318
Albums Rated
3.55
Average Rating
29%
Complete
771 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1960
Favorite Decade
Jazz
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
57
5-Star Albums
3
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
|
5 | 2.29 | +2.71 |
|
Live / Dead
Grateful Dead
|
5 | 2.81 | +2.19 |
|
D.O.A. the Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle
Throbbing Gristle
|
4 | 1.88 | +2.12 |
|
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Animal Collective
|
5 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
|
Kimono My House
Sparks
|
5 | 3.06 | +1.94 |
|
Here Come The Warm Jets
Brian Eno
|
5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
|
The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
|
5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
|
The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell
|
5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
|
Hejira
Joni Mitchell
|
5 | 3.14 | +1.86 |
|
Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Spiritualized
|
5 | 3.15 | +1.85 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Back In Black
AC/DC
|
1 | 3.85 | -2.85 |
|
If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
|
1 | 3.33 | -2.33 |
|
Good Old Boys
Randy Newman
|
1 | 2.85 | -1.85 |
|
Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
|
2 | 3.72 | -1.72 |
|
Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
|
2 | 3.63 | -1.63 |
|
Madman Across The Water
Elton John
|
2 | 3.59 | -1.59 |
|
Gorillaz
Gorillaz
|
2 | 3.53 | -1.53 |
|
Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
|
2 | 3.51 | -1.51 |
|
Odelay
Beck
|
2 | 3.46 | -1.46 |
|
Guero
Beck
|
2 | 3.45 | -1.45 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| David Bowie | 6 | 4.83 |
| Beatles | 4 | 4.5 |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | 5 |
| Radiohead | 2 | 5 |
| Talking Heads | 2 | 5 |
| Joni Mitchell | 2 | 5 |
| Björk | 2 | 5 |
| Neil Young | 2 | 5 |
| The Smiths | 2 | 5 |
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Beach Boys | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Randy Newman | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (57)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Shuggie Otis · 6 likes
4/5
After much deliberation and a continully enjoyable few listens i’m giving this one a 4, I’d have welcomed a little more psych in the mix but i find the whole thing very nice to listen to.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
David Bowie · 2 likes
5/5
5 black stars
George Harrison · 1 likes
5/5
Fine, I admit it… This is the best solo Beatles album and yes, it is 5*, all 2 bloody hours of it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Silver Jews · 1 likes
4/5
Silver Jews - Bright Flight
Very much my cup of tea, and a new album for me from a band I already enjoy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
New Order · 1 likes
5/5
There is a real chance this is my favourite New Order record, but honestly I think it’s just whichever of this and Power that I’m listening to at the time haha
1-Star Albums (3)
All Ratings
Rush
3/5
Day 1: Rush - Moving Pictures
I like proggy music (prog-metal especially) but am seriously lacking in prog rock education. This is my first Rush album and my first album of the 1001 project (hi everyone).
I think I said “fuck yeah” out loud 2-3 times, mostly from the guitar playing, which I really enjoyed. I also loved the drum sound throughout and the production generally sat well with me.
However, the tracks did not always keep my attention and I only liked about half of what the vocalist was doing.
I can see why people rave about Rush and I think if I spun this a few more times I might enjoy it more. I certainly enjoyed moments, but I don’t think I “get” it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Ratings reflect how much I enjoyed any album, not how “good” I think it might be, though that’s another conversation altogether)
Ray Charles
4/5
My first full album from Ray. I enjoy the bombastic first half and the slower second half equally, and both conjur vivid moods.
I can imagine reaching for this quite regularly.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/5
It only took 3 days for me to pull one of my pre-existing favourite albums!
I was a late bloomer with The Beatles, finally getting on board in my early to mid twenties, much to the frustration of close friends who got it from the outset. I remember singing When I’m 64 at school in assembly for Christ’s sake (I went to a CofE primary)!
My first experience of love with the band came either through equally holy, or perhaps sinfully depending on your view, means with a very good acid trip.
Me and my housemate of the time took the plunge accidentally by watching the Yellow Submarine film on half a tab (he also was yet to be converted to Beatlemania). The film, to us, at that time, was mind blowing, and we followed it up by spinning Sgt. Peppers.
The rest is history.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Eagles
3/5
First Eagles album, already enjoyed the title track and listening to this through twice gave me 2/3 more tracks I enjoyed. I did find a few too many of the tracks a little uninspiring though.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nick Drake
5/5
I love all 3 of Nick Drake’s albums, perhaps I love Pink Moon the most but perhaps that’s Five Leaves Left… There seems to be some kind of wisdom in here which belies his youth. I particularly enjoy the blend of folk styles and the expressive guitar playing. His voice and vocal phrasing is instantly recognisable and whilst some of these songs are very melancholic I find the whole effect to be a balm.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
George Harrison
5/5
Fine, I admit it… This is the best solo Beatles album and yes, it is 5*, all 2 bloody hours of it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thundercat
3/5
If Thundercat is this good at bass but still writes songs about playing Mortal Kombat, boy would I love to see him playing Mortal Kombat.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Calexico
3/5
Day 7 gives me my first new artist! This one is hard to rate after 2-3 listens through. I think if i spend some more time with it it may become a 4 but atm its a strong 3.
I adore Not Even Stevie Nicks…
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Elvis Presley
2/5
I like some of this, and can hear how it’s permeated some of my favourite music. I’m not fussed on a fair bit of it though and i’m yet to properly learn about Elvis and his cultural impact, as well as the more modern discussion of Elvis as either a representative of a deeply racist system or/and a bridge between musical cultures.
This would be a light 3, but I deduct 1 for these not being his own songs.
⭐️⭐️
Shuggie Otis
4/5
After much deliberation and a continully enjoyable few listens i’m giving this one a 4, I’d have welcomed a little more psych in the mix but i find the whole thing very nice to listen to.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
King Crimson
4/5
I’ve been meaning to listen to this for some time and it didn’t disappoint. Some great playing by Fripp and co. and a nice ratio of proggyness and tunefulness for me. Not quite a stand out like some of their records though, a strong 4.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
I don’t listen to a lot of bossa and can’t imagine reaching for this very often. That being said this was an enjoyable listen and I especially liked the production which I assume is a little different from a lot of bossa.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Moby
3/5
I loved some of this, I liked some of this, and I didn’t care about some of this. A very solid 3 for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Beatles
3/5
Only 13 albums in and here is my 2nd Beatles record! This is not my Beatles, but it’s pretty enjoyable with a couple of strong Lennon/McCartney compositions and, dare I say, a very enjoyable cover of Please Mister Postman. I don’t listen to this one often and I can’t see that changing, but it’s a fun record.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
fIREHOSE
4/5
There is lots of cool stuff going on here that I really enjoyed. I like my indie rock to cover a fair bit of ground stylistically and I feel fIREHOSE do that well. I’d not previously heard of this project and based on other reviews I’m in for a treat if there are any Minutemen records on the list.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thin Lizzy
3/5
Okay I enjoyed this more than I expected, some really fun moments and I dig the guitar leads… I still didn’t enjoy a fair bit of it though and it’s definitely not my genre. Might keep a couple of the tracks and check out some of their studio work. Lightest 3.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stevie Wonder
4/5
I prefer the faster tracks but the slower ones might grow on me. Lovely record with plenty of melodic surprises and nice grooves. Solid 4.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
David Bowie
5/5
5 black stars
Pink Floyd
5/5
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Already an all time favourite but it’s been a little while since I listened to it in full. Just shut my eyes and laid down with good headphones on and oh boy is this thing stunning. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ZZ Top
3/5
It’s hard to dislike any of this but it’s not my cup of tea, likeable enough that I did get some fun out of it, just bluesy enough to not fall into the hole of hard-rock for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Soft Machine
4/5
File this under: have been meaning to listen to for years. Really loved this, only the first track feeling a bit less interesting than the rest kept it from being a 5. Note to self: check out Canterbury scene properly.
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Not sure how i’d never heard of this dude before as i knew a fww of the tracks. Strong 3 could be a 4 if i spend some more time with it.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Loved this when i was 15/16, strange hearing it again for the first time since the allegations against Win a couple of years ago.
The music is great, grand, and anthemic.
Not close to Funeral imo, not quite Reflektor, but slightly surpasses Neon Bible (don’t make me think about their last two albums)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tracy Chapman
4/5
Tracy Chapman - S/T
A light 4 for me, took a couple of listens for the fairly subtle arrangements to grab me but there’s something undeniable about the songwriting here.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Silver Jews
4/5
Silver Jews - Bright Flight
Very much my cup of tea, and a new album for me from a band I already enjoy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shivkumar Sharma
4/5
Shivkumar Sharma - Call of the Valley
Great, this is one of the reasons i’m doing this project: to hear things I might never hear otherwise. Have had this on all day, sometimes in the foreground, sometimes in tbe background, it’s been a good day!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
David Bowie
5/5
Another Bowie, another 5.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
The Divine Comedy - A Short Album About Love
I’m ending up as a high 3 on this after a couple of listens. It made me laugh a few times (in a good way) but I also rolled my eyes a couple of times. I find the orchestration hit and miss, when it sounds like Bacharach I love it, when it gets too bombastic it tips the whole thing over the edge for me.
Anyone got any other albums by this band they recommend?
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Beach Boys
4/5
Beach Boys - The Beach Boys Today
A transitional album of which I enjoy the second half more than the first (i typically enjoy 66-71 beach boys best) but enjoy it all less than the best of what came before and after.
Low 4 for me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Kinks
5/5
One that’s been on my periphery for years. Took 3 listens to decide on a lower 5 rather than a high 4 - absolutely loved listening to this all day.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
If i spent more time with this I could see it creeping up to a low 4, some really interesting things going on and generally up my street.
After one listen though i find it a bit too disjointed and there are 3-4 tracks that don’t do much for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Buck Owens
2/5
Buck Owens - I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail
Just not for me, not bad by any means but a reminded to myself that i like modern country-ish music, not actual country music.
⭐️⭐️
Pretenders
4/5
Pretenders - S/T
It’s going to be a 4 from me after years without listening to a record I used to enjoy a lot. A very welcome reintroduction.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Prince
4/5
Going with my gut after only one listen, will be giving this some more time I’m sure ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Flying Burrito Brothers
3/5
Still too country for me but approaching the sweet spot of country-ish.
The Pharcyde
4/5
I love the boom bap beats here and the jazzy stuff is well up my street - this has clearly had a big influence on jazz rap and abstract hip hop that i enjoy from the 2010s onwards. Shame that some of the lyrics put me off (Oh Shit especially) but a super fun record.
Public Enemy
4/5
Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet
This definitely needs more than the one full listen i’ve given it but it’s great ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dirty Projectors
4/5
Unsure how I missed this back in 2009 as it’s well up ny street and very in keeping with the indie I was loving at that time.
Sad to see such low ratings for what i thought was an interesting and quite lovely record.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
I get it, and I think it’s great, but I don’t quite love it - a v high 4.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Fiona Apple - Tidal
Probably a light to medium 4, already a fan of hers and I like all of this but I could go for a couple more tunes as good as Carrion to make me surer of my rating (Idler Wheel and When the Prawn are both more consistent albums for me).
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Janis Joplin
3/5
I thought i’d like this more than I did, and I totally get why people adore it, but it’s not quite my thing!
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
Have never heard of this artist and didn’t realise who Ry Cooder was but damn this was a treat.
Pere Ubu
3/5
Probably quite influential on stuff i love (various post punk and art rock) but a bit too severe and sparse for me on one listen (is this no wave?) Could grow to a 4.
Ray Charles
3/5
I didn’t enjoy this as much as The Genius of Ray Charles. A bit long for me and genres I don’t get as much from.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Rufust Wainwright - Want One
Gave Want Two a 3 and this gets a 3 too, but a slightly different, better 3.
Surprised both of these made the list and surprised to pull them both in my first 50.
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
How have I never heard this?!
Too violent for me in places but undeniable beats and verses and when I let go and vibe with it I love it so much.
I’d rather just listen to Coldplay…
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Yeah this is great and I’ll definitely be returning.
Duke Ellington
4/5
I love this. It’s a bit long for me but I appreciate having the complete show here.
The Pretty Things
4/5
Sadly had to listen to this over two sittings, but that told me enough to know that this requires repeated listens and could become a favourite. Lost gem? Exactly why I’m doing this project!
Dire Straits
3/5
A lot to enjoy here, just not quite my cup of tea.
Beatles
5/5
A joy to experience.
Rod Stewart
2/5
Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells a Story
I like a couple of tracks here but i’m not a fan of his voice or his personality on this record.
⭐️⭐️
David Bowie
5/5
I expected to give it a 4, but listening this morning I just found myself enjoying it too much for that. In my mind it was a 4 but in my heart it turns out to be a 5. I have a suspicion that it is because this is the first new Bowie album I heard as a fan, which can often bias me positively. Listening back this morning after a few years was really special.
Gorillaz
2/5
I still don’t get it…
The Beach Boys
4/5
One of my favourite Beach Boys records and a VERY strong 4.
Norah Jones
3/5
Had a lovely rest listening to this and can see myself using it for that again.
Queen
3/5
Confirms Queen are not for me, some fun to be had hear though and some spots of excellent production.
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me, made me want to watch the film, which i think i will!
Loved the psych flavours melding with the more traditional indian instruments
A lot lost on me through not understanding most of the lyrics which meant it never fully resonated but a cool record
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
High 4, absolutely loved this, definitely a fan of this band after previously only hearing I’m a Cuckoo (on The Gloaming)
Eels
4/5
Loved the first half, weaker second half but v up my street overall.
R.E.M.
4/5
Forever grateful to my friend Richard informing me that early REM is as good as or superior to middle REM!
The Clash
4/5
I’m not a big punk fan but this brings back memories as it was one of the first records I got into in my teens when I was stealing my Dad’s CD collection for the first time. A bit inconsistent but the tunes are there.
Radiohead
5/5
A fantastic album that blew my mind and was my favourite Radiohead for some time, second to In Rainbows now but not by much.
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
The first half of blues tracks is not my thing but the jam tracks at the end are exquisite
The Human League
3/5
Yet to find a synthpop record i love. It’s good, just not my cup of tea.
David Crosby
4/5
Very much up mybstreet, my kind of slightly psychedelic folk
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
Relentless fum, tickles the same part of my brain as good trance.
Boston
3/5
Hard not to have fun listening to this but a weaker second half and generally not my thing.
Gang Starr
4/5
My kind of hip hop, clerly influential on other things i love.
Robert Wyatt
3/5
Needs more listens, something like a dream with a significant core but a strange incoherence on first listen.
The White Stripes
3/5
Enjoyable but not my genre, enjoy the stranger tracks.
Queen Latifah
3/5
Low 3 for me, second half and track 2 dented the score considerably.
Talking Heads
5/5
A less known to me album by a band i love and… i love it. The bass work on this is especially inspiring and whilst it lacks outright tunes (apart from perhaps the Al Green cover) every track is great.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Properly strsnge psychedelia with a soul ending. A bit incoherent for me (or at least i couldn’t keep up with it) but some fantastic sounds and plenty of ideas.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Doesn’t quite reach the heights of IV for me but it’s damn good rock
Christine and the Queens
3/5
A high 3 for me, love the production style, first half is bangers then it drops off a bit
Morrissey
3/5
A very high 3 somewhat affected by his repugnance.
Fatboy Slim
2/5
I like the hits but it sounds dated and kind of annoying in anything but a small dose.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Yeah it’s great, doesn’t quite take me away enough for a 5.
The Shamen
2/5
Some of the instrumentals are very up my street but the vocals frequently ruin the vibe, a kind of low 2…
The Beach Boys
5/5
RIP Brian Wilson
The Strokes
5/5
Exactly as good as I remember it being.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
I can see why people love this so much and a like a lot of it but it’s not quite for me.
The Undertones
2/5
Not for me, a high 2 because it has clearly influenced a lot of music I love but I just found it boring, especially the vocals.
Rush
2/5
Didn’t keep me engaged but did enjoy moments of this, the lyrics and influence of Rand are off putting.
Oasis
3/5
My first full Oasis album, something I’ve been avoiding my whole life. Actually pretty solid and could be a 4 if Liam’s voice and personality didn’t grate on me quite so much.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
2/5
I like the chill bits, I hate the fun lovin’ criminal bits.
The Stone Roses
5/5
I love this record as much as I did when I was 16, the bass and guitars especially. Probably helped get me into indie music.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
What to say? The record that got me into hip hop about 15 years ago (thanks Ben).
Pink Floyd
5/5
Have had some of my favourite listening experiences over the years to this record, I love it.
Brian Eno
4/5
A high 4 for me, i prefer both Eno’s poppier tunes w Roxy Music and his more experimental stuff with Fripp and especially his solo ambient oeuvre - this midpoint on Another Green World is frequently beautiful and sounds great but engages me less than his work either side
Iron Maiden
3/5
Enjoyed this when I was 15 and enjoy it today more than I expected to - lot’s of fun.
Cowboy Junkies
3/5
A solid 3 for me, i’m a big fan of slowcore music so the pacing and production is up my street - that being said nothing grabs me enough to take it higher than a 3, i’ll be checking out their other work though
Randy Newman
2/5
Doesn’t do much for me at all, though I can see the appeal.
Animal Collective
5/5
I’m going with my guy here after 3 full listens having saved this one for years, it’s probably a 5.
Bob Dylan
4/5
This list is proving a Dylan education and I’m enjoying it, a high 4 this one that could even rise with more time and listens, just says a bit 2/3 through.
Machito
4/5
Big fan of this having never heard Afro Cuban jazz before, to my knowledge anyway. Lively!
Morrissey
4/5
No denying it, I really like some of his solo stuff.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Loved this LP, a high 4 for me, the rap style isn’t quite to my taste which keeps it from a 5, the mix of rap, hardcore punk and jazzy jams is -chef’s kiss-
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Its a high 3 for me, Maps nearly made it a 4 but the glam stomp it has throughout is not quite my thing - love the poppier and dancier tracks which makes sense as Its Blitz! is a 4 for me
Pere Ubu
4/5
This band must have been very fun to be in, edges the debut slightly as I prefer my post punk a little more melodic
Mike Oldfield
3/5
Its a high 3 from me, i love so many elements but frequently one part will come in over the top and really ruin it for me, i prefer side 2 as it sounds like music from a high fantasy medieval RPG game from the 80s
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
Prefer much of their later work but this is great, has a chill vibe, funny, a high 3 could move to a low 4 with repeat listens
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3/5
A low 3 for me, not my style but prettt enjoyable.
3/5
Love the bass, too much strings for me, solid 3
Kate Bush
5/5
Just wonderful.
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
Some of the first basslines i learned, two weaker tracks but otherwise perfect, a classic.
Ice Cube
4/5
Dropped off a bit 2/3 throigh but otherwise all of this is great. Hard, fun, heavy.
Simple Minds
4/5
Love the bass lines on this thing, some of the more abstract soundscapes don’t land for me and the album is weaker for them (though I enjoy them in an of themselves) but damn when this thing is good it’s good (see Glittering Prize)
3/5
A weak to solid 3 for me with nostalgia doing some heavy lifting especially in the mid-section where it saggs awfully
Stereolab
4/5
Solid 4, really cool, need more listens
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Maybe I’ve been spoiled by Juju or this is too punk and not enough post punk for me because of the timing, great debut though, a high 3
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Its a solid to high 4 for me, could have been higher if it covered a bit more ground
I find it a bit one note, even though i do enjoy the one very well done note
The Coral
3/5
The Coral get the lowest 3 from me, pipped above the highest 2 because some of the psych influenced tracks are great.
Tom Tom Club
3/5
Almost a 4 for me and could rise with more listens, enjoyed the meandering mid section more than the admittedly iconic singles.
James Taylor
3/5
A low 3 from me, i like the vibe and on the right day i could really enjoy this but no real highlights
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
They can do something i absolutely love (someone great, all my friends, new york i love you) but most often do something i can’t love (high quality dance punk)
I toyed with a low 5 because these three songs are incredible and someone great and new york might be two of the best tracks i’ve ever heard in indie, but i’m landing on a high 4 because the dance punk never quite fully engages me
Steely Dan
3/5
Pretzel Logic doesn’t do much for me but the production is great and the musicianship is impressive and carries it along nicely, solid 3 for me
Donovan
4/5
A very low 4 for me, i’m a big donovan fan and have been for 15 or so years but he really doesn’t have any amazing albums, this is one of his great ones but he is a rare artist i prefer to listen to via compilation,
Nirvana
5/5
Classic
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
Been a while since I listened to this, just as enjoyable as it always has been.
Black Sabbath
4/5
A great introduction to Black Sabbath for me today, I spent the day listening to their first 5 records and loved each one. RIP Ozzy.
Nightmares On Wax
3/5
The clue is in the name of today’s album, this is for chilling out. Not great for a cycle to work, not great for actually getting work done, but a solid 3 raising to a 4 with the right circumstances
The Who
3/5
High 3 for me today, never listened to The Who, this has whetted my appetite for a couple of full studio LPs which i’m sure we’ll get (Tommy, Quadrophenia)
Finley Quaye
3/5
Surprisingly solid to high 3, never heard of this but nice for a chilled Saturday
David Bowie
5/5
Another Bowie, another 5.
Guns N' Roses
2/5
It might have been a 1 if i hadn’t seen Wild at Heart yesterday
Sparks
5/5
Absolutely loved this, all the best bits of early Roxy Music stretched into full songs. Will be listening to more of Sparks!
The Beta Band
3/5
Today is a solid 3 for me, i love elements of it that remind me of Doves and Elbow and i think Godrich did a good job on the mixing save! It sags quite a bit in parts though and half the tracks felt noticibly weaker - i will check out some more of their stuff
Peter Frampton
3/5
A low 3 for me, not my cuppa but the sweet sections and the joyous jamming won me over
Elliott Smith
4/5
High 4 could rise with more listens.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
Solid 3 for me, wish there were more originals on it as the one original (Boulder to Birmingham) is excellent. The Beatles cover is intriguing.
Wire
4/5
Its a high 4 for me, would be a low 5 but it retains a little too much punk for my tastes
Radiohead
5/5
I mean it’s incredible.
Stan Getz
3/5
Solid to high 3 for me, especially enjoy the guitar sections. Good for lounging.
Spiritualized
5/5
Yeah I love this record, what a trip!
Skepta
3/5
Grime is still yet to hit me properly like some rap and hip hop but this is fun and the vibe is good.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Settling on a low 4, was going to reduce down to 3 as all covers and standards but can’t quite as it’s a great record with plenty of definitive versions on it.
The Go-Go's
4/5
Solid 4 and a great find!
4/5
Odd listening experience, about 6 of the songs make a beautiful cohesive psych folk record that i love, but the 6 blusier rocky tracks really disrupt the flow and overall affect for me, still just about levels out as a v low 4
Run-D.M.C.
2/5
I actually found this really boring :(
Joni Mitchell
5/5
The lowest of Joni’s 5s for me but I’m a huge fan.
Hot Chip
3/5
Does some 2010s indie stuff I love but a lot I’m not particularly engaged with
3/5
Lovely production and some decent tunes but still a bit annoying - low to solid 3
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
A high 3 to me, loved the soloing and the jammy tracks, but didnt enjoy everything on offer
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Gives me more than Led Zeppelin I and less than IV, excited to get back to III and the rest through this list
Roxy Music
4/5
Love this but not quite as much as s/t, for your pleasure, or avalon.
Paul Simon
5/5
I adore this album, perhaps only bettered in his discography by Graceland.
Queen
3/5
Low 3, enjoyed the first side a lot but the fantasy stuff lost me a bit on side two.
Slade
2/5
Almost my first one star but some of it was pretty decent, some of the bass and some of the riffs - lots of it not for me though
Björk
5/5
🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵
Foo Fighters
3/5
Giving Foo Fighters a solid 3, will keep three of these songs and it was all pretty good but nothing special
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
Solid 3 for me, the zopf movements do a lot less for me than the other tracks, the 11 minute track towards the end is especially great, a bit crazy that this is from 1976
The Jam
3/5
Really enjoyed The Jam today, didn’t expect to! High 3 almost a 4 for me!
Beck
2/5
This album is all over the place in a way I don’t particularly like, it’s doing loads of different things i don’t really like 🙃
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Kiwanuka is a low 4, it’s mostly wonderful but even so it feels too long and the final third is a bit sluggish for me
Queen
4/5
Solid 4 from me for Sheer Heart Attack - the pop bangers bang much harder than LP 1&2, the prog bits are more direct and effective, the camp humour comes through to better effect, the blend makes something completely unique (to my ears anyway) and the vocals and guitars are absolutely insistent the whole way through. Also the ballads are beautiful.
Bee Gees
3/5
Bee Gees gets a solid 3 from me, it sounded lovely throughout and a lot of it was very enjoyable, but unfortunately for me it lacks the constant interest and engagement needed for an hour long late sixties concept album, I can’t imagine ever listening to this again when I could stick on Sgt Peppers or Pet Sounds, sorry Bee Gees
The Police
3/5
Goes by nicely and some great instrumentation but i wish he wouldn’t do the voice
Grateful Dead
5/5
This is a solid collection that leans into the jam band element of them that is my fav part of the dead - low 5
New York Dolls
2/5
I just don’t like punk music, okay?
R.E.M.
5/5
One of many really good REM albums, I especially enjoy the mandolin. Grew on me so much so raised to a low 5!
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Lovely ride for my first Marley album.
Ryan Adams
2/5
It’s a high 2 from me, some lovely moments and much of it is unobjectionable but it overstayed its welcome for me by half
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Solid 3 for me on today’s CCR, after two albums I’m a minor fan I’d say
Louis Prima
3/5
This Louis Prima is grand, so much fun. Not typically my thing and won’t go back to it much I imagine but it’s getting a high 3 for being utterly delightful throughout
The Roots
4/5
Roots is getting a low 4 from me, love the energy and variety and basically everything on show but do find it a bit long and unfocused in parts
The KLF
3/5
Same for me, 50/50 on the vocals, enjoy the vibe and would like it as a wind down at or after a rave, which I think is the intended use, won’t be digging this out day to day though
Beck
2/5
Another high 2 for Beck for me, more coherent than Odelay but still not to my taste
The B-52's
3/5
B52s was a high 3 for me, novelty wore off towards the end but what a fun album
Jefferson Airplane
5/5
Giving Jefferson Airplane’s Surrealistic Pillow a low 5 today, I bloody love psychedelic rock and this album fills in a big gap for me in terms of its development and arrival, whilst also being mind-bending, rocking, and vibey - fav track was Today
Baaba Maal
3/5
Today is a low 3 for me, a lot of the playing and singing is fantastic, especially the bass work and guitar style which I absolutely love and reminds me of Zambian Kalindula which I listen to a lot of.
However, the production on this record frequently ruins the effect for me, the weird midi strings and synths are HORRIBLE and the overall production sound is very strange to me and clashes with the style of instrumentation.
Air
5/5
I think in the context of rating things on this list and re-engaging with the rating part of my brain, Moon Safari is up to a low 5
I’ve always held something back when considering this album but it’s quietly grown on me over the last decade and I love it more than ever
It’s not my perfect downtempo album but it’s a fantastic record, I think I was comparing it too much in my mind to the darker more emotional downtempo I particularly enjoy
X-Ray Spex
3/5
Unsurprisingly this album is too punk for me, the almost title track is easily my favourite and I love this direction but 2/3 of it doesn’t jump out from the punk crowd to my biased ears.
Some of the lyrics add interest for me, as does the sax and the band being fronted by a woman. Overall though still not in my wheelhouse, low 3 for me!
Love
5/5
Turns out i love psych
Portishead
5/5
Has grown into a low 5 for me over the years
Small Faces
3/5
You know what, this album didn’t annoy me at all, it was perfect for a strange nap, going solid 3 and will return sometime in case it’s weirdly my thing
Terence Trent D'Arby
2/5
Today’s album does very little for me, but isn’t bad as such, it’s getting some kind of 2 from me though
The Waterboys
4/5
It’s getting a 4 from me too, loved side A, side B not quite to my taste
The Pogues
1/5
My mum was in an Irish folk band throughout my childhood and this is reminding me way too much of evenings and holidays spent around strangers dancing to music I didn’t understand or like rarely with other children around to hang out with
Coldcut
3/5
Loved a lot of this and disliked some of it, going v high 3
Muddy Waters
4/5
Lowest 3, a bit repetitive but damn it’s that sound
Elton John
2/5
Does very little for me, nice production though and some good melodies
The Cure
5/5
A return to form for the list today, solid 5 with two of my favourite songs ever on in pictures of you and love song, Crawley’s very own
Elvis Presley
3/5
This is the Elvis record i’ll keep, pretty enjoyable, minus some points for not writing it, low 3
The Libertines
3/5
Enjoying Libertines more than I expected, feels like a solid 3 to me
Neil Young
5/5
Ungh!
Butthole Surfers
3/5
It’s gross and purile and groovy and weirdly psychedelic and i’m kind of into it tbh
Burning Spear
3/5
Burning Spear was a solid 3 for me too, I enjoy a bit of roots reggae but rarely love it
Electric Light Orchestra
2/5
So polished, so long, so boring.
Steve Winwood
2/5
Yeah a solid 2 for winwood from me , some nice smooth melodies in there but I can’t hack the synth and drum sounds, and it really takes me out of the music
The same tunes played by Blue Nile would really hit the spot for me
The La's
2/5
I wanted to like the Las more than I do, I really enjoyed the two main singles and didnt really enjoy anything else very much bar the final track, a high 2 for me
New Order
5/5
There is a real chance this is my favourite New Order record, but honestly I think it’s just whichever of this and Power that I’m listening to at the time haha
Björk
5/5
( Bjork has a whopping five 5s for me btw, with two of them being 10/10s (Vespertine and Homogenic) and three being 9/10s (Debut, Post, Vulnicara)
Maxwell
4/5
Maxwell getting a 4 from me and will definitely go into rotation, scratches a similar itch to Sade but a bit less sensual/deeply emotional and a bit more breezy/chill, deffo got a place for this - and the production is chef’s kiss
Kraftwerk
3/5
I’m surprised to not enjoy Kraftwerk more than I have, it’s my first of theirs - very cool sound and undoubtedly new, unique and progressive at the time. But to me the songs largely don’t go anywhere and do very little to move me. The mid section gets closest but the first two tracks didn’t engender me to the mood well enough at all. A solid but surprised 3/5 for me 🤖
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Really enjoyed Tusk, my first Fleetwood Mac album (I know, I know). Quite glad to have been removed from its context, for me it was a very solid double album that carries an Americana infused soft rock and slightly arty folk vibe which has definitely inspired some music I love (Angel Olsen, Alex G), solid 4 for me!
Justin Timberlake
2/5
JT gets a high 2 from me
I loved the 4 singles, some of the pop music I loved even in my early twenties which was rare and sounds just as good today. I only liked 2 of the album tracks, leaving 7 which passed me by or actually annoyed me.
This album is a great example of why I struggled to get into pop music in the 2000s and early 2010s, I’m firmly an album person and pop stars just weren’t delivering full albums of good music
Brian Eno
5/5
Ooft I’m absolutely adoring Here Come the Warm Jets, this is such a sweet spot for Eno for me, easily my favourite of his art rock albums and possibly superior to the first two Roxy Music LPs which I love. Been sleeping on this! Low 5! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gram Parsons
3/5
gram parsons a low 3 for me, enjoyed 2-3 of the tracks a fair bit but ultimately too straight up country for my tastes, lovely to hear an early emmylou though who sounds great duetting with gram
AC/DC
1/5
I hated every second of this except for some of the seconds during the title track, wow
Wilco
4/5
Wilco was a low to solid 4 for me too, it is a little long but mostly earns that. Turns out Wilco were a huge piece of the Alt-Country puzzle missing for me, I keep going on about loving Alt-Country with punk and emo tinges and it’s literally all here. I officially love Alt-country!
Elis Regina
3/5
Low to mid 3 for me, a bit long and doesn’t always engage me but lush production and I will be showing this to my partner to enjoy together, lovely vibe
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Bookends gets a solid to high 4 from me, I love the concept of side A, but love the singles on side B, unfortunately they don’t integrate into a satisfying enough full picture to push into the low 5s, not far off though
Scott Walker
4/5
Somehow reminds me of nick cave who I love, geordie greep and even father john misty
Great record, difficult to rate on one listen so I will return but I think it’ll be some kind of 4 for me fittingly
Aphex Twin
4/5
I’m a 4 for today, it’s the same at Autechre for me, I think it’s perfectly made and can’t find a single fault with it but it doesn’t quite move me
Aimee Mann
3/5
Going for a very low 3, Can’t quite give it a 2 as it feels well written and quite listenable, But nothing grabs me at all
Lauryn Hill
4/5
Lauryn Hill gets a solid 4, great record, love a lot of it, could even grow on me
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Just enough for a low 4 for me, was especially convinced by the 7 minute long jam
ABBA
3/5
enjoyed the ones I did enjoy enough to make it the lowest of 3s
Stevie Wonder
4/5
I am calling it a 4 as a placeholder, undeniably great but not entirely in my wheelhouse which is stopping it being a 5
Marianne Faithfull
2/5
Today is a high 2 for me, much of it passed me by but I like the production and the sound of her vocals.
Sam Cooke
3/5
Impossible not to enjoy today’s I’d imagine, honestly jolly music, high 3 for me
Mj Cole
3/5
Today’s album includes two of my favourite garage tracks if not two of my favourite dance tracks full stop, I have it on Cd and spin it occasionally but it’s a long record that doesn’t work in album format for me, 3/5
The Smiths
5/5
Every smiths LP is a 5, this is a lower one
The Verve
3/5
Urban Hymns is a high 3 for me so slightly better than expected, it mixes a few genres I’m fond of but unfortunately has a big dash too much of Brit pop for me, especially in the vocal delivery - I definitely prefer the more exploratory gazey tracks
Alice In Chains
3/5
This Alice in Chains album is punishing, absolutely the heaviest thing we’ve had so far
It’s a bit grungy for my tastes but the more metal elements appeal to me and the expression of the feelings and experiences on display are challenging but I think worthy of putting into song, and I think the brutal music does them justice
Not quite for me but happy to see some darker and heavier music on the list, going high 3
The Specials
4/5
Specials gets a 4 for me, a low one because a couple of the tracks suffer with some straight up sexist lyrics, but there are several iconic tunes here and it’s my favourite blend of ska
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Belle and Sebastian in with another 4 for me, a lower one than If You’re Feeling Sinister which may have risen to a low 5 for me, going to re-evaluate now
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
I can’t give it more than a 3 as I never intend to listen to it again, but I enjoyed it!
Van Morrison
5/5
One of my favourite records
The Doors
5/5
Yeah LA Woman is a low 5 for me (a 9/10), L’America doesn’t work for me, every other song is either great or fantastic for me
Gene Clark
4/5
Low 4 for me, very enjoyable, especially the second half, could grow on me more with time
The Specials
3/5
Unfortunately I don’t like this specials album anywhere near as much as their first, it’s a low 3 for me
Miles Davis
5/5
All the Davis albums I’ve listened to properly are 5s and I’m thinking this is no different, I like his fusion stuff less than I like his cool stuff but this thing is WILD
Elvis Presley
2/5
Another Elvis album that I enjoy two songs from and don’t mind the rest being on in the background, high 2/5
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
this album absolutely fell off a cliff on the B side, I couldn’t move for this band when I was a teenager so I know the A side really well, and I enjoy the instruments but detest his vocal affectation, lyrics and demeanor. I think frusciante is a great guitarist and flea certainly knows his way around the bass which I can never be angry at.
Overall ended up being a low 3 for me.
Joe Ely
2/5
A decent country album today, enjoyed the last track a lot but a lot of the rest simply passed me by as it’s not my thing, high 2 from me
Willie Nelson
3/5
It is, a solid 3 from me, nice narrative style and good sounds but never gripped me
David Bowie
4/5
A low 4 for me, which makes it mid table Bowie
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Not quite sure what I make of this manics album, my first time listening to them, it’s pretty interesting and a blend not quite like anything else I know - a low 4!
The Cars
3/5
Hard to rate today’s, I feel high 3 but it warrants another listen for sure, it’s pretty interesting especially for its time
3/5
It’s another high 3 from me
Blood, Sweat & Tears
3/5
Another high 3 for me today, a bit all over the place but I enjoyed all of it!
Faust
4/5
Yeah that was a solid to high 4 for me, will be returning to this one a lot - missed out on a 5 because I didn’t like the more silly elements - I like my psych strange but not quite silly!
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
This list is really hammering home for me that I love psychedelic music
Fairport Convention
4/5
A low 4 for me today, traditional English folk mixed with rock and a small touch of psych and prog, not quite the right blend for me, I prefer the folk elements in this record but it is lovely to hear English folk music feeling revitalised by some great players - I think I know the fiddle player’s (RIP) niece
Todd Rundgren
3/5
The Todd rudgren album was far too long but I do think if this was an artist like the Beatles who had credit in the bank with me I’d love it, but this guy doesn’t have any credit in the bank with me, so I find it a bit overlong and tedious in parts whilst also being full of melody and pop nous, with some cool experimental touches
It’s ending up a high 3 for me, and I don’t think we need a third Todd album on this list…
Frank Zappa
5/5
If it’s jazz fusion then it’s my favourite jazz fusion record
Tim Buckley
4/5
This could even grow on me with time but on first listen I already love it, perfect for an early morning cold and dark walk
Stephen Stills
3/5
Solid to high 3, great place to be. Young without the hits as my friends are saying.
Dr. Dre
3/5
Dre is getting a high 3 from me, the production is great, and the tunes are catchy. The subject matter loses me a bit hence the 3 rather than the 4 for my tastes.
I like the G-Funk sound but not as much as abstract hip hop and golden age boom bap.
ZZ Top
2/5
Put simply, this ZZ Top album is not for me. I find it plodding and uninspiring. I feel like in order to vibe with this you have to think it’s very COOL, and I don’t think it’s cool whatsoever. Sorry ZZ Top, great beards tho
Sebadoh
3/5
Feels too disparate to properly land but I really enjoy the bits that do land for me and there are just enough of them to make it a solid 3 for me
Faith No More
3/5
Faith No More are bonkers, I think the reasons I didn’t like this in parts are why some people love it, mainly the vocals. I do enjoy the range of instrumentation though and the art metal rock thing throughout but could really do without the rap rock sections, low 3
Nina Simone
5/5
I’m giving Wild is the Wind 5 ⭐️s, the opening track is misleading and the only track I don’t love, the rest of it plays with dynamics superbly both within songs and the wider structure and pacing of the album. It’s moved me close to tears both times I’ve listened to it, and the title track especially is astounding. This was a huge missing piece of vocal jazz for me, excited for more Nina.
Gillian Welch
4/5
Today is a solid 4 for me, I’ve never heard her before to my knowledge but Gillian Welch absolutely touches a part of me that only the best folk and Americana can
I don’t enjoy the straighter country tracks hence the 4, but the title track and a good 3/4 of the album got me very emotional
Nico
4/5
Another solid 4 from me, could possibly rise, I enjoy this more than the velvet album with her, I’m a huge fan of baroque folk instrumentation and unique voices (see Joanna newsom’s middle era material with van dyke parks) and I think this is an early example of that working really well
Mudhoney
3/5
Solid 3, not what I expected from early grunge, much more melodic and friendly
The Stooges
4/5
I was listening to an inferior version of this Iggy record for sure, this album is fierce and raw and the mix I had was not
Has upped it to a low 4 for me with the first two tracks standing out
Neil Young
5/5
Tonight is a low 5 for me, another set of equally sincere and cynical folk rock with fantastic and detailed arrangements and just melody for days, love driving to this album
The Cardigans
3/5
A solid 3 from me, I agree they have a distinctive sound and I enjoy much of it but not more than it just being decent to good
Talking Heads
5/5
Today’s Talking Heads record is my favourite of theirs and a solid 5, I think they do everything they do well here better than anywhere else and the whole product is consistently excellent
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
High 3 for me, will decide later, it’s undeniably great at what’s it’s doing but I can’t quite connect with it in my very sober adult state, maybe good locking in music so will take it for a jog at some point
In the immortal words of peep show “big beat is the best, get high all the time” - this must have sounded immense in clubs in the mid to late 90s
Taylor Swift
2/5
Yeah it’s a 2 for me for Evermore, I like when she leans into the indie folk with her vocals and really dislike it when she sings pop vocals over these tracks which she can’t seem to resist for long
The instrumentals and production is like the worst music by The National, who are one of my favourite bands, so is still strong but I’d rather have this instrumental or with Taylor fully committing rather than half committing.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Ragged Glory is a solid 4 for me, it’s really cool to hang out with Neil and the gang this way, the long form garage jams are rough, ready, and frequently exciting.
I feel some of his usual melody and songwriting talent is missing here and that’s a huge draw to his stuff for me, I’m not sure much of this material will really stay with me between listens but I think the focus on a rawer and more immediate live sound is something I’ll dip into a lot, great to hear this side of his work.
U2
3/5
Nothing wrong with this U2 album and quite a lot of good stuff, I like that is sounds a bit like early Echo and the Bunnymen. Bono is annoying and the lyrics are hit and miss for me but I can’t argue with the majority of the instrumental work. It gets a bit anthemic in parts for me, hinting at their later career and superstardom but this is a good alt rock album with lots of post punk DNA. Solid 3!
Alanis Morissette
3/5
Alanis is a solid 3 for me, I like quite a bit of it but it’s not quite my thing, would have been happy to hear this on the radio at the time though as she’s definitely doing something a bit edgier than the rest were at that time
David Gray
3/5
The David Gray album is a tough one to rate for me, I know way more of it than I expected, I like his voice, I like the production and occasionally the simple beauty of the songwriting hits me, but just as often it fades into the background a bit too easily… I think I’ll have to settle on a solid 3
Yes
4/5
It’s gonna be a low 4 for me and I’m excited for more Yes on the list
The Sonics
3/5
The Sonics get a solid 3 from me, it’s comparable to the earliest Beatles records and I think compares favourably, I like the edge they have. But ultimately they don’t have the original tunes I get from, say, The Monks around the same time which limits this to an enjoyably 3
Richard Hawley
4/5
Never stopped being lovely for me, maybe it’s caught me in the right mood at the right time of year but a tentative low 4 for me, certainly repetitive and could easily track as bland but to me right now it feels warm, emotive, and elegant - will be digging this out over the winter a fair bit I think and will check out his other work
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
It’s charming and neat and good fun, but to my tastes it’s a bit safe and formulaic (though I appreciate this probably helped create the formula!), low 3 for me
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
so I think LP1 is a low 5 for me and LP2 is a high 3, making the full double somewhere between a solid and high 4, that being said this could easily rise with repeated listens, which I will be doing
Ash
3/5
Ash gets a solid 3 from me, some of it really appeals to me but a lot of it is just decent to good
Leftfield
4/5
Leftism is getting a low 4 from me, great full length dance album that is progressive in its albumness and covers a lot of ground, some absolute tunes here that would sound great mixed into techno and trance sets to this day and the mix sounds amazing in headphones, very engaging
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Reasonably speaking this is all v high quality, I need more listens but I think it’s a v low 5 for me and his best that I’ve heard so far
Dwight Yoakam
3/5
Today’s album gets a low 3 from me, I actually quite like the honky tonk sound but there wasn’t much special about this record and some of it was not to my taste, I also agree with some of the other reviewers re: the lyrics
ABBA
2/5
So I am not a fan of the ABBA sound it turns out, when they’re not giving me undeniable hits I’m just not particularly interested and actually find their signature moves a little irritating, I appreciate the production values and some of the instrumental choices had me interested but overall this one was a solid 2 for me
John Coltrane
5/5
one of my favourite jazz records and an absolute solid gold 5, probably a 10/10 for me - the way Coltrane wrestles with the existential and the spiritual and religious across half an hour of tight and loose, chill and wild, always cohesive sounds is amazing to me, and the album is a pleasure to listen to
Songhoy Blues
4/5
Great african blues from Mali, a low to mid 4 for me, especially enjoy the high energy tracks, will check out more of their records and the docco film from the same time
Kraftwerk
3/5
This didn’t engage me enough and whilst it all sounded lush and for its time was pretty progressive it felt a bit flat to my ears.
Lightning Bolt
5/5
So I just listened to Lightning Bolt and it low key blew my mind, this is what I wanted Death From Above 1979 to sound like, this is what people who love Royal Blood think Royal Blood sounds like
This music suits my brain so well, low 5 and easily my favourite noise rock record I’ve ever heard, not sure how I’d missed it all these years
Johnny Cash
4/5
And this is getting a low IV from me. Some of it is stunning, esp the first two tracks. It gets my usual covers deduction and I don’t love all of it but it’s all strong.
Lucinda Williams
4/5
A low to solid 4 for me, and a missing piece of the alt-country puzzle for me!
New Order
4/5
Technique by New Order is getting a low 4 from me, I deep dived New Order a couple of years back having always loved PC&L, Technique has some fantastic moments, esp the first 2 and final 2 tracks, but it sags in the middle for me
Various Artists
3/5
That’s a nice upbeat Christmas record with some definitive version on, can’t argue, solid 3
Beatles
5/5
The first truly great Beatles album
UB40
3/5
Enjoyed this more than expected, esp the smoother vocals
Throbbing Gristle
4/5
I’m coming in with a solid 4 on this which might be controversial. I think some of it absolutely is music, and some of it is firmly in the sound art world, but for me it works extremely well as a package and was quite an experience as a listen. I can also hear its impact on various noise-adjacent bits I like a lot.
Jack White
4/5
I like without loving some White Stripes, and some Dead Weather, but Blunderbuss has instantly become my favourite Jack White project, solid 4
Ian Dury
2/5
So I didn’t hate all of this, some of it is quite fun/funky, but I hated enough of it that is has to be a 2…
Lenny Kravitz
2/5
Not much to say about this… competent but boring, a low 2
Tough to choose between high 2 and a low 3 for me, genuinely enjoyed a couple of tracks but disliked the stomping ones and often disliked the vocals, going to settle on a high 2
Beastie Boys
3/5
Licensed To Ill is not as good as our previous Beastie Boys record, I think this is less funny lyrically and less interesting musically, but bits of it really work for me, probably a low to mid 3
The Crusaders
4/5
Interesting how divisive this record is for people on the list, I’m really enjoying it. Yeah it actually got better and better as they went a bit experimental with it, solid 4/5
Deep Purple
3/5
Woah woah woah sweet child of time
The Smiths
5/5
My fav smiths album and one of my all time fav albums
Beth Orton
4/5
Beth Orton is going to need some more listens and I think warrants it. I’m tentatively going a low 4 as I think the songwriting is interesting and she hits upon some beautiful melancholy. It’s a little long and sags in places but I’m engaged and intrigues and want to get deeper into it, hence the tentative low 4.
Randy Newman
1/5
Yup, Randy is getting a 1 from me, only my 3rd in over 300 albums. This record irritated me, I didn’t like what he was going for lyric wise or music wise, I don’t understand the draw tbh.
The Afghan Whigs
4/5
Hits a nice alt rock grunge spot for me with touches that remind me of emo like Sunny Day Real Estate. I like that when they go for it they really go for it and it’s all very unashamedly emotional. A little to misanthropic in parts for me mind. Solid to high 4.
Coldplay
4/5
Weirdly I got back into this album in Nov-Dec, it’s a solid 4 for me, I remember all the words of all the songs so I must have been chaining this as a young teen when first getting into music. It doesn’t quite warrant a 5 for me as none of it is truly special but it sticks well and I have a very soft spot for this and their 2nd album.
Talvin Singh
4/5
Low 4 for me, impeccable production and some great fusion stuff, really interesting in parts if a tad overlong and lacking a banger or two
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I love I Need You and a couple of others, but the bulk of the album didn’t land with me so going low 3
Blondie
4/5
Parallel Lines by Blondie is a pleasant surprise, the hits are spot on and the rest of the album is really strong, low to solid 4 for me
Joni Mitchell
5/5
My favourite album by one of my favourite artists. Incredible basswork by Jaco, great narrative storytelling from Joni and just a record you can live and travel with for years.
The Adverts
3/5
Crossing the Red Sea with The Adverts is getting a high 3 from me. Some if it passed me by but a fair bit of it directly sounds like it’s had a big impact on some of my favourites, the rhythm section reminds me of echo and the bunnymen, and I like the overall vibe.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
My fav of the three we’ve had so far, light to solid 4 for me, I’m officially a CCR fan
The Temptations
4/5
Gosh what a lovely record, correct me if I’m wrong but they didn’t have a part in writing or arranging any of this?
With that in mind I’m going with a 4, if this was all their compositions it’d be a low 5 as it’s beautiful
Dolly Parton
3/5
Going solid 3 on Trio, nice to hear Dolly and Emmylou together, some nice tracks but nothing groundbreaking
Culture Club
3/5
Decent synth pop, not my genre, fun and a bit silly and also genuinely catchy in parts, low 3
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
What a great final track, if there were a couple more of those it’d be a 4 but overall it’s a solid 3 for me
William Orbit
3/5
Solid 3 for me, back cycling music but up my street for other contexts
The Beau Brummels
4/5
Some kind of 4 for me today, love the mix of the San fran psych folk sound and some Dylan to my ears
George Jones
2/5
Another solid country record for today, this one is too pure country for my tastes but is by no means poor quality, so I’m going with a high 2
David Bowie
5/5
I always think it’s a low 5 until i remember how much i love the instrumental pieces on the b side, so it’s actually a solid 5 for me
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
Yeah I surprisingly really enjoyed Drive-By Truckers, I hope we get more of them on the list because they definitely have a 4 in them, going high 3 for this one as it is a little long and doesn’t all land with me
It’s not my genre but they have real mastery over it. I like the characters, I like the guitar playing, and I think they’ve done something pretty solid conceptually here too. High 3.
The Kinks
4/5
Face to Face is definitely not as good as Village Preservation Society for me, it’s a low 4 still though, some delightful pop songs in here and will revisit just doesn’t grab me as much
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
This is a great record, I know more of it than I expected already which adds to the sense of Déjà vu, the title track is amazing and I wanted it to be 3 times as long (possibly like life depending on the day) and the songwriting chops of all 3 come through to combine into something pretty iconic throughout the whole album, some kind of 5
Liz Phair
3/5
Liz Phair gets a high 3 from me, I enjoyed the lyrics throughout and the general vibe a lot but it was quite long and only about half of it really got to me
Goldfrapp
4/5
This Goldfrapp album is luscious and beautiful and some kind of 4 for me, I understand the criticisms but it hits a similar spot to Vespertine for me, which few things do
The Temptations
4/5
Another 4 for the temptations for me, definitely a fan and love the slightly more psych elements on here
Morrissey
4/5
Low 4, love the vini bits as always, think morrisey sounds vital here in places and it follows on reasonably well from the final smiths album
B.B. King
4/5
BB King live album gets a low 4 for me, I love a good live album and this captures the vibe so well, all the tunes are played as well as I’d expect from him and the band and it’s just good throughout
The Dandy Warhols
2/5
Dandy Warhols started positively for me and some bits are very cool and kind of interesting, however it’s long and a lot of it is a bit bland and boring to my ears, so a high 2
The Dictators
2/5
Okay so The Dictators… I surprisingly really enjoyed their sound, it’s my kind of punk! Lots of similarities to early clash, it’s secretly super melodic and hooky. However the 1-2 atrocity of Go Back to Africa and Master Race Rock is at best misguided and hard to swallow… however(!) I LOVE the I Got You Babe cover, so umm…. High 2???
Metallica
4/5
Low 4 for me on Metallica. Really enjoyed the overall vibe and have been meaning to listen to them for a long time. Not my kind of metal but lots to love for me here.