1001 Albums Summary

Listening statistics & highlights

315
Albums Rated
3.47
Average Rating
29%
Complete
774 albums remaining

Rating Distribution

Rating Timeline

Taste Profile

2010
Favorite Decade
Soul
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
76
5-Star Albums
22
1-Star Albums

Breakdown

By Genre

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Top Styles

Tap a bar to see the albums behind it

By Decade

By Origin

Albums

You Love More Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
In Our Heads
Hot Chip
5 3.09 +1.91
You're Living All Over Me
Dinosaur Jr.
5 3.09 +1.91
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
5 3.13 +1.87
The Bones Of What You Believe
CHVRCHES
5 3.16 +1.84
Dear Science
TV On The Radio
5 3.16 +1.84
Pink Flag
Wire
5 3.2 +1.8
Cross
Justice
5 3.27 +1.73
Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
5 3.3 +1.7
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco
5 3.32 +1.68
Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
5 3.32 +1.68

You Love Less Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
Since I Left You
The Avalanches
1 3.28 -2.28
Modern Kosmology
Jane Weaver
1 3.08 -2.08
Better Living Through Chemistry
Fatboy Slim
1 2.98 -1.98
A Night At The Opera
Queen
2 3.95 -1.95
More Specials
The Specials
1 2.95 -1.95
Music Has The Right To Children
Boards of Canada
1 2.92 -1.92
Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
1 2.9 -1.9
Electric Music For The Mind And Body
Country Joe & The Fish
1 2.84 -1.84
Olympia 64
Jacques Brel
1 2.77 -1.77
A Short Album About Love
The Divine Comedy
1 2.76 -1.76

Artists

Favorites

Tap an artist to see their albums

ArtistAlbumsAverage
Led Zeppelin 5 5
Radiohead 5 4.6
Bruce Springsteen 3 5
Nirvana 3 5
Talking Heads 4 4.5
Beatles 3 4.67
Joni Mitchell 3 4.67
Miles Davis 3 4.67
Steely Dan 3 4.67
OutKast 2 5
Prince 2 5
David Bowie 4 4.25

Least Favorites

Tap an artist to see their albums

ArtistAlbumsAverage
The Divine Comedy 2 1

Controversial

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ArtistRatings
Pink Floyd 5, 5, 2

5-Star Albums (76)

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Popular Reviews

Born In The U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen

A lot of idiots in the reviews really didn't understand what this album was about huh?

Seventeen Seconds by The Cure

Disappointed in this one. I like a lot of Cure songs but other than A Forest there's not enough going on here. Almost too moody and atmospheric even.

My wife and I saw Chvrches a while ago and the couple next to us perfectly timed their beer run for when the guy sang his 3 songs in the middle of the show. Anyway this album is synth-pop perfection. Favorite tracks: The Mother We Share, Gun, Lies, Science/Visions

I think time has been kinder to this album than Nevermind or In Utero. A raw and emotional spin on their original songs and the covers are all bangers. One of the best live albums - truly a Performance and not just a live show running through their hits. Standouts: About a Girl, The Man Who Sold the World, Lake of Fire, Where Did You Sleep Last Night

Woodface by Crowded House

Before this I knew one Crowded House song, Don't Dream It's Over. It's a pretty good, catchy anthem. Unfortunately that's not on here. Unmemorable stuff here mostly.

1-Star Albums (22)

All Ratings (315)

Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Apr 21 2025

Some great tracks but too much filler on side B. Could've easily been 10 tracks instead of 15. Such was life for albums in the 90s.

Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin
Apr 22 2025

Led Zeppelin has always been one of my favorite bands so I'm biased but this is truly the most Zeppelin album. Epic ballads, hard rock stompers, Welsh folklore, Blues basics, just a blast all around. The first disc has 6 of the band's best songs.

Zombie by Fela Kuti
Apr 23 2025

Okay now albums like this are why I signed up for this project! All 4 tracks have the same structure (long instrumental followed by short call and response) and I'm not sure if the lyrics pack the same punch as they did in the 70s, but the music still is a trip and the sax solos bang.

Apr 24 2025

The 4 hits from the album still stand the test of time. The other tracks are kind of repetitive and dull. And the Praise You music video is still a work of genius from Spike Jonze.

Machine Head by Deep Purple
Apr 25 2025

Have it on vinyl so was nice to listen to that way. Highway Star is a classic and you can hear the inspiration of every Motley Crue song in there. You all know Smoke in the Water too. The rest of the album just doesn't do it as much.

A Hard Day's Night by Beatles
Apr 28 2025

Doesn't reach the levels of greatness as their later albums but very pleasing 1960s pop songs nonetheless.

Seventeen Seconds by The Cure
Apr 29 2025

Disappointed in this one. I like a lot of Cure songs but other than A Forest there's not enough going on here. Almost too moody and atmospheric even.

Grace by Jeff Buckley
Apr 30 2025

The bones of a good album are there but a lot of it is very meh. Sad we never got a chance to hear more from him. Eternal Life is a banger though.

Darklands by The Jesus And Mary Chain
May 01 2025

Not sure it will crack my regular rotation but good intro to a band I had heard about but never listened to. April Skies is a standout.

Aftermath by The Rolling Stones
May 02 2025

UK version is missing Paint it Black which is probably the best song on there. Man I love the Stones but some of these early songs did not age well. They didn't really hit their stride till Beggars Banquet.

Urban Hymns by The Verve
May 05 2025

Bitter Sweet Symphony is one of the best songs of the 90s. Unfortunately the rest of the album doesn't hold up.

Kid A by Radiohead
May 06 2025

A life changing album when I first listened to it and remains incredible

May 07 2025

Never heard of this artist or album before but this was a lot of fun! This guy was doing synthwave electropop in 2004, several years before it really became mainstream. Too bad he never made another album after this.

Slipknot by Slipknot
May 08 2025

I knew a few Slipknot songs from the MTV nu-metal days and know that they're a 9-person band from Iowa so I was curious to hear this one. There is some impressive instrumentation on here (the drums are really good for example) but the lyrics are indecipherable, the production is bad, and like most 90s albums it runs too long. Not for me unfortunately but I'm not gonna yuck anyone's yum if this is their jam.

Meat Puppets II by Meat Puppets
May 09 2025

Another gem that I wouldn't have found without this project. I knew of their Nirvana connection but never really listened before and this album rips. It's a little uneven but overall it answers a question I never thought of asking: What if "Nevermind" had been left out in the Arizona sun instead of the Seattle rain?

May 12 2025

In retrospect Speakerboxxx is the superior album but I'll never forget the first time I heard Hey Ya! Easily still a 5/5 album 2 decades later, a lot of the songs still feel fresh and even the skits are hilarious. Standouts: Ghettomusick, Bowtie, The Way You Move, Hey Ya!, Roses

Out Of The Blue by Electric Light Orchestra
May 13 2025

Just not much going on here. Other than Mr. Blue Sky it's not that memorable. And this was a double album.

Arrival by ABBA
May 14 2025

ABBA is one of those bands where the hit singles are better than the albums. This one is fine and it's fun but not really my thing. I do want to thank ABBA's music for inspiring some of my favorite pop stars of the 2010s though.

Happy Sad by Tim Buckley
May 15 2025

Like father like son: Neither Tim nor Jeff Buckley's albums did it for me. There are some interesting ideas in here but every song meanders to get there.

Let's Stay Together by Al Green
May 16 2025

The title track is a classic and it was fun hearing some of The Rev's lesser known songs. Perfect music for a rainy Thursday.

Fear Of Music by Talking Heads
May 19 2025

I'm a longtime Talking Heads fan but I don't listen to this album as much as Remain in Light or Speaking in Tongues, but this is typically great stuff from them. The band is really hitting its stride here, an energetic album start to finish. Standouts: Cities, Life During Wartime, Memories Can't Wait

Electric Warrior by T. Rex
May 20 2025

I only knew Bang A Gong before listening to this but it is an enjoyable album. Singer tries too much to sound like Bowie at times but overall the songs work.

Jazz Samba by Stan Getz
May 21 2025

I bet this went hard after your third martini of a Wednesday afternoon lunch in 1962.

Pieces Of The Sky by Emmylou Harris
May 22 2025

This is what real-ass country music used to be, now it's all bros from the suburbs with a giant truck and an oversized hat.

At Mister Kelly's by Sarah Vaughan
May 23 2025

Surprised they went with a live album as opposed to a studio album here. Her voice is great but overall I don't think I'll be coming back to it.

Imagine by John Lennon
May 26 2025

There’s some interesting songs in here as he’s working through his life post-Beatles… but there’s also the title track which has become a parody of itself over the years.

Violent Femmes by Violent Femmes
May 27 2025

A classic that was ahead of its time. Raw, emotional, fun stuff. Standouts: Blister in the Sun, Add It Up, Gone Daddy Gone

Foo Fighters by Foo Fighters
May 28 2025

I like a lot of Foo Fighters songs but the album on the whole is just fine I suppose. The first half of the album has some bangers but it loses steam halfway through. "I'll Stick Around" still rocks 30 years later. But I'll be honest I don't know how this one made a 1001 albums list. Maybe it's to show post-Nirvana Dave Grohl but it's not the band's best work. Grohl played all the instruments and sang on this album so you don't even get Taylor Hawkins, whose drumming was really integral to the band for years before his untimely death. I'm surprised they didn't go with The Colour and the Shape (which has "Everlong" and "My Hero," two timeless songs) or There Is Nothing Left to Lose (first full album with Hawkins). Missed opportunity here to showcase the band here.

Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz
May 29 2025

Another one where I'm like is this really in the top 1001 ever? Lenny has had some good hits over the years but too much of this meanders. We get it man you built the garden.

Calenture by The Triffids
May 30 2025

Bury me deep in crud Just listen to Tears for Fears or Level 42 instead

Ellington at Newport by Duke Ellington
Jun 02 2025

Adding a star for historical significance. Damn, people went nuts for the Duke! They broke a curfew for him!

My Generation by The Who
Jun 03 2025

60 years later and this still rocks. Fun debut album and of course the title track is a classic.

All Mod Cons by The Jam
Jun 04 2025

It's perfectly fine if unoriginal rock songs. I guess I am not British enough to care about "mod revival" music in 2025. Oh well.

In Our Heads by Hot Chip
Jun 06 2025

Look I'm biased but I've loved these guys for a while now and seen them twice. A synth jam band is a funny concept but they pull it off. Glad this was on here and surprised it's on the lower end of scores - come on not everything has to be guitar-driven or moody dreck from the 1970s. Standout tracks: Night and Day, Flutes

Tres Hombres by ZZ Top
Jun 09 2025

Some good bluesy stuff in here but kinda fizzles in the middle. A much different sound than their radio hit era of Legs or Sharp Dressed Man.

Jun 10 2025

Gotta respect how Elton John decided he would open this album with an 11-minute prog rock ballad and there's nothing anyone could do about it. I guess Jamaica Jerk-Off hasn't really aged well but the double album of it is good enough to overcome it. Standouts: Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting, Bennie and the Jets

Fever Ray by Fever Ray
Jun 11 2025

I love Silent Shout by the Knife (probably a 5/5) so I'm surprised this solo debut from one member of the Knife was on the list and not that one. This feels like a B-side compilation of Silent Shout.

The Score by Fugees
Jun 12 2025

A lot of great beats and clever lyrics. The career trajectory of this trio after this album is fascinating.

Smile by Brian Wilson
Jun 13 2025

RIP Brian Wilson and I’m glad 1001 albums listeners got his albums yesterday. Rating this is an impossible task. On the one hand I’m glad he got to finish Smile and be at peace about it. On the other, it feels like an unfinished product or a collection of outtakes. Good Vibrations still a classic though.

Boston by Boston
Jun 16 2025

This album makes me feel like I'm 15 years old again. All 8 of these songs still get played on classic rock radio. It's nothing groundbreaking but it's 70s arena rock at its most enjoyable and the production is great. This is the only Boston album worth listening to.

Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
Jun 17 2025

Still goes hard 50 years later. The Boss's first masterpiece. An incredible ode to being young and wild in New Jersey. Title track has to be one of the best rock songs ever recorded. Standout tracks: Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, Born to Run, She's the One, Jungleland

Green Onions by Booker T. & The MG's
Jun 18 2025

The title track is a classic blues song that still sounds incredible. But the rest of it sounds like baseball game organ music. Also it's a bad sign when you're already doing a reprise of the title track in TRACK FOUR.

Kings Of The Wild Frontier by Adam & The Ants
Jun 19 2025

Felt like they were trying to do too much here. Another “not for me” late 70s/early 80s album.

Elephant by The White Stripes
Jun 20 2025

I learned about the White Stripes from the Michel Gondry Lego video for Fell in Love with a Girl. I enjoyed the rest of White Blood Cells so I was very excited when this album was released, and it has not disappointed over 20 years later. But I didn't fully know the reach of this album until I was in Sweden at a soccer game 4 years after the album's release and the crowd started doing a chant to the tune of Seven Nation Army. There's so much good stuff in here from 12-bar blues to chilling ballads to legendary riffs to a cameo from longtime Detroit newsanchor Mort Crim. This is Jack and Meg at their peak. Standouts: Ball and Biscuit, Seven Nation Army, The Hardest Button to Button, In the Cold Cold Night

Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
Jun 23 2025

Dark Side may have the most memorable songs, The Wall may have the most memorable story, but I think this is Pink Floyd's best album. The songs are long and slow but they never meander and always feel like thy have purpose. Shine On You Crazy Diamond is a psychedelic adventure that bookends everything but Welcome to the Machine, Have A Cigar, and the title track all stand alone as well. Gilmour and Waters obviously have hated each other for 4 decades (and Waters has gone to the loony bin himself) but I'm grateful we got 4 classic albums out of them over 7 years.

Beggars Banquet by The Rolling Stones
Jun 24 2025

A few classic songs but also some filler... the Stones didn't really put it all together until the album after this. Regardless, when Jagger and Richards are pushing themselves out of their comfort zone you can see glimpses of what the band would become just a couple years later.

Jun 25 2025

What do you mean there are TWO Fatboy Slim albums on this list. I'll admit I enjoyed You've Come a Long Way Baby but this one is just repetitive and boring. Get out of here with this crap stuck in the 90s. Why are we doing this.

Ágætis Byrjun by Sigur Rós
Jun 26 2025

I bet this would hit hard on a 10 degree winter day when you're surrounded by a foot of snow. On a 90 degree day in June? Not as much.

Pink Flag by Wire
Jun 27 2025

I was a little hesitant at first because this was Yet Another British Album From This Era, but actually this was a banger start to finish. I listened through it twice in a row I liked it so much. Sounds like something you'd here at a tiny record store or a college town dive bar. Hell yeah. Standouts: Ex Lion Tamer, Mr. Suit, Manequin, 12 X U

Jun 30 2025

I think time has been kinder to this album than Nevermind or In Utero. A raw and emotional spin on their original songs and the covers are all bangers. One of the best live albums - truly a Performance and not just a live show running through their hits. Standouts: About a Girl, The Man Who Sold the World, Lake of Fire, Where Did You Sleep Last Night

Play by Moby
Jul 01 2025

It's hard to explain this album in 2025 terms. This was inescapable in the early 2000s - every song seemed to be in every commercial. Looking back some of these are great (Porcelain, Honey, Natural Blues) but others (South Side, Bodyrock) feel remarkably dated. And then the second half of the album takes a right turn away from the blues samples into some moody electronica. Very strange experience overall.

Metal Box by Public Image Ltd.
Jul 02 2025

How are there so many "post-punk" albums from the UK around this time on this list? Every song sounds like it was recorded in a cave and they're all like 10 minutes long. I guess the bass playing was good.

Diamond Life by Sade
Jul 04 2025

Smooth Operator is the best Steely Dan song that’s not a Steely Dan song

Garbage by Garbage
Jul 07 2025

Perfectly solid 90s rock album. Have always loved Shirley Manson's vocals.

Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
Jul 08 2025

Still a classic all these years later. Art Garfunkel had his moments here but Paul Simon was definitely carrying the duo at this point. No wonder Simon is the one dueting with Sabrina Carpenter on SNL 55 years later. Also, the band Fun owes these guys royalties because "Some Nights" is a complete ripoff of "Cecilia." Standouts: Keep the Customer Satisfied, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Cecilia, The Boxer

Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Jul 09 2025

(Flea lays down funky bass line) (John Frusciante plays melodic guitar riff) Anthony Kiedis: BIG BALLA, MEGAFAUNA, MET A GIRL SHE WAS FROM CALIFORNIA For years I thought this was a better album than Californication but I think it's the other way around now. Give It Away and Under the Bridge are classics but there's a ton of filler on here.

NEU! 75 by Neu!
Jul 10 2025

It's kind of interesting but also not really my thing.

american dream by LCD Soundsystem
Jul 11 2025

Look I love LCD Soundsystem. Sound of Silver and This is Happening are two of the best albums of the 21st century. Their live shows are incredible. James Murphy is his generation's David Byrne. But like, why did this album, their comeback after a breakup and long hiatus, make this list? It's not their best and it's not even the best intro to the band for new listeners. That being said it's still better than most albums out there, even if it does feel like late career Lionel Messi playing in the MLS. Oh Baby, Tonite, and Call the Police are standouts.

Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye
Jul 14 2025

Look the guy knew what he wanted

Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel
Jul 15 2025

Some bangers on here like Mrs. Robinson, Hazy Shade of Winter, and America... but also did we need an entire track of old people talking? It's more like a 3.5 but I'll be generous because the standouts are such classics, but still it's not even close to Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Jul 16 2025

Influential for sure but not exactly the most interesting album. Why are there SO MANY late 70s albums on this damn list.

S&M by Metallica
Jul 17 2025

Weird combo of Metallica and a giant symphony orchestra. Interesting concept that starts to wear thin on disc 2. Works more than it doesn't but is it essential in the way Metallica's late 80s/early 90s output is? Probably not.

Very by Pet Shop Boys
Jul 18 2025
Jul 22 2025

This is my first Queen album on this list and yeahhhhhhh let's say there's a reason people mostly know their greatest hits. Killer Queen is a bop, Stone Cold Crazy still goes hard, but much of this album just isn't as memorable over 50 years later. Did we really need two tracks of In the Lap of the Gods?

Jul 23 2025

“God” probably rocked people’s worlds in 1970 but today it just sounds like an annoying social media post. Second Lennon solo album I’ve gotten and again it doesn’t hit the way Beatles albums do.

Vol. 4 by Black Sabbath
Jul 24 2025

RIP Ozzy. Not as complete an album as Paranoid but that Supernaut riff makes we want to run through a brick wall.

You're Living All Over Me by Dinosaur Jr.
Jul 25 2025

Oh this is very much in my bag. Thank you 1001 albums for blessing me with this lo-fi classic.

Band On The Run by Paul McCartney and Wings
Jul 28 2025

There's some boring whimsy in here but overall it's fine and more accessible than the two Lennon solo albums I've gotten so far.

Paul Simon by Paul Simon
Jul 29 2025

Fun seeing him branch out from his stuff with Garfunkel. Not as complete as Graceland but I'll definitely be coming back to it.

Hard Again by Muddy Waters
Jul 30 2025

Pure raw unfiltered Chicago blues and a great comeback album. You can hear Muddy’s influence in so many other bands and albums I’ve loved over the years. Standouts: Mannish Boy, Jealous Hearted Man, The Blues had a baby and they named it Rock and Roll

The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses
Jul 31 2025

Maybe you needed to be there in late-80s Manchester to get the full extent of its influence I don't know. There are some good tracks on here (I Am The Resurrection is a clear standout) but this doesn't do it for me the way it does for seemingly every music critic ever. Sorry :-(

Aug 01 2025

Incredible stuff. Never really listened to it in one sitting before now but it's damn near perfect. Standouts: Heavy Metal Drummer, Jesus Etc., I Am Trying to Break Your Heart

Paranoid by Black Sabbath
Aug 04 2025

This album has Iron Man, Paranoid, and War Pigs and that's only on the first side. RIP Ozzy

Crime Of The Century by Supertramp
Aug 05 2025

The real "Crime of the Century" is that this album filled with generic lite-prog 70s rock is on this list over a different Supertramp album, Breakfast in America (which is at least a 4). Much like with Foo Fighters, the guide got this artist wrong and could've given them much better representation.

C'est Chic by CHIC
Aug 06 2025

Nile Rodgers has produced some of my favorite music but this album feels a little dated overall.

Blue by Joni Mitchell
Aug 07 2025

Yeah there's a reason this one is universally lauded as a classic. Never had really listened to it through before but the writing is incredible and so is her voice. You can see the through lines to current stars like Lana Del Rey and Lorde in this work. Incredible stuff. Standouts: Carey, California, A Case of You

Bummed by Happy Mondays
Aug 08 2025

"Henny Penny, Cocky Locky, Goosey Loosey Turkey Lurky, Ducky Lucky, Chicky Licky" Wow so bold and inventive thank you sir.

Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake
Aug 11 2025

I always get him and Nick Cave confused. Ehh this is fine, not my cup of tea

Superfly by Curtis Mayfield
Aug 12 2025

A classic that still holds up. Man imagine hearing Freddy's Dead for the first time in 1972.

Fulfillingness' First Finale by Stevie Wonder
Aug 14 2025

Maybe it's not fair to grade Stevie Wonder on a curve here but this doesn't quite hit the same heights of his other classic period albums. "Boogie On Reggae Woman" and "You Haven't Done Nothin'" are great of course.

Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis
Aug 15 2025

Not my usual genre but greatness is greatness and there's a reason why they call this the best jazz album ever.

Disintegration by The Cure
Aug 18 2025

I got 17 Seconds as one of my first albums on this list and I was bored most of the time. This was much better, they're hitting their stride here.

Eliminator by ZZ Top
Aug 19 2025

Commercialized and watered down but the solos save this from 1 star. The songs that aren't hits are a drag. Tres Hombres was a much better blues record.

Reggatta De Blanc by The Police
Aug 20 2025

You hear some punk and reggae influences here but it never quite comes together. Message in a Bottle still rocks though

I’m a Lonesome Fugitive by Merle Haggard
Aug 22 2025

All I could think of is how contemporary country music sucks in comparison.

Rubber Soul by Beatles
Aug 29 2025

This is really when they started to get good. I think I'd put the next 4 Beatles album ahead of this one but who knows when I'll get to them on the list.

Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens
Sep 01 2025

Everyone knows Wild World and Father And Son but there's a lot of surprising depth and emotion here outside of those two songs as well.

Celebrity Skin by Hole
Sep 03 2025

The songs are fine and Courtney Love was a figure of that era but I'm not sure how this album made the list. It's not groundbreaking or remarkable or really that influential, but still some fun tracks if you liked 90s alt rock. Doesn't hit as much as it did when Love was in the tabloids or on MTV all the time.

Guitar Town by Steve Earle
Sep 04 2025

I've liked other country albums on this list better

Sep 05 2025

There’s a reason why we only know their greatest hits. Bohemian Rhapsody and not much else!

Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin
Sep 08 2025

This is probably in the bottom half of Zeppelin albums for me. Don't care still a 5.

Born In The U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen
Sep 09 2025

A lot of idiots in the reviews really didn't understand what this album was about huh?

Dig Your Own Hole by The Chemical Brothers
Sep 10 2025

Every Brit who is like “you just had to be there when they were big” about a nondescript techno group from a city the size of Kansas City, Missouri now probably supports Nigel Farage

Time (The Revelator) by Gillian Welch
Sep 11 2025

Surprisingly poignant. Runs a little too long (especially that last track) but overall a good listen.

Clandestino by Manu Chao
Sep 12 2025

This was enjoyable

Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock
Sep 15 2025

First two tracks are stone cold classics and I'm not even a big jazz guy

In A Silent Way by Miles Davis
Sep 16 2025

Cool to see him incorporate some more modern sounds but it doesn't quite reach the heights of Kind of Blue

Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette
Sep 17 2025

A 90s classic. We saw her perform the album live in 2021 and every song still sound great. You Oughta Know and Ironic remain classics but some other standouts include All I Really Want, Right Through You, and Forgiven.

Quiet Life by Japan
Sep 19 2025

Perfectly fine but unremarkable new wave album. Cover of All Tomorrow's Parties was interesting.

Hail To the Thief by Radiohead
Sep 22 2025

Radiohead goes back to guitars after the Kid A/Amnesiac experimentations and makes a foreboding album with classics like 2+2=5, There There, and A Wolf At The Door. I think it's my 5th favorite Radiohead album.

Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen
Sep 23 2025

Another classic from the Boss. Favorites include Atlantic City, Johnny 99, State Trooper, and Reason to Believe. Incredible how he can record a stark, chilling classic like this and then have the anthems of Born to Run and Born in the USA.

Ray Of Light by Madonna
Sep 24 2025

I think I slow danced to Power Of Goodbye in middle school. Gets an extra star because of the title track but overall not sure why this mid-career Madonna album is on the list.

Licensed To Ill by Beastie Boys
Sep 26 2025

Some of this hasn't aged well at all but others are timeless. Real mixed bag here

At Fillmore East by The Allman Brothers Band
Sep 29 2025

It's great when it doesn't meander but unfortunately it meanders a little too much

The Bends by Radiohead
Sep 30 2025

Not quite at the level of OK Computer/Kid A/In Rainbows but still a 90s classic. And the songs straight-up Rock unlike some of their later albums. Fake Plastic Trees is a beautiful song and my other favorites include High and Dry, Bones, and Just.

Roger the Engineer by The Yardbirds
Oct 01 2025

The vocals suck which is a shame because Jeff Beck can shred.

A Short Album About Love by The Divine Comedy
Oct 02 2025

Nicest thing I can say about this album is that it's not very long

Fetch The Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple
Oct 03 2025

In April 2020 this album came out and it really captured the mood of being stuck at home during a pandemic. 5 years later the music is still good but it's not the instant classic that everyone declared it to be. Apple's best album, When The Pawn..., isn't even on this list which is a shame.

Ramones by Ramones
Oct 06 2025

It's one song over and over but it's also one very fun very good song

Deep Purple In Rock by Deep Purple
Oct 07 2025

Child in Time is a pretty solid jam. These guys are fine. Machine Head slightly better overall.

The New Tango by Astor Piazzolla
Oct 08 2025

Not bad, just not for me.

On The Beach by Neil Young
Oct 09 2025

Need to listen to more Neil Young, this is good stuff

Dusty In Memphis by Dusty Springfield
Oct 10 2025

Extra star for Son of a Preacher Man

Lust For Life by Iggy Pop
Oct 13 2025

The Passenger still goes hard as does the title track. You can definitely feel the Bowie influence. Enjoyed this one.

Oct 14 2025

What a year for music 1995 was. Radiohead made their mark as the next great alt-rock band with The Bends, Alanis Morissette captured the angst of the era with Jagged Little Pill, and then there was (What's The Story) Morning Glory. I'm not a big enough Oasis fan to justify spending several hundred dollars to see a reunion show, but there's no denying the greatness here. A bunch of midtempo rock and roll ballads that you can belt out after a few pints with friends or alone in your room, and haven't lost their appeal 30 years later. Favorites are Hello, Don't Look Back in Anger, and Champagne Supernova, but really anything on here rules. Anyway, here's Wonderwall.

The Fat Of The Land by The Prodigy
Oct 15 2025

After suffering through other 90s British electronica like Orbital, Chemical Brothers, and Fatboy Slim's first album, I was very skeptical of this one, however it turns out it's... not that bad? Most of the songs badly need an editor but they have beats and are catchy, Breathe is a banger, and Mindfields was a key song on The Matrix soundtrack that I listened to nonstop in middle school. You couldn't get away with that title of the first track in 2025 though.

Raising Hell by Run-D.M.C.
Oct 17 2025

Rap music used to be fun!

The Man Machine by Kraftwerk
Oct 21 2025

Daft Punk did it better years later

Rattlesnakes by Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
Oct 22 2025

They sound like AI-generated John Hughes soundtrack songs. Waste of space on this list

More Specials by The Specials
Oct 23 2025

More like Less Specials am I right! What is the point of this album? This sounds like a bunch of commercial jingles. It should be fun but it's not! And yet there are 3 albums on this list by these guys.

good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar
Oct 24 2025

A masterpiece and up there with The Wall and Ziggy Stardust for best ever concept albums. Kendrick of course is now one of the most respected and well-known rappers around but 13 years after its release I still think it's his best work. He's an incredible storyteller and the beats and lyrics all work. Favorite tracks: Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, Money Trees, Art of Peer Pressure, Swimming Pools (Drank)

Aladdin Sane by David Bowie
Oct 27 2025

Nice to finally get a Bowie album on this list. It's a solid album at the height of Bowie's glam era but I also think he has other albums that are better that I'll get to eventually.

The Stranger by Billy Joel
Oct 28 2025

Billy Joel has always been a favorite but I mostly just knew his greatest hits albums growing up. Yes he has been derided over the years for having overly literal songs, but all his hits are crowd pleasers and this album is no exception. The storytelling and instrumentation is great here, as he moves from straight-up rockers to ballads to sagas. Don't have a heart attack-ack-ack-ack-ack just enjoy the ride. Favorites: Movin' Out, Italian Restaurant, The Stranger, Vienna

Next by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Oct 29 2025

Insultingly dumb and stupid

Peter Gabriel 3 by Peter Gabriel
Oct 30 2025

It's no "So" but few albums are. Biko is a haunting closer. Gets an extra star for that.

Queens of the Stone Age by Queens Of The Stone Age
Oct 31 2025

I've seen QOTSA live and they're awesome. But much like the case with Foo Fighters I don't know why their debut album is on here when there's much stronger albums (Songs for the Deaf, Era Vulgaris) in their arsenal.

Be by Common
Nov 04 2025

An okay 2000s rap album from the guy who's now better known for those Microsoft commercials. Nothing bad about it just doesn't stand out.

Duck Stab/Buster & Glen by The Residents
Nov 05 2025

This was bad and unlistenable and the reviews on here reflect that (worse than even Kid Rock or Trout Mask Replica). But I will say one thing in its credit: it never aspires to be some work of high important art or anything. The record simply is what it is. Still sucks though lmao

Who's Next by The Who
Nov 06 2025

The first 2 songs and the last 2 songs are legendary classic rock staples and still hold up. The middle of the album doesn't really do it for me.

The Dreaming by Kate Bush
Nov 07 2025

Took me a while to get into it. Very strange at times but it grew on me.

The Clash by The Clash
Nov 10 2025

Good solid punk rock and a nice preview of the legendary album they'd put out 2 years later.

Disraeli Gears by Cream
Nov 11 2025

Clapton is a grumpy old anti vax curmudgeon now but you gotta separate art from the artist here and he could shred back in the day when his most problematic act was “stealing George Harrison’s wife.” This is mostly good psychedelic blues and SWLABR is hilarious. Sorry for liking this!

Hunky Dory by David Bowie
Nov 12 2025

Bowie's first great album. Changes and Life on Mars are two of his greatest tracks.

Homework by Daft Punk
Nov 13 2025

Another artist where you wonder what the hell the listmakers were thinking. This album is standard mediocre 90s techno with a few standout tracks like Da Funk, and not a good representation of this duo. Discovery (a solid 5) would've been a much better addition, or even Alive 2007 would've been great, hell we had that Metallica live orchestra album on this list at one point. Definitely a missed opportunity to showcase a great French electronica duo.

Dummy by Portishead
Nov 17 2025

Was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. Lovely trippy James Bond type music. Glory Box is a great album closer.

Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth
Nov 18 2025

There's no denying this album's legacy or influence, and Teen Age Riot is an incredible track... I just think some of it devolves into noise rock and it's not as cohesive as some of the other classics on this list. Still, there's a lot I loved here.

Hot Rats by Frank Zappa
Nov 19 2025

Finally some Zappa. Most of it is perfectly fine jazzy prog rock but it loses a star because of Willie the Pimp which is incredibly stupid and long. I don't get the obsession with this guy sorry!

Nov 20 2025

My wife and I saw Chvrches a while ago and the couple next to us perfectly timed their beer run for when the guy sang his 3 songs in the middle of the show. Anyway this album is synth-pop perfection. Favorite tracks: The Mother We Share, Gun, Lies, Science/Visions

Since I Left You by The Avalanches
Nov 21 2025

Did I miss something here? This "Oops! All Samples" album is lifeless and dull, and feels like it was made with ChatGPT. You can make an all samples album pretty fun (i.e. anything Girl Talk did in the late 00s/early 10s) but this really wasn't hitting for me.

Bitches Brew by Miles Davis
Nov 24 2025

Might be even better than Kind of Blue. You can hear the evolution in his sound.

Blur by Blur
Nov 25 2025

Song 2 still bangs. The rest of it is just okay 90s Britpop. Oasis won the war.

Risque by CHIC
Nov 26 2025

Shoutout to Good Times for being the sample for Rapper's Delight. The other songs all start to drag around the 6 minute mark.

m b v by My Bloody Valentine
Nov 27 2025

There's a limit to how much shoegaze I can handle

S.F. Sorrow by The Pretty Things
Nov 28 2025

Interesting concept album, not terrible but also I get why it's not as well remembered as Tommy or Quadrophenia. The main riff in "Balloon Burning" kinda sounds like the riff in Zeppelin's "Kashmir."

Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Dec 01 2025

Second Neil Young I've gotten on this list and it's great. Having the full backing band really gives the songs depth here. Standouts include Cinnamon Girl, Down by the River, and Cowgirl in the Sand

Teen Dream by Beach House
Dec 04 2025

Good dreamy pop but hasn't aged as well as other albums from that era

Is This It by The Strokes
Dec 05 2025

Perfect garage rock album. Truly defines the early 2000s for me. Standouts: The Modren Age, Someday, Last Night, Hard to Explain

American Idiot by Green Day
Dec 09 2025

Most influential album when you're in high school and you think Bush will be the worst president you'll ever have to put up with, nice try kid.

16 Lovers Lane by The Go-Betweens
Dec 11 2025

Perfectly cromulent 80s rock. Fine but doesn't stand out. Textbook example of a 3/5 album on this list.

Everything Must Go by Manic Street Preachers
Dec 17 2025

Wasn't expecting much but this was surprisingly fun. Extremely 90s but I'm down with that.

Surf's Up by The Beach Boys
Jan 05 2026

It's no Pet Sounds but "Beach Boys political protest album" works more than you think it would.

Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys
Jan 06 2026

Starting 2026 with an absolute classic. Some of the other sample-driven albums on this list have left me cold but this one just works throughout. The lyrics are still kind of juvenile but the rapping is much improved over Licensed to Ill, which had some downright embarrassing moments. Favorite tracks: Egg Man, The Sounds of Science, Hey Ladies, Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun

Rip It Up by Orange Juice
Jan 07 2026

What if Talking Heads were Scottish and boring?

Step In The Arena by Gang Starr
Jan 08 2026

I have a soft spot for late 80s/early 90s hip-hop I think. Pretty good overall

Jan 09 2026

The first half of this album is full of great memorable 2000s indie rock tracks like Kids and Electric Feel. The second half is boring psychedelic rock.

From Elvis In Memphis by Elvis Presley
Jan 12 2026

Man I don't know the late 1960s was a time of great experimentation in music and a lot of cool stuff was happening and here's Elvis doing a Vegas lounge version of the stuff that had made him famous over a decade earlier.

All Things Must Pass by George Harrison
Jan 13 2026

I don't know if it's a hot take to say that George had the best solo work of any former Beatle (even the much-derided Got My Mind Set On You is a sweet little pop song), but that's always been my opinion. This is his solo magnum opus, a fascinating reflection of post-Beatles life. The third album (aka the Apple Jam) seems superfluous, but standout tracks like My Sweet Lord, What Is Life, Let It Down, and Awaiting On You All make up for it. At over 2 hours long it needs an editor but it's still probably the best solo album from a ex-Fab Four guy.

Exodus by Bob Marley & The Wailers
Jan 14 2026

First half is some soulful reggae, the second half is filled with classics that liberal arts college students would get high to after putting plastic bags over the smoke detectors in their dorm rooms.

Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi
Jan 15 2026

The hits still stand the test of time. The rest of the album.... does not.

Jan 16 2026

I listened to so much indie rock in the 2000s but this doesn't do it for me like other acts of the time.

Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand
Jan 19 2026

One of the best 2000s indie rock albums. Pure energy from start to finish. Favorite tracks: Take Me Out, Auf Asche, This Fire, 40'

Abbey Road by Beatles
Jan 20 2026

One of the best albums ever and my personal favorite of the Beatles. The whole second side is brilliant and the first side contains some of the best pop songs ever. Truly a masterpiece. Favorites: Something, Octopus's Garden, I Want You (She's So Heavy), Here Comes the Sun, the whole damn suite at the end

Roxy Music by Roxy Music
Jan 21 2026

Pretty interesting and ahead of its time. Didn't love all the songs but the vision is there. Re-Make/Re-Model was neat.

Aqualung by Jethro Tull
Jan 22 2026

It's hard to rate this one. I'm supposed to not like these guys because they won the first ever Heavy Metal Grammy over Metallica, a decision that's more baffling than Crash or Green Book winning Best Picture. However, they are doing some interesting prog-rock stuff here for 1971. The title track is a classic rock epic and Locomotive Breath is a banger. But overall? A lot that I didn't really care for or care about.

Dear Science by TV On The Radio
Jan 23 2026

Perfect album when you're 22 and there's a global financial crisis and you have no idea what you're gonna do with your life. Favorite tracks: Halfway Home, Golden Age, Red Dress, DLZ

The Next Day by David Bowie
Jan 26 2026

Bowie is incredible of course but not sure why this one gets on the list over Let's Dance or Scary Monsters or Diamond Dogs.

Court And Spark by Joni Mitchell
Jan 27 2026

Okay I didn't know much about Joni before starting this project but turns out she owns. I already got Blue, which is of course fantastic, but this hits in a much different way. It's jazzier and looser and a different side of her. Laurel Canyon in the 70s must have been so cool. Standouts: Help Me, Free Man in Paris, Car on a Hill

Highway to Hell by AC/DC
Jan 28 2026

Some solid headbangers from down under. The perfect music when you're 13 years old. But other than the title track and If You Want Blood (You've Got It) these don't reach the heights of AC/DC's other famous album that came after tragedy a year later.

Casanova by The Divine Comedy
Jan 29 2026

ANOTHER Divine Comedy album. I didn't like the first one I got and I don't like this either. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Floodland by Sisters Of Mercy
Jan 30 2026

Feels like The Cure but with heavy metal, which is fine.

Channel Orange by Frank Ocean
Feb 02 2026

Odd Future was a bizarre early 2010s rap collective but their members went on to make some great solo stuff. Of all their solo works this is the magnum opus. Lo-fi chill synth soul to disassociate to on the beach with some epic stories and tender moments. Frank has only made one other album (Blond, which isn't as good) and has been dormant for a decade now, but like Rihanna I'm holding out hope he's got one more in him. Standouts: Thinking Bout You, Sweet Life, Super Rich Kids, Pyramids, Lost, Bad Religion

Violator by Depeche Mode
Feb 03 2026

For years I thought he was saying "reach out and touch base." Anyway I enjoyed this but the two hits I already knew were the best.

Nevermind by Nirvana
Feb 05 2026

It's crazy how Smells Like Teen Spirit isn't even on the top 5 songs on this album. Generationally important album that still sounds fresh 35 years later. Standouts: In Bloom, Come As You Are, Lithium, Lounge Act, Something In The Way

Red Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson
Feb 06 2026

Telling my kid that Willie Nelson was the Snoop Dogg of his day

You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
Feb 09 2026

Me: Wow the world isn't a great place right now 1001 Albums: Here's a sad brooding album from a guy on his death bed to cheer you up

Tidal by Fiona Apple
Feb 10 2026

Fiona Apple is an enigmatic performer with complex and challenging music but most of the time it works for me. Both Fiona Apple albums on this list are good but I still think When The Pawn… is her best work and alas that’s not on here. Tidal is a strong debut and Criminal stands the test of time.

The Contino Sessions by Death In Vegas
Feb 11 2026

Mostly another forgettable 90s British electronic album on here. But it's saved by Aisha, a great track with haunting Iggy Pop guest vocals. Thank you Iggy for rescuing this album from a 1.

Live And Dangerous by Thin Lizzy
Feb 12 2026

Still don't understand the rubric for live albums ending up on this list but it's fun enough. See you at Dino's Bar and Grill.

Look I tried to approach this one with an open mind. And some of the instrumentation isn't bad. But man, Fred Durst's voice and rapping just is grating and relentless. And the lyrics are insane - Rollin' is basically a nu-metal version of hokey pokey and that's one of the better tracks. Limp Bizkit has mellowed since their heyday and Durst seems like an alright dude now, but unfortunately this album is still too excessive and over-the-top for me.

In Utero by Nirvana
Feb 16 2026

3 Nirvana albums on this list and all 3 are 5's. I think this one is even better than Nevermind. Steve Albini produced an incredible punk-grunge album here and they blacklisted him for it. Standouts: Serve the Servants, Heart-Shaped Box, Frances Farmer, Very Ape, All Apologies

Eagles by Eagles
Feb 17 2026

How the hell did he end up in Winslow, Arizona of all places

Midnight Ride by Paul Revere & The Raiders
Feb 18 2026

Guys from Boise, Idaho wearing Revolutionary War costumes trying to be a British Invasion band. Okay then.

Hot Shots II by The Beta Band
Feb 19 2026

It's not bad enough to give a 1 but also not memorable or interesting. Weird inclusion on this list.

At San Quentin by Johnny Cash
Feb 20 2026

Fantastic stuff. A quintessential live album, Cash at his best both musically and bantering with the crowd. Must have been a hoot to watch on TV. Standouts: San Quentin, Darling Companion, A Boy Named Sue

Power In Numbers by Jurassic 5
Feb 23 2026

Decent early 2000s hip-hop. I liked the voice of the baritone guy (Chali 2na) and started getting annoyed when anyone other than him was rapping.

Feb 24 2026

Ready to fight 1000 Unionists outside an Ulster pub. We got a foot of snow yesterday so good timing for Fairytale of New York!

Post Orgasmic Chill by Skunk Anansie
Feb 25 2026

They actually put an interesting diverse band from 90s Britain on here for once so I was briefly excited, but unfortunately the music does nothing for me.

At Budokan by Cheap Trick
Feb 26 2026

I came into this knowing 2 Cheap Trick songs and it's clear why we know those and not the rest. Still it's a fun enough album.

Elvis Is Back by Elvis Presley
Feb 27 2026

Historically significant because it was released right after his army stint, but when I think of Elvis I think of the energetic guy who caused a moral panic by shaking his hips, and a lot of these songs are downers lmao

We Are Family by Sister Sledge
Mar 02 2026

Say what you want about Will Smith's rap career at least he had some pretty good samples, including using the "He's the Greatest Dancer" riff for "Gettin Jiggy With It." The Nile Rodgers guitar on here is slick and the hits are good, less filler than the Chic albums I already got on this list.

Moondance by Van Morrison
Mar 03 2026

Classic 70s album. Van Morrison doesn't seem like a guy I'd wanna get a beer with but the music slaps. Standouts: And It Stoned Me, Caravan, Into the Mystic, Everyone

Wild Is The Wind by Nina Simone
Mar 04 2026

What a voice. First real exposure to Nina Simone and it was incredible. Standouts: I Love Your Lovin Ways, Four Women, Break Down and Let It All Out

The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
Mar 05 2026

It's 2010. Obama is President. A sweeping healthcare law has just been passed. You're at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland on a sweltering August night. The best band in the world at the time is taking the stage. It doesn't get much better than this. The Suburbs is Arcade Fire's 3rd album, a genre-spanning epic concept album about loneliness, growing up, and finding meaning in a vapid world. After Funeral and Neon Bible, expectations were high for this one and they hit it out of park. The album includes some "Wake Up" style anthems (Ready to Start, City With No Children), some punk rock (Month of May), more contemplative ballads (Deep Blue, Half Light I), and a disco-style banger to end things (Sprawl II). I thought Arcade Fire was in position to dominate music for the next 10-15 years after this album and that epic concert. But they went into a weird dance-rock phase, Win Butler had some unsettling allegations, and their music just stopped mattering. But we'll always have those first 3 albums.

The Madcap Laughs by Syd Barrett
Mar 06 2026

Syd Barrett was the north star for all those great Pink Floyd records but his own music is barely tolerable. Not much going on here sorry! A lot of it feels unfinished and even decent tracks like "Octopus" sound at best like Beatles solo outtakes. No reason for this to be on here.

Superunknown by Soundgarden
Mar 09 2026

The hits stand the test of time. This is just good clean 90s grunge rock. RIP Chris Cornell

Led Zeppelin III by Led Zeppelin
Mar 10 2026

Great bands don't make the same album over and over. Zeppelin III showed the group going out of their comfort zone with some acoustic guitars and folk rock, while maintaining their blues-rock core. This album gets overlooked in between II and IV but it's quite lovely. Immigrant Song makes we wanna run through a wall everytime I hear it, and Tangerine is one of their best ballads. Standouts: Immigrant Song, Gallows Pole, Tangerine, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp

Siembra by Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
Mar 11 2026

Don't know a lot about salsa but this was pretty fun

The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Mar 12 2026

Title track is legendary, the rest of the album doesn't match it but you do see the roots of over 40 years of hip-hop that came after it.

Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg
Mar 13 2026

Wild to hear this in 2026 now that Snoop is an avuncular caricature of himself who goes to Olympic events and hangs out with Martha Stewart. But the beats are good and Snoop's flow is unmistakeable. A classic West Coast rap album.

Tapestry by Carole King
Mar 17 2026

A lot of good stuff here. I Feel The Earth Move is an all time opener. Thought some of the middle tracks lagged but you can't deny the album's impact.

Mar 18 2026

Fascinating album of covers near the end of Cash's life. We get a weird selection of Cash on here (two live albums from jails and one late era cover album) - would've liked to see some of his more normal studio albums on here. But no doubt these covers are affecting and heartfelt.

Either Or by Elliott Smith
Mar 19 2026

Gets more interesting the more instrumentation is used. Still not entirely my vibe.

Guero by Beck
Mar 20 2026

This is the first Beck I've gotten on the list and I'm surprised as to why it was on here. I don't think people would place it up there with Odelay or Sea Change, and my personal favorite (the Prince inspired Midnite Vultures) isn't even on the list. The tunes are pretty good but this isn't exactly groundbreaking.

Led Zeppelin II by Led Zeppelin
Mar 23 2026

Hearing Zeppelin songs makes me wish Tolkien allegories were still in rock songs instead of the names of evil tech companies. Led Zeppelin II is classic rock at its finest, a step forward from the blues-rock of their debut album and every track has an anthemic quality. IV might be their classic, and Houses of the Holy is my personal favorite, but I'd introduce the band to a new listener with this one. Standouts: Whole Lotta Love, Heartbreaker/Livin Lovin Maid, Ramble On

Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
Mar 25 2026

A triumphant, monumental classic rock album. Led Zeppelin IV takes all of the sounds from the band's first 3 albums and combines them into 8 masterful tracks. You probably have heard many of these songs but even the lesser known tracks like Four Sticks are incredible. Album goes from hard rock to LOTR-inspired mandolin ballads to stadium anthems seamlessly. The album ends with When the Levee Breaks which might be Zeppelin's best song. Favorite tracks: Black Dog, Misty Mountain Hop, Going to California, When the Levee Breaks.

Electric Music For The Mind And Body by Country Joe & The Fish
Mar 26 2026

Total stinker. Psychedelic rock that isn't really psychedelic. Protest music that isn't really protesting anything. No thanks!

The Nightfly by Donald Fagen
Mar 27 2026

Doesn't quite reach the heights of his Steely Dan stuff but still some solid jazz-rock. Still waiting on that 90 minute flight from NYC to Paris to happen.

Queen II by Queen
Mar 30 2026

This is now the 3rd Queen album I've gotten and it's pretty clear this is a greatest hits band not an album band. There are a few gems in the midst of this where you begin to see their sound take shape but there's a bunch of crap you gotta wade through to get there. Still it's better than Night at the Opera.

Absolute cinema. Bowie's magnum opus. A great concept album that never lets up start to finish. Every track rocks but if I had to choose favorites I think I'd go with Moonage Daydream, It Ain't Easy, Star, Ziggy Stardust, and Suffragette City.

Remain In Light by Talking Heads
Apr 01 2026

A masterpiece of an album. The first 3 tracks are so energetic and frenetic and that's before you get to the band's signature song. The second half of the album is more moody and contemplative but all the songs still groove. This is the best Talking Heads album - they take a lot of risks but all of them work. The end of Great Curve makes me wish they had more guitar solos. Best tracks: Crosseyed and Painless, The Great Curve, Once in a Lifetime, Seen and Not Seen

Central Reservation by Beth Orton
Apr 02 2026

Type of music you'd hear at a college town coffee shop

Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division
Apr 03 2026

Didn't move me or keep me interested as much as I was hoping.

Apr 06 2026

Another one of those bands where I have to grade on a curve because their best albums are so good but even though this has their cover of Take Me To The River, Found a Job, and Thank You For Sending Me an Angel, it doesn't quite reach the heights of their other albums.

OK Computer by Radiohead
Apr 07 2026

This might be the best album of the 90s and I'm always glad to revisit it. As AI rapidly becomes more prevalent in society the album is more relevant than ever. I think this barely beats out Kid A in my mind as Radiohead's magnum opus and every track is a whole mini-opera unto itself. Standouts: Paranoid Android, Let Down, Electioneering, No Surprises, Lucky

Veckatimest by Grizzly Bear
Apr 08 2026

If you liked indie rock in the late 2000s this is a tentpole album and most of it still holds up. While You Wait for the Others is haunting. Two Weeks is a bop. Drags at points in the middle but most of it was fun to listen to again.

25 by Adele
Apr 09 2026

Despite all the changes in music over the years people still love a singer of Standards. Adele at her peak was a throwback in the face of all the other pop stars in the 2010s. We're getting this now again in 2026 with Olivia Dean (another Brit, of course) - but it's proof that if you have a powerful voice and are singing catchy, booming songs about love lost and found there will always be an audience. 25 is not an improvement on its predecessor and doesn't really break new ground but it shouldn't be surprising that the best song "Send My Love to Your New Lover" is Max Martin produced. But still, it's an Adele album. I don't love it but it's hard to be upset if you hear it in a grocery store or a waiting room either. Sometimes inoffensive background music is perfectly fine.

Live! by Fela Kuti
Apr 10 2026

Would love to be as enthusiastic about something as Fela is about introducing Ginger Baker. Last track drags it down but otherwise love the energy.

Surfer Rosa by Pixies
Apr 13 2026

I got a different Pixies album earlier in this list and wasn't impressed but man this one has the goods. Steve Albini was a production genius. Basically influenced a decade of rock music. Standouts: Bone Machine, Gigantic, Where is My Mind

Catch A Fire by Bob Marley & The Wailers
Apr 14 2026

Gets a little repetitive but good music to chill out to. Exodus was better.

Beach Samba by Astrud Gilberto
Apr 15 2026

Is this what 1960s businessmen listened to while they were cheating on their wives

Yank Crime by Drive Like Jehu
Apr 16 2026

Pleasantly surprised here. When I hear "post-rock" I think of long inaccessible sprawling epics like from Sigur Ros or Godspeed You Black Emperor, but the riffs were solid here and the songs kept me engaged throughout. Underrated 90s gem.

Woodface by Crowded House
Apr 17 2026

Before this I knew one Crowded House song, Don't Dream It's Over. It's a pretty good, catchy anthem. Unfortunately that's not on here. Unmemorable stuff here mostly.

The Doors by The Doors
Apr 20 2026

A little too keyboard happy but Break On Through is a classic. Coppola changed how I felt about The End after he put it in Apocalypse Now.

Bad by Michael Jackson
Apr 21 2026

Following up Thriller, one of the best albums of the 20th century, is an impossible task but MJ comes close to doing it here. There are some absolute classics on here (Smooth Criminal, The Way You Make Me Feel) and some underrated gems (Speed Demon), and it doesn't feel as bloated as Michael's later albums. But you can start to sense his general weirdness coming out overall ("your butt is mine" still is one of the corniest opening lines), that would soon overtake his career. There's not as much magic on here as Off the Wall or Thriller but mostly it holds up.

Stand! by Sly & The Family Stone
Apr 22 2026

Good range of stuff here from Everyday People to a funky 13-minute instrumental

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Apr 28 2026

Tom Petty made great bar music and had some timeless hits over the years but this album doesn't really represent them other than American Girl or Breakdown. Much like Daft Punk, Foo Fighters, or Supertramp, the list only having one Tom Petty album doesn't truly reflect his whole career which is a shame.

Dance Mania by Tito Puente
Apr 29 2026

Fun and energetic! The Bad Bunny of his time

Tragic Songs of Life by The Louvin Brothers
Apr 30 2026

Not really my thing. The harmonies aren't bad

Sunday At The Village Vanguard by Bill Evans Trio
May 01 2026

No frills jazz piano. Probably not one I'll seek out over and over but makes me wanna dress up fancy and get an overpriced martini at a jazz club

Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane
May 04 2026

Two absolute classics in White Rabbit and Somebody to Love then a bunch of filler. Album suffers when Grace Slick isn't singing.

Cheap Thrills by Big Brother & The Holding Company
May 05 2026

Funny to get this right after Jefferson Airplane, another band straight out of the San Francisco psychedelic rock scene, but I enjoyed this one a lot more. Janis Joplin's voice is electric, what a talent. Standouts: Piece of my Heart, I Need A Man To Love

May 06 2026

Protest music that was controversial and shocking over 40 years ago can seem tame today and the lyrics feel silly in retrospect but the music still goes hard. A lot of similarities with the Pogues despite the musical style being different. Jello is a funny name

Bad Company by Bad Company
May 07 2026

I love classic 1970s arena rock but these guys somehow make it sound boring. The hit song has the same name as the band and the same name as the album, very creative!

1984 by Van Halen
May 08 2026

It's clear that by 1984 David Lee Roth's horny showman personality and Eddie's synth experimentation were driving the band in different directions and it wouldn't hold. But for 33 minutes, Van Halen put together their best album, a hard-driving rock and roll classic that never lets up for a moment. This was the last VH album before Roth left and Sammy Hagar replaced him but I'm glad the guys reconciled with Roth for one more album 30 years later because the band was never really the same without him. Standouts: Jump, Panama, Hot For Teacher

Ten by Pearl Jam
May 11 2026

A 90s grunge classic. Vedder's voice is towering, the guitars are incredible, and the songs stick in your head for days. Amazing that this was their debut. Standouts: Even Flow, Alive, Jeremy, Porch

May 13 2026

My first Dylan album on here. Look I know he's a legend but his music has never really been my thing. That said this is pretty good overall especially the "electric" first half.

Olympia 64 by Jacques Brel
May 14 2026

Sacre bleu! C'est merde!

I Am a Bird Now by Antony and the Johnsons
May 15 2026

Anohni has had a fascinating career and I respect what she's trying to do here but much like Leonard Cohen this falls in "not for me" territory. A lot of misgendering in the reviews here unfortunately!

Achtung Baby by U2
May 18 2026

Growing up I thought this was the superior album to Joshua Tree but in my old age I think I am mistaken. There's a lot to love on here, as it was U2 trying to modernize its sound for the 1990s after ending the 80s with the disjointed Rattle and Hum project. But despite more electronic Eno/Lanois influence and some harder riffs, this is still unmistakably a U2 album. Zoo Station sets the tone early but the next song is just a worse version of it. The highlights on here (Zoo Station, Who's Gonna Ride, The Fly, Mysterious Ways) are incredible, but the lows (Even Better, Throw Your Arms, Ultraviolet) seem like worse versions of songs already on the album. There's some Bono preachiness that's to be expected on here, and overall I had fun relistening to this, but if you trimmed this to 8-9 songs it would be a classic.

The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
May 19 2026

We all know Morrissey is a prick but this album is pretty solid. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out is an all-timer.

Repeater by Fugazi
May 20 2026

I never got into the DC punk scene when I lived there so this was new to me but this is all very fun and energetic. Good stuff.

Gasoline Alley by Rod Stewart
May 21 2026

Meh. I know that Rod is beloved and he's got some songs I like but this does nothing for me. He was 25 when this was released and his voice already sounds like a 65 year-old. Songs about a country boy on country roads from a guy born and raised in North London. Come on man.

Here's Little Richard by Little Richard
May 22 2026

Honestly this bangs! Had no expectations coming in but yeah this is the genesis of so much American blues rock for the next several years and so much more energetic than the Elvis albums I've gotten so far. The music itself starts to get repetitive halfway through but you can't deny its influence. Side note: I remember Little Richard on a musician episode of Wheel of Fortune (with James Brown and Weird Al) when I was a kid and Little Richard might have been the worst Wheel player of all time.

Murmur by R.E.M.
May 25 2026

Interesting to hear the start of a band that would obviously help define alt-rock later in the decade and become an MTV juggernaut by the early 90s. They're finding their footing here, but the songs don't grab me the way their later work does.

Back To Black by Amy Winehouse
May 26 2026

Yeah, this is the good stuff. Amy Winehouse's tragic short career and becoming a victim of the 27 Curse have been well documented but for 35 minutes it all came together on an incredible R&B album. Her voice is mesmerizing and the backing music is perfect as well. The obvious parallel here is Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - both are genre-defining albums that unfortunately never had appropriate followups. Best tracks: Rehab, You Know I'm No Good, Back to Black, Tears Dry On Their Own

Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan
May 29 2026

Apparently this was a top album of 2021 pretty much unanimously? And that was only what like 5 years ago? Anyway time flies and I don't think time has been kind to this album. Jazmine Sullivan doesn't command the room like a Beyonce or Meghan Thee Stallion. Artists like Doechii have done this type of confessional R&B/hip hop much better since then. The album was only 32 minutes but felt more like 72. Disappointing.

Ready To Die by The Notorious B.I.G.
Jun 01 2026

Landmark 90s hip-hop album that despite the presence of Diddy and some cringe skits still holds up today. Biggie had such command of his lyrics and his flow, and the samples are a goldmine of 80s R&B. His life was tragically cut short 3 years later but this is a guy who was determined to make the most of his time and this album showcases it. Standouts: Things Done Changed, Gimme the Loot, Machine Gun Funk, Juicy, Big Poppa.

Can't Buy A Thrill by Steely Dan
Jun 02 2026

This is only my 4th-favorite Steely Dan album, yet it's bangers from start to finish. It's the FM radio yacht rock version of the band before they got really into their "tinkering in the studio" phase of the late 70s/early 80s but I still love it. Standouts: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Kings, Only A Fool Would Say That

Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
Jun 03 2026

It's British 1960s blues! It's fine! Not much more to say about this one!

Jun 04 2026

Monumental classic rock album that still holds up in every way. Pink Floyd's 1973-80 output is hard to surpass by any band. Money - with its seamless transition from 7/4 to 4/4 and back, three solo sections, and infectious bass line - might be my favorite thing the band has ever done. I know that's such a cop out answer but it's true. Tracks like Any Colour and On the Run show the heights of their experimentation. Time builds into such a good groove. On Great Gig, Clare Torry's vocals soar and I'm glad she finally got the credit she deserves for them. Dick Parry has two legendary sax solos on two songs. And Eclipse is one of the most stunning codas to any rock album. Phenomenal stuff from start to end. Also I know the band denies it but this album totally syncs up with Wizard of Oz, give it a try some day it's uncanny. Great Gig in the Sky literally happens during the tornado! The munchkins jump in rhythm to Money! Come on just admit it guys! Best tracks: Time, The Great Gig in the Sky, Money, Us and Them

Another Green World by Brian Eno
Jun 05 2026

There are hints of a great album in here but also a lot of ambient droning that I could've done without.

Innervisions by Stevie Wonder
Jun 08 2026

A gem of Stevie's classic period and an album pushing lyrical and sonic boundaries, loved all of this. Songs in the Key of Life might be my favorite of his but this album is a lot more grounded and direct. Standouts: Living for the City, Higher Ground, Jesus Children of America

Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek & The Dominos
Jun 09 2026

Layla is a stone cold classic. Scorsese used it to perfection in Goodfellas. It's probably Clapton's magnum opus and features great contribution from Duane Allman. Unfortunately there also a bunch of "other assorted love songs" on here that sound like boring slop. But Layla is almost good enough to carry the rest of it.

Cosmo's Factory by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Jun 10 2026

In high school I had this CCR Greatest Hits CD that I would play in my car all the time as I drove around town. About half the songs on this album were on that CD and they all still bang - Travelin' Band has amazing energy, Run Through the Jungle is a classic anti-war track, Up Around the Bend has a legendary riff, etc. However there's a reason why the other half of the songs on here were NOT on that Greatest Hits CD because.... woof.

Hotel California by Eagles
Jun 11 2026

Whereas artists like Joni Mitchell and Steely Dan and Fleetwood Mac made 1970s California feel so vibrant and exciting, The Eagles made it sound so damn boring.

Raw Power by The Stooges
Jun 12 2026

Lives up to its name

Bayou Country by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Jun 15 2026

I got another CCR album (Cosmo's Factory) earlier that week which was much better. Proud Mary is great of course.

Jun 16 2026

I mean this is the album U2 should've made everyone listen to on their iPhones. I get it Bono is kind of a prick now and hasn't made a good album in 25 years. But this is U2's masterpiece. Every song has a sense of urgency and angst that the band was never really able to catch again as their fame grew. And the intro on the opening track is an all-time great buildup. Standouts: Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Bullet the Blue Sky, In God's Country, Exit

Jun 19 2026

The songs aren’t bad but we get it dude you like Stevie Wonder we all do.

Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin
Jun 22 2026

They don't make em like they used to folks. Standouts: Chain of Fools, Natural Woman, Since You've Been Gone, Come Back Baby

Sweet Baby James by James Taylor
Jun 24 2026

A lot of weird hate for James Taylor on here it’s like hating ice cream

Faith by George Michael
Jun 25 2026

There's a lot of cheesy over the top 80s moments that don't quite work on here, but Father Figure is such a jam and I'm still annoyed Taylor Swift neutered it.

Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones
Jun 29 2026

Man what an album that confirms my longstanding belief that the Stones were at their peak when Mick Taylor was at second guitar. Like obviously Jagger and Richards are the face of the band but Taylor pushed them to another level and it's evident here. This album is a celebration, with swag and soul throughout. Probably their best, most concise work. Standouts: Brown Sugar, Wild Horses, Can't You Hear Me Knocking, Bitch

Rage Against The Machine by Rage Against The Machine
Jun 30 2026

I was in middle school when RATM's third album, Battle of LA, was released. Finally, rap rock that didn't suck! Going back to their self-titled first album 7 years earlier - the messages are the same but the music is even better. The riffs are hard but it's a lot funkier and bass driven than you might expect. Standouts: Killing in the Name, Know Your Enemy, Wake Up

Moss Side Story by Barry Adamson
Jul 02 2026

An album that is supposed to be a movie soundtrack but the movie doesn't exist. Pretentious rubbish. Get real man.

Reign In Blood by Slayer
Jul 03 2026

Straight up energy for 30 minutes. Loved the intensity

Stankonia by OutKast
Jul 07 2026

A hip-hop masterpiece. A lot of the negative reviews on here don't know what they're talking about. 75 minutes of pure ATL energy, mixed with funk and soul influences make it an amazing ride. Hell even the skits rule. This might be my favorite rap album of all time. Standouts: So Fresh So Clean, Ms. Jackson, Snappin' and Trappin', BOB, Gangsta Shit, Slum Beautiful

Cross by Justice
Jul 08 2026

Not a huge electronica guy but I love this album. Leave to a couple French guys with an obsession with cheesy 70s rock to make a perfect electro-pop record. I've said for years that Genesis would be my wrestling walkout song. Standouts: Genesis, D.A.N.C.E., Newjack, Stress

Paris 1919 by John Cale
Jul 09 2026

Nothing wrong with it just felt like elevator music

Brothers by The Black Keys
Jul 13 2026

Some of these songs like Tighten Up still hit but overall it is generic blues-rock from a lesser version of the White Stripes. Fine with me but odd that it's on here.

Amnesiac by Radiohead
Jul 14 2026

Only 9 months after Kid A, Radiohead's next album came along. Unlike Kid A, which is a beautiful atmospheric album, this one is pretty damn rough around the edges. It's a tougher listen than Kid A for sure but the album is pretty good overall. There's also more influence from Radiohead's previous albums - Knives Out sounds like a chopped up version of Paranoid Android - than Kid A had so it's not quite "B-side collection" either despite the worse Morning Bell version on here. Like Spinning Plates is by far the album's best track though, that's a masterpiece.

Country Life by Roxy Music
Jul 15 2026

I mean it's 70s British rock it's fine I just don't get the hype.

Pretzel Logic by Steely Dan
Jul 16 2026

I'm a huge Steely Dan guy but this one doesn't have the yacht rock timelessness of Can't Buy A Thrill or the meticulous obsessive studio tinkering as Aja or Gaucho. Rikki Don't Lose That Number is still a classic.

Modern Kosmology by Jane Weaver
Jul 17 2026

The top review of this album on here points out that it doesn't have a wiki page. 4 years later this is still true! In fact on the wiki entry for Jane Weaver, there is exactly ONE SENTENCE about this album. Hardly seems like must-listen. As for the music itself, it's uninteresting electro-pop and groups like the xx did this better. I wonder if this one stays on the updated list when it comes out in October.

Purple Rain by Prince
Jul 20 2026

What more is there to say about this, the best soundtrack album of all time? These are 9 classic songs and not a moment of filler. Take Me With U, the album's worst track, would be the best track on 90% of all other albums. Darling Nikki got Tipper Gore so bothered she made albums come with warning labels. I Would Die 4 U segues perfectly into Baby I'm A Star. Computer Blue starts like a standard R&B tune then turns into a instrumental groove. All the guitar solos are absolute bangers. Prince's magnum opus and still an inspiration to so many artists over 40 years later. I would have gladly let the man kick my ass in hoops. Standouts: Let's Go Crazy, The Beautiful Ones, When Doves Cry, Purple Rain

Crosby, Stills & Nash by Crosby, Stills & Nash
Jul 21 2026

Suite Judy Blue Eyes and other assorted love songs

Spiderland by Slint
Jul 22 2026

I get what they were going for I just like other grunge stuff more.

Talking Heads 77 by Talking Heads
Jul 24 2026

Solid debut album but not quite at the level as their later stuff. I think this is my last Talking Heads on the list so I'll say that I'm surprised Speaking in Tongues or the Stop Making Sense soundtrack didn't make the cut and this did. I've accepted that this band will probably never do a reunion tour (I saw Byrne on Broadway a few years back which was close enough to be honest), but if they ever do I'll be first in line.

The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monáe
Jul 27 2026

One of those albums that had a profound impact at just the right time. Janelle Monae burst onto the scene with this futuristic genre-bending album that rarely lets up throughout its whole runtime. Suite II is more my thing than Suite III but overall it's one of the great 2010s albums. Standouts: Dance or Die, Cold War, Tightrope, Mushrooms and Roses, Wondaland

To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
Jul 28 2026

GKMC is one of my favorite rap albums but I don't go back to this one as much. This album has some absolute classics - These Walls, King Kunta, Alright - but sometimes it gets a little too into the weeds and into some jazzy loops. And the single version of "i" is much better than the album version. Man I know this is considered his magnum opus and maybe I'll change the rating to a 5 one day but I just like Kendrick's more straightforward stuff more, sorry if that makes me a simpleton.

The Hissing Of Summer Lawns by Joni Mitchell
Jul 29 2026

Joni gets a little more experimental after Court and Spark and it doesn't quite reach the heights of that album or Blue but hey it's Joni and it's still very good.

Want Two by Rufus Wainwright
Jul 30 2026

How convenient that my rating for this album is in its title!

Meat Is Murder by The Smiths
Jul 31 2026

It's totally fine but not my thing.

The Band by The Band
Aug 03 2026

Classic Americana rock, Cripple Creek is so damn funny

Aug 04 2026

Sam Cooke I apologize I was unfamiliar with your game! This was great stuff, a hidden gem on the list.

Aug 06 2026

Man come on why is this even on here. Bored the whole time listening to this. 7th worst album on the list for a reason I guess!

Fire Of Love by The Gun Club
Aug 07 2026

I love Celebration Rock by Japandroids but I never knew For the Love of Ivy was a cover until this! Good track but the rest of the album is just fine.

Sign 'O' The Times by Prince
Aug 10 2026

I love this album but I get why it's not the favorite of others on here because it's not as funky as some of his other work. Still, it's a classic and a different more soulful side of Prince and easily his second-best album. Side 3 is incredible. Standouts: Sign o' the Times, It, U Got the Look, If I Was Your Girlfriend, Strange Relationship, I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man, It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night

Aja by Steely Dan
Aug 11 2026

One of the best albums of the 1970s but also one that you cannot appreciate until the moment you turn 30 years old. These guys were perfectionists in the studio and we respect that! Standouts: Black Cow, Deacon Blues, Peg, Josie

Aug 13 2026

Pink Floyd between 1973-80 was probably the best band in the world. Before that is a real mixed bag though. Unfortunately Syd Barrett's stuff never really caught on with me and this album is no different. Waters has some decent riffs on here but overall there are very few traces of the band that would make Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall.

Dirty by Sonic Youth
Aug 14 2026

Thurston and Kim go grunge with good results. More Butch Vig excellence to keep this show running tight.

Off The Wall by Michael Jackson
Aug 17 2026

It may not have the magic moments and the highest of highs that Thriller includes, but Off the Wall is consistent and danceable and great throughout. The first 2 tracks are two of MJ's most well-known hits, two charming disco anthems. But the rest of the album packs a punch too. This is all timeless stuff here. Standouts: Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, Rock With You, Working Day and Night, Off the Wall, I Can't Help it

Wordsmith

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