285
Albums Rated
3.67
Average Rating
26%
Complete
804 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1960
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
80
5-Star Albums
18
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Slayed?
Slade
|
5 | 2.87 | +2.13 |
|
Paris 1919
John Cale
|
5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
|
Copper Blue
Sugar
|
5 | 2.98 | +2.02 |
|
Highly Evolved
The Vines
|
5 | 3.03 | +1.97 |
|
Rocks
Aerosmith
|
5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
|
Dust
Screaming Trees
|
5 | 3.16 | +1.84 |
|
Little Earthquakes
Tori Amos
|
5 | 3.22 | +1.78 |
|
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
American Beauty
Grateful Dead
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
Ace of Spades
Motörhead
|
5 | 3.28 | +1.72 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
|
1 | 3.56 | -2.56 |
|
Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
|
1 | 3.55 | -2.55 |
|
Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
|
1 | 3.5 | -2.5 |
|
Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin
|
1 | 3.2 | -2.2 |
|
Youth And Young Manhood
Kings of Leon
|
1 | 3.09 | -2.09 |
|
Aha Shake Heartbreak
Kings of Leon
|
1 | 2.94 | -1.94 |
|
Grievous Angel
Gram Parsons
|
1 | 2.87 | -1.87 |
|
Shadowland
k.d. lang
|
1 | 2.87 | -1.87 |
|
Quiet Life
Japan
|
1 | 2.86 | -1.86 |
|
I Am a Bird Now
Antony and the Johnsons
|
1 | 2.84 | -1.84 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Led Zeppelin | 3 | 5 |
| Radiohead | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Rolling Stones | 3 | 4.67 |
| Talking Heads | 2 | 5 |
| Metallica | 2 | 5 |
| Black Sabbath | 2 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | 5 |
| Beatles | 2 | 5 |
| The Smashing Pumpkins | 2 | 5 |
| The Doors | 2 | 5 |
| John Lennon | 2 | 5 |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | 2 | 5 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Kings of Leon | 2 | 1 |
| Barry Adamson | 2 | 1 |
5-Star Albums (80)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Depeche Mode · 1 likes
5/5
Best Song: Personal Jesus
This album is the reason I decided to take on this project. For full disclosure, I really don't like New Wave music, never have. Then, yesterday, I put this album on and shockingly thoroughly enjoyed it. Moreso than any other New Wave album I've listened to. Am I starting to become more of a New Wave fan? I doubt it. Am I getting desensitized to it. Probably. Either way, this album was a banger. 5/5.
Supergrass · 1 likes
3/5
Best Song: Late in the Day
This reminds me a bit of The White Stripes so they may have been an influence. That being said, White Stripes are way better than this. This is pretty bland, late 90s, post Grunge slop. I have no idea why this would have made the 1001 list as this should be listed as, "after Nirvana but before Brittney Spears - but at least it doesn't have that 'Sex and Candy' song on it." 3/5.
The Vines · 1 likes
5/5
Best Song: Get Free
When I started this project, it was discover albums like this. I had not heard of The Vines and loved this. It has some 90s grunge vibes, with strong Stone Temple Pilots influence. 5/5.
Justin Timberlake · 1 likes
1/5
Best Song: Rock Your Body
This album may be called 'Justified' but there is no way that this album being in the 1001 can be justified. Terrible. Dear Justin Timberlake, what you think is "sexy" comes off as whiny and annoying. Also, the Michael Jackson impersonation isn't even a good one. Absolute waste of time and should not be included on this list. 1/5.
Pere Ubu · 1 likes
2/5
Best Song: Dub Housing
I have no idea why this would be in the 1001. I didn't hear too many redeeming qualities to it. Nothing on this is above average. 2/5.
1-Star Albums (18)
All Ratings
Finley Quaye
4/5
Best song: Even after it all
Raggae works, especially in 1997 when it teetering from pop-grunge into boy bands.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Best song: Rehab
She has a helluva voice but based on the songs, not too surprising she ended up the way she did.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
Best Song: Tuesday's Gone
If you look at the track list, I think Lynyrd Skynyrd made an entire 50+career off of this album. Oh, Sweet Home Alabama isn't on it. The other four songs I know from them are on this one.
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
Best Song: Taj Mahal
The music is fine. I can't understand a word that is being said so rating is kind of hard. For all I know he can be talking about adding ice cream, peanut butter, and pickles to a a spaghetti dinner. Mmmmmmm, spaghetti.
Talking Heads
5/5
Best Song: Life after Wartime
The best song may be a little premature, but it is the song I am most familiar with. The entire album is out of this world. You know it's good when the first thing you do after listening is go to Amazon and grab it on vinyl!
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Dr. John
3/5
Best Song: I Walk on Guilded Spiders
This was ok at best, it goes from bluesy to weird really quick. I just don't see myself ever listening to it again.
Radiohead
4/5
Best Song: Knives Out
It's a good album. I'm not going to take anything away from it. It's a bit on the mellow side and, in my opinion, not as good as Kid A, In Rainbows, or OK Computer - but solid nonetheless. I just don't see myself putting it on too often with better options out there.
Faust
3/5
Best Song: The Sad Skinhead
Til there is a thing called "krautrock" and if this is it, then it's not for me. It's not terrible, just not for me. I'll stick with sauerkraut, that's German enough.
Japan
1/5
Best Song: Quiet Life
Holy New Wave Batman! This has pretty much everything I don't like about new wave including some saxophone. I would NEVER listen to this again.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Best Song: Help Me, Rhonda
This is my first experience with The Beach Boys from beginning to end. Of course, I have heard some of their songs over the years. As a 50-year-old, my child's mind associated The Beach Boys with, "old people music" when I was young and it kind of stuck with me which is a damn shame, this album was great and a lot of fun to listen to. A couple of filler songs which brought it down to a 4 but good nonetheless!
Norah Jones
4/5
Best Song: Don't Know Why
Norah Jones has a great voice. However, this type of music has a very limited relistening quality to it. Unless, of course, you run a speakeasy in 1930.
Screaming Trees
5/5
Ray Charles
4/5
Best Song: It Had to Be You
This is good, but like a lot of music in this era, I just don't see any opportunity where I will throw this on again.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Best Song: Suzanne
This was a first for me. I listened to this with my 18-year-old daughter who said, "all the songs sound exactly the same." I may blame this on naievete but the fact of the matter is, she was right. Not my thing.
Queens Of The Stone Age
4/5
Best Song: Mexicola
I like Queens of the Stone Age. I am not a die hard fan, by any means, and this might be the first album I listened to from beginning to end. Stoner rock at its finest!
George Harrison
5/5
Best Song: What is Life
First time listen and a great album. Poor George needed to get more attention from the Beatles!
Hawkwind
4/5
Best Song: Down Through the Night
I never heard of this band. It reminded me of pre-Darkside of the Moon Pink Floyd. Plus, being Lemmy's band before Motorhead helps with the heavy side of their music. Cool stuff!
Metallica
5/5
Best Song: The God that Failed
Some may say this is when Metallica went commercial. So fucking what! Great album and perfect introduction to someone new to Metallica.
John Cale
5/5
Best Song: Paris 1919
My only experience with Cale was his time in Velvet Underground. This isn't Velvet Underground, it is more approachable with great music and lyrics.
Le Tigre
4/5
Best Song: Deceptacon
I didn't hate this, I didn't love this. It was just kinda, "meh." It breaks no real ground and most the songs are forgettable. I originally was going to give it a 3 but the Deceeptacon song was good enough to push it to 4.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
Best Song: American Girl
I like Tom Petty. That being said, this isn't the best I have heard of Tom Petty. It isn't bad per se, just not as good as other stuff I've heard from Tom & The Heartbreakers. How can anyone hear American Girl and not think of the woman getting kidnapped in Silence of the Lambs is beyond me!
The Clash
3/5
Best Song: Train in Vain (Stand by Me)
Rolling Stone called London Calling the best album of the 80s. It came out in 1979 - in your face Rolling Stone! I don't really mind The Clash but I think this album is overrated. I don't really see myself listening to it again.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Best Song: Mannish Boy
I'm not the biggest straight blues fan but this is a quintessential blues album. Mannish Boy is a damn masterpiece.
Radiohead
5/5
Best Song: Optimistic
I've listened to this album a handful of times. Great album and probably my favorite from Radiohead. Mellow with some great rock accents. Melodies, lyrics, production, all great!
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Best Song: My My, Hey Hey
This is fine. I've never particularly been into Neil Young, he's like Canadian Bob Dylan. My My, Hey Hey is a great tune though.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Best Song: Prove it All Night
Is Bruce Springsteen blue collar? I wish he would write more songs about it. Not bad, not as good as Nebraska.
Kings of Leon
1/5
Best Song: The Bucket
There are bands and albums that you think of and can put yourself right where you were when you listened to it. This band is associated with very painful memories with me so, no matter how good they may be, I will have a hard time disassociating from them. That being said, this band sucks. 1/5 for their annoying, mush mouth, wannabe Chris Robinson lead singer. Music isn't terrible but it's hard to listen to without douchey singing, "ayyooo" or something else pompous and douchey over it.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Best Song: Kashmir
This album is so good, it is almost impossible to pick the best song so I just picked Kashmir since it was the song that got me to buy this when I was just a wee, teenage, suburban dolt who thought that would be the only song worth much. I would say perfect but side 4 was a 9/10 while the other three sides were 10/10. Unforgettable album!
Arcade Fire
5/5
Best Song: Intervention
I didn't like this as much as I liked Funeral but that isn't taking much away since I really loved Funeral. This is a good, solid album. 5/5.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Best Song: Scar Tissue
Bing ding dong and ringing a ling a dong, California. - RHCP lyrics. Anyway, this was basically a soundtrack to the first couple of years in the 2000s. A good album, it had a few songs that could have been cut and made it a banger.
Cee Lo Green
3/5
Best Song: Childz Play
Don't get the hype
Alice In Chains
5/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Best Song: Brother my Cup is Empty
This author has an obsession with Nick Cave. Nick Cave is the waitress and the author is Charlie in Always Sunny. I am not sure I understand it. This was ok, better than the last Nick Cave album I listened to but nothing I would call memorable. A smidge higher than, "meh" but not quite at an, "eh." A generous 4/5, probably should be a 3.5 but I rounded up.
Brian Eno
3/5
Best Song: Regiment
Sam Cooke
5/5
Best Song: Bring it on Home to Me
Such a cool piece of music history and borderline Sam Cooke's greatest hits. 5/5!
The Charlatans
4/5
Best Songs: Tellin' Stories
First time for me, a really solid album. The back half was not as strong as the first half or it would have been a 5.
Motörhead
5/5
Best Song: Ace of Spades
Lemmy ftw! 5/5.
The Monks
2/5
Best Song: We Do Wie Du
Gotta say, I'm not a fan. I can kind of hear where there is some very early punk in here but that gets overshadowed by either boring or irritating songs. FYI, as of July, 2025 this isn't available on YouTube Music.
Jefferson Airplane
5/5
Best Song: White Rabbit
This is a really good album that captures the time. But it is still kinda funny when their lead singer gets punched out at Altamont. What? Too soon?!?!
Gram Parsons
1/5
Best song: Love Hurts
This may be someone's thing, but it is not mine. At least I learned Love Hurts wasn't written by Nazareth. I never cared but now I can say I know.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Best Song: Block Rocking Beats
Back with another one of those block rocking beats. Talk about a time machine back to the late 90s. While I don't really like electronica, this is better than average electronica (or at least I'm more familiar with it since I would still have been going to bars/clubs that play this type of music back then). Not something I really would ever listen to often (or ever again for that matter) but, as a 50-year-old I will give a 3/5 for nostalgia purposes if nothing else. If I were a 22-year old like when this came out, and on molly at a club, this might have gotten a 4/5.
The White Stripes
5/5
Best Song: The Hardest Button to Button
This is not really a first per se. I have heard probably all of these songs at one point or another but the first time I listened to them in order. To be fair, I'm a White Stripes fan so this was going to be a 5 before I even listened to it in order and it is good. Personally, I like White Blood Cells better but that is a rather high bar. One thing that this albums shows is that Jack and Meg were not afraid to experiment a bit. A really good listen. 5/5!
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Best Song: Long as I can see the Light
Who has the most distinguishing voice when you hear it: Bob Dylan; Ozzy Osbourne; David Byrne; John Fogerty? It took about 1 second of Fogerty singing to answer that question. Borderline greatest hits album for CCR before all of their drama. 5/5.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Best Song: Here She Comes Now
The Velvet Underground remind me of the art students you'd meet in high school and college. Their brain(s) just work different. I didn't think this was as good as their debut album but it accomplishes what it sets out to do. This is supposed to be their anti-beauty album and it accomplishes that. 4/5.
Primal Scream
2/5
Best Song: Loaded
This is my first time hearing Primal Scream but always thought the band name was cool. This album did nothing for me though. Goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover any more than you can judge a band by its name. I'd much rather listen to the Motley Crue song Primal Scream than this album - and that is really saying something. The only thing worse than bad house music is a rock band's attempt at bad house music. Boring and repetitive. 2/5.
Cream
5/5
Best Song: Tales of Great Ulysses
A really solid album. A few songs could go and this would be a greatest hits. 5/5
The Black Crowes
5/5
Best Song: She Talks to Angels
I have some experience with this album. I went and saw the Black Crows open up for Aerosmith for this album in 1990. They got booed by the Alpine Valley crowd. On the way home, two of the four friends got very upset at me because I said that the Led Zeppelin book, 'Hammer of the Gods' was mostly bullshit. They took this very personal. Thirty-five years later, it is pretty much confirmed that book is, in fact, mostly embellished storied with some down right being false so, I was right! I'm sure, wherever those two friends are now, feel the shame of my vindication. Anyway, really good album. My only complaint is some of the songs start to sound a like a little in the back half but that is pretty common. 5/5
Nanci Griffith
3/5
Best Song: Banks of the Pontchatrain
De La Soul
2/5
Best Song: Me Myself & I
2/5. Not my thing!
Eagles
3/5
Best Song: Peaceful Easy Feeling
I always said, "I really don't like the Eagles." But, that was before I was forced to listen to them. Now that I have, I can honestly say, "I really don't like the Eagles." When the album was done streaming, "Keeping on Trying" by Poco started and I thought, "oh this is at least a good song." Nope, wasn't them. This album was yawn inducing. 3/5.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Best Song: Snowblind
RIP Ozzy. There is no such thing as a bad Black Sabbath album and this one is no exception. 5/5!
Sepultura
4/5
Best Song: Roots Bloody Roots
I think I have heard some Sepultura through friends and random playlists but first time listen from start to finish. Metal done right. Nu metal done right to be more specific. I can hear the Korn influence in some of the riffs. A solid album. The downside is it goes on too long and the singer is really good at doing one thing - too bad he only does one thing. 4/5.
Solomon Burke
4/5
Best Song: Cry to Me
Feels like it could be the Bull Durham soundtrack. I liked it! This dude's voice must have gotten him all the women or men, whatever he liked.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
2/5
Johnny Cash
5/5
Best Song: Hurt
I have owned this pretty much since it came out. An absolute classic of an album. 5/5.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Best Song: Charlotte the Harlott
A solid start to one of metal's pioneers. 4/5.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Best Song: Teen Age Riot
Not really my thing. 3/3.
Julian Cope
3/5
Best Song: Pristine
This falls into the category of why. I don't see any reason that this is on this list. It isn't bad per se, but there is nothing ground breaking, interesting, or even special to this. I don't see myself ever listening to it again any more than I ever see myself jumping out of my seat to turn it off. It's not as much good music as it is background music in a strip club in an 80's buddy cop movie. 3/3.
4/5
Best Song: The Cisco Kid
This is really good. And, I as someone who loves Phish, Grateful Dead, and other jam bands, I enjoy some of the longer jams on this album. But, there is always a but, these kinds of jams usually don't translate well to production and are best served spontaneously live. Sadly, this album suffers from that. If they would have shortened the two jam songs down by a few minutes, this would be a 5/5 but instead 4/5.
Ramones
5/5
Best Song: Blitzkrieg Bop
This is the first time that I listened to this through. Great album. I would have been one-year-old when this came out so I didn't have a chance to listen when it launched but I was able to make up for lost time. 5/5.
The Thrills
3/5
Best Song: Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)
It's like someone went to California and decided to put their Trip Advisor review to music. Repetitive, 60s inspired, indie music that longs to be on The OC soundtrack. It gets stale fast. Every other review mentions the annoyance of the singer's voice so I'll leave that alone. It's ok at best and doesn't deserve to be on this list. 3/5.
American Music Club
3/5
Best Song: Sometime
This is kind of whatever. It's not bad and it sure isn't great. 3/5.
DJ Shadow
3/5
Best Song: Midnight in a Perfect World
Recorded and produced DJ music is like produced jam bands, it works better live. This is nothing special. I guess it works while cooking dinner. 3/5.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Best Song: Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd is one of my all time favorite bands so it is no secret that this album would be part of my rotation. There are now bad songs and nothing bad to say. An absolute masterpiece. 5/5.
Afrika Bambaataa
3/5
Best Song: Renegades of Funk
3/5.
ABBA
5/5
Best Song: Fernando
I always disliked ABBA for really no reason. I guess I always considered them to be poppy, bubble gum, music. And, they are, but in all the good ways. 5/5.
Beatles
5/5
Best Song: Something
This is tied with Fleetwood Mac as the highest rated album on the 1001. Will I go against that grain? Of course not. This album is as close to perfect as you can get, especially for the time. The production, experimentation, song writing, just everything is fantastic. 5/5.
Justin Timberlake
1/5
Best Song: Rock Your Body
This album may be called 'Justified' but there is no way that this album being in the 1001 can be justified. Terrible. Dear Justin Timberlake, what you think is "sexy" comes off as whiny and annoying. Also, the Michael Jackson impersonation isn't even a good one. Absolute waste of time and should not be included on this list. 1/5.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Best Song: Can't You Hear Me Knocking
Is this a perfect album? No. Is it real close? You betcha! I am not really sure why I am seeing 1s and 2s with other people's ratings of this album, maybe the listened to something else. A near perfect album from start to finish. Two tiny complaints would be that the best song on the album, Can't You Hear Me Knocking, goes on a bit too long in the saxophone area and that cover is pretty terrible. A must listen for anyone that likes music. 5/5.
Patti Smith
3/5
Best Song: Gloria: In Excelsis Deo
This album is odd. While I can respect it artistically, this is another scenario that I would never really listen to this whole album again (or at least not often enough to give it a 4/5). Gloria is a banger, but for every good song there is a 9+ minute song that goes on for 8+ minutes too long. This album is beloved by critics and the music equivalent of The Simpsons Comic Book Guy, but perhaps my palate isn't refined enough for it. 3/5.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
Best Song: The Message
I get it, this is old school hip hop and I wouldn't get the hip hop I know and love without it. That being said, this did very little for me. This was a first time listen that I am sure would have been rated much higher if I had listened to it at the before listening to later hip hop. But, I didn't so a 3/5 it is.
Femi Kuti
3/5
Best Song: Wonder Wonder
This isn't bad, it's just not really my thing. I can see listening to this when cooking or cleaning but will not be adding it to the playlist or anything. 3/5.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
3/5
Best Song: Take Five
It's jazz. It works when doing menial tasks I guess. I wish I could make myself sound smarter and say that I understand (or care, for that matter) about the musical arrangements and all that. I am not a musician and have zero plans to ever become one so I don't need to know how the sausage is made. 3/5.
Little Richard
5/5
Best Song: Long Tall Sally
I surprisingly really liked this for my first time hearing it. Of course I've heard most the songs before but was nice to hear them together instead of as part of the soundtrack of some movie. Little Richard is the equivalent of an energy drink if it were a musician. 5/5.
Sparks
4/5
Best Song: This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us
Strangely, I enjoyed this more than I ever would have thought that I would. Now, that being said, this is weird, theatrical, and not my cup of tea. I wouldn't listen to it again but also wouldn't fault anyone's taste that would.
Dennis Wilson
4/5
Best Song: Pacific Ocean Blues
This was ok, not bad but also not great. It is kind of reminds me of the sound that would be made if ZZ Top sang Beach Boys songs. I enjoyed it overall but don't see myself throwing it on often or picking it up on vinyl or anything. 4/5.
Elliott Smith
4/5
Best Song: L.A.
Learning a little bit about his history, I was expecting this to be Pink Floyd's The Final Cut with a bit of Trent Reznor's Pretty Hate Machine, but it wasn't nearly as depressing as I expected. I had never heard of him before and enjoyed this. I am not 100% sure I would listen to it too often but there is a much better chance than a lot on this list. 4/5.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Best Song: Muzzle
For full transparency, I bought this in 1995 and have listened to some songs off of this ever since. It very well may be nostalgia talking, but I love this album. A 5/5!
Travis
2/5
Best Song: Driftwood
There is a very fine line that many performers have to tip toe to go from good to whiny. Travis is 100% whiny. This might be someone's thing, but it sure isn't mine. 2/5.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Best Song: Walk on By
When Darkside of the Moon came out, it had stayed on the charts for some crazy amount of years, like 40-50 years. Anyway, one of the theories behind its longevity was that it was a great album to bang to which came as a shock to Pink Floyd. However, this album being a great album to bang to wouldn't be a shock to Isaac Hayes. That seems to be what he was going for. I wasn't familiar with him outside of Chef on South Park and this was a good listen. 4/5.
Queen
4/5
Best Song: Bohemian Rhapsody
I am not a huge Queen fan but do appreciate and enjoy them (I had both Classic Queen and Greatest Hits in high school). However, this album is a first from start to finish. It is good, a bit more theatrical than I normally enjoy but their talent is impossible to miss. Plus, Bohemian Rhapsody will always be awesome! I'm sure that there will be more Queen that leans more towards rock and my liking. 4/5.
Saint Etienne
2/5
Best Song: Kiss and Make Up
Meh. A genre of music (house) I don't like and an average at best band at it. Uninspired. It felt like music you would have heard shopping for clothes at the Gap in the 90s. 2/5
Aphex Twin
1/5
Best Song: Xtal
Back in 1992, a 19-year-old attends a rave with a ton of Molly in her system, sucking a pacifier, when a methed-out 23-year-old with more tattoos and piercings than face enters. Aphex Twin comes on and the two grind it out with a concoction of Molly sweat, lube, Boone's Farm, and Zima spritzing passerbyes. The memory of that night is hazy except for the same five beats of Aphex Twin that lasted 90-minutes. Nine months later a future, failed YouTuber is born whose resume never leaves the ""we'll pass"" pile of applicants at Trader Joes.
Depeche Mode
3/5
Best Song: The Thing you Said
Woohoo, more new wave music, just what this list needs! 3.5
4/5
Best Song: Don't Look Back in Anger
I had to have listened to this back in my college days but don't really remember. This is a good album, not great, but good. Don't Look Back in Anger is quite possibly the best pop song to come out of the 90s, so this gets a 4/5 for that song alone!
Radiohead
5/5
Best Song: High and Dry
I seem to see two camps when it comes to Radiohead, those that love them and those that think they are pretentious. I fall in the former camp. I am not sure if this is their best album when Ok Computer and In Rainbows are on the board, but it is definitely fantastic. 5/5.
Suede
2/5
The writer seems to have a certain kind of voice that they are drawn to, like Morissey meets Depeche Mode. And, it is irritating. There is such good music that was around during the 80s/90s and we keep being forced to listen to this British, new wave mediocrity. I guess musically, it isn't terrible but it is REALLY hard to get by listening to that singer. 2/5
Marty Robbins
3/5
Best Song: El Paso
This is absolutely not my thing. I'm sure if you are a fan of this genre this is good, I'm not. El Paso is good, though I prefer the Grateful Dead version. Outside of that, I could have lived my entire life without listening to this album and I do not feel I would be missing out on anything. 3/5.
The Stooges
4/5
Best Song: Search and Destroy
After a couple of dud albums in a row, this was a welcome surprise. I've never paid much mind to The Stooges, or Iggy Pop. I knew Lust for Life and I Want to be your Slave and that was it. This was how punk is supposed to be done before it ends up being brutalized by a bunch of copycats. I just wish the mix wasn't so subpar. 4/5.
Beatles
5/5
Best Song: Eleanor Rigby
I don't know if I have ever listened to this album front to back but am familiar with 90+% of the songs. It's a good album, but by no means my favorite Beatles album. I am still giving it a 5 because it's still the Beatles. 5/5.
Elton John
5/5
Best Song: Tiny Dancer
I like me some Elton John and this was the first time listening to this particular album. Of course, I knew Levon and Tiny Dancer but the rest of the songs are great too. 5/5.
Björk
4/5
Best Song: Venus as a Boy
I always passed over Bjork because, quite frankly, she is weird, like to a scary degree. But she also can sing with a one of a kind voice. You have to be in the mood for this but I can see me relistening to this more than a lot of other albums on here. I wish musically it was a little darker as a juxtaposition with her higher octaves. 4/5.
Talking Heads
5/5
Best Song: Psycho Killer
A great debut album from a great band. While, often times, the debut album from a band is their best stuff since they have the most time to work on it without the record company breathing down their neck, in Talking Heads case their stuff just gets better. That is not a dig on this album whatsoever, it's great. So are the albums that follow. 5/5.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Best Song: Sucker MCs
This was good. It showed what was to come, which was arguably one of the most influential artists in hip hop. 4/5.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
5/5
Best Song: Piece of my Heart
I think technically I can say that this is a first time for me. However, I have heard every song on here dozens of songs, just not in this form. Greatest hits albums can be both a blessing and a curse. This is quintessential 60's music with one of the greatest singers ever. 5/5.
Killing Joke
4/5
Best Song: The Wait
I enjoyed this overall. It probably isn't part of the permanent rotation but I've heard MUCH worse on here. 4/5.
Baaba Maal
4/5
Best Song: Djam Leeli
Interesting listen. Definitely not gonna be added in the rotation. 4/5
U2
5/5
Best Song: Mysterious Ways
I enjoy U2 quite a bit. I knew about 85% of this album from being in high school when it came out and the radio playing several of these songs pretty much non-stop. The songs I didn't know were not as good as some of the more popular ones but nothing that would detract from the strength of the album. 5/5.
Barry Adamson
1/5
Best Song: The Sweetest Embrace
I didn't like this. Listening to this reminds me of doing work outside in the yard on a hot Summer day but, for whatever reason, you are unable to shower after and have to sit with the dried sweat covering your body. You feel icky. That's how this album made me feel. 1/5.
The Cure
3/5
Best Song: Love Song
The Cure still suck. Looking at the reviews, it seems people either love it and give it a 5 or hate it and give it a 1. I am in the middle, if I hear this I'm not grabbing a belt and looking for the nearest means to hang myself, but I am also not reaching to turn it up either. 3/5 and that is being generous.
Milton Nascimento
4/5
Best Song: Nuvem Sigana
Milton Nascimento is very talented and this is a really solid listen. I really wish I could understand the words he is saying! Overall solid, but I probably would never listen again for the simple reason that I want to understand what is happening. Simply speaking, I'm a simpleton. 4/5.
U2
4/5
Best Song: New Years Day
It's a good album. New Years Day and Sunday Bloody Sunday were both bangers. The back half is a bit weak though. 4/5.
Common
4/5
Best Song: Chi-city
A good listen and first time for me. I knew of Common the actor but not the rapper and he delivered. Pre-looney Kanye's production is solid as well. 4/5.
Carole King
5/5
Best Song: So Far Away
I'm not the world's biggest Carole Kane fan but this album is basically her greatest hits and she has plenty. I was surprisingly impressed with this and enjoyed it. 5/5.
The Doors
5/5
Best Song: Roadhouse Blues
I have owned this album since 1995 so it is safe to say I had heard it before. And, it is one of the greats from a great band. Roadhouse Blues, Peace Frog, Land Ho, Indian Summer have been in and out of playlists since I made the purchase. 5/5.
Queen
4/5
Best Song: Seven Seas of Rhye
This was interesting. Part of it is pretty heavy; heavier than your run of the mill Queen. The second half was a bit more experimental and theatrical. Overall, it's entertaining and enjoyable. 4/5.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Best Song: Let's Get it On
This is a good album. It is pretty short and almost feels like an EP. The title track is its highlight, after that it kind of all sounds like one long song. 4/5.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Best Song: Listen to Me
I wish I could understand this, we get one James Brown album but the "C'mon Eileen" band we get three albums from. And, they are NOT anywhere near worthy of three albums on here. Sad and a waste of my time. 2/5.
Janelle Monáe
2/5
Best Song: Tightrope
This is not my type of music and does nothing for me. Even if this were, I have heard much better albums than this so I'm not sure why this would be 1001 worthy. 2/5.
Dr. Dre
5/5
Best Song: Fuck with Dre Day
""Never let me slip, 'cause if I slip, then I'm slippin'" - pure poetry!"
Michael Jackson
3/5
Best Song: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
I wasn't crazy about this, it sounds rather dated to me. There are some good songs on here but nothing like Thriller. 3/5.
Violent Femmes
3/5
Best Song: Blister in the Sun
Blister in the Sun is great, the rest of the album is pretty non-eventful. 3/5.
Massive Attack
3/5
Best Song: Protection
More electronica. Hooray. This isn't as bad as some of the other electronic music on here, it reminds me in some ways to Zero 7 who I enjoy (given, in relatively small doses). This still doesn't do a whole lot for me but act as background music while I do other things. 3/5.
The Damned
4/5
Best Song: Love Song
This was ok. It is better than some punk at the time and tended to lean more towards the rock side in a few songs. It is better than a good deal of punk in the 70's. 4/5.
Kings of Leon
1/5
Best Song: California Waiting
Author of the 1001 Albums book, "here's a garbage band's debut album that wasn't completely hated when it came out and got just below a B in grades from most publications. Perfect for my book!" This isn't good, but neither are Kings of Leon. Freaking hate this band! 1/5.
Miles Davis
3/5
Best Song: John McLaughlin
More jazz. It's like Godfather 3, "every time I think I'm out, they pull me back in." This is more music that does nothing for me, besides maybe writing/cleaning to it. But, this time the songs are way longer. 3/5.
Primal Scream
2/5
Best Song: Medication
My second, and hopefully last, Primal Scream album. This album reminds me of an episode of Friends, where Ross plays the keyboard and it is all ridiculous sound effects. This is basically that album. 2/5.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
Best Song: I Don't Love You Anymore
I never heard of this band before and it was ok. The music is up my alley but I found it rather uninspired and dull. 3/5.
Cat Stevens
5/5
Best Song: Wild World
I wanted to not enjoy this for some reason. I guess it is because I have heard enough Cat Stevens "greatest hits" on the radio and from friends. But, when listened to in this format, by the end I was really enjoying it. This could be one of those albums you need to listen to the whole thing like a Pink Floyd or even Death Cab for Cutie album instead of a track here or there. 5/5.
Goldfrapp
3/5
Best Song: Utopia
I never heard of this. Then I started listening to the electronic music and I realized why - I'm not a big fan of electronic music. This isn't as bad as some electronica I have heard but still nothing I would ever listen to again. 3/5.
Sex Pistols
4/5
Best Song: Anarchy in the UK
This is better than a lot of punk I have heard on here. Sadly, the fact that it all ends up sounding the same in the end kept it from getting a 5. Anarchy in the UK will forever be the classic, punk anthem. 4/5.
The Mothers Of Invention
4/5
Best Song: Absolutely Free
This is weird. It has that covered. I don't dislike it but I also don't see myself really listening to it often. Who would have thought Frank Zappa makes weird music?!?!? He seems like a normal chap to me! 4/5.
The Who
4/5
Best Song: My Generation
The album that kicked off one of rock's most influential bands. It is a solid album with a few bangers. It is a nice sign of things to come from The Who and may get the occasional listen but not as much as later albums. 4/5.
The Kinks
4/5
Best Song: The Village Green Preservation Society.
This is pretty good, more mellow than I was expecting if I'm being honest. I think that there are better albums out there by The Kinks so looking forward to that. 4/5.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
Best Song: Band on the Run
This is pretty good. It has some Beatlesesque music moments but you can hear Paul trying to separate himself from the Beatle persona he built up through the 60s. 4/5.
The Prodigy
4/5
Best Song: Firestarter
I was stuck between a 4 or 5 and went with 4 simply because the relistenability of this is only when in a certain mood. A great 90s album full of bangers. 4/5.
The Vines
5/5
Best Song: Get Free
When I started this project, it was discover albums like this. I had not heard of The Vines and loved this. It has some 90s grunge vibes, with strong Stone Temple Pilots influence. 5/5.
The Beach Boys
5/5
Best Song: Sloop John B
Fantastic album from beginning to end. Not a bad track on here!
Elvis Costello
4/5
Best Song: This is Hell
Elvis Costello is another one the author seems to adore. I'm not going to knock it, he's not bad - simply not my cup of tea all the time like Costello-heads. It's standard rock n roll and fine. The biggest problem is it's replayability, I don't think it's there. Maybe as background music but, for me, there's much better albums I would choose to listen to before this.
The Isley Brothers
3/5
Best Song: Listen to the Music
This is good, just not my thing. 3/5.
Air
4/5
Best Song: Playground Love
This is a powerful soundtrack that, while I have never seen the movie The Virgin Suicides, feels like it could fit in as the background music to a lot of things. Melodic and powerful. While this may not be in my top 5 all time soundtracks, it is a very powerful album musically and make me appreciate the music of the time (yes, even the electronica that I normally dislike). 4/5.
Fatboy Slim
2/5
Best Song: Going out of my Head
As one who was in college when this came out, I can say it was relatively popular around campus. And, I didn't like it then anymore than I like it now. Repetitive and boring is the best way to describe it. It's like that episode of Friends where Ross was playing with the sound effects to make music with his keyboard - this is just more on beat. I will not listen again. 2/5.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Best Song: Red Headed Stranger
This is really good, but it is also something I would see myself listening to often. It's super mellow and not my genre of music, even though it is more folk than country to me. 4/5.
k.d. lang
1/5
Best Song: Black Coffee
There are no words that can describe how much I disliked this. Maybe I would give it another listen if paid, otherwise - never again. 1/5.
Christine and the Queens
1/5
Best Song: Doesn't Matter (fitting track)
It sounds like early 90's dance music that I despise. I do not hear much with this I enjoy no matter what language you choose to listen to it. I suppose if I ever feel nostalgic for my time stocking shelves at Nordstroms, I can throw this on and relive a hungover 19-year-old me stocking pantyhose with this kind of music acting as background noise for old, rich people to shop to so they feel like they're hip with the new music and their best years are not behind them. 1/5.
Tori Amos
5/5
Best Song: Silent all these Years
I bought this right after it came out and it absolutely blew my mind. While I know that Tori used to be a poppy before she switched gears and that people can say that she "ripped off" Kate Bush, I find this more sincere and honest. I have been a fan ever since I heard this the first time and listened to all her albums. 5/5.
Duke Ellington
3/5
Best Song: Jeep's Blues
This is pretty much the exact review as Miles Davis. This could be someone's jam, but it isn't mine. I don't hate it, but I won't listen to it again. 3/5.
Antony and the Johnsons
1/5
Best Song: Bird Guhl
I really didn't like this at all. It just felt boring and melodramatic for no real reason. I am sure there is something to it seeing as it is about the difficulties of being trans, especially in 2005 - even though it isn't really that much better in 2026 when I'm listening to this. But, that message doesn't come through to me as much as vibrato and whining. 1/5.
ZZ Top
4/5
Best Song: Dirty Dog
A good listen and home to many of ZZ Tops biggest hits. 4/5.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Best Song: America
Another from my collection that I have had for some time. A great album for anyone who enjoys good lyrics to their music. 5/5.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Best Song: Jade Visions
Phew, I was scared we weren't going to get more jazz! It falls as the rest, it isn't my thing but I respect it and I listened to it. I am not a musician so I have no way to competently say it was well done or poorly done. All I can really say is it isn't my thing so I had no real reaction to it one way or another. 3/5.
Pixies
5/5
Best Song: Waves of Mutilation
I knew very little about the Pixies when I listened to this and it's great. Definitely will relisten. 5/5.
SZA
3/5
Best Song: SZA
SZA has a great voice and this is a strong album. However, it isn't really my thing and I don't see myself ever listening to this again. Nothing against the music itself, this is just my taste. 3/5.
Fugees
2/5
Best Song: Killing me Softly
I really didn't enjoy this. It isn't the genre of music as I enjoy hip hop. It wasn't Laruen Hill as she has an amazing voice. That leaves Wyclef who annoys me. On top of that, this is really timely and 1996 is long gone. 2/5.
The Divine Comedy
1/5
Best Song: Everyone Knows (Except You)
Well, this sucked. I wish I could give some sort of positive spin to something here but really I don't have much. I guess I can say this isn't for me. I just don't know who this is for, it would be no one I have ever met. This is kind of like if aliens had a full catalogue of human music and they tried to make music similar and this is it. 1/5 because 0 isn't an option.
Blur
4/5
Best Song: Song 2
This is a first time listen of the whole album. Of course I knew Song 2 as that was played on a loop in 1997 on the radio. Overall the album is a slightly better than average grunge album. I'm not really sure why it made this list. It's not bad but is definitely not anything mind blowing. 4/5.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Best Song: (You Make me Feel) Like a Natural Woman
This is another where all I can say is, "this is good." Is it something I will listen to often? Nope. Every once in awhile? Maybe. I get why it was added to the list and it isn't assaulting to the ears or anything but it sounds dated and isn't really my thing. Can Aretha Franklin sing? I mean c'mon!!!!! 4/5.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Best Song: Paint it Black
I haven't listened to as much early Stones as I thought. I am really enjoying it as it is less polished and more raw. Great stuff, plus who doesn't like Paint it Black. 5/5.
The Jam
3/5
Best Song: English Rose
Meh. This does nothing for me whatsoever. These may be the most British individuals that Britain has ever Britained. Musically, they aren't bad but also not anything out of the ordinary. Whoever plays bass knows how to write a bassline, I will give them that. 3/5.
Van Morrison
5/5
Best Song: And it Stoned Me
I bought Van Morrison's greatest hits in 1999 and listened to it to death. This was the first time I've listened to an album in its entirety that wasn't greatest hits and I think I liked this album better than the Greatest Hits. Plus, how is it possible that Into the Mystic was not on the greatest hits?!?!?! 5/5.
The Everly Brothers
4/5
Best Song: Love Hurts
This is brand new to me, except of course Love Hurts which may be the most covered song ever. I'm sure it's not but you get the idea. I was pleasantly surprised after reading that they were mostly country. This is more 50s-esque rockabilly to me. 4/5.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
Best Song: Hard Times
I disliked this about as much as Curtis Mayfield disliked birth control. The dude had 10 kids. This just isn't my type of music. 3/5.
The Go-Go's
4/5
Best Song: Our Lips are Sealed
This is both fun and nostalgic. Not something I would listen to often but also not something I would turn off. 4/5.
Pere Ubu
2/5
Best Song: Dub Housing
I have no idea why this would be in the 1001. I didn't hear too many redeeming qualities to it. Nothing on this is above average. 2/5.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Best Song: Dazed and Confused
If there were a Mount Rushmore of the best rock bands ever, Led Zeppelin would be right in the middle. This isn't there best album but it is better than 90% of other bands best albums so take that as a win. 5/5.
Muddy Waters
5/5
Best Song: I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man
I am not a big blues fan, but when I think of blues, this is the sound I would expect. It hits all the right notes (both figuratively and literally). 5/5.
Rush
5/5
Best Song: 2112:Overture/The Temples of Syrinx/Discovery
A 20:33 opening track, well damn. This is another great album from insanely talented musicians and songwriters. 5/5.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Best Song: Everyday People
This is good but sadly, not something I would listen to very often. I can say that I have no experience with Sly and it was a nice change of pace. 4/5.
Slint
3/5
Best Song: Nosferatu Man
This is meh. I get it's post-punk and fighting the mainstream music at the time but, in the end, most of this is decent instrumentals ruined by their singer talking over it. 3/5.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Best Song: Cinnamon Girl
This wasn't bad. It has some really good songs and some ok songs. A few drag a bit but overall not too shabby. 4/5.
Ray Price
4/5
Best Song: Sittin' and Thinkin'
This has both country and western! But, while not a fan of this type of music, there was something kinda special and fun with this. It is almost like it is good drinking music even though I don't drink. Then to find out this was Willie Nelson's band before he went solo added to it. 4/5.
Metallica
5/5
Best Song: One
Bass? Who needs bass when you have one of the best metal albums ever. Not as good as Master but probably second best Metallica album. If you haven't heard it, shame on you! 5/5.
N.W.A.
5/5
Best Song: Straight Outta Compton
The OG of gangster rap (see, I can learn terminology for music!) If you have any interest in rap whatsoever, this is a must listen and even if you don't like hip-hop - this is a time capsule as well as a rap album. 5/5.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Best Song: The Chain
This is tied for the highest rated album on the 1001 by users and for good reason. It's a phenomenal record. I have heard it several times and had it on vinyl but enjoyed it even though my album was warped and The Chain skipped, which is a real bummer. 5/5.
The Pogues
4/5
Best Song: Sally MacLennane
Who doesn't like a little Celtic punk music? I was new to them and really enjoyed it. 4/5
John Coltrane
4/5
Best Song: A Love Supreme, Pt. I - Acknowledgment
I think jazz may be growing on me. I didn't mind this nearly as much as a lot of the other things on here. Still not something I foresee myself going ga-ga for and listening to often but maybe when working/writing/cleaning, it could be good background music. 4/5.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Best Song: What Have I Done to Deserve This?
Synth-pop. Just when I needed another genre of music to be meh about. The gentleman yawning on the cover wasn't as much an artistic decision as it was foreshadowing. 3/5.
Aretha Franklin
3/5
Best Song: Respect
There is no secret that Aretha Franklin can sing. The 3/5 is strictly for replayability for me. I just don't see myself listening to this again, not that it's bad, just that it is timely and not my thing.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Best Song: Misty Mountain Hop
When it comes to Led Zeppelin, their albums are a bit of an enigma. Each one is very different from the others and they are all out of this world. This is no exception, even though, of the Zeppelin catalogue, this is the one that is the most overplayed. But that isn't the fault of the band or the album. Every song is incredible and the entire album is a classic. 5/5.
Def Leppard
4/5
Best Song: Rock of Ages
Hair metal ruled a good portion of the 80s and this was a stepping stone for bands like Winger, Warrant, Enuff Zenuff, etc. This is better than a lot of other average at best "metal" that would come out later in the decade. 4/5.
Meat Loaf
5/5
Best Song: Paradise by the Dashboard Light
An entire album about trying to get laid, nice. Would be a 5 if it weren't for the two sappy slow songs. Who am I kidding, it's a 5/5.
Green Day
5/5
Best Song: Jesus of Suburbia
Best album of 2004. Best album of the 2000s?
Scott Walker
2/5
Best Song: Get Behind Me
This was better than Scott 2 but not as good as 90% of albums that are on this list in the 60s. This would have gotten a 1 if it weren't for Get Behind Me which isn't a bad song. 2/5.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
4/5
Best Song: I See a Darkness
This is what I want from doing this project. I didn't LOVE this but I really enjoyed it. I liked their voice and it was a mellow, melodic change of pace that I would never listen to if I weren't doing this. 4/5.
Big Black
3/5
Best Song: Kerosene
I don't really get why this was included, it sounds more like noise than music to me. 3/5.
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Best Song: Heroin
I really enjoy this album. What I don't enjoy are the music gatekeepers who think this is the greatest album of all time and anyone who doesn't consider this album to be the greatest thing to ever happen to music to be unappreciative pleebs. Put your finger to the frame of your glasses and push them up as you say, "well, actually..." and realize I stopped listening. Anyway, I like this better than White Light/White Heat and, even when it's weird, it's good. 5/5.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Best Song: Coyote
I have a confused history with Joni Mitchell. On one hand, she has some great folk songs but, on the other hand, it is one song out of ten that falls into the great folk song category. The rest are mid, at best, and can be skipped. This is ok. It makes for decent background music but if I were to put on folk music, this wouldn't be in the top ten I would put on - it wouldn't even be the top five of Joni Mitchell. The first half is better than the second half. 3/5.
Miles Davis
3/5
Best Song: Boplicity
This was my second listen, it was recommended to me by a friend when I was in college because I mistakenly said I enjoyed jazz. This is jazz. And it is not really something I enjoyed. I can't say I disliked it because that is not fair to the genre, I'm sure as far as jazz goes, this is top of the line. I just can't really decipher what makes good jazz from bad jazz. 3/5.
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
Best Song: Wish you Well
Is this terrible? No, not at all. Is this worthy of being on 1001 list? No, not at all. It's a pretty standard 90's rock album where grunge influences started to overflow into regular, run of the mill rock n' roll. I am going to give it a 3/5 just because it isn't offensive to the ears and if it were to be put on, I wouldn't beeline to the door or do a mad push to change it. It's non-offensive rock that doesn't deserve 1001 love.
PJ Harvey
4/5
Best Song: O Stella
I had never heard anything by PJ Harvey before this. I think I always got PJ Harvey and KD Lang mixed up and never gave Harvey much of a chance. I was very pleasantly surprised here. Solid musicians, a much more punk/alternative sound than I ever would have thought, and an overall nicely put together album. I actually can foresee myself listening to this again. 4/5.
Pulp
3/5
Best Song: I'm a Man
This was a new one for me, and I know that people will play word games with the title, This is Hardcore - spoiler alert: it is not hardcore. It is alternative-pop with a pinch of new wave thrown in here and there. It's ok, but nothing that I needed to go out of my way for. It could easily have been skipped from this list. 3/5.
Stan Getz
1/5
Best Song: O Pato
This is really not my thing at all. I am sure it is fine if you are into it but I'm not. 1/5.
Linkin Park
4/5
Best Song: One Step Closer
When I was a high schooler in the early 90's, our teen angst albums were basically Metallica, Guns N Roses, and Megadeth. I will defend these albums to this day even though, objectively, all three bands had better albums than those that came out at that time (GNR - Use Your Illusions 1 & 2, Metallica - Metallica, Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction) but that didn't matter - those albums were my teenage mind vs. the world. If you were to fast forward 5-7 years, this album would be those high schoolers, "fight the power" albums that go against social norms, even though pretty much every other high schooler would be listening to the same thing.
Not to be a hater here with my, "old man yells at cloud" moment. I enjoyed this album and liked Chester (RIP). But, it is obviously a timely album that described a period of angst in the post-Columbine, pre-9/11 US. I'm not really sure how this album is a conversation of the Godfather of nu metal as I had seen in some discussions about it when both Korn and Limp Bizket had come out with their albums prior to this.
Overall, it is a good album with some songs that could have been scrapped for sounding a bit 311-ish to me. Sadly, I will say that the best songs on this album are the ones that were released and you probably heard on the radio. If you liked those songs, you will like the whole album. If you don't like those, there will be no diamonds hidden away for you. 4/5.
The Temptations
3/5
Best Song: Runaway Child, Running Wild
Musically they are fantastic and they are amazing performers. That being said, I am not a big R&B fan and, while this is good, I am stuck with a relistenability quality that this doesn't have for me. In other words, I will never listen to this again no matter how talented the musicians are. 3/5.
Adam & The Ants
3/5
Best Song: Ants Invasion
I wasn't really a big fan of this, but the riff to Ants Invasion is fantastic and brought Adam's grade from a 2 to a 3. Definitely worth the listen just for that track. 3/5.
Prince
4/5
Best Song: 1999
I like Prince and this is a classic. The key here is that I "like" Prince, I don't love Prince. This is a good album and there are some big songs on here like 1999, Delirious, and Little Red Corvette. I'm not sure if I would say this is my favorite Prince album but it has to be in the conversation. Sadly, for every 1999 or Delirious, there are songs that are blah and just ok. 4/5.
The Police
4/5
Best Song: King of Pain
I never really considered myself much of a Police fan, but this was surprisingly good. The musicians in this band are really talented and, while Sting's voice requires some getting used to, the vocals are solid. 4/5.
OutKast
3/5
Best Song: Hey Ya
Seriously, 2+ hour album?!?! I get it is two albums in one, but c'mon. There are some really good tracks on here. There are also some mediocre (at best) tracks on here. This is one of those cases where it is just too much. If they had tightened this up and only put out the best tracks instead of forcing this double album it would easily be a 4 but alas, that isn't the case. 3/5.
Various Artists
5/5
Best Song: Christmas Baby (Please Come Home)
It is so weird listening to Christmas music in September. Anyway, I think this is the only Christmas album on here and I wonder why. This is a great Christmas album. That Phil Spector really can find great musicians, I hope he never does anything stupid to get himself in trouble. 5/5.
Charles Mingus
3/5
Best Song: Solo Dancer
Boy oh howdy I thought I was almost done with jazz but nope. Just like all the other jazz on here, it isn't really my thing - even after listening to, what feels like, 500,000 jazz albums (realistically I think it is more like 5). I can't differentiate good jazz from bad jazz and am not a musician so to me this sounds like noise basically. 3/5.
The Young Gods
3/5
Best Song: Rue des Tempetes
Not bad but the shit's in French
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Best Song: Silverfuck
An absolute masterpiece and one of my favorite albums in 1993/1994. Sadly, this is one of those bands where I have to separate the art from the artist since Billy Corigan ego is a lot to take. On the other hand, based on this album he deserves to have a bit of chip on his shoulder, in my opinion. This is a 90's classic! 5/5.
The Replacements
4/5
Best Song: Unsatisfied
I didn't mind this at all. I was not really familiar with them prior to this and found it enjoyable. 4/5.
Death In Vegas
3/5
Best Song: Dirge
I was thinking to myself this morning, I need to listen to more electronic music. Then, I thought, I don't like electronic music, why would I listen to more of it? Then I saw that today's album is electronic music which I don't like. This is electronic music and I don't like it. That being said, This isn't straight electronic, there is some rock and other influences so, while it isn't great, it is better than Aphex Twin and the like. 3/5.
Herbie Hancock
1/5
Best Song: Watermelon Man
Wow, this is REALLY not my thing at all. Is Herbie talented? Of course. Would I ever listen to this again in a million years - nope! 1/5.
Sugar
5/5
Best Song: Hoover Dam
I have heard Husker Du and I've heard Bob Mould solo. I like me some Mould and this is a nice album that is a bit of a variation from Husker Du and more like Mould's solo work. 5/5.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Best Song: Are You Experienced?
This is one of those rare things in music that happens maybe a couple of times a lifetime - everything changed because of one person and one album. Literally the way rock n' roll and the way people played guitar was one way, they heard this album, and then everything changed. It's been some time since I listened to this and didn't remember how many tracks were on this - and they are all great. 5/5
10cc
2/5
Best Song: Hotel
Is this bad? No, not really. It this good? No, not really. It has no place in the 1001 albums list and I will never listen to it again. 2/5.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Best Song: Son of a Preacher Man
Maybe it is my ignorance but I would think, in hindsight, Dusty Springfield should have been a more powerful musical influence in pop culture from the 60s. I get the Tarantino, "Pulp Fiction" inclusion and all that, but her talent is up there with some of the greats. Part of me wonders, if she had died at 27 like many of her fellow musicians of the era if she would be more well known. Anyway, this is another good album from Dusty. It is necessarily my type of music but her talent outweighs genre. Recommend. 4/5.
Kacey Musgraves
4/5
David Ackles
3/5
Fats Domino
4/5
Best Song: Blueberry Hill
This has nothing to do with the album but it was a pain to find streaming, I ended up looking it up on Wikipedia and just playing the songs in order. That being said, I enjoyed this. Plus it was nice to hear some music in the 50s that isn't jazz. Blueberry Hill is a damn classic! 4/5.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Best Song: Born to Run
Another great album from the Boss. Perhaps this is the quintessential Springsteen album, it's hard to tell. Personally, I liked Nebraska better but this was also great. I guess it all depends if you like your Boss rocking or your Boss folk. 5/5.
4/5
Best Song: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
There are two things that Devo and Frank Zappa have in common: one - they both put together really talented musicians; two - they are really weird. I enjoyed this and list it as something to listen to more often but it is really weird and you need to be in the mood. 4/5.
Funkadelic
3/5
Best Song: Can you Get to That
I call a little false advertising here. When you call your album Funkadelic, you expect some serious funk. I did not receive the the dosage of funk said title would respect. It was ok, nothing I would go out of my way for or listen to again. 3/5.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Best Song: Our House
I like CSN&Y and this is possibly their most popular album. It's good with staples like Our House and Teach Your Children (I sang that in junior high choir). The only downside is I do have to be in the mood for this. It isn't like Floyd, Stones, Beatles, Doors where I could just throw it on anytime and I'm happy. 4/5.
Happy Mondays
3/5
Best Song: Kinky Afro
On a plus side, this is better than Bummed. That being said, this isn't anything I really enjoy. Some tracks are better than others on here but overall this misses the mark. 3/5.
Bobby Womack
3/5
Best Song: If you Think You're Lonely Now
Another album to bang to! I would never listen to this other than for that purpose, however. 3/5.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Best Song: Take the Power Back
There are some insanely good albums that came out in 1993 and, in my humble opinion, the Rage Against the Machine debut album is the best one to come out that year. That isn't knocking anything else that came out but this is one of the best and most influential albums to come out of the 90s - and is still conceptually valid which, in the world of music and politics, is a feat in itself. There are no bad tracks on here and too many that could be considered the 'best song.' 5/5.
Magazine
3/5
Best Song: Burst
The best way to describe this is, not noteworthy. It isn't terrible or anything, it is just nothing memorable. It sounds like your standard pre-New Wave that was creeping up around this time. I have made it no secret I don't like New Wave so pre-New Wave that hasn't gone full New Wave doesn't get a pass. 3/5.
Khaled
1/5
Best Song: Melha
I saw someone on the 1001 list say that this reminded them of restaurant music and I have to agree, makes me want a lamb kebab. Anyway, this is the "king of Rai" and if you don't know what that is, neither do it. It is a description of Arabian folk which, unless Arabian music considers folk different than I, this doesn't really fit that bill - this is more pop/dance than folk, in my opinion. Anyway, I wanted to go outside my comfort zone and this did it. However, maybe it went a bit too far as I would never listen to this again unless I was making kebab's at home and wanted to be more authentic. Not my thing. 1/5.
Depeche Mode
5/5
Best Song: Personal Jesus
This album is the reason I decided to take on this project. For full disclosure, I really don't like New Wave music, never have. Then, yesterday, I put this album on and shockingly thoroughly enjoyed it. Moreso than any other New Wave album I've listened to. Am I starting to become more of a New Wave fan? I doubt it. Am I getting desensitized to it. Probably. Either way, this album was a banger. 5/5.
Garbage
4/5
Best Song: Only Happy when it Rains
This has some strong nostalgic value for me. This was really popular, especially with women (who are most likely menopausal at this point) in 1995. It's a good album, I like the direction it was heading us towards and, sadly, wouldn't last too long before the pop queens like Brittney Spears, Christina Aguilera, etc. started coming around. 4/5.
5/5
Best Song: Five Years
An old favorite of mine and always a pleasure to listen to. David Bowie was another odd character but in all the good ways. This is a staple to his collection and should be a must listen to any connoisseur of music. 5/5.
The Fall
2/5
Best Song: Lost in Music
Yeah, I didn't really enjoy this. The band sounds good. The singer sucks. And I don't mean that like in a, "that's not my thing," kind of way. This is more of a the singer is monotone and boring. His lyrics may be all Avant Garde and all that but, in the end, I was too annoyed to notice. I would give it a 1 out of 5 but the band (bass player especially) sound really good. 2/5.
Public Enemy
5/5
Best Song: Fight the Power
I was really stuck between a 4 and a 5 for this. I have heard it before, like all Public Enemy, and I don't like this one as much as the previous and the next album. Plus, it goes on longer than it needs to and if it were made more succinct it would be a no brainer 5/5. After contemplation and looking at other music that was around at this time, 5/5 was the only grade it could get. Public Enemy was a cornerstone of great hip hop and even their weaker albums are still better than tons of mediocre artists in the 80's-90's. 5/5.
Dead Kennedys
4/5
Best Song: Stealing People's Mail
I like this. When I saw the genre "Hardcore Punk" I had to think, 'huh, isn't all punk hardcore?' The answer is no, this is hardcore punk and that is a perfect name for it. 4/5.
Kanye West
4/5
Best Song: We Don't Care
This is before Kanye went nuts. This is good. It is moving hip hop in a different direction than the 90's and inspired a whole lot of new hip hop music in the 2000's. It is impossible to listen to this and not hear its influence in other artists. Good stuff. 4/5.
Boston
4/5
Best Song: Smokin'
Not the biggest Boston fan but this album is pretty much their greatest hits. 4/5.
Throwing Muses
4/5
Best Song: Portia
I liked this. I wish they had been a bit more prevalent in the 80s/90s. I had not ever heard of them prior to this and it is basically mid-90s pop-grunge a decade before it was a thing. 4/5.
Blondie
4/5
Best Song: Heart of Glass
I never really foresaw myself a Blondie fan. I knew a few songs but listening to a complete album gets the feet tapping and the head rocking. It isn't perfect, by any means, and a little bit more on the New Wave side than I like but overall I have to give it a 4/5 and will need to listen again.
Simply Red
3/5
Best Song: Holding Back the Years
This might be a fraction better than their last album but still not really my thing. Holding Back the Years is alright but that could be nostalgia talking. I won't be listening again. 3/5.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
Best Song: Get Away from Here, I'm Dying
This is so 90s Indie I feel as though I should spark up an American Spirit, put on some eye liner, and go see my hippy girlfriend with the unshaved armpits rattle over a whole bunch of poetry about her vagina at the nearest college coffee shop. The sad thing is, this would have been better and been more effective in the mid-2000s, I think they were just a decade early. To me it is boring and nothing at all special. 3/5.
John Lennon
5/5
Best Song: Working Class Hero
This is a bit of an escape from The Beatles and more on the mellow side. It is still great and shows the progression that Lennon had made from his departure. As Ferris Bueller said, "I don't believe in The Beatles, I just believe in me. He was the walrus." 5/5.
The Who
5/5
Best Song: Behind Blue Eyes
There are a couple songs on here I hadn't heard but overall, this could be side 1 of a The Who's Greatest Hits. Behind Blue Eyes, Baba O'Riley, Going Mobile, and Won't Get Fooled Again are basically Who staples. Great album from a great band. 5/5
Iggy Pop
4/5
Best Song: Lust for Life
This was pretty good. The title track I had known since the movie Trainspotting came out in the mid-90s. The rest follows suit, not as good but good nonetheless. I will have to admit by the end of the album it was beginning to morph into background noise and I found my mind wandering more than other albums I've listened to. 4/5.
Barry Adamson
1/5
Best Song: Alfred Hitchcock Theme
This isn't even music. 1/5.
Judas Priest
4/5
Best Song: The Rage
One of the founders of hard rock/metal with a good album. Classic even. The Rage is a highlight and the whole thing is solid. 4/5.
CHIC
2/5
Best Song: Le Freak
This is really not my thing. Nile Rogers is cool and the musicians are all strong but the music genre and that late 70s popular sound is really not my thing. I'm just happy that the prominence of punk also had a place in the late 70s. 2/5.
Wild Beasts
1/5
Best Song: Hooting & Howling
Wow, this was terrible. Musically it wasn't the worst thing I've ever heard and could maybe work as background music to a video game. Where the real misery kicks in is with the vocals. I think this may be the worst singer(s) I have had the unpleasant experience of listening to. I would listen to Bob Dylan and Warren Zevon any day compared with this. 1/5.
Supergrass
3/5
Best Song: Late in the Day
This reminds me a bit of The White Stripes so they may have been an influence. That being said, White Stripes are way better than this. This is pretty bland, late 90s, post Grunge slop. I have no idea why this would have made the 1001 list as this should be listed as, "after Nirvana but before Brittney Spears - but at least it doesn't have that 'Sex and Candy' song on it." 3/5.
The B-52's
2/5
Best Song: Rock Lobster
Wow, I really didn't enjoy this much at all. I guess I can understand why this was included in the list as it was part of the evolution from punk to New Wave/80s pop. But that doesn't mean I have to like it! The vocals are by the far the weakest part, especially Fred Schneider. My favorite song is Rock Lobster off of this and makes me wonder if SNL used that for their skit Space Pants. 2/5.
Mylo
2/5
Best Song: Guilty of Love
Might be ok if on molly at a rave, otherwise, it sucks. 2/5.
Eagles
3/5
Best Song: Hotel California
I have a real conundrum going with this album. For one, I think the song Hotel California is a great song. On the other hand, Don Henley's voice is like tent spikes being hammered into my ears. Even when I was young, like 7 or 8, I remember hearing "Boys of Summer" and thinking I didn't like the sound of his voice. Nothing has changed there. But musically this is a really good album and Joe Walsh is cool. Hence, the conundrum I am in. Also, the second half the album isn't nearly as strong as the first half. I am giving this a 3/5 in spite of Henley, not because of him! If the whole album was just Hotel California the song, it would have gotten a 4.
Kanye West
5/5
Best Song: Runaway
I didn't want to like this because Kanye is, well, batshit crazy. But, sadly I just couldn't do it. This is a great album and deserves the praise that it gets. There are great tracks on here including Runaway (my personal favorite), Hell of a Life, and Monster. Maybe Kanye's next album I can hate, here's to hoping. 5/5.
Supergrass
2/5
Best Song: Alright
This is one of those albums that is easily described as derivative, dull, and passionless. It's almost like if a moment in time was used when punk became grunge and then grunge became poppy punk. I always thought it was Seven Mary Three and even Silverchair but this really truly embodies it. 2/5.
Nirvana
5/5
Best Song: Plateau
I just put Plateau as my favorite song because today it is, tomorrow it may be something else from this album as there are no bad songs on here. It is kind of funny that a punk band who helped to usher in 90s grunge best album from their collection being an unplugged album (in my opinion). There is not a ton to say except it is a great album and should be on the rotation of anyone who likes music. 5/5.
Grateful Dead
5/5
Best Song: Brokedown Palace
I've owned this since the 90s and have probably listened to it 1000s of times. Its the most popular of the Grateful Dead studio recordings and, in my opinion, second only to Workingman's Dead but that is splitting hairs. For a band known for being incredible live, they sure can put out a great studio album to boot. RIP Jerry and Bobby. 5/5.
Laura Nyro
3/5
Best Song: Stoned Soul Picnic
This was a tough listen for me. Not because Nyro is a bad singer/performer, quite the opposite, but it is a bit of a two-face. One song will be really solid and then the next would be pretty mid. I think I can say that without the work of Laura Nyro, the sound of Tori Amos, Kate Bush, and endless other singers would be vastly different. I wish the songs had a bit more consistency and this would be a 4/5 but too many of the mid songs seemed to win out. 3/5.
Kate Bush
3/5
Best Song: Running up that Hill
The album Stranger Things made relevant again. It was ok, not as good as others in this genre and not Kate Bush's best album, in my opinion. 3/5.
Serge Gainsbourg
1/5
Best Song: NA
In 2026, there is too little accountability of pedophilia and I refuse to listen to something that glorifies it. This could be the best album ever made, and I would never know because I'm not listening to it and giving clicks and/or listens to this artist. 1/5.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Best Song: I Hope You're Happy Now
Two days in a row of Elvis Costello. Do not get me wrong, Elvis Costello is alright, I would say above average. However, is there a need for so many Elvis Costello albums on this list. There isn't one Ozzy Osbourne solo album, Tool album, plus countless other legitimate bands that should be on here. Instead we have too many Elvis Costello and Nick Cave. It loses its objectivity and makes the author(s) just look like fans and that is it. 4/5.
Elvis Presley
4/5
Best Song: Fever
I know Hound Dog and a few random Elvis songs here and there. I will say, for the King of Rock N Roll, there isn't a whole lot of rock n roll on this. It's good, nothing great but good. Not sure if I would ever listen to this again. I would stick with Elvis' greatest hits probably. 4/5.
Björk
4/5
Best Song: Pagan Poetry
The one thing I will give this project, it had turned me into a Bjork fan. Her voice is so unique I cannot wrap my head around whether is amazing or terrible. She is kind of like the female Ozzy Osbourne, my untrained ears can't tell if brilliant or if every note is off key. I think it is safe to say, after listening to a few Bjork and Sugarcubes albums that this is weird. Overall, I liked it but not as much as her 90s albums. 4/5.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Best Song: Stir it Up
Bob be preaching on this album, and it is fantastic. There is no bad song on here. It is one great song after another. I put Stir it Up as the best song but that could change with my mood since every song could be considered, "best song." 5/5.
Fatboy Slim
2/5
Best Song: Praise You
I didn't like this is the late 90s and I don't like this now. It is repetitive and boring. Each song seems to pick one line of dialogue and then repeat it over, and over, and over, and over, and over for five minutes. I spent most of the time listening to this going back and forth whether this should have been included on the 1001. It does tell a story of sorts of the music scene in 1998 in a post grunge, pre-boy band/Brittney, Christina, P!nk era but, at the same time, this is feels like a one hit wonder album to me. In other words, I don't really think Fatboy Slim made a huge impact to music outside of having that 'Praise You' song. Maybe I'm wrong and all the Slim heads will come out of the walls and correct me. 2/5.
Billy Joel
5/5
Best Song: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
This is the quintessential Billy Joel album and an old time favorite. There isn't a bad song on here and, after seeing Joel several times live, he plays most of it whenever he performs. Such a great album! 5/5.
Fairport Convention
4/5
Best Song: Who Knows Where the Time Goes?
This is a solid folk album. It may not get as much playback as Bob Dylan but it is better than some of the others from this era. Sadly, due to tragedy right after this album this was the last album with this lineup as the drummer and his girlfriend were killed tragically in a car crash not long after its release. 4/5.
The Slits
2/5
Best Song: Typical Girls
I don't hate this as much as a lot of the reviews I had read about it. The production is odd, that's for sure - it is super drum forward, which I tend to like but the other instruments outside of drums and vocals feel like background for a few of the tracks. This band was created as an experiment and rather unorganized from the start and it showed. I don't foresee myself listening to this again. 2/5.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Best Song: Back at the Chicken Shack
This remains not really 100% my type of music but this had a little bit more of an up tempo that makes some use cases for it. I listened while working and found it relatively enjoyable. Plus, as a Phish/Grateful Dead fan, I can hear a lot of their jams in these songs. But unlike Phish/Grateful Dead these are all jams and not as much songs. 4/5.
Brian Eno
2/5
Best Song: Needles in the Camel's Eye
The first song came on and it was a relatively standard rock song. I thought, "hey, this is different." Then 'The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch' came on and there was the Brian Eno sound that I know and hate. Weird music for weird sake just isn't good unless you are Syd Barrett, Bjork, Frank Zappa, or Velvet Underground. This is meh at its highest level and terrible at its lowest. 2/5.
Foo Fighters
4/5
Best Song: Floaty
What is with all the Foo Fighters hate in reviews of this album? It isn't their best album but, at the same time, it is a solid, above average first album from a band that would grow to be enormous. Perhaps, it is because a good portion of the punk that made Nirvana a thing is gone and the Foo Fighters are more straight rock n' roll where even the grunge label is misleading. Either way, there isn't a ton new and original here with the exception of Floaty, in my opinion. However, the rest of the songs are solid rock songs with talented musicians. 4/5.
Sufjan Stevens
1/5
Best Song: Casmir Pulaski Day
The author(s) did it. I think I can go ahead and mark this project a success. Any song can get a party started but it takes a special album to get your buddy who had too much to drink and breaking your things, your significant other to get off your back about how late it is and that, "we have neighbors," and get some serious rest - that is what this album is for. Boring, repetitive, and party emptying would be the best metatags I would add to this album. Let's see if I can get this down, we start with a bit of an orchestra type sound, we add some lyrics that are not very good but no one will notice because the listener is too busy trying to stay awake to notice, we have a hook, and we have a group of parroting background singer repeat the hook to end the song. Rinse and repeat to make a terrible album. But, like Little Caesars, being terrible isn't just enough, there has to be a lot of it. This cacophony of feces is nearly 80 minutes long. As someone who has lived in Illinois my whole life, it isn't enough to save this. 1/5.
John Lennon
5/5
Best Song: Imagine
This isn't as strong as his last album as a whole but that shouldn't detract anyone from listening. A little bit on the mellow side which might turn me off but it is still John Lennon and a host of amazing musicians. How? and Imagine are highlights. 5/5.
Nick Drake
4/5
Best Song: One of these Things First
I had never heard of Nick Drake before this. I enjoyed it. To me, this is the definition of easy listening and probably am the only one who would categorize this as such, but that is what it sounded like to me. 4/5.
Lupe Fiasco
3/5
Best Song: Kick, Push
Do they still make Hypnotiq? They mention it in the intro and I remember it, and that baby blue bottle. As a Chiccagoan, I do appreciate the use of the term Food & Liquor, the Chicago version of a bodega. I enjoy hip hop, but I am not a hardcore hip hop head, by any means. This was ok. It had classic 2006 Kanye, Jay-Z vibes to it. However, as a middle of the road fan of the genre, it is not every day that I listen to this kind of music and if 2006 Jay-Z or Kanye vibes I'm looking for, I will listen to them and give this a pass since this doesn't really break any new ground, in my opinion. 3/5.
Grateful Dead
4/5
Best Song: St. Stephen
I'm not going to lie, from a big Grateful Dead fan, this choice is a bit of a head scratcher. It's not a bad album per se, but it should be nowhere near this list. This is a "hardcore" Dead fan album and not meant as an introduction to the band. It is almost like the author's wanted to include more Dead and just picked an album. If they would have chose Europe '72 it would have made perfect sense. This can be a tough listen even for a Deadhead, let alone someone who isn't versed in the Dead experience. How this is on here and not Workingman's Dead, Europe 72, or even In the Dark is a travesty. 4/5 from a Deadhead and expecting 1s and 2s from anyone who is not for this. Bad call on the author's part.
Donald Fagen
2/5
Best Song: Ruby Baby
"You know what is missing in this world, 1980s smooth jazz and pop music," said no one ever. This is over produced and obnoxious. I only gave it a 2/5 because it isn't musically bad, just the concept and production are terrible. 2/5.
Doves
2/5
Best Song: The Man who Told Everything
This could win the 2000 award for most, "Meh album." And, I mean that sincerely. It isn't bad, outside of that fact they are trying REALLY hard to be Radiohead and coming up miles shy of that finishing line. But, at the same time, it is NOT good. It is boring, repetitive, and sounds like so many other bands at the time trying to do the same thing. I will never listen to this again. If I want to hear music that sounds like this and that's actually enjoyable, I'll throw on a little Radiohead or even Zero 7. 2/5.
Adele
4/5
Best Song: Hello
I don't think it can be argued that Adele can sing. And, it shows here. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would and, while it isn't exactly going to get the party jumping, the easy listening aspects definitely have a use case in my life. My thinking when it comes to grades, if there are several songs I can say are my favorite - we are looking at a 4. If every song could be a favorite - we are looking at a 5. Hello, Send my Love, When We Were Young are all great tracks but there are some that are skippable so 4/5.
Roxy Music
4/5
Best Song: If there is Something
Musically, this band is really good. The problem lies in the singer. He is very melancholy and, to be frank, dull. But, I am not going to close the door completely. I was between a 3 and 4 and am going with the 4 and may explore their catalogue a bit more since that band is out of this world. 4/5.
Keith Jarrett
3/5
Best Song: Part II(c)
To me, you can't really hate this but also, it's not something you put on doing 80 on a freeway or pounding beers with friends. Its use case is a rather small window unless you are a musician type that really enjoys the intricacies of Jarrett's playing. Sadly, I have the musical talent of a box turtle and the musical knowledge of a wolf spider, so for me this was just mellow piano music. It is good background music for work, cleaning, etc. but that's about it for this guy. 3/5.
Beck
3/5
Best Song: Where It's At
This one is tough. Do I listen to it with my 1996, college aged, all that matters is going to class and partying rose colored glasses or do I compare it to listening to it now, in 2026, with a job and responsibilities and a deep rooted sadness that only age can bring. Music should be timeless so I guess listening to it today, I have to be a little more critical than I would have been in 1996. Some of this still holds up while some of this is just a whole big collection of suck. I will be generous and give a 3/5 just because some of the songs are still pretty good but overall, it's pretty mid if I'm being completely honest.
The xx
4/5
Best Song: VCR
This wasn't bad at all. It was needed after the run of bad albums I had to endure lately. A little more mellow than I was expecting and I can see a good use case of having this on while working/writing/cleaning. I will take this over some of the other garbage that came out in 2009. 4/5.
Billy Bragg
4/5
Best Song: There is Power in the Union
This is what I'm talking about, it's like a folk Rage Against the Machine. Not quite, but the ideology is there. There is Power in a Union should be required listening to every single person who gets their first job. 4/5.
Nine Inch Nails
5/5
Best Song: Hurt
Here's another album I bought on CD when it was released. It is really good, and I will give it a 5/5 but, in my opinion, it doesn't hold a candle to Pretty Hate Machine. Don't get me wrong, it's still a great album. It's like having New York and Detroit pizza, is it good - hell yeah, is it Chicago pizza, nope. 5/5.
The Doors
5/5
Best Song: Break on Through (to the Other Side)
This was the album that introduced me to an obsession that lasted from about 15-50 - Jim Morrison. Now, for the down side, this project did show me that Morrison, especially live Morrison, did try to emulate an early-60s Mick Jagger. It seemed like if you were a band in the mid-to-late 60's you either tried to emulate the Stones or The Beatles. This album fell nicely between the two with some out there moments (The End). Overall, I will never say a negative thing about this album - to me it is one of the my top 20 albums ever and helped to shape the weird-o I became. 5/5.
The Smiths
3/5
Best Song: Barbarianism Begins at Home
I had been told by several folks that I would enjoy The Smiths. I didn't really. I am not a Morrissey fan so I guess it shouldn't be too surprising. 3/5.
Joy Division
3/5
Best Song: She's Lost Control
I hate to say it, but for me, the best thing about this album is the album's art. Maybe because I am listening to this for the first time almost 50 years after its release, but I don't really hear any new ground here. I saw a few "critics" compare it to Velvet Underground which I, honestly, don't hear. I'm not going to rate it too low since I don't find it offensive and I know some people who are really into this, it just doesn't do anything for me. 3/5.
Aerosmith
5/5
Best Song: Nobody's Fault
Sadly, I missed peak Aerosmith. The Aerosmith I got was singing Walk this Way with Run DMC, Love on an Elevator, and the Crazy, Cryin', Amazing trio of suck. This is the real Aerosmith and wish I had been exposed to it earlier, and that's after I have seen them twice during their later tours. Listening to this makes me wish I had a 1970s muscle car, a joint packed with brick weed, and a busy road I could cruise up and down jamming out. Good stuff. 5/5.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Best Song: Not Fade Away
The Stones are a long time favorite of mine yet I never heard this. It is good but nowhere near peak Stones as it's mostly covers and they are still coming to grasp their musical style. 4/5.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Best Song: Fairies Wear Boots
This would probably make my top 20, and possibly even crack the top 10 favorite albums ever so a 5 is a no brainer. Now for the conundrum, the best song. For those who are new to Sabbath and this album, you are safe with anything from the first half of the album - especially War Pigs, Iron Man, or Paranoid. I have always been a massive Fairies Wear Boots fan and am going to put that as my favorite but not sure if it could be said it is the best on the album. But, that's why things are subjective. 5/5.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Best Song: Three Little Birds
Is this Marley's best album? Maybe. When you have so many good albums you can't pick one that is the best, that is a great career! The back half could easily be considered a Bob Marley greatest hits compilation. 5/5.
Madness
3/5
Best Song: Our House
Our mouse, in the middle of the street. Our mouse, got ran over by a jeep. I still remember that when I was 7 in 1982. I remember that more than I will remember this lifeless and relatively benign album. 3/5.
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
Best Song: Chan Chan
This is one of those where I do not feel I can give it an accurate review due to a language barrier. But, I hate saying that because I know that there will be gatekeepers screaming, "you're ignorant! Listen to the music!!" Yeah, that's great. The music is fine but I don't understand a word he is saying. It could be a song where I am jamming out to a guy singing his allegiance to a furball his cat just puked up and that is now a new world overlord. I'd have no idea. So, before pitchforks come out and accusations fly about my hatred for non-English speakers, that is not true. I have no problem with non-English speakers, but I also am not going to put it on my playlist just to appease you! Anyway, this is a 3/5 since the music is good but I refuse to accept your cat's vomit as my new King!
Slade
5/5
Best Song: Move Over
This is way better than I expected. I had never heard of the band Slade but did know a couple of the songs as we went. This sounds so early-70s, it's great. I feel like this whole album could be added to the Dazed and Confused movie soundtrack and no one would have noticed. Listening to it makes me wish I had a big, gas guzzling, jacked up GTO I could cruise in and listen to this. Great stuff, and I will listen again. 5/5.
The Pogues
5/5
Best Song: Turkish Song of the Damned
This was so good! I had never listened to The Pogues before. I had never even heard of them but I was a bit taken aback on how much I enjoyed that Irish, sea shantiness of this. Before there were the Dropkick Murphy's, there was The Pogues. Just a great album and I can't wait to hear it again. BTW, Turkish Song of the Damned is a total banger and Fairytale of New York should be on everyone's Christmas playlist. 5/5.
Tina Turner
3/5
Best Song: Steel Claw
This was part of the Tina Turner resurgance and was a HUGE deal in 1984. A 9-year-old me remembers people loving this album. I'm not gonna yuck anyone's yum, but this didn't do anything for me. It was ok but not my thing and I was too young to enjoy any nostalgia that may come with it. 3/5.
Beastie Boys
5/5
Best Song: Hey Ladies
There's no better Beastie Boys than License to Ill is not true!!!! 5/5!
Pink Floyd
5/5
Best Song: Comfortably Numb
I would put this in my top 5 favorite albums, possibly even top 3 so there is zero surprise that this is a 5/5 for me. This is the way a concept album should be, great lyrics, great production, and a near perfect band.
AC/DC
5/5
Best Song: Highway to Hell
This is an absolute classic hard rock album. I wish I could say this was my first time since that would mean that I would be able to listen to it again for the first time. But, alas, it is not. Always a great listen and a must for anyone into rock/hard rock/metal. 5/5.
Prince
4/5
Best Song: If I was Your Girlfriend
Prince is always welcome. I don't like this album as much as Purple Rain but it is still really solid. 4/5.
Deep Purple
4/5
Best Song: Child in Time
This isn't bad. I am not hearing anything special with it outside of the juxtaposition from this to the average album from the late 60s shows that the times were changing. I like Deep Purple and, while this album is relatively without any of their hits, is solid. 4/5.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Best Song: Hero
This is good. I don't really see myself listening to it often but while working or doing other things, it is nice and mellow and Kiwanuka has a very soothing and relaxing sound. 4/5.