I had forgotten how good this is. The standout is Don’t Give Up. Absolute goosebumps with that track!
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.
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.
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!)
Not the album of theirs that I would have chosen, but it is still a really good one.
I'd forgotten how fun and lively this album was, so it's been a welcome reintroduction
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
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.
Still a great catchy album, but they are not a great band
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
Definitely better than I expected, but still not really my sort of thing
I feel like I should have discovered this years ago. Excellent to find it now at least. Definitely going to get more listens soon
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
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.
Surprised me how much I enjoyed this, but not the sort of album I would be likely to return to
Not something I would have chosen, but I enjoyed enough of this to feel it needs revisiting in future
Absolute classic and still their best, in my opinion
She’s got a fantastic voice, but I found this album bland back then, and I still found it bland now
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
I’m a sucker for a lot of Paul McCartney’s stuff and this one is probably peak among his non-Beatles output.
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
A classic even on its release, sounding unique among its contemporaries
Another of those popular beat combos. I’m sure they’ll never amount to anything 😁
Smooth easy listen, but ultimately washed over me more than grabbed me
I really should revisit this more often
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
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
Not sure I have ever heard a note from her. Turns out I have been missing out
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
Really enjoyable and energetic
Generally really catchy, but vocals began to grate a bit towards the end
Utterly brilliant. Can’t believe I had never listened to this
Impressive but perhaps a bit self-congratulatory in the cleverness of the musicianship
An absolute classic. Perhaps a little overproduced but full of amazing tracks
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
Excellent. Surprised I hadn’t listened to this sooner
Amazing voice and skills but just not the sort of album I would reach for often (if ever)
Musically brilliant but I get irritated by Morrison’s vocal stylings.
Doesn’t quite meet its sensational tag, but pretty good overall
Really interesting. Completely new to me, but I want to hear more
Inoffensive but inessential listen. Enjoyable enough
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.
Never been keen on the vocals, but still a great catchy album
Iconic sound, amazingly delivered, but not an album I would reach for often
Impressively immersive but still not really my thing
Surprised I have never listened to Bert Jansch before. Really enjoyed this. Going to seek out more of his work
Full-on prog is like Marmite. I love Marmite
Very much the classic Stones sound. Enjoyed it a lot
Still don’t reckon it’s the masterpiece some claimed but it was a huge part of my teens
Beautiful voice, but just not my thing
Excellent 60s blues pop sound, expertly delivered but I can’t say it stands out enough for me to return to it
Can’t deny the quality and skill in these three-minute pop gems, but nor can I say that I love them
Not a genre I’d usually go for, so surprisingly enjoyable
Not quite as good as the follow-up, but for a debut, this is pretty spectacular
Far better than I expected
Surprisingly enjoyable considering I usually try and avoid jazz
Still don’t really get the adulation. Loses a point for Morrissey being a cock.
Classic rock. A tad cheesy, but quality cheese
The beats and samples under this were really good, but the lyrical content was pretty much what I would expect
Some of the tracks outstay their welcome, but the hits are undeniable
Starts well, but failed to set my world alight. Solid but unremarkable
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.
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.
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
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.
This landed much better with me than the previous Talking Heads album I was given. A real sense of fun in the funky
It’s not going to sweep the boards at the dance awards, but it is quite a beautiful listen
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.
Unclear why this is on this list. Not unlistenable but not particularly engaging either
Funky soul and blues. What more do you need…?
A little bit too conventional for Bowie but still a great album
I can see why people have loved this album. Hasn’t quite got its hooks into me yet, but it probably will
Hard to talk about this without the word iconic.
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.
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
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…?
Impressive but uninvolving. Which seems to be my standard response to Rush.
Yet another band I should have listened to many years ago. Right up my street, but I evidently wasn’t home that day
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.
A real revelation for me. Should have listened to this a long time ago
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.
If you’re going to get pompous and embellish your greatest hits with an orchestra, then this is the way to do it.
Pleasant, well-delivered but unexceptional.
Respect is iconic and the rest here are also solid slices of 60s soul, but just not really my thing
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.
Some great tracks, but lots of average ones as well
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
Very pretty orchestration around an iconic voice, but just not my thing
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.
This was quite something! I imagine this will divide views as it’s borderline musical theatre, but for me, it really worked
Never really got her, I’m afraid. Very overrated, in my opinion.
Impressive, but didn’t really engage me
Pleasant, enjoyable, and in a list of 1001 tracks, I guess it earns its right to be included
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.
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
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.
Horrible 80s sound to this album. Only his lyrics and delivery gain it a second star
Probably their most perfect album. Quality.
The title track is overplayed and inescapable, but the rest of this was really enjoyable
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
Pleasant pop rock. Fun but unmemorable.
Quality 60s soul. Enjoyable
Sounds like a dull Bob Dylan
I struggle with a lot of Tom Waits, but this is a high point
Overlong and more than a bit pompous but I rather enjoyed it anyway
Really liked this. Definitely worth another listen
Strictly a Best Of band for me up until now, but this was pretty good
Nice but bland. Why has this been included in a list of essential albums…?
Ironic for an album called Timeless, that this has a sound that so clearly dates it to that particular time
Absolutely Damned perfect!
Never really been my kind of thing but it’s got a lot going for it.
Really enjoyed this once I took the time
I had forgotten just how good this one was. They went on to do even better, but as a debut, this was pretty excellent!
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…
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
An iconic and flawless album
They were a really fun rock & roll band, but are they an essential listen before you die…?
Cool cosplay and album title. Otherwise, nope
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
New to me, but really enjoyed it
A little too long, but frankly, having Sabotage on there wins it a lot of points
Good early 80s angular pop sound, easy listen, but why’s it on this list?
Nice West Coast sound, easy listening, but unlikely to reach for this too often
Pretty good, but not particularly outstanding
AC/DC doing AC/DC stuff. What’s not to love…?
I have no real reference points for this. It wasn’t terrible but I would be extremely unlikely to revisit it
Utterly average pub rock. Not terrible but inexplicable why they are so revered.
A near perfect album and a high point for an iconic band
Stronger than I expected. Worth another listen
Pretty good but not the sort of album I would usually reach for
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
Really impressive playing, sitting somewhere between easy-listening and jazzy, but far too long to sustain my attention.
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
Really surprised how fun I found this.
It’s a classic sound (that I grew up hearing) but Neil Young sounds like a yowling cat
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.
A glaring gap in my musical knowledge considering how many bands who cite them as an influence. Did not disappoint!
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.
First time listen. Long overdue.
Huge sound and huge influence
Very good but I would still probably stick to the Best Of
Far better than I expected as I usually don’t like his yowl
Largely felt unexceptional but the last few famous tracks really lifted it
It was okay, but really struggled to understand why this is an essential to hear before you die
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
Not quite as good as I was hoping but still very good
Enjoyed more than I expected to. He still has a weird voice but he is a great lyricist
Overblown, overproduced twaddle. It scraped a second star mainly for the slight redemption of the soul selection at the end
Excellent album. Superstition is one of the greatest funky riffs ever
Well-produced, some great playing, but just one of those albums I find a bit dull.
Pleasant but non-essential
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.
Iconic, although it loses a point for sounding a bit too thin and reedy as a studio album
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
Just not my sort of thing. Hard to understand why this has been included in the 1001
Pleasant, good creativity and changes in style, but essential for the 1001…?
Never been a fan. They were top quality at what they did, but just not my thing.
Still don’t quite get the adulation for this album. Very good but not the perfection that some claim
Raining Blood is an excellent track but I find the rest of the album pretty so-so
Mystified why this has been included. Not terrible but achingly average
Excellent songwriting, but man that voice just whines like a dentist’s drill
Really enjoyed this one. Unknown to me, but definitely my sort of thing
Impressive in its composition, but not really my sort of thing
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
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
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
Really surprised. Never really liked Radiohead before but this one really clicked
Love the mellow vocals, but very much of its time
Pretty much as expected, undoubtedly influential, great tunes, but not something I would go out of my way to listen to
Essential to listen to before you die, yes, but only around this time of year.
