The first album generated for me is one I know well from previous years, but haven't listened to in some time.
It is a classic and my favorite Nirvana album - it's rawness elevates it above Nevermind, but also means you have to be in the right state of mind to listen to it, and it can on occasions prove too challenging.
I will only give 5 stars to albums I genuinely see as some of my favorites of all time, so will limit this album to 4 stars.
Standout Tracks - Heart Shaped Box, Rape Me, Dumb, All Apologies.
8/10.
Good listen, lots of energy, very talented musicians.
6/10
First time listening to a Talking Heads album fully - chaotic, great fun and a great base layer for future tracks. Psycho Killer is obviously a classic.
Look forward to listening to their other albums following this.
9/10
Just a classic album, and my first very well deserved 5*.
Packed with brilliant songs - Boxer, Only Loving Boy in New York, Baby Driver, Cecilia... I could name the whole album!
10/10
Ironically the song i like least is Bridge Over Troubled Water, which says a lot about the overall standard.
I've somehow never come across this album before. Fantastic album which shows off the best of hip hop - great atmosphere, flow and layering.
Lauren Hill's rapping is fantastic and her voice on songs like Killing Me Softly is jaw dropping. Ready or Not, How Many Mics and Fu-Gee-La were the other standouts.
Only listened to it once so far, but lost attention a tad in the last quarter of the album and felt the Chinese Takeaway Skit took me out of it a bit, so rounding down to 4 stars rather than up to 5.
9/10
Enjoyable enough, with some standouts - Scoobie Snacks is still a jam. Some of the rapping feels a bit cringe.
5/10
First time properly listening to The The. Great vocals and music. None of the tracks overstay despite being relatively long, and each feels unique. Reminds me of Supertramp.
The piano solo on 'Uncertain Smile' by Jools Holland is a jam, 'This is the Day' a beautiful track and the 9 minute 'Giant' an excellent album closer.
Excited to get to know this album better - my favorite 'new album' I've listened to through 1001 so far.
9/10
Wonderful album. Four Women incredibly powerful, Lilac Wine lovely. Nina's voice is so unique.
8/10
This album was okay, but no standout tracks, went on too long and didn't feel like it was doing anything new or unique.
4/10
At best, 'fine'. Utterly inoffensive and uninteresting. Won't listen again.
3/10
Even putting aside its legacy and the groundbreaking nature of Pet Sounds, iylt remains a sensational listen from top to bottom in 2025.
God Only Knows is one of my all time favourite songs, and every other song on the album stands up.
RIP Brian Wilson
10/10
Great album! Blister in the Sun was well known, but everything else sounded fresh to me. Excited to listen again.
8/10
An absolute classic, and an album that helped shape my musical tastes when i was just discovering music.
The whole band sound fantastic, with incredibly tuneful riffs, and Alex Turners lyrics and vocals are sensational, even more so for his age.
Hard to name standout tracks because every song is so strong.
10/10
Lovely album.
Super refreshing to hear the stripped back, home made style of music. Great vocals and guitar playing.
Needle of Death is perhaps the main highlight, but strong throughout.
7/10
Really enjoyable album. Lust for Life and The Passenger are justifiably the 'famous' tracks from this album, but the other tunes all stand up really well.
The Bowie influence is notable throughout, and the fact he was heavily involved in the production adds to the legacy of his 'Berlin Years'.
7/10
Enjoyable if slightly challenging listen. Really enjoy the production and texture of the guitars, and can well believe this was very influential. Should listen a few more times to really work it out.
7/10
Perfectly enjoyable listen but nothing truly stood out as spectacular. Enjoyed that there were elements of prog without that dominating every song. Probably wouldn't put it on again.
5/10
A new album for me, except for 'Damaged Goods' which is a great track.
Right up my street, and you can really hear their influence in a lot of great 90's and 00's music like The Hives, Bloc Party etc.
Too-ed and fro-ed between 3* and 4* for this one. Probably deserves 4* given the year it came out as I can believe it was very influential, but not quite enough standout songs from two listens to justify it.
7/10
Very Nice album. Would listen again in the background whilst working.
6/10
Visions of You draws you in instantly, lovely vocals from Sinead.
Enjoyable album with lots of variety drawing from different cultures. The bass from Jah Wobble stands out throughout.
6/10
"I remember I was conflicted..."
This was the album that brought Mr Lamar to my attention, and while I haven't listened to it in a couple of years it absolutely stands up. The infusion of Hip Hop and Jazz is sensational, and the album combines hit songs (King Kunta, Alright, i) with experimental instrumentals and great production. I always love an album with a recurring motif, and the "Evils of Lucy" poem gradually unveiling is so powerful. The 12 minute closing track with the stitched together interview with Tupac and the "pimped butterfly" album is such a brave way to end an album.
Interestingly, with all the above said, I actually think hes developed and improved as a rapper since this album, with Mr Morale and GNX continuing to build his legacy.
It's just a brilliant album - 10/10
A classic album - and yet still not quite their best!
9.5/10, marked down slightly as its perhaps a teensy bit longer than necessary.
I was excited to listen to this, having never really listened to Emmylou before, but unfortunately this was utterly dour.
Couldn't pick out anything that was interesting, much less outstanding.
2/10
I do enjoy this album, and I do get why it's so highly rated. But it's so long! 7/10
I don't have any knowledge or real experience with Jazz, but this was a really great listen - some lovely tunes and some really exciting ones. 9/10.
Enjoyed this, but it didn't grab me to the same degree as Talking Heads 77. 6/10
I've never listened to Elvis Costello enough - my Dad is a massive fan but I don't think I've ever given him enough time. Glad this has given me a push towards him.
Enjoyed this album. Haven't had a chance to fully take in the lyrics, but I'm sure this would add plenty. I Want You is obviously the stand out excellent track - so raw yet melodic. This being said, I felt that it was dragging a bit by the end, and probably could have done without two or three of the last songs.
7/10
Good album. So distinctly Beck that is hard to separate from other work by him.
7/10
Fun mix of reggae, hard core and punk. Vocals trend from irritating to excellent from song-to-song. Good energy and an enjoyable listen -
7/10
Good album with some great individual songs. Bit slow but enjoyable listen overall. Could well grow on me if I get to give it another chance
7/10
Groovy, but subtle. Really enjoyed listening to this through a couple of times.
Not really any stand-out songs, but the album works really well as a whole.
7/10
I was in the second year of sixth form back in 2013, and was already a huge Bowie fan. I distinctly remember waking up one morning to 6 Music playing 'Where Are We Now' on the morning it was released, and hearing Lauren Laverne announcing that Bowie was back after the song ended. What a way to wake up!
While this isn't Bowie's best, this is still a brilliant album. It is darker and a touch sadder than most of his work. The singles - 'Where Are We Now', 'The Next Day', 'Valentine's Day' and 'The Stars Are Out Tonight' are some of the standouts, along with 'Love is Lost'. I absolutely love the commentary in the video for 'The Stars'.
The album does arguably go on a little bit too long, and feels like it loses momentum a tad over the last handful of songs (although they are still good listens when taken on their own merit).
Almost worth a 5* in my head because of my nostalgia and excitement at his return, but overall think this is a strong 8/10
Great album.
Pyramids is one of my all time favorite tracks, and there's plenty of other bangers on there - Serra Leone, Super Rich Kids, Crack Rock, Pink Matter, Lost.
I also like the colour Orange, so there's that.
8/10
Came into this with an open mind, found it incredibly dull. Forced my way through it and occasionally caught a brief bright spark, but even then it just felt like a cheap imitation of radio head. 2/10
Love this album, probably my favourite by The Doors (Strange Days might edge it...).
Love the fully embraced blues vibe - the organ throughout the album makes it distinct and unique, and the guitar tones are fantastic.
Every song is brilliant and adds something new to the album - no filler at all. The first three songs set the tone wonderfully, he build up throughout L A Woman always hits hard, the darkness of L'America pulls you in and Riders on the Storm is an excellent album closer (and even then possibly not as good as 'The End' or 'When the Music's Over')!
10/10, love The Doors.
Good album. Love the concept throughout the songs.
Bizarrely, some of the riffs on Brainwashed remind me of Jack White!
8/10
Hmm. Fine to listen to, but pretty boring, all told.
Spotify moved on to play another track after the album ended without me realising, and I thought 'finally some life' before checking to see it was a different artist.
Cowboy Movie was certainly the outstanding track on the album.
5/10
Fuck Nazis.
(shame as it is an amazing album)
Did I enjoy this album? Yes.
7/10
Cabaret industrial Rammstein but in French. Fantastic (probably wouldn't listen to it from front to back again though)
7/10
Fantastic punk album - all the energy, fast pace and noise you could ask for, blended in with humour, great lyrics and quality instrumentationn. The length leaves you wanting more.
I held off on listening to this until heading to the gym, but needn't have bothered as it would be enjoyable in any mood. Hard to find fault with this one, achieves everything it wants to do.
10/10
Gets a minimum of three stars for having what is probably objectively some of the best riffs, solos and vocals in rock history. However, these songs are so often played that there is no need to listen to an album to catch them, and the non-singles do little to excite me.
I've never been big on GnR since they pulled some classic 'Axl antics' at a festival some 15 years ago, but sadly it just doesnt do much for me.
5/10
Slow and funky soul. Perfect to read a book on the beach on a sunny day to. Didnt know this band and happy to discover them.
8/10
Really enjoyed this album, having never really listened to Willie Nelson before. Calming, relaxing music with some good tunes and classic country themes.
8/10
Brilliant energy and a whole new genre for me. Had not heard of Fela Kuti before, and this is the kind of thing I wanted to hear more of, doing this project.
8/10
This was pretty horrible. Disliked the vocals and lyrics. The music itself might be okay but isn't to my taste - the wrong side of country.
Not for the first time, I found myself saying 'finally a decent song' then checking Spotify to see it has moved on to autoplay a different artist. Says it all.
1/10
The Stones have always been a 'greatest hits' band for me, so it is a good exercise to listen to some of their albums fully and in more depth!
As I had suspected, it feels like the two 'hits' on the album do stand head and shoulders above the rest of the (still enjoyable) tracks.
Sympathy for the Devil is one of my all time favourites and Street Fighting Man is another Stones classic.
From two listens, none of the other songs grabbed my attention massively, but I still really enjoyed listening through.
7/10
Didn't come into this with high hopes, but it is an excellent album. Starts strong with two well known classics, and continues with a mix of great songs and some impressive instrumentation.
Tentative 5*s, might be downgraded to a 4 on further listens but I can't see why...
9/10
Tricky one to rate! I've known and enjoyed this album since it was released in 2008, and do like it a lot. However, I was surprised to see it made a list like this.
It's a great listen which has a fairly unique mix of epic orchestral music and classic mod rock. Alex Turner's voice is as excellent as ever, and particularly the first two tunes stand out.
However, as a whole the album does get a tad repetitive, and doesn't hold up amongst the best few Arctic Monkeys albums.
On that matter, it's interesting and very notable how this was a bridge from the first two AM albums to Humbug and it's successors.
7/10
Fun album. Well ahead of it's time - hard to believe it is from the 60s.
7/10
Enjoyable, if not a big standout.
6/10
Wonderful, unique album.
8/10
Oh, I loved this! I've never checked out Jefferson Airplane, and was only familiar with the fantastic 'Somebody to Love'. Listening blind, Embryonic Journey and White Rabbit both stood out to me both, and these seem to be generally seen as highlights.
As a huge Led Zep fan, this album reminded me a lot of their softer side, particularly Embryonic Journey which is reminiscent of Bron-Yr-Aur. No gnarly Page-esque riffs, but the female vocals were fantastic when they came in, and would have been welcome if they were more common.
Look forward to checking back in on this and building some familiarity.
8/10
Beautiful album.
Can't give it a 5 stars as for me it sits below The Bends, OK Computer and Kid A in Radiohead albums - but still solid.
Weird Fishes always stands out most for me.
8/10
Never listened to Cat Stevens before, but I loved this.
Was familiar with Wild World and Father and Son, which are both wonderful. Also love the title track, which I only know from being the closing song of the excellent TV show 'Extras'.
Sad Lisa was also a great listen.
Look forward to listening again and the rating may well go up as I get more familiar with the other tracks, but for now it's a very solid
8/10
Enjoyed this - but best as background music whilst working! The other reviews calling it elevator music are a tad harsh, but I can see where they're coming from.
Nonetheless, funky and an enjoyable listen.
7/10
First all female band I've seen so far.
Unfortunately it's not to my taste, but I can't deny its relevancy nor it's place on this list.
No Scrubs is a great song.
5/10
What a delight and surprise to find this album on the list!
One of my favourites of the last few years, KIWANUKA is both a collection of great individual songs but also greater than the sum of its parts - a wonderful experience from start to finish which is on both my and my partner's regular rotations.
10/10
It's a nice album with great melodies and vocals. However it only really has one standout song - the magnificent White Winter Hymnal.
6/10
Lovely album. Classic XTC vocals and lyrics, fab production and orchestral sections.
Not quite as good as Skylarking or Drums and Wires, although I don't know it half as well.
8/10
Very cool to see Simz was added to this list - for me personally, the best modern rapper after Kendrick.
Whilst I'm a big fan of her, i dont know if I've ever sat and listened to this album through, although i knew most of the songs.
Chose to listen to this on the train up to London to watch the Arsenal, who she is also a fan of. Its a brilliant album, with 5 of the first 6 tracks all modern classic hip hop songs. She has amazing flow and a knack for some truly amazing tunes. Each of the guest slots fit well on the album.
Id enforce anybody who enjoyed this to listen to the follow up album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, which is another level up and a true modern classic.
9/10
One of the most fun and unique albums on the list. The game show theme and joke tracks fit the music perfectly. Jam packed with great tunes and iconic hip hop.
That being said, joke tracks do limit the number of relistens I can do, and this combined with the length means that I will rarely stick it on - so leaving this with an
8/10.
New album for me. Atmospheric, creative and artsy, with some great songs. Will need to return to it.
7/10
Didn't know what to expect of this, being only familiar with 'Hallejulah'.
The dark vibe of the album struck me amd fitted my mood from the first track, and his exceptional voice fitted the music well.
Started to think it might get a bit samey midway through until the fantastic 'Travelling Light' came in. Love a song that tells a story and has different musical elements dropping in and out to punctuate it, and the female vocals are refreshing.
Then, each song on the back half adds something new and explores an interesting new theme, keeping the listen rewarding.
Having read the story behind the album, it makes sense to hear this is recorded on a deathbed. From the first track it had me thinking of Cash's 'America IV: The Man Comes Around', and thematically its reminiscent of Bowie's 'Blackstar'.
9/10
Just another dull country album tbh.
3/10, but gets 1* as it's non-essential.
Wasn't sure I would get much from this, but found it really enjoyable. I feel like the variety of each song throughout the album which comes from the different songwriters/singers really works, whilst still making a consistent overall product.
Neil Young's songs stand above, alongside Our House which is a classic folk-pop singalong.
Goes out on a bit of a drab note with the last song not on quite the same level.
Want to revisit, but after two listens this is a:
9/10
Update - downgraded to 8/10
For some reason, despite loving all the stuff Eno produced, i've never listened to anything in his name before.
This is a brilliant album - filled with all his hallmarks but very interesting and more than a bit weird.
Not necessarily any standout tracks, but the whole thing was great.
Easy 8/10
When it's good it's very good, and i've no doubt these shows would have been spectacular to attend.
However, as a live album, it has no respect for the listener's time, and the ridiculously long drum fills and solos weigh heavy. Would not listen again.
4/10
Not listened to this one before. Enjoyed it, although not quite as much as Back to Black.
7/10
Interesting soundscapes and good production.
Unfortunately on first listen the songs didn't quite hold up. Quite possibly would change in time, but to be honest I dont think it'll get a second listen.
5/10
As a non-cultured jazz listener I can well believe i'm missing something fantastic here, but it left me cold. Lack of brass lent to what felt like a repetitive listen with each song blending into one.
Perfectly good for the background of a hotel lobby, and I did enjoy the slight 'leakage' of the glasses chinking and crowd chatting from the live recording.
4/10
Another brilliant album by S&G. Has enough all-time classics to be automatically given a 5*, (America, Mrs Robinson, Hazy Shade, Save the Life of my Child) but i'm going to be harsh and rate it as a 4*, as it's not quite as consistent as some of their other efforts, and Old People Voices takes me right out of it.
Still a lovely listen, and an album that would be particularly nice to listen to on a cold day, with a cup of tea and a book.
8/10
Pretty much exactly what i'd expect from a Billy Joel album. Good, consistent music throughout with a couple of standout tracks, but most of it doesn't quite 'click' with me.
3*, 7/10
Slow and quiet, but this album had a lovely feel to it and the vocals were beautiful.
From my one listen I didn't pick up on any super defining moments, although I enjoyed the Sweet Jane cover and the Blue Moon rework.
7/10
Opens with a 9 minute warbling track which doesn't evolve or change once throughout. This is followed up by 90 seconds of spoken word against organised religion, and then the same spoken word but set against music. It's abrasive and harsh, and clear from minute one that this is isn't an 'easy' album to listen to.
This being said, I do feel the album adds value and is a clear first step into post punk, so it is well worth its listing from impact alone. Public Image is a great song, Fodderstompf is absolutely mad.
Shame Lydon is a Trump-traitor.
5/10
Love this album. Doesn't necessarily have many of their biggest hits, but it's a great collection of work.
8/10
Budget Michael Jackson.
Couple of decent tracks but nothing outstanding.
5/10
Gosh, this added absolutely nothing to my life. Given it was released in 1970, I don't see how it could have contributed anything new upon release either.
2/10
Previously only really familiar with TV on the Radio through the excellent use of their track DMZ on Breaking Bad.
Enjoyed checking this album out. Not entirely accessible with lots of eery sounds and blended genres, including an accapella track in Ambulance. This produces a dark and quite heavy sound, which I really enjoyed immersing myself in.
7/10
Started off okay, but lost me as it went on. Black Queen was a racket.
4/10
New band for me.
I've listened to this a couple of times, and have really enjoyed it, whilst also feeling like it has washed over me a tad. Want to come back to it again in the future.
For now, my thoughts are that this is a great album. John Barleycorn is the stand-out track to me.
8/10
Before listening to this album, I have always thought The Verve are fairly dull but not actively annoying, aside from Bittersweet Symphony which deserves its reputation.
This album did nothing to change either opinion.
5/10
Eh. It's fine, but Jazz just doesn't jam with me.
Instant five stars - sensational album. Every track stands out for itself, but the album as a whole blends nicely and by all accounts had a huge impact and important commentary at the time.
10/10
I loved their debut album 'Can't Buy a Thrill', giving it 5 stars, so was excited to listen to this one.
On first listen, (and maybe it needs more), this was an enjoyable album but didn't hold a candle to the debut, without any tracks which were recognisable classics nor which grabbed my attention as new delights.
6/10
I wasn't familiar with this album going in, having skipped it in favour of Rid of Me and Let England Shake previously.
Although I knew a few of the tracks, this was a mistake - I've loved exploring this today.
The album has a huge opening, with Big Exit and the banging Good Fortune. The influence of Thom Yorke throughout the album helps it stand out as a unique piece of work, with Beautiful feeling warming the listener up for the outstanding This Mess We're In. The album winds down with the simply delightful We Float.
Overall, this combines the rawness PJ is so well known for with some incredible softer tracks. It's exquisitely balanced and a real treat to listen to.
8/10
I've not given T4F enough time in the past, but I really enjoyed this album. 4* but want to check back to see if it might actually be a 5...
8/10
Brilliant, haunting album
A Forest is one of three GOATs and the anticipation building when you know it's about to start is hard to beat
9/10
I know this is seen as The Prodigy's best album, and it does have some incredible traps - Their Law, Poison and Voodoo People (although Pendulum's excellent remix o the latter has taken it over in my brain as the definitive version).
However, I find the album is a bit too long, and find a number of the tracks not named above do drag a bit.
Overall, I much prefer Fat of the Land and Invaders Must Die.
6/10
I do love this album, and absolutely connect to the chaotic style and outlandish percussion. The first three songs in particular are standouts, and the overriding theme of 'freedom' matches the style of the music perfectly.
The only criticism is it is a touch too long and the style becomes a tad wearing by the end of the album.
Nevertheless, strong 8/10
A few nice songs, but most of these are covers which don't add anything to the original, and as a whole this was pretty dull.
3/10
Controversial! A few nice standout songs (One Rainy Wish my favourite), but generally I found a lot of these tracks quite dull - it seemed at least twice as long as the 39 minute runtime. The production was bothersome to me, with the stereo panning utterly irritating.
5/10
I was pleasantly surprised to see this album show up. Whilst i'm not sure exactly what set this album apart from this era, it's one I really enjoy listening to, and it helped uplift me get through a dreary Monday morning commute.
The synths are great, and Lauren Mayberry's vocals always stand out to me. It's a fun album, with standouts including The Mother We Share, Gun, We Sink and Night Sky.
7/10
I would normally default to Doolittle (10/10) or Surfer Rosa when in a Pixies mood, and have overlooked this one before. This will be definitely be added to the regular rotation!
8/10
This was horrible. Sadly, my first DNF of the project, 100 albums in.
1/10
Great album, influential and still unique. Sunday Morning is one of my favourite songs and finds itself in my head once a week.
8/10
For some reason, this is one of the Bowie albums I rarely listened to, and I was probably only really familiar with Golden Years.
As I should have expected, this is an excellent album, each track is great and the closing cover of Wild is the Wind is a fantastic closer with some of his best vocals.
It's relatively short with six tracks, albeit the opener is over 10 minutes long. It perhaps doesn't contain many of his absolute best songs, but is a cohesive, interesting listen
9/10
A new one for me, and only my second all-female band on the list, at 106 albums in. The first was TLC, and this was much more enjoyable than that!
This is a clear pop/punk album and sounds like it was one of the first examples of this. Fun listen and I think I would enjoy it more with more familiarity.
8/10
Surprised to see quite so many low reviews. Fun to listen to such different music and whilst it is a lot of percussion, the guitar parts are great and the chanting is pretty hypnotising. Fun listen
6/10
Thin Lizzy are a fun, energetic rock band. They have a few brilliant songs, and the Live album works well.
This said, I'm sure there's many more essential Live albums which aren't included, and it feels like a bit of an excuse to sneak a Greatest Hits compilation into this list. To be honest, I'd probably rather stick a Hits compilation on than this.
6/10
Great album. Soothing instrumentals contrast with a strong political rhetoric which remains valid today. Gil's vocals are outstanding and you believe the message he is presenting.
8/10
Awesome record. Incredible energy which you can't help but dance to. Feels like a complete album with each track offering something different with catchy vocals and infectious grooves. I only noticed many of the tracks are 9 minutes plus because of the repetition of 'Plenty Nonsense' and 'Stubborn Problems' back-to-back. Not a criticism - after all, we are all bugged by Nonsense and Problems constantly!
Looking back, I really enjoyed the Live! album by his dad, and it's impressive how well he has upheld his Fela's legacy.
I nearly gave this 5 stars, but by the end I was quite happy for it to finish. Not sure whether this was due to reducing quality or simply novelty wearing off after 75 minutes, but I still make this a solid
8/10
Cool album, with quite a few monster tracks.
'Mother' seems to get a lot of hate from the comments, but I totally dig it, as much as it stands out from the rest of the album.
Think i'll be listening to this one more going forward.
8/10
One of the absolute GOATs, and such an important album for me as I was discovering music.
Doubt theres another album with an equally iconic opener/closer as Five Years and Rock and Roll Suicide.
Every single song is brilliant, and it is tied together by a fantastic concept and visual style.
10/10
Its fine, and I dont mind sticking it on whilst I work. But it doesnt feel fresh or novel any more and is way too long.
5/10
I find it difficult to get into Jazz but enjoyed having this on whilst I was reading. Have heard a lot about John Coltrane and had heard of the album before, so good to listen to it.
7/10
This was a pretty nice album! He has a great 'crooner' voice and has put together some lovely instrumentation. Not sure I'd go out of my way to seek out more, but happy to have listened to it once before I died :)
7/10
117 albums in, I'm surprised it took me so long to get a Beatles album.
Sgt Pepper's is deserving of it's acclaim, through it's impact, production, concept and notoriety. It is packed full of all-timers, and feels fresh yet nostalgic at the same time.
All that said it's pretty far from my personal favourite Beatles album, but still well worthy of the 5*s.
9.5/10
I wasn't confident going i when I saw 'prog rock' but this was a fantastic listening experience. It throws you off guard from the first couple of minutes with the 'plinky' Middle-Eastern noises in the intro leading into a filthy guitar solo, setting up a fourteen minute epic. Then, Book of Saturday is a more 'normal' mellow Pink Floyd-esque track, with some well worked reverse guitars.
The rest of the album is more akin to the intro song, with a slightly mad blend of improv jazz, classical music and a sprinkling of metal. Fripp's guitar is sensational throughout.
My favourite track is probably The Talking Drum - the building tempo from the drums and bass overlaid by violin and eventually guitar is incredible.
9/10
Maybe this is because I've listened to this whilst working, but I've not felt struck by this in the same way I was You Want it Darker, and I only got depression from the little attention I paid to the lyrics.
That said, I paid full attention to Joan of Arc which is a wonderful piece of poetry, so I may be being too harsh on the album here.
5/10
I liked it, on the whole. Many of the songs go on far too long but occasionally spring out with some wonderful phrases which made it worth listening to.
6/10
Opens with two lovely instrumental pieces which reminds me of Kraftwerk, Public Service Broadcasting, Air, Brian Eno etc. They are atmospheric, peaceful, and simple in the right way.
The third song, Leb Wohl, builds on these after a transition of rain dripping to oceans crashing, and grows a beautiful 9 minute track which you could meditate to.
Then - the sound completely switches, with more upbeat guitars and PIL era Jonny Rotten style vocals... two years before Never Mind the Bollocks?
It's cool, and I think listening to this in 1975 would have been very cool.
A fun listen I never would have come across if not for the project.
7/10
Enjoyed this album - great production, smooth tracks and a couple of standout hits. Not as many blow-you-away songs as Cant Buy Me a Thrill, but this album was another Steely Dan win from this project.
8/10
Its a great album and lays the ground for all the amazing things we will come to see from the 4.
Songs like All My Loving, Please Mister Postman and It Won't be Long would get into my playlist of their best songs and there isn't really a bad listen on there.
This said, there are a few songs you wouldn't necessarily choose to put on, and most of the album are cover tracks so it can't be described as one of their greatest.
8/10
Almost certainly in the best five albums of the noughties. Filled to the brim with catchy riffs and without any filler, the guitar vocals and lyrics are all exceptional. I could list the best songs but would note down most of the album.
9/10
Super chill record with lots of soul influences mixed in with low-key hip hop. I've listened to Mezzanine a few times and recognised a few tracks from this album, but it's the first time i've really given Massive Attack time.
Very solid album which could be enjoyed as background music or by its own merit.
8/10
Love it. Raw and harsh tracks throughout in the way only Pixies can pull off. Humour throughout the album and every song hits. Gigantic and of course Where is my Mind are both perfect.
Look forward to getting Doolittle later in the list, where they absolutely perfect their formula.
9/10
Came into this not knowing Elliot Smith, other than the wonderful Angeles which is on this album.
It's an interesting listen. I really enjoy the production, with the double tracked vocals giving a really intimate feeling. Left me wanting to listen to Sufjan Stevens, who I would speculate is probably heavily inspired by Elliot Smith but has a little bit more warmth.
The songs are generally a bit depressing, but carry touches of sweetness and plenty of poignant lyrics. 2:45 AM is another standout and the album closes perfectly, with 'Say Yes' a beautiful bittersweet song which feels more hopeful than what came before it.
All this said, even after a few listens, there are a few too many tracks which blend into each other and don't stand out overall. Will look out for other albums by him with interest.
Solid 6/10
I absolutely loved listening to this, and have played it a handful of times now since it popped up.
Just an incredible blend of quality musicianship and straight weird fun. Each song sounds different, and you hear Sparks, Queen, Beatles, Rush and XTC in equal part across the album.
I can't see how this has so many low reviews. Very excited to hear more by 10cc when they come up.
10/10
Influential and iconic but in truth fairly middling - only Blue Suede Shoes really stands up.
6/10
A pretty good album by a pretty good band
6/10
When it's not absolutely epic, it is just slow and dreary.
Unfortunately, it's only epic for the title track, and it just unravels the longer you listen. Life in the Fast Lane is okay as well, to be fair.
Regardless, given the legendary status of the title track and the albums phenomenal success over the years, it deserves its place on the list.
4/10
This one sneaks the full five stars. The album is mostly packed with hits, and the middle trio of Thriller/Beat It/Billie Jean could quite possibly be the best streak of songs in a single album - peak creativity, production and performance. The rest of the album is strong, and I seem to be the odd one out in terms of loving the McCartney duet. I do think the closing track - The Lady in my Life - is an odd choice as the album peters out and loses momentum.
9/10
Iconic and undeniable album, with a hugely influential sound and one of the best opening tracks. However, even though it's less than 30 minutes long, listening to it front-to-back does get a little old with each song after I Wanna be your Boyfriend blurring into one.
7/10
As a casual fan of both artists, i've not come across this record before so was very intrigued when it popped up.
'Walt Whitman's Niece' is a great upbeat opener from Bragg with a fun singalong section that sets you up nicely for the album, and California Stars is a lovely follow-up. Then, we go back to Billy Bragg for 'Way over Yonder in the Minor Key' and 'Birds and Ships', two beautiful tracks which both feature Nathalie Merchant.
Then, 'Hoodoo Voodoo' kicks in with a catchy riff and it feels like we're back to a Wilco sound which left me questioning whether this was really a joint album, or a collection of tracks from two different artists?
Having read into the background of the album it became clear it was in fact the latter, but all written using lyrics written in the 1950s by Woody Guthrie! A very cool and unique project which must have taken a lot of buy-in from different parties.
After the strong first half, the album starts to feel more confused and the song quality dips, but it is well worth a couple of listens for the novelty alone.
6/10
