1001 Albums Summary

First listen after free 3 months Apple Music enabled. Listened on walk to train station after work and on train (delayed!). End of 9.5 hour shift so bit tired. Complete newbie to Super Furry Animals so absolutely no expectations. Can hear Beatles influences of course, and latterly Blue and Oasis (peers or did they come after?). Psychedelic elements I quite like. No songs currently hooking into my brain but a pleasant listen and could see it growing on me.

Listened on the train home after 10 hour work day, so tired but feeling fairly positive. Much more familiar with songs from this album than the last. Hard to objectively listen to the title track and The Boxer as they are so embedded in public domain but clearly beautiful tracks and popular for good reason. Had no idea Cecilia was a S&G song (Suggs was pretty faithful to this version!). Not as slow-folk based as I thought it would be as an album, some more jazz infused upbeat songs, but obviously not without the odd flute solo. Not sure I'd return regularly, but would be interested in a deeper dive into the lyrics.

Listened in the car on the way home from work. Again, a little familiar with this, but mainly from the singles released. Norah has a beautiful voice but the whole thing washed over me a bit. I think it's probably just the wrong environment - I can imagine listening in a club, a couple of whiskeys down and enjoying, but I don't think it's made for being stuck in traffic on the M6. Highlight was a track called Nightingale, the rest blended into one a little. Genuinely beautiful voice though.

Listened en route to Wembley for a gig, earlier in the day than usual. More familiar with this than others so far and most songs I've heard at least a couple of times. Hard to appreciate Take Me Out as it's been everywhere for the last 20 odd years, but I know it would have sounded really fresh on release. Largely enjoyable album, not sure it has much depth for return visits but ok to pass 40 minutes.

Completely unfamiliar with the album (heard the name of the band but not really aware of any tracks). Listened in stages over the day which isn't ideal, but really enjoyed it. Lyrics were clever, although struggled a bit with the more misogynistic elements. Really easy to listen to and still sounds fresh, at least to someone who isn't a hip hop fan. Liked it a lot.

Listened on the way home from work (walk and train) after nine and half hour shift, eleven hours out of house) so bit tired. Very familiar with this album although probably a couple of years since last listen. Band at the peak of their powers, just oozes energy and class. Seven Nation Army of course so familiar so difficult to judge but every song is top quality. So many highlights (Hardest Button to Button, I Just Don't Know What to do with Myself, Ball and Biscuit just a few). Classic album status without doubt.

Listened at home after long day at work. Familiar with album as I own a copy on cd but not a frequent listener. Really enjoyed rediscovering it. Real sense of drama in some tracks, unexpectedly with full strings, but throughout the sense of americana and folk tinged rock is irresistible. Another classic, will listen again soon.

Listened on train home after another 9.5 hour shift (tired). I know a lot of people like this album but it doesn't really do much for me. Sounds of it's time but I don't get the feeling of timeless currency that I took from A Tribe Called Quest (I know they're very different bands/albums). Just a bit bored really, clearly not aimed at me. Won't return to this one but sure it works for lots of others.

Listened in a hotel room between conference days. Absolutely loved this album. Familiar of course with the opening track and through a cover from Eels I knew Girl from the North Country. Was really taken with songs like Oxford Town and Masters of War, both lyrically and musically. Masterpiece for a reason.

Very different album to my usual listens, but that's the point of this exercise! Really classy songs, beautiful voice and strings, and obviously very familiar with the hits like Son of a Preacher Man and Breakfast in Bed. Really pleasant listen and really clear why Dusty has so many dedicated fans.

Finding this a really difficult listen. First day on holiday so listening from sunny Crete, but even in these surroundings, this is quite dull. Really not for me, feels like lounge music.

Listened on holiday in Crete after day at the pool. Have heard of Ghostface from Wutang so had some expectations and was pretty much what I thought. Not my sort of thing at all. Didn't enjoy the misogynistic tones which I thought had gone by the time this album was released, but was littered throughout. Didn't get the Tony Stark references and even the samples didn't hook me in. Not really for me, which is maybe the point.

This one was a huge surprise, what a fantastic album. Listened on holiday in Crete. Sometimes simple songs, but others with such beautiful orchestral arrangements. The strings in Sad Lisa were incredible, and absolute highlight. Some songs I knew already, including Wild World, Father and Son, and Tea for the Tillerman (admittedly as the Extras theme tune). Loved this, will return.

Listened on holiday in Crete. Think I can see why many would enjoy but not for me in the same way that jazz isn't. Only four songs, with each over ten minutes long, I just found myself not really listening. I think I struggle without much in the way of lyrics. Ok to listen to but I wouldn't say I enjoyed it.

Listened on last day of holiday in Crete. Jazz is definitely not for me. I quite like the fact it's a live recording and enjoyed the moments between songs, but the jazz itself does nothing for me. Sure it's a great example of the genre but just find it hard to listen to.

On way home in the car after first day back at work. Quite enjoyed this one and definitely put it in the 'not what I expected' category. Ranged between standard 80s rawk (including a pretty good cover of Born to be Wild) and some really good southern bluesy rock which I love with the Black Crows. The lead singers constant growl was really interesting to listen to. Really enjoyed!

Listened in the car after a long stressful day at work. I'd put this in the disappointing category. I was looking forward to it when I saw it was next, but actually found it a little boring. Maybe it just hasn't aged well but I just found the scream/sing softly/rap/DJ scratching really repetitive. A real shame as I like the singles and thought that the new album was pretty good.

Really didn't expect this. Whether it was Nick Cave's image or the few songs I've heard from other albums, I was expecting something gothic, dark and offbeat. Instead this was musical, largely upbeat and really soulful. Fantastic album, will absolutely return.

Mixed bag for me. I can only imagine how different this sounded as mainstream music in 1967. Obviously there are a few songs which are way too famous to look at objectively but a number of tracks still really feel atmospheric and absolutely fresh. Caught by surprise by I Looked at You which really felt like prime pop Beatles, while others are absolutely drawling, psychedelic rock. Really enjoyed but think I need more listens.

Not for me at all, I really don't get hair metal and all the guitar solos. Just does nothing for me.

Listened on the way to work, early morning (best time for this album in my opinion). Very familiar with this one, been listening since release in 2008. Love the folk indie style, beautiful record. Highlights for me are Your Protector and He Doesn't Know Why.

If I wanted to be shouted at for an hour I'd have stayed at work.

Listened in the car driving home after work. Never been a fan of this genre of metal, I just find it boring and it reminds me why I loved grunge in the 90s instead. For me, it's like dance music in that I know there's a lot going on, but it completely fails to grab me in any way. This album sounded really clichéd but I'm guessing that may be because so many have followed in it's wake. Completely forgotten it after it ended.