410
Albums Rated
3.03
Average Rating
38%
Complete
679 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1960
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
34
5-Star Albums
33
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Damaged
Black Flag
|
5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
|
Scum
Napalm Death
|
4 | 2.08 | +1.92 |
|
Rust In Peace
Megadeth
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
The Renaissance
Q-Tip
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
|
5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
|
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
|
5 | 3.36 | +1.64 |
|
Cloud Nine
The Temptations
|
5 | 3.4 | +1.6 |
|
3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
|
5 | 3.45 | +1.55 |
|
1984
Van Halen
|
5 | 3.49 | +1.51 |
|
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
|
5 | 3.53 | +1.47 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Definitely Maybe
Oasis
|
1 | 3.54 | -2.54 |
|
Frank
Amy Winehouse
|
1 | 3.46 | -2.46 |
|
Imagine
John Lennon
|
1 | 3.45 | -2.45 |
|
Play
Moby
|
1 | 3.45 | -2.45 |
|
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
|
1 | 3.4 | -2.4 |
|
Debut
Björk
|
1 | 3.38 | -2.38 |
|
Protection
Massive Attack
|
1 | 3.24 | -2.24 |
|
Tonight's The Night
Neil Young
|
1 | 3.24 | -2.24 |
|
Revolver
Beatles
|
2 | 4.23 | -2.23 |
|
Solid Air
John Martyn
|
1 | 3.17 | -2.17 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Nirvana | 2 | 5 |
| Van Halen | 2 | 5 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 2 | 5 |
| David Bowie | 7 | 4 |
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 4.33 |
| Led Zeppelin | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Amy Winehouse | 2 | 1.5 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| King Crimson | 5, 2 |
| Radiohead | 2, 3, 5 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 2, 5, 3 |
5-Star Albums (34)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Arcade Fire · 2 likes
2/5
I want to like it more. It opens strong, but all the rest of the albums sounds the same and it just plods along. Like they started off amazing then slide down until everything is just the same
It's wild because I usually enjoy albums like this. It's not quite a concept album but it's all in a theme.
AC/DC · 2 likes
5/5
Oh man this album. Alright so the local rock station would play this entire album throughout the day, so my review is biased. I might have some form of Stockholm syndrome.
This album is just awesome. It's big dumb fun. There is a problematic song that shows it's age, but other than that, banger after banger.
So if you broke this album down it's not gonna work. If you take the music from Aretha Franklin her voice will carry and work. Here I don't think it would. The lyrics are silly and childish, his voice isn't good, the music is pretty basic but honestly great for rock. Yet it all works together so damn well. I have listened to this twice and wondered why it wasn't already in my library. It's a great rock album, there is a reason why all the rock stations play damn near every song off it. It was perfect for it's place in time and genre.
Metallica · 1 likes
5/5
This is one of the best thrash metal albums of all time. It is high on the list for best metal album of all time. It is the best Metallica album as well. This album is just that good from start to finish.
RIP Cliff
Tom Tom Club · 1 likes
3/5
Oh I remember this one now! I remembered them but not the music. Once the first track started the flood of memories listening to this hit.
It's....quirky.
If you think this is Talking Heads the sequel it's not. It's got the fun experimental part of it. Wordy Rappinghood is an example of it, as is Genius of Love. Both decent enough tunes, but most of the album doesn't pull it together enough to be more than a quirky experiment. Like they got more enamored with fun in the studio they forgot the rest of it, making a more coherent album. You have some great parts of songs but that doesn't make things work.
It's worth a listen as there are a few songs that are decent The fist couple and the last couple are about it.
Public Enemy · 1 likes
5/5
This album was amazing when I first heard it so many years ago. It had meaning then, it still holds up. It's kinda sad that it's themes are STILL relevant. Chuck D hadn't even hit his peak with this album.
If you liked Bring the Noise from this go look up the version with Anthrax. Hits even harder.
1-Star Albums (33)
All Ratings
Beatles
2/5
I'm not a fan of the Beatles. This album is to me, one of the lower ones. I can dig their later work, this is a dud for me.
The Mars Volta
3/5
I remember seeing At the Drive In opening for Rage Against the Machine in the late 90's and being blown away. Years later I saw Mars Volta and had the same reaction. They are just amazing live, and this album is a great one.
Queen
4/5
This album is Queen. It has the amazing guitar work, great vocals, cheek lyrics. It might not be their best album but you get 100% of the Queen style when listening to it.
I had forgotten that Bohemian Rhapsody was on this one. Guess I need relisten to their discography.
Alice In Chains
2/5
I remember listening to this at my friends house when it came out. He was enamored with it. I enjoyed some of the tunes.
A lot of the songs were everywhere the next couple of years. Dem bones I swear is still being played on every rock station at least twice a day.
Sitting down and listening to the entire album you realize the band was going through some things. We all know the lead, Staley, had issues with drugs, I wonder if they all had drugs issues while listening to it. It's dark almost bleak. I'm wasn't a fan before, and I'm not now, but being older I do appreciate what they were going for.
The White Stripes
4/5
Oh hell yeah.
This album has some amazing tunes on it. There is a reason why seven nation army is still played. Ball and biscuit and Hardest Button are my personal favorites from this album.
Great listen!
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
I know far more of these songs that I thought I would. I laughed when this came up in my rotation, yet now I'm going, how do I know these? Because it's a solid album, dated sure, but the songs still work.
It makes me think of how far music has moved since they were considered counter culture. It also is interesting that they are now the sound of the late sixties. After thinking about it and listening to the album I swear that's why I know there catalog.
George Jones
3/5
Oh I remember parts of this album. My Grandma loved country and western so I have memories of playing in grandmas kitchen and hearing Willie, Waylon and George Jones. I remembered some lyrics of The Grand Tour and surprised myself! Country isn't a genre I enjoy so being able to recall lyrics was wild!
This album is going to get added to my library. The Grand Tour is just, great. His voice and ability to tell a story is great. The songs are short but they are good. I enjoyed this album far more than I expected to.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Ah Bob, dude has a voice that shouldn't of sold many albums yet he wrote so many great songs that just worked.
This one isn't my favorite Dylan album but it still is a great Dylan album. Its hard to miss on early Bob though.
Public Enemy
5/5
This album was amazing when I first heard it so many years ago. It had meaning then, it still holds up. It's kinda sad that it's themes are STILL relevant. Chuck D hadn't even hit his peak with this album.
If you liked Bring the Noise from this go look up the version with Anthrax. Hits even harder.
Elis Regina
3/5
Oh an album not in English! The first track feels like the late 70's and I have no idea what she is saying. I'm digging it, she has a great voice and the music is catchy. I can easily see people dancing to this.
Damn the rest of the album is pretty good as well. It's not a front loaded one. For me it would be great background music for a party.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
This album is good. Just so damn good.
As a fan of longer tracks and soul music this is a great listen. Hayes voice is at its peak the music is perfect soul music. It's just a great album and a great example of soul.
Burning Spear
4/5
I've seen Burning Spear live and listened to a few of his albums. This being my first play through I listened to it twice. It's really good. It lays out the stories and you feel them. It's one of those albums that feels like if more people heard we might get some self reflection and change.
This one will stick with you.
John Martyn
1/5
I think I found the first number rap album. I'm digging the ambiance.
Ok it's the classic first track doesn't sound like the whole album.It's like experimental jazz had a baby with a folk singer.
I get what he is going for but it's not landing for me. Usually albums have a flow to them, this album would be better on random I think. The first track is jarring compared to the rest of it. The B side is far better than the A side for me. Overall this album is just an experiment to experience. It's worth a listen although I don't think I'm going to revisit this album.
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
I expected to enjoy this more. I've seen them live before and had a good time. This seems.... I don't know, it's just not hitting me like I expected it to. I enjoy them and generally love jambands, but this falls flat. I listened to it on the way to work and again at work. It felt like background noise, not something I was actively listening to and enjoying.
I'll have to revisit it later and see if my opinion of it changes.
Nirvana
5/5
This album is just great. I remember wondering how Nirvana would sound acoustic, as my buddy put it, "Aren't they the angry dudes that scream a lot?"
It was wild to see people listening to this album and realize this is their only Nirvana album. I knew of a few people that learned of Bowie from this. A lot learned of the Meat Puppets from it.
Listening to it now brings back so many memories. It holds up so well thirty years later, every song has feeling behind it. You can tell the band enjoyed doing the covers. Hearing songs that are usually fast and loud being stripped down like this is fun. It does help to know the songs beforehand but it is not needed, you can enjoy it with no knowledge of the band beforehand.
This is one of my favorites from this era.
Jungle Brothers
4/5
I didn't recognize the band name. The first track reminded me. This was the short years when rap was lighter and on the radio, dance parties popping up because someone had a tape.
I had so many tapes from this era. Somehow I didn't have this one.
As a young man figuring out life around the time this came out it works for me today. It hits the same spot De La Soul does. It's a great album for the older generation, I'm not sure how well it holds up to the younger folks.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
You can't go wrong with Stevie Wonder, you just can't. Like most of his stuff you want to put on the good headphones and try and pick up every note. This album didn't have any radio hits that I can think of but don't overlook it. He wrote and released a handful of albums during this time frame and they all are timeless.
Great album.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
So most folks know some Isley Brothers tunes. These folks had hits. Listening to this album made me decide to pull their whole discography and listen to their stuff from start to finish. Fun fact, they started out as a do wop group in 59.
This is a great soul/funk album.
MC Solaar
3/5
I had no idea what he was saying but I enjoyed the beats and the flow of it. You can hear dudes talent and looking up the translation he is a great lyricist as well.
If I was a French speaker I'd probably own this and still play it.
Little Richard
3/5
It's short just around 30 minutes. Listening to it is fun. Little Richard just goes for it on most tracks. Then you realize it's just an album of singles because that's how it was it was done then. You can hear the blues in the songs, but it's done in a such a way that it doesn't feel like a blues album. You can see how much of a lasting impression Little Richard has had on music. It's worth a listen but don't be too chocked if you don't revisit it.
Beastie Boys
3/5
I was excited for this album. It been over 30 years since I heard it and have fond memories of listening to the Beastie Boys. I listened to it twice now and it's got some good songs but overall it's not holding up for me.
I want to like it but it's not there for me. Like I said some of the tunes got added to the playlist but this is flat out party music, you play it when you have people over and no one is paying attention to the songs, just the energy.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
It's not bad. I'm kinda surprised I'd not heard of them. It's a decent album but without the nostalgia I'm not excited for it. Some of the tunes I've enjoyed but overall I'm kinda meh on it, I want to listen to it again to be sure.
On a second listen I appreciate it more but it's not going to get added to the rotation outside of a song or two. I am suggesting it to a friend though. I think it's more up her alley than mine.
Gram Parsons
1/5
Wow. So I'm not a fan of country overall. I enjoy the old stuff. Willie Nelson was always played growing up.
I can't make it through a whole song so far. I'm hoping the lady singing has a solo song in this, she sounds alright then the guy starts caterwauling and I'm done.
His subdued stuff is ok, Brass Buttons was decent as was $1000 dollar wedding. Neither will make it into my rotation but they are bright spots for me. The album is better after the first couple of songs.
It does make me want to listen to George Jones again.
The Pogues
3/5
It's fun and reminds me of hanging out at a friend's house drinking and smoking in the early 90's.
They are very good at setting a mood and telling a story. It's an enjoyable album.
Fela Kuti
4/5
I have listened to and seen Kemi Kuti live before. Never thought to listen to his dad before! It's great, like big band/jazz/funk raised a baby in Africa. Even if that sounds like it's not your jam give a listen, it is well worth an hour.
I can imagine the energy these folks had live, they must of put on a show!
Sonic Youth
4/5
I was given Sonic Youth tapes for my birthday one year, so I'm biased.
This is a great album. If you aren't into the sound wall type of music that's fine, that isn't the whole album. Sugar Kane is a personal favorite, Nic Fit is a very fitting song for it's title.
This is a solid Sonic Youth Album. It's worth a listen as they have influenced so many other bands. If you enjoy this give Daydream Nation, and Goo a listen.
Milton Nascimento
2/5
I wish I knew the language. Musically it's great. Kinda slow, but I think that's not a bad thing. I just think knowing what he is singing would help me "get" this album.
Trem De Doido is a favorite of mine from this.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
This sounds like the 80's. Doesn't matter that the synth driven music was a brief part of the 80's, this album fits. I swear parts of it are in every movie set or filmed in the early to mid 80's that had a prom scene. These songs were played during the talking parts of the dance.
Don't mistake what I'm saying for being bad. It's a decent album if syth and early electronic pop experiments are your thing. I enjoyed Joan of Arc the most. It's a fun album and worth a listen just to hear the early days of synth music.
Kanye West
1/5
I saw him live once. Waited so long for him to come out the drink I had pregamed with wore off. Show wasn't bad though. I used to enjoy his stuff, good lyrics, flow and beat.
Then he started talking all Hitler was a good guy and went on Alex Jones with a white supremacist.
I hope he gets the help he needs, but I'm not giving him anymore of my money.
This would be a 4-5 star album. I can't give it that though.
Ray Charles
4/5
This is just great. It's an album you play on a day you have no plans and just want to sit down, read a book, and relax with your partner.
It's what cozy sounds like to me. Ray is just smooth, the band both adds to, and compliments his voice. This could play in a small bookstore or coffee shop and at least three people would ask if they could buy it.
I had forgotten how much talent Ray Charles had. I need to listen to all his stuff now.
The Kinks
2/5
I enjoyed it as much as I can enjoy late 60's brit pop. I'm not a fan of this era so when I first sat down to listen I had to actually pull up lyrics. In my head this era all sounds the same, but this was better than I expected. Its better than the Beatles, the lyrics are sneaky although I'm not sure how well it holds up now.
It won't make it into my rotation it I'm not bad I listened to it.
I
David Bowie
4/5
I really wish they would of mixed his vocals a bit louder. Some of the songs he sounds more like a back up singer for the band. It works on a few though as he comes across more haunting while the band experiments with sound.
It's a good album, I prefer the Ziggy Stardust album but this one is the start of him experimenting more. Each song feel different from the next and he's channeling a do wop band in one.
Good album. It's one that I want to spend more time with, I swear there are other bands that influenced each track. Besides the Rolling Stones cover that is.
10cc
2/5
More brit pop....
So this isn't good to me. I think they were going for funny or clever at the very least. Yet at best I raised and eyebrow and went, why is this on the list?
I've now listened to it twice and I still question it. Is there some band that attributes 10cc as why they became a band? I'm just not hearing it.
John Coltrane
4/5
I mean it's Coltrane I don't think I've ever heard anything by him that's bad. There are other albums I enjoy more, but this is a damn good album.
It's the kind of album you want to listen to during a snow storm or raining day. It's perfect for that morning cup of coffee where you just don't want to start your day. It's a pick out a book and chill in your favorite chair or couch album.
Baaba Maal
3/5
This album is kinda hypnotic considering I don't know what the man is singing.
The entire listen is relaxed and low key. It's not bad in any sense, it reminds me of the time when world music was all over for some reason. That was before the weird time when gregorian chants were a thing.
I enjoyed my time with this album but I doubt it will get much replay from me.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
This album is wild, starts off with hippies singing about love. Drops into a blues tune that starts off with him having the thought of cutting his hair. Then a song about wanting to move to Canada to escape the draft but being told no. The whole time you're listening you can just feel the 60's. It is a capsule of time in an album.
Willie Nelson
4/5
It's a concept album! I grew up hearing Willie Nelson so I'm biased but I really enjoy this album. The stripped down music, the story, Willie in his prime.... I get not liking modern country, it's just pop with a twang, but this is what it used to be. Decent songs written by some country dude that has seen some shit.
Great album and it will be added to my rotation and I now need to listen to some more Willie Nelson.
Sonic Youth
4/5
Another Sonic Youth album! Another one I got for my birthday all though years ago too!
I have happy thoughts and memories of this one.
This album is less wall of sound like their later stuff. It's more of an straightforward alternative album. They still experiment with music but it's far less jarring for a lot of people. I could play this tape in the car and people were far more willing to listen to it.
Great album. Kool Thing is a standout for a lot of folks, myself included. Well worth a listen.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
This is an odd album. At first I thought it was a concept album where he was trying for wild church music, then the second album kicks in with a song about Orpheus.
Nick Cave is just going for it. Musically it's great, his voice is great, the lyrics are decent, it's just a wild album.
I've now listened to it twice. I think this will be one of those albums I put on from time to time while cleaning and get a different take depending on the day. It's solid.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
Ah the anti-beatles album.
I don't know the real story behind this but after the several listens over the years I decided Zappa used every Beatles "sound" of these and twisted them to use against them. Against them might be the wrong words....
There are other great Zappa albums I pick before this one. For the money is enjoyable to pick out what Beatles song he's satirizing though.
The Prodigy
2/5
Ahh Prodigy. I swear they only made the first two songs on this album to drum up publicity. It's like a label went, "We like you but can you be edgy? We would move a million more units if your edgy." So they did and made cash off something that most folks wouldn't of bought otherwise.
Remember kids marketing is always working for ways to take your money.
Once you get out from under the "woman hating pyros" that was assigned to them it's not bad if you like electronic dance music. Fast paced, loud and you want to drive like a nut if you listen to it in a car.
Black Sabbath
3/5
I used to call them grandpa metal. Not because they are only for older folks but because they are metals actual grandpa.
Great album, its musically solid, and doesn't feel old. Well worth the time to listen.
Radiohead
2/5
I've seen Radiohead several times live. The bends is amazing, ok computer is out of this world, I love Pablo Honey, I enjoy Kid A, but I can't for the life of me love this album. I'm going to listen to in rainbows and make myself feel better.
Madonna
1/5
This isn't a good album. Madonna changed pop music and this album made some car commercials. It's not there lyrically, it's just bland techo pop musically, it's just not good.
Huge wiff with this one. I don't understand why it's on the list. She has so many better albums, I swear this one made the cut off her name alone.
Skunk Anansie
3/5
It's interesting. They really swing for the fences and parts are all over the place because of it. Some songs her vocals get wiped out in the quiet parts and blown out in others. Sucks because she seems to have great voice. Musicaly it's clean although again on a pendulum for how it swings.
It does make me want to listen to more of their stuff. I'm not sure if this is their first album.
Solid listen but doesn't really hit at first listen. This is the kind of album that gets you curious though.
Janelle Monáe
3/5
This album has some Bowie/Prince experiment vibes to it. Some songs are just amazing and others are there.... It's a trip that's for sure.
It has made me want to listen to more of her though. This album. Is going in the rotation and I'm saving her stuff to find out how she evolves over time.
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
Ah weird 80's rock doing everything you can to make us remember the smell of too much hairspray with a song.
As far as glam rock goes it's not bad. If you are like me and don't enjoy glam rock you should pass this one up. It has some fun songs but after a while they all sound alike and drag on you.
I swear this is one of those albums that got played in movies set in the 80's. It's on a radio as background noise but tells you the era perfectly.
Sheryl Crow
2/5
It's not a bad album. Has some rough edges and I enjoy her later stuff more but I enjoyed this more than I expected to.
She's got some great lyrics but the songs are kind of going through the paces, just plodding along. Her next album is better.
Christine and the Queens
2/5
French pop music. Alright.
It reminds me a lot of late 80's early 90's pop. It's not all in French though. I expected to not understand, that's different. I enjoy their voice, the music is meh. I swear it's all electronic keyboards and drum machines.
Goya Soda is....something.
It's not a bad album but it's not for me, has some really interesting lyrics, but overall I'm not a pop music person.
Blur
2/5
I don't recall listening to a lot of blur outside of sound number 2. That one still holds up... Sadly I don't feel the rest of the album does. I expected more since he went on to help create Gorillaz and that song number two has had such staying power that it would be more.
So besides a couple of songs the album is really very plodding along. Like the way he sings it is like he's droning on to noise from the band. Sadly it's a miss.
The Residents
2/5
I think I heard an electric kazoo in there.
If you enjoy experiencing experiments with sound and music....you should have fun with this one.
Some of the songs will start out great and devolve into noise. Some are just noise. It's worth listening to just for the weirdness, but you should be warned it's not a "normal" album. It's like poetry from a nutter set to instruments made in a junkyard.
I enjoyed it for what it was but it's not making the rotation.
Soft Cell
2/5
Tainted Love is an absolute must listen to. I think it's a cover, but they it so damn well.
It doesn't seem that the rest of the album hits like Tainted Love. The synth is subtle and not like a lot of early 80's music where overpowers you. Unfortunately the singing needs it. Dude sounds whiny more than anything.
The Doors
3/5
It's a good album. Nothing groundbreaking just a solid album with some fun tunes on it.
I've always had a soft spot for the doors but I will say they have better than this one. It's worth a listen and you might add a couple songs to a playlist, but it's got more filler than their first three albums. It's one of those albums I wish we had half stars cause it's better than 3 but not a 4.
John Lennon
1/5
So far I'm not digging it. Imagine is an amazing song, literally one of the best, the rest of the album....I know he was going for a vibe with the effects on the singing but it's just annoying. Dude can be a great songwriter and he's not helping the lyrics with the effects. It falls flat for me.
Oh and Jealous Guy makes him sound like he wrote down evidence in a domestic violence case. I had someone tell me it was an apology to his first wife but it's not a good look and the song makes me think of way too many lifetime movies.
I don't want to be a soldier mama could have been a great song. Instead he choose repetitive lyrics and voice effects to a slowed down drum track. It's six minutes of droning effects and a saxophone.
Maybe because I was born after Beatlemania that I just don't get it. Maybe this is one of those you had to be there albums. I don't buy that because I have enjoyed a lot of music that came out before I was born and love it. All I know is this is an album with one amazing track and a ton of filler.
UB40
3/5
A saxophone in a reggae song is a choice. It strangely works, thus proving my idea that every band in the 80's used a saxophone at least once.
Some of these songs still hold up. It's sad that they do, but the music is good.
The sax really threw me off, for some reason I thought that showed up in later albums. I gave this one a couple listens and enjoyed it more than I expected. It does make me want to hear more of them, so mission accomplished UB40.
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Ahh the 9/11 album.
It goes about like you would think. Some songs are sad but have a tinge of hope, others are hopeful with a tinge of sadness.
They all kind of sound similar as it's album number 12. If you like Springsteen it fills that niche nicely. If you don't, then you probably won't like it.
I'm a fan of his Nebraska album so this seems over produced to me but it's not obnoxiously so. Keep in mind Nebraska was him his guitar and a tape recorder, it's a glorified demo.
Overall he has better albums but this isn't bad. I doubt I will replay this one though.
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
I don't know them but it's been a fun album. One song must have been popular because I heard it before. I don't usually go for this sound but this album is going in the rotation. It's good to drive to and I am listening to it again at work.
Good stuff.
Leftfield
2/5
Ah it's rave music! Well 90's rave music anyway. Here is the fun part about it, it's only fun when your at the rave some pills were taken and your dancing next to a beautiful woman who is in short shorts and a bikini top. Outside of that specific instance 90's rave music isn't worth listening to.
If you listen to it in the car you will get a ticket or wreck and die. On a bike you think I can beat the train. Maybe try and listen while cleaning your house but your doing to miss some spots. It's fast noise with a rhythm. Sometimes people will repeat words in another language that you don't understand.
I will say production wise it's good. It's not painful to listen to so that's nice.
The Police
3/5
So I've seen them live but apparently never listened to this entire album before. I knew the hits but not the whole album. Their deep cuts are funny, granted Any Other Day is a bit problematic in this day and age but outside of a lyric it still holds up.
It's worth a listen or three. Its making me want to deep dive on all their albums.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
We all know rock came from blues. This album is a good example of it. It's mostly rock but they had to of grown up listening to the blues.
This is a great rock album. I've had friends of mine ask me to give them a good rock album to start on. I will always give a shirt list and this album is on it.
Perfect rock album.
a-ha
2/5
I'm questioning some of these albums. I've had several that had one great song and the rest is meh. I know one hit wonders are a thing. So why are those albums with one great song and the rest are meh on this list?
Take on Me is an amazing video, the song is great! The rest of this album is so meh. There are some weird, are you trying for a rock opera? songs. Overall it's very we got you hooked with the one song on the radio you now buy the album and realize it's only the one good song.
It sucks because you know they make greatness.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
I know this album.. kinda. I remember the cover vividly and from listening to a few tracks its the "weird" album my parents had. I never understood why they had an album where you didn't understand the lyrics. I really need to look up why Brazilian arts got sold like they did in the 70's.
Onto the album.
It's fun. No clue what dude is singing about other than Soy loco por ti, America. Cause even my dumbass can translate that one.
Seriously the album is good it's got a nice rhythm even in the slower songs. It's well worth a listen or three. I'm not sure if it will make it into rotation but I've listened to it a few times today and enjoyed it.
Mj Cole
1/5
Maybe I'm not in the right mindset for this one. Cause so far the songs are just loops. Repetitive doesn't describe how little the songs change.
So I'm thinking I need to travel back in time grab all the raver kid pills I can take and give it a relisten.
I feel like this album is trolling me. It sounds like the music played in a shitty overpriced clothing store at a mall in the late 90's. It's just repeating.
HOW IS THIS TWO HOURS LONG! What is the absolute hell is going on?!
Sorry electronic music lovers this one isn't bringing me to your side of things.
Duke Ellington
4/5
This makes me wish we had better recording technology years ago. This album is fun but I wish there was a cleaner recording.
That said It's a very good album. I enjoy jazz but wouldn't say I'm a huge fan, that said this album is great to sit down and listen to. I started listening to it at home, drove to work and finished it at work. I then listened again at work. It's nice in all of those circumstances, I would of loved to see this live. I think it would have been amazing.
Nick Drake
4/5
Damn, this is good. I know his voice but never listened to an album of his.
This whole album is in my rotation now. I need to listen to all of his stuff. The more I listen the more I'm glad it's just him and a guitar on this. It just all works together so damn well.
The Doors
3/5
Oh LA woman, the weakest doors album yet still pulls out Riders on the Storm, Love her Madly, Crawling King Snake and LA Woman.
The doors are an interesting band. The first two albums were just stacked, just absolutely ridiculous, then the farther you get from there the quality drops off yet is still listenable. LA woman is a fine album to put and an listen to. The band is great, Morrisons lyrics are the weakest here while still able to pull out greatness here and there.
Beastie Boys
3/5
I have a love hate relationship with these guys. I LOVE some of their songs and the rest all sound the same. I think it's the vocal distortion they use for everything. Makes me wish they would of had a few songs with clearer vocals.
They have some track that are just beats, very well done. It's a more mature album overall. They are still party music. This album brings a little bit for everyone yet works. It's not going to be in rotation for me but it's an album I will pull out every so often.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
My man was working through some shit with this one. It is the best sounding depression though. Marvin has an amazing voice and he is singing through his depression.
So I really believe that a country musician could do a lot of these songs and it would just fit. Heartbreak is universal.
The Space song is wild in this. He is singing about his love and pain, then a song about getting down on the moon. I'm a bit confused but it's a good song.
Sure he has better albums, but as a Soul/Funk music lover this hits. I'll listen to it again for sure. I don't think I would recommend it to someone going though divorce. Well except A Funky Space Reincarnation. That one I'm telling everyone to listen to.
The Stone Roses
3/5
I want to like it more. Some of the bass lines tell me it's going somewhere, then it doesn't. Honestly it might be my expectation. I thought they were a "harder" sound. Then when I got 80's rock band #3 I went, what?! So I decided I'm going to listen to it again later now that I've got one listen in. Cause right now it's a 2.
Alright after another listen I'm happier about the album. It's very chill and great to walk to. I can see myself listening to it again. I suspect this album grows on you. Even though it's not my favorite it is an enjoyable album....
Randy Newman
3/5
It's weird that the Toy Story guy is singing a satire album about the south. Like I get it, but I can not separate the two. The songs are spot on, harsh and vulgar and I understand where it's coming from. It sucks this album feels like it was written recently. It's terrible that an album written in 1974 still feels relevant. It shouldn't, we should be better. It also sucks because all I see are Buzz and Woody while the album plays. This is not the album to be seeing Buzz and Woody while I listen!
Dire Straits
3/5
The mix on this album is just so crisp. Seriously most albums are not clear for every instrument. Here you can listen to the bass or drums, you can hear the guitars so clearly. It's a marvel and a far cry from the early 00's loudness wars BS.
That said it's a good album, it's got the hits you all have heard, it's got some great deep cuts, there are some filler but it's not a one hit wonder album. The music is great, Knopfler is a great guitars. The entire band is amazing.
It does have a problematic lyric, yes I get the why, I understand what it's pointing out but still. This album is a great time capsule album that fits rock in 85.
Funkadelic
5/5
It's just amazing. Opens with a 10 minute guitar solo that has just souch emotion it's hard to put into words. Like he is trying to express grief using only his guitar. Hendrix came back from the dead to listen to it gave it a ten minute standing ovation then died again it's that good.
The best part is rest of the album is great too. Hit it and quit it is impossible not to move to. I was sitting down on a dreary Saturday morning and it came on and my head started to bob and the rest of my body started moving. Couldn't help myself.
I wonder how long Clinton spent in the mixing bay for this. It's all clean and tight, he plays with some effects but it doesn't drown anything out or make it sound off.
Seriously it's great. I can't say that enough. If you have good headphones put them on for this. I wish I had a great speaker set up in my place for albums like this.
Arcade Fire
2/5
I want to like it more. It opens strong, but all the rest of the albums sounds the same and it just plods along. Like they started off amazing then slide down until everything is just the same
It's wild because I usually enjoy albums like this. It's not quite a concept album but it's all in a theme.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
I've always loved Aretha Franklin, I mean how can you not? Her voice is amazing. This album is just pure Aretha, the vocals are perfect, the band is perfect for the vocals, lyrics are locked in. It's just a great album.
If you ever come across someone that hasn't listen to her before just play this album for them.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
It's a good album. They have better but they released three albums in a year and a half so it seems like they were running out of steam a bit with this one. It feels like a bunch of tracks that would have been B sides for their first two albums.
It's an enjoyable listen. If you like Zeppelin you will love it. If your on the fence it's not going to move the needle.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
This reminds me of the ZamRock era in the 70's. Zambia had some really great rock coming out of it during that time. Bands I now listen to, enjoy, and tell my friends to listen to. This album feels like the successor to the ZamRock title.
These dude are good. Musically it's great. I can't speak lyrically because I don't know the language but it feels good to listen to regardless. I need to look up more of their stuff this is a damn good album.
Ok this whole album is getting added to my library. I've listened to it twice in a row. It is a really great album, especially since I don't know what they are singing about. These guys are great musicians. Made me a fan.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Alright I've heard the Beach Boys hits. Paying attention to the lyrics is different. The music and the lyrics are at odds for quite a few songs. One of the songs is about him changing after years and the fear he has. Yet the singing and the music are opposite. It's odd and off-putting at times.
I want to find an album of Beach Boys songs with different arrangements and singers. I think that would be an amazing album. The lyrics are good, I'm stuck by the music.
David Bowie
4/5
This is the album before Spiders From Mars. Maybe it's opening up with Changes but this album. Feels like an odd bridge from his first few albums to the Ziggy and beyond ones.
Overall it's Bowie you really can't go wrong. It's a good album and I enjoy it every time I listen to it.
Jacques Brel
3/5
Ok an older French singer. Dude sings with emotion that's for sure.
Alright I read the wiki before finishing the album, I don't usually do this. Turns out he is a Belgian man singing songs that sound aggressively French. It feels like he is moving across the stage with his mic and a baguette swinging the bread around like he is going to assault someone with it while smoking a cigarette.
No clue what the lyrics are. Doesn't stop me from enjoying it. Dude seems like he would be a good showman.
1/5
Alright if the third Limp Bizkit album is on this list what other nonsense is lurking in here. This isn't even their best album, and I've only listened to their first three.
I looked this is the only Limp Bizkit album on the list. I now question the author of the books mental state. I think he's trolling us with this one. Turns out this was removed in later editions. Yeah that tracks. I could see their second album Significant Other being on the list, every young white guy had a copy of it.
Yes Limp had cultural relevance in the time they played in, but there are better Nu-Metal bands,
My Generation is the stand out on this album. Rollin makes me want to mosh my head into a wall and My Way makes him sound like a spoiled entitled child.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
I want to see this man live. I can see him playing the largest stages and showing up at a club. Its great.
This is a great album, it's got the right amount of chill and energy to have a nice sit down and listen, it could be background while you do dishes. I'll bet cash money it's been played at coffee shops and bookstores. You know it's been played in music stores. You want to pay attention to the lyrics. Don't just let this become background music.
The Temptations
5/5
It's just so damn good. Seriously they turned in a soul/funk Motown album, and it hits all of those marks so damn well.
First off the Temptations are awesome, even their early stuff is good but this is just perfection.
Second, They did a version of I Heard It Through the Grapevine that is a wild take and I'm here for it.
Third, It's got some classic Temptations sounds on the back side of the album so if you aren't in the more funk from them you are covered as well.
Seriously it's great, it feels of it's age but doesn't feel tired. A great album.
The B-52's
2/5
I'm really not sure on this one. It's slower than I wanted. The music is great, the lyrics are fun. It's an odd album. I usually enjoy the more out there albums but this didn't land.
3/5
I don't think I've heard of them before. Interesting sound very late 70's garage sound. Not bad so far. They are definitely influenced by the Ramones.
I swear I've heard some lyrics before. I'll bet someone covered them. It's a pretty good album for its time. Got some really fun US punk in there. I have a feeling I'll be adding it to my rotation. I want to listen again and see how it holds up to repeat listens.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
This is one of the best chill albums to be made. It's just packed with great songs. I'm not even going to bother listing them.
Every song is worth a listen. There just isn't any filler in this. I've listened to it three times today and enjoyed it every time. Just a damn good album.
4/5
Another album I was just listening to!
So this is what I think of as progressive soul/funk. It's got some great longer songs that will change rhythms. City, country, city is interesting to hear. The Cisco Kid is more what people will gravitate to but listen to the entire album. It's well worth the time.
It's a great album.
3/5
Oh Wonderwall the song of choice for tools that had a guitar in the 90's.
Seriously I was at a house party and some dude had a guitar and I swear he only knew Wonderwall and one other song. If you've ever seen Animal House you know what we were all thinking...
So the album isn't bad overall. There are some songs that are pretty good even if they have some lyrics that are weak. One of the songs started off really rocking....then went to incessant whining. I was really hoping to be surprised and they just go full on rockstar, sadly that didn't happen.
The only song I really enjoyed was Don't Look Back in Anger. It's a great song even if he sounds kinda whiny while doing it.
Overall I do not understand the love they get, kinda mid to me, although at one point one of the brothers announced they were bigger than the Beatles and it pissed off so many people. Seriously it was hilarious, they get an extra star for that.
Sex Pistols
4/5
It's been forever since I've listened to this album. I remember my friends brother telling us we had to listen to it as it's "real" music.
It shows it's age, but still holds up. Musically it's far more solid than I remember. I do wish they would of played more as some of the solos are great, but a lot of the songs sound alike. Lyrically some of the songs still work and work well. I've been told that punk is just loud and dumb. Nope. Surely not this one.
It is a time capsule album and worth a listen.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
This is one of the best rock albums of all time. It is legitimately classic song after classic song. There is a reason why every rock station plays every track off this album. It's just that good.
Robert Wyatt
2/5
I don't even know about this one. The first track is decent, the second is something, and then it just kinda swings for the fences. I kinda want to listen to other stuff of his just to see what it's like.
I do want to listen to it again later when I'm in a more chill mood. I don't think my more chaotic day is the time to try and figure out this one.
The Specials
4/5
Remember the weird time in the 90's when Ska showed up some of us were confused and others tried to swing dance?
This has more reggae tones and weirdness than that time. It's musically upbeat and danceable as Ska tends to be, but the weirdness over it all adds to it. Interesting album.
OK I'm not a ska guy, I wasn't in the 90's I was one of the, "Where did this come from?!" people. So this album growing on my is not what I expected. It's getting added to my library and I can see me putting this on at times I need to move as it just makes you want to bop around the house.
Nick Drake
4/5
So after two Nick Drake albums I'm officially a fan now.
The Cure
2/5
Ahh the 80's, kinda.The soundtrack to my younger years. I didn't understand the pull of The Cure then, and I don't now.
There are a few good songs on here, sadly all of the rest sounds alike. I like to think of this sound as proto-emo. It's all slightly whiny and if you're not in the head space for it....Well it falls flat.
I listened to it again and it's just not there. I see all the 5 star reviews and wonder if it's a nostalgia thing and I just missed that boat when I was younger....
k.d. lang
3/5
I guess I've never listened to KD Lang before. I thought she was more pop than country. She has a great voice but I'm not a fan of country music usually. This is very warm and soft, the lyrics aren't bad.
If you enjoy country music I'm sure you'll enjoy this.
Al Green
4/5
I mean come on it's Al Green! This is a damn good album.
You know more of his stuff than you realize. I've not listened to this album in its entirety before but I knew most of the songs.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
This is my second Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds album. I still don't know what to make of them. Dude has a voice like a crooner, lyrics of a madman, and the band is pretty damn good. It's wild. As before I listened to this album twice and when I was finished the second time I still couldn't figure out if I loved it or it was just so unordinary I accepted it.
One day I will figure it out.
Rush
4/5
I wanted to skip my graduation to see Rush. I made the mistake of telling my Mom what I was going to do. You would have thought I ran over Grandma she was so mad. She was mad about it until I walked with my class.
I still regret not going to the show.
That said Rush is amazing and this album is one of their best. This is one of those classic albums that most of it is played on classic rock stations damn near every day.
If you enjoy this look up the song Subdivisions from the album after this.
Beck
2/5
So I found the most boring Beck album today. The side effects are depression, sleepiness, and REALLY wanting to change albums. It's pretty obvious he was going though some things. It sounds like a break up.
I did enjoy real instruments, I also liked that it was oversampled and full of gibberish. It's just boring. If I was going though a break-up or in the middle of a deep depression I think this would be the soundtrack.
When I want to listen to a Beck album with real instruments and not be sad when I'm done I will put on One Foot in the Grave. It's a much better album.
Nina Simone
4/5
You can't go wrong with Nina Simone. I've loved her since I first heard Sinnerman so many years ago.
She has such a soulful voice and the lyrics to match. Really great at having you feel the story she's singing to you.
The music on this album is really great as well. It might not be my favorite of her albums but it such a damn good album everyone should give it a listen.
Eurythmics
4/5
I enjoyed this far more than I expected. I knew Sweet Dreams was an amazing song but usually that says the rest of the album is a dud. This one is moody and has a weird atmosphere to it. It has 100% of that 80's feel that you expect but a depth to it I didn't expect to come across.
It's one of those albums that I want to listen to more to get all of it. Her voice is great and it fits the tone of the music. It's going to live with me me longer than I thought it would.
Alice Cooper
4/5
Elvis Costello
3/5
I'm not sure if I like it. I don't hate it. Listened to it twice and never wanted to turn it off but I wasn't thinking I want to listen to this later. I never wanted to grab my good headphones for it.
It was in one ear and out the other.
It's weird because it's not bad. The album tends to blend together though, all the songs sound a lot a like. I wish something jumped out at me.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
This is another album that shouldn't be relevant in 2025, yet here we are. This album was and is a wake up call. Sadly it wasn't heeded when it came out and I doubt it will be now.
It's still a absolute great album. It holds up today as well as when it came out. Rage has a statement to make with each and every song and they are loud when they make it.
"Some of those that work forces
Are the same that burn crosses"
Duran Duran
3/5
Ok I always dismissed them as just an 80's synth pop band. This album is better than I expected. I forgot how many hits they had on the album.
The music itself is fun and the bass lines are great. If you want to hear early 80's synth pop this album is better than most.
Ray Charles
4/5
Ray Charles doing country and western songs. It works well. I wasn't sure what to expect but it's good.
I suspect the reason this albums works so well because Ray Charles is a generational talent and amazing. Seriously he put so much out there and listening to him feels like home.
Blur
3/5
It's missed me. I'm just not feeling it.
I enjoyed Girls and Boys for one lyric and but musically I'm meh to the tune. Some of the lyrics are good and I think I would enjoy them more if the music had a different arrangement. Like it's just to peppy for some songs and the lyric should have some gravity to it but it just doesn't.
I'm just not a fan of blur I guess.
Cee Lo Green
3/5
Cee-Lo had better albums with Goodie Mob. It feels like he tried to reinvent soul but stuck in his ego.
It's new enough my brain goes not the soul music I grew up with, but catchy and good enough to want to listen to more. Some of the songs just don't work with his voice though. With him having a unique voice it can be distracting on some tracks. Works great on a few.
Billy Bragg
3/5
This album is something. Woody Guthrie lyrics, Wilco playing and Bragg singing.
It's not bad, it's not good, but it's not bad.
It's a lot though. Kinda messy in my ears. This is one of those albums that you later listen to because it's one that just goes for it.
Coldplay
2/5
I don't understand their popularity.
It's all kind of bland, like instead of waiting 20 years to be played in a grocery store they made this.
What's weird is it's not bad music, they have talent, but it doesn't stay with you. Some songs I went, oh this is nice, then the next track plays and sounds similar but when the record is over I don't remember what I thought was nice or why.
Coldplay the light beer of music.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
3/5
I think the artist needs a hug. He is going though some life changing shit with this album. It's not a bad album but I suspect it helps to be depressed to grasp everything in it.
Suzanne Vega
3/5
Her later albums are better. Some of the tunes on this give a poetry that has a guitar more than a song. I think it was recorded on the cheap as well. You can hear and feel the talent on it. She tells a story really well.
I would start with her second album if you want to listen to her. This has glimmers of what is to come with her as an artist but like a lot of artist with their first album is kind of rough.
Steve Winwood
2/5
So the first track was EVERYWHERE for years radio wise. I swear it's been in a few movies as well. It's not even his best song but it was a right song right time thing. It's also a killer song, so that's nice.
It's a one hit album. It's not bad it's just another album of one banger and a lot of the other songs sound alike.
If you are a fan of the 80's you will love it.
Nirvana
5/5
This album kicked off the population being aware of a "new" genre. When this album hit grunge was everywhere overnight. Everyone was signing Seattle/grunge bands after them. It lead to a whole generation of flannel wearing greasy kids running around.
It is legitimately one of the best albums of a generation. It's not for everyone, a buddy of mine called it "angry white boy music." Yet his silly ass was singing along to "In Bloom," yeah the song with the lyrics about singing along. He saw the irony of it all. Some songs do seem way more screamy than need be, but I promise you can understand the lyrics.
Love this album.
Orbital
4/5
So normally I dislike electronica, but this one works for me. I put it on while building some kitchen cabinets and I kept bopping to it. Weird, but it think because they mix in actual sounds and other music it works. It's not all beeps and boops to me.
The Who
2/5
So after listening to it and reading it's supposed to be a great album....I have questions.
Is the Who terrible?
Has everyone gone deaf?
They have some killer songs out there. If this is supposed to be one of their best I fear for other albums.
David Bowie
4/5
It's his kinds R&B album.
Seriously every Bowie album I get is just damn good.
Suede
2/5
The lyrics are repetitive and boring. The music is decent but holy shit it's repetitive lyrics just remove any enjoyment of the band.
It's like they tried to rip off better bands and got stuck on vibes.
Black Sabbath
3/5
They figured out their sound on the first album. A lot of bands will tweak and change things but they laid down their sound early.
Musically it's great, I could listen to them play for hours. The lyrics are kinda weak on this album. Well unless you want I just broke up with my lady type lyrics. Then it's spot on.
Ozzy voice being so young is different. You can tell he is younger on this vs other albums just by his tone.
Decent album,
Metallica
4/5
This album is amazing.
Clif dies in a bus accident, so they hire Jason to play bass. It goes on to get them radioplay with One, win all kinds of awards, well except that grammy. They were robbed that year and I'm a Jethro Tull fan. Then they tour the world on it, and after they make the Black album. Completely changing their sound. So this album is the end of phase one and the beginning of phase two for Metallica.
The lyrical side is great, musically it's just so dense with riffs it's wild. Every song has huge sections that make you want to learn guitar. The solos are tight. The only issue there is they decided to mess with the new guy Jason and turned down the bass in damn near all the tracks. The album suffers from this. When I want to listen to this I always have to adjust the eq far more than other Metallica albums, well except Death Magnetic. It's a great album that I wish they would remix.
Great album, historic as far as music goes, one of the the best trash metal albums around.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
I like it. My wife likes it. My thirteen year old said it could have a guitar in it.
2/3 ain't bad.
I enjoyed this album, it was loose enough but not where everyone is doing their own thing. Parts of it made me think of Coltrane. It did make me wish it was raining and I had nothing else to do honestly.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
3/5
I didn't think I knew who this was, then I listened and realized I knew a few songs off this album. Not sure where I heard them.
This album has some fun upbeat songs and some more slower almost ballads. It's a fun album overall. I'd suggest it to folks if they want a 60's album.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
It's not as strong as other albums by them but it's a nice easy listen. Some tracks are actual songs others are poetry set to music. I prefer the actual songs, but the others are nice.
It's a solid album, a bit dated now but that's going to happen.
Depeche Mode
3/5
This album has some atmosphere. I knew the whole thing was moody but this is a teenage break up moody, and the whole albums feels it.
I typically don't go for 80's synth pop but this album as some really great songs on it. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It works really well together but there are several songs that stand out that will make a playlist for me.
The Dictators
2/5
Cheeky album. Kind of a proto punk album full of weird humor and making fun of established norms.
Not all of it holds up and some you really have to listen to see what he's pointing at. Still though historically speaking not terrible. It won't make my rotation but I'm not mad I listened to it.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
I enjoy CCR so I'm bias on this one. It's a solid album and is pure Americana. It sounds like the bayou based on all the lyrics yet they are from California. It works because no one really sounds like them.
Great album.
Hot Chip
1/5
This is just terrible. Hey we should love each other set to a bunch of beeps and boops. How about no.
Seriously the entire album beeps and boops. I swear it's a casio preset!
The Flaming Lips
4/5
Ahh the Flaming Lips. It was around this time they blew up for a third time. Seeing them live was a spectacular event. Sometimes they descended in a UFO, other times it was human sized hamster balls.
Now this is one of those albums that is celebrated as one of their best, it is don't get me wrong but I started with them around the time they released a turn called Jesus Shooting Heroin. I love their Clouds Taste Metallic and Transmissions from the Satellite Heart. Those two albums can be put on and played and I will listen to them front to back over and over again.
This album is a more serious album. As dumb as that is to write. It's still an experiment as it's kind of a concept album. It has some heavy discussions in it framed along well fighting robots. Yet the sound is consistent across the songs it's a cohesive album.
I wish I could give it half stars. Its a solid 4.5 for me. It doesn't hit all the way around but it's so damn good. Really damn good, but for me, I miss the wild songs of earlier in their career where they were out there. This is them at middle age going, well we did a song about a Watermelon Gun, lets make an album that can be made into a musical. Also this got made I to a musical.
Lambchop
2/5
I'm not sure what this is. It's like if our parents in the 70's had a party and instead of a bowl of keys had a bowl of weed. Yet not as fun as that sounds because this is lame and reminds me of the worst episode of the love boat.
Shack
2/5
So it makes me think of Friends for some reason. I never watched friends, seen clips, but this album is so 90's I feel it could be played during a friends episode.
It's really kinda boring and I wonder why this made the list.
Ella Fitzgerald
4/5
Ok you have to be in the right mood for this one. It's over three hours and very chill. I started at work while doing some mind numbing tasks so I got into it there. Then came home and it was a low key Monday night so I played the rest. It makes me wish it was cooler out. Her voice is simply amazing and this album is clear as a bell. Some older recordings can be heard, this one sounds like it was put out a few years ago. Impressive. You can tell some of these were recorded at different times. Her voice sounds different in some and I swear I can hear the hiss of an album in a few. I wore my good headphones for this album.
I'm not familiar with the Gershwins, I know the name and that they wrote a lot of "standards". I don't think I would enjoy it as much if someone else was singing. Maybe some of the rat pack could so these justice, I'll bet Sinatra or Martin could do well with some of these. Ella just takes it to a different level.
I can see a lot of folks being turned off on this one. It's very of its age. It feels like Grandma's house in fall. It's a damn good album set, but it's not modern. I think this will get added to my album list. It just feels relaxing. I wish it was cut down though, it's a lot. Still though I will end up putting it on to read a book with, or cook a big meal, I won't sit down and listen to it cover to cover.
Electric Light Orchestra
3/5
This is a wild album. It's fun as hell but I have a limited experience with ELO so I'm not sure if it's a concept album or if they just go for it on every song.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
Starting off with Paint it Black... Awesome
Following it up with Stupid Girl and Lady Jane....WTF?!
Also why and I getting beach boys vibes from this? Who was copying who at this point?
New Order
2/5
Oh good it's Adult contemporary 80's album number 27.
It's very boring. Like why is it on the list boring. I'm having a difficult time making it through a song much less the album. A lot of albums have one song that carries it, I don't know what song that is here. It's just that boring.
Supertramp
3/5
So it is the most 70's classic rock album I think you're gonna find... It sounds like they tried going a bit prog but either missed or just wiffed it. I'm not sure.
I enjoyed it, I was familiar enough with them and I enjoy this era of rock enough. I don't see many people getting their hair blown back by it but it is worth a listen one hundred percent. It's enjoyable to listen to while driving or doing yard work and you want some rock.
Steve Earle
3/5
This is satire right? Like it is way to on the nose for country music to be legit.
Seriously the first song has city names, a truck stop, boots and pretty baby. It has to be making fun right?
Alright I think this is the the county album that combined ALL of the tropes. It has it all so far. If he sings about his dog, trailer or tornado I'm out, I will not finish the album.
This album is kind of amazing, I swear it hits all the country themes before 9/11. It's almost a parody of itself how far it goes. I'm not convinced Steve isn't having fun with it. He had to have sat down and went, "I will write the MOST country album ever!" Some producer heard the demo and told him yes and this album was born. What's wild is it's not bad, dude can play, the band is solid, good production, the lyrics are.....very county & western. If you're into the genre you will probably love it.
I'm giving it a three because I enjoyed it but not for the reason I'm supposed to..
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
Well. He likes Radiohead. This album just sounds like the bends to me. Quiet lyrics then a big sound comes in to emphasize the lyrics.
It's an ok album. It's not going to stick with me at all. I get what he's going for but it's not my scene or vibe.
Well made album though. I enjoyed the music over the lyrics personally but I can see this man have a serious rabid following.
Beck
2/5
So right now I assume Beck has no less than all his albums on the list. I know this based on what my friends and I have gotten. What weird is none of us have got a good beck album. So I wager all of his stuff is on here because of this.
If this list doesn't give me the best beck album I'm gonna be pissed I listened to all of these lame one.
One foot in the grave is his best.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Someone had fun in the studio! I'm pretty sure drugs were involved as well.
So it's a reach. He was trying for something, I'm not sure what he was trying for but I appreciate the experience. You do need to be in the mindset for experimental music before sitting down with it. I realized I had skipped this because I got it on a day I needed to get things done and I'm glad I waited for a day when I had time to catch up on some albums.
It's an adventure for sure. Some songs are really fun and work well, others you can see what he was going for but come out a disjointed wall of noise.
Worth a listen unless you hate it when an artist tries something different.
Girls Against Boys
3/5
First time I heard them was in a dank basement. The album fits that first listen. It makes me think of dark clubs where it smells of old booze and stale cigarettes. It embodies the shitty places we would hang out.
It a decent album, I can see this album turning off some folks. It's gritty and feels dirty. Worth a listen for sure.
Elton John
3/5
Ok I didn't expect the prog frost track. That was fun.
The rest of the album feels like a best of album. You know and understand that he's been writing hits for a while but listening to this made me realize it. It's a very good album and I wasn't kidding when I said it feels like a best of. It's not his greatest hits, but the album has several on it, but it just feels like a huge album.
Good stuff.
Metallica
5/5
This is one of the best thrash metal albums of all time. It is high on the list for best metal album of all time. It is the best Metallica album as well. This album is just that good from start to finish.
RIP Cliff
Frank Sinatra
3/5
It's a decent enough album. Frank isn't a hard sell though. The music is muted and the lyrics are....well the same. Dude misses his girl, or want to get with a girl or love.
So. Much. Love.
It's fairly repetitive and if it wasn't Sinatra I don't think it would be on the list. There are a few songs that are stand outs. Overall worth listening to if you want to hear Sinatra. Honestly though find a greats hits album its a better bet.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
2/5
Maybe I'm missing something with this album. It's just really bleh to me. It didn't sound great like they tried being too cute and instead of awesome it came out more, why.
I've heard other stuff by them and enjoyed it. So it's a bummer this one fell so flat for me.
David Bowie
3/5
Ahh Bowie. So this album is good. It's better if you're into Bowie experimenting with jazz. Overall it's fun and sad at the same time. Fun because it's Bowie playing with jazz, sad because it was his last album.
It gets a TON of positive reviews because of this. It's a good album but it's not a great album. I enjoyed it like a lot of his work, and like some of his work I'm going, "What are you trying to accomplish?" Then I have to read a review and listen again to try and grab it. It's good because when it clicks it hits hard, and I will always love his music because dude experiments. He tries and goes for it and I will always love an artist for moving out of their comfort zone.
RIP David thanks for the music.
Elastica
3/5
I remember this album. I didn't realize I knew them until I started listening and remembering a party I was at so many years ago.
This is a weird description of the album as well. It doesn't stick with you. Once it's over you vaguely remember it but not enough to want to listen again. It's not terrible, I think it's well done, it's just not memorable.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Poor guy deals with depression doesn't he.... It's a decent album of you like the folk/man and guitar genre.
I wonder if someone covered this album then I would enjoy it more.
The Boo Radleys
2/5
I've heard of them but never listened to them.
I mean I don't regret listening to this album. It's forgettable and not my thing.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
So they released three albums in a year or two. Sadly they all sound very similar. They are good but alike. I enjoyed it but was kinda hoping to see some growth and realized it isn't happening.
Overall a good album its CCR so you're gonna get a quality album. I really enjoyed it but I've always liked them. It's just a solid album and a great example of "Classic Rock"
Van Halen
5/5
Probably the best Van Halen albums made. The entire band is going on all cylinders with this one. Great guitar work, amazing drums and Diamond Dave at his peak.
They do not take them selves seriously with this and it's so much fun because of it. Hot For Teacher is one of the best rock songs ever because of it. Panama is just fun as hell. This album makes you want to drive around in summer with all the windows down blaring this album. It annoyed so many parents when it was released. I had to hide the tape of it because my mom just hated them.
Great album.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
I don't think I'm a fan of Elvis Costello. I like this one better than the last album I got but it's not landing for me.
I've been told by lots of folks I should love his stuff, yet it falls flat for me.
The Clash
5/5
Weird I listened to this album yesterday just because I enjoy it. That's twice this has happened. I think the list is stalking me.
I enjoy this album. I wonder how they are punk but eh. From start to finish it's solid, good music, good lyrics, fun album. I can go into depth but a LOT of other reviewers have done that. Give it a listen. It's one of those great time and place albums.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
It's Frank. You know exactly what you are going to get with him. There are no surprises here. He's got a smooth voice and it just feels cool. The music is dated but yeah it was recorded in the 50's you aren't getting away from that. Like his other albums they all kinda blend together. Not a bad listen at all, just the same.
Honestly though, with him you are better off finding his greatest hits album and get allllll the bangers right there. No good reason to pick up the individual albums unless you decide you are a fan.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
2/5
I have no idea why this is on the list other than it's an interesting concept. It's execution is just boring, bland and whiny. Also why does this make me think of Blur?!
Apparently Damon Albarn was a part of this so that's why I kept thinking of Blur when hearing it. Also how does he make Gorillaz good but everything else I've heard of his is just bland whiney drivel? HOW!?
That said some of the tunes are decent, unmemorable but I'm not mad I heard them. Sadly because it's forgettable I don't recall what songs I enjoyed. I would have to listen to it again and look at titles to remember what one is good. I'm not willing to do that for this album.
Guns N' Roses
4/5
This site is stalking me I swear. I listened to this on Saturday. Creepy list.
I completely forgot this was their debut album. It's amazing that this is what they started with. This album has so many great tunes it's so close to perfect. Legitimately a great rock album.
Michael Jackson
3/5
I knew far more of this album than I expected. I have listened to this one since I was given a record player and Thriller for Christmas in the early 80's. I then went out and picked some great records and borrowed a bunch as well. This was one I borrowed.
It still holds up and you can hear Quincy influences throughout the album. It's a good album. It's not his best. Micheal hit his peak later but you can hear where he is going with this one. There is some great funk songs and I swear there is some Broadway in here. This album is Micheal no longer a child but moving to the superstar we get later.
Even if you aren't a fan of the king of pop you can't deny his talent.
Fairport Convention
3/5
I imagine this is what is played in the pubs in more rural areas. It has that old timey cozy feel to it.
Decent enough album if your in for a smaller feel like that.
Maxwell
3/5
I think this album got me pregnant. This is an album that defines a romantic evening with your partner. It fits more in the late 70's, and I'm shocked dude made it in the mid 90's. We had our fair share of 90's booty music, don't get me wrong, but the music FEELS 70's soul to me.
Good album.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Ahh the Velvet Underground, art music.
Now I'm not saying it's bad by any stretch, I very much enjoy it. I do prefer their later albums as they have a more mature sound even when they are experimenting. This album lays the groundwork for those later albums and you can hear it. They are the proto alternative/punk band, they influenced a bunch of other bands. You might not like their sound as it is more experimental but you can't deny their talent.
It's a great start for the weirder music that comes out later. It's a great album to give a chance to.
Bonnie Raitt
2/5
Oh man this album was everywhere for a minute. It was especially on all the adult contemporary stations our parents would listen to. It was country for people that didn't own pickup trucks.
It's not a terrible album, she has a nice voice and the songs are put together well. The music is decent, it's just kinda dull. It also doesn't seem to pretend to be anything else though too. Some albums have a song that gives you hope the next song will build and become better. This album holds the line of relax and get through the day. You can have a beer or glass of wine when you get home. Then do it all over again.
This album is the lamest parts of adulthood.
Happy Mondays
2/5
So they tried to hit all the 70's rock tropes with this album. I have no other explanation for it other than that. It's like they heard all the great bands of that time and went we can do that!
They could not.
It's background music in a movie that is set in the 80's but doesn't want to pay for the good stuff. It's played in a TV show flashback. I'll bet they toured county fairs, not state fairs.
Jeff Buckley
4/5
His version of Hallelujah give this albums 2 stars. That song is so damn good, and his version is, in my mind the best version.
Not a bad album, bit dramatic, but decent.
The Temptations
4/5
You can never go wrong with the Temptations. Even the doo wop songs they pull out are good. I prefer the funk and social commentary stuff they do so well but this is a great album from them.
The first three songs are simply amazing. It slows down a little in the middle but even those couple are good tunes. Solid album and it will get listened to later, again and again most likely.
Again it's sad a 50+ year old album is still relevant when it comes to race relations. We need to get our shit together.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
I had to talk to my buddy about this one. He's a really good music nerd. So I listened to it and kept thinking it's poetry, but set to the wrong music. Turns out I wasn't far off and Joni has a knack for poems and since she knew how to play it was in fact set to music.
I don't want you to think it's not a good album. It's not bad and after talking to my music nerd buddy I wasn't in the right mindset to sit down and listen to Joni. It's stupid busy at work and things are a bit frantic. This album isn't right for the time. I do want to explore her discography though. She's talented and I did enjoy som of these tunes.
I hope I remember to pull this album out when things are a bit calmer and I can give it an honest listen.
Drive Like Jehu
3/5
Ok it's got some great things going on. The drums and bass did their homework and brought it. The lead guitar was out there, just going for it. I appreciate that.
I lost the lyrics part. I get a lot of the genre is screaming lyrics at you. Some bands can make that shit work. These folks kinda faltered a bit on it.
It's worth it to listen to some of it. If it grabs you cool, if it's not, it's ok to walk away from this. I'd rather listen to just the band rock out and jam personally.
George Harrison
4/5
Some of y'all were conceived to this album. Bunch of little kids running around cause mom and dad were dirty hippie kids.
So George was the best Beatle followed up by Ringo. You all know it's true. I could listen to this and didn't once wonder if there is a better cover version out there. The album very much feels it's age. So if you want tunes near modern it isn't here. These hold up though. Really well. Far better than I expected if I'm being honest. Like What is Life for example. It feels like a late 60's early 70's tune, but damn if while listening to it I started drumming on the steering wheel and bobbing my head to the beat.
Now not every song hit. Ole George needed someone to slow him down on a couple of them. Even if I didn't enjoy the lyrics the music was good. So that was nice.
This album made me honestly enjoy a Beatle. Thanks George.
Charles Mingus
3/5
If you enjoy jazz you will dig this album. I like some of it, parts of the third track missed me, then it brought me back. The first two songs had me looking more of his stuff up. I enjoyed it.
The Kinks
2/5
Hooray! More britpop.
I mean it's better than most britpop I've heard. There are a couple of tunes that I enjoyed but the whole of it left me kinda... bleh.
It sounds like most of the music coming out at that time sure they are the front runner for that but since it doesn't hit with me this is a miss.
The Hives
2/5
It's not bad. I enjoyed the first track. The rest sound much the same as the first. Some pop out a bit different. It's kind of a cheat that's it's a "greatest hits" from their first couple of albums. I mean if they added a Frank Sinatra greatest hits it would be a five stars.
That aside is that it's not bad, they are fun, even if nothing really sticks with you for long. It's the kind of rock that you hear at a party and maybe listen to it on the way home, but you don't think about it past that. I heard it and never thought to tell my friends about it. I work with people that also do this list and didn't think to tell them about it when we talked.
Fun for forgettable.
Deep Purple
3/5
I knew some of their stuff but never did a deep dive on them before. Deep Purple is one of those bands that every band after points to and goes "I was influenced by..." This album is history, you can hear other bands listening to this and trying their version of it. You get a sense of what is to come.
Personally I enjoyed the bass on this album. Sure it's fairly simple compared to bands today but damn you can't help but go, "Damn man."
Good stuff. I want to listen to it a few times to really grasp what is here.
Talvin Singh
2/5
Bollywood techno.
Its kinda interesting but still electronica. So this one misses me.
Thundercat
2/5
Ok I've tried a couple times to get this album and I just don't. Usually I enjoy the weird expemental stuff but this missed me by a lot.
Deep Purple
3/5
I'm just copying and pasting the review from a few days ago when I got a different Deep Purple album. It fits.
I knew some of their stuff but never did a deep dive on them before. Deep Purple is one of those bands that every band after points to and goes "I was influenced by..." This album is history, you can hear other bands listening to this and trying their version of it. You get a sense of what is to come.
Personally I enjoyed the bass on this album. Sure it's fairly simple compared to bands today but damn you can't help but go, "Damn man."
Good stuff. I want to listen to it a few times to really grasp what is here.
Black Flag
5/5
I love this album. Most times I will bitch when the is bad but it works for this one.
It's a great album full of fun songs. TV Party is great satire. It's a great example of punk for me. Loud, gritty, kinda silly, and makes a point. I love the whole album.
Frank Black
2/5
I had no idea who this was before today.
I will now forget this album.
The Velvet Underground
5/5
This is my favorite Velvet Underground album.
I bought this on vinyl so long ago and would listen to it over and over again. It is their most chill and relaxed album. We used to joke that this is Lou's first solo album.
Wear good head phones as they play with sound a lot. It makes me miss my larger hi-fi speakers I used to have. I use to try and make out all the lyrics to Murder Mystery. I still never looked up the lyrics.
Great album. Easily one of my favorites.
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
This is damn near a perfect album. It just works on all levels.
Listening to it you can tell they had fun making it. It feels like some talented friends got together and had a great vacation making music.
It kicked off a small universe of albums!
It's one of those albums that 100% belongs on this list. It is foundational for hip-hop and music in general. Great album.
SZA
3/5
It's a decent enough album. SZA has a really nice voice, it makes me want to listen to more of her.
It didn't hit me the same as my wife. She knew and enjoyed her before but after listening to it with me I'm sure she's a fan now. Talking about wanting to see her live.
So although the totality missed me I have to give SZA props.
The Smiths
2/5
Yeah I'm not a smiths fan. The band is good but the dude singing and filter he's using is annoying to me.
I don't understand the love the smiths get, at all.
Foo Fighters
3/5
So when this first came out I listened and went OK.
Today I listened and went OK.
I've seen them live, they are fun live. I do enjoy them, but they are pretty generic rock overall. It's not bad, it's not great, it's good. No new ground will be broken. You won't hear something that will change your life. You'll find out you know more of their tunes than you realized and maybe have some fun. They are a band that if there was a greatest hits album I would 100% buy it. It would be the only Foo Fighters album I would own.
Emmylou Harris
4/5
It's the lady from the Gram Parsons album I didn't like.
She has a lovely voice. It's a well made album and even if you don't like county it's better than any of the modern garbage they put out now. I enjoyed this one more than I expected to. Reminds me of Dolly a lot but since they are lady country singers around the same time that makes sense.
I will end up listening to more of her I think.
Motörhead
4/5
We are Motorhead and we play rock and roll.
Lemmy opened shows by saying that and truer words have never been spoken. They are rock bands favorite band. The lyrics might be clunky, the music loud and blown out, some parts are too fast and others too slow. They are rock at it's core.
You aren't going to listen to this for relevant lyrics. You listen to this when you want to drive fast, when you want to thrash around and knock into things. Nothing is perfect with this album but that's not the point at all. It's a damn fun album to put on and get moving to.
Radiohead
3/5
It's alright. It does feel more pretentious than their older work, but they have talent for what they do.
I'm not a fan of the more electronic sound they had but this album balances it far better.
I'm now going to listen to their first three albums again.
Norah Jones
4/5
She voice is just smooth. I remember when this came out and my dad of all people was enamored with it. Seems in his younger days he hung out in jazz clubs and lounges. Said her voice reminded him of those times in those clubs.
It is a great relaxing album. I started to listen in the car but realized it had to wait. When I got home and after dinner I put on my headphones and listened. Perfect for an evening to chill with.
The Smiths
2/5
Oh goody, another Smiths album. How many are there on here?! Why were they so popular?!
Alright I listened to it, and I keep coming to the same conclusion, their music is good, even the lyrics are decent. I enjoyed this one more than the meat is murder album, but I don't like his voice. I thought last album it was a weird effect or filter, no he just sounds like that. So I'm moving forward with the knowledge that I don't like Morrissey and enjoy the band. Because the bass lines and guitar in this is good.
Time to look up Smiths covers and test this hypothesis.
Frankly, Mr Shankley was a high point for me. It has a solid fart joke in there.
Fishbone
4/5
I wasn't expecting a ska funk band. That was a surprise.
That said this is a fun album, sure sometimes it's chaotic and really goes for it but damn it makes you want to get up and move. Since I'm not sure how to classify them I'm going to just call this a boogie album.
I will be listening to more of them...
Aretha Franklin
4/5
You can't go wrong with Aretha. I was listening to this and wanted to hear her so songs from other genres. Her voice is just wow.
This album is more than Respect, that song is perfection. This album is extremely good, her covers elevate already good songs. It's what made me want to hear her do other genres. Damn good album.
Tom Tom Club
3/5
Oh I remember this one now! I remembered them but not the music. Once the first track started the flood of memories listening to this hit.
It's....quirky.
If you think this is Talking Heads the sequel it's not. It's got the fun experimental part of it. Wordy Rappinghood is an example of it, as is Genius of Love. Both decent enough tunes, but most of the album doesn't pull it together enough to be more than a quirky experiment. Like they got more enamored with fun in the studio they forgot the rest of it, making a more coherent album. You have some great parts of songs but that doesn't make things work.
It's worth a listen as there are a few songs that are decent The fist couple and the last couple are about it.
Sabu
2/5
I bet they were fun live. Like you show up to the dancehall and they are just going for it.
So older recordings are difficult. On my headphones it's a lot, you can tell they recorded this on the best they could use. I spent some time tweaking different levels but this record shows it's age in a bad way.
The music isn't bad, some parts are more repetitive than I like but I kept going back to them playing in dancehalls and not on albums and it made sense.
Unfortunately I'm going to have to rank this one lower simply because it's a painful listen when they are singing.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
Alright if you say you don't like jazz try this album. It is one of the best made. Now there are better out there but this album is so damn fun. It's interesting as they play a lot with this album. It experiments with time signatures and it's fun to try and hear when they change it up. Great album.
If you have a friend that likes prog rock play this for them. The odd time signatures used here will be a fun treat for them.
Radiohead
5/5
OK Computer is an insane album. It was a huge shift for them. They were pretty straightforward in their first two albums and this one just added layers to how they create music and it works here.
The lyrics are bleak, the music matches, I used to joke that everyone in the band suffers from depression and several other undiagnosed mental problems. This album is heavy.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
Kendrick won a Pulitzer Prize award. Not for this album but you need to keep that in mind. He is an amazing lyricist just flat out one of the best hip-hop artists ever. When I first listen to a Kendrick album I listen to it first with headphones, then a second time with the lyrics. It's so dense and paints a picture that you feel.
This is his second album and although he's not at the stage where people throw awards at him or he destroys other artists careers, you can see where he is going. You can see where he's coming from. I swear he wrote this album with his past in mind.
It's a great album and I hope his other albums are on the list because the longer his career goes on the better he gets.
Portishead
5/5
I could write a book on this album and how it effected and affected my life when it came out. It was a huge soundtrack for damn near two full years. I still put it on to listen to decades later. It is that damn good.
It was always classified as trip-hop but we had people call it electric jazz or lounge. One guy I know called it, "Electric booty music
" it's one of those albums that doesn't really fit a lot of labels.
Her voice is almost haunting and fits with the music so well. You feel every lyric and note. You can assign various emotions to it depending on your mood. It is absolutely an amazing album.
The Band
2/5
Your grandpa likes this band. The kid that is close to his grandpa knows them.
It's not a terrible album but it shows it age. Several times. Both musically an lyrically.
4/5
DEVO!
They are a fun band. I'm not usually a new wave guy but I've always enjoyed them. Weird experimental music almost always hits well for me.
This album is no exception, its a fun, odd album that lays out an entire genre of music. Sadly most of the bands that went for this sound never quite hit it.
King Crimson
5/5
I mean.....I mean.....
It is one of the best prog albums ever. It set the tone for all others and yet it's not one of those albums where the idea is half baked. This is a fully formed album.
It's wild how well done it is. I love this album. Without it we do not get to ELP, Tool, Rush. It's the foundation for those.
Suicide
2/5
I expected more based on the name and cover art.
Don't judge a book by it's cover and all that.
Yeah it's just not doing anything for me. It's not terrible, like I'm listening and don't hate everyone involved with the making of this album. I'm not mad I'm listening, it's just not me.
Amy Winehouse
2/5
I still don't like her music. I get what she was going for more. I do have a bit more appreciation for the dumbass that wrote a song about going to rehab and died because of alcohol. I used to not be able to stand her stuff, after listening I recognize her raw talent. The album is very one note though, her dude left. Some songs she has an amazing voice but some it's very meh.
She is a tragic figure in that she was a troubled young woman and I feel most of her circle took advantage of her. That's not fair and she probably could have made amazing albums later if everyone wasn't getting rich off her.
Wilco
2/5
I worked with a guy that loved them. He was a nice enough guy but had shit taste in music.
This album is boring.
Seriously his voice is the same for every song. It's downbeat musically. So it's like, "Yes this is music."
Brian Eno
3/5
It's like a pop album got run though the experiment filter. With Eno it could have been super weird but this fun and accessable, well as accessable as Eno gets anyway.
I found it to be a fun album. Musically it's extremely well done. I'm not sure who all he grabbed to make this but I will say they are very good.
Lyrics can be a stretch, this isn't your normal mid 70's pop album.
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
I have always enjoyed this album. It's fun, I enjoyed the weirdness that they went for with it. Fun studio tricks and because it seems everyone wrote a song or two it varies from track to track.
Solid album and a great album to listen to if you like psychedelic rock.
David Ackles
1/5
Makes me think of that weird off broadway show that no one shows up to but one artist friend drags you to.
Os Mutantes
3/5
I had no idea what to expect before listening. I saw the name and cover and had zero recognition.
It's weird.
It's weird in a fun way though. Like you listen and the track ends and you have a second to think and the next track could be a more straight forward song. They had fun making it.
OH also they are Brazilian so don't expect English. Ups the "WHAT?" factor a bit, keeps you going.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
3/5
Some tunes on this are just off. Like listening to this I want to make sure dude is alright. After reading up on him when I was done with this listen he was not alright. It's haunted and his voice and lyrics bring it out. It's not an album I will put on to listen to normally but I can see a time I want to listen to this.
Parts of this were written in a mental ward in the 60's and it was recorded to be a demo. The label said no thanks and did nothing with it.
This album is the closest thing to cursed as I can find short of someone getting murdered and set to tape.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Curtis Mayfield is another one of those artists that your favorite band is a fan of. He was known but for some reason never was huge.
He has better albums than this but you can not deny his talents on this album. The cover goes so damn hard. Yet some of the songs fell flat for me. Jesus just didn't hit for me. Yet Blue Monday is on my playlist now, as is Hard Times.
It's a great album even when it doesn't do it for me. I will be listening to his entire discography again now.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Oh wow this album takes me back. It just has so many hits from then. A great time capsule album of the early 80's.
It's fun, great lyrics, good music and Cyndi just owns it.
The Cramps
3/5
I expected this to be a weird punk album. Instead I got a psychobilly punk album. Not being exposed to a lot of psychobilly music I not sure if this is good or not. I've enjoyed it, it's on my list to listen to more later.
That said it is a bit out there. If you want straightforward rock or punk this ain't it. I've enjoyed the music a lot. Sometimes the singer gets muddy but I think that is what they were going for.
Good album. I can see myself moving it to a four after listening to it more.
Cream
3/5
This is going to be in two parts because Clapton is a complicated dude.
This album is another time capsule album hugely influential and a perfect album for 67. If you don't like it I'll bet some of your favorite bands do. This is Cream at it's peak, they all took lead on this and it pays off great album. It's worth listening to because of it's historical ramifications and it's just a good album.
Now the Eric Clapton of it all. Dude is hard to pin down. Goes on a racist rant in 76, doesn't continue saying racist shit. Personally helps blues player like Buddy Guy and Gary Clark Jr. Goes on a anti vax rant and release anti lockdown songs, still gets the vaccine. I mean he loved BB King like a brother for all accounts. I'm just not sure about him.
Amy Winehouse
1/5
Oh joy another Winehouse album.
Alright I took a couple days to listen to this and I just don't like her stuff. I should her voice isn't bad but listening to it just annoys me in a weird way. It always has though. I'm just not a fan.
Bert Jansch
3/5
He is good at being the acoustic guitar folk guy. The accent helps in this case as the album is very low key and relaxed. Like he is giving you a concert in your living room. It has that vibe.
I think being fall as I listen helps too. This isn't a summer play it in the car album. You want to be kinda cozy with a coffee or tea in the morning when listening to this.
Tito Puente
4/5
TITO!
It's a fun album. One of those albums that make you want to see them in a dancehall in their prime.
I will put this on the next time I'm cleaning because it is imposable to sit still when this is playing. There will be no breaks for two hours. Yeah it's a long one, the songs are short though.
Good stuff, fun and light.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Oh good a Peter Gabriel album! I'm biased here I think I own or owned all of his stuff. I have listened to it so much I have heard these track in years yet knew the beats and lyrics.
I'm in the bag.
The 80's were weird for music a lot going on and Gabriel used a lot of the idea of art and music for his stuff. He used a lot of layers and influences in his music. Performance art at his shows. The man's music has an interesting mix of drama and freedom in his music. Some of it feels heavy yet you aren't burdened by it.
Great album. I hope some of his later stuff is on the list. I have been listening to his stuff recently anyway but it's enjoyable coming across an artist you have many great experiences with already.
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
I've seen them live and enjoyed them. Yet this album didn't hit me like I thought it would have. Maybe it's because they went for a 70's southern rock sound and I'm not a fan of a lot of that style.
It's well done though. Some tunes I like the music other the lyrics got me. A couple I enjoyed the whole song. Not enough to make me want to relisten to it.
Over all its OK.
The Undertones
2/5
This album is a roller coaster for me. Some songs I enjoy and find to be fun, others I find to be boring and tired. It weirdly inconsistent for me.
It does fit the new wave sound well though.
Garbage
2/5
Ahh Garbage. You have all the vibes in the world and nothing to say. You were the perfect party music in the mid 90's because of this.
They have some hits and sound good. It's like an inch deep though. It also lead to a discussion with a co-worker that everyone knew them but only few people owned this CD.
It's alright, nothing that will change your life.
Nanci Griffith
3/5
It seems like country albums are like hip hop albums on the list few and far between.
This album isn't bad. She tells several stories that feel very real. She does it pretty well too. I'm not a huge country fan, like all music I can find some I like, but this one has a heart to it that some albums just seem to miss.
The entire album won't get added but I'll listen to it again and a few songs are on my liked list.
Decent stuff, worth a listen even if it's not your usual genre.
Finley Quaye
3/5
I'm not sure if I like it. I enjoyed some of the songs like Sunday Shining, but this album is just odd to me. It's got some great "texture" to it. Lots of layers to listen to and digest, but I'm not sure if it's a good album.
I've never heard of him before and no one I've asked knew his stuff. It's also like a weird wanna be soul/reggae kind of vibe to it. So some songs are sweet but try to get deep and it's just weird.
I think this is the kind of album I will need to listen to a few times to figure out what I legitimately think of it. Cause right now I'm meh with a side of I don't know.
Rahul Dev Burman
4/5
BOLLYWOOD!
Alright the first track hits WAY harder than I expected. I was assuming this would be a decent Bollywood sound and I get something that I expected Wu-Tang to show up in.
Alright maybe this is my ignorance of Bollywood showing but this shit is all over the place but damn solid. Some tunes show their age. Some songs switch movie genres at random and others are just great.
There is a lady on YouTube that will listen to Indian music and give some translation and you see her facial reactions to the lyrics. I need to find out her channel name and point her at this so I have some context. I feel like I should watch the movie now as well.
It's a wild pull but it's been a day and finishing it with this album is great. I'm hear for it, bwhaha.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
I never understood the appeal of them. Musically they have always been good, but lyrically they are childish overall and I do not like his voice at all. They are very good musicians though. I would like to hear them without the vocals, I think I would enjoy it more.
I've heard they are good live, but I never understood their version of performance art. So that part never appealed to me either.
Don't get me wrong they have a couple of songs that are good. I'm not hearing many on this album. Californication is a good song, it's solid, where Get On Top makes me want to jump out of a moving vehicle. Also I didn't like Scar Tissue and I was told it's good. It missed me.
Hearing them here and there make me like them more than listening to an entire album. Listening to them for an hour made me dread the next song.
Missy Elliott
4/5
Ok at the start of it I was having flashbacks to early 00's hip hop. Then the entire album clicked for me. I remembered how much I enjoyed Elliott. At some point in my life I forgot about an entire era of music.
Seriously this album is good give it a listen and try not to want to dance.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Such a great album. You can tell he is leaning into playing in a prison, the songs the banter, he is playing to the crowd and it works. It feels like a much larger concert than it was.
This was apparently part of a series of shows he did at prisons and the famous picture of him giving the middle finger was from this show. He was upset the crew was blocking the view for the prisoners. You can also appreciate his songs about jail more because it wasn't just lip service.
Great album...
Lou Reed
4/5
I enjoy his stuff. He loves to layer on sounds and meaning into his work that hits me.
His storytelling in this is superb. Perfect Day is a prime example of it. You feel the lyrics, same with Hanging Around. Walk on the Wild side is the breakout, it could be that I remember this getting radio play even in the 80's shows it stands the test of time.
Great album.
Julian Cope
2/5
Yeah it's got some parts I like but they are few and far between. Kinda lands with a thud for me.
It doesn't even make me want to listen to it again later and see. It's just there taking up time.
Gang Of Four
4/5
I'm about halfway right now and I'm digging it. It's a great album. They mix up a few genres like punk, funk and reggae so well. I was shocked as I don't usually like post punk type stuff. You can feel it's not a new album due to tone but the mix is done well even if it's a bit stripped down, the bass comes through so damn well.
It's infectious really. Really fun album.
The Beach Boys
2/5
It's the beach boys. If you like them you will live this album. If you don't you won't.
Musically it's fine I just don't like the beach boys sound.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
So, outside of his hits I'm not a huge Springsteen fan. He was everywhere growing up so I was kinda over his sound early. That said...
I love this album.
It is literally one of my favorite albums of all time. Absolutely amazing. It's so stripped down I want to say it was a demo that everyone went no it's good, ship it. It's Bruce and a guitar singing about the hope and sadness that is America. It's about every town your drive through, it's about the people there living.
Great fucking album.
If you like this one look up Badlands. It's a tribute album from 2000ish. Great covers of every song on this one.
Beatles
2/5
I'm just not a Beatles guy. I understand their place in music history, I don't understand why they were as popular as they were. This is better than their earlier super bubblegum pop drivel, but having some better lyrics don't mean it's an amazing album.
It's got a couple of decent tunes on it, but it's a big meh for me.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
I could post lyrics that over 50 years later are still relevant. I could go on about how his life was cut way to short. I could say how this concept album is one of the best anti war albums ever. I could go off on the music, the lyrics the social impact this album has.
Instead I will say this.
What's going on is simply one of the best albums made.
Arcade Fire
2/5
Am I the only one that finds this album kinda boring? Like it's not terrible but it's just meh.
I've been listening to it off and on all day and it's kinda bland.
Paul Weller
3/5
It makes me think of the first couple of years of Bonnaroo. He would make a great Sunday afternoon set.
It's a good man and his guitar album. It's got good lyrics and he plays his guitar to fit so everything goes together well.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Just a great album.
I want to listen to it more before I decide on if it's a five star.
Love them.
Tina Turner
3/5
Ahh Tina. This album would hold up better if it was redone and had the 80's removed.
Like her version of Let's Stay Together. You can feel her soul in it, but the synth and guitar work just kills it.
Tina Turner elevates it though. She could sing the phone book and I swear you could feel it in your heart. So I can't trash the album based on the time period and mistakes of the producer.
This album got me to listen to more Tina Turner though. Thanks album.
Harry Nilsson
2/5
It sounds like the first part of the 70's. Like the 60's had a bit of a hangover and started to think they needed to change things up a bit.
It's alright but not for me.
Massive Attack
1/5
With a name like massive attack I was thinking it would be more. This album wants you to get laid but has a weak game. Like they listened to good music then tried to reproduce it and instead made everyone involved sad and in need of a drink.
David Bowie
4/5
This is a great Sunday morning album. I got up before the family made my coffee while listening to this on the headphones. Good album. It's not one full of "hits" but it's a classic Bowie album, Be My Wife is on the playlist now. Good stuff...
I considered myself a Bowie fan but don't think I've ever actually listened to this one. I need to do a deep dive and listen to everything he's done.
Steely Dan
4/5
Ok so I know WAY more of these tunes that I want to admit. Like I have to have an intervention for the Dad rock I think. I didn't even realize I knew this much Steely Dan.
Dad rock aside isn't a pretty good album. Musically and lyrically it's solid, if a bit dated. It has a nice flow to the album and was great to, yes I'm serious, grill dinner to. I bet it would be a great album to mow the lawn to as well. Maybe put it on the speaker and wash the car. Decent album.
God I feel old.
Japan
1/5
No.
Just no.
Lightning Bolt
1/5
Today I learned I do not enjoy whatever genre this is.
Seriously it would start to sound like something then devolve rapidly into shit.
Ministry
4/5
Oh man I've not listen to this album in decades!
It's still great. It is one of the tops of industrial metal. It hits hard and keeps going for it on every track.
Such a good album.
Beatles
3/5
So a friend of mine enjoys the beatles. He told me to go in with an open mind and try and pick out things I like.
I liked the ones that weren't pop drivel. Octopuses Garden was fun as one Hammer one.
Here Comes the Sun is better done by Richie Havens. Seriously go look up any of the ones he has done far superior to the version on this album. So is Come Together, all the covers of that are better than the one on this album.
It's not to say the beatles suck. Historically speaking they moved music forward far more than the sum of their discography. I don't know why they were as popular to this day, but I do appreciate what they did for music.
Also John Lennon is still a pretentious wanker. George and Ringo are great and Paul is alright.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Stevie Wonder is one of those folks that somehow knows every instrument. Dude is nothing short of amazing. He is so influential and his reach is so far in music it is mind boggling.
This album has some of the absolutely best songs. Superstition is perfection, Sunshine of my Life is awesome. I Believe should be played at every wedding for all time. There are some songs that feel repetitive but they aren't bad songs. I have listened to this album so many times before and will again.
Great album.
Jane Weaver
2/5
It feels mediocre. Like I listened to it but none of it stuck. It was bad but no song was one I would suggest to someone. It's very middle of the road.
I give it a solid meh.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
They are a band I can't wrap my head around why they are hugely popular. Sure they have some hits but man when it's not a hit it's rough.
I need to sit down and listen to their discography and make my own hits playlist. Maybe I'll gain an appreciation then.
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
I enjoyed this one a lot. It was a fun listen. I had it on at work and got annoyed when someone swung by or called. Good album.
I have listened to it a few times since then and I enjoy it. It's been added to my full time rotation.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
It's the relax band! Oh man that damn song had legs didn't it. Showed up a decade later too.
It's a fun album, not really my cup of tea but not a bad listen.
The Modern Lovers
3/5
It's like someone listened to the doors and tried to mimic it but had less songwriting capabilities.
It's not bad but that's what kept going through my head.
I want to listen again. Some songs I enjoyed but man Old World got tiring.
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
It has some great songs on it. Well put together and musically sound. I've always enjoyed listening to it.
With Clapton being such complex dude I can't give it the full 4 stars it deserves. On one hand he has said some racist shit. Then he will do everything he can to help out black musicians and they will say nothing but good things about him. Dude is only about music from what I can tell.
Fred Neil
2/5
I couldn't get into it. It should be up my alley but it just kinda fell flat for me.
New York Dolls
3/5
I don't usually like glam rock and at first glance this would be that. Yet this album is more gritty and sloppy. It's not polished like glam usually tries to be.
It's an interesting album when viewed historically. You can see it being the roots for what comes later. I would love to know what someone said hearing it on release.
Fun album.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
It didn't do anything for me really. Spoken word more than anything. If I remember right someone stole his money and this was a last chance to earn. Not saying it's bad, it's pretty decent poetry, it just didn't hit me musically.
Worth a listen even if it's a bit depressing.
Kate Bush
3/5
It's an odd album, like she got to do whatever and she released a concept album that Tori Amos heard and went, "I can do this."
It's not bad it just kinda out there. Like it requires a few differ listens to grab it all. Might need to read the lyrics during one of the playthroughs.
Interesting stuff. I can see this being a musicians favorite and it never getting any airplay.
The Byrds
3/5
Today I learned the Byrds did country music.
Like super twang county music.
I'm used to the hippe turn turn tun and I get something.... else.
So I finished the album. It's not bad as far as super twang albums go. I wish my one Grandmas was alive as we LOVED the supertwang stuff. Some of the tuns were decent. I kept getting stuck on it being the Byrds as it's a huge shift from their earlier work.
Not for me but if you like the
2/5
I have has this on all morning. I have a weird fascination with experiments like this. OR I'm a glutton for punishment.
So there are sections that aren't discordant noise. It's like a weird calm in a storm when they appear. During those moments you can tell these people have talent and if used for good could untie us all, instead they decided to fuck with us. I admire that in a weird sick way.
Do yourself a favor, after you turn this off go look up Ornette Coleman and listen to his stuff. It's really good and his stuff should be on the list. It's a terrible oversight if he is missing.
Paul Simon
3/5
This is a very Paul Simon album. Like all his solo work sounds similar to me so this is just like, yeah it's a Paul Simon album.
I prefer him with Garfunkel personally.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
I want to like it more. Parts are really fun, but it just drags on. If I was at a festival or they were playing at a small club I could see enjoying it more. Mostly cause I assume their stage energy would be higher and I would have been drinking.
Deerhunter
2/5
This album missed me. Like it's just boring. None of the tunes made me think I needed to relisten.
It's not a bad album, they have talent, it just boring.
Santana
4/5
Ah Santana, I can put it on and listen in a dark room, I can have it one when I'm cleaning, it's great road trip music.
This is a great album.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Some songwriter write poetry and set it to music, some write songs and some write stories. Bruce writes stories that feel lived in, they feel real. It's impressive.
I never understood the band. Like he went for a big band kind of sound then sings about a poor kid from the middle of nowhere. It works for some songs. I just never got it.
Bruce is very hot or cold, his hit are out of this world, some of his deep cuts wiff for me. This isn't a bad album it just doesn't all land for me.
The Dandy Warhols
4/5
I enjoyed this album a lot. Somehow it never made it on my radar really. I've heard of them, but never listened to them. Something tells me they didn't get a lot of radio play and at that point in my life I was working with only a radio in the shop.
It's a great late 90's feel kind of album. Once I started listened I knew when it was released. Good stuff.
Supergrass
4/5
Ok this is a fun album. I knew the name Supergrass but never listened to them before. This is a fun as hell album. It's lively, up tempo. Just a bunch of fun tunes to listen to while driving.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
This is one of my development albums. I had a birthday where my friends gave me a bunch of tapes and this was one of them. It is the pinnacle of Smashing Pumpkins for me. I swear I listened to it so much I swear the tape wore out. Sure it was a used tape and who know how many time it was recorded over, but it died on me so I take the blame.
It's a good album. I doesn't have the hits but damn it's good.
Meat Loaf
3/5
Ahh Meat Loaf, your rock and roll musical is on the list.
Yeah it's alright, the concept is fun but I'm not a musical guy so it's lost on me. I get the allure but in my head it's a lot of pomp and circumstance.
Musically it's solid everything sounds good and well played/sung. The talent is definitely there as is the passion. Sadly it falls on deaf ears for me.
Sister Sledge
3/5
Some of y'all were convinced because of this album. Your parents were at the disco shaking their asses and met, then went home and boned to this album...
I like the more slowed down tracks personally. The danceable stuff isn't bad but it's not me. I have no rhythm. The full on R&B tracks are good though. Good album.
Adele
3/5
So like she was going through a divorce with this one yeah? Cause there is a lot of miss the old times songs. Makes me think of thousands of divorced moms just belting this album out in their cars on the way to get Starbucks.
She has talent though. Her voice is beautiful I just feel that all the songs are alike. I'd like to see her do something wild and push it. I will listen to more of her stuff because of this album though.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Alright so the list likes to over represent bands. Cause at this point I've listened to all of CCR's stuff at this point. Now this is got to be their best album but still, we could cut an album here and there and get more bands to listen to.
Now that I'm done bitching, this is a GREAT album of theirs. It has to be their best work. Solid everything here. It's wild that they released so many good albums in a short amount of time.
Dire Straits
4/5
Better than I expected. I think this is a debut album and it's solid and polished for one. Granted they are classic rock royalty at this point. What shocked me was the bass line was more forward, some rock buries it.
Solid album. I enjoyed it..
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
This is a good album to read a book and have a decent coffee or tea on a cold or rainy morning.
It's good, chill and I have no clue what they are singing about but will put this album on a cold winter morning that I have nothing to do but relax.
Johnny Cash
4/5
This is an amazing album. Yes his version of Hurt is probably better than Trent's, but this album is more that that.
You can feel his age with every song, yet it works. It's not like he falters or sounds bad. He uses it to add another layer and damn it works.
I think this is the first time I listened to the whole album since it came out and damn I'm gonna be listening to it for the next week.
Beastie Boys
3/5
I loved this album when I was younger. It was up there with Run DMC and LL. I still enjoy some of there stuff but it it all way to similar. Fun mix and DJ work, silly lyrics and screaming into a megaphone into a mic.
I will give them huge leeway as hip hop was new and they are trailblazers but damn it sound the same from song to song.
Roni Size
1/5
Oh it's drum and bass run though a mixer. Great for movie soundtracks, trailers and commercials. Lame for an entire album.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
I can't get into Joni Mitchell. This is my second album of hers and some of the lyrics are good but I don't enjoy her delivery or voice I guess.
It does make me want to look up Joni Mitchell covers though...
Elliott Smith
2/5
I kept waiting for it to do something. Then I fell asleep.
I wasn't expecting it to be so, boring. Like the individual songs are fine but one after the other is just.... makes me want to go to sleep I guess.
R.E.M.
4/5
I thought I had never heard this album. Didn't remember the name at all. I started listening and went I know this. Then I realized it was a dubbed tape I had no name just said REM.
Decent album, has a few hits of theirs. Some songs were meh to me, the last track I wasn't a fan of and honestly skipped it halfway through. As usual overall they have good music and for the most part match the time and place, not quite a time capsule album but if you want to do a deep dive this is a great place to start.
Various Artists
4/5
Christmas songs are weird. You know all the lyrics, but the voices and arrangements are different. Then you come across albums like this where you know it. Like it's ingrained in your head and you had no clue it was because you didn't own this album but you have heard the songs on the radio, or in a store or at a company party. Like you know them so well but you would remember Spector being in the title. So you know it wasn't that you owned it.
Christmas songs are a weird cheat. So many bands have a Christmas album that you don't know about. So many songs are simply missed yet years later you stumble across it and go how do I know this?!?!
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Just ask the Axis....
Such a great album. It's far more out there than the other Hendrix Experience albums. It's not the pop album their first studio was, it's not the blues experiment Ladyland was. It's an experiment in psychedelic rock, it opens weird and embraces it and then moves forward with it.
Such a great album, Hendrix is one of the best guitarist in history. His influence on music is far reaching and eternal. This album is a huge part of that legacy.
Napalm Death
4/5
I used to hang out in a shitty bar that had a metal club upstairs. We would be shooting darts or bullshiting and the band of the day would start and it was always loud overdriven guitars and some dude screaming lyrics that you didn't understand into the mic. We would always joke, oh they are doing covers, or oh man this is my favorite song! After a while we could pick up different songs but never the lyrics. A few times we would go up and listen to see if we could understand them that way. Never could.
So this album brings me nostalgic feelings to that shitty bar. I do enjoy the music but unless I have a lyric sheet I have no clue what dude is saying most times. It's good metal though, fast, hard, unyielding to the listener. The kind of metal that makes my old ass want to see if I can still handle the pit. Knowing full well a few of the kids in there would pick me up laughing when I get knocked on my ass.
If someone was new to metal I would suggest this as a decent death metal example or grind metal too.
Yeah the metal genres are ridiculous, but so much fun to listen and try and pick out the differences.
The Cure
2/5
I enjoyed the last The Cure album. This one just drones and is very repetitive. At first I thought it was me cause I was driving. So I listened to it again at the house with headphones. It was better when I was concentrating on driving.
The Clash
3/5
I preferred London Calling personally. You can tell they have talent with this. It's a bit rougher than their later work, but it's good.
Sam Cooke
4/5
Sam Cooke is great. It feel dated but still holds up. I just love his voice and hearing him live you get a good feel for his energy. He had to have been fun to see live.
His voice comes through great in it. I would have liked the band to be a bit more in the mix. They come across but it's muted compared to his voice.
This album is getting added to the library. Great album.
Judas Priest
4/5
I consider this classic metal. I have joked recently and called it Grandpa metal even though it's from my childhood. It's because it's different than modern metal, more operatic, clean even with the amazing guitars behind it all.
They influenced so many bands its wild. These dudes got so many kids into music it's wild to think of. They also upset a TON of parents while doing it. Also while listening to it I don't see why. It's really tame when you sit down with it. It's got some cheeky lyrics but it's not like they are telling you to worship Satan. Well unless you play it backwards.
Silver Jews
1/5
Wow. It's bad spoken word poetry set to boring music.
Seriously why did I listen to the whole thing?! Who lives this?!
Why is this on the list? Is it an experimental album that went wrong? Is this a band that other bands like? Why list makers?!
DJ Shadow
3/5
As far as DJs go he is good. From what I can tell anyway. He's mixes well but unless he has someone doing vocals I'm out.
That said, Nobody Speak with him and Run the Jewels is fucking amazing. It's not on this album but go watch the video.
Queen
3/5
This is the most 70's classic rock queen has sounded. This album reminds me of that entire decade. It's not their strongest but you can get the feeling of where they are planning on going.
I would have picked other albums of theirs but it's a solid choice and a deeper dive into Queen. Not sure it needed to be on the list though.
The Police
4/5
It was good. I enjoy their hits for sure, they are the hits for a reason. When you get to deep dive into a band as big as the Police and listen it's fun.
Mother is weird as shit and I was hear for it. See what I did there?
The rest of the album is still good even though Mother does do the heavy lifting here. Sure Every Breath you take is good and known as the stalkers anthem but the album is better than just that song. This entire album is a good listen, from start to finish.
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
Smooth. If I had to describe this album in one word it would be that.
Seriously some of you all parents were conceived to this album. Grandma was knocking some boots to it.
What struck me was how good the recording of it was. A lot of older jazz albums have a grit to them and this doesn't. I swear you hear glasses clink in the background.
This is an album that belongs on the list.
Death In Vegas
2/5
Wow another boring brit band.
Come one list maker this is ridiculous. It's not offensive to listen to but it's another trailer or soundtrack sounding album. Nothing really good.
It's like Imagine Dragons, they are not terrible but they aren't good.
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
OK.
I'm not a just the DJ/Electronica guy. It's alright I guess.
I would love to hear someone rap over this, I think that would be a better album.
AC/DC
5/5
Oh man this album. Alright so the local rock station would play this entire album throughout the day, so my review is biased. I might have some form of Stockholm syndrome.
This album is just awesome. It's big dumb fun. There is a problematic song that shows it's age, but other than that, banger after banger.
So if you broke this album down it's not gonna work. If you take the music from Aretha Franklin her voice will carry and work. Here I don't think it would. The lyrics are silly and childish, his voice isn't good, the music is pretty basic but honestly great for rock. Yet it all works together so damn well. I have listened to this twice and wondered why it wasn't already in my library. It's a great rock album, there is a reason why all the rock stations play damn near every song off it. It was perfect for it's place in time and genre.
The Band
2/5
I've been told The Band is good. I've been told they are great even.
I don't get it.
I've had both of their albums on the list and just don't get it. It's kinda boring and bland. I was told to give it another chance but I don't want to.
Beatles
3/5
Decades ago I was reading Helter Skelter, the book about the Manson murders, and it mentioned this album a lot. So as I finished reading the book while listening to this album.
For a Beatles album it's good. Long, but decent. It also has my favorite Beatles song on it, While my Guitar Gently Weeps. Granted, Eric Clapton played guitar on that tune so that could be why it's my favorite.
It's one of their weirder albums, no real theme behind it, so that makes it an interesting listen when you could get a Blackbird or Helter Skelter.
Not a bad album but it's still the Beatles so kinda mid in my opinion...
Moby
1/5
I didn't understand his popularity when this album was released. I REALLY don't now that I have listened to it.
It's boring, repetitive, and unending. I ended up skipping to the next song halfway through each track because it was either that or my sanity. It was frustratingly repetitive. I understand breaking the mold of the verse, chorus, verse type of song but damnit this is a terrible way to do it.
My wife said she had this album when she was younger and played me a few tracks she likes. I knew she liked to go clubbing but she always showed better taste in music than this. We might need couples therapy after 20+ years together.
Oasis
1/5
I want you to listen to this album again. When listening to it I want you to realize how often he adds in extra letters into the lyrics. Sky becomes SKKKYYYYYYYYYY. Now I want you to realize he does this in EVERY DAMN SONG! It's like he's a little kid whining for a toy the entire album....
Seriously go listen again.
Musically it is good they can play well, but holy shit he elongates words like Doctor Cox when he's yelling at JD!
Joy Division
2/5
Joy Division isn't bad, depressing, atmospheric, mixed weird yes, but not bad. It's not Oasis elongating so many lyrics I want to smash my head in. So that was nice. I'm in a good mood so some of this was lost on me. It's all very sad and downbeat. You can feel the depression in the music and lyrics.
That said if you are thinking of suicide do not listen to this album.
A change of speed, a change of style
A change of scene, with no regrets
A chance to watch, admire the distance
Still occupied, though you forget
Different colours, different shades
Over each mistakes were made
I took the blame
Directionless so plain to see
A loaded gun won't set you free
So you say
Yeah dude was going though some things when writing this.
I was told by a friend of mine he did in fact kill himself. He told me after I read him my review.
https://988lifeline.org/
Deee-Lite
1/5
Dear list,
Why?
Seriously?
Are you fucking with me?
Love,
Me
Alright so party music has a time and place. I'm sure someone famous loved this and used the mix in something. It could be a song I enjoy. This album as a whole... No. Just no...
I know why it's on the list now! I got to Groove is in the Heart! That fucking song was everywhere for some reason. Oh good it's a one hit wonder album! I thought the list maker was just messing with us like with Throbbing Gristle....
Astrud Gilberto
4/5
Ok so I was thinking the list algorithm was trying to drive me insane. It's been a bad week for the and me.
Then I woke up and hit refresh.
This is delightful. Legitimately. Sure Parade is, weird, but her voice is nice and the lightness fits the music well. The sound shows it's age but that is fine and honestly welcome for this album. The album feels like a warm day.
It's getting added to the library.
Elvis Presley
2/5
His danceable stuff is decent. The love ballads are, there. Being his first album his voice wasn't all mature so the slower stuff is lacking. You can tell he has the talent but not the maturity.
It's interesting since I've not ever sat down to listen to Elvis but because he's Elvis I know a lot more than I expected to. I mean my niece had an Elvis Impersonator at her wedding. Dude was larger than himself. I don't understand it off this album but you can see the start pretty well with this album.
The Verve
2/5
So one of my favorite songs is The Drugs Don't Work. They get a point for that song alone from me. I'm not sure if I truly like Bittersweet Symphony or if I just heard it so many times my brain gave up wanting to hate it. Seriously that song was played so much I think if you were alive around then you kinda just know it.
The rest of the album is boring though. Very slow drivel honestly. Like if they wanted to just rock the hell out they could as they have the talent, but drugs or a producer told them no, embrace the super emo.
It's an interesting album that is very much of it's time. I'm not sure if released at any other time it would gain traction. It's like all the millennials chose depression to listen to.
Stereolab
2/5
I'm not sure what I was supposed to get from this. I'll wager they are some producers favorite band though.
In fact I'll bet they are huge in electronica circles.
It's a no for me though.
Eagles
3/5
Ah the Eagles, very talented band, but absolutely nuts as people.
The reason you had a hard time listening to this entire album, Don Henley. It seems he doesn't want his singing parts on streaming. Mostly anyway, because you still have other songs he sings available.
Also the band themselves seems to hate each other at any given time and may or may not hate themselves right now! Weird dudes.
As for this album, it's 100% classic dad rock. It not bad, most songs are fine, some are insanely well known. You can see the weird fight Glenn and Don had when listening to this album. Notice how some songs just sound different? That's because either Don or Glenn did it and they fought over what everything should sound like. Instead of agreeing the songs sound almost like a different band.
Yeah, weird dudes.
All and all there are worse albums on this and historically speaking as they deserve to be on the list, even if it's a weird slightly disjointed album that is boring in parts. I'm looking at you New Kid in Town.
Van Halen
5/5
I'm in the bag for Van Halen. I love their Diamond Dave era.
This is a great album, it's got great guitar work and fun lyrics. Seriously this is great rock music. Kinda silly and dumb at times but super fun.
So glad this is on the list.
The Libertines
2/5
It's forgettable. It's got the jangly guitars of a standard "indie" band, the whining prose of a standard brit pop band, and feels like they wanted to be edgier but someone during the making said no.
It's kinda catchy at times, but then so is the measles.
The Adverts
2/5
It's alright I guess. Some of the references are missing me, the music is fine.
It's just kinda forgettable. Maybe their other albums are better?
The War On Drugs
3/5
I kept checking the album info because it doesn't sound like a 2014 release. Dude was leaning into the 80's music I'm guessing he grew up with.
I'm digging the vibe on this one. I don't think it will hit every time I play it but it's one of those albums where the weather is right and I'm not in it and I will want to listen to it.
Didn't know the band before but I added this one to my library and will be listening to more of their stuff.
The Verve
2/5
Urban Hymns I get being on the list, had a huge hit and a couple decent tunes on it.
Why is this on the list? It's boring. Is it because they made Urban Hymns after this? Cause that's not worth it.
Stop with the boring brit bands. I know there is good music over there, let us listen to that and not this drivel.
Ice T
4/5
I has been a long time since I sat down and listened to Ice-T. It holds up for me, I'll wager a younger listener will think differently.
T had some good lines, it's a different flow than we have now. Interesting look back at hip hop history, especially when you toss in the Body Count track. He got a lot of heat for Body Count, but I think two songs from this were on a soundtrack.... Now he is a cop on TV and been married to Coco for over 20 years.
3/5
Ah my favorite Beatles album. Mostly cause it's weird. I was also told this and Pet Sounds was the first whole album idea. So apparently before those two albums were mostly just singles mashed up and released. So this and Pet Sounds were the first mainstream albums created from idea to creation to release as a whole idea and not just individual songs.
It's a fun album, get really weird in tracks but works for me. No I'm not a fan of every song, I like the concept and execution of it and will enjoyed several songs. It flows better than the white album. It's worth listening to even without the historical context.
Tears For Fears
4/5
I really enjoyed this album. I knew some of their tunes but never listened to an entire album before today. Good stuff.
Everyone Wants to Rule the World is the stand out by far. It's a great song, but don't sleep on the back half of this album. It's got some really good tracks, I enjoyed Broken a lot.
This album got added to my library.
Solomon Burke
4/5
How did I miss this? I've gone almost 50 years on this planet and not heard this album.
It's good. Real good.
You can hear the
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
Overly dramatic poetry.
I'll bet this is the favorite band of people that think poetry slams are awesome.
So the other Nick Cave albums I've got on this list were interesting and even though I wasn't a fan they were enjoyable. This. This album is brutal. It's not even a good depressing album. It's just boring and makes me hate Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
Also Nick, see a shrink, maybe some brain candy, it will be alright man.
3/5
Ah U2. So I've never been a fan of theirs. They do have some great music but they are a give me a greatest hits band more than a I want to do a deep dive on them.
This album starts off strong, the songs work well. Then the slog of it all sets in. The music is kinda same and makes you go, YOU HAVE TALENT, DO SOMETHING!
It's not a horrible album, I'd rather listen to this than the first Oasis album for sure. It's just that the longer I listen to it the less I like of it. Maybe it's a preconceived notion that I know Bono is a pretentious wanker, maybe it's because I know the guy that honestly calls himself The Edge is too and damnit he's a better guitar player than this album. Maybe I really hate but I grew up with U2 being all over the place and so I have some form of Stockholm Syndrome with them where I just think I enjoy it.
Either way it's pretty non offensive music, they play well and Bono isn't a terrible front man for them. It's a generic rock album.
1/5
Why is this on the list? Is there something about it I don't know?
Lines like "high so high like a really high thing" make me think they are fucking with me.
Ok so after listening I have decided they were trying for boring. There is no other reason they made this album. Technically it's fine, it's not like they made a bad album. It's just very boring.
5/5
Greatest Bowie album
Elton John
3/5
This album opens strong. Tiny Dancer is a absolute great song. Followed up by Levon? Holy shit is this a greatest hits album? Razor Face? Man Across the Water ok your winning me back... WTF is Indian Sunset?
It goes on like this where it roller coasters and you never hit the high of the first song. It's a series of up and down where you know the talent is there but this isn't a whole album showing it.
Is Elton a greatest hits artist? Do you only get the greatest hits album and call it a day?
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
I think he is better when being covered. The title track is great, but the rest falls flat for me. I have heard other tunes of his I like so I'm not sure why this is swing and a miss for me.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
2/5
I could not remember them until I hit the opening of Scooby Snacks. Then I realized I know that but nothing else. Only reason I know that was because it got radio play at the time. I don't think they have anything else.
Why is this on the list? Seriously there are so many other hip hop acts from this time that could be on here.
Also how is this almost an hour!?! I kinda want to give it a 1 just for being almost an hour of lame shit.
Madonna
3/5
Oh man I remember people being PISSED about Like a Prayer. It was great.
She's got some really great pop songs on this album. The lyrics seem personal to her as well. It's probably one of her better albums, if not her best honestly.
There are some that just don't land in this but she worked with two different folks on making it so that fits, Prince helped with this album, you can tell his guitar work in a couple of songs. That was a fun discovery for me.
I won't listen to it again but it wasn't a bad listen, her Ray of Light album was blocked this one if it shows up in a feed later I won't be upset.
Beatles
2/5
YELLOW SUBMARINE!
That song proves my point that Ringo is the best Beatle. It, for me is the only good actual Beatles tune, redeeming them in my eyes. Remember While my Guitar Gently Weeps is Clapton on guitar so it's not a full Beatles song and can't really count for them.
So this album is a turning point for the beatles, so I have been told. I don't quite get it but I'm not a fan. The lyrics are kinda lame and the music is just alright. I'm not sure why this album is a high point. It's alright but like most of their stuff it misses me.
The Black Keys
2/5
I didn't think I had heard them much before. After listening I can't say much other than OK.
It's not bad, it's not great, it's just kinda there. It's music you play at a party as folks show up because it's just so there. No one will actively complain, people will just be catching up and bullshiting and then realize they need better music.
I can't say I will put it on just to listen to, but if you tell me this is your favorite album I will assume you think pepper is spicy.
Dizzee Rascal
2/5
It was alright I guess. I wasn't a fan of it but he has some talent. I think the weird electronica mix he was over is what killed it for me. I think I will listen to it later with the lyrics up and see if I like it more that way.
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
Ah Sufjan, where you can be super boring or really interesting depending on what track you hit.
I liked Come On! It's a fun song... Maybe it's because the Black Hawk War is so damn boring. Then John Wayne Gacy Jr is a bit of both.
It's a fun experiment album, changes tone pretty quick and full of stories. It was already in my library, but I have to be in the right mood to listen to it.
Sonic Youth
2/5
I like Sonic Youth. I enjoyed them a lot in the early 90's and still will put them on.
I don't like this album. Never did.
It's not bad, but because I found them when I did this album kinda falls flat for me. It lays out where they are going but because they hadn't got there yet it's a miss. That and some wanker once told me it's like if Sonic Youth and The Cure had a baby. So whenever I hear this album I think of that.
CHIC
3/5
This album messed with me. I swear everyone and their uncle mixed this album or took parts to use later. So I'm sitting here listening going, "Oh it's....wait no it's not."
Disco spun itself into about a dozen genres when it died. Well I guess died is the wrong word, evolved I think fits better.
Great bass lines on this, I need to look up who did bass and see what band they played with afterwards.
My Bloody Valentine
1/5
What even is this?
Why?!
Seriously, WHY?!
It's boring, it never ends, and says nothing.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
This album is just good. It's just so much fun to listen to. The mix is great, it hits with the lyrics so damn well. They are great storytellers and each track is a story that they excel with. It's SUCH a fun listen.
I've listened to it twice and the easy flow is great, it's just such a great album. I could go on about the historical context and why it matters, I could post about everyone that worked on it, you all can read the wiki. Just know this is a huge piece of hip hop history and it still holds up, it still has value.
Great album.
The Cars
3/5
Some of the songs are great. Some are just kinda there.
It's not a bad album not a one hit wonder band either. Not sure it holds up as well now compared to when it was released, but a decent listen.
Merle Haggard
4/5
Oh Merle.
I enjoyed this. Granted I grew up listening to this style of country in my grandma's kitchen. So I'm not sure how far this will go with "the kids today."
It's twang reminds us what country once was. The lyrics are sad as it turns out Merle killed a lady and went on the run. Since then he can't find love on the lamb. Poor Merle. Now this is just from the album, but ole Merle was a hellion and did prison time and a wife of his did run around on him. So I'm wondering if the people that wrote this asked him what his thoughts were on the subject and he was thinking murder.
It's worth it for historical context and it's fun in its twangy old time county ways. I enjoyed it way more and it lead me to listen to another of his albums. I'm not saying I'm a fan but with all music there is a time and place for it. Maybe not at your next house party, but a quiet rainy Sunday when cleaning out the garage fit it well for me.
James Brown
3/5
I wish we had better recordings of this era. They all deserve better sounding records.
In some live recordings from this time frame you get the feeling that it was so much better being there. It was. I saw him live in the early 00's and even at his age he gave us the James Brown show. The call and response you hear, him doing the going to his knees and popping back up. Still did it.
This isn't even the era of his biggest hits! I hope there is another of his albums on the list. As good as this is I know there is better.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
2/5
It's alright. It's pretty standard 60's psychedelicish music to me. Maybe there is some history I'm missing. I'd never even heard of them until I got to the list. So I'm betting they are someone's favorite band.
It's alright. Nothing that made me want to listen to more of them.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
It's decent. Calm, nothing groundbreaking, but they play very well and have a good sound.
It's not going to blow you mind but it will calm your nerves.
King Crimson
2/5
I love In the Court of the Crimson King, this isn't as open as that one. When they get going it levels out but this is a very experimental prog album and most folks won't be into it. I enjoy prog music and this isn't on my list of albums to listen to.
It's like a jazz musician with a mental disorder dropped acid and was given all the instruments and a noise machine and let loose in the studio. Parts of it you wish they would have held onto and kept going with but they often don't.
It's an interesting experiment.
Billy Joel
4/5
Billy Joel always existed in a weird spot for me. Springsteen as well. Great storytellers using music and a lot of their stuff hits some really great spots, you can feel parts of your life when you listen. It's always there.
Yet I rarely seek out their music.
No clue why, this is a great album. It's got hits and even the rest of the album holds up. Solid songs all the way around, and I will not play them again. I won't wake up and go, it's a Billy Joel day! I will recognize his stuff and even say, oh this is a great tune, but I won't look for the album later.
Well worth a listen, solid lyrics, music fits well, good production, honestly I should rank it a 5 but I won't listen to it again so it's not a 5 for me.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
The first and last songs are doing the HEAVY lifting on this album. The songs in the middle are....well they exist, on purpose. No clue why, but there those songs are.
So my Rolling Stones experience has been, buy the greatest hits album.
Marilyn Manson
1/5
This album is on the list?! Teen edge lords had a say on this one didn't they?
Ok it's so over the top with the "look at me and protest" it might as well have been written by a marketing department full of try hard shitheads.
There is musical talent here but it's so covered in the "look at me!" nonsense, it's easy to miss. Then you add in that dude has always been a sex pest and this album is down to zero.
Yes I understand "separate the art from the artist." Yet this isn't art nor is he an artist. He's a bullshit artist with fun makeup and edgy attitude. This isn't high art, hell I've read better lyrics in a Wal-Mart bathroom.
Iron Maiden
4/5
I remember a friend of mine playing me this back in the day. I though Metal had to be hard, fast, and loud. This made me stop and think. YEARS later someone used the term prog metal to describe tool and I thought of Iron Maiden. Now I don't say that Maiden is prog, they aren't, but they HAVE to be cousins.
So I enjoyed this album. It's great. I prefer later Maiden, but you can tell where they are going with their sound and lyrics from this album. I enjoyed most of the songs Phantom of the Opera opened up the album for me personally.
I'm off to their Piece of Mind album now.
Jane's Addiction
2/5
So to be honest I've never been a fan of Jane's Addiction. I should be, the guitar is amazing, the bass is spot on and the drumming is great. I love Farrell's other band Porno for Pyros. So I should LOVE this album.
I don't. No clue why I don't but listening to this was nails on the chalkboard for me. Like the pieces don't line up for me, at all.
So yeah I know I'm the odd one out here but I just don't like Jane's Addiction.
Megadeth
5/5
I'm going to to drop this here.
https://theonion.com/humanity-still-producing-new-art-as-though-megadeth-s-1819578062/
It's legitimately one of the best metal albums ever. Has to be top three if not top two. It's Mustaine at his peak.
The Black Crowes
3/5
Ah the Black Crowes. I have seen them twice and their leads other band once. Never once have I bought a ticket to see them. Twice at Bonnaroo and once because I loved the other band on the bill.
Don't take this to mean they are bad. They aren't, I enjoyed every show I've seen. I enjoy their albums. There is just something about them that makes me not excited. Like when this came up in the rotation I went oh cool. I listened, enjoyed it, but never once was I excited by it. I knew the lyrics, it wasn't boring, but I didn't ever want to belt out the lyrics in my car.
It's like a seeing a stand up and you never laugh out loud, but you have a lot of sensible chuckles.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Hendrix makes a pop album. You gotta love it.
Hendrix is one of the best guitarist ever. So many people can trace back to him. Its wild.
This album is a fun listen. It has so many songs that still work. It's not as experimental as the other Experience albums but the tunes hold up.
Great album.
Pink Floyd
5/5
This is THE concept album. It's just done so well. I have a difficult time listening to individual songs from this album. I know that classic rock stations everywhere play them but it's weird to not have a lead into some of them.
The entire thing is a story about a man falling apart. You feel the pain the character is going through. It's one of those albums that is best sitting down relaxing with headphones. You have to be open to listen to the story.
Great album.
Beth Orton
2/5
British country?
UK Folk?
I'm not sure what it is. Sadly it missed me and I probably won't be listening to more of her.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
It's been decades since I watched the movie, but I have listened to the soundtrack lots of times since then. I wish it was a longer movie cause Curtis Mayfield knocks it out of the park. I remember enjoying the music more than the movie.
I looked it up this is one of the first soundtracks that made a ton of money.
Good album, use this album as a reason to listen to more of his music. It turned my day into listening to nothing but Curtis Mayfield for the rest of the day.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
2/5
It's alright. It's pretty standard classic southern rock. I never understood their fame. For years I always thought they got big because of the crash.
I've heard better than them and I've heard a lot worse.
Q-Tip
5/5
OK how did I miss this man?
This morning I'd heard his name before but never his music. Now I'm at work listening to his entire discography, and reading he was in Jungle Brothers and A Tribe Called Quest! Now I know why I love his stuff.
This album somehow feels old and modern at the same time. The mix and lyrics are amazing, his flow on this album is great. It's a solid album that is not only in my library but I'm adding him to my Bands in Town list as well.
OK I've listened to this twice more now, as well has his first album twice. I
The Shamen
1/5
I have no clue why this is on the list. Is it culturally relevant and I have missed a huge part of the world? It's just not a good album and I made it a bit more than halfway before I turned it off.
Instead I listened to Aretha Franklin. Did a pretty good deep dive on her and enjoyed every second of it. Vocal blues at its best right there. She got the range and power in her voice that make you believe. When she's singing freedom you KNOW she ain't going back to that man.
Such a great string of songs. Made my commute full of me ruining her vocals as I sang along. Good music.
So yeah skip this one and go listen to Aretha. It's a far better experience.
The Strokes
2/5
It's a strokes album. Just go find a hits playlist of theirs and make your life easier.
Also I caught them copying Oasis and their bullshit elongate the last word of the line. They don't do it on every track but it's there.
We see you. Hacks.
I talked to someone about it and decided that if you were in a major city, NY, LA, or London and doing coke that you would be a The Strokes fan. Outside of that, someone told you they were good and you just believed them. You heard a few of their tunes and went eh not bad. They tricked you with the hits. This band is a mile wide and an inch deep. Their hits are decent, but the drop off is HUGE. Don't go thinking the deep cuts are there. They are not.
Fleet Foxes
2/5
So this is a weird album for me. When I listen to it it reminds me enough of My Morning Jackets It Still Moves album that I think I enjoy Fleet Foxes. They both have the vocal ranges and recording method for vocals.
I do enjoy My Morning Jacket. I don't enjoy Fleet Foxes.
I think I want to but it's just not there for me. My wife said it's a good album for a rainy day where you don't do anything more than read and maybe the dishes.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
I feel like I'm being trolled.
Like someone decided to do what they thought an old vegas act is but then they realized they couldn't fully commit to the bit.
This has to be a comedy album. In and Out of Paris and London has to be a joke right?
Ok every song seems to be about sex. Combine that with the way the album is structured I'm thinking the band/artist made this for the giggles. In that context it works. It's weird and out there and leans into the surreal.
Think Frank from Always Sunny in Philadelphia saying, "I don't know how many years on this earth I got left, so I'm gonna get really weird with it."
If they were trying to make a straightforward pop album I'm confused as hell.
Janis Joplin
4/5
Ah Janis. The lady that could drain a bottle of Southern Comfort and a pack of cigarettes during the show. While not stopping the show once.
Her voice was impressive in the fact that she had one. She sang the blues well, listening reminds me of some of the shiftier bars I've been in. One roadhouse I went to she would have fit right in. The kind of place that is half bikers and half townies that are drunk going in.
The music is impressive and I don't know if the Full Tilt Boogie Band gets enough praise for it. Yeah her vocals are good but they wouldn't work as well without the band. Good album. It has it's place historically and it's just good music.
Beyoncé
3/5
Oh it's her Madonna album. The one where everything is about sex and sex is a metaphor for something else.
It's one of those albums where you aren't sure it's a mile wide and an inch deep OR you just don't get the point. Maybe it is just about the sex. Some of the songs didn't feel like they started until halfway over, and not like a prog rock tune. Also I would have liked them to bring her vocals out on a few songs. I swear she was in the backseat on a couple of them.
It's not a bad album. I'm doubt I'll ever listen to it again but it does make me want to listen to some of her stuff from before and after this album. I'm not who this album is for though so I'm sure some is lost on me.
Alright I talked to a friend who is a huge fan she said this album has videos that go with it. So that explains the weird songs doesn't start right away part. Weird to do it that was on the audio album but what do I know.
The Sugarcubes
1/5
It's too quirky for its own good. Also it sounds like Bjork.
I looked it up, it is Bjork.
Joy Division
2/5
Turns out I'm not a Joy Division fan. The production on this one is something. I like the bass being more forward but the lyrics sound like they were sang into a bottle in the next room.
The band was good. I prefer them playing to the lyrics. Maybe if I could understand him I would enjoy it more.
The White Stripes
3/5
I like the White Stripes I guess. Seen them live, had a good time. They are VERY hit or miss. Some songs are absolutely great, then there is The Nurse. It's like a roller coaster where you get a good song, then a meh song, then a good song, then a why do this to me song.
I'm honestly not sure why this album is on the list unless there are other albums of theirs on here. They have more solid albums than this. They are very very close to a greatest hits band.
Scissor Sisters
2/5
3/5
Muse, such a good band, I enjoy their stuff. The music is great, the lyrics are fun, yet they are very mid. It's got no soul. I will listen to them, don't get me wrong. They are top notch with a lot of dramatic flair, but it just doesn't feel like anything. Like AC/DC is dirty and fun, Van Helen is a great with amazing guitar work. Metallica is fast and hard and will whip some lyrics at you.
This just doesn't feel the same. It's got the flair, and talent but it's missing something.
Worth listening to, but it won't stick with you.
Lorde
2/5
I don't understand the popularity. It's kinda boring. Her voice is nice. Not a fan of the synth instead of a band. I'd rather hear her with an actual band behind her.
It doesn't even make me want to hear more of her. It's just kinda there. Like she's sleepy. Explains the album cover of her in bed. I guess you can judge this album by the cover.
The KLF
1/5
Electronica... Awesome.... Oh British Electronica... Daring today aren't we....
Brian Eno
2/5
It has one good track. That's the only reason it's not a one star.
Also for the love of all that is holy stop with all the electronica.
OutKast
4/5
I am biased here. I love Outkast. They pushed hip hop from the south at a time it was east vs west. They rewrote the ideas of rap at the time.
This album is another way they changed the way you think of hip hop. I remember when it was released we were talking about how they made two double albums and then combined them. Yeah a few songs could be cut out as it's a lot of music but it still works. They have their distinct sounds yet pair well. I've had it on all day on repeat and not skipped any tracks because of boredom.
It's a solid album, both go for different vibes and they do well at them. There are several hits on here, in fact most of the songs hold up decades later. Impressive.
I understand they are done, I know that 3000 has moved on but DAMN I miss new Outkast music. It was always special to listen to that first time.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Stevie Wonder is absolutely one of the best musicians ever. I swear every album has great music, lyrics that make you feel and just a vibe that carries through the album.
This one is no exception to his usual high bar. Higher Ground, Don't you worry bout a thing! These are great songs.
I love Stevie Wonder. Even the deep cuts are worth listening to. Great album.
4/5
This has to be one of the best examples of 70's prog rock ever. If there is another one it would probably be another Yes album.
Don't let the 19 minute long first track scare you it has a few movements so it doesn't feel long or heavy. It's a fun listen, well worth your time
The band are insanely great musicians, Anderson's vocals are amazing. It's a great album. Now I am biased here, a friend of mine introduced me to them decades ago in high school and I fell in love with their sound. I regret not seeing them live when I had the chance to.
Yes
4/5
This is one of my favorite Yes albums. It's damn near a greatest hits album really.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Oh wow I don't think I've ever sat down to listen to a Tom Petty album. It's like the classic rock stations greatest hits right here.
It gets the highlights, fulfills the vibe for sure.
I don't think I'd listen to more than his greatest hits if I'm being honest. He's good, but I think those older than me will have this in rotation, where I'm fine with just the hits.
Talking Heads
3/5
Ok so like a lot of debut albums you can see and feel where they are going. Like the outline for a great book but it's missing some things.
That's this album. It's not bad, it's not good, it's just missing something. Psycho Killer is complete, the rest of the album is close but not there.
Worth a listen for the historical context. It makes me want to deep dive on them and listen to their stuff in order and see how they build over time.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
4/5
I'm worried I'm getting all the prog rock greats this week and I'll be screwed later.
Tarkus is a fun trip, if you enjoyed it even a little give Trilogy or Brain Salad Surgery a listen. They are a bit more straightforward.
The first song is a reach, it's high fantasy wrapped in a seven movement song. My wife looked at me a few times during side one. I enjoyed it.
Side two is not related to side one, songs are more straightforward and relatable. Good stuff.
Prefab Sprout
3/5
Green Day
2/5
I didn't like this album when it came out. It's just not as good as history suggests. Yeah it's got a few decent tunes but they are better live than any of their studio albums. Also this is one of the weaker albums of theirs. They have much better written songs later in their career.
The nice thing is they can actually play. Musically they are decent. Much better than a lot of early punk bands. Granted I have a difficult time saying they are punk, punk influenced yeah but it's not as fast, clever or topical as early punk. Im not sure if they are 2nd or 3rd gen punk but they are first gen top 40 punk. As someone that bought albums in the 90's I tried to stop this. I apologize for not doing enough.
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
Oh man Dinosaur Jr! I discovered them and the meat puppets around 93 and the tapes lived in my car.
I love this album so much revisiting it is a like taking a time machine driving to work that summer and trying to wreck the ear drums of everyone near me.
I honestly can't review this album. It's too tied into me learning about music in the 90's and finding out what I liked vs what the radio played.
Great album.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Honestly one of the best rock albums. It's the start of metal.
Opening with War Pigs is like kicking open the door and screaming there is a bomb on it way. The song is just that great. Then it goes into Paranoid, another amazing song. I swear the only tune that doesn't hit for me is Planet Caravan. It's a good song but trying to follow up War Pigs and Paranoid ? No song in that slot would hold up.
It's an amazing album. Hand of Doom would be a opening track on another album, here B side.
Simply one of the best albums made.
Iron Maiden
4/5
If you want to listen to overly dramatic opera rock/metal here you go! Swing by Queensryche on your way out....
Seriously though it's a solid album The Number of the Beast was so good at pissing off our parents and other assorted old folks/the religious, it was on repeat from Spring to Fall on Sundays. Just play it and drive past a church. They thought we were serious and it was kids being dumbasses and laughing.
I enjoy Maiden even if they aren't my go to 80's metal, great musicians, silly lyrics that don't hold up but it's rock not all songs need to be serious. Good times, fun listen.
The Zutons
3/5
It was an album. Some of it good. I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to, I'm a sucker for weird names honestly.
It was an album you could put on at a party for background music and no one but the music nerd would get upset. It's just kind of... There.
Anita Baker
4/5
I know a lot more of this album than I thought I did. She got a ton of radio play when this came out and I wasn't driving yet so I'm betting my parents listening to the adult contemporary station is why.
It's not a bad album, her voice is great, nothing ground breaking lyrically or musically sadly. Seriously her talent is what carries the album. I question it being on the list but it's far better than another British Electronica album.
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
Oh man I've not listened to this in decades. I had forgotten about the skits. Then I remembered why I was annoyed at 90's hop hop... The skits are annoying to skip past on tapes.
I don't know if this will hold up to modern listeners. "The Kids" might not like the casual misogyny and violence. I know we didn't think much of it at the time. Most of us never took it to heart. Probably better we have moved on from it, even though it's still alive and well in groups of men.
For me the album still holds up, both from a historical perspective and just great rhymes and flow. Biggie used words well, I could do with less Puffy. He was annoying then and now.... I'm not trusting him with anything more than a plate of cookies. Even that he might try and fuck.
Yeah this is a solid album, bit long at times, could use less fucking and blowjob noises, but still shows his talents well and the mix is good.
B.B. King
5/5
I've seen BB King a couple of times in the late 90's early 00's so his voice in this throws me off.
He's still one of the best bluesmen to walk the planet. The first track was wild as it reminded me of a James Brown show more than a BB show. Gotta remember these aren't the old men I am used to.
I've listened to it twice. Great album, the recording is actually great so you don't get a garbage quality album. BB King is one of the greats, the man has the energy and works the crowd. If you are expecting an old blues player this isn't it. This is King in his prime and it shows. The lyrics are blues but with the band it's something else.
Great album, go listen to more blues, Buddy Guy still tours, Kingfish, Eric Gales, and Marcus King are out there. Go see them.
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
I think I need to try and listen again later when I'm chill or stoned or something. Cause my impression of the first listen was that the name was more interesting than the album... I found it a bit boring. Some tracks were kinda interesting, but overall it was just kinda there...
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
This was the album that kinda broke them if I remember right. All the drugs made Sly super paranoid and they didn't record the same way so this album came out darker in tone that their late 60's stuff. It's not the upbeat stuff they were known for.
Still a great album, musically it's some of the best funk/soul around, lyrics wise it's darker, even in tone it's dark. Listen to Thank you for Talking to me Africa. He took his super upbeat Thank You song and remade it into a much much darker song. It's almost jarring when you realize it's Thank You.
Solid album captured the reality of the early 70's for a lot of people.
David Bowie
4/5
Alright I love Bowie but in one year doing this list I've now had 7 of his albums. Even as a Bowie fan this is far too much. I can only assume all of his albums are on this and I will be getting the Labyrinth soundtrack in a month.
Bitching about the list aside this is a good album. The first two tracks are awesome. It's Bowie the dude puts together good music. This album is pretty straightforward as far as he goes. It's not a weird experiment just a rock album.
Good stuff.
Pentangle
3/5
Needed more hurdy-gurdy.
Interesting album if you're into old style folks music. It's not bad for what it is. Like if I was rolling out to a ren faire with some friends I would blare this as we rolled in. That would be fun.
Just sitting around the house wanting to listen to something... Maybe, but lets be honest probably not.
Yeah it's good if you want to melt your face to some ren faire rock though.
David Holmes
1/5
Oh good, more electronica.
I regret saying Bowie was over represented on the list. Electronica as a whole is FAR MORE over represented on this list. There are some decent American country artists that could be here. There are some amazing middle eastern metal groups and African rock groups that should be on this list. I know of some really fun Japanese punk bands that should be on this.
Instead we get generic UK electronica number 218.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Another album I am in the bag for before I listen to it.
This album was played at every party in 03 you couldn't go to a bar near campus without hearing Maps. If you made a 1001 songs I would argue for Maps to have a place on that list, it's amazing, I love that song.
The rest of the album is great but Maps is a different sound from the rest of the album so if you think they are all going to sound like the hit they won't. Similarish but not quite. It's like a weird indie punk kind of thing. This is a fun album that I'm not sure what genre it goes into. AlternaIndie? Give it a listen. It's well worth your time.
Frank Zappa
4/5
I once heard Zappa described as the weirdest jazz a white boy could make.
I mean they weren't wrong...
Dude was talented, if he decided to make a straightforward album I think it could have lived in the top 40 for a couple of years. He was just so weird that the masses couldn't figure him out so he's more known to music nerds.
This album is for the music nerds. 100%.
It's a fun album if your open to it. The first track Willie the Pimp reminds me of every Bonnaroo until they sold out. It's weird and wild and had amazing guitar. Then the saxophone kicks in a track later and you're cold and wondering where your tent is and how you wound up in the cinema tent with no pants on.
It's a ride of an album.
Aimee Mann
3/5
I remembered her name but not a song of hers. Now I remember. She did that early girl with a guitar that was common in the 90's. It's not bad if you enjoy the genre. It's the wrong day for me but overall it's not a bad album. A bit too polished but eh that's a personal opinion.
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
You've heard this before. Just not in any song from this album. It's one of those albums that got sampled and sampled and sampled. Seriously there are parts in here I didn't realize was Booker T!
It's not a bad album but it fucks with your head. You keep thinking of other tunes when you hear parts so it's hard to focus on what your listening to right now.
Miles Davis
3/5
I swear I heard Emerson Lake and Palmer in there...
So this album takes a couple of tracks to get a feel for it. I was expecting more straightforward jazz and I got a weird prog jazz that is honestly good. I wish I had the time to get in the right head space for it. Or out of my head space perhaps. Either way a little weed and this settles in quite nicely.
It's a fun experiment in music. Some parts really work, some don't, but it's an experiment so go in with an open mind and let yourself follow it. It's worth the time.
Pet Shop Boys
1/5
I think I'd rather have sex with Motley Crue without a condom than listen to this album again.
Stephen Stills
3/5
Dude was one of the names back in the day. Now kids might not know him but some of the tunes they will know.
I realized I knew WAY more of this album than I realized. It was wild listening to it going, wait, he did this?
So although you won't hear him played now your grandparents and parents did. So because of him being in like three huge bands and his solo work it's worth listening to just for the historical context.
Although Love the one your with is still a weird song.
2/5
They are your favorite bands favorite band or influenced them. I don't know why else it would be on the list.
It's kinda disjointed. It's not a song flows to the other and is a cohesive album.
Musically not bad, I've heard worse. I wonder if they are weird for weird sake or trying something new. Since this is my first listen to Spirt I'm not sure.
It's alright, I will never listen to it again, I'm not mad I listened to it, it's just just there.
Björk
1/5
Friends don't make friends listen to Bjork.
I am not a fan of Bjork and listening to this is like my version of hell.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
4/5
Kelela
3/5
It's not bad. Her voice is lovely and the lyrics aren't bad. I'm not sure it's an album I need to hear before I die but I'm not upset listening to it.
Sounds like a pretty standard R&B album. I would have lik d to hear her with an actual band and not whatever synth software they used. Her voice would do better live with a band I'm thinking.
Pixies
4/5
I forgot how weird parts of this album are. Don't get me wrong it has some absolutely great music on here. There is a reason why Wave of Mutilation and Here Comes your Man are still played and show up in movies to set the time period. There are a couple of other songs I've always been surprised weren't hits.
Either way the Pixies have to be related to Sonic Youth in spirt. Some of the tunes are weird and out there. Like they had fun making them and no one said maybe don't lead with Debaser. If you like to listen to experimental stuff then Debaser is for you, if your a fan of more straightforward stuff skip it.
Overall it was fun to revel in nostalgia. I swear a quarter of the school had owned this or had a bootleg of it.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
2/5
One of those albums you wonder why it's on the list.
It's fine music, the band is alright. The lyrics are childish and dumb. Unlike AC/DC this isn't a big dumb fun album. It doesn't hit the same, at all.
Maybe this is one of those albums that had it's time and place and faded away. Because no one I've asked today has heard of them.
Kings of Leon
2/5
No Harry Belafonte, no Tool, a huge lack of Blues and Jazz, WAY to much electronica, and this album.
It's not even that it's bad. It's not offensive like some of the more odd albums on the list. This album is just there, taking up space.
It's lawnmower music for Dads that want "rock" that they don't want to listen to. They just want music to be on when doing yardwork or fucking around in the garage. It's forgettable. I know because I thought I hadn't heard this before and hit the stupid Sex on Fire song that was everywhere and realized I've heard this entire album and forgot about it.
It's fine, just shouldn't be on the list.
The Magnetic Fields
2/5
So if these songs are about love why do they sound like a funeral dirge? Seriously it's the longest most depressing album I've heard.
So go listen to the Peter Gabriel cover of The Book of Love. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZQIfEN_p2A It's a great version. The version on this album, the original, is trash when compared.
So I listened to the entire thing. This is a miss for me. To long for it to work as a concept. To weird to work as a normal album. It's just not fun. Like a dirge.
Iggy Pop
4/5
Good album even with the very problematic songs, several stand outs, and favorites of him. It's well put together and the parts work well together. Even though it sounds and feels "old" I feel this albums sound was brought back out during the 00's and the garage sounding bands.
Well worth a listen even with the cringe/gross Sixteen.
Ute Lemper
3/5
Her voice is nice. The album makes me think it was a musical. It's got that kind of vibe to it, or at least that's what my brain is saying.
It's alright. I won't listen to it again most likely. Not a bad listen at all it's just not my thing.
Sparks
2/5
I listened. It's an album. Somehow I was annoyed by songs yet I couldn't come up with a solid reason why it annoyed me. It wasn't even every song. I was removing weeds from the garden and I would stop and go, what?
So yeah I don't get this album at all. Not sure why it's on the list, I want to find a fan and see if they can explain it to me.
De La Soul
5/5
Instant five stars from me. This is one of my favorite albums period. I enjoyed them when I was younger and when they hit streaming recently I told everyone then listened to this album so much I was one of their top listeners according to YouTube Music.
I'm in the bag for this album. I also own their book.
So this is legitimately one of the best hip hop albums recorded. The mix is great, their flow is amazing and they sample so much it's amazing. It also kept them off streaming services forever.
It's a fun, light hearted album that still feels grounded. I've been told it's a concept album as it came out as more hardcore rap was gaining popularity and they went more weird with it. I swear they had so much fun making this you feel it when listening to it. It just puts a smile on your face.
Give a listen to their most recent album Cabin in the Sky, feels a lot like this one.
RIP Trugoy
Throwing Muses
1/5
Maybe this was a you had to be there kind of album. I was around in 86 but missed this one. I'm also not a fan of post punk so that might have something to do with it.
The album comes across as warbling and boring. It was a chore to listen to. I wouldn't suggest it unless someone told me they want to annoy their neighbors.
Billy Bragg
2/5
This would work better as a written book of poetry. His voice makes me think of every drunk englishman I've been around. Not in the fun way either. No great chants cause of a goal, it's after the game and everyone is sad drunk.
This album sounds sad drunk.
The words are great though, I liked those, but the voice and production of it removed me from the good. Why is it echoy? Why does it just sound like a man singing in a gas station bathroom?
Could have been better. Go seek out the lyrics, those are great.
Neil Young
1/5
Tonight is not the night, to listen to Neil Young.
I know he has better albums. Go listen to Rust Never Sleeps.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
4/5
I listened to this on my way to work and got stuck in traffic. That was not the best way to listen to this.
You need a dancehall to properly get the full effect of this album.
It's damn infectious, I'm the most average white guy and I want to shake my ass to this. Fun album.
Orange Juice
2/5
It's pretty standard New Wave. If you like that style you'll love it. As I am not a fan of New Wave/Post Punk it sounds like every other album in that genre.
If there are differences that set them apart I'm not hearing it. It just sounds like the others. Well these kids have an accent, I don't feel like that counts though.
Alright I listened to the entire album. No clue why this was on the list. It's not groundbreaking, it's kinda boring and just there.
No Harry Belafonte on the list but we have whatever this is!
Thin Lizzy
4/5
This is a great live album. The recording is clean, you can hear everything clearly, the band sounds great and you get audience banter. Great recording.
It's a solid Thin Lizzy album, if they only picked one Thin Lizzy album this would be a great one. Kinda cheating as it's their hits and all that but still.
It's a solid classic rock album. Worth the listen.
Jean-Michel Jarre
2/5
I kept waiting for the song to begin. Then I realized it's just background music.
It's not something you actively listen to. You do other shit while it's on and it just fills the room with what I imagine a computer getting high sounds like.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
I tend to forget that Zappa was around in the mid 60's. It had to be extremely interesting to come across them in that time period. Unless you were in the counter culture you would probably HATE him.
You can't deny they are great musicians. Even if you hate the weirdness of Zappa and the savage satire he brings lyrically, they are good at making music.
Random kazoo noises included in that statement.
Zappa is the bands you like influence. Or the band you like influence bands favorite. Either way Zappa was known to be a musician that people enjoyed and respected. OR hated and was annoyed by, he was fine with either really.
Ananda Shankar
4/5
This is an odd album.
They are doing covers of 60's rock songs with a synth and a sitar. Yet it works WAY better than you think it would. It's fun.
Yeah I'm digging this album far more than I thought I would. I saw it and went what? Now I'm going, this needs to be added to my library. It's still a super weird listen but I'm hooked.
Bob Dylan
3/5
I will never understand how Dylan got big. It makes no sense to me. Keep in mind I enjoy this era of Dylan and seen him live. I still couldn't tell you why.
I prefer some of his other albums to this one. Another Side of Bob Dylan is a stronger album to me. This has a few of his hits on it and I think this one released at a point in time that captured the radio.
Like a Rolling Stone, great track, Ballad of a Thin Man, good stuff right there. Some miss me though Takes a Train to Cry is one.
If you like ol Bob you will like this. If you hear his voice and recoil, you will hate this album.
Pere Ubu
1/5
So I listened to it. I can say that about it. I can also say that my boss walked past while I was listening and went, "Drew the short straw on the list today huh?"
I'm sure there is something good to say about it, I'm not sure what but I'm sure it's there.
Morrissey
1/5
Is everything from him on the list?! I don't get the allure. He's got a decent voice but it's missing something.
So at best I would give this album a 2. It's just not for me. That said I worked in a venue he came through on a tour. He is such an insufferable ass nothing would get me to listen to him more than this list.
Seriously go read about some of his antics, no talent is worth that.
Les Rythmes Digitales
1/5
Why is this album on the list?! What reason do I need to hear this before I die?!
Seriously it's annoyingly repetitive, nonsense. Yes it's music, but it's not good.
Again, the list has no Tool, no Harry Belafonte, no Cranberries, but this pile of shit is one we have to listen to?!
Fucking hell give me some better albums!
Living Colour
4/5
I forgot how much I enjoyed this album.
They are great musicians and I love it when you can hear the bass in rock. Especially when it's got some funk to it.
Also why are we listening to songs written in the early 90's that lyrically still point out problems we have now? Also how did those problems get worse?!
It's very much of it's time tonally. You can listen to it and go, early 90's. I'm not saying it's a bad sound but you can tell. I'd be interested in what folks that never heard this before would say about it.
I like this album. I added it to the library and will now listen to everything they did.