209
Albums Rated
3.36
Average Rating
19%
Complete
880 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010
Favorite Decade
Electronica
Favorite Genre
other
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
16
5-Star Albums
4
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
|
5 | 2.84 | +2.16 |
|
A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
|
5 | 2.84 | +2.16 |
|
The Dreaming
Kate Bush
|
5 | 2.98 | +2.02 |
|
Kimono My House
Sparks
|
5 | 3.06 | +1.94 |
|
Let England Shake
PJ Harvey
|
5 | 3.15 | +1.85 |
|
Virgin Suicides
Air
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
Debut
Björk
|
5 | 3.38 | +1.62 |
|
Garbage
Garbage
|
5 | 3.38 | +1.62 |
|
Play
Moby
|
5 | 3.46 | +1.54 |
|
Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
|
5 | 3.47 | +1.53 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Only By The Night
Kings of Leon
|
1 | 3.24 | -2.24 |
|
Closer
Joy Division
|
1 | 3.22 | -2.22 |
|
Youth And Young Manhood
Kings of Leon
|
1 | 3.1 | -2.1 |
|
(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
|
2 | 3.74 | -1.74 |
|
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
|
2 | 3.7 | -1.7 |
|
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
|
2 | 3.49 | -1.49 |
|
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
|
2 | 3.49 | -1.49 |
|
Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
|
2 | 3.48 | -1.48 |
|
Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
|
2 | 3.39 | -1.39 |
|
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
|
2 | 3.38 | -1.38 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Todd Rundgren | 2 | 5 |
| David Bowie | 4 | 4.25 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Kings of Leon | 3 | 1.33 |
| Joy Division | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (16)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Kate Bush · 1 likes
5/5
It’s Kate Bush. Automatic five stars from me. So many good moments on this album, despite it being one of the less accessible albums of hers.
1-Star Albums (4)
All Ratings
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
Smooth and easy listening. Highly enjoyed this and would absolutely listen again.
Björk
5/5
One of the GOATs
The Cure
2/5
Found myself wanting this to end long before it did. Sad boy music
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Super funky and chill. Sunday morning jams.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Not my usual style but loved it. Super enjoyable, loved all the extras to the live recordings that set it at Folsom
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
A classic. Not my favourite Bruce Springsteen album of all time but still such a good album.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Enjoyable and easy breezy. Not my favourite genre of music but still interesting.
Nico
4/5
Lush autumn main character vibes. These Days is a masterpiece, and such a unique voice as well.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
There’s a good album in here somewhere but this was so long. Really liked the crispness of the drumming. The songs I knew were great, but Sir Psycho Sexy feels like a joke song.
The Waterboys
3/5
Felt a bit long. Enjoyable enough - heaps of fiddle and very folky. Would probably go for more traditional folk over this if I was in the mood for that though.
Finley Quaye
4/5
Didn’t come in with any expectations and man, it was so good. Loved it - the right blend of chill vibes, a little Sade smooth sprinkled in. Would absolutely listen to it again on a warm sunny Saturday arvo.
Television
3/5
Liked this, very melodic rock. Didn’t super grab my attention and listened to it over three sittings.
Cee Lo Green
2/5
Some parts of this were nice background music. Mainly I was just waiting for it to end. Would have rather listened to Gnarls Barkley over this.
Scott Walker
3/5
I don’t understand how this was avant garde even for its time? It felt like something my grandparents would have played on the crackly old wireless when I was a kid. Truly just fine.
Queen
4/5
I’ve only ever listened to the big singles but now I might think I might be a Queen fan???
Jimmy Smith
3/5
Fun jazz album. Liked the spotlighting of the organ in the arrangements. Easy background music for work. Maybe I’m not familiar enough with jazz because it all sounded a bit the same as other things I’d heard.
Carole King
5/5
An all time great album. Classic pop writing and so warm and rich. Huge fan of this.
3/5
I really liked this. Super vibey and chill, felt like it was the kind of album I’d hear playing in a small plates natural wine bar. No songs super stood out but very pleasant background music. Definitely a 3.5 album.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
It was nice. Some catchy songs in there but not the best. Pleasant enough for some winter walks in the leaves.
Eagles
4/5
Enjoyed this - smooth, 70s easy listening. They’re no Fleetwood Mac but it was still very good. Hotel California absolutely slaps so maybe a little all downhill from there.
Songhoy Blues
3/5
I came into this with no expectations and I thoroughly enjoyed this. Very nice background music to work to, stunning vocals.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Very enjoyable. Not as good as their big singles but I still liked this - even an average Beach Boys album is still very good. Came at a very timely point as well with Brian Wilson’s passing and nice to appreciate his musical genius.
Van Halen
4/5
Actually loved this? This was pure cheesy 80s rock at its best - some absolutely bangers in there (did not realise Jump was Van Halen), great vocals, fun melodies. I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this because it didn’t seem up my alley at all. Would absolutely listen to this again.
The Libertines
2/5
This could have been any early 2000s Brit rock album. You could’ve told me it was Arctic Monkeys and I’d believe you. Not my vibe and a bit of a snooze fest.
The Crusaders
3/5
Very smooth and easy. Really made me want to be in 70s LA or NY. Felt like it could be the soundtrack to something - an adult film, or some kind of car chase. Good vibes.
The Shamen
3/5
NRG!!!! This was very fun and dancey, I liked the world music influences in there. Really transported me to the clubs of the 90s.
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
Not my vibe. It was pleasant enough and can respect the craftsmanship of it but didn’t grab me.
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
Very pleasant to work to. Don’t know what it says about it that I didn’t even notice when other music started auto-playing once it was done though. Not one of the greats, but still enjoyable and a beautiful voice.
Otis Redding
4/5
Boston
4/5
Bombastic and fun. Really enjoyed this album - More Than A Feeling absolutely slaps and always has, but lots of the other songs were really easy to listen to as well. Definitely a big vibe.
Digital Underground
3/5
This took me a few songs to get into it but once I got the tone of this album I thought it was very enjoyable - felt very comedic at times and enjoyed it more as a novelty with some good backing music. Thought this would be a 2 star album but has surprised me.
Pink Floyd
4/5
I knew this was an important album coming into listening to it. I really liked it - I must admit it’s maybe not fully my thing, but I really appreciated the craftsmanship of it and the musical journey it took me on. Very well produced and put together.
Air
5/5
Perfect soundtrack to a perfect movie. Eerie, ethereal, lush - completely gorgeous and strikes the perfect tone for the subject matter. Air are truly the masters of their genre.
The Psychedelic Furs
2/5
Actively waiting for this to end. Love My Way is such a classic and I don’t mind some new wave so I was hoping for a really strong album but this disappointed me. Weak vocals, uninteresting music.
Joy Division
1/5
Hated this. Boring, mopey, sad boy music that felt repetitive and cannot get past the vocals. Kept looking at how long I had left to listen to this and wishing it would end sooner. I don’t get the hype at all, and there was very little redeeming about this - absolutely skippable.
Willie Nelson
3/5
My second Willie Nelson album and very enjoyable. Still not my genre but this felt smoother than the other one and was very pleasant - maybe less overtly country? Very pleasant to listen to.
XTC
3/5
This was a solid listen. Do I think it was revolutionary? No. Is it something I’m probably going to listen to again? Also no. But for an hour it was a pleasant soundtrack to my work day.
2/5
I’ve always suspected I wasn’t a Bob Dylan fan and this has confirmed it. Way too long, all the songs were muddling together and just not my vibe. Felt like I was forcing myself to listen to this for completeness of the listening challenge I’d set myself.
Michael Kiwanuka
5/5
Wow. Blown away by how beautiful and soulful this was. I came into this wanting to hear new music that I could fall in love with and this was exactly that - gorgeous lush instrumentation, smooth vocals, such a beautiful flow and journey throughout the album. One that I will absolutely come back to again and again.
Cowboy Junkies
3/5
In my mind this was much rockier than it actually was. A lovely mix of songs perfect for a winter morning walk, although nothing really stood out or grabbed me too much.
Miles Davis
4/5
Loved this. Such a good vibe - smooth, easy to listen to. The second track on this felt like a few tracks amalgamated into one but the journey was still great. Would absolutely listen to this again.
Mott The Hoople
3/5
This was good - I don’t mind a bit of glam rock, but there wasn’t anything that really stood out or grabbed me. It was a solid enough listen though.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
This was marginally better than Blood Sex Sugar Magik but not by much. Awful lyrics and vocals that totally detract from how funky the music can be at times. I don’t mind the singles but don’t feel like I’m missing anything at all from never having dived deeper into this album. Made me really want to play GTA though.
R.E.M.
4/5
Super catchy album. I’ve always liked R.E.M.’s singles so it was really nice to hear more of their album stuff. Some real bangers in here and very enjoyable. Would definitely listen to this again.
The Zutons
3/5
This was fun and catchy but don’t think it’s really for me. 2000s British indie rock that had a bit of an edge to it and their own style but still felt a bit shapeless overall.
Adele
3/5
Still a very good album. Not one I’ve revisited much since it came out but really good to get back into it. I’d probably only ever actively listen to the singles off this though.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
I LOVE Rattlesnakes the song and I always have, but the rest of this album was pretty mid. A few good songs on here but nothing really stood out to me. Still a pleasant enough listen though.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Smooth and funky. Loved the sampling on this. I can absolutely see why this is a landmark album in hip hop, and I totally got lost in the album. Such an enjoyable listen.
The Jam
4/5
Really liked this album. Fun and punky but still very melodic - great songs. Super enjoyable from start to finish.
Steely Dan
2/5
This was fine??? I don’t see why it’s so critical I listen to this album, it was kinda mid dadrock. I listened to this over two sittings as well and the fact that there were a few days in between where I didn’t think about it or feel pressed to listen to the rest probably says a bit about how I feel about this album. Felt a bit symptomatic of some of these albums so far where there’s way less women on the list but heaps of middling rock music.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
This was good. Sledgehammer and Don’t Give Up are absolute bangers but the rest kinda washed over me. I think I expected to like it a little more than I did in the end.
Deep Purple
3/5
This was good. I like a bit of 70s hard rock and this was a great example of the genre. I don’t know how much I would listen to this again but it was a solid 45 mins.
Marty Robbins
4/5
Call me a cowgirl because I liked this way more than I thought I would.
Bobby Womack
4/5
Smooth and easy and super funky. Stunning vocals and rhythms. While this didn’t have a standout song for me, everything was such an easy listen.
Moby
5/5
An easy 5. Masterful sampling and producing, an album with no skips for me and one that outside of this I return to regularly and listen to in full. Deeply nostalgic as well, the ideal listening experience for this is in my parents Commodore driving to Prahran to go to the market and Borders.
The Auteurs
2/5
I think I’ve heard maybe three female vocalists in almost two months now and yet I’ve had so many absolutely mid Britpop albums? I want 45 minutes of my life back.
Jeff Buckley
4/5
This was good but not as good as I was expecting given its legacy. I was expecting to be totally blown away and while this was still a really enjoyable listen its reputation let it down a little for me. Some really good tracks through here though.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
3/5
I really enjoyed this, although the listening format of YouTube with frequent ads peppered in dampened the mood a little bit. I thought this might be a four star album, and then by about an hour or so later I couldn’t remember anything that stood out to me which dropped it down to a three. The experience at the time was good though.
Fela Kuti
4/5
Really liked this - smooth and jazzy and interesting. Solid and interesting background music I would happily listen to again.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Short and sweet and simple. Maybe not super for me but pleasant enough to listen to. My favourite part was realising that The Simpsons cribbed some of the lyrics on this album and now I get the reference.
JAY Z
3/5
After a few dud millennium rap and RnB albums, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this and how essential it felt. Great rhymes, interesting samples and music sitting behind it. Think this is a solid 3.5 stars for me - maybe not something I’d return to again and again but I would enjoy again if I was in the mood for this.
Black Sabbath
4/5
I really enjoyed this - a really solid album from start to finish. Changes is amazing, and Laguna Sunrise really caught me by surprise. I would absolutely listen to this again.
James Taylor
3/5
This was very pleasant and then every now and then the religion would hit me in the face, which I was not expecting. An easy enough listen but one I wouldn’t probably listen to again.
Talking Heads
4/5
Loved this - I’m already a big Talking Heads singles fan so knew going into this that I would probably like it. Moody and atmospheric at times, always interesting and innovative. Would absolutely listen to this again.
Mj Cole
3/5
This was so fine???? Nothing special but not unpleasant to listen to. Made me nostalgic for my childhood.
Sonic Youth
3/5
This was good - at times it felt a bit noisy but nonetheless enjoyable. Don’t know if I would consider this a classic album but it was still engaging.
Radiohead
4/5
An all time great album. I’m not the biggest fan of Radiohead but man, is this good. Equal parts interesting, engaging, and devastating.
5/5
A masterful album, no skips start to finish. Every song absolutely slaps and still feels boundary pushing even today.
Coldplay
3/5
This was fine. If it wasn’t so deeply nostalgic for me I might rate it lower but every song is burned into my memory. Coldplay are definitely not for me but this was a fun Friday afternoon time warp back to my childhood.
The Lemonheads
3/5
This was a fun and breezy listen. Doesn’t feel super revolutionary but had nothing against it. I realised I knew the title track when listening to it and I really like it, but the rest of the album was a bit same-y and hard to tell apart. Overall still enjoyable.
3/5
Big bombastic artsy rock. Good for playing baseball to. A solid 3.5 for me.
Sepultura
2/5
I went back and forth so many times on whether this was a 1 or 2 star album for me. Rationale for 1 star was that it was suuuuuuch a slog, and broken up into a few listens I kept not wanting to go back to finish. 2 stars because I can appreciate in parts that even though it’s absolutely not for me it’s technically a pretty good album. Parts of this were okay. Would never listen to this again.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
I only knew Leonard Cohen from Hallelujah and I was definitely blown away by this. So smooth and melancholic. A collection of beautiful songs.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
This was funky and fun and very enjoyable. I really liked this but maybe wouldn’t listen to it again.
Taylor Swift
4/5
I really like this album and the direction it went in compared to her other music. It’s not as good as Folklore to me, nor is it her best album, but it’s still an excellent album (and the last really good Taylor Swift album before a noticeable decline in quality).
Youssou N'Dour
4/5
Super fun and always interesting. This was a really engaging listen and I loved it.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Loved this!! Incredible guitar work and such bangers in here. I recognised the first track as something we’d often play at my old workplace and was sold from there.
Paul Simon
4/5
This was very good - really enjoyed it. I had no idea Mother and Child Reunion was Paul Simon, which I don’t know if that says a lot about his ability to be chameleonic or just imitative.
Turbonegro
4/5
I was really surprised with how much I enjoyed this - I didn’t have the highest expectations going in as I haven’t liked the last few metal albums that have come my way but this was super fun and enjoyable. Really enjoyable rock music, a little tongue in cheek at times and very listenable.
Christina Aguilera
4/5
Nostalgic and a great pop album. So many good singles on this backed by really great album tracks, although it definitely feels overlong. I don’t know why I never listened to this beyond the singles when I was younger but glad I’ve done it now.
Nina Simone
4/5
Gorgeous and smooth. What a voice. Could be an easy weekend record, a soundtrack to a dinner party or smoky bar - it really took me away.
N.W.A.
3/5
This was very good and I can appreciate that this is a landmark album - this is one of those ones that I’ve known I should listen to but a project like this has forced me to do so. That said, I can’t see myself listening to this again so by my own rating system it gets a 3. BUT it is a masterful albums, beats still sound great and rhymes are very good.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
A fun, enjoyable listen. Really well crafted songs - might have had a slight preference to the Young side of the equation though. Very easy to have on in the background.
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
I liked this a lot more than I expected to - not sure why I had that perception I might not like it. I don’t think this will ever be in my high rotation but still excellent.
Cream
3/5
This was really good - loved Sunshine of Your Love - and quite melodic and then it came to Mother’s Lament and it completely ruined the moment for me. Other than that a solid collection of songs.
The Louvin Brothers
2/5
This would be 100% better if it was Aimee-Leigh Gemstone and Baby Billy Freeman singing it. This was truly fine - the religious overtones got a bit too much by the end thkigh.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
This was enjoyable. Not the best thing I’ve ever listened to but not the worst. Some good songs on here but nothing stood out.
Supertramp
3/5
This was good, nothing too outstanding though. I only knew Dreamer coming into this from this album and it was definitely the best song on this but the rest was still pleasant enough to listen to.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
This was a really solid 3.5 stars for me. I really enjoyed this - more than I thought I would - but I still wouldn’t say it would ever be a high rotation album for me or something I would really put on again. But in saying that it was a really well done album - great songs, great vocals, loved the folkiness and darkness of it.
Screaming Trees
2/5
This was well and truly just fine. Nothing noteworthy or interesting - just bland, inoffensive 90s rock.
k.d. lang
3/5
Maybe this is the lesbian in me but this was great. Fun, bluesy, interesting, great vocals. Another solid 3.5 stars for me. Not sure of the replay value for me but something I would never be angry to listen to again.
U2
4/5
This was great - deeply nostalgic in places, fantastic songs. I can forgive U2 for their stupid iTunes stunt because of this.
Massive Attack
4/5
This was very good. Unfinished Sympathy is great and the rest was very enjoyable too. A few more listens and this could definitely come into regular rotation for me. Very easy and vibey to listen to.
Os Mutantes
4/5
What a weird little gem of an album. This is the kind of thing I signed up for - to hear something really new (to me) and interesting that pushes the boundaries. Really well done, interesting psych rock. This as the soundtrack and a weird cartoon in the Meredith cinema and I’d be very happy.
Neil Young
5/5
An absolute classic. Beautiful song writing, gorgeous melodies. So, so good.
Todd Rundgren
5/5
This was so good from start to finish. A real interesting album with some incredible sounds and songs on it. Consistently a really diverse listen that was still super engaging. This is the stuff I signed up to this for.
Lou Reed
4/5
This was great - a very enjoyable listen. Fantastic, interesting songs. An album I know I should have listened to prior and now I’m very glad I did.
The Clash
4/5
Great album - super easy and enjoyable listen. Loved the reggae and funk elements to it. A very solid classic album that feels definitively like a classic to listen to.
Dwight Yoakam
2/5
This was so fine. Nothing too distinctive though - when it started autoplaying stuff after the album finished I probably didn’t notice for a good 15 minutes. Country music like this is never going to be my favourite thing ever but it wasn’t egregiously bad.
Miriam Makeba
4/5
Loved this - great songs, super funky and soulful. A big tick in my books and the kind of thing it’s fun to discover.
5/5
Asides from some lyrics that have not aged well in places, no notes. A truly classic album and one where you can tangibly feel it was a major culture shift.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
My second Marvin Gaye album - funky, soulful, great songs on this one. Such an easy and smooth listen. My only real flaw with this album is while When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You is a great song, three times in one hour is a lot.
2/5
This was so fine. I didn’t hate it but I certainly didn’t love it - I was questioning through a lot of this why this is included in the 1001 Albums list. Nothing felt super special or noteworthy to me.
Beyoncé
4/5
I remember this coming out and being such a cultural moment. It’s aged about as well I expected it to (very well). I’m never going to be the biggest Beyoncé fan but this still feels like such a landmark album and the blueprint for so much music that came after it.
Garbage
5/5
One of the easiest 5 stars I’ve ever given. This was one of my earliest “adult” music loves, and an album I still turn back to time and time again. It still sounds super fresh over 30 years later, with great songwriting and production. One of the all time greats in my books and a band and album that has stayed with me for decades.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
This was good - an enjoyable listen. What a voice and an artist. Probably not something I would listen to again over Back to Black though but still not a bad turnout.
Joy Division
2/5
Joy Division’s other album is still the only album I’ve given 1 star to so I had very low hopes going into this. This was marginally better but still such a slog. Whiny sadboi music that was unrelenting in how boring it was. A solid 1.5 stars for me.
Bob Dylan
3/5
This was so fine. This is my third Bob Dylan album now and they’ve all just felt the same. I’m clearly not a Bob Dylan girlie but this was pleasant enough to listen to, although nothing really stood out for me.
Buzzcocks
3/5
This was good, fun, engaging punk. An easy and enjoyable listen and solid half an hour of good music.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
This was enjoyable, solid psych rock jam. Not something I’d listen to again and not something I quite understand as being 1001 Albums worthy but fine nonetheless.
The La's
2/5
This was fine. There She Goes slaps (even if I prefer the Sixpence None the Richer version) and it was largely enjoyable, although dragged a bit by the last 3-4 songs. Again not sure why this is 1001 Albums worthy - feels like more blah Britpop.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
This was a solid and enjoyable listen - didn’t realise it was Chef until halfway through. Super soulful and funky.
Derek & The Dominos
2/5
What a slog. Layla is the only thing saving this from being a one star for me. Fuck Clapton as well.
PJ Harvey
5/5
Stunning. I already liked some of the singles but this as an album blew me away. Brought back memories of some of these songs at Golden Plains and the atmosphere in the ‘Sup at the time. So so good.
Black Sabbath
4/5
This is my second Black Sabbath album and tunes out I really like them? Great songs, super interesting. The fade out at the end is really something else.
Sparks
5/5
This SLAPPED. So fun and interesting, I never felt bored listening to this and wished it would keep going. This is 100% the kind of thing that I signed up to this to be listening to.
EDIT: Coming back to this review maybe 1-2 months later. I’ve listened to this NON-STOP since and it’s launched itself to my fave albums of all time. My project got paused for ages because I had to do a Sparks deep dive of their entire discography and I couldn’t commit to listening to anything else. Absolutely obsessed.
Fairport Convention
3/5
This was so fine. I don’t see why it’s an album I need to listen to before I die but it was still enjoyable enough. Nice to also have another female vocalist which this list feels verrrrry light on.
Beatles
3/5
This was fine. Not their best, but not a bad album by any means.
Richard Thompson
3/5
I didn’t have any expectations going into this and found myself really enjoying this. A really solid collection of songs. I don’t think I’d listen again but I’m pleased that I’ve heard this. A solid 3.5 stars for me.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Super groovy and enjoyable. Really really liked this and was super locked in for it.
Gil Scott-Heron
4/5
Finally got around to this and I loved it - such a good album. Solid songs, great musicality.
4/5
Thi was a great album - really solid, fantastic songs. Admittedly 1001 serving me up the deluxe version meant that two hours of Blur was a lotttt of Blur, but even the bonus material was still good.
Nirvana
4/5
Loved this. Such a great album, super solid all round. I was so into this even through work.
Ice Cube
3/5
This was good! Fine to listen to while I was working and quite enjoyable. A solid 3.5 stars for me.
Steely Dan
3/5
Breezy, easy rock. Totally inoffensive and easy to listen to.
Iron Maiden
3/5
This was so camp and I really liked it. Probably would never listen to it again but that one listen was definitely worth it.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
2/5
This was so fine. Free Bird slaps but otherwise not something I particularly was interested in - this took two sittings to get through.
Violent Femmes
2/5
This was fine. Like Blister in the Sun is good but a whole album of variations on that is maybe not for me, and it didn’t have any nostalgia factor that everyone else seems to have with it.
Moby Grape
3/5
This was fine - pleasant enough to listen to and in the same vein as Jefferson Airplane for me. Nothing was annoying to listen to but nothing super inspiring either.
David Bowie
4/5
This was good - I feel like sometimes older artists continuing to make music into their later years can sometimes yield diminishing returns, but this was still very enjoyable. Interesting songs, still very Bowie through and through.
Skepta
4/5
This was good - I would 100% go off to this in the ‘Sup in the festival environment but as a work day listen it probably didn’t hit as hard as I hoped it would. Probably not something I would actively listen to but still a super fun time.
Pink Floyd
4/5
This was great - I get the hype and the songs were fantastic, journeys into themselves as well as contributing to the whole album journey.
Jeff Beck
3/5
This was good - nothing special but still enjoyable. Felt like a lot of other 60s slightly psychedelic, slightly folky rock I’ve listened to.
John Lennon
3/5
I was surprised at how many songs I knew on this. It was tending towards good for me but just very pretentious for my tastes.
Stan Getz
4/5
This was smooth and easy listening. Felt like I was listening to some of the background music in the original Sims. Big tick for me.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
This was fine and pleasant. Lots of good songs but all a bit same-y. I can see how this would have been great at the time but listening to it some 70 years on it probably doesn’t quite hit the same.
Kings of Leon
1/5
Hated this. Didn’t even need to finish it to decide it was a solid 1 star album for me. Solidly uninteresting and unenjoyable. I want that hour of my life back.
Kings of Leon
2/5
Two Kings of Leon albums in a row. I was surprised that I knew some of these songs but still such a snooze fest. Why this album is on this list I have no idea but at least this one maybe had one or two more hits.
David Bowie
5/5
I’m always so impressed at how much I love every iteration and evolution of Bowie. Another incredible album - less poppy than others I’ve gotten but still fantastic and interesting song writing that never feels experimental for the sake of it.
The Cure
4/5
This was a really great album - I wasn’t expecting heaps (largely because I haven’t like much of the sad boi goth rock I’ve gotten so far) but I was really surprised with how much I enjoyed this. Not quite a five star album for me (it was probably a bit too long) but still an excellent listen.
Arcade Fire
3/5
How do I rate this? On the one hand, this is a fantastic album - deeply nostalgic, great songwriting, and truly one of the standouts of the indie music I grew up with. On the other hand, the allegations against Win Butler have soured my previous love for Arcade Fire. On the music alone, in a vacuum, it’s an easy five for me but I can’t unlink the nuance around Arcade Fire and the legacy of the band now from the work.
Massive Attack
3/5
This was good - vibey and pleasant listening. Nothing really grabbed me much though, just washed over me a little.
Joanna Newsom
4/5
I really liked this - somehow I missed the hype around this growing up, even though it would have been on my radar. Really nice song writing, although at times maybe a little too quirky for my tastes now. 18 year old me would have loved this had I properly listened to it at the time.
Michael Jackson
4/5
This was great - so many bangers! I’ve never listened to an MJ album end to end and now very keen for the inevitable next one on this list. MJ in his imperial phase is really something to be reckoned with.
Dennis Wilson
4/5
This was very good. I liked every song on this but my god it was long and at times a bit of a slog to get through, even with how much I liked it. Definitely one to put in and vibe out.
Tom Waits
2/5
This was a lot - a little too artsy for the sake of it for me. Grating vocals at times, real wild mix of songs, some good, some not.
Happy Mondays
3/5
This was fine - nothing special in my books but still an alright listen. I don’t quite understand why it’s so critical I listen to this album before I die but it’s not been the most egregious entry on this list. Solid 2.5 stars for me.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
This was good - super enjoyable, very solid songs. American Girl absolutely slaps. A really solid 3.5 stars for me.
Kanye West
3/5
This was better than I expected a Kanye album to be - I don’t know if I’d ever listen to it again given the legacy he’s left behind but on a whole I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
I liked this - the songs were interesting, and I could see myself having been really into this had I listened to it in my younger years. That said, it wasn’t interesting enough to make me want to deep dive on their other stuff or listen again but it was pleasant nonetheless. Solid 3.5 stars.
Beck
4/5
I really liked this - the songs were interesting and very good, although very much in the vein of what I would expect from a Beck album. It was enjoyable to listen to while I was working and some songs (Rental Car in particular) really grabbed my attention. I would happily put this on again in the background for something interesting to listen to.
Kate Bush
5/5
It’s Kate Bush. Automatic five stars from me. So many good moments on this album, despite it being one of the less accessible albums of hers.
Little Richard
4/5
This was such a fun album, loved every second of it. Great songs, perfect length and now I finally understand Kennedy Davenport’s snatch game. Huge tick from me.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
4/5
I had zero expectations going into this and kinda loved it? This was such an interesting album, full of good songs. I was really bopping around listening to this - great vocals as well.
MGMT
4/5
This was such a blast from the past - I loved this album when it came out, and it still held up listening to it again today. So reminiscent of a very specific time and scene that I’ve been deeply nostalgic for lately.
3/5
This was fine - nothing special but not unbearable to listen to.
The KLF
3/5
This was fine - I wouldn’t be angry if I heard this in the ‘Sup during interstitials but it felt like it was missing something the entire way through. Lacked an oomph to it or a daringness and just felt a bit blah.
Otis Redding
4/5
David Bowie
3/5
Both the previous Bowie albums I’ve had through this I’ve absolutely loved, however this was much more challenging to listen to. A bit too noise for the sake of it, albeit Heroes is an all-time classic. I don’t think I’d be rushing back to revisit this one anytime soon.
Duran Duran
3/5
This was fine. The singles and songs that I knew are good but not great, the rest was a bit meh. Not a terrible album, just a bit of a bland one. I probably wouldn’t be inspired to listen to this again.
Meat Loaf
4/5
Loved this - so bombastic and enjoyable. I’ve loved Paradise by the Dashboard Light for years but the rest of the album was also super enjoyable. I also get the context of the Bruce Springsteen comparisons as well as it does feel pretty similar. Would 100% listen to this again.
Oasis
3/5
This was good - it actually took me a few songs to get into it. Some of the songs were a bit overlong for what they were but mostly very good and enjoyable. I don’t know how much I would return to this but I still enjoyed it.
Jeff Buckley
4/5
This was really good - second time listening to this as part of this project and I feel like I got it more this time as to why it’s such a legacy album. Beautiful songwriting, incredibly moving.
3/5
Second time around for this - still really liked it, still stand by the fact that I would love this if I heard it at a natty wine bar.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I liked this - enjoyable music to have on in the background, although nothing really grabbed me too much. I haven’t listened to heaps of Rolling Stones before asides from the big songs, so maybe there was a little missing for me listening to this in terms of oomph but still good.
Green Day
4/5
This was very good and very nostalgic as a listen. Great collection of songs that still feel as relevant today as they did 20 years ago, super energetic and very enjoyable.
GZA
3/5
I liked this - maybe a few too many interludes for my liking but some good songs and an enjoyable listen while I was doing other things.
Kings of Leon
1/5
Why is this the third Kings of Leon album I’ve had in this. They don’t deserve one album on this list, let alone three. Absolutely miserable and a waste of my time.
Beatles
3/5
This was good - I don’t know how much I will ever be a Beatles fan beyond the singles but this was still enjoyable to listen to. A really solid 30 minutes of well written songs and melodies. Probably not something I will ever really be coming back to to listen to again from start to finish but there are still some songs that I would listen to regularly in isolation.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
I really liked this - very enjoyable and easy to listen to. Not quite as good as other Bob Marley albums I’ve had so far but still good - always happy with a reggae album to listen to.
Daft Punk
4/5
This was good - I love Discovery but this didn’t quite hit the same for me. Felt a little overlong as well. A very strong collection of tracks though and a solid 3.5 album for me.
R.E.M.
4/5
Still really love this - such a great collection of songs, many of which have made my monthly playlists since I first listened to this album a few months ago. Really fun, a little pop, a little punky.
The Bees
2/5
This was fine - pleasant enough to listen to at the time but coming back to review this a few days later, I can't remember too much about it. Probably not something I would ever listen to or really think about again.
The Modern Lovers
3/5
I liked this - listening to this just coming back from Boston I liked all the MA references throughout the album. An enjoyable listen, although not one that super grabbed me.
The Flaming Lips
4/5
I feel like I should really love the Flaming Lips more than I actually do - they've always been around the periphery of a lot of music I like, and maybe had I been listening to this when I was younger I would have really gotten into it. I really liked this album but I wasn't in love with it. The songs were really great and I like something that leans a little into how bombastic it is. Very solid album.
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
Such a good album - one that I vividly remember from when I was younger, and from back when the Arctic Monkeys were really top of their game and actually good. Had a lot of fun relistening to this again.
Röyksopp
4/5
I really liked this - I've really loved a lot of Royksopp songs throughout the years (including Eple on this album) so really nice to get the full picture of this album. Really enjoyable listen and interesting electronic music that would slip easily into the kind of DJ sets I enjoy.
MGMT
4/5
This popped up again for me really quickly and my feelings on it have not changed - deeply, deeply nostalgic for my teens and early 20s, still really holds up incredibly well. I wouldn't bump it up to a full 5 stars but it would be pretty close now for me.
Keith Jarrett
3/5
This was enjoyable - very interesting pieces and movements throughout this album. I wouldn't normally gravitate towards a piano album but this was a good one, although admittedly not one that I would probably return to too frequently.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Joni Mitchell feels like someone I should be more into. I liked this and it was beautifully written but felt a bit... samey? Idk after five or six songs I kind of wanted a bit of a shake up in musical style. That said, it was still enjoyable.
The Only Ones
3/5
This was fine - didn't strike me as anything particularly special but still pleasant enough to listen to
Various Artists
4/5
Such a great Christmas album - full of classics. Great arrangements and vocals throughout, and delightful to catch up on even in mid-January.
Iron Maiden
3/5
I went into this expecting to quite like this, given I've love a lot of the harder rock albums so far, but this didn't quite hit for me. It was good but I didn't like it as much as I expected to. A solid 3.5.
Suede
3/5
I liked this - I thought it was an enjoyable background listen. Nothing really stood out to me but it was still an all round good album.
The Crusaders
3/5
Really liked this - have had it before on this list and it was still good on a second listen. Still feels very atmospheric and makes me want to be in NYC or LA in the 70s.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Second time around for this album as well - really liked it, a super solid listen. Great songs and vocals.
Little Richard
4/5
Second time for this album - wow, still so good. Such great songs and what a great performer. Always so fun to listen to.
Love
3/5
I really enjoyed this - very interesting and pleasant folky music. Very nice on a sunny summer day.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
This was great - super enjoyable. Really nice instrumentation on this album. A solid 3.5 for me.
The Cure
2/5
I just don't think The Cure are my thing - whiny sad boys like Joy Division who I've previously hated on this list. This was such a slog to get through, and I much prefer them leaning more pop than alternative.
Girls Against Boys
2/5
Bland, boring rock. Nothing notable or interesting about it. Tough to get through, felt like they wish they were the Smashing Pumpkins but just nowhere near as good.
The Style Council
2/5
This was fine - the 80s "be yourself!" optimism was really grating on me by the end though. Definitely not one I would ever listen to again. More of a 2.5 album for me.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Super fun and funky - really liked this. Very enjoyable to listen to - I know their big singles but liked listening to an album of theirs in full. A 3.5 album for me.
Christina Aguilera
3/5
The singles from this album are so nostalgic for me. This was solid but definitely a bit too long - I reckon a good 2-3 songs could have been cut from each side of the album. Not my fave Christina Aguilera album but not a bad listen either.
David Holmes
3/5
I really liked this - a super interesting album blending a lot of different musical styles and samples. Definitely the kind of album I would put on to impress a dinner party, but maybe not one I would actively revisit on my own again and again. A super solid 3.5 stars for me.
Pere Ubu
2/5
This was a bit too much for me - just felt a bit disjointed in its proto-punk / new wave elements. A bit of a slog of a listen as well at times.
Songhoy Blues
3/5
I liked this - nothing stood out to me but nothing was unpleasant to listen to either. A fun album to listen to on a walk.
Janet Jackson
3/5
I’m much more familiar with early 2000s Janet but this was super fun. Miss You Much is such a banger, as is Rhythm Nation. The only downside was that there were a lotttt of interludes that I don’t think always added heaps to the context of the song that came after it. 3.5 stars.
AC/DC
4/5
I really enjoyed this - I only knew Highway to Hell as a song and really like that and yet there were plenty of other great songs on this. Felt like a real rock classic.
Talking Heads
4/5
A classic album and for a reason. Such a good tome, a super interesting listen and some great hooks - the bassline for Psycho Killer is just chefs kiss and an all-time great.
Buffalo Springfield
4/5
I don’t know what I expected from this but I really enjoyed it. Really good, a bit folky, a bit rocky, a little psychedelic. Really great song writing as well throughout.
Nick Drake
4/5
I loved this. I didn’t know it but I already knew Fly from The Royal Tenenbaums and really liked that song, and the rest of the album lived up to it. Such a beautiful, easy listen.
Todd Rundgren
5/5
One of my favourite finds from this project, again. This still totally slaps and on my second listen it just got better. Still a 5 star album for me.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
One of my all time faves - an album where I know every song inside out and every time I listen to it its still so good.
Animal Collective
4/5
Man this really took me back - I loved this album when it came out, and it still really holds up. A great collection of songs that still feel influential on the indie scene today.
Lightning Bolt
1/5
Haaaaated this. This was painful from start to finish and I only persisted for completeness of this project.
Boston
4/5
Second time for this album and still really like it. Big, bombastic power-pop rock, fun songs. Just a really fun album to listen to.
Frank Black
3/5
This took me a few songs to get into it, but once I was in, I was in. Really enjoyed this, although it felt a touch long. A really solid 3.5 stars.
Björk
4/5
Such a beautiful, interesting album. No one does it like Bjork in how she retells emotions and mixes sonic textures. An incredible album and speaks to her body of work that it’s still not her best.