Mar 07 2025
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Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
Soulful and energetic. So many classics. The live recording is very clear.
4
Mar 10 2025
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Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
Well, I heard it. I guess I can die.
What a difficult listen. The etherealness gets old quickly. The random screeching is grating. And then I found out on wikipedia that they are often not even speaking Icelandic, instead they coined a term for the gibberish they're speaking as "Vonlenska". I bet these people enjoy smelling their own farts. 1 star (only because zero isn't an option), and no I didn't need to hear this before I die.
1
Mar 11 2025
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Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Only know of CCR from the Greatest Hits album that I played extensively back in high school. So I wanted to pay extra attention to the songs I didn't recognize on this album.
I have to say, that even the tracks that didn't make the hits albums are amazing. I didn't realize they played as much harmonica as they did. Songs like Graveyard Train and Keep on Chooglin' are gems I didn't know existed.
I'll have to keep an eye out for this one for my vinyl collection.
5
Mar 12 2025
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Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
First half of the album was pretty good. The back half drags pretty heavily.
Dylan is certainly unique and a great songwriter. His singing style can wear on you after a while. Perhaps that's why the back half seemed to drag.
Not really my cup of tea
3
Mar 13 2025
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Aja
Steely Dan
The father of Yacht Rocks greatest album. So yeah, it's pretty good. Every arrangement is flawless. ~ 5 Stars
5
Mar 14 2025
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Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
You can't help but bob your head throughout most of this entire album. Because they somehow managed to make me enjoy EDM I'm bumping it up a bit. ~ 5 Stars
5
Mar 17 2025
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Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
Bringing that 90's hip hop vibe into the 2000's. Did not find a single track that I disliked. Gonna add "What's Golden" into my 1001 albums best songs playlist.
5
Mar 18 2025
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Eliminator
ZZ Top
ZZ Top are obviously legends. But I didn't expect so many great songs on one album. Tough to pick just one for the 1001 best songs playlist but going with "Gimme All Your Lovin'" as it's the most groovable, imo. Not a bad track on the album. ~ 5 Stars
5
Mar 19 2025
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If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
I'm a sucker for Celtic Punk bands. They just make me happy. I was already familiar with their bigger hits on this one. Was happy to hear that the rest of the album was also pretty good. A couple duds on their though, so only 4 stars. The titular song will go on the 1001 playlist.
4
Mar 20 2025
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Surfer Rosa
Pixies
Two consecutive songs about bones? Another involving a broken face which I assume is also bones? Pixies are a pretty strange band. There's some stinkers, and there's some alright tunes. "Where is my mind?", is a classic however, and will be going on the 1001 playlist. Bumped up to 3 Stars just for that song alone.
3
Mar 21 2025
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Dirty
Sonic Youth
Didn't quite know what to expect from this album. I only knew their name and not anything they did. Didn't recognize anything on this album. However, it's a pretty solid representation of the Grunge era. Songs are mostly easy to bop to. Suger Kane is great, as is 100% which will be making it to the 1001 playlist. I'd go out and listen to more of them, but considering they're on this list 5 times, It won't be long before they show up again. ~ 4 Stars
4
Mar 24 2025
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Young Americans
David Bowie
I don't know. It's ok. Not great by any means. There is some weird fascination with Bowie on this list, Do we really need to hear 9 different albums from him when we can't even get a single Sublime album? Fame is my favorite off this one and will be going on the 1001 playlist. ~ 2 Stars
2
Mar 25 2025
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Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
"What's the time? It's time to get ill!"
One of my all time favorite albums. Front to back every song is great. Makes me want to grab some White Castle and hit up a kegger. The way they blend metal and rap with the seamless trade-offs in vocals has never been duplicated. It's hard to pick just one for the 1001 playlist, but it's gotta be "No Sleep til Brooklyn" which is universally great. ~5 Stars
5
Apr 24 2025
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Highway to Hell
AC/DC
It's AC/DC alright. Never did like the lead singers voice, but the music bops.
Thought Night Prowler was a good tune then Wikipedia said it was the "Night Stalkers" favorite tune and now I wonder what that says about me.
All in all it's an ok album. Not my favorite from them though.
3
Apr 29 2025
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L.A. Woman
The Doors
I was not high enough for this.
2
Apr 30 2025
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Something Else By The Kinks
The Kinks
Easy listening. Could put it on in the background while doing other things. Can't say I recognize any of the songs. But I might have to bust out "Death of a Clown" when you know who finally kicks the bucket.
3
May 01 2025
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Midnight Ride
Paul Revere & The Raiders
These guys are all over the place. At one point I get the Doors vibes, the next I get Rolling Stones, and then they're going off talking about a car and sounding like the Beach Boys.
Either way, no matter what they did, these 60's classic rockers sounded pretty good. Couple of sloggers though so only 4 stars
4
May 02 2025
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Pyromania
Def Leppard
While the 80's hair metal scene has lost it's power, Def Leppard are still legends. I would give up my left arm to see them in concert, just to check off that box.
However, while this album has a couple classics, the rest of the album can't hold up on it's own. ~ 3 stars
3
May 05 2025
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Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
This is Jimi. What makes him a legend is how he uses the guitar to speak to the audience. Little Wing is guitar perfection, even though I prefer the much longer instrumental take Stevie Ray Vaughn did back in the day.
While this album is great, I could have done without that annoying screeching intro track. I guess I should have expected that from a psychedelic rocker like Jimi. It was borderline a 5 star album, but for that reason alone I'm dropping it down. ~ 4 Stars
4
May 06 2025
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Zombie
Fela Kuti
The songs are well constructed. But not really my thing.
2
May 07 2025
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Picture Book
Simply Red
Not usually my kind of music, but this album is a pretty good. That synth pop 80's vibe is very present here. I definitely recognized "Holding back the Years", but I also kind of liked the titular song as well. Probably more a 3.5 for me, but I'll bump it up since it surprised me a bit.
4
May 08 2025
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Different Class
Pulp
Can't stand the singers style. Overly whiney and pretentious.
Instruments are overly saturated making them difficult to distinguish from one another. Thankfully not every song is like that, and some are very clear, but the ones that aren't are jarring. Idk, maybe I just need to be more depressed to enjoy this band.
I have trouble believing this ranks 6th of all-time in the NME rankings. Maybe Brit-pop just isn't my thing.
Since I have to add at least one song to my 1001 songs playlist, I guess I'll pick "Common People" but even that one is little annoying. ~ 1 Star
1
May 09 2025
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The Idiot
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is someone I've always heard of, but could never place anything he's done to his name. Didn't recognize any of the songs on this album, but I really enjoyed them all. Apparently Bowie helped produce this one, and I can certainly hear that influence here. The B-Side kind of lost me a bit though. "China Girl" will be making it to my 1001 best of playlist. ~ 4 stars
4
May 12 2025
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Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
It's like a time capsule. A little slice of Americana I liked a few songs off this Rockabilly classic. "Oh Boy", "Rock me my Baby", and of course, "That'll be the day" which will make the playlist.
I mean none of those are on the levels of Pink Pony Club, but what is? ~ 3 stars
3
May 13 2025
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Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Beatles
It's the Beetles, I don't think a review from me is all that necessary. It was OK. Some real weird choices on this record though so I'll have to dock it a point. "With a Little Help from My Friends" will be making it to the playlist. ~ 2 Stars
2
May 14 2025
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Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips
I forgot just how weird The Flaming Lips were. While I didn't really enjoy this albums melancholy vibe, I respect it when an entire album is themed around a one premise. It shows commitment to the bit. I dug the instrumental "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 2", which will make the playlist. ~ 3 stars for creativity alone.
3
May 15 2025
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Tapestry
Carole King
Wow. I've always heard the name Carol King, but never knew the songs she sang. Some really timeless hits on this album, and the ones I didn't recognize were amazing as well. i definitely will look out for the vinyl of this album. No other notes. This album is perfect. ~ 5 stars
My only regret is I only get to put one song into my 1001 playlist. It was a tough decision, but "I Feel the Earth Move" is universally great, so it'll be that
5
May 16 2025
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Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
It's Bob Dylan. I get he's some sort of great songwriter and stuff, but his vocal performance is just so grating on nearly every song he sings. This is probably his best album so it'll get a passing grade from me, but my god, I can't understand why he's so popular. ~ 3 Stars
The song that annoyed me the least was "Meet me in the Morning" so that'll make the 1001 playlist.
3
May 19 2025
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Van Halen
Van Halen
I feel the need to tell my story about this album. See, I bought "Van Halen 1" it was the best damn record I ever owned. I picked it up from a TG&Y in 1978. That two hand tapping guitar technique it really got me off. I mean full Eruption, YEAH!, I ain't talkin' bout love, I'm on fire! Afterwards, I bought "Woman and Children First", "Fair Warning", and "Van Halen II" and danced the night away. "1984" was my favorite record. I listened so much I wore it down, I was so sad that I thought, I might as well jump. Up on that bridge in quiet reflection I thought to myself, "Tomorrow may come, Tomorrow may never come". Then the strangest thing happened, I could hear my long dead sister Jamie crying, and I knew she was running with the devil, I shouted "oh lord!", and left that bridge. Just one short year later and they go and change singers. Is this what you wanted? Sammy Hagar? I mean, SAMMY HAGAR?? Is THIS what we wanted, man? No! I'll never buy their lousy records again.
Long story short, Van Halen is over-rated. ~ 2 Stars
2
May 20 2025
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The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
What the heck was that? I've seen this record around the stores. That giant banana is hard to miss. I've been wanting to buy it just for the cover art alone. I no longer have that desire after listening to it.
I do not know who the guitarist is on this album, but it's absolute trash. I could chicken scratch something that sounds way better than that. Maybe it's all by design to be "weird", but it was quite off-puting. It's a struggle to find a single song that doesn't annoy me to add to the 1001 playlist. "There she goes again" takes that honor. ~ No Stars
1
May 21 2025
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This Nation’s Saving Grace
The Fall
The Wiki has this listed as "Post-Punk", which I can understand why it has that label. The singer wants it to be punk, but the band insists on something more pop.
The combo is not really for me. There wasn't anything too terrible on this album, but nothing inspiring either. L.A. is a decent enough add to the 1001 playlist. But the album as a whole gets ~ 2 Stars
2
May 22 2025
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Palo Congo
Sabu
My first thought was, "An old Spanish language band, what am I getting myself into". And then I hit play. What followed was some insanely catchy tunes with an almost tribal feel to them. I have no idea what they were saying but I bopped along to the beat.
The Wiki didn't give me much info on the band, and I wish they had more.
An amusing observation. The album is produced by "Alfred Lion" which is funny because Jeremy Irons played both Alfred in a Batman movie as well as Scar from the Lion King. There's even a song called "Simba" on the album. Just a funny coincidence.
They weren't all great, "Simba" was down right unlistenable. But most were good enough for me to give it 3 Stars
3
May 23 2025
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The Healer
John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker is a Blues ledged. This album is him at his best. Personally, I can't really enjoy Blues for an extended listening period. It always kinda drags after a while. This album was no exception. But that's more of a me problem.
I think his duet with Bonnie Raitt was the best thing on the album. Sultry and smooth with that classic blues chord progression that defines the genre. So "I'm in the Mood" will be making it to the 1001 playlist. ~ 4 Stars
4
May 26 2025
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Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
This is my first time hearing Nick Drake. He invites you to pull up a seat and wallow in his melancholy together. The tracks were all perfectly fine, nothing too off-putting. But nothing stands out as a must listen. I have a hard time picking a song for the 1001 playlist, but I guess I'll pick "Hazey Jane II" as it was the most pleasant despite the strange cadence. It's probably a 2.5 star album, but I guess I'll round up.
3
May 27 2025
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Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
I've only heard their main hit which is enough to sell me on the album. But the rest of it is also very good. That indie / garage rock style fits very well with his vocal style. The songs are well written. What else is there to say. "Take me out" will certainly make the 1001 playlist. A full 5 stars from me.
5
May 28 2025
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Third
Soft Machine
The Wiki for this album states: "Not exactly rock, Third nonetheless pushed the boundaries of rock into areas previously unexplored, and it managed to do so without sounding self-indulgent"
I couldn't disagree more. It's a highly self-indulgent album with solo's that go nowhere. Quick shifts in tone out of no where that disrupt your rhythm. The entire first track is unlistenable. The rest just leave you feeling anxious and confused.
The wiki is right about one thing. It explored previously unexplored areas. Ones that probably shouldn't have been explored. Not the worst album on this list, but still only 1 star. And no, none of these 4 excruciatingly agonizing and long songs will make the 1001 best of playlist. They're that bad.
1