225
Albums Rated
2.35
Average Rating
21%
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1980s
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7
5-Star Albums
43
1-Star Albums
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You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live And Dangerous | 5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
| Tracy Chapman | 5 | 3.78 | +1.22 |
| Bad | 5 | 3.8 | +1.2 |
| Brutal Youth | 4 | 2.83 | +1.17 |
| (What's The Story) Morning Glory | 5 | 3.84 | +1.16 |
| The Stranger | 5 | 3.86 | +1.14 |
| What's Going On | 5 | 3.94 | +1.06 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Wall | 1 | 4.14 | -3.14 |
| Kind Of Blue | 1 | 4.06 | -3.06 |
| Time Out | 1 | 3.84 | -2.84 |
| In Rainbows | 1 | 3.84 | -2.84 |
| Ill Communication | 1 | 3.65 | -2.65 |
| good kid, m.A.A.d city | 1 | 3.61 | -2.61 |
| Maggot Brain | 1 | 3.6 | -2.6 |
| Moon Safari | 1 | 3.58 | -2.58 |
| Rust Never Sleeps | 1 | 3.53 | -2.53 |
| Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music | 1 | 3.49 | -2.49 |
5-Star Albums (7)
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Popular Reviews
Baaba Maal
2/5
I’m really not sure what to say about this one - just like my last foray into what I suppose is termed “world music”, this was effectively an hour’s worth of background music.
2 likes
Bert Jansch
2/5
I had never heard of Bert Jansch before this and, whilst this was inoffensive and easy to listen to, I’m not sure I’d actively seek out his other works.
1 likes
Genesis
2/5
From now on when I say “oh, I like Genesis”, I need to remember to qualify that statement with “but not that early 70s prog rock stuff; only the stuff that has no Peter Gabriel, and has Phil Collins on vocals.”
1 likes
1-Star Albums (43)
All Ratings
Pearl Jam
3/5
Air
1/5
… nah.
David Bowie
3/5
It gets 3 stars for “Heroes” alone. Quite liked “The Secret Life of Arabia” too. The rest was utter nonsense.
Yes
2/5
Gets 2 stars for Roundabout. The rest is just prime Rick Wakeman knob twiddling guff.
Michael Jackson
5/5
So good it got a second listen.
Bill Evans Trio
1/5
It’s getting 1*, and it should be grateful.
Jimi Hendrix
2/5
Meh.
Jean-Michel Jarre
2/5
Liked it more than I thought I would. Just about.
Rod Stewart
2/5
I suppose Maggie May is worth 2 stars.
Nick Drake
3/5
I had never heard of Nick Drake before now, and I liked this much more than I thought I would.
Parliament
3/5
I expected to like this much more than I did.
Sade
4/5
Could listen to Sade all day.
George Harrison
3/5
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would, but it loses a star for the unnecessary “jam” tracks at the end.
OutKast
2/5
Unnecessarily long. Did nothing for me, but I had forgotten about “The Way You Move”, which I always liked, so it gains it an extra star.
The War On Drugs
1/5
Just dull. Dull, dull, dull.
Pink Floyd
1/5
Even the presence of the only Pink Floyd song I like being on this album couldn’t save it. Absolute tripe.
Ray Charles
1/5
Having spent over an hour of my day listening to this, I may as well have not bothered. Couldn’t tell you anything about it.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
It has a nice album cover, at least.
Sugar
2/5
I didn’t hate it, I suppose.
1/5
I think this made it onto the list by accident.
1/5
I should’ve enjoyed this - but I didn’t. At all. Completely forgettable, and far too long for a 6-track album.
1/5
This album should be grateful I can’t give less than 1 star. So bad, it made my dog’s ears pin back with fear when she heard it.
Joe Ely
2/5
It wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t close to being good either.
Blur
4/5
I fully anticipated despising this, having been on the Oasis side of the debate in the 90s. However, listening to it as an adult has me realising that they were a lot better than I remembered. Still can’t stand Damon Albarn’s voice, mind you.
Soft Machine
1/5
Out-bloody-rageously awful.
Fiona Apple
2/5
It wasn’t the worst thing I’ve heard so far on this list, but it just wasn’t for me.
Portishead
3/5
Beyond “Glory Box” I was largely unfamiliar with Portishead, and this album is much the same vibe as that - not a bad thing, just not really my thing, really. It’s atmospheric and I can see its appeal, but I doubt I’ll ever think about it or listen to it again.
Oasis
4/5
I felt really conflicted about this because when it’s good - “Live Forever”, “Supersonic”, “Slide Away” - it’s perfect. When it’s not, like with “Digsy’s Diner”, it’s just a bit forgettable.
A solid 4* album, but not the 5* I assumed it would be when listening back as an adult.
Os Mutantes
2/5
I didn’t hate this, but I genuinely couldn’t tell you anything about it. Not for me, and totally forgettable.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
I hovered between giving this 3* or 4* - it’s a decent album, with the standout obviously being “Up Around the Bend”, but some of it was just a bit middle of the road.
Out of the covers on the album, I preferred “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” over the Roy Orbison cover, but it didn’t need to be over 10mins long.
Ravi Shankar
1/5
Albums shouldn’t be instruction manuals.
Turbonegro
2/5
It gets an extra star for amusing song titles.
Suede
2/5
I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t like it either - I’ve never been a fan of Suede and that opinion hasn’t changed listening to them again as an adult.
CHIC
4/5
A fabulous album, showcasing the tight grooves that would be heard on most of the defining hits of the next decade.
Mike Oldfield
2/5
I was mildly drunk whilst listening to it, which I think helped.
Ali Farka Touré
2/5
I liked the opportunity to listen to an artist I have never heard of before and, whilst I didn’t hate it, it just wasn’t for me.
Thelonious Monk
2/5
This was better than the last jazz offering thrown my way by this generator… but only just.
Beatles
3/5
Even as a firm believer that The Beatles are hugely overrated, I quite liked this - it starts strong, with “Taxman” and “Eleanor Rigby” already on my (very, very short) list of songs by The Beatles I actually like.
I didn’t even mind the sitar of “Love You To” (though do dislike the poor grammar), even after listening to Ravi Shankar earlier in this generator and despising it.
However, by the time Ringo starts clapping away about his yellow submarine, the wheels had come off for me and, once more, I had started to wonder just what all the fuss is about.
Pink Floyd
2/5
My biggest problem with this album is that it feels like hard work to get to the good stuff - and this has some good stuff (compared to The Wall, which I heard earlier in the project, and was utter tripe beyond the title track).
It just doesn’t really feel like it was worth the effort, which takes all the shine (ahem) off of it.
Roxy Music
1/5
I was sure I liked Roxy Music before I listened to this. Now I’m not so sure…
Billy Joel
5/5
Each of Billy Joel’s 4 previous albums have “that” song on them - “The Stranger”, from beginning to end, is all “that” song; back to back classics that cemented him as music’s great, New York storyteller.
Tangerine Dream
1/5
I don’t have the words to express how bad this was.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
I don’t mind Neil Young generally, but I find his early efforts quite dull and this is no exception.
Curtis Mayfield
2/5
Whilst my Curtis Mayfield knowledge may be limited, I was just expecting more from this - it never really got going, keeping itself firmly in the realm of (pretty underwhelming) baby making music.
Cream
2/5
I generally don’t mind Cream, and this was on track for a middle-of-the-road 3* review from me.
And then “Mother’s Lament” happened.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
I’m not as clinically depressed after it as I thought I would be, oddly.
Brian Wilson
3/5
In some moments, this album had flashes of what it could have been. Whilst the inclusion of “Good Vibrations” might have seemed like a good idea at the time, it only highlighted all the ways this album felt like a let down.
Listening to this album the day after Brian Wilson passed away was still a lovely thing, though.
Bob Dylan
2/5
My inherent dislike of Bob Dylan stems from an almost visceral hatred of his voice. I have been reliably informed by my dad that, some day, I’ll get it - alas, that day hasn’t come. I’ll be amazed if it ever does.
Objectively, “Like a Rolling Stone”, is a good song - as are so many of his compositions. I just prefer when someone else sings them.
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
This just wasn’t for me. I don’t mind some of their later singles (especially the ones which have vocals), but this just didn’t do it for me.
David Bowie
3/5
Having suffered the misfortune of listening to “Heroes” earlier in the Generator, I went into this with low expectations. Just as well, because when we opened with a track that was 10mins long, I feared this was going to be another disaster.
Thankfully, the album picked up after that - “Golden Years”, already one of my favourite Bowie songs, and “TVC15” are obviously the standouts. The rest of the tracks are all quite inoffensive, but mostly unmemorable.
The Cure
4/5
This is a bit of a slow burn to begin with but, once you hit “Lovesong”, picks up, and has a run of songs that cement this as maybe their most cohesive album.
It’s not perfect - you could lose probably 20 minutes of intro and outro, across the whole album, and it would still keep its coherence. Even my love of The Cure doesn’t temper an dislike of too-long songs.
Adele
4/5
Adele is someone who can be a bit hit and miss for me (in terms of her music, not her as a person - I’d very much like to be friends with her).
The standout for me on this album has always been “River Lea”, and listening to it again just reminds me how much I love it.
Whilst there are some misses on this album for my personal taste, even they are clearly well-crafted, well-written tracks that show just what a talent she is.
The Crusaders
2/5
The highlight is “Street Life”, but there was no need for it to be 11mins long.
The rest of the album was all instrumental - something which, thanks to this project, I’m learning I don’t really like. Especially in this case, as I felt like I was listening to the sort of music you’d hear in the lobby of a hotel.
Elvis Costello
4/5
I’d never heard of this album before but, as a fan of Costello’s early work with The Attractions, had high hopes. I wasn’t disappointed.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
This was always going to be at least a 3* for me, given “It’s Tricky” and “Walk This Way” are on this album. I enjoyed listening to the rest of it, although no other tracks stood out to me quite like the two biggies.
Badly Drawn Boy
2/5
For an album that was only just over an hour long, it seemed to go on forever - and not in a good way. 99% of it sounded the same, to the point where, multiple times, I realised I’d heard two or three different tracks instead of the one I assumed I was still listening to.
“Once Around the Block” is the only song I’d heard before, and it is still lovely. I also really liked “Disillusion”, which I’d never heard until this project.
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
I really don’t know what to say about this - I didn’t hate it, but I couldn’t tell you anything about it either. It went in one ear and out the other. Just not my thing.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Undoubtedly “Superstition” is the standout track on this album; when the horn section kicks in midway through the first verse, the effect almost feels visceral.
Sadly, the rest of the album feels almost like filler in comparison. It starts promisingly, but after “Maybe Your Baby”, never really gets to the cohesive heights that will be found on an album like Innervsions or Songs in the Key of Life.
The Notorious B.I.G.
2/5
Beyond standouts “Juicy” and “Big Poppa”, this was little to write home about.
Baaba Maal
2/5
I’m really not sure what to say about this one - just like my last foray into what I suppose is termed “world music”, this was effectively an hour’s worth of background music.
Booker T. & The MG's
2/5
Having already established that I’m not a fan of albums which are purely instrumental, this was never going to score well from me.
“Green Onions” is obviously the track that is most well known, but opening with it meant I lost interest quite quickly after that.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
My Joni Mitchell knowledge was limited as I lined this up for a listen, but I was fairly sure it wasn’t going to be for me - and I was right.
I can see her appeal, and why she is lauded, but she just doesn’t do it for me. She nearly got a bonus star for her excellent grasp of a song-coming-in-under-three-minutes, but I resisted.
Eurythmics
3/5
This album should be in my wheelhouse but, if it weren’t for the title track, this would just be a standard 45mins of synth pop that isn’t anything to write home about. If anything, all the tracks up to the title track are passable - then you get to the standout, and everything after is just boring in comparison.
The Beau Brummels
1/5
My joy at noticing this album came in at less than 30mins was short lived.
Solomon Burke
2/5
This starts off strong with the classic “Cry to Me” but, having reached that peak so early, I felt it quickly descended into mediocrity.
Minor Threat
1/5
Oh dear.
Love
2/5
I didn’t hate it, but don’t lure me into a false sense of security with tight, under 3-minute tracks from the get go, only to throw a 17min track in at the end.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
When one of the greatest songs in the world is your opening track, you set yourself up for listening to a masterpiece - thankfully, this is exactly what this album is.
The title track remains as relevant today as it was in 1971 and, along with every other track on the album, demonstrates that politics and protest music doesn’t need to sound angry - sometimes, it can sound as beautiful as this.
Nina Simone
2/5
Whilst I can appreciate Nina Simone’s talent, unfortunately I don’t like her voice - and this album has her at her warbly “best”.
Jeru The Damaja
2/5
I was clearly spoiled with having Run DMC in this project previously, because it has all just been downhill on the hip-hop front since.
I had never heard of this artist before, and I’ll not be running to catch his other work.
Thundercat
3/5
When the first couple of tracks included the lyric “beat your meat” and meowing, I nearly wrote this off as a batshit, 1-star listen that I would let in one ear and out the other.
Then Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald came to save the day. The following batch of tracks had great guest stars, tight grooves - and no more ridiculous lyrics.
Despite the album picking up in the middle, I felt, as it got towards the end, it just became a bit dull. I was almost longing for more silly lyrics to at least make me react somehow.
An excellent grasp of my rule of “keep songs under four minutes” though.
Simon & Garfunkel
2/5
This album ultimately sums up my thoughts on Simon & Garfunkel: inoffensive, but does nothing for me.
ABBA
4/5
This showcases everything ABBA do so well. “Dancing Queen” might just be the greatest pop song ever recorded, and “Knowing Me, Knowing You” (ah-haaa) is a fine example of the kind of ballideering that would culminate a few years later in the most devastating and heartbreaking of break-up songs.
It’s not a perfect album: songs like “When I Kissed the Teacher” and “My Love, My Life” are a bit dull in comparison to the classics of their type. The latter, in particular, I can now only visualise as being sung by the ghost of Meryl Streep in “Mamma Mia 2”.
Supertramp
3/5
This is the first of Supertramp’s albums that moves away from its art school wankery and into a poppier vibe. Songs like “Bloody Well Right” and the classic “Dreamer” are clearly the standouts, but really this album starts to move the direction of traffic into something that will culminate in the masterpiece that is “Breakfast in America” a few years later.
The Young Rascals
2/5
I genuinely could not tell you anything about this album, except I don’t think I hated it?
Beastie Boys
1/5
Never again.
Queen Latifah
2/5
Having just suffered the indignity of listening to the Beastie Boys for this project, the only thing I can say is that it this album wasn’t as bad as that.
Digital Underground
1/5
I had actually managed to blank this album from my mind until I came to review it. Make of that what you will.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
1/5
One day soon, this project will realise that no amount of offering me jazz will make me like the genre, and we’ll all be happier for it.
The Offspring
2/5
I knew little about The Offspring prior to this, my knowledge largely extending to the song “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)”.
Armed with that, and a general sense of how songs of this genre and era sounded, I didn’t anticipate I would much like this.
And I was right.
Radiohead
1/5
Yep. Still hate Radiohead.
Lauryn Hill
4/5
I’m almost glad Lauryn Hill has only released this one album, because it’s unlikely she will ever come close to its brilliance again.
But we’ve been through this - most songs of +4mins make me lose interest, and there is no need for excessively long outros. Even an album as great as this doesn’t get let off.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
1/5
I tried to come up with an actual review, but I couldn’t.
John Cale
3/5
Having never listened to anything by John Cale before, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this. Very easy to listen to, a good, tight run time of 30-ish minutes. Lovely.
Songhoy Blues
3/5
This is my favourite of the “world music” selections we’ve been offered as part of this project so far, for reasons I can’t really explain. I just quite liked it.
A Tribe Called Quest
2/5
Whilst I may have listened to this, it went in one ear and straight back out the other. So I guess that means I didn’t hate it if I don’t remember listening to it?
Van Halen
4/5
One of my favourite openings to an album is this. “Runnin’ with the Devil” leads into a run of songs which showcase Van Halen at their very best.
“Eruption” highlights the talent of Eddie Van Halen in a little over a minute and a half, and then a rockin’ version of “You Really Got Me” leads to my album highlight of “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love.”
A solid debut that I don’t think they topped with their subsequent releases.
Black Sabbath
2/5
Would this have been the album I’d pick? No. But it doesn’t really matter.
RIP Ozzy 🖤
Funkadelic
1/5
This sounds like what I imagine an acid trip feels like.
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Knowing very little about Harry Nilsson, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this album.
“Without You” still sounds better coming from the mouth of Mariah Carey, and “Coconut” made me smile - I hadn’t realised that was a Nilsson song.
All in all, this was an easy listening joy.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
This is now my second Joni Mitchell album of this project, and I still don’t really get it - maybe it’ll be third time lucky?
Talking Heads
3/5
If you asked me to imagine what Talking Heads sounded like, it would probably be this album.
I enjoyed listening to it, and was familiar with some of the tracks, but it was just missing something for me - I don’t know what that something is, but their output during the 80s has always been my preference over their earlier stuff.
Eminem
3/5
This starts off strong, with “My Name Is” and “Guilty Conscience” being your opening tracks - a problem, because the album never reaches those heights again.
What this does give you is a glimpse into the lyrical genius of Eminem, and a feel for just how good his later albums will be. This one is just not quite there.
Bert Jansch
2/5
I had never heard of Bert Jansch before this and, whilst this was inoffensive and easy to listen to, I’m not sure I’d actively seek out his other works.
Bob Dylan
2/5
I still don’t like Bob Dylan, but his voice was less grating on this album so it gets an extra star.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
Sometimes words are not enough to convey how truly bad something is. This is one such time.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Being only really familiar with their hits, I was a fan of “Spellbound” already. I have learned from this project that plenty of albums start going downhill after “the hit” - refreshingly, that wasn’t the case here.
This is a consistently strong album, showing Siouxsie’s unique sound.
Tom Waits
1/5
I don’t know who I pissed off to have Tom Waits so soon after Captain Beefheart and Bob Dylan, but I’m sorry.
Madonna
3/5
If ever an album highlighted the reason why the singles were chosen for release, it’s this one. “Frozen”, especially, is the standout and still sounds amazing, but I’ve always enjoyed “The Power of Good-Bye”, as well.
Whilst the rest of the album is cohesive, with William Orbit’s fingerprints all over it, the album tracks just sound like filler compared to the singles.
Adele
4/5
This is an album in two halves: the first half is a belter - “Rolling in the Deep” still sounds as good as it did the day it was released and begins an almost perfect run of tracks, any of which would be strong enough to release as singles.
The second half of the album loses some of that momentum for me, and isn’t as strong. It took me a minute to realise “Lovesong” was a (quite nice) cover of The Cure and, of course, “Someone Like You” will forever be the heartbreak anthem of the 2010s, and is the standout track at the back-end of the album.
U2
3/5
There is a period in the 90s where I think U2 become a bit guff - this album is the start of that process.
“One” is a beautiful song (even if I do prefer the later version with Mary J. Blige), but I’ve never really got the rest of the tracks - even the other singles.
It just wasn’t for me, but was still inoffensive (or as inoffensive as I can find Bono) enough not to hate.
Bob Dylan
2/5
For a split second I considered giving this 3* on account of the fact that I like the video of Subterranean Homesick Blues, and think the line “You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows” might be one of the finest ever written.
Hearing “Mr Tambourine Man” in its original construction also highlights what a delightful and beautiful song it is.
But none of that changes the fact I just can’t get over the vocal style of Bob Dylan and, no matter how talented I can objectively say he is, I won’t ever enjoy his music or see how others can enjoy it.
2/5
I really don’t know what to make of this - I’m not even sure if I liked it - but it certainly had my attention. I just don’t know if that was for good or bad reasons.
Indisputable, however, is the fact that singer Jay Anderson’s best contribution to music is his work as Kevin’s guitar player in his tribute band in “The Office” (and his composing the theme tune to the show, I suppose).
Iron Maiden
3/5
I’m not particularly a fan of Iron Maiden, but I suppose this sounds exactly how you think a Maiden album would sound - soaring vocals, interesting lyrical imagery, and unnecessarily long guitar solos.
Ticks all the boxes if it’s your thing, I guess - it just isn’t really mine.
Joy Division
2/5
This darkness of this album, I would imagine, reflected Ian Curtis’s state of mind during its recording. I found it an uncomfortable listen; very “moody”, for want of a better word, and very dark and despairing. I didn’t enjoy it, at all, but giving it only 1* feels harsh, for some reason.
Talk Talk
3/5
This started strong, with an excellent run of tracks (who doesn’t love a children’s choir?!) until you get to the brilliant “Life’s What You Make It”.
At this point, the album hits a bit of a lull and I have zero recollection of any of the tracks - until we get to the closing number. All 8 and a half minutes of it. Which, as we’ve already been through, is unnecessary.
All in all, it’s 5* for the first half of the album. The second half is absolute dirge.
Talking Heads
2/5
This is a bizarre album. Its standout track is “Psycho Killer” - which is a song which does not fit the overall vibe of the album (which is quite… happy? For want of a better word). It also makes you wait for said standout track - it finally appears as the penultimate song on the album. By the time I got there, I had lost interest.
Elastica
3/5
I didn’t mind this, even though I knew that it wouldn’t really be my thing. Bonus points for sharp, non-rambly songs that show you can get to the point in under 3mins should you desire.
N.E.R.D
2/5
This album just didn’t do it for me, despite it being a Pharrell / The Neptunes record. “She Wants to Move” is incredible - still sounding as unique as it did 20yrs ago, but the rest is, despite some talented guest appearances, a bit of a let down. “The Way She Dances” is a funky joy with a great guitar hook. I suspect I would have much better enjoyed an album in the same vein as those two standout tracks.
I also expected more from a producer of the talents of Pharrell Williams when it comes to track length - he, if anyone, should have the ability to craft and execute a tight pop song in less than 4mins. No need for any of this 8 and a half minute nonsense.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
It’s the Pet Shop Boys, so already there will be a lot to like about this album. I just didn’t love it - it was all a bit early 90s, euro-dance for me to really love it.
It also suffers the unfortunate fact of having “Go West” as its closing track - a song that I have an abject dislike of.
All in all, though, it kept my attention and my interest throughout, and I had largely quite a nice time listening to it.
The Who
2/5
I am yet to remain convinced that The Who are not massively overrated. This album did nothing to change that opinion. Clearly “My Generation” is the standout track, and all of the others barely registered with me. Kudos to them for having short songs, though.
Primal Scream
1/5
I don’t have words. Just awful.
Donovan
2/5
Not expecting to be familiar with anything by Donovan, I was pleasantly surprised by track one - which I both recognised and enjoyed.
Sadly, that was the only track I enjoyed - or that really registered with me. The rest was just that 60s psychedelic-y type thing that’s not my bag.
5/5
Look, I tried to be all edgy because that’s my schtick. But I can’t. It’s a masterpiece.
Bob Dylan
2/5
*sighs*
Four down, three to go…
The Who
3/5
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I did - more than last week’s offering - and there is nobody more surprised by that fact than me.
“Baba O’Riley” is iconic and did a very weird thing, where it filled my chest and made me a bit emotional.
The “filler” tracks, if you like, were fine, and then the album ends with the classic “Won’t Get Fooled Again”. Does it need to be 8mins long? Does any song? I think we know how I feel about this by now.
The Flaming Lips
2/5
I think I was supposed to like this. On paper I should have, but I spent most of this asking what the dickens this absolute guff was.
Tracy Chapman
5/5
I’ve never listened to the entirety of this, but assumed I would like - and like it I very, very much did.
It is absolutely beautiful, from start to finish. Evocative lyrics that tackle issues like racial divide, racism, and domestic violence that - sadly - are as relevant today as they were in 1988.
The album features tracks from a multitude of genres including country, reggae, and the beautiful acoustic sound that I automatically associate with Tracy Chapman.
Aside from the “hits” that I already knew and loved, standouts for me were “Mountains O’ Things” and “She’s Got Her Ticket”, but all of the tracks were so good that the album got a (very rare for me) second play.
Björk
2/5
This is bonkers. Unique, but bonkers.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
2/5
I don’t really have an opinion on this - it was fine? Typical country from that era, which is not my bag. But it was fine.
The White Stripes
2/5
Great album name and short, snappy songs, but that’s about the height of the positives I have about this album.
At least 3 of those songs sounded the same, and I don’t mean “had the same vibes” - I’m saying they were a literal copy and paste job between tracks. You’re not an actual garage band; you are literal Grammy winners. Come on, now.
I have also never understood what there is to like about Meg White’s drumming but it does give hope to us all that we, too, can become actual Grammy winning rockstars.
Leonard Cohen
1/5
The most depressed 45mins of my day.
Sheryl Crow
3/5
I’ve never been a fan of Sheryl Crow so while I wasn’t expecting to particularly like this, it’s fine. I won’t listen to it again, but it was fine.
Raekwon
2/5
Sometimes I think I like rap music, and then I get proven wrong. Part of me wants to give it 1*, then I remember what else I’ve given 1* to and it’s not THAT bad. So 2* it is.
Nirvana
2/5
I know I’m supposed to like Nirvana, and I do like some of “the hits” - beyond that, I’ve not quite got the hype. And this album is, I think, made for those who get the hype.
“Come As You Are” is a great song, and their cover of “The Man Who Sold the World” still holds up well, but the rest are deep cuts and very odd choices for cover versions. Add the often grating voice of Kurt Cobain to the mix and this just wasn’t for me.
M.I.A.
2/5
I remember when “Paper Planes” came out - it felt like I was the only person who wasn’t a fan of it. Listening to it now, and the album in general, I’m still not a fan.
Frank Zappa
3/5
I fully expected to hate this, based on what I already knew about Frank Zappa - and that’s before you consider him being the producer of THAT Captain Beefheart album. However, against my better judgement, I quite enjoyed it. Some tracks, particularly at the end, went on too long and the whole thing was largely bonkers… but I liked it.
Ella Fitzgerald
2/5
Ella Fitzgerald clearly takes her brief very seriously, because when it says she sings the Gershwin songbook, I assume they mean every, single song given this album comes in at a whopping 3+ hours.
I’ve heard infinitely worse albums so far while doing this project, but this was just totally unnecessary.
Hot Chip
3/5
I remembered very little about Hot Chip, but found myself enjoying this - it’s catchy, full of disco infused beats that are always going to be a winner for me. I thought the album took a bit of a dive in the second half, however, where it largely became background noise, but a strong first half has some tracks I’d listen to again.
Bob Dylan
2/5
Dear Person-Who-Runs-the-Generator,
If this is some sort of ploy to try and get me to like Bob Dylan, it isn’t working.
Yours,
Disgruntled, avid disliker Bob Dylan.
PS: I didn’t think it was possible to butcher a song you originally wrote, yet here we are.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
This was enjoyable, as anything by Elvis and his Attractions always is, but it wouldn’t be my favourite. I don’t think it quite holds up when compared to their earlier efforts.
The White Stripes
3/5
Having only very recently been subjected to Meg White drumming like a toddler, I had no expectations about enjoying this album.
However, I was surprised to find that I was very familiar with the opening run of tracks, and even more surprised to find that I quite enjoyed them.
Then the wheels came off, as expected, for me, and I didn’t enjoy the remainder of the album.
Wilco
2/5
I’ve come to review this album and realised that I remember very little about it, which is not a good sign. It didn’t keep my attention, other than to frequently wonder how much longer I had to listen to it. It was all just dull and not to my taste.
Beatles
3/5
As someone who doesn’t subscribe to the cult of The Beatles, I knew my enjoyment of this album would be limited - a surface-level only acknowledgement that it’s not good, it’s not even particularly bad, it’s just overrated.
Tracks like “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Can’t Buy Me Love” are obviously catchy, even if overrated. Most tracks are just that typical Beatles sound that has never done anything for me, although I’d found myself enjoying “Things We Said Today”, which I had never heard before.
Elliott Smith
3/5
I had never heard of Elliott Smith before and, having read his Wiki page in advance of this, was expecting an album that likely reflected his mood at the time.
Which is exactly what I got but, surprisingly, I found myself enjoying the first half a lot. It was incredibly emotive and, normally, not at all my thing - but there was something about it.
I didn’t enjoy the second half nearly as much as the first, so it loses a star but, overall, this was a moving collection of songs - some of which will stay with me for a while.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
I was surprised to find Siouxsie come up so soon again on this project but listening to a tight, atmospheric 45mins of her is, weirdly, not a hardship for me.
I wasn’t as engaged with this album as I was with Juju, but it was still a fairly good listen.
Wu-Tang Clan
3/5
This album did a reverse sneak attack on me - after faffing about trying to find the explicit version, I found the first half to be absolutely awful. Total drivel that I was barely listening to.
When I got to “Da Mystery of Chessboxin’”, I suddenly found myself engaged for reasons I can’t really articulate - some of the songs were familiar to me via later samples, but the songs just seemed better, somehow.
Tears For Fears
4/5
Before I even began to listen, I knew this one would get a high score from me - it was only a question of how high.
The singles on this album are the standouts; “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” will be forever considered one of the best songs of the 80s, but “Head Over Heels” and “Shout” still sound great and hold up well. I’ve always liked “Mother’s Talk” as well, although that’s not aged quite as well as the others and now sounds a bit dated.
Where the album falls down is with the fillers - they’re all just really bloody dull (except for “Broken”, but I consider than an extension of “Head Over Heels”, so doesn’t count!).
Also, this album is really bloody long. I’m not sure it bothers me as much as would usually, as a lot of the tracks are great - but it’s still a wee bit too long.
The Temptations
3/5
This started off strong, and I really enjoyed the first three tracks - “Papa Was a Rolling Stone”, in particular, is the standout, and a song I’ve always loved. However, it had no business being 12mins long - especially as the first 4mins were intro.
From there, the album went downhill for me. The remaining tracks were snoozefests, and struggled keeping me engaged. This version of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was just dull compared to Roberta Flack’s (what it did do, however, was send me to Wiki - I had no idea of the origins of that song!).
You can see why the band feel that this was the last of their classics, as this album does feel a lot like that.
Genesis
2/5
From now on when I say “oh, I like Genesis”, I need to remember to qualify that statement with “but not that early 70s prog rock stuff; only the stuff that has no Peter Gabriel, and has Phil Collins on vocals.”
Cocteau Twins
2/5
I had never listened to Cocteau Twins before and probably never will again. It sounded too much like art school wankery for me to really get through without rolling my eyes.
Oddly, I had a dream (nightmare?) that there were another 7 of their albums to listen to as part of this project…
The Who
2/5
This album is everything I dislike - it’s by The Who and it’s far too long.
I’ve always enjoyed “Pinball Wizard”, so that gets the album an extra star, but that’s all of my positives about this experience used up.
Radiohead
1/5
I’m not even going to dignify this with a review.
System Of A Down
1/5
I’d genuinely love to know how some of the albums make the cut for this project, I really would.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
This was the first time I had listened to Bob Marley outside of the “Legend” album, and so I didn’t know whether I would enjoy this like I do that.
Turns out I do. I don’t think you can go wrong with any Bob Marley.
Pink Floyd
2/5
Apple Music reliably informed me that this is “a little like puberty” - which is fair, as I can’t say I much enjoyed puberty either.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
2/5
Having still not recovered from the last time I had to listen to Captain Beefheart, I dreaded starting this. The biggest compliment that it can have is that it’s nothing like “that” album - indeed, it sounds completely different, as if it’s by a totally different artist.
I still didn’t like it, though. It’s just not for me.
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
If I was Patti Boyd, I suspect boredom would have crept in about halfway through this and be debating whether I could be bothered.
This album is largely a standard blues effort, albeit a far too long one. It’s all a bit same-y: not just lyrically (obviously), but at points I’d gotten confused as to whether we had gone onto the next track or not. I didn’t even twig the cover of “Little Wing”, so same-y was all of it.
AND THEN!
God bless Duane Allman for creating what is, in my humble opinion, the greatest guitar riff of all time. Although I’d cut most of the piano ending, “Layla” stands out immediately in an album of mediocrity, and is a barnstormer of a track that still sounds incredible more than 50 years later.
If Patti Boyd did get bored halfway through… I bet she took notice of THAT. Even I’d risk it all if someone wrote “Layla” about me.
Pixies
2/5
This nearly got 1*, but then I remembered all the albums I’ve given 1* to and thought that I was being harsh.
I thought they were singing about DeLorean on track 2 - that was sort of fun?
Dolly Parton
2/5
This just wasn’t for me, sadly. As much as I can appreciate the talents of these women, especially Linda Ronstadt, whose vocals on “Telling Me Lies” are incredible, and Queen Dolly, it was just *too* twangly country for me to enjoy a full album of it.
Pavement
2/5
This falls into the category of “I really didn’t enjoy this album, but it’s not as bad as some of the stuff I’ve been made to listen to so far as part of this project, so it gets 2*.”
Beatles
3/5
This sounds very of its time, to the point it is a bit dated, compared to later Beatles tracks which sound ageless (even if I wouldn’t be a fan of them, necessarily).
I think it says a lot that I prefer the covers to the original compositions, maybe because it doesn’t have any George Harrison originals?
Nine Inch Nails
2/5
NIN are just not my thing, and the Cash take on “Hurt” absolutely wipes the floor with this original.
Elton John
4/5
The first half of this album is a masterpiece - “Tiny Dancer” is gorgeous, “Madman Across the Water” has some of my favourite of Elton John’s piano, and “Indian Sunset” builds and builds into an orchestral delight two-thirds in and then again as the track fades out.
The second half of the album doesn’t live up to the first half for me - it’s comparatively so boring and, because of that, felt longer than the first five tracks despite being shorter by a handful of minutes.
Magazine
2/5
I normally quite like the sort of post-punk-moving-towards-new-wave type of music, but this just didn’t do it for me at all. It was totally forgettable almost as soon as I had finished it.
The Cars
4/5
It’s times like this I really wish I could award half stars. When this album is great, it is great (“My Best Friend’s Girl”, “Just What I Needed, “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight, “Moving in Stereo”). When it takes its foot off the gas, it’s very bland and forgettable.
The Afghan Whigs
3/5
For the second day in a row, I wish I could do half stars on this project.
This album confused me. I assumed I’d really dislike it, yet found myself quite enjoying the first half (the second half not so much). It’s a bit better than the 2* albums I’ve given, but I have given 3* to albums I liked more, so that half option would’ve really come in handy.
Alas, I’m feeling generous.
Everything But The Girl
2/5
My knowledge of Everything but the Girl is a like of the Todd Terry remix of “Missing” and a real dislike of their version of “I Don’t Want to Talk About It”. I expected this album to fall in line with my dislike of its first track… and I was right.
It’s dull. It’s depressing. The lyrics to “Oxford Street” had me rolling my eyes in places. It’s lucky I’ve listened to Trout Mask Replica, or I would be giving it 1*, or indeed that I have no half star option, because it would get 1.5*.
Adam & The Ants
3/5
Another day and another album where I wish there were half stars available.
Beyond a handful of singles, I’ve never been much of a fan of Adam (with or without his Ants). “Antmusic” was fun, but the rest is a bit samey and hasn’t aged particularly well - it sounds very of its time. Maybe that’s the appeal of Adam and the Ants, but if it is, it doesn’t appeal to me.
Anyway, I think this probably deserves a 2.5, but as that isn’t available - and I gave a worse album than this 2* yesterday - it gets a 3.
Frank Ocean
3/5
I’d never listened to Frank Ocean before and had no idea whether I’d like it or not. Suffice to say, I’m not sure I’d actively seek him out, but I’d not turn him off the radio.
The Strokes
2/5
I genuinely could tell you nothing about this, it largely went in one ear and out the other. I did remember “Someday” and “Last Nite” as the two “hits” from this album, but I couldn’t tell you anything else about it.
Red Snapper
1/5
If their aim is to satisfy, then they have been found seriously wanting.
Paul Simon
3/5
This was fine - fairly middle of the road, easy listening, and nice to have in the background as I faffed about.
“Mother and Child Reunion” was a highlight; I loved the reggae vibe of it, and the backing vocals were fab (hello, Cissy Houston).
The rest of the album didn’t reach the height of that opening but, like I say, it was fine.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
2/5
This was utter guff, and is only saved from a 1* rating because it’s not the worst thing I’ve heard on this project this week.
Radiohead
2/5
The absolute dread I felt when I saw this pop up should be studied. However, I quite liked “Karma Police” more than I remembered, so it gets a bonus star for that.
Big Star
2/5
I have absolutely nothing to say about this - it was that boring.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
As a general rule, I think The Rolling Stones are incredibly overrated, and I was today old when I realised THAT’S what “Brown Sugar” is about. However, this album was fine - I’d not listen to it again, I still don’t see what all the fuss is about, but it was fine.
Mj Cole
2/5
Unbeknownst to most, I quite like a bit of UK garage, so I was familiar with the two hits on this album. “Crazy Love” and “Sincere” are the album’s only standouts, and were the only time I felt a need to give this album a modicum of my attention. The rest of the tracks were, being frank, utter shit.
Quite why the creator of 1001 Albums felt this was worthy of inclusion will likely remain one of the great unsolved mysteries of our time.
Kendrick Lamar
1/5
Before all the Drake stuff and the Superbowl happened, the sum total of my knowledge of Kendrick Lamar was “All the Stars” featuring SZA (a song I really like). I also quite liked his Drake “diss” track, so I was intrigued enough about this.
I hated every (incredibly long) minute of it. If I had an option for half stars it would get 1.5. Seeing as I don’t, and I am not feeling at all a generous god, it’s getting 1*.
Charles Mingus
1/5
We’ve been through this - I don’t like jazz.
Mudhoney
2/5
Whilst I appreciate that some of Mudhoney’s members were formerly of Green River - and so were right at the forefront of grunge - this album just didn’t do it for me.
Throughout this, I couldn’t help but compare it to the albums that came along after it, and who I think just did it better.
Burning Spear
3/5
I had never heard of this artist before, but as soon as the opening bars of track one began I knew I’d enjoy this. It really is hard to beat a bit of reggae, especially when it’s done well.
For me, the first half of the album stands out more than the second, where I began to lose interest. And I don’t think any track is better than the opening one. However, this may be my most enjoyable listen from an artist I had never heard of before this project.
Willie Nelson
1/5
Willie Nelson is a better songwriter than he is a singer, so this album was doomed to fail from the start.
Fiona Apple
3/5
This is my second go with Fiona Apple, and I much preferred this to the first album overall - especially the first half. I felt myself zoning out as the album went on, as the songs were still too long and the lyrics were still a bit too wanky.
Duran Duran
4/5
This is one of the few albums so far that I am incredibly familiar with from start to finish - it was just not quite as good as I remembered.
Obviously “Rio” and “Save a Prayer” are the two standout tracks, largely bookending the album, and in between you get a bit of an up and down bit of “filler”. Some filler, like “New Religion” and “Last Chance on the Stairway” are fabulous; some, like “My Own Way” and “Lonely in Your Nightmare” are just a bit dull in comparison. “Hungry Like the Wolf” was a huge hit, but I’ve never really liked it, and the less said about “The Chauffeur” the better if I’m being honest.
I think the album still holds up well, and it’s a classic for a reason; it’s just not my favourite Duran Duran album, even if it might be seen as their best musically.
Thin Lizzy
5/5
Thin Lizzy, and this album, in particular, was the sound of every family holiday when I was a child, so I’m already nostalgic just seeing it pop up.
For me, this is the classic Lizzy line-up and it showcases so many brilliant things well: the dual guitars, Phil Lynott’s showmanship, and the might of the band at their absolute peak.
Obviously we all now know that the album is not quite as “live” as was advertised, with a bit of Tony Visconti knob-twiddling going on to make it the finished product, but I’m not a bit bothered.
The Stooges
1/5
It was as bad as I thought it would be.
Paul McCartney
2/5
Thank God this album is so short, because it has very little else going for it. It sounds a bit childish a lot of the time, as if this is a bunch of pals just messing around - as opposed to, you know, an *actual* Beatle.
Maybe that’s why “Maybe I’m Amazed” is in a league of its own on this album - it stands out in a pile of absolute guff anyway, but is a genuinely lovely song that is, both musically and lyrically, superior to everything else that can be found here.
Jamiroquai
3/5
I’ve always liked any of the singles I’ve heard by Jamiroquai, and this is the first album I’ve listened to in full, so I expected there to be a lot to like.
Which there was. The album starts strong, is gloriously funky, and reels you in. However it didn’t take long for me to lose interest as the songs became too long, with far too many of them becoming instrumentals. Before I knew it, the album was over and I hadn’t realised, I was so zoned out and disinterested.
Dion
2/5
This has such little impact on me, so I’m only able to say I don’t think I hated it?
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
I didn’t have high hopes for this, given it was my second A Tribe Called Quest album here, but I was pleasantly surprised.
I was familiar with “Can I Kick It?”, but I really enjoyed the delightfully named “Bonita Applebum” as well, the brain rot of it setting in so I was singing it the rest of the evening. “Rhythm (Devoted to the Art of Moving Butts)” I enjoyed less, but also thought it had an excellent name.
I also really enjoyed the wide variety of the samples, from Stevie Wonder to Lou Reed, and how well they were used in the songs.
I did feel it was a bit long (especially track 1), and some of the tracks went in one ear and out the other, much like the previous album I listened to by them. However, there was still stuff here I really enjoyed - had I a half star, it would probably get to 3.5 but, as I don’t, and didn’t consistently like it enough to give it 4 stars, it’s getting a 3.
Killing Joke
2/5
Sometimes I raise an eyebrow when I see an album pop up, amazed that it would make it onto this list - this was one such album.
I did find myself enjoying the guitar work on “Bloodsport” and “Change”, which wasn’t on the original UK release but I had zoned out so much by this point I was barely listening until that caught my attention again. Aside from that, there wasn’t much to be found on this album for me to like.
Had I a half star option, it would get 2.5 - as I don’t, and it wasn’t as good as some of the albums I’ve given 3 stars to on this project, it gets a 2.
Mekons
1/5
Obviously something was in the water this weekend, as this was another album that I couldn’t quite wrap my head around being on this project.
It was terrible. And “Psycho Cupid” was the worst thing I’ve heard in a long time.
Sly & The Family Stone
2/5
I think I was expecting to like this a lot more than I did, but a lot of what’s great about it got lost in the madness. “I Want to Take You Higher” and “Everyday People” are obvious standouts but easily forgotten after a 14min instrumental, that had no business going on as long as it did.
I understand that Sly was hugely influential, but I don’t think it comes across as clearly here.
Mercury Rev
1/5
I could have done without the reminder that Mercury Rev existed, and “Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp” scared the shit out of me.
Bobby Womack
3/5
This is soulful and funky, everything that you would expect from a Bobby Womack album.
“If You Think You’re Lonely Now” is stunning and is the album’s standout, but is adrift in a run of fairly mediocre soul standards toward the end of the album.
However, the greatest gift from this album is the falling down the Wikipedia rabbit hole for Womack’s incredible and chaotic - if largely unsavoury - personal life.
Orange Juice
3/5
I have always loved the single “Rip It Up”, as well as Edwyn Collins’ 90s single “A Girl Like You”, but haven’t listened to anything else by either him, or Orange Juice.
The first half of this album was incredible - it got one of my very rare second plays. What I imagine would’ve been side two was a bit of a let down that I don’t really remember. Had I half stars, this would be a 3.5 - it’s just not overall strong enough for a 4.
King Crimson
2/5
I must be going soft in my old age, because I know this album (my dad owns it) and I know I hate it.
And yet, hearing it again for the first time in years, I couldn’t help but like “21st Century Schizoid Man” - yes, it’s far too bloody long (which is the case for the entire album), but it doesn’t sound like a song released in 1969 at all. It almost sounds ahead of its time, in a way.
I also couldn’t help but smile at “The Court of the Crimson King”, because my dad has always loved that song and it reminded me of him.
However, all sentimentality aside, it’s full of prog rock knob twiddling wankery, is far too long, and, at some points, the keys sounded like a toddler was annoyingly plonking away at them (see “Moonchild”, for example - the most prolific offender).
Undoubtedly these gents are wonderful and talented musicians, but I much prefer when Greg Lake sings about believing in Santa, or Ian McDonald took his saxophone and guitar and went off to form Foreigner.
Grateful Dead
1/5
When I saw the opening track was TWENTY THREE MINUTES LONG, I knew there was no way back from the rock bottom score I had a suspicion I’d be giving them before I started listening.
I had no idea when the tracks changed. They were all far too long, went literally nowhere, and had nothing to redeem them. Just God awful.
Miles Davis
1/5
I once heard jazz delightfully be referred to as “musical wanking” and… yep.
OutKast
3/5
I like this slightly more than the last OutKast album I was subjected to, I suppose.
“Bombs Over Baghdad” is annoyingly catchy and I hate “Ms Jackson” a bit less than I hate “Hey Ya!”, so it has that going for it. It’s still a good 30mins too long (drop the interludes!), and I still don’t get what all the fuss is about OutKast generally.
Really it’s a 2.5*, but you’ve caught me on a good day.
The Boo Radleys
1/5
The first time I listened to this, I fell asleep.
The second time, I longed for the days when the only thing I knew about The Boo Radleys was “Wake Up Boo!”
Yes
1/5
Please stop giving me prog rock. It’s far too long, is far too knob-twiddly, and has far too much wankery about it.
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
This was a perfectly inoffensive 35 minutes of background music (12(!) songs in 35mins - take note prog rockers.)
“Monday, Monday” is lovely, so opening with it was nice and, until you get to “California Dreamin’”, the rest is all just perfectly pleasant background music which I liked. It’s not an album I’d go out of my way to listen to again, but it really was a nice relaxing time.
ZZ Top
3/5
My knowledge of ZZ Top was their couple of 80s hits, which are quite catchy, but I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did - nor be familiar with “La Grange” when I heard it.
It showcased a variety of genres over a tight 35mins or so, and I particularly enjoyed their guitar work on “Waitin’ for the Bus”. How the tracks moved between genres was smooth - not as jarring as some transitions have been on other albums which have come up on this project.
Had I half stars it would’ve got 3.5; however, as I don’t, and I didn’t love it the way I do the other 4* albums I’ve heard, it’s getting rather an unexpected 3 from me.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
1/5
I would rather listen to Craig McLachlan’s version of “Mona” for an hour than this album.
Todd Rundgren
2/5
Trying to write a review for this album has given me a headache.
The album started well, opening with “I Saw the Light”, which is a Rundgren song I have always loved. When I also enjoyed “It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference”, I did wonder whether I might be onto a winner.
Almost as soon as I had that thought, two things happened: I realised this was a double album, and I know enough about Todd Rundgren to know the wheels would come off at some point if you give him long enough, and “Wolfman Jack” started.
From there on in, it was a steady descent into madness, culminating with the last few tracks. I’ve never heard a blues track about a teenager who pisses wherever he feels like it, and nor do I wish to again, and the less said about the closing track the better.
Green Day
3/5
I wouldn’t be the world’s biggest Green Day fan, but even I can admit there is a lot to like about this album.
The title track is a barnstormer of an opener, and remains as relevant as it was 20yrs ago. I have always loved “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”, feel it’s the album’s standout, and have always thought “Holiday” was very catchy and ear-wormy. It’s, largely, a brilliant and strong start to an album.
However. “Jesus of Suburbia” does not need to be 9mins long and sound like four totally different songs. Bookending the album with another 9min track that does the same thing was unnecessary. I realise I’m probably the minority here, but I also never liked “Wake Me Up When September Ends.”
The rest of the tracks I just had no opinion on.
The The
2/5
I think I sort of liked “Giant” but, otherwise, it just sounded like someone with notions, who went on about it for far too long.
It probably deserves a 1.5 but, as it wasn’t as bad as some of the things I’ve heard here, it is getting a too generous 2.
Can
1/5
If the words “experimental” and German” are in the same sentence and don’t put the fear of God into you… well, it should.
Bill Callahan
3/5
I had never heard of Bill Callahan and, when the album started, decided I wasn’t going to like him either.
So nobody was anymore surprised than me at how much I enjoyed this, in particular, “Eid Ma Clack Shaw” and “All Thoughts Are Prey to Some Beast”. Large parts of the rest of it were pleasant to have on as background music.
He falls into the trap of having a 10min song that sounds the same at the end, which is so unnecessary, but - generally - this was quite an enjoyable experience for me.
The Temptations
2/5
Anything by The Temptations is perfectly acceptable to listen to. I liked the title track, but this version of “Grapevine” was just dull in comparison to Marvin Gaye’s. The rest of the tracks were just background noise, albeit perfectly acceptable, mostly standard soul background noise.
Why Motown groups also feel the need for a 9min song goes beyond my understanding - it’s just the opposite of what they’re good at, which is a tight 3mins.
Orbital
2/5
This kind of dance music isn’t my bag at all. The opening and closing “tracks” gave me a headache. The rest was just noise. If I had a 1.5* option it would get it, but I didn’t hate it enough to give it 1*.
Miles Davis
1/5
It gets 1* for an excellent album title.
Nick Drake
2/5
I can’t remember what I scored Nick Drake’s last offering, but this was just meh. Boring. I did appreciate his dedication to songs under 4mins though.
Electric Light Orchestra
3/5
I had quite high hopes for this, because I like ELO, but find myself a bit disappointed.
Aside from being far too long, it’s disjointed, yet still manages to keep that ELO sound all the way through. It was quite nice to have on in the background, but nothing really caught me except for the two songs that I expected: “Sweet Talkin’ Woman” is so great and I defy anyone to dislike “Mr Blue Sky”. Nothing else came close to rivalling those two.
The Zutons
3/5
My knowledge of The Zutons extended only to “Valerie”, which I don’t mind, but generally I assumed they’d not overly be my bag.
Which turned out mostly to be the case. The first 3 tracks of this album I really enjoyed, to my surprise. Had that level kept up, then this was maybe my first surprising 4* album.
As it turned out, it didn’t keep up. By track 4, I began to lose interest and the remainder of the tracks didn’t spark anywhere close to an enthusiastic level.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
2/5
Excellent group name aside, this was just far too country for me to really enjoy.
Kraftwerk
3/5
In a lot of ways, Kraftwerk are everything I’m not a fan of, with their too-long songs, which can be repetitive and instrumentally heavy.
However, I’ve always liked “The Robots” and “The Model”, and the rest I didn’t really mind listening to. It helps that they kept the album to six songs - any more would have been like overkill, given the length of the tracks. While this sort of music generally is not my thing, it is clear that Kraftwerk are the masters of the genre.
Metallica
2/5
I do like some of Metallica’s stuff, but I’m not likely to include anything from this on the list to be honest.
The Waterboys
4/5
The result of The Waterboys moving heavily into Celtic-rooted music is a fabulous album. Everyone might have heard of “The Whole of the Moon”, but this album is the masterpiece in their repertoire.
Could I have done without the segue way into The Beatles at the end of the cover of “Sweet Thing”? Absolutely. Did some of the songs need to go on for 8mins? No. Could we maybe have dropped the last handful of tracks? Definitely.
However, none of that ruined my enjoyment of this album, some of which got a second play.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
2/5
Whilst I can objectively say that “Piece of my Heart” is a great song, Janis Joplin’s voice is so unbelievably grating that nothing about it, or this album, could be enjoyed.
It’s probably a 1.5* and, seeing as it’s not 1*…
Slade
2/5
I’m not sure if Slade are thought of a little bit differently outside of the UK, but it’s the only explanation I have for their inclusion.
If I could give it a 1.5* I would - but I’ve heard worse, so 2* it is.
R.E.M.
4/5
I like plenty of R.E.M’s singles but have never dabbled in a full album, so I wasn’t sure how this would land with me. Given I already liked two singles from it (“It’s the End of the World As We Know It” and “The One I Love”), I was cautiously optimistic.
And I was right to be.
Lyrically, it’s a scathing political commentary in the typical Michael Stipe aesthetic - more poetic than in your face - over some brilliant guitar work. Musically, it’s made me realise I just love the backing vocals on R.E.M tracks, probably more than Stipe’s lead vocal, and a lot of that can be found on this album - “The One I Love” is my absolute favourite of those backing vocals here (and probably on any of their songs).
Some of the tracks, particularly towards the end, had me losing interest: however, overall this is a tight, consistent, subtle, decimation of Reagan’s America.
Joan Baez
2/5
There were times I quite liked this album and then there were times I, literally, screwed my face up listening to it.
A huge part of the problem is Baez’s voice; it just grates on me. I didn’t mind it at the start but, once we got to her version of “House of the Rising Sun”, it became to caterwaul-y for me - especially on that song, which does not suit her voice.
I also didn’t enjoy the run of narrative songs; one would have maybe been fine, but I think we got three or four in a row at the back end of the album.
Were there a 2.5* option I would score it that - seeing as there isn’t, and this was not at all as enjoyable as some 3* albums I’ve listened to as part of this project, it gets 2*.
The Velvet Underground
2/5
I remember literally nothing about this album - which at least means I didn’t hate it with an industrious fury, like I was expecting.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Listening to parts of this album made me, for the first time, realise you wouldn’t have your Eric Claptons or your Joe Bonamassas - any of the great blues guitar players - were it not for Jimi Hendrix. I’ve always known that was the case but, listening to this in its entirety, it is clear that Hendrix was magic with blues. If it were a solely blues album, it would score a bit higher from me.
Alas.
This felt a bit chaotic in places, jumping from genre to genre so much it gave me whiplash, especially in the first half of the album. It did not need two versions of Voodoo Chile - and certainly not when one of them lasted for 14 minutes without the punch of Slight Return.
However, when this album gets it right it’s so right: “Crosstown Traffic” is a sharp, handful of minutes of almost pop sounding music, in places; closing with that version of “Voodoo Chile” shows a song doesn’t need to be that long to make its point.
The standout for me though is “All Along the Watchtower”; in my opinion, Jimi’s version is the best ever committed to tape. Yes, better than the original, and I will die on that hill.
Missy Elliott
3/5
I wouldn’t say I’m a fan of Missy Elliot except for the way any millennial is a fan, but I quite enjoyed this. It’s a solid mix of rap and R&B, with vocals I wasn’t expecting from Missy! It also has a fabulous array of featured artists, and noticing all the various samples was fun.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
One of my favourite albums of all time. Back to back with absolute classics (we are going to ignore “Oh Daddy” for this purpose). This album could easily have been overshadowed by all the chaos going on behind the scenes, yet it’s not. Or maybe that’s what made it so magic.
So many of these songs, like “Dreams” and “Go Your Own Way”, remain radio staples in the almost 50 years since this was released, but the standouts for me are “The Chain”, a song with one of the most recognisable bass lines in history, “Songbird”, which only works as a Fleetwood Mac song due to the gutting, softer vocals of Christine McVie, and my fav, “Gold Dust Woman.”
William Orbit
2/5
Christ. This is just not my thing - but it is not the worst thing I’ve heard, and I don’t have a 1.5* option.
Heaven 17
1/5
By every available metric, I should have quite enjoyed this.
I did not.
The Cult
1/5
I will never be able to hear “Born to be Wild” again without thinking of this album, and not in a good way.
The Police
2/5
This album is another lesson in how specific songs get picked as singles. Nothing else on this album compares to either “Message in a Bottle” or “Walking on the Moon”. They don’t even come close.
Solange
3/5
Despite being somewhat vaguely aware that Solange Knowles had a singing career of her own, my actual knowledge of her was limited to the fact she is Beyoncé’s sister and, once, whacked Jay-Z in a lift.
Needless to say, I wasn’t sure what I thought when this popped up. Whilst it definitely falls into the category of albums which I question their inclusion in this generator, it was a very nice R&B album to have on whilst I pottered. I liked her vocal style, she kept her songs to a reasonable length, and had good artists as featured acts. It didn’t feel like there were 21 tracks to get through, nor did I find I wanted the album to hurry up.
As always, I could do without the interludes, even if I did find one by Tina Knowles rather interesting to listen to. There were also way too many of them and I’m not sure that they added anything.
Ride
2/5
This sounds like every early 90s indie band - which is fine, if that’s your thing.