1001 Albums Summary

This was great. Funny, self aware, earnest. Great album flow too, never got old.

Bookended by two of the greatest songs of all time and some alright blues/country in the middle.

I mean, the title ain’t lying. Lyrically brilliant, musically both joyous and emotive. Just brilliant.

Musically very good, enjoyed parts of this - really liked the first track but not really my thing as a whole

Yeah this is fantastic. As raw as this album is, the melody and solid songwriting is what makes it. Classic.

Generational voice, the slow bluesy soul beat and progressions were a little samey after a while. But enjoyable.

Basically invented the ambient genre so have to give it props. Not really made to be an active listening experience but a good vibe.

First half is like DJ set, second is more spaced out. Loved this.

SBS is a tune, but the rest sort of blended into one - 40 was a decent album closer

Great! Loved the big band tales of country songs - maybe needed one more big and faster number midway through the second half to keep the pace up, but fantastic nonetheless

Song all time classics on this album - final song even went a bit prog!

Loved the first half, liked the second - decent flow, nice to have prog elements that are in a tightly written shorter song

Really liked the first half, felt like it lost its way around the second - never heard poop mentioned so much in an album before

Started really well, thought it was starting to lose momentum but then had an incredibly strong ending.

Never really grabbed me, similar pace. Saxophone seemed like the main instrument rather than the organ. Organ not as striking as, say, Billy Preston. Might be nice to have in the background

Some nice indie psychedelic rock tunes, never blew me away but a pleasant listen

Some absolute classics on this album. Deeper cuts are pretty good too!

Beautiful album, v nostalgic for anyone growing up in the 00s

Very fun tracks, varied too. The Stevie Wonder tribute song is hilarious. Raps are occasionally TOO simplistic but all round a fun album!

Couple of tunes on this but just not a big Pearl Jam guy. Very same-y in parts, wacka-wacka guitars, similar drum rhythms, Eddie Vedder’s signature vocal style.

Blisteringly fast first half and slower more groovy second - and ending with a hidden track and Shepard Tone?!

Been a while since I listened to this in full - Kanye used to be genuinely funny and brilliant and such a tonic to the Bling Era of rap. Such a shame listening knowing how it’s all ended.

Surprised that I wasn’t grabbed by this - I didn’t mind a few melodies but felt the songs were mostly bland. I love #1 Record and I Am The Cosmos though - maybe I’m more of a Chris Bell person

One of my favourites of all time. Simple as.

I’m a sucker for a strong melody, strong tunes with a strong message

A 3.5 star album for me but nostalgia made me bump it up. Captures the era very well.

Every song a banger. Sensational.

Sombre feeling throughout as it was one of her last recordings. Very same-y but very lush and pretty.

Wild! Really enjoyed from the start but it slightly wore thin towards the end. But the string sampling and technical effects were fantastic

I can appreciate its importance and I actually quite enjoyed the beginning but it got very tedious very fast for me. Much prefer a Black Sabbath over this.

This was great! Groovy, joyful, varied!

Does what it says on the tin! This might be sacrilege, but I didn’t like this as much as the debut. Maybe I wasn’t listening under the right conditions

Lovely. Still think Pink Moon tops this though.

Holy nostalgia! Personally, I think not as good as her previous two but there’s some undeniable hits on here

Tons of hits on here. Not perfect but very close.

The timing that this was the choice for the me the day after Ozzy died… but this is a hell of an album. RIP OZZY

Production is insane for 1957! Fun and groovy but never blew me away.

Hell yeah, funky af

Started to like this then fell off for me v quickly. Some bizarre skits as well

So much energy here. Didn’t really care for the bonus tracks on the expanded version, but that’s not what I’m reviewing here!!

It pains me to put this, but this is an album that’s never fully clicked for me. It’s great, but I don’t worship at the alter that others seem to. I hope one day I will.

You know what? Hell yeah

(Immigrant Song ends) YOU LIKE THAT?!!! THEN LET’S GOOOOO!!!! (Gets out acoustic guitar)

Great album. I met Tim Burgess on a train once and he was lovely so bonus points.

The flow on this is insane

Loved every bit of this. Amazing really how quickly punk changed.

I wanted to steer clear in this of the way Morrissey has decided to act in the past decade as I don’t want that to affect my judgement. But it is quite tricky. ‘Irish Blood, English Heart’ was once an ode about the nuances of dual-nationality but now feels jingoistic. There’s defo some bangers on here (First of the Gang to Die is a Top 10 Morrissey solo song of all time) but the navel-gazing that was so loved back in the day feels so petulant to me in light of his views in the last few years. Not my favourite of his albums, but good.

Potentially one of the biggest rug-pulls in music history. I still think the segue into Motion Picture Soundtrack is a little sharp, but … pretty faultless.

The first side is amazing. The second is pretty good (Mrs Robinson being the standout). But seriously, the Bookends melody returning at the end of Old Friends made me ascend.

I mean this has some of the greatest songs ever written on so it feels weird not giving it 5. But here I am giving it a 4.

V nostalgic album for me as my mum is a big fan and played SE a lot

‘Hell Yeah’: The Album. Decent but if I have to hear another harmonised guitar solo, I swear…

Does what it says on the tin! Some really visceral imagery. Loved ‘The Curse of Millhaven’. Reminded me of The Pogues and then Shane shows up for the last number!

I just can’t shake the feeling it whiffs it slightly at the end! Still brilliant

Game changer. Wrote the blueprint for rock in the new millennium. And just full of great tunes

Blue-tiful

I like a lot of Beck songs but thought this dragged after a while. Hope it improves on a relisten.

Really great! Reminds me of Father John Misty (yes, I know this came first!)

For what is widely considered the first ever double album, it’s very consistent. Not huge on the bluesy moments but still great!

Hurt does a lot of heavy lifting to make this a ‘classic’ album. ‘The Man Comes Around’ is great too - the rest just feel like pretty nice covers. The Rick Rubin production gets predictable too.

Did not vibe with this one. Strange as I like Neil Young, but only really liked Tired Eyes here.

Really varied, just a whole heap of fun!

So varied! Good flow too. 3.5 for me but the sheer balls of this means I’ll round up.

So good, loved this as a kid. I don’t think it’s quite perfect, which pains me slightly, but still fab.

Chris Cornell had such an amazing voice! Not my favourite grunge album, songs do bleed into one another after a while.

Basically 50% spoken word. Same song is played twice. Slightly janky editing. Should be a total failure. But it really does make you feel like you’re there! And A Boy Named Sue is still one of the best Cash performances of all time.

Liked the first half better than the second. Grunge voice slightly let it down for me, but nice melodies, some parts reminded me of a grunge version of Pixies.

Never fully gets going but groovy. Liked the more house influenced tracks in middle.

Another great album. Not quite up to the standard of his other 70s output though!

Willie, this is a lovely sounding album, but I got very bored I’m afraid.

Barely takes a breath, crazy and blistering. Vocals sound 80s power ballad at times

Nice but never set my world on fire

Listened to this while unpacking boxes in my new flat. Perfect accompaniment.

Hard for me to rate as it’s proper 3.5 for me, but I prefer Ray when it’s rougher and less big band. Felt the pace was very similar in the second half. But still good stuff!

Great!! Gnarly production and incredibly powerful. Not quite perfect, second half slightly blurred into one for me.

Some of the jams go on for too long but some nice bits here

This is like an entire album of gorillaz deep cuts. Thought it started and ended well with a muddled middle.

Tricky one for me. I think the title track and the vocal parts of Shine On are fantastic but nothing else grabs me musically. It’s technically amazing and great at mood setting and I like the non-musical elements of all PF albums. Probs a 3.5 but leaning towards a 3 imo

Holy moly this bored me. 33 mins and felt like double. Groovy sure but SO samey.

Sensational

This man understand the flow of an album.

Really like the first few tracks but interested faded after a while. Might give this a relisten

Here it is then. The Mack Daddy. I’m not a huge Pink Floyd guy and even I have to admit this is pretty damn good. Perfect? Hmmmmm I dunno. But screw it’s near as dammit to 5 stars in my opinion. Nice work Floyd, they’ve got a big future ahead of them if they stick at it

Listened to this in English, think it would be better in the og Deutsch. Still, boundary-pushing bleeps and bloops.

Second half is held up massively by ‘Every Breath You Take’. Rest is pretty good! Also ‘Mother’ defender here, I won’t hear a word said against it.

Starts super strong then slowly wanes. Nice moments tho

Anyone who says Dexys were a one hit wonder are fools. Great tunes here, and loved the album flow. Bonus tracks I liked quite a bit!

Second half is pretty good but pales in comparison to the first. But that’s because they’re some of the greatest songs ever written so oh well.

Real mixed bag this, some absolutely amazing tracks (that opening song was insane) and more long winded blues-y noodling that this list seems to love (c’mon guys did the Grapevine cover really need to be 10 minutes?). 3.5 but leaning towards 3.

Goddamn, these cats are cooking. Ughhh they’re swinging!!

Music to mosey to. 2.5 for me, but I’m feeling generous today, so 3 it is. Has a decent heart.

50% Psychedelic and 50% Blues. Would have preferred more of the former but an interesting mix!

Love Dusty, no absolute classics on here but some great renditions.

Something very satisfying to me about Costello’s songwriting. Can see where people make the pop punk comparisons, melody wise.

Man plunders music from all over the world then passes it off as his own - is this the most British album of all time? Catchy tho

The production on this is insane (very ELO) and releasing all your songs you wrote while being denied album space on Beatles albums on one massive solo album is the ultimate 2 fingers. Great for car rides and sunny days. I’m counting the Apple Jams as bonus tracks but 11 minute blues jams that don’t make me wanna claw my eyes out are a welcome surprise.

Ran to Wikipedia to see if Rod Stewart got sued for lifting the melody of ‘Taj Mahal’ for ‘Do You Think I’m Sexy?’. Answer - yes, he did! Anyway - holy moly this was great! Sun has just come out today, I’m inside at work and trying desperately not to groove at my desk. Putting this into the regular rotation.

Great stuff - pretty heavy for 1965!

This is hard for me as it sounds like something I should love but I’m just not connecting with it. I like a few JAMC tracks but I prefer it when they’re noisier, this feels very weedy and dreary without the emotional resonance to back it up. Seems like a more boring version of what Pulp were doing a few years later. Also I swear these guys only know two chords. Couple of moments that were decent. Lush production too.

Cool. Could have done with a couple more bangers.

Super varied. Was perfect for a chill Wednesday afternoon.

You know what, it’s got a good flow and a lot of bangers 🤘

An amazingly atmospheric and gloomy record without sacrificing what made the first album good. Second half is defo weaker tho - does The Asphalt World need to be over 9 mins?

This would be good to play to my dad to convince him I’m Darth Vader from the planet Vulcan. Anyway, pretty fun. The shooby-doo wah refrain made me laugh. Never fully grabbed me though.

Hmm interesting! I like Gary a great deal and think he’s done some great work in his time. This is very early synth stuff here, so often a bit boring but when it hits, it REALLY hits.

Just some great synth-pop. Amazing flow too!

Holy moly, NOT my favourite Bowie era! Pretty bland funk for the most part, few decent parts. And the Across the Universe cover sounds like someone parodying Bowie singing

Longest elevator ride of all time. Very nice and pleasant. I’m not totally in the right setting for it though. Need to listen on a beach.

Preferred the second half, felt a bit more droney and experimental. Thought the brevity of the tracks was occasionally frustrating but generally not bad.

Can see why David Lynch dug this. What I’m learning about myself doing this list is I love an album that throws the kitchen sink against the wall and it all sticks.

A complete soup of an album, all over the shop and a poorly paced story. But occasionally brilliant. And obviously basically created (or at least popularised) the rock opera.

I know this album is a technical marvel and basically introduced the CD to the world, but almost every song is 2 minutes too long and there’s way too much noodling. Couple of bangers yes, but not enough to save it for me. Just not a Dire Straits fan.

Funny! Spooky! Groovy! Vibey!

Anyone got the lyrics for this one?

Harmonies to rival the Everly Brothers, heartfelt but not hokey

This is pretty sweet. I only knew The Bees as the Chicken Payback guys so this was a nice surprise, perfect for a sunny day. Some bits reminded me of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. And an Os Mutantes cover! Been getting into their stuff recently.

Timbaland is a genius. Bring back artists just speaking to the audience and talking about making the album. Really liked the references to other songs and had some touching tributes.

Jesus, Muse used to be so great. This was the last of the truly great albums before it became slightly patchy (and then off the deep end bad). Some all time classics on this and love the desert rock influence.

Starts amazing and ends amazing. Maybe it’s sacrilege to say, but I just don’t dig the middle. Or at least not as much. And it’s not the strongest concept of all time. 3.5 but I’ll round up as 3 is way too mean.

Jesus and Mary Chain have two song modes: slow 50’s style dirges and fuzzed-out rockers. Most of the time it works but occasionally you listen to one song certain that you’d literally heard the same one 4 songs ago. Vocals are very lackadaisical which sometimes makes you cry out for them to put some welly into it. The whole album utilises a level of reverb that makes the whole thing sound like it was recorded in a disused aircraft hanger. BUT… a lot of it is very pretty and cool. Go figure.

Some people might say it’s the same song 12 times, to them I say A WOMP BOMP A-LOO BOMP, A-WOMP BOMP BOMP

Imagine having this much hype prior to your record coming out and then you surpass it. A modern classic (even though it’s now - oof - 20 years old!). As thrilling as it was when it was released, brilliantly clever lyrics and not a bad track on it. Amazing.

Really liked the drone and loop aspects of this

Quite fun but needed a few more bangers, a little tedious towards the end

Was tough to find this album but Fats does a grand ol’ job.

Another band that went off a cliff edge. This seems a world away from the music they’re making now. V nostalgic for any kid growing up around this time. It’s not a perfect album but has some of the best songs of the 00s on it. I listened to it on the way back from a night out and it might be the perfect musical accompaniment for this. Growing up the whole album felt very ‘London’ so being able to drift through the streets living here now listening to it is a trip.

The Clash really were the most boundary pushing of the straight-up punk bands. Most of the punk albums of this list is pure balls-to-the-wall mayhem for 30 mins, but the variety on this album really shines. The ska/reggae influence is great and there’s a few all time classics. Is EVERY song amazing? No. But to be able to hold attention for 19 tracks and over an hour is a feat in itself. Nice work guys.

Some great songs but a lot of it musically is a very light touch. Not huge on the 80s production either on some of the more emotive tracks, takes you out of it. Much better when it’s stripped back (except Talkin’ Bout a Revolution which is just a stellar number)

Listen, it’s interesting to hear all the samples and loops, but the music just does nothing for me really.

Is this the most 80s album of all time? Even Phil Collins would say ‘this is a bit broad’. Probably a 3.5 for me but 10 year old me would have eaten this up, so will round up. Also it was a grey day today and this was a nice tonic so can’t be that bad

Nice stuff! Some cool variety. Ray Davies is a massively underrated songwriter.

Brings me back to Christmas 2006. My mum got my Grandma this as a present and we played it all day. Quite timeless despite it being a throwback sounding album. There’s obviously some amazing tunes on here, I do think the deeper cuts are slightly weaker. But a great collection nonetheless. Such a shame we never got album 3.

Yeah, great stuff. I don’t think every song is 10/10 on this but about half are.

It’s not that it’s not good, it is. But when you hold it up to contemporaries like Daft Punk, it pales in comparison and looks pedestrian. Jacques Your Body is a tune though

Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall? I'll say he is… he's off the planet. Wants to freeze himself, doesn't he?

I listened to this on the way back from a night out so it’s good chill out music but maybe because it’s the same thing over and over again so it sends you to sleep

Not gonna change your life but very enjoyable. Sun was out today so this was perfect accompaniment.

Not as arresting as some of her other work but did like the electronic elements of this

Liked this. Son of Mr. Green Genes was the standout for me. Think I need to relisten to fully get it as I got a bit lost in the sauce for a lot of this

Very cool, liked the brevity of a lot of the songs

Guitar work is the best part of this. Interesting, but would have preferred it either punkier or gloomier. I get it’s blending the two but not my fav type of post-punk. And the vocals did nothing for me.

I really like REM, and while this isn’t their most polished work, it’s a catchy, jangly, fun listening experience. Michael Stipe may have also accidentally invented grunge voice on this album.

Ah I love these guys. Catchy punk that’s funny and got a lot of melody.

Perfectly nice but wouldn’t call it game changing

The album starts so strongly and then just doesn’t stick the landing in my opinion. That classic fast paced thundering rhythm and wailing guitar is just not for me, I prefer them going hell for leather on a catchy tune.

Some catchy moments and the clean production is fun but some tunes had me a tad bored

Lovely. Might need a few more listens for me to get the full benefit

Like proto-Pixies. Fab.

🕺

Exactly the kind of bollocks I love. Bonus points also for Todd stepping up as a Dad to Liv Tyler when Steven Tyler failed to.

That’s music for Nan’s birthday sorted! I quite liked the songs individually but as a whole album, it blurs into one. Thought that the bonus tracks would have been a decent addition to the actual album as they were chiller and would have broken it up a bit.

Pffffft, just not a big electric blues guy. Liked the more psychedelic elements. And Sunshine of your Love is a tune

Hypnotic flow, creepy beats and very funny

Much preferred this when it was ambient, the cheesy 80s production does it no favours

Really liked the majority of this. Couple of weaker tracks towards the end

As an album experience it’s a lot of slow jams, but when they’re this quality you can’t really complain. 3.5 but giving it a 4 as 3 is way too harsh.

Side A is absolutely outstanding and Side B is just pretty good. I still think it averages out at nearer 5 than 4 tho

Not perfect, but some sweet, lighthearted tunes (and some all time classics)

Throwback to GCSE music when All Blues was on the syllabus. John Coltrane almost upstages Miles on this album!

JUDAS As usual with Bob, I like the jangly, folky stuff and don’t like the blues stuff at all.

It’s a compilation which is sorta cheating but oh well! This was a tonic to a very grey day… so much so it brought the sun out!

Some amazing songs. There's a huge amount of power in this but it gets a little bit lost in chugga-chicka-wugga towards the end. The bass in the quieter moments (like Settle for Nothing) reminded me of Slint!

Big ol’ separation of art and artist for this one. If I was in the audience, I would be going nuts.

Loved the kooky-ness of this. Halfway between 80s cheese and bizarre post-punk. Kinda wish it skewed more to the latter but still good!

Can see why some people wouldn’t like it, but I did. Like Cranberries meets Pixies. Would have been better with rawer production I think!

Very cool stuff, good flow, great voice, great album!

Tight album with a cool grungy feel

Defo one of those ‘this is our sound, deal with it’ albums but can’t really blame them. Starts great, ends great. Middle is a tad forgettable but oh well

The album that launched a thousand blues white boys.

I remember in a music documentary someone describes this album like a mermaid falling into a black hole which is pretty accurate

First half was alright (though it didn’t really feel like one song that flowed) and the second half was rather boring for me. Tears was alright!

Not bad! Lacks the emotional punch of Bob Marley but good for speakers a sunny day.

I do like Robbie Williams quite a bit and his music is very nostalgic and formative for anyone growing up in the early 2000s. But man, this album is held up by the big hitters. I like Hello Sir quite a bit. A lot of CRINGEWORTHY lyrics on here too. 3 but that’s pushing it.

I liked maybe 4 songs and the rest bored me rigid. Like a limper version of The Pogues.

Makes any walking trip make you feel like you’re skipping down an NYC sidewalk

Found the electric blues stuff not as intriguing as the quieter moments. 2.5 but I was more bored than intrigued so 2 it is.

Preferred the second disc to the first by a lot (even tho Kashmir is a tune). 2/5 for the first, 4/5 for the second. So… a 3!

Holy shit, do I love Iron Maiden?! First half is better than the second but still woah!

I like this! Took me a couple of listens, first go through I was more on the fence. Can see how Nick Drake was hugely influenced by this, which probably is why I like it!

Felt very fresh despite being 20 years old. Album cover is a bit trash, but loved the beats and the lyrics were heartfelt but not lame. 12 mins of audio credits is quite a lot, but nice he gave everyone a shoutout.

This is often very silly and often very cool. 3.5 but rounding up for pure inventiveness and self-awareness

Some all time classics on here! If they’d swapped Dead Ringer for Love into this and got rid of one of the piano ballads I might consider this a 5!

Pretty but boring

Imagine this being your last album. Insane.

Carole King might have one of the most interesting careers in the music industry. Be in a writing partnership creating some of the best doo-wop songs of all time and then start a solo career with a style that could rival Janis Joplin. Liked that this had newer takes on the older songs she wrote.

Another one of those albums that seems like something that I’d enjoy more than I actually am enjoying it. Longer songs I felt didn’t develop into anything interesting, the shorter ones were quite enjoyable!

If REM had none of what made them interesting. Some of it is fine but a boring affair generally.

Kinda cool, might be nice in the background of a party. Failed to blow my mind

Yeah cool! Liked how it looped around in the end. A weak 4 for me.

Like a mix of bossa-nova, folk, elements of prog and psychedelic. This really won me over by the end!

It’s not bad, I liked the faster power pop punk style stuff. Some of it was like The Stranglers just not as good.

Obviously the title track is a banger but I think I only actually enjoyed about 3 tracks on this

I love the Divine Comedy, Neil Hannon is in my top lyricists of all time. This album is full of great songs and ideas. Slightly weaker in the second half before the end, but still a fab collection of tunes.

Always tough with a Beatles album to say it’s perfect because there’s always some bollocks on it somewhere. There’s a little here but also some out and out classics, so a 4!

It’s nothing against the album, it’s nice, I just can’t abide this type of Jazz as an active listening experience

Great 80s pop. Underrated band beyond their big hits.

Brimful of Asha is really an outlier on this, the rest is a fusion of traditional South Asian music and hip-hop beats, soundscapes and spoken word. A great surprise!

Not his best but that’s a crazy high bar. Great!

I’m not a huge grunge fan (except Nirvana who I love), but I prefer when they pull from Metal influences like this rather than funky wakka-wakka guitars (looking at you, Pearl Jam)

Starting with Into My Arms is emotional blackmail! Anyway, the rest is pretty good but I need at least one snarling, rougher-edged song to really enjoy a Nick Cave album.

Every few days I get given an album titled something like ‘Grum Fingers by Mr Pilchard’s Crackerjack Box’ Anyway, this was too bluesy and not psychedelic enough. Some of it was fine and trippy, but a lot was boring.

Really interesting, half the old Surf rock classics and half the orchestral baroque stuff that was on Pet Sounds.

Listen, I know this stuff is important but electric blues I just find so same-y. But the opener is great and distorted harmonica is always fun.

I understand why the disco songs were long, and it actually is massively important to the birth of Hip-Hop, but as a listening experience I dunno if you need 8 mins of Good Times. But it would be churlish to say this album isn’t just a load of fun. Liked the slower moments too.

As a Brit, I am required by law to give this 5 stars otherwise a gang of middle-aged dads and 17 year olds in bucket hats swigging Dark Fruits will kill me in my sleep. It’s a great album too!

Enjoyable but forgettable. Liked that at the end it got a little weirder, would have liked that more the whole way through.

This is bananas haha

I love Talking Heads and some highlights here but generally this is not their best.

Pretty and there’s some decent songs but I would need a bit more energy to properly enjoy this, Pyramids is a real stand out because of its change of pace.

The ultimate chill out band

Ah this is so fun. You forget how many great songs this lot have. Very nostalgic for any UK 00s kid.

I mean, you know what you’re getting with an AC/DC album, but they do it damn well.

‘Why Does It Always Rain on Me’ was the first song I remember singing when I was really young. Also my parents really liked Travis so maybe I’m a tad biased. But Fran Healy is a great songwriter and this album is very good.

Just saw this lot at Primavera Porto, this album is one of the coolest things of all time so 5 stars it is

Metal so heavy they went Prog. First half is 5 stars. Second is 4. Gonna round up cos I’m nice