talking Heads

4/5

Django Django

3/5

Sort of a sub-par copy of ‘Here Come The Warm Jets’ era Brian Eno. Interesting on occasion but mostly not (unlike Eno).

Movies

Holger Czukay

4/5

The Velvet Underground

4/5

The Chronic

Dr. Dre

1/5

Billion Dollar Babies

Alice Cooper

3/5

Rising Above Bedlam

Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart

3/5

Imagine

John Lennon

3/5

IMO. Not as great as some people make out.

S&M

Metallica

3/5

Vol. 4

Black Sabbath

4/5

Pretzel Logic

Steely Dan

4/5

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

Arctic Monkeys

3/5

Sound of Silver

LCD Soundsystem

3/5

Truth And Soul

Fishbone

3/5

Madman Across The Water

Elton John

4/5

Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde

The Pharcyde

1/5

Junkyard

The Birthday Party

3/5

Hotel California

Eagles

4/5

Sounds a bit dated nowadays, very 70s production which does feel old (unlike, strangely, Rumours which came out in the same year). There are classic songs to be sure: title track and Last Resort being my favourites.

Bryter Layter

Nick Drake

4/5

Who Killed...... The Zutons?

The Zutons

3/5

Scum

Napalm Death

1/5

The Slim Shady LP

Eminem

2/5

Doggystyle

Snoop Dogg

1/5

Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

3/5

Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols

Sex Pistols

4/5

Adele

3/5

Teenager Of The Year

Frank Black

3/5

First Band On The Moon

The Cardigans

4/5

Funeral

Arcade Fire

5/5

Here's Little Richard

Little Richard

4/5

Franz Ferdinand

3/5

The Wildest!

Louis Prima

4/5

Blue Lines

Massive Attack

5/5

Rain Dogs

Tom Waits

3/5

Tago Mago

Can

4/5

Back To Black

Amy Winehouse

4/5

It’s good but being possibly sacrilegious I actually like the first album better - just.

Porcupine

Echo And The Bunnymen

4/5

I think this struggled in the shadow of being the follow up to Heaven Up Here. And it’s true being good not great.

Every Picture Tells A Story

Rod Stewart

4/5

Astral Weeks

Van Morrison

4/5

Deja Vu

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

4/5

High Violet

The National

3/5

Ok but mines the same sound as Bon Iver and Volcano Choir etc.. Although if I’d heard The National first I’d have probably said same about Bon Iver etc on hearing. LOL

Group Sex

Circle Jerks

2/5

Murmur

R.E.M.

5/5

Red Headed Stranger

Willie Nelson

4/5

Mask

Bauhaus

4/5