3.5 stars I was anticipating an album full of filler and unnecessary skits. While there was some filler, and the known tracks stand far and above the rest, the album maintains its playability due to the wordplay and variability of the different MCs. Ice Cube stands out as the star from the start, but the rest of the crew keeps up. Although Dr. Dre does sound like he’s doing an LL Cool J impression, which he lost by the time The Chronic hit. This is an album that changed rap music and pop culture. It’s important for that reason alone. But unlike many examples of albums that were revolutionary at the time, it is still a fun listen. There are moments that do not age well (closing track “Something 2 Dance 2” stands out as a dud to end the album on), and many of the beats can feel repetitive when compared to the many innovations in rap song structure over time, it is still a good listen that opens with 2 of the best gangsta rap songs of all time.

Love it

Great title track. Album feels a little samey, but a good listen.

Really good, a few less memorable tracks

Second half is meh

Amazing of course

Definitely have to be in the mood for it. Interesting but don’t love it.

Obviously

7 and 7 is great! First half decent. Last song self indulgent. Would listen to first half again but probably wouldn’t get stuck in my head beyond the hit.

Great! But doesn’t feel like a real album, lotsa filler.

Too much self indulgent stuff in between. Not a great listen. Even the hits are kinda mid. Obviously some great stuff but as a whole… nah

One note and just kinda there.

Sleepy. Not really for me.

Some good stuff but a little padded.

They were important for inspiring the UK punk scene. But the album is not great. Not trash but kind of boring. Some good moments but there’s a reason I’ve only played it all the way through a handful of times in 2 decades.

Good one!

Some really good songs. As an album I’m unsure. Maybe a shorter album with less filler would be good, but then it would be less atmospheric. Maybe some parts just aren’t for me. But a lot of it is very listenable.

Not for me. It was boring and just the same thing. It felt like parody. But maybe I just don’t get it.

3.5 stars. The hits hit. A few other tracks are pretty good. Definite filler but it’s a quick record. It’s not revolutionary but it’s fun.

2.5 stars This could have been a solid 4 star follow up to their 2 great previous pop records. There are enough good songs for that. But they bloat it with unnecessary excess that makes the album drag and takes away what would have made it an enjoyable listening experience.

1.5 stars Not bad, I think. But not for me. Listening did nothing for me and I can’t imagine intentionally listening again. But it was offensive or anything.

4 stars Maybe nostalgia plays a factor, but I love this album. Great introduction to two tone ska. Production a little poor on some songs and takes me out of it. A few unnecessary tracks. But overall quite fun and listenable!

3 stars Starts off great but peters out towards the end.

3 stars Feels controversial because this was listed as the #1 album of all time by Rolling Stone. And maybe I’m ignorant. I like the title track and generally like the album. But it’s more of a vibe than an album and it feels one note that is a good note but still just that. I wanted to get it and like it more than I did, but playing it through a handful of times maintained my feeling.

2.5 stars Consistent at what it is. If you’re in the mood for straight ahead hard rock you can do much worse. But it gets lost in the sameness and the formula gets old without providing much more.

4 stars. What a fun piece of lo-fi electric feminist punk! It is quite unique and listenable. “Deceptacon” demands repeats. It’s brief and not perfect, with some tracks being less memorable, but a fresh addition to a list full of bland and forgettable ancient duds.

1 star. I didn’t get this. It was dull and boring and uninteresting and forgettable. It felt like a chore to get through. It was difficult to determine how sincere the music was and I felt confused why this album received so much acclaim in its time, while not surprised I hadn’t heard of it before now.

5 stars A perfect, delicate piece of pop. Catchy, emotional, slight yet confident. This record is a delight.

2 stars Some good tracks, but doesn’t feel like a full album. The instrumentals sometimes feel like half ideas. The longer tracks are that indulgent.

3 stars I’m not beholden to this album for nostalgia reasons. While this was the kind of music I listened to at the time I did not listen to it until years later. It’s good, with some solid tracks. But the tracks are a bit overlong and not all of them have as much replay value. Still a mostly great listen.

1 star Boring, bland, and instantly forgettable.

5 stars Amazing sophomore album that set them on their way to become legendary. Some of their best songs and not a bad track.

2 stars Some good, inventive stuff. But a lot of wandering aimlessly. I’m all for experimental but it was not a pleasant experience.

3 stars Surprisingly enjoyable. I was expecting a much more dull experience with filler since I didn’t know any of it except “Seven Seas of Rhye” but it flows pretty well and was enjoyable. It would take a few listens to be more memorable but a good beginning for Queen to become the Queen we all know and love.

4.5 stars. A bloated masterpiece. Undeniable classics on here, but a bit too much excess. Record 1 alone is a 5 star record if released on its own.

Inventive and interesting. I was able to listen to it all the way through a few times although it did put me to sleep.

3 stars I haven’t found a Stones album that lacks filler. But this is one of the better, more consistent ones. The country western impression gets tiring, but more works than not.

4 stars A classic, but flawed album. You can see elements of why they became one of the most influential bands of all time, but they were still working through some filler. Huge and inventive, this is an amazing debut. Perhaps if they did not rise to the level that they did this would be seen as more of a perfect album, but compared to their later releases the filler stands out much more.

4 stars 2 of the greatest rock n roll songs of all time bookend this album. And a few other pretty good tracks too. But that’s not enough to make a perfect album. A great album, sure. But the middle of the album just left me eager for the end.

1 star I didn’t like it. I wasn’t in on the joke and I have no intention of trying to be in on it.

3.5 stars There is a lot of wonderful sweet music on this record. But I feel like this is an album people put at the top of their list because other people have had it at the top of their lists. I wouldn’t say there’s a bad song on the record. But the flow of the album makes it feel like a drag. Many slow songs into each other. A lot of it can feel forgettable next to each other. A different flow and a few faster paced songs laced throughout would improve it. That being said, any album with both “Wouldn’t it be nice” and “God only knows” is a bonafide classic.

3.5 stars I had never knowingly listened to Supergrass before. Whenever I saw the band name I think I assumed they were Superchunk or Supertramp. But this pop punk/britpop band that was a contemporary of Oasis and Blur- I wasn’t really aware. So this was a nice first listen. I enjoyed the raw energy and speed of their music. It reminded me of their influences of Buzzcocks and the Who. While there is some inconsistency with the quality of the songs, they may grow on me with more listens. So my rating is in a first impression, which is that I enjoyed it and will certainly return to this.

5 stars A funky masterpiece. Great front to back. No complaints.

4.5 stars This may be a 5 star album that I’m reluctant to praise so highly because I knew nothing about it before listening to it. But it’s clearly powerful and transcendent. Great songwriting that boosts Lucinda Williams from a name I’m familiar to someone I’m going to continue to explore.

Impressively boring.

2.5 stars Some nice jams but generally run of the mill rock n roll. I could have died without listening to it.

1 star All filler. I was never even a fan of the singles, although “Howlin for You” isn’t bad. But this is not an impressive album and is not memorable.

3 stars I’m glad I’ve found a good EWaF album. I never took the time to listen and this was quite enjoyable. I’d say some tracks don’t stand out as much, but none of it is bad and it’s pretty brief. A fun record!

2.5 stars There is good pop on here. There is forgettable stuff on here. It is much too long. Maybe a solid 40 minute record in here. But too much to sift through to differentiate.

1 star Sounded like someone messing around with keyboard sound effects. I never liked the title track. And it doesn’t get better from there.

3.5 stars At first I wasn’t sure I liked it. But it quickly grew on me. I immediately went for a second listen. I could imagine little baby Daft Punks hearing this and their heads exploding. The influence on the music of the next decade is obvious. But it’s also a pleasant enough listen. It’s good background music. I liked it!

2 stars 60s folk can be repetitive and difficult to get through a full album for me because it’s so one note. I appreciate the craft and songwriting but it can be like sitting through a poetry reading with a guitar. Not my favorite and definitely not something I’d return to on my own.

4.5 stars Finally got a Beatles album. And what an album! An album that is used as a reference point whenever a band experiments with different styles. But the reason it is known for that is because it is perfect at being that. This isn’t random shit thrown together for the hell of it, this is separate wonderful bits put together into something that should work but somehow still does. It’s not actually perfect- how many times can one listen to “Revolution 9” in its entirety? But its imperfection is kind of what makes it perfect.

3 stars I was skeptical when I saw this one. I knew nothing of it, but my experience with electronic/house music on here so far has been mid. But I was pleasantly surprised. The music is catchy and easy to listen to. There isn’t anything insufferable. And the tracks are brief. It doesn’t feel like a slog where all the tracks blend together. That being said, I don’t know if it’s a must listen before I die. But I’ll return to it as nice background/study music.

2.5 stars It’s not revolutionary, but it’s consistent pop. Not gonna lie my wife got me into it. But beyond the hits there are good tracks.

2 stars These guys like Lynyrd Skynyrd. Over long and not interesting enough for the length. But not terrible. Just a slog. But it kept my attention when I listened. I had to split it up. I don’t think I’d return to it.

2 stars CCR was prolific in a short period of time. They created a lot of great music. But their albums front to back were not consistently great. They have filler. So despite having great tracks, this is an example of a lot of forgettable filler surrounding some good singles.

1.5 stars This is my 2nd Rush album. I was skeptical going into Moving Pictures but was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it. I was hopeful this would be similar and found it to be tedious prog-slog. Couldn’t get into it.

1.5 stars It didn’t do it for me. Krautrock is not for me. But it wasn’t unlistenable.

2.5 stars I liked it. A bit repetitive and I didn’t feel it all stick with me. But it was enjoyable throughout.

3.5 stars Each song has its own unique and memorable characteristic that makes this an album to return to and keep enjoying. I don’t love it like some but I find it quite enjoyable.

4 stars 2 Dylans in a row. This one full of some of his most well known early folk tracks. While I typically am not huge on country, Dylan’s second album is a clear example of some of the best stuff. He makes simple songs with just a guitar and long winded lyrics entrancing. He comes up with creative melodies go fit in his words in ways that sound unique and natural. His music demands listening.

3 stars I enjoyed it, although the ultra jam soul can feel a little overindulgent. But perhaps in just not used to it and with time it will grow on me. For now, this was an enjoyable experience I will return to, but has not revolutionized my perspective on soul.

2 years I’ve known Foo Fighters for over 25 years but don’t think I’ve listened to a full album. While I was familiar with some songs on this, it’s mostly a blind spot. I can appreciate that this is an impressive recording by Dave Grohl alone. However, taking a step back and comparing with all albums, I don’t know that this fits with a must listen. It has some good tracks, some inoffensive but not memorable tracks, and forgettable things. There is no pull to return to it. Foo Fighters ended up making much better music from here, making this more of a historical document than something you have to experience.

2 stars Not really for me, but I liked that it was kind of odd. I fell asleep to it and it was trippy. But I don’t think I’d listen to it for fun.

3.5 stars Second Supergrass album. I’d never heard them until 2 months ago. Not as instantly infectious as their debut, but solid songs throughout. Not revolutionary, but a good listen that wasn’t a chore to get through and had me interested in repeat listens.

4 stars Paul’s best solo record, coming out after a few stumbles (although I’m a fan of Ram). This was the first solo Paul album I listened to and always really enjoyed it. I hadn’t realized how much of this album Paul had done on his own, playing drums, bass, and lead guitar. It definitely does not impact the tightness of the album. Great songs, although it sort of peters out in the end. Side 1 is pretty flawless, Side 2 is less consistent.

4 stars A classic. It is perfect in its imperfection. But it is imperfect. Last few songs are solid but not the best. But you can’t go wrong with this album.

1.5 stars This was the first Radiohead album I listened to and it turned me off from the band for years. I don’t know why this made it on the list even temporarily. It’s like an album full of filler tracks. Nothing memorable.

3 stars Pet Sounds the day after Brian Wilson died, now Paranoid the day after Ozzy… starting to feel like this isn’t so random… The first half is like a Greatest Hits album, since literally 3 of their most famous songs (or the only songs average listeners like myself know) are present. And they’re quality songs. As this was my first listen (or at least first that I paid attention to), other songs didn’t stand out particularly. But nothing was a chore. Some generic stuff but other stuff I could probably get into with more listens. Definitely a quality album worthy of the thousands of bands influenced over the 55 years since its release.

1.5 star I never listened to ELP, but it sounded just like I imagined. It’s not interesting to me and my attention wanders. I can’t tell the difference between good and bad prog, and I feel like the stuff I do enjoy is the more “poppy” stuff that elitist prog fans wouldn’t consider true prog. But I couldn’t get into this.

4 stars Is it possible this was chosen because of the release of Happy Gilmore 2, with “Tuesday’s Gone” prominently appearing in the original? Anyway, never listened to the album, but was familiar with half of it. Was pleasantly surprised. A fun album that rocks, solid songwriting, great guitar work, and classic tracks. Will return to it at some point in the future.

2.5 stars I’ve never understood the hype of this record. I grew up on early Oasis and never really knew much Blur. When they reunited and headlined Coachella I gave their music a listen. I had my sights on this album because of its high praise. And after a few listens, I was baffled. I didn’t get it. Not that it’s bad. There is enough good music here to satisfy, certainly. But it’s jumbled and overstuffed and forgettable. Nothing about it screamed tentpole for Britpop to me. Listening today didn’t change my mind. I enjoyed aspects and zoned out others. It’s fine.

3.5 stars I was anticipating an album full of filler and unnecessary skits. While there was some filler, and the known tracks stand far and above the rest, the album maintains its playability due to the wordplay and variability of the different MCs. Ice Cube stands out as the star from the start, but the rest of the crew keeps up. Although Dr. Dre does sound like he’s doing an LL Cool J impression, which he lost by the time The Chronic hit. This is an album that changed rap music and pop culture. It’s important for that reason alone. But unlike many examples of albums that were revolutionary at the time, it is still a fun listen. There are moments that do not age well (closing track “Something 2 Dance 2” stands out as a dud to end the album on), and many of the beats can feel repetitive when compared to the many innovations in rap song structure over time, it is still a good listen that opens with 2 of the best gangsta rap songs of all time.

2.5 stars My experience with Stones albums, as I mentioned on Sticky Fingers, is that they kill it with a couple of great singles and then load up with filler. This was during their era of doing a lot of country music, including Jagger’s fake Southern twang, and it’s not great. That being said, the first and last songs “Gimme Shelter” and “You Can’t Always get what you want” are 5/5 stone cold classics. They are some of the Stones most overplayed songs but they are fantastic. They do all of the heavy lifting on this record. The countryish songs aren’t terrible- but it’s not interesting enough to make me want to sit through the album. And the other non-country more straight ahead rock n roll isn’t memorable. The Stones are a greatest hits band. Any of their greatest hits albums would be in the top of all times. But their albums, full Long Plays, are not their strength.

3 stars At first listen it felt like something that was for me. I like noisy guitars and post punk. I’ve never been much for industrial and after repeated listens this started to not sound as great to me. Still a good album, but a little grating.

4.5 stars Simple, straight forward punk rock inspiration. Great short pop songs that blast through. Catchy, enjoyable, and endlessly replayable. While a few tracks are less strong, as a unit it all works. This isn’t just a historical relic to understand how punk rock came to be, this is a great listen that continues to be a fun listen.

3 stars There is one 5 star album of content in here, in a mix of a bloated pretentiousness. The concept is thin and the least interesting thing about this album.

3.5 stars A weird and pretty record that has some duller moments but isn’t overly long. It’s got classic tracks and is worth multiple listens.

4 stars In some ways I always really connect with Elliott Smith’s music and in other ways I always feel a little put off by the lofi quality of his earlier stuff. Either/Or is a transition, with a lot of the lofi qualities still present but a bigger sound thanks to the presence of more drums and electric instruments in some songs. The emotion and songwriting is all there. But his music feels simultaneously relatable in the sadness and darkness that makes you want to curl up in a ball and also pushed away as an outsider to Elliott’s own experience. It’s these qualities that have nothing to do with how good the album is that has kept this from feeling like a 5 star album for me, and it’s never been something I have in rotation, despite liking it quite a bit.

2 star For some reason this one didn’t do it for me. It seemed like a simple record of rock songs that I could just absorb, but none of it would stick. It was like trying to hold onto a lump of sand, it kept slipping through. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t stick.

3 stars After a full listen to the record (not my first, but it’s been a while), I was set on giving it 2.5 stars (rounded down to 2) saying it has some solid hits but a lot of filler. However, I was listening to the Deluxe edition that had a remix of the first half of the album that started right when the album finished. The remix gave me an appreciation for the songwriting and expansive sound of the music, recognizing that the dated production was a drag on the album. Although the rating is not of the remix but of the original album, it helped me to see through the walls that the old production can put up against my modern ears.

3 stars Another album that is too long but probably has enough good stuff to have been a great 40 minute record. My mind wanders and I stop caring. I forget about how great of an opening “Enter Sandman” is when I’m listening to 3 identical thrashers at minute 50. The singles are solid. Maybe others are good but it didn’t stick.

3 stars I generally don’t like live albums. And this is a bootleg to boot! But the recording was better than I had anticipated. I can see why people like this so much, but to me it is long and not really what I would want to listen to in hearing Dylan. It’s a nice document of the time, but i wouldn’t consider it a top album.

4 stars Solid album with early-Kanye production, great lyrics and flow. Quite soulful. You don’t need a PhD to understand that this is good.

1.5 stars A collection of not bad music but not very interesting bossanova music that Frank Sinatra sings. Nothing stands out and it reminds me of what albums used to be: a collection of music, some good and many forgettable. Sgt Pepper winning album of the year at the Grammys over this is an indication that even at the time when rock n roll was not given the credibility as an art form they realized that an album can be much more. This isn’t it. I could’ve died without listening to it. But at least it was only 28 minutes.

1.5 stars Growing up in the 90s I thought ZZ Top was always a joke and never considered cool. I had no idea they were so big in the 80s. Hearing Tres Hombres for the first time I thought “ok there’s some good bluesy rock here.” So I had some hope that another record on this list might be a hidden gem. I was familiar with most of the singles from this album, and did not particularly care for them. They all just sounded generic and boring. Reading that they intentionally wrote songs at a higher BPM because those were more popular seems obvious now. Having listened to Rio last week which came out around the same time, these songs all sound like “Hungry Like the Wolf” with bluesy riffs added in and less interesting vocals. And I mean all of the songs: they essentially used the same formula for all of them and kept it going. The only saving grace is that the bluesy riffs and competent vocal pieces make it not entirely dreadful to listen to, even if zoning out is inevitable. Pass.

3.5 stars I’ve casually listened to this album before, but hadn’t really taken a dive in. I mostly remembered the singles. As an album, I have already had repeated listens. While it’s not a masterpiece, it is a fun pop record with some good variety and catchy tunes. I liked it more with each listen (so maybe it would get a full 4 with another).

3 stars It’s consistent and catchy. But it feels of the time. You can’t deny the quality of the music, but it feels a little samey and really only works when you’re in a certain mood. But not a dreadful listen in the least.

1.5 stars This is not for me. I know it’s not objectively bad, but it’s objectively not for me. The singing is good, for the type of music it is. But I was bored the whole time.

1.5 stars I was hopeful in seeing madness because I enjoy ska. Didn’t realize it wasn’t going to be ska. In fact, it was just lot of boring ultra British dribble. “Our House” stands out because it’s listenable. I always had a hard time understanding why some British records would be altered, changed, or not released in the US. The Clash self-titled originally not getting a US release, Elvis Costello having “I don’t wanna go to Chelsea” taken off This Year’s Model. But the fact that this album didn’t get a US release makes sense. This album made no sense to me as an American. Frankly, I’m glad it wasn’t on Spotify. I wouldn’t want this shit anywhere on my algorithm. But I do like “Our House” so I rounded up.

4 stars I was not familiar with this album at all. I was skeptical. Having only really listened to Pet Sounds all the way though and finding it somewhat overrated (but still good), I wasn’t sure a 70’s Beach Boys album would do much for me. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The album does contrast with expectations of The Beach Boys in a way I feel works. Starting with “Don’t go near the water” has this surreal experience that something is off. It ends up being pretty consistent. While the album does not include anything nearly as perfect as “Wouldn’t it be nice” or “God Only Knows,” I feel like the flow and pace work better than Pet Sounds. Who knew? It’s still not at all perfect. But I managed to enjoy it all the way through on multiple listens- even songs other complain about like “Student Demonstration Time” I found to be fun and effective. I felt like “Surf’s Up” felt a little out of place on the album, but it may be because I’m familiar with the Smile version having heard Brian Wilson Presents Smile years ago, and knowing how it was supposed to fit more within the flow of its original context. But it is still an interesting track and fits in the same kind of unexpected feeling of the rest of the album. This was a pleasant surprise.

4 stars Spending my teen years in the early 2000s, I was familiar with music that was deeply inspired by Joy Division before ever hearing the band (Interpol, The Killers). My first exposure was “Love Will Tear Us Apart” in Donnie Darko, which is a top track. Unknown Pleasure is not like that song, which was more of an indication of the direction New Order would go in with a more poppy, new wave sound. This album is a vibe album, and that vibe is gloomy. But the production takes you on a journey. I’ll admit that I have been listening to this album for many years and I don’t remember the names of most of the songs. But as a unit, it’s memorable, the influence is clear, and the stand out tracks are memorable. I can acknowledge this album isn’t for everyone, and I do believe it is a bit overhyped (not quite the greatest of all time). I don’t return to it too often. But I’m never disappointed when I do.

1.5 stars Forgettable. It was like off brand Prince. It wasn’t terrible. But I just didn’t care.

2 stars I think I’d like it more if I listened to it more. It’s a grower for me. I’m the same way with Bjork, she never really immediately captures me. The production is good and I didn’t hate it. But this is really not music I would listen to on my own. I’d listen to it in anticipation of Fever Ray being on a festival lineup or to try to impress or please someone who is into this kind of stuff. So I don’t know if I would consider it a must listen. But it’s way better than a lot of things on here. I will say that the amount of people who mistook Fever Ray for Sugar Ray made me laugh.

3 stars It’s up my alley- 90s fuzzy guitar. But I’m not going to lie, I listened to it almost 3 times through and I couldn’t hum a song. I know I liked it but it has t stuck yet. That’s 3 stars that is.

4 stars A classic album. The Doors are unique in their sound and their time and place in rock n roll history. From Jim Morrison’s poetic lyricism to Ray Manzarek’s keyboarding, there’s a little something for everyone… but also things to be annoyed at. The extended keyboard solos aren’t for everyone. And “The End” kind of only works for people who already know about the song and even so, does anyone enjoy all 11 minutes? But I guess it’s important that they did it. It’s not perfect. There’s a lot of filler on side 2, and that’s assuming “The End” isn’t considered filler. But side one is fantastic.

5 stars I have a history with this album. It transitioned me from close-minded about contemporary (at the time) hip hop to a fan. This album is huge, with production, guest verses, Kanye’s own flow, and no skippable tracks. This was the culmination of a near perfect first 5 albums (plus Watch the Throne a year later). This album is as close to perfect as Kanye ever got, and the things that fall short of perfect (the excesses of “Runaway” and “Blame Game”) are forgivable in the scheme of things. Obligatory comments about Kanye being a troubled and troubling person who has only gotten worse with time.

2.5 stars A solid, inoffensive bit of rock n roll that has 2 stand out tracks and a bunch of others that are not bad. That’s about it.

3.5 stars I first heard this album 21 years ago and I’ve been a sucker for it for years. It’s not the best of his first few records, but it’s a great start. The songwriting is varied where it doesn’t feel like there are any throw away tracks, even if there are weaker ones. I’m trying to honor the spirit of the premise for this generator, which is that we are basing this on the original release from the original country. “Watching the Detectives” would be the best song on the album, but it’s not truly from this album. It was recorded 3 months after the album was released and features a different band (the Attractions). I approve of it being added on the US version, but I don’t credit that as the album itself.

4 stars This is why I started this project. Covering blind spots. 90s neosoul R&B was not an area I had much background in. I had heard of Maxwell, but did not know his music. This album started out great with some old school funk, added in the slow jams and sexy lyrics. It was mostly consistent throughout, although it wears out a little towards the end. All in all a great listen that feels classic and timeless.

2 stars I’ve made attempts to listen to this album in full for 15 years. You’d think it’s a long double album or something, but it’s a fairly short 40 minutes. It starts out strong and promising. But then it kind of just becomes more of the same or less interesting. After a while I’d end up turning it off and not returning to it for years. I finally got through the whole thing for this, but even that wasn’t in one sitting. I could probably get through it in one sitting- it’s not unbearable or anything. But I just don’t find myself wanting to. So that says a lot to me.

4.5 stars A solid record with great songwriting and emotion. Can’t really say too much bad about this, I’d just say I’m not always in the mood for this kind of music and that impacts my enthusiasm for the record.

4 stars I’ve meant to listen to this album for years but never found the reason to do that. I saw Nick Cave at Coachella in 2013 and he killed it with “Stagger Lee.” But I wasn’t sure how a whole album of that would be. Well, it’s pretty damn good. Great atmosphere, this sick record full of grisly descriptions of death through great storytelling, banging piano and popping drums. It’s unique. Might not be for everyone but I loved it.

2.5 stars I guess now I know how people who don’t speak English feel about American music. I liked the beats and groove. The flow sounded good. But because I had no idea what he was saying, it’s difficult to feel like I enjoyed it. I certainly didn’t dislike it. But it’s tough to say I needed to hear it before I die. I may listen to it in the future in anticipation of a trip to France or something. Or maybe when I need background music where I don’t want to get distracted by lyrics. But otherwise nothing pulling me to return.

2 stars I don’t like live albums. But I’ll acknowledge this one is well recorded. I know the basics: Peter Frampton hadn’t made much of a splash, and then this live album blew him up. It was the tip selling record of 1976. I buy and sell used records and I come across this a lot. And occasionally people are actually excited about it. But I don’t get it. It’s uninteresting generic rock, live. The singles are catchy, but they’ve never done much for me. It’s not something I will ever submit myself to again.

2.5 stars “Round and round and round we go” kind of summarized my feelings with this album. At times it felt like a chore. But it wasn’t terrible. I am more familiar with Neil’s popular stuff, “Heart of Gold” and “Don’t Let it Bring You Down” and “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” and such. So when I’d see this album I assumed that his earlier stuff was folky. I was surprised to find a fuzzy jam record with just one more acoustic soft song. It starts off with the 2 strongest tracks, the main ones I can recall with some time. The rest of the records, once again, isn’t bad but didn’t stand out to me. The jams were a little overindulgent, but perhaps I’m so used to this type of music for decades afterwards that I’m not appreciating what this offered in 1969? It’s possible. But for me, this album didn’t feel like a revelation.

4 stars The first time I heard “Bridge Over Troubled Water” it was on a late night infomercial for an Anne Murray CD. Years later when I saw that “The Only Living Boy in New York” was on here (which I loved from Garden State), I bought a beat up vinyl copy from a thrift store. It was so scratched I could barely hear the beginning of the opening title track, until the build up of the wail of a chorus. I remember getting tears in my eyes the first time I listened to it. A bit dramatic, yes. But the point is to say that I have some history with this one. I love this record. I love the song writing and the singing. I could do without “So Long Frank Lloyd Wright” and I always found “Keep the Customer Satisfied” cheesy. But there is beauty in “The Boxer” and other tracks mentioned above. This one is a keeper.

2 stars Didn’t know this one, although I recognized “A Minha Menina” from commercials and maybe college radio at the time. General vibes of early 2000s indie. It wasn’t bad, but also not particularly interesting beyond the immediate listen. Didn’t find myself wanting to return to it, other than the song I knew because it brought me back. There is much more indie music in the 2000s that was more influential and I think more listenable that aren’t on this list, so I can see why this was nixed after a few editions.

3 stars I honestly didn’t know that Rod Stewart was ever anything but corny cheeseball stuff. Just the way he looks makes me feel that way. As a collector of vinyl I’ve come across many dusty and scratched copies of his records, including this one, but never felt the need to throw it on. So here I was, giving it a go for the first time. I knew “Maggie Mae” but never thought anything of it. But the album really had a rocking vibe to it I was digging. I wouldn’t say it went beyond mild interest, but there were moments of promise. I won’t completely write him off anymore. But I won’t put too much energy into listening to this again. It’s fine.

3 stars Just learned about this. It’s nice to learn about something that was so groundbreaking for the time. But I wouldn’t listen to this for pleasure.

2 stars I was not familiar with this album or its tracks. Not really what I would have expected from my first Temptations album. While I read “Cloud Nine” was a Grammy-winning single, it didn’t do much for me. The rest of the album was similarly kind of generic filler soul. This is the first album was a different lead singer in the group and I feel, from my limited experience and knowledge of the group, that he wasn’t as strong. The album is listenable enough, but doesn’t break through as something worth more than the sum of its parts, and those parts are adequate enough.

3 stars I remember this album came out and had some buzz around it. I listened to it at the time and wasn’t interested, didn’t get through it. This time around I listened again. It wasn’t special, but it wasn’t bad. In fact, I feel like getting through this album was a little easier than getting through White Blood Cells. But I’m lukewarm on that album. Not a must listen, but not a bad time either.

3.5 stars I liked it. A smooth listen. I’ll return to it and it’ll probably grow on me. But not sure what else to say.

4.5 stars Perhaps if I was there at the time I’d get it. I mean I was but I was like 3. I wasn’t aware of the smashing pumpkins until Adore came out, although I knew their songs from the radio. Anyway… This album is up my alley. Fuzzy distorted guitar is my jam. But it’s a little overlong. It’s a little much. I like it. I listened to it twice all the way through. But it starts to feel like a chore for that last quarter. That being said, instrumentally it’s brilliant. I never appreciated the drums in their music as much as I did listening to this, and I used to jam to “Cherub Rock” during a brief stint with drums in high school (I clearly didn’t do it justice). It’s a great record. But the length and bloatedness might keep me from repeating it as much as I otherwise would.

3.5 stars I was going to give this one 3 stars. Because my recollection of it was that it was a 3 star album, propped up by the megastar tracks “Immigrant Song” and “Since I’ve Been Loving You”. The first side has a lot of filler. The melodies on “Celebration Day” and “Out on the Tiles” (aka the intro to “Black Dog” on How the West Was Won) are just not great. However, just how good the 2nd half had slipped my recollection. Everything but “Hats Off” is phenomenal. I thought the album was slight, but those lighter songs carry a load. The filler weighs it down, but this album still hits.

2 stars I’m not really into Elvis. Because this was later Elvis and seems to have a reputation I thought maybe it would be different. If it is I can’t tell the difference. It says it’s more soul but I hear the same stuff. It’s just not for me, even though it’s not unlistenable.

2.5 stars This one brings back memories. I know it’s not a great album, but it was what I needed in fifth grade. Hard enough, an emotional enough. The sound is very of the time. But “crawling“ and “in the end“ both still hit. And some of the non-singles do as well. It’s pretty consistent and if you hate this kind of thing, you’ll hate it, but if you’re open to it, it’s fine. Not revolutionary, but also not a bad way to spend your time.

2 stars Pretentious and often uninteresting, but not without its moments. One of those things that hit in the UK but don’t know anything about it here and in listening to it I don’t get the hype.

2 stars I’m sure it sounded good at the time. And it’s not bad. But it all starts to sound the same and just does not have the bandwidth to take up a whole album. Dated and kind of cheesy sounding now.

3.5 stars A little sappy, but good and doesn’t feel overlong despite the fact that it probably is. It’s effective and holds up to his classic stuff.

2.5 stars It all kind of blurred together for me. Some tracks were better than others, but honestly my favorite song was the Thom Yorke song and it was sung by Thom Yorke. That being said, it wasn’t bad. But I wouldn’t recognize these songs in another context.

2 stars I know it’s revolutionary and influenced everything after it. But cmon, it all sounded the same and was not very interesting. I won’t ever put this on again. But I’m glad it existed when it did so music could become more interesting.

2.5 stars This sounds like an album I’d pretend to like in high school but really never finish. It’s not bad but there’s so much music that sounds like this and I don’t really want to listen to it.

2.5 stars Not a bad recording for an old live album. There’s good energy to the music and it’s a good historical document of a certain kind of thing. But I wouldn’t really listen to this for fun.

4 stars Such a wonderful, huge, sweeping record. It sounds larger than life and it is a fun ride. I’ve grown to love middle tracks like “Yo-Yo Man” and “Thorn of Crowns” but I recognize that they are weaker and the album drags a bit. But “The Killing Moon” is a bonafide classic and the rest of the album is a fitting frame for it.

4 stars This is my second CCR album in here and my comment on Green River was that CCR are more of a singles band than an album band. And that’s true with this record too. It’s just that they have 6 singles on this album, so it’s much more significant than on albums with 2 or so. And these are some of their best ones: “Run Through the Jungle,” “Travelin’ Band,” “Lookin’ Out my Back Door,” “Up Around the Bend,” and I’ll stop there just to avoid listing them all. While some of the non-single tracks suffer from generic bluesy rock n roll syndrome, the opening and closing tracks are quite effective and take the album up another level than if it was just the singles and Elvis impersonator tracks. I’ll acknowledge that the 11+ minute version of “Heard it through the Grapevine” is a bit overindulgent, but not to the point of being unpleasant. This is a good one.

4 stars This is my 2nd Metallica album and I was impressed. I wasn’t sure that I’d like it much but it was legitimately good. A solid record. I don’t remember the whole thing and some parts dragged but all in all it was good. I knew “One” before but the rest was all new. I’ll listen again.

4.5 stars This was a good find and a surprise. Infectiously fun, this album is full of anthems that made me want to do a drunken jig throughout. But seriously, it was enjoyable all the way through.

2 stars I always kinda liked “Sultans of Swing.” I honestly had no idea that Dire Straits were as big as they reportedly were. I haven’t heard Brothers in Arms yet, but it better be better than this. It was technically fine but generally uninteresting dad noodling. I wouldn’t listen to it again.

2 stars It wasn’t bad. But I can’t say it really held my attention. It would fit in as the score for a quirky indie comedy in the 2010s. But the kind that you wouldn’t remember the name of a would never pick when it comes up on Netflix.

2 stars This album is overrated. Lou Reed generally, to me, is an acquired taste. Some people will never really like him. I enjoy a good amount of Velvet Underground. But his solo music, of which this is pretty much all I’ve listened to, has limited appeal. While I like some of the songs, they all feel like demos in that they don’t feel fully produced and fleshed out. And I get it that perhaps it’s a stylistic choice but it doesn’t appeal to me. So while I enjoy “Walk on the Wildside” and “Vicious,” singles “Perfect Day” and “Satellite of Love” feel like decently written songs that aren’t as good coming out of Lou Reed’s mouth.

3.5 stars It’s the fucking Beatles. It’s hard to not compare them to themselves and by those standards some albums are lesser when in the scheme of things they’re solid. I think this album suffers from being nearly half covers and overall lesser songs for the band, although the sound and energy for the time was clearly transformative for the genre. It’s not at the top of my list of Beatles records one must listen to, but it’s still a good listen.

2.5 stars Over long. Too many tracks, too many skits- a victim of its time. There are good songs and good rhymes but it starts to blend together. I’d take a few of the tracks and ditch the album.

2.5 stars It wasn’t a bad listen but it was forgettable for me. I didn’t actively hate it but I wouldn’t say I enjoyed the listen. It was generic in a genre I don’t have extensive interest in.

5 stars I try to listen to every album I get, even when I’m quite familiar with them. But I’m a bit behind and Rumours is an album I’ve listened to enough to know my opinion well. I first bought the album 21 years ago after being familiar with around half the tracks from pop culture osmosis or classic rock radio. I loved it from the beginning and have listened to the album in full countless times. It is an album where the known tracks are the best, but the deeper cuts are also quality. I know every song and even the ones that aren’t bangers have an important contribution to the overall album. Great songwriting, singing, harmonies, and instrumentation. Softer rock in the year that punk rock was exploding in the US and UK, and it still managed to rock. It’s solid!

2.5 stars When this album was announced I didn’t listen to it. I had determined that older music acts releasing things in their elder years was always a disappointment, so I skipped it, even with the hype. Same with Black Star. But I listened for this and was interested. I was glad to hear Bowie sounding so energetic and like he was having a great time. It made me wish he had toured one last time and I had seen him live- but he may not have been in a condition for that to go well. That being said, while this is “good” by the standards of elder rocker late album, I think it is much to say it’s an album anyone must listen to before they die. I enjoyed it but can’t see myself returning to it unless it’s for a chore like this.

4.5 stars Sometimes everyone gets behind an album and get it completely wrong. This is not one of those cases. One of the best selling records of all time is the way for a reason. It is loaded with hits. Side 2 is almost flawless (“The Lady in my Life” is a dullish ending). Some of the production feels a little dated, but the music is so good it is forgivable. All of that said, obviously the allegations against MJ have tainted everything he has done. Makes it tough because he was a master at his craft. But it has to be noted.

1.5 stars What am I supposed to do with this? A double album of crappy rock I don’t want to listen to, but it’s live? It’s not for me. Maybe there’s something to appreciate here but I didn’t.

1.5 stars I couldn’t remember why when there was a lot of hype on this band I never really listened to them. But right away into this album I remember giving “Return to Cookie Mountain” a try and finding it underwhelming and not getting it. I felt similarly about this album. It had its moments, but overall I felt like it was music that I may have pretended to like in pseudo intellectual conversations with hipster teens in the 00s, but would never have had any genuine interest in or experience authentic joy in listening to. I wanted to feel differently, but in the end it fell flat for me.