This is an era that somehow passed me by. I was 13 when this album came out and neither the album nor the band were ever on my radar. I can appreciate the time and mood it represents, but it just doesn’t resonate with me. I picked up on some of the new wave and happier post-punk that sprung from this, but I don’t think I was ever this sad or angry as a teenager.

This one is more in my wheelhouse than Joy Division. I think it’s a good example of a band at the peak of their power. Everything was coming together here - songwriting, playing, a fun mix of funk and rock- it all works here. Been an RHCP fan for a long time. I don’t love everything they’ve done, but I do love most of what they recorded here.

I appreciate Willie, really, I do. And this is a classic bunch of wonderful songs. And he does a wonderful job performing them. And it’s fine. Really. I don’t think I get what the fuss is all about.

Long time fan of Ms. Armatrading. I don't recall why we were listening to The Key in 1983 - "I Love It When You Call Me Names" and "Drop the Pilot" were probably getting airplay on the college radio station. My best friend and I went to see her at a small theater in Crown Point, Indiana, maybe at a casino, I'm not sure. I've enjoyed her approach for many years and this release has two standouts for me - 'Down to Zero' and 'Love and Affection' grab me every time. Always an enjoyable listen for me.

Neil, Neil, Neil. I like this one. A little dirty, a little grungy, a little greasy, nice and slow. I'm thinking mostly about the title track. The whole thing sounds a bit like he's fronting The Band or a really early version of The Eagles, maybe? Does this one fly under the Neil radar? I never hear anyone talk about it, I might not have ever even heard of it until this list generator pushed it to me. Pretty much an insta-add to my library.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I'd certainly heard the big hits and they were better than I remembered. Hard to believe she was only 19 when this was released. It definitely works well as a package, some very strong songs here. I probably won't come back to this repeatedly, but when my wife plays it, I'll enjoy it that much more having listened to the whole thing.

Long-time Van fan, but i’d never heard of this one. Caravan was a highlight for me. The strings came through very nicely on several tracks. I definitely prefer the younger version of Sir Van to the current day old codger version of him, at least as far as his opinions go. It’s worth noting that the sound and recording quality on this live performance are pretty amazing for 50 years ago. Overall a solid live album.

I’d like to give half stars. Specifically, this would be 2.5 from me. I appreciate the Bowie references here, but this was a musical era that I skipped. I might have just been busy raising little kids, but I wasn’t listening to a ton of popular music in this time frame. It was a little shouty in places, an approach that puts me off, a la Oasis. Some good songs, including the one I had already heard, that everyone has heard. I’m ok with the 3 star rating.

Not a new album for me. This man has one of the great voices of all time. Didn't realize the band is mostly members of the Dead, but I definitely hear that influence this time around. It's got a loose, rambling feel to it, emphasized by the couple of tracks that haven lyrics but feature Crosby vocalizing over the instruments. Despite that rambling feel, Crosby's voice holds it all together very nicely.

I appreciate the history of rock and roll as much as the next old white guy, but there's nothing special here for me. I would say I'm a fan of psychedelic rock and space rock, and I can see how this represents at least part of the origin of that music, but there's nothing about this that grabs me. It's got that mid- to early '60s jangle-pop feel and that leaves me with the impression that it's generic sounding, electric jug be damned.

This is not my thing, but I appreciate it for what it is. The fact that this is a woman, let alone a Sri Lankan woman, making overt political and cultural commentary in the context of otherwise fun music that much of the time is either in the background or being danced to rather than thought about, is impressive. Very much appreciated the Sanford & Sons samples in "U.R.A.Q.T." - "you big dummy" hits a bit different in the context of that song. I think I might have heard "Galang" before, though I'm not sure where. Figured it out - I'm impressed with myself. Looking at my last.fm account, I've scrobbled the track a handful of times since 2008. I'm vaguely remembering that it was a free download on the iTunes store? Anyhow, probably won't come back to this, but glad to have been exposed to it. Fun stuff, with a serious side.

I've never listened to a Kanye album. At this point, I have too many opinions about the man to appreciate his music. As an old white man, I can't have too much to say about this anyway. I've never appreciated what sounds to me like misogyny. I did appreciate the King Crimson sample on "Power".

Not sure what I think here. This might bear repeated listening. I've heard of him from Steven Wilson and Tim Bowness' "The Album Years" podcast, but I've never listened to him until today. First impression is that he's a bit of mumbler. That's the thing that's got me on the fence - his voice. I have a feeling it would grow on me if I dove deeper into his catalog, but I don't think I found these songs compelling enough to lead me to do that. I'm stuck between two and 3 stars - I think I have to go with 2.

A bit of nostalgia for the time, though not really for the music. I don't think I've ever heard a Pet Shop Boys album all the way through. I certainly know their hits here in the U.S., but it doesn't seem like any of those were one this, their second, album. Maybe I've heard "It's A Sin" before? S-H-O-P-P-I-N-G was a frolic. "Hit Music" was a bit too self-referential for me. Solid fun all around.

Definitely more of a new wave fan than punk fan, but I like where these songs sit, drifting back and forth between the two. There's a lot of fun to be had here, even apart from the astronomical hits that we all heard a million times, "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "We Got The Beat". "Skidmarks On My Heart" is a bop, as the kids say. We've always needed to hear from the women in the world and it's been great to have this coming into our ears for the last 44 years.

This was a wonderful listen! I knew her name, but I don't think I could have named a song before today. I can hear her in so many artists, some performing today, and many who are no longer recording. To have people like Aretha carrying the soul torch on this side of the Atlantic at the same time Dusty was doing that work in the UK is quite a thing. Loved it and, as a bonus, it sounded wonderful, even the mono version I listened to!

Boy, was this not for me. I've never heard of The Triffids (other than in their original sci-fi context). This never grabbed me in any way. I played it, the time passed, and I moved on. I felt nothing. Not a fan, not sure why/how this album made this list.

Yeah, nope. Almost grabbed me once or twice, but honestly, all of the f*$ks and moth@$^ckers were a turn off. I'm fine with cursing in lyrics, but this was over the top. Lots of music from this band, they're still recording, but it's all slipped by me. That must mean that the Venn diagram that includes this music does not intersect with my tastes. Another puzzler on the "1001 to hear before you die" list. I've heard it, but I'm not in a better place because I have. Fingers crossed for better things tomorrow, the last two have been duds.

There's so much emotion tied sup in music like this, joy and anger in equal measure. Also love the relentless, rhythmic drive it has. Anything with Tony Allen playing has me hooked within 30 seconds. Long live Fela!

A classic. I was only 11 when it was originally released, but "Walk This Way" and "Sweet Emotion" were FM radio staples my entire life from that point on. I've always enjoyed their hits, but I haven't been a fan in general or really dug very deeply into their catalog. I've heard this one all the way through before and enjoy it.

A bluesy, playful romp through history. Kinda funny to hear white people making black soul music, but I guess that's where rock n' roll came from - soul, gospel, rhythm & blues, and jazz. I like where they went from here more than where they were when this came out.

I get it now. This is from that 90s era where I wasn't listening to a ton of music and even less new music. Grunge, indie rock, nu-metal all passed by me, not interested. Obviously I know who Nirvana are, I know their most well-known tracks, but I had never listened to a Nirvana album all the way through. I get it now.

Turns out I like acoustic punk more than electric. Also, I never realized Adam Sandler is totally doing a Gordon Gano imitation when he sings. The acoustic bass makes these songs. I learned that the lyric is "like I blister in the sun" and not "like a blister in the sun." I don't know what a blister in the sun is, always thought it was one of those nonsensical, poetic lyrics, but, no, it actually made some sense. Anyhow, good stuff. I don't recall hearing it all at the time, but glad I've heard it now.

This was very 'meh' for me. Nothing ever really stuck. It felt somewhat generic, it could have been a release from just about any angsty new-wave band of the time.

The jangly, angular style of this music appeals to me. I'm coming to the conclusion that there's a stylistic middle ground for me. Too smooth, no thanks. Too angry, too jagged, no thanks. But a U2, a Peter Gabriel, or, as it turns out, an Echo & The B-Men - those I like. I don't recall hearing much from this release when it first came out. There were definitely other tracks that got radio play and that I enjoyed. This is interesting music.

Jack White has been an acquired taste for me. When The White Stripes first started releasing music I just thought they were weird. I’ve really enjoyed the stuff he did with The Raconteurs and his more recent solo work. Going back and listening to this, where the only song I had ever heard is “Seven Nation Army, I can see that I should have had some more appreciation for him from the beginning. A solid record.

Sorry, but I’m going to put this album in a basket with other shouty stuff from the late ‘90s and early 2000s - The Strokes, The Killers, Arcade Fire, Franz Ferdinand. I didn’t love any of it then, don’t love it now.

Absolute classic, quite possible my favorite of theirs. I do appreciate the heavier, wild stuff over the folksy tracks. The 4-track sequence of 'In My Time of Dying' through 'Kashmir' is just so strong, so heavy. This is great music from a great band.

Songwriting, harmonies, chef's kiss. Wooden Ships, Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, Guinnevere, Long Time Gone. These men made amazing music over a, thankfully, long career. Incredible to think this was just the start!

Nope. Just not my thing.

This is music that is both chill and warm at the same time. Pat Metheny is probably responsible for my enjoyment of real Brazilian music, including Milton Nascimento. I knew of 'Girl From Ipanema', but it was Brazilian and Latin jazz that caught my attention. This is a wonderful record - guitars, Milton's voice, the rhythms, all come together in such an evocative way. 'Clube Da Esquina No. 2' is a favorite.

Apparently, I am a goth, or at least should have been one? I kind liked this. The only track I've heard by them has 'Corrosion' in the title. It's on an 80s compilation that Steven Wilson curated for a a CD release a couple of years ago. I don't remember the exact title, but I can't be arsed to go look it up right now. I can hear Bowie in so much of the late 80s-early 2000s music that I've been exposed to here. Good to know he lives on...

Definitely lots of respect for this artist, in all the aspects of her art - acting, fashion, and her music. This sure is all over the place stylistically, but in a good way.

Loose and sloppy, but in an enjoyable way.

Generally a fan of downtempo and chill, psytrance, and other related genres as well and this is no exception. Would love a half star to go with 3.5 - giving them the benefit of the doubt and calling it a 4-star release.

No question, a classic, both in music overall and in my cannon of progressive rock fandom. The inventiveness of tracks like "Yours Is No Disgrace", "Starship Trooper", "I've Seen All Good People", and "Perpetual Change" is really unmatched given the time period. Wonderful.

I don't really get it. 'Get Behind Me' was the only track I remotely enjoyed. Hard for me to see where this fits in to what else was going on in 1969. Maybe there's more or better elsewhere in his catalog? Sounds like he was a pretty wild guy.

I've been rating more on my own personal preference and enjoyment than some kind of objective measure of quality. In other words, I haven't left any room for a rating that reflects the thought that "I can't stand this but it's an objectively great album, 5 stars." I've definitely rated the other way, as in "I know this is crap, but I love it, 5 stars." That changes a bit today. This is a 5 star album for me, more for what it represents than my enjoyment of it. I enjoy it, I appreciate it, to a 3 and a half or 4 star level. But the strength, the grace, the talent that is reflected here - the whole package taken in the context of its original release - 5 stars all the way.

This is the first Beach Boys album I've listened to. I've been hearing Beach Boys songs my entire life - I was 1 when this was released, but never listened to an album, not even 'Pet Sounds'. The 'American Beatles'? I'm sure someone has called them that before now, but that’s where I'm at with this. Their music is almost as much a part of the fabric of life from the 60s on as the Beatles and this has some of the threads of that fabric recorded right on it.

Though I wasn't there as a fan at the beginning, I'm definitely a fan now. And I appreciate what they did at the beginning. Some amazing songs here.

I’m Team Beatles, but this is a great album. You’ve got classics here - “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Street Fighting Man”. Some of the low-key country and blues tracks are even stronger - “No Expectations”, “Factory Girl”, “Salt of the Earth” - these are all great folk blues, mostly acoustic tracks.

George is underrated. Full stop. Classics here - “My Sweet Lord”, “Wah Wah”, “Isn’t It A Pity”, “What Is Life”, “My Sweet Lord”, and the title track “All Things Must Pass.” Very poignant from a lyrical perspective looking back on The Beatles, George, and one’s own life.

Incredible music from an incredible artist that I’ve listened to for almost 45 years! I’ve seen him twice and actually touched him once when he used to crowd surf during ‘Lay Your Hands On Me’. No question that this is a true 5 star release both in objective quality and my love for the recording.

Poking around online, I find that this album garners some extremely high praise. Something along the lines of “the significant piece of modern western music”. One can certainly trace the lines forward into today’s music. I found myself tapping my toe. And “El Paso” is a song that my family used to sing at get togethers when everyone who could play guitar would and the kids would get a washboard or rhythm sticks or a jug to play along. Definite sentimental value there for me. I’m struggling to rate this, thinking about my two scales. Sticking with 3.

1962. That was a long time ago. This guy’s career has spanned nearly y whole life. He became a bit of a caricature of himself for a time, but man did he own his act. This is extremely funky for 1962, but that’s not entirely surprising. You can almost smell the sweat.

I’m going to file this under ‘art I don’t understand.’ There are a lot of paintings I don’t understand, there is dance I don’t understand, and various other types of performance art I just don’t get. I think this is that. My one star rating doesn’t reflect active dislike, but rather a lack of understanding or, perhaps, just the idea that this album is not ‘for me’.

Yet another band for whom I had never listened to an album in its entirety. There are 2 classics here that received tons of radio play that 16 year old me heard - “Breaking The Law” and “Living After Midnight”. Those are classics for a reason. While I appreciate the role of JP as standard bearers and the forefathers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, these two classics are offset by some really cheesy rock, namely “Red, White & Blue”. Solid but flawed in my opinion.

Simple, effective, and catchy as hell. I think I might be a White Strips fan.

Really interesting, probably necessitating multiple listens to figure out what's going on here. I'll be back.

Already a fan, but I think I prefer Mezzanine - more trip, less hop.

Knew the name, but not the music. To me, it sounded like a stripped-down and more politically or socially oriented version of Squeeze or The Jam. I can hear NIck Lowe’s influence, Difford & Tillbrook coming through. Not sure I’d go back, but pleasant enough.

Certainly interesting. Those Germans can make some weird stuff! That said, I wasn't really digging into this at any point except maybe the last few 'dub' tracks. I would be curious to hear more from them, but I don't think I'll be coming back for more of this particular flavor.

Got to admit, you got me with this one. I was 33 or 34 when this was released, married with a couple kids. This missed me by at least 10 years. I know a lot of these songs, turns out that’s because they are great songs. I’m not a punk, or even a post-punk, but Billie Joe is a great singer and songwriter and this is a really good album.

Pick your cliché - a masterpiece, ahead of its time; say what you will about this as long as you say it’s fantastic and I’ll agree with you. That it exists as a musical creation, a cinematic creation (albeit, a bizarre one), and a theatrical creation makes me think Townsend accomplished exactly what he wanted with this story.

Solid Mr. Marley release.

This could have been released last year. It sounds ridiculously contemporary for what is effectively a heavy-metal cave painting. Hard to argue the place of this band and this recording in the rock music pantheon.

Fun and funky funk that makes me feel funky.

Nope, not me. Elton, Billy, James, even Jeff (Buckley) and Elliott (Smith) at times, but not this guy. As I've said in other reviews, it's not that I think it's bad, it's just not for me. Emphasis on the 'for' and not the 'me'. Nope nope nope.

Liked Unknown Pleasures more.

That was fun! The covers were surprising, especially the instrumentals that I recognized. I’d never heard of this band - pleasant surprise.

Cisco Kid, of course. Worth 3 stars on its own. I was also pleasantly surprised by ‘City, Country, City’ and ‘Four Cornered Room’. Solid grooves all the way ‘round.

Not their strongest or most listenable in my opinion.

I appreciate where Beyoncé is today and enjoyed the Bee Gee's cover.

Kind of fun, actually. Knew 'Firestarter', but had not heard anything else. 'Breathe' is also a standout track for me.

This is part of what seems to be an entire era and group of styles or genres that has never really appealed to me. It's the whole emo, shoe gaze, goth, angsty, noisy, punk, and post-punk thing. I can appreciate what they've done here, but listening to this does not make me think I'll be looking for more of My Bloody Valentine or anything like it anytime soon.

Found myself tapping my toes fairly often while listening to this. Not sure if a couple of the tracks were covers or not, but quite a few others certainly were. Covers and originals were both enjoyable - seems fairly raucous for the time, sort of Kingsmen-like, I think, though not sure who came first. Fun stuff.