245
Albums Rated
3.28
Average Rating
22%
Complete
844 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1980
Favorite Decade
Punk
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Perfectionist
Rater Style ?
9
5-Star Albums
5
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Junkyard
The Birthday Party
|
4 | 2.16 | +1.84 |
|
Machine Gun Etiquette
The Damned
|
5 | 3.16 | +1.84 |
|
Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
|
5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
|
American Gothic
David Ackles
|
4 | 2.48 | +1.52 |
|
So
Peter Gabriel
|
5 | 3.53 | +1.47 |
|
GI
Germs
|
4 | 2.53 | +1.47 |
|
The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
|
5 | 3.58 | +1.42 |
|
Let's Get Killed
David Holmes
|
4 | 2.67 | +1.33 |
|
Parallel Lines
Blondie
|
5 | 3.76 | +1.24 |
|
A Short Album About Love
The Divine Comedy
|
4 | 2.76 | +1.24 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
|
1 | 3.48 | -2.48 |
|
Elephant
The White Stripes
|
2 | 3.85 | -1.85 |
|
São Paulo Confessions
Suba
|
1 | 2.84 | -1.84 |
|
Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagon
|
1 | 2.7 | -1.7 |
|
Music
Madonna
|
1 | 2.68 | -1.68 |
|
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
|
2 | 3.66 | -1.66 |
|
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
|
2 | 3.65 | -1.65 |
|
good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
|
2 | 3.63 | -1.63 |
|
In A Silent Way
Miles Davis
|
2 | 3.61 | -1.61 |
|
Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
|
2 | 3.43 | -1.43 |
5-Star Albums (9)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Madonna · 2 likes
1/5
I can only assume that there’s been an administrative error and that this was meant to be on the 1001 Ways To Die Before You Listen To This Album, as this is possibly the blandest and most pointless album that I have heard from Madonna (and I genuinely love some of her stuff). Bland lyrics, insipid delivery, plus a pointless cover version to round off the whole package. Seriously, what the hell is this on this list for…?
Suicide · 1 likes
2/5
I completely get why this is on the list as it is formative and deserves A listen, but having heard it, I am not sure I will ever return to it
Jerry Lee Lewis · 1 likes
2/5
A live album of cover versions is hardly a great demonstration of an artist. Not bad, just pointless
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band · 1 likes
3/5
Doesn’t quite meet its sensational tag, but pretty good overall
The Bees · 1 likes
2/5
Pleasant, good creativity and changes in style, but essential for the 1001…?
1-Star Albums (5)
All Ratings
The Birthday Party
4/5
Peter Gabriel
5/5
I had forgotten how good this is. The standout is Don’t Give Up. Absolute goosebumps with that track!
The Sonics
3/5
Never heard of them before despite them apparently being an influence on some reasonably big-hitters. 60s rock and blues standards done well in a fairly raw style. It was an easy listen but not one I would probably reach for again.
Herbie Hancock
3/5
Not really my usual style of music. I can absolutely appreciate the quality and creativity of the music delivered, but it feels a bit too much of an era and style that just don't appeal that much.
Blondie
5/5
Excellent album. New to me as I am only really familiar with their Best Of (although a lot of it seems to be from here!)
R.E.M.
4/5
Not the album of theirs that I would have chosen, but it is still a really good one.
Prince
4/5
I'd forgotten how fun and lively this album was, so it's been a welcome reintroduction
Kendrick Lamar
2/5
Not really my style, but I could appreciate the quality of production. I actually enjoyed reading about the story behind the album more than the album itself
Radiohead
3/5
Still a band that I don’t really understand all the love for. Doesn’t help that I really don’t like Thom Yorke’s vocals. This one at least has familiarity on its side because everyone was playing it when it came out.
Oasis
4/5
Still a great catchy album, but they are not a great band
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Logically, I know that they must have made albums, but because of that one ubiquitous and unavoidable single, I had never thought to check out their other stuff. Surprisingly good as it turns out
DJ Shadow
2/5
Definitely better than I expected, but still not really my sort of thing
The The
4/5
I feel like I should have discovered this years ago. Excellent to find it now at least. Definitely going to get more listens soon
Duran Duran
3/5
Yet another band that have been solely Best Of collections for me, so I don’t think I have ever listened to most of their albums. Overall for this one, it didn’t really rise above or add much to the songs I already knew
Small Faces
3/5
The deliberately contrived cheeky Cockney vocal stylings grate a little bit (“…lazy Sunday afternoon-ah…”), especially when compared to the more grandiose style elsewhere. Musically and creatively, it’s really interesting but it gets at least a point knocked off for the Stanley Unwin interludes and the aforementioned London-boy vocals.
Kraftwerk
3/5
Surprised me how much I enjoyed this, but not the sort of album I would be likely to return to
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Not something I would have chosen, but I enjoyed enough of this to feel it needs revisiting in future
Green Day
4/5
Absolute classic and still their best, in my opinion
Lauryn Hill
2/5
She’s got a fantastic voice, but I found this album bland back then, and I still found it bland now
1/5
Never heard of before, and very unlikely to revisit again in future. Just not my thing at all. Felt like elevator music with occasionally raised BPM
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
I’m a sucker for a lot of Paul McCartney’s stuff and this one is probably peak among his non-Beatles output.
Talking Heads
3/5
A little disappointed by this to be honest. Given how revered they seem to be among music lovers, I struggled to find much exceptional about it. It’s good, very listenable, but ultimately a little bit average
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
A classic even on its release, sounding unique among its contemporaries
Beatles
4/5
Another of those popular beat combos. I’m sure they’ll never amount to anything 😁
Gil Scott-Heron
3/5
Smooth easy listen, but ultimately washed over me more than grabbed me
Beck
3/5
I really should revisit this more often
Eurythmics
4/5
I was just a bit too young to properly appreciate them at the time, so it was good to hear this one and find that they were just as good on their album tracks as their iconic singles
Black Sabbath
4/5
Obviously influential and iconic, it’s not an album I have reached for too often over the years. Deserves more attention than I have given it really though
PJ Harvey
4/5
Not sure I have ever heard a note from her. Turns out I have been missing out
Eminem
1/5
Puts the L in LP. Tediously misogynistic and homophobic content overwhelm admittedly catchy backing tracks. His delivery is excellent but the content is often vile
Le Tigre
4/5
Really enjoyable and energetic
CHVRCHES
3/5
Generally really catchy, but vocals began to grate a bit towards the end
George Harrison
5/5
Utterly brilliant. Can’t believe I had never listened to this
King Crimson
3/5
Impressive but perhaps a bit self-congratulatory in the cleverness of the musicianship
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
An absolute classic. Perhaps a little overproduced but full of amazing tracks
PJ Harvey
3/5
Didn’t land quite as immediately as the previous PJ Harvey I listened to, but it’s made me want to come back for more
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
Excellent. Surprised I hadn’t listened to this sooner
Nina Simone
3/5
Amazing voice and skills but just not the sort of album I would reach for often (if ever)
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Nope. Still not a fan.
The Doors
3/5
Musically brilliant but I get irritated by Morrison’s vocal stylings.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
Doesn’t quite meet its sensational tag, but pretty good overall
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
Really interesting. Completely new to me, but I want to hear more
Ray Price
3/5
Inoffensive but inessential listen. Enjoyable enough
Thin Lizzy
5/5
Like any good live album, this provides a best of, and it is delivered at their best, but it is a shame not to see some of their studio albums being recognised, especially when certain artists have multiple entries in this 1001.
Ash
4/5
Never been keen on the vocals, but still a great catchy album
The Beach Boys
3/5
Iconic sound, amazingly delivered, but not an album I would reach for often
Frank Ocean
2/5
Impressively immersive but still not really my thing
Bert Jansch
4/5
Surprised I have never listened to Bert Jansch before. Really enjoyed this. Going to seek out more of his work
4/5
Full-on prog is like Marmite. I love Marmite
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Very much the classic Stones sound. Enjoyed it a lot
Guns N' Roses
4/5
Still don’t reckon it’s the masterpiece some claimed but it was a huge part of my teens
Joan Baez
2/5
Beautiful voice, but just not my thing
The Byrds
3/5
Excellent 60s blues pop sound, expertly delivered but I can’t say it stands out enough for me to return to it
ABBA
3/5
Can’t deny the quality and skill in these three-minute pop gems, but nor can I say that I love them
Justice
3/5
Not a genre I’d usually go for, so surprisingly enjoyable
Suede
4/5
Not quite as good as the follow-up, but for a debut, this is pretty spectacular
Björk
4/5
Far better than I expected
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Surprisingly enjoyable considering I usually try and avoid jazz
The Smiths
2/5
Still don’t really get the adulation. Loses a point for Morrissey being a cock.
Bad Company
4/5
Classic rock. A tad cheesy, but quality cheese
Ice Cube
2/5
The beats and samples under this were really good, but the lyrical content was pretty much what I would expect
Prince
3/5
Some of the tracks outstay their welcome, but the hits are undeniable
Elvis Costello
3/5
Starts well, but failed to set my world alight. Solid but unremarkable
3/5
Better than I had expected (only really know their Best Of), certainly in terms of the guitar work, but there’s something about Damon Albarn’s delivery that irritates me.
Missy Elliott
3/5
Hilariously suggesting that we don’t see Donald Trump arguing with people because he’s got money, Missy suggests that we all need to stop having beef and just get on with getting rich. And having sex.
John Coltrane
3/5
If nothing else, this 1001 challenge is challenging my perception that I hate jazz. Can’t say that I loved this, but I was fascinated by how much it pulled apart each player then managed to pull back together
Dr. Octagon
1/5
I can only imagine that whoever wrote this list of 1001 albums to hear before you die must have been having a laugh by including this. Kool Keith pretends to be a time-travelling homicidal alien gynecologist so that he can hide behind a “it’s not me saying this, I am just playing a character” defence for including samples from porn films and descriptions of surgical violence. The backing tracks are good, but the vocals and themes make it feel like a novelty album that wore its joke thin within the first couple of tracks.
Talking Heads
4/5
This landed much better with me than the previous Talking Heads album I was given. A real sense of fun in the funky
Fleet Foxes
4/5
It’s not going to sweep the boards at the dance awards, but it is quite a beautiful listen
Gotan Project
3/5
If this was in the list of 1001 Albums To Be On Hold With (Your Call Is Important To Us But We Are Experiencing An Unusually High Volume Of Calls) then this would absolutely be number 1. As it stands, this is pleasant and well-delivered but not something I would return to.
Pere Ubu
3/5
Unclear why this is on this list. Not unlistenable but not particularly engaging either
Eric Clapton
2/5
Dull
4/5
Funky soul and blues. What more do you need…?
David Bowie
4/5
A little bit too conventional for Bowie but still a great album
Richard Hawley
4/5
I can see why people have loved this album. Hasn’t quite got its hooks into me yet, but it probably will
5/5
Hard to talk about this without the word iconic.
ZZ Top
4/5
It’s the archetype of the ZZ Top sound and I was all-set to dismiss it, but this ended up being a great fun listen.
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
Always been quite a fan of this one. There’s enough variety and invention on here to give it good re-listen value, but it’s a bit too long
Madonna
1/5
I can only assume that there’s been an administrative error and that this was meant to be on the 1001 Ways To Die Before You Listen To This Album, as this is possibly the blandest and most pointless album that I have heard from Madonna (and I genuinely love some of her stuff). Bland lyrics, insipid delivery, plus a pointless cover version to round off the whole package. Seriously, what the hell is this on this list for…?
Rush
3/5
Impressive but uninvolving. Which seems to be my standard response to Rush.
Mudhoney
4/5
Yet another band I should have listened to many years ago. Right up my street, but I evidently wasn’t home that day
The White Stripes
2/5
Never got The White Stripes. Always felt like the emperor’s new clothes, loads of people celebrating them, but as far as I could see there really wasn’t much underneath.
Public Enemy
4/5
A real revelation for me. Should have listened to this a long time ago
The Byrds
4/5
A real eye-opener for me. Initially seemed to be exactly the type of 60s pop I expected but it improved as it went along.
Metallica
4/5
If you’re going to get pompous and embellish your greatest hits with an orchestra, then this is the way to do it.
Goldfrapp
3/5
Pleasant, well-delivered but unexceptional.
Aretha Franklin
3/5
Respect is iconic and the rest here are also solid slices of 60s soul, but just not really my thing
Rod Stewart
3/5
As with all Rod Stewart’s stuff, great voice, but pretty average songs. Maggie May is the most familiar and therefore perhaps the best but overall, there isn’t much that would drag me back to this album.
Coldplay
3/5
Some great tracks, but lots of average ones as well
Arcade Fire
3/5
On this basis, I don’t get the hype for the band and don’t really get why this is on this list. Not bad, just average
Frank Sinatra
2/5
Very pretty orchestration around an iconic voice, but just not my thing
Ray Charles
3/5
Not a combination I would have expected, but reading up on it I can understand why this one was important. Ultimately not really my thing, but it is good.
David Ackles
4/5
This was quite something! I imagine this will divide views as it’s borderline musical theatre, but for me, it really worked
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Never really got her, I’m afraid. Very overrated, in my opinion.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
3/5
Impressive, but didn’t really engage me
k.d. lang
3/5
Pleasant, enjoyable, and in a list of 1001 tracks, I guess it earns its right to be included
Kate Bush
3/5
Kate Bush frustrates me. Undoubtedly an artist with vision making art the way she wants, capable of some fantastic pieces (the singles on this were great) but often that vision is just too weird. Tracks like Under Ice and Waking The Witch are just odd.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Why on earth are there six Elvis Costello albums on this list? I am tempted to downvote every one of them on principle alone!
Ultimately this one is okay, a reasonable showcase of his ability to write three-minute pop songs, but nothing exceptional
UB40
3/5
Far better than I had expected, but still knocking it down a point for having a near 13-minute track near the end of the album.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Horrible 80s sound to this album. Only his lyrics and delivery gain it a second star
The Cure
5/5
Probably their most perfect album. Quality.
John Lennon
4/5
The title track is overplayed and inescapable, but the rest of this was really enjoyable
Carpenters
3/5
I seem to have outgrown my hatred of The Carpenters as this was far more listenable than when I used to hear it weekly as a kid. She always had a beautiful voice though
The Go-Go's
3/5
Pleasant pop rock. Fun but unmemorable.
The Temptations
3/5
Quality 60s soul. Enjoyable
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Sounds like a dull Bob Dylan
Tom Waits
4/5
I struggle with a lot of Tom Waits, but this is a high point
3/5
Overlong and more than a bit pompous but I rather enjoyed it anyway
Miles Davis
2/5
Didn’t do much for me
fIREHOSE
4/5
Really liked this. Definitely worth another listen
The Police
3/5
Strictly a Best Of band for me up until now, but this was pretty good
Everything But The Girl
2/5
Nice but bland. Why has this been included in a list of essential albums…?
Goldie
2/5
Ironic for an album called Timeless, that this has a sound that so clearly dates it to that particular time
The Damned
5/5
Absolutely Damned perfect!
Linkin Park
3/5
Never really been my kind of thing but it’s got a lot going for it.
David Holmes
4/5
Really enjoyed this once I took the time
System Of A Down
4/5
I had forgotten just how good this one was. They went on to do even better, but as a debut, this was pretty excellent!
Queen
3/5
As a Best Of band, Queen have a pretty phenomenal catalogue, but I wasn’t that impressed with this one. Maybe with a bit more time and familiarity, this might grow on me but for now…
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Never going to be on a regular playlist for me, but I salute its inclusion on this list. Well worth a dip now and then
Pink Floyd
5/5
An iconic and flawless album
Slade
3/5
They were a really fun rock & roll band, but are they an essential listen before you die…?
Marty Robbins
2/5
Cool cosplay and album title. Otherwise, nope
Beck
3/5
I am only familiar with a couple of Beck albums, neither of which really sounded like this. Sea Change indeed. Ultimately, I didn’t find this one particularly exceptional
The Gun Club
4/5
New to me, but really enjoyed it
Beastie Boys
4/5
A little too long, but frankly, having Sabotage on there wins it a lot of points
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
Good early 80s angular pop sound, easy listen, but why’s it on this list?
The Thrills
3/5
Nice West Coast sound, easy listening, but unlikely to reach for this too often
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
Pretty good, but not particularly outstanding
AC/DC
4/5
AC/DC doing AC/DC stuff. What’s not to love…?
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
2/5
I have no real reference points for this. It wasn’t terrible but I would be extremely unlikely to revisit it
3/5
Utterly average pub rock. Not terrible but inexplicable why they are so revered.
Iron Maiden
5/5
A near perfect album and a high point for an iconic band
Queen
4/5
Stronger than I expected. Worth another listen
FKA twigs
3/5
Pretty good but not the sort of album I would usually reach for
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Much more traditional blues than I was expecting. I always think of them having more of a rock & roll edge, but this had more of a nod-along feel to some of it. Impressively delivered though
Hugh Masekela
3/5
Really impressive playing, sitting somewhere between easy-listening and jazzy, but far too long to sustain my attention.
Paul McCartney
3/5
Can’t help but compare this to Lennon’s and Harrison’s post-Beatles solo efforts - this doesn’t feel as cohesive as those, seeming more like some truly great songs that hadn’t been polished enough. Having said that, even half-baked ideas from McCartney are streets ahead of many artists so it’s far from a bad album, just not a brilliant one
Soft Cell
4/5
Really surprised how fun I found this.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
It’s a classic sound (that I grew up hearing) but Neil Young sounds like a yowling cat
Don McLean
3/5
Pretty good overall, but in starting with American Pie, I then spent the whole of the rest of the album comparing every track to that.
The Only Ones
4/5
Excellent pop punk!
Gang Of Four
4/5
A glaring gap in my musical knowledge considering how many bands who cite them as an influence. Did not disappoint!
The Beach Boys
3/5
Surprisingly enjoyable
Japan
3/5
More going on than I expected. I had assumed that this would be something of a Duran Duran clone, but it turned out to be more than just that.
Joy Division
4/5
First time listen. Long overdue.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Huge sound and huge influence
Supergrass
4/5
Very good but I would still probably stick to the Best Of
Neil Young
3/5
Far better than I expected as I usually don’t like his yowl
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Largely felt unexceptional but the last few famous tracks really lifted it
Harry Nilsson
2/5
It was okay, but really struggled to understand why this is an essential to hear before you die
Moby Grape
3/5
A real surprise considering I don’t think I’ve ever heard of them before. Very much of its time, but a really impressive slice of late 60s San Francisco
The Jam
4/5
Not quite as good as I was hoping but still very good
Bob Dylan
3/5
Enjoyed more than I expected to. He still has a weird voice but he is a great lyricist
Todd Rundgren
2/5
Overblown, overproduced twaddle. It scraped a second star mainly for the slight redemption of the soul selection at the end
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Excellent album. Superstition is one of the greatest funky riffs ever
Soul II Soul
3/5
Well-produced, some great playing, but just one of those albums I find a bit dull.
Steely Dan
3/5
Pleasant but non-essential
The KLF
3/5
The KLF showing that it’s not just the beats that are repetitive, but that you can keep bringing back the same tune over and over again as well.
The Stooges
4/5
Iconic, although it loses a point for sounding a bit too thin and reedy as a studio album
The Who
3/5
For a Who album, this is pretty good, but if you’re having to select a live best of selection as an essential listen, that doesn’t really say much for their studio output
Hot Chip
2/5
Just not my sort of thing. Hard to understand why this has been included in the 1001
The Bees
2/5
Pleasant, good creativity and changes in style, but essential for the 1001…?
Sepultura
3/5
Never been a fan. They were top quality at what they did, but just not my thing.
Nirvana
4/5
Still don’t quite get the adulation for this album. Very good but not the perfection that some claim
Slayer
3/5
Raining Blood is an excellent track but I find the rest of the album pretty so-so
G. Love & Special Sauce
3/5
Mystified why this has been included. Not terrible but achingly average
Neil Young
3/5
Excellent songwriting, but man that voice just whines like a dentist’s drill
Aimee Mann
4/5
Really enjoyed this one. Unknown to me, but definitely my sort of thing
Orbital
3/5
Impressive in its composition, but not really my sort of thing
Elvis Costello
4/5
Ah, the ever-present Mr. Costello who must be rubbing his hands in glee at the streaming revenue that comes from the 1001 Albums… listeners. Considering every other album on the list seems to be one of his, it’s got to be a bonus for him.
This is actually one of the best ones of his that I have heard though
Van Halen
4/5
Never listened to one of their studio albums but pleased to report that pretty much all of this could sit comfortably on their Best Of
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
Could never live up to the hype I heard at the time it came out, but listening to it now, I like it far more
The Divine Comedy
4/5
Glorious album!
Radiohead
4/5
Really surprised. Never really liked Radiohead before but this one really clicked
David Crosby
3/5
Love the mellow vocals, but very much of its time
Fats Domino
3/5
Pretty much as expected, undoubtedly influential, great tunes, but not something I would go out of my way to listen to
Various Artists
3/5
Essential to listen to before you die, yes, but only around this time of year.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Really surprised how much I enjoyed this. Well worth a revisit
Kate Bush
4/5
So much better than I remembered. And the final track is an all-timer
Stereo MC's
3/5
Surprised to discover that I actually knew this one reasonably well. Still didn’t like it much
Eagles
4/5
Easy one for me to love as I grew up in a household with their albums playing
Miriam Makeba
3/5
Beautiful tone to her voice, and a beautiful collection of songs, but I am not convinced it is an essential album
Fever Ray
3/5
Never heard of this one but quite enjoyed. It felt a bit like a smoothed out Bjork
Billy Joel
3/5
A finely crafted set of songs, worthy of inclusion
B.B. King
3/5
If you’re going to go for classic blues, then you can’t go far wrong with a bit of BB King. But if you don’t like blues, you’re going to struggle with this
Pixies
4/5
Not quite their best but still streets ahead of most
Otis Redding
3/5
It’s an iconic voice but it’s a shame that this is essentially a collection of cover versions
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Not as dark and goth as I expected but pretty cool
Kanye West
2/5
Being an arrogant knob is always a tricky choice. There is an argument for faking it until you make it, but you run a risk if you’re not as good as you claim to be. Kanye falls well short of the genius he thinks he is
Nick Drake
3/5
Not particularly earth-shattering but distinct enough to deserve a place on this list
Germs
4/5
Excellent short spiky punk
Nirvana
4/5
It’s an absolute classic, but I still don’t think it’s as perfect as most seem to
Suicide
2/5
I completely get why this is on the list as it is formative and deserves A listen, but having heard it, I am not sure I will ever return to it
Nas
3/5
Fairly average lyrical content and flow, but good tunes behind it. But should Nas get the credit for this, or just his producers?
The Prodigy
4/5
Still a propulsive and exciting album. Doesn’t quite sustain the quality across all the tracks but when it works, it works incredibly well!
Machito
4/5
Unexpectedly really enjoyed this. Late 50s / early 60s movie soundtrack vibes
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
Pretty reasonable bluesy rock, but I don’t get the adoration for Joplin’s voice. There are points where she ends up sounding like Marge Simpson
Brian Eno
4/5
Genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Music to relax to
The Who
4/5
Three of my favourite Who tracks on a nine-track album is a pretty good hit rate
Shack
4/5
A complete unknown to me. Really pleasant easygoing and enjoyable indie
Grateful Dead
2/5
Some good moments, but the long meandering stretches just got boring
Nirvana
4/5
This really benefits from not having the overplayed feeling of Nevermind
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
A bit too dour and proto-indie for me, but some of the orchestration on this really lifts it
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
Lots to like in this - great beats, socially conscious lyrics, laid-back delivery, but ended up feeling like a TED-talk that went on too long
Jerry Lee Lewis
2/5
A live album of cover versions is hardly a great demonstration of an artist. Not bad, just pointless
Janelle Monáe
4/5
Really impressively diverse. Borders on the Beyoncé a bit too much at times but has plenty to outweigh that flaw
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
With their drum machines, synths and OTT goth imagery, the Sisters always felt just a bit too plastic and fake to me, but they’re fun
Talk Talk
3/5
Quite pleasant but it didn’t feel like a particularly essential listen
Blur
3/5
Catchy and a classic, but the title track and a couple of others on here almost feel like novelty songs. When they’re not playing up to the cockney geezer role, they could be a really great band.
Songhoy Blues
3/5
Good playing, excellent groove and bounce to it, but not being able to latch onto the lyrics is a shame. With some artists, their vocals can just be a texture but it sounds like the lyrics are important to them on this.
The Pharcyde
3/5
Good funky sound to this and fairly upbeat. Choice lyrics here and there, but pretty good overall
Terence Trent D'Arby
4/5
Yet another album I dismissed in my teens because my parents liked it that turns out to be really good. Oops!
Paul Simon
3/5
Still not too keen on his voice, but his skills as a player and a songwriter are really impressive
Tricky
3/5
This always felt like music to sit in a dark room and get stoned to. Never really got it back in the 90s, but I can appreciate it a lot more lyrically now
Fugazi
4/5
This was excellent. A band I have known by reputation only for far too long
Led Zeppelin
3/5
It stays a bit too long but in the first half at least it has a bit of a funkier groove than their bluesier origins.
Morrissey
3/5
It’s a bit of a cliche to complain about disliking his vocals, but like all cliches, there’s a lot of truth in that. It’s a shame as he’s obviously a good lyricist
Wild Beasts
3/5
A complete unknown to me - not quite my thing but interesting enough to warrant a couple of listens
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Maybe my expectations are too high as the guy is a legend, but this just felt achingly average. If this wasn’t him, would people love it so much
The Allman Brothers Band
2/5
Impressive playing, but it all pretty much just blended into one long song after a while
The Prodigy
3/5
Definitely prefer the follow-up but this was pretty strong
Dizzee Rascal
3/5
Impressive throughout. I really like his delivery. Not really my style but I respect this being included in the 1001
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Hard to hear as anything but parody, yet it still sounds cool.
The Residents
1/5
Nope. Sorry. This is just irritating and pointless. Why don’t you have a zero stars option?
Christina Aguilera
3/5
Less “Back to basics” more back to bloated and overloaded pop with questionable lyrics. She’s got a fantastic voice but this is overlong and fairly average
M.I.A.
3/5
The roster of producers, including Timbaland, add a lot of welcome texture on this. Not really my sort of thing but it was a pretty good listen overall
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Gorgeous and comforting sound. Not his best but still so good
Erykah Badu
2/5
Just not my sort of album really. Perfectly pleasant, chilled vibe, but just ended up becoming unchallenging background soundtrack.
The Police
4/5
Usually strictly a Best Of band for me, but this was really pretty good
Sex Pistols
4/5
First listen (don’t judge me!) but this was a good listen
Rush
4/5
Always been quite a fan of this. Still sounds great
CHIC
3/5
Easy to forget how effortless they make this seem.
Madness
4/5
Revelation! I tend to think of them as essentially a novelty act, but this was far more fun, skilled and inventive than I expected.
Elton John
4/5
Gorgeous. Elton at his best
Common
2/5
On the positives, good delivery, some great backing tracks, and some glimmers of humour, but on the downsides, it just doesn’t stand out that much and covers many of the same preoccupations of hip-hop
Jethro Tull
3/5
Does the flute really have a place in rock? Arguably yes, according to this.
The Stone Roses
3/5
Ian Brown’s wafty vocals aside, this is pretty good, and it’s about as iconic as anything from the Madchester era.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Absolutely iconic theme tune. It maybe suffers a bit as an album with it being a soundtrack, as certain themes and melodies get recycled in different forms and there isn’t as much variety as a standard album, but it is still such a cool soundtrack
4/5
As with every Muse album, this has some amazing highs, but also seems to go on too long with some serious drag on some tracks.
Garbage
4/5
The 90s production maybe makes it sound a bit dated, but let’s be honest, that was a better time so I can live with it. Plus I had such a thing for Shirley Manson… 💕
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
This came freighted with huge reputation and expectation. Largely it met those expectations but not everything landed with me on a first listen.
Ghostface Killah
3/5
I like his delivery and some great samples in here, like the Clubber Lang sections in The Champ, but there’s also a lot of the same old stuff including seemingly endless skits that just made it tiresome after a while.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Great voice, but just never could muster much enthusiasm for the musical style choices. Her voice is perfect for the genre, and it undoubtedly generated a renaissance of that sound, but I just find it boringly pleasant background music.
Radiohead
4/5
Far better than I remember it. Never going to be my favourite band as I struggle with the vocals but this is far more than just that.
The Kinks
4/5
By turns quirkily interesting and quirkily irritating, this is still an impressive set of pop tunes that seem to echo through to a lot of 90s guitar pop.