1001 Albums Summary

Good start. There will be a language barrier throughout the album but the beat and rhythm on Track One has hooked me in. As track 2 starts, I realize that this album was recorded in 1976. It doesn't sound dated as some music from the 70's does. Interesting. Nice use of horns on this one, as I'm sure will be a running theme. A bit slower pace on Track 3. Curious about the high-pitched instrument in the background. I'M AN IDIOT. The high pitched "instrument" i was curious about on the last track is featured on this track and it is clearly someone's voice. Duh! Track 4 is a nice mid-tempo number. Another mid-tempo track for number 5. So far I'm enjoying this album more than I thought I would, considering I don't understand the lyrics. Track 6 is the most played song from the album on Spotify and it did not disappoint. Although I still like Track 1 the best. Track 7 is another mid-tempo song. Not bad but not memorable. (edit. I spoke to soon. The 2nd half of the song took off. Not bad at all.) By George Track 8 is a standout. It's got everything. I enjoyed the psychedelic elements is the middle. Such an upbeat song (without knowing why they were singing about George) Track 9 slows us back down a bit. Funky drums keep this song moving. Pump up the jam. Track 10 is bouncy and jaunty in the best ways. In the conversation for my fav of the album. The title track to finish off the album. A very full sounding song, like they used all the instruments featured in the album and put them all together. Solid track for sure. Overall, I really enjoyed this album. Outside of my wheel-house, but there was a lot to like about it. Perhaps I'll learn Portuguese and get a deeper connection to this music. But for now, I don't think I would skip any of these if they came up on my shuffle. 3.6/5

This is an album I've heard before, maybe not every single song to be honest. Lots of great tunes on here though. Track 1 is one I've only heard a few times. Thom's distinct voice immediately sets the tone for the album. Lots of cool atmospheric sounds in the periphery. Track 2 is very familiar. (It just gave me Brand New vibes from TDAGARIM. Never made that connection before. Not surprising that Jesse would draw from Thom for inspiration). This is a fairly straight forward rocker, elevated by Thom's vocals. Track 3 is a Radiohead song that I don't think gets enough respect in retrospect. Classic 90's vibe, perfect, soaring vocals. Track 4 is probably the most famous song from the album, for good reason. Hauntingly beautiful. I prefer the version from the Clueless soundtrack but this song is perfection nonetheless. The capper of a really, really strong 3-song run that really could be put up against most other 90's acts. I don't like the effect on Thom's voice at the beginning of Track 5. It gets better as it gets going. But its generally a forgettable song after the heavyweights that preceded it. Track 6 gets back to highlighting Thom's voice. I like this song and l like the manic bridge (or solo) of squealing guitars. Lots of good in this one. Track 7 is the first Radiohead song I ever heard, as it was featured on Much Music's Big Shiny Tunes Volume 1. I will always love this song. Classic Radiohead for me. Track 8 is just okay. This time the manic guitars in the middle didn't do it for me. The verses are pretty good though. Track 9 was a slow burn, haunting little number. A decent song at the end of the album. Track 10 is a mid-tempo song that works for me. It touches on some themes that will be very prevalent in future Radiohead works. I was more aware of the bass guitar in this song more than any other so far. Track 11 is the least played track from the album on Spotify. Must just be because it's near the end because it is far from the worst track on the album. Loud guitars and again Thom's soaring vocals are in full effect on this one. I liked it. Track 12 is the closer. Pretty guitar at the beginning. A slow burn as it ramps up. Makes you want more from this band. And we all know they more than deliver. 4.3/5

Excited for this one. I don't think I've ever listened to it all the way through. Track 1 is obviously famous. A track that probably couldn't be made today. I love the understated "Hello, I'm Johhny Cash" at the beginning. Track 2 find Johnny slowing things down. Funny "outtake" in the middle when he talks to the audience. Pretty good song overall Track 3 is a wistful number. Short and sweet. Track 4 speeds things up back with a track the prisoners really enjoyed. Another track that might not make past the censors these days which is a shame. A lot of fun. Track 5 is one of favorites from the album. I love the countdown theme. He does a great job with it, even though its a gimmick-y concept. Track 6 is incredible. I've always had a soft spot for songs that sound like trains. The harmonica work is fun. I really like how "live" this album is. It makes you feel as if you were there...as much as possible. Track 7 slows things down, highlighting his songwriting. And his beautiful baritone voice. Another great moment when he breaks into laughter. Track 8 highlights the juxtaposition between Johnny's outlaw lifestyle and his deep faith. It's always fascinated me. Track 9 seems to be written purely for this show. Another great laugh and comment to the crowd. I'm really enjoying this album Track 10 an ode to fido. "A man has nothing else!' Track 11 is a filler track. Silly metaphors. The crowd loved it though so who am I to judge. Track 12 is a duet with June Carter. The really appreciated the vigor in which she sang with. One of the standout tracks from the album. Track 13 is another love ballad. One of the better ones on the album. He really had a way with words, that the everyman could understand and relate to. Track 14 is fun and jaunty. He has done a good job ramping up and slowing down and than ramping up again. A nice mix. Track 15 begins with his full-full baritone which is incredible. A superb rendition of the this traditional ballad. Track 16 is the closing track. It was written by an inmate of the prison. A gospel tune to finish it off. It was a big hit with the inmates. That was fun. Not a lot of revolutionary music but a great insight into one of the 20th century's biggest character is the music industry. 4.1/5

A mostly new one today. I think I've only heard two tracks before. Track 1 Despite the horrible title, which led me to mostly ignore this track over the years, the song itself its interesting. Electronic music isn't my thing but I found myself enjoying the beats and the female singer that came in halfway through the song was great. Track 2 is the only song from the album I've really heard before in a meaningful way. Once again, Big Shiny Tunes introduced me to this song. It's an exhilarating song that pumps you up, brings you down a bit and than fires you right back up. I enjoy this one. Track 3 opens with a hypnotic bass line that continues to drive the song throughout. Reminds me a bit of Rage Against The Machine, but rap-ier. Track 4 is a mostly instrumental song, save for the title being chanted throughout. I honestly prefer that to the rapping songs so far. Track 5 is back with a more traditional song structure. Within all of the crazy beats Prodigy comes up with. High energy for sure. Track 6 begins with some marching type beats. I feel like this whole album benefits from being listened to on headphones. All the layers on these tracks are really amazing. Track 7 is the longest track on the album. I feel like most of the songs on this album are a touch longer than needed. This song didn't hold my attention. Track 8 got my attention back. Great track with cool beats. Track 9 is more of the same. Nothing really stands out here for me. Track 10 grabbed my attention more than most of the previous tracks. I think I need words with my electronica. Not bad. Not great. Don't feel a need to hear any of these again, outside of Breathe. 2.4/5

Not sure if I've heard any of these songs before. Certainly I have not heard the album proper. I'm very excited to give it a spin. Track 1 by far the most played song on the album. Its jaunty with a great story. A+ Track 2 slows things down with a song about his land. Just okay. Track 3 is a ballad lamenting his upcoming demise via the rope. Somewhat similar to Cash's 25 Minutes To Go. I like this one as well. Track 4 isn't for me. I don't like the background singers singing at the same time. Just give me Marty. Track 5 another slower paced one about Billy The Kid. This one works for me. Good storytelling and straight forward vocals. Track 6 is a peppier little number. A nice follow-up to the last track. Track 7 is an ode to a horse. This album is growing on me. Track 8 depicts a crime going down. Another solid track. Track 9 one of the more upbeat songs, as much as a gunfight can be upbeat. Maybe the best track since the first one. Track 10 is the most famous song, even though it doesn't have the most plays. I've heard this one plenty of times. Not sure I'd remember its Marty Robbins though Track 11 slows things back down. Disappointing after the last one. Track 12 nice bounce back. Wish they didn't layer the voices again but they stop halfway through for a bit at least. Track 13 this is a funky song. I like this one a lot. Good story and a bouncy beat. Track 14 is just okay. Mid-tempo but not super interesting to me. Track 15 is El Paso again. Its still good. I'm glad I got to listen to this, but there are only a handful of tracks I need to hear again. 2.5/5

IGGGGGGGY POP. Lets do it. Track1 the Ramones get too much credit for birthing punk music. The Stooges were pure punk rock 5-7 years before the Ramones. This track is fantastic. Track 2 The most listened to track of the album. It slows things down without losing its power or aggression. Such a cool track. The guitar is phenomenal. Track speeds thing back up. The guitar really drives this track. Track 4 is a bit slower but has a really dark tone to it. Love it. Track 5 is the title track. Pure punk rock. Incredible Track 6,7,8 are all pretty much the same. Iggy's great voice and loud aggressive guitars. This album rock. Short but sweet and 100% a foundational album in the history or rock n roll. 4/5

Oh I'm excited for this one. I'm probably most familiar with this album than any other so far. Track 1 is the most famous rock song of the 21st century. The riff is instantly recognizable, its arguable the song is even underrated due to how ubiquitous it has become. This album has such a variety of feelings and types of songs. Straight rock songs. Blues songs. Slower ballads with pretty guitar. It takes you on a journey. All high quality. You've Got Her In Your Pocket is a gorgeous song, almost nobody talks about. Ball and Biscuit jams out HARD. Very different songs but they are back to back on this album. Incredible. 4.6/5

This album is fantastic. Not sure what you would call, psychedelic, experimental perhaps. No matter what you call, there was very little of this music happening at this time, especially by woman artists. Abstract lyrics and loud squealing guitars gave me a Herion by The Velvet Underground. Free Money is fairly straight forward and it rips showing she is not just a weirdo making loud music. I was doubtful this album would live up to the hype, but it actually exceeded it.

I have never listened to this album cover to cover despite being very aware of the Arctic Monkeys and enjoying the songs I have heard. I'm excited to hear any hidden gems I've been missing out on. Well, no real hidden gems unfortunately. The last song may have been my favorite of the songs I hadn't heard before. I wanted to like this album more. It just wasn't interesting to me. The guitar work seemed good, lots of "punk-y" type songs mixed in with some slower ones. It just didn't really grab me. Disappointing. 3.4/5

100% the first time hearing any of these songs. Not at all a fan of Morrissey or The Smiths. Nonetheless, here we go. This album is okay. The vocals are droning. Not enough variety it them to keep me engaged. He is a good singer of course. I don't know, I think I need to listen to his works without knowing its him to judge it properly. But honestly, for me, everything on this album is just okay. 2.3/5

Another new-to-me album. As you can see, the 80s are a big hole in my listening history. I've never really dug the synth sound but here we go. Through 5 songs I have enjoyed the variety in music more so than other albums in the genre I've heard. Somewhat theatrical! Overall I don't mind this album at all. I doubt I'll ever cue these songs up again but I wouldn't skip them if they popped up either. 2.9/5

Another Morrisey/Smiths album. Alright here we go. The first track is pretty good. Jaunty and more "upbeat" than what i think of the Smiths. Second track is alright too. So far so good. Overall it was more interesting to me than anything I have heard from the Smiths, outside of How Soon IS Now? Still not my jam but it wasn't too shabby. 3.2/5

Another new to me selection. I don't know much about Elvis Costello except the reputation of being an influential act. Here we go. Very eighties for sure. Two songs in and I am interested. The music is layered with lots of different sounds. I enjoyed Shabby Doll quite a bit. I really enjoy the manic parts of the songs. Way more than when he slows it down. Almost dragged after the end of Man out of Time, for instance. The album is a little bloated for me too. The best 10-12 songs would have sufficed. This is just okay for me. I don't see it as being revolutionary, although i think some of his other works fit that bill. 2.8/5

Oh boy, I wonder if this came because of Ozzy's death or if it was truly a coincidence. Either way, how timely. I can not overstate how much Black Sabbath means to me. Paranoid was the first CD i ever bought (i had some cassettes at the time but the CDs were my real first foray into music I liked) I wore that Disc out and eventually got them all. The first track on this album absolutely sets the tone for not only this album, but for the band as a whole. I cannot imagine hearing this in 1970 as all of the hippy-drippy flower-power music was dominating the airwaves. Just pure sludge and horror. Satan coming around the bend? No, that was just Ozzy Osbourne! And then The Wizard follows next. What a riff! It doesn't matter what comes next, this is a 5 star album from just these two songs. My goodness. Heavy metal was born. Track 3 is a medley of sorts, that eventually makes it way to N.I.B. Another instant classic. Iconic riff, a dark love song. Just brilliant. Tony Iommi really shows off in this one both with that iconic riff and with the incredible solo. The last two tracks keep up with heavy riffs, pounding drums and haunting vocals. Black Sabbath was born

I find it odd as a fairly big music fan, I've never even heard of the Soft Boys. So I am very curious to hear see what this album is all about. Track 1 opens strongly with a pop-punky song. I am honestly flabbergasted I have not heard this before. Track 2 continues the jangly not quite punk sound from Track 1. This is excellent. Sounds like it should be on that Nuggets compilation of 60s psychedelia. Track 3 was stellar. Almost Beatles-esque. maybe more like The Kinks. Either way, great tune. Track 4 takes a bit of a step back. The slower tempo and the spoken word vocals for part of it don't really work IMO. The rest of the album had more highs than lows. This is probably my favorite new discovery so far. I'm so glad I got to listen to this album! 3.9/5

More and more I'm finding these albums are "new-to-me". I'm excited for this one. Track 1 immediately highlights Sarah's voice. I also enjoyed the MC's introduction of what was happening. Such a different era. I am a big fan of when songs are referred to as "numbers'. I should look up the entomology of that. Track 3 had a great tempo. Track 2 dragged a bit for me. I don't mind ballads, but long ballads can be a slog. Track 4 slows things back down. She is an incredible singer, and this is likely what people came to hear. I prefer the up-beat stuff, however. This is a really enjoyable album. I'm not up on the genre enough to know for sure if it is a must listen example but I am really glad I heard it. I'd put it on again as background music for a dinner with my elders. 3.5/5

I have heard a number of these songs before. I may not have been entirely sure they were Tears for Fears songs. Let's Go. Track 1 is classic 80s. Lots of synth and electronic noises throughout. I always find 80s songs to be somewhat bloated, this song didn't need to be 6 minutes long. It got repetitive. Track 2 was meh. I have a feeling this album is going to be carried by the two big songs. Track 3 is the all-timer of course. As it should be. It has everything, good tempo, great lyrics decent "riff". And a tight 4:11 of runtime. Track 4 was unique, it had lots going on. Very fun! Track 5 slows things down. This is generally a bummer for me as most bands are better when they keep things moving. This was no exception. The rest of the album was meh as well. I feel like the two heavyweight tracks could have been featured in a "1000 Songs to hear..." but the album as a whole is just okay. An interesting question might be how many great songs does an album need to have to be considered great. Maybe it is just two. 2.9/5

New-to-me once again. At least I think. Let's go! Track 1 starts off with loud guitars. I'm in! What a tune. Great bass line, squealing guitars, rapid-fire drums. Love it. Omg, the end. It speeds up manically. That will be tough to follow. Track 2 follows with a more controlled sound. The drumming is fantastic. Track 3 has a nice jammy finish to it. I like this album so far. Track 4 has cool guitar parts. I dig this one, best song since track 1. Track 5 for reason gives me a British feel the other songs hadn't really so far. The guitar is pure noise fuzz, fantastic. And it gets better as the song goes on! Track 6 Straight-forward song until it jams out in the middle. Then, it abruptly stops and there is some pretty guitar with some sound effects over-layed. Interesting. Track 7 is the most streamed track as per Spotify. Its okay for sure but not as good as other imo. A bit bland camparitively Track 8 and 9 are both solid tunes with great drumming. It really stood out to me. Just realized the album actually ended at Track 7. so I will end as well. That was thoroughly enjoyable. I will listen to this again. 4.1/5

Interesting. None of the Bob Marley songs I know are on this album. Lets Go. Track 1 is a great track. I am not a reggae guy at all but I did enjoy this. So far so good Track 2 is the most streamed song from this album on Spotify. I think I have actually heard this one. I really enjoy the bass line in this one. There is nice variety on this album. 400 Years is a great track. This is a good album. I assume there will be other Bob Marley albums in this list but this seems like a great intro to reggae album. 3.3/5

First time hearing this album in its entirety. Let's GO! These are decent pop/rock songs. I'm not sure there is anything overly special about them. Maybe they were ground-breaking in some way at the time. And I'm assuming their other big album will be here, so I don't think we need two of their albums on this list. This is really just ok. 2.2/5

Alright, this is a big one. Been a long time since I've listened to it all the way through. Lets go! Track 1 is a classic. Slow burn to start off the record. This would be a lot of bands best songs on an album and its about fourth best for me on this album. Outstanding. Track 2 is a pretty song. I like it following up track 1. Track 3 has a bit more tempo to it. I like it. Track 4 is a stone cold classic. Probably REMs second most famous song after Losing My Religion, but maybe not. It's been it countless movies and television shows. Simply iconic. Track 5 is an instrumental, such a bold choice to follow up the biggest song on the album. Perhaps everybody needed a second after the weight of Everybody Hurts. Track 6 is a somber song about loss. I like it and it fit nice after the instrumental Track 7,8 and 9 are just okay. Kind of a lull in the album. Track 10 is another classic REM song. An ode to Andy Kauffman in a way, as we question what is real and what isn't. Very relevant today. Track 11 is my favorite from the album. The feeling of pining and yearning is incredible. Track 12 is a pretty closer to a fantastic album. Four A+ songs plus a bunch of very good ones puts this one near the top of any 90s album ever made and an album that should definitely be experienced. 4.3/5

Sigh...more Smiths. Alright, here we go! Track 1 is a straight-forward complaint of the British school system. It's well done. Track 2 is downright jaunty. I had to make sure I didn't mess up playing the album straight through. I really like this one. As a whole, this album has more energy than I've heard from a Smiths album. It makes me enjoy the music tenfold. 3.4/5

First listen of this album as a whole. Let's GO! The Pixies were the trailblazers for most of the music I enjoy. Alt rock, pop punk, even grunge to a degree came out of the Pixies footprint. The music is so unique, its energetic and up beat (maybe not the lyircs). It's just a really fun listen from start to finish. The album is bloated (as were most albums from that era) but it is mostly an enjoyable listen throughout. And honestly, this may be "only" their third best record. 3.8/5

I've never heard of the Undertones. Excited to hear what they are all about. Let's GO! This is pure pop punk perfection. Short little bursts of goodness. Plus a surprise Under The Boardwalk cover! I am loving this album so far. 4/5

New to me, except for the title track, of course. Let's GO! Track 1 is some great 60's psych rock. Sounds like Strawberry Alarm Clock or something similar. very nice. Track 2 I've actually heard, I think. Either way, more of the same from the first track, which is a good thing. This is one of my favorite genres of music so I'm in heaven. Track 3 starts with some nice organ. I really dig the organ mixed with the rock n roll. Track 4 stays the course. I love this album. Track 5 made me think of how great that albums of this era aren't as blaoted as the 80s and 90s were. This is a tight 6 track, 35 minutes of bliss. Yes please. Track 6 is of course legendary. I'll always this of the Simpsons when I hear this song..." hey Marge, remember when we used to make-out to this hymn." So so good. I loved this album. 4.4/5

Very new to me. Let's GO! I like a lot of African music with out ever really seeking it out. The first half of the first song makes me wonder why I don't listen more. I'd love coming across this band at a festival or something. Not sure I'll go back to it in my day-to-day life but right now I am really enjoying this. Insane drumming on track 3. What a jam! Longest drum solo I've ever heard to close out. Didn't hate it thats for sure. I'm really glad I heard this album. Not sure how much staying power it has with me but it was an excellent listen. 3.5/5

This one is out there. I'm intrigued though. I like this. It's been nice background music while I work. I'm not sure I'd ever choose just to listen to it on my own, but I do like it. 2.9/5

I've maybe heard some of these songs in passing but I certainly have not listened to this album in full. This is a bit to slow for my personal taste. I wouldn't mind it playing in the background during dinner or something. But that's about it. 2.3/5

I've never heard of this chap so this would obviously be new to me. Let's GO! Hmm, is he a modern Frank Sinatra-type? A modern crooner? Track 1 suggests yes. Interesting. Track 2 picks up the pace a bit. Pretty guitar on this one. Track 3 is what they would call "romantic pop" I guess. Heartfelt to be sure. Track 4 manages to slow things down a bit. If he were American I imagine he would have leaned into that old country and western scene. Track 5 is another slow jam. His voice has dropped a register. I think I prefer his regular register. Track 6 made me wish I was listening to Albert King. Sigh Track 7 is a tad jauntier. Lots of emotion in these songs. Track 8 slows it right down. Too much of the same from this fella. Track 9 IS a straight up country song. I guess more of an Irish-type folk song but I like this one more than most so far from the album. Track 10 slows things way back down. Not my style at all. Track 11 is an atmospheric end to the album. Pretty. Overall this did not vibe with me. I'm sure its good in certain circles but I will not be listening to it again. 1/5

Way outside of my usual listening preferences. Let's see how this goes. Let's go!! Just her voice over sparse arrangement is nice (Track 1) Wasn't expecting Forrest Gump references (Track 3). Starting to get repetitive to my untrained ear (Track 7) So yeah, this isn't my type of music and nothing I heard made me change my mind about it. I find these difficult to rate because I'm sure it's good, just not what I like to listen to. I was bored however. I don't think all music from this genre would bore me. 2.1/5

Yet another new to me artist, I have never heard of her. Let GO! Who is the male singer on Track 4? This album is nice. Definitely puts you into a certain time and place. Her voice is magnificent. Lots of different genres represented here too, the album doesn't get bogged down by repetition. 3.5/5

I know this one very well. It's been awhile since i've listened front to back though. Lets GO! Classic blues rock at its finest. No time for more thoughts on this but I really dig this. 4.2/5

I've never heard this one before. Let's GO! This album goes all of the place, in a really good way. I've thought they sounded like a bunch of different artists as the album has gone on. From the Stones to the Allman Brothers on the outro of track 8. I am happy I have now heard this album and I'd probably listen again. 3.4/5

As per usual it seems, this is my first listen to this album, start to finish. Let's go!! 3.4/5

I know some Paul Simon, not this album though. Let's GO! Track 1-Very 80's. Track 2 sounds like what I think of Paul Simon in my head. Beautiful. Just okay overall. The highs are pretty high but it's mostly middling in my opinion.

Very familiar with this one. Let's go! Hmm, don't know if I realize Don't Stop was by these guys. Wild. Never Going back Again is fantastic. I mean...this is basically a greatest album. Geez 4.6/5

The most Beatles-esque non Beatles band out there. In another world, they are the biggest band in the world. Lets GO! Title track to start. Fantastic song. This album is bloated, a pet peeve of mine. Could have tighter. I can't get over how much they sound like Beatles at times. The lyrics don't really hold up to the Fab Four in my opinion. Could just be Im not as familiar though. 3.8/5

This is really long. Just going to listen to "Disc 1" Jimi did the Star Spangled Banner better... I like Jazz fine. I don't really know how to tell if its great or not. I enjoyed this. I liked the realism with the announcer talking between some songs. Festival Junction rips that's for sure. 3.1/5