My 1001 Albums Journey

Album	You	Global	Diff
Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman John Zorn	5	2.23	+2.77
Tarkus Emerson, Lake & Palmer	5	2.79	+2.21
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida Iron Butterfly	5	2.94	+2.06
Reign In Blood Slayer	5	2.96	+2.04
Larks' Tongues In Aspic King Crimson	5	2.99	+2.01
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway Genesis	5	3.07	+1.93
Hysteria Def Leppard	5	3.22	+1.78
Fragile Yes	5	3.31	+1.69
Synchronicity The Police	5	3.42	+1.58
Sign 'O' The Times Prince	5	3.45	+1.55

Album	You	Global	Diff
good kid, m.A.A.d city Kendrick Lamar	1	3.62	-2.62
Illinois Sufjan Stevens	1	3.5	-2.5
Figure 8 Elliott Smith	1	3.33	-2.33
Channel Orange Frank Ocean	1	3.32	-2.32
The College Dropout Kanye West	1	3.31	-2.31
The Slim Shady LP Eminem	1	3.29	-2.29
S&M Metallica	1	3.26	-2.26
High Violet The National	1	3.24	-2.24
Me Against The World 2Pac	1	3.24	-2.24
Third Portishead	1	3.13	-2.13

Artist	Albums	Average
Black Sabbath	3	5
Led Zeppelin	2	5
Prince	2	5
AC/DC	2	5
Beatles	4	4.25

Artist	Albums	Average
Eminem	2	1.5
Portishead	2	1.5

The Stone Roses

3/5

Solid album, starts with some banger tracks, then just settles in for awhile until we get nice 8 and 9 minute jams to end the record. Top 3 Songs: Waterfall (Song for My) Sugar Spun Sister I Am the Resurrection

In A Silent Way

Miles Davis

3/5

I feel I am at a big disadvantage with Miles Davis, as the man has a massive catalog, and I have listened to so little. Also when looking at his discography, there was so much before this album. So is this considered his best work, was there better before or after? So, very hard to judge as this just sounds like a free form jazz jam session. Shhh/Peaceful is just a straight up jam, and a fun twenty minute groove. The Silent Way got me ready for some serious jams, as I kept expecting something big, but on every build up, it would just come back down. I like the mellow bookends to the song, but the editing seems choppy and feels like separate pieces instead of flowing. Again, with no other Miles Davis to compare it to, this was tough, but I can't give a legend any kind of low rating. Hoping with 1,001 albums, we will get another Miles Davis, eventually.

Either Or

Elliott Smith

3/5

This definitely has the sound of a 90s soundtrack. I am a fan of a lot 90s cinema, but apparently not a lot of the soundtracks stuck with me over the years as much as the movies do, in this case, Good Will Hunting. Does that make these bands easily forgettable? Overall this is a good album but it had its ups and downs for me. I felt it had a weak opener, but then finished with a good track, almost like a closing credits song. Favorite tracks, Between the Bars, Pictures of Me and Angeles which felt like the most familiar track.

Highway 61 Revisited

Bob Dylan

4/5

I have never been good with poetry, I don't read poetry as I tend to tune it out after awhile and I am just reading words. I did this on the first listen of this album. I have also never been one to find the deeper meanings in songs. I enjoy the overall feel, whether it gives emotion, or even just short lines or a verse that strikes me. I feel I would have to listen 100 times to figure out what Dylan is trying to say, and from what I have read, sounds like people still are trying to figure it out. I do like the lore behind the name of the album, and it's significance to leading down the Mississippi and crossing paths with many figures of the history of Blues. The bookends of this album are my favorites. Like A Rolling Stone is a classic and Desolation Row is just an onslaught of verse, but I really dug it as an album closer. Ballad of A Thin Man and Highway 61 Revisited are other favorites. After a second listen I really enjoyed this album. But still not sure how often I would turn back to it and listen again.

The Gershwin Songbook

Ella Fitzgerald

3/5

I think I got the "You Don't Know the Half of it Blues" after listening to all 59 tracks of the Gershwin Songbook! Much like the Miles Davis record earlier this week. I wish I had some earlier Ella Fitzgerald to compare to this later work. Don't get me wrong, Eight box sets to record the complete American Songbook is quite the feat. Favorites from the whole set, Sam and Delilah, Let's Call the Whole Thing Off (you say sasparila I say sasparila), Things are really looking up (I enjoy when she goes low), and Slap That Bass.

Emergency On Planet Earth

Jamiroquai

4/5

Jamiroquai is definitely a band that made their mark in 90s with the ever changing landscape of grunge, the swing revival, and bubblegum pop-alternative scene, with something that was just a bit different. I am more familiar with their hit album Travelling Without Moving, so it's nice to explore the beginning of the band. Bring on the funk as this album is just fun! Favorite tracks: Hooked Up, Music of the Mind (nothing against Jay Kay, but this instrumental is the jam), and Revolution 1993!

Marcus Garvey

Burning Spear

3/5

I would like to say, my tastes can be pretty eclectic, but I have to be completely honest, I do not listen to Reggae. I understand the cultural significance of the genre, and the political and historical messages, but it has never really been my thing. Maybe it has to do with when I hear that constant 4/4 time signature in every song, I begin to tune out. The end of the album was the best part for me as we get a little more variety with songs like Tradition, Jordan River, and Red Gold and Green.

Paranoid

Black Sabbath

5/5

What can I possibly say about this great album, instead I will share a story from the 2019 Remaster liner notes. During the recording sessions, Vertigo was not hearing a potential single, and asked the band to come up with one. The story goes, when everybody went out for a lunch break Tony stayed in the studio and came up with this riff. When the rest of the band returned Tony already had the bare bones of a new song in place. Without a word the rest of the band plugged in, got behind the kit and just started grooving with him, Ozzy just started singing along. In an hour they had Paranoid exactly as you hear it on the record. Roger Bain in the booth said "That's pretty good, what is it?" The band replied, "You're joking, we're just pissing around we just made it up!" Roger replied "No that's really good, that's a really strong riff, let's do it!" Eventually they dropped the original name of the album 'War Pigs' for 'Paranoid'. At that point it was too late to change the cover art, so the guy in a crash helmet waving a sword, the "War Pig" they felt also looked Paranoid! The rest is history. Favorite tracks ... all of them!

Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite

Maxwell

2/5

This album is described as a concept album about adult romance, from Maxwell's personal experiences ... Oh boy! This album was not really my cup of tea overall. The album was going okay from the beginning as I was just trying to groove with it ... until the Cops came knockin'. After that, the album became a bit sappy like an old tree in early summer, and I just started to tune out. The first three tracks were probably the best, but I don't see myself listening to this again.

Joan Armatrading

4/5

The thing I am looking most forward to with this project is discovering artists, albums that I have never heard of and Joan Armatrading is definitely one of those artists. The opening track hooked me and I was instantly transported back to the music of that time. I enjoy the acoustic mixed with funk. Joan has great tone combined with the inflection she does on some of the words. Favorites are Down to Zero, Water with the Wine, People, and Tall in the Saddle.

D.O.A. the Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle

Throbbing Gristle

3/5

As Lorraine said to Marty after he got off the stage at The Enchantment Under the Sea Dance, "That was some interesting music!?" Widely regarded as the Pioneers of the Industrial genre, the late 70s experimental and electronic music has always fascinated me. I have never listened to Throbbing Gristle, but I can definitely hear the early groundwork for the Industrial scene, with the various samples and in my favorites like Dead on Arrival, AB/7A, and Wall of Sound. Does the album deserve a spot on this list, absolutely. Does it deserve the overall lowest rating on this list, I don't think so. It's weird, it's experimental, I didn't love it and I didn't hate it, I will probably never listen to it again, but if anyone ever asks, I can say, "Yeah, I've heard that album".

Rust Never Sleeps

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

3/5

It's better to burn out than to fade away. Much like Bob Dylan, I feel Neil Young is an acquired taste. After my initial listen, I found myself tuning out. I have not listened to a lot of Neil Young, so I only know his popular stuff, and what he has done with Crosby Stills and Nash. Still just not feeling Neil Young even after a second listen, I have to hope their are better Neil Young albums on this list. I did enjoy the bookends to this album Hey Hey My My Out of the Blue and Into the Black.

Devotional Songs

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

4/5

I really need to put more World Music in my life. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was a pretty amazing vocalist, and I can see why every song is pretty much over 7 mintues, as his voice puts you in a kind of trance. Woh Hata Rahe Hain Pardah nice opener to the album. Allah Hoo Allah Hoo is just a fun song. Haq Ali Ali Haq is another good sing along, probably will have that one stuck in my head later.

I’m a Lonesome Fugitive

Merle Haggard

4/5

Man, a good chunk of this album is such a downer, but that classic country honky tonk is such an upper. Makes me think of a road trip, or some movie, a rustic bar, with swinging doors and a jukebox. Also one of the best album covers we'veon the list so far. I'm A Lonesome Fugitive, House of Memories, Mixed Up Mess of A Heart are favorites!

Young Americans

David Bowie

4/5

So a few years back I did the full Bowie discography, in chronological order. Bowie was interesting as I found just about every album he had one or two zingers and then the rest was pretty much filler. It's like he knew how to get at least one hit on every album! Bowie was a master at changing with the time, as this album saw the end of his glam rock era, and he begun to explore R&B and Funk, perfect as music was moving into the disco era. This album has a more than one zinger for sure, but I think he had a little help from his friend John Lennon. Favorites, Young Americans, Facination, and Fame.

Hejira

Joni Mitchell

2/5

So ... can we just talk about Jaco Pastorius.

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

Iron Butterfly

5/5

I have heard the song In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida so many times, this pretty much came down to how well I remembered Side One of the record. I remembered most of it, and I still feel Side One stands the test of time, and makes the album a solid and classic release of its time. What more can be said about this album, it's a instantly recognizable classic. I can't help but consider it an album I love. Favorites of course include the entire Side Two, along with 'My Mirage' and 'Termination'

I See You

The xx

1/5

I really had a hard time staying awake through this one!

You Want It Darker

Leonard Cohen

4/5

There is something to be said about an artist writing an album, when they know their life is coming to an end. Like Bowie's Blackstar (which is a phenomenal album), Cohen gives us a glimpse of what goes through one's mind, and an artists final thoughts to leave with the world, when the end is near. This album is dark and sad, but also beautiful, and I find this a great medium to leave your mark behind. Favorite tracks are the title track You Want It Darker, Leaving the Table, and Travelling Light. In Stephen King's afterword of his book You Like It Darker, he apologies for changing the verb.

Solid Air

John Martyn

3/5

I had previously never heard of John Martyn. This was a good album, I enjoyed the style changes of the songs, which kept me interested until the end. Favorites, the title track, Solid Air, Don't Want to Know, I'd Rather Be the Devil (which is a cover song) and the Easy Blues is a good closing track.

Synchronicity

The Police

5/5

I feel like I have never heard this album all the way through, considering it was pretty much the Top 40 soundtrack of my childhood. After listening today, I know I have never heard side one, as all the songs we all know so well are on side two, which I found pretty unique. This album is already a classic, but I appreciate it even more after finally hearing side one. Another interesting fact when reading about it that when the album came out, it had 36 different versions of the cover. Favorite tracks, Synchronicity I, Mother, Synchronicity II, and King of Pain.

In Rainbows

Radiohead

3/5

So I thought, finally, a band I have wanted to explore for a long time now. I remember the hits from the first two albums, but I always heard about how unique and experimental the band became with their third album and how much acclaim it received. I decided, I can't really start with their seventh album, so I decided to listen to everything from OK Computer to In Rainbows. Well to be honest, OK Computer and Kid A bored me. I was expecting some unexpected and experimental music, but not the moody soundscape those two albums pretty much were. I skipped Amnesiac as I read it's more of a continuation of Kid A. I felt I painted myself into a corner, so I pushed on to Hail to the Thief. This album was much better, so my hopes were high for In Rainbows. I have to give the band progressive credit, as in seven albums, they keep exploring, keep changing things up. In Rainbows is a good album, as with their previous record, but are these albums something I would buy or even listen to again? I a lot of their music is an acquired taste, and maybe take a couple listens to grow on you. I am sure more albums will pop up on this list, so it will be interesting to see if my view changes. I also plan to listen to their later albums to see where the bands journey takes them. These albums are definitely a far cry from songs like "Creep" and "High and Dry", which keeps listening interesting. Favorites from this album, "Body Snatchers", "Reckoner", and "Jigsaw Falling into Place"

Heaux Tales

Jazmine Sullivan

1/5

The best thing about this album is it was only 32 minutes long. Modern R&B/Hip Hop is just not my thing.

Club Classics Vol. One

Soul II Soul

2/5

I feel like if this was the "1,001 albums that would play well in a 80s and 90s dance club to dance to before you die" This album would be high on the list. But this is getting away from being a good album as a whole. I feel like this is a "one hit wonder" kind of album, with Back to Life, and the original studio album doesn't even include the version we all heard everywhere and saw on MTV. I spent a lot of time in 1989 watching MTV. When these kind of songs came on, It really wasn't my thing, some were fun and some I would tune out. But I went in with an open mind, enjoyed African Dance, Back to Life from the bonus tracks, and the end of the album. Is it just me or in Jazzie's Groove and Ambition, does Jazzie B just not start sounding like Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords after awhile. Sorry, but that is all I could picture at the end.

Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)

Bob Dylan

3/5

Not sure why a bootleg live album made this list, but I guess because of the controversy surrounding Dylan's use of an electric band for the second half of the set. I was intrigued as I wanted to hear the hecklers. Unfortunately this album that made the list cuts out all the in-between song banter. Luckily I was able to find a version with no cuts between songs. Still the crowd is hard to hear and you mostly hear Dylan throw things back at the crowd like, "this is not British Music, this is American Music". I would much rather listen to the studio tracks, as the quality is not great, but I guess it's great considering it's a 60 year old bootleg.

You've Come a Long Way Baby

Fatboy Slim

4/5

I am a fan of electronic music, and remember well when this record came out. I haven't thought a lot about since the almost 30 years since it came out. The key with electronic music is how well it ages. Nowadays, anyone can make an album on their home computer with the right software. But let's take a moment to appreciate that Norman Cook created this album in his home studio, in 1998, on an Atari ST computer, Creator software, and floppy disks. So the question is, does this album stand the test of time, especially the song Praise You, which I heard so much when it came out. I think it does. Other favorites, Rockefeller Skank, Kalifornia, and Acid 8000.

Court And Spark

Joni Mitchell

3/5

I guess the only Joni Mitchell song I know is "Help Me", which I think is a good song. Other than that, at least this album is better and a bit more poppier than her sexcapade roadtrip album we had to suffer through last week.

Rejoicing In The Hands

Devendra Banhart

2/5

I listened to this album first thing in the morning, so I was not fully awake. I think it plays better that way. It's kind of like when you fall asleep at night watching Tubi, and wake up to the next movie playing, and say to yourself through sleepy eyes, "What the hell am I watching!?" Notable efforts, Poughkeepsie, Fall, and Insect Eyes.

Blood Sugar Sex Magik

Red Hot Chili Peppers

4/5

I can't call myself a fan of RHCP, but I appreciate the stuff they were putting out at this time. In high school I had a friend who was really into them, I went with him, to see them on this tour in '91 with opening acts (Nirvana and Pearl Jam) so this album was in heavy rotation for me. The hits were overplayed on the radio and MTV. So it's been awhile since I listened to this album in its entirety. The loss of Interest was helped, by the fact that the Chili Peppers became very mainstream, and never sounded like this ever again. I have lots of favorites on this album whereas I could listen to Give it Away at anytime, but then I would be okay if I never hear Under the Bridge again.

The Slim Shady LP

Eminem

1/5

This album makes me want to shove nine inch nails through both of my eyelids, and does not age well. I mean I get Eminem and the impact he had on the industry, but he has never been my thing. There a handful of good lines, but I can't remember them now. The Slim Shady persona today just comes off as juvenile.

Suzanne Vega

2/5

My only previous exposure to Suzanne Vega was 'Luka' and 'Tom's Diner', which were on heavy rotation on MTV and VH1 in the late 80s. So why are we not listening to her second album, and this leaves me asking myself once again why was this album included on this list. Other than those two songs, the rest of Suzanne Vega's career has never been on my radar, and this album did not impress me very much.

Tidal

Fiona Apple

2/5

Much like Suzanne Vega, I don't feel like these one or two hit wonders are albums I need to listen to before I die.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

3/5

Seems like we get a lot of debut albums on this list, and I can honestly say I have never heard Tom Petty's first album. Obviously Breakdown and American Girl are the best songs on the album, where there are no other real standouts for me on the rest of the album. Still a good album overall with a bit of variety, and a taste of the signature Petty sound to come in subsequent albums.

Face to Face

The Kinks

3/5

Recently I have been listening to the music that changed the trajectory of the charts. In a time when the top spots were reserved for Bobby Vinton and Pat Boone, in 1964 along came The Beatles and changes everything. Along with this brought in the British Invasion. So by the time we get to 1966 (when the music is about to make yet another shift in the 60s) I feel albums like this sound just like another British band trying to get that hit Beatle sound. There are some good tracks, but I feel we need to hear some of that more raw Kinks when they first burst on the scene.

Straight Outta Compton

N.W.A.

2/5

My first exposure to Rap was back when I was in Junior High (1986-1987) when kids were trading around tapes, saying "Hey man check this out!" The groups I was listening to were, Run DMC, Fat Boys, Beastie Boys, Fresh Prince. These were the fun times, rapping and beat boxing about ordering a Big Mac at Burger King, and how Parents Just Don't Understand. Rap was fun back then. NWA changed this. Rap was no longer fun, it was violent and angry. I get the significance of this change, but now suddenly, this wasn't universal, it wasn't for everyone.This album is not for me.

The Köln Concert

Keith Jarrett

4/5

Much like the Bob Dylan Royal Albert Hall 1966 show, I find the story behind the album much more fascinating than the album itself. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this recording, and I don't want to take anything away from the talent of Keith Jarrett. I knew nothing of him or of this album before today. Anytime I can get some education on musical history, and enjoy a good piece of work, that's a win win in my book.

Haut de gamme / Koweït, rive gauche

Koffi Olomide

2/5

This album makes me feel like I am watching any 80s movie that has a scene at some beach resort, and this is the live band playing in the background.

Hotel California

Eagles

5/5

When I was 15, I took a trip to the East Coast to visit family. Lots of driving from New Jersey to Maine, so I had my trusty Walkman with me. When we stopped to see my brother in New Hampshire, he gave me Hotel California on cassette. On the drive from Concord all the way up to the most northern part of Maine, it's about an 8 hour drive, and it's nothing but trees, I had that tape on constant rotation. This may be the first time I have listened to the full album since that trip, 35 years later. So let's see if I enjoy the album as much as I did back then. The title track, in my opinion, is one of the greatest songs ever written, multiple interpretations of the words, a classic rhythm and melody, and an excellent solo and instrumental section to end the track. But that is just track one, how does the rest of the album stand up? I was just watching an interview with Billy Corgan last night, and he was mentioning how musicians just know when they have that hit song or record that is going to be remembered. So it's interesting that the Eagles released New Kid in Town as their lead off single for this album. They had to know Hotel California was the song that was going to carry this album. Regardless, New Kid is a great Glenn Frey song. Probably the only bad part of this album, is we only get one Frey song. I think the beauty of this album is the pace. It has all the ups and downs in all the right places as the third track is a banger with Life in the Fast Line, then we bring it back down with Wasted Time to end side one. We start side two off with another great rocker, Victim of Love, then it wouldn't be a classic Eagles album without Joe Walsh, and Pretty Maids All In A Row. The second half definitely mellows out, as Randy Meisner gives us another slower piece with Try and Love Again, but this does not slow down the momentum as we prep into the epic closer with The Last Resort. There is something to be said about 35 years ago, without the need to pull out my smartphone and look up every detail of this album. Just to have the grayish cassette with the song titles to look at, and just the music and your own thoughts to take you away. That old cassette is long gone, lost to time, but my love for this album remains. So I think I will be upgrading that old cassette, for the current preferred listening format ... new vinyl.

Brothers In Arms

Dire Straits

3/5

I have actually never listened to this entire album. I know the hits (the first three tracks) but the rest of the album was new to me. To be honest, after those first three tracks, the album starts to lose me. The tracks are good, but sleepy. I listened to the album twice to make sure my thoughts didn't change. I must say with not having listened to Mark Knopfler much (the most stuff I have heard from him was a recent live concert) I can safely say I enjoy his guitar playing more than his singing. I am not knocking this album, the songs are good, just not what I expected after the wham bam start of this album. Of the non-hits, I like The Man's Too Strong and One World.

The ArchAndroid

Janelle Monáe

4/5

I was introduced to this album shortly after it came out, when my coworker found out I am a fan of German Expressionism Silent Films, Progressive Rock, and Concept Albums in general. She said this album was definitely for me. Even though the album is only inspired by the 1927 Fritz Lang film Metropolis, and not actually based the picture, it's the fact that this is Monae's debut album, and the audacity to come out the gate with a concept story, is pretty bold and amazing in my book. The Lang Silent Film, is one of my all time favorite movies, but the concept of the two stories are vastly different, yet share some of the same themes. For this listen, I decided to also include Janelle's EP Metropolis, which is the first suite of the entire series. As I am listening, I also have the Fritz Lang film playing in the background (just for a fun Pink Floyd/Wizard of OZ vibe). But enough geeking out, let's talk about Archandroid. In my opinion what makes a great concept album, no matter what genre of music, is that it plays out as one piece or in Suites. This album starts with Suite II and just takes off from there. By the time we get to four songs in you don't even realize that you have listened to three different tracks, as the transitions are seamless. The songs do eventually start to feel individualized as we work our way deeper into the album, but it doesn't take away from the momentum and flow of this album. I was very happy to see this album pop up today, as it's been over 10 years since I have listened to it, and now I am already shopping around to see who has it on vinyl. Fun album, great concept, and definitely belongs on this list. Favorites: Dance or Die, Faster, Come Alive (War of the Roses), Neon Valley Street, and Wondaland.

Third

Portishead

1/5

According to Wikipedia the influences for this album are krautrock, surf rock, doo wop, and film soundtracks of John Carpenter. I heard none of this. As my first Portishead album, I was not impressed, in fact I was quite bored. Nothing really new here.

Smash

The Offspring

2/5

I owned a lot of 90s albums on cassette and this futuristic format known as compact disc. I own zero of those albums today. Recently, I have begun an obsession with collecting vinyl, and I ask myself a lot, in fact just yesterday when I had The Refreshments in my hand, does 90s music age well, and do I need to buy any of my favorites from this decade again? I did own this Offspring album on cassette, it was not one of my favorites, but I did listen to quite a bit. Does this album age well, I don't think so. When you hear a 90s album, it sounds like a 90s album. Of course decades of old have all had their signature sound. But after the very formatted 50s, the 60s 70s and 80s were all a very experimental time in music. The 90s I feel were just kind of picking up the scraps the previous decades have left behind, and piecing together what they could. I feel by 2000 everyone ran out of ideas, and the majority of bands in the last 25 years are just carbon copies of everything that came before. Ok now I will get off my soap box and talk about this Offspring album. I can honestly say I haven't listened to it in almost 30 years, and I can definitely say I will never listen to it again. I feel anything I once enjoyed about this album, has been lost to my changing tastes, and when I go back, I wonder, did I enjoy this? It's funny how that works, some things stick with you forever, and some things you leave behind.

Odessey And Oracle

The Zombies

4/5

It's the time of the season for The Zombies. Never heard the full album before, really dug the full album!

Teenage Head

Flamin' Groovies

3/5

Never listened to the Flaming Groovies. I feel like I have heard the name before, but not even sure of that. Note: I listened to the original 30 minute version, not the extended CD version. It's a good garage rock album, nothing overly exciting, and I can see where the similarities were drawn between the Rolling Stones at the time. I think the best part of the album is the end of Side 2 with Evil Hearted Ada, Doctor Boogie, Whiskey Woman.

Bert Jansch

3/5

Didn't love it ... Didn't hate it. Highlights: Smokey River, Rambling's Gonna Be the Death of Me, and Angie. Funny note, more of my favorites were the instrumentals.

In It For The Money

Supergrass

2/5

Never judge an album by the cover. I saw this album pop up this morning, and the first thing I thought was bluegrass. I did not expect an alternative British band who I have never heard of before, and will probably never hear again. There really is nothing new here. They sound like a lot of the bubblegum pop alternative bands of the 90s. Worthy efforts: Richard III, Cheapskate.

Cosmo's Factory

Creedence Clearwater Revival

5/5

What more can be said about the mighty CCR. I feel like I have been listening to them all my life. Recently I just purchased all seven of their albums on vinyl, and would not hesitate to put one on at anytime. Creedence makes me happy, that is pretty much it, every song makes me smile. Cosmo's gets right into it with Ramble Tamble, signature CCR sound, but my favorite part is the long breakdown in the middle. Then we go right into the nice bluesy cover of, Before You Accuse Me, a song you can't help but tap your foot to, and I know every upcoming cymbal crash. Travellin' Band is a great energetic sing along, and one of the many CCR hits. Which to be honest, every Creedence studio album is a greatest hits. Another cover with Ooby Dooby, there is something about CCR cover songs, not only do they educate you on music history, but they Amp up their versions in the only way they can. "Dinosaur Victrola, listenin' to Buck Owens" is one of my favorite Creedence lines. Lookin' Out My Back Door is the ultimate classic, as we then end side one with that great dark Swamp Rock sound and a Vietnam anthem, with Run Through the Jungle. CCR can constantly entertain you through one side of a record, then equally impressive you with side two. "There's a place up ahead and I'm going, just as fast as my feet can fly" you know exactly what song this is from that opening riff. So great, let's go! Right into another toe-tapping cover with My Baby Left Me. Who'll Stop the Rain is filled with many meanings, but all I can think of are those images from Woodstock, yet another classic anthem. Marvin Gaye just scored a #1 hit with I Heard it Through the Grapevine only two years earlier, but Creedence does what they do best, covering this song and extending it to 11 minutes with one of the best solo, instrumental jams in music history. The album closes with with the soft As Long As I Can See the Light. But what more do you need, this album gave you everything from start to finish, not a bad song on it. All I can say, is at the minimum, there better be at least 5 Creedence records on this list.

American Idiot

Green Day

5/5

I have had a lot to say about this album, when it came out, telling everyone about it, and the aftermath when it became what I call the last great Green Day album. I would call myself a Green Day fan from when I discovered them in 1994 with Dookie, seeing them in 1995 on the Insomniac tour, love Nimrod and Warning, celebrate the back catalog with Kerplunk and of course American Idiot. It was a good 10 years, and as I may not revisit the band as much, I could revisit any album in that span, anytime. My issue with Green Day is after American Idiot, when their followup album sounded exactly the same, and everything after that was a carbon copy, I stopped listening. So this will be the first time listening to American Idiot in a long time. (The last time I owned this album was on cassette). American Idiot starts it off as the signature Green Day sound of the time, but a great track nonetheless, quite the statement and opening track. Jesus of Suburbia is where the album becomes interesting, the first of two album capping suites. I have said I love concepts, suites, stories, and I love this part of the album. The album really plays out like a movie or a musical from this point on. "This is the dawning of the rest of our lives!" Holiday is a good track, but this feels like a foreshadowing now of the sound Green Day will continue to use for the next 20 years. The transitions are wonderful on this album as we blend right into Boulevard of Broken Dreams, "my shadow's only one who walks beside me" is still one of my favorite GD lyrics. The rythym and flow of this album is pretty perfect, as Are We the Waiting brings it down, before breaking into another favorite with St. Jimmy. The album at this point goes into that classic Green Day form I loved, Give Me Novacaine, She's A Rebel, Extraordinary Girl, and Letterbomb are all GD bangers in my book, and a great centerpiece to the album! Wake Me Up brings the album back down perfectly before we break into the second suite Homecoming, another favorite part of the album. And what has to be one of my favorite tracks on the album, Whatshername. If the album as a whole is a movie, Whatshername is the song playing as the credits roll. This album still sounds great to me as much as it did 20 years ago, and I think I will once again add it to my collection.

Walking Wounded

Everything But The Girl

2/5

Eh ...

The Fat Of The Land

The Prodigy

2/5

We should have had this album awhile back when Fat Boy Slim popped up! It could have been the Battle of Electronic Music of the Late 90s. Once again, like with my review of Fat Boy Slim ... this will come down to how well it ages, and how unique the production was creating this album. I listened to this album once or twice when it came out, but have forgotten all of it aside from the radio hits. This one just doesn't sit as well with me. I got it back in the day, but now it just sounds dated.

Tragic Songs of Life

The Louvin Brothers

3/5

The longest train I ever saw was 19 coaches long, the only girl I ever loved is on that train and gone. Nothing like a 50s folk/country album of love and loss and some good ole murder ballads. Favorites: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight, In the Pines, and the dark Knoxville Girl. Note: I listened to the Original 12 track album, not with the extended "Religious Overtones" tracks.

Le Tigre

2/5

Please see my review on The Offspring, which is mostly a rant on the state of 90s music. Nineties bands spent the whole decade picking up the scraps of the prior decades and trying to build something new. By 1999, those scraps were all gone, there was nothing new left, so instead of creating something new, most bands just borrowed from everything that came before and slapped on a new genre label to try and expain what they are doing. As for the Feminist statement, I get it, and I have no problem with that, the problem here, is the music is not that great.

Copper Blue

Sugar

2/5

As we continue to get more albums from the 90s, I am starting to feel that the 90s are a decade of music I want to forget. There are maybe a dozen 90s albums I can think of off the top of my head that I love from that entire decade. But the rest of it just has that 90s sound, and that sound is very dated. I was hoping that this project would help me re-discover some of that lost love from the 90s. I enjoyed the decade of music as it was all coming out. But a good 90% of it I have not gone back to revisit. On first listen of this Sugar album, it just sounds like another forgettable 90s album with that signature sound. Granted it came out just after the big three albums that kicked off the alternative craze of the early 90s (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden), and maybe this album was part of that early movement, but it was never something that was on my radar. As per usual with this project, we get an album, very late in an artists career, particularly an artist that I am not well versed in. So I am going to go back to the early days of Husker Du and the two Bob Mould solo albums leading up to this album, to see if it changes my opinion of this record. 10 Hours Later ... I think after listening to a ton of Husker Du, a few songs from Bob Mould's solo era, and this album for a second time ... I have come to the conclusion, I am just not a fan of Bob Mould. Assuming Bob Mould was the main orchestrator on all of these projects, I am not knocking the other musicians, I just can't get into his style of songwriting. So far my average rating of the 90s is 2.6.

Guero

Beck

3/5

Beck is fun, but even with very little Beck exposure, Beck just comes off sounding like Beck. I guess he is one of those artists that you either love or you hate. I neither love or hate his music, but it's not anything I reach for on the shelf. Highlights: Black Tamborine, Broken Drum, Scarecrow.

The Village Green Preservation Society

The Kinks

3/5

Were the Kinks that significant that they needed multiple albums on this list? Most of this sounds like your typical late 60s record, good, but nothing groundbreaking. I picked my favorites that did not sound like just another Beatles copy. Last of the Steam Powered Trains, even though it has that CCR feel, Animal Farm, and Wicked Annabella.

Clandestino

Manu Chao

2/5

That was a really long 40 minutes.

Gorillaz

4/5

My ratings for popular music after 2000 tend to be pretty low. Even though Gorillaz is not a group that is in heavy rotation for me, I appreciate what they are doing in the modern age, the concepts are fun, and I like to check in every now and then to see what they are coming up with next. Crazy this project is 25 years old, but does not sound dated.

Hot Buttered Soul

Isaac Hayes

4/5

Progressive Soul! Love it!

Deserter's Songs

Mercury Rev

1/5

I think I am going to write a book ... and call it, "1,001 Albums That You Can Die Happy without Ever Needing To Hear"

Smile

Brian Wilson

1/5

So ... it's the Beach Boys without the Beach Boys!

Electric Warrior

T. Rex

4/5

There are some bands, who due to creative differences, or tragedy, only have a small pocket of time in music history that make their mark. Sometimes it's just that flavor of the month, or they just pump out hit after hit and then they are done, much like the Beatles. I love these little music pockets. I feel they are there for a reason, to shape music trajectory, and create new sound and influences for generations to come. CCR is another good example and T. Rex, definitely fits in that category. T. Rex went as far as ditching their previous psychedelic folk sound and was a driving force behind the early 70s Glam Rock movement. You always have to wonder what T. Rex would be in modern times if tragedy did not take Marc Bolan from this world. But again, it's those pocket moments in time that make you one of the legends.

The Rolling Stones

3/5

I have never listened to the first album by the Rolling Stones. I also had no idea that it's pretty much all cover songs. I get it, as a tribute to a lot of their favorite R&B stuff, but if this were a head to head battle with their main rival, The Beatles, they did not nail it coming out of the gates. Enjoyable for a listen, but will never listen to this one again.

Superunknown

Soundgarden

4/5

I will keep this short as I tend to go on and on about 90s music. In 1994 I loved this album as well as the previous two albums by Soundgarden. Used to listen to the cassettes over and over back in the day. I felt the band was becoming very commercialized with this one, and very much so after. I did not listen or collect after Superunknown. In 1994 this was a 5 star album for me. I still hold some love for it, but now it's a solid 4 star album.

Cloud Nine

The Temptations

3/5

This was fun, started off strong then started to fade a bit. But do we really need another version of "I Heard it Through the Grapevine"?

Elvis Is Back

Elvis Presley

3/5

I find it interesting that all of Presley's big hits came from singles, not the studio albums. So is this an album I need to hear before I die? It's pretty mediocre Elvis stuff.

High Violet

The National

1/5

...

Honky Tonk Heroes

Waylon Jennings

3/5

That was some good Honky Tonk!

Automatic For The People

R.E.M.

2/5

I know R.E.M. only from the overplayed music videos of the late 80s and early 90s, as well as the constant radio play back in the day. I have never listened to a full album by them, are they worthy of an album I need to hear before I die, we'll see. Drive is not the best opener to the album, Try Not to Breathe is pretty forgettable, by track three I am finally interested with The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, Everybody Hurts is painful to listen to, as it was so overplayed and, I am ok never hearing it again, maybe I'm not a fan of Michael Stipe, because I enjoyed the Instrumental, Sweetness Follows I am losing interest, and already checking how many tracks are left, Monty Got A Raw Deal is better, but at this point I would feel I was getting a raw deal if I bought this album, Ignoreland is not bad, Star Me Kitten ... um how many tracks are left, Man on the Moon, my thumb is currently hanging over the skip button, so overplayed, very dated, yeah yeah, Nightswimming I think I would rather be experiening my own Rapid Eye Movement, one more track to go, I think the last two tracks were just filler with Find the River. I was definitely listening to other things in 1992, again I remember the hits, I would like to forget the hits. I could see them making the list of 1,001 songs, but albums, I don't think they have enough rocket sauce for that. It was OK, but mostly boring. I have heard their early records are really good, so who knows, I may explore that, but will never listen to this album again.

Larks' Tongues In Aspic

King Crimson

5/5

This is already a 5 star album for me, but it was fun to do an experiment, as I listened to the streaming album, which I am sure 99% of the people on this site do, and then I listened to my personal Steven Wilson Mix of the album on vinyl, and it is truly night and day. So it makes me wonder how much are some of these albums missed, by listening on your phone or in your car with other distractions. I listened with headphones, no distractions (only to get up and flip the record over) and it was really the way albums were meant to be listened to.

At Folsom Prison

Johnny Cash

5/5

At first 8 was against Live albums on this list, as I feel we should just explore studio works. But the nice thing about the live albums that have popped up so far, is they are more than just a live album, but they have a story and include a piece for musical history.

Aftermath

The Rolling Stones

3/5

Well it was better than the first album.

Moving Pictures

Rush

5/5

This is a no-brainer! I first heard this album when I wad 8 years old and when my brother dropped the needle on Tom Sawyer for the first time, my mind was blown and the trajectory of my musical life began.

Hounds Of Love

Kate Bush

4/5

This was a surprise for me as I had only ever heard Running Up That Hill and nothing else from it. The surprise was that I feel it's the first album on this list that, that I really felt, yeah, I needed to hear this before I die. I listened to it three times to grasp the conceptual side two, which in my opinion is the best part of the album. It's really like two albums, the first side are the singles and the second side is like a Progressive Pop concept album. Running Up That Hill is a five star song in itself. I enjoyed the other tracks on side one, but the standouts were, Mother Stands for Comfort, with that great odd time signature. Also Cloudbusting has a wonderful string melody that just carries the song. The second side and the Ninth Wave suite is a great listen as a whole, its eclectic, very experimental, and at times feels like it's tackling multiple genres. I also watched Daily Doug on Youtube's breakdown of the album, to wrap my head around the concept of side two. He mentions a radio interview, which I must look up later, where Kate is explaining the Ninth Wave and was thinking she needed helicopters in Waking the Witch. She could not find the right helicopter sound, so she got permission to use the sound clip from Pink Floyd's The Wall, which is very cool. I thought they sounded familar.

Get Rich Or Die Tryin'

50 Cent

1/5

Yeah ... no.

Pretenders

4/5

Solid debut by an iconic band with a tragic beginning. Favorites, Space Invaders, Brass In Pocket, and Mystery Achievement.

Live At The Harlem Square Club

Sam Cooke

3/5

That was a fun experience, one of the better Live albums ... like you were there.

Cupid & Psyche 85

Scritti Politti

1/5

I can easily think of 1,001 albums from the 80s that are way better than Scritti Politti!

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Beatles

5/5

There really is not a bad song on this album. I feel this is when the Beatles began to be at their best, they stopped touring and just made memorable melodies and experimental music.

Stardust

Willie Nelson

2/5

I would love to hear some Willie Nelson ... but not Willie singing standards. Also should cover albums really classify as albums I should listen to before I die?

Gris Gris

Dr. John

3/5

This album is cool, but I feel it needs a heavy amount of drugs to feel totally effective.

Queens of the Stone Age

2/5

Ugh ... more 90s drek. Please see my review on the 90s just picking up leftover scraps of prior decades, Queens of the Stone Age sound like they were the last to show up at that proverbial scrap pile. I know nothing about the author of "1,001 Albums to Hear Before You Die" ... but it feels like they were born in the 80s, so they completey ignore the good stuff from the 80s. They probably learned about the late 60s and 70s from their parents. They most likely spent their teenage years in the 90s, and wanted a source to share all their favorites here. Granted I have only hit 80 albums on the list at this point, but 20 of them are 90s albums. So does that mean I have to listen to 230 more 90s albums?

The Downward Spiral

Nine Inch Nails

2/5

Yet Another Nineties Album Chapter 22 Are NIN overrated? Absolutey! Current 90s Album Spawn Ratio: 27%

Bone Machine

Tom Waits

3/5

I have to be honest ... I have never sat down and listened to Tom Waits. My only exposure has been from when it comes up driving in my friend's car (who I already know, he has given this album 5 stars) I feel Tom Waits is definitely an acquired taste, but I appreciate that it is something different, than the normal 90s doldrums we have suffered through. I have to give it a bonus star for "I Don't Want to Grow Up" even though the version I am more familiar with is the Ramones cover.

Double Nickels On The Dime

Minutemen

3/5

Didn't love it, Didn't hate it!

Aladdin Sane

David Bowie

4/5

Another classic Bowie album, this one in the prime of the Glam Rock Era. The second half of this album is my favorite with, Cracked Actor, Time, and The Jean Genie!

OK

Talvin Singh

2/5

This was ... OK. I enjoy world music and I enjoy electronic music, but I don't care for them together. This album would have been better, if Talvin, spent nine months travelling the world and making folk music with different cultures, and not drowning out those world sounds with overpowering electronic music.

Junkyard

The Birthday Party

2/5

I am guessing this album made the list because Nick Cave is in it. Much like Tom Waits, I have not explored much of Nick Cave's career, and I feel he is another one of those acquired tastes. This album is pretty much just noise, and some of these tracks seem a bit long winded for punk. Is this album revolutionary? Maybe if you discovered it when it came out, and I can see where it probably had a big cult following back in the day. But I think discovering it 40 years after it's release, does not have the same effect.

Joan Baez

2/5

Much like the Rolling Stones first album, this is just yet another album that made the list consisting of all cover songs. Does this album represent the talent of Joan Baez as a singer, absolutely. Does this album represent the talent of Joan Baez as a songwriter ... not at all.

The Next Day

David Bowie

4/5

I never really explored Bowie until the end. After Blackstar came out and Bowie died, that album was in full rotation for me, and then I decided it was time to go back and celebrate his career, by listening to the full discography. Bowie was an artist of the times, with a career spanning five decades, his music was always relevant. After listening to all of his albums, I found I really enjoyed the later stuff where he began to really experiment, he was Bowie, he could pretty much do whatever he wanted in the latter years. I also had watched a great documentary called 'The Last 5 Years' which covers the making of The Next Day and Blackstar. I feel like this album he knew the end was coming, so it plays out as an homage to his career, kind of a greatest hits, but all new music celebrating his own music. You can hear everything from his previous 24 albums in this one album, as well as the darkness one must feel when the end is near. It's not as bleak and wonderful as Blackstar, but we'll save those thoughts for when we get to that album.

Siembra

Willie Colón & Rubén Blades

2/5

"Plastico!"

L.A. Woman

The Doors

3/5

I have never really been a fan of the Doors but I love the song LA Woman ... so I will compromise at three stars.

Marquee Moon

Television

4/5

The classic bands of the early CBGBs era. Television was right there with the Ramones and Blondie at the beginning of the OMFUG years. Funny I was just at my local record store shopping new vinyl, and Marquee Moon just got a new reissue, as they had multiple copies. I may have to go back and grab one for my collection.

Slayed?

Slade

3/5

I have never listened to a full Slade album, but I have listened to pretty much every band they inspired in 80s Glam Metal, like Quiet Riot, and Motley Crue. I am really enjoying exploring a genre I have never deep dived into, and that's 70s Glam Rock. Granted Slade is the heavier form of that, and was fun, as you can clearly hear the path they paved. But how often would I just throw on a Slade record? Probably as often as I throw on a Quiet Riot record these days, which is hardly ever.

Led Zeppelin III

Led Zeppelin

5/5

When I was younger I loved Zeppelin, I have listened to this album so many times, but it's been years since I listened to their albums. So the question is, do the songs remain the same in my heart. The answer ... yes, once a classic, always a classic. There is a reason Led Zeppelin is considered one of the greatest bands of all time!

Foo Fighters

3/5

Well ... I had this first Foo Fighters album on cassette when it first came out. I was a fan of Nirvana and so of course I had to hear Dave Grohls new project. I wore that cassette out, but have not listened to it in many years. I am not a fan of any Foo Fighters album after this as I feel they just became commercialized processed crap. So the big question was did I love this, what is pretty much a solo effort from Dave. It starts off great and then just ends up playing out like a tired 90s album. I still admire it as it's all done by Dave, even it if was just for fun while he was still grieving for his bandmate Kurt. So I give it 3 stars for that. It was fun to revisit, but I doubt I will ever come back to it.

Diamond Life

Sade

3/5

At first when I put this album on, I thought here we go with another one hit wonder making the list of 1,001 albums to hear before you die. I mean we all know Smooth Operator, if you don't know that song, you have been living under a rock. I was surprised that I recognized a couple other songs from this album, like Hang On To Your Love, which I enjoyed the long version. All in all this album falls into the "didn't hate it, didn't love it" ranking.

White Light

Gene Clark

2/5

To everyday I turn, turn, turn to yet another album that makes me wonder why I keep going.

I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got

Sinead O'Connor

2/5

In 1990 Garth Brooks, Brian Johnson, Dave Gahan, Jon Bon Jovi, and Sinead O'Connor walk into a bar: Garth: You know I've got friends in low places, where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away. Brian: Yeah mate, I hear ya, but you know people are still going to dance to it. Me, I was caught in the middle of a railroad track, I don't know how else to explain it, but I was Thunderstruck! Dave: But see there is still plenty of excitement in it, no matter the state of your peril ... me, I am just here to enjoy the silence. Jon: So moody Dave, but you dont fail to pull off that classic groove. Sometimes I just feel like I was shot down in a blaze of glory, but at least I can go out with a bang! Now Sinead ... none of this compares to U? Sinead: Well I can't take credit for that one, but if I could just say, Margaret Thatcher on TV, shocked by the deaths that took place in Beijing, it seems strange that she should be offended, the same orders are given by her, I've said this before now, you said I was childish and you'll say it now, remember what I told you, if they hated me, they will hate you, England's not the mythical land of Madame George and roses, it's the home of police who kill black boys on mopeds ... Everyone: Whoah whoah ... way to bring the room down Sinead!

Tracy Chapman

4/5

I will keep this short, but it funny that this album follows Sinead who I was pretty harsh on. I didnt dislike it, I just felt she was bringing down the room in every song. I am ok with dark stuff in music, Tracy has plenty, but the music sounds great and you can really get into it. Its all about delivery and the way you present the dark stuff, and Tracy does thks very well, translating her message into teally good music. Favorites are Talking About A Revolution, of course Fast Car, Mountains O Things, Why?, For My Lover, there is really not a bad track on this album.

Halcyon Digest

Deerhunter

1/5

Wow ... that was pretty awful! I love how Wikipedia states that this album was released to Universal Critical Acclaim! What!? I can already see this album has a solid 3 star average rating which means people either give it 5 stars or 1 star. Well I am definitely giving it 1 star. Absolutely nothing happens in this album. It's like they come up with some simple riff, and then just play it over and over none stop for 3 to up to 7 minutes. I just have to wonder, when you think of a band going into a studio, there has to be a sense of excitement creating a record. We're these guys actually excited creating this album, because it sure doesn't translate onto the finished product.

Vol. 4

Black Sabbath

5/5

The first five Black Sabbath albums are easy 5-star albums. Even though Vol. 4 probably ranks 5th on my Top 5 Sabbath albums ... the bangers on this album are heavy bangers. The heaviest Sabbath album by far, Cornucopia is really where all your heavy and doom came from. No way I could rate this album with four stars. RIP Ozzy (1948-2025)

The Trinity Session

Cowboy Junkies

2/5

Well I only previously knew their cover of Sweet Jane, which I still think is a great cover. What I was not prepared for was how unexciting this album is. I guess the older I get, the more I don't have patience for albums like this. It was so hum drum, like nothing was really happening, just whistling Dixie so to speak. The better songs on the album we're the cover songs. But most importantly where are the quintessential albums of the 80s.

Elephant

The White Stripes

4/5

Seven Nation Army has 1.2 billion listens on YouTube Music. Has to be one of the catchiest tunes in the last 20 years or so, no matter how you often you play it. I feel most of my rating will go to production of this album and what Jack White does for the music industry, the fact that this album was not recorded with computers and using old equipment. Meg White provides a great backseat to all the songs, even providing vocals. Highlights for me, obviously I am one of the 1.2 billion listens, that enjoy the opening track, also Ball and Biscuit and The Hardest Button to Button.

Pet Sounds

The Beach Boys

2/5

Well I did not hear anything revolutionary or progressive about this album. It sounds like just another Beach Boys album to me!

Mott

Mott The Hoople

3/5

I didn't love it and I didn't hate it, but I was just expecting a little more from Mott, in that era of great Glam Rock!

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Elton John

4/5

I feel like if I went to a record store right now and looked at a used copy of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, the second LP would look brand new, except for that skip at the beginning of side D where people kept dropping the needle on Saturday Night. And the first LP would be completely worn out. Did this need to be a double album, I don't think so, but I still will give it four stars, because its classic.

Madman Across The Water

Elton John

3/5

First of all, the previous auto-generated album was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. I think there should be a break between Elton John albums. So the question remains, is Elton John just a hit maker, or was he known for his full albums. It seems like time and time again, we get albums that have a few hits and then the rest is a bunch of filler. Elton seems to be pretty successful at getting all his hits at the beginning of the album. I feel like we are not getting albums for the albums as a whole. Oh well, its Elton, and hard knock him for being a hit maker. If it wasn't for this list I would have never heard songs like Razor Face, Rotten Peaches, and All the Nasties. Didn't love it and didn't hate it!

With The Beatles

Beatles

3/5

Of all the great Beatles albums that could make the list, they include the one with only one hit song, and 6 cover songs? I mean it's good, it's the Beatles, but give me an album that is entirely written by the Beatles.

Boston

5/5

Three words: Boston, 1976, Epic!

Pearl

Janis Joplin

3/5

There is one thing for sure, reading about Janis' exploits is way more interesting than her music. Janis Joplin definitely partied like a rock star!

Tuesday Night Music Club

Sheryl Crow

2/5

Maybe this didn't sound great because it wasn't Tuesday.

Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman

John Zorn

5/5

This is absolute chaos ... and I love it!

The Wildest!

Louis Prima

4/5

That was the wildest!

Traffic

3/5

I think the only full Traffic album I have listened to is John Barleycorn Must Die, due to it being one of the early works of Progressive Rock. So I am intrigued by the early works of the late 60s. Dave Mason and Steve Winwood, are names that have been well known throughout my entire musical life. I am also a fan of rock bands that utilize multiple singers and songwriters. Favorites, Pearly Queen, Feeling Alright, is definitely one of those tracks that makes any Classic Rock greatest hits. Side two of the album becomes a little more experimental with the longer pieces. Note: I listened to the Original 10-track album.

Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water

Limp Bizkit

1/5

I have not given up on any of these albums ... but I was close so many times on this one. Pretty much every track I wanted to turn it off. This would be that situation, where your buddy pops in a Limp Bizkit tape into your car, and without thought, you hit the eject button and whip the tape out the window.

Mr. Tambourine Man

The Byrds

3/5

Eh ... didn't love it didn't hate it!

Rubber Soul

Beatles

4/5

Rubber Soul immediately sparks a memory for me. As a very young kid, my mother would play her organ while us kids would sing songs, like Nowhere Man and Michelle, with her. This epiphany made me realize that I was singing Beatles songs before I ever really heard them. Rubber Soul to me is the beginning of when the Beatles become their best, the touring stops and they start making not just real albums, but really good albums.

Music in Exile

Songhoy Blues

4/5

Well that was an unexpected like!

The Hour Of Bewilderbeast

Badly Drawn Boy

2/5

You know as a kid growing up in the 80s, the year 2000 seemed so far away, but we knew that we could look forward to the future, like flying cars, personal robots, teleportation devices, video telephones. Little did we know that the music would be so bad. Best song on this album was instrumental Bewilderbeast.

The Genius Of Ray Charles

Ray Charles

4/5

C'mon now ... it's Ray Charles!

Gold

Ryan Adams

1/5

I'd rather be listening to Bryan Adams!

Freak Out!

The Mothers Of Invention

4/5

Zappa and the Mothers Of Invention were doing things no one else was in 1966. It was like they were shoving a big middle finger up the British Invasion arse and I totally dig it. Double debut album, a side length ending trip fest, who does this, the only one who could. The great Frank Zappa. Way ahead of their time.

Night Life

Ray Price

3/5

I picture on a lonely street, in a dimly lit bar, with scattered cowboys, distanced from one another, sittin' and thinkin' about honky tonk angels, counting the hours until daylight begins, while Ray Price plays on the jukebox.

The Marshall Mathers LP

Eminem

2/5

Bands have been coming up with gimmicks to sell records for a long long time. Eminem is no different. He's got a gimmicks to try and shock everyone with his lyrics and it's working, for most people, but not me. I did enjoy the dissing at the Insane Clown Posse, but really Marshall, ICP are one of the biggest gimmicks in the last 25 years. You are pretty much doing the same thing. And to be honest. I have laughed at more ICP jokes than M&M ones!

Grace

Jeff Buckley

2/5

Please see my review on Elliott Smith, just another addition to the list because of the tragedy surrounding it. Knew the name, never knew the story, never listened to the album and will never listen to it again. Nothing new here. Ugh the 90s!

Dare!

The Human League

3/5

I really enjoy the Synth Pop era of the late 70s and early 80s. But I enjoy more of the experimental stuff. It seems like the two experimental members of the group left before this album came out. It's still a good album of the early 80s, but also feels like just a one hit wonder!

Appetite For Destruction

Guns N' Roses

4/5

1987 I was in Junior High and back in those days friends of friends of friends would just hand you a cassette and say, check this out! At the time I was listening to Top 40 Radio, and interested in bands like Europe, Def Leppard, and Scorpions. So when I put this tape on for the first time, my mind was blown. Did they just say "fuck" in a song? So the question remains, does it still hold up almost 40 years later. The hits were way over played but I still knew all the words and musicial changes, I could still air guitar all the solos. It was enjoyable to listen to again and I still feel it is a classic for that era of rock because it was raw and dirty, and no one else was doing that at that time. I feel GNR definitely used their entire bottle of rocket sauce in just that one album, because there was never anything else they put out that had the same effect. I would say 5 stars, but I don't feel it's an album I could easily go back to or even ever listen to again unless prompted to. But still great memories of the old tape trading days.

Dummy

Portishead

2/5

Well it's definitely better than 'Third' ... but still nothing too impressive or groundbreaking with this band for me.

Led Zeppelin II

Led Zeppelin

5/5

My thoughts remain the same ... there is not a single bad song on the first five Led Zeppelin records!

Parallel Lines

Blondie

4/5

Once I had a love and it was a gas, soon turned out had a heart of glass. I feel like I have known that lyric all my life, and it's always been a favorite song of mine. Being just a small kid in the late 70s and early 80s, I wasn't able to go discover music myself, so it was whatever I heard on the radio and what my older siblings passed on to me. Lately I have been deep diving into these eras, specifically glam rock, new wave, and synth pop, wishing I had been a teen in the late 70s. What a cool time for music discovery!

Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs

Derek & The Dominos

3/5

Aw make it talk son, make it talk! No matter what project you have Eric Clapton in, it's always that Eric Clapton sound. I would prefer some John Mayhall or Cream, as I have never heard anything on here other than Layla. That is the way this album sits with me. Its Layla and a bunch of other songs.

The Specials

2/5

So I have never been a fan of ska and it always all sounded the same to me. Even a 45 minute album started to feel long, as the songs kind of all blended into one. My YT Music app will just play another related song after your album is finished, to be honest I didn't even realize the album ended and some other band started, then I was wondering how long ago did the album end. For me the specials were not that special, but I am sure they were revolutionary at the time, and as a Primus compilation album once proclaimed, they all can't be zingers.

Make Yourself

Incubus

1/5

Whatever tomorrow brings ... anything will be better than this!

Back At The Chicken Shack

Jimmy Smith

3/5

Oh yeah ... that is cool man ... really cool!

Step In The Arena

Gang Starr

3/5

Coming from a white kid growing up musically in the late 80s. I loved rap when it was fun and then tuned it out when it became violent. (See my review on NWA) Not familiar with Gang Starr, but this album was interesting, obviously coming out in that transitional period of rap/hip-hop history. I definitely feel this album is more significant than NWA, its not just an onslaught of angry, it really grooves, with a lot of clever and smart raps. "Paragraphs, portraying my viewpoint, so stay attentive, cause this is a new joint, from the G-A-N-G with the info, lyrical elements emerge from the intro, forming a poetic mass over pathetic trash, other writers are outclassed, surpassed by the words and the wit, rhymes fit and hit cause that's how we designed it, page for page, we are the new age, dope in the videos and dope when we're on stage, commanding respect with my ink pen while suckers are sinking as I'm keeping them thinking ..."

Zombie

Fela Kuti

3/5

Zombie no go go ... unless you tell am to go! Zombie no go stop ... unless you tell am to stop!

Follow The Leader

Korn

1/5

Nu Metal is not anything I need to hear before I die ... I heard it, and it sucks! Kill me already!

Thriller

Michael Jackson

5/5

I don't know how anyone could give this album a low rating, especially if you were a kid growing up in the 80s like me. This album was everywhere, the songs were everywhere, the videos were everywhere. When you think of the 80s, the first thing that has to come to mind is Michael Jackson. This is just classic!

NEU! 75

Neu!

3/5

Hmmm ... didn't love it didn't hate it ... not sure I was prepared or in the mood for it ... but it is good!

Vulgar Display Of Power

Pantera

2/5

I will start off by saying I was a big big fan of the Thrash Metal scene! This scene was at its peak from around 1986-1990. I would have to say 1990 was the ultimate year. 1990 Pantera released Cowboys From Hell, which is a great album, and was providing a new sound to this already waning sub-genre. Vulgar Display of Power came two years later, once grunge was really coming into play, and NuMetal had yet to rear its ugly head. I loved this album when it came out, even though, by musical tastes were still evolving. I enjoyed the thrash years, but already my musical mind was moving on. I no longer love this album, and as I continued to listen to it again, I just kept dropping stars off. It really does not age well, and the lyrics just come off as silly, and unintelligible today. There are so many other great thrash albums (that I could easily re-listen to today) that probably won't make this list because for some reason this album really struck a chord in the author of this book. If you are going to have this album on the list, we better see some representation from bands like Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth, who started and helped shape this genre.

After The Gold Rush

Neil Young

3/5

Because of this list, I am learning that I am not a big fan of Neil Young. His voice annoys me at times, but there are enough good songs on this one that its not a bad album!

My Generation

The Who

3/5

When looking at The Who, compared to the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones in the same year, you can feel a lot of the same influences. But The Who had more of that raw power. I think in 1965, The Who would have been more effective live than on a studio album.

Tarkus

Emerson, Lake & Palmer

5/5

Keith Emerson, Greg Lake, and Carl Palmer ... need I really say more ... Tarkus is my favorite ELP album ... Legends!

James Brown Live At The Apollo

James Brown

4/5

Another well selected snapshot of musical history! Plus its James Brown!

It's Blitz!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

3/5

First thing I am going to say is, its better than a lot of the post-2000 music that has made this list. Its not moody it definitely has some pop. Its definitely not punk, more indie rock to me. Overall good, nothing groundbreaking. I feel there is too much going in the background production, for just two dudes carrying all the Instrumental weight. I think they should put a bass in Karen O's hands and make her do a little more work.

Hysteria

Def Leppard

5/5

In 1987-88 I was in Junior High and you would have typically seen me walking around in my Def Leppard tshirt and Acid Wash Jeans. I loved Def Leppard sooo much! I owned this album on vinyl, including all the 45 singles, cassette, and early compact disc. I had the Historia VHS, the In the Round Live VHS, the mail order Animal Instinct book. So this album is obviously still special to me. The first four albums are still very special to me. Let's not talk about the fifth album, Adrenalize, that is when I hung up my Def Leppard tshirt and Acid Wash Jeans for good.

System Of A Down

2/5

When falling under my radar, System of A Down and Serj Tankian, had a few songs that made you stop, and say, well that's kind of interesting. But really just a passing interest, and basically forgotten after a few years. So this would be the first complete album I have listened to from the band. After all, this list is Albums we should listen to before we die, not just slightly catchy songs you should hear before you die. Pretty much after hearing the song Sugar, and thinking, oh yeah I remember that song but man it sounds dated. I was then counting down the tracks waiting for this album to be over. Please move this album to the list of slightly catchy songs to hear before you die and remove it from the "album" list.

People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

A Tribe Called Quest

4/5

You learn some classic life lessons from A Tribe Called Quest, like don't leave your wallet in El Segundo, don't eat ham and eggs cuz they're high in cholesterol, and the art of moving butts!

Treasure

Cocteau Twins

2/5

I don't know if I am missing something or that the production is just really bad, or the band is just not that interesting.

Third/Sister Lovers

Big Star

1/5

Yet another album, which makes me wonder, why is it on this list? Especially according to Wikipedia, "After two commercially unsuccessful albums, Third documents the band's deterioration as well as the declining mental state of singer Alex Chilton." Yeah, that sounds like an album I should listen to before I die. Did the guy who wrote this book, actually listen to these albums, this one is awful!

Moss Side Story

Barry Adamson

3/5

This is a pretty cool concept. The only issue I have, is it doesn't sound like one continuous imaginary film. It sounds more like a greatest hits for an imaginary movie composer, for a bunch of different imaginary films (for the exception of two cover songs towards the end). But overall still an entertaining listen.

The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady

Charles Mingus

4/5

Its Mingus ... c'mon!

Welcome to the Afterfuture

Mike Ladd

1/5

I honestly listened to it while doing other things, and nothing profound stuck out for me to even comment on. Already completely forgotten the next day.

There's A Riot Goin' On

Sly & The Family Stone

4/5

Bring the funk with Sly & the Family Stone!

Black Sabbath

5/5

What is this that stands before me ... a masterpiece!

The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

Genesis

5/5

I am hovering like a fly ... waiting for a windshield on the freeway. This album is pure Gabriel and unfortunately the end of Gabriel's Genesis. I have always preferred Gabriel over Collins Genesis. I am a fan of Trespass, Nursey Crime, and Foxtrot, but I never got around to listening to this album and its predecessor. This listen has inspired me to collect the early Genesis records as well as that transition to the Peter Gabriel solo work. Unfortunately I had to listen to this album at work with one ear bud, and interruptions. So I did not get the feel of the story or the full experience. So I am looking forward to the opportunity to listen to the vinyl with headphones.

Nebraska

Bruce Springsteen

2/5

I am really not a fan of Bruce Springsteen to begin with. But listening to 'Nebraska' at work, running on four hours of sleep after seeing a NIN show the previous evening is not a good combination. Not one song sounded different from the other, and I constantly was fighting off sleep.

Millions Now Living Will Never Die

Tortoise

4/5

I did not expect to like this when it popped up ... but I did. I think that will grow the more I listen!

Lost In The Dream

The War On Drugs

2/5

I think I am just going to call music in the last 10 years ... The Influence Era. I have said many times during this project, modern bands are just a copy of a copy of a copy. This band was obviously influenced by my sick days from school in the late 80s and early 90s watching VH1 because there was nothing else to do. Or maybe they were just really into Bruce ... Hornsby?

Head Hunters

Herbie Hancock

4/5

That was some groovin' and a movin'

Oar

Alexander 'Skip' Spence

2/5

When I saw Wikipedia say "Described as "one of the most harrowing documents of pain and confusion ever made" ... I thought oh boy, here we go. But all in all this album didn't do much for me. Extra star for playing all the instruments.

The White Album

Beatles

5/5

There was a time when I knew all the words and could sing the opening notes of the songs following one another. After listening again years later, I can agree that the second LP runs a bit long. But this is the Beatles White Album, and still one of my all time favorite classics!

The Poet

Bobby Womack

2/5

I don't want to stand up ... I think I am going to sit down for this one. There were times I wanted to get out of the chair and dance, but it didn't really move me all that much. Especially the second half just fell flat. Didn't hate it, it was just ok!

Peggy Suicide

Julian Cope

1/5

How much can you take? That is a really good question after getting through the first track of this album.

Fever Ray

2/5

So in the late 70s and early 80s. Electronic music was very experimental. And with the ever advancing technology, you would think that by the year 2000, electronic music would be amazing. Unfortunately its not, it seems to be digressing, as someone keeps hitting the replay button. I will just sit here and continue to wait for something amazing to come along in the electronic world.

Rio

Duran Duran

4/5

Classic Duran Duran

Seventh Tree

Goldfrapp

2/5

Eh ... definitely one of my didn't love it didn't hate it kind of albums ... but I am sure in a month and 30 albums down the road, I won't even recall who this was or what it sounded like.

Fromohio

fIREHOSE

3/5

This is definitely one of those records where 'you had to be there to get it'. I feel like this is something I missed out on, or just briefly passed by in the record store while my buddy was looking for some Firehouse in the late 80's. I like it, and I am sure there will be future listens to improve my appreciation.

Rumours

Fleetwood Mac

5/5

Can you name one bad song on this album. One of the greatest!

Felt Mountain

Goldfrapp

2/5

Please refer to my previous Goldfrapp review three days ago! My opinion still stands.

Crime Of The Century

Supertramp

2/5

Supertramp never really did anything for me, I have known people who absolutely love them. In 2025, Supertramp still does nothing for me.

Daydream Nation

Sonic Youth

3/5

This is another one of those bands that I feel are "you had to have been there". I was in a whole different music realm in 1988, so I missed Sonic Youth completely. If I had heard this album back then and had some memories, this album would have sat better. It had its ups and downs with me, and I wonder did they need a double album. I enjoy the Kim Gordon parts more, didn't love it, didn't hate it. Maybe this is one of discographies I need to explore more.

Low

David Bowie

3/5

I can definitely say I celebrate the entire David Bowie catalog, and after he died I listened to his entire discography. But when this album popped up, I didn't remember much of it, so it obviously didn't stay that memorable after the first listen. Listening again, I was excited for the experimental synth pop era of David Bowie ... especially with Brian Eno and Iggy Pop ... but there is not a whole lot of experimenting going on. Its a good album, but tend to lose interest with the soundtrack like instrumentals on the second side.

Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)

The Kinks

3/5

I seem to be pretty much middle of the road when it comes to The Kinks.

Water From An Ancient Well

Abdullah Ibrahim

2/5

Nothing very memorable on this one!

There's No Place Like America Today

Curtis Mayfield

3/5

It was funky ... it was cool ... but I will probably never listen to again.

Time Out

The Dave Brubeck Quartet

4/5

Yeah ... this is timeless and classic!

Hypnotised

The Undertones

3/5

Never heard of these guys before ... not sure I would seek out more, but it was still a good listen today!

One Nation Under A Groove

Funkadelic

4/5

Do you promise to funk, the whole funk, and nothing but the funk?

Blonde On Blonde

Bob Dylan

3/5

Much like Highway 61, I was enjoying this album ... until I finished the first LP. A Bob Dylan double album is just too much. How many verses did Dylan scat in that final 11 minute song. I lost count. My rating is for the first half!

Repeater

Fugazi

3/5

What!? I thought this was Marillion's Fugazi!

Fisherman's Blues

The Waterboys

3/5

Another band that was never on my radar back in the day. Only discovered them through a good friend who is a big fan. He will hate me for giving them 3 stars, but as I say a lot for my 3 star albums, it was good, I didn't love it, didn't hate it.

The Joshua Tree

U2

2/5

I have never enjoyed U2, they were always a band that was just there, all over the radio, and MTV. I was in Junior High in 1987, and I remember I had a teacher who was a massive U2 fan, had Joshua Tree posters in the classroom and forced us to listen to U2 during tests. Maybe I was scarred from those experiences. Tried going into this with fresh adult ears, but I still don't care much for U2!

Headquarters

The Monkees

2/5

I dont know man ... maybe the Monkees should just stick with letting other people write their songs.

Ocean Rain

Echo And The Bunnymen

3/5

Didn't love it didn't hate it. Recognizable songs were Silver and The Killer Moon.

New Boots And Panties

Ian Dury

3/5

This album popped up recently in my recent searches, and I am not sure where. I want to say it was a recent "What's in My Bag?" Episode on Amoeba Records featuring Spinal Tap, they had some pretty weird choices, and this album fits right in there. But it was entertaining.

Unknown Pleasures

Joy Division

2/5

I have heard of Joy Division many times, but I have never listened to them. First thoughts, is there is not a lot of Joy with this band. I am a 50 year old male, this late in life, I am looking for more new music to my ears that bring me joy. Today this moody depressive shit is not for me, maybe my younger self would have enjoyed it, maybe I dont know. Its funny how the main Wikipedia article focuses on the creation of the album cover and not the music itself, so maybe it doesn't belong on this list, well then again its shrouded by a musicians death and this list tends to like that subject, whether the music is good or not.

E.V.O.L.

Sonic Youth

3/5

See my other review on Sonic Youth ... my thoughts are the same, a band I need to explore the discography more.

First Band On The Moon

The Cardigans

2/5

I only know the one song from GTA V, but other than that album is pretty forgettable. For the exception of the Black Sabbath reference at the beginning, and then the full cover of Iron Man. Not sure why this band seems to be obsessed with Black Sabbath. I guess that just shows that Black Sabbath will always rule them all and no one will remember the Cardigans.

Channel Orange

Frank Ocean

1/5

I would rather be listening to Billy Ocean. Additional note, this is the second album in a row that features a song from GTA V. So apparently the guy who made this list has played a ton of GTA. We all have and that is fine. But just because a song makes it onto a video game doesn't mean we have to hear the full album.

Go Girl Crazy

The Dictators

3/5

It was fun ... but was it a Pioneer of the Punk movement ... doesn't feel like it to me!

Bad

Michael Jackson

4/5

He was labeled the King of Pop for a reason!

Debut

Björk

4/5

I haven't listened to a lot of Bjork, I am not sure what to say about Bjork, only that I like Bjork, and I will listen to more Bjork.

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

The Smashing Pumpkins

4/5

The only time I saw the Pumpkins live was on the Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness tour, that was almost 30 years ago, and I still talk about it as one of my favorite shows I ever attended. When they came out to do one of their three encores with XYU, it was pretty amazing. When they played Silverfuck in the third encore as a 30 minute jam session until the arena turned the floor lights on, it was epic! So yes, I have vivid memories of that show, but when hitting play on the album itself after 30 year of not hearing it, would I enjoy it again. I have followed the Pumpkins over the years, but their albums always seem to be hits and misses with me. I think today, I am more of a fan of Billy Corgan, and his podcast, than of any new Smashing Pumpkins music. Mellon Collie is pretty epic in scope, but is it too long. That always becomes my question when listening to a double album or in this case a triple LP, more recently a four LP set. I just dont want it to feel like you are listening to a long album, where you are checking running times or how many tracks left. Luckily just when this album is starting to drag, it pulls you back in with a gem of a song. So its still a really good album in my book. But today, in the age of collecting vinyl, would I go out and buy the $99 box set of this, or would I even pull this album up on YT Music to listen to it again, not likely. It was fun to revisit, and recall the memories of the one time I saw the full band in their heyday. But I will go back to watching Billy Corgan interview interesting people, and wait for another Pumpkins album to pop up on the list before revisiting their music again.

Rip It Up

Orange Juice

2/5

Hmmm ... that OJ tasted a little sour.

Deja Vu

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

3/5

The hits are pretty classic. The non hits ... not so classic!

Cheap Thrills

Big Brother & The Holding Company

2/5

I have seen this album cover so many times, but never knew who or what the band was. Firstly, I am very selective on live albums I enjoy, but the one thing I do not enjoy is an album that is not a live album but is recorded to sound like a live album with the crowd added in. Apparently Ball and Chain is an actual live track, but that is besides the point, because the sound and mix of this record is pretty awful, you really have to really crank the volume to hear any of the instruments. The only problem with cranking the volume, is then you get Janis Joplin really just screeching over everything. I am not a fan of Janis' catterwauling. I guess I always imagined this album was going to be something completely different that what it actually is. Also note: as I have been doing with everything on this list. I am only listening to the original album release, the the bonus track edition, where they just add more actual live tracks.

Group Sex

Circle Jerks

2/5

Seems like such a precious waste of vinyl space. I mean I am sure when this came out it was super edgy and something you would hand out to friends to check out. But today it just seems like ... was this a joke?

Metal Box

Public Image Ltd.

3/5

1979, experimental period, I figured it was time for something good. This list seems to go through the motions all week, while you just wait for that one album to catch your attention. This one caught my attention for sure, the Jah Wobble driving bass lines are pretty hypnotic at times. I did feel fatigued by the end of the album. Not sure if I would listen again or not.

Here Come The Warm Jets

Brian Eno

4/5

Ah 1974, when Glam was at its highest peak! I would prefer some Roxy Music, but Eno will do!

Purple Rain

Prince

5/5

Prince ... you sexy MF!

Reign In Blood

Slayer

5/5

It's interesting that we had Prince's Purple Rain and Slayer's Reign in Blood back to back. As it truly shows how eclectic my musical taste is, as whether it Purple Rain, or its Raining Blood, these two albums are easily 5-star albums for me. Granted, I have listened to Reign in Blood 1,001 more times than Purple Rain. Reign in Blood, and Slayer for that matter has been in my opinion, one of the greatest metal albums and metal bands of all time. By far the gods of the Thrash Metal genre. Reign In Blood is the pure example of what 80s Thrash Metal was all about, 28 minutes, in your face, blistering riffs, non stop driving drum blasts, pure aggression, and power lyrics, that are almost a rap or cadence of musical chaos. Angel of Death alone is possibly one of the greatest metal songs ever written. It doesn't matter if I am 16 or 50, but when I put this album on, I am still pumping my fist in the air, and belting out lyrics from memory, and it fires me up, and gets that blood pumping. I mean no matter what genre of music you enjoy. We all have those certain albums that just get us, every song, every beat, every lyric. That is what makes music a wonderful thing. Thank you Tom, Kerry, Jeff and Dave, for making one of those many albums that hit all the right chords in me!

Crosby, Stills & Nash

4/5

Three's a company, four's a crowd. So much better without Young tagging along.

The College Dropout

Kanye West

1/5

Ugh

Remedy

Basement Jaxx

2/5

Quote from Wikipedia: "Most dance music is very shiny and so robotic," Simon Ratcliffe told Rolling Stone. "There's just not much feeling. If we made a record like that, we'd be just like everybody else." Sorry to break the news to you, but this just sounds like everybody else! In fact all the songs just start to sound the same after awhile.

Disraeli Gears

Cream

4/5

Obviously there are the two massive hits to start off the album, then it settles into the typical supergroup record, with hits and misses. Side two offers up some good gems like, Tales of Brave Ulysses, SWLABR, and Outside Woman Blues. People seem to always point to Clapton when it comes to Cream, but this is not a Clapton record, this is Cream. If anything I would call it more of a Jack Bruce record, and still a classic in my book!

american dream

LCD Soundsystem

3/5

I enjoy LCD Soundsystem, but I feel they came about 30 years to late. This band would have thrived in the 80s!

Back In Black

AC/DC

5/5

There is not much more I can say that hasn't already been said about this record. So classic!

Raw Like Sushi

Neneh Cherry

2/5

I could see Buffalo Stance being on the list of 1,001 Songs to hear before you die, but the full album? The rest of the album sounds like she partied like it was 1989!

Caetano Veloso

2/5

I am sure in 1968, in some rich guy's dark basement tiki room, with a mid-century bar, and guests by invite only, this record was in constant rotation. Now I just picture it in the dusty 99 cent bin.

Pornography

The Cure

3/5

I really enjoy The Cure. But I guess its a 'coming late to the game' kind of situation for me. This is another band that I have wanted to explore their discography. I am more versed with their late 80s stuff, especially what was in heavy rotation on MTV. As much as I have seen this album cover, this was a first listen for me, and I had not heard a single song from it. At least nothing sparked for me. Its a good album but very moody. I have stressed earlier in this list, that I feel I am just too old for moody music. I can see how this would have appealed to younger people in the early 80s or even younger people today, who all seem to emulate the past. But for me it doesn't do a lot. It is The Cure so I cannot give any less that three stars for it.

Dire Straits

3/5

See my previous review on Dire Straits.

Transformer

Lou Reed

3/5

Right now I am enjoying the early 70s glam era. Lou Reed is not one of my favorites from this glittery time, but this album has its fun moments, and you can definitely hear the Bowie influence on a few tracks.

Kilimanjaro

The Teardrop Explodes

3/5

This one had its fun moments. I am not sure I will even remember this band, two weeks down the road.

A Girl Called Dusty

Dusty Springfield

2/5

Dusty Springfield of the 60s, much like Linda Ronstadt of the 70s and 80s. This is pretty much life before Karaoke bars, where if you had a good singing voice, you could get a record contract, and fill up an album full of cover songs.

Another Green World

Brian Eno

3/5

I appreciate Brian Eno, and love experimental music. But this was just not experimental enough for me. It was good, dont think I will come running back to tie this shoe any time soon.

Nothing's Shocking

Jane's Addiction

3/5

Well .... there is nothing shocking about this album. I have never been a fan of Jane's Addiction, but I know people absolutely love them. I had a friend in Junior High and High School, who had this tape and the next album. So I have heard this album, but funny thing is I dont remember much of it, as it obviously did not stick with me over the years. Its a good album, but I am still not a fan.

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Wilco

2/5

Yawn ...

Darklands

The Jesus And Mary Chain

2/5

I feel like I am just a clock on the wall ... the time ticking away through another day and another mediocre album.

Street Signs

Ozomatli

1/5

I am mostly disappointed that these guys are from LA ... when the album started, I was thinking maybe we were dealing with some world music. But quickly this album becomes pretty annoying. This album plays out like an office secret Santa gift exchange, someone just threw a bunch of crap in the pot, and you are trying your best to find one good thing about the whole mess.

Lady In Satin

Billie Holiday

2/5

I am going to be absolutely honest here. I don't like her voice ... and every song sounds exactly the same!

Live At The Regal

B.B. King

4/5

Just when this list was starting to wear me down with mediocre after mediocre album, that I am going to quickly forget after listening ... its brings you back in with something like BB King! I only wish the album was one complete performance. The highlight was how clearly you can hear the crowd as if they are reacting to a preacher.

Better Living Through Chemistry

Fatboy Slim

2/5

I enjoyed when the most well known Fatboy Slim album popped up. Never did I think there would be two Fatboy Slim albums to make this list. That just seems silly. Especially this first album. His second album is great, this one not so much. You can honestly listen to only a minute of each song, and you get the idea as the songs are so repetitive.

Virgin Suicides

Air

2/5

Well I figured it was bound to happen. I dont feel soundtracks should be included on this list. But I guess since this soundtrack is done by one band that counts. I do enjoy Sophia Coppola as a Director, and I did see this movie once, never read the book. I am a fan of movie soundtracks, but I feel they only work well listening as an album, if you already know the movie so well, that you can listen to thw soundtrack and imagine the scenes of the movie playing in your head. But neither the movie or the music of the film, resonated or stuck with me at the time I saw it. This wasn't all that great, even though I recognized a few tracks. So if we are including scores on this list ... I can many other soundtracks that are better and with actual composers.

London Calling

The Clash

3/5

Never been a big fan of The Clash and actually never listened to this album in its entirety. I get The Clash and I understand their significance on shaping lots of bands and genres to come. This is a good album, but as its bookended by the songs everyone knows, the rest just starts to sound routine to me. I think the problem is this album is too long. If it were 30 - 40 minutes I would have enjoyed it more. I guess when I want to put on a punk record, its going to be the Ramones. And maybe its Joe Strummers voice that grinds on me after awhile, but I am sure a lot of people would say that about Joey Ramone.

Red Dirt Girl

Emmylou Harris

2/5

I know Emmylou does it for a lot of people ... but she doesn't do much for me.

Second Toughest In The Infants

Underworld

2/5

Only 774 albums to go to get through this list and get to the user picks, where I hope we will get some more interesting albums.

L'Eau Rouge

The Young Gods

3/5

French Industrial ... like it! Best album this week!

The Queen Is Dead

The Smiths

2/5

And if a double decker bus crashes into us ... we would not have had heard this gem before we died.

Fishscale

Ghostface Killah

1/5

This has been the worst week of the project. Average rating for the week 2.14.

That's The Way Of The World

Earth, Wind & Fire

3/5

This one started off great but then started to fade. But still some good funk!

Sign 'O' The Times

Prince

5/5

Starfish and Coffee ... Maple Syrup and Jam! That pretty much sums up, what is very probably Prince's best album!

Ellington at Newport

Duke Ellington

3/5

This was a long one ... but I think it was more fun to hear the banter between songs. I still wish there weren't so many live albums on the list, but at least they are selecting ones that capture moments in time.

Microshift

Hookworms

3/5

I enjoyed this album lot more than I thought I would. Especially the more lengthy pieces.

Highway to Hell

AC/DC

5/5

Any AC/DC album with Bon Scott is a 5 Star Album!

A Night At The Opera

Queen

5/5

Epic!

Reggatta De Blanc

The Police

4/5

I am not an expert on The Police as my previous exposure was only what was on the radio. I have never taken a deep dive on the band until this list (which wouldn't take long as there are only five albums). We already had Syncronicity, which set my bar very high for anything that came before. This album is really good, some classics for sure, but it seems like the band is definitely building until they reach their breaking point. I would like to listen to all five albums in order, to hear the progression.

Very

Pet Shop Boys

2/5

Eh ... I would have rather had some 80s Pet Shop Boys ... I lost interest after a few songs.

Black Holes and Revelations

Muse

5/5

I am that old dude that loves MUSE and I don't care what people think! Such a great album!

Safe As Milk

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band

2/5

Okay ... so this is either an acquired taste, or something where you had to have been there to get it. I love lots of 60s experimental music, but this I just don't get!

Bryter Layter

Nick Drake

2/5

Eh .... never heard of Nick Drake, I thought aster this album I would never hear of him again. But reading some other reviews, I guess there are two more of this albums to come.

São Paulo Confessions

Suba

3/5

That was not bad! I enjoyed that much more than I thought I would. Like some Latin Electronic not sure what else to call it, but it was fun!

Let It Bleed

The Rolling Stones

3/5

I seem to always compare the Rolling Stones with The Beatles. But I think they have and will be compared for all eternity. I know and enjoy all the hit songs from the Stones, but I have never listened to their full studio albums. I know The Beatles albums by heart. But when it comes to the full Stones albums, the rest of their stuff is just filler to me.

S&M

Metallica

1/5

Hey ... its the biggest sellouts in Rock history! Let me put this out there straight away, if this were any of the first four studio Metallica albums, they would easily be 5-stars for me. But unfortunately once the 90s hit, this band sold out big time, and starting make records that sounded like garbage. Note: this is the first album after almost 250 albums, that I am skipping through. I am not listening to 90% of this album that is a hot mess. I listened to the classic 80s tracks, that sounds completely awful here. So much wrong with this album, that I can rant about, but I care so little about it, I just want to move on to the next one. But before going on ... I want to say thank you to the 1,001 list for ruining my Saturday. I am going to go put on ...And Justice for All on vinyl so I can cleanse the palate.

Antichrist Superstar

Marilyn Manson

1/5

I think back on a recent Billy Corgan interview with Al Jouregensen of Ministry, where Al was talking about how Trent Reznor was a roadie for Ministry, took some ideas, and went on to form Nine Inch Nails. Billy asked Al how he felt about that. Al said it didn't bother him, because Brian Hugh Warner was a roadie for Nine Inch Nails and took some ideas, to go on an form Marilyn Manson. So that is really how I feel about this. Its just a copy of a copy of copy.

Beauty And The Beat

The Go-Go's

3/5

It's the 80s and its The Go-Go's

Underwater Moonlight

The Soft Boys

3/5

There is something about the year 1980 that I love. Disco was dead (unfortunately) but New Wave and Synth Pop were making their rise up the charts. I guess I love that transitional period in music, when there is some change, some experimentation, and most importantly, something new. Like 1970 in the movie world, can you really think of any bad records released in 1980? I actually kept listening past the original studio album, and enjoyed a lot of those bonus tracks!

Definitely Maybe

Oasis

2/5

Ugh ... in 1994 the hits on this album were tolerable, but by 1995, this was already dated and everyone was sick of it. I have said it so many times as this list just keep pumping out everything that was released in the 90s. The Nineties were an era of bands picking up scraps from everyone who came in the decades before. Some bands were able to make something good with those scraps. Oasis is not one of those bands.

Take Me Apart

Kelela

1/5

Because winter is always warmer when you're around. One of the cheesiest lines I have heard in a while. But that happens when the producers have a cache of songwriters to choose from. This is just not my thing, I dont have the patience for artists who have very little to do with their albums but sing, and where you have a team of people writing your music and songs to try and get the next hit. Furthermore, can this team write anything other than love songs. Does this artist do anything else to sing about, or is their life just filled with constant love?

White Blood Cells

The White Stripes

3/5

Since my exposure to The White Stripes is limited to the Elephant album, that is where my bar is set. This was a good album, but it lacked the experimentation that the next album brings. I feel I need to just rub through the Six album discography from start to finish to get a feel of their evolution. But as for late 90s and post 2000 bands, I am at least intrigued.

Music From The Penguin Cafe

Penguin Cafe Orchestra

3/5

Didn't love it ... Didn't hate it!

Different Class

Pulp

2/5

As the list trudges on, I get more and more impatient with recycled music. This guy is really trying to sound like Bowie, but I have news for you ... you're not Bowie. Then as then album drug on, it just started to sound like the Flight of the Conchords doing a parody of Bowie.

My Aim Is True

Elvis Costello

3/5

Elvis Costello is cool ... but I dont ever feel the need to listen to a full album. Much like that other Elvis guy!

Phaedra

Tangerine Dream

3/5

My only exposure to Tangerine Dream is if they were involved in some soundtrack. That is really all this album sounds like is an electronic soundtrack. I am a huge fan of Progressive Rock, and know that you cant just listen to these albums once and get the whole picture. Thing is, I am not sure I was in the mood for a soundscape album, so I dont know when I will explore the band again. (Probably when they pop up on this list again)

The Sensual World

Kate Bush

3/5

My bar was set high with Hounds of Love where I became a fan of Kate Bush. This album being the followup, I was curious how it would compare. Its a good album, and as I have learned with Kate Bush, this is going to take a few listens to grasp it all.

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector

Various Artists

2/5

Bah-humbug ... I was hoping to get through this holiday season without hearing any traditional Christmas songs. This is as bad as putting an album of covers on this list ... oh wait, this is an album of covers! Sorry, I know people love it, but Christmas music is just not my thing.

Surfer Rosa

Pixies

4/5

High School for me, I was for the most part a metal head. But in 1991 when "Smells Like Teen Spirit" hit the radio, my musical tastes started to go in different directions. I never went back to listen to the back catalog of bands that influenced bands like, Nirvana, Soundgraden, I only moved forward, for the few years in the nineties, until even the 90s started to sound old, and then I just moved on to other things entirely. Ah those formative years in your early twenties when your tastes change so much, I never went back to explore these early genres in the making. So hearing an album like this, was like fresh music to my ears. And now with the world of streaming I can go back and re-discover any old genre I want.

Talk Talk Talk

The Psychedelic Furs

3/5

Enjoyable album, just towards the end I felt like it was starting to sound the same.

Me Against The World

2Pac

1/5

I have said it in many reviews already. I enjoyed rap when it was fun. Once it was no longer about fun stuff, it was no longer fun. I did find that if you just listen to each song of this album up to the first chorus, and then skip to the next, you pretty much get the idea. Every song is the exact same format, and with this method, you only have to waste just under 20 minutes of your time.

Tommy

The Who

3/5

First I want to say I absolutely love long concept albums. But I have to admit I have not heard this all the way through, or if I did, I listened to it once and it did not stick with me. I get what the Who accomplished with this classic album. But I dont know if today, it just sounds dated, or that I just completely lost interest. It felt like a slog until Pinball Wizard, and then I was just waiting for it to be over. Again I love concepts, but this one is just not for me. I will give them three stars for being one of the first bands to pull off this kind of presentation at this scale.

461 Ocean Boulevard

Eric Clapton

2/5

I enjoy Clapton when he is doing what he does best, just play that guitar man! He was best when with other bands, like the Bluesbreakers, and Cream. But this is basically an album of covers, he is credited for two songs, and a co-writer of one other. Also I cant believe the lack of guitar on this album.

Hybrid Theory

Linkin Park

2/5

I tried so hard and got so far in this album, but in the end, it really doesn't matter. I was 25 or 26 when this album came out, and I was into it for some reason. Listening again after 20 plus years, I am not sure why, but like everything, things change. First off this album is very dated, it does not age well. I seem to remember enjoying some of the later more progressive releases they did, I have to wonder if they still sound good, but I don't think I have the patience to go back and listen. I will give it two stars for Mike Shinoda and Joe Hahn as they were always the true stars of this band, Chester just sucks!

good kid, m.A.A.d city

Kendrick Lamar

1/5

Please stop! My YT Music algorithm is all fucked up because of this crap!

Pretzel Logic

Steely Dan

3/5

Yep its Steely Dan ... didn't love it ... didn't hate it!

Shaka Zulu

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

3/5

This was an enjoyable world album. But after awhile it started to sound the same.

Happy Trails

Quicksilver Messenger Service

2/5

Eh .... I guess I wasn't in the mood for, or did not expect this to be Woodstock-like jam performances. I got bored early on.

Born To Run

Bruce Springsteen

2/5

Ugh ... I really do not like Bruce ... all of his sound the same ... same old Bruce

Kollaps

Einstürzende Neubauten

3/5

Yes! Early industrial! Of course the album everyone hates, I enjoy. But then again, I enjoyed Throbbing Gristle. Sure today, anyone could make an album like this on their computer. But back in 1981, you did it with self made music machines, electronics, and just scraps of metal.

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

Arctic Monkeys

2/5

Ugh ... more recycled drivel. My current average for music between 1990 and 2020 is 2.27. Why is so much of this detritus on this list.

Chemtrails Over The Country Club

Lana Del Rey

1/5

I have seen the name Lana Del Rey many times while vinyl shopping. I know nothing else, aside from the name ... I am sure it will suck! Two songs in, and I see its listed as Americana and Folk, I hear none of these. Reading further in, Jack Antonoff's name is all over this, and he is credited for writing for all the other big artists, Taylor Swift, Pink, Kendrick Lamar. So who is the real songwriter? So doubtful Lana writes much, but at least its not a team of writers like on most modern pop albums. Five songs in, I am still waiting for that Americana/Folk sound. "I love you lots like polkadots"? C'mon Jack, that is just pure cheese! I really didn't intend to write so much about this album, but what else can I do to kill time while struggling to make it through 45 minutes of this boring shit. Done ranting, and just about done with this album. One more rant, Lana plays zero instruments ... so to me this is just a bad night of karaoke!

Five Leaves Left

Nick Drake

2/5

We had Nick Drake earlier in the list, and I had already forgotten about him, so my thoughts remain the same. He will be easily forgotten after this one!

Elvis Presley

3/5

Well its the classic Elvis ... isn't it?

Figure 8

Elliott Smith

1/5

This guy again !?!

Fragile

Yes

5/5

I love prog rock, and this is one of the ultimate classics in the genre. I listened to both the streaming version and the Steven Wilson Mix on Vinyl. There is no doubt, this is a must listen on vinyl kind of album! So classic!

Frank

Amy Winehouse

2/5

I do not like Amy Winehouse. It just sounds like caterwauling to me!

1984

Van Halen

3/5

My first question when this album popped up today, was does it age well? This album was great in 1984! But does it still sound great, or does it just sound tired? I was never the biggest Van Halen fan, and I have no desire to own any of their records, but they have always been a presence in my world. If anything is tired, its Jump, Panama, Hot for Teacher, and I'll Wait. These songs have been so overplayed, I have no desire to listen to them any more. The rest of the songs on the album, are pretty much forgotten, and just sound like Van Halen filler. This album is still a classic, so I cant say its crap because its not. I just doesn't spark a lot of memories or emotion for me.

Suicide

4/5

Yes! One of the CBGB originals! These guys fit right up there with Blondie, Ramones, and Television!

Blue

Joni Mitchell

2/5

0.275% of Joni Mitchell is really a bit over the top for this list!

Grievous Angel

Gram Parsons

2/5

Yet another album that made the list because its surrounded by tragedy. First you have Elliott Smith who stabbed himself, then Jeff Buckley who decided to wander into a lake fully clothed, and now Gram Parsons who drank a lot of alcohol and did a lot of drugs in the desert and never woke up. These incidents dont make people legendary artists, or memorable albums, these are just people who made bad decisions. Only highlight of this album is Emmylou Harris.

25

Adele

2/5

I have heard songs many great things about how good Adele is, but have never listened to anything beyond her James Bond theme. First of all, yes I can agree that she has a great voice. But as with 90% of pop artists, this is where her talent ends. Once again, like most modern pop artists, the first thing I look at is the the writing credits, and of course every song has one or multiple songwriters attached to it. And when you Google these songwriters, they write for all the big pop albums. But I have complained about this for years, and I will always complain about it, you cant call yourself a singer songwriter, if you don't write all your music, that would make you just a singer. I digress. What really made me laugh was the wiki writeup on the writing process of this album, and how she suffered from writers block, and could not come up with any new ideas. Oh poor Adele. You dont write all of your songs, you always have a team of writers, so how can you complain about writers block. And I laughed out loud with the remark about running out of ideas, well that is because you write about the same subject in every damn song, love, breakup, relationships. What I would give for an original written song by Adele about standing in her kitchen baking cookies! You cant complain about writers block and that you have no new ideas when you sing about the same shit in every song. Rant over! From now on every company manufactured pop album on this list is getting one star. I am giving this one two only because she has a good voice!

21

Adele

2/5

Please see my review on '25' since it just popped up on the list yesterday. What is this, Adele weekend!? I rolled my eyes immediately when I saw this album come up. But I must admit I enjoyed the first two tracks, because of the style. Obviously a borrowed sound from the American South, and I am not giving Adele any credit for writing, as once again, she does not write any of these songs by herself, but her voice makes up for the lack of writing skills. End note ... sorry Adele, you are no Robert Smith!

Cafe Bleu

The Style Council

3/5

I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate it. This album ia kind of all over the place, which isn't such a bad thing for 1984.

Truth

Jeff Beck

3/5

Jeff Beck is a great guitar player, but I guess much like Clapton, I would rather just listen to him play guitar. Another on of those debut albums, with a lot of cover songs, and his voice grated on me a bit like Rod Stewart.

Veckatimest

Grizzly Bear

1/5

Wow ... why is this even here!?

Fleet Foxes

2/5

So this is Fleet Foxes ... well its better than Grizzly Bear.

One World

John Martyn

2/5

It was early days in the list the last time we had John Martyn. Forgot all about him, didn't think to see him again. I was young and naive at that point in the list. This album will be forgotten like the last.

The Low End Theory

A Tribe Called Quest

4/5

As I said with their previous album on this list .... classic!

Sticky Fingers

The Rolling Stones

3/5

This album has one or two gems. But I am not one to just throw on a Rolling Stones record. Give me a greatest hits for them, and I will probably give it 5 stars. They were hit makers for sure, but as for albums ... well ...

Illinois

Sufjan Stevens

1/5

That was a long hour and fifteen minutes that will be forgotten in five minutes.

This Year's Model

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

3/5

I appreciate Elvis Costello, I enjoy Elvis Costello, but I don't listen to Elvis Costello, does that make sense? I guess that means I will listen to him, but will not seek out his music, maybe I should listen to more, but that is just another name added to the pile of names.

Tigermilk

Belle & Sebastian

2/5

This album had some ok moments ... more like 2.5 stars for me ... but not enough interest to push it to 3!

If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears

The Mamas & The Papas

4/5

So many classics on this one album! And always a fun listen!

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