Jun 19 2025
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
Ok, so lyrically this is pretty brilliant and of such significance to the singer/songwriters of this era of music. Great lyrics, strong vocal arrangements. However, the music itself is dull and often uninspired, but I get what they're doing by not letting the music get in the way of what they are trying to say. There are some absolutely classic songs on here.
4
Jun 20 2025
The Next Day
David Bowie
I will be the first to admit that I don't "get" Bowie so I might not know or understand how this album fits into his incredible career. I can only base it off the music, and I generally like it. I don't know that I would come back to it again and again, but this is a record of solid music with a nice balance of the introspective and the upbeat.
2
Jun 23 2025
Back In Black
AC/DC
The greatest collection of thinly-veiled metaphors ever put to vinyl! This is an essential album in the world of hard rock and there aren't many records that embody denim jackets and warm beers standing next to your Camaro than this one. Let's be real...is there a greater rock groove than on the title track? With this full listen, much of it outside of the megahits doesn't stand up like it used to, but still very deserving to be on the 1,001 list.
4
Jun 24 2025
To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
I struggle to get on board with modern rap. There is something missing in the music itself, a bassiness that was found in 90's rap, I guess. There are a couple of good songs on here, but for me, it doesn't outweigh the filler and the songs that feel rambling and confused. I always hear about how great a lyricist Kendrick is, so I want to hear it! I don't know that I do. Maybe I'm just old.
1
Jun 25 2025
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
This is a fine album of music, but for me, there was nothing particularly memorable here. No moments or songs really stuck out to me.
2
Jun 26 2025
The White Album
Beatles
This album is a wild collection of great songs, complete filler, absolute disasters, and songs that are straight-up annoying. I get the cultural significance of The White Album and how it was arguably the greatest band ever truly having some space to explore a ton of different influences, genres, and styles of music. What it ends up being to me is a fractured mess of an album that sounds more like a collection of B-sides that wouldn't make it onto a regular album and then found and released decades after a band breaks up just because there are recordings and a feeling that they need to be released. This one is tough to give a number to - because it's the Beatles and The White Album you feel like you HAVE to give it a high score. As an album, it simply doesn't deserve it though. I feel bad for the amazing songs on here that are on this album instead of another one.
2
Jun 27 2025
Third
Soft Machine
Had never heard of this before, so I wasn't sure what I was getting into. I was into it way more than I thought I might be. This is a cool record made by unreal musicians. I briefly considered scoring it a 5, but the third track "Moon in June" lost me a little bit, especially when vocals were introduced into it. But overall, this is some interesting listening that definitely pushes the boundaries of what we might consider as rock music.
4
Jun 30 2025
Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
I’ve tried a few times with this album. It’s just not for me. It’s not terrible, just not my style.
1
Jul 01 2025
Hot Fuss
The Killers
I don’t love this band, but this album is full of very good synth-rock and some songs that have become pretty timeless radio staples.
4
Jul 02 2025
We Are Family
Sister Sledge
Well…it’s disco. Can’t say I’ve ever listened to an entire disco album before. It was fine.
2
Jul 03 2025
I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Richard Thompson
A couple of good spots that are overshadowed by some pretty dull soft rock. I wanted to like this more than I did.
2
Jul 04 2025
Central Reservation
Beth Orton
Not bad. Definitely has the feel of the late 90s, and there are some excellent songs on here. I feel like almost every song could use some editing though, like a minute or more shorter for each track would have tightened up the album as a whole. “Stars all seem to Weep” was a highlight.
3
Jul 07 2025
Guero
Beck
The first three songs on this album are certified bangers, but the rest of the record can’t hold up to its hot start. Still a very good album, probably my favorite of Beck’s career.
4
Jul 08 2025
Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
My favorite Zeppelin album. I love the balance of the rock on side A and the acoustic side B. I know this isn’t the most revered of their catalogue, but damn is it good. What an unreal 4 album run to start their careers.
5
Jul 09 2025
Immigrés
Youssou N'Dour
Quite enjoyable! I like the difference in vibes between the songs.
3
Jul 10 2025
NEU! 75
Neu!
Had never heard of them before, but clearly so influential! Listening to this, I couldn’t believe it was from 1975.
4
Jul 11 2025
Dare!
The Human League
This kind of represents a lot of the music of the 80s as a whole: it’s fine, but nothing really stands out about it and it’s instantly forgettable.
2
Jul 14 2025
Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
2
Jul 15 2025
Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
Even when it came out and before her untimely death, this album had the feel of an instant classic. A few years down the road, and it definitely is just that.
5
Jul 16 2025
OK
Talvin Singh
Cool mashup of cultures and styles here, but it misses the mark for me. Too many parts I wanted to skip through.
1
Jul 17 2025
Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan
I’ve always had something against Dylan, but damn this is a good record. For the times, for the cultural importance, for the considered lyrics, and for the music that is actually pretty fun - this one scores high for me. You win this round, Bob Dylan.
4
Jul 18 2025
Figure 8
Elliott Smith
I really, really enjoyed this album. My taste leans towards the more upbeat songs, but this is excellent overall.
4
Jul 21 2025
Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
Not my favorite of theirs, but a very solid album with a couple of excellent songs.
2
Jul 22 2025
The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
Sort of just ok. Not as good as Neon Bible, definitely not as good as Funeral. Just a decent rock album, I guess. I can’t see myself coming back to it, so it tops out at a 2 for me.
2
Jul 23 2025
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
I never think I’ll enjoy Peter Gabriel, but then I do. A nice mix of palatable with hints of the weird on this album.
3
Jul 24 2025
Paranoid
Black Sabbath
This one came up the day after Ozzy died. There is no arguing how important this album is to metal. Absolutely seminal. “War Pigs” might be the song that best defines heavy metal, in my opinion. A full album of a band at their peak, full of classics that came to define the genre, and many of the future subgenres of metal.
5
Jul 25 2025
Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches
Happy Mondays
I don’t always listen to the music of the Madchester era, but when I do, it’s the Happy Mondays.
4
Jul 28 2025
People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
A Tribe Called Quest
Smooth, great beats, thoughtful lyrics, political, a fusion of genres- I feel like this is when hip hop is at its absolute best.
5
Jul 29 2025
My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
A good album by a very influential artist. You can certainly here how his work has permeated alt-rock for generations now.
3
Jul 30 2025
Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
Great musicians doing cool things. Happy I listened to this, but honestly can’t really see myself going back to it, which holds back its rating. Great for what it is though.
3
Jul 31 2025
Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
I feel like I’m always down for some experimental rock, especially in the punk or metal genres. This just isn’t it for me. It was like sonic drivel for the majority of this album. Maybe I am missing the point, but it feels like there are better bands that push the boundaries of their genres than this one that could be in the 1001 albums.
1
Aug 01 2025
Time (The Revelator)
Gillian Welch
I liked the couple of songs that had some stomp to them, but besides that, it kind of felt like regular folk music. Not too sure what might differentiate it from another folk artist, to be honest. I suppose it’s personal connection to the lyrics. Not for me, but I’m sure fans of folk will enjoy it.
2
Aug 04 2025
Different Class
Pulp
I like that there are some differences here from much of the other Britpop bands.
2
Aug 05 2025
Bossanova
Pixies
A damn fine rock album. Definitely a precursor to some grunge sensibilities, very enjoyable.
4
Aug 06 2025
Call of the Valley
Shivkumar Sharma
Spa music.
1
Aug 07 2025
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
Obviously Clapton is a guitar legend (regardless of his recent years of…being interesting). This album, to me, excels with its slow blues numbers that showcase his playing and their ability for delicate music. Some all-timers on here, some really good songs, and some that I was ok with skipping after a couple of minutes.
3
Aug 08 2025
Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
Obviously pretty important for the ambient genre. Maybe just too ambient for me.
2
Aug 11 2025
Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
This record helped changed my view of rap and brought the gangsta rap style even more into to the mainstream. It felt so rebellious to listen to when I was young, and in registering to it, you can’t argue with Snoop’s rapping style, cool cadence, and just overall awesomeness. This is a great album that solidified my unchanged view that the early 90s was the best time for this genre in its history.
5
Aug 12 2025
Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
Maybe the most underrated of their first 4 records? When Iommi is ripping, he is absolutely the riff Lord, evidenced again on this album. This is almost a perfect album aside from a couple of duds before the middle section of the record (unpopular opinion, perhaps).
4
Aug 13 2025
Electric Music For The Mind And Body
Country Joe & The Fish
If I say “psychedelic blues rock from 1967”, this is what should come to mind. It sounds exactly like the description, and does a solid job of being just that. There are very strong moments in this album, and some that are borderline annoying.
2
Aug 14 2025
Is This It
The Strokes
I love the story and the importance of The Strokes more than I love their music. So this gets a couple of stars for the actual songs, and one because they did have an important hand in helping to resuscitate rock music in the early 2000s.
3
Aug 15 2025
Scum
Napalm Death
If your work starts an entire subgenre, credit needs to be given for that. I can imagine people giving this harsh reviews, but in the world of extreme metal, this album is just so significant.
5
Aug 18 2025
MTV Unplugged In New York
Nirvana
When this came out, it meant everything. I remember skipping school so I could program the vcr to make sure it wouldn’t go unrecorded. Given the timing of the release, this was, for me, basically Cobain’s funeral. It is a performance tinged with brilliance and sadness. All of the cover songs are the real winners here, gutsy choices for one of the biggest bands in the world to not play some of their biggest hits. But who can complain with gems like Oh Me and Lake of Fire. This album is brilliant the best of the Unplugged series, and the best live album. Ever.
5
Aug 19 2025
Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
I know nothing about the DJ world. I don’t know what makes them good, or well-regarded, or renowned. I can only base my score on the music, and I like some of the moodiness of this DJ Shadow album.
4
Aug 22 2025
Definitely Maybe
Oasis
I’ve never understood the Oasis hype. They are fine, but what it really is is some decent guitar rock with nasal vocals. Their hype was always better than their music, and it’s confusing when people describe this as “generation-defining” work. I hope not. For me, it was just a part of the post-grunge mediocrity.
2