227
Albums Rated
3.45
Average Rating
21%
Complete
862 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1970
Favorite Decade
Folk
Favorite Genre
other
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
40
5-Star Albums
7
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
|
5 | 3.09 | +1.91 |
|
Queen Of Denmark
John Grant
|
5 | 3.13 | +1.87 |
|
The Holy Bible
Manic Street Preachers
|
5 | 3.15 | +1.85 |
|
Time Out Of Mind
Bob Dylan
|
5 | 3.21 | +1.79 |
|
Virgin Suicides
Air
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
|
5 | 3.26 | +1.74 |
|
C'est Chic
CHIC
|
5 | 3.34 | +1.66 |
|
There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
|
5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
|
Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
|
5 | 3.38 | +1.62 |
|
Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
|
5 | 3.39 | +1.61 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Steve McQueen
Prefab Sprout
|
1 | 2.99 | -1.99 |
|
Out of Step
Minor Threat
|
1 | 2.92 | -1.92 |
|
Kid A
Radiohead
|
2 | 3.71 | -1.71 |
|
Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
|
2 | 3.64 | -1.64 |
|
Logical Progression
LTJ Bukem
|
1 | 2.52 | -1.52 |
|
Surfer Rosa
Pixies
|
2 | 3.5 | -1.5 |
|
Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
|
2 | 3.44 | -1.44 |
|
Cupid & Psyche 85
Scritti Politti
|
1 | 2.39 | -1.39 |
|
Debut
Björk
|
2 | 3.38 | -1.38 |
|
Smash
The Offspring
|
2 | 3.36 | -1.36 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 4 | 4.75 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.67 |
| Leonard Cohen | 2 | 5 |
| Van Morrison | 2 | 5 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Radiohead | 5, 2, 2, 5 |
5-Star Albums (40)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Black Sabbath · 2 likes
5/5
RIP Ozzy.
This album is the child of a flower girl and a rock guitarist, seamlessly mashes together hard guitars and transcendental visions.
The band took over the production here so this is how they wanted to be and what they wanted to be was gods of their genre. They nailed it.
The Rolling Stones · 1 likes
4/5
The only song I had heard off this album is Sympathy for the Devil and while it has a great hook and savage lyrics, I felt it just went on and on, leading me to say out loud “for Pete’s sake just get on with it!” I am sure I have heard live versions of this track which were scalding hot but the album cut was a bit dull. After that it got so much better-from the beauty of “No Expectations” and the interesting tale told by “Dear Doctor” to the brilliant posturing of “Stray Cat Blues”.
I absolutely loved it – it was so surprisingly introspective and while clearly tinged with blues rock, it made it accessible to someone like me who doesn’t like this genre.
Radiohead · 1 likes
2/5
What can I say, I WAS a huge fan of Radiohead, weathered through OK computer loving its originality. But there is innovation and there is unlistenable. For me this is the latter and this ended my love affair with them.
Depeche Mode · 1 likes
3/5
I like Depeche Mode but never felt inspired enough to buy an album. This was wonderful but still would not buy it.
Pet Shop Boys · 1 likes
4/5
I am a huge fan of this band, loving their dry deadpan lyrics, spoken vocals and great synth melodies. I wouldn't say that this is my favorite, preferring their first two albums, but whats not to like about an album with a song about passive aggressiveness on it.
Their first two album's names were chosen so people could walk into a record shop (remember that) and say "I'd like the Pet Shop Boys, Please" and "The Pet Shop Boys, actually" and in their tradition this is VERY Pet Shop Boys:)
1-Star Albums (7)
All Ratings
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
Not my sort of music generally so feel I wouldn't do a review on this album justice.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
I like Led Zeppelin but not that much. This was a good album but with too many songs some I felt were fillers.
Guns N' Roses
3/5
Great tunes and brilliant vocals but feel this work is a bit derivative.
Funkadelic
4/5
This really surprised me, in a good way. I have never listened to this band before but found the opening track to me mindblowing. It lost one star just as the rest of the album, while great, didn't live up to the first tracks potential.
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
This was a great album with lots of great tracks but nothing that stood out as interesting or novel.
Depeche Mode
3/5
I like Depeche Mode but never felt inspired enough to buy an album. This was wonderful but still would not buy it.
Joy Division
3/5
I found this quite boring - I do like Joy Division but here I felt a lot of the songs sounded the same.
The Beau Brummels
4/5
This was a fantastic album - I felt like I was walking around San Francisco during the Summer of Love, thats how emotive it was. I thought it was innovative, though very much in the psychedelia genre.
Shack
3/5
This is a completely new band to me. Without research I would have said that they were from 2000 onwards. In fact they are a late UK 80s band. This album is lovely but not interesting enough for me to give it 4 stars pity.
The Clash
3/5
I am not the biggest fan of the Clash - or punk in general but this was better than I thought. Rudi cant fail and Lost in the Supermarket are great songs. But I feel that the album is rated highly more for its title track.
Television
5/5
I didnt need to listen to this whole album to give it five stars...but I did anyway.
Like a tuneful Lou Reed and a source of inspiration to many bands, including Elastica, this is a New York feast for the ears. Great lyrics and melodies and wonderful album.
Jamiroquai
2/5
After the brilliance of Television comes Jamiroquai.
I think that if you have never heard Stevie Wonder in your life. Which is sad. Then you would think this is amazing.
But I adore Stevie and this is far too derivative to even appreciate that they are okay songs in their own right.
King Crimson
4/5
Like early Pink Floyd and Rush I always thought I would like this album/band. Unlike the aforementioned bands I actually do!
This is a wonderful proggy sound in a band where Greg Lake is actually allowed to shine without having the unlistenable madness of ELP.
It has a Jethro Tull feel with the flute and the songs are beautifully layered. After my first time listening this will be one to buy.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
3/5
This album is on my list of ones to buy but now I have listened to it I am not sure. Perhaps my expectations were too high - I thought it would be country tinged singer songwriting style but it is a bit too much country for me. Definitely great but perhaps not for me.
Nina Simone
5/5
I haven't really listened to Nina Simone before so this was a revelation. The songs were beautiful and the production innovative. One of the highlights being another version of Lilac Wine. Alternatively romantic and political with each song. This is an album to be savoured.
The Pogues
3/5
I have Run, Sodomy and the Lash and that's okay! But even with Fairytale of New York I am not really loving this. I feel the best track is Turkish Song of the Damned and that is not enough to get more than 3 stars.
Gotan Project
2/5
This sounds like something I would hear at a cocktail party (which I would never go to) or in a trendy jazzy restaurant (which I would never go to) so not for me (not for me).
New Order
2/5
I am now thinking the generator hates me. Why else is it giving me the band behind Blue Monday, the most soulless song ever! I didn't dislike this as much I thought I would but, even though I love electronic music, this is too dancey for me
Deep Purple
3/5
Hey ! at last classic rock. I love Deep Purple and while not a big fan of live albums (taking of one star for the pleasure?!) this was greeeaat:)
Radiohead
5/5
My favorite Radiohead album of them all. After their first album with the wonderful Creep + lots of fillers and before they went crazily electronic this album had not a dud song on it. Brilliant videos and amazing lyrics and tunes. Great album
The Band
4/5
Whoa ! the Band! Great love this band. But I would not say this is my favorite albums of theirs so sorry 4* I will make it up with Stagefright/Brown album though.
LTJ Bukem
1/5
I hate drum and base. I also hate Jass Fusion. In addition, I hate instrumentals. Guess what I thought of this album? Here is a clue. I sat through 5 minutes and turned it off.
Grizzly Bear
3/5
I have never heard of this band before and it was nice. Good tunes and vocals. But (pet peeve) it sounded a bit samey to me. Couldn't distinguish after listening to it one song from t'other.
The Offspring
2/5
I liked the energy of this album. Wiki notes this band along with Green Day + others were responsible for making punk rock popular again in the 90s....ah yes Green Day now THATS a good band. This just doesn't cut it for me but I have to thank it for making want to listen to Bowling for Soup again!
Pixies
3/5
I always had the impression that I didn't like Pixies but listening to this I feel they are a better band than I thought. I think the issue is that the first tracks are very stereotypical post punk and not that interesting. But once you get into Here comes your man and the tracks that succeed it you can appreciate that they are innovative.
David Bowie
5/5
I came to Bowie late not liking the poppy tunes he had in the 80s then I heard Starman on the radio and it was like time stopped. My favorite Bowie period will always be his glam rock period. However, this is so innovative, so ahead of his time and so hauntingly beautiful.
Minor Threat
1/5
I am not a friend of punk. You add hardcore to it we are enemies. Thought it was just one long song and the album is so short, whats the point. I read that it was influential for some genres of music that followed, such as Skate Punk and Thrash Metal. Do I look like I care?
Iron Maiden
4/5
I generally prefer prog metal but this was fantastic. Really great song, vocals and melodies. Great to listen to before starting work!
Blue Cheer
2/5
I can see how this album was influential to the heavy metal genre - I can hear elements of Deep purple here, but I don't really like rock n roll and if this was self-penned I may be a bit forgiving, however only three of the six tracks here were written by a member of the band. Hmm
Pixies
2/5
Hmm another Pixies album. Hmm.
I gave them a chance the last time with Dolittle, but this album is filled with masses of 2 minutes wonders that are so punky and over so quickly they don't touch the sides of your brain. The only highlight is "where is my mind" that is so lovely it makes you ache for what this album could be.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Great album, really nice lyrics and tunes
1/5
If you really want to give yourself a migraine listen to this - irritating and tuneless. Like you gave some four year olds some guitars and a drum kit. In fact their repetitive "lyrics" sound like they were written by young-uns.
CHIC
5/5
Absolutely bloody brilliant. So beautiful.
At first I was confused as I thought their music was disco but it is more soul/rnb with wondrous vocals and production that includes guitar solos.
Most importantly is the way this album made me feel - comforted and invigorated at the same time.
Fiona Apple
3/5
I know of FA but never listened to anything by her imagining her music to be some hipster 90s rubbish. So the first track Sleep to Dream was mind blowing..but after this it got very forgettable. Sounds like Macy Gray and others. Not bad, but too much filler for me.
Elvis Presley
4/5
Great album, signs of things to come. I loved the production values. An album definitely made for airplay.
The King in every sense.
Jack White
4/5
I know of the White Stripes and like Seven Nation Army but never felt inspired to buy anything of theirs, so you can imagine my ennui when faced with this BUT I loved it. Really different but with beautiful melodies. I normally compare musical acts to others but couldn't for the life of me think of who this reminded me of, which is also a bonus! An unexpected 4*
Bobby Womack
3/5
Nice album, I love soul and he has a great voice but I didn't feel any one song stood out.
The Electric Prunes
3/5
American 1960s psychedelia? Bring it on! But then I thought the album was not as good as I expected it to be. One or two were great but not enough to enthuse me. It gets an extra star just because I can appreciate the genre.
Radiohead
2/5
What can I say, I WAS a huge fan of Radiohead, weathered through OK computer loving its originality. But there is innovation and there is unlistenable. For me this is the latter and this ended my love affair with them.
Cream
5/5
One of my favorite groups. What a voice, what creative songs, what melodies, what drumming, what an album. Insanely good.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
I love love Stevie, I am convinced everything he touches turns to gold. However, I would not say that this is his best album. But there is something about what he does to music that makes one grin from ear to ear.
Gene Clark
4/5
Gene Clark is a god, one of the founding members of the Byrds and the best songwriter of those.
I would give it five stars but I will save that for No Other, one of my favorite albums of all time.
Tori Amos
4/5
Tori had a lot of comparisons to Kate Bush when she was first around, but if it's a crime to like Kate we would all be in prison, right? This is an album that reeks of Tori herself, dark, honest, melodic and absolutely stunning.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Great album, this band are so wonderful I smile when I listen to them. The production shines through but they have better albums so 3 from me.
The Smiths
3/5
Hmm love Smiths, didnt love this, perhaps their weakest album. Its not that I hated it but didnt really appreciate it as much as I would do.
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
I am not a fan of rap but this is accessible, love the melodies and production. Happy Birthday KEndrIcK!
Beatles
5/5
Rubber soul - one of the the Beatles most perfect albums, bridging the gap between their "boy band" early years and the more introspective psychedelic later years. Every track is listenable and memorable, with many songs becoming staples.
My favorite - Nowhere Man.
M.I.A.
2/5
I don't like rap music. I like to think to myself that if a rap band was really good I might like it. But it all seems to me all words and no melodies. I can quite easily listen to a song in another language if the tune is good but find it difficult when there is nothing nice for my ears to hear.
This album didn't break down my rap barrier i'm afraid, although I did like Bingo.
Green Day
3/5
I bought this album when it came out, loved it and still have it on cassette. I have of course listened to it in the intervening years but today I felt I didnt appreciate it as much as I did then. Perhaps that time the bands who were making this post punk music were not very listenable and Dookie looked good by comparison. It IS a good album but I feel three stars is my score today.
Paul Simon
3/5
As someone who groaned and whimpered when I saw Paul Simon, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I think the first two tracks are the best. At the end of the day though with all the songs that followed, I don't feel I would buy this but at least my dislike of his work has abated.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
What can I say? Stevie is a god, a genius, a great great man. This is a wondrous album. Beautiful songs produced to such a high degree tears come to my eyes.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
Lynyrd Skynyrd. Yes they are a classic rock band, but one I never cared for. Let me check wiki for the reason. Ah yes Blues Rock - not a genre I like.
I have never heard a full album of there's and this had a lot of energy and strong vocals but the blues sigh.. the blues...Wait a minute, what is this? Country Rock with "Tuesdays Gone" this is fantastic! Suddenly i'm interested! Simple Man yeeeeah! On no, and we're back to Blue's Rock with Mississippi Kid. Well at least I tried.
We end with Freebird, a song I don't usually like but I have to admit it is a thunderhorse of a song, and imagine hearing this for the first time, instead of 1000 x due it to being a staple on Classic Rock radio stations (or any radio station for that matter).
I would like to give it 3 and a half stars. But it will have to be three. Perversely, I am thinking of buying this album. High praise for me.
The Fall
2/5
Know Fall. Wouldn't know one of their songs if it fell on my head. Sounds like other bands.
Really don't like this monotone type of singing over what some may call a "tune". Not for me.
Metallica
3/5
I know Metallica are more thrash metal and I prefer to stay within the prog-metal genre as I like a good tune.
This however pleasantly surprised me it sounds gothic, dark and on songs like Unforgiven very melodic.
Definitely will check out more from this band.
The Doors
4/5
I adore the Doors but feel that the 1001 albums book would be better if it just included "the best of the best". I prefer other albums of theirs so will give this 4*.
Stan Getz
3/5
I don't mind Bossa Nova when you add vocals to it. But this just seemed like something you would hear at a high class cocktail party and, like the canapes, instantly forgettable.
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
This is an artist new to me and at first I thought it was wonderful, beautifully played instruments with an ethereal quality . But then it just sounded like one of those albums you could buy to help you to sleep, like with dolphins cheeping.
So after the initial interest it felt like no tracks stood out for me which is a shame.
Lightning Bolt
1/5
Wonderful Rainbow by Lightning Bolt 1 STAR
Oh no I cried when I revealed my album today, who they? But then I have thought that before and it has been okay.
Then I wikied them and the first words that popped out were the two words guaranteed to put an icepick into my heart “noise rock”.
Let’s think about that – If a tree falls in the wood does it make a noise? (debateable apparently, but yes it does) but would you actually call that noise music? I wouldn’t, and I definitely wouldn’t say that that this band makes music either.
Dirty Projectors
3/5
Never heard of this album before - and it was better than I expected but still not going to use up cash on the album. Nice vocals though!
Elliott Smith
3/5
I was expecting much more from this as I have heard of him and know that he is a singer songwriter, my favorite genre. However it felt like no one track stood out to me, ultimately was not that interesting to my ears.
Leonard Cohen
5/5
One of my favorite singer songwriters shows off his extreme talent in his debut album. With some of his biggest "hits" included it is a delight for my ears that loves a minor key much more than a major.
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
I am a huge fan of this band, loving their dry deadpan lyrics, spoken vocals and great synth melodies. I wouldn't say that this is my favorite, preferring their first two albums, but whats not to like about an album with a song about passive aggressiveness on it.
Their first two album's names were chosen so people could walk into a record shop (remember that) and say "I'd like the Pet Shop Boys, Please" and "The Pet Shop Boys, actually" and in their tradition this is VERY Pet Shop Boys:)
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
This album was on my list of CDs to buy as I love Dexys but it was always so expensive, but after listening to it I think it is awful.
Yes, Knowledge of Beauty is lovely but it is immediately followed by One of Those Things whose only redeeming quality is that it has the riff from Werewolves of London.
I really can’t understand why this has been included, do the compilers of the book NOT want you to like Dexys?
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
This is really lovely but perhaps not so memorable.
Van Morrison
5/5
What can I say that hasn't been said before?
One of the most recognisable voices, brilliant lyrics, melodies to die for.
This probably doesn't even cover the accolades this album richly deserves.
Public Enemy
2/5
I have an issue that no matter what wonderfully apt politically conscious lyrics are being expressed if there is not a melody I find it difficult to listen to. This album therefore washed over me. Combine this with samples which to me always feel sterile and contrived and you have something that is unpalatable.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Absolutely beautiful. Such poignant lyrics and that gracious voice. What happens when a god does what he was made to do.
a-ha
4/5
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. Lovely vocals and dark synth with beautiful lyrics. I only knew this band for Take on Me so really happy to finally hear this.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
Another band that I believed to be some sappy Brit pop losers but was amazed to find out I liked. They had intricate melodies and I liked the urgency of some of the songs. I would have given it four stars but it felt quite derivative and reminded me of Pulp/Richard Hawley
The Cure
4/5
I only have a couple of albums of the Cure and while I like them, I wouldn’t say they were one of my favourite bands. Listening to this album is changing that.
The instrumental that starts off the album is stunning and one reviewer has written that the Final Sound seems like it could be the soundtrack to a Hammer movie – yes, it’s that good!
Fugees
3/5
I am not a huge fan of rap but this felt quite accessible for me, perhaps it is because a lot of the melodies were purloined from other songs. I think its called sampling isn't it? and thinking about it today, isn't it similar to a band that only does cover songs? Don't get me wrong some cover versions actually add something to the song - i'm thinking John Cale's Heartbreak Hotel but here? Hmm ironically the song I liked best was Cowboy where I couldn't determine the source of the riffs.
Van Morrison
5/5
This album just blows my mind. It seems like it is all singer songwriter, and it is, but it is also invigorating with a production so good, so subtly brilliant, you don't even realise how much effort is put into every second of this album. Add to all of this a voice so tortured and so beautiful, what you end up with is a unforgettable album.
Black Sabbath
5/5
RIP Ozzy.
This album is the child of a flower girl and a rock guitarist, seamlessly mashes together hard guitars and transcendental visions.
The band took over the production here so this is how they wanted to be and what they wanted to be was gods of their genre. They nailed it.
Lauryn Hill
3/5
I liked this solo recording from Lauryn better than her work with the Fugees - although it contained sampling the songs had a higher level of originality. I really liked the songs in which she collaborated with other singers, but ultimately would not buy this. Would have liked to have given it 3.5 stars but it will have to be 3.
The Stooges
3/5
I was looking forward to this. An album often included in the top 100 albums of the 70s and it was good, more new wave than punk which surprised me but at the end of the day, all seemed to meld in to one for me.
Beastie Boys
2/5
I am not a fan of rap and this album by the BBs seems to contain all the genres of music I hate. Hardcore punk? Jazz-Funk? Rapcore ? No, thank you. With so many songs on this album they all blurred into one big noise.
Living Colour
4/5
Heard of this band but never listened to them before. Absolutely loved it, great vocals, heavy rock guitars, brilliant melodies, meaningful lyrics....
Iron Butterfly
3/5
I have this album but had not listened in a while. It is as I remembered, In a gadda da vida is the standout track and the other songs, while supremely psychedelic, are less memorable. I love the darkness of this 60s offering, its like Bach trying to expand his mind.
Hard to score as the title track is sooo good. But it will have to be a three.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
I really found it difficult to rate this one. By rights I should like it. It’s interesting, good melodies-sounds like Bowie/Japan, lots of worthy contributors – Paul Weller, Kate Bush and ahem.. Phil Collins. However, it just didn’t do it for me. I was left feeling quite cold. It didn’t help that his vocals were lost in the mix, perhaps contributing to my emotional distance from it.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I have some of Elvis's music but not his whole catalog so was interested to hear this one. Its really good ! I like the production and the little tone changes that makes the songs more interesting but having said that the second half of the album felt a bit samey. Only one of these songs is on his greatest hits which kinda says it all.
The Go-Go's
3/5
Brought me back to the 80s quicker than any DeLorean. The best song is Our Lips are Sealed which was co written with Terry Hall of Specials etc fame. We got the Beat is also great. It sounds quite familiar - these songs have been used on many American Films where there is a Jock and a Princess and a Nerd , you know the type. I am debating between 3 or 4 stars. Three stars I think.
Boston
5/5
Boston – Boston 5 STARS
This is what perfection sounds like. Heavy rock fused with synchronised vocals, electronic riffs and poetic lyrics.
Tom Scholz knew what he was doing, sitting in his home studio making music that raises your consciousness to another level. I prefer the song Don’t Look Back to More than a Feeling but this is the better album and one of my favourites of all time.
Beatles
4/5
Soundtrack to the film and other songs. I had to stop the song after the first verse of the song Hard Day's Night as it hurt my head it was so good. The second side leads them back to boy band era of their youth but is equally good. They are able to take these Four Season's type of songs and lift them to a new interesting level.
The Young Gods
2/5
The Young Gods L'Eau Rouge
After my initial whosdat I decided to listen without looking them up. I imagined them to be some French electronic types from 2015+. They are in fact an 80s band from Switzerland and apparently used lots of effective sampling which influenced people like David Bowie WOW, not sure if you can hear my sarcasm where you are, because while they may have influenced Bowie, he would never have made an album this bad – so he obviously took the good elements and made them into something unique.
For its part this album sounded just dark and had elements of carnival music that has been used to such great effect by the Doors but here just didn’t work. It was just loop after loop of boring noise.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
The only song I had heard off this album is Sympathy for the Devil and while it has a great hook and savage lyrics, I felt it just went on and on, leading me to say out loud “for Pete’s sake just get on with it!” I am sure I have heard live versions of this track which were scalding hot but the album cut was a bit dull. After that it got so much better-from the beauty of “No Expectations” and the interesting tale told by “Dear Doctor” to the brilliant posturing of “Stray Cat Blues”.
I absolutely loved it – it was so surprisingly introspective and while clearly tinged with blues rock, it made it accessible to someone like me who doesn’t like this genre.
3/5
I liked this but then not enough, not as much as I thought or hoped to. Side two built up my interest more than side one. Sadly only 3 stars.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
It's so hard to be objective when it is one of your favorite singer-songwriters. This record, Joni's most poppiest/accessible album, was the first one I heard many years ago.
Her voice is incredible, the lyrics are sublime, you can feel the situation, see the characters, understand the feelings in every tale brought to life by music. They are poetry and confessional poems at that.
The tunes are accessible but there is always something different about her melodies that distinguishes her work from other artists.
I am trying but its really hard to put into words how much her music means to me.
Taylor Swift
3/5
Not living in a cave in the Outer Hebrides I have heard of Taylor Swift, but wouldn’t normally listen to this overly produced type of pop music. I do like “we are never ever getting back together” and her tracks are catchy but I know I am never ever going to buy an album.
It includes just one song I know “Shake it Off” as it is in the film Sing and even though the piggies do a great job of dancing their hearts off to this one, it is my least favourite song in the film.
Bottom line, its meant to be autobiographical, which normally means deep, but I thought this album was quite vapid.
3 STARS as I thought it was okay to listen to, but that’s it.
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
This type of music would normally tick all the boxes for me – 60s music? Yep / Psychedelic? Yep. But I was a bit ambivalent. I know two songs of theirs (I am not including We Built This City), Somebody to Love (heard on the film the Cable Guy) and White Rabbit (insert any Vietnam War film) and like the fact that both of these are used in films to indicate discord and confusion. While both of these songs are happily on this album it didn’t really do anything for me as a whole, with songs that are nice but not very interesting musically. I think its indicative of the fact that although I have heard of the group, I have never felt inclined to buy an album.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
I really love Joan Armatrading's voice and she is a supreme songwriter. However, hearing this album made me think it was a wise choice I went with buying a greatest hits album instead of her entire catalogue. Her singles off the album were wonderful but others felt a bit like fillers.
Oasis
3/5
I generally don’t like Oasis, they are supposed to be anthemic but if I want anthems I would go to Alarm, Big Country and U2.
I think they were part of that whole Britpop debacle and the artists I liked during that mad time didn’t really fit into that genre so it passed me by.
Having said that, I have had a look and the songs I find okay of theirs are on their What’s the Story Morning Glory album (little nod to Nilsson there) and so I will wait for that album, which I am prettttty sure is on here to make up my mind.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
I really liked this, the melodies are sensational and what a voice. But because I preferred Want One, which I will give four stars two, I will give this one three stars.
Japan
3/5
Japan - I really love their style and sound, they have a unique dark vision and great songs but I didn't feel this album had any standout tracks.
Not sure why Tin Drum isn't in the book but this one is. Far prefer that album.
Sugar
3/5
I had never heard of this band but now know they are fronted by Bob Mould of Husker Du.
Listening to it I felt it was very generic. Sounding just like any other early 1990s indie American rock band. So, I was surprised to see that NME voted it best album of 1992. Seems like 1992 was a pretty rubbish year for music then if this is deemed the best. So, I went on a time travel expedition back to 1992 and looked up what else was being favourably reviewed then.
REM - Automatic for the People
Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
KD Lang - Ingénue
Pavement – Slanted and Enchanted
Faith No More – Angel Dust
Neil Young – Harvest Moon.
Right, so someone at NME is an idiot.
The Kinks
5/5
I really like the Kinks and have this album. So ruddy fantastic. So many songs on one album causing me absolute joy. From the rising arpeggios of Picture Book to the spoken word on Big Sky and as usual, jaunty melodies over reflective dark lyrics. This is what excellence smells like and I am breathing in deep.
Kanye West
3/5
I can completely compartmentalise my personal feelings about an artist away from how I feel about their music.
So with that in mind, while he may be an absolute dick, I really am loving this. In fact, more than other rap albums I have heard. It actually feels very retro 90s rap and I think the vocals in the background in every track lift it to a new glorious dimension.
The Libertines
3/5
There are so many hip 90s British "man" bands that I deftly swerved during this time. A lot of people, including my brother, really rate them but I didnt really care. Listening to their album for the first time I would amend my opinion to say that the songs are catchy and nice to listen, but there is nothing new under the sun here. I cannot go higher than 3 stars for this o ne.
Fiona Apple
3/5
There are some artists I listen to for the generator, and when finished think I can now tick them off my list and never listen to them again thanks very much. So, you can imagine my surprise when I got another Fiona Apple album. The last one didn’t do anything for me but I liked the first track. This one I actually liked less. I felt it was boring despite the artist/producers trying to make it sound fresh and innovative, it felt they were trying too hard. The longer I listened however the more I thought it was okay so it went from 2 stars to 3.
Manic Street Preachers
5/5
I have adored the Manics from their first album Generation Terrorists. I admire their politics, Jame's voice, their strong lyrics and rousing melodies. This to me is one of their best albums on all levels, including packaging and is perhaps their most quintessential album. This is the Welsh gods at their best.
Garbage
3/5
This is one of many 90s British Bands that upon listening to their singles did nothing for me.
But upon listening to this album I thought it was very good. Catchy, but not poppy, songs and she has a great voice. Lovely but not so likeable for me to give 4 stars.
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
Really liked their singles. More than some UK bands at the time but 4 stars is high praise from me, and while take me out and dark of the matinee are fantastic songs, the rest are less so. At least they don't have that laddish band feel about them that I dislike. Hello Ocean Colour Scene and all the rest. They seem more art pop which is great.
Common
3/5
Nice album, nice vocals-especially from John Legend. But nothing to make me want to listen to it again.
Radiohead
2/5
I consider it a minor tragedy that a band that can make an album so accomplished, so poignant as the Bends can think that just saying the word "raindrops" (in Sit Down/Stand up) repetitively is interesting.
The concept of rain as refreshing, cleansing, and melancholic has been completely unused here.
Rainy Days and Mondays, Here comes the Rain Again, hell, even Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head have better lyrics than some of the so called songs here.
And while some of the melodies towards the end of the album are acceptable I am left listless and bored. All I can do is hope for a thunderstorm to invigorate me.
Ash
3/5
Another one of the those millions of those mid1990s bands that I deftly swerved, never listening to them on the radio or buying an album. In this club would be Mansun, Ocean Colour Scene, Dodgy, Cast, Shed Seven, Charlatans ad nauseum. Within that context I didn't think this album was too bad. It was rockier than I expected, harder guitars which I liked, but didn't go anywhere interesting enough for a higher score.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
4/5
Wasn't anticipating much from this, even before I knew it was world music. But really liked it. Love the Spanish feel and the female vocals. Really interesting.
Christina Aguilera
4/5
I had no reaction whatsoever when this was generated. Her work is not something that I would buy but I think that her singing is accomplished and her/her cowriter’s songs are catchy.
I thought that this was a magnificent album, referencing abuse, relationship breakdown and self-confidence. It mixed RnB, soul, hard rock, and pop ballad effortlessly, with some standout singles Beautiful and Fighter.
So, I was pretty annoyed to see that this album got mixed reviews – the reason? “Lack of concentration” and mixing different genres of music. Like what? Would a reviewer have said of Revolver – well the Beatles are all over the place here with RnB, Rock, Pop and psychedelia. No of course not. I personally feel an album that incorporates different styles of music more interesting.
Seemed like an excuse not to rate a perfectly good album by someone the music critics didn’t rate as cool. However, jokes on them as the album sold phenomenally well.
Santana
4/5
I had heard of this album as it is included in many “best albums of the 70s” lists.
First time listening was pleasurable. I normally don’t like Jazz fusion or albums where there are mainly instrumental tracks but this is very accessible and beautifully made.
Ella Fitzgerald
4/5
Went back to work today after week off and if any album is going to make that a joyful and restful experience it is this one. After checking that I indeed have the album with just 59 songs and not the reissue (sigh), I swaddled myself in a blanket, cup of coffee in hand, and let this just ooze over me. Such beautiful songs sung by a truly wonderful vocalist.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Really liked All along the Watchtower and Voodoo Chile but overall I didn't find it interesting, and I didn't feel emotionally involved. I also, strangely perhaps, thought that some of these songs sounded like others of his.
I also do not think he is the greatest guitarist of all time (soz Rolling Stone mag)
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
This is how I feel blues rock should be and only a band this good can make a rock n roll standard like Good Golly Ms Molly sound like a swamp song straight out of Deliverance. Only an assured band could leave a thunderhorse of a song like Proud Mary in the middle of side two. They are truly great. Hats off to them.
Air
4/5
I remember Sexy Boy and this band but had not heard any albums. I am a fan of French electronic music and this did not disappoint. While I generally prefer songs with lyrics each instrumental song was a separate interesting entity. The music makes you feel like you are floating peacefully, but also invigorated at the same time, that sort of effect is difficult to achieve highlighting that the high acclaim this album got upon release was not misjudged.
Keith Jarrett
3/5
I am not a huge fan of instrumental jazz and while this is nice it just washed over me forgettably (I have made up a new word in Keith’s honour). The most exciting thing about it was the woos and shouts from either the crowd, Keith, or someone trying to tell a member of the audience that their aunt was locked in the lady’s toilet and needed to be rescued. I couldn’t tell.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
I have not heard of this album, knowing only Are you Experienced and Electric LadyLand and I had not really bonded with Electric Ladyland when generated recently.
My thoughts are that he is a sublime guitarist and instrumentalist, and I admire the fact that he pioneered the use of guitar distortion, but I find his songs lack complexity and the lyrics weak. The songs appear serve to showcase his talent as a guitarist and seem to be more suited for a live audience than a listen at home. Having said that, I really liked Bold as Love and Little Wing. For those songs it got a weak 4.
Leonard Cohen
5/5
Nothing is finer than waking up to Leonard Cohen. In fact, I started thinking about what accolades I could give him before listening again to this glorious album from 1988. Cohen released his first album in the 1960s and went on to have successful albums in the 2000s; he is one of those artists who can capture the hearts of each generation while still keeping true to his musical ideals.
Here his sombre vocals and apocalyptic tales of love and the state of the world are nicely offset by the sound of synth and a female chorus. I so so love this one.
The Flaming Lips
3/5
The album is nice, lovely vocals, great production with the space effects and okay lyrics, but I felt it didn’t have anything to turn it into an interesting album. Even the cheesiest songs can be transformed into a great song by a change in key or vocal inflection; for example, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is my favourite Elton song due to his phrasing of the line “hairy black toad”. This type of thing was missing here so even with All We have Now (great song), I couldn’t give it more than 3.
Astor Piazzolla
4/5
Waking up with a migraine I shuddered when I saw the word Tango. This, however, was beautiful - sweet melodies with complex percussion.
Paul Simon
3/5
Paul Simon is one of those artists, like Phil Collins, that I have a knee jerk dislike of. I am not sure why I find him so palatable when you mix him with Garfunkel, but as his own separate human entity not so much, I strongly feel You can call me Al and that stupid video has a lot to do with it. I was given his first solo album by the generator a while ago, but even that You can Call Me Al lacking album left me cold. Ultimately this was okay but faintly irritating.
Muddy Waters
3/5
Not the hugest Blues fan but it is difficult for me not to like this-one of the foremost Blues musicians of all time playing some great new tunes and some reworkings of old classics such as Baby, Please Don’t Go, one of the greatest songs ever, whoever’s doing it.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
I am going to listen to this again so it may get a higher rating, but as someone who doesn't listen to a lot of rap I really liked this. I have read that this debut album showcased a more hardcore rap, so I am surprised by why I enjoyed it so much. The reason is two fold, first: no samples, which I always find annoying, not so much if you do it in one song but if all of your tracks use tunes from others I am not going to rate it highly. Secondly the guitars - those guitar solos had me at hello.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
3/5
A Canadian/American singer songwriter I had not heard of, though he is a founder of Moby Grape. Many of the songs embody lo-fi sensibilities, others psychedelia, and it seems ahead of its time in terms of style. No one song stood out to me so while great album, three stars.
Ray Charles
4/5
Here Ray has taken old country standards and freshened them by using a mix of pop and jazz bringing them to a wider audience. As someone who used to play in a Hillbilly band (his words) he always knew he could do a good job with them. And he did.
Songhoy Blues
3/5
Great album and vocals.
U2
5/5
U2 - War 5 STARS
This is a harder album than the previous two and includes one of my favorite songs of theirs "New Years Day". This is when they were young and raw and their first three albums will always be my favorites. Undeniably good.
Simple Minds
3/5
I like this band’s singles Promised You a Miracle and Don’t You Forget About Me but never liked the band enough to buy even a greatest hits album. This was okay and listenable but it didn’t make me change my mind about delving into their back catalogue.
Heaven 17
3/5
I was a little surprised to see this band having an entry in the book, they are definitely not the best of 80s UK pop, that crown going to Duran Duran, and the only single I ever liked was Temptation. Their lead single off the album “We Don’t Need this Fascist Groove thing” with such brilliant politically charged lyrics has sadly a tune so dull I wonder if the BBC banned it for being boring.
That’s what I wrote before I heard the rest of the album. Track 4 onwards is great and credit for making a political pop album, so ultimately 3 STARS.
The United States Of America
3/5
Another 60s psychedelic band I have strangely not heard of considering how much I appreciate the genre. First song had too much experimental sound. The band are known for excluding guitars and using, uncommon for the time, electronic instrumentation. However, by track two the wonderful melodies were shining through with the instrumentation enhancing, rather than obscuring the songs. I was torn between 3 and 4 but as I am not sure I will listen again, 3 stars.
Michael Jackson
4/5
I hoped I’d get something to cheer me on this blah Friday. This came up, first full album of his I have heard, and within 2 seconds I literally could not stop clicking my fingers to the beat and intermittently woohing. The soul and RnB feels so familiar and retro but there is a freshness to it. It’s a wonderful album but I need to go put my fingers in a bucket of ice water now!
Solomon Burke
4/5
Less well known than Otis, Sam and James and I wonder why. Gorgeous vocals and warm songs that engulf you in a hug.
Missy Elliott
3/5
Not really a style of music I get on with. Liked the beat, the rhythm and her voice but all together gets 3 stars.
Lenny Kravitz
3/5
Wasn't sure about this one. Some of it felt derivative other songs were really lovely and his voice seemed so familiar, so similar to another singer but could not place it. I will give it a three as while it didn't make me sit up and go "Whoa" in a good way it didn't hurt my ears.
Girls Against Boys
3/5
Second album by a band I have never heard of. I didn’t really mind this although the vocals are low in the mix, I quite liked their style. This album is labelled post hardcore which apparently means it is punk but more creative, and I get that. However, I kept thinking it sounded a bit like Pavement if Pavement were rubbish. Obviously my three stars is generously given… especially as this band makes the Pixies look good.
N.W.A.
4/5
Rap is a genre of music I wouldn’t normally listen to, being far removed from my love of folk singer songwriters. The generator has given me a lot of Hip/Hop and rap and some I thought was ok (Run DMC) others less so (Public Enemy / Fugees).
Although it is out of my comfort zone, I really liked this album. Trying work out why this works for me, I’ve decided that it is probably because this is West Coast Rap, more funk based with a softer sound instead of a harder East coast rap vibe. Whatever the reason, this was a pleasure to listen to.
Metallica
4/5
Metallica is an interesting band for me because while I love their melodic / doom laden intros and meanderings, I am not so enamoured of the punk parts to their songs. I appreciate this is thrash metal and, in this genre, they are one of the best, especially on this album where the musical structure is more complex, I enjoyed this, certainly more than their eponymous album so 4 stars is it’s due.
Brian Eno
2/5
I sat up seeing that this album was by Eno as I have recently come to have a new found appreciation for his talent after paying attention to his work with Roxy Music. I wouldn’t say that the albums they made after he left were bad, but I feel his contribution led to some of the most intricate and interesting songs of their work. But here is the rub – David Byrne – Not really a fan of Talking heads and it feels like he is the dominant partner here. I don’t mind songs that don’t fit into the traditional mould but this felt cold to me hence the score.
Elliott Smith
3/5
This is my second album of his generated. The first, Either / Or did nothing for me, washing over me like a sea of ennui. This album I felt was a lot better, some of the songs stood out and I heard some interesting additions to the songs. At the end though it gets its score because I am unlikely to listen to it again.
Scritti Politti
1/5
Soooo, not sure why this band is here they weren’t even a major mover and shaker in 80s British pop, they are certainly no Duran Duran, or even Wham.
Jeez I cant stand this, the synths just hurt my head. I have now started screaming in a high-pitched voice MAKE IT STOP and this is from someone who feels pop is a perfectly acceptable musical genre. How much did Scritti or Politti pay to have their album here. That is the question. Yet this album did get great reviews across the board and so I am flummoxed, for me this is meaningless pap. I rest my case.
Carole King
5/5
Have this album and have always loved it. So beautiful and inspiring. Joyous and melancholic at the same time.
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
Tribal Quest – Peoples Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
This was an eye opener. Not a genre I would normally like so why was I smiling and enjoying this so damn much? One reason: they use samples to enhance a song, not turn it into a cover version; but mainly because they are good. Real good.
Supergrass
3/5
Another 90s band that I decided were not for me and didn't bother listen to at the time. If I could go back in time to my former self after listening to this I would say .... "nice one, your assumption on their value to your life was completely correct. Boring as hell". This only got three stars because some of their tracks on the second part of the album were slower and slightly more meaningful.
The La's
3/5
The La’s – The La’s – 3 STARS
Another British 90s band I never listened to – this book is the gift that doesn’t keep giving.
However, I actually liked this one. The tunes are quite upbeat and jangly but never in the style of Baggy and the vocals are very British and muted. It almost sounds like Nick Cave doing a Monkees song. Despite their name (a contraction for Lads) their music isn’t in that awful laddish Britipop style . Wish I could give 3 and a half for this one.
Animal Collective
3/5
This feels like the soundtrack to a meaningless modern art installation video I started to write, aimlessly irritated by the noise. Continuing to listen I felt myself drawn in to the undulating sound. What on earth? It does feel like the soundtrack to an indie film but not in a bad way. At the end the listen was positive. Would I buy it? no, but enjoyed the ride.
Sam Cooke
4/5
I really like this gent, his voice and his songs.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
After last week’s running theme of “bands I successfully swerved in the 90s seeking retribution” I am off to a great start with some classic 70s gold.
Have heard this album many times but it still feels fresh. Never before has swamp rock been so polished, so vibrant. You really wrote songs for everyone John Fogerty, never stop rocking.
Black Sabbath
5/5
I love classic metal and this band are one of the prime immortals of this group.
Powerful vocals, thumping drums and bass, all tempered by wonderful lyrics and beautiful melodies.
As Ozzy clearly tells us Enjoy Your Life and I know my life has been better with these guys in the world.
TV On The Radio
3/5
I have never heard of this band before and my initial thoughts with the brass intro were that they sounded like They Might Be Giants, but the rest of the album didn’t. I liked it, it was interesting but did not sound like they were trying too hard to make something so eccentric it was unlistenable.
But because my head was full of TMBG and why they are not in the book, and because it went on less interestingly with no highs and lows, I will give three stars.
Joanna Newsom
3/5
I was quite tired this morning so it took a while and some visits to “soundalike websites” to remind me who she sounded like: Tori Amos who I really like.
Her voice is interesting and fitted the songs but at the end it was not her voice that I focused on but the lush orchestral production that I loved, which was by Van Dyke Parks. But. I don’t know if I would have fully appreciated the songs without that production. Another one for the half a point club and because I cannot give it 3.5 it will be 3 STARS.
Lorde
4/5
I have heard of Lorde but never actively listened to her songs.
This was amazing, loved the electropop and how they fully blended in with her ballads.
Want to hear more of her now.
Beck
4/5
Bought this, actually his fifth album, when it first came out and really love it. It feels quintessentially 90s but has a freshness missing from many of its contemporary albums. Interestingly I didn’t really buy much of his after this, only Midnite Vultures, which I also highly rate. Perhaps because the album is totally a 90s album and seems stuck there or because though there are not any obvious samples the album takes a fair bit from the group Them.
DJ Shadow
3/5
At first groan this seemed to tick all the wrong boxes for me, not much in the way of vocals and lots of sampling. In fact, and this made me laugh hollowly, it is composed almost entirely from samples”.
But I didn’t actually hate it. Some of it sounded ok when it was melancholic but even then I was thinking this sounds like Bach or at least Mike Oldfield doing the Exorcist.
I feel 3 stars perfectly incapsulates my mixed feelings about this one.
Otis Redding
5/5
What a voice, both sweet and grainy, you can feel the emotion pouring out of him.
His great songs are showcased here with some covers that celebrate his talent.
No one quite like him.
Prefab Sprout
1/5
I must be missing something here. Ok, it is in the 1001 book, but that’s true of lots of albums I don’t like, but specifically it is on Vulture and Mojo’s lists of the top 100 greatest albums ever. Why?
I don’t think it’s interesting or innovative and, in order to bring a bit of joy back into my morning, I will give it a rare 1, my sweet vengeance-highlighting how irritated I am-for this album to sit with all the noise rock albums at the bottom of my list.
Harry Nilsson
4/5
I must admit I am a fan of this guy and so am very happy to listen to this though it doesn’t contain his great hit a cover of Fred Neil’s Everybody’s Talking from the film Midnight Cowboy.
Tracks like Coconut really showcases the zany side of him. His version of Without You, written by Badfinger, is also loved. Some of the tracks were less good. Hence the 4 rating
Fela Kuti
3/5
I know that Fela largely invented Afrobeat and this was a great live album, with energetic drumming and possessing an album cover that feels like the band are jumping off the photo. But I prefer a more lyrics-based sound so while liked, it was not something I would listen to again.
Anita Baker
3/5
The first song Sweet Love transported me back to the 80s but during that decade I was too busy listening to 60s and 70s music and this album largely passed me by.
Normally when I get an album generated, I either clap excitedly or groan, but this was met with why? It’s a nice soul album to listen to but I do not think it is very innovative. The tracks are written by a team of songwriters including Rod Temperton who wrote Boogie Nights and the tremendous Thriller and even his song here is quite boring. That’s when something is wrong, when you don’t even use Rod to great effect.
The KLF
4/5
Day from hell yesterday culminating in loss of water AND a flood so seeing this dance album come up this morning made me wonder what I had done wrong lately. Dance/House/Acid has to be my least favourite genre of music. It started off really nice with the opening refrain of What Time is Love and I started thinking I misjudged them, but sure enough then came the pounding bass. I have to give them credit though for making me laugh uncontrollably. WAIT! I take it all back, this was great. It’s a hugely accessible album for someone like me who doesn’t like this type of music.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Artists I like fall into two categories, the "greatest hits" category where I like the songs if I hear them on the radio and would be happy with a greatest hits album and those artists that I adore where I want to have every album. Elvis is in the former and this was really lovely but apart from the song I Want You, one of my favorite songs ever, the rest was energetic but didn't stick with me.
Neil Young
5/5
Nothing really to be said except I have loved this gent's music for many years, that his voice is the very definition of yearning and he could sing the phone book and I would be there.
Iggy Pop
5/5
We all know the opening track from Trainspotting but imagine its 1977 and you are hearing this epic song from the godfather of punk for the first time. Definitely a “wish I had a time machine” moment.
I thought this new wave album would be very “shout at the top of your lungs in a monotone” type of affair that I hate about punk but it is beautiful, deep and wonderful. Though perhaps that is due to the fact the Bowie wrote the tunes and he is a genius. I will be buying this in any case.
Sister Sledge
5/5
Just like a greatest hits album and taking me happily through midweek with a bit of brilliant disco.
JAY Z
3/5
Never listened to this guy before. Lots of swearing and talk of "Gurls". But if I am to focus on the energy, the tunes, and the rhythm I feel compelled to give it a high rating. I will need some time to reflet on wth just
happened. Was four stars but one taken off he is just appropriating other peoples songs and that sucks.
Throwing Muses
3/5
Heard of them but never heard a song before. I personally found this quite boring. It was energetic and had some melodies but I felt it was quite meaningless.
Beatles
5/5
The Beatles are one of the few bands where I like every album. Although their style over the years changed their output never lost its excellence and this early album is no exception. I think personally the thing I love about their music is that they can make the most joyful poppy song sound so melancholic. Here, even in the opening track singing about how it wont be long till he sees his girl they sound mournful. I love it.
Talking Heads
4/5
Fear of Music? Fear of Talking Heads more like. Only really knowing their poppier hits and finding Byrne quite irritating I was not really looking forward to this. That completely changed by the time I got to Mind. The album was so innovative, and though it felt so Bowiesque I can’t see that he laid a finger on it. Even more impressive.
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Gosh, shoegazing was awful. I know that the editor of the book is British but couldn’t he have left his favourite bands out? This went pretty much nowhere via seventeen songs, and got three stars only thanks to “Thinking of Ways” which was nice.
M.I.A.
2/5
Jeez, irritating and boring for me. I gave her other album 2 stars too, not sure why there are two albums here. Even the fact that I have heard Paper Planes before did not help.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Dusty Springfield – A Girl called Dusty 3 STARS
I was tempted to give this four stars. All lovely songs sung beautifully, many of them among my favourite songs – Anyone Who had a Heart, for example. But while it enriched my morning, it didn’t rock my boat.
Björk
2/5
OK I am not a Bjork fan, it’s a knee jerk reaction I admit and this is first time listening properly to anything of hers. Here goes….really didn’t care for it. It’s not her voice, that is interesting, but personally it felt a bit samey and some of it was ethereal and floaty and other songs were dance orientated. Couldn’t get a grip on it.
Janis Joplin
5/5
Long possessed, even longer loved album.
Every song is a unique classic and brought to a new level by her amazing voice. Blues and soul perfectly combined in a heartfelt album of utter joyfulness.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Lots of great stuff here and man that voice.
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
Really liked this one. Great melodies and rhythm.
The Who
4/5
Here we have a genius, an incredible vocalist, a crazily good drummer and the Ox more than showing what they were capable of. What must it have felt like to be a teenager when it came out hearing those stuttering ffffs. In turn, sounding like the Beatles and the Stones they in fact didn’t need to emulate, they were fantastic then and still are.
Parliament
3/5
Started off loving this funky celebration, got bored with the sameness in the middle but it redeemed itself with Give Up the Funk. Nearly got four stars.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
A pretty nice album to listen to in the morning with a cup of coffee but jazz instrumental albums will never be actively sought by me.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
I quite liked it, great melodies and production. Wish I could give 3 and a half stars but 3 stars it is.
John Grant
5/5
I had never heard of this gent or his parent band and this is exactly why the generator is a rewarding experience, to introduce me to an incredible singer songwriter whose music is both earthy and ethereal. The female backing vocals really bring this album to a higher ground. Will buy this.
The Temptations
4/5
Great album, bringing their brand of hard soul. The opening track exudes social injustice and love their version of I heard it through the grapevine.
The Stone Roses
3/5
Okay for its genre but not enough okay for me.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
Now we’re talking. Perfect album, great melodies and lyrics and those harmonies are like a warm hug. Syrupy songs like Our House, are counterpointed by the harder rock sound of songs like Almost Cut my Hair. No fillers here.
4/5
Fabulous album. A lot of live albums I feel can be quite gratuitous in their capturing of the stage experience, five-hour drum solos being a particular bete noir, but this is pretty much is succinct in its garage rock ferocity. Love the Space Rock song at the end.
Air
5/5
Loved their album Moon Safari and this also didn't disappoint. While less vocals than Moon Safari I still feel that each instrumental had its own identity and it didn't feel like one long mash of melodies. As a fan of the book I also enjoyed the spoken word parts. It all felt very Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds - and that's a compliment from me.
Various Artists
3/5
I was expecting more from this as it is always billed as an album with superb production. It reminded me of the Beach Boys doing Christmas. Lovely hearing these songs again. Again being the operative word. Maybe they are too familiar for me to have an impact.
B.B. King
3/5
I usually don’t like typical blues but this was really hard blues brilliantly delivered and unlike the usual “you doing alright London” call outs in live recording here it feels he is really engaging with his audience.
Sade
3/5
Sade is one of those many artists of which I am happy to listen to if a single is played on the radio but don’t really want to explore further. This is a nice blend of pop/soul but it didn’t really enthuse me.
Burning Spear
3/5
Nice listen, great energising reggae rhythm and words.
Aretha Franklin
3/5
Nothing to dislike her but apart from Aint No Way nothing really moved me.
Chicago
4/5
I don’t care what ANyONe says about Chicago I moaned, I love this band. But then, and it’s my fault for having only their greatest hits, some of this seemed like a bad wedding band and WTH is all this jazzy intro stuff that is not on the single edit of “does anyone really know what time it is?” It’s time to just start with the horns guys, start with the horns. Ultimately, let’s face, it I adored it. Big Band meets Classic Rock is right up my alley!
Black Sabbath
4/5
A great mix of blues, hard guitar and great melodies and what a harmonica!. My favourite is N.I.B .
Led Zeppelin
4/5
I really wasn’t too keen on Physical Graffiti, too long, but this was amazing and helped to solidify my mixed feelings about Led Zeppelin into something more positive. Great opener followed by lots of stomping tracks. My high point was Tangerine, very simple but with an eastern influence. If only it didn’t end with Hats Off to Roy Harper, an out and out blues song that I felt detracted from their own unique blend of complex blues-tinged rock.
Liz Phair
2/5
Really didn’t like this at the start, felt very generic 90s American indie rock and I thought the melodies lacked complexity. It did grow on me and by Explain It to Me I could give it two stars, but definitely not more. Whenever I see the phrase “released to critical acclaim” I shiver with horror, and this is a good example of why.
CHIC
3/5
I really liked C’est Chic, this one less so. Same great rhythms, vocals and pulsing Disco beat but it seemed less soulful and less interesting.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
My head tells me how wonderful LZ are but my heart is less enthused even though I feel that this album has always been part of my consciousness. There is no denying that this is an incredible album – I’m trying to describe it and all I can say is that it is transcendental heavy metal, quite unique.
Paul McCartney and Wings
5/5
Continuing my Liz Phair briefly interrupted run of great classic rock albums leads me to this one. I was lucky enough to see Paul McCartney play live, and as I am more a fan of the Lennon penned Beatle’s tracks, it wasn’t his performance of his own Beatles songs (think Ob-La-Di/When I’m Sixty Four for example) but his Wing’s tracks that made me cry with joy. Such nostalgia, such a wondrous album. Literally.
Prince
3/5
Prince – 1999 – 3 STARS
Prince, one of those artists where I like the hits but would not bother to investigate all his albums. That kind of changed with Purple Rain: after I saw the film my mind was blown with the uniqueness and complexity of his work. I was looking forward to this therefore, but its brought me back down to my preconceived idea of Prince just being about sexy funk. My brother tells me this is not his best album, that I should try Sign O’ the Times so really hoping for some different albums of his on the generator to give me another go to find some love for him.
Billy Bragg
3/5
In my book, Billy Bragg is AOK, Wilco is great, and Woody Guthrie, whose lyrics are covered here? Love him. But here is the thing, all of these artists are known for their lovingly lo-fi approach to songwriting. This just sounded like bad pub rock, except for Way Over Wonder in the Minor Key (thanks to Natalie Merchant for backing vocals). I find it interesting that Dylan tried to get these lyrics in the 50s but the relevant people were “not at home” when he visited. He later commented on Mermaid Avenue “These performers probably weren't even born when I had made that trip to Brooklyn." Disappointed much? Well I sure was.
Roxy Music
4/5
I am a fan of Roxy Music but not that much. However, my appreciation of them has increased recently. Also, I am beginning to understand the genius of Eno. So, after checking this was an Eno album I got stuck in. Love Ferry’s voice, and adored the murky, ambient, brass fuelled glam rock nature of the songs. Looking forward to any more Roxy the generator can throw at me.
The Cure
5/5
Have this album in my collection and like all the others did not skip but enjoyed for the billionth time listening to this opus. With the first strains of Plainsong I had tears in my eyes. What a beautiful album.
Van Halen
3/5
I felt quite conflicted with this one. I love heavy metal, though this leans already to hard rock. I don’t know why I found it a little boring despite Eddies sublime guitar playing and Roth’s amazing voice, put to good use on their cover of You Really Got Me.
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
If you had asked before I had listened to the album I would have said I am not to enthused with this band but this was incredible. I liked that it was about general life in the UK with a high level of insight and introspection. Not what I expected from them. The tunes are damn catchy too.
OutKast
3/5
Long album, of two halves, the melodies were pleasant so I didn’t really mind. On the other hand “She Lives in My Lap”, really? Does she have a strong tenancy agreement protecting her rights mate? Can you see how I felt about this one.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
What on earth just happened? I wasn’t too keen on Axis or Electric Ladyland as I thought the songs were weak despite his guitar playing. This was fantastic, even didn’t mind listening to both the US and UK versions. Jimi’s incredible voice coupled with his guitar playing and a mix of psychedelia and blues made this a transformative experience. I thought perhaps this was his third album and had learnt from Axis and EL but this is his debut, incredible. Bonus: getting warm feelings thinking about Garth in the diner.
Dion
3/5
Oh gosh, I thought Dion was a 50s band, famous for the Wanderer and Runaround Sue, actually it is, but I didn’t realise Dion was a person. A Grammy award winning singer songwriter no less.
I am a singer songwriter’s target audience but although I like the New
York Song I found this quite boring. Case in point – “ive got the whole world in my hands” which although is not one of my favourite songs, done well it is a glorious gospel number. This felt like a dirge.
Apparently, the album wasn’t well received when it was released but people like Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream thought it was okay so that’s alright for the book’s compiler.
Thank you not Bobby!
Bob Dylan
4/5
I have an odd relationship with Bob, my head acknowledges that he is a supreme songwriter but my heart never seems to care, and so I feel less enthused about him than other singer-songwriters and, as my level of fandom is a lot less than the global population, it seems as if I don’t like him.
Having said that I seem to inexplicably have picked up lots of his albums. Such is the power of Bob.
This is great “its all right now ma” is fantastic, I have scored it highly. But my heart is still not satisfied. I imagine the generator will give me a fair few more of his to help me get to the bottom of my reaction.
Alanis Morissette
4/5
I was going to go with three stars with this one as I never bought it at the time but everything about it is iconic so there you go.
Adele
3/5
Someone like you is a lovely song and Adele has a great voice but I felt unenthusiastic about the rest. Unsure why, the lyrics to many songs are heartfelt but just had low impact on me.
Steely Dan
5/5
Sometimes I smile when I see what has been generated for me, other times I give a mild cheery but never before have I happily fist-pumped as I did when I got this album by one of my favourite bands
This is so novel, the bubbling sound at the beginning of Rikki Don’t lose that Number is a flapamba, a type of Xylophone, how cool is that. But, the album also feels very laid back, like guys just sitting in a New York bar telling tales and sharing stories, but really interesting stories, in harmony.
Yes
3/5
Yes is one of those bands I believe I was born to like, Prog Rock with chapters and parts to their songs? Yes please. But then diving into their back catalogue always leaves me wanting. Listening to this I understand why. Some songs like “Ive seen All good People” are excellent while the instrumental “The Clap” is so boring, and irritated me with the wild clapping at the end, like THIS SHOULD BE YOUR LEVEL OF ADULATION FOR THIS SONG SUCKERS. I love the album 90125 so much so will keep trying here. Not given up yet.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
It is interesting that I have never even bought a greatest hits of this band despite the fact that I love soul music. This was nice but pretty much just went over my head.
4/5
Despite thinking Ray Davies is a songwriting genius I was less impressed with this one. Perhaps because there were a lot of songs and so some of them felt like fillers. Despite that it was an interesting mix of styles.
The Blue Nile
4/5
I remember the 80s but not this band. I started off feeling that this was a poor imitation of Japan but then at their fourth song Stay and subsequent songs everything was quite wonderful, lovely melodies and instrumentation. This feels quite cool, and that’s not a word I use a lot.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Oh no I have already been “Bobbed” in the last week and a 1997 album by his? Was not best pleased. But what on earth! This was amazing, loved his voice, the instrumentation, the production, the fact that it sounds like blues standards but are new songs written by him. I take it all back Bob.
The Verve
2/5
Verve, don’t really care for them so not heard a full album. Sound to me like a mix of Radiohead and Oasis, but without the innovative instrumentation of Radiohead and somewhat creative lyrics of Oasis. By half way I was just fed up, repetitive sounds and words let me be.
De La Soul
4/5
I feel another apology coming on, this band was marketed as a sort of hippie hip hop group in the UK so I avoided them, but this is really exuberant, innovative and sharp.
I am not a huge fan of samples and this album is full of them, but where else can you get Steely Dan, Otis Redding and Booker T Jones together in the same song (Eye Know) in such a way that it feels fresh.
It remains only for me to ask..how many fibres are actually intertwined in a shredded wheat biscuit?
Pixies
3/5
I think this album helped solidify how I feel about this band, disappointed. I really like some of their tracks when they are trying to be innovative but then these are interspersed with one-minute wonders where it is just brash guitars and words shouted repetitively into the void. It’s like they can’t make up their mind who they want to be.
Mike Ladd
3/5
I have been thinking lately that I always react badly to artists/bands I have never heard of but at least then you get to be pleasantly surprised. This is a sort of space/hip-hop opus. I liked that it didn’t have samples but lovely instrumental parts underneath some great lyrics.
AC/DC
5/5
To my mind, there needs to be more Metal on this list so this was a blast. The energy of the first track alone can move mountains; even an elderly person mowing their flower bed will dig that trowel a little harder and a little faster listening to this absolute opus. And to think, it isn’t just strong guitars and lots of growling going on here, the melodies are interesting too. I just love it
Curtis Mayfield
5/5
Hugely appreciate this guy and his wonderful voice. This didn’t disappoint. Powerful lyrics and warm melodies combining in a really special album special topped off with a great album cover taken from the famous photo by Margaret Bourke-White.
Lou Reed
5/5
I have said it before but Lou Reed’s voice and lyrics are so palpable you can actually smell the hot dog stands, see the steam rising from the sidewalks and feel yourself nearly get run over by a yellow cab. It’s unusual for songs with such a punk ethic to be so melodic, these are. His voice is so knowing, it’s like he recognizes the people he writes about but is always standing a step away. Huge fan.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Good, this is a hard-hitting hip-hop album that is accessible and melodic. That’s quite a feat.
Fats Domino
3/5
This was lovely mood music for me, very emotive, wonderful to hear while relaxing with a coffee, I love his voice so would have liked to have heard him sing As Time Goes By but that’s a minor issue.
Django Django
4/5
Don’t know them and writing the word Django four times pushed me over the edge, but I really liked this – its innovative, well produced, catchy and fun. Not sure why they are called a rock band though, this seems more pop? Difficult to score, high 3 I think, four stars.
Incubus
3/5
With a name like Incubus they were never going to be flower-pop so I was thrilled to get this. However, it was generic 1990s American Rock.
Beatles
5/5
What an album to leave the week on, here it is my favourite Beatles album. From the first sounds of the aeroplane you know you are going to go on a wild rock n roll ride but as soon as Back in the USSR ends you are immediately submerged into psychedelia. And on it goes, from Ska to Flamenco through Blues and Prog Rock, over to Music Hall, while stopping at Folk, Baroque and Country. Every single ruddy song an absolute classic, and yes, I do include you Rocky Racoon!
Let me summarise - Clashing time signatures! Eric Clapton! Yoko Ono! Sheep Dogs! Avant Garde! Chocolates! Mother! Maharishi! Donovan! and Pastiche that sounds like genuine songs of the genre!
The band was crumbling at this point but I am left with the wonder of this album’s disparate cohesiveness, where there is no need for a fancy cover. Good night, guys, sleep tight 😊
David Bowie
4/5
I am loathe to give anything by Bowie a low score but I am more of a fan of his 70s albums. This was incredible – Valentines Day being the highlight – but for me there is something emotionally missing from this album.
Weather Report
3/5
I have heard of them but couldn’t place the genre. Ah yes Jass-Fusion my beloved detested.
This exceeded expectations though – Birdland is wonderful and it’s a song that I have heard for many years. The other songs were brill too but I think that is because some of them reminded me of a scene in a cheesy 90s movie where the woman and man fall onto the bed undressing and the shot changes to blousy white curtains blowing in the wind, whereas others felt like the soundtrack to a 70s detective series. It’s like the soundtrack of my youth.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
I bought this years ago because someone told me it was “good”. I can’t remember who I need to “thank”. I understand that this album polarizes people. Personally, I think the issue is where I may mutter “keep to a time signature, you gits”, others will say “ahh polyrhythm” and while I may complain about whether this can actually be called music due to no good tunes, others may happily wax lyrical about polytonality. It worries me that the hype for this album is at such a high level that it reminds me of the old tale of the emperor’s new clothes. Is it good? or is that people think because it is challenging it must be arty? It has even been compared as eclectic as walking Christmas trees and, like this album, that is not something I need thanks.
The Stranglers
4/5
I have come to have a lot of respect for this band above their singles as they are featured heavily in a TV music programme where I am. This was great, with its Roxy music inspired New Wave sound. Even Peaches, which in someone else’s hands, could be tawdry, here seems tragic and oddly kind of cool.
One star off for not featuring a rat on their cover. At least RATT knew how to pull in the rat lovers.
Radiohead
5/5
I hadn’t heard this in a while and listening to it I can see why it is lauded, with its fierce rock easing easily into indie ballads it is remarkable. I am a sucker for shifting tempos; I love songs that sound like Pink Floyd and Nick Drake and adore any mention of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy – this album is pure excellence.