1001 Albums Summary

If Gene Belcher was a real person, he would be Holger Czukay

I'm 6 tracks in and I already know I'm going to rate this 5*. I've never even heard of this band, but right off the rip, all I can hear is Mr. Bungle. Except that no one from Mr. Bungle was ever in this band, and this album came out nearly 10 years prior to the first Mr. Bungle studio release. I'm also surprised to learn that one of its founding members is Nick Cave—whom I'm not even very fond of to begin with.

Not really my cup of tea. Sounds like a rock opera... very Meatloaf-ish. I did enjoy the VERY last song

Interesting mix of Classic Rock, Country, Punk, and Irish/Scottish Folk

How have I never heard of this? I swear I've listened to Mudhoney before, but if I did, IDK why I never listened again. This is right up my alley with a HUGE post-punk/early grunge kinda vibe. Very reminiscent of Johnny Thunders and I'm sure was some sort of inspiration to Kurt Cobain.

I also think this album is underrated. Maybe not 5* like some others are rating it. But I think it deserves some credit. It's got a Leonard Cohen meets Lou Reed meets Bright Eyes meets Butthole Surfers meets The Pixies with a touch of Country and Shoegazing. I don't know how that's possible, but it's definitely a weird vibe and has a strong garage quality to it. I fee like only the TRUE lovers-of-all-genres will appreciate this. But the music is good, vocals are nice, and whoever the bass player is... I hope he or she has become famous, because for me that is the best, most consistent trait across the whole album.

Anyone that knows me knows I'm a connoisseur of depressing, melancholic music... and I've never felt so disappointed by it than I did with this album. The back-up vocals being the worst quality of it all, but I found the choice of effects and arrangements to be very amateur. If you liked this album, or even kind of liked it, check out Tweaker (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3-fOTTKFr4) and Starsailor (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nigN8bSP9_4) instead. The Tweaker song I shared is sung by "Will Oldham" (aka Bonnie Prince Billy). I feel like that song is how this whole album SHOULD sound.

Some of these other reviews are calling everyone out as misogynists and sexist. But as a white female who was a teen in the 90s and grew up in a wealthy family, I'm gonna call this shit out for what it truly is: Rich, white girl, 90s-teen-tv-show background music. It's AWFUL!! The cover was more promising than the first 10 seconds of this album. All black clothes, Doc Martens, "whatever".... I thought for sure I was in for some good Grunge or Alternative. NOPE! If you like the Friends theme song, you might love this album. Track 10: I Could Hurt You Now is the only redeemable song of the album. If you want GOOD 90s teen white girl music, please check out Mazzy Star, Jewel, The Cranberries, Natalie Imbruglia, etc.

I usually don't let other people's opinions of things weigh on mine. But after reading some of these reviews, I almost didn't want to listen to this at all (ie: I did't want to give him the "plays"). But I did skim through about 30 seconds of the first 5 tracks before I decided that I wouldn't continue because my heart just wasn't in it at all. I can't overlook racial appropriation to this degree. As someone who is a fan of the punk scene and British second wave ska... It's sickening to see someone try to monopolize in this way. It's very much the opposite of what those two scenes as well as Hip Hop stands for. The very least I can do as a white person to help end traditions such as this is a hard "pass". Eff this dude.

I just really can't stand this kind of music. I rate most everything on here 3* because, even if I may not like the music, I can still somewhat enjoy everything I've heard. It's the first album in my, almost, 200 albums that I couldn't finish..... and I even made it all the way through Backstreet Boys and Justin Timberlake. Bonus star in recognition of vocal talent.

If Abba and Meatloaf had a baby

Everyone seems to hate the track Student Demonstration Time. I feel like it's the only redeeming song on the entire album. I'm admittedly not a fan of the Beach Boys—I think they're highly overrated. But I think this track is a brave departure from their typical Surf Rock format while they dip their toes into the Blues/Country genres; and I happen to like it much better than their typical happy, bouncy, quintet sound. So much more rockin'!!

Not feeling it. I hate to say "it sounds like a bunch of noise" because I listen to a lot of music that can be categorized as that (metal, industrial, dubstep, etc). I also listen to a lot of electronica (including a TON from the 90s...too much to name), as well as a lot of "weird" music (Mike Patton-anything, Primus, Björk, etc). But this is for a way different level of ADHD than what my brain can tolerate. Ok... there is *ONE* redeeming track on this album. Very last one, "Being With U"

This album is absolute *essential* early Trip-Hop and is quite literally one of the BEST albums on this list. It's a shame to see everyone lump it in with all other British Electronica. It's the pinnacle of Cyberpunk, paving the way and influencing so many others. Whole genres were created based on this style. It's what made computer nerds start to have that Geek Chic. Leftfield truly stands apart from other similar acts of the time. Please give it a chance instead of just rating it 1 because you think too many other UK Electronic bands are on this list. Why are you even here if you can't listen to everything subjectively?

Surprisingly good. At first I was a little put-off by the lack of "drums". There *is* percussion, and there are drums.... just not in the traditional "rock band" sort of way. But it's very chill, and the more I got into the album, the more I enjoyed it. Probably won't listen to it again, but of all the records I say that about, this one is arguably the best of that lot.

If you're like me, you're going through this list because you "love all kinds of music." But if you're rating this album as a 1 or 2, then you don't actually love all music, so stop lying to everyone. Because this album is absolute gold in the world of Death and Thrash Metal.

Bryan Adams meets The Cure

Jesus! Where was this album in the early 90s?! It fits perfectly into that decade; feeling a bit like Jane's Addiction meets The Doors (vibe), The Cult (guitar), and punk/grunge vocals like Mudhoney and The Stooges. It's a bit of a gyp for the band and music lovers that this album came out in 2004 instead of 1994 where it would've made them wildly famous. This may be the best of the almost 300 albums I've listened to on the list so far. Going to add some of these tracks to my daily rotation.

I get that this was from 1974, and things like this were more "accepted" (for lack of better words) back then. But I'm going to hard pass on this album after the first track. I know Newman well enough to know that he never created any music worth putting on this list, and I don't want to subject myself to the racist shit for a mediocre performer. There's nothing worth celebrating here... and this should be removed from this list so it's no longer perpetuated.

One of the other reviews said that this album/group was "criminally underrated" in the 90s and I have to say I agree with that 100%. How have I never heard of these guys before?!

One thing I really dislike about this list is how it's supposed to be artists/albums that were highly influential or broke through the mold. Then I get something like this, which is a very obvious attempt at trying to be The Doors that it leaves no room for anything original in the least