My 1001 Albums Journey

Album	You	Global	Diff
Medúlla Björk	5	2.73	+2.27
Merriweather Post Pavilion Animal Collective	5	2.9	+2.1
Clube Da Esquina Milton Nascimento	5	3.13	+1.87
Vespertine Björk	5	3.16	+1.84
The Bones Of What You Believe CHVRCHES	5	3.18	+1.82
Songs Of Love And Hate Leonard Cohen	5	3.2	+1.8
Virgin Suicides Air	5	3.24	+1.76
Daydream Nation Sonic Youth	5	3.29	+1.71
Heaven Or Las Vegas Cocteau Twins	5	3.38	+1.62
Opus Dei Laibach	4	2.39	+1.61

Album	You	Global	Diff
Eternally Yours The Saints	1	3.06	-2.06
Rattlesnakes Lloyd Cole And The Commotions	1	2.9	-1.9
Graceland Paul Simon	2	3.74	-1.74
Brothers In Arms Dire Straits	2	3.74	-1.74
Hot Fuss The Killers	2	3.73	-1.73
Can't Buy A Thrill Steely Dan	2	3.72	-1.72
With The Beatles Beatles	2	3.66	-1.66
Superunknown Soundgarden	2	3.66	-1.66
Blood Sugar Sex Magik Red Hot Chili Peppers	2	3.5	-1.5
Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water Limp Bizkit	1	2.49	-1.49

Artist	Albums	Average
Björk	2	5
Radiohead	3	4.33
Sonic Youth	3	4.33
The Kinks	3	4.33

Artist	Ratings
Beatles	2, 3, 5

Taylor Swift

4/5

𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 feels like Taylor Swift wandered into the woods with a notebook, a flannel shirt, and a thousand unresolved emotions — and honestly, I’m here for it. It’s moody, introspective, and occasionally sounds like it was recorded in a haunted but emotionally supportive cabin. At times it leans a bit too hard into the melancholy, but it’s beautifully written and full of quiet power. Basically, it’s the musical equivalent of staring pensively out a window while it rains — dramatic, but kind of perfect.

Hot Rats

Frank Zappa

4/5

𝘏𝘰𝘵 𝘙𝘢𝘵𝘴 is what happens when Frank Zappa decides to behave — at least a little. Stripped of most of his trademark absurdism (minus a dash of Beefheart chaos and some delightfully odd titles), this album dives deep into jazz-rock fusion with surprising accessibility. Tracks like 𝘗𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢 don’t just groove — they glide, twist, and sparkle. It’s experimental, yes, but with enough structure to welcome even the Zappa-curious. A wild ride, but one with seatbelts.

KIWANUKA

Michael Kiwanuka

5/5

Wow, what an incredible album! When I first saw the cover of 𝘒𝘪𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘬𝘢, I assumed it was just another run-of-the-mill soul record. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Michael Kiwanuka’s voice is warm and effortlessly smooth, and the instrumentation is perfectly tailored to a psychedelic soul landscape — lush, immersive, and deeply textured. Why did I overlook 𝘒𝘪𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘬𝘢 for so long and just let it sit there, unnoticed? This isn’t just a good soul album — it’s a fully realized, emotionally resonant journey that deserves to be heard as a whole. A true gem hiding in plain sight.

Kid A

Radiohead

5/5

Somehow, I find 𝘒𝘪𝘥 𝘈 even better than 𝘖𝘒 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘳 — and I can’t fully explain why. Where 𝘖𝘒 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘳 looks outward, anxious and analytical, 𝘒𝘪𝘥 𝘈 turns inward, cloaked in abstraction. It’s more introverted, more distant, yet strangely more emotional. The sparse use of guitars makes room for eerie textures, built from electronic keys, glitchy beats, and especially the haunting tones of the Ondes Martenot. This isn’t an album that asks to be understood — it wants to be felt. A cold, alien fog you slowly learn to breathe in. Less protest, more dream. Less voice, more presence. And for reasons that bypass logic, it stays with you even longer.

Hybrid Theory

Linkin Park

2/5

I gave 𝘏𝘺𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘺 an honest shot and even listened to 𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘢 and 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 for context. Still, it just doesn’t click with me. 1. Chester Bennington’s screams on 𝘏𝘺𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘺 feel more forced than fierce — his clean vocals are solid, but the shouting isn’t quite there yet. 2. Mike Shinoda’s rapping also lacks the confidence and flow he shows later, especially on 𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘢. 3. Without the electronic polish and DJ elements, 𝘏𝘺𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘺 often sounds like just another angsty metal album from the early 2000s. 4. Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend 𝘏𝘺𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘺 as the best entry point to Linkin Park — 𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘢 refines the formula and delivers it with far more impact. That said, 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘯𝘥 is a clear standout, and I understand why 𝘏𝘺𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘺 earned its place on the 1001 Albums list. It’s a defining moment for its genre — just not one that resonates with me personally.

With The Beatles

Beatles

2/5

I’ve never been a big fan of the Beatles’ early albums, and 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴 didn’t do much to change that. While it’s full of youthful energy and tight performances, most of the songs feel locked into a narrow formula — basic love lyrics, simple structures, little ambition. Worse, the mix is hard to enjoy today. The artificial stereo separation — what some call “ping-pong stereo” — can be downright distracting. Vocals in one ear, instruments in the other, with a strange hollowness in between. It’s a historical artifact, sure, but it doesn’t make for pleasant listening. That said, 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘔𝘺 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 is a genuine standout, and some of the cover versions work surprisingly well. 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 (𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘵) in particular benefits from George Martin’s careful overdub work — it sounds tighter and more powerful than most of the album. But overall, this isn’t a phase of the Beatles I care to revisit. The real magic was still to come.

Medúlla

Björk

5/5

Björk presents 𝘔𝘦𝘥ú𝘭𝘭𝘢 — an album made entirely from the human voice — featuring throat singing, beatboxing, choirs, whispers, and everything in between. It’s bold, raw, and intimate, stripping music down to its most primal element: breath and voice. What could have easily been a conceptual gimmick becomes something deeply emotional and otherworldly. Björk doesn’t just experiment — she 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 a sonic world that feels ancient and futuristic at once. Tracks like 𝘝ö𝘬𝘶𝘳ó, 𝘖𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘢, and 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘐𝘴 𝘐𝘵 offer moments of haunting beauty, while 𝘈𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 plunges into the edge of vocal abstraction. 𝘔𝘦𝘥ú𝘭𝘭𝘢 isn’t an easy listen, but it’s a fearless one. It’s music at its most elemental — and yet more advanced than what most artists dare to attempt. A masterpiece of human expression and sonic imagination.

Graceland

Paul Simon

2/5

𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 is often held up as a groundbreaking album, but to me, it mostly sounds like a smooth, safe ’80s pop record with occasional touches of South African rhythm and harmony. The much-praised “world music” elements are there, but they rarely lead — Paul Simon stays firmly in the spotlight, and the album never feels like a true musical exchange. Still, I do get the sense that Simon wanted to shine a light on the South African musicians he worked with. Groups like Ladysmith Black Mambazo clearly gained more visibility through this project, and that matters — even if the way it’s done feels more like cultural framing than collaboration. The music itself feels tame, a bit lifeless at times, and nowhere near as bold as its reputation suggests. For an album so often described as revolutionary, it left me surprisingly unmoved.

Sunshine Superman

Donovan

3/5

𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯 is a fairly average album overall, but it does have its moments. What stands out most is the use of Indian instrumentation, which adds a unique psychedelic flavor to the otherwise laid-back 60s folk-pop sound. It’s more interesting in texture than in songwriting, but still worth a listen for its historical context and sonic experimentation.

Head Hunters

Herbie Hancock

4/5

Cool stuff. 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 grooves hard, sounds fresh even decades later, and proves that jazz can move your body as much as your brain.

Illmatic

Nas

3/5

Look, 𝘐𝘭𝘭𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 is a landmark. Everyone from music nerds to college professors seems to agree it’s the gold standard of ’90s hip-hop. And sure enough, the beats are crisp, the rhymes are tight, and Nas delivers vivid street poetry like a 20-year-old with an old soul and a very sharp pen. Still, for someone who’s not deep into rap, it sometimes feels like reading a brilliant novel in a language you only half speak. I admire the craft, I get the cultural weight, but I’m not quite emotionally pulled in. Important? Absolutely. Essential? For hip-hop, yes. For me? Let’s say I’m glad I heard it — but I won’t be quoting it at dinner parties.

Home Is Where The Music Is

Hugh Masekela

3/5

A strong and thoughtful jazz record that might feel more at home in 𝟣𝟢𝟢𝟣 𝘑𝘢𝘻𝘻 𝘈𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮𝘴 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘉𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘋𝘪𝘦. While it’s beautifully performed and rich in mood, it doesn’t quite carry the historical weight or influence of other entries on the main list. The 76-minute runtime makes it a slow burn, but there’s real beauty in its patience. 𝘐𝘯𝘨𝘰𝘰 𝘗𝘰𝘸-𝘗𝘰𝘸 (𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘴 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨) stands out as a charming, unexpected highlight.

Opus Dei

Laibach

4/5

A bold, unsettling, and meticulously crafted album that blurs the line between music and ideological theater. 𝘖𝘱𝘶𝘴 𝘋𝘦𝘪 weaponizes familiar pop motifs and military pomp to construct a soundscape that’s both hypnotic and confrontational. The reinterpretations of well-known songs aren’t covers — they’re recontextualizations, loaded with irony and subversion. It’s not an easy listen, but it rewards attention with depth, tension, and a haunting kind of beauty.

Who's Next

The Who

4/5

A stadium-sized statement from a band caught between rock opera ambition and raw power. 𝘞𝘩𝘰’𝘴 𝘕𝘦𝘹𝘵 refines The Who’s sound into a tight, muscular form, blending synthesizers, power chords, and existential angst without losing their edge. 𝘉𝘢𝘣𝘢 𝘖’𝘙𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘺 and 𝘞𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 are thunderous anthems, but the album’s heart beats just as loud in the quieter moments. And let’s be honest — 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘌𝘺𝘦𝘴 is far more affecting in its original form than in that Limp Bizkit version. Not flawless, but undeniably iconic.

Getz/Gilberto

Stan Getz

5/5

A flawless blend of relaxed jazz phrasing and the smooth sway of bossa nova. Rather than defining a genre, this album turns it into a feeling. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘐𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘢 became a global sensation, thanks in large part to Astrud Gilberto’s airy, untrained charm — despite her appearing on only two tracks, she instantly became the definitive female voice of bossa nova. João Gilberto’s subtle guitar and Stan Getz’s lyrical saxophone complete the mood: effortless, intimate, and timeless. A quiet revolution in sound.

Rattlesnakes

Lloyd Cole And The Commotions

1/5

Despite its polished sound and clever references, 𝘙𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 feels oddly lifeless. The songs blend into one another with little variation, and the emotional impact never quite lands. It’s all very tasteful — but far too tame to leave a mark.

Rhythm Nation 1814

Janet Jackson

3/5

I was genuinely surprised by how strong 𝘙𝘩𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘮 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝟣𝟪𝟣𝟦 still sounds decades later. The ambition, message, and energy are undeniable. But it suffers from a common late-’80s flaw: the overly uniform, mechanical drum sound that flattens the dynamics and makes too many tracks blend together. A bold, important album — just weighed down by its era’s production choices.

Surf's Up

The Beach Boys

4/5

𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘧’𝘴 𝘜𝘱 isn’t sunshine and surfboards. It’s the quiet sound of California’s dream fading into introspection, melancholy, and maturity. Tracks like ’𝘛𝘪𝘭 𝘐 𝘋𝘪𝘦 and the haunting title song show a band far removed from their teenage image — reaching instead for something deeper, more fragile, and timeless. This is not the Beach Boys most people expect, but perhaps the one that mattered most. Brian Wilson’s genius is etched into every note of this record, even in his absence. His emotional fingerprints remain unmistakable: lush harmonies, heartbreaking arrangements, and the sense that music can say what words can’t. With his recent passing, albums like 𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘧’𝘴 𝘜𝘱 feel less like relics of the past and more like open windows into his beautiful, troubled mind. Rest easy, Brian. The waves you created will never stop reaching the shore.

Hail To the Thief

Radiohead

4/5

Radiohead throw everything at the wall here — bleeps, guitars, paranoia, piano ballads — and somehow most of it sticks. It’s not their best work, and certainly not essential, but it’s a fascinating, often thrilling snapshot of a band in transition. Even when Radiohead aren’t at their peak, they’re still miles ahead of most.

Tommy

The Who

4/5

𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 is ambitious, theatrical, and undeniably groundbreaking — but also, let’s be honest, a bit too long. Still, when it hits (like 𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘞𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥 or 𝘐’𝘮 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦), it delivers pure rock opera magic. A flawed epic, but an epic nonetheless.

D

White Denim

3/5

A tightly played, genre-hopping record full of ideas, riffs, and jazzy detours. It’s clever, energetic, and fun in bursts — but not every track sticks, and the whole thing can feel a bit too tangled for its own good. Impressive musicianship, but more craft than connection.

Let's Get It On

Marvin Gaye

4/5

This is soul at its most seductive. Marvin Gaye turns desire into poetry, layering smooth vocals over lush, sensual grooves. It’s a masterclass in restraint and emotion, where every note feels purposeful. Not just a slow jam album — it’s a deeply human record, equal parts vulnerable and confident.

Sound Affects

The Jam

3/5

𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 is clever and confidently crafted, full of sharp riffs, dry wit, and angular rhythms. It’s easy to admire but harder to fully feel. While some tracks burst with purpose and personality, others drift by, more interesting in texture than in impact. It’s a smart album, but one that sometimes keeps the listener at arm’s length.

Ogden's Nut Gone Flake

Small Faces

4/5

The first half of this album delivers richly psychedelic tracks full of Mellotron swirls, bold stereo tricks, and soulful British swagger. The second half veers into something like a musical fairy tale told by Monty Python on acid — surreal, absurd, and oddly charming. No, Rod Stewart is not on this record — he joined the Faces later, not the 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 Faces. This is all pure 1968: whimsical, inventive, and totally unrepeatable.

Blonde On Blonde

Bob Dylan

3/5

At 73 minutes, 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 can feel like a long walk through a poetic thunderstorm — fascinating, but occasionally exhausting. Dylan’s famously nasal delivery and frequent, often piercing harmonica solos may test the patience of even dedicated listeners. 𝘚𝘢𝘥-𝘌𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘓𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 stands out as a haunting, slow-burning masterpiece, giving the album emotional weight and lyrical depth. A landmark record, yes — but not always an easy ride.

Funeral

Arcade Fire

5/5

I’d still love to know what exactly the folks from Quebec were drinking during the making of 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭, because this album sounds just as fresh and urgent as it did when I first bought it back in 2005 (I’m European — it didn’t even drop here until then). The mix of raw emotion, orchestral chaos, and suburban existentialism somehow feels timeless, like a soundtrack to the end of youth and the start of everything else. Even after all these years, it still hits with the same intensity — like a panic attack and a celebration holding hands. 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 has long since earned its place as a modern classic. Whatever potion they stirred up in Montreal, it worked.

Illinois

Sufjan Stevens

4/5

𝘐𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘴 is sprawling, strange, and oddly beautiful — like an overstuffed musical yearbook dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, Superman, and obscure Midwestern tragedies. Sufjan Stevens manages to turn state history into orchestral indie pop with banjos, flutes, choirs, and emotion layered like geological sediment. Some songs soar, others meander, but the ambition never fades. It’s a maximalist album that somehow feels intimate. Still, I’d love to hear Sufjan apply the same grand treatment to 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 — just to see if he can make, say, 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦 sound mythic.

Rejoicing In The Hands

Devendra Banhart

4/5

This album feels like it was discovered in a mossy drawer of some forgotten forest cabin — fragile, hushed, and strangely timeless. Banhart’s warbling voice and fingerpicked guitar create a world that’s part lullaby, part hallucination. The lo-fi intimacy draws you in without asking for attention, and before you realize it, you're lost somewhere between folk tradition and dream logic. 𝘙𝘦𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 isn't always immediate, but it's quietly absorbing — like something ancient that's only just now remembered how to sing.

A Girl Called Dusty

Dusty Springfield

3/5

A charming debut from a singer who clearly had the voice, style, and presence to become a star. Dusty Springfield brings warmth and charisma to this collection of well-produced pop and soul covers, supported by a surprisingly sharp and elegant big band. While not every track leaves a lasting impression, her delivery always feels sincere — even through some of the more lightweight material. Knowing that she struggled privately with self-doubt and identity makes her confidence on record all the more admirable. 𝘈 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘋𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘺 may not be a masterpiece, but it’s the strong, likable introduction of a singer who made vulnerability sound powerful.

Beyond Skin

Nitin Sawhney

2/5

This album tries to be a spiritual journey, a political statement, and a chill-out playlist all at once — and ends up somewhere between a TED Talk and a yoga class with a broken sound system. Some tracks are genuinely intriguing, others feel like elevator music from a global think tank. It’s not without moments of beauty, but I mostly sat there waiting for the point. Ambitious? Absolutely. Enjoyable? Occasionally. Replayable? Not really.

If I Could Only Remember My Name

David Crosby

4/5

Imagine Ringo Starr wandered into Laurel Canyon, lit some incense, and said, “𝘏𝘦𝘺, 𝘭𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥 — 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴.” That’s more or less what David Crosby did here. The album floats somewhere between grief and a stoned group hug, full of reverb-drenched harmonies, shimmering guitars, and loose, drifting jams. Some moments feel improvised, others like sonic prayers. Sure, it’s occasionally aimless — but that’s part of the charm. It’s less a singer-songwriter album and more a 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: reflective, cosmic, slightly sad, and beautifully strange. A flawed but glowing gem of the post-hippie haze.

Virgin Suicides

Air

5/5

A soundtrack that drifts like a fading memory through lavender light and suburban shadows. Air’s 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘝𝘪𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 isn’t just a companion to Sofia Coppola’s film — it’s a complete emotional language: hushed, eerie, and heartbreakingly beautiful. Every track hums with melancholy and quiet tension, like you’re eavesdropping on someone else’s dream. No other band could make teenage despair sound this luxurious. Only one complaint: 𝟣𝟢 𝟢𝟢𝟢 𝘏𝘻 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥 might have been the more daring choice for the 1001 list. But 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘝𝘪𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴? Still timeless. Still haunting. Still perfect. 𝗜’𝗺 𝗯𝗶𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗯𝘂𝗺 𝙞𝙨 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱.

At Fillmore East

The Allman Brothers Band

4/5

A blistering live album driven by Duane Allman’s legendary slide guitar work, 𝘈𝘵 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 captures a once-in-a-lifetime moment the band would never fully replicate again. From the scorching opener 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘰 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴 to the epic sprawl of 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘵, the performances feel urgent, loose, and deeply alive. The improvisation is electric, and the interplay between Duane and Dickey Betts borders on telepathic. Add to that Gregg Allman’s soulful, growling vocals and his understated but powerful Hammond B3 playing, and the band’s sound becomes both muscular and atmospheric. It’s a bit ironic that this live album completely overshadows the band’s first two studio records — which barely hinted at this level of power. Essential listening for understanding how live Southern rock could sound like pure lightning in a bottle.

This Is Fats Domino

Fats Domino

3/5

A gentle, good-natured slice of early rock ’n’ roll. Fats Domino’s warm voice and rolling piano are instantly likeable, with 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘪𝘭𝘭 standing out as the iconic gem. Not every track hits, and it plays more like a singles collection than a cohesive album — but it’s hard not to smile while listening.

Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water

Limp Bizkit

1/5

Fred Durst yells like a teenager who just found his mom’s energy drinks, the riffs sound like they were copy-pasted from a 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝟤𝟢𝟢𝟣 𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘱𝘴 CD, and 𝘏𝘰𝘵 𝘋𝘰𝘨 drops “f**k” so often it feels like an edgy thesaurus had a breakdown. At over an hour long, it’s the aural equivalent of being locked in a locker by a dude in a backwards cap who thinks he invented anger.

2112

Rush

3/5

Rush’s 𝟤𝟣𝟣𝟤 suite is an exhilarating prog-rock journey — ambitious, theatrical, and genuinely exciting. Unfortunately, the second half of the album falls a bit flat in comparison, with shorter tracks that feel more like standard hard rock than something truly special. A landmark for its title epic, but the rest struggles to keep up.

Risque

CHIC

3/5

Chic’s 𝘙𝘪𝘴𝘲𝘶é is sleek, stylish, and undeniably influential — but for someone not fully on board with disco, the long, repetitive grooves can feel more hypnotic than exciting. The musicianship is tight, and Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards clearly know how to build a hit, but after a while, the extended song lengths start to blur together. It’s easy to respect, a bit harder to love — at least if disco isn’t quite your thing.

The Bones Of What You Believe

CHVRCHES

5/5

I have to bookmark this album as a landmark in indie synthpop and indietronica. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 manages to sound both crystalline and raw, vulnerable and anthemic. Every track is tightly crafted, with Lauren Mayberry’s voice cutting through shimmering synth layers like a signal from a distant, emotional galaxy. This debut is so cohesive, it plays like a curated Zoomer-core playlist a decade before the trend caught on. Over ten years later, it still feels vital — a modern classic that set the tone for an entire wave of synth-driven indie pop.

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

The Smashing Pumpkins

3/5

A sprawling, ambitious double album that showcases great band chemistry and moments of brilliance, 𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 is both impressive and frustrating. Billy Corgan’s voice works beautifully on some tracks, adding vulnerability and emotion, but on others it veers into the outright annoying. The genre mix — ranging from piano ballads to grunge, metal, and dreamy alt-rock — feels bold but also uneven. And yes, Corgan’s ego is on full display here, resulting in a 122-minute marathon that could have easily been trimmed to something sharper and more focused. A flawed epic, but not without its charm.

The Clash

4/5

Raw, urgent, and unfiltered, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩 still hits like a Molotov cocktail thrown at the establishment. While firmly rooted in first-wave UK punk, there are already hints of the melodic flair and genre-bending spirit that would define the band’s later work. Tracks like 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘙𝘪𝘰𝘵 and 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘖𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 capture the disillusionment of a generation in two-minute bursts of energy, while 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦 & 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘴 hints at broader ambitions. As Peter Silverton of Sounds famously said: “𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬 ’𝘯’ 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭. 𝘐𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵. 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘥.” He’s right. This album may not be perfect, but its fire is undeniable.

Kenza

Khaled

3/5

𝘒𝘦𝘯𝘻𝘢 is an enjoyable listen, filled with Khaled’s warm voice and infectious melodies. The album blends traditional raï with pop and global sounds, creating a smooth and accessible vibe. However, without deeper knowledge of raï or other Maghreb pop artists, it’s hard for me to fully place this album in context or appreciate its impact within the genre. It sounds good, but I don’t yet have the comparisons to say how special it really is. A solid introduction — nothing more, nothing less.

Heartattack And Vine

Tom Waits

3/5

𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘝𝘪𝘯𝘦 is a gritty, blues-soaked album with a rough, growling voice at its center. The uptempo tracks have a raw energy, but it’s the 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗱𝘀 where the music truly shines. Songs like 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘭 and 𝘑𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘺 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭 bring a surprising depth and tenderness that cut through the grime. While the overall sound can feel repetitive and the gruff vocals may not be for everyone, the slower, emotional moments reveal a powerful storyteller beneath the whiskey-soaked surface. A solid listen, especially when the volume comes down and the heart takes over.

Let's Stay Together

Al Green

4/5

𝘓𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 is a smooth, heartfelt soul album carried by Al Green’s unmistakable voice and understated arrangements. The title track alone is worth the listen — gentle, warm, and timeless. Throughout the album, Green balances tenderness and groove with effortless charm, supported by subtle instrumentation that leaves room for his vocals to shine. While the overall pace is relaxed and some songs blend into each other, the emotional honesty and musical elegance make this a deeply rewarding listen. A classic that radiates soul without needing to shout.

G. Love And Special Sauce

G. Love & Special Sauce

2/5

The idea behind this album is genuinely good: blending blues, laid-back grooves, and hip-hop elements with the tight playing of a solid band. The musicianship is there, and the vibe feels fresh at first. But for me, the delivery falls flat. G. Love comes across like a laid-back, cool white guy trying to rap, and after a few songs, his vocal style becomes more grating than charming. What starts as an interesting fusion ends up feeling repetitive and, frankly, annoying. Great concept, good band — but the execution doesn’t hold up.

...The Dandy Warhols Come Down

The Dandy Warhols

4/5

A hazy, playful mix of shoegaze textures, psychedelic grooves, and slacker cool, … 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘺 𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯 feels like the laid-back American cousin of Ride’s 𝘕𝘰𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦. The swirling guitars and dreamy atmospheres are there, but traded in are the melancholy and intensity for irony, looseness, and west coast nonchalance. Not every track stands out, but the overall vibe is immersive and unique — a charming slice of 90s neo-psychedelia that still sounds fresh today.

Penance Soiree

The Icarus Line

3/5

A loud, aggressive blast of noise rock and post-hardcore energy. The album delivers raw intensity and chaotic guitars, but not every track leaves a lasting impression. It’s more about attitude and sheer force than memorable songwriting. A solid listen for fans of gritty, confrontational rock, though the relentless volume may wear some listeners down.

Frank

Amy Winehouse

3/5

A charming debut from a singer who clearly had the voice, wit, and presence to become a star — though tragically, she couldn’t fulfill that destiny, becoming more famous for tabloid headlines than for her immense talent. Somehow, 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬 sounds more natural and effortless than 𝘉𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬, but Amy’s voice hadn’t yet fully matured into the powerhouse it would later become. A promising, honest record that showcases her unique personality and hints at the greatness she sadly never had the chance to fully explore.

Something/Anything?

Todd Rundgren

4/5

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨/𝘈𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨? is less a typical double album and more like four mini-albums stitched together — each side its own little universe. The first three are solo ventures, where Rundgren plays everything himself, jumping from crisp power pop to blue-eyed soul to hazy psychedelia with ease. The fourth side flips the script: a chaotic band session full of studio chatter, outtakes, and self-aware weirdness. It doesn’t all land, and the sprawl can be overwhelming, but the sheer range and melodic quality make it an oddly personal and ambitious pop statement. Four sides, four moods — somehow it holds together.

Vincebus Eruptum

Blue Cheer

3/5

A chaotic burst of fuzzed-out energy that straddles the line between psychedelic rock and something heavier. It’s easy to hear why some call this the birth of heavy metal, but it still feels more like a raw, overdriven take on acid rock than a genre blueprint. Loud, aggressive, and occasionally thrilling — but also messy and repetitive. Interesting more for its influence than its consistency.

British Steel

Judas Priest

3/5

A landmark in metal history, no doubt — but not quite my thing. Rob Halford’s dynamic voice is impressive, but can feel a bit over-the-top after a second listen. The riffs are tight and the songs punchy, but as someone not deeply into heavy metal, I found it more interesting as a genre milestone than something I’d return to often.

White Light

Gene Clark

4/5

A beautifully understated album full of warmth, subtle melancholy, and poetic songwriting. Clark’s voice carries a quiet emotional weight, and the stripped-down arrangements let each song breathe. It’s a folk-rock record that doesn’t chase attention, but rewards close, reflective listening. A hidden gem from an artist who deserved far more recognition.

Five Leaves Left

Nick Drake

5/5

A quietly breathtaking debut. Nick Drake’s voice is soft but haunting, his guitar playing intricate yet effortless. Every song feels timeless, suspended in its own gentle melancholy. I could return to this any day — there’s always something beautiful waiting in the silence between the notes. An album that doesn’t demand attention, but earns devotion.

Dirty

Sonic Youth

4/5

Most Sonic Youth fans (myself included) would point to 𝘋𝘢𝘺𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 or 𝘎𝘰𝘰 as their defining work — and 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺 usually isn’t it. But that doesn’t mean it’s without merit. 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺 serves up all the signatures: Thurston Moore’s laid-back, almost spoken phrasing, Kim Gordon’s cutting contralto shouts, and the always-inventive interplay between Moore and Lee Ranaldo’s beautifully detuned, noise-drenched guitars. It’s a dense, feedback-laced record that leans just far enough into structure without losing its ragged edge. 𝟣𝟢𝟢% and 𝘚𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘳 𝘒𝘢𝘯𝘦 remain the most immediate and enduring tracks — proof that SY could flirt with accessibility without compromising their DNA. That said, if one post-𝘎𝘰𝘰 album from their early DGC era had to make the canon, I’d have cast my vote for 𝘞𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 — if only for the sprawling, transcendent closer 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘦𝘢, which captures the band’s sonic ambition in a way 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺 only hints at.

Moving Pictures

Rush

4/5

Rush refine their progressive roots into something sharper, smarter, and more streamlined on 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴. The album blends complex musicianship with radio-ready structure, delivering career highlights like the explosive 𝘛𝘰𝘮 𝘚𝘢𝘸𝘺𝘦𝘳, the instrumental masterclass 𝘠𝘠𝘡, and the introspective 𝘓𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. Not every track hits equally (𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘌𝘺𝘦 feels overlong), but this is Rush at their most balanced and accessible. A defining moment in prog rock’s evolution.

Court And Spark

Joni Mitchell

4/5

Lush, smooth, and quietly complex, 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘬 captures a songwriter in full control of her craft. The arrangements shimmer with soft jazz and California pop, while the lyrics remain sharp, observant, and emotionally precise. It’s an album that wears its sophistication lightly — never showy, always honest. A graceful balance of intimacy and polish.

Planet Rock: The Album

Afrika Bambaataa

3/5

More a collection of early singles than a true album, 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘵 𝘙𝘰𝘤𝘬: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮 still captures the sound of a pivotal moment in music history. Tracks like 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘵 𝘙𝘰𝘤𝘬 and 𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘵 remain essential — futuristic, beat-driven and wildly influential. But as a whole, the record lacks cohesion, and the remaining material doesn’t always maintain the same energy. An important listen, but more archival than immersive.

Doggystyle

Snoop Dogg

3/5

A G-funk landmark with smooth production and laid-back charisma. Dr. Dre’s instrumentals are rich, funky, and meticulously crafted — perfectly suited to Snoop Dogg’s relaxed delivery, which often sounds like someone lighting up and drifting through stories with effortless cool. It’s a defining trait of G-funk and gives the album its unmistakable vibe. That said, the lyrics don’t always hold up — often juvenile, occasionally grating, and not particularly deep. For someone who doesn’t live and breathe hip-hop, it’s a solid listen and culturally important, but not essential on repeat.

Urban Hymns

The Verve

2/5

Bloated, safe, and stuck in the shadow of its own biggest hit. 𝘜𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘺𝘮𝘯𝘴 rides the emotional weight of 𝘉𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘚𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘺 so hard that nearly every track feels like a lesser rewrite. Richard Ashcroft delivers each vocal line with the same strained earnestness, as if chasing the same moment again and again. The instrumentation is lush and polished, no doubt — but it lacks invention or urgency. Where others in 1997 pushed boundaries, The Verve chose to inflate familiar ideas. And the hidden track? Best left hidden. A few good melodies can’t disguise the overall sense of missed opportunity.

Vol. 4

Black Sabbath

4/5

I didn’t grow up with Ozzy the metal icon — I met him first as Ozzy the bewildered dad on MTV’s The Osbournes. Born in 1986, I was just the right age when that surreal slice of rockstar domestic life aired. He came across as eccentric, occasionally lost in his own house, but oddly lovable all the same. Around that time, I was also playing his album 𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩 on repeat — especially 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳, his early-2000s ballad that stuck with me. Not long after, I stumbled across 𝘞𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘙𝘰𝘤𝘬 ’𝘯’ 𝘙𝘰𝘭𝘭 in my family’s CD collection — a greatest-hits glimpse into his Black Sabbath years. It would take me another 10 years to realize that Black Sabbath had essentially pioneered what we now call doom metal. Normally, I struggle with the dense, aggressive textures of most metal — a gap I’m hoping to close through this 1001 Albums Challenge — but Black Sabbath has always been an exception. Somehow, they’ve always made sense to me. 𝘝𝘰𝘭. 𝟦 may feel a bit disjointed — an album caught between brilliance and excess. And yet, it remains part of a remarkably strong Ozzy era, during which four lads from Birmingham didn’t just invent a genre — they gave it unexpected depth and dimension. Nowhere is that depth more surprising than on 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴, a fragile piano ballad about loss and transformation. Stripped of guitars and thunder, it revealed a different side of Ozzy — vulnerable, emotional, and entirely human. In hindsight, it feels almost prophetic. The real rupture came only after Ozzy’s departure. Everything before that was magic forged in chaos. 𝕽𝖊𝖘𝖙 𝖎𝖓 𝖕𝖊𝖆𝖈𝖊, 𝕺𝖟𝖟𝖞. 𝕸𝖊𝖙𝖆𝖑 𝖓𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖉𝖎𝖊𝖘! 🤘🏻

Mermaid Avenue

Billy Bragg

3/5

A thoughtful and musically solid tribute to Woody Guthrie’s lost lyrics, 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘈𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘦 brings together the warmth of Americana with Guthrie’s poetic fragments. Wilco’s arrangements are rich and understated, while Billy Bragg brings a grounded, folk sensibility to the mix. And yet, despite the craftsmanship, little of it truly sticks with me. The songs are pleasant, even moving at times — but they rarely take root. Part of me can’t help but wonder: what would these words have sounded like in Woody’s own voice? Would they have carried more grit, more urgency, more soul? As it stands, 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘈𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘦 is a respectful and admirable project — but not a revelatory one.

Fragile

Yes

3/5

𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘦 showcases Yes at the height of their technical prowess, with standout tracks like 𝘙𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 and 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 delivering the full force of their prog rock vision. The musicianship is top-tier, and each band member gets a moment to shine — literally, through individual solo pieces. But that’s also where the album stumbles. The constant shift between sprawling band epics and short, sometimes whimsical solo interludes makes the listening experience feel uneven. The flow suffers, and not every piece earns its place. Impressive in parts, essential in context — but not quite the cohesive masterpiece it wants to be.

Clube Da Esquina

Milton Nascimento

5/5

A masterpiece of quiet revolution. 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘢 𝘌𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘢 sounds like nothing else from its time — or any time, really. Combining Brazilian folk, psychedelia, jazz, Beatles-inspired pop, and symphonic textures, it creates a sound that’s both rooted and cosmic. Milton Nascimento’s voice floats somewhere between earth and sky, while the arrangements shimmer with emotional and harmonic depth. Few albums feel this free, yet this focused — this ambitious, yet this intimate. More than a landmark in MPB, it’s a timeless, borderless piece of art. An album that feels like a place you want to live in.

Snivilisation

Orbital

3/5

𝘚𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 is a strong ambient-techno record that showcases Orbital at a moment of creative expansion. Rich in textures, layered synths, and moody atmospheres, the album blends rave-era energy with a more reflective, almost cinematic edge. It’s immersive and forward-thinking, and when it works, it’s genuinely transportive. That said, it’s also overlong. At 75 minutes, the album begins to drift — its impact diluted by material that could’ve easily been trimmed. A tighter 60-minute version might’ve elevated it from good to great. Still, there’s no denying its place in the evolution of electronic music. 𝘚𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 remains a thoughtful, genre-blurring release from one of the UK’s most important electronic acts.

Bat Out Of Hell

Meat Loaf

3/5

At first glance, 𝘉𝘢𝘵 𝘖𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘭 looks like a heavy metal album — the cover screams fire, fury, and motorcycles bursting from graves. What you get instead is a theatrical rock opera full of melodrama, heartbreak, and teenage dreams. Without Meat Loaf’s over-the-top vocals and Jim Steinman’s operatic lyrics, much of the album could easily pass for a Todd Rundgren project — which makes sense, since he produced it, and the instrumentation carries his fingerprints (especially if you’ve heard 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨/𝘈𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨?). Still, the album lives and dies on Meat Loaf’s performance. His voice turns camp into conviction and absurdity into art. Whether it’s genius or glorious excess depends on your tolerance for theatrical rock — but there’s no denying it’s one of a kind.

Aja

Steely Dan

3/5

Ah, so this is what yacht rock sounds like. Impeccable musicianship, slick production, complex chords — everything polished to perfection. And yet… not much of it sticks. It’s sonically impressive, but emotionally distant. Great to admire, harder to love.

Superfly

Curtis Mayfield

4/5

A powerful blend of streetwise funk and socially conscious soul. Mayfield’s falsetto floats over gritty grooves, delivering sharp commentary on drugs, poverty, and survival. 𝘗𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯 and 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘦’𝘴 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘥 are undeniable highlights, but the entire album flows with purpose. More than a soundtrack — this is protest music disguised as cool.

Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman

John Zorn

2/5

An interesting concept on paper: Ornette Coleman’s classic compositions reimagined through a hardcore punk filter. But in execution, it’s 40 minutes of hyper-compressed chaos that borders on unlistenable without prior knowledge of the originals. Most tracks range between one and three minutes, with a few even longer — but they’re still delivered at breakneck speed, leaving little room for nuance or development. Without the emotional depth and melodic freedom of Coleman’s originals, these renditions feel more like abrasive stunts than meaningful interpretations. If you want to understand Coleman’s genius, skip this and go straight to 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘑𝘢𝘻𝘻 𝘵𝘰 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦 or 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘐𝘴 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤. 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝟰𝟬-𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.

It's Blitz!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

5/5

A thrilling reinvention. With synths replacing raw guitars, 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘉𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘻! turns dancefloor-ready beats into something urgent and emotional. Karen O’s voice is the anchor — soaring, snarling, vulnerable — often in the same breath. From the explosive 𝘡𝘦𝘳𝘰 to the aching beauty of 𝘏𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤, the album balances energy and intimacy with ease. It’s bold, stylish, and deeply human. A rare case where going pop didn’t mean selling out — just leveling up.

Fear and Whiskey

Mekons

3/5

It starts strong: 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘺 delivers a sharp post-punk energy with just enough twang to feel fresh. But from there, the album gradually loses focus. The blend of punk and country is interesting in theory, but the raw, uneven production makes it feel more like a sketch than a statement. There’s charm in its looseness, and the attitude is sincere, but it doesn’t fully hold together. Great opening, patchy journey.

Cross

Justice

4/5

Justice’s debut crashes into your ears like a distorted sermon on the dancefloor. It’s bold, noisy, and completely over-the-top–and that’s the point. From the thundering opener 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴 to the glittery pop of 𝘋.𝘈.𝘕.𝘊.𝘌. and the unrelenting chaos of 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 builds a sonic cathedral out of electro, disco, and distorted bass. It’s not subtle, and at times it overwhelms, but few records from the 2000s sound this confident and iconic. A maximalist statement that made club music feel dangerous again.

Songs For Swingin' Lovers!

Frank Sinatra

3/5

Sinatra’s charm is in full swing here — literally. 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯’ 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴! is upbeat, flirtatious, and musically pristine, with Nelson Riddle’s orchestrations offering stylish, danceable backdrops to every track. It’s a showcase of mid-century cool, where romance always comes with a wink and never a tear. But while the mood is consistent, it’s also a bit one-note. The emotional range stays firmly in the register of suave lightness, which can make the album feel less dynamic or involving over time. It’s easy to admire, a bit harder to love deeply. Still, as a polished expression of post-war optimism and vocal finesse, it more than earns its place in the canon.

Southern Rock Opera

Drive-By Truckers

2/5

There’s no denying the ambition behind 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘙𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢 — a double album tackling Southern identity, Lynyrd Skynyrd mythology, and the contradictions of pride and history. The concept is fascinating, the message thoughtful, and the playing solid throughout. But despite the strong intentions, the album feels overlong and uneven. Too many songs blur together, and much of the storytelling relies on spoken exposition that drags the pace. At its best, it rocks with grit and perspective; too often, though, it loses steam. An admirable effort, but not one I’ll likely revisit. Great idea — just not gripping in execution.

Exodus

Bob Marley & The Wailers

3/5

I get why 𝘌𝘹𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘴 is considered a landmark album — Marley’s presence is magnetic, the groove is steady, and the message is clear. As the face of reggae, he delivers songs with conviction and spiritual weight. But as someone who struggles to fully connect with reggae, much of the album blends together for me. The rhythm feels unchanging, the energy restrained. It’s undeniably well-crafted, and the second half in particular is full of iconic tracks — yet emotionally, it never fully lands. Respect for the voice and the vision. Just not my sound.

The Seldom Seen Kid

Elbow

3/5

Please don’t get me wrong — there’s genuinely great music on 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘚𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘒𝘪𝘥. The arrangements are rich and often stunning, at times even incorporating a chamber orchestra to powerful effect. Guy Garvey’s voice carries warmth and wisdom, and the band knows exactly how to build a song slowly, gracefully, and with emotional weight. But it also arrived at a moment when post-Britpop was slowly fading, and you can feel that shift in the sound. There’s a sense of polish here that edges toward the overly refined. What once felt intimate and alternative now begins to resemble a more diluted form of alternative/indie rock — no longer raw, but carefully arranged for broader appeal. Beautiful in moments, yes, but also a reminder of a turning point: the tail end of a genre before it was fully absorbed into the mainstream.

Parklife

Blur

4/5

Even after 30 years, 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 still sounds remarkably fresh. It’s a sharp, cheeky, and deeply British portrait of 90s urban life — half pop record, half social satire. Damon Albarn’s character sketches and Graham Coxon’s inventive guitar work make each track feel like its own little world, whether it’s the hedonistic dancefloor of 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 & 𝘉𝘰𝘺𝘴 or the quietly devastating melancholy of 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘐𝘴 𝘢 𝘓𝘰𝘸. The stylistic range is bold without feeling disjointed: Britpop, punk, music hall, synthpop — all filtered through Blur’s knowing wit and restless creativity. It’s an album that laughs, sighs, and shrugs all in the same breath. A cultural time capsule that still speaks fluently to the present.

Butterfly

Mariah Carey

3/5

𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘺 moves further into a smooth mix of R&B and hip-hop, with Carey’s signature vocal control and polished production firmly in place. Tracks like 𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 and 𝘔𝘺 𝘈𝘭𝘭 stand out as the clear highlights, showing her ability to deliver both upbeat hooks and emotive ballads. While it’s a well-made and enjoyable album, it doesn’t feel groundbreaking — more a refinement of her established style than something truly distinctive. Solid, but far from essential.

This Is Hardcore

Pulp

4/5

Released as the Britpop wave was receding, 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘐𝘴 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦 feels like a deliberate step away from the scene’s bright, celebratory mood. The album dives into themes of decadence, disillusionment, and the hollow aftertaste of fame, with arrangements that are darker, grander, and more cinematic than the jangly guitar pop of the mid-90s. Jarvis Cocker delivers some of his most cutting and uncomfortable lyrics here, set against lush strings, brooding electronics, and slow-burning grooves. It’s not built for instant singalongs, but its ambition and atmosphere make it one of the most compelling swan songs of the Britpop era.

(What's The Story) Morning Glory

Oasis

3/5

𝘞𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘉𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳, and 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢 are undeniable standouts, but much of the rest blurs together, with similar arrangements and Liam’s vocals rarely shifting in tone. Blur’s 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘌𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦 may not be perfect, yet it feels more varied and musically adventurous.

McCartney

Paul McCartney

4/5

If the back cover didn’t have the name “McCartney,” you could almost imagine this as the Beatles’ first fully homegrown, DIY-style record — they’d already had a few songs with a stripped-down, intimate feel (𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘢, 𝘔𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘚𝘰𝘯, 𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘜𝘴) that hinted at what we’d now call “indie.” But this isn’t a Beatles album; it’s Paul’s solo debut. Recorded mostly at home, with McCartney playing every instrument, it’s a lo-fi, personal collection that drifts between quick sketches, instrumental interludes, and fully realized songs. The crown jewel is 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐’𝘮 𝘈𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘦𝘥, one of Paul’s most enduring post-Beatles works, delivering both emotional punch and vocal fire. Not every moment feels essential, but the raw charm and closeness make 𝘔𝘤𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘺 an understated gem.

Histoire De Melody Nelson

Serge Gainsbourg

4/5

𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦 𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘕𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘰𝘯 remains one of Serge Gainsbourg’s most distinctive works — a compact concept album blending smoky spoken vocals, Jean-Claude Vannier’s lush string arrangements, and deep, funky bass lines. Musically, it feels timeless, influencing artists from Beck to Portishead, yet it’s still very much a product of Gainsbourg’s provocative imagination. Here’s a quick plot summary, which you can find almost anywhere online: an unnamed man (played by Gainsbourg) drives through town in a Rolls-Royce, spots a 14-year-old girl named Melody (played by Jane Birkin), falls in love with her, spends intimate moments with her in a hotel, and eventually loses her in a plane crash. Gainsbourg’s lyrics here would, in a #MeToo era, likely be condemned as sexist or exploitative — and that was, at the time, very much his intent: to shock. It was a strategy he had already used successfully with 𝘗𝘰𝘶𝘱é𝘦 𝘥𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘦, 𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘱é𝘦 𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯 — the France Gall song that won the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest — whose playful yet suggestive lyrics she famously did not fully understand at the time — and the scandalous 𝘑𝘦 𝘵’𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦… 𝘮𝘰𝘪 𝘯𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘴. Problematic by design, but musically exquisite, 𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘕𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘰𝘯 remains a fascinating example of art deliberately walking the line between beauty and provocation.

Hms Fable

Shack

2/5

𝘏.𝘔.𝘚. 𝘍𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 isn’t a bad record, but it suffers from being both too late and too safe. Released in 1999, well after Britpop’s peak, its clean production and pleasant melodies feel like echoes of a scene already fading. Had it come out in 1996 or 1997, it might have found more visibility and success. As it stands, it’s a decent listen, but far from essential.

Deja Vu

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

4/5

𝘋é𝘫à 𝘝𝘶 captures Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young at both their most inspired and their most fractious. The vocal harmonies are gorgeous, the songwriting contributions distinct, and the mix of folk, rock, and country remains a defining sound of the Laurel Canyon era. It’s telling that drummer Dallas Taylor and bassist Greg Reeves — both credited and pictured on the cover, a rarity for session players — may have been the only ones actually holding the group together during the sessions. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘐 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶 makes for a rather underwhelming closer, but when 𝘋é𝘫à 𝘝𝘶 hits its stride, it’s a masterclass in late ’60s/early ’70s West Coast rock.

Superunknown

Soundgarden

2/5

𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 may be a landmark of 90s grunge, but it didn’t work for me. At over 70 minutes, it drags on far too long — this could have been a solid 40-minute record. Chris Cornell’s voice, supposedly the band’s greatest asset, often gets buried in the wall of guitars (with the exception of 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘯). And as much as this is hailed as grunge, it feels more like a heavy metal clone than something fresh. Impressive to some, but not my kind of sound.

NEU! 75

Neu!

4/5

A fascinating split personality of an album — half meditative Krautrock soundscapes, half proto-punk energy — that shows why 𝘕𝘌𝘜! ’𝟩𝟧 is such an enduring classic.

Can't Buy A Thrill

Steely Dan

2/5

Steely Dan’s debut might be praised for its slick musicianship, but to me it mostly sounds like boring pop/soft/jazz rock without much bite. The songs drift along smoothly, and apart from the occasional guitar solo there isn’t much that really grabs my attention. It feels polished, yes, but also lifeless — and for all its reputation, I can’t help but find it underwhelming.

World Clique

Deee-Lite

4/5

Deee-Lite’s 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 captures the vibrant spirit of early 90s club culture with funky grooves, playful house beats, and psychedelic flair. It feels far more stylish and musically rich than the formulaic Eurodance that followed, proving that 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘐𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 was just the tip of the iceberg.

Eternally Yours

The Saints

1/5

A punk record that gets lost in the flood of 1978 releases. The Saints may have come all the way from Australia, but here the energy feels watered down, the songs blur together, and nothing leaves a lasting impression — especially in a year overflowing with both punk and the first wave of post-punk records.

25

Adele

3/5

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins delivers 𝟤𝟧 at the height of her fame. I’ve been familiar with her extraordinary voice since 𝟣𝟫, when many rushed to label her “the next Amy” — a comparison she never welcomed. Beyond her voice, she’s always shown herself to be a strong songwriter. With 𝟤𝟧, Adele cemented her status as a global pop icon. Yet the record leans too heavily on safety: it’s polished to perfection, smoothed out for radio, and at times loses the raw emotion that made her earlier work so striking. Still, I can’t help but give it some extra credit — because it’s Adele.

Crosby, Stills & Nash

4/5

Crosby, Stills & Nash’s debut brings together three songwriters into a Laurel Canyon supergroup, and the result is one of the defining folk-rock albums of the late ’60s. Their intricate vocal harmonies set a new standard, and the songwriting ranges from intimate ballads to richly textured folk anthems. At its core is 𝘚𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦: 𝘑𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘌𝘺𝘦𝘴 — a folk song in suite form that borders on prog-folk, ambitious yet deeply melodic. Warm, intimate, and beautifully crafted, this album captures the essence of the era’s folk music at its most sophisticated.

More Specials

The Specials

3/5

𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴 is an album full of unexpected turns, where ska collides with lounge, dub, and even easy-listening influences. The mix is intriguing and at times surprisingly bold, though the results are uneven. Not everything works, but its eccentric charm makes it an interesting listen.

The Soft Bulletin

The Flaming Lips

4/5

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘧𝘵 𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯 is lush, ambitious, and often breathtaking, with orchestral arrangements and Wayne Coyne’s fragile vocals giving it both grandeur and intimacy. Frequently hailed as a masterpiece, I hear it more as a remarkable step on the way to what many consider their true peak. Still, it’s a beautiful and moving record that defines late-90s alternative.

Heaven Or Las Vegas

Cocteau Twins

5/5

𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘴 𝘝𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘴 feels like the provisional peak of the dream pop/shoegaze scene — though the towering classics that would follow soon after might overshadow it, this record still radiates timeless beauty. Liz Fraser’s voice is so otherworldly she could sing a cookbook or a gardening manual and it would still sound transcendent; on photos she may look unassuming, but here she’s simply luminous. Robin Guthrie’s shoegazey, dreampoppy guitar textures complete the spell, making this one of the genre’s most enchanting records.

Call of the Valley

Shivkumar Sharma

4/5

𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 is a serene and evocative journey through the sounds of Kashmir, performed by three masters: Shivkumar Sharma on the shimmering santur, Hariprasad Chaurasia on bansuri, and Brij Bhushan Kabra on slide guitar. For many western listeners, the santur will be a revelation — its crystalline tones, blended with flute and guitar, create a soundscape that feels both timeless and fresh. While rooted in classical ragas, the music flows gently and accessibly, making it one of the most inviting introductions to Indian classical music. A beautiful and meditative record, deserving of its reputation.

Lust For Life

Iggy Pop

3/5

𝘓𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 is the second byproduct of David Bowie’s Berlin trilogy, though it only partially bears his sonic fingerprints. The record is rawer and more straightforward than Bowie’s own work of the era, with Iggy Pop’s charisma front and center on classics like 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 and the title track. Energetic and iconic, but not as consistently compelling as its reputation suggests.

Truth And Soul

Fishbone

3/5

𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘭 shows Fishbone at their most adventurous, fusing ska, funk, punk, and soul with wild energy. It’s undeniably interesting and influential, but the chaotic genre mix doesn’t quite click for me.

Blood Sugar Sex Magik

Red Hot Chili Peppers

2/5

𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘚𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘳 𝘚𝘦𝘹 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘬 showcases a band playing tightly together, and tracks like 𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘐𝘵 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘺 and especially 𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦 prove they could write genuine classics. But at over 70 minutes it drags, bloated by the urge to fill an entire CD. The real weak link is Anthony Kiedis, whose nasal, often grating delivery quickly wears thin. In the alternative landscape of 1991, there were far stronger albums to spend that time on.

Joan Armatrading

4/5

A warm and soulful blend of folk, rock, and pop, carried by Joan Armatrading’s expressive voice and sharp songwriting. Intimate yet powerful, it’s the record that firmly established her as a singular talent of the 70s.

All That You Can't Leave Behind

U2

2/5

𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘊𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 aims for timeless stadium rock but ends up sounding like a generic early-2000s record. The production is polished to a fault, the songs feel formulaic, and while there are flashes of the band’s anthemic power, the overall effect is safe and uninspired.

Live At The Harlem Square Club

Sam Cooke

3/5

Sam Cooke’s 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘚𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘣 captures him in raw, fiery form, but the recording quality leaves a lot to be desired — understandable given the limited means of taping a club show in 1963. Had he performed this same set a decade later, it might have sounded entirely different, but history didn’t allow for that. What remains is a fascinating glimpse of Cooke’s power on stage, even if the sound doesn’t do him full justice.

Palo Congo

Sabu

3/5

𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘰 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘰 is a fascinating snapshot of Afro-Cuban percussion, with Sabú Martínez leading a fiery session of congas, bongos, and call-and-response vocals. It’s historically important and rhythmically engaging, but Blue Note’s early experiments with stereophonic sound haven’t aged well — hard panning and “ping-pong” effects make the listening experience more distracting than immersive today.

Exile In Guyville

Liz Phair

3/5

Liz Phair’s 𝘌𝘹𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘶𝘺𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦 doesn’t always live up to its towering reputation. Her voice may be unpolished, but that’s part of the indie ethos, and when the lo-fi edge hits, it works beautifully. Still, too much of the record drifts into generic territory, leaving only half of it truly compelling.

Nick Of Time

Bonnie Raitt

3/5

𝘕𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 is a polished mix of pop, folk, and blues that showcases Bonnie Raitt’s warm voice and tasteful slide guitar. It’s solid and heartfelt, with moments of real charm, but it doesn’t quite reach the heights its reputation suggests.

Led Zeppelin III

Led Zeppelin

4/5

With 𝘓𝘦𝘥 𝘡𝘦𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘐𝘐𝘐 , the band pivoted from pure hard rock into a daring mix of thunderous riffs and folk-psychedelic textures. The opener 𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨 is pure power, but much of the album finds Zeppelin exploring acoustic guitars, mandolins, and trippy atmospheres on songs like 𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘦 and 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘯-𝘠-𝘈𝘶𝘳 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘱. It’s not flawless, yet the blend of weight and whimsy makes this one of their most adventurous and rewarding records.

Shleep

Robert Wyatt

3/5

𝘚𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 drifts between jazz, folk, and dreamlike ambience, carried by Robert Wyatt’s fragile voice and gentle eccentricity. It’s atmospheric and often beautiful, but also meandering, with stretches that feel more like sketches than fully formed songs. A curious late-career work, rewarding in mood if not always in momentum.

That's The Way Of The World

Earth, Wind & Fire

3/5

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 is smooth, elegant, and clearly an important moment in 70s soul-funk, but outside of 𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳 little really sticks. It flows nicely as background, yet feels more like atmosphere than substance.

Birth Of The Cool

Miles Davis

4/5

𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭 may not have the universal aura of 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦, but it’s a landmark in its own right. Miles Davis and his nonet trade the frenetic energy of bebop for elegance, subtlety, and carefully arranged textures. The result is a cooler, chamber-like jazz that still feels fresh in its restraint — a pivotal step in Davis’s evolution and in modern jazz history.

461 Ocean Boulevard

Eric Clapton

2/5

I’ve always had mixed feelings about Eric Clapton: as the host of 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦 he left a positive impression, but his careless political remarks do the opposite. Musically, he’s often hailed by magazines (and even casual listeners — someone once coined the phrase “Clapton is God”) as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Yet what he really delivers is safe, academic blues. If you wanted to learn the basics of blues guitar, Clapton could teach you a few solid lessons — but that doesn’t make him a visionary songwriter. 𝟦𝟨𝟣 𝘖𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘉𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘥 proves the point: aside from a couple of originals, it’s mostly covers, played with competence but little spark. His laid-back approach is pleasant enough, yet the album feels more like a collection of interpretations than a true artistic statement.

Life's Too Good

The Sugarcubes

4/5

Without 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦’𝘴 𝘛𝘰𝘰 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥, the Icelandic music scene with bands like Sigur Rós, múm, or Of Monsters and Men might never have made it past Reykjavík’s record shops. Björk Guðmundsdóttir had already cut her first solo album in 1977 at the age of eleven (a collector’s holy grail today) and played in bands like Tappi Tíkarrass and Kukl, but this is where her voice truly exploded onto the international stage. The Sugarcubes sound like nothing else: jagged post-punk colliding with eccentric pop, half naïve, half unhinged. 𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘥𝘢𝘺 drips with surreal innocence, 𝘔𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘩 turns a grisly accident into gleeful absurdity, and 𝘔𝘢𝘮𝘢 is both tender and unsettling. Einar Örn’s half-shouted, half-spoken vocals are chaotic, sometimes maddening, but they give the record its crooked charm. Weird, playful, and unforgettable, 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦’𝘴 𝘛𝘰𝘰 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 is a debut that made Iceland more than just volcanoes and geysers — it put Reykjavík’s weirdness on the world map. The press only wanted Björk, but the chaos was the whole point.

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

Iron Butterfly

3/5

The first half of this record is fairly disposable psychedelic rock — competent but forgettable, the kind of late-60s filler you’d expect to find in any bargain-bin psych compilation. Then comes the second half: the infamous 17-minute epic 𝘐𝘯-𝘈-𝘎𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘢-𝘋𝘢-𝘝𝘪𝘥𝘢, supposedly a drunken slur of 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘥𝘦𝘯. It lurches forward on a massive organ riff, fuzz guitar, and a pounding drum solo, equal parts hypnotic and absurd. Pop-culture sealed its legend when 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 reimagined it as the church hymn 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘥𝘦𝘯 by I. Ron Butterfly in 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘭. That joke sums up the track perfectly — it’s overblown and ridiculous, but also undeniable fun. As an album, it’s lopsided: one iconic jam surrounded by mediocrity. Still, that jam alone secured Iron Butterfly a place in rock history.

Dookie

Green Day

3/5

I never had a personal connection to 𝘋𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘦 back in the 90s or 00s, but if I had stumbled on it then, I probably would have played it endlessly. Listening now, this kind of pop-punk just doesn’t grab me anymore. 𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘦 is easily the standout track — and no surprise it became Green Day’s signature song until 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘐𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘵 came along a decade later. An important album for the genre and for 90s alternative/indie history, sure, but one I can only appreciate from a distance.

Ace of Spades

Motörhead

4/5

Motörhead was never about subtlety, and 𝘈𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴 proves it: the sound of a warthog with an Iron Cross, charging straight ahead. It’s bass-heavy to the core, with guitars only breaking through the wall of noise from time to time. For someone who usually struggles with heavy metal, this record is surprisingly enjoyable — raw, direct, and almost punk in spirit. The only drawback is its lack of variation, but when the title track hits, none of that really matters. It’s not rock ’n’ roll in the traditional sense, but when Lemmy growled “𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘵ö𝘳𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬 ’𝘯’ 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭!” you knew exactly what he meant.

Fun House

The Stooges

4/5

𝘍𝘶𝘯 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 is one of the rare noisy, indie-feeling records of the 70s: raw proto-punk energy colliding with garage rock and free-jazz chaos. From the primal stomp of 𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵 to the unhinged saxophone blasts on 𝟣𝟫𝟩𝟢 and the total meltdown of 𝘓.𝘈. 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴, it feels less like a rock album and more like a violent, glorious mess caught on tape. Wild, abrasive, and way ahead of its time.

After The Gold Rush

Neil Young

4/5

𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘙𝘶𝘴𝘩 is one of the great masterpieces of the Laurel Canyon scene. Neil Young’s fragile, high-pitched voice fits beautifully with the album’s mix of folk, country, and rock — never perfect, but always emotionally direct. Songs like 𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 and the apocalyptic title track capture both intimacy and urgency, while 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘯 adds political bite. The whole record feels raw yet timeless, a reminder that imperfection can be its own kind of perfection.

California

American Music Club

2/5

𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘢 blends folk, Americana, and proto-slowcore moods, but it doesn’t leave much of a lasting impression. Mark Eitzel’s fragile voice and the hushed arrangements create an atmosphere, yet the songs blur together and never really stand out. Not a terrible record, just one that feels more like a footnote than essential listening.

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

OutKast

4/5

OutKast’s 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘹𝘹𝘹/𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 is the rare double album where each half feels like its own world. Big Boi’s 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘹𝘹𝘹 is a tight, funky hip-hop record that could stand proudly on its own, while André 3000’s 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 pushes into pop, funk, and jazz with sheer brilliance. Together, they delivered two massive singles — 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘺 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘦 and the unstoppable 𝘏𝘦𝘺 𝘠𝘢!, a song so iconic it practically defined the decade. At over two hours, it runs long, but it remains one of the boldest and most creative albums of its era.

Vespertine

Björk

5/5

𝘝𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦 is, to me, the björkiest album that could possibly exist. Every detail — icy microbeats, whispered vocals, harp arpeggios, and ethereal choirs — feels intimate and otherworldly, as if Björk had built a fragile winter palace out of sound. The swan imagery on the cover matches perfectly: elegant, strange, and unforgettable. I’ll admit I have a positive bias toward Björk, but even so, this album remains one of the most delicate and singular works in modern music.

Hounds Of Love

Kate Bush

3/5

𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 is often hailed as Kate Bush’s crowning achievement, but for me it doesn’t quite live up to that reputation. While 𝘙𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘜𝘱 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘪𝘭𝘭 stands out as a clear highlight, much of the first half feels more conventional than expected. The second half is more adventurous and atmospheric, showing Bush’s art-pop vision at its strongest. Overall, a good album, but not the masterpiece I was hoping for.

Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor

Lupe Fiasco

3/5

𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥 & 𝘓𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘰𝘳 is a solid hip hop record, but nothing particularly groundbreaking. While Lupe Fiasco shows skill as a lyricist and storyteller, it’s hard to imagine this album having the revolutionary impact on hip hop that some claim. The 12-minute outro, basically a long thank-you list put to a beat, feels unnecessary and drags down the experience. There are some strong tracks here, but overall it feels more like a competent debut than a classic. In the end, it’s good, just not essential.

Fetch The Bolt Cutters

Fiona Apple

4/5

𝘍𝘦𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘭𝘵 𝘊𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 is raw, inventive, and deeply personal, with Fiona Apple using unconventional rhythms, clattering percussion, and her commanding voice to create something truly unique. It’s not an easy listen, but its boldness and emotional intensity make it rewarding and memorable. A fascinating work of art that stands apart from mainstream singer-songwriter albums.

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

Arctic Monkeys

3/5

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘈𝘮, 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐’𝘮 𝘕𝘰𝘵 has the swagger and guitars to tick the “indie rock” box, but I’m not convinced it offers much beyond that label. The songs are energetic and capture a slice of 2000s nightlife, yet the hype feels bigger than the music itself. A decent debut, but far from the groundbreaking indie classic it’s often made out to be.

Scissor Sisters

3/5

The Scissor Sisters’ debut is flashy, camp, and full of disco-pop energy, with clear nods to glam and Elton John. 𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘮𝘢 is the standout, capturing their mix of cheeky fun and catchy hooks at its best. It’s fun while it lasts, but the songs don’t always hold up beyond the glittery surface. A solid snapshot of early-2000s pop revival, though not something I’d revisit often.

All Directions

The Temptations

3/5

𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 is a strong slice of early-70s funky soul, full of tight grooves and polished production, but it lives in the shadow of its centerpiece. 𝘗𝘢𝘱𝘢 𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘙𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯’ 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 towers over the record with its sweeping orchestral arrangement, hypnotic bassline, and brooding atmosphere, setting a standard that the rest of the album can’t quite reach. The other tracks are solid — well-played and enjoyable — but they feel more like supporting acts than equals. As a whole, the album shows The Temptations’ ambition and willingness to expand beyond Motown formulas, but its uneven impact makes it more memorable for one masterpiece than for the record itself.

Black Monk Time

The Monks

4/5

𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘬 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 is raw, abrasive, and downright strange, but that’s exactly what makes it so fascinating. With distorted banjo, pounding rhythms, and shouted vocals, the Monks created a proto-punk sound years ahead of its time. It may be too weird for some listeners, but its boldness and energy make it a unique and influential gem of the ’60s underground.

The Stranger

Billy Joel

4/5

Going into 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 with fairly low expectations of Billy Joel, I was surprised by how strong the album actually is. Blending pop, rock, and balladry with slick production and memorable hooks, it shows Joel at his sharpest. Tracks like 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯’ 𝘖𝘶𝘵 and 𝘚𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘐𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵 prove he could write beyond simple radio fare, making this a surprisingly rewarding listen.

Public Image: First Issue

Public Image Ltd.

2/5

𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦: 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦 isn’t without ideas, but it often teeters on the edge of being unlistenable. John Lydon’s sneering vocals and the jagged, repetitive instrumentation push the post-punk experiment into abrasive territory, making it more interesting historically than enjoyable to hear. As a starting point for post-punk it’s significant, but as an album to sit down and enjoy, it falls short.

Brown Sugar

D'Angelo

4/5

𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘚𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘳 is a smooth, soulful debut that shows off D’Angelo’s remarkable voice and effortless sense of groove. Blending classic R&B with a fresh neo-soul vibe, it feels both timeless and forward-looking. A confident start from an artist who would go on to push the genre even further.

Play

Moby

3/5

𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘺 is an iconic late-’90s electronic album, but for me it lands more in the “decent” category than truly great. The mix of downtempo beats, gospel samples, and ambient textures is pleasant enough, yet it often feels more like background music than something I’d actively return to. Its cultural saturation — everywhere in ads, films, and TV at the time — gave tracks like 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘋𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘔𝘺 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘚𝘰 𝘉𝘢𝘥? a life of their own, but that ubiquity can make the album feel more like a product of its era than a timeless classic.

Bug

Dinosaur Jr.

4/5

𝘉𝘶𝘨 captures Dinosaur Jr. at their raw, noisy best — hooky riffs buried under fuzz, J Mascis’ unmistakable drawl, and a sound that bridges indie rock with the coming wave of grunge. Tracks like 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘚𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦 prove how effortlessly they balanced chaos and melody. The one misstep is 𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵: Lou Barlow’s sole vocal turn, buried in abrasive noise that feels more punishing than powerful. Still, despite that closer, 𝘉𝘶𝘨 remains one of Dinosaur Jr.’s strongest records.

This Year's Model

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

3/5

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳’𝘴 𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘭 is sharp, nervy, and full of Elvis Costello’s characteristic bite, but for me it doesn’t feel especially distinctive. The Attractions are tight and the songs bristle with energy, yet nothing here really stands out as exceptional. A solid record, but not one that left a lasting impression.

At Budokan

Cheap Trick

3/5

𝘈𝘵 𝘉𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘯 captures the moment Cheap Trick went from cult favorites to international stars, thanks largely to their massive popularity in Japan. The live setting gives hits like 𝘐 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘔𝘦 a rawer, more energetic edge, and that energy finally broke them into the U.S. charts. Still, for all the enthusiasm, Cheap Trick often sound like a second-tier hard rock/power pop band — fun and catchy, but never quite on the level of their bigger peers.

MTV Unplugged In New York

Nirvana

4/5

𝘔𝘛𝘝 𝘜𝘯𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘠𝘰𝘳𝘬 strips Nirvana down to their rawest form, showing a vulnerability that was often buried under distortion. The setlist is daring — cover-heavy and far from a greatest-hits showcase — and it works beautifully, highlighting Kurt Cobain’s fragile intensity. Knowing that just five months later he would take his own life makes the performance all the more haunting.

Microshift

Hookworms

4/5

𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵 was my first encounter with Hookworms, and it’s a surprisingly powerful mix of psych-rock, krautrock rhythms, and shimmering electronics. The record balances intensity with atmosphere, pulling you into long, hypnotic grooves without losing momentum. A hidden gem that makes me wonder why I hadn’t heard of this band before.

Low-Life

New Order

4/5

If you treat New Order as a direct continuation of Joy Division, 𝘓𝘰𝘸-𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 could easily be seen as their fifth album — the moment when the band finally moved beyond the shadow of Ian Curtis while still carrying his melancholy spirit. The mix of cold electronics, warm melodies, and Peter Hook’s unmistakable basslines shows a group coming fully into its own. A perfect balance of emotion and precision — understated, yet quietly powerful.

The World is a Ghetto

War

3/5

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘐𝘴 𝘢 𝘎𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘰 is a smooth, jazzy soul record with some truly great instrumental passages — 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺, 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 in particular feels like it could sit comfortably next to Herbie Hancock’s 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴. The musicianship is top-notch, but the vocal tracks don’t always match the brilliance of the band’s grooves. Still, it’s a fine example of early-’70s fusion between funk, jazz, and soul.

Brothers In Arms

Dire Straits

2/5

Sure, everyone’s seen the 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 video — a defining MTV moment — but as an album, 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘳𝘮𝘴 just drifts by. It’s beautifully produced and polished to perfection, yet that same smoothness makes it feel distant and sleepy. Technically flawless, emotionally flat.

Everything Must Go

Manic Street Preachers

4/5

𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘎𝘰 marks the rebirth of Manic Street Preachers after the mysterious disappearance of lyricist Richey Edwards. While it’s often lumped in with Britpop, the album really belongs to the Cool Cymru movement — ambitious, emotional, and proudly Welsh. Big, orchestral rock anthems like 𝘈 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 carry both mourning and resilience, as if the band were learning how to exist again. Tragic in context, triumphant in sound.

The Hour Of Bewilderbeast

Badly Drawn Boy

4/5

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 is a beautifully odd debut — messy, warm, and full of heart. Badly Drawn Boy blends indie-folk, lo-fi production, and playful experimentation into something that feels deeply personal yet instantly inviting. It’s an album that shouldn’t work on paper, but somehow it all clicks — a little masterpiece of organized chaos.

Beggars Banquet

The Rolling Stones

3/5

With 𝘉𝘦𝘨𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘵, the Rolling Stones returned to their bluesy core and captured a band rediscovering its true identity. The record feels raw, confident, and steeped in swagger. 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘍𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘢𝘯 crackles with political tension, while 𝘚𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 stands as one of rock’s most iconic and hypnotic songs. A solid album whose strongest moments still define the Stones’ legacy.

Songs Of Love And Hate

Leonard Cohen

5/5

𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘵𝘦 feels like Leonard Cohen sitting in a dimly lit room, whispering his secrets straight to you. The arrangements are bare, almost fragile — just guitar, a few strings, and that unmistakable, weary voice. It’s a dark record, but not in a dramatic way; more like the quiet ache that settles in after the storm. 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘵 still stops time, and 𝘈𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦 sounds like it’s carved out of stone. It’s an album that hurts a little, but in the most beautiful way possible.

1984

Van Halen

3/5

𝟣𝟫𝟪𝟦 is a flashy, confident record that captures Van Halen at their commercial peak. 𝘑𝘶𝘮𝘱 is an undeniable classic — that synth riff still sounds massive — but the rest of the album doesn’t quite match its spark. The mix of hard rock swagger and shiny 80s production works in parts, yet it feels more like style over substance. Fun, loud, and very much of its time.

Blue Lines

Massive Attack

4/5

𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 captures the smoky, late-night pulse of Bristol in the early ’90s — where hip-hop, dub, and soul collided to form something entirely new. Massive Attack created a sound that feels both urban and intimate, smooth yet heavy with atmosphere. 𝘜𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘺 remains the centerpiece — lush, emotional, and timeless — while the rest of the album drifts between cool detachment and deep introspection. A landmark debut that still defines what trip hop means.

Electric Ladyland

Jimi Hendrix

4/5

𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘓𝘢𝘥𝘺𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 captures Jimi Hendrix at his creative and technical peak. Across sprawling jams and carefully layered studio work, he pushes the guitar into new dimensions of sound. The extended 𝘝𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘰 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 is pure electricity — a masterclass in blues improvisation — while his take on Dylan’s 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘈𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 remains one of the greatest cover versions ever recorded. Hendrix was the best rock guitarist of his time, and this album is still proof that nobody has quite matched his vision since.

Van Halen

3/5

David Lee Roth brings plenty of swagger and charisma, but his performance feels a bit generic for such a landmark debut. The real magic comes from Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, whose dazzling work on 𝘌𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 and the sharp solos scattered across the record completely reshaped rock guitar playing. Yet beyond those moments of brilliance, the album sometimes relies more on attitude than depth.

Pink Flag

Wire

3/5

𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘍𝘭𝘢𝘨 is a fascinating debut that captures Wire at their most stripped-down and experimental. Across 21 songs in just over half an hour, the band dismantles punk rock into jagged fragments — bursts of melody, rhythm, and attitude that often end just as they start. The musical ideas are strong and forward-thinking, but the constant abrupt endings can be frustrating, as if Wire were allergic to resolution. It’s an album more about possibilities than polish — a clever, influential blueprint for post-punk, even if it sometimes feels incomplete.

Rumours

Fleetwood Mac

4/5

𝘙𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴 transforms personal turmoil into pure pop alchemy. Behind its glossy production and sunlit harmonies lies a web of heartbreak, jealousy, and creative tension — yet somehow, every song feels effortless. With 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴, 𝘎𝘰 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘖𝘸𝘯 𝘞𝘢𝘺, and 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘯, Fleetwood Mac crafted not just soft rock perfection, but a timeless portrait of beauty born from emotional wreckage.

Led Zeppelin IV

Led Zeppelin

4/5

Often hailed as one of the greatest rock albums ever made, this untitled fourth record by Led Zeppelin owes much of its myth to 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 — a song that became an anthem, a cliché, and a rite of passage for guitarists everywhere. Still, the rest of the album shows the band at their creative peak: 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘋𝘰𝘨 and 𝘙𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘰𝘭𝘭 explode with energy, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 drifts into English folklore, and 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴 thunders like the apocalypse. It’s easy to understand the legend, even if the worship can feel a little excessive.

Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret

Soft Cell

2/5

A quintessentially 80s synth-pop album that hasn’t aged all that gracefully. 𝘛𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 remains an undeniable classic—sleek, minimal, and instantly memorable — but the rest of 𝘕𝘰𝘯-𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘌𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘊𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘵 struggles to match its charm, often feeling more like a period curiosity than a timeless record.

Stardust

Willie Nelson

3/5

𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵 shows Willie Nelson’s softer, nostalgic side. His takes on American standards are warm and sincere, though a bit too gentle at times. It’s beautifully sung and easy to enjoy, but feels more like mellow evening listening than one of his truly essential works.

Clandestino

Manu Chao

3/5

Manu Chao’s 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘰 is a colorful, borderless mix of Latin folk, reggae, and worldbeat, stitched together with radio snippets and multilingual lyrics. It captures a restless, global spirit and carries a strong political message about migration and identity. Still, the heavy use of loops and recycled motifs makes the album drag after a while — what starts as hypnotic can become repetitive. Inventive and important, yes, but not quite the masterpiece it’s often made out to be.

Arular

M.I.A.

3/5

𝘈𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 is a bold and inventive debut, where M.I.A. fuses grime, dancehall, hip-hop, and global pop into something uniquely her own. The album radiates political urgency and raw creativity — it sounds like it was made with nothing but a laptop, a vision, and an unshakable sense of rebellion. Tracks like 𝘉𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘺 𝘋𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘎𝘶𝘯 and 𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 still feel vibrant, built around clattering beats and hypnotic chants that defined mid-2000s underground pop. Yet, as exciting as it begins, the record can also feel monotonous after a while; the minimal production and looping rhythms sometimes blur the songs together. 𝘈𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 remains a fascinating and era-defining work, but one that’s easier to admire for its attitude than to love for its replay value. 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙧: While I respect M.I.A.’s influence as an artist, I don’t share or endorse her later political views, including her statements about COVID-19 and support for Donald Trump. My assessment here is focused purely on the musical and cultural aspects of the album.

Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs

Derek & The Dominos

3/5

𝘓𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘖𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴 shows that Eric Clapton can actually write memorable music and lyrics when he wants to, rather than just leaning on his guitar skills. The emotional weight of 𝘓𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘢 still stands out, but much of the credit belongs to Duane Allman, whose slide guitar gives the album its real soul and fire. Clapton may have been called “Slowhand,” but here Allman clearly steals the show. A solid blues-rock record overall — passionate but uneven.

Music for the Masses

Depeche Mode

3/5

𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 finds Depeche Mode refining their dark, synth-driven sound into something grander and more cinematic. The production is immaculate — icy electronics and heavy atmosphere dominate — but at times it feels a bit too polished, losing some of the raw charm of their earlier records. Tracks like 𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘔𝘦 𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘈𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 and 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 still shine, yet the album as a whole can feel distant and calculated. A solid listen, but not quite as emotionally gripping as it wants to be.

Viva Hate

Morrissey

3/5

𝘝𝘪𝘷𝘢 𝘏𝘢𝘵𝘦 marks Morrissey’s first step beyond The Smiths, and musically it’s a confident debut. The production is sleek and unmistakably late-’80s, with clean guitars, melodic basslines, and subtle orchestral touches that frame his trademark melancholy and wit. Songs like 𝘚𝘶𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 and 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘐𝘴 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘺 remain standouts — beautifully crafted, even when wrapped in irony. Still, the album can feel more like a performance than a confession, with Morrissey’s theatrical detachment sometimes holding the listener at arm’s length. It’s clever, stylish, and occasionally moving, but rarely warm. 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙧: While I deeply admire the artistry of this record, I find many of Morrissey’s later public statements and political views profoundly disappointing and, at times, indefensible.

What's Going On

Marvin Gaye

5/5

Marvin Gaye might just be the greatest soul singer I’ve ever heard. There’s a weight and tenderness in his voice that feels almost otherworldly — every note seems to carry both sorrow and hope. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘎𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘖𝘯 is more than an album; it’s a living, breathing statement about love, faith, and humanity. From the opening title track to 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺 𝘔𝘦 and 𝘐𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴, the music flows as one continuous meditation, blending lush orchestration, subtle funk grooves, and Gaye’s deeply emotional delivery. Even over fifty years later, it feels completely timeless — a record that could have been made in 2025 and still speak to the same struggles and questions we face today. It’s soulful, political, spiritual, and profoundly human — one of those rare albums where every second feels essential.

Bringing It All Back Home

Bob Dylan

4/5

𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐𝘵 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘉𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦 marks the moment Dylan stepped out of the folk cafés and into the electric age. The first half crackles with sharp wit and restless energy — 𝘚𝘶𝘣𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴 practically invents a new rhythmic language — while the acoustic second half reminds you why his songwriting mattered in the first place. His voice can still divide listeners, and the harmonica occasionally overstays its welcome, but few albums capture a creative shift this boldly. Dylan sounds caught between two worlds here — and that tension is exactly what makes it so compelling.

3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of...

Arrested Development

4/5

A fresh and hopeful record from a time when hip-hop was turning tougher. 𝟥 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝟧 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝟤 𝘋𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘖𝘧… blends rap, soul, and folk with a warm, down-to-earth energy. Tracks like 𝘛𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘦 and 𝘔𝘳. 𝘞𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭 still feel honest and human, full of rhythm and empathy. Maybe it’s a bit too optimistic for some, but that’s exactly what makes it special — it sounds like hip-hop trying to heal rather than fight.

Young Americans

David Bowie

3/5

David Bowie may not be a natural soul singer, but 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘴 is still a fascinating detour in his career. His self-described “plastic soul” phase delivers a sleek, well-produced sound that’s more interesting than genuinely moving. The title track and 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘦 are standouts, but his take on 𝘈𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 feels oddly misplaced — even if John Lennon himself didn’t love the Beatles original. It’s a solid experiment, just not one of Bowie’s more convincing reinventions.

American Pie

Don McLean

2/5

Aside from the monumental title track, there’s little here that truly stands out. Don McLean’s songwriting is pleasant enough, but after 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘗𝘪𝘦 the album drifts into forgettable early-’70s folk-pop. Without its famous opener, this would be just another competent singer-songwriter record from the era.

Come Away With Me

Norah Jones

3/5

Norah Jones has a beautiful, warm voice — probably the main reason 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘦 became such a phenomenon. The album’s smooth blend of jazz, pop, and folk is easy to like but can feel a bit samey and sleepy over time. Lovely background music, though not something I’d return to often.

Like Water For Chocolate

Common

3/5

𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 is a solid, well-produced conscious hip-hop record, but I don’t quite understand the massive praise surrounding it. Common’s flow is smooth and the production (especially courtesy of J Dilla) gives the album a warm, organic sound — yet it often feels too polished and predictable for its own good. It’s thoughtful, yes, but rarely surprising. A good record, just not the revelation it’s often made out to be.

Zombie

Fela Kuti

4/5

A furious, hypnotic masterpiece of Afrobeat. With relentless rhythms, sharp horns, and Fela’s biting political satire, 𝘡𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘦 turns funk into protest music. The title track alone — mocking Nigeria’s military as mindless “zombies” — is bold, dangerous, and unforgettable. Musically it’s rich and alive; politically it’s explosive. It’s the sound of rebellion you can dance to.

James Brown Live At The Apollo

James Brown

3/5

The recording quality is just okay, and it shows the limitations of live recording technology in the early ’60s. Still, James Brown’s stage presence and energy are undeniable — this is an artist who truly had to be 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 to be fully appreciated. It’s a powerful snapshot of his early live magic, even if his later classics like 𝘚𝘦𝘹 𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 were still years away.

Sister

Sonic Youth

4/5

By the time 𝘚𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 arrived, Sonic Youth had fully found their voice — or rather, their beautiful noise. It’s the perfect bridge between their early no-wave chaos and the structured, art-damaged rock that would define their later years. The guitars sound like they’re pulling gravity in opposite directions, and yet the songs feel strangely tuneful — messy, melodic, and magnetic all at once. Tracks like 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘢 and 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 prove that dissonance can be deeply emotional when it’s in the right hands (and the right detuning). I’m probably biased toward Sonic Youth, but 𝘚𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 is exactly why — it’s noisy, fearless, and quietly transcendent.

Eagles

3/5

A polished and easygoing debut that helped define the California country-rock sound of the 1970s. 𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘐𝘵 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘺 is the clear standout — one of those songs everyone has heard at least once, even if they didn’t realize it was by the Eagles. The rest of the album is pleasant and well-played, but it rarely rises above that; everything sounds smooth and competent, yet nothing truly surprises.

Sail Away

Randy Newman

3/5

Randy Newman’s 𝘚𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘺 is clever, biting, and beautifully arranged, but it’s also an album that’s easier to admire than to love. Newman’s cynical wit and theatrical delivery shine in tracks like the deceptively sweet title song and the sardonic 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. The lush orchestrations give the record a timeless sophistication, yet the detached irony can make it feel emotionally distant. It’s smart, sharp, and uniquely Newman — but not always engaging beyond the craft.

At San Quentin

Johnny Cash

4/5

An electrifying performance full of grit, humor, and raw honesty. Cash is completely in his element here — charismatic, defiant, and unfiltered — with the prison crowd responding in kind. His gravelly voice, sharp wit, and songs like 𝘈 𝘉𝘰𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘶𝘦 and 𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘴𝘰𝘮 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴 make this one of the most vivid and unforgettable live recordings in country and rock history. When the audience demands an encore of 𝘚𝘢𝘯 𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯, Cash obliges with a rebellious grin — turning defiance into pure legend.

Crime Of The Century

Supertramp

3/5

A well-crafted and thoughtful album that blends art rock with pop sensibility, 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘺 showcases Supertramp’s knack for melody and studio precision. The production is spotless, the arrangements clever, and songs like 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭, 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, and 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳 still stand out. Yet, despite its polish, the record sometimes feels emotionally distant and overly calculated. Technically impressive, but not always moving — a fine album, just not the masterpiece many claim it to be.

Pump

Aerosmith

2/5

I can see why 𝘗𝘶𝘮𝘱 was such a big success — it’s sharp, confident, and full of big, catchy choruses tailor-made for late-’80s rock radio. But that’s also what turns me off. The ultra-polished production gives everything a glossy, commercial sheen that makes the record feel a bit sterile and overworked. It’s not a bad album by any means, just one that sounds more like a product than a passion project.

A Hard Day's Night

Beatles

3/5

With 𝘈 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘋𝘢𝘺’𝘴 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, the Beatles reached a turning point — their first album of entirely original material and the first time the group’s sound felt distinctly their own. The addition of a four-track machine at Abbey Road gave George Martin and the band more flexibility, so he didn’t have to keep experimenting with limited stereo tricks to achieve balance and depth. The result is a bright, energetic pop record full of tight harmonies and jangly guitars that defined Beatlemania at its peak. Still, these are the “early Beatles” — fun, youthful, and irresistibly catchy, but not yet the innovative studio band that would later reshape popular music.

John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band

John Lennon

3/5

𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯 𝘓𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘯/𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘖𝘯𝘰 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘥 is often described as one of the rawest solo albums ever made by a former Beatle — but its radicalism lies more in its emotional honesty than in musical experimentation. Given Yoko Ono’s avant-garde influence, one might expect something wilder or more abstract, yet Lennon instead strips everything down to voice, piano, bass, and drums. It’s a confessional record where pain, anger, and healing replace melody and charm. Powerful in intent, but not always easy — or entirely engaging — to listen to.

Alien Lanes

Guided By Voices

4/5

𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘴 sounds gloriously cheap — and that’s exactly its charm. Recorded for the price of a pizza, it’s a lo-fi masterpiece that embraces tape hiss, rough edges, and sudden song fragments as part of its identity. Guided by Voices feel like the ultimate DIY band, the kind you’d imagine uploading to Bandcamp and curating their own RYM profile if the internet had existed in 1995. Beneath the noise, though, are sharp hooks and genuine songwriting brilliance — proof that great ideas don’t need great budgets.

Franz Ferdinand

4/5

Franz Ferdinand’s debut still hits with a sharp, nervy energy that made early-2000s guitar rock feel exciting again. The band’s knack for tight, angular riffs and dance-floor rhythms is undeniable, and Alex Kapranos delivers each line with a sly theatrical flair — nowhere more perfectly than the iconic “Ich heiße Super Fantastisch!” on 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦. The full tracklist stays remarkably catchy, stylish, and immediate, and while the formula eventually became overused by others, here it still sounds fresh, confident, and effortlessly cool.

Iron Maiden

2/5

The band shows obvious potential on their debut, but it doesn’t quite click for me. The main weak point is Paul Di’Anno’s vocals, which feel limited and rough in a way that drags several songs down rather than giving them character. Still, there are bright spots — 𝘗𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢 is by far the standout, the first moment where Iron Maiden’s melodic twin-guitar interplay and dramatic songwriting truly break through. Overall, you can hear the blueprint of what the band would later become, but for now it’s more promise than payoff.

Actually

Pet Shop Boys

3/5

𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 is sleek, polished synth-pop with plenty of hooks and a cool emotional distance that only the Pet Shop Boys can pull off. When it lands, it really lands — 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘢 𝘚𝘪𝘯 and 𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘵 are undeniable highlights. And the duet with Dusty Springfield on 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘐 𝘋𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴? is easily the album’s peak: her warmth cutting beautifully through Neil Tennant’s detached delivery. Still, the album doesn’t sustain that level throughout. Some tracks feel more like exercises in mood than fully engaging songs, and the precision of the production can work against it over a full runtime. A solid, clever record — just not quite the masterpiece its best singles suggest.

Two Dancers

Wild Beasts

3/5

𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘴 is a sleek, shimmering piece of art-pop that feels both sensual and feral, built around tightly interlocked guitars, soft percussion and a kind of nocturnal elegance. The element that will make or break this album for most listeners is Hayden Thorpe’s dramatic countertenor — airy, theatrical, and constantly on the edge of falsetto. For some people that voice is an instant deal-breaker; for me it isn’t, and it actually adds personality and strangeness to music that might otherwise feel too polished. That said, the record doesn’t always land with the weight it seems to promise. The atmosphere is consistent to a fault, and several tracks blur together rather than stand apart. It’s a beautiful listen, but often more mood than revelation. A distinctive and memorable album, just not an essential one — interesting, stylish, and occasionally excellent, but not a masterpiece.

The Cars

3/5

The Cars’ self-titled debut is one of those albums that always seems to appear on “essential” lists, and while I can understand why, I can’t quite share the same level of excitement. The band blend pop, new wave and rock with a sleek, radio-ready polish, and the results are undeniably catchy — 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘕𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥, 𝘔𝘺 𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥’𝘴 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭, and 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘙𝘰𝘭𝘭 are deserved classics. But beyond those hooks, the album doesn’t fully captivate me; it’s well-constructed, clever and cool, yet emotionally distant and a little too glossy to truly hit hard. I like it — I just don’t love it. A solid, enjoyable listen that feels more like a perfectly engineered product than a record I’ll return to often.

Something Else By The Kinks

The Kinks

4/5

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘭𝘴𝘦 captures The Kinks at their most melodic and thoughtful, steeped in the unmistakable sound of 1967 — baroque pop arrangements, wistful nostalgia, and that distinctly English charm Ray Davies made his trademark. Tracks like 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘰 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘵 are timeless, while the rest of the album drifts between music-hall whimsy and gently psychedelic pop in a way that feels both effortless and deeply of its era. Not every moment hits with the same grace, but when it does, it’s gorgeous — a warm, intimate snapshot of a band quietly operating outside the big Beatles–Stones axis and carving out their own uniquely British lane.

It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back

Public Enemy

4/5

A landmark that deserves to be heard by anyone, even people who mostly listen to rock or pop. 𝘐𝘵 𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘜𝘴 𝘉𝘢𝘤𝘬 isn’t just a classic hip-hop record — it’s one of the defining albums of modern music, period. The dense production, the political urgency, and the sheer force of Chuck D’s delivery make it impossible to ignore. You don’t have to be a hip-hop fan to feel the impact: without 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, it’s hard to understand why the genre exploded in the 1990s and became a global cultural force. Not an easy listen, not a comforting one — but absolutely essential.

Peace Sells...But Who's Buying

Megadeth

3/5

𝘗𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴… 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘞𝘩𝘰’𝘴 𝘉𝘶𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨? delivers a very pure form of 80s thrash metal: fast riffs, aggressive vocals, restless drumming and constant technical intensity. It’s clearly well-executed, but it also feels very typical of the genre. For listeners who aren’t deeply into metal, the songs can blend together, and the album’s trademarks may feel more conventional than exciting. There are standout moments — especially the title track — but they don’t necessarily open the music up beyond its stylistic boundaries. The social and political themes add character, yet they don’t fully change the experience if the core sound isn’t already appealing. A strong example of classic thrash, but not much more than that unless you’re already a fan of the style.

Hot Buttered Soul

Isaac Hayes

4/5

𝘏𝘰𝘵 𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘭 stands out through its luxurious instrumental arrangements and the unmistakable presence of Isaac Hayes’ voice. The extended orchestral passages and smooth grooves give the album a cinematic feel, and instead of rushing through songs, it lets them unfold slowly and confidently. Hayes’ vocals tie everything together — warm, commanding and full of personality — turning long tracks into immersive experiences rather than indulgences. It isn’t flawless, but when the rich instrumentation and powerful voice lock in, the album reaches a unique emotional depth that few soul records attempt at this scale. Stylish, expressive and memorable.

Greetings From L.A.

Tim Buckley

2/5

𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘓.𝘈. has a solid musical foundation — the grooves are strong, the arrangements are confident and the instrumentals carry a certain smoky, late-night energy. However, the experience is heavily shaped by Tim Buckley’s vocal delivery, which can feel strange and distracting rather than expressive. His style dominates to the point where it overshadows the otherwise well-crafted tracks, making it difficult to settle into the music. Even though the album has good elements, the unconventional singing prevents them from fully connecting, resulting in an uneven listen rather than a rewarding one.

Remain In Light

Talking Heads

5/5

𝘙𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 thrives on its dense, interlocking polyrhythms. The album layers guitars, bass, keyboards and percussion in repeating patterns that continuously shift, overlap and evolve, creating a hypnotic sense of motion. Instead of traditional verse–chorus structures, the music builds gradually, adding new rhythmic and textural elements until each track becomes almost trance-like. What makes it compelling is how the grooves feel both mechanical and organic — tight enough to sound engineered, yet fluid enough to feel alive. The influence of West African rhythmic concepts is clear, but they’re reinterpreted through a distinctly art-rock perspective, resulting in music that’s experimental without losing its sense of momentum and drive. It’s an album that stays engaging because the further you listen into a track, the more there is happening. The complexity never overwhelms; it pulls the listener deeper. A rare case where intellectual and physical energy work perfectly together.

Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Wu-Tang Clan

3/5

𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘶-𝘛𝘢𝘯𝘨 (𝟥𝟨 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴) is raw, chaotic and full of personality. The production has a gritty, unpolished feel that gives the album a tough underground atmosphere, and the group’s rotating lineup keeps the verses constantly shifting in tone and energy. There’s an unpredictable spark to the record — you never quite know what voice or mood will come in next. At the same time, that same looseness can make the album feel uneven. The rough edges are part of the aesthetic, but they can also make it harder to stay consistently immersed. Some tracks hit hard immediately, while others blur together without leaving as strong an impression. There’s clearly a lot of creativity here, but not every moment lands with the same impact.

Yank Crime

Drive Like Jehu

4/5

𝘠𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 feels like a record built with absolute intention. Every riff, break and repetition is tightened to the point of tension — not chaotic, not sloppy, but intense by design. The long tracks don’t meander; they push forward with a nervous energy that keeps building instead of resolving, turning pressure into momentum. The album doesn’t rely on hooks or emotional cues to communicate. Its impact comes from structure and friction — guitars grinding against rhythms, patterns locking and unlocking, everything slightly on edge. Once you tune into that logic, it becomes absorbing and surprisingly powerful. It’s the kind of record that would have lived perfectly on Bandcamp if it had existed at the time: niche, uncompromising, and made for listeners who want something built on artistic conviction rather than accessibility.

The Suburbs

Arcade Fire

3/5

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘣𝘴 is a well-crafted album with a clear sense of scale and ambition, but its emotional spark appears only in select moments. The band from Quebec builds a polished sound palette — lush arrangements, strong dynamics and a theme that runs consistently through the record — yet not every track carries the same intensity. Compared to 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭, the sense of wonder and urgency feels scattered rather than constant. When the album clicks, it does so beautifully: certain songs capture that sweeping, cathartic Arcade Fire magic, where melody and momentum spill over with feeling. But in between those highlights, the pacing softens and the atmosphere becomes more restrained than gripping, resulting in an uneven listening experience. Good music overall, just not consistently transformative.

Suicide

1/5

𝘚𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦 may be historically important, but that doesn’t make it a satisfying listen. The album relies almost entirely on repetition and looping synth patterns, and instead of building tension in a dynamic way, many tracks stay locked into a single idea without real development. What was meant to feel hypnotic can instead feel monotonous and draining. The emotional outburst on 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘦 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘱 amplifies that effect — the screaming and escalating breakdown don’t feel cathartic if you’re not already in sync with the album’s approach. Rather than unsettling in a deliberate artistic way, it can simply come across as abrasive and unpleasant. Even recognizing its influence on later noise and experimental music doesn’t make the experience more enjoyable. Compared with Sonic Youth’s early albums, which use dissonance and harsh textures to create atmosphere and tension, 𝘚𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦 feels one-dimensional and stuck, focused on provocation more than musical progression.

War

U2

4/5

𝘞𝘢𝘳 captures U2 at a moment of urgency and conviction. The album replaces the dreamlike sound of their early work with sharp guitars, martial drums and an unmistakable sense of confrontation. Rather than using politics as imagery, the songs express how real-world conflict shapes ordinary lives. 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘺 directly reflects on the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry, voicing shock and exhaustion at the cycle of violence rather than taking a side. 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳’𝘴 𝘋𝘢𝘺 looks outward toward Europe, inspired by the Solidarność movement in Poland and the hope that collective resistance could lead to change. What makes the album striking is that the intensity doesn’t come from anger alone, but from a feeling of moral pressure — as if the band had no choice but to turn turmoil into sound. It’s forceful, emotional and focused, while still grounded in melody.

La Revancha Del Tango

Gotan Project

3/5

𝘓𝘢 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘭 𝘛𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘰 introduces electrotango as a distinctive fusion, blending traditional bandoneón lines and tango atmosphere with electronic beats and downtempo production. The concept is refreshing and immediately recognizable, giving the album a strong identity right from the first tracks. While the mixture of old and new creates a stylish mood, the record leans heavily on that formula. The arrangements are smooth and polished, but the songs sometimes feel more like variations on a single idea than a journey with dramatic shifts. The album works excellently as a vibe — cinematic, smoky, and rhythmically elegant — yet doesn’t always evolve enough to stay gripping across its full runtime. A fascinating and unusual sound, even if the novelty becomes the main appeal rather than a fully immersive album experience.

Junkyard

The Birthday Party

1/5

𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘺𝘢𝘳𝘥 relies on chaos, noise and confrontation as its main tools, but instead of feeling thrilling or purposeful, the album often comes across as messy and grating. The songs lean so heavily on abrasion — frantic guitars, shouted vocals and jagged rhythms — that they leave little room for atmosphere or structure to take hold. The rawness may be intentional, yet it rarely translates into something emotionally or musically rewarding. For a listener not drawn to this kind of aggressive deconstruction, the most notable aspect of the record ends up being that Nick Cave is the frontman, rather than anything the album itself achieves.

Hot Fuss

The Killers

2/5

𝘏𝘰𝘵 𝘍𝘶𝘴𝘴 delivers the breakout single 𝘔𝘳. 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦, a track that deserves its status thanks to its driving momentum and instantly memorable hook. But beyond that highlight, the album leans heavily on familiar post-punk revival tropes — glossy synths, echoing guitars, and dramatic vocal delivery — without pushing the formula into particularly new territory. The songs are polished and catchy enough, yet they feel more like variations on sounds already established by earlier indie and new wave acts rather than something distinct or groundbreaking. The result is a record that has one undeniable anthem but struggles to stand out as a whole.

Coles Corner

Richard Hawley

3/5

𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳 is a carefully crafted tribute to classic romantic songwriting, full of warm strings, gentle tempos and an old-fashioned sense of longing. The production is smooth and elegant, and Richard Hawley’s baritone gives the music a consistent mood of late-night nostalgia. At the same time, that consistency can work against the album: once the tone is set, it barely changes, and the songs blend together rather than building toward standout moments. It’s pleasant, tasteful and nicely atmospheric, but doesn’t always leave a strong imprint once the record ends.

Colour By Numbers

Culture Club

3/5

𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘺 𝘕𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 thrives on bright pop melodies and smooth grooves, and 𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘢 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘰𝘯 remains the album’s undeniable highlight — instantly catchy and easily the kind of track that would sit on any modern LGBTQIA+ playlist. The blend of pop, soul and light reggae touches is appealing, and the band plays with far more finesse than they often get credit for. Still, the record is dominated by Boy George’s presence, not just vocally but visually and stylistically. His personality and image shape the entire album, sometimes overshadowing the solid musicianship behind him. The result is a polished, enjoyable pop record whose charm lies more in its frontman’s charisma than in band chemistry or deeper musical exploration.

The Village Green Preservation Society

The Kinks

5/5

𝘝𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺 feels like a blueprint for the kind of British pop that would later define the Britpop era. Ray Davies builds a whole miniature world out of nostalgia, eccentric characters and small-town memories, all wrapped in warm melodies and understated arrangements. The album rejects 60s rock trends and instead leans into a distinctly English sensibility — gentle, charming, ironic and full of emotional detail. What makes it so striking is how fully formed this vision is: intimate storytelling, sharp observations and music that quietly unfolds rather than competes for attention. As a precursor to bands like Blur and others who later turned everyday British life into art, it’s remarkably ahead of its time and endlessly rewarding.

You Want It Darker

Leonard Cohen

4/5

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘐𝘵 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳 sounds like Leonard Cohen shaping his final thoughts with remarkable precision. His voice, weakened by age and illness, has a rough gravity that turns every phrase into something intimate and unguarded. That fragility becomes a strength: the tremble in his delivery feels like part of the album’s truth rather than a limitation. The production is restrained and deeply supportive, built around Adam Cohen’s arrangements, crafted according to his father’s instructions, giving the songs space to breathe and keeping the focus on the voice. It’s also striking how much Cohen accomplished despite his declining health. The fact that he continued recording vocal takes — some later used on 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 — shows a quiet determination and dedication to his craft. Those late sessions carry not just musical value but a sense of respect for the act of creating itself. Cohen often described writing and recording as a way to steady himself through pain, and this album carries that sense of creation as comfort. Dark but not despairing, it feels like a final dialogue delivered with clarity, dignity, and quiet intensity.

Solid Air

John Martyn

4/5

𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘥 𝘈𝘪𝘳 blends folk warmth with a soft, drifting atmosphere that at times feels close to Nick Drake’s quiet introspection. Martyn’s voice glides between gentle murmurs and soulful phrasing, while the arrangements stay understated, built on fluid guitar work and relaxed, jazz-tinged textures. The album moves with an effortless calm, yet there’s an emotional weight beneath the surface that gives the songs depth without ever forcing it. It’s subtle, immersive and beautifully crafted — a record that settles in slowly but stays with you.

Feast of Wire

Calexico

3/5

𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘪𝘳𝘦 delivers atmospheric desert rock with strong moods, but its ideas sometimes blur together. Beautiful in places, uneven as a whole.

Daydream Nation

Sonic Youth

5/5

𝘋𝘢𝘺𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 is one of those albums I know so well that it almost feels like part of my internal wiring. I’m aware I have a positive bias toward Sonic Youth, but even with that in mind, this record stands out as something extraordinary — not just within their own catalogue, but within the entire landscape of 1980s indie music. It’s the rare double album where ambition and execution meet perfectly, and where experimentation doesn’t undermine accessibility but deepens it. From the opening seconds of 𝘛𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘈𝘨𝘦 𝘙𝘪𝘰𝘵, there’s a sense of momentum — a pull forward, like the band is opening a door into a world that runs parallel to everyday reality. A huge part of that energy comes from the interplay between Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon and Lee Ranaldo. Their guitars don’t simply serve roles like lead or rhythm; they weave in and out of each other, forming shifting planes of sound. Moore’s angular drive, Gordon’s grounding presence, and Ranaldo’s abstract flourishes create a three-way conversation that defines the album’s identity as much as any melody or lyric. The long-form songs are where the album’s character really unfolds. Tracks like 𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘙𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘭, or 𝘌𝘳𝘪𝘤’𝘴 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘱 drift between clarity and distortion, calm and escalation, with transitions that feel both unpredictable and inevitable. Steve Shelley’s drumming holds everything together — it doesn’t fight the guitars, but charts the path through them. There’s something exhilarating about how the band stretches time: letting riffs expand, letting feedback breathe, trusting repetition as a narrative tool. Instead of losing focus, these moments become hypnotic. Lyrically, the album works almost like a collage. The words aren’t meant to deliver a message; they create textures and impressions. Street fragments, surreal images, cultural references, half-formed emotions — Sonic Youth treat language the same way they treat guitars: cut it up, rearrange it, let it resonate. Even after dozens of listens, the album still reveals new angles, precisely because it doesn’t lock itself into a single interpretation. The production is another part of why this record stays so alive. It captures the rawness of the band without sacrificing clarity. You can hear the air in the room, the scrape of strings, the subtle shifts in tone as effects flicker in and out. For all its heaviness, 𝘋𝘢𝘺𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 remains spacious, even airy. It never collapses under its own size; instead, it feels like a document of a band expanding beyond the limits of what indie rock had been. I also can’t ignore how historically rooted the record is. This wasn’t just a step in Sonic Youth’s evolution; it was a statement that reshaped what American underground music could sound like. Bands in the 90s and beyond drew from this album’s willingness to combine noise, melody, structure and abstraction into something coherent and compelling. Calling it 𝘵𝘩𝘦 indie album of the 80s doesn’t feel like hyperbole — it feels like simple accuracy. But beyond all that, there’s a personal element. I know I’m biased because this album has been with me for so long. It’s one of those records I can slip into effortlessly, where every transition feels familiar yet still electric. Even knowing every corner of it doesn’t dull its power; if anything, it strengthens it. 𝘋𝘢𝘺𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 hasn’t just survived my repeated listens — it has deepened with them. For me, it remains a masterpiece: expansive, restless, visionary, and endlessly rewarding.

A Grand Don't Come For Free

The Streets

2/5

Mike Skinner isn’t the strongest rapper among the artists in the 1001 Albums book, and his delivery can feel flat or awkward across a full record. Still, the concept — a loose narrative about the mysterious loss of £1000 and the unraveling of everyday life around it — is clever and gives the album a unique angle. The storytelling stands out more than the actual performances, making the idea more memorable than the execution.

Bossanova

Pixies

3/5

𝘉𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢 leans heavily into atmosphere and texture, drifting between surf-inspired guitar lines, sci-fi imagery and loud-quiet dynamics. The songs feel looser and more spacious, often prioritizing mood over sharp hooks or clear payoffs. That approach gives the album a distinctive character, but it also makes parts of it feel unfocused, with tracks blurring together rather than standing out individually. There’s plenty of style and confidence on display, yet the overall experience stays interesting without becoming fully gripping.

Apocalypse Dudes

Turbonegro

3/5

𝘈𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘱𝘴𝘦 𝘋𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘴 delivers a loud, swaggering mix of glam, punk and hard-rock attitude, built around big riffs and an exaggerated sense of theatrical excess. The album has solid energy and a few catchy, over-the-top moments, but it doesn’t push far beyond its own formula. Once the initial shock-value humor and stylized bravado settle in, the songs start to feel interchangeable, relying more on attitude than strong writing. Entertaining in bursts, but nothing particularly striking or memorable.

Paranoid

Black Sabbath

4/5

𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘥 is raw, heavy and direct, without much excess. The riffs are simple but effective, and the album moves quickly from one strong idea to the next. Songs like the title track and 𝘐𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘯 show how little ornamentation is needed when the core ideas are this solid. The mood is dark and anxious, but never theatrical — it feels grounded and blunt rather than dramatic. What stands out is how focused the album is. There’s no filler concept, no attempt to sound bigger than it needs to be. It’s not subtle, but it doesn’t need to be. As a whole, 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘥 still feels powerful and influential without relying on complexity.

Midnight Ride

Paul Revere & The Raiders

3/5

𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘙𝘪𝘥𝘦 is a fun snapshot of mid-60s American rock, full of punchy riffs and clean, confident playing. The Raiders have a strong sense of pop instinct, and the record moves easily between garage-leaning energy and more polished, radio-ready hooks. Still, as enjoyable as it is, the album doesn’t always push beyond the era’s familiar formulas. The charm is there, but the songwriting doesn’t quite hit the level of the British bands they were often compared to. A solid, lively record — just not a transformative one.

Bright Flight

Silver Jews

3/5

𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘍𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 leans fully into David Berman’s weary storytelling — dry, funny, sad, and often beautifully resigned. The arrangements stay sparse and unfussy, giving space to his voice and plainspoken delivery, but that also means the album can feel a bit muted if you’re not fully tuned into his lyrical world. There are sharp lines and memorable moments, yet the record moves at such an understated pace that parts of it slip by without leaving much impact. It’s thoughtful and intimate, but not consistently gripping.

3 + 3

The Isley Brothers

4/5

𝟥 + 𝟥 shows the Isley Brothers expanding their sound with confidence, blending silky soul, rich harmonies and fluid guitar work into something both polished and warm. The album balances sleek funk grooves with slow-burning ballads, and the addition of younger family members gives the music a fresh dynamic edge. It’s stylish, smooth and surprisingly varied, offering enough personality and craftsmanship to stand above standard ’70s soul records.

Strangeways, Here We Come

The Smiths

4/5

𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘞𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦 functions as the final statement of The Smiths — a band already at its breaking point. I’ve never been a fan of Morrissey’s theatrical vocal style, but here it actually works: the exaggeration fits the emotional scale of the songs, and Johnny Marr’s compositions give the album a richness and confidence that frames his performance rather than exposing it. At the same time, the record can’t be separated from the band’s collapse. Morrissey wanted The Smiths to continue, but Marr — the band’s primary composer — left after its completion. Since then, Morrissey has repeatedly claimed he was “fired,” though the split ultimately came from Marr’s decision to walk away. In hindsight, the album feels like both a peak and an ending: Morrissey providing the words, Marr providing the music, and both reaching a point where they could no longer move in the same direction.

White Ladder

David Gray

3/5

𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘳 is pleasant enough, built on soft electronics, gentle strumming and an everyman kind of sincerity. The songs flow easily, but that smoothness also flattens the impact — there’s not much that truly sticks once it’s over. A couple of melodies rise above the rest, yet the album mostly settles into a safe, grayscale mood that never fully grabs me. Solid but not exciting.

Let Love Rule

Lenny Kravitz

3/5

𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘙𝘶𝘭𝘦 is a solid debut that shows Lenny Kravitz’s talent right from the start. The album blends soul, rock, and a retro 70s sensibility with ease, and the production has a warm, homemade feel that suits his style. While the songwriting isn’t consistently gripping across the entire record, there’s enough personality and musical ability here to make the album stand out. It’s a promising introduction rather than a fully realized statement, but the talent is unmistakable.

Revolver

Beatles

5/5

𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 is the moment the Beatles stopped being just a great pop band and became something stranger, sharper, and genuinely boundary-pushing. What strikes me most is how casually they mix brilliant pop songwriting with ideas that shouldn’t work together — and somehow do. The songs jump in every direction: a taxman rant, the lonely world of Eleanor Rigby, a cheerful yellow submarine, sunshine optimism, a singing bird, and even a doctor named Robert. It shouldn’t feel cohesive, but the band is so locked into its creative peak that everything fits. John, Paul, George, and Ringo sound fearless here, each track its own little world. And then there’s 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴, which still feels like a transmission from the future — tape loops, drones, and a vocal that sounds more like a mantra than a pop melody. It’s probably the most experimental thing they had ever recorded up to that point, and it blows the album wide open. Even the cover matters: Klaus Voormann’s collage, tied to their early Hamburg days, feels like the perfect visual counterpart — playful but surreal, grounded but already drifting toward psychedelia. For me, 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 works because it captures both sides of the Beatles at once: the perfect pop craftsmen and the restless experimenters. It’s witty, curious, tuneful, and bold — and easily one of their finest albums.

Aladdin Sane

David Bowie

4/5

𝘈𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘦 feels like Bowie stretching glam rock into stranger, sharper shapes. The album swings between tightly written rock songs and more fractured, experimental moments, with Mike Garson’s explosive piano work giving several tracks an unstable, almost surreal edge. Bowie’s writing balances style and unease: these songs shimmer, but there’s tension underneath them, a sense of someone moving too fast for the world around him. The only real misstep is the Rolling Stones cover, 𝘓𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. It’s flashy but doesn’t blend with the album’s mood, sticking out as something louder and less focused than the surrounding material. Even so, the record holds together as one of Bowie’s boldest glam-era statements — vibrant, theatrical and unpredictable.

Wild Gift

X

2/5

𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘎𝘪𝘧𝘵 may be well-regarded within punk history, but as a listening experience it feels surprisingly tame. The songs are tight and competent, yet they rarely generate urgency or danger — two qualities that usually give punk its edge. Instead of raw intensity, the album often settles into mid-tempo grooves that come across as restrained rather than confrontational. For a genre built on friction and momentum, 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘎𝘪𝘧𝘵 feels too comfortable, making it more respectable than exciting.

Amnesiac

Radiohead

4/5

𝘈𝘮𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘤 feels like a companion to the more radical shift of 𝘒𝘪𝘥 𝘈, but with its own, slightly more fragmented personality. The album leans into disorientation and blurred emotion, using jazz-tinged textures, uneasy electronics and brittle rhythms to create a world that feels both intimate and alien. 𝘗𝘺𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨 is the clear centerpiece — a slow, tidal swell of piano and strings that turns weightlessness into something spiritual and devastating. While the record doesn’t have the same unified impact as 𝘒𝘪𝘥 𝘈, its scattered, dreamlike structure is part of its charm. It’s a collection of ideas that feel haunted rather than polished, connected more by mood than by coherence. A weaker sibling to 𝘒𝘪𝘥 𝘈, maybe — but still a deeply compelling one.

My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts

Brian Eno

3/5

𝘔𝘺 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 plays like a collision of ideas — part atmospheric experimentation in the vein of Bowie’s “𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘦𝘴”, part rhythm-driven exploration that anticipates the aesthetic of 𝘙𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. Found voices, fragmented samples and restless percussion drive the record forward, but the experience can feel more like a fascinating experiment than a fully cohesive album. The sound world is inventive and influential, yet a bit detached, as if the concept itself matters more than the emotional impact. Interesting, clever, sometimes striking — but not consistently gripping.

Heroes

David Bowie

5/5

Recorded at Hansa Tonstudio, facing the Berlin Wall, “𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘦𝘴” feels like an album suspended between isolation and possibility. Bowie leans into a colder, more angular sound, yet the record never loses its sense of motion. Robert Fripp’s razor-edged guitar work slices through the mix, giving the music a raw, electric intensity, while Brian Eno shapes the album’s emotional climate — his ambient textures stretch the space around Bowie’s voice, creating a world that feels both industrial and strangely dreamlike. The title track anchors everything: a song built on hope held up by tension, as if the landscape outside the studio seeped into its DNA. The rest of the album moves between sharp rhythms and drifting instrumentals, balancing human urgency with experimental detachment. What makes “𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘦𝘴” extraordinary is how confidently it fuses art-rock, ambient atmospheres and emotional sincerity without softening their edges. It’s Bowie at his most focused and forward-thinking — a record shaped by a city, a wall, and a moment in time that still sounds timeless.

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector

Various Artists

3/5

The idea of a glossy, high-energy Christmas compilation is charming, but the Wall of Sound ends up overwhelming the music. The heavy reverb — Spector’s trademark — turns many of the arrangements into a kind of echoing blur, making the songs feel more crowded than festive. There’s craft here and some undeniably classic performances, but the production is so dense that it becomes hard to enjoy the record on its own terms.

Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)

The Kinks

4/5

𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘳 showcases Ray Davies at his most sharply observant, turning history, class and national identity into vivid, human-scale storytelling. It’s hard to tell where these lyrics even come from — they feel effortlessly detailed, full of empathy and irony, as if Davies is channeling entire lives into a few lines. Compared to 𝘝𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯, the album is noticeably more forceful and rock-driven: heavier guitars, more urgency, and a stronger sense of narrative momentum. While still unmistakably British and character-focused, 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘳 sounds outward-looking and restless, using rock music to examine ambition, disillusionment and social change. A remarkably intelligent album that balances conceptual ambition with raw energy.

The Slider

T. Rex

4/5

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 is glam rock distilled into its most stylish and addictive form. Marc Bolan leans fully into swagger and melody here, shaping songs that feel effortless but unmistakably crafted. The riffs sparkle, the grooves are tight, and Bolan’s voice carries that mix of charm and sly extravagance that defines the album’s mood. It’s playful without being shallow, dreamy without losing momentum, and consistently tuneful from one track to the next. Not every moment is monumental, but the overall shine and confidence make it one of T. Rex’s most satisfying records.

21

Adele

4/5

I’m probably a bit biased here, since I’ve liked Adele’s voice ever since 𝟣𝟫, but 𝟤𝟣 feels like the point where everything truly comes together. Her vocals are powerful without feeling forced, and the emotional weight of the songs carries the album from start to finish. The record balances heartbreak, anger and vulnerability in a way that feels direct rather than melodramatic. Even when the arrangements are straightforward, her voice gives them depth and character. For me, this is Adele at her most focused and convincing — and likely her strongest album overall.

Africa Brasil

Jorge Ben Jor

4/5

Á𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢 𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭 is a vibrant showcase of MPB at its most rhythmic and infectious. Jorge Ben blends Brazilian grooves with strong African influences, building songs around driving percussion, hypnotic guitar lines and a deep sense of forward motion. The album feels both rooted in tradition and effortlessly modern, powered by repetition, groove and warmth rather than complexity. It’s confident, joyful music that proves how naturally Brazilian popular music can absorb and transform African elements without losing its own identity.

Diamond Life

Sade

3/5

𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 is smooth, elegant and effortlessly stylish, with Sade’s voice gliding over polished arrangements of soft jazz, soul and pop. The atmosphere is warm and refined, but also very controlled — the kind of sophistication that can drift into sameness when the mood doesn’t shift much. The songwriting is pleasant rather than gripping, and the album relies more on texture and vibe than on standout moments. It’s classy and easy to enjoy, but its calm surface sometimes works against deeper impact.

Devotional Songs

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

4/5

𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴 works as a powerful introduction to Qawwali: long, unfolding performances built on call-and-response vocals, harmonium drones and steady hand-clap rhythms. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s voice is the center of gravity — urgent, elastic and spiritually charged — and the ensemble’s repetitions are meant to build intensity rather than variety. That structure can feel repetitive over time, but when it hits, it creates a deep, meditative pull that’s unlike almost anything in Western music. As an entry point into the tradition, the album shows why Nusrat’s presence was so transformative, even if the extended cycles demand patience.

Sunday At The Village Vanguard

Bill Evans Trio

3/5

𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘝𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘝𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥 is a beautifully intimate live document, but its age shows in the recording quality, and the trio format naturally leaves a lot of open space. The interplay between piano, bass and drums is subtle and refined, yet for someone who gravitates toward jazz with horns, the absence of saxophone or trumpet can make the music feel a bit too soft or restrained. It’s an important performance and a graceful listen, just not fully engaging if piano-trio jazz doesn’t connect on a deeper level.

Physical Graffiti

Led Zeppelin

3/5

𝘗𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘪 feels like a sprawling showcase of everything Led Zeppelin could do, but not always with the same level of inspiration. The double-album format gives it range, yet also exposes unevenness: strong ideas sit alongside material that feels more like filler than intention. 𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘮𝘪𝘳 is the undeniable centerpiece — massive, hypnotic, and enough on its own to justify the album’s reputation — but the surrounding tracks don’t consistently match its focus or power. The record still has its place in the catalog, but it functions more as a broad document of the band’s abilities than as one of their most compelling statements.

Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

4/5

𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘉𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 is a remarkable document of country and bluegrass history, bringing together some of the genre’s most respected players in a warm, unforced studio setting. The performances feel genuine and deeply rooted, with the guests adding authenticity and character to every track. The only drawback is the sheer length — the album can feel a bit sprawling, even if almost everything on it has musical or historical value. Still, as a snapshot of a tradition passed between generations, it’s hard not to appreciate.

Back At The Chicken Shack

Jimmy Smith

4/5

𝘉𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘤𝘬 is a great example of how refreshing jazz can sound when the Hammond organ takes the lead. Jimmy Smith’s playing is warm, groovy and full of personality, giving the music a relaxed but deeply rhythmic feel. The band swings effortlessly around him, creating a tight, bluesy atmosphere that’s smooth without ever becoming dull. It’s a distinctive, inviting sound — something a bit different from more traditional jazz setups — and that’s exactly what makes the album so enjoyable.

Grace

Jeff Buckley

4/5

𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 shows just how astonishingly flexible Jeff Buckley’s voice was — probably the most versatile and emotionally expressive in 90s indie rock. He moves effortlessly between tenderness, intensity and near-operatic soaring, giving the album a sense of unpredictability and depth. The songs range from intimate to explosive, all tied together by his distinctive phrasing and sense of drama. His version of 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘫𝘢𝘩 is so fully inhabited and heartfelt that it arguably surpasses Cohen’s original. Listening to 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 always carries a bittersweet edge: it’s a stunning debut, and it’s hard not to wonder what else he might have created.

Le Tigre

4/5

𝘓𝘦 𝘛𝘪𝘨𝘳𝘦 is the kind of album that would make your conservative uncle sprint to Facebook to warn that “the kids have gone too far.” Every track feels engineered to short-circuit a MAGA brain: punchy electro-punk beats, feminist slogans, and a level of political confidence that no “antiwoke” warrior could sit through without muttering something about “the downfall of civilization.” The record is loud, clever and gloriously unapologetic — a neon protest sign set to music. It’s irresistible precisely because it doesn’t try to be polite.

The Real Thing

Faith No More

3/5

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 fits its era surprisingly well — a moment when grunge, funk metal and alternative rock were all starting to cross-pollinate. The album mixes heaviness, oddball humor and sharp musicianship in a way that feels very late-80s sliding into early-90s. Mike Patton’s voice shifts wildly between styles, and the band’s tight, genre-blurring approach gives the record its character. Their cover of 𝘞𝘢𝘳 𝘗𝘪𝘨𝘴 is a fun reminder of how proudly eclectic they were, even if the overall album sometimes feels more like a snapshot of its time than a fully compelling statement today.

Purple Rain

Prince

5/5

𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘪𝘯 is one of those albums where the ambition and execution line up so perfectly that it feels untouchable. Prince blends rock, pop, funk and drama with complete confidence, shaping a record that’s both wildly accessible and unmistakably his own. The title track alone is a 5/5 — a towering ballad that builds from gentle longing to stadium-sized catharsis without ever losing its emotional clarity. The rest of the album supports it with sharp songwriting, bold production and performances that make the whole thing feel iconic from start to finish. It’s Prince at his peak.

Fear Of Music

Talking Heads

4/5

𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 pushes the troupe around David Byrne into darker, sharper territory, where rhythm becomes the engine and anxiety sets the tone. The songs feel taut and urban, built on clipped guitar lines, pulsing bass figures and a kind of nervous momentum that never quite settles. Brian Eno’s production adds strange textures and mechanical edges, giving the album its tense, metallic atmosphere. Tracks like 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘋𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 capture a paranoid, collapsing world, while 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 and 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 twist everyday ideas into something uncanny. It’s a fascinating midpoint in their evolution — not as expansive as what would follow, but brilliantly focused in its own restless way.

Marquee Moon

Television

4/5

𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘰𝘯 is one of those post-punk records that feels both razor-sharp and strangely weightless. The guitars intertwine with a clarity that borders on hypnotic, giving the songs a sense of openness rather than aggression. Tom Verlaine’s wiry vocals and tense phrasing match the angular instrumentation, and the title track stretches out with a confidence that never turns self-indulgent. It’s a landmark for a reason — inventive, cool, and unmistakably its own thing.

Every Picture Tells A Story

Rod Stewart

2/5

I understand why this album matters historically, and Rod Stewart is clearly capable of making strong, characterful music. But 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘛𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘢 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 doesn’t strike me as particularly special anymore. The rough production and the mix of folk, rock, blues and soul feel more like a loose scrapbook than a focused album, and the charm that once defined it doesn’t fully carry over for me. There are moments where everything clicks, but as a whole it feels dated rather than timeless, interesting rather than compelling.

The Wildest!

Louis Prima

3/5

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵! is lively, brassy and full of personality, but vocal jazz just isn’t the style that grabs me. The album’s mix of jump-blues energy, big-band flair and comedy routines has its charm, yet the constant showmanship can feel a bit excessive if you’re not fully into this kind of performance. It’s easy to appreciate the momentum and musicianship, but the record lands more as entertaining background fun than something I’m deeply drawn to.

Future Days

Can

4/5

𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘺𝘴 presents Can at their most serene and immersive, drifting into an ambient, liquid sound world where everything feels carefully blended. It’s bittersweet knowing this was Damo Suzuki’s final album with the band, because his understated presence fits perfectly into this softer, more atmospheric direction. Jaki Liebezeit’s drumming is the quiet marvel of the record — precise, fluid and hypnotic without ever calling attention to itself. While it doesn’t hit the same heights of wild creativity as 𝘛𝘢𝘨𝘰 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘰, 𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘺𝘴 is still a beautiful, transportive listen that shows just how elegantly Can could evolve.

Car Wheels On A Gravel Road

Lucinda Williams

3/5

This album is often held up as a landmark of Americana, but to my ears it leans more toward polished country pop than raw, rootsy storytelling. The songwriting is solid and Williams’ voice has character, yet the production smooths things out in a way that blurs some of the emotional grit the songs seem to aim for. It’s easy to appreciate and well-crafted, but it doesn’t quite deliver the rough-edged authenticity I expect from Americana.

Teenage Head

Flamin' Groovies

2/5

𝘛𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥 is easy to appreciate historically but harder for me to enjoy. Its raw, Rolling-Stones-styled blend of garage rock and blues just isn’t a sound I connect with, even though the band plays it with real grit and conviction. Still, the album has genuine interest as an overlooked piece of rock history — one of those records that quietly shaped later punk and garage scenes even if it never broke through at the time. Worth hearing once for context, but not something I’d return to.

Machine Head

Deep Purple

4/5

𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥 is classic hard rock delivered with precision, grit, and a surprising sense of momentum. Even without relying on its most overplayed hit, the album stands strong — but I can’t resist mentioning the riff that everyone on earth knows: 𝗱𝘂𝘂𝗻-𝗱𝘂𝘂𝗻-𝗱𝘂𝘂𝗻… 𝗱𝘂𝘂𝗻-𝗱𝘂𝘂𝗻-𝗱𝘂𝘂𝘂𝘂𝗻. Beyond that iconic moment, the record shows the band at full power: Ritchie Blackmore playing with a cutting clarity and a sense of controlled fire, Jon Lord’s Hammond roaring like a second guitar, and Ian Paice driving everything with effortless intensity. It’s lean, heavy, and endlessly replayable — a reminder of how tight and inventive Deep Purple could be at their peak.

Survivor

Destiny's Child

3/5

𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘰𝘳 is a polished, energetic slice of early-2000s R&B, full of tight harmonies, glossy production, and hooks that still land surprisingly well. It’s easy to appreciate how cleanly the album is put together and how confidently the trio delivers each track. Still, even with its strong moments, it’s not the kind of record I feel compelled to revisit — enjoyable in the moment, but not one that really stays with me afterward.

Merriweather Post Pavilion

Animal Collective

5/5

𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘗𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 feels like a glimpse of what pop music could sound like in an alternate universe — one where the Beatles kept recording into the 2000s and 2010s and fully embraced psychedelic electronics. The album is overflowing with color and movement: layered harmonies, looping patterns, warm synth swells, and rhythms that seem to stretch and fold around themselves. It’s experimental, but never alienating; joyful, but never shallow. The songs shimmer with this sense of ecstatic possibility, as if the whole record is in constant bloom. For me, it’s one of the rare albums where ambition and accessibility meet perfectly.

Off The Wall

Michael Jackson

3/5

Quincy Jones shaped 𝘖𝘧𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘭𝘭 into a slick, deeply funky record, and you can hear his fingerprints all over the arrangements — bright horns, tight grooves, and a polished sense of rhythm. Still, while the album is an important step in Michael Jackson’s evolution, it doesn’t feel like his best work to me. The genre range is fairly narrow, especially compared to the stylistic breadth he would reach on 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳. As a showcase of potential, it’s impressive; as the work of someone destined to become the “King of Pop,” it doesn’t yet fully get there — even though the raw talent is obvious.

Highway 61 Revisited

Bob Dylan

4/5

I still struggle with Dylan’s voice — the nasal bite and jagged phrasing aren’t exactly easy listening for me — but there’s no denying how strong this album is. 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝟨𝟣 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 is sharp, electric, and full of momentum, with a band sound that feels surprisingly modern for 1965. The writing is dense and vivid, and even when the delivery grates on me, the songs themselves are compelling enough to pull me through. It’s a landmark record, and despite my issues with Dylan’s vocals, I can’t help but admire how well it all holds together.

Ill Communication

Beastie Boys

4/5

𝘐𝘭𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 feels like hip-hop made for people who grew up on fuzzed-out guitars and skate videos — a collision of breakbeats, punk energy, jazz flourishes, and Beastie Boys sarcasm. It’s messy in the best way: loud, loose, and full of personality. The group leans hard into their hybrid identity here, crafting a sound that’s as comfortable with hardcore riffs as with boom-bap rhythms. It’s not pure hip-hop in the traditional sense, but that’s exactly why it works. As a kind of gateway record for rock listeners, it’s surprisingly effective and still a lot of fun.

Selected Ambient Works 85-92

Aphex Twin

4/5

𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝟪𝟧–𝟫𝟤 has a warmth and clarity that still feels startlingly fresh. The combination of ambient textures and gentle techno rhythms creates an atmosphere that’s immersive without ever drifting into background music. In many moments, the album could almost pass for a lost Brian Eno project — the same sense of calm, space, and melodic subtlety, just filtered through early-90s bedroom electronics. It’s a deeply inviting record, and even if some tracks are rough around the edges, that rawness is part of its charm.

My Generation

The Who

3/5

𝘔𝘺 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 isn’t The Who’s strongest album, but it’s impossible to ignore the impact of its title track. That song alone crystallized the raw frustration and restless energy of 1960s youth in a way few bands ever matched. The rest of the record is uneven but full of hints of what The Who would later become — loud, defiant, and stylistically bold. As a debut it’s historically important, even if it doesn’t stand as their most consistent work.

Mr. Tambourine Man

The Byrds

4/5

Folk music certainly existed before The Byrds — Dylan had already reshaped the landscape — but 𝘔𝘳. 𝘛𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘯 marks the moment when folk fused with electrified pop and essentially launched a whole new genre. The bright jangle of the 12-string guitar and the tight vocal harmonies would become foundational for the Laurel Canyon scene and countless bands that followed. And honestly, the title track works far better here than in Dylan’s original form: concise, melodic, and transformed into something shimmering and airborne. The rest of the album may lean heavily on covers, but its impact is undeniable.

Pyromania

Def Leppard

3/5

𝘗𝘺𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘢 is solid, radio-ready British heavy metal, polished by Mutt Lange into something big, bright, and built for arenas. The riffs hit hard enough, the hooks are undeniable, and the production makes everything feel larger than life. Still, it leans so heavily into its glossy sound that it never quite grabs me the way other early-80s metal does. A strong record, but not essential for me.

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