251
Albums Rated
3.15
Average Rating
23%
Complete
838 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
40
5-Star Albums
22
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Group Sex
Circle Jerks
|
5 | 2.75 | +2.25 |
|
Destroyer
KISS
|
5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
|
Reign In Blood
Slayer
|
5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
|
Tuesday Night Music Club
Sheryl Crow
|
5 | 3.05 | +1.95 |
|
Germfree Adolescents
X-Ray Spex
|
5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
|
Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk
|
5 | 3.15 | +1.85 |
|
Rust In Peace
Megadeth
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
Let It Be
The Replacements
|
5 | 3.26 | +1.74 |
|
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens Of The Stone Age
|
5 | 3.29 | +1.71 |
|
The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
|
5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Funeral
Arcade Fire
|
1 | 3.55 | -2.55 |
|
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
|
1 | 3.39 | -2.39 |
|
Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
|
1 | 3.34 | -2.34 |
|
Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
|
1 | 3.34 | -2.34 |
|
The College Dropout
Kanye West
|
1 | 3.31 | -2.31 |
|
American Pie
Don McLean
|
1 | 3.28 | -2.28 |
|
Emergency On Planet Earth
Jamiroquai
|
1 | 3.26 | -2.26 |
|
High Violet
The National
|
1 | 3.23 | -2.23 |
|
It's A Shame About Ray
The Lemonheads
|
1 | 3.12 | -2.12 |
|
Too Rye Ay
Dexys Midnight Runners
|
1 | 3.12 | -2.12 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Miles Davis | 3 | 4.67 |
| Led Zeppelin | 2 | 5 |
| Kraftwerk | 2 | 5 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Arcade Fire | 3 | 1 |
| The Divine Comedy | 2 | 1 |
| Christina Aguilera | 2 | 1.5 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Pink Floyd | 5, 2 |
5-Star Albums (40)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
The Libertines · 3 likes
1/5
Oh man, I really did not enjoy this.
Taylor Swift · 3 likes
2/5
Uggghhhhh... fuck off with this shit
Echo And The Bunnymen · 2 likes
2/5
This was fine, would likely not relisten
KISS · 1 likes
5/5
So much of this I know through cultural osmosis. Loved it, only minor complaint is that looking back on it 50 years later, the sound is kinda thin. Like it's missing the bass end of things. That being said, Destroyer Resurrected gets it super right.
ZZ Top · 1 likes
5/5
This album is a fucking banger. Stone cold classic. Bops from start to end.
1-Star Albums (22)
All Ratings
Beatles
5/5
I know half the songs from this because in junior high school, I had the Beatles red double disc.
It's hilarious that on Drive my Car they actually say, beep beep 😅
The song Norwegian Wood reminds me of me ma.
Nowhere man reminds me of me da.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
This album feels like a relic of the past. It's got the sound of 60s sweeping arrangements. she has a sort of honeyed voice. her vocals are super forward in the mix. It's not my usual jam, I'm not really into vocal drive singer highlighted music, but I get why this is considered a classic.
I get why this is an important album and the woman can sing but it sounds like it's 55 years old, which of course it is. The recording is just too dated to me. It's great, it's just not for me
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
I know this one and I know it well. It was the first Boss album I got into in 2006 when I first met my husband. It broadened my musical tastes and got me to branch out a bit more. Badlands might be one of my favourite songs of all time. I know that many people say this album is dark, gritty, raw and intense. And while I agree, I also think it's hopeful. The songs are about having hope for the future even when things are dark. Perseverance, belief in oneself, hope for a better future... this is the stuff that can keep a person moving forward. 5/5
Arcade Fire
1/5
Neon bible?! How about Neon Babble. The music is sonically fine and I can see why it was influential in creating the stomp/clap music like Mumford and Sons... or more like Blandford and Sons! I digress...
But the lyrics on this album are just unbelievably cringy. Like, embarrassingly bad. I only made it to Black Wave/Vibrations before I just couldn't do it anymore. They sound like 15 year old trying to be clever but missing the mark.
I would give this 0 stars if I could because of how bad the lyrics are. Would not listen again. Two thumbs down.
Miles Davis
5/5
Yassss, kween. Excited for some jazz.
This jazz is busier than I'm used to listening to. I also have no basis to know or understand if/how this album is good or important. All I really know about jazz is if I like it or not.
I actually know track 1, Move. I have no idea how but I somehow do. Track 3, Moon Dreams, feels like it's from a noir film, I kinda love it. Track 5, Budo, is great. It's busy but still familiar to other jazz I listen to. Track 7, Godchild is great, feels very classically jazz, so good to listen to whilst working. Oh man, track 8, Boplicity is soooo good.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
I first heard this album in 2002, pushing 25 years ago now. It felt huge to me at the time. I really enjoyed it, even if it wasn't my favourite Zeppelin album. I don't often return to it so this is definitely a fun relisten.
I mean, what else to say, it's seminal, and completely foundational for modern rock and eventually metal. 5 stars
Janet Jackson
4/5
I get it. It's really good, especially for 1989. I don't love how many interludes there are, but those are easily skipped. Apparently, it was a massive commercial success that produced seven top-five singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and is the only album in history to have number-one hits in three different calendar years (1989–1991). I always associated Janet Jackson with cousin Mary, which lets me sit in comfortable, warm memories.
X-Ray Spex
5/5
Love late 70s British punk and this one is great. The album artwork is fantastic. It's aggressive and raw in the best way possible. The incorporation of horns was unexpected but works incredibly well. Poly Styrene is an incredible front woman.
Fairport Convention
3/5
I get why people would like this. The singer is good and it's well recorded. There were moments I enjoyed but this is just not for me.
The Clash
5/5
Classic. I've been familiar with this album for more than 25 years now. On a careful relisten, I'm just realizing how standout the bass lines actually are.
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
On first blush, I absolutely thought I knew nothing of this artist. But... that first song, Apache, I know from the Fresh Prince. Also, it's great that they covered In A Gadda da Vida. I think this is really well recorded and unexpectedly fun. I'm not likely to return to this very often but I'm glad to have added it to my knowledge base!
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
This is fun background music. The fourth track, green onions, I unknowingly know quite well from popular culture so it's fun to now know and have this reference. The cover of Twist and Shout is also a lot of fun. Really overall quite enjoyed this, fun background music, nothing too abrasive or offensive.
Santana
3/5
I know only a few Santana songs and as far as I'm aware, I'm not at all familiar with this. I don't normally go for guitar rock, which I believe this album to be the case.
So as a surprise to myself, I actually do know tracks 2 and 3, Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va. I like the song Hope You're Feeling Better, it's got kind of funky rock beat.
This album is really well recorded. It's pretty clean sounding, which isn't usually what I look for but it's good. Santana is obviously a very good guitar player.
So overall, I get why people like this but in the end, it's just not something I'm likely to return to based on personal musical preferences alone.
The Flaming Lips
2/5
I listened to the whole thing and nothing stood out for me. Not one thing. I'll definitely relisten to it more closely but.... I'm not so sure there's much to it.
I didn't bother relistening to it. I just can't be bothered. This isn't bad but I didn't find there to be anything interesting.
Muddy Waters
3/5
This is just not for me. Not bad, I'm sure it's good and important. Actually recorded pretty well. High energy for a live show.
KISS
5/5
So much of this I know through cultural osmosis. Loved it, only minor complaint is that looking back on it 50 years later, the sound is kinda thin. Like it's missing the bass end of things. That being said, Destroyer Resurrected gets it super right.
Elvis Presley
4/5
Some catchy jams. Musically In the Ghetto is good but god damned those lyrics are bad.
Mudhoney
4/5
This evokes 80s college radio rock, Husker Du, glimmers of the Meat Puppets, and a touch of Swans. I can see how much it influenced Nirvana, not likely the other way around. I loved the sonic sound of this although there weren't a lot of hooks. All around though, I enjoyed this one.
Nick Drake
4/5
British folk rock is usually really not my thing. But god damn did the beauty of his voice and the quality of the recording unexpectedly pulled me in on the first track, Time Has Told Me. There's a quality to the vocal recording that is at once new and old, familiar and unfamiliar. The third track, Three Hours, sounds like something that would have influenced Bruce Springsteen on Nebraska. I also really enjoyed track 6, 'Cello Song. That drum beat was dope. That piano on track 8, Man in a Shed, is so fun. It's so strange to hear both ease and urgency in a song. It works really well. That last track, Sunday Sun, is good. Really evokes the feeling of what Sundays used to feel like, lazy, laid back.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Banger, no notes
Red Snapper
2/5
This wasn't bad but I think it was suffering from recency bias. I can tell it's before the advent of truly modern electronic unless it's doing something innovative that my untrained electronic ears just don't detect. I really am not enjoying the song, I Stole Your Car. It definitely invokes the early 90s on the song The Rough and the Quick, like something from dance mix 92 or 93. I feel comfortable giving this 2 stars.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
I love it sonically and he can sing but this grows very tiring very quickly
Sam Cooke
4/5
Great live album, full of life and character. He sings like he feels it. The audience is loving it. You almost feel like you're in the room. Would relisten.
The Lemonheads
1/5
I do not like the song It's a Shame about Ray. It's lazy sounding in the worst way possible. And those little harmonizing vocals in the last chorus are not great to my ears. The song Rudderless, there's a discordant thing happening in the verses and I don't think it's working. I literally can't listen to this song. I kinda hate it. Ok, I'm maxed on this. I can't force myself through this. It's really not for me. I knew the cover Mrs. Robinson and that's pretty great but that's about the only thing working for me. Maybe the first two songs weren't bad either. 2 stars and that's a generous 2 stars.
The Temptations
3/5
Janelle Monáe
3/5
I listened to this years ago and it really didn't click for me then. But, I listened to it in full today and I was really impressed. There are so many styles that she has done so very well. This album is dense, there's a lot to unpack here. Will definitely listen again.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Dexys Midnight Runners
1/5
I'm just not gonna listen to this, I know it's bad
Pulp
3/5
Kanye West
1/5
Not listening out of principal
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
Was unfamiliar with this. Can see a direct line from this to a lot of "alternative" music (whatever that means) that came later. It's actually 3.5 stars for me but decided to round down.
Black Flag
4/5
The Divine Comedy
1/5
I had to look this up on Rate Your Music. It says, that for genres it's Chamber Pop, Baroque Pop, Art Pop, and Cabaret. If that's what it is, I'm pretty sure I don't like these styles. For descriptors, it says that it's humorous, sexual, sarcastic, male vocalist, quirky, romantic, love, bittersweet, passionate, orchestral, lush, poetic, epic, satirical, playful, energetic, melodic, breakup, theatrical, lonely, self-hatred, hedonistic. Again, I don't think I like this style. Maybe I'm not cultured? That's fine.
Megadeth
5/5
One of the best metal albums of all time
Radiohead
3/5
This was more enjoyable than I thought it would be. But it's sometimes noisy but not in the best kind of way. Would probably relisten
The Undertones
3/5
Good old fashioned classic 1970s British punk rock. Good enough for me
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
I really hate the song Monday, Monday. I like Straight Shooter. Didn't realize that the Ramones cover of Do You Wanna Dance was of these moms and dads. California Banananing. It's just so old sounding. I can appreciate that what it's doing at the time is really good. But like, I'm never gonna spin this on my own without a prompting. Listened to the whole thing, only 35 mins, but it felt longer.
Gang Starr
4/5
Never heard of these guys but this shit is great. It's dated but still fresh. A pleasant surprise.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Hookworms
4/5
I was unfamiliar with this artist and this album. On the whole, I really enjoyed it. Will relisten.
Gene Clark
1/5
3/5
Lightning Bolt
2/5
Lou Reed
3/5
Soundgarden
5/5
Blur
2/5
This is fine but the album feels really inconsistent. There's no overarching theme, it feels like a bunch of random ideas that got turned into songs. It's not bad but I don't think it's particularly very good. It feels like they were musical tourists and just pulled from everywhere they were visiting. Song 2 is so high school coded for me. It's the only song that feels 'polished.' Anyway, I'm not likely to revisit this.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
I liked this. I really liked Monitor and Sin in My Heart. Great overall, it's actually a 3.5 for me but decided to round up instead of rounding down.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
1/5
I have no idea if this is good or not. I listened to less than 30 seconds. Extremely not my jam. Is it important? Probably, maybe. But I'm not gonna find out. I wish I could be more open minded about this but it's not where my head is right now.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
I enjoyed this. I get why they're considered at the peak of shoe gaze. I just don't know how much I love shoe gaze in general
Pretenders
3/5
This album is fine. But there's a flat feeling to it. And Chrissie Hynde's vocal range is a bit limited. It's fun to know and it makes sense that Nick Lowe produced this. While I know the hits, I'm not likely to return to this.
Van Morrison
2/5
Van Morrison is fine, it's just not for me.
Dire Straits
3/5
I've listened to this in the past. It's a good one but I'm curious how it'll feel on a relisten years later.
It's good but I'm not likely to return to this but would never complain if it were on
David Holmes
1/5
This is kinda bland and boring. I feel like it's not doing anything, like it's directionless. I'm not sure why this is an album one would have to hear before the die. While I tried to listen to this, I couldn't help but keep skipping songs. Maybe this is good but my untrained electronic ears just couldn't parse it out. But that's fine. Not gonna spin this one again.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Oh, I'm kinda excited to give this one a go. I mean, I was excited because it's nice to close a musical knowledge gap. and this was fine and I get why people like it but it's just not for me.
Dolly Parton
4/5
About time for some female artists. I mean, I love all of these women on their own and together, I'm sure it's a straight banger. I was looking at other reviews for this album and someone said the following and you know what, I agree:
"This turned me into an atheist. Or alchemist. Or whatever the term is that means I'd really like to fuck Linda Ronstadt. Or Emmylou Harris, which I believe some comic referred to as Gram Parsons disease. "
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
I love fallout music and this is basically that. But I would prefer actual music from fallout like Uranium Fever, I don’t want to set the world on fire, crawl out through the fallout...
I don't hate this but I don't love it.
The Everly Brothers
2/5
I won't be able to listen to this. My father loved The Everly Brothers and it's just too painful even though it isn't very good.
Neu!
4/5
Will forever and always make me think of Andrew. Makes me feel all the good feels.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
I mean, I get it, he's a poet and not necessarily a musician. I sometimes struggle with music from the 60s. It just sounds so dated. Some of this is good, like The Partisan, but I'm just overall not fucking with this album. I like his later stuff but this album is just not something I'm likely to return to.
DJ Shadow
3/5
Funny, I already had the second track, Building Steam With a Grain of Salt, on my liked songs. I know this song from somewhere but I'm not sure where. This album suffer from the same thing so many other 90s albums suffer from which is their length. It's like every artist in the 90s felt they had to fill the length of a CD, which routinely made for albums that are an hour plus. Given this length, it can make it hard to parse out what's good and what's just filler. So on the whole, this album is fine but would be better if it were more streamlined. It's truly a 2.5 stars for me but I'm feeling generous this morning and rounding up to 3 instead of rounding down to 2.
Brian Wilson
2/5
Uummm... I'm not super into the animal noises on Barnyard. It's weird but like, I'm not fucking with it kind of weird. Also, this rendition of You Are a my Sunshine night be the most depressing version I have ever heard.
Ok, this is super well recorded, and he can definitely write a hook but this is overall not great. I'm not gonna listen to this again.
Joy Division
5/5
Love this, only minor complain is that there's a bit of a lull mid album. But on the whole, great stuff.
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
Totally missed this when it first came out. It feels very of the time, that early to mid aughts garage rock sound. My brain somehow conflates them with Imagine Dragons and 21 Pilots and I really don't know why. That's pretty unfair to them. And honestly, pretty unfair to me, I don't wanna even think of that other bands.
Kacey Musgraves
4/5
Country music rarely sounds like this nowadays.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I've listened to this so much that I feel like it's embedded in my brain at this point. It's hard to listen to with fresh ears. But it's also so familiar that it's really comforting. Your can see the clear through line to Exile here. Overall great stuff
Radiohead
3/5
It's good but spotty at times
Roxy Music
4/5
I really liked this album, would likely spin this again. However, that album cover is so edge lord
The Doors
3/5
It's mega fans of The Doors and Jim Morrison that have ruined much of this for me. I'm trying really hard to listen to this and not think of the fans. But good grief the "Alabama Song" is terrible, it sounds like shitty circus music.
The Dictators
2/5
I don't know this band at all. I feel like it's a mix of (wanna be) Kiss and... New York Dolls? Also, this cover of I Got You Babe is not really working. I mean, this just feels like it's not quite making the cut for me. There's so much other great punk from this era, I don't know why one would ever spin this when there's so much better stuff to pick from. It's a no for me dawg
Michael Jackson
3/5
The hours are great but the rest of it is kinda meh
Kanye West
3/5
I have such a complicated relationship with this album. Like, I actually think it's really well done, the lyrics are kinda cringe from time to time. But it's really good. But it's Kanye.
Marianne Faithfull
3/5
I don't know this album and wasn't really sure for the first few songs, they really weren't working for me. That cover of Working Class Hero is fantastic. And that last song, Why'd Ya Do It is so good, it's so dirty. Singing of cocksucking and anger of having your snatch spat on. This song is more like she's singing a poem. Great stuff.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
4/5
Only loosely knew of this band and certainly not this album. It had me from the first few notes. This sounds like what I've been looking for lately. Will definitely be checking out the rest of their catalogue. Solid listen
Little Richard
3/5
I get why it's important and I get why it matters but there feels to be little variance amongst the songs. They all have a samey sound. And I can only listen to 12-bar blues inspired rock for so long. As a plus, you can tell that he really enjoys his art. And I'm sure seeing him live at the time was a real banger but this is of the past and I'm going to leave it there.
Pink Floyd
5/5
No notes, good shit
Justin Timberlake
1/5
IDGAF about him or this album, he's just a wanna be Michael Jackson
The Velvet Underground
3/5
I don't know, some of this is ok but some of it is really fucking annoying.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
The Libertines
1/5
Oh man, I really did not enjoy this.
Arcade Fire
1/5
This is the second Arcade Fire album that I've encountered so far on this list. I truly hated Neon Bible. I don't know why but even the artwork on this irritates me. It's less bad than Neon Bible but will never come back to this. It's of a time and I'll be leaving it there.
M.I.A.
4/5
It was fine, I get why this was a big deal. Paper Planes is great, I'm not so sure the rest holds up. A bit inconsistent at times, and surprisingly slow at times.
ZZ Top
5/5
This album is a fucking banger. Stone cold classic. Bops from start to end.
Scritti Politti
1/5
That first song, The World Girl, doing the faux reggae just killed me. Honestly, I thought there was nothing redeeming about this. I'm not even sure this was good for the time.
Foo Fighters
3/5
Harry Nilsson
3/5
Definitely fun at times, not so much at other times. Would relisten to at least some of the more fun stuff.
Rush
5/5
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
George Michael
2/5
I mean, besides Faith, I'm never going to listen to any of this again. It wasn't terrible, but it really didn't work for me. It sat in the uncomfortable space between "pop star" and "serious artist" without do either particularly well.
Ice T
3/5
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Really enjoyed the song where he called out love for his homes, not a diss track, sort of like a song of little loves notes, so sweet.
Deep Purple
4/5
Solange
3/5
Big Star
3/5
The Byrds
2/5
Like, I don't really hate it but I also don't really love it. I'm pretty familiar with most of this and I just don't fuck with melancholy, unless it's mellon collie. Jokes aside, it's fine and I would never ask someone to skip it if they were vibing to it but on my own, I'm gonna skip that shit.
R.E.M.
3/5
Too sad, no thank you
Queens Of The Stone Age
5/5
Don't remember the last time I listened to this record. Definitely a banger. Gonna need to remember to spin this album more often.
Haircut 100
3/5
I have never heard of these fellas before but first impression - so far so good. On the whole, I thought this was interesting, some of the songs resonated better than others.
GZA
4/5
Thought this was great, would relisten
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
I have some stereotypes about this album, let's see how they hold up. Overall, this album is a victim of the 90s mentality of needing to fill the length of a CD. The singles really carry it, a lot of filler here
Taylor Swift
2/5
Uggghhhhh... fuck off with this shit
UB40
1/5
No thanks bro. No. thanks.
4/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
This was fine, would likely not relisten
Beck
4/5
Not my fave Beck album but still really solid. It's not quite a 4 star for me but it deserves more than 3
The Police
4/5
Oh man, this is gonna be hard. I've avoided The Police for so long because I really don't care for reggae. But this opening track reminds me of Genesis and I'm not complaining. The song Mother is wild and very unexpected. Overall, I went into this album with a bad attitude and came out liking it anyway
The Soft Boys
4/5
I'm here for all the weirdness
Saint Etienne
3/5
Steely Dan
3/5
The xx
2/5
Ravi Shankar
2/5
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Ministry
4/5
Nina Simone
2/5
I get it, it's just not for me
Stan Getz
3/5
It's chill jazz and that's great. But it's not my kind of chill jazz. I don't really care for vocals in my jazz. Overall, pretty good though.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Honestly, I just don't get it. I get that it's good, it's just not my cup of tea.
Prefab Sprout
2/5
Somebody else said in their review that this sounds like Wham last Christmas and I fully agree.
David Bowie
5/5
I remember when this came out, it just didn't click for me then. But now, it's exactly what I want. It's fabulous and I'm a dufus for not liking it before now.
Pink Floyd
2/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
Whyyyyyyy is there yet again another album by this band on this list? They're fine, I'd even say I like them but they deserve to be on this list once, and once only and certainly not this album.
Depeche Mode
5/5
I was so pumped when this showed up, it's such a banger. No notes, good shit.
Ride
2/5
I don't mind shoegaze, it's not something I often turn to though. I really like that album cover. I don't think it's an album that one would have to hear before they die though.
Coldplay
2/5
I'm gonna admit, when this came up today as my album, I let out an audible groan. But I was encouraged to give it a go, that it would likely not sound how I thought it would. First 10 seconds of the first song, Don't Panic, I thought, hhmm... is this reminiscent of Pavement? Is there hope here? I continued to listen and I can confirm it is nothing like Pavement. I wasn't able to get through a single song without skipping. This is not great. This is not for me. I will never independently relisten to this again.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
It didn't sound quite fresh to me but it definitely stands the test of time.
5/5
As if it would get less than 5
Neneh Cherry
2/5
I really don't get it. I feel like she's a knock-off Janet Jackson.
Sigur Rós
2/5
Look, I understand this album is a mood. And it's not a bad mood, but it's just not my mood.
Steely Dan
3/5
Elton John
3/5
Before this came up in the mix, I had never listened to a Elton John album in full before. Obviously I know a lot of these songs. I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't this. I was pleasantly surprised. I feel like you could draw a line from this to Meat Loaf, especially that first song, Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies. Separately, I really dig that stutter on Bennie and the Jets. The song, Jamaica Jerk Off, is a really strange title, I'm not sure what it means (insert side eye emoji). It's not bad per se but it does not vibe with the rest of the album, which makes it stick out like a sore thumb. I don't dislike it, it's one of the better 1970s Brit reggae track.
Sonic Youth
3/5
This is far from my favourite album by them. I find it to be just a bit too noisy and discordant for me to fully enjoy putting on regularly. I guess they're aiming for those sounds and they're doing that well. It's desolate feeling at times and I guess that's the point.
Einstürzende Neubauten
3/5
It's wild that this is from 1981. I love the line from this through to 90s industrial, which I actually love. It's a little too discordant for me to want to put on regularly but I respect the artistry
Yes
3/5
The Divine Comedy
1/5
Why on god's green earth is this the SECOND album by this artist on this list. I don't think he deserved to be on this list once, let alone twice. This is marginally better than the Divine Comedy but that ain't saying much.
Beatles
3/5
Robert Wyatt
3/5
The first song Sea Song was almost enough to push me over the edge and not proceed any further. It was interesting but not quite for me.
Sparks
3/5
I've never of Sparks but apparently they've been going strong since 1968? Wild. OK, so this album is weird. It doesn't sound like 1974, there's a polish to the recording that I wasn't expecting. I find there's a sameyness to all of the songs.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
This was a wonderfully delightful well spent 31 minutes. Would happily revisit. Listened to it twice, will listen to it again many more times to come.
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
Kendrick Lamar
2/5
Parts of this album feel just a little too experimental for my tastes. King Kunta is great, as These Walls and Alright. The rest of the album though, I just don't fuck with.
Deep Purple
3/5
That opening track, Speed King, took me by surprise. It goes harder than I would have expected for 1970. I can see the through line from this to Motörhead. Liked this overall, made me realize there's more to Deep Purple than Machine Head
Sabu
2/5
The conga drumming is kinda cool but this is not my vibe. I always feel bad when I rate 'world' music because I know I don't have the cultural knowledge to actually or fully appreciate it.
Various Artists
4/5
Classic, the song of Christmas and Good Fellas.. The spoken bit of weird, knocks a star off
Arcade Fire
1/5
I already rated this shit. Awful garbage. Where's the zero star option?
Morrissey
3/5
First time listening to this. The first song, You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side, has a kinda cool surf rock vibe. It really wasn't what I was expecting. The second song, Glamorous Glue, has a fun, almost bluesy beat. So far, this is going better than I thought it would. I had some preconceived notions about Morrissey and it's a pleasant surprise to have that challenged. I even found myself unconsciously tapping my fingers along to a few songs. In the end, it gets 3 stars because I know who he is, I suspect he kinda hates women, I know he hates sex and all this while serving up his body on the cover of the album.
Miles Davis
4/5
Sounds like NYC at night
Rahul Dev Burman
1/5
Whoa... the first track made me feel like I was on a bad acid trip. Skimmed the rest of it, don't really get it. I don't fuck with this
Eurythmics
2/5
Reminds me of my ma, she fucking loves this.
The Police
4/5
This surprised me, I wrote enjoyed it despite thinking I wouldn't.
Don McLean
1/5
The wheels fall off this after the first track. And honestly, even the first track is now pretty cringe even if I really liked it as a kid. Sorry Dad
Willie Nelson
4/5
Just lovely and quiet and perfect for a Sunday morning. I love the artwork for this album, especially where you can see the tooth of the paper.
The Offspring
5/5
It's great but didn't quite hit the way it did in high school. Still, five stars
The Auteurs
4/5
Surprisingly, I like this. Closer to a 3.5 but rounded up instead of down. Would relisten.
Pixies
5/5
Love this album from top to bottom. Stone cold classic.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
I don't care if this album, as someone else said, is baby's first jazz record. It's perfect and it's what I want all jazz to sound like.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
I'm familiar with a few of these tunes, hoping the other two albums appear on this list.
The Modern Lovers
3/5
Roadrunner, roadrunner... Still like this album, but it doesn't hit like it used to
The Jesus And Mary Chain
2/5
They've just never been for me. This album is fine but I didn't finish listening to it. I'm not sure why I would need to hear this before I die.
Tom Waits
2/5
Oh man, I am so not in the head space for this Tom Waits. I just can't get past his voice. I get why he's for some, he's just not for me.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
It's interesting that the day before was Tom Waits, definitely a through line there. This is a solid album
Maxwell
2/5
I'm no R&B aficionado - actually, I know fuck shit all about the genre - but I think for the genre, this album might be ok? But I don't think I fuck with this, or to it
ABBA
3/5
The hits are where it's at, the rest? Not so much
Alanis Morissette
5/5
I listened to the shit out of this when it came out. We listened to it on repeat at a sleepover inside my junior high school. I pressed play on this album and was surprised how many of the words I remembered. A hugely impactful album on me as a teenager. It's production value might be a bit dated but I still love it and it gives me all the feels.
David Bowie
3/5
Serge Gainsbourg
3/5
Adele
3/5
She can sing but signers don't do it for me.
Queen
3/5
Radiohead
3/5
Most of this album fell a little flat for me but the song House of Cards is super nice and chill and relaxing.
Elliott Smith
2/5
I don't know if this is good or not. What I do know is that this is just not my kind of music. It's just a bit too boring and samesy. To each their own, I suppose.
Sheryl Crow
5/5
Made fun of my husband for years for looking Sheryl Crow. After listening to this album, I get it now
Missy Elliott
2/5
This record is stacked with big name guest appearances but other than Work It, I'm not really fucking with this. She can rap and there are some decent beats but I'm never gonna spin this one again. She doesn't do enough rapping, too many guest appearances and too much talking.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Crosby, Stills & Nash
2/5
R.E.M.
4/5
Ok, I've spent many years on the bad side of the fence for REM. This was better than I expected and much to my chagrin, I'm giving it 4 stars. My husband will forever remember this and I will likely never live this down. That being said, I will not be independently listening to REM.
Paul Simon
3/5
Me and Julio are great, the rest... 🤷♀️
The Rolling Stones
4/5
The 'cake' on top of a tire on top of the tire on top of... a pita? a pizza? on top of a clock on top of a reel on top of a diner plate that may or may not have a doily on it looks like one of those nightmare savoury sandwich cakes from the 1960s filled with eggs, tuna, shrimp, ham, and chicken that were iced with mayonnaise, cream cheese, or sour cream.
Kinda turns my stomach looking at it.
Public Enemy
3/5
I'm not overly familiar with rap, it's never quite been my thing. I get why this album is important but it definitely feels dated.
Talking Heads
5/5
Portishead
5/5
I don't need to relisten to this to know it's a straight 5 but I'm gonna relisten to it anyway.
Tom Tom Club
2/5
Without actually knowing it, I knew this was Talking Heads adjacent.
The first song was beyond cringe. I was surprised I knew the second song, Genuis of Love. It's been sampled to death. It's a bit of a jam, though.
The rest of the songs all feel a bit similar. Everything feels flat, like it was all recorded with the exact same levels and no dynamics. And why are so many of the songs soooo looong?!
As for the album cover artwork, it's just straight up bad.
Honestly, this is a generous 2.
Gram Parsons
2/5
I had a brief period 20+ years with this album. I wanted to like it so bad but it just didn't do it for me. Still the same today
Goldfrapp
2/5
This is not my kind of electronic. I like mine with a bit of bite and darkness. This is too sunny. This is not for me.
Massive Attack
3/5
The National
1/5
Why are the on the list again?
Heaven 17
2/5
This wasn't awful but was far from decent. All the electronic albums on this list are such a snooze.
Throwing Muses
3/5
A name I know but not music that I'm familiar with. This wasn't on Spotify but I found it on YouTube. I'm glad I did, I enjoyed this. I liked the first half of this album is a bit strong than the second half. Still enjoyed it throughout, though
The The
2/5
A name I've heard but have never checked out. In the end, it wasn't for me.
De La Soul
5/5
Tears For Fears
3/5
The hits are great. The rest of it is good.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
The artwork kinda makes me sick.
Also, only Hair Pie: Bake 1 is on Spotify and it's discordantly unfun. I will not be seeking out the rest of this album.
I get it's a commentary on the mainstream, highly polished pop and rock music norms of the 1960s. I also get that it deconstructs the traditional conventions of blues, rock, and pop. I know that it has an anti-commercial statement.
I don't care that John Peel and Lester Bangs think that this album is incredible. I don't and that's all that counts when it really comes down to it.
Kraftwerk
5/5
Love it, amazing stuff
The Replacements
5/5
Classic, zero complaints
Supergrass
3/5
Iron Maiden
5/5
Can
4/5
Dire Straits
4/5
I want my MTVVVVVV...
It's a great album but there's such a sad undercurrent that I find it difficult to listen to.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
I don't hate Joni but this ain't my bag.
Buzzcocks
4/5
This is my kind of punk. A straight jam. There are some scathing reviews of this album by some people participating on this list. It's fine those people don't get this but like, shut up?
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Reminds me so much of my parents. They friggin' loved CCR, especially me da. I've got this negative association of CCR with Vietnam movies and boomer glorification films.
Christina Aguilera
1/5
Slayer
5/5
I will hear no arguments that this is less than 5 stars
Meat Loaf
5/5
My parents had this on vinyl, 8-track and CD. I have listened to this album more times than I can count so I might be biased. It's a 5 star for me although I'm not quite so sure it's an actual 5 star. But I don't care, I have too many memories wrapped up in it.
Simon & Garfunkel
2/5
Not everything that is near universally praised will be my cup of tea and that's fine by me. I find some of this to be just over the top corny. Also, I can't unsee that if you put your thumb on Paul's face, Art gets a serious handlebar mustache.
Primal Scream
3/5
Barry Adamson
2/5
Boring AF. I guess they're technically competent and able to play their instruments but that ain't saying much.
Pixies
4/5
Cyndi Lauper
2/5
I know lots of people think this album is fun but it’s a total fucking bummer to me. I don’t like the contrast between the shiny pop sensibilities that sit on top of this album and the near constant undercurrent of emotionally vulnerability. It gives the record a feeling of being ungrounded or unresolved. Her vocals feel strained, like she’s reaching for some kind of resolution but never quite lands it. The guitars and synths clean but also weirdly distant and mismatched to her vocal style. It’s like neither ever fully lands. Then there’s the lyrics. They all lean hard on longing, confusion and vulnerability. But lyrically, she never quite reaches resolution or connection and that just adds to the low-key bummer feeling I get from this.
This album is not dissimilar to Boy George/Culture Club, Annie Lennox/Eurythmics, Belinda Carlisle, A Flock of Seagulls and even to some extent REM and The Police. They’re all sad as fuck to me. I just can't get can’t do these artists without feeling totally bummed out.
In the end, the lack of resolution creates a persistent sadness and that’s what makes it uncomfortable for me. I respect Cyndi but there’s a reason she’s only remembered for one song.
Jamiroquai
1/5
I really hate this. It's super unenjoyable. White guy trying to invoke 70s soul but just extra cringey
Marty Robbins
5/5
My dad. My husband. Fallout New Vegas. Turner Movie Classics. Nostalgia.
Circle Jerks
5/5
R.E.M.
3/5
Lambchop
2/5
B.O.R.I.N.G.
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
This was fine background music. It wasn't bad but I'm not sure it was good. 2.5 rounded down
Lucinda Williams
3/5
I'm so excited for this. It's been something that I have only recently gotten into so it's exciting to now really examine it.
Ok, so I get it. This album is good and important. But it's not my fave style of country. Still, I got mad respect for Lucinda
Sex Pistols
5/5
Living Colour
3/5
R.E.M.
3/5
It all just feels unresolved, which, the more I listen to REM, feels like the point
The Black Keys
3/5
Britney Spears
2/5
This album is so front loaded. Only the first two songs, ...Baby One More Time and (You Drive Me) Crazy, would mean anything to anyone. I get it, Max Martin knew how to bang out the hits but the rest of this is garbage.
The Notorious B.I.G.
2/5
I like some Biggie, but not all Biggie. This album is really hit and miss for me. Not to mention that lyrically, it's not aged super well. It's pretty misogynistic and the sexualized content is pretty gross.
Plus, I really don't like skits, and I really don't like how many skits are on this album. I get that skits are done to make an album feel like an audio "movie" or act as a palette cleanser between songs. They give people a glimpse of the rapper's life and environment outside of lyrics and beats. Sort of a chance to show their personality and sense of humor.
So I can get why skits exist but I also just don't like them.
2.5 rounded down
John Cale
3/5
Ray Charles
3/5
The Zutons
2/5
Paul Simon
3/5
Ouf... Where to even start. The highs are high but the lows are just beyond more low. I don't care about the lack of credit Paul Simon have to the South African artists (I do but not in the context of how I feel about the music), I don't think it's cultural appropriation, and I don't think it was wrong of him to record in Johannesburg during the apartheid embargo. His voice is just so muted and soft and kind of twee. The mid range is really muffled. I have good memories wrapped up in this album and it was hard to decide if this were a 3 or a 4. Either way, it just doesn't resonate like it used to.
Calexico
3/5
It was fine. I've got no arguments from it, although I prefer Mexican to Tex-Mex
Bob Dylan
4/5
It's tooooo looooong. And there's just so much harmonica and it's all realllllly high in the mix.
Aphex Twin
2/5
I don't mind Aphex Twin but overall, this was pretty uneventful
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
A Hazy Shade of Winter is a banger. The rest is fine. The Lemonheads cover of Mrs. Robinson is two thumbs up.
Christina Aguilera
2/5
A double album, that's 80 mins long, is back to basics?! So if I could give this 2.25 stars, I would. I appreciate the piano, horns and choir. There was an interesting bass line at one point that sounded like it could've been a Talking Heads sample. And for those who care, I guess she can sing. I'm not a person who cares about singers and their abilities but to each their own.
I felt this really lacked emotionally. It didn't stir anything in me and I didn't feel anything from her.
Was this her attempt to break out of club music? Maybe. I just found it boring as heck.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
I really enjoyed this, actually listened to it twice! I mean, as a friend of mine put it, if buddy's gonna play a strat against a bare chest, you know it's gonna be good shit.
Flamin' Groovies
4/5
This feels like Let it Bleed (69) or Exile on Main Street (72). This album (71) sits squarely between the two and came out the same year as Sticky Fingers. Also, am I hearing some elements that might have influenced punk? Maybe, maybe not. And the song, Evil Hearted Ada has a real rockabilly sound to it. Very pleasantly surprised!
The Strokes
2/5
This is certainly from a moment in time. That album cover didn't age so well. I remember when this came out. I didn't like it much then and I'm not so sure I like it any better now.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
As a teenager, I had the SST CD version of this album which has a cover of the Peter Frampton song, Show Me the Way. It's too bad that album version isn't on Spotify
Fiona Apple
4/5
The Pretty Things
3/5
Adele
2/5
It wasn't as boring as I thought it would be but it's still pretty boring
Cypress Hill
3/5
The Velvet Underground
4/5
I don't really know this album and I've been told it's not their best but I liked it nevertheless. Lot of talk about sucking on dingdongs and finding mainlines. They knew what they liked and they weren't afraid to let you know.
Miles Davis
5/5
I feel like I'm driving a taxi in NYC at night in the rain and I'm here for it
David Bowie
4/5
The Stooges
4/5
I have so many drug fueled memories wrapped up in this album that sometimes I struggle to hear the difference between the good and and not so good parts of this album.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
2/5
Oasis
4/5
Supertramp
3/5
Brian Eno
3/5
Extremely Talking Heads coded. But I guess it's the other way around. Talking Heads is coded to this.
Alice In Chains
4/5
2/5
Boring Duran Duran knock off. That bass player really needed to find another band to play with. Really funky
Aretha Franklin
4/5
I normally don't fuck with soul and R&B but I gave this one a fair shake and it was a banger.
3/5
I don't think this of the best Muse album
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
It's too long and there's some content that could've been left behind. The highs are high but the lows are pretty bland. It's 3.5 stars rounded up
Kraftwerk
5/5
Linkin Park
1/5
Who the fuck was this even for? Nearly a billion streams per song on Spotify 25 years later is who