Amazing I haven’t listened to this through with any concentration, ever. Blur-ey.
Smithsy. Very sameish. Thin production. Cult stole the bass for SDC and Dreamtime. Nothing to come back for. The cow sounds are annoying and so heavy handed.
So Beatley in parts. Did George provide the foundation for some of the Beatles' most swelling beds and choruses or did he learn this from being a Beatle? Overall, as I thought it would be. Some decent tunes but way to many that are uninteresting. A big old vomit of songs written over the years. I didn't find the magic. But better for trying.
How have I never heard of this. Funky AF for the first three then drops down to traditional Motown. Good anyhow.
This is where U2 got really interesting again. I bought it one of the first weeks I lived in Spain and it scared me. I thought they had sold out when really, I had no idea what that meant. I sold the record to a friend the next day. But I kept hearing "The Fly" though shop windows and it always entranced me. When I got to college, it was everywhere. I told people I was a fan of their "old stuff". Then, a couple of albums later, I bought Pop and went back and made up for lost time with this and Zooropa. I felt like a fool and, it was good to learn that I was. From then on, I never discarded another album after the first listen or bought into the sellout trope. Achtung Baby changed my mind, my life and my record collection - forever.
Good album. Solid outing. Missed it the first time ‘round.
Sorta sounds like the cover. I have a feeling this wasn't intended for 51-year-old retired dudes. Not terribly offensive but mildly annoying.
A juggernaut of an album. That unrelenting groove you hear? That's the sweet sound of the wheels falling off the best era of the band. They would reach pop success after, but this is their pinnacle for me.
It’s Kraftwerk. Reminds me of life in Germany.
Seriously? Today? A masterpiece.
I must have seen this 1,000 times. Each time, it got harder to believe I hadn't listened to it. Then, when it showed up here, I initially skipped it and circled back. Listening to it now, I hear how it influenced some of the lesser bands that I like and how it was influenced by some of the greater bands that I like. But I come away not thinking I missed a ton. It's got a self-important 90's vibe that I might have been into in the time. But listening to it now, it sounds too clever for its own good. It sounds like a big album from a guy that started playing in a cafe in the East Village. And it is. I might give it another listen. But I might not.
Where it all started. A flawless debut.
A fun foray into Cuban jazz. I played this at countless dinner parties back in the day. In fact, I got tired of it. Still, a great album from an era locked in time.
As a white kid from Nebraska listening to U2‘s, The Joshua Tree for the 858th time, this one passed me by when it was first out. That said, pieces of this music did not. The sounds you hear, as well as a certain cadence of rap, seeped into the musical culture. However, this was the first time I’ve listened to this album straight through and I must say it’s pretty damn enjoyable. Even for this white kid from Nebraska. But did everything in this genre derive from this or did this derive from everything? It's an honest question that I hope I'll discover on this journey.
Oh, geez. This often sits atop my list of favorite Velvets albums. The softer side of Lou Reed. Probably their best period.
I read about these guys a lot during the time this album came out. They were sort of in the orbit of some of the other bands that I listened to. But listening to it now, it just sounds like pretty frantic, coked-out music from some Brits. Maybe I would’ve liked it in another life but today, it just kind of grates.
I first heard this riding home in a buddy's Camaro. It hasn't changed one bit. One was their breakout hit, wasn't it? Meathead central.
If I'm going to listen to over an hour of Metallica again, it damn better well have Lou Reed on it.
I love this album. Probably heard it first around 1987. So, at 14. Who knew I would work in the building that housed the namesake of the first track. It’s a fantastic debut. One of those timeless classics.
Another album from that Camaro. Endless evenings cruising up and down the strip. Led Zep in all their glory. Really with all the hype. So many good memories have been made with this album. Did I mention stairway was always the slow dance in junior high? Amazingly awkward.
I always get The Fall and The Alarm mixed up. But I don't know either. However, you can hear the roots of some pretty prominent indie bands here. Fontaines DC's Grian Chatten has clearly heard of them and my have even adapted some of the drawl of Mark E. Smith.
This album appears to have unleashed a torrent of follow-ups. How have I never heard them? I listen to Television, Wire, Husker Du. Odd.
But a good album. Something I could probably really grow to love on repeat listens in the right mood. Man, the 70's and the punk scene were so gloriously weird.
Sometimes the best but always the most accessible Radiohead album, it's where I picked up the plot and finally started listening to them after years of not buying the hype. They lived up to it with this. An airtight album from start to finish.
Mike Skinner at his storytelling best. Does this edge out the debut? Probably. A banger from start to finish.
A musically brilliant and lyrically ultra-violent album. The rhymes and rapping are pretty incredible. But to me, it's as if every song Lou Reed wrote was "Kicks" or "The Kids". And then he turned it up to 11.
Over the course of the album, the shocks wear off. I think he gives himself away in the lyrics of Stan. "I say that shit just clownin', dawg, come on, how fucked up is you? You got some issues, Stan, I think you need some counselin'."
I can see why there was controversy. But why anyone would play this whole thing straight through more than once is beyond me. I gotta go listen to some Beach Boys or The National or something.
My favorite Stones album. Hands (pants?) down. Worth the price for "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" alone.
Oh, come on. Really? I own this one on vinyl, CD, Blu-ray, dubbed it on cassette. The Beatles at one of the heights of their powers.
A great, great, great album. Emblematic of a time in the 80’s. Great singles as well. I actually prefer “On Every Street”, the successor but know I’m the minority there.
I did not listen to this all the way through. I really don't think this is my jam.
Classic Bruce. This is not an album I listened to in my youth. Unfortunately, I can't wax poetic about it. But, listening to it now, I can imagine being blown away.
Full of longing, regret and aspiration, this is something else. This is pure Bruce.
Wow. A surprisingly good "classic" country album. I missed this the first time around. At the time country music sounded like a trap in my small town and hearing Lang sing didn't compute for a 15 year old kid. Hearing it here, it's compelling. The production is sharp without being slick and her voice is certainly something to behold.
My previous exposure to Bragg is via Wilco. Here he’s not much of a singer and the chip on his shoulder gets in the way of any saving graces in the music.
Decent album of African grooves. Helps to put into context the musical styles used by Stewart Copeland, Peter Gabriel, Damon Albarn and Paul Simon.
When you start off an album with a trifecta like that, it's hard not to give it four stars. I don't know about the deeper cuts but this is Prince at his finest - save for Purple Rain. A joyous listen.
If I'm in the mood for reggae, this hits the right balance. There are a couple of "hits" on it but it avoids the best of malaise that sets in with "Legend". A solid album given a real lift by its deep cuts.
I found this fairly monotonous and jammy. Sorta reggae. Sorta funk. Not bad but not something I'll likely return to.
The birth of shoegaze? I’ve been waiting 35 years to listen to this. It did not disappoint.
Samish part of the Byrds-like Canon. Nothing to memorable.
When I first heard this album, I was driving through a windy road in the Austrian Alps. I bought it in CD on a vacation where I forgot to pack any. It became the soundtrack of the trip. Great 90s British rock. A little less anthemic but no less impactful.
It’s a classic. Cloying, but a classic.
I didn’t get on this hype train the first time around. Sounded like a rip off of my post punk heroes back then. Sounds little different now. But not a bad album. I’d just rather go with the originals.
Awesome, well recorded blues. From the original. What more can you ask for?
I get the mystique. I saw her over the years on TV and knew about the Jagger connection. But just not much of a voice. She sort of sounds like a singing goose on this. Not for me.
Meh. Sounds like what I’d listen to if I was a witch.
Had never heard of this guy. A pretty good, big jazz album for a Saturday morning. Nothing shocking here but a good album.
Now THIS is the Muddy I know. Down 'n dirty. I've got it on vinyl. That is all.
Exposing kids to plastic punk ethos. Better than no punk, I suppose.
Not my favorite era of Peter Gabriel but some good songs and you have to admire the variety!
Aw, geez. A high-water-mark for Bowie. Great all around. Seeing Hansa Studios in person made it even better!
A classic that never really hit with me except for Strange Brew and Sunshine. Could probably give it a few more spins. Maybe it’s too late.
Good. Nothing Compares 2U is a classic. The rest always seemed like something I’d live but never really played.
Kind of a fun throwback. Has never heard the majority of this. Terrible band name, though.
Band-defining. One of my favorites of all time.
Where the beautiful madness began.
Great on a rainy day. I keep hearing Andy Summers’ solo album. If I had heard it back in the day, it would have been a favorite.
About as far as I go back in the catalogue. Where it starts to get interesting.
A mix of twang, folk and schmaltz that didn’t really do it for me.
Baby makin' music. Except for "anger". And I got enough babies and anger. But undoubtedly cool.
I completely expected to skip this. But the samples are sick and Q-Tip was in this group? I love me some Q-Tip. Awesome stuff. Can't wait to put it on loud. Oh, and that Lou Reed sample? Stick a fork in me.
Good but the boy band version of the Fab Four.
The prodigy goes solo. A classic.
I can almost hear the bell bottoms ringing in the first 1/2 then it dips into ballad territory only to funk it up again on the last two.
Brazilian Portuguese music from outer space. Pretty freakin’ cool.
90s. Kind of fun for one listen.
I must have listened to this half a dozen times in the past. It never hit with me despite being something that I should like. This time it did. Another half-dozen listens necessary!
Great singles. Otherwise, not interesting.
Tried this. Even had it on vinyl. Freaked me out. Sold it.
It's OK. Not as good as its press but few are.
Yep. 5 stars. Even a little dated but oh, the memories with this one!
My time on this earth is finite. Therefore, I will not listen to any more Morrissey.
I knew (and loved) the singles. I gave the whole thing a listen for the first time. Bonkers. That's A LOT of music. Weird that I sat this one out. I'll probably go back to it at some point.
I thought I would like this. I really didn’t.
Thought I might like it. Didn’t.
Never got on the Cobain train.
Oh, geez. What do I say that hasn’t been said? How many copies have I owned? How many bands did it launch? Probably a top 10 record.
Tried. But his voice sounds like the guy singing “Love Shack”.
This is a LONG live album. I only know "The Boys are Back in Town" and "Cowboy Song". They both smoke here. Otherwise, just fine 70s live rock. They really loved their live albums, didn't they? I can almost smell the cigarette smoke on the album jacket.
This is a pretty good one. I go back to it every once in awhile. It's never been a banger for me but I can see where some folks would love it. A solid 3-star album.
A wonderful glam stomp of an album.
Their biggest album and their breakthrough. My least favorite but still fantastic.
Missed these guys. Take the Brian Jonestown Massacre, Idles, Frank Black and mix them all together and this is what you got. The music sounds like the cover art. Interesting but not something I could play every day.
The serving of the prison concerts. A little more contrived sounding but still a big impact. Sound quality leaves a little to be desired. But a classic.
My doorway into the weird, wonderful world of mid-period Beach Boys. Worth it for the title track alone.
Meh. Bet it would sound badass in an NYC cocktail bar after several martinis, though.
A quirky punk masterpiece.
It’s like rain on your wedding day.
I had a previous album of his, but it didn’t do much for me. Was I not in the mood for it when I listen to it? I’m not sure, but this one hits on a few levels. There’s sort of a retro sole vibe, lots of God and some good stuff to dig into.
Have you ever seen a cripple dance? Seriously? I did not listen to Hole back in the 90s and now I know why. I’m all for power pop. Just not this power pop.
Great singles but sounds like 70s drug burnout on wax.
I had never listened to an Aerosmith album before. It sounded about like I thought it would. "Back in the Saddle" is a great song. The rest was forgettable and maybe, a little annoying.
Good. I knew some of it in passing. But full of words and hard to take a lot of it in one sitting. It could be that it's because I'm in my 50s.
Big sprawling quintessential Wilco.
On paper, you would think I would love Massive Attack. But I haven't ever been able to get into either of their two big albums. Maybe it's a lack of consistent vocals? No, not really. Gorillaz did this and I got into them. What is it, then? I'm not sure but it just doesn't stick. A shame.
The single and then not a lot more.
A treasure. Probably best consumed in one sitting. But the singles are amazing and timeless.
Never ever even heard of these guys. But some sweet scratching on the decks.
I can't get into this. I tried twice. It's not bad it's just too sad for me. It has all the hallmarks of something I should like but I just don't.
The whole album sounds like one song. It's not bad but dated and a little embarrassing.
This was kind of around in 1997. Smack My Bitch Up was pretty controversial on the evening news as I recall. And the album influenced almost every U2 remix of the era. But it sounds of a time. Not a classic by my standards.
No sophomore slump in sight. Classic.
Had this on 8-Track in my car growing up. I knew every riff. I also have it on vinyl. It's still a pretty good live album.
I think 99% of what Damon Albarn touches turns to gold. However, I never got this one. Not sure why. Maybe next time.
