Favorites: Somebody to Love, My Best Friend, How Do You Feel, White Rabbit
Set the stage for that psych rock that would come to define Woodstock and Vietnam-era classic rock. Not very consistent in my opinion, but still worth its weight, especially Somebody to Love and White Rabbit.
Favorites: Gimme Shelter, Country Honk, Let It Bleed, Midnight Rambler, You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Incredible album. The Rolling Stones take blues rock in a totally new direction — their own. Gimme Shelter is one of my favorite songs of all time. Just great stuff.
Favorites: What’s Going On, What’s Happening Brother, Save The Children, Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology), Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
Man, words cannot begin to describe the genius of What’s Going On. Marvin Gaye stands as the voice of the oppressed and takes a stand against inequality on the back of some of the most gorgeous soul you’ll ever hear. A timeless record, both sonically and topically, and one that feels just as poignant in 2025.
Favorites: Big Iron, Cool Water, They're Hanging Me Tonight, El Paso
Before listening to this album as a whole, I was only familiar with Big Iron, as it was one of the first 7" records I added to my collection. This album is chock full of fantastic western and early outlaw country standards, with each one having its own personality and flavor, which I really appreciated. Robbins's career is storied and long, but I imagine that this record, which left a lasting impression on country music as a whole, stands out as his absolute best.
Favorites: Festival Junction, Newport Up, Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue
It's possible I made a mistake listening to the original pressing off of a YouTube rip instead of the complete edition... This was good, but I'm not 100% a fan of the big band sound.
Favorites: Synchronicity I & II, King of Pain, Wrapped Around Your Finger
I'm so torn on this album. The highs are very high and the lows are just okay to mediocre to me. What makes it worse is that the biggest song from the album - Every Breath You Take - is probably one of the weakest cuts from the album in my opinion. It's still good, and it is a piece of my collection that I'm happy to own, but as a whole it's not as strong as other new wave bands from that era.
Favorites: Small Hours, One World
I think I've always had issues with John Martyn's music that I haven't been able to pinpoint until now. I give this album credit for being completely unique and trying a fresh blend of folk, jazz, and ambient that works to his advantage on one or two tracks, but as a whole this album just doesn't interest me much. I also just can't get past his vocals - they don't really fit on the tracks for me that great.
Favorites: Hit 'Em wit da Hee, Sock It 2 Me, The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly), Pass Da Blunt, Friendly Skies, Best Friends
Supa Dupa Fly is awesome. Some of Timbaland's best beats paired with Missy, who is striking out on her own in her debut record and sounds fantastic alongside some of rap and R&B's best at the time. The record boasts some incredible features, especially from Da Brat, Timbaland himself, Ginuwine, and Aaliyah, with the album's intro/outro from Busta Rhymes adding texture and elevating Missy to the level of all of her peers and then some. What a debut!
Favorites: Green Onions, Rinky Dink, Mo' Onions
I'm unsure as to whether I want to call this ballpark music core, movie theater organ core, or Napoleon Dynamite score core, but I think it's fun enough in any case. Not my thing for a full LP, but for what it's worth the title track is iconic and wonderful, and as are some of the more memorable riffs that have stood the test of time.
Favorites: Planet Claire, 52 Girls, Dance This Mess Around, Rock Lobster
It's insane to me how much better the first side is compared to the second side... That being said, on the whole, this is a new wave staple. They really started to take the genre and have fun with it on this record, with Rock Lobster being the prime example of new wave at its silliest and most innovative. If only the record as a whole was as strong...
Favorite tracks: Skunk, Wail, Chicken Dog, Dynamite Lover
The aspect of mixing blues rock with punk rock is so interesting to me, and the way in which Spencer blends the genre into a fully noisy and manic record really works for me. If this were more consistent, I'd consider it to be one of my favorites in the dive so far.
Favorites: Sixteen Saltines, Freedom at 21, Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy
Jack White struck out on his own a year after The White Stripes fully disbanded in 2011, and I would argue that this is solid work from him though not entirely up to par with The White Stripes’s best. He’s come a long way since even this album, with his recent solo work being much better in quality in my opinion. This was still worth listening to, though.
Favorites: Speed of Life, Sound and Vision, Be My Wife, Warszawa, Art Decade
Wow… What more could I say about this album! Absolutely timeless, and it’s insane that he made this during one of the greatest trilogy of albums of all time alongside Heroes and Station to Station. Just brilliant stuff.
Favorites: Father to Son, White Queen (As It Began), The March Of The Black Queen
Queen’s sound has never really been my thing so I’m not surprised I didn’t connect with this one. That being said, it’s nowhere near a bad record. It’s very well-produced.
Favorites: Close to the Edge, And You and I
Monumental. Right off the back of making their best album, Yes hit it out of the park with their most influential and one of the most epic prog albums out there. Some things don’t click for me as much as they do in Fragile, but this one is still excellent.
Favorites: Barely Legal, Someday, Hard to Explain
While over time I have appreciated this album more for what it has done to define indie rock and its more revolutionary sound in the 2000s, I still find that, seven years since I've heard it for the first time, it's not my cup of tea. There are more songs that I've come to appreciate with time and I'm sure the record as a whole will click for me someday (lol). Unfortunately, it's not today.
Favorites: Girl from Mars, Oh Yeah, Let It Flow, Darkside Lightside
I was not expecting to like this one as much as I did. Some really great power pop elevated by an obvious love for making music that Ash display throughout the entire record. It feels fun and fresh!
Favorites: Cry to Me, You're Good for Me
Not my thing by a long shot, but I can see why people would adore this type of music. I found a lot of it to be too simplistic for my tastes, and the short length of a lot of these songs leaves a lot to be desired for me. Of course, these were made in completely different times than now, but still.
Favorites: Vento de Maio, O Que Foi Feito Devera(De Vera), O Trem Azul
Some very beautiful MPB accompanied by Regina’s gorgeous vocals… though I will say this didn’t hold my attention for very long. A solid 7/10 record, but not one I’m likely to come back to.
Favorites: And It Stoned Me, Moondance, Into the Mystic
Didn’t wow me as much as Astral Weeks, but man Morrison at his prime was a standout songwriter and performer. There’s some really great cuts on this record that would be absolute bests for weaker songwriters.
Favorites: Tangled Up in Blue; You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go; Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts
Possibly the last great Dylan record. Full of incredible songwriting and performances of all sorts as per usual, but this really feels like a callback to albums like Blonde on Blonde or even Freewheelin’. A return to form for Dylan, even if it is his last true return to form.
Favorites: Don’t Look Back In Anger, Some Might Say, Champagne Supernova
As much as the Gallaghers leave a bad taste in my mouth for obvious reasons, this album is incredible. Grandiosity at its purest form, with classic song after classic song.
Favorites: Back At The Chicken Shack, When I Grow Too Old To Dream
While I wouldn't say this is bad, it certainly isn't memorable for me to really say this is one of my favorite jazz projects of all time. It lacks that oomf that something like Green Onions does, and while the title track is great, the rest of the record is just okay for me.
Favorites: Drive, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Man On The Moon
I appreciate R.E.M. a lot for being a band that mixes the really cool jam band style of rock with a more gritty edge. While I don’t think on the whole this album is for me still, there’s quite a few tracks on here I adore, especially Drive.
Favorites: The Girl From Ipanema, Doralice, Corcovado
Brilliant stuff. Getz and Gilberto were an excellent pair working towards possibly the best bossa nova project to ever exist. One of those records that I feel you don't even have to like the genre to enjoy. It's just that good!
Favorites: The Louvre, Hard Feelings/Loveless, Supercut
One of the most phenomenal pop albums I've ever heard. There won't be another artist quite like Lorde, someone that came into the pop music scene and absolutely changed the game with Pure Heroine. Melodrama proves that she can continue to innovate and make some of the most wonderful music you'll ever hear.
Favorites: Zombie, The Follow Follow
Just brilliant. Both sides are some of the most engaging and beautiful afrobeat you'll ever hear. This record and Expensive Shit alone establish Kuti as one of the best to ever do it.
Favorites: Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel, Smooth Criminal
A classic album for sure, but I'd be hard-pressed to say that this is my favorite pop record (and far from as great as Thriller is). Still, there's lots to love and admire here. As a follow-up to one of the most instantly beloved pop records of all time, Bad is... Not bad!
Favorites: You Want It Darker, Treaty, Steer Your Way
There's something so inherently powerful about this album, and I think a lot of it has to do with Cohen's heartbreaking passing. He's always been a figure I've admired as a fan of music in general, but especially folk music. The record is so somber and it feels like a true goodbye from one of the very best. Maybe not for everyone, but I got a lot out of it.
Favorites: Common People, I Spy, Disco 2000
While a lot of britpop eludes me as to why I understand its smashing success, Different Class by Pulp is an incredible record with classic song after classic song. An album I feel like I recommend to everyone at this point. I very much enjoyed revisiting it for this!
Favorites: Darkness, Seconds, Don’t You Want Me
Just some damn good electronic music, with one of the best pop songs you’ll ever hear at the very end. This is by far the best Human League album, but I highly recommend their early work as well.
Favorites: Blinded by the Lights, Dry Your Eyes, Empty Cans
Wasn’t a fan of this one. I thought the vocal mixing was way off and it sounded jarring against the production, and the hooks just annoyed me. Guess UK hip hop isn’t my thing.
Favorites: Artificial Energy, Draft Morning, Change Is Now
The first Byrds record without David Crosby, and likely the last really beloved Byrds album. Not everything clicked for me, but I still found it a pleasant listen.
Favorites: Sympathy for the Devil, Street Fighting Man, Salt Of The Earth
I’ll always have a soft spot for classic Stones record, so it doesn’t surprise me that I still love this one. Just one great track after another.
Favorites: Magical Dream, Pacific 202, 808080808
I’ve never really explored acid house, but I absolutely adored the sounds here. Every sound was complex and alluring, and it came together in one entrancing and immersive record. This is exactly the type of recommendation I was hoping to get from this project.
Favorites: Have You Seen Her Face, Everybody’s Been Burned, My Back Pages
Not as strong as the last Byrds album this project gave me, but it was pleasant enough. Personally, My Back Pages is much better than the rest of the record as a whole.
Favorites: Eleanor Rigby; Here, There and Everywhere; For No One
One of those records that I cannot imagine much of my life without. Every single song is memorable and a classic, even the more weaker tracks. I’ll always hold a special place in my heart for it.
Favorites: Blue Suede Shoes, I Got A Woman, Blue Moon
Ehhhh. Nothing was bad (except Tutti Frutti got on my nerves some), but I just didn’t find this very interesting. I’m also pretty anti-Elvis as a concept so that doesn’t help much. Eh.
Favorites: Gorgeous, Devil in a New Dress, Runaway
This album would be perfect if it cut So Appalled, Hell Of A Life, and Blame Game. They make the entire record feel more bloated and mediocre than it actually should be. Otherwise, this is some damn good production and a record that houses some of my favorite rap songs of all time.
Favorites: Do You Wanna Dance?; Help Me, Ronda; Please Let Me Wonder
Oh so wonderful. A great precursor to The Beach Boys's opus, Pet Sounds. It's quite lovely and very underrated! Rest in peace, Brian. Your legacy will live on forever.
Favorites: Carry On, Helpless, Our House
It's so hard to pick favorites from this record because I adore this as a whole, so I tried to limit my 3 favorites to one per songwriter. Deja Vu is four songwriters in their prime coming together to make some of the best folk rock you'll ever hear. This record contains career highlights for all four men. I'm just in love every time I press play.
Favorites: Black Magic Woman, Hope You’re Feeling Better, El Nicoya
There’s something about Santana’s music that makes me feel drawn to it despite only being familiar with this record and Supernatural. This is Santana at his prime in my opinion, with some of the best sounding music of his career to date. Super jazzy at points and really just a lot of fun.
Favorites: Nature’s Way, Animal Zoo, Mr. Skin
Not my thing. I felt like this wasn’t 100% put-together and it didn’t leave a memorable impression on me. You can’t win them all, I suppose.
Favorites: Precious, Up the Neck, Private Life
Absolutely on the punk side of new wave, I found a lot of things enjoyable about this first listen. While I don’t consider this to be a hallmark of the genre, it’s certainly groundbreaking in the popularity and evolution of new wave.
Favorites: Speed Trials, Between the Bars, Say Yes
One of my favorite albums of all time. Elliott Smith’s vulnerable vocals paired with his excellent songwriting and understated instrumentals make this one of if not the best singer-songwriter records of the 20th century. Possibly of all time if I really think about it.
Favorites: Tom Sawyer, YYZ, Limelight
Everything that Rush touches is just magic, and while I didn't expect to like Moving Pictures all that much on relisten, it still holds up as one of the most engaging prog records of the 80s. Maybe one of the best rock records of the 80s as well!
Favorites: Ma and Pa, Mighty Long Way, One Day
I didn't expect to enjoy this one as much but I found Truth And Soul to be incredibly engaging and entertaining. Funk rock isn't totally for me, but I got a lot out of this.
Favorites: Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Under the Bridge
I always learn something new about myself when I do big review projects like these, and this time around I've learned that I do not like Red Hot Chili Peppers. At all. Too bloated for me.
Favorites: Let England Shake, The Glorious Land, Written on the Forehead
Despite her coming from the same camp as a lot of my favorite artists like Fiona Apple, I never really clicked with PJ Harvey. This album is pretty damn good all things considered, with her passion for songwriting and creating a powerful message in her records clear.
Favorites: Xtal, Ageispolis, Actium
Aphex Twin is absolutely one of my favorite electronic artists of all time. Everything he touches is magic, and this record is absolutely no exception. Alluring and honestly quite beautiful at times.
Favorites: Disturbance at the Heron House, It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine), The One I Love
R.E.M. are a decent band, but I don't think their sound has ever impressed me as it has others. While I found Document to be a pleasant listen, there wasn't a lot I latched onto unfortunately.
Favorites: Metal Guru, The Slider, Rabbit Fighter
Pretty campy and great, I think there's a lot to admire about The Slider than at first glance. Really fuzzy and inventive glam rock, with fun song after fun song that really helped keep my engagement.
Favorites: Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On, Papa Was A Rolling Stone, Mother Nature
I can see why this wouldn't totally click with people since I think some tracks in the b-side are a tad underwhelming compared to the rest of the album, but my god is this a fantastic psych soul record. I absolutely recommend this to anyone that only associates The Temptations with My Girl, because this is in a completely different ballpark sound-wise.
Favorites: Pristeen; Drive, She Said, Las Vegas Basement
A mixed bag quality-wise, but I found this to be a really interesting mark in the turning point of psych as a form of rock. Peggy Suicide works as a bridge between 60s psych rock and what's associated with psychedelia today. Very interesting stuff, even if it isn't really my thing.
Favorites: Sure Shot, Sabotage, Get It Together
I'm not sure if I'm sold on the Beastie Boys completely, but I thought this was pretty good. It certainly has its highlights, but seeing the group keep their signature style going during the g-funk era of hip hop is really cool.
Favorites: Future Days, Moonshake, Bel Air
I would like to apologize to the Krautrock gods for slandering Can for so long. This is really great, it has some beautiful soundscapes and is honestly one of the most entrancing albums I've ever heard. Moonshake is a classic.
Favorites: Sumthin' Sumthin', ...Til the Cops Come Knockin', Suitelady (The Proposal Jam)
Incredibly hot and alluring record. Some incredible R&B jams here. If you like sex, this is for sure the record for you.
Favorites: Concrete Jungle, Stir It Up, Midnight Ravers
This is my first Wailers record, and I wasn't quite sure if I would like it as much, but this is some incredible stuff here. There's some highlights that stand out among the rest, but even its weaker spots are really great.
Favorites: The Queen Is Dead, Bigmouth Strikes Again, There is a Light That Never Goes Out
Now, There is a Light That Never Goes Out is for sure the highlight of the record and honestly carries the entire experience for me. Without it, this record would be a solid 7. That being said, This is one of the group's best efforts, and it includes some of my favorite efforts in jangle pop..
Favorites: More Than A Feeling, Foreplay/Long Time, Smokin’
Incredibly fun AOR. AOR isn’t my type of music in the slightest, but the way that Boston approaches it with genuine love for their music makes it all so special to me. Very much recommend this one.
Favorites: Le Freak, Savoir Faire, I Want Your Love
“Remember, the whole world is a circus… Don’t be the clown!” Aw, man this is some fantastic disco. Incredible grooves and harmonies with some of the smoothest songs you’ll ever hear. I adore this record!
Favorites: Tonight, Tonight; Zero; X.Y.U.
Maybe its length is a bit too much for me to really take all at once, but Mellon Collie is truly a triumph for alternative rock and the evolution of the genre. I genuinely don't see the indie revolution of rock in the 2000s existing without this record.
Favorites: You and I, Superstition, I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)
Stevie was on the cusp of making his magnum opus, and there's definitely hints of what he would do on his next record and even Songs in the Key of Life on this one. All in all, I didn't think it was as good as either of those records, but it's certainly worthwhile as well.
Favorites: Celebrity Skin, Awful, Malibu
Yeah, I'll be honest... I wasn't a fan of this one. I love Live Through This, I think it's one of the rawest and most interesting grunge records to come out of that genre's boom. Unfortunately, their follow-up is so much weaker, with only a few songs I found myself interested in. Very disappointed.
Favorites: Faster, Cold War, Tightrope
Monae at their peak, and while they continue to be a strong force in music today (yes, I liked The Age of Pleasure), it's always fun to go back to The ArchAndroid and admire the work that went into making such a cohesive concept record.
Favorites: Revolution 909, Da Funk, Around the World
I'm not sure what happened on this listen. I used to love this album, but I found myself quite irritated revisiting it. Homework is fairly primitive in Daft Punk standards, and it's far from their most innovative or even interesting.
Favorites: Part I, Part IIa, Part IIb
It's really easy to admire the genius level of improvisation in The Köln Concert, especially considering Jarrett's influence in minimalist electronic and jazz music as we know it today. Stunning and alluring, and it's often difficult to tell that this was a live performance.
Favorites: Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town, The Book I Read, Psycho Killer
Not my favorite Talking Heads, this record (despite being released in their prime) is still pretty primitive compared to what they would achieve on Fear Of Music or Remain In Light. That being said, this is still absolutely a worthwhile listen as a landmark in what new wave would become in the 80s.
Favorites: River Song, Dreamer, Thoughts of You
Dennis Wilson, perhaps my favorite Beach Boys member (though it is hard to pit any of them against Brian), has a fantastic solo record that I feel is completely overlooked when discussing the amount of influence The Beach Boys have had over music as a whole. This record is lovely, full of some of the most lush and beautiful songs you'll ever hear. I highly recommend this one!
Favorites: Down to the Waterline, Six Blade Knife, Sultans of Swing
Of course, Sultans of Swing is a classic and is a landmark in blues rock as a whole. However, I didn't find much else to latch onto here. It's pretty chill, but I wouldn't consider it a favorite or anything.
Favorites: Summertime Blues, Doctor Please, Second Time Around
Holy moly, this is some really great, heavy psych rock. I had no expectations walking into this one, and it was a truly special experience. Two thumbs up!
Favorites: Cinnamon Girl, Down by the River, Cowgirl in the Sand
Still fantastic, even if it is a bit more stripped compared to his later work. It's impressive that Neil accomplished so much musically at the point of this album's release, and especially at only 24. Some of these songs are absolute staples in my rotation, and I continue to admire and adore Neil with every passing day.
Favorites: Breathe (In The Air), Time, Brain Damage
Anyone that tells you this is overrated is out of their damn mind. Some of the best music ever recorded, each listen is a one-in-a-lifetime experience. Love, love, love.
Favorites: One, The Fly, Mysterious Ways
I've never really been big on U2, so checking out their big pop sellout album didn't really give me much to latch onto. It's fine, but not something I want to revisit again.
Favorites: The Celtic Soul Brothers, Come On Eileen, Until I Believe In My Soul
Of course, the song everyone knows Dexys Midnight Runners for is Come On Eileen, and for good reason - that song is a classic, and a staple in the mainstream new wave scene. However, I can't help but feel that the rest of the record lacks a bit in the same quality/ambitions that Come On Eileen strives for. It's disappointing, honestly.
Favorites: Jigsaw Feeling, Overground, Switch
The debut of the one of the coolest bands of all time. I'm serious, I think this band's vibe itself is so fucking cool. It's reflected a bit in their debut record, but I found that this album lacks a lot of the punch that their 80s output would prove to have. Still worth checking out, but as a whole... Not for me.
Favorites: Soubour, Irganda, Jolie
I respect the hell out of this record. To make it out of a conflict and, with the help of some industry gods, make a record proving your freedom to make music is really admirable. However, I just didn't get a lot out of the record itself. The songs where it feels like a Franz Ferdinand-esque indie rock record were pretty damn good, but most of the record is just... Forgettable, unfortunately. However, I do recommend checking this out, if only because the record defied tall odds to exist in the first place.
Favorites: I'm Waiting For The Man, Femme Fatale, Heroin
It's a classic rock record for a reason. TVU (and Nico... and Andy Warhol to some extent) pushed the boundaries of music as a whole to create some of the most memorable songs you'll ever hear. It's one of my favorite records of all time for a good reason. Varied and innovative.
Favorites: Wheels of Confusion / The Straightener, Changes, Supernaut
I doubt there'll ever be a vocalist as influential as Ozzy Osbourne. I've seen a lot of discourse about his influence after his death, with many stating that because he's just a vocalist, he doesn't deserve a lot of credit for helping establish metal as the complex and innovative genre that it stands as today. I completely disagree. Without Osbourne, I don't think Sabbath would have reached the iconography and even cultural grasp that they had. Vol. 4 is terrific, one of their best records (and perhaps their most underrated, it might be my favorite record of theirs). Absolutely worth multiple listens. Rest in peace, Ozzy.
