1001 Albums Summary

Julian certainly had a lot to say and as such this album doesn't suffer from CD bloat as many did around this time.

A lesson in tedium. The opening and closing bass lines of the album are the highlights. Whiny vocal throughout does nothing for me.

The singles are obviously the standout tracks. Overall not unpleasant.

A very accomplished album for a teenager. A great variety of styles across the set giving the album depth.

The first "new" album that wasn't in my copy of the book. I totally missed it at the time of release. A very enjoyable album. Will be looking out for a physical version of it.

Easy listening. The stand out tracks for me are those written by Crosby.

An almost perfect slab of pop, rock, dance. John & Andy channel Chic through driving funky basslines and sharp guitar work.

I found it a very interesting album musically. Like so many records I didn't really enjoy the voice but it varied enough to keep my interest.

Probably their best work, 8 tracks over 55 minutes. Thrash with healthy nods to a more mainstream metal.

An interesting listen, plenty of variety. 'Nice' probably covers it but surprised it's in the 1001 albums we must hear.

It seems Jack had lots of ideas coming into this album. Some them come off really well, others needed to be more refined. all the same an exciting solo debut.

Great rock album, I tend to forget about how good they were before the 80s.

Just a fantastic album. Had to play it a second time.

A fine example of NWOBHM. I would probably lose the ballad which seemed obligatory around this era.

Their first and best album. Contains the ubiquitous Mr. Brightside (last time I looked 410 weeks on UK chart). Clever sequencing by front loading the album with all the singles to get you hooked in, you can almost forgive Everything Will Be Alright by the end.

Pleasant enough, not something I would be wanting to listen to again. By then end of the album I was glad there was no more. Off to listen to some Joy Division to cheer myself up after that.

This was a pleasant surprise. No surf songs. Spectoresque in its production at times. But as the 1001 book says "...containing what is easily the worst track in this entire book ..", at least in the modern era we can block a track. Definitely an album I'll come back to. RIP Brian.

It's hard to know what influence it had on release. Now it seems very much of its time. The "bonus" tracks don't really had much to the experience. The stand out tracks are the most that still get played to death.

They run through their favourite bits of the 60's.

40 minutes of my life I won't get back. I just don't get this style of rap.

One I'll come back to. I want to understand this one more. Perhaps a tad on the long side.

Perfectly palatable pop. Similar to La Roux or Chvrches from the same period.

Pleasant enough. Raised On Robbery brings a welcome gear change and is the highlight of the album for me.

Not one I had heard of before. It's OK. A nice bit of variety in there. I wouldn't turn it off but then again I doubt I have the urge to go, I really want to listen to Shack today.

An interesting collection of (mostly) cover versions. I enjoyed her delivery on these.

17 y.o. me would be disgusted with me not giving this 5* but hearing it back it certainly has its moments but probably not as consistent as I remember it. I still love the production and the bands overall sound.

Just a wonderful album from start to finish. Sequenced nicely to give it flow and appropriate breaths.

I guess you can hear their influence on later artistes. Didn't really grab me at all.

Not something or someone I had heard of before. I found it an interesting album to listen to especially considering it is an improvised piece. Definitely coming back to this one.

if you are going to listen to one shoegaze album this would be it. sonicly very dense at times with seemingly everything mixed to the middle, this gives a claustrophobic almost intoxicated feel. The vocals sometimes are just another noise in this hubbub. at times I would describe this as cocteau twins clashing with the jesus and mary chain. personal note: strange how I enjoy this but am not of fan of sonic youth or pixies etc. - must be the vocals. And yes, lowercase as a tribute.

Thirty odd year on and this doesn't sound as subversive as it probably did on release. Just a cracking industrial metal album.

Painful. Apparently the 13th best selling album of all time. I first heard this while following the 20 Million Club podcast, wasn't impressed then and it still doesn't do anything for me.

I appreciate that it has had a world of influence but I'd rather listen to those than this. Similar to Dylan in that covers are so better than the original.

One of the "new" albums (i.e. not in my version of the book). Not a false step here. Very assured debut (fastest selling debut at the time of release). An Indie classic.

The smattering of originals amongst this predominately covers collection fit nicely. Frantic at times but fun all the way through.

Nice example late 70s new wave/ not quite punk / rock. The stand out track is Another Girl, Another Planet, found on many a compilation album over years.

I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting.

She's a fine singer but I was done after about 10 tracks.

A interesting piece of IDM. For me not their best album but a solid collection all the same. The newly released extended version has some excellent additions.

A side is good, flip side a bit too folky for my taste.

An interesting mix of tracks. She has a magnificent voice but doesn't always let it shine.

A fine album. You can hear the influence they had far and wide. Apparently recorded in just 12 hours. In 12 hours these days they would still be miking the drums. Not as accomplished as it's follow up but an excellent debut and set the path for things to come.

A lot better than I was expecting. Nice Spector production.

No doubting the influence this album has had. There are fine tracks on here but a bit of filler too. Martin Hannett's production is dark, dense and doomy.

Weird album but I felt compelled to come back for a 2nd listen. Should mess with my algorithm!

Unmistakable Alex Turner vocals set against cinematic 60s style orchestra backdrop.

An excellent example of British metal of the late 70s/early 80s. The band were probably a bit old to be considered part of the NWoBHM. This is album is all killer no filler.

Art for arts sake? The last track is ok

Sounds like a bunch of yanks trying to play The Jam ... badly. Overly long, would have worked better if it was culled to a single album.

An interesting concept to re-visit songs writeen decades earlier and record them as a solo project without any other Beach Boys. The songs are fantastic but they need redoing?

It's an ok album, the cover version is the highlight though. You can see which direction they were heading.

The singles are good but there are some very average tracks here too. The production is excellent and Bernard Edwards bass is the star of the show for me.

A lot better than I remember. Perhaps I've mellowed in my old age,

just another (tedious) REM album. Highlight is "Fireplace" with the addition of sax.

Fun piece of Indie-Pop. Nice nod to Black Sabbath not only in their cover of Iron Man but also in Heartbreaker.

Amongst the usual MOR pap that FM usually churn out there are some really interesting tracks giving the double album some much needed variety.

Production seems a bit muddy at times but that probably adds to the dark feel of the album. A stand out in the genre.

A really interesting listen. A more diverse album than I was expecting having only really heard Solid Air previously. Added to my "have to find on vinyl" list.

The singles are good, the ballad is dreadful, the rest is just very mediocre. There's no doubting the musical proficiency on show but the songs lack substance.

Nice Anglicisation of the blues making it more accessible.

Side 1 is excellent, side not so much.

Not a bad album, probably a victim of the CD era making it overly long. Sometimes less is more.

Prince at the peak of his powers. He wanted a triple album but comprised on a double. Filled with absolute gems.

Added to my (virtual) collection. An almost ambient album that benefits from repeat listens.

Wonderfully over the top production. Great songs roll on over and over. No-one's going to take us alive indeed.

Not a patch on its predecessor, fun nonetheless. More commercial and rock oriented, The Cult discovered ACDC’s chords laying around and used them to good effect.

Just good solid blues.

A bit too country flavoured for my taste.

42 minutes of perfection.

I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting. Perhaps it was just ideal Sunday afternoon listening.

Proof that punk was attitude more than music. At the heart of this are three minute pop songs. The use of sax sets them apart from the rest of the movement. Overall a fun album. (A great band to use in 6 degrees of separation given their later projects)

A horrible slice of Americana.

3 minute "pop" songs played with energy and attitude. Cutting edge at the time, classic now. RIP Soo Catwoman

A mixed bag, the ballads are very average indeed but the hip hop/rap tracks are excellent. Would have benefited from the inclusion of The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel.

Nothing special or anything we hadn’t heard before (which I guess is why Albini was chosen to produce). Highlight is probably the addition of cello on a couple of tracks.

A mixed bag (as you would probably expect for a double album), I wasn't pleasantly surprised how much I didn't hate it.

Cracking album. What stood out for me was the number of tracks that got a new life via covers, reworking and film.

Easy to see why every bargain bucket and 2nd hand shop had over supply of this.

An excellent collection of Thin Lizzy material, now how much is live we will never know.

Pleasantly surprised by this one. A variety of styles, Will come back to this one in the future.

Like a lot of hip hop, this would be better as an instrumental album.

I don't think anything from the CSNY stable will really grab me. This has so ok moments but I don't think I'll be coming back to it.

The sound of a band of a band brimming with confidence and hitting their creative peak. Superb.

Their commercial peak but certainly not my favourite. It seems they finally found a formula that resonated. If I never hear Common People or Disco 2000 I won't be disappointed. The rest of the album is really enjoyable.

Not too bad. With that sleeve I was expecting at lot worse. Once again the vocal lets it down for me.

No doubting the cultural influence it has had. Is it a favourite of mine? Absolutely not, but you have to give it a nod. An excellent cameo from Slayer's Kerry King on a couple of tracks.

It is a fine album. The highs are really high but a bit too much filler to warrant 5*

Solid album album, so really good songs and a quite a bit of filler.

Wanted to enjoy this more than I did being a fan of Spiritulised.

I found the last track punishing but the rest was enjoyable especially when Neil Hannon shared vocal duties.

Fantastic example of what a live album should be.

A few interesting moments in an a diverse album.

Pleasantly surprised by this. I was expecting a Get Real one-trick pony but there is real range here.

Let down by a very mediocre second half.

39 minutes of my life I won't get back. The sax solo on Jungleland in the highlight it doesn't compensate for the grating voval throughout.

Bland American guff. Not a redeemable feature about this album

The moment when the business part of music business took over and they sold their souls for the yankee dollar.

An interesting collection of covers but hardly essential listening.

This comes across as Weller having lots ideas and wanting to get them out rather than a coherent album.

The music is OK, vocals make this a difficult listen, particularly the Kim Gordon tracks.

There are some great songs on this album, unfortunately Neil Young "sings" them.

An interesting concept to the album, well executed. Would I listen again? Probably not but I can see why it's on the list.

Has to be one of the best debut albums made.

An easy 5* from me. The band arrived with so much swagger on this album. In I Am The Resurrection we have one of the best closers ever.

Seems a bit overly long (too much filler?). Still OK though with some belters on there.

A couple of decent tracks. You can understand the influence but a bit too inconsistent to make it more than average album.

A compilation album on the list? A nice collection pulling together 4 years of Afrika Bambaataa 12" singles and showing us the best of early hip-hop. Arthur Baker is prominent on the early tracks using beats that he would use elsewhere (yes, I'm looking at you New Order).

The "plastic soul" album. Some interesting vocal arrangements. Perhaps Across The Universe could have been replaced by one of many outtakes from sessions but a solid piece of work nonetheless.

So much going on on this album, jumping from one style to another. It doesn't lend itself to a coherent piece of work. It is almost like a soundtrack to a modern musical theatre.

Nice little collection of 3 minute pop songs

A magnificent album, nothing to fault on it.

Solid album underpinned by Just, High & Dry, the title track. A bit of filler in-between but I guess us time to be prepared for the next masterpiece. Street Spirit is just a perfect way to end an album

A really strong album, holding up surprisingly well 52 years later. The switch from US to UK did wonders for their sound.

A curious blend of absolute classics and mediocre filler.

Not usually my thing but a really solid album.

Some interesting covers and solid originals

Sonically interesting, would have been 5 stars for an instrumental version of the album.

An excellent piece of electronic music just as the 80s came to an end. Pacific 202 is a standout track.

Younger me would have lapped this up, older me puts it in the pretentious arty bollocks category. AB/7A is a standout (for good reasons).

Your usual 70s blend of absolute classics and bang average filler. Bowie & Ronson do a great job on production.

Chore being the operative word. Sprawling, eclectic but ultimately tedious.

Twee.

Eno assembled a cast of thousands for this and it shows in the diverse work across the album. I particularly enjoy Fripp's work on it, the solo on Baby'S On Fire is bonkers.

The album starts strong but ultimately peters out.

I came into this only knwoing a couple of tracks off the album. I have been missing out on an absolute post-punk classic. Very little to fault on this. Every member contributes to leave this feeling a complete work.

Apart from Maybe I'm Amazed the album comes across as a bunch of demos, perhaps just a product of the technically available at the time. On Kreen-Akrore maybe there is something in the joke that Ringo wasn't the best drummer in The Beatles.

Probably the most accessible CT album on release. Lush sounding, still sounds great today.

A bit more metal than the other Seattle bands. Still has that annoying drawl though. Will I be listening again? Probably not.

More fun than I was expecting.

A masterpiece of 80s production from Trevor Horn and the team. Spawling double album that contains all the #1s. Perhaps could have been a brilliant single album although where you would cut 20 minutes to make the limitations of vinyl I don't know. Two records just adds to the 80s excess.

A great sounding in general. I guess if you want a Spector sounding album you just go hire the band (Wrecking Crew). The instrumentals feel like filler. This is also why we didn't need Surf'd Up on the list too.

Takes you on musical journey around the world. A really interesting album.

An OK album, a bit more variety than your standard grunge fare. It is Lanegan's voice that shines through, raising the album above so many others of that era.

Not my in my go to britpop albums but pleasant enough.

Very competent debut.

Plods along nicely, nothing special to write home about.

The Dust Brothers production is excellent. Unfortunately ill still have Beck's dull voice and dodgy country twangs. 2.5 stars

An album that has been ground into our consciousness by licensing all the tracks to all manner of films, TV shows, adverts. I don't mind it, certainly takes me back to a certain point in time.

Not normally a fan of LC, but the 80s production works with his voice.

I understand why it is a double but getting inside Waters mind for 80 minutes can be taxing. That said I would do it agfain.

An enjoyable piece of 90s Electronica. I really must go check out his film soundtrack work.

It's OK, more accessible than the earlier material, but still not a pleasant listening experience.

A reasonable example of chilled hip-hop/rap. Not my thing but easy enough to listen to.

I don't usually like doing this, but I have to agree with Chas.

Perfectly adequate piece of modern Americana. You can imagine them mid-afternoon at a festival with this washing over you. Inoffensive.

A fine example of mid 80s pop with its synths and Fairlights but Green's voice is a little underwhelming.

Tough one for voting. It sounds terrible, However you can hear the influence on others. Covers of these tracks sound better than the originals. A reluctant 2*.

A fantastic "debut" for this incarnation of the band..

Once you get past the tortured vocals there is a very mediocre album underneath. Fortunately it's only 30 minutes long.

Not for me. Typical tedious Dylan. A couple of tracks on side 3 were ok but maybe I had been beaten into submission by that point.

30 years on still a fun album.

Some really nice songs on here. Thomas Dolby's production isn't too intrusive. Perhaps a bit too much filler though.

A lot more fun than I was expecting.

Cracking debut, sharp production, songs that just you the face. A swift progression from the punk scene of '77

Epic, ambitious double album set. A couple of OK tracks but ultimately not for me.

Side 1 is excellent but the albums tapers off towards the end. Adrian Belew's guest guitar work is a stand-out. A sonically interesting listen.

Apparently there is a big Thelonious Monk sized hole in my musical education. Really enjoyed this.

After a sluggish start the album gets going with the title track. Side in particular is just one great tune after another. The production of the anglicised reggae is superb.

I really enjoyed Tom Morello's guitar work. KITNO and Know Your Enemy are particular highlights. But it gets really repetitive.

Aged surprisingly well.

A fantastic album bookended by two epic pieces. Essential listening.

An interesting album , plenty of variety. The vocal is a bit too Dylanesque at times but overall a solid debut.

I've never really bought into the cult of PJ so I had low expectations coming into this one. I was pleasantly surprised how much I didn't hate it.

Starts off ok but but gets very tedious after 4 or 5 tracks.

A strategy perfectly executed - make something as bland AF and let the American market lap it up. a solid 2.5 stars.