Album #1 - this is a rough listen. It's a mish-mash of songs. No songs stand out. Love the creativity and Syd's voice. Mostly this album sounds like outtakes and throwaways from The Wall. Then the album falls apart. It's a concept album missing a concept or common thread.
Album #2 - This is a good album, but it's not my jam. I don't like the psychedelic aspect. There are a few all-time classics, but the overall album isn't great.
Best songs
Little Wing
Spanish Castle Magic
If 6 was 9
One of music's historically great albums. I've listened to this album many times before and I know all of the songs. This is their 3rd album in the "Classic Beatles" sound. There are several great/good songs.
Best Songs
A Hard Day's Night
I Should Have Known Better
If I Fell
And I Love Her
Can't Buy Me Love
You Can't Do That
I'll Be Back
Never heard of the artist or any of the songs. This is a solid album with a few decent songs - nothing sticks out as bad or great. I'm not exactly sure why this was so critically praised. It seems like a an 80's cover band wrote their own average songs. This isn't a bad album, but not one that I will revisit.
Best songs
Under the Pressure
Red Eyes
Burning
There's a reason that I've never listened to a Metallica album. I totally respect the obvious musicianship and talent. I just don't live in this neighborhood. I'm sure that if this is your jam, this is a really good album.
Best Songs
There are no notable songs for me.
Sigur Rós: Ágætis Byrjun
This was a really interesting album - even in Icelandic. This is great for background or soothing listening.
Decent album. Didn't give it my full attention. Nothing really stood out.
This is a classic Kinks Album. Very much in the "Beatles" style that was driving a lot of groups at the time.
Best Songs
The Village Green Preservation Society
Picture Book
This is my first Dolly Parton album to listen to. I'm not exactly a fan of country music, but Dolly's a legendary icon. Not an album that I'll add to my rotation, but can't deny the reason for her legendary status. Also, there are a lot of songs about "Momma".
Best Songs
Coat of Many Colors
If I Lose My Mind
Early Morning Breeze
Here I Am
Punkish music released in 1986 - never heard of them. They're talented, but uninteresting.
Best Songs
Passing Complexion
Kerosene
Strange things
Never heard of Tricky. Some of the songs are interesting and it's not a bad album.
Best Songs
Black Steel
Aftermath
Brand New You're Retro
This is a good album. It's an interesting mix of country, blues, and alternative. I had only ever heard the song "Sweet Jane" previously. There are a few great covers of old songs as well. There is only 1 song I didn't like - the rest of the album is good. The lead singer Margo Timmins has a very soft and wistful voice. The album is very melancholic, but pleasant to listen to.
Best Songs
Mining For Gold
Misguided Angel
Blue Moon Revisited (Song For Elvis)
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Sweet Jane
Walking After Midnight
I've heard of Wilco, but can't name a song and never listened to an album. The album is good, but seems more like a "critics choice", than well liked. There are several songs that contain or end in noise, which isn't my favorite. Having listened to this, Wilco has a better album - Lay It Down
Best Songs
Jesus, Etc.
Heavy Metal Drummer
This is NOT a must listen to album. This a neo-disco dance music album. Definitely a groove, but not essential. It's actually not a bad album. Even though it's outside my norm, there are a few songs with catchy funk grooves and worth listening to.
Best Songs
Time To Get Away
Someone Great
All My Friends
Us V Them
They're alright. I was totally unfamiliar. Nirvana knockoff. Not terrible, but not required listening.
Best Songs
Homesick
Country Yard
Mary Jane
Well known group and debut album. This album has their well known hit - Last Nite - this album is really good. No surprises and nothing to add.
Best Songs
Is this it
Someday
Last Nite
Hard to Explain
The Fall are an influential English punk band. I've heard of them but don't know ANY of their songs from their 31 studio albums. They're influential, but not important and don't need to be listened to - especially not 3 albums on this list.
Best Songs
Frightened
Rebellious Jukebox
Mother-Sister!
Only 4 of the 17 songs are available on Spotify. This is a live album and I'm not sure why it's a "required album". They're a talented band with decent 70's rock band success.
Best Song
The Boys Are Back In Town
Due to my dad's love of 50's Rock 'n Roll, I'm familiar with Fats Domino, but this is my first album. Elvis credits Fats as the "true king of rock 'n roll" and it was his inspiration that created Elvis. This belongs on a must listen to album.
Best Songs
Blueberry Hill
Blue Monday
You Done Me Wrong
Poor, Poor Me
Listen to Dream Letter instead. The most notable thing about Tim Buckley is that he's Jeff Buckley's absentee father (they only met once). His music was creative and every album was a different genre/iteration, and he was never able to find commercial success.
Listening to this album seems like a music appreciation project in college - intended to expose you to music that exists. However, it's not particularly enjoyable. It's listening to musical experimentation.
No Best Songs
Not a heavy metal fan. This album is likely on the list because it's credited as being the first heavy metal album. However, it's not a notable album. There are no Best Songs. Recommend instead listening to Black Sabbath - Paranoid.
Familiar with this album. Some great songs, but not her best album.
Best Songs
Hello
Send My Love (To Your New Lover)
When We Were Young
Love In The Dark
All I Ask
Long album.
Best Songs
Tonight, Tonight
Bullet With Butterfly Wings
Take Me Down
1979
This is truly one of the all-time great albums. This is a classic.
Best Songs
Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
Candle in the Wind
Bennie and the Jets
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
This Song Has No Title
Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
Harmony
Never heard of Thundercat. Allstar lineup of collaborators. This is a great funk/jazz/fusion/R&B album.
Pitchfork: 8.5
Best Songs
Uh Uh
A Fan's Mail (Tron Song Suite II)
Show You The Way (w/ Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald)
Walk On By (w/ Kendrick Lamar)
Tokyo
Friend Zone
Them Changes
Drink Dat (w/ Wiz Khalifa)
3AM
I know many of these songs, but have never listened to the album. There are several all-time classics.
Best Songs
Changes
Life on Mars?
Kooks
Queen Bitch
Never listened to a QOTS album. To me it sounds like Soundgarden lost tapes. This isn't their best album (Songs for the Deaf) - why is it even on this list.
Best Songs
How to Handle a Rope (A Lesson in the Lariat)
Didn't think I ever listened to this album before, but totally recognized it. Marv listened to this. It's a GREAT album.
Pitchfork: No Pitchfork score.
Rolling Stone magazine Top 500 Albums #41
Best Songs
Gimme Shelter
Country Honk
Let it Bleed
You Can't Always Get What You Want
Haven't listened to Oasis, but am familiar. This is a very impactful album at the time - reviving English rock, introducing a new direction for alternative music from Grunge.
Pitchfork: 8.8
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #217
Best Songs
Live Forever
Supersonic
Slide Away
Married with Children
This is a GREAT album. My favorite LBM album is Thuthukani Ngoxolo, but this is another fantastic album!
Won Grammy in 1988 for Best Folk Recording
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs (It's hard to pick them - they're ALL great)
Unomathemba
Hello My Baby
King of Kings
Lomhlaba Kawunoni
How Long
Yibo Labo
Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain
This Little Light of Mine (bonus track on 30th anniversary edition)
I'm sure I've heard several of the songs, and possibly listened to the album - I'm not sure. This is a monumentally important and influential album, but is it good? Yes, it's iconic for a reason. This is the only studio album by the Sex Pistols. Intro/riff of Holidays In The Sun sounds just like The Jam/In The City, which was released 6 months earlier.
Pitchfork: 7.5
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #80
Best songs
Holidays In The Sun
God Save The Queen
Seventeen
Anarchy In The UK
This is a live album. It is a great live recording. It is, however, live recordings of existing material - primarily Tommy - which is better. This isn't required listening.
Not going to listen/rate.
Pitchfork:
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #327
I've listened to a lot of Marley and reggae. I've heard this before. It's not a must listen to album. Exodus and Legend are WAY better.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #140
Best Songs
Stir it up
Midnight Ravers
High Tide or Low Tide
Familiar with several of the songs, but never listened to the album. This is a great album but on some songs they've done an annoying thing with the dynamics. It's all acoustic, so sometimes it's really quiet, then they make it really loud. So, either you can't hear what's happening, or it sometimes gets really loud. That's costing it a star in the rating.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #205
Best Songs
Where Do The Children Play?
Hard Headed Woman
Wild World
On The Road To Find Out
Father And Son
Tea For The Tillerman
I wasn't a huge fan of Definitely Maybe. (What's The Story) Morning Glory is supposedly the 'pinnacle' of Oasis.
Pitchfork: 8.9
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #157
Best Songs
Wonderwall
Don't Look Back In Anger
Champagne Supernova
Smooth East Coast sound from the early years of rap. This is a great album.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Step In The Arena
Who's Gonna Take The Weight?
Lovesick
Just To Get A Rep
The Meaning Of The Name
I hadn't listened to this album and was more familiar with Yoshimi. This is a really good album. It's a very strange dichotomy that this album has a Pitchfork rating 10/10, but isn't on the Rolling Stone Top 500.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Race for the Prize
The Spark That Bled
Waitin' for a Superman
Feeling Yourself Disintegrate
Sleeping On The Roof
I've listened to this album before and not been impressed. I'll give it another spin and see. I struggle with the post-punk introducing Joy Division that was inspired by Iggy Pop/Bowie with the only song I knew growing up, the edgy alt-synth hit Love Will Tear Us Apart.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #211
Best Songs
Disorder
Day of the Lords
New Dawn Fades
She's Lost Control
Shadowplay
This is a good album. I can see why it's on the list, but it's not my jam.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #90
Best Songs
Tell Me Why
After The Gold Rush
Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Southern Man
Don't Let It Bring You Down
Country music....Listened several times. Don't know why it's on the list. Not even his most highly regarded album. Not my jam.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #489 (2003), now not ranked (2020)
Best Songs
Guitar Town
I've heard a bunch of these songs on the radio. This is a great album, but it is VERY explicit. I really like the album, but really can't listen to it. Spotify doesn't have a clean version of the album, even though one supposedly exists.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #340 (2023)
Best Songs
Gin and Juice
Tha Shiznit
Murder Was The Case
Who Am I (What's My Name)?
This is a punk album - probably the first. This is a good album - not every song is a gem, but a really good album.
Pitchfork: 9.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #301
Best Songs
Personality Crisis
Lonely Planet Boy
Trash
Subway Train
Another Neil Young album... This is good album.
Pitchfork: 9.5
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #311 (2020)
Best Songs
Walk On
See The Sky About To Rain
On The Beach
Motion Pictures (For Carrie)
This is one of the best Beatles albums - absolute classic.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #35
Best Songs
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
Nowhere Man
Michelle
Girl
In My Life
This is an OK album. punk/pop-punk. NOT a must listen to album.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
More Songs About Chocolate And Girls
There Goes Norman
Boys Will Be Boys
This is a popular "Dance Club" hip-hop album with several notable songs in early 90's hip-hop. Good stuff.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Connected
Everything
Sketch
Fade Away
Step It Up
Chicken Shake
Creation
This is somewhere between trip-hop and hip-hop. Some DEFINITE grooves, but it's not a fantastic album. It's good though.
Pitchfork: 9.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #241 (2023)
Best Songs
Safe From Harm
Unfinished Symphony
This is a really short album - 6 songs, 38 minutes. This is more important as an artistic transition than a great album to listen to. The most notable song is Golden Years.
Pitchfork: 9.5
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Album #52
Best Songs
Golden Years
This is a good album, but not great. It's not even ranked as one of their own top albums. I do like the way it was recorded with a drum-forward sound. It sounds good.
Pitchfork: 7.3
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best songs
Blue Orchid
My Doorbell
Take, Take, Take
The debut album of the Talking Heads. You can see how they evolved into legends. There are several all-time greats on this album.
Pitchfork: 8.8
Rolling Stone: Top 500 albums #290 2002, not on 2023 list
Best Songs
Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town
No Compassion
The Book I Read
First Week/Last Week....Carefree
Psycho Killer
Pulled Up
I am sure that this album is somehow important in the evolution of The Cure, and likely had an impact on the music of the time, but it's not a great album to listen to. There's not a single song on this album that is in their top 10 best songs.
Pitchfork: 8.4
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Grammy winning album. Is good. Indie rock. Mostly meh for me.
Pitchfork: 8.6
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
The Suburbs
Ready to Start
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
This is hard to categorize. psychedelica house music. I'm sure it's a 10 from Pitchfork for artistic value. It's a good, not great album.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Movin' on Up
Slip Insite This House
Loaded
This album has tremendous production quality. Lots of studio musicians and great arrangements. This is a great record.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: 63
Best Songs
Deacon Blues
Peg
Josie
This is a good - not great - album. I'm not sure why it's on the list. It's good, but kinda blah.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Novocaine For The Soul
Susan's House
My Beloved Monster
Your Lucky Day In Hell
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: #283 (2003) - no longer on the list.
Best Songs
Time Has Told Me
River Man
Way To Blue
'Cello Song
Thoughts of Mary Jane
Saturday Sun
Fantastic album. One of the best all-time debut albums.
Pitchfork: 9.1
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Blister In The Sun
Kiss Off
Please Do Not Go
Add It Up
Gone Daddy Gone
Good Feeling
This is an interesting live, jazz album. Not great, but interesting.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Very energetic. Seems VERY produced. It's a good album, but not for usual casual listening.
Pitchfork: 4.2
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Starlight
Supermassive Black Hole
Assassin
Knights of Cydonia
Stupid Album.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Smoke 'Em
Pure Americana. Late '60's folk/country. Not terribly interesting - although highly rated for some reason.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #46 (2020)
Best Songs
Across the Great Divide
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Up On Cripple Creek
King Harvest (Has Surely Come)
I didn't think I'd like this. Didn't really like it the first listen through. The more I listen to it, the more interesting it is. It is absolutely growing on me and it is a great album.
Pitchfork: 6.8
Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums: n/a
Best Songs
Back at the Farm
Street Joy
River to Consider
Bess St.
Keys
Quintessential '70's music album.
Pitchfork: 8.6
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #168
Best Songs
Do It Again
Dirty Work
Only A Fool Would Say That
Reelin' In The Years
One of the best albums of all time.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #34
Best Songs
Living For The City
Higher Ground
All in Love Is Fair
Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
Debut solo album that introduced Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, and Ronnie Wood to a larger world.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Let Me Love You
Rock My Plimsoul
Blues Deluxe
I Ain't Superstitious
They sound like a Great Value Erasure or Yazoo. I'm not hearing anything new or interesting.
Pitchfork: 8.0
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Flutes
Country-folk music. Kind of has a Dylan vibe to it.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #149 (2020)
Best Songs
Illegal Smile
Spanish Pipedream
Sam Stone
Angel from Montgomery
Bill Evans is one of the absolute top jazz pianists, and this is one of his best albums - and was recorded live.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs (really, any of them)
Solar
Alice in Wonderland - Take 2
Psychedelic rock. Includes Clapton.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #114 (2003) NOT on 2023 list
Best Songs
Sunshine Of Your Life
Tales of Brave Ulysses
There are 4 songs on this 41 minute album that is a blend of jazz/funk.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #254 (2023)
Best Songs (There are only 4)
Watermelon Man
This is a classic Americana album from the late 60's - 70's. A mix of country/folk/blues/rock/etc. I'm sure this was influential somehow, but doesn't grab me.
Pitchfork: 9.4
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #100
Best Songs
The Weight
This is a really good album and is fun to listen to. Several familiar songs.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
If I Should Fall from Grace with God
Fairytale of New York
Fiesta
The Broad Majestic Shannon
Sketches of Spain
Debut album. Interesting with some perennial hits.
Pitchfork: 7.0
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Rockin' Around (With You)
Breakdown
American Girl
This is a well respected and clearly coherent Rap/Hip-hop album, but is just too hardcore for my delicate sensibilities. Also, it's long; It's over an hour with lots of songs and interludes.
Pitchfork: 9.5
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #64
Best Songs
So Fresh, So Clean
Ms. Jackson
This is a really weird concept. It's an instrumental soundtrack to a movie that doesn't exist. It's essentially a resume/ad/business card trying to get work as a score writer for film/media - which makes it interesting. However, it's not interesting to listen to.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Under wraps
The Swinging Detective
Legendary album that really made Bowie a star.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #40 (2023)
Best Songs
Five Years
Starman
Ziggy Stardust
Suffragette City
Recognized the first song right off the bat.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Roundabout
Long Distance Runaround
Parental discretion is advised. This is beyond my range.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #27 (2023)
Classic blues album by influential and legendary guitar player.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Mannish Boy
Bus Driver
Jealous Hearted Man
The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll
Little Girl
Psychedelic 60's Brazilian rock. Sounds like a soundtrack to a Brazilian Austin Powers movie.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Morrissey's 2 best solo songs are on this album. Also, as his first solo album, it is still most like the Smiths. However, despite the high points, the album doesn't grab me.
Pitchfork: 7.3
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Everyday Is Like Sunday
Suedehead
I Don't Mind If You Forget Me
Pitchfork: 9.2
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
One of the most famous albums ever, but only their 3rd or 4th best album. It's a long double album with multiple throw away songs - that are still charming and work.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #29
Best Songs
Dear Prudence
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Blackbird
Why Don't We Do It In The Road?
Julia
Mother Nature's Son
Good Night
Early 2000s hip-hop album. it's ok.
Pitchfork: 6.1
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
What's Golden
Really good album with a few recognizable hits.
Pitchfork: 9.3
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #134 (2023)
Best Songs
Ready or Not
Zealots
Fu-Gee-La
Killing Me Softly with His Song
No Woman, No Cry
Mellow jazzy/funk album - but without real drive. He's talented - playing all/most of the instruments and producing the album. It's interesting, but bland.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Aht Uh Mi Hed
Strawberry Letter 23
This is a good, mellow R&B album. Nothing terribly exciting, but good.
Pitchfork: 9.4
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #158 (2023)
Best Songs
Didn't Cha Know
Orange Moon
Bag Lady
Eric Clapton and Duane Allman make a compelling rock/blues album.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #226 (2023)
Best Songs
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
Have You Ever Loved A Woman?
Layla
Nick Drake is fantastic. But this isn't the best/most exciting of his albums.
Pitchfork: 9.7
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
One Of These Things First
Northern Sky
I get it. This was my father's high school music that he loved. There are a few legendary songs on here, but I don't need a whole album of this.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Oh Boy!
Maybe Baby
That'll Be The Day
This is the first time I've been unable to even listen to an album all the way through. Not interested in this at all.
Pitchfork: 8.9
Rolling Stone:
Best Songs
60's groovy rock. Good harmonies. couple of good songs, but only a meh album
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
How Can I Be Sure
Groovin'
You Better Run
This is an awesome example of why The Who are legends. There are several all-time classic hits in this album.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #79
Best Songs
Baba O'Riley
Bargain
Getting In Tune
Behind Blue Eyes
Won't Get Fooled Again
This is a great live blues/rock album. One of the best.
Pitchfork: 9.2
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #49
Best Songs
Statesboro Blues
Done Somebody Wrong
This is Radiohead's 3rd or 4th best album - don't know why it's on the list. Why do we need so many albums by one artist?
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #276 (2023)
Best Songs
High and Dry
Fake Plastic Trees
Black Star
Street Spirit (Fade Out)
Space rock? No thank you. I didn't make it through the 2nd of 21 songs. 10 minutes was enough to know that I won't subject myself to 2 hours and 12 minutes of this.
One of the best albums ever. Enough said.
Pitchfork: 8.9 (4th highest for U2)
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #135 (2023)
Best Songs
Where The Streets Have No Name
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
With Or Without You
Running To Stand Still
Red Hill Mining Town
In God's Country
One Tree Hill
Mothers Of The Disappeared
This sounds like a 1982 version of Bob Dylan. Singer, guitar, harmonica.
Pitchfork: 10
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #150
Best Songs
Nebraska
Atlantic City
Mansion on the Hill
Johnny 99
Used Cars
My Father's House
Neil Young's most commercially successful and most critically acclaimed album. Album includes several guest vocalists.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #72 (2023)
Best Songs
Out on the Weekend
Heart of Gold
Old Man
Not available on Spotify. Mellow EDM/tech music. It's actually not a bad album.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Wilmot
One of the original co-founders of Velvet Underground. His career spans a lot of very experimental music, but this album is mostly rock/pop from the early 70's.
Pitchfork: 9.5
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Child's Christmas In Wales
Hanky Panky Nohow
Andalucia
Paris 1919
Half Past France
late 2000's pop. A few good songs. Meh.
Pitchfork: 7.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 albums #493 (2003 - not on current list)
Best Songs
Time to Pretend
Electric Feel
Kids
Alt rock/punk. One GREAT song.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #390
Best Songs
Where Is My Mind?
This album is interesting, but not her best.
Pitchfork: 4.9
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Stronger Than Me
F*** Me Pumps
October Song
His last album before he died. Lots of covers and a few re-recordings of his own songs. Very melancholic album.
Pitchfork: 6.9
Rolling Stone:
Best Songs
The Man Comes Around
Hurt
In My Life
Danny Boy
Desperado
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Streets Of Loredo
We'll Meet Again
80's thrash metal. No thanks. I tried to listen, and failed.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time #6
Great baritone voice. Good record.
Pitchfork: 8.1
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Jim Cain
Eid Ma Clack Shaw
The Wind and The Dove
Too Many Birds
Faith/Void
Some really classic hip-hop songs on here.
Pitchfork: 8.5
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Right Here Right Now
The Rockefeller Skank
Praise You
Classic metal. Lots of guitar wailing and screaming. Not interested.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Punk/metal/??
Pitchfork: 9.3
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Not a new album to me. One of Barrett's favorite albums.
Pitchfork: 9.2
Rolling Stone: Top 150 albums of the 21st Century #133
Best Songs
Concerning the UFO sighting near Highland, Illinois
John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
Chicago
Casimir Pulaski Day
SO MANY F and MF bombs. This far exceeds my ratings limits...
Pitchfork: 9.7
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #144 (2003, dropped in later revisions)
Best Songs (that I can listen to...)
If It Ain't Ruff
Express Yourself
90's synth-pop. Not particularly notable, but pleasant.
Pitchfork: 5.6
Rolling Stone: n/a
Precursor to punk - very influential at the time it was released. Not great to listen to.
Pitchfork: 8.3 (2010 rerelease)
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #128 (2023)
Pop-ish, but much more interesting with a sometimes ethereal/synth sound. Fairly unique.
Pitchfork: 9.3
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Tonite It Shows
Goddess On A Hiway
"80's music. Not bad, but nothing stands out too much on this album.
Pitchfork: 7.8
Rolling Stone:
Best Songs
Darklands
Happy When It Rains
April Skies
About You"
One of the best R&B/Soul albums ever released. A true classic. Including the acclaimed Stax house band - Booker T. and the M.G.'s + the Mar-Keys horn section, and "pianist" Isaac Hayes.
Pitchfork: 10
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #178
Best Songs
Respect
A Change Is Gonna Come
I've Been Loving You Too Long
Shake
A great big band recording from the late 50's. An all-time jazz legendary recording.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
The Kid From Red Bank
Duet
Whirly-Bird
Splanky
Fantail
Lil' Darlin'
Not my jam. I probably should like the Pixies, but I just can't find a consistency or reason to latch onto them.
Pitchfork: 9.1
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
This is a really good album, but no particular song grabs me.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Sunflower
Wild Wood
5th Season
Nothing particular of interest. 1993 album recorded by punk band. Sounds like b-side alternative music from the 80's.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
70's funk Temptations.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
Do Your Thing
This is a really good jazz album that is percussion-centric.
Pitchfork:
Rolling Stone:
Best Songs
Metal. Too much metal. Decent album with a few recognizable songs. Too much metal.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Rooster
Would?
Absolutely, no thank you. Also, not interested in music promoted with so much satanic imagery.
Another Neil Young album....and not one of his top 10?
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a (there are 7 other Neil Young albums on the top 500)
Best Songs
This is talent, but it's not for me.
Pitchfork: 9.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #445
Best Songs
This is an outstanding rap album. The vibe is fantastic. However, the explicit nature of many of the songs exceed my ratings limit.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #44 (2023)
Best Songs
Innovative and inspiring in its era. The original concept album that inspired Sgt. Pepper's and therefore all others. a few all-time classic hits, but overall a great album.
Pitchfork: 9.4
Rolling Stone: Top 500 albums #2
Best Songs
Wouldn't it Be Nice
Sloop John B
God Only Knows
Interesting Indian pop/electronic music.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Nadia
70's classic rock - similar to the Rolling Stones.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Sometimes regarded as the best Christmas album of all time (DISAGREE!), this is a prime example of Spector's "wall of sound". It's a good album.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Sleigh Ride
Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)
This is a fantastic classic album! One of the all-time greats.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #3
Best Songs
All I Want
Carey
California
River
A Case of You
The Last Time I Saw Richard
Classic rock-ish. Nothing of particular interest on this album. Why is THIS Kinks album on the list?
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
This is a GREAT album from the early 90's. No notes.
Pitchfork: 8.4
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs (seriously, all the songs....)
Confetti
It's A Shame About Ray
Rudderless
Bit Part
Alison's Starting To Happen
Hannah & Gabi
Kitchen
Frank Mills
Mrs. Robinson
This sounds VERY MUCH like 80's - 90's girl-band electro-pop. It sounds very much like someone, but I can't put my finger on it.
Pitchfork: 7.9
Rolling Stone: n/a
This is every bit the sound of the Pet Shop Boys, but in a much more mature way. Less dance hall pumped up jam, and more just electronic alternative jams. This is a good album.
Pitchfork: 8.5
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Being Boring
Only the Wind
My October Symphony
So Hard
Jealousy
Late 70's rock opera-esque. OK, but not my jam.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
One of the best debut albums. Fantastic jazzy/bluesy album. Several standout songs. This introduced a unique sound at the time.
Pitchfork: 7.5
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs (SO MANY great songs)
Don't Know Why
Seven Years
Cold Cold Heart
Come Away With Me
Shoot the Moon
Turn Me On
Lonestar
Nightingale
Late 60's jam band rock. Only a couple of songs have lyrics at all. Cool music, but not an album to listen to for anything other than background music.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Although this album might reflect an inflection point for Radiohead, this isn't one of the greatest albums of all time - not sure why it's on the list. There aren't any notable songs on the album.
Pitchfork: 8.6
Rolling Stone: n/a
I didn't think this album would age very well, and I'm not entirely wrong, but it's better than I remember. I had this album when it came out. However, it got worn out on the radio and I haven't listened to Cyndi Lauper in MANY MANY years. It's a decent album and a very good representative of the alternative pop of the time.
Pitchfork: 8.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #184 (2023)
Best Songs
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Time After Time
She Bop
All Through the Night
Witness
Weird but listenable. All vocals, no instruments.
Pitchfork: 7.2
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Who Is It (Carry My Joy On The Left, Carry My Pain On The Right)
Pleasant singing voice. Not terribly interesting. Meh.
Pitchfork: 8.6
Rolling Stone: n/a
I'm really only familiar with her song from the Grammy Nominee CD we have. I know she has a powerful & impressive voice with influences from several genres.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Ain't No Other Man
Understand
Candyman
Hurt
Mercy On Me
The Right Man
70's pop-rock. Yacht rock a little?
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Rikki Don't Lose That Number
Classic rock album.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #259
Best Songs
Cry Baby
Me and Bobby McGee
Interesting and ethereal. Great for background listening. Nothing noteworthy jumps out though.
Pitchfork: 7.2
Rolling Stone: n/a
Released in 1986, but sounds more like classic 1960's jazz.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Mandela
R&B/Jazz/pop. Not bad, but not notable.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Classic vocal jazz in the vein of Ella. Very good. Live recorrding.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Willow Weep For Me
Just a Gigalo
Nice sound. Lots of foreign language songs (or I just can't understand them). I don't get why this is so highly rated.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #245
Best Songs
I Wear Your Ring
Another good album by Radiohead.
Pitchfork: 9.3
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #387
Best Songs
Nude
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
Legendary band's legendary debut album.
Pitchfork: 9.1
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #101
Best Songs - so many....
Good Times Bad Times
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
Dazed and Confused
Communication Breakdown
I Can't Quit You Baby
Fantastic debut album by legendary new wave pioneering band.
Pitchfork: 9.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #198
Best Songs
Planet Claire
Rock Lobster
Fantastic inflection point in the story of rock music. There is more than one song that I skip on this album that keep it from 5 stars.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #6
Best Songs
Smells Like Teen Spirit
In Bloom
Come As You Are
Lithium
Stay Away
Something In The Way
Interesting and well done, but nothing terribly noteworthy.
Pitchfork: 9.2
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Temecula Sunrise
Stillness Is The Move
No Intention
The Specials are integral to the 2-Tone sound and revival of Ska music, but this album is not remarkable, and doesn't contain any of their "hits".
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Sock It to 'Em J.B.
Before even starting to listen to the album I'm excited! Produced and arranged by Book T. (Willie's neighbor).
Pitchfork:
Rolling Stone:
Best Songs
Stardust
Georgia On My Mind
September Song
Moonlight in Vermont
Incredibly skilled, but not my jam. If this is your thing, I can completely see why this album is highly rated.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #97 (2020)
Best Songs
Master of Puppets
Willie Nelson has such an iconic sound. This is a truly fantastic album. This is a concept album telling a story. Every song works.
Pitchfork: 9.3
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #237
Best Songs
Time of the Preacher
Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain
Medley: Blue Rock Montana/Red Headed Stranger
Red Headed Stranger
Can I Sleep In Your Arms
Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming)
Bandera
Iconic album cover, but the sophomore Beatles album is lacking. There are a couple of classics, but the "cover formula" is weak and after this they transitioned to all/mostly original songs.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
All My Loving
Till There Was You
Money
I guess not everything from Iowa is "Nice". Heavy metal, with the emphasis on heavy. I can't listen to songs that are ALL growling and screaming.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
One of their most critically acclaimed albums because of their use of recording studio usage and innovations. However, not one of my favorite albums of theirs to listen to.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #11
Best Songs
Eleanor Rigby
I'm Only Sleeping
Here, There And Everywhere
Good Day Sunshine
For No One
One of the most innovative, influential, and popular jazz albums of all time. Recorded the same year as Kind Of Blue and Giant Steps, this is one of the most accessible and successful jazz albums of all time. This is a great album with some of the best known jazz songs ever.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Blue Rondo a la Turk
Strange Meadow Lark
Take Five
Pitchfork:
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #
Best Songs
Blue Rondo a la Turk
Strange Meadow Lark
Take Five
80's-90's pop country. Very blah. Nothing interesting. No stand-out songs.
Pitchfork: 7.5
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #492
C'mon - James Brown. This is music that my dad introduced me to and I've heard these versions of several of these songs before.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #54
Best Songs
80's-90's pop country. Very blah. Nothing interesting. No stand-out songs.
Pitchfork: 7.5
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #492
A good album. It is a British interpretation of multiple American musical influences. It's kind of a hodge podge, but only 2 songs really stand out, and "Sympathy" is the only song in the Stone's top 10.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #185
Best Songs
Sympathy For The Devil
Street Fighting Man
One of the best Frank Sinatra albums made in collaboration and with arrangements by Nelson Riddle.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
You Make Me Feel So Young
Old Devil Moon
Love Is Here To Stay
I've Got You Under My Skin
Makin' Whoopee
This is an EDM album, but not aggressive. There are some vocals, including John Lydon the singer from PIL & Sex Pistols. It's an interesting album.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Original
Open Up
The Dead, but a studio album. Includes some classic Dead hits.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #215
Best Songs
Friend of the Devil
Sugar Magnolia
Ripple
Truckin'
Rod Stewart's 2nd album. It's a mix of covers and originals. The album is good, but there's only one notable song, and none of his top hits.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Gasoline Alley
Only a Hobo
Glam Rock innovator and influencer.
Pitchfork: 9.5
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #188
Best Songs
Bang a Gong (Get It On)
Literally the birth of cool jazz as an alternative to bebop. Slower, more melodic and harmonic.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Jeru
Venus De Milo
Israel
Boy, this didn't age well. Not sure why this is a "must listen to" album. No thank you.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Hotel
1970's rock. Some questionable topics and takes. Only 1 standout song. This isn't a standout album.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Best album of all time? This album is amazing. It was a cutting edge concept album with all songs running together. I wouldn't vote it #1, but it *IS* great and has aged really well.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #1
Best Songs
What's Going On
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
This was monumental at the time. Most of the songs didn't age well, but there are several great songs on here.
Pitchfork: 9.2
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #127
Best Songs
Bye Bye Love
You Don't Know Me
You Are My Sunshine
Oh, Lonesome Me
Your Cheatin' Heart
A foundational rock album. Maybe a 5 star, but I need to listen to it more.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #21
Best Songs
Thunder Road
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Backstreets
Born To Run
Jungleland
The Byrds. 60's mellow rock. Two of their top 10 Spotify songs are from this album; I didn't recognize them or care at all about them.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
This album is really interesting. I don't know what it is about it, but all the songs are different, and yet cohesive. I need to listen to this album more to figure it out.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Hang Out And Hung Up On The Line
Safesurfer
Soldier Blue
You
Las Vegas Basement
I listened to the album through the day and nothing jumped out at me. It was OK, but even the big hit off of the album I didn't recognize and it didn't grab me.
Pitchfork: 8.1
Rolling Stone: n/a
The follow-up album to Ziggy Stardust. Glam Rock. Maybe influential and important, but I don't like it as an album.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
The Jean Genie
This is a FANTASTIC record. There are a lot of great songs on here, but it's not QUITE a "5" for me - so close though.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Green Onions
I Got A Woman
Behave Yourself
Lonely Avenue
One Who Really Loves You
A Woman, a Lover, a Friend
This was my 1st album that I bought with my own money. Amazing double album.
Pitchfork: 8.1
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs (so many more...)
Turn to Stone
Across the Border
Starlight
Jungle
Big Wheels
Summer and Lightning
Mr. Blue Sky
Sweet Is the Night
Wild West Hero
This singer is very well respected by some great singer-songwriters (Elvis Costello, Elton John, Phil Collins), has had no commercial success. This album is very theatrical sounding. But it's understandable why there's critical success, but NOT commercial.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Classic 80's music. Not originally a huge fan. Too "pop" and not alternative enough for me at the time.
Pitchfork: 8.9 (2017 review - seems like cheating - posthumous rating)
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Shout
Everybody Wants To Rule The World
Mothers Talk
I Believe
Head Over Heals / Broken
Texas blues rock.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Waitin' for the Bus
Jesus Just Left Chicago
La Grange
I remember a song or 2 from this album when my kids were in high school, but the album doesn't stand out. There's a couple of notable songs. I don't know why this is on the list.
Pitchfork: 7.2
Rolling Stone:
Best Songs
Howlin' for You
This is a definitive classic rock album. Amazing.
Pitchfork: 9.1 (reissue rating)
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #58
Best Songs (nearly every song)
Black Dog
The Battle of Evermore
Stairway to Heaven
Misty Mountain Hop
Going to California
When the Levee Breaks
Maybe I wasn't in the mood for this today, but this wasn't interesting. I like Latin music and jazz - but this just didn't work for me at all. Also, this is a compilation album; this is the "best of" and isn't great.
This album became an archetype of future synth/new wave songs. There are a couple of all-time great songs on here.
Pitchfork: 8.7
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
Souvenir
Sealand
Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans)
Georgia
Pitchfork:
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #86 (2023)
Best Songs
Break On Through (To the Other Side)
Soul Kitchen
The Crystal Ship
Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)
Light My Fire
The End
One of the best ever albums - and an all-time punk top 5, however, I think this album could've been a single album.
Pitchfork: 10 (25th Anniversary re-release)
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #16
Best Songs
London Calling
Hateful
Rudie Can't Fail
Spanish Bombs
Lost in the Supermarket
Clampdown
Train in Vain (Stand by Me)
What needs to be said about this album?
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #26 (2020)
Best Songs (what songs do you leave off?)
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
With A Little Help From My Friends
Getting Better
Fixing A Hole
She's Leaving Home
A Day In The Life
Not a necessary album.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best songs
Feelin' Alright
This is an early synth-alternative album. Interesting, but not great.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: n/a
Best Songs
(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang
Commercially successful rap album (1989) with several hits. This is a fantastic debut album.
Pitchfork: 10.0
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #103
Best Songs
(3 Is) The Magic Number
Eye Know
Say No Go
Buddy
Me Myself and I
This is a great 70's funk/soul album. There are multiple songs that I recognize from radio play in the 70's/early 80's.
Pitchfork: n/a
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #420 (2020)
Best Songs
Shining Star
That's the Way of the World
Reasons
Africano
Guided the beginning of the 70's soft rock genre. Good album with a few noteworthy songs that anyone alive during that era would recognize from the radio.
Pitchfork: 8.4
Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #120 (2023)
Best Songs
Moondance
Crazy Love
Into the Mystic
Glad Tidings
