90
Albums Rated
3.43
Average Rating
8%
Complete
999 albums remaining
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1970s
Favorite Decade
Punk
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other
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
11
5-Star Albums
0
1-Star Albums
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By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Armed Forces
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
|
5 | 3.09 | +1.91 |
|
I Should Coco
Supergrass
|
5 | 3.34 | +1.66 |
|
Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
|
5 | 3.35 | +1.65 |
|
Antichrist Superstar
Marilyn Manson
|
4 | 2.48 | +1.52 |
|
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
|
5 | 3.49 | +1.51 |
|
Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
|
5 | 3.64 | +1.36 |
|
Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
|
5 | 3.72 | +1.28 |
|
Pearl
Janis Joplin
|
5 | 3.73 | +1.27 |
|
Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
|
5 | 3.92 | +1.08 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wild Is The Wind
Nina Simone
|
2 | 3.64 | -1.64 |
|
Illmatic
Nas
|
2 | 3.61 | -1.61 |
|
Surfer Rosa
Pixies
|
2 | 3.5 | -1.5 |
|
Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
|
2 | 3.44 | -1.44 |
|
Odessey And Oracle
The Zombies
|
2 | 3.42 | -1.42 |
|
If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
The Mamas & The Papas
|
2 | 3.42 | -1.42 |
|
Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
|
2 | 3.38 | -1.38 |
|
Figure 8
Elliott Smith
|
2 | 3.33 | -1.33 |
|
System Of A Down
System Of A Down
|
2 | 3.27 | -1.27 |
|
Paranoid
Black Sabbath
|
3 | 4.2 | -1.2 |
5-Star Albums (11)
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Popular Reviews
Alanis Morissette
5/5
Jagged Little Pill definitely wears its heart (and fury) on its sleeve, and those grungy guitar textures give it that extra punch.This one’s all about catharsis—anger, heartbreak, vulnerability, defiance—and she owns it.
The vocals swing from whispery to howling in seconds. It’s confessional without being soft, and feminist without being preachy—just intensely personal and musically gripping. My standouts are the obvious ones "you oughta know" & "all I really want", but the whole album resonates.
1 likes
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David Bowie
4/5
I bought this album on the strength of the single Heroes. Loved side A immediately but it took me a while to warm to the mostly instrumental 2nd side. Its on regular rotation from my vinyl collection now. The lack of lyrics on most tracks on side B threw me. I associate Bowie with his lyrics but after I listened to them as tracks in their own right rather than Bowie Tracks, I came to enjoy them.
ZZ Top
3/5
Not in my collection and not really on my radar. Found it enjoyable, good solid guitar riffs and solos and the hits (Legs, Sharp dressed Man) were instantly recognisable and had me tapping my feet. If I found an original pressing somewhere I would consider it. But if I analyse why I liked it, for that raw sweaty pub style rock I think the Top did it better on tres hombres.
However listening to this made me want to add tres hombres to my collection.
Nas
2/5
Look, I can tell it's good.The lyrics are razor-sharp, the production is spot on, but it's deeply rooted in a very specific reality: That “gotta represent” ethos—where your identity is tied to your block, your crew, your hustle—it’s powerful, but I didn’t grow up in that mindset or world, and it feels more like watching a documentary than something I can feel on a gut level.
Good but not for me.
John Lennon
4/5
My only Lennon album (apart from several Beatles albums) is Shaved Fish with the Plastic Ono Band. I loved it. This is better. Has a definite mood and the tracks seem to lead into each other. It tells a story although the story arc is not clear and will take me many listens to work out. Exactly what you look for when buying a vinyl. It’s now definitely on my list.
The Pogues
4/5
Fuck I love the Irish. The whole “I’m fooked, you’re fooked, everything’s fooked, so let’s have a drink and giggle and make the best of it” vibe is so beautifully represented in this album.
The only Pogues offering I own is a best of Cd. Now I have to own this one.Fairytail of New York is the best known but Turkish song of the damned & Bottle of smoke really hit the mark.
There’s not a bad track on it. Why don’t I own this already
If Johnny Cash was a drunk Irishman he might have liked this
Bob Dylan
4/5
Dylan sounds happy, playful even, cheeky even on side A. The first track Subterranean Homesick blues was a suprise to me. In your face don’t trust the man vibe. Side B was more the Dylan I expected. This wasn’t on my radar as I already own Blonde on Blönde, Blood on the attacks and a couple of others but if I come across one I might pick it up
Green Day
4/5
This one has been in my library for a while. To me this was Green Day at their most ambitious. This is an album that needs to be played through front to back. Not that there aren’t killer tracks (American Idiot, Holiday etc) but the whole thing is punk rock opera. I could see both John Lydon (Sex Pistols) and Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) both appreciating this one.
Janis Joplin
5/5
This one has been in my collection for a long time and gets regular spins. This (along with Cheap Thrills with Big Brother and the Holding Company) is the Joplin album to own in my opinion. Me and Bobby Mc Gee and Cry Baby hit like a sledgehammer and you can just feel that she is putting it all out there. Mercedes Benz is Janis at her cheeky best and the whole album just resonates joy rage and pain. Love it
Nirvana
4/5
Amazing how many of these albums I own on vinyl. Bought this one on the strength of Teen Spirit but found the rest of the album didn’t let me down. I struggled through the 80’s with the overproduced image conscious direction that pop was taking but this album felt link a return to authenticity that the Clash and the Pistols delivered in the 70’s. Come as you are and lithium feel simple but are reality are emotionally powerful. love it
Heaven 17
2/5
It’s ok but not really for me. Probably better to dance to than listen to on its own. Those hooks were very repetitive. let’s all make a bomb was the standout of the bunch for me. If you like Human League but arguably a bit edgier this might suit. Won’t be chasing this one down though.
Aimee Mann
3/5
“Jacob Marley’s Chain” and “Mr. Harris” are both great examples of an ability to blend melancholy with a kind of literary sharpness—not overdone, just well observed and emotionally true. Not flashy, but this has got staying power.
Air
3/5
Really liked this. Had that SBS Chill vibe. Ambient but not simplistic. Listened to this while on a road trip and liked it so much that I played it three times. No real track stood out for me it was the whole vibe. It shaped my mood rather than demanding my attention. Nicely done.
Bob Dylan
4/5
The whole album’s is a reminder of how powerful one voice and a guitar can be. I don't own this one but I loved how political and poetic it is. Its very Dylan (duh). It’s acoustic and stripped-back—just Dylan and his guitar/harmonica, a string of songs that are by turns angry, tender, and razor-sharp. My standouts were
“A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” – “Masters of War” & Talkin World War III Blues
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
Liked it.
Because I don't know the language I just tried to absorb the vibe. Chan Chan was the standout as the rest of the tracks merged, they were warm, rhythmic, and deeply human.
While not background music in the modern chillout sense,I did find it good to have on while I did chores as it does have that kind of breezy, atmospheric charm that makes everyday moments feel a bit more cinematic. It made me think of Dexter in the non dramatic moments ( there was definitely a strong Cuban/Miami sound in that show.)
Alanis Morissette
5/5
Jagged Little Pill definitely wears its heart (and fury) on its sleeve, and those grungy guitar textures give it that extra punch.This one’s all about catharsis—anger, heartbreak, vulnerability, defiance—and she owns it.
The vocals swing from whispery to howling in seconds. It’s confessional without being soft, and feminist without being preachy—just intensely personal and musically gripping. My standouts are the obvious ones "you oughta know" & "all I really want", but the whole album resonates.
Supergrass
5/5
This nailed that sweet spot—punk spirit without the weight. It’s the kind of album that doesn’t need to say a lot to make you feel a lot. It’s full of wild energy, scruffy guitars, and breakneck pacing. It feels playful, sometimes bratty, but surprisingly sharp musically.
I recognised Alright straight away. The rest of the tracks resonated too. A cheeky playful sought of punk without all the serious political overtones that usually come with that genre.
Green Day
3/5
Nice tight modern punk album, somewhere between angst and amusement. It’s still a pissed off vibe, but with a grin rather than a sneer. Liked it rather than loved it. There are definitely more ambitious Green Day albums out there. When I come around and Basket Case where the standouts for me
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Ok this is one Ive owned for many, many, many years and play regularlyIt's heavy, mystical, bluesy, and timeless. Like most people I bought the album on the strength of Stairway To Heaven, but black dog, when the levee breaks and misty mountain hop kept me playing it over and over. This is not denigrate the other tracks, I defy anyone to say one of them isn't a banger. Couldn't recommend this enough. A must own.
The Zombies
2/5
Pleasant, melancholy , sweet. Seemed well crafted and the Beatles and Beach Boy influences are definitely there. My preference is for a more "punchy" listen with sharp edges. That's why the only track that resonated for me was "Time of the Season".
Caetano Veloso
3/5
Nice. Not knowing the language had to judge as an atmospheric companion. It definitely was nice to have on while driving or working. Enjoyed it. Wonder what Portugiese speakers would make of it.
The Mamas & The Papas
2/5
Nice … but if I’m honest I expected to like it more than I did. The group has such a big reputation and I love the music fry this era but this was just nice. Maybe it suffered because of my expectations. Vocal harmonies were spot on and the tunes catchy enough but not really my cup of tea
Willie Nelson
4/5
I own Wille Nelson albums but not this one. I went into this one cold. Loved it. Stripped down, outlaw country.It's quiet but haunting . A hint of menace. You need to listen to the album as a whole not just cherry pick songs from it. I can honestly say that this one is now on my list
Ray Charles
5/5
Just picked up a copy of this. It's been on my list for a long long long time. Unfortunately not the original mono pressing but one of the early stereo copies.Ray’s voice, paired with that orchestration and emotional weight, makes it feel like every track has gravity. You don't know me and I can't stop loving you have always been my favourites. I know historically this has always been an important album but it's nice to know that it is great as well. A must for any collection if you can still find one.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Yeah, I must admit the 14 year old boy in me loves this album. Yep the lyrics and attitudes expressed are problematic to mature ears, but this appealed to me during a time when I was just becoming aware of rap and it incorporated music styles and topics I could relate to. Smiled the whole time this album was playing.
I enjoyed it with a mix of nostalgia and self-awareness. The album wasn’t trying to be deep—it was trying to shake things up, have a good time, and flip the bird at anyone who took music (or themselves) too seriously. And it worked.
R.E.M.
4/5
This is not an album you just put on while washing dishes. It asks something of the listener.It’s an album that wraps you in its melancholy rather than alienating you with it. It's not just a bunch of songs, it feels like a short film or a novel. The two hits were familiar to me (Everybody Hurts & Man on the Moon) while Star me kitten and night swimming really hit the mark. On my list.
Orbital
2/5
This is layered, atmospheric, and rhythmic without being too intrusive, which makes it excellent for flow-state work. That blend of ambient techno and subtle complexity can be perfect for maintaining concentration. Nice to have on in the background but classical music and SBS Chill give me the same effect.
The Smiths
2/5
I really wanted to like this album so I listened to it. I did like it, but didn't love it. I found that my mind wandered and I'd do other things while it was on. The lyrics were clever, inspired even, the beats and musicianship well done, but it just didn't grab me. It felt a bit too refined or subdued. It had more melancholy, orchestration, and nuance than what I expected, which made it beautiful but also less arresting, at least to me. It did make me want to try some of their earlier work which I believe is edgier,
Pink Floyd
4/5
Found this strangely melancholy and menacing at the same time. Ot really felt like an opera, no one track stood out (well except maybe the eponymous track) you had to listen to it as a whole. I own both the Wall and Dark side of the moon, but this was different,more subtle, more wounded. It's almost operatic. “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” is broken into two long bookending parts that frame the whole thing, like the overture and finale of an opera. The middle tracks — “Welcome to the Machine,” “Have a Cigar,” and “Wish You Were Here” — are like dramatic arias or scenes, each adding layers to the themes of disillusionment, exploitation, and loss. Loved it.
Elis Regina
2/5
Liked it, no idea what she was singing about but it felt joyous and optimistic. Had it on in the background while I worked. It had a way of making even non-Portuguese speakers like myself feel the emotional tone of the songs. Felt bright, flowing, and optimistic song, both musically and lyrically
2/5
Not for me. The musicianship was fine, the lyrics appeared to be there just to deliver the vocals and didn’t really improve the tracks they were on. Though they were pleasant. It’s ok to have on in the background but not a “stop and listen to” , at least for me.
Spiritualized
4/5
Why didn't I know about this album. Hints of oasis/Pink Floyd. Atmospheric Dark Whimsical, loved It. It uses lush orchestration, gospel choirs, and druggy psychedelia into something that feels like drifting through space and grief at the same time. Reminded me of the first time I heard Dark Side of the Moon.
The Who
3/5
This album has my all time favourite Who track, “I won’t get fooled again’. This is a lovely album that reflects its times. Baba O’Riley and behind blue eyes would be familiar to most, and for a good reason. To me this was the scream at the Hippie movement for getting the world’s hope up and failing without a whimper. Don’t get fooled again-you look after you is what this one says to me
Prince
3/5
Must admit, never been a huge Prince fan. I appreciate his talent but it wasn't really my cup of tea. So I listened to this album for the first time. I, like everyone else , heard the hits and liked them. But what surprised me was 1999. I've heard it a million times but never really listened. This one has oomph. The dichotomy between the style of the song and the lyrics really hits home. The world is F#$%& so let's have fun while it lasts. Album a three but that song knocks it up a bit
Frank Zappa
4/5
I own Freak out by the Mothers of Invention, so I was looking forward to this one. Very surprised to find out it was an instrumental album (with the exception of Willie the Pimp). Gotta admit loved it. No track really stood out but you can't deny the musicianship. Not too messy and unstructured but just enough improvisation to keep you listening. Nice
The Cure
4/5
Wow, very different from what I expected, which I based on their later, work like "The Love Cats," "Friday I'm In Love," or "Just Like Heaven." This was very dark, introspective, and atmospheric. Very emotionally charged vocals, lyrics that hint at something but don't spell it out for you, leaving you to interpret them. This is a good one
Marilyn Manson
4/5
Albums that shout at the hypocrisy and mendacity of the world are right in my wheel house and this album SCREAMS at the hypocrisy and mendacity of the world. If Heath Mason's version of the Joker was a rock star, he'd sing like this. I can just see the lyrics to “Irresponsible Hate Anthem” scrawled along the walls at some crime scene.
I like Manson the way I like Bowie.Bowie always had this air of cosmic melancholy, mourning the mess we've made, but there’s still a trace of hope in his gaze. Manson Condemns. Screams from the wreckage of the world as he pokes at the idols that society has made.
Isn't there a little "Wormy" in all of us
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
I know this album well. I have owned it on vinyl for some years and it's gets played regularly. " Chain" is my all time favourite Fleetwood Mac song. It feels... defiant. In saying that every song tells a story, ranging from pop to soul to almost ethereal sounds. This one was always getting a 5 from me.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
This is the first time I have listened to this. Lovely dreamy, textured sound. I found myself hardly listening to the lyrics, just enjoying the vocals as if they were an instrument on their own. Played it again while I worked, it was perfect for getting into that creative & focused headspace.
The Stooges
4/5
Oh my god how did I not know this album existed. Flashes of the Sex Pistols, Ramones, Nirvana and Sonic youth. These guys were punk years before anyone knew what punk was. "I wanna be your dog" is attention grabbing but every track is a gritty snarling rebuff of everything that the 60's flower power generation stood for. Some of the slower (softer?) tracks have a Velvet Underground vibe. This is right in my wheelhouse.
Sade
3/5
Nice, kind of a lounge feel, very smooth and sophisticated. The breathless soulful vocals really suit this style. For me the standout track was " Why can't we live together". It was sleek and jazzy and had a real emotional message
The Beach Boys
5/5
I have owned this one a long time and to me it is THE Beach Boys album. Still has those classic Beach Boy sounds, harmonies but the songs have more depth, a bit edgier. The arrangements a bit more innovative.
I know this one has received a lot of public acclaim but on a personal level this is one of those albums that resonates with me as it did on first listen.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Listening to this as an album for the first time and it’s everything you could want from one of her offerings. starts out with the ever recognisable RESPECT and doesn’t disappoint from there on. This album is a lesson in how every element of a record can exist to serve the voice. Aretha’s vocals aren’t just the centerpiece—they’re the driving force, and everything else bows to them. The lyrics give her the full range: from the assertiveness of “Respect” to the vulnerability in “I Never Loved a Man” to the quiet, simmering fire in “Dr. Feelgood.” It’s like every song was built to showcase what her voice can do.
Metallica
3/5
This is a good, solid representation of what Metallica is. It shows of their technical complexity compared to other thrash metal bands of that time. The lyrical themes were right up my alley and had excellent production quality. If you, like me bought the Black Album as your gateway into the Metallica-verse, this would be a good next step, less polished for mass appeal perhaps but more authentic.
Pulp
4/5
I first came aware of Pulp when William Shatner did a cover of "Common People" (unfortunately not on this album, and am I weird because that Shatner versions is still my favourite version). That led me to the Pulp version, which led me to Pulp, and what I found was that some tracks hit me like a sledgehammer, lyrics so sharp and insightful they feel like they should be mandatory listening at school, but other tracks...vary between nice and " what are you wining about you wanker". On this album "Fear", "I'm a man", "Glory Days" & "Like a Friend" hit me with a sledgehammer. I liked "The day after the revolution" a lot. The rest sounded like a guy moaning into his mirror with a bottle of red wine. But that’s kind of what makes the album feel like the hangover after a wild party—you don’t love every minute, but the honesty is hard to ignore.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Ok. I, like everyone else in my generation, own a copy of “Rumours”. I obviously heard “Tusk” before ,so I thought I knew what I was in for with this album. This isn’t “Rumours”. It’s messier, “thunkier” (if that’s a word) more jarring and dare I saw more “honest”. Not the polished Fleetwood Mac offering I was expecting. I liked it, and if I have repeated listens I think I’d grow to love it. I’m going to buy a copy.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
This was nice. Pleasant vocals, lyrics felt raw and honest. I have to be in the mood for folk and this would be one that I could see myself listening to again and again
Soundgarden
4/5
I've owned this one for a long while, and every time I listen to it I wonder why I don't listen to it more often. These guys master setting up an infectious riff and then building on it, layer after layer, the emotional intensity of the vocals and the tight interplay builds the tension throughout, giving the riff enough space to breath and surge until its all released. This is hard rock done about as "professionally" as it can be done without losing the attitude that makes it Rock.
Electric Light Orchestra
5/5
I must admit nostalgia is a big factor in how much I am enjoying this album. ELO have such a distinctive style, somewhat "Beatle's like"and Dylan's narrative style with Queens grand layered production giving it a special touch. " Mr Blue Sky" has been a favourite for a long time, and "Sweet Talking Woman" & "Turn to Stone" both made me smile and turn up the volume. It feels very much like a group of very talented artists decided to have fun and push technical boundaries. Love it
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
5/5
This has been part of my collection for a long while, and I must admit I am a big fan of Elvis Costello and this album is the reason why. Po friendly angry young man is how I'd describe his work. "Olivers Army" is a perfect example. This is pop at its best, smart lyrics, cutting, even venomous delivery and catchy to boot.
Talk Talk
4/5
This was new to me. Didn't know much of the group. Kind of thought that they were 80's New Romantics but from this offering I guess they were much more than that. I expected more synths but this appeared to be played with real instruments, and not "poppy" at all. The lyrics are cryptic but clever enough to pull you in. I imagine ten different people listening to a track and having ten different interpretations of it and all of them convinced they're right. A vey good listen.
Talking Heads
4/5
Quirky,clever everything you want in a Talking Head album. The cover of Take me to the River is so good you think that it is a talking head song. I like the band a lot and this is a good example of why
The Replacements
4/5
Very nice, right in my wheelhouse.I love gruff vocals, guitar focused rock with a dissatisfied vibe. It has that "punk" feel, probably at the core of every track, making every track feel honest although obviously some were "tongue in cheek". "Unsatisfied" is a standout, but if I'm honest the one that had me turning up the volume every time was the cover of "Black Diamond". I love covers that do something different than the original.
Arcade Fire
5/5
What a great album. The first thing that grabs you from the opening tracks is that driving, piano-heavy rhythm. It doesn't sound like other rock songs, it "pulses". Lyrically this is right in my sweet spot, commenting on media saturation, war, religion, and disillusionment. The vocals seem to almost sit "outside" the arrangement but the harmonies bring it all back in. Made me think of everyone trying to be an individual but that cultural "back beat" of day to day western culture drags along even if we see it for what it is. "Black Mirror", "Ocean of Noise"and “My Body Is a Cage” say so much without spelling everything out. Dylan would love the lyrics and Springsteen and Joy division echo in the arrangement.,
The Rolling Stones
2/5
I'm a Rolling Stones fan, and I was excited to listen to listen to this as it is not an album I'm familiar with. "Paint it Black" sets a lovely tone, but then....eh. It's not bad, it's just ...eh. I listened a second time as a satirical drama/concept album and it was better but it shouldn't be that much work. If you want to get a Rolling Stones album there is better out there. "Let it Bleed" was my gateway and I would recommend it to anyone.
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
With his work in the Beatles, McCartney has long been tagged as the "melodist" and "commercial one," sometimes unfairly diminished for writing songs that are catchy or optimistic, as if those traits were somehow lesser. Band on the Run is a great counterpoint to that notion. It’s melodic, yes, but also sophisticated, adventurous, and emotionally layered. The title track alone shifts through multiple musical sections like a mini rock opera, yet it never loses its coherence or drive. That kind of structural boldness is classic McCartney. Commercialism does not mean artistic weakness. McCartney understood how to craft music that reached people without dumbing it down. That’s a skill, not a flaw — and Band on the Run walks that line beautifully. Band on the Run proves he didn’t need Lennon to make something brilliant — though, of course, what they did together was simply magic.
Willie Nelson
4/5
This the only Willie Nelson Album I own which is strange because it is far away from the outlaw cowboy music he is known for. His voice is not powerful but it's expressive, agile and even "weary" quality perfectly matches the standards he chose to cover here. Brave choice that shows his confidence as an artist.
George Jones
3/5
Didn't know a lot about George Jones before listening to this. Classic 70's country, rich story telling and deep emotional vocals. Nothing flash but excellently delivered. If you like country tearjerkers you'll love this album
Travis
3/5
This is my first listen to this. Very nice, introspective tracks. Kind of a bittersweet, resigned hopefulness to it. If I didn't know who was singing it I would have guessed Jeff Buckley or even Coldplay. This a very quietly powerful album and I think if I run across one in my hunts of record stores and estate sales I would definitely pick this up.
Steely Dan
3/5
Ok, first listen, it was nice. Tight arrangements that sound loose, great guitar work and it had that jazzy, "jamming with mates" sound. Then I listened while reading the lyrics and I got it. These guy's aren't into feelings, they are clever and a little mean. I bet Zappa bought this album. Great musicianship, not taking them selves too seriously and giving lovely smart arse comments on the idiocracy that surrounds them. What's not to like
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
This is both frustrating and brilliant: it’s uneven, but when it hits, it really hits.It opens with such gravity and beauty—tracks like “Bookends Theme,” “Save the Life of My Child,” and “America” promise a deeply reflective, even existential experience.Then you hit something like “Punky’s Dilemma,” and it’s… a guy imagining he’s a soft-boiled egg. There are some great tracks here though, “Old Friends” and “A Hazy Shade of Winter” still carry a lot of weight and musical sophistication, but some of the "filler" tracks stop it from being great. Between the "Bookends" you have a great album, after that there are a couple of great tracks.
Beatles
5/5
This is arguably The Beatles at their best. What’s not to love. The harmonies, the experimental textures, and great songwriting. The arguments about which is the best Beatles album will go on forever but this has to be in the conversation.
Pixies
2/5
I'm listening to Surfer Rosa by the Pixies for the first time. I was in the car so I couldn't read the lyrics (and had trouble understanding them) but while this the guitar heavy raw sound I usually like, sonically it sounded the same for the majority of the tracks. I think if I heard the tracks come on the radio I would turn it up but as an album it didn't make me rush out and find a copy. Where's my mind was the standout for me.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
This is a great album. You can really hear her love for jazz and those old-school crooners in that album—it’s like she’s channeling a smoky late-night club vibe but with her own raw, modern twist. Tracks like "Stronger Than Me" and "Take the Box" have that playful swing, while "Moody’s Mood for Love" feels straight out of a classic jazz set. This is lovely and is definitely on my shopping list.
R.E.M.
3/5
Sounds very experimental although the pop type hits like Orange Crush and Stand, and even Pop Song 89 grab your attention. I feel most of the rest of the album would benefit from repeated listenings but I found myself gravitating to the tunes where the hooks were immediate and I didn't have to decode the often confusing lyrics. Nice album.
Beck
3/5
I love heavy riff-driven, kinda blues-rock and hip-hop-inspired music and this has this in spades but there are a number folk music-y tracks as well. “Go it alone” grabbed me the most on first listen but there’s enough here to give this several spins. The lyrics are typical Beck (you can only guess what they men) but they do create mental pictures that resonate, like an abstract painting rather than traditional storytelling. Instead of telling a clear narrative, he throws out fragments, surreal images, and pop-culture debris, creating a vibe or mental picture rather than a message. I’m left with a country and Western doomed Cowboy vibe.
System Of A Down
2/5
This is the group that led me to download an Armenian Folk playlist and that led me down the rabbit hole of world music. This is a beast of its own! It’s raw, chaotic, and political, but also weirdly playful in spots. That mix of thrash, Armenian folk flourishes, and manic vocal shifts makes it one of those records you either bounce off… or find yourself obsessively playing over and over again. It’s less polished politically than Toxicity, but more unhinged, surreal, and abstract, which gives it a very different personality. The anti-authoritarian streak is present throughout, but usually buried in strange metaphor. You’ll either love it or hate it but you won’t forget it.
Black Sabbath
3/5
This Album hits like a hammer right out of the gate. "War Pigs", "Paranoid" & "Iron Mind". The front-loaded power of this album is undeniable—three of the greatest hard rock/metal songs of all time stacked together. The back half isn’t bad at all, but it feels like a band still experimenting with what they wanted to be. "Hand of Doom" is quite good but took a few listens to love. The guitar riffs were soooo ahead of their time so it's hard to remember their impact at the time. RIP Ozzy, I love that you didn't take all this shit seriously.
Neu!
3/5
Didn't know anything about this when I put to on. Very nice, kind of electronic synth, really atmospheric but then suddenly goes punk with Hero. After Eight was probably the standout for me. I could imagine Bowie liking this.
N.W.A.
4/5
I love this album. I've owned it for a while. I know a lot of people have an issue with the misogyny and violence expressed but in my view they merely exaggerate and mythologise the urban struggle the way that traditional country and western exaggerates and mythologises rural life. It sells a myth of authenticity even if few Compton residents were shooting it daily. Straight outta Compton, F*** the Police, Gangsta Gangsta & Express Yourself are simply great. If you listen to this as a narrative that glorifies struggle, loss and survival set to some frankly killer beats then how can you not love it.
U2
4/5
One of the first albums I ever bought. I was deeply into anything that wasn't just love songs and this went head on into politics, conflict and social injustice. Was and conflict run through every track, "Sunday Bloody Sunday" being the hit that caused me to buy it but there's not a dud track on the album. "Seconds" and "Like a Song..." probably resonate the most with me. They have that martial, pounding beat, filled in with a sharp and jagged guitar. It feels punk, but it feels polished. I don't think this was their first album, but for me this is when U2 starts. They became very polished after this, still socially relevant, but not as raw (which I love). This is a must have.
Queen Latifah
2/5
I like Rap and I know historically this is considered as having a pioneering position in hip hop history but it misses its mark for me. Maybe it just doesn't age well it feels dated and soft-edged. If Stock Aitken Waterman wrote Rap this is what it would sound like. Its style is safety first, tonally very clean has high production gloss. There's even token attempt to put a political spine in some of the tracks (" Ladies First"). But to me it feels like early crossover rap made palatable so it will sell to the widest audience possible.
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
I find with albums in a language I don’t know to treat the vocals as a musical instrument and base my expectations it as an instrumental. This is mostly in Portuguese with a few tracks in English. My first impressions are that it is a very pleasant, ‘lounge’ style album with an optimistic vibe. They feel wistful rather than tragic. Playful even. I probably wouldn't go out searching for this one but if I cam upon a copy in a bulk buy, I would definitely keep it and play it often.
Syd Barrett
2/5
If James Joyce's Ulysses was set to music it might sound like this. It is evocative but doesn't quite deliver. It sounds like a busker at a train station who doesn't care if you put some coins in his hat, he just wants somewhere with an echo to practice. It's fragmented, has moments ( varies into skiffle and Beatlesque sections), but doesn't quite work. It sounds like someone trying to work out their sound, other offerings may be worth a listen.
Kanye West
4/5
You can't deny the production quality, the smooth seamless vocals, the excellent beats that support the message and the cutting edge lyrics. What I didn't realise is how "Trumpian" this album was. If you want to understand Trump listen to this. It isn't pro trump, it's if he was channeling trump. "I'm a monster, you knew it you wanted me anyway so stop crying".
It's excellent but disturbing and while it doesn't align with my political views you can't deny it. Monster hits it on the head. A must have.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
I listened to this with my wife and we were discussing why I liked it so much. I'm usually drawn to loud angry music about the failings of society and this was not that. She said the anger is still there but it's dignified.The groove is undeniable—steady, warm, enveloping. The voice is iconic. The themes are timeless—oppression, exile, rebellion, redemption. It’s music you feel before you think about it. It feels true, and the same with all good music no matter what genre. The message is a chant. You find yourself repeating it long after the album is back in its dust cover.
Gotan Project
3/5
So This is the first time I've heard this and not understanding the lingo I can only judge it on the vibe it gave me. Nice sound, obviously latin but I felt that the accordion gave it a French feel (I also got melancholy dystopian "12 Monkey Vibes" throughout). There is an unresolved energy about the tracks giving a feeling that something is building. If I owned it I would play it a lot while I'm busy with work, but I don't.
The Temptations
4/5
I did not realise how socially aware the Temptations were. I thought I knew their music, but I guess I was hearing it without listening to it. There are some really edgy themes running behind the soul & funk. "Run Charlie Run" is genuinely confronting while the Cover of "First Time I saw your face" is as tender as you'd expect. "For me "Papa was a rollin' stone" is the standout. I will be on look out for this in Vinyl stores.
Tracy Chapman
3/5
Very nice. This album works best when she isn’t trying to be the voice of a movement, but rather the voice of a single life caught in a larger system. The folk-protest roots are there, but the emotional knockout punch comes when she’s just telling you about one person’s kitchen-table reality. "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" is probably the exception, it’s about the poor rising up, and she sings it like she’s right there on the street with them. It's all about her voice, minimal accompaniment, "Fast Car", "For my Lover" and "Behind the Wall" really give that "person at the kitchen table view of the world she lives in. Very nice.
Neil Young
4/5
This is an album I've been eager to listen to for a long time. More country than some of his other offerings, country still seems the wrong way to describe it. Starts off slow, classic melancholy Neil Young but then "A man Needs a Maid" hits with a totally unexpected "big" sound. " Heart of Gold", "Old Man" " There´'s a World" "Alabama" all instant classics. I will buy this album.
Mariah Carey
2/5
Yeah... I'm only a few tracks in and I can tell this is not for me. It feels like it’s aimed at younger listeners, especially those in their first crush/first breakup phase. It feels... professional rather than authentic. Very Radio friendly and deliberately designed to achieve a commercial goal. Very polished, but for my old man ears, a decaying child of the revolution, it sounds a bit ...plastic
Queen
4/5
I have owned this album for close to fifty years. Like most people of my generation I bought and listened over and over again to " A night at the Opera". A few, like myself, went straight out to buy their back catalogue. If you liked Bohemian Rhapsody and the Prophets Song, then this is the album for you. This is the rock opera that should have, but never was made. Not side one and side two it had side white (Brian May compositions with a great track by Roger Taylor to close it out) and black side (Full Freddy at his most Gothic). "Ogre Battle" is pure metal, "March of the Black Queen" is the closest to Bohemian Rhapsody, in structure at least.
I would have loved to have seen this actually staged with costumes, choreography, and a pit orchestra. Side Black could have been pure rock-opera Gothic theatre, and Side White a sweeping fantasy epic.
Jeff Buckley
3/5
This a very highly rated album in my part of the world (Australia). I'll be honest I never really listened to it before as I'm kinda drawn to music heavy with political commentary, irony, or generational despair. This is more timeless, romantic, and almost archaic.
The first thing that strikes me is that even though this is called a "Jeff Buckley" album, the band is excellent. Jangly, reverb-heavy guitars, dynamic shifts—but also strong jazz and folk fingerprints, combined with that unique vocal sound (sometimes a whisper, sometimes a banshee wail), make this sound almost like a musical version of a Van Gogh painting. Creating feeling through sound rather than emotion through texture, transforming the personal & everyday into timeless art.
"Eternal Life" was my highlight.
This is a good album. Well crafted and hits the targets it's trying to hit. Not exactly my cup of tea but I can appreciate the artist's vision and his ability to communicate it.
The Band
4/5
"Rag Mama Rag" features a lot on my playlists but I've never really dived into the tracks on the rest of the album. It's not country, it's not rock, but every song tells a story and you feel they would be well received by any crowd in the last 100 or so years. They are timeless. I get Eagles vibes but this is much darker and funkier. Dare I say more real to the everyman's experience. The lyrics are first person driven and are on point. The instrumentation is solely on delivering the story. No big solo's or "look at me" moments. They have a story to tell and the music had to help that, not take away from it. This sounds older, deeper and communal. I will buy this.
Big Star
3/5
This was a bit of a surprise. I'd honestly never heard of it before this listen. It sounded kind of familiar, but it wasn't. Not a concept album, it feels more like those compilation albums that everyone bought in the 70's because we couldn't afford all the '45's we wanted. Has a Byrds like instrumentation. Lyrically you would say there was a definite design to make all these tracks tight and radio friendly, the 3 and a half minute rule was seldom if ever broken. If it was a compilation, you'd swear you were listening Mott the Hoople, The Byrds, Tom Petty, James Taylor, Slade and even some whimsical Beatles. But seeing this was before many of those you'd have to ask who was influencing who? It's like a radio Sampler, and I liked it.
Red Snapper
3/5
This feels like a soundtrack album begging for a movie to back. Not all the tracks grab your attention but honestly this kind of album gets played a lot by me to help me work. If put on "Spiders from Mars" I wouldn't get any work done because that demands to be listened to. There are enough "grab your attention" Tracks to knock you out of your grind, so you can catch your breath and refocus; "The Rake" & They're Hanging Me Out Tonight" are two examples. It's an album of music that supports what you are doing rather than being the thing you're doing. There's a place for this in every collection.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
3/5
From first listen I thought early Dylan. The influence is obvious. Simple songs without polish singing about the real experience of those facing poverty of the early 20th century, although it harks on themes going back a century or more. It's oral history and I love it. Not romanticised, it's observational. "Old Blue" will hit a chord with every dog person. "Grey Goose" give's you images of chain gangs, singing a chant just to get through the day. "Mule Skinner Blues" is my standout.
If you like blues, if you like folk, if you like early Dylan, I think you'll like this.
Elliott Smith
2/5
This sounds nice and the instrumentation is perfectly suited to the material. Very professional. No solo's so I'm thinking session artists rather than a regular backing band. This feels like more of a slow burn than an immediate-grab record. The hooks aren’t obvious; they may reveal themselves after a few listens. The vocals are restrained, and this imposes itself on the arrangements. That one word, restrained, really sums up the album. Like Paul McCartney and XTC in their most introspective works. No anger, no fire, just quiet introspection on personal self doubt, regret and fleeting moments of hope. Very nice but not for me.
Nina Simone
2/5
Nina Simone is fantastic. This isn't her best work. There are of course standout tracks, "Four Women" and "Lilac Wine" are timeless, "Either way I lose" clever and balanced. The rest feels patchwork, uneven. Simone seems to use the tracks as vehicles to show her vocal control and timbral range, often to the detriment of the songs them selves. The arrangements behind her are serviceable but uninspired.
Don't let this album put you off Nina Simone. She is better than this, and those two or three tracks that do hit should give you a taste if you want to dig deeper.
Sugar
2/5
OK, on first listen this seems like pretty standard Indie pop fare. But you look at the date and you realise at the time it wasn't standard indie pop, it helped define that standard. So not a bad record and historically important, to my jaded ears though it sounded a bit generic, but then you realise that Foo Fighters and Weezer etc, may have used this help define their styles it pay's to have a real listen.
Lyrically it's what you would expect, The arrangements are all competent. "A Good Idea" and "Slick" stand out though and "Man the Moon" has been added to my playlist as I believe it deserves multiple listens.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Pop Can Still Matter.Pop music doesn't have to be derivative. It can use interesting arrangements inspired by other cultures. It can break out of the two guitars, bass, and drums format. It can have lyrics that hint at a deeper meaning but leave it to you to work out what that is. Some artists understand that mass appeal and depth are not mutually exclusive — they’re just harder to do together. But when you pull it off? You get albums like this.
The hits are there, "Don't Give up", "Big Time" and "Sledgehammer" all deserve a deeper listen than just having them on your car radio.
This pop, but the best version of pop.