312
Albums Rated
3.63
Average Rating
29%
Complete
777 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950
Favorite Decade
Reggae
Favorite Genre
other
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
73
5-Star Albums
8
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bone Machine
Tom Waits
|
5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
|
Out of Step
Minor Threat
|
5 | 2.93 | +2.07 |
|
Connected
Stereo MC's
|
5 | 2.95 | +2.05 |
|
Ghosteen
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
|
5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
|
I See A Darkness
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
|
5 | 2.98 | +2.02 |
|
Let Love Rule
Lenny Kravitz
|
5 | 3 | +2 |
|
New York Dolls
New York Dolls
|
5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
|
3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of...
Arrested Development
|
5 | 3.15 | +1.85 |
|
It's Too Late to Stop Now
Van Morrison
|
5 | 3.25 | +1.75 |
|
Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
|
5 | 3.26 | +1.74 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Bones Of What You Believe
CHVRCHES
|
1 | 3.17 | -2.17 |
|
Smile
Brian Wilson
|
1 | 3.05 | -2.05 |
|
The Dreaming
Kate Bush
|
1 | 2.98 | -1.98 |
|
Arc Of A Diver
Steve Winwood
|
1 | 2.88 | -1.88 |
|
Histoire De Melody Nelson
Serge Gainsbourg
|
1 | 2.73 | -1.73 |
|
Scott 2
Scott Walker
|
1 | 2.63 | -1.63 |
|
Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
|
2 | 3.52 | -1.52 |
|
Penance Soiree
The Icarus Line
|
1 | 2.5 | -1.5 |
|
Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
|
2 | 3.36 | -1.36 |
|
Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
|
2 | 3.31 | -1.31 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Led Zeppelin | 3 | 4.67 |
| Amy Winehouse | 2 | 5 |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | 2 | 5 |
| David Bowie | 2 | 5 |
| Van Morrison | 2 | 5 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 4 | 4.25 |
| Michael Jackson | 3 | 4.33 |
| Pixies | 3 | 4.33 |
5-Star Albums (73)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Manic Street Preachers · 5 likes
2/5
Dying without having listened to this would have been perfectly acceptable.
The Coral · 4 likes
2/5
It's listenable enough. But it's also incredibly forgettable. I can't imagine a scenario when I would listen to this album a second time
Elvis Presley · 1 likes
3/5
Not my favorite of Elvis's Styles.
Bob Dylan · 1 likes
3/5
I don't know. Its Bob Dylan. I'd probably prefer to read the lyrics sheet than listen to the music.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds · 1 likes
5/5
Devastatingly sad. Disarming l beautiful.
1-Star Albums (8)
All Ratings
Radiohead
4/5
Pretenders
5/5
I knew almost all of these songs. I hadn't realized that they are all on this debut album.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Peter Gabriel "So" came out when I was 16. And songs like In Your Eyes were iconic at the time. But at the same time, I was never a huge fan of this album. I always thought it was kind of cheesy and overwrought. The song Don't Give Up with Kate Bush. Is one of my least favorite songs in the history of music. And listening to it now. It hasn't gotten any better. Definitely feel like it is extremely dated.
Beatles
3/5
Solid. Full of classics. Lacking variety.
Jeff Buckley
3/5
Supertramp
4/5
Great stuff. Surprised by the Pink Floyd vibes
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
5/5
I don't know how I missed this album in 1999. It should have been right in my sweet spot. So glad to First hear it in 2025. Songs like I see a darkness, and death to everyone are true highlights, but the whole album is great straight through. Definitely a true musician's musician in the class of Tom waits, Leonard Cohen and the other great storytellers.
Lorde
3/5
Decent, but doesn't stock up against pure heroin
Pulp
3/5
Common People is one of the best songs of the 1990s hands down. 5/5 as a song. Unfortunately the rest of this album is pretty mediocre. A few songs that flirt with four stars, a few songs that flirt with two stars. Overall, this has to be 3/5 as an album.
R.E.M.
4/5
Legendary debut
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
4.9 out of 5. Only so I can leave room for Gish to score higher
The Beach Boys
2/5
Listened to this all the way through 2 times. First listen it just made no sense as a Beach Boys album 2/5. Listened again as if it were an album by just any unknown band. Still terrible. Lyrics sound like a 5th grader. Vocals are weak and scattered. Music is forgettable.
Sleater-Kinney
4/5
This album rips! Short, fast, and hard. It's a 4+. The only reason I can't round up to 5 is that would put it equal with albums that did it earlier and better, especially PJ Harvey Rid of Me. Dig Me Out very much feels like it was trying to recreate Rid of Me. And who wouldn't want to?! It comes up slightly short in a few ways. First, PJ already did it so it lacks the originality factor. But the real reason is that it just doesn't have the same vocal powerhouse.
This is an album I would definitely listen to over and over again. I just can't quite get it five-star iconic status.
The Bees
3/5
Chill and eclectic. Some of it's really good, others not so much.
Queen
4/5
Undeniably a bold and groundbreaking album. Bohemian Rhapsody alone makes this legendary. But with that said it has a lot of misses too. I appreciate the egalitarian nature of this band to allow other members to have their own songs on this album. But when you have one of the greatest singers in the history of rock music, it just wastes space not track to have him on every track
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Waiting on a sunny day= good!
Nothing man = very good
Worlds Apart = very good! African rhythms actually work and the guitar rips.
Some songs generic and overproduced
The Police
5/5
Police at their early, simple finest
The Doors
3/5
Better than expected. Some really good songs. Morrison still drags it down somewhat
Gene Clark
2/5
I really dislike this style of music anyway. Country twanged folk. But I really truly tried to be objective, and gave it a listen all the way through. It actually made me like it less. The only thing that makes this genre of music. Wes is when it has self- indulgent lyrics. Wich this has throughout.
After hearing the first song, I decided I would give it a three-star neutral review just so I wouldn't unfairly move the needle based on personal taste. But after giving it a true lesson, it's two stars.
Also, it's way too long. 14 songs is probably two times too many
The Hives
3/5
This album is Punk in the same way that a mcdonald's Filet-O-Fish fish sandwich is seafood.
Fun, fast, short. All good traits. But if that's what you're looking for, put on The Strokes or White stripes.
Amy Winehouse
5/5
So good! Each sign better than the last
R.E.M.
4/5
REM put out 5, 5-star albums in row. Green is where things started to crack a bit. Still 4-stars.
Songs like Pop Song 89, Get Up, and Stand feel like REM just wanted to do something easy for a change.
Turn You Inside Out is probably their best rocker of all time.
World Leader Pretend would have fit well on a previous album. Gems like You Are The Everything and Hair Shirt are clues to what would come on Automatic For the People
Suzanne Vega
3/5
This is a hard one to rate. I Have a great appreciation for Susan! Vega. She's clearly very talented songwriter. But it's just not a style that I like. I would never choose to put this album on and listen to it. But for people who like the style, it's probably, four or five star quality.
Duke Ellington
5/5
Stevie Wonder
3/5
The faster funky songs are phenomenal. The slower songs are pretty boring. Unfortunately there's way too many of the slow songs
The Coral
2/5
It's listenable enough. But it's also incredibly forgettable. I can't imagine a scenario when I would listen to this album a second time
The Cramps
4/5
Nobody does this better than the Cramps. Its a perfect version of what it is. I just don't feel like what it is can ever exceed 4 stars.
System Of A Down
4/5
If ever there was an album that speaks for itself.
Fugees
5/5
Strong contender for best album of 1996. And that's a year full of great albums. Wyclef and L were too much talent for one group to contain.
Depeche Mode
3/5
Peter Tosh
4/5
Eminem
4/5
Steve Winwood
1/5
This album changed the way I do my ratings. Previously I gave some credit for quality musicianship and recording even if it isn't a style of music that I personally like. I tried to give some measure of objectivity to this overall subjective experience.
But this is just unlistenable. I can't even make it through a single song. There are a lot of early '80s albums that have the same cheesy, synthesizers and other elements. But they hold up well because they represent a moment in time and innovation. This is just a hacky version of that. Steve Winwood is a super talented musician with a strong history, but when he decided to attempt the "new" sound he completely missed the mark. At dust. It's like the Disneyfication of '80s music. At best It can be called a Peter Gabriel knockoff. But even Peter Gabriel was cheesy at this point in his career.
Ryan Adams
3/5
Not a genre that I personally like very much, but this album is actually very listenable. He's got a great voice and solid song writing. I have it a focused listen all the way through (even though it's a pretty long album) and generally enjoyed it. i probably wouldn't put this on again by choice, but wouldn't mind if it happened to be on somewhere.
Brian Wilson
1/5
This is a joke right? RIGHT?? Basically unlistenable. I understand Brian Wilson's mental health issues. If he meant this as a joke/prank then haha, but also fuck you for wasting an hour of my time. If it's supposed to be taken seriously then it just adds to the sadness and tragedy of his story.
Beastie Boys
5/5
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
It's a sound that's not for everyone. But it is for me!
The Icarus Line
1/5
Nick Drake
4/5
Elastica
3/5
The Triffids
2/5
I was excited when this showed up as my album of the day. Courtney Barnett mentions the triffids in a song, so I always assumed they were super cool but had never listened to them. I usually try not to read other reviews until I've listened to the whole thing first and formed my own opinion. But this was so bad that by the third song I had to look up some reviews to see if I was just missing something. Nope, I'm not missing anything, this album is pretty much universally hated. As it should be. Because it sucks. Sorry Courtney.
The song Unmade Love could pass for a The The B-side. The only bit of redemption on this album.
The Lemonheads
4/5
I grew up one town over from Julianna HatfieId (I'm 3 yrs younger). She was the coolest kid around. I was in college in Boston when this album came out. The Lemonheads were just a part of life. It seemed like everyone in Boston had been in this band at one point it another. Listening to this album is like having a vivid flashback of my 20s.
Herbie Hancock
4/5
I wish I was a filmmaker so that I could use these songs in a soundtrack. Great record!.
I did have one problem with this, but it wasn't specifically with the album. For some reason the streaming version of this is so quiet that I had to put my volume to the max to be able to even hear it. Definitely a disservice to this grade problem.
Radiohead
3/5
Blur
3/5
Elvis Presley
3/5
Not my favorite of Elvis's Styles.
Simple Minds
3/5
I've always loved their hits, but I don't think I've ever listened to a full album. This is great!
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
It's fine
Alice Cooper
3/5
Michael Jackson
3/5
Hard to rate this one. I was assuming it would be an automatic 5. But man are there some terrible songs on here.
Stan Getz
5/5
Perfect for a summer Sunday
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Nice collection of covers. Almost every song on this album was already a hit by someone else. And the arrangements are barely changed. But its a good selection of songs and she sings them well.
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
Might first intro to this artist. So I had no expectations. But I'm still pretty sure I couldn't have expected this. Really good writing and really good musicianship. Reminds me of musical theater. And just like musicals, I have lots of respect for the talent, but it's just not a style I like.
Michael Jackson
5/5
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
This album is bleak, it's violent, it's depressing, it's real, and it's exceptionally great. It is a career defining album for Springsteen. And I mean that in the truest sense of the word. It may not always be considered his best album, but it defines and explains the entire message of his career. A few years later he came out with Born In The USA where he had to put a shiny gloss on the same themes just so people would listen. Even though they often didn't get it. For anybody that still doesn't understand what Born In The USA is about, they should listen to Nebraska for an explanation.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
Ramones
5/5
Quality songwriting? Nope. Brilliant musicianship? Nope. Deep themes? Nope. Diversity of sounds? Nope.
Just 29 minutes of a band doing exactly what they do exquisitely. And changing the trajectory of music and culture while they are at it.
Duran Duran
4/5
The Prodigy
4/5
Adele
3/5
This was disappointing. Adele's debut was so stunning that maybe it set the bar too high. Because this one just doesn't have the same power
Bert Jansch
4/5
A great surprise. 60s folk with exceptional guitar work
U2
4/5
I was 21 when this album came out. I was a massive U2 fan right from the first notes of Boy in 1980. And I adored every album up to this point. When this came out I was really disappointed and considered it the end of U2 as I had known them. I didn't like the change in sound. And then Zooropa confirmed that this wasn't an anomaly, it was a whole new direction. I gave up on them
Looking back on that and re-listening to this album now makes me realize that I was just an obnoxious 21-year-old elitist fanboy. This is a fucking awesome album full of incredible songs! Your favorite band evolving with the times is a GOOD thing.
With that said, I still can only give it four stars (9/10) because even at this point I don't think it was as groundbreaking as most of their previous albums.
But I'll probably listen to it 6 times through today!
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
4/5
This is another one of those albums that I remember exactly where I was when I first heard it. Summer of 92, on the radio, as i was driving through Florida. It instantly caught my ear as a that Unique style that I had never heard before. This was in the days before Shazam and the internet, and I was just passing through listening to a radio station. I would never hear again. So it took me kind of a long time to figure out what artist it was and how to find it. Once I found it I listened to it on constant rotation for weeks.
Years later I would fall in love with the band. Spearhead. Took me awhile to connect the dots and realize that that Michael Franti was the frontman for both of them. Early spearhead kept a lot of the anger, energy, and politics of Disposable Heroes, but put it to really fun music. Re-Listening to this album really makes me wish Franti could get some of that anger back. We need it more than ever now.
Nas
5/5
This is a straight five star classic. I love this album, but I have to admit it got somewhat lost in the shuffle of the incredible albums that dropped in 1994. That includes some iconic albums from Soundgarden, Portishead, Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, Jeff Buckley, Weezer, Green Day, Pearl jam, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Blur, Beck, REM, Johnny Cash, the list goes on and on ...
Supergrass
3/5
Exactly 3 stars. Its the definition of average.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
Devastatingly sad. Disarming l beautiful.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Joan Baez
3/5
I'm sorry, I just can't.
I'm breaking my own rating system to give this a 3 just because. But there is no way I'm listening to it ever again.
Paul Simon
4/5
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
Never heard of the artist, never heard any of the songs. Actually pretty good.
Steely Dan
4/5
Genius.
1 Star deducted for East St. Louis Toodle-Oo.
Norah Jones
5/5
So smooth
Jethro Tull
5/5
I knew the songs Aqualung and Locomotive Breath very well. I always thought they were great, but wasn't sure if the rest of the album could hold up. Turns out I actually also knew Cross Eyed Mary and Hymn 43. Both great songs. So I already knew and liked a 1/3 of the album coming in. The other 2/3 don't have the same power, but they fit in perfectly.
In total this album absolutely slays. It's got all of the top tier hard rock elements of the early 70s. Then it adds truly unique elements like the psychotic flute playing, monkey noises, and wild character development. Absolute classic.
Iron Maiden
3/5
I've been doing my best to try to get into iron Maiden since the late '70s. I just can't do it. They seem like a cool band, got nothing against them, I just don't like the music
Kate Bush
1/5
I have a friend who is a fan. So I've tried. I tried in the '80s. I tried in the '90s. I tried this morning. I just can't do it. For starters, I'm just not a fan of any 'theatrical' / Baroque style pop music. But I can occasionally get past that with other artists. What I can't get past is her voice. It feels like an ice pick in my eye. I literally feel it more than I hear it. She supposedly has great lyrics, I'll have to take their word for it. I honestly can't make out any words. Just stabbing pain to the brain. She's the only artist I can think of that I have a purely physiological response to.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Amazing
Soft Cell
3/5
Crazy 80s.
Metallica
3/5
As far as 62 minute songs go, this song is pretty ok.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
It's Fucking Rage!
Lou Reed
5/5
Steely Dan
4/5
Smooth
The Louvin Brothers
3/5
What the heck did I just listen to?? The music is generic mid-50s country, bluegrass, gospel. The lyrics are horrifying. Every song is somebody getting murdered for no apparent reason. I think I kinda liked it.
I'm not even sure how to rate it.
Leftfield
3/5
Medium Attack.
Generic, predictable house music. Not interesting enough to hate.
Why must I listen to this before I die?
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
I had heard the name Rufus Wainwright but had never heard his music. Based on his name I always assumed he was a country singer. (I know, it's stupid to make assumptions).
He's obviously got a ton of talent. I'm just not a fan of the overly theatrical style.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
This is great! Songwriting, great musicianship. Great singing. Great innovation. If I was hearing this in 1971 for the first time it would be five star slam dunk. In 2025 I can still very much appreciate it, but I honestly rather listen to one of the many many albums that were inspired by it.
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
I bet this was an incredible show to see. And I bet it would be great to relive that experience by listening to this album. But I wasn't there, so it's just a poorly recorded, run-of-the-mill blues record.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
As good as Southern Rock gets.
Yes
3/5
Man, these guys can play anything and everything! And they do! All at once. Proving the old adage that just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
Nice!
Brian Eno
2/5
I was skeptical going in. Then first few sings were fantastic and I thought I'd find a gem. Then the rest was boring and self indulgent. Oh well
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
I have to start by saying that when this album came out I was already a massive Smashing Pumpkins fan. They were my favorite band at the time. Gish and Siamese Dream were in my top albums of all time, and Pisces Iscariot was right there with them.
There is a 5-star masterpiece here. I love that there are elements of the previous albums, but also some real evolution into new styles. Unfortunately its encumbered by some 2 & 3-star baggage. Even more so it just needed to be curated better. If Billy was open to listening to anyone at the time they might have been able to tell him that. This could have been a concise 5-star legendary album with a killer outtakes album released later. Instead every listener ends up skipping around to only play what they like.
Mellon Collie. Okay interesting opener. Different is good. I'm here for it.
Tonight tonight. This is good. Sounds like the pumpkins, even if it's a little more chilled out and heavy on the strings. But progression is good.
Jellybelly. Now we're really talking! This could have been on Gish. Love that they're going back to this mix where guitars and vocals intertwine so much. And drums are relentless Game on!
Zero. Ok, fuck yeah! Not what I was expecting. Bring it!
Here is no. Why. Straight pumpkins. No complaints
Bullet with butterfly wings. There is no question that the sun rocks! Honestly though, it just doesn't sound like smashing pumpkins to me.
To forgive. Don't get me wrong. I like it. But this is the first clue about why this album is so long. In the past this would have been an outtake.
An ode to no one. Okay, third song so far with this new growl. It's not what I loved about them to start with, but evolution is good and so is this.
Love. I dig it, but again this probably should have been an outtake.
Cupid. Nope. Come on. What are you doing?
Galapagos. Come on man, that's two skippers in a row
Muzzle. Redemption! And worth the wait! Sounds like a continuation of Siamese dream. Even on a first listen, it's obvious that this is going in the pantheon of the pumpkin's greatest.
Porcelina. I mean it's fucking epic for sure. But it's also the height of Billy's self-indulgence. When I set that aside, I can get lost in it.
Take me down. 2 minutes and 50 seconds of my life that I wish I could head back.
Where boys fear to tread. More of the new heavy guitar and growl. like with the other ones, its not really what I'm here for with the Pumpkins. But at the same time I like it.
Bodies. Phenomenal!
Thirty-three. meh.
In the arms of sleep. Meh.
1979. Yeah I know everybody loves it. I'm just going to say it.... It's boring as fuck
Tales of a scorched Earth. I could do a whole album this. Not sure how well it really fits in here, but I'll take it.
Through The eyes of Ruby. Doing what the pumpkins do best. Loud, soft, loud. Driving base, relentless drums, exploding guitars!
Stumbleine. Nope. Leave this stuff to Jack White.
X.Y.U. Yup. No holding back
We only come out at night. Look, I don't mind silly. But if you going to do silly keep it short. Another one that's better left to Jack White.
Beautiful. Meh.
Lilly. Meh
By starlight. It never really takes off like it could, but it's decent.
Farewell and good night. Laughably bad.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Oasis
3/5
I knew the hits but hasn't listened to a full album. Turns out Oasis is more bland than I expected.
George Jones
2/5
I was not expecting this. It's a weird album written for cucks. In almost every song, he's getting cheated on but he don't mind as long as he get some leftover scraps. This is a whole other side of country music.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Peak Marley
Beck
4/5
Bob Dylan
3/5
I don't know. Its Bob Dylan. I'd probably prefer to read the lyrics sheet than listen to the music.
Paul McCartney
4/5
King Crimson
3/5
Why am I suddenly craving a giant turkey leg?
I grew up in the '70s and was into all of the other hard Rock and prog Rock and psychedelic rock bands of the time. But somehow this was an album I had never listened to before.. I'm glad that I've finally checked that box. Although, I am most definitely never going to listen to this again. Obviously a lot of talent and I can see why people would love. But for me it was just really cheesy and boring (except for 21st century schizoid man, which is pretty awesome).
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
Dying without having listened to this would have been perfectly acceptable.
Queens Of The Stone Age
4/5
MGMT
5/5
Suicide
3/5
Not bad. Interesting. Very surprised at how old it was.
Magazine
3/5
I appreciate the innovation for the time.
Some highlights are early goth sounds and killer bass on 'Motorcade'.
The Stooges
3/5
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
Mixed bag. Honestly better then I remembered it being.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
DJ Shadow
5/5
Jefferson Airplane
2/5
I was not prepared for how boring this would be. Obviously 'Someone to Love' and 'White Rabbit' are classic rock standards. And for good reason. But 'Coming Back to Me', what the heck, how can a song this bad actually make it onto a album? Oh jeez, now I just got to 'How do you Feel', it's even worse!
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Arrested Development
5/5
Foundational yet also often overlooked or underated.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Every song is gold. And god damn, John Paul Jones bass lines!!
Baaba Maal
3/5
Really chill Senegali music. I'd be happy to have this on in the background anywhere. But it's unlikely that I'll think to put it on very frequently.
SAULT
4/5
Talking Heads
5/5
Incredible reworking of an already incredible band. Bringing these rhythms changed the course of popular music.
Pink Floyd
5/5
I can't add much to the legions of 5-Star reviews. Pretty much everything has already been said about the genius story telling and the epic rock orchestration. But I will say that David Gilmour can make me cry with that God damn perfect guitar tone and playing.
4/5
"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" is in the running for best cover of any song ever. Beyond that, it's just a pure expression of it's time.
Doves
2/5
Why in the world is this song on the list? It's not good. It's not innovative. It's not influential. It's not important in any way. It's not unique. It's not memorable. It's not interesting. It's not well written. It's not well played. It's not well produced. It's not even bad enough to be interesting or polarizing. There is not a single reason why anybody must listen to this.
Nick Drake
5/5
Beautiful
The Undertones
2/5
Another one that has no business being on the list. Best thing about it is that it's short.
Tim Buckley
2/5
This was really disappointing. I was a big Jeff Buckley fan in the 90s. People always said "His father Tim Buckley was even better! A musical genius who died too young." I always just accepted that as a well-known fact. But I never got around to checking it out. Today I learned that he was just run-of-the-mill early 70s rock. I've heard hundreds of small-town bar bands that make basically the sand music.
Garbage
4/5
The most solid 4-Star album ever. The consistency can't be beat. Every single song is 4-stars.
The Youngbloods
3/5
I had never heard this before. I don't plan on hearing it again.
CHVRCHES
1/5
Nope. I can't do it. This is not the first time I've heard songs from this albvm, but it's the first time I've attempted to intentionally listen to any of it. It's really terrible. It combines the worst of '80s synth pop with the worst 2010s pop singing.
I gave every song on the albvm a solid try. I listened to at least the first 30 seconds, and a random 30 seconds in the middle of each song. That's all I could manage. There were no songs that I could listen to straight throvgh.
It's hard to tell if this shovld be one star or two stars. One Star seems kind of mean to this band that is probably nice people. Bvt it does fit my one-star criteria of never wanting to hear it again and actively going ovt of my way to make svre that happens.
New York Dolls
5/5
RIP David Johansen.!
It's hard to overestimate how incredible and influential this band is. This is 1973, 1973! So much of what people consider the Punk song in the late '70s is exactly ripped right from this.
Carole King
4/5
Classic
The xx
2/5
Proving that music isn't math. "X" = 5 stars. "XX" = 2 stars.
2/5.
Donovan
3/5
2 very good songs. 1 or 2 ok songs. Several really terrible 'Renaissance faire' style songs.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
5/5
Already loved the hits but had never listened to the full album. Even better than expected.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Neil Young
4/5
It's great (not quite 5-stars great). Classic CAN heartland songs
Bebel Gilberto
4/5
Chill. I like it
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Frank Zappa
2/5
43 minutes is a long time to listen to a bunch guys masturbate. I got through the whole thing, but I found no joy.
The Birthday Party
2/5
Meh.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
Classic
Björk
4/5
Beautiful
AC/DC
3/5
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4/5
The Velvet Underground
4/5
The Nico songs pull this down some.
The Killers
5/5
One of the best debut albums ever. It's amazing to think that they came out of the gate with so many great songs. It's also held better than most of the big albums from 2004-2005 (other than being overplayed).
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
2/5
Sure, I get it. Be intentionally weird and annoying. We used to do this in high school. It's fun and funny, and you get to feel like your smarter than the normies. As an adult, I'm not going to spend my time listening to it again, but I get it. At least it's interesting enough to not be 1-star.
What is interesting though is the obvious influence on Tom Waits. Waits clearly took a lot of these same sounds and styles into his own music. The difference is that Waits was able to find the balance where its actually listenable.
The Pogues
5/5
It's fucking great, although a little too long
4/5
Very cool
The The
3/5
The Afghan Whigs
2/5
Well that sucked
Moby
4/5
Haters gonna hate. This is a great album and a backdrop to the early 2Ks.
Blue Cheer
2/5
Well, its obvious why I've never heard of them.
Metallica
3/5
Honestly, I only vaguely listened. It is what it is.
Talking Heads
4/5
The Who
4/5
John Coltrane
3/5
I understand that it's legendary and influential. But I have to stick with my rating system. This gets a 3 for "I probably wouldn't put it on myself, but I wouldn't be upset if it was playing."
The National
3/5
Miles Davis
4/5
Liz Phair
3/5
Tom Waits
5/5
1992 was an insane year for music. Excellence across so many genres and styles. Automatic for the People, The Chronic, Dirt, Check Your Head, Dry, 3 years 5 months..., Dirty, Rage Against the Machine. And on and on!
And in the middle of all that is Bone Machine. I was already a big, big fan of everything by Tom Waits. Then he goes and does this! Incredible lyrics wrapped in a dark, gritty, underworld that feels both ancient and futuristic at the same time. I love every gravelly note of this album.
Solomon Burke
4/5
So good
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
I have a hard time getting into this. I just have never liked Clapton. There, I said it. Obviously he has incredible technical mastery. But I just don't find any any life in his playing. He also has one of the weakest and most soulless voices in rock history. The version of Little Wing is a great example. He stripped all of the the life and emotion out of the song. It's painful to listen to it He would have been a better fit as a prog artist. He just isn't believable playing blues.
The overall sound of this album is salvaged by Bobby Whitlock's vocals and Duane Alman's guitar. They both have the actual soul that this music need.
Giving it three stars because if one of my jam band friends wants to put something on, this isn't the worst thing they own.
Lenny Kravitz
5/5
I loved this album when it came out. I think because it was a retro sound to start with, it still holds up now.
Michael Jackson
5/5
Obviously 5
David Bowie
5/5
Mudhoney
4/5
The The
3/5
I have a lot of nostalgia for this album, but it's honestly pretty dated
Fiona Apple
5/5
The Sonics
2/5
Its an album. It's mostly covers. The arrangements are basically the same as the originals except for worse musicianship. And the recording is terrible. It sounds like any random high school band learning to play and recording with an cassette recorder
The Verve
4/5
Everything But The Girl
4/5
I've had friends telling me for years that I need to listen to this. I never get around to it. I owe them an apology
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Such an easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.
Never a weak moment. And honestly it's not even my top 5 favorite Marley albums.
3/5
I understand why people like this, but it's just not interesting to me. I can only handle one or two songs in a row before I get bored.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Hadn't listened to this in a long time. In my memory it was a lot better.
Little Richard
5/5
Yaa!
Genesis
3/5
No comment
Daft Punk
3/5
Great album for the right occasion. Not a great album for a Wednesday morning at the office.
Ice Cube
4/5
The Kinks
4/5
Bon Jovi
2/5
I refuse
Rush
5/5
11yo me had his mind blown by this. When I put in on now it takes me straight nec6k there.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Nice vibe for background music.
Sex Pistols
5/5
Deeeees-tro-YA!
Mike Ladd
4/5
Surprisingly had never heard this. It's really good
The Associates
2/5
Metallica
4/5
Queen
3/5
Not the best by Queen
Cornershop
4/5
I knew brimful, but hadn't heard the rest. Really great beats. This will go into the rotation
Depeche Mode
3/5
Just not a fan
CHIC
4/5
Common
4/5
Common's bars are not always as clever as he thinks they are. But I still love his sound.
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
It's definitely high quality, but it's just not something I would choose to listen to
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
There's really nothing wrong with this, but it's just become generic overplayed classic folk rock. I'm exactly as old as this album, so I've been hearing it literally my entire life. I don't want to listen to it anymore. The only thing that keeps the sound fresh at all is Neil Young's guitar.
Sade
5/5
No need to ask
Simply Red
3/5
Better than I expected. It's at it's best with traditional instruments. The songs with 80s synth didn't hold up well.
The Who
3/5
Not their peak.
Buena Vista Social Club
5/5
This album did exactly what it intended: it introduced Cuban music to a world that had forgotten, or never heard, it. And the world is better for it.
Also, to the person who gave this 1-star because it's "not in English", I hope you lose your ability to speak and hear. You've been wasting those gifts.
Can
3/5
Mariah Carey
3/5
I'm sorry, I just can't. This is album isn't for me, and it's the first one I just can't bring myself to listen to. I have a ton of respect for her talent. It's just music that I don't want to listen to. I'll leave 3 stars to be neutral
David Bowie
5/5
New Order
4/5
Fred Neil
3/5
Never heard of this before. Surprisingly good!
The Cars
5/5
What would the 80s have looked like if the Cars didn't set the stage in 1978? Iconic perfection.
George Harrison
3/5
I like George Harrison's vibe even when I don't always love his music. This album was better than expected. But triple album?? C'mon, that's just silly. I'll pick some since from this in the future but I'll never listen to the while thing again
Megadeth
3/5
Peace Sells...But Who's Buying - Megadeth
Megadeth is a lot like Donald Trump in that they defy parody. No SNL or Tenacious D parody would ever been as absurd and hilarious as the original. This is the definitely the funniest album I've had so far. If they took themselves less seriously it probably won't work. Full commitment is admirable and hilarious.
Plus 1-star for the comedy and commitment of it all.
⭐⭐⭐
Talvin Singh
3/5
Decent background electronica
Pixies
3/5
I absolutely love the Pixies. I am not a big fan of this album. It sounds like a band trying to sound like the Pixies. This album was the beginning of the end.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Man is this good! No weak spots (unlike some other SW albums). Has at his best when he keeps it up tempo, and that's this while album.
The Vines
3/5
The songs on this album are like McDonald's cheeseburgers. They aren't exceptionally good, they aren't original, and I wouldn't want to have them everyday. But they are exactly as advertised, they are consistent, reliable, and you know what you're getting.
Except for the slow songs, those are more like The shit you take after eating a couple McDonald's cheeseburgers.
Elton John
4/5
Elton John is absolutely phenomenal on this album (most albums). His singing and piano are so good its hard to really overstate. Tiny Dancer is about as good as a song can get.
The only reason I deduct a star is that Bernie Taupin is one of the worst lyricists in history. There, I said it! I know that they have this legendary song writing legacy but I just don't get it. His horrible lyrics drag down Elton. And this album is one of the worst cases. There are so many attempts at 'American' themes on this record but they just aren't believable through his words.
Sorry Sir Elton.
Dolly Parton
2/5
I gave it a try. It's just not for me. 3 absolute legends, so how can I really critique? I want to just drop a 3 here and walk away. But country music doesn't deserve that kind of charity, it certainly wouldn't be as kind to me in return. So this gets a 2. I'm sorry ladies. You could have taken this in a different direction and probably scored an easy 5. I hope we can still be friends.
Amy Winehouse
5/5
I'm not capable of describing how good this is.
Alice Cooper
3/5
It's actually pretty listenable, but I still consider it a novelty album. The one song I give extra credit to is Blue Turk. I'm pretty sure this was mocking, Jim Morrison and the doors. And I'm here for it
Pixies
5/5
This is the 1001st time I've listened to this album. So, yeah, I love it.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Scott Walker
1/5
Why? Just why? This is so pretentious it hurts. Definition of 1-Star
Dire Straits
3/5
Kraftwerk
4/5
Minor Threat
5/5
Supergrass
4/5
I was surprised by how good this was. I previously had heard "In It for the Money" and thought it was awful. This one rocks
Sister Sledge
4/5
I was getting jiggy with this from the first beat. What a collection of bangers. Nile Rogers has the Midas Touch.
Eurythmics
4/5
I knew the hits really well, but I had no idea that the rest of this album was such a techno dance Masterpiece. So far ahead of its time.
Super Furry Animals
2/5
I wish I had taken notes while I was listening, because the album just ended and I don't remember any of it. I didn't turn it off, so I'm guessing it wasn't particularly horrible.
Radiohead
4/5
I never think to listen to Radiohead. I mean, I know they're good and that people love them, but it just never occurs to me to put them on. And it never seems like the right time or seeing to listen to them. But then when I'm "forced" to I really like it
Le Tigre
4/5
Dig it! High speed, crunchy guitars, awesome melodies, funny. A little bit B52s, a little bit Luscious Jackson.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
This album contains at least 3 of the greatest tracks of all time.
Arcade Fire
3/5
Sonic Youth
3/5
Funkadelic
4/5
Peter Frampton
3/5
If I had to be on an elevator, and there had to be music playing, I'd be ok with this being the music. In any other setting, no thank you.
Ray Charles
4/5
I mean it's Ray Charles
UB40
4/5
I learned something. I thought that UB40 was strictly a cover band. All of their hits are covers. Boy this album is all originals and it's so much better! Why didn't they stick with originals?
Madonna
3/5
I wasn't familiar with this phase of Madonna. I liked it more than i expected. Great dance songs. Probably 4-5 star quality. I give it 3 because it's just not something I will put on
Various Artists
3/5
It's a classic Christmas album. If I have to listen to Christmas music, this is the album I'd pick. But I don't have to listen to Christmas music and I don't want to.
The Stone Roses
5/5
Fucking A!! one of the greatest debut albums of all time! Fool's Gold is in my top five songs of all time.
Lightning Bolt
1/5
This sounds like it was made by a 12-year-old boy who pulls the girl's hair in class to get attention
They obviously set out to make a annoying, unlistenable, one star album. And they accomplish that. I kind of regret giving them The satisfaction of the rating that they wanted
CHIC
4/5
Tears For Fears
3/5
80s classics. But I was never a huge fan. Too serious, too self-important.
Nina Simone
4/5
John Grant
3/5
Man, i really hated this out of the gate. But it grew on me by mid-listen. He's got a good sense of humor and something to say.
TV On The Radio
4/5
Only had time for one listen. I liked it and will be back for more
Funkadelic
4/5
Portishead
5/5
Meanwhile, in the UK.
One of the greatest all time debuts.
Stereo MC's
5/5
Meanwhile, in the UK.
While most of the world was gobbling Seattle's knob, Stereo MCs were making dance music ahead of its time. Almost 35 years late this album sounds as fresh as it sounds timeless.
Snoop Dogg
5/5
Its mind boggling how many incredible albums, from so many different genres, came out in the early 90s. This one is no exception. Perfect vibe.
Coldplay
5/5
Once of the best debut albums of all time. T
Wow, I forgot how much Chris Martin was trying to channel/emulate Jeff Buckley on Sunday like Shiver. And he pulls it off. He found his own voice on later albums, but it's fun to re-hear this.
Cee Lo Green
4/5
It's funny that most of the poor reviews here aren't even about the album. They are about CeeLo's height, weight, personality, other projects, it completely other people.
The album is great. It's super well produced. It's full of excellent guest performances. CeeLo is on his game.
Arcade Fire
3/5
This debut is when AF first caught my attention. It's still their best.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Another classic debut
Bad Company
3/5
Jack White
5/5
I can't help myself. I love everything Jack White does.
Alanis Morissette
4/5
The 13th Floor Elevators
2/5
This probably sounded pretty interesting and crazy in 1966. So I'll give them that. But in 2026 it just sounds like shit.
Goldie
2/5
Ok, fine. But 2 hours??
PJ Harvey
3/5
Not my favorite PJ, and PJ is my favorite.
The Cure
5/5
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
Love Mali guitar.
Aerosmith
4/5
Some peak Aerosmith
Dr. Dre
5/5
The first few years of the 90s was ridiculous for the quality and diversity of great music. And this album is right up there with the best of everything. Absolute bangers throughout. Dre's solo debut held nothing back and was a harbinger for what he continue to do for the next 30+ years.
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
Lou Barlow's vocals take Dino Jr from good to great. This lineup of the band is the only one I'm interested in listening to.
Primal Scream
3/5
Meh. I remember thinking it was cool at the time. Doesn't do anything for me now
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
If you're ever in charge of making an ad for acne cream or cheap sneakers, consider some of these tracks. Otherwise, please don't consider this album at all.
Curtis Mayfield
5/5
Damn that's good
Van Morrison
5/5
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
It's gonna be a good Saturday.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Leonard Cohen
5/5
Jurassic 5
5/5
The Undertones
3/5
New to me. Pretty fun.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
She's a legend. But this just isn't for me
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Johnny Cash
4/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
LTJ Bukem
2/5
One thing that I've learned from this project: although I really love drums and I really love bass, I can't stand the genre, drums n bass. Boring AF.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Good jazz. Would listen again
Frank Sinatra
2/5
My favorite thing about this album is all of the well-written, negative reviews. I had no idea that so many people hate Sinatra as much as I do. It warmed my heart.
The Auteurs
2/5
How to guarantee your spot on the 1001 albums list:
1) be from the UK
2) put out an album in the '90s.
All other locations and times will have to prove their worth to be selected. But this two-step recipe will guarantee you a spot.
This album is a small fish in an ocean full of small fish that are all exactly the same
Stevie Wonder
4/5
As always with Stevie, some tracks are 5+ stars, and the slow ballads are really bad.
Beck
5/5
Peak Beck
Isaac Hayes
3/5
The one song is classic. The rest is just more of a hodgepodge score
The Smiths
5/5
Marvin Gaye
4/5
M.I.A.
4/5
Grateful Dead
3/5
Out of respect for my friends who love the Dead I'm giving this 3 stars instead of 2. It just doesn't work for me. And I've tried. I've REALLY tried for like 40 years. I just can't connect with it. I can appreciate 2-3 songs of theirs, none of which are on this album. It all sounds like poorly recorded country music with weak singing.
Aimee Mann
3/5
Aimee Mann is a really cool person. She's always been unique and true to her own style. I wish I liked her music more. But I just don't.
Pixies
5/5
33 perfect minutes. Not a weak moment.
SZA
3/5
First time hearing this. It's pretty damn good. Should probably give it 4 stars, not going with 3 because I'm not likely to put it on again.
Maxwell
2/5
This isn't something I need in my life.
The Specials
5/5
There are some things that exist beyond rankings. But if I'm ranking....
Everything But The Girl
2/5
This duo eventually puts out some great music. They aren't there yet on this album
Sheryl Crow
4/5
Much, much better than I expected.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
This comes out of the gate so strong! 'Uncomplicated' is original and cool. And then the rest is just more Elvis Costello's usual time. I generally like his usual thing, but how many albums of it do we need?
Queen
4/5
Fucking A, can Brian May play guitar! This is a great album so around. But mostly it's notable for being the album where Brian May way outshines Freddy Mercury.
Foo Fighters
4/5
The Go-Go's
5/5
The true definition of 'all killer no filler.' There is not a second of fluff on this album. No showy musicianship, no dragged out overly long songs, just everything that is necessary and nothing else. And such an iconic sound! Impeccable vocals, spot on harmonies, and perfectly succinct rhythm section.
Take a drive up the coast on a warm night with the top down, and turn this up to 11.
Fela Kuti
5/5
What a groove! Listened to it 5 times through without even noticing it had repeated.
Ravi Shankar
3/5
Ian Dury
3/5
Every song on this is funny and actually pretty enjoyable music. The problem with funny music is that subsequent listens don't really hit the same way. It's kind of why albums and artists like this get branded as "novelty" and never really rise to the top.
Travis
2/5
I used to be an aspiring musician. It's albums and artists like this that made me quit. Realistically, this album is far better than anything I could have ever done. Good production, good musicianship, good vocals, etc. And yet it's just so blah. Why would I bother making music that isn't even as good as this not very good music?
The Rolling Stones
5/5
It's easy to take the Rolling Stones for granted. Don't! There is so much good stuff on this album. Of course the dirty, dirty guitars. But also the horns and organs and pianos.
Don McLean
4/5
It's easy to be tired of the 2 hits. But that's not fair to the album. Listening with fresh ears reminds me how solid this is.
Dagmar Krause
2/5
Ok. I can appreciate something different. It's not for me though.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Soundgarden
4/5
I like almost every song on this album. I just don't want to listen to them all in a row. For whatever reason I can only deal with 2-3 Soundgarden songs in a sitting.
Van Morrison
5/5
Legend!
Soul II Soul
3/5
No strong feelings
The Stooges
5/5
Coldplay
4/5
Come take my cool card. I'm giving this four stars
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
I guess I like the idea of MBV better than the reality
Bob Dylan
3/5
I'll have to take your word for it.
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
Wilco
4/5
Is Wilco and this album way over hyped and over rated? Totally. Is my job to under rate this album as some sort of correction? Not at all. I'd give it 7/10, but I'll round up to 4/5.
Serge Gainsbourg
1/5
I'll be honest, I'm not listening to this. My patience for pedophiles is at all all time low (yes that's a real sentence I never thought I'd have to say). It's 2026 and we (the USA) have a pedophile for a president. And somehow that's OK with a large portion of the population. It's not OK with me.
So I'm not going to stream this and fund this pedo. I'm going to give it 1 star and hope for something better tomorrow.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Duh.
Deep Purple
2/5
These guys are better than Spinal Tap at keeping a straight face while making absurd music with ridiculous lyrics.
Louis Prima
5/5
So fun! sent me when a seeing rabbit hole.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
I grew up in the '70s. Led Zeppelin and all the other hard rock classic rock bands are ingrained in my DNA. So much so that I'm completely sick of it and never ever reach for a classic rock album. But then I find myself pressing play on led Zeppelin IV because it's part of my journey on this 1001 album project. And I can't fucking stop listening. I thought I was sick of every note of this album, but I can't deny that I love every note of it.