1001 Albums Summary

Absolutely brilliant, experimental and challenging. You rarely expect someone 50 years into their career to still be making such flat out weird music, but Bowie delivers as always.

Dull, lifeless, overproduced stuff from a band that used to be good. 'Unknown Brother' is about the only tangible thing on the album.

A fitting testament to Cash's talent and the various songwriters drawn upon here. Not every track is a winner, but the highs are quite high indeed - NIN's 'Hurt' at the top of the heap, of course. Cash's own 'When the Man Comes Around' is another standout and a great opener - one of his last songs, but man he still had the juice. The album is best when it's pared back and gets a bit too fluffy with strings and all sorts at points. Fiona Apple, Don Henley and Nick Cave guest for duets too, and make very little impact. Other big winners for me are 'I Hung My Head', 'Give My Love To Rose', 'Personal Jesus' and 'In My Life'.

I'd heard bits of this before and I'm sure it's been on in the background of my life. Classic McCartney melodies thrown into a solidly proggy affair. What it might lack in emotional punch at times, it makes up for with some stellar songwriting and plenty of variety, dipping into everything from Fripp-esque riffs to world music. The title track, 'Jet', 'Let Me Roll It', Mamunia' and '1985' were the big standouts to me, though there's no real sore thumb on there.

I probably don't have the context or ears to really rate this, but it is a very pleasant listen. Gilberto's soothing vocals are like a soft breeze on a summer's day. The second track 'August Day Song' really caught me, and maybe there's more here that further listens would reveal, but it's hard not to let this album float by like a dream.

A needless inclusion here. An undercooked album by Radiohead standards, predictable and overlong. They have done better and I can't think of a compelling reason this should be included here beyond the list editor's bias.

Another winner for me here. I wish I was fluent in French to have any mucking clue what Brel is saying here, but there's an undeniable power in his voice and performance - super charismatic, emotional and evocative. The music swings between heavy and playful and Brel matches both well. The actual album offered here is the 28 minute version but I was inspired enough to check out the full version and it's just as good. Two spins of the short and one of the long confirm this is a more than worthy inclusion here even without a translator. I was not at all surprised to see an absolutely massive list of people who claim him as an inspiration on his Wiki page and see he was covered by everyone from Scott Walker and Bowie to Westlife. Bowie's cover of the opening track here 'Amsterdam' is excellent. I'd almost say Till Lindeman from Rammstein got some swagger from this lad. Brel would kill it with a flamethrower too.