1001 Albums Summary

Listening statistics & highlights

517
Albums Rated
3.42
Average Rating
47%
Complete
572 albums remaining

Rating Distribution

Rating Timeline

Taste Profile

1950
Favorite Decade
Blues
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
49
5-Star Albums
10
1-Star Albums

Breakdown

By Genre

Tap a bar to see the albums behind it

Top Styles

Tap a bar to see the albums behind it

By Decade

By Origin

Albums

You Love More Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
The Who Sell Out
The Who
5 2.98 +2.02
Germfree Adolescents
X-Ray Spex
5 3.08 +1.92
A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse
Faces
5 3.22 +1.78
Clandestino
Manu Chao
5 3.22 +1.78
Achtung Baby
U2
5 3.29 +1.71
Tommy
The Who
5 3.3 +1.7
The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
5 3.31 +1.69
L'Eau Rouge
The Young Gods
4 2.33 +1.67
Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
5 3.34 +1.66
Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
5 3.35 +1.65

You Love Less Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder
2 4.08 -2.08
Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
1 3.02 -2.02
The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
1 3.02 -2.02
Sheet Music
10cc
1 2.94 -1.94
Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
2 3.8 -1.8
Ys
Joanna Newsom
1 2.79 -1.79
Medúlla
Björk
1 2.74 -1.74
Hounds Of Love
Kate Bush
2 3.63 -1.63
Hotel California
Eagles
2 3.58 -1.58
Timeless
Goldie
1 2.51 -1.51

Artists

Favorites

Tap an artist to see their albums

ArtistAlbumsAverage
The Rolling Stones 6 4.5
Jimi Hendrix 3 4.67
U2 3 4.67
Green Day 2 5
Nirvana 2 5
Van Halen 2 5
The Who 4 4.25
Beastie Boys 3 4.33
Bob Dylan 3 4.33
Pink Floyd 3 4.33
Radiohead 3 4.33

5-Star Albums (49)

View Album Wall

Popular Reviews

The Visitors by ABBA

Interesting, an Abba album without, to me at least, a recognizable single. Overall a great album, despite the lack of a familiar hit. Gotta hand it to this group, they never skimped on production quality or musical arrangements. It pays off here for me. Really listenable, catchy, with fantastic hooks throughout.

Hounds Of Love by Kate Bush

Nah, man. Not digging this one. There's some decent moments, and some real "wtaf" moments (Waking the Witch, dafuq?). Moved on quickly from this one, don't need to go back

The United States Of America by The United States Of America

Sounds like what would come out if you had an AI create an album based on "60's psychedelic rock, female vocalist, political themes, American Sgt Pepper." I guess the impressive thing is that it sounds like that, but was made long before albums were made that way. Interesting to hear how non-Beatles groups were creating derivatives of that sound, but I didn't have enough acid to get into this one.

Tracy Chapman by Tracy Chapman

Tracy's voice is still unique, and the songwriting is pretty powerful. I remember the year this one came out and some of the conversations this one sparked about the social divide in the country. Sadly, not much has changed in that regard.

The Beach Boys Today! by The Beach Boys

Crank up the reverb and roll out the vocal harmonies. Good timing on this one (RIP Brian Wilson). Couple of familiar tracks, and even the tracks I haven't heard are unmistakeably The Beach Boys. Like em or hate them, undeniably influential group that always evoke a specific place in Americana for me.

1-Star Albums (10)

All Ratings (517)

Highway to Hell by AC/DC
Mar 31 2025

"She had...the body of Venus with arms" - let's go Touch Too Much! A rock guitar and stadium rock clinic, era defining sound, guitar riffs that'll make you want to kneel and pray to the fretboard gods, fantastic vocal screeching with those fist pumping rhythms. Sexual innuendo throughout that inspired the eras other greats, definitely one to listen to loud.

Get Behind Me Satan by The White Stripes
Apr 01 2025

Way more musical than what I was expecting from The White Stripes. Still has that stripped down sound, but the variations of instruments and exploration of genres makes this one a fun listen to me.

Madman Across The Water by Elton John
Apr 02 2025

Tiny Dancer, all time great track. Great musicality throughout. Although probably not an album that would find itself in a regular rotation for me, I appreciate the quality. I never have to hear Indian Sunset again.

Apr 03 2025

Fantastic stripped down sound. Excellent storytelling. Definitely grabbed from The Strokes sound of the early oughts, not there's nothing wrong with that when it's done this well

Axis: Bold As Love by Jimi Hendrix
Apr 04 2025

It's very far away, it takes about a day to get there, if you travel by...dragonfly. I imagine some boomer listening to the UFO flying around his brain and being blown away. Fun album, some real gems, love the Brit influence coupled with Jimi's sound. All in all a solid album which I've enjoyed many many times start to finish over the years.

Dusty In Memphis by Dusty Springfield
Apr 05 2025

Ok, so, the sound of the 70's that I've grown up despising, seems to have started with this album. That being said, in bits I can actually appreciate it, and there are moments in here that are pretty fantastic. It actually gets more tolerable as I listen to it more, so maybe I just need to embrace the decade of my introduction to life a little more... This whole album could be the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's genre, no surprise that Son of a Preacher Man is on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack, and even after a gazillion listens I still love that one.

Machine Head by Deep Purple
Apr 07 2025

Groovy riff rock that behave the basis for "classic rock" radio stations for now and forever. No shortage of toe tappers and head nodders

Songs In The Key Of Life by Stevie Wonder
Apr 08 2025

Umm... This one is a bit bloated for my tastes. Sure, there's some great tracks here, but it's a slog to get through. I'm sorry the boomers had to "suffer" so much to have to believe this was the greatest album. I'll put this on the "well, I've heard it" and move on list.

Psychocandy by The Jesus And Mary Chain
Apr 09 2025

Goth would have never happened...still, fantastic album, great sound, takes one back to an era.

London Calling by The Clash
Apr 10 2025

This is a top 10 album for me. Bangers all the way through, it never gets old, sounds fantastic. Guns of Brixton still gets me fired up.

The Gilded Palace Of Sin by The Flying Burrito Brothers
Apr 11 2025

"He might have been on the weed, or even LSD". Good album, love the sound. Definitely Everly Brothers influenced, and carried that influence to a lot of artists that followed, good and bad, is apparent. I've softened somewhat musically in my older age, and music like this can go into my ears and just keep playing throughout the day, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Debut by Björk
Apr 12 2025

Some decent stuff mixed in here, though in retrospect the whole Bjork schtick runs a little thin for me. Human Behavior still has that quality that basically put Bjork on the map.

Music for the Masses by Depeche Mode
Apr 13 2025

Interesting album from this group. None of these specific tracks brings back any memories from this 80's kid, though the overall sound absolutely does. This is prime electronica from one of the most recognizable artists of the genre, though not my favorite in their catalog. Also, pretty sure "I Want You Now" is about a dude's blue balls. Deep stuff.

Different Class by Pulp
Apr 14 2025

Yeah, I can dig this one, if for Common People alone.

25 by Adele
Apr 15 2025

I can appreciate her voice, not this kinda music just ain't my jam. Not hard to hear how her talents lend themselves to a Vegas residency.

Our Aim Is To Satisfy by Red Snapper
Apr 16 2025

I wanna give her that kinda night... Decent album, not really the type of album that'll catch anybody in the room with a "holy shit what was THAT!?!" track, but not a bad vibe. I don't know much about this style of music, so can't really address why this particular album would separate it from others, but I liked it.

Ill Communication by Beastie Boys
Apr 17 2025

Such a great album. So many good tracks, still a unique sound. Takes me back to a time, for sure.

The Modern Dance by Pere Ubu
Apr 18 2025

Initial impression was "that's gonna be a no for me, dog." And then I listened again. And again. And again, and goddamn if this one didn't grow on me Avant garde can work for me, at times, and "Over My Head" (oh, the irony) is a keeper, Street Waves is great.

Blunderbuss by Jack White
Apr 19 2025

NGL, was not excited about ANOTHER Jack White album making this list. Then I got to Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy, and I was sold. A fantastic album.

The Healer by John Lee Hooker
Apr 20 2025

I was over Santana about 20 years ago after his collab with the dummies from Matchbox Twenty. This one finishes strong with Hooker on his own.

Time (The Revelator) by Gillian Welch
Apr 21 2025

Nice chill vibe. Love her voice and the fact it isn't buried in a bunch of studio sound. That being said, nothing really sticks out of that nice chill vibe.

Power In Numbers by Jurassic 5
Apr 22 2025

Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Lots of good tracks on here. This music isn't normally my style, and it's damn nice to enjoy one like this.

Violator by Depeche Mode
Apr 23 2025

Ok, another Depeche Mode album for this group. Much more recognizable singles off this one, including Your Own Personal Jesus, which has historically been my favorite track of theirs. The transition of Enjoy the Silence to Policy of Truth is amazing. Those moments on this album don't often get heard since they aren't radio friendly and who the hell listens to whole albums anymore, but my eargasm says "play that shit again!"

Now I Got Worry by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Apr 24 2025

Ah, the raw, rebellious 90's. This one's pretty fun. It'll get your ass on the move. I imagine this would be a fun act to see live.

Savane by Ali Farka Touré
Apr 25 2025

Was not expecting something like this to show up on this list. Pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the style, and it sounds fantastic. Mesmerizing music beautifully recorded. Couldn't turn this one off.

Hotel California by Eagles
Apr 26 2025

If I'd never heard any of these songs before, I'd appreciate this album a whole lot more. As it is, after hearing Hotel California for the ten thousandth time it just doesn't have the same effect. Guess that's why it makes the list: iconic sound, tracks that spawn generations of fans, and just not something I'm gonna smoke in my pipe that often.

Hard Again by Muddy Waters
Apr 27 2025

Oh yeah, let's go! From the jump this one lands. Iconic blues, the master at work. I'm just a dumb Midwest white boy, but I'm not sure there's a better conduit from the blues to the masses than this record.

Apr 28 2025

Was I jilted? I'll admit that, in their time, Prodigy weren't really my cup of tea. The years have improved their palatability for me in a way that every time I hear their sound I'm waiting for that massively impactful track like a "Smack My Bitch Up". You can hear the ground work for their later commercial success in here.

Channel Orange by Frank Ocean
Apr 29 2025

This one grew on me musically, not necessarily lyrically. Forrest Gump being an example. Found myself vibing to the music, then thinking *dafuq?" when digging into the lyric. And, like, Pyramids is about sex workers in Vegas, right? Maybe I'm just projecting. This one's interesting enough to have on the list, but not really my cup of tea.

Achtung Baby by U2
Apr 30 2025

This one's too damn easy. Top 10 all timer for me, when the wind is blowing right it's at the top. Doesn't matter how many times I spin it, once it starts I'm riding to the end. U2's best sounding album in my opinion, radio hits all over this one, and the non-radio stuff is just as good if not better. So Cruel, Ultra Violet, I could go on.

May 01 2025

Great voice, love the storytelling and the musicality of this one. Recognized Streets of Bakersfield, the rest was new to me. I could see returning to this one from time to time for sure.

Rejoicing In The Hands by Devendra Banhart
May 02 2025

Kind of a nice chill vibe, though nothing is really going to stand out in a good way on this one. Couple clunkers, but I can hang. Kind of a pleasant tickling of the aural passages, makes me wanna lie back and watch the sky.

You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
May 03 2025

Oh yeah, that voice. Love how this one starts and just drags me in. I don't really dance, but this makes me feel like I'm slow dancing with Leonard to the grave he knew was coming, and I'm here for that beautiful dance.

Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand
May 04 2025

I love these raw sounding recordings, it's become the signature sound of this era for me. Take Me Out is a certified banger. Come On Home was a pleasant surprise that I'd not heard before.

The Chronic by Dr. Dre
May 05 2025

Best not to overthink this one. Obviously belongs on the list, listening back to all the things in here that were such a big part of the cultural reckonings in the early 90s.

This Is Fats Domino by Fats Domino
May 06 2025

Finally, something from the early times! Loved this one, saxy songs all over. Quick listen, makes me dance, and I'm no dancer.

The Cars by The Cars
May 07 2025

Wow, what a debut. So maybe amazing moments here. Best Friend's Girl gets me every time when that riff, and an entire generation goes to a special place when the opening to Moving in Stereo comes on.

Vanishing Point by Primal Scream
May 08 2025

Pretty cool vibe on this one, though can't really say after a few listens if anything really sticks out. Sounds good in headphones and on the stereo.

Electric Warrior by T. Rex
May 09 2025

This one sounds fantastic even this many years later. Great songwriting, wonderfully arranged. Can't believe I'd only heard Get It On off this one before. Bangers throughout. Hot Love ftw.

1999 by Prince
May 10 2025

Purple is the color body fluids glow under black light. In that context it makes a LOT of sense why it was Prince's signature color. This one starts strong and kinda fades imo, though the fun this dude had singing about banging is always fun.

Bug by Dinosaur Jr.
May 11 2025

Ahhh, late 80s alternative. Gotta slam in some distorted noise to qualify for those bonifides. There's enough listenable stuff on here to garner its inclusion in this list, I suppose, but also gonna be a couple here I don't need to revisit. They Always Come ftw I guess.

Sheet Music by 10cc
May 12 2025

That's gonna be a no for me dog. Only because I'm committed to this little project did I get all the way through this one. I can grant that the recording sounds good, and there is some decent musicality in here. Now, pair that with songwriting that makes me want to punch out my eardrums and musical style that is equivalent to fingernails on the chalkboard to my aural palette, and this one can go back to the never space that it has existed for previous 47 years of my life. I cringe to think that the algorithm will think that the track I add to my playlist is an indication of "I want more" of this garbage.

American Idiot by Green Day
May 13 2025

I fuggin love this album. I remember having my mind kinda blown in the early-2000's W era by this one, when we were dumping Trillion$ into a desert because "they hate our Freedumb" and here was the pitch perfect retort delivered by a band that, up until then, hadn't really moved my needle (hey, in my defense, youth is wasted on the young). I knew their music, of course, but hadn't expected a concept album from them, and one with as much musicianship and just flat out face melting sound. I can loop this one over and over, doesn't get old. Love the journey on Jesus of Suburbia.

Vento De Maio by Elis Regina
May 14 2025

Great voice, some decent arrangements, jazz loungey, well recorded, took the ear a bit to tune to the vibe. This one's much better when the instruments fuck off to the background and let her voice shine.

Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette
May 15 2025

Kinda hard to overstate the cultural impact this one had for those of us who "were there" when Alanis' voice started hitting the airwaves with this record. The "Seattle Sound" grunge era was well underway and actually starting to wane, and the Madonna wave was crashing. Funny enough you can actually hear some of Alanis' Madonna influence in here, along with her signature vocal style that was ripped off by Meredith Brooks et.al. as the copycats tried to cash in on the zeitgeist. The number of radio hits on this one is impressive, and it still holds up pretty well imo, though the vocal style can get to be a bit too much of a unique thing

Born In The U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen
May 16 2025

Starts strong, ends strong, great Boss sound start to finish. So many "greatest hits" tracks on this one album, definitely belongs on this list. Even if you've never spun this one start to finish you probably feel like you have heard it what with all the radio hits on here. This album deserves to me played at loud volumes in a classic car with the windows rolled down. Tough to pick THE one song off this one, but "I'm On Fire" always gets me.

If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears by The Mamas & The Papas
May 17 2025

Iconic sound, some great tunes here, a little Boomer-y for my tastes, but keeps me listening nonetheless. Undeniable talent, well arranged. California Dreamin' is as known as it is for good reason. Gets a bit redundant on repeated listens.

Tracy Chapman by Tracy Chapman
May 18 2025

Tracy's voice is still unique, and the songwriting is pretty powerful. I remember the year this one came out and some of the conversations this one sparked about the social divide in the country. Sadly, not much has changed in that regard.

69 Love Songs by The Magnetic Fields
May 19 2025

NGL, didn't have the time to give this one a thorough listen, but it's 69 songs on 3 discs, so, I think that's not really a surprise. There's some fun stuff on here, I love his voice. The song writing is fun, but it's a bit much of one thing, though I respect the concept and the dedication they obviously had to record 69 love songs on one album.

Frank by Amy Winehouse
May 20 2025

I had a lot of fun with this one. The lyrics are clever, and good god that voice. Truly unique and generational. The musical style is fantastically paired with her voice.

GI by Germs
May 21 2025

Pure punk. Snarling vocals, driving rhythms, exactly what comes to mind when this genre is brought up. In and out in 3 minutes or less, but for my money there's a LOT better punk to put into my playlists than the Germs.

Arrival by ABBA
May 22 2025

Abba plays like a soundtrack to family vacations when I was just a lad. Undeniably fantastic vocal harmonies and some decent arrangements. Dancing Queen still slaps, even after hearing it at every dance I've ever been to. The hits on here are solid, the filler is pretty meh and even approaches annoying in its Abba disco-ness. Fernando ftw.

Feast of Wire by Calexico
May 23 2025

This one grabbed me right away. Great arrangements, love the vibe on here. So musical, thoughtful lyrics. Across the Wire is pretty powerful.

Meat Is Murder by The Smiths
May 24 2025

I'ma savor that flavor, gat damnit. Ok, despite this being their most successful album (I can read Wikipedia articles, hooray!), none of the songs I think of when I think of this band are on this one. Good on them for taking a stand on a principle, and the music definitely sounds The Smiths, which if they're your thing should suffice to round out your fandom.

May 25 2025

So, the hook-drop-hook/repeat style never really was my thing. This sound hit the airwaves right when I took the full guitar-based rock path on my musical tastes journey. Bouncing in a room full of my sweaty peers while some dude with headphones and a turntable spun hooks as we were ecstasied up didn't land with me. No, I preferred bouncing in an arena with my sweaty peers, working my way to the rail to see (insert rock band here) shred their axes was more my thing. Most of our drug experience went up in little chimneys throughout the show. That being said, the sound of this album is pretty amazing considering how it was produced, and it was an undeniable influence at the time. He knows how to set a hook, I just kind of feel like I'm listening to the same 30 seconds on repeat, though goddamn if I don't find myself on occasion involuntarily moving to this one. Guess that's the point.

Music From The Penguin Cafe by Penguin Cafe Orchestra
May 26 2025

Music can set a mood, and you've got to be ready to be set in a mood with this one or you're gonna have a bad time. I've enjoyed Brian Eno's productions before, Music For Airports for instance. Not sure where this one would land in my "I wanna set a mood" lexicon, but it would probably require a select group with some time on their hands and a willingness to spend it. That being said, there's some nice moments in here, as I would expect from an Eno production. Most of those moments are sans vocals, so, again, if that's what you're looking for, this album might have some appeal. 9 times outta 10 I'm probably not looking for this, though for that one other time, this one could fit adequately into a space.

21 by Adele
May 27 2025

A little Adele goes a long way for me. So, for our second Adele offering on this list it's kinda played out for me. Still has a great voice, of course, and an album like this from a 21 year old counts for something. It's definitely well produced, and her voice shines through. I haven't felt the break up vibes in a LONG time, but I imagine this one has been spun through a lot of heartbreak.

Happy Trails by Quicksilver Messenger Service
May 28 2025

Sounds like a fun live performance, also quite a bit like The Doors. Not that that's entirely a bad thing, and less organ-y, which is ok by me. Still...y tho?

Blue Lines by Massive Attack
May 29 2025

Cool vibe. Had heard Safe From Harm before, not the rest. Dig the style.

A Little Deeper by Ms. Dynamite
May 30 2025

Wow, this one caught me by surprise. Great hooks, sounds fantastic. Love the style, lyrics are fun. Starts real strong, fades a bit in the second half, but the good is really good on this one.

The Slim Shady LP by Eminem
May 31 2025

So, this one sounded a little immature to me when it came out, didn't really land with me. The ensuing decades have not tempered the immaturity, but I can appreciate a bit more the Eminem style and, yes, even the absurd storytelling to some extent. Still probably don't need to revisit this one.

The United States Of America by The United States Of America
Jun 01 2025

Sounds like what would come out if you had an AI create an album based on "60's psychedelic rock, female vocalist, political themes, American Sgt Pepper." I guess the impressive thing is that it sounds like that, but was made long before albums were made that way. Interesting to hear how non-Beatles groups were creating derivatives of that sound, but I didn't have enough acid to get into this one.

The New Tango by Astor Piazzolla
Jun 02 2025

Pretty impressive this was recorded live. Kind of a nice Sunday morning vibe, which makes it convenient that it showed up on a Sunday draw. I've never really been a wine and jazz guy, so not sure when I'd really have occasion to throw this one on.

We Are Family by Sister Sledge
Jun 03 2025

All I can hear is will Smith's dumb ass getting jiggy with it and a song that's been so overplayed yet apparently still needs additional versions on the Spotify album. I guess there's some historical value to this one, but I don't need to hear anything off here ever again.

Dog Man Star by Suede
Jun 04 2025

I'm kind of a sucker for the Brit pop rock sound, so this one brings some interesting arrangements for me. While listening I had the thought "sounds interesting, perhaps a bit pretentious, but that's art, so oh well". Then I read the wiki and kind of hated myself for that thought... In the 90's there was probably no worse criticism than that, but I'd say this one has aged well enough. I've been through the Bowie and Smiths catalogues enough that it's kinda fun to hear a derivative that I wasn't familiar with, and Suede fills that niche.

Beggars Banquet by The Rolling Stones
Jun 05 2025

Amazing album. So fun to listen to, not as many of the "greatest hits" tracks as some of the other Stones albums folks are familiar with, but sounds so good almost 50 years later. The blues influence shines through, and it's some of Keith's best work imo.

All Hope Is Gone by Slipknot
Jun 06 2025

Ok, so, definitely not a genre that I'm going to throw on, I don't really listen to this style. That being said, open mind, there's some quality to this for what it is. After the hangover I started this one with, and a nap, damned if this one didn't start to grow on me. Title track is a banger.

The Atomic Mr Basie by Count Basie & His Orchestra
Jun 07 2025

Thanks to a certain circumstance (married to a trumpet performance major) this one hits for me from the opening and just keeps rolling. Can't say how many times I've thrown this one on, but any time I wanna see my wife get transported to her former life, this one does the trick. Love the vibe, and the musicianship is as good as it gets in the genre. They just don't make em like this anymore.

Smokers Delight by Nightmares On Wax
Jun 08 2025

Very listenable. Love the vibe on this one. Definitely will be revisiting this one.

Bossanova by Pixies
Jun 09 2025

This one is fun, and a staple for the 80s-to-90s transition, when the alt rock genre was developing into its own. The Pixies' sound is so unique, and a lot of bands that followed were definitely influenced by them. Kind of wild they're still going today after all they've gone through, which is a testament to the quality of their music imo. I'm still a sucker for this style.

The Band by The Band
Jun 10 2025

I always get a little sentimental listening to The Band. Had heard tracks off this one, but not the whole thing. Enjoyable, listenable, as I expect from this group.

Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin
Jun 11 2025

Glad this one came up, actually. I've heard this one so many times that I rarely think about putting it back on these days. Makes my remember why I've listened to it so much, and it still calls me back home. Solid tracks start to finish, and it's dripping with the raw bluesy sound that cemented Zero into rock royalty.

Supa Dupa Fly by Missy Elliott
Jun 12 2025

Ok, so having another artist open your album to tell people how good you are...? Good of Busta to help a young artist out, and I suppose a young female artist in this genre in the 90s wasn't starting on 3rd base, but still, set the wrong tone for me. That being said, once this one gets into its groove, there's some listenable tracks, though I'm definitely not going to consider myself exactly qualified to assess the quality of the hip hop. Guess I'll just have to take Missy's self aggrandizing word for it, since she calls it out on just about every track. Maybe the name drops (that Puffy call-out hasn't aged well) indicate how amazing she is. Drinking game idea: drink every time Timbaland's name gets dropped.

The Beach Boys Today! by The Beach Boys
Jun 13 2025

Crank up the reverb and roll out the vocal harmonies. Good timing on this one (RIP Brian Wilson). Couple of familiar tracks, and even the tracks I haven't heard are unmistakeably The Beach Boys. Like em or hate them, undeniably influential group that always evoke a specific place in Americana for me.

Jun 14 2025

Boy does this one take me back. Dig this group and this album, just a shame it's been relegated to the shelf for so long in the forgotten pile of music of my past. Great funk, clever lyrics, no complaints here

Neon Bible by Arcade Fire
Jun 15 2025

I'm kind of a sucker for these guys, though I couldn't name an album or track of theirs by name. I like the large arrangements and productions on here. They have a good feel for setting a tone and building through a song.

New Forms by Roni Size
Jun 16 2025

Electronica isn't really my thing, so I'm not qualified to judge this one on its bonifides in that regard. This one kept my attention well enough, kind of a chill vibe with pulsating rhythms, which is kinda fun. It all kinda blends together for me though, which isn't entirely bad I suppose, just not terribly interesting.

good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar
Jun 17 2025

Kendrick does have a way with words. Entertaining storytelling, unique voice and style, better to me when I'm paying attention to the lyrics. Really like the concept approach, very engaging, and quite listenable.

Suzanne Vega by Suzanne Vega
Jun 18 2025

"Wow! This Suzanne Vega album slaps!" said nobody ever, except, apparently, the author of this list. So boring, made me want to not have ears for a day. I can't put into words how annoyed this one made me. That's a big no from me, dog

The Visitors by ABBA
Jun 19 2025

Interesting, an Abba album without, to me at least, a recognizable single. Overall a great album, despite the lack of a familiar hit. Gotta hand it to this group, they never skimped on production quality or musical arrangements. It pays off here for me. Really listenable, catchy, with fantastic hooks throughout.

Disintegration by The Cure
Jun 21 2025

It sounds good in a lot of ways, and it kinda drags on. Overall a good album.

Off The Wall by Michael Jackson
Jun 22 2025

Voice like butter, undeniably talented, and boy did they try to shoehorn Michael into being a disco star with this one. Thank goodness he didn't stick to the genre, because much better offerings were to come from him.

Tusk by Fleetwood Mac
Jun 23 2025

Hadn't heard any of these before, so it was interesting to get introduced to an entire set of new-to-me music from Fleetwood Mac. I can also see why, from my "I only hear them on greatest hits compilations" perspective, these don't usually make the cut. The sound on here is not surprisingly pretty damn good. As a twelfth album I gotta give them credit, that's a lot of creativity to continue to mine from an obviously deep well. Some pretty catchy tunes grew out after a couple listens for me. Solid work.

Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
Jun 24 2025

I've always felt like these guys sound best when it's as close to them and their guitars as possible, with some well placed additions that don't overwhelm that. SOME of their have always sounded like somebody decided they needed to add a bunch of garbage to the song to make them more radio friendly. That's the music business, I guess. That doesn't take away from the greatness of this one, just kinda makes me want to search out the versions without that stuff, though admittedly the producer was probably right, evidenced by the fact that we are listening to this one today. This is a great album of songwriting, some production quality that irks me in some ways, but a certified classic.

The Rise & Fall by Madness
Jun 25 2025

Other than not being able to find this one on Spotify (YouTube Music ftw), this one is a pretty rewarding find. I knew Our House, but hadn't heard any of the rest. It does get the "ska" label, but if you want to label it that you have to consider how early in that genre this one was, so its ska-ness, if it is that, doesn't overwhelm. Plenty of quirkiness, and chock full of saxy songs, they don't all land for me, but there's enough to keep me interested.

Green River by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Jun 26 2025

Classic album, amazing songwriting. Almost plays like a compilation of hits. Hard to believe how hit-dense these guys were. This dude will always abide Creedence.

Strange Cargo III by William Orbit
Jun 27 2025

I like this one, cool vibe, sounds fantastic. Not a sing along album, of course, and for me music in this genre tends to kind of blend into the background, which makes this one pretty good if that's what I'm looking for.

L.A. Woman by The Doors
Jun 28 2025

This is a good one. Great bluesy rock, musicianship for days, and Morrison's vocals are always fun. Love Her Madly still slaps after the thousandth listen, a testament to the staying power of this one. An absolute classic.

Will The Circle Be Unbroken by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Jun 29 2025

The banter is kinda fun on this one. I've rediscovered over the last ten years my appreciation for this style of music that left me in my teens and twenties, and this is a great album of the genre, albeit a little long for a full run through. The musical talents in here are fun.

Os Mutantes by Os Mutantes
Jun 30 2025

Fun album, quirky as hell, but I enjoyed it.

Sign 'O' The Times by Prince
Jul 01 2025

A fantastic offering from Prince. Era defining sound, with all the Prince-ness you could ask for. Put this one on anytime you need a Prince fix and you won't be disappointed.

Hot Rats by Frank Zappa
Jul 02 2025

Pretty wild ride, great musicianship in these winding tracks. You can always count on a Frank Zappa album to at least be interesting, and this one is no exception.

Club Classics Vol. One by Soul II Soul
Jul 03 2025

Nothing really exceptional here, at least to my ear. It's fine, just not something that at any point makes me think "wow, never heard something like that before." Side note, the falsetto garbage she keeps doing on "Feel Free" just pisses me off.

Green Onions by Booker T. & The MG's
Jul 04 2025

Can't hear Green Onions and not think about The Sandlot. Iconic tune on a fun album. Definitely captures a space and time in American music.

Blonde On Blonde by Bob Dylan
Jul 05 2025

Simple: prolly top 5 or 10 all time for me. Been waiting for a Dylan contribution on our list, and this was the perfect day for it. This will never get old for me, so damned musical, lyrics that take you on a journey, this is Dylan almost as good as he gets (Highway 61 and Blood On the Tracks anyone?)

The Wall by Pink Floyd
Jul 06 2025

Have spun this one countless times, and for good reason. This is simply an amazing piece of art, from the storytelling to the musicality, the tonal shifts, when one hears "concept album" your can put The Wall at the top. Classic rock radio stations still just can't get enough of this one. I've sensed a bit of Pink Floyd fatigue creeping into the zeitgeist, but that does not take away the sheer brilliance of Floyd and this, their signature album imo.

Songs From The Big Chair by Tears For Fears
Jul 07 2025

This one epitomizes that signature 80s sound, which is a testament to its quality. This is synth sound done right, with plenty of real instruments and real musicianship driving it along. Not every track is a banger, but the ones that land are amongst the all timers of the genre.

Mothership Connection by Parliament
Jul 08 2025

So many fantastic hooks here. A lot of artists can credit this group with significant influence on their careers. It still sounds fantastic 50 years(!?!) later. Hell yeah.

Hounds Of Love by Kate Bush
Jul 09 2025

Nah, man. Not digging this one. There's some decent moments, and some real "wtaf" moments (Waking the Witch, dafuq?). Moved on quickly from this one, don't need to go back

Medúlla by Björk
Jul 10 2025

I don't mind dissonance as long as it eventually coalesces into something tangible. Chalk that up to my limited engineer brain, I guess. I can only wonder at the mind that conjures this, puts it to tape, and shares it confidently with world. Truly impressive artistic IDGAF, just not something I'm going to find enjoyable, really in any way other than maybe as a joke on friends that I don't want to keep. It makes me happy that the Björks of the world exist, because what a drab world it would be without artists putting out unlistenable art for us to enjoy.

Stankonia by OutKast
Jul 11 2025

Love OutKast's energy and style on this one. Really listenable, fun lyrics and fantastic rhythms and beats. Never really followed the different regional hip-hop sounds, finding I'm quite fond of the ATL style. The energy does drop off a bit in the second half of this one, but the good is really damn good.

Foxbase Alpha by Saint Etienne
Jul 13 2025

Dig this one. Cool vibe, pretty listenable, nothing offends. Not gonna blow your socks off, not gonna piss you off. I'd spin.

Rhythm Nation 1814 by Janet Jackson
Jul 14 2025

Wow does this one capture that late 80s-early 90s sound that hit the airwaves. That drum machine is still getting royalties. I remember when Michael's baby (hot!?!) sister showed up with an attitude and a hopeful message, and for a while it seemed like it could work. For those of us who were there, this one has radio hits all throughout, and we believed in Janet's belief that we could all be better people. Ah, but leave it to people to shoot the messenger, though Janet definitely played a part in that. Still, this one exists out there as a testament to an optimistic time when two talented siblings from a super fucked up family were a couple of the biggest acts on the planet, and the music was actually pretty good.

Vol. 4 by Black Sabbath
Jul 15 2025

I dig this one, though there's not a ton of recognizable tracks on it. The riff driven musicality of Sabbath shines through, and Ozzy sounds fantastic.

Definitely Maybe by Oasis
Jul 16 2025

Good stuff. Oasis hit at the right time in my life, and I can go back to that well because the quality endures. The raw sound on this one stands out, and I still enjoy a spin 30+ years later.

Jul 17 2025

Strong boomer sound here, have to fight through my distaste to find the quality, which there is to some extent. There's musicianship and some decent arrangements here and there, but it kinda all blends together in an unexciting blissful oblivion. The wiki article about the recording sessions is more exciting than anything on this album.

My Generation by The Who
Jul 18 2025

This one doesn't usually make my regular The Who rounds, but goddamn, what a way to hit the music scene. Sure, it wasn't their best offering, but you can definitely hear the groundwork for what they were to become, and My Generation and The Kids Are Alright are going to get onto any greatest hits compilations that are legit. One of my favorite all-time bands, and it's fun to go back to the beginning.

Jul 19 2025

This is my first time listening to Kanye, and gotta admit, this is some fantastic stuff. It sounds great, the lyrics are fun, compositions are complex, I guess other than the crazy he's become, I'd have to say I'm a fan

Pink Moon by Nick Drake
Jul 20 2025

Beautiful album, love his songwriting and guitar work. I love putting this one on and just chilling.

Rock Bottom by Robert Wyatt
Jul 21 2025

A bunch of goddamn noise with a British accent. Aptly named. Those English are so clever

Jul 22 2025

First spin was a challenge for this square, but the finale to the last track was brilliant, and subsequent spins put this one on track for me. Some great work in here. Not usually a jazz guy, but goddamn if this one didn't grow on me.

Exile On Main Street by The Rolling Stones
Jul 23 2025

This album is just so damned good. This is peak Stones, with enduring sound, amazing arrangements, and fantastic songwriting. There's really no low spots anywhere in here, making this one a no-brainer all-time top 10 for me. I suppose I could get tired of it after a certain number of spins, but I'm 100's in and counting in this lifetime and that hasn't happened yet. Roll on, boys.

Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath
Jul 24 2025

I feel the pull of Satan! Seriously, fun debut album, always appreciate Sabbath's riff-driven rock, and Ozzy's voice is so unique.

Timeless by Goldie
Jul 25 2025

Nope. Hate this. Voice and vocalizations annoy the shit outta me, the techno-jazz melding is a dud imo. Moving on from this one, that's almost 2 hours of my life wasted on this garbage.

The College Dropout by Kanye West
Jul 26 2025

Surprised again. I've never listened to Kanye before this list, and now I get to enjoy another album of his. Can't argue the dude has talent, and it shows through again on this. Amazing beats, entertaining storytelling. Just a solid album.

Let England Shake by PJ Harvey
Jul 27 2025

Interesting, don't really recall anything about PJ, though for whatever reason I was aware of her before. This isn't bad, and she seems sincere in her message, but somehow this very musical offering has a bit of an anemic sound to me. It's not bad, has some decent moments. Definitely talent here, and it has that weird quality where if you're listening and you turn it off your ears kinda want to turn it back on. I guess that's good enough for me.

Coles Corner by Richard Hawley
Jul 28 2025

Nice voice, kept waiting for him to belt one out. Dig the vibe. Has a timeless quality to it. Put this one on, sit back, and relax.

Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis
Jul 29 2025

Legendary. One of the most recognizable jazz records of all time for good reason. Incredible talent and skill all over this one. A masterclass of musicianship, each solo flows seamlessly into the next. Once you get on this train it's almost impossible to turn it off.

Fever Ray by Fever Ray
Jul 30 2025

Pretty vibey electronica, sounds pretty good at higher volumes. Definitely can set a mood, and a lot going on in my ears as I listen to it.

Exit Planet Dust by The Chemical Brothers
Jul 31 2025

For the genre I guess this is pretty good. Not my go to when I'm looking for something to spin, but not something I feel the need to turn off when it's on. There is some good stuff in here, for certain, but my ability to ascertain the skill of musicianship or production in this is pretty limited. Sounds good enough to me, if I'm not trying to calm myself down anyway.

Take Me Apart by Kelela
Aug 01 2025

Neither high nor low for me. It's an album.

The Gershwin Songbook by Ella Fitzgerald
Aug 02 2025

An all time voice, with a fantastic set of arrangements. This is Ella in her element. 3+ hours is a tad excessive if you're wanting to get through it more than once.

Close To You by Carpenters
Aug 03 2025

Far from my favorite style of music, though undeniably great voice. A few listenable tracks, a couple that were so heavily used in pop culture it's hard to believe there was a time before they existed in an unironic way. I'll give this one a few stars for the quality of the recording and the musical arrangements, but no damn way am I searching this one out unless I'm shooting a late 70s/early 80s scene that calls for the type of nostalgia that conjures up road trips in the family truckster.

Dance Mania by Tito Puente
Aug 04 2025

Hell yeah. Get some boat drinks and cigars and let this transport you to the streets of Havana. Makes even my stiff ass wanna shuffle my feet. Contagious sound, brilliantly composed and masterfully captured here

Wild Is The Wind by Nina Simone
Aug 05 2025

Very unique voice, chill vibe. Lots of emotion in the lyrics, this one has a way of pulling you in.

Tonight's The Night by Neil Young
Aug 06 2025

My ear requires a little Neil Young tuning for this one, but damn, once it's in it hits. Love hearing these guys play off each other. Lyrics are engaging, the style is fun, stripped down sound with nowhere to hide.

Night Life by Ray Price
Aug 07 2025

I'm a sucker for this style, and this is about as will as it is done. Back when success required actual musical chops and lyrics were clever, Willie Nelson was in the band. Enough said.

Brown Sugar by D'Angelo
Aug 08 2025

This one's fine. Well mixed, fun lyrics, not probably going to need to go back to this one due any specific purpose, though Shit, Damn, Motherfucker is pure poetry.

At Newport 1960 by Muddy Waters
Aug 09 2025

Damn this is good. Good blues always gets me, and it doesn't get much better than Muddy Waters.

Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens
Aug 10 2025

Some all-time tracks I've heard many times, some that don't get played often. Can't argue with the songwriting quality or musicianship, and his career can attest to that.

A Hard Day's Night by Beatles
Aug 11 2025

Bubblegum Beatles was the reason I didn't like the Beatles in my earlier years. Abbey Road came along and blew all my understanding of them away. Once that itch had been scratched, my distaste for their earlier work softened, and grew into appreciation. Had they not continued to develop and deliver I'm not sure how this one would sound, but it did happen, and it's fun to hear their stripped down sound on this.

Aug 12 2025

There's a reason we're still taking about Oasis today, and this album is it. Bangers all over this thing, great sounding album.

Devotional Songs by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Aug 13 2025

I can't really evaluate anything in the genre, this one is fine, though as an entire album it's a bit much. Is pretty mesmerizing though.

L'Eau Rouge by The Young Gods
Aug 14 2025

I started with optimism, went to "uh oh," and got to "this is amazing" in the first spin. It's worth sticking with this one. Pretty fun stuff.

Sex Packets by Digital Underground
Aug 15 2025

Funky, funny, entertaining and fun. Humpty Dance is one of the largest rap singles of all time, so on the merits of that alone this one belongs, but these guys had a unique sound and style that makes this one much more than a single with some other stuff.

Low by David Bowie
Aug 16 2025

This one slips through the Bowie cracks, suffering from the lack of an enduring single most likely. The musicality is here, however, if this isn't a "Bowie Album," it's not on this list. The context makes this one worth a listen.

Ananda Shankar by Ananda Shankar
Aug 17 2025

Oh my God, those covers are atrocious. I guess I can understand a new artist using something like that to get their foot in the door, but they are so terrible. If I never hear the Jumpin Jack Flash sitar cover again, it will be too soon. We now have AI to give us jokes like that, so in that way I guess this version was a half century ahead of its time. Fortunately, covers aside, this one can be pretty decent background music.

The Pleasure Principle by Gary Numan
Aug 18 2025

In my limited knowledge, this sure sounds like a precursor to a lot of music that followed in the 80s. Fun stuff here, well composed and produced. Based on the timeline, very influential to the decade of music that followed.

Aug 19 2025

Easy, probably a Top 5 all time, even with it being so overexposed in the decades since its release. Amazing concept, brilliant songwriting, top quality production. It doesn't really get more complete than this one

Bayou Country by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Aug 20 2025

Decent "jammy" record from Creedence. The record that confused people into believing this was a group out of the bayou, but undeniably great sounding with fantastic song writing. A little less versatility displayed on this one, but for the second of three records released in one year, what could one really expect?

Green by R.E.M.
Aug 21 2025

R.E.M. have a way of filling the space with sound, and that is on display here. I've always respected their musicianship and songwriting. Their arrangements are impressive. Stand is as infectious today as it was when it hit the scene decades ago, and the rest of the tracks on here should not be overlooked. Great album.

Skylarking by XTC
Aug 22 2025

This one barely holds the rails for me. There's enough interesting elements to it to keep me engaged, and a few "let's move on" moments as well. I can say this: it isn't something you're going to find a lot of comparisons to.

Aug 23 2025

Fun recording. Infectious energy, tight arrangements, Brown's vocal power burns through on this.

#1 Record by Big Star
Aug 24 2025

This is a pretty fun album, has a very "familiar" feel about it. Catchy AF, like, if you entered "create a 70s rock band album with a sprinkle of hippie" into an AI you'd have something that comes out about like this. Nothing bad about it, it just kind of is. Actually some decent moments in here. The acoustic tracks sound fantastic.

Bubble And Scrape by Sebadoh
Aug 25 2025

Ah, the 90s. This one takes me back to that time where we kept telling ourselves it was cool to not give a shit, and proving it with indie labels showing how much talented artists can put on a shitty sounding record. Don't get me wrong, were it not for these types of albums we may never have escaped the MTV era of overproduced hair bands on our rock radio airwaves. There's moments in here that, I suppose, warrant it's inclusion on this list, but acts like this were a dime a dozen in the 90s

Exodus by Bob Marley & The Wailers
Aug 26 2025

Excellently produced, amazingly arranged, a great recording of a legend. Marley and The Wailers had an infectious sound, and this one puts that on full display.

Back to Basics by Christina Aguilera
Aug 27 2025

Kudos to Christina for attempting to give a musical history lesson to her fans who, by being her fans in the first place, obviously needed one. I will say, had she started here in her career I wouldn't have the hesitation of taking her seriously, unfair as that is. This voice from a little blonde girl is not common, and the tracks here are well arranged to put those chops on display.

Aug 28 2025

This one annoyed the hell out of me at first, and the edge didn't really come off after repeated spins. There's obviously some musical talent, but the message is a bit ham handed in retrospect. The Me. Skin-Space Child back-to-back was just about more than I could endure.

Face to Face by The Kinks
Aug 29 2025

Fun album by a legendary band. Love the stripped down sound, their harmonies and arrangements. Yeah, this is The Kinks.

Parachutes by Coldplay
Aug 30 2025

A little Chris Martin goes a long way for me. Coldplay are undeniably musical, production quality is good on this one, even the songwriting is good. It's just kind of boring.

Clube Da Esquina by Milton Nascimento
Aug 31 2025

Tough slog for me. Not really my mystical taste, and a bit too long. Kept trying to get tuned into the vibe, just couldn't get there on this one.

KIWANUKA by Michael Kiwanuka
Sep 01 2025

Pretty good album here. Musically diverse, well arranged and produced. Found myself several times just wanting to stop and playback portions of tracks. Has a very mesmerizing quality to it.

Talking Heads 77 by Talking Heads
Sep 02 2025

Pretty cool album. Captures their quirky style and musicianship in about as raw a way as you'll find. Not really a surprise that they continued on with their long list of hits after Psycho Killer, which if nothing else puts this one into the "must hear" category.

The Fat Of The Land by The Prodigy
Sep 03 2025

Fantastic album. The tracks are contagious, adrenaline pumping to cosmic, kind of the pinnacle of the genre for me.

The Contino Sessions by Death In Vegas
Sep 04 2025

Fun ambient vibes. The musical structures are engaging, keeps my ears engaged.

Among The Living by Anthrax
Sep 05 2025

I love when metal is this fun. Clear tracks, tight arrangements, and of course energy for days.

Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane
Sep 06 2025

Ok, full disclosure, I kinda hate boomer music, so this one should have irritated me. And, it absolutely didn't. Way more dynamic than I was expecting. Of course we've all heard the hits a million times, but in the context of the album, they kinda hide away in here, which is refreshing. Obviously a lot of musicianship here, throw in some psychedelic exploring, and you get this. Good stuff. Ok Boomer, I'll grant you this one.

Pieces Of The Sky by Emmylou Harris
Sep 07 2025

Pretty decent country album. Emmy's voice is, as usual, amazing, and the song list is good, though for whatever reason covers of Beatles songs never really land well for me.

Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones
Sep 08 2025

Certifiable classic. The Stones are full stride here, with the signature blues riffs, innuendo, and solid arrangements. Throw in a ballad or two, sprinkle in some saxy songs, and boom, baby goes to sleep now.

Sep 09 2025

One of the most significant rap groups of the era, and perhaps their most significant album. Fantastic beats, excellent political perspective, Public Enemy had a big part to play in educating this South Dakota white kid to what was going on in the world. Tracks still slap, and the Chuck D-Flava Flav contrast is so perfect.

Calenture by The Triffids
Sep 10 2025

Pretty fun album. Well produced, good songs, lead singer has a nice powerful voice. The style fits with the era but isn't completely tied to it.

Berlin by Lou Reed
Sep 12 2025

This one was a little tough for me to get into, until it grabbed me. Patience is key here, and you're rewarded with all the feels that Lou Reed has a knack for delivering. You'll be musically challenged at times, but there is real genius in here. When the strains of Sad Song fade you might find yourself thinking "Well done, Lou. Well done."

Dirt by Alice In Chains
Sep 13 2025

Have to think on this one a bit. I've listened to this one a thousand times, so for me it's a no-brainer 5*. But, I've got to do better than the nostalgia bit for justifying that ranking. For me, the musicianship in the heaviness, the vocal layering, the storytelling in the lyrics, the depth of it all. Once you let that in, you're hooked. Kind of like a hit. Careful, that shit can be addictive.

Survivor by Destiny's Child
Sep 14 2025

Not sure what I can say about this one. Obviously there's talent here, but I'm not sure I'm ready for that jelly. Overproduced synthesized garbage pop with attempts to sound edgy with painfully obvious selections of words ("go'n" never sounded so perfectly the same in every utterance). Like trying to subsist on sugary desserts, this one is all filler, no substance.

So Much For The City by The Thrills
Sep 15 2025

Decent vibes here. Kind of simultaneously uplifting and melancholy.

Illinois by Sufjan Stevens
Sep 16 2025

I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would or could. Definitely a step off the beaten path, and for whatever reason it lands with me. Extremely musical, and an interesting concept album. Lots of moments throughout where I'm reeled in.

Here Are the Sonics by The Sonics
Sep 17 2025

Dig the early garage screamer style. Glad the half-cover/half-original albums went away, though I gotta admit, they land a couple of those covers. Fortunately there's enough original content here to keep it fun.

Live At The Regal by B.B. King
Sep 18 2025

Damn B.B. could make Lucille sing. Love this recording. A legend captured live with a great backing band.

Sep 19 2025

Indie is hit and miss with me, and this one hits on my scale. I think Malkmus takes some adjusting to for the uninitiated, though not going to be everyone's cup of tea.

Sep 20 2025

Easy. Top 10 for me. Epic. U2 at their most powerful, amazing music and storytelling. Never get tired of this one.

Walking Wounded by Everything But The Girl
Sep 21 2025

This one is kind of a nice, chill vibe. It does KIND of sound like one continuous track, not a lot of straying from the formula as the album winds through, but fortunately it's a pretty decent formula.

Dust by Screaming Trees
Sep 22 2025

Really like this one. Good dynamics, sounds great. Though definitely influenced by the time, it doesn't feel stuck in the era some 30 years later. Couldn't turn this one off.

Blackstar by David Bowie
Sep 23 2025

Like this one way more 10 years later than I remember from when it came out. It takes some getting used to, because there isn't a lot of that Bowie pop that endeared him for so long. However, the Bowie musicality is in full form here.

Future Days by Can
Sep 24 2025

Kind of a fun groovy album here. Definitely catches my attention.

The Rolling Stones by The Rolling Stones
Sep 25 2025

Kind of fun to hear where it started, even if it is mostly a bunch of covers. They sound great, and already had that "Stones" sound that pushed them to legendary.

The Rising by Bruce Springsteen
Sep 26 2025

A hell of a lot better response to a tragic event than "they hate our freedumb." Bruce sounds good here, even if the songs themselves don't quite make it to iconic status like a lot of his work. Well written and arranged, with the pain of 9/11 as a backdrop while maintaining a hopeful tone. Good stuff.

The Specials by The Specials
Sep 27 2025

I like this one, even if I got ska'd out in the late 90s. It's fun to hear I've of the early groups in the genre, with a little punk mixed around in there. Good tracks, fun vocals, enjoyable.

Pretzel Logic by Steely Dan
Sep 28 2025

Super soft 10-ply. Nah man, I can lose this number

Justified by Justin Timberlake
Sep 29 2025

Man, for a dude who was probably getting laid plenty, he sure sounds in this one like a dude who's desperate to get laid.

Solid Air by John Martyn
Oct 01 2025

Groovy, jazzy, bluesy, lots going on here. A very enjoyable listen for these ears.

Hejira by Joni Mitchell
Oct 02 2025

Lots of lyrical poetry, which is a given with Joni. Full disclosure: I've never been able to stomach Joni's voice, which gets way to warbly for my taste. Color me surprised, then, that the moments where it hits those "fingernails on a chalkboard" tone are relatively few on this one. Substitute the over-emphasized exploratory bass lines as the element of this one that I can't stomach. So close, Joni.

Rio by Duran Duran
Oct 03 2025

Fantastic sounding record. The hits off this are obvious, but the rest is solid too.

Licensed To Ill by Beastie Boys
Oct 04 2025

Still a fun album. I always love the Beasties' use of heavy guitar riffs in their tracks, which along with other attributes probably explains why this was the first rap album to really break into the mainstream. Not to take away from their (or others') craft, this album is a banger. High energy, fun loops, clever lyrics, this is pure Beasties.

The Sounds Of India by Ravi Shankar
Oct 05 2025

Mesmerizing music. The lessons are interesting. Put this one on and obliviate.

Cupid & Psyche 85 by Scritti Politti
Oct 06 2025

So very 80's. Not sure what sets this one apart from myriad albums from the era, other than the anemic vocals. Sounds like what I'd expect from an AI prompted album. Makes me wonder if the generation that pushed this music onto the planet had any option OTHER than to bleed the planet's future dry in a coke-induced euphoric haze.

Hunky Dory by David Bowie
Oct 07 2025

So damn musical. Love this album, no matter how many spins it's spun in my life. Still interesting, with certified bangers throughout.

Loveless by My Bloody Valentine
Oct 08 2025

Dripping with teenage angst, drowned in distortion. That's My Bloody Valentine to me. Not that there's necessarily anything wrong with that formula, it can just start all sounding the same. There's enough to keep it interesting, but nothing that really stands out.

Germfree Adolescents by X-Ray Spex
Oct 10 2025

This one is really fun. I'm a sucker for saxy songs, so already I'm interested. Love the energy, and the sound is fantastic. New to me, I will definitely be coming back to this one. Great album.

OK Computer by Radiohead
Oct 11 2025

Any list of mine is likely to have this one in the Top 5. Still sounds amazing almost 30 years later. The shift in Radiohead's style on this one was such a revelation. Put them in the mix with greatest of all time bands conversations. The musicality, the concept, lyrics, mixing. There isn't a weakness here.

Trio by Dolly Parton
Oct 12 2025

Three legendary talents on one album? Sign me up. Fun to hear them each bring their own unique styles and techniques into the trio. Just good music.

In It For The Money by Supergrass
Oct 13 2025

Fun guitar-driven rock. Well recorded, with enough uniqueness to warrant a mention on this list, imo. Not sure I can agree with the over the top reviews it garnered at the time, though I recall at that time as the Seattle sound era waned that there was a plethora of ass rock that made an album like this a refreshing breath of fresh air, so perhaps the reviewers were just so relieved to not have to listen to another turntable driven butt rock album. Still, pretty damned good.

Beauty And The Beat by The Go-Go's
Oct 14 2025

Iconic sound, still has that ear catching quality to it. A fun California blend of surf and punk, delivered by an all female lineup. What's not to like?

Clandestino by Manu Chao
Oct 15 2025

A friend of mine brought this one back from a semester overseas, and I was hooked. This many years later and I still love this one. Infectious rhythms, clever mixes, great lyrics (as far as I can really tell), I'm never down when this one is spinning.

Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division
Oct 16 2025

A shoegazing foundation album. Sonic reverb, simple rhythmic beats, melancholy lyrics and vocals, all signatures of the genre that was to become popular years after this recording. Some good stuff in here, perfect listening on a reflective day.

Fire Of Love by The Gun Club
Oct 17 2025

Bluesy surf punk. Who knew? Fun album, infectious sound. This one caught my attention and kept it.

Blue by Joni Mitchell
Oct 18 2025

Such clear genius here. My problem is that I am not, and thus unable to appreciate the obvious genius on display in Joni's work. It's like thinking you can look into the sun because you're the President of the United States.

Django Django by Django Django
Oct 19 2025

Wow, never heard this one before, and I'm smitten. Fantastic album. Sounds great, so catchy. Had a lot of fun getting to know this one. I'll be back

Appetite For Destruction by Guns N' Roses
Oct 20 2025

Certified classic, probably Top 20 all time record. The fact this was their first album still blows my mind to this day. So much raw rock energy here.

Oct 21 2025

Really like this one. The sonic journey always catches my by surprise. Gets better on every listen

Punishing Kiss by Ute Lemper
Oct 22 2025

Nope. I think I can see how this one could land in some circles. Unfortunately for me, my circle is well outside that landing zone. Very dramatic arrangements, artistic storytelling, and just not my thing. Makes me feel like I'm listening to the soundtrack for a musical. Couple moments where straight up sounds like someone stepped on a cat's tail.

Blood, Sweat & Tears by Blood, Sweat & Tears
Oct 23 2025

A lot of blood, sweat & tears went into me suffering through this one. I have always felt the 70's were unique musically in that for every great rock record produced there was a bunch of filler garbage that was a result of expanded studio capabilities that were deployed in a terrible way. At least we got Hank's musical number off this one. https://youtu.be/zUwSaO2SnHQ?si=b1gPUzmIecyMelP0

E.V.O.L. by Sonic Youth
Oct 24 2025

Cool album. Feels like it's always riding the line between control and chaos, but intentionally so. You're not going to get a radio single off this one, which to me makes it a fantastic album to spin a couple times.

Oct 25 2025

Great recording. I'm sure the cultural impact of this one in its time was significant, though to today's ears hearing an artist in a different genre or style is more the norm. Doesn't take away from my enjoyment on this one. Just a fantastic, easy listening release from an American icon

Music in Exile by Songhoy Blues
Oct 26 2025

Unique story to this one, and a real cool album. Great sounding and very listenable. Fun instrumentals and rhythms.

Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones
Oct 28 2025

Classic album, and one of my favs by the Stones. Mick's southern drawl always cracks me up, and the musical talent is on display throughout with the bluesy honky tonk sound. This one never gets old.

Ys by Joanna Newsom
Oct 29 2025

I was always curious what could be achieved by layering the screeches of a stepped-on cat with a harp and symphonic arrangements. Here we have it. Hauntingly terrible, play this one for the enemies in your life, who might believe you're just trying to be kind. But, you know better. You sinister bastard, you.

Bandwagonesque by Teenage Fanclub
Oct 30 2025

Cool band, fun album. Interesting to hear where music might have been headed if Nirvana hadn't blown up the scene at the same time. Naturally this one got lost in the fray, but not because it lacks in listenability or quality. Not saying this would have had anywhere near the impact, but it also holds up well enough this many years after, and that's saying something.

Raising Hell by Run-D.M.C.
Oct 31 2025

The quintessential rap album for me. I know there was some stuff going on before this, but most casuals had no idea until this one landed. I love the precision of this one. Absolutely a classic, and still fun to listen to 40 years later

Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf
Nov 01 2025

Meat definitely had pipes and talent, and his contribution to America the Beautiful is timeles. Pretty impressive to start a career with an album like this, and it definitely has withstood the test of time, just not really my thing, but damn if I didn't find myself pulled in. Gotta grant that much.

At Folsom Prison by Johnny Cash
Nov 02 2025

Amazing concept for an album, and a perfect recording, complete with coughs, banter, and audience reactions. Legendary stuff.

There's A Riot Goin' On by Sly & The Family Stone
Nov 03 2025

Good funk, though a lot more chill than I expect from the genre. There's some pretty good moments in here. Fun album.

Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys
Nov 04 2025

The Beasties can do funk, and it's on full display here. Great album, with so many great grooves and hooks. I put this at the top of a list of great albums by these guys

Tarkus by Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Nov 05 2025

Prog rock epitomized here. Hang in there and you will hear some good moments. That first track, tho. Wow

Nov 06 2025

The ladies loved LL. I like him enough, I guess. Definitely a culturally impactful album, and still listenable this many years later.

Nov 07 2025

Not sure how a single album produced by Mylo finds its way to this list, but I'm not disappointed by that. This is an enjoyable album, with some fantastic sonic moments, though I am far from a connoisseur of the genre, so can't tell what sets it apart from its peers.

Fear Of Music by Talking Heads
Nov 08 2025

Love the combination of musical genius and weird with Talking Heads. This one doesn't have one of the "greatest hits" singles, which helps me enjoy the whole even more. Great album.

Groovin' by The Young Rascals
Nov 09 2025

This one kinda crept up on me. My initial "damn hippies!" reaction was tempered and I enjoyed the variety that found its way into this one.

Nov 10 2025

Not really my style, though still kinda fun. Good energy, lots of musicianship. Hard pass on the long-form jams, however.

After The Gold Rush by Neil Young
Nov 11 2025

Only criticism here is that one track generated a southern anthem that continues to inspire generations of ignorance. Guess the cultural impact of this one is bonafide. The rest is quite listenable, pretty chill for Neil

Da Capo by Love
Nov 12 2025

I like this one. Never heard anything off it before. Got a little Doors vibes at , but swap sax and harpsichord in for organ, and some very modern elements (until the drums kick in). Revelation is a fun ride.

Heartattack And Vine by Tom Waits
Nov 13 2025

Love this one. Tom Waits can take some adjusting to for the uninitiated, but once you've tuned your ear to the growl and poetry it's like a drug.

Nov 14 2025

Lots of pain under that beautiful voice, which makes this one so compelling. Time has vindicated many of Sinead's observations and criticisms, which makes this one as poignant today as it

Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel
Nov 15 2025

Certified classic. The duo executes the life end-to-end concept really well, and the music is, as always, fantastic.

Crazysexycool by TLC
Nov 16 2025

It's fine, not really my jam. Very apt title, whoever came up with that for these three was genius. Never really listened to this one as a concept album before.

All Mod Cons by The Jam
Nov 17 2025

Good energy, great sounding album. Fun songwriting

C'est Chic by CHIC
Nov 18 2025

So very cultured. Disco sucks. This one skirts that line too closely for me. That being said, this one has some decent moments. Just not my thing

...And Justice For All by Metallica
Nov 19 2025

Classic metal album. I'm always impressed with how tight this band is.

Nov 20 2025

Man I've done the rounds with this one. Gets me every time. So sonically dense. Great arrangements and songwriting. Not afraid of going big, nor ashamed to, and it shouldn't be. Hits all those epic tones masterfully. City of Delusion and Knights of Cedonia are amazing tracks on a fantastic record. The trumpet solo on City is pure eargasm. Doesn't matter how many times I hear it, I can always spin this one.

The Trinity Session by Cowboy Junkies
Nov 21 2025

This is a good one. She has an amazing voice, and the quality of the recording with its reverb and warm tones is fantastic. Put this one on and just chill.

Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Nov 22 2025

So saxy. This fella has a weak spot there, so this one lands. A classic. Play Take 5 anywhere and people will recognize it and start grooving along.

New Boots And Panties by Ian Dury
Nov 23 2025

Can't help but imagine Mr. Frog singing these (those who know know). Otherwise, this is a fine album. Got all the cheeky British humor one could ask for, especially considering such things weren't as accepted in the day this one was pressed. Musically it's fine.

Brilliant Corners by Thelonious Monk
Nov 24 2025

Groovy jams, man, I can dig it. Fun album, well recorded. Definitely a jazz classic.

Electric Ladyland by Jimi Hendrix
Nov 25 2025

Classic. Hendrix raw on Voodoo Chile is as good as it gets. The track that made him a legend, on an album that puts his talent on display like no other.

meh. Nothing really stands out on this one, aside from some screeches that I could do without. It isn't bad, and the tone does kind of grab you after you settle in, but not really compelling to me.

Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth
Nov 27 2025

Not an album done to create radio hits, this one pulls you in in a different way. Lots going on in here, and really compelling. Broad sound, definitely dense.

Ingenue by k.d. lang
Nov 28 2025

Great voice, fun arrangements. This one kind of surprised me with the musicality.

Nov 29 2025

Fantastic album, sounds great, great songwriting and lyrics. The concept is great, and executed well.

No Other by Gene Clark
Nov 30 2025

This one sounds really good. I dig the vibe, even without that radio single element, or maybe because of that.

Juju by Siouxsie And The Banshees
Dec 02 2025

Pretty good stuff in here. Good driving sound and they make good use of Siouxsie's range. Great guitar throughout. Into the Light and Monitor are bangers.

Rip It Up by Orange Juice
Dec 03 2025

This one is damn fun. Super catchy, great musicality, very 80s in a good way. The tracks roll together really well, making this one an easy repeater. Perfect use of effects give it that nice 80s touch.

A Walk Across The Rooftops by The Blue Nile
Dec 04 2025

Lots of musicality here, and it barely holds the rails for me. Can't argue with the artistic skills, just a little more dissonance than I normally search out. Stay is the one track on here that has a "traditional" arrangement, and it's a pretty damn good track at that.

Winter In America by Gil Scott-Heron
Dec 05 2025

Cool stripped down sound, jazzy and thought provoking.

At Fillmore East by The Allman Brothers Band
Dec 06 2025

Fantastic recording that puts their talents on full display. A great ride, and one I've gone back to many times over the years

Hms Fable by Shack
Dec 07 2025

First impression was "sounds like someone blended R.E.M. and Oasis." It does get out of that shadow a bit, and the theme resonates with this old seaman's heart. Pretty good musicality, and if I don't know those other bands I'm not left with much to disparage, especially since they were contemporaries.

Dec 08 2025

Tons of energy on this one. Put this on and attack any task, it cooks. Super fun album

With The Beatles by Beatles
Dec 09 2025

Culturally significant, although in retrospect it doesn't come close to cracking into The Beatles' top half of their own catalog. Kinda fun to think of a time when they were still covering other bands' songs while trying to gain a foothold in the industry. Definitely a must when reviewing the fab four's journey, but not one I need to put on to enjoy the actual music, which is pretty pedestrian.

Dec 10 2025

Grand, meandering, long form compositions that no doubt are dripping with my musicality and talent. There are definitely moments in here, it's just that you have to be willing to listen to 10+minute tracks to get there. Patience is the only way to approach this one, and if that's not what you're looking for, it's going to probably miss you

Deep Purple In Rock by Deep Purple
Dec 11 2025

Friggin Purple, man. Wall of sound, vocals that few can pull off, what's not to love? Guitar riff driven, but

Technique by New Order
Dec 12 2025

Not all that into dance music, but I do actually appreciate the electronica aspects of this one, and the 80s vibe bring it into line for me.

Pornography by The Cure
Dec 13 2025

It's fine. Doesn't move the needle high or low for me. If you want The Cure, it'll do.

Here, My Dear by Marvin Gaye
Dec 14 2025

It's Marvin Gaye, so there is of course some fantastic singing and musicianship. That's being said, the songs themselves are not his best, but that probably stems from the subject matter.

Post Orgasmic Chill by Skunk Anansie
Dec 15 2025

Doesn't really land for me. Lots of noisy compilations, singer can't keep it in the lines, just sounds like a lot of the slop of the era that was "so deep" but really just kinda all slopped together.

Songs Of Leonard Cohen by Leonard Cohen
Dec 16 2025

Fun to hear where the Leonard Cohen journey started. Great songwriting here, and of course the poetic lyrics and buttery voice the man is famous for. Kind of plays like adult lullabyes to me. Could be easily mistaken for Neil Diamond at times, which isn't a criticism.

The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Dec 17 2025

A foundational, classic record. Set the stage for the hip-hop wave that followed, and still did it better than most. Just a great album. The Message is still the same 40+ years later.

En-Tact by The Shamen
Dec 18 2025

Pops and blips. If you're looking for a rave, this is probably what you're looking for.

The Who Sell Out by The Who
Dec 19 2025

An often overlooked album by The Who, with a bunch of fantastic tracks. The concept is great, and the songwriting is so fun. You can hear so many of the elements that comprise the band's future catalogue.

Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley
Dec 20 2025

It's fine. It's Elvis, singing a bunch of black artist's tunes and introducing a generation of ignoramus people to a genre of "jungle music." Culturally significant, musically decent.

Dec 21 2025

Have spent many contemplative hours with this one. Always enjoy when I put this on and find myself sliding into a state of relaxation.

Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby by Girls Against Boys
Dec 22 2025

As a 90s music survivor, I'm surprised by this one. It sounds way less copycat than SO many of the releases around this time that were trying to cash in on the "Seattle Sound" that was dominating the airwaves. Hearing the actual musical talent here along with the sound makes me appreciate this one way more than I was expecting going into it.

Horses by Patti Smith
Dec 23 2025

Cool album. Love that early New York punk sound, mixed in with the avant garde of the times. Definitely unique voice, has a bit of a Blondie timbre to it.

Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg
Dec 24 2025

A cultural phenomenon, and still banging 30+ years later. Crazy to think this guy has become family programming, but dude has a sound like no other. Hits all over this one.

Connected by Stereo MC's
Dec 25 2025

Pretty fantastic album, and one I'd never even heard of. Great vibe, excellent compositions and beats.

Dec 26 2025

Some of my absolute favorite renditions of the Christmas classics. It's rare that I put on "an" album of Christmas music for the holidays, but this one can absolutely be spun start to finish without ruining the vibe. Merry f'n Christmas!

Eagles by Eagles
Dec 27 2025

A couple tracks that everybody ever probably knows, a couple dogs, and some musically fine but ultimately forgettable filler. Not gonna knock The Eagles too much for this one, but the boomer's hero worship of these guys has poisoned the well somewhat for this listener, and best I can do is give this one a passing grade.

Peggy Suicide by Julian Cope
Dec 28 2025

Cool album, if not a little bit long on the play time. It's an interesting hour and sixteen, at least.

At Budokan by Cheap Trick
Dec 29 2025

Cool recording, even with all the crowd screaming.

3 + 3 by The Isley Brothers
Dec 30 2025

Didn't get an opportunity to go after this one with full attention, but... Found myself moving subconsciously multiple times, and ready to hit the next tune. Good jams.

Mermaid Avenue by Billy Bragg
Dec 31 2025

Just a fantastic recording, and the Woody Guthrie tie-in is really cool. Super impressed.

Playing With Fire by Spacemen 3
Jan 01 2026

Interesting album. I enjoyed it. Lots of cool ambient vibes.

Giant Steps by The Boo Radleys
Jan 02 2026

Cool arrangements and a unique sound. Love the mixing of genres even within tracks. Well done album, especially with a decent set of earphones. Does get a bit long, but at least stays interesting.

Tommy by The Who
Jan 03 2026

Really a masterpiece. The build up in the first half is brilliant, and when the refrains start landing in the second half it's pure eargasm. As far as complete albums go it's hard to top this one, with the story of abuse, revelation, and redemption wrapped in the silly story of a pinball wizard (the story of "why pinball?" is a fun one for any trivia nerds).

Cafe Bleu by The Style Council
Jan 04 2026

Late night TV/lounge act vibes. Not bad, just gotta be looking for something in the vein. Until the rap, that is. Interesting addition, that, but in an eclectic compilation like this album, fits right in

Play by Moby
Jan 05 2026

This one's fine, though I'd argue that without the later release of South Side with the Gwen Stefani collab most people would have gone about their lives never hearing of Moby.

Eliminator by ZZ Top
Jan 06 2026

Hell yeah. All time great rock album, dripping with double (and sometimes single) entendre, it's riff-rock at its absolute finest. It's hard not to feel a certain something when this one is spinning, and if that's a fist forming in your hand, feel free to pump it.

Odessey And Oracle by The Zombies
Jan 07 2026

It's fine. Again, a little boomer-ish for my tastes. Not bad, just sounds a little anemic to me

Tidal by Fiona Apple
Jan 08 2026

Never really spun this one, though Criminal, and especially the accompanying video, was an especially eye-opening experience for me when it came out... Not bad, very lounge vibe, great voice.

Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin
Jan 10 2026

Amazing voice, great style, fun record. Legendary artist and iconic album.

Maverick A Strike by Finley Quaye
Jan 11 2026

Pretty cool album. Some really good tracks on this one, though it kinda lulls in the second half. Reggae influenced R&B, infectious beats, I'm here for it

Whatever by Aimee Mann
Jan 12 2026

Well, I heard it, I didn't die, though there were moments in this one where I didn't care if I did. Maybe the most perfectly named album ever. Bo-ring. Just nothing really memorable here, and her voice does nothing for me. I don't usually get annoyed by lyrics that rhyme, but for some reason here it gets on my nerves.

Urban Hymns by The Verve
Jan 13 2026

Who knew this one was more than one single that got them into hot water with the Rolling Stones? Never dove too far into this one. I suppose there could be some argument made that it's over-produced in some aspects, but it still sounds pretty good almost 30 years on.

Kenya by Machito
Jan 14 2026

Fun album, infectious vibes. Put this one on and watch everybody in the room start to move

Jan 15 2026

Cool album, with enough variety and quirkiness mixed in with the fantastic musicianship to keep it interesting.

Cross by Justice
Jan 16 2026

This style of music not really my jam, and... This one is pretty damned good. Infectious, and really well arranged. Found myself moving to this one

Jan 17 2026

I know it's kind of nostalgic and cliche, and it's a bunch of covers, but for my money The Man in Black sounds as good on his final album as on any of his recordings. A fantastic close to a legendary career, you can hear the miles on the man, and they are captured beautifully on this album. Opening with one of the final songs he wrote, this is a must-have for any Cash fan.

White Blood Cells by The White Stripes
Jan 18 2026

A great album, love the raw quality of the recording.

Lost In The Dream by The War On Drugs
Jan 19 2026

Great sounding album. Has a soothing epic-ness to it. Great Petty/Fleetwood Mac/etc vibes, while still being its own great thing.

Station To Station by David Bowie
Jan 20 2026

Pretty dense Bowie here, covering some interesting ground. I wouldn't consider it in my list of top Bowie albums for me, but it is undeniably Bowie. You're not going to hear a "Greatest Hits" track on here, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth a listen.

Blood And Chocolate by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Jan 21 2026

Neither high nor low for me, much like anything I've ever come across from Elvis.

Jan 22 2026

Amazing album, and not available on my streaming service of choice (Spotify), which is a goddamn travesty.

Truth And Soul by Fishbone
Jan 23 2026

Lots of energy on this one, plenty of funk influence, but don't think I'd put it in that category alone.

The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest
Jan 24 2026

Core hip-hop album, absolutely influential, and in the lexicon of the genre it feels like it spends a significant portion of its run time on takeoff and never really catches its wind.

More Specials by The Specials
Jan 25 2026

Always fun when the Brits get in on the reggae vibe and throw in some punk. Pretty musical offering here, mostly enjoyable, though there's a few points where I found myself thinking "next track can come any time now."

On The Beach by Neil Young
Jan 27 2026

You never know what you're walking into with a Neil Young album, and this one does not disappoint. Sounds great, themes are engaging, and the style is pure Neil.

Music Has The Right To Children by Boards of Canada
Jan 28 2026

I think they misspelled the first name of this band... Snooze fest, and it just. keeps. going. Which is cool, I guess, is that's what you're looking for.

Synchronicity by The Police
Jan 29 2026

Kind of a tale of two halves album for me. First half is pretty meh to awful ("Mother" is a goddamn disaster). And then arguably the most recognizable track this band ever produced brings things into focus, and it finishes strong.

Electric Prunes by The Electric Prunes
Jan 30 2026

Boomer psychedelic rock: wash, rinse, repeat. Not really sure what makes this one stand out in any significant way, but to me it's just another meh album.

Crosby, Stills & Nash by Crosby, Stills & Nash
Jan 31 2026

Good one here, even enough to overcome my aversion to the boomer sound that it was such a big part of. These Canucks can jam, and I'm digging the vibe, man. Far out.

Actually by Pet Shop Boys
Feb 01 2026

This is a fun album. Fantastic sound, great 80s vibes. Can't listen to this one and not move a little bit. Yes please.

Feb 02 2026

Can't really stomach The Byrds normally, but add some Gram Parsons, and I'm in. The country takes the edge off of the boomer psych rock shtick that always grates on me, makes them sound like a different band.

Nevermind by Nirvana
Feb 03 2026

Simply stated, one of the best rock albums of all time. No stinkers to be found, and I don't think it's just my familiarity with this. Fun to remember the boomers' collective realization that their hold on the "we have the best music" claims were being blown away as they covered their ears and complained about the noise. This one does not get old, and is WAY more musical than it was given credit for in its time

Idlewild by Everything But The Girl
Feb 04 2026

Wow, this one is pretty goddamn awful. Had to grit my teeth almost the entire way through. Was familiar with the artist, couldn't remember why, suffered through this LP thinking I'd find out why I was familiar, and came up with nothing. Checked their top tracks on Spotify, and there were 4 renditions of their one hit that was the reason why I had heard of them. That explains it. Big pass on this garbage

The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
Feb 05 2026

The Smiths have a way of making me start tapping my toes. The arrangements here are vintage Smiths, with Marrs' fantastic guitar weaving in and out with Morrissey's vocals and sarcastic lyrics.

Feb 06 2026

Cool recording. These guys sound fantastic here. The instruments were recorded marvelously, and of course Lemmy's growling vocals. Motorhead recorded live is a perfect delivery method for this band.

Feb 07 2026

Basically two great albums in one. The mixing is fantastic. Fun rhythms and themes, and if you don't start moving at several points throughout you probably don't have a pulse. First disc is better than the second, IMO, but tough to beat "Hey Ya!" on the 2nd disc for an all-time banger.

Unhalfbricking by Fairport Convention
Feb 08 2026

So, this is an album that exists. Ok.

Feb 09 2026

Neither high nor low, except maybe some of the sophomoric lyrics that are attempted to be wrapped in high brow drivel. A low key vibe with the occasional ear-catching eyebrow-raising lyric.

Kid A by Radiohead
Feb 10 2026

Hard to understate how big of a departure this one felt like at the time as Radiohead continued their musical journey. A brilliant and bold work, ditching the radio-friendly singles entirely and delivering a beautiful haunting music scape that never ceases to draw me in.

Destroyer by KISS
Feb 11 2026

"You watch me singing this song You see what my mouth can do And you wish you were the one I was doing it to." Pure. Fuckin. Poetry. Ok, so, it's Kiss, and despite the Beethoven, not really expected to stretch your musical tastes beyond "this is rock-'n'-roll, baby." In that regard, it certainly delivers.

Heartbreaker by Ryan Adams
Feb 12 2026

Beautiful album, really chill vibes follow the energetic open. Not Adams' best album, but fantastic nonetheless.

Feb 13 2026

Every time I put on a John Lennon album I find myself thinking "all the 'Best Beatle' debates are trying too hard. " Lennon. It was Lennon. Great album, sounds amazing, has distinctly John vibes, with his themes on loss and love, religion and politics, delivered with his signature wit and passion.

Brothers by The Black Keys
Feb 14 2026

Banger, start to finish. Never tire of this one, and it just keeps getting better.

There are few good things I am capable of saying about this band, or this genre in general. There is some decent musical compositions at points of this. And then, Fred Durst's whiny fuckin voice hits and I'm done

Nowhere by Ride
Feb 16 2026

Ok, Ride, I see you. Dig this one. Some really fantastic moments throughout, well moved and composed. I'll be back.

Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes
Feb 17 2026

I really enjoyed this one. Hauntingly beautiful, poignant, and reflective for me.

OK by Talvin Singh
Feb 18 2026

It's ok.

Spiderland by Slint
Feb 19 2026

Pretty cool indie album. Definitely captures the essence of that genre at that time. Gotta actively listen to this one to appreciate it.

She's So Unusual by Cyndi Lauper
Feb 20 2026

Iconic album because the three main bangers on here, which is a hell of a haul for a debut. Always loved Cyndi's voice, and she obviously likes to play with it. Obviously a fantastic musician and artist, on display brilliantly here.

Crime Of The Century by Supertramp
Feb 21 2026

Fun album, with a couple certified "Classic Rock" radio station hits. The prog rock-ness makes it just quirky and weird enough to keep it interesting.

Let It Be by The Replacements
Feb 22 2026

Super catchy, punky album. I enjoyed multiple spins of this one, definitely will be back to it.

Feb 23 2026

Such an amazing album, from the quality of the recording, to the songwriting, to the Greatest Lead Singer of All Time. What's not to like here? So many tracks that go unnoticed in the lexicon of Queen's catalog.

At San Quentin by Johnny Cash
Feb 24 2026

Another fun live recording from The Man in Black, though not as fresh feeling or as well recorded as Live in Folsom.

A Seat at the Table by Solange
Feb 25 2026

Cool sounding album, with some great social commentary. Dig the interludes, and there's obviously musical talent here.

B-52's by The B-52's
Feb 26 2026

Cool to hear this group getting started. The style was there, though in my opinion the music composition isn't quite as complex as they demonstrate on some of their later recordings. Very unique sound, with hints at what was coming.

Siembra by Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
Feb 27 2026

Each track is a journey, with shifts in rhythm and melody. Super fun.

Let's Stay Together by Al Green
Feb 28 2026

A voice like butter, with an iconic sound. Good one here.

Mar 01 2026

Funky, jazzy, groovy, pretty damned good stuff. Very musical, fantastically recorded.

Mott by Mott The Hoople
Mar 02 2026

Super fun album, great "classic rock" sound. Lots of sexy songs, with real chuckle moments with some of the great lyrics.

Africa Brasil by Jorge Ben Jor
Mar 03 2026

Funky, groovy, fantastic. Get your butt wiggling and your head bobbing with this one.

Modern Kosmology by Jane Weaver
Mar 04 2026

Enjoyed this one. It's kind of subtle in a lot of ways, but there's quite a few moments where the soothing melodies suddenly caught my attention.

Third by Portishead
Mar 05 2026

Kinda cool album, very ambient, never really gets off the ground, but hovers so tantalizingly close.

The Holy Bible by Manic Street Preachers
Mar 06 2026

Decent rock album, with a punk influence. The recording, at least on my gear, doesn't really sound the greatest, but the themes and songwriting are pretty good.

Talking Book by Stevie Wonder
Mar 07 2026

I know the man is a musical genius, and... Every album is a chore for me. Just not my style. At least this one's got Superstition.

Elephant Mountain by The Youngbloods
Mar 08 2026

Some pretty good spots on this one, and some "kinda want this to move on" moments. Overall a pretty decent jam album. Finishes pretty strong.

Odelay by Beck
Mar 09 2026

Fantastic album, banger after banger. Never gets old for me.

Harvest by Neil Young
Mar 10 2026

A classic. Ever listenable, and iconic sound. "A Man Needs a Maid" is, however... unfortunate.

All Things Must Pass by George Harrison
Mar 11 2026

Lots of music here. Fortunately, most of it is really damn good. Sounds great, compositions are solid, and the themes are thoughtful. George certainly has a heart, and it's on display here.

Risque by CHIC
Mar 12 2026

Well, it's disco, what can I say? I guess it's fine if you like this sort of thing. Guess it has that influential bass riff on the first track.

Jack Takes the Floor by Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Mar 13 2026

Fantastic American folk. One can be forgiven for mistaking this as a Woody Guthrie or early Bob Dylan album, and to read about him as an inspiration for Dylan and a curator of Woody makes this one all more poignant.

In Utero by Nirvana
Mar 14 2026

Just, simply put, an exceptional album. Hard, musical, deep.

16 Lovers Lane by The Go-Betweens
Mar 15 2026

Good album, sounds really great. Dig the Aussie artists.

Low-Life by New Order
Mar 16 2026

Great new wave sound captured here on an enjoyable album.

Live At Leeds by The Who
Mar 17 2026

Fantastic live recording, featuring some of The Who's top tracks. The banter, the energy, the musicianship all feature well here.

Scott 4 by Scott Walker
Mar 18 2026

Kinda sleepy lounge singer album, with enough of that 60's era orchestral accompaniment to make it feel dated. His voice isn't something that is so good that I'd find myself needing to listen to it on repeat, though it does have a unique quality to it

Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield
Mar 19 2026

Opens with that super familiar horror movie melody, and then... What a ride. Not sure when I'd put this on for a listen. Definitely plenty going on here, and pretty interesting at points, but the two main tracks just. keep. going. And, is that a fuggin orc!?!

Phrenology by The Roots
Mar 20 2026

Good album, starts strong and gets me moving with the beats, and then keeps going just a bit too long.

The Man Machine by Kraftwerk
Mar 21 2026

Zehr güt! Fantastic album, super catchy, and its influence on music that came after is undeniable. Simply an amazing record.

Mar 22 2026

Fantastic album. The collage collabs are fun, and this one just slaps.

Talk Talk Talk by The Psychedelic Furs
Mar 23 2026

It's fine, I guess. Very 80s sound, and done pretty well at that, just not very engaging otherwise.

The Clash by The Clash
Mar 24 2026

Fantastic album from a legendary band. Great energy, with their iconic punk sound and themes.

Yank Crime by Drive Like Jehu
Mar 25 2026

So much noise. I'm sure these guys had a great live punk show, or something, but the labels in this era throwing money around and signing anybody that could pick up a guitar and scream into a mic hoping to find the next Nirvana often, in this listeners' opinion, resulted in audio duds like we have here.

Heroes to Zeros by The Beta Band
Mar 26 2026

Cool album, lots of musicality and variety, with the exception of the vocals which, tbh, is kind of The Beta Band's m.o. Not complaining, this one is good

A Girl Called Dusty by Dusty Springfield
Mar 27 2026

I know it was tough out there for a solo female vocalist, and not to take away from Dusty, who sounds great here, and the chosen tunes demonstrate her range really effectively, it's just... It's a bunch of covers? The way the business was, I know, and fortunately we'd get more Dusty on later recordings

Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan
Mar 28 2026

Easily a Top 10 album all-time for me. Just a masterpiece, every track hits, Dylan is at his best in energy, lyricism, and musicality here. Not saying he doesn't have other works with all of those as well, just got my money, this one tops them all.

Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves
Mar 29 2026

Great voice, pretty good poppy music with a kindness and gentleness of spirit coming through. It's good to spin one like this in the rotation.

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly
Mar 30 2026

Blech...a bunch of garbage with one iconic riff drowned in a 17-minute jam track. Moving on from this one quickly.

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme by Simon & Garfunkel
Mar 31 2026

A classic, still has palpable energy, even with the topical content that shows up now and then (only a Google search away, kids!). A fine album by just about any measure, even the most cynical will find themselves drawn in by the reflective nature of this one.

The Hour Of Bewilderbeast by Badly Drawn Boy
Apr 01 2026

A pleasant surprise of an album on the list. Super musical, very listenable, lots of points that just land perfectly in the compositions. Well structured and recorded, worthy of adding to a rotation. "Pleasant" would be a perfect one-word descriptor.

The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter by The Incredible String Band
Apr 02 2026

Trash. Like a bunch of mid-talented middle schoolers decided to make an intentionally quirky recording, only the musical talent isn't really there, the concepts are sophomoric, and the compositions just suck. Listening to this is pure masochism.

American Pie by Don McLean
Apr 03 2026

Decent album, opens with an all-time classic track (which I'd be perfectly fine never hearing again), and some more decent tracks to accompany it.

Ellington at Newport by Duke Ellington
Apr 04 2026

Pretty cool album. I can dig it daddy-o. Some truly amazing moments in here. The 2 hour runtime can be a bit off-putting, but a clever digital listener might be able to reduce that by selectively hiding some of the banter tracks, though that might arguably take away some of the charm of this one.

Fragile by Yes
Apr 05 2026

Musically complex, intricately composed, and not for the faint of heart. I've always been impressed and challenged by Yes, and that is on display here. They'll tease you with a catchy hook, and then bury it in layers of prog rock sound. Definitely influential in the genre.

Apr 06 2026

Really dig this one. Just a classic nostalgic western recording. Fantastic storytelling and iconic sound.

Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits
Apr 07 2026

This one kicks off with hit after hit, sounds absolutely amazing, with multiple iconic tracks. I'm never disappointed when this one is playing

The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails
Apr 08 2026

Moody, intricate, complex, with underlying dance synth vibes. NIN captures the dark turn from 80s flair so perfectly, and it endures.

Tellin’ Stories by The Charlatans
Apr 10 2026

Impossible not to hear the Oasis comparisons, though not familiar enough with The Charlatans catalog to know if that was developed after Oasis hit it big, or if these guys actually influenced them. Either way, a pretty good album.

Bitches Brew by Miles Davis
Apr 11 2026

Quite the journey here. Easy to fall into a jazz trance with this one. A good recording of a legendary artist, it's going to stretch your jazz-ness, if that's what you're looking for. Gotta slow down to enjoy this one.

The Next Day by David Bowie
Apr 12 2026

Bowie maintained his quality to the end, and it's on display here. Not a "greatest hits" generator, but just a good album delivered by one of the greatest recording artists of all time.

Eternally Yours by The Saints
Apr 13 2026

Aussie punk, what's not to like. Super listenable, well recorded, and catchy.

Boston by Boston
Apr 15 2026

I mean, what better way could you kick off a band's career than with More Than a Feeling as the opening track. Impressive recording, great songwriting.

Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen
Apr 16 2026

Fantastic album, and often overlooked by casual fans is the boss. I can do this one any time.

Wild Gift by X
Apr 17 2026

Decent punk album, not going to change your life, but not going to ruin it either.

Apr 18 2026

More than a solid debut, an all-time great album, even if some of these have been played a gazillion times. There's a reason for that.

Apr 19 2026

A completely new album to me without a single track I knew beforehand, despite thinking I knew a decent enough amount about Genesis to be able to predict what I'd be listening to. Not the case here. A double concept album with a band lineup with some legends, and it actually works pretty well without a single pop hit.

Superfuzz Bigmuff by Mudhoney
Apr 20 2026

Seminal album in the ushering in of the grunge era. Hard to call this an "album" with all the bolt ons over the years, but there's plenty (and more) to enjoy here even if it's been grown since it's original printing.

Van Halen by Van Halen
Apr 21 2026

Arguably the most influential rock album of its time. This one inspired the next 2 decades of guitar-heavy rock, and catapulted the band to Rock Gods status.

Caetano Veloso by Caetano Veloso
Apr 22 2026

Infectious music, well recorded and incredibly listenable. Dig this one. Smoky lounge, chill shopping cart, wispy afternoon vibes. Catch the chill, man.

Vauxhall And I by Morrissey
Apr 23 2026

Great Morrissey album, with his butterry vocals weaved in with great music and less preaching. Really listenable, and more than a few great tracks.

Moby Grape by Moby Grape
Apr 24 2026

Not typically a fan of a lot of the music of this genre, but here's one that has the distinct hippy dippy sound of this era, and, I heckin like it. Maybe it's that this one is obscure enough in time since it hasn't shown up in the ensuing decades of boomer nostalgic slop, so it still feels less tread upon. Unfortunately can't get a copy of the full original, so can't rate this beyond 3.

Apr 25 2026

The years have not tuned my ears to make Courtney's voice less grating, quite the opposite it seems. Not sure we're even listening to this is she isn't Curt Cobain's girlfriend/wife. Sure there's moments here and there, and Hole had their moment in the spotlight, just not sure anything here warrants a "gotta hear this!" callout.

Are You Experienced by Jimi Hendrix
Apr 26 2026

Iconic, classic, still sounds fresh even as these have been run through the ringer in movies, commercials, and whatever else. Still boggles this little mind what Hendrix did in his short career, and I'm still stunned when I hear some of these. Probably going to be a Top 10 album on a lot of lists, and hard to argue against that.

Cypress Hill by Cypress Hill
Apr 27 2026

This one still slaps. Great musical energy, and the lyrics still make me chuckle with their cleverness. Hard not to get the head bobbing and hips moving when this one is spinning.

Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
Apr 28 2026

Not my favorite Floyd, though it does have a few bangers for sure. Pretty subtle album.

D by White Denim
Apr 29 2026

Cool album. Really musical, yet approachable. Prog rock-y without straying from catchy and listenable.

The Libertines by The Libertines
Apr 30 2026

Really fun album. Great energy, fantastic hooks, is stripped down and still very intricate. Yes plz

1984 by Van Halen
May 01 2026

Like a box full of delicious donuts you know you don't need, and you're still gonna house the whole thing anyway. Van Halen are at the pinnacle of their success and power here. This could play as the soundtrack of the excesses of the 80s in 3D, and the entire house is gonna be boppin with shit eating grins on their faces, unable to get enough.

Sea Change by Beck
May 02 2026

More a general wave of chill vibes than what we'd come to expect from a Beck album, I always come away from this one relaxed and unsure if there was a single track that stood out. Not necessarily a criticism; when you're looking for that kind of thing, this one fills the order.

Graceland by Paul Simon
May 03 2026

This is an all timer for me. So musical, so catchy, never fails to deliver good vibes for me.

Remain In Light by Talking Heads
May 04 2026

Fantastic album by a legendary band. Not chock full of greatest hits radio singles (though it does have my favorite track by the group), it's a solid start-to-finish album, with great musicianship and songwriting.

Raw Power by The Stooges
May 05 2026

A classic punk inspiring album, with catchy tracks to boot. What's not to like? Iggy gets into the high and low registers, so it's got that charm to go along with the raw energy.

Everything Must Go by Manic Street Preachers
May 06 2026

Nothing super memorable here. Not bad, not great, just good, but not "oh my God" good.

Miriam Makeba by Miriam Makeba
May 07 2026

Great album, with amazing musicality, deep culture, and what a voice!

Teen Dream by Beach House
May 08 2026

Bo-ring. Like, one of these songs at a time is "hey, that's pretty good!" And then there's another. And another. And none really sticks out from another

Rock 'N Soul by Solomon Burke
May 09 2026

Fantastic doowop soulful album. This style from this era is so fun when done well, which it absolutely is here. Songwriting is fun, and Solomon's voice is so good

Armed Forces by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
May 10 2026

Elvis Costello usually is kinda "meh" for me. This one comes in there and builds itself out of that, and finishes strong.

Electric by The Cult
May 11 2026

I love this band every time I put them on, and here we've got an excellent album my them. The face melting guitar, the amazing vocals, and superb songwriting. So often overlooked as a band, you can't go wrong with this one of you're looking for a great rock album.

The Scream by Siouxsie And The Banshees
May 12 2026

This one may have been extremely influential in its time, but this many years on it sounds mostly pretty pedestrian on the first listen. I can appreciate the bass driven compositions, and the exploratory musical structures within the genre, staying mostly within the bounds of the the genre, it's just not something I'm going to throw in for a listen-through more than for this experiment. It does get a little more listenable with a couple run throughs.

May 13 2026

Fun, a bit quirky, and at points pretty musical for what it is. There's not too much more to remember than Brimful of Asha, though a couple tracks might shine through a bit. Also, a note for any future artists that are tempted to cover a Beatles song on an album: don't.

Casanova by The Divine Comedy
May 14 2026

As much of a performance or presentation as an album, this one is a swing and a miss for me. Bombastic, musical, singer's voice is actually kind of fun, and at least it doesn't take itself too seriously, which is fortunate as far as that goes. Took a couple spins for me to be able to acknowledge that there is something here worth knowing, just not going to need to come back for this.

New Wave by The Auteurs
May 15 2026

Not a bad album, sounds decent enough, but just kind of blends into itself. Nothing really sticks out. All in all pretty forgettable.

Seventeen Seconds by The Cure
May 17 2026

Man, my shoes are pretty dirty. I was able to get a good look at them and ponder the sadness in my soul for what sure felt longer than seventeen seconds. Oh well, on with the black eyeliner. Pretty good album overall, though definitely not as dynamic as some of their other work.

Apocalypse Dudes by Turbonegro
May 18 2026

This one caught me by surprise. Punk adjacent, and there's more than a few moments where they nail a groove or land a face melting guitar solo, or it might be a moment of the percussion dropping a bongo where my ears perked up and a smile crept across my face as my head started to bob. Pretty good stuff overall, even if there is no mistaking from song to song that they are definitely sticking to their sound and their lyrics could have been written by 13 year olds who want to holler swear words a loud as they can.

Tank Battles by Dagmar Krause
May 19 2026

Ok, so, probably pretty musical, and the German accent is kind of a fun vibe, but this one just ain't doing it for me. No thanks, ma'am.

Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
May 20 2026

Simply a classic. Infinitely listenable, The Boss and crew sound so good here, with the powerful vocals and musical arrangements that jump to the front of mind when I think of Bruce Springsteen.

Melody A.M. by Röyksopp
May 21 2026

Decent album, easy to listen to, though nothing at all stands out on this one to me. Not a complaint, I actually like it, and if I'm looking for something in the relaxing electronica genre this fits the bill.

A live recording of Dylan at this time is a gem, even for those that prefer his studio work. As divisive today as he was then, you either hear genius here or you hear a sub par singer that is overhyped and revered for unknown reasons. This probably won't change your opinions on the artist one way or the other, but it's fun to hear the acoustic versions of some of the post-folk era that were captured on the first set.

The Nightfly by Donald Fagen
May 23 2026

Good God I hate this. It's like the musical equivalent of chemical castration. Couldn't finish this one fast enough.

Grievous Angel by Gram Parsons
May 24 2026

Every time I hear a Gram Parsons record I'm always impressed with the sound, especially given the era. If you're looking for that pre "my truck/ dog/beer" Nashville pop country slop, you could do way worse than this one.

Midnight Ride by Paul Revere & The Raiders
May 25 2026

An album of decent quality and songwriting, but pretty milquetoast on the historical scale. Not going to blow your mind, but not going to offend, listenable for sure, but I didn't REALLY have to hear this one before I died.

Hot Shots II by The Beta Band
May 26 2026

Nothing out of the ordinary for The Beta Band, which could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you feel about them. I've been aware of them since High Fidelity, had my moment with them which I can appreciate, but that's not really a part of my musical past I've been compelled to revisit. Warrants a place here, just not moving the needle much for me these days.

Sail Away by Randy Newman
May 27 2026

An iconic voice and an amazing songwriter. There's a reason Randy's catalog has been mined by the film industry, it has a nostalgic warmth to it that, if your heart isn't completely iced over, will draw you in and put a smile on your face.

Third by Soft Machine
May 28 2026

No. Just, no. Not even bothering adding one of these to my playlist.

The Hissing Of Summer Lawns by Joni Mitchell
May 29 2026

It's not you, Joni, it's me. I'm just not mature enough for you. Somewhere there's a desert island where all the "alone on an island" albums have collected. This one can go there, as long as my isolated island is on the other side of the earth. I don't think I've ever heard someone claim they "were rock 'n rollin'" with less rock 'n rollin'. I know, I'm one of those uncultured Joni haters. Just can't break through.

May 30 2026

I know Mudhoney are a grunge staple, and as a teen who cut his teeth on grunge-era music I was always vaguely aware of them, but never really got into them. Thus my expectations were kinda low heading into this one, and call me pleasantly surprised with this. Way more nuanced and musical than I was expecting to find (I mean, the album name alone provides some indication that there's actual "musical" music therein). Embarrassed to not have given this one a shot, and glad to finally come around. Good stuff.

May 31 2026

Oh man, I remember having my mind blown as a13-year old Midwestern kid listening to this with my brothers in the basement. This was a world completely foreign to me, and it was damn good listening. Mom and Dad had no idea. The infectious beats, the Cube aggressive delivery, the clever storytelling and fantastic lyrics. This one still sounds amazing. I'm never disappointed when Cube is playing.

Atomizer by Big Black
Jun 01 2026

Aggressive, raunchy, and really damn good. Worth hanging in there on this one, there's some good stuff happening in all that buzz and distortion.

War by U2
Jun 02 2026

I always enjoy listening to the earlier U2 albums. This one still hits with its messaging and great tracks in a more stripped down sound.

Sulk by The Associates
Jun 03 2026

The warbling vocals on this are too damned much. Nah, man

Kenza by Khaled
Jun 04 2026

When this one is good, it's fine, and when it's bad (that cover of Imagine, just, why?). There's a few decent moments here and there, just not my vibe. At all.

Joan Armatrading by Joan Armatrading
Jun 05 2026

How have I not heard of Joan before? That voice, really well composed songs, great lyrics. Not a single recognizable tune to me, and yet I immediately went in for round two (and more) on this one.

Live At The Star Club, Hamburg by Jerry Lee Lewis
Jun 06 2026

Live albums are always a little weird for me. On the one hand, it can be fun to hear the energy of the performance, the banter with the crowd, and to transport oneself to the moment and imagine the time and place. On the other hand, even with all that, and even with the best recording equipment and techniques, the sound is distinctly live and as such, usually the songs themselves don't sound as good as the studio versions (acknowledging that there are those tracks out there where the live version outshines the studio recording). Not to despair, here, this is a fine live recording, with great energy, and the vocals sound good. Jerry is a legend, and the tracks here are all hits (acknowledging the Spotify version of the album was short 4 of the original tracks for this listener), you can do much worse in the live album category.

Femi Kuti by Femi Kuti
Jun 07 2026

Well produced, good arrangements, fun music with plenty of thought inspiring lyrics. Very musical, probably going to make your hips wiggle and feet shuffle if you get into it. Pretty sexy throughout.

Reggatta De Blanc by The Police
Jun 08 2026

In its time I'm sure this one has an impact, and Message in a Bottle absolutely endures. White reggae... Ok. Kind of sounds like a larp these days. It's not terrible, and Sting's voice is good and unique enough to put this one on the list, but I'm not grabbing this one over other Police offerings very often.

Rapture by Anita Baker
Jun 09 2026

Do not like. Style. Singer. Music. Any of it. Mercifully short, and infinitely pointless.

Veckatimest by Grizzly Bear
Jun 10 2026

Pretty musical, dreamy. Wasn't feeling it at first, it got interesting for spells, and ultimately never really took off for me. When it's good, it's pretty damn good, and when it isn't, it's pretty meh.

The Idiot by Iggy Pop
Jun 11 2026

Kind of a fun album, with Iggy's voice covering his range and the Bowie fingerprints all over it. Not finding that is going to change your life, but listenable nonetheless.

Jun 12 2026

Cool album. It's pretty relaxing to listen to, so nothing wrong with that, though it did kind of all blend together when I was casually listening. Put it in for a car ride and suddenly it was amazing.

Aftermath by The Rolling Stones
Jun 13 2026

Amazing album. 60 years later and it's still significant. Fantastic songwriting and composition, really puts the Stones' musicianship on display. Such a fun listen.

Highly Evolved by The Vines
Jun 14 2026

This is a fun album, sounds great, tunes are catchy and well composed. Really quite listenable, if not all that memorable. Several of the tracks caught my ear in that "hey, this is pretty damn good" kinda way, and in the end that's why I'm here. You can do way worse in this genre and period. If there's hate for this one it's likely driven by the hype that accompanied this in its day, which really was more of a sign of a changing industry and a press trying to navigate that change than anything that should be held against the band.

Hail To the Thief by Radiohead
Jun 15 2026

A good Radiohead album, though in their catalog one of the albums I revisit less than some of their others. There's a few really good tracks, some are ok, and one or two I usually want to skip.

Murmur by R.E.M.
Jun 16 2026

Decent album from a legendary band. Starts off instantly recognizable, and then there's a bunch of tracks that aren't in the R.E.M. greatest hits rotation, but are a solid offering nonetheless.

Liege And Lief by Fairport Convention
Jun 17 2026

This style not usually my jam, but holy hell, this isn't bad. Well recorded, very musical, enjoyable folksy storytelling, you could do worse in the genre, by far. Gotta give this one the extra star just based on the quality of the music, even if, again, it isn't something I'd normally throw on.

BEYONCÉ by Beyoncé
Jun 18 2026

Nope, not for me. I'll grant some elements of this have some quality, but, perhaps due to my middle aged white male-ness, this one just doesn't land in really any aspect. Sounds like a (too large) group of collaborators put together an album designed to tap into the lowest common denominator of music listeners, got some press to write it up as some "enlightened" bullshit being quick to call out critics as "out of touch," and commence collecting fabricated accolades.

Autobahn by Kraftwerk
Jun 19 2026

The title track is amazing, the concept is fun, and the other tracks take a little getting used to, but really well done.

Paul Simon by Paul Simon
Jun 20 2026

Really good album from one of the most musical artists of all time, what's not to like? Such great songwriting and composition, put this one on for a pleasant day.

Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye
Jun 21 2026

Marvin is always interesting to listen to. So musical, and sang his emotions so clearly. The title track is an all timer, and the rest hold their own. Good stuff.

Jazz Samba by Stan Getz
Jun 22 2026

Dig this one. Chill vibes, great music.

Diamond Life by Sade
Jun 23 2026

Smooth Operator is instantly recognizable, probably because it's been overexposed as part of advertising almost as long as the song has existed. The rest is pretty meh, IMO.

Elvis Is Back by Elvis Presley
Jun 24 2026

It's fine,I guess. Musically not really anything groundbreaking. Well produced, sure, but not really exciting in any meaningful way.

Jun 25 2026

Eno has always been able to catch my feelings and steer them in fun ways, and this is another good example. Has the ambient tracks and some more upbeat ones to go with it, it's a pretty fun journey

Red Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson
Jun 26 2026

Great storytelling and music, this one has been one of my favorite country albums for decades. Willie is at some of his best here.

The Wildest! by Louis Prima
Jun 27 2026

This one is super fun. You've probably heard some of these and didn't know who you were listening to. Couldn't stop to this one without a deafening silence in the void.

Either Or by Elliott Smith
Jun 28 2026

I'm always amazed how Elliot Smith's music can pull me in to his depressive trance, and yet I still love listening to it. Great musicianship and emotional depth here, and catchy enough to pull you in if you are only listening on the fringes.

Jun 29 2026

Had no trouble enjoying parts of this one, and there are some legit good tracks here. R.E.M.-like, even, if that's your thing. That being said, a double album gets too long on most attempts, and this is not the exception.

Jun 30 2026

At no point while listening to this did the thought "I MUST share this with somebody!" cross my mind. Even when trying to contextualize it for its time, I'm still not really excited about anything here. It's fine in some ways, but not something I need to come back to.

Queens of the Stone Age by Queens Of The Stone Age
Jul 01 2026

Good album, overall. Not as much musical and tonal variety as they'd develop on later albums, and just a bit long here, but you can do WAY worse in late 90s rock, and not a whole lot better.

Fun House by The Stooges
Jul 02 2026

Love this one. Sound is visceral, the energy is fantastic, and it feels so raw. An obvious influence to tons of music, and for good reason. It's hard to capture these elements this well, and holy shit that sax! And the end of this one is just perfectly done chaos.

Killing Joke by Killing Joke
Jul 03 2026

Damn, this one surprised me. Hadn't heard of these guys, and was really surprised at how good this one is. Sounds fantastic and raw at the same time, and I love the post punk vibe.

Jul 04 2026

A classic. So completely captures a time in America, with the West Coast vibe.

Foo Fighters by Foo Fighters
Jul 05 2026

Not a bad album, some good tracks, though I've listened to this one a lot and revisiting it's just a little boring and monotonous sounding.

Jul 06 2026

This is an amazing recording. The energy, Cooke's vocal quality, the songs, it's all so good. I'm not normally a live show recording guy, but this one's an awesome exception for me.

Jul 07 2026

This is a good one, and one of the greatest of all time in this genre. Plenty of folks are going to avoid heavy metal, which I have no problem with, but they're missing out on some amazing musicianship and artistry that's in there with all that sound. The tightness and precision is truly impressive.

Fromohio by fIREHOSE
Jul 08 2026

Interesting album. Lots of variety in the tracks, and plenty to keep my attention. There's some pretty decent moments in here, and definitely some good guitar work.

Vivid by Living Colour
Jul 09 2026

Some good tracks on this one, and some really good guitar skills on display. Some of the social commentary is pretty good, and sadly as true today as it was then. Flava Flav was a nice, if not minor, touch.

Devil Without A Cause by Kid Rock
Jul 10 2026

I removed the part of my brain where critical thinking and taste come from (figured I'd try to take the artist's perspective going into this shit), and I still couldn't not hear the poseur bullshit spewed from this imbecile. I suppose one could perhaps argue that there are some interesting musical moments here and there, but then Kid opens his dumb maw and unabashedly spews his special brand of ignorance and you're pulled right back into the cesspool. To the younger (and older, I suppose) generations, I must apologize on behalf of my fellow Gen X'ers, who were THERE when this garbage was hitting the airwaves and had the chance to steer the younger generation to better pastures and ignore it into oblivion. The Millennials' desire to put their own stamp on society was a helluva drug, unfortunately, and our suggestions that there are better ways to mix genres fell upon deaf (obviously) ears. Alas, here we are, and an hour plus of the raping of my ear canals with this trash leaves me no less melancholy at what could have been had this piece of American trash been thrown in the landfill before he had a chance to bloom.

Gold by Ryan Adams
Jul 11 2026

This one starts off so strong, to the point you think you're listening to an all timer, and then just kinda tapers off and becomes background music.

The Only Ones by The Only Ones
Jul 12 2026

This one does not sound like it was made in 1978, which is a testament to the quality of the recording and the song structures. Pretty impressive in that regard, and the music itself is pretty damned good to boot. And, I'm always a sucker for the sexy songs.

Honky Tonk Heroes by Waylon Jennings
Jul 13 2026

It's rare when you get the perfect combination of a prototypical sounding country album that is also the perfect album to put on for those country haters in your life. Waylon nails it here with fantastic songwriting, musical arrangements, and recording quality, getting in and getting out efficiently, pulling us into his world for a satisfying start-to-finish album that many of us likely thought, at one point in our lives, it'd be a cold day in hell before you'd catch us spinning one like this.

The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
Jul 14 2026

This is a pretty good album that sounds pretty good when you're listening to it, and then kind of ceases to exist as soon as you aren't. Like, it's hard to point to any single track in retrospect that was a "wow" moment, but it all sounded fine. Weird.

Larks' Tongues In Aspic by King Crimson
Jul 15 2026

A cool album from the kings of prog rock, which, depending on how you feel about the genre, likely informs how you react to this. If you've got the time, and patience, to dive into this one you'll learn why this unconventional music and this band, in particular, developed such a dedicated following. Nothing comes easy here, but damn do they keep my interest.

Roots by Sepultura
Jul 16 2026

To me, "nu metal" and "butt metal" are synonymous. I know korn are likely lurking on this list somewhere, and that will be a miserable day for this listener. However, although the sounds here are on first blush indistinguishable from that other late 90s garbage, there are some interesting elements here and there that surface through the rest of the sound. Just not my jam, in general. Moving on.

Copper Blue by Sugar
Jul 17 2026

A pretty milquetoast 90s "alternative" album here. The engineer definitely captured some of the elements of the genre, unfortunately it all sounds the same, and pretty mushy at that. Not sure I needed to hear this one before the long sleep.

Pink Flag by Wire
Jul 18 2026

Fun stripped down punk. These boys get in and out in true punk fashion, wasting no time getting to the punchline and moving on. 21 songs in 35 minutes. Enough said.

Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
Jul 19 2026

Garbage. No amount or type of drug exists that would make this one palatable for me. I just don't care enough about a bunch of clowns fucking around in a studio in an attempt to push "musical" boundaries to suffer through this more than once.

First Band On The Moon by The Cardigans
Jul 20 2026

Definitely has a unique sound, mostly attributed to the lead singer imo, but a little harpsichord maybe too? Jazzy and poppy, it does not sound like anything else from that year, until Lovefool hits, that is, which became a defining sound of a particular period during its run. Is it good? I think your mood is going to probably steer that as much as your ear. It kept my interest, I'll give it that.

Pump by Aerosmith
Jul 21 2026

Ah, the era of Big Rock, with driving drums and guitar everywhere, the lyrics dripping with innuendo, and teenaged girls were always on the menu... Ok, so, maybe it hasn't aged all that well, but there's still some good stuff here, and when they choose to take it out of the gutter, they can actually land some good tracks that hold up with time.

I’m a Lonesome Fugitive by Merle Haggard
Jul 22 2026

A decent country album, though for me nothing really jumps out amongst the tracks.

Jul 23 2026

Cool voice and vibe. This one caught my attention from the jump. Poetic lyrics with soothing melodies, philosophical and musical. Can't say I've come across anything quite like it, and I dig it.

S&M by Metallica
Jul 24 2026

Musically interesting, with the clashing styles meshing together for a live performance, but I can't get past the hammed up theatrics of Hetfield. It works well on some of the tracks, but when it doesn't, it's pretty awful. I get it, they're one of the biggest metal bands of all time, adding a full symphony to the mix makes them the biggerest. Cool. I just don't need 2+ goddamn hours of it on an album.

Lazer Guided Melodies by Spiritualized
Jul 25 2026

Really enjoyed this one. Just allowed myself to slip into the ambience and ride the waves. Really a great space rock offering, put this one on when you need some peace.

The Boatman's Call by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Jul 26 2026

Nick's voice works well in this style, which is kinda slow and plodding. It isn't bad, the lyrics are interesting, if not a little God-y for my taste, but whatever, you do you, man. Musically feels like a build up to something that never arrives.

All Directions by The Temptations
Jul 27 2026

So boring. It isn't "bad," but damn is it uninteresting.

Wild Wood by Paul Weller
Jul 28 2026

Cannot point to a single moment on this album that made me think "Wow, that's something I really needed to hear before I die!" That's admittedly a pretty high bar, and on a list this extensive there's bound to be some that meet it more than others, but this one is just a completely forgettable milquetoast experience for me.

So by Peter Gabriel
Jul 29 2026

The high points of this one are up there, and the rest is pretty middle of the road. It is definitely a good record and one that deserves a nod on this list. If nothing else, the music videos for Sledgehammer and Big Time were unforgettable and worth a revisit for any listeners not familiar.

Teenager Of The Year by Frank Black
Jul 30 2026

This one is pretty good in general, just too damn long. There's plenty of listenable tracks, and probably even an album's worth of them, and then it just keeps going.

Jul 31 2026

I'm definitely not a "No Country!“ guy, but this one pushes me too close to my level of tolerance for the genre and what it has become in modern times. The sounds used here (is that a synthesizer on whatever the hell that opening track is?), along with his anemic country twang voice and cliche lyrics, just grated on me from the jump and it never got on track.

Tres Hombres by ZZ Top
Aug 02 2026

Hard not to feel the groove when this one starts. Great blues driven sound and amazing guitar work. A solid album, with one of their most recognizable tracks buried within the collection. Mostly avoids the era's cliche jam band sound, thankfully. Think roadside bar vibes, and this one is right in the pocket.

Moon Safari by Air
Aug 03 2026

Oh yeah, talk about a good chill vibe. Got a little carefree noir going here, and I'm here for it. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Aug 04 2026

Kind of just sound in the background, which makes sense as a theoretical score, I guess. Not bad music, and Air do this style as well as just about anyone.

Joan Baez by Joan Baez
Aug 05 2026

Not here to argue about the cultural significance of this one, on that front it stands on its own, and probably justifiably so. There's just something to this warbly style of singing that turns me off. No doubting her talent and musical chops on display here, just can't take too much of this

Quiet Life by Japan
Aug 06 2026

If you hadn't told me what this was and put it on, I'd have thought "wow, I haven't heard this Duran Duran album before, this is pretty damn good!" So, there you have it, a well recorded new wave album I've never heard of, from a band I've never heard of, recorded before the band everybody's heard of that one can't NOT hear the similarities to became known, and it's pretty damn good. This is what we're here for with this list.

Aja by Steely Dan
Aug 07 2026

I hate this band, so much. Their sound, their music, just about everything about them makes me recoil every time. Is this a fair assessment of their talent, or the quality of this album? Probably not, but, fuck Steely Dan. Couldn't wait for this one to end and be relegated to the "never again" pile.

Call of the Valley by Shivkumar Sharma
Aug 08 2026

I think I just attained enlightenment or some shit. Far out, man.

Ray Of Light by Madonna
Aug 09 2026

Not bad, just kinda boring. For those of us that grew up on Madonna this one still feels out of place for her.

Dummy by Portishead
Aug 10 2026

Haunting, smoky, a bit slow, but can definitely create a mood in a space, for what it is it's pretty good. Not pouring singles out, there's at least one the stands out.

Back At The Chicken Shack by Jimmy Smith
Aug 11 2026

Saxy as all get out. Super chill vibey jazz, you can just put this one on repeat and relax.

Celebrity Skin by Hole
Aug 12 2026

It's fine, I guess. Courtney's singing voice never really worked for me, and this album doesn't change that, though there are moments when she's ALMOST on key. Maybe that's why she's famous.... Not a bad recording, decent musically, and culturally Courtney has had her moments, so sure, an album one should hear before they die. I guess

Logical Progression by LTJ Bukem
Aug 13 2026

Spent too much time trying to find the actual album and not giving a rat's ass, based on what I was finding, if I ever did. Moving on.

The Genius Of Ray Charles by Ray Charles
Aug 14 2026

Dig this one. Sounds great, Ray, as always, brings that classy timeless element which works with both of the big band and string accompaniment sides.

Stephen Stills by Stephen Stills
Aug 15 2026

Pretty just ok. There's nothing BAD here, but also, nothing great. Guess the opener has some staying power.

Dookie by Green Day
Aug 16 2026

Debate the "pop/punk" label all you want, who fuggin cares, this one's simply front to back bangers. In your face guitar, catchy hooks (oh no! Couldn't POSSIBLY be punk...), just let go of all that bullshit and let this one infect you. Try not to drum on the steering wheel too hard.

Surfer Rosa by Pixies
Aug 17 2026

Embrace the insanity and hear one of the most innovative and influential albums of the era. Brilliant moments show up all through this one, riding the wave of chaos. Fantastic musicianship, great songwriting, and the lack of polish is what endears this one to me.

Pyromania by Def Leppard
Aug 18 2026

Drink every time you hear "rock", and wake up in the hospital. It's the soundtrack for a generation of t-top-driving primped mullet and tank top-wearing dudes. About as base of a "metal" album as one could get, there's no denying the radio-friendly-ness of this one. If one were looking for a poster child for the butt rock era, you'd need look no further. Every track stays in the lines between metal-adjacent and pop. I imagine a lot of teenagers in leopard print attire spraying ungodly amounts of hair product whilst prepping for a trip to the mall with this one spinning in the background, and, that isn't all bad.

Fuzzy Logic by Super Furry Animals
Aug 19 2026

The 90s Brit Pop scene continues the search to reestablish its relevance. Nothing really unique or special here, just a bunch of tracks that make the listener wonder which band from which previous era they're listening to, only to find out that Fuzzy Logic is a band and ELO/Bowie/Costello/Oasis/etc. probably already did it better.

Talking Timbuktu by Ali Farka Touré
Aug 20 2026

Fantastic sounding album, and a real pleasure to listen to. Hard to not feel like things are well when this one is spinning.

Rust In Peace by Megadeth
Aug 21 2026

So, full disclosure, metal has never really been my go-to genre, for probably the same reasons it isn't for many. Color me surprised, then, when, from the jump, this one pulls me in and has me scowl-facing and head banging. This old neck is no longer fit for such shenanigans, but the response is completely involuntary, and I fuckin love it. The musicianship is undeniable, and holy shit are these boys tight.

Bad Company by Bad Company
Aug 22 2026

Pretty much middle of the road inoffensive and forgettable, with two tracks that probably everyone knows if they've spent more than a come hours listening to "classic rock" radio.

Picture Book by Simply Red
Aug 23 2026

Good God what a struggle for this listener. The smooth soft jazzy slop made me want to pull my earbuds out and throw them into the sea. Alas, I'm landlocked, so the effort would be as futile as this trash. 2* because it slightly improved on second listen when my expectations had been appropriately lowered.

Felt Mountain by Goldfrapp
Aug 24 2026

Probably not very clever to describe it as sounding like a James Bond soundtrack, but also not inaccurate. Smoky female vocals, strings and lounge beats. Not going to raise your pulse, and it doesn't want to. Dig it

Darklands by The Jesus And Mary Chain
Aug 25 2026

I'm kind of a sucker for shoegazing, and these fellas pretty much define the genre for me. If you're good with the style, this one probably sounds pretty great. If not, it's probably pretty meh to you.

Oxygène by Jean-Michel Jarre
Aug 26 2026

Cook album, and impressive considering the tools at the time that the artist had at hand to compose it. Pretty enjoyable electronic ride.

Coat Of Many Colors by Dolly Parton
Aug 27 2026

Dolly's Mama sure goes from hero to heel and back quick on this one 😆. Well, we knew this one was coming today, RIP, and not disappointed. You don't have to love country bluegrass to appreciate Dolly's voice and songwriting. A classic album from a legend that showcases her talent perfectly and quickly.

Abbey Road by Beatles
Aug 28 2026

I'll never forget the first time I heard this one: I had made up my mind the The Beatles were an overrated relic of a bygone era, and nothing anybody told me would convince me that the band made famous by "Love Me Do" was worth my time. And then the opening bass line grabbed my brain banana, and I literally said "THIS is The Beatles!?!" 30 years later and I'm still slightly embarrassed at how in the dark I was. Arguably the best album from arguably the best band of all time, simply a masterpiece, and it never gets old. So much variety in the compositions, masterfully mixed and arranged, there really aren't any low spots anywhere.

Drunk by Thundercat
Aug 29 2026

This is an aural assault. I can't express how much this one put me off. Get this garbage outta here, and while you're at it, get off my lawn!

Wordsmith

Reviews written for 99% of albums. Average review length: 221 characters.

Other

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