My spiciest music take is that Bob Dylan is overrated. That’s not to deny his significance, though i think his role as Supreme Influencer is exaggerated, as if The Beatles, Springsteen, and U2 would be chimps scratching themselves with their instruments if not for Dylan’s obsidian obelisk. There was probably a time in my life that I would have gotten really into Dylan too, likely as an angsty twentysomething, but instead we ended up as missed connections and I listened to something stupid like Phish. The heart wants what it wants, Mr. Zimmerman. Anyway, this is fine. I still struggle with finding it appreciable, nevermind GOAT, especially since Led Zeppelin IV came out like five years later. Like Thai food, single malt scotch, and Las Vegas — I get it — but it’s just not for me.

Aside from knowing the obvious hits on this album, I’ve never actually listened to it in totality. I guess I was expecting the hits surrounded by eight versions of “Listen to the Flower People.” Pleasantly surprised, it’s not that. What I like about this is that it doesn’t doodle around. Aside from the one mandatory blues ripoff — it was the law back in the 60s that bands had to do at least one boring blues track per album — the other songs are a neat and tidy three minutes long (approximately). Each song is representative of the area and time, with hints of The Dead, The Byrds, The Mommas and Pappas, etc. But unique too. Factor in the two classic hits here, with White Rabbit being one of the maybe top 100 songs ever, I think I’ve slept too long on JA. It didn’t blow me away, but maybe I’d listen again.

This is an album your dad likes.

Very listenable 80s album with several big hits.

Great sounds, so many drums. I would assume that Fela Kuti doesn’t come across in the studio versus live performance, so this is probably the best representation of an important artist/genre. But it’s only like four songs and a drum off.

Speaks to a time and place in America that’s almost unfathomable now: twangy country dance halls on a Saturday night with a band politely singing about honky tonk angels and repentant drunks. Nothing stands out particularly, however. Like Bob Dylan, I think the idea of the music has outlived its actual quality.

Sure? As someone who wore out a Go-Go’s Greatest Hits cassette in the 90s, I’m here for this, but other than the novelty of the all-girl band, it’s just an ok album surrounded by a hit song. I get that 1001 albums has to be a long list, but does that mean that every Taylor Swift album makes it? Or Radiohead? Or The Rolling Stones?

Thanks for making me review this on the day of his death. Smile is unlistenable, like a book that took too long to finish.

Thanks for making me

“Rumor Has It” is a great song.

Somewhere between Flaming Lips and Weird Al, I guess. Not for me.

Haha, I forgot how silly this album is.

Haha, I forgot how silly this album is.

Stuart Copeland is a god. So many cymbal tinkles.

I concede this album forms the foundation of alt music that developed through the 80s and 90s. Could have used a few more hits though.

I don’t know. This isn’t even a top five album for him. As a huge Bowie fan, this isn’t one I’d even recommend.

Is Dragonforce on this list? Cause they’re awesome.

I love music from this era, and recently threw positive reviews at Duran Duran and The The. But for some reason, The Fall could never interest me. Maybe I miss the point, but it’s not particularly defiant, passionate or even fun; it’s just mediocre.