252
Albums Rated
3.5
Average Rating
23%
Complete
837 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1960
Favorite Decade
Funk
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
38
5-Star Albums
10
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love & Special Sauce
|
5 | 2.73 | +2.27 |
|
Quiet Life
Japan
|
5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
|
Lazer Guided Melodies
Spiritualized
|
5 | 2.92 | +2.08 |
|
Underwater Moonlight
The Soft Boys
|
5 | 3.06 | +1.94 |
|
...The Dandy Warhols Come Down
The Dandy Warhols
|
5 | 3.13 | +1.87 |
|
Django Django
Django Django
|
5 | 3.2 | +1.8 |
|
Closer
Joy Division
|
5 | 3.22 | +1.78 |
|
D
White Denim
|
5 | 3.22 | +1.78 |
|
Forever Changes
Love
|
5 | 3.22 | +1.78 |
|
Being There
Wilco
|
5 | 3.23 | +1.77 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
|
1 | 3.85 | -2.85 |
|
Bad
Michael Jackson
|
1 | 3.81 | -2.81 |
|
Hotel California
Eagles
|
1 | 3.59 | -2.59 |
|
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
|
1 | 3.39 | -2.39 |
|
Close To You
Carpenters
|
1 | 3.13 | -2.13 |
|
Tapestry
Carole King
|
2 | 3.91 | -1.91 |
|
LP1
FKA twigs
|
1 | 2.81 | -1.81 |
|
Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
|
2 | 3.8 | -1.8 |
|
Beyond Skin
Nitin Sawhney
|
1 | 2.76 | -1.76 |
|
Moondance
Van Morrison
|
2 | 3.7 | -1.7 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Simon & Garfunkel | 2 | 5 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Jackson | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (38)
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Popular Reviews
The Police · 1 likes
4/5
Tough one. For any other name this is probably a 4 star highlight. For the Police, it's mid to my ears. Still has some great stuff. Fuck it. 4.
Kanye West · 1 likes
3/5
Conflicted. Album is smoke. He is not.
The Soft Boys · 1 likes
5/5
Everytime I listen to this album, it just gets better and better.
The Rolling Stones · 1 likes
5/5
5 stars. No notes. Perfect.
The Modern Lovers · 1 likes
4/5
A much older, much cooler guy gave this album to me one time when he was moving. I wish I was as cool, because I remember telling him I didn't like it. He said "You will someday." Well Jerry, you were right. It fucking rocks. Love it so much.
1-Star Albums (10)
All Ratings
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Perfect encapsulation of what made Bruce, Bruce. Catchy riffs, sweeping and epic sounds, and genuine pathos as a working man. Great stuff.
Beatles
3/5
Do wop Beatles. Some great tracks that tease their future textural intricacies, but not my go to if I'm in the mood for the Fab Four.
Beastie Boys
5/5
Does it have too many sounds and songs? Absolutely.
Is it a mishmash of sounds and occasionally cringe lyrics? Absolutely.
Is it one of the greatest albums of the 90s and the Beasties at the height of their powers? Absolutely.
Five fucking stars.
AC/DC
4/5
Rock and fucking Roll.
Pearl Jam
5/5
Nostalgia? Probably. I can still smell the campfires, Icehouse beers, and schwag weed when I listen to this. It smoked in the 90s and hasn't aged a day since. Sally, the same can't be said for me, but whatever. Still a great album.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
As blaspheming as it sounds, I'm not as high on this album as others. Some of the most classic songs in the Stones oeuvre don't scratch my itch. That being said, if I'm listening to this album, it's probably a good night with some good friends.
Van Morrison
2/5
Full disclosure, I find Van The Man to be the most overrated classic rock crooners. This album has done little to change my mind. Incredible arrangements and a beautiful backing band, this album contains all his hallmarks, but for some reason, it just doesn't do it for me. Oh well...
Adele
3/5
Some surprisingly slamming songs on this album. Couple of cheeky, but guaranteed hit covers. Voice of a generation. Still doesn't mean I wanna listen on the reg, but really glad I did today.
Jurassic 5
4/5
First time listen. Loved it.
Cheap Trick
3/5
Good album. Always enjoy listening to it.
Koffi Olomide
3/5
Some really beautiful melodies and rhythms, but even they couldn't the album from late 80s cheese effects.
Michael Jackson
2/5
I don't like Michael Jackson. And that's okay.
Kings of Leon
4/5
Ah, the halcyon days when Kings of Leon, Wolfmother, and the like were going to save rock n roll. Didn't quite happen, but that doesn't mean there weren't some really solid releases, with this being one of them.
Mike Ladd
4/5
Holy shit, this album is incredible. Everything I love about hip hop, and I'm shocked it flew under my radar this long. Incredible instrumentation, samples, loops, and lyrics. Smoke from T to B.
Butthole Surfers
3/5
Loud. Bombastic. Offensive. Brilliant. Love this album.
1/5
Brit pop is arguably my favorite single genre of music. My favorite band of all time is The Verve and many of my favorite songs and albums are from this sub genre. I have felt this way about this album and Oasis in general since 1996...
Oasis is the single most overrated, uninspiring, mid Brit Rock band to emerge from the genre and this album is a sad commodification of it's stylings.
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
Do I love this album as much as I did when I was 19 and stoned in my dorm room? No. Is it still one of the greatest live albums of all time and one of the greatest Southern rock bands at the height of their powers? Yes.
Neneh Cherry
3/5
Ah, the old days. Smells like a junior high dance.
The Offspring
2/5
I was in college, living in the dorms, when this album was released. The number of times I heard "Unzer, glidben, glauten, globen..." is incalculable.
Even back then, I assumed that this band and album was a basic, pedantic attempt to pilfer punk rhythms and sculpt them into a palpable piece of music for frat parties that wanted to feel edgy.
Not wrong.
Einstürzende Neubauten
2/5
My tenth grade self would've listened to this all the time. I also would've convinced myself it was great. Is it important? Absolutely. The bones of industrial are all there. Is it fun to listen to while I do lesson plans? Nope.
Scritti Politti
1/5
I'm sure the experts can explain why this album is listed. I hated bunk pop in the kid 80s and hate it now.
Carole King
2/5
I know this album is a beloved one of the era and has multiple stone cold classics. For me, it contains almost every sound of the era that I hate. Soft drums, sax, etc. It's not a 2 star album, but it is for me
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
Album is smoke, from to to bottom.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
The album where The Stones matured. Still one of the greatest opening numbers to any album.
Queens Of The Stone Age
3/5
Rock n fucking roll. Almost prog, almost metal, almost alternative. This band is truly unique.
Thelonious Monk
3/5
Good stuff.
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
If you didn't have sex to this in the late 90s, what were you doing?
Brian Eno
3/5
A very Vangelis-esque mood tome. Really beautiful and wonderful at evoking the vibe. Not something for everyday, but when it needs to hit, this would be perfect.
Meat Loaf
2/5
70s rock pomposity at it's finest. Jim Steinman can suck a dick. Not a fan of this album.
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
I remember when Dance Floor broke. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't my speed at the time. Glad to finally ingest this whole album. Very catchy. Very British. If I were 16 when it came, I would've adored it.
The Waterboys
4/5
I really, really enjoyed this album. This is an album my dad and I would've listened to together while drinking beers and playing cribbage. Great stuff.
George Michael
3/5
Fun album. Half really hit. Other half, not so much.
Queen
3/5
My relationship with this band is tricky. Overall, I don't like listening to the albums much because of how disjointed they are to my ears. But, then that riff starts and just pulls you in. I enjoyed this album more, probably because it's filled with songs that haven't been overplayed for the last 50 years. Some great stuff on this. I just wish I like it more.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
It's IV. Come on. Pretty sure we've reached the point where hating on Zep is okay. That's fine. This album still slays in a way very few do.
The Smiths
3/5
I love the Smiths. I'm the perfect age for them. I still will soon certain tunes and albums relatively often. Even back in the day though, this album was never my favorite. Apparently it still isn't. I know it's a classic and has all the hallmarks, but it has never landed with me like some of their other ones.
Holger Czukay
3/5
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Holy shit, does this album absolutely smoke! I have a greatest hits of theirs that I wasn't too impressed with. That was my extent of knowing them. This album is banger after banger, with a couple I need to research to see if they're covers! Great discovery!
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
4/5
Vibrant. Beautiful. The density of sounds and the quality of voice is truly unmatched. Incredible.
Silver Jews
4/5
Brilliant lo fi album. Nonsensical lyrics that still hit to the core. Incredible album.
American Music Club
4/5
Surprised I was unfamiliar with this album. Early alt country every, before alt country was a thing. Didn't have the bombast that would come later. Reminded me of The Jayhawks. Really great album.
The Strokes
3/5
Classic jangle pop inspired rock album that made them the biggest band on the planet for 25 minutes. Good stuff, but I don't like it as much as everyone else.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
5 stars. No notes. Perfect.
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
While the later contributions of PIL can't be argued with, I have always found this first outing to be juvenile, blame, and ultimately unsatisfying. Teen angst poetry coupled with unsatisfying music equals "I'd rather listen to one of their other albums."
Rush
4/5
It's RUSH. It's Moving Pictures. It's arguably the best side a in Prog Rick history. Does it sustain all the way through? To my ears, no. But still a banging fucking album.
Ramones
4/5
Blistering sounds, filled with so much energy and youth. Still, incredibly listenable. Fantastic genre defining album.
3/5
Oasis or Blur?
I still don't understand the hype for these two bands. As an enormous fan of Brit Pop, that these are the faces of it still confounds me. So many more interesting groups out there. Album is fine. Just like all of their albums are fine.
Morrissey
3/5
First full length album for him. Doesn't hold together as well as Bona Drag. His lyrical stylings are strong as ever, but he really is missing Johnny here.
Dire Straits
4/5
One of the most confident devices ever released. Incredible. Smooth. Easy going. All of the hallmarks that would define this band. Wonderful album.
The Zombies
3/5
Sweet little jangle psych album that feels incredibly dated. Beautiful harmonies, intricate phrasing, and a general ease to the album. But, it feels so simple. I think I'll listen to Pet Sounds instead.
a-ha
3/5
Instrumental in defining an era and a sound. Great, catchy tunes that sound truly vapid. Absolute definition of 'pop'.
Joan Baez
2/5
I know, I know, I know. Voice of a generation. Voice of a decade, etc...
I just find her voice to be so cloying and almost a parody of the 60s folk revival. I feel bad. I just have never liked Joan Baez.
Foo Fighters
4/5
Crazy to think that this was only a year after Kurt's death. He has obviously been developing his ideas and thoughts on the sound for a long time. So many bangers and so confident, fresh out of the gate. Great album.
Simple Minds
3/5
Great, early salvo of one of the decades most important New Wave groups. While the songs don't have the sweeping, operatic qualities they would later add, it's an enjoyable listen that is distinctly of it's time, but also not as dated as some of it's contemporaries.
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
Vibrant. Bursting with life. Huge cultural watermark, this film, and the soundtrack doesn't disappoint.
Fela Kuti
5/5
Do you know how good you have to be to have Ginger Fucking Baker openly respect you? This album is an absolute banger that is in the discussion for greatest live release of all time.
Missy Elliott
4/5
First time listen. Great stuff. Sounds modern but retains the mid 90s feel hard. Really enjoyed this. A lot more than I thought I would.
The Pharcyde
4/5
Hip hop I can get behind. Funky, fun, fantastic samples. Really wish I was more familiar with this earlier on. Oh well. Better late than never.
Django Django
5/5
First time listen.
It is rare for a new album to have such an immediate impact on me as this one. Not sure how I missed this, but I'm so happy to finally be at the party. It's layered, fun, catchy, multi-sound, and exciting. This album is an absolute masterpiece.
N.W.A.
3/5
Anytime I'm in the mood for NWA, I end up listening to Public Enemy.
Metallica
5/5
My single favorite metal album of all time. I know the bass recording is garbage. Don't care. Love, love, love this album
Earth, Wind & Fire
2/5
Much to the chagrin of my wife, I just can't feel with these guys. This album did not change my mind. Incredible grooves and the quality of vocals and harmonies are next level, but it's just music I don't enjoy listening to
ZZ Top
3/5
Takes me straight back to early 80s, Mtv, and guilty urges from the Legs video. Still a solid rock album that is perfect beer and darts music. Ten years ago it probably would've given it 4. Now it just sounds like rock. Great rock, but just rock nonetheless.
Massive Attack
3/5
Wow. Kind of a depressing relisten. This album was worn out during my early days. It was fresh and vibrant. Haven't listened in a long time. While I know that the inspiration and influence has spread massively over the years, on this relisten, it really fell flat, kind of dull, and lifeless. Not sure why. Maybe it's the countless other acts that have parroted it and it's sounds, but yeah... Kind of sad, actually.
The Black Keys
4/5
Back when Black Keys still sounded fresh and hadn't sold their songs to every commercial on TV. Oversaturation did them in. Inexplicably adding more musicians to the band for tours didn't help either. But at one point, this band was exciting and vibrant and a powerhouse. This album is a testament to that.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
4/5
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
A seminal work of art that molded me into what I am today. Not an exaggeration.
Spiritualized
5/5
An absolutely stunning aural scape. I wish I would've heard this upon release. It would've been one of the most important albums of my life. Oh well, better late than never.
Solomon Burke
3/5
Really enjoyable. Good stuff that I've never heard before and that will go into rotation.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Enjoyable. Milestone for a lot of friends of mine. Just not for me.
The Everly Brothers
4/5
Is there a more beautiful encapsulation of teenage heartbreak? I think not.
Funkadelic
5/5
To call this a simple funk album does a disservice to funk. It's like saying Paul's Boutique is a rap album. Yes, but not really. This album is an absolute masterpiece and is a defining example of R&B, Soul, Funk, etc. Stunning.
Van Halen
4/5
Is it big? Yes? Bombastic? Absolutely? Style over substance? Sure. Is it also a ton of fun? A ripping album for a road trip? A reminder of what rock is? Yes to all of that too. It's a blast.
The Beach Boys
5/5
Is it the greatest album ever made? I'm my opinion, no. But it's in the discussion. Remarkable achievement.
Taylor Swift
3/5
And for my surprise of the day, I found this incredibly listenable. I certainly can see why she's at the stature she is at, and her ability for a melody and turn off phrase is exceptional. Really, really good. Probably would've giving a shocking four stars, but the 9th Bon Iver appearance really suited the while album. I know him. He's a douche.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
An incredible aural soundscape. Was unfamiliar going in. This is a wonderful album that is only gonna get better with every relisten.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
CCR is one of those rare bands that will only satisfy when you're in a CCR mood. There is no sound quite like it. This album is a perfect representation of that. Filled with greatest hits and extended jams alike, it's an incredible trip back to the 60s and a great primer for what this band is.
ABBA
3/5
Should I just accept the fact that I kinda like ABBA?
Bert Jansch
2/5
TIL that I think I'm over early 60s British folk. It's fine. Just incredibly dull.
Brian Wilson
4/5
God, what a lost opportunity. The Beach Boys could be looked at in such a different light? This, following Pet Sounds, would have been a legendary 1-2 punch. Such a missed opportunity. What an album.
Jack White
5/5
Sometimes you just find an album that hits you perfectly. This is one of those for me. I love every song on here and will regularly listen from T to B without a thought. Love it.
TV On The Radio
4/5
Why do I always underestimate this album. Every time I play I think "Man, this fucking rocks."
U2's last good album. First half is absolutely perfect. Then, it gives into sugary sweetness and cringe lyrics that show why Bono is mocked the way he is. Still, a very solid album that reminds us why U2 was one of the most powerful bands on the planet for a long time.
Radiohead
3/5
To complain about a Radiohead album is hard, but for some reason this one has never done it for me.
The Go-Go's
4/5
I've lived this album for 44 years. Still a great sounding representation of those beautiful early 80s, birth of New Wave era.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Good album. I enjoy it.
Stan Getz
4/5
It's a vibe. Love it.
David Bowie
3/5
By most standards, this is a masterpiece. By Bowie standards, it's mid.
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
UB40
2/5
I'm sure there are many more reggae albums on this list. I understand the impact of this band and the album on England, but it just doesn't land. Mid level reggae from a band whose biggest hits were covers. Not for me.
Sufjan Stevens
2/5
Wow. Went into this relisten thinking I loved this album. Came out with some real issues. Bloated, repetitive, and pretentious. This album should have half as many songs, and the song names should be half as long. Done good gems in there, but overwhelmed by bloat.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
After you listen to enough music, and you've been around long enough, you begin to instinctually disregard newer albums. I did that with this one. I remember casually listening and enjoying enough, but morning spectacular. Upon this listen, it really strikes home how good he truly is. Don't wanna listen a ton. Not much fun. But it's really beautiful.
Pere Ubu
4/5
Little touch and go. Some songs I absolutely adored and some were a little rough, but overall a great intro and an album I'm surprised I was unfamiliar with.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
I adore this album. While other Mac albums have bigger hits, this is the one that feels the most like what I imagine being in the band was like at this time. Tired. Too high. Lost. But filled with an arrogance and drive to keep going bigger. It's not as much fun as others, but feels more honest and like the end of the 70s than almost any other album out there.
Neil Young
2/5
Not that anyone reads these, but if they did, I would be chased outta town for saying this: Neil Young is the most overrated singer/songwriter/rocker in history. I do not, for the most part, enjoy his music, regardless of the iteration. This album is no different.
Baaba Maal
4/5
Beautiful, beautiful album. Groves are rich, beats are sublime, and his voice is a miracle.
Femi Kuti
4/5
Absolutely incredible album. So listenable from t to b.
Prince
4/5
It's Purple Rain by Prince. If you were 9 when it came out, you know what that means.
Spiritualized
4/5
One of the great 'take drugs, sure in the dark, go somewhere' albums.
Scissor Sisters
3/5
Fun little pop album with one of my favorite songs ever. Don't know if I've ever listened to it T to B. Good stuff
G. Love & Special Sauce
5/5
Is this a five star album? Who knows.
It's it one of my personal favorite albums of all time? Yes. I can remember the first time in college. Blew my mind. Many incredible nights were spent watching G and the boys. All started with this.
A seminal 90s, slacker sound that was unique then and now. The first couple G albums were a revelation. Still play great.
Queen
3/5
I wish Queen albums flowed better. The banging hits placed next to the theatrical opera pieces have never worked for me entirely. I'm not saying I don't like them. I love them, but as an album so rarely do they work to me ears. Maybe that why I love their live albums so much?
Spacemen 3
4/5
Straight psych-shoegaze fire. God, I love this band.
Hawkwind
4/5
Epic. Bombastic. Pompous. Incredible. 70s. This album is the perfect encapsulation of space rock. I couldn't imagine settling in for a set of this at Isle of Wight or some similar British event in 1976. Fantastic, sprawling album of music.
Sam Cooke
5/5
The Who
2/5
Meh. As I get older, I realize that most Who stuff doesn't do it for me.
FKA twigs
1/5
The Avalanches
4/5
Pixies
4/5
Nanci Griffith
3/5
Decent album. Beautiful album with some strong lyrics. I'm sure I'd have a deeper connection if I'd grown up with it, but it largely feels like a throwback Alt country album. Not a knock. Just not as impactful as I thought it would be when it started.
The Dandy Warhols
5/5
Fully admit, I slept on this band. The documentary implied they were posers, their most famous albums came out after my musical tastes had shifted, to and I just had them on an occasional shuffle. Until I saw them live. They blew my mind. Was excited to listen to this closely, from T to B. Incredible, incredible stuff. Rabbit hole diving commenced.
Otis Redding
5/5
Perfect fucking record. Incredible.
Japan
5/5
This is a perfect example of why this challenge/app is so great. I know my 80s New Wave/Goth/Post Punk, etc...
And yet, this album has completely eluded me. So many formative sounds! This could be DD or some late night Mtv throw away in December 1983! Absolutely stunning New Wave album that hits every note beautifully. LOVED discovering this record.
Throbbing Gristle
2/5
Is it cool? Absolutely. Does it have a vibe unlike anything at the time, and largely since? Yep! Do I wanna listen to it? Nope.
Tears For Fears
3/5
Some absolute stone cold classics. Some really bad 80s sax cheese. Last two songs were great lynch pins, almost making it conceptual. Good stuff.
Dire Straits
4/5
Some of the most profound guitar ever recorded. Couple of songs run me wrong, but overall, it's a stone cold classic that hasn't dated a day. Incredible.
Carpenters
1/5
I hate this album. 70s schmaltz. Nails on a chalkboard.
Deep Purple
3/5
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
I am shocked that I'm saying this... Felt a little clunky. It's been decades since I listened to this straight through. Yes it has multiple stone cold classics, but also a lot of fill. My idea for what this was vs what it actually is it's the reason it's 3 stars.
Michael Jackson
1/5
I hate Michael Jackson.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Formative. Sexy. Brilliant.
Happy Mondays
3/5
As a huge fan of Madchester and Brit Pop, I've been intimately familiar with these guys for 35 years. They still don't land as hard as I think they should.
Beck
5/5
Incredible, incredible album. No notes.
Joy Division
5/5
Baaba Maal
3/5
DJ Shadow
4/5
Beautifully layered album with a lot of sounds and textures scattered throughout. Doesn't feel like it completely commits to a mood however. Great stuff otherwise. Extra half star for Twin Peaks sample at the end.
Morrissey
2/5
I take great pride in, at the ripe age of 51, I'm still actively and constantly searching for new music and bands. Unlike most of my friends I'll happily get an album that looks cool or see a show by myself.
That having been said, I have a fee artists that haven't grown past me being 17. Sonic Youth, Built To Spill, and, yes Morrissey. I was the stereotypical goth kid, crying along with the Smiths and memorizing Bona Drag when it came out.. Seminal shit.
So, to hear a new to me Morrissey album is strange. Still hits the notes. Still some biting social commentary and wit, and still the jilted song structures. But all these years later, it just doesn't land. Not because it's bad, or even because of his increasingly problematic personality, but because I know what real pain is. And loneliness. And how mean the world the can be. It used to be romantic. Now it's just sad.
I don't know if this is a good or bad record. I just know that I know where I'm gonna go to when I wanna remember what being 15 felt like. This isn't it.
Tom Waits
4/5
Tom Waits sounds like warm gin tastes. Most of the time, I'm not in the mood for warm gin. But, when I am, absolutely nothing else will satisfy me.
Dead Kennedys
4/5
Seminal record that introduced my favorite punk band to the world. Somehow it's undercooked and fully developed at the same time. Great listen though. Haven't spun it in far too long.
Pretenders
5/5
Wow. Haven't listened to this in a LONG time. Banger after banger after banger. One of the more confident debits. Incredible album.
Fishbone
4/5
A large segment of my teenage life has this album as it's soundtrack. It still holds up. It still works. It still rocks.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Neil Young with Crazy Horse just hits different.
Public Enemy
5/5
My favorite hip hop album from my favorite hip hop band. Absolutely perfect.
The Soft Boys
5/5
Everytime I listen to this album, it just gets better and better.
Metallica
3/5
Just doesn't hit the way it used it. Still exponentially better than anything they released post 1992, but if I'm in the mood for this I'll probably put in Justice instead.
Patti Smith
4/5
Björk
3/5
Haven't listened to this in probably 30 years. Like before, it still has some absolute bangers and some stuff I don't really wanna listen to.
Common
3/5
Cowboy Junkies
4/5
I hated this album when I was young. Too slow. Too dull. Now I'm older and wiser and appreciate the fact that they set out to create the best album ever for late 80s proto-hopsters to fuck to.
Stan Getz
4/5
Smooth. So fucking smooth.
Lana Del Rey
4/5
This is perfect example of the double edged sword this challenge presents. I've been a casual fan of Lana for a long time. This album, if I were 20, would be committed to memory immediately. It's brilliant and heartfelt. I will remember that I loved it, but forget to come back to it because there are so many other albums out there. Could I commit to it like I did with Liz Phair 40 years ago? Sure, if I wanted to. But I won't. Doesn't take away this mornings listen though. It's great.
Pixies
3/5
I wish the Pixies landed as hard for me as they do for so many others, including many of my best friends. Oh well.
Nina Simone
4/5
First time listen. Hit absolutely perfect this morning. Great stuff.
The Doors
4/5
Don't care what anyone says... Listening to a full Doors album, especially some of the early ones without the classic rock radio staples, still hit just right.
Brian Eno
4/5
I love this album so much.
Hookworms
4/5
Yeah, this is the good stuff. Gonna be revisiting this one a lot. Awesome intro.
Dr. Dre
2/5
Didn't like it then and I still don't. Many a heated arguments between my brother and I took place over this album. Is what it is.
Hot Chip
3/5
Meh. It was fine.
The Slits
4/5
Everytime I listen to this, which is probably once every year or so, I'm reminded that it isn't the album I think it is. So raw but so mature in the musical choices. Great record.
Eagles
1/5
I hate the fucking Eagles and I hate this fucking record.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
I remember listening to this when it came out. My buddy and I were just fans of the 80s output (still are) and he said "This album sounds like Red Hots trying to sound like Red Hots." Yeah, it's their 'masterpiece' and yeah it's a classic, but I still don't really like listening to it.
Ray Charles
4/5
Megadeth
4/5
Talking Heads
5/5
This is why I live this challenge. I've been listening to these guys for almost 40 years and while spinning this I said "Have you ever listened to this?". I know every song. I'm sure I have. Probably many times, but I just can't remember. Either way, it's fucking brilliant.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
Interesting choice and not one I would have thought to have made this list. Is it rocking? Sure. Gives great counter evidence to the Dead era country psych stuff, but also not an essential rock album IMHO. Fun, brash, and loud. Great semi deep cut on a vinyl night.
Milton Nascimento
3/5
The perfect album for when you bring a girl over to your house for the first time to cook for her.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
I love Zappa. I have every official release and have listened to his living discography many times over. Wanna get that out there...
That having been said, I hate this album so much. I've read the articles. Influence, challenge, etc... I get it. I just don't want to listen to it.
Tracy Chapman
4/5
Fantastic, blistering songwriting. Absolutely stunning record.
Radiohead
5/5
I still remember having to pull over and stop the car when I heard A NATIONAL ANTHEM for the first time on the radio. It's still that good. Perfect record.
The Yardbirds
3/5
Fun, jangle folk music. Formative. Catchy. Behind a lot of other albums from that era that scratch this itch much better.
Alanis Morissette
5/5
There was a really beautiful 2 month period in the summer of 1995, before this album became the background soundtrack for any bar with an element of hipness, where it wasn't overplayed or a punching bag.
This album rocks in ways very few do. It's a victim of it's own success and anyone who was around for it's rise and eventual 'fall' can attest to that. It's honest and revealing and sounds like the feeling of being a young adult in 1995. It's still fucking great.
Burning Spear
4/5
Fantastic. Not sure how I've missed this all these years, but great stuff.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
4/5
I have had this album on my hard drive for over a decade and always thought I knew what it was. I didn't. Now I do. It's incredible.
The Gun Club
4/5
One of the most timeless records ever released. Can't tell if it's 1978 or 1991 or 2020. Incredible stuff.
Prince
3/5
As with so much Prince, some of this is banging beyond belief. Other stuff is bloated and unlistenable. Like Zappa, an artist I prefer, when you put out this much, some of it just isn't gonna land to a casual listener.
Khaled
4/5
As with many of these World music releases, I wish I had so much more context for the melding of sounds, the background of the music, and the artists themselves. All I know is that this albums slaps hard. Every song is a banger and I can't wait to revisit this one again.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
4/5
British, white boy rock gets a lot of hate nowadays. EC spiralling into a world class boomer bigot isn't helping the cause. That being said, I haven't listened to this in a LONG time, but this morning? It really hit.
Wu-Tang Clan
3/5
Legendary and one of my bros favorites.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
John Lennon
2/5
Becoming mature is understanding that the majority of John's solo is pedantic and juvenile. As a person he may (?) have grown, but as a musician I find his solo stuff simply dull and unfocused.
Aerosmith
4/5
Is this a masterpiece that redefines the aural senses from top to bottom? No. Is this a great rock record that will please almost everyone on the patio while day drinking and playing horseshoes? Yes. And that is good enough for me.
John Lennon
2/5
Second Lennon album in three days. While this may be his most successful solo album to my ears, including the most mid anthem in rock history, it also includes his apology for abuse. He was an open book when it came to his art and for that I appreciate him, but I also find much of his solo work both pretentious and juvenile at the same time.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Fun album. I enjoy their stuff a bunch, although I think their melodies and song construction improve later in their career, this is a good harbinger of what's to come. Solid album.
Coldcut
4/5
Fantastic. Shocked I haven't heard this. This would be an all time have if I had heard it as a Freshman. So many influences. It's like it laid the foundation for a half decade of music on one record.
Yes
4/5
I love this album. So solid and unique from TtoB. Everytime I put it on I'm happy with the decision.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
First time listen. Not surprised how it's slipped through, especially considering I've had the demos for 20 years. Beautiful.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
Meh.
Justice
3/5
Some fun electronic stuff. Some not. Probably go elsewhere if I'm in the mood for this.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
This album is a perfect example of why I wish we could give half stars. Some songs absolutely slay. Some make me wanna skip. Love a lot of this album but I'm not gonna spin it often.
The Modern Lovers
4/5
A much older, much cooler guy gave this album to me one time when he was moving. I wish I was as cool, because I remember telling him I didn't like it. He said "You will someday." Well Jerry, you were right. It fucking rocks. Love it so much.
Hole
4/5
I was a sophomore in college when Kurt died and the anti Courtney movement was in the highest point. I didn't like Live Through This at the time and haven't revisited in 30 years. I've never heard this one. Surprised at the vocal complexities and orchestrations. Really enjoyable listen and even threw a couple on some lists. Good, good stuff.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
It's not Gish, but it's also not Sadness. The songs that hit still hit. This album may be the Zenith of 90s Alternative Music. It's not the best, but it's certainly a water shed.
John Lee Hooker
3/5
These slick late 80s and 90s legendary all star collab albums always feel flat to me. There are some good ones, no doubt, but so often they are somewhat sterile and middle of the road and this one wasn't much different. The songs are pleasant. The pairings are fantastic. But there is something missing. If it was recorded in a dingy bar at 3am, it would be there. No knock. The last couple solo songs are great. But this feel flat.
Portishead
3/5
Various Artists
4/5
Not sure I need a gift from Phil, but so things told, this is a great album. Perfect for those nights you wanna be festive and celebrate with the family, but aren't so old fashioned as Bing and Bob.
OutKast
4/5
I love this album.
The Doors
4/5
I was off that specific age when The First came out in the early 90s and for a brief moment every Gen x kid thought that JM was a transcendent visionary and not a drunken lout. It was cool because we had someone to hang all our medicine poetry and cringe song lyrics on. Then we learned the truth, grew up, and realized that he was a mediocre (at best) poet and that Ray M was the glue of this band that had been emulated to the point of parody.
But that doesn't take away from the raw power that the first couple Doors albums eliminate. They were visionary and unique and there is a reason this sound is so associated with that era. They're a decent rock band that became legendary and that's more than most can ask for.
The Libertines
4/5
I don't know what I thought this was, but I have it forever and never listened. I am really glad to say that I was wrong. Incredibly listenable and catchy and all the things I love about Jangle Pop from Britain. Really, really good album.
The Cars
4/5
Suede
3/5
Britpop is one of my favorite genres and I knew Suede pretty well, or so I thought. This is a first time listen.. Starts out strong, but fizzed out on the back end. Loved the sweeping solos and grandiosity that the genre is known for. Good stuff. Don't know if it'll replace any of my faves, but that's okay.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4/5
Stunning. Absolutely stunning.
Norah Jones
5/5
The Police
4/5
Tough one. For any other name this is probably a 4 star highlight. For the Police, it's mid to my ears. Still has some great stuff. Fuck it. 4.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Um, yeah. Pretty good.
Madness
4/5
Man, to be hip and in college and listen to this and some B52s, circa 1983. Had to have been a blast. Little inconsistent (I would cut three numbers) but overall a great record.
Kanye West
3/5
Conflicted. Album is smoke. He is not.
The Who
3/5
Yep. It's The Who. I'd love to know how many times I've heard this album. Doesn't carry the same punch that it once did. Does that mean it's not 4 stars? I don't know. I'm too sober to do this. Fuck it. 3 stars.
The 13th Floor Elevators
4/5
Such a spectacular snapshot of the 60s psych movement. Came late to these guys, but so great to revisit them.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Probably not an album you wanna listen to on a first date, but still an absolute banger. Threads the needle between vibes and overwrought perfectly and the content lends itself to Nick Cave beautifully. Love this record.
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
Solid crooner album. Gets a little monotonous. He personality is infectious.
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
Duke Ellington
4/5
Haven't listened to this in a long time. So much smoother than I remembered. One of the rare times I prefer the truncated version to the complete. Great stuff
The Who
4/5
As I get older, The Who do less and less for me. This album still rocks, especially with the bonus show of Tommy.
Pere Ubu
3/5
Some really, really great stuff in here. Also some misses. A band I would like to get to know more.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Don't know the last time I listened to this. Maybe, roughly when it was released? All I know is that it hit a lot harder this time than it did then. Wow, what a banger.
Syd Barrett
4/5
Not a fun album to listen to. Pink Floyd was my first favorite band and introduced me to SO much. Syd have is that band, but not really. His era is not the Floyd we know. But, he still have both to it. This is his final hurrah. Dave and Roger producing as a favor. He can't recreate rhythms. A literal madman recording an album. But there's still so many bangers. Rocks most tragic figure.
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
What a strange fucking album. Not a fan of cock rock, which I think this falls into? But turn it breaks so many conventions. There are moments that are sweet and genre bending and then moments of ick. Almost like a novelty album of the era.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
Where have you been all my life?
Absolute smoke, T to B.
Prince
5/5
Not a controversial statement, but this is my Prince. Perfect combo of his musical genius and his pop sensibilities. Every song on here is a banger, totally listenable, and pure Prince. Doesn't get any better than this.
Linkin Park
1/5
I hate nu metal so much, but I am committed to this project and this list.
Guess what: I hated this album.
Wilco
5/5
Can't describe how much I love this album.
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
Insert Larry David 'Pretty good...' gif here.
White Denim
5/5
Wow. Just wow. I was familiar with these guys and had a couple of their times on random alt playlists. Always enjoyed them.
This album? Leveled up. Fantastic from the get go.
The Lemonheads
3/5
I was really excited to listen to this for the first time in forever. For some reason, this album encapsulates more of the slacker ethos of the time. Don't know why, but that's how I feel. Didn't hold up as much on this relisten. Oh well. These things happen.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Couple of bangers. Lots of stuff that doesn't hit me personally. Never been a huge fan, especially of the early stuff.
Janelle Monáe
2/5
Not my thing. Couple of decent tunes, but overall not something I'm gonna revisit.
Arcade Fire
3/5
Man, I listened the hell out of this thing back in the day. For some reason it didn't land as hard this time. And the recent Neon Bible hot harder than ever. Still good though.
Def Leppard
2/5
I'm sorry. I just can't take cock rock seriously. I grew up with it. Everyone around me loved it. While there are some bangers, probably because I'm incessant 90s Classic Rock overplay, for the most part I still think it's the equivalent of bad 8th grade poetry couple with tight jeans. Went into this wanting to like it more than I thought I would. I didn't.
Gorillaz
5/5
Banger.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Pure Echo. Such a great album, but not as good as some of the followers. If this was their only release, 5 stars. It's not, so 4.
5/5
Ziggy. Fucking. Stardust.
The xx
3/5
I like this band, and this album, just fine. I just find both of them very unremarkable.
Machito
4/5
This album slams. Absolutely fantastic record.
Love
5/5
The Cult
3/5
The Cult is a weird band for me. Growing up, I didn't know if they were alt, metal, or Goth. Still kinda don't as they change looks quite a bit over the years. I like them, but I never think about listening to them. This is a solid record, but a little heavy on the cock rock for me.
The Stone Roses
5/5
Aside from Dark Side, I may know this album more than any other of that era. It was stuck in a friend's car, so anytime we went somewhere for lunch, to a club, or a rave, this played. For years. And it's okay. I never got sick of it.
There are other Britpop bands that I like more, but this is the one that started it. I adore this album so much and can't imagine what the 90s would've been like without it.
The Damned
3/5
I really like the Damned, but this album has never sat with me the way some of their others have. They make such radical time shifts in the 80s, and that was what I was introduced to, that it feels like they aren't even the same group. Good record, but I love others more.
Nick Drake
5/5
I cannot describe how much I love Nick Drake and his music.
Nirvana
4/5
I don't put Nirvana on the same pedestal as others. Even at the time, they didn't get with me nearly as much as most. That being said, this is their masterpiece. The moment we can truly feel the pain and sadness that the world put in Him. It is haunting and sad and brilliant and beautiful.
Les Rythmes Digitales
1/5
This is the most bland and dull electronic album I have ever heard. Utterly soulless with dull riffs and hooks. Absolute white bread. Did not enjoy this at all.
Van Morrison
2/5
This is gonna upset my brother, but whatever...
Van Morrison is the single most overrated singer to come out of the 60s. I have tried so many times and it simply doesn't work. Sorry.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Blows my mind that this is 1977. Send decades younger. This album is absolutely incredible. Not much more to say about that.
Leonard Cohen
5/5
An absolutely stunning collection. Absolutely perfect, encapsulating the melancholy and maudlin nature of the 60s folk movement. Couldn't have been made an American. LOVE this album so much.
Haircut 100
3/5
Fun, boppy British New Wave album. Nothing too remarkable. Easy to digest. Fun stuff.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
3/5
AC/DC
4/5
Balls to the wall rock. Makes my 7th grade, rock discovering soul happy. Sorry. Not sorry.
Suede
3/5
Guided By Voices
3/5
I really appreciate GBV but have never done a complete dive. With the 7 or 8 albums I'm familiar with, I always say the same thing: some absolute bangers and some unlistenable stuff. The audio variance, the Hodge Podge of sounds, and the fluctuating moods create such disparate experiences. I know for the super fans, this is the charm, but I find it incredibly inconsistent. Brilliant and committed, but inconsistent.
Tina Turner
2/5
She's an icon. I know. This is peak mid 80s suburb rock. Couldn't do it then and I can't do it now. Extra star for not having as much sax as I figured it would.
De La Soul
4/5
Absolute high point of my hip hop experience. Seminal in helping me shape what I love about rap and samples at a time when I was just figuring it out. This and Fear are essential records for me. Love it so much.
The Cardigans
3/5
It's fine, I guess.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Voting issue...
I have loved SnG for over 40 years. My intro to 60s folk and rock. Haven't listened to this album in 20 years and can't still sing every lyric. LOVE it.
But I hate Bridge Over Troubled Water. With a passion. Always have. Every other song fucks.
4 or 5 stars? Ugh. Fuck it. 5.
Neil Young
3/5
Ugh. Everyone a NY album comes up I go "Sweet. Two songs I like, three songs I'm told I should like, and three sing that should've been on a CSNY album."
4/5
Love this band. Love this album.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
New album for me. Some fun stuff in here. Also, some real 80s cheese. Felt like he wasn't committed to the sound he was making.
Astrud Gilberto
2/5
Oof. Was excited for this one, but it really fell short. The duet with the 7 year old also took off a full star. Not my thing.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Damn, this album hits every time. Been far too long. Sofa king good.
The Temptations
3/5
Man, this album album comes out swinging. One of the best side As I've heard. Dies down on the back end, but still a really solid album.
Nitin Sawhney
1/5
I did not enjoy this album at all.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Solid intro effort. Not as strong as some of his later works, but a good template for what will make him one of the greatest rock stars.
Arcade Fire
3/5
This is the third AF album I've gotten so far. Can't imagine there are many more on this list. What I've learned is that they haven't held up as well as I would have thought they would've. Oh well.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
4/5
How have I missed this?! Send like this would've been right in my wheelhouse. Super fun and funky mud 90s stoner rock, in the G Love or UDS vein. Great stuff.
Alice Cooper
3/5
This is one of the most bland and uncreative albums I have ever heard from this era. And I really like AC, but this is nothing to my ears. I don't even know what to rate it, as I didn't dislike it, but I also will forget almost everything about it ten minutes after hearing it. Guess it really doesn't matter then, huh?