318
Albums Rated
3.2
Average Rating
29%
Complete
771 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950
Favorite Decade
Blues
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
42
5-Star Albums
30
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Man Who
Travis
|
5 | 3.01 | +1.99 |
|
1977
Ash
|
5 | 3.03 | +1.97 |
|
The Trinity Session
Cowboy Junkies
|
5 | 3.08 | +1.92 |
|
Tank Battles
Dagmar Krause
|
4 | 2.13 | +1.87 |
|
Fisherman's Blues
The Waterboys
|
5 | 3.2 | +1.8 |
|
Django Django
Django Django
|
5 | 3.21 | +1.79 |
|
Being There
Wilco
|
5 | 3.22 | +1.78 |
|
D
White Denim
|
5 | 3.22 | +1.78 |
|
In The Wee Small Hours
Frank Sinatra
|
5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
|
Live Through This
Hole
|
5 | 3.29 | +1.71 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
|
1 | 3.37 | -2.37 |
|
Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
|
1 | 3.28 | -2.28 |
|
Only By The Night
Kings of Leon
|
1 | 3.24 | -2.24 |
|
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
|
1 | 3.23 | -2.23 |
|
Soul Mining
The The
|
1 | 3.17 | -2.17 |
|
Welcome To The Pleasuredome
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
|
1 | 3.12 | -2.12 |
|
Porcupine
Echo And The Bunnymen
|
1 | 3.08 | -2.08 |
|
The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
|
1 | 3.02 | -2.02 |
|
Sister
Sonic Youth
|
1 | 3.02 | -2.02 |
|
Os Mutantes
Os Mutantes
|
1 | 2.98 | -1.98 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Radiohead | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Smashing Pumpkins | 2 | 5 |
| Arcade Fire | 2 | 5 |
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Sonic Youth | 2 | 1 |
| The The | 2 | 1 |
| Steely Dan | 3 | 1.67 |
| Peter Gabriel | 2 | 1.5 |
| Echo And The Bunnymen | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (42)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
The Prodigy · 2 likes
3/5
Mixed feelings about this album. I enjoyed the energy in some of the songs - they were great to listen to while working. Other songs I liked less, and when you're listening to a genre defined by repetition, a disliked song gets annoying even faster.
Limp Bizkit · 1 likes
1/5
Are you kidding?
Adele · 1 likes
4/5
Years ago, working a retail job, there were a few bright spots in the wretched muzak. Turned out it was Adele, several songs from this album. It rates an automatic 4 just for helping me get through those days. Years later, my daughter likes Adele. I think this album is going to age well.
Brian Wilson · 1 likes
2/5
I listened to this with no knowledge of the album's history, and really didn't enjoy it. Felt like I was listening to a kid's album. Read the back story afterwards. While I can now appreciate the significance for Beach Boys fans, I still didn't enjoy it.
Gene Clark · 1 likes
3/5
Living in the blurred lines of folk-country-rock, this album was innocuous and mostly unremarkable. Nice lyricism though, and the opening track was a good start.
1-Star Albums (30)
All Ratings
The Smiths
3/5
I would listen to this again.
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
Still a great album. I own this.
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
Still found the standout to be Layla.
Faith No More
2/5
Hated this less than I expected. First track and the later instrumental track were the only standouts. Couldn't get past the singers nasal, whiny tones.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
I would listen to this again.
The Band
2/5
Not a fan. I've heard The Weight before, but it was a cover by Travis. I prefer that to the original.
Madonna
3/5
High school memories. Crazy to hear Frozen and Power of Goodbye again. Madonna's voice is great with this style of music. However- would the album have gotten much attention if if hadn't been Madonna?
The Undertones
4/5
I enjoyed this. Hadn't heard of them before - interesting that they're from North Ireland.
Cornershop
2/5
Started out strong, but I didn't enjoy most of it.
The Smiths
4/5
The Magnetic Fields
4/5
Listening to this was a lengthy undertaking! But it was fun!
Fever Ray
2/5
Not a genre I usually listen to. I think I'd have to be in the right mood. Slightly creepy.
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
A classic, especially the title track.
Sonic Youth
1/5
Too discordant for my taste. Hard to believe this is from the 80s - ahead of its time.
4/5
Thank you Internet Archive; this wasn't on Spotify. I didn't realize I knew the second song. This sounded like a bridge between the Beatles and Guster. A fun listen.
Peter Gabriel
1/5
Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins sound identical to me. I can't stand either of them. This solo Peter Gabriel album did not change my opinion.
Snoop Dogg
1/5
Tried to listen, but did not finish.
Echo And The Bunnymen
1/5
I did not like this at all. Boring and nothing unique.
10cc
2/5
Not memorable for me. OK, not bad.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
I liked this more than I expected to. It definitely defines a mood. If there were half stars, I'd rate 3.5.
Joe Ely
2/5
Not a genre I enjoy. Some of the songs were fun, despite the subjects.
AC/DC
4/5
This was awesome. Great rock album.
Tom Waits
4/5
I liked the live show format. I was completely unfamiliar with the artist before this.
George Harrison
3/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Hard to decide between a 3 and a 4. I liked the music and instrumentation. I didn't like his voice or the lyrics.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Dolly Parton
4/5
I liked this. Some really nice songwriting.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
I appreciate her lyricism, but stylistically it reminds me of the muzak I used to have to listen to at work.
The Icarus Line
2/5
The Style Council
1/5
All over the place stylistically. A few of the songs were fun, but there was some abysmal muzak sprinkled in alongside wannabe rap. No idea why this is on the list.
T. Rex
4/5
Some weird bonus tracks, but I mostly enjoyed this.
Os Mutantes
1/5
Discordant hodgepodge. Seemed like the sort of thing someone would listen to and claim they were edgy and informed. French mess.
Korn
1/5
Nope
CHIC
2/5
Front end loaded with the best songs. Back half was boring, really repetitive. All about disco.
Brian Wilson
2/5
I listened to this with no knowledge of the album's history, and really didn't enjoy it. Felt like I was listening to a kid's album. Read the back story afterwards. While I can now appreciate the significance for Beach Boys fans, I still didn't enjoy it.
Alanis Morissette
4/5
Angry girl rock! I'm still amazed at how many of these songs were radio hits. It was such a big deal at the time. Still fun to listen to.
Jerry Lee Lewis
2/5
From a historical perspective, it's cool that there's a live recording. However, I still can't separate the person from the music. Ick.
Iggy Pop
4/5
I liked this except for Turn Blue
The The
1/5
This has not aged well. 80s throwback.
The Waterboys
5/5
I really enjoyed this. Felt I was listening to Irish music and DMB at times.
The War On Drugs
4/5
Moody and melodic. I liked it.
Burning Spear
3/5
Good reggae album.
Steely Dan
2/5
Taking me back to my retail days, stuck listening to Rikki Don't Lose that Number. This is not a good thing.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Ah, we have a cultural difference here. This charted well in the UK, but not stateside. It's bombastic, lecherous and honestly pretty silly. Some lovely pop moments, but not enough to overcome the silliness.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
Liked this more than I expected. Solid classic rock album.
Violent Femmes
5/5
Timeless. Sounds like it could have been made in any number of decades,
Ash
5/5
Really like this. Fuse of Britpop and garage rock.
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
The Sabres Of Paradise
1/5
Couldn't deal with the repetitive circumstances noises.
The Teardrop Explodes
1/5
Early 80s music, did not enjoy.
The Kinks
4/5
Liked the last few songs best.
Beastie Boys
3/5
Didn't like the random sampling of other bands - CCR, Zeppelin, etc. However, I'd forgotten how many hits they had on this album. The more original songs are still fun to listen to.
Emmylou Harris
4/5
Hard to decide on 3 or 4. I liked a lot of this, but some of the lyrics were too cutesy or country.
Elliott Smith
4/5
I liked the rock-tinged songs best. However, the whispers voice gets grating after a while. If only 3.5 stars existed.
Willie Nelson
2/5
Not really my style, but I liked the title track
Carole King
5/5
The King.
Radiohead
5/5
While this is not one of my favorite Radiohead albums, it still has some great songs.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Features some great classics. Quieter songs aren't as good but show potential.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
A decent rock album ruined by Neil Young's frail, whiny voice.
The Replacements
4/5
Eric Clapton
3/5
A few standouts including the first track and I Shot the Sherriff.
Elton John
3/5
Not a big Elton John fan. I either really like or really dislike his songs. There were a few good ones mingled with the classics, but many songs haven't aged well.
Roni Size
3/5
Liked the energy of the first several songs. Second half of the album wasn't as good.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
Like listening to the Black Keys in French. Would definitely listen to more by them.
Sabu
4/5
Great album for summer. I can see how this could have influenced other artists (thinking Vampire Weekend). Strong opening and closing songs.
Mudhoney
2/5
Early grunge. Some of the songs stuck with me initially, but still too abrasive. Fits the genre definition.
Beyoncé
4/5
Not a genre I normally listen to, but I appreciate the creativity and growth here from Beyonce's earlier music.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
First few songs are catchy, but the dance pop got old fast for me
Beastie Boys
2/5
Erykah Badu
3/5
Donald Fagen
1/5
So dated and ridiculous. 1980s fluff.
Bob Dylan
4/5
This resonated with me more than I expected it to. I found the anti-war messaging moving and unfortunately timely.
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
Will this album always be doomed to comparison due to the Beatles association? Regardless, I just didn't enjoy it much.
Heaven 17
1/5
Brothers, Sisters, the only redeeming factor about this album is its brief 22-minute run time.
Frank Ocean
3/5
Creative - what else can I say? 3 stars.
The Cure
5/5
Third Cure album I've listened to on this list, but easily my favorite so far.
CHIC
2/5
Second album I've listened to by them on this list. First track is classic, rest were innocuous.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Good blues album
Foo Fighters
4/5
This is such a strong debut, especially the opening tracks.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
2/5
It's hard for me to understand if this has historical significance. I lost patience around the time of back-to-back bug songs.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Such a mixed bag. Best of times, worst of times. I read up on this album on Wikipedia after listening to it. The modern format doesn't suit the album. Originally this would have had side A and B on a record, which would have given it a coherent theme. As it is, it's a thematic jumble with some fantastic songs and some that really don't work.
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
The harmonies are amazing.
The Verve
4/5
Bittersweet Symphony is still amazing. Many of the other tracks have held up well.
Aerosmith
2/5
Sleazy 80s-90s rock. I'm familiar with the hits but really couldn't enjoy this album knowing Steven Tyler's gross history.
Antony and the Johnsons
2/5
There were some really lovely melodies, but I didn't enjoy the vocals.
David Bowie
4/5
What a strong album so late in his career!
Peter Tosh
2/5
First song is too on the nose. Actually liked the last two songs on the album best.
The Prodigy
3/5
Mixed feelings about this album. I enjoyed the energy in some of the songs - they were great to listen to while working. Other songs I liked less, and when you're listening to a genre defined by repetition, a disliked song gets annoying even faster.
The Modern Lovers
2/5
Started out good (Astral Plane was a standout), but got more boring as the album continued. More like talking than singing.
Pixies
4/5
I never want to listen to Tame again - made me feel stressed out listening to the breathing. Really enjoyed the rest of it, though - some of my favorite songs.
Hole
5/5
Loved this album. Can't believe I'd never listened to it before.
The Pogues
4/5
Good Irish rock blend
Dusty Springfield
3/5
The entire rating is due to her amazing voice, because the songs themselves - covers - are unimpressive.
Dagmar Krause
4/5
This was unexpected and interesting. I loved the theatricality of it, and some of the quieter songs were beautiful. I can see how it would not be to everyone's taste, however.
I listened to this on YouTube.
Black Sabbath
4/5
It can't be a coincidence that this album popped up for me this week of all weeks. How, then, do I rate I with Ozzy's death fresh in my mind? Am I giving it a higher rating than I would have a week ago? Hard to say. I enjoyed the album.
The KLF
2/5
I know this type of music is repetitive, but it was repetitive in all the wrong ways.
Little Richard
4/5
Lots of energy. A fun listen.
Gene Clark
3/5
Living in the blurred lines of folk-country-rock, this album was innocuous and mostly unremarkable. Nice lyricism though, and the opening track was a good start.
FKA twigs
2/5
The album cover is doll-like and creepy.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Don McLean
4/5
I feel like this album warrants an automatic 4 stars just for the presence of the song American Pie. Then the question is - how does the rest of the album hold up? The good: the song Vincent is also amazing. Babylon is beautiful and distinctive. I love the clarity of McLean's voice. The not-so-good: the rest of the songs don't really stand out, and sound like they're recycling elements of his better songs.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Deserves the accolades. An enjoyable listen and incredibly influential on future artists.
George Jones
1/5
This exemplifies the stereotype of the crying drunk country song. The first song is particularly maudlin.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
As sleazy as Aerosmith but with none of the fun. Under the Bridge is a great song. The rest are hard to listen to, knowing that the lead singer likes underage girls.
Linkin Park
4/5
Linkin Park, articulating millennial angst. Haven't heard this album in decades. Thoughts hearing it now: the first half or so of the album is stronger than the second. Also, Chester Bennington's vocals were incredible, and kept the angsty lyrics from being too over-the-top. He sang like he meant it (and he probably did).
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
2/5
They have amazing harmonies, but I can't stand Neil Young.
The Stooges
4/5
I listened to the Bowie mix. Not sure how to rate, knowing there's another version.
Arcade Fire
5/5
First off - I don't think this album is going to age well. Second - I don't think Arcade Fire as a band aged well. That being said, I think they made this album at the top of their game. All of the elements just come together. Thematically, this hit me hard when it came out, and listening to it again today, it still does. This is probably going to appeal most to Gen X and Millennials as we've watched the decay of tangible things in our life. A few standouts: Regine Chassagne in "Sprawl II" is fantastic. Also, the title track has stuck with me unprompted over the years, and continues to be the soundtrack in my head whenever I'm driving the kids to school or running errands.
Wilco
5/5
I've heard some of Wilco's other albums, but somehow missed this one. It was great!
Stan Getz
2/5
Years ago, I started working for a department store that was on the verge of being bought out by a competitor. The store played bad covers of music like this. Thinking back, I'm not surprised they were getting bought out. These are not bad songs, but hearing Corcovado again takes me back to the outdated attempts at sophistication at that store.
The Doors
3/5
This was a lot more bluesy than I expected. I liked the wordplay in L'America, and Riders on the Storm is a great song. The rest didn't stand out.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Black Sabbath
4/5
Lots of great songs.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Mixed reactions on this. The opening track was spooky and eerie, and I liked the song N.I.B. The rest of it didn't make as much of an impression. However, I love the album cover art.
The Sonics
3/5
While this was fun to listen to, I'm not understanding how it ends up on this list. Is it really that unique or influential? I also felt like the singer had some interesting vocal improvisations, while being backed up by standard vocalists. It didn't mesh well.
Jane Weaver
3/5
I either really enjoyed the songs or really disliked them. In particular, the song Ravenspoint made me lose a lot of goodwill for this album. Couldn't wait for it to be done.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
2/5
Missed the mark.
Moby
4/5
This is a 3.5 for me, mostly because I loved it back in the day. Reactions now? Still has some songs I really enjoyed (great opening track, for instance), but the album is too long.
Frank Sinatra
5/5
The title track is a favorite of mine. The whole album was great to listen to today. I was having a stressful day, but somehow this helped me calm down a bit. Beautiful voice, beautiful songs.
SAULT
3/5
No strong positive or negative reactions to this R&B album. I liked it better than some R&B I've listened to, but I didn't love it.
Beatles
3/5
Seemed like a lot of covers. Underwhelming, considering how strong most of their music is.
Randy Newman
3/5
I liked this more than I expected. I'm not a fan of his voice, but this album showed a lot of melody and skill that I'd previously disregarded. This might warrant another listen.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I know this is a classic, beloved album. But I've never been a Springsteen fan. This album didn't convert me.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
2/5
I was hoping I'd like this better, but the best songs were the radio hits. Melody for an Unknown Girl was so bad that it took my rating from a 3 to a 2.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
This album sounded ahead of its time. I really enjoyed it.
Talvin Singh
2/5
I'm not knowledgeable about the genre, but I didn't really enjoy this. Especially the random speaking parts.
1/5
Are you kidding?
Patti Smith
3/5
I liked the attitude and the meshing of old with the new (mainly thinking of some of the references in the songs). It was interesting, but not something I'd listen to again.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
Preface: I don't like Neil Young's voice, so I was not thrilled to see this album come up.
It doesn't start off bad. I like that this leans more into rock than the folksy work he did with Crosby Stills Nash. However, by halfway through, I was ready for it to be done. AND IT JUST KEPT GOING...AND GOING...
Merle Haggard
2/5
The Go-Go's
4/5
This felt like a flashback to 50s and 60s beach music. Fun and upbeat.
Ramones
5/5
Hits fast and ferocious the entire album.
R.E.M.
3/5
I like R.E.M., but this is not one of my favorites. Don't like the opening track or Everybody Hurts. Man on the Moon is the best.
The Byrds
3/5
Adele
4/5
Years ago, working a retail job, there were a few bright spots in the wretched muzak. Turned out it was Adele, several songs from this album. It rates an automatic 4 just for helping me get through those days. Years later, my daughter likes Adele. I think this album is going to age well.
Neneh Cherry
3/5
Joni Mitchell
3/5
It was interesting hearing a few of these songs as part of an album instead of individually. That being said, I know she's a talented songwriter, but I'm just not a huge fan.
Cat Stevens
3/5
I enjoyed the first several songs, but found most of the second half unmemorable.
Peter Gabriel
2/5
How is In Your Eyes so good, but I can't stand most of this album? Red Rain was a decent start, but that's it for me. These are not excellent birds.
Bob Dylan
4/5
I only listen to these albums once before reviewing, simply due to lack of time. This is one of the first albums where I feel like I'd need to listen to it again.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
I've never heard of this artist before, but the music was ethereal and lovely. Definitely interesting.
Johnny Cash
5/5
What a great live album!
Sonic Youth
1/5
This album stressed me out so bad.
Peter Frampton
2/5
Knocking this down from a 3 to a 2 because this is the album that inflicted Baby I Love Your Way on the world.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
3/5
Not my favorite genre, but this was actually fun to listen to.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Grunge album. Didn't love it or hate it. Crazy cover of the Cure to finish off the album - I kind of liked it.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
4/5
This was an atmospheric, dark, lovely album. Would definitely listen to this again.
Nirvana
5/5
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
Her voice is sparse and lovely, but some of the songs are grating. I'm thinking of the parade song, and the one with the kid singing. Very cutesy.
Lambchop
2/5
I don't even know what to make of this. I actually really liked some of the middle tracks - reminded me of Badly Drawn Boy. But it was bookended by such weirdness. What is this and why is it here???
Madonna
1/5
This is such an auto-tuned mess. The few decent songs are more straightforward (Don't Tell Me for example). But What it Feels Like for a Girl tries too hard to be provocative with nothing to show for it. And then there's the blasphemy of the American Pie cover.
Fats Domino
5/5
This was so much fun to listen to.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
The music was fun to listen to, and I enjoyed a bit of the dialogue back and forth with the band. However, the chatter overstayed its welcome, and I just wanted to get back to the music.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Not what I expected, but interesting. The first song felt like a pushback against the fun beach music they were known for. The protest song didn't work for me - it felt like they were making light of serious issues.
Arcade Fire
5/5
I feel like this album got a bit lost in the shadows after The Suburbs success. Listening to this again, I think it's actually a more consistent, successful album. There's not a track I would skip.
The The
1/5
Horrible band name. Forgettable music. The never ending song at the end sounded like something a 10 year old would come up with at the piano and play over and over again.
Hüsker Dü
4/5
I enjoyed this. Rock album was consistent, fun listen. Only complaint is its length - it overstayed its welcome and would have benefitted from some trimming back.
Jeff Beck
3/5
Weird hearing Rod Stewart on a rock album, as opposed to the more radio-friendly tracks I've heard over the years.
Radiohead
4/5
I love a few of these songs, but this is not one of my favorite Radiohead albums.
Simply Red
1/5
The only song I liked was Sad Old Red - sounded a little jazzy. I couldn't figure out why this album was on the list until I got go Holding Back the Years, a muzak staple in certain stores.
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
It's an effective throwback album, but not really treading new ground.
Rage Against The Machine
4/5
Fantastic rock album. I don't love the screaming instead of singing, but I liked everything else. Great to listen to when I'm having a frustrating day.
The Thrills
3/5
Some nice harmonies, but I couldn't get past the lead singer's drawl.
Fatboy Slim
2/5
Not my favorite. Repetitive in an obnoxious way, not a fun one.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
Some timeless songs here - would definitely listen again.
Alice In Chains
4/5
Never been a fan of Alice in Chains. I find their music oppressive and creepy. That being said - they were really good at what they did. I jumped out of my chair when the album started, even though I'd heard the song before. That's a good rock song. They hit hard from beginning to end.
808 State
2/5
Quick listen. Good background music, pretty timeless for electronic music. Probably wouldn't listen again.
Mott The Hoople
3/5
This reminded me so much of early David Bowie songs. I liked a lot of it, but inconsistently.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
David Bowie
4/5
Todd Rundgren
3/5
I need a 3.5 stars for this one. I liked some of the rock songs and even the better known radio hits, but many of the songs were a miss for me.
Japan
1/5
I like the album cover. The music, on the other hand, I could barely make it through...
Amy Winehouse
4/5
So much potential on this album.
Kings of Leon
1/5
I think a lot of us liked Kings of Leon for about 5 minutes because of "Use Somebody". I'd forgotten just how bad the album is. This is the album with the STD song. With two songs with near identical titles (see Be Somebody). With the song 17 (it's exactly as wrong as you think it will be).
Orange Juice
2/5
New wave, inoffensive, unmemorable.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Enjoyed listening to this. Lots of classics. Some have aged better than others.
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
With the band/album name, I though this would hit harder. It was fine, but nothing stood out to me.
The Beta Band
3/5
I remember hearing this band fanned over by hipsters I the 2000s. Finally listening to this today, I'm underwhelmed. It's a decent alternative album. I might like it better if I listened to it again. I just couldn't get in to the repetitive songs.
Astor Piazzolla
4/5
Interesting instrumentals. Would like to listen to this again.
Radiohead
5/5
Nitin Sawhney
2/5
Metallica
4/5
This is hard for me to rate. I'm not a Metallica fan, but I appreciated the size and spectacle of this album. The music paired with the orchestra added a lot of dimension to the songs. It was also a good listen right before Halloween.
Beatles
4/5
Interesting to listen to this the whole way through. I've heard of many of these songs but not actually listened to them before. Lots of good songs, but the definitely some misses too that bring the album down a bit.
Bon Jovi
4/5
Lots of great songs. Fun to listen to, even decades later.
Talk Talk
2/5
Another 80s album. Not much else to say - not a fan.
Miles Davis
5/5
We used to have a great jazz bar that played music like this. I miss it. This took me back, in a good way. I also love the album title, although that's a lot to live up to!
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Fantastic.
50 Cent
3/5
As a proper millennial, I remember how big "In da club" was and how we'd all pretend we knew the lyrics when it came on. I liked this album more than I thought I would - awesome throwback to college years.
New Order
2/5
Really didn't like the first song, and was concerned the rest of the album would be the same. Next few songs were better. Mostly it was just bland 80s music to play in the background.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Didn't like this as much as Songs in the Key of Life, but still pretty good. Some of the songs are too long. Superstition is the best. I have a soft spot for I Believe When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever, because of its use at the end of the movie High Fidelity.
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
Didn't stand out to me. I was listening to "Happy Death Men" and thinking I kind of liked it - and then I realized I was the last song on the album. Too little too late.
Sparks
4/5
I've heard a lot about this band in the last few years, but not the music itself until today. I liked it and would listen to it again.
The Young Gods
1/5
40 minutes of French growling. Solid nope.
Van Halen
3/5
I liked listening to this the whole way through instead of individual songs. The album starred really strong, but I don't feel like it finished that way.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
This had some great energy. I would definitely listen to this again.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
I had mixed feelings about this. I was nervous when I saw When Did You Stop Loving Me on the track list several times, but I ended up liking the repeated motif. There were definitely some good songs, but others were too silly to enjoy.
Iron Maiden
3/5
I could only think of the joke in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
The Byrds
4/5
I went into this with low expectations, but I really liked the opening track and the covers of the older songs.
Soft Cell
1/5
I only knew Tainted Love and Where Did Our Love Go before listening to this. Wow. Sleazy in the most cringeworthy way.
Public Enemy
4/5
Laura Nyro
3/5
I can understand the inclusion from a songwriting perspective, but I don't think she had the vocal charisma for the songs. It makes sense that other singers/bands ended up performing them.
Madness
3/5
Don't try to listen to this on Spotify. It's not there - go to YouTube.
It's fun and whimsical, but it wears out its welcome. I liked the first few songs, especially Tomorrow's Just Another Day. But by the time I got to New Delhi, I was ready for it to be done.
Michael Jackson
4/5
I don't think this album has held up as well as some of the others - too entrenched in the lingering disco era. But a Michael Jackson album that's not his best is still better than many other artist's best albums.
The Band
2/5
Country rock, didn't like it.
The Auteurs
3/5
Liked the music - decent 90s alternative. Didn't like the singer though.
Sheryl Crow
4/5
I would rate this 3.5 if I could. Some of it was underwhelming, but I generally liked it. I was surprised that "All I Wanna Do" was buried so far down the track list!
Michael Jackson
5/5
Didn't like the whole album, but it's hard to find a better back-to-back run of songs than Thriller, Beat It, and Billie Jean.
Fishbone
2/5
Whiplash from the multitude of genres
Adam & The Ants
3/5
Fun, upbeat, not very memorable.
Nick Drake
5/5
I'd heard some of his music on soundtracks before. I would definitely listen to this again. Sadly, gone too soon.
Roxy Music
3/5
Early 70s rock, didn't love it, didn't hate it.
Keith Jarrett
3/5
My 3-star rating doesn't reflect the artistry of his playing. It's just that this piano music didn't catch and hold my attention.
Robert Wyatt
3/5
I started this off convinced I'd be giving this album 1 star. It grew on me. The discordant arrangements reminded me of what Radiohead has done decades after this album. I'm bumping up the rating because of its innovation, but I don't think I'd listen to it again.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Loved it. It's really long though.
The Temptations
3/5
Good, but not great.
Talking Heads
5/5
Fun, weird, really liked it.
Boston
4/5
Some great classics, especially More Than a Feeling
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Steely Dan
2/5
Waylon Jennings
2/5
I remain unexcited about country music.
Ella Fitzgerald
5/5
Drive Like Jehu
4/5
I knew nothing about this band. Great rock album, lots of energy - would listen to this again.
The Killers
5/5
Maybe you had to be the right age at the right time, but my millennial self still loves this album!
Def Leppard
2/5
Alice Cooper
4/5
Surprising - I enjoyed the variety. I agree with other reviewers, feels like a concept album.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
I wanted to give this a higher rating because American Girl is awesome, but I didn't like the rest of the album much.
Green Day
4/5
Megadeth
4/5
Fast, ferocious, love the band name
Janis Joplin
5/5
This is full of so much emotion and personality. Love it.
The Undertones
4/5
I liked this. Fun rock album from North Ireland band. Good cover of Under the Boardwalk.
Dwight Yoakam
2/5
Country album - hard for me to distinguish this from any other country artist.
Maxwell
3/5
I don't know this genre well, but I was surprised at how many songs I recognized. I'd give this 3.5 stars if I could.
AC/DC
4/5
It's a classic. Not giving it a 5 star because they all start to sound the same by the end. Still a great listen.
Björk
4/5
Cold, dreamy sound. I think I'd have to be in the right mood to listen to it. Not a good fit for a grey winter day like today.
Pulp
3/5
Sleazy sounding glam rock - a few of the songs reminded me of Creep by Radiohead in a derivative way.
Coldplay
5/5
This album is the bridge between good Coldplay (first album) and bad Coldplay (everything after). A few songs in the middle are skippable, and Clocks was/is overplayed, but the album starts strong and ends strong.
Massive Attack
2/5
A lot of variety. The singer on the first track and a few others reminds me of Natalie Merchant. The artist name Massive Attack made me expect a rock album. I was wrong! Some kind of electronica hybrid.
Cypress Hill
3/5
Not a genre I usually listen to. They earned the explicit rating on those songs. I liked the energy though.
Funkadelic
3/5
I don't even know how to rate this. Technically I think it's great, but it's not a genre I'd pick to listen to. Also - fried ice cream?!
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
2/5
Lots of different genres, didn't make much impression on me.
Ian Dury
1/5
Who told this guy he could sing? This almost became the third album I gave up on, but I pushed through.
Guns N' Roses
4/5
The Jam
2/5
I debated whether to give this a 2 or a 3. It's fine, I guess? It's not bad. It just doesn't stand out to me. It's not distinctive. I expect not to like everything on this list, because it encompasses so many decades and genres. But I can usually understand why albums are included. This one I don't get.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
What a weird, awesome choice for the Christmas Eve album! I'm giving it a 4 for the creativity and because I think I'd appreciate it even more with a second listen.
Various Artists
5/5
ZZ Top
3/5
Pixies
4/5
Where is My Mind is best known now, but there are other good songs too. I like Bone Machine and Gigantic.
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
The Police
3/5
Has some memorable songs, but I didn't love it.
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
The 12-minute Outro was like a time capsule of things that aren't around anymore. Anyways - I liked this.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
2/5
This only gets a 2 because the instrumental tracks weren't bad. The songs with vocals were just obnoxious.
Aerosmith
4/5
I like Aerosmith as long as I don't listen to the lyrics.
The White Stripes
5/5
It's a toss up as to whether this or Elephant is my favorite White Stripes album. I like a lot of these songs individually, but the back half of the album I like less. However, even the songs I like less are better than so many other albums on this list.
Grateful Dead
3/5
I had a lot of preconceived ideas about this band without ever really hearing their music before. I liked it better than expected, but still didn't love it.
Blur
4/5
What a weird mix of genres and music styles by decade. I'd listen to it again though.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Seems like it checked all the boxes for Bruce Springsteen songs, but also didn't seem particularly memorable
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Time to go listen to Liz Phair's response to this album next.
Björk
4/5
One of the fun things about this project is now I've discovered I like Bjork sometimes. The juxtaposition of old styles and new on some of the songs is interesting to listen to.
Raekwon
1/5
Hugh Masekela
3/5
Interesting jazz/world music mix from the 70s. Might rate higher upon a second listen.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
I knew nothing about this band or album going in. I really liked the dreamy songs, but the rest not so much. I'd listen to some of this again.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Hard to give this album anything less than a 5 when it opens with the best version of Respect.
Tim Buckley
2/5
Seemed like a talented musician, but I didn't enjoy it.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
I feel like I lost brain cells listening to this, but it definitely took me back to my high school years.
Basement Jaxx
4/5
Taking me back to high school - seemed like these songs were everywhere.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
4/5
Elvis Costello
5/5
I didn't know what to expect, being more familiar with later Elvis Costello. I liked this a lot. Fun, catchy, quick listen.
Deep Purple
3/5
Didn't listen to the last two songs. This double album was a lot to get through. All the beginner band classes still appreciate how easy it is to learn Smoke on the Water, my kids included.
Talking Heads
4/5
Weird, but I knew it would be with this band. I'd listen to it again.
The Kinks
4/5
I liked a lot of the storytelling songs at the beginning of the album.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Loved the energy and the opening song.
David Bowie
4/5
I've gone back and forth between rating this 3 or 4. I liked the first half better. I already knew Golden Years - one of my favorites. Listening to this with a head cold only amplified the dreamlike quality of this album.
David Holmes
3/5
I was a big fan of the Ocean's 11 soundtrack, so I recognized the name. Didn't like this album as much as the soundtrack.
Iron Maiden
3/5
Satanic panic! Strong rock album, but the religious and dark themes were too heavy for me today.
Django Django
5/5
Is this a good album? From a technical standpoint I don't know, but it's the sort of thing I like and would definitely listen to again.
White Denim
5/5
I've never heard of this before but I loved it.
The Divine Comedy
1/5
A short album about how many times we can compare his love to a horse, dog, etc.
The Police
4/5
Didn't like Walking in your Footsteps or Mother, but I really enjoyed most of the songs.
Magazine
2/5
70s British glam rock, didn't like the lead singer and didn't make much of an impression on me.
Mylo
2/5
Didn't destroy rock & roll, just any good impression I might have of the album.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Too sober to enjoy Murder Mystery, but I loved the rest of the album.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
1/5
Suffered through it. Either sleazy uninspired excess or cover songs.
Stephen Stills
3/5
I used to hate the song Love the One You're With. Heard it too many times working retail. Listening to it again now many years later - it's a fantastic album opener and one of the best songs on the album. I still don't love this music but I can appreciate it more now.
John Cale
3/5
Some of the music was OK, but I didn't like the vocals. It didn't stand out much to me.
The Who
5/5
Boards of Canada
1/5
I wanted to like this, but once I got to the song with the counting, there was no way this would get any rating besides a 1.
Talking Heads
3/5
Jethro Tull
4/5
First several songs were amazing. Didn't like the second half of the album as much. I liked the storytelling in the songs.
Hot Chip
3/5
I enjoyed this more than my 3 rating indicates. It was fun and catchy. I just don't care for the repetitive nature of some of the songs.
Travis
5/5
Public Enemy
4/5
Still hits hard years later.
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
Baaba Maal
2/5
Didn't like the mashup with the global sound and the 90s sound - hasn't aged well.
Turbonegro
3/5
Different than I expected when I saw the song titles. Didn't expect the glam rock sound. Liked it but didn't love it.
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
Don't usually listen to rap, so this is difficult to rate. I liked the second half of the album better than the first. Some interesting samples - quite confident I heard Pyramid Song by Radiohead in there.
Stephen Stills
2/5
Fiona Apple
5/5
While I think this album falters a bit in the second half, I love her voice and lyricism.
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
Good thing I looked at Wikipedia before I wrote this. I thought the band was Irish - they are not! This album doesn't feel musically consequential but it was a fun listen regardless.
The Stone Roses
4/5
Hard to describe. Would definitely listen to this again.
Cowboy Junkies
5/5
Weird and dreamy and lovely, but in a kind of creepy way. Like a good dream on the verge of turning bad.
Sarah Vaughan
5/5
Great jazz club snapshot, beautiful voice.
Elliott Smith
4/5
Mostly liked it. I'd forgotten how much I liked Son of Sam.
Slipknot
2/5
I can't listen to an hour of this. Made it through the first few songs and then gave up. Giving it 2 stars instead of 1 because I'm sure it's a great example of the musical genre, but I just get such bad vibes from it that I can't listen to it. Which is probably what the band was going for.
Doves
4/5
Initially I was underwhelmed - songs didn't seem particularly good or bad. Middle of the album, I got to Catch the Sun, which sounds ridiculously like the Foo Fighters. I liked it. That was followed by The Man Who Told Everything, which I liked even better. I wondered if I hadn't given the first half of the album a fair chance, so I listened to it again. Didn't change my opinion much, but overall it was good.
Steely Dan
1/5
Someday my kids are going to be listening to music I liked when I was a teenager, and they're going to say "oh no, it's music my mom likes".
That's how I feel about this album. It's music my mom and her brothers probably liked, and it does nothing for me.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Tortoise
3/5
This album led me down the Wikipedia wormhole of post-rock. The music is interesting, but I didn't love it.
Red Snapper
1/5
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
I didn't realize how many Jimi Hendrix songs I knew until I listened to this album the whole way through. Absolute classic album.
Suede
3/5
Seemed like a gushing excess of emotion. I liked the sound I generally but the lyrics and the tone felt melodramatic.
Mj Cole
2/5
British dance music, didn't make much impression on me
Pantera
3/5
Solid rock album. Almost an hour of listening to screaming gets old though.
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
I don't think this would have stood out much for me except Grace Slick's vocals. White Rabbit is amazing. The rest of the album feels hit or miss.
Weather Report
1/5
Didn't realize it was all instrumental. Honestly not sure even lyrics could have redeemed this. It has not aged well.
Jurassic 5
3/5
I liked Remember His Name and Thin Line. The other songs made less of an impression.
Tears For Fears
3/5
This is hard to rate for me. On the one hand, I don't like the genre. On the other hand, I think they perform it so well that I have to give them credit for it. I also love the song Head Over Heels.