215
Albums Rated
3.37
Average Rating
20%
Complete
874 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950
Favorite Decade
Funk
Favorite Genre
other
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
35
5-Star Albums
11
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Snivilisation
Orbital
|
5 | 2.71 | +2.29 |
|
Medúlla
Björk
|
5 | 2.72 | +2.28 |
|
Happy Sad
Tim Buckley
|
5 | 2.78 | +2.22 |
|
Vulnicura
Björk
|
5 | 2.79 | +2.21 |
|
A Walk Across The Rooftops
The Blue Nile
|
5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
|
Coles Corner
Richard Hawley
|
5 | 3.03 | +1.97 |
|
Permission to Land
The Darkness
|
5 | 3.14 | +1.86 |
|
GREY Area
Little Simz
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
High Violet
The National
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
|
5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Joshua Tree
U2
|
1 | 3.67 | -2.67 |
|
Diamond Life
Sade
|
1 | 3.43 | -2.43 |
|
Melodrama
Lorde
|
1 | 3.32 | -2.32 |
|
Frampton Comes Alive
Peter Frampton
|
1 | 3.18 | -2.18 |
|
Wild Wood
Paul Weller
|
1 | 3.09 | -2.09 |
|
Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
50 Cent
|
1 | 3.05 | -2.05 |
|
Slanted And Enchanted
Pavement
|
1 | 3.03 | -2.03 |
|
Tellin’ Stories
The Charlatans
|
1 | 2.94 | -1.94 |
|
Black Monk Time
The Monks
|
1 | 2.94 | -1.94 |
|
Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
|
2 | 3.91 | -1.91 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Björk | 2 | 5 |
| Marvin Gaye | 2 | 5 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| David Bowie | 5, 2, 5, 3 |
5-Star Albums (35)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
War · 2 likes
5/5
Incredible stuff.
How have I managed not to know this band and this album. Such a great sound. So expressive. So rich in diverse references and textures and feelings.
'City, country city' in particular is such a great piece of art. I feel like this should be required listening / a rite of passage in the same way as dark side of the moon is for example.
The Saints · 1 likes
4/5
This is so much fun!
I had never heard of it before but I had a great time. Real punk feel - distinctly feels separate from indie, new wave, etc to follow. Yet it feels smart and punchy in a way that I don't associate with earlier punk.
Love that brass.
Sepultura · 1 likes
2/5
Seems a fine example of a deep heavy thrash record (to my untrained ears.)
Personally though, I enjoyed it most when it stepped away from the thrash tropes a little bit in tracks like meaningless movements. Would have also liked to hear more bass - I guess it's tightly sticking to the root notes of the guitar lines but I was struggling to make it out for most of the record.
Frank Sinatra · 1 likes
3/5
Smooth
I never realised before how this LP is basically 100% ballads. I think it's actually this side of Frank that I like best though. His vocal technique is very exposed and stands up to the challenge. These are some beautiful versions of some classic songs. They have mostly become (or already were) very common standards, and the versions here feel very conservative next to more interesting variations that were done later
Dusty Springfield · 1 likes
4/5
What a sweet and lovely pop album.
There are a couple of truly beautiful tracks, but even outside of those it all just flows and hangs together so nicely. A great voice and made in a time where the playing paired with great voices tended to be excellent and the production fairly simple to accentuate all that skill.
4-Star Albums (64)
1-Star Albums (11)
All Ratings
Frank Sinatra
3/5
4/5
Marty Robbins
2/5
Starts off kind of fun..
I kind of like big iron.
But really quite monotone and samey throughout the album. Very easy to start listening to the album but actually quite difficult after a few tracks
Black Sabbath
4/5
1970! Such early metal!
VERY bluesy. Some harp even, but it actually feels right.
Guitar tone is so hollow somehow. Mid scooped and treble boosted?
NIB slaps.
Evil woman though - surely it's parody!
Warning sounds like Dave Soper - it's the kind of progy epic that I didn't really know existed back then though.
I made the mistake of following with led zeppelin iii which would always make it look bad, but I had a lot of fun
1/5
Very disappointed when the album cover appeared in this app - destroyed a lot of enthusiasm for this project. Starts with 3 or so huge hits, will that help?
The hits were actually painful. I guess they're so overplayed and negatively associated for me. Slightly more interested in the rest of the album.
Find myself wondering if there was an age when I would have heard this and been interested. It feels like it has a sound that I would have appreciated as a teenager maybe?
The angsty vocals might be the thing that bothers me the most.
Some of the tones are kind of post punk, so maybe it is the vocal style that makes me feel like I would never have got into them?
Slught reminder of "the music" but they had funky self awareness.
Is it the pompousity that I'm reacting to & lack of self awareness?
Guns N' Roses
3/5
Those guitar tones are rich with cheese.
I was excited to see the cover after u2 but then started listening and realised how it's not 100% my thing either.
I'm getting more of a thin lizzy feel than I expected. So far I like them so much more though.
Funny how I feel able to see past the sexist lyrics in thin lizzy better.
There is a lot of riffing - wonder if teenage me would have been more into it?
Basically fine cheese rock
Steely Dan
4/5
Really interested to actually spend some time listening to Steely Dan.
Surprised that I know do it again.
Such a distinctive sound, I can't figure out quite why. The piano bass and drums seem very tight together despite a lot of fancy rhythmic things happening. Of course there are harmonised guitar solos but also tiny licks and fills that seem to be harmonised too, as well as almost all vocal parts. So many layers and yet it all sounds very together.
I kind of feel like a couple of listens today won't be enough to figure out how I feel about this record.
Definitely very interesting.
Bob Dylan
3/5
A 1997 Dylan record. What was he doing then? Exciting.
Reminds me of Tom Waits records from that time with beautiful songwriting and that raspy old man voice. Classic forms, beautiful ballads, feeling of comfort in their songwriting skin. The voice feels like a natural continuation for both Waits and Dylan despite them sounding quite different earlier in their careers.
Make you feel my love - is this the original record for that song? I thought it was older than late 90s (thought mj did a version earlier? Did he even do a version?)
Everything But The Girl
2/5
First one I really don't know about & what to expect.
Sounds like maybe it was a heavy influence for mainstream pop around the time, but this feels cooler and more sincere.
Probably harsh to say a poor imitation massive attack.
What's up with the katakana on the album cover? Superdry style?
Keith Jarrett
4/5
Cool record.
First time listening to it since 'you'll hear it' doing facing you. That helped me understand Keith Jarets thing a bit more.
Some really beautiful transitions between parts.
Harmonicaly complex, completely improvised, but often doesn't feel like jazz - the swing I guess.
Must listen to it more.
Throbbing Gristle
3/5
Ooh what's this. Zero knowledge or expectations.
Cool start. It's like Brian eno goes metal.
Nice ambient stuff. Really interesting. I'll likely listen again but certainly not once a week every week!
I'll stick with darker ambient feel.
A beat did break out at one point though
The Libertines
2/5
Oh right.
I did mean to listen to this more since people at uni were obsessed. I remember from the few listens I gave it that it's not my thing, but I'm really interested to listen with a different perspective now.
Disappointed.
Takes me back to a time where I felt like the people around me were obsessed with this luke warm pop indie stuff and I felt like I had to be into that too.
A boy called Doris feelings though.
I've never really been a lyrics guy so maybe I'm missing out on incredible Pete Doherty poetry.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Ah sweet. A huge name I've not really listened to. Expecting something solid.
Solid seems absolutely right. Really nice relaxed feel. Cool songwriting, nice diatonic feeling chord progressions.
Tones are reverby in a really interesting way. I feel like this sound has been appropriated for some lukewarm indie that I really don't like but the cool feel here reassures me that's not what's happening here. Bass sound in particular feels like it has been used elsewhere for evil.
About you has an interesting quirk on Spotify. I wonder if it's part of the track on all formats? Seems like the first 0.2 seconds of the track has been put at the end.
Like a chill ramones.
Sister Sledge
4/5
Nice. I'm excited. This should be good.
Wow - there are 4 or 5 huge hits on here.
This was so good. It hit just right today and the quality is so high. I think I'm going to listen to this regularly
Talking Heads
4/5
Cool. I think that I like talking heads but now I'm wondering if I've ever listened to an album through.
It's so good. Right from the outset. The first few tracks are absolute bangers. Slightly annoyed by the deluxe edition content at the end.
I was actually disappointed when once in a lifetime came on because I was enjoying the unfamiliar awesome dance tunes before that.. But then I realised that once in a lifetime is also an incredible track when you let yourself really take it in.
Reminds me of that dance indie trend from the 00s (css, the rapture, whatever else) but the quality and feel here is so much better.
I think possibly when I was collecting cds I did have the first talking heads record - definitely didn't enjoy it like enjoyed this today.
Red Snapper
3/5
Cool. Something brand new to me.
Feels like a mix of hip hop and post rock. Some really nice atmosphere. Not sure if there's as much movement/development as I would like? One that I'd like to return to to make my mind up clearer about it - a couple of listens in the day wasn't really enough
Black Sabbath
3/5
More black sabbath! My first repeated artist. I enjoyed the first one more than I expected and this one has hits. Looking forward to it.
The sounds feel more dated in this one - maybe just because it's got the more famous material on and so I've heard it in clubs etc before comparing against newer stuff. Need to keep both headphones in - it's panned wide.
Those hits are really great. War pigs in particular. I don't think I had as good a time listening to this as the other Sabbath record though. Maybe just because that one surprised me more.
Miles Davis
4/5
Before: Woot. Miles. It's not one of the miles records I've listened to a lot either. Should be fun
After: a really interesting stage for miles. Not my favourite but still great. More energetic than [x]'in with records, and much much more than the modal stuff. The tone is still there though.
It feels a little bit more arranged. Slightly closer to a count basie band or Ellington etc. There is still mikes' slightly classical feel somehow even though it's quite bebopy.
Turbonegro
4/5
Before: interesting. No preconceptions.
After: that's really cool. Straight up fun rock record. Can imagine returning to it like the datsuns, thin lizzy, the darkness as just a fun highly listenable rock out record
Dated ofc. Interested to know what the band name is about. Then songs like good head feel a bit off.
Prince of the rodeo and don't say motherfucker, motherfucker are both particularly brilliant
Hot Chip
4/5
Before: Mid career hot chip - interesting. I might have expected their breakthrough to be on here. I don't think I ever heard this one.
After :Oof when don't deny your heart gets funky! That track in general is awesome.
VERY high quality. I enjoyed it more than I remember enjoying their two more popular early albums. This will be my default hot chip relistening album now.
I'm never sure about hot chip ballads - the couple at the end of this record haven't clicked for me yet.
Memories of seeing them at Glastonbury earlier in their career. Their sound was full and funky and I think this record captures that better than what I've heard before.
Eminem
2/5
Before: an artist I've wanted to go back and listen to after learning more about well crafted rap. Don't think I've ever heard this one but my memories are hazy.
During: I would have zero time for this guy and his edge lord antics if this was current. I think I'm able to contextualise it though. I don't know actually - this is actively annoying me quite a lot. Saying edgy stuff is one thing, but them for him to dismiss the criticism that he's getting for it lands rough.
After: the content and the attitude are super annoying. It's really difficult to see past. A lot of the production really didn't age well too.
There are some really impressive schemes though. Really good long schemes that feel very synced and lyrical and rhythmic. He's a talented guy.. Just an idiot.
My name is is quite brilliant really. Great idea to rap over labi cifre and very well executed (except for some horrible lyrics)
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
Before: cool. Only familiar previously with the title track.
The title track is an awesome piece of music. The rest of the record was always going to struggle to keep up. I'm a bit disappointed at the rate of the fall off though.
For a brief moment I thought I might get a bluesy Jimmy smith, but definitely not. So much less energy and not really pulling off a cool feel in a compelling way to me
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Really interesting. On first listen I feel like it's alternating between early smiths style jangle pop and gang of four or even fugazi.
There is definitely something about that guitar and bass tone that feels smithsy. Something about the playing too!
I'm now getting interpol! (obviously the later acts will be influenced by these guys)
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
First one I have on vinyl. I'm also going this evening to sing Simon and garfunkel songs with chorus small groups. One that I'm quite familiar with but probably haven't really listened to enough.
It's really good. The huge tracks are huge. The tracks you don't think of so much are excellent too. Must listen to more.
The White Stripes
3/5
Oh. Not elephant or white blood cells (wonder if it's my own bias thinking that they're more important?)
Doorbell is so good. I feel like the rest of the record struggles to keep up.
The last track is a classic white stripes country ballad - really nice work.
Was this the first time he used that kind of octave pedal sound? It's more electronic & modern than I remember from earlier records.
Metallica
3/5
Cool. I've been meaning to go back to this.
2hrs+ what the flip! I like this project because I like the concept of an album - 35 to 50 min as a continuous statement. I am less up for such a long best of type deal.
Will be tricky to take in in one sitting as I hope to for most other records.
Not my favourite string arrangements. Often feels like just one or two interesting harmonies or melodic lines added to each section.
This was a lot of Metallica to listen to. The voice grated on me a bit. Basically interesting though.
Bill Evans Trio
5/5
Awesome. Love it.
Harmonies seem a little bit sparser than in his other work - leaving a bit more open to the listeners feeling.
It's a very good trio
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Cool. I only know the hits and don't know those all that well. I think I'll enjoy this.
Washed over me just a little bit first time. Maybe the production isn't 100% for me.
Enjoying it a little more second time - there is some good funky stuff here.
Africano slaps.
Björk
5/5
Nice. A late one though - this isn't from the era of hypermusic etc. Curious to see what she was doing.
The first track is EXCELLENT. Such beautiful sounds and arranged so skillfully.
Feels a little like a follow up to kid a. Can't think of a more exciting description from me.
Queen
4/5
So good. Really high quality. I think I will enjoy relistening regularly.
Much more beatles sound and influence than I've noticed before in queen. Paul McCartney style I guess.
Some quite progy bits too though.
You can hear how they influenced muse. (and the darkness.)
Love of my life is really excellent. Borap too of course. Layered guitars and the guitar technique are really impressive in parts.
Adele
3/5
My heart sank a little on seeing a pop record, but I don't know - I think I'm going to enjoy it.
Noticed that she was working with different producers before I read it on the notes. There are some really different production ideas going on here and I find it a little bit jarring. It doesn't hang together as a single bit of work. More like a best of I guess. Some tracks hit much harder for me.
Drums on don't you remember are ass. They feel like westlife 90s drums and I think this songwriting and this artist deserve better.
The vocals are SO high in the mix. I tried turning it up to hear some interesting bass playing and the vocals were getting painfully loud.
I could personally do with fewer vocal flourishes - I guess I'm not the target market in this respect. The little Richard high notes for e.g. Just lose some of the sincerity for me a lot of the time.
Saying all this there is some high high quality songwriting here. I can also think of ways of delivering it that I would find more objectionable. I can absolutely understand why it's as popular as it is, I just find that it's not what I'm looking for from a great album due to the pop production and lack of consistent earnest messaging due to that (for me)
Set fire to the rain is a good enough song to be enjoyable despite the very vocal heavy mix.
I'll be waiting slaps. Simpler songwriting and less flashy than almost anything on the record, but the whole thing works so well.
Holy f*, I've just read that most of these tracks were preferred to a Rick Rubin produced set of sessions! Goes to show how different tastes are. I think I'd actually be really interested in the Rubin record. (I'll be waiting is a Rubin one.)
Kings of Leon
4/5
An unexpected delight.
I forgot that I have a relationship with this album. I used to listen to it quite a lot in the 00's.
Great guitar led songwriting. Some excellent bass writing.
These guys were so much better before they learned to sing in English
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
Really cool sounds.
First track had me a little bit scared it was going to be violent femmes style nonchalant indie singing, but the guitars already reassured me.
I'm guessing this is argued as the start of emo by some people?
Love just about all of the guitar sounds. They are so bright and yet all of the potential jangle is caught up in fuzz and screaming overtones. I will look up their guitar setups.
Peter Tosh
3/5
Cool record.
Passed me by slightly first listen. From second listen I hear that there are some really funky sounds in there and some good soul like songwriting even if it does feel a little bit simplistic in parts
Neil Young
4/5
Beautiful album.
The title track is one of my favourite songs in the world. It's just a beautiful melody harmonised in a really interesting way.
Previously I had thought that the rest of the album fell short, but today I learned to appreciate it a little more. There's some really good stuff in the same songwriting vein as the title track. I still think maybe I prefer harvest, but it doesn't have to be either/or!
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
2/5
Really tough to rate it. The message, she's fresh and it's nasty are awesome tracks and I love the vibe and what this record has done to popular music.. But there's a lot of poor music on this record to my modern ears and sensibilities.
Maybe a rare case of a record that I don't think is good but might return to listen to.
Nitin Sawhney
4/5
Delightful surprise.
I started off thinking I was just being treated to some standard 90s trip hop but the more I listened the more I was rewarded. The more Indian influenced tracks really got my attention. Nadia and Imigrant are both really excellent. Then after reading a little about the concept I'm sold. I'm going to be coming back to this.
Elton John
3/5
I find it super tough to get into double albums.
This has some great songs on - I didn't realise so many of his hits were on one double album together. It's tricky to get a feel for the whole work though when it's so long.
I think I like Elton John when he's creating really interesting hooky melodies and harmonising them simply but beautifully (I think he does some interesting chord voicings sometimes!) I like it less when he leans into rock and roll clichés.
I kind of want to give it more time but realistically I don't know when I'm going to feel like listening to a double album.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
Very cool sounds. I'll need to listen more to figure out how I really feel about it.
I was expecting electronic and was slightly surprised when I heard jangly guitar. It does seem primarily electric though. I think I like it more when they lean into experimental electronic feel and less when it's more like indie pop singles.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Really great record. I want to listen to it more to make my mind up and maybe away from the context of ozzys passing.
It has a little bit of that surprising blend of distorted guitars with acoustic instruments from the self titled album. It also has some of that tighter, more polished, more metal sound like paranoid. There's a little bit more sound design stuff I think.
Changes unfortunately reminds me of Kelly ozbourne's pop career.
Norah Jones
2/5
The nearness of you is great. Why wasn't this all standards?
The singing is beautiful and the instrumentation and arrangement is nice enough.. But it's all quite bland.
It's pleasant and it must have sold a huge amount, but it doesn't feel like an interesting record to me.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Cool record.
I spent the morning thinking it was a little bit bloated and sprawling, then I noticed that spotify only had an extended version and that I was listening to a bunch of bonus tracks that ruined the focus.
Good to hear pure 60s pop (/rock and roll) without the Beatles and guitar obsession.
Anyone who had a heart is great.
Feels slightly like Sam Cooke in some sense. Something about the vocal production (is it distorting?)
All does feel like a good singer has been given some "good songs" to sing though - nothing really intriguing going on maybe?
Beyoncé
3/5
Didn't get a single focused listen through (listened a couple of times but interrupted and distracted.) definitely want to give it more chance.
There is something about her voice that (unfairly) signposts to me that this is peak pop and therefore hasn't really been made with art in mind and isn't worth my focus - want to avoid preconceptions like that for this project so want to try again.
Miles Davis
5/5
What a beautiful beautiful album. I didn't discover anything new to me today but it was a real pleasure to listen and focus on this again.
Side 1 swings surprisingly hard for such slow changes. It's amazing to hear Coltrane and Evans leaving so much space. There is so much listening going on!
Then side two is just so poetic and beautiful (or I guess the modal ballads at the end of each side.) It really does sound like they are feeling as one and just putting that feeling directly into improvised music together
Rush
4/5
This was great.
Took me a kitt bit of effort personally to see past some of the sound design choices. It all feels very 80s and very metal in a try hard way. That voice is a very distinct sound too and when there are so many strong choices it can get hard to really listen to the music itself.
So much great progressive imaginative creations though. Yyz is ear catching and then so good. Track 2 is a beautiful progression between something poppier and the avant garde.
Never thought before how they must have influenced coheed and cambria.
Depeche Mode
4/5
I previously thought of Depeche mode as sounding dated. I was surprised that I found the production on this to sound pretty fresh and raw and exciting.
I'd also never really clicked with their songwriting before but I really enjoyed this album.
I think there was a publicity push for their singles collection when I was younger - I thought those singles were okay at the time. In the context of the album I think they sound brilliant.
I can see that they (maybe indirectly) influenced bands like Muse, which I really don't think I would have linked before.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
Can't quite get on board. In other context I really love that lofi style but here I can't get past it just feeling annoying.
Not much notable songwriting that I can discern.
Maybe caught me on a bad day.
4/5
Very cool.
There are times in the past where I would have discounted this out of hand for the "cheesy 80s production style". I'm glad I don't now. I love it.
The range of bass sounds are all awesome.
Some of that production is kind of cheesy with the pad strings for example. I'm also not crazy about the lyrical style of over the top life and death romance.
Brilliant singles though
David Bowie
5/5
Brilliant.
The singles are all time classics and personally some of the favourite Bowie I knew before listening to this.
The other tracks build this smoothly into a really interesting statement.
I don't understand how he makes such bold choices in terms of harmony and modulation and yet it sounds so natural.
Pavement
1/5
Really struggled with this.
I feel like it lurches clumsily between sounding like whining emo angst and sounding to cool to care. I guess I can't get any realistic sincerity from it.
The sounds aren't pretty. They're also not landing for me as low-fi in an effective stylised way that I can hear working.
I know that many love them so I guess I'm wrong.
5/5
Incredible stuff.
How have I managed not to know this band and this album. Such a great sound. So expressive. So rich in diverse references and textures and feelings.
'City, country city' in particular is such a great piece of art. I feel like this should be required listening / a rite of passage in the same way as dark side of the moon is for example.
George Harrison
3/5
It's really good. In the context of this great list of really interesting recordings though I'm not sure if it does enough to stand out for me though?
Isn't it a pitty is an absolutely incredible song. Who could pick between this and the perfect nina simone version. My sweet lord is great too. There are some other tracks that have some beautiful textures, but across 3 lps I think I want more to grab me.
Waylon Jennings
2/5
Just cant seem to get onto it.
Can't find anything very interesting to appreciate
Dire Straits
2/5
I know I'm wrong, but this record sounds like a pub band, writing very forgettable songs, that just happen to have a good guitarist who plays really well and found some really nice tones.
(I realise that it's probably because they influenced a style of pub rock band)
The guitar comping is fantastic. That's not really enough to save the record for me.
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Really good. The production feels kind of dated - I could do without some of 90s guitar effects and tropes. But the songwriting and feel is just so free and direct and un-self-conscious.
Love Australia, a design for life, everything must go. All feels more commercial single focused than Holy bible for example and that used to put me off it, but it's all so good.
Prince
4/5
So difficult to review from a few listens through.
It was more extreme than I expected in just about every way. It was funkier, more sexual (verging on perverted), more dated production, more intense, more experimental.
I loved so much of it but there were definitely bits that tried my patience.
Curtis Mayfield
5/5
What an awesome little slice of soul.
Super clean, punchy, expensive product. Great playing. Tastefully put together through and through. Interesting lyrical themes.
The Charlatans
1/5
I am not a fan of this.
It's like stone roses but without that grove and musicianship and songwriting and spark. Kind of like oasis but at least they provide a pale imitation of the Beatles at the same time.
That just leaves charmless yowling mancunians.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
4/5
Awesome sounds.
A band so in tune with each other creating a raw emotive soundscape.
I'm not a fan of the - pretend it's live - gimik.
The Kinks
3/5
I used to really love this band and I have a relationship with this album. Possibly was more of a village green guy though? They have some of that beatles pure magic but of course through their own lens.
Waterloo sunset is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I know.
Unfortunately on the few times I listened through it this time it passed me by a little bit. Makes me want to try their other records again
The Stone Roses
3/5
Cool record. It's a full atmosphere. It's more psychedelic than I realised. There's some great jams and some fantastic bass work.
I don't think it's a good sequencing idea to have waterfall followed by backwards waterfall but maybe that was less grating before waterfall was a huge hit?
The jangly indie in the middle of the record lost me a little bit.
Peter Frampton
1/5
Reading the Wikipedia it seems like this album is included just out of shear popularity and supposed quality (not a particular significant moment or genre defier or anything else.) Listening to it I just can't figure out why it's so popular. It seems fine, there's some okay songwriting and some skilled if cliche guitar work, but utterly unremarkable.
If it wasn't for finding it under this context I would be sure that this was a record just for the Peter Frampton purists.
Michael Kiwanuka
5/5
Beautiful record.
Great production. Great songwriting. Great playing. For a fairly chill album there's a lot of great bass work.
Goldie
3/5
Jungle is massive - it's nearly 2 hours long.
There are some beautiful textures though. It's much more mature and definitive than I expected.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
2/5
Reminded me of Jose gonzales in terms of a very simply written slightly lofi strummy guitar and voice record. Didn't quite charm me in the same way though yet
I'll have to try again some time.
Prince
4/5
Cool record.
Seems tighter and more focused than 1999 in writing and production. Much less focused in run time though. I need more time to get into a double record
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Tough to grade. Maybe I was just harsh this day.
Has some brilliant tracks on and I love her voice and the style. I don't think this hangs together all that well as a single coherent album though. The production feels kind of all over the place with a mix of popier sounds, big band, hip hop sounds. I can't find the thread. There are some tracks that don't feel like they fit in and feel a bit b-side as a result
Metallica
3/5
Surprisingly enjoyable.
More progy then expected. A bit of melody in with all the chugging.
The sound is so difficult though. There's the no bass thing, but also the guitars sound buzzy and paper thin and the drum sounds are like a toy or something.
Little Simz
5/5
Love it.
Production is so spot on for me. More to my tastes actually than her later albums which I listen to more.
Lyrics feel more early career to - less jaded about her music industry experience!
Green Day
3/5
Solid record.
Some great songwriting, fun green day pop punk feel and even some innovative new sounds as they branch into more different types of stadium rock. I admire some of the ambition of this record.
I have reservations though. I'm not crazy about the progy concept album rhapsody style pieces. I like the ambition but they don't quite land for me and I want green day to be pure green day. The production is also slightly difficult. Guitars and drums sound really great if comically over compressed. Bass gets a bit lost (which is a huge loss to green day!) The vocals are most challenging though. Heavy heavy effects (maybe a bit of autotune?) just take me out of that punky space I want to be in
The Pretty Things
2/5
I found it interesting at first but maybe a little unfocused for me. I couldn't really stick with it through the record
Tim Buckley
5/5
Had a great time with this.
Some really interesting modal mixture type of chord sequences and matching beautiful melodies that really pull you in. It all makes the more indulgent drawn out song forms work.
Gypsy woman is a regrettable concept and he leans into it hard. We all make mistakes
Arcade Fire
4/5
This is good.
These guys seemed exactly what I should be listening to as an indie hipster at about the right time but I somehow missed them. I hear that there is a kind of country-ish feel about some of it that maybe put me off on a superficial level?
Ocean of noise is particularly good - that's the one that made me see the quality of the rest of the record
The Beach Boys
4/5
Awesome songwriting and some beautiful mature sequencing.
Wasnt quite sure what the picture was like so far after pet sounds.
Dolly Parton
4/5
How lovely country can be. Can't believe how much I prefer this to weylon jennings.
It's like the Beatles never happened
Milton Nascimento
3/5
Would definitely like more time with this. There was some very beautiful stuff here but a double record of unfamiliar stuff is hard to get into
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Really cool. I love Jimmy smith.
There are some awesome changes here and they are handled so beautifully on that organ.
I think I prefer his big band sound (not necessarily with a big band but when he plays in the style) but this is still fantastic. Hoping the cat comes up!
Funkadelic
4/5
Very interesting.
The title track absolutely sets you up for a different record. You think it's going to be completely Clinton/Collins glam funk with a dozen hooks per track..
And then it isn't. It feels like it slowly shifts into quite a mature psychedelic rock record.
I do love the p-funk, but this is interesting too
Led Zeppelin
5/5
I had so much fun with this today.
Jimmy page is a talented guy. I always heard people say that and I figured that they were talking about twiddling solo stuff that I'm not so crazy about, but he has really incredible aesthetic sensibilities. He just makes a ton of good choices throughout AND he groves with things incredible rhythm section.
There are more hooks here than three (my favourite led zep) and it feels heavier and riffier. But the whole spectrum of led zep still seems to be on display. And Sandy deny! Who knew!
Supergrass
2/5
Quite annoyed me in the end unfortunately.
I did go in with biases thinking I was getting some luke warm chirpy brit pop/indie stuff. I was delighted at first when it sounded like a buzzcocks record for a few tracks. The second half of the record really grates on me every time though. I feel like it does turn into that too-cool indie pop sound and I really struggle with it.
Maybe on another day?
Deep Purple
2/5
This annoyed me today. I probably didn't judge it fairly just because I wasn't really in the mood for it.
I was thinking to myself that if it was on in a cafe, I would be mildly entertained by it, so maybe I should be more generous. I found it very uninspiring though.
Don't really like their straight up hard rock sound, without any particular grove or interesting features. Don't really like the live fan engagement, long solo, drawn out tracks and endings antics
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Very cool sound. I think sometimes I would be more into it than I felt today.
I was kind of waiting for the underlying songwriting to grab me and feel impressive to match with that production, but I didn't fall in love with anything here really.
It's interesting and I'd like to listen more, but it's not top of my list to listen more to from this project.
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Beautiful stuff.
I think I prefer my belle and Sebastian when there more rocky, but the eccentric songwriting - lyrics and harmony - is still there.
Talking Heads
3/5
Interesting. So much less grove and rhythmic complexity and dancability than remain in light.
Kind of feels like David Byrne is trying to be an angular electric Dylan, with some poetic obscurities.
Doesn't land as well as remain in light for me.
Digital Underground
1/5
What was this?
Because it's here on this list I want to say that there's some visionary jazz sampling going on and that the theme of the record is a bold statement on consumer culture..
But I think it's just bad.
I think the beats sound like bad 90s rap beats and the lyrics sound like an extremely dated perverted fantasy that someone should have kept to themselves rather than put to music.
Soul II Soul
3/5
Alright.
Some nice beats and a really distinctive clean hifi production style that I never quite noticed in this kind of 80s/90s house/hip hop.
I'm not a fan of the style with the female vocals quite so much.
But definitely more to like than I first thought.
Moby
3/5
Cool album with a lot of cool sounds.
I tried to listen with fresh ears and I heard a lot to really like.
Don't feel I can grade higher though as it did slightly drag for me - each time I listened I found myself checking how long left.
Incredible Bongo Band
4/5
Loads of fun.
Love something percussion led.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Some of my favourite sounds.
The transition from too shy to say into boogie on reggae woman is wild.
Genesis
4/5
Some really cool sounds.
My first time properly listening to genesis (and was never a huge fan of their poppier singles.) they are more typically prog than I realised. There is some yes feeling which is great for me.
I can't quite get into the concept. There are terrible modern connotations with people complaining about English culture being diluted - I don't know how this landed at the time. I know they're talking about the soft power of American culture but it still feels off to be anti internationalist in this way. Whatever the case, the accents and some of the references feel clumsy.
Would like to listen to more genesis though, and could probably see past the lyrics to enjoy this one.
Blondie
3/5
I hoped to like this more. Maybe I'm not being fair with it?
The songwriting, playing, production all just kind of felt very ordinary. Some good pop songs and presented in a fine pop punky kind of way.. Just didn't grab me.
Faith No More
4/5
Very cool.
I love that thick punchy bass driven sound. I love that it's has a somewhat funk feel while staying hard rock.
The Kinks
4/5
Haven't enjoyed this record in probably 15 years.
Very musically fun!
I don't think I used to notice all the British whimsy in the lyrics and themes so much - it's not my favourite
B.B. King
3/5
Cool blues. I enjoyed it.
I'm quite surprised that you can make 95% of a record just standard 12 bar blues and it still sounds good and not incredibly samey.
It felt formulaic, but I guess that's 12 bar blues. There is a lot of well articulated feeling in there and some beautiful playing. (trying to see past the dated lyrics)
Duke Ellington
5/5
So cool. Beautifully composed and beautifully improvised. Swings so hard for so many players
Malcolm McLaren
2/5
Really interesting but not so enjoyable for me as a listen through.
Feels a bit aimless as its going between hip hop, the skits and the south African stuff.
Radiohead
5/5
Tried to listen with fresh ears but it's so difficult. I have a real history with this record.
It was difficult to imagine how they could make the production interesting after kid a and amnesiac, but I really think they managed it. The super saturated live feel production is definitely not what I would go for first but it works here. Some tracks are like indie band meets trance anthem.
And there's still beautiful songwriting at the heart.
Beatles
5/5
I should make an effort to listen to this once a week or so.
My personal favourite Beatles I think. It might be more straightforward songwriting than the later records but I think it's the last one that sounds totally coherent from start to finish. In my life is super beautiful.. But so many of these tracks are in there own way.
Ends on a horrible sentiment. That's a shame.
Rod Stewart
2/5
I probably didn't listen intently enough.
I didn't understand what was particularly interesting or enjoyable about this music.
Meat Loaf
4/5
So much fun.
The title track and paradise by the dashboard light are musical theatre rock epics with so much character. Took the words and two out of three are just fun rock songs. Heaven can wait and for crying out loud are seriously beautiful ballads.
I should listen to this at least once a month.
Eagles
3/5
Great singles. The rest lost me a little bit.
I sometimes think I want a solid record that has no dischordant stuff, no unexpected jarring rhythms, nothing too unexpected. I usually struggle to figure out what that solid super straight laced record is.. This might be it and it turns out it's not a good thing. It's just not that interesting to me.
Kings of Leon
3/5
Kind of bugged me due to a lack of particular ambition or interest first listen. Second listen I let go a bit and just kind of went with it.
Plenty of basically enjoyable stuff here. Nothing earth shaking.
Mike Ladd
4/5
This is really cool.
I've had a strange listening experience - I listened once in the morning kind of passively and found it a bit flabby.. But then I've listened with more focus this evening and found so much to love.
The sounds brought together are beautiful and intriguing. The rap is intensive in lyrics and delivery. It is a little on the long side for my typical album preferences
Koffi Olomide
3/5
This was nice.
I found the mix of (what I assume are) traditional acoustic instruments and full on 80s production a little bit jarring. There is some good funky electric guitar to like.
Awesome rhythms
Portishead
4/5
Awesome sounds.
I knew I was liked this record but it's been a very long time and I never had a huge relationship with it.
It's definitely a beautiful mooving thing. I can't quite keep focus with every step of it personally.
The xx
4/5
Beautiful.
I remember when their debut was massive. I sort of liked it but I really wanted more drums. The start of this record with big club drums really excited me. That gave me enough that when the drums died out and the emo indie resumed I had a lot more patience for it.
A high 4 for me, but I really struggle with the 'can barely be bothered to sing'/'to cool' indie singing style which is sort of happening here
Björk
5/5
Really beautiful.
Awesome sounds from start to finish. Very rewarding for a focused headphones listen. Very eclectic and challenging for your ears just because of the volume of interesting stuff coming at you. I might struggle if I tried to listen to it while not really paying attention.
The Notorious B.I.G.
3/5
I love buggie's sense of rhythm in his line delivery. The beats he chooses and the way he interacts with them are awesome. Some of the lyrics are witty too. I want so much to put rank it higher.
The skits and the flow of this album are painful though. Over an hour and it feels like half of it is cartoonish sex or violence things.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Absolutely one of the best for me. It would be a fine collection of soul pop songs if that were all they were, but then the progressive and conceptual side is so strong.
I love how the tracks have such a strong message. I love how the tracks evolve and search and find new forms. There is so much beautiful modal mixture and unexpected modulation that moves the music in unexpected directions.
Billy Bragg
4/5
It's very cool.
This fills in a blank for me. I had always wondered how Bragg got from those raw urgent guitar and vocal albums at the beginning to the almost country stuff more recently. Here I think I see the start of that range.
He's a great lyricist obviously, but also a good melody writer and great at framing those melodies in nice simple arrangements.
Dizzee Rascal
3/5
Difficult to grade. Some really excellent sounds. Interesting content with really cool delivery.
I found listening to a whole album of it quite tiring though. Maybe I would get more used to it? Wish it were 35 min
De La Soul
3/5
Solid solid record.
I love their classic hip hop style beats, their chilled delivery, their feel for a hook and their sense of fun. It's long though, and although there are fewer frustrating pointless skits than some hip hop from this period, the game show thing is very annoying.
Crowded House
4/5
Enjoyed this much much more than I expected to. It really sounds like they listened a lot to the Beatles like we all did but really understood them on a deep level and learned to write from them in a way that many try and few manage. Simon and garfunkel creep into that sound too I guess. I kept wondering if it felt corny or twee or too on the nose but the quality carried it through at every step.
The Fall
2/5
I have really tried to like the fall. I think this might be my favourite fall record I remember listening to. I do like something about the punk energy. It's dry and durgey in places though. I think personally I need the discord and degeneration in my punk to feel more musical.
I've never been huge on lyrics so I'm probably missing a lot from the lyrics.
The Flaming Lips
5/5
Every time I revisit this record I seem to find more to love. I think yoshimi part 2 is enough to love on its own.
I just really love the production, the songwriting at the core, the groove..
There's something radiohead about it all but I can't quite tell what (that's a very good thing for me.) there is also of course something very very flaming lips.
Dr. Dre
4/5
The amount of misogyny and homophobia on such a recent piece of art is shocking. That said..
Enjoyed this start to finish much more than expected. Beats are great. Rappers aren't my favourite favourites but a really solid selection with good sense of rhythm. Chunky samples/references to parliament and donny hathaway feel like cheating to get my favour.
PJ Harvey
3/5
Enjoyable.
I know she's a really interesting songwriter but couldn't get particularly into this album in the one day with it. Grungey production choices aren't my favourite either.
Good though
4/5
At first I was annoyed that an artist that I'm sure is already well represented gets another entry in the list with all the same material. I'm also not super bothered about the iconic moment captured here - that alone doesn't make it a killer album for me.
HOWEVER, this is a really beautiful recording of an amazing concert. These are awesome versions of some excellent material. The acoustic side is so tender, beautiful and expressive. I love the artistic variations in timing and delivery and strumming. Then the electric side is genuinely exciting. It actually gives me some sense of how revolutionary it must have felt at the time. I feel like I understand how excited Dylan is for his new sound.
Marks not for the event but for the music.
David Bowie
2/5
Legendary artist - feels like it goes without saying. There were some really intriguing moments on this that I will be interested to return to at some point.
Could not really get into it at all as an overall listening experience on this day though.
Venom
2/5
Lots of fun.
There are some really great theatrical moments and fun stuff.
Not hugely enjoyable for me though as a full listen through
Megadeth
3/5
Really fun.
Some good high energy thrash.
Would like to spend more time with it.
There was a particularly exceptional track one or two before the end
The Cure
4/5
One that feels very difficult to rate after a couple of listens.
This is definitely the version of the cure that I found interesting in my mid teens and then lost interest in when I thought I was too cool. Lots of beautiful soundscapes and sort of post rock feel. Interesting stuff
Miles Davis
3/5
Some really cool soundscaping.
I think I really need my jazz to be a little bit more structured in one way or another.
I like rock and guitar music, I like jazz, I'm yet to be fully sold on fusion
Bob Dylan
5/5
Beautiful art.
Killer cutting political folk, beautiful understated delivery of some trad style stuff and some of the best ballads in that style.
I love the electric albums soon after this and their cryptic lyrics, but it's so good to hear him being so direct and honest and raw here first.
Elvis Costello
4/5
Solid record.
I really like the sound and the songwriting.
I don't remember enjoying costelo this much in the past despite listening quite a bit - I guess this is probably my favourite era.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
I could not get onto the overall sounds and grove of this today.
Turns out I maybe like the raw sound of the first album a lot more than I like the attractions.
It feels tighter and more produced, but I think that works against the material a bit for me. I found that organ sound quite grating in parts. Still seems like some good songwriting at the heart of it though
David Bowie
5/5
Love experimental Bowie it turns out.
Love that there's some pretty conventional songwriting to hear but that it's been given room to breathe as a set of big musical statements. The soundscapes don't feel bloated or anything, they just seem to keep singing.
The last two tracks are really fantastic. Chills.
Cream
2/5
Not for me.
The two singles at the top are some solid rock singles, they're not my favourite but I can appreciate that they're basically good. The rest of the record falls off fast for me.
Maybe it doesn't help that I don't really like the horrible racist's guitar playing style so much (trying to keep that separate from his politics.)
I have reviewed a bunch of 90s hip hop where I'm confident that there is a good 40 minute album in there, but hey have inexplicably added half an hour of skits and filler that just annoy me. Here they have added skits and filler to get two tracks up to barely more than half an hour.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Beautiful beautiful record.
Sweet modal mixture in the songwriting making for some really interesting shifts in feel. That spacious non-contrived connecting thread throughout the songs. That liquid guitar style and tone.
Love it all
Frank Black
3/5
Solid, fun record but I couldn't quite get super into it on this day.
I haven't listened to so much Frank black solo, but it sounds very clearly like his songwriting style carries through from pixies. The raw pinkish energy, the lyrical weirdness, frantic but somehow hooky melodies. The presentation seems pixies too. There's just a small bit of soul missing from pixies for me.
There's something about the production that I don't like. It sounds very 90s somehow. The guitar sounds for example feel too clean somehow (even though distorted from pedals/amps) and kind of thin? The album is also a little long for my usual tastes without so much variation or any clear development arc.
The Saints
4/5
This is so much fun!
I had never heard of it before but I had a great time. Real punk feel - distinctly feels separate from indie, new wave, etc to follow. Yet it feels smart and punchy in a way that I don't associate with earlier punk.
Love that brass.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
What a sweet and lovely pop album.
There are a couple of truly beautiful tracks, but even outside of those it all just flows and hangs together so nicely. A great voice and made in a time where the playing paired with great voices tended to be excellent and the production fairly simple to accentuate all that skill.
Nirvana
5/5
So expressive.
Kurt has got to be one of my favourite guitarists - he's obviously studied the Beatles etc and has such a clear sense of harmony in songwriting.. And yet it's all so purely expressive and raw and free.
Dave is incredible on this record too (Krist seems to get a little lost in the mix vs how prominent he is on nevermind)
Vs the other two albums this one delivers that thick heavy sound and raw pinkish expression the best for me.
Bad Company
3/5
Cool basic rock.
Nothing that feels very revolutionary. Seems like some nice execution of that style. A precursor to bon Jovi maybe?
Quite surprisingly enjoyable, given that I'm struggling to identify anything particularly interesting about it.
Elvis Presley
2/5
A bit disappointed from my first elvis record on here.
Kind of expected not to be thrilled by any innovations since it's a template for so much that came after, but I was hoping that the quality of performances and personnel involved would see it through for me. Instead I just couldn't really get into it. I didn't find the quirks of his voice particularly effective for the material in this case.
Kept thinking that I wish I were listening to Sam Cooke perform the same material. Still look forward to more Elvis though.
Van Morrison
4/5
I really enjoyed this a lot more than I expected.
I had a perception of van morrison as kind of cheesy and lightweight somehow (the brown eyed girl - sha la la la - guy), but there is some fantastic songwriting here. The arrangement and production is lovely and warm and comforting too. His voice didn't sit great with me for just a moment but once I'd got on board, there is a lot to love.
Into the mystic is a really beautiful piece.
The Verve
2/5
More interesting than I expected, but I could not get into it on this day.
I did not expect all the long drawn out instrumental jamming sections. I thought of these guys as pure britpop (the bittersweet symphony guys) and not psychadelia. I do generally have a taste for things like that but it didn't hit me with this - maybe even the association with britpop unfairly put me off.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Passed me by a bit unfortunately.
Cool to hear a pop rock record with no guitar. Unfortunately nothing grabbed me and sounded actually interesting and second listen through I was actually really struggling with it
Paul Revere & The Raiders
3/5
So many of the sounds of the Beatles and the beach boys. If I'm being cynical then it feels like a deliberate attempt to elbow in on their sound - I should give them the benefit of the doubt though, there was a lot of those kind of sounds around. Seems like some nice enough songwriting but certainly doesn't grab me like those super famous 60s acts.
Violent Femmes
2/5
Familiar with this record. Always found it somehow annoying. I really tried to listen with fresh ears but I still really struggled with it.
At times it sounds a little like Dylan and at times there are some funk or grove like elements - some really fun rhythmic instrumentation.. But there's something about the "too cool for music" delivery that just annoys me and I can't get into it. I'll try again some day.
The Blue Nile
5/5
I love it.
The songwriting is simple and emotionally earnest. The way that sounds have been carefully layered to support that songwriting is incredible. It really does sound as though each sound you hear has been very carefully considered. I hear a lot of 80s pop music production and wonder what they were thinking - this feels like a pure form that many of those producers might have been looking for.
Roni Size
3/5
Interesting stuff. I'd like to spend more time with it.
While there's some really nice sounds, I don't know if this music lends itself so well to the album format? I found the record kind of long and with no clear arc or development
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Interesting stuff.
In my unusual position - as someone who listens to a bunch of 60s albums regularly but has never listened to a stones record through - this was really interesting. I knew that they were heavily blues influenced, but I didn't realise that outside of the singles and well known tracks, a record like this would be quite heavy in acoustic blues jams. It makes the blues influence on their rockier stuff feel more pronounced.
The famous tracks are very strong. Gimme shelter is really fantastic. I'm so familiar with pub covers of honky tonk women that the original feels alien. The album doesn't flow like a Beatles record for me (but what does!)
Dennis Wilson
4/5
Really beautiful.
I didn't know Dennis did anything solo, so this was a nice surprise to see, but then the quality exceeded my expectations. There's some fantastic songwriting and so much more of that Wilson arranging magic than I thought existed outside of a couple of beach boys records. 'Time' and 'end of the show' are both particularly beautiful, but the whole thing flows really nicely.
The style feels quite ambitious and so it feels slightly strange that most of the songs are quite short. His voice is definitely not in it's best ever condition but I think it's handled beautifully in the context to be really effective.
I'll be coming back here.
Wilco
4/5
Cool. There are some really beautiful pieces on here. There are also a few that don't stand out to me and I struggle to get into such a long double album where I can't easily get a sense for the whole record's arc. However the quality of one or two of these makes me really want to invest time with the rest.
Sonic Youth
4/5
Very cool.
I love some of the guitar on this record. The playing is energetic and swings between melodic and dissonant with great sensitivity. The tones are really beautiful too. I feel like it melts into my ear in a buttery way.
I think I was slightly more into the atmospheric ambitious tracks on this record more than the ones that felt like simple punk pieces. With it being a double record, I find it a little hard to appreciate as a whole piece of music in such a short time.
Elton John
3/5
This is very cool.
I think this is my favourite Elton John era so far (Welton John, according to the cover?) I really like that there is a consistent piano led small band throughout - it's less ambitious than later records with a wider variety of instrumentation maybe but I feel like it flows better. I also appreciate the relative lack of those Elton John piano rock and roll songs that are more prominent on other records.
It's so difficult to listen to tiny dancer with fresh ears!
Heaven 17
3/5
Wasn't aware of this record.
It has always been my personal belief that we don't need this fascist groove thang, so it's very reassuring to see this sentiment echoed in popular music.
I like the funky "pavement" side (first 4 tracks) a lot more than the second "penthouse" side.
Fred Neil
3/5
An awesome collection of songs to have written or be closely associated with.
These versions are solid but often aren't my absolute favourites.
I love "stones" by a boy called Doris. When I was younger I'd never heard dolphins so I assumed that refrain was entirely original rather than a reference - I still expect to hear sweet harmonica when that line is delivered.
Van Halen
2/5
Kind of cool.
Nice stuff here. For me it jumps around just a little too much. 'you really got me' feels like a novelty cover which takes the mood away from hard rock into 60s dance pop. Then the mood jumps around a little more between anthemic stadium type rock, hard rick/metal feel, poppy stuff, blues boogie.. It just never seems to settle somewhere and fill out that mood?
I thought the guitar style would bug me but it's kind of awesome. In the past I would have criticised it for serving the guitarists ego above serving the soul of the music.. But I found myself getting behind it - kind of like listening to a technical rapper.
Hope there's more van Halen as I expect I will might like a later record more.
Taylor Swift
4/5
Quite enjoyable.
More atmospheric and introverted than I expected. I think I was expecting the confident brash pop star that half appears for 'long story short' (which is also a great track for me by the way) and I was surprised that there is more tentative delivery and melancholy. It reminds me of bon iver's first record (and that's before Justin Vernon shows up.)
No body no crime broke the spell a bit for me - took me out of that dreamy atmosphere. Quite 2d for a character piece maybe? Are we supposed to rejoice in the revenge murder?
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Nice.
I was not super excited for the dream pop atmosphere that I was expecting, but I got into it more than I thought I would.
The heavy use of sampling (or similar tape loops etc.) in some part was cool. I also found more interesting harmonies in all the reverb and loose open sounds than I expected.
The Monks
1/5
I'm not a fan.
I'm happy that I listened and it seems like it deserves it's place in the list - given it's such an early example of a band doing something like punk. I won't be seeking it out though.
Kind of durgey in parts. Actively annoying in tone and delivery in parts. Then quite a lot of stuff that just doesn't feel that interesting to me.
The Pogues
4/5
So much fun.
Folky and punky and dancey. Such great energy throughout almost all of it.
(not a fan of the skit at the end but I'll give them a break for that)
The National
5/5
Seems excellent.
I'm reviewing after only managing to listen through once which feels absurd in this case. Feels absurd because there's obviously some depth here and a general feel and arc through the album that I feel like I'm invited to get to know over time.
Some simply beautiful sounding songs amongst some of the more atmospheric and intriguing ones. I will absolutely spend more time with this.
The Darkness
5/5
It's so much fun.
I tried to listen with fresh cynical ears. I tried to see if I should dismiss this as a dumb joke record. If I'm really down on it then the production is a little bit poppy with corny crunchy guitar sounds and the vocals so high in the mix..
It's just so fun though. Every track is such a well executed genre piece in this classic rock idiom. It's an really well observed tribute to all the hard rock acts in the earlier parts of this list. I love it
Nick Drake
4/5
Beautiful record.
Such rich arrangements for a singer songwriter guitarist. Some of his most singable melodies.
Still my least favourite of nicks (but that's such a high bar)
Gram Parsons
1/5
Not my thing personally.
Love hurts is a beautiful song and this record has an excellent version. The couple of tracks at the start are pleasant enough also, but in general this record doesn't thrill me and I'd just so much rather spend my time with something else.
King Crimson
5/5
What a beautiful record.
At first I did wonder if this was just too prog for me, but there's real beauty as well as experimentation here. Seems like roughly the first side is more like a solid rock album with some progy bits and the second side is more like intense prog with songs occasionally breaking out.
OutKast
3/5
Cool but impenetrable.
I just can't take in all of a 2.25hr double album and appreciate how it develops in just one day. Some fantastic individual tracks. Love big boi's rap style. Love some of the more R&B stuff on the love below (more than I thought I would certainly.) will listen more
Michael Jackson
4/5
Surprisingly cool.
There is a part of me that hears the super-pop production and something about that tells me to reject this.. But then the quality here overcomes that. It's obvious that they have assembled an incredible team of musicians, songwriters, producers, etc. To put this together (including mj.) there is a lot of funk elements, soul, R&B, electronic, almost metal elements.. so lots to love actually.
It's hard not to love a record with stevie wonder on.
(separating art from artist)
R.E.M.
2/5
Some nice pop rock, but I couldn't get particularly into it on this day.
Nice enough songs. Nice enough sounds. On the day I listened it just didn't really strike me as particularly interesting or particularly appealing. Don't feel myself in any rush to try again with this album either.
Sepultura
2/5
Seems a fine example of a deep heavy thrash record (to my untrained ears.)
Personally though, I enjoyed it most when it stepped away from the thrash tropes a little bit in tracks like meaningless movements. Would have also liked to hear more bass - I guess it's tightly sticking to the root notes of the guitar lines but I was struggling to make it out for most of the record.
Yes
5/5
So good.
Slightly poppier than some yes records maybe - roundabout and heart of the sunrise are just great rock songs. But then there is a steady through line of all that progy goodness and technical displays of real beauty. It's all got great grove too
Burning Spear
3/5
Seems like a solid reggae record.
The atmosphere of Folky fun and joviality is really nice. I like the voices and their expression and the seemingly improvised echos, fills and ad libs. There seems to be some good musicianship.
In the brief time I've had with the record, I didn't notice anything to really blow me away - but I found it solid and satisfying.
50 Cent
1/5
Not for me.
I find that super laid back rap delivery doesn't really work for me. The production grated on me pretty quickly. Then lyrically I found the gangster stuff, guns, objectifying women all pretty irritating.
David Bowie
3/5
Interesting but not my favourite Bowie personally.
I think it's hugely admirable that someone who has an image as a huge rock front man did an album with a huge amount of instrumental material. I would absolutely think that I'd be the target market. In this case unfortunately, I don't think I gell with the instrumental style so much. It has a lot less grove than young American era Bowie, less harmonic interest than hunky dory era, and yet it doesn't have a stark aesthetic like ambient artists. Falls between the gaps a little bit for my tastes.
Still great music.
Beatles
4/5
Not my favourite Beatles.. But incredible Beatles.
There are some incredible songs on this record. The couple of ballads on side 1 are both some of the greatest. There is also a huge range - from quite classic sounding, guitar heavy, Beatles, to the two sitar heavy songs, electronic exploration, pure whimsical psychadelia.. It's very impressive stuff, but it doesn't flow quite like the other records for me and slightly suffers for it.
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
Surprisingly better than cream for me.
I was genuinely a bit surprised that it sounds a step or two more mature and musical than the cream album I heard earlier. Still sounded kind of generic in parts to me (that's the blues sometimes I guess.) but with a few interesting things and mostly pretty pleasantly listenable throughout a whole double album.
I have been really trying to separate art from artist. This is the biggest test of that for me yet - I can try to ignore that Clapton is a horrible racist, but when he's playing blues music it's tough!!
Miles Davis
3/5
I'm not really crazy about fusion, but this is like a nice smooth gentle introduction to fusion. It's a really nice atmosphere. I'm getting used to and really enjoying herbies playing too. I feel like Miles doesn't sing on this like I'm used to on different records, but I probably just need to adjust to the style.
Adele
3/5
Surprisingly good..
Enjoyed it much more than I expected. Some really cool songs. Doesn't quite flow as a full record for me
The Who
3/5
Really surprising.
I was expecting the proto punk stuff, the hard rock kind of noises, snarls and attitude etc. I was not expecting the strong R&B elements throughout and two James Brown covers! Really improved the listening experience for me though. It was all a lot more professional and enjoyable than I expected.
Can
3/5
Interesting but not totally arresting.
I love me some prog. There are some really interesting sounds here. Quite often it felt like I was listening to a soundscape type album from this century so I guess it's a little ahead of its time. In general though it didn't make a huge impression on me the couple of times I listened through. Maybe one to try again with
Paul Weller
1/5
I just could not find anything interesting here.
I know I'm missing something. Unfortunately it reminded me of older guys at open mic nights who seem to think they are the front man of a rock band. There is some solid basic technique and songwriting fundamentals, but just nothing at all that makes me particularly interested to listen more unfortunately.
Songhoy Blues
5/5
So good. I just loved this.
That grove is so infectious. It's kind of uniquely African and yet very western in a lot of ways. Combined with the unique story, there is just so much to love. One of my favourite discoveries of this thing for sure
The Undertones
4/5
So fun.
Forgot how much I enjoy this band. Such great hooks. Such an ear for melody. Such great poppy punky sounds. I just had a great time listening.
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
Pleasant.
Really interesting that it matches bosa nova with some kind of trip hop elements - I think I like it most when the record leans into these kind of sounds. In the one day listening to it, it didn't massively grab me. I'd like to spend more time with it, but it's not top of my list to go back to either.
(crazy sad story re the producer on the Wikipedia. If you're reading this and haven't read that yet then go read it now)
Jurassic 5
5/5
What a beautiful funky hip hop record.
This process made me wonder if I actually like hip hop as much as I thought I did - a lot of the famous hip hop records here are a bit bloated and don't really flow as an album. This was so good though. Feels like a shorter record. Love the production. Love the rhythmic delivery. Love the way they've achieved some variety while keeping a consistent sound
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Solid enough songwriting but not much else for me.
I could hear shades of John lenon and Bob Dylan in the songwriting style so I feel like I should love it. It doesn't seem to add much to those foundations though. The sound of the band at this point in time doesn't do too much for me and I actually find his affected vocal delivery a little bit annoying. Maybe it was just the wrong day's for me to be open minded to this?
Richard Hawley
5/5
Wow this was beautiful.
I always wanted to spend more time with Richard Hawley - always heard his singles and thought he sounds great. This was so pure and brilliant though. Beautiful simple songwriting. And I just love the way that songwriting is packaged here. The production choices are so tactful and simple but clean and pure and beautiful. Awesome record
Steely Dan
4/5
Very cool but couldn't possibly meet the hype.
It's a really nice record. I just feel like I'd heard a lot about it being clearly one of the greatest of all time - I guess I need to spend a little longer with it. I'm definitely intrigued enough to want to listen to more Steely Dan
Parliament
5/5
So funky. So good.
This record is huge. I just love it. It had me the first couple of times I listened through for just good time funk and fun lyrics and themes.. But it's actually quite experimental and interesting sounding in parts and has some incredibly carefully constructed musical themes. It just all feels so good
Lou Reed
4/5
Much heavier than expected.
A real surprise generally. There is a respect for songwriting traditions but a freedom and creativity that reminds me of Tom Waits. Caroline says 2 and the kids were surprises in that they were so much heavier than anything I expected to hear, but it doesn't come across clumsy or sensationalist
CHIC
4/5
Clean and tight and funky.
Such a cool energy. Execution feels spot on - exactly what they wanted to create. Really fun listening
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Really mellow and beautiful.
I don't really understand what specifically it is that makes this sound like poetry. I know he is very much a poet but it comes through in the music so much more than Dylan or lou Reed or Tom Waits and I don't really know why. The accompaniment to the beautiful words feels so thoughtfully out together. The whole atmosphere is spot on. It's all very dark, but music should be dark sometimes I guess
3/5
Very cool.
I think I had some blindness about this artist. I never heard them before and somehow build the idea that they were some kind of commercial pop act. Really pleased to discover that this has some very credible soulful music. Their is something about the vocal style that feels quite experimental. Not a very smooth listen for me, but one I can imagine learning to really love
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Cool record.
Love it when there are layers and layers of percussion. There are some awesome bass and lead saw sounds too. I'm not crazy for that too cool indie singing style, but it does kind of fit in lcd soundsystem somehow
Randy Newman
3/5
Problematic in parts but a great songwriter.
I honestly think that Randy's heart is roughly in the right place, but this century we would at least call him an edgelord. Constantly flirting with poor taste at the very least. It actually makes me feel awkward to listen to in parts when he's writing in character in such a difficult way. There is something about his songwriting style that I really love though. Marie is such a beautiful ballad - one of my absolute favourite of it's style
Lou Reed
3/5
Pop hits from a kind of weird guy.
Listening to Berlin through this list earlier on gave me new appreciation for Lou Reed. He definitely feels like a unique and avant gard poet artist to me now. This now feels so fresh and poppy in comparison. There are some absolute classics. It's all very listenable. It's not that it lacks depth at all, but I think I enjoyed my foray into weird lou a little bit more
AC/DC
3/5
I love hate this record.
I was excited to see it come up - was expecting some really fun good time rock and roll. It kind of delivered on that. I do find his affected vocal delivery a bit off putting though. The guitar chops are awesome but there is something about the blues and country clichés that bugs me too. The objectifying and sexualising of women is off putting in parts. At times it feels like a cheap cosplay led zeppelin record. But it's also full of some well constructed solid hard rock pop songs. It's really fun to listen to when I can see past that stuff
Tina Turner
2/5
Surprisingly credible pop record, but with some terrible choices too.
I was really surprised by the nature production - it's much rockier than I expected and kind of like some of the mj records but a little clearer and more modern in parts. Can't stand the rain is a really nice version of a great song. Unfortunately there is too much here that really doesn't work for me. Private dancer feels like a parody number. I respect the subject matter and how it might be meaningful for Tina, but the production feels dated and lines like "American express would be fine thank you" feel like bad jokes. Help and let's stay together don't land for me either - I respect a stylised cover in general but these feel like they ruin some my favourite elements of these songs. The b side of this record just doesn't really work for me.
Steely Dan
4/5
Progy jazzy goodness in pop record clothing.
There is so much going on and yet it feels so smooth. The technical execution is so impressive. You kind of miss how extraordinary they playing is at times because it's so clean and natural sounding in the ensemble. Such a strong start, I do feel like it slightly looses steam on the b side, but maybe those are the growers
Leftfield
4/5
Very eclectic and cool
Seems to span dub and reggae, house, techno, drum and bass elements. The instrumental stuff is awesome. Some of the vocal stuff looses me just slightly
Hugh Masekela
5/5
So beautiful and so groovy.
200ish albums in, I think this is my favourite discovery so far. It partly sounds like a very well played bebop record with some excellent phrasing and playing in general. But then every form they are playing has some of that sweet afrobeat magic. Every musician on here has at least a couple of songs where they absolutely kill it. Then half of the record is also so dancable and swings in such a unique way. Just awesome, I love it
Various Artists
3/5
Some of the best Christmas music for sure.
A really nice setting for that Spector production style of the time. A lot of the arrangements are really fun. Then "Christmas (baby.. " is an absolute jam. Very fun to get on Christmas day and listen through while making Christmas dinner, but I'm not goi to listen to this one every month
Sam Cooke
3/5
Fascinating.
I love Sam Cooke. I never listened to more than a track or two live though, so this was a real eye opener. His vocal style feels more like a screaming little Richard than the smooth, soulful Sam Cooke I'm used to. His mc work also feels surprisingly amped up - like James Brown or something. The studio records are some of my absolute favourite sounds in recorded music, so I'm struggling a bit with this rough rowdy live band sound. I'm conscious that I've digested Sam Cooke in a way that was sanitised for a mixed audience before and this is him in his element. It's great, but it's a surprise for me
Jorge Ben Jor
5/5
Such cool sounds and soul and grove.
I love it. There's something about the cuica and the whistles and all the Brazilian and African mixed percussion and rhythms. It just travels in such a wonderful way. The electric guitar sits so well in the ensemble too (I was really shocked to read that he played acoustic prior to this record). Definitely one of my favourite discoveries
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
2/5
This seems to be some kind of old white forerunner to Prince. It has all of the same horniness, some of the blues influence.. But this is distinctly white guy blues. Not rating this terribly because the playing is altogether competent and there are some nice moments of good musicians doing basically fun stuff. But I won't be returning to it personally - there is just too much slightly naff feeling stuff next to those moments.
The Smashing Pumpkins
2/5
Some real art, but just too long to appreciate as a single album for me.
I struggle with getting a feel for double albums sometimes. There are some absolutely solid pieces of rock songwriting here - all the singles are really great. Love some of the riff and hook writing. There's too much of it for me though and personally I find it feels like song after song after song - I couldn't find an overall arc that helped me stick with it.
Kraftwerk
3/5
Some really beautiful sounds.
That bass sound is so good - I think later electronic music just overcomplicated things and made it worse. Some of the more trance moments are really beautiful. I can't see myself returning often to listen through though - some parts kind of grate on me
Orbital
5/5
Beautiful beautiful sounds.
It all builds and develops and feels so wonderfully. Very immersive somehow. But then also there is something about 90s electronic music that feels so clean and spacious, even when it's glitchy and distorted. Bold to end a record with two such long tracks but they both work really well
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Smooth
I never realised before how this LP is basically 100% ballads. I think it's actually this side of Frank that I like best though. His vocal technique is very exposed and stands up to the challenge. These are some beautiful versions of some classic songs. They have mostly become (or already were) very common standards, and the versions here feel very conservative next to more interesting variations that were done later
Louis Prima
4/5
Fun!
Love that bouncy stride piano sound. I think the jokes and fun lyrics could easily fall flat (they're pretty bad) but the delivery is kind of jolly and warm and knowing. Not profound, just good fun and surprisingly skillful and musical
Beastie Boys
5/5
Funky and punky.
Love some of the huge chunky bass work. Sampling is eclectic and excellent. Love how raw and rough and punk it all feels though. Some excellent rhymes too
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
Proggier than expected.
I am only closely familiar with songs for the deaf by qotsa. This is not that. There are no catchy pop hooks in particular on this record. There are moments that feel like deep prog metal - I really like that about it. I can find that distinctive droney sound that they have a little off putting but there is definitely a lot to intrigue me here. It does feel long and difficult though
Creedence Clearwater Revival
2/5
Disappointing for me.
I'd just recently listened to the excellent 500 songs podcast about Creedence and I was really happy to see this pop up. I expected to find the guy's songwriting unique and well trained and talented and the band to be kind of the same. I know they're an insanely successful band and so I'm wrong, but I just couldn't find much appeal. Fine enough basic rock and roll stuff I guess. The fact that they were touching on boogie blues and R&B in the covers really highlights that the grove of this group just feels so flat and lifeless to me. I still hope there are more credence records here as I really feel ill like some of them
Lorde
1/5
Not for me.
I had heard some good chat about her latest album and so was interested to hear this. I was expecting a brilliant song writing voice. I don't think I'm the target market though. The lyrics are squarely around themes that concern young adults. I find the production really interesting in parts but overall a little thin. The breathy vocal feels a little affected. Massive credit to her for accomplishing this popular record at such a young age, it's just not working for me in particular
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Beautiful late era poems.
It's a real late era record - reminds me of those by Tom Waits and Dylan and Morrisey and maybe Johnny Cash. The swagger of the young musician is fading a little, but they're trying to give a destilled version of their magic in an old man voice. His lyrics are as playful as ever. It's not fantastically compelling listening for me, but the songwriting at its core still seems very solid and altogether it's a beautiful thing
Gang Of Four
4/5
So much true punk energy!
The sounds are so destructive and well defined. That busy brash bass and that angular broken guitar are such a cool niche. I feel like this has influenced a bunch of music that I don't really care for, but also a huge proportion of my favourite music. They're also not afraid of a pop hook
Sade
1/5
Somehow empty.
This record contains a lot of things that feel like maybe they should appeal to me. Unfortunately in this finished package, they just don't. There's something about the execution that just feels empty and shallow to me
Marvin Gaye
5/5
So soulful!
I didn't get a very deep listen today, but I was really impressed in the same way that I was for my first listen through what's going on. The quality of the singing stands out more here - it's very heartfelt and soulful in a way that I think few manage. The record isn't as progressive and complex as what's going on (at least at first listen) but again it's much more that I would expect.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3/5
Ordinary white guy blues from a terrible man.
I try to separate art from artist, but Clapton makes this so difficult. An open racist appropriating blues is pretty crazy and it actually plays on my mind while I listen. I'm not a huge fan of his playing, but this might be more of my favourite side of it at least
Michael Jackson
3/5
Yeah I guess.
People talk about it as one of the great albums of all time and yet it has the girl is mine on. The production here has something distinctly pop about it. There are some little cues or something that make it feel like it's mainstream pop - my instincts reject that sometimes and I struggled a little bit with this today. It's obviously a great record, but I didn't really have a particularly fun time listening through
The Beta Band
2/5
I kind of feel like there is depth there and this could really grow on me, but in the first couple of listens this passed me by a little bit. I tend to like these kind of sounds usually. The mix somehow feels as though major elements are whispering at you and inviting you to lean in.. Put almost in an annoying passive aggressive way
Alanis Morissette
3/5
Very 90s pop record
It was really difficult for me to try listen to this with fresh ears. The singles from this were huge when I was young. Growing up I was an annoying rock kid who would outright reject anything mainstream so this was tarred. Some of it does feel overtly poppy in a way that I still can't quite enjoy and it does feel very of it's time in the way that it blends in hip hop and grunge type elements slightly in the production. There is some fun lyrics though, and the vocal performances are brilliant. It's clearly a great record if only I could get over my hang ups