211
Albums Rated
3.68
Average Rating
19%
Complete
878 albums remaining
Featured Review
Scott 4
Scott Walker • 4/5
This is another of the "never heard of the album or the artist" days. Knowing nothing about the album I read some of the reviews, and I wasn't feeling great about what to expect upon listening. As soon as the first song, The Seventh Seal, started, my first thought was "what the hell is this?" After about 30 seconds my thought was "this is awesome and I hope the rest of the album is similar." I loved the very dramatic singing style and orchestration in this record. There was a time a while back that I likely would have dismissed this as too hokey, but I'm more open to such things in the past few years. I found it to be very enjoyable and I was smiling throughout. Many of the lyrics weren't exactly fun, but the presentation definitely was. Some of the songs worked better for me than others, but standouts were TSS as well as Hero of the War, The Old Man's Back Again, and Get Behind Me. What a fun addition to the project!
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45
5-Star Albums
8
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
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You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Gilded Palace Of Sin | 5 | 2.93 | +2.07 |
| Rapture | 5 | 2.94 | +2.06 |
| Music From The Penguin Cafe | 5 | 3.01 | +1.99 |
| Liege And Lief | 5 | 3.1 | +1.9 |
| Queen Of Denmark | 5 | 3.14 | +1.86 |
| The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter | 4 | 2.15 | +1.85 |
| The Soft Bulletin | 5 | 3.28 | +1.72 |
| Nebraska | 5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
| You Want It Darker | 5 | 3.34 | +1.66 |
| Heaven Or Las Vegas | 5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Purple In Rock | 1 | 3.33 | -2.33 |
| Hysteria | 1 | 3.21 | -2.21 |
| Billion Dollar Babies | 1 | 3.11 | -2.11 |
| The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn | 1 | 3.11 | -2.11 |
| G. Love And Special Sauce | 1 | 2.74 | -1.74 |
| Odessa | 1 | 2.72 | -1.72 |
| Space Ritual | 1 | 2.68 | -1.68 |
| Superunknown | 2 | 3.66 | -1.66 |
| Pink Moon | 2 | 3.65 | -1.65 |
| 1984 | 2 | 3.51 | -1.51 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| The Rolling Stones | 4 | 4.5 |
| Neil Young & Crazy Horse | 2 | 5 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 2 | 5 |
| Beatles | 2 | 5 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Def Leppard | 2 | 1.5 |
Controversial Artists
Artists you rate inconsistently
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Pink Floyd | 5, 1 |
5-Star Albums (45)
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Popular Reviews
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
The only Smashing Pumpkins songs I'd heard prior to today were the hit singles. I never really cared for them, mainly due to Billy Corgan's voice. Musically they seemed fine, but his vocals just got on my nerves. I was not excited to see this album pop up today. I was aware it was a double record, and then saw the run time of 2 hours and just figured I was in for a slog. The first song was pleasant, and then the first of the hit songs that I'd heard and immediately didn't care for. But then came some harder rock songs, and I really got into it. His voice was way more fitting for them than the slow songs, but even then I didn't mind it as much as the album was going along. I was shocked at how much I actually enjoyed all of the different styles.
It didn't feel too long and I can say this is one of the more pleasant surprises of the project so far.
1 likes
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
As many people back in 1991, I got this album on the basis of how great Under the Bridge is. If memory serves, I probably only played the CD a time or two, mostly due to all of the filler that pads out a way too long album. With that context, I was not too excited to see this come up today from the generator.
What I totally forgot due to the minimal listens is that the first 11 songs on the record would have made an almost perfect listening experience. There are so many good to great songs, starting with a fantastic opening three pack of bangers, and it would have ended with another amazing three pack.
It all got to be too much after that, and the last six songs really add little to the effort.
Upon listening today, I'll declare that this is an almost great album. It's a shame RHCP nor Rick Rubin didn't see this at the time.
1 likes
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
5/5
I LOVE this album!! I never heard of the group before, and I had no clue what to expect, even after reading up on them. This was such a great mix of pop orchestral music with just enough weirdness to keep me totally interested. I’ve added a bunch of songs to my main playlist.
1 likes
Beatles
5/5
As I began listening I came to realize that this is probably the album I’ve heard the most in my life from start to finish. I was 6 when it was released and my mom was a big Beatles fan. I then became one as well. The songs I preferred then-Maxwell’s Silver Hammer and Octopus’ Garden-are now my least favorites, but this is an album I absolutely love. And it totally holds up. The band plays the hell out of these songs. Production is immaculate. And George just shines.
A gem. Up there with greatest albums of all time.
1 likes
Paul Simon
4/5
I am a fan of Paul Simon’s music, both with Art Garfunkel as well as solo. This is an album I haven’t played in a long time, so it was fun to revisit. What stood out, aside from the singles being so much fun to listen to, was the more straightforward writing of his earlier years. This was more personal than many S&G songs and it was clear he was making a statement of purpose as a solo artist. The songs that stood out to me, aside from the two hits, were Duncan, Run That Body Down, and Paranoia Blues. A very enjoyable listen.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (8)
All Ratings
Talking Heads
4/5
I loved this album. Have been a fan of theirs, but never gave this one a listen as I assumed it all sounded like Psycho Killer and was more minimalist than other albums of theirs. I was wrong and there was an interesting mix of sounds and styles.
The B-52's
3/5
I typically listen to the B-52’s on shuffle as an entire album seems too much. This was good, but again too much. Fred is fun, but I don’t really enjoy his songs as much as the ones with only Kate and Cindy.
Björk
4/5
I liked this way more than I expected to. I only knew the song “Human Behavior” Ang don’t care for it, and I was very pleasantly surprised by the beats and rhythm and fun of the sound of many of the songs.
Soundgarden
2/5
I’m currently listening and know my opinion won’t change as the album progresses. While I like some grunge, Soundgarden never interested me and apparently still doesn’t. Chris Cornell does have a great voice, but the music is all just the same IMO.
Radiohead
4/5
I enjoy early Radiohead very much and this album is one of my favorites from them. There is melody with some of the atonal aspects they did more of later.
Nick Drake
2/5
This is not a style of singing or genre I typically like, and unfortunately I didn’t care for this album. The affectation in his singing voice turned me off to the rest.
Manu Chao
4/5
Very enjoyable musically. I rarely listen to World music and found this a fun experience.
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
Enjoyable, but repetitive.
Jack White
3/5
Fine, but not interesting to me.
Syd Barrett
2/5
This was not for me. I found it boring and repetitive. I’m not sure why it’s on this list.
Supergrass
4/5
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this album. I was initially surprised by the punk-like opening song, but I loved the variety of sounds. A very enjoyable listen.
The Lemonheads
4/5
One I really liked from back in the day, but haven’t listened to in a very long time. I loved it! Right up my music alley! Power chords and harmonies. Would give 4 1/2 stars if possible, but I'll call it a 4.
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
Interesting, but also long and repetitive. Ultimately I found it boring. I still acknowledge the talent.
Supertramp
2/5
This was a tedious listen. I have no idea how it made the list.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
My favorite Stones album. Feels very cohesive and love the variety of styles.
Dr. Dre
2/5
This is not at all for me. Homophobic and misogynistic. I liked it musically but not at all lyrically. I didn’t “get” it then and I don’t now. Gangsta rap was not the rap I liked.
The United States Of America
3/5
I had no idea what to expect. Never heard of this album. I thought it was good. Reminded me of early Jefferson Airplane.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
More tuneful than I expected, aside from “The Murder Mystery.” Love “Pale Blue Eyes” which apparently was meant to be a hit.
Roni Size
4/5
I enjoyed this. Nice mix of jazz and hip hop styles.
The Police
4/5
Love this album. Only clunker is “Mother” which didn’t get any better since 1983. Every other song is classic Police.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
How did I not listen to these guys back in the day? I really liked this album a lot. The song “Darklands” is going on some of my playlists. It’s a 4 1/2 star album for me, but I’ll lower it to 4 here.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
A stone cold classic. I haven’t listened to the album in over 30 years. The song that I loved this time around was “Right On.”
Queen
4/5
This was the first rock album I ever got. Around age 12. I loved it then and listening now brought back great memories. Also the first concert I ever went to. Back then it was fairly meaningless to others, but the millennials in my life think it’s so cool I got to see Freddy Mercury in his prime.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
A very pleasant listen. I knew more songs than I thought. I can understand why she’s highly regarded, even though it’s not something I’d typically listen to.
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
I really enjoyed this album. I only know their hits, so it was fun to get album tracks. I loved the song “Reasons.” It gave such strong Prince vibes, and I have to believe they were an influence for him.
Van Halen
2/5
Not a fan, especially of the David Lee Roth era. I can appreciate Eddie’s talent, but that’s about it. I always disliked their drum sound. Way too sexist and way too juvenile. Disliked them back then and still do.
David Crosby
3/5
I love David’s voice, and I love his work with CSN&Y (in all their iterations). And one or two songs of his on those albums is the perfect amount. But a full record worth is just too much. Too meandering. Too everything. I had this album on vinyl back in the day and I’m pretty certain I only listened to it once.
Thin Lizzy
4/5
I liked this much more than I expected to. I thought it would be a slog to get through. I only know the rock radio hits and never thought much of them. Some of it is dated, but a lot holds up.
4/5
This was fun to listen to again. It’s another album that I played a bunch when it came out, but haven’t listened to in a long time. Don’t Look Back In Anger was my favorite song back then, and still is. I’d give it 4 1/2 stars, but I’ll do four as i think there are some filler songs.
Death In Vegas
2/5
I’d never heard of this artist or album, but after reading some I was excited to listen. Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy many of the songs. I liked the music, especially the rhythms, but then many devolved into noise which I didn’t care for. Most of the vocals were uninteresting to me as well.
Kings of Leon
4/5
Another album I’ve not listened to since it came out. Enjoyable as a whole, there aren’t any songs that absolutely wow me individually. It was very pleasant to listen to on my drive to work. For that, it gets 3 1/2 stars that’ll bump up to 4.
Pixies
3/5
This is an album I enjoyed when it was released. Either I’m having a bad day, or I’ve lost my interest in most of these songs. Just not as good now as I recalled.
Tim Buckley
2/5
I felt happy listening to the first two songs. I thought I was going to be pleasantly surprised with the album. Then I was sad, as it devolved in to maudlin folk with a couple of way way too long songs.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
5/5
I absolutely loved this album. It was totally unexpected. I was a fan of the alt-country movement and this was certainly an influence on those artists.
Brian Wilson
3/5
First off I’m not a fan of The Beach Boys. At all. I find them annoying and repetitive. I wasn’t looking forward to listening to this. I did find it better than I expected, but that’s only because it’s so weird. Most of the fully fleshed songs were the stuff I don’t like, but the whistles and silliness were at least something different.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
I love Neil Young, especially with Crazy Horse. This album has three absolute bangers, and the rest are very good songs as well. I could listen to this just about any day.
Antony and the Johnsons
4/5
I enjoyed this. It was very mellow, with evocative gender questioning and confirming lyrics. Any album with Rufus Wainright can’t be all that bad. I want to listen to more of their music.
Beck
3/5
I’m not a fan of Beck. He’s fine IMO. This album is listenable. There’s talent and good production. But it didn’t make me appreciate him any more than I already did (which isn’t much). It’s another of those albums that I can’t understand why it’s on this list.
John Lennon
5/5
I think this is John Lennon’s best solo album. It’s got the title song of course, but such personal writing as well such as my favorite of his, “Jealous Guy.” What a great mix of styles too. I don’t love “How Do You Sleep” but it doesn’t hurt the album for me.
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
I appreciate the reviewers who encouraged finding the original album on YouTube, as I didn’t want to waste my time with something that wasn’t the intended product. That being said, this wasn’t for me. I was just bored, even though I can appreciate the clear talent in the music.
Lorde
4/5
I’ve only heard a few songs by Lorde before and never really listened all that closely. As soon as I started this album the Jack Antonoff production was obvious, and I didn’t initially like her voice. But it grew on me as the album progressed. I ended up enjoying it quite a bit, and will now seek out her other albums.
George Michael
4/5
I know the hits, but I love the mix of styles of all the songs. Not a clunker to be found.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
It’s Aretha. Really not much more needs to be said. Classic. It’s a 5 and that’s that.
Paul Simon
4/5
I haven’t listened to the entire album in a long time, but it still sounds as awesome as when it came out. Brought African sounds to the US mainstream and not in a gross white savior way.
Duke Ellington
3/5
There was a time I tried to get into jazz. Listened to lots of older and then more fusion artists. I found that I enjoyed listening to jazz way more live than on recordings. This was the same. I’m sure it would’ve been great to be there, but it was a tough listen. And very long.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Bruce is my favorite artist. That being said, I can be critical of him as well as any other musician. I hadn’t listened to the full “Nebraska” album in a very long time, and I found this to be revelatory. I’d recently read the book “Deliver Me From Nowhere” about the making of this album, and I listened and caught so many details I’d ignored or forgotten since 1982 when this album dropped. This album likely saved his sanity and led to his need to always follow the path his heart wanted and not what the masses wanted. Amazing song cycle and lots of therapy in there.
Michael Jackson
5/5
I’m the guy who did not own this back in 1983. I maybe listened to the album once. My plan was to listen with an open mind. Great opener, and then two filler tracks. But then…killer song after killer song. Amazing production. Fantastically performed. It is what it is for a reason.
The Stooges
4/5
The late 60’s had a few bands with a psychedelic punk vibe that I really enjoy listening to. This was a very cool record, and I had no clue what to expect from it.
Def Leppard
1/5
What is this album doing on THIS list? Seriously?? It was trash then and it’s trash now. The non-popular songs are awful, as are the popular ones.
R.E.M.
4/5
I love REM. Especially the early albums. They were one of my college radio favorites back when that was a thing (I assume it’s not anymore?). When this album dropped I recall wondering if they’d ever do anything essential again. Thankfully they did, but this wasn’t it. It’s 3.5 for me, but I’ll bump to 4 just because.
Ride
2/5
I never heard of Rise or listened to any shoegaze, other than a song or two. I like “In a Different Place” and “Vapour Trail” as they are more melodic than the other songs. This isn’t a bad album at all. Just not for me.
Jamiroquai
4/5
This was a lot of fun to listen to. I had no clue what to expect. I thought it would be too psychedelic or trippy, but it was the perfect mix with the grooves. I love his voice. Sorta Stevie Wonder-like. The instrumentals were good, but felt unnecessary.
Sister Sledge
3/5
This was fine. I’m not a huge fan of disco, and I don’t think of this as a great representation of the time, save for the title track. It’s not bad, but not some of the best of the era that should be on this list.
Leonard Cohen
5/5
Wow!! Just wow!! This was amazing! I had no clue what to expect, and I was blown away by all of it. I’ve never really listened to him before other than a song here or there. I will do a deeper dive after hearing this album.
Queen
3/5
Listening to this album, I was struck that Queen was a band in search of themselves till “A Night at the Opera.” After that it was just more bombast and more Freddie being Freddie. I also realized that I prefer only that album by far to all their others, with a song or two here and there from other albums I can listen to. This one was fine, but I’m not a fan of prog rock and found much of it just silly.
Björk
3/5
I thoroughly enjoyed discovering her solo debut album. When this came up I was pretty excited to listen. Unfortunately for me, it’s just not as interesting an album as the previous one. The music and vibe is very same-y, aside from a couple of songs. My favorite is “It’s Not Up to You” just because it broke that mold to an extent.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
I think this is a perfect album. It shows off everything great about CCR. The hits are short bursts of classic rock songs and the longer jams show off their ability to get a groove on. The album ends with one of my favorites of theirs, “Long as I Can See the Light.”
Mike Oldfield
2/5
The first few minutes were cool, as I saw The Exorcist when I was way too young and this song being played on the radio freaked me out. I discovered it no longer does. The rest was just not my thing. If I was at a Ren Faire I suppose it would be tolerable, but I was listening at home. The grunts, and announcing of instruments, was just unnecessary.
Circle Jerks
4/5
I was not at all sure what to expect, as I don’t listen to hardcore punk. But when I looked and saw it was 15 minutes long I was all in for a listen. And I was pleasantly surprised. I’m not sure I’d love an hour’s worth in one sitting, but each song was in and out and did what it needed to do. I’m not jumping into any mosh pits, but I can listen to more of this.
The Smiths
5/5
I’m a huge fan of The Smiths. This and “The Queen is Dead” are my favorite albums from them. I haven’t listened to it in total for quite a long time, and it was fun to be brought back to the later 80’s with the music I loved. I am aware Morrissey is an asshole, but I still love his songwriting and singing.
Cocteau Twins
5/5
I was very excited to listen to this. Cocteau Twins are a band I’ve always admired, but never really listened to other than a song that would pop up on the radio (back in the day) or a random playlist. I LOVED this album. It’s a perfect mix of stuff I like-atmospheric music, ethereal vocals, a chill vibe. I am a music first person, so honestly I couldn’t care less that you can’t understand the lyrics. I’m looking forward to listening to more of their music.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
I have been a Joni Mitchell hater for many years, mostly based on an image of her rather than her actual music. I thought she was just a boring folkie with an acoustic guitar, warbling songs with that “annoying” voice. Boy was I wrong. I loved this album musically, as well as her singing. And her writing. I’m looking forward to more of her albums, rather than the dread I felt when I saw what today’s was. Such a pleasant surprise.
Beatles
5/5
As I began listening I came to realize that this is probably the album I’ve heard the most in my life from start to finish. I was 6 when it was released and my mom was a big Beatles fan. I then became one as well. The songs I preferred then-Maxwell’s Silver Hammer and Octopus’ Garden-are now my least favorites, but this is an album I absolutely love. And it totally holds up. The band plays the hell out of these songs. Production is immaculate. And George just shines.
A gem. Up there with greatest albums of all time.
Deep Purple
1/5
70’s metal is not my thing. There’s a reason Spinal Tap exists and this is it. A very unenjoyable experience.
Dr. John
4/5
This album reminded me a lot visiting New Orleans, but also watching Treme and other NOLA set shows and movies (often featuring Dr John). It was a lot of fun, but for some reason I was left wanting more. I can’t actually explain it, but maybe it was the psychedelic parts that I wanted less of, and more of the Cajun rhythms. It’s a 3.5 for me that I’ll bump up to a 4.
Keith Jarrett
4/5
This was a perfect listen for a Sunday morning. Way more enjoyable than I expected from reading about it. Melodic, and enough variation to keep it from being monotonous for an hour long listen.
Jurassic 5
5/5
If a hip hop group was invented just for me, Jurassic 5 would be it. This album, from start to finish, is exactly what I want and like about hip hop-good beats of course, but also social conscience and respect of women. There are great rhymes and I love the mix of voices. The samples are cool and used really well. “What’s Golden”, “Thin Line”, and “Freedom” are standouts for me. An excellent listen.
Stephen Stills
4/5
I am a fan of CSN(Y), but I’ve found most if CSN solo projects to be close to unlistenable, with the focus on the worst aspects of their songwriting and presentation. I HATE “Love the One You’re With” and expected this to all be the precious version of Stills that I can’t stand. But then there was Church (Pt of Someone) and it all changed. I loved most of the rest of the album and really gained more appreciation for Stephen Stills.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
Reading about the album prior to listening, I was pretty interested to get into it. Unfortunately for me, it was mostly underwhelming. I enjoyed the last few songs the most, but overall it wasn’t as “fun” musically as I’d hoped it would be. I didn’t find it hard to listen to, but my expectations were likely a bit too high.
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
The best way to view this album is as a historical relic. There are clear examples of the direction each of the band members took once BS disbanded. I recall getting this record back in the 80’s when I’d see it on lists of essential albums. I’m pretty certain I listened to it only once, due to its lack of cohesion. I like a couple of the songs, but as a whole it just doesn’t work. It definitely does when seen as an artifact.
Charles Mingus
3/5
I don’t really know what to say about this album. The talent level is absolutely there. Some of the songs have very cool and interesting instrumentation. You can feel what it is that Mingus is going for with the different moods. That all being said, I’ll never listen to it again and I only really enjoyed certain parts.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
5/5
I LOVE this album!! I never heard of the group before, and I had no clue what to expect, even after reading up on them. This was such a great mix of pop orchestral music with just enough weirdness to keep me totally interested. I’ve added a bunch of songs to my main playlist.
Beastie Boys
4/5
I HATED the Beastie Boys first album. I thought it was annoying and irritating and they were just brats. I assumed they’d just rinse and repeat, because why wouldn’t they. But they didn’t, and made some really cool albums with fantastic production and instrumentation, and some very witty lyrics. This album isn’t my favorite of theirs, but it’s a very enjoyable listen with lots of interesting styles.
Nirvana
5/5
This is a five star album. I listened to it all the time upon its initial release. Nirvana spoke to me in a way few other bands could, which I felt as soon as I heard “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Being someone who has dealt with depression and isolation, I understood his lyrics. What I love about this specific album, beside the awesome performance, is that Cobain and the band didn’t give a fuck about pleasing MTV with a hits driven show. It was a perfect example of who they were.
Simply Red
4/5
I was checking out reviews of this, and boy do people hate on Simply Red. For those not around back then, I found the band to be a very fresh sound in the dross of most of what was popular at the time. Mick Hucknall’s voice is sublime. Yes, the 80’s production is dated, but his voice is timeless. And it is a sad reminder of the beginning of the end of America as we know it thanks to the Reaganomics mentioned in “Money’s Too Tight (To Mention).
Black Sabbath
4/5
Metal is one of my least preferred genres. I typically find it very same-y and boring. With silly lyrics. That was my expectation for this album. Ozzy died yesterday, so I tried very hard to listen to this critically and without emotion to his passing and I think I succeeded. I was pleasantly surprised by the anti-war theme of the album, as well as more subtlety than I’d have imagined. I did not feel bludgeoned over the head by all of it. I understand now why it has such a positive rating on this site. It’s a solid 3.5 for me, which I’ll bump up to 4 due to positive shock factor.
Eagles
3/5
IMO Eagles have one great album. It is “Hotel California.” The rest of their non-greatest hits records have a few good to great songs, but the rest are filler. This album has one banger in “Take It Easy.” The other two singles are two of my least favorite ones of theirs. The album has no other memorable songs. I’ll still give it 3 stars as it’s not actually bad, but it’s not one I’d listen to again.
Fleet Foxes
3/5
I recall listening to this when it first came out, wanting to like it more than I actually did. I feel that way with most of the folk/roots rock movement of the 2000’s and 2010’s. Some bands and albums are better than others, but I’m apparently not their audience. This is well made and well performed, but I only really liked a few songs.
The Flaming Lips
5/5
I became a fan of The Flaming Lips when I first heard Yoshimi. I then worked backwards to this album next. I immediately feel in love with them, though their other albums for me are hit or miss. They have two masterpieces IMO and “The Soft Bulletin” is one of them. Amazing production and I love Wayne Coyne’s singing on the album. I saw them live a couple of times and they are such an enjoyable band to watch just be weird.
Peter Frampton
2/5
This was not my thing when it came out and it still isn’t. It’s inoffensive, but every song basically sounds the same. I find the guitar effects he uses to be boring, though I recall back then people were losing their shit over them. Clearly I didn’t get the memo.
Ray Charles
4/5
I respect Ray Charles, but have never gone out of my way to listen to his songs. Reading about this album ahead of listening, I was not looking forward to it. I don’t like big band. I’m not a huge fan of “standards.” However, this is very well done. He put his emotion into the singing and it was about the best version of things I don’t enjoy that it could be. A very pleasant surprise.
Sisters Of Mercy
4/5
I’ve never listened to the full album, but “This Corrosion” is on a few of my playlists. Alternative rock radio in the 80’s was awesome in hearing things I never would’ve otherwise. I really like the rest of the record too. I was never a goth, but I totally dug their music.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
This is my second Leonard Cohen album. I loved “You Want It Darker” and gave it 5 stars. I knew this would be very different from that record, and it surely is. Initially I wasn’t that into it, but after a couple of songs I got into the vibe. Listening on my AirPods helped, I think, to appreciate the accompaniment more than I would’ve otherwise, and I found it almost a hypnotic experience. I won’t rate it above YWID, but I do get the love for his music.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
I listened to this on a summer drive in Florida with my mom and daughter on vacation. We all agreed it was “nice” to listen to, but it didn’t fit the setting at all. This is a perfect rainy Sunday morning album. It’s very samey and calming. But it’s not a car drive record at all. I’m certain had I listened alone on my AirPods I’d have fallen asleep. I’m not sure how you rate an album that feels like it needs a very specific setting for it to really work. I’m thinking it’s a 3.5 that I’ll lower to 3.
The Who
3/5
I listened to this a lot when I was a teenager. Watched the movie a bunch. Saw a college stage version (long before the Broadway show). Even with all of that, I still don’t really like it all that much. I think “Who’s Next” is one of the greatest albums ever, so I don’t dislike the band at all. I just can’t appreciate this the way I’m supposed to, I suppose. Clearly I’ve tried over the years. I hoped this listen would impress me differently but it didn’t. In fact, I was skipping ahead some just to get through it.
There is a lot of talent here, lyrically and musically. So I don’t think I can give it a 2 or less. It’s a 2.5 that’s going to raise to a 3.
Ice Cube
2/5
There’s things to like on this album. His wordplay is creative and there’s clearly talent in the production. When he’s writing about social issues it’s on point. But, the misogyny and harshness of the language is just too much to make it an enjoyable album to listen to.
The Mothers Of Invention
4/5
I went through a couple of Zappa phases when I was younger. I had an older neighborhood friend who was into him and would play the albums for me, and then again in my own album collecting days. I liked many of the albums as “different” and “interesting” but I never really listened closely. I think I’d only heard this record once before, and mostly liked it. I really like the first couple of sides, and the third and fourth not as much due to lack of clear song structure. Overall an enjoyable listen, but not one I’ll seek out to play again. A solid 4 stars.
And like others have noted, an amazing achievement for 1966!!
Metallica
4/5
While metal is a genre I typically don’t enjoy, this is the second album in a couple of weeks that has me reassessing that thought. I truly did not expect to like this album, aside from the song “One” which I know and figured was an outlier. Reading about this album, with words like “brutal” used to describe it, made me very apprehensive. But I liked it. I don’t care for Lars’ drumming overall, but the rest is quite good. A four star record.
Def Leppard
2/5
Album number 89 and it’s my second Def Leppard?!?! Will there be Bon Jovi too? This is the 80’s music I most despised-supposed hard rock that wasn’t hard at all. It rocked, I guess, in the most generic way possible. I will say I tolerate it better than “Hysteria” but not by much.
Hawkwind
1/5
I pride myself on the fact that I’ve never walked out of a concert early. I can’t say I’ve loved all the shows I’ve seen, but there’s been enough to keep me listening. I am positive I’d have bolted out of this show. No matter how high I might’ve been. Even when I used to get high, this wouldn’t be anything I’d enjoy. The only thing that kept me going was listening in the car on my drive to work, through a few construction zones no less. It is a DNF as I won’t play whatever is left.
Jane Weaver
3/5
I had no idea what to expect from this album. Reading a little bit about it left me uncertain as well. I liked some of the songs, especially the ones with a bit more rhythm. It was also my second album in a row with a weird spoken part, and like yesterday’s it took me out of the mood and decreased my interest. A solid 3 for me.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
I’ve never been much of a fan of Janis and/or BB&THC. I respect her vocal talent and the emotion she puts into everything, but I just don’t really enjoy listening to it for a song much less an album. This go through didn’t change my opinion. And I don’t think musically they’re anywhere near as talented as her vocals.
Marty Robbins
3/5
I’m not generally a fan of country music, but this was so different than what is typical of the genre. I knew the song “El Paso” and have liked different versions of it, including the original. I mostly enjoyed the outlaw story songs, and didn’t care much for the ones with the harmony vocals up in the mix. Overall a pleasant surprise, but I won’t be seeking out more of his music.
4/5
This was an interesting album. It was not what I expected from a Kinks record. “Tommy” by The Who was an album from last week, and this reminded me more of that than the usual songs I’ve heard from The Kinks. It was also quite Beatlesque musically, which isn’t surprising from an album in 1969. I’m struggling to decide what I really think of it though. The songs were very listenable and some were even more than that, but there weren’t any that I remember more than others. And none I’ll save to a playlist. It’s a 3.5 but I haven’t yet decided to give it a 3 or 4 rating.
Paul Simon
4/5
I am a fan of Paul Simon’s music, both with Art Garfunkel as well as solo. This is an album I haven’t played in a long time, so it was fun to revisit. What stood out, aside from the singles being so much fun to listen to, was the more straightforward writing of his earlier years. This was more personal than many S&G songs and it was clear he was making a statement of purpose as a solo artist. The songs that stood out to me, aside from the two hits, were Duncan, Run That Body Down, and Paranoia Blues. A very enjoyable listen.
Joy Division
5/5
I can’t explain why, but I’ve avoided listening to Joy Division for the most part. I love much post-punk music. I love New Order. I’m a sucker for depressing music in general. And yet…
I am not at all surprised at how much I love this album. The vocals are so cool in how they were recorded, giving them almost alien feel. And now I really know where Robert Smith got so much of the early Cure sound from.
A definite 5.
Louis Prima
5/5
First off, I’ve never liked David Lee Roth and now I dislike him even more. He “stole” everything from “Just a Gigolo”, scatting exactly as Prima did. What a loser.
I couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed this record. Yesterday was a Joy Division album (which I rated at 5) and today is the polar opposite of that, but will also get a 5. Just pure fun to listen to. You can hear the smiles on the performers faces. This would’ve been a blast to experience live. Not a dud in the batch.
It’s albums like this that make me come back every day for another.
The Divine Comedy
4/5
I’ve never heard of this, and the brief description didn’t prepare me for what was to come. This album is right up my musical alley. I’m a sucker for show tunes, regardless if they’re from an actual musical. I really like his voice and the instrumentation was very listenable. “Everybody Knows (Except You)” is now on my favorites playlist.
I say this often, but records like this are what I love about doing the album a day exercise. I never would’ve heard it otherwise.
The Who
4/5
When I was a teen in the 70’s this was considered “the” live album (definitely not Frampton’s) by all the cool kids. I’m sure I’d heard it at parties or a friend’s house, but it didn’t make much of an impression. My first thought today once the album started is that this sounds like all the stuff I don’t like about late sixties and seventies hard rock, but the bass and drums kick ass. As I listened further I started to appreciate the between song banter, even laughing a few times. By the end, I caved and just enjoyed what they were giving, as the final couple of songs just kicked my ass.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Another album I haven’t listened to in a long time, but liked a lot when it came out. I read some of the reviews and it’s funny how this is referred to as a millennial record. I’m a boomer, so in theory I’m not supposed to really enjoy this. But I do. I was listening with two millennials, my daughter and her girlfriend, and this was a first time for both with Arcade Fire. They were actually more critical of it than I was. So what do we all know about such things?
Billy Joel
4/5
I have a like/hate relationship with Billy Joel, and this album in particular. In the mid-70’s I was having my rock music awakening and my brother loved this album and played it all the time, irritating the crap out of me. And then in college I met my future (and now ex) wife, and she LOVED Billy Joel. Thanks to that fact, I’ve seen him in concert quite a few times.
All of that being said, there are songs I like (and even really like), and this album has quite a few of them. When I saw this pop up today I was determined to give it a fair listen. And it f’ing won me over. One of the songs I’ve despised over the years is “Only The Good Die Young” and even that one made me not hate it as much. Damn you Billy Joel. I want to hate your music and I just can’t do it.
Electric Light Orchestra
3/5
I was excited when this popped up today. This was an album I loved when I was young, staring at the cover art for ages and listening to all four sides of the record. Since that time I’ve enjoyed a handful of ELO songs I’d hear now and then, but none were from this album. I’d considered seeing them live the past few years but never pulled the trigger on getting tickets.
Upon listening today, disappointment set in. This was not as much fun as I recalled, and I was mostly feeling bored and looking to see how many more songs were left. I don’t think it’s bad. It’s just one of those things that was better when I was younger but has lost its luster as I’ve aged and my tastes have changed.
Interestingly, this is my second album in a row from 1977 where my opinions have changed dramatically from when I listened back then to now. Apparently 14 year old me is quite different than 62 year old me. Who knew?
Moby
5/5
I listened to this album a lot when it came out. The mixing of blues samples and electronic music worked perfectly for me. I haven’t heard the record in many years, and I was concerned I’d not enjoy it anymore. Thankfully that wasn’t the case, and I totally dug it just as I had back in 1999/2000. I forgot how many songs I really loved on this album (which makes sense given how often I played it back then).
It’s a 4.5 that I’m boosting to a 5.
Dolly Parton
3/5
I am not a fan of Dolly Parton. It’s mainly her voice which kinda grates on me. I’m also not generally enamored of her as many others seem to be.
That all being said, this was a fairly decent listening experience. I really enjoyed “Traveling Man” a lot, but it was an outlier in style to the rest of the record. There were many well written and performed songs, but by the end it sort of devolved into positive affirmation tunes that I didn’t really care for.
I’m giving it a 3, but it’d be a four if I could just tolerate her voice more than I do.
Destiny's Child
2/5
Listening to this with my girlfriend and we both said simultaneously, “All of these songs sound the same.” This was especially true when they were harmonizing together, and it just felt so repetitious. Towards the end of the album there was some variety, with ballads, gospel, and a Bee Gees cover. All in all it was not my thing, and an hour’s worth was a lot.
Neil Young
4/5
I am a fan of Neil Young, but much prefer his Crazy Horse and rock sound than his acoustic music. I do still enjoy albums like “Harvest” but they’re not my favorite. This is still an excellent album with three of his most well known and greatest songs, but not what I will seek out when I want to listen to his music.
Gil Scott-Heron
3/5
I respect this album much more than I enjoyed this album. It wasn’t bad to listen to, but it meandered a lot. There were a couple of songs that held my interest but that’s about it.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
I love CCR. This is especially true of their run from “Green River” through “Cosmo’s Factory.” That being said, this album has the genesis of much of that sound, as well as two stone cold classics in “Born on the Bayou” and especially “Proud Mary.”
It’s a 4.5 that gets the boost to 5 for what John Fogerty and the band were forging.
Guns N' Roses
4/5
I listened to this album A TON in 1987-1990, and then loved both “Use Your Illusion” albums too (I assume they’re on here as well?). We were saved from hair bands forever with GNR, and then grunge. I couldn’t be happier.
I found this listen enjoyable, but the songs did have some same-ness to them aside from the three monster singles. It’s still a solid 4 from me.
Oh, Slash’s guitar playing on here absolutely kills.
G. Love & Special Sauce
1/5
This is album #110 for me, and it’s my least favorite so far. I sort of dug the bluesy riffs at first, but the vocals in every song just made me annoyed and irritated. I thought I liked the song “This Ain’t Living” but even that got on my nerves after a couple of minutes. If I could give a 0 I would.
The Incredible String Band
4/5
I had no idea what to expect, but I ended up liking this more than not. Someone else wrote that it reminded them of the music from the original "The Wicker Man" film and, having seen it recently, I totally agree. And that is a positive thing in my mind. My main complaint is that this album is just a bit too long, but I like more of it than I don't. It's a 3.5 that will increase to a 4 in the ratings.
The Stranglers
4/5
I've generally liked the punk music that I've listened to, but I have been shy about diving in on my own. This is one of the things I really like about this project, as I get to hear bands I would have avoided out of "fear." I really like their sound, as it's not just noise and there is more going on than just guitar, bass, and drums. The organ sound makes so many of these songs more melodic, even if it's still very punk in structure. Another album I'm glad I listened to, and will seek them out more.
The Go-Go's
4/5
This was everywhere back in 1981, and I was too "cool" to appreciate it at all at the time. I'm sure I rolled my eyes if it was played at any college parties I was at, and wanted more edgy music played. Listening this morning and I realized this is exactly the kind of power pop I enjoy from other bands, but because they had no hits it was ok for me to listen to. You can't help but smile listening to this, and bopping your head to the beat. A very fun listen and I'm very glad it's on the list.
Alice Cooper
1/5
I was pretty disappointed when this popped up as the album of the day. I was never a fan back in the 70's/80's, as this is the kind of hard rock music I didn't really enjoy listening to. I decided to check out some of the reviews and it seemed some people were pleasantly surprised by how it sounded, so I was maybe a bit hopeful. The very beginning of the first song was a bit different sounding, and I was eager to listen more. Unfortunately it immediately then became exactly what I thought it would be, and I didn't like it at all. This is another example of hard rock from the time that still does nothing for me at all. There are so many bands that just sound the same to me, and it's that bluesy hard rock thing that feels very interchangeable, with no artist standing out as anything different (except the few who did more with it). There's also the usual misogyny of the genre that is such a turn off too. It's a 1.5 for me as it's not unlistenable, so it'll get a 2.
Edit: I wrote this review while I was midway through the album. It became worse for me as it went along, with “I Love the Dead” just such a ridiculous song that dropped this down to a 1.
Shuggie Otis
4/5
I found this to be an enjoyable, but also frustrating album. Every song has promise to go…somewhere, but he undercut each track with some odd vocal or instrumental part that kept them from being great. I can understand why there were no hits from the record, as nothing on here was going to be radio friendly enough. “Aht Uh Mi Hed” was the closest but still not quite there.
A very good album. Almost a great album.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
This was the first Neil Young album I bought, as I was getting into his music and this was his latest release. I listened to this and “Live Rust” almost non-stop for a while, and then went backward and got more of his records. Some of the songs on here haven’t aged as gracefully as others, but this mix of acoustic and electric perfectly encapsulated both sides of his output. “Powderfinger” is my favorite NY song, so that alone lifts this to top tier for me. And I love enough of the others (especially MMHH and HHMM) to make this an absolute must listen.
The Beau Brummels
3/5
Two of my adult children went to separate Ren Faire's this past weekend. As I was listening to this album I felt that this was likely the kind of music playing at these events, which made me smile. I am not, however, someone who wants to attend such things which makes this music not really for me. It wasn't bad, and I even liked a couple of songs. I'd give it 2.5 stars if I could, but it'll bump up to 3 because I love my children.
UB40
4/5
UB40 is unfortunately one of those bands mostly known for its hit singles, which are not at all indicative of who the band was originally. They did do cover songs early on, but they were not as "poppy" as some of the later ones. What I loved when I first heard the band was initially the cool reggae rhythms, but when actually listening to the lyrics it was clear they had a strong political stance and one I was in alignment with. I lost interest in the band once they were focusing too much on the hit songs, but I still enjoy listening to their earlier albums.
Willie Nelson
2/5
I really wanted to like this album. I really want to like Willie Nelson. I remember this being a big hit when it came out, and it was not at all in my music wheelhouse at the time so I ignored it. But I'm older now and I figured maybe I've mellowed enough with age to appreciate this more than back in 1978. The main problem is I still don't really enjoy the standards in general. And Willie's take on them was just boring, making even songs I sort of like into something hard to really listen to. Ultimately it's really just background music, but not in good way. Willie has a nice voice, so it's not a total bust.
Janis Joplin
5/5
When this album popped up from the generator this morning I was not excited at all. I'd previously listened to "Cheap Thrills" and didn't enjoy it at all. I remember this album being played at lots of hang outs with friends back in the 70's, but I really never paid much attention to it. Or so I thought. Right off the bat, I recognized the first two songs and totally loved them. And then it slowed down with "A Woman Left Lonely" and I was all in. There are a couple of filler tracks, but they didn't take the smile off of my face that I had from the start of the record till the end. I am shocked, and very pleasantly surprised. I kept thinking that I can't possibly give this five stars, but I can't deny how much I enjoyed this album. It's getting that five.
Carole King
5/5
This is the second day in a row of albums every female I knew back in the 70’s owned and played all of the time. Yesterday it was Pearl, and today is this gem. From the amazing album cover (I love cats) to the fantastic songs, this deserved (and still deserves) all of the praise it gets. A fantastic songwriter and a good singer, with impeccable performances that allow everyone to shine when it’s their moment. I almost forgot how awesome this album is. Almost.
Alice In Chains
4/5
Alongside Nirvana and PJ, Alice In Chains was my other favorite grunge band. I love Layne Staley’s vocals and the great guitar work by Jerry Cantrell. I don’t typically like hard rock, but that early 90’s sound matched up with where I was in my life at the time, acknowledging my own depression and learning to cope with it. Music was one of the best ways I found.
I wasn’t sure if this would still hold up, and it does.
Nina Simone
5/5
I did a deep dive into Nina Simone's music a few years back after watching a documentary about her life and art. I was mesmerized by her singing and playing, as well as her life in general. I'd heard of her prior to watching it, but knew nothing other than the people I knew who were really into her were REALLY INTO HER.
I was excited to get one of her albums today, and I loved it. This is not generally a style of music I care for, as I recently gave Willie Nelson's Stardust a two star rating. But her voice. And her phrasing. And how she can put her emotion into every song, giving each performance exactly what it needs to make her feel what she's feeling.
I will give a 5 to anything of hers.
Adele
4/5
There is no denying her vocal chops. And the album starts off great, with two bangers that I still enjoy after many listens. But then the songs become very same-y and slow, even with her amazing singing. The production is fine, but there is too much down time between the faster tempo songs. IMO those songs are where the album really shines. Two in a row of the slow ones are ok, but more than that makes for a somewhat boring listen at times.
The album is finishing playing as I'm writing this, and my final thought is that this is a good album bookended by four great songs (two to start and two to end). It's a 3.5 that will get a 4 as it's consistently listenable regardless of my complaints.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
After looking at the song titles I decided the US shorter version was the one to listen to today. I have a love/hate relationship with The Stones. I think they have a handful of great albums, mainly the run from Beggar's Banquet to Exile On Main Street, with a smattering of excellent songs on some of the later albums. I also think they are mean spirited, misogynistic, sloppy, and very repetitive. This album is all of those things, with the only positive being early use of interesting instrumentation. All of this is done to better effect in their later albums, however. It's not a bad album per se, but it is a frustrating one. They were coming into their own, but just couldn't yet get out of their own way.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
3/5
This is one of those albums that, for me, makes no sense to be on this list. It's fine. Even enjoyable. But also quite disposable as it just sounds like many of the bands of that time period. They weren't breaking any new ground or adding anything to the conversation. If all it takes is to be an inoffensive set of mostly fun songs, then I guess that must be good enough to warrant status on the list?
The funny thing is, it'll get a 3 star rating from me, which is higher than many "better" albums that are at least taking a swing but ultimately missing.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
The only Smashing Pumpkins songs I'd heard prior to today were the hit singles. I never really cared for them, mainly due to Billy Corgan's voice. Musically they seemed fine, but his vocals just got on my nerves. I was not excited to see this album pop up today. I was aware it was a double record, and then saw the run time of 2 hours and just figured I was in for a slog. The first song was pleasant, and then the first of the hit songs that I'd heard and immediately didn't care for. But then came some harder rock songs, and I really got into it. His voice was way more fitting for them than the slow songs, but even then I didn't mind it as much as the album was going along. I was shocked at how much I actually enjoyed all of the different styles.
It didn't feel too long and I can say this is one of the more pleasant surprises of the project so far.
Lana Del Rey
4/5
Lana Del Rey is an artist I've been thinking about listening to since her debut. She's a critic's darling, and that's usually enough for me to at least give a listen. Other than a song here or there, I've never really given her a try.
This album started with what me and my girlfriend thought was the weakest song, her vocals very strained and off-putting. The next two songs were improvements, but not interesting enough other than the lyrics. Then the album kicks into a different gear (metaphorically only) with Let Me Love You Like A Woman. We both loved the song, and then the next and then the next. It was a consistent very good to great song after that. We both wish it was sequenced differently, and it might have made a close to excellent album.
Ultimately an enjoyable listen and there is now a desire to listen to more of her music.
Nick Drake
2/5
This is my second Nick Drake album on the list. I couldn’t get into Pink Moon, and this is no different. There’s clear talent, and I like this album more musically. But I find myself rather bored, even when actively reading the lyrics. As others have stated, it “should” be a perfect Sunday morning record (and today is indeed Sunday), but it’s just too slow and repetitive for me. I don’t hate it, but I don’t like it.
Addendum-I wrote all of that prior to the album ending. I really like Saturday Sun a lot. Not sure what that will do for the overall rating.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
One of my favorite Stones albums. I reviewed Aftermath five days ago and was very critical of the meanness and misogyny. This is the point where they started to really figure out who they wanted to be as a band (and yes, there was still more meanness and misogyny, unfortunately). But I think this album has some of their greatest songs, and it's the first where the writing finally began to gel. Any album that has Sympathy For The Devil, No Expectations, Jigsaw Puzzle, Street Fighting Man, and Salt Of The Earth on it is just a classic in my mind. These are essential Rolling Stones songs and make this a five star album.
Nanci Griffith
4/5
This is another of those "I heard of the artist but know nothing about them" albums. I read the Wikipedia page, and was not at all excited, and then read some reviews and was even less so.
The album began and her voice immediately reminded me of Dolly Parton, who I don't really care for. But as the title song played on, I kinda liked it. and then Love At The Five & Dime came on and I really liked it. And then More Than A Whisper a couple of songs later and I began thinking I might just really love this album. The word that came to mind was charming, and each song solidified that thought. Even Lookin' For The Time, a not so charming story, I still found myself with that same grin on my face. There are a couple of songs that keep it from being a 5 for me, but this was such a pleasant surprise of a record.
David Bowie
3/5
In theory I should love David Bowie's music. I am a fan of artists reinventing themselves and trying new things. I'm a fan of critic's darlings. I love "weirdness." I have always "tried" to love his music. Unfortunately, I've never really been able to get into it. I can't put my finger on it, other than there is a coldness and detachment I feel when I listen to his songs. There are a few here and there that I really like, but I've never been able to listen to an album of his and truly enjoy it.
I am aware that there are quite of a few of his records on this list, and my hope was that I'd have a different experience listening more critically. There are others on the list that I have completely come around on, so I thought it would be the case with Bowie.
This is my first album of his that I've been given, so this morning I was both excited and apprehensive.
What I came away with after listening is that my original thoughts haven't changed at all. There is talent for sure. There are songs I enjoy more than others, but in the end, I guess I just don't really like his music overall and that's the way it's going to be.
I think I have six more to go...
Pink Floyd
5/5
I haven't listened to this album since the early 80's, and this is my first time totally without any substance to enhance the experience. I was hesitant when it came up this morning, as I knew what to expect but felt my thoughts on it might change this time around. Probably for the worse. This was never my favorite Pink Floyd album, but I've respected it for what it was.
Yesterday I had a David Bowie album. I wanted to love it, but I just couldn't get into it. Today, I kinda wanted to hate on this album, figuring I'd outgrown it or something. With all of that baggage, and being sober, I am happy to say I loved listening to this album. I had been mesmerized from the first notes to the last. The production is immaculate. Having seen the movie and listened many times, I knew the story so it was easy to follow along with it. I found myself singing so many of the songs, not just being brought back to my teenage years, but finding new things in most of them to enjoy. Yes it's totally overblown and bloated, but in all the right ways for me.
Willie Nelson
4/5
A couple of weeks ago Willie's album Stardust came up on the generator. It was not an enjoyable listen, in large part due to my dislike of the standards on the record. I'd been looking forward to hearing his albums, as he's someone I feel I should like.
When this came up today I was a bit cautious and uncertain, given that previous experience. When I read about the spare instrumentation I was also a bit concerned, thinking I might not like that either.
By the time the second song came on, I was totally digging this. His voice was perfectly suited to both the material and the instrumentation, and there was enough of that going on to keep it interesting. Many of the shorter songs I'd actually wanted to be longer. My only nitpick is that a couple of the longer songs just went on a bit too long, such as Can I Sleep In Your Arms which was just too repetitive.
Overall a very enjoyable listen, and I look forward to hearing more from him.
Beatles
5/5
When I was young and listening to the Beatles (thanks to my mom) I thought this was a very good album. It was never one of my favorites of theirs, but I liked most of it. As I got older into my teenage years, I found this to be an excellent listen, feeling like I was watching the band become more and more who they would eventually become later, within the band and then as solo artists. Paul's songs are so unmistakably Paul. They are great pop songs, some with orchestral flourishes or even just with strings. John was firmly moving into two camps, with straightforward rockers as well as using tape loops and other effects with She Said She Said and Tomorrow Never Knows. And George was beginning to mess with the sitar and other Eastern instruments. Ringo was solid as a drummer as always, but Yellow Submarine would be his blueprint for later songs too.
Listening again today made me feel even more that this is a great album by a great band. I was also thinking while listening what must've been going on in fan's minds when this first came out, trying to reconcile how far they'd come in just a couple of years.
Norah Jones
2/5
A few others have commented about the Starbucks connection with this album, so I'll leave that low hanging fruit alone. My other non-musical gripe with the record is that it won the Grammy for Album of the Year over The Rising, which is just ridiculous in my mind. I think the Grammy's are silly anyway, but c'mon.
As for the album itself, it's...fine. There's nothing offensive about it. It's tastefully sung and performed. It's not challenging in any way at all. I don't hate that it exists, but it surely doesn't feel necessary, especially being on this list. One of my gripes with the list is that artists like Def Leppard are on it, but even that I can understand in terms of a genre they represent. This album doesn't really feel like it represents anything much, other than something that wasn't typically selling in 2002. And again, now we're back to the Starbucks thing.
My main problem now is rating it. Two seems too low and three seems too high. I guess I'll decide in the morning.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
I was not looking forward to Led Zeppelin albums. I figured there had to be a few of them, possibly more than a few. The only record of theirs I willingly listened to when I was younger was IV, and I mostly enjoyed it. But I had never gotten into them the way so many people my age did back in the 70's and 80's, constantly hearing the band on rock radio stations (later called classic rock radio stations I suppose). I couldn't stand Robert Plant's screeching voice over bluesy rock riffs. I do like his voice when he's not trying to hit those notes, but it felt like every song was an excuse to get that sound out of him.
When this album started I totally felt the same way, thinking I'd be trashing this in my review. But the truth is, I actually liked some of the songs I'd never heard before. They were understated (by their standards) and not just bashing you over the head with the drums, guitar, and that voice. Of the ten songs on the record, I actually liked about five of them. There was only one, Tangerine, that I really enjoyed and would consider listening to again (but not enough to put on a playlist), but they weren't bad.
If this is how the rest of their albums go, I guess I'll think they're not too bad and the radio hits were the outliers.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Another of those "this is why I'm doing this project" albums.
I know of Hugh Masekela and had seen videos and heard him play on some songs back in the 80's. But this is the first time I've listened to an album of his in full.
I've written previously that I prefer jazz live to recordings, as it generally doesn't keep my interest and just plays in the background. This aibum proves that to be a falsehood. I loved this. The songs totally kept me interested, and I was grooving to each of them, enjoying where they were going and loving the interplay of the various instruments. It was also a fun listen, with surprises at times that made me smile and move along with the beat and the baselines.
While it was a long album, it never really felt overly so.
PJ Harvey
4/5
PJ Harvey is another on the list of artists that were on my radar but never really listened to other than a song here and there. I was mostly excited to see this pop up today.
It was a good thing that I read some about the album before listening, as I am a music first person and this is very much about the lyrics. That being said, I really liked the various musical styles on the album and I bought in right away. I listened while driving to work, so didn't have the lyrics in front of me, but what I could understand was very dark and very anti-war. Being a pacifist myself, this was right in my wheelhouse.
Overall a very good listen. None of the songs are ones I'll save on a playlist, but I'm very open to hearing more from her.
4/5
My initial thought upon seeing this album on the generator today was "Muse is on this list?" This was not a complaint, as I thoroughly enjoy their music though I haven't really listened to them in about 10 years. My second thought, as soon as the record started playing, was "Oh yeah, Muse is Queen for millennials." I remember thinking that back in the day when I saw Muse live, as they totally reminded me of Queen (who I saw live in the late 70's). There's overblown everything, and on this album it's in the best ways. And it also doesn't hurt that Matt Bellamy can sometimes do a mean Brian May impression.
This album did not disappoint. It's all of the bombast and, yes, silliness, that is the best of Muse. Starlight is a fantastic song IMO, and there are five or six others that had me smiling and remembering why I enjoyed listening to them as much as I did back then.
It's not a perfect album, so I don't think it'll get a 5, but it's a solid 4.
Linkin Park
2/5
Another album where I was just confused why it's on the list. In the past week there have been three records from the 2000's and I've felt that way about all of them. There is some very good music from this decade, so I"m not just being a Boomer (I think).
The pros-the songs and album are all fairly short, which made for at least a tolerable listen. There are also a couple of songs-the hits Crawling and In the End-that aren't just the same as everything else.
The cons-I didn't like nu-metal then and I still don't like it. It was maybe "cool" back in the early 2000's, but it just sounds super dated now. My other issue is that I typically like songs of depression and sadness, but this was just too much (yes, I know in hindsight it was clearly an issue for Chester Bennington). There is no relief in sight, and that helps to ease some of the bluntness of the presentation.
Overall I didn't hate the listen as much as I thought I would, but I won't listen to it again.
4/5
Album #142 and finally my first Dylan. This one surprised me, as I didn't think there'd be any live recordings from him on the list. I suppose if one made sense, this would be it though.
I'm not sure how I'd have felt about this prior to April of this year, when I finally saw him live for the first time. I'd previously held out, given the many negative things heard over the years of his live performances. But a friend offered a free ticket, so I couldn't pass it up. I was mesmerized the entire show, and totally got the appeal of how he just does whatever he wants to do and the audience either comes along for the ride or doesn't.
With all of that, this album is likely the time in his life when he began doing that and has clearly never stopped. And I enjoyed it very much. I was actually a bit disappointed not to be able to hear any of the booing or complaining from the crowed, but whatever. I did enjoy the second electric half more than the acoustic first, but not to a very large extent. I don't feel that I have much to say about the individual songs, as it was more about the feel for me. And it felt very good.
Anita Baker
5/5
Some albums bring us back to a certain place and time, and this one absolutely does for me. If I had never heard of her, or heard this album many times, I can't imagine I would find it all that interesting other than her great voice.
But, this album today brought a huge smile to my face, both when it came up on the generator as well as listening and singing along. Anita Baker was the romantic soundtrack of my life back when it came out, played over and over. And not just this album but her next few as well. No need to say anything more about it than that.
I cannot be a good judge with this, as I know in my heart it's not a five star album, but that's what it's getting.
Thanks for the good times Anita.
The White Stripes
3/5
I felt ambivalent when this album showed up this morning on the generator. I'm not much of a fan of The White Stripes or of Jack White's solo records. I kinda think I should be, but the music just leaves me cold. I recognize the talent, and I did like the lo-fi nature of this album.
After listening to it today, I still feel very ambivalent. There were a couple of songs I liked, but mostly it was exactly what I expected. It's a shame, as I was hoping maybe I'd enjoy it more than I did.
Everything But The Girl
4/5
Last night I was having dinner with a couple of younger musicians. We were all talking about some of the music one of them plays, and she referred to it as trip-hop. There was then a conversation about other bands/artists of the genre. I know my phone is "listened to" by the NSA, Amazon, and god knows who else, but I never guessed the album generator was in on it as well. I had to chuckle when this came up today.
The good news for me is that I enjoy this genre of music very much. I didn't care much for Idlewild from EBTG previously, but that seemed more about the time and place when I heard it. This was perfect for today, and I totally got into the vibe right away. I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of Tracey Thorn's vocals with the beats and other electronic elements. It totally worked for me and I could listen to this all day.
Radiohead
4/5
This is a band that people seem to either love or hate. I've always kinda liked them, but never rabidly. The only album of theirs I truly love is OK Computer, and the rest I've either had on in the background or never really listened to. This is one that I was certainly aware of (how could you not be when it was being offered for free), but never heard.
When it started playing this morning I initially didn't really care for it. I was thinking how the haters might be on to something. As the album progressed I was thinking how much I really liked (and even loved) it musically. By the last few songs I was totally digging it, and understanding more the lovers than the detractors. There are not standout songs for me, but this is very much a vibe album, which led to me really enjoying the overall experience.
While I don't fall in either camp, for this record I am assuredly on the "I liked it a lot" side.
Merle Haggard
3/5
I'm not much of a fan of country music, so I'm not too excited when one shows up on the generator. I also have found that I don't dislike most of them by the time I'm done listening. This is another time when that has happened. Haggard's delivery is very laid back, given the depressing or even violent nature of many of the songs, which is a bit off putting till it's heard as a whole. It eventually makes sense as a guy telling his stories of woe, but he's come to terms with it, at least in my interpretation.
All of this is to say that it got me thinking more about the songs in a way that country music rarely does, so that seems like a win. I'll still never listen to this album again, and none of the songs are being saved to a playlist. But I didn't hate it.
Judas Priest
2/5
A few caveats before my review. First is that in my summary on this site my least favorite genre is Metal. The metal albums with higher ratings are the ones that surprised me in some positive way. The second is that today is when Taylor Swift's new albums drops. I don't have time to listen to it till later today, and I try to do my album of the day on my morning drive so I can make sure to get it done. Taylor’s is the album/music I am in the mood for today, and when I saw this come up on the generator I let out a groan.
With all of that being said, this record needed to truly blow me away and be well beyond my expectations in order to get a positive review. Sad to say, that did not happen. At all. It was exactly what I thought it was. I didn't even realize I knew a couple of the songs till they played, and those were never ones I liked in the first place.
There is nothing horrible about this album. It didn't offend me or make me want to stop listening. But it wasn't enjoyable at all. And it wasn’t Taylor Swift.
PS-Finally listened to The Life of a Showgirl and absolutely love it!
Gorillaz
4/5
I had never listened to Gorillaz before. For some reason, I just assumed they were not something I'd enjoy based on the cartoon character aspect from the album covers. I knew the lead singer of Blur was part of it, but that wasn't enough to intrigue me.
I read the Wikipedia page this morning before listening, and genres listed all are ones I enjoy, so I was cautiously optimistic about listening. And what do you know, I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the beats, the use of hip hop and electronic elements. The only thing that kept it from being something I absolutely loved is that it was just too long. Cutting back some of the second half of the album would've worked perfectly for me. But it was a solid listen and I will seek out more of their work.
Youssou N'Dour
4/5
My awareness of Youssou N'Dour is the Peter Gabriel connection, from In Your Eyes and his inclusion in the Amnesty International tour in the late 80's. As a fan of most of the performers, I saw a fair amount of video footage and I found N'Dour intriguing, but not enough to do a deeper dive at the time.
I was interested when this came up on the generator, and it did not disappoint at all. I often complain of some albums being way too long, but I would've enjoyed another song or two from this record. I saw that a reviewer stated that each song sounded the same, and I couldn't disagree more. Each one had a very different sound and feeling for me, with the standout being Pitche Mi. There was a great mix of drums, guitars, bass, horn sounds, and vocals, and enough changes in each song to keep them interesting for the length of most of them.
I'm at a 4.5 right now, and I'll decide tomorrow morning which way it leans.
Radiohead
4/5
Day 151 and this is my third Radiohead album. I got In Rainbows five days ago and found it a very surprisingly enjoyable listen. In my review, I stated that OK Computer is the only album of theirs I actually "love" and that much of the rest after their discography I hadn't really paid attention to, and didn't think I cared much for. This is especially true for the albums that came after this one.
I was very excited to get this album today, and dove in with relish. I hadn't listened to it in full in many years, so I was excited to play it with reasonably fresh ears. And what I found is that while great in many ways, it's not as good as I used to think. It was such a new sound (to me) when it first came out and it felt like something was changing in music, which it did in many ways (thanks Coldplay, etc). But It didn't blow me away almost 30 years later. I think it's a great album, but listening to this I didn't feel like I felt listening to In Rainbows just a few days ago. It might not be a fair thing when a great album doesn't blow me away like it used to.
I wanted this to be a five and it's likely going to be a four.
Buzzcocks
4/5
In 1978 I was just beginning to explore rock music aside from just the radio hits, but punk was too "scary" for me at that point. When I was in college in the early to mid 80's I dabbled into it, but post-punk and the American indie scene was starting and that was where my interests went.
This project has brought a bunch of the original British punk bands more to my awareness, and I've enjoyed all of them. Looking back, I didn't need to be so scared and I likely would've loved listening to this in the suburbs and being more than just my quietly rebellious self.
I look forward to listening to more in the project, but I will do my own exploration as well.
Kraftwerk
4/5
I was very excited when this album came up today. I've been reading and hearing about it since I started deep diving music back in college (in the early 80's), but never listened to it before. While listening this morning it hit me that this is a perfect example of a "list" album, mainly due to the historical importance. The example I came up with in my mind is that it is the album version of the film Metropolis (which I watched for a college film class). These are the beginnings of things to come and they still resonate today, even if they are dated and much better has happened since.
That all being said, I mostly enjoyed the album. The song Autobahn was cool, and there were enough musical changes to warrant its length. I also loved Kometenmelodie 2 very much. The other songs were a bit hit and miss. If I'm only going by importance, this is a 5 star album. But I'm mostly going to judge it on how much I liked it. It's a 3.5 that will bump up to 4.
Coldplay
4/5
When I saw the video to Yellow way back in 2000 I loved the song. I ran out and got the CD, but in retrospect I only listened to it a handful of times. It was nice, but overall it didn't blow me away as I'd hoped it would. It was just too mellow and no other songs really stood out. Their next album, A Rush of Blood to the Head, was the one that did it for me and I listened to it non-stop. I'm assuming that album is on this list, and I'm actually kinda surprised that Parachutes is. They had a couple of other decent albums after that, but they then took such a pop turn that I find them unlistenable at this point.
Listening today I found the record to be solid, and it made for a pleasant drive to work, but that's about it. There is nothing bad about it, but only a couple of songs stand out from the pack IMO. I am wavering between a 3 and 4 on this one.
De La Soul
5/5
A great listen when it came out in 1989 and a great listen today. This was from the period of time when I listened regularly to hip hop music, and De La Soul was one of my favorites. So fun, so inventive, so intelligent. I worried it would sound very dated, and I didn't think it was at all.
Some of the reviews commented on the game show skit that is followed through the album, and I didn't really remember it being all that much of an issue. And it wasn't. It was barely a thing. Some people just like to complain to complain I think.
Pulp
4/5
I know I will sound like a broken record, but this is another of those "this is the reason I'm doing this project" albums. I have never listened to Pulp before. I'd heard of them, and head of Jarvis Cocker, but never put forth effort to hearing any of their songs. I can't say why other than I just didn't give this band or any of the other Britpop groups any of my attention, other than Oasis.
As soon as the record started I just dug the vibe. I loved his voice and the music, and as the album progressed I loved the different styles of songs too.
I do agree with some of the reviews that it is a bit longer than it needs to be, but I'd probably only take out Seductive Barry if I was editing the record. Not that everything else is perfect, but I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the variety that was presented.
Elliott Smith
4/5
I approached this album with some trepidation. I have never listened to Smith before, other than having watched Good Will Hunting before (I loved it but barely remember it, much less the music in the movie). Reading a bit made me concerned this would be a Nick Drake kind of record, which for me is not a compliment.
As the album started I was really into it right away. Son of Sam is a great opener, and I was feeling pretty optimistic. Midway through, I was already thinking my opening statement for this review was going to be that I am now nine straight days of 4's and 5's. Towards the end (16 songs is a lot), I was feeling a bit fatigued, and the Nick Drake comparisons were beginning to feel more apropos.
I do love me a depressing album, so it closed on a (very melancholy) high note for me. I believe I will make it to nine days in a row. But I think I could've given this a 5 star review if it had been edited down a bit more.
Michael Jackson
3/5
Early on in this project I gave Thriller five stars. I was shocked at how many of the songs held up and I enjoyed, even if I didn't when the album came out.
I wasn't certain about this record, because the hits were not songs I really liked. I figured maybe I'd enjoy the rest at least. After listening, I felt the best part of Off The Wall were indeed the singles. The other songs truly felt like filler to me. What I really enjoyed about Thriller was the mix of styles, and this album is pretty much straight ahead disco. It's good disco, but little else.
I believe my run of four or five star albums is about to come to an end.
Green Day
4/5
I didn't know what to make of Green Day when this album came out. I was into the grunge music of the time, and then this pretty silly and juvenile album dropped and everyone was going crazy over it. My first instinct was to ignore it, but it was fairly impossible to do at the time. Each song I heard I wanted to dislike, but they were just so damn catchy. Eventually I gave in and listened to the album and really enjoyed it, much to my dismay. And then once they got even huger with American Idiot, my kids started listening to their songs and I couldn't just see them as a guilty pleasure any more.
That all being said, this is a really good album and it was enjoyable to listen to it again after all these years. There really isn't a dud on the record.
The Byrds
3/5
As I was listening to this album I was struggling to come up with what I was going to say, mainly due to not being sure what I was thinking of it. There wasn't a bad song on the entire record, but I also didn't really love any of them either. At a certain point I realized that every song I might want to save in a playlist had something in it that distracted from my enjoyment-a guitar part, or a bit too much "psychedelia." Towards the end of the album I began to appreciate it more for that, rather than have it be a negative. It made songs that should have just been straight ahead folk, such as Old John Robertson, way more interesting.
I still can't say I loved it, but I think I ended up liking it more than I thought.
Elbow
4/5
A friend recently mentioned that he and his sons were going to NYC to see elbow live. He was very excited, calling it a bucket list show for them. This friend is very well versed in music I've never heard before, but he was shocked that I had no idea who elbow is. He strongly encouraged me to listen, and about a week ago I played a few songs that sounded nice, but I was with someone else at the time and we were talking while listening so I didn't give it much thought. I jokingly thought to myself that if my friend's opinion is spot on, they'll have at least one album on this list.
Imagine my pleasant surprise today when this popped up. Of course I told him right away and he was adamant this album is one of the 1001 to listen to before you die.
Now that I've given it a good listen, I have to agree. It was very good. I love Guy Garvey's voice. I know there are comparisons to Peter Gabriel, but I love the fact that each song has a different sound and a different style, so it's not just a copy of PG or really anyone else. This felt very original to me, and not just a clone of other British singers and groups. Yes there are touches here and there, but it felt very much their own thing.
I don't think they'll become a bucket list band for me, but I will be listening to their other albums.
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
I've had pretty strong negative opinions of the other gangsta rap albums that have come up on this list, so I wasn't looking forward to listening to this today. I also read some of the reviews that mentioned significant misogyny and violence, things that I found problematic with those previous albums.
I was very surprised when this started, as I really liked some of the first few songs. This felt different, not a glorification but more of an explanation. Of course some songs were way over the top and I didn't appreciate them as much, but then it would get back to some feelings of regret. The thought coming to mind is that there's a self-awareness here that I haven't found with other records in this genre. And Suicidal Thoughts kicked my ass.
I also really liked his rapping style and found it very listenable as a whole.
The Sean Combs of it is problematic, of course, as is some of the heavy handedness, but I'm now more interested to listen to more 90's hip hop albums without having the same preconceptions that I've had.
David Holmes
4/5
It's been 64 days since the generator gave me an album by an artist I've never heard of before. The last time that happened it was The Divine Comedy and I ended up really liking it a lot. I was hoping today would be the same.
Looking at the reviews for Let's Get Killed, I was not feeling hopeful. While I like some electronic music, I can also find it very boring if it all ends up sounding the same.
It helped to read a bit about this record ahead of time too, so I better understood what the vocal samples were all about. Thanks to that awareness, this felt more like a concept album than I would've understood without this information.
With all of that being said, I really liked the album. All of the songs sounded different and evoked a variety of emotions from me. The song that sold me was Rodney Yates, with a very cool jazz sound I was not expecting at all. The use of the James Bond theme in Radio 7 was quite nicely done.
Once again, another album that makes me very happy I'm doing this project.
Justin Timberlake
2/5
Midway through the second song my girlfriend and I said at the same time, "This sounds just like Michael Jackson." And that comparison never stopped throughout the album. As others have noted, there is one very good song and it's Cry Me A River. It's the only one that sounds different and seems to be want to more than just an MJ clone. This isn't a bad album, but it's not one of the ones I needed to listen to before I die. There's a part of me that feels this deserves a three star rating, but the fact that every song is at least four and a half minutes long (way too long IMO) and the album is over an hour long will drop it to a two.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
A favorite album of mine back in high school and college days. Saw them live a few times in the 80's (most memorable when David Crosby was so high he was barely able to perform and spent most of the show off stage-he was in jail a few months later). My main complaint then, as it was again listening today, is Graham Nash. I always saw him as the weak link-don't love his voice and his songs are just a bit too annoying for me. But this album has Suite:Judy Blue Eyes, Wooden Ships, Helplessly Hoping, and Long Time Gone which are some amazing songs IMO.
When I saw this was the album of the day I assumed it would be a five, but damn Graham Nash had to screw that up.
Afrika Bambaataa
4/5
I've never listened to Afrika Bambaataa before, but have been aware of him/them since the 80's. I did like some old school hip hop, but this would've been a bit of a deeper dive at the time and I wasn't that invested. When it comes to the genre, this is the beginning of the time period I really enjoy, though with this project I'm finding that I like more than I thought (recently really liked Biggie Smalls' record for example).
I liked listening to this album very much. Every song had elements I really enjoyed, whether the beat or the samples, or the wordplay. I read some of the reviews and a few mentioned some of the legal issues surrounding Afrika Bambaataa, so I looked into that more. To this point I have rated each album on the art and not the artist, so I will do that again this time. I believe the one I'll struggle with the most is Kid Rock (yes, I am aware one of his albums is on the list), but honestly I hated his music back when it came out so maybe it won't be that difficult aside from having to listen to it.
Bee Gees
1/5
I don’t even know what to say about this album. I was aware The Bee Gees had different styles before disco, mostly from watching the documentary about them a few years ago. I recall watching it and thinking how uninteresting they were before they found disco, and this record reinforced it.
You can’t argue with a band taking a major swing, but this was most definitely a miss. All over the place and often laughable.
The Go-Betweens
4/5
I'm shocked that I'd never heard of this band or their songs before. Their music is totally in my wheelhouse-80's indie rock/pop with jangly guitars and darker lyrics. I knew as soon as I read a bit about them before listening that I would either really like or even love this album. And I did. Is there a bit of The Smiths there? Sure, to some degree. But they feel like their own band and not a knockoff to me.
Standout songs were Quiet Heart, You Can't Say No Forever, Streets of Your Town, and I'm All Right. There wasn't a dud in the bunch IMO.
Pearl Jam
5/5
A couple of initial comments to make. Black is one of my all time favorite songs. Top 5 probably. Also I finally saw PJ live for the first time in May of this year, and it was one of the best shows I’ve even experienced. The band was amazing, the crowd was rabid, and Eddie was mesmerizing. And they played six songs from this album. To perfection.
With all of that being said, I absolutely love this record. I find it crazy that it was their debut, as the songs are so fleshed out and so confidently presented. For me there is no filler, even though it’s front loaded with the hits.
Yes, it’s a five.
Sheryl Crow
4/5
When I first heard Leaving Las Vegas on the radio back in 1994 I knew I’d have to get this CD. I didn’t care that much for All I Wanna Do, but this sounded different and way more interesting to me. And I loved so many of the other songs once I listened all the way through. The first five songs were total bangers in my book, and the rest are all decent too.
Listening today after so many years I was brought back to that time in my mind, and totally enjoyed this experience. The back half of the album is still weaker to me, but not bad at all.
I don’t think this is her best album (her self titled and The Globe Sessions are superior for me) but I was glad to see it on the list.
Bob Dylan
4/5
I’m visiting family in Minneapolis right now, so of course I get a Dylan album today. Actually I get one of THE Dylan albums. In college I did a deep dive into his music, and this is the first record of his I bought. The other two from 1965 were next. I felt I “got it” when it came to his music, but not to the extent of his rabid fans. After that deep dive I kind of stepped away and listened only sporadically.
I really enjoyed today’s listen, and felt I was coming at it with fresh ears. Probably my favorite song today was It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue. I’m a music first person so I generally prefer his electric songs better, but I paid close attention to the lyrics this time around and got a lot from all of it. So inscrutable, and then not, if that makes sense.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
What to say about Simon and Garfunkel? And this album specifically? I have been a huge fan of theirs since I was a small child. This is music that was playing in my house and in my friend's houses. My music teacher in elementary school taught us to sing Scarborough Fair and The 59th Street Bridge Song, among many others. Whey they toured together in the early 80's I got to see them live.
With all of that, I actually haven't listened to this album in many many years. I was a bit nervous jumping in, as I worried that maybe I wouldn't love it as much as I used to. Thankfully that wasn't the case. Their vocals touched me as they always had, and the musical accompaniment is perfect for each song.
I had mid 60's Dylan yesterday and this record today, reminding me that I don't dislike folk/folk rock when it's done so very well.
Q-Tip
4/5
More from a period of hip hop that I was not familiar with at all, other than the names and general gists of who was doing what. I am very thankful for this project, as I missed a ton of really good stuff while I was busy raising kids and not as focused on music as I was before and after that time in my life.
I've said it before about a few other hip hop artists, but this is the stuff that's exactly in my wheelhouse. Really good R&B with some excellent rapping and singing and sampling. And bonus points for making Norah Jones way more tolerable.
Looking forward to discovering more music that went below my radar, especially when I was focused on life and not nearly as much of the arts (aside from what my kids were watching and listening to of course).
Pink Floyd
1/5
I am a big fan of Pink Floyd, but very specifically the 1973 to 1979 period of time (I guess I must prefer the Roger Waters led period-ugh). I have never been able to get into the albums from before then and after then. At all. I've heard songs here and there, and just don't really like them.
As far as I can recall, I've never listened to this entire album before. I imagine I must've at some point, in the period of time when we'd hang out in someone's basement and just listen to albums non-stop (with the help of some substances as well). Listening today, I'm pretty sure this one would've sent me into a paranoid spiral, and it almost did today stone cold sober.
This was not a good record, IMO. Way too pyschedelic for my tastes. I like weirdness, but I also like it to sound fun and have a point. I just didn't get this at all. I was prepared to give it a 2, just because I found my foot tapping at times, but then came the Interstellar Overdrive/The Gnome combination and I was done. From that point forward I was just irritated with what I was hearing.
Dr. Octagon
4/5
I have mixed feelings about this album. I love the beats and the samples and all of the music. There wasn't a bad song musically on the entire record. There were also some really good and fun and funny songs, and I totally bought into the Sci-fi concept. His rapping is at times so fast and I really enjoyed that too.
On the other hand, some of the humor is very sophomoric. It felt like a Beavis and Butthead cartoon at times, and that's not a compliment. If I was a middle school kid I probably would think it's hilarious, but I'm not. Given the album title, I worried it would be very misogynistic, but I didn't think it was. I found it just silly.
And it was also just a bit too long for my taste.
This is a 3.5 and I'll decide tomorrow morning whether that goes up or down when it's time to rate the album.
Blur
5/5
This was a first time listen for me. Thanks to this project, I've been listening to bands I'd heard of but never gave myself the opportunity to appreciate. What I've found is that I really like Britpop a lot. I don't think there's been one album in that genre that I haven't enjoyed.
What I can say about Parklife is that it's so far the one I've enjoyed the most. Every song put a smile on my face thanks to something-a little musical bit or a fun turn of the phrase. Yes, it's definitely derivative of music that came before it, but I didn't care one lick about that. In fact, I like the recognition of where some songs came from.
There's part of me that doesn't feel this deserves a five rating, but there's another part trying to come up with reasons why not and I'm struggling to find any. I think that first part is just the surprise of how much I love this record.
And no, a non-PC album cover isn't enough of a reason to dock a star.
Fairport Convention
5/5
I was a bit of an LP collector back in the 80's, going to used record shops in hopes of finding what I'd read were rare albums. This album was high on the list, and one I never found. Once I started having kids that hobby went by the wayside, and I was more focused on getting music that I was certain to enjoy. Unfortunately for me, this record got lost in the shuffle, and I never looked for it again. Lo and behold, it was on Spotify just waiting for a a reason for me to listen.
When it came up this morning on the generator I was quite excited, as I wanted to see if it was worth all the fuss I'd put into finding it back in the day. And the simple answer is YES. I loved this album. Sandy Denny's vocals are perfect for the musical style, and the band does a great job of backing her. The only song I didn't absolutely connect with is Reynardine, as I prefer songs with more music accompaniment, but even with that I didn't think it was a bad song at all.
As I've said previously, albums like this are the reason I'm doing the project.
Rush
4/5
Back in high school, all the Rush-heads swore that 2112 was THE ALBUM one had to listen to. While I like some of their songs, the album never really impressed me enough to listen more than once or twice. I've always said that I respect Rush more than I want to listen to much of their music. A song here or there has always worked well for me.
I was uncertain when this came up today. I assumed it would at some point, so I was going to have to form an actual opinion rather than just a shoulder shrug.
I found side 1 to be a mixed bag. I could appreciate what they were going for, but some parts I enjoyed and others just felt "too much." I also didn't love some of Geddy's. Side 2, however, I really liked a lot. Each song was the perfect length and all showed the different strengths of the band as a whole. It felt more like the Rush I have always enjoyed, though I didn't know the songs.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
As many people back in 1991, I got this album on the basis of how great Under the Bridge is. If memory serves, I probably only played the CD a time or two, mostly due to all of the filler that pads out a way too long album. With that context, I was not too excited to see this come up today from the generator.
What I totally forgot due to the minimal listens is that the first 11 songs on the record would have made an almost perfect listening experience. There are so many good to great songs, starting with a fantastic opening three pack of bangers, and it would have ended with another amazing three pack.
It all got to be too much after that, and the last six songs really add little to the effort.
Upon listening today, I'll declare that this is an almost great album. It's a shame RHCP nor Rick Rubin didn't see this at the time.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
This is another "brand new to me" artist, one I'd never heard of before this morning. I have so far been enjoying the world music albums that have come up on the list, so I felt today would be no exception.
What I found while I listened was that this wasn't at all an exception to that trend. This was very enjoyable to listen to, regardless of the lyrics not being at all understood by me. He had a fun voice, and the background vocals were infectious. Musically it was also very fun, with many styles from the 70's but much that would fit in well in the present day.
There weren't any standout songs, nor were there any that I didn't like. It was a very consistently enjoyable record.
Aphex Twin
4/5
Day 181 and I've now had a few electronic albums to listen to in this project. My only real knowledge of the genre was my son's incessant desire to play EDM on his way to hockey matches when he was in high school. I learned to strongly dislike most of what I'd heard. With this, along with Let's Get Killed from a couple of weeks ago, I am forming much more favorable thoughts on what can be done with electronic music.
I really enjoyed this album. I was listening on my drive to work and hit some construction on the way, and I was perfectly happy to just sit there so I could appreciate what I was hearing. Each song had a different vibe, and I liked all of them.
If I was able to listen to music at work, this (and music just like it) is what would be on in the background all of the time.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
I was excited to see this album come up today on the generator. Echo and the Bunny-boys (what we called them back in the day) were a band I enjoyed very much. The thing I didn't count on for today's record is that this is one with no songs I'd already heard (The Cutter sounded familiar though).
What I realized midway through the album is that I prefer their more polished music that was yet to come. This one had some songs I liked-The Cutter, My White Devil, Heads Will Roll, and In Bluer Skies-but had a number of songs I just didn't connect with. There were also none that I loved. I felt there were some cool musical flourishes that made some songs a bit more interesting, but not truly enjoyable for me.
Not a bad album at all, but disappointing for me.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
It feels like I'm going to repeat what a lot of other reviews have said about this album. One of the reasons I've rarely listened to it is the lack of the classic Stones songs. The other records of theirs that I love have three to four amazing songs with filler that doesn't get in the way of having a great listening experience.
This record, on the other hand, has some great songs-Tumbling Dice, Happy, Shine a Light-but what makes it such a fun listen is the vibe. There are no clunkers or embarrassments. There's great playing and great vocals (I kinda like that it's hard to understand what Mick is actually saying).
This might just have become my favorite album of theirs. I now get it.
Scott Walker
4/5
This is another of the "never heard of the album or the artist" days. Knowing nothing about the album I read some of the reviews, and I wasn't feeling great about what to expect upon listening.
As soon as the first song, The Seventh Seal, started, my first thought was "what the hell is this?" After about 30 seconds my thought was "this is awesome and I hope the rest of the album is similar."
I loved the very dramatic singing style and orchestration in this record. There was a time a while back that I likely would have dismissed this as too hokey, but I'm more open to such things in the past few years. I found it to be very enjoyable and I was smiling throughout. Many of the lyrics weren't exactly fun, but the presentation definitely was.
Some of the songs worked better for me than others, but standouts were TSS as well as Hero of the War, The Old Man's Back Again, and Get Behind Me.
What a fun addition to the project!
The Associates
1/5
Second album in a row of artists I'd never heard of before. Yesterday was a big surprise for me. It was a Scott Walker album that was reviewed very poorly but I really enjoyed. Looking at the reviews for today's record, I'd hoped to find another diamond in the rough. I do generally this genre of music very much, so I figured this would be another where I stood out from the pack.
When the first song came on, I was totally on board. It was an instrumental and very much in my wheelhouse. And then the song No started. As soon as the vocals began, I realized what I was reading in the reviews was exactly how I was feeling. Though derivative of Bowie, it was off key and at times painful to listen to. This wasn't enjoyable at all. The next song I liked was the last, another instrumental. Unfortunately there were 8 almost unlistenable songs in the middle. I still enjoyed the music throughout. There wasn't a song on the album where the music was the issue for me. It was all about the horrible vocals.
I don't know what I will rate this yet. I'll need to let it fester for a while before I decide.
Talking Heads
4/5
Back on May 11th of this year I started this project. My first album was Talking Heads 77, and it was the perfect way to begin. It was an album that I hadn't listened to but a band I really liked, and I enjoyed it very much. I wondered when I'd get my next TH album, and day 186 was the answer.
This is an album I've likely only listened to once or twice before. When I'm in the mood to listen to them I typically play Stop Making Sense and not one of their studio records, so this has fallen by the wayside for me.
I love that this is the beginning of them really figuring out who they are, with the focus on rhythm becoming such an important part of their sound moving forward. Of course Take Me to the River is a great song, but there are other standouts including Thank You for Sending Me an Angel, The Good Thing, and Found a Job. There isn't a bad song in the bunch.
I prefer some of their later albums, but this was a more than solid sophomore effort.
The Band
5/5
I recall watching The Last Waltz on HBO when I was around 14 or so. I knew some of the performers, but wasn't really into The Band at the time. I was transfixed by their playing, and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down became an instant favorite song of mine. I was disappointed to find out that they were breaking up, but I did see them (sans Robbie Robertson) a few times in the 80's before the deaths of other key members.
I was very excited to see this come up on the generator and had a very enjoyable drive to work listening to music I've loved since I was a teen. I haven't listened to the album in ages, and found the harmonies even better than I even recalled. A song I'm not even sure registered back then, Whispering Pines, was a real standout today.
John Grant
5/5
First things first. I wish I wasn’t traveling today and had more time to write about this album. I think I’d write a novel otherwise.
My main reaction to this album is just WOW! And now my questions. How have I never heard of John Grant? How am I not already a huge fan? When can I see him live? How soon will I listen to the rest of his discography?
This album is amazing. His lyrics are biting, funny, heartfelt, sometimes all in one song. I’ve saved so many as favorites that I might as well have saved the entire album.
This is the best “new to me” find in this project. By far.
The Verve
4/5
I continue to realize that I love 90’s Britpop. I don’t think I’ve gotten an album yet that I haven’t enjoyed to a decent extent.
I only knew The Verve from Bittersweet Symphony, which I’ve always liked very much. Without that song on this album I wasn’t sure what I’d think. And then reading all the one star reviews? Boy do people hate on this band and genre!
Well this indeed was another album I thoroughly got into and really dug. There’s a nice mix of louder noisy songs and slower, more thoughtful ones. But it works as a coherent piece about drugs and heartbreak.
Adding the songs On Your Own and History to my “favorites of this project” playlist.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
What to say about one of the great double albums of all time? Or maybe just one of the greatest albums of all time, regardless of number of discs?
I was thrilled to have this come up today, partially due to it being a fantastic album, but also because I’m visiting my mom and this is one we could absolutely listen to together. What a treat!
Back to the question of what to say, I really can’t add much that hasn’t been said already. This is a sprawling but very consistent album with amazing performances and themes. Stevie’s singing is top notch and it’s fantastically produced. And it has timeless songs like Sir Duke, I Wish, Pastime Paradise, and Isn’t She Lovely. What more needs to be said?
Stephen Stills
2/5
I am a fan of CSN (and Y), but even I feel there are way too many albums on this list from all but Neil Young from that group. If I’m counting correctly, this is my fifth with Stephen Stills and I haven’t gotten Deja Vu yet (I’m sure it’s there).
I’ve never listened to this record before. I forgot it even existed to be honest. After playing it today (in a few sittings) I feel I’ll never listen again. Only one song is being saved to a playlist (Colorado) and weirdly it’s from my least favorite side which is The Wilderness. There were some decent songs here and there, but it was just all too much in the end.
And I also don’t need to hear him pretend to have a Southern drawl or a true blues man’s voice either.
The Who
5/5
I was super excited to see this come up today. This is not just my favorite The Who album, but one of the best rock records of all time. I haven’t listened to the whole thing in full for quite some time, so it was fun to revisit it with relatively fresh ears. Going in my thought was that My Wife is the only not great song, and the rest are all either stone cold classics or merely just awesome.
I’m very glad to say that I was right. My Wife is still my least favorite song on the album, but it’s not even that bad. And John Entwistle’s voice is also not bad. I could add every other song to playlists and be thrilled with that. Baba O’Riley is one of the greatest rock songs ever, along with WGFA. But even the lesser known songs are way more than filler. The playing is perfect (love the bass on Getting In Tune), and all the vocals mesh together so well.
Oh, and one of the best album covers of all time too.
Prince
5/5
I’ve had a week of a few 5 star albums and here’s another. I was not at all into R&B or even pop music back in 1982, but this album was impossible to ignore. The hits were amazing, but all the rest was too. And no need for dance remixes as these were party length songs already.
There is not a bad song on this record. Just bangers. And I started expanding my music listening thanks to albums like this.
M.I.A.
2/5
I was very interested to listen to this album when it came up today. I’d heard of her, but have never listened to any of her music. Looking at the genres, I’d also assumed I’d really like this.
Unfortunately, it was not the enjoyable listen I’d hoped for. I liked the music very much. The beats and synths are really fun. What I didn’t like is her vocals and the repetitive nature of the lyrics. They are interesting lyrics, but I just don’t care for the delivery. Midway through I found myself losing interest.
I’m always a bit more disappointed when I think I’m going to like something and it doesn’t meet those expectations.
Love
3/5
Love's album Forever Changes is one I had been chasing back in my collecting days. I never found a copy of the LP, so I was left wondering what all the fuss was about.
I was interested when Da Capo came up today, as it gave me my first chance to hear what they sound like. I read some reviews, and it did not bode well.
My initial thought as I got through the first few songs was that this sounded like a compilation of different bands. Arthur Lee's vocals changed significantly between songs. As did the playing and musical styles of each song. I didn't really love (bad pun intended) any of the songs, but I didn't dislike them either. The song that I enjoyed best was Revelation. Yes it's long, but it rocked and it worked for me. I can't say I'll ever need to listen to it again, but it worked for me.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2/5
I'm pretty certain today wasn't the best for me to get this album, though I'm not sure I'd have enjoyed it regardless. I didn't sleep at all last night as I was up with a stomach thing, so driving to work this morning I probably could have done with something "easier" to listen to.
I remember when this came out and they were the "next big thing." I also remember thinking I should like them, but what I'd heard I didn't really care for.
With those two strikes against it, this was almost exactly what I thought it would be. As each song progressed I couldn't wait for it to be over. Karen O's voice was getting on my nerves, and there was nothing much musically that hasn't been done a million times before. But then there was the ending run of songs from Maps to Poor Song. All of a sudden her vocals were much more enjoyable, and the band got more subtle. I can't say I loved the songs, but they were way better than the first eight tracks.
One last thing that didn't help. I was listening on Spotify, and the next song that came up after the album was done was The District Sleeps Alone Tonight by The Postal Service. All I thought at that point was how much I'd have preferred to listen to that record and not Fever To Tell.
The Police
5/5
I hadn't listened to this album in many years. Mainly when I hear songs by The Police it's singles from playlists and they are never skipped. I was a bit hesitant when this came up today, as I hoped I'd enjoy the record as much as I recalled from back in the day.
Very happily I did really enjoy playing this again after so many years. And the remastered version sounds amazing, with Stewart Copeland's drums really coming through so powerfully. I don't think there is a bad song on the album, and there are great ones like the singles Message In A Bottle, Walking On The Moon, and The Bed's Too Big Without You but also some of the other tracks such as Regatta De Blanc and Deathwish.
This was a really fun listen and I'm glad I got the chance to revisit an album that kind of got lost in the shuffle.
Portishead
5/5
I've been aware of Portishead but have never listened to them. As I've gone through this list (today is #198) I've enjoyed other trip hop artists, so I assumed this record would be coming at some point. I was quite pleased when the generator brought it today. I was also pleased to see such positive overall ratings, figuring I was in for a treat.
I loved this album. I think Beth Gibbons' vocals are fantastic, especially on the tracks where she can let loose some like It Could Be Sweet and It's A Fire. And even though some of the hip hop elements are dated, they really worked for me in these songs.
The only song I didn't truly connect with is their most popular one on Spotify, Glory Box. It was good, but I didn't love it as a closing song as it just had a bit of a different vibe than the rest IMO.
That quibble will not be enough to take away from this being a five star album.
Spiritualized
4/5
I am coming to the conclusion that I love just about every British album I'm hearing from the 90's and early 2000's.
I had never heard of Spiritualized before, but a cursory reading about them made me excited to see what I was in store for today.
The album started off with what I felt was the best track, and it never really let up. There were musical surprises and interesting backing vocals throughout, and many of the songs took you on little journeys so you never knew where they'd end up.
While I don't think this is a perfect album (maybe a bit too long), I loved all of the effort that was put into each track.
Tomorrow will be album 200 for me. I wondered if I'd still be interested in this exercise by the time I got to this point, and the answer is a resounding yes. Albums like this are the reason I keep wanting to come back for more.
Kanye West
3/5
Album number 200. Not one I'd hope for today.
I have made a concerted effort to separate the art from the artist in this project, but this one is really tough. Kanye's untreated mental illness (yes, I'm giving the benefit of the doubt) has led to him impulsively saying and doing horrible things for quite some time now. For others with problematic behavior, there are accusations that might or might not be the truth. But in Kanye's place, he's put it all out there front and center.
With all of that being said, this is mostly an excellent album. I had young children when this came out, and I rarely bought hip hop records at the time due to not wanting this to be stuff they listened to. But this album was one I had to get based on all of the hype. He came out of the gates so full of himself, but his talent was so obvious lyrically and musically. He touched on themes that were not at all popular at the time as well.
This was both a good listen and one I was ashamed to play. I have no clue what rating I'm going to give it.
Eminem
3/5
Yesterday was Kanye and today is Eminem. Entering the 200's has been quite an experience so far.
I've never listened to this before. I was working in a behavioral health clinic back when Eminem came to prominence, and many of the kids I worked with would quote his lyrics. I was appalled at the time, and just refused to even listen to any of his songs.
This turned out to be both a surprise to me, as well as exactly what I thought it would be. Musically I thought it was great throughout, and some songs like Stan and Kim were amazing lyrically as well as with the emotional response to both. However there were too many songs where violence towards women and homophobia were ever present, and it was just too much.
Like with the Kanye album from yesterday, I'm not exactly sure how I'll rate this. I'm leaning toward a three, but truthfully I understand both the fives and ones.
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
This was just what I needed today. The past two days I had to endure Kanye and Eminem. Both decent albums, but not easy listens for obvious reasons. I joked with my girlfriend last night that today's album needed to be something like The Sound of Music soundtrack, and lo and behold it's the Pet Shop Boys!
I've never listened to one of their albums before, but I have liked all of the songs I've heard. They're not a band I've sought out, but they're pretty enjoyable.
As soon as the album started I was enjoying the synth-pop of it, as well as the lyrics. Can You Forgive Her? was a perfect opener. Liberation was the song that did it for me, and I was totally hooked. There are some very good songs about how difficult coming out back in the early 90's was, which was very interesting as well.
Thank you to the generator for being very kind to me and giving me the record I wanted and needed today.
Snoop Dogg
3/5
Album #200 was Kanye. Album #201 was Eminem. Album #203 is Snoop Dogg. It was nice to have a little break with the Pet Shop Boys yesterday.
I liked a lot of old school hip hop back in the 80's, but was never a fan of gangsta rap or much since then other than the artists who really tried to break molds and do new things. This week has been quite a test for me given this, as it's been a lot of misogyny, homophobia, and violence so far (and it's Thanksgiving week for goodness sake).
I recall when this album came out, and I found the cover ridiculous and offensive. I'm pretty certain the only song I'd heard was Gin and Juice and I didn't think much of that either.
I tried to keep an open mind today, and at least for a while I was enjoying what I was hearing, aside from the constant MF'ing and N'ing of it all. There was a sense of humor there, and even a wee bit of acknowledgment that this was all for show and not his real lifestyle. But the last few songs were just repetitive and it felt unnecessary other than to fill out a full album (this was also thankfully shorter than many of the other records of that time). Musically it was enjoyable throughout, but if it was an EP and ended with Murder Was The Case I'd have been pretty satisfied. Oh, and with a different cover as well.
The Kinks
4/5
This is a first time listen for me. I've been aware of this album and the high esteem it's held by fans of The Kinks. I also read a bunch of the glowing reviews before listening, so I was prepared to really enjoy this record today.
The great news is that I did thoroughly enjoy it. It was all over the place musically, in all of the best ways. And the writing was cynical and funny and not overly dated.
This is the kind of record that might take a few listens before I can truly call it a masterpiece, but I understand why others do.
Songs that stood out for me were Do You Remember Walter?, Picture Book, Last of the Steam Powered Trains, and Starstruck.
I'm teetering between a four and five and I'll decide that tomorrow. Maybe another listen today will help make the choice easier.
U2
5/5
In 1983 I likely burned out my cassette of War. I listened to it all the time and never tired of it, finding new songs to love each play. This was my introduction to the band, and I was hooked from the first notes. It is still my favorite album of theirs, and that's saying quite a bit given the run they went on after this.
I was very excited to see this come up today. I knew there'd be a few U2 albums on the list, but I wasn't certain if War would be one of them. What a very pleasant surprise.
I wanted to give this a listen with fresh ears, at least as much as is possible with a record I've played hundreds and hundreds of times. I still feel there isn't a bad song on the album, and I still feel that Larry Mullen Jr. is the star of the show, even though everyone gets more than their share of moments. While everyone will talk about Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day (as well they should), songs like Seconds, Like A Song..., Drowning Man, Two Hearts Beat As One, and 40 still blow me away.
I will be humming and singing songs from this all of the rest of the day.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
A shorter review today as I don't have the time to write more.
When alternative radio came to Pittsburgh in the mid-80's (where I lived and still do), The Killing Moon was one of the songs that got me hooked to the alt scene. I have been there ever since. I haven't listened to this album in many years, but I loved it then and I love it now. Thorn of Crowns isn't my favorite song in the world, but it doesn't take away from the rest where there isn't a trackI don't thoroughly enjoy.
R.E.M.
5/5
Full confession-I was a fan of REM from the beginning with Murmur. I was a sophomore in college and beginning to discover the alternative scene. I loved it, but my favorite album of theirs was and remains Reckoning. I loved each of the next few albums as well. For many of us early fans, the jump to a major label and more clearly heard lyrics did not bode well. Out Of Time was fine, but there was reason to doubt REM could give us another amazing album.
The first single released from Automatic For The People was Drive, and this indeed seemed different. It was certainly not Shiny Happy People. When the album dropped it took me a few listens before I really got into it, but then I really loved it. There are the obvious hits, but also songs like Ignoreland and The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite blew me away.
I hadn't listened to the entire album in many years, so I was excited to do so today. And interestingly, it was just like the first few times I'd played it way back in 1992. The songs that stood out then still stood out, but the ones that took a while to really get into still did that for me.
Ultimately the album ends on such a strong note that I totally got into it again and wished it was a bit longer.
Definitely still one of their best albums. And their last great one IMO.
Iggy Pop
3/5
I've never listened to this record before. I've heard the "hits" that Pop has had over the years, but not listened to any albums. I was aware of the Bowie connection, and I'm unfortunately not a huge fan of his to begin with.
I started this with some trepidation, and Sister Midnight didn't really help matters. It was fine, but not one I could really get into. Then I really liked Nightclubbing and thought maybe things were going to turn around. What I found, in the end, is that there were songs I liked, but also ones I just didn't care for at all. They weren't bad, but not ones I'd really want to listen to again. So overall this was a hit or miss album for me.
As a side note, I knew that David Bowie's version of China Girl was co-written by Iggy Pop, but I had no idea there was a previous version of the song. I thought it was pretty cool on this album, and it's also one of the Bowie songs I do like.
Miles Davis
4/5
There was a time when I tried very hard to get into jazz. I got the "best" albums according to all of the lists. This was one of them, and I've listened to it quite a few times. I got the love for the record, finding it extremely melodic and the playing is top notch (played by some of the greatest musicians).
I can't say that I love the album, but I definitely respect it. It made for an enjoyable listen, but I wasn't blown away by any song other than So What, which I've saved to a favorites playlist.
B.B. King
5/5
This was an album I got back when I was a collector, having read that it was the quintessential blues record. I recall loving listening to it, mainly due to the crowd noise making it feel like you were there at the show.
Today's listen again confirmed that feeling. BB and the band play their asses off, and this is such an enjoyable experience to listen to. It would be even cooler to have been there, but this album really works to give you that sense.
While I'm not a huge fan of the blues, and an album worth is sometimes a bit too much, I could listen to this over and over.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Earlier this week Kind of Blue from Miles Davis came up on the generator, so I got to listen to the album many consider the greatest jazz album ever made. It was very interesting to have this record come up so soon after that, as they were so different in so many ways but it made for an interesting comparison.
I really enjoyed the musicianship of the Davis album, and respected what I. heard. But in some ways I actually enjoyed listening to this record even more than that. I found this to be more fun, and it kept my interest in ways that didn't. While the actual playing wasn't as technically great, I got the feeling they were enjoying themselves quite a bit while they were making the record.
My main complaint is that the songs generally felt very similar, so I wasn't always aware when one song ended the next began. But this isn't a huge complaint.