R.E.M. go major label with a glossier result, but the same underlying songwriting strengths and idiosyncratic lyrics. Standouts are ‘World Leader Pretend’ and ‘Orange Crush’

Although I am familiar with The Cars and Jonathan Richmond, this was totally new to me and I can see why it is revered - a bunch of demos from 1972 which sounds years ahead of most other rock from the era. It's not completely to my tastes but I thought the lyrics were funny and the production was very punchy.

This is really authentic sounding, very raw, although Tom occassionally sounds like he's forcing a particularly challenging stool.

Never heard this before other than "Born to Run". When I was younger I would've hated it, would've felt it was a bit too much 'meat and potatoes', but I can see how influential it is to bands I like such as Arcade Fire and War on Drugs. You get the feeling that he really means it, or has experienced what he's singing about. There are lots of tracks on it I like more than the one I knew, just hearing them for the first time, such as "Meeting Across The River".

I have heard this before when it was released, but didn't have a copy. I always liked "Summer Babe" but didn't really know the rest of the album. It's got a great frazzled atmosphere throughout, but with a sweet underbelly. The vocals are never quite completely in tune (and neither are the guitars), but this adds to the charm which was somehow missing later on in their careers.

I went for the US version as it was shorter and had "Paint it Black" on it, which was the only song title I recognised. I've never liked The Rolling Stones, and I still don't after listening to this album. They seem like relics from a bygone era, too hard to relate to. PIB is a tune though, and I realised I also knew "I Am Waiting" from the film Rushmore, which is also a nice tune. More of the rest just sounds like fairly ordinary rhythm and blues to me though.

R.E.M. go major label with a glossier result, but the same underlying songwriting strengths and idiosyncratic lyrics. Standouts are ‘World Leader Pretend’ and ‘Orange Crush’

Feels oddly lounge jazz in parts and not really a fan of his vocal style, but it is at least distinctive

Never listened to Hawkwind before, and I suspect this isn't a good place to start. I quite like the hypnotic repetition in some of the tracks, but the muddy sound doesn't help. Finally, the spoken word tracks are terrible, sounds like a Spinal Tap sequence spoof.

This was like the soundtrack to a gritty 70s thriller about a cop who doesn’t play by the rules. That’s a compliment.

I like Brian Eno, but have never listened to this before (another artist with a daunting back catalogue)...or so I thought. Several of the tracks rang a bell with me, especially the lovely title track which I had to google to find out why it was so familiar (it was used as the title music for UK docuentary programme 'Arena'). an accessible stepping stone between the glam rock stuff and the later ambient excursions.

I actually enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I didn't like the idea of the restriction of an acoustic album, but found it quite atmospheric, mellow and moody. It does tend to get a bit samey (ballad about someone with a terrible life, instrumental break on a harmonica etc.) but it doesn't outstay it's welcome.

Breezy and enjoyable, and a step up from their debut. Deeper cuts like The Beds Too Big Without You and Bring on the Night still sound great due to dubby basslines and Copeland’s hyperactive drumming

I'm not a fan of Bowie and at first this album did little to dissuade that despite it's lofty reputation, but as it went on I got drawn into it's varied range of tracks and the level of innovation and experimentation. It probably helps that I am a fan of Eno and some of these tracks just sound like they are by him, but overall this was a pleasant surprise.

I have no explanation as to why I've never listened to this before, seeing as 'Dummy' is one of my favourite albums. I can't even say I wasn't aware of it, as I remember liking the flyer single 'Machine Gun' when it came out. All I can say is I was REALLY busy at the time. This is several shades darker than Dummy, more gothic. It's like the difference between Mezzanine and Blue Lines. And it's brilliant.

I've never listened to any album by the Beatles, so why not start here. I knew it was off to a good start when I sang along to the opening three tracks despite never having heard the album before, such is it's absorption into popular culture. The whole album went by in a flash and it so inventive. Even a song we used to sing in music lessons at school (When I'm Sixty Four) and of course A Day In The Life which tbh I thought was a John Lennon track but is also ingrained im my mind. I can't think of any other albums where you already know half the songs back to front before you even play it. An easy five stars.

This is the sort of album that should be on the 1001 list. A real game-changer in synth-pop thanks to the introduction of the Linn Drum at the last minute. Eight of the ten of the tracks could be hit singles (in fact four of them were), and the wit, melodicism and songwriting still shine through four decades later.

I like The Byrds but has never listened to this album: it does everything you'd expect from them really, intricate guitar and beautiful harmonised vocals.