382
Albums Rated
3.42
Average Rating
35%
Complete
707 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
22
5-Star Albums
3
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Among The Living
Anthrax
|
5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
|
Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
|
5 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
|
Skylarking
XTC
|
5 | 3.03 | +1.97 |
|
I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Richard Thompson
|
5 | 3.05 | +1.95 |
|
Woodface
Crowded House
|
5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
|
Fragile
Yes
|
5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
|
2112
Rush
|
5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
|
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
|
5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
|
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
|
5 | 3.5 | +1.5 |
|
Now I Got Worry
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
|
4 | 2.52 | +1.48 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ctrl
SZA
|
1 | 2.93 | -1.93 |
|
Supa Dupa Fly
Missy Elliott
|
1 | 2.92 | -1.92 |
|
In Utero
Nirvana
|
2 | 3.82 | -1.82 |
|
Konnichiwa
Skepta
|
1 | 2.73 | -1.73 |
|
Pearl
Janis Joplin
|
2 | 3.72 | -1.72 |
|
The Score
Fugees
|
2 | 3.69 | -1.69 |
|
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
|
2 | 3.48 | -1.48 |
|
Green
R.E.M.
|
2 | 3.47 | -1.47 |
|
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
|
2 | 3.41 | -1.41 |
|
Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
|
2 | 3.38 | -1.38 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 3 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | 5 |
| Rush | 2 | 5 |
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Missy Elliott | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (22)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Jungle Brothers · 2 likes
4/5
Enjoyed this more than I was expecting. Definitely one of the better hip—hop albums for me. Great grooves, good use of samples and more interesting than the gangster stuff.
Hanoi Rocks · 2 likes
4/5
Was expecting hair metal, but these guys definitely have a more punk/glam sound - owing more to Bowie or T Rex than other hair metal bands.
Soft Cell · 2 likes
3/5
Tainted Love -classic. Rest of the album…meh
Deep Purple · 2 likes
4/5
Short and powerful. Classic hard rock with no filler.
SZA · 1 likes
1/5
Nope
4-Star Albums (156)
1-Star Albums (3)
All Ratings
Jimmy Smith
3/5
Reminds me of Booker T and The MGs - old school southern rhythm and blues goodness
Van Halen
5/5
Definitely one of the best debut albums of all time - great vocals, bass and drums, amazing songs but true virtuosic guitar playing - rock guitar was never the same after this record
Sade
4/5
Nothing quite like this, her vocal style on top of these rhythms. Sultry, suave, smooth but never boring somehow.
Mike Oldfield
3/5
Not bad, but I’m not sure I get the hype over this.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Classic rock at it’s most classic - standout tracks: Green River and Bad Moon Rising are impeccable, rest of the album is strong, but even though it’s short it does feel a little repetitive by the end of the record.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
My favorite Hendrix record. Production feels a little dated at this point, but the songs are so good
Big Star
4/5
Public Enemy
3/5
More enjoyable than I was expecting, definitely quite a bit of “rock” energy on this album
Kate Bush
3/5
Enigmatic and odd - pretty compelling but short on hooks and memorable melodies. Probably deserves another listen or two to really get my head around it
CHIC
4/5
Solid funk masterpiece - vocals seem unnecessary
Jurassic 5
4/5
Not in my typical wheelhouse, but really enjoyable and creative. Good use of tracks and samples
Marvin Gaye
4/5
It’s Marvin Gaye, so it’s a given that it’s going to be pretty great. This album seems interesting in that it was panned when it was released and now if thought of positively - too bad Marvin died before the turn around
Dire Straits
3/5
This is a solid record for sure, and it sounds great - being one of the first all digital mainstream albums released. But, outside of the hits, I find it a little boring and lacking in energy that I want from a rock album. That said, excellent guitar playing throughout.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
I liked this album more that I thought I would. The songs were intriguing and the overall sound of the album really sucked me in. I think it will probably get even better on subsequent listens, but still a very strong record
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
didn't connect with this at all, except maybe for "O'Malley's Bar" which I really liked. This came back to back with Abbatoir Blues - which I liked way better.
Fugees
2/5
I could listen to Lauryn Hill sing all day long, unfortunately she doesn’t really sing that much on this record. The rest of it is ok, but I found it pretty unmemorable.
Iggy Pop
4/5
Quite a bit better than I was expecting. I had heard the title track and Passenger before, but I was pleasantly surprised that the rest of the album was also pretty strong.
Pulp
2/5
Nothing very memorable for me here. Vocals and melodies seemed ok, instrumentation was fine, if basic, but it was the songs ultimately that I found lacking.
CHVRCHES
3/5
The album as a whole was a pleasant listen and I thought that the instrumentation and overall recording quality were excellent. But, the songs and vocals I found generic and unmemorable.
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
Excellent album without a doubt. It’s weird to me that Pretty Hate Machine is not on the list, but I guess this album is a bit more adventurous and on the experimental side. I do find some of the tracks tedious, but the standout tracks are pretty extraordinary.
Songhoy Blues
3/5
Reading about this album while listening to it gave me a much bettter appreciation of the history and importance of this record - so I get why it made the list. But, musically it was just OK, nothing that really stood out or made me want to listen again in the future.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Very typical Brit Pop album from this era. I wa not familiar with any of the songs, but they were decent and the over all album was an entertaining listen. Nothing that made me want to revisit in the future though.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
I’m not really sure why so many Nick Cave albums made the list - this one was a decent listen, I liked it better than Murder Ballads, but I doubt I will listen to it again. I guess I’m just missing something here.
The Zombies
4/5
Classic psych pop. Not familiar with most of the songs and was an enjoyable listen, interesting that the last song on the album was the big hit.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Probably in the top 10 of albums of all time. love every bit of it.
3/5
Really solid album, sparse recording lends to the indie sound. No super memorable songs after one listen, but I wouldn’t mind listening to it again
David Bowie
4/5
Not as adventurous as some of his earlier work, but still a very good album from a rock legend late in his career. Band seems really solid and the songs are strong.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Moody dream pop, which I guess if you are into that then this album is a good example. For me, I found it pleasant, but somewhat boring.
Tricky
3/5
I can see why people really liked this, but I found it unmemorable
Brian Wilson
3/5
Definitely sounds like a Beach Boys record, Wilson has a very unique songwriting style. Overall album sounds good and was easy to listen to, didn’t hear much that made me want to give it more listens.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Solid record, pretty much exactly what I expected from a folk rock album of this time period.couple of standout tracks
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
4/5
Never heard of this before. Pretty interesting overall, not surprised that. Eno was involved. Nice listen.
The Kinks
3/5
Not bad, but far from my favorite Kinks record. I can see why it’s historically important, and I though some of the songs were quite good, but overall just felt underwhelming.
Depeche Mode
4/5
This is a really strong record from Depeche Mode. This was the first time listening to the album as a whole and I really enjoyed it.
ZZ Top
4/5
great blues rock record - classic ZZ Top. As always Billy Gibbons’ guitar playing and vocals are masterful - truly one of the best blues guitar players to ever live
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Much stronger album than I was anticipating. Forgot how many great songs were on this album
Robbie Williams
3/5
Decent pop record I guess, but it wouldn’t make my top 1000
Iron Maiden
4/5
Classic NWOBH, amazing.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Solid album from Elvis Costello.
Ash
3/5
Heavier than expected. Started out pretty strong, but by the end of the album found it a little boring. Not bad, but not great
Radiohead
4/5
Good album, engaging. Great guitar work and vocals. Probably my 2nd favorite Radiohead album after The Bends
Everything But The Girl
4/5
Way better than I expected. Something about the melodies and the vocals that made for a really engaging listen,
Slayer
4/5
Great thrash metal record, vocals seem a little lacking at times, but overall very powerful and aggressive
Richard Thompson
5/5
Really just a masterpiece, definitely should be on the list. Incredible songs, great vocals and Thompson’s guitar playing is excellent throughout
Charles Mingus
3/5
Solid jazz album, great playing, not a ton of memorable melodies but probably would need a lot of listens to really start clicking
The Temptations
4/5
Really took me by surprise. Very interesting record. Way more social/political than I was expecting - and Funky!
The Vines
3/5
Better than just the one hit - but not sure it’s good enough for the top 1000
R.E.M.
3/5
Grew on me as I listened. A little anemic in general, but “night swimming” and “find the river” were nice surprises
Nas
4/5
One of the better rap albums I’ve heard.
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
Garage rock, Stones-y, pretty good - probably important from historical context, but doesn’t really sound all that ground breaking/interesting now
Beck
3/5
Mellow and moody, not what I expected. Decent album - has Jason Falkner and Roger Manning from Jellyfish so that’s cool to see/hear. But nothing that I feel like warrants additional listens.
King Crimson
5/5
Amazing prog debut. Schizoid man is a force to be reckoned with.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Fun listen, I enjoyed it more than I was thinking I would, but I don’t really think it’s good enough to be on this list.
David Bowie
4/5
One of the better Bowie rock/pop albums. Not as “cool” as the Berlin trilogy stuff, but solid songs and a cool vibe throughout
Deep Purple
4/5
Short and powerful. Classic hard rock with no filler.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
All time classic Jazz record.Excellent sound, enjoyable, nothing to complain about at all, definitely belongs on the list as it is the epitome of this type of Jazz album.
T. Rex
4/5
Great album. Birth of Glam rock, but the songs are strong as well and still hold up today. Production is great, still sounds fresh
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
Very interesting. Cool songs, unique vocal delivery, melodies and songs seem to have some influence from classical and musical theater which is an odd but appealing addition to a pop music record
B.B. King
4/5
C;lassic live blues record. Great album.
Goldfrapp
4/5
Really enjoyed this, haven’t heard any other Goldfrapp, but I found this album to be fantastic.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
It’s obvious that Joni Mitchell is a great songwriter, and the albums that I’ve heard from her - including this one - are certainly testament to that fact. However, her vocals just really aren’t my cup of tea, so I don’t think I will ever move from appreciator to real fan.
Elton John
3/5
Typical Elton John, great songs, good vocals, basic classic rock but in a pleasant way
Thelonious Monk
3/5
Classic jazz sound, nice listen, great players interesting songs
Bee Gees
3/5
Pretty good folk rock record. Interesting to hear them before the disco era.
Barry Adamson
2/5
Eclectic for sure, but it’s nothing I would want to go back and listen to again.
Bob Dylan
3/5
One of the better Dylan albums, good mix of electric and acoustic numbers, although the harmonica does get a little old
The xx
3/5
Not a bad listen, but I don’t get why it’s on this list. Sounds like pretty generic indie pop.
The Hives
2/5
I agree with a lot of folks on this project that it seems weird there is a compilation album on here, and even then it doesn’t really rate above some of the original garage albums that the Hive’s are pulling influence from. Not terrible, but not deserving of this list.
Fela Kuti
4/5
Great grooves. Love the Afro beat stuff more than what sounds like straight ahead jazz - more vocals, less horns would have been even better for me
Jungle Brothers
4/5
Enjoyed this more than I was expecting. Definitely one of the better hip—hop albums for me. Great grooves, good use of samples and more interesting than the gangster stuff.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Amazing proto-metal masterpiece. Great songs, incredible riiffs, good musicianship all around, hell - even Ozzy sounds good.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Maybe the best reggae album - or maybe tied with Burnin’, but definitely an excellent example of the genre and pretty amazing that it never gets boring (like so much other reggae).
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
It’s a good album by all metrics, I just have never really connected with this band. Having said that, this is the album that I like the best out of their catalog.
Missy Elliott
2/5
Not my cup of tea for sure.
The Band
3/5
The great songs are great, the rest are just ok.
Public Enemy
4/5
Solid rap album, strong attitude and message
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Good album to listen to while working, but not interesting enough to listen on its own.
Anita Baker
4/5
SO GOOD. This came just in time as the last few albums just didn’t seem like they really belonged, but Anita’s talent makes her inclusion on this a no brainer.
Billy Joel
4/5
Classic song after classic song, this is the kind of album I would expect on this list.
Arcade Fire
3/5
Better than i was expecting - not sure if it’s good enough to be on this list, but it was a pleasant listen
Soul II Soul
3/5
I found this to be a pretty boring listen. Maybe these are great dance club songs, but listening as an album it just didn’t do anything for me.
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
Some really good songs on here, but I have a rough time handling his voice for an entire album.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Good songwriter for sure, but I don’t connect with the voice
Metallica
4/5
Such a great thrash record, just a brutal assault of drums and guitars. Fantastic record.
Coldplay
3/5
Meh
TV On The Radio
3/5
Interesting combination of genres, decent album to listen to but not something that I will return to in the future.
Thin Lizzy
4/5
Definitely. One of the better live rock albums, band in their prime hitting on all cylinders and running through the classics.
Parliament
3/5
I completely understand the importance of some of these records, and while somewhat entertaining this record just doesn’t really connect with me. Again, I get the influential nature and importance, just didn’t really like it that much.
Beatles
5/5
Almost not fair to have the Beatles. Albums on here, they are just classic in every sense. This one in particular really signals the move they were starting to make towards more serious music, but still has some of that early Beatles magic as well.
Sister Sledge
4/5
I remember this album from when it came out back in the day. I never realized that it was basically a Chic album (with different vocalists) - although that is completely obvious now.lots of good grooves and the songs are pretty good as well.
Adele
4/5
Pretty good album, incredible voice. She really just has that “it” thing that only a few vocalists seem to have. Don’t like it enough to listen to it often, but definitely a good listen.
Nirvana
3/5
Sure, it’s a classic and it kicked off an entirely new genre. But, I never really connected to it like most people seemed to.
New Order
3/5
Very typical New Order, not sure why it’s on the list. Not a bad album, but it doesn’t really stand out to me
Nick Drake
4/5
Great singer songwriter album that I had never heard before. Albums like this make this project worthwhile, finding these gems is inspiring.
Aretha Franklin
3/5
Good soul album - obviously great voice, pretty good songs. I get why this is on the list, but I just never really connected with Aretha.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
I never really got the appeal of Pet Shop Boys, it always sounded very generic to me,
Johnny Cash
3/5
Definitely a classic country album and deserves to be on the list. But I don’t really enjoy it all that much personally.
Jacques Brel
3/5
Nothing about this screams “you must hear this”. Maybe it’s the instrumentation, maybe it’s because the lyrics are in French, but it just all sounds expected and uninteresting.
JAY Z
2/5
Not my thing
Fairport Convention
3/5
Not bad. Not super crazy about the female vocalist, but I enjoyed the album overall and the musicianship was solid throughout.
Sigur Rós
3/5
I don’t really get these kind of soft synth pop with female vocals albums, I understand that people may like them, but I don’t feel like they are interesting enough to make a list of 1001 albums you “must” hear. It’s a perfectly fine record, just nothin notable in my opinion.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
5/5
At first I was underwhelmed, but I enjoyed this album the more I listened to it. Definitely feels like a bridge between 80s pop and 90s alt/indie - and ends up kind of the best of both worlds. I will definitely be revisiting this one,
James Brown
4/5
The crowd at the Apollo really takes this recording to the next level, I can feel how exciting this was at the time. Great performances as well.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Kind of THE classic Stones record. Great songs, stripped down performances, lots of attitude. Fantastic record.
2Pac
2/5
Umm, not for me, but I guess I can see why it is a pivotal album.
Brian Eno
4/5
Very Bowie-esque at times, but I love it. Still sounds pretty fresh today, can’t imagine how it must have sounded when it was released.
Janelle Monáe
3/5
This is interesting, because ever since I saw her perform live on tv I was looking forward to listening to her album, but then I just found it to be pretty flat. I really wanted to like it more,
Alice In Chains
4/5
Great album. Songwriting, singing and guitar playing are all top tier.
The Sonics
4/5
Garage rock at its origin, great energy
Beatles
5/5
Possibly the best Beatles record of them all. The entire second side is maybe the best side of a record that has ever been produced. Every member really gets a chance to shine on this album.
Portishead
3/5
Not my thing. I get (I think) why it’s on the list - first trip-hop record, influential, etc. - it’s just not anything that I really enjoy listening to.
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
Really enjoyed this. I will definitely come back to listen again in the future.
Scissor Sisters
4/5
How did I not know about this? I don’t have any recollection of this album or band, other than maybe hearing the name. So good, super hooky, just classic pop music done right. This is the kind of album that I love getting as a part of this project - something that I just missed when it came out.
The Doors
3/5
I can’t really understand why this album made the list. It’s fine, but outside of Roadhouse Blues, the feast of the album is pretty mediocre.
Eagles
4/5
Great collection of songs, really the pinnacle of the eagles output. Great guitar work throughout.
Hanoi Rocks
4/5
Was expecting hair metal, but these guys definitely have a more punk/glam sound - owing more to Bowie or T Rex than other hair metal bands.
Butthole Surfers
2/5
There is experimental music that is also proficient - and while I understand the kind of deconstructionist movements within arts, when it gets to the point of being bad for weirds sake it just feels like I’m being trolled.
Van Halen
4/5
One of the great Van Halen records, Dave at his vocal best, Eddie stretching out on keyboards as well as his typically mind boggling guitar playing. Even though this record seemed to signal the end, there is quite a bit of fun that comes through.
Dr. John
3/5
Not terrible, but fairly one dimensional. Almost like 1 long rambling Cajun song.
SZA
1/5
Nope
Queen Latifah
2/5
Definitely not anything that I would want to listen to again, but I get why it made the list from an “importance” standpoint for the genre.
Adele
4/5
One of the all time great voices. Songs are strong and production is good. I do get a little bored by the end, but I completely support this album’s inclusion on the list.
Steely Dan
4/5
One of the better Steely Dan albums in my opinion. It has some grit, which seems to be lacking from a lot of their stuff. Plus, My Old School has one of the all time great guitar solos on it. The album is a testament to what is possible with good songs, excellent musicians and impeccable production,
Kings of Leon
2/5
Ok, but I don’t really connect with it. I like the garage sound at times, but this sounds a bit too intentional - like they were trying to rough it up for effect.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Such a great classic record. Great songs, well produced.
Pixies
4/5
Took me a while to get into this album, but after a few listens it started to click. I’m not a huge Pixies fan, but this is THE album that I have grown to really like by them. Definitely an original and very influential album.
Rage Against The Machine
4/5
First time for a full listen of this record - wow. Stellar debut album. Particularly Morello’s playing is just top shelf.
SAULT
2/5
Not my cup of tea for sure. I understand the cultural importance around the time of release, but I doubt this has the staying power to still be on a top 1000 albums list in another 10 years - musically it’s just not that great.
Sam Cooke
4/5
Good document of the live music scene, the banter gets a little annoying at times, and the Leukemia mention is crazy, but the songs are great, the singing is phenomenal and the audience is eating it up.
The Auteurs
3/5
Decent alt/indie record.
Le Tigre
4/5
Better than I was expecting, cool lo-fi pop with good melodies.
John Coltrane
3/5
I’ve never really been able to get into this kind of jazz, but that’s not to say it’s not a great record - sounds great, musicianship is off the charts, etc. I need more listens to really appreciate it.
Frank Zappa
4/5
It’s been a while since I’ve listened to this record and I was really blown away by how strong of an album it is. Musicianship is off the charts, pretty typical for Zappa, but the songs are really melodic and much better than I remember.
Dwight Yoakam
4/5
Such a great record. The songs and the vocals are excellent, but it’s really the guitar playing of Pete Anderson that keeps me coming back to these early Dwight records.
Tim Buckley
2/5
Seemed like pretty generic folk music, not sure why this record would make the list.
Talking Heads
3/5
Good album, but not my favorite Talking Heads record. Musicianship is great and the songs a pretty good, but I’m not really sure why this album made the list. Don’t get me wrong, I like it, but I would much rather listen to Remain In Light or even Speaking In Tongues.
Johnny Cash
3/5
Better than I was expecting. I guess the it makes the list because it’s such an interesting idea for a legend like Cash to record these stripped down versions. But, I really like the older Cash stuff better.
Manu Chao
3/5
Interesting record, I wanted to like it more than I actually did though. It ended up being not very memorable to me, but it is an interesting mix of Latin/World music with modern touches so I get why it’s on the list.
The Verve
3/5
I had really only ever heard Bittersweet Symphony before - which I thought was a very catchy pop song. I was pleasantly surprised by the strength of the rest of the songs on this record - solid album.
4/5
Doesn’t really get more 80s than this. Trevor Horn production with Matin Fry’s excellent vocals. I really enjoy it - have always liked this album ever since it came out.
Pantera
3/5
I certainly understand why this album made the list. It is a huge shift in the metal genre - brutality of sound and relentless riffing. But for me, I dislike the songs, the guitar tones and the overall posture/image of the band.
The Sugarcubes
4/5
Definitely an original sounding band/album - which is really nice to hear. Bjork’s vocals are certainly a standout here, but the album’s songs are solid as well. Overall, very good listen.
Rush
5/5
Amazing. Proto Prog Metal at its best. Musicianship - off the charts across the board. This is the album when Rush became Rush.
3/5
I just don’t really hear much in the way of songs or melody on albums like this. The whole thing just leaves me pretty flat.
Randy Newman
3/5
I’m guessing that this album made the list pretty much just for the song Rednecks - which is pretty great. I think the rest of the record is just kind of ok.
Norah Jones
4/5
Really surprised by how good this album actually is. I’d only heard “Don’t Know Why” and had kind of written the whole album off as just kind of breathy/sappy pseudo jazz. Boy, was I wrong. Excellent songs, great vocals, understated production. Listening to the whole album was a pleasure.
Nirvana
2/5
I just never really got into the whole Cobain thing - it just didn't hit me like it seemed to hit everyone else. And listening to it some 30 years later it still kind of a miss for me. Not terrible by any means, but just not anything that I would choose to listen to.
White Denim
4/5
Pretty good record. Not sure what I was expecting, but I was genuinely impressed by the songs and the musicianship, will definitely be listening to this again and checking out o the White Denim albums.
John Lee Hooker
3/5
An ok listen, but i tended to like the guest performances better than John Lee Hooker’s, but I get that he is a legend and this is a fitting tribute. It’s also the blueprint for the later hugely successful Supernatural album from Santana.
AC/DC
4/5
Classic hard rock, good songs, great guitar. Must Lange’s production really helped them sound their best.
Billy Bragg
4/5
Such a great idea for an album. I remember the pairing of Bragg and Wilco seeming odd, but it really works. Both are excellent songwriters.
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
I’ve never really liked the “group” vocal stuff, it always sounds more like a show choir or something- not very rock and roll. Obviously, a couple of classic tunes on here, but most of it just seems a little lacking to me
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Better than I expected, a couple of really excellent songs on this album. Started to sound a little monotonous by the end, but overall still an enjoyable listen.
UB40
4/5
First time hearing this album and I was very pleasantly surprised . I had only heard the songs like Red Red Wine and I Got You Babe, but I like this album better than anything else I;ve ever heard from UB40. This feels rawer and had more energy that I was expecting. Really great record.
Bill Callahan
2/5
I guess this is one I just don’t get. Monotonous, no dynamics, just nothing to really enjoy about this.
John Cale
3/5
not as experimental as what I would have expected from a member of the Velvet Underground. Pretty mellow, but not a bad listen.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Ok, some of the songs were nice, everything was pleasant, but nothing really grabbed me.
Television
4/5
Love this album, punk attitude and excellent musicianship. Great songs, fantastic guitar parts. This one definitely earns its place on this list
Crowded House
5/5
Love this record. The Finn Brothers together never disappoint. Incredible songs and impeccable production.
Blur
3/5
I had only really heard Song 2 before this. I liked the first half of the album quite a bit, toward the end it felt like there was stuff on there that didn’t really measure up to the other songs. But still, pretty good album.
Elvis Presley
5/5
This is Rock N Roll
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
A much easier listen than Trout Mask Replica, not nearly as absurd or avant-garde. Definite psychedelic tendencies but also very rooted in blues and r&b. Overall, pretty good listen.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Vocals are a standout for sure, interesting production. Solid record but nothing that was super memorable to me
Supertramp
3/5
More prog-rock than I was expecting. Pretty enjoyable listen, solid album.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Some great tracks on here, but this is far from my favorite Stevie Wonder album. But, most Stevie Wonder albums are good enough to make this list, including this one.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
The blue print for rock and roll, fantastic songs.
4/5
Great songs. Typical Kinks albums - quirky, smart, a little odd but always a good listen
Turbonegro
3/5
Really unexpected and pretty good album.
Country Joe & The Fish
4/5
Better than I was expecting, typical 60s psych, but great guitar playing and interesting songs
The Crusaders
3/5
Interesting mix of jazz, R&B and disco. Not super memorable, but it was a nice listen
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
The best Brit pop album in my opinion. Completely original, fantastic songs.
k.d. lang
4/5
Such an amazing voice. Fantastic album.
The Smiths
3/5
Not sure why this one is on here, decent record, but really The Queen Is Dead is the one Smiths album that needs to be on the list.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Fantastic debut album. I can only imagine how groundbreaking this would have sounded back when it was first released.
Queens Of The Stone Age
4/5
Great record, such an original sound and great songs
Happy Mondays
3/5
Surprisingly modern sounding for being released in 1990. Pretty good vibes throughout.
Love
3/5
Not a bad album, but nothing much stood out except for the last song - mainly because it was so long.
Nina Simone
3/5
I though he voice was great, and the four women song was pretty interesting, but the rest of the album was just kind of ok
Björk
4/5
Completely original. Love her voice and approach. Eclectic and enjoyable.
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Ok album for sure, not convinced it’s one I “must” hear. Decent pop sensibility, but just not really very interesting to me.
Lauryn Hill
3/5
Really good album, love the concept and the vocals are just amazing. But, I can’t stand the rhythmic “uhs” and “yeahs” just over and over which makes the whole thing a lot less enjoyable for me.
Oasis
3/5
Liked this album more than I thought I would. Was never a huge fan, but I felt like this album was a little more straight ahead rock - which I liked
PJ Harvey
3/5
I enjoyed this album more as it played, not sure if it was because the later songs were better or I was just acclimating. I would have liked it more if it was either - a little more slick and poppy, or heavier - instead it sits in this middle ground of being raw and angry but not really catchy enough for pop or heavy enough for hard rock. I’m sure this was probably intentional, but for me, moving further in one of those directions would have been something I would listen to more than once.
Nirvana
3/5
A cultural touchstone for sure, it’s one of those albums that kind of defined a time and for that it probably merits being on the list. The performances are pretty good, and the acoustic nature allows the songs (rather than the sound) to be the focus. But, that said, I find it a little boring.
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
Even the album tracks are immaculate. I get that some people might just not like this music, but for post-Beatles power pop this is just about as good as it gets.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
Not as much rapping as I was assuming, much more in the funk/soul realm than later hip hop. Pretty good album overall
Kraftwerk
4/5
Great album, truly innovative and hugely influential.
The Smiths
4/5
My favorite Smiths album by far, such great songs. Completely original sound.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Classic rock in its most classic form.
Primal Scream
3/5
I found this to be an easy listen, but somewhat boring. I’m guessing it was ahead of its time, but in a historical perspective I don’t think it holds up very well
Metallica
4/5
The symphonic part feels forced at times, but it’s a great testament to the strength of Metallica’s catalog that so many songs hold up to this treatment. Hetfield is possibly in the best vocal form of his career, which makes this a great listen.
The Who
4/5
Great collection of songs, not the most coherent concept but still enjoyable
Grateful Dead
4/5
The first live album from the band that is known for live performances. I always assumed that they would be more rock or a little heavier, but they are really more like a psychedelic Americana/Country band.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
2/5
Boring. I guess people like the lyrics? The musicianship is third rate at best and the whole thing sounds like they wanted it to intentionally sound bad.
Dolly Parton
3/5
I get that she’s a good songwriter, I just don’t like it and I can’t listen to that voice for more than a few minutes at a time
The xx
2/5
Pretty boring, just never really went anywhere.
Justin Timberlake
2/5
Not my kind of music, just pure dance pop, completely disposable
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Decent funk record, not super memorable, but the long extended nature of the songs was different.
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
Great live record, amazing singing and guitar playing, probably the birth of the “Jam Band” genre.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Good guitar playing and decent songs, but I can’t stand the vocals. Sounds more “straight ahead rock” than I remember, but that could just be a hindsight is 20/20 thing.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
It definitely sounds like Blur and Gorillaz, but it doesn’t seem as rocking as Blur or as interesting as Gorillaz.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Great songs, sounds very dated, but that also gives it certain charm
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Much better record than I was expecting from a “later” Springsteen record, but I don’t think this one needs to be on the list
Skepta
1/5
I realize that I’m not the demographic for this, but pretty much every song sounded identical to me, interesting for about 1 minute.
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
I thought the use of samples was really interesting and I definitely prefer this kind of hip-hop/rap that is not rooted in the the gangster stuff, but ultimately not something I would return to by choice.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Great album of Power Pop gems. Songwriting is off the charts, great vocals, band is tight and tons of energy.
The Who
3/5
Weird concept, not really that well executed. Most of the album is pretty ok, I Can See For Miles is great, but that’s about it
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
not terrible by any means, but it didn't really grab me either.
4/5
Really strong album. It’s pop and prog and EDM all rolled into one well produced record. So many great songs on this one album.
Haircut 100
3/5
The best of the lighter side of new wave. Nice production, good songs.
Soft Cell
3/5
Tainted Love -classic. Rest of the album…meh
Missy Elliott
1/5
Nope
MGMT
3/5
Decent pop/dance record. Probably innovative for it’s time, but seems a little boring at this point.
Elliott Smith
4/5
Great songs, great vocals, decent production - i guess they are aiming for the Lo-Fi thing, but I would like to hear a better produced version - unfortunately that’s no longer possible.
Kings of Leon
3/5
I get why this album and band were popular, definitely a different sound and approach to what was currently happening in early 2000s, but I just don’t feel like the songs are really that strong here.
Carole King
3/5
I guess this is THE classic female singer/songwriter album, but I just don’t like her voice. The songs are good, but overall production is basic.
Overall feel and attitude is great, cool guitar parts throughout and Rod’s vocals and swagger are right on the money. Not sure why Ronnie Lane is singing some of the songs, really sounds like 2 bands on this record because of that.
Nick Drake
3/5
Didn’t like this nearly as much as Pink Moon. Seemed a little monotonous, which was sometimes cool and meditative but often just a little boring.
Donald Fagen
4/5
Good album for sure. Like Steely Dan, the songs and the production are pretty much flawless. But, sometimes, the perfect nature ends up sounding sterile.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Such a gret album. The definition of folk rock. Plus Jerry Garcia on the steel guitar on “Teach Your Children” is sublime. Really the only CSN(Y) album I need.
Aphex Twin
4/5
This is exactly what ambient music is supposed to, not interesting enough to distract, but if you want to focus on it there’s enough going on to hold your attention. Not sure if it’s worthy of a top 1000, but I do think it’s a good representation of good ambient music
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
Seems pretty one dimensional, but I can definitely hear the influence that this album had on a lot of what would become known as post-punk. Couple of pretty good songs on here.
The Black Keys
4/5
Pretty decent album of roots rock, better than I expected.
Foo Fighters
2/5
Meh
Dizzee Rascal
2/5
First 30 seconds of each song was interesting, then just felt like monotony until the next song.
Various Artists
4/5
Classic Christmas album, essential holiday listening
Fleet Foxes
3/5
Decent album, nothing hard to listen to, but also not much that makes me want another listen.
PJ Harvey
3/5
This is one of those albums that I feel like I should like more, and it’s not that I dislike it, but it just doesn’t really hit that hard for me. Now, maybe that is because I don’t really look to pop/rock music for meaning - which seems to be a big part of the PJ Harvey appeal. It’s not that I don’t like lyrics, I just feel like the all of the other parts (melody, instrumentation, recording, etc) are more important.
The Police
4/5
So many great songs on this record, a couple of weird ones for sure, but mostly Sting’s writing is really shining at this point. The Police are one of those bands where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. There is magic when these 3 guys make music together.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
I enjoyed listening to this record. I had never heard of it and I thought that it did have a pretty original sound. The Samba/Funk fusion is definitely original and I want to spend more time with this record to see if I can really start to enjoy it.
The Clash
4/5
Better than I thought it was going to be. A double album from a “punk” band seems like a potential recipe for monotony, but the Clash are not your average punk band. The songs are SO good and these guys can actually play their instruments pretty well. I started wondering if they are even really a “punk” band about half way through. I think records like these probably sounded a lot more edgy when they came out, now they just kind of sound like classic rock - but GREAT classic rock.
Jeru The Damaja
2/5
Not for me, there have been some enjoyable hip-hop/rap albums on the list, but this is not one of them.
Japan
4/5
Great album. Maybe the first of the great New Wave albums, cool songs, super moody and fantastic vocals.
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
Super interesting. I’m not a huge fan this kind of orchestration for pop/rock music, but in this case it was done extremely well. I still think I would probably prefer a re-recorded version of these songs in a more typical rock band format, but the songs and the vocals are outstanding.
Talking Heads
4/5
Great album. I was not able to appreciate this kind of stuff when it came out, but now I love it. Such a great fusion of punk/world/prog - just nothing else like it.
XTC
5/5
Amazing record, great songs, perfect production.
Duke Ellington
3/5
Not a huge fan of the Big Band era jazz stuff, but this is probably the best version of that genre, so I get why it’s on the list.
The Young Gods
3/5
Pretty decent early industrial album, I would have liked it more if it was heavier.
Green Day
4/5
Just really good song after really good song. Billie Joe is a hook machine. Certainly different than the Green Day that released Dookie - the punk is pretty much gone, but that leaves an amazing Power Pop band.
The Byrds
4/5
Good album, better than I expected. The song Mr Tambourine Man was probably my least favorite track on here - but maybe that’s because I’ve been hearing it my whole lie. But it was a nice surprise to find so many other goods songs on this record.
Moby
3/5
I like this album fine, I’m not sure why it got the accolades that it did, but it’s a pleasant listen. The combination of blues/roots samples and electronic music is interesting and works pretty well on some of the tracks, but was a little boring after a while.
Metallica
4/5
When this came out it was a shock to those of us that were already Metallica fans, the long, intricate arrangements were gone - which sucked, but the album sounded so good. Ultimately, I think everyone came around to the greatness of this record - much credit to Bob Rock for the production.
Kind of amazing that this album is as good as it is. A band this far into their career usually doesn’t make a completely solid record, but U2 bucked the trend and created a nice collection of songs.
Janis Joplin
2/5
Just don’t get it, never have and I guess I never will. She’s like a one trick pony and I just really don’t like that trick.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Such a good album. This is the first album where the foray into roots/country rock sounds natural, and I personally like that the vocals are mixed a little low. A definite turning point for the Stones and for rock music in general.
Radiohead
3/5
Not sure I get why this album is here. The Bends, sure, but this one just feels like a decent record, nothing really outstanding to me.
Milton Nascimento
2/5
Nothing bad here, generally pleasant, but not super interesting to me. Possibly I’m not familiar enough with Brazilian music to appreaciate it.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3/5
I know this is classic big band jazz, but at the point it just all sounds very generic to me. Not bad, just nothing that I would choose to listen to.
3/5
Pretty tough to really listen to this, free jazz can just seem like chaotic noise at times. For the most part I was interested in the first 300 seconds or 1 minute of a song and then it just got weirdly monotonous.
William Orbit
3/5
interesting electronic album, I think I would have liked it better with no vocals, but I can see why this would be an “important” album and very influential.
Nick Drake
3/5
Not as engaging as Pink Moon, but still a nice listen.
Radiohead
3/5
Some really cool stuff on this record, but I miss “The Bends” era Radiohead that was more of a real “rock” band. I’m all for experimentation and electronic sounds, just miss the edge and power of the band.
The Kinks
3/5
I like the album overall, and it is an interesting departure for the Kinks. I still think I prefer them when they a rocking a bit more than on this record
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Classic folk singer/songwriter record. Production is dated, but it kind of adds to the charm.
Fats Domino
4/5
Loved it. Original Rock And Roll - leaves no doubt why it took the world by storm - such a fun listen. One thing that was a bit surprising to me was how much I was reminded of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy i didn’t realize Fats was such a big influence on them
N.E.R.D
3/5
Never heard of this before, didn’t realize that Pharrell had done stuff like this. More rck based than I was expecting and it was pretty easy to listen to. A couple of the longer songs got a little boring, but really pretty good over all.
Johnny Cash
3/5
This isn’t something that I would put on just to listen to, I mean it’s ok as a live album, but it really feels more like an important historical document. Totally understand why its on the list, glad to have listened to it,
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Really solid record, liked the album tracks more than the “hits” for the most part.
The Cardigans
3/5
I was only familiar with the big hit, and it’s definitely a standout on this album, but the album as a whole was consistently good. Vocals are superb throughout, and the Beatle-ish influences at times is a nice surprise.
Coldcut
3/5
This was completely new for me, never heard of Coldcut or any of these songs before. Nothing bad here, but not much really grabbed me either. I guess it’s important as kind of a bridge between classic songwriting and the more cut and paste approach typically used with sampling, but as an end result I feel like the album is just pretty good.
Anthrax
5/5
BEST THRASH ALBUM EVER
Yes
4/5
The first Yes album with the classic line up. So good. Steve Howe and Chris Squire are both in top form, and Anderson’s vocals are always sublime. I get why people rebelled against prog - it can sound pretty pretentious, but this is a phenomenal album.
Dion
2/5
Kanye West
2/5
Not for me, just don’t get it at all
Jack White
3/5
Pretty good record, adventurous and eclectic.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Not my favorite Zep album, but still better than 75% of the albums on this list so far.
The Who
4/5
Worth listening to just for the guitar tone by itself. But the whole band is rocking hard and sounding great. One of the classic live albums.
3/5
Good for sure, but far from my favorite XTC album and I don’t really think it’s in the top 1000.
The Stooges
3/5
Great energy, decent songs
Funkadelic
4/5
Really interesting and more rock/psych than I was expecting. Cool surprise.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
4/5
Good stuff, great energy, cool songs. Doubt there would be a White Stripes without this happening first.
R.E.M.
2/5
Meh - maybe just because this is on the later side of their catalog and I like the earlier stuff, but nothing about this record really grabs me.
Leftfield
3/5
Not really very interesting to me, but I get why people would like it
Tom Tom Club
3/5
Cool record. Strong grooves, could have used a little more structure or melody at times for me. But all in all proof that Byrne was not the only creative force in Talking Heads.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
4/5
Solid early electronic album. Not something that I listen to frequently, but when the mood strikes there is little better than this record.
Van Morrison
3/5
Ok album, never really been a fan of Van Morrison, but certainly Moondance and Crazy Love are both really good songs,
The Jam
4/5
Excellent songs, and the band sounds impeccable on this recoding.
Serge Gainsbourg
2/5
Seems like a soundtrack, pretty funky but I dont like all of the spoken word stuff
Pink Floyd
5/5
Doesn’t really get more classic rock than this.
Neneh Cherry
3/5
Solid pop album, better than I expected
Jamiroquai
3/5
Super funky and cool songs, super distinctive voice.
Röyksopp
3/5
Nothing terrible, but also nothing grabbed me
Kanye West
2/5
Paul Simon
5/5
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Great voice, cool mix of retro/modern soul.
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
Classic instrumental funk and soul. Like a soundtrack to a classic tv show from the 60s.
Aerosmith
3/5
Solid classic rock album, and though I’m not a huge Aerosmith fan I liked it more than I was expecting, especially the guitars.
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
More accessible than a lot of classical Indian music, but not something I would choose to listen to often.
Emmylou Harris
4/5
Emmylou , enough said
AC/DC
5/5
This is THE hard rock album. Sure, AC/DC are a one trick pony, but its a hell of a trick and this album was them at the height of their powers with Mutt Lange handling production and making one of the best sounding and heaviest hitting rock albums of all time.
Neil Young
3/5
Better than I was expecting. Pretty mellow, but it was a nice listen. I’m not a Neil Young fan, so this was a bit of a surprise. Not sure that I would seek it out to listen again, but it was an overall enjoyable experince.
Q-Tip
2/5
Just cant get into this at all
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Classic soul for sure, but outside of the title track I wasn’t really that impressed
Sheryl Crow
4/5
Pretty amazing debut, I find it surprising that Run Baby Run wasn’t a hit - I think that’s my favorite song on the album.
The Specials
4/5
Pretty solid ska record, definitely need to be in the right mood for it, but if that mood strikes this is a perfect record.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Some obvious classic songs on here, but I thought the album overall didn’t sound very good - maybe just one of those times when this collection of songs is really better in a live setting
Rush
5/5
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
I’m not a big hip-hop/rap fan, but I must say that this is one of the more enjoyable albums from that genre that I’ve heard.
Les Rythmes Digitales
4/5
Pretty decent dance album, enjoyed it more than I was expecting
Beck
3/5
Not my favorite, definitely original, and I remember the hits, but just nothing that I ever really connected with
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
I understand that this is an “important” album, but the droning aspect of the music is just really herd for me to get into.
Little Simz
2/5
Not a fan of this genre really, but this was certainly listenable and it was pretty short and the songs were concise - so that was nice. It wasn’t terrible by any means, but it definitely didn’t feel like anything I really “need” to listen to.
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
I wanted to like this more, but it sounded a little generic to me. Not terrible by any means, but nothing that I would want to keep listening to.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
THE classic live jazz album - sounds exactly like I expected. Musicianship is excellent across the board, but the bass player is next level.
Miles Davis
4/5
Loved this, great fusion record. John McLaughlin is excellent throughout the record.
Red Snapper
3/5
Decent album with some interesting, if not lyrically provocative tracks.
Steely Dan
4/5
Great album, amazing recording for sure, but can sound a bit too perfect at times.
Einstürzende Neubauten
3/5
I get why this album is on the list, but I can’t imagine actually listening to this on a regular basis
Fugazi
4/5
Wow, surprisingly good. Just the perfect amount of punk but the songs are still well written. At once more melodic and more chaotic than I expected.
Os Mutantes
3/5
Was completely unaware of this band and album, glad it was on the list - truly original.
Beatles
5/5
My favorite of the early Beatles albums, so many great songs and the covers are fun as well.
Korn
3/5
Pretty interesting, innovative for the time but sounds dated now
The Cramps
4/5
Not the greatest sounding album, but I like the horror/rockabilly mix
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
So good, classic rap that has all the good (great beats, cool rhymes) and none of the bad
OutKast
3/5
I don’t think I will return to this album, but it was an interesting listen and I was impressed by the stylistic variety and adventurous spirit.
Lenny Kravitz
4/5
I have always liked this record, it’s super derivative - to the point that it almost sounds like a tribute to the 70s, but the songs are good and the performances feel live and energetic
Stevie Wonder
4/5
I think Songs in the Key Of Life is the best Stevie Wonder album, but Talking Book maybe a close second. Stevie Wonder’s output during this period is on an almost otherworldly plane - just completely sublime.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
4/5
Good example of a well produced Latin album.
Ray Charles
3/5
Interesting versions of classic country songs, but the background vocals just make it sound SO old
Tim Buckley
3/5
Decent singer songwriter record
Miles Davis
4/5
Defined a genre, impeccable recording.
The Associates
3/5
Interesting album for sure, not a bad listen but nothing that I would be interested in really listening to again - to Pop and not enough post-punk edge for me.
Don McLean
3/5
Worthy of the list just based on American Pie and Vincent, but the rest of the album is pretty solid as well
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
Interesting listen, i didn’t necessarily like it all that much, but I think that has more to do with the nature of a soundtrack album
Aretha Franklin
4/5
I hadn’t really listened to any Aretha in years, this was an excellent reminder of why she is the Queen of Soul
Todd Rundgren
4/5
One of THE great prog/psych records.
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Pretty solid funk record, definitely like this better than the later more disco stuff, and Shining Star is a phenomenal song.
The Who
4/5
With the album beginning with Baba O’Riley and ending with Won’t Get Fooled Again, it almost doesn’t matter what the rest of the album is, but the fact that it also has Bargain and Behind Blue Eyes is just like a huge bonus. Fantastic record.
The Only Ones
3/5
Pretty classic bit of guitar driven new wave. Obviously, the single stands out, but the whole album is pretty strong
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
This whole genre is just kind of a miss for me, not compelling
Fela Kuti
3/5
Cool record, lots of deep grooves, need to be in the right mood to really enjoy something like this.
3/5
Very much a classic and I get why it’s on the list, but not my favorite period of Bowie
Digital Underground
3/5
This sits right in the sweet spot of hip-hop/rap for me, the humor and fun aspects are still there, P-funk samples are plenty and just a well put together album.
Boston
5/5
One of THE great rock debut records, made even better when you realize it was a DIY project. Simply a classic.
Talking Heads
4/5
Love this record. Didn’t really “get” Talking Heads back when this album was released, but now they are one of my favorite bands of this era.
Dead Kennedys
4/5
Possibly THE American punk record. I heard this when I was a kid and there was nothing like it.
Gang Starr
3/5
Not my thing for sure, but not terrible.
Justice
4/5
Amazing debut album that kicked off an entire resurgence of punk. Chocked full of hooks and great riffs
Green Day
4/5
Amazing debut album that kicked off an entire resurgence of punk. Chocked full of hooks and great riffs
GZA
2/5
Definitely not for me.
Calexico
3/5
Pretty good album, nice blend of indie/alternative and Latin feel. Songs are decent.
Yes
5/5
One of the great prog rock records, musicianship is off the charts, great songs and superior production.
Sleater-Kinney
4/5
Much better than I was expecting. Great songs and prefect production for this style of music. Cool guitar work and spot on vocals - just a really solid record.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
For me it was just pretty boring, the combination of sounds was initially interesting but tired quickly
Joy Division
4/5
Definitely an album I kind of need to be in a particular mood to enjoy. The songs are pretty strong, and for the most part the music is solid. The vocals leave a lot to be desired at times, but his delivery adds to the overall feel and moodiness of the album.
The Prodigy
3/5
Definitely a standout of electronic music of the time so I can see why it belongs on the list. Nothing really stands out for me personally.
The War On Drugs
2/5
Not bad, but nothing really stood out either. Easy to listen to but also easy to ignore.
Arrested Development
4/5
One of the better rap/hip-hop albums in my opinion. Songs have good structure and the lyrics are great.
The Who
4/5
Napalm Death
3/5
The vocals just make it hard to listen to for me, but the instrumental sections are classic thrash.
Madness
4/5
Much better than I was expecting. I thought of Madness - based on only having heard Our House - as almost a novelty band. This was a nice surprise, very consistent and enjoyable listen
Tortoise
4/5
Liked it way more than I thought I would. Really interesting combination of math rock and ambient sounds.
Blondie
3/5
The great songs are, well…great. The rest of the album is decent, but pales in comparison.
Mariah Carey
3/5
There’s no denying the singing talent of Mariah, but all of these songs kind of run together - at least on first listen. That’s not necessarily bad, there’s nothing unpleasant, but there’s just nothing that really stands out after Honey.
Beastie Boys
4/5
A really solid album and I really enjoyed hearing them start to utilize live instruments along with the samples to give it more of a rock feel.
Michael Jackson
3/5
Faith No More
4/5
Seemed like a bit of a novelty at the time it was released (at least to me), but it is a pretty solid album. Certainly one of the first really combinations of funk/metal/rap. The snotty-ness of the vocals wears on me over the course of the album, but overall still pretty great.
The Smiths
4/5
I prefer The Queen Is Dead, but this album is a close second to that. Just really nothing like this band, before or since, truly iconic and original.
Blue Cheer
3/5
Probably amazing at the time of release, but now it just sounds really dated and poorly mixed.
Violent Femmes
5/5
Iconic and singular - one of the truly great albums of this era. Full of great songs.
Buzzcocks
4/5
Buzzcocks have that magical combination of melodic and hooky songs with gritty punk energy.
Steve Winwood
3/5
Decent pop record for sure and When You See A Chance is a great song, but I thought the rest of the album was so-so, not sure I agree with this particular record being on the list.
Duran Duran
4/5
Possibly the most 80s of all 80s albums - from the cover, to the bands look, to the songs and especially the videos - this album is pop perfection. What I wasn’t astute enough to realize as a teen (when this album was released) was the debt owed to Nile Rodgers and Chic - but it’s very clear listening to it now.
Mudhoney
3/5
This seems like an instance where the album was included because of its importance - being one of the first Seattle scene records. Musically it feels pretty thrown together, lots of energy but lacking in substance.
Ryan Adams
4/5
This may be the artist/album that really solidified the importance of separating the artist from the art. It would be a shame to not listen to this incredible collection of songs just because of the personal issues of the creator. If we force our artists to be rational, well-behaving members of society then we should be prepared for a ton of mediocre art.
The Yardbirds
4/5
Definitely dated sounding album, but extremely adventurous for the time and Jeff Beck’s guitar certainly stands out.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Listening to CCR is always a reminder to me of how great these records really are. I’m not the biggest fan of Fogerty’s voice, but the songs are undeniable.
Lupe Fiasco
3/5
Not my thing for sure, but interesting listen - choice of samples and overall production made for an enjoyable listen
10cc
3/5
Surprised to see this album on the list. I’m a fan of 10cc, but this record is pretty disjointed.
Ramones
4/5
Such a bizarre combination of 50s bubble gum pop with punk energy - truly iconic and an amazing debut album that kicked off an entire movement.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
for me this is the pinnacle of Stevie Wonder’s output, this collection of songs is so great, and then you have impeccable production and a band that is firing on all cylinders.
Roxy Music
4/5
Solid art rock / glam record, still sounds fresh to me.
Fishbone
3/5
Interesting mix of rock/ska/funk. Fun listen.
Lou Reed
3/5
Better than I was expecting and also more eclectic.
U2
4/5
Everybody seems to prefer Joshua Tree, but I actually like this album better.
Queen
4/5
Feels like the blueprint for later albums like A Night At The Opera. Not as varied as some of their albums - but the potential is certainly present.
Air
3/5
Nothing really grabbed me here, but it was a pleasant album to listen to.
Sex Pistols
3/5
I’m sure this was face melting when it was released and it’s obviously hugely influential, but it all kind of sounds the same after 2-3 songs.
Morrissey
3/5
More rock oriented than I was expecting which was nice, but I didn’t hear a lot of really memorable songs.
4/5
One of the better Dylan albums to listen to, his vocals seem a little more melodic and restrained and the songs really stand out
Arcade Fire
3/5
Not sure that 3 Arcade Fire albums are necessary additions to the list.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
It never sounds as adventurous as I expect - but I think that’s just a result of my hearing it after so many things that it has influenced.