167
Albums Rated
3.17
Average Rating
15%
Complete
922 albums remaining
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1990s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
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Top Origin
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Rater Style ?
15
5-Star Albums
7
1-Star Albums
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You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus | 5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
| Unknown Pleasures | 5 | 3.47 | +1.53 |
| Hard Again | 5 | 3.62 | +1.38 |
| Superunknown | 5 | 3.66 | +1.34 |
| Bayou Country | 5 | 3.66 | +1.34 |
| Remain In Light | 5 | 3.67 | +1.33 |
| Let's Get Killed | 4 | 2.68 | +1.32 |
| Dr. Octagonecologyst | 4 | 2.69 | +1.31 |
| Kid A | 5 | 3.71 | +1.29 |
| The Infotainment Scan | 4 | 2.72 | +1.28 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speakerboxxx/The Love Below | 1 | 3.45 | -2.45 |
| Let's Get It On | 2 | 3.78 | -1.78 |
| Odessa | 1 | 2.72 | -1.72 |
| Heaux Tales | 1 | 2.68 | -1.68 |
| 3 + 3 | 2 | 3.59 | -1.59 |
| Idlewild | 1 | 2.57 | -1.57 |
| Fulfillingness' First Finale | 2 | 3.56 | -1.56 |
| Blonde On Blonde | 2 | 3.5 | -1.5 |
| Arrival | 2 | 3.49 | -1.49 |
| Parachutes | 2 | 3.46 | -1.46 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 3 | 5 |
| Nirvana | 2 | 5 |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 3 | 4.33 |
5-Star Albums (15)
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Popular Reviews
Pink Floyd
3/5
Experimental psychedelic stuff, it was a first listen so hard to fully appreciate but this is nowhere near as good as some of their later albums.
1 likes
Beatles
3/5
The inclusion of this album on the list kind of baffles me. I get that this was probably important at the time but for an album containing 6 covers, and nowhere near their best work, it feels more important in the evolution of The Beatles than music as a whole, especially when they have 6 other albums on the list, including the follow up A Hard Day’s Night which feels more significant to me.
Anyway, this is fine, there are some good songs but I’m not sure I’d include any individual tracks among my favourite Beatles songs. They were still heavily influenced by rock’n’roll and doo-wop at this stage and is evident here.
1 likes
The Fall
4/5
I can’t think of another band that comes with the reputation of The Fall, but where I don’t think I knew a single song. They are the type of band that I absolutely want to hear as a result of the 1001 album challenge, regardless of whether I like them or not, but it just so happens that I have enjoyed this, which pleases me because of their Manchester roots.
Listening to this album, I don’t know if this is the best entry point of their 31 studio albums, but presumably it’s a pretty good introduction, and one I have enjoyed. It’s clearly influenced some bands, such as LCD Soundsystem and I’m sure there are a bunch of artists that will cite them as influences, but it was during the track Paranoia Man in Cheap Sh**t Room that it made me think immediately of Hurricane Laughter by Fontaines DC and made me wonder if they had listened to The Fall.
The last few tracks on this album seem to go a bit off the scale in some form of electronic weirdness, but all in all, there is some danger in this album I quite like.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (7)
All Ratings
David Holmes
4/5
This is the first album thrown up by the generator and I'm familiar with David Holmes and a lot of his work without really listening to many albums. I enjoyed this, right up my street with 'Gritty Shaker' a song I already knew coming into this thanks to the Ocean's 11 soundtrack.
At nearly an hour long, the runtime is a touch long but much to like here, contrary to many of the reviews. 'Don't Die Just Yet' is the highlight for me.
Muddy Waters
5/5
Never heard this before but Chicago Blues is right up my street, and feels like I’ve been listening to it for years.
Alanis Morissette
3/5
This is an album I know well and had heard before, back when it was popular. Revisiting this shows just how many songs were released as at least half of them must have been singles. I had a decent time here but having not listened in 25-30 years, it's unlikely I'll be going back again.
Bob Dylan
2/5
This album is very long! Perhaps I wasn’t in the mood but found this a real slog.
Fiona Apple
3/5
I’d give this 3.5 stars if I could.
Frank Zappa
4/5
First listen for me and very much enjoyed. It's one I will need to return to so I can appreciate it more.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
An album I already knew, a very good and enjoyable listen, although NC&TBS have better albums.
Morrissey
3/5
I am a fan of The Smiths but I've never really listened to Morrissey albums before. This was fine, and I enjoyed the famous songs on here that I already knew but I feel Johnny Marr is a big factor in why I liked The Smiths.
The Band
2/5
I'm sure this was influential, it was largely inoffensive but it didn't do much for me. 2 stars may be harsh but just wasn't for me really.
Cat Stevens
3/5
Not really heard or thought about Cat Stevens for a long time and it’s not until I played the album that the various inescapable famous tracks hit me. It’s a decent enough listen even if Ronan Keating and Ricky Gervais have done their best to taint it. I just don’t see when I’d come back to listen to this though.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
Being a double album, it certainly takes longer to get to know, but this was a 3rd listen and this is really up my street. Abbatoir Blues has an amazing 4 track run of There She Goes My Beautiful World/Nature Boy/Abbatoir Blues/Let the Bells Ring.
Van Morrison
3/5
I’m not going to lie, I pulled a face when this came up. I don’t knowingly know much by Van Morrison other than Brown Eyed Girl which suffers from being played at every wedding, disco or party for the last million years.
I actually quite enjoyed this listen though, and I recognised the title track, and although I’m not sure I’d rush back, it has its merits for sure.
Dr. Octagon
4/5
I never wake up and think I must listen to some hiphop / rap but it is a genre I like and once I start listening, with the right artist, I do enjoy it. I didn’t know much about Dr Octagon but I had a good time here, although typically for this genre, the album is a touch long at over an hour.
Yes
3/5
Enjoyed this very proggy album, maybe the vocals weren’t quite my thing else I’d have scored higher, although further listens might also help in that regard.
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
Well this was quite a challenging listen, there was a lot of good in the opening tracks from a musical perspective but I wasn’t a fan of John Lydon’s vocals unfortunately. The album seemed to get increasingly experimental for the 2nd half and perhaps there are a lot of ideas that are hard to grasp with one listen. Hard to think when I’d come back for this but part of me thinks there would be merit in coming back, although running past the hour mark isn’t in its favour.
Marvin Gaye
2/5
You have to admire the man’s dedication to getting it on, first Let’s Get it On and then later Keep Gettin’ it On, and everything between, this is far too sensual for my tastes. To his credit, this is only just over half an hour so didn’t drag on.
Not for me really, What’s Going On is a good song and something a bit more political would float my boat a bit more, I expect that album is on the list somewhere.
Soft Machine
3/5
4 tracks spanning 1 hour 15 mins means you know this is going to be challenging. This was labelled as rock on Apple Music but the second track was pretty much jazz. The last track saved it somewhat, this is where I found most enjoyment, even if I thought it had ended about 3 times before it actually did.
So it definitely has its merits, and most likely requires multiple listens but I just don’t see when I’d return - it would make decent background music though.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
3/5
A blues explosion should be right up my street but this didn’t really land for me, although I admit to listening to this on my mini Bluetooth speaker whilst painting with a fan on in the background which may have impacted things. The vocals weren’t really landing and a lot seemed a bit noisy and experimental. I may return to check I’ve not given this an unfair listen or indeed if people recommend I give it another go.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
I only know their most famous songs but listening to this just felt like I’d listened several times before. I don’t really know what else to say, I just had a great time listening to this and already added to my library for further listens. I’ll also look forward to their other entries to this list.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
I must caveat and say this is more of a 3.5 star outing as it perhaps didn’t grab me as much as I expected, though I did enjoy it on the whole. I feel like there must be other Hendrix records where I’d get on better with maybe just down to the famous tracks but this was good enough to revisit, I just don’t know when.
The vocals at times were softer than I expected, and I quite liked that about it.
Metallica
3/5
This is good and could probably push to 4 stars with repeated listens, there just was a lot of similarity across the tracks.
The Residents
1/5
When this came up, it seemed interesting - art rock, electronica etc. Within the first 20 seconds of this, I thought, "what the hell is this?". However, it could easily have just been a strange quirky intro...unfortunately after 14 songs, I was still thinking "what the hell is this?". Luckily, it's only 35 minutes long - it is rather bizarre in places, too bizarre for my liking unfortunately.
Easy to see why this is the top 3 worst rated albums.
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
I think everyone knows Can I Kick It? but I’ve never listened to this album before. I quite like Q-Tip as a rapper/vocalist but again my experience is limited to this and the odd track he has collaborated with others like the Chemical Brothers on. I had a fine time here, it feels like good music to play whilst you’re sat out in the garden with friends on a sunny day having a drink and/or a barbecue, but I’m not sure I’d be reaching for a solo listen. It’s a touch long as is apparently every hip-hop album
ABBA
2/5
Not my thing really but clearly they are very good at what they do.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
A bit underwhelming, production is quite noisy with vocals quite far back but that’s flipped in the 2nd half of the album, but the vocals aren’t that strong.
Nirvana
5/5
An all time wonderful performance
Brian Eno
3/5
This is strong for the first 8 or so tracks but it outstays its welcome at over 1 hour long, else it might have made 4 stars.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Very important and influential album
Marty Robbins
2/5
It’s not my thing but an easy listen and clearly an influential record for its genre.
OutKast
1/5
Too long, not my thing. I felt sick by the end of it 😂. They are not without merit and some tracks were decent to be fair but the sheer length confined it to the single star.
The Afghan Whigs
3/5
I’ve had to give this a second listen as it passed me by initially; this is the sort of album that probably needs more time to get to know, it’s fine but it’s not really grabbed me.
They are a band that’s always been on the periphery of my musical sphere, a band I know by name but little else. I did listen to one of their more recent albums which I enjoyed (but only once or twice) so I’m holding on to the idea that there is something more for me here.
The Zutons
3/5
I was pleasantly surprised by this, there are 3-4 singles that were massively popular at the time and as such, overplayed and I had a feeling of indie landfill for this one. It was a Sunday morning listen and maybe that was just was a good time to listen. It’s upbeat and the addition of a saxophone just seems to make it feel more varied and interesting.
I’m not sure I’d seek to listen to this again but probably wouldn’t be averse to hearing it, although I may want to skip a couple of the overplayed singles.
Black Sabbath
4/5
I was contemplating just what it must have been like to discover a new sound and blaze a trail that inspired a whole genre. I had a separate thought about how prolific Sabbath were in releasing 4 albums in the space of 2 years, and realised the two thoughts are most likely connected.
I managed to put this on in the car driving home with the family after a weekend away, and luckily there were no complaints. I certainly enjoyed this and I contemplated if I’ve missed out on not listening to their albums before now.
I enjoyed learning that this was supposed to be called Snowblind like the song but the record company intervened - seemed a bit unnecessary.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I’m not sure if this is my thing and yet there’s something quite likeable about it. At times, it has a feel of The Clash and a quick search tells me Mick Jones plays on Big Tears so I guess I’m not just imagining it.
I’m not sure when I’d listen to this again and I don’t know if more listens would make me like it more but I wouldn’t be against it.
The The
2/5
Sounds very 80s and very of its time. I liked parts of this but overall I don’t have an urge to revisit so it just didn’t land for me.
Meat Puppets
3/5
I know a few of the songs because of Nirvana but had never heard the album before. The instrumentation is good and there are good songs here, except the vocals are weak and it often lets it down which is a shame.
Kanye West
2/5
Not my thing really but appreciate the craft and the production quality.
However, Kanye is a dick, to say the least.
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
Loved the vibe of this, the penultimate track was top notch (Cavaleiro do Cavalo Imaculado) in fact I’m going to listen to that song again.
Killing Joke
3/5
Enjoyed this, one to return to. Requiem is a good track
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
This is a fairly easy going album, it gently rises and peaks towards the end. It’s good but not great.
Bee Gees
1/5
This is pre-disco era Bee Gees and whilst that might in some ways might sound promising, it’s actually not. I could at least have endured the disco stuff but this was warbling folky nonsense. At times it sounded a bit Beatlesesque and that’s about as much positivity as I can muster.
The Boo Radleys
2/5
Mostly passed me by whilst listening to this
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
Almost Cut My Hair is brilliant. Album is decent on the whole; this was a first listen but not sure when I’d come back to this
The Who
2/5
Bland, overlong and boring…apart from Pinball Wizard. Might have to stick to the greatest hits.
Korn
3/5
I was a fan of Korn back in the day but I have not really listened in the last 20 years. They certainly have a unique style and probably merit their place in this list but I would question whether I'd choose this album or one of their debut or Life is Peachy.
Having listened again, I don't really see the appeal for me these days but nonetheless, a decent album that was of its time.
Pink Floyd
3/5
Experimental psychedelic stuff, it was a first listen so hard to fully appreciate but this is nowhere near as good as some of their later albums.
Lou Reed
4/5
Excellent, can definitely feel Bowie’s influence on this album. Perfect Day and Walk on the Wild Side are all timers and Vicious is great too. First listen for me so will be revisiting for sure.
Hole
3/5
Some great songs on here, particularly Violet although it’s not a great album on the whole. I enjoyed listening to it though.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
3/5
I quite liked this, especially “Death to Everyone” and may well return to this. Some of it passed me by but I was also a bit fed up working in the office and it was really hot which may have affected my mood! 🥵
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
Must have been a heavy one last night, it felt like a bit of a blur.
I came to with the taste of rust in my mouth and the throb of metal on metal rattling through my ribs. The morning sky was the colour of wet cement, and when I rolled over, I realised I was lying on a pile of bent rebar. A crane swung overhead like a lazy predator, its hook creaking in rhythm with the pounding somewhere deep in the construction site.
Berlin. Or at least a version of Berlin where buildings are born screaming.
I stumbled between stacks of sheet metal, every step setting off an accidental percussion section — clanks, scrapes, and the hiss of steam that might have been a warning or just the city breathing. Somewhere in the scaffolding above me, a man in black was bashing a steel plate with a hammer, his movements slow and deliberate, like he was tuning the air itself.
Then it hit me: this wasn’t just a construction site. This was Kollaps. Not a recording, not a performance, but a living, shuddering organism. The bass wasn’t coming from a speaker — it was the ground itself groaning. Voices echoed from tunnels, not sung so much as chiseled out of the concrete. Every sound was sharp enough to cut the skin, yet arranged with a precision that made it feel… inevitable.
A rusted shopping cart rolled past on its own, rattling like a snare drum. Somewhere beyond a wall of corrugated steel, someone was sawing through metal piping, the shriek blending perfectly into the next “track.” I had no idea where the musicians were — maybe they were the cranes, the bulldozers, the pipes. Maybe they were the wind between half-finished walls.
When I finally found an exit, I realised there wasn’t one. The fence was just another loop in the sound. Berlin had swallowed me whole, and I was trapped inside the album — a place where collapse wasn’t an accident but an art form.
If Kollaps is music, it’s music that doesn’t need you to listen. It will keep happening, hammering and grinding, long after you’ve left. That is, if you ever do.
Jurassic 5
4/5
Sounds fresh and enjoyable all these years on. It all sounds effortless, I’m not sure if this is my favourite J5 album but it’s certainly very good. It could be a few tracks shorter for my money but minor quibble as the quality never drops really.
The Incredible String Band
1/5
Scottish psychedelic folk is exactly as good as it sounds. The album cover tells you everything you need to know about this album.
Air
3/5
Cinematic and lush as ever from Air. My go to would still be Moon Safari but always loved “Playground Love”
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
I’m not generally a reggae fan but there’s always classics in the genre and this is excellent. Half the album is well known hits so it feels impossible to have a bad time here. Waiting in Vain has always been a favourite of mine but there are some great album tracks like Natural Mystic and the 7 min epic title track. Essential listening.
Röyksopp
3/5
Easy listening downtempo electronic, this was an album I was into back when it was released and owned it, however, I hadn’t listened for many years so it was great to revisit.
R.E.M.
3/5
Not heard this before but quite enjoyed, it’s not the level of the likes of Automatic for the People, this album feels quite subtle and understated in many ways and ended up listening twice to help appreciate it more. Solid but it feels like they are operating within themselves and I know there is more to come.
Laura Nyro
2/5
Not heard of Laura Nyro before, this was inoffensive 60s pop but perhaps that does it a slight disservice, it’s soulful and at times it promises to deliver something I’d really like but alas, it falls short. Can understand the appeal but it’s not for me.
Meat Loaf
2/5
This album is over the top, over produced, cheesy and everything you’d expect from Meat Loaf.
The opening to You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth is absolutely ridiculous.
Bat Out of Hell saves it from 1 star treatment.
Machito
3/5
Afro Cuban jazz - what’s not to like? Oh yeah, right of course, but I still liked it and it’s clearly influential. Despite a relatively short run time, it still dragged a bit. It feels best listened to as background vibes.
The Streets
2/5
I can’t believe I actually liked this at the time, I’ve not listened in a good 20 years so I guess it was fleeting. It was popular and a bit different at the time, and being a concept album made it stand out a bit more but in listening now, it’s a poorly executed mess of an album where he loses a grand and finds it again whilst in between that, portrays a character that you simply don’t care about. So revisiting this and yep, it’s not for me - I generally hate garage and a lot of the “singing” or “rapping” here as it’s terrible. Blinded By the Lights is just about the only decent track. Overall I’m not sure it has stood the test of time.
Iron Maiden
3/5
I rather liked this but I feel I’d need more listens to appreciate it more. Some good tracks, particularly Phantom of the Opera.
Bobby Womack
3/5
I appreciate the craft here, he has a brilliant voice no doubt but it’s just not my thing really. I enjoyed it to a point but I probably tuned out after 4-5 songs so I won’t be returning voluntarily. I was debating whether to award this 2 stars but that seemed a bit harsh.
Coldplay
2/5
This is pretty bland, early Coldplay is probably better than latter Coldplay but I don’t know if that is saying much. I feel there are people that hate Coldplay far more than I do, I’m fairly ambivalent, they have some decent songs but I don’t know if they can be considered essential listening.
Gotan Project
4/5
This was a nice surprise, I really wasn’t sure what to expect but as the first track settled it became clear this was something good. As soon as the second track, *Época*, began, it was a “oh I know this” moment. I reckon it’s a track most people know without knowing they know it - you know? It must have been on a TV advert or something. It’s followed by a *Frank Zappa* cover, *Chunga’s Revenge*, which is great.
Gotan Project are French and there’s some Gallic touches often through the form of an accordion on this Latino themed album, hence the tango, which could be described as downtempo electronic, jazz, and at times there are flashes of trip hop. My only criticism is that I’m not sure it justifies its 1 hour runtime and the second half of the album fades to background music, although the whole album makes for good background vibe.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Some days you just get an album that puts a smile upon your face. I can't say I have listened to a lot Pink Floyd, however, I have listened to this before and this was a good chance to top up my listening time. I managed to squeeze in 2 listens in the same day for this (one original, one remastered). I'm not sure if I have listened enough to form a proper opinion yet but even though this is clearly a work of high quality work, I feel like I prefer Wish You Were Here and Animals from my listens to date. Regardless, I will look forward to exploring Pink Floyd further in the future.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Well of course I love this as a raging Pearl Jammer. Not sure why I haven’t dived into Neil Young properly before. I know F*!#In’ Up very well thanks to PJ but Love to Burn and Love and Only Love were absolutely sensational tracks, the latter coming in at 10mins long and leaving me wanting more. This album clocks in just over the hour and completely justifies it! Also, I sometimes struggle to comprehend how this was only 1 year before Ten, not because of the sound but because the influence just makes me think it should be years prior.
Ministry
3/5
I have to admit this wasn’t the most focused listen and ended up being in 2 parts, I was aware of Ministry and being industrial metal, I was intrigued. It certainly requires further listens but there was enough here for me to want to return, so I will.
Carole King
4/5
My Dad likes Carole King and sometimes when I go to watch the football with him he’ll just put some music on via YouTube on the TV as we chat and have a beer, and Carole King is a go to for him, so it’s possible I’ve heard the album before. I certainly know half of the tracks since they are well known, made famous either by her or other artists.
I really enjoyed this listen today, some of the influences and style here seems quite eclectic and the instrumentation really elevated it at times - definitely feels like an album to hear before you die.
Underworld
4/5
Opening the album with two 15+ minute tracks seems incredibly bold, although given the genre, perhaps not. The good news is that the opener, Juanita: Kiteless: To Dream of Love, is brilliant. This provided the perfect companion piece for a productive hour or so working away at my desk. I didn’t know any of the tracks on this album, but I am a casual fan of Underworld thanks in no small part to Danny Boyle. Naturally, I had to go and listen to some of my favourite tracks like Dark and Long and Two Months Off afterwards, I shall definitely be exploring Underworld more.
2/5
Imagine you’re on one of those d-day landing boats, the door of the boat lowers like a ramp to a full on assault, many fall immediately, others don’t last much longer. You move forward navigating this barrage; someone has lost their arm and picks it up….you hunker down behind anything you can find, ears ringing, as the assault continues with everyone just trying to survive. You continue to make progress but this is not the assault of heavy machine guns or artillery, it’s ***hardcore jazz***.
In fact, if you can make it through the first 21 mins or so, this starts to become a little more accessible. If the first half of the album was more like the second half I’d probably be inclined to award an extra star. That first half is intense and challenging.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs were always an MTV sort of band to me. Kind of liked the singles but never really went any further than that, perhaps I would have if I had a friend who liked them.
This sort of album is entirely what these challenges are about for me, it’s the sort of album I should have listened to at the time and this is the chance to put that right.
I had a perfectly good time here, warm fuzzy guitars seem to be the dominant sound. It’s a solid album but one I should probably find time to revisit at some stage.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
I’m aware of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and that’s about it, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I hit play on this, although this somehow sounded about how it ought to, and I’ve enjoyed listening. My first listen was broken up a bit but finished strong so I put it on again, after all it was only 31 minutes. Reminded me of the Rolling Stones in places and also one of the tracks sounded very close to Stuck in the Middle With You, vocally. It’s pretty straight up in many ways which makes this easy to listen to and familiar sounding, I feel this is one that is close to 4 stars but might need more convincing before I upgrade.
Aphex Twin
3/5
This feels a far cry from the (albeit limited) Aphex Twin I know. This album feels like it should be best enjoyed as a come down to a big night out in the early hours. I guess in the right circumstances I would happily put this on and could enjoy it but on the whole, I’m not sure I’d reach for this and find time to play the entire album these days. It has real high points, and when Ageispolis hit its stride, I was thinking this might raise the album into 4 star territory. I’d certainly come back for this track and 1-2 others.
Paul Simon
4/5
I don’t know if it was just the Sunday vibes but this landed well today. I don’t recall listening to this in full before but I know some of the songs reasonably well and You Can Call Me Al extremely well - one I’ve always loved. Quite enjoyed the African influences on display here and whilst listening, I couldn’t help think Vampire Weekend must have been heavily influenced by this.
I did manage to see Paul Simon live back in 2011 at Glastonbury but I have to admit in the baking Sunday sun and probably feeling tired and/or hungover, I wasn’t really enjoying it until You Can Call Me Al came on.
AC/DC
3/5
I’ve never knowingly listened to this album before but of course, I know the hits. All I can really say about this album is that it is tremendous fun and it’s clear why it is so popular; definitely worth hearing before you die.
T. Rex
3/5
Their sound is just so familiar, but I can’t help thinking there’s a reason I’ve never bothered to listen to an album before. They have some good songs but I get the feeling I only really need to know the hits. Having said that, I enjoyed this album, it has a warm comforting fuzz to it and probably merits its place on the list. I also felt like this album would have been released much later than 1971, which is perhaps a sign of it being ahead of its time. I’d happily listen again, although I don’t know when.
Beatles
3/5
The inclusion of this album on the list kind of baffles me. I get that this was probably important at the time but for an album containing 6 covers, and nowhere near their best work, it feels more important in the evolution of The Beatles than music as a whole, especially when they have 6 other albums on the list, including the follow up A Hard Day’s Night which feels more significant to me.
Anyway, this is fine, there are some good songs but I’m not sure I’d include any individual tracks among my favourite Beatles songs. They were still heavily influenced by rock’n’roll and doo-wop at this stage and is evident here.
Hole
3/5
I’m struggling to reconcile this one, it’s not as good as Live Through This, which I gave 3 stars, yet I don’t think this deserves only 2 stars. I don’t think LTT is quite at 4 stars for me either so I’m essentially giving them the same score.
On the whole this was fine, there are some good songs on here and they are spread across the album catching my attention now and again, but the album did feel like it dragged a little.
Nick Drake
3/5
I really enjoyed listening to this, production feels great, maybe it caught me in the right mood but the vibes were perfect. At times it does feel a little twee or perhaps lack a certain something, it’s another album I’d probably rate 7-7.5/10 but not quite sure I’d round up to give it 4 stars. I want to return though so it is entirely possible I will upgrade if I get round to it.
New Order
4/5
Ok I keep getting albums that I round down to 3 stars but today I’m going to round up, maybe a little bias on my part given their Manchester roots, and that they are one of my wife’s favourite bands.
I wasn’t sure if I’d listened to this album before but I know Perfect Kiss, this is a good album, and with just 8 tracks over 40 mins, very succinct. Sure, Bernard Sumner’s vocals often seem weak but it’s mostly not a problem for me here. By now New Order had fully moved away from their Joy Division sound, with synths taking centre stage. I also caught myself thinking one of the beats was a bit cliched but then it almost instantly occurred to me that it was because New Order made it famous with Blue Monday. I’m still very much a Joy Division fan over New Order and most of my favourite New Order tracks weren’t released on albums but I had a good time with this one, finding time for a couple of listens.
Hot Chip
3/5
Interesting to get this a day after New Order, I could probably draw a straight line from one to the other in terms of influence. I was into Hot Chip in their pomp and I was familiar with The Warning, which I must have owned, I was almost disappointed that it wasn’t an album I knew (I’d listened to Made in the Dark before also) and perhaps surprised to learn this is the album selected for the list. On the other hand, it was good to explore a new album as I was more of a casual fan and didn’t keep up with them, even though I’ve seen them live a couple of times. A quick Google seemed to suggest a lot of people regard this their best album and the first half of the album certainly gave me a good impression. It’s hard to properly review an album from one listen, and mood plays a big part, but today I had to divide my listen into 2 and so I’m conscious that I enjoyed the first half more than the second half which could have been a symptom of that.
I also found it hard to pick a favourite track, maybe it’s not that sort of album.
Eagles
4/5
Not an album I have listened to before but I knew more songs than I realised. I have to say, it’s clear why this album makes the list (and other lists of this sort), it sounds good throughout, Hotel California is an all timer.
Coldcut
2/5
This is the 2nd album on the list I’ve had to go to YouTube for, and the version I listened to appears to be the US release, rather than the UK release and there appears to be a few key differences, I gather Doctorin’ the House was a big release so since it was missing, I sought it out also.
This is 80s house music, lots of guest vocalists, and it’s one of those cut and paste sample albums, crafting all sorts of samples together - maybe this was influential and I’m not averse to this sort of music. There were elements I liked but the album was too long and I got a bit bored, it’s probably not for sitting down to listen, more for a party or the club. It sounds very of its time, I don’t think it stands the test of time but can understand the appeal it will have had.
The Who
3/5
The name of this album is basically what I say everyday with this challenge.
Baba O’Riley is an all timer but this album didn’t really do enough to convince me that they are more than a greatest hits type of band. This album started very strongly, and it ended very strongly, but it was a bit middling in the middle.
Lenny Kravitz
2/5
I only really know his most famous songs, which are likeable but I didn’t know any from his debut. This album is mostly fine but it passed me by somewhat, and largely only caught my attention when things weren’t so good. Lyrically, I wasn’t too impressed with this and some of the songs were just lacking. Certainly doesn’t feel like a must hear album.
Radiohead
4/5
At the time Kid A / Amnesiac were released, for some reason I missed the boat slightly, maybe I didn’t quite get it at first and it wasn’t until later that I came back to appreciate them, in fact, it wasn’t until after Hail to the Thief that I decided to go back and catch up. HTTF, with the release of a more straight up single in There, There, it caught my attention and delved in and got my Radiohead listening back on track, so HTTF feels like an important chapter in my Radiohead journey. In truth, HTTF took me a long time to fully appreciate as once I got hold of In Rainbows, my attention switched somewhat.
Over 20 years later I’m still finding HTTF keeps giving; my favourite track is Where I End and You Begin and it was probably about 10 years ago that my appreciation of this track really elevated. Radiohead are the only band, to my mind, that I keep discovering songs on new levels to how I found them previously.
For this listen, I decided to give the recently released Live Recordings 2003-2009 version of this album another spin, instead of the original album - live versions always seem to give another perspective and help me appreciate some tracks even more, and it’s Go To Sleep that has been standing out lately.
Giant Sand
3/5
I’ve never even remotely heard of these before. It was a bit one paced and laid back but sometimes the day leads you to a different pattern, and here I ended up listening in the evening and appreciated the vibes, perhaps more had I listened in the morning or indeed, on a weekday.
There are definite Lou Reed vibes in the vocals, probably some Leonard Cohen too. It’s an album I think some will really like and others will just be bored. I think it would benefit from further listens but I’m not sure it’s done enough to compel me to revisit, I’m just not sure when I’d come back for this.
Yes
3/5
This is the 2nd Yes album I have been dealt so far, they’re not a band I particularly knew coming into this and just like with The Yes Album, I’m left liking the proggy nature of this but feeling like I’d need more listens to properly appreciate it. I also think I preferred The Yes Album.
Beastie Boys
4/5
This is just a lot of fun, the beats are crispy and the rhymes are plenty. I love the production on this, it’s a cracking debut, and more than warrants its place on the list.
Pearl Jam
5/5
Probably one of the easiest 5 star albums on this list for me. It’s absolutely perfect, a perfect Ten! This is probably one of the most important albums for me personally, one of those formative albums that will always be special.
I have my favourite songs but I could list most any of them. Whether it’s Eddie’s passionate and intense vocals or Mike McCready’s incredible guitar solos, this is a band operating at the peak of their powers, and with their debut release to boot. The fact they are still going strong today, tells you everything about the unity and talent of the band, save the odd drummer problem.
Ray Price
2/5
Ok, I’ve had a pretty good run lately, culminating in a 5 star masterpiece yesterday, but all good things must come to an end.
I listened to this walking the streets of Manchester on my office day, and it occurred to me that no one could possibly imagine the album I was listening to. This is proper country music, it’s perfectly pleasant in so many ways but it’s just not for me. I appreciate the relatively short runtime at 38 mins because all the tracks are quite samey.
The Cure
5/5
In the grand scheme of things, this album is still quite new to me. The Cure were more of a greatest hits band to me, one I always liked but never delved into until the last year or so. Suffice to say, the albums I have taken time to listen to have been a big hit with me, and it is easy to see why Disintegration is so lauded. It’s an album that doesn’t feel at all rushed, lots of space and contemplation; the opening and closing tracks are prime examples of this.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Well, my recent 1001 run keeps on going strong…and a second Beastie Boys album within a week!
Another album which is a lot of fun and deserves to be on the list. Johnny Ryall is brilliant, and I love the Beatles sample from The End used in The Sounds of Science.
Everything But The Girl
1/5
Everything but good songs, amirite?!! ✋
Christ, this is dull middle of the road dreary ballads and I would probably usually give this sort of thing 2 stars but I’m in a bad mood and this is not helping, it’s just making me miserable. Add to that, I’m just annoyed about the suggestion that I should listen to this album before I die.
I’ve also discovered they have 2 albums on here 😭
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
I only knowingly know *Pop Corn* by JMJ, and that famous track that I now learn is Pt. 4 here. The first half of the album was a bit slow to get going for me but the second half was really good. This feels like another album where 3 stars seems harsh but I’m not sure I want to give it 4 stars, at least not without further listens, so I’ll try and revisit in future and may upgrade.
My wife commented that this sounded very 80s, so being released in 1976, perhaps it was ahead of its time.
Soundgarden
5/5
Another 5 star classic, and one of the Mount Rushmore of grunge albums. Admittedly, I spent more time with Pearl Jam and Nirvana through my teens but there’s no denying the quality here. Chris Cornell’s vocals can’t be praised enough. I never saw Soundgarden live but I was fortunate enough to see Audioslave.
Van Morrison
3/5
This struck me as a 3 star album straight off the bat. It’s perfectly fine but never gave me much cause to take greater interest. I’m not sure the vibe really matched my mood this morning, so that probably didn’t do it any favours.
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
My first introduction to Chemical Brothers were the singles from Dig Your Own Hole, and it wasn’t until Surrender that I really became a fan, probably because they were hard to avoid at that point. Whilst I kept up with them to a point, I have been less engaged with their most recent offerings. However, I have spent a lot of time going back to listen to their first 2 albums. This is about as pure an album as they come for this genre, and something I’ve come to appreciate more than some of the big collaborations that came later. I might prefer Dig Your Own Hole, if only for the Private Psychedelic Reel alone so the only question is whether their impressive debut gets 4 or 5 stars.
The sequencing is great and it blends seamlessly, offering big beats early on and bringing some of the more chilled tracks in the second half. The transition from Song to the Siren into Three Little Birdies Down Beats is a highlight for me.
King Crimson
3/5
This was a bit of a slow burn, it wasn’t instant to me but opened up to me as it went on. Probably one for repeated listens, and I would listen again given chance but not sure if I’d be rushing back.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Pleasant and inoffensive, not really my thing but can understand the appeal. I understand this is an album of covers, although I was only familiar with Unchained Melody by name.
Spiritualized
4/5
I started listening to this on my way out but had to finish up the following day, feeling slightly hungover, and this is quite the tonic! It’s dreamy and spaced out. It’s right up my street so will have to return to this, especially as this feels like it would take time to properly absorb. My only slight criticism is that, being quite long, requires a patient mood so might have to pick my moments to return to this one.
The Fall
4/5
I can’t think of another band that comes with the reputation of The Fall, but where I don’t think I knew a single song. They are the type of band that I absolutely want to hear as a result of the 1001 album challenge, regardless of whether I like them or not, but it just so happens that I have enjoyed this, which pleases me because of their Manchester roots.
Listening to this album, I don’t know if this is the best entry point of their 31 studio albums, but presumably it’s a pretty good introduction, and one I have enjoyed. It’s clearly influenced some bands, such as LCD Soundsystem and I’m sure there are a bunch of artists that will cite them as influences, but it was during the track Paranoia Man in Cheap Sh**t Room that it made me think immediately of Hurricane Laughter by Fontaines DC and made me wonder if they had listened to The Fall.
The last few tracks on this album seem to go a bit off the scale in some form of electronic weirdness, but all in all, there is some danger in this album I quite like.
Patti Smith
3/5
I enjoyed listening to this; it instantly got me thinking how many stars to award. Gloria is a great opener and had me thinking this could easily be a 4 star outing but for the most part, the album didn’t quite grab me in the same way. It wasn’t until the penultimate track that I found the best song on the album, Land, which elevated it towards those 4 stars once more but on reflection, whilst this brings a lot of punk spirit and is clearly influential, I’m giving this the 3 star treatment with a note to return and see how I find it next time.
Keith Jarrett
3/5
The guy is obviously extremely talented, and I’m aware this is all improvised. It feels harsh to give this a low score, perhaps listening to this whilst working, proofreading a document, helped set the right mood for it. It’s not really something I would consider sitting and listening to but could easily provide background music.
Stereo MC's
4/5
When this popped up, I was a bit surprised it was on the list. I remember their singles, and checking the year, I was probably a year away from when I started my music collection so I never listened to the album. I liked the singles so I expected to enjoy this on some level but didn’t quite expect to enjoy it as much as I did. Blending hip-hop, electronic, and funk - it has a nice groove to it, maybe even a bit trip-hop.
Brian Eno
3/5
This is no doubt influential and there is definitely a place for this. I enjoyed listening to the first track whilst I worked, it was incredibly calming, and I was even contemplating a 4 for this album but the rest of the album didn’t quite have the same effect on me. I could see myself returning for a listen as an accompaniment to working or perhaps when trying to relax but feels like it would be for a specific purpose rather than anything regular.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
4/5
Good listen, Janis Joplin’s vocals are great and Piece of My Heart is a classic. At times I was thinking some of Tom Waits’ higher pitched vocals sound reminiscent of JJ here. This was always going to be up my street with bluesy guitars and those late 60s vibes. Cool album artwork too.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Feels kind of strange to have a movie soundtrack on the list but here we are, a double album to boot. It’s mostly an instrumental album used for scoring the movie. The very famous theme is no doubt a highlight but Do Your Thing, one of just three tracks with vocals, was the highlight. This was a fairly easy listen but not an album I would return to save for the odd song.
Grizzly Bear
3/5
This is the sort of band I want to this challenge to bring me to, the sort of a band I vaguely know and seem interesting, and in many ways, Grizzly Bear should be up my street. Two Weeks is good and I instantly recognised it when it came on, but for too much of this album, it just wasn’t really landing with me. I’d probably give it 2 stars but it picked up towards the end and the production was interesting.
Depeche Mode
2/5
Depeche Mode are a band I like for their hits, particularly Enjoy The Silence and Personal Jesus, so I was interested to dive in here. The production is very 80s, lots of synths and feels rather cavernous, which is what I like about this album. However, this may be a controversial artist for me because my enjoyment of this album increasingly deteriorated the longer I listened. *I Want You Now* really made me want to skip it but I’m sticking to my quest of listening to each album in full.
It’s easy to see how this fits in, I could the influence on NIN, particularly Pretty Hate Machine, but this seems to lack the hooks and perhaps it was all a bit too downbeat and lacking the heavy riffs that makes PHM more interesting.
Tears For Fears
3/5
Well this was a throwback, it’s a proper 80s synth pop vibe. I know and like the singles from the time and Donnie Darko helped make them cool again many years later, Head Over Heels is great but shame Mad World isn’t on this one. Whilst I enjoyed it, I can’t see myself coming back here other than for the hits.
Steve Winwood
2/5
I’m not actually sure what “yacht rock” is but there is some suggestion that this is it. This is pretty cheesy 80s synth pop in my book, and I think maybe it would just be better to listen to Peter Gabriel than this.
The Byrds
3/5
A lot more country than I expected The Byrds to be, although I should have guessed from the album title. It didn’t have any of the songs I knew from them.
It was an easy listen but nothing caught my attention really, save for some overtly Christian lyrics. Some of the vocals were reminiscent of Bob Dylan too, although no bad thing.
Solomon Burke
3/5
I was worried I might have a dud here but I actually quite enjoyed this. Very soulful, excellent voice, but perhaps a touch samey over the course of what is a very polite 35 minute run time.
Cry To Me is a highlight and looking over reviews, it was featured in ‘Dirty Dancing’, which I have seen more than I care to admit thanks to having an older sister, although I didn’t specifically remember this song.
It’s clearly influential, and whilst there is definitely a place for this, I’m not sure when I’d return here, although in the right mood, if someone put it on, I’d be happy enough to listen.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
CCR just don’t appear to miss. I’ve had this and Green River in this challenge so far and loved them both. I could have picked almost any song from this album to choose among my favourites. The blues-laden groovy riffs are just a joy and my only complaint about this album is that it isn’t longer, although I’ve listened twice today.
Didn’t know that Proud Mary was their song either, so I’ve learned something today.
Beatles
4/5
I don’t have a strong opinion on what is my favourite Beatles album, this would probably rank high, particularly because it has one of my favourite Beatles’ songs in Eleanor Rigby. Maybe I prefer Abbey Road and Rubber Soul.
I have to say though, Yellow Submarine feels a touch out of place on this album.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Apart from Whole Lotta Love, I didn’t know any from this album, it took me a couple of listens today to properly engage and I was toying between 3 and 4 stars. I know they are a very influential band and whilst I have landed on the side of being more generous with my rating, I’m not sure I enjoyed it as much as I expected to. Nonetheless, this is still very good and I look forward to exploring their other albums when they are served up to me.
Joy Division
5/5
As easy a 5 star rating I’m going to give out. There’s probably not a lot I can say that hasn’t been said before, it’s just a truly great album that belongs of every type of list like this. Everything from the album artwork, to the cavernous production, and the stories of Hannett’s brutal approach to crafting this album, whether the band liked it or not.
Radiohead
5/5
Maybe I’m rounding up with this one, it’s probably in my top 4 Radiohead albums and I feel like I need to offset some of the inevitable low scores given to this.
Kid A is definitely an album for the headphones and probably one that takes many listens to truly appreciate, and despite it having recently turned 25 years old, I can confidently say I’m still finding new things, and that’s what makes it so remarkable, or indeed, what makes Radiohead so remarkable.
Grateful Dead
3/5
Huge slice of Americana here. Grateful Dead are a band I know the name so much more than any song so was keen to have a listen.
It’s not blown me away but at the same time, it has been perfectly pleasant to listen to. It perhaps merits further listening but not sure when I’d return at this point.
Judas Priest
3/5
Another I know the name far more than the music. The only track I knew before coming into this is the famous, Breaking the Law. I have to say, I enjoyed this more than I expected to as for the most part it was a lot of fun. My perception was possibly that this might be a bit naff. Clearly a lot of Sabbath influence here, which is not surprising considering they were formed in Birmingham.
Jazmine Sullivan
1/5
I’ve had a good run of late so was probably due something crap. Maybe 1 starring this is harsh but I can’t help thinking, as the second most recent album currently on the list, how does this get the nod over, say, Mark Lanegan or Tame Impala who have zero entries? By all means insert your own baffling exclusion. I also have to wonder which album lost its place to make way for this.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
I can’t remember quite why but I did a bit of a dive into Jane’s Addiction’s discography in the last year or so having never listened beyond their singles, previously. Been Caught Stealing was a 90s MTV staple as far as I’m concerned but I never sought out their albums. I’ve listened to this a couple of times before, it’s a good album but I do prefer Nothing’s Shocking.
*Three Days* is certainly the highlight for me besides from the iconic *Been Caught Stealing*, and I was generally happy to have the chance to return to this album, especially after being dealt a dud yesterday.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
This is bittersweet, as it is the 3rd and final CCR album dealt to me on this list, and I’ve given the all 5 stars. In fact, when I came to play this, I realised I’d already added it to my library but hadn’t listened before - past me must have just assumed it was going to be great. Some very familiar sounding blues rock on this album, particularly Travelin Band, which reminded me of Jailhouse Rock. The highlight here was an epic 11 minute cover version of I Heard It Through The Grapevine. I’ll be coming back to this a lot I suspect.
Gene Clark
3/5
125/1001 | **Gene Clark - White Light (1971)**
Heard before? ❌
Would I revisit? ❌
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Fave tracks: *1975*
This was largely inoffensive with some Bob Dylan vibes but rather passed me by. I can understand why people would like it but not for me.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
There is a warmth to this album that grew on me. It’s very stripped back, she has a great voice and the whole album feels very personal. I can understand its inclusion on the list but it’s not the sort of thing I’d choose to listen to so I doubt I’d return.
Neil Young
3/5
I found it hard to rate this album, it’s somewhere between a 3 and a 4. Apart from Mirrorball, I’d not listened to any Neil Young albums before this process, however, this is the 3rd album I’ve been dealt (the other 2 with Crazy Horse). I enjoyed this more than Rust Never Sleeps but not as much as Ragged Glory. Repeated listens would no doubt help here and I’d be open to returning when I get the chance.
Nirvana
5/5
It's hard to express what this album means to me, it is exceptional, yet overplayed and I wonder whether there is another album like it in this respect. I suppose when I think about it, this album and Nirvana are responsible for shaping my musical tastes to this day. Arguably, the music my parents listened to (the likes of The Beatles, Dire Straits, Genesis, Eurythmics, The Doors) laid the foundations but this was about finding my own path and I expect the music you listen to in your early teens is the most formative. I also wonder how this album would be viewed if Kurt was still alive - would it have been heralded and cherished in quite the same way? Its cultural impact would still have been huge of course, but perhaps it wouldn't have been overplayed in the same way.
SLTS, Come As You Are, In Bloom and to a lesser extent, Lithium have seemingly taken on a life of their own, as good as they are. I get more from the second half of the album these days, although Drain You has always been my favourite. Breed is right up there too, I perhaps enjoyed this the most listening over the last week or so.
I don’t know much about Faces, to the point when I started listening I immediately thought this sounds a bit like a Rod Stewart fronted, Rolling Stones tribute act, then it quickly occurred that Rod Stewart is the lead singer. This is pretty decent to listen to yet I can help thinking I’ve been tricked into listening to Rod Stewart. It has some good songs but I’m not sure how likely I am to return to it.
The Monkees
2/5
This was all a bit nice. The opening track is the best on the album and mainly because it sounds like The Beatles. Maybe if they didn’t monkey around so much they might have made something better.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
This is one of those albums that I know is good, I can hear it is good, and yet it’s just not doing much for me, well at least for the first half. Of course, Higher Ground is great, as is the closer, He’s Misstra Know-It-All, and I seem to know Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing. The 2nd half is definitely better than the first half.
Miles Davis
4/5
The spirit of jazz paid me a visit! I was very much looking forward to hearing a Miles Davis album, it’s absolutely one of the reasons for doing this challenge. It was hard to know what to expect and I know this isn’t for everyone. I found this captivating and I would love to make time to return. It didn’t feel too long, which could have been the case with near 20min jazz tracks. The overall run time is actually very accessible and I could imagine this being background music to whilst I work or an evening drink, whilst equally I could sit and listen with this being my sole focus. Excellent stuff.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ started my day off very nicely, it’s by some distance my favourite MJ song (Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough is up there too). I’d not listened to any MJ for a long time and listening to this made me realise it’s almost a greatest hits collection. It has some tremendous highs, mostly among the most famous hits like Thriller, Beat It and Billie Jean. Admittedly a couple of the songs don’t do a lot for me and the duet with Paul McCartney perhaps the low point for me.
Neil Young
3/5
If there were more songs like Southern Man, I’d probably be giving a higher score. I definitely prefer the more guitar driven tracks, those that bring that fuzzy guitar and sound a bit heavier. Perhaps repeated listens would help me appreciate the slower songs more but as much as I like slower more folky songs, I much prefer Young when he rocks out.
Only Love Can Break Your Heart is a good song, and I’ve always liked the Saint Etienne version, and listening to both today, I can honestly say they’ve really made that song their own, it’s a good cover.
*Don’t Let It Bring You Down* had me running off to listen to *Teardrop* by **Massive Attack**, I swear the vocal melodies are the same.
Otis Redding
4/5
Rating this requires some thought, or perhaps I’m overthinking. It’s an album largely made up of covers but those cover versions are excellent and he makes them his own, perhaps even better. I do sometimes wonder if cover version albums or live albums should be part of the list.
Nonetheless, this is Otis Redding.
John Lennon
4/5
I’m not sure why but I didn’t think this was going to be as good as it was. The 2 famous hits besides, I didn’t know anything else but had a good time here. Particularly I Don’t Wanna Be a Soldier Mama and Oh Yoko!
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
Not sure I’ve heard anything by Sisters of Mercy before but they are pretty much what I expected. The production and sound are unmistakably 80s and whilst I enjoyed elements to this there were songs that dragged a bit for me, I’m not primarily into goth music, I just usually admire from afar and in any case I’d go to The Cure for my fix.
Talking Heads
5/5
My father in law is a massive Talking Heads fan. He’s fortunate enough to have met Brian Eno, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth
thanks to working in the music industry. He used to play Once in a Lifetime to my eldest when he used to look after him. At that time, I was fond of Talking Heads and the songs I knew but it wasn’t until the re-release of Stop Making Sense a few years ago that I started becoming more interested. Seeing the advert, seeing the clips, seeing the energy on stage, literally running around and then of course, the unusual David Byrne dancing, and that suit! I couldn’t help but laugh but at the same time I was mesmerised. At the time, the original was included in Prime Video so decided to watch it, I got to know the songs and then it started to become an obsession. The live arrangements of their music in this show, for me, still surpass much of what is on their studio albums, but there was far more treasure to be found on the studio albums, and to a certain extent, I’m still getting to know all of their 8 studio albums. Remain in Light is widely regarded as their magnum opus and the more I have listened, the more I’m inclined to agree. They close Stop Making Sense with one of my favourites here, Crosseyed and Painless, which just gets better and better with each listen and is proving rather prescient with lyrics about facts and the twisting of the truth. The Afro beat and rhythmic arrangements of the first half of this album in particular, are wonderful. The Great Curve is an absolute gem, and as for Once in a Lifetime, it’s a song that I found to be far better than I ever realised, and I always liked it. The second half of the album is much more spacious and downbeat, with the closer, The Overload, seemingly an ode to Joy Division.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3/5
There’s a lot to like here, the bluesy guitars and piano. It’s quite jazzy at times and there is the odd drum solo to boot. For all its merits, it wasn’t really landing with me in the first half, I’m not sure the vocals grabbed me really, not that there is anything especially wrong with them mind. However, the album grew on me and the instrumentation seemed to get more interesting towards the second half of the album and I was much more engaged, if I’d experienced the whole album with this level of enjoyment, I’d have probably been leaning towards a 4. There might be something here to me to return for but realistically, I don’t know where I’d find the time and there are other albums in this genre I’d sooner reach for. Furthermore, Clapton is a wrong’un, so there is that.
Beck
4/5
I had a copy of this album, I don’t remember why or how I came about it but I remember clearly having the CD in a case in my car. I have definitely listened before but it’s been a long time and not one I know well. I guess it never really landed that well, maybe I never quite was in the right headspace, or perhaps because the Beck I liked, was the one that mixed in samples and sang eccentric lyrics.
Here Beck delivers a much more mellow and emotionally charged album, yet it’s very authentic, the songs sound lush and despite being sad and melancholic, it remains engaging, particularly from an instrumentation perspective. It would be easy to label this just another breakup album but it’s far more than that, and being Beck, it’s all the more interesting that it’s a departure from his usual style, one that makes you sit up and take note.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3/5
Good to see some more diverse music on the list and whilst I have heard of Ladysmith Black Mambazo and listened to Graceland, I’d never previously listened to one of their albums. It’s unlikely I’d choose to revisit but it’s a perfectly good listen and it’s easy to understand why people like this and why it was included on the list.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
This was pretty good, it was generally an easy listen and it was best when it was funky, however, on the whole it was rather soulful and at times even felt a bit country.
Realistically, I don’t know if or when I’d return to this but it feels like it merits its place on the list.
Germs
3/5
Supposedly on the list for being the first full length hardcore punk album. I’d never heard of them, perhaps in part because this is not my usual wheelhouse, but perhaps also because it was their only album owing to the tragic death of their lead singer. The raw energy of this, along with good production (by Joan Jett) values, all the instruments are allowed to shine, and make it worth a listen. Typical of punk, all the songs are short and punchy, which often is in lieu of developing ideas further, the exception however, is with closer Shut Down [Annihilation Man] which is over 7 minutes long, perhaps too long.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
Having never heard a Peter Gabriel album before, I can honestly say this wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Solsbury Hill is a classic and I thought the album would be a bit more like this on the whole. Whilst it was an interesting listen, it was quite theatrical and eccentric, at times he seemed to be channelling Randy Newman. Excuse Me was a very quirky, barbershop styled song and at times I can’t quite work out if I like it or not.
I grew up in an era when Peter Gabriel represented groundbreaking videos on MTV with hits like Sledgehammer and Digging in the Dirt, which I quite liked so again this threw my expectations.
Overall I’m unlikely to come rushing back here but there’s something quite interesting about it that I can understand that people will absolutely love. I’m glad I listened, its place on the list makes sense to me.
Pulp
4/5
I’m a bit of a casual Pulp fan, I always liked their singles or indeed most of what I heard but never really listened to their albums back in the day, I guess I didn’t have friends that were massively into them else I might have been more of a fan. I appreciate them now more than ever and their new album was a slightly unexpected return and a good return too. My favourite tracks here are perhaps unsurprisingly the singles but Sorted for E’s and Wizz has to be my favourite. “I left a very important part of my brain in a field in Hampshire” is an all time great line.
Dagmar Krause
2/5
This is very different to the norm on here, I’ll give it an extra star for that. Not available on streaming services so I headed to YouTube for this one where initially I thought it was less than 30 minutes but alas, it was in 2 parts. It’s quite theatrical but evokes 1920s Berlin well. She has a good, distinctive voice, flipping from English to German, but overall this is simply not something I have enjoyed.
Hawkwind
3/5
I found genuine highs with this, cool instrumentals and fuzzy psychedelic guitars. At first I was a bit unsure about being introduced to a band through a one and a half hour live album, and still not sure having listened. I could do without the spoken word parts, that’s for sure.
Clearly influential and I suppose much of it is enjoyable but given this is their only entry into the list, I am unlikely to listen to a studio album, or know if there would be a better introduction to their music. I’m unlikely to return to this also, even though it has its merits.
The Soft Boys
3/5
The 2nd half of this album is where it really got going for me. The vocals are by no means bad but there is something about them that I don’t quite love, however, musically this is great and I could definitely return here. Only 36 minutes so might return soon and get a better sense of it.
Talking Heads
4/5
A nice treat for today, it’s not my favourite Talking Heads album but I’m still very fond of it and welcome another chance to give it a spin. There’s something about the album artwork that I really love, it’s just incredibly simple yet iconic, as is the album title and that’s something that characterises the album. It is accomplished and confident, yet it’s a debut album from a band still finding their feet and would go on to better things.
Wilco
4/5
This was a nice surprise, I thought this might be something I’d like but didn’t expect it to be quite as good as it was. It opened with some promise but as I took it out on my dog walk on a grey and dreary November day, the mood of some of the songs threatened to be a fairly low key drab affair but it picked up in all the right places with good variation in mood and tempo. Jesus, Etc was like a big warm hug, Heavy Metal Drummer brought energy, and Pot Kettle Black felt like it was going to break out into In Between Days by the Cure at any moment. I shall be definitely returning here.
Cowboy Junkies
3/5
Not a band I knew and I don’t know if this is their usual style. It’s quite cool that they performed this in a church with just a single microphone, which gives it a live acoustic feel. It’s a combination of original and covers, and I believe Blue Moon Revisited (Song for Elvis) is literally a combination of original and cover. It’s a vibe, it feels mostly country and folk but incorporates some blues also. It’s lacking in any real variation and this challenge doesn’t always find me in the right moment to properly appreciate something, although, this album found me on a Sunday morning, so I’m feeling far more patient than I might; maybe this is one for quiet reflection which might be suited to the evening. I can imagine this will be something that people will love or find boring but I’m probably somewhere between the two. The final few bluesy tracks was where it really went up a notch for me, with the album ending on a high.
Stevie Wonder
2/5
I don’t know what it is but Stevie Wonder just doesn’t quite land with me. He has some absolutely great songs but I guess I prefer him when he’s doing funk rather than slower tracks. I’m less familiar with the songs on this album, it’s certainly not as good as Innervisions, which sounded far more essential to my ears; I’m yet to listen to Talking Book or Songs in the Key of Life, which are perhaps the last chance to win me over. In all likelihood I might have to be someone who enjoys the hits. Songs like Too Shy to Say just made this quite dull.
Mike Ladd
2/5
This started out quite well but I lost interest after a few tracks and then it became background music. Maybe not the ideal day to catch me on, sorry Mikey Ladd!
Roxy Music
3/5
I like art rock and having never heard a Roxy Music album before, I’ve been looking forward to hearing this. It’s a bit weird and theatrical at times but in a good way. However, I think I wanted to like this more than I actually did. My first listen wasn’t the most focused but the final two tracks really landed with me so I made a decision to return. After my 2nd listen, I came to the same conclusion that the last 2 tracks were my favourite, and the battle to decide whether this deserved a 4th star just fell short. However, I’d return here and hope it clicks more with further listens if/when I get the chance.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
The last 3 songs were my favourite so it left me with a good lasting impression of the album. I’m not familiar with their albums, just the famous songs, so this was a slight surprise that it leaned into psychedelia. A very polite 30 mins meant this was an easy listen.
The Isley Brothers
2/5
I like a bit of funk but this, not so much. There are some classic hits on here but it leans a bit too much into soul for my tastes. It’s fine, just not my thing really. That Lady is the best track for me, and it’s best in part 2 which is instrumental and presumably gets cut for the radio edit.
Big Star
3/5
This was good in places but when it reached highs, it largely didn’t sustain them which meant that the album often sounded good but failed to really excite me. It’s the sort of album I’d quite happily listen to and it’s possible it would grow on me, but at the same time, I’m not sure when I’d return.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
😭😭😭
Depeche Mode
4/5
Having not really got on that well with Music For The Masses, I was glad that this landed well. It had the advantage of some familiarity with Personal Jesus, and Enjoy the Silence is an all timer. I don’t know their back catalogue but this feels like them at the peak of their powers.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
At times this is more interesting musically than any of the more vocal driven songs. A couple of songs I really liked but for the most part, it doesn’t strike me as an album I’d return to, though I can understand the appeal.
Traffic
3/5
I enjoyed this enough to like it and want to listen again but evidently I need to listen again because I can’t remember enough about it other than it was very close to getting 4 stars. At times a bit soulful, jazzy, bluesy and the title track a departure from all that into folk. Good stuff.
B.B. King
4/5
I love blues, and this is the king so all is well. There’s something even better about a live performance which elevates the blues, but not really knowing his back catalogue, I hope there are some studio albums on the list too.
Al Green
3/5
Let’s Stay Together is a great song, it’s the best song on the album and also the first, meaning the album peaks early. The rest of the album is pretty good but didn’t do quite enough to convince me to give a 4th star.
Caetano Veloso
2/5
I thought I found this on Apple Music but it had a different album cover, so upon a quick bit of research I found out that he in fact has 2 self titled albums but I had to go to Spotify for the 1001 album (the one with Caetano looking like a serial killer on the front). Spotify seems to want to give you the worst listening experience possible to encourage a 4 month free trial so much so, that when I pressed play on the album, after the 30 seconds ad, it played the 3rd track first, so I then played track 1 and I was away. Then ‘A Little More Blue’ started playing, a song where the title is sung no less than 32 times, and there seems little besides and it dawned on me that there is no such song on the album realising there is some random shuffle that can’t be turned off on Spotify without paying; I managed to queue all the songs and got through but at great personal cost. Caetano, maybe this is not your fault but I hold you responsible. 2/5.
The Temptations
3/5
This was better than I thought it would be; the opening title track was good, followed by a decent reworking of *I Heard It Through The Grapevine*, which means this song appears on the 1001 album challenge at least 3 times, although it’s no match for the CCR cover. The star of the show is undoubtedly the 9+ min ‘Runaway Child, Running Wild’, which is a funky, groovy track that surprised me, leaning far more into a long instrumental section, rather than the more renowned soul that dominates the rest of the album, which is what stops it scoring higher for my preferences. It’s good but I’m unsure when I’d return.
Bob Dylan
4/5
This is much more like it. I really didn’t enjoy Blonde On Blonde, it was overlong and whiny, but here it feels far more varied, upbeat and bluesy. Pretty much every song was great here from the famous opener to perhaps my favourite track on the album, Desolation Row, which closes the album, and whilst it is over 11 minutes long, it’s the type of song you don’t want to come to an end.
It’s 4 stars for now, but maybe I’ll come back and upgrade to 5 stars someday. More of this please, Bob!
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I probably enjoyed this more than I thought, I know Oliver’s Army reasonably well, although not well enough to realise Elvis drops the N bomb here. Party Girl was a genuine high on the album, the production sounded good but overall, I’m not sure when I’d come back for a listen. Onwards.