Not a big fan of the genre (80s funk pop), but I can get what people loved about it. Beyond genre, solid songs that made me move! And able to slow things down. A cohesive album. Might have been 4 stars in a different genre (or later on in this list)
In the end, this album just doesn't do it for me. Where Purple Rain got the 'novelty' aspect, this sound is just too much like all the other rock bands, and I don't love it. Obviously Radiohead's later albums are all better as they get away from this sound and the 'cliches' of it. While the best parts of the album are easily 5-stars, none of the songs are 5-stars from start to finish. Ultimately, that and the 'cliche' sound are enough to make it 3-stars for me.
- A couple of 'noise' moments, but generally a pleasant album. A bit too much 'rock band' for my liking, but the highs are high. The okay songs here are really just okay though.
- Intro is fantastic, though the rest of the first song is only okay.
- A lot of songs with great moments, but that turn into something not as enjoyable later on in the song
This is clearly an artistic concept album and I respect that, but it doesn't hit for me. The best of the album is fine, and the lows aren't too low. I'm just left feeling very neutral about it all. It's a 2.5 star, rounded down to 2. I enjoyed the effort of putting a narrative into the album. Silver lining is that the 2nd listen-through was more enjoyable.
- I can hear how this album has influenced pop music today (big, bouncy drums underlining the vocals), but it's just a little too busy. Lots of moving pieces in each song.
- I guess I just don't 'get' it. Even when stripped down, I'm struggling to engage with the songs
- 'Cloudbusting' is a better song. Not as busy, more of a traditional band instrumentation. More accessible to the ear.
- 'And Dream of Sheep' is nice too. Not my style in general, but it's nice!
- 'Waking The Witch' - just when I'm warming up to the album, it gets all 80s pop and wacky again!
Understanding the era this came out during, I can appreciate that it was pioneering for its time (they were Led Zeppelin contemporaries), but compared to Zep there is just something missing. Comes off feeling loud for the sake of noise at times. It is totally fine music (the highs are great, the misses are big), there is just nothing to me that sets this apart from the music it inspired later on. It also leaves me feeling emotionally flat overall.
- Intro is fine, up-tempo rock. It does have me tapping my foot...
- A few of the songs are pretty annoying tbh
- 'Child in Time' is quite the rock ballad. In a different mood I would really enjoy it. Annoying rock noise at the end though
- Kinda reminds me of CCR mixed with Zep. The hard rock sound of Zep but the 'tight' rhythm of a CCR song
This album grabbed my attention from the start. While it lost a bit of momentum in the second half, this was a great find. I love the acoustic folk + accompaniments (strings, horns, wind instruments) and the lyrics + delivery are fantastic. This is a 4.5-star album rounded down because I'm still early in this journey and am reserving 5-stars for the "perfect" album that holds my attention cover-to-cover.
- This album has the best intro of the journey so far, and the moment that his voice comes in for the first time is SO rewarding after the instrumental intro
Maybe this could be 3 stars if I was in a better mood, but I was just annoyed by the end of the album. The lead singer doesn’t impress, the backing music is fine but bland. Some songs required skipping, and I don’t think there was a song I would want to listen to again. 1.25 hour album is LONG and maybe a tighter song list would have warranted a 3
- I like the artistic freedom expressed in the album, it feels like "new age blues". I'm not sure I really love the end product but I recognize what it's going for
- long album at 1.25 hours. I don't think this really warrants the length
- another streaky album. The good parts are good, but the bad is hard to listen to.
- I like 'Messiah Ward'
- The middle of the album is agreeable enough, maybe 3 stars through the middle
-I’m not sure this counts as a 3-star for all the songs I’ve actively had to skip.
-I’m so tired of this album by the end. Too long, not impressive
Annoying hard rock noise. Apparently this band helped make this genre popular, but it got overplayed and has never been a sound I like. I just don't want to listen to this album again, so it's 2 stars for that reason
- 2nd song isn't quite as terrible. Still reminds me of the music in my motocross game back in the day. Lots of noise. But 2nd song has earned a slightly longer listen
- "In'n'Out of Grace" solidified this as a 2-star album. Had to skip it
Reeks of debut album, Rolling Stone wannabes. The hits are decent and I enjoy the instrumentals, but boy does this feel like a rushed album and the lead singer/lyrics are really weak to the point of wanting to skip some songs. This is the first album here where I'm surprised it made the list since it's only okay and there's (apparently) so much more to come from them. A more thought-out polished product *might* have earned 4 stars. I'm looking forward to their later albums.
I really wanted a clear-cut 5-star album for my first 5-star, but alas that's not quite what this is. While entertaining, surprising, and generally a very fun album, there are some low points that made me have to think really hard about giving it 5 stars. In the first two-thirds, every song has a new surprise and it doesn't miss. There wasn't a specific song that was jaw-dropping, but on aggregate the album is just such a cohesive journey. Unfortunately, the last third of the album starts to wander and the quality slips. Ultimately, it's better than Bryter Layter at 4.5 stars due to its variety in sound while maintaining cohesion, so it deserves the 5 star label in that regard. An imperfect but nearly-there 4.75-star album, meaning we have our first 5 star album!
- Despite having a Beatles sound at times, they have their own contemporary twist. Even when similar, it's distinguishable from the Beatles
- Even the artistic dissonant-sounding moments feel whimsical and lighthearted (not noise for the sake of noise or pretentious 'artsyness'). This band just sound like they're fun to be around
- 'Standing in the Rain' is another example of an entirely new-sounding song that grabs your attention, without feeling out-of-place on the album as a whole
- The last 1/3 of the album in general is a bit weaker, up-and-down
- 'Mr. Blue Sky' is one of those songs you've heard a million times without even realizing it (1 billion streams)
This is a fine album. The opening was the worst of the journey so far. The better songs are palatable though (one or two are good). Ultimately, this is probably a 3-star at the start of the journey, but I've skipped so many songs since I'm just so tired of rock music at this point. I was relieved to finish the album even though I didn't even hate it that much. I think it has to be 2-star for all the songs that got skipped.
- Brutal opening. Whiny lyrics, uninteresting guitar. First opening song I've skipped
- Not so garbage after the first song. Not really engaged with it but it's fine
- Lol the best song is the one with the Radiohead lead singer
First album 'in the future'. Some bug let me skip forward a day and listen to tomorrow's album. Listening on 5/6
I didn't finish this on the first sitting and don't have much interest in going back to finish it. It was fine, but I just feel really meh and want to move on to something new. 2 stars simply because I have no enthusiasm for it. Probably harsh and I would have felt different if I listened for longer
- Well I wanted different... I definitely got it with this one
- I have a hard time believing this is the "must hear" rap album of 2005. I don't think this is gonna rate well globally
- I can't articulate what I'm struggling with here. Maybe it's too genre-bendy and overproduced.
It's a 4. I enjoy it, but it's not perfect. There are weird moments that don't jive, excessively slow moments, etc. But I liked it more than The Bends, and overall enjoyed it enough that I would want to listen again.
- I'm excited. Haven't given this a good, focused listen yet
- Ethereal. I like the sound so far, though 'Kid A' vocals are a bit overprocessed.
- Hard to have an objective opinion when I'm so deep in Radiohead right now
2 stars. Way better than expected, but too disturbed for me. Exhausted by the end from the noise and vibe. I'm glad I listened to it, but not something I would want to do again.
- Hesitant with that album cover...
- Actually don't hate it after the first song, surprisingly. More classic ' hard rock' than I was expecting
- 2 songs in... I'm tired of all the energy already. Will I be shouted at the whole album?
- Refreshed after putting it down for a day, and I feel like it's decent again! But I'll probably be tired of it soon
- I think I had to skip every one of the last 5 songs... It's just too much for me
Easy 3 stars. Completely fine, overplayed, too loud, would rather not listen again. Just not my genre no matter how badly I want to like it. I don't really connect with shout-singing
- Nirvana! This is gonna be interesting
- First song: Shouty vocals
- This feels like a sound that was copied so much that it's not interesting anymore, even if it was pioneering. It's perfectly agreeable music, but not wowing me
- My goodness the hits on this album have been way overplayed through the years. I know them without ever actually having listened to them myself
- Yeah sorry this genre is just not for me. I wish I could see what everyone else loves about Nirvana.
Incredibly middle-middle 3 star album. I think if I listened to the lyrics I would appreciate it more, but music is music, not poetry! It's pleasant to listen to, but nothing special in my opinion.
- Joni Mitchell! Another one I'm really curious about
- First impression: Female Bob Dylan but a better musician
- A little too much sunshine-and-roses to start. I also struggle to connect with lyricists on the first listen, it's hard to catch on a passive listen
- I'm sure this is a great album, but I keep missing it... It's just blended mush to me
- 2 songs left, I'm bored. Ready for the next album
Way better than I expected it to be. It was an enjoyable album that I would happily listen to again. A little too repetitive for my tastes, but at least it wasn't all noise. 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3.
- Punk rock... Carrying a lot of judgement going into this
- First song: Not as bad as I expected! It's not just noise
- It's a bit of an eyeroll, but it's fun
A bit wandering, a bit of added filler, but a fun album. I think Prog Rock in general is going to rank well with me, and I'm curious how this stacks up with other Prog Rock on the list
- Lost my notes from before... I was halfway through. TLDR I'm enjoying, but there is definitely filler in the album. Leaning 4 stars
In summary, this album is too popular for its own good, and too short when you remove the massively popular songs. Looking forward to more MJ though! 4 stars, would enjoy another listen
- Holy 80s!
- This is fun! Feels more timeless than Prince, despite the 80s instrumentation (especially bass)
- A bit flat for me. I think it's just overplayed. But wild how huge these songs are
- 2nd half is much stronger. Less overplayed (somehow Billie Jean sounds like a new song to me). Human Nature is good too.
3 stars. So mid. Hard to believe this made the list, it's just so average and cliche.
- *sigh* more rock. Not a terrible opening but so plain
- That punk-rock thing where the chorus is just the same line over and over gets pretty old
- 'Junk Shop Clothes' is a nice sound, but the lyrics are a bit... off I guess? They just don't connect.
- Repetitiveness is causing skips in the 2nd half of the album
A fine Aerosmith album. I don't think it's their best, and it's too much standard pop rock to fully appreciate it. I like the better songs, but it just doesn't connect. A quality 3 star album, but not deserving of 4 stars
- Noisy! But also upbeat
- Fun first song, lets see where it goes from here. I don't think this is their best album so idk
- Not quite shouting, but not my favorite vocals so far
- "Love in an Elevator" is more like it! good song. What I want to be hearing in rock music
- Feels like he's singing to a stadium. I've never really heard that in a studio album before
- More poppy than I was expecting honestly. Doesn't fully connect with me
Strong rock songs, but lacking the consistency to merit a 4. There are many songs I would want to listen to again, but not the whole album.
- Whoa! Strong start. This is my kind of rock
- Kinda jam rock, kinda 60s CCR stuff. Hard to place.
- Middle of the album is repetitive dad-rock. Might be too much kludge to justify a 4, but I'm looking forward to their other albums on this list.
A nice change of pace (still within the rock genre of course). A varied album, a bit repetitive in lyrics but the emotion packed into them makes up for it. Very fun, 4.5 stars rounded. down. Close to 5, but lacking some of the emotional oomph for this genre
- More rock :( at least it's more like pop-rock
- Actually, this isn't like the rock we've heard. More like 'band music'. I'm enjoying it!
- Easily 3 stars, probably needs a deeper listen to earn more
- On second listen, I like it more! A little too simple, but short enough to get away with it. I would listen to this again
- Honestly, lyrically reminds me of Sabrina Carpenter. Big breakups, hookups culture, dumb boys, etc
This might be the kind of music I would have enjoyed at the start of this project, but completely not interested at this point. Just fine, 3 stars
- Boy oh boy... classic rock
- Kinda just background noise. Not really connecting with it
Maybe it's just not pop enough for me, but I felt pretty neutral. The lyrics don't hit, but I guess I get what people like about them. 3 stars
- jazzy. Interested
- Rhythmically challenging, jarring to listen to so far. Also if you're gonna be a lyricist you have to enunciate... (enunciation got better)
- Enjoying this, I think I'm going to give it a 2nd listen and focus on lyrics
Honestly what in the world is this. Pushes the boundary of what you can call music. I'm glad I saved the 1 star rating for junk like this. I made it 3 songs and had to stop
- Well... this one isn't going to rate well globally
I feel like they write great riffs and hooks, but the songs don't move me. Like it's amazing pop, but doesn't hit deep in any way. Maybe if there was a Dissect series about this, I would 'get' it, but until then it's just 4 stars.
- Strong opening. Spacious sound, hard to describe. This album is apparently 'legendary', so we'll see...
- Idk, it's fun and unique but missing something. Easily 3.5, maybe a 4 but it's a long album
- I can see how this is the music Radiohead was listening to in their early days
- Droned on at the end, but not in a painful way. Going around for a 2nd listen (noted by *)
* Intro is STRONG. Points for that. Though the actual song itself is just fine
Lost my notes :( but I think I said this gets 5 stars for the novelty. I like the genre and it kept my attention throughout. Hoping for more oldies like this.
Yawn. More of the same. Mediocre/bad lead singer, rock band. Kinda noisy. Had to skip some songs due to terrible vocals. 2 stars.
- 'No Bones': God these vocals are TERRIBLE
Apparently this was like the first country-rock album, which is cool. I think that's why I struggle with it. Pioneers rarely age well, once they've been copied a million times. It's also a weird blend of hippie rock and country rock. Totally fine, lacking oomph, 3 stars
- Not in the mood for this, we'll see
- Background music. Country influences is fun, just not noteworthy
Meh. Better than the same old rock, but Common is a bit wordy trying to say what he wants to say. Lyrics aren't very profound or emotional. Some songs were good, this deserves 3.5 stars rounded down.
- Hard to rank rap against all the rock that came before
- Most popular song 'Go!' is majorly underwhelming
- Kinda corny by modern standards, does feel like of course a couple white guys liked this rap album
This music is so familiar that it's difficult to rate. I enjoy it, it's full of emotion, and catchy. I like the story being told. But some of the songs miss, I just don't LOVE it. A strong 4 star album
- Modern pop! Very Jack Antonoff
- A little bit too plain for 5 stars I think, but strong album, probably earns a 2nd listen
- I hear a lot of Taylor Swift in this, but there's a distinct roughness/blurriness to this, where TS is so polished and clean. Gives a different vibe
- On 2nd listen and looking at lyrics, I appreciate it more. Still not 5 stars unfortunately.
This one falls in the category of albums I'm glad I listened to, but wouldn't listen to outside of this project. Just not my genre. If there was less noise guitar reverb and shouting, I would love this. But every song has to climax with noise and that's not enjoyable to me. TLDR; enjoyed it, don't need to hear it again
- Motocross noise rock. Yay. Vocals are clear at least, even if he's not actually singing...
- Wait, maybe this is actually decent
Seems like "industrial metal" is real heavy metal mixed with extra noise and shouting that pushes the boundary of what music is. Maybe I will enjoy the heavy metal on this list because the better parts of this album are fine... But the 'industrial' stuff don't make any sense to me. Didn't bother to finish the album.
- Disturbing... Repetitive...
- "TV II" isn't a song. It's noise and shouting
Yawn. Couldn't finish. Maybe it would have gotten 3 stars if it didn't come right after some awful industrial metal
- I can't do wacky vocals. So annoying, just sing normal!!!
- On a short leash after the last album (industrial metal). They're gonna have to cut the wacky stuff if they want me to finish this album.
- Maybe it's pioneering but I don't hear it. Just sounds like more of the same rock music I've been hearing
I liked the change of pace. This is a good album, it just gets too full at times and repeats the same climax a few times. The lows are pretty bland and there just wasn't enough there to earn 4 stars, but it was close.
- Modern rock! Doesn't suck from the start. Very indie
- First song is fun, has life. Got a bit dumb at the end
- 2nd song: Hey, I've heard this one! v popular, decent
Good enough for a 3, nowhere close to being a 4. Common People makes the playlist
- Funky start, not much intro. I think my preference is a slow, spacious crescendo-ing intro
- First 30 seconds - this sounds like more bland rock that makes no sense why it's on the list
- "Common People": Okay, I see why this is on the list. It's a limitation of the album framework of this list though, if an album like this makes the list because of a few huge hits
- Brit pop rock is so dumb. If you can make a hit like this, why waste my time with all the 'artsy' (annoying) other songs on the album? Just make 5 great songs and call it a day
What's the point of all this rock? Surely, there are other genres with intricate and nuanced sub-genres that deserve to get some attention? Unspectacular album, didn't feel the need to finish
Pleasant lyricist. Not sure the music matches the emotions of the lyrics though. Doesn't hit. Not entirely sure what makes this a must-listen album. Mid.
Totally fine 3 stars. Fun listen, don't need to listen again.
- Lovely! Not rock. Interest is piqued.
- Background noise so far. A bit eclectic in genre
Solid 3.5 stars, just doesn't have much depth.
- Now THIS is the 80s!
- Two songs in, this is quality and I'm enjoying it
3 stars. Kinda sounds like a great album, but I'm not sure any of it is about anything. Just some jammers jamming and a guy singing
- Dad rock. But not in a bad way I guess...
- I feel like this has all the pieces of a good album, but underneath the surface it's actually pretty garbage
Hilarious, ridiculous punk. Not my cup of tea. Not upset I listened to it once though.
- 21 songs, 35 minutes. 1 2/3 minutes per song. This will be interesting
Listened a few times, enjoyed it lots! I think it's a soft 4 star album, but it makes me feel FOMO to leave it as a 3 so... here we are
(notes lost)
Lighthearted, feels like a passion project. Not sure how it made the list, it feels overall amateur. It's very unpredictable, but in a good way! Just fine musically though.
- Unusual. Not many listens on Spotify. Curious
- Gentle, sweet. Enjoyable. But also very wonky
Another flat Deep Purple album. Despite loving Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones, I just can't get behind Deep Purple. I think what makes Led Zeppelin stand out is the quality of the vocals. Every member of that band could get everything out of their instrument. Rolling Stones is just SO pop, they knew how to keep a song to the right length. Deep Purple... not so much. They rely more on catchy riffs and repetition rather than skill. Not a bad album, I just struggle to understand what I don't like about it. Spiteful 2 stars, skipped the 2nd half of too many songs and just didn't want to listen anymore by the end
- More rock :( not in the mood. At least it's a short album
- Okay I'm warming up. Clearly willing to take a step in another direction from their last album I listened to
- Strong riffs, annoying rock.
Wanted to love this so much. I get that it was hugely influential on rap. It just doesn't age all that well. Rough on the edges by modern standards, but it is great laid-back rap. Lyrically dense, definitely need to be in the right mood for it but it has highlights. Still enjoyed it though, 3 stars would feel unfair.
- A bit exhausting to listen to the whole album, it’s just so much vocals.
I bet the music is great but I can't stand her voice for a whole album
- Oh boy. 80s vocals. This might be tough
Enjoyable. Strong start had it on a 5 star path, but lost energy around the midway point. 4 stars for the strong opening stretch. Good lyricist knows how to sing within his range with a fun production sound.
- oof white guy saying the n-word. Pretty sure it's sarcasm but OOF. Did some research, sounds like Randy Newman is very self-aware of the optics
- Truly enjoying this album. It's got a groove, it's not just rock cliches, it's got a digestable message, and I like his voice!
- Starting with 'Every Man a King', there's a quality change. Lyrics get wonkier, sound gets more jarring
I think this has to be a 5! Up there in quality with Led Zeppelin, very impressed and very pleased. Wish I had listened to them sooner, can't wait for more of their albums on this list. FWIW, this is WAY better than where heavy metal went in later decades, though maybe that will be proven wrong later in this list.
- Intriguing intro. Not as 'heavy' as I was expecting
- This bangs. Clear contemporary of Led Zeppelin but have their own sound
- Weird how multiple songs are tracked together. Would have added some to the playlist but not all 9 minutes of the track...
- Drags on at the end but not enough to knock it from a 5. Hope their later albums are more concise.
2.5 stars. Coulda been 3, but it's a little bit annoying. Don't really want to hear this album again
- noise :( . Feels like noise to create dissonance though, not just noise for making noise. We'll see...
- Everything is just so distorted, it's like listening through a layer of sonic fog. Disorienting
- I appreciate the noise as part of the art. But it still makes the music REALLY annoying
- Yeahhh I like it more when it's not so noisy. I don't mind the distortion as much. That said, it's kinda just 90s rock so.... yawn
Perfectly fine. Didn't breakthrough, just background noise. Probably would have been more digestible with more listens. Tbh didn't finish, got bored
This is gonna be a hot take, but I feel like I've been shouted at musically for 37 minutes. I enjoyed it, but I'm exhausted. I love the concept but the production is just a lot. Doesn't really make me want to listen to it again.
- Opener: whimsical dad rock. Don't think I will rank this as well as the 'crowd' but we'll see
- All I hear is rock ballad after rock ballad. Is every song going to be this over the top?
- I want to enjoy it. It's just too busy for me :(
I want to like this... But it's just not catching my interest. Totally fine, but I'm just really mid on this.
- Funky! At least it's not classic rock
- Fun, but a bit aged. Maybe one of those bands where they defined a new genre that was then overdone
I guess this is a 2.... It's not bad, I just didn't want to listen to it anymore. If I had more patience it probably wouldv'e managed a 3
- 2 instrumental songs totaling 50 minutes. Fun concept, let's see...
- Strong start. If the quality holds for 50 minutes this will rank well
- 6:20 -> oh no, annoying guitar enters. I hope this doesn't ruin everything
- Quality is starting to wander a little but it's not bad
- Paused around 8 minute mark. Much less patience when I returned. I’m not going to make it all the way through this
A strong 3 but lacking any 'wow'.
- Terrible album cover. Not optimistic based on cover alone
- Groovy opening, I guess? Music is better than album cover
- Actually don't hate it yet
- Not really engaging me emotionally. Not sure I 'get' it. But the sound is better than most on this list.
- I zoned out. Nothing of note here to catch my attention.
Lost my notes. Wanted to love it, only liked it. Curious what a James Brown album would sound like, but the live concert is a bit rough on the edges. Feels like a weird selection for 1000 albums list.
Strong first song, but kinda a one-hit album. Maybe this just isn't me genre but it didn't hit. Soft 3
- Groovy! Optimistic
- Lame cover of "Heard it Through the Grapevine", doesn't hold up to Marvin Gaye version (and this one came later)
- Didn't really recover after first song
ABBA is more fun as a focused listen. Mamma Mia makes me really appreciate their music, but fell flat as background listening. Strong 3, but couldn't engage my ears
- ABBA! High expectations
- Mamma Mia might have done it better...
- Suprisingly faded to the background. Likely a strong 3
Really interesting album progression. Feels like the first songs are the strongest, and then the album wanders into more experimental production and hard-hitting (but rhythmically challenged) lyrics. The top 5-10 songs would earn a 5-star rating, but the rest of the songs are just not at that level. A STRONG 4, but the quality wavers too much to be a 5.
- I have never heard this before... The flow is impressive
- Sounds like groundbreaking lyricism for the time. The production was either pioneering or fits rap of the time
- 3rd song less enjoyable. Not enough to knock off a 5 though, and the 2nd half of the song is still strong
- 2nd half of the album is dragging on. I like the lyrics but the production is... eclectic
- Easy 4, want to listen to the top again. Don't think it's enough to make this a 5
- 'Black Steel...' is another good song. I think this is a STRONG 4 but not tight enough of an album.
Overall weird genre amalgamation that I just couldn't get along with. 2 stars is a generous rating, but there are a few songs of value. I have a feeling it's going to rate well on this site for some reason though...
- Lovely opening song. Very gentle and sweet
- 2nd song is a weird Bob Dylan Punk mix. 2 chords and dense lyrics. Annoying
I’m firmly on the fence of a 5. I struggle with the lyrics, but I like the sound a lot. Just wish there was a more emotional hit with the lyrics. Ultimately just a little too cliche/tired to LOVE it enough for 5 stars. Maybe I'll change my mind later but 4 stars feels fair for now. Strong 4, but lacking lyrical/emotional quality for a 5. The ethereal sound is just such a specific vibe.
- Modern music! Probably going to be bad...
- Iconic intro! Feel like I've never heard the original but have heard a million samples of it
- First song is pleasant!
- Feels a little too cliche/dated to be 5 stars, but I enjoy it. Let's see if the rest of the album can be this quality
- Doing a second listen to see if I connect with the lyrics... Connect strong with some songs, other songs are a mix. Cryptic lyrics are tough, really waffling on giving this a 5
Coulda been great but the singer sucks. The music is awesome though, that alone holds it up to 3 stars. It's a shame really, with a different singer this could have been a top album.
- This is a lot of energy right after xx. Great intro
- Oof singer lost me. Annoying and nasally. Wish he hadn't started singing.
- I've decided I like punk rock when it doesn't suck. This one sucks. Punk doesn't suck when there are decent lyrics and decent singing. This isn't that.
- Love the drumming. It's all over the place, swingy, kinda off beat and off-putting, but somehow holds the whole song together anyway.
Music already has this ranked low, but I don't think there was a single sung note in this whole album. That guaranteed no more than 2 stars. Almost lucky it didn't get 1 star but I didn't bother finishing this album.
- What is this intro... Are they playing the guitar with a bow?
- Oh no, another terrible singer. Flirting with 2 stars already
- Song 3 is an instrumental. I don't mind this one
3 stars. Missing any sort of 'wow' factor.
- Bit of a beatles / beach boys sound. Let's see where this goes
- Wait now it's country? What is this?
- Faded to background music. 60s music done well, but I'm missing what makes this interesting
I can see why this was huge. If the world was yearning for punk, this is as core and high quality as punk gets. I'm working through a weird relationship with punk throughout this list, it really flirts with anarchical singing and that bothers me. Otherwise, I love the lyrics, song structure, and instrumentation. Songs don't need to be complicated to be good... but it's hard to hit an emotional tone when you're not singing. Reluctantly 3 stars but glad I listened to this.
- Sex Pistols here we come! Big expectations. If they are what people say, this will rate well. Let's just hope the singer sucks
- Tough start. Hate the singer. Somehow warming up to him though
- If this is the sound throughout it's gonna be tough to get through. More polished than other punk, but more grating as well
- Yeahhh idk. I guess I like punk instrumentals and lyricism, but how hard is it to sing a melody? The Go-Gos nailed it, and I've been chasing that ever since.
- Verdict: It's great punk, but half-singing is not my vibe. Seems like that's a core feature of punk so I can't say I like traditional punk...
Boys music for boys. Not in the mood. Terrible lyrics. They're lucky I'm not giving it 1 star.
- 90s beach boys?
- Clearly the authors of this list love casual whimsical white boy music. bet Weezer is their favorite band. There's a big reward for 'witty' 'satire' lyrics over real emotional music. What a waste (clearly I'm cranky)
Listened to this over a number of listens. I love the ambiance, the sound quality, the crowd interactions. It transcends the musical content to become a piece of history. I hope there's more Johnny Cash in this list. His storytelling and song composition is incredible. I would choose to listen to this album start to finish any time.
- I've listened to this one before, excited to listen again with new ears
- Iconic. Even better than I remember, and WOW that sound quality for the 60s
- Such a romantic voice
- The crowd manages to add to the record! There's a real live presence here. Feels like reliving history
- Spent a long time debating this one as a 5 star. Decided it was. Even if some of the songs are not the easiest to connect to, The album as a whole is awesome and there are some serious top-quality songs.
Enjoyable! Just a 4. Not much of an 'album', but a collection of lovely singles. Maybe I'll regret this decision later on, because I do really enjoy it. But the short song format is just too jarring to modern ears. Would love to listen to this again.
- Another country album I've listened to! Excited.
- Folksy soft guitar. Love it
- Really short songs. Bounces around a lot
- That was really fast! Tough to really engage with the songs when they're so short. Easy 4 either way.
- This should be fun! Another album I've heard but never really focused on
- Very gentle. Dated. Not a big hit with me
Probably a nostalgia 5 stars but I'm okay with that. I love this album and most everything Zep. There's just a rhythm to the whole thing that can't be found anywhere else. It's a weak 5 and not Led Zeppelin's best album, but still a pretty easy 5 for me to give
- Let's go! First Zep. I'm pumped. Pretty sure this is 5 stars without even needing to listen
- Whole Lotta Love is wildly trippy in the middle. A bit too psychedelic for my tastes... But Bonham still stars throughout. Somehow provides rhythmic grounding to some wacky stuff. Then they just fall right back into the power chord riff and regular song again
- I think their strength is Robert Plant's incredible vocals and the rhythmic fluidity. It swings and rushes and lags but somehow remains smooth throughout. Robert Plant is the lead singer that SO many good rock bands are missing. And Bonham is so clearly irreplaceable
- I don't think this is their best album. But it still slaps.
Lost my notes. Fun jazz, maybe worth a 5 but I don't feel like listening again right now. Probably a sign that 4 is the right rating. Felt whimsical and upbeat.
1 star is harsh but this has zero redeeming qualities. Annoying singers are the worst
- Two hours... oh boy
- Instrumentals are nice but one of the singers is annoying.
- Random metal song. Eclectic I guess
- Next song is weird whiny rock
- Paused on "Here is No Why" - just couldn't listen anymore
- Resumed: It's only worse than I thought! Please take me out of my misery. 1 star is harsh but this has zero redeeming qualities
Lovely album, groundbreaking. Too popular for its own good unfortunately, gives it 4.5 stars rounded down to 4. Really enjoyed the full album listen though
- Sadly, overplayed. Awesome music, but going to be tough to appreciate. MJ level of popular though, I never realized these were all the same album!
Something is off. This was just fine, even though rap usually ranks well for me. Just no consistency, couldn't carry the good stuff for even an entire song. Budget RTJ, beats don't bounce as well and lyrics don't hit like RTJ does. I get British pride, this sounds distinctly London but maybe it misses my ears because of that. It's a strong 3 stars, but never really got close to earning the 4th star, especially for a rap album
- This is... interesting. Brit rap, never heard of it
- Flow is fine, just feels a little off. We'll see
- Okay 2nd song bangs. RTJ vibes
- Skits are more annoying than they should be
- Idk if it's the genre or the lyrics or what, but I just don't love this. Pretty tired of it after a few songs
- "Numbers" is a fun song but wtf is it about
Easy 4, not quite a 5. Pleasant album, fun and bouncy but the love songs get repetitive. Not really an album in the modern sense but a collection of love song singles
- Frank!
- So suave. This is dancing music indeed
- Very fun, at least a 4. May need many listens to fully appreciate.
- On a 2nd listen, the whole ‘I love you so much’ gets a bit tired. Fun at times, but how many ways can that be said. Easy 4, not quite a 5
This was good, but didn't leave me feeling like I needed to listen to it again
- Bonnie Raitt, she's country right?
- Hmm, maybe not
- Interesting genre mix. Clearly country-influenced, but not every song. I think I gravitate towards the more country-sounding songs
- Definitely has that 80s sound, but not as strong as other albums on this list
Not much to say. Great timepiece, doesn't make it great music. Perfectly fine, 3 stars. Glad it's on the list.
- 1957, this is old. Just from the album cover I can tell it's going to be a 3
- Seems like strong building blocks for modern music, but doesn't really hold a candle to newer music
- Lighthearted, pleasant
This might be the biggest swing in opinion from expectation to reality. I used to really like this album, but it's just really weird and creepy as I listen now. Just not really something I would want to hear again
- Used to like this one, but do I still?
- More annoying than I remember. I think the whole 'concept album' thing used to really wow me...
- Music is fine, but the content is weird and creepy now. Maybe that's on purpose but it doesn't make me want to listen again
It just feels like why listen to this when I can listen to Zep? It's all the same cliches and It's hard for me to say this is better. Seems like a bridge from Zep to Queen, and not in a good way. 2 stars would be harsh, but 3 stars doesn't mean I want to listen to this again
- What kinda space alien intro is this?
- Wait this opening song is 20 minutes?
- Dad rock, prove me wrong. Pretty good though. Neil Peart is on it with the drums
- Ugh these vocals suck. Why not just sing normal??
- Completely fine, but too many rock cliches. Maybe I would have liked this as a high schooler
This album is maybe a few songs too many, but I've never heard an album from such a big-time artist facing death. The raw emotion throughout is unbelievable. It's not perfect, but the highs are so incredibly high that it doesn't even matter. I want to listen to this album on repeat for the rest of my life. Someone who really understands what it means to be human.
- 2002 Cash? Odd. Apparently the last album before he died
- He's not really singing, but it's mesmerizing anyway. Almost like if Morgan Freeman was talking over instrumentals
- Such emotionally charged songs. Sounds like a man facing his mortality
- In My Life is so hauntingly beautiful - Beetles cover but hit it with the wisdom of a 70-year-old
- I'm just so enchanted by his voice!!!
Listened to it, didn't leave an impression. Maybe deserved a more focused listen but when I tried to listen again, I was bored.
2 Stars. I just want to skip every song. It's not bad per-say, just annoying and noisy
- Not as dark as the album name and cover implied. Not terrible rock
- Quality dropped rapidly on 2nd song
It's not music if you don't sing. Instrumentals are fine, I get why somebody would like this.
- Brutal 2 album run, this right after Penance Soiree. Honestly not sure which is worse. I've never understood 'noise' music.
- Wait, 2nd song almost has a melody. And it's kinda catchy... Oh wait they started shouting over the instruments. I prefer singing
- Just getting repeatedly smashed by uptempo drums. I'm exhausted
Enjoyable, glad I listened. Didn't meet 4 star criteria, so I guess it's a strong 3
- This kinda stretches the meaning of an album, but I'm okay with that. This is lovely music. Feels like the musical Bob Ross
Pleasant but didn't knock my socks off. Very strong 3, but would I go out of my way to listen to this again? I don't think so
- I've heard this before. I've liked it in the past, we'll see...
- Kinda just background funk elevator music. Feel like the whole album just passed by. Listening again.
Totally fine, but also stupid at times. Solidly 3.
- Didn't like the first smashing pumpkins, low expectations here
- Ugh noise
- Okay noise isn't terrible. This doesn't suck yet. Kinda singing. Kinda catchy
- Not my vibe but I don't hate it. Poppy hard rock, I can see how this was popular in the 90s
- More decent music. Strong 3, far from a 4.
- Stupid guitar solo. Definitely not a 4.
Lost my initial notes, but I've been listening to this album a lot and it's definitely a 5. My first listen faded to background noise, but when you give the time to really listen, it feels like a time capsule into the 90s. Hard rapping, good beats, storytelling that holds up today. Curious how this album stacks up to his first, when that one comes up on the list
Fun, I can see many influences from this music style (Anderson Paak, Bruno Mars), but I didn't love it enough to give it a 4. Blended together in the end, there wasn't even enough to take notes on
I couldn't make it through this whole album, maybe I just wasn't in the mood? Glad I stuck it out to the middle of the album, there was something decent in there. But the start and end were pretty unpleasant. Easy 2 stars, didn't make my ears bleed but I hope I don't hear this again
- This is gonna be some interesting prog rock...
- Weird indeed. Don't think I'll be making it to the end of this one
- I mean experimental is fine. But this is just banging on things and hoping it counts as music??
- Haven't made it through a song yet. Last try on song 3 (of 6)... Strong start for Exiles! Optimistic this album *might* manage 2 stars
- Exiles was okay. No longer want to rip my earbuds out.
- Strong redemption, but the first song ruined the whole experience. Didn't bother to finish, last 2 songs were whack too
This is enjoyable punk, but the songs are dumb. Punk is incredibly white and male and this is no exception. Nice music, but didn't feel it. Toss in some emotion and this is an easy 4, but without it's just a bland 3
- Punk! Strong start. More sing-y than usual
- This is the pop-punk I like! The lyrics are tough to process so I'll need a 2nd listen but positive vibes so far
- Okay starting to get my head smashed in by the relentless energy. Not a bad thing, just whoa
- 2nd listen: Fun music, but they don't have much interesting to say.
Considered listening a second time to follow the lyrics, but it's just too loud. Perfectly fine album, almost wish I could give it 4 stars. Just can't imagine listening to that much noise all the way through again, willingly. If this was my style it would rank high.
- Pop metal? What is this... I don't hate it tbh
- Probably too loud to get a 4 either way, but I am enjoying it
Great example of the rating deflation as we get deeper in this list. If this was in the first 10 albums I listened to, it absolutely would have been a 4. But while I enjoyed it, the middle got bland and the good songs just aren't great enough to warrant a 4. Strong 23.5 that just missed out
- 60s! Strong start!
- Very 60s but kinda hard to place
- The harmonies!
- Some bland Beach Boys / Beatles songs in the middle
- On 2nd listen, the lyrics just don't hit. This one just missed being a 4
Very mid. 'modern' sound that already sounds dated and tired. Similar to the XX album, minus the originality and quality
- 2012... These are always entertaining
- Yeah this tracks. Indie pop rock with a big bass. Classic festival sound of the 2010s
- First song is screaming 3-stars. Completely and utterly mediocre
- Bit more club music than I was expecting. Not in a good way
- Background music. Uninteresting. Didn't bother finishing the album, had a pretty good sense of what I was going to get
Well... That happened. Entirely neutral stageplay-esque album, decent singing and instrumentation. Nothing to make note of.
- 90s. Low stream #s on Spotify. Curious...
- Broadway soundtrack vibes?
- Not bad but what is going on?
It's Queen so it has its moments but man are they annoying sometimes. Just can't get out of their own way to make a complete album I can stand listening to.
- Oh boy Queen... Expect to be screamed at for an hour
- Fun intro riff, decent start. Distinctly Queen though, that's for sure
- That went downhill fast. Fast tracking to 3 stars. Wish I understood Queen
- Some good power rock in 'Sweet Lady'
- 'The Prophet's Song' is fun too... but why is it 8 minutes? Oh that's why. Super annoying. Condemned this album to 3 stars
I'm struggling to rank this one. It's groovy and fun, but lacks any lyrical content or emotional weight. Would I actively want to listen to this album again? Ultimately I have to say yes. It needs more time to digest but has kept my attention through a few listens. One of the weaker 4 star albums so far but I'm okay with that.
- GREAT drum intro. Swingy and wild but still tight
- A bit underproduced. That's gonna hurt the ranking. Is this like a punk precursor?
- Positive vibes so far. Kinda angsty beach boys, kinda pop-punk
- Wandering through the middle. Does this have the quality to get a 4?
- This one really has me thinking! It's fun and groovy but lacking any sort of lyrical punch.
The intro had me! And then it went to shit. Whiny, cliche, and lame. Would actively prefer not to hear this one again. Easy 2 stars. Couldn't even finish it
- Wonky intro. Beatless but still together
- Whoa the bpm/time change. On my toes from the start. Interesting
- Falling into more traditional 90s rock now. Not in a bad way (yet)
- Okay this is lame now. Bland and lame
- Shoot I was on shuffle. Gotta listen to more of it now...
- What a strong start wasted. Fell back into boring cliche lame rock. Might not even bother struggling through this whole album
One big takeaway from this project in my opinion is that there are not 1000 albums that must be listened to before I die. This is one of the ones I could have skipped. 2 stars, didn't make it very far into this one
- More annoying rock, yay! Brutal back-to-back
- Why must there be so much noise!!!!
Pleasant but boring. Mid-to-strong 3
- Kinda nice but this song is too long. Not terribly noteworthy, though might have been pioneering for its time
- So 70s. Riffing/jamming, it's nice but what am I supposed to feel???
Groundbreaking album, you can really hear the influence this album had on the future of rap. I feel like this has been sampled and quoted so much that it all seems familiar, despite never hearing it before. Flows are great, beats are awesome, switchups are top-notch. WAY ahead of the game at the time. What holds this back from being 5 stars is the lack of emotional engagement. Consistent themes of "we're the best, we're aggressive, don't fuck with us". I get why it is what it is, that's just not the *peak* of what I'm looking for in an album. But man does this album sound good!
Strong prog rock (no duh). Interesting commentary, kinda Matrix-esque. Very fun, actively want to listen to this again. Too much instrumental and songs are too long for 5 stars
- 5 songs, 45 minutes. No thanks. Better be the best thing I've ever heard if you're gonna do that
- Strong intro, has me curious. On brand for Pink Floyd
- Cinematic. Vibing
- Shoulda just chopped the songs in their natural places but we're pushing through
- big 'what if a rock band played like a symphony orchestra' vibes. Dunno if we'll get any lyrics in this album
- Most of the way through the first song. Still vibing
- Singing!! Queen-y, don't think that's a good thing here
- Lyrics are strong. Still holding water
- 2nd song switches it up. Similar cinematic intro. Weaker but still decent. Strong lyrics, a bit dystopian cyber-punk for my liking
- Loving the lyrics, mid on the music at times. Shaping up to a reliable 4 star album. I like the concept.
Caught me in the wrong mood. This felt like that industrial garbage but produced on a computer. Bailed after 10 minutes. I hope I never hear this again.
- Some weird electro music. Not really my vibe. Also not in the mood. Not sure how far I'll make it.
That was fine. Kinda slow, kinda basic. Seems like Madonna is as much an icon as an artist (of course, this is my first full album of hers I've listened to). Hard to do well on a list of albums if you're known for your hit singles.
- Fun! Poppy. Anything that isn't rock is notable on this list
- Getting more classic 80s as we go
- "Love Song" is funky and I'm here for it
- Pretty mid so far. Pleasant, there are some decent songs but mostly just background noise
I'm sad to rate this a 3. There is so much here to love, but the album as a whole just doesn't have it. He's best when stripped down, but all the stripped down songs sound the same, feel the same. If this album was cut in half I think it would have made a 4. Oh well...
- Old school start! Fun
- Interesting next-gen Beatles / Rock combo. Sounds a lot like Bryan though, that's hard to separate
- "Oh My Sweet Carolina" is heart-wrenching. So good. Feels WAY ahead of its time in the minimalism. Probably boosted the album by a star just from this one song
- I'm such a sucker for singer-songwriter acoustic "folk"
- Almost packed with too much heartache. Like this album has one emotion and you just get tired of it. Great singles, struggles as an album. At least a 3.5. Would be fine if it wasn't SO slow the whole time. Started skipping by the end.
